The collective power of the solar system's dark, icy bodies

The outermost reaches of our solar system are a strange place--filled with dark and icy bodies with nicknames like Sedna, Biden and The Goblin, each of which span several hundred miles across.

Two new studies by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder may help to solve one of the biggest mysteries about these far away worlds: why so many of them don't circle the sun the way they should.

The orbits of these planetary oddities, which scientists call "detached objects," tilt and buckle out of the plane of the solar system, among other unusual behaviors.

"This region of space, which is so much closer to us than stars in our galaxy and other things that we can observe just fine, is just so unknown to us," said Ann-Marie Madigan, an assistant professor in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) at CU Boulder.

Some researchers have suggested that something big could be to blame--like an undiscovered planet, dubbed "Planet 9," that scatters objects in its wake.

But Madigan and graduate student Alexander Zderic prefer to think smaller. Drawing on exhaustive computer simulations, the duo makes the case that these detached objects may have disrupted their own orbits--through tiny gravitational nudges that added up over millions of years.

The findings, Madigan said, provide a tantalizing hint to what may be going on in this mysterious region of space.

"We're the first team to be able to reproduce everything, all the weird orbital anomalies that scientists have seen over the years," said Madigan, also a fellow at JILA. "It's crazy to think that there's still so much we need to do."

The team published its results July 2 in the Astronomical Journal and last month in the Astronomical Journal Letters.

Power to the asteroids

The problem with studying the outer solar system, Madigan added, is that it's just so dark.

"Ordinarily, the only way to observe these objects is to have the sun's rays smack off their surface and come back to our telescopes on Earth," she said. "Because it's so difficult to learn anything about it, there was this assumption that it was empty."

She's one of a growing number of scientists who argue that this region of space is far from empty--but that doesn't make it any easier to understand.

Just look at the detached objects. While most bodies in the solar system tend to circle the sun in a flat disk, the orbits of these icy worlds can tilt like a seesaw. Many also tend to cluster in just one slice of the night sky, a bit similar to a compass that only points north.

Madigan and Zderic wanted to find out why. To do that, they turned to supercomputers to recreate, or model, the dynamics of the outer solar system in greater detail than ever before.

"We modeled something that may have once existed in the outer solar system and also added in the gravitational influence of the giant planets like Jupiter," said Zderic, also of APS.

In the process, they discovered something unusual: the icy objects in their simulations started off orbiting the sun like normal. But then, over time, they began to pull and push on each other. As a result, their orbits grew wonkier until they eventually resembled the real thing. What was most remarkable was that they did it all on their own--the asteroids and minor planets didn't need a big planet to throw them for a loop.

"Individually, all of the gravitational interactions between these small bodies are weak," Madigan said. "But if you have enough of them, that becomes important."

Earth times 20

Madigan and Zderic had seen hints of similar patterns in earlier research, but their latest results provide the most exhaustive evidence yet.

The findings also come with a big caveat. In order to make Madigan and Zderic's theory of "collective gravity" work, the outer solar system once needed to contain a huge amount of stuff.

"You needed objects that added up to something on the order of 20 Earth masses," Madigan said. "That's theoretically possible, but it's definitely going to be bumping up against people's beliefs."

One way or another, scientists should find out soon. A new telescope called the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is scheduled to come online in Chile in 2022 and will begin to shine a new light on this unknown stretch of space.

"A lot of the recent fascination with the outer solar system is related to technological advances," Zderic said. "You really need the newest generation of telescopes to observe these bodies."

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This story has been published on: 2020-07-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Work to foster international partnerships continues

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says the department of Science and Innovation (DSI) continues to work to foster international partnerships to bolster the South African and African ability to respond to COVID-19.

Our National Research Foundation (NRF) with its partners in Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom launched the Africa Rapid Grant Fund to support research and science capacity-building in African countries to fight COVID-19.

This put into practice the commitment made by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the recent Coronavirus Global Response international pledging event for South Africa to invest in such international partnerships, Nzimande said.

Nzimande was speaking at a media briefing on further measures implemented on COVID-19 within the Higher Education, Science and Innovation sectors.

Close to R75m support from international partners

The Minister announced that the DSI and the NRF have been successful to leverage close to R75 million in funding from international partners, including Canada, Sweden and the UK, to supplement a South African investment of R15 million.

This will mean the Fund has a total budget of approximately R90 million to fund COVID-19 initiatives in South Africa and 16 other African countries. The activities to be funded include COVID-19 research, as well as capacity-building for science communication (support to journalists) and science advice to governments in Africa, Nzimande said.

It is envisaged that projects supported by the Fund will start no later than August 2020 to ensure a rapid response, Nzimande added.

More than two-third businesses are innovation active

Meanwhile, a report on the latest Business Innovation Survey (BIS) has showed that more than two-thirds (69.9%) of South African businesses are innovation active.

The report released by Nzimande was undertaken in 2019 and covering 2014-2016 period.

Nzimande noted that the report was released at a time when businesses are being forced to become innovative in order to survive the current unusual circumstances created by COVID-19.

I must say that I have come across some amazing innovations by South African businesses. The reason why I have appointed an industrial envoy is so that we can strengthen the relationship between government and the private sector in driving more innovation in South Africa, including increased investment by both the public and private sectors in research and development, Nzimande said.

Nzimande urged all role players to read the report whose full details can be found on the departments website.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
AIIB approves 661.8m-euro loan to support Kazakhstan's pandemic response

From:ChinaDaily | 2020-07-08 11:30

BEIJING - The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved a loan of 661.8 million euros ($750 million) to provide budgetary support to Kazakhstan in fighting COVID-19.

The loan will finance Kazakhstan's COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program, which supports the country's immediate COVID-19 health policy response, social protection and employment recovery measures, as well as stimulus measures, AIIB said Monday in a statement on its website.

Funded by AIIB's Crisis Recovery Facility and co-financed with the Asian Development Bank, the financing will fund measures to mitigate the impacts of higher food prices on vulnerable groups, an increase in social payments, new tax incentives to alleviate the financial burden of businesses and cash payments to the unemployed, the AIIB said.

Without a fiscal response, the economy of Kazakhstan is expected to contract in real terms by 5.5 percent in 2020, while poverty rates may reach 11-13 percent from the current 6.6 percent level, according to the statement.

As of end-June 2020, AIIB has approved a total of 13 projects amounting to over $5.5 billion to support 11 members to navigate the challenges brought by the pandemic.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 22:08:44|Editor: huaxia

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ATHENS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Greek twins Marianna and Sofia Erotokritou delivered this week the last batch of thousands of protective face masks purchased with donations made by Chinese citizens to assist Greece in its battle against COVID-19, they told Xinhua on Wednesday.

The twins, who have been living and studying in China since 2013 and have become informal ambassadors of Sino-Greek friendship, were received by Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis and Deputy Tourism Minister Manos Konsolas on Monday.

The last batch of 2,800 masks were part of the 10,000 masks they had bought with the support of their Chinese friends on social media after launching a campaign via WeChat, a Chinese multi-purpose messaging, social media and mobile payment app developed by Tencent, this spring.

Theocharis thanked the sisters and the Chinese donors for the masks, which will be distributed to Tourism Ministry employees across Greece, said an e-mailed press release issued by the ministry.

"I would like to thank all those people who were mobilized in China, a country so far away from here, for their precious and moving aid," the minister said.

Theocharis also said that the twins will be formally appointed "Ambassadors of Greek Tourism in China" in acknowledgment of their efforts to promote Greece in China, once the Greek parliament passes the relevant bill.

The two sisters have also produced several tourist videos in Chinese about Greece's destinations, culture and way of life.

"China is a good friend of Greece with a significant civilization, like ours. We are very happy that Chinese citizens showed such solidarity with Greece. We express our gratitude and congratulate the two girls for their work," Konsolas said, according to the press statement.

The twins took the initiative to gather masks for Greece with the help of their Chinese friends while stranded in Athens since January.

They had returned home to spend the Spring Festival holidays with their parents.

Once the virus started spreading in Greece, they took action. In May and June, the twins delivered masks to the Greek police, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, and a hospital in Athens.

Greece has registered 3,589 COVID-19 cases, including 193 deaths, since Feb. 26, when the first infection was diagnosed in the country, according to the latest count published on Tuesday.

Following a lockdown this spring and the implementation of protection measures that are still in effect, the spread of the virus has slowed down, but as the country has opened to tourism in recent weeks, authorities call on visitors and locals to continue to keep safe distance and wear masks when needed. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 22:26:07|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, held a phone conversation on Wednesday, vowing that the two countries will firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty.

Xi noted that in late June Russia successfully held a military parade at the Red Square to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War, demonstrating to the world its firm resolve to remember history and safeguard peace.

Recently, Russia smoothly carried out a referendum and passed a set of constitutional amendments with a large majority vote, Xi said, adding that it has fully reflected the Russian people's support for the Russian government and approval of its governance philosophy.

China will, as always, firmly support Russia's development path that fits its own national conditions and staunchly support Russia in accelerating its development and revitalization, he said.

Noting that the international situation is changing rapidly, Xi stressed that it is very necessary for China and Russia, as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation.

The Chinese side, he added, is willing to continue working with the Russian side in firmly supporting each other, rejecting external sabotage and intervention, well preserving their respective sovereignty, security and development rights, and well safeguarding their shared interests.

Xi pointed out that at the most difficult time in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Russia supported and helped each other, which has further enriched the strategic significance of their relations in the new era.

While dealing with the coronavirus epidemic for a relatively long period of time, the two sides should explore flexible and diverse means to speed up the resumption of work and production in all fields of bilateral cooperation, suggested the Chinese president.

He added that they should also seize the opportunity of the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation to fast-track collaboration in such fields as advanced technology, research and development of vaccine and drugs, as well as biosecurity, so as to continuously lift China-Russia ties to higher levels and boost their respective development for the benefit of both peoples.

China, Xi said, stands ready to work with Russia to continuously intensify coordination within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, safeguard multilateralism, oppose hegemonism and unilateralism, defend international fairness and justice, and make greater contributions to improving global governance and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

For his part, Putin said the large majority vote for the constitutional amendments in the recent referendum will help Russia maintain long-term political stability, better defend national sovereignty and oppose foreign interference.

Russia and China, he added, both value their own national sovereignty and security and have firmly supported each other all the time, as has been demonstrated once again both by their mutual support in the difficult moments during the pandemic, and by the recent participation by the Chinese People's Liberation Army honor guard in Russia's Red Square parade.

Russia-China relations are at their best in history, Putin said, stressing that Russia firmly supports China's efforts to safeguard national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, opposes all kinds of provocative actions that violate China's sovereignty, and believes China is fully capable of ensuring long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong.

Noting that Russia regards its relations with China as the top foreign policy priority, he said his country is willing to work with China to continuously push forward bilateral practical cooperation in various fields, strengthen strategic communication and coordination within such frameworks as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations, and safeguard global strategic stability and security.

In addition, the Russian president conveyed his sympathies over the flooding and geological disasters in multiple places in South China, and Xi expressed his gratitude for that. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 22:33:38|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, July 8 (Xinhua) -- It's not an easy task for any single country to handle the COVID-19 on its own, therefore it's time for the United States and China to collaborate and deal with the pandemic together, a Yale scholar said at an online seminar on Wednesday.

At the Insight Forum, an online seminar organized by Our Hong Kong Foundation, Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute of Global Affairs, said while responding to Xinhua that dealing with the pandemic is an opportunity for collaboration, and he believes that there is enormous potential for collaborative work between the United States and China.

"Pandemic by definition is global, which involves all major countries in the world," Roach said, stressing that the United States and China can engage jointly in developing therapies and research on vaccines.

He praised China for having done a remarkable job in containing the disease, saying that although the United States is not able to replicate the practices put in the place in China, it can learn scientific methods applied by China.

In his speech at the seminar, Roach also criticized some U.S. politicians who blamed China for the pandemic saying that China was the first to be hit by this severe disease and also the first to respond.

The pandemic has shocked the world and caused a global recession, Roach said, noting that the U.S. dollar is estimated to see a 35 percent decline in its value against other major currencies by the end of 2021, while euro and Chinese currency renminbi will grow stronger.

Regarding global supply chains, Roach said the global scramble for medical supplies during the outbreak of the pandemic has raised concerns among countries about supply chain security.

He said that bringing supply chains back home will lead to higher costs for both producers and consumers, and supply chains should be made more flexible to deal with future supply shocks. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 22:46:37|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Thai military on Wednesday warned all residents and Buddhist communities in the deep southern province of Yala to exercise extra caution and watch out for strangers as security authorities are bracing for possible attacks by insurgents.

The military's Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) did not elaborate on sources of attacks but issued an advisory, stating "People entering the district township by car, motorcycle and public transport are being subjected to searches and identification checks by police and military personnel manning roadblocks on all the roads leading to the township."

Local media quoted intelligence sources as saying that insurgents have sneaked into the district, possibly to carry out attacks on soft targets.

On Wednesday morning, a para-military ranger in Yala Province was shot dead in an attack believed to be staged by insurgents as he was riding a motorcycle back to his command post.

Last Sunday in another southern province of Narathiwat, police said two insurgents used M-16 machine guns to attack soldiers and the community's security volunteers. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 22:47:08|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Egypt will install a smart system for roads nationwide as part of the government plan to improve the country's road safety, said the Ministry of Transportation in a statement on Wednesday.

The first phase of the plan will include six highways and the new system will be applied in 20 roads in the second phase of the project, according to the statement.

"All the roads will be monitored by a network of cameras around the clock that will record any violations," the statement noted.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has recently called for applying advanced technological systems to monitor roads to stem violations and improve road safety.

Egypt suffers a high rate of traffic accidents that kill thousands of people every year due to lack of highway monitoring systems, poor road maintenance and negligence of traffic rules. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 22:50:53|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Zhang Xin

BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Washington officially notified the UN chief of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, an irresponsible move that will not only hurt America's own pandemic fight, but also hinder the world's collective drive to beat the deadly virus.

Given the track records of the U.S. administration in quitting such international treaties or bodies as the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Human Rights Council, it is not surprising to see another selfish and wayward act of this kind.

As global COVID-19 infections approach 11.8 million, with a vaccine still not in sight, the United States has chosen to cripple the international health watchdog whose leadership has never been more important and essential at the moment.

Richard Horton, editor in chief of medical journal the Lancet, called the U.S. withdrawal "madness and terrifying both at the same time," adding that "The U.S. government has gone rogue at a time of humanitarian emergency."

Washington's departure from the WHO has proved that the incumbent U.S. administration is a deserter in this arduous battle against a deadly pathogen, and a traitor of humanity itself.

It doesn't take rocket science to see through the pure political motivation behind Washington's WHO move in an election season. Those White House decision-makers are dreaming to believe that scapegoating the WHO will help cover their botched response to the outbreak.

Unfortunately, breaking away from the WHO will not help the United States bring the raging pandemic under control or ease the suffering of the American people, as confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country approach an appalling 3 million, with more than 131,000 lost lives.

Senator Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee, warned "this won't protect American lives or interests -- it leaves Americans sick and America alone."

The American Medical Association, the nation's largest physician group, urged the White House in the "strongest terms possible" to reverse the decision, warning that canceling the U.S. membership could disrupt clinical trials for vaccines.

The United States is the world's sole super power, and as such should shoulder its due responsibility, especially during unprecedented global crises.

Instead of shifting blames, the current White House administration should first do more to contain the seemingly out-of-control pandemic situation in its own country.

Instead of purely pursuing political gains for the coming elections, the U.S. government should resist the dangerous temptation of premature easing of restrictions, and use prudence in striking a balance between recovering the economy and controlling the spread of the virus.

Instead of throwing away its international duties, the White House should join the rest of the world in supporting multilateral cooperation led by the WHO on a wide range of sectors from stopping cross-border transmissions to information sharing and vaccination research and development.

Washington who is seeking to fight the pandemic on its own, needs to know that the pathogen, if not defeated quickly and thoroughly, will leave no one intact. The best and the only option left for everyone is to work together. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 23:02:31|Editor: huaxia

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The visiting Iranian Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri (C-L) and Syrian Defense Minister Ali Abdullah Ayyoub (C-R) speak to reporters after signing a "comprehensive" military agreement at the Syrian Defense Ministry in Damascus, Syria, on July 8, 2020. Iran will consolidate military relations with Syria, including enforcing and developing the Syrian air defenses in the face of Israeli strikes, as part of a "comprehensive" military agreement signed Wednesday between Iran and Syria in Syrian capital Damascus. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

TEHRAN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Syria signed an agreement on Wednesday to expand "comprehensive" military and security cooperation, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The agreement was signed between Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri and Syrian Defense Minister Ali Abdullah Ayyoub in the Syrian capital Damascus.

As part of the agreement, Iran "will strengthen Syria's air defense system," Baqeri was quoted as saying.

"The agreement will increase our determination for joint cooperation to confront the U.S. pressures," Baqeri said.

The regional peoples and countries do not welcome the U.S. presence in the region, he noted.

The Iranian commander also urged Turkey to settle problems with Syria through dialogue.

For his part, Ayyoub said that the United States has been "unable to bring Iran, Syria and the resistance front to their knees."

Iran has been a major ally of the Syrian government in its fight against the armed rebels since 2011. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 23:04:03|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- In response to the U.S. erroneous act, China decides to impose visa restrictions on U.S. individuals with egregious conducts on Tibet-related issues, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Wednesday.

Zhao made the remarks at a daily news briefing while responding to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent announcement of visa restrictions on the Chinese government and some officials pursuant to the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018.

"We urge the U.S. side to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs with Tibet as a pretext, and refrain from going further down the wrong path, lest it should further harm China-U.S. relations as well as exchange and cooperation between the two countries," Zhao said.

Zhao said Tibetan affairs are purely China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference.

He said China pursues a policy of opening up, and Tibet is open to all with no restriction on foreigners' entry, adding that Tibet receives a large number of foreign travelers and people from various sectors every year.

Incomplete statistics showed that from 2015 to 2018, nearly 176,000 foreigners traveled to Tibet for official visits, tourism and business trips, including about 175,000 tourists, nearly 500 diplomats and 343 journalists. Last year, the number of visitors to Tibet, both from at home and abroad, topped 40 million, according to Zhao.

"I want to point out that considering the special geographical and climatic conditions in the region, it is entirely necessary and indisputable that the government takes some lawful measures to manage and protect foreign nationals in Tibet," Zhao said.

China welcomes more foreign citizens to visit, travel in and do business in Tibet, and this policy won't change, Zhao said. "However, they must abide by Chinese laws and regulations and follow necessary procedures." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 23:28:09|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Wednesday detained at least 34 suspects over their alleged links to a network believed to be behind a coup attempt in 2016.

Acting upon the order of Turkish prosecutors in the western city of Izmir, police launched simultaneous operations in five provinces across the country to catch 19 suspects, the state-run Anadolu agency said.

Those targeted in operations also included two expelled police chiefs, it noted, adding that police have been searching five more suspects in Izmir.

They were all accused of using an encrypted mobile application to contact the members of the network led by U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, according to the agency.

In a separate operation in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, security forces captured 15 suspects over their suspected links to the network, Anadolu added.

The Turkish government blames Gulen and his network for masterminding the coup bid in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed, and has been pushing for his extradition. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 23:33:46|Editor: huaxia

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Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, talks with local residents at a village relocated for poverty relief in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 6, 2020. Wang made a three-day inspection tour that started Monday in the region. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

LHASA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang has stressed continuous efforts to consolidate the foundations of enduring peace and stability in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

The efforts should center on safeguarding the country's unity and strengthening ethnic solidarity, resolutely combating separatism, forestalling and defusing major risks and challenges and continuously consolidate the foundations of long-term peace and stability in Tibet.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in the region.

During the three-day tour that started Monday, he visited villages relocated for poverty relief, pasturing areas, industrial parks and religious venues in Xigaze and Lhasa, and presided over a symposium where he listened to suggestions from the attendees.

Speaking highly of the efforts made by the region's Party committee in recent years, Wang noted that the work related to ethnic and religious affairs concerns the enduring peace and stability of the region, asking for further research into the history of the community of the Chinese nation to improve public awareness of ethnic unity and progress.

He called for raising the social awareness of religious believers that they are, above all, citizens of the country, as well as the promotion of patriotism to further adapt Tibetan Buddhism to the socialist society.

Highlighting a people-centered development vision, Wang stressed that poverty alleviation is both an economic and a political task, and urged efforts to make sure nobody from any ethnic group in Tibet lags behind in marching into a moderately prosperous society.

He also underscored the role of the rural vitalization strategy, education and characteristic industries in poverty alleviation in the region. Enditem
Multilateral fund for BRI infrastructure projects set up

From:ChinaDaily | 2020-07-08 16:24

A multilateral fund to support infrastructure construction projects under the Belt and Road Initiative has been established, and six countries have agreed to donate $180.2 million to the fund, according to the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.

The fund was set up by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance. The center is a multilateral coordination mechanism jointly launched by the Ministry of Finance, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and six other multilateral development institutions, including the World Bank Group and Inter-American Development Bank, in 2019.

Approved by the AIIB Board of Directors, the AIIB is the fund trustee and the executive agency of the center's projects. The bank also will establish a secretariat to support the center's operation, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on its website.

China and five countries - Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Cambodia and the Philippines, have agreed to donate a total of $180.2 million to the fund, the statement said.

The First Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017 determined the establishment of the center as a platform to support the interconnection of infrastructure development, including that under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the ministry.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 23:35:39|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 Boko Haram militants were killed and several others wounded when troops fought hard in an exchange of gunfire after they were ambushed by the terror group in Nigeria's northeast region, said a military spokesman on Wednesday.

Two soldiers were, however, killed and four others wounded in the gunfight on Tuesday along the Damboa-Maiduguri road in the northeastern state of Borno, military spokesman John Enenche said.

"The valiant troops out-flanked and engaged the criminals with an overwhelming volume of firepower, forcing them to withdraw in disarray," Enenche said in a statement made available to Xinhua.

Following the ambush and gunfight, a special forces battalion of the military have been reinforced to dominate that axis where the incident occurred, to completely deny the terrorists any chance of escape during a further assault against them, the military spokesman said.

The Tuesday incident occurred after several Boko Haram militants were killed and their gun truck destroyed in another operation by the combined efforts of the land and air forces of the Nigerian military, which foiled an attack at Gubio town of Borno. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 23:48:29|Editor: huaxia

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A ship carrying the slogan of "celebrating the passage of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" sails at the Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, south China, July 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

In a poll conducted between July 2 and July 5, 66 percent of the respondents said they are "very supportive" or "supportive" of the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong.

HONG KONG, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A poll released on Wednesday showed that 66 percent of Hong Kong residents are in support of the implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The poll was conducted by Hong Kong Research Association between July 2 and July 5 through random telephone interviews with 1,097 Hong Kong residents aged at or above 18 years old.

A total of 66 percent of the respondents said they are "very supportive" or "supportive" of the implementation of the law in Hong Kong.

Nearly 80 percent believe the implementation of the law in Hong Kong will not have a negative impact on the prospect of Hong Kong.

About 63 percent of the polled are in support of the establishment of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

A total of 62 percent said they are "very supportive" or "supportive" of the law's provision that the vast majority of cases concerning offences endangering national security in Hong Kong will be handled by the HKSAR and the central authorities retain the jurisdiction over an very small number of serious cases.

A similar number of respondents are in support of the provision that the HKSAR chief executive shall designate a number of judges to handle cases concerning offences endangering national security.

Hong Kong Research Association said as it released the poll results that it is a common aspiration of the people to see the country flourishing and the people living in peace. "Only in a secure and stable environment can Hong Kong residents' legitimate rights and freedoms be guaranteed."

The polling agency called on the HKSAR government to strengthen public education and promotion to dispel the doubts of some Hong Kong residents and enhance people's understanding of and support for the national security law, so as to create a favorable social atmosphere and public opinion basis for implementing and enforcing the law and safeguarding national security and Hong Kong's stability.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 00:03:40|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani government has imposed smart lockdown at 227 places in 30 cities across the country that were acting as hotspots of COVID-19, the Prime Minister Office said Wednesday.

The country's Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting to review the current situation of COVID-19 and policies to contain it, during which he was briefed that smart lockdown is proving very useful to bring down the number of new cases in the country, a statement released by the office said.

The meeting discussed how strict lockdown in the country had to be lifted by keeping in view the economic condition of the country and how the government's policy to impose smart lockdown is proving helpful.

The prime minister was also briefed by the health ministry officials that with a decline in new cases, the excessive load on the hospitals has been controlled due to which healthcare system saw an improvement.

"1,500 beds have been provided to hospitals for critical COVID-19 patients and in the coming days, 1,000 more beds will be provided to further facilitate the infected patients," the statement added.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 237,489 in Pakistan with 4,922 fatalities while 140,965 people have recovered from the disease across the country, according to the data released by the health ministry on Wednesday. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 00:20:52|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli hi-tech companies raised about 5.24 billion dollars in funds in the first half of 2020, setting an all-time record despite the coronavirus outbreak, the Israeli IVC Research Center reported Wednesday.

This is a 13.9 percent increase from the 4.6 billion dollars raised in the second half of 2019, and a 39.4 percent jump compared to the first half of last year, when a total of 3.76 billion dollars was raised.

The number of deals in the first half, 312, also set a new record, compared to the previous record of 287 deals recorded in the second half of 2018, according to the Israel Tech Funding Report, written by IVC and ZAG-S&W law firm.

According to report's authors, "the surprising current results point to the strength of the Israeli hi-tech industry, which will form the basis of the economy's growth in the post-coronavirus time."

However, they added that the second half of the year might yet demonstrate a notable slowdown in financial activity and capital raising efforts by Israeli hi-tech companies. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 00:32:59|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) trade task force held an online meeting on Wednesday urging the boost of mutual ties, Tehran Times daily reported.

Head of Iran's Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), Iranian ambassador to Russia, and EAEU officials attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, TPO head Hamid Zadboum said that "we are trying to remove the barriers existing in the way of bilateral trade through mutual cooperation."

Iran-EAEU current trade stands at over 2 billion U.S. dollars, which could be increased to 10 billion U.S. dollars in the long-run, Zadboum was quoted as saying.

He said that 13 percent of Iran's imports from the EAEU are subject to the preferential tariffs, while 49 percent of its exports to the EAEU enjoys preferential tariffs.

Iran and the EAEU reached a free trade agreement in October 2018, based on which about 862 commodity items are subject to preferential tariffs.

Iran's exports to the EAEU member countries are more diverse compared to its imports from those states, Zadboum said, adding that Iran's exports can be even more expanded.

The agreement with the bloc has increased Iran's exports to the EAEU member states significantly, which is a turning point for the country plans to boost non-oil exports amid the U.S. sanctions. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 01:10:28|Editor: huaxia

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KIGALI, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda and the European Union (EU) on Wednesday signed a financing agreement for 10 million euros to support the country's private sector development and job creation.

Ministry of finance and economic development said in a statement issued here that the grant is part of the 460-million-euro package of support to Rwanda for the period running until end of 2020.

"The program will address Rwanda's needs to create employment opportunities for its youth. Activities will focus on two sub-sectors, namely the digital economy and tourism hospitality, which have the potential for rapid, sustainable private sector growth and job creation," the statement said.

"The effects of COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the private sector operations which in turn led to job losses and affected livelihoods. The EU support will contribute to easing this burden through provision of market relevant skills as well enhancing technological innovations," the statement said.

Nicola Bellomo, the head of the EU Delegation to Rwanda, said the pandemic has demonstrated that without a strong digital sector, it is difficult to adapt to the new world normal.

Bellomo said the program is so timely to fill the gaps within the digital ecosystem in Rwanda.

The projects are expected to contribute to the government's target of creating 1.5 million decent jobs by 2024, according to the ministry. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 01:11:19|Editor: huaxia

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by Marwa Yahya

CAIRO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's insurance industry is impacted by COVID-19, though most of the claims cover many diseases including the pandemic.

"The novel coronavirus has appeared in Egypt since mid-February, which means the insurance companies have worked the whole second quarter of 2020 amid the virus concerns," said Alaa al-Zoheiry, chairman of the Insurance Federation of Egypt.

Although some Egyptian insurance companies claim the coverage of the pandemics such as coronavirus, the rate of signing insurance documents since February has declined by 10 to 15 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.

Driven by the difficult living conditions that the citizens have been experiencing lately, "the rate of paying the installments of the claims, which have been signed before the outbreak of the virus, has also been impacted," he explained.

Seeking life insurance relies on the ability to save money, al-Zoheiry pointed out, noting that in the time of crisis, people would give the priority to ensure food and medicine, and buying insurance certificate would come last in the list of priorities.

"The insurance industry is the real mirror of the economy and an international economic stagnation is predicted while the world economies are suffering difficult times," he said.

Insurers carefully consider the potential impact of the virus on their short-term and long-term financial outlooks, he said, adding that the claims will likely be limited to certain classes of business.

"People have more tendency to save their money in the bank and are reluctant to pay for insurance or any sort of investment because they fear that they might lose their jobs and couldn't fulfill their dues," he added.

According to the Insurance Information Institute's first quarter "Global macro outlook," the COVID-19's impact on global growth and the insurance industry is likely deeper than the current consensus and could last into the third quarter of 2020 and beyond.

Mohamed Abdel Raziq, a consultant in Tharwa Egypt Company, agreed with the insurance expert, saying that COVID-19 has hit hard the insurance sector revenues, due to the decline of the financial resources of the clients.

He said that "some companies have issued insurance policies on COVID-19, by which the families of the insured will receive full value of the amount if the father dies of the pandemic."

He added that this is the first time when the insurance companies have witnessed such decline even in times of war.

COVID-19 could also disrupt service. Agents and brokers likely face some risk management and logistical challenges, since many have to work from home.

"Face-to-face meetings with clients may have to be avoided until the risk of exposure passes," he said.

Egypt reported 1,057 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the total infections to 77,279, with 3,489 deaths according to the health ministry update on Tuesday.

But Abdel Raziq said that the digitizing process that appeared with the adoption of the anti-virus precautionary measures will contribute to creating good opportunities for the insurance companies in the short term.

However, Josef Tawfiq, chairman of Cairo-branch of Alico Metlife, said that his company made a good number of deals in the past two months.

"People have realized the importance of life insurance as they assumed that the crisis of the virus might last longer," he added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 01:15:05|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Egypt and Arab states in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic amid growing friendly ties between China and the Arab world, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said.

"So far, Chinese medical experts have held eight video conferences with Egyptian counterparts. China is so willing to strengthen remote consultation, dialogue and cooperation in the development and use of vaccines with Egypt," Liao said at an online press conference on Wednesday.

In early February, Egypt provided aid to China to help with its fight against COVID-19 and China later sent three batches of medical aid to the North African country, the latest of which was in mid-May.

"As far as I know, the Chinese side will also donate a batch of anti-epidemic materials specifically for women and adolescents in Egypt," the Chinese ambassador said.

He also hailed Egypt's "strong leadership" and the bravery of the Egyptian medics during their battle against the novel coronavirus.

Liao's remarks came a couple of days after the 9th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) was held via video link, where they discussed joint collaboration in overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The Chinese ambassador described the forum as a successful Sino-Arab diplomatic platform that "fully reflects China's close relationship with Arab countries."

On June 5, a day before the CASCF ministerial meeting, Liao delivered a batch of anti-coronavirus medical aid sent by the Chinese government to the Cairo-based Arab League. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 01:32:37|Editor: huaxia

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CHICAGO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing warming of Lake Michigan in the United States increases its susceptibility to Asian carp, in part by reducing the capacity of quagga mussels to act as an ecological barrier against the voracious algae-eating fish, according to a study led by researchers from the University of Michigan (UM).

Focusing on the two species of Asian carp, bighead and silver carp, the study looks at how three factors, namely climate change, nutrient management and the arrival of zebra and quagga mussels, have affected Lake Michigan's vulnerability to bighead and silver carp, which currently reside in adjacent watersheds but not in the lake itself, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Biological Invasions.

The simulations of historical conditions showed that Lake Michigan would have been more hospitable to Asian carp in the 1970s and 1980s, when levels of the nutrient phosphorus were much higher and zebra and quagga mussels had not yet been established. The simulations show that bighead carp would have grown roughly two to five times faster in the 1980s, compared to current conditions, with higher phosphorus levels being more influential than the absence of the mussels.

When the researchers simulated the levels of climate warming expected in coming decades, Asian carp habitat improved in two fundamental ways: the fish fed more actively in warmer waters during the spring, and the annual summer "stratification period", when lake waters separate into three distinct layers due to temperature and density differences, started earlier and lasted longer, limiting the time that top-feeding Asian carp and the bottom-dwelling mussels would compete for food in the upper portions of the water column.

Great Lakes surface temperatures are already warming faster than the global average increase, with Lake Michigan's surface waters warming at the rate of roughly half a degree Fahrenheit per decade. The duration and extent of winter ice cover across the Great Lakes is also shrinking, and climate models suggest the summer stratification period in Lake Michigan and other northern temperate lakes will grow longer and start earlier in the years ahead.

Earlier stratification would benefit Asian carp by blocking the mussels' access to food in surface waters and would also open up previously unsuitable offshore habitat to the fish earlier in the year, according to the new modeling study. In the UM-led study's simulations, warm years roughly doubled the volume of suitable habitat available to bighead carp in the spring and increased the volume of suitable springtime habitat for silver carp by nearly one-third.

Phosphorus levels emerged as the most influential of the three factors analyzed in the study of Asian carp habitat suitability across Lake Michigan. The study's "High P" scenarios resulted in the longest growing seasons for Asian carp, the greatest quantity of suitable habitat and the highest final fish weights.

The impact of Asian carp on already invaded ecosystems, as well as the proximity of the invasion front to Lake Michigan, has elevated concerns about the potential invasion of the Great Lakes via the Chicago Area Waterway System, the man-made connection between the Illinois River and Lake Michigan.

In 2019, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent Congress a plan to install carp defenses about 40 miles from Lake Michigan in Illinois. The project, which could cost more than 800 million U.S. dollars, is awaiting congressional approval.

"Our new research demonstrates that the presence of an already entrenched food competitor, the mussels, has a limited capacity to act as a barrier to a bighead and silver carp invasion, and that climate warming and nutrient enrichment could further diminish the mussels' ability to affect Asian carp habitat," said study lead author Peter Alsip of the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research.

In the 1970s, the United States imported Asian carp from China to resolve the problem of plankton. In the early 1990s, Asian carp got into the Mississippi River and since then they have expanded and multiplied rapidly. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 01:42:51|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The huge Syrian community living for years in Turkey is going through a difficult time during the COVID-19 outbreak which exacerbates their already challenging living conditions, experts said.

The over 4 million refugees in Turkey, some 3.6 million from Syria, make the country home to the world's largest refugee population.

Turkish government has announced daily figures on the coronavirus outbreak, but didn't specifically mention any data on refugees, particularly the Syrians who scattered across Turkish cities.

Some local governments in southeastern Turkey, close to the Syrian border where many Syrians live, have announced some cases of the refugee community but lack consistent data.

"Coronavirus certainly didn't spare Syrians, but the government hasn't run any nationality breakdown of infected patients, citing entitlement to equal medical treatment," Omar Kadkoy, policy analyst at the Ankara-based Economic Policy Research Foundation (TEPAV), told Xinhua.

Kadkoy, a scholar and a Syrian immigrant himself, explained that some Syrians and other asylum seekers hesitate to go to the hospitals when they have developed COVID-19 symptoms, due to misinformation, lack of identifications and language barrier.

"All of these reasons could facilitate the spread of the virus among refugees and worsen their living conditions," he said.

Turkey provides free COVID-19 treatment to all citizens and refugees alike. However, Syrians and other refugee communities such as Iraqis, Iranians and Afghans have had trouble to access masks provided by the Turkish state.

"We had no masks for a long time and only one person in the family could go out during the lockdown to buy food with a home-made mask," said Mohammad, a 26-year-old Syrian from Aleppo in northern Syria, told Xinhua.

Mohammad, who declined to give his surname, explained that he works for over two years as an unregistered worker in a small home utensils factory located in the Ankara suburbs. He and his younger brother are the breadwinners in the family.

"Economically, being a Syrian was already difficult before the virus because of problems to find jobs. Now it is harder because workshops and business owners are preparing to lay off people due to the lack of demand," he said.

He explained that he had been sent for unpaid leave for three months before being recalled to the workplace.

"Informal employment is associated with great risks," remarked Kadkoy, indicating that the pandemic has impacted both Turkish and Syrians workers, but the effect on Syrians is crueler.

"The number of Syrians on unpaid leave is three times higher than Turks, and the number of Syrians who lost their jobs is four times higher than Turks," he pointed out, citing a survey conducted by TEPAV on over 3,000 people.

Turkish state agencies and some local municipalities have launched initiatives during the pandemic to support refugees. A vast majority of Syrians are under Turkey's temporary protection program.

Nevertheless, many refugees have lost their jobs in the service industry such as in cafes and restaurants, where asylum seekers are often employed. Enditem
Judicial authorities and police in Italy and Romania, with Eurojust and Europol support dismantled a criminal network responsible for big-scale financial fraud, cybercrime and money laundering. The illicit profits are estimated to over 20 million resulting from the losses suffered by citizens throughout Europe.

12 suspects were arrested today (8 in Italy and 4 in Romania), including the two leaders of the organised criminal group (OCG). 12 house searches took place and several assets were seized, including vehicles, credit cards, jewellery, properties, and a numismatic collection with an overall estimated value of over 1.5 million.

The organised crime group (OCG) dismantled today is one of the most important transnational criminal networks discovered so far in Italy, operating in financial frauds and cyber scams such as purchase of non-existing goods and services, rental fraud (fraud through the advertisement of inexistent properties to rent), computer phishing, clone-sites phishing (impersonating of a company to trigger large transfers to bogus accounts). With these frauds, the criminals were tricking victims across Europe into making wire transfers to Italian bank accounts, owned by entities used as money mules. This way the criminals were laundering the criminal proceeds resulted from this the cybercrime activities, estimated to have caused 20 million losses for citizens throughout Europe.

Today's action day, coordinated by Eurojust, was the result of intensive cooperation between the judicial and law enforcement authorities in both countries.

The investigation was conducted in Italy by the Postal and Telecommunications Police of Genova with the support of the Central Unit of the Postal and Telecommunications Police, under the supervision of the Public Prosecution Office in Genova. In Romania, the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (Central Structure, Valcea and Bistrita-Nasaud Territorial Offices), Public Prosecutions Offices attached to Bucharest Tribunal, Court of Appeal Pitesti and Court of Appeal Cluj executed the coordinated judicial activities.

Several Romanian police units were involved, respectively Dambovita County Police, Services for Combating Organized Crime Valcea and Bistrita-Nasaud, Service for Criminal Investigations Valcea.

Eurojust played a key role in the judicial cooperation by facilitating the exchange of real-time information between the involved judicial authorities, and providing support in order to plan the operational activity carried out today. During the joint action day, Eurojust coordinated the execution of several European Arrest Warrants, European Investigation Orders and legal procedures for seizing the proceeds of crimes.

Europol supported the operation by facilitating information exchange, providing analytical and operational support.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 01:47:17|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China called for solid efforts to implement the fishing ban in the Yangtze River basin, and ensure the livelihoods of affected fishermen after they bid farewell to nets and boats, according to a circular released by the General Office of the State Council.

As the fishing ban in the Yangtze River basin is an important measure to protect the river and improve the ecological environment, local governments and related departments should roll out specific policies and measures to ensure its implementation, the circular said.

Local governments should make targeted plans to relocate fishermen and help them find new jobs, while increasing fiscal funds to ensure subsidies for the affected. They should also carry out special campaigns to crack down on illegal fishing along the river.

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-level regions along the river, according to earlier estimations. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 02:49:30|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. military bases in Iraq will be probably shut down in the future, the Iranian ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, was quoted as saying by Tehran Times daily on Wednesday.

Masjedi made the remarks on Tuesday about political developments in neighboring Iraq.

He said Iraq is currently seeking to create a balance between the "two main actors," namely Iran and the United States, and is trying to "utilize the capabilities of the two countries."

Neither Iran nor the United States can be removed from Iraq, he added.

Iran has insisted removal of the U.S. bases from Iraq, citing them as a security threat to the Islamic republic. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 03:48:13|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, July 8 (Xinhua) -- As New York City's public schools are expected to reopen in September, most students will possibly be in school two or three days a week to ensure safety, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Wednesday.

Announcing additional preliminary plans for school reopening, the mayor and the city's Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza revealed three models that would put students in different groups for in-person instruction, in which each group would spend two or three days in school every week.

While the students are not in class, they will continue with remote learning, said de Blasio at his briefing.

To get more space for in-person instruction with social distancing, schools may convert gyms, cafeterias and other facilities into temporary classrooms, according to de Blasio.

Personalized schedules will be shared with families in August, and the city's Department of Education will continue to update families so they can plan for a successful return to school buildings, he said.

The city has the country's largest public school system with over 1.1 million students in some 1,700 schools.

"Getting our kids back to school successfully and safely is the single biggest part of restarting our city. Parents have spoken clearly -- they want their children back in school buildings to the greatest extent possible," said the mayor.

A Department of Education survey released last week found that 75 percent of New York City parents want their children to return to school in September.

The mayor has said schools will have deep cleaning daily, with face-coverings and social distancing mandated, among other precautions.

However, when to reopen schools could ultimately be decided by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, who said on Wednesday that a decision will be made in the first week of August.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would push governors to reopen schools. On Wednesday, he tweeted his disagreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for safely reopening schools, saying they are "very tough and expensive."

"School reopenings are a state decision, period," Cuomo said at Wednesday's briefing in response to Trump's remarks. "That is the law, and that is the way we're going to proceed."

"We will open the schools if it is safe to open the schools," he continued. "I am not going to ask anyone to put their child in a situation that I would not put my child in, and that's how I make these decisions." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 03:49:45|Editor: huaxia

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ABIDJAN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire's Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died in Abidjan on Wednesday, according to a statement by Ivorian Television Broadcasting (RTI).

"Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died this Wednesday, July 8, 2020 in Abidjan," announced RTI, the leading channel on national television.

No other official information was available late in the evening.

Coulibaly, who had undergone a heart implantation, returned from France on May 2 after a coronary angiography and a stent placement in Paris.

On March 13, Coulibaly was designated "by consensus" as candidate of the Rassemblement des Houphouetistes pour la Democratie et la Paix (RHDP) for the presidential election of Oct. 31 in Cote d'Ivoire. President Alassane Ouattara decided he would not hold a third term.

Coulibaly had served as prime minister since 2017, and he was one of the faithful members of Ouattara with whom he has collaborated for 30 years.

Aged 61, this engineer from public works was secretary-general of the presidency before being appointed prime minister. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 03:52:28|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Increasing insecurity in June has upped the number of people forced from their homes in Burkina Faso to 921,000, making it one of the fastest-growing displacement crises in the world, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

"Increasing insecurity has also made humanitarian access more difficult," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The land-locked country on the southern fringe of the Sahel in West Africa has been suffering from Jihadist attacks.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that all the country's 13 regions have now suffered from the attacks, with 90 percent of the displaced living in host communities.

Food insecurity has also increased, and market disruptions will further affect areas hard hit by insecurity and displacement, OCHA said.

"The temporary suspension of schools has impacted 5.1 million children, in a context where more than half of primary and lower secondary school age children were already out of school," the humanitarian office said.

Some 2.9 million people impacted need humanitarian assistance in the country, compared to 2.2 million in January, OCHA said.

The revised UN Humanitarian Response Plan now seeks 424 million U.S. dollars - about a third more than originally planned. But Dujarric said only 22.8 percent is funded so far. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 04:15:48|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Qatari medical experts on Wednesday held a video conference to share experience and expertise in fighting COVID-19, as the pandemic sweeps the Gulf states and the entire Middle East region.

Health officials and experts from China and Qatar, including Zhong Nanshan, a renowned respiratory professor from China's Guangzhou Medical University, Zhou Jian, the Chinese ambassador to Qatar, and Saleh Ali Al-Marri, assistant minister of public health for health affairs, attended the conference.

The Chinese experts briefed Qatari counterparts on China's experience in COVID-19 prevention and treatment, as well as the implementation of coronavirus testing technologies.

The two sides also held in-depth exchanges of views on the issues that Qatar is most concerned about, including coronavirus prevention and control, test analysis, clinic care, vaccine development and social management.

Qatar's Health Ministry on Wednesday announced 608 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections in the Gulf state to 101,553.

The death toll rose to 138 and the total recoveries reached 96,107, the ministry said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia registered on Wednesday 3,036 new coronavirus cases, increasing the accumulated infections to 220,144.

The recoveries also rose to 158,050 with the reporting of 3,211 new recovered cases, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The kingdom also recorded 42 fatalities in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 2,059.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced 445 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 53,045.

UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention said 568 more patients have recovered from the virus, taking the tally of recoveries in the UAE to 42,282, according to the ministry.

It also confirmed one more death, pushing the country's death toll to 327.

Oman announced on Wednesday the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the country exceeded 50,000, including over 32,000 recovered cases.

The Ministry of Health said that 1,210 COVID-19 positive cases were recorded, bringing the total number in the country to 50,207.

Nine new fatalities from the COVID-19 were reported, bringing the death toll to 233. The tally of recovered cases rose by 1,005 to 32,005.

Iran on Wednesday reported 2,691 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total confirmed infections in the country to 248,379, remaining the hardest-hit state in the Middle East.

Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said 153 people died overnight, raising the death toll over the virus to 12,084.

So far, 209,463 people have recovered and 3,309 are still in intense condition, she said.

Turkey's COVID-19 cases increased by 1,041 the same day, while the total cases climbed to 208,938, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

Meanwhile, 22 people died in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 5,282, and 2,219 patients recovered in the last 24 hours, raising the total recoveries to 187,511 in Turkey.

Vaccination researches in Turkey continue on animal trials, the minister said, noting that the process has been successful. "I think that we can start clinical studies with the ministry of health in September or October."

Iraqi Health Ministry recorded 2,741 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 67,442.

The ministry also confirmed 94 more deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 2,779 in the country.

Morocco registered 164 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, raising the tally of infections in the North African country to 14,771, the Ministry of Health said.

The death toll from the virus reached 242, and the number of cured patients has increased to 11,316.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Yemen's government-controlled provinces increased to 1,318, as 21 new cases were confirmed.

A shipment of COVID-19 protective equipment landed at Sanaa Airport on Wednesday, health authorities said.

The shipment, carrying 18 tons of supplies, was delivered by the United Nations Children's Fund to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the war-ravaged country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 04:52:36|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Egypt confirmed on Wednesday 1,025 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total cases registered in the country to 78,304, said Egyptian Health Ministry.

And 75 patients died from the novel coronavirus, raising the death toll to 3,564, while 523 patients were cured and discharged from hospitals, increasing the total recoveries to 22,241, Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement.

Egypt announced its first confirmed COVID-19 case on Feb. 14 and the first death from the highly infectious virus on March 8.

Daily infections in the country have been surpassing 1,000 since May 28, except for July 6 when 969 cases were reported. A record of 1,774 daily infections was seen on June 19.

Egypt resumed international flights on July 1 after more than three months of suspension, amid a "coexistence plan" to maintain anti-coronavirus precautionary measures while resuming economic activities.

The country has recently lifted a partial nighttime curfew it imposed over the past three months, and reopened restaurants, cafes, theaters and cinemas, as well as hotels, museums and archeological sites for tourists, all with limited capacity.

Egypt and China have been cooperating closely in fighting the pandemic through exchanging medical aid and expertise.

In early February, Egypt provided aid to China to help with its fight against COVID-19 and China later returned favor by sending three batches of medical aid to the North African country, the latest of which was in mid-May.

"So far, Chinese medical experts have held eight video conferences with Egyptian counterparts. China is so willing to strengthen remote consultation, dialogue and cooperation in the development and use of vaccines with Egypt," Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said at an online press conference on Wednesday.

On July 5, Liao delivered a batch of anti-coronavirus medical aid sent by the Chinese government to the Cairo-based Arab League. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 04:57:23|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish rescue teams on Wednesday found the wreck of a missing illegal migrant boat in Lake Van in eastern Turkey, authorities said.

The location of the boat, which sank "while carrying illegal irregular migrants" in Lake Van, was determined by the Specialized Underwater Search and Rescue Team of the Navy that participated in the search and rescue mission.

It was discovered 106.5 meters deep under the water, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said in a written statement.

The efforts continue to recover the wreckage and bodies that may be inside the boat, Van governorate said in a written statement.

The boat was reported missing in the lake which is close to the border with Iran late last month. The search was underway for the past 10 days both in air and in sea, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported.

And 11 people have been arrested for the incident over human smuggling charges. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 05:01:17|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday said that 18 illegal immigrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast, while seven others died at sea.

"Today, 18 migrants were returned to Tripoli, Libya by the coast guard ... seven people lost their lives during the week they spent floating at sea," IOM tweeted.

"Four of the migrants were in critical health condition and were transferred to a clinic," IOM said.

Encouraged by the state of insecurity and chaos that plagued the country since the 2011 fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, illegal immigrants choose to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya towards Europe.

IOM estimated that more than 5,700 illegal immigrants have been rescued and returned to Libya by the Libyan Coast Guard so far this year, while 9,225 illegal immigrants were rescued and returned to Libya in 2019. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 05:36:05|Editor: huaxia

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HAVANA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Wednesday blamed the current global economic and health crisis on neoliberalism and capitalism.

In an address to the International Labour Organization's (ILO) virtual global summit on COVID-19, the Cuban leader warned that "unemployment has multiplied and social vulnerability is on the rise, increasing inequality and poverty."

However, the novel coronavirus pandemic is not the only factor to have undermined wellbeing around the world, said Diaz-Canel.

"The terrible impact and disastrous consequences of the pandemic throughout the world are not due to this lethal virus alone. Years of neoliberal policy and savage capitalism, governed by market forces, are the deepest cause of the grave global situation," Diaz-Canel said.

Some 305 million jobs have been lost to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, said the Cuban leader, citing experts.

Diaz-Canel called for "coordinated actions" to prioritize the rights of workers, and noted that Cuba has succeeded in providing its people with healthcare and other basic needs despite a decades-old trade embargo by the United States.

As a founding member of the ILO, Cuba is willing to continue to strengthen multilateralism, solidarity and international cooperation, and to make progress toward a more just world, he said. Enditem
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 05:40:32|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Reaching swiftly an agreement on an ambitious European recovery package is the European Union's highest priority for the coming weeks, the bloc's leaders agreed at a meeting Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Germany took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU on July 1. Charles Michel, Ursula von der Leyen and David Sassoli -- the three top officials of the EU -- analyzed with Merkel the economic forecasts for the coming months that point to a severe recession and noted that the crisis will have deep social impacts across the bloc.

A readout from the European Union (EU) said they stressed that it would be essential that Heads of State and Government of the EU's 27 member states reach an agreement on the EU's long-term budget and recovery plan during next week's European Council meeting in order to allow further detailed negotiations to start.

The recovery plan envisions 500 billion euros in grants to EU member states, largely in southern Europe, that are hit hardest by the pandemic. Fiscally conservative and wealthy northern states have so far been reluctant to greenlight such an important part of the recovery plan. The EU's long-term budget, which will span seven years, is also traditionally difficult as horse-trading between 27 member states are difficult to maneuver.

"If we want to come out stronger from the crisis, we must all change for the better. And this is what Europeans expect us to do," von der Leyen said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 06:09:22|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 20, 2020 shows a school closed due to COVID-19 in New Orleans, Louisiana, the United States. (Photo by Lan Wei/Xinhua)

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened in his tweets to "cut off federal funding" for schools if they do not resume in-person learning this fall.

WASHINGTON, July 8 (Xinhua) -- White House on Wednesday continued to push states to reopen schools in the fall as the country's COVID-19 cases passed 3 million with over 132,000 deaths.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened in his tweets to "cut off federal funding" for schools if they do not resume in-person learning this fall and criticized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for "their very tough & expensive guidelines" for opening schools.

During a press briefing of the White House coronavirus task force that took place a few hours later at the Education Department, Vice President Mike Pence said the CDC would issue new guidance on reopening schools next week.

"We don't want the guidance from CDC to be a reason why schools don't open," Pence said. "I think that every American, every American knows that we can safely reopen our schools."

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence gestures as he attends a press conference on COVID-19 at the White House in Washington D.C. March 10, 2020.(Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"Remember it's guidance, it's not requirements, and its purpose is to facilitate the reopening and keeping open the schools in this country," CDC Director Robert Redfield said.

On Tuesday, Trump said at a White House meeting with government officials and school administrators "we're very much going to put pressure on governors and everyone else to open the schools."

"Our country has got to get back, and it's got to get back as soon as possible, and I don't consider our country coming back if the schools are closed," he said.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Monday that international students may have to leave the United States if their universities switch to online-only courses for the fall 2020 semester, warning that otherwise they will risk violating their visa status.

A woman rides a bicycle on Georgetown University's main campus in Washington D.C., the United States, on July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The escalation of the Trump administration's drive to reopen schools came when the country's COVID-19 infections broke 3 million cases and outbreaks continue to rage in new hot spots in the South and West.

The United States set a record for the most cases reported in a single day -- 60,021 on Tuesday.

In 35 states, the rates of new cases keep increasing, threatening to reverse the progress made during weeks of painful shutdowns and stay-at-home orders, according to a report by CNN.

The CNN report described the speed of COVID-19 spreading in the United States as "ferocious" as six months ago, "no one thought" the virus existed in the country.

"The first reported case came on January 21. Within 99 days, 1 million Americans became infected. It took just 43 days after that to reach 2 million cases," it sid. "And 28 days later, the US reached 3 million cases of the novel coronavirus Wednesday."

A widely cited mortality model from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) projected on Tuesday that U.S. deaths would reach 208,000 by Nov. 1, with the outbreak expected to gain new momentum heading into the fall.

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, arrives to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on COVID-19 in Washington D.C., the United States, on June 30, 2020. (Al Drago/Pool via Xinhua)

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease expert, said Monday that the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country is "really not good."

However, Trump on Tuesday rebuked Fauci's assessment, saying the country "is in a good place."

"We've done a good job," the president said at an interview on Gray Television. "I think we are going to be in two, three, four weeks, by the time we next speak, I think we're going to be in very good shape."

On Tuesday, the Trump administration officially submitted its notification of withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) to United Nations secretary-general and Congress.

The United States will leave the WHO on July 6, 2021, and currently it owes the organization more than 200 million U.S. dollars in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 06:10:43|Editor: huaxia

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HOUSTON, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Wednesday that Houston First Corporation agreed to cancel the Texas Republican Party convention scheduled later this month in the city.

"The convention is not moving forward because of its public health risk it poses," Turner said, noting Houston First's contract with the state Republican Party included the right to cancel during a health crisis.

The convention, scheduled to be held at Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center from July 16 to 18, is expected to bring around 6,000 people.

A local government corporation formed in 2011, Houston First manages more than 10 city-owned buildings. It operates the George R. Brown Convention center.

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Houston, Turner has asked the Texas Republican Executive Committee to change the in-person event into a virtue one.

Texas Republican Party Chairman James Dickey said in a statement that the party is "prepared to take all necessary steps to proceed in the peaceable exercise of our constitutionally protected rights," the Houston Chronicle reported.

Houston reported 204 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 25,600. Houston Health Department said that because of the computer system slowdown, they believed the actual daily new cases would be higher. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-09 06:17:23|Editor: huaxia

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LIMA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Peru's Air Force (FAP) on Wednesday said it located the remains of seven people whose MI-17 military helicopter disappeared over the Peruvian Amazon on Tuesday.

After resuming the search and rescue operation earlier in the day, the FAP found "the aircraft that crashed near the community of Chija ... in the province of Bagua," in the north of the country.

Among the dead were four crew members and three passengers, the air force said in a statement.

An investigation has been launched "to determine the causes of the regrettable accident," the FAP said.

Peru's President Martin Vizcarra expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, who he said were on a mission to deliver food supplies to vulnerable communities in the Amazon region amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Certain parts of the rainforest can only be accessed by air, "and this was one of those cases," said Vizcarra. Enditem


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South Africa: Locally developed ventilator to assist in COVID-19 fight

A locally manufactured ventilator is set to hit state hospitals nationwide to assist patients showing respiratory distress in the early phase of COVID-19 infection.

The ventilator is the fruit of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with a number of local partners.

The development forms part of governments National Ventilator Project (NVP) under the auspices of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), and is supported by the Solidarity Fund.

The first batch of ventilators will be provided to state hospitals around the country that are currently experiencing pressure due to the unavailability of equipment to deal with the pandemic.

The CSIR solution is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device that uses an innovative design to provide a mild level of oxygenated air pressure to keep the airways open and, thus, assist with breathing.

The units are non-invasive and fill the need for readily available breathing apparatus, deployed and applied easily  even outside of hospitals if needs be  for intervention in cases where patients are at an early, not-intensive stage of respiratory distress caused by the Coronavirus.

The device can be used in both high-tech clinical environments, as well as temporary settings, such as field hospitals and quarantine facilities that have been established across the country to handle rising COVID-19 cases.

Under the project name, CSIR L.I.F.E. (Lung Inspiratory Flow Enabler), the system uses standard hospital-grade oxygen supply and features easy-to-use, on-device flow gages to adjust Fraction of Inspired Oxygen in steps of 10% oxygenation.

Design and manufacture

The device is wholly designed and produced in South Africa by the CSIR and local manufacturing and industry partners like Siemens, Simera, Akacia, Gabler, Umoya and the University of Cape Town (UCT), with others soon to join.

According to CSIR Future Production Executive Manager Martin Sanne, the clinical requirement from the NVP was for the rapid development and distributed production of a non-invasive pre-intubation ventilation solution that could be used for most hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

While ensuring that we achieve this in a short period of time, we had to ensure that we follow a rigorous, documented product lifecycle methodology that would ensure scalable manufacturing, as well as compliance and licensing under the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and guidelines of the World Health Organization, he said on Wednesday.

Siemens provided the necessary software support for the product lifecycle management, as well as software to facilitate rapid production scaling.

This included components for systems engineering processes, computer-aided design tools, manufacturing execution tools, as well as quality management solutions that would ensure compliance with health product regulations for certification.

Using a digital product lifecycle design methodology also ensures that the product can be manufactured in multiple factories in the industry and in large volumes.

This way, we remain true to the role of the CSIR  which is to perform research and development that is cutting edge, involves local industry in their niche areas, and ensures that together we address issues that are of national importance.

By June, the necessary research and development had been completed and the CPAP system was tested at UCTs medical devices laboratory, which houses specialised apparatus to evaluate such products.

This led to regulatory approval and licensing obtained from the SAHPRA.

According to the CSIR, discussions are ongoing with the Health Department and the DTIC, to produce additional devices before the end of August as data on the spread of the virus becomes available.

In another project, the CSIR is also working on a Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure ventilator with a local partner to develop a solution for patients with more severe symptoms.

These units assist with both inhalation and exhalation, either in fixed pressure modes or by sensing the oxygen supply required by a patient and adjusting the pressure accordingly.

The CSIR is an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 83F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain...mainly this evening. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
South Africa: Science Department considers African medicine in COVID-19 war

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says the Department of Science and Innovation is in the process of implementing multiple interventions, including the use of African medicine, as immune-modulators and anti-Coronavirus therapeutics.

Addressing the media on Wednesday on further measures being implemented on COVID-19 within the Higher Education, Science and Innovation sectors, Nzimande said the Indigenous Knowledge-Based Bio-Innovation Programme has been working with the African Medicines COVID-19 Research Team in researching several South African herbs and formulations, with documented evidence for treatment of respiratory infections, signs and symptoms.

One of the herbs our team is working on is Artemisia afra (Umhlonyane in Nguni languages), Nzimande said.

Nzimande said the department has reassigned R15 million from existing Indigenous Knowledge projects to support COVID-19 interventions. The department has submitted a proposal for additional funding, especially for clinical studies, Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) support cultivation, agro-processing, and job creation.

Research of Cannabis Industrialisation Master Plan

The Minister said the department is also leading a Research and Innovation Pillar of the Cannabis Industrialisation Master Plan.

To this extent, our focus is to develop medicinal products for COVID-19, cancers, diabetes, TB and HIV/Aids and neurodegenerative diseases, amongst others.

He said the Indigenous Knowledge-Based Bio-Innovation Programme has five other platforms in nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, technology transfer (incubation) and commercialisation (entrepreneurship), which includes the South African Bureau of Standards, University of Venda, University of Witwatersrand, University of South Africa (UNISA), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and emerging SMEs supported by these platforms.

Guidelines for Evaluation of Traditional Medicines

Nzimande said processes are underway at the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) for the establishment of dedicated structures for African medicines regulations, evaluation of African medicines clinical trials, and registration of these medicines for commercial and clinical application.

As the Department of Science and Innovation, we place high value in conducting ethical and responsible research, development and innovation initiatives as we continue to build on our previous work with the World Health Organisation-African Regional Office (WHO-AFRO) in the development of Guidelines for Evaluation of Traditional Medicines.

Our partnering healers organisations and Indigenous Knowledge-based SMMEs are fully apprised on these processes. On 8 and 18 May 2020, the departments African Medicines Platform held a meeting with WHO-AFRO to review the role of African medicines against COVID-19 and to discuss ways in which South Africa can work with WHO-AFRO in ensuring that recognised research protocols are observed, the Minister explained.

Natural Indigenous Products Fund

Together with the Technology Innovation Agency and the Industrial Development Corporation, Nzimande said the department has created the Natural Indigenous Products Fund, under the Bio-Products Advancement Network South Africa (BioPanza) initiative.

Through these initiatives, we will be creating small and medium enterprises owned by Indigenous Knowledge holders, thus, creating decent job opportunities, alleviating poverty, and empowering the poor.

Our departments decadal plans envisage the establishment of an Indigenous Knowledge-based Bio-Innovation Institute, which will be a precursor to Africas first Plant-Based Pharmaceutical Industry, Nzimande said.

Support to governments testing drive

To strengthen South Africas Active Case Finding (ACF) strategy, Nzimande said the Department of Science and Innovation -- together with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) -- issued a call for proposals to South African companies and researchers to develop Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) reagents and kits that can be locally manufactured to address bottlenecks in South Africas COVID-19 testing.

The Minister said the call was developed in collaboration with the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and SAPHRA, and has developed specific guidelines for the registration of locally developed tests, reagents and test kits.

This is a unique example of multiple government departments, research councils and funding agencies working together with academia and the private sector to accelerate local innovation, Nzimande said.

In the beginning of the pandemic, the department embarked on a process to repurpose some of the countrys laboratories to assist in testing. This resulted in a number of laboratories, which were doing other scientific work, being supported to refocus on work in support of COVID-19.

I am pleased that today labs such as those at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research (CPGR), KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), among others, are already conducting tests or ready to receive samples from the NHLS.

The CSIR, for example, is already doing tests for Eskom and Gold Fields. This is directly assisting our countrys state of readiness, as we work towards getting our economy back on track, the Minister said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.


As Santayana warned, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned

to repeat it." And those who would destroy those memories are bent on being the

new slave masters. (Stone Mountain Park/Facebook), iStock-487527539

"A large group of armed protesters on Saturday marched through Georgia's Stone Mountain Park, calling for the park's massive Confederate carving to be removed," the Associated Press reports.

"Stone Mountain Memorial Association spokesman John Bankhead said there were between 100 and 200 protesters. He said the protesters, many of whom carried large rifles, were peaceful."

There have been claims that some whites have been harassed, but the way events unfolded generally corroborates Bankhead's assessment. And the fact that no one saw fit to mess with the marchers demonstrates for all to see the real-world deterrence being armed provides. It's not hard to see why.

But the bottom line is, they broke no law. What they did break is a myth perpetuated by gun-grabbers to fabricate further racial division, that whites change their tune when blacks arm up. .....
The Democrats officially have entered the ring, ensuring three local races will be contested in this years General Election.

Last week, just prior to the deadline to fill ballot vacancies, the Howard County Democratic Party added three of its own to the election ticket. In doing so, the local party has set up political battles in the race for Howard County Council at-large, Howard County Commissioner District 2, and Howard County Treasurer.

Democrat Warren Sims officially filed to run for one of the three available at-large seats on the Howard County Council. That race provided the only contested local primary this year, paving the way for Sims to face Republicans Daryl Maple, Martha Lake, and James Papacek in the fall.

Sims is a native of Kokomo, a local business owner, and U.S. Army veteran.

In 2000 Sims graduated from Kokomo High School and went on to serve in the Army from 2009 to 2016. He served a tour in Afghanistan from 2014 to 2015, and when he returned home, he opened All American Auto Service.

Im just active in the community and continue staying active in the community, said Sims. Thats never going to change, elected or not elected. Thats not going to change. Kokomo is home for me. I got to see the other side of the world and see what that looked like in probably not so many pretty pictures for some folks and some things that others will never experience. So, I appreciate more of what weve got here after that experience.

Sims said he was partially motivated to run after last years election, wherein Republicans swept Democrats in the elections for Kokomo Common Council and mayor. That election brought in a host of new elected officials, and Sims said he wanted to join the ranks of those serving in public office.

I think anything and everything about what I do comes back to common sense and forward thinking, said Sims. I would tell a voter, if they were talking to me, Do your homework  Do your homework on a candidate. If Im your candidate, Im going to bring common sense and forward thinking. This is a very unique election because were coming off a COVID-19 pandemic that nobody could have seen coming. Nobody could have planned for it. I think as a county, city, all of us together working collectively, well figure out how to move forward from that. Its going to be very common sense and forward thinking from me. Weve got to run this like a business and make sure were doing this for all people, making sure resources are available for all.

Democrat Rick Emry now will face incumbent Republican Commissioner Jack Dodd in the District 2 race as well.

Also a veteran, Emry received a congressional nomination to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy and graduated in 1981. He spent the next 23 years active in the United States Naval Reserves and obtained the rank of commander before retirement. He is also a veteran of Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and he was mobilized twice after 9/11.

Hes also worked at Municipal Utility in Logansport, as a branch manager for Sears, and for the post office prior to retiring.

The reason Im running is because, one, I think I can be of service to the community, said Emry. I think I have a wealth of knowledge because Ive lived in other parts of the country, and Ive lived in other countries. It gives me a unique perspective of things and the challenges we face.

Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute

Emry said the biggest issue facing Howard County, at the moment, was COVID-19 and the various impacts its created in the community.

I think the biggest thing that everyone will face is COVID-19, said Emry. This thing has just gotten out of hand. Until theres a vaccine, this impacts everybodys daily life. And I think it will continue to impact everybodys daily life until there is a vaccine. To the realm of education, secondary education, colleges, work, and I think you need people that want to put party aside and address the issue. Lets brainstorm this because there wont be one set answer, and I think that has been demonstrated by the virus itself.

Interestingly, Emry was involved in local politics earlier this year after the Howard County Republican Party sought to replace Greg Jones on the Kokomo Common Council. Emry threw his name in the hat to be considered by Republicans to fill the vacancy left by Jones resignation from the council. He was ultimately unsuccessful and now has filed as a Democrat in this years election. Emry defended the flip-flop.

Its really not a shift, said Emry. One thing that came out of that caucus was, I wish youd voted more times as a Republican, because they had to go back like four or five, maybe six years to find when I had voted in a primary as a designated Republican. That was kind of a long shot. I knew going in that would probably be my Achilles heel. The Democratic Party here in Howard County, basically before they chose to put me on the ballot, they pretty much drug me through the wringer. I had to answer that to their satisfaction. I think with my answer and the grilling I got, I showed that I was informed enough to be a viable candidate on the Democratic ticket.

Democrat Ed Foster also will appear on the ballot running for Howard County Treasurer. His opponent is incumbent Treasurer Christie Branch, who went unopposed in the primaries. She ascended to her current position after former-Treasurer Wes Reed vacated the position to join Mayor Tyler Moore as an employee in city hall.

This isnt Fosters first run for office. In 2016 he also ran for the position but lost to Reed in the General Election.

Foster possesses an accounting degree from Wayne State University and has utilized his financial background for work in Kokomo. Hes worked for 35 years in accounting in the healthcare industry. He also previously served as an NCO with the United States Marine Corp.

Most recently, hes served with a myriad of nonprofits in the area. Hes served on the board for the Dr. Martin Luther King Commission, working as the organizations treasurer and also on the nonprofits fiannce committee. Hes also the treasurer for the Indiana Black Expo and chairman of that groups finance committee. Hes the former president of Carver Community Center and held the position of treasurer for 13 years on that board. Hes also the treasurer for his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi chapter Nu Mu Nu.

Foster said he wanted to bring a new set of eyes to the treasurers office.

I think my primary focus is to make some changes in the office of the Howard County Treasurer, said Foster. I constantly see where theyre doing well. Theyre getting good audits and that sort of thing. And thats a good thing, but I think you can always improve upon something. Thats what Im interested in doing because Im sure there are areas that are lacking. If you go and do an analysis of that area, Im sure I can find some areas where they can receive some benefit from my knowledge and my understanding of accounting and finances.

What I found out, what I understand, in that position in that office, they basically have been doing pretty much the same thing over and over again. And its been having good results. But theres going to come a time when youll need somebody to face a particular problem or situation, and when that surfaces, youll need someone who knows how to handle those problems or those situations. And with my background and my experience, Im ready to tackle any problem in finance or accounting, any situation that may come up.

The General Election is slated for Nov. 3.
For the first time in more than a decade, a new mayor delivered Kokomos State of the City address.

Mayor Tyler Moore gave his first State of the City address last Wednesday since taking office at the beginning of the year. As Moore made clear throughout his speech in city hall, COVID-19 deeply has impacted the area, and he blamed the virus for shifting the plans he had for his administration when he first took office.

Moore spent the majority of his time at the podium reflecting on the virus impact, honoring those who have worked on the front lines serving the community during the pandemic, from city employees to healthcare workers and teachers. He also laid out some new details on what his administration will be working toward in the future. Here are some key takeaways from the State of the City address.

1. Championing FCA US

Moore pointed out that his administration began on a high note as FCA announced the move to convert Indiana Transmission Plant II to Kokomo Engine Plant (KEP) in March. That $400 million retooling of the idled Kokomo plant is expected to preserve 1,000 jobs, while adding 200 more.

That brings FCAs reinvestment in our community to more than $2 billion since 2009, said Moore. Future generations of Kokomo workers will be ensured of an opportunity to work hard to produce a quality product for a fair wage.

2. New production during pandemic

During the pandemic, General Motors partnered with Ventec Life Systems to produce ventilators in a GM Kokomo facility. As part of that effort, more than 1,000 full-time and part-time workers filled positions within the plant to produce the ventilators, which were used across the country to save individuals suffering from COVID-19. With that work underway, Moore hoped to capitalize on it to diversify a local economy that is heavily dependent upon the automotive industry.

What a testament this has been to the quality of the facilities GM had available and the incredible workforce the Kokomo area possessed, said Moore. Even Washington was impressed with what was being accomplished here with telling the world Kokomo was a great place. We already knew that, so it was reassuring as a community to have the president acknowledge that. And with Ventecs commitment to remain in Kokomo indefinitely, we now have another exciting opportunity to diversify our local economy within the medical manufacturing industry.

3. Capitalizing

According to Moore, KEP and local ventilator production has provided further opportunity for Kokomo that needs to be capitalized on. The main initiative to do so, according to Moore, is the development of an industrial park near KEP through a partnership between the city and the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance.

Moore said that effort would be stepped up.

I mentioned the need for this time and time again last year and now realize that it is time to get more aggressive in our plans. With FCA, GM, and Ventec buzzing with activity and continued investment, Kokomo has the opportunity to land potential suppliers in both industries as soon as we can market an available site, he said.

The project had been underway prior to Moore taking office, with GKEDA working toward acquiring properties near the FCA plant for the project and also acquiring grants to fund research into the parks plans.

4. Hotel conference center isnt dead

Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute

Recently, news surfaced that the much-touted downtown hotel conference center project was on an indefinite delay due to COVID-19. Additionally, the future looked a bit murkier with another developer potentially being considered for the hotel conference center, which comes after multiple developers already have come and gone from the project. But, Moore reiterated that no one has stuck a knife in the project that began under Mayor Greg Goodnight.

This project is not dead and has been very much a part of conversations with developers, the Alliance leadership, and automotive museum guys, said Moore. Yes, the project is on hold due to the current climate and the potential change in the overall footprint of the facilities, but this project is definitely still on the table. Stay tuned for more as things develop.

5. Paths, parks, and trails

During his address, Moore laid out a few plans he had for the city of Kokomos paths and parks, as well as its trail systems.

According to Moore, over the next two or three years the city would work to install walking paths and sidewalks along Alto Road between Indian Heights and the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library South Branch, along Berkley Road between Markland Avenue and Sycamore Street, along Center Road between Dixon Road and State Road 931, and along Goyer Road between Boulevard Street and Markland Avenue.

Additionally, he promised to work to continue expanding local trail extensions, putting an emphasis on the area southwest from the Markland Avenue trailhead. There also would be a new sidewalk project undertaken around Indiana University Kokomo, which will include a protected crosswalk on Washington Street connecting the Annex to the main campus of the local university.

Having our city continue to be viewed as a walkable community needs a plan in place to allow our citizens in many of our other heavy residential areas to have safe and easy access to so much more in our community on foot or by bike, said Moore. I am committed to this plan.

The mayor also said plans are in the works for local parks.

We look forward to the possibility of adding lights, restrooms, and an additional splash pad down at Jackson Morrow Park and providing upgrades to much of the equipment in others in the next few years, said Moore. Our trails are taking citizens to our parks, so we want to make sure theyre in the best shape possible.

Moore also noted that plans are underway to connect the city to Russiaville via and potentially Clinton County via a trail.

6. Focusing on public safety

Perhaps the central focus of last years election was public safety, chiefly in regards to Kokomo Police Department and Kokomo Fire Department.

Since Moore took office, the city has added nine new police officers to the ranks of KPD, some of whom came via lateral transfers. But, the mayor stressed that more was needed in order to actually grow the department.

Chief Doug Stout has implemented changes that have made the department more efficient in light of staffing challenges, said Moore. And although we were fortunate to hire nine additional officers, we will unfortunately net zero out by the end of the year with those with scheduled retirements. Therefore, the department is working to improve its recruiting process, especially with regards to making KPD more diverse.

With the fire department, new recruits also have been added since Moore took office. The mayor championed a restructuring of the department at the hands of Chief Chris Frazier, which he said helped to fully utilize existing personnel and allowed for greater efficiency. Additionally, Moore said the department also is working to improve its recruitment process and will aim to add more firefighters in the future.

My commitment to get KPD and KFD back to the prestige they once held is a priority of this administration, and we all realize it wont be an overnight accomplishment, said Moore. It may not be immediate, but it will be accomplished. I am proud to work with and for the Kokomo Police Department and Kokomo Fire Department.
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U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun / Korea Times file



NK rules out talks ahead of US diplomat arrival



By Kang Seung-woo



U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun's three-day visit to Seoul from Tuesday to Thursday will be focused on showing the strength of the South Korea-United States alliance, according to diplomatic experts.



They say the secretary and his counterpart will have to demonstrate that South Korea and the United States are on the same page about pending issues, including North Korea, rather than extending new offers to Pyongyang amid stalled nuclear negotiations.



Hours ahead of Bigun's arrival here, the North repeated its inflammatory rhetoric against the South's attempt to facilitate another U.S.-North Korea summit, reiterating that it has no immediate intent to resume dialogue with Washington.



"President Moon Jae-in is in the process of updating his foreign policy team. So Biegun's visit isn't about a breakthrough with North Korea, but rather alliance coordination with South Korea," Leif-Eric Easley, an associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University, told The Korea Times.



Last Friday, Moon reshuffled his diplomacy and national security team, bring in so-called pro-North Korea figures including National Intelligence Service director nominee Park Jie-won, a key figure in arranging the first inter-Korean summit in 2000. The overhaul has raised speculation that the Moon administration may seek to push inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation without coordination with the U.S. government, which has insisted that such cooperation should proceed in lockstep with progress on denuclearization.



"Washington and Seoul want to be on the same page about upcoming defense exercises and how a bilateral working group can endorse more inter-Korean projects within the limits of international sanctions," Easley added.



The South Korea-U.S. working group, which was established in November 2018 to coordinate issues related to the North, is under fire for its "excessively harsh standards" that have often hindered progress in inter-Korean affairs. Last month, Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, met Biegun in the U.S. to discuss ways to improve the working group's operations.



Joseph DeTrani, a former U.S. special envoy to the six-party talks, also said the Biegun visit is timely and significant as there are growing whispers that the allies disagree on policies toward North Korea.



"I think Biegun's visit to Seoul is important because, as allies, it's important that we collaborate closely on all issues, especially those affecting North Korea," DeTrani told The Korea Times.



"There has been too much speculation that U.S.-ROK relations are strained and going in a negative direction. If there are issues, like Special Measures Agreement (SMA)-related funding, then let's resolve it amicably and quickly, as we did previously."



The SMA determines the amount of money the government pays for the stationing of the U.S. Forces Korea and includes wages for Korean workers as well as the cost for construction projects and logistical support. The two sides have failed to narrow the gap on how much more the South should contribute despite multiple rounds of negotiations.



Through Biegun's visit, DeTrani advised the allies to show a strong alliance to the Kim Jong-un regime.



"I'm confident North Korea will be watching the Biegun visit closely, so it's important we show solidarity, with the goal of a peaceful resolution to issues with North Korea, pursuant to the Singapore Summit Joint statement of June 2018 and the Panmunjeom Declaration of April 2018," he said.



When Biegun's trip first came to light last week, speculation was rampant that he could be conveying a message from U.S. President Donald Trump to the North, which may include an offer to hold another summit ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.



However, experts say there is little chance that Biegun's visit would achieve a breakthrough in the nuclear talks.



"I doubt there will be a breakthrough in the nuclear negotiations. Clearly the South Korean government is hoping for a breakthrough and they are doing everything, as signaled by the reshuffle of the senior leadership dealing with North Korea, to salvage their engagement policy," Daniel Sneider, an expert on Korean and Japanese foreign policy at Stanford University, told The Korea Times.



"But I see no evidence of a serious interest on the part of the North Korean leadership, or the Trump administration, to move from the positions they held going back to the Hanoi summit. Unless Biegun is bringing some indication that Trump is ready to give in to North Korean demands to lift sanctions in exchange for very limited moves on the nuclear front, I don't see much basis for another summit or even for any level of negotiations."



Earlier on Saturday, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said that his country did not feel any need to sit face to face with the U.S. accusing Washington of trying to take advantage of the bilateral talks as "a tool for grappling its political crisis."



"Explicitly speaking once again, we have no intention to sit face to face with the U.S.," Kwon Jong-gun, director-general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's American Affairs Department, said in a statement.



U.S. Naval War College professor Terence Roehrig expects that the U.S. side might offer working-level talks to the North, which can help the stalled nuclear diplomacy.



"Any big breakthrough or announcement of a summit meeting is unlikely but perhaps there might be an offer on lower-level working group talks between the U.S. and North Korea," he said.



"Working-level talks may be the better starting point for dialogue to resume to see what may be possible rather than another summit. Dialogue and diplomacy that are part of a well-thought out strategy are worth the effort but expectations of the possible outcomes need to be tempered with realism."


The official was welcomed by Dr. Edward Malaga-Trillo professor, researcher, and head of the laboratory who said the low-cost test will deliver results in 40 minutes.

According to Malaga-Trillo, the test procedure does not require sophisticated equipment, which facilitates its transfer to other areas of the country for testing.

Molinelli noted that EsSalud supports the development and promotion of new technologies. In addition, she said this type of initiatives constitutes a great support for the country and will be useful in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

"Here we are at the Biotechnology Laboratory at Cayetano Heredia University, where molecular tests which will be very useful and helpful to combat COVID-19 are being developed. We have offered our help to continue supporting these initiatives so that they can be replicated across the country," she expressed.

The EsSalud head remarked that she met with representatives from the National University of Engineering (UNI) a few days ago to support an initiative for designing mechanical ventilators, which are vital for the care of seriously-ill COVID-19 patients.

Invention

Juntos podremos hacerlo! Como #EsSalud , brindamos soporte a proyectos que permitan frenar la emergencia sanitaria. Esta manana, visitamos el laboratorio de la universidad @CayetanoHeredia , el cual desarrolla prueba molecular rapida de diagnostico #COVID19 . #EsSaludEnAccion ????? pic.twitter.com/aH8C6hiohK

Seguimos avanzando! ??????? Con la finalidad de frenar el contagio por #COVID19 a nivel nacional, sumamos esfuerzos con el laboratorio medico de la Universidad @CayetanoHeredia para desarrollar una prueba molecular rapida con resultados en tan solo 40 minutos. Conoce mas aqui. ???? pic.twitter.com/av0kig0yCP
#PrimeroMiSalud Pronunciamiento del presidente de la Republica, @MartinVizcarraC.

En vivo: https://t.co/XT18cmuWPI https://t.co/gNBLjKJkTo
Members of Seoul city's committee of foreign residents pose for a photo during a meeting in December last year/ Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government



Calls growing to accept immigrants as members of society



By Kim Se-jeong



Khalilzade Nihat, an Azerbaijan national and Seoul resident, is a member of a committee run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, in which foreign residents discuss policies relating to them and make recommendations.



At an upcoming meeting slated for July 17, Nihat is planning to recommend that the Ministry of Justice run a public campaign promoting the acceptance of foreign nationals as members of society.





"I am in the process of getting Korean citizenship. I have a 16-month-old daughter. For Narin, Korea will be her home and her mother tongue will be Korean. But, she is treated differently just because she looks different. I would be very sad to see her rejected and lose opportunities because of this," the 28-year-old father said as the reason why he wanted to make the proposal during a recent telephone interview with The Korea Times.



The committee of 43 foreign residents was founded in 2016 by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. "As the number of foreign residents grows in Seoul, it is becoming more important for the city to hear their voices," said a Seoul city official responsible for the committee's affairs who wished to remain anonymous.



According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the number of foreign residents in Seoul grew from 260,019 in 2008 to 446,473 in 2018.



Nationwide, the number more than doubled from 891,341 to 2,054,621. The largest number of foreign residents in Korea comes from China, followed by those from other Asian countries, who often find jobs in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.



The committee members meet 18 times a year, to discuss existing policies, recommend revisions or propose new policies.



When they present new policy recommendations, twice a year, officials from the city government as well as the Ministry of Justice, the Immigration Office and other relevant government bodies are invited. After the meeting, these are compiled and sent to the relevant government bodies as official recommendations.



Some recommendations have been accepted.



In March last year, the Ministry of Justice changed the way names were written on alien registration cards, allowing the names to be written in both English and Korean. The Korean name option is currently only available for Chinese nationals but it is a change that has been welcomed by committee participants.





Expats cry foul over points-based new visa rules Expats suffer workplace discrimination amid Itaewon outbreak 15% of expats here are illegal immigrants: report "I wasn't a member long enough to see how it happened from the beginning but it was certainly exciting when I heard the news," said Nihat.



Seoul isn't alone in listening to foreign residents.



Last month, the city of Gwangju announced the launching of a committee consisting of 20 foreign residents who would represent the voices of the 23,000 foreign nationals living in the city. The cities of Ansan in Gyeonggi Province and Daegu, and Jeju Island also have similar channels to listen to the voices of foreign residents. Once a year the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family also invites foreign nationals of Korean spouses to meet and discuss policies.



"It's more important during the COVID-19 pandemic because we want information to disseminate. We're hoping the information will get to foreign residents faster with their help," an official from the Gwangju Metropolitan Government said.



Kang Dong-kwan, director of the Migration Research and Training Center based in Seoul, praised the central and local governments for their efforts.



"They're doing pretty well. What they are doing is in line with the government's social integration efforts," Kang said.



To address the needs of a growing number of foreign residents, the government drafts a master plan that it updates every five years.



Kang also pointed to Korea's overall social integration efforts, citing the Migrant Integration Policy Index entry on the country.



The index states: "Its policies guarantee more equal rights, opportunities and support for immigrants than Japan and most central European countries. More specifically, Korea's strengths include strong targeted employment support, school support, voting rights and support for immigrant associations."



The director said he felt Korea's success more during the pandemic.



"I feel Korea is doing well in terms of integrating immigrants, personally. My daughter is staying in the U.S., and she tells me how she gets discriminated against because she is Asian. I don't see that happening in Korea," Kang said.



However, Prof. Seol Dong-hoon from the Jeonbuk National University said the government's approach doesn't reach out to all.



"Marriage migrants can benefit from it, but international students and those who come to Korea to work are still left out. Take the COVID-19 relief funds as an example. Students and workers weren't eligible for it."



Nihat said he is keeping his hopes up.




"We must reactivate the economy. Although the hardest months were April and May due to the rigid quarantine we had imposed in order to be able to contain the spread of the (COVID-19) virus , the information we have as of June shows an economic recovery with creation of jobs," he expressed.

In this sense, the Head of State emphasized that health remains the central axis of his administration, but at the same time the balance is sought for the resumption of economic activities and creation of jobs that allow Peruvians to rely on the necessary income to care for their families.

Reactiva Peru

As is known, the program seeks to ensure continuity in the payment chain by granting guarantees to micro, small, medium, and large companies so that they can access working capital loans, thus being able to meet their short-term obligations towards workers, as well as suppliers of goods and services.

#PrimeroMiSalud Pronunciamiento del presidente de la Republica, @MartinVizcarraC.

En vivo: https://t.co/XT18cmuWPI https://t.co/gNBLjKJkTo
Within this framework, the Head of State indicated that based on the established deadlines Hinostroza is expected to arrive in the South American country by the end of the current year in order to be held accountable.









The top official also specified that he did not want to make any further comments on the matter.





"So, the corresponding formal and legal process has been conducted, and his extradition has already been authorized. Now, he has asked for asylum as a last resort, but that has to be resolved in the next weeks or months, and then he will be here to appear before justice just like any other Peruvian citizen," he stated.





The crimes approved for this extradition are influence peddling, incompatible negotiation, and illegal sponsorship.





As is known, former Supreme Judge Cesar Hinostroza is considered by the Peruvian Prosecutor's Office as the head of The Port's White Collars , a group formed by magistrates of the Judiciary and Public Ministry, whose objective was to control the agencies responsible for administering justice in order to obtain illegal benefits.





About the case





Cesar Hinostroza is implicated in a series of audio recordings released by Panorama TV show and investigative journalism site IDL-Reporteros in July 2018.





In the unethical conversations, the former judge offers and accepts favors to and from National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) members and other officials. These corrupt actions were harshly criticized by most Peruvians, including President Martin Vizcarra.









He was also accused of allegedly committing the crimes of illegal sponsorship, influence peddling, and incompatible negotiation.





It must be noted the Judiciary in July 2018 approved a request to forbid Hinostroza from leaving the country





However, the ex-judge left the Inca nation through a border control point in northern Tumbes region on October 7 of the same year.





On October 17, the Judicial Branch issued a search notice and an international arrest warrant against ex-Supreme Court Judge Hinostroza, following a preventive detention request by the Public Ministry.

















Hinostroza is prohibited from leaving the European country, must establish residence in Spanish territory, and must appear before court twice a week, among other measures.





On September 23, Spain's National Court in Madrid confirmed his extradition for the crimes of illegal sponsorship, influence peddling and incompatible negotiation.





(END) JCC/VVS/MVB
El presidente @MartinVizcarraC participo, de forma virtual, de la vigesima reunion del Consejo Presidencial Andino, acto en el que participan los mandatarios @JeanineAnez de Bolivia, @IvanDuque de Colombia y @Lenin Moreno de Ecuador. pic.twitter.com/PfhtrIg8d7
March of the Sparrows

The Kerrytown market passes from father to son.

by Sally Mitani

From the July, 2020 issue

Some good news emerged from a season of Covid-caused business disasters. On May 1, Bob Sparrow officially sold Sparrow Market to his son Jordan, who has worked there more or less full-time since graduating from Lake Superior State in 2010. Jordan notes, though, "I've been working there since I was eleven."



In 1982 Bob opened a butcher counter in Kerrytown, Sparrow Meats, and, with a little nudging from landlord Joe O'Neal, he took over the adjacent produce store in 2004.



Bob, a youthful-looking fifty-nine, is still working for his son at Sparrow two days a week. "After working a hundred hours a week, I figured going down to no hours a week would be too big a withdrawal," he says. "Working two days a week is like being on another planet."



By "working," does he mean he's lending a hand for old times' sake or taking a small stipend? They both laugh: "Oh no," says Jordan. "I pay him what he's worth."



Sparrow Market is in the lucky slim minority of businesses that have weathered the pandemic with little disruption. "We've been rocking," says Bob. Sparrow is as close to a full-service grocery store as you get in central Ann Arbor, and its butcher counter is stocked with meat sourced from family farms, an increasingly scarce and sought-after resource in pandemic times.



Customers often notice that nearly all the people behind the meat counter are young women--unusual for the physically demanding meat-cutting trade. Bob says it happened organically: early on, some of his best employees happened to be women, and he continued to recruit new staff from their friendship pools. Over the years his meat cutters have skewed more and more female.



Jordan says they never changed the store hours during the pandemic, and he has no plans to change them now. The only real change he's had to make was to close down the sandwich counter (next to the cash register, it was a favorite grab-and-go for nearby

...continued below...

/sparrowmeats

In the July issue under Marketplace Changes there is a story "March of the Sparrows" in which you relate that Bob Sparrow of Sparrow Market in Kerrytown has recently sold his business to his son, Jordan. In the article you describe Sparrow as being "as close to a full-service grocery store as you get in Ann Arbor". I frequently shop there and it is a very good store but I think that there are at least 2 other stores that could fit that description. One is The People's Food Co-Op about a block north of Sparrows on Fourth. Although the meat selection at the Co-Op is small it does have items not found at Sparrows like household goods; soap, paper products, etc. It also has everything else a grocery store is expected to have. The 2nd is Knights Market a few blocks west on the corner of Spring and Miller. Knights (a family business) has everything a grocery store should have and is known for quality meats.



Both of these stores are doing an excellent job in the pandemic. They have limited store access and very busy curbside business. Everyone wears masks. Perhaps in your next issue you can profile them.



Donna Estabrook

I wanted to give some praise to Sparrow Market. As a new Ann Arbor local vendor, it has been very hard to scale during the COVID times, but Sparrow, being a great neighbor, gave me a chance...



https: / /cheekyspices.com /blogs /news /ann-arbor-vendors-working-together-during-covid-sparrow-market-cheeky-spices



----------

workers but so unobtrusive a lot of people never noticed it). He doesn't know when he'll open it again.Bob says his own approach through the years has always been "I'm not big on change. I just try to do more of what's working and less of what's not working."One good thing that's kept working is the thirty-eight-year relationship with Joe O'Neal and now O'Neal's son Andrew. "Joe deserves credit for our success," Bob says. "He let me do whatever I wanted."We always did everything on a handshake. He didn't let us down, and we didn't let him down."[Originally published in July, 2020.]On July 6, 2020, Donna Estabrook wrote:On July 30, 2020, Rita Shelley wrote:
Dan Oates Speaks Out

The onetime AAPD chief on why it's so hard to fire bad cops.

by James Leonard

From the July, 2020 issue

"Reform advocates are starting to focus on police unions' immense power to block the discipline of bad cops. Where have they been? Police chiefs have been fighting this lonely battle for years."



That was how Dan Oates began a June Washington Post opinion column. Recently retired as chief in Miami Beach, Florida, Oates previously ran departments in Aurora, Colorado, and Ann Arbor, where he was chief from 2001 to 2005.



He continued:



"There cannot be true reform unless Americans elect politicians willing to take on obstructionist labor leaders. In Minneapolis, Police Chief Medaria Arradondo quickly fired the officers involved in the death of George Floyd. But very few chiefs have this ability. In my time as a chief in Michigan, Colorado and Florida, I never did, thanks to a combination of state and local laws, union contracts, and past labor precedents."



Oates praised the vast majority of cops as "heroes who sacrifice every day to protect you, me and the next George Floyd." But he also described his struggles to discipline officers in Florida and Colorado.



James Leonard spoke to him by phone a few days after the column appeared, and asked him about his experience in Ann Arbor.



Observer: What did you think of the Ann Arbor Police Department?



Oates: I always felt that the cops individually were great. They were capable of doing great police work. But the collective consciousness as represented by the union was horrible.



Michigan had a really, really onerous arbitration statute [for labor disputes involving police officers]. If you wanted to make a policy change that impacted "working conditions" the union could grieve you and then take it to arbitration.



"Arbitrations suck the life out of a police chief," he wrote in the Post. "Instead of fighting crime or building community trust, you're huddled with lawyers, practicing testimony, memorizing evidence ... Too often, arbitrators feel the pressure to "split the baby" in their decisions. Perhaps the cop [the chief fired] is docked pay ...continued below...

or demoted; otherwise, he's back on patrol."That was number one. And number two, city leaders over the years had given away additional rights to the union--the most significant of which was the right of assignment. Basically, cops in Ann Arbor when I was there had a property interest in their assignment--which is absurd.Can you give an example?Fairly early on [I decided] that the lieutenant in charge of investigations in Ann Arbor doesn't belong in charge of investigations. ... I need to move him, but I can't. Once you're assigned, you have a property interest in it and you can't be moved.What did you do?[He] screwed up in a major way. And I disciplined him with a suspension, and he was so angry at me that we cut a deal: he retired and I was able to replace [him. After that,] I had a very, very high performing detective unit.Do you have advice for Ann Arbor?Insist that in the next contract that the right of assignment returns to the chief and just not agree to sign a contract unless that clause is removed ... That requires the courage to stand up to the union, but there's probably never been a better time for elected officials. Look what's happened: Colorado passed a sweeping reform bill.---[Originally published in July, 2020.]
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. By the decision of the Council of Parliament of Armenia, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on science, education, culture, Diaspora, youth and sport affairs Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has been elected as head of the Armenia-Iran friendship group, his Office told Armenpress.

The Armenia-Iran brotherly relations have a great historical share. Today the economic component in the firm bilateral ties between our states is quite great. Iran is 6th in the list of Armenias foreign trade partners. However, the close educational, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries can also play a vital role in these relations. And of course, we should not forget about the Armenian community of Iran which is one of the richest centers of the Armenian Diaspora and is at best represented in the Iranian parliament, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan said at the session of the Parliament Council.

Hayrapetyan is also heading the Armenia-Cyprus inter-parliamentary commission, as well as the Armenia-Greece friendship group.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. The extraordinary session kicked off in the Armenian Parliament.

14 issues are included in the session agenda.

The lawmakers will debate a number of bills at first and second hearings.

The Parliament will also elect a member of the State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. Russia considers it necessary to gradually curtail the cross-border assistance mechanism for Syria and suggests adopting a resolution providing for the extension of supplies through only one checkpoint on the border with Turkey, said Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, in a statement published on Tuesday, following the vote to extend the cross-border humanitarian assistance to Syria, reports TASS news agency.

Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution by Germany and Belgium, which proposed leaving two checkpoints open for the UN.

The time has come to phase out this mechanism in order to replace it with humanitarian supplies that will be implemented in accordance with the principles outlined in UN General Assembly resolution 46/182, the statement said. However, we are aware of the need to meet the humanitarian needs of all Syrians, Nebenzya added. We will present our draft resolution, which implies a six-month extension of the mechanism, while limiting the number of existing checkpoints to one at the Bab al-Hawa checkpoint on the Turkish border.

Due to the UN remote mode of operation, voting took place in written form to the head of the Security Council, a source in the organization told TASS.

Russia and China voted against the document. 13 members of the council voted in favor. The draft resolution was not adopted because of a vote against it by the permanent members of the Security Council, the source said.

The UN Security Council made the decision to start cross-border humanitarian operations in Syria in July 2014. In January of 2020, it extended the relevant resolution for six months, but the number of checkpoints was reduced from four to two on the border with Turkey.
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. Deputy defense minister of Armenia Gabriel Balayan has been infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on defense and security affairs Andranik Kocharyan said at the committee session.

Today deputy defense minister Gabriel Balayan was also going to attend the session, but he is sick. Lets wish a good health to our colleague, he said.

535 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been registered in Armenia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 29,820, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention said today.

520 more patients have recovered. The total number of recoveries has reached 17,427.

18 people have died in one day, raising the death toll to 521.

The number of active cases stands at 11,708.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. A group of opposition supporters stormed the Serbian parliament building in Belgrade on Tuesday in a protest against a lockdown planned for the capital this weekend to halt the spread of the coronavirus, Reuters reports.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday evening that stricter measures including the lockdown of Belgrade over the weekend would be introduced because of the rising number of coronavirus infections.

Opponents blame the increase on the government and say people should not have to pay the price for another lockdown.

After Vucics statement, several thousand people began gathering in front of the parliament in Belgrades central square.

Around 10 p.m., a small group of protesters pushed past a police cordon, broke through a door and entered the parliament building. But police later pushed them back.

The police threw teargas, pushing the crowd away from the parliament building. Police reinforcements later arrived.

Serbia, a country of 7 million people, has reported 16,168 coronavirus infections and 330 deaths.

In early March, Serbia introduced a lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
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YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. The US administrations policy on the issue of the Meds Yeghern has not changed, the White House told the Armenian service of Voice of America, commenting on the reference to the Armenian Genocide by White House spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany during a press briefing.

The White House said the administrations policy on this matter has not changed, adding that the US President has reaffirmed that the Meds Yeghern is a historical crime and tragedy, and the US stands by the Armenian people.

On July 6 White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany referred to the vandalism on the Armenian Genocide Memorial during her daily press briefing.

In the course of decrying protesters desecrating memorials across the country, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany referred to a memorial to the genocide by its proper name, Massis Post reports.

There seems to be a lack of understanding and historical knowledge when the Armenian Genocide Memorial, remembering victims of all crimes against humanity including slavery, is vandalized, Kayleigh McEnany said.

McEnany appeared to be referring to the Armenian Genocide Memorial outside the Colorado state Capitol in Denver, which was vandalized several weeks ago.

The White House spokespersons reference to the Armenian Genocide has been actively discussed in the press. Turkey also commented on McEnanys remarks, stating that the position of the Trump administration on this matter is widely known.

Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), also commented, stating: We may be witnessing, in this one-off statement, the first steps toward an all-of-government recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

While the two chambers of the US Congress  the Senate and the House of Representatives, have adopted resolutions recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide in 2019, the US government still refers to the 1915 killings as Meds Yeghern, refusing to call them genocide.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Parliament is debating at the first hearing the package of bills on making changes and amendments to the Code on Subsoil.

Deputy minister of territorial administration and infrastructures Lilia Shushanyan presented the respective changes during todays extraordinary session in the Parliament. She said the changes proposed by the bill are aimed at rational and efficient use of subsoil.

The deputy minister noted that after these changes the mines will be provided with all resources and will not be separated between various economic entities.

Several other changes and regulations are also envisaged by the bill.

Reporting by Norayr Shoghikyan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. The World Health Organization has acknowledged there is emerging evidence that the coronavirus can be spread by tiny particles suspended in the air, reports BBC.

The airborne transmission could not be ruled out in crowded, closed or poorly ventilated settings, an official said.

If the evidence is confirmed, it may affect guidelines for indoor spaces.

An open letter from more than 200 scientists had accused the WHO of underestimating the possibility of airborne transmission.

The WHO has so far said that the virus is transmitted through droplets when people cough or sneeze.

WHO officials have cautioned the evidence is preliminary and requires further assessment.
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. The French government has not only been aware of the visit of French doctors to Armenia, but also has been engaged in that works at some stage, Armenias High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan told Armenpress, denying the media reports according to which the French government has been unaware of the visit of the French doctors to Armenia.

He presented a very simple fact which proves that the French government has been aware of that visit. When the first group of doctors arrived in Armenia, we welcomed them together with the French and US Ambassadors to Armenia. A talk about the visit of the second group already took place there. I talked to the French Ambassador and asked to help us in the financing of the second team because the visit of the first team was completely funded by the USAID and the US Embassy. Following my request the French Ambassador contacted us within 36-48 hours and told that the French government will cover the expenses for the visit of the second team, Sinanyan said.

As for the professional capacities of the team, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs said that the first group was headed by Professor Alexandre Mignon, who is one of the most respected specialists of the field, and the second one was led by Professor Loran Papazian, who is the best specialist in France. They personally collected their teams. There couldnt be persons in the team who havent dealt with coronavirus, therefore the media report is absurd and is based on lies, he said.

A group of French doctors arrived in Armenia on June 15 and 23 via a special flight to help the countrys healthcare system to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, 8 JULY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 8 July, USD exchange rate up by 0.62 drams to 485.74 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.65 drams to 547.57 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.10 drams to 6.82 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 2.91 drams to 608.34 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 61.41 drams to 27947.23 drams. Silver price down by 3.30 drams to 281.42 drams. Platinum price up by 63.34 drams to 12962.03 drams.
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. Head of the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh Artak Nersisyan commented on the announcements of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev. ARMENPRESS presents the comments of Artak Nersisyan.

''On July 6, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to local TV channels, the tone and vocabulary of which, in parts regarding the settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, go beyond the elementary diplomatic ethics. Through peremptory accusations against the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen of their inaction, the President of Azerbaijan tries to shift his own blame on them for the lack of results in the negotiation process. By hindering the restoration of the full-format trilateral negotiations, regularly challenging the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes and threatening by the use of force, trying to distort the essence of the conflict, encouraging racist and anti-human views and behavior patterns in their country, Azerbaijani authorities deliberately create additional obstacles in the process of peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict. And the aforementioned interview serves as another vivid confirmation of this.

In this regard, the attitude of Azerbaijan towards the restoration of the full-format trilateral negotiations is indicative. At various stages of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict settlement, the negotiations were conducted in various formats. However, the most effective negotiations were the ones with the direct participation of Artsakh in them: both on the Artsakh-Azerbaijan bilateral and the Artsakh-Azerbaijan-Armenia trilateral basis. It was in the trilateral format with the full participation of Artsakh that the most significant result in the process of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict settlement was achieved - the conclusion of the termless agreement on the cessation of fire and hostilities in May 1994. Therefore, trying to postpone the restoration of the trilateral negotiations, Azerbaijan artificially delays the process of peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict.

Both the historical and legal arguments cited in the interview do not withstand any criticism. However, while the Azerbaijani Presidents ignorance of the history of the region makes just a harmless background, his misconceptions of international law can pose a serious threat to peace and security in the South Caucasus.

In the context of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict settlement, Azerbaijans reference to Article 51 of the UN Charter is completely groundless and is an unsuccessful attempt to mask its aggressive and militaristic policy. Firstly, Azerbaijan was not subjected to aggression for the Article 51 of the UN Charter to apply. On the contrary, it was precisely Azerbaijan that transformed the political problem into an armed conflict by its own actions, trying to suppress the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination by force, and after gaining independence unleashed a full-scale war against the Republic of Artsakh. Secondly, in May 1994, Artsakh, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a trilateral ceasefire agreement, thereby putting an end to the military phase of the conflict and committing themselves to the peaceful settlement, in accordance with the UN Charter. In this regard, we consider it necessary to remind the Azerbaijani side that the resolution of international disputes by exclusively peaceful means is one of the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter.

All the speculations of Baku that Article 51 of the UN Charter gives it the right to use force in the context of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict were rejected by the international community in April 2016, when Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack on Artsakh. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states - the United States, Russia, and France, as well as the United Nations Secretary General, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and the Council of Europe Secretary General were unanimous on the need to strictly comply with the 1994 agreement on ceasefire and the 1995 agreement on it strengthening. Against the background of the consolidated position of the international community on the need for an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict, the threats to launch a new war cannot be regarded otherwise than an attempt by Azerbaijan to put itself out of the international community and international law.

Instead of senseless and unpromising accusations of others for its own mistakes and miscalculations, Azerbaijan should strictly observe its commitments to a peaceful settlement of the conflict and conduct full-format negotiations in good faith''.
YEREVAN, JULY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Armenophobia is the last line of defense of Aliyevs power, and hiding behind it describes the evolving domestic crisis and desperation in Azerbaijan at its best, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan said, referring to Ilham Aliyevs recent announcements in Khatai district, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Foreign Ministry.

Question: During his visit to Khatai district, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a historical excursion about Armenia and the Armenian nation. He also commented on Armenias domestic processes, Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, as well as criticized the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. We would like to ask for your comment on that.

Answer: My colleagues have already issued comments on this issue. I would simply like to add that President Aliyev, who was malicious about the spread of COVID-19 in Armenia a few weeks ago, today has no other words to address his society in lockdown than bringing forward the image of useful enemy. The Armenophobia is the last line of defense of Aliyevs power, and hiding behind it describes the evolving domestic crisis and desperation in Azerbaijan at its best.

Its ridiculous that Armenias domestic processes, human rights and freedoms have been reviewed by a leader of a country where for decades political and economic power has been in the hands of a single family, defined internationally as a repressive regime. Its noteworthy that Ilham Aliev, with his hostile and racist comments, expresses irresponsible and disrespectful attitude, first of all, towards the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issued a week ago, which contained concerns about the inflammatory and provocative rhetoric.

As the Prime Minister Pashinyan stated at the recent joint session of the Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh: attempts to turn the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict into a long-term Armenian-Azerbaijani enmity within which our peoples will fight on everything - past, present, future and the whole region - is in the interests of neither the Armenian nor the Azerbaijani people.
Perth, Australia, July 7, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - Cardinal Resources Limited (ASX:CDV.AX - News) (HAM:C3L.F - News) (OTCMKTS:CRDNF - News) (TOR:CDV.AX - News) announces that further to the press release and the Bid Implementation Agreement dated 18 June 2020, Cardinal has now raised A$11,960,000 as a result of the issue of 26,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares ("Placement") to Shandong Gold Mining (HongKong) Co., Ltd (a subsidiary of Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd.) ("Shandong Gold") in accordance with the terms of the Bid Implementation Agreement.

Shandong Gold has agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in Cardinal at a price of A$0.60 cash per share, by way of an off-market takeover offer ("Offer"). The proposed off-market takeover offer requires a number of conditions to be met, including a 50.1% minimum acceptance condition.

Shareholder approval is not required for this Placement as the Company is issuing the shares under its Listing Rule 7.1 placement capacity.

The funds raised by this Placement will be used to ensure Cardinal may continue advancing the Namdini Project towards development and for working capital.

Timetable and Next Steps

Detailed information relating to the Shandong Gold Offer, will be set out in the Bidder's Statement and Target's Statement, which are currently expected to be dispatched to Cardinal shareholders on or about 22 July 2020.

The Bidder's Statement and Target's Statement will set out important information, including how to accept the Shandong Gold Offer, information about Shandong Gold and the key reasons why Cardinal Shareholders should accept the Shandong Gold Offer in the absence of a superior proposal.

Corporate Update

As contemplated in the announcement dated 18 June 2020, the completion of the Placement was subject to and conditional upon no competing proposal being received by Cardinal within 14 days from entering into the BIA (Protection Period) which the Cardinal Board of Directors consider to be superior to the Shandong Gold Offer (Superior Proposal). No such Superior Proposal emerged during the Protection Period or as at the date of this announcement from any party. Accordingly, the Company cautions any trading on speculation that another formal proposal capable of acceptance or Superior Proposal will arise.

Story continues



About Cardinal Resources Ltd:

Cardinal Resources Ltd (ASX:CDV.AX - News) (TSE:CDV.TO - News) (OTCMKTS:CRDNF - News) is a West African gold exploration and development Company that holds interests in tenements within Ghana, West Africa.

The Company is focused on the development of the Namdini Project with a gold Ore Reserve of 5.1Moz (0.4 Moz Proved and 4.7 Moz Probable) and a soon to be completed Feasibility Study.

Exploration programmes are also underway at the Company's Bolgatanga (Northern Ghana) and Subranum (Southern Ghana) Projects.

Cardinal confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in its announcement of the Ore Reserve of 3 April 2019. All material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning this estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed.

Contact:

Archie Koimtsidis

CEO / MD

Cardinal Resources Limited

P: +61-8-6558-0573

Alec Rowlands

IR / Corp Dev

Cardinal Resources Limited

P: +1-647-256-1922

Andrew Rowell

Cannings Purple

E: arowell@canningspurple.com.au

P: +61-400-466-226

Peta Baldwin

Cannings Purple

E: pbaldwin@canningspurple.com.au

P: +61-455-081-008

Source:

Cardinal Resources Ltd

Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved.
By Geoffrey Smith

Investing.com -- Crude oil prices drifted within narrow ranges in early trade in New York on Wednesday, ahead of the release of U.S. government data on inventories for last week, which is due at 10:30 AM ET.

By 9:15 AM ET (1315 GMT), U.S. crude futures were up 0.1% at $40.64 a barrel, having briefly flirted again with the $40 level after the American Petroleum Institute surprisingly reported a build of 2.0 million barrels in U.S. crude stocks last week. Expectations had been for a modest draw.

The international benchmark Brent was up 0.2% at $43.16 a barrel.

The negative impact of the API's headline figure was softened slightly by the fact that gasoline inventories fell, soothing fears that the spread of the coronavirus across some of the U.S.'s most populous states would have an immediate impact on fuel demand.

Gasoline RBOB Futures, which had ticked up on the back of the API report, were down 0.4% at $1.2699 a gallon.

Coronavirus impacts remain on the minds of traders, however. The U.S. posted a new record high for new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, at over 60,000. More than 10,000 of those came in Texas alone. With hospitals in Florida, Texas and Arizona warning that they are approaching capacity, the threat of new measures to keep people at home is only growing.

"The critical situation in the (U.S.), and other nations, is what keeps prices below $45 dollars in the first place," said Rystad Energy oil markets analyst Louise Dickson in emailed comments. "If crude stocks are growing now, while restrictions are loose, traders worry about what will happen to demand in the case serious lockdowns come back again. Stocks are already at quite high levels."

Further afield, news agencies reported earlier Wednesday that Libya, whose output has been shut off from world markets for six months by its civil war, had lifted the force-majeure contract on loadings from its main export terminal. However, it wasn't clear whether crude is actually flowing to the terminal, or whether a planned loading was merely being taken from storage.

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Other shut-in production is also slowly starting to return to the market. Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Canadian producers had restarted some 20% of what they had shut in at the depths of the market panic in the spring.

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Authorities in enclaved Palestinian territory of Gaza have decided to send a squad of medical doctors to the West Bank to help in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy Health Minister in Gaza Dr Yousef Abu Al-Rish made the announcement in a press release.

A well-qualified team of physicians are preparing to travel to the West Bank to help their colleagues fight the coronavirus.

The different challenges make it necessary for us to stand united against the pandemic, he continued.

The West Bank under Israeli occupation has witnessed a spike in number of cases, particularly in Hebron.

During the last 24 hours, 306 new coronavirus cases were reported in the territory, including 278 in Hebron alone, Middle East Monitor reports.

The Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian internationally recognized authority based in Ramallah, has confirmed more than 3,000 active cases both in the West Bank and Gaza.

Palestinian authorities in the West Bank have reinforced stricter lockdown to curb the spread of the respiratory disease, which they said is fast spreading owing to Israels weak measures to restrict movement.

Gaza, however, has not recorded any new cases for more than three weeks and has begun easing the lockdown.
China has responded to a new warning from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) advising Australians of an increased chance of arbitrary detention in the communist country.

On Tuesday, DFATs Smartraveller warned foreigners in China have been detained for endangering national security and recommended those in China who wish to return to Australia to do so immediately.

In one of his more reserved responses to matters involving Australia in recent weeks, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said law-abiding Australians in China should have no concerns.

There is no need to worry at all as long as they abide by laws and regulations, he said.

Zhao Lijian addressed Australia's travel warning on Tuesday. Source: FMPRC

He once again urged Australia to treat China matters in an objective and fair manner while calling on the Australian government to do more to improve the deteriorating relationship between the two countries.

The Chinese government always protects the safety and legitimate rights and interests of foreign nationals in China.

The warning from DFAT is the latest move from Australia in a prolonged and ugly back-and-forth in recent months between China and Australia.

Just last month in a similar warning, China warned its nationals over travel and study in Australia due to a rise in racist attacks.

In late June, Chinese-state media accused Australia of intensifying its espionage offensive against China, a claim Mr Zhao doubled down on, lambasting Australia and accusing the government of having long crossed the line.

Tabloid The Global Times, a renowned critic of Australia, warned China would crack down on Australian espionage operations.

DFAT's updated warning to Australians. Source: Smartraveller

DFATs warning to Australians appears to be a direct result of such warnings. Clive Hamilton, public ethics professor at Charles Sturt University and author of Silent Invasion: Chinas Influence in Australia, fears something nasty for Australians in China.

Story continues

I think there is a far more sinister message that is being sent by the article in the Global Times, he told ABC News 24.

I think there's a real possibility that some Australians might be targeted. I'm quite worried about that.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries continue to come under heavy pressure following Prime Minister Scott Morrisons calls for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
PM promises more Covid-19 handouts. Source: Getty

The Prime Minister has all but confirmed there will be further support measures for Australias battered economy when JobKeeper and the Coronavirus Supplement end in September.

Despite previously confirming these measures were only budgeted for six months and would therefore end in September, Scott Morrison said in a press conference on Wednesday that there would be a further phase of support beyond that.

There will be a further phase of how we continue to provide support, and as I was able to assure the Premier the other night, just like I can assure people in industries or in businesses or parts of the country that are more affected by Covid than others, where there is the need, then there will continue to be support, Morrison said.

And so this is about tailoring a national program to provide support where the support is needed and because of what has happened in Victoria, obviously the need there will be far greater than was previously and that need will be met.

$75 billion cliff ahead

The Prime Ministers announcement comes as almost half of all Aussie homeowners say they will struggle to meet their loan repayments when JobKeeper ends.

And, with the Australian Banking Association (ABA) reporting that $175.5 billion in loans has been paused due to Covid-19 hardship, that means the potential default figure could be up to a whopping $75 billion, according to Mozo research.

As a nation of mortgage holders we look set to walk off a financial cliff when government and industry support programs end, said Mozo spokesperson Tom Godfrey.

With many Australians finding themselves out of work and many more having to accept reduced hours, JobKeeper and the banks mortgage holidays are critical in ensuring people can stay in their homes.

Australias major banks announced on Wednesday they would extend the home loan holiday scheme, allowing distressed borrows to pause loan repayments for another four months.

"This new phase of support avoids a cliff which would have been a terrible outcome for customers and had a negative impact on the economy, ABA chief Anna Bligh said.

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A former Indian naval officer on death row in Pakistan for alleged spying has refused to lodge an appeal against his conviction and will try instead for a military pardon, an official said Wednesday. Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav was arrested in 2016 in Pakistan's restive southwestern province of Balochistan -- a region where Islamabad has long accused New Delhi of backing separatist rebels. He was sentenced to death by a closed Pakistani military tribunal in 2017, but the International Court of Justice ordered Islamabad last year to review the sentence, and he was later offered the right to appeal. "Commander Jadhav refused to file a petition for the review and the reconsideration for his sentence and conviction," said attorney general official Ahmad Irfan. "He instead preferred to follow up on his pending mercy petition", Irfan added. He said Pakistan had written to the Indian high commission inviting it to file an appeal on Jadghav's behalf. New Delhi maintains Jadhav retired from the navy in 2001 and was running a logistics business in Iran, where he was kidnapped and brought to Pakistan and forced to confess. India's foreign affairs spokesman Anurag Srivastava said late Wednesday that Jadhav "has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case". "Pakistan is only seeking to create an illusion of remedy," he added. India and Pakistan routinely accuse one another of sending spies into their countries, and it is not uncommon for both nation to expel diplomats accused of espionage. The fractious relationship between the neighbours has worsened since New Delhi expelled two Pakistan embassy officials over spying claims in late May. New Delhi has also accused Islamabad of torturing two Indian diplomats arrested following an alleged hit-and-run in the Pakistani capital. Tensions were already high after India in August scrapped Muslim-majority region Kashmir's semi-autonomous status and imposed a major security clampdown. Former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav was shown on TV after his arrest in Pakistan on spying charges
Iran said on Wednesday that its deaths from the novel coronavirus had surpassed 12,000, with authorities considering reimposing restrictive measures in Tehran to contain a resurgence of the disease. It came a day after the Islamic republic reported its highest single-day fatality count of 200 from the COVID-19 illness. Iran has been battling the Middle East's deadliest outbreak of the virus since late February. Health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said that another 153 deaths had been recorded over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 12,084. She said total cases had risen to 248,379 with 2,691 more people testing positive. Nine of Iran's 31 provinces are now classified as "red", the highest category in the country's virus risk scaling. Another 10 are on alert including the capital Tehran and the surrounding province, Lari added. "Tehran is facing a very fragile situation," said Alireza Zali, the head of the city's virus taskforce. "The number of infections, deaths and hospitalisations have been on a sharp rising trajectory in the past 10 days," he was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency. 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. Zali said that Tehran needs "more restrictive measures" to contain the virus and will discuss their reimposition in an emergency meeting with the health minister. His deputy, Ali Maher, told ISNA that measures may be reintroduced as soon as Saturday. Some red provinces have already reimposed restrictions in recent weeks after receiving a green light from the government. Iran's government has told people to wear masks in enclosed public spaces or when gathering in groups
The killing of jihadism expert Hisham al-Hashemi has stirred fears Iraq is entering a dark and violent phase, as boiling tensions between pro-Iran factions and the government reach new heights. Hashemi, 47, was gunned down outside his home in east Baghdad late Monday by masked assailants on motorcycles. While the perpetrators remain on the run, experts say the death signals a dramatic turn for political violence brewing since mass protests erupted in October. "Armed forces of various affiliations have killed protesters and others willing to publicly criticise the government and armed forces with impunity," said Belkis Wille of Human Rights Watch. "But killing someone of his stature smacks of a country where some groups have become so emboldened by the complete impunity for serious abuses, that they can kill anyone they want to without paying a price," she said. Over the course of years, Hashemi had developed a vast network encompassing top decision makers, former jihadists and rival political parties, often mediating among them. His exceptional access had granted him a level of protection, those close to him said, but the balance started to tip in October. His support for popular protests against a government seen as too close to Iran infuriated Tehran-backed factions in Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military network. Hashemi skirted threats to mediate between protesters and senior government officials, even as activists were fatally shot outside their homes and dozens more abducted. "The parameters changed starting in October. There was a new modus operandi, and a shift in the confrontation with pro-Iran factions," said Adel Bakawan, an Iraqi expert who knew Hashemi. - 'Won't be the last' - Other experts say the real turning point was in January, when a US strike on Baghdad killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Hashed deputy head Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Hardline factions within the Hashed, particularly those close to Iran like Kataeb Hezbollah, vowed revenge against both the US and its allies inside Iraq, whatever the cost. As someone with close ties to foreign governments, Hashemi was seen as a potential target, and he left Baghdad for a few days in late January, he told AFP at the time. "Hisham was aware that things had shifted," said Renad Mansour, a researcher at London-based Chatham House who worked with Hashemi for years. "The killing of Abu Mahdi unleashed all of these groups that he had been trying to control and centralise. We're still feeling the shock waves," he said. The Hashed published a statement mourning Hashemi, but hardline groups within the network did not address the killing. "We demand security forces follow up on this crime and catch the terrorist group that assassinated Hashemi," the Hashed said. Within the network, Kataeb Hezbollah has accused then-spy chief Mustafa al-Kadhemi of complicity in the deadly strike and deeply opposed his rise to Iraq's premiership in May. Hashemi had advised Kadhemi for years, a relationship that put the expert in "danger" when the former intelligence head became premier, those close to him said. In recent weeks, Hashemi had been particularly critical of rogue elements of the Hashed and had received threats from at least two hardline factions, his associates said. His family, meanwhile, said he had been threatened by the Islamic State (IS) group. "For the first time since 2003, there is a sacred alliance between the government and an influential group of intellectuals. Now, people who are both symbols of the protests and the government are being targeted," said Bakawan, who knew Hashemi personally. "This may be the first prominent figure killed but it won't be the last. There are other names on this blacklist," he added. - 'Suicidal mission' - Kadhemi has pledged to hold Hashemi's killers to account, and swiftly sacked the police chief in the Baghdad district where the expert was killed. But there is little hope for real accountability. Less than two weeks ago, Kadhemi ordered the arrests of Kataeb Hezbollah fighters who were allegedly preparing a rocket attack on Baghdad's high-security Green Zone, home to the US embassy and other foreign missions. But within days, all but one of those detained were released and their faction even pledged court action against Kadhemi. Hashemi's killing appears to be a new challenge, said Iraqi politician Raed Fahmi. "This is a political assassination that represents both the silencing of freedom of speech, and a challenge to the government, its prime minister and any reform plan," he said. Other Iraqi activists told AFP they had long feared being targeted for speaking out against Iran-backed groups. "This could have been any one of us. Our friends have already been notified to leave immediately," said Omar Mohammad, a historian who documented atrocities in Mosul under IS. "If Kadhemi will not take a strong step, civil life in Iraq will vanish. But I'm afraid he won't do it. It's a suicidal mission," he told AFP. Mourners carry the coffin of Iraqi jihadism expert Hisham al-Hashemi, who was shot dead outside his house in the Iraqi capital Jihadism expert Hisham al-Hashemi during a February 2019 interview in the Iraqi capital
South Africa: Multimodal teaching crucial to continued learning

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says multimodal teaching is the only way continued learning can take place in the COVID-19 context.

Multimodal teaching, learning and assessment is not an option for universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges any more -- it is a necessity, said the Minister on Wednesday.

At a media briefing on the latest developments in the sector, Nzimande said players in the Post School Education and Training (PSET) space are embracing the principles of open learning, as outlined in current PSET policies.

The Higher Education and Training Department has started with some initiatives, including giving laptops and data to students, and developing high quality connectivity for all universities and TVET colleges, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Innovation, and the South African National Research Network (SANREN).

The CSIR [Council for Scientific and Industrial Research] has briefed me on its work on geo-spatial mapping to try to assist with the location of university and TVET student homes, in relation to areas of connectivity in our country, Nzimande said.

Nzimande encouraged all institutions in common localities and working in the same areas to work with each other, including public and private enterprises, social structures, local and district, and provincial government to create a responsive education and development opportunities.

We have to think about sharing learning and teaching materials and support the open educational resource (OER) movement. We have to share infrastructure, expertise and systems.

Nzimande thanked the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, and electronic network providers, including mobile network operators, which have already zero-rated educational content sites of public universities, TVET, CET (Community Education and Training), as well as agricultural and nursing colleges.

Over 500 educational sites zero-rated

The Minister said currently, there are 592 educational sites (96) that are zero-rated.

Most universities have already negotiated free data bundles with mobile network operators (MNOs) to pay for additional content that is not covered through the zero-rating.

We have negotiated with all mobile network operators very favourable rates for our National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and Funza Lushaka students for 10GB daytime and 20GB night time data for three months.

I have received very positive reports from institutions on the uptake and application of these bundles. However, I urge MNOs to fast-track these bundles to students, Nzimande said.

The reiterated that the mobile data must be used for dedicated online educational platforms for teaching and learning, as approved by institutions.

We have also made free digital content available to specifically our TVET college students through our Higher Education and Training website, the National Open Learning System (NOLS) of the department, institutional websites and other sites, where students can find digital materials to access, to assist them in their learning and preparation for exams, Nzimande said.

Return to campus

On the phased return of students, Nzimande said, to date, 20 universities have welcomed students back onto their campuses and residences.

The gazette providing the directions on the criteria for the return to campus was published on 8 June 2020.

As we speak, all public universities have provided plans and are managing permits for identified students to return. Private higher education institutions have also provided plans. All our universities have provided the dates for the planned return of students, in line with their risk adjusted strategy linked to the situation in their localities.

All universities continue to support their other students through remote multimodal teaching, learning and assessment strategies and plans. The planned and staggered return of the remaining 33% of students to campuses is taking place over a period from 17 June, when the first students arrived at some universities, until late August, by which time the full 33% will have been reintegrated into campuses across the country, Nzimande said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Saudi Ground Services Company (SGS) will provide a credit facility $133.3mln to Saudi British Bank (SABB) earmarked to cover the working capital required for operational operations, Zawya reports.

SABB will pay back the murabaha credit after 30 months per the signed agreement.

The kingdoms aviation ground handling services company also indicated that the loan will provide the bank agility to reduce the impact of the pandemic on funding the working capital requirements while continuing with the strategic initiatives to grow the company and elevate the services.

SABB, a joint Saudi joint stock company, provides personal, private, and corporate banking services to customers across the Gulf country. It operates, according to its profile, a network of about 80 branches (including more than a dozen locations exclusively for women), offering deposits, loans, and Takaful (cooperative insurance that complies with Islamic law).

The bank was named in June the Best Trade Finance Bank in Saudi Arabia for the year 2020, by the Global Trade Review (GTR) magazine.
A pair of baby elephants feeding from the same mother have been spotted in a Sri Lankan national park, with officials speculating Wednesday the two could be a rare set of twins. The young tuskers -- who rangers estimate are three to four weeks old -- were spotted in the Minneriya sanctuary about 200 kilometres (125 miles) north-east of Colombo, grazing with a herd of about a dozen elephants. After observing the pair from a distance, officials are confident enough to "say they are twins," Department of Wildlife Conservation Director-General Tharaka Prasad told AFP. The two were also photographed feeding from the same cow on Monday by renowned conservationist Sumith Pilapitiy, who also told AFP he believed the two were twins. Rangers were carrying out DNA tests on the herd's dung to confirm, Prasad said. If the results matched, it would mark the first time wildlife officials on the Indian Ocean island had sighted twins alongside their mother, he added. The sighting was near the area where seven elephants died from poisoning in September, in an act blamed on local farmers. Nearly 200 elephants are killed every year on the island, many by farmers after the pachyderms stray onto their land. Marauding elephants kill an average of 50 people annually, mostly when they stray into villages near their habitat. The country's elephant population has declined to just over 7,000 according to the latest census, down from an estimated 12,000 in the early 1900s. The young tuskers - who rangers estimate are three to four weeks old - were spotted in the Minneriya sanctuary in Sri Lanka
President Donald Trump vowed to pressure states and local governments to open schools in the fall, despite the recent surge in coronavirus cases nationwide.

At a White House roundtable to discuss fall plans for public schools, Trump claimed, without proof, that some schools were staying closed for political reasons.

They think its going to be good for them politically, so they keep the schools closed, Trump said of local leaders. No way. Were very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools.

The president also claimed that everybody wanted schools to open in-person classes for the fall.

We want to reopen the schools, Trump said. Everybody wants it. The moms want it, the dads want it, the kids want it. Its time to do it.

One day earlier, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the U.S., warned that the U.S. was experiencing a serious situation in a resurgence of coronavirus infections across the U.S.

The rise of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations came as states began relaxing regulations that kept businesses and gathering places closed to prevent the spread of the disease.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, Florida had the most coronavirus cases reported in a single day at 11,458. Despite the surge, Floridas education commissioner, Richard Corcoran, issued an emergency order requiring public schools to begin in-person instruction in the upcoming academic year.

Georgia also hit a single-day state record last week, receiving nearly 3,500 additional reports of COVID-19 cases within a 24-hour period. Initially, the University System of Georgia, which includes 26 schools, said it wouldnt require students to wear protective masks when school resumes.

However, after facing backlash from some students and faculty, the university system changed its guidelines and strongly encouraged students to wear masks, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that foreign interference in the Libya conflict has reached "unprecedented levels," with sophisticated equipment and mercenaries involved in the fighting. Guterres denounced the situation during a ministers-level UN Security Council video conference, expressing particular concern about the military forces massing around the city of Sirte, halfway between Tripoli in the west and Benghazi in the east. "The conflict has entered a new phase with foreign interference reaching unprecedented levels, including in the delivery of sophisticated equipment and the number of mercenaries involved in the fighting," he said. Forces loyal to Libya's internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), "with significant external support, continued their advance eastward" and are 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Sirte, Guterres said. GNA units had tried twice before to seize the city, he noted. The unity government, with Turkey's backing, is battling forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar, who has support from Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. "We are very concerned about the alarming military build-up around the city, and the high-level of direct foreign interference in the conflict in violation of the UN arms embargo, UN Security Council resolutions, and commitments made by member states in Berlin" in January, Guterres said. He did not name any particular countries. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, whose country holds the rotating Security Council presidency, slammed violations of the arms embargo in place for Libya since 2011. "While the entire world closed its borders, ships, planes and trucks with weapons and mercenaries continued to arrive in Libyan cities," he said. His counterpart from Niger, Kalla Ankourao, joined many others in echoing Guterres' comments. "Libya does not need more weapons, does not need mercenaries" but rather "reconciliation," Ankourao said. Guterres said UN-led talks with military leaders from both sides were focused on the departure of foreign mercenaries, counter-terrorism cooperation, "disarmament and demobilization of armed groups throughout Libya, and modalities for a possible ceasefire mechanism." He also raised the possibility of creating a demilitarized zone to be controlled by the UN mission in Libya. The presence in Libya of Russian and Syrian mercenaries has been raised as problematic since the start of the year. Syrian regime forces are fighting with Haftar, while rebels have aligned themselves with the unity government. Guterres said the latest fighting in southern Tripoli and the Tarhouna region had forced nearly 30,000 people to flee the violence, bringing the total of internally displaced people in Libya to more than 400,000. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has hit out at the "unprecedented" foreign interference in the conflict in Libya
Uruguay's Foreign Minister Ernesto Talvi, who shot to international prominence when he oversaw the repatriation of foreign passengers from a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship, announced his resignation Wednesday. Talvi's move had been expected after he announced his intention last month to devote more time to his Ciudadanos political party, one of five in Uruguay's governing coalition. In a letter to President Luis Lacalle Pou which he posted on Twitter, Talvi said he had intended to remain as minister until the end of the year, to preside over the country's rotating presidency of the Mercosur regional bloc. "I understand, however, that the timings in the cabinet are set by the President of the Republic. I hereby tender my resignation." Local media reported that Talvi will be replaced by Francisco Bustillo, currently the ambassador to Spain. Bustillo was reported to be on his way to Montevideo. The 63-year-old Talvi was widely praised after he oversaw a lengthy and sometimes fraught operation to repatriate the passengers and crew of the Australian cruise ship Greg Mortimer. The ship had aborted a cruise to Antarctica on March 20 after the nearest South American countries -- Argentina and Chile -- closed their borders and imposed lockdowns. The captain diverted to Montevideo, where the ship was eventually allowed to dock after most of the more than 200 people aboard contracted the disease. Passengers, mostly from Australia and New Zealand, were flown home aboard two emergency flights in April. The last of the crew were allowed to leave Uruguay later after quarantining in Montevideo. Uruguay's Foreign Minister Ernesto Talvi, who announced his resignation on Wednesday, is pictured (R) in a 2019 meeting with then presidential candidate Luis Lacalle Pou
Tsai neednt have worried. We really hit it off, Poux said.

Though Poux is fluent in English and French, Tsai soon realized the 12-year-old wanted his help decoding another language, that of medicine. Slowly, he asked me more questions about his cancer, Tsai said. He was very curious, very interested in the science behind it.

As a new medical student, Tsai hadnt yet studied leukemia. He found himself looking things up so he could answer Pouxs questions. He pushed me to explain a lot of the pathology, which helped me learn and helped him learn, Tsai said.

Shaping his future

The two stayed in touch after Poux finished his cancer treatment at age 13. Tsai attended the same church as Poux and his parents, brother and sister. They met every few months to catch up.

Though his cancer was gone, Poux faced other challenges. Not long after starting ninth grade at Palo Altos Henry M. Gunn High School in 2012, he developed shingles and had to be hospitalized for a few weeks. He switched to attending the Packard Childrens hospital school. The teachers helped me gain confidence in my ability to do schoolwork, and I made my own friends, said Poux, who had mostly completed his schoolwork independently before this. There are things that other sick kids really understand about one another that you cant find in the general high school-aged population.

He kept those friendships when he returned to Gunn for 10th grade, where he eventually became more comfortable with elements of high school life that had seemed foreign at first, such as sitting in class all day and making friends with kids who hadnt been sick.

In 11th grade, a routine blood test suggested his cancer was back. While waiting for confirmation, Poux spent a week taking stock of how he felt about his life. He decided he wasnt trying hard enough to shape the life he wanted.

The follow-up test came back clean; the first result had been a false positive. Poux was relieved but still searching for direction. Tsai, by then conducting research in Weissmans lab, had an idea.

Jonathan said, Why dont you come work with me? Poux said.

Research into clonal growth

The opportunity to work in a Stanford lab gave Poux, then 16, a doorway into science without waiting for medical school. Two of my doctors, Dr. Porteus and Dr. Weinberg, were primarily research scientists, so I knew the medical world existed in a bigger space, he said.

Weissman directs the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and is a professor of pathology and of developmental biology at the School of Medicine. Both Matthew Porteus, MD, PhD, and Kenneth Weinberg, MD, are professors of pediatrics at the School of Medicine and provide clinical care as pediatric hematology-oncology specialists at Packard Childrens.

I could not have picked a better lab, both in terms of people and projects.

Poux began assisting with Tsais research on clonal growth, developing techniques to follow how one cell gives rise to many daughter cells. They labeled cells with multiple fluorescent proteins, using the colored proteins to track how the tissue changed as the cells divided and matured. Tsai helped Poux make the decision to attend Stanford, and Poux continued conducting projects in Weissmans lab throughout his undergraduate years.

I was super lucky because I didnt know anything about the world of biomedical research, and I ended up working in the lab of the guy who first isolated and purified the blood-forming stem cell, Poux said. For someone whose scientific curiosity began with questions about the pathology of his own blood cancer, I could not have picked a better lab, both in terms of people and projects, if I had tried, he said.

In 2018, Weissman, Poux, Tsai and several other members of the lab traveled together to RIKEN, a scientific institute in Tokyo, where Poux presented some of his research.

Its super rewarding, seeing him go from middle school, to high school and through college, seeing how much hes learned, Tsai said.

Drawing on experience

As he heads to Harvard, Poux is excited about whats next, both as a scientist and a future physician.

I dont want my seven-year experience with cancer to just be a bad mark on my life, like, Now its over and we dont talk about it, Poux said. He hopes his past will help him guide future patients through the difficulty of cancer treatment.

He also understands, on a personal level, that caring for cancer patients can be fraught with loss. He hopes that research developments will help him keep his spirits up.

I know many people who didnt make it through their cancer treatment, and as a pediatric oncologist, Ill have to hold onto many more stories of people who didnt make it, and for whom Ill be responsible, he said. Being integrated into research is, I hope, a way to maintain my own hope.

Besides, when he needs someone to talk to, Tsai, now a medical fellow in molecular genetic pathology at Bostons Brigham and Womens Hospital, will be nearby. Poux will have the ear of the friend and mentor who has known him since he was a curious 12-year-old with lots of questions about the biology of his leukemia.
The United States on Wednesday voiced concern after Vietnam handed down an eight year prison sentence to a Facebook user who broadcast pro-democracy views, calling on Hanoi to allow freedom of expression. Nguyen Quoc Duc Vuong had spoken of his support for democracy in Vietnam and shared news of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, according to Human Rights Watch. He was arrested in September and sentenced Tuesday in a lightning-quick trial, accused of "defaming" Vietnam's leaders. "We are deeply concerned about the news that activist Nguyen Quoc Duc Vuong was sentenced to eight years in prison," a State Department spokesperson said. "His lengthy sentence is another in a number of troubling arrests and sentences of journalists, bloggers, and activists aimed at denying freedom of speech in Vietnam," he said. "We urge the Vietnamese government to ensure its actions and laws, including the Penal Code, are consistent with the human rights provisions of Vietnam's constitution and its international obligations and commitments." The United States frequently assails the rights record of rival China but has comparatively warm relations with Vietnam, which despite war memories has stepped up defense cooperation with Washington in the face of a rising Beijing. Vietnam has detained a number of high-profile journalists and activists in recent months ahead of the regime's five-yearly party congress, slated for next January. Nguyen Quoc Duc Vuong appears during a trial in Vietnam's Lam Dong province on accusations of humiliating the country's leaders
U.S. Rep. John Katko is renewing his call for the federal government to help local governments affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Katko, R-Camillus, and several of his Republican colleagues, including fellow New York U.S. Reps. Peter King and Lee Zeldin, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to provide direct aid to local governments.

There has been some aid allocated for local governments in other COVID-19 relief bills, including the $2.2 trillion measure approved in late March. But smaller local governments, according to Katko, didn't receive direct support. It was provided to the state governments, which then dispersed the funding to localities.

The National League of Cities estimates that local governments could face budget deficits of more than $360 billion between 2020 and 2022. This year, the organization projects local governments will lose $134 billion in revenue.

"Local governments know the federal government cannot make up for every loss of revenue," the members of Congress, including Katko, wrote in their letter.
A bill proposed by U.S. Rep. John Katko would require federal government agencies to develop response plans for another surge in COVID-19 cases.

Katko, R-Camillus, introduced the legislation on Tuesday. Federal agencies would draft plans and submit them to Congress. The plans would include details on how they would respond to future spikes in COVID-19 cases.

The plans would include the agency's goals, challenges they may face during an outbreak and how they would communicate with Congress.

"With reports of COVID-19 spiking in most states, central New York working families, frontline health care workers and business owners are concerned that we will experience a 'second wave,'" Katko said. "With our community still confronting the devastating impacts of COVID-19, we cannot in good faith move forward without learning from the missteps made by those overseeing the response effort."

The legislation comes as many states have reported a high number of COVID-19 cases. New York has gone against the trend. The state reported 588 new cases on Tuesday. By comparison, Florida reported 7,347 new cases.

Nationwide, there have been nearly 3 million cases and more than 130,000 deaths due to COVID-19.
Cuomo signs police accountability legislation ALBANY  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law on Friday a sweeping package of police a

The definition of the type of records that will be uploaded to the database comes from the law that repealed 50a, he said.

Disciplinary actions against former Rochester police officers will not be included in the online cache. "The point of the database is to ensure that people have access to information about the officers who are currently working and can be confident they are serving their best interests," Roj said.

Roj said his office did not consult City Council but assumes council members will agree with the Warren administrations decision to create the database. The Locust Club was not consulted.

Again, these are public records and were making public records accessible. That benefits the public and the officers, he said.

Locust Club President Mike Mazzeo voiced his concerns about the city's plan to publish records Tuesday afternoon.

"My fear and my concern is that the documents that are open to the public are accurate, that they're complete," Mazzeo said at an afternoon press conference.

Mazzeo complained about a process that would reveal an officer's disciplinary records but not any commendations they'd received or records of their acts of bravery.
Harvest time is coming.

Right now that sounds about as ominous as the often quoted "Game of Thrones" motto of Winterfell.

Where farmers normally might have some anxiety planning for harvest, it has been observed that much of the labor for that harvest migrates from southern states which are currently seeing a notable increase in COVID-19 cases. It would not be a stretch to say that may have a significant impact on harvest labor this year. However, rather than that observation causing more fear and anxiety we can be thankful for the observation in hopes that it causes the creation of a plan that enables the harvest to occur, allows farmers some security in a time of great uncertainty, and protects public health and safety.

Right now is the time for elected officials and leaders across the state to confirm to the groups that still deny the reality of COVID-19 that this is not a hoax, not partisan, and we can and must work together to stay safe, contain the disease, and still be productive.
The sweet potato is native to the Americas, yet its also found on islands thousands of miles away, Ioannidis said. On top of that, the word for sweet potato in Polynesian languages appears to be related to the word used in Indigenous American languages in the Andes.

The overlap in culture made some archaeologists and historians think it was not only feasible, but likely, that the potatos arrival in Polynesia was the result of the two peoples mingling.

The researchers believe that the Polynesians landed in what is now Colombia. It is also possible, though less likely due to their coastal travel norms, that one or two ships carrying Native Americans could have sailed off course and run into Polynesia, Ioannidis said.

Without scientific evidence, the idea of overlap was just conjecture. Earlier, other groups of researchers turned to the genetics of the sweet potato, hoping to show that the domesticated potatoes from South America and Polynesia were genetically one and the same. But their efforts to trace the tubers have been inconclusive, as the sweet potatos genetic origins were too complex to definitively point to human-mediated spread.

Other studies have analyzed ancient DNA from bones belonging to Native Americans and native Polynesians. Ancient DNA samples, however, are often degraded, so these studies were unable to provide sufficient evidence that the two populations shared a moment in history.

Carriers of history

Ioannidis team took a different, big data approach, analyzing the DNA of hundreds Indigenous people from Polynesia, Mexico and South America. Before collecting any samples or conducting genetic analyses, the researchers visited the communities to explain the study, gauge interest in participation and ask for consent. The scientists then collected saliva samples from 807 participants on 17 Polynesian islands and 15 Native American groups along the Pacific coast of the Americas from Mexico to Chile, conducting genetic analyses to look for snippets of DNA that are characteristic of each population and for segments that are identical by descent, meaning they are inherited from the same ancestor many generations ago.

We found identical-by-descent segments of Native American ancestry across several Polynesian islands, Ioannidis said. It was conclusive evidence that there was a single shared contact event. In other words, Polynesians and Native Americans met at one point in history, and during that time people from the two cultures produced children with both Native American and Polynesian DNA. Statistical analyses confirmed the event occurred in the Middle Ages, around A.D. 1200, which is around the time that these islands were originally being settled by native Polynesians, Ioannidis said. Using computational methods developed as part of Ioannidis graduate work, the team then localized the source of the Native American DNA to modern-day Colombia.

If you think about how history is told for this time period, its almost always a story of European conquest, and you never really hear about everybody else, Ioannidis said. I think this work helps piece together those untold stories  and the fact that it can be brought to light through genetics is very exciting to me.

Other Stanford co-authors of the study are graduate student Alexandra Sockell; former graduate student Julian Homburger, PhD; former postdoctoral scholar Genevieve Wojcik, PhD; and professor of biomedical data science and of genetics Carlos Bustamante, PhD.

In addition to Moreno-Estrada, other researchers from the National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity in Mexico, as well as researchers from the University of Oslo; the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; the National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico; University of Oxford; National Autonomous University of Mexico; University of Colorado, Denver; University of California, San Francisco; and the University of Chile, Santiago, contributed to the work.

The research was supported by the George Rosenkranz Prize for Health Care Research in Developing Countries; Mexicos National Council for Science and Technology; the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Chile; the American Society of Engineering Education; the National Library of Medicine; Chiles Scientific and Technological Development Support Fund, National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development and National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research; the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Center; and the Wellcome Trust.
LOS ANGELESWhen the Federal Communications Commission ditched its own Obama-era net neutrality rules in June of 2018, the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation  makers of the open-source web browser Firefox  quickly filed a lawsuit in federal court to reinstate the open internet regulations.

But on Monday, Mozilla quietly dropped the two-year effort, saying that a lower court decision had cleared a path for net neutrality to move forward at the state level, according to a statement posted by the nonprofit firm.

In October of 2019, the lawsuit reached the Washington D.C. federal appellate court, considered the second-most important court in the judicial system. But a three-judge panel rejected Mozillas arguments, ruling that the FCC was within its jurisdiction to repeal the rules.

At the same time, however, the court rejected the FCCs contention that its own repeal of net neutrality prevented states from imposing their own rules. That aspect of the decision appears to be what prompted Mozilla to stop the lawsuit before it reached the Supreme Court.

The fight for net neutrality will continue on. The D.C. Circuit decision positions the net neutrality movement to continue on many fronts, starting with a defense of Californias strong new law to protect consumers onlinea law that was on hold pending resolution of this case, the company wrote in its statement.

California in 2018 passed its own net neutrality legislation, but delayed putting the law into effect while the Mozilla case worked its way through the legal system.

Now that Mozilla has dropped the lawsuit, California is free to put the state-level net neutrality law into effect. Whether the state will do so or not remains unclear.

The three judges who ruled against overturning the FCC decision was comprised of one Republican appointee and two judges appointed by Democrats.

In February, Mozilla appealed to the D.C. court to review its own decision, a common practice at the appeals court level. But the court declined to take a second look at the case.

The case for states establishing their own rules was bolstered by a federal judges ruling in Maine this week, striking down a bid by several broadband companies to bar states from establishing their own broadband regulations.

ISPs welcomed the (Ajit) Pai FCCs decision to abdicate authority over broadband with open arms, said John Bergmayer, of the advocacy group Public Knowledge. This opened the door to states regulating broadband practices, as Maine has done.

Photo By Michael Dunn / Wikimedia Commons
Flagstaff police are searching for an arson suspect alleged to have used a Molotov cocktail to burn a garage and pine tree on Fourth Street Wednesday morning.

Charles Hernandez, spokesman for the Flagstaff Police Department, explained that multiple neighbors on the 1400 block of North Fourth Street called the police when heavy smoke entered their windows early Wednesday morning. Others in the area saw the large pine tree on fire.

Nearby residents were worried someone might have been within the burning structure, but no one was injured in the fire.

Unbroken glasses alleged by police to be Molotov cocktails were found within the burn area. Hernandez said the unbroken bottles still had gasoline and singed paper jammed in the top of the bottles.

Police officers responded to the scene of the fire at around 2:10 a.m. and found other smaller fires were burning on the ground in addition to the fire burning the pine tree and garage.

Firefighters extinguished the fire while officers searched the area for possible suspects. Shards of glass were also found in the burned area.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil spot prices fell to as low as $14.10 a barrel on March 30.

Between January and March, the rig count in Wyoming  a prime indicator of oil and gas activity levels  fell from 25 rigs at the beginning of the year to 19 by the end of March. The rig count in Wyoming has since been slashed to zero.

The history of the oil and natural gas industry is one of highs and lows, Ryan McConnaughey, communications director of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, wrote in response to the recent market conditions facing in Wyoming oil and gas operators. Industry will use these challenges as an opportunity to lean on the ingenuity and grit of its talented workforce to innovate. Companies will emerge stronger and more competitive in the global energy market. We have been here before, and I have no doubt the industry will survive.

Wyoming relies heavily on revenue from oil, gas and other natural resources. The collapse of energy prices, coupled with the onslaught of the pandemic, led state analysts to revise initial revenue forecasts this spring.
Its going on 15 years that Linda Wetzel learned she had survived a terminal cancer diagnosis.

As a survivor Wetzel is reluctant to call herself cancer free, even after all that time.

For Wetzel, the unpredictable nature of cancer is a stark reminder to take each day as it comes.

"Its a miracle youre here, so appreciate every moment," Wetzel said.

Wetzel was diagnosed with Stage IV B-Cell lymphoma shortly before Christmas in 2004. Already in its late stages, doctors told Wetzel she had only a few months to live. A cancerous mass had wrapped around her abdomen and her forced her kidney to fail, and then metastasized into her bone marrow.

I was more dead than alive when I was finally diagnosed, Wetzel said.

Instead of giving up, Wetzel signed up for as many clinical trials as she could. After a bout of trials Wetzel went into remission for 9 months.

The cancer came back, and doctors again told Wetzel her illness was terminal. She signed up for more clinical trials, including an experimental trial in Denver that used her own stem cells as a transplants.
Diamond Platnumz father, Mzee Abdul Juma, has challenged his son to stop stringing women along and settle down.

Speaking in an interview with Tanzanian blog SNS, Mzee Abdul asked Diamond to emulate his perceived rival, Ali Kiba.

He(Diamond) should just be calm and stop playing around. I pray to God to give him a woman whom he will marry. He is now grown, he said.

Ali Kiba has already gotten married and he is settled. Diamond also needs to settle down and leave other-worldly things. I dont understand what the problem with him is. I pray that he settles down.

At the same time, the musicians father said he is happy that Diamond and Zari Hassan patched things up for the sake of their kids. Mzee Abdul added that he wishes to see his two grandchildren, Princess Tiffah and Prince Nillan, whom he has never seen after they relocated from Tanzania.

Life is good when you are in good terms so that one parent doesnt tell bad things to the children about the other parents, said baba Diamond.

Esma Platnumz Wedding

Mr Juma also explained why he missed his step-daughters, Esma Platnumz, wedding. He said his leg pains had reoccurred at the time, preventing him from travelling.

I got news of her wedding but unfortunately owing to my ill health at the time I couldnt make it. For someone with my condition, I need to prepare myself for distant travels because I really dont like going out a lot, it would be risky for me, he said.

Abdul Juma nonetheless said he was delighted his two daughters, Esma and Queen Darleen, have settled down.

I was so happy because getting married shows that your family is a respectable family with an immense capability because as you know, getting married is no childs play. So when you get a family that succeeds to achieve that then know that it is family that understands itself and is headed in the right direction.

The purpose of marriage and its secondary benefit is for one to settle down and find peace. It brings you into the realizations that there are things in your life you will need to let go of and settle down. He said.

Mzee Juma also spared some words of wisdom about marriage and what it takes to make it work.

All Im saying is you need respect, get the right teaching on marriage and respect your husband and his family. Do not be rude, in short just be obedient as though you were in school because the test of marriage is constant.

Im just praying she understands her new role as a wife and settles down. Let it not be that one time she is here, the next time she is there, thats not nice, he said.
Employment is a requirement for the Alpha House program, so residents will be able to access the programs re-entry department if they are laid off or need help finding another job. The department provides staff that assists with employment services.

My take on the job market right now is that our people are very much in demand and that people being out because theyre being tested or whatever isnt new to most employers, Armstrong said. Im not expecting that a lot of people are going to lose their job over this. Thats not the feedback weve been getting so far.

Staff check residents for symptoms multiple times daily, and those who enter the building are screened at the door and are required to wear a mask. Visitors, like friends and family of residents, have been restricted from entering the Alpha House, Armstrong said.

Alternatives has spent over $80,000 on personal protective equipment and requires that staff wear face masks throughout their shifts. However, Armstrong admitted that protocol isnt always perfectly followed.

Staff have had to be reminded at times to remain socially distanced and to wear masks.

Basically, (COVID-19) requires a re-training of our social skills, Armstrong said.

He said inmate workers from the Passages Womens Pre-release Center prepare food for Alpha House residents at Passages and then heat meals at the Alpha House. The Alpha House kitchen is located on the other side of the building away from the quarantine floor, and staff deliver meals to residents.

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The bureau has also not said who made the initial decision, why or how that decision was made, or when. A Montana-based agency spokesman said he would submit an interview request to Washington, D.C., but a response was not received on Wednesday.

While the term Chinaman is defined as a native of China, its use has been considered racist in some contexts due to historic derogatory references to Chinese people or people of other Asian descent. Dictionaries note the term as offensive.

The term is used for several area place names near Canyon Ferry, including Chinaman Gulch and Chinaman Cove.

The Chinese were one of the largest groups of immigrants that came to Montana largely as laborers after gold was discovered in the 1860s. That included mining on a number of Helena-area gold strikes.

By 1870, Chinese numbered in the thousands and made up nearly 10% of Montana's population, former Montana Historical Society historian Ellen Baumler told the Independent Record in 2015.
Officials will next week begin the process of testing all prisoners in the state for the novel coronavirus, the Wyoming Department of Corrections announced Wednesday.

No people incarcerated in Wyoming prisons have yet tested positive for COVID-19, which is the disease cause by the novel coronavirus. A staff member at the Wyoming Women's Center, a Lusk prison, tested positive earlier this year and recovered.

Public health officials had by Tuesday afternoon confirmed 1,378 cases of coronavirus statewide and identified 333 additional probable cases. The number of cases in Wyoming has steadily risen in recent weeks, matching a national trend.

Of the 1,378 confirmed patients, 1,011 have recovered. Of the 333 probable patients, 263 have recovered. More than 133,000 people have died of the virus nationwide.

Wyoming is, according to the Corrections Department, one of only two states that has not yet confirmed a positive case among prisoners. The agency said in a Wednesday press release that it will test every prisoner as well as every state and contract employees working in the state's five prisons.
Wyoming environmental regulators have approved a coal firm's application to construct the state's first new coal mine in decades.

The Department of Environmental Quality approved Brook Mining Company LLC's coal permit application on Tuesday following years of internal review and public debate. The permit will allow the firm to mine for coal just north of Sheridan.

For nearly a decade, coal technology firm Ramaco Carbon (Brook Mine's parent company), has fought to revive mining at a site eight miles northwest of Sheridan to supply its future research facilities with coal.

But the state permit application has been long in the making and has faced strong opposition from several nearby landowners.

"Our staff put an incredible amount of time and effort into reviewing this application and ensuring that all laws, rules and regulations were followed," Department of Environmental Quality Director Todd Parfitt said in a statement. "As a result of the careful review by (Land Quality Division) staff and in consideration of comments received by the public additional conditions were added to ensure the environment, the public and Wyoming's interests are appropriately protected"
The Fifth Amendment also states that private property (cannot) be taken for public use, without just compensation, setting up the process we refer to as eminent domain. The Montana Constitution takes this concept a step further, stating, Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public use...

The concepts that underlie these Constitutional protections are simple. When private property is used for a public purpose, the public (through the local, state or federal government) should compensate the private property owner for the use of that property. In the absence of compensation, that private property owner would be forced to bear the cost of the public purpose.

In the case of the coronavirus shutdown, every Montanan has conceivably received a benefit from the government edicts that shut down thousands of businesses. Those regulations flattened the curve, delayed infection for most of us, and prevented our health systems from being overwhelmed.

Those regulations have also done immense damage to thousands of businesses. The public that benefited now has an obligation to ensure that those businesses are properly compensated for the damage done to them. The federal relief package was designed to do just that.
The phrase "separation of church and state" is found nowhere in the Constitution. As this Forbes piece explains, "The phrase 'separation of church and state' was initially coined by Baptists striving for religious toleration in Virginia, whose official state religion was then Anglican (Episcopalian). Baptists thought government limitations against religion illegitimate. James Madison and Thomas Jefferson championed their cause."

But over time case law has firmly established the separation principle because it turns out that Americans, generally, have no interest in having their tax dollars support any particular religious belief or institution.

But the separation wall has been crumbling bit by bit over the years, and the most recent damage was done by a 5-4 vote in the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that, as this Huffington Post article says, "could open the floodgates for allowing public dollars to fund religious institutions.

"The case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, centered around a school tax credit program in Montana that provided financial incentives for individuals and corporations to donate to private school tuition scholarships. Most of the schools that signed up to participate were religious.

"In 2018, the Montana Supreme Court found this in violation of a state constitutional provision barring public dollars for religious schools. The state disbanded the entire program in response, a decision that affected both the religious and secular schools in the program.
Kringstad said he anticipates a shutdown would force more oil to be hauled out of state by trains, leading to transportation expenses at least several dollars per barrel more than the cost of shipping oil through Dakota Access. Shipping a barrel of oil through the pipeline ranges from about $6 to $8, depending on contract terms, according to figures provided by Kringstad.

Officials worry the impacts on pricing could lead to an exodus from the Bakken as the oil industry opts to focus on places such as the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, one of the North Dakota oil patchs biggest competitors.

Operators are going to shift their capital to other places where this limitation doesnt exist, or this risk doesnt exist, and that shift could become permanent, State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms told the commission.

Kringstad envisioned that oil will be diverted onto other pipelines if Dakota Access shuts down, as there is space on just about every pipeline system in the region given the recent downturn.

But those pipelines will reach capacity, and the oil industry will need to resort to rail transportation, he said.
The latest North Dakota coronavirus news: business aid, jury trials, DSU and more.

Mandan gift cards

Mandan city commissioners have approved two more runs of a gift card promotion to help support city businesses whose revenues have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The gift cards are worth $30 but cost only $20, with money from the citys growth fund and participating businesses making up the difference. Four online flash sales of 100 gift cards each held in late April and early May were wildly successful, with all gift cards selling out in less than seven minutes during the final flash sale, according to Ellen Huber, city business development manager.

The commission at its meeting Tuesday approved $5,600 to cover eight additional flash sales of 100 gift cards each. The first round of sales will be held in July and August and a second round in October and November. Purchasers are limited to five gift cards per flash sale. Residents can expect further communication from the city about the program.

Dickinson State University

Dickinson State University has approved a preliminary set of reopening guidelines for the fall semester.
There was drama at Elukho village in Luramabi, Kakamega County after a pastor was caught pants down with a female congregant on Monday.

According to the man of the house, only identified as Josphat, he returned home from work early only to find the man of God enjoying the forbidden fruit with his beloved wife in their matrimonial bed.

A melee ensued, with the evangelist who preaches at the Solid Rock for Jesus Christ escaping on foot before villagers who were baying for his blood caught him. While running for his life, the preacher left behind his motorcycle and some of his clothes.

Area Chief, Alex Mutende, said police officers have launched investigations into the matter. He said detectives impounded the preachers motorcycle and took the clothes he had left behind.

Villager elders advised the family of the preacher to appease his guilt and apologize to Josephat by providing cows and goats through the chief.

However, Josphat vowed that he will not forgive his wife. The couple has three children together.
Ethanol producers and the farmers that supply our facilities face an economic crisis. As a result of COVID-19, fuel demand has plummeted as global supplies of crude oil pushed fuel prices down, causing farmers and ethanol plants to lose money. Fuel demand dropped by half during the worst of the downturn, projecting an annualized loss of 8 billion gallons of ethanol and 2.7 billion bushels of corn nationally.

With biofuel plants across the country closing, North Dakotas ethanol facilities felt a significant economic strain, idling or reducing production as a result. This springs margins were the worst in the history of our industry, destroying the corn market, threatening to shutter our facilities, and causing irreparable economic harm in the rural areas where these facilities operate.

Federal support for ethanol plants was limited, but the state of North Dakota stepped up.

Determined to weather the economic storm, leaders of the ethanol industry approached the Governor, Agriculture Commissioner and Attorney General with a detailed request  to employ an existing loan-guarantee and interest buydown program housed at the Bank of North Dakota to help keep ethanol plants operating. These elected officials and the creative and professional staff at the Bank of North Dakota were just the stopgap the ethanol industry needed during the market downturn.
SNOWFLAKE CLOUD DATA PLATFORM

While many companies have put together a series of data management and BI solutions, they have failed in their goal of storing accurate and up-to-date data.

In fact, many of these piecemeal systems actually exacerbate the problems of data siloes and poor quality. From here, your business intelligence and analytics suffer, and your whole business stops benefiting from the data it works so hard to collect.

Learn how Snowflake offers companies a solution to these fragmentation problems for true data management by using a multi-cluster shared architecture to deliver a quality experience in the cloud.
Creating powerful, newsworthy, and informative content is the goal, but it can be hard to achieve if it's not data-driven.

After creating content for seven years, our team fully believes that having data as the driving element in your content campaign is the differentiator between good content and newsworthy, link-worthy content.

Coming up with creative sources for your data-driven content can be difficult sometimes, especially if what you want to examine with your content can't be revealed through a survey methodology or an existing data set.

There are hundreds of sources of data you can use to shape your content, but the type of data I'm focusing on today can be collected from scraping publicly available information from social media platforms.

Social media platforms offer something unique that other data sources cannot. When you scrape a social media platform with intention, you have the opportunity to acquire massive amounts of information from real people, in a matter of minutes.

With the right analysis, this information can glean insights into your topic of choice that the public wouldn't have otherwise known. Any new, surprising, or controversial information you infer from the analysis will have journalists begging to take the exclusive and cover your content marketing campaign for their publisher.

In this post, I'm going to share five examples of social media scrapes that earned top-tier publisher press, and why they worked. But first  what does social media data scraping mean, anyway?

What is social media data scraping?

Social media data scraping is a methodology that incorporates third-party technology to automatically scrape data from a website such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

By using third-party data scraping tools such as Octoparse or Parsehub, youll receive your data in a neat excel package that will then allow you to analyze it however you wish.

Popular aspects to analyze with social media data sets include conducting a sentiment analysis, analyzing volume and frequency of certain words or symbols, and looking at patterns of individual words with location data.

Next, let's dive into how you can use the data you scrape as inspiration for future content.

How to Use Social Media Data as a Source for Your Content

1. Peruse Instagram to come up with fun content ideas.

In our first example, we'll look at a content campaign called #SexiestLocations on Instagram.

The execution of this project was fairly simple: our research team collected over 4 million posts on Instagram that contained the hashtag #sexy. They then analyzed the posts that included a geolocation tag. From this, they were able to glean the "sexiest" countries in the world, as well as U.S. states.

Safe to say, publishers ate it up.

While it's actually impossible to truly learn what the sexiest place in the world is (sexy is a subjective term) our team produced a fun campaign for our client that used geo-bait to appeal to light-hearted online sites, like Glamour, E! Online, Women's Health, and Elite Daily.

2. Explore Twitter to learn more about a pressing topic.

In our second example, we'll look at a campaign covering a much different topic: college drinking habits.

In this methodology, rather than exploring Instagram, the team analyzed Tweets from Twitter instead. The researchers looked at tweets within a 1.5 mile radius of the center of small, four-year colleges and universities that included the keywords "drunk," "drinking," "alcohol," "booze," "beer," or "wine."

There are official rankings that come out every year that pit universities in America against each other for the top "party school" in the nation. This project speaks to this notion in a new way, by looking to data from Twitter to back up those claims.

This campaign speaks to the ongoing conversation about the problem and prevalence of dangerous levels of college drinking in America. Again, using geo-bait and highly targeted digital PR outreach, this campaign was able to earn coverage at the Huffington Post, Adweek, Elite Daily, and BroBible.

3. Don't overlook niche social platforms, like Yelp.

You don't just have to stick to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram when creating content from social media data. There is a world of niche community platforms that can give you so much unique, interesting information that you can't find anywhere else.

For instance, this content example uses popular restaurant review platform Yelp to glean insights about Americans' dining preferences. What are the most popular cuisines in different cities across America? Using Yelp's Fusion API, this study analyzed more than 120,000 restaurants in the U.S. with their ratings, pricing, and restaurant categories.

Yelp turned out to be a treasure trove of solid data. This visualization shows viewers the most unique restaurants for each city, the number of restaurants, and more. From this, you can see that Boston has more bagel restaurants than other cities, per capita.

This project saw a lot of success very quickly  once the exclusive went live on the Temple University section of ULOOP, it quickly syndicated to other U.S. university sites and earned over 100 pieces of unique media coverage.

4. Analyze tweets for advanced textual insights.

There are times when using a Twitter scrape just isn't enough, and you need external analysis. In one of the coolest uses of Twitter data I've seen, a campaign called "Most Powerful Women" does just that.

IBM Watson Personality Insights is a free online tool by IBM that allows you to analyze text for prevalence of character traits. Typically you might use this tool to analyze speeches that people have given, or articles they've written. In the absence of that, you can use their own personal Twitter timeline to get samples of their writing.

The study sought to find out what the similarities and differences are between some of the top 100 "most powerful" women in the world. From Oprah to Queen Elizabeth, the takeaways gleaned from this study are numerous.

The exclusive to this project went to Bravo, a site that often covers powerful women for their audience, anyway.

For those of us who want to be powerful women too, we can learn which traits will take us all the way to the top, based on the most common traits shared by these famous and powerful women.

5. Conduct a survey for more actionable insights.

In my final example, we'll look at #AdAnalysis, a campaign that combines an Instagram scrape methodology with a survey of 1,000 Americans to derive fascinating insights on the topic of influencer marketing on Instagram.

The campaign researchers sought to answer a few questions: What types of photos are popular for advertisements, and which demographics respond to promoted posts the most positively?

The first question was answered with a data scraping, and the second was answered with a survey.

Combining the two methods of research allowed the campaign to offer more well-rounded and actionable insights to journalists and news publishers.

This campaign earned coverage for our clients' desired niche with placements on Adweek, eMarketer, MarketingProfs, and Tech.co.

Best Practices for Scraping Social Media for Content Marketing Campaigns

After producing over a hundred social media scrape campaigns over the past seven years, we've learned first-hand what types of social media campaigns excel during digital PR outreach.

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Yelp all have their unique benefits and can offer valuable insight into topics across the spectrum.

In this post, I walked through five campaigns that used social scraping as a methodology. All three campaigns represented diverse subject matter: college education, sex and relationships, food, leadership, and advertising. This methodology can clearly be used across all verticals  for nearly any brand in any niche.

Here's some tips to keep in mind when producing content with a social media scrape.

Hashtags are typically subjective, so keep projects lighthearted in nature in order to earn major coverage.

Stay away from using social scrape methodologies to talk about things that are scientific or close to health topics  people looking for health advice should get information from licensed professionals.

Make sure that no matter the topic, whatever you produce contributes to an ongoing conversation.

Exercise caution when combining newsjacking and the scrape methodology, because trending news topics can become old very quickly if you don't earn coverage immediately.

Happy scraping!
At an event hosted by the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerlan...
The most recent episode of the Intercept's Intercepted podcast touches on a lot of topics relating to white supremacy and US history. But the first segment includes an interview with a Native American historian named Nick Estes. A citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Estes is an assistant professor of American studies at the University of New Mexico; he's also the host of the Red Nation podcast and the author of Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance.

Among the many discussions in the podcast, Estes brings up George Washington's reputation amongst indigenous people as "town destroyer" 

Washington was known as "town destroyer." He was given that name by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy because he led a scorched-earth campaign against the Haudenosaunee prior to the Revolutionary War, but also during the Revolutionary War to push them further westward, to make room, you know, to create Lebensraum or living space for the new kind of white-Anglo nation that was under construction. Every sitting president to date of the United States has the name "town destroyer" from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Last year, I was commissioned by Cornell University to write a play about climate change in the region of the Finger Lakes, based on collaboration with the community. That was the first time I had ever heard about the scorched-earth assault against the Haudenosaunee, otherwise known as the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign of 1779. General Washington was pissed at the Haudenosaunee  a confederacy formed by the Mohawk, Onandaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Tuscarora, and Seneca people  for not helping the Colonies to fully separate themselves from Britain and claim ownership on North American soil (can't imagine why the Natives might be mad at that prospect?). So Washington sent Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier General James Clinton on a mission, telling them: "The immediate objects are the total destruction and devastation of their settlements. It will be essential to ruin their crops now in the ground and prevent their planting more."

And that's exactly what they did. They destroyed 160,000 bushels of food and burned at least forty Native American settlements to the ground, displacing thousands just in time for a famously severe winter, leaving most of the survivors to die of cold or starvation.

This was 3 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The American Revolution was still raging. And it's conveniently left out of all our history books.

Massacre & Retribution: The 1779-80 Sullivan Expedition [Ron Soodalter / Historynet]

The Clinton-Sullivan Campaign of 1779 [National Park Services]
"#BreakingNews an SUV just plowed through protesters on 42nd street in #manhattan Still assessing injuries if any. More on @NY1 #blacklivesmatter #nycprotest more on @NY1," tweeted NY1 news reporter Ruschell Boone [@RuschellBoone] at 10:19pm New York Time.

Another eyewitness account from NYC Times Square  allegedly showing a uniformed city worker on the passenger side of the SUV that plowed over bicyclists. @CBS46 https://t.co/Vm2jnbWN0i  shon gables cbs46 (@shongables) July 8, 2020

The tactic was used in Charlottesville, and resulted in the death of a protester. SUVs driving into Black Lives Matter protesters is a thing that has been happening in mid-2020 throughout the United States. This is a domestic terrorism meme of sorts, and copycats seem to be copying one another.

While we don't know who was driving this SUV, we do know there's a clear pattern of extremist vehicle attacks targeting BLM protesters. As I told @NPR the other week, this is increasingly a deliberate tactic (as we saw in Charlottesville, Richmond, etc): https://t.co/ajiRh9LVS6  Amy Spitalnick (@amyspitalnick) July 8, 2020

It happened in Bloomington, Indiana, this week, at an anti-racism protest.

This is 29-year-old Chaz Mottinger. She is seen on the hood of the red SUV that drove through a crowd of protesters last night in Bloomington. She is now at home recovering after being knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital. @WISH_TV pic.twitter.com/NOJ2mgxsm9  Sierra Hignite (@SierraHigniteTV) July 7, 2020

Police still have not identified the attacker who drove an SUV through a group of protesters there on Monday, after the July 4th holiday weekend, knocking one young woman unconscious.

Here's a closer look at the two people that were inside of the red SUV that drove through a group of protesters yesterday in Bloomington. If you recognize either of these people you were encouraged to reach out to Bloomington police. @WISH_TV pic.twitter.com/LpmJUxPwx3  Sierra Hignite (@SierraHigniteTV) July 7, 2020

Police arrested a man in Long Island, NY for driving his SUV into two Black Lives Matters protesters there on Monday night.

Anthony Cambareri, 36, is accused of using his vehicle as a weapon and driving into the activists with his Toyota RAV4 at about 6:45 p.m. on Broadway in Huntington Station, Long Island, said police.

And in Utah.

Provo Police are searching for a man who shot the driver who ran a SUV through a crowd of protesters on Monday night. https://t.co/YOBT5KwRCy  The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) June 30, 2020

Video shows an SUV pushing protesters as it moves forward. The driver was shot, wound not life-threatening. Police say the shooter was caught on camera but was "thoroughly masked." It's not clear if the shooter was protesting with one group or the other. https://t.co/gN7jjR2ZFs  Rebecca Green (@wordofgreen) June 30, 2020

One group said it will gather Wednesday in support of of the man and the woman who have been arrested, arguing the SUV driver struck protesters with his vehicle and should be charged.https://t.co/4CBt1sZ0Gg  The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) July 1, 2020

And in Iowa. Sometimes it's angry racist white people, sometimes it's angry racist white people who are also law enforcement officers.

The Iowa State Patrol confirmed that the SUV hit the protester, who was among about two dozen Black Lives Matter protestershttps://t.co/3hAX3bYp2A  ABC 6 News  KAAL TV (@ABC6NEWS) July 1, 2020

Cops did it in Detroit.

Viral video shows police SUV drive through crowd of protesters after being surrounded https://t.co/wHeLEhMEDO  KMOV (@KMOV) June 30, 2020

Video: Detroit police SUV plows through screaming protesters https://t.co/an0bcatmZL pic.twitter.com/iPDiII0mRI  New York Post (@nypost) June 30, 2020

More below, from Twitter.
We appeal to the medical community and to the relevant national and international bodies to recognize the potential for airborne spread of COVID-19, 239 researchers in 32 countries wrote to WHO.

The World Health Organization on Tuesday acknowledged 'evidence emerging' of airborne transmission of COVID-19 in indoor spaces.

In a briefing today, the WHO revealed plans to release updated recommendations for avoiding the coronavirus this week.

It's like they missed the memo from way back in April. The NIH article titled, 'Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2: The world should face the reality.'

WATCH NOW: WHO holds briefing after scientists say airborne transmission of coronavirus is a "real risk" https://t.co/UbTYbCezkb pic.twitter.com/a0dCOmTrEz  CBS News (@CBSNews) July 7, 2020

Excerpt from Reuters:

"We have been talking about the possibility of airborne transmission and aerosol transmission as one of the modes of transmission of COVID-19," Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead on the COVID-19 pandemic at the WHO, told a news briefing. The WHO has previously said the virus that causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease spreads primarily through small droplets expelled from the nose and mouth of an infected person that quickly sink to the ground.

More via Twitter, below.

More than 200 scientists have outlined evidence that they say shows the novel coronavirus can spread in tiny airborne particles, urging the @WHO to update its guidance. Read our story on what we know so far about airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. https://t.co/903llcCp7A  Scientific American (@sciam) July 7, 2020

NEW: @WHO acknowledges that airborne transmission of the coronavirus may be a threat in indoor spaces. Plans to release updated recommendations in a few days. w/ @Jjimen05 @linseymarr @BillHanage @allegranzib @doctorsoumyahttps://t.co/ciDXIRIjCs  Apoorva Mandavilli (@apoorva_nyc) July 7, 2020

#BREAKING: WHO: The evidence for airborne transmission in Covid19 "is growing" but it is not definitive yet.  Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) July 7, 2020

Challenged on letter from over 200 scientists saying they are underestimating risk of airborne transmission of #COVID19 @WHO officials now seem to suggest airborne cannot be ruled out.  Imogen Foulkes (@ImogenFoulkes) July 7, 2020

The John Hopkins Covid-19 tracker has infections over 11.5 million. That is roughly an increase of about 1 million infections in a weeks time.  Crystal Goomansingh (@cgoomansingh) July 7, 2020
Schoolteacher Mary Kay Letourneau raped a 12-year-old student, gave birth to his child and later married him, ensuring a lifetime of notoriety long after her 7-year jail sentence was up. That life is now over, reports CNN.

Letourneau died fairly suddenly in her home late Monday, her former attorney David Gehrke told CNN. Most of her family was with her, including Vili Fualaau, her former student and ex-husband who was giving her 24-hour care the last month of her life.

A part of the Letourneau media phenomenon was the lurid and insistent suggestion that her victim was old enough to know what he wanted. To this day, their marriage remains a mirror that reveals who in media haven't quite figured out that fucking children is rape.

People Magazine describes her as "the controversial Washington middle school teacher who began a sexual relationship with a student when he was just 12."

E! News: "Mary Kay Letourneau, the controversial public figure who made headlines for having a relationship with her then 13-year-old student, has died."

NBC News explicitly euphemizes the rape conviction as "engaging in sexual relations": "Mary Kay Letourneau, the former teacher who was convicted of 2nd-degree rape of a child after engaging in sexual relations with her then 12-year-old student, has died of cancer."

Seattle's KOMO News writes that Letourneau "made headlines in the 1990s for an affair with her underage student."

KSNV News 3 in Nevada: "Letourneau generated international headlines when she admitted to a relationship with Vili Fualaau, who was her sixth-grade student at the time."

KOAA News 5: Letourneau was "a former teacher who was sentenced for an illicit relationship with a then sixth-grade student."

And so on and so on, as if nothing has or ever will change.
Here's some crazy news: Big Boy restaurants are swapping out their iconic mascot "Bob" for a little blonde girl named "Dolly." She is an obscure sidekick-type character from the "Adventures of Big Boy" comic book. The "Big Boy" will remain in the name though.

The company told a Michigan TV station:

"We are rolling out a brand-new chicken sandwich. We're calling it the best cluckin' chicken sandwich around and Dolly, who has been with Big Boys since the 1950 as far as we can go back with our comic books, We decided that she's going to be the star of this sandwich as Big Boy was the star of his double decker sandwich

It is Dolly's time to shine now with our chicken sandwich. So, she's taken the forefront right now. She's in charge. The name will always be Big Boy but as far as the logo, she's leading the charge and we'll see when he comes back if he does."
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Places of worship will resume services from Tuesday, July 14, 2020, following a proposal by the Interfaith Council.

Chairperson of the Council, Archbishop Anthony Muheria, in a statement Tuesday proposed a four-step phased reopening of churches, mosques in strict conformity with the Ministry of Health guidelines.

Archbishop Muheria said the phased reopening of places of worship would allow the Council to engage the State in making decisions based on daily infection statistics.

To ensure compliance of the coronavirus directives, Muheria said every place of worship will be expected to form a COVID-19 committee that will be in charge of monitoring the adherence of the new measures.

The Council, however, noted that there is still a daunting task ahead of sensitisation to ensure that believers follow the guidelines. It came up with 13 health safety guidelines to be followed in reopening of places of worship. They include:

Providing water, hand wash detergents and sanitisers for hand hygiene

Congregants to wear face masks properly throughout the services

The 1.5-metre social distance between congregants

Only 100 persons allowed to participate in services.

Children below 13 years and adults above 58 years are prohibited from attending.

Services to be conducted at most one hour.

Regular cleaning and disinfection of places of worship

Taking care and avoiding contacts during service

Sanitising shared items like microphones

Special sanitisation for those presiding over public worship

Collections that involve personal contacts to be discouraged

Thermal guns to be used to scan body temperature

Duration of worship sessions to be made shorter at initial stages.

The council added that it will be sending representatives to the counties to monitor the reception of the guidelines and to provide civic education for the congregants.

Please let us not rush without preparations. We all understand the great eagerness and longing that we have but with some patience and preparations, we will safely reunite. We must remember that the real solution for this pandemic lies in prayers to the almighty God, said Muheria.

We therefore urge and plead with Kenyans that we open places of worship in an orderly and prepared wayWe must ensure the safety of each and every congregant. The Interfaith Council will review and advice accordingly in the next three weeks.
In mid-March, days before New York State began its shutdown of nonessential businesses, the Plastics Industry Association stepped up efforts to describe single-use plastic bags as safer and more sanitary than reusable ones. At the same time, the DECs timeline on enforcing the plastic bag ban was delayed because of the courts pandemic closure. Though experts have said plastic bags could also be contaminated, and that the chances of contracting Covid-19 from shopping bags is small, many stores took the opportunity to reintroduce single-use plastic at the checkout.

But the Bag Waste Reduction Law was never officially paused to accommodate virus concerns.

Tops Markets is one company that eliminated bags and brought them back. As of Monday, the company eliminated them again.

Tops Markets originally expected the DEC to begin enforcing the bag ban next week. It had transitioned away from disposable bags when the ban started March 1, but brought them back later that month when the coronavirus shutdown began. Tops reinstated its plastic bag ban Monday, putting its pre-coronavirus rules back into place. As before, Tops stores will sell reusable bags for 99 cents or brown paper bags for 5 cents.
The Buffalo woman charged with driving through a line of police officers last month on Bailey Avenue has been released on bail from the Erie County Holding Center, the Erie County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

Deyanna Davis was turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, per instructions from federal court, the Sheriff's Office said in a written statement.

Davis, 31, faces federal and state charges in connection with the June 1 incident in which she's been accused of driving an SUV through a line of riot police on Bailey as Buffalo police and state troopers in tactical gear faced off with protesters.

Davis had been held at the Holding Center on $200,000 bail on state charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault on a police officer, assault, weapons possession and possession of stolen property.

She is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday morning. In order to be released on the federal gun possession charge lodged against her, Davis is required to post a $25,000 bond as bail, under the federal court ruling.
As Buffalonians continue to hope about the future of the former AM&As building on Main Street, a quick glance at the buildings history might leave more questions than answers based on the intertwined story of two separate downtown department stores, founded independently by two brothers, operating across the street from one another until one store went out of business  and the other store moved into that stores building.

Hunh? Exactly.

Brothers Robert Borthwick Adam and James Noble Adam were born into the family of a Presbyterian minister in Peebles, Scotland.

As an 11-year-old, Robert was sent to Edinburgh and began learning the retail trade. Several years after coming to the US at the age of 24, he made his way to Buffalo and in 1867 founded the store that would remain in his family and remain a Main Street stalwart for 128 years, Adam, Meldrum, and Anderson  AM&As.

Younger brother James spent two years studying retail under his brother at AM&As before starting his own store in New Haven, Connecticut. Chatting with his brother on a Buffalo visit in 1880, Robert said to James, Why dont you come here to Buffalo and open a store? Id just as soon have you as competition than anyone else!
Wisler said the tech hub continues to be attractive for recruiting talent from outside the region, too.

"Our original thesis that the life of an engineer and creative designer in San Francisco or New York was losing its appeal. We think that is going to continue to happen," he said. "I actually think Buffalo has the opportunity to be the Goldilocks, where you have enough mass, where you can be in a place where you can do great things, but you're not sitting in a building occupied by 25,000 people."

As work on the tech hub moves along, Jemal said other features of Seneca One are nearing completion. The entire complex will include office space, apartments and retail space. Jemal described the building as being 60 days away from "live and in action."

"Really, what I want to see happen in Buffalo [is], we have to show them that we're building, that we're moving, that we're doing things, that there's action going on. We're not dormant," Jemal said. "And it can't just be a conversation. It has to be action."

The floors of M&T's tech hub are set up to promote teamwork, rather than workers tucked away in private, dedicated offices. And the layout has kept Seneca One's sweeping views of downtown and Lake Erie accessible to everyone.

"You think about this as a generational investment," Wisler said. If the bank has to adjust its workplace density for six more months or another year, "that's going to be less than five or 10% of the time that we think we're going to use this asset. And so we're being real thoughtful about not making irreversible changes."

Matt Glynn

The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
"This feels like it's going to be a minor-league convention."

Organizers of the event are now working to alleviate concerns among top donors who gave millions to fund a glimmering event in North Carolina. The Republican National Committee, led by Trump's anger at Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, opted to move most of the convention events to Jacksonville, all but lighting the roughly $38 million they had raised and spent on building an event in North Carolina on fire.

At the time, Trump said Cooper was "unable to guarantee" that the Charlotte convention arena could be filled to capacity.

Republican officials note that the costs in Jacksonville are significantly lower than Charlotte. Republicans have paid $150,000 to rent the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, compared to what one official said was "millions" for the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

Trump said Tuesday that Republicans are "very flexible" on how they'll hold the upcoming convention amid the surge.

"It really depends on the timing," the President told Gray Television's Greta Van Susteren. "Look, we're very flexible. We can do a lot of things, but we're very flexible."

Two-month sprint
While New Era Cap Co. reported that the loan program saved 488 jobs, on Tuesday the company said it is laying off 187 people, including 117 in Buffalo.

In some ways, too, the PPP data poses questions that remain unanswered, such as:

 Why would a Denny's in Orchard Park get at least $1 million and claim that it retained 240 jobs, which seems to be a lot for one restaurant? An inquiry to Denny's corporate headquarters went unanswered.

 Why would a government-formed corporation like Western Regional Off Track Betting get a loan of at least $2 million  and what did it do with the money? OTB never replied to a request for comment.

 Why would Dash's Markets need a loan when grocery sales boomed during the quarantine?

We met all the qualifications for it but not anything we would want to discuss, said Mark Mahoney, director of operations. It's an internal issue.

Questions such as those prompt some to question the PPP aid.

"I'm not the biggest fan of how the the program was implemented, especially the fact that there's really seems to be very little oversight into it," said Robert Galbraith, senior research associate at Buffalo's Public Accountability Project.
A legion of Canadian dual citizens live in Western New York. We have contacts, we have compelling stories and we have Canadian citizenship. We have a better perspective on Canadian attitudes because we talk to our Canadian family members daily; we read Canadian newspapers; we listen to CBC. We can write Canadian government officials who are much more likely to listen to us.

Why have we not been invited to the table, or at least been included in the messaging so we can multiply it? We could be valuable assets to border strategy talks.

Representatives in the U.S. House Northern Border Caucus should consider approaching Canada with an initial border opening strategy that is Western New York specific, and done in steps, starting with allowing Canadians to enter the U.S. without a 14-day quarantine in Canada. Instead we could agree to quarantine at home here in Western New York, which is much more practical and less expensive. Or we could be tested before going to the border.

Then, carefully track if there are any Covid-19 cases resulting. If all goes well, that wedge might help open the border more widely. And for heavens sake, everyone, keep Western New York cases on the downward trend by following public health guidelines, especially mask-wearing and social distancing.

Michelle Marcotte, of Lewiston, is a regulatory consultant with companies in Canada and the U.S.
As the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) continues to streamline the Capital City, Director-General Mohamed Badi has unearthed how cartels have been creating an artificial water shortage in South C estate.

Following numerous complaints by residents who have not had water in their taps for years despite City Hall assuring that they were pumping water to their residences, Badi deployed his engineers to assess the problem.

The fact-finding team found that the pipes which were supposed to supply water to South C estate had been cut, stuffed with mattresses, and sealed back.

This created an artificial shortage which allowed the cartels to illegally sell water to desperate residents for profit.

Severe water shortage has been a perennial problem for Nairobi residents who have been undergoing water rationing since April 2017. To ease the pressure, NMS has adopted three strategies  sinking boreholes, extending water piping and using water bowsers to ensure efficient and equitable distribution.

So far, out of the 93 borehole sites identified, 92 are complete and operational.

Further, 20,903 metres of extension piping have been constructed in conjunction with the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, while the licensing framework for water bowsers is under review.

Also Read: NMS Sinks Ksh18 Billion into Nairobis Water and Sewer Infrastructure
By William Cooper

John Roberts is President Trumps opposite. The Chief Justice of the United States, a Buffalo native, is cautious, reflective and deeply respectful of the nuance and history underpinning Americas constitutional order. He is, accordingly, an antidote to the president.

In three recent major cases where Roberts sided with the courts more liberal justices, he displayed a key virtue that is nowhere to be found in Trumps DNA: moderation.

The surprising string of cases started when Roberts joined a majority of justices in holding that the Civil Rights Acts workforce protections protect gay and transgender employees. Supporting this dramatic increase in gay and transgender rights came as a surprise from Roberts, a political conservative and lifelong Catholic. But Roberts vote is consistent with a strong trend among the American people toward recognizing such rights.

Next, Roberts joined the liberal justices in a 5-4 decision holding that DACA  the wildly popular Obama-era program protecting young immigrants from deportation  may continue. Again, there is a growing consensus in the U.S. that DACA recipients should be protected. Roberts vote prevented a raw, partisan majority of justices from terminating this popular program.
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

Christine Twarozek Christine Twarozek is a Tonawanda resident and the proud mom of a mailman.

Sound familiar? While the U.S. Postal Service has no official motto, this unofficial one pays tribute to Americas postal workers. As far back as 449 A.D., with the Greeks and Persians at war, the Persians operated a system of mounted postal couriers who served with great fidelity.

When the New York General Post Office Building was designed, an architect who read Greek literature for pleasure picked out this phrase to chisel over the entrance to the building.

My son recently joined the ranks of the USPS. He quickly found out that this job was not for the faint of heart. During his probationary period of almost a year, he was required to work any and all hours. He would be called in early, 6:30 a.m., to throw packages during the holiday season. They used that phrase to describe sorting the bundles by route.

He would then embark on his route, which ended after dark, to deliver the mail. Something we matter of factly come to expect each day. Even after his route was done, he was sent out to help others who needed assistance. Many nights we didnt see him until after 7 at night.
The Summer LOC Derby is running strong and Lake Erie fishing teams are gearing up for the 10th Annual Sunset Bay Walleye Shoot Out on July 18. The deadline to register is July 10 at www.walleyeshootout.com. Also, check out Scattershots this week if you have a fishing license issue.

Lake Erie and tributaries

There is good and bad news for walleye anglers out in the lake. The good news is that there are 116 million walleyes in the lake proper. However, locating them in the eastern basin of the lake has been difficult the past week or two. That is part of the bad news.

And for those who did find a pocket of fish, if they are participating in the upcoming Sunset Bay Walleye Shoot Out July 17-18, they are keeping numbers and location tight to the vest. Throw in the full moon and nighttime feeding, and you have some excuses for not catching more eyes. Loads of bait to deal with, too. Night action for some has been good in 25 to 30 feet of water with stickbaits.
Posted 7/7/20

Deer hunters can apply online through the Missouri Department of Conservations website for a shot at more than 100 managed deer hunts throughout the state for archery, muzzleloading and modern 
Posted 7/8/20

A Missouri Farm Bureau survey brings to life many of the hidden effects of COVID-19 on farmers and rural communities. While the on-farm impacts have been dramatic, the personal effects are even more 
The logos of car manufacturers Fiat and Peugeot are seen in front of dealerships of the companies in Saint-Nazaire

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators have extended their investigation into Fiat Chrysler <FCHA.MI> and Peugeot maker PSA's <PEUP.PA> proposed merger to Nov. 13, the European Commission said on Tuesday.

"The Commission extended the deadline in agreement with the parties," a spokeswoman for the EU competition enforcer said.

The Commission launched a four-month long probe last month, concerned that the deal to create the world's fourth-biggest carmaker may hurt competition in small vans in 14 EU countries and Britain.

The move suggests that the companies will have to offer concessions to address the competition concerns. Antitrust authorities in the United States, China, Japan and Russia have already given the green light.

Italian-American Fiat's brands include Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Maserati while French peer PSA has Peugeot, Opel and DS.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, editing by Louise Heavens)
The UK government has announced a groundbreaking new programme to subsidise meals in Britains restaurants for an entire month.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday the government would give people a 50% discount on meals under its new Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The programme will run Monday to Wednesday for the entire month of August.

Meals eaten at any participating business, Monday to Wednesday, will be 50% off, up to a maximum discount of 10 ($12.50) per head for everyone, including children, the chancellor said. Businesses will need to register, and can do so through a simple website, open next Monday.

Each week in August, businesses can then claim the money back, with the funds in their bank account within five working days.

The government will give diners a 50% discount on meals eaten in restaurants. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA via AP

READ MORE: UK chancellor unveils three-point plan to get millions back to work

Diners can get discount on a full meal including non-alcoholic drinks. The Eat Out to Help Out scheme will cost the government an estimated 500m.

Pubs, restaurants, cafes, and other establishments that serve food can take part in the programme. The government estimates 130,000 businesses will be eligible to take part in the scheme, which it hopes will protect 1.8 million jobs.

Hospitality has been one of the hardest hit sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. 1.4 million people in accommodation and food services have been furloughed since March, according to the Treasury, second only to retail as the worst hit sector.

Alongside subsidising meals, the chancellor also announced a temporary VAT cut for food, accommodation, and attraction businesses. VAT in these sectors will be cut from 20% to 5% until January next year, saving tourism and leisure businesses an estimated 4bn in taxes.

The chancellors announcements provided a boost to shares of publicly listed restaurant companies.

Shares in The Restaurant Group (RTN.L), which owns chains like Frankie & Bennys and Wagamama, jumped 9%. Stock of Tasty (TAST.L), which owns the Wildwood pizza chain and Dim T restaurants, rose 2.7%.

The announcements came during an extraordinary summer statement delivered by the chancellor on Wednesday setting out how the government will support the UK economy in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown. Sunak announced up to 30bn worth of new policies aimed at supporting, creating, and protecting jobs.
Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2020) - St. Augustine Gold and Copper Limited (TSX: SAU) (the "Company") at the request of IIROC, advises that it is not aware of any material event or change in the affairs of the Company.

For more Information: Lenna Mae Leopoldo Investor and Public Relations Contact

ST. AUGUSTINE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS T: +6382 225 0884

5th Floor, Pryce Tower, JP Laurel Ave, Bajada

Davao City, Philippines, 8000

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/59354
A task force on mental health wants mental illness declared a national health emergency.

Speaking while submitting the report to Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, the Taskforce chaired by Dr Frank Njenga said one in every 10 people in Kenya suffers from a common mental disorder, with depression and anxiety the leading cases of mental disorders.

The task force said mental health issues are deep-rooted and it is high time they are given the attention they deserve. To this end, the task force has recommended the setting up of a Mental Health Commission to monitor peoples happiness levels and provide a report annually.

Dr Frank Njenga said the formation of a responsible commission to monitor the mental health of Kenyans should be a priority.

We are recommending an equally decisive declaration by our government that recognizes that too many people are dying either by suicide or by the root of gender-based violence and we suggest that such a move will and can save lives, he said.

The taskforce also wants the Government to fund mental health services in order to encourage Kenyans to open up and share their problems without fear of how much it will cost them to treat mental disorders.

The Njenga-led team further wants the State to put in place strategies for dealing with the stigma associated with mental illness saying the sick are suffering in silence.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the Country has witnessed rising cases of gender violence during the COVID 19 pandemic period adding that a huge number of Kenyans continue to check into hospitals with mental illness cases.

These psychosocial issues have compounded the problem of the current pandemic. The rising number of mental health-related issues such as depression some of which have ended up in suicide has been a concern to the government, Kagwe said.

RELATED  Health Ministry to Recruit Psychologists, Train 60,000 Health Workers on Psychological First Aid
By Alistair Smout

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain can once again issue new licences to export arms to Saudi Arabia after complying with a court order, its trade minister said on Tuesday, a move campaigners condemned as "morally bankrupt".

The Court of Appeal last year ruled that Britain broke the law by allowing weapons sales to Saudi Arabia that might have been deployed in the war in Yemen.

The court concluded that Britain's government had erred in law in its decision-making processes on arms export licences to Saudi Arabia, after activists said there was evidence the weapons had been used in violation of human rights statutes.

While the court's decision did not mean Britain had to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia, it did mean it had to pause the granting of new export licences to sell arms to the kingdom - Britain's biggest weapons purchaser.

Trade minister Liz Truss said the government had re-taken those decisions on a "correct legal basis", meaning it could resume issuing licences.

"I have assessed that there is not a clear risk that the export of arms and military equipment to Saudi Arabia might be used in the commission of a serious violation of IHL (International Humanitarian Law)," she said.

The Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), which originally brought the legal action and had argued that British weapons were likely to have been used in Yemen in violation of human rights law, condemned the decision.

"This is a disgraceful and morally bankrupt decision. The Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis, and the government itself admits that UK-made arms have played a central role on the bombing," said Andrew Smith of CAAT.

"We will be considering this new decision with our lawyers, and will be exploring all options available to challenge it."

(Additional reporting by Andy Bruce, editing by Elizabeth Piper, William Maclean)
(From left to right) PAP's Vivian Balakrishnan, SDP's Chee Soon Juan, WP's Jamus Lim and PSP's Francis Yuen went on a GE2020 debate live on TV. (SCREENCAPS: CNA)

by Bertha Henson

I had great hopes that this election will be different.

I mean different in its content, and not how it is being conducted in non-traditional ways during this COVID-19 outbreak. After all, this downtime in the face of crisis should mean more radical out-of-the-box thinking rather than just more of the same.

I thought wed be bracing ourselves to listen to new strategies for the new normal, beyond going digital and working from home. The COVID-19 outbreak highlighted many of Singapores vulnerabilities, like how so many households need help because they dont have enough money put away if breadwinners lose their jobs.

The Peoples Action Party (PAP) had a headstart, beginning its informal campaigning via national broadcasts on ways to get the country out of the COVID-19 troubles that loom ahead. This is one of the privileges of being the government. We cant fault the Prime Minister for picking what he thinks is the best time to hold an election to benefit his party. That too is one of the privileges of being Prime Minister.

But what was presented as the PAPs manifesto is four already-announced Budgets put together. It makes you wonder if a vote against the PAP will mean a pull back of all the incentives and support that has been promised. It cannot be.

The PAP wants to campaign on the basis of producing jobs. It promises to create 100,000 jobs and training opportunities over one year. It is careful not to over-promise: not all are full-time jobs that can launch a persons career. Some would be interim jobs or traineeships for the unemployed to pick up skills that they can use when the economy picks up. Nothing was said about jobs after that one year, or the efficacy of the programmes.

In this quest for more jobs, I would have thought we would hear more about wages, foreign workers and ensuring that local PMETs have priority.

Too many missed opportunities

But no, the election campaign degenerated into a circus, with plenty of he said/she said/didnt say/say wrongly/say falsely and punctuated by POFMA directives, police reports and online petitions. Both the PAP and the opposition parties are to be blamed for the state of affairs, especially the PAP, which is so intent on having the last word that it comes across as lumbering giant with bad English.

Story continues

There were many missed opportunities to educate voters on the big issues of the day, and they were turned into name-calling and character issues.

Job creation is important, yes, and I agree with the PAP that there is more dignity in holding down a job than receiving unemployment benefits. But this doesnt mean that the two cannot go together. The Jobs Support Scheme to supplement employers payroll isnt forever, while retrenchment is a monster that will rear its head from time to time. Unfortunately, there was no joining of issues.

Allied to this issue of job creation would be whether plans to get retrenched workers, especially middle-aged PMETs, to convert to other professions will actually work. In other words, how efficacious will be the PAPs efforts to get the country out of an economic rut? What key performance indicators has it set?

PAPs Vivian Balakrishnan told of some 60,000 foreign workers who have left for home, but nothing about whether their jobs are now redundant or whether they left because headquarters told them to. Could locals have stepped into them? Instead of examining the foreign component in our services and manufacturing industries, we have piecemeal statements on how many work passes should be issued.

Another big issue that almost made it into the campaign discussion was population policy, a big deal in tiny Singapore. It is a hot potato because a bigger population would bring visions of crowded spaces and overloaded infrastructure. Just think about the outcry over 6.9 million people by 2030 that was advanced in 2012. By the way, we are already at 5.7 million now.

The Singapore Democratic Party probably thought it hit the mother lode when it asked for clarification on the supposed 10 million population target which it attributed to DPM Heng Swee Keat.

Lets leave aside the number or who said it and when. This was a chance to come to grips with how to deal with a growing population and whether we should wean ourselves off our dependency on foreign workers.

Instead, the debate turned on whether Heng had set the target (he said no) and the predictable PAP chorus about SDP Chee Soon Juans dishonesty. The PAP then went on the offensive to say that this fabrication made the whole SDP manifesto suspect. On its part, the SDP quickly declared victory

Guess what? The population was left none the wiser about the population policy.

Another example: helping lower income workers.

We all know the PAP is allergic to the idea of a minimum wage, preferring the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) where people can move up a wage ladder as they deepen their skills. Cleaners, landscape workers and security guards are on this. Its a good idea but it also means setting up an infrastructure to licence employers, recognise and certify skills. And PWM looks like a glacier in motion. Whos next in line and how long before we see that most workers are getting more than $1,300 a month? In five years? Again, there was no engagement on the pros and cons of either model.

We had nine days of campaigning which produced much heat but no light. Maybe I was too optimistic to think that content will be superior. After all, the campaign lasts just nine days and we are already on the eve of Cooling Off Day.

Given the paucity of discussion on issues and policies, the GE then boils down to this: What sort of Singapore do we want?

We shouldnt be bogged down by personalities and promises of upgrading at the constituency level. Singapore is just too small to afford to bicker over this. We are facing an uncertain future, and many are worried about what tomorrow will bring. But it is wise to remember that this election is not just about the economic future of Singapore. It is also a chance to shape the way the country will be in five to 10 years.

Remember that the PAP has asked for a strong mandate. What does that really mean?

Will it take a 70 plus per cent vote share as a signal that Singaporeans see it as the best party to effect change? Or a resounding yes for it to do as it sees fit?

The opposition has called on us to deny the ruling party a blank cheque. Again, what does that mean? Will it then help the PAP write the cheques that will be needed? Or will it simply oppose for opposition sake?

We have heard enough  if you sift the wheat from the chaff of this election campaign  to come to a somewhat informed decision about these questions. This should guide you as you go to polling stations at allotted times on Friday, masks and disposable gloves and all.

Are we to be an extraordinary country in extraordinary times? Your choice.

Bertha Henson is a veteran Singapore journalist who now lectures at NUS. The views expressed are her own.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at t.me/YahooSingapore

Follow Yahoo News Singapores GE2020 coverage here.

General Election stories:

COMMENT: The dilemmas of a first-time voter

COMMENT: Lows departure has accelerated the Workers Partys transition - but at what cost?

GE2020: 6 women candidates who have caught our attention

GE2020: For love and a bigger cause - The Workers' Party couple reluctantly in the spotlight
Extra Crunch is now live in Romania. That adds to our existing support in Europe as we are already in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the U.K.

Theres been reason to be bullish on Romanias technology sector for some time. A TechCrunch op-ed called the country the Silicon Valley of Transylvania in 2016, noting that the number of startups in the country had grown by 20% from 250 to 300 in a year.

The countrys rich pool of developer talent (bullish notes on that matter here) has also led to rising investor interest. Crunchbase data, for example, said that known venture round counts rose by 26% in the country in 2019, compared to 2018. And from a 2015-era trough, the countrys GDP has risen sharply, along with its GDP per-capita.

Its no surprise, then, that Romania has been one of the most requested countries for Extra Crunch support in recent months. Were happy to add the country to the list.

You can sign up here.

Extra Crunch is a membership program from TechCrunch that features market analysis, weekly investor surveys and how-tos and interviews on growth, fundraising, monetization and other work topics. Members can save time with access to an exclusive newsletter, no banner ads or video pre-rolls on TechCrunch.com, Rapid Read mode and our List Builder tool.

Committing to an annual and two-year plan will save you a few bucks on the membership price and unlock access to TechCrunch event discounts and Partner Perks. The Partner Perks program features discounts and savings on services from AWS, DocSend, Typeform, Zoom and more.

Thanks to everyone who voted on where to expand next. If you havent voted and you want to see Extra Crunch in your local country, let us know here.

You can sign up or learn more about Extra Crunch here.
"No, no, no!"

At a heated news briefing in Miami on Tuesday, reporters grilled Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on the state's efforts to contain the coronavirus, cases of which have soared in the last month, and demanded an explanation for why he has not released the number of COVID-19 hospitalization in Florida.

REPORTER: "She's asking specifically about the number of patients."

DESANTIS: "So all the data that goes into this is all available."

REPORTER: "I have the spreadsheet from that data, Governor. It is not available."

Last week, DeSantis promised he would release the number of COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized statewide and by county, a metric reported by most other states. But he has yet to do so.

The next best thing was data published Tuesday by the state's Agency for Health Care Administration, which showed that the intensive care units at 54 hospitals across 25 counties in Florida had reached full capacity.

As of Tuesday, only 17% of the ICU beds were available statewide.

But on Tuesday, DeSantis tried to put a positive spin on the recent rise in cases.

"The idea was flatten the curve, have a flatter curve, which meant that you'd push this out over a longer period of time... By spreading this out you now can have way more robust testing. They're testing everyone who comes through the door."

The coronavirus crisis worsened in other parts of the country, with infections now rising in 42 states.

Texas shattered records on Tuesday when it reported over 10,000 new coronavirus cases, the biggest one-day increase in the state since the pandemic started.

That news came the same day the Texas State Fair was cancelled for first time in 75 years.

Arizona saw the rate of positive tests rise to 26% for the week ended July 5. The World Heath Organization considers a rate over 5% to be troubling.

"Deaths are way down from this horrible China virus."

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump - whose handling of the crisis has been widely criticized - highlighted the fact that the mortality rate in the United States has fallen, even as hundreds of Americans continue to die from the virus each day.

U.S. coronavirus cases rose to over 3 million on Tuesday and more than 130,000 Americans have died from the virus - about a quarter of the worldwide total.

And a widely cited model from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation projected on Tuesday that U.S. deaths would reach 208,000 by Nov. 1, two days before the presidential election.
Workers' Party doorstop at Kovan Market on 8 July 2020. (PHOTO: Nicholas Yong/Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE  The presence of opposition Members of Parliament in the House makes the government more responsive and sensitive to the concerns of the people, said Workers Party (WP) chief Pritam Singh on Wednesday evening (8 July).

Its going to be a very tough election. There is a real risk of a parliament dominated completely by elected PAP MPs. Is that a good outcome for Singapore? I would suggest its not.

Speaking to reporters at Kovan Market on the ninth and final day of campaigning for the 2020 General Election (GE), Singh was flanked by his predecessor Low Thia Khiang. The latter is not running for office but has actively campaigned on the ground for the WP.

Responding to a question on whether the party has accomplished its goals in the campaign, Singh emphasised three main messages the party had tried to put out.

Firstly, the importance of a credible opposition party in parliament speaking up for workers, particularly in light of issues such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing elderly population and the peaking of resident labour force participation within the decade.

Secondly, the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme, which has been the subject of much debate in the campaign, does not allow opposition MPs to embed themselves in the community. You dont get that sort of feedback directly from your residents...you dont even have any place to conduct your MPS (and you are) disconnected from the ground. An opposition MP should never be like that.

Alluding to the former prime minister Goh Chok Tongs comment the NCMP scheme is an outrigger for Singapores political system, Singh said, I think its an outrigger for the PAP.

Thirdly, the prospect of an opposition wipeout in Parliament, leaving the House dominated by Peoples Action Party (PAP) MPs.

Asked about his assessment of the ground sentiment, Singh would only say, I dont want to get ahead of myself. He also cautioned against over-interpreting online sentiment, as it is dangerous to equate online behaviour and online support with actual support.

Story continues

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

Related stories:

GE2020: Low Thia Khiang urges voters to vote for next generation of opposition members

COMMENT: Lows departure has accelerated the Workers Partys transition - but at what cost?

GE2020: My biggest regret is not being able to engage with PAP on issues - SDP's Paul Tambyah

GE2020: Parliament will be 'sterile' with 'one voice' if MPs don't ask right questions - Tan Cheng Bock
Adam Walsh/CBC

In a world without the COVID-19 pandemic, Natsinet Hailemichael and her 6-year-old daughter Sabrin would already have experienced the joy of a long-awaited family reunion.

Instead, they're faced with frustration and worry, as Hailemichael's husband  Sabrin's father  is stuck in Sweden trying to get St. John's.

The family have been apart for at least three years, and so far in 2020 two flights for him to cross the Altantic Ocean were booked and then cancelled.

Hailemichael said her husband is also under a time constraint, with his Canadian visa set to expire in August.

The family are refugees who escaped the authoritarian regime in Eritrea -- a country the United Nations has accused of crimes against humanity  and when the pandemic shut much of Canada down the spring, refugee resettlement was also put on pause.

That unplanned interruption has caused travel problems for thousands of people trying to get to Canada, and the numbers of people meant to arrive in Newfoundland and Labrador has been cut down to a quarter of the norm.

"We're significantly lower than where we would normally be," said Megan Morris, the executive director of the Association for New Canadians.

"Last year for example, we were probably close to 150 by the end of June, whereas this year we have under 40 arrivals."

Adam Walsh/CBC

Nationally it's a similar story.

According to the federal government, compared to last year, arrival numbers from January to May have been more than halved. For that period in 2019, the country admitted 10,425. For the same time frame this year it's just 4,163.

Worries for families

Terhas Debesay is also a refugee from Eritrea, who has been working long hours at multiple jobs in St. John's in order to sponsor her mother and siblings, who are living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia.

She's worried that the pandemic will slow the process. She's also worried about COVID-19 in their camp, where she said there are no supplies to protect her family from the disease.

Story continues

"They need sanitizer or mask but they can't buy them because I didn't send them money. There is no way to send money to my family," she said.

Making the situation even more stressful, the Ethiopian government plans on shutting down the camp where Debesay's family is living and move everyone to another camp.

Adam Walsh/CBC

As stressful and worrisome as everything is, both Debesay and Hailemichael remain hopeful.

When Hailemichael is finally reunited with her husband, she said they hope is to expand their family with a sibling for Sabrin.

For Debesay, her plans are to go to church.

"I'm going to church to worship my god. Because in my country we are Protestant with my family. So in my country they are not allowed to [worship freely]," she said.

"So when they come to Canada, we are free this time. So we are going to worship our god."

No date yet

But getting to that church will take time.

According to a statement from a government of Canada spokesperson, "refugee resettlement will only fully resume once conditions allow, which includes ensuring that there are appropriate measures in place to support refugees upon arrival."

The statement also said the "current pandemic presents new challenges" to the country providing a refuge "for those seeking conflict and persecution abroad."

The statement also said the government is continuing to consider requests to resettle people in urgent need of protection on a case-by-case basis.

Submitted by Terhas Debesay

On the Newfoundland and Labrador side of things, Megan Morris said that while nothing is moving at the moment, this province is ready for refugees.

"There's a lot of work being done overseas right now trying to get things moving and to get our capacity back to where it was. But it's a slow process. We're updated weekly," she said.

"We are ready to receive. We have capacity. We have space. So we're ready to go."

Read more articles from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
A man from Kayole estate in Nairobi is nursing multiple injuries after he fell from the roof of an apartment building while trying to escape from a baboon.

The chilling incident was caught in a video that was shared online on Tuesday, July 7. The clip shows Dickson Maina, a matatu driver, precariously hanging on the roof of a four-storey building where a stray baboon is perched.

Behind the baboon, another man is seen throwing an object at the animal, which forces it to charge towards Mr Maina. In an attempt to escape, Mr Maina misses a step on the balcony and loses his grip and balance, plunging down amid screams from women and children.

Worse still, the matatu driver landed on an iron sheet fence, sustaining deep cuts on both his thumbs and on his right cheek, and a broken arm.

According to Maina, he scaled the wall out of curiosity after residents had raised an alarm over the primate.

I heard people shouting then climbed the balcony to check out what the problem was, thats when I saw the baboon charging at me. It wanted to bite me so I jumped but missed the balcony and landed in a plot fenced with iron sheets, narrated Maina.

The clip also captured Maina walking away from the scene, before residents rushed him to Arrow Web Hospital for First Aid. He was later transferred to Mama Lucy Hospital for further treatment and discharged.

Speaking to Standard, Maina said he is required to go for a check-up after every two days. He also said he will explore the possibility of seeking compensation from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

An animal like that is dangerous, the way he charged at me he wanted to bite me. If it can attack me and Im a grown-up what if it meets a child? If possible I want authorities to pay me, I will take action but first I will give myself time to recover, he said.

Watch Maina narrate his ordeal in the clip below.
(Reuters) - This year's Ryder Cup will be postponed to 2021 and next year's Presidents Cup will also be moved back by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, ESPN reported on Tuesday.

The biennial Ryder Cup, which pits a U.S. team against Europe, was scheduled to take place from Sept. 25-27 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin but will instead be played in the same time frame next year.

The 2022 event to be held in Rome would also be pushed back by a year, ESPN reported citing a source who was not authorized to speak publicly.

ESPN said an official announcement would be released later on Wednesday. The PGA Tour and PGA of America did not respond to a request for comment on the report.

With fans unlikely to be able to attend the Ryder Cup if it went ahead this year, several prominent players, including world number one Rory McIlroy, had urged officials to postpone it.

The Presidents Cup, a clash between the United States and an Internationals team minus Europe, had been scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina next year but had been moved to 2022, the report said.

The events will then continue to alternate every other year.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Sen. Tammy Duckworth issued a late-night Twitter clapback at right-leaning TV personality Tucker Carlson Monday evening after he questioned her love of America.

The war veteran, who lost both of her legs while serving in Iraq and now uses a wheelchair and prosthetic legs, challenged Carlson to "walk a mile in her legs."

Late Monday evening, Carlson featured Duckworth, a senator from Illinois, on his evening show on Fox, criticizing her and other Democratic leaders and arguing that they "despise this country."

Carlson called Duckworth a "deeply silly unimpressive person" in his newscast before featuring a clip of Duckworth on CNN Sunday calling for a "national dialogue" on removing statues of George Washington and other founding figures who were slave owners. Later in the clip, and not shown during Carlson's segment, Duckworth adds that she thinks "we should listen to everybody" on the subject.

Following the clip, Carlson argued that Duckworth and other politicians on the left side of the aisle "actually hate America."

PHOTO: Tucker Carlson discusses 'Populism and the Right' during the National Review Institute's Ideas Summit at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, March 29, 2019, in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Duckworth lost both of her legs in Iraq when a Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. She is a Purple Heart recipient.

In response to Carlson's criticism, Duckworth tweeted: "Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?"

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

Duckworth has garnered attention in recent weeks as a possible vice presidential pick for Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. She is the lone vice presidential contender with military experience.

On Tuesday evening, Carlson fired back at Duckworth, setting the stage for a political showdown. On his Tuesday night show he called Duckworth a "fraud" and a "coward." He also named Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota and a former refugee from Somalia whose family was given asylum in the U.S., as another liberal figure whom he claimed "hates" America.

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Carlson said Monday during his show that he generally tries to resist challenging someone's patriotism.

"It's long been considered out of bounds to question a persons patriotism -- its a very strong charge and we try not to make it," Carlson said, before telling his audience that the only logical conclusion to draw is that "these people actually hate America.

Following the TV spot on Monday, some users took to Twitter to criticize Carlson for his comments, calling for an apology and, in some cases, a resignation.

MORE: Service has shaped Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Is her next post in the White House?

"This is shameful. Former Lt. Col. Duckworth lost both of her legs in the service of her country, earning a Purple Heart, before she became a US Senator, tweeted University of Alabama law professor and MSNBC contributor Joyce White Vance. "He owes her a public apology."

But a fellow Illinois lawmaker defended Carlson, who last night stated "you're not supposed to criticize Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military."

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who is also a military veteran, said Duckworth should expect scrutiny as she rises in the ranks of possible vice presidential contenders.

"Your service is commendable but does not immunize you from criticism especially as you inject yourself into the VP lists," Kinzinger tweeted Tuesday.

ABC News' Will Steakin contributed to this report

Sen. Tammy Duckworth fires back after Tucker Carlson suggests she 'hates America' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Thailand has insisted that the coconut produce you're buying from some British retailers is not being harvested by monkeys.

Authorities there say the country does not use primates to collect coconuts on an industrial scale.

UK-based stores such as Waitrose, Co-Op, Boots and Ocado vowed not to sell any products that campaigners say use monkeys in their production.

Morrisons has already removed Thai products from its shelves.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds last week backed calls from animal rights group PETA -- asking supermarkets to stop selling Thai coconut products following the accusations over so-called monkey "slaves".

Here's PETA Asia Manager Ashley Fruno on their research.

"PETA's undercover investigation visited 13 facilities in Thailand and found monkey abuse at every single one of those facilities. So it is something that is widespread. The government of Thailand is seeming to kind of take both positions in that they're denying the use of monkeys but they're also defending the use of monkeys, and they can't have it both ways."

But Thai authorities have vehemently denied the accusations.

And blame miscommunication on the issue.

Mananya Thaiset is the deputy agriculture minister:

"We insist that there is no animal abuse. It wouldnt be fair at all to the coconut farmers of over 200,000 households who would be impacted due to the miscommunication on this issue. At an industrial level, we use machines and various production systems where under the European Retailers Protocol for Good Agricultural Practice, it prohibits companies from abusing animals. However, we still have the people's way of life with the monkeys, which is a different thing. The coconuts that the monkeys collect are not for export, they are just for provincial-level consumption and even that, I don't suppose it would be enough."

Last year, Thailand exported 396 million U.S. dollars' worth of coconut milk.

About 8% of it went to Britain.
Mike McCormack, president of the Toronto Police Association, will retire by August 1, a spokesperson for the association confirmed on Tuesday.

In his letter of resignation, dated Tuesday, McCormack says he is retiring after four terms as president and 35 years in policing. His resignation follows that of Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders, who says he is stepping down on July 31.

McCormack, son of former Toronto police chief Bill McCormack, outlines in the letter what he considers his main achievements as president. The association represents about 8,000 full-time and part-time uniform and civilian members of the Toronto Police Service (TPS).

McCormack says the association's board of directors made "significant improvements" to its collective agreement entitlements and working conditions during his years as president.

While he acted as chief spokesperson during the last four rounds of bargaining, McCormack says the association successfully negotiated a 34 per cent increase to member salaries as well as what he called a "breakthrough" primary response unit allowance. He says it was the first police union in Canada to do so.

Other achievements, he says, include improvements to health and dental benefits, protections for members' sick days, retention and service pay, job protections from layoffs and outsourcing, and paid duties.

As well, the association led the development and launch of a"groundbreaking" shift schedule pilot project that provides data and evidence-based staffing, he says.

"It was the first time in the history of the Toronto Police Service ... that the membership had a choice in what Primary Response shift schedules they wanted to work," he says.

But McCormack notes that his time as president was not without challenges.

One of his priorities was to ensure the force was staffed appropriately and members had the resources to do their jobs, he says.

In 2017-18, the association responded to a push to curb the TPS budget and freeze hiring by launching the Stop the Toronto Police Cuts public awareness campaign, which McCormack called "noteworthy."

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The campaign was followed by what was called the 30-60-90 Day Action Plan.

"Through our actions and a mobilized membership and community, we were able to put police staffing and gun violence on the public and political agenda," he says.

"It demonstrates how police associations can reframe and change the narrative on policing through strong leadership and with the support and collective voice of its membership and public supporters."

Will continue to help interim president

McCormack says he will continue to help the board and Brian Callanan as interim president.

"The Board is working on updating the constitution to reflect new business practices, and in the coming months these changes and a plan to go forward will be brought to the membership," he said.

McCormack notes that the service has had a McCormack as a member for more than six decades.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to have served as President of the TPA and to work with some of the world's finest police officers, special constables and civilian police professionals. Keep up the great work and be proud of the career you chose," he says.

"Despite this year's unprecedented challenges, you continue to perform your job diligently, with professionalism and integrity," he concludes.
Climate change, a supply of seals to eat and effective conservation in the United States are all possible explanations for the apparent increase in great white sharks in Atlantic Canada, according to a newly published paper in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

The peer-reviewed report, led by authors from the University of Windsor in Ontario, speculates on why more of the apex (top-of-the-food-chain) predators are being seen in the summer months, especially off Nova Scotia.

One hypothesis is that the great white shark's range has shifted, bringing them into an area where they were rarely seen in the past.

"A northward range expansion could be related to multiple factors, including warming Canadian waters due to climate change, population recovery and/or increased regional prey abundance," the authors state.

Or maybe they've been here all along and we didn't notice.

R. Snow/Ocearch/The Canadian Press

"A large, highly mobile, predatory shark may have been historically abundant in Canadian waters yet considered 'rare' simply due to our inability to observe them," the paper states.

It documents records of 60 great white shark "observations" in Atlantic Canada between 1872 and 2016: There were 27 sightings; 26 caught in nets; and seven others inferred from teeth in gear and wounds on seals and porpoises.

What the tagging shows

The report is based primarily on satellite tracking data from Florida-based Ocearch, an organization that collects and publishes ocean data, in part through tagging sharks and taking samples from them. The organization staged heavily promoted and highly publicized tagging events off Nova Scotia in 2018 and 2019.

Over the two-year period, 17 great white sharks were captured  most at Ironbound Island near Lunenburg, N.S., and some near Scatarie Island off Cape Breton. Holes were drilled through their dorsal fins, and they were fitted with a satellite-transmitting tag.

All six of great whites tagged in 2018 returned in 2019.

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Because the satellite tracking data is not precise, hot spots for occurrence were estimated based on modelling.

The main hot spots occurred on the southeastern coast of Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy. A secondary hot spot occurred in waters off southern Newfoundland that include the Grand Banks.

Since 2013, Ocearch has also tagged 18 great white sharks in U.S. waters. Half of them have since been seen in Atlantic Canada.

"The frequency of U.S.-tagged sharks entering Canadian waters, and the successful targeted capture and tagging of multiple white sharks off Nova Scotia over two consecutive years, indicate seasonal, inter-annual presence of white sharks in Canadian waters and higher regional frequency and abundance than previously thought," the report states.

Water temperature

The authors suggest great white sharks may move north in the summer months because ocean temperatures off the United States are getting too warm and Canadian waters are now just warm enough.

"An increase in Atlantic Canada white shark sightings in recent years may therefore be the result of white sharks seeking cooler northern waters during the warm summer months," the report states.

They may also be attracted by more abundant prey as grey seal populations explode.

"It is therefore possible that with greater prey availability, white sharks are experiencing a similar increase in fecundity and survival rates. An increase in shark sightings in Atlantic Canada due to an increase in the local seal population would mirror that observed in Massachusetts," the report states.

White shark populations have grown in the Massachusetts area in recent years as conservation measures to protect seals have resulted in their population rebounding in that area, as well, the report notes.

DFO tagging

Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) also tagged a great white shark, a young male, in Nova Scotia off Port Mouton in 2018.

It was the first great white shark tagged in Canada.

That shark and a female tagged off Cape Cod spent the summer of 2018 off Nova Scotia.

The tracking device showed what appeared to be a search pattern to intercept grey seals moving from the huge colony on Sable Island to areas where seals come ashore in Nova Scotia and elsewhere on the eastern seaboard.

It is part of a government effort to identify where the endangered predator lives  its "critical habitat"  when in Canada.

DFO doubts

The DFO scientist leading that project, Heather Bowlby, told CBC News in 2019 there are likely very few great white sharks coming north.

"We are talking low numbers," she said.

To put the numbers in perspective, it took DFO three days to find the great white off Port Mouton and three hours to find 15 off Cape Cod.

The DFO research was not affiliated with Ocearch, and the data it generated does not appear to have been used in the Fisheries Journal article.

The corresponding author, Nigel Hussey, of the University of Windsor, did not immediately respond to an inquiry from CBC News.

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Six men have been arrested after Dutch police discovered a torture chamber containing a dentist's chair, handcuffs, and tools.

The makeshift prison had been created by converting seven soundproofed shipping containers at a warehouse in the small village of Wouwse Plantage, near the border with Belgium.

When Dutch police searched the containers they found bags containing hedge cutters, scalpels and pliers, tools that officers said were "likely intended to torture victims or at least put them under pressure".

Police had been tipped off by messages on EncroChat , an encrypted platform where users could speak privately between specially-designed handsets.

The platform was used by criminals, recently decoded by French police and shared via Europol.

It is thought there were 60,000 EncroChat users internationally, including 10,000 in the UK, with prices set at A1,500 for a six-month contract.

The investigation has already resulted in the seizure of thousands of kilograms of drugs and dozens of firearms by police in the Netherlands and in the UK .

Dutch police found messages on the phones which included photos of the torture chamber - described as a "treatment room" - and the identities of potential victims.

The torture chamber was raided in June, Dutch police said on Tuesday, adding that it had not been used and potential victims had been warned and had gone into hiding.

Dutch police had also searched other properties, including a criminal base near the city of Rotterdam, and found police uniforms, stolen vehicles, firearms and drugs.

Andy Kraag, head of the Dutch National Investigation Service, said the police operation had "prevented a number of violent crimes".

He said the investigation had given a "great result", adding: "Take it from me, many more results will follow".
Donald Trump cheated on his SATs, once referred to his nieces breasts as being stacked and didnt visit his dying brother at the hospital, according to excerpts from Mary Trumps upcoming tell-all book that were reported upon on Tuesday.

Mary Trump, the presidents niece, is scheduled to release Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man next Tuesday. According to promotional material from her publisher, Simon & Schuster, Mary Trumps explosive book will show how the president acquired twisted behaviors and values like, Financial worth is the same as self-worth; humans are only valued in monetary terms, a killer instinct is revered, while qualities like empathy, kindness, and expertise are punished, taking responsibility for your failures is discouraged and cheating as a way of life.

According to the New York Times, which reviewed a manuscript of Mary Trumps book, Donald Trump paid someone to take the SATs for him, and the high score helped him get into the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton business school. The Times also reported that Mary Trump recalls how no one went with Fred Trump Jr., Donalds eldest brother who died from a heart attack, to the hospital on the night of his death; instead, Donald Trump went to the movies.

Also Read: Kellyanne Conway Blames Media for Airing Out 'Family Matters' Detailed in Mary Trump's New Book (Video)

The Daily Beast, which obtained a copy of the book, reported that Mary Trump recounts an incident when Donald Trump commented on her breasts when she was wearing a bathing suit and shorts during a trip to Mar-a-Lago when she was 29.

Holy s, Mary. Youre stacked, Donald Trump said to Mary Trump, according to the Daily Beast.

The book also shares conversations that Mary Trump said she had with Maryanne Trump Barry, in which Donald Trumps sister called him a clown and pushed back after white evangelicals started endorsing him for president.

The only time Donald went to church was when the cameras were there. Its mind boggling. He has no principles. None! Mary Trump recalls Maryanne saying, according to the Daily Beast.

Read original story Mary Trumps Tell-All Book: President Cheated on SATs, Commented on Nieces Breasts, Abandoned Brother on Deathbed At TheWrap
Online Learning

University of Oklahoma Centralizes Online Graduate Degree Programs

The University of Oklahoma has pulled together its online graduate degree programs under one central umbrella: OU Online. The new division will offer 33 programs, six of which are new for the fall semester.

"The University of Oklahoma has a strong tradition of serving learners across the globe through a number of highly acclaimed online graduate degree programs," explained OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., in a statement. "By uniting our efforts through OU Online, we can provide a more accessible path to world-class learning at the graduate level. We see online education as a true fulfillment of our purpose as a public research university  to develop strategic educational opportunities that benefit a more diverse segment of students and foster economic growth for our state."

Each program is developed by OU academic departments and faculty members, and taught by both tenured and adjunct faculty who are professionals in the field of study, according to the university. The programs are designed with flexibility in mind for working adults, and some can be completed in an accelerated format. Students in OU Online programs have access to the same academic and support services as on-campus students.

"By offering our students the scholarly insight of our exceptional faculty, the practical expertise of industry leaders and the undeniable quality of an OU education, the graduate programs delivered through OU Online prepare students to make an immediate impact in their own workplaces and communities," added Harroz.

For more information, visit the OU Online site.
Emergency management directors are paid to think three steps ahead of any disaster nature can rain down upon a community. For Christian County
ECA Group awarded UMS SKELDAR a procurement contract to supply the UAV SKELDAR V-200 as part of the naval mine countermeasures capability replacement program.

ECA Group awarded UMS SKELDAR a procurement contract to supply the UAV SKELDAR V-200 as part of the naval mine countermeasures capability replacement program.

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Belgian-Dutch minehunter concept and UMS SKELDAR V-200 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). (Picture source: ECA Group)

The Belgian-Dutch minehunter programme led by Belgium Naval & Robotics  a consortium including Frances Naval Group and ECA Group  which will supply twelve minehunters equipped with drone systems (Toolbox) to the Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Working across 12 new generation ships (six each for the Belgian and Royal Netherlands Navies), this contract is the first to materialize the stand-off concept by using a Toolbox  a system composed of a variety of drones to be deployed by operators in order to fulfil autonomous mine clearance missions at sea.

The UAV SKELDAR V-200 is an integrated part of the Toolbox, which will also consist of surface drones USV INSPECTOR125, underwater drones AUV A18-M, towed sonars T18 for mine detection, alongside the MIDS system (Mine Identification and Disposal System) for mine identification and neutralization, SEASCAN and K-STER. Selected also by the German and Canadian Navies, the SKELDAR V-200 provides navies with an embedded, eye in the sky intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability to enhance its capacity to perform primary and secondary missions. For the contract with ECA Group, serial deliveries of the UAV SKELDAR V-200 are expected to start in 2023.

Belgian-Dutch minehunter concept. (Picture source: Belgian Navy)

About the UMS Skeldar V-200:

The SKELDAR V-200 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) provides unmatched technology for land and sea operations.

The SKELDAR V-200 is maritime ready. On watch, all the time, real-time and unmatched in its class. The fact that it is not just an open interface to Battlefield Management System (BMS) and C4ISR systems, but also 4586 STANAG compliant, makes it easier to implement on any maritime vessel.

With a double payload capability and uniquely incorporating Heavy Fuel, the SKELDAR V-200 is the perfect Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for maritime and naval operations.

Flexible and highly versatile, the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) is truly multi-role, and ideal for a wide range of applications such as Reconnaissance, Identification, Target Acquisition and Electronic Warfare. A number of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) High-resolution Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) sensors are available.

UMS SKELDAR V-200 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). (Picture source: UMS SKELDAR)
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby announced July 2 that five Chickasaw citizens will be inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame. Chickasaw tribal legislator Tim Colbert, Rear Admiral Kevin Meeks and former tribal judge and legislator Ron Parker, will receive the honor in person during a ceremony to be scheduled at a later date. Lillian Blackwood Fowler and John L. Hilton will be inducted posthumously.

Fowler was a pioneer for vital programs that became benchmarks of the tribes commitment to its citizens. Hilton dedicated his life to the service of the Chickasaw people and the growth of the Chickasaw Nation.

Lillian Blackwood Fowler (1919  2004)

Lillian Blackwood Fowler faithfully served the Chickasaw Nation as a pioneer for vital programs that became benchmarks of the tribes commitment to its citizens.

Fowler was born in Antioch, Oklahoma, the eldest daughter of Bryant Blackwood and Malinda Blackwood (Gibson), an original Dawes enrollee. She attended Bloomfield Academy and Chilocco Indian School. She left school, but later earned her GED diploma in 1977 at the age of 57.

Fowler raised six children in a modest setting, working various jobs, including in a school cafeteria, assembly line and restaurants. Her diverse work experience would serve her well during her time with the Chickasaw Nation.

Her dedication was a major contributor to the early success of the community health representative (CHR) program, being one of only three representatives after its founding in 1969. As a CHR, she empathized with the needs of Chickasaw citizens, especially Chickasaw elders. She established relationships with those she served and helped to voice their needs to the tribe.

One of the most critical requirements she identified was providing quality nutrition to Chickasaws. Thus, she accepted the challenge of becoming the Chickasaw Nations first nutrition specialist. The position, supported by a federal grant, enabled her to serve citizens living in all counties of the tribe, and in her success, laid the foundation of what has become an indispensable service for Chickasaws today.

Fowler was proud of her service and her tribe, and her spirit of giving has been embodied in the Chickasaw Foundations Lillian Fowler Memorial Scholarship. Her service to the community was recognized in 2005 with the dedication of the Lillian Blackwood Fowler monument at the Pauls Valley Senior Center.

John L. Hilton (1952  2008)

John L. Hilton dedicated his life to the service of the Chickasaw people and the growth of the Chickasaw Nation. He was instrumental in the funding of programs that still benefit Chickasaws today.

Born in 1952 in Ada, Oklahoma, to John Mitchell Hilton and Ruby Lee Miller Hilton, he attended Byng High School graduating in 1970. Hilton earned a bachelors degree in psychology from East Central University and began working for the Chickasaw Nation in 1979. His career started as a grant writer then as a planner for grants and contracts, section head and finally director of planning.

His efforts directly contributed to the establishment of the Chickasaw Nation Roads Program, which allowed the tribe to contract for the construction of its own roadways. He assisted Chickasaws with direct services, including disaster relief, home repairs and emergency aid.

In 1987, Hilton was appointed as a special assistant to Governor Bill Anoatubby, a position he maintained until he passed away. His resourcefulness and compassion reflected in his work ensuring Chickasaw Nation programs were properly funded and supported.

He served as president of the Indian Tribes Community Development Association, a non-profit organization addressing community development block grants needs for improving housing conditions and boosting economic development in First American communities.

Tim Colbert

Tim Colbert served in the Chickasaw Tribal Council and Legislature representing Chickasaw people in the Tishomingo District for an unprecedented 12 consecutive terms, spanning four decades. During this time, he also served as associate district judge for Murray, Johnston, Marshall and Love counties.

Colbert was born April 9, 1950, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Chickasaw Hall of Fame inductee, the Honorable George Dixie Colbert and Ruby Colbert. He was raised in Sulphur, Oklahoma, graduating from Sulphur High School in 1968.

Colbert attended the University of Oklahoma for his undergraduate degree and Oklahoma City University earning his juris doctorate in 1976. He was admitted into the Oklahoma Bar Association in 1976, and became a charter member of the Chickasaw Bar Association. In 1979, he was elected to the Chickasaw Tribal Council District 5, and then the new Chickasaw Tribal Legislature in 1983.

As a member of the legislature, Colbert served on the tribal health care and commerce committees. He retired in 2019, after a culmination of 40 years as a Chickasaw legislator.

Colbert served the Murray County community as a member and volunteer at St. Francis Catholic Church, Dougherty Volunteer Fire Department, Murray County Bar and Chickasaw Bar Association.

Rear Adm. Kevin Meeks

Rear Admiral (RADM) Kevin Meeks was instrumental in the management and improvement of Indian Health Service (IHS) in Oklahoma and across the country during his 32-year career in the United States Public Health Service. RADM Meeks, born in 1958 and raised in Byng, Oklahoma, earned a bachelors degree from East Central University and a masters degree in public health from the University of Oklahoma.

His career began in 1987 in South Dakota where he served as an Environmental Health Specialist. In 1989 he transferred to Claremore, Oklahoma followed by an assignment to the Alaska Area IHS. In 1995, he was transferred to Oklahoma City to work within the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering (OEHE) and to represent the Area in Tribal self-governance negotiations. From 1995 to 2009, he fulfilled various management positions in the Oklahoma City Area Office, including Assistant Associate Director of OEHE, Environmental Health Services Branch Chief, and Associate Director of OEHE. In 2007, he was selected as the Southeast Regional Commissioned Corps Liaison, providing personnel services to more than 300 officers assigned to the Oklahoma City, Nashville, and Albuquerque areas.

RADM Meeks served as the Area Director of the Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service from 2009 to 2017. As the Area Director, he was the senior federal official responsible for the provision of comprehensive health care services to one of the largest and most diverse service populations in IHS. RADM Meeks was ultimately promoted to the IHS Deputy Director of Field Operations in 2017, where he directed 12 IHS Area Offices and was a crucial leader in providing quality health care to 2.2 million American Indians/Alaska Natives. In 2018, RADM Meeks was awarded the Surgeon Generals Medallion by United States Surgeon General Jerome Adams and in 2019 he received the Surgeon Generals Exemplary Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Ron Parker

Ron Parker was a judge, statesman, businessman and civil servant for the Chickasaw people. His 26-year career with the Chickasaw Nation was marked by compassion and dedication to serving Chickasaws.

Parker, born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He attended the University of Oklahoma, and spent his early career in Texas and Oklahoma in the apparel business. He returned to Ardmore in 1984.

In 1991, he found his calling with the Chickasaw Nation, first being elected as a Chickasaw Nation Judge, and then a tribal legislator in 1992. Parker was reelected to the legislature in 1995, serving until 1997.

In 1997, Parker was appointed as the general manager of Touso Ishto Gaming Center in Thackerville, Oklahoma, the predecessor to WinStar World Casino & Resort. He then became a community advocate for the Ardmore area and later served as area director. During this time, he dedicated himself to assisting Chickasaws obtain benefits and services, day or night.

Parker was a leader in starting the Chickasaw Nation Reentry Program, a service designed to assist previously incarcerated Chickasaws in obtaining skills and employment to successfully transition back into the community. He faithfully led this program from 2007 to 2017.

In 2011, Parker was an AARP Indian Elder Honor Award recipient. He actively contributed to community organizations and boards in the Ardmore area, including C/Sara Foundation, The Grace Center, Boys and Girls Club of Wilson, American Red Cross, Destiny Recover Center and the Chickasaw Nation Juvenile Justice Board.
Search below to see businesses in your community that received money from the Paycheck Protection Program meant to keep Americans employed during the pandemic. The program has been popular but also controversial.

The Paycheck Protection Program is the centerpiece of the federal governments plan to rescue an economy devastated by shutdowns and uncertainty. The program, which helps smaller businesses stay open and keep Americans employed during the pandemic, has been both popular and controversial.

Demand was so great that a first infusion of $349 billion ran out in just two weeks. Many businesses couldnt navigate the application process rapidly enough to get one of those first loans before funding dried up. Meanwhile, several hundred companies traded on stock exchanges -- hardly the image of a small business -- received loans maxing out at $10 million each, causing a public backlash and leading dozens to return the money.

And the public may never know the identity of more than 85% of the nearly 5 million beneficiaries to date because the administration has refused to release details on loans under $150,000 -- the vast majority of borrowers.
Of the masks to be distributed to businesses by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, 22,500 will go to the Wisconsin Restaurant Association, 22,500 will go to small grocers through the Wisconsin Grocers Association, 8,000 will go to small food processors through the Midwest Food Products Association, 2,500 will be provided to cheese plants through the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, 2,000 will be distributed to meat processors and 2,000 will go to the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association for front-line workers.

The announcement comes after a June survey of school administrators found at least 398 public school districts, 23 charter schools and 617 private schools said they would like to receive supplies. More requests are expected, according to the statement.

Risk mitigation and health factors will drive decisions regarding school operations this fall, State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor said in a statement. This allocation of cloth masks and thermometers will greatly help Wisconsin schools as they plan appropriately for students to return to school.

Nine more deaths

Palm said it took about five months for the state to log 15,500 positive cases. However, that number has more than doubled in the six weeks since Memorial Day.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 7)  It's another stalemate between the government and the group of big businesses looking to upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, members of the NAIA Consortium said its revamped proposal to rehabilitate and upgrade the facilities of the country's biggest airport has been rejected by authorities.

"The far-reaching and long-lasting consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on airline travel, airline operations and airport passenger traffic necessitated a review of the assumptions and plans to ensure that the NAIA project will be viable in the 'new normal,'" the business group said, adding the adjustments were made to "ensure the bankability" of the project.

"Unfortunately, the government indicated that it is not willing to accept most of the consortium's proposed options and the consortium can only move forward with the NAIA project under the options it has proposed," they added.

Asked how this will affect the future of the project, Transportation Undersecretary Ruben Reinoso said via text that the "MIAA (Manila International Airport Authority) will have to decide on next steps."

The NAIA rehabilitation plan has been proposed as early as February 2018 but has not been rolled out since. Prior to the pandemic, the group and the Department of Transportation had already been tossing proposals back and forth.

The NAIA Consortium is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.; Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Asias Emerging Dragon Corp.; Filinvest Development Corp.; and JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Tycoon Manny Pangilinan's Metro Pacific Investments Corporation said in March that it will leave the NAIA Consortium, citing issues with real property taxes.

The global coronavirus crisis has paralyzed air travel and tourism for months now, with major airlines abroad going bottom up. Local operators Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia have resorted to layoffs to keep their businesses afloat.

The original contract price for the NAIA rehab plan was set at 350 billion for a 35-year concession period, which was scaled down to 102 billion for a 15-year deal.

RELATED: House bill seeks to rename NAIA

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier said that they are modeling the rehabilitation plan for the countrys main gateway after the Clark International Airport, as the two gateways need to maintain daily operations while repair works are underway. He once threatened to cancel the project as the group seemed to be taking too long with its final pitch to repair the airport.

In November, the group's plan to repair NAIA already secured final approval from the government, which will trigger a Swiss challenge to check if other firms can submit a more competitive counter-proposal. If there's none, the consortium will officially bag the project and will operate the gateway during the concession period.

NAIA has grown congested without any alternative gateways to the country. Duterte previously ordered the DOTr to have the Sangley airport in Cavite usable for general aviation in a bid to ease air traffic in Manila.

Separately, the government has approved the plan of billionaire Ramon Ang to build the New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan for 734 billion.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 8)  Authorities are willing to work with foreign regulators in handling the Wirecard financial scandal, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said.

"The BSP and AMLC are open and eager to collaborate with international agencies and German regulators who are dealing with the matter to hold the fraudsters accountable and to give justice to those who have been harmed by their acts," said Diokno in response to a question on the scandal during a briefing on Wednesday.

The briefing was held by economic and infrastructure Cabinet officials ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte's fourth State of the Nation Address, which will be delivered before Congress in late July.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Anti-Money Laundering Council have conducted their own inquiries into the Wirecard crisis, which initially involved BDO Unibank and Bank of the Philippine Islands. Both banks have denied any ties to the German payments firm, which has been facing public scrutiny after $2.1 billion of its funds went missing.

Meanwhile, Wirecard former CEO Markus Braun had been arrested in late June on suspicion of beefing up the payments company's balance sheet to attract more investors and customers. Prior to this, the firm acknowledged the contested amount probably never existed to begin with.

Last week, the AMLC confirmed several persons and entities were being probed for possible money laundering provided their links to Wirecard. So far, Filipino lawyers Mark Tolentino and Andre Ria Buzeta have been linked to the said financial scandal.

BSP lobbying for relaxation of bank secrecy laws

Diokno also noted the central bank has been pushing for the lifting of bank secrecy for years, adding this will align Philippine laws with best practices in the international banking scene and protect the country's banking system and the public from possible fraudsters.

"BSP is also working closely with the Department of Finance to help push the immediate passage of this critical piece of legislation that will finally break the walls of bank secrecy laws especially in fraud cases," Diokno said.

The official assured as well that the BSP had put reforms in place to protect the country's financial system and maintain its integrity.

"These include raising the bar for corporate and risk governance and internal controls, strengthening the anti-money laundering laws and regulations and establishing robust financial surveillance," Diokno added.

The central bank governor likewise reminded banks to enhance their know-your-customer protocols and fulfill their know-your-employees obligations in addition to their investigations on the issue.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8) The nine policemen under probe in the killing of four Philippine Army officers in Jolo, Sulu have been transferred to Camp Crame to face further investigation, the Philippine National Police said Wednesday.

The police personnel landed in Manila from the Cotabato airport on Tuesday morning, PNP said.

They were moved to the national headquarters where they will remain under restrictive custody  to ensure their availability to face investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation, it added.

The NBI tasked to conduct a third party probe was given until this week to submit an initial report on the shooting incident that led to the death of Army officers from the 9th Intelligence Service Unit of the 11th Infantry Division.

The slain soldiers were gunned down on June 29 in an incident initially labeled by authorities as a misencounter between the security forces. PNP later ruled out the angle, saying that based on reports, the Army officers did not fire a single shot at the police.

READ: Duterte appeals to soldiers: Remain calm pending probe on Jolo killing

The policemen were supposed to arrive in Camp Crame earlier this week, but their travel was hampered when one of the personnel tested positive for coronavirus via rapid test. Officials have yet to give an update on the succeeding test results of the said policeman.
South Africa: The storm is here: Government implementing COVID-19 surge strategy

As he told the National Assembly of the arrival of the COVID-19 storm, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, says the department has started implementing a surge strategy in anticipation of the peak.

Leading a debate on COVID-19, Mkhize said the storm has arrived and while government works tirelessly to ensure that the system is ready to manage the peak, South Africans have a duty to take the necessary precautions to ensure that they protect themselves and the lives of those around them.

The Department of Health has developed and is implementing the Surge Strategy, in anticipation of the peak.

This will ensure that the department increases capacity for COVID-19, while at the same time continuing to deliver other health services to the health care users. During this process, the department repurposed a total of 27 467 beds for COVID-19, which has increased to 40 309 beds as the provinces started to experience a sudden increase in the number of cases, he said.

Mkhize said this as he announced 10 144 new cases, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases since the first case to 215 855.

He said that to date, 48% of the people who tested positive have recovered - bringing the total to 103 934.

Unfortunately, there have been 3 470 confirmed deaths and this, the Minister said, brings the case fatality ratio of 1.6%.

The surge

With the focus now shifting to Gauteng  a hotspot that has seen an increase on the infection rate over the past few days  Mkhize told members of Parliament that the country has now reached the surge.

The storm that we have consistently warned South Africans about is now arriving. As a nation we have every reason to be united in this fight against COVID-19. We dare not be divided.

As government, we have said, we cannot fight this COVID-19 enemy alone. We need all political parties, social partners and every citizen to come on board.

As we continue this battle, we look beyond our differences and ensure that wherever we are, we and those around us, change our behaviour and observe all measures announced to contain the spread of this virus, he said.

Mkhize said that government has used a differentiated approach in our response through a classification of districts as areas of vigilance and hotspots.

He said that in all areas, the focus continues to be on prevention of new infections, containment, mitigation and recovery.

He said the overarching objective was to strengthen the national and provincial mechanisms for timely detection, management and containment of the spread of COVID-19 with nine overarching strategic priorities or pillars namely:

- Providing effective governance and leadership.

- Strengthening surveillance and strategic information.

Augmenting health system readiness by assessing health system readiness against the epidemiological curve, identify gaps and planning to ensure health services availability according to need  focusing on the health workforce, beds, medicines, equipment and products.

Enhancing community engagement by ensuring effective communication to the public.

He also said the objective was also to improve laboratory capacity to test by strengthening the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and private laboratory capacity for SARS-CoV-2 testing to meet the requirements of the COVID-19 response and improve coordination between the public and private sectors.

This will include expediting research and the introduction of therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines by institutionalizing mechanisms for COVID-19 related health products regulation and research coordination.

Since the last release of scientific model results in May 2020, the National COVID Epi Model has been updated to model COVID-19 at a district level, making use of South African hospitalisation data, updated estimates of the reproductive number, and a shift in testing priorities.

Model projections indicate that while the epidemic is predicted to peak nationally at a similar time to the previously projected optimistic curve (that is mid-August), it does so at a lower level. This means that fewer people were infected in May and June than was previously predicted even under the optimistic scenario.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  The remains of the 274 overseas Filipino workers who have died of COVID-19 and other natural causes in Saudi Arabia will be brought back home starting on Friday.

In a virtual briefing Wednesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that the first batch of remains will arrive on Friday.

Sa lahat ng makakayanan namin, tityakin natin na maiuwi natin ang 274 na kababayan natin, Bello said.

[Translation: We will do everything in our capabilities to make sure that we bring home 274 of our countrymen.]

The Labor Department chief added that the process will be done by batches because the charter plane can only accommodate around 40 remains each flight.

Bello said the agency has already made arrangements with 15 crematoriums to handle the remains, with the cost of cremation to be shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said the families of the deceased Filipinos will also receive bereavement and other benefits.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  President Rodrigo Duterte said law-abiding citizens should not fear the newly-signed Anti-Terrorism Act, but made it clear that communist rebels should be considered as terrorists under the controversial measure.

They would like to be treated with another set of law. When as a matter of fact, they are terrorist. They are terrorist because we  I finally declared them to be one, Duterte said in an address to the nation that aired on the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

The governments petition to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing New Peoples Army as terrorists is still pending before a local court.

I spent most of my days as a President trying to figure out and connect with them on how we can arrive at a peaceful solution, Duterte said.

Duterte reached out to the communist rebels upon assuming as President but walked away from the peace negotiations in November 2017 as both sides accused each other of ceasefire violations. Duterte and his security officials have since labeled the communist group as terrorists.

The rest of the citizens should not be afraid of the Anti-Terrorism Act as long as they refrain from terrorist acts, Duterte said.

[F]or the law-abiding citizen of this country, I am addressing you with all sincerity: Huwag ho kayong matakot kung hindi ka terorista. Kung hindi ka naman sisirain mo ang gobyerno, pasabugin mo ang simbahan, pasabugin mo iyong public utilities, he said.

[Translation: For the law-abiding citizen of this country, I am addressing you with all sincerity: Do not be afraid if youre not a terrorist, if you dont destroy the government, bomb churches or public utilities.]

Duterte stressed that the new law is a much-needed legal weapon against terrorism. He signed the law on Friday, and was immediately met with Supreme Court petitions challenging its constitutionality.

Among its contentious features is a provision allowing suspected terrorists to be arrested without warrant and detained without charges for up to 24 days.

Critics said the measure relaxes safeguards on human rights and is open to abuse, but lawmakers who authored and sponsored the bill said it is at par with the laws of other countries and will not be used against law-abiding citizens.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  President Rodrigo Duterte said he preferred a more careful approach in reopening the Philippine economy amid the rising COVID-19 cases in the country and relapse of infections in other countries.

In his weekly address to the nation aired early Wednesday morning from Davao City, Duterte stressed the country needs to be cautious in reviving the countrys economy as it cannot afford a spike in COVID-19 infections.

So mga kababayan ko ginusto ko man --- ako, ako mismo personal gusto ko nang lumabas. Ayaw ko nang magpapigil. But we have to be very circumspect in reopening of the economy. Dahan-dahan lang, the President said.

[Translation: To my countrymen, I personally want to get out. I cannot wait to go out. But we have to be very circumspect in reopening of the economy. Lets reopen slowly.]

Duterte mentioned the countries of Japan, South Korea, China, and the United States, which reopened their economy but are now experiencing resurgence in their COVID-19 cases.

Now what really happened in these countries was that although they opened their economy for money to come in to the government coffers, what happened is there was a spike. They were having a problem of almost a relapse, like relapse in the totality of the number. That is the hard consequence of it, said Duterte.

The President emphasized he does not want to have a second wave of COVID-19 infections in the country as the government cannot afford its impact.

Because if you open the entire Philippines and thousands upon thousands of new cases would happen, then we are in deep s***. Talagang mahirapan tayo. Unang-una wala tayong pera. (We will suffer from it. First is because we dont have the money.), he explained.

Duterte also mentioned in his speech the country is still grappling with the first wave of COVID-19 infections, as the number of active cases now stands at 34,178.

Only Cebu City remains under enhanced community quarantine or ECQ, the strictest form of community quarantine that imposes limited movement restrictions and strict stay-at-home orders.

Health Sec. Francisco Duque III said in the meeting the below-standard case doubling time and high critical utilization rate in Cebu City are the reasons why it is still under ECQ at least until July 15.

Case doubling time is the term used to describe the doubling of COVID-19 cases in a short span of time. Duque said the case doubling time in Cebu City is below seven days, meaning the virus spreads faster and infects many in a short period.

While the high critical utilization rate in Cebu City means the health systems capacity in the area has been maximized already.

National Capital Region, Benguet, Cavite, Rizal, Lapu Lapu City, Mandaue City, Leyte, Ormoc, Southern Leyte, and the towns of Talisay City, Minglanilla, and Consolacion in Cebu province are under general community quarantine.

Places under the more relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), with strict local action, are in:

 CAR: Abra, Baguio City, Ifugao, Kalinga

 Region 1: Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan

 Region 2: Cagayan, Isabela

 Region 3: Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Angeles City

 Region 4A: Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Lucena City

 Region 4B: Palawan, Puerto Princesa City

 Region 5: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Naga City

 Region 6: Capiz, Iloilo, Iloilo City, Negros Occidental, Bacolod City

 Region 7: Cebu Province, Bohol, Negros Oriental

 Region 8: Tacloban City, Western Samar

 Region 9: Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur

 Region 10: Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro

 Region 11: Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao City, Davao de Oro

 Region 12: Cotabato, South Cotabato

 Region 13: Agusan del Norte, Butuan City

 BARMM: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur

The rest of the country not mentioned in the three community quarantine settings will be on MGCQ of low risk classification.

To date, the country now has 47,873 confirmed COVID-19 cases along with 1,309 deaths and 12,386 recoveries.
(CNN)  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for Covid-19, following months of downplaying the virus.

Bolsonaro himself announced the result, speaking on Brazilian TV channels Tuesday. "Everyone knew that it would reach a considerable part of the population sooner or later. It was positive for me," he said, referring to the Covid-19 test he took Monday.

"On Sunday, I wasn't feeling very well. On Monday, it got worse when I started feeling tired and some muscle pain. I also had a 38-degree [Celsius] fever. Given those symptoms, the presidential doctor said there was suspicion of Covid-19," Bolsonaro said, adding that he then went to hospital to receive a lung scan.

He said that his wife, First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro was also tested.

In an interview with CNN Brasil following his diagnosis, Bolsonaro said he would steer clear of in-person meetings in the near future. "I'm not going to see anyone for meetings. Everything will be done via video conference and I will rarely meet people if I need to deal with more reserved matter," he said.

He also acknowledged the grave risk posed by a virus that he has in the past dismissed as just a "little flu." "We know the fatality of the virus for those of a certain age, like me, above 65, as well as for those with comorbidities, diseases, other issues. In those cases, the virus could be decisive and lead to death -- everyone knew that," he said.

Bolsonaro previously reassured supporters on Monday that his lungs were "clean," after being tested. Wearing a mask, he warned them to not get near him.

"You can't get very close [to me], OK? Recommendation for everyone," he said.

'I thought I had contracted it already'

Brazil is second only to the United States in numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths. But Bolsonaro has often appeared in public and at rallies without a face mask, even hugging supporters.

"I have to admit, I thought I had gotten it earlier, considering my very dynamic activity in the face of the people," he said on Tuesday. "And I can tell you more, I am the President and I am on the front line, I don't run away from my responsibility nor do I shy away from the people."

"Because of my contact with the people, I thought I had contracted it already and not noticed it, like the majority of the Brazilian population that contracts the virus, and doesn't know," he continued.

More than 65,000 people have now died of the virus in Brazil, according to figures released by the country's health ministry on Monday. So far, 1,623,284 cases have been confirmed. With coronavirus tests hard to come by in the country, some local experts say the real number of people infected could be 12 to 16 times higher.

The Brazilian leader struck a defiant note during his interview with CNN Brasil, defending his government's management of the pandemic.

"No country in the world has managed to prevent deaths," he said. "The whole world was unanimous in saying that the purpose of the isolation measures... was not to prevent people from contracting the virus but that the contraction was inevitable and it should happen over a longer time for hospitals to be equipped with ICU beds and respirators."

Bolsonaro has long maintained that lockdowns will hurt the country more than the virus itself. "Our life has to go on. Jobs should be maintained," he said during a March 24 speech broadcast on national television and radio.

He held onto that position as Brazil's outbreak dramatically worsened, criticizing governors and mayors for introducing stringent lockdown measures in an attempt to curb cases.

Local targets of his ire included the mayor of Manaus Virgilio Neto, to whom Bolsonaro referred as a "piece of shit" for digging mass graves in his city during the pandemic. Neto is now being treated for Covid-19 at a prominent Sao Paulo hospital, according to a statement from his office.

During a Facebook Live session last month, Bolsonaro also implied that local politicians might be inflating the number of deaths from coronavirus in order to make the federal government response look bad. "No one lost their life, in most cases, due to the lack of ICU beds or ventilators," Bolsonaro said, calling on citizens to enter hospitals to check "if the beds are occupied or not."

Following his diagnosis on Tuesday, Bolsonaro emphasized that mayors and governors were responsible for the handling of the pandemic. "If it is going well or is going badly, it is a responsibility of governors and mayors, according to a decision of the Supreme Court," he told CNN Brasil.

Like US President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro has boosted anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for the virus, though it has not been consistently proven effective and the World Health Organization (WHO) has discontinued a major trial with the drug.

Bolsonaro told CNN Brasil on Tuesday that he took both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin while he awaited the result of his fourth Covid-19 test in four months, and credited the controversial drug for his well-being.

"I am feeling very well. I believe that the way they administered the hydroxychloroquine on, the effect was immediate," he said.

The WHO on Tuesday wished Bolsonaro a "speedy recovery." "It's very important to understand the seriousness of this virus and to be really serious," noted WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press briefing in Geneva.

"No country is immune, and no country is safe, and no individual can be safe."

Contact-tracing the president

Bolsonaro has previously tested negative for coronavirus in at least three separate examinations. Those tests were administered between March 12 and March 17, after Bolsonaro returned from a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida and many in his entourage tested positive.

This week's positive result comes just days after he attended a July 4th commemoration event with the US Ambassador to Brazil, Todd Chapman. According to a photo posted to the President's official Facebook page, Bolsonaro was at the Ambassador's residence with Chapman for the event.

Images from the gathering show Bolsonaro not wearing a mask or observing social distancing. In one picture, he stands next to several US and Brazilian officials, including Chapman, and Brazil's foreign minister, Ernesto Araujo. Chapman and his wife have Janetta Chapman have since tested negative for Covid-19, according to a statement tweeted by the US Embassy in Brazil.

Despite his diagnosis, Bolsonaro on Tuesday emphasized that his priority is still to restart Brazil's lagging economy. "I know that nobody can recover from dying, but the economy not working leads to other causes of death and suicide," he said. "We have suffered very harsh criticism in this regard, but today it shows that we are right. The fact that I am infected shows that I am a human being like any other."

At the end of his comments, Bolsonaro stepped back and removed his mask. "I'll get away a little. Just so you all can see my face. I'm fine, I'm fine, thank God. Everything is ok," he said. "Thank you to those who prayed for me. Those who criticized, no problem, they can continue to criticize if they want. After all, we preserve the freedom of speech and understand it as one of the pillars of our democracy."

He then resumed the assurances that have become a hallmark of his attitude toward the virus, "So let's take special care of the elderly, of course. Younger people: take care, but if you are affected by the virus, be assured that for you, the possibility of something more serious is close to zero."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 9)  The Manila International Airport Authority has revoked the original proponent status for the group of conglomerates seeking to upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Transportation Department said.

In a statement dated July 8 but released to the media on Thursday, MIAA said it "has terminated negotiations with the NAIA consortium" and is withdrawing the group's status. An original proponent status gives a company the right to match other groups' offers and win the project under a Swiss challenge, a bidding process that allows rivals to submit competing offers.

READ: NAIA rehab plan hits another bump as gov't rejects fresh proposal from private contractors

On Tuesday, the consortium said authorities have turned down their revised proposal to upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The NAIA Consortium said they had to revise their proposed terms to factor in the "long-lasting consequences" of the pandemic and ensure the viability of the project, but that the state "is not willing to accept most of the consortium's proposed options."

RELATED: House bill seeks to rename NAIA

On Wednesday's pre-State of the Nation Address briefing, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the group stated in a letter to Cabinet officials that they are not confident if they can still finance the major project that would revamp the country's biggest gateway.

Dominguez also revealed there are other private groups keen to take on the project.

"I understand that the DOTr (Department of Transportation) under Secretary Tugade as well as Vince Dizon, who heads the infrastructure projects, are in conversation with two more potential proponents for the NAIA project," he said.

"These two other proponents are willing to get into an agreement with the government which are very similar to terms of the agreement between the project proponents in the Clark airport and BCDA (Bases Conversion and Development Authority). We're not worried about it, we believe that these other two proponents are willing to step up to the plate here," he added.

Dominguez, however, did not name the two firms involved.

The global coronavirus crisis has paralyzed air travel and tourism for months now, with major airlines abroad going bottom up. Local operators Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia have resorted to layoffs to keep their businesses afloat.

The NAIA Consortium is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.; Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Asias Emerging Dragon Corp.; Filinvest Development Corp.; and JG Summit Holdings, Inc. Tycoon Manny Pangilinan's Metro Pacific Investments Corporation said in March that it will leave the NAIA Consortium, citing issues with real property taxes.

The big firms also tapped for technical support Changi Airport International, the operator of Singapore's airport which is deemed among the best in the world.

The companies said they can only move forward with the NAIA project under the new options they proposed. However, Dominguez pointed out that proponents of other public-private partnerships have not raised similar concerns so far.

The original contract price for the NAIA rehab plan was set at 350 billion for a 35-year concession period, which was scaled down to 102 billion for a 15-year deal. Tugade once threatened to cancel the project as the group seemed to be taking too long with its final pitch to repair the airport.

The government greenlit the consortium's plan to repair and upgrade NAIA in November after multiple revisions since February 2018, subject to a Swiss challenge.

Meanwhile, economic officials said the government is still on track in delivering the "Build, Build, Build" program, saying that they are counting on big-ticket infrastructure projects to help revive the economy.

RELATED: Duterte warns of military 'takeover' of NAIA

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar added that he does not expect long delays despite the pandemic, saying that construction work has resumed in most locations and some at 24/7 operations.

The Duterte administration is looking to spend as much as 8 trillion until 2022 for these projects, touting the President's term as the supposed "Golden Age of Infrastructure." Projects were delayed in 2019 due to the late passage of the annual budget, while lockdowns to prevent infections stalled heavy works earlier this year.
(CNN)  Some popular home security cameras could allow would-be burglars to work out when you've left the building, according to a study published Monday.

Researchers found they could tell if someone was in, and even what they were doing in the home, just by looking at data uploaded by the camera and without monitoring the video footage itself.

The international study was carried out by researchers from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and the Chinese Academy of Science, using data provided by a large Chinese manufacturer of Internet Protocol (IP) security cameras.

Cameras like these allow users to monitor their homes remotely via a video feed on the internet, but the researchers say the traffic generated by the devices can reveal privacy-compromising information.

Study author Gareth Tyson from QMUL told CNN that data uploads of the unencrypted data increase when a camera is recording something moving, so an attacker could tell if the camera was uploading footage of someone in motion, and even different types of motion like running or sitting.

The risk is that "someone who is specifically targeting an individual household rocks up outside with a device to try and start passively monitoring traffic," he said.

Tyson told CNN that an attacker would require a decent level of technical knowledge to monitor the data themselves, but there is a chance that someone could develop a program that does so and sell it online.

Noting that he hasn't seen any direct evidence of this kind of attack taking place, he said one potential use would be if someone wanted to burgle your house.

"They monitor the camera traffic over an extended period of time, and by looking at the patterns that are generated by those cameras over maybe a week, they then start predicting the following week when you're most likely to be in the house," he said.

In order to reduce the privacy risk, companies could randomly inject data into their systems to make it harder for attackers to spot a pattern, he said.

Tyson said the team are trying to extend their research to work out how to maintain camera performance while reducing privacy risks.

At present, cameras are "fairly stupid items" in order to keep manufacturing costs down, said Tyson, uploading data whenever motion is detected.

"What we want to do is have a more intelligent system that allows the camera to understand what that motion is, assess the level of risk, and only upload it and alert the user in a case where the camera feels that it's worthy doing," he said.

For example, someone who owns a cat probably doesn't want to be alerted every time the camera detects the animal walking around, but they would certainly want to know if a human intruder were spotted.

Tyson said this is the first study to investigate the risks posed by video streaming traffic generated by the cameras.

The global market for the devices is expected to be worth $1.3 billion by 2023, according to the press release. Popular brands include Xiaomi and Nest, which is owned by Google.

While the study authors did not analyze data from those brands, they did find that their cameras present the same privacy risk. CNN has reached out to Nest and Xiaomi for comment on the research.

The study was published at the IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications, which brings together researchers in networking and related fields.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Security cameras can tell burglars when you're not home, study shows."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8) Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa on Wednesday said the US Embassy in Manila had reached out to him and offered to process his visa to the United States months after the document was canceled.

Tinawagan ako ng US embassy at inimbitahan pumunta sa kanila after COVID para ayusin 'yung bisa ko, Dela Rosa said in a message to reporters.

[Translation: The US embassy called and invited me to visit them after COVID (crisis) to fix mg visa.]

In an earlier television interview, the senator said the call from the embassy came following a conversation between President Rodrigo Duterte and US President Donald Trump.

Dela Rosa did not mention the specific date of Dutertes call with Trump, but the chief executive was last reported to have discussed bilateral cooperation with his American counterpart over the phone back in April.

RELATED: US approves 269-M COVID-19 aid to PH after Trump's phone call to Duterte

Dela Rosa first revealed that his visa to the US was invalidated in January. The senator acknowledged that the revocation may have something to do with alleged extrajudicial killings under his watch as chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018.

Trump does not approve

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III revealed that the US State Departments move to cancel Dela Rosas visa did not sit well with Trump.

Sotto made the pronouncement in an online forum, citing a conversation with Duterte during a meeting with other government officials a few weeks ago.

He (Duterte) just got off the phone a few days before that, with President Trump, Sotto said during the virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.

Those people from the State Department, they shouldnt have done that in the first place. Yun ang sabi ni Trump (Thats what Trump said) President Trump himself did not agree with what happened, the Senate President said.

Sotto noted he was not surprised by the embassy's call to Dela Rosa, given Trumps stance on the case.

The cancellation of Dela Rosas visa had earlier pushed Duterte to threaten the termination of the countrys Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.

The Philippines pushed through with the warning, as it sent its formal notice to terminate the two-decade military pact in February. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government decided in June to temporarily suspend the abrogation of the deal, citing the need for international cooperation.

READ: Defense chief cites COVID-19 pandemic, need for international cooperation in PH decision to suspend VFA termination
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  The Philippine Coast Guard has asked the courts, through the Justice Department, to issue a hold departure order against the crew of the Hong Kong-registered bulk carried MV Vienna Wood so they can face criminal charges in the country.

Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral George Ursabia, Jr. on Wednesday said they want the 20 Chinese crew members to remain under the custody of Philippine authorities and to be prevented from returning to China following the collision that left 14 Filipino fishermen and passengers missing.

"Kahapon, nag-file na tayo ng motion para maiwasan natin yung pagbalik sa China nung mga tripulante ng MV Vienna Wood, lalo na yung mga sinampahan natin ng kaso," he said.

[Translation: On Tuesday we filed a motion to prevent the crew from returning to China, especially those we filed cases against.

The PCG on Monday filed before a prosecutor a case of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and damage to property against the Chinese owners and crew of Vienna Wood after their vessel collided with a Filipino fishing boat in Occidental Mindoro. Named in the complaint were Zhang Weiwei from Shandong, China; Shin Bin from Henan, China; Yi Lei from Jillen, China; and Yang Xileng from Shandong, China.

Amid speculations the Chinese government could request to free the Chinese crew, Ursabia clarified China is not meddling in the cases.

"Wala pong pressure mula sa China na makialam sa kaso. Maliwanag na may full jurisdiction tayo sa kaso dahil sa karagatan natin nangyari 'yung insidente," Ursubia explained.

[Translation: There is no pressure from China, they're not involved. It's clear we have full jurisdiction because the incident happened in our territory.]

The top official met on Wednesday with the families of the 14 people on board the ill-fated fishing vessel Liberty 5 at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila. The families were accompanied by representatives of the Irma Fishing and Trading Inc, which owns the local vessel.

The meeting comes a day after the PCG ended the search and retrieval operations for missing fishermen, more than a week since their fishing boat capsized after colliding with bulk carrier, off the coast of Mamburao town on June 27.

"Sa ngayon, wala pa rin tayong nakikita na katawan. But we cannot cannot declare them dead," Ursabia told the families. "There is still a possibility na buhay pa sila."

[Translation: We still haven't found their bodies but we cannot declare them dead yet. There is still a possibility that they're alive.]

The PCG station in Occidental Mindoro will continue to be on the lookout for any possible lead and information to locate the fishermen. Coast guard personnel will also patrol adjacent coastal municipalities.

The Coast Guard chief also refuted allegations that some of the victims were being kept inside the Hong Kong bulk carrier.

"Nahalughog po natin ang buong pasilidad ng MV Vienna Wood. Wala pong katotohanan ang mga bali-balita na nasa loob nito ang ilan sa mga mangingisda na biktima ng insidente," he told the distraught families.

[Translation: We searched Vienna Wood. The rumors that the fishermen are inside are false.]

The PCG said it will continue to extend all forms of support to the families, including the plan of Irma fishing to also file a civil case against MV Vienna Wood.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  Authorities apprehended journalist Howie Severino in Quezon City on Wednesday for briefly taking off his face mask for a drink.

In his Facebook post, Severino himself said he rode a bike in the morning with some friends on Mother Ignacia Avenue and dropped by a nearby store to get some drinks.

After finishing his drink and right before pulling his mask back up, a number of barangay officers and police arrived at the scene to tell him he was talking without his mask.

"We bought drinks at the store next door, and drank them after pulling down our masks below the mouth (because we have not learned to drink yet with masks on)," Severino recounted.

Prior to Severino's post, Luis Liwanag, a fellow cyclist and journalist, was the first to narrate what happened online, sharing photos of Severino being taken in by authorities, with his bike loaded in the vehicle with him. Liwanag said Severino was taken to the Amoranto Stadium for a seminar on the proper use of face mask in public.

Hundreds others, including women and the elderly, were already at the venue, but Severino said physical distancing was not observed.

"I am assuming their intent in taking people to a mass gathering in a stadium is to control the spread of the infection and save lives," he said.

Severino noted that he still appreciated the action of authorities from Quezon City, which has seen a spike in virus cases.

"I am kind of glad that as QC is an epicenter of the disease in the Philippines, they are finally doing something, even if it's a bit draconian," he said. "I even offered to give a talk at the seminar, instead, they returned my bike and told me I could go home."

Severino is a COVID-19 survivor himself. In April, he bared that he was patient 2828 and spent more than a week at the hospital with "a bout of pneumonia and a major scare."

Meanwhile, the incident did not sit well with some netizens. They pointed out the irony in the implementation of some policemen who have been in the news the past months for violating quarantine rules themselves.

In May, Metro Manila police chief Major General Debold Sinas and 18 subordinates were charged for staging a birthday blowout, disregarding protocol on physical distancing and wearing of face masks.

READ: Sinas, 18 Metro Manila cops charged for birthday feast

"Sana sinabi mo you're just doing a mananita (You should have just said you were doing a mananita)," Noel Luna commented on Severino's post.

"Pwede uminom basta (maybe you can drink, as long as it is) before dawn," Olie Talusan commented in jest, with a photo of Sinas and other cops posing with alcoholic drinks in the middle of the party.

Meanwhile, a number of local government units have carried out strict ordinances on wearing face masks.

Among them is Pasay City, which now requires everyone to wear face masks or protective gear.

Violators of ordinance will be given a warning on first offense, while fines of P3,000 to P5,000 will be imposed for the second and third offenses, respectively.

In the violator is a minor, the parent or guardian will face the penalty.
(CNN)  Donald Trump's niece Mary Trump levels scathing criticism at the President in her forthcoming book, accusing him of being a "sociopath" and charging that Trump's "hubris and willful ignorance" dating back to his early days threatens the country.

Mary Trump's book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man," accuses Donald Trump's father of creating a toxic family dynamic that best explains how the President acts today. Mary Trump, whose father, Freddy Trump, died following struggles with alcoholism, writes that she could "no longer remain silent" following the past three years of Trump's presidency.

"Donald, following the lead of my grandfather and with the complicity, silence and inaction of his siblings, destroyed my father. I can't let him destroy my country," Mary Trump wrote in the book, a copy of which was obtained by CNN.

Mary Trump writes that some of the book is based on her own memory, and in parts she reconstructed some dialogue based on what she was told by some members of the family and others, as well as legal documents, bank statements, tax returns and other documents.

Mary Trump's book is the second tell-all in as many months to present a withering portrait of the President -- and like former national security adviser John Bolton, her book sparked an unsuccessful legal campaign to stop its publication. Mary Trump's book doesn't include explosive accusations about Trump's actions in the Oval Office like Bolton's, but it adds rich details to the portrait of how Trump became the self-styled real estate tycoon and media celebrity which he parlayed into the presidency, largely through the financial backing and support of his father.

White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews said in a statement that the book "is clearly in the author's own financial self-interest."

"President Trump has been in office for over three years working on behalf of the American people -- why speak out now? The President describes the relationship he had with his father as warm and said his father was very good to him. He said his father was loving and not at all hard on him as a child," Matthews said.

The book comes at a challenging time in Trump's presidency as he struggles to contain the coronavirus pandemic and presides over a country reckoning with systemic racism. He also trails his 2020 Democratic rival Joe Biden in recent polling.

Mary Trump, a licensed clinical psychologist, offers both her take on Trump's actions in the White House -- charging he's shown "a blatant display of sociopathic disregard for human life" over the coronavirus pandemic -- as well as episodes throughout Trump's business career, Trump's handling of her father's struggle with alcoholism and dysfunction and infighting within the family. She writes that Trump's father, Fred Trump, "dismantled his oldest son," Freddy Trump, Mary's father and Trump's brother.

"The only reason Donald escaped the same fate is that his personality served his father's purpose. That's what sociopaths do: they co-opt others and use them toward their own ends--ruthlessly and efficiently, with no tolerance for dissent or resistance," Mary Trump writes.

She writes at length about how she sees Trump, comparing him to a three-year-old, saying he "knows he has never been loved" and arguing that Trump's "ego is a fragile thing that must be bolstered every moment because he knows deep down that he is nothing of what he claims to be."

She even claimed that Trump even paid someone to take the SAT tests for him to help him get into the University of Pennsylvania. Trump was "worried that his grade point average, which put him far from the top of his class, would scuttle his efforts to get accepted."

She writes that he enlisted "a smart kid with a reputation for being a good test taker, to take his SATs for him," adding the test-taker was compensated for the effort.

"Donald, who never lacked for funds, paid his buddy well," Mary Trump writes.

Trump initially attended Fordham University in New York as an undergraduate before transferring to Penn's Wharton School.

Matthews said in a statement that the SAT allegation was "absurd" and "completely false."

'It might be useful to have a close relative on the bench'

Mary Trump says that she didn't take her uncle's run for president seriously at first, and didn't think Donald Trump did either.

" 'He's a clown,' my aunt Maryanne said during one of our regular lunches at the time. 'This will never happen,' " Mary Trump wrote.

During the campaign, Mary Trump says her aunt, former federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, accused Donald Trump of using Freddy Trump's death "for political purposes" by citing it while addressing the opioids crisis.

Mary Trump also claims that Donald Trump helped his sister to obtain an open seat in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey, through his friend and lawyer, Roy Cohn.

"Maryanne thought it would be a great fit, and Donald thought it might be useful to have a close relative on the bench in a state in which he planned to do a lot of business," she writes. "Cohn gave Attorney General Ed Meese a call, and Maryanne was nominated in September and confirmed in October."

Mary Trump also noted in the book her aunt Maryanne insisted she earned her judgeship on her own merit.

CNN has reached out to representatives of Trump Barry for comment.

Trump Barry wouldn't have ruled on any cases directly related to the Trump Organization or her family. After her service on the district court, she was elevated to a federal appeals court by President Bill Clinton in 1999. In 2018, the judiciary investigated whether she broke judicial conduct rules related to financial transactions in the 1980s and 1990s.

She retired in 2019, ending the investigation before it reached any conclusions.

'Undermine an adversary'

Trump's niece describes what she says is the psychological hold that Fred Trump, the President's father, had over his children, particularly Freddy and Donald. She writes how lying in order to please and appease their father was "a way of life," and how Donald essentially watched his older brother Fred's failings to adapt and become his father's favored son.

Freddy had a brief and tumultuous career as a pilot for TWA in the early 1960s, just before Mary was born. This came after Freddy left the Trump company after he was supposed to become heir to the family business. Mary writes that Fred saw her father's decision to leave Trump Management to become a pilot as "a betrayal, and he had no intention of letting his oldest son forget it."

The way Mary Trump tells it, Freddy's fraught relationship with their father left an opening which Donald saw and took advantage of. According to Mary, the underlying message of this early brotherly competition Fred fostered was one of winning.

"Whether Donald understood the underlying message or not, Fred did: in family, as in life, there could be only one winner; everybody else had to lose," she writes.

The stormy relationship she describes between Fred and Freddy Trump seem to echo accounts of how Donald, Freddy's younger brother, expects undying loyalty from those around him and seeks control over those people's lives and decisions.

Freddy, Mary writes, would tell friends about the "constant barrage of abuse" he was receiving from his father after getting the job at TWA.

"Donald may not have understood the origin of their father's contempt for Freddy and his decision to become a professional pilot, but he had the bull's unerring instinct for finding the most effective way to undermine an adversary," Mary Trump writes.

She also traced some of Donald Trump's current behavior back to his childhood, enabled by his father.

"Donald began to realize that there was nothing he could do wrong, so he stopped trying to do anything 'right.' He became bolder and more aggressive because he was rarely challenged or held to account by the only person in the world who mattered -- his father," Mary writes.

Mary Trump described her own father's death from a heart attack at age 42 as a regretful episode that illustrated the dysfunctional family dynamics of her grandfather and uncle. Despite having long-standing financial ties to nearby hospitals -- including a whole wing named for the Trump family at Jamaica Hospital -- no one sought medical help for her father, who had suffered from alcoholism and a faulty heart valve, for weeks as he was ailing in their family home.

"A single phone call would have guaranteed the best treatment for their son at either facility. No call was made," she writes.

'Master of the universe'

Mary Trump recounts the President's rise to prominence in New York real estate as largely the result of Fred Trump's financial and behind-the-scenes support, which she said was necessary to compensate for Donald's shortcomings.

She also traces what she views as an aptitude toward authoritarians to Donald Trump's earlier days working with famed lawyer Roy Cohn in the 1980s.

At the same time, she recounts Trump's apparent disinterest at her father's decline into depression and alcoholism, which she characterizes as spurred partly by her grandfather's decision to elevate Donald instead of Freddy as his right-hand man and successor.

Throughout, Mary Trump portrays the support Donald received from his father as critical to his attempts to create a brand for himself as a "master of the universe" with a preternatural ability for business.

"His comfort with portraying that image, along with his father's favor and the material security his father's wealth afforded him, gave him the unearned confidence to pull off what even at the beginning was a charade: selling himself not just as a rich playboy but as a brilliant, self-made businessman," she writes. "In those early days, that expensive endeavor was being enthusiastically, if clandestinely, funded by my grandfather."

As she tracks Donald's rise in his father's company, she also identifies some of the origins of his current behaviors, be it dishonesty or a lack of empathy. She cites Cohn, who had worked on Sen. Joseph McCarthy's committee investigating alleged communist activity in the US, as a formative model.

"Fred had also primed Donald to be drawn to men such as Cohn, as he would later be drawn to authoritarians such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un or anyone else, really, with a willingness to flatter and the power to enrich him," she writes.

Mary Trump writes she believed Trump's father helped create who the President became, giving him the false impression of success by propping up many failed endeavors.

"Donald was to my grandfather what the border wall has been for Donald: a vanity project funded at the expense of more worthy pursuits," she writes.

Fight over Fred Trump's will

Mary Trump says she was cut out of her grandfather Fred's will as a result of her father's death, which sparked a years' long legal battle. She writes that Robert Trump, her uncle and Donald Trump's younger brother, explained to her that she was largely excluded because her father died of alcoholism, and wasn't around to inherit a share of the fortune. The grandfather also hated Mary Trump's mother.

Because of these disputes, Mary Trump and her brother ended up suing the Trump family, reaching a settlement that included the non-disclosure agreement that arose up during the book rollout.

Mary Trump also accused Donald Trump of trying to "steal vast sums of money from his siblings" by secretly trying to change his ailing father's will to write his siblings out of control of the family's fortune.

According to the book, after Maryanne Trump Barry and her husband had a lawyer look into it, the Trump family patriarch's will was rewritten so the four siblings including Donald would have power over the estate and receive equal amounts.

"Maryanne would say years later, 'We would have been penniless. Elizabeth would have been begging on a street corner. We would have had to beg Donald if we wanted a cup of coffee.' It was 'sheer luck' that they had stopped the scheme," Mary Trump writes.

The book also provides other colorful, sometimes lighter, observations of the Trump family dynamic, such as a description of Christmas gifts she received from Donald and Ivana. One year, Mary Trump writes they gave her a three-pack of underwear from Bloomingdales. Another year, they gave her an obviously re-gifted basket with crackers, sardines and a salami -- with an imprint in the cellophane wrap where a tin of caviar had been.

Legal battle over book's publication

Mary Trump's book is being published two weeks early by Simon & Schuster on July 14, amid high demand following a court battle over its release. The publisher has already printed 75,000 copies of the book, according to court filings.

After the book was disclosed last month, the President's younger brother Robert Trump took legal action to block its publication. Robert Trump briefly won an injunction against Mary Trump and Simon & Schuster in New York State Supreme Court, but an appellate court lifted the temporary restraining order against the publisher the next day.

The restraining order is still in place against Mary Trump, so she is unable to comment publicly.

Her spokesman, Chris Bastardi, said Monday: "The act by a sitting president to muzzle a private citizen is just the latest in a series of disturbing behaviors."

CNN's Kevin Liptak, Michael Warren, Clare Foran, Holmes Lyband, Betsy Klein, Tara Subramaniam, Marshall Cohen, Katelyn Polantz and Maegan Vazquez contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com Mary Trump's scathing book claims Trump paid someone to take his SATs
(CNN)  The Trump administration has notified Congress and the United Nations that the United States is formally withdrawing from the World Health Organization, multiple officials tell CNN, a move that comes amid a rising number of coronavirus cases throughout the Americas over the past week.

The withdrawal, which goes into effect next July, has drawn criticism from bipartisan lawmakers, medical associations, advocacy organizations and allies abroad. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden vowed Tuesday to reverse the decision "on (his) first day" if elected.

Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee tweeted the news Tuesday.

"Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the U.S. from the @WHO in the midst of a pandemic. To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interestsit leaves Americans sick & America alone," he wrote.

A State Department official also confirmed that "the United States' notice of withdrawal, effective July 6, 2021, has been submitted to the UN Secretary-General, who is the depository for the WHO." The spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he had received the notice and "is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met." Those conditions "include giving a one-year notice and fully meeting the payment of assessed financial obligations."

The letter addressed to the UN is very short, around three sentences, a source briefed on the correspondence told CNN, and it triggers a one-year withdrawal timeline. However, this source also cautioned that they cannot confirm they saw the final version of the letter.

Among its current functions, the WHO is attempting to coordinate efforts to get personal safety and medical equipment, like ventilators, to hospitals around the world. Elizabeth Cousens, the president and CEO of the UN Foundation, said the organization is "indispensable" in the fight against Covid-19.

Loyce Pace, president and executive director of Global Health Council, echoed that point, telling CNN: "Thousands of people have spoken, from health experts to heads of state and heroes on the frontlines: the world needs WHO. This move signals a dangerous gamble in the midst of a pandemic we have yet to conquer, and without a viable alternative to WHO."

Some have warned that withdrawal in the current environment could also interfere with clinical trials essential for developing vaccines, as well as efforts to trace the spread of the virus globally.

'Short-sighted, unnecessary, and unequivocally dangerous'

President Donald Trump said he was halting funding to the organization in mid-April and announced his intention to withdraw from the WHO in May after he said it "failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms." Trump had denounced the US' contribution to the WHO  $400-500 million  in comparison to China's and consistently accused the organization of aiding China in allegedly covering up the origins of the virus and allowing its spread.

While lawmakers from both parties have long cited systemic problems with the WHO, many have also denounced the President's decision to withdraw during a once-in-a-century global pandemic.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it "is an act of true senselessness." Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said he disagreed with Trump's decision.

"If the administration has specific recommendations for reforms of the WHO, it should submit those recommendations to Congress, and we can work together to make those happen," he said.

Last month, despite alleging that the World Health Organization "enabled" the Chinese government's sweeping cover-up of the coronavirus pandemic's origins, members of the GOP China task force urged Trump to reconsider his decision to terminate relations with the international body, arguing that the US can do more to affect change as a member.

Cousens, the head of the UN Foundation, called the decision "short-sighted, unnecessary, and unequivocally dangerous" and said that the US' "ability to lead and shape an agenda for reform is drastically diminished when they step out of the field of play."

"There's no question but that working within an institution like the World Health Organization allows the United States and others to leverage their resources to have much greater impact," she told CNN.

She pointed to the WHO's work in "distributing millions of pieces of personal protective equipment to medical facilities around the world, millions of diagnostic tests, tracking the virus' spread across borders, coordinating global efforts to develop a vaccine, ... coordinating research among over 100 countries ... along with all of the work that they do in low resource and more humanitarian settings."

Move comes as virus is surging

The heads of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Physicians condemned the move to withdraw from the WHO, saying in a statement that it "puts the health of our country at grave risk."

"This dangerous withdrawal not only impacts the global response against COVID-19, but also undermines efforts to address other major public health threats," they said in a joint statement. "We call on Congress to reject the Administration's withdrawal from the WHO and make every effort to preserve the United States' relationship with this valued global institution. Now is the time to invest in global health, rather than turn back."

The number of coronavirus cases continues to surge across the US and in various countries around the world.

There are at least 2,953,423 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 130,546 people have died from the virus in the country, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally.

In the span of a week and a half, the number of US coronavirus cases reported each day has doubled, and officials are saying this is still the first wave of the pandemic.

Trump has repeatedly insisted that the rise of cases in the US is purely the result of increased testing, but a WHO official knocked down that claim on Monday.

WHO scientists and experts are scheduled to travel to China this weekend to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Tuesday.

Specifically, experts will be seeking to trace the narrative of how the coronavirus might have spread from the wild to possibly farm animals to humans, said Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program.

Biden vows to reverse decision

The Trump administration has already diverted funding from the WHO and the process to formally withdraw will take a year to complete. Critics of the decision hope that the withdrawal decision will be reversed if Trump loses the presidential election in November. In a tweet Tuesday, Biden vowed to do so if elected.

"Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage," he wrote.

US allies have rallied to the support of the WHO, with a top diplomat from Germany calling for global solidarity and Italy's Health Minister criticizing Trump's decision as "serious and wrong".

Trump's decision to permanently terminate the US relationship with the WHO follows a years-long pattern of railing against global organizations, with the President claiming that the US is being taken advantage of. The President has questioned US funding to the United Nations and NATO, withdrawn from the Paris climate accord and repeatedly criticized the World Trade Organization.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Trump administration begins formal withdrawal from World Health Organization."
In a state that is just opening up again with a wary eye on a second wave of pandemic and a new awareness of inequities in the justice system as pointed out by the Black Lives Matter movement, is it possible that some lawmakers are hearing the cry for property tax relief?

The Chairwoman of the Legislatures Revenue Committee, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, thinks so. Every poll shows people in this state want property tax relief, she said. "We either get property tax relief done, or we're not going to get anything done in those 17 days (of the completion of the session)."

Lawmakers reconvene the session that was  like many other things  brought to a halt in March. They have yet to pass a budget. That has to be done. In the wake of the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis Police, there is a new and very loud cry for police reform. Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha has already pointed out that the time is past for new bill introduction. He said something might be done with an existing measure awaiting final approval.
Dont wait to get started. The 2020 Nebraska Passport program is already underway and has been extended to October 31st this year. Nebraskans can order a physical Passport through nebraskapassport.com . A list of this years stops is available at nebraskapassport.com/passport-details/2020-passport-stops . Theres also a Nebraska Passport app available for download on your smartphone.

If youre looking to enjoy the great outdoors, Nebraskas 17 state parks and historical parks along with more than 55 other recreation areas provide a wealth of opportunities for socially-distanced fun. Nebraska has more miles of rivers and streams than any other state, with plenty of places to go kayaking, tanking, and floating. Many our states rivers and lakes are home to lots of different fish including walleye, catfish, bluegill, white bass, largemouth bass, crappies, and more. Over the past few months, many Nebraskans and visitors to our state have been rediscovering fishing, resulting in three record-breaking catches so far this year. Richard Hagen of Swanton reeled in an 89-pound flathead catfish near Brownville in early June, smashing the previous record by nearly 10 pounds! The mammoth catfish measured over 53 inches long. The following weekend Tou Kong Yang from Colorado set a rod-and-reel state record when he caught a big striped bass hybrid at Lake McConaughy. A few days later, bow fisher Richard Porter arrowed a bighead carp at a sandpit in Dodge County, weighing just under 82 pounds to break yet another state record!
Both ladies this year live in the same apartment complex and they have mold situations, horrible mold situations. Tlali actually has moved her family out to live with her dad because she felt the health of her children was being compromised by the amount of mold, Peters said.

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Habitat usually works on a 16-day build cycle. That hasnt been possible this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They began working two days a week in May and are currently about halfway through the build cycle.

The homes are built debt-free, but Garcia and Middleton must still pay for them. They come with 30-year mortgages, Peters said.

Applications for the Habitat building projects open in July and people are selected in October. Habitat checks to make sure those selected demonstrate a need for different housing, the ability to pay for the house and the willingness to partner and share their stories.

Between October and when the houses are completed, Garcia and Middleton must contribute 200 hours toward the construction of their homes. Peters said only about 100 of those hours can be accounted for during Habitats scheduled build cycle.

These ladies have to find and invest another 100 hours of their personal time doing work at the house, Peters said.
"Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets": Blurring the line between documentary and fiction, filmmaker brothers Bill and Turner Ross ("Western") turn their camera on a group of people in a Las Vegas dive bar the day after Donald Trump's election. The filmmakers rented the space, recruited the patrons and told them all to pretend that the bar was closing at the end of the night. But the alcohol is real, the conversations unexpected and the result, available to rent Friday, is pure filmmaking magic.

 AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

MUSIC

The Dalai Lama: To commemorate his 85th birthday on Monday, the Dalai Lama is releasing his first-ever album. The 11-track "Inner World" features teachings and mantras by the Tibetan spiritual leader set to music. On the project the religious leader recites the mantras of seven Buddhas, discussing topics like wisdom, courage, healing, compassion and children. Grammy-nominated sitar player Anoushka Shankar makes a guest appearance on the album, playing on "Ama La," a track honoring mothers.
Many of the lawmakers connected to loan awards emphasized they weren't part of the application process.

A spokesperson for Pelosi said her husband, Paul, is a minority investor in the company that owns the El Dorado Hotel in the wine-country town of Sonoma, Calif. Paul Pelosi has a 8.1% stake in the company, valued at $250,000 to $500,000, Pelosi's office said.

"Mr. Pelosi is a minor, passive investor in this company," said the Democratic speaker's spokesperson, Drew Hammill. "He was not involved in or even aware of this PPP loan." The firm, EDI Associates, is listed as a recipient of a loan between $350,000 and $1 million.

New York-based Foremost Maritime Co., founded by Chao's parents and run by her sister, was cleared for a loan valued between $350,000 and $1 million. McConnell, a Republican seeking reelection in Kentucky, said Tuesday: "Neither my wife, nor I, have anything to do with that business and didn't know anything about it."

The Shaheen & Gordon law firm in Dover, New Hampshire, got a loan of $1 million to $2 million. The firm is owned by Jeanne Shaheen's husband, William Shaheen. A title company partially owned by William Shaheen got a $160,000 loan and a half dozen companies he partially owns or another relative owns got loans, below $150,000.
A war of words has raged over the past several weeks between Republican legislators and the Democratic Wolf administration over the latters policy regarding nursing homes admission of patients who had been hospitalized with COVID-19.

But the core assertion of this critique  that requirements for nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients correlate to a greater rate of deaths in senior care facilities  is not borne out by the data, at least yet.

This isnt to say that the policy is not a matter of concern, according to industry experts. But the outcomes related to that policy arent clear, even using the data the legislators say substantiate their claims, particularly given inconsistencies in the way that data is reported.

Were digging into that data now, and we dont have the data yet  and we may never have it  that shows this is exactly what happened with COVID-positive residents if they came into a nursing home and spread this virus, said Zach Shamberg, CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association.

The PHCA has raised alarms with Gov. Tom Wolfs administration over Pennsylvanias policy, Shamberg said, because it could create an adverse impact given what we know about the virus, and given what we know about nursing homes and who they care for.
HARRISBURG  Renewed pandemic restrictions appeared possible in southwestern Pennsylvania on Tuesday as virus infections in Pittsburgh and its border counties surged, driven in part by people frequenting bars and restaurants, according to health officials.

Already, Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located and the recent spike in new infections is centered, is under a one-week ban on in-person service at bars and restaurants as health officials try to contain the spread. Allegheny County also ordered the casino there to close and banned gatherings of more than 25 people for the week.

There were indications Tuesday that restrictions could be reimposed in surrounding counties that are also reporting rising infection numbers. Increased viral transmission in southwestern Pennsylvania is largely responsible for a 37% jump in the rate of new infections statewide over the past four weeks, according to an Associated Press analysis of state data.

There will be targeted mitigation efforts that the commonwealth will announce tomorrow," Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan told the AP on Tuesday evening.

Washington County officials  who joined a federal lawsuit filed in May against Gov. Tom Wolf's statewide shutdown of businesses deemed nonessential  are opposed to closing them again, she said.
Unfortunately, there is a violent mob that would rather erase our past then celebrate how far weve come. I don't think the best way to remember, learn and grow from our history is to try and erase the parts which may make us uncomfortable looking back on them today. It is forcing those uncomfortable conversations with future generations about everything our country has been through, the good and the bad, and learned from, which helps us understand where we have been and how we ensure we don't return to some of those mistakes. Mercifully, as I witnessed firsthand this week, unlike the Left and their mob, President Trump remains committed to protecting our history and honoring our heroes.

On Friday, I had the incredible opportunity to join the President at Mount Rushmore to celebrate some of the most important leaders in our nations history. Carved into the mountains granite side are 60-foot faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Each of these great men left an indelible mark on our nations history, and all are victims of the mobs intolerance.
Cases associated with the DOC outbreaks are 105.

Its possible that the county could still see community transmission from the outbreaks, Elliott said.

Most of these cases are offenders, Elliott said. So they're enclosed. They're not out in the community, but the employees are. And so far everyone's been very cooperative and hopefully we'll be able to contain that.

Many of the DOC cases will fall off the list of active cases this week, according to Elliott, as they will be released from the isolation period.

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Elliott said the World Health Organization suggests having less than a 5% positivity rate.

We are still at that right now, even with the DOC cases, Elliott said. Before DOC, we're running about 2% positivity.

Elliott did mention the study that was released this week about the virus possibly being an airborne disease and the effort to get the WHO to change it from being spread through respiratory droplets.

If the change is made, Elliott said, it will change the way we respond to the virus and will make contact tracing even harder.
Vanuatu turns the Corner LETS USE THIS AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR THE FUTURE
Mr Daniel Montilla Rubiales, Charge dAffaires, EU Ambassador to Vanuatu and the Pacific, Sujiro Seam, the Vanuatu High Commissioner in Suva, Nikenike Vurobaravu and Jean-Francois Fitou, Ambassador of France to Fiji.
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.

Vote

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Andhra Pradesh: Women of fisherfolk community in Visakhapatnam make masks

by Sulogna Mehta

July 08,2020 | Source: The Times Of India

Following a rise in Covid-19 cases among members of the fisherfolk community in the city, some organisations are imparting training on making masks to women in the community. The training also includes designing masks with cartoon motifs that can attract children. In the last couple of weeks, areas inhabited by the fisherfol community in the city, including fishing harbour,alaripeta, Peda Jalaripeta and Appughar have seen around 250 Covid-19 positive cases. The fishing harbour has been temporarily closed. Awareness is being generated to make people here wear masks.



Narava Prakasa Rao, secretary of the organisation Bala Vikas Foundation (BVF) said, Since the fisherfolk community lives in close proximity to one another, once a positive case is spotted, the virus spreads in no time within the community. We decided to engage the women of the community in stitching masks for their own use and also as a source of livelihood. To encourage the habit of wearing masks, the NGO Vizag Smiles in collaboration with BVF, has trained five women from the community, who in turn are teaching other women. So far, 25 women have been trained this month.
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Why health care reform is part of the protest movement

Al Key/DRC file photo Protesters march on the west side of the Courthouse on the Square on June 7.

The protesters list of grievances doesnt stop with ending police brutality or reforming the criminal justice system or properly funding education systems.

People marching with Black Lives Matter and other human rights groups say the countrys health care system needs to change, too. Some distrust can be traced to the different quality of care that patients receive, depending on the color of their skin or who is paying for the care.

Katina Butler, a longtime resident and member of Dentons creative community, says she almost lost her first baby to those disparities.

Butler was in her mid-20s and newly married when she became pregnant. She liked and trusted her doctor, who was Black. She had confidence in the midwife, too. A few months into her pregnancy, she started having pain. She called the doctors office to report her concerns, but the nurse refused to put her through to the midwife, telling Butler it was just the flu and shed be fine. The pain was worse the second day, and Butler called again. The nurse, who was white, became angry with her for calling again.

The third day, the pain was so bad I was almost on all fours, Butler said. I called the after-hours number, screaming and crying.

Her doctor called back and told her to go to the hospital. The hospital discovered she had fibroids, which meant her pregnancy was high-risk.

Curiously, she said, her doctor brought the nurse with him when he visited her in the hospital to check on her.

Butler carried her baby to term but developed complications during labor. The midwife had to step back when the baby became distressed. Her regular doctor was on vacation. The doctor on duty got angry when she cried out, telling him she could feel the cuts as he began the emergency cesarean section. He made one more cut as he asked her whether she could feel it.

Then I passed out, Butler said.

Putting individual experiences like that against the backdrop that African women were brought to America to be bred like animals, its easy to see why theres tremendous distrust, she said.

When we express pain, we are not to be believed, she said.

In addition, researchers, doctors and hospitals used Black bodies to experiment  giving former World War II Tuskegee fighter pilots syphilis and leaving it untreated, for example, or sterilizing women without their consent  adding to generations of trauma and distrust of health systems.

Courtesy photo Katina Butler, center, is shown performing.

Black death is normalized, the discarding of Black bodies is desensitized, she said.

Because white supremacy was established as the countrys social construct 400 years ago, people are simply unable to look at the whole system and what it does to individuals, she said.

Theres so much collateral damage, Butler said.

At one point, Butler had to go back home to Memphis to help her mother, who was seeing a doctor for a medical issue but wasnt improving. Butler saw that her mother was being overmedicated. They got the prescription fixed, but not before the medicine induced diabetes and damaged her vision, Butler said.

Disparities in insurance coverage are part of the problem, too. As public programs, Medicaid and Veterans Affairs make health care payment and treatment decisions difficult. Patients who depend on those systems to pay for their health care are treated differently, Butler said.

University of North Texas graduate student Priscilla Yeverino agrees the insurance system falls short. And with the pandemic, they are getting worse  and not just because so many people are getting sick.

Yeverinos family was privileged before and had good health insurance. Her father lost his job in the pandemic, and with it his access to health insurance.

I dont think anyone in my family has access to insurance now, Yeverino said, calling that a failure of the system.

Jeff Woo/DRC file photo Priscilla Yeverino speaks at a vigil in August 2019 for more than 40 people who died in mass shootings in El Paso; Dayton, Ohio; and Gilroy, Calif.

Her mother needs regular treatments for a chronic condition, and her parents scrambled to get her medicine through a free trial program instead.

Yeverino said disparities in the health care system and elsewhere triggered her activism and the activism of many other people. She got involved after her roommate invited her to join Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016.

I saw this old man yelling on TV, Yeverino said of Sanders, who wasnt the inspiration for her work as much as the presidential campaign itself was.

The campaign had the tools to communicate about the things that were unjust, Yeverino said. Through the supporters and leaders, we got involved and were helping. We were hearing from Black, Latinx and Indigenous people about the issues they were having in their communities.

The public option wasnt helping those people with health insurance, she said, adding that the political tide for her and many others has turned because of that.

Shell continue to support marches, and is getting involved in larger groups that have political cache, such as Sunrise Dallas, which focuses on the Green New Deal.

For her part, Butler has supported the marches but also is serving on the mayors committee examining local use of force by Denton police. She also started The Fountain, a movement to create safe spaces for Black women and other women of color to heal, connect, create and grow spiritually.

When Black womens lives matter, then all womens lives matter, Butler said.
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As a society, we have yet to shake off the reefer madness that cloaked the country back in the 1930s. If we were to let our guard down then, our children would have been exposed to marijuana and we would have ended up a society of degenerates led onto a path straight to perdition.
A person holds pieces of gold at a jewelry shop in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Gold prices in Vietnam continued to rise on Wednesday, reaching a new peak, amid global strength due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

Vietnams largest jewelry company, DOJI, sold the national brand, SJC gold, at VND50.35 million ($2,171) per tael on Wednesday morning, up 0.5 percent from Tuesday. A tael is 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

State-owned Saigon Jewelry Company sold the precious metal at VND50.33 million ($2,170), up 0.46 percent.

A spokesperson for the company said despite the rise there has not been a selling surge unlike what happened in past months.

Global prices steadied near an eight-year high at $1,793 per ounce on Wednesday as worries over the rapid increase in the number of Covid-19 cases lifted demand for the safe-haven metal.

Reuters quoted Stephen Innes, chief market strategist at financial services firm AxiCorp, as saying: "The main focus continues to be on the U.S. If the curve continues to steepen and the virus unabated, we are going to break $1,800 just for the fact that the Fed will have to be forced to add more stimulus."
Vietnam is struggling to fully utilize the potential of renewable energy because of policy roadblocks even though power shortages are expected in upcoming years.

In the central province of Ninh Thuan, one of the solar power hotspots in the country, nine of 15 operating solar projects are running at just 30-60 percent of their maximum capacity, according to the provinces Department of Industry and Trade.

The reason for this is that Vietnams transmission lines are not capable of loading a surge in output from renewable plants. As many as 91 solar farms began operating in the country last year after the government offered an attractive incentive tariff rate, causing some transmission lines to operate at up to 360 percent of their safe capacity limit.

A transmission infrastructure upgrade is needed, but the governments monopoly in power distribution has created challenges for private companies in installing transmission lines, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh had conceded earlier.

Experts have proposed changes in regulations to allow private investment in this area. Energy expert Nguyen Duy Khiem said that the administrative procedures involved in installing a new transmission line could take national utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) five to six years to complete.

The government should allow a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model in transmission lines so the national grid can load the surging output from renewable plants, he said.

At the same time, national power security can be ensured because companies will hand over control of the line to the government upon completion, he added.

Another roadblock for renewable energy is administrative hindrance to project implementation, some experts say.

Currently, only 11 wind power projects are operating in Vietnam with a total capacity of 377 MW; while over 100 projects with a total capacity of over 6,500 MW have been approved, according to the industry ministry.

Furthermore, 250 projects with a combined capacity of 45,000 MW are still pending approval. The country has a coastline 3,000 kilometers long with strong wind speeds.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc last month asked the industry ministry to speed up the process of resolving ongoing issues with renewable projects. He also encouraged private investment, including from foreign companies, in this sector.

The government targets to have an addition of 12,500 MW in solar power capacity and 7,200 MW of wind power by 2025.

The industry ministry has warned of power shortages between 2021 and 2025, with the most severe shortage of 5 billion kWh in 2023, as construction of new thermal and gas-fired plants fall behind schedule.

The country needs 21,650 MW of power capacity in the 2016-2020 period, but last year, the actual figure was just two-thirds of this target, the ministry said.
Vietnamese students in the US under threat by Trump's new visa rule

Vietnamese students in the U.S. face dire prospects as the country plans to bar them from staying if their universities switch to online-only courses this fall.

Le Hong Hanh, a 21-year-old Vietnamese student at the University of Southern California, could not sleep during Monday night, having no idea what awaits her this summer and coming semester.

In a news release on the day, the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division said: "The U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the U.S."

Students with F-1 visa (international students who are attending an academic program) and M-1 visa (international students attending vocational schools and technical schools) are under the new rule.

The move may affect thousands of Vietnamese students like Hanh who come to the U.S. to attend universities or participate in training programs, as well as non-academic or vocational studies.

"Im like a cat on hot bricks. It's very frustrating," Hanh lamented. Enrolled in an undergraduate program at the university, she commenced online courses last semester due to the spreading novel coronavirus in the U.S., planning to do the same next semester since the university announced it would shift operations online.

ICE suggested students currently enrolled in America consider other measures, such as transferring to schools with in-person instruction or hybrid classes, a mix of online and in-person lessons. If not, students will risk deportation.

Harvard University, one of the institutions running online classes this fall. Photo by Photostock/Marcio Jose Bastos Silva.

Nguyen Huy Hoang, a graduate student at Wilmington University, which plans for its summer and fall 2020 classes to be "conducted 100 percent online, said: "I feel disappointed and worried, many of my friends have started looking for schools with hybrid models or on-campus classes."

Since the outbreak hit America, Hoang has attended online classes and stayed home to avoid Covid-19 infection, now, at the risk of deportation.

Universities in the U.S. are beginning to make the decision to transition to online courses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. At Harvard, for example, all course instruction will be delivered online, including for students living on campus.

Looking for new on-campus or hybrid courses at other schools is not easy since transfer deadlines are over, with the next semester only one month away and relocation cumbersome.

"It is just like dominos, one factor changes everything," Hoang said.

In many Facebook groups run by Vietnamese students in America, a myriad of netizens have expressed surprise and confusion after ICEs new move on Monday.

They have called on others to sign a petition aimed at the White House, urging authorities to "treat international students with the same respect due to any college student" in the U.S. The petition has attracted nearly 90,000 signatures in one day, with the ultimate goal being 100,000 in 30 days.

"Online classes are the safest choice for us, even if they deport us, how can we return to Vietnam when flights are limited," Quan Nguyen, a graduate student at George Washington University, lamented.

Many worry they will have to wait a very long time to access government repatriation flights since commercial flights to Vietnam are not allowed, with their visas also needing extension before the next semester.

Vietnam has suspended all international flights since March 25 and has only granted permission for some special flights to repatriate Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad and carry foreign experts and workers needed in major economic projects.

Since April, the country has implemented dozens of repatriation flights taking its citizens home amid the pandemic, including around 5,000 Vietnamese students in the U.S. This means over 20,000 are still in the Covid-19 hotspot.

"We are in a dilemma," Quan maintained, adding he has always known that a full online course is not allowed if international students want to apply for the F-1 visa but we are in a pandemic, why can't the administration be more flexible?"

No Utopia

Many Vietnamese students have contacted their institutions in the last two days, hoping for clarification and chances for blended or on-campus classes, regardless of the Covid-19 risks they may face.

According to Linh Tran, student at the University of Washington, the institutes international student services office had sent an email to reassure F-1 students, stating they are working with states congressional delegation and federal officials to reach a final decision.

"If you are in America, just stay calm and consider feasible solutions, do not panic or be confused," she wrote in a 6,000-member Facebook group about studying in America, quoting her universitys email.

With hybrid classes a Hobsons choice to help international students maintain their nonimmigrant status, several universities have recently sent an update on the combination of in-person and online instruction in the next semester to reassure students.

Georgia State University, Spoke Community College, Colombia University, New York University, which has the highest number of international students in the U.S., etc. are all on the list.

But for many Vietnamese students, who have been stuck in the U.S. since March, returning to campus could be risky amid spiking coronavirus cases across the U.S.

"I am afraid the open campus attract a large amount of students this fall, Id rather stay home and practice social distancing," said Duc Nguyen, sophomore at Georgia State University.

As of July 8, there have been over 2.9 million coronavirus cases in the U.S., with 130,133 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The line keeps going up and now youngsters like us must return to campus to maintain our status amid the raging pandemic, thats ridiculous," Duc commented, adding he has been waiting to fly back to Vietnam and plans to attend online courses next semester.

Several universities have criticized ICEs decision, saying it disregards the health and well-being of students.

Those staying in Vietnam and planning to leave for America for the fall semester are also facing an upheaval, having no idea when they could continue their American dreams.

"I can stay in Vietnam and study remotely to avoid the pandemic, but I do not know when I would receive my F-1 visa to experience academic life in America," said Nguyen Anh, newly enrolled at Georgetown University, originally planning to go to the U.S. in August but changing his plan later as classes switch online ahead of fall.

On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, Thao is still waiting for her universitys decision, and looking for hybrid courses at several institutions is Los Angeles. In the worst case, she said, she would think about going to Canada "since flying to Vietnam now is such a pipe dream."

"I want to attend online lessons to avoid the coronavirus, but now they tell me that could cause me to be deported, how cruel is that?" Thao asked.
A dispute is brewing between HCMC and the transport ministry over the fate of a colonial building that once served as Saigons railway headquarters.

The Hoa Xa complex at 136 Ham Nghi in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Last year city authorities had proposed a conservation plan for the Hoa Xa complex at 136 Ham Nghi Street in District 1, which comprises two buildings, one L-shaped and the other rectangular.

In a letter to the Ministries of Transport and Finance, they had said the city "would like to take over the Hoa Xa complex for preservation."

The bigger, L-shaped building would be used as the central control center for the Metro Line No.1 that is close to completion, and the rest would be connected to the metros underground space and house historical railway artifacts, the letter said.

But the proposal was shot down by the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR), which owns the complex.

Originally known as the Bureau du Chemin de fer (railway office) of the Indochina Railway Company, the building was the headquarters of the Ministry of Transport and Post of the South Vietnam government before 1975.

In the letter, the city had said further, "If the two ministries and VNR agree, the city will organize an international competition for a design concept for the Ben Thanh central station area."

The VNR said in a reply that all assets on the land plot at 136 Ham Nghi belong to it, and this has the imprimatur of the finance ministry.

The city has issued it a land use right certificate for the complex for 50 years, or until January 1, 2046, it said.

In the event, the law does not allow the city to take over the property.

The facade of the complex, which stands in front of Saigon's iconic Ben Thanh Market. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Nguyen Duc Hiep of the Australian Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, a conservation expert who has studied HCMCs urban planning, sided with the city and made a fervent call for conserving the complex.

Saigon was the first place in Indochina to get a railroad (on December 27, 1881), he said.

Besides its value as an architectural heritage, the complex stands for the golden age of the railways in the last century, especially in Vietnam.

In other major cities in Asia such as Mumbai in India, Taipei in Taiwan, Jakarta in Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangkok in Thailand, old train stations are treated as an architectural heritage of historical value that must be preserved.

"The value of a city does not lie in soulless modern high-rise buildings, but in the unique cultural and historical architecture it can retain. That is an aspect that could make it appealing to both visitors and investors."

If for commercial purposes VNR wants to make changes to such a historical asset, it would be a wrong move for the corporation itself in the long term because failure to keep such a historical building would be a huge loss for the people of Saigon since it had been an icon of the city.

"If VNR agrees to join the plan to preserve the complex, it will create a beautiful image for itself that no marketing campaign can better," Hiep said.

A photograph of the Hoa Xa complex in 1926.

Ngo Viet Nam Son, a veteran architect and design consultant, said HCMC should add this complex to the list of buildings that need to be conserved so that it has legal backing to protect it.

"Once there is a clear legal framework, the city could negotiate with VNR to use the complex as a museum in line with preservation plans. Then it will not matter who manages the complex because it is conserved."

While it is understandable that VNR wants to hold on to the complex since it is a legacy of the railroad industry, it needs a clear boundary for VNR to maintain the status quo for the entire Hoa Xa complex and desist from building anything for commercial purposes on the vacant land inside, he said.

The city could offer it land elsewhere if it needs, he added.
A medic works with samples taken for the novel coronavirus testing in central Vietnam, April 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh.

Four Vietnamese who returned home from Kuwait with Covid-19 have recovered, taking down the number of currently active cases to 24.

They had returned to Vietnam on a repatriation flight on June 16, were sent to quarantine and tested positive.

They received treatment at the Ba Ria-Vung Tau General Hospital in the eponymous province that neighbors Ho Chi Minh City.

One of them recovered on Tuesday and the others on Wednesday. They will be kept at the hospital for 14 more days and monitored.

Of the 369 cases recorded so far, 345 have recovered and no deaths reported. 229 arrived in the country with the disease and promptly quarantined.

Vietnam has gone 83 days without community transmission.

The most critical case, a British man working for Vietnam Airlines, has fully recovered after months of treatment for other complications, and is set to return to his country by a special flight on Sunday.
Aircraft wait in line for their turns to use the runway for takeoff at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, July 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Anh Duy.

With runways at Hanoi's Noi Bai airport and HCMCs Tan Son Nhat closed for upgrade, many flights have fallen behind schedule.

Flying from Noi Bai International Airport to Phu Quoc Island off the southern coast last Saturday, Quynh Nhu said her flight was meant to take off at 3:15 p.m.

Nhu and other passengers boarded the plane as scheduled, but it only departed one hour later at 4:15 p.m.

"We arrived two hours before departure as per flight regulations, but still could not fly on time. Waiting on the plane is much more stressful and tiring than in the terminal," Nhu said.

Five other planes were also queued up behind theirs waiting to leave.

Both Noi Bai International Airport and Tan Son Nhat International Airport had shut down one runway each starting this month as part of a major runway and taxiway upgrade overseen by the Ministry of Transport.

With Vietnam enjoying summer, a peak travel period, airlines have urged customers to show up at check-in counters much earlier than usual to avoid overload and delays.

According to carriers, schedules started lagging as soon as the two runways were shut down.

A representative from Vietnam Airlines said many of its flights have been delayed at both Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat, impacting operations at other airports.

The on-time performance rating for Vietnam Airlines generally hits over 90 percent, but for the past week it has dropped to between 56-88 percent.

Bamboo Airways said it has adjusted departure times for tens of flights a day due to the runway closure and canceled several along its HCMC-Da Nang and HCMC-Phu Quoc routes.

Vietjet Air, in turn, stated its planes too had to queue up for departure since the runway upgrade commenced during a peak travel time.

The airline suggested both airports shorten the distance between every two planes about to land from five to three miles. This would allow each to touch down faster and as a result, shortening the waiting time for those that need to use the runway for takeoff, it said.

To Tu Ha, deputy director of Noi Bai, said the airport used to have two runways for takeoff and landing but now, only one is operational.

The airport has reduced the number of flights taking off and landing in one hour from 36 to 27 but still could not avoid a pile up, especially during daytime from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has requested Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation to work with flight control units at both Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat to shorten the distance between landing planes to three miles to reduce the waiting time for all others.

In case there are planes already waiting on the runway, flight control units must not let more move onto the runway, it stressed.

In a public letter issued Tuesday, Transport Minister Nguyen Van The said runways and taxiways in the two airports will be shut down one after another so the entire upgrade project could complete before the Lunar New Year 2022 holiday, which is in February.

The minister said "work will affect the operations of all carriers and create inconvenience for passengers, but it is hoped everyone would understand the situation."

Since 2017, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports have been chronically overloaded, receiving new-generation aircraft with huge loads, which has degraded their runways and taxiways.
As a sign of the U.S. governments ongoing commitment to combating human trafficking, the State Department released its 20th Annual Trafficking in Persons Report, or TIP Report on June 25.

Speaking at the release of the TIP Report, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted that human trafficking, which includes both forced labor and sex trafficking, continues around the world:

There are 25 million adults and children suffering from labor and sex trafficking worldwide. That desecration of the inherent value and immeasurable worth of human beings, each of us created in the image of God, makes human trafficking a truly wicked act.

Last year, President Donald Trump restricted certain types of assistance to 15 governments that were ranked Tier 3, the worst possible designation, in the 2019 TIP Report. In January of this year, the President noted that the United States had authorized nearly half a billion dollars to fight against sex and labor trafficking.

Secretary Pompeo highlighted several success stories recorded in the 2020 TIP Report:

Twenty-two countries received an upgrade this year, 13 of them from Sub-Saharan Africa.

The TIP Report also calls out a group of nations whose state-sponsored forced labor have earned them Tier 3 designations. Among them is China, where the Chinese Communist Party and its state-owned enterprises often force citizens to work in horrendous conditions on Chinas global development strategy known as Belt and Road, and where Uighurs and other Muslim minorities are subjected to widespread forced labor in Xinjiang and beyond.

In Cuba, the Castro regimes number one source of income is the medical mission program. There are up to 50,000 Cuban medical professionals serving in 60 countries around the world. Several of these doctors have defected and reported being coerced and forced to work in these programs. Many countries allow the medical mission to operate despite clear indicators of human trafficking such as passport confiscation, hidden contracts, and direct payments to the regime and not the doctors.

We take government-sponsored trafficking very seriously, declared Secretary Pompeo. Its a perversion of any governments reason for existence: to protect rights, not crush them. The United States will not stand by as any government with a policy or pattern of human trafficking subjects its own citizens to this kind of oppression.
COVID-19 is not going anywhere. It is slowly become clear that the pandemic is here to stay. This has made organisations realise that a large part of their workforce will continue to work from home for longer than expected. To ensure productivity of their employees, many firms are ensuring they are able to work comfortably from home. They are providing them not just laptop and internet connections but even ergonomic chairs and study tables to ensure their health and wellness as they clock in long work hours from home.

To ensure business continuity, HSBC started with moving laptops and desktops to staff locations. Almost 22,000 laptops and 6,000 desktops were moved. "But as lockdown was extended, it required additional measures to be implemented to ensure staff health and comfort while working from home," says Jai Pawani, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC India. The firm then gave employees the option to request for the support they require.

According to the requests made, around 300 ergonomic chairs were delivered to staff while 20,000 large-sized monitors and keyboards were also moved to employees residence. Priority was given to employees with known health issues, said Pawani. Around 9,550 UPS were also procured and delivered to employees who were into critical and customer facing roles to support them with uninterrupted power supply.

Not all firms delivered directly, many choose to reimburse them for the purchases made to set up the office at home. To make virtual working seamless, Walmart Labs started reimbursing the employees not just for IT but also physical infrastructure requirements, says its Vice President - People, Sudeep Ralhan. The employees can, since March 2020, avail reimbursements for internet, mini-UPS and headphones and for ergonomic desk or chair. For family support, even cost of nanny services is borne by the firm as workplace creche is closed.

No wonder, furniture brands are seeing a spike in queries for work for home furniture. "Since last month, we have seen many organisations enquiring about how best to support their workforce working from homes," says Sameer Joshi, Associate Vice President, Marketing (B2B), Godrej Interio.

He adds, "We are getting several enquiries for Ergonomic Chairs and Desks. Most of the organizations are negotiating with us, securing rates and then giving choice to their employees to order from us directly."

Since the space available at every home is unique, Joshi says, firms prefer to give options to the employees to choose the furniture they like to purchase. "The foldable desks due to their space saving have registered huge spike in sales. Demand for motion chairs, foldable chairs, interactive poufs have also increased," says Joshi.
They have the PPE and the support they need [along with] the precautions they were taking, Cortez Masto said. I think its important that we continue to engage and have those discussions as we see wildfires continue throughout our state.

Restoration of burned areas, such as Lamoille Canyon from the Range 2 fire, is still on the mind of Cortez Masto and the regions firefighters.

Thats one of the things that came up in our conversation, she added. I want to make sure that as we put together the budget at the federal level, we have the money to support any restoration and make sure they have what they need.

Its important for me to continue to talk with [the firefighters] on a regular basis to see that they are getting that funding, Cortez Masto continued.

Its one thing for us to appropriate, but its another to make sure it gets back into our community in Nevada. I want to make sure they are able to access those funds and utilize them to the benefit of our state.

COVID-19 resources and support
Dahl said the governor called him Friday and voiced concerns about the spike in cases in the county and the capacity of Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, which had one COVID-19 patient on Friday but had none in the hospital on Monday.

Its hard to figure out why we are getting so many cases, he said. I think most people are willing to wear masks, and I see a lot of people with masks, but at the same time I see a large number who arent wearing them.

Sisolak declared on June 24 that everyone in Nevada had to wear masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19, and Elko County continues to urge everyone to do so, however, Elko County Sheriff Aitor Narvazia has said he wont enforce the mask ultimatum.

The sheriff was critical of the governor in a Republic United Facebook posting that stated he heard Sisolak received a complaint regarding Elkos July 4 fireworks show because the show as planned then would break the rule of 50 people or under.
The withdrawal notice was sent to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday and will take effect in a year, on July 6, 2021, the State Department and the United Nations said on Tuesday.

The State Department said the U.S. would continue to seek reform of the WHO, but referred to Trumps June 15 response when asked if the administration might change its mind. Im not reconsidering, unless they get their act together, and Im not sure they can at this point, Trump said.

Guterres, in his capacity as depositary of the 1946 WHO constitution, is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met, his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said.

Under the terms of the withdrawal, the U.S. must meet its financial obligations to the WHO before it can be finalized. The U.S., which is the agencys largest donor and provides it with more than $450 million per year, currently owes the WHO some $200 million in current and past dues.

On May 29, less than two weeks after warning the WHO that it had 30 days to reform or lose U.S. support, Trump announced his administration was leaving the organization due to what he said was its inadequate response to the initial outbreak of the coronavirus in Chinas Wuhan province late last year.
Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy holders should note that the acreage reporting date for NAP-covered crops is the earlier of the dates listed above or 15 calendar days before grazing or harvesting of the crop begins.

When producers are working with FSA staff  either in-person or virtually  they can also take care of applications for other FSA programs, including the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. A CFAP Call Center is available for producers who would like additional one-on-one support with the CFAP application process. Please call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. The CFAP Call Center can provide service to non-English speaking customers. Customers will select 1 for English and 2 to speak with a Spanish speaking employee. For other languages, customers select 1 and indicate their language to the Call Center staff.

Applications can also be submitted for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus for 2018 and 2019 as well as other disaster assistance programs that may be able to assist producers at this time.

For questions, please call your FSA county office. To locate your local FSA office visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.

All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors may also be required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. Our program delivery staff will be in the office, and they will be working with our producers in office, by phone and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

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Today is Monday, July 6, 2020. Let's get caught up.

These non-virus headlines are in the news this morning: Oscar-winning Italian composer Ennio Morricone died at 91; investigators have identified the body of Vanessa Guillen, a soldier who vanished more than two months ago in Texas; and authorities announced a suspected bubonic plague case in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Read on for these stories, other top headlines, celebrity birthdays and more.

Top stories

Spaghetti Western movie composer Ennio Morricone dies

Oscar-winning Italian composer Ennio Morricone, who created the coyote-howl theme for the iconic Spaghetti Western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and often haunting soundtracks for such classic Hollywood gangster movies as The Untouchables and the epic Once Upon A Time In America, died on Monday. He was 91.
But the country that produced all that greatness faces a new and dangerous threat, Trump said. Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values and indoctrinate our children. Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our Founders, deface our most sacred memorials and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities. Many of these people have no idea why they are doing this, but some know exactly what they are doing. They think the American people are weak and soft and submissive. But no, the American people are strong and proud, and they will not allow our country, and all of its values, history and culture, to be taken from them.
Back in March, as the economic impact of the coronavirus was taking hold, the CARES Act was signed into law. As part of the financial aid package, households were issued money to help tide them over the weeks and months ahead as more and more business were closed, and unprecedented numbers of jobs lost. Stimulus checks totalling the value of $270 billion were issued to more than 160 million Americans.

Republicans point to those most in need of direct payments

Since then, the payments have continued to be made as the Inland Revenue Service tries to resolve problems and reach all those who are eligible. Many still await their first payment but talk for some time has been on the need for a second package, with voices across the party lines unable to agree on how best to deliver it. Republicans were less in favour of another check being sent out, however, that attitude may be changing.

Last week, President Trump said on TV that he supported a second round of direct payments to individuals, going so far as to say: I support actually larger numbers than the Democrats.

And then, during an interview at the White House on Tuesday, Trump gave an idea of the timeline, as some in need have started to get concerned about how long it is taking.

"We are working on another stimulus package, and that will take place... very soon," POTUS assured Americans, the pause a chance to avoid stating any specific dates.

Previous penmanship | US President Donald Trump signs the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act financial response to the coronavirus disease, 24 April 2020. Jonathan Ernst (REUTERS)

On Monday, the Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, gave his own view on who he thought were under the most pressure during this difficult time, and in need of help.

"I think the people who have been hit the hardest are people who make about $40,000 a year or less, he said at a public appearance in Kentucky. Many of them work in the hospitality industry. The hospitality industry, as all of you know, just got rim-racked, hotels, restaurants And so [more stimulus checks] could be part of it."

He ended his statement with a positive, "the country needs one last boost, although some commentators are concerned that one may be an optimistic assessment of the situation.

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Mary Calvert (REUTERS)

Economists push for cash payments as food aid comes up short

Direct cash payments can improve financial security, boost consumer spending and may speed up the recovery, according to a letter from a group of economists calling on US policymakers to keep providing direct cash payments to Americans until the economy is stronger.

The stimulus payments should be issued automatically, based on certain economic indicators such as the unemployment rate, until there is enough evidence that the economy is recovering, the group of mostly left-leaning economists said in an open letter organised by the Economic Security Project and The Justice Collaborative.

And concerns were raised further as the government delivered far less food aid than it had pledged by the end of June, according to food bank managers and data from the agriculture department, after it hired inexperienced companies to box food during the pandemic. The Farmers to Families Food Box program, one of several new government efforts to relieve struggling Americans, aimed to take food from farmers typically produced for restaurants and deliver it to the millions of people who lost their jobs or were otherwise hit by the coronavirus lockdown.
Levi Strauss & Co on Tuesday cautioned its business would be hit in the second half of the year, even as the denim apparel maker's sales have been improving at its reopened stores, following government-mandated COVID-19 lockdowns. The company also said it would cut about 700 positions, or roughly 15% of its workforce, in non-retail, non-manufacturing segments that would help it save $100 million annually.

Met with temporary closure of its own stores as well as partner outlets, Levi introduced curbside pickup and started fulfilling online orders at its stores as customers turned to online shopping to avoid contact with people. The company reported a 25% increase in its online business in the second quarter ended May 24, with a month-over-month rise of nearly 80% in May.

Levi added that weekly sales performance in company-operated stores was improving sequentially, as productivity in the final week of June reached 80% compared to a year earlier. Still, Chief Executive Officer Chip Bergh said that he was "cautiously optimistic" about the early trends.

The company also expects its margins for the rest of the year to be under pressure as it tries to offload excess inventory that remained unsold during the lockdowns. Shares of the San Francisco-based company, which have lost about a quarter of their value since the start of the year, fell 4% in extended trading.

Net revenue in the second quarter fell 62% to $497.5 million, but beat analysts' expectations of $485.5 million, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Levi reported net loss attributable to the company of $363.5 million compared with a profit of $28.2 million, a year earlier, largely due to $242 million in restructuring charges and inventory costs.

On an adjusted basis, the company posted a loss of 48 cents per share, narrower than expectations.

Also read: DHL to layoff 2,200 UK workers at JLR factories, says trade union
A China-Europe freight train bound for Almaty, Kazakhstan sets out from Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on May 25, 2019. [Photo/xjdaily.com]

China plans to invest 200 million yuan ($28.53 million) to build China-Europe railway distribution hubs in five cities of the country to better use railway sources and reduce costs, according to the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner, on July 6.

The five cities, namely Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Xi'an and Urumqi, are all major cities for China-Europe freight train service or key logistics channels.

The construction of China-Europe railway hubs will break the current separate status of the cities and better serve freight, said Wang Guowen, director of the center for logistics and supply chain management at the Shenzhen-based think tank China Development Institute, according to a 21st Century Business Herald report on Wednesday.

As more cities start to run freight trains between China and Europe, intensive competition has emerged in transportation prices and railway sources, said Wu Jingyu, director of the Asia-Europe land bridge international freight train coordination service center, at the China Communications and Transportation Association.

The construction of transportation hubs will enable cities to share resources, cut costs and improve efficiency.

According to Wang, most China-Europe freight trains pass Urumqi without stopping at the current stage, and the establishment of the new hub will enable domestic and foreign goods to travel on the trains at the same time to reduce costs.

Wang also suggested part of the 200 million yuan funds be used to build platforms for information sharing and coordinate trains running among the five cities, the report said.
Turkey hopes to service to 100,000 Ukrainian tourists in July 2020, while about 145,000 Ukrainians visited the country in July last year, Deputy Director of the host side in Turkey of Coral Travel tour operator  ODEON Tours  Nurhan Kaplan told reporters at a meeting at the Antalya Airport.

During the meeting, it was noted that Turkish hotels and tour operators are certified for COVID-19 safety and hope for a gradual resumption of tourist flow. Infection control begins with the arrival of tourists at the airport.

Aviation Marketing Assistant Manager at the Antalya Airport Egemen Ates told reporters that flights from a very limited number of countries are currently arriving in Turkey, and domestic flights were also resumed in June.

According to the online scoreboard of the Antalya Airport, flights from Ukraine, Germany, Kazakhstan and domestic flights are currently operated in Antalya.

Upon arrival in Antalya, passengers undergo temperature screening. Testing for COVID-19 if there are symptoms is free of charge, as for individuals who have been in contact with people with confirmed COVID-19. At the same time, the rules of infectious safety are strictly observed at the Antalya Airport, the work of public catering establishments and DUTY FREE shops is limited.

In turn, Kaplan told reporters that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey has introduced a number of measures, called the "Safe Tourism Certification Program". This certificate is issued under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, covers a wide range of events, including transportation, accommodation, health status of employees of institutions, passengers.

In addition, the program provides for the provision of the Safe Tourism Certificate, which allows confirming the high level of hygiene requirements by airlines, at the airport, transport companies, as well as in accommodation and catering establishments.

One of the authorities that issue safe tourism certificates, in particular, is the Bureau Veritas, an internationally accredited certification body.

Kaplan also said that all employees of the host office in Turkey of the Coral Travel tour operator have been trained how to work with tourists during the pandemic. The host of Coral Travel  ODEON Tours has already received the Safe Tourism Certificate for servicing guests in accordance with all the rules and regulations, one of the conditions for which is currently limited to bodily contact with tourists.

For his part, Member of the board of Turkey Tourism, Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Chairman of the Mediterranean Hoteliers Association Erkan Yagci said that in hotels that received safe tourism certificates, a protocol has been developed in case visitors are suspected of having COVID-19.

In turn, Marketing and Sales Director of OTI hotels & resort Arzu Ekin said that tourists who come to Turkey should have a health insurance policy that covers COVID-19 disease.
The Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine signed the memorandum with grain market players for the current season for agreeing on the volumes of grain exports, not for limiting them, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Ihor Petrashko has said.

"According to the memorandum, it was decided to sign so far without numbers. It should not be guessed based on forecasts, given that they will harvest all the wheat in a month. We will finish wheat harvesting and we will calculate the balance and approve it, and not with restrictions, but with coordination of the volumes of possible exports," the minister said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

He noted the intention of the ministry to ensure food security by market methods.

"This was the principle position of the Economy Ministry  not to limit the market in exports. We limited only buckwheat, because Ukraine does not produce 100% of this crop now," Petrashko said.
State-owned PrivatBank (Kyiv) has made possible payments via Google Pay for 12,000 Ukrainian online vendors and services, the bank's press service reported on Tuesday.

"No additional integration is needed. Google Pay will automatically be turned on for all LiqPay customers. It is always possible to disable or enable payment in the merchant's personal account," the bank's press service said, quoting Head of Digital Products Khrystyna Karmazina.

Google Country Director for Eastern Europe Dmytro Sholomko said that using Google Pay when paying in online stores, one does not need to re-enter payment card information every time.

He said that this will reduce the time of purchase and ensure the safety of both customers and online vendors.

In addition to payment cards, one can keep and use discount cards and gift cards in Google Pay.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that because of the hryvnia exchange rate that has been maintained in the country lately, Ukrainian enterprises "have lost millions and closed."

"I completely agree with you. The fact that companies lost millions and closed because of this rate is true. We have been fighting this since the very beginning of my term, since the summer [of 2019]. Everyone around us said that we have an independent bank [the National Bank]. Yes, and we support the independence of the National Bank of Ukraine. But we told everyone that how can we live, even if our budget is calculated at the rate of UAH 30 per $1, and you see what hryvnia we have. We were told that these are market conditions, the bank is independent, etc., and you all know this very well," he said at a meeting with businesses in Chernivtsi region.

According to Zelensky, all entrepreneurs "perfectly understand" the situation with the head of the National Bank of Ukraine.

The president also pointed out that there are enough "people who help Ukraine" around and cited as an example the statement of ex-head of the National Bank Valeriya Gontareva that the IMF should not provide support to Ukraine until an independent head of the National Bank is appointed.

"Therefore, we perfectly understand you, we know how many Ukrainian enterprises simply closed because of this exchange rate, and everything else, and COVID-19 ... We will get out of this situation, stabilize everything, I'm sure of that," Zelensky emphasized.
Russia-led illegal armed formations violated the ceasefire regime in Donbas 13 times, four Ukrainian servicemen were wounded, according to the press service of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) headquarters.

"On July 7, Russia's armed formations violated the ceasefire regime 13 times using 122mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars, which are prohibited by the Minsk agreements, and anti-tank missile systems, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns and small arms. Four servicemen of the JFO were wounded as a result of enemy attacks in the past 24 hours," the JFO headquarters said on its Facebook page on Wednesday morning.

The enemy mounted attacks on Ukraine's positions near Novotoshkivske, Novoluhanske, Orikhove, Starohnativka, Vodiane, Shyrokyne, Maryinka, Pisky, Avdiyivka and Pavlopil.
The United Kingdom has passed ten DJI MAVIC quadcopters worth more than UAH 1.2 million to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, they will be involved in monitoring the western part of Ukrainian state border.

"Ten new DJI MAVIC quadcopters of various modifications, worth a total of more than UAH 1.2 million, are sent to guard the Ukrainian state border. Modern equipment that allows day and night effective monitoring of the border from the air was obtained through bilateral cooperation between the State Border Guard Service administration and the Embassy of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Ukraine," reads the statement on the website of the State Border Guard Service.

It is noted that the British side will also provide training for the staff of the State Border Guard Service to effectively use the equipment.

"Drones can record in 4K format from a height of up to 6 kilometers. Everything that the drone "sees", the operator sees on the control monitor," the department said.

New drones are sent to the site of the Western Regional Department of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. There border guards  drone operators  will learn to operate modern equipment and, in future, to control a particular section of the state border from the air.

The State Border Guard Service said that unmanned aerial vehicles are effective assistants to Ukrainian border guards, especially in difficult terrain.
Poroshenko says govt trying to limit participation of opposition in local elections

The fifth president of Ukraine, MP of the European Solidarity faction Petro Poroshenko believes that current government deliberately limits participation of Ukrainian opposition in local elections.

Speaking in front of his supporters outside the courthouse before today's hearing, Poroshenko said that "next week elections will be announced, which should be held in late October."

"They would like Poroshenko not to be able to travel around Ukraine. They would like very much Poroshenko not to be able to travel and defend Ukrainian interest around the world," the politician said.

"I want to assure you that Poroshenko of all people will not give up without a fight," he said.

Several thousand people gathered to support Poroshenko under the walls of Pechersky District Court in Kyiv. The rally was attended by activists, volunteers, representatives of local governments, MPs and public persons, who in their speeches said that they not only support Poroshenko, but protect statehood, freedom and the European choice of Ukraine.
Govt of Ukraine terminates memo on fight against terrorism with Russia

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has terminated a memorandum between the governments of Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation between the states in fight against terrorism.

This document was signed on July 12, 2012 in Yalta.

It is said that the adoption of this decision will create additional legal and political grounds for protecting the national interests of Ukraine under conditions of Russia's armed aggression.
Iran does not accept Ukraine's invitation for talks on compensation for UIA downed plane  FM

Iran is not ready to accept Ukraine's invitation for sitting down for the talks concerning compensation for Ukraine International Airlines' (UIA) plane shot down near Tehran, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Enin told BBC Ukraine.

"Just today (on July 7), we received a communication from Tehran that the Iranian side was not ready to accept Kyiv's invitation for sitting down for the talks," Enin said in an interview with BBC Ukraine on Wednesday.

The deputy foreign minister also noted that it was therefore too early to talk about any amounts of compensation.

"The fact is that the determination of the amount is the result of a very comprehensive examination, absolutely all circumstances of the case are taken into account," he explained.

Enin also added that everything depended on the political will of the Iranian side and expressed the hope that the Iranian side "nevertheless, under the influence of a number of factors, would agree to begin the negotiation process as soon as possible."
Tata Consumer Products (TCPL), the new entity formed by the merger of Tata Global Beverages and the consumer products division of Tata Chemicals, has terminated contracts with most of its distributors and dealers to make way for digital distribution of its products including Tata Salt, Tata Sampann, Tata Tea, Tetley, Eight O'clock Coffee and Himalayan water. According to sources, TCPL severed its long standing contract with 40 nationwide distributors and 5,000 dealers to try the direct dealership strategy, at which the FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever (HUL) excels.

"The company has cancelled the contracts with its entire network of distributors, which will come to 40 in number, and there are at least 2,000 small dealers working under them. Besides, they terminated the services of another 3,000 dealers. With this, the overall dealer network strength will come down to 4,000 from earlier 9,000," said a distributor from Assam.

ALSO READ: This Tata Group stock has doubled in 3 months, hit all-time high today

TCPL confirmed about its new strategy, but didn't disclose the numbers. "As part of the integration, when we reviewed our sales and distribution structures, we realised that it was critical for us to leverage digital technology and work with our stockist and dealer network directly to increase our distribution footprint and in store-execution in the market. This resulted the termination of a very small number of CAs and distributors of the company, making TCPL more in line with the way most FMCG companies in India operate," the company said in its reply to Business Today.

It said, "We are in the process of integrating the food and beverage businesses of Tata Consumer Products in India, which will result in benefits such as stronger processes and scale efficiencies. This is essential for us to accelerate growth and fulfill the market opportunity in India for Tata Consumer Products."

Another distributor said that they are consulting the trade unions to escalate the issue. "We have been supporting the company since its Tata Tea (earlier name of the company) days. There are second and third generation distributors among us. It is completely unfair to severe the relationship in such an unceremonious way," he said.

ALSO READ: Tata Consumer Products to become a full-fledged FMCG company: Chairman N Chandrasekaran

However, TCPL said, "We remain committed to working with all our stakeholders to support and help them through the transition phase."

TCPL aims to emerge as a full-fledged FMCG firm and scouts for new opportunities in the international markets, Tata group chairman N Chandrasekaran recently told shareholders of TCPL in its virtual annual general meeting. The company will strengthen distribution and marketing channels so that its products are available nationwide, he said. It will also bolster presence in the US, UK and Canada.

"We took a conscious call to broaden the focus to make it an integrated food and beverages company," he said. The merger took effect from February this year.

ALSO READ: TCS to kickstart earnings season on Thursday; all eyes on resilience of India Inc
The first contract includes an order of 1,260 PEGA XMEN electric motorbikes with a value of roughly VND20 billion (US$862,000). The order is currently being completed with efforts made to prepare to transport the products to Cuba.

The second stipulates the shipment of more than 2,500 PEGA XMEN and PEGA AURA electric motorbikes, worth over VND40 billion, with the shipment scheduled for August.

PEGA XMEN and PEGA AURA are two popular types of electric motorbikes with their engines having a capacity of 1,200W. Each electric motorbike can carry up to three people and has the ability to climb slopes with no difficulty.

Upon discussing the deal, PEGA Vietnam said that their Cuban partners expressed a desire to exclusively distribute PEGA electric motorbikes with a minimum of 20,000 units per year.
The signing was part of a working session between the two officials aiming to discuss ways to boost cooperation between northern Lao provinces and Vietnam.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed measures to encourage Vietnamese businesses to make continuous investments in Laos and Luang Namtha, as well as to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese investors and people working and living in the province. On the occasion, the Lao side asked Vietnam to consider increasing educational scholarships for Luang Namtha.

The aforementioned project will be implemented within 12 months at a cost of approximately US$434,000 in non-refundable aid from the authorities and people of Vietnams Phu Tho Province. The project features a two-storey building with 18 working rooms, a hall and interior equipment. Once completed, Luang Namtha will have additional modern medical facilities to better care for the health of the people.

Phu Tho and Luang Namtha are twin provinces. Previously, Phu Tho assisted Luang Namtha to implement several projects in service of economic, social and educational development.

The consulate area of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Luang Prabang includes eight northern Lao provinces, namely Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, Xayaburi, Phongsaly, Houaphanh, Xiengkhouang and Luang Prabang. These provinces have fostered friendly and twinning relations with many border provinces of Vietnam.
According to the site, Sapa, which is located in the far north of the country, is one of the best places to visit in Vietnam.

It is surrounded by dramatic beauty with its world-famous terraced paddy fields.

It sits high up in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains and makes a great base for trekking or mountain biking tours with routes that will bring you past magnificent waterfalls, through rice paddies, and around charming mountain villages which are home to families known for making fantastic local handicrafts, noted the US travel site.

It also suggested that when visitors travel to the villages, they can see how the traditional weavings and carvings are made and purchase some as gifts or souvenirs.

Top pagoda of Hang Mua temple, rice fields, Ninh Binh Vietnam. (Photo: TripstoDiscover)



Meanwhile, TripstoDiscover praised Ninh Binh, which is located in southeast of Hanoi, as being incredibly picturesque, yet it remains far less popular than its sister to the northeast, Ha Long Bay.

It possesses hundreds of limestone monoliths topped by vibrant greenery that rise from the ground scattered throughout the city with rivers flowing through.

The travel site suggested some activities in Ninh Binh such as visiting caves in the limestone mountains beautiful pagodas, including Bai Dinh and Bich Dong in the Trang An landscape complex.

Ninh Binh was once chosen to be the setting for the Hollywood movie Kong: Skull Island. The film has contributed to helping Ninh Binh become a new destination for many international visitors.

In addition to Sapa and Ninh Binh, TripstoDiscover named many other up-and-coming destinations in Asia, including Gifu (Japan), Sarawak  Borneo (Malaysia), Bagan (Myanmar) Sumba Island (Indonesia), Ella (Sri Lanka), Nusa Lembongan (Indonesia), Belitung Island (Indonesia), Okinawa Islands (Japan), Hoh Xil (Tibet), Champasak (Laos), Koh Kood (Thailand), and Shodoshima Island (Japan).
A highly controversial document outlining a proposed long-term pact between Iran and China has been leaked amid strong public criticism of what has been dubbed as Irans capitulation and a sell-out of national resources.

The document titles, "Comprehensive Plan for Cooperation between Iran and China" for the next 25 years, was first mentioned last month but government officials refused to spell out its details.

Many, including politicians and analysts in and out of Iran have been discussing and criticizing "the 25-year-long contract between Iran and China." Some have even gone as far as calling it "a colonial contract" and likening 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.

However, the 18-page "Comprehensive plan" Iranian politicians and analysts have seen after it was leaked, probably deliberately to mollify critics, is nothing more than one-sided Iranian wishful thinking for long-term cooperation with China.

Tehran has been hard squeezed by U.S. sanctions and diplomatically isolated. It hopes China will be ready to boost cooperation, or at least say something that can bring a measure of hope to a hard-pressed population.

Prior to the revelation of the document approved by the Iranian government, many were speculating that China might agree to make hundreds of billions of dollars in deals with Iran in exchange for the countrys natural resources and even military bases.

Iranian analyst Reza Haqiqatnezhad, one of those who has taken his time to read the document, said in a tweet Wednesday morning: "There are no figures in this document. There is nothing about $400 billion. There is nothing about Kish Island of Chines Forces to be deployed to Iran. There are only 10 proposals made of dreams and floral language about boosting cooperation between Iran and China."

The Rouhani administration had said while approving the document that China was going to make a $400 billion investment in Iran. Critics had said that Iran is going to hand over Kish Island in the Persian Gulf to the Chinese and allow deployment of Chinese forces in parts of the country.

During the past week, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Prince Reza Pahlavi, the strangest of bedfellows, voiced the most serious criticism about the "pact". The former said the Iranian nation will reject the it and the latter condemned it and criticized the Islamic Republic for "plundering the country" and for "allowing foreign troops to enter Iran."

On Wednesday morning former reformist lawmaker Mahmoud Sadeqi tweeted: "Somebody should ask the other party to our 25-year pact why doesn't it pay its debts to us?" He was referring to billions of dollars in oil money Iran says China has not paid.

Sadeqi further asked: "If they cannot give us our money back, why we still trust them? And if they are unable to pay their debt, why are we signing a strategic pact with them?"

Meanwhile, Haqiqatnezhad who has been working on the Sino-Iranian relations for some time, wrote that there was "no contract" and that the paper is a "strategic document" which is different from a contract.

To make it clear, Haqiqatnezhad wrote: "The matter is quite straightforward. Is the Islamic Republic of Iran selling? Yes. Is anyone buying? No. Not even China."

For curious readers, the "final draft" of the document provided, and probably leaked by "The Supreme Secretariat of the Mechanism for the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation between Iran and China," includes four pages of an introduction characterized by Iranian analysts as a "high school composition about cooperation," as well as three addenda titled: "Basic Objectives, the Main Areas of Cooperation, and Executive Measures" that repeat the same composition about the general benefits of cooperation in the areas of trade, tourism, energy and communication.

Leaking the document showed after all that no concessions to the Chinese were inscribed in the "pact"; at least not at this point.

In a nutshell, the document, when translated into good Chinese, includes Iran's needs and dreams. According to Haqiqatnezhad: "These dreams are not likely to come true, ever."
As the burial of a well-known Iraqi jihadism expert turned into a protest in Baghdad against Iran-linked groups on Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded justice over his killing by masked gunmen on Wednesday.

"In the days leading up to his death he was repeatedly threatened by Iran backed armed groups," Pompeo told a news conference in Washington, without explicitly blaming Tehran for the assassination of Hisham al-Hashimi.

"The United States joins partner nations in strongly condemning his assassination and call(ing) for the government of Iraq to bring to justice the perpetrators of this terrible crime... swiftly," he said.

Al-Hashimi angered the pro-Iran Hashed al-Shaabi militia by voicing support on national media for Iraqi protesters who have been demanding an end to Iranian influence since last October. He was shot dead on July 6.

As Pompeo indirectly blamed Tehran for the murder, Iran signed a military agreement with Syria, vowing to strengthen its allys air defenses.

"We will strengthen Syria's air defense systems in order to improve military cooperation between the two countries," Irans state television quoted armed forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Baqeri as saying.

The deal will "further enhance our will... to confront pressures by America," he added.

U.S. ally Israel, Iran's arch-enemy, has launched hundreds of strikes in Syria since the start of a civil war there in 2011, targeting government troops, allied Iranian forces and fighters from the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah.

Iran itself is challenged by multiple crisis, from back-breaking U.S. economic sanctions to a persistent coronavirus epidemic. Tehrans government is in desperate need of hard currency, as it tries to feed its 82-million population and finance its proxies throughout the region and even help the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

With reporting by AFP
First version posted on 15:03

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 7

Trend:

Ex-Chairman of Azerbaijan's Zaminbank JSC's Supervisory Board Nadir Ismayilov has been accused of appropriating more than 16 million manat ($9.4 million), Trend reports referring to the Prosecutor General's Office's press service.

Anti-Corruption General Directorate with the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan investigated the fact of appropriation of another property as a result of abuse of authority by Zaminbank JSC officials.

During the investigation, reasonable suspicions arose on use of various corruption schemes and appropriation of bank loans in the amount of more than 16 million manat, allocated for legal entities and individuals, with the help of the banks other officials by the former chairman of the liquidated Zaminbank JSCs Supervisory Board Nadir Ismayilov, while worked still worked for the bank.

The investigation has also established that Ismayilov, deliberately using fictitious documents, appropriated 145,000 manat ($85,290) belonging to Elshan Shirinov, director of the banks Baku branch.

Ismayilov was charged under the articles 308.2. (abusing official powers entailing grave consequences), 179.3.2. (misappropriation in large-size), 178.3.2. (swindle with causing damage in the large size) and 320.2. (use of obviously counterfeit documents) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. By the decision of the Binagadi district court, a preventive measure in the form of arrest for a period of four months was chosen in his regard.

In order to ensure compensation for damage caused to the state and citizens as a result of these illegal actions, necessary investigative and operational measures are ongoing to identify property belonging to Nadir Ismayilov, as well as to determine the circle of other persons involved in the committed crime.

To date, the Anti-Corruption General Directorate, in connection with the unlawful actions of Zaminbank JSC officials, as a result of the investigation of 7 criminal cases against 11 people, has ensured compensation of damage in the amount of more than 18 million manat ($10.5 million) to the aggrieved persons. At various times, these criminal cases were sent to the courts for consideration, and on the basis of court sentences, the accused persons were sentenced to various punishments.

Zaminbank JSC was liquidated in 2016.

(1 USD = 1.7 AZN on July 7)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 8

Trend:

On July 8, the National Air Carrier of Azerbaijan (AZAL) performed a charter flight from Dubai, thereby delivering 186 of our compatriots to homeland, Trend reports with reference to AZAL.

Passengers who were issued a certificate of negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours before departure were allowed to the flight. All passengers arriving by this flight must self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival.

It should be noted that AZAL charter flights are operated in accordance with the plan determined by the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 7

By Fidan Babayeva - Trend:

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held a foreign exchange auction with the participation of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), during which Azerbaijani banks acquired $53.8 million, Trend reports on July 7 citing CBA.

According to CBA, demand from the banks at the auction increased by 1.3 percent or by $700,000 compared to the previous auction.

Considering the number of days remaining before the next scheduled auction, as well as with the aim of ensuring uninterrupted currency trading by the banks, the demand of banks at the auction will be fully provided during weekends.

The first foreign exchange auction in a long time was held with the participation of SOFAZ on March 10, 2020, during which Azerbaijani banks acquired $323.2 million.

The CBA began to hold foreign exchange auctions through unilateral sale of foreign currency in competitive conditions since mid-January 2017.

In March 2020, it was decided to hold extraordinary foreign exchange auctions in connection with the increased demand of the population for foreign currency amid the failed OPEC+ deal, which entailed a sharp decline in oil prices.

(1 USD = 1.7 AZN on July 7)

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @ Fidan_Babaeva
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on Wednesday killed an aide of gangster Vikas Dubey who was involved in an ambush in Kanpur last week in which eight policemen died, a senior official said. Amar Dubey, who carried a reward of Rs 25,000, was killed in an encounter in Maudaha village in Hamirpur district, Special Task Force IG Amitabh Yash said.

Eight policemen were ambushed in Chaubeypur police station area when they were going to arrest Vikas Dubey and fell to bullets fired from rooftops shortly after midnight on Friday. Vikas Dubey, the notorious criminal who carries a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh, is still absconding.

"We are trying to nab him and our teams are on the job," a police official said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 8

By Fidan Babayeva - Trend:

The volume of trade turnover of Azerbaijans Baku declined by 1.6 percent from January through May 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, Trend reports citing the State Statistical Committee.

According to report, the volume of food, beverages and tobacco products sold in the retail network in the capital increased by 4.1 percent over the year and totaled over 3.9 billion manat ($2.2 billion).

At the same time, the volume of sales of non-food products decreased by 5.6 percent and amounted to 4.3 billion manat ($2.5 billion).

Some 30.9 percent of consumer products were sold in enterprises with the status of a legal entity, 51.4 percent - in trade facilities owned by individual entrepreneurs, and 17.7 percent - in the capitals markets.

In 2019, the volume of Bakus trade turnover rose by 4.2 percent compared to 2018 and reached 22.2 billion manat ($13 billion). The volume of food, drinks and tobacco products sold in the trading network in the capital increased by 0.8 percent year-on-year and surpassed 10.5 billion manat ($6.1 billion).

The volume of sales of non-food products increased by 7.7 percent and amounted to over 11.6 billion manat ($6.8 billion).

(1 USD = 1.7 manat on July 1)

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Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jul. 8

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev declared July 13 to be national mourning day for the victims of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Trend reports with reference to Kazakh media.

Tokayev made the statement during a televised address on the current situation in the country made on 20.30 (GMT +6) on July 8 via the countrys TV channels.

On Jun. 2, 2020, an announcement was made that Kazakhstan is reintroducing quarantine regime as the COVID-19 cases count is increasing countrywide.

By a decision of an intergovernmental commission, the quarantine is being imposed for a period of 14 days starting Jul. 5, 2020.

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 confirmed in Kazakhstan since the virus was first confirmed in the country amounted to 51,059 cases. This includes 16,928 people who recovered from the coronavirus, and 264 patients who passed away.

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Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 8



By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

Turkmenistan supports the recommendations of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on national minorities affairs, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

Minister of Turkmenistan's Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov made the remark during his meeting with OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier, which was held on July 7, 2020 in a videoconference format.

The parties discussed issues related to national minorities and their integration into society.

The foreign minister noted that Turkmenistan pays special attention to the protection and implementation of the rights of all members of society.

The parties also discussed main areas of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the OSCE. The Turkmen side stressed its commitment to promoting democratic values and practices.

Special focus was paid to interaction in view of the pandemic situation in the world. The Turkmen side expressed support for a number of recommendations developed by the OSCE high commissioner for national minorities for OSCE participating states, aimed to ensure that measures to combat COVID-19 take into account the needs of all members of society, including representatives national minorities.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jul. 8

Trend:

Marco Mantovanelli started has officially started carrying out his duties as World Bank (WB) Country Manager for Uzbekistan on July 1, 2020, replacing Hideki Mori who was on this position since March 2017, Trend reports with reference to WB.

Mantovanelli has over 20 years of development and management experience working for the World Bank in Latin America, Africa and Europe. Most recently, he was the World Bank Country Manager for Kosovo and North Macedonia. He has also served as Country Manager for Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and has held various managerial positions at World Bank Headquarters in Washington.

I am delighted to start my new assignment as Country Manager for Uzbekistan. The World Bank is a committed partner to the Government of Uzbekistan, as the country continues its historic transition to a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable market economy. I look forward to working closely with the authorities and our international partners to continue supporting the reforms through our financing, knowledge, and advisory assistance, said Mantovanelli.

A top priority for me in the coming months will be to ensure that the World Bank continues to provide the best possible support to the Government as it continues with its impressive policy response to the significant human and economic costs of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan, he said.

One of Mantovanellis priorities over the next year will be working with the Government to prepare a new Country Partnership Framework that will outline the strategic direction of the World Banks financial and technical assistance to Uzbekistan from 2022 to 2026.

In recent months, the World Bank has moved rapidly to provide additional support to Uzbekistan as it faces unprecedented health, economic, and social challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April and May 2020, the country received emergency financing totaling $295 million to strengthen health systems, acquire additional life-saving medical equipment, increase financial support to poor and vulnerable people affected by the economic consequences of the pandemic, and fill the unanticipated budgetary gap that emerged in the immediate aftermath of the crisis.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 8

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

As many as 2,691 people got 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, 153 more people have died from the coronavirus over the past day.

Sadat Lari added that the condition of 3,309 people is critical.

The official said that situation was dire in Khuzestan, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Hormozgan, Bushehr, Razavi Khorasan, Ilam, East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan provinces.

So far, more than 1.87 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 248,300 people have been infected 12,084 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 209,400 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.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa met his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte here Tuesday and discussed the upcoming European Council meeting that will decide the approval of the 750-billion-euro (846 billion U.S. dollars) EU economic recovery plan, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

At a joint press conference with Conte, Costa said: "it is necessary to move forward with ambition, because the situation is very serious across Europe, and the best way to save resources is to attack the crisis."

"It is a crisis where, beyond the health dimension, there has been a terrible impact on the economy, employment and household income and that is why it is more important than ever that we approve the economic and social recovery plan," Costa said.

"It is essential that, at the European Council next week, we can reach an agreement on the proposal," he said.

For his part, Conte said that both Portugal and Italy "will play their parts" since the two "have always cultivated a dialogue, intense, direct, frank and we share common positions."

"We share our respective national realities, but without losing sight of our home -- Europe. There will be no countries that will win and others that will lose. We either win together, or we lose together," said Conte.

"There is no more time, and it is necessary to have the courage to decide immediately," he said.

Southern European countries, such as Italy, Spain and Portugal, are busy with shuttle diplomacy these days to coordinate their stance over the EU recovery plan.

On July 17-18, EU leaders will have their first in-person conference in Brussels since the COVID-19 pandemic, to discuss the recovery plan to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and a new long-term EU budget.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday fired health minister Obadiah Moyo who is facing allegations of corruption regarding a 60 million U.S. dollars deal to procure COVID-19 medical supplies, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The minister was arrested last month for awarding contracts to Drax International LLC and Drax Consult without following a transparent tender process.

"Please be advised that the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe ... has removed Obadiah Moyo from the office of Cabinet Minister with immediate effect for conduct inappropriate for a government minister," chief secretary to the Office of President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda said in a statement.

Moyo is the second minister in Mnangagwa's government to be arrested over high-level corruption allegations in the past 12 months.

The sacking of the minister comes at a time when health professionals including nurses are on strike demanding payment of their salaries in U.S. dollars.

Zimbabwe has recorded 734 confirmed cases of COVID-19, nine deaths and 197 recoveries as of Monday.
The so-called Golden Mile between Puerto Banus and Marbella, on Spains Costa del Sol, has been left without its typical visitors this summer: tourists from the Middle East and Russia. The image of the Spanish port filled with yachts and glamorous foreigners dressed in expensive brands is now a thing of the past. Tourists from these countries are very important to the area  not because they arrive in large numbers, but because they spend large amounts of money. They spend the most, especially in shops and restaurants, explains one of the business owners who have reopened, albeit at half-throttle, at Puerto Banus.

Spains tourism industry has been in a critical state since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, which led to a near global lockdown and strict travel restrictions. While travel is now permitted within the European Union and Schengen Area, it remains heavily restricted for citizens of countries outside the EU.

They come with their family and entourage, which could be up to 40 people, and they fill up the most expensive restaurants where they leave up to 300 in tips Enrique Garcia, a waiter in Puerto Banus

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the EU allowed citizens from 105 countries and territories into the Schengen Area, which comprises 26 countries, including most EU members. The number of nationalities allowed into the Schengen space has now been cut to a list of 15. The approved list leaves out 150 nations, including the United States, Russia, countries in Latin America and the Gulf states  which are important tourism markets in terms of spending. Whats more, visitors from China, which is on the EU-approved list, will only be allowed to travel to Europe if EU citizens receive reciprocal treatment.

These restrictions mean that the streets of Barcelona, Madrid and Marbella are missing visitors from Asia, the Americas, Russia and the Middle East, with their large wallets and overflowing shopping bags.

We are missing the petrodollars, says Maria Jurado, a sales clerk at an exclusive fashion brand in Puerto Banus, alluding to visitors from oil-rich nations like Russia and Saudi Arabia.

They come with their family and entourage, which could be up to 40 people, and they fill up the most expensive restaurants where they leave up to 300 in tips, adds Enrique Garcia, a waiter with almost 25 years experience in some of the hotels in the area.

These markets are so important that some hotels have been designed especially to meet their needs. For example, there are two halal hotels aimed specifically at travelers from the Middle East in Marbella (Alanda Hotel) and Torremolinos (Luxury boutique Costa del Sol). We dont know when these tourists will be able to return, but this summer season has been ruined without them. The same as has happened with Russians and Americans who will not come to [Malaga] province this year, says Luis Callejon, the president of the Costa del Sol hotel industry association.

The Spanish tourism industry came to a standstill in mid-March, when strict travel restrictions were introduced to stop the spread of Covid-19. Since then, the sector has suffered a series of setbacks. Although Spain reopened borders to EU countries at the end of June, the tourism industry continues to struggle to draw back the more than 83 million international visitors who traveled to the country in 2019, and who spent more than 90 billion.

Impact on Catalonia

Although international tourists are allowed to visit Spain, a significant number of those who normally visit  around 10%  will not be able enter the country due to the travel restrictions on non-EU countries.

The United States, Russia, Argentina and Mexico are of utmost importance because they are the tourists who spend the most, says Jose Luis Zoreda, the vice-president of the tourism lobby Exceltur.

The loss of these tourists will take the largest toll on Catalonia and Madrid. Of the 3.3 million US tourists who visited Spain in 2019, more than 1.51 million traveled to Catalonia, while around 900,000 went to the Madrid region, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Tourists in Barcelona, in front of the Sagrada Familia cathedral. CRISTOBAL CASTRO / EL PAIS

It is a significant blow to both regions, given that visitors from the US represent the largest tourist market in Madrid, and the third largest in Catalonia, after France and the United Kingdom. Indeed in Catalonia, tourists from the US spend more than visitors from any other country.

Obviously the fact that US citizens can still not come affects us, but I wish that was the only problem, says Manel Casals, the head of the Barcelona Hotel Guild. In Barcelona, only 60 hotels are open, with occupancy between 15% and 20%. This is an unprecedented situation for a city used to being inundated with tourists. The industry group believes that the situation will not improve until autumn, in the best-case scenario.

Weve given this year up as a lost cause, says Gabriel Jane, the president of Barcelona Oberta, an association that represents the most important shopping hubs in the city. One of these is the Paseo de Gracia, the home of luxury shops and an important attraction for tourists from Asia, Russia and the Middle East. But for now, there is no sign of them.

Madrid, the gateway to Europe

Madrid is also feeling the absence of tourists from Latin America. The Spanish capital is used by travelers from countries like Argentina, Mexico and Brazil as the gateway to Europe and a holiday base. Although Madrid is not their final destination, it is a transit spot that always benefits [from passing visitors], says Zoreda. Lots of family tourism comes from these countries and they use the Spanish capital as a base to travel to other European cities. According to the Madrid Hotel Business Association, these visitors usually choose hotels in the center of the city, which continue to register record-low activity due to the absence of international visitors, especially those from Mexico.

They are the best, by far, because of the tips they leave and what they spend during their vacations, say several sources from major hotels and luxury shops. According to 2019 figures from Planet, a financial services company specializing in the management of VAT refunds for tourists, visitors from China, the US and Russia spent the most in Barcelona, while tourists from China, the US and Mexico spent the most in Madrid.

With visitors from these countries still unable to enter the country, the Spanish tourism industry continues to struggle, with no rebound likely in the short term.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
When the coronavirus hit hospitals in Spain, most health workers did not have the means to face the virus. Not only were they exposed to Covid-19 due to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), they were also not given basic protocols on how to manage coronavirus patients and to avoid contagion. Thats according to the results of a survey of 2,500 health professionals published Tuesday by the Institute for Better Healthcare, also known as the IMAS Foundation.

In total, 71.5% of healthcare workers replied that they did not have enough resources (tests, PPE) to protect themselves from the coronavirus. Only one third said that they were given protocols on how to avoid contagion at the beginning of the crisis. This percentage doubled two weeks after the state of alarm, which was declared on March 14 in a bid to control the spread of the virus. Whats more, few health workers were provided with guidelines on how to treat suspected coronavirus patients. According to the survey, fewer than half had such instructions at the beginning of the pandemic, and an additional 33% by the end of March. But 12% said that they never received patient guidelines.

More than 90% of those surveyed believed that the government acted too late

It is likely that this contributed to the high rates of coronavirus infection among Spanish healthcare workers. According to the third and final round of a coronavirus prevalence study, 10% of healthcare workers tested positive for coronavirus antibodies  nearly double the national average of 5.1%. Of those surveyed, 85% said that they had been in direct contact with Covid-19 patients  56.5% on an ongoing basis. A total of 15% of doctors and 14% of other health workers (not including nurses) said they had contracted the coronavirus. This figure rose to 23% among nurses.

The conclusions of the in-depth survey are highly critical of Spains healthcare system. The response of the National Health System to the crisis caused by the pandemic has been notably inadequate and fragmented. The focus has been overly centered on hospitals, instead of on public and community health. The coordination between hospitals and primary healthcare, as well between social and health resources, has been very poor, said Javier Elola, the head of the IMAS Foundation and the director of the survey. The system must reorientate itself towards health and establish mechanisms for better integration of available resources.

The survey also revealed health workers dissatisfaction with different government administrations, including the management teams sent to hospitals, who were often seen as political instruments, according to the survey. One health worker complained: It was perverse for hospital managers to be politicians. They reacted late, listening to their leaders instead of to their workers. The lack of professionalism in the managing teams has been seen in the failure to make important decisions to involve all professionals and doctors.

According to the survey, administrations were viewed more negatively the further up they were on the chain of command. The central Health Ministry was the worst-rated institution during the crisis, followed by regional governments, the respondents medical center and their department. More than 90% believed that the government acted too late, while 81% replied the same of their respective regional health departments.

The response of the National Health System to the crisis caused by the pandemic has been notably inadequate and fragmented Javier Elola, head of the IMAS Foundation

But some health departments fared better than others. The region of La Rioja is on the top of the list, with an average score of seven out of 10, followed by Murcia, Galicia and Asturias, which scored six. The worst-ranked regional health departments were Castilla-La Mancha with two, followed by Valencia, Madrid and Aragon, with three points.

There was a slogan: our health system is the best, or one of the best. Both the IMAS and different scientific associations have been reporting structural, organizational and management problems that must be resolved, said Elola. According to Elola, as expressed in the survey conclusions, the healthcare system must be reformed at all levels to become more cohesive and to depoliticize management so that decisions are based on scientific evidence.

Health workers also replied that prevention is key to fighting the pandemic. To achieve this, the survey concludes that the primary healthcare system needs to be strengthened so that it can react faster to situations like the coronavirus crisis. This would increase the number of cases detected and lower the number of hospital and intensive care transfers.

While the survey highlighted the shortcomings of the healthcare system, there were also some positive findings, such as the response of autonomously run hospitals and phone assistance programs.

Triage

A total of 44% of those surveyed said that the medical centers they worked at had established explicit criteria to limit medical care based on a patients characteristics and the available resources. While this is standard procedure, 60% of respondents said the criteria was not passed by an ethics committee.

In Madrid, the regional government has been heavily criticized over allegations it recommended against admitting elderly patients and those with dependencies into hospital.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated assets worth Rs 329.66 crore belonging to diamantaire Nirav Modi under the fugitive economic offenders law. A special court in Mumbai had authorised the central probe agency on June 8 to confiscate the assets. The seized properties include flats in Mumbai, London and UAE, bank deposits and shares.

"The ED has attached the properties worth Rs 329.66 crore under the FEO Act, 2018 which now stands confiscated to central government," the ED said in a statement.

"The confiscated properties are in the form of four flats at the iconic building Samudra Mahal in Worli Mumbai, a sea-side farm house and land in Alibaug, a wind mill in Jaisalmer, a flat in London and residential flats in UAE, shares and bank deposits," the agency further added.

Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are among the accussed being probed by the ED on money laundering charges in connection with a bank fraud worth more than $2 billion at the Brady House branch of Punjab National Bank. Modi was declared a fugitive economic offender on December 5 last year.

On June 8, Special Judge V C Barde had permitted the ED to confiscate assets owned by Modi under the Fugitive Economic Offender Act that are not mortgaged or hypothecated to the PNB. The special court had said the assets shall be attached by the ED under the provisions of the FEO Act within one month. This was the first order of asset confiscation passed under the FEO Act anywhere in the country.

The ED till now has attached assets worth Rs 2,348 crore of Nirav Modi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Last month, ED brought back 108 consignments of diamonds and pearls worth Rs 1,350 crore from Hong Kong belonging to Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.

Nirav Modi (49) is currently lodged in a UK jail after being arrested in London in March, 2019 and is fighting extradition to India. Meanwhile, Choksi is hiding in Anitgua.

ALSO READ: Why IndusInd Bank share price rose over 9% today

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 8, 2020 - 22:35 | All, Japan

Former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai and his lawmaker wife Anri were indicted Wednesday on a charge of vote buying during her upper house election campaign last summer, a development that could deal a further blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration.

Kawai, a House of Representative member known for having close ties with Abe, was arrested with his wife on June 18 on suspicion of violating the election law by handing out millions of yen in cash to politicians and supporters in Hiroshima Prefecture to reward them in helping her get elected in July 2019.

"I'm keenly aware of my responsibility as the person who appointed him as justice minister some time ago," Abe, whose Cabinet has seen dwindling public support in recent weeks, told reporters. "I'd like to apologize to the public."

If the Kawais are found guilty and the rulings are finalized, they will lose their seats in parliament.

According to the indictment, the 57-year-old former minister handed out about 29 million yen ($270,000) to 100 people, including local politicians in Hiroshima, between March and August last year with the intention of securing votes.

His wife is accused of conspiring with him on 1.7 million yen of the cash handouts to five individuals between March and June.

Related coverage:

Arrested ex-justice minister admits cash handout, denies vote buying

Ex-minister's arrest pushes support for Abe's Cabinet lower

Kawai served as special advisor for foreign affairs to Abe before being named justice minister last September. He stepped down from the ministerial post the following month after a separate election scandal came to light.

He has admitted to distributing cash but denied he intended to buy votes, while his wife has said she has no recollection of involvement in illegal activities, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Prosecutors have seized documents from their home which they believe list cash distributions of around 30 million yen in total.

The two are likely to receive their court rulings within 100 days of their indictment. For trials involving election-related crimes, the Public Offices Election Law urges courts to swiftly deliver rulings, typically within 100 days.

On Wednesday, the defense counsel for Anri, 46, filed a request for her bail with the Tokyo District Court.

Tokyo prosecutors have identified Kawai as the chief manager of his wife's campaign under the election law, and if he is found guilty in that role her victory in the election will be annulled regardless of her involvement.

In a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga declined to comment on their indictment, saying the government is not aware of the details in it.

The two, who resigned from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party over the scandal, are now facing calls from some party members to explain how they spent 150 million yen the party gave them ahead of the upper house election.

Some local politicians who have admitted receiving cash have resigned from their posts. The prosecutors have decided not to charge them as they did not solicit the money, according to the sources.

In the election, Anri, a former prefectural assembly member, was backed by Abe's team to win one of the two seats up for grabs in the Hiroshima constituency despite concern she would split the vote with a fellow LDP candidate, the then-incumbent veteran Kensei Mizote.

Mizote, who had made comments critical of Abe in the past, failed to win re-election due to the conservative vote being split, with another incumbent backed by opposition parties retaining a seat.

The LDP headquarters offered an unusually large amount of 150 million yen to Kawai's camp, while the money provided to Mizote's camp was 15 million yen, which is considered the average amount to be given by the ruling party for an election campaign, according to people familiar with the matter.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 8, 2020 - 04:11 | All, Japan

A Tokyo woman was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of leaving her 3-year-old daughter alone at their home for more than a week while spending time with her boyfriend and letting the child starve to death, police said.

Saki Kakehashi, 24, admitted to the allegations, the police said, adding they believe she had routinely neglected and abused the daughter, Noa.

Backing up the suspicion, a friend of Kakehashi's told the police, "She had left home for several days or returned late at night, leaving her daughter unattended," an investigative source said.

Autopsy results showed Noa died from severe dehydration and hunger, they said. The mother is suspected of leaving her alone at home for eight days in early June while visiting her boyfriend in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, according to another investigative source.

Kakehashi told investigators that she did not expect Noa to die as she thought "it would be alright" to leave the toddler alone in their apartment in Tokyo's Ota Ward, where the two had been living alone since around July 2017 following her divorce from Noa's father.

She made an emergency call upon her return from the trip on June 13, claiming Noa was not breathing, and the daughter was pronounced dead later at a hospital.

The victim had thymic atrophy, typically observed among abused or neglected children, and her stomach was almost empty, the source said.

Noa suffered a rash on her bottom as her diaper had apparently been unchanged for a long time, and the apartment had large amounts of garbage scattered in it.

During voluntary questioning before her arrest, Kakehashi initially said Noa became ill several days before her death but she had no money to take her to a hospital for treatment.

Noa had not shown up at her daycare center for more than a year, according to the facility.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 9, 2020 - 05:32 | All, Japan

The European Parliament adopted a resolution Wednesday urging Japan to improve its child custody rules, under which European parents in Japan have little recourse in the event of domestic child abduction by a Japanese spouse.

Members of the parliament are "concerned over the high number of parental child abduction cases due to the reluctance of Japanese authorities to comply with international law," the resolution said.

The resolution also called on Japanese authorities "to enforce domestic and foreign court decisions on the return of the child and on access and visiting rights after the parents' relationship has ended, in order to bring their domestic laws in line with their international commitments and obligations."

Parliament members expressed regret that Japan, as a strategic partner, has failed to comply with international rules on child abduction.

Japan is already a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, an international treaty providing a framework for the return of a child abducted by a parent living in another country. But its principles have no direct application to domestic abductions.

According to the parliament, it has received "a significant number of appeals in the past few years on cases of Japanese parental child abduction and visiting rights, where one of the parents is an EU citizen."

On this matter, the Committee of Petitions of the European Parliament adopted a similar resolution last month.
KYODO NEWS - Jul 8, 2020 - 15:46 | World, All

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun mausoleum complex in Pyongyang on the 26th anniversary of the death of Kim Il Sung, his grandfather and the nation's founder, state media reported Wednesday.

On the most recent anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth on April 15, known as the Day of the Sun in North Korea, state media did not mention a visit by Kim Jong Un to the palace, sparking speculation he was in poor health.

The palace is where Kim Jong Un's grandfather and father Kim Jong Il -- both former leaders -- lie in state.

The Korean Central News Agency did not specify when exactly Kim Jong Un visited for the anniversary of his grandfather's passing, only saying he visited "on the occasion" of the July 8 anniversary.

Since Kim Jong Un became supreme leader in December 2011 following the death of his father, North Korean state media had reported every year on his visit to the palace on key anniversaries.

Some diplomatic sources said Kim Jong Un may have left Pyongyang earlier this year as a precaution against the coronavirus, although North Korea has claimed to have no cases of infection.

Related coverage:

North Korea's Kim orders party to intensify efforts against coronavirus

Trump vows to bring Japanese abductee Yokota home from North Korea

Pyongyang citizens lay flowers to mark 70th Korean War's start anniv.
Varanasi:

Five people were killed and four others sustained serious burn injuries in an explosion in a two-storey building in Pitarkunda locality in Varanasi, police said on Wednesday.

The explosion took place on Tuesday night in the building where firecrackers were being produced illegally.

At the time of explosion around nine persons were inside the house.

Five of them have been killed and four others were critically injured, senior superintendent of police Nitin Tiwari said.

Three of the deceased have been identified as Sarfaraz, Shaba and Amina.

Police suspect that the incident occurred as some explosives must have caught fire.

The roof of the house also collapsed after the explosion.

The injured were rushed to the BHU's Trauma Centre, he said, adding an investigation is still underway.

A NDRF team was also called in to carry out the rescue and relief operation, Tiwari said.

District magistrate YR Mishra, divisional commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokarn, DIG Sanjeev Gupta and other officers also rushed to the spot along with a large number of police personnel and brought the situation under control.

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Mumbai:

In a fresh turn of events in the Tata-Mistry saga, leading stock exchanges BSE and NSE on Wednesday sought clarification from various listed companies of Tata Group about purported disclosure by the ousted chairman about USD 18-billion possible writedown at these firms.

The exchanges have asked these companies, including Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Indian Hotels, Tata Teleservices and Tata Power, to provide full details about these issues.

The notices from the stock exchanges followed reports about Cyrus Mistry, who was ousted as the chairman of the group's main holding company Tata Sons, disclosing possible writedown to the tune of USD 18 billion faced by the conglomerate.

The exchanges have asked the companies to provide "clarification/confirmation on the news item in detail".

The companies have also been asked to explain "whether such event/negotiations/article stated in published news were taking place?

"If so, you are advised to provide the said information along with the sequence of events in chronological order and the material impact of this article on the company," the exchanges said.

The companies have also been asked about "any information that has not been announced to the exchanges" as required under the Listing Regulations.

The companies were yet to respond to the exchanges.

Markets regulator Sebi is also keeping a close tab on the high profile Tata-Mistry case and will look into any possible breach of corporate governance norms and listing regulations at the listed companies of over USD 100 billion conglomerate.

"We are taking note of each and every development and will act immediately if there is any hint of possible violation of corporate governance and listing norms or any other regulation under our jurisdiction," a senior official said.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is also looking into the alleged disclosure made in the purported letter written by Mistry to Tata Sons' board members including about financial and other irregularities as also lapses on the corporate governance front, sources said.

The exchanges are also keeping a close watch on the price movement and trading activities of over two dozen listed companies of Tata group, which have seen an erosion in value in last two trading sessions after the surprise ouster of Mistry in less than four years of being made Tata Sons chief.

The price movement and trading volumes for few days prior to the surprise announcement will also be looked into.

In an explosive confidential email to Tata Sons board members, Mistry warned that the salt-to-software giant may face Rs 1.18 lakh crore in writedowns because of five unprofitable businesses he inherited.

Mistry said he inherited a debt-laden enterprise saddled with losses and went on to single out Indian Hotels Co, passenger-vehicle operations of Tata Motors, European operations of Tata Steel and part of the group's power unit and its telecommunications subsidiary as "legacy hotspots."
Chennai:

Ruling AIADMK on Wednesday said party supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, hospitalised here since last month, is "very well" and would return home soon, even as scores of party workers continue to hold different forms of worships for her speedy recovery.

"She is very well. God is by her side. She will come home soon," party spokesperson C R Saraswathy told reporters here.

She said the prayers of party supporters has reaped fruits and thanked the medical experts from AIIMS and Singapore among others who treated the 68 year-old leader.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospital here on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration.

Later on, the hospital had said she was being treated for infection with respiratory support among others.

In its latest medical bulletin, which was issued on October 21, the hospital had said the Chief Minister was interacting and progressing gradually.

Meanwhile, AIADMK supporters in large numbers continued to organise special prayers and events for the well-being of their 'Amma' (Mother), as she is affectionately called by them, across the state. This included a six-hour musical prayer in Tirunelveli.

Around 20,000 people carried the traditional 'palkudam' (milkpot) over a 10 km stretch praying for Jayalalithaa's speedy recovery at Viralimalai in Puthukottai district.

In Tirunelveli, 'thavil' and 'nagaswara' musicians played their instruments non-stop for six hours praying for the good health of the AIADMK supremo.

Special yagnams and homams (havans) including 'Sudharsana' and 'dhanvanthiri' homams seeking divine blessings for her good health and long life were performed in many temples across the state including in Chennai, Coimbatore and Dharmapuri.

In Erode, school students sat in a row depicting 'Amma' in Tamil and held candle prayers for the Chief Minister. An inter-faith prayer was held in Thiruvarur.

At Apollo Hospital, a group of members of the traditional Badaga tribe community from Nilgiris district held prayers.

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New Delhi:

In a move which can irk China along with inviting more criticism from the country, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit Arunachal Pradesh by early 2017.

The Indian government has cleared his visit, despite protests by the dragon after the recent hosting of US envoy.

Reports claim that the invitation to Dalai Lama was extended on October 9 as Arunachal prepares to welcome the spiritual leader.

He will be in the state for a fortnight and visit Tawang, Itanagar and other eastern parts of Arunachal.

US envoy Richard Vermas October 21 visit to Arunachal had witnessed huge criticism from China, but the Ministry of External Affairs had dismissed it by claiming that the northeastern state is an integral part of India.

On the other hand, China claimed that it is a disputed region between the two nations.

This move will undoubtedly ruffle some feathers in Beijing as China is not expected to sit quietly.

China had also protested in 2009 when Dalai Lama had planned to visit Arunachal Pradesh for the Tawang festival.

A leading journal reported that the visit is not related to any religious occasion. However, the spiritual leader has a special connection with Tawang as that is the route which he used to flee to India in 1959.

Interestingly, Yang Jiechi the state councillor for China is set to visit India soon, and it is expected that he will take up the issue with the Indian government.

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Raipur:

Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday directed to suspend eight police personnel who were indicted by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for setting houses ablaze in Tadmetla area of south Bastar during an anti-Naxal operation in 2011.

The DGP has issued directives for taking action of suspension and line attach as per the rules against the then eight special police officers (SPOs now turned assistant constables) of Dantewada and Sukma districts who have been charge sheeted by CBI in connection with Tadmetla incident, an official statement said.

A letter in this regard has been issued to the superintendent of police of both, it said. The statement was released late Wednesday evening.

According to a senior police official, CBI had filed its report in special CBI court here in the state capital last week in which it has charged SPOs with arson and causing grievous hurt for allegedly setting ablaze 160 houses of villagers during the anti-Naxalite operation in Sukma district (erstwhile Dantewada district) in March, 2011.

In another development, the state government has ordered a probe into the protest staged by assistant constables in Bastar on October 24 during which they burnt the effigies of some social activists and political leaders.

Taking cognisance of the complaint that some police personnel and government employees burnt the effigies of the people associated with social organizations, an administrative enquiry has been ordered into it, the release said.

Bastar division commissioner has been assigned to probe this incident.

Assistant constables (auxiallary personnel), many in uniform, had staged protest on the streets in Bastar region, shouting slogans and burning the effigies of activists and political leaders.

During protest they said they were angry because they risk their lives every day to fight Naxals, but they had to face allegations due to the naxal sympathisers.

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New Delhi:

Amid the raging feud in Samajwadi Party, its senior leader Shivpal Yadav reached Delhi this evening to invite 'like-minded' socialists for the party's 25th anniversary celebrations on November 5, a move seen as an attempt to stitch an alliance for the state Assembly polls.

Sources close to Shivpal said he called up JD (U) leaders Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav and RLD supremo Ajit Singh after reaching Delhi to invite them for the function as part of bid to showcase an alliance on the occasion.

A weakened SP is now looking for alliance to take on BJP and BSP in the polls due early next year.

Carrying an invitation from SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Shivpal met JD(U) leader K C Tyagi and invited his party leaders for the November 5 event in Lucknow.

When asked whether he would be inviting RJD and RLD leaders also for the celebrations, Yadav said, "As of now I am here to invite K C Tyagi". Asked whether he would be inviting Congress too, he said "only socialists" are being invited.

Sources in JD(U) and SP said the idea behind the invite is to stitch an alliance in Uttar Pradesh ahead of next year's assembly polls on the lines of Bihar.

An earlier attempt to stitch an alliance of like-minded parties had failed after SP had backed out. Shivpal was involved in roping in the various constituents of the new formation till Mulayam himself decided to walk out of the grand alliance months before the Bihar polls.

"I had tried to form an alliance earlier too, but (expelled party leader) Ram Gopal Yadav did not allow it to happen fearing CBI," Shivpal told reporters at the airport here.

Asked whether he would attend the 'rath yatra' which Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav plans from November 3, he said though he is no more under the CM (after being sacked from the Cabinet), he would certainly attend if invited.

Responding to a poser, he said Akhilesh should respect his father Mulayam like a disciplined son.

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South Africa: Over 600 000 students use HealthCheck assessment tool

Over 600 000 screenings have been done across the post-school education and training (PSET) system since the launch of HealthCheck last month.

HealthCheck is a risk assessment tool used by students and staff entering campuses to self-check their body temperature daily.

Based on the answers entered on the platform, the person receives a message with the low/moderate/high level risk reading. If the risk is low, the individual will receive clearance valid for 24 hours.

The tool, which is part of the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovations Higher Health programme, allows for early detection, mapping and management of COVID-19 cases within higher education institutions and feeds into the national Department of Health's tracking and tracing system.

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, said the department has recorded over 600 000 screenings done across the PSET system, with students and staff using the HealthCheck through WhatsApp, USSD or the website.

From this data, the overwhelming majority fall into the low risk category (about 95%), Nzimande said.

He said that the 5% that fell within the moderate to high risk as per the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)/Department of Health algorithm, were immediately placed in self isolation, and further assisting towards limiting the spread of the infection and helping towards the phased smooth opening of our sector.

Age-wise, about 80% fall into the largest age bracket (18-40 years), followed by a fifth that are between 40 and 65. So its imperative that as a department, led by Higher Health, in collaboration with the Department of Health, NICD, World Health Organisation and other stakeholders, continue with programmes and innovative measures as part of our ongoing effort to support the PSET institutions response to COVID-19, Nzimande said.

The Minister was briefing the media on measures to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic within the Higher Education, Science and Innovation sectors on Wednesday.

For those who cannot screen through HealthCheck, Nzimande said screening stations have been placed close to entrances, using paperless, digital platforms, at every campus.

NSFAS committee of inquiry

Meanwhile, Nzimande said he has appointed a Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to conduct an independent investigation into the business processes, systems and capacity of NSFAS.

The committee is set to make recommendations for a future model of administering student financial aid.

Professor Yunus Ballim, former Vice Chancellor of Sol Plaatjie University and Professor of Civil Engineering at Wits University, has been appointed to chair the inquiry. The other members of the committee are Khaya Matiso, Professor Pamela Dube, Nomzamo Maziya, and Baxolile Mabinya.

The committee is expected to complete its work within six months. The detailed terms of reference for the inquiry are included in Government Gazette No. 43345, dated 21 May 2020, Nzimande said.

The Minister also noted that the NSFAS administration comes to an end in August 2020, and the Administrator will continue to be in office until that time.

The inquiry is independent of NSFAS and has no role in terms of its current administration, Nzimande explained.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization, officials said, breaking off ties with the global health body amid the expanding coronavirus pandemic. The US has accused the WHO of siding with China on the outbreak of the virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, alleging the health body misled the world resulting in deaths of over half a million people globally, including over 130,000 in America.

In April, the US stopped funding to WHO as the Trump administration reviewed the ties. A month later, President Donald Trump announced the US was terminating the relationship. The US is the largest funder to the world health, contributing more than USD450 million per annum, while China's contribution to the health body is about one-tenth of that of the US.

"I can say that on 6 July 2020, the United States of America notified the secretary-general, in his capacity as depositary of the 1946 Constitution of the World Health Organization, of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, effective on 6 July 2021, said St phane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, in a statement.

Dujarric said the secretary-general is in the process of verifying with the WHO whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met. The United States has been a party to the WHO Constitution since June 21, 1948. Its participation was accepted by the World Health Assembly with certain conditions set out by the US for its eventual withdrawal from this world body.

The said conditions include giving a one-year notice, meaning the withdrawal won't go into effect until July 6 next year, raising the possibility the Trump administration's decision could be reversed by a new government after the presidential elections in November this year.

The decision was criticised by several Congressmen, who said it "would be a bad policy". To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic and incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interests it leaves Americans sick and America alone, tweeted Senator Robert Menendez, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Congressman Eliot Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said, It would be bad policy to pull out of the world's leading body coordinating global health efforts under any circumstances, but to do so during a global pandemic is utterly baffling, especially against the backdrop of 130,000 American lives lost.

Remaining in the WHO and exerting American leadership would boost international efforts to develop a vaccine and strengthen other countries' health systems to better address future outbreaks, he said. Deflecting blame onto the WHO won't reverse the administration's mistakes or undo the suffering our country has endured. The president needs to get serious about stopping this pandemic's lethal spread by restoring our membership in the WHO, ramping up testing, and encouraging everyone to practice social distancing and wear masks, Engel said.

To withdraw the US from the WHO at the height of a global pandemic is self-defeating and dangerous, said House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer. Not only will this withdrawal hurt global efforts to develop and deploy critical vaccines, but it will also remove our ability to have a say in the operations and future of that organization, yielding much influence to China, he said.

Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera said America lost its best chance to defeat the virus once the president began to minimize the pandemic and shift blame onto others, instead of assuming responsibility and actually leading the country through this crisis.

Today's decision comes as no surprise, he said. No response has been perfect, including the WHO's. But the WHO is playing a critical role by coordinating the global response and providing important guidance and information about the virus. It is this information and guidance that has helped countries in Europe and Asia tackle and contain the virus. They bent the curve. Our cases are increasing. If the WHO is to blame: why has the US been left behind while many countries from South Korea to New Zealand to Vietnam to Germany return to normal? Bera said.

Senator Patty Murray, a ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions Committee, also slammed the Trump administration.

This is an abdication of America's role as a global leader and it is the opposite of putting America first it will put America at risk. Refusing to work with our partners across the world to fight this pandemic will only prolong the crisis, further undermine our international standing, and leave us less prepared for future crises. President Trump needs to realize this crisis doesn't recognize borders and hiding from it or passing the blame won't make it go away or make him any less responsible, Murray said.

Senator Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that oversees multilateral institutions, said Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are delivering a huge win for China and a huge blow to the American people. By pulling out of the WHO, President Trump is strengthening Chinese leadership and power, both within the WHO and more broadly within the international community. This is a huge mistake that damages American interests, Merkley said.

Also read: WHO acknowledges 'evidence emerging' of airborne spread of COVID-19
New Delhi:

Dhanteras Commonly Known Dhantrayodashi is the first day of the five day long Diwali festivals. Dhanteras is one of the most important Hindu religious festivals that are celebrated around this time of the year. It is One of the most important Hindu religious festivals celebrated in India. Dhan means wealth and teras means the thirteenth day of the moon cycle. It falls on the thirteenth lunar day of Karthik Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Karthik. This year Dhanteras will be celebrated on October 28.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi, Smriti Z Irani greets nation on Dhanteras



Dhanteras 2016 Puja Vidhi, Muhurat & Auspicious Timings:

Lakshmi Puja should be done during Pradosh Kaal which starts after sunset and approximately lasts for 2 hours and 24 minutes. Dhanteras is a highly celebrated festival is mostly celebrated in India

Dhanteras 2016 Puja Muhurat:

Pradosh kaal:5:35 pm  6:20 pm

Trayodashi Tithi starts: 5:35 pm  8:21 pm

Trayodashi Tithi ends = 6:20 pm on October 28



Dhanteras 2016 Puja Vidhi :

Firstly rangoli's can be made inorder to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

Small footprints can be made on the floor to symbolise the Goddess arrival.

You may offer Puja to Lord Ganesha and Lakshmi Puja during Pradosh Kaal.

One can also buy news utensils made of metal/steel and gold jewellery.

Lakshmi puja in the evening is an important part of the celebrations and devotees sing praises to goddess Lakshmi. Along with marigold flowers, cereals including wheat, urad dal, moong dal, gram, barley and masoor dal are used while performing puja.







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New Delhi:

Government has not imposed any restrictions on Pakistani artistes working in India but filmmakers should respect the sentiments of people while engaging them, says Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.

He also feels that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had mediated between the producers of "Ae Dil Hai Muskhil" and MNS, did no wrong or had any role in asking the producers to pay Rs 5 crore to army welfare fund.

In principle, Naidu says he is not in favour of imposing any ban on artistes from other countries to work in India but at a time when "a proxy war" was going on with the neighbouring country, filmmakers should keep the situation in mind.

"People say art has no boundaries. Yes, art has no boundaries but countries have boundaries. That has to be kept in mind," Naidu told PTI.

He said that artistes also have responsibility that they do not hurt sentiments of people.

"You have to understand the situation in mind. In normal times, yes.

"But in a situation where there is practically a proxy war going on and your neighbour is provoking you by encouraging and funding terrorists on a regular basis and killing thousands of people and your jawans, in such a situation if you engage in a debate that art is our right, then that will upset people. But government has not imposed restrictions on anyone."

Naidu feels it was the "correct" thing on Fadnavis' part to defuse the "Ae Dil hai Mushkil" release row after Producers Guild approached the Chief Minister in the wake of threats from Maharastra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

"Devendra Fadnavis has done the correct thing, right thing. He is responsible for law and order situation in the state. So, he worked for resolving the issue amicably."

Naidu says Fadnavis told him in clear terms that he had not given his consent to the producers contributing to the army fund.

"Fadnavis is not part of it... it is against the ethos, against the principles of the government (to seek funds in this manner)," the Minister said, disapproving the Raj Thackeray-led MNS's demand that the producers contribute to the fund.

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New Delhi:

Portrayed as a villain by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in the ongoing feud in the Yadav clan, Amar Singh on Thursday broke his silence on the issue, saying he was ready to "sacrifice" himself if it can help resolve the crisis.

He also hit out at expelled Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav for "threatening" him, saying if anything happens to him, the blame would lie on the cousin of party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"Sacrifice me. I am ready, if sacrifice can solve the problem," he said here. Reaching out to Akhilesh, he said the young leader should not go by what "backbiters" say.

"Let Mulayam Singh say that I have said anything against Akhilesh...there is a new breed of people who are with the CM as he is in power. I am, was, and would remain with Akhilesh, the son of Mulayam Singh, not the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh...Mulayam is not only the father of Akhilesh, but also the Samajwadi Party," Singh said.

He said when Akhilesh was made the SP UP unit chief replacing Shivpal Singh yadav, even then he (Amar Singh) was blamed for it. "Even now I am being blamed," he quipped.

He said when Akhilesh's family was opposing his plans to marry Dimple, "I was the one who stood by him, but today I am hurt by his words. There is no photo of his wedding in which this 'dalal' (power broker) is not there," he said, expressing disappointment over the remarks of the Chief Minister. Akhilesh had recently called Singh a 'dalal'.

Singh also dismissed the charge that a news report calling Akhilesh 'Aurangzeb' was published at his behest. He said a "probe" would clear the issue.

Responding to a poser on claim by Ram Gopal that no one can guarantee his safety as well as that of Shivpal if they made any statement against the former in public, Singh said it was an open "threat" and he would seek protection from the Union Home Minister.

"Ram Gopal is no ordinary person, he knows how to use a pen as well as a carbine...If I die or am hurt, Ram Gopal is to be blamed...I want to live for my two 15-year-old daughters and my wife...I would leave India... Please let me live," Singh said.

Replying to a question about his remarks that access to Akhilesh for him remains difficult, the party general secretary said, "It is possible to meet (Congress Vice President) Rahul Gandhi, but meeting Akhilesh is difficult."

Continuing his attack on Ram Gopal, Singh said statements like "Amar SIngh has saved Mulayam from CBI and courts are baseless. At least spare your elder cousin Mulayam."

Singh, who returned to SP fold after being sacked six years ago, is being blamed by Akhilesh for triggering the crisis in the Yadav clan. Akhilesh also believes that Amar Singh was behind his removal as SP's UP unit chief. Shivpal was appointed in his place ahead of the assembly polls in the state dues early next year.

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Jammu:

A BSF officer was injured as Pakistani Rangers pounded civilian areas and Indian paramilitary posts in two sectors of the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir since Tuesday night, prompting authorities to order closure of schools and advise people to shift to safer places.



Assistant Sub Inspector of BSF A K Upadhayay was injured when a shell exploded near him in RS Pura sector. He received splinter injures in his hand, a BSF spokesman said. He said the BSF gave a befitting reply to the Pakistani fire.



Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said said Pakistani troops last night also targeted civilian areas including Sai Kalan, Bure Jaal, Treva and Arnia.



Shelling started in Sai Kalan also. Arnia also came under shelling from 0130 hours. People were inside their houses, so no human casualty, he said.



Tonight, Pakistani troops again resorted to firing and shelling in Arnia sector.



At 2035 hours, Pakistani troops from two posts started firing flat trajectory weapons in the areas of RS Pura, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of BSF, Jammu Frontier, Dharmendra Pareek said.



He said Pakistani side was targeting Indian posts and civilian areas with heavy mortar and small arms fire.



The BSF was effectively retaliating and the firefight was going on, Pareek said.Pakistan also resorted to heavy mortar shelling in the Arnia town of the district.



Heavy mortar shelling has started at Arnia also, Simrandeep Singh said.



The DC said the government has issued an advisory and all the educational institutions near the International Border have been closed in the wake of the firing from across the border and people were moving to safer locations.



In the wake of the heavy firing, border residents are migrating to safer locations. Whenever there is lull, they leave their houses to shift to either safe camps or to their relatives houses at safer locations, he said.

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New Delhi:

Don't behave like Vijay Mallya, Delhi High Court on Wednesday told controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi and directed him to return to India by mid-November and appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money laundering case against him.

"Do not behave in a fashion Vijay Mallya did," Justice A K Pathak said as he turned down a plea of Qureshi, who is in Dubai, for interim protection from arrest or any coercive action by the agency for 15 days.

"Don't take the line of businessman Vijay Mallya. You have to first appear for questioning. You are not in India. This shows that you do not want to appear. First you return to the country and join the questioning," the court said, adding it was "not inclined to grant any interim order".

It further said it was not going to restrain the agency from taking any "coercive steps" against Qureshi, who had recently managed to go abroad despite a Lookout Circular (LC) issued against him by the ED.

"You appear before them (ED). To arrest you or not, is upon them. I am not going to say anything. If you don't want any coercive steps against you, then go for an anticipatory bail," the judge said.

The court, however, stayed till November 16 the LC issued against Qureshi by ED to detain him at the entry-exit points in India and directed him to appear before the agency on November 22.

The high court's direction came on Qureshi's plea, filed through his daughter Sylvia Qureshi, in which he has sought a restraint on the law enforcement agency from arresting or taking any coercive action once he joins the investigation.

Qureshi's counsel R K Handoo also urged that he should be protected for at least 15 days, otherwise great prejudice would be caused to his client.

"I will straightway come to your (ED) office after landing in India," Handoo said, adding that "Qureshi was subjected to extreme humiliation and ridicule in India and abroad, portraying him as an absconder, who is evading the law and government agencies and has allegedly given the slip to the authorities by leaving the country on October 15."

On being stopped at IGI Airport on October 15, following issuance of the LC, Qureshi had left for Dubai after showing a trial court order obtained in an income tax case in which he was granted bail.

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Lucknow:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday finalised its Vikas rath yatra, which will leave from here to Kanpur on November 3.

"Lakhs of youths will participate in the yatra, which will prove to be the turning point of politics. At every halt, Akhilesh will be welcomed by youths, farmers, minority and he will also address the gathering," Cabinet Minister Rajendra Chowdhury said.

"The yatra will be a sort of catalyst for a change in politics. Akhilesh will try to break communalism and casteism through the yatra in which he will be highlighting development works done by his government," he added.

Stating that the yatra will estalish new identity of Akhilesh "leadership" and will also ensure success for 2017 assembly polls, Chowdhury said it would reach every corner of the state.

A lot of arrangements have been made by Team Akhilesh for the success of the yatra, in which besides video titled 'Kam Bolta Hai' (Work speaks), showing the CM working tirelessly will also be shown.

Arrangements are being made to ensure huge success of the yatra, amidst family tussle to establish Akhilesh as "indisputed" political heir of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

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New Delhi:

Pakistan again violated ceasefire by carrying out heavy shelling in Rajouri (J&K). Exchange of fire by both countries is underway. Pakistan has repeatedly been violating ceasefire across LoC for last few days.

Earlier, Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Noushera sector and RS Pura sector on International Border by targeting Indian positions and civilian population with mortars and small arm fire, prompting the Indian side to give a "befitting response".

There have been over 40 ceasefire violations from the Pakistani side since the Indian side carried out surgical strikes inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir targeting terror launching pads, post the attack on an army camp in Uri on September 18.

(With PTI inputs)

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Hyderabad:

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu is condemned the attack on police academy in Quetta by saying that using terrorism as a state policy is suicidal.

"It is like 'Basmasura Hasta'. If you give such a opportunity (using terrorism as a state policy) to Basmasura, at the end of it, it (Basmasura) will also take on you (Pakistan). If you encourage terrorism, you will become avictim of terrorism," the Urban Development and Information and Broadcasting Minister told at a press conference in Hyderabad.

Pakistan has not only made terrorism as a State policy, but has been continuously aiding, abetting and funding terrorism against India, he said, adding, it's high time Pakistan realises it's adopting a suicidal and foolhardy policy.

Pakistan, he said, has not honoured the promise made by its former president Parvez Musharraf to then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the Agra summit that it won't allow territories under its control to be used for terroristactivities to target India.

"It has not walked the talk," Naidu said. "In spite of a number of goodwill gestures and initiatives from India, Pakistan has been adopting double standards by criticising terrorism on one hand and extendingsupport on the other...fighting against terrorism on the west (Afghan border) and encouraging terrorism in the east (Indianborder)," the Minister said.

"The entire support for terrorists and militants, who are targeting India, is coming from Pakistan, which is known to the whole world," he said.

Naidu said Pakistan has also not cooperated with Indiain bringing to book the terrorists behind the 26/11 terror attack.

"Over the years, Pakistan has been waging proxy war against India and trying to cripple Indian economy and also create social tensions by using religion as a weapon to encourage terrorism and unnecessarily dragging Kashmir into the picture," the Minister said.

Sixty-one people, mostly young cadets, were massacred and more than 100 others injured when heavily-armed Islamic State militants attacked a police training centre at Quetta in the capital of the restive Balochistan province October 24 night.

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Mumbai:

Tata Motors has been unable to shut down the loss making small car Nano due to "emotional reasons" and doing so would also stop the supply of "gliders" to an entity that makes electric cars in which Ratan Tata has a stake, Tata Sons' ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry has alleged.

In clear indications that not all was well between him and Tata, Mistry in his letter to Tata Sons board members said for the group's automotive venture Tata Motors to make a turn around the company needed to shut down the Nano -- a pet project of his predecessor.

"The Nano product development required concept called for a car below Rs 1 lakh but the cost were always above this. This product has consistently lost money, peaking at Rs 1,000 crore," Mistry said in his letter written a day after he was ousted as the Chairman of India's largest conglomerate.

He further said: "As there is no line of profitability for the Nano, any turnaround strategy for the company (Tata Motors) requires to shut it down. Emotional reasons alone have kept us away from this crucial decision."

Moreover, raising issues of conflict of interest, Mistry said: "Another challenge in shutting down Nano is that it would stop the supply of the Nano gliders to an entity that makes electric cars and in which Mr Tata has a stake."

Tata's dream project Nano came alive in January 2008 when it was launched at a 'promised' price tag of Rs 1 lakh, which was then the cheapest car in the world.

However, the car faced setbacks one after another. Tata Motors had to shift the manufacturing plant of the car from its original site at Singur in West Bengal due to farmers' opposition led by Trinamool Congress to Sanand in Gujarat.

Although the company had managed to roll out the car from its new location, initial instances of the car catching fire raised many safety issues. It could never live up to its potential, with Tata even admitting that Tata Motors had made a mistake of marketing Nano as the cheapest car.

He had insisted that that "Nano should have been marketed towards the owner of a two-wheeler because it was conceived giving the people who rode on two-wheels with the whole family an all-weather safe form of affordable transportation, not the cheapest".

Highlighting problems faced by Tata Motors, Mistry said in his letter that an even more challenging situation arose for the company on the commercial and vehicles front.

"Before 2013, in order to shore up sales and market share, Tata Motors Finance extended credit with lax risk assessment. As a result the NPAs mounted to being in excess of Rs 4,000 crore," he said.

Besides, historically, the company had employed aggressive accounting to capitalise substantial proportion of the product development expenses creating a future liability, he added.
New Delhi:

The civil services preliminary examination, to select IAS and IPS officers among others, will be held in June instead of August next year.

It is after the gap of three years that Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will be conducting the examination in June, rather than August.

The civil services preliminary examination, 2017, is scheduled to be held on June 18, as per the Commissions' calender for the examination.

The preliminary tests for 2016, 2015 and 2014 were held during the month of August, a senior UPSC official said.

"The preliminary exam will be held early in June this year. The decision has been taken to ensure that the entire process of the examination is completed in time," he said.

The preliminary exam for 2013 was held on May 26 that year.

The civil services examination is conducted annually by the UPSC in three stages -- preliminary, main and interview -- to select officers for Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.

Thousands of candidates take the test every year at various centres across the country.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
People in Mumbai can now test themselves for coronavirus infection at designated private hospitals without any doctor's prescription, according to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This decision has come as a big relief for several citizens who want to get tested for coronavirus but don't show symptoms.

The BMC in a press release said, "No prescription or self-declaration is required for COVID testing of symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals. Home swab collections for COVID testing (only RT PCR) are allowed and no prescription is required for the same".

Municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal took the decision to allow testing without a medical prescription in view of the increase in the number of private laboratories and their capacity.

Earlier, only patients with symptoms and a doctor's prescription were allowed to get tested. However, the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) also had issued guidelines, asking states to do away with doctor's prescription for COVID testing.

Until today, there are at least 17 government-designated private laboratories in Mumbai that can conduct COVID-19 test.

Welcoming the BMC move, Maharashtra MLA Aaditya Thackeray tweeted, "The @mybmc has decided to open up testing to any individual in the city without prescription/self-attestation. Labs can now conduct RT PCR tests as per ICMR guidelines at the will of anyone. This will help citizens feel safer and test when they have a doubt, without any delays".

The @mybmc has decided to open up testing to any individual in the city without prescription/ self attestation. Labs can now conduct RT PCR tests as per ICMR guidelines at the will of anyone. This will help citizens feel safer and test when they have a doubt, without any delays. - Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 7, 2020

As per the Maharashtra government orders, a private lab in Mumbai can charge Rs 2,500 for a COVID-19 test. The rate is Rs 2,800 if the test is conducted at home. So far, 3,63,120 tests have been conducted in Mumbai, according to BMC. Additionally, the civic body also informed that those kept in institutional quarantine will be discharged only when they test negative for the virus.

Mumbai added 806 new cases, the lowest single-day figure in nearly two months, to its tally in the day. The city, now has, a total of 86,132 total positive cases for coronavirus. As many as 4,999 people have succumbed to the fatal virus till now. However, the tally of recovered patients has also climbed to 58,137.

Also read: WHO acknowledges 'evidence emerging' of airborne spread of COVID-19

Also read: Coronavirus crisis: Containment zones in Kolkata reach 33, 219 in North Parganas
New Delhi:

The dead body of a student from the north east has been found in a hostel room in Jawaharlal Nehru University on Wednesday, police said.

The deceased identified as J R Philemon, native of Senapti district in Manipur, was found dead in room no 171 of the Brahmaputra Hostel, police said.

He was pursing his PhD on the subject of West Asia and he hadn't been seen for the last three days, a senior police officer said.

"When a foul smell started emanating from the room, the student in the neighboring room called other students and security and forcefully opened door. He was found dead in the room," he said.

JNU administration is already troubled of another missing case as Najeeb Ahmad went missing eleven days ago and has not been located yet.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of death.

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Kabul:

Militants linked to Islamic State jihadists abducted and killed around 30 civilians, including children, in central Afghanistan, officials said on Wednesday, raising concerns about the group's expanding presence beyond its eastern stronghold.

The killings occurred late yesterday north of Firoz Koh, the capital of Ghor province, with the local government calling it a revenge attack after a local IS commander was gunned down.

ISIS, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq and is making steady inroads in Afghanistan, has so far not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.

"Our security forces with the help of locals conducted an operation and killed a Daesh (IS) commander yesterday. Daesh fighters in return abducted around 30 villagers, mostly shepherds," Ghor Governor Nasir Khazeh told AFP.

"Their dead bodies were found by local people this morning."

Abdul Hameed Nateqi, a Ghor provincial council member, gave a similar account to AFP, adding that the assailants were Taliban renegades who had sworn allegiance to IS.

The killings underscore Afghanistan's unravelling security situation as the resurgent Taliban continue a push into urban centres 15 years after they were toppled from power.

IS fighters have been trying to expand their presence in Afghanistan, winning over sympathisers, recruiting followers and challenging the Taliban on their own turf, primarily in the country's east.

In March, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced that the Islamists had been defeated after local security forces claimed victory in a months-long operation against the group.

But IS militants have continued to launch deadly strikes in the country.

The latest devastating attack in Ghor represents a major escalation for IS, which has so far largely been confined to the eastern province of Nangarhar where it is notorious for brutality including beheadings.

"(IS) announces its emergence in Ghor by murdering dozens of civilians," said Borhan Osman, a researcher with the Afghanistan Analysts Network in Kabul.

Osman added that the IS group in Ghor comprised mainly of former Taliban fighters.

The Afghan government is currently in the middle of an operation, backed by NATO airstrikes, against IS in the province.

NATO recently said the group's influence was waning as it steadily lost territory, with fighters largely confined to two or three districts in Nangarhar from around nine in January.

The Taliban, who are in the middle of their annual summer offensive and are more powerful than IS, denied any involvement in the Ghor killings.

The militant group, which has stepped up nationwide assaults on the Western-backed government, is known to distance itself from attacks that result in large civilian casualties.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Reuters

BRUSELAS, 22 jun (Reuters) - Google volvio a estar en el punto de mira de la Union Europea en materia de defensa de la competencia el martes, ya que las autoridades del bloque abrieron una investigacion sobre si su negocio de publicidad digital da a la empresa una ventaja injusta sobre sus rivales y anunciantes. La medida del organismo de defensa de la competencia de la Union Europea supone un nuevo frente contra Google filal del grupo Alphabet y tiene lugar tras mas de 8.
HONG KONG, June 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The ninth edition of the prestigious JNA Awards announced its highly anticipated list of Honourees across seven award categories at a webcast on Monday, 29 June, followed by an online panel discussion featuring industry thought leaders. The Awards' first-ever virtual event was well-attended by international jewellers.

A renowned awards programme organised by Informa Markets since 2012, the JNA Awards promotes sustainable advancement within the industry by recognising individuals and companies that have demonstrated excellence, innovation and best business practices  irrespective of the size and scale of their operations, fields of expertise and the geographical regions they serve.

The JNA Awards 2020 Judging Panel (From left to right) - Albert Cheng, CEO, Singapore Bullion Market Association and International Advisor, Shanghai Gold Exchange; Mark Lee, Research Director of Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy (APIFS); James Courage, former Chief Executive of Platinum Guild International (PGI) and former Chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC); Nirupa Bhatt, Senior Advisor to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) India; and Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of

In the last few weeks, the judges diligently assessed entries from 11 countries and regions across five continents, selecting 32 shortlisted Honourees out of a highly qualified pool of nominees.

While Industry Innovation of the Year continues to be the most popular category, the Awards saw a spike in the number of entries for Sustainability Initiative of the Year  further underlining the jewellery community's commitment to the values of innovation and sustainability as drivers for positive change.

Letitia Chow, Chairperson of the JNA Awards, and Director of Business Development - Jewellery Group at Informa Markets, commented, "This year has indeed been unusual, pushing us to be more adaptable, flexible and creative in the face of extraordinary uncertainties. This impressive show of business agility has clearly been demonstrated by our roster of Honourees for 2020, which consists of start-ups and well-established companies. They have achieved incredible feats in the past 18 months, irrespective of their size, location or business nature. I am also delighted to see first-time Honourees from Africa and the Americas this year, further underscoring the JNA Awards' unique role in bringing together the best and the brightest of the jewellery industry."

Continuar leyendo la historia

The independent judging panel consists of industry experts, namely, Albert Cheng, CEO, Singapore Bullion Market Association and International Advisor, Shanghai Gold Exchange; James Courage, former Chief Executive of Platinum Guild International (PGI) and former Chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC); Lin Qiang, President and Managing Director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE); Mark Lee, Research Director of Asia Pacific Institute for Strategy (APIFS), and Nirupa Bhatt, Senior Advisor to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) India.

On the number of entries received this year, Cheng shared, "I am happy to see a substantial number of participants this year despite the pandemic. We were able to identify outstanding enterprises and individuals who excel in their fields in the past 18 months. Their level of success and achievements are testaments to the high esteem that has been associated with the JNA Awards in the industry globally. "

Courage added, "Despite the challenging circumstances, there is a strong and varied range of entries from 11 countries and regions. These reinforce the jewellery industry's success in innovation and adaptation to change, and evolving consumer and market needs. There is a noticeable focus on social and environmental improvements and responding to the effects of COVID-19."

"This year is extremely challenging for jewellery companies, whose survival and development are more than difficult. In this context, however, the JNA Awards still received entries from around the world with more than half of the entrants first-timers. Apart from being amazed by the influence and credibility of the JNA Awards, I feel inspired and fully confident in our future," Lin remarked.

Lee noted, "During today's challenging market situation of Covid-19, The JNA Awards continues to play an important role in the industry's development and success. This platform attracts many new enterprises to join and innovate business models, product development and marketing. I am exceptionally impressed to see these new entrants with great passion for and commitment to the industry. I am sure, with the JNA Awards, the industry will be shining brightly."

Bhatt concluded, "We look for news to brighten up our day during these stressful times. The JNA Awards provides industry members an opportunity to share stories about the progress they have made, their future plans and the innovations they bring to businesses and the industry for the greater good. It was a delight to read and learn about all the entries and be inspired by the efforts of our colleagues in the industry."

Full list of JNA Awards 2020 Honourees:

Industry Innovation of the Year - Customer Engagement

BOJEM Jewelry

Shineshilpi Jewellers Pvt Ltd

The Muzo Companies

Industry Innovation of the Year - Marketing

CHJ JEWELLERY

MCLON JEWELLERY COMPANY LIMITED

Industry Innovation of the Year  Technology

GemCloud Software Limited

KGK Diajewels Private Limited

Tracr

Manufacturer of the Year

Emerald Jewel Industry India Limited

KGK Diajewels Private Limited

Le Vian

Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ)

Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year  APAC

CHJ JEWELLERY

DOJI GOLD & GEMS GROUP JSC

Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited

Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ)

Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year  EMEA

Dhamani Jewels

KGK Diamonds SA PTY Ltd

Retailer of the Year

KASHI JEWELLERS

MCLON JEWELLERY COMPANY LIMITED

SHANGHAI ZBIRD CO LTD

Sustainability Initiative of the Year

De Beers Group

Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ)

The Muzo Companies

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (age 40 and below)

Chetan Kumar MEHTA, LAXMI DIAMONDS

Joyee ZHAO, BOJEM Jewelry

Nancy WONG, Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited

Ridhi Sohil GALA, KASHI JEWELLERS

Tarun DANGAYACH, Color Jewels Inc

William CHU, HEIG LIMITED

JNA Awards 2020 is supported by Headline Partners Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, and DANAT, together with Honoured Partners KGK Group, China Gems and Jade Exchange and Guangdong Land (Shenzhen) Co Ltd.

ENDS

For more information, visit http://www.JNAawards.com/ or contact:

JNA Awards Marketing

Informa Markets

+852 2516-2184

marketing@jnaawards.com

Notes for Editors:

1. About the Headline Partner

1.1 Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (www.ctfjewellerygroup.com)

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (the "Group"; SEHK stock code: 1929) was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. The Group's vision is to become the most trusted jewellery group in the world.

Founded in 1929, the Group's iconic brand "CHOW TAI FOOK" is widely recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and is renowned for its product design, quality and value. A long-standing commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has contributed to the Group's success, along with that of its iconic retail brand, and has been embodied in its rich 90 year heritage. Underpinning this success are our long held core values of "Sincerity - Eternity".

The Group's multi-brand strategy comprises the CHOW TAI FOOK core brand with its offerings of different retail experiences including ARTRIUM, JEWELRIA, Experience Shop and CTF WATCH, in addition to other brands including HEARTS ON FIRE, T MARK, ENZO, SOINLOVE and MONOLOGUE to address the diversifying needs of our customers.

The Group's commitment to sustainable growth is anchored in its customer-centric focus and strategies, which are in place to promote long term innovation in the business, in people and in culture. Another asset underpinning sustainable growth is a sophisticated and agile business model. This supports the Group by fostering excellence and extending opportunities along the entire value chain to communities and industry partners across the world.

With an extensive retail network in Greater China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and the United States, and a fast-growing e-commerce business, the Group is implementing effective online-to-offline ("O2O") strategies to succeed in today's omni-channel retail environment.

1.2 Shanghai Diamond Exchange (www.cnsde.com)

Authorised by the State Council, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE) is the only diamond exchange body in China; and provides diamond dealers a fair and safe transaction venue under close supervision. It also enjoys a favourable taxation policy and is operated in accordance with international best practices of the diamond industry.

Established in 2000, the SDE is a non-profit, self-regulating membership organisation and a member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses.

1.3 Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones -- DANAT (www.danat.bh)

The Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (DANAT) was established in 2017, as an initiative of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain. DANAT was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom. DANAT evolved from the Pearl & Gem Testing Laboratory of Bahrain (the first laboratory of its kind in the region), which was established in 1990. It was formed to expand upon and enhance the excellent work of the laboratory, with the vision of becoming the world's preferred institute for natural pearl and gemstone third-party verification services and scientific research.

Currently, DANAT plays a vital role in protecting and enhancing the public's trust in pearls, gemstones and jewellery. With its offices located at the iconic Bahrain World Trade Centre, the facility aims to establish itself as the window into international markets, serving local and global clients, and bolstering the reputation of the Kingdom as a leading centre for pearl and gemstone expertise.

DANAT is an authority on industry standards, scientific knowledge and education, and is committed to the highest standards of professional and personal ethics. It is dedicated to supporting the pearl and gemstone industry and offers training programmes locally, regionally and internationally to a new generation of gemmologists, industry professionals and gemmology enthusiasts.

2. About the Honoured Partners

2.1 KGK Group (www.kgkgroup.com)

The KGK Group was founded in 1905 by Kesrimal Kothari and Ghisilal Kothari of Jaipur (India), to trade gemstones between India and Burma. With a global presence across 15 countries today, the privately held group has evolved into one of the most preferred brands in the gemstone and jewellery industry, with a vertically integrated operation. KGK is one of the few conglomerates covering the entire spectrum of mining, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of coloured gemstones, diamonds and jewellery for over a century. KGK Group has a resilient team of 12,000 employees with operations and offices in Asia, North and South America, Europe and Africa. Having achieved an impeccable reputation in the gemstone, diamond and jewellery trade, the group has recently diversified into real estate.

2.2 China Gems & Jade Exchange (www.csgje.com)

China Gems & Jade Exchange (CGJE) is a national gem and jade trading platform approved by the State Council.

China Gems & Jade Exchange adheres to the principle of "Led by Technology, Develop with Innovation", and using the latest real-time traceability, big data, block chains, high-end intelligent technology to solve various bottlenecks in the development of the gemstone industry. At present, two platforms have been built, namely, gemstone trading service platform and intelligent supply chain service platform. CGJE has become the only international gemstone trading service platform with full process tracking service in the industry.

In line with the basic principles of " fairness, impartiality and openness", China Gems & Jade Exchange combines the concepts of "innovation, advancement and compliance" to provide high-quality and professional third-party supporting trade services for jewelry enterprises at home and abroad.

2.3 Guangdong Land (Shenzhen) Limited (www.gdland.com.hk)

Guangdong Land (Shenzhen) Limited (GD Land (Shenzhen)) is an indirect subsidiary of GDH Limited, the largest conglomerate from the Guangdong Province that operates outside of Mainland China. Headquartered in Hong Kong, GD Land (Shenzhen) is the listed company of GD Holdings for its HOPSCA business. It has been listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with stock code: 00124 since 1997.

GD Land (Shenzhen) currently has a number of upscale projects in the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, including Guangzhou Riverside Garden, Guangzhou Ruyingju, Guangzhou Laurel House, Guangzhou Panyu Wanbo CBD Project, Guangzhou Zhujiang New Town Project, Foshan Nanhaiheshun Project and its flagship project, the Shenzhen GDH City.

The GDH City, a landmark HOPSCA comprised of grade-A office buildings, an experiential shopping mall of around 120,000 m2, a brewery heritage art street, a versatile space of 37-69 m2 and quality apartment buildings. Situated in Shuibei Buxin Business Circle in Shenzhen, the most sophisticated and largest centre for gold and jewellery trade in the country, the GDH City enjoys instant access to rich natural resources and an expansive transportation network. Indeed, GDH City allows one to enjoy fully everything it has to offer.

3. About Informa Markets (www.informamarkets.com)

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organiser, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

JNA Awards 2020

Informa Markets - Jewellery

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200630/2788230-1-a

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200630/2788230-1-b

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200630/2788230-1-c

SOURCE JNA Awards
Cybersecurity

Help Wanted: Biden campaign hiring cyber professionals

Joe Biden is looking for cybersecurity help.

The presidential campaign for former vice president and current Democratic nominee put out a job notice for a senior cyber incident response and threat analyst. According to the notice, the position would work out of the campaigns Philadelphia headquarters and collaborate with a team of engineers to identify potential threats and investigate anomalous activity.

The analyst would help prevent, investigate and remediate digital security threats to the Biden campaign. Other duties include log analysis, conducting host-based and network forensic investigations of cybersecurity incidents, tuning security controls to improve the efficacy of security sensors, and developing use cases based on adversarial tactics, techniques and procedures.

The campaign is looking for someone with more than five years of experience in a technical role and who is proficient in Python, Powershell, Bash and other programming languages. Applicants would also need to have experience with cloud architecture, incident response strategy and Security Information and Event Management tools like Splunk.

The campaign is also looking to hire a senior cloud security architect with a background in threat modeling, core cryptography concepts and experience working with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud applications.

The notices state that both positions would work closely with the Chief Information Security Officer, but its not clear who that would be. The Biden campaign hired former Target engineer Dan Woods as Chief Technology Officer and a spokesperson told POLITICO last year that cybersecurity was among the positions responsibilities, but it has not publicly announced the hiring of a CISO. FCW has contacted the Biden campaign for further clarification.

Cybersecurity has been a heightened focus for political campaigns since Russian hackers compromised Democratic National Committee networks and successfully phished the email account of Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta leading up to the 2016 election. The group eventually leaked a series of politically damaging emails from Clinton and other campaign officials as part of a coordinated information operation.

Last month, Google announced that hackers linked to the Chinese government were targeting Biden campaign staffers, while Iranian-aligned hackers have repeatedly targeted President Donald Trumps campaign.

A number of experts believe that political campaigns are particularly vulnerable components of the election ecosystem, since they often start out operating on shoestring budgets, experience high staff turnover and tend not to put too much emphasis on cybersecurity. Of the major Democratic candidates running for president, only Pete Buttigieg announced the hiring of a CISO. That individual quit after five months on job, citing disagreements with how senior leadership approached cybersecurity issues.

Campaign managers for Clinton and former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney teamed up last year to develop a digital security playbook for campaigns, while Google, Microsoft and other companies have rolled out new email protection tools for political campaign staff.
Data and Analytics

OSTP: Changes needed to better share COVID data

Data sharing has been a crucial part of the global fight against the COVID-19 virus, but there are some hurdles that can slow the process down at federal agencies that collect that a lot of that data, according to one of the White Houses top tech experts.

While there have been exceptional efforts at federal agencies and research facilities to share the mountains of data theyre accumulating on the disease in the last few months, there are practical obstacles that can be tricky to navigate, said Dr. Lynne Parker, the administration's deputy CTO.

In March, Parker said, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy began appealing to scientists and researchers from industry and academia to help open up their data for use by others, as well as help them deal with the deluge of research papers being generated. OSTP worked with several organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and Georgetown University, to release the COVID-19 Open Research Dataset (CORD-19) -- a collection of 35,000 scholarly papers on COVID-19 and other coronaviruses. The data deluge that spurred the datasets creation continues, she said, with 2,200 papers submitted in the last week.

The project has used artificial intelligence to help sort through all those papers and make them more accessible to researchers, she said in a presentation in a June 8 Data Coalition webinar.

The collective resolve to open up data is one of the most important parts of leveraging shared data to help solve problems, said Parker. Scalability, security and privacy are also big concerns for sharing the sensitive health associated with COVID-19 research, as well as other shared data, she added.

Regulations such as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act must be carefully considered when data is shared, Parker said, but those rules could be modified to allow sharing.

We can look more broadly at the laws to use data, she said. For HIPAA, some people might want their data to be use in the fight against COVID-19. They ought to have the opportunity to do that, but the law doesnt offer the option.
Workforce

House appropriators put protections for federal workers into FY21 funding bill

House lawmakers hope to further protections for federal workers in the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations process.

The House Appropriations Committee's Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee voted to pass its bill on the afternoon of July 8, sending it to the full committee for consideration.

The bill would codify language to block merging the Office of Personnel Management and General Services Administration -- an administration goal that has drawn opposition from congressional Democratic leaders.

None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be obligated or expended to reorganize or transfer any function or authority of the Office of Personnel Management to the General Services Administration or to the Office of Management and Budget, the bill states.

Last years National Defense Authorization Act blocked the merger, which Margaret Weichert pushed during her brief tenure as acting OPM chief.

In March, the National Academy of Public Administration contracted with OPM to conduct a cost-benefit analysis studying the effects of a potential merger.

Despite legal prohibitions, the White House has pressed on with its efforts to initiate the reorganization. GSA, in its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year, included budget plans for OPM.

In April, members of the House Oversight Committee who had pushed hard to include the NDAA's prohibition complained that GSA was flouting the law.

The Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill also requires that Congress be notified at least 15 days before any interagency or service-level agreements that are worth $100,000 or more are executed between GSA and the Office of Management and Budget.

Additionally, it seeks to protect federal sector unions by mandating that such organizations be allowed to access facility space and use official time while conducting union business.

The bill would require that all telework-eligible employees and employees with health risks be allowed to telework, a point of contention between unions and management that began before the COVID-19 pandemic but emerged as a top issue as agencies began considering how and when to move to a broader remote-work posture.

As currently written, it would also stop agencies from implementing any collective bargaining agreements that were not mutually and voluntarily agreed to by all parties dating back to April 30, 2019.

The tactic of agencies self-imposing union contracts without mutual agreement has rankled union workers at the Department of Health and Human Services, the Social Security Administration and other agencies.

The bill did not include language about pay raises for federal workers, however. In February, the White House asked for one percent raises for civilian federal workers and three percent for their military counterparts.
FCW Insider: July 7

A particularly dangerous vulnerability affecting BIG-IP networking devices likely impacts every major sector in the world, including federal agencies.

The next iteration of the General Services Administrations popular small business tech and IT services contract will top the current vehicles spending ceiling.

A bipartisan amendment would charge the Army with coordinating defenses against small drones across the Defense Department.

The controversial bill now heads to the Senate floor, setting up a high-stakes vote that could impact liability protections for encryption and third-party content posted online.

A provision added to the House version of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act raised privacy concerns, but security considerations won out.
Turbo Engine Now Available for Mazda3 and Mazda3 Sport

World Car Design of the Year winner adds enhanced performance

Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine will deliver up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium 93 octane fuel

Mazda3 Turbo will be on sale in late 2020 with a starting MSRP 1 of $32,900

100th Anniversary Edition Mazda3 models will also feature 2.5T engine

RICHMOND HILL, ON , July 8, 2020 /CNW/ - The launch of the fourth generation Mazda3 stirred emotions with its bold yet sophisticated styling. Renowned as the World Car Design of the Year, fans were captivated by its mature interpretation of Kodo design, but some asked for more power and Mazda listened. Mazda Canada Inc. (MCI) today announces the addition of the turbocharged Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine to the 2021 Mazda3 powertrain offering.

2021 Mazda3 Sport GT Turbo, shown with optional accessories (CNW Group/Mazda Canada Inc.)

Connected and engaging driving dynamics mean road trips are no longer just for special occasions. Each experience in the 2021 Mazda3 Turbo feels more pronounced and spirited. The Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine will deliver an impressive 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium (93 octane) fuel or a solid 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular (87 octane) fuel. This engine is specifically calibrated to the Mazda3 so as to deliver the unique driving dynamics expected by our most passionate drivers. The evolution of Mazda's turbo engine brings a sense of refinement befitting the brand's recent updates to the i-Activ all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The high torque characteristic of the Skyactiv-G 2.5T paired with the predictive i-Activ AWD create harmony with the driver's intentions  delivering greater responsiveness and confidence.

The Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine is available on the Mazda3 and Mazda3 Sport GT and comes standard with Apple CarPlayTM and Android AutoTM, Bose 12-speaker premium audio, 8.8-inch large center display with Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio, two front USB inputs and Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry. Complementing the feel of refined performance, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, leather-wrapped shift knob, leather seat upholstery, heated front seats, and aluminum speaker grilles are also standard on the GT Turbo models. Other premium interior features include power moonroof, dual-zone climate control, 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory function, exterior mirrors linked with memory seat function, navigation, and SiriusXM Traffic Plus and Travel Link services with complimentary 5-year trial subscription. To encourage peace of mind, the Mazda3 GT Turbo includes standard i-Activsense safety technologies such as Mazda Radar Cruise Control with stop and go function, Smart Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist, Driver Attention Alert, Adaptive Front-lighting system and High Beam Control. Exclusive to the turbo offering are larger tailpipes, 18-inch black aluminum alloy wheels, gloss black heated door mirrors, and "TURBO" badge on the trunk and engine cover. The Mazda3 GT Turbo sedan also features a gloss black front grille and sleek lower front bumper decoration.

Story continues

Further supporting driving confidence, the available top-tier Premium Package for the 2021 Mazda3 GT Turbo introduces all-new i-Activsense safety technologies. Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) enhances Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) by providing steering inputs at speeds under 65 km/h (40 mph). Smart Brake Support Rear (SBS-R) with Smart Brake Support Rear Crossing (SBS-RC) will automatically apply the brakes when the vehicle is in reverse, if an obstacle or a crossing vehicle is detected. The 360 View Monitor with front and rear parking sensors is now available on the Mazda3 with high-definition digital clarity. These advancements in safety technology build upon other features such as Mazda's Active Driving Display head-up unit and Adaptive Front-lighting System, which help the Mazda3 stand out among entry-level premium vehicles. The Premium Package also includes driver's side auto-dimming exterior mirror, exterior mirrors with reverse tilt-down function, front wiper de-icer, and frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink wireless control system.

In addition, the recently announced Mazda3 100th Anniversary Edition will also be powered exclusively by the Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine, combining the unique heritage-inspired look of Snowflake White Pearl exterior and Garnet Red interior with the refined performance the Mazda3 Turbo will provide. The 100th Anniversary Edition models will include all equipment from the GT with Premium Package and takes it one step further to create a unique and limited offering for fans of the brand who would like to be part of our 100-year celebration. Exclusive components featuring our 100th Anniversary Special Logo are featured on both exterior and interior of the commemorative models.

Unique features

Floor mats featuring unique 100th Anniversary badging

Headrests embossed with 100th Anniversary logo

Key fob embossed with 100th Anniversary logo

Wheel centre-caps featuring 100th Anniversary logo in colour

100th Anniversary commemorative badge on front fender

Floor carpet in red

The 2021 Mazda3 GT Turbo is expected to arrive in dealerships by the end of this year.

The 2021 Mazda3 can also be equipped with two naturally aspirated engine options; the Skyactiv-G 2.0 engine or an available Skyactiv-G 2.5 engine with optional i-Activ AWD. The naturally-aspirated 2021 Mazda3 offerings will be arriving in dealerships next month. More details can be found in its upcoming pricing and packaging press release.

MSRP2 FOR THE 2021 MAZDA3 TURBO IS AS FOLLOWS:



Sedan Hatchback Mazda3 GT Turbo AWD $32,900 $33,900 Mazda3 GT Turbo AWD Premium Package $34,600 $35,600 Mazda3 100th Anniversary Edition AWD Turbo $36,100 $37,100

Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada . Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario , Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 164 dealerships. For additional information visit Mazda Canada's media website at www.media.mazda.ca.

____________________ 1 MSRP does not include $1,750 for destination and handling, taxes, title or additional fees. Dealers set actual sale prices. 2 MSRP does not include $1,750 for destination and handling, taxes, title or additional fees. Dealers set actual sale prices.

2021 Mazda3 Sport GT Turbo, shown with optional accessories (CNW Group/Mazda Canada Inc.)

SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2020/08/c0781.html
The novel coronavirus outbreak triggered an unprecedented sell-off in equities and bonds. Stocks were clobbered, major indices crashed regularly, while in a bizarre turn of events U.S. oil futures hit negative territory.



However, over the past few months, markets, securities and crude have rebounded off their pandemic lows. Restrictions have been loosened and the economy reopened, with activity limping back toward normalcy. Meanwhile, certain drug candidates and treatments offer a ray of hope in the coronavirus fight.



While the heaviest losses may be in the rear view mirror, the road to recovery remains long and uncertain amid concerns about a second wave of the virus. As several U.S. states experience a spike in new coronavirus infections and hospitalization, there are apprehensions that there could be another lockdown with many businesses forced to close again just after reopening. Moreover, efforts to combat the pandemic and policy initiatives to rev up economic activity have only had limited impact so far.



Amid the entire coronavirus-induced mayhem, there are few stocks that held up to the crisis even as the virus knocked down businesses and industries. With the market expected to remain volatile over the near-to-medium term, one of the ways such potential plays could be identified is to look for signs of relative price strength.



The Relative Price Strength Approach



Investors generally gauge a stocks potential returns by examining earnings growth and valuation multiples. At the same time, its important to measure the performance of such a stock relative to its industry or peers, or the appropriate benchmark.



If you see that a stock is underperforming on fundamental factors, then it would be prudent to move on and find a better alternative. However, those outperforming their respective sectors in terms of price should be selected because they stand a better chance to provide considerable returns.



Then again, it is imperative that you determine whether or not an investment has relevant upside potential when considering stocks with significant relative price strength. Stocks delivering better than the S&P 500 over a period of 1 to 3 months at the least and having solid fundamentals indicate room for growth and are the best ways to go about this strategy.



Finally, it is important to find out whether analysts are optimistic about the upcoming earnings results of these companies. In order to do this, we have added positive estimate revisions for the current quarters (Q1) earnings to our screen. When a stock undergoes an upward revision, it leads to additional price gains.



Screening Parameters



Relative % Price change  12 weeks greater than 0



Relative % Price change  4 weeks greater than 0



Relative % Price change  1 week greater than 0



(We have considered those stocks that have been outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 12 weeks, four weeks and one week.)



% Change (Q1) Est. over 4 Weeks greater than 0: Positive current quarter estimate revisions over the last four weeks.



Zacks Rank equal to 1: Only Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks  that have returned more than 26% annually over the last 26 years and surpassed the S&P 500 in 23 of the last 26 years  can get through. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Current Price greater than or equal to $5 and Average 20-day Volume greater than or equal to 50,000: A minimum price of $5 is a good standard to screen low-priced stocks, while a high trading volume would imply adequate liquidity.



VGM Score less than or equal to B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 (Buy) offer the best upside potential.



Here are five of the 11 stocks that made it through the screen:



Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. SFM: Sprouts Farmers Market is a grocery store operator. The 2020 Zacks Consensus Estimate for this Phoenix, AZ-based company indicates 35.2% earnings per share growth over 2019. Sprouts Farmers Market has a VGM Score of A.



Patterson Companies, Inc. PDCO: A leading distributor of dental and animal health products, Patterson Companies has a VGM Score of A. Over 30 days, the Saint Paul, MN-based company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2021 increase 18.4%.



Sleep Number Corporation SNBR: Sleep Number, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, operates in the mattress industry. The firm has a VGM Score of A and an excellent earnings surprise history, having surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters by 92.7%, on average.



T-Mobile US, Inc. TMUS: T-Mobile US is a national wireless service provider. Sporting a VGM Score of B, this Bellevue, WA-headquartered companys expected EPS growth rate for three to five years currently stands at 18.9%, comparing favorably with the industry's growth rate of 10.6%.



Quest Diagnostics DGX: Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Secaucus, NJ, Quest Diagnostics is one of the largest providers of commercial laboratory services in North America. The company has a VGM Score of B and a good earnings surprise history, having surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters. Earnings surprise was 5.6%, on average.



You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.

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The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today

Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Patterson Companies, Inc. (PDCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report



TMobile US, Inc. (TMUS) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Sleep Number Corporation (SNBR) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Absa Group Limited

Global Credit Research - 08 Jul 2020

Limassol, July 08, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Absa Group Limited and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology(ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion.

This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.

Key rating considerations are summarized below.

Absa Bank Limited's (Absa Bank) Ba1 deposit and senior unsecured ratings is driven by the bank's ba1 Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA). Absa Group Limited's (Absa Group) issuer rating of Ba2 is positioned one notch lower than the ba1 BCA assigned to Absa Bank, Absa Group's main operating subsidiary, mainly driven by the structural subordination of its creditors to those of Absa Bank.

Absa Bank's ba1 BCA reflects the bank's resilient financial performance, supported by adequate liquidity and capital buffers, and a solid earnings-generating capacity. These strengths are moderated by the ongoing challenging economic environment in South Africa, which will strain the bank's profitability and asset-quality metrics, and its dependence on wholesale deposit funding that can potentially be more volatile and confidence sensitive. Absa Bank's BCA also reflects the high exposure to South African government securities, which links the bank's credit profile to that of the government.

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This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period.

The principal methodology used for this review was Banks Methodology published in November 2019. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

This announcement applies only to EU rated and EU endorsed ratings. Non EU rated and non EU endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit.

This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.

Constantinos Kypreos Senior Vice President Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service Cyprus Ltd. Porto Bello Building 1, Siafi Street, 3042 Limassol PO Box 53205 Limassol CY 3301 Cyprus JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Sean Marion MD - Financial Institutions Financial Institutions Group JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Cyprus Ltd. Porto Bello Building 1, Siafi Street, 3042 Limassol PO Box 53205 Limassol CY 3301 Cyprus JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454

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MJKK and MSFJ also maintain policies and procedures to address Japanese regulatory requirements.


Making estimates is always a difficult task. This is especially true when it comes to economic forecasts for African countries. One of many reasons is large portions of the economies are in the informal sector and by definition offer fewer reliable data sources with which to make estimates.

But when it comes to the global economic crisis in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, even a reliably conservative institution like the IMF has been forced to revise its estimates just two months after its first prognosis.

On the top line, it now estimates the Sub-Saharan Africa regions economy will shrink by -3.2% this year, thats 1.6 percentage points more than it said in April. Growth is now expected to collapse in many countries especially those dependent on tourism and resources, such as oil and mineral exporters. Growth in more diversified non-resource based economies is expected to come to a near standstill.

Some of this might have seemed likely in April when IMF forecast 1.6% shrinkage, World Bank estimated a -2.1% to -5.1% recession. But as IMF Africa director Abebe Aemro Selassie explains to Quartz Africa this update better captures the realities of the fast-changing events on the ground in Africa and elsewhere in the world. We realized the global economic environment was much weaker than we were expecting and that the periods of lockdowns in some African countries were even longer than we were envisaging.

Indeed, IMF now forecasts the global economy to shrink by -4.9%, revised down from -3%.

While Sub Saharan Africas growth projection looks bad, a key longer-term concern is how real per capita GDP in the region is expected to contract by as much as -5.4% this year. The IMF says this will take the per capita GDP 7 percentage points below the level projected last October. In fact, it could effectively wipe out nearly ten years of progress made in reducing poverty in the region.

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Growth in Sub Saharan Africa is expected to gradually recover if the pandemic slows down in the second half of 2020 with the IMF forecasting a return to 3.4% growth next year (it previously projected 4% growth). One of the reasons for Africas shallower growth than the global 2021 forecast of 5.4% is that Sub Saharan Africa countries have fewer and smaller policy options than more advanced economies. This is why the regions largest economies Angola, Nigeria and South Africa will not see real GDP growth return to pre-crisis levels till 2023 or 2024.

The challenge for the IMF and other economic prognosticators is its very difficult to say with any degree of confidence the pandemic will be under control anytime soon, especially in Africa. A common feature across several African countries is even as theyve ended lockdowns or opened up, the Covid-19 case load numbers have accelerated. The numbers in Africa are still relatively lowlower on a per million basis than Europe and Latin America (though higher than Asia).

But while its often said Africas economic crisis could be worse than the pandemic health crisis, IMFs Abebe Selassie calls this a false dichotomy. If you dont have the disease under control youre not going to have an economic recovery, its not going to be durable.

Sign up to the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief here for news and analysis on African business, tech and innovation in your inbox

Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news.

More stories from Quartz:
MOSCOW, July 7 (Reuters) - An aide to the head of Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, was detained by the authorities on Tuesday and charged with state treason, Roscosmos said in a statement.

It said the detention of Ivan Safronov, a former journalist specialising in military affairs, was not linked to his work with the space agency where he has worked as an advisor to General Director Dmitry Rogozin.

Safronov joined Roscosmos as a media advisor in May. (Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Writing by Alexander Marrow Editing by Andrew Osborn)
MONTREAL , July 8, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Transat and SAF + Consortium are proud to announce the signing of the first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) offtake agreement in Canada . This is an historical moment for the Canadian aviation industry since for the first time, a Canadian commercial airline has agreed to work hand in hand with a clean fuel developer in reducing its environmental footprint and is an important part of Air Transat's strategy to meet aviation's greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets. Air Transat is so convinced that the future of SAF will be a priority for the aviation industry that it has committed to buying a significant portion of the future SAF production which SAF+ will be producing.

"We are committed to offering our clients with a low carbon footprint travelling experience, while achieving our environmental obligations," says Jean-Francois Lemay, President of Air Transat.

"We are glad to work with the environmental team at Air Transat; It takes people with a vision to buy into this project, and Air Transat believed in it from day one and never stopped supporting this amazing endeavour," says Jean Paquin , President and Chief Executive Officer of SAF+ Consortium.

SAF+ Consortium is finalizing the fabrication of a pilot plant in Montreal East to make kerosene from carbon dioxide (CO2). The process consists in capturing CO2 produced from large industrial emitters and converting it to synthetic jet fuel by using a process called Fisher Tropsch (FT). It is estimated that SAF+ kerosene will have an 80% lower carbon footprint than conventional jet fuel.

"Capturing CO2 which would have otherwise been released in the atmosphere and give it a second use only makes sense," says Keith Lawless , Senior Director, Environment, ETS, and Strategic Projects at Air Transat. "Not only do you reduce your footprint, but you also achieve a substantial reduction of GHG, helping Quebec and Canada meet its climate change objectives."

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"The demand for SAF in the aviation sector will almost double annually for the next 30 years. So, solutions such as the production of SAF in Montreal will put Quebec-Canada on the map while providing great jobs for the future," says Alexandru Iordan , Chief Technical Officer of SAF + Consortium.

About AIR TRANSAT

Air Transat is Canada's number one leisure airline. It flies to some 60 international destinations in more than 25 countries in the Americas and Europe , offers domestic and connecting flights within Canada , and carries some 5 million passengers every year. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., a leading integrated international tourism company specializing in holiday travel and offering vacation packages, hotel stays and air travel. Transat was awarded Travelife certification in 2018 in recognition of its commitment to sustainable development. Based in Montreal , it has 5,000 employees.

About SAF + CONSORTIUM

SAF+ CONSORTIUM (www.safplusconsortium.com) is a Quebec firm specializing in the development of clean fuel made by capturing CO2 emissions from industrial sources. It brings together leading actors spanning the entire aviation value chain to provide Canadians with a sustainable business solution for low-carbon flights.

SOURCE Transat A.T. Inc.

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2020/08/c2856.html
CHICAGO, July 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Amsted Global Solutions, a premier provider of large, highly complex castings, springs and components for robust industrial applications, is announcing that it has established a presence in Australia to serve the Australasian market.

High integrity crushing, milling, and undercarriage castings for mining and other industrial applications by Amsted Global Solutions.

"Adding a presence in Australia allows us to better serve our customers around the world, strengthening our global network that includes facilities on six continents, including manufacturing locations in the US, South Africa, Brazil and China," said Kevin Skibinski, Vice President of Amsted Global Solutions.

The expansion into the Australasian market, specifically its mining wear parts industry, is a natural progression for Amsted Global Solutions (AGS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Chicago-based Amsted Rail. AGS is a supplier for a variety of global heavy equipment companies who require premium quality, global reach and local access to technical support and expertise.

For nearly a century, Amsted Rail Company, Inc. has applied experience gained from developing rugged, high-quality cast products for freight cars and locomotives to other heavy-duty industrial applications. Their products have a proven record of unparalleled performance in the harshest environments under the most extreme operating conditions.

Amsted Global Solutions is a part of Amsted Industries, a diversified, global manufacturer of industrial components with a long heritage of cutting-edge manufacturing and continuous product innovation. The Amsted companies are leaders in providing solutions for rail, trucking, automotive, mining, energy, construction and other industrial applications.

To learn more, please visit www.amstedglobal.com.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amsted-global-solutions-expands-in-australia-301089440.html

SOURCE Amsted Global Solutions
TEL AVIV, Israel, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the coronavirus spread across the world and US, car theft saw a dramatic rise as well. TakeOver, a startup that developed a system that alerts car owners when their vehicle is being tampered with and disables any attempt to start the car, has expanded its advisory board with the addition of Brett Riggs.

Anti-theft startup TakeOver Expands Its Activities in North America: Automotive expert Brett Riggs joins Advisory Board

Mr. Riggs is a seasoned veteran at the forefront of automotive aftermarket electronics, inventing and patenting solutions for the market. Mr. Riggs' experience in consumer electronics product development and leading engineering and product teams will help TakeOver in its expansion in the US market.

Every 43 seconds a car is stolen in the United States, 800,000 vehicles a year. TakeOver aims to take the anti-theft market to the next level, harnessing untapped communications and computing systems that already exist in most vehicles to maximize protection for vehicle owners and insurance companies alike.

The system is built in a way that makes it impossible to find its littlest chips in the car and even if one is found, it is almost impossible to complete the theft.

"I am delighted at the opportunity to join one of the most exciting companies in the automotive electronics field today, taking their technological knowledge and disrupting the anti-theft field," said Mr. Riggs.

The company is currently raising a round and aims to expand its operations in North and South America as well as South Africa.

"The addition of Brett to our advisory board takes us to the next phase of our journey and to our expansion in the US," said Hananya Schacher, CEO of TakeOver.

During the coronavirus pandemic, car theft saw a dramatic rise in many US cities. In New York it's surging, up 49% for the week ended April 12 as compared to the same period a year earlier.

About TakeOver

TakeOver harnesses the communication and computing systems in vehicles in order to maximize protection for vehicle owners and insurance companies. The company's secured chips, cyber components, and communication drivers allow vehicle owners to remotely communicate with their vehicle systems. The system alerts owners when their vehicle is being tampered with and disables any attempt to start the car.

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Take Over was founded in 2018, and is based in Jerusalem, Israel.

Contact:

Tal Ben-Yehuda C.O.O

Tal@takeover.co.il

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anti-theft-startup-takeover-expands-its-activities-in-north-america-automotive-expert-brett-riggs-joins-advisory-board-301089934.html

SOURCE TakeOver
SalMars subsidiary Ocean Farming AS has been granted its eight development licenses converted into ordinary fish production licenses. The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries informed the company of its decision in a letter dated 7th of July 2020.

This means that the eight licenses the company was granted on 26 February 2016 for the realization of its offshore fish farming facility (Ocean Farm 1) can now be included in its ordinary production, within the framework and regulations governing maximum allowable biomass (MAB).

In its decision, the Directorate of Fisheries points out that Ocean Farming has provided comprehensive and thourough documentation showing that the performance criteria and thus the conditions for conversion have been fulfilled. The experience gained through the project has been described and reported to the Directorate of Fisheries, most recently in the form of a final report and a separate report on the development of the project in the first half of 2020. These reports are publicly available. In this way, the knowledge deriving from the project will benefit the entire aquaculture sector, as required by the regulations underpinning the development license scheme.

SalMar is proud that we have completed a project that we believe to be a groundbreaking step towards the development of an even more sustainable aquaculture sector. The project was founded on a unique, interdisciplinary partnership between Norwegian and international organizations at the forefront of aquaculture production, offshore technology, and relevant scientific research. By completing this project, SalMar has contributed to the realization of the public authorities objectives for the development license scheme, namely, to resolve important environmental and spatial challenges affecting the industry. SalMar has now invested approx. NOK 1 billion in the design and development of Ocean Farm 1, with over 50 per cent of this amount spent on services and equipment from Norwegian knowledge companies. The Ocean Farm project would have been impossible to realize without the development license scheme, which the government introduced in 2015 and which has had broad cross-party support in the Norwegian parliament. In this way, the Norwegian authorities, together with the industry, have triggered technological breakthroughs that will strengthen Norway's position as a leader in new technology that can contribute to sustainable growth in the aquaculture industry.

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Conversion of these licenses will not affect the operation of Ocean Farm 1, which is currently approaching the end of its second production cycle. The positive operational experiences gained during the first two productions cycles will pave the way for Ocean Farm 1 to become an important production unit in SalMars overall fish farming operations going forward. SalMar has already launched a project to investigate the financial and technical conditions necessary to build additional units with a similar design to Ocean Farm 1 for deployment in more exposed positions within the area of application of the Norwegian Planning and Building Act. Our experiences from Ocean Farm 1 reinforce SalMars firm belief in offshore farming.

Gustav Witze

CEO SalMar ASA

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Arlington Capital Partners ("Arlington Capital" or "Arlington"), a Washington, DC-based private equity firm, today announced it has, in partnership with the existing management team, completed the acquisition of J&J Worldwide Services, Inc. ("J&J" or the "Company"). J&J represents the fourth investment out of Arlington Capital Partners V L.P., a $1.7 billion fund raised last year.

Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, J&J is a leading provider of mission-essential, preventative maintenance activities to critical U.S. Federal Government sites through its Healthcare and Medical Solutions, Mission Support Solutions and Engineering Solutions segments. Throughout its history, J&J has developed a comprehensive portfolio of aseptic cleaning and turnkey facility services for government hospitals as well as a wide array of facility management, operational support and integrated asset management services for Department of Defense military bases. J&J and its joint venture partners collectively employ over 3,200 employees in over 270 locations in ten countries.

Michael Lustbader, a Managing Partner at Arlington Capital, said, "J&J has established itself as a trusted partner to its Federal Government clients through its dedication to customer service and unwavering commitment to quality. We are honored and excited to partner with Steve Kelley and the rest of the exceptional management team to build on the Voudouris familys legacy and carry J&Js long track record of success into its next phase of growth. The Companys offerings have never been more important than right now amid the COVID-19 pandemic in order to protect our customers workforce. Our investment in J&J continues Arlingtons history of building differentiated government services providers in partnership with founders and existing senior management as the companys first institutional investor."

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"In Arlington Capital, we found the ideal partner to carry on Johnny Voudouris legacy," said Steven Kelley, President and CEO of J&J. "They are committed to preserving and cultivating the mission and employee-focused culture that Johnny and Sharron Voudouris have imbued in the Company since its founding 50 years ago. The investment from Arlington will allow J&J to remain an independent entity and retain its strong culture. Additionally, in partnership with Arlington, we look forward to finding new customers who may benefit from J&Js unique expertise and services. The management team and I are excited to begin this new chapter of J&Js history with Arlington Capital."

Gordon Auduong, a Vice President at Arlington Capital, said, "J&J has built a highly durable industry leader focused on providing specialized services to demanding customers. We have been impressed with its ability to generate industry-leading growth while developing a world-class reputation with its deep commitment to the success of its customers. We believe that Arlington can provide the strategic support and investments necessary to expand the capabilities of J&J to accelerate its already strong growth trajectory."

J&J Worldwides senior management has made substantial investments as part of the transaction and will continue to lead the Companys strategic growth initiatives in the future.

About Arlington Capital Partners

Arlington Capital Partners is a Washington, DC-based private equity firm that is currently investing out of Arlington Capital Partners V, L.P., a $1.7 billion fund. The firm has managed approximately $4.0 billion of committed capital via five investment funds. Arlington is focused on middle market investment opportunities in growth industries including government services and technology, aerospace & defense, healthcare, and business services and software. The firms professionals and network have a unique combination of operating and private equity experience that enable Arlington to be a value-added investor. Arlington invests in companies in partnership with high quality management teams that are motivated to establish and/or advance their Companys position as leading competitors in their field. www.arlingtoncap.com

About J&J Worldwide Services

J&J Worldwide Services is a leading outsourced solutions provider to the United States Federal Government through its Healthcare and Medical Solutions, Mission Support Solutions and Engineering Solutions segments. The Companys single, unified objective is to provide best-in-class quality and cost-effective solutions with a focus on meeting the needs of customers. J&J has built a 50-year legacy supported by a more than 3,200 employee global workforce in over 270 locations in ten countries. The Company helps maintain bases and government facilities in the U.S., Germany, the Philippines, South Korea, Guantanamo Bay, and other countries. https://www.jjwws.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005491/en/

Contacts

Michael Lustbader & Gordon Auduong

Arlington Capital Partners

5425 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 200

Chevy Chase, MD 20815

(202) 337-7500

Steven Kelley

J&J Worldwide Services, Inc.

7710 Rialto Boulevard, Suite 200

Austin, TX 78735

(512) 444-7271
WINNIPEG, MB , July 8, 2020 /CNW/ - Artis Real Estate Investment Trust (AX-UN.TO) ("Artis" or the "REIT") announced today that it intends to release its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 , after the close of the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday, August 6, 2020 .

Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Logo (CNW Group/Artis Real Estate Investment Trust)

Interested parties are invited to participate in a conference call with management on Friday, August 7, 2020 , at 12:00 p.m. CT (1:00 p.m. ET). In order to participate, please dial 1-416-764-8688 or 1-888-390-0546. You will be required to identify yourself and the organization on whose behalf you are participating.

Alternatively, you may access the simultaneous webcast by following the link from our website at http://www.artisreit.com/investor-link/conference-calls/. Prior to the webcast, you may follow the link to confirm you have the right software and system requirements.

If you cannot participate on Friday, August 7, 2020 , a replay of the conference call will be available by dialing 1-416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 and entering passcode 643804#. The replay will be available until Monday, September 7, 2020 . The webcast will be archived 24 hours after the end of the conference call and will be accessible for 90 days.

*********

Artis is a diversified Canadian real estate investment trust investing in office, retail and industrial properties. Since 2004, Artis has executed an aggressive but disciplined growth strategy, building a portfolio of commercial properties in Canada and the United States . As of March 31, 2020 , Artis' commercial property comprises approximately 23.8 million square feet of leasable area.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020 , Property Net Operating Income ("Property NOI") by asset class, including Artis' proportionate share of properties held in joint venture arrangements, was 46.8% office, 18.7% retail and 34.5% industrial. Property NOI by geographical region, including Artis' proportionate share of properties held in joint venture arrangements, was 2.7% in British Columbia , 16.5% in Alberta , 6.7% in Saskatchewan , 13.7% in Manitoba , 10.8% in Ontario , 10.0% in Arizona , 21.5% in Minnesota , 9.7% in Wisconsin and 8.4% in U.S.  Other.

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Property NOI is a non-GAAP measure. Artis calculates Property NOI as revenues less property operating expenses such as utilities, repairs and maintenance and realty taxes. Property NOI does not include charges for interest or other expenses not specific to the day-to-day operation of the REIT's properties.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE Artis Real Estate Investment Trust

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2020/08/c7260.html
Rating Action: Moody's affirms Asahi Kasei's A2 ratings; revises outlook to negative

Global Credit Research - 08 Jul 2020

Tokyo, July 08, 2020 -- Moody's Japan K.K. has affirmed the A2 issuer ratings of Asahi Kasei Corporation.

At the same time, Moody's has changed the outlook on the rating to negative from stable.

RATINGS RATIONALE

The change in outlook to negative reflects the company's weakened profitability and debt-funded investment plan will make it difficult for the company to reduce its elevated leverage organically over the next 12 to 18 months.

Pressure on Asahi Kasei's earnings and cash flow had been building prior to the coronavirus outbreak, mainly in the Material segment due to cyclical weaknesses in the automotive market, which the company had expected to grow.

Asahi Kasei launched a three-year plan in fiscal 2019 to invest in its future growth, and acquired Veloxis Pharmaceuticals for JPY147.2 billion in fiscal 2019. Combined with weakened cash flow from operation, increasing capital expenditures resulted in free cash flow turning negative in fiscal 2019 for the first time in four years.

The impact of the coronavirus and ensuing recessionary conditions will pressure free cash flow in fiscal 2020, so that Asahi Kasei will be constrained in managing down the leverage promptly from the Veloxis acquisition, as it had done with previous acquisitions. In fiscal 2019, the company's leverage, in terms of debt/EBITDA ratio, was 3.1x, above Moody's expected range, and appears unlikely to recover to below 3.0x over the next year or so.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS

Given the negative outlook, an upgrade is unlikely in the near term. Moody's will monitor Asahi Kasei's forthcoming announcement on its near-term earnings outlook and any adjustment it would make to capital expenditure and dividends. The outlook could return to stable if the company demonstrates a path toward lowering its debt levels and recovering profit, such that its debt/EBITDA ratio is brought below 3.0x on a sustained basis .

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Moody's could downgrade Asahi Kasei's rating if the company does not improve its profitability or take steps to return to a positive free cash flow position, so that its leverage remains elevated, for example, debt/EBITDA ratio above 3.0x on a sustained basis. A downgrade is also possible from significant debt-financed investments, which increase business risk or leverage.

Financial strategy, as a part of Governance factor under the environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, is material to this outlook change. Asahi Kasei has adopted a financial policy of debt-financed growth investments and increasing dividends to some extent under the current three-year plan. Moody's is concerned that it will reduce its historical financial flexibility to manage its debt at low levels in the weakening business environment. The company's future financial policy will be a consideration in resolving the negative outlook.

The principal methodology used in these ratings was Chemical Industry (Japanese) published in March 2019 available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1152391. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

Asahi Kasei Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the largest chemical companies in Japan. Its consolidated revenue for the fiscal year ending in March 2020 totaled JPY2.15 trillion.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.

For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.

The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.

These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.

Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.

The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.

Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.

Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.

Yukiko Asanuma Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Japan K.K. Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl 2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-6220 Japan JOURNALISTS: 81 3 5408 4110 Client Service: 81 3 5408 4100 Mihoko Manabe Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 81 3 5408 4110 Client Service: 81 3 5408 4100 Releasing Office: Moody's Japan K.K. Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl 2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-6220 Japan JOURNALISTS: 81 3 5408 4110 Client Service: 81 3 5408 4100

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND), a biopharmaceutical company that utilizes its innovative TransCon technologies to address unmet medical needs, today announced the pricing of its underwritten public offering of 4,225,352 American Depositary Shares (ADSs), each of which represents one ordinary share of Ascendis, at a price to the public of $142.00 per ADS. All of the ADSs are being offered by Ascendis. The offering is expected to close on or about July 10, 2020 subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, Ascendis has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 633,802 ADSs at the public offering price, less the underwriting commissions.



Ascendis estimates net proceeds from the offering to be approximately $569.2 million (assuming no exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional ADSs), after deducting the underwriting commissions and estimated offering expenses. Ascendis intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to support the clinical development, regulatory approval and commercial preparations for TransCon hGH, to fund clinical development of its other endocrinology rare disease programs, including TransCon PTH and TransCon CNP, to identify and progress development of new product candidates, including in the therapeutic area of oncology, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Evercore Group L.L.C. and SVB Leerink LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Canaccord Genuity LLC are acting as co-lead managers for the offering and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., Wedbush Securities Inc. and Kempen & Co are acting as co-managers for the offering.

A shelf registration statement relating to these securities was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 30, 2018 and automatically became effective upon filing. This offering is being made solely by means of a prospectus. A copy of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to this offering, when available, may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at (866) 803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014; Evercore Group L.L.C., Attention: Equity Capital Markets, 55 East 52nd Street, 35th Floor, New York, NY 10055, or by telephone at (888) 474-0200, or by email at ecm.prospectus@evercore.com; or SVB Leerink LLC, Attention: Syndicate Department, One Federal Street, 37th Floor, Boston, MA, 02110, or by telephone at (800) 808-7525, ext. 6218, or by email at syndicate@svbleerink.com.

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This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Ascendis Pharma A/S

Ascendis Pharma is applying its innovative platform technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients lives. Guided by its core values of patients, science and passion, the company utilizes its TransCon technologies to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies.

Ascendis Pharma currently has a pipeline of three independent endocrinology rare disease product candidates in clinical development and is advancing oncology as its second therapeutic area of focus. The company continues to expand into additional therapeutic areas to address unmet patient needs.

Ascendis is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with additional offices in Heidelberg and Berlin, Germany, and in Palo Alto and Redwood City, California.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding Ascendis future operations, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to (i) the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offering, (ii) the expected closing of the offering, (iii) references to whether Ascendis will consummate the offering, (iv) Ascendis expectations regarding the anticipated closing date, (v) Ascendis intended use of the net proceeds from the offering, (vi) Ascendis product pipeline and expansion into additional therapeutic areas, and (vii) Ascendis expectations regarding its ability to utilize its TransCon technologies to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies. Ascendis may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions, expectations and projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that Ascendis makes, including the following: risks and uncertainties related to completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the public offering, unforeseen safety or efficacy results in its oncology programs, TransCon hGH, TransCon PTH and TransCon CNP or other development programs; unforeseen expenses related to the development and potential commercialization of its oncology programs, TransCon hGH, TransCon PTH and TransCon CNP or other development programs, general and administrative expenses, other research and development expenses and Ascendis business generally; delays in the development of its oncology programs, TransCon hGH, TransCon PTH and TransCon CNP or other development programs related to manufacturing, regulatory requirements, speed of patient recruitment or other unforeseen delays; dependence on third party manufacturers to supply study drug for planned clinical studies; Ascendis ability to obtain additional funding, if needed, to support its business activities and the effects on its business of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Ascendis business in general, see the prospectus supplement related to the proposed public offering and Ascendis current and future reports filed with, or submitted to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 3, 2020. Forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future in-licensing, collaborations, acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments that Ascendis may enter into or make. Ascendis does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Ascendis, Ascendis Pharma, the Ascendis Pharma logo, the company logo and TransCon are trademarks owned by the Ascendis Pharma group.  July 2020

Investor contact: Media contact: Patti Bank Ami Knoefler Westwicke Partners Ascendis Pharma (415) 513-1284 (650) 739-9952 patti.bank@westwicke.com ack@ascendispharma.com ir@ascendispharma.com

Source: Ascendis Pharma A/S
TORONTO , July 8, 2020 /CNW/ - Assante Wealth Management ( Canada ) Ltd. ("Assante") is pleased to announce that Tina Tehranchian , Senior Wealth Advisor in Richmond Hill, Ontario , is the first Canadian to be selected as Top Senior Wealth Advisor of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals ("IAOTP").

Tina Tehranchian, Top Senior Wealth Advisor: International Association of Top Professionals (CNW Group/Assante Wealth Management)

"On behalf of our colleagues at Assante, I congratulate Tina on her well-earned recognition as a Top Senior Wealth Advisor with the IAOTP," said Sean Etherington , President of Assante. "Her impact on the community cannot go unmentioned as she's helped Canadians become more financially savvy and made extensive contributions to charitable causes  all while establishing herself as a trailblazer in finance, traditionally a male-dominated space."

The IAOTP names a select few members as Top Senior professionals in each discipline based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field and contributions to their communities.

"As a woman of diverse cultural background, being the first Canadian recognized by the IAOTP for this accolade feels especially momentous," said Ms. Tehranchian. "I'm passionate about helping Canadians navigate their finances and giving back to the community, especially through female-to-female mentorship and as a volunteer board member and fundraiser for a number of charitable organizations."

In addition to being named Top Senior Wealth Advisor, Ms. Tehranchian has been recognized through multiple awards, including the following:

Female Trailblazer of the Year Award  Wealth Professional Awards (2020): Finalist

Canadian Advisor of the Year Award  Wealth Professional Awards (2020): Finalist

Financial Adviser of the Year Award  Women in Finance Canada (2019): Winner

The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) World of Difference Award (2019): Winner

Assante Community Leadership Award (2019): Winner

Brilliant Minded Women Foundation ' s Award for Supporting the Arts (2017): Winner

Iranian Canadian Council ' s Inaugural Simorgh Award for outstanding contribution to the Iranian Canadian community (2016): Winner

Businesswomen Network of York Region ' s Award in Community Engagement and Philanthropy and Literacy (2016): Winner

Senecans of Distinction Award (2013): Winner

Distinction  FP Canada Fellow (formerly Fellow of FPSC)  Tina Tehranchian is among the first-ever group of Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professionals in Canada to receive the Fellow of FPSC distinction from the Financial Planners Standards Council in 2011. This is a distinction that formally recognizes individuals who have helped advance FPSC's vision of seeing Canadians improve their lives by engaging in financial planning.

Since 2000, Ms. Tehranchian has assisted in raising over $2 million for various charitable organizations, including donating her time and expertise to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. She has served as a Director and Trustee of distinguished charitable and non-profit boards and currently holds the position of Planned Giving Consultant for The Donor Motivation Program and Director of Art Canada Institute.

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About Assante Wealth Management

Founded in 1995, Assante Wealth Management is one of Canada's largest firms providing wealth management solutions. Our 830 professional advisors, located in communities throughout the country, have approximately $43 billion of Canadians' family wealth under their care. Assante is a subsidiary of CI Financial Corp. (CIX.TO) an independent Canadian company offering global asset management and wealth management advisory services.

About Tina Tehranchian

Tina Tehranchian is Senior Wealth Advisor specializing in providing creative and customized solutions to financial planning dilemmas and challenges faced by successful entrepreneurs and philanthropists with almost three decades of experience in assisting business owners and self-employed professionals in building wealth and developing sound financial and estate plans. She also specializes in charitable tax planning strategies and helping philanthropic Canadians multiply their bequests to charities while reducing their taxes and leaving more money for their heirs. Ms. Tehranchian currently holds the position of Branch Manager and Senior Financial Planner at Assante Capital Management Ltd. For more information, please visit: www.tinatehranchian.com.

About IAOTP

The International Association of Top Professionals ("IAOTP") is an international boutique networking organization who handpicks the world ' s finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join  members must be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview. IAOTP experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped in building their branding empires. IAOTP prides itself to be a one of a kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place. For more information, please visit www.iaotp.com.

SOURCE Assante Wealth Management

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2020/08/c2269.html
Barrick Gold Corporations GOLD shares have surged 53.5% in the past six months compared with the industrys rise of 33.2% and S&Ps 2.7% decline.





The company has a market cap of around $47.9 billion. Average volume of shares traded in the past three months was nearly 18,924.8K. The company has an expected earnings per share (EPS) growth rate of 54.9% for 2020.



Lets analyze the factors that are driving the stock.



Driving Factors



Focus on major growth projects, debt-reduction and rising gold prices are contributing to the companys share price performance.



Barrick is focused on its major exploration programs. The companys growth projects across Turquoise Ridge, Goldrush and Cortez Deep South in Nevada are currently in execution. Construction of the third shaft at Turquoise Ridge is progressing per schedule and is expected to deliver additional value. The Deep South project is also expected to contribute to Cortezs production.



In March 2020, Barrick announced that the proposed expansion of the Pueblo Viejo gold mine will boost the mine life and also contribute to the economy of Dominican Republic. The project will require an initial investment of $1.3 billion for expansion of the process plant and the tailings facility. The investment will extend the mines life and unlock potential to increase exports by $22 billion. The Pueblo Viejo expansion will also enable the mine to exploit the lower grades in the ore body.



Barrick is also benefiting from its actions to reduce debt. The company cut its total debt by 3.2% year over year to $5.5 billion at the end of 2019. Its total debt further declined to $5.2 billion at the end of the first quarter. Also, the company has a strong liquidity position and generates healthy cash flows, which positions it well to benefit from development, exploration and acquisition opportunities. Barricks cash and cash equivalents surged 55% year over year to nearly $3.3 billion at the end of the first quarter.



Further, gold has been the bright spot this year as fears over the coronavirus pandemic made it the most attractive safe-haven asset. Gold prices have gained around 13% in the second quarter  the highest quarterly percentage increase in over four years.



Notably, gold crossed the $1,800 mark on Jun 30 and hit a high of $1,804 an ounce. Global uncertainty along with the coronavirus pandemic, renewed U.S.-China tensions and the civil unrest in the United States are contributing to the rally.



Moreover, earnings estimate revisions have great impact on stock prices. In the past two months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings for Barrick moved up 5.9%.

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Barrick Gold Corporation Price and Consensus

Barrick Gold Corporation Price and Consensus

Barrick Gold Corporation price-consensus-chart | Barrick Gold Corporation Quote

Zacks Rank & Key Picks



Barrick currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Sandstorm Gold Ltd SAND, Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited HMY and AngloGold Ashanti Limited AU, all carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.



Sandstorm Gold has an expected earnings growth rate of 55.6% for 2020. The companys shares have surged 77.3% in the past year.



Harmony Gold has an expected earnings growth rate of 264.3% for fiscal 2020. Its shares have returned 115.1% in the past year.



AngloGold has an expected earnings growth rate of 109.9% for 2020. The companys shares have surged 71.3% in the past year.



5 Stocks to Soar Past the Pandemic:



In addition to the companies you learned about above, we invite you to learn about 5 cutting-edge stocks that could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for stay at home technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of the decade.



See the 5 high-tech stocks now>>



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Barrick Gold Corporation (GOLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
(Bloomberg) -- Facebook Inc., Google and Twitter Inc. -- all of which are blocked in the mainland -- are now headed toward a showdown with China that could end up making Hong Kong feel more like Beijing.

Hours after Hong Kong announced sweeping new powers to police the internet on Monday night, those companies plus the likes of Microsoft Corp. and Zoom Video Communications Inc. all suspended requests for data from the Hong Kong government. ByteDance Ltd.s TikTok, which has Chinese owners, announced it would pull its viral video app from the territorys mobile stores in the coming days even as President Donald Trump threatened to ban it in the U.S.

Their dilemma is stark: Bend to the law and infuriate Western nations increasingly at odds with China over political freedoms, or simply refuse and depart like Google did in China a decade ago over some of the very same issues. Much like that seismic event shook the mainland in 2010, Big Techs reaction now could have a much wider impact on Hong Kongs future as a financial hub -- potentially sparking an exodus of professionals and businesses.

Google is pretty important to people here, and if thats cut off then its really extremely serious, said Richard Harris, a former director at Citi Private Bank who now runs Port Shelter Investment Management in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong we dont know where the boundaries are, and thats threatening to a lot of business people.

Over the past week, Hong Kong authorities have begun explaining how theyll enforce a law that officials in Beijing called a sword of Damocles hanging over Chinas most strident critics. The legislation, which sparked the threat of sanctions from the Trump administration and outrage elsewhere, has had a chilling effect on pro-democracy protesters who demonstrated for months last year while also raising fresh questions for businesses.

On Monday night, the Hong Kong government announced sweeping new police powers, including warrant-less searches, property seizures and online surveillance. If a publisher fails to immediately comply with a request to remove content deemed in breach of the law, police can seek a warrant to take any action to remove it while also demanding the identification record or decryption assistance.

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We are absolutely headed for a showdown, and there are no indications that the Hong Kong government is particularly prepared if Facebook or another company refuses a removal request, said James Griffiths, a journalist and author of The Great Firewall: How to Build and Control an Alternative Version of the Internet. These companies appear to have realized that there is no compromise they could make that would truly satisfy Beijing or make them seem trustworthy. This could make them more willing to stand up against Chinese censorship in Hong Kong.

American internet giants have made overtures toward Beijing in recent years as the market exploded, but few have so far actually acceded to Chinas censorship framework.

Of the rare examples, Microsofts LinkedIn censors content to allow it to operate a Chinese version, while Apple Inc. complies with local regulations in policing its app store and other services. Reports that Google entertained the notion of returning -- via potentially a censored version of search called Project Dragonfly -- enraged lawmakers and its own employees torpedoed the idea.

Worldwide Censorship

Twitter and Facebook have never been consistently available in China, but Mark Zuckerberg also flirted with Beijing before abandoning the notion as regulatory scrutiny and a user backlash grew at home. In both instances, external factors helped scupper the feasibility of operating in the worlds No. 2 economy.

I worked hard to make this happen. But we could never come to agreement on what it would take for us to operate there, and they never let us in, he said last year in a speech at Georgetown University. And now we have more freedom to speak out and stand up for the values we believe in and fight for free expression around the world.

Still, the internet heavyweights are already censoring content across the world for both authoritarian regimes and western democracies, according to Ben Bland, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Australia. After a mass shooting last March in Christchurch, New Zealand, top social media companies joined with more than 40 countries in a concerted call to end the spread of extremist messaging online.

Germany has banned online Nazi and right-wing extremist content, and most countries have blocks in place against online pornography and criminal activity. In Thailand, strict lese majeste laws lead to censorship of content deemed offensive to the royal family, while Communist-run Vietnam expunges anything deemed anti-state.

Reputational Damage

Big tech companies must gauge the importance of the markets in China and Hong Kong with possible reputational damage in other places they operate, according to Stuart Hargreaves, a law professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong who researches surveillance and privacy issues.

I do not expect to see the Great Firewall extended from mainland China to Hong Kong, at least in the medium term, he said. It is not necessary for Beijings goal of tamping down certain sentiments and would be the obvious end of Hong Kong as a global city and its particular role as an Asian finance hub.

The exit of TikTok, the viral video app that has insisted it operates independently of Beijing, could actually benefit the Communist Party by removing a forum pro-democracy protesters have used to post videos calling for an independent Hong Kong. Last year, demonstrators used the Reddit-like forum LIHKG as well as Telegram to organize leaderless protests.

TikTok on Tuesday played up its U.S. ties while pushing back against comments by U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, who said the government is considering a ban of the short video app. Trump later said the move may be one possible way to retaliate against China over its handling of the coronavirus.

We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked, a TikTok spokesperson said, adding that its led by an American CEO.

Platforms like Telegram that provide end-to-end encryption could become increasingly popular, said Joyce Nip, senior lecturer in Chinese Media Studies at the University of Sydney. Telegram said it has never shared data with Hong Kong authorities, adding that it doesnt have servers in the territory and doesnt store data there. Signal has become the most-downloaded messaging app in the city, topping the communications category in Apples and Googles mobile app stores.

Knife Edge

Hong Kongs leader, Carrie Lam, didnt answer a question Tuesday on her response to tech companies that stopped processing data requests from her government. Still, she played down any long-term impact on the citys position as a financial hub around the same time that Pompeo released a statement blasting the Communist Partys Orwellian censorship in Hong Kong.

There has been an increasing appreciation of the positive effect of this national security legislation, particularly in restoring stability in Hong Kong as reflected by some of the market sentiments in recent days, Lam said a day after local stocks entered a bull market. Surely this is not doom and gloom for Hong Kong.

The regulations stemmed from a new national security committee created by the law that includes Lam and Luo Huining, Beijings top official in the city. While Chinas leaders know Hong Kong needs a free flow of information to function as a world-class financial center, much seems to rest in the hands of the few newly empowered bureaucrats who will police the new laws, according to Steve Vickers, chief executive officer of Steve Vickers and Associates, a political and corporate risk consultancy.

Foreign firms are on something of a knife edge here, caught between their natural affinity with freedom of information and their commercial desire to operate in the huge Chinese market, said Vickers, a former head of the Royal Hong Kong Police Criminal Intelligence Bureau. It is now more a matter of what is actually done, as opposed to what is being said -- by either China or the foreign IT companies -- that will be the key.

(Updates with Signals rise in the 19th paragraph)

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
TipRanks

Were halfway through the year, and while the markets have been volatile, investors are having a good time so far. The S&P 500 has gained 11% year-to-date, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ has gained 9%. With the Fed keeping interest rates at historic lows, stocks are offering better rates of return  and they are keeping ahead of inflation, as well. But while the overall markets are up, individual stock performance can and will vary. Which means that in the midst of a general rising trend, its still
Modest New Hiring Expected  Not Out of The Woods Yet

Latest Hiring Trends from National Harris Poll



TORONTO, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Businesses across Canada are slightly more optimistic for the latter half of the year with 24% of decision-makers now saying their company will increase employees  up from 18% earlier in the year.

This is according to a newly released survey conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

A total of 49% of hiring decision-makers predict employment will stay about the same/no change, while 18% now anticipate a decrease in employee count  significantly down from 37% expecting a decrease in the first half of the year.

This is a more promising outlook than the first half of 2020 when only 16% of hiring decision-makers said their company planned to increase employees, 46% reported no change and 37% anticipating a decrease staff.

Melody McPhee, Express franchise owner in the Woodbridge/Vaughn region of Ontario, sees a similar trend.

We expect an increase in hiring for the last six months of this year, she said. As companies reopen, particularly for those that had to lay off staff, they are finding that not all of their people are returning. As a result, we are seeing an increase in direct hire openings.

Although hiring will be higher in the second half of 2020, it wont be what it would have been without the pandemic, says Bruce Hein, Express owner in Sarnia, Ontario. There isnt an organization that hasnt been affected by COVID-19, so I believe that while hiring will slowly increase, some companies will still be gun-shy about spending right away as we emerge from this.

Hein also notes that those companies still in recovery mode will not be in a position to keep up with their usual hiring. Their priority will be ensuring their existing workforce is employed.

Curtis Debogorski, Express franchise owner in Red Deer, Alberta, expects to see a slight increase in hiring based on businesses readjusting after the COVID-19 pause and the continued progression through the re-launch phases.

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Deborgoski believes that the type of companies that will be able to increase hiring are those that have been able to adapt or streamline their service/products to meet the demands of customers.

Jessica Culo, an Express franchise owner based in Edmonton, Alberta, also expects an increase for the last half of the year.

We typically see an increase in hiring during Q3 and Q4, she said. As confidence continues to improve - in part due to Government subsidies, including the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy - we expect to see trends somewhat model typical seasonal trends. I think this is also contingent on Canada and Alberta continuing to flatten the curve, as we have been doing.

As cases continue to fall in Canada, Culo thinks that Canadians are feeling quite good about the ability to manage this pandemic.

This helps to build confidence, she said. With confidence will come spending, investing in people and hiring.

Niven Lee, Express franchise owner from Delta, British Columbia, also expects a hiring increase as a result of seasonal demands and pent up demand, but he doesnt expect it to return to pre-COVID levels for the remainder of the year.

We expect increased hiring but also due to the economic uncertainty, companies will choose to hire staff on a contingent basis until they are sure they can add to permanent headcount, Lee said.

Lee also anticipates that some companies will only offer part-time work to build workforce redundancy and flexibility to prepare for anticipated second wave during the busy season.

Shane DeCoste, an Express owner from Halifax, Nova Scotia, also expects to see increased hiring and notes that businesses are already starting to rebuild their teams.

We are hearing from businesses that require workers to return to work now as they rebuild. Many employees have decided not to return for various reasons. Employers are left no choice but to find new staff to join their teams, DeCoste said.

Businesses that are seeing a decrease in hiring are those experiencing less demand for products and services they offer, he added. This could be everything from suppliers of restaurants that are operating at reduced capacity to retail stores where consumer habits may have changed to online purchasing over the last couple of months.

DeCoste worries that there could be an artificial shortage of qualified workers available for work because of government support programs.

Many in the workforce have taken a wait and see approach to further funding extensions. Im concerned that unemployment increases will really come to light when government programs like Canadian Emergency Response Benefit end and many job seekers will find themselves in a much different job market than they left in March, he said.

Express CEO Bill Stoller says he sees signs of life in the workforce, which gives him hope that the worst is behind us.

I am optimistic better days are ahead, he said. We are not out of the woods yet, and the sooner businesses implement measures to protect their workers, the sooner they can safely bring employees back to work, benefiting both Canadian families and the economy.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between April 21 and May 6, 2020 among 501 Canadian hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in Canada who are employed full-time or self-employed or have been laid off, furloughed, or given a zero hour schedule in the past 60 days but worked full-time or were self-employed full-time prior, work at companies with more than 1 employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact Adria Minsky at (416) 620-7111 or email adria@mapleleafstrategies.com .

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more

than 825 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, and beginning in 2020 will expand to Australia and New Zealand. Since its inception, Express has put more than 8 million people to work worldwide.

About Express Employment Professionals

At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, our international network of franchises offer localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve, employing 552,000 people across North America in 2019. For more information, visit www.ExpressPros.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b7a16f34-fe1f-409d-9c9c-b000dd5c0d79
MESQUITE, NV, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MESQUITE, NV / Cannabis Sativa, Inc. (OTCQB: CBDS ) is proud to announce matching all employee and follower contributions to The Last Prisoner Project of up to $10,000 for the month of July 2020 to help victims of injustice. The company is also recognizing the successes of Rob Tankson, Cannabis Sativa Director and co-founder of PrestoDoctor , and Jason Washington, GK Manufacturing & Packaging co-founder.

Now Cannabis Sativa executive team members, Tankson and Washington entered the medical marijuana industry during the transition from prohibited substance to legalization and helped build the canna-businesses in America. Their acumen and perseverance continue to fuel the growth, corporate decisions, and responsibility of both their companies and the parent company, Cannabis Sativa.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

The history of cannabis reflects many injustices. Black people are 264% more likely than white people to be arrested for cannabis possession, even though they use at similar rates - according to the ACLU. These disproportionate numbers leave many people of color sitting in prison cells for what is legal in a majority of states.

How to get involved:

Please follow @lastprisonerproject, visit their site https://www.lastprisonerproject.org/ , and donate. Please send your donations receipts to PrestoDoctor ( team@prestodoctor.com ) by July 31, 2020 to qualify for our donation match.

Last Prisoner Project Mission

WE WILL NOT REST AND WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE LAST CANNABIS PRISONER HAS BEEN SET FREEnabis

About PrestoDoctor:

PrestoDoctor launched in California in the summer of 2015, and has since expanded into Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Missouri and Pennsylvania. PrestoDoctor has facilitated over a hundred thousand appointments and maintains the highest customer satisfaction rating for any telemedicine service online. PrestoDoctor has over 4,000 5-star reviews, and is the first medical marijuana company to be accepted into the American Telemedicine Association. PrestoDoctor is HIPAA and HITECH compliant. PrestoDoctor plans to continue to expand its services in 2020.

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About GK Manufacturing & Packaging:

GK Manufacturing is a Southern California based contract manufacturing, co-packing and white label company, producing a wide range of highest quality, lab-tested CBD products including edibles, tinctures, drinks and topicals. GK specializes in short batch runs, formulation, mixology, graphics/labeling and fulfillment. In house brands include the well-established Ganja Juice brand ( ganja-juice.com ) and Murray & Roccos CBD infused pet line.

About Cannabis Sativa, Inc.:

Cannabis Sativa, Inc. (CBDS) is engaged in telehealth, contract manufacturing CBD infused products, and the licensing of cannabis related intellectual property, marketing and branding for cannabis based products and services, operation of cannabis related technology services, and ancillary business activities. CBDS holds a U.S. patent on the Ecuadorian Sativa strain of Cannabis, a U.S. Patent for a marijuana lozenge; a Cannabis-based pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of hypertensive disorders by submucosal delivery and trade secret formulas and processes, and operates subsidiaries including: PrestoDoctor ( https://prestodoctor.com ), GK Manufacturing & Packaging ( http://gkmanufacturinginc.com ), Wild Earth Naturals ( https://wildearthnaturals.com ), and iBudtender ( https://ibudtender.com ). The Company licenses the hi and White Rabbit brands, and is the official licensee for Virgin Mary Jane Brand ( https://virginmaryjanebrand.com ).

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of management, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those expected or projected. Underlying assumptions include without limitation, the ongoing enactment of legislation favorable to the production of and the commercialization of cannabis products and the Companys success in capitalizing on that legislation. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this release.

Contact Information:

(702) 762-3123
Partnership with Black Diamond Brings New Efficiencies to Advisors Alternative Investment Processes

New York, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canoe Intelligence ("Canoe"), a financial technology company focused on improving alternative investment operations for wealth managers, institutional investors, capital allocators and asset servicing firms, today announced a new partnership with SS&C Technologies. This partnership enables SS&Cs Black Diamond Wealth Platform clients to simplify and accelerate their alternative investment operational processes. Canoe will also provide integration opportunities for Advent Portfolio Exchange (APX), Axys and Geneva users.



The data required to track alternative investments is usually locked in PDF reports. Typically, wealth managers and institutional investors manually extract relevant data points from reporting documents, then feed the data into Black Diamond. With this partnership, advisors can leverage Canoes technology to automatically convert PDF data into a Black Diamond-compatible format, eliminating time-consuming manual efforts and substantially reducing the risk of errors.



Partnering with Canoe Intelligence provides our clients another differentiated way to stay ahead of their competition, and in control of their business growth, said Steve Leivent, Senior Vice President and co-head of SS&C Advent. By automating the extraction and formatting of alternative investment data, clients can ensure greater accuracy as they focus on building long-lasting client relationships.



Canoe leverages a combination of industry expertise and advanced AI and machine learning techniques to eliminate the operational inefficiencies associated with alternative investment workflows. Canoe ingests reporting documents from multiple sources, systematically categorizes and saves the documents, then applies business, accounting and investment rules to extract and validate the necessary data elements. The solution then formats the clean and accurate data for import into Black Diamond and other SS&C systems.



Working with SS&C, our focus remains on improving efficiency and helping firms scale, said Michael Muniz, Partner and Chief Revenue Officer of Canoe Intelligence. This partnership will empower many investment professionals with the tools and tactics to manage a growing book of alternative investments while optimizing time and resources.



A long-time Black Diamond client, AdvicePeriod, has already implemented Canoes technology to manage their alternative investment workflow more efficiently.



"Forward-looking technology is one of the primary reasons advisors join AdvicePeriod, and the integration of Canoe Intelligence with Black Diamond is a key part of our solution, said Matthew Woodward, Head of Operations at AdvicePeriod. By leveraging an integrated solution with complete flexibility, our team spends less time with operational duties surrounding alternative investments and more time supporting our Partner Advisors in building their business."



This news follows other recent news from Canoe that include being recognized by Financial Services Forum as the One To Watch and Transforming The Workforce and starting multiple new client engagements with institutional investors.

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ABOUT CANOE INTELLIGENCE

Canoe Intelligence is first-of-its-kind technology that allows allocators to unlock their data. Canoe reimagines operational workflows and enables clients to transform their processes in order to eliminate manual data entry. By combining industry expertise with the most sophisticated data capture technologies, Canoe automates the digitization of PDF reporting documents into actionable data and intelligence for institutional investors, allocators, and asset servicing firms. With Canoe, clients refocus capital and human resources on business performance and growth. Canoes AI-driven platform was developed in 2013 for Portage Partners LLC, a private investment firm, and is relied upon by hundreds of institutional investors, service providers, family offices, and allocators. www.canoeintelligence.com



ABOUT SS&C TECHNOLOGIES

SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the world. Some 18,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world's largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology.

Monica VanHorn

Forefront Communications for Canoe Intelligence

917-446-6358

mvanhorn@forefrontcomms.com


FILE PHOTO: Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn talks during an interview with Reuters in Beirut

By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge said she is unlikely to quickly release a Massachusetts father and son being held on charges they helped smuggle former Nissan Motor Co <7201.T> chairman Carlos Ghosn out of Japan.

At a Wednesday hearing in Boston, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said she was "anticipating" denying expedited bail to Michael Taylor and Peter Taylor, who are being housed at the suburban Norfolk County Correctional Center, but would revisit the matter in late July.

The Taylors, who were arrested on May 20, have argued they should be freed because of defects in their arrest warrants and requests they be extradited to Japan.

They have also said 36 inmates and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 at their jail, and Michael Taylor, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, faced an elevated risk because part of his left lung had been removed.

Ghosn had been under house arrest in Japan on financial crimes charges until late December, when he was smuggled in a large black box to a private jet and flown to Beirut, his childhood home.

Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan. Prosecutors on Tuesday said Ghosn wired $862,500 to a company co-managed by Peter Taylor two months before the escape.

At Wednesday's hearing, federal prosecutor Stephen Hassink said the Taylors' multiple property and familial ties to Lebanon justified their detention.

"These two defendants present probably the greatest risk not only of fleeing, but also being successful in that flight that I've certainly seen in my time arguing for detention," Hassink said.

Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for the Taylors, countered that jail was too great a health risk.

"I am not going to be the Dr. Fauci telling Mr. Hassink what the risks are" of incarceration, Lowell said, referring to top U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci. "What we do know is that prisons have been incubators."

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
July 8 (Reuters) - China's Clover Biopharmaceuticals Inc has received $66 million in investment from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) to bolster the testing of a potential COVID-19 vaccine, the global epidemic response group said on Wednesday.

Last month, Clover became the sixth Chinese developer of a potential COVID-19 vaccine to move into human trials by launching a study in Australia to test its vaccine with boosters.

The foundation said the funding aims to help produce hundreds of millions of doses of the potential vaccine per year and if the early stage trials are successful, it expects to provide "significant" additional support.

On successful completion of trials, the vaccine will be made available globally, it said.

CEPI's latest investment in Clover comes on top of an initial $3.5 million in funding when they announced a partnership in April.

The Oslo, Norway-based group was set up in 2017 to fight emerging epidemics and is backed by 14 governments, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Britain's Wellcome Trust.

CEPI has deployed vast sums of money in search of a COVID-19 vaccine through partnerships with drug developers including Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc, Moderna Inc, and Novavax Inc. (Reporting by Vishal Vivek)
China is seeking to become the world's only superpower by usurping the United States with a government-directed "campaign of theft and malign influence", the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director said on Tuesday.

In a wide-ranging attack on Beijing's behaviour on the world stage delivered at the conservative think tank Hudson Institute, Christopher Wray said that the counter-intelligence and economic espionage threat from China represented the "greatest long-term threat to our nation's information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitality".

China's "generational fight" to usurp the US was playing out in fields ranging from local politics to industries including aviation, agriculture, robotics and health care, said Wray, accusing Beijing of working to compromise American institutions conducting "essential" Covid-19 research.

The charges come at a nadir in US-China relations, with tensions boiling on a number of fronts including the coronavirus pandemic, Beijing's handling of Hong Kong, and treatment of each other's respective journalists.

Those spats have come on top of long-standing concerns in the US of a state-orchestrated theft of American technology by China, allegations that in part fuelled the still-simmering trade war that began two years ago.

Wray revealed on Tuesday that the FBI opens a new China-related counter-intelligence investigation every 10 hours, and that around half of the bureau's approximately 5,000 open cases relate to China. Investigations into alleged attempts to steal US-based technology by Chinese entities are under way in all of the FBI's 56 field offices.

"That's not because we're just trying to spread the work around," said Wray. "That's because the threat is all over the country, in rural areas and big cities. And it's in Fortune 100s all the way down to small start-ups."

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The US Attorney General William Barr and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are preparing to unveil new actions to address the threat from China in the coming weeks, said Wray, a Trump appointee who took over the FBI in 2017.

Wray reserved particular criticism for China's "Fox Hunt" operation, an extraterritorial campaign launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping to repatriate individuals to be charged in China for crimes relating to corruption.

Though presented as an anti-graft effort, the operation was "a sweeping bid by General Secretary Xi to target Chinese nationals who he sees as threats," charged Wray, who said it violated "established processes for foreign law enforcement to cooperate with each other".

President Donald Trump said in April that Beijing would do "anything they can" to thwart his re-election. Photo: Reuters alt=President Donald Trump said in April that Beijing would do "anything they can" to thwart his re-election. Photo: Reuters

In cases where targets were not cooperative, the Chinese government had threatened or even arrested their family members still in China for leverage, said Wray.

In one instance, a Chinese emissary told the US-based relatives of a target to pass along a message to the individual, saying the target had two options: "return to China promptly or commit suicide," said Wray, without giving specifics of the case.

Wray appealed to anyone in the US who believed they were being targeted by the Chinese government in such a campaign to reach out to their local FBI field office.

Beyond economic espionage and extraterritorial law enforcement, Beijing was also actively interfering in US politics, said Wray, alleging that China was targeting US local officials and lawmakers with direct or indirect pressure campaigns to prevent them from travelling to Taiwan.

"China does not want that to happen, because that travel might appear to legitimise Taiwanese independence from China," said Wray, who suggested that Chinese state actors had threatened retaliation against companies within local officials' constituencies to dissuade them from going to Taiwan.

Wray did not provide specific examples of such events, and the FBI declined to comment further when asked for clarification.

Asked during Tuesday's event whether the FBI was concerned about the prospect of Chinese interference in the fall elections, Wray said China's "malign foreign influence campaign" was a year-round threat rather than "an election specific threat".

Nonetheless, China's attempts to sway US policy had "implications for elections, and they certainly have preferences that go along with that," he said.

China has been accused of hacking into US government systems in the past, notably the alleged infiltration of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), acquiring sensitive data on around 20 million US federal government employees.

The hack was part of broader attempts by China to "identify people for secret intelligence gathering," Wray said on Tuesday.

The data breach also suggested there are possible cybersecurity vulnerabilities heading into the 2020 election, said Nina Jankowicz, a former Fulbright-Clinton Public Policy Fellow at the US State Department who is now disinformation fellow at Washington-based think tank the Wilson Centre.

Nina Jankowicz, an expert on Russian disinformation at the Wilson Centre. Photo: Prophet alt=Nina Jankowicz, an expert on Russian disinformation at the Wilson Centre. Photo: Prophet

"It would be difficult to hack all of [the US voting systems] at once, but you might not need to hack all of them at once. What you need to do is just cast doubt on to the vote tallying" in one race, said Jankowicz at a Wilson Centre event.

"Once you've cast that doubt, then people aren't going to trust in the results and we get into a very sticky situation as we're trying to declare a winner."

Chinese officials said earlier this year they have no interest in interfering in the fall elections, after Trump said in April that Beijing would do "anything they can" to thwart his re-election.

"We've made some sparing investments in our election infrastructure, but I think we need to do a lot more," Jankowicz said. "Unfortunately that issue has been politicised, but hopefully we've gotten up to the point where those basic security loopholes are not exploited ahead of the vote in November."

Additional reporting by Robert Delaney

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.
Coinbase has snagged Facebook's deputy general counsel Paul Grewal as its new Chief Legal Officer.

Grewal fills the space left by Brian Brooks, the previous head of legal who left Coinbase this March to join the Office of the Comptroller of the Currencyin May, Brooks become the acting comptroller after Joseph Otting stepped down.

Before arriving at Facebook in 2016, Grewal spent nearly six years as a U.S. magistrate judge in the Northern District of California, where he adjudicated a number of cases involving big tech companies. Coinbase touted his work on Apple v. Samsung and Oracle v. Google in Wednesday's announcement.





 2020 The Block Crypto, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 7, 2020 / Targeted ads are usually not relevant or helpful to the person that they are targeted at. Normally, they are trying to get you to spend money or invest in something that will not help you later in life. When Lazaro Chavez, aka Laz Chavez, got a targeted ad while scrolling through Facebook, he thought, unlike the rest of us, to give it a try.

"It was a completely random event. I got targeted with an ad about dropshipping on facebook and decided to reserve my judgement and thoughts until after I gave it an actual shot. I've always been all for trying new things, so to me it was just another fun project I could work on that may or may not work out. I had been reading a lot of business books around that time that made the transition from engineer to entrepreneur a lot more likely." Recounts Laz Chavez.

Lazaro's journey into the e-commerce world began when he was a student at Cornell trying to make a few extra dollars. He never thought that his job on the side to help increase his income during school would be a real source of income. Lazaro's e-commerce store now sells products and other tools to educate others in the trade of dropshipping.

"I started with the simple intention of creating another stream of income. I was studying at Cornell to become a Mechanical Engineer but was looking for ways to make some extra money. I had just read Tim Ferriss' "The 4 Hour Work Week" where I was first introduced to passive income and the possibilities that come from it. I think what makes us unique is that we had no intentions of being entrepreneurs previously, but when hit with an opportunity, we went along with the ride and ended up completely changing our lives." Explains Laz Chavez.

A lot of what inspired Laz Chavez to get involved in this industry was his family and their struggle to make ends meet so that he could have a better life. Lazaro's family immigrated from Cuba to the United States and had to work incredibly hard to ensure that Lazaro could live a better life. He wanted to prove that their efforts had not been in vain.

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"My family inspired me to begin this business. They were immigrants who did whatever they had to so they could ensure I would have a better future than them. I wanted to give them and anyone around me a better life. Everything I have built was built on the foundation of those sacrifices they made when I was just a child. So I had to show them I wouldn't take the opportunity they gave me for granted." Says Laz Chavez.

Laz Chavez differentiates himself from others in that he ensures that his clients who are learning the ways of e-commerce from him, understand the reality behind dropshipping. There are often many schemes and falsehoods that are used to entangle people into the business of dropshipping without them getting any reward or succumbing to more debt. Laz Chavez wants to ensure that his students are aware of that.

"In the age of online gurus, I think we give our students more of an insider's view as to what's actually going on in this sphere. There is a lot of swindling, lies and embellishments everywhere so we pride ourselves on cutting the fat and giving our students the tools and knowledge to become profitable. Nothing less and nothing more. We make it clear that whether or not they succeed will be up to them, but also make it clear we will be right by their side to help them figure out whatever problems come up. We build communities so you can be surrounded by people with similar visions who are in similar situations. Learning from the guy one step ahead of you and teaching the guy one step behind is the best way to grow." States Laz Chavez.

Laz Chavez is here to help people understand the world of e-commerce. You can follow him on Instagram @lazchavez, and you can check out his website at ecomprofitmasterclass.com/program

CONTACT:

Paula Henderson

646-736-2071

phendersonnews@gmail.com

About VIP Media Group:

VIP Media Group is a hybrid PR agency. Their diverse client base includes top-class entrepreneurs, public figures, influencers, and celebrities.

SOURCE: VIP Media Group





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FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Commerzbank's <CBKG.DE> supervisory board formally accepted the resignation of its chief executive at a meeting on Wednesday amid a continuing leadership vacuum at the top of Germany's No. 2 bank.

Management also presented strategic options to the board, which included 10,000 job cuts, 500 branch closures, and restructuring costs of 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion), two people with knowledge of the matter said.

The lender was thrust into turmoil on Friday when chief executive Martin Zielke and supervisory board chairman Stefan Schmittmann said they would step down to give the bank a fresh start.

That followed a public campaign for change by a top investor, the U.S. private equity firm Cerberus, which holds a 5% stake in the bank.

The board tasked a committee headed by Schmittmann to look for external candidates for both the CEO and supervisory board, the people said, adding that they are expected to vote on a new chairman at a meeting on Aug. 3.

As expected the board rubber-stamped a recommendation to accept Zielke's resignation by year-end. "Zielke has declared his willingness to continue to perform his duties until a successor has been appointed," Commerzbank said.

A priority for some top investors was to identify a new chair before moving forward with a CEO search and restructuring. However, some obvious candidates for the chair already on the board have signalled they do not want the job, sources said.

Employee representatives have been pushing back on plans to cut jobs. The cuts suggested on Wednesday represent roughly every fourth job and half of its branches.

Stefan Wittmann, a union representative who sits on Commerzbank's supervisory board, told Deutschlandfunk radio on Wednesday that the bank cannot discuss strategy until the personnel questions are cleared up.

(Reporting by Tom Sims and Hans Seidenstuecker; Editing by Michelle Martin and Jan Harvey)
ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) announced today a quarterly dividend of 42 cents per share, payable Sept. 1, 2020, to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 20, 2020.

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About ConocoPhillips

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ConocoPhillips had operations and activities in 17 countries, $65 billion of total assets, and approximately 10,400 employees as of March 31, 2020. Production excluding Libya averaged 1,278 MBOED for the three months ended March 31, 2020, and proved reserves were 5.3 BBOE as of Dec. 31, 2019. For more information, go to www.conocophillips.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined under the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and anticipated results of operations, business strategies, and other aspects of our operations or operating results. Words and phrases such as "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "budget," "continue," "could," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "seek," "should," "will," "would," "expect," "objective," "projection," "forecast," "goal," "guidance," "outlook," "effort," "target" and other similar words can be used to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Where, in any forward-looking statement, the company expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to be reasonable at the time such forward-looking statement is made. However, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond our control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from what is presented include the impact of public health crises, such as pandemics (including coronavirus (COVID-19)) and epidemics and any related company or government policies and actions to protect the health and safety of individuals or government policies or actions to maintain the functioning of national or global economies and markets; global and regional changes in the demand, supply, prices, differentials or other market conditions affecting oil and gas and the resulting company actions in response to such changes, including changes resulting from the imposition or lifting of crude oil production quotas or other actions that might be imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producing countries; changes in commodity prices; changes in expected levels of oil and gas reserves or production; operating hazards, drilling risks, unsuccessful exploratory activities; unexpected cost increases or technical difficulties in constructing, maintaining, or modifying company facilities; legislative and regulatory initiatives addressing global climate change or other environmental concerns; investment in and development of competing or alternative energy sources; disruptions or interruptions impacting the transportation for our oil and gas production; international monetary conditions and exchange rate fluctuations; changes in international trade relationships, including the imposition of trade restrictions or tariffs on any materials or products (such as aluminum and steel) used in the operation of our business; our ability to collect payments when due under our settlement agreement with PDVSA; our ability to collect payments from the government of Venezuela as ordered by the ICSID; our ability to liquidate the common stock issued to us by Cenovus Energy Inc. at prices we deem acceptable, or at all; our ability to complete our announced dispositions or acquisitions on the timeline currently anticipated, if at all; the possibility that regulatory approvals for our announced dispositions or acquisitions will not be received on a timely basis, if at all, or that such approvals may require modification to the terms of our announced dispositions, acquisitions or our remaining business; business disruptions during or following our announced dispositions or acquisitions, including the diversion of management time and attention; the ability to deploy net proceeds from our announced dispositions in the manner and timeframe we currently anticipate, if at all; potential liability for remedial actions under existing or future environmental regulations; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation; the impact of competition and consolidation in the oil and gas industry; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets; general domestic and international economic and political conditions; changes in fiscal regime or tax, environmental and other laws applicable to our business; and disruptions resulting from extraordinary weather events, civil unrest, war, terrorism or a cyber attack; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting our business generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless legally required, ConocoPhillips expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Contacts

John C. Roper (media)

281-293-1451

john.c.roper@conocophillips.com

Investor Relations

281-293-5000

investor.relations@conocophillips.com
The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area Names Andrew Flagel President and CEO

The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area Names Andrew Flagel President and CEO

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2020

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area announces Andrew Flagel, Ph.D. as its new president and CEO. Flagel will begin his appointment on July 13, 2020. The Consortium is a nonprofit educational association of 17 member colleges and universities advancing innovation and collaboration across the National Capital area. Consortium members serve nearly 300,000 students each year, more than 25% Pell Grant recipients, are the largest non-government employers and some of the largest health care providers in the region.

The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area announces Andrew Flagel, Ph.D. as its new president and CEO. Flagel will begin his appointment on July 13, 2020.

"I am deeply honored and excited to join the Consortium as president and CEO, and I look forward to working with our colleges and universities to navigate a safe pathway forward for our students, faculty, and staff," said Flagel. "Our institutions are crucial to safely restarting our economy, increasing economic equity, and preparing our future workforce."

Flagel most recently served as vice president for Advancement and Member Engagement at the Association of American Colleges and Universities, an organization dedicated to making quality and equity the foundations for excellence in higher education. In this role, he successfully developed a broad range of innovative partnerships with non-profit organizations, foundations, and private companies to provide new support for the association's mission, while expanding outreach to more diverse membership.

"The Consortium is delighted to have Dr. Andrew Flagel join us as the new president and CEO," said Chairman Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, president of Howard University. "Most people don't think about Washington D.C. as a college town because of the federal government, but our colleges and universities are collectively the second largest employer in this city. As we plan for what the fall will look like, we know that the local ecosystem will be hurt or helped by the decisions we make collectively. Therefore, Dr. Flagel's years of training and career experience in academia, especially at consortium member institutions, will serve us well to hone our collective intellectual capacity and research to create a stronger association during this critical time."

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"Amid the many challenges of this era in the Washington region, the collective intellectual resources of the Consortium of Universities have never been more important to address the scientific, medical, political, economic and social demands of our communities," said Trinity College President Patricia McGuire. "With his educational and professional roots in Washington, Dr. Flagel brings the broad experience necessary to be an effective leader for the Consortium at this critical time. Beyond promoting inter-institutional academic and research exchange, with Dr. Flagel's leadership the Consortium can make powerful contributions to mitigating the effects of the pandemic, promoting greater racial and social equity throughout the region, and supporting public and private initiatives for economic growth."

Flagel received his undergraduate and master's degrees from Consortium member institution George Washington University, where he served as a regional director of admissions before being appointed as director of admissions for the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. He later received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University's prestigious program in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education while serving as a director in Flint for the University of Michigan, focusing his research on access and inclusion.

As the former dean of Enrollment for more than a decade at George Mason University, another Consortium member institution, Flagel created ground-breaking new programs for military personnel, veterans, and transfer students, founded and led the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment and the Washington Journalism and Media Conference, and spearheaded the Pathways partnership with Northern Virginia Community College and Fairfax County Public Schools. He left Mason to become senior vice president at Brandeis University, serving as both their chief student affairs and chief enrollment officer, and joined the AAC&U leadership team in 2018.

In addition to Consortium president and CEO, Flagel has also been appointed a senior visiting scholar at The George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

The Consortium has one of the oldest and most robust course-sharing collaborations in the country. It provides a unified voice on behalf of its members to local and regional governments, as well as to business/industry and other organizations by serving as a single point of contact, by participating on boards and as members of organizations, and through convenings. The Consortium provides numerous services to its members, including government relations and organizational liaison functions, and fostering opportunities for new areas of collaboration ranging from grants to degree programs.

Consortium member universities are interconnected in numerous ways that bring direct benefits to students as well as the District and region. Students receive an enhanced educational experience because they may cross-register for courses at other Consortium member institutions. Faculty research collaborations across member universities bring hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants and contracts annually (which result in hiring and spending) into the District and region that would otherwise not have occurred. Above all, Consortium institutions focus on three overarching goals: creating an educated populace; creating and promoting a dynamic, innovative atmosphere; and creating the future economy.

Media Contact: Alonda Thomas, Alonda.Thomas@Howard.edu

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SOURCE Howard University
By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi, Oliver Hirt and Scott Murdoch

ZURICH/HONG KONG, July 8 (Reuters) - Credit Suisse wants to raise its China securities joint venture stake to 100% and increase its market share after getting the regulatory green light to take a majority holding, the head of its Asia business said.

Switzerland's second-largest bank is also looking to hire more staff and invest in China, the world's second-biggest economy, as its most significant business opportunity in the world, its APAC boss Helman Sitohang told Reuters.

China has gained in relevance for Credit Suisse and other international banks after Beijing fast-tracked the opening of its financial markets to foreigner investors.

After gaining 51% control of its securities joint venture in June and appointing Janice Hu as chairwoman, Credit Suisse aims to take on full ownership from Founder Securities as it seeks to build out its private and investment banking businesses.

Credit Suisse has placed great faith in Hu, a "veteran investment banker" who has been with it for almost two decades, to grow its business in China, where the timing of it gaining full ownership of the venture is in the hands of regulators.

The bank did not disclose the value of the joint venture.

While it does not break down its business by individual markets, Asia-Pacific accounted for roughly one-fifth of its overall pre-tax income in 2019, with Greater China its most important market in the region.

The bank ranks second in M&A advisory fees in Asia, excluding Japan, with a 9.3% market share, and second in investment banking fees, with a 4.6% share, Dealogic says.

In Asia-Pacific Credit Suisse not only competes with larger Zurich rival UBS, but also with other Swiss private banks including Geneva-based Pictet and listed lender Julius Baer for wealth management business. Meanwhile in investment banking, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan are both major competitors, while Chinese investment bank CITIC Securities counts as a key rival in Asia.

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China is producing the most new billionaires and Credit Suisse last month hired a new head of wealth management for onshore China, Jing Wang, from China Merchants Bank.

This followed two senior appointments this year for prime sales, and Credit Suisse is now looking to fill other key positions for its Chinese business over the next few months.

"We will continue to invest across our platforms in China and closely integrate our onshore operations with our businesses in Hong Kong and across the region. There will be more hires, some of which we will announce shortly," Sitohang said.

"It is clearly about tactical hiring: We want to capture opportunities. We know exactly where these are, where we see the potential to improve, and that is what we are focused on," the Singaporean native said from his office in Singapore.

HONG KONG HUB

Hong Kong's future as a global financial centre has been under scrutiny after the mainland Chinese government last month introduced tough new national security laws for the city.

Some analysts suggest investors could shift money to other offshore hubs, like Singapore, to cushion the impact of the growing political and economic uncertainty.

Sitohang reiterated Credit Suisse's commitment to Hong Kong and said it had not registered any outflows.

"Hong Kong has been an important hub for Credit Suisse for decades ... (and) there will be no changes to our presence," Sitohang said, adding that it was an "integral part of our footprint for China overall".

As well as its role in the largest equity capital markets deal in Hong Kong last year with Alibaba's secondary listing, Sitohang said Credit Suisse did another recently for Netease, which was about $2.8 billion, as well as "a couple of large bond deals".

Credit Suisse has increased the money it manages in the Asia-Pacific region by around a quarter over the last three years to 220 billion Swiss francs ($233 billion) at the end of 2019 before a drop to 197 billion francs in the first quarter due to the coronavirus crisis.

Although ties to Luckin Coffee -- from whose chairman Credit Suisse is seeking to recoup a more than half-billion dollar loan along with five other banks -- increased the Swiss bank's first quarter provisioning for loan losses, Sitohang is not put off.

Credit Suisse would stick by its strategy of acting as a "bank for entrepreneurs", managing both the private wealth of rising business people as well as benefiting from their corporate activities through its investment bank, he said. ($1 = 0.9434 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi and Oliver Hirt in Zurich and Scott Murdoch in Hong Kong; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Businesses can easily deal, electronically, with any European public sector buyers in their procurement activities

SARASOTA, Fla., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Masons offers an affordable integration solution for organizations that need ERP integration and connectivity to OpenPEPPOL (Pan-European Public Procurement On-Line) network. The solution enables companies that use the Data Masons EDI platform to seamlessly exchange data between the PEPPOL network and supported ERP platforms by Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Acumatica and ECi Macola.

The OpenPEPPOL non-profit international association ensures the standardization of specifications and promotes best practices in data exchange with participating entities in many European countries. PEPPOL enables access to its standards-based IT transport infrastructure through Access Points and provides services for eProcurement with standardized electronic document formats.

"Data Masons is able to deliver advanced integration and automation for the international community that provides e-invoicing solutions," said Molly Kelly, VP of Operations at Data Masons. "Access to the global network enables connectivity into both the public and private sectors in the EU, South America, ANZA and Asia including Singapore."

Data Masons continues to support efforts for its customers' networks to grow in an open, accessible and compliant manner supporting interoperability for European public services and looks forward to assisting business activities that support Europe's movement towards a Digital Single Market.

About PEPPOL

OpenPEPPOL is a non-profit international association under Belgian law (Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif  AISBL) and consists of both public sector and private members. The association has assumed full responsibility for the development and maintenance of the PEPPOL specifications, building blocks and its services and implementation across Europe.

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About Data Masons

Since 1996, Data Masons has been delivering on its EDI Made Simple promise by providing a cloud-based and on-premise EDI platform that integrates any partner or external system into ERP platforms with zero ERP customizations. Data Masons is the leading EDI solution provider for companies using Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dynamics AX, Dynamics GP, Dynamics NAV, Acumatica, Macola and SAP. Data Masons EDI's product flexibility and Data Masons' expert service options have made it the ideal partner to deliver high-performance business-document integration. Data Masons is a privately held company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, USA, with international offices in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Sydney, Australia.

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NEW YORK, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daxor Corporation (NYSE MKT: DXR), an investment company with innovative medical instrumentation and biotechnology operations focused on blood volume measurement, has signed a new distribution agreement with American Medical Depot AMD, one of the nations largest and diversified government healthcare distributors. As part of the agreement, the two parties are set to provide Daxors BVA-100 diagnostic blood test (Blood Volume Analysis) BVA, to government facilities across the United States, driving forward the use of BVA to help guide precise, individualized volume management in a wide variety of medical conditions including heart failure and COVID-19 related symptoms.



We believe we have found a perfect partner as both companies' focus is innovation and the commitment to understand and deliver solutions to our customers, said Michael Feldschuh, CEO and President of Daxor. Partnering with one of the nations largest diversified medical equipment distribution companies will enable our BVA technology to reach more healthcare providers and improve the quality of life for patients.

Current developments in the healthcare system have remained at a slower pace with regard to reliable and efficient medical equipment. The COVID-19 crisis has tested and exposed a lack of state-of-the-art technology and resources within ICUs, which Daxor is determined to play a key role in with the BVA-100 test.

As a dedicated leader in BVA, we are excited to join forces with AMD to provide a much needed and valuable test to those who have served and continue to serve our country, said Jean Oertel, Daxors Vice President of Commercialization and Customer Experience. Together as leaders, combining our sales and marketing efforts will help accelerate awareness, adoption and integration of our BVA technology into standard of care.

Jean Oertel joined Daxor in April of 2020, having more than 25 years of sales and marketing leadership positions in multiple divisions of Medtronic and other industry leading companies such as Johnson and Johnson, Boston Scientific and Zoll Medical where she built a track record of high-performance teams, and excellent customer service. Jean holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Cincinnati. She completed her executive level education in Management, Strategic Leadership and Digital Analytics at Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Jeans expertise and enthusiasm have transformed our commercialization team, said Kathryn Kornafel, Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Development. Her creativity and strong business acumen are driving sales and marketing execution through innovative growth initiatives. We look forward to Jeans robust contributions as we expand.

About Daxor Corporation

Daxor Corporation (DXR) is an innovative medical instrumentation and biotechnology company focused on blood volume measurement. We developed and market the BVA-100 (Blood Volume Analyzer), the first diagnostic blood test cleared by the FDA to provide safe, accurate, objective quantification of blood volume status and composition compared to patient-specific norms. The BVA technology has the potential to improve hospital performance metrics in a broad range of surgical and medical conditions including heart failure and critical care by better informing treatment strategies, resulting in significantly better patient outcomes. Our mission is to partner with clinicians to incorporate BVA technology into standard clinical practice and improve the quality of life for patients. For more information please visit our website at Daxor.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation, statements regarding the impact of hiring sales staff and expansion of our distribution channels. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release, including, without limitation, those risk associated with our post-market clinical data collection activities, benefits of our products to patients, our expectations with respect to product development and commercialization efforts, our ability to increase market and physician acceptance of our products, potentially competitive product offerings, intellectual property protection, FDA regulatory actions, our ability to integrate acquired businesses, our expectations regarding anticipated synergies with and benefits from acquired businesses, and additional other risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made. Daxor does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Decision reverses previous $8.6 million judgment against the company

SALT LAKE CITY, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Delaware Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Overstock.com, Inc. (OSTK) in its gift card escheatment appeal. The 5-0 decision by the Delaware Supreme Court reverses the lower Delaware Superior Courts judgment for $8.6 million against Overstock.



The lower court had held a jury trial regarding whether Overstock had concealed abandoned gift card balances and entered judgment against Overstock in October 2019. The Delaware Supreme Courts decision reverses that $8.6 million judgment.

"We have great respect for the state of Delaware and its trial and appellate courts," said Overstock Vice President and General Counsel E. Glen Nickle. We are pleased the Delaware Supreme Court accepted our arguments.

Overstock is represented by Michael P. Kelly, Matthew J. Rifino, Hayley J. Reese and Matthew Wright of McCarter & English LLP.



About Overstock

Overstock.com, Inc Common Shares (OSTK) / Digital Voting Series A-1 Preferred Stock (Medici Ventures tZERO platform:OSTKO) / Series B Preferred (OSTBP) is an online retailer and technology company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its leading e-commerce website sells a broad range of new home products at low prices, including furniture, decor, rugs, bedding, home improvement, and more. The online shopping site, which is visited by tens of millions of customers a month, also features a marketplace providing customers access to millions of products from third-party sellers. Overstock was the first major retailer to accept cryptocurrency in 2014, and in the same year founded Medici Ventures, its wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to the development and acceleration of blockchain technologies to democratize capital, eliminate middlemen, and re-humanize commerce. Overstock regularly posts information about the Company and other related matters on the Newsroom and Investor Relations pages on its website, Overstock.com.

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O, Overstock.com, O.com, Club O, Main Street Revolution, and Worldstock are registered trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc. Other service marks, trademarks and trade names which may be referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including but not limited to statements regarding litigation and escheatment status. Additional information regarding factors that could materially affect results and the accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained herein may be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020, in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on May 7, 2020, and in our subsequent filings with the SEC.

SOURCE: Overstock.com, Inc.
Discovers latest Corporate Responsibility Report, published today, shares actions the company has taken to improve lives and strengthen communities by helping people achieve brighter financial futures. That purpose is even more critical now, as Americans face financial hardship resulting from economic impacts of the pandemic and unequal opportunity in our society. The company recognizes its role in being part of the change being sought in this country and is committed to making a positive difference through its practices.

The reports theme, A Brighter Future, captures both Discovers company purpose and its hope for the days ahead. Highlighted within the report is progress the company has made in four key areas, including:

Driving a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce

Discover aims to ensure all employees feel a sense of belonging, are treated fairly and respectfully, feel supported and engaged, and can thrive and contribute fully to the companys shared success. Actions include:

Pledging to achieve 50% representation of women in leadership positions by 2030 as part of the Chicago Networks Campaign for Advancing Women Leaders in the Workplace Equity Pledge.

Signing on to the CEO Action on Diversity and Inclusion Pledge, which supports a more inclusive workplace for employees, communities and society.

Paying employees equally for their work; a recent analysis found women and minorities at Discover earn on average between $0.99 and $1.02 for every $1 earned by men and non-minorities.

Creating a Diversity and Inclusion task force to help identify gaps and deficiencies and recommend actions to affect change.

Helping Our Customers Make Financial Progress

Discovers workforce is united by a shared mission to help people spend smarter, manage debt better and save more so they achieve a brighter financial future. Fulfilling this mission includes:

Zero annual fees on credit card products, no late fees on student loans, and no origination fees on personal loans.

Providing industry-leading customer service as recognized by several awards.

Offering multiple financial education tools, like Credit Scorecard and College Covered.

Creating a Bright Future for Employees

Discover strives to be the best place to work for its 18,000+ employees through the following:

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Providing education assistance through programs like Discovers College Commitment, tuition reimbursement and Discover On-site MBA.

Operating 100% of its call centers in the U.S, which is a distinct advantage in offering attractive salaries and career opportunities to employees and keeping jobs in America.

Encouraging shared ownership for engagement by all its employees through its Employee Value Proposition.

Investing in our Communities

Volunteerism is a core value at Discover and how we make a real difference in local communities.

In 2019, Discover had 14,500 volunteers who contributed to more than 70,000 volunteer hours through Discover Cares, a program that presents employees with many volunteer opportunities.

Discover provides capital to underserved communities to improve opportunities for economic growth and advancement of disadvantaged families, such as the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

Discover champions financial education, which is crucial to helping people improve their quality of life and achieve a brighter future. Discover expanded its Pathway to Financial Success program to middle- and high-school students, educators and families through a partnership with Discovery Education, which reached over 1 million students in 2019. Through Discovers 20+ year partnership with Junior Achievement, a $2 million commitment was made in 2019 to update the programs curriculum and create a new interactive, digital finale to the course.



For more information, please visit: https://www.corporatereport.com/discover/2019/crr

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005303/en/

Contacts

Matthew Towson

224-405-5649

matthewtowson@discover.com

@Discover_News
An American court has unsealed the criminal charges against a prolific hacker known as fxmsp, finally revealing the identity of the invisible god of networks. In an announcement posted by the Western District of Washingtons US Attorneys Office, authorities have identified fxmsp as a 37-year-old Kazakhstan citizen named Andrey Turchin. The five felony charges against Turchin date back to December 2018, but they remained sealed until this revelation, which follows a report published by security vendor Group-IB about the extent of fxmsps illicit activities.

According to authorities, Turchin and his accomplices targeted hundreds of corporate networks in more than 40 countries between October 2017 and December 2018. They allegedly established backdoors to corporate networks and then sold them in cybercrime forums for thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Based on the unsealed documents, the group starts by scanning for open Remote Desktop Protocol ports and then brute-forcing their way into networks. They then steal administrative credentials and modify antivirus software settings to make sure their malware remains undetected.

Group-IBs report says fxmsp and his group sold network access to hotel chains, banks and other financial firms, making at least $1.5 million from their operation. As a result of their activities, their victims reportedly lost tens of millions of dollars to malware and network damage. Theyve been inactive since last year after fxmsp made headlines for advertising access to data from popular cybersecurity firms McAfee, Trend Micro and Symantec. However, at least one cybersecurity firm believes theyre still operating under different names.

Turchin has been charged with conspiracy to commit computer hacking, two counts of computer fraud and abuse, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and access device fraud. Law enforcement officials say hes likely aware of the charges and that extradition to the US is unlikely, because Kazakhstan does not extradite nationals.
LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - Britain's government will hand out vouchers worth 500 million pounds ($625 million) to the public to boost spending at restaurants, cafes and pubs that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 lockdown, finance minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday.

For the month of August everyone in the country will be given an "Eat Out to Help Out discount" voucher, Sunak told parliament during a statement on the outlook for the economy.

Meals eaten at any participating business, Monday to Wednesday, will be 50% off, up to a maximum discount of 10 pounds per head for everyone, including children, he said, noting such a stimulus measure had never been tried in the United Kingdom before.

The vouchers cannot be used to buy alcohol.

Britain's foodservice industry, which employed 1.8 million people before the crisis, has suffered thousands of job cuts, with layoffs announced by firms including the owner of the Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza chains and Pret A Manger.

Pubs and restaurants have so far seen only around half their customers return as lockdown measures have been partially relaxed in recent days.

Sunak said participating businesses that register online can claim the money back on a weekly basis, with reimbursement taking just five working days.

He also announced a temporary cut in VAT sales tax from 20% to 5% for eat-in or hot takeaway food from restaurants, cafes and pubs.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of industry lobby group UKHospitality, welcomed the announcements.

"A really strong package of measures to support the hospitality and tourism sector," she tweeted. (Reporting by James Davey and David Milliken; editing by Stephen Addison)
NEW YORK, July 8 (Reuters) - Energy Transfer said on Wednesday it will continue to operate the Dakota Access oil pipeline while it challenges a court ruling this week ordering it to shut and empty the duct, the largest line out of North Dakota's shale basin.

"We have not yet taken any steps to begin shutting down the line," spokeswoman Vicki Granado said. "To be clear, we have not suggested that we would defy a court order. Rather, DAPL is seeking appropriate relief from that order through the established legal process."

A U.S. court on Monday ordered the 570,000 barrel-per-day pipeline to stop operations and empty out within 30 days, after finding fault with one of its environmental permits. A judge later denied an emergency request from Energy Transfer for the court to reconsider its ruling, court records showed on Tuesday.

Energy Transfer told customers in an email that it has not taken any steps to begin winding down flows on the line and said it believed the judge who ordered the shutdown over-reached his authority, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

The company is also accepting nominations for crude volumes for the month of August, a sign it does not expect to have to cease operations, the sources said.

Native American tribes led by the Standing Rock Sioux and environmental groups protested DAPL's construction because a portion of the pipeline runs beneath South Dakota's Lake Oahe. (Reporting by Laila Kearney and Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2020) - Stratabound Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SB) ("Stratabound" or "the Company") is pleased to report that Jerritt Canyon Canada Ltd., a company controlled by Mr. Eric Sprott ("Sprott"), has filed an early warning report (the "Report") announcing that, on July 3, 2020, it acquired ownership and control over 3,000,000 common shares (the "Acquired Shares") of Stratabound Minerals Corp. ("Stratabound") through a secondary market share purchase transaction at a price of $0.05 per Acquired Share. Prior to acquiring the Acquired Shares, Sprott beneficially owned and controlled, directly or indirectly, 4,000,000 common shares of Stratabound and 2,000,000 common share purchase warrants of Stratabound. Following the acquisition of the Acquired Shares, Sprott beneficially owns and controls, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 7,000,000 common shares of Stratabound and an aggregate of 2,000,000 common share purchase warrants of Stratabound, representing approximately 15.47% of Stratabound's issued and outstanding common shares on an undiluted basis and approximately 19.05% of Stratabound's issued and outstanding common shares on a partially diluted basis.

For further details relating to the acquisition, please see the Report, a copy of which is available on SEDAR.

Mr. R. Kim Tyler, President and CEO of the Stratabound Minerals stated, "We are very pleased with the continued support of Mr. Sprott through his control position with Jerritt Canyon Canada Ltd. as a significant investor in Stratabound. We see 2020 as a watershed year for us as we continue to build on our past successes developing our Yukon and New Brunswick gold and base metals projects as well as new acquisitions being contemplated going forward. The Company will be sharing more details on its plans for 2020 in an upcoming press release."

About Stratabound

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Stratabound Minerals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on gold exploration at its flagship Golden Culvert Project, Yukon Territory and its new McIntyre Brook Iron Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) Project, New Brunswick, Canada. The Company also holds a significant land position that hosts three base metals deposits in the Bathurst base metals camp of New Brunswick featuring the Captain Copper-Cobalt-Gold Deposit that hosts an NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated Resource.

About Jerritt Canyon Canada Ltd.

Jerritt Canyon Canada Ltd. is 100% privately owned by Eric Sprott and is the parent company of Jerritt Canyon Gold LLC, a private, growing mid-tier North American gold producer with its primary operating asset, the Jerritt Canyon Mine located 50 miles north of Elko, Nevada. Mr. Gary Nassif, Senior Vice President of Jerritt Canyon Gold LLC, is also a Director on the Board of Stratabound.

For further information contact:

R. Kim Tyler, President and CEO

416-915-4157

info@stratabound.com

www.stratabound.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

WARNING: The Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements. The information in this release may contain forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, changes in laws or regulations, failure to obtain regulatory, exchange or shareholder approval, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this forward-looking information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services for dissemination in the United States of America. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U. S. securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/59328
VANCOUVER, BC , July 8, 2020 /CNW/ - Etruscus Resources Corp. (ETR.CN) (ERR.F) (the "Company" or "Etruscus") announces amended plans for its Phase 1 field exploration which now includes a seventh priority area added to its original list of key targets on the Company's 27,136 hectare Rock & Roll and Sugar Properties, located in the heart of the Eskay Camp in Northwest British Columbia's Golden Triangle.

Etruscus Resources Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Etruscus Resources Corp.)

Highlights:

Hoodoo East , along trend from neighbouring Enduro Metal's significant drill intercept and recently identified gold targets (announced July 6, 2020 ), has just been upgraded in priority for immediate exploration. An extensive work program will be executed in this underexplored area for potential future drilling;

Mineralization highlighted by Enduro's news demonstrates the skarn potential in the area, and multiple, prospective skarn showings found in 2019 at Rock & Roll suggests high-grade gold-silver resource potential; and

A drilling program is expected to follow several weeks of field sampling, prospecting and mapping of all 7 potential drill targets and 7 areas of priority.

The Company also announces, subject to Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") approval, a proposed non-brokered private placement of up to $1,000,000 . Proceeds of the financing, consisting of up to 1.3 million flow-through units at a price of $.50 per unit for proceeds of up to $650,000 and 1 million non-flow-through units at a price of $0.35 per unit for proceeds of up to $350,000 , will be used for both exploration and general working capital.

Each flow-through unit will consist of one flow-through common share and one-half () of one non-flow-through share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.65 per share for a 2-year period.

Each non-flow-through unit will consist of one common share and one-half () of one share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of $0.50 per share for a 2-year period.

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The flow-through shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" for the purposes of the Income Tax Act ( Canada ) (the "Act"). The Proceeds of the flow-through private placement will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expense" (within the meaning of the Act). The Company will renounce these expenses to the purchasers with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2020 , and as required under the Act.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States . The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Etruscus

Etruscus Resources Corp. is a Vancouver -based exploration company focused on the development of its 100%-owned Rock & Roll and Sugar properties comprising 27,136 hectares near the past producing Snip mine in Northwest B.C.'s prolific Golden Triangle.

Etruscus is traded under the symbol "ETR" on the Canadian Securities Exchange and "ERR" on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and has 22,453,501 common shares issued and outstanding.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

/s/ "Gordon Lam"

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Press Release may contain statements which constitute 'forward-looking' statements, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings required by the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including quarterly and annual Management's Discussion and Analysis, which may be viewed at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.

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.

SOURCE Etruscus Resources Corp.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2020/08/c9699.html
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe's second top court on Wednesday cut Infineon Technologies' cartel fine by 7% to 76.87 million euros ($86.7 million), saying that the German chipmaker had fewer anti-competitive contacts with other cartel members than EU antitrust regulators had said.

The European Commission had in 2014 imposed a total fine of 138 million euros on Infineon, Philips and Samsung Electronics for taking part in a cartel between 2003 and 2005. Infineon's penalty at 82.78 million euro ($93.3 million was the biggest.

Japanese chipmaker Renesas escaped a fine because it alerted the cartel to the EU competition enforcer.

The Luxembourg-based General Court faulted the Commission over its work.

"The Commission took insufficient account of the limited number of the anti-competitive contacts which Infineon had with its competitors and also found that company had a contact without succeeding in proving its existence," judges said.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in 2018 told the General Court to review the case again after Infineon appealed the lower tribunal's 2016 ruling, rejecting its challenge against the EU antitrust fine.

The judgment can be appealed to the CJEU on points of law. The case is T-758/14 RENV Infineon.

($1 = 0.8872 euros)

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, editing by Louise Heavens)
July 8 (Reuters) - The Trump administration said on Monday that foreign university students will have to leave the country if their classes are all taught online - clouding the future of tens of thousands of enrollees and potentially straining budgets at schools struggling to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.

About 1.1 million foreign students attended U.S. higher education institutions in the 2018-19 school year, according to a report https://www.iie.org/Why-IIE/Announcements/2019/11/Number-of-International-Students-in-the-United-States-Hits-All-Time-High issued by the State Department and the Institute of International Education (IIE), and they made up 5.5% of the entire U.S. higher education enrollment.

Most U.S. universities have not decided yet whether they will have all online classes, in-person teaching, or some sort of hybrid when classes start again in the fall.

The immigration order is likely to affect just a fraction of the total number of students. Nevertheless, two top universities went to court on Wednesday to try to stop it.

Foreign students' financial contributions are keenly felt in some schools and communities, where they pay higher tuition bills than some local students, and support real estate markets and local jobs.

JOBS AND REAL ESTATE

Foreign students contributed $44.7 billion to the U.S. economy during 2018, the IIE report says, citing the U.S. Department of Commerce.

They supported https://www.nafsa.org/policy-and-advocacy/policy-resources/nafsa-international-student-economic-value-tool-v2#main-content around 460,000 jobs in the United States in the 2018-19 academic year, estimates NAFSA, an international education advocacy group. The majority of these jobs are in higher education itself, but accommodation, retail, transportation, and health insurance also benefit, it concludes.

The financial support for these 1.1 million students comes mostly from overseas too, the IIE report says - 57% of foreign students say their primary funding comes from their own personal or family sources, and another 5% from foreign governments, foreign universities, or overseas sponsors.

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China was the largest contributor to the foreign student body in the United States, followed by India and Saudi Arabia, the reports says.

Chinese real estate purchases hit $30 billion in the twelve months ended March 2018, the National Association of Realtors reports https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2019-profile-of-international-activity-in-u-s-residential-real-estate-07-17-2019.pdf, but fell to $13.4 billion in the next 12 months, in part because of US-China frictions. About 10% of Chinese purchases were made for student use, the realtor group said, the highest portion for any international buyers.

REVENUES THAT BENEFIT U.S. STUDENTS

Foreign students in the United States often pay more to attend school than local students, including paying "out-of-state" tuition at publicly-funded state schools and additional charges aimed at oversees entrants.

These charges brought in more than $10 million in extra annual revenue at Purdue University, a dean told https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/05/08/some-public-universities-are-charging-differentiated-tuition-rates-or-raising-fees the Institute of Higher Education in 2015.

Big schools that are household names are likely to have a long waiting list of possible enrollees, available to take the place of any international student, said Terry Hartle, senior vice president of government and public affairs for the American Council on Education, which represents schools in Washington, D.C.

However, he said, "its no secret that many international students pay full tuition, and that this is a source of revenue that enables schools to offer student aid and other discounts to other students."

(Reporting by Heather Timmons and Mimi Dwyer; Editing by Mary Milliken and Aurora Ellis)
Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg and other Facebook officials met with the leaders of the groups behind the growing advertiser boycott of the company. It didnt go well, according to the civil rights leaders in attendance.

#StopHateForProfit didnt hear anything today to convince us that Zuckerberg and his colleagues are taking action, Jessica Gonzalez, Co-CEO of Free Press, one of the organizations behind the campaign, said in a statement following the meeting. "Instead of committing to a timeline to root out hate and disinformation on Facebook, the companys leaders delivered the same old talking points to try to placate us without meeting our demands.This isnt over. We will continue to expand the boycott until Facebook takes our demands seriously."

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Color of Change President Rashad Robinson, who was also at the meeting, described it as a disappointment. It is abundantly clear that they are not yet ready to address the vitriolic hate on their platform, he said.

Zuckerberg offered the same old defense of white supremacist, antisemitic, islamophobic and other hateful groups on Facebook that the Stop Hate For Profit Coalitions, advertisers and society at large have heard too many times before, boycott organizers, which also include the NAACP andCommon Sense Media, wrote in a statement. Instead of actually responding to the demands of dozens of the platforms largest advertisers that have joined the #StopHateForProfit ad boycott during the month of July, Facebook wants us to accept the same old rhetoric, repackaged as a fresh response.

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In a statement, a Facebook spokesperson said the meeting was an opportunity for us to hear from the campaign organizers and reaffirm our commitment to combating hate on our platform.

We have invested billions in people and technology to keep hate off of our platform. We have created new policies to prohibit voter and census interference and have launched the largest voting information campaign in American history. We have banned more than 250 white supremacist organizations and are holding ourselves accountable by producing regular reports about our content moderation efforts. We know we will be judged by our actions not by our words and are grateful to these groups and many others for their continued engagement.

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Earlier in the day, Sandberg said Facebook was making changes, but didnt directly address the demands of the boycott organizers.

We meet in the context of what may be the largest social movement in US history, and our nations best and latest chance to act against the racism that has pervaded our country since before our independence, she wrote in a Facebook post ahead of the meeting. We are making changes  not for financial reasons or advertiser pressure, but because it is the right thing to do.

Sandberg also said Facebook plans on Wednesday to release the final report from a two-year civil rights audit of the companys policies. Robinson criticized the timing of the audits release, calling it a a transparent effort to change the narrative.

Facebook and Zuckerberg have previously indicated they were reluctant to make concessions. While Zuckerberg announced some changes  including an expansion of Facebooks hate speech policy for ads and labels on some future posts from politicians  he stopped well short of the boycott organizers' ten recommendations. The groups behind the boycott have asked for stricter moderation of hate speech and extremism in private Facebook groups, and more support for users who face harassment. They also want the social network to appoint a high-level executive to oversee civil rights issues at the company.

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The only recommendation they even attempted to address is hiring a civil rights position but were unable to commit to the crucial piece of the position being at the C-suite level or what the requirements for the position will be, Stop Hate for Profit said following the meeting. They offered no attempt to respond to the other nine recommendations.

In private, Zuckerberg and other executives have been even more defiant: one of Facebooks top business executives, reportedly told advertisers that the company does not make policy changes tied to revenue pressure. And last week, Zuckerberg told employees that he would not change Facebooks rules over what amounts to a small percent of our revenue.

Were not gonna change our policies or approach on anything because of a threat to a small percent of our revenue, or to any percent of our revenue, he said. according to The Information. He also predicted the advertisers would come back to Facebook soon enough.

Update 7/7 5:47pm ET: Updated to add Facebooks statement on the meeting.
By Jack Stubbs and Joseph Menn

(Reuters) - Facebook Inc <FB.O> on Wednesday suspended a network of social media accounts it said were used to spread divisive political messages online by employees of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and two of his sons.

The company said that despite efforts to disguise who was behind the activity, it had found links to the staff of two Brazilian lawmakers, as well as the president and his sons, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.

Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, said the accounts were removed for using fake personas and other types of "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" which violated the company's rules.

He said there was no evidence the politicians themselves had operated the accounts. "What we can prove is that employees of those offices are engaged on our platforms in this type of behaviour," he told Reuters ahead of the announcement on the company's blog. (bit.ly/2Cf0dMA)

Facebook said it has also suspended three other networks on Wednesday, including one it attributed to Roger Stone, a longtime friend and adviser of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Brazilian president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro said his father's government was elected with strong popular backing and has thousands of supporters on social media.

"As far as we know, they are all free and independent," he said in a statement. "Based on Facebook's report, it's impossible to evaluate what kind of profile was blocked and whether the platform crossed the line into censorship."

The allegations by Facebook add to a burgeoning political crisis in Brazil, where Bolsonaro's sons and supporters have been accused of running a coordinated online campaign to smear the president's opponents.

The accusations have spurred a congressional inquiry and a separate Supreme Court investigation into so-called "fake news attacks" on the country's judiciary, which led to police raids in May on the homes and offices of Bolsonaro allies.

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Bolsonaro, who is also under mounting criticism over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, has said the court's investigation is unconstitutional and risks establishing censorship in Brazil by policing what people can say online.

Facebook has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks to better police how political groups use its platform. Hundreds of advertisers have joined a boycott aimed at forcing the company to block hate speech on its site, and multiple employees walked out last month over CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision not to challenge inflammatory posts Trump.

Gleicher said his team had identified and suspended more than 80 accounts on Facebook and its photo-sharing site, Instagram, as part of the Brazilian network. The accounts had amassed 1.8 million followers, he said, and some dated back to 2018.

Researchers at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, who spent a week analysing the activity identified by Facebook, said they had found five current and former political staffers who registered and operated the accounts.

Some of those accounts posed as fake Brazilians and news outlets to spread "hyper-partisan views" supporting Bolsonaro and attacking his critics, said researcher Luiza Bandeira. Their targets included opposition lawmakers, former ministers and members of Brazil's Supreme Court.

More recently, the accounts also amplified Bolsonaro's claims that the risks of the coronavirus pandemic are exaggerated. The disease has killed more than 66,000 people in Brazil and Bolsonaro himself tested positive this week.

"We have known for a long time that when people disagree with Bolsonaro they are targeted by this machine that uses online disinformation to mock and discredit them," said Bandeira.

"So knowing now that part of these attacks are coming from people directly related to the Bolsonaro family, that explains a lot."

(Reporting by Jack Stubbs in London and Joseph Menn in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
It is a well-known fact that among all the affected corners of the investing world, airlines are one of the worst-hit industries by the coronavirus pandemic. The global health peril placed several countries on lockdown coupled with wide-spread travel restrictions after being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on Mar 11. With people confined to their homes, air-travel demand experienced a massive meltdown (particularly since March).

Notwithstanding the above scenario, the aviation sector breathed a sigh of relief when air-travel demand started picking up from the second half of May as economies began to reopen. However, coronavirus cases spiked in some parts of the earth following the relaxation of shutdowns. For example, a few states in the United States have been reporting a surge in new cases over the past few days, stoking the fears of a second wave. Per a Reuters report, 15 states in the country reported a record spurt in new cases of COVID-19 within the first four days of July.

Spike in Cases Dampens Hopes

The relief to U.S. airlines owing to the uptick in bookings turned out to be short-lived due to the sharp rise in cases. This is understandable from the bearish commentary of United Airlines UAL, which carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. Management at this Chicago-based company stated that due to the relapse in COVID-19 cases, bookings were hurt. Consequently, it does not expect a linear path to recovery in travel demand.

You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Due to the recent depressing demand trends, management further added that capacity for August 2020 is expected to be down approximately 65% year over year including adjustments that the carrier aims to make to the previously announced August schedule.

What is more alarming is that the carrier warned of furloughing or laying off multiple employees starting Oct 1, 2020. Notably, the payroll support program under the CARES Act will take care of sustaining the airline jobs only through Sep 30, 2020.

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United Airlines downbeat update resulted in its 7.6% stock price depreciation on Jul 7. In fact, this assertion hampered other airline stock movements as well. For instance, both Delta Air Lines DAL and American Airlines AAL shed 5% and 7% of value, respectively. Consequently, the NYSE ARCA Airline Index declined 4.2% on Jul 7. Akin to United Airlines, Delta alerted its pilots about potential furloughs due to bleak demand. Moreover, it may trim its previously announced August flight schedule.

Airlines Seek Federal Loans to Stay Afloat

With the recent resurgence in cases mitigating the upswing in demand, airlines have been dealt a body blow. With demand failing to recover, carriers face the problem of overstaffing, inducing warning of job losses.

In such a grim situation, airlines signed letters of intent pertaining to their share of the $25-billion federal loan under the CARES Act. Notably, the Treasury Department confirmed that Alaska Airlines, Delta, JetBlue Airways JBLU, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines LUV signed the letters on terms of the financial aid, thereby joining five other carriers including American Airlines, SkyWest SKYW and Spirit Airlines SAVE, who signed last week. Notably, per the CARES Act, an amount worth $25 billion is set aside for loans to cash-strapped U.S. airlines apart from the grants already awarded.

The Path Ahead

Although, the signing of the letters of intent does not mean that airlines are obligated to borrow loans, we expect them to avail of the same to bolster their liquidity position. With the recent upswing in bookings being somewhat reversed due to the escalation in coronavirus cases, evident from the United Airlines update, airlines may face cash crunch once the payroll backing program expires on Sep 30. This, in turn, might lead to multiple job cuts in the industry, which is already indicated by many airline majors.

Confronted with such a gloomy scenario, acceptance of the federal loans seems the only logical way forward. Per U.S. Treasury secretary Steven T. Mnuchin: We look forward to working with the airlines to finalize agreements and provide the airlines the ability to access these loans if they so choose.

Come what may, we expect investors interested in this not-so-long-ago high-flying space to keenly await the latest notifications on the airlines decision on the federal loans.

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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of First National Bank of Namibia Limited

Global Credit Research - 08 Jul 2020

London, 08 July 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of First National Bank of Namibia Limited and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology(ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion.

This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.

Key rating considerations are summarized below.

First National Bank of Namibia Limited's (FNB Namibia) Ba2 long-term local currency deposit rating incorporates one-notch uplift of affiliate support from the bank's ba3 baseline credit assessment (BCA), reflecting our assumption of very high support from its parent, South Africa's FirstRand Limited (unrated).

FNB Namibia's BCA (ba3) reflects its strong capital buffers, supported by its good profitability that benefits from its strong franchise and improvements in risk management. These strengths are moderated by deteriorating asset quality amid Namibia's weak operating environment and the bank's reliance on short-term institutional deposit.

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This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period.

The principal methodology used for this review was Banks Methodology published in November 2019. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

This announcement applies only to EU rated and EU endorsed ratings. Non EU rated and non EU endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit.

This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.

Peter Mushangwe Analyst Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service Ltd. One Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5FA United Kingdom JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Sean Marion MD - Financial Institutions Financial Institutions Group JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service Ltd. One Canada Square Canary Wharf London E14 5FA United Kingdom JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454

 2020 Moody's Corporation, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., Moody's Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved.

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MJKK and MSFJ also maintain policies and procedures to address Japanese regulatory requirements.
Folding Carton Market In North America 2020-2024. The analyst has been monitoring the folding carton market in North America and it is poised to grow by 2329. 60 th tons during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period.

New York, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Folding Carton Market in North America 2020-2024" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p02673141/?utm_source=GNW

Our reports on folding carton 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.

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 emergence of specialized folding cartons and growth in the retail segment and e-commerce in North America. In addition, increasing use of eco-friendly materials in packaging is anticipated to boost the growth of the market as well.

The folding carton market in North America analysis includes end-user segment and geographic landscape.



The folding carton market in North America is segmented as below:

By End-user

 Food and beverage products

 Homecare and personal products

 Healthcare products

 Tobacco products

 Others



By Geographic Landscapes

 US

 Canada

 Mexico



This study identifies the rise in the number of mergers and acquisitions in the market as one of the prime reasons driving the folding carton market in North Americas growth during the next few years. Also, the use of anti-counterfeiting technology in folding cartons in the pharmaceutical industry, and the use of barrier coatings in folding cartons will lead to sizable demand in the market.

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 folding carton market in North America covers the following areas:

 Folding carton market in North America sizing

 Folding carton market in North America forecast

 Folding carton market in North America industry analysis





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02673141/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Clare: clare@reportlinker.com

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / The Grow With Us Learning Academy has announced that it is not too late for parents to enroll their children in the Academy's VPK program. Parents wishing to help their children jump-start their education should know that there are still spaces available in the Voluntary Pre-kindergarten programs at Grow With Us Learning Academy.

A "voluntary pre-kindergarten program" is an educational opportunity for children aged 4-5 that aims to help them get ready for both kindergarten and school. This program offers three hours per day of educational instruction, and, in addition, there is also wrap-around childcare available if required before and after the pre-k program. This classroom setting helps foster independence, cooperation, and communication skills that a child will need when moving up to kindergarten or school. The hands-on learning method used in these classrooms readies the students for pre-reading, writing, math, and comprehension skills.

Emily Johns, a spokesman for the Grow With Us Learning Academy program, said "Our Fort Walton Beach VPK program is an excellent opportunity for parents to give their children the best possible start to their education. Not only that, but the VPK program itself is also paid for by the Early Learning Coalition."

Many studies have shown that pre-k programs can help foster academic success and that students who attend such programs will often do much better academically throughout their school careers. Apart from a general improvement throughout their school years, they are even more likely to graduate from high school and subsequently college. Some studies have even shown that students who attend pre-k are less likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

The Grow With Us Learning Academy now has three locations in Fort Walton Beach in addition to the one in Navarre. All of them still have openings available for children to come into the VPK program. Emily went on to say, "We understand that each child is a unique individual, and we recognize the differences between each child, and this enables us to maximize the potential of each young child taking their first steps in education."

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In order to enroll in the VPK program, children must live in Florida and be four-years-old on or before September 1 of the school year they enroll, and this also includes children with special needs. Parents of 4-year-olds with special needs will be able to take advantage of a different program that operates outside of a classroom setting called the VPK Specialized Instructional Services (VPK-SIS).

Interested families can go to Grow With Us Learning Academy's company Facebook page, which gives relevant information, as well as some pictures of the facility. There are also some reviews from parents whose children either attend the VPK or who are there for childcare. Grow With Us Learning Academy is a locally owned preschool focused on early childhood education with low ratio classrooms. The organization has a 4.9 rating out of 5 by many parents who have posted reviews.

"Ms. Denise," the Director of the Tupelo location, said that parents need to bear in mind that the slots for VPK students fill up fast. "You can't think about it for too long and just assume that there will still be a place available for your prospective student."

The school has also written about its philosophy. A statement online says that they see the role of teachers to be enthusiastic, reassuring, creative, and positive. Additionally, the school realizes that the experiences that children have while they are at the learning academy will affect their feelings toward school, other children, adults, and the world around them.

Furthermore, the school states that they take the position that the children's feelings matter. "Their joy is shared, sadness is comforted, and accomplishments are praised," the school posted on its website.

In addition to the Fort Walton Beach locations, there is also a Navarre VPK school located at 8059 Navarre Pkwy. Interested parents can find more information as noted above, or call them at (850) 586-7897.

###

For more information about Grow With Us Learning Academy, contact the company here:



Grow With Us Learning Academy

Emily Johns

(850) 586-7897

emily@sihcorp.net

314 Carmel Dr.

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

SOURCE: Grow With Us Learning Academy





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/596815/Fort-Walton-Beach-and-Navarre-VPK-Programs-Now-Open-for-Enrollment-at-Grow-With-Us-Learning-Academy




Fort Worth Auto Show Canceled Amid COVID-19 Public Health Concerns

IRVING, Texas, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Due to the evolving COVID-19 health crisis, the North Texas Automobile Dealers has cancelled the 2020 Fort Worth Auto Show with plans to return in November of 2021.

Jim Hardick, Chairman of the North Texas Automobile Dealers said "Mitigating the spread of COVID-19 continues to be our highest priority. After extensive communication with our many partners, including manufacturers, national touring partners, state and local officials, as well as experts within the medical field, we feel that cancelling the Fort Worth Auto Show is the correct course of action."

Brent Franks, President of the North Texas Automobile Dealers, said that although the Auto Show will not take place in 2020, consumers can still get an up-close and personal experience with the automotive manufacturer's newest models by visiting a local NTXAD dealership. "During this difficult time, our NTXAD members have taken the steps necessary to meet or exceed CDC Guidelines at their new vehicle dealerships. This allows Texans to shop, compare and drive their next car, truck or SUV in a safe environment."

For more information please contact Brent Franks at 214.647.0531 or visit http://www.NTXAD.com.

SOURCE North Texas Automobile Dealers
WASHINGTON, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) today announced the appointment of Daniel P. Wikel as a Senior Managing Director in the Turnaround & Restructuring practice within the firms Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment.



Based in Chicago, Mr. Wikel advises clients on corporate turnarounds and restructurings, lender workout situations, transaction advisory services/business assessments and raising capital. He has significant experience managing middle-market and large bankruptcy cases and related matters, and his financial and operational expertise spans strategic planning, capital advisory or investment analysis and identifying revenue enhancements and cost improvements. Mr. Wikel has served as a financial advisor, interim manager and expert witness to companies across a variety of industries, including aerospace, transportation, logistics and distribution, retail and consumer products, and general industrials.

Our Turnaround & Restructuring experts are dedicated to helping companies stabilize their finances and operations and enhance value, said Michael Eisenband , Global Co-Leader of the Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment at FTI Consulting. Dan is a trusted financial advisor with extensive operational expertise. He will be a great asset to the team and joins us at a critical time, as we focus on helping clients navigate the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing pandemic and corresponding financial crisis.

Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Wikel was a founding member of Huron Consulting Group, where he served as a Managing Director in the Corporate Advisory Services practice and led the Chicago office for 18 years. Previously, he was a member of Arthur Andersens Corporate Restructuring practice and led the Financial Planning & Analysis group at Zenith Electronics Corporation. He also held various financial positions at Tenneco Inc. and began his career in KPMGs Audit practice.

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I am impressed by FTI Consultings deep industry expertise and breadth in the U.S. and globally, Mr. Wikel said. I also appreciate how the firm continues to invest in its Turnaround & Restructuring practice to maintain its position as a dominant player in the marketplace. I am looking forward to this exciting next stage of my career.

Mr. Wikel currently serves as an Independent Director to two logistic companies. He is also active with Turnaround Management Association (TMA), serving on several committees. Mr. Wikel was previously the President of the TMA Chicago/Midwest chapter and held other officer roles on the TMA Global Board. He also supports a number of local and national charities.

Mr. Wikels appointment continues the firms investment in its Turnaround & Restructuring practice. In late June, FTI Consulting announced the appointment of restructuring and performance improvement expert Kevin Barrentine as a Senior Managing Director in Atlanta.

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 5,500 employees located in 27 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities. The Company generated $2.35 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2019. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com and connect with us on Twitter (@FTIConsulting), Facebook and LinkedIn.

FTI Consulting, Inc.

555 12th Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

+1.202.312.9100

Investor Contact:

Mollie Hawkes

+1.617.747.1791

mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com
RALEIGH, N.C., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Genworth Mortgage Insurance ("Genworth MI"), an operating segment of Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW), today announced the completion of an excess of loss reinsurance transaction with a panel of reinsurers covering a portion of the loss tier on subject loans written between 2009 and 2019 book years, effective April 1, 2020. The transaction provides reinsurance coverage in excess of the PMIERs capital requirements as of March 31, 2020 in response to an anticipated higher level of delinquencies as a result of COVID-19. As such, the company expects up to $300 million of additional PMIERs capital credit when required assets are in the covered tier, subject to GSE approval as part of their evaluation.

Additionally, Genworth MI commented on the release of amendments to the Private Mortgage Insurer Eligibility Requirements (PMIERs) by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the guidance of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) on June 29, 2020, in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the US housing market. As of March 31, 2020, Genworth's U.S. mortgage insurance business had available assets of approximately 142% of the required assets under the current set of PMIERs requirements, or more than $1.1 billion above the required levels. If these amended requirements had been effective as of March 31, 2020, Genworth estimates that its sufficiency ratio would not have been materially impacted by the revised capital treatment. Any difference would be primarily due to the application of the capital relief multiplier for non-performing loans during the COVID-19 crisis. The effective date of the amended requirements was June 30, 2020.

"We appreciate Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHFA's responsiveness in providing clarity to the mortgage insurance industry on the PMIERs treatment of delinquencies in forbearanceand I'm pleased that the strength of Genworth MI's balance sheet and our business performance will allow us to continue helping more families get into and stay in their homes," said Rohit Gupta, CEO of Genworth's U.S. mortgage insurance business. "I'm proud of the work we've done to not only build a strong financial foundation, but also enhance our flexibility during this uncertain time."

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About Genworth Mortgage Insurance

Genworth Mortgage Insurance, an operating segment of Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW), is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, and operates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Genworth Mortgage Insurance works with lenders and other partners to help people responsibly achieve and maintain the dream of homeownership by ensuring the broad availability of affordable low down payment mortgage loans. Genworth has been providing mortgage insurance products and services in the U.S. since 1981.

Cision

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/genworth-mortgage-insurance-secures-300-million-of-additional-capital-protection-comments-on-amended-pmiers-requirements-301089717.html

SOURCE Genworth Mortgage Insurance
NEW YORK, NY, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a leading global, independent infrastructure investor, announced today that its credit funds, Global Infrastructure Partners Capital Solutions Funds I and II (GIP CAPS) closed on a $110 million secured holding company term loan investment in Puerto Antioquia Holdings S.A.S. Puerto Antioquia is a greenfield multipurpose port terminal to be strategically located in the Northern coast of the Department of Antioquia, Colombia. Astris Finance, financial advisor to the Sponsors, has coordinated project development and financing.

The Project is owned by a consortium consisting of CMA Terminal Holdings S.A.S, the port operations arm of CMA CGM S.A., the third largest shipping line in the world, Eiffage S.A, a top tier construction company, Puertos Inversiones y Obras S.A.S., an experienced Colombian port owner and operator, and a private consortium of banana producers and exporters (together, the Sponsors).

Proceeds from the GIP CAPS holding company investment, together with senior debt provided by a group of multilateral banks and equity capital from the Sponsors, will be utilized to fund construction of an approximately $725 million port facilities project.

The Project is underpinned by long term volume commitments with the consortium and will be strategically located as Colombias closest port to the Atlantic Coast. It is geographically positioned to capture a large share of dry containers traffic originated from important economic regions of Colombia, including Medellin, Bogota, the Coffee Axis and other hinterland regions.

Puerto Antioquia represents GIP CAPS IIs inaugural investment and GIP Credits second capital commitment to Latin America. The CAPS strategy provides customized credit financings for infrastructure issuers in GIPs core sectors of midstream energy, power, renewables and transport, while leveraging GIPs significant operating expertise.

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We are very pleased to have entered into this transaction with Puerto Antioquia and its Sponsors, said Jennifer Powers, GIP Partner and Chair of GIP Credit. Puerto Antioquia is a landmark project for Colombia and is expected to change the dynamics of trade in the country given its strategic location. It is expected to capture immediate cargo and create a significant positive impact in the Uraba region. The Port will provide significant socio-economic impact to the region, as evidenced by multilateral financing support from its senior lender, one of the most important banks in Latin America.

This investment exemplifies GIP CAPS ability to provide unique credit solutions for high quality, essential infrastructure projects, and our commitment to Latin America where we see unique core infrastructure opportunities. 

Laurent Martens, Head of CMA Terminal said: "We are very happy with this continuing partnership with GIP. They have been a resourceful and proactive partner throughout development. We very much appreciate GIP's unabated support in spite of current market conditions to close the financing of this ambitious project.

About Global Infrastructure Partners

Global Infrastructure Partners ("GIP") is an independent infrastructure fund manager that makes equity and debt investments in infrastructure assets and businesses. GIP targets investments in the energy, transport and water/waste sectors in both OECD and select emerging market countries. GIPs teams are located in 10 offices: London, New York, Stamford (Connecticut), Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore and Hong Kong. GIP CAPS is part of GIPs credit platform (GIP Credit) which provides financing solutions and makes debt and non-common equity investments in infrastructure assets and companies. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com

Media Inquiries Team

Global Infrastructure Partners

+1 646 282 1545

mediainquiries@global-infra.com


Increase in adoption of IoT & BYOD trend and rise in malware and phishing threats among organizations drive the growth of the global malware analysis market. By deployment mode, the cloud segment held the highest share in 2018. On the other hand, by region, Asia-Pacific would portray the fastest CAGR of 27.0% by 2026.

Portland, OR , July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global malware analysis market was pegged at $3.27 billion in 2018 and is expected to hit $24.15 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 28.5% from 2019 to 2026. The report provides a detailed analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive landscape, and changing market trends.

Increase in adoption of IoT & BYOD trend and rise in malware and phishing threats among organizations drive the growth of the global malware analysis market. On the other hand, complexities in devices impede the growth to some extent. Nevertheless, surge in adoption of mobile device applications and platforms is anticipated to pave the way for multiple opportunities in the industry.

COVID-19 scenario-

The outbreak of COVID-19 has mandated work from home practice for most of the organizations across the world. The growth of the global malware analysis market is expected to rise, as theres been an increasing focus on securing remote infrastructure and IP of the respective companies on account of remote service programs.

Also, rise in focus on cyber security as a vital business measure is anticipated to boost the global market.

Download Report Sample (150 Pages PDF with Insights) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6328

The global malware analysis market is analyzed across component, deployment mode, organization size, industry vertical, and region. Based on component, the solution segment accounted for nearly three-fourths of the total market share in 2018, and is anticipated to lead the trail by the end of 2026. The service segment, on the other hand, would portray the fastest CAGR of 30.7% from 2019 to 2026.

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Based on deployment mode, the cloud segment garnered the major share in 2018, holding more than half of the global market. At the same time, the on-premise segment would manifest the largest CAGR of 30.7% throughout the study period.

Based on region, North America contributed to nearly one-third of the total market revenue in 2018, and is projected to lead the trail by 2026. Simultaneously, the region across Asia-Pacific would grow at the fastest CAGR of 27.0% throughout the forecast period.

The key market players analyzed in the global malware analysis market report include Palo Alto Networks, Inc., Sophos Group, Symantec Corporation, Fortinet Inc., Trend Micro and FireEye, Inc. Qualys Inc., Kaspersky Lab, McAfee LLC, and Cisco Systems Inc. These market players have taken recourse to several strategies including partnership, expansion, collaboration, joint ventures, and others to prove their flair in the industry.

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 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 identified several sectors and targets to start promoting and launching its Swiss hosted secure communications solution called Sekur. The Company has had several discussions with social media and marketing companies in order to launch the Sekur solution first in the USA, and later in other countries. This strategy is a direct to business and direct to consumer strategy and is in addition to the Company's strategy of partnering with channel partners in the USA and Canada. The Company plans to launch to to 100,000 targeted premium consumers and professionals in the legal, financial, medical and real estate sectors in the USA as a first target.

The advantage of launching and targeting businesses directly is that the Company can save up to 50% in profit sharing with channel partners. The Company is planning continue with this strategy during the introductory phase of Sekur in order to get a wider audience and viral adoption of Sekur.

Sekur is the Company's Swiss hosted secure communications suite, which includes encrypted messaging with self-destruct timer powered by the Company's and an encrypted email service. 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 late 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. Sekur will also come in other versions, Sekur Messenger for encrypted messaging only, Sekur Email which will only have encrypted email, and Sekur for encrypted messaging and email rolled into one solution. Future releases of Sekur including voice and video encryption and video conferencing will be deployed in the next 12 months and will have different price points.

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The service will include the Company's proprietary and newly branded features called SekurSend and SekurReply anti-phishing encrypted email solution. SekurSend 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 SekurReply, 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.

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.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/596712/GlobeX-Data-Identifies-Direct-to-Business-and-Consumer-Targets-for-its-Sekur-Swiss-Hosted-Anti-Phishing-Encrypted-Email-and-Messaging-Solution




Established in 2013, GOGOVAN is the first app-based logistics platform in Asia, redefining and revitalising the traditional logistics industry with innovative technology. Entering its seventh anniversary, GOGOVANs businesses have gone beyond just van hailing. The company has expanded its portfolio to offer diversified logistics services, leveraging its extensive network of logistics partners to satisfy all types of same-day logistics needs for businesses and individuals. To convey the company's long-term development strategy as well as to build a clear market positioning, GOGOVAN officially rebrands to GOGOX today. Under the new brand, the company will continue its journey to accelerate the growth of the logistics industry.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005950/en/

GOGOX Co-founder and CEO Mr. Steven Lam shared, the new brand GOGOX enables the company to further develop in Asia, building comprehensive logistics services on one single platform. (Photo: Business Wire)

Headquartered in Hong Kong, GOGOX is committed to bringing its Hong Kong identity and high-level services to more markets around the world. Currently operating in seven markets, GOGOX provides goods transport, delivery, business solutions and custom services. GOGOX symbolically reflects the companys diligence to provide eXtraordinary eXperience with its eXpertise to drive eXponential growth for businesses. The company website has been upgraded to reflect the new branding and enhance user experience.

GOGOX Co-founder and CEO Mr. Steven Lam shared, "The birth of GOGOX is a remarkable milestone for us. The support and trust from our customers and logistics partners drive us forward to establish logistics services that are more scalable, efficient and innovative. The new brand enables us to further develop in Asia. We are equipped with strong and professional logistics experience as well as a powerful partner network. We empower e-commerce merchants with tailor-made logistics solutions, and provide agile and efficient logistics experiences to all users." In recent years, the company has expanded across Asia. Today, it operates in over 300 cities, with a network of 8 million registered drivers in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Vietnam and Mainland China. To celebrate the launch of GOGOX, the company will roll out engagement programs with customers and logistics partners across markets.

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In India, GOGOX is present in Chennai & Hyderabad and has a full spectrum of logistics services to cater various unique requirements. SMEs can enjoy same-day and scheduled logistics services with a dedicated customer service team, while large enterprises and multinational organizations can benefit from tailor-made logistics solutions. Individuals can conveniently place an order for our logistics services with just a phone call. In addition, the company will launch more support programs to enhance the business environment for its logistics partners.

"GOGOX is a great testimony of our success. We have thrived from the van hailing business and developed a more comprehensive logistics network," Steven added. "I look forward to bringing our business solutions, delivery services and value-added offerings to each and every corner of Asia to satisfy every customers logistics needs on one single platform! "

About GOGOX

Established in 2013, GOGOX is the first app-based logistics platform in Asia committed to providing extensive logistics services through innovative technology. Formerly known as GOGOVAN, the company has a competitive and diverse business portfolio, from van-hailing and instant delivery to customised logistics solutions. GOGOX instantly connects individuals and businesses with millions of logistics partners to fulfil all sorts of delivery needs, redefining the delivery experience by providing speedy, agile and convenient logistics services that are unmatched.

Over the years, GOGOX has expanded its businesses from Hong Kong to Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Vietnam and Mainland China, with presence in over 300 cities and more than 8 million registered drivers under its network.

Learn more about GOGOX: http://www.gogox.com/in/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005950/en/

Contacts

Media Enquiry:

Ceci Yen

(+852) 9820 1070 / ceci.yen@gogox.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 7, 2020) - GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSXV: GXU) (OTCQB: GVXXF) ("GoviEx" or "Company"), has received a letter from the Mining Cadastre Department of Zambia notifying the company that it has terminated the Chirundu Mining License (12634-HQ-LML). Under the Zambian Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2015, GoviEx is provided thirty days to appeal this decision, which the Company has every intention to do.

The Chirundu Mining License was acquired from African Energy Resources Ltd. in October 2017 and includes the Njame and Gwabe mineral deposits. These deposits were subsequently included in the technical report titled, "NI 43-101 Technical Report on a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Mutanga Uranium Project in Zambia", dated November 30, 2017, prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Limited for the Company (the "PEA"). The PEA reported a Net Present Value ("NPV") at long-term uranium price of US$58/lb U3O8 and a 9% mining royalty rate, an after-tax NPV of US$112 million (at 8% discount rate) with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 25%.

The PEA is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized.

Due to the smaller scale and higher cost nature of the Gwabe and Njame deposits, they were scheduled to be mined in the later stages of the PEA. As a result, the exclusion of these deposits from the mine plan is believed to have a low to no impact on project economics.

Since acquiring the Chirundu Mining Permit, GoviEx has ensured all statutory reports and payments have been made, and, in addition, has expanded its Community and Social Responsibility programs to cover the villages within the Chirundu Mining Licenses, including the reconstruction of a school and the commencement of an adult education program.

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"We are disappointed by the decision made by the Mining Cadastre with regards the Chirundu license and do not believe this decision is fair or in the interests of our Zambian stakeholders. We will appeal the decision within the allotted time frame and hope to rectify any misunderstandings we believe were included in making this decision. Zambia has indicated its strategy diversify its heavy weighting towards copper, and with Zambia considering nuclear energy long term and with the uranium price showing signs of recovery we will stress that the decision should to be reconsidered," stated CEO Daniel Major.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been reviewed, verified, and approved by Dr. Rob Bowell, a chartered chemist of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a chartered geologist of the Geological Society of London, and Fellow of the Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Materials, who is an independent Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101 for uranium deposits.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About GoviEx Uranium

GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship mine-permitted Madaouela Project in Niger, its mine-permitted Mutanga Project in Zambia, and its other uranium properties elsewhere in Africa.

Information Contacts

Govind Friedland, Executive Chairman

Daniel Major, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1-604-681-5529

Email: info@goviex.com

Web: www.goviex.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward- looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information.

Forward-looking statements include that the Company intends to appeal the decision of the Mining Cadastre Department of Zambia and that the exclusion of the Gwabe and Njame deposits from the mine plan is believed to have a low to no impact on project economics.

Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Such assumptions, which may prove incorrect, include the following: (i) that the Company will be successful in its appeal of the of the Mining Cadastre's decision; (ii) that the exclusion of the Gwabe and Njame deposits from the mine plan is believed to have a low to no impact on project economics; and (iii) the price of uranium will remain sufficiently high and the costs of advancing the Company's mining projects will remain sufficiently low so as to permit GoviEx to implement its business plans in a profitable manner.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include (i) the inability of the Company to successfully appeal the of the Mining Cadastre's decision; (ii) potential delays due to COVID-19 restrictions; (iii) the failure of the Company's projects, for technical, logistical, labour-relations, or other reasons; (iv) a decrease in the price of uranium below what is necessary to sustain the Company's operations; (v) an increase in the Company's operating costs above what is necessary to sustain its operations; (vi) accidents, labour disputes, or the materialization of similar risks; (vii) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents the Company from raising the funds it requires on a timely basis; and (viii) generally, the Company's inability to develop and implement a successful business plan for any reason.

In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Financial Risks and Management Objectives" in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2019, of GoviEx, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.

Although GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information in this news release will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do so, what benefits that GoviEx will derive therefrom. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/59300
Russias human rights body keeps track of ex-journalist Safronov treason case

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

15:26 08/07/2020

MOSCOW, July 8 (RAPSI)  The Presidential Council for Human Rights watches the development of a case against advisor of the Roscosmos state corporations CEO and ex-journalist of Kommersant newspaper Ivan Safronov, the advisory bodys chair Valery Fadeyev told journalists on Wednesday.

The Council is checking the conditions of his detention, he added.

Investigators suspect Safronov of transmitting secret military information to the Czech intelligence services which, as it known, are linked to the U.S. security agencies, his attorney Ivan Pavlov told RAPSI.

Safronov was arrested on Tuesday. The same day Moscows Lefortovsky District Court detained him until September 6. He is suspected of treason. According to the Roscosmos press service, Safronovs arrest is not connected with his work in the company.

The former reporter of Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers was appointed as advisor of Dmitry Rogozin in May 2020 after a scandal related to the publication of an explosive article about possible resignation of the Federation Council head Valentina Matviyenko.




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2020) - Grande Portage Resources Ltd. (TSXV: GPG) (OTCQB: GPTRF) (FSE: GPB) ("Grande Portage" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced private placement offering of units of the Company (the "Units") pursuant to which the Company issued 10,500,000 Units at a price of C$0.30 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of C$3,150,000.

Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.45 per Warrant Share expiring on January 8, 2022.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to advance drilling and exploration at the Company's Herbert Gold project and also for general corporate purposes.

Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd. ("2176423"), a corporation which is beneficially owned by him, acquired 10,000,000 of the Units pursuant to the Offering. As a result of the Offering, Mr. Sprott beneficially owns and controls 10,000,000 Common Shares and 5,000,000 Warrants of the Company, representing approximately 12.8% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a non-diluted basis, and 18.1% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of such Warrants. Prior to the Closing, Mr. Sprott did not beneficially own any Shares of the Company.

The Units were acquired by Mr. Sprott, through 2176423, for investment purposes. Mr. Sprott has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities of the Company including on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell securities of the Company including on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors.

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A copy of 2176423 Ontario Ltd.'s early warning report will appear on the Company's profile on SEDAR and may also be obtained by calling 416-945-3294 (200 Bay Street, Suite 2600, Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2J1)

In connection with the Unit offering, the Company will pay $45,450 in cash and issue 151,500 Units for finder fees, representing 3% of the Transaction.

The securities described herein 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 except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

About Grande Portage:

Grande Portage is a publicly traded mineral exploration company focused on the Herbert Gold discovery situated approximately 25 km north of Juneau, Alaska. The Company holds a 100% leasehold interest in the Herbert property,. The Herbert Gold property system is open to length and depth and is host to at least six main composite vein-fault structures that contain ribbon structure quartz-sulfide veins. The project lies prominently within the 160km long Juneau Gold Belt, which has produced nearly seven million ounces of gold. The Company's recent mineral resource estimate is quoted at a base case mineral resources cut-off grade of 2.50 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) and consists of: An indicated resource of 606,500 ounces of gold at an average grade of 10.03 g/t Au (1,880,500 tonnes); and an inferred resource of 251,700 ounces of gold at an average grade of 14.15 g/t Au (553,429 tonnes).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Ian Klassen"

Ian M. Klassen

President & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (604) 899-0106

Email: Ian@grandeportage.com

www.grandeportage.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. 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. 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, other than as required by law.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED UNDER THE POLICIES OF THE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/59380
Reaffirming its confidence in the thought leadership and experience within Greenberg Traurig, LLP's Labor & Employment Practice, the American Bar Association appointed a pair of the firm's shareholders for key roles within the ABA's Section of International Law.

PHILADELPHIA, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Reaffirming its confidence in the thought leadership and experience within Greenberg Traurig, LLP's Labor & Employment Practice, the American Bar Association appointed a pair of the firm's shareholders for key roles within the ABA's Section of International Law.

Shareholder Kelly Dobbs Bunting, based in the Philadelphia office, will co-chair the International Employment Law Committee for the 2020-2021 year. Jordan W. Cowman, a shareholder who works from the firm's Dallas and Houston offices, will serve as a vice chair for the group.

The members of this ABA group offer forward-leaning analysis on global legal developments in international employment law, as well as insights on the rule of law. It is Bunting's second consecutive appointment to this post for the section, and Cowman's first.

Bunting co-chairs Greenberg Traurig's Workforce Compliance & Regulatory Enforcement Group and the firm's HR and Compliance Training Group. She regularly litigates federal and state class and collective actions, defending employers nationwide against wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment and whistleblower claims, breach of employment agreements and more. Her work brings her before federal, state and municipal agencies, from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor to local human relations commissions.

A regularly requested speaker before national and international audiences, Bunting frequently advises multinational clients on effective workforce policies and practices as well as compliance.

Cowman co-chairs Greenberg Traurig's International Employment, Immigration & Workforce Strategies Group. He focuses his practice on transnational projects and transactions, international agreements, public international law and policy, and corporate compliance. His broad range of international experience representing and advising governments and international agencies on policy issues, as well as multinationals in industries ranging from logistics and transportation to energy and private equity.

Story continues

Since 2011, Cowman has served as an adjunct professor of international business at the Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas. He also is a longtime member of both the International Labor and Employment Law Committee of the U.S. Council for International Business and the board of directors for the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations.

About Greenberg Traurig's Labor & Employment Practice: Greenberg Traurig's Global Labor & Employment Practice serves clients from offices throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Members of the practice have had numerous trial wins and are frequently called upon to handle complex, bet-the-company, and large high-stake cases, including nationwide class and collective actions. On the labor side, a leading group of lawyers regularly represents management with labor-relations matters. Labor & Employment team members assist clients with complex employment issues, and design practical, proactive strategies that can be readily implemented by today's human resources professionals. In addition, the practice is recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the areas of Labor and Employment Litigation, Labor-Management Relations, ERISA Litigation, Workplace & Employment Counseling, and Trade Secrets Litigation. Visit Greenberg Traurig's Labor & Employment Blog for insights and analysis of the latest labor and employment developments, including legislation, regulations, cases, policies, and trends.

About Greenberg Traurig's Philadelphia Office: Founded in 1997, Greenberg Traurig's Philadelphia office is home to more than 50 attorneys and more than a dozen practices including Real Estate, Litigation, Labor & Employment, Corporate, Environmental, Restructuring & Bankruptcy, White Collar Defense & Special Investigations, Immigration & Compliance, Investment Regulation, Public Finance, Government Law & Policy, Private Wealth Services, and Tax. The Philadelphia office represents clients in the manufacturing, health care, real estate, energy, financial, and insurance industries, state and local governments, professional service, and energy firms, and individuals.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP  Texas: Texas is important to Greenberg Traurig, LLP and part of its history. With more than 130 Texas lawyers in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Greenberg Traurig, LLP has deep roots in the Texas business, legal, and governmental communities. Greenberg Traurig Texas works with clients to address their interdisciplinary legal needs across the state utilizing the firm's global platform. The Texas attorneys are experienced in industries key to the state's future, including: aviation, chemicals, construction, education, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, health care, hedge funds, hospitality, infrastructure, insurance, media, medical devices, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, real estate, retail, sports, technology and software, telecommunications, transportation, and video games and esports.

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, LLP
Green Generation (GreenGen), a global provider of energy efficiency solutions, announced today that it has been awarded a Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Alabama. GreenGen is one of only four small businesses on-ramped to the $1.5 billion contract for the design, installation, and operation of energy savings projects to help military installations meet mandated energy savings goals.

"GreenGen is looking forward to providing value to the Army Corps of Engineers, which we have been successfully doing in the commercial real estate industry for the last nine years," says Brad Dockser, chief executive officer of GreenGen. "We are proud that the Army Corps of Engineers is making a commitment to meet energy and sustainability goals, and the entire GreenGen team is honored to be part of this process."

The IDIQ Energy Savings Performance Contracting MATOC allows federal agencies to enter into partnerships with ESCOs to perform energy savings and facility improvements. By fronting capital costs, the contract allows the Army to prioritize projects that support readiness and focus on modernization and reform. Typical ESPC energy conservation measures include, but are not limited to, lighting retrofits, renewable energy systems, air handling equipment controls, upgrading HVAC systems, and more to help the Army meet sustainability goals.

"The implications of being awarded this contract are game-changing for GreenGen. This opens up our capabilities to work with the government and has the potential to double our operational capacity," said Colonel Rick Gonder (USA Ret.), GreenGens Vice President for Project Management. "Expanding our work in the public sector is an important component of our strategic roadmap."

Story continues

This is the latest in a series of U.S. government contracts awarded to GreenGen. Previous contracts include a GSA Schedule 84 in 2014 and, in the last six years, a Task Order for seven ESPC ENABLE Projects. These include GSA Hammond, CBP Yuma, US Forest Service Region 5, GSA Michigan, US Forest Service Region 6, GSA Region 7, and GSA Region 5. By bringing increased energy efficiency to government agencies through ESPC ENABLE projects, GreenGen helps save U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars while improving overall sustainability.

About Green Generation

Green Generation (GreenGen) transforms the world's built environment through its visionary turnkey approach to innovation and solutions by integrating energy, real estate, technology, and capital markets to Operate in the Green. From offices in Washington DC, London, Tokyo, and Shanghai, GreenGen helps its clients use energy as a driver of value and sustainability across all asset types around the world. For more information, please visit greengen.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005051/en/

Contacts

Jenny Wang

+1 814.506.4597

jenny.wang@kglobal.com
TORONTO , July 8, 2020 /CNW/ - Guyana Goldfields Inc. (GUY.TO) (the "Company", "our", or "we") announced today that we have processed the last batch of ore from stockpile and will continue to recover gold in circuit inventory over the next several days. Thereafter, as previously announced, the mine site will go into a period of care and maintenance.

Gold production for the second quarter totaled 28,500 ounces, bringing total gold production for the first half of the year to 56,600 ounces. This is above our guidance of 45,000 to 50,000 ounces for the first half of 2020 as disclosed on May 28 , 2020. Our unaudited cash balance as at June 30, 2020 was US$28.8 million (inclusive of US$10 million restricted cash[1]) with US$6.5 million in debt. As part of the transaction announced with Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. (601899.SS) (2899.HK) ("Zijin"), a US$30 million secured loan facility (the "Zijin Facility") was provided to the Company. The loan balance of US$6.5 million is as a result of the first advance under the Zijin Facility, following our payment to Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp") of the C$9.0 termination fee on June 11, 2020 to terminate the Company's previous arrangement agreement with Silvercorp.

Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders

As previously announced, on June 12, 2020 , the Company entered into an arrangement agreement with Zijin pursuant to which Zijin has agreed to acquire, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company not already owned by Zijin (the "Arrangement") for cash consideration of C$1.85 per share. The management information circular and related materials in connection with the upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting"), at which, among other matters, the Arrangement will be voted on by shareholders, were mailed last week to shareholders of the Company of record as of June 23 , 2020. The board of directors of the Company has unanimously recommended that Company shareholders vote FOR each of the special resolution approving the Arrangement and the special resolution approving the reduction in the stated capital of the Company shares in order to satisfy certain requirements under the Canada Business Corporations Act in respect of the Arrangement. Shareholders are encouraged to vote via their form of proxy or voting instruction form (as applicable) in advance of the Meeting.

Story continues

Any questions regarding the Meeting can be directed to our strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent Kingsdale Advisors at 1-800-775-1986, or collect call outside North America at 416-867-2272, or by e-mail at contactus@kingsdaleadvisors.com

About Guyana Goldfields Inc.

Guyana Goldfields Inc. is a Canadian based gold producer primarily focused on the exploration, development and operation of gold deposits in Guyana , South America .

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements and information with respect to the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, the Meeting and its financial and operational results. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are based on various assumptions.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: a delay in the Meeting date, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; unforeseen operational issues and other difficulties in the execution of mine plans; delays in the development of projects; general business, economic, competitive, political, health and social uncertainties; political instability and government action; as well as those factors discussed in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR 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 statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

_____________________________ 1 Per the terms of the Company's loan agreement dated June 11, 2020 with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zijin, the Company is required to maintain a minimum US$10 million cash balance at all times.

SOURCE Guyana Goldfields Inc.

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2020/08/c5283.html
Regulatory News:

Pursuant to the liquidity contract granted by Genkyotex (Paris:GKTX) (Brussels:GKTX) to Kepler Cheuvreux, the following assets appeared on the liquidity account as of June 30, 2020:

11,465 Genkyotex shares,

7,330.03 in cash.

During the first half of 2020, the following has been executed:

- 262 executions on buy side

- 185 executions on sell side

During the same period, the volume traded was as follows:

- 71,504 shares for 154,179.10 euros on buy side

- 67,828 shares for 147,094.25 euros on sell side

As a reminder, under the liquidity contract the following assets appeared on the liquidity account at December 31, 2019:

7,789 Genkyotex shares,

14,388.70 in cash.

It is also to recalled that the following resources appeared on the liquidity account when the activity started:

73,832 shares

47,124.12 in cash.

The liquidity agreement complies with AMF Decision n 2018-01 dated July 2nd, 2018, introducing liquidity agreements on equity securities as permitted market practice.

About Genkyotex

Genkyotex is the leading biopharmaceutical company in NOX therapies, listed on the Euronext Paris and Euronext Brussels markets. Its unique platform enables the identification of orally available small-molecules which selectively inhibit specific NOX enzymes that amplify multiple disease processes such as fibrosis, inflammation, pain processing, cancer development, and neurodegeneration. Genkyotex is developing a pipeline of first-in-class product candidates targeting one or multiple NOX enzymes. The lead product candidate, setanaxib (GKT831), a NOX1 and NOX4 inhibitor has shown evidence of anti-fibrotic activity in a Phase II clinical trial in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC, a fibrotic orphan disease). Based on its positive Phase II results, a Phase 3 trial with setanaxib in PBC is being planned. Setanaxib is also being evaluated in an investigator-initiated Phase 2 clinical trial in Type 1 Diabetes and Kidney Disease (DKD). A grant from the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) of $8.9 million was awarded to Professor Victor Thannickal at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to fund a multi-year research program evaluating the role of NOX enzymes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic lung disease that results in fibrosis of the lungs. The core component of this program is a Phase 2 trial with setanaxib in patients with IPF scheduled to recruit patients in the course of 2020. This product candidate may also be active in other fibrotic indications.

Story continues

Genkyotex also has a versatile platform well-suited to the development of various immunotherapies (Vaxiclase). A partnership covering the use of Vaxiclase as an antigen per se (GTL003) has been established with Serum Institute of India Private Ltd (Serum Institute), the worlds largest producer of vaccine doses, for the development by Serum Institute of cellular multivalent combination vaccines against a variety of infectious diseases.

For further information, please go to www.genkyotex.com

Disclaimer

This press release may contain forward-looking statements by the company with respect to its objectives. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs, estimates and expectations of Genkyotexs management and are subject to risks and uncertainties such as the company's ability to implement its chosen strategy, customer market trends, changes in technologies and in the company's competitive environment, changes in regulations, clinical or industrial risks and all risks linked to the company's growth. These factors as well as other risks and uncertainties may prevent the company from achieving the objectives outlined in the press release and actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, due to various factors. Without being exhaustive, such factors include uncertainties involved in the development of Genkyotexs products, which may not succeed, or in the delivery of Genkyotexs products marketing authorizations by the relevant regulatory authorities and, in general, any factor that could affects Genkyotexs capacity to commercialize the products it develops. No guarantee is given on forward-looking statements which are subject to a number of risks, notably those described in the universal registration document filed with the AMF on April, 2020 under number 20-0434, and those linked to changes in economic conditions, the financial markets, or the markets on which Genkyotex is present. Genkyotex products are currently used for clinical trials only and are not otherwise available for distribution or sale.

APPENDIX

Buy Side Sell Side Number of

executions Number of

shares Traded volume

in EUR Number of

executions Number of

shares Traded volume

in EUR Total 262 71,504 154,179.10 185 67,828 147,094.25 03/01/2020 5 1,300 2,795.00 - - - 06/01/2020 5 1,500 3,045.00 - - - 07/01/2020 2 500 1,010.00 - - - 08/01/2020 1 1 2.05 1 1 2.05 09/01/2020 4 549 1,119.96 1 1 2.06 10/01/2020 2 500 1,010.00 - - - 13/01/2020 - - - 6 1,800 3,744.00 14/01/2020 - - - 9 2,300 5,382.00 15/01/2020 4 1,000 2,230.00 - - - 16/01/2020 - - - 3 1,500 3,420.00 17/01/2020 8 3,000 6,420.00 - - - 20/01/2020 2 1,000 2,030.00 - - - 21/01/2020 2 600 1,206.00 - - - 24/01/2020 1 300 597.00 - - - 27/01/2020 4 600 1,182.00 - - - 28/01/2020 1 300 582.00 - - - 29/01/2020 2 300 579.00 1 286 572.00 30/01/2020 2 500 970.00 - - - 03/02/2020 2 600 1,146.00 - - - 04/02/2020 3 2,577 4,896.30 4 3,879 7,408.89 05/02/2020 - - - 10 4,836 9,817.08 06/02/2020 - - - 1 500 1,035.00 07/02/2020 2 501 1,027.05 2 501 1,052.10 10/02/2020 - - - 2 500 1,075.00 13/02/2020 1 1 2.12 1 1 2.12 14/02/2020 - - - 3 500 1,100.00 17/02/2020 - - - 2 1,000 2,350.00 18/02/2020 3 1,000 2,480.00 - - - 19/02/2020 2 1,000 2,430.00 2 1,000 2,580.00 20/02/2020 3 1,000 2,330.00 4 1,000 2,560.00 21/02/2020 2 678 1,525.50 1 500 1,200.00 24/02/2020 6 2,322 5,131.62 - - - 25/02/2020 - - - 2 1,000 2,200.00 26/02/2020 - - - 1 1,000 2,260.00 27/02/2020 5 1,500 3,285.00 - - - 28/02/2020 7 2,000 4,020.00 - - - 02/03/2020 - - - 2 3,000 6,870.00 03/03/2020 - - - 2 1,500 3,435.00 04/03/2020 - - - 7 2,000 5,200.00 05/03/2020 3 1,500 3,450.00 - - - 06/03/2020 12 3,500 7,875.00 - - - 09/03/2020 2 1,000 2,090.00 - - - 11/03/2020 2 500 1,055.00 - - - 12/03/2020 10 3,024 5,896.80 - - - 13/03/2020 - - - 3 2,000 3,600.00 16/03/2020 5 1,200 2,004.00 - - - 17/03/2020 - - - 5 2,128 3,468.64 18/03/2020 - - - 5 1,500 2,280.00 19/03/2020 1 1 1.56 3 1,001 1,601.60 20/03/2020 1 1 1.61 6 2,673 4,544.10 23/03/2020 1 500 800.00 - - -

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200706005426/en/

Contacts

GENKYOTEX

Alexandre Grassin

CFO

Tel.: +33 (0)5 61 28 70 60

investors@genkyotex.com

NewCap

Dusan Oresansky

Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 92

genkyotex@newcap.eu
Click here to read the full article.

MILAN  Luxury Living Group has found a lifeline.

Lifestyle Design (Poltrona Frau Group) together with Haworth Inc. have acquired the storied Italian furniture and interiors design company.

The transaction will be made through the Michigan-based companys Italian subsidiary, Haworth Italy Holding, while Luxury Living Group will operate under the Lifestyle Design Division, with brands including Cappellini, Cassina, Ceccotti, Dzine, Karakter, Janus et Cie, Luminaire and Poltrona Frau.

Over the last 30 years, Luxury Living has produced and distributed high-end designs under licensing agreements with the likes of Fendi Casa, Bentley Home, Trussardi Casa and Bugatti Home, as well as its own Luxury Living brand.

With revenues of 90 million euros and about 250 employees, Luxury Living in June had filed a petition for a composition with creditors.

Luxury Living was founded by Alberto Vignatelli, president and chief executive officer, who died in 2017 at age 75.

We have long believed in the opportunity and potential of creating a pole of licenses with luxury brands, Dario Rinero, ceo of Lifestyle Design, told WWD, pointing to Luxottica in the eyewear segment as an example. With Poltrona Frau, Lifestyle Design has collaborated with Bottega Veneta and, for a few years, with Versace. We realized there already was an operator adopting that model with quality products, and that was Luxury Living. We had courted Alberto Vignatelli for a while, to no avail though.

Rinero said he could not disclose the amount paid for Luxury Living, which had been weighed down by financial difficulties, worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. While mulling the idea of a merger for years, Rinero emphasized the deal was now signed with a different view on things. We feel we can help a great group that has a strong potential. We are sure it will restart and return to the precrisis levels, further expanding.

Story continues

For comparison, in 2017 the company registered sales of 120 million euros. Rinero said he was convinced Luxury Living only needed a chance to operate within a solid and larger group. The deal is also a sign of optimism and positivity for the country, he added.

Vignatelli kicked off his entrepreneurial career in the interior design sector in 1960 in Forli, Italy and in 1988 he teamed with the late Carla Fendi to launch the Fendi Casa line. I was genuinely impressed by his qualities, typical of the best Italian entrepreneurship: dream, vision, effective planning and determination, resilience, inner strength, said Rinero of Vignatelli, praising his team of qualified and motivated people, representing today the most important enterprise value.

Following the acquisition, his wife Olga Shvilli Vignatelli, who helped develop the company globally, will retain her role as vice president and brand ambassador of the group. She praised Lifestyle Design as solid and farsighted, underscoring how each one of the acquired companies has preserved and fed its identity, the founders continue to contribute to their development and the financial strength of the group has allowed investing in new stores and plants. I therefore trust that with Luxury Living as well we will soon develop important synergies and system efficiencies, securing its uniqueness and prospering in the future.

Luxury Living, helmed by ceo Renato Preti, mainly operates through a worldwide network of 80 retailers along with seven directly owned stores in Milan, Forli, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. The group is also planning the reopening of the London store and two flagships in Shanghai and San Francisco in 2021.

China is Luxury Livings main market, accounting for almost 50 percent of sales, Rinero said. Exports represent 95 percent of business.

The licensing business will continue to be strategically very important, the executive said. The idea is to focus on a few licenses with great potential, rather than many in number but small. This is a very complex business and we must work closely with each maison. He touted Haworths simple but efficient business model, which allows each company to be independent, supported by the parent groups financial muscle and strategic lead. There are efficient synergies at work, but the distinctiveness of each brand is fully respected.

Asked about the impact of COVID-19 on peoples wish to invest more in their personal surroundings, Rinero said many are rediscovering their homes and are inspired with a desire to improve and evolve them by the lockdown. We will need another five or six months before we all understand what has happened, but many observers believe that people will eat out much less and entertain more at home. All this has generated interest in our sector and, although its performance is below last years, we are moderately confident.

Haworth was founded in 1948 by the namesake family, whose third generation still owns the company. It manufactures flexible and sustainable workspaces, with products includes movable walls, systems furniture, chairs, floating floors and communication technologies. The company had been a partner of high-end furnishing company Poltrona Frau SpA for North America since 2011.

In 2014, Haworth took control of Poltrona Frau from shareholders Charme Investments Ltd. and Moschini Srl, and delisted the firm.

Lifestyle Designs revenues exceed 500 million euros and it counts 1,800 employees, representing today one of the largest groups operating in this field.

Haworths sales total more than $2 billion.

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Click here to read the full article.

MILAN  Luxury Living Group has found a lifeline.

Lifestyle Design (Poltrona Frau Group) together with Haworth Inc. have acquired the storied Italian furniture and interiors design company.

More from WWD

The transaction will be made through the Michigan-based companys Italian subsidiary, Haworth Italy Holding, while Luxury Living Group will operate under the Lifestyle Design Division, with brands including Cappellini, Cassina, Ceccotti, Dzine, Karakter, Janus et Cie, Luminaire and Poltrona Frau.

Over the last 30 years, Luxury Living has produced and distributed high-end designs under licensing agreements with the likes of Fendi Casa, Bentley Home, Trussardi Casa and Bugatti Home, as well as its own Luxury Living brand.

With revenues of 90 million euros and about 250 employees, Luxury Living in June had filed a petition for a composition with creditors.

Luxury Living was founded by Alberto Vignatelli, president and chief executive officer, who died in 2017 at age 75.

We have long believed in the opportunity and potential of creating a pole of licenses with luxury brands, Dario Rinero, ceo of Lifestyle Design, told WWD, pointing to Luxottica in the eyewear segment as an example. With Poltrona Frau, Lifestyle Design has collaborated with Bottega Veneta and, for a few years, with Versace. We realized there already was an operator adopting that model with quality products, and that was Luxury Living. We had courted Alberto Vignatelli for a while, to no avail though.

Rinero said he could not disclose the amount paid for Luxury Living, which had been weighed down by financial difficulties, worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. While mulling the idea of a merger for years, Rinero emphasized the deal was now signed with a different view on things. We feel we can help a great group that has a strong potential. We are sure it will restart and return to the precrisis levels, further expanding.

Story continues

For comparison, in 2017 the company registered sales of 120 million euros. Rinero said he was convinced Luxury Living only needed a chance to operate within a solid and larger group. The deal is also a sign of optimism and positivity for the country, he added.

Vignatelli kicked off his entrepreneurial career in the interior design sector in 1960 in Forli, Italy and in 1988 he teamed with the late Carla Fendi to launch the Fendi Casa line. I was genuinely impressed by his qualities, typical of the best Italian entrepreneurship: dream, vision, effective planning and determination, resilience, inner strength, said Rinero of Vignatelli, praising his team of qualified and motivated people, representing today the most important enterprise value.

Following the acquisition, his wife Olga Shvilli Vignatelli, who helped develop the company globally, will retain her role as vice president and brand ambassador of the group. She praised Lifestyle Design as solid and farsighted, underscoring how each one of the acquired companies has preserved and fed its identity, the founders continue to contribute to their development and the financial strength of the group has allowed investing in new stores and plants. I therefore trust that with Luxury Living as well we will soon develop important synergies and system efficiencies, securing its uniqueness and prospering in the future.

Luxury Living, helmed by ceo Renato Preti, mainly operates through a worldwide network of 80 retailers along with seven directly owned stores in Milan, Forli, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. The group is also planning the reopening of the London store and two flagships in Shanghai and San Francisco in 2021.

China is Luxury Livings main market, accounting for almost 50 percent of sales, Rinero said. Exports represent 95 percent of business.

The licensing business will continue to be strategically very important, the executive said. The idea is to focus on a few licenses with great potential, rather than many in number but small. This is a very complex business and we must work closely with each maison. He touted Haworths simple but efficient business model, which allows each company to be independent, supported by the parent groups financial muscle and strategic lead. There are efficient synergies at work, but the distinctiveness of each brand is fully respected.

Asked about the impact of COVID-19 on peoples wish to invest more in their personal surroundings, Rinero said many are rediscovering their homes and are inspired with a desire to improve and evolve them by the lockdown. We will need another five or six months before we all understand what has happened, but many observers believe that people will eat out much less and entertain more at home. All this has generated interest in our sector and, although its performance is below last years, we are moderately confident.

Haworth was founded in 1948 by the namesake family, whose third generation still owns the company. It manufactures flexible and sustainable workspaces, with products includes movable walls, systems furniture, chairs, floating floors and communication technologies. The company had been a partner of high-end furnishing company Poltrona Frau SpA for North America since 2011.

In 2014, Haworth took control of Poltrona Frau from shareholders Charme Investments Ltd. and Moschini Srl, and delisted the firm.

Lifestyle Designs revenues exceed 500 million euros and it counts 1,800 employees, representing today one of the largest groups operating in this field.

Haworths sales total more than $2 billion.
Hickory Tavern, Charlotte's original social gathering spot, has launched a restaurant-wide promotion centered around Sierra Nevada summer brews, offering guests the chance to win a VIP experience to Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's brewery near Asheville, North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Hickory Tavern, Charlotte's original social gathering spot, has launched a restaurant-wide promotion centered around Sierra Nevada summer brews, offering guests the chance to win a VIP experience to Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's brewery near Asheville, North Carolina. This monthly feature and giveaway opportunity begins today and will run through Friday, July 31.

For the month of July, guests at Hickory Tavern will have a chance to win a trip-for-two to Asheville, consisting of a private tour and dinner at Sierra Nevada brewery along with a gift from their retail store. In addition to the experience, the winner will a $250 travel voucher and a $50 gift card to Hickory Tavern's Asheville location. Guests can enter by joining our e-Club where they will receive an entry or by visiting us in-store for more details.

"Hickory Tavern has an incredible fan base, and we are excited to bring a fun opportunity to reward our loyal guests. Always mindful of the current state of the industry, we wanted to create some excitement and a sense of normalcy, while following the CDC and state guidelines," states Tammy Lucich, director of marketing and beverage for Hickory Tavern.

The limited time offer, and opportunity consists of three Sierra Nevada beers: Hazy Little Thing, Wild Little Thing and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. These beers are paired with Hickory Tavern's flavorful Pow Pow Shrimp appetizer, featuring crispy shrimp and broccoli tossed in a creamy and spicy house-made sauce.

For more information and locations, visit http://www.thehickorytavern.com.

###

Media Contact:

Tammy Lucich, Director of Marketing and Beverage

The Hickory Tavern

(678) 372-9469

SOURCE Hickory Tavern
HONG KONG, July 8 (Reuters) - Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday banned school students from singing of "Glory to Hong Kong", the unofficial anthem of the pro-democracy protest movement, just hours after Beijing set up its new national security bureau in the Chinese-ruled city.

New security legislation imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing requires the Asian financial hub to "promote national security education in schools and universities and through social organisations, the media, the internet".

The school anthem ban will further stoked concerns that new security laws will crush freedoms in China's freest city, days after public libraries removed books by some prominent pro-democracy figures from their shelves.

Authorities also banned protest slogans as the new laws came into force last week.

The sweeping legislation that Beijing imposed on the former British colony punishes what China defines as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with up to life in prison.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung, responding to a question from a lawmaker, said students should not participate in class boycotts, chant slogans, form human chains or sing songs that contain political messages.

"The song 'Glory to Hong Kong', originated from the social incidents since June last year, contains strong political messages and is closely related to the social and political incidents, violence and illegal incidents that have lasted for months," Yeung said. "Schools must not allow students to play, sing or broadcast it in schools."

Earlier on Wednesday, China opened its new national security office, turning a hotel near a city-centre park that has been one of the most popular venues for pro-democracy protests into its new headquarters.

Both Hong Kong and Chinese government officials have said the new law is vital to plug gaping holes in national security defences exposed by the anti-government and anti-China protests that rocked the city in the past year.

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They have argued the city failed to pass such laws by itself as required under its mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law.

Critics of the law see it as a tool to crush dissent, while supporters say it will bring stability to the city.

In a statement last month, China's Hong Kong Liaison Office, Beijing's top representative office in the city, blamed political groups "with ulterior motives" for "shocking chaos in Hong Kong education. (Reporting by Twinnie Siu and Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Michael Perry)
High levels of mask wearing could reduce forecasted deaths by over 45,000

SEATTLE, July 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In its first projections of COVID-19 deaths out to November 1, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington is forecasting more than 200,000 deaths in the United States.

(PRNewsfoto/Institute for Health Metrics an)

The forecast shows 208,255 deaths (with a range of 186,087 to 244,541). Those numbers drop to 162,808 (157,217 to 171,193), if at least 95% of people wear masks in public.

"We can now see the projected trajectory of the epidemic into the fall, and many states are expected to experience significant increases in cases and deaths in September and October," said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray. "However, as we all have come to recognize, wearing masks can substantially reduce transmission of the virus. Mask mandates delay the need for re-imposing closures of businesses and have huge economic benefits. Moreover, those who refuse masks are putting their lives, their families, their friends, and their communities at risk."

IHME's new projections include the re-imposition of strong social distancing mandates when deaths per day reach a level of 8 per one million people, comparing that with a forecast if no action is taken, and a forecast if social distancing mandates are combined with at least 95% mask wearing in public spaces. Florida and Massachusetts 17,472 (11,275 to 32,577) and 12,906 (11,017 to 16,873), respectively, are expected to reach 8 per million deaths by November 1. The forecast for Florida, which is expected to reach 8 per million deaths on October 1, differs by 6,173 deaths if the state does not re-impose social distancing mandates. If mask wearing reaches 95%, that number drops to 9,849 (7,921 to 14,052).

The projections may increase if the current surge in infections spreads more widely in at-risk populations. Current data from states reporting the age breakdown of cases suggest that more cases are being detected in young people, who have a lower risk of death.

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The forecasts also show deaths beginning to increase again in many states in mid- to late September, due to the expected seasonality of COVID-19. Current data show a strong statistical relationship between COVID-19 transmission and pneumonia seasonality, which is included as a covariate in the model.

"The US didn't experience a true end to the first wave of the pandemic," Murray said. "This will not spare us from a second surge in the fall, which will hit particularly hard in states currently seeing high levels of infections."

The forecasts by state (assuming social distancing mandates will be re-imposed when deaths reach 8 per million) are:

Alabama: 3,443 (range of 2,117 to 6,260)

Alaska: 14 (range of 13 to 15)

Arizona: 5,553 (range of 3,905 to 8,621)

Arkansas: 724 (range of 431 to 1,371)

California: 16,827 (range of 13,131 to 24,278)

Colorado: 1,937 (range of 1,765 to 2,508)

Connecticut: 4,692 (range of 4,550 to 5,005)

Delaware: 606 (range of 568 to 683)

District of Columbia: 666 (range of 622 to 760)

Florida: 17,472 (range of 11,275 to 32,577)

Georgia: 3,857 (range of 3,298 to 5,031)

Hawaii: 18 (range of 17 to 19)

Idaho: 120 (range of 105 to 152)

Illinois: 8,907 (range of 8,177 to 9,994)

Indiana: 3,400 (range of 3,112 to 3,870)

Iowa: 841 (range of 796 to 925)

Kansas: 632 (range of 398 to 1,243)

Kentucky: 1,139 (range of 773 to 2,295)

Louisiana: 4,643 (range of 3,958 to 5,973)

Maine: 125 (range of 116 to 145)

Maryland: 3,880 (range of 3,685 to 4,213)

Massachusetts: 12,906 (range of 11,017 to 16,873)

Michigan: 7,114 (range of 6,757 to 7,912)

Minnesota: 1,951 (range of 1,774 to 2,345)

Mississippi: 2,438 (range of 1,805 to 3,807)

Missouri: 1,757 (range of 1,349 to 2,615)

Montana: 22 (range of 21 to 24)

Nebraska: 588 (range of 404 to 989)

Nevada: 1,304 (range of 731 to 3,366)

New Hampshire: 704 (range of 500 to 1,218)

New Jersey: 16,970 (range of 16,382 to 17,891)

New Mexico: 924 (range of 622 to 1,881)

New York: 32,221 (range of 32,022 to 32,468)

North Carolina: 2,351 (range of 1,856 to 3,487)

North Dakota: 97 (range of 90 to 110)

Ohio: 5,712 (range of 4,130 to 10,296)

Oklahoma: 587 (range of 497 to 790)

Oregon: 471 (range of 333 to 778)

Pennsylvania: 9,999 (range of 8,265 to 14,573)

Rhode Island: 1,282 (range of 1,161 to 1,492)

South Carolina: 4,059 (range of 2,175 to 8,225)

South Dakota: 242 (range of 143 to 476)

Tennessee: 1,908 (range of 1,098 to 3,714)

Texas: 13,450 (range of 8,967 to 22,738)

Utah: 396 (range of 276 to 636)

Vermont: 59 (range of 58 to 61)

Virginia: 5,190 (range of 3,364 to 9,878)

Washington: 2,510 (range of 2,048 to 3,331)

West Virginia: 118 (range of 105 to 143)

Wisconsin: 1,410 (range of 1,112 to 2,072)

Wyoming: 18 (range of 18 to 19)

Washington: 2,510 (range of 2,048 to 3,331)

IHME will continue to forecast for different scenarios, including planned intermittent mandates in the fall when deaths per day are expected to reach higher levels within each state, recognizing that solutions are not uniform across communities.

The new death projections and other information, such as hospital resources usage, are available at https://covid19.healthdata.org .

IHME wishes to warmly acknowledge the support of these and others who have made our COVID-19 estimation efforts possible. Thank you.

About the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent global health research organization at the University of Washington School of Medicine that provides rigorous and comparable measurement of the world's most important health problems and evaluates the strategies used to address them. IHME is committed to transparency and makes this information widely available so that policymakers have the evidence they need to make informed decisions on allocating resources to improve population health.

Cision

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SOURCE Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
Ex-manager of All-Russian Society of Deaf ordered to 4-year jail for fraud

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

17:32 08/07/2020

MOSCOW, July 8 (RAPSI)  Moscows Tushinsky District Court has sentenced a former chief of one of the departments of the All-Russian Society of the Deaf to 4 years behind bars for fraud, the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office reports.

According to court records, between 2014 and 2017, the defendant, in accordance to his role in a criminal group, locating in the offices in Moscow and Cheboksary, submitted forged documents on the execution of signed contracts for employment of disabled persons and creation of additional workplaces based on three legal entities as part of one of the state programs to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

Damage caused by his actions was estimated at more than 30 million rubles (over $420,000), the statement reads.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Indiana State Senator Eddie D. Melton has released the following statement in response to the videotaped attack against Vauhxx Rush Booker as reported by The Bloomingtonian newspaper on July 5: https://bloomingtonian.com/2020/07/05/bloomington-man-threatened-with-noose-during-assault-at-lake-monroe/

I wholeheartedly condemn the recent racist acts that took place in Bloomington, Indiana against Vauhxx Rush Booker. Every time our state fails to deliver the swift justice that situations like this demand, we are being shown that we are far from having total and complete justice for every Hoosier in Indiana.

This tragic incident and the hesitation shown by the Department of Natural Resources in arresting those shown in the video assaulting and threatening to lynch Mr. Booker, speaks volumes about our current fight against racism.

I join my colleague, Senator Mark Stoops, of Bloomington in calling on Governor Holcomb to immediately suspend the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officers involved pending further investigation. I also urge the local authorities to act swiftly and bring those involved to justice.

For over a month, the members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and I have been calling on the governor to take action on policing reform in Indiana. With this latest situation, I urge the governor to act with a sense of urgency on these issues.

- Eddie D. Melton Indiana Senate District 3

About Eddie D. Melton:

Eddie Melton was elected as State Senator for Indianas 3rd District on November 8, 2016. He also was a Gubernatorial candidate in 2020. In the State Assembly, Senator Melton has led the charge to return Gary to economic vibrance. His success in passing an ambitious economic development bill for Gary that allows the casino to move, the Gary Port Authority to establish a multimodal district with a railroad and helps establish a community foundation will spur economic development of the area.

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Senator Melton serves on the following Standing Committees: Appropriations, School Funding Subcommittee, Education and Career Development (where he serves as the Ranking Minority Member), Health and Provider Services, Homeland Security and Transportation, Veterans Affairs and The Military. He is Deputy Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party. Melton was elected by lawmakers from around the country to serve on the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators.

Melton has served as chairman of the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males, has served on the State Board of Education, representing the First Congressional District of Indiana and has also served as a national board member for the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE). Melton has been recognized with multiple awards and accolades, such as; the top 20 Under 40 young professionals in Northwest Indiana by The NWI Times Media Company (2010) and is a (2012) South Shore Leadership Award winner and Freshman Legislator of the Year by the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities.

In 2015, he worked with President Barack Obamas Administration in implementing My Brothers Keeper, an initiative designed to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and received a B.S. of Organizational Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph.

Eddie has spent his life working to give a voice to the voiceless.

For More Information Contact:

Taroue Brooks

Taroue.brooks@yahoo.com

202-431-1119

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ab2f3564-6e9e-4252-abe1-e06c39ecc044

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38676500-9208-4d74-a76d-c47bff655ee4




By Katharine Houreld and David Lewis

NAIROBI, July 8 (Reuters) - When the new coronavirus hit Tanzania in mid-April, President John Magufuli called for three days of national prayer to seek Gods protection from the scourge. Barely a month later, he claimed victory over the disease and invited tourists to return to his East African nation.

His rush to reopen came despite alarm from the World Health Organization (WHO) over an almost total lack of information on the spread of the virus in the country of 55 million people, which has one of the regions weakest healthcare systems.

The shortage of reliable data afflicts many African nations, with some governments reluctant to acknowledge epidemics or to expose their crumbling health systems to outside scrutiny. Other nations simply cannot carry out significant testing because they are so ravaged by poverty and conflict.

Sharing information is vital to tackling the pandemic in Africa  both for planning the response and mobilising donor funding - public health experts say. As things stand, it is impossible to gauge the full severity of the contagion across the continent.

According to the latest data collated by Reuters, Africa, with a population of 1.3 billion people, had over 493,000 confirmed cases and 11,600 deaths. By comparison, Latin America, with roughly half the population, had 2.9 million cases and 129,900 deaths.

The official numbers make it seem as though the illness has skirted much of Africa, but the real picture is certain to be worse, with WHO special envoy Samba Sow warning on May 25 of a possible silent epidemic if testing was not prioritised.

By July 7, 4,200 tests per million people had been carried out across the continent, according to a Reuters analysis of figures from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a body set up by the African Union in 2017. That compares with averages of 7,650 in Asia and 74,255 in Europe.

Interviews with dozens of health workers, diplomats and local officials revealed not just a scarcity of reliable testing in most countries, but also the lengths some governments have gone to prevent news of infection rates from emerging, even if that meant they missed out on donor funding.

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We cannot help a country against its own will, Michel Yao, head of emergency operations for the WHO in Africa, told Reuters. In some countries, they are having meetings and not inviting us. We are supposed to be the main technical advisor. Yao declined to single out countries, saying the WHO needed to preserve a working relationship with governments.

For more details, see this graphic: https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/AFRICADATA/dgkplxkmlpb/

TROUBLE IN TANZANIA

Tanzania confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 16. The next day, the government convened a task force to coordinate the response with international partners including the WHO, foreign embassies, donors and aid agencies, multiple sources said.

This body never met again with outsiders, two foreign officials familiar with the situation told Reuters, while government officials failed to show up to dozens of subsequent coronavirus-related meetings, they said.

Its very clear the government does not want any information about the state of COVID in the country, said one aid official, who like many of those interviewed by Reuters for this story, asked not to be identified for fear of antagonizing political leaders.

Tanzanias health minister Ummy Mwalimu and government spokesman did not respond to phone calls or emailed questions raised by this article about their handling of the crisis. The spokesman, Hassan Abbasi, has previously denied withholding information about the countrys epidemic.

Tanzania has not published nationwide figures since May 8, when it had recorded 509 cases and 21 deaths. Days earlier, President Magufuli dismissed testing kits imported from abroad as faulty, saying on national television that they had also returned positive results on samples taken from a goat and a pawpaw fruit.

According to three emails seen by Reuters sent between May 8-13, the WHO believed it had reached an agreement with the government to let it take part in joint surveillance missions around the country. However, a WHO spokeswoman said these were all cancelled on the day they were supposed to start, with no reason given.

Donors have released some $40 million to fund Tanzanias coronavirus response, two diplomatic sources involved said. But the countrys lack of engagement meant it had missed out on tens of millions of dollars more, another official said.

By mid-May, the government decided to ease its lockdown, despite doctors and diplomats saying the outbreak was far from contained. The U.S. Embassy warned its citizens on May 13 that hospitals in the main city Dar es Salaam were overwhelmed, an assertion denied at the time by the Tanzanian government.

Tanzanias failure to share information about its outbreak has frustrated its neighbours, who fear that gains won through painful lockdowns in their own countries could be jeopardized as Tanzanians cross porous borders.

The WHO organised a call on April 23 with African health ministers to discuss, among other things, a lack of information sharing, Yao said. He declined to say who was on the call, and Tanzania did not respond to requests for comment as to whether its minister participated.

The United Nations agency cannot compel cooperation and must tread carefully. When WHO officials expressed concern in late April about a lack of measures to contain the virus in Burundi, the tiny East African nation expelled its top representative and three other WHO experts without explanation on May 12.

Burundi was one of the first African countries to shut its borders in March, which seemed to slow the virus spread initially. But the country saw an uptick in suspected cases after rallies were held in the run-up to May 20 general elections, a health care provider said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Burundis 55-year-old president, Pierre Nkurunziza, died in early June amid speculation he had come down with COVID-19. The government said in a statement he had suffered a heart attack. An air ambulance service told Reuters it had flown his wife, Denise Bucumi, to Kenya on May 21 but declined to confirm reports in the Kenyan media that she had sought treatment for the coronavirus. A family spokesman declined to comment.

Burundi's new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, has promised measures to tackle the pandemic, including mass testing of people in areas suspected of being epicentres of the virus.

Another African state to fall out with the WHO was Equatorial Guinea. It hasnt shared figures with the U.N. agency since late May, when its government accused the WHO of inflating the caseload and demanded that it recall its representative. The WHO blamed a misunderstanding over data and denied any falsification of figures.

Mitoha Ondo'o Ayekaba, Equatorial Guineas deputy health minister, did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the dispute. The Central African country has continued to provide periodic updates to the Africa CDC, which puts the number of confirmed cases there at 3,071 with 51 deaths.

SURVEILLANCE GAPS

While some countries wont share information, others cant: Their health systems are too broken to carry out any large-scale testing, surveillance or contact tracing.

"Even at the best of times, collecting quality data from countries is not easy because people are stretched thin, said John Nkengasong, director of the Africa CDC. Combine that with an emergency, and it becomes very, very difficult.

For example, Islamist militants and ethnic militias operate across vast swathes of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, making it impossible for governments there to establish a nationwide picture of the spread of the illness.

As in other countries, a shortage of kits has led Burkina Faso to largely limit the number of tests it conducts to contacts of confirmed cases and people arriving from abroad. This means there is little data on local transmission, health ministry reports show.

Some countries, like Cameroon and Nigeria, have decentralised testing, but many others have very little capacity outside their capitals, said Franck Ale, an epidemiologist with the international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders).

Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation of 85 million that was already battling Ebola, was quick to suspend international flights and lock down parts of the capital Kinshasa when the virus hit in mid-March.

However, it took three months before the government was able to process tests outside Kinshasa, said Steve Ahuka, a member of Congos COVID-19 response committee, citing a lack of laboratories, equipment and personnel. In many areas, it still takes two weeks to get results, said two doctors.

South Africa, the continents most advanced economy, is one of the few to have rolled out mass testing. But it had a backlog of more than 63,000 unprocessed specimens as of June 10, because global suppliers were unable to meet its demand for laboratory kits, according to the health ministry. South Africas national laboratory service declined to disclose the current backlog.

In the absence of comprehensive testing data in other parts of the world, researchers look to different yardsticks to judge the prevalence of the coronavirus, including reviewing the number of deaths that exceed the average for the time of year.

But even that is not possible in most of Africa because data from previous years is lacking. Only eight countries - Algeria, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Egypt, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa - record more than 75% of their deaths, according to the United Nations. Ethiopia records less than 2%, the countrys health ministry said.

Without information about how severe an outbreak is and what resources are available to cope with it, nations risk lifting lockdowns too soon or maintaining them too long, said Amanda McClelland of the U.S.-based health policy initiative Resolve to Save Lives.

The big gap for us is really understanding the severity of the outbreak, she said. Without clarity on data, it is very hard to justify the economic pain that shutting down countries causes.

(Additional reporting by Paul Carsten and Camillus Eboh in Abuja, Hereward Holland in Calstock, England, Ryan McNeill in London, Giulia Paravicini in Addis Ababa, and Alexander Winning in Johannesburg; Editing by Alexandra Zavis and Crispian Balmer)
PITTSBURGH, July 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "I'm a nurse and I thought there could be a secure and convenient device to assist workers when delivering medication to patients around the hospital," said an inventor, from Hertford, N.C., "So I invented the BENJI BOND. My design reduces strain and it enables you to quickly travel around the medical facility."

InventHelp Logo (PRNewsfoto/InventHelp)

The patent-pending invention provides a more efficient way to transport medication within a hospital or other facility. In doing so, it eliminates the need for the worker to constantly stand or walk long distances. As a result, it enhances comfort, convenience and mobility and it increases security and organization. The invention features an effective design that is easy to use so it is ideal for hospitals, medical facilities, nursing homes, jails, etc. Additionally, it saves time and effort.

The original design was submitted to the Virginia Beach sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-VIG-441, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

Cision

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SOURCE InventHelp
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- For Iraq, the murder of a well-known scholar in Baghdad is a tragedy that stands out from an abundance of adversity. For Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, it is also a leadership test  and just possibly, a political opportunity.

The scholar, Husham al-Hashimi, was shot dead on Monday night by gunmen on motorcycles. He was an expert on the Islamic State and Al Qaeda and had advised the government on terrorism and extremist groups. In the past year, he had been focusing more on the Shiite militias, many of them backed by Iran, that permeate Iraqi security and political structures.

His trenchant criticism earned him their hatred: His friends say Hashimi received death threats from these groups. And his killing fits a pattern of assassinations. Although nobody has as yet claimed responsibility, the militias must be prime suspects.

Prime Minister Kadhimi has promised to bring the killers to justice. The militias represent the greatest threat to social and political order in Iraq. His predecessors have tried, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, to bring them to heel. None of them got very far. Kadhimi might, if he can take advantage of a series of fortunate circumstances  in addition to the unfortunate one of Hashimis murder.

Kadhimis background makes him uniquely qualified for the task. As a former head of Iraqi intelligence, he knows more about the militias than the average politician. His previous job required him to develop relationships in Washington  or more accurately, with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency  and in Tehran.

Another crucial element in place is Kadhimis choice to lead counter-terrorism operations: He has reinstated Lt. Gen. Abdul Wahab al-Saadi, who was demoted last year by former Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, apparently under pressure from Iran.

Kadhimi could also benefit from Tehrans travails. Caught between American sanctions and a resurgent Covid-19 outbreak, Iran is reportedly struggling to support its Iraqi proxies. Monthly payments to the Shiite groups have been slashed  consolation gifts of silver rings have been poorly received.

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Iran has not been able to compensate for the loss of its chief puppet-master, Qassem Soleimani, and his Iraqi cats-paw, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in an American drone strike at the start of the year. Soleimanis successor, Esmail Ghaani, has struggled to control the militias, who have not been able to rally around a Muhandis-like local leader.

Since becoming prime minister in May, Kadhimi has tried fitfully to rein in some of the militias. He ordered raids against prominent groups like Kataib Hezbollah, but those arrested have quickly been released. He has warned groups to end rocket attacks on U.S. targets, but these have continued.

What Kadhimi has lacked is the full backing of parliament, where many Shiite politicians take their orders from Tehran, and from ordinary Iraqis. Although he has promised to address the grievances of the young protesters whose October Revolution brought down his predecessor, they view him with suspicion as a creature of the discredited political establishment.

To take on the militias and their Iranian masters, Kadhimi will need more support from Iraqis of all stripes and from the international community. In the hands of a skillful politician, Hashimis murder could serve this cause. The scholar had been popular with the protesters, who have faced the bullets and truncheons of the militias. Although the October revolutionaries have lost some steam since the early spring  thanks to the pandemic and the withdrawal of support from a radical Shiite cleric-politician  the murder could galvanize them.

The United Nations, European Union, the United Kingdom and other international representatives have condemned the killing. (Even the Islamic Republic felt obliged to summon some faux dismay.) Kadhimi must now ask for actions to follow words: greater military and intelligence support for Iraq, and diplomatic pressure on Iran.

Kadhimi could fail. Tehran retains substantial influence in Baghdad and the will to use it. Even allowing for Irans reduced support, the militias are capable of bloodying the nose of any force Kadhimi might muster against them. The Iraqi economy has been devastated by low oil prices and the pandemic. And Kadhimi has yet to demonstrate the political adroitness required to turn a tragedy into an opportunity.

Now would be a good moment to start.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He writes on foreign affairs, with a special focus on the Middle East and the wider Islamic world.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Becomes The Largest Private Jet Fleet Serving The New York Tri-State Metropolitan Area

OMAHA, Neb., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jet Linx, the leading private jet management and jet card membership company in the United States, continued its strategic expansion in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut tri-state region by acquiring Meridian's Aircraft Management and Air Charter business. Meridian is a full-service private aviation company headquartered at Teterboro Airport. While the terms of the transaction were not disclosed, the acquisition encompasses a fleet of 23 long range and short range private jet aircraft including Bombardier Global Express 6000 and 5000s, Gulfstream G550s, GVs, G450s, GIVSPs, Dassault Falcon 7Xs and 2000s, and Embraer Phenom 300s, among others. Upon closing the transaction, Jet Linx will become the largest private jet management and jet card membership company in the tri-state region and the second-largest aircraft management company in the United States with over 120 aircraft and 19 locations nationwide (FAA Part 135).

"This acquisition is a significant step in our strategic plan as we continue to enhance our fleet and flight operations serving the New York tri-state area and further develop the Company as the leader in private jet travel. It could also not be better timed as it follows the grand opening of our flagship private terminal at Teterboro Airport last September," said Jamie Walker, President & CEO of Jet Linx Aviation. "It is an honor to have purchased Meridian Aircraft Management and Air Charter, one of the most admired, respected and trusted operators in the private jet industry. Like Jet Linx, Meridian is a family-owned business, and it will be our commitment and our privilege to continue their legacy of excellence, safety and service. This exemplifies and underscores our unwavering commitment to provide the highest standards of excellence and the finest service experience not only to our clients in the New York tri-state area, but nationwide, as Teterboro is the busiest private aviation airport in the U.S."

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With heritage that dates back to 1946 at Teterboro Airport, Meridian is a full-service Fixed Base Operator (FBO) renowned for its enduring reputation for providing the New York metropolitan area with private aircraft fueling, hangaring, maintenance, management and charter services. Meridian has earned numerous industry awards and accolades over the years for its FBO services. As the longest continuously operating private aviation services company in the New York metropolitan area, Meridian will continue operating its FBO and aircraft maintenance businesses at Teterboro Airport and Hayward Executive Airport in California.

"Jet Linx aligns perfectly with Meridian's values, culture and commitment to safety, and we could not be happier to have partnered with Jet Linx to purchase our aircraft management and charter business," said Ken Forester, Owner & CEO of Meridian. "It was important for us to find the right company who would be able to take our existing aircraft management and charter business to the next level, and Jet Linx was the obvious choice. We are excited to continue supporting Jet Linx, and our former aircraft management and charter customers, through our FBO and aircraft maintenance businesses going forward."

Jet Linx has become the leading private jet management and Jet Card company in the United States due to its unique and innovative business model. The company offers a far more personalized approach to guaranteed private jet travel solutions through individual, city specific, local operations. Jet Linx is committed to the highest and most stringent safety standards in the private aviation industry, and to the managed, strategic and sustained growth in private jet aircraft, jet card members and locations across the country.

2019 was a year of unprecedented achievement for Jet Linx; it established six new private base terminal locations across the country, and forged two groundbreaking and unprecedented partnerships  one with Forbes Travel Guide and the other with Southwest Airlines and CAE. The collaboration with Forbes Travel Guide  the world renowned and only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas  made Jet Linx the "Official Private Aviation Company" of Forbes Travel Guide as well as the first and only company in private aviation to establish and implement Forbes Travel Guide's preeminent and unparalleled standards of service excellence. Jet Linx also collaborated with Forbes Travel Guide in the creation of customized, proprietary Jet Linx standards of service excellence for private aviation. Jet Linx joined forces with Southwest Airlines and CAE to create a groundbreaking pilot cadet program which provides a unique career pathway and lifecycle solution for pilots, facilitating entry into the aviation industry and providing opportunities for pilots to elevate and extend their careers. The company also acquired Elliott Aviation's Aircraft Management & Charter business in Minneapolis, and following the purchase of Meridian Aircraft Management and Air Charter, the Company intends to make additional acquisitions of other respected and established private jet management companies as an integral part of its growth strategy and continued expansion across the United States.

About Jet Linx Aviation

Jet Linx Aviation is a locally-focused private jet company founded in Omaha, NE in 1999 as a more personalized approach to national private jet companies. Jet Linx offers two different ways to experience private aviation  a guaranteed jet card and private jet management program  providing its clients with an all-encompassing, local solution to all of their private jet travel needs. Jet Linx is an IS-BAO Stage 3, ARGUS Platinum and Wyvern Wingman safety rated operator, an accomplishment earned by less than one percent of all aircraft operators in the world. In 2019, Jet Linx became the only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star trained and accredited private aviation company in the world. In addition to establishing the independent global rating system's preeminent and unparalleled service standards for the in-flight experience, Jet Linx also collaborated with Forbes Travel Guide to develop their own customized, proprietary Jet Linx standards of service excellence. Jet Linx is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska and has base locations in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Ft. Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Omaha, San Antonio, Scottsdale, St Louis, Tulsa and Washington D.C. For additional information, please visit the Jet Linx website (www.jetlinx.com).

About Meridian

Meridian is an award-winning, private aviation company with Fixed Base Operator (FBO) locations at Teterboro Airport (TEB) near New York City, and Hayward Executive Airport (HWD) near San Francisco. Meridian also owns and operates an FAA-approved Part 145 Repair Station in Teterboro. Meridian Teterboro has earned numerous industry awards and accolades for its exceptional service: 2020 AIN FBO Survey - Top 5% FBO in the Americas and #1 FBO in Northeast; 2020 Professional Pilot PRASE Survey - Top 20 Best FBOs in US, Top 10 Best Independent FBOs in US, and Best CSRs (Betsy Wines and Victor Seda). Meridian was voted #1 FBO at Teterboro Airport in both surveys. Both Meridian Teterboro and Meridian Hayward are CAA Preferred FBOs at their respective airports, and both are IS-BAH certified. Meridian Hayward has consistently received outstanding reviews from new and returning customers on popular business aviation websites.

For more information, please visit our website at https://meridian.aero or call us in Teterboro, NJ, at 201-288-5040, or in Hayward, CA, at 510-674-2500.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jet-linx-purchases-meridian-aircraft-management--air-charter-301090234.html

SOURCE Jet Linx
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd JKS has inked a deal to provide more than 300 of its bifacial solar modules for a solar photovoltaic (PV) park in Chile. The modules, with generation capacity of 126 megawatt (MW) will be installed for the expansion of the park, which already has more than 600 of JinkoSolars modules.

Following the expansion, the PV park will be able to generate 789 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of solar power per year.

Solar Prospects in Chile

Latin America is emerging as the new hub of solar energy generation and Chile is playing a vital role in this regard. Per a report by Harvard University, the country now boasts the highest energy consumption per capita in Latin America, well ahead of larger countries like Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. This reflects the ample growth opportunities forsolar power in the nation.

Notably, per a report published in August 2019, 64 million tons of greenhouse gases can be prevented from being emitted by 2030, thanks to five energy initiatives by Chile that use solar energy in their processes. Moreover, its government has allocated funds worth $1.5 million for the solar power industry for the2016-2025 period.

These initiatives offer a great profitable playground for solar module manufacturers like JinkoSolar to enhance their share in Chiles solar market. The latest signed supply deal is a testament to that.

Global Solar Boom: JinkoSolar& Others

While Latin America remains a lucrative market for solar players expansion, the global solar market as a whole has been rallying over the past decade. Per a report by Fortune Business Insights, global solar power market size is projected to reach 4766.8 MW in 2026 from 2019, exhibiting a CAGR of 30.7%.

To reap the benefits from this expanding global solar market, JinkoSolar and other solar players are making every possible effort, which is expected to boost profits.

In 2019, JinkoSolar reported record high solar module shipment of 14.3 GW. For 2020, it projects total solar module shipments of 18-20 GW, indicating an improvement of 35% year over year.

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At the end of first-quarter 2020, Canadian Solars CSIQ utility-scale solar power plants in operation totaled 956 MWp, with an estimated resale value of $830 million. The company ended the first quarter with total project pipeline of 12 GWp. This reflects solid prospects for this stock through monetization of global solar project assets.

During 2019, ReneSola SOL connected about 60 MW of projects. Going ahead, it aims incremental project pipeline in core markets to reach 1 GW by the end of 2020.

First Solar FSLR ended 2019 with net bookings of 6.1 gigawatts and current contracted backlog of 12.4 gigawatts. Given the growing demand for solar modules, First Solar expects to increase its nameplate Series 6 manufacturing capacity to 6 GW by 2020 and 8 GW by year-end 2021.

Price Performance & Zacks Rank

In a years time, shares of JinkoSolar have lost 4.6% against the industrys increase of 24.2%.

The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

5 Stocks to Soar Past the Pandemic: In addition to the companies you learned about above, we invite you to learn about 5 cutting-edge stocks that could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for stay at home technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of the decade.

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At a time when the world seems chaotic and many people are feeling out of sorts, the book Love, Life, and Lucille is giving them comfort, the kind that can only come from the wisdom of generations past.

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Judy Gaman, the CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas, was working on a pat book entitled Age to Perfection: How to Thrive to 100, Happy, Healthy, and Wise when she met Lucille Fleming. What started as an interview for the book blossomed into an incredible friendship, the kind movies are made about. Suzanne Somers wrote the forward to Love, Life, and Lucille after doing an event with the two of them in Texas. "Lucille sure loved Suzanne and I believe the feeling was mutual," says Gaman.

Before it even hit the shelves, the book was pulling in rave reviews. "Part memoir, part tribute . . . Alternately witty and touching," reported Kirkus Reviews. Marybeth Conley, anchor for WREG-TV Channel 3's Live at 9 and host of KWAM990's The Marybeth Conley Show enthusiastically reported, "Grab a tissue and strap in! This emotionally charged memoir will have you busting out laughing one minute and crying the next. Judy paints the picture masterfully and leaves the reader forever touched by Lucille's wisdom. My listeners still talk about how charming Lucille was, even years after my interviewing her!"

Published by She Writes Press in April, the book climbed to the Amazon Best-Seller list in three different categories within days. Gaman said the book took much longer to bring to print than she anticipated, "Early on I was concerned about the delay in finding a publisher and getting the story into the hands of readers, but patience came with a great reward. Not only did it make it's way to the right publisher, the timing of the message could not have been better. The letters and emails from readers keep pouring in. It turned out to be the right book at the right time."

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Gaman who was faced with a garage full of books intended for planned event that were cancelled due to the pandemic made the best of it. She delivered many of them along with hand written letters to those who were sheltering alone. "That's what Lucille would have wanted," she said. "Besides, she was an avid letter writer, so I did it in her honor."

About the Author: Judy Gaman is an award-winning author, speaker, and the CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas. She's also host of the popular Stay Young America! podcast. In celebration of the release of Love, Life, and Lucille, she's offering a FREE download of Age to Perfection, the book that led to the chance meeting that changed her life forever.

SOURCE Judy Gaman
In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with Forbes Chief Content Officer Randall Lane, Kanye West reveals specific details surrounding his presidential aspirations, saying: he has broken ranks with President Trump; would run as a Republican if the president drops out or as an independent if he does not; that hes never voted in his life, thats hes pro-life and that his running mate would be a preacher from Wyoming.

The full story is available here.

About Forbes

The defining voice of entrepreneurial capitalism, Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 120 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE events, custom marketing programs and 40 licensed local editions in 70 countries. Forbes Medias brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements. For more information, visit the Forbes News Hub or Forbes Connect.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005953/en/

Contacts

Media

Christina Vega at cvega@forbes.com

Matt Hutchison at mhutchison@forbes.com
KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the appointment of Simon Marrison as a Senior Advisor, effective Sept 7th 2020. In his role, Mr. Marrison will advise KKR on real estate investments across Europe and help contribute to the growth of KKRs real estate business in the region.

Mr. Marrison will retire as Chairman of LaSalle Investment Managements European business in July, after a 19-year career at the company, serving as CEO for Europe between 2007 and 2019, Head of Continental Europe from 2001 to 2007 and Chairman since July 2019. Prior to joining LaSalle, Mr. Marrison was Country Manager of Rodamco France. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and a member of the RICS Global Investment Risk Management Forum. Mr. Marrison has served as a Non-Executive Director of TR Property Investment Trust since 2011 and will become a Senior Independent Director in July. He holds a BSc. (Hons) in Urban Land Administration from Portsmouth Polytechnic.

Ralph Rosenberg, Partner and Global Head of KKR Real Estate, and Guillaume Cassou, Partner and Head of KKR Real Estate Europe, said: "Simon has built an impressive track record in the real estate industry across sectors and cycles. We are pleased that KKR will benefit from his vast expertise and network as we continue to grow our real estate activities across Europe. Simon's experience will be particularly useful as we continue to expand our product offerings over time."

Simon Marrison said: "I am very proud and excited to be supporting KKR's Real Estate team as a Senior Advisor. They have an exceptionally strong reputation and network of relationships, with big ambitions to grow the firms real estate business across the world and in Europe in particular. I look forward to working with KKR to build on the firm's strong track record of investment and value creation."

KKR Real Estate is a global provider of equity and debt capital across real estate investment strategies, with more than $10 billion of assets under management. In Europe, KKR has completed a range of investments in recent years across residential, hospitality, student housing and industrial & logistics. Recent investments this year include Mirastar, Etche France and logistics assets at Greenogue Business Park in Ireland.

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About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005040/en/

Contacts

Media Contacts

US:

Kristi Huller / Miles Radcliffe-Trenner

+1 212-750-8300

media@kkr.com

International:

Alastair Elwen / Alice Neave

Finsbury

+44 (0) 20 7251 3801

kkr@finsbury.com
RTHK: Australian cabinet 'discusses visas for Hongkongers'

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper says Australia will offer visas to Hong Kong residents currently in Australia - and re-evaluate Canberra's extradition treaty with the SAR - following Beijing's implementation of its national security law here. An announcement is expected by the end of the week, the paper said.

The opposition Labor Party had accused Australian prime minister Scott Morrison of dragging his feet after the UK announced last week that it was offering up to three million British National (Overseas) passport holders a path to citizenship. But last night the Australian cabinet reportedly considered proposals that could result in the country accepting the largest number of Chinese migrants since 1989.

More visas for skilled workers and investors, for those still in Hong Kong, were also said to have been on the agenda. And the extradition treaty between Australia and Hong Kong might also be torn up with Attorney-General Christian Porter saying Beijing's move on national security meant there had to be a re-evaluation.

China says its new law is needed to restore order following months of anti-government protests and that its move will restore business confidence.

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Bills on Russias territorial integrity drafted pursuant to updated Constitution

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

11:29 08/07/2020

MOSCOW, July 8 (RAPSI)  Several bills on the protection of Russias territorial integrity have been drafted for the implementation of the amended Constitution, a statement on the United Russia partys website reads citing Chair of the Committee on State Building and Legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov as having said.

The Constitutions Part 21 of the Article 67 sets that the Russian Federation ensures protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Actions aimed at the alienation of territories and calls to such actions are prohibited.

To develop this provision three bills amending Russias Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Code on Administrative Offenses and Law On Countering Extremist Activity have been drafted, according to Krasheninnikov.

The bill amending the Law On Countering Extremist Activity has been already submitted to the State Duma. It specifies the terms of the law qualifying violation of Russias integrity as extremism.

Amendments to Russias Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code have been sent to the Cabinet of Ministers and the Supreme Court for comments. The draft law amending the Code on Administrative offenses has been sent to the government.

The MP reminded the Criminal Code has provisions envisaging responsibility for public calls for actions aimed to breach the territorial integrity of the country.

The bills propose to change conditions of bringing to the criminal responsibility in accordance of this article. They set administrative prejudice and violators will face criminal punishment after the second violation of fines from 200,000 to 400,000 rubles ($2,800  5,600) or imprisonment for up to 4 years.

First-time calls to breaching territorial integrity of Russia will be punishable by administrative fines ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 rubles ($280 - 840) for individuals, 60,000  100,000 rubles ($840  1,400) for officials and 200,000  300,000 rubles ($2,800  4,200) for companies. Increased fines are stipulated for such calls made through media or Internet.

Moreover, as the Constitution fixes strict ban on alienation of Russias territories and other actions directed to the states territorial integrity, the Criminal Code it to be amended by a new article named Violation of Russias territorial integrity. The amendments envisage prison terms from 6 to 10 years for this crime.




Investment to fuel global growth, further develop its visionary software for Enterprise Architecture, and expand into the Cloud Native category

LeanIX today announced that it has closed $80 million in Series D funding led by new investor Goldman Sachs Growth. Other investors are Insight Partners and DTCP who, along with Capnamic Ventures and Iris Capital, have participated in earlier rounds. The investment strengthens the role of LeanIX as a visionary provider of Software-as-a-Service for Enterprise Architecture (EA). The closing brings LeanIXs total funding to over $120 million  an unprecedented record level in the EA field. LeanIX will use the investment to continue its successful international growth and to further develop its complementary solutions for cloud governance.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005301/en/

Andre Christ, Co-founder & CEO, LeanIX GmbH (Photo: Business Wire)

LeanIX has experienced impressive growth since its founding in 2012 in Bonn, Germany: The company is currently working with 300 international customers and achieved 100% revenue growth in 2019. 39% of total sales are already generated in the US market; 57% in the European home market. In the last 12 months, the company has opened new offices in Hyderabad (India), Munich (Germany) and Utrecht (Netherlands), and now has over 230 employees worldwide.

Aligning business priorities with technology change

LeanIX was founded because technology change and business alignment are unsolved challenges in many organizations. Complex and outdated IT landscapes often hold enterprises back from becoming fully agile, maximizing their customer experience or accelerating their time to market. Manual data collections in spreadsheets and previous generations of cumbersome EA tools do not satisfy the customers needs.

Andre Christ, LeanIX CEO & Co-Founder, describes the new approach: "LeanIX is like Google Maps for a companys IT landscape: We provide information in the appropriate context to determine the exact location and to plan the future journey in a way the business understands. Looking at future states of your architecture should be as simple as jumping to a point in time in your backup with a time machine." The transparency provided by LeanIX is used by companies of all sizes across industries.

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"Many well-known enterprises have successfully restarted their EA initiative with LeanIX," said Christ. "Due to its high usability and seamless integrations with other data sources, fast-growing businesses like Atlassian, Dropbox, and Mimecast have also kick-started their EA practices."

LeanIX has received the Gartner Peer Insights Customers Choice Distinction with Highest Overall Rating in the beginning of the year confirming the high value for customers.

Christian Resch, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Growth, explained why lead investor Goldman Sachs Growth was convinced to invest: "LeanIX is a thought leader in Enterprise Architecture. We were impressed by the companys revenue growth, the positive customer feedback and its visionary concept: LeanIX develops software solutions to reduce complexity in IT application landscapes. Importantly, LeanIXs software helps companies with their transition to, and maintenance of, both the cloud and modern microservices architecture." Alexander Lippert, Vice President at Goldman Sachs Growth, will join the board of directors.

Helping organizations to become cloud native

A secure and well-managed adoption of cloud computing and microservices architectures is an increasing priority for CIOs and CTOs. With the Series D funding, LeanIX will further develop this business segment at an accelerated pace over the next few years.

Andre Christ, LeanIX CEO & Co-Founder, says: "Our EA Suite already helps CIOs and their internal IT teams assess IT application portfolios for rationalization opportunities and cloud-readiness. With our Cloud Native Suite, companies can automatically discover used cloud services across major platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud as well as capture data about microservices. Put inside the right business context, these insights can now be leveraged by the CTO, product- and operations teams. Some customers already call us the next generation CMDB for the cloud."

Christ is convinced that LeanIX can become a larger technology company with relevance to even more businesses worldwide. LeanIX has the vision to create better workplaces where employees become more engaged as a result of having information within understandable context and knowing that decisions are being made based on facts. The investment by Goldman Sachs Growth and existing investors is proof of this strategys value and a major step towards this goal.

About LeanIX

LeanIX is the single source of truth for Corporate IT and Product IT to create transparency of the present and derive actions, to shape the future in an understandable business context. LeanIX provides its Software-as-a-Service to 300 international customers including well-known brands such as Adidas, Atlassian, Dropbox, DHL, Merck, Volkswagen, Vodafone and Zalando. More than 40 certified partners such as Deloitte, Cognizant and PwC rely on the dynamically-growing IT company co-founded in 2012 by LeanIX CEO Andre Christ. With EA Connect Days, LeanIX has been regularly organizing one of the world's most important industry events in the field of Enterprise Architecture since 2014. The company is headquartered in Bonn, Germany with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts, Munich/Germany, Utrecht/Netherlands and Hyderabad/India. It has 230 employees worldwide.

LeanIX picture material and logos: https://www.leanix.net/en/resources/media-kit

About Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division

Founded in 1869, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm. Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division (MBD) is the primary center for the firm's long-term principal investing activity. MBD is one of the leading private capital investors in the world with investments across growth equity, private equity, infrastructure, private debt, and real estate.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight Partners has invested in more than 400 companies worldwide and has raised through a series of funds more than $30 billion in capital commitments. Insights mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Across its people and its portfolio, Insight encourages a culture around a belief that ScaleUp companies and growth create opportunity for all. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit www.insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.

About DTCP

DTCP is an investment management group with $1.7 billion in 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 dtcp.capital, www.linkedin.com/dtcp-capital, or @dtcp_capital on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005301/en/

Contacts

For EMEA:

Claudia Gabriel

LeanIX Medienburo

M: +49 176 60 81 01 89

E: mail@claudiagabriel.de



For US:

Rich Mullikin, APR

Rocket Science PR, for LeanIX

rich@rocketscience.com

Telephone: +1 415 464 8110 x216

Mobile: +1 925 354 7444
Break Ground 2020 seeks $2M to replace 1950s-era station serving thousands of residents, as well as cyclists, hikers and campers, across the 52-square-mile district

BOULDER, Colo., July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lefthand Fire Protection District, the organization providing structural and wildland fire protection, first responder medical services and wildfire mitigation services, to residents living in and visitors to the rural foothills and mountain areas of western Boulder County, today announced Break Ground 2020, a $2 million fundraising campaign to construct a larger fire, rescue, district administration and community resource center.

After construction during the 1950s and more than 40 years of occupancy, our current station has reached the end of its useful life, said Russell Leadingham, LHFPD chief. Having a bigger and more modern station staffed with additional firefighters and emergency responders provides quicker response times to fires and other emergencies across our communities throughout Boulder County.

For almost 40 years, LHFPD staff and volunteers have protected residents of and visitors to the districts 52 square miles of ridges, canyons and plains, 70% of which is open space and non-tax revenue generating land for the district. The Break Ground 2020 campaign seeks both public and private funding for the construction of a new fire, rescue, district administration and community resource center that improves the Fire Protection Districts emergency response efforts in the area, as well as provides space to house responders for enhanced response during wildfire events.

Twice the size of the city of Boulder, the Lefthand Fire Protection District includes 34 square miles of public land, as well as one of the main water supplies for both residents and agriculture from the Lefthand Creek watershed. Over the years, the level of activity of campers, hikers, and on- and off-road cyclists enjoying this unique area has grown, with the district seeing 43,000 daily vehicle trips on Highway 36, 1,000 daily vehicle trips on the Peak to Peak Highway, 1,400 daily vehicle trips in Lefthand Canyon and 200 daily bicycle trips in the canyon, a number that significantly escalates during the summer months.

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With the spread of COVID-19, an increasing number of individuals are seeking recreation activities in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, as well as in both Boulder City and Boulder County open space that the areas of our Fire District provide. Weve thus witnessed a massive increase in the number of hikers, bikers and campers in the canyon said Bob Young, a longtime district resident helping the Break Ground 2020 committee raise awareness to the effort. As use of the canyon grows at an accelerated pace, the fire district has to continue to expand to meet the ever-growing demand.

To aid in this endeavor, LHFPD has partnered with local residents and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to expand opportunities and resources in the Lefthand service area. LHFPD and the local community have also been active in Wildfire Partners, a mitigation program to help homeowners prepare for wildfires. The district is also home to the first Firewise USA-recognized site in Boulder County.

For more information about Lefthand Fire Protection District or the organizations Break Ground 2020 campaign, please visit lefthandfire.org/.

About LHFPD

Built by the community to serve the community, Lefthand Fire Protection District has been protecting residents living in, as well as visitors to, the mountain rural foothills and mountain areas of western Boulder County, Colorado for the last 40 years. Spanning 52 square miles of rugged ridges, canyons and plains, LHFPD serves more than a dozen mountain and foothill communities with three full-time staff and 40 volunteers. The district is also home to the first Firewise USA-recognized site in Boulder County. The organization provides structural fire protection, first responder medical services and wildland firefighting, as well as mitigation and homeowner services and a national large incident response program. For more information, please visit http://www.lefthandfire.org/.

###

Janelle Collins

jcollins@mapr.agency

303-818-6849
Lithia Motors, Inc. LAD witnessed recoveries in June across all business lines from the declines seen in April and May, as states continue to ease the shelter-in-place strategies and begin reopening processes, which were imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Significant progress was witnessed in June, with total same-store vehicle unit sales increasing roughly 3% year over year. While sales of the same-store used vehicle unit increased around 23% year over year, sales of same-store new vehicle units dropped 15%.

Service, body and parts recorded a solid improvement in June, with monthly same-store sales falling nearly 3% compared with the 27% decline witnessed in May. The recovery pattern in service, body, and parts for the month indicated two additional production days in 2020 compared with the same period last year. Moreover, the same-store web traffic, reflecting new visits to the company's websites, jumped almost 53% year over year during the reported month.

Lithia is widening its omni-channel capabilities in order to expand and modernize transportation solutions for customers. A diverse physical network and robust brands will boost the companys sales. An expanded physical network, combined with enhanced digital solutions, will help Lithia further boost its profitability and market presence. The company aims to expand its proprietary e-commerce home channel to further fuel growth in the second half of 2020.

Lithia continuously strives to make acquisitions for increasing its market share and catering to customer requirements in a better way. It recently announced the acquisition of the Smolich Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram and Nissan locations in Oregon. This transaction is expected to generate $100 million in steady state annual revenues for the firm.

Further, it completed the buyout of Williams Automotive's Honda and Toyota dealerships in Florida last November. The acquisitions of Lincoln Morgantown and Hazleton Honda dealerships are also anticipated to generate higher returns for the company in the upcoming period.

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Zacks Rank and Other Stocks to Consider

Lithia currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Shares of the company have appreciated 9%, year to date, as against the industrys decline of 15.8%.

Other top-ranked stocks are Niu Technologies NIU, LCI Industries LCII and AngloGold Ashanti Limited AU, each carrying a Zack Rank of 2 at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.

Shares of Niu have surged 163.8%, year to date, as against the industrys decline of 10.1%.

Shares of LCI Industries have appreciated 3.4%, year to date, as against the industrys decline of 10.1%.

Shares of AngloGold have rallied 37.4%, year to date, compared with the industrys gain of 26.8%.

5 Stocks to Soar Past the Pandemic: In addition to the companies you learned about above, we invite you to learn about 5 cutting-edge stocks that could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for stay at home technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of the decade.

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Significant technological advances demonstrate up to 85% greater stone ablation in lithotripsy procedures and same-day discharge, catheter-free procedures for BPH[1],[2]

YOKNEAM, Israel, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumenis Ltd., the world's largest energy-based medical device company for aesthetic, surgical and ophthalmic applications, today announced the launch of MOSES 2.0, the next generation of the versatile, patented MOSES platform that is redefining urology care. MOSES 2.0 builds on the already clinically proven advantages of the MOSES technology platform to continue to push the boundaries in terms of procedure outcomes, efficiency and economics.

Lumenis Logo

Initially released in 2017, the MOSES technology is designed to greatly improve the efficiency of urinary stones and enlarged prostate (BPH) procedures by optimizing the laser energy transmission. In the past three years, MOSES has demonstrated clinically superior outcomes in dozens of clinical papers, including 20% faster procedures and 33% faster stone ablation while minimizing incidents of ureteral stone migration into the kidney3. Now MOSES 2.0 is unleashing the full potential of laser lithotripsy, providing up to 85% greater stone ablation with ultra-speed stone dusting at 120Hz in small core MOSES fibers2. Used ureteroscopically or percutaneously, MOSES 2.0 provides superior ablation at distance for all stones locations and compositions3-5. These advantages add up to savings of thousands of dollars in OR time per procedure6.

In BPH, MOSES 2.0 represents a major paradigm shift, transforming the clinically validated gold-standard therapy, Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP), into an outpatient procedure with same day discharge, catheter-free. Because it simultaneously cuts adenoma and cauterizes blood vessels, MOSES 2.0 provides 15% faster prostate enucleation and 40% faster hemostasis, which significantly reduce overall surgery time, anesthesia use and bleeding1. This results in shorter length of hospital stay, better surgical outcomes and higher patient satisfaction, and translates into thousands of dollars of contribution per procedure to the healthcare provider's profitability.

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Dr. Amy E. Krambeck, Professor of Urology at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, noted the advancements in MOSES 2.0 in performing lithotripsy and BPH procedures. "I've used the MOSES technology during stones and BPH procedures for several years because it is so efficient. MOSES 2.0 for HoLEP enucleates tissue even faster and stops bleeding very quickly, which is important for visibility, postoperative recovery and the surgeon's learning curve. It allowed me to change my entire practice and patients have been very happy to go home the same day without a catheter. This transformation is even more important now that COVID-19 makes patients put off essential care, while our hospitals move to free up inpatient beds for acute cases. MOSES 2.0 helps make that possible."

"At Lumenis, we are committed to continuous innovation, from the invention of the first surgical laser over 50 years ago, to the latest breakthroughs today. Our technology has been the leading solution in thousands of hospitals and in millions of procedures worldwide, with unparalleled published clinical evidence from leading urologists around the globe," said Lumenis CEO Tzipi Ozer-Armon. "Today, we are very proud to introduce MOSES 2.0 and raise the standard of excellence once again, exemplifying our commitment to providing better technology for better patient care."

To learn more about how MOSES 2.0 is advancing urology care, visit www.lumenis.com

About Lumenis

Lumenis is a global leader in the field of minimally-invasive clinical solutions for the Surgical, Ophthalmology, and Aesthetic markets, and is a world-renowned expert in developing and commercializing innovative energy-based technologies, including Laser, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Radio-Frequency (RF). For 50 years, Lumenis' ground-breaking products have redefined medical treatments and have set numerous technological and clinical gold-standards. Lumenis has successfully created solutions for previously untreatable conditions, as well as designed advanced technologies that have revolutionized existing treatment methods. For more information visit: www.lumenis.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information provided in this press release may contain statements relating to current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events that are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to the Company's plans, objectives and expectations for future operations, including its projected results of operations. Forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "believe," "should," "intend," "plan," "project" or other similar words, but are not the only way these statements are identified. These forward-looking statements are based upon our management's current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

References:

1. Large T, Krambeck AE et al. Comparative Study of Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate with MOSES Enabled Pulsed Laser Modulation. Urology. Feb 2020

2. Bench test results may not necessarily be indicative of clinical performance

3. Andonian et al. Double-blinded Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Moses and Regular Modes of Holmium Laser Lithotripsy: J Endourol. 2020 Apr 3. doi: 10.1089/end.2019.0695

4. Elhilali et al. Moses technology in a stone simulator.Can Urol Assoc J. 2018 Apr; 12(4):127-130. doi: 10.5489/ cuaj.4797. Epub 2017 Dec 22

5. Elhilali M., Badaan S., Ibrahim A., Andonian S. Use of Moses

Pulse Modulation Technology to Improve Holmium Laser Lithotripsy Outcomes: A preclinical study. Journal of Endourology (June, 2017)

6. Baldwin et al. Comparison of Conventional 30, 120 Watt, and 120 Watt MOSES Laser in a Benchtop Cystolitholapaxy Model, WCE2019

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Genevieve Britton

Pascale Communications

genevieve@pascalecommunications.com

512.774.0735
Rating Action: Moody's affirms Stonehill College's (MA) A3 rating; outlook stable

Global Credit Research - 08 Jul 2020

New York, July 08, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the A3 rating on Stonehill College's, MA $52 million of Variable Rate Revenue Bonds, Series K (2008). The bonds were issued through the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MDFA), formerly, the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority (MHEFA). The outlook is stable.

RATINGS RATIONALE

The affirmation of Stonehill's A3 rating is supported by solid financial reserves relative to debt and operations, improved operating cash flow margins providing good debt service coverage and continued fiscal discipline, all of which will enable the college to navigate the near-term effects of the coronavirus outbreak. Good strategic positioning incorporates Stonehill's high reliance on student charges in a competitive market, modest but growing gift support and ongoing campus and academic investments, overseen by a capable management team. Focused recruiting efforts are yielding nearly stable freshman enrollment, overall steady enrollment at about 2,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) students and solid growth in net tuition revenue. Leverage remains manageable, though a high proportion of bank debt and swaps add some complexity to the debt profile.

The college is facing additional challenges due to operational and financial uncertainty tied to the coronavirus outbreak. Favorably, fiscal 2020 operations will be nearly in line with fiscal 2019 due to Stonehill's rapid response in implementing expense reductions. While budget uncertainties regarding on-campus versus remote learning enrollment scenarios continue, Stonehill is planning around multiple models to limit adverse fiscal impacts. We consider the coronavirus a social risk given the substantial implications for public health and safety. Favorably, Stonehill's students are largely from the New England region, which will help in limiting long distance travel. The coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has created dislocation across industries and geographies, triggering urgent challenges for many businesses and organizations to address. The prospects and path of economic recovery for the second half of the year and beyond depend on factors including when and at what pace lockdown measures will ease and to what extent fiscal and monetary policy measures are available to assist businesses and organizations. The combined credit effects of these developments are unprecedented.

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RATING OUTLOOK

The stable outlook reflects our expectations that Stonehill College has sufficient resiliency to adjust expenses and weather near-term operating challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak without a significant impact on financial reserves. Should downside risks accelerate, the rating or outlook could be negatively impacted.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OF THE RATING

- Sustained significant improvement in operating performance

- Substantial increase in financial resources and liquidity relative to debt and operations

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE OF THE RATING

- Realization of more material downside risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic, driving both heightened revenue pressure and a weakened balance sheet position

- Sustained weak net tuition revenue growth, leading to decreased margins and coverage

- Material erosion of wealth and liquidity

LEGAL SECURITY

The rated Series K (2008) bonds are a general obligation of the college, with a security interest in tuition receipts. Stonehill's outstanding Series M (2013), Series N (2017) and Series O (2017) bonds (all are unrated) are on parity.

Financial covenants under the most recent 2017 continuing covenant agreement (CCA) include debt service coverage of at least 1.25x and current unrestricted liquid assets to funded debt of not less than 0.75x. For fiscal 2020, Stonehill estimates that these covenants are currently at 1.75x and 1.5x, respectively, well above the covenant minimums.

PROFILE

Stonehill College is known for its strong liberal arts tradition and Catholic affiliation, located in Easton in southeastern Massachusetts about 25 miles from Boston. In fiscal 2019, Stonehill generated operating revenue of $109 million and for fall 2019 enrolled 2,503 FTE students.

METHODOLOGY

The principal methodology used in this rating was Higher Education published in May 2019 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBM_1175020. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.

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Mary Cooney Lead Analyst Higher Education Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 7 World Trade Center 250 Greenwich Street New York 10007 US JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Susan Shaffer Additional Contact Higher Education JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2020) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MXR) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to release new assay results that support the continuity of the AM-1 stratabound copper-silver mineralization, within the AM South zone at the Company's wholly-owned CESAR sediment-hosted copper-silver project, located 420-km north of Bogota, Colombia (Figures 1 and 2).

Highlights

New copper-silver outcrops demonstrate the AM-1 horizon extends for 2.4-kilometres; this horizon remains open both strike and down and up dip. New rock chip results include:

2.1% copper + 30 g/t silver over 8-metre by 1-metre panel (Figure 3);

1.7% copper + 13 g/t silver over 8-metre by 3-metre panel;

1.7% copper + 26 g/t silver over 1-metre channel;

2.1% copper + 30 g/t over 2-metre (composite grab);

4.7% copper + 34 g/t silver grab sample; and,

4.5% copper + 40 g/t silver grab sample.

Max considers composite grab sampling as representative, but cautions investors that grab samples are selective and may not represent in-situ mineralization.

Field work is now testing the continuity and lateral extend of several horizons within the AM South zone, which currently extends over an area of 4-kilometre x 3-kilometre, and remains open laterally. The open-ended AM-1 horizon is presently interpreted to be offset and up lifted equivalent of the AM-2 horizon (assays pending).

The AM South zone copper-silver mineralization is interpreted to be of stratabound/Kupferschiefer type hosted in fine-grained sediments. The principal minerals are chalcocite, a copper sulphide, and the copper oxides, malachite and azurite.

The Max technical team continues to build its geological model on KGHM's Kupferschiefer, Europe's largest copper mine, with production in 2018 of 30 million tonnes grading 1.49% copper and 48.6 g/t silver from a mineralized zone of 0.5 to 5.5-metre thickness. The Kuperschiefer is also the world's leading silver producer, yielding 40 million ounces in 2019, almost twice the production of the world's second largest silver mine, according to the World Silver Survey 2020. Max cautions investors that using the Kuperschiefer as a geological model and mineralization hosted at Kuperschiefer is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at CESAR.

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"Current AM South zone results continue to exceed our expectations as we continue to discover new copper-silver horizons and expand their size and strike length. Both the AM South zone and the AM North zone occur on the same 40-kilometre-long mineralized trend. We eagerly await additional assay results due for both, AM South and AM North," said Brett Matich, CEO of Max.

"Our in-country technical team, expertly directed by our senior exploration management, continues to make discoveries, that both, further solidify our Kuperschiefer geological model and significantly expand the mineralization footprint. We also look forward to initial results from Fathom Geophysics, our strategic research partners in collaboration with both, AGH Krakow, Poland, one of the world's leading copper producers, and the National University of Colombia," he continued.





Figure 1. CESAR target zone location

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/59332_1775ad3ca45819d8_001full.jpg









Figure 2. AM South Zone (4-km by 3-km Open)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/59332_1775ad3ca45819d8_002full.jpg





Figure 3. Newly discovered AM-1 outcrop within the AM South Zone

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/59332_1775ad3ca45819d8_003full.jpg



Quality Assurance

All samples were shipped to the ALS Lab sample preparation facility in Medellin, Colombia. Sample pulps are sent to Lima, Peru for analysis. All samples are analyzed using ALS procedure ME-MS41, a four-acid digestion with ICP finish. Over limit copper and silver are determined by ALS procedure OG-62, a four-acid digestion with an AAS finish. ALS Labs is independent from Max. Max is not aware of any other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.

CESAR Sediment-Hosted Copper-Silver Project - Overview

The wholly-owned CESAR project in north east Colombia lies along a 120-km sediment-hosted copper-silver belt, that resembles the Kupferschiefer in Poland.

The CESAR region enjoys major infrastructure. Mining operations include Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in Latin America, jointly owned by global miners BHP Billiton, XStrata and Anglo American.

Important highlights for the CESAR Project:

AM North discoveries lie along a broad 11-km continuous zone of copper-silver mineralization. At the northern end the open-ended "Herradura Zone" returned values of 24.8% copper + 230 g/t silver from a continuous 4-metre by 1-metre rock chip channel and 10.4% copper + 88 g/t silver from a continuous 1-metre rock chip channel. Two subsequent bulk samples 1.8-km apart returned 10.4% copper + 88g/t silver and 3.5% copper + 29 g/t silver. The newly discovered "Ventana Zone",11-km to the south, returned highlight outcrop values of 2.70% copper + 4 g/t silver over 2-metres;

The AM South zone occurs 40-km SSW of the AM North zone, within the same Kupferschiefer style mineralized trend. The AM South zone extends over an area of 4-km x 3-km, and remain opens laterally. The open-ended mineralized horizons extend over 5-km, returning highlight values of 5.4% copper and 63 g/t silver from 0.1 to 25-metre intervals;

Structural analysis conducted by Ingenieria Geologica Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Medellin concluded that the Kupferschiefer type stratabound copper-silver mineralization at the Herradura Zone forms a continuous mineralized zone (June 9, 2020);

A technical study by Fathom Geophysics in collaboration with one of the world's leading copper producers is well underway (May 13, 2020);

Mineralogy results from the University of Science and Technology ("AGH") research study are pending. AGH is located in Krakow, Poland has a long history of cooperation with KGHM, the largest copper producer in Europe and the world's largest silver producer (April 21, 2020);

Additional assays are pending for both AM North and AM South; and,

Active field work has now re-commenced.

Max's aim is to demonstrate the potential of the CESAR district as a significant copper and silver regional basin.

EBAY Palladium-Platinum Project - Summary

The EBAY palladium-platinum project, located 30-km SE of Matagami in the Abitibi Region of Quebec, Canada, is underlain by the Archean Bell River Complex, a layered mafic intrusion measuring 65-km by 15-km and 5-km thick. Max has entered into an Option Agreement pursuant to which the Company may acquire a 100% interest of EBAY (May 12, 2020).

Highlight exploration of ballast pit sampling between 2000 to 2008 returned: 4.9 g/t palladium-platinum from a 4 to 5-metre wide zone; 3 g/t palladium + 1.4 g/t platinum + 0.12 rhodium in 2005; 2.5 g/t palladium-platinum from a newly discovered 500-metre long zone in 2006. The Company cautions investors that grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization.

EBAY drilling in 2006 intersected 1.90 g/t palladium-platinum over 3-metres from 80.5 to 83.5-metres. Further drilling discovered a new zone comprising 600-metres of strike, 120-metres deep, 6.7 to 31.1-metres wide, open in all directions, with highlight values of 2.52 g/t palladium-platinum. Subsequent aero-magnetic survey extended the target zone to 4.8-km of strike (March 25, 2020).

Choco Platinum Gold Project - Summary

CHOCO gold-platinum project (250 sq.km) is located 120-km SW of Medellin Colombia, within a district with historical production of 1.5Mozs of gold and 1.0Mozs of platinum (1906-1990) by Choco Pacific Mining. Compilation of historical records revealed the potential for related PGE's particularly palladium and rhodium. In addition, recent field work in 2019 by Max resulted in concentrate values of 114 g/t platinum and 341 g/t gold (April 16, 2019). Source: R.J. Fletcher and Associates (2011) Review of Gold and Platinum Exploration and Production in Choco Province Colombia Part 3. Private Report for Condo to Platinum NL.

About Max Resource Corp.

With its successful exploration and management team, Max Resource Corp. is advancing both its copper, silver and precious metals landholdings in Colombia, and its EBAY palladium-platinum landholdings in Quebec, Canada. Each of these belts has potential for the discovery of large-scale mineral deposits attractive to major partners.

Tim Henneberry, P Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource Advisory Board, is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release on behalf of the Company.

For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/

For additional information contact:

Max Resource Corp.

Tim McNulty

E: info@maxresource.com

T: (604) 290-8100

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/59332
After 2.5 years as CTO, Sren E. Nielsen takes over for co-founder and CEO Thomas Visti at the world leader in autonomous mobile robots; Visti requests change as he pursues new career

Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), the world leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), today announced the appointment of Sren E. Nielsen as the new president of the Denmark-based company. Effective August 1, Nielsen, who has served as MiRs chief technology officer since January 2018, will take over the responsibilities of MiR co-founder and CEO Thomas Visti. Teradyne, which acquired MiR in 2019, made the change at Vistis request as he pursues a new career.

According to Teradyne CTO Mark Jagiela, Nielsens in-depth knowledge of MiR and his rare balance of being able to solve immediate real-life customer needs and create a roadmap for long-term innovation and leadership made him the right candidate for the job.

"Sren is an excellent leader who will ensure continuity of our strategy and continued business momentum," Jagiela said. "MiR is a still a young company, with tremendous opportunity for transforming the way the world works by optimizing logistics at thousands of companies worldwide. As president of MiR, Sren will carry on the passion, innovation and vision that brought MiR to this point."

Nielsen sees continued growth during the coronavirus crisis

Nielsen brought his background in mechanical engineering to his role at MiR, along with the experience gained from more than 25 years of managerial positions with major international corporations such as Danfoss and Siemens. He welcomes the challenges associated with taking on this new role during a time of extensive global unpredictability.

"Despite the current situation, MiR continues to grow in 2020," Nielsen said. "We have not put on the brakes, which makes us relatively stronger than other industry operators. Our flexible robots help global industries such as health care, manufacturing and logistics make up for lost revenue by increasing productivity and efficiency. We also improve work environments at customer companies by relieving staff from manual transportation tasks." Nielsen added, "MiR is a stronger-than-ever company."

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Visti turns over the reins of company he grew to market-leading position

Since launching the company with two partners in 2014, Visti has grown MiR into a global frontrunner with 220 employees and a leading market share within autonomous mobile robots. The growth of the company has enabled MiR to consolidate its organization and optimize production processes to meet customer demand.

Visti is confident that Nielsen is the right leader to keep the company strong well into the future.

"When Sren was brought on board, we needed a leader with international industry experience," Visti said. "He has made a significant contribution to the optimization of processes and procedures and I am happy to hand over the reins to him."

Visti expects to elaborate on his future plans after he leaves MiR at the end of July.

Press photos of Sren E. Nielsen, President of Mobile Industrial Robots from August 1st, 2020

Press photos from the internal employee meeting where the message was passed on to the employees.

About Mobile Industrial Robots:

Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) develops and markets the industrys most advanced line of collaborative and safe autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that quickly, easily and cost-effectively manage internal logistics, freeing employees for higher-value activities. Hundreds of mid-sized through large multinational manufacturers and logistics centers, along with several hospitals around the world, have already installed MiRs innovative robots. MiR has quickly established a global distribution network in more than 50 countries, with regional offices in New York, San Diego, Singapore, Frankfurt, Barcelona and Shanghai. MiR has grown quickly since its founding in 2013, with sales rising by 500% from 2015 to 2016, and 300% from 2016 to 2017 and 160% from 2017 to 2018. Founded and run by experienced Danish robotics industry professionals, MiR is headquartered in Odense, Denmark, and in 2018, was acquired by Teradyne, the leading supplier of automated test equipment. For more information, visit www.mobile-industrial-robots.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005197/en/

Contacts

Press Contact:

Kelly Wanlass

Kelly@hughescom.net

Hughes Communications, Inc.

1+(801) 602-4723

Company Contact:

Birthe Kolby Vey, PA

bkv@mir-robots.com

Mobile Industrial Robots

+45 20 20 44 03
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY and FSE: D7Q1) (Monument or the Company) is pleased to announce exploration drilling results from the companys Murchison Gold Project at Burnakura and Gabanintha in Western Australia. The drilling program commenced in late February 2020 and was successfully completed in early May 2020 (the 2020 drilling program). The results have confirmed the continuity of gold mineralization within identified structures and favorable lithology from existing mineral resources.



Highlights:

Down plunge extensions of existing high grade gold mineralization was successfully identified at deposits within the Burnakura and Gabanintha Projects.

Down plunge exploration drilling at the Yagahong deposit returned: 4m at 5.01g/t Au in drill hole 20MRC008 from 139m, and 2m at 8.8g/t Au in 20MRC009 from 194m down-hole depths.

Down plunge exploration drilling at the NOA 1 deposit has returned: 5.77m at 2.13g/t in drill hole 20MRD013 from 237.8m down-hole depth.

Confirmation of mineralized structures and favorable lithologies, including the Alliance Banded Iron Formation (BIF).

The 2020 Drilling Program

The main focus of the 2020 drill program was to test down plunge extensions of existing high grade gold mineralization at both the Burnakura Project (Alliance, New Alliance and NOA deposits), and the Gabanintha Project (Yagahong deposit). The North of NOA7/8 (NOA 9) regional target within the Burnakura Project was also tested.

The 2020 drill program was planned to consist of 4,580 drill meters for 38 drill holes with a completion targeting late March. Due to additional heritage survey work the drilling was completed in early May.

A total of 3,864m was drilled, consisting of 397m of diamond drilling (DD), 2,864m of reverse circulation (RC) and 603m of AC drilling illustrated in Table 1 below:

Table 1. Drill Program Details Drill Area and Type Holes

Drilled Meters

Drilled Burnakura Down Plunge Extension RC Only 4 839 Burnakura Down Plunge Extension RC/DD 4 738/397 Gabanintha Down Plunge Extension RC 6 1,287 Burnakura NOA 9 Regional Target AC 23 603 Total 37 3,864

Burnakura Down Plunge Extension

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The program successfully tested down plunge targets at Alliance, New Alliance, NOA 1 and NOA 2 deposits at the Burnakura project (Figure 1). A total of 12 holes for 3,080m were planned to test down plunge extensions of high grade gold mineralisation at Alliance (1,005m), New Alliance (850m) and NOA (1,225m). The drill holes targeted high grade gold mineralization with the potential to be mined underground as part of Monuments strategy to delineate additional resources to improve the economics of the project.

A total of 8 holes for 1,577m of RC and 397m of DD were drilled to test down plunge extensions of high grade gold mineralization at Alliance (806m), New Alliance (557m), NOA 1 (264m) and NOA 2 (346m) (See Figure 1). The Burnakura RC and DD holes were all drilled within 2km of Monuments 260,000 tonnes per annum gold processing plant.

The drilling confirmed the continuity of structures and favorable lithology from existing resources, including the best intersection of a 5.77m wide quartz vein at 2.13g/t Au, in hole 20MRD013, from 243m down-hole depth, at NOA 1, which was only tested with one drill hole during this drill program.

The drilling was completed in two phases, as a diamond drill rig was mobilized to complete the deeper holes because the RC rig was not able to keep the deeper samples dry. This resulted in some updates to the original drill plan to keep costs within budget. A full listing of drill hole details showing intersections above 1 g/t gold are shown in Appendix 1.

Figure 1 accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b82360a3-1372-4cdb-a596-f49e15d77aa4

All Burnakura significant intercepts from this drill program are shown in Table 2 below.

Table 2: Burnakura Project Significant Intercepts Hole ID Prospect Azi Dip EOH Depth From

(m) Depth To

(m) Downhole

Width (m)* Au (g/t) 20MRC001 Alliance 268 -60 282 243 245 2 0.94 20MRC002 New Alliance 273 -61 167 142 145 3 1.87 20MRC003

And 273 -60 160 129 133 4 1.42 136 137 1 1.41 140 142 2 2.32 20MRC004 311 -60 230 - - - NSR** 20MRD011 Alliance 273 -60 271 183 184 1.00 2.22 20MRD012 274 -60 253 214.4 215.75 1.35 1.02 225.09 225.65 0.56 5.43 20MRD013 NOA 1 273 -60 264 191.5 192.56 1.06 1.51 And 237.8 243.57 5.77 2.13 Including 242.5 243.57 1.07 7.55 20MRD014 NOA 2 273 -59 346 - - - NSR

*True width intersections are estimated to be approximately 95%, 95% and 80% of drilled widths for Alliance, New Alliance and NOA 1 respectively.

**NSR = no significant result

The 3 holes drilled at Alliance intersected the same structure and lithology that occurs 170-200m up dip in the higher grade areas of the existing resource, confirming the continuity of the gold mineralization and its potential as an underground target. As this drill program consisted of only 3 holes covering a strike length of over 280m, further infill drilling is required to test this target.

Drilling at New Alliance targeted approximately 100m down an interpreted plunge of a high grade gold area that has the potential to be mined underground. Although mineralization was weaker than expected, the target is not fully tested and requires additional drilling.

A single hole was drilled to target NOA 1 gold mineralization which is interpreted to be located on the same structure that hosts the NOA 2 gold mineralization but is offset by a major east-west fault. The hole intersected a wide prospective quartz vein zone from 237.8m to 243.57m and returned a significant intersection of 5.77m at 2.13 g/t. Due to the potential nuggety distribution of gold within this quartz vein structure, further drilling will be required to fully test this structure and extend the mineralization down dip and further to the south.

A single hole was drilled targeting the potential down plunge of the NOA 2 mineralization. The same high potential dolerite-sediment contacts that hosts the mineralization previously mined underground (up dip) was intersected. The extension of prospective lithologies was confirmed, and further exploration targeting work will be completed prior to any further drilling.

Gabanintha Down Plunge Extension

A total of 5 RC holes for 1,127m were drilled to test the down plunge extension of the high grade Yagahong gold mineralization (See Figure 2). The drilling successfully extended the known mineralised structure a further 300m down plunge from the existing high grade drilled area. In addition, the deepest down plunge hole that was drilled recorded an intercept of 2m at 8.8g/t gold.

Figure 2 accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c177a2e4-9676-4a72-8a2b-b75fcf5b91ce

The 5 holes at Yagahong were all drilled at least 110m down plunge from existing drilling. Drilling confirmed the continuity of the shallowly north-west plunging structure. Several encouraging gold intersections including 4m at 5.01g/t Au in drill hole 20MRC008, from 139m down-hole depth, and 2m at 8.8g/t Au in drill hole 20MRC009 from 194m down-hole depth were returned (See Table 3). In addition, there were several strong copper intercepts. Hole 20MRC007 returned 14m at 0.97% Cu from 143m down-hole depth, including 3m at 2.86% Cu and hole 20MRC009 returned 3m at 0.85% Cu from 169m.

Table 3: Summary of Gabanintha Project Results

Hole ID Prospect Azi Dip EOH Depth From

(m) Depth To

(m) Downhole

Width (m) * Au (g/t) Cu% 20MRC005 Yagahong 218 -71 195 - - - NSR - 20MRC006 215 -70 180 - - - NSR - 20MRC007 206 -74 228 143 157 14 0.29 0.97 144 145 1 1.94 2.02 151 154 3 0.50 2.86 20MRC008 215 -71 250 139 143 4 5.01 NSR** 139 140 1 17.7 NSR 20MRC009 212 -71 252 159 160 1 1.35 NSR 169 172 3 1.21 0.85 194 196 2 8.80 - 20MRC010 Canterbury 258 -65 160 - - - NSR -

*True width intersections are estimated to be approximately 95%, 95% and 80% of drilled widths for Alliance, New Alliance and NOA 1 respectively.

**NSR = no significant result

Burnakura NOA 9 Regional Target

The NOA 9 regional target was tested with 23 AC holes for 603m of drilling. Three east-west lines spaced at 250m and 350m with 40m spaced holes dipping to the west were drilled. The NOA 9 target was identified by Dr. Warwick Crowe (See November 8, 2018 news release) as a potential north-west trending splay off the Burnakura shear zone with a similar structural association of the NOA trend of deposits. The target was tested, but there were no significant intercepts recorded yet. These results will be considered in terms of the overall Murchison package and reviewed in conjunction with geochemical and geophysical data.

Forward Plan

Follow up drill programs will be planned to target and extend some of the encouraging mineralization and structures intercepted in this drill program. A review of other high potential drill ready targets will also be made so that targets can be reprioritized according to knowledge obtained from this drill program. In addition, an increased focus will now be made on regional exploration potential assessment to capitalize on Monuments large land holding over its three Murchison projects (Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra).

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

All drilling completed by Monument utilized the following procedures and methodologies, and was carried out under the supervision of Monument personnel. Drill contractors used for this drill program included Kennedy Drilling and Mount Magnet Drilling.

RC drilling used a 5.50 to 5.75 inch face sampling pneumatic hammer with samples collected into 60 liter plastic bags. Samples were kept dry by maintaining enough air pressure to exclude groundwater inflow; however, a small number of RC samples from this drill program were wet. If water ingress exceeded the air pressure consistently, RC drilling was cancelled and drilling converted to diamond core tails. AC drill cuttings were collected in one meter intervals and split between a calico bag and a portion for spear sampling 4m composites. The 1m calico sample was stored at the drill site until assay results were received and validated. Composites returning greater than 0.2g/t Au were subsampled using the 1m calico bags. Coarse reject samples for all mineralized samples corresponding to significant Au intervals were retained and stored on-site at the Company controlled core yard.

DD drill holes were drilled with NQ sized diamond drill bits. The core was logged, marked up for sampling according to geological contacts at intervals between 0.3m and 1.3m length, but was generally sampled at 1m length intervals. Samples were then cut into equal halves using a diamond saw. One half of the core was left in the original core box and stored in a secure location at the Company core yard at the Burnakura camp. The other half was sampled, catalogued and placed into sealed bags and securely stored at the site until shipment.

All drill samples were shipped to ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Wangara, WA for preparation. Samples were dried and crushed to 85% passing 75 microns. A 200-250g subsample was then sent to ALS Geochemistry Malaga lab where routine gold analysis using a 50-gram charge and fire assay with an atomic absorption finish was completed. Selected samples were dissolved by a four acid digestion and then analyzed for a suite of 33 elements using an ICP-AES finish. Quality control procedures included the systematic insertion of blanks, duplicates and sample standards into the sample stream. In addition, the Lab inserted its own quality control samples. The results of the Monument control samples for this drilling program were evaluated and were considered to be of a high standard and no samples were re-analyzed and/or resubmitted. A batch of samples will be sent to another laboratory for cross checking in the near future as part of the QAQC procedure.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information in this press release has been prepared by Adrian Woolford, B.Sc. (Hons) Chief Geologist of Monument Mining Limited; reviewed and approved by Roger Stangler, MEng, FAusIMM, MAIG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101, retained by Golder Associates Pty Ltd.

About Monument

Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE:D7Q1) is an established Canadian gold producer that owns and operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia. Its experienced management team is committed to growth and is advancing several exploration and development projects including the Mengapur Copper and Iron Project, in Pahang State of Malaysia, and the Murchison Gold Projects comprising Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra in the Murchison area of Western Australia. The Company employs approximately 202 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities.

Cathy Zhai, President and CEO

Monument Mining Limited

Suite 1580 -1100 Melville Street

Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com or contact:

Richard Cushing, MMY Vancouver T: +1-604-638-1661 x102 rcushing@monumentmining.com

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future plans (forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include the Companys plans with respect to its mineral projects and the timing and results of proposed programs and events referred to in this news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: risks related to general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in the progress and timing of development activities; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Companys projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements in this news release include: expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold production and the estimated cash flows which may be generated from the operations, general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration on the Companys projects; assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals; the timing and amount of estimated future production; the expected timing and results of development and exploration activities; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Companys projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, 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. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Appendix 1 accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aa331597-2327-4dd2-8b2e-14e55c26e130
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Mota Ventures Corp. (MOTA.CN)(1WZ1.F)(OTC PINK:PEMTF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2020. All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. The press release is intended to be read in conjunction with the Company's unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2020, which are filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), and also available on the Company's website.

First Quarter 2020 Key Highlights include:

The Company acquired online cannabidiol (CBD) product distributor Nature's Exclusive from Unified Funding, LLC.

Agreement finalized with Sativida OU (Estonia) and Sativida OU's subsidiary, VIDA BCN LABS S.L (collectively, "Sativida") to acquire Sativida in stages.

The Company acquired the intellectual property and trade names of Sativida in Spain, which will be licensed back in exchange for a royalty associated with gross revenues generated by Sativida.

The Company entered into a Licensing and Royalty Agreement with Phenome One Corporation ("Phenome") for the right to cultivate, harvest, process and sell a selection of cultivars from Phenome's genetic library, and the Company was granted unlimited access to a Phenome's proprietary nutrient intellectual property (IP) and catalogue.

The Company entered into a Joint Venture with BevCanna Enterprises Inc ("BevCanna") to distribute BevCanna branded beverage products infused with hemp-derived CBD in the European market.

Consolidated Q1 2020 gross revenue was $7.65 million, with cost of goods sold of $7.05 million, resulting in gross profits of $605,150. Operating and other operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were $5.24 million.

The Company raised $1.72 million through share subscriptions received for the issuance of units at $0.28 and received $309,000 in proceeds from the exercise of warrants.

The Company ended Q1 2020 with $2.1 million in cash.

Management Commentary

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"In the midst of evolving challenges resulting from the global novel coronavirus outbreak, the Company realigned priorities to include focus on the health and safety of our employees, customers and suppliers. The way our team adapted and performed was exceptional. I am also pleased to announce that, despite the unprecedented uncertainties resulting from the coronavirus, our operations and supply chains performed without interruption, and the Company achieved targets in line with expectations. In order to capitalize on the global market, we recognize the need to be flexible and proactive in addressing market trends. For the second quarter our objectives are to yield increased revenues and higher gross margins. Due to the initial cost of customer acquisition, transitioning more customers into our monthly subscription will significantly increase margins." stated Ryan Hoggan CEO of the Company.

About Mota Ventures Corp.

Mota Ventures is an established natural health products and eCommerce technology company focusing on the CBD and psychedelic medicine sectors. The company has a strong presence in both North America and Europe. In the United States, Mota Ventures offers a CBD hemp-oil product line derived from hemp grown and formulated in the US through its Nature's Exclusive brand. Within Europe, the company's Verrian operations is currently conducting clinical studies utilizing proprietary products for the treatment of opiate addiction. The highly skilled Verrian team also manages Mota Ventures' 110,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Radebeul, Germany. In addition, Mota Ventures' Sativida brand of award winning 100% organic CBD oils and cosmetics are sold throughout Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The company is also seeking to acquire additional revenue-producing natural health product brands and operations in both Europe and North America with the goal of establishing an international distribution network utilizing its eCommerce technology platform.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MOTA VENTURES CORP.

Ryan Hoggan

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, readers are encouraged to contact Joel Shacker, President at +604.423.4733 or by email at IR@motaventuresco.com or www.motaventuresco.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement

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, including with respect to the Company's goals of yielding increased revenues and higher gross margins, capitalizing on the global market, and its plans to acquire revenue-producing CBD brands and operations in Europe and North America. 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: Mota Ventures Corp.





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Seguin, Texas (78155)

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Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Partly cloudy. Low 74F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
TORONTO , July 8, 2020 /CNW/ - Nelson, Canada's leading educational publisher, announces it has finalized the transactions to divest its higher education business. Nelson will now focus solely on the K-12 education market locally and globally.

NELSON Logo (CNW Group/NELSON)

As part of these transactions, Top Hat is acquiring a significant portion of Nelson's post-secondary business, and bringing it into their powerful active learning platform.

Nelson's retraction from higher education also comes with the termination of their long-standing sales-distribution agreement with Cengage. Moving forward, Cengage will operate directly in Canada through their newly established Canadian division.

To support the needs of the upcoming school year and beyond, Nelson is committed to work with Cengage, Top Hat, and its other post secondary partners to provide Canadian customers continued access to the products currently distributed by Nelson. With both divestitures, post-secondary institutions will be able to benefit from uninterrupted warehouse ordering and a dedicated office presence to ensure a smooth transition.

"We thank instructors and faculty for partnering with us over the last century. As post-secondary institutions and bookstores prepare for the upcoming school year, we will continue to work closely with our publishing partners during this transformative time" says Steve Brown , Chief Executive Officer.

As the education landscape continues to shift, Nelson recognizes that K-12 and higher education are moving at different speeds. Each requires a core focus to ensure students and educators receive the right solutions to enable learning success.

In May 2020 , Nelson announced its strategic decision to focus solely on K-12 education and technology centered on Edwin , its digital learning ecosystem that drives student engagement and outcomes. Since 2017, Nelson has disrupted the K-12 landscape in Canada and around the world with the launch of Edwin .

CIBC Capital Markets acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Nelson with respect to the sale of its Canadian domestic higher education textbook business to Top Hat.

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About Nelson

Nelson is Canada's leading educational publisher. Nelson believes in the evolution of life-long education and dedicates its business efforts to the creation of quality, innovative solutions that support the needs of every student and educator to empower learning success.

Join our community on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

To learn more about Edwin visit: edwin.nelson.com

SOURCE NELSON

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2020/08/c7288.html
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / In an era where money makes the world go round, people spend money as much as they earn it. More people are becoming "one day millionaires" spending and splurging on items and wants, leaving nothing to savings, investments, or anything for the future.

The lack of financial literacy of the current generation has become an emerging problem not only of individuals but also of rising and developing economies. Financial illiteracy often leads to poor financial choices that could have negative consequences on the all-around well-being of an individual.

Before the establishment of his e-commerce empire, army veteran Nestor Castro also had his ups and downs when it came to managing and handling finances. After serving in the US Army on a 12-month combat deployment in Afghanistan, he found it hard to reintegrate back into civilian life.

With leadership skills as his new weapon, Castro went on to serve the community as a police officer. However, he still felt unfulfilled. He knew that he had leadership and entrepreneurial skill left untapped. Furthermore, with a fixed job and income, he felt that he was not living in his own term. He had ambitions of traveling at his own time. He wanted to make money without having to adhere to anyone's rules. Seeing that this can only be achieved through entrepreneurship, Castro made a decision to educate himself to finally achieve the financial freedom he wanted.

After several experiments learning what works and what does not, Nestor Castro found his niche on e-commerce and now earns 6-figures online. All it took were his dedication and hard work until he mastered the technology and strategies needed to make the business soar.

With all that he has learned in his journey, Nestor Castro wants to give back and lead the youth towards financial literacy. Being a father himself, Castro wants to teach his daughter's generation how to create generational wealth and not live in a rat race.

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He believes that the youth are now more empowered than ever, making their own money and making their own decisions. He believes that through mentoring the youth, the current generation will be more knowledgeable in leveraging credit, taking control of finances and investments. When the youth are financially literate, nothing is impossible, and they can live a life they want.

Financial literacy is crucial to help consumers save enough to provide adequate income in retirement while avoiding high levels of debt that might result in bankruptcy, defaults, and foreclosures.

Any improvement in financial literacy will have a profound impact on consumers and their ability to provide for their future. Recent trends are making it all the more imperative that consumers understand basic finances. People are being asked to shoulder more of the burden of investment decisions in their retirement accounts-all while having to decipher more complex financial products and options.

Learning how to assess and maximize finances is not easy, but once mastered, it can ease life's burdens tremendously.

To know more about Nestor Castro, you can follow him on Instagram or connect with him on Linktree.

Email: Nestor@dropshiptribe.com

SOURCE: Authority Titans





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RENO, Nev., July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nevada Exploration Inc. (NGE or the Company) (TSX-V: NGE; OTCQB: NVDEF) is pleased to announce that it has executed the definitive Exploration and Option to Enter Joint Venture Agreement (the Agreement) with Austin Gold Corp. (Austin Gold), led by former Pretium Resources Inc. CEO Joe Ovsenek, on its district-scale Kelly Creek Project (the Project) within the Kelly Creek Basin in north-central Nevada. Under the Agreement, Austin has the right to earn a 51% interest in the joint venture by spending $5,000,000 over four years, of which $1,000,000 is a firm commitment, with the election to then earn an additional 19% by delivering a prefeasibility study. Austin has also completed a $500,000 private placement into NGE.



Discussing the Project, Austins Executive Chairman, Joe Ovsenek: Kelly Creek is one of only a handful of district-scale Carlin-type gold projects not currently controlled by the majors. SSR Minings recent drilling success at nearby Trenton Canyon highlights the potential to discover new mineralization within the Battle Mountain Mining District, and is bringing new attention to the area. Now that the definitive agreement is signed, were looking forward to working with Nevada Exploration to integrate their comprehensive exploration dataset with the latest research on the district, and were gearing up to get on the ground.

Commenting on the Agreement, NGEs President, James Buskard: Kelly Creek is the first place we integrated our full suite of hydrogeochemistry exploration technologies to evaluate a highly-prospective, valley basin to search for new district-scale Carlin-type mineral systems. As weve shared, we believe the combined results of our drilling, geophysics, and geochemistry programs have confirmed the presence and necessary scale of the critical components needed to host significant Carlin-type mineralization, and suggest that the gold-bearing mineral system at Kelly Creek is a likely northern, covered extension of the system responsible for mineralization at the nearby Marigold and Lone Tree deposits. With our current focus on our flagship South Grass Valley Project, were pleased to partner with such an experienced and technically capable team to continue to advance Kelly Creek through the next stages of exploration. This partnership gives our stakeholders the significant benefit of participating in multiple opportunities for discovery as both projects advance in parallel.

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/64288431-3dbf-4f6d-beed-1fc6063aabcf



The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.



Earn-In and Joint Venture Agreement

Under the Agreement, to earn a 51% joint venture interest in the Project, Austin Gold must spend $5,000,000 in exploration expenditures, as follows (the Earn In):

$1,000,000 in aggregate within first 15 months, which represents a firm commitment,

$2,000,000 in aggregate before second anniversary,

$3,500,000 in aggregate before third anniversary, and

$5,000,000 in aggregate before fourth anniversary.

During the Earn In, Austin Gold will be the operator of the Project.

Upon completing the Earn In, Austin Gold has a one-time option to elect to earn an additional 19% interest in the joint venture, for a total of 70% (the Additional Option), by spending $1,500,000 per year during first three years of the Additional Option, and by delivering a prefeasibility study prior to June 1, 2028.

At NGEs election, which must be made within 120 days of the approval by the joint venture of a feasibility study, Austin Gold will be obligated to provide NGEs portion of any debt financing or arrange for third party financing of NGEs portion of any debt financing required to construct a mine on the Project described in the feasibility study in consideration for the transfer by NGE to Austin Gold of a 5% interest in the joint venture.

If a party is diluted to a 10% interest in the joint venture, its interest will be converted to a 10% net profits interest.

Kelly Creek Project

NGEs Kelly Creek Project is located along the Battle Mountain  Eureka Gold Trend within the larger Kelly Creek Basin, which is bounded by large gold deposits to the north (Twin Creeks, Getchell, Turquoise Ridge, and Pinson) and south (Lone Tree, Marigold, Trenton Canyon, Converse, Buffalo Valley, Copper Basin, and Phoenix). The Project consists of a combination of unpatented mining claims held by NGE through its wholly-owned subsidiary Pediment Gold LLC (PGL) (24 km2); unpatented mining claims leased by PGL from a third party under a Mining Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement (15 km2); and private land leased by PGL under a Mining Lease Agreement (14 km2), for a district-scale land package totalling 53 km2.

Despite its proximity to significant mineralization, the interior of the Kelly Creek Basin has seen limited systematic exploration activity to date because its bedrock is largely covered by syn- to post-mineral volcanic units and post-mineral alluvium. Recognizing the potential to find significant gold mineralization within the Kelly Creek Basin, dozens of major and junior explorers have spent tens of millions of dollars to follow the prospective geology seen in and proximal to the exposed bedrock in the surrounding mountain ranges beneath the sands and gravels covering the Basin. Within the Project area, this activity has included: Santa Fe Pacific completing wide-spaced bedrock-mapping drilling in the 1990s; BHP completing an extensive soil auger geochemistry program through the late 1990s; and Placer Dome completing a reconnaissance-scale reverse circulation program in the early 2000s. Other companies that either now hold or have held claims in the immediate area include Newmont, Barrick, AngloGold, Hemlo, Homestake, and Kennecott. The efforts of each company have added valuable information about the geology of the Basin; however, without a cost-effective tool to conduct basin-scale exploration beneath the valley cover, the exploration programs to date in the Kelly Creek Basin have predominantly consisted of uncoordinated efforts focused on relatively small areas.

By integrating the use of its proprietary hydrogeochemistry technology with conventional exploration methods to evaluate the larger Kelly Creek Basin, NGE identified a highly prospective area in the middle of the basin along a portion of a structurally-controlled, shallow, covered, bedrock high coincident with highly anomalous gold and associated trace-element chemistry in groundwater.

In 2017, NGE completed a 61-hole, 5,864-metre shallow reverse-circulation drilling program at the Project using its Scorpion drill rig, to collect groundwater, alluvium, and top-of-bedrock geochemistry samples across a large area of the Project. As NGE announced in January, 2018 (see news release: https://www.nevadaexploration.com/news/2018/nevada-exploration-enlarges-gold-mineralization-at-kelly-creek-and-prepares-for-deeper-drilling ), NGE believes the results of the Scorpion drilling program confirmed that the hydrothermal system that was active at the Project is gold-bearing over larger areas than previously known, with discrete zones of enriched gold in groundwater anchored to at least two clusters of >0.1 g/t gold in bedrock covering areas consistent in size with the geochemical footprints of the nearest major gold deposits, Lone Tree (produced 4.60 Moz gold from 1991 to 2015) and Marigold (production from 1989 n- 2016: 3.24 Moz gold plus 2016 Indicated Mineral Resource of 4.98 Moz, with 348.30 Mt at 0.45 g/t). When combined with the results of earlier drilling, NGEs updated geologic model suggests that the gold-bearing hydrothermal system at Kelly Creek is likely the northern extension of the system responsible for Lone Tree and Marigold, and is of a size to support major additional mineralization. As the Kelly Creek Project continues to advance, per NI 43-101, 2.3(2), at this stage of development: the Project is an exploration target for which the potential quantity and grade of any mineral resource is still conceptual in nature, there has yet to be sufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in delineating a mineral resource. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby projects is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Companys property.

Private Placement

Austin Gold has subscribed for $500,000 in a private placement in NGE consisting of 2,500,000 units at a price of $0.20. Each unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a Common Share) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (a Warrant), with each whole Warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.50 per Common Share for 30 months. If the closing price of the common shares of NGE quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange is greater than $0.90 for 10 consecutive trading days, NGE may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the 30th day after the date on which NGE gives notice to the Warrant holders of such acceleration. Proceeds from the private placement will be used for general working capital. The securities issued at closing of the private placement will be subject to a four month plus one day hold period expiring November 8, 2020.

Austin Gold Corp.

Austin is a privately-held, British Columbia incorporated exploration company led by Executive Chairman Joe Ovsenek, and is focused on gold exploration in Nevada. Mr. Ovsenek is the former CEO of Pretium Resources Inc., where he led the advance of the high-grade gold Brucejack mine, which has been operating profitably since commercial start-up in 2017.

Two of Austins directors and officers are non arms length to NGE. Austins President and Director, Dennis Higgs, is Chairman and Director of NGE, and an insider by virtue of his +10% shareholdings. Austins Corporate Secretary and Director, Darcy Higgs, is an insider of NGE by virtue of his +10% shareholdings. As a result of Dennis Higgss and Darcy Higgss relationships with NGE, both the earn-in and joint venture agreement and the private placement contemplated under the Agreement with Austin constitutes a related party transactions, though are exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions as NGEs securities are not listed on any stock exchange identified in Section 5.5(b) thereof, and as the fair market value of the transactions does not exceed the 25% of NGEs market capitalization threshold, as per Section 5.5(a) and Section 5.7(a) thereof.

About Nevada Exploration Inc.

With mature, exposed search spaces seeing falling discovery rates, NGE believes the future of exploration is under cover.

The Company has spent 15 years developing and integrating new hydrogeochemistry (groundwater chemistry) and low-cost drilling technology to build an industry-leading, geochemistry-focused, under-cover toolkit specifically to explore for large new Carlin-type gold deposits (CTGDs) in the more than 50% of Nevada where the bedrock is hidden beneath post-mineral cover. Nevadas exposed terrains have produced more than 200 Moz of gold, and experts agree there is likely another +200 Moz waiting to be discovered under cover in Nevada.

NGE has completed the worlds largest hydrogeochemistry exploration program, focused on north-central Nevada, and is now advancing a portfolio of three district-scale projects in the heart of the Cortez (Battle Mountain-Eureka) Trend.

NGEs most-advanced project is South Grass Valley, located south of Nevada Gold Mines Cortez Complex. Based on the Companys work to date at the project, NGE believes it has discovered a mineral system at South Grass Valley with the architecture and scale to support multiple Carlin-type gold deposits (CTGDs), and the potential to host an entire new district. NGE believes South Grass Valley is one of the most exciting new district-scale, Carlin-type projects in Nevada.

For more information, the Companys latest videos are available at:

https://www.nevadaexploration.com/investors/media/

For further information, please contact:

Nevada Exploration Inc.

Email: info@nevadaexploration.com

Telephone: +1 (604) 601 2006

Website: www.nevadaexploration.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Wade A. Hodges, CEO & Director, Nevada Exploration Inc., is the Qualified Person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101, and has prepared the technical and scientific information contained in this News Release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans, and objectives regarding projects, potential transactions, and ventures discussed in this release.

In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things, the assumption the Company will continue as a going concern and will continue to be able to access the capital required to advance its projects and continue operations. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.

In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are the risks inherent in mineral exploration, the need to obtain additional financing, environmental permits, the availability of needed personnel and equipment for exploration and development, fluctuations in the price of minerals, and general economic conditions.

A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company is disclosed in the Companys continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.
Rio Tinto will start planning for the wind-down of operations and the eventual closure of New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) following the conclusion of its strategic review which has shown the business is no longer viable given high energy costs and a challenging outlook for the Aluminum industry.

As a result, NZAS has given Meridian Energy notice to terminate the power contract, which will end in August 2021, when the wind-down of operations is expected to complete.

The strategic review concluded that the smelter, which has made Rio Tinto an underlying loss of NZ$46m in 2019, is not economically viable due to energy costs that are some of the highest in the industry globally, coupled with a challenging short to medium term aluminum outlook. Extensive discussions with a wide range of interested parties have failed to secure a power contract that will enable the operation to become both competitive and profitable.

During the next 14 months, NZAS and Rio Tinto will work closely with partners as detailed planning is undertaken to wind-down operations, and eventually close the smelter.

Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said "We recognise the decision to wind-down operations at NZAS will have a significant impact on employees, the community and our customers.

"It is not a decision we have made lightly and without significant careful consideration. It is very unfortunate we could not find a solution with our partners to secure a power price reduction aimed at making NZAS a financially viable business. We will therefore terminate the power contract and move to close the operation.

"We are committed to working with our partners as we progress through detailed planning towards closure and we will do all we can together with the government to find ways to support the Southland community."

NZAS is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (79.36%) and Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited (20.64%). It employs around 1000 people directly and creates a further 1600 indirect jobs in Southland.

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This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Rio Tintos Group Company Secretary.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005843/en/

Contacts

media.enquiries@riotinto.com

riotinto.com

Follow @RioTinto on Twitter



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Group Company Secretary

Steve Allen

Rio Tinto plc

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London SW1Y 4AD

United Kingdom

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Registered in England

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Joint Company Secretary

Tim Paine

Rio Tinto Limited

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Melbourne 3000

Australia

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Category: NZAS
PARIS , July 7, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - On July 7, 2020 , Fabienne Dulac , Deputy CEO of Orange S.A. and CEO of Orange France, and Nicolas Wolff , Vice-President and General Manager of Boralex, Europe , announced the signing of a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).

This Corporate PPA between Orange France and Boralex is the first large-scale renewable power purchase agreement signed by Orange in France .

Boralex, a pioneer in renewable energy and France's leading independent producer of onshore wind power, will supply Orange with 67 GWh/year of renewable electricity generated by the 26 wind turbines at the Ally-Mercoeur wind farm in the Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region). The implementation of this five-year agreement will begin on January 1, 2021 . The agreement will cover all the electricity produced by the wind farm, which has an installed capacity of 39 MW.

This agreement illustrates Orange's ambitions for the energy management and sustainability of its networks as the volume of data transmissions continues to grow.

When it presented Engage 2025, its new strategic plan, Orange made a major commitment to respond to the climate challenge: it will seek to anticipate the objectives of the GSMA1 by 10 years, with a net zero carbon footprint by 2040, despite the increase in network data transmissions.

This will involve increased use of renewable energies, which by 2025 will account for more than 50% of the electricity consumed by the Group. It will also involve an unprecedented effort in energy efficiency. Between now and 2025, Orange will strengthen its Green ITN program to reduce the energy consumption of its networks and increase the number of electrified vehicles in France ten-fold. It will also rely more on the circular economy with, for example, products that reflect an eco-design approach, used network equipment and more used terminals available in shops.

______________________________ 1 The GSM Association (GSMA) represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide.

For Boralex, this agreement, the first with a CAC40 company, is a significant step in the deployment of its strategic plan up to 2023, of which the sale of green power to electricity-consuming businesses is a major component. The agreement signed with Orange allows the Ally-Mercoeur wind farm to enter a new phase and secure the sale of its electricity at the end of its current purchase obligation contract, which will end in December 2020 . The signing of this agreement also illustrates the quality of Boralex's production facilities and of its industrial expertise in maintaining its assets and extending their life beyond the initial purchase obligation contracts.

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Statement by Fabienne Dulac : "Orange France has set an ambitious target of being net zero carbon by 2040 and has made improving the energy performance of its networks a major focus of its Engage 2025 strategic plan. In recent months, at a time when the networks have been more crucial and in greater demand than ever, I am particularly proud of this agreement, which illustrates our commitment as one of the economic players paving the way in France on PPAs and thus contributing to our country's energy transition."

Statement by Nicolas Wolff : "Our objective was to develop a partnership approach with Orange, one that would create value for both our groups. That is what we have done. We are pleased to see the name Boralex associated with Orange France. This Corporate PPA demonstrates our ability to bring real solutions to companies envisioning their Energy Transition."

Please find a selection of photos of the wind farm to download on the following link: https://we.tl/t-cNRGgYeNHk

About Orange

Orange Group is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators, with 42 billion euros in sales in 2019 and 145,000 employees at March 31, 2020 , including 85,000 employees in France . Present in 26 countries, the Group has a total customer base of more than 253 million customers at March 31, 2017 , including 208 million mobile customers and 21 million fixed broadband customers worldwide. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the Orange Business Services brand. In December 2019 , the Group presented Engage 2025, a new strategic plan guided by social and environmental responsibility that will reinvent its business as an operator. While accelerating in growth areas and territories, and placing data and AI at the heart of its innovation model, the Group intends to be an attractive and responsible employer, one that serves the needs of emerging businesses.

Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN).

For more information (on the web and your mobile): www.orange.com and www.orange-business.com or follow us on Twitter: @presseorange

Orange and all other Orange products or services mentioned in this press release are trademarks owned by Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.

About Boralex

Boralex develops, builds and operates renewable energy power facilities in Canada , France , the United Kingdom and the United States . With an installed capacity of 2,040 MW, Boralex is a leader in the Canadian market and France's largest independent producer of onshore wind power. Boralex is recognized for its solid experience in optimizing its asset base in four power generation types: wind, hydroelectric, thermal and solar. Boralex ensures sustainable growth by leveraging the expertise and diversification it has developed over the past 30 years. Boralex's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BLX. More information is available at www.boralex.com or www.sedar.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE Boralex Inc.

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2020/07/c3532.html
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2020) - Osoyoos Cannabis Inc. (CSE: OSO) ("Osoyoos" or the "Company") today provided a corporate update on its previously announced acquisition of 1196691 B.C. Ltd. d/b/a "PCAI Pharma" ("PCAI") and its wholly-owned subsidiary AI Pharmaceuticals Jamaica Limited ("AI Pharma").

About PCAI

PCAI is a Toronto-based pharmaceutical company with an ongoing mission, through AI Pharma, to build a global enterprise with a strong foundation of science, research, development and treatment, as well as, new therapeutic formulation discovery using data mining and current state-of-the-art artificial intelligence ("AI") techniques. PCAI's research and treatment initiatives are dedicated to unlocking the healing potential of plant-based and fungal-based medicines, remedies and treatments through rigorous science and clinical support.

AI Pharma's pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals will be developed utilizing specific chemical compounds, identified with our AI techniques, from both medical cannabis and medical mushrooms combined together to significantly increase treatment efficacy. We intend to develop a large intellectual property portfolio comprising significant blocking patents including these combinatorial pharmaceutical developments. These pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical products will be developed leveraging the most healing chemical compounds from medical cannabis in combination with chemical compounds from psychedelic and edible mushrooms with a goal to successfully treat conditions like cancer, depression, PTSD and others, as well as opioid and alcohol addiction.

The AI Pharma Team

The AI Pharma company is led by Dr. Stephen Barnhill, its Chairman & CEO. Dr. Barnhill is bringing together his world-class team of doctors, scientists and AI experts to leverage their successful pharmaceutical, biotech and AI track-records and successful product development histories with traditional pharma and biotech companies in order to bring the same level of expertise to the medical cannabis and medical mushroom (both edible and psychedelic) pharmaceutical research, development and treatments.

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Dr. Barnhill is a physician, fellowship trained in Laboratory Medicine and Board Certified by the American Board of BioAnalysis, an expert in AI, an inventor on more than 40 patents globally and is an experienced pharmaceutical and biotech executive with experience as a CEO in both private and public companies in the United States and internationally. He was most recently Founder, Chairman and CEO of a U.S. publicly-traded international biotech company, which he took from inception to profitability. Throughout his career, Dr. Barnhill has negotiated and executed deals with many companies including Pfizer, Corning-MetPath, Quest Diagnostics, Clarient (now GE Healthcare), LabCorp, NeoGenomics, Abbott, Bruker and others. He has published many papers with academics including those from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Stanford University Medical Center and others.

About AI Pharma

Current state-of-the-art AI techniques will provide the backbone of our discovery methods, along with a unique and strategic geographic foundation in Jamaica, where the organization, in association with its Jamaican-based Cannabis License Authority (CLA) licensed medical cannabis partner, has the requisite range of licenses and existing facilities.

Jamaica is uniquely legal for medical cannabis via CLA approved licenses (which we have through our discovery partnership) and is one of the very few countries in the world where mushrooms (both edible and psychedelic) have never been made illegal and are openly sold. This allows AI Pharma to legally discover these unique combined formulations to build a large patent portfolio of blocking patents and products while most of the rest of the world is legally limited in this type of discovery.

AI Pharma has a cultivation facility that is currently being prepared for mushrooms and will be operational in approximately sixty days.

AI Pharma has a R&D facility, as well as, a processing laboratory to prepare mushroom extracts in their distilled research and treatment ready form.

AI Pharma has leased space at Doc's Place International, an award winning (recently ranked #1 in the world by Edibles Magazine) health and wellness resort for medical cannabis patients that will be utilized for AI Pharma's patients as a treatment centre for psilocybin and combined psilocybin/cannabis based therapies.

Mr. Graham Simmonds, CEO of the Company stated, "This is an exciting opportunity for Osoyoos as we extend our business into a deeper level of cannabinoid medicine with specific research into the effect of combinatorial pharmaceuticals utilizing both the cannabis plant in association with the many breeds of mushrooms." He added, "I would also like to extend my appreciation to Cannabis Growth Opportunity Corporation for their recent financial commitment to Osoyoos and we look forward to working closely with them once we have closed our planned financing."

Dr. Stephen Barnhill, Chairman and CEO of AI Pharma stated, "We are very pleased to be a part of the Osoyoos business moving forward and I believe we can establish a leading portfolio of intellectual property with significant blocking patents, as well as, specific targeted therapies and medicines with scientifically demonstrated healing capabilities. Our ultimate goal is to help and heal people and I believe we have a significant advantage in achieving this from our leading-edge facility and team in Jamaica."

About Osoyoos Cannabis Inc.

Osoyoos Cannabis Inc. has a joint-venture agreement with a private, vertically-integrated licensed producer under the Cannabis Act (Canada) to offer contract tolling extraction services to third-party businesses. Additionally, the Company recently acquired 1196691 B.C. Ltd. d/b/a "PCAI Pharma" (www.pcai.ca) and its wholly-owned subsidiary AI Pharmaceuticals Jamaica Limited, a private corporation incorporated and operating under the laws of Jamaica. The business of AI Pharma involves science, research, treatment, data mining and AI, focused on the development of combinatorial pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals utilizing compounds from cannabis (cannabinoids), psychedelic mushrooms (psilocybin), fungi and other psychedelic formulations and their related medicinal global intellectual property protection.

For further information, please contact:

Graham Simmonds

Chief Executive Officer

(416) 843-2881

jgrahamsimmonds@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER & READER ADVISORY

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "may", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, PCAI and AI Pharma. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the parties. The material factors and assumptions include regulatory and other third-party approvals; licensing and other risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the parties are not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/59349
Malibu, Calif., July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Honorable Daniel Weinstein (Ret.) has made a generous $1 million gift to the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law. The gift will be used to strengthen the academic program and global reputation of the Straus Institute, which has been ranked as the #1 dispute resolution program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 13 of the past 16 years.

The gift will endow the managing director position at the Straus Institute, previously held by professor of law Peter Robinson (200517) and held since 2017 by associate professor of law and practice Sukhsimranjit Singh. As the inaugural Judge Danny Weinstein Managing Director, Professor Singh will continue his leadership of the Straus Institute in the training of arbitrators, mediators, negotiators, problem solvers, and peacemakers whose skills have never been more needed in our conflict-ridden country and world

Judge Weinsteins generosity is especially notable during an economic slowdown that has affected law schools and universities of every size and type around the country. We as a society are dealing with many crises at the moment, making Pepperdines mission of preparing a talented, diverse group of students to be tomorrows leaders and peacemakers more vital than ever, he said. The Straus Institute is a premier program for the training of the conflict resolvers of the future, with outstanding academics and top students from around the world. I am extremely enthusiastic about the contribution Straus is making to conflict resolution during these tumultuous times. Im incredibly excited to be a part of it.

Judge Weinstein is universally recognized as one of the worlds top mediators. He has mediated cases with an aggregate value of billions of dollars annually and has designed innovative processes tailored to unique, complex, and highly sensitive cases. He is one of the founding members of Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service (JAMS), the largest provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide. In 2008, he launched the Weinstein JAMS International Fellowship Program to provide ADR professionals outside of the United States an opportunity to learn about and advance dispute resolution practices in their countries and beyond. Judge Weinstein also established the Weinstein International Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making mediation available and accessible worldwide in the face of increasing global challenges and conflict.

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The gift to the Straus Institute includes a commitment to expand the schools international reach by establishing the Judge Danny Weinstein Endowed Scholars Program in Dispute Resolution. This program will bring international students to Pepperdine for a certificate or masters degree in dispute resolution. Preference will be given to fellows in the Weinstein JAMS International Fellowship Program.

We are humbled by Judge Dannys generosity and his faith in the Straus Institutes leadership in dispute resolution, said Paul L. Caron, Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean of the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. As one of the worlds leading mediators who has strong roots in California, he is a treasured partner in our mission to train current and future leaders in this vital field.

In its over thirty-year history, the Straus Institute has educated thousands of lawyers and other professionals on the foundational theories and cutting-edge practices in ADR. Straus students and alumni span the globehailing from countries like Kenya, Brazil, China, Serbia, and Indiaand of course across the United States and Southern California.

Judge Dannys commitment to advancing the field of dispute resolution is evident in this pledge to Pepperdine said Singh. Not only will his partnership allow us to further develop programs at Straus, but it will also help us educate more students from around the world and equip them with the skills to mediate conflict.

About Pepperdine University Rick J. Caruso School of Law

The Caruso School of Law offers a top-ranked legal education with nationally recognized degree programs committed to the highest principles of professional, ethical, and societal responsibility. With an emphasis on experiential learning, mentorship, faculty accessibility, global justice, and professional formation, Pepperdine Caruso Law offers a juris doctorate, two masters degrees, six joint-degree programs, seven LLM degrees, and five certificate programs. The School of Law houses 10 clinics and five institutes, including the globally recognized Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Follow the Caruso School of Law on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Attachments

Kim Prince

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law

818-317-5507

kimberly.prince@pepperdine.edu



Alex Forero

Pepperdine University

818-702-1401

alex.forero@pepperdine.edu


By Sabrina Valle and Gram Slattery

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 8 (Reuters) - Petrobras is preparing to launch a tender to build Brazil's largest-ever oil platform, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, as the state-controlled oil firm pushes ahead with ambitious plans to boost deepwater production.

Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as the Rio de Janeiro-based producer is formally known, plans to launch the leasing tender for the floating platform, known as an FPSO, by the end of August, the people said.

Equivalent vessels for deepwater production have cost between $2.5 billion and $3 billion to build. Winners build and own the platforms, and lease them to Petrobras in contracts with daily rates of up to $1 million that often last longer than 15 years.

An FPSO, or a floating production storage and offloading unit, is effectively a massive ship that is vital for deep water production in some offshore basins.

It will be the seventh FPSO in Buzios, Brazil's second most productive field and one of the biggest deepwater discoveries this century, the people said.

Petrobras is considering a unit able to process 225,000 barrels per day, more than Brazil's current largest platform, owned by Norway's Equinor ASA in its Bacalhau field, said one of the people.

The request for bids shows the state-controlled producer is moving ahead with investment plans for its most prolific fields despite the recent contraction of crude prices. The novel coronavirus pandemic has kept consumers at home and sapped demand for several fuels.

The competition for the FPSO is expected to take several months, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss the nonpublic plans.

About 10 companies have been pre-qualified by Petrobras to compete, one of the people said, including the world's biggest FPSO lessors, Japan's Modec Inc and Amsterdam-based SBM Offshore NV.

Petrobras, Modec and SBM declined to comment. (Reporting by Sabrina Valle and Gram Slattery; Editing by Richard Chang)
Increase in young population, influence of social media, and rise in number of local beauty brands drive the growth of the Philippines beauty & personal caremarket. The skin care segment contributed the highest share in 2018, and will maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period.The revenue from beauty products in Philippines has taken a huge plunge due to the restrictions on sales channels and supply chain.

Portland,OR, July 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research,the Philippines beauty & personal care market generated $3.3 billion in 2018, and is estimated to reach $4.7 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 4.8% from 2019 to 2026.The report offers anextensive analysis of changing market dynamics, key winning strategies, business performance, major segments, and competitive scenario.

Increase in young population, influence of social media, and rise in number of local beauty brandsdrive the growth of the Philippines beauty & personal care market. However, availability of alternatives may hinder the market growth. On the other hand, rise in adoption of online platforms and increase in demand for natural beauty products create new opportunities in the coming years.

Download Sample Copy of Report@ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6493

Covid-19 scenario:

During the coronavirus pandemic,the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines issued guidelines in which it was mentioned that the labors should utilize hand sanitizers during the labeling ofbeauty products.

However, the revenue from beauty products in Philippines has taken a huge plungedue to the restrictions on sales channels and supply chain.

The report offers a detailed segmentation of the Philippines beauty & personal caremarket based onproduct type, nature, gender, end user, and distribution channel.

Based on product type, the skin care segment contributed to the largest share in 2018, accounting for more thanone-third of the total share, and is estimated to maintain its dominant position during the forecast period. However, thecolor cosmetics segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 6.3% from 2019 to 2026.

Story continues

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Based on gender, the female segment accounted for the largest share in 2018, holding more than two-thirdsof the total share, and is expected to maintain the largest share throughout the forecast period. However, the malesegment is estimated to portray the highest CAGR of 5.3% during the forecast period.

Based on nature, the synthetic segment contributed the highest share, accounting for more than half of the total market share in 2018, and will maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. However, theorganic segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 6.1% from 2019 to 2026.

Leading market players analyzed in the research include LOreal, Coty Inc., Shiseido Company Limited, Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Beiersdorf AG, Unilever, Kao Corporation, Olay, LVMH, and Johnson & Johnson services, Inc.

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Regulatory News:

For more than 50 years, the Pierre & Vacances - Center Parcs Group (Paris:VAC) has strived to develop a tourism offer that respects the environment and biodiversity.

The Center Parcs domains are a good illustration of the Groups commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism. Each development project is the object of a prior environmental study that goes beyond legal obligations, as well as concertation with local operators.

Since 2007, the Group has been working on a project to install a Center Parcs domain in the township of Roybon in the Isere region of France. The project has received constant support from all local authorities for its environmental qualities, its benefits in terms of jobs and revenues, and its ability to revitalise and rebalance the region. For more than 10 years, legal proceedings contesting the administrative authorisations have prevented the project from advancing. With the land clearing permission, vital for the projects materialisation, now void, and access to the site blocked by so-call "zadist" militants (from the French Zone a Defendre meaning zone to defend) who have been illegally occupying the land since 2014, Center Parcs has decided to withdraw from this project.

Independently from Roybon, over this period, the development of Center Parcs in France has continued with the opening of the Domaine du Bois aux Daims (Vienne region) in 2015, the extension of the Domaine des Trois Forets (Moselle) in 2017 and 2019, and the future opening of the Center Parcs Landes de Gascogne (Lot-et-Garonne).

Center Parcs confirms its development in France and Northern Europe under the framework of the Group Change Up strategic plan, with innovative concepts that are set to enhance the Center Parcs offer.

- In France, the Landes de Gascogne domain in the Lot-et-Garonne region is due to open in spring 2022 (87 hectares, 400 cottages and 12,500 sq.m of leisure facilities). It has received a very warm welcome and is supported from regional authorities as well as local inhabitants and environmental protection groups. The domain is currently being built and is designed to have a limited environmental footprint (wood heating covering 80% of energy needs for the central facilities, bioclimatic construction of accommodation avoiding the use of air conditioning and optimised water management thanks to an innovative marsh treatment system).



In the Saone et Loire region, the feasibility of a development project for a domain with 400 cottages was confirmed by the administrative tribunals at the urban documentation stage. Continuing its dialogue with local authorities and all involved parties in the region, Center Parcs is currently undertaking complementary studies to strengthen its environmental commitments and propose adaptations to the initial project aimed at bolstering its low-carbon approach. A revised project taking into account these objectives will be presented next autumn.



For the project to extend the Bois Francs domain in the Eure region, the Group has reiterated its proposal to start productive discussions with environmental protection organisations, the conclusions of which will be integrated into the definition and design of the project.



The Center Parcs development project in the Jura region has been the object of legal appeals against the Local Urbanism Plan. Further study of the project is dependent on forthcoming decisions from the administrative tribunals.

Story continues

- In Northern Europe, the development strategy primarily concerns Germany, with two new sites currently being instructed in northern Germany and in Bavaria, and the start of negotiations and studies for two other sites in the Berlin region. Elsewhere a first project in Denmark is in the design completion phase and two projects in Scandinavia have been identified.



The development of new domains is going hand-in-hand with the renovation of existing domains with an investment budget of around 400 million financed by the property owner lessors.

In a post-Covid context, the level of reservations to date for the summer period testifies to the resilience and appeal of the Groups offer with increased demand for family-based and local tourism. The Center Parcs domains, accessible within two hours of major cities, embody sustainable tourism and immersion in natural and protected surroundings.

"We will continue these developments by innovating with each project, meeting environmental challenges and changing customer demands and by cooperating closely with the regions" stated Gerard Bremond, President of the Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs Group.

About the Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs Group

The Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs Group is the European leader in local tourism. Created in 1967, it develops and manages innovative and environmentally-friendly holiday and leisure concepts offering the most attractive European seaside, mountain, countryside and city destinations

About Center Parcs

Created in 1967 in the Netherlands, the Center Parcs concepts remains unrivalled in Europe. There are 27 Center Parcs domains at present, 6 of which in France, 9 in the Netherlands, 6 in Belgium and 6 in Germany. Center Parcs is a unique concept that meets the needs of families aiming to find an ideal place to live and share emotions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005751/en/

Contacts

Press Relations

Valerie Lauthier

+33 (0) 1 58 21 54 61

valerie.lauthier@groupepvcp.com

Investor Relations and Strategic Operations

Emeline Laute

+33 (0) 1 58 21 54 76

info.fin@groupepvcp.com
Toxic chemicals are being used by food sellers across Sub-Saharan Africa to improve the look of meat and fish, scientists and food inspectors say, putting the health of millions at risk.

Weak government testing capacities and informal food supply chains means there is little oversight of traders and fishermen, and almost no protection for unwary consumers.

However, veterinary specialists say there are techniques that can help people identify contaminated food before they buy it.

With fish, the fraudulent activity often begins when they are caught.

According to Serge-Claire Nkolo, a veterinary surgeon and departmental delegate of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA) in the Cameroonian coastal city Douala: What mostly happens is people pour a very toxic insecticide, Gamalin, into the water.

After a few minutes, all aquatic forms of life in the area will die and come to the surface. Thats when the fish are gathered.

Patricia Ngono, who sells smoked fish in the Youpwe fish market in Douala, says: Rather than buy wood and use firewood, some saleswomen gather up leftover fabric from tailors and burn it to smoke the fish.

Wild meat is affected too. Clement Polewa, a farm advisor in Douala, says some hunters use formalin, especially if they have gone into the bush for a hunting expedition lasting several days. Used to embalm and preserve bodies in morgues, some butchers use formalin to keep meat from going off.

They use this product on game they have killed to stop it from decomposing so it can be preserved until they get back to their village, Ngono says.

The US Environmental Protection Agency classifies formalin as a probable human carcinogen, linked to cancers of the nasal cavity and leukaemia. Our preliminary tests in an ongoing study show very high levels of formalin in milk that is hazardous for human health. Milk medicine

Story continues

According to Ashagrie Zewdu Woldegiorgis, assistant professor of food science and nutrition at the College of Natural Sciences of Addis Ababa University, farmers in Ethiopia use high levels of formalin to preserve milk before selling it to factories.

For the farmers, he says, formalin is referred to as milk medicine  an indication of the lack of knowledge about the chemical. Our preliminary tests in an ongoing study show very high levels of formalin in milk that is hazardous for human health, says Woldegiorgis.

Fisherman and traders do not admit to using these illegal substances: everyone simply claims to be aware of anecdotal evidence of such practices.

A few years ago, after we stressed how vitally important this was, the fishermen in a village finally agreed to tell us which one of them had been bombing the river, says Doualas Serge-Claire Nkolo. The individual concerned kept claiming he was completely innocent, until one day, after a surveillance operation, we caught him red-handed.

Farm adviser Polewa is in no doubt as to the extent of the problem: Weve even had cases where our inspection services have found evidence of the use of formalin in fishmongers who operate from established retail outlets in our cities.

The practice constitutes food fraud, according to Markus Lipp, head of the Food Safety and Quality Unit at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The use of formalin to preserve meat and other produce for longer periods is, as far as we know, not permitted anywhere and constitutes food fraud, Lipp says.

Fruit and vegetables

Lipp distinguishes between products that are used illegally and other chemicals, which are permitted for use, but which are often employed on fruit and vegetables in an inappropriate way and without proper oversight.

Vendors cover fruit with phytosanitary products that accelerate the ripening process or make the produce appear to be perfectly ripe.

Guy-Merlin Wakam, a senior agricultural technician in Douala, explains that this practice draws on methods used in the cultivation of pineapples, where the plant growth regulator ethephon (also known as ethrel) or the plant hormones gibberellins are employed, following protocols for dosage and application.

Ethrel is used while the fruit is still on the stalk, when it is already ripe, before it is picked, Wakam says. The aim is to get them to take on a yellowish hue. Because some clients, especially overseas, believe a pineapple is not ripe if it isnt yellow.

Jean-Pierre Mba, head of the Quality Control Unit in the Douala regional office of Cameroons Ministry of Agriculture, says traders then use the same fruit-ripening technique, leading to dosages that far exceed recommendations.

Traders simply draw on this method to try to control the ripening process of bananas and plantain, he says.

Abuse of science

For Woldegiorgis, this has led to an abuse of science by some traders who use excessive amounts of a permitted chemical just because it has been approved for use. He says that his research on the safety of sodium benzoate for preservation of the flatbread injera, a staple in Ethiopia, was supported by the Ethiopia Food and Drug Authority (EFDA).

The additive, says Woldegiorgis, was meant to improve the shelf life of injera from three days to ten days. But illegal and unprofessional people are adding this chemical by themselves by trial and error by adding a huge dose at the expense of human health, he says. They only care about the shelf life being prolonged not safety and quality of the product and the chemical but for profits.

The practice appears to be widespread, says Raphael Onguene, an academic at the University Institute of Technology (UIT) in Douala, who is also a producer of banana, pineapple and cocoa in Cameroons Yaounde region.

When I started out in agriculture, I very quickly noticed there was an overuse of phytosanitary products to help pineapples and plantain ripen, he says.

Whistleblowing

Hilaire-Flavien Foumane, head of the Inspection and Fraud Repression Squad at Ministry of Commerce in Douala, says: Thanks to other tradespeople turned whistleblowers, we dismantled a network of plantain traders who engaged in this practice. Strangely enough, the growers who provided them with the goods knew nothing about this.

Doualas Wakam describes how things work: Its mostly resellers who are guilty of these practices. A trader might have taken an order to provide ripe plantain within two or three days. They go and buy the fruit from a grower and then, without the producer knowing anything about this, treat it with ethrel or gibberellin to ensure it ripens ahead of their deadline.

These practices have real health impacts for the people who eat this food.

Researchers report that formalin and some chemicals used for extending the shelf life of fruits can cause dizziness, weakness, ulcers, heart disease, skin disease, lung failure, cancer and kidney failure.

Gisele Etame Loe, a specialist in food and medicine quality control at the University of Douala, says she was struck by the large number of cases of food poisoning we have already recorded as a result of people eating food treated with these products.

Food safety

Loe describes a particularly memorable case she was involved in a few years ago: Two people died after a whole family was hospitalized when they ate a local dish known as mbongo tchobi that was made with fish caught using Gamalin.

According to the first comprehensive report on food safety from the World Health Organization, the agency says that unsafe food is responsible for 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 deaths globally each year.

The report, by the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group, said that 30 per cent of food-borne deaths occurred among children under five, with Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia recording the largest burden of food-borne diseases.

Loe points out that this is linked to the fact that all of these products are known to present a risk of acute or chronic toxicity. She adds that formalin, Gamalin, ethrel and gibberellin are all carcinogenic at certain doses.

Formalin leads to significant respiratory difficulties and causes serious visceral lesions in the stomach, the intestine and the kidneys, she says. As for Gamalin, it is a neurotoxin and can cause lasting damage even if death does not ensue.

Ethrel can be very toxic and have an extremely corrosive effect on the oral cavity and the pharynx, which means there is a risk the stomach and the digestive tract could be perforated, and even that stomach cancer might develop, says Loe, who was behind the establishment of the industrial and pharmaceutical chemistry laboratory at UIT.

Avoiding toxins

There are a few tips consumers can follow to avoid toxic foods, says farm advisor Polewa.

If you go to an outlet and you see a bunch of bananas or plantain in which all the individual fruits have reached the same level of maturity, its likely that they havent been left to ripen naturally, he says. He points out that when a bunch of bananas is allowed to ripen naturally, the individual fruits will mature at their own pace; they will never all be ripe at the same time.

Veterinary surgeon Nkolo encourages consumers to be observant: If you are being sold meat that does not attract a single fly, it is not good quality meat. Because when meat is on display, its normal for flies to be buzzing around it, even if they cant land on it.

Woldegiorgis urges food authorities to do random checks, especially at informal markets, to enhance the quality of food soldbut he admits that food quality control may not be an easy task.

But Woldegiorgis says that informal businesses are often small-scale, some with no physical addresses or registration permits.

The ever-increasing number of reports about the misuse of food additives and chemicals in the past four years forced Kenyas Ministry of Health and Agriculture to begin planning a National Food Safety Authority.

In addition to looking to the need for authorities to carry out regular food safety inspections, experts are unanimous in highlighting the need for greater awareness among producers of fruit and vegetables, meat, and fish, as well as consumers.

For Doualas Wakam, the solution also requires stronger regulation of the sale of controlled-use chemicals.

This piece was produced jointly by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English and Sub-Saharan Africa French desks.

This article was originally published on SciDev.Net. Read the original article.

Sign up to the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief here for news and analysis on African business, tech and innovation in your inbox

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More stories from Quartz:
July 8 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- British broadcasters ITV, Channel 4 and Sky have called on ministers to introduce new laws "as a matter of urgency" to stem the spread of disinformation on Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google. https://bit.ly/3eg6ANb

- GlaxoSmithkline Plc has teamed up with Medicago, part owned by the American tobacco giant Philip Morris Inc , to use its adjuvant technology on a new candidate vaccine for Covid-19. https://bit.ly/3iBztGZ

The Guardian

- Next Plc, Asos Plc and Amazon.com Inc have decided to pull all Boohoo Group Plc clothing from sale as growing anger over workers' pay and conditions at the company's suppliers. https://bit.ly/3f49DsR

- Logistics company DHL has notified unions that 2,200 workers, around 40% of those currently employed on its Jaguar Land Rover contract, will be laid off. https://bit.ly/3e8BR4r

The Telegraph

- One of London's oldest hedge funds, Lansdowne Partners, is to retreat from shortselling by shutting down its main 2.2 billion pound ($2.76 billion) fund after heavy losses. https://bit.ly/2Cf9c0p

- Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Automotive in discussions with Daimler AG about taking over its car plant in France. https://bit.ly/3e6Zdaz

Sky News

- Chancellor Rishi Sunak will spend 2 billion pounds to fund a work placements scheme for young people in coronavirus recovery package. https://bit.ly/3fbXpOT

- The Carlyle Group Inc has hired bankers to sound out prospective buyers of Nationwide Accident Repair Services. https://bit.ly/2Cf9UuB

The Independent

- Reach Plc, the owner of the Daily Mirror, Daily Express and Daily Star newspapers is to axe 550 jobs amid falling print sales and advertising income. https://bit.ly/2Z8RKU5

($1 = 0.7962 pounds) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
July 7 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

** Insurer Aviva Canada faces a proposed class-action lawsuit that claims Canadian businesses have been denied contagious-disease coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://tgam.ca/3fiZTLe

** Canada's natural gas sector wants federal and provincial governments and industry to form an alliance as Ottawa develops a national hydrogen strategy, saying co-operation is vital to harness the full economic potential of the energy source. https://tgam.ca/3e8qRnI

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
Ryan W. Oviatt and Cameron M. Tidball Promoted to Co-CEO and Co-President

LINDON, Utah, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Profire Energy, Inc. (PFIE), a technology company which creates, installs and services burner solutions in the oil and gas industry, announced today that Brenton W. Hatch is transitioning from his role as Chief Executive Officer to Executive Chairman. Ryan W. Oviatt, Chief Financial Officer, and Cameron M. Tidball, Chief Business Development Officer, have been promoted as Co-Chief Executive Officers and Co-Presidents of the Company. All changes became effective on July 2, 2020.

Mr. Hatch will serve as Executive Chairman for a period of 12 months through June 30, 2021, and in that capacity will inform the Board of Directors on the companys operations, mentor other executives, and serve as an advisor on the day-to-day and strategic operations of the company. Effective July 1, 2021, Mr. Hatch will transition from Executive Chairman to Special Advisor for the executive officers of the Company for a period of 12 months through June 30, 2022. Mr. Hatch will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board.

On behalf of myself and the Board of Directors we are pleased to select both Ryan and Cameron as Co-CEOs of Profire moving forward. Both Ryan and Cameron have served along side me for many years and have been groomed for this exact opportunity, said Mr. Hatch. I am confident that together they will continue to position Profire for growth in support of our customers, and our employees, while continuing to drive shareholder value for decades to come. Having served over 18 years as CEO after co-founding Profire in 2002, I feel this is the right time for a leadership transition. I remain confident and vested in the long-term success of Profire by continuing as Chairman of the Board and remaining the largest individual shareholder. I am also excited to continue my involvement as Executive Chairman. Playing a smaller role on the management team will finally allow me to spend more time with my 21 grandchildren and now my very first great grandchild. It has been my honor and privilege to serve this great company, our employees and our shareholders.

Story continues

Since joining Profire five years ago, I have built an excellent working relationship with both Brent and Cameron, said Mr. Oviatt. I look forward to Brents continued guidance and industry knowledge as we continue to lead Profire in the future. The Companys guiding principles of fiscal conservatism and investments in new and emerging technology remain unchanged. It is an honor to follow in Brents footsteps and a pleasure to do so with Cameron. Cameron and I have complementary skills, knowledge, and experience that will continue to benefit Profire and its shareholders moving forward.

Brent has served as a mentor to me for the past ten years, and I look forward to him continuing to serve as Executive Chairman as we assume our new positions within the organization. Over the past five years, Ryan and I have collaborated on multiple internal projects, strategic management decisions, M&A opportunities, as well as investor communications and functions. I am honored to join him as Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of Profire and I look forward to the continued success of Profire with the continued support of Brent, commented Mr. Tidball.

Mr. Oviatt joined the company as CFO in 2015 and has served as a Director since October 2018. Previously, Mr. Oviatt was a Senior Manager at Rio Tinto. Prior to Rio Tinto, Mr. Oviatt was an Audit Manager at Ernst & Young, LLP. Mr. Oviatt received his bachelors degree in accounting from Westminster College, and masters degree in accountancy from Brigham Young University. He is a Certified Public Accountant in Utah.

Mr. Tidball joined Profire in 2010 as a Regional Sales Manager. He became Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2012, and was named Chief Business Development Officer in 2018, with responsibility for all sales and marketing initiatives, business and product development, and service delivery. Mr. Tidball earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing & Management Science from the University of Alberta. He also received a technical diploma in Engineering Design from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

About Profire Energy, Inc.

Profire Energy assists energy production companies in the safe and efficient production and transportation of oil and natural gas. As energy companies seek greater safety for their employees, compliance with more stringent regulatory standards and enhanced margins with their energy production processes, Profire Energy's burner management systems have become a critical component of their solution. Profire Energy has offices in Lindon, Utah; Victoria, Texas; Homer, Pennsylvania; Greeley, Colorado; and Acheson, Alberta, Canada. For additional information, visit www.profireenergy.com.

Contact:

Profire Energy, Inc.

Ryan Oviatt, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Co-President and Chief Financial Officer

(801) 796-5127

Three Part Advisors

Steven Hooser, Partner

214-872-2710
Rating Action: Moody's assigns (P)Baa1 to PTT Public Co. Ltd.'s MTN program and Baa1 to proposed drawdown

Global Credit Research - 08 Jul 2020

Singapore, July 08, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a (P)Baa1 senior unsecured rating to the proposed USD2 billion global medium-term note (MTN) program established by PTT Public Company Limited (PTT, Baa1 stable) and its subsidiary PTT Treasury Center Company Limited (PTT TCC). Any issuance under the program by PTT TCC will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by PTT.

At the same time, Moody's has assigned a Baa1 senior unsecured rating to the proposed USD notes to be issued by PTT TCC as a drawdown from the MTN program. These notes will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by PTT on an unsubordinated basis. The guarantee will rank pari passu with the unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of PTT.

The outlook on the ratings is stable.

RATINGS RATIONALE

"The ratings assigned to the MTN program and the proposed drawdown are in line with PTT's Baa1 issuer rating, which reflects its strategically important role as Thailand's national oil and gas company," says Jacintha Poh, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.

PTT's Baa1 rating reflects (1) its standalone credit quality, as captured in its Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA), of baa2; and (2) Moody's expectation of a high likelihood of extraordinary support from the Government of Thailand (Baa1 stable) in times of need, as well as high level of dependence between the government and PTT, which has resulted in a one-notch uplift to its rating.

"We expect PTT's credit metrics will weaken because of lower oil prices but remain within its baa2 BCA rating parameters. Further, PTT has a track record of prudently managing its finances and has demonstrated flexibility in adjusting spending during previous downturns," adds Poh, who is also Moody's Lead Analyst for PTT.

Story continues

Under Moody's oil price assumptions of Brent averaging $35 per barrel in 2020 and $45 per barrel in 2021, Moody's expects PTT's adjusted RCF/net debt will range between 25%-30% through 2020-21 against its downgrade threshold of 25%.

PTT announced a reduction in its 2020 investment plan in May, which will primarily be achieved by deferring greenfield projects. The company's committed capital spending on expansion projects include (1) the Clean Fuel Project at Thai Oil Public Company Limited (Baa2 negative), which began construction in 2019; and (2) the naphtha cracker and two plants producing propylene oxide and polyols at PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (Baa2 stable), which are scheduled for completion in the second half of 2020.

Moody's projections assume PTT's capital spending and dividend payments will be around THB230 billion and THB60 billion, respectively, in 2020.

The baa2 BCA reflects the company's (1) strategically important position as Thailand's national integrated oil and gas company and sole operator in gas transmission and distribution; (2) significant upstream production and control, with the company accounting for over 60% of Thailand's total refining capacity; (3) track record of strong and resilient credit metrics through periods of sustained low oil prices, given its integrated business model; and (4) strong liquidity profile, with a large cash balance.

At the same time, PTT's BCA remains constrained by the company's appetite to increase scale, which translates into higher capital investment and acquisition risk, execution risks associated with expansion plans in downstream segments, and a less-than-50% ownership in many of its key operating companies. The BCA also reflects PTT's inherent exposure to the cyclical nature of oil prices and refining/petrochemical margins.

In terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, the ratings also consider the following:

1) As an integrated oil and gas company, PTT has material exposure to carbon-transition risk. The ongoing global effort to transition to low-carbon energy will gradually lower demand for petroleum products in the coming decades. For PTT, this risk is partly mitigated by Thailand's significant dependence on oil and gas imports and the company's production mix, which for over 70% comprises natural gas .

PTT also plans to reduce its carbon footprint and increase its revenue from clean and green businesses.

2) Thailand's aging population will constrain the growth in consumption of petroleum products over the next decade. Nevertheless, PTT's presence across the oil and gas value chain and the company's business strategy will partly mitigate this risk.

3) PTT's close ties with its largest shareholder, the Government of Thailand, which has significant oversight on the company's strategic planning. PTT has large capital spending plans for the next five years. Some of these projects are in line with the government's objective of ensuring Thailand's energy security, and support the company's long-term goals. Such high capital spending levels have been incorporated in Moody's assessment of the company's credit metrics.

The stable outlook on the ratings is in line with the outlook on Thailand's sovereign rating and reflects Moody's expectation that PTT will maintain a prudent financial profile as it pursues growth.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS

Moody's will upgrade PTT's Baa1 rating if (1) Thailand's Baa1 sovereign rating is upgraded; (2) PTT's BCA is at least maintained at the current baa2 level; and (3) there is no change in Moody's assessment of support for PTT.

In the near term, an upgrade of PTT's baa2 BCA is unlikely, given the company's large planned expansion projects.

Nonetheless, Moody's could upgrade PTT's BCA to baa1 if the company maintains a solid credit and liquidity profile while (1) expanding its upstream oil and gas business through a combination of organic and inorganic growth, resulting in a significant increase in its reserves to over seven years; (2) strengthening its cash flow from its stable natural gas business segment; or (3) growing its other downstream refining and petrochemical segments.

However, an improvement in PTT's BCA will not automatically result in an upgrade of its issuer rating.

Moody's could downgrade PTT's issuer rating if (1) the company's BCA deteriorates below baa3; or (2) the Thai government's ownership of the company falls below 51% or government control is reduced by some other means, which would require a reassessment of the level of support incorporated into PTT's ratings.

Additionally, Moody's could downgrade PTT's BCA to baa3 if (1) oil prices fall significantly or refining margins materially decline such that they weaken the company's operating cash flow; (2) its oil and gas reserves continue to decline to below four years; or (3) the company undertakes large debt-funded acquisitions, resulting in weaker credit metrics and higher execution risk.

Credit metrics that could lead to a downgrade of PTT's BCA include adjusted retained cash flow/net debt below 25%, adjusted debt/capitalization exceeding 45% and adjusted EBITDA/interest below 5.0x. A downgrade of PTT's BCA to baa3 will not automatically result in a downgrade of its issuer rating.

The methodologies used in these ratings were Integrated Oil and Gas Methodology published in September 2019 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1172345, and Government-Related Issuers Methodology published in February 2020 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1186207. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.

PTT Public Company Limited (PTT) is an integrated oil, gas and petrochemical company based in Thailand. Its main operations include the transmission and distribution of natural gas, and upstream exploration and production through its 65%-owned subsidiary, PTT Exploration & Production Public Company Limited (Baa1 stable).

PTT holds interests in three of six oil refineries in Thailand which, together with its six gas separation plants, support the company's petrochemical business. The company is also directly engaged in oil marketing and international trading.

The company's largest shareholder is Thailand's Ministry of Finance, which owns 51.1% of PTT's total share capital, while the government-invested Vayupak Mutual Funds owns a further 12.2%.

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Company Emerges from Chapter 11 with New Capital Structure and Board

Quorum Health Corporation has successfully completed its financial restructuring and emerged from the Chapter 11 process in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Company announced the appointment of veteran health care executive Joey Jacobs as Chief Executive Officer as well as a new Board of Managers with extensive healthcare experience.

The reorganization provides Quorum Health with a stronger financial foundation, positioning the Company, its affiliated hospitals and management consulting business to continue providing high quality service to its patients and clients. The Company moves forward with a restructured balance sheet, having reduced debt by approximately $500 million.

"This company has successfully turned a crucially important corner and Im excited to join Quorum Health as we begin this new chapter," said Mr. Jacobs. "Completing this process allows our hospitals and subsidiaries to continue providing quality care and developing new ways to deliver much-needed health services to the communities we serve, now and in the future. We appreciate the Courts diligence and are grateful for the wisdom of our bondholders in recognizing the strength of our operations and taking the difficult but necessary steps to provide a platform for success. I look forward to working with the Board and management team, as well as the dedicated employees and physicians, to shape a bright future."

Mr. Jacobs, who will also serve on the Companys Board of Managers, brings more than 40 years of health care leadership and operations experience. Most recently, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Acadia Healthcare, a provider of behavioral health services that, under his leadership, grew from just six locations to a network of 586 facilities with operations in 40 states, the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico. Prior to joining Acadia, Mr. Jacobs co-founded Psychiatric Solutions, Inc. and served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Previously, he spent 21 years in various leadership roles with HCA Healthcare.

Story continues

In addition to Mr. Jacobs appointment, Martin D. Smith is being elevated to President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Smith, who joined Quorum Health upon its formation in 2016, previously served as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. He will maintain operations and management responsibility for the Companys 22 hospitals. Alfred Lumsdaine will continue to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

The Companys reconstituted Board of Managers will be led by Catherine Klema. Ms. Klema is President of Nettleton Advisors, a financial advisory and strategic consulting company assisting healthcare clients. Previously, she was Managing Director of Healthcare Investment Banking for SG Cowen Securities and Head and Managing Director of Healthcare Investment Banking for Furman Selz, LLC, as well as Senior Vice President for Lehman Brothers. She has served as a director of several health care companies, including Allergan, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Montefiore Medicine.

"We are extremely pleased to have Mr. Jacobs join the Company at such a pivotal time," said Ms. Klema. "He brings a strong track record of creating value for stakeholders and an entrepreneurial perspective that will be important as the Company moves forward in a new and rapidly changing environment. When paired with Mr. Smiths unique insights and success driving incremental improvement in the Companys operations in recent years, we have great confidence in the strength of this management team."

In addition to Ms. Klema and Mr. Jacobs, the new Board of Managers will be comprised of the following individuals:

Murtaza Ali  Mr. Ali is an Operating Partner at Davidson Kempner Hawthorne Partners LP. Previously, he was a senior operating partner at BlueMountain Capital and a Managing Director at Anchorage Capital, overseeing value creation efforts across a range of industries including real estate, health care and business services. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ali held various leadership roles at the Boston Consulting Group, Target and McKinsey.

Michael Rothbart  Mr. Rothbart currently serves as a Senior Research Analyst at GoldenTree Asset Management where he maintains a focus on health care and technology industries.

Alice Schroeder  Ms. Schroeder, who has served on Quorum Healths Board since 2018, is a former analyst and #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author. As CEO and Chair, she led WebTuner Corp., a Seattle-area software developer, through its turnaround and sale in May 2017. Formerly, she was a Managing Director in the equities division of Morgan Stanley, leading the global insurance research team.

Andrew E. Schultz  Mr. Schultz is a managing member of Woodbine Consulting, LLC, and a member of Holding Capital Group. He was previously General Counsel of Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he led the hospitals affiliation with the Yale-New Haven Health System and also served as project executive for a $100 million expansion and new construction program.

Dan Slipkovich  Mr. Slipkovich has more than 35 years of experience leading multi-billion-dollar hospital operations in senior leadership roles. Throughout his career, he has had direct operational responsibility for more than 200 hospitals in 29 states ranging from small rural facilities to large, urban academic medical centers. In 2005, he co-founded Capella Healthcare and served as the companys CEO and Chairman of the Board.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as the Companys legal counsel, MTS Health Partners, L.P. served as financial advisor and Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC acted as restructuring advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel and Jefferies LLC served as financial advisor to the ad hoc noteholder group, which agreed to equitize their note claims into new equity of the Company and invested $200 million of new equity capital in the Company. Members of the ad hoc noteholder group will hold substantially all of the reorganized Companys equity. Milbank LLP served as legal counsel and Houlihan Lokey, Inc. served as financial advisor to the ad hoc group of term lenders.

About Quorum Health Corporation

Quorum Health Corporation is an operator of general acute care hospitals and outpatient services in the United States. Through its subsidiaries, the Company owns, leases or operates a diversified portfolio of 22 affiliated hospitals in rural and mid-sized markets located across 13 states with an aggregate of 1,817 licensed beds. The Company also operates Quorum Health Resources, LLC, a leading hospital management advisory and consulting services business. More information about Quorum Health Corporation can be found at www.quorumhealth.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005904/en/

Contacts

Rosemary Plorin

Lovell Communications

rosemary@lovell.com

Phone: 615-750-9025
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on July 8, 2020

2020/07/08

The Paper: WHO announced that experts will be sent to China to work together with Chinese experts on science-based planning to trace the origin of the coronavirus. Does China have a comment?

Zhao Lijian: Origin-tracing is a serious and complex scientific issue that should be studied by scientists and medical experts. As President Xi Jinping stressed in his statement at the Virtual Event of the Opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly, China continues supporting global research by scientists on the source and transmission routes of the virus. China co-sponsored the WHA resolution on COVID-19 and supports WHO-led cooperation of member states on the zoonotic source of the virus.

Since COVID-19 broke out, WHO and China have all along maintained communication and cooperation. WHO already said in a statement that WHO experts will travel to China to work together with their Chinese counterparts to prepare scientific plans for identifying the zoonotic source of the coronavirus. The experts will develop the scope and TOR for a WHO-led international mission. Identifying the origin of emerging viral disease has proven complex in past epidemics in different countries. A well planned series of scientific researches will advance the understanding of animal reservoirs and the route of transmission to humans. The process is an evolving endeavor which may lead to further international scientific research and collaboration globally. Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, said identifying the origin of virus is very complex and we should remain open to the possibility of various origins as the process is evolving.

After consultation between the two sides, the Chinese government has agreed to WHO sending experts to Beijing to exchange ideas with Chinese scientists and medical experts on science-based cooperation to trace the origin of the virus. We have a fundamental consensus with WHO, that is, origin-tracing is a scientific issue that should be studied by scientists through international research and cooperation across the globe. It is also the view of WHO that it is an ongoing process probably concerning many countries and localities. WHO will conduct similar trips to other countries and regions in light of the actual need.

CCTV: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently announced visa restrictions on Chinese government and relevant officials pursuant to the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: China firmly opposes the relevant US measures. In response to the US erroneous act, China decides to impose visa restrictions on US individuals with egregious conducts on Tibet-related issues. We urge the US side to immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs with Tibet as a pretext, and refrain from going further down the wrong path, lest it should further harm China-US relations as well as exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

Regarding the so-called Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, China has made clear its solemn position on many occasions. Tibetan affairs are purely China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. China pursues a policy of opening up, and Tibet is open to all with no restriction on foreigners' entry. Tibet receives a large number of foreign travelers and people from various sectors every year. According to incomplete statistics, from 2015 to 2018, nearly 176,000 foreigners traveled to Tibet for official visits, tourism and business trips, including about 175,000 tourists, nearly 500 diplomats and 343 journalists. Last year, the number of visitors to Tibet, both from home and abroad, topped 40 million. US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad also visited Tibet last year and had talks with several departments of the government of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. These are public records available in media reports, which fully show that there's no problem with foreigners' access to this region.

I want to point out that considering the special geographical and climatic conditions in the region, it is entirely necessary and indisputable that the government takes some lawful protective and management measures regarding foreign nationals' visit. We welcome more foreign citizens to visit, travel in and do business in Tibet. This policy won't change. However, they must abide by Chinese laws and regulations and follow necessary procedures.

Phoenix TV: US Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun arrived in the ROK today and met with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. But the DPRK foreign ministry said yesterday that the DPRK has no immediate intent to resume dialogue with the US and refuses mediation by the ROK. Do you have any comment? What role is China going to play?

Zhao Lijian: Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, I want to reiterate that the DPRK and the US are the main parties to the Korean Peninsula issue, and the US holds the key to breaking the deadlock. As we stressed repeatedly, they need to not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. The US side should demonstrate sincerity and take concrete actions to respond to the DPRK's legitimate and reasonable concerns. China stands ready to continue playing a constructive role in the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue.

China Daily: On July 5 local time, the presidential election was held in the Dominican Republic. According to preliminary results from the Central Electoral Board, the opposition Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) candidate Luis Abinader was elected as the new president. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: China expresses sincere congratulations to Mr. Luis Abinader on his election as the president of the Dominican Republic. We believe that under his leadership, the Dominican Republic will achieve new progress in national development.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Dominican Republic on May 1, 2018 opened up a new chapter in our bilateral relations. Over the past two years or so, China and the Dominican Republic witnessed rapid development in bilateral relations based on mutual respect, equality, mutual trust, win-win cooperation and common development. Our practical cooperation yielded fruitful outcomes that benefit both countries and peoples. China attaches high importance to our relationship with the Dominican Republic. We stand ready to work with the Dominican Republic to keep the sound momentum in bilateral relationship, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation and jointly scale new heights in our relations.

CNN: On Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray mentioned China multiple times in his speech, saying that China is the greatest, biggest threat to US information and intellectual property, and to its economic vitality. According to him, of all FBI cases currently underway across the US, almost half are related to China. He also said China's Fox Hunt operation is an illegitimate campaign that threatens some Chinese in the US. Do you have any response to that?

Zhao Lijian: You are buying FBI's words? For real?

We regret that US foreign policies are kidnapped by FBI officials like Wray and other anti-China forces. You mentioned some claims, and I also noticed that Wray said the FBI opens a new case concerning China every ten hours. They'd better think again if they take Chinese security authorities to be amateurs!

The words of some US officials are full of political lies in negligence of basic facts, exposing their deep-seated Cold-War mindset and ideological bias. China resolutely opposes their comments. I'd like to stress that certain US politicians have been tarnishing China's image and painting China as a threat with false accusations in an attempt to shift the blame and cover up their own problems. However, their intention will not lead to any result as it is seen through by the whole world.

In response to US remarks on the Fox Hunt operation, I want to stress that combating cross-border crimes is the consensus of the international community. China's Fox Hunt operation abroad is aimed to repatriate fugitives and uphold the sanctity of law and social justice. In recent years, many countries have conducted law-enforcement cooperation with China on this front. By saying those words, does this US official suggest his country will become a safe haven for criminals?

We urge certain US official to immediately rectify mistakes and stop issuing erroneous remarks on China, cooking up political lies day after day and undermining trust and cooperation between the two countries.

Shenzhen TV: The first SCO Webinar on Combating COVID-19 was successfully held yesterday. Can you give us more details on that?

Zhao Lijian: As we know, the webinar themed "Mutual Support for the Shared Wellbeing" was broadcast globally online and offline. Professionals from multiple Chinese medical institutions had in-depth discussions on COVID-19 clinical treatment with over 200 experts from nearly 40 medical institutions in SCO members, observers and dialogue partners. In the next few weeks, there will be more webinars on COVID-19, which we believe will help medical personnel in all participating countries to enhance professional skills and save more lives.

In his opening remarks, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov highly commended China's fight against COVID-19 and efforts devoted to international cooperation as a responsible major country. GNFCC SCO Secretary-General Zheng Wei said that guided by the Shanghai Spirit, SCO states have contributed to global anti-epidemic cooperation through concrete actions. In the next phase, China will step up coordination with others in a bid to make greater contributions to regional and global public health security.

TASS: My question is about the trilateral meeting of defense ministers of Australia, Japan and the US. As they held a trilateral meeting on July 7, the ministers reinforced their strong opposition to any destabilizing actions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. They also reaffirmed the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. Besides, the ministers expressed serious concerns over Beijing's imposition of a national security law upon Hong Kong. I wonder if China has any comments?

Zhao Lijian: Under the joint efforts of all regional countries, the overall situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea is stable and becoming better. Under such circumstances, out of selfish motives, certain non-regional countries frequently hype up matters related to the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and even send advanced military vessels and aircraft in a massive scale to the relevant waters in a bid to promote militarization and threaten peace and stability in the region. China firmly opposes that. We urge those countries to grasp the mainstream and the overriding trend of development in the region, and respect regional countries' efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the relevant waters.

Regarding the concerns expressed at the trilateral meeting of defense ministers on the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR, China has repeatedly stated our solemn position on the Law. This is China's internal affair that allows no foreign interference.

Global Times: The US State Department spokesperson said on July 7 that President Trump formally informed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that he has started the US pullout from WHO. The Secretary-General's spokesperson confirmed this on the same day. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: This is another example of the US being a pursuer of unilateralism and a quitter from treaties and organizations.

As the most authoritative and professional international organization for global public health security, the World Health Organization plays a central and irreplaceable role in coordinating global efforts against COVID-19. As the international fight against COVID-19 is now at a crucial stage, it is an international consensus that to support WHO is to support international cooperation and to support saving lives. The US withdrawal will undercut international combat against the virus, which will have particularly severe impact on developing countries that are in urgent need of international support. We urge the US to fulfill its due international responsibilities and obligations and behave as a responsible major country. China calls on the international community to further consolidate the consensus of multilateralism, increase political support and financial input to WHO and jointly safeguard global public health security.

TASS: Yesterday, Russia and China vetoed the UN Security Council draft resolution proposed by Germany and Belgium on an extension of the cross-border assistance mechanism for Syria. I wonder if China has any comments on this?

Zhao Lijian: China and Russia vetoed the draft resolution. Ambassador Zhang Jun of China's permanent mission to the UN has stated China's position in his remarks in explanation of China's vote at the UN Security Council.

China attaches high importance to the humanitarian situation in Syria. For many years we have been providing a lot of humanitarian aid to Syria to the best of our ability. China believes that humanitarian assistance to Syria should be provided on the basis of the Syrian government's opinions and the full respect for Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. China encourages relevant parties to step up efforts to promote cross-line operations and make corresponding adjustments to the cross-border mechanism. All parties should enhance dialogue and trust, actively respond to the UN Secretary-General's global ceasefire initiative, and make efforts for the political settlement of the Syrian issue.

PTI: Regarding the visit of WHO delegation, do you have the details of their itinerary here? What are the places that they will be visiting? Will they visit Wuhan?

Zhao Lijian: I don't have the specifics for you at the moment. Please stay tuned. More information will be released in due course.

Bloomberg: US President Donald Trump has said that he's considering banning TikTok in the US. Some US officials have said that it has been providing user data for the Chinese government. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on this?

Zhao Lijian: Certain US politician's comments are just groundless slanders. The Chinese government always asks Chinese companies to observe laws and regulations when doing business overseas. If we follow the logic of the US side, can we say that American social media companies, with a large number of users globally, pose a grave security threat to all other countries in the world? They should be placed under the supervision and evaluation of the international community more than others.

We urge some people in the US to be fair-minded and unbiased, stop presuming others' behavior based on their own pattern, stop employing state power to oppress Chinese companies, and do more things that are conducive to China-US relations.
LITGRID AB (hereinafter  LITGRID or the Company) identification code 302564383, registered office placed at Virsuliskiu skg. 99B, Vilnius.



The Company informs that on 7th July 2020 together with Ignitis grupe, UAB (hereinafter  Ignitis grupe) has executed closing of a transaction under a share sale-purchase agreement concluded with QEIF II Development Holding Sarl, a subsidiary of Quaero European Infrastructure Fund II, managed by Quaero Capital, regarding the sale of shares of its subsidiary UAB Duomenu logistikos centras (hereinafter - DLC). Following the agreement, the Company sold 20.36% of shares, whereas Ignitis grupe  79.64% of shares of DLC. Upon closing QEIF II Development Holding Sarl has acquired a title to 100% of DLC.

The title to shares of DLC to QEIF II Development Holding Sarl was transferred following the decision of Coordination Commission for the Protection of Objects of National Security of the Republic of Lithuania on compliance of the transaction with national security interests, and the adoption of decision on consent for the sale of the DLC shares by extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Litgrid. The total value of the transaction is EUR 10.1 million.

For more information please contact:

Paule Pupinyte-Bruziene

Head of Communication Division

Phone: +370 6112095

e-mail: paule.pupinyte-bruziene@litgrid.eu




NEW YORK, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- COVID-19 has created a complicated new reality for universities and colleges to educate students at a distance. REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit , hosted by ASU, takes place July 13-14, addressing this head on by bringing together an extraordinary line up of Educational innovators, thought practitioners and influencers to assist faculty with the preparation of online and blended learning for fall 2020. Click here to register to attend. The virtual conference, free for faculty, will address student experience, engagement, course design, discipline insights and other critical issues that are arising daily.



Higher education faculty have been tremendously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With little training or support, in a very short amount of time, they pivoted to teach online, said David Levin, University Entrepreneur in Residence, Arizona State University and Executive Producer of REMOTE. REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit was design to equip faculty with tools, tips and techniques and a reflection on the pedagogy that would be effective for them get back to school this fall.

A diverse group of more than 100 speakers from 60 universities and institutions, the program includes keynote presentations and 88 half hour sessions focused on disciplines, best practices and policy over two three-hour days which include networking chats and live Q&As where attendees can directly ask questions and speakers will answer in real-time. In addition, there will be a live track of 12 sessions featuring Every Learner Everywhere experts in digital instruction and pedagogy.

Keynote speakers include:

Michael M. Crow, President, Arizona State University will kick-off the event. President Crow will share his observations on the wider situation across higher education and on the opportunity for faculty to seize this moment to drive change to create a system fit for the 21 st Century.

Kristie Ornelas, Senior Director of Cisco Customer Experience and Scott Galloway, Professor at NYU Stern, founder, and bestselling author will discuss the future of higher education, lessons learned in remote learning and how technology companies can accelerate the ongoing transformation.

Selected featured speakers include:

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Ariel Anbar, Professor, Arizona State University

Mike Caulfield, Director of Blended and Networked Learning, Washington State

Tom Thomas Cavanagh, Vice Provost for Digital Learning, University of Central Florida

Cathy Davidson, Distinguished and Founding Director of the Futures Initiative at the Graduate Center, CUNY

Christy Fogal, Mathematics Professor, State University of NY/Monroe Community College

Jose J. Vazquez, Clinical Professor, University of Illinois, Department of Economics

REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit will take place in an interactive environment, which replicates the look and feel of a conference and allows attendees to discover immediate ways to improve online class delivery and to obtain navigation assistance around blended delivery. The digital environment provides multiple theaters where attendees can filter the extensive Agenda by areas of interest. Seven presentations run simultaneously every half hour, broken out by topics. The event optimizes networking among attendees with themed Lounges based on types of disciplines and common topics within each. Attendees can join chat rooms to meet and connect with others and share in free-form conversations. At the end of each day, attendees are invited to attend a Virtual Happy Hour to share highlights, favorite sessions and talk about the value the Summit.

To date, the Summit has over 17,000 registrants from more than 150 universities and institutions registered to attend. The majority of registrants are professors, instructors, lecturers, teaching professionals, instructional designers, provosts, deans, and department chairs and administrators. Fifty-eight percent of registrants are involved in hybrid teaching (online and on-campus), 35 percent are fully online and seven percent are on-campus only.

Summit sponsors include Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Pearson, Cisco, Chegg, Course Hero, Microsoft, McGraw Hill, Cengage, Macmillan Learning, Soomo, Association of College & University Educators (ACUE), CogBooks, iDesign, Respondus and Six Red Marbles. Media partners include The Chronicle of Higher Education and Times Higher Education. The publishers, platforms and innovators have generously donated to the ASU Foundation with their sponsorship to allow a free for faculty model.

REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit is produced by Questex.

Learn more about REMOTE: The Connected Faculty Summit here . View the complete speaker line up here . To register to attend the Summit, click here or stay connected on LinkedIn .

Media Contacts

Kate Spellman

Chief Marketing Officer

Questex

kspellman@questex.com

212 895 8488
Waiter Pedro Armenta, wearing a face shield and mask, checks the temperature of customer Julian Bourely before entering Dupar's Restaurant, which was receiving customers for patio dining and take-out service at the Original Farmers Market in the Fairfax district in Los Angeles on July 1. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

More Los Angeles County residents are leaving their homes and venturing back into public life as the economy reopens, prompting a reduction in psychological distress but heightening anxiety that reopening is occurring too quickly and could cause serious new coronavirus outbreaks, according to a new survey.

The results of a survey by the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research and analyzed by L.A. County officials were revealed Monday by Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer amid a major increase in new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations tied to the reopening of businesses and people getting back to old routines, such as private gatherings, without wearing masks or keeping distance from people.

In mid-April, nearly 86% of L.A. County residents said they stayed home at all times except for essential activities or exercise; by the last week of June, only 58% said they were doing so.

Percent of L.A. County residents who stayed home except for essential activities and exercise. (Los Angeles County)

More L.A. County residents are also having close contact  being in a distance within 6 feet  with people outside their household. In mid-April, only about 31% of L.A. County residents had such close contact with people outside of their household; by the last week of June, 55% were doing so.

Percent of L.A. County residents who had close contact with people outside of their household. (Los Angeles County)

As the reopening has accelerated, however, fewer L.A. County residents are reporting a fear of running out of food because of a lack of money or other resources. In early April, 30% of L.A. County residents surveyed were worried about running out of food; that figure fell to roughly 11% for the last week of June.

Percent of L.A. County residents worried about running out of food because of a lack of money. (Los Angeles County)

Additionally, fewer L.A. County residents are now reporting psychological distress as the reopening accelerated. In early April, 47% of surveyed county residents reported mild, moderate or severe symptoms of psychological distress; as the reopening accelerated, 36% reporting feeling such symptoms.

Percent of L.A. County residents with symptoms of psychological distress. (Los Angeles County)

There was also a slight reduction in the percent of L.A. County residents who reported the pandemic posed a moderate or substantial threat to their household finances; 64% said it did so in mid-May; 56% said it did so in mid-June.

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Percent of L.A. County residents who reported the coronavirus pandemic posed a threat to their household finances. (Los Angeles County)

"This is the good news about opening  it's that in fact, for many people, it's provided some very important and much needed relief," Ferrer said.

But as people have returned to physical work locations, workplaces have increasingly become sites of exposure to the highly contagious virus. While in early May, 37% of surveyed L.A. County residents said their job required them to come within 6 feet of other people regularly, 43% said they had to do so in mid-June.

L.A. County residents whose jobs require close contact. (Los Angeles County)

More L.A. County residents are increasingly concerned that California is lifting restrictions on public activity due to the pandemic too quickly, the survey found. While 75% of survey respondents expressed such worry in early May, 79% did so in mid-June.

Ferrer said it's obvious that people fed up with the stay-at-home order and wanting to return to a pre-pandemic way of life are a big reason behind the increased spread of disease.

"It's clear that after months of quarantine, combined with the reopening of many sectors in the span of several weeks, we've had a lot of people disregard the very practices that allowed us to slow the spread," Ferrer said. "Our inability to follow the most basic infection control and distancing directives leads to serious illness, and even the death of the people we love."

Ferrer said she understands that "everyone is extraordinarily tired and they're tired of having to deal with this virus." But she added that "the sooner we get back to creating a new normal"  avoiding crowds, confined spaces, close contact; and always wearing masks and staying physically distant from those not in our household  the sooner we can return to school and work and seeing friends and family.
Rating Action: Moody's downgrades Ricoh Finance's CP rating to Not Prime

Global Credit Research - 08 Jul 2020

Tokyo, July 08, 2020 -- Moody's Japan K.K. has downgraded Ricoh Finance Corporation (RFC)'s backed US Commercial Paper (CP) program to Not Prime from Prime-3.

This rating action concludes the review for downgrade initiated on 6 April 2020 to evaluate the negative impact of the coronavirus outbreak and Ricoh group's plan to return JPY100 billion to shareholders on the group's credit profile.

RFC is a wholly-owned financial subsidiary of Ricoh Company, Ltd. (Ricoh). Because RFC's US CP program is guaranteed by Ricoh, the NP rating is based on Moody's assessment of Ricoh's long-term creditworthiness.

RATINGS RATIONALE

"The downgrade of the US CP rating reflects our view that Ricoh will seek to diversify to offset the declining profit from its office printing business, and increase acquisition event risk and leverage," says Motoki Yanase, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.

Over the past five years ended March 2020, reported revenue has steadily shrunk by about 10% and its gross profit by about 20%. Ricoh has grown its office services segment to help offset the decline in its largest core copier and printer business. However, the services segment's operating margin is modest 5.1% for fiscal 2019, and much lower than the 9.0% for its office printing segment.

At the same time, the company's profitability remains low and provides little buffer against declines in profit and cash flow during the economic downturn. After excluding eliminations, Ricoh's consolidated operating margin for fiscal 2019 was at 3.9%, much lower than other companies at investment-grade.

The company spent only about a tenth of its JPY200 billion acquisition budget for the three years ended fiscal 2019. It made some minor acquisitions in the several billions of yen range, but establishing another revenue base to sufficiently offset the decline in its core business would likely entail significant acquisitions.

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In addition, existence of a large shareholder could be a source of pressure for higher shareholder returns. Signaling a financial policy focus on shareholders, Ricoh plans to return JPY100 billion to shareholders using its cash holdings of JPY262.8 billion as of March 2020.

As of March 2020, the company's nonfinance business had a negligible amount of total debt. However, its net cash position, excluding its finance operations, could deteriorate for fiscal 2020 as profit declines, free cash flow turns negative, and debt increases. Moody's still expects Ricoh's retained cash flow (RCF) to net debt ratio will remain above 100% over the next 12-18 months.

Reflecting the lower cash flow due to the coronavirus outbreak and higher debt, Moody's expects the company's gross leverage to rise above 2.5x in fiscal 2020 from 0.9x a year ago, excluding Ricoh Leasing Company that was deconsolidated in April 2020. Ricoh may be able to lower its leverage when demand recovers from the outbreak, but the underlying need for acquisitions and continuous pressure to increase shareholder returns could make future debt reductions more challenging.

Moody's expects Ricoh's substantial cash holdings will help the company weather the current coronavirus-induced downturn. The company has secured a new JPY100 billion committed credit line, in addition to its existing credit lines, to supplement liquidity.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATING

Given the pressure on its core business, an upgrade is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, Moody's could upgrade the rating if Ricoh demonstrates its ability to mitigate the decline in its core business and improve profitability while maintaining its financial leverage. Specifically, Moody's could upgrade the rating if (1) Ricoh's EBITA margin is maintained at above 5%, (2) it maintains positive free cash flow, and (3) its debt-to-EBITDA ratio stays below 2.0x.

Not Prime is the lowest in Moody's short-term rating scale. However, Ricoh's long-term creditworthiness that supports RFC's short-term rating could deteriorate further if Ricoh's profits and cash flow decline, or if its total debt increases further due to aggressive shareholder returns. Specifically, the Ricoh's creditworthiness could deteriorate if (1) Ricoh's EBITA margin falls below 2%, (2) its free cash flow remains negative, or (3) its debt/EBITDA ratio rises above 3x over a prolonged period. Ricoh's creditworthiness could also deteriorate if Ricoh makes a substantial acquisition that is debt-financed or increases its business risk, while on the other hand, if profit declines from a lack of success in diversifying into a new reliable revenue source.

The principal methodology used in this rating was Manufacturing Methodology (Japanese) published in March 2020 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1216244. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

Ricoh Finance Corporation, headquartered in the US state of Delaware, is a wholly owned financial subsidiary of Ricoh Company, Ltd. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Company, Ltd. is one of the top global manufacturers of office equipment.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES

For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.

For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.

For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.

The rating has been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent (s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.

This rating is solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.

Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.

The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.

Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.

Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.

Motoki Yanase VP - Senior Credit Officer Corporate Finance Group Moody's Japan K.K. Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl 2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-6220 Japan JOURNALISTS: 81 3 5408 4110 Client Service: 81 3 5408 4100 Mihoko Manabe Associate Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 81 3 5408 4110 Client Service: 81 3 5408 4100 Releasing Office: Moody's Japan K.K. Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl 2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-6220 Japan JOURNALISTS: 81 3 5408 4110 Client Service: 81 3 5408 4100

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(Bloomberg Opinion) -- In the last 15 years, the U.S. Supreme Court has had three swing justices, those most likely to deliver the decisive vote when the other eight are deadlocked. They are Sandra Day OConnor, Anthony Kennedy and (now) John Roberts. Theyre very different from one another, and theres never been one quite like Roberts.

A swing justice has outsized influence. Whether the issue before the court involves voting rights, free speech, presidential power or abortion, the swing justice is the person to whom lawyers most direct their attention.

OConnor, Kennedy and Roberts are hardly the only swing justices in the nations history. In the second half of the 20th century, other examples include Potter Stewart, Byron White, Lewis Powell Jr. and John Paul Stevens.

While it is reasonable to say that swing justices are in the middle, its too simple to describe them as moderates. Swing justices have embraced dramatically different approaches to constitutional law.

OConnor, who joined the court in 1981, was a judicial minimalist. She attended carefully to the facts of particular disputes. She distrusted abstract theories about freedom and equality, and she liked to avoid sweeping rulings. With respect to free speech, for example, she favored narrow, case-by-case judgments, which would not reorient constitutional law in major ways.

Because of her attention to detail and her openness to competing points of view, she often cast the decisive vote in important cases. She spoke quietly, but carried a big stick.

Kennedy joined OConnor on the court in 1988, but became the swing justice only when OConnor left in 2006. He, too, carried a big stick, but he didnt speak quietly. He was the author of large, sweeping opinions, including two of the most important in decades, striking down all bans on same-sex marriage and broadly protecting the rights of corporations to spend money on political campaigns.

Sometimes Kennedy embraced minimalism, but on important occasions, he favored a heroic role for the federal judiciary, potentially transforming the whole fabric of constitutional law and American society. What made him a swing justice was that he wasnt easy to predict, and he couldnt be neatly categorized in ideological terms.

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Protecting the rights of gays and lesbians, he could appall conservatives. Protecting the rights of corporations, he could outrage progressives.

Kennedy left the Court in 2018, to be replaced by Brett Kavanaugh, and since that time, Roberts has emerged as the swing justice.

By most measures, Roberts, who joined the court as chief justice in 2005, is unquestionably to the right of both OConnor and Kennedy. His votes are more likely to be stereotypically conservative.

Roberts shares OConnors minimalist inclinations; he prefers narrow rather than heroic rulings. But there is a more fundamental point. More than either OConnor or Kennedy, Roberts is an institutionalist. He is closely attuned to the Supreme Courts role in the constitutional order. He cherishes its independence. He is keenly alert to the potential difficulties if the court appears to be lining up, in a consistent way, with one or another political side.

He cares about precedent. Thats one reason that he refused, in a recent abortion case that invalidated strict licensing requirements for providers in Louisiana, to vote to overrule a case from which he himself had vigorously dissented just four years ago.

Quoting Alexander Hamilton, he wrote, Adherence to precedent is necessary to avoid an arbitrary discretion in the courts.

Robertss concern about arbitrary discretion is undoubtedly connected to the fact that he is the chief justice, attempting to steer the court in an unusually challenging time. Hence his unusual rebuke of President Donald Trump in 2018 for referring to a federal judge as an Obama judge:

We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them. That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.

Roberts is willing to walk the walk. He cast the decisive vote to strike down the Trump administrations attempt to revoke President Barack Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which barred deportation of many resident non-citizens brought to the U.S. as children. It is crude and unfair to say that he sided with the liberals. His opinion for the court applied time-honored principles of administrative law, calling for reasoned decision-making.

In voting to strike down the administrations effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 U.S. census, Roberts pointed to serious irregularities within the executive branch, suggesting that its attempt to defend its decision by reference to the Voting Rights Act was a mere pretext.

Its wrong to say that Roberts is (or has become) a moderate, or that he is betraying conservatives. His commitment to precedent, and his willingness to scrutinize executive branch decisions, are likely to create a lot of trouble for future Democratic administrations.

Roberts is often a minimalist, but much more than that, he is an institutionalist, fiercely protective of the courts independent role. He is emerging as a unique figure in the courts long history.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Cass R. Sunstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of The Cost-Benefit Revolution and a co-author of Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
(Repeats story first published July 7, text unchanged)

* Lebanon faces serious economic crisis

* Talks with the IMF have been put on hold

* Donors want Beirut to fix state waste and corruption

By Tom Perry and Laila Bassam

BEIRUT, July 7 (Reuters) - Lebanon is facing a "financial siege" imposed by international powers and its priority is staving off strife caused by the country's economic meltdown, leading politician Gebran Bassil said on Tuesday.

Bassil, an ally of the Iran-backed Shi'ite group Hezbollah, said he supported talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), hoping they would pressure the state into reforms, but that Lebanon was running out of time and any foreign aid could not come at the price of sovereignty.

Talks with the IMF were put on hold last week after becoming bogged down by a dispute on the Lebanese side over the scale of losses in the financial system and pending the start of reforms to address the root causes of the crisis, seen as the biggest threat to Lebanon's stability since the 1975-90 civil war.

The government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, which is backed by Bassil and Hezbollah, has yet to embark on serious reforms sought by donors including the United States and France, which say Beirut must fix state waste and corruption before any aid is released.

"What we are subjected to is an economic, financial and political siege ... This doesn't pardon the state and the Lebanese from their mistakes ... at the forefront of them -- corruption," Bassil said in an interview.

"When there is a desire to help Lebanon, tomorrow the gates will be opened. And when there are great powers blocking the gates, Lebanon does not have capacity to open them."

"The absolute priority ... is how to keep Lebanon away from anarchy and strife."

Lebanese must also be protected from extreme poverty, said Bassil, a son-in-law of President Michel Aoun.

Hezbollah is classified as a terrorist group by the United States. The group's influence in state affairs has grown since it won a parliamentary majority with its allies in 2018.

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Opponents say the alliance forged by Aoun and Bassil with the heavily-armed Hezbollah has provided political cover for its arsenal.

Though critics say he exercises wide influence over the government, Bassil said no ministers were members of the Free Patriotic Movement he leads, and the cabinet must accelerate reforms.

"We don't accept this model of low productivity," he said of the government, which he said could not continue if it failed to do more.

Asked if he saw a risk to peace, Bassil said: "Of course this fear exists."

The response, he said, was "in national unity" and dialogue.

He warned of the risk of "an international game" unfolding to weaken Lebanon or "a party in Lebanon such as Hezbollah".

"Syria must be a lesson for all. It would be a shame to take Lebanon on the path to destruction once again," he said. (Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Today, rsted and Taiwan-based TSMC have signed a corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA). TSMC will offtake the full production from rsteds 920MW Greater Changhua 2b & 4 offshore wind farm, making it the largest-ever contract of its kind within renewable energy. The 20-year fixed-price contract period starts once Greater Changhua 2b & 4 reaches commercial operations in 2025/2026, subject to grid availability and rsteds final investment decision.

TSMC, the worlds largest semiconductor foundry, is also a world-leader in green manufacturing. With this CPPA, TSMC once again demonstrates its long-term commitment to environmental sustainability.

J.K. Lin, Senior Vice President of Information Technology and Materials Management & Risk Management at TSMC, says: TSMC is happy for this opportunity to collaborate with rsted and not only expand the adoption of renewable energy, but also to work towards Taiwans energy transition to build world-class industrial environment. As a corporate citizen, TSMC is taking green action to carry out our responsibility to environmental protection.

Under the agreement with TSMC, the Greater Changhua 2b & 4 offshore wind farm will receive a price for power including T-RECs (Taiwan renewable energy certificate) during the 20-year contract period that is higher than the feed-in-tariff which was originally secured via the outcome of Taiwans first offshore wind auction in June 2018. This improves the projects financial viability and helps rsted mature Greater Changhua 2b & 4 towards a final investment decision.

Martin Neubert, Executive Vice President and CEO of rsted Offshore, says: We commend TSMC for their leadership in renewable energy sourcing and for taking tangible action to deliver on their ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. By sourcing renewable energy at an unprecedented scale, TSMC demonstrates strong support for the development of renewable energy. Signing the largest-ever corporate PPA with the worlds leading semiconductor company shows that rsted is a trusted renewable energy partner for corporates and governments.

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Matthias Bausenwein, President of rsted Asia-Pacific, says: The agreement between rsted and TSMC signed today underlines rsteds pioneering role in the development of renewable energy in the Asia Pacific. In Taiwan, we are already constructing the Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind farm. Combined with our Greater Changhua 2b & 4 project, which is now one step closer to a final investment decision, we are making offshore wind a cornerstone in Taiwan's transition from fossil-based to renewable energy.

The information provided in this announcement does not change rsteds previous financial guidance for the financial year of 2020 or the announced expected investment level for 2020.

About Greater Changhua 2b & 4

Greater Changhua 2b & 4 will be rsteds third offshore wind farm in Taiwan, subject to final investment decision which rsted expects to take in 2023. The wind farm will have a capacity of 920MW and will be located in the Taiwan Strait approx. 50 km off the coast of Changhua County.

Taipower, Taiwans transmission system operator, will be building new transmission grid to accommodate for Taiwans buildout of offshore wind. With the current grid construction timeline, Taipower is expected to provide Greater Changhua 2b & 4 with grid access in late 2025. rsted expects to generate the first power from Greater Changhua 2b & 4 shortly thereafter and to fully commission the wind farm in 2026.

Greater Changhua 2b & 4 will be located adjacent to the 900MW Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind farm which rsted is currently constructing. rsted is also the co-owner of Taiwans first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, Formosa 1, which was extended to its current capacity of 128MW in October 2019.

For further information please contact:



rsted Group Media Relations

Tom Lehn-Christiansen

+45 99 55 60 17

tomlc@orsted.dk



rsted Investor Relations

Allan Bdskov Andersen

+45 99 55 79 96

alban@orsted.dk

About rsted

rsteds vision is to create a world that runs entirely on green energy. rsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, and bioenergy plants, and provides energy products to its customers. rsted ranks #1 in Corporate Knights 2020 index of the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world and is recognised on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action. Headquartered in Denmark, rsted employs 6,600 people. rsteds shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2019, the company generated revenue of DKK 67.8 billion (EUR 9.1 billion). For more information on rsted, visit orsted.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

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FILE PHOTO: Logo of U.S. technology company Apple is seen in Basel

DUBLIN (Reuters) - The European Union's second highest court will next week rule in an appeal by Apple <AAPL.O> and Ireland against an EU ruling for the U.S. company to pay 13 billion euros ($16 billion) in back taxes, the Irish government said on Wednesday.

The European Commission ordered Apple in 2016 to pay the taxes it said were owed to Ireland. But Apple and Ireland, whose economy benefits from hosting a number of multinational firms, began an appeal against the decision in September.

"The State has been formally notified that the General Court of the European Union (GCEU) will deliver its judgment in the Apple State Aid case on 15th July," the Department of Finance said in a statement.

Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the judgment was likely to be appealed by one of the parties.

"I think that no matter what the judgment is, this case will almost certainly be appealed by one party or another to the European Court of Justice," Varadkar told journalists.

With the legal challenge expected to run for years, Ireland's debt agency has invested the disputed taxes in low-risk, highly rated euro-dominated bonds, mainly short- to medium-term sovereign securities.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said Apple's commitment to Ireland, which became its first European operation in 1980 and where it employs 6,00 workers, was "unshakable".

(Reporting by Conor Humphries and Padraic Halpin, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
TORONTO, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rupert Resources Ltd. (Rupert Resources or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with BMO Capital Markets (BMO), as sole underwriter, under which BMO has agreed to buy, on a bought deal basis 4,605,217 common shares (the Common Shares), at a price of C$3.20 per Common Share (the Offering Price) for gross proceeds of approximately C$14,737,000 (the Public Offering). The Company has also granted the Underwriters an option (the Over-Allotment Option), exercisable at the Offering Price for a period of 30 days following the closing of the Public Offering, to purchase up to an additional 15% of the Offering to cover over-allotments, if any, on substantially the same terms as the Public Offering.



The Company is also pleased to announce that it has agreed to a concurrent private placement of up to 2,351,304 Common Shares at the Offering Price on substantially the same terms as the Public Offering (the Private Placement). In addition, shareholders participating in the Private Placement will each have the option to purchase a number of additional Common Shares representing up to 15% of the number of Common Shares subscribed by each of them on closing.

In respect of the Public Offering, the Common Shares will be offered by way of a short form prospectus in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland and may also be offered by way of private placement in the United States. Both the Public Offering and the Private Placement are expected to close on or about July 23, 2020 and such closings are subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The net proceeds of the Public Offering and of the Private Placement will be used for on-going exploration expenditures on the Companys properties in Finland and for general corporate purposes.

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The securities offered have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Common Shares in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.



About Rupert

Rupert is a Canadian based gold exploration and development company that is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol RUP. The Company owns the Pahtavaara gold mine, mill, and exploration permits and concessions located in the Central Lapland Greenstone Belt in Northern Finland (Pahtavaara). Pahtavaara previously produced over 420koz of gold and 474koz remains in an Inferred mineral resource (4.6 Mt at a grade of 3.2 g/t Au at a 1.5 g/t Au cut-off grade, see the technical report filed on SEDAR entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report: Pahtavaara Project, Finland with an effective date of April 16, 2018, prepared by Brian Wolfe, Principal Consultant, International Resource Solutions Pty Ltd., an independent qualified person under National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). This mineral resource estimate was calculated using the multiple indicator kriging method (MIK) and is classified as Inferred as defined by the CIM. Numbers are affected by rounding. A cut-off of 1.5g/t Au was selected for the reported estimate based on historical breakeven operating costs, recoveries of 85% and a gold price of EUR950/oz. Mineral Resources do not include Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted to Mineral Reserves.

The Company also holds a 100% interest in two properties in Central Finland - Hirsikangas and Osikonmaki; the Gold Centre property, which consists of mineral claims located in the Balmer Township, Red Lake, Ontario; and the Surf Inlet Property in British Columbia.

For further information, please contact:

James Withall

Chief Executive Officer

jwithall@rupertresources.com Thomas Credland

Head of Corporate Development

tcredland@rupertresources.com Rupert Resources Ltd

82 Richmond Street East, Suite 203, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1

Tel: +1 416-304-9004

Web: http://rupertresources.com/

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains statements which, other than statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to: results of exploration activities, mineral resources. The words may, would, could, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. This press release contains forward-looking information in a number of places, such as in statements relating to use or proceeds from the Public Offering and Private Placement, the closing of the Public Offering and Private Placement and the ability to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made, and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These factors include the general risks of the mining industry, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended February 29, 2020 available at www.sedar.com . Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. 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 does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.




Despite COVID-19, Cities Will Embrace Autonomous Vehicles--But This Emerging Mobility Option Will Benefit Some Metropolises More Than Others, a New Report from BCG and the University of St. Gallen Finds

MUNICH, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The development of autonomous vehicles (AVs) could make the urban environment greener and more livable and help support sustainable transportation systems. But how the technology plays out will depend on the characteristics of each city and its mobility ecosystem, according to a new report, Can Self-Driving Cars Stop the Urban Mobility Meltdown?, by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, which is being released today.

Boston Consulting Group logo (PRNewsfoto/The Boston Consulting Group)

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge negative impact on urban mobility right now, and is likely to favor private forms of transportation such as cars and bikes over shared mobility for the next 12 to 18 months, many cities will embrace shared AVs in the long term because these vehicles can alleviate perennial problems such as congestion, air pollution, and road fatalities.

But while some cities will gain significant advantages by introducing AVs, others will fare better by promoting other mobility options, such as e-bikes and e-scooters. Indeed, in some settings, AVs could exacerbate the problems that municipal planners are hoping to solve. Before taking action, cities must assess whether AVs will be a transportation panacea or a burden.

The report includes the following key findings:

Cities achieve significant tangible benefits by actively shaping the urban mobility environment. For example, Los Angeles could cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 2.7 million metric tons a year through policies that promoted shared AVs and curbed the city's private vehicle fleet.

New York planners could free up the equivalent of about 900 blocks of space currently reserved for parking, if they created the conditions for robo-shuttles to thrive.

New physical and digitally connected infrastructure (including dedicated lanes and sensors that would enable self-driving cars to communicate with the surrounding environment) will be essential for AVs to succeed.

Cities that allow private car use to grow in line with past trends will see their urban environment deteriorate significantly, with traffic volume increasing by an average of 6%, and total parking space by 8%.

For some cities (such as Hong Kong), promoting micromobility and walking could deliver greater benefits than introducing AVs.

After an initial wave of euphoria in the mid-2010s, self-driving cars have become the object of considerable scepticism. One reason for the change in public perception is the realization that AVs are unlikely to be available at scale soon. To cut through the noise about AVs and gain an objective view of their advantages and likely effects on different cities, BCG and the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, conducted a one-year study that combined qualitative and quantitative approaches with current industry insights.

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Using a sophisticated tool that can simulate 1.7 billion trips, they modeled how AVs could improve or worsen the urban environment and quality of life in five urban archetypes developed on the basis of data from more than 40 cities worldwide. The team also simulated the citywide impact of specific mobility scenarios, such as the promotion of micromobility and a strong uptake of robo-shuttles. Planners in any city worldwide can use the tool to help visualize future developments in their transportation systems.

In parallel, BCG and researchers from the University of St. Gallen asked more than 30 leading executives from other universities, cities, and transportation-related industries for their views on the key enablers, success factors, and roadblocks facing AVs.

"Cities need to create a vision of where they want to be in the future and start acting now. If they do nothing, and if the growth in private car use increases in line with past trends, the urban environment is set to worsen significantly," said Nikolaus Lang, a BCG managing director and senior partner, and leader of the firm's Global Advantage practice worldwide.

"Our research demonstrates what types of cities will benefit most from AVs, and it examines the benefits and drawbacks of taking different policy actions. This is essential information for city planners. In cities where AVs are the best option, municipal authorities will need to collaborate with operators, manufacturers, and technology companies if they are to succeed," said Andreas Hermann, director of the institute of customer insight at the University of St. Gallen.

A copy of the report can be downloaded here.

To arrange an interview with one of the authors, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or gregoire.eric@bcg.com.

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we help clients with total transformationinspiring complex change, enabling organizations to grow, building competitive advantage, and driving bottom-line impact.

To succeed, organizations must blend digital and human capabilities. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives to spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting along with technology and design, corporate and digital venturesand business purpose. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, generating results that allow our clients to thrive.

About the University of St. Gallen (HSG)

Founded in 1898, the University of St. Gallen (HSG) is Switzerland's leading business university and consistently ranks among the top European business schools. In 2019, it ranked fourth in the Financial Times European Business School Ranking and its Strategy and International Management (SIM-HSG) program was No. 1 in the world among master's programs for the ninth straight year.

The university, which offers bachelor's, master's, and PhD degrees, is also internationally recognized for the excellence of its integrative education at the highest academic level through EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB accreditation. Its focus on international, integrative, and practical programs in business administration, economics, law, social sciences, and international affairs attracts a diverse and motivated student body of 8,900 students from 83 countries. The university also hosts 42 institutes, research units, and centers that are managed independently as businesses. They augment its programs with education and research based on real-world conditions and train institute staff at the interface between academia and the professional world. A public university of the Canton of St. Gallen, HSG also offers comprehensive, world-class, executive-education programs for more than 6,000 participants annually.

Cision

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SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
This coming weekend, the Pennsylvania All-Stars series will bring together two interesting groups of colts at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono: three-year-old trotters on Saturday afternoon and two-year-old pacers during Sundays twilight card.

Seventeen of the 27 trotters entered in Saturdays three $30,000 All-Stars divisions are eligible to contest the sports greatest prize, the Hambletonian, on Saturday, August 8. The owners and trainers of the 'Hambo' eligibles will be getting a good reading on their horses ability exactly three weeks before the elimination races for the Hambletonian.

Amigo Volo is the richest and probably the best-known of the entrants. The altered son of Father Patrick, trained by Nifty Norman for the Pinske Stables and David J. Miller, earned $610,546 at age two and set four world records for his age, sex, and gait. He undoubtedly needed his seasonal debut last week after having not raced since November, and he will have the services of Poconos leading driver, George Napolitano Jr. Amigo Volo, who will be looking to further establish his Hambo credentials, is scheduled to start from Post 2 in Race 8.

Last year at the Red Mile, Big Oil showed the racing world that he means business, as he dead-heated with divisional champion Real Cool Sam in 1:52.1. Another son of Father Patrick, Big Oil won his 2020 debut easily in 1:55 at Harrah's Philadelphia, and he will start from Post 5 in Race 10. Tyler Buter is scheduled to drive Big Oil for for trainer Julie Miller and owners Jason, Douglas, and Ronald Allen.

There is no outstanding favourite in Race 6, though the Muscle Hill colt Hillexotic may draw some attention from Post 5. He won a Meadowlands qualifier in 1:54.4 and closed in :26.2 to finish fourth in what was his pari-mutuel debut (he was unraced as a two-year-old). Hillexotic is trained and driven by Trond Smedshammer for Purple Haze Stables LLC.

Sundays All-Stars action for freshman pacing colts has attracted enough interest to schedule five $30,000 divisions. Three of the entrants recorded victories in the first preliminary of their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action at Harrah's Philadelphia: Bayfield Beach (1:52.4) and Always A Miki (1:52.2), both of whom are scheduled to contest Race 10, and Lous Pearlman (1:53.3), who is slated to be in action in Race 3.

(With files from PHHA / Pocono)
DALLAS, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sai Sankoh, the Dallas based luxury resort wear brand has released its brand-new collection which includes its signature luxurious kaftans, stylish, chic and comfortable ready-to-wear gowns and separates that can be worn on and off the red carpet.

Adeline Cape: Photo by Obidi Nzeribe

Inspired by her travels to Italy and Africa, this is her best work as far as pushing creative boundaries and bringing her vision to life. The original theme 'A Tourist in Tuscany' was to be shot in Italy in March 2020 but postponed due to the COVID19 pandemic. The new theme "Portrait of a Lady", shot in Dallas portrays the different looks and personalities of a woman with a Tuscan sunset and floral background as the scenery.

"I am extremely excited about this new collection which is hands down my favorite!" Sankoh said. "My first collection focused more on what I wanted but this is a combination of my client's needs and my personal style. My signature pieces are the voluminous goddess Kaftans, but it was also fun to play with more separates and gowns. Love and dedication was put into this and I hope to see my brand propel to the next level and continue make my customers excited!"

About Sai Sankoh

Sai Sankoh was created by renowned entrepreneur and luxury fashion consultant Sai Sankoh. The clothing line appropriately titled Sai Sankoh- launched on November 12, 2018 with a line of Kaftans made and produced in India. Inspired by her love and fascination for vintage and unique pieces, Sankoh hopes to create pieces wearable by super models, fashion enthusiasts and everyday women of all shapes and sizes making them feel empowered, attractive, and confident through fashion. The brand is globally renowned with recognition by Ebony, Vogue Italia, Essence, Refinery29, just to name a few.

Sankoh has won the hearts of many women around the world included celebrities like Beyonce, Michelle Williams, Gabrielle Union, Iman, and many others. She was also recognized by Fashion Group International of Dallas as a "Rising Star" nominee in Women's Fashion for 2020.

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This collection would be sold on her website  www.saisankoh.com, Fashion Bomb Daily Shop, Chelsea Boutique  N.J, Wild Instincts - Santa Fe, and I.O. Domani in Mexico

Collection photos - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/enk5357xn4pwnrs/AACfruaUH2xUoBhiN5zPg1vPa?dl=0

PR Contact:

Sonya Mofor - pr@saisankoh.com

Phone: +1-469-500-0922

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SOURCE Sai Sankoh LLC
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- In the mid-1960s, Singapore was a poor island that had to go it alone, without natural resources in a region buffeted by the Vietnam War and political tumult in Indonesia. When Lee Kuan Yew established the city-state in 1965, he used a take-no-prisoners approach to carve Southeast Asias most successful container port and a regional business center from inauspicious beginnings. His son, who became the countrys third leader, was barely a teenager at the time.

Now Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong runs a very different Singapore, one with secure borders and multinational companies in a region buoyed by decades of robust growth. The republic guards its prosperity with utmost caution. Yet the Peoples Action Party, founded by Lees father, goes into an election Friday with a slate of challenges that require outside-the-box solutions: containing the coronavirus while restoring the economy, maintaining growth amid low birth rates and an aging society, and navigating the fraying relationship between major economic partners, China and the U.S.

Lee, 68, has signaled he will step down in a few years to make way for a fourth generation of PAP officials, known across the city as 4-G. This rising cohort is mostly composed of ministers who were either small children or unborn when Singapore divorced acrimoniously from Malaysia, and share little or no memory of its founding as a sovereign nation. They also know no administration other than their own party, which was formed in the mid 1950s and has governed since independence. The perils and potential promise of the pandemic era mean another wrenching reinvention. Future leaders may need the pluck, ruthlessness and readiness to break old models in order to create opportunities and head off catastrophes that lie ahead. Managing success is necessary; it may not be sufficient.The coronavirus has brought the worst recession since the heady and desperate days of independence. Lee said Monday he wants to see a path to revival before passing the baton: I am determined to hand over Singapore, intact and in good working order, to the next team. Heng Swee Keat, 59, his deputy and finance minister, is widely seen as Lees successor. Band members include Chan Chun Sing, 50, minister for trade and industry, and 47-year-old Lawrence Wong, minister for national development and one of the main faces of the struggle against the disease.

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The most pressing item on the 4-G agenda will be containing the pandemic. The economy is gradually reopening after two months of lockdown, which curtailed the spread of the disease and limited deaths, but took a heavy toll. Gross domestic product will shrink as much as 7% this year, according to the government.

Initial plaudits for Singapore's handling of the virus gave way to concerns about outbreaks in dormitories housing migrant workers, which account for the vast majority of the countrys 44,983 cases as of Monday. The surge in this community has resurfaced the longstanding debate about immigration and the role of foreigners in the economy.

Headlines at the end of last week were dominated by claims and strenuous rebuttals that Heng, the deputy prime minister, had toyed with the idea of boosting Singapore's population to 10 million. The country has grown about 40% since 2000 to 5.7 million, and residents already complain about crowded public transport, foreigners taking jobs they say ought to go to locals, and housing costs. Heng denied that the government targeted this figure, and said the population is likely to be below 6.9 million by 2030.The Singapore Democratic Party, which linked Heng to the 10 million headcount, defended the raising the issue and said figures like that had been floating around, the Straits Times reported. Last week, another opposition group, the Progress Party Singapore, pressed the government on how many white-collar employees and technicians had jobs displaced by foreigners.Singapore doesnt allow opinion polls. Most analysts anticipate the PAP will again win; the focus of attention is on the size of the margin. In the 2015 election, the PAP garnered about 70% of the vote. For only the second time, all 93 parliamentary seats will be contested by at least two parties.

Squabbles about population are, to a degree, debates about how to manage a win. Like most countries with a first-world standard of living, Singapore's fertility rate is at a record low. Citizens have the longest life expectancy in the world at nearly 85 years. Demographic pressures like these help explain why the country relies on hundreds of thousands of migrants to keep the place running, as Ive written.

Assuaging voters while maintaining the openness that has served Singapore so well is a tricky balance. After the PAPs showing in the 2011 election dipped, the government took steps to pare back foreign workers. During this years campaign, ministers have emphasized their attention to the domestic labor market, but appear loath to pull up the drawbridge. More tinkering, rather than a broad brush solution, seems likely. The 4-G leadership will also have to reconsider whether geography, once a trump card, can still be leveraged with globalization at a standstill. Two icons established by Lee Kuan Yew, Changi Airport and Singapore Airlines Ltd., face threats exacerbated by Covid-19s restrictions. Both rose to prominence in the era of the Boeing 747 that democratized air travel. Singapore was well situated as a stop on the kangaroo route between the U.K. and the antipodes. Now, that supremacy is challenged by Middle Eastern carriers and revved up hubs in places like Dubai and Qatar.

Meanwhile, Singapores advantages as a port and trading center in the Straits of Malacca might diminish because of melting polar ice and commercial conflict between Beijing and Washington. Throw in curbs on travel and border restrictions owing to the pandemic and its a very tough brew  all of which raise the question of what comes next. In recent years, the government has tried to position the city-state as a hub for advanced technology, investing in robotics, artificial intelligence and biotech.

In a 2018 book, Singapore, Singapura: From Miracle to Complacency, Nicholas Walton, a former journalist, recognizes the country's achievements but questions whether the incentives are big enough for a thorough reinvention: Like a dinghy facing a storm on the high seas, this small country had to feed off a sense of vulnerability to survive, he wrote. That was easy enough when the roof was made of attap palms and you had every reason to mistrust the neighbors. But now, cossetted by air conditioning and rain-proof walkways it is harder to retain that hunger and vulnerability.

The coming era presents challenges of a different kind and magnitude than 4-G officials faced when they were youngsters. History suggests they will try to find a technocratic and pragmatic way to finesse or defuse them. Lee Kuan Yew moved fast and broke things; he was unafraid to challenge the status quo. The heirs to the Singapore he created may need more of his moxie to navigate the world the coronavirus.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Daniel Moss is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian economies. Previously he was executive editor of Bloomberg News for global economics, and has led teams in Asia, Europe and North America.

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Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant offers meaningful opportunities to receive supplemental funding

Today, Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of BI-LO, Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, together with the SEG Gives Foundation, announces the launch of the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program. This vital grant program will provide nonprofits supporting minority communities with opportunities to receive funding to serve diverse sectors.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005256/en/

The namesake for the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program is 20-year Winn-Dixie associate, Romay Davis. (Photo: Business Wire)

As the country faces challenging times with a global pandemic and heightened racial distress, Southeastern Grocers remains committed to fostering a culture of belonging and inclusion for people of all backgrounds. To support the fight for racial equality and social justice, SEG Gives Foundation is offering nonprofits in communities throughout its seven-state footprint the opportunity to apply for grant funds to help address racial disparities in health care and food insecurity.

Elizabeth Thompson, Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer for Southeastern Grocers, said, "At Southeastern Grocers, we take pride in cultivating an environment of belonging, inclusion and diversity. As a people first company, we are committed to creating a thriving culture with stores that reflect the local communities we serve. Embracing and celebrating our differences makes us stronger, and we are honored to stand with our associates, customers and neighbors to support nonprofits that positively impact our communities. We are stronger together."

The Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program will begin accepting applications on July 8 and remain open through Sept. 8. Organizations throughout Southeastern Grocers footprint can apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. The SEG Inclusion and Diversity Committee will review and evaluate all applications. Grant awards will be announced in December 2020.

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The namesake for the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program is 20-year Winn-Dixie associate, Romay Davis. Last year, SEG and the Montgomery, Alabama Winn-Dixie store celebrated Ms. Romay for her 100th birthday. During a time when women and people of color faced restricted rights, Ms. Romay consistently broke barriers and shattered glass ceilings by challenging societys limited beliefs. Ms. Romay served in World War II (WWII), graduated from New York University (NYU) and thrived in a 30-year fashion career. After retirement, she continued to blaze trails by earning a Masters degree and a Black Belt in Taekwondo. At the young age of 80, Ms. Romay rejoined the workforce as a Winn-Dixie associate. Ms. Romay has achieved many milestones throughout her accomplished life, and it is SEGs hope that this grant, named in her honor, provides inspiration and opportunity for others to do the same.

The SEG Gives Foundation has a longstanding history of supporting programs that help bridge the gap of racial disparities impacting people of color in larger numbers. Southeastern Grocers is committed to continuing its partnerships with organizations such as the American Red Cross, Feeding America and Folds of Honor to influence diverse sectors of the Southeast.

For additional information about the Romay Davis Belonging, Inclusion and Diversity Grant Program, including details on required documentation, organizational requirements, the Southeastern Grocers Inclusion and Diversity Statement and more, visit www.segrocers.com/careers/whychooseus. To submit an application online, please visit www.seggives.com/grantapp.

About Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of BI-LO, Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S. SEG grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies serve communities throughout the seven southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. BI-LO, Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and strong commitments to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.bi-lo.com, www.frescoymas.com, www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com.

About SEG Gives Foundation

SEG Gives Foundation is the charitable arm of Southeastern Grocers, parent company of BI-LO, Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. SEG Gives Foundation aligns our giving with the causes that are important to the communities we serve, including the fight against hunger and relief to those affected by extreme weather and natural disasters.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005256/en/

Contacts

For SEG interviews or images contact:

Kaley Shaffer

Sr. Manager, Consumer Communications and Community Affairs

Cell: (904) 612-9441

media@segrocers.com
OrbiMed Partner and Co-Founder of Alexion increases leadership role in oncology focused private company

bioAffinity Technologies, a privately held cancer diagnostics and therapeutics company, today announced that Stephen Squinto, Ph.D., has been named Vice Chairman of the Companys Board of Directors, and David Elzi, Ph.D., has been appointed Vice President of Research in recognition of Dr. Elzis pivotal role in the Companys scientific discoveries related to cancer therapeutics.

Dr. Squinto is an Executive Partner with OrbiMed Healthcare Fund Management. He previously co-founded Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of breakthrough therapies for patients with rare and ultra-rare diseases. As Executive Vice President and Chief Global Operations Officer, Dr. Squinto helped build Alexion into a company currently valued at $22 billion. Prior to 2013, he served as head of Alexions Global Research and Development. Most recently, Dr. Squinto served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of Passage Bio and led the company through a successful $248.4 million public offering. He currently holds the position of Acting Head of Research and Development for Passage Bio.

"We are immensely pleased to have Dr. Squinto accept the position as Vice Chairman of the Board. Steve is both a scientist and a business leader whose expertise and strategic leadership on the bioAffinity Board of Directors has been invaluable over the past three years to advance our diagnostic tests and therapeutics for the early detection and successful treatment of multiple cancers," said Steve Girgenti, Chairman of the bioAffinity Board of Directors. "Dr. Squinto will continue to substantially contribute to our success as we accelerate the commercialization of our test for lung cancer, CyPath Lung, and the advancement of our Targeted Gene Silencing therapeutic platforms."

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Prior to his work at Alexion, Dr. Squinto held various positions at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and served in a joint academic position at the Tulane University and Louisiana State University Schools of Medicine. He is a recipient of numerous honors and awards from academic and professional organizations for his scientific work. Dr. Squinto earned his B.A. in Chemistry and Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Loyola University of Chicago.

Dr. Elzi, who has served as bioAffinitys Director of Basic Research since joining the Company four years ago, will continue his research on Targeted Gene Silencing (TGS), a therapeutic approach that selectively kills cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. TGS currently is being tested in animal studies for triple negative breast cancer. The Company also plans to test TGS in glioblastoma due to the significant effect seen in vitro on the deadly brain cancer.

"David has been instrumental in the discovery and development of novel cancer therapies including our Targeted Gene Therapy platform," bioAffinity Senior Vice President for Therapeutics William Bauta, Ph.D., said. "His exacting methods and innovative approach to research have resulted in scientific discoveries that exponentially advance our knowledge of how to effectively diagnose and treat cancer."

Dr. Elzi earned his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Washington, in conjunction with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He subsequently performed post-doctoral research at the Bonfils Blood Center and University of Colorado Department of Surgery. Dr. Elzi came to bioAffinity from The University of Texas Health Science Center where his research included applying advanced biochemical approaches to characterize cell proliferation in adult and pediatric cancers. Dr. Elzi has co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed articles.

Dr. Bauta is a medicinal chemist with more than 25 years of experience in discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals to treat oncology, virology, neuroscience, immunology and metabolic diseases. He joined bioAffinity Technologies from Southwest Research Institute where he helped develop the Institutes pharmaceuticals services and bioengineering business. Dr. Bauta was Associate Director of Science at Genzyme Corporation and held a similar position at Ilex Products, Inc., where he was responsible for the discovery, development and FDA approval of multiple therapeutics. He has more than 30 patents and publications. Dr. Bauta received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

About bioAffinity Technologies, Inc.

bioAffinity Technologies, Inc. (www.bioaffinitytech.com) is a privately held company addressing the significant unmet need for non-invasive, early-stage cancer diagnosis and treatment. The Company develops proprietary in vitro diagnostic tests and targeted cancer therapeutics using breakthrough technology that preferentially targets cancer cells. Research and optimization of its platform technology are conducted in bioAffinity Technologies laboratories at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA). The Companys platform technology is being developed to diagnose, monitor and treat many cancers.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005203/en/

Contacts

Maria Zannes

505.400.9747
Over one million students and professionals are now using Tallo to get an early foot in the door at various colleges and companies

Tallo, a digital platform and app that connects talent with opportunities, has reached a new milestone, now providing one million users with a place to start learning about and preparing for their future career.

"We are ecstatic knowing that our platform now stands to help more than one million talented individuals earn scholarships, find the right postsecondary program, and launch successful careers," said Casey Welch, Tallo CEO and Co-founder. "We created Tallo as a small startup in South Carolina eight years ago, and were just as determined now as we were then to ensure that our community of future leaders finds success."

Tallo helps foster meaningful dialogue between high school students, college students, jobseekers, corporate partners, post-secondary institutions, and organizations by serving as a networking platform that uniquely caters to the skills and expertise that talent (age 13+) have to showcase. Users build online portfolios and profiles to showcase their test scores, classes, certificates, experience and extracurriculars, and their future career and education interests.

Tallo users can communicate with recruiters at companies and colleges to learn more about their programs, mission, available positions, and the kind of training they require. Similarly, companies and colleges can reach out to talent users who look like a good fit for their organization, offering relevant advice in the hopes of building a future talent pipeline.

"Part of the reason why we created Tallo was because before it, student athletes were the only high school students who had highlight reels," explained Welch. "Everyone deserves to have a place to display and leverage their strengths to pursue their dreams."

In 2012, the Tallo platform was introduced to two South Carolina high schools, Goose Creek High School and Summerville High School. Since then, Tallo has gained users in all 50 states, representing over 27,000 high schools and 4,000 colleges, and has made over 180,000 connections for their talent users. Tallo partners with colleges, companies, and organizations with a strong presence throughout the state of South Carolina and across the country, like Boeing, Walmart, Spinx, Clemson University, The Citadel, and Charleston Southern University.

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"We're looking for the next generation of leaders to propel Boeing into the future," said Lindsay Leonard, Senior Director of Government Operations at Boeing. "South Carolina is full of bright students from every county and the Tallo platform helps us discover them."

Thanks in large part to South Carolina Future Makers, an initiative between Tallo, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the South Carolina Department of Education, the South Carolina Technical College System, and several other key players in workforce development, there are more than 100,000 Tallo users in South Carolina.

"In order to continue the growth and progress of education and career preparation throughout South Carolina, resources like Tallo are critical," said Molly Spearman, South Carolina Superintendent of Education. "Our state has no shortage of wonderful talent in our K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, and industries, and the Tallo platform is the online ecosystem that brings it all together."

"In South Carolina, we recognize our people are the Palmetto State's greatest asset," said South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. "Tallos ability to connect our workforce and students with educational institutions and companies will further advance SCs talent pool and set the table for future economic growth and prosperity. Congratulations to Tallo for reaching this exciting milestone!"

"When the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance chose to partner with Tallo in 2016 through the SC Future Makers initiative, we recognized that reaching the next generation of talent required an innovative and creative approach. The platform has allowed thousands of South Carolinians to connect to meaningful opportunities in a way thats never been done before in workforce development. This milestone is a testament for how technology can empower individuals to realize their dreams and position themselves for future careers," said Sara Hazzard, President and CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance.

Over the past year, Tallo has been cited by a report commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Business Insider, and the Office of the White House as a pioneer in the career navigation process, unlocking real career avenues for determined students ready to enter the workforce.

"Tallo has made a huge difference in my life," said Irvin Espinosa, a rising sophomore at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. "Through it, I participated in South Carolinas 2019 STEM Signing Day, received a scholarship from Boeing to attend Embry-Riddle, and am now so proud to say Im a first-generation college student."

About Tallo

Tallo is the first online app that assists students in designing a career pathway, educators in recruiting top talent to their schools, and employers in developing a stable, continuous talent pipeline. Through a mobile digital portfolio, students (age 13+) and professionals showcase their skills and abilities, receive personalized career guidance, match with over $20 billion in scholarships, and get directly connected with post-secondary institutions and companies looking for the next generation of talent. For more information, visit www.tallo.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005220/en/

Contacts

Joanne Johnson

Communications Strategist, Tallo

M) 703-851-6210

O) 855-765-7836 x727

jjohnson@tallo.com
Over one million students and professionals are now using the Tallo platform to get an early foot in the door at various colleges and companies

Please replace the release with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions.

The corrected release reads:

TALLO, FAME INC. PARTNER & COHOST OF STATEWIDE STEM SIGNING DAY, GAINS ONE MILLION USERS

Over one million students and professionals are now using the Tallo platform to get an early foot in the door at various colleges and companies

Only a few short weeks after Delawares Virtual STEM Signing Day, Tallo, the FAME Inc. partner and digital platform that cohosted the event, has reached a new milestone. The Tallo platform now provides one million users with a place to start learning about and preparing for their future career.

"Its exciting to know that Tallo is helping more than one million talented individuals earn scholarships, find the right postsecondary program, and launch successful careers" said Casey Welch, Tallo CEO and Co-founder. "When you create the right type of virtual ecosystem for talent and talent seekers to find each other, the possibilities are endless."

Tallo helps foster meaningful dialogue between high school students, college students, jobseekers, corporate partners, post-secondary institutions, and organizations by serving as a networking platform that uniquely caters to the skills and expertise that talent (age 13+) have to showcase. Users build online portfolios and profiles to showcase their test scores, classes, certificates, experience and extracurriculars, and their future career and education interests.

"We created Tallo to give all individuals a way to showcase their talents in a way thats similar to how student athletes create highlight reels," explained Welch. "Everyone deserves to have a place to display and leverage their strengths, and ultimately pursue their dreams."

Tallo users can communicate with recruiters at companies and colleges to learn more about their programs, mission, available positions, and the kind of training they require. Similarly, companies and colleges can reach out to talent users who look like a good fit for their organization, offering relevant advice in the hopes of building a future talent pipeline.

Story continues

Since 2012, Tallo has gained users in all 50 states, representing over 27,000 high schools and 4,000 colleges, and has made over 180,000 connections for their talent users. Tallo partners with colleges, companies, and organizations around the country and the state of Delaware, including Wilmington University and Delmarva Power. Thanks in a large part to the partnership with FAME Inc., usage in the state of Delaware has increased by 155% and the ecosystem throughout the state and the surrounding Pennsylvania and Maryland is anticipated to scale to over 40,000 Tallo users.

"Reaching one million users on the Tallo platform is an important win for our community," said Don Baker, President and CEO of FAME, Inc. "We have a responsibility to connect our talented and diverse young people with workforce programs, colleges, and employers, and Tallo is the go to virtual tool for making this happen with a laser focus on equity and empowerment for all."

Over the past year, Tallo has been cited by a report commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Business Insider, and the Office of the White House as a pioneer in the career navigation process, unlocking real career avenues for determined students ready to enter the workforce.

"I want to be an environmental lawyer, and thats why I use Tallo," explained Kirit Minhas, a recent graduate from Tower Hill high school and 2020 Delaware STEM Signing Day honoree. "Tallo gives me the confidence and resources to connect with the opportunities of my dreams."

About FAME Inc.

Established in 1976, FAME, Inc. is one of the nations oldest non-profit STEM education organizations with a mission to, "Prepare and motivate students in grades K-12, with a specific focus on girls and underrepresented minorities, to complete a college degree and/or seek a career in STEM or other STEM related pathways;" and a vision to Inspire Career Confidence. Over the past 43 years, FAME, Inc. has served thousands of students, challenging youth to form skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. To learn more about FAME, Inc. please visit: https://www.famedelaware.org.

About Tallo

Tallo is the first online app that assists students in designing a career pathway, educators in recruiting top talent to their schools, and employers in developing a stable, continuous talent pipeline. Through a mobile digital portfolio, students (age 13+) and professionals showcase their skills and abilities, receive personalized career guidance, match with over $20 billion in scholarships, and get directly connected with post-secondary institutions and companies looking for the next generation of talent. For more information, visit www.tallo.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005221/en/

Contacts

Joanne Johnson

Communications Strategist, Tallo

M) 703-851-6210

O) 855-765-7836 x727

jjohnson@tallo.com
Agreement aims to expedite local biomarker testing of NSCLC patients eligible for entrectinib in Japan

CARLSBAD, Calif., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific has signed a companion diagnostic (CDx) agreement with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a member of the Roche Group, and has applied to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to expand the use of the Oncomine Dx Target Test in Japan. The CDx will be leveraged to identify ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who may be eligible for treatment with entrectinib (Rozlytrek). Approval by the MHLW would accelerate access to Chugai's targeted therapy via a locally administered, next-generation sequencing (NGS) biomarker test.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (PRNewsfoto/Thermo Fisher Scientific)

Entrectinib received MHLW approval in February 2020 to treat ROS1-positive NSCLC adult patients. Prior to that, the drug received accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2019 to treat ROS1-positive NSCLC adult patients, and both adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors that have NTRK gene fusions. ROS1 gene fusions are prevalent in 1-2 percent of NSCLC cases. It is one of 46 cancer-related biomarkers evaluated by the MHLW-approved version of Thermo Fisher's Oncomine Dx Target Test. The MHLW previously approved the test as a CDx for four biomarkers  EGFR, ALK, ROS1 and BRAF  associated with 12 targeted therapies for NSCLC. The test was previously approved to identify ROS1-postitive patients for treatment with crizotinib in the U.S.

Oncomine Dx Target Test is currently reimbursed by government and commercial insurers in the U.S., Europe, Japan and South Korea, covering more than 550 million lives globally. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and each year the disease causes more than 1.6 million deaths - more than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. In Japan, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men, making up about 25 percent of all male cancer deaths in 2015.1

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"Since receiving premarket approval for Oncomine Dx Target Test in 2017, Thermo Fisher has accelerated its endeavor to expand the use of comprehensive biomarker testing globally," said Garret Hampton, president of clinical next-generation sequencing and oncology at Thermo Fisher. "Our latest agreement underscores this commitment to build on the Oncomine Dx Target Test, which is still the first-and-only approved NGS companion diagnostic in Japan that is administered locally to expedite patient testing in the region."

1 Foundation for the Promotion of Cancer Research, "Cancer Statistics in Japan, 2015" - March 2016.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $25 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 75,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com .

Mauricio Minotta

Thermo Fisher Scientific

+1 760 805-5266 (mobile)

Mauricio.minotta@thermofisher.com

Jen Heady

Greenough Brand Storytellers

+1 617 275 6547

jheady@greenough.biz

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thermo-fisher-scientific-signs-companion-diagnostic-agreement-with-chugai-pharmaceutical-301089732.html

SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific
LOS ANGELES, July 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NetworkWire -- Tongji Healthcare Group, Inc. (TONJ) (the Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of new board members and officers, effective as of June 18, 2020.

Tongji Healthcare Group welcomes Amir Ben-Yohanan as chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Christian Young as director and president, and Simon Yu as director and chief operations officer.

Amir Ben-Yohanan has extensive experience spanning over 15 years serving large multinational corporations. This includes leadership positions with AT&T and the Associated Press, where he was the senior director of finance and was responsible for oversight of Internal Audit, Compliance and Financial Reporting departments. In 2012, Ben-Yohanan left a successful career in the corporate world to become an entrepreneur, founding West of Hudson Properties, a real estate investment and property management firm headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey. Under Ben-Yohanans leadership, West of Hudson Properties has grown to its current ownership and management of over $300 million in real estate assets across 95+ multifamily residential properties. More recently, he has expanded the operation to successfully complete several ground-up multifamily construction projects each year in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Ben-Yohanan earned his masters degree in finance from Australias University of Sydney in 1999 and holds an undergraduate degree in accounting.

Christian J. Young has served as president of WOHG since March 2020. Prior to joining WOHG, he held positions as a lawyer and chef and was also a serial entrepreneur involved in founding over a dozen enterprises. Mr. Young is also a YouTube personality and travel blogger. From 2018 to 2019, Mr. Young served as chief strategy officer for Cannabis Strategic Ventures. Since 2015, Mr. Young has been a YouTube branded content developer, strategic advisor to venture fund Amplify.LA, and an advisor at the USC Venture Incubator. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Young also acted as entrepreneur in residence for Lamp Post Group.

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Mr. Young obtained his J.D. from Southwestern Law and his MBA from the University of Southern California.

Simon Yu is the chief executive officer of Cannabis Strategic Ventures (NUGS) and has served in this position since 2017. In 2014, Mr. Yu also founded a regional California staffing firm that leverages technology and education to change the way staffing agencies serve their clients. Mr. Yu has almost 20 years of management experience in healthcare, with 11 of those dedicated to sales and operations for the healthcare staffing industry. Throughout his career, Mr. Yu has launched startups in e-commerce, import/export, medical devices, and staffing. Mr. Yu was also a startup advisor at the University of Southern Californias Business Incubator and was an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at California State University, Los Angeles.

Mr. Yu graduated from the University of Southern California with a masters in business administration and a graduate certificate in technology commercialization.

Following the above officer and director appointments, Mr. Joe Arcaro resigned from any and all officer and director positions with the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Arcaros resignation is not the result of a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Companys operations, policies or practices.

About Tongji Healthcare Group, Inc.

The Company operates Tongji Hospital, a general hospital with 105 licensed beds. Tongji Hospital offers care and treatment in the areas of internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, emergency medicine, ophthalmology, medical cosmetology, rehabilitation, dermatology, otolaryngology, traditional Chinese medicine, medical imaging, anesthesia, acupuncture, physical therapy, health examination, prevention and emergency care. Its emergency room is open 24 hours a day, and all of its rooms are air-conditioned.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements also may be included in other publicly available documents issued by the Company and in oral statements made by our officers and representatives from time to time. These forward-looking statements are intended to provide management's current expectations or plans for our future operating and financial performance, based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. They can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "would," "could," "will" and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance.

Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to future sales, earnings, cash flows, results of operations, uses of cash and other measures of financial performance.

Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others such as, but not limited to economic conditions, changes in the laws or regulations, demand for products and services of the company, the effects of competition and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or represented in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking information provided in this release should be considered with these factors in mind. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this report.

Contact

Phone:+1-702-479-3016
The first crop of Steelhead Hanover will look to make a major impact in Thursday evening's (July 9) Atlantic Sires Stakes competition for two-year-old pacing colts at Red Shores at Summerside Raceway as part of Governors Plate Week racing.

The Thursday card will get underway at 6:30 p.m. and will feature 10 dashes. Eyes will be firmly fixed on the $12,880 Atlantic Sires Stakes 'A' dashes for two-year-old pacing colts that have been carded as Race 6 and 8.

Dollars And Spence is the morning line favourite in the first division and Redmond Doucet is scheduled to be in the race bike for owner-trainer John MacLellan of Mabou, NS. The rookie is sired by Steelhead Hanover, whose lone crop will be at the races this season. Steelhead Hanover passed away midway through the 2017 breeding season. Dollars And Spence won his first lifetime start, as he made a 2:00 tour of Inverness Raceway in Nova Scotia. Other top entries are Steelhead Hanover sons Mr Rielly (to be driven by Corey MacPherson) and Steel Reefer (Gilles Barrieau).

The second division is 'more of the same' as sires go, as Post 6 starter Woodmere Stealdeal has been installed as the morning line choice in the seven-horse field. Woodmere Stealdeal is to be driven by Marc Campbell for trainer Danny Romo and owners Kevin Dorey of Middle Sackville and Robert Sumarah of Halifax, NS. The son of Steelhead Hanover has put in the fastest qualifier to date for Atlantic-sired rookies, as he pounded out a 1:59.3 trip over the Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia. Dustylanegoliath, who is scheduled to start from Post 7, looks to be another talented Steelhead Hanover offspring. Dustylanegoliath is set to be steered by his trainer, Gilles Barrieau. Ameripan Gigolo pacer Dusty Lane Morgan is third early choice from Post 3 for trainer-driver Clare MacDonald.

The program will also feature a pair of $2,500 ATSS 'B' divisions for rookie colts (Race 2 and 4).

Check out the action live at redshores.ca and bet online at HPIBet.com.

To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at Summerside, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Summerside Raceway.

(With files from Red Shores)
(Bloomberg) -- Traveloka, Southeast Asias biggest online travel startup, is close to raising fresh funds at a private-market valuation of about $2.75 billion -- roughly 17% less than its most recent fundraising, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Jakarta-based firm is in advanced negotiations with new strategic investors such as Siam Commercial Bank Pcl and Richard Lis FWD Group Ltd., as well as existing backers GIC Pte. and East Ventures to secure about $250 million, the people said, asking not to be named because the discussions are private. The primary fundraising will be at a $2.75 billion valuation, while a secondary sale will be at $2.4 billion, one of the people said. Traveloka counts online travel site Expedia Group Inc. and JD.com Inc. among its existing backers.

Terms of the fundraising could still change, they said. A Traveloka representative declined to comment.

Traveloka, which has had its business hammered by the coronavirus fallout, is one of the first unicorns in Southeast Asia to experience a down-round -- raising funds at a lower valuation than the previous funding round. It reflects the sharp drop in business after lockdown orders halted flights and travel. Since the outbreak, the company has cut an unspecified number of positions, including about 80 jobs in Singapore in April.

The travel industry is witnessing a sharp decline in business since the spread of the coronavirus. Expedia saw its total gross booking fall 39% in the first quarter, while its share price has dropped 21% this year. Vacation-rental startup Airbnb Inc. cut 25% of its workforce and raised an additional $2 billion in debt to help weather the downturn.

Despite the slump, some Traveloka investors are betting on the travel industrys eventual recovery, led by a rebound in tourism within countries, and a series of cost-cutting measures at the company, one of the people said. In Vietnam -- a model case in containing the pandemic with fewer than 400 cases and no deaths -- domestic travel has restarted.

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With a population of 570 million and growing middle class, Southeast Asias six largest economies are expected to see their online travel market more than double from $34 billion in 2019 to $78 billion in 2025, according to the most recent report by Google, Temasek and Bain released in October.

Read more: Southeast Asias No. 1 Travel App Jumps on Fintech Bandwagon

Since its inception in 2012, Travelokas valuation climbed to $3.3 billion, according to the people. It has expanded across Southeast Asia, making it easier for consumers to book flights and hotels across countries. Like other startups in the region, Traveloka followed a popular playbook of providing multiple products and extending into financial services to complement its travel, accommodation and lifestyle offerings.

Traveloka Chief Executive Officer Ferry Unardi said in an interview at the New Economy Forum in Beijing in November that the company is considering an initial public offering in Indonesia and in the U.S. in two to three years.

Traveloka Looking to Grow Into Lifestyle, Financial Services: CEO (Video)

(Adds forecast of Southeast Asias digital market in the seventh paragraph.)

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Two drill ready conventional oil prospects in the Zagros Basin just north of >100 million barrels of oil recoverable fields in Iraq

VANCOUVER, British Columbia and ANKARA, Turkey, July 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trillion Energy International Inc. (Trillion or the Company) (CSE:TCF) (TCFF) (Frankfurt: 3P2N) is pleased to report that the evaluation of the Zagros Basin Derecik Exploration Licenses in the Hakkari area of Turkey is complete and yielded promising results.



Trillion has 100% interest of 42,833 hectares of the Derecik Licenses which covers the extension of the oil rich Iraq Zagros Basin into Turkey  proximate to several world class oil fields located in Northern Iraq. Trillions Derecik Exploration Licenses oil fields are located in proximity to the following proven oil fields:

45 kilometers south the Bijell Field, with 1 well producing 3,576 with an estimated 100 MM bbls recoverable (Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd)

65 kilometers away the Atrush Field with Q4 2019 produced average of 41,700 bopd and best estimate resource of 2 billion bbls oil

75 kilometers away the Swara Tika field with 21,000 bopd production and 2P of 368 MM bbls 36-39 API

60 kilometers away the Swara Tika East with one well producing 5,600 bopd and 2C resources of 157 MM bbls oil of 36-39 API.

As the Derecik Licenses are located just where Turkey extends into the Iraq Zagros basin, we have determined the stratigraphy on the Derecik License is identical to the what is found in several Iraq producing fields. We have conducted surface mapping, seismic interpretation and geological evaluation of same. The same reservoir rocks source rock that oil is produced from in Iraq is also found on the Derecik Licenses. The oil prone sources rocks that occur in Iraq are present on the Derecik Licenses.

The nearest well on the Turkey side of the border for the Zagros Basin is 85 kilometers away from the Derecik Licenses and never reached the target reservoir, leaving the region significantly unexplored.

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Oil seeps and bitumen found on the Derecik Licenses have been analyzed and indicate that there is a petroleum system in the Derecik region which bears resemblances to the oil field found in Northern Iraq.

The result of the photo-geological study, geochemical analysis of the oil seeps and bituminous samples, offset well information in Iraq and seismic data shot and interpretation within the Derecik Licenses has identified 7 leads, with 2 of those 7 leads drill ready. All leads area result of Cretaceous and Miocene compression which is the dominant play in Northern Iraq.

The two drill ready structures are:

Balkayalar-1 with TD 2560 meters which is an anticline 4 way closure containing Jurassic and Triassic reservoirs, and Derecik-1 with TD 3,493 meters which is an anticline 4 way closure containing Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic reservoirs.

The two locations are expected to contain analogous reservoirs as found in the Shaikan Field located 90 km south of the locations. Shaikan produced average 32,883 bopd in 2019 and have 2p of 578 million bbls oil.

In Turkey the fiscal terms are far superior to what is found in Iraq. In Turkey has a 12.5% royalty and a 20% corporate tax whereas in Northern Iraq it is substantially more expensive and has greater security and other risks.

The Company estimates that drilling a well on the Derecik license will cost about $10 million while an equivalent well in Norther Iraq would cost about $60 million.

Trillion is evaluating the next steps to capture the value of this highly prospective license, which it expects will involve drilling one of the two prospects, at dates to be determined.

Arthur Halleran, CEO commented, Successful exploration efforts on the Derecik play have the potential to yield a significant conventional oil discovery accessible for low production costs, competitive in todays oil environment. We are excited about our evaluation of the propertys drilling prospects, given its proximity to super major fields and our data analysis conducted to date.

About the Company

Trillion Energy is an oil and gas producing company with multiple assets throughout Turkey and Bulgaria. The Company is 49% owner of the SASB natural gas field, one of the Black Seas first and largest natural gas development projects; a 19.6% (except three wells with 9.8%) interest in the Cendere oil field; a 100% interest in 42,833 hectares oil exploration block covering the northern extension of the prolific Iraq/Zagros Basin; and in Bulgaria, the Vranino 1-11 block, a prospective unconventional natural gas property.

For further information, please see our website: www.trillionenergy .com or email us: info@trillionenergy.com

The Companys NI 51-101 and other reports relating to its reserves as at December 31, 2019 are filed on www.sec.gov, www.sedar.com , www.thecse.com , as well as the Companys website.

Contact

Art Halleran, CEO: 1-250-996-4211

e-mail: info@trillionenergy.com

Website: www.trillionenergy.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and other information about this news release and the Company reserves
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The politics of law and order have long been a repository of cultural and racial grievance. In his 1999 book, From George Wallace to Newt Gingrich: Race in the Conservative Counterrevolution, 1963-1994, Dan T. Carter, a celebrated historian of the American South, describes a pioneering political advertisement from Wallaces 1970 campaign for governor of Alabama:

Radio spots depicted the dramatic sounds of a police siren, two cars pulling to the side of the road, and then the ominous narration: Suppose your wife is driving home at 11 oclock at night. She is stopped by a highway patrolman. He turns out to be black. Think about it . . . Elect George Wallace.

The highway patrolman, the literal embodiment of law and order, is cast as the threat to the (obviously White) womans safety. The implicit promise of law and order is not to protect people from crime per se. Its to protect White people, and White peoples status, from Black people and Black aspirations.

Five decades later, President Donald Trumps embrace of law and order  or LAW & ORDER! as he tweeted May 31  is no more shrouded in mystery than Wallaces. Its yet another of Trumps unsubtle reminders that he will protect White power and status from a diverse coalition of Democrats and young social activists.

Like Trumps all-out defense of Confederate iconography at a time when majorities tell pollsters that they support the protests of the Black Lives Matter movement, and when even Mississippi is at last surrendering to Union forces, Trumps deployment of the law and order trope looks desperate. It is. But its not crazy, given Trumps aversion to more decent and popular forms of politics.

The phrase worked for Richard Nixon in 1968, when Wallace ran for president as an independent, threatening Nixon from the right. As the historian Kevin Kruse notes, it wasnt much help to congressional Republicans in 1970. Yet the attempt to redeploy it is telling. Violent crime rose every year of Nixons presidency. That Republicans nonetheless resorted to the law and order slogan shows the phrase was more than a response to crime.

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Make America Safe Again was a theme of the first night of the 2016 Republican National Convention. Like Trumps campaign, the convention simply ignored the dramatic decline in crime in previous decades. Because crime is not what the red hats of MAGA seek protection from.

As my colleague Jonathan Bernstein has pointed out, its more complicated for Trump to run on law and order this time around. He has had more than three years to deliver on his promise. In lieu of law or order, Trumps presidency has produced a parade of convicted felons and a whirlwind of chaos that envelops him like the dust cloud perpetually trailing the Peanuts character Pigpen.

If law and order constitutes a symbolic pinky swear rather than a commitment to control crime, however, the president is on firmer ground. He has always pledged to annihilate the forces on the other side of the culture war. Trumps invocation of the phrase is no more tied to national crime rates than his THE SILENT MAJORITY IS STRONGER THAN EVER!!! tweet is a measure of his uniquely unpopular presidency. In the lexicon of Trumpism, silent majority is a euphemism conveying his commitment to sustaining White political and economic power. Law and Order is just another way to say Lock Her Up.

For Trumps racial campaign to gain traction, disruptive events must intervene  or he will have to will them into existence. Fox News is doing its part, featuring old or doctored videos to chronicle a race war that has yet to be birthed. Surely one reason Trump keeps invoking Confederates and racial tropes is to provoke protesters into violence. So far, few have taken the bait.

To obscure the catastrophe that his incompetence has induced, with more than 130,000 dead and counting, Trump needs a different threat, one with protagonists whom he can elevate and attack.

He hasnt summoned such a target yet. But no legal or moral guardrails constrain him. He will keep prodding and searching for the conflict to which law and order is the answer. He still has four months.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Francis Wilkinson writes editorials on politics and U.S. domestic policy for Bloomberg Opinion. He was executive editor of the Week. He was previously a writer for Rolling Stone, a communications consultant and a political media strategist.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
By Christiana Sciaudone

Investing.com -- Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR). rose almost 9% after reports that the company may be working on a paid service, according to The Verge.

Shares of the social media company were up yesterday on reports that the U.S. may ban Chinese social media apps, notably TikTok. Twitter is up more than 60% since hitting a 2020 low in March.

The Verge cited a job listing showing a new internal team at Twitter named Gryphon that is building a subscription platform. Engineers are being recruited to work with the payments team.

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(Bloomberg) -- Huawei Technologies Co. has gone from a crucial component of U.K. and French mobile networks to potential outcast, after resistance and compromises began to give way to a relentless White House campaign.

Both countries indicated this week that theyre taking steps to reduce their reliance on the Chinese company -- with the U.K. considering a phase out of Huaweis role set to begin as soon as this year and French cybersecurity agency Anssi imposing a waiver system thats likely to severely limit its use.

Read more: France Begins to Sideline Huawei From Its Mobile Networks

A year ago, things were looking far more optimistic for the Chinese company. Britains intelligence and security committee said last July that barring Huawei would make networks less resilient to malicious attacks. The committees reasoning was that it would reduce competition and leave the U.K. dependent on just two suppliers -- Nokia Oyj and Ericsson AB.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson attempted a compromise in January, allowing carriers to use Huawei equipment to build out their 5G systems as long as they capped it at 35% and agreed not to use it in sensitive network cores.

But pressure from the U.S. has only increased and European governments and carriers have found themselves having to choose sides between two world powers. President Donald Trumps administration has piled on sanctions, making it more and more difficult for European carriers to access products from the worlds biggest maker of telecommunications equipment.

Huaweis R&D spending growth has been accelerating recently, said Neil Campling, an analyst at Mirabaud Securities. Their advances relative to the Western peers are significant, and so the U.S. is using everything it can in its political power -- whether thats trade sanctions, official agreements, unofficial agreements - to try and slow Chinas advances.

Huawei Vice President Victor Zhang urged the U.K. to assess the long-term impact of U.S. sanctions before deciding to exclude the companys products.

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It is too early to assess their long-term impact. This means it is also premature to make a considered judgment on our ability to deliver next-generation connectivity across the U.K., Zhang said in a call with reporters on Wednesday. Now is not the time to be hasty in making such a critical decision about Huawei.

Huawei has consistently denied that its a security risk and that it operates independently of the Chinese government. Huawei spokesman Paul Harrison argued on Twitter that the U.S. is unfairly dictating U.K. policy with its sanctions and that they threaten the U.K.s 5G rollout.

Like the U.K. France tried to find a middle ground. In May 2019, Macron told Bloomberg Television he didnt intend to capitulate to U.S. pressure, though the government had already restricted the amount and location of Huawei equipment used in its networks. As wireless carriers prepare to roll out 5G, the country will likely add additional restrictions on Huaweis access.

The Trump administration, which wanted Europe to ban Huawei outright because of concerns that the Shenzhen-based companys equipment was vulnerable to infiltration by Chinese spies, hit back.

Trump berated Johnson in a call after the U.K.s announcement, a person familiar with the matter said at the time, and Vice President Mike Pence didnt rule out that the clash could affect trade talks for post-Brexit Britain in a CNBC interview in February.

Even U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in, warning European allies in a security conference in Munich that month that it would be dangerous to rely on the company. And U.S. ambassador Richard Grenell tweeted that nations using an untrustworthy vendor for 5G risked intelligence sharing.

Read more: How Huawei Landed at the Center of Global Tech Tussle: QuickTake

Now France has effectively shut out Huawei in all but name, by only allowing time-limited authorizations of between three and eight years for local telecoms providers to use Huawei equipment. The move poses a technical challenge for companies like Bouygues and SFR, which will now be forced to think twice before slotting Huawei 5G kit on top of their 4G systems if they face the risk of dismantling Chinese equipment in the near future.There are still European markets to be fought over. The German government is struggling to settle on rules that would require security certification for vendors in the 5G network. Earlier senior Chinese officials highlighted German car companies  the crown jewel of Europes biggest economy  as a potential target for retaliation if Huawei is banned from their markets.

The fatal blow for Huaweis relationship with Europe may have come in May when the U.S. banned the company from sourcing microchips that use American technology.

The prevalence of chips that are made with or incorporate U.S. technology caused New Street Research analyst Pierre Ferragu to declare in May that Huawei has 12 months left to live.

Those sanctions were so severe they prompted British security services to re-open their review of how secure and sustainable a supplier Huawei could be in national networks. That review has now been completed and sent to U.K. digital and culture secretary Oliver Dowden. He said they were likely to have an impact on the viability of Huawei as a provider and more details on the U.K.s next steps will come soon.

(Updates with Huawei comments in eighth paragraph)

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
A sign alerts travelers to the danger of COVID-19 at LaGuardia Airport, during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in New York

By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union has excluded the United States from its initial "safe list" of countries from which the bloc will allow non-essential travel from Wednesday.

The 27-member bloc gave majority approval on Tuesday to leisure or business travel from 14 countries beyond its borders, the Council of the EU, which represents EU governments.

The countries are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.

China has also been provisionally approved, although travel would only open up if Chinese authorities also allowed in EU visitors. Reciprocity is a condition of being on the list.

Russia, Brazil and Turkey, along with the United States, are among countries whose containment of the virus is considered worse than the EU average, and so will have to wait at least two weeks for approval.

The move is aimed at supporting the EU travel industry and tourist destinations, particularly countries in southern Europe hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It acts as a recommendation to EU members, meaning they could potentially set restrictions on those entering from the 14 nations.

Within hours of the EU announcement, Italy, which has one of the highest COVID death tolls in the world, said it would opt out and keep quarantine restrictions in place for all nations that were not part of the free-travel Schengen area.

Canada said it was extending its mandatory quarantine order for travellers until at the least the end of August and a travel ban for most foreigners until the end of July.

The EU's efforts to reopen internal borders, particularly within the 26-nation Schengen area which normally has no frontier checks, have been patchy as various countries have restricted access for certain visitors.

Nicholas Calio who heads an U.S. airline trade group representing Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and others, said the U.S. government and EU had discussed potential enhanced screening of EU-bound Americans in recent days. He said he is hopeful that "at least on a limited basis" some American travel to the EU could resume soon.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Additional reporting by Angelo Amante in Rome, Steve Scherer in Ottawa, David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Philippa Fletcher, Jan Harvey, Richard Chang and Lincoln Feast.)
BEIRUT, July 8 (Reuters) - A U.S. general voiced Washington's backing for Lebanese stability on Wednesday on a visit that triggered a protest by demonstrators including supporters of the Iran-backed Hezbollah against U.S. policies in the country.

General Kenneth McKenzie's visit to Beirut, a big recipient of U.S. military aid, comes after Hezbollah stepped up criticism of U.S. ambassador Dorothy Shea on Tuesday, accusing her of blatant interference in Lebanese affairs.

Lebanon is in throes of an acute financial crisis seen as the biggest threat to its stability since the 1975-90 civil war.

The heavily armed Hezbollah, founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, is classified as a terrorist group by the United States. It is also a major player in Lebanese politics and backs the government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab.

A U.S. embassy statement said McKenzie "reaffirmed the importance of preserving Lebanons security, stability, and sovereignty..."

Several dozen protesters, some waving Hezbollah flags, gathered at Beirut airport in a protest which the group's al-Manar TV said carried several messages against Washington.

These included a rejection of a U.S. embassy plan to hold a memorial for 241 U.S. service personnel killed in 1983 by a bomb attack in Beirut during McKenzie's visit, an al-Manar broadcaster said.

The U.S. embassy statement said McKenzie's one-day visit included "a brief stop at memorials honouring the memory of those who have perished in service to their country".

The United States says Hezbollah carried out the 1983 attack, which was preceded by the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a speech on Tuesday night, said Shea had intervened in official appointments at the central bank, calling this "colonial" behaviour.

Shea has said the appointments were a matter for Lebanon to decide and she tried her best to convey the importance of credible and internationally respected experts being appointed. (Reporting by Tom Perry/Laila Bassam, Editing by William Maclean)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Velocity Minerals Ltd. (VLC.V) (Velocity or the Company) announces that it has executed a letter agreement with Balkan Mineral Development OOD (the BMD) for an exclusive option (the Option) to acquire a 100% interest in the 105 km2 Iglika gold-copper property (Iglika or the Property), located in southeastern Bulgaria. The project is located in the westernmost portion of the prolific Tethyan belt that transects Bulgaria and hosts a number of epithermal gold and porphyry copper-gold mineral deposits and operating mines.



Iglika Project Highlights

Under-explored property, located in a highly prospective precious and base metal mineral belt

Potential for both epithermal gold and porphyry copper deposits

Existing surface geochemistry and multiple drill-ready targets

Comports well with Velocitys Hub and Spoke exploration and development strategy - located close to Velocitys portfolio of advanced gold projects in southeast Bulgaria

Figure 1: Location of the Iglika property & principal known regional mineral belts is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2b02868f-164c-4835-a984-8fbb0d90da72

Priority Targets and Planned Exploration

Velocity will be principally targeting epithermal gold systems with surface exploration and drill testing - several drill targets exist on the large property package (Figure 2). Geophysical surveys will be undertaken on the copper porphyry targets in order to determine the best path forward.

Lalkovo  Epithermal gold target - historical exploration trenching returned 40.7m grading 1.18 g/t gold. A single drill hole in this area intersected 6.5m grading 1.02 g/t gold. Planned work includes soil sampling, geophysics and drilling.

Voden  Epithermal gold target with abundant anomalous surficial rock samples, including grab samples up to 9.56 g/t gold and trench sampling up to 4m grading 1.31 g/t gold. No prior drill testing, planned work includes soil sampling, geophysics and drilling.

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Koruba  Outcropping porphyry copper mineralization with associated large untested copper anomaly. The target is untested by drilling and planned work includes geophysics.

Sharkovo  Porphyry target defined by an extensive magnetic anomaly under recent cover. Planned work includes geophysics.

Iglika - Approximately 42,000m of historical drilling has been completed on the Iglika property, most of which was focused on the Iglika copper-gold skarn deposit, which is not of immediate interest to Velocity as a target. The diorite intrusion peripheral to the skarn mineralization was not been systematically sampled and is known to be mineralized.

Figure 2: Iglika Property Targets is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/29939d39-28c3-48c0-a917-91a5c6ccd33e

Commercial Terms

Velocity will have the right to acquire a 100% interest in Iglika by acquisition of the issued and outstanding shares of BMD. A definitive agreement will be drafted and executed in due course. All cash figures are converted to Canadian dollars using current exchange rate.

Under the terms of the Option (Table 1) Velocity will make a cash payment of $49,000 (paid) and incur exploration expenditure of $460,000 by December 31, 2020 to earn a 51% interest in the Property. Thereafter, Velocity can earn an additional 49% (total 100%) by incurring exploration expenditures of $765,000 by December 31, 2021.

BMD will retain a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty (Option Royalty), which will be capped at $6,700,000. At any time, 1.0% of the Option Royalty can be purchased for $750,000 and an additional 0.5% of the Option Royalty can be purchased for $1,500,000.

Notwithstanding the option terms above, Velocity can purchase a 100% interest (the Purchase Option) for $340,000 until December 31, 2021 or for $750,000 until December 31, 2022, either of which payments can be paid in cash or 50% cash and 50% Velocity shares. If the Purchase Option is exercised, BMD will instead retain a 0.5% Royalty (Purchase Royalty), capped at $6,700,000. 100% of the Purchase Royalty may be purchased for $750,000, after which the property would be royalty free.

Date Cash Payment (CAD$) Expenditure Commitment (CAD$) Interest Signing $49,000 (paid) - - December 31, 2020 - $460,000 51% December 31, 2021 - $765,000 100%

Table 1: Key Terms of Iglika Option

About Cretaceous Belt

The Cretaceous belt, extends for approximately 950 km from Transylvania to the Balkans, is the westernmost portion of the 10,000 km long Tethyan Eurasian Metallogenic Belt. The belt hosts a number of large copper porphyry and epithermal gold deposits and several mines. Operating mines include Bor in Serbia (800Mt @ 0.84% coper and 0.39g/t gold) and Chelopech in Bulgaria (42Mt @ 1.28% copper and 3.4g/t gold). Recent discoveries include Cukaru Peki in Serbia (1,700Mt @ 0.86% copper and 0.18g/t gold). The West Tethyan Cretaceous belt has seen sustained recent exploration by both major and junior mining companies including Rio Tinto, Freeport McMoran, Vale, Zijin Mining, JOGMEC and Dundee Precious Metals.

The Iglika property is located in the relatively underexplored Strandzha region which contains the recently permitted Prohorovo porphyry coppermolybdenum deposit in Bulgaria and the Derekoy porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit in Turkey.

Readers are cautioned that the mines and deposits described above are adjacent properties and Velocity has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in the properties. Mineral deposits on adjacent properties and any production therefrom or economics with respect thereto, are not in any way indicative of mineral deposits on the Iglika property or the potential production from, or cost or economics of, any future mining on the Iglika property. The properties are described to highlight the potential of the belt and certain properties contained within it.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Velocity have not assessed the Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) of historical results and as such historical results are not consistent with the standards of disclosure defined by NI 43-101 and may not necessarily be consistent with CIM best practice with respect to reporting.

The work program at Iglika is designed and is supervised by Stuart A. Mills, CGeol, the Company's Vice-President Exploration, who is responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance program.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this release has been approved for disclosure by Stuart A. Mills, BSc, MSc, CGeol, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and the Companys Vice President Exploration. Mr. Mills is not independent of the Company.

About Velocity Minerals Ltd.

Velocity is a gold exploration and development company focused on southeastern Bulgaria. Velocitys strategy is to develop a low cost centralized Hub and Spoke operation whereby multiple projects within this emerging gold district produce gold concentrates for trucking to a central processing plant for production of dore. The Company envisions staged open pit mining of satellite deposits and processing in a currently operating carbon-in-leach (CIL) plant. Velocity has a 70% interest in the Tintyava prospecting licence, which includes the Rozino gold project, and has entered into option agreements to earn a 70% interest in the Obichnik, Makedontsi and Sedefche gold projects, and will have the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Iglika project. Velocitys management and board includes mining industry professionals with combined experience spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas as employees of major mining companies as well as founders and senior executives of junior to mid-tier public companies. The team's experience includes all aspects of mineral exploration, resource definition, feasibility, finance, mine construction and mine operation as well as a track record in managing publicly listed companies.

About Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a member of NATO (2004) and a member of the European Union (2007). The local currency (BGN) has been tied to the Euro since 1999 (1.956 BGN/EUR). The country is served by modern European infrastructure including an extensive network of paved roads. Bulgaria boasts an exceptionally low corporate tax rate of only 10%. The countrys education system is excellent with good availability of experienced mining professionals in a favourable cost environment. Foreign mining companies are successfully operating in Bulgaria. The countrys mining law was established in 1999 and updated in 2011. Mining royalties are low and compare favourably with more established mining countries.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Keith Henderson

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Keith Henderson

Phone: +1-604-484-1233

E-mail: info@velocityminerals.com

Web: www.velocityminerals.com

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.

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: future exploration and testing carried out on the Iglika property; use of funds; and the future business and operations of Velocity. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can be identified by words such as pro forma, plans, expects, may, should, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes, potential or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities for the Iglika property, including the geological mapping, prospecting and sampling programs for the projects, the fact that the Companys interests in the Iglika property is only an option and there is no guarantee that the interest, if earned, will be certain, actual results of exploration activities, including the program, estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, the availability of a sufficient supply of water and other materials, requirements for additional capital to fund the Company's business plan, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the TSX Venture Exchange), permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, hedging practices, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage and the timing and possible outcome of pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading. "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual management's discussion and analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.
Nonprofit Will Use Funds to Pay Expenses and Purchase Equipment

VeraBank has joined the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) to provide $25,690 to Neighborhood STRONG located in Lufkin, Texas.

PGP grants help qualified nonprofit organizations fund a variety of administrative activities that are critical to serving their communities.

Neighborhood STRONG helps the elderly and disadvantaged residents in the city of Lufkin and Angelina County through home renovations and enhancements. As of December 31, 2019, the organization had repaired 67 homes and served 126 families or individuals.

"These funds, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, will enable us to cover staff salaries, supplemental training and other administrative expenses," said Wayne Lawrence, Ph.D., executive director of Neighborhood STRONG. "Well also be able to begin to recruit a part-time volunteer coordinator who will recruit and train volunteers and help expand our partnership for financial literacy training for our homeowners," he said.

VeraBank has seen the success Neighborhood STRONG has had in making a lasting impact on Lufkin and surrounding communities.

"Although Neighborhood STRONG is newly formed, at 4 years old, it has already created a significant impact in the lives of dozens of people," said Susan Callahan, CRA officer at VeraBank. "We are delighted to work alongside Neighborhood STRONG to provide assistance."

Funding under FHLB Dallas PGP was increased by $2 million in 2020 under FHLB Dallas COVID-19 Relief Program to support community-based organizations (CBOs) involved in affordable housing activities, stimulating small business development or providing small businesses with technical assistance. The use of funds for these organizations was expanded to include COVID-19 relief.

Through this unique grant program, FHLB Dallas member institutions contribute from $500 to $6,000 to a CBO, which FHLB Dallas matches at a new, higher 5:1 ratio (compared to the previous 3:1 ratio) resulting in a match of up to $30,000. If multiple member institutions contribute to the same CBO in one year, the maximum FHLB Dallas match for those member contributions is $60,000 per year. In both cases, the total grant to the CBO would be the sum of the member contribution(s) plus the FHLB Dallas match. Grants are awarded annually through FHLB Dallas and its member institutions.

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"No one was prepared for the coronavirus pandemic and the economic hardships it has had on our most vulnerable citizens; the work of organizations like Neighborhood STRONG are more important today than ever, and we are thankful for VeraBanks community outreach," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas.

See the complete list of the 2020 PGP grant recipients. For more information about the 2020 PGP grants and other FHLB Dallas community investment products and programs, please visit fhlb.com/pgp.

About VeraBank

VeraBank, was established in 1930 at the height of the Great Depression, is a privately-owned community bank that serves East and Central Texas with its network of 36 conveniently located branches and $2.8 billion in assets. VeraBank also has trust assets under management in excess of $670 million. Throughout its existence, VeraBank has remained committed to providing excellent personal service with the latest in banking technology. Visit verabank.com for more information. Member FDIC - Equal Housing Lender

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank system created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $83.8 billion as of March 31, 2020 is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 805 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005830/en/

Contacts

Corporate Communications

Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

fhlb.com

(214) 441-8445
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:
-- Village Farms Building on its Cannabis Success in Canada

with its First International Opportunity --

VANCOUVER, BC , July 8, 2020 /CNW/ - Village Farms International, Inc. ("Village Farms" or the "Company") (VFF.TO) (VFF.TO) today announced that it has executed a definitive agreement with DutchCanGrow Inc. ("DCG"), a Netherlands -based cannabis enterprise, to become one of six equal shareholders in DCG owning just under 16% each, with a seventh shareholder owning 5%. DCG is pursuing the opportunity to become one of a limited number of licensed cannabis growers (up to a maximum of 10) when the Dutch government permits the first legal recreational cannabis market in Europe under its 10-city Experiment to Investigate Closed Cannabis Supply Chains (the "WECG").

If successful in receiving a license from the Dutch government when awarded later this year, DCG plans to construct and operate a specialized cannabis greenhouse facility in the Netherlands and develop, produce and market a variety of safe, high-quality cannabis products to supply this new legalized market. Since 1976 in the Netherlands , a cannabis policy has been in effect regarding cannabis, under which the sale of cannabis at "coffee shops" is tolerated but the cultivation of cannabis is illegal. In 2019, in response to concerns around product safety (ingredients, additives, contaminants) and increasing criminal involvement related to cannabis cultivation, the Netherlands' House of Representatives approved the WECG as an intermediary step to address the lack of quality standards and societal impact of crime related to cannabis.

Under the WECG, which will be in effect for a minimum of four years following a one-year preparation period, all coffee shops in the 10 selected cities (currently 78 coffee shops in total) will be legally required to purchase all of their cannabis exclusively from the approved, federally licensed producers ("LPs"). The supply requirement for the current scope of the WECG is estimated to be approximately 65,000 kilograms of dried cannabis annually. The WECG will be formally evaluated by the Dutch government during the third year of the program, with the potential to expand it from the initial 10 cities to a national program, encompassing all coffee shops in the Netherlands (currently totalling 580).

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"Our investment in DutchCanGrow is a momentous first step in leveraging all that Village Farms has accomplished in Canada to become a leader in the burgeoning international cannabis industry," said Michael DeGiglio , CEO, Village Farms International. "DCG is an outstanding opportunity for Village Farms, not only providing potential access to the very first legal recreational cannabis market in Europe with the possibility of significant expansion within the Netherlands itself, but also to springboard to future legal cannabis opportunities in other markets in Europe , and around the world."

Mr. DeGiglio added, "We are very proud to have been selected by DCG from amongst a number of well-known Canadian LPs that were vying for this unique and exciting opportunity. Village Farms' very own roots as one of North America's largest and most successful greenhouse produce growers go back to Holland. A number of our most experienced people are multi-generational Dutch growers who brought with them to Village Farms the deep cultural know-how of The Netherlands . To this day, we have strong, enduring relationships with the Dutch growing community, and we are proud to now share the specific expertise we have gained through building Pure Sunfarms into Canada's premiere cannabis supplier. We look forward to working with this incredible group of partners at DCG, which brings together formidable expertise across a range of disciplines critical to the success of this venture."

"DutchCanGrow has a vision to become the premier cultivator, developer and producer of premium-quality, legally-grown cannabis in the Netherlands ," said Peter Tas, Director, DutchCanGrow. "It was our goal in approaching this opportunity to partner with an outstanding company with specific experience and success in the Canadian legal recreational cannabis market. We have spoken to a number of potential partners, including several large Canadian LPs, regarding this opportunity. Village Farms emerged as the clear choice, having already built Pure Sunfarms into what, in our opinion, is one of the best all-around cannabis growers and suppliers in Canada. Village Farms' expertise in facilities planning and development, low-cost greenhouse cannabis cultivation and operational efficiency will be invaluable to our pursuit of this significant opportunity."

In return for its ownership position in DCG, Village Farms will contribute its proven experience and capabilities related to, among other things, business model development, general project operations, cultivation, post-harvest operations, government relations and regulatory and finance, as well as a de minimis cash investment.

About Village Farms International, Inc.

Village Farms is one of the largest and longest-operating vertically integrated greenhouse growers in North America . Village Farms produces and distributes fresh, premium-quality produce year-round to national grocers in the U.S. and Canada from more than nine million square feet of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) greenhouses in Canada and the U.S., as well as from its partner greenhouses in Canada and Mexico. The Company is leveraging its 30 years of experience as a large-scale, low-cost vertically integrated grower for the rapidly emerging global cannabis and CBD opportunities. In Canada , British-Columbia -based Pure Sunfarms (majority-owned by Village Farms) is one of the single largest cannabis operations in the world and one of the best-selling brands in the country. In the U.S., subject to compliance with all applicable U.S. federal and state laws, the Company is pursuing a strategy become a leading developer and supplier of branded and white-labeled CBD products targeting "big box" and other major retailers and consumer packaged goods companies, and with one the largest greenhouse operations in country, is well positioned for the potential federal legalization of high-THC cannabis.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This press release also contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. We refer to such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information collectively as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may relate to the Company's future outlook or financial position and anticipated events or results and may include statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, budgets, expansion plans, litigation, projected production, projected costs, capital expenditures, financial results, taxes, plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Particularly, statements regarding future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities for the Company, the greenhouse vegetable industry or the cannabis industry are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by such terms as "outlook", "may", "might", "will", "could", "should", "would", "occur", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "try", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "likely", "schedule", "objectives", or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to risks that may include, but are not limited to: our limited operating history, including that of our Pure Sunfarms Corp. joint venture for the production of cannabis in Canada (our "Joint Venture") and our start-up operations of growing hemp in the United States ; the legal status of our Joint Venture; risks relating to obtaining additional financing, including our dependence upon credit facilities; potential difficulties in achieving and/or maintaining profitability; variability of product pricing; risks inherent in the cannabis, hemp and agricultural businesses; the ability of our Joint Venture to cultivate and distribute cannabis in Canada ; existing and new governmental regulations, including risks related to regulatory compliance and licenses (e.g., our Joint Venture's ability to obtain licenses for its Delta 2 greenhouse facility as well as additional licenses under the Canadian Act Respecting Cannabis To Amend to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts, S.C. 2018, c. 16 ( Canada ) for its Delta 3 greenhouse facility), and changes in our regulatory requirements; risks relating to conversion of our greenhouses to cannabis production for our Joint Venture; risks related to rules and regulations at the U.S. federal (Food and Drug Administration and United States Department of Agriculture), state and municipal levels with respect to produce and hemp; retail consolidation, technological advances and other forms of competition; transportation disruptions; product liability and other potential litigation; retention of key executives; labor issues; uninsured and underinsured losses; vulnerability to rising energy costs; environmental, health and safety risks, foreign exchange exposure, risks associated with cross-border trade; difficulties in managing our growth; restrictive covenants under our credit facilities; natural catastrophes; the ongoing and developing COVID-19 pandemic; and tax risks.

The Company has based these forward-looking statements on factors and assumptions about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions that management believes are reasonable based on information currently available to management, there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that may cause the Company's or the industry's actual results, performance, achievements, prospects and opportunities in future periods to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the factors contained in the Company's filings with securities regulators, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, each of which is available at www.sec.gov, as well as our filings on SEDAR, available at www.sedar.com. In particular, we caution you that our forward-looking statements are subject to the ongoing and developing circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and future financial results.

When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future results, performance, achievements, prospects and opportunities. The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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SOURCE Village Farms International, Inc.

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2020/08/c5845.html
By Jonathan Stempel

July 8 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett has donated roughly $2.9 billion of Berkshire Hathaway Inc stock to four family charities and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the latest but not largest contribution in his plan to give away his fortune.

In a statement on Wednesday, Berkshire said Buffett's 15th annual donation comprised 15.97 million Class B shares of Berkshire.

It boosted his donations to the charities to more than $37.4 billion since Buffett, who turns 90 on Aug. 30, began giving his Berkshire shares away in 2006.

Four-fifths of the donations go to the Gates Foundation. The rest goes to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named for Buffett's late first wife, and charities run by his children Howard, Susan and Peter: the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Sherwood Foundation and the NoVo Foundation.

Buffett's largest donation was $3.61 billion in 2019, when Berkshire's stock price was higher.

Though Buffett has donated 48% of his Berkshire shares, he still owns roughly 15.2% of the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate and controls nearly one-third of its voting power.

Forbes magazine said on Tuesday that Buffett was still worth $71.4 billion, ranking seventh worldwide.

Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos ranked first at $178.1 billion, while Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates was second.

Gates, a longtime Buffett friend, ended his 16-year run on Berkshire's board this year to focus on his foundation.

Berkshire stock has significantly lagged broader markets in 2019 and 2020.

This is in part because Buffett has not found attractive major acquisitions and financing opportunities for his $440 billion conglomerate, even during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Berkshire owns more than 90 businesses such as BNSF railroad, Geico auto insurance and Dairy Queen ice cream.

It also owns dozens of stocks, including more than $93 billion of Apple Inc based on regulatory filings. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York)
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 7, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (https://compare-autoinsurance.org) is a top auto insurance brokerage website, providing car insurance quotes online from trustworthy agencies all over the United States. This website has released a new guide that presents the main benefits of installing car tracking systems.

Tracking devices use GPS technology to pinpoint the location of the vehicle. Besides helping the authorities recovering a stolen vehicle, tracking devices can also:

Lower car insurance rates. Most insurance carriers will offer a discount that ranges between 20% to 30% of the premium rates after installing tracking devices. The reason whey insurers offer discounts that large for installing car tracking devices, is because it makes it much easier for the authorities to recover a stolen, or missing vehicle.

Help managing vehicles used for business. When dealing with a fleet of commercial vehicles, it's necessary to install car tracking devices on all of them. In that way, the business owner will always know where the vehicles and employees are and can check if they are stuck in traffic, or they are having an unauthorized stop.

Save time. GPS tracking systems will help drivers avoid heavy traffic. GPS tracking systems monitor the driving conditions in real-time and they will alert the driver when heavy traffic is spotted ahead on the route. GPS tracking systems are able to offer you an alternative route.

Save fuel. GPS systems will always provide the fastest and most fuel-efficient route to the destination.

Helps locate missing drivers. If a driver is in trouble, he/she can easily be located with the help of a GPS tracking device. Either the driver suffered a stroke, or he was involved in an accident, all he has to do is to push an SOS button and help will be in motion.

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.

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"GPS tracking devices will help you save money and time", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

CONTACT:

Company Name: Internet Marketing Company

Person for contact: Gurgu C

Phone Number: (818) 359-3898

Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.biz

Website: https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/596543/Why-Drivers-Should-Instal-Car-Tracking-Systems




Lemonade and Healthy Food Franchise Offers Taste of the Islands to Sacramento County

FOLSOM, Calif., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade (Wow Wow), known for its mouthwatering and healthful menu items and focus on the environment, is pleased to announce it has signed a franchise agreement with Adrienn Chang in Folsom, Cal. Chang, Hawaii-born and California-raised, is excited to bring the flavors she grew up with to her new home on the mainland.

Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade logo (PRNewsfoto/Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade)

While in Hawaii with her family, friends had introduced Chang to the gourmet lemonade stand and she instantly fell in love. Knowing not everyone can make a trip to Hawaii, she was intrigued by the opportunity to bring the lemonades, acai bowls, avocado toasts and more to her community in Northern California. With a degree in communications from UC Davis, and a current role in the commercial insurance industry  this is completely new territory for Chang. However, her passion and dedication to the brand are contagious and is what sets her apart.

"The Aloha spirit and welcoming vibes are what made me fall in love with Wow Wow, and I believe the Folsom community deserves to experience this one-of-a-kind brand," said Chang. "I'm looking forward for this new adventure and the chance to be my own boss."

Founded in Hawaii, Wow Wow specializes in made-from-craft gourmet lemonades  ranging from a classic lemonade to adventurous flavors like the Ginger Pineapple, Passionfruit Guava, Blue Hawaii, and the Lava Flow Lemonade. When the Folsom location opens in winter 2020/2021, Californians will come to crave the endless options of their favorite superfoods with healthy, energizing menu items like the Aunty's Pitaya Smoothie, Cold Brew Crave Acai Bowl, Cacao Aloha Oats, or the Micro Greens Avocado Toast. Every menu item is sourced from local farmers whenever possible, all-natural and made in-house.

On top of local sourcing and fresh, healthful products, Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonades is fervently committed to sustainability. Guests can order their lemonades or smoothies in a re-usable Mason Jar and receive a discount on their next purchase if they bring the Mason Jar back to reuse.

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"We are thrilled to welcome Adrienn to our 'Ohana. Her commitment to bringing a unique, healthy, and quick restaurant to Folsom, combined with her strong work ethic and outgoing personality makes her our ideal franchisee," said Tim Weiderhoft, CEO of Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade. "Folsom is in for a real treat, and we are excited to introduce them to the fresh, tropical tastes of the Hawaiian Islands."

Adrienn and every Wow Wow franchisee have the benefit of unmatched franchisee support from the corporate team. Wow Wow is looking for additional franchisees in California and the West Coast with a head for business, an interest in healthy eating, and a value for community.

For more information on Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonades franchising opportunities, visit www.wowwowfranchise.com.

About Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonades:

Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonades offers fresh, all-natural Hawaiian lemonades and smoothies and a food menu consisting of acai bowls, overnight oats, chia bowls, and multigrain avocado and nut butter toasts. The fast casual restaurant was founded in Hawaii in 2012. It quickly gained in popularity and grew from the stand to a trailer, then opened its first brick and mortar location on Maui in 2014. The fast casual opened its first licensed store on the Mainland in 2016 and went on to launch its franchise opportunity in 2017. Today it has a total of six lemonade stands domestically and two internationally. For more information, please contact the franchisor at aloha@wwlem.com and visit their website at www.wowwowhawaiianlemonade.com.

Media Contact: Jessica Konstantelos, Fishman PR, jkonstantelos@fishmanpr.com or (847) 945-1300

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SOURCE Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade
* Beijing security office opens near Hong Kong protest park

* Agents have powers and immunities beyond pre-existing laws

* New security chief says will strictly enforce new law

* Pro-democracy activists fear freedoms will be crushed

* Schools banned from singing protest anthem

* Books removed from libraries

By Yanni Chow and Donny Kwok

HONG KONG, July 8 (Reuters) - China opened its powerful national security office in Hong Kong on Wednesday, turning a hotel near a city-centre park that has been one of the most popular venues for pro-democracy protests into its new headquarters.

The office, which operates beyond the scrutiny of local courts or other institutions, will oversee the Hong Kong government's enforcement of the sweeping national security legislation that Beijing imposed on the city last week.

The legislation gives its agents, operating openly in the global financial hub for the first time, enforcement powers.

It allows them to take suspects across the border for trials in Communist Party-controlled courts and gives them special privileges, including that Hong Kong authorities cannot search or detain them, or even inspect their vehicles.

It was unclear how many mainland agents will be stationed in the former Metropark Hotel, a 266-room, 33-storey building in the shopping and commercial district of Causeway Bay, near Victoria Park.

At the opening ceremony, chief of the security office Zheng Yanxiong said he would enforce the law strictly "without infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of any individual or organisation".

Luo Huining, head of China's Liaison Office in the city, Beijing's top representative office, said the office was "the gatekeeper of national security" and people who loved China and Hong Kong welcomed it.

"Those with ulterior motives and who are anti-China and seek to destabilise Hong Kong have not only stigmatised the office, but also smeared the legal system and rule of law in the Chinese mainland in an attempt to stir up unnecessary worries and fears among Hong Kong residents," Luo said.

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RED LINE

The new security law has pushed China's freest city onto a more authoritarian path and drawn condemnation from some Western governments, lawyers and rights groups.

It punishes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. Police have arrested at least 10 people, including a 15-year-old, under it for suspected threats to China's national security.

Critics fear it will crush coveted freedoms in the Chinese-ruled city, while supporters say it will bring stability after a year of sometimes violent protests that plunged the former British colony into its biggest crisis in decades.

Hong Kong and Beijing officials insist rights and freedoms would remain intact, but say national security is a "red line". The new security legislation has already started to change life in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday banned school students from singing "Glory to Hong Kong", the unofficial anthem of the pro-democracy protest movement.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung said students should not participate in class boycotts, chant slogans, form human chains or sing songs that contain political messages, referring specifically to the popular protest anthem.

Books by some pro-democracy activists and politicians have been removed from public libraries. The "Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our times" slogan is now illegal. Activists have disbanded their organisations or fled. Shops have removed protest-themed products and decorations.

Chief Executive Lam has said the security law was mild compared with that of other countries, without naming them, but pro-democracy advocates say its contents are vague and worry about Beijing authorities having final interpretation rights.

In a reflection of the widespread unease over the legislation, major U.S. internet companies including Facebook , Microsoft, Google, Twitter and Zoom have announced they have suspended the processing of requests for user data from the Hong Kong authorities while they study it.

The United States has begun removing Hong Kong's special status in U.S. law as Washington no longer deems the global financial hub sufficiently autonomous from mainland China. (Reporting by Donny Kwok, Yanni Chow and Anne Marie Roantree; Writing by Marius Zaharia Editing by Michael Perry, Robert Birsel)
By Maria Caspani

NEW YORK, July 7 (Reuters) - Visitors from three more U.S. states who travel to New York will be required to quarantine for 14 days to control the spread of coronavirus, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday, as alarm grew over a surge in infections in large parts of the country.

New York state, which had been the early epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, unveiled the travel advisory last month in an effort to prevent a resurgence after the state got its outbreak under control.

Delaware, Kansas and Oklahoma, all of which are grappling with "significant" community spread of the virus, have been added to the list, Cuomo announced in a statement, bringing the total number of states under the travel advisory to 19.

New Jersey, which along with New York had experienced the brunt of the early part of the U.S. outbreak, also added the three states to its quarantine order.

Parts of the United States, including Florida, Texas and California, have experienced a sharp rise in infections in the past two weeks, an indication that the pandemic remains largely uncontrolled despite the end of lockdowns to control its spread.

A line of more than 200 cars snaked around the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston on Tuesday as people waited for hours in sweltering heat to get tested for COVID-19, the sometimes fatal illness caused by the coronavirus. Some had arrived the night before in order to secure a test at the drive-thru site.

"I got tested because my younger brother got positive," said Fred Robles, 32, who spent the night in his car. "There's so many people that need to get tested, there's nothing you can do about it."

Dean Davis, 32, who lost his job due to the pandemic, said he arrived at the testing site at 3 a.m. on Tuesday after he waited for hours on Monday but failed to make the cutoff. "I was like, let me get here at 3, maybe nobody will be here," Davis said. "I got here, there was a line already."

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New COVID-19 infections are rising in 42 states, based on a Reuters analysis of cases for the past two weeks compared to the prior two weeks, putting the Unites States close to 3 million total cases.

More than 130,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 - about a quarter of the global total - and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has forecast that the death toll could reach 160,000 later this month.

The surge has forced authorities to backpedal on moves to reopen businesses, such as restaurants and bars, after mandatory lockdowns in March and April reduced economic activity to a virtual standstill and put millions of Americans out of work.

Miami, one of the current hot zones for the rise in new infections, has imposed a mask wearing requirement and ordered some businesses to close, with penalties imposed on those who do not comply.

"We're trying to put in a series of measures to once again flatten the curve, which unfortunately has completely spiked out of control in the city," Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told MSNBC on Tuesday.

Suarez said the "extreme measures" were necessary because more COVID-19 patients were on ventilators and the availability of intensive care unit beds was dwindling rapidly.

SCHOOL REOPENINGS

More states are reporting a troubling increase in the percentage of COVID-19 diagnostic tests coming back positive - a key indicator of community spread that experts refer to as positivity rate.

Two dozen states, mostly in the South and West, have averaged positivity rates over the past week exceeding 5%, a level the World Health Organization considers to be concerning, data collected by Reuters shows.

California's positivity rate has also risen over the past two weeks. But Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday cited a 50% two-week spike in hospitalizations as impetus for beefed-up enforcement actions during the recent Fourth of July holiday.

President Donald Trump, whose handling of the coronavirus crisis has been widely criticized, said on Monday that U.S. schools must open in the fall, a decision over which he has little power.

Colleges and universities have been forced to adjust reopening plans, including altering their calendars and holding some courses online. Harvard University said on Monday all of its courses would be online for the upcoming academic year.

Trump, who is running for re-election on Nov. 3, will discuss school reopenings at the White House later on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Maria Caspani and Gabriella Borter in New York, Susan Heavey in Washington and Callaghan O'Hare in Houston; Writing by Paul Simao; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
At least six Afghan police officers have been killed in two separate Taliban bomb attacks amid a surge in attacks across the war-torn country.

Three officers were reported killed and 20 other people wounded in a truck bomb explosion in the southern province of Kandahar on July 8.

The police chief of Shah Wali Kot district and civilians were among those wounded.

The predawn blast damaged the district police headquarters and the nearby administrative office, according to provincial governor spokesman Ahmad Bahir Ahmadi.

Ahmadi said there was prior intelligence information about a plot to attack the police headquarters.

The suicide bomber was shot by security forces before he could reach his target, but the explosives detonated, the spokesman said.

In southeastern Ghazni Province, officials said a roadside bomb killed three police officers, including the police chief of Dayak district.

The police chief was inspecting checkpoints early in the morning when the attack occurred, according to the provincial governor's spokesman, Wahidullah Jamazada.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

Hundreds of members of Afghanistans security forces and civilians have been killed in recent weeks as the Taliban continued to launch attack across the country.

President Ashraf Ghani on July 6 warned that the spike in violence poses a "serious" threat to the peace process with the Taliban.

A peace deal signed by the Taliban and the United States in February calls for direct negotiations between the militant group and the Western-backed government in Kabul aimed at putting an end to the nearly two-decade-old war in Afghanistan.

With reporting by dpa and AP
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

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Sunny skies this morning will give way to mostly cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Filter protects against deepfake photos and videos

In todays complex media environment, people can struggle to separate fact from fiction online. A relatively new phenomenon is making that struggle even harder: deepfakes.

Using deep neural networks (a machine learning technique), its become increasingly easy to convincingly manipulate images and videos of people by doctoring their speech, movements, and appearance.

In response, researchers have created an algorithm that generates an adversarial attack against facial manipulation systems in order to corrupt and render useless attempted deepfakes.

The researchers algorithm allows users to protect media before uploading it to the internet by overlaying an image or video with an imperceptible filter.

When a manipulator uses a deep neural network to try to alter an image or video protected by the algorithm, the media is either left unchanged or completely distorted, the pixels rendering in such a way that the media becomes unrecognizable and unusable as a deepfake.

The researchers have made their open-source code publicly available. Their paper has not yet been peer-reviewed and is available on arXiv.

Nataniel Ruiz, a doctoral candidate in computer science at Boston University and coauthor of the paper, says that the idea for the project came to him after he got interested in the rapidly advancing techniques for creating deepfakes. He hit on the idea of disrupting deepfakes after talking with his doctoral advisor, Stan Sclaroff, dean of Boston Universitys College of Arts & Sciences and professor of computer science, about the possible malicious uses of deepfake technology.

Deepfakes first rose to prominence with applications that realistically transpose an individuals face onto anothers body, yet necessitate large amounts of images of the individual. Recent advances in the field now allow for the creation of fake images and video of people using only a few images. It has also become easier for ordinary citizens to create deepfakes.

Last year, for instance, the iPhone app FaceApp entered the zeitgeist. Created by a Russian company, the app allows everyday users to transform images of individuals into older versions of themselves, change their expression into a smile, or other tricks.

The relative ease with which internet users can create deepfakes could further muddy the waters of what is real and fake online, particularly in arenas like politics. Detecting deepfake images, audio, or video could be one approach to solving this trust problem, although it may prove to be harder than expected. Facebook is currently holding a competition, searching for a team of researchers that can effectively detect deepfakes.

Now, the researchers are pursuing even more sophisticated techniques for disrupting deepfakes.

We covered what we call white-box attacks in our work, where the network and its parameters are known to the disruptor, says coauthor Sarah Adel Bargal, a research assistant professor of computer science.

A very important next step is to develop methods for black-box attacks that can disrupt deepfake networks [in ways] inaccessible to the disruptor [and] we are currently working on making this a reality.

This article is posted from Futurity.
The Mask of Wellness program is available to anyone and it takes less than a minute to sign up. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to download a digital toolkit for use in your business. To further incentivize businesses to commit to community health, Vision North Iowa has created wellness starter kits. Simply forward your Mask of Wellness confirmation email to the appropriate contact below and Vision North Iowa will set you up with a wellness starter kit. Starter Kit includes: 25 disposable masks you can offer to customers or employees, a Mask of Wellness sign for your front door, and a What Were Doing flyer to inform others of the program. Kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be picked up at the Mason City Chamber of Commerce Center (9 N Federal Ave, Mason City) and the Clear Lake Chamber (205 Main Ave, Clear Lake) beginning on Wednesday, July 8 and on weekdays between 9AM-4PM.
Nonetheless, the ruling did little to curb the jubilation of pipeline opponents, who saw the demise of Atlantic Coast as evidence that the same thing could happen again.

It absolutely was a huge morale booster, said Russell Chisholm, co-chair of the Preserve our Water, Heritage, Rights coalition.

The job is only half finished, Maury Johnson of the coalition said. Today we enjoy this victory, but tomorrow we must double down on our efforts, pull together and send MVP and MVP Southgate to the scrap heap of bad ideas with the ACP.

Southgate is an extension of the pipeline into North Carolina. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the project last month but said construction could not begin until the main pipeline regained its permits.

Mountain Valley says it expects to do that in time to complete the project early next year, at a cost of up to $5.7 billion.

But if there are more lawsuits and delays, time could be a factor.

Bloomberg News Service reported this week that two of the pipelines shippers, or customers, amended a 2016 contract to allow them to pull out of the deal if Mountain Valley is not in service by the end of 2021.
In 2013, the city conducted a parking study focused on the River District, which concluded the available parking in that area would not be enough to serve anticipated demand resulting from new development, Bobe said.

A number of recommendations were implemented based off of the old study, including a 150-space public parking structure and a 90 space surface lot.

"Since then, significant growth has taken place in the River District with the addition of new apartments, offices, restaurants and retail," Bobe said "New lodging options are also underway, which will impact parking demand. With these rapid changes, the city felt that it was necessary to engage a consultant to provide updated parking solutions based off of current and future needs."

During the study, the firm counted parking spaces, gathered data and held interviews with stakeholders in the community including business owners in the area and others.

According to the study, there are 7,071 total parking spaces in the study area downtown, with more than 1,700 on-street and more than 5,200 off-street spaces in lots or garages. Of all of those, 2,399 are available to the public.
No one answered the door at the home when a reporter knocked Tuesday.

It was like something out of the Wild West, said Julie Urena, who lives in Chesterfield County but owns a rental home in Oregon Hill. Her son lived there for five years while at school at VCU, and her daughter stayed there recently. She said the situation has given her pause about who might be renting her home. I saw what had happened, and it was very scary.

The neighborhood group has long grappled with encroachment from VCU, whose students find the low rent and proximity of Oregon Hill appealing.

In his letter to residents, Woodson told them to stay vigilant of problem party houses.

Woodson said he filed a zoning complaint against the property owner, whom he alleges is renting the home room by room, which is not allowed.

Like a lot of people, I was disturbed to learn from neighbors that some 80 rounds were shot in Oregon Hill from people who were around a house party on Albemarle, said Scott Berger, a longtime resident who runs the neighborhoods website. He said he was two blocks away and heard the gunshots, but didnt realize how close they really were.
If teenagers who rely on income from a summer job arent able to find employment this year, they could face long-term effects, as well, Chmura said.

Some of them may delay going to college if they were depending upon summer work to help pay for college, or they may have to take on more debt if they continue with their future education plans, she said.

During a recession, its typical for the unemployment rate to rise and for teenagers to have a hard time finding jobs, she said.

Were seeing the typical trends during a recession, but theyre exaggerated because of social distancing and the shutting down of nonessential businesses, Chmura said. Before we went into this recession, there was nothing fundamentally wrong with the economy.

VCUs Stratton said its hard to predict what will happen the rest of the summer.

There have been massive disruptions that we have not seen on this scale ever, she said. We dont have any prior experience with this, so its very difficult to predict what will happen.
Dr. Kenneth Brent Olsen is a clinical psychologist practicing in California. He has been active in the Libertarian Party since 1996 when he ran for Salt Lake County Commissioner in Utah. To contact Dr. Olsen, please email him at vicechair@ca.lp.org.
Bloomington, Indiana, police are looking to question this man and this woman in a red car suspected of driving into protesters, injuring one, on July 6, 2020. (Blomington Police Department)By BILL HUTCHINSON, ABC News



(NEW YORK) -- Protesters were injured in New York and Indiana by drivers who authorities say appeared to deliberately target demonstrations just days after a Black Lives Matter march on a Seattle freeway turned deadly.



A demonstrator in Bloomington, Indiana, and two others in Huntington Station, on New York's Long Island, were hurt Monday evening during peaceful protests, police said. The driver who allegedly ran over two people in New York was arrested, while police were still searching Tuesday afternoon for the operator of a red car who fled following the Indiana incident.



"This only fuels our fire even more. I promise you I'll be right back out here [Tuesday]," Patrick Ford, one of the organizers of the Bloomington civil unrest, told ABC affiliate station WRTV in Indianapolis.



Ford said several hundred protesters had gathered in downtown Bloomington to demonstrate and show support for Vauhxx Booker, a Black civil rights activist and a member of the Monroe County, Indiana, Human Rights Commission, who said he was attacked on the Fourth of July by a group of white people who shouted racial slurs and called for someone to "get a noose." The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement is investigating the attack that was caught on cellphone video and has gone viral since being posted on social media.



Booker was let go after a group of people intervened and filmed part of the attack.



Ford said Monday night's incident unfolded as the protest in front of the Monroe County Courthouse was ending.



Bloomington police said that about 9:26 p.m., officers were called to the area after getting a report of a personal injury crash, and upon arriving learned a vehicle that injured protesters had fled the scene.



Protester Geoff Stewart, 35, told WRTV that the suspect was driving a red four-door Toyota. He said he asked her to wait to drive in the area until demonstrators cleared the street.



"A woman driving in the vehicle had come up to the stop and had started revving her engine towards us and we tried to stop her and let her know that crowd is clearing up [and] just wait a second," Stewart said. "But she and her passenger both wanted to go right away."



He said the car began to nudge into him and another protester who was in front of the vehicle with her hands on the hood of the car. He said he and the other protester jumped on the car as the driver accelerated around a vehicle blocking the street in support of the demonstration.



Stewart said he grabbed onto the driver's side door, while the other protester jumped on the front of the hood.



"I was trying to block her vision so she would slow down," Stewart said. "I tried to pull myself as far into her way to kind of obstruct her view, but she drove through red lights and made her turn up here that threw both of us off the car."



Stewart said he was not injured.



The Bloomington Police Department said the other protester, described as a 29-year-old woman, suffered lacerations to her head and was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where she was treated and released.



Police said witnesses provided them with a license plate number for the car and several videos of the incident.



Ryan Pedigo, a Bloomington police captain, told ABC News Tuesday afternoon that police are still searching for the vehicle and attempting to identify the driver and her male passenger.



The Long Island incident happened around 6:45 p.m. Monday during a Black Lives Matter protest in Huntington Station.



Suffolk County Police said they arrested the driver who allegedly hit two people taking part in a Black Lives Matter protest.



Police said Anthony Cambareri, 36, of Coram, New York, drove into the protesters hurting them as they and others participated in a demonstration on the street. The two victims were taken to Huntington Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.



The driver sped away, but police caught him a short time later.



Cambareri was arrested on charges of third degree assault. He was issued a desk appearance ticket and will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a date yet to be determined.



The incidents in New York and Indiana came just three days after a protester was killed and another was injured when a car barreled into a Black Lives Matter protest on a closed freeway in Seattle.



Protester Summer Taylor, 24, was killed early Saturday on Interstate 5 in Seattle. Demonstrator Diaz Love, 32, was seriously injured in the episode that occurred about 1:40 a.m., according to police.



The driver, Dawit Kelete, 27, who is Black, allegedly got onto the freeway by going the wrong way on and off ramp, police said. Surveillance video showed the white Jaguar Kelete speeding and swerving around a vehicle blocking the roadway in support of the protest before striking Taylor and Love, police said.



State police said the suspect continued to drive south on the freeway and was chased by a demonstrator in a car for about a mile before the protester managed to get in front of the Jaguar and force it to pull over.



Kelete was arrested on suspicion of vehicular assault. He appeared in court on Monday and a judge set his bail at $1.2 million.



He remained in custody on Tuesday at the King County Jail, according to online jail records.



The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is expected to file formal charges against Kelete by Wednesday afternoon.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Amlak Finance, a leading specialised Islamic real estate financier, has announced a strategic partnership with Dubai Land Department (DLD) under which it will be selling its properties on easy instalment payment plans.

This strategic cooperation aims at allowing customers to invest in ready and well-maintained properties listed by Amlak Finance via easy instalment payment plans for a tenure of up to six years, said the company in a statement.

The agreement aims to open additional channels in the Dubai real estate market by facilitating real estate transactions and encouraging investment in the market as well as stimulating real estate transactions while encouraging prospective buyers to redirect their investments from other sectors to real estate.

Furthermore, in line with Amlaks mission to create an innovative and sustainable real estate environment, this partnership has been implemented with a motivation to provide customers with the highest levels of convenience, simplicity, and efficiency, it stated.

"This partnership comes in line with our approach to support all parties in the real estate market and help provide flexible options to ensure the attraction of real estate investors locally, regionally, and globally," remarked Juma bin Humaidan, the deputy director general of DLD, after signing the deal with Arif Alharmi Albastaki, CEO of Amlak Finance.

"Dubai was and will always be a dream for many people to live in for its stature as a city of creativity, progress and development, and advanced infrastructure. Entrepreneurs can go to Dubai to live and start their businesses, especially as it has a very attractive real estate investment climate," he noted.

"Amlak will work in this direction, and we expect its efforts to succeed due to the packages and financing offers that it is able to provide investors, contributing to the positive momentum of the real estate market," he added.

On the partnership, Albastaki said it is a testament to Amlak Finances core business values and strategy.

"At Amlak, we are continually enhancing products and services we offer our customers in line with current demands. We believe this new offering is not only well-suited for the market but also comes at a time when customers are looking to ease their financial burdens," remarked Albastaki.

"We are certain that this new alliance with DLD will further increase investment transactions in Dubai, and we look forward to positively contributing to the future growth of the real estate sector," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. He began his professional career in 1960, at age 16, at the Humboldt Times in Eureka. At one point in his career, at age 22, he was the nations youngest daily newspaper editor. The Hanford Sentinel was the first of three newspaper editor positions before joining the Sacramento Unions Capitol bureau in 1975.
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Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2020 1:00 pm

Service: Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. Friday, July 10, at Smith Family Funeral Home in Green Forest, with interment at Carrollton Cemetery; Visitation: 10-11 a.m. Friday, July 10, at the funeral home.

David Gene Fritz, 62, of Green Forest, went to be with the Lord in the early hours of Sunday July 5 (2020). He departed for the next life surrounded by his two sons, daughter-in-law, and his best friend and soulmate of 40 years.

He was born on May 4, 1958, to Clarence and Maxine (Hosier) Fritz in Wichita, Kansas.

David was 1976 graduate of Alpena High School. He met his wife Teresa through mutual friends and dated until they finally wed on April 19, 1980. He worked at Hudspeth Motors then Clay Maxey Ford as an auto body technician for 43 years, a job he truly loved doing and was one of the best at. He also loved his grandchildren, his children, and a small electronic and solitaire game that got very little of a break over the years. He was loved by all that knew him and will be missed by just as many.

David was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Tom Bill Fritz, Patrick Joseph Fritz and John Michael Fifield. He is survived by his wife, Teresa, of Green Forest, and his son, Joshua of Green Forest; his son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and April, of Huntsville; and his grandchildren, Kylie, Nichole, Cameron and Mikhail.

He is also survived by countless others who called him uncle, brother-in-law, co-worker, and friend.

Celebration of Life will be 11 a.m. Friday July 10, at Smith Family Funeral Home in Green Forest, with Pastor David Maybee officiating. Interment will follow at Carrollton Cemetery. Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. before the service.
The facility is under quarantine, the Canyon Creek press release says.

The state is attempting to test all residents and employees at every nursing home and assisted living facility in Montana under a proposal to monitor vulnerable populations such as those older than 65 or with underlying health conditions. Bullock said in a press call Tuesday that Canyon Creek had declined to participate in that surveillance testing, and he enacted a rule that requires facilities that allow visitors to participate in testing of residents and employees.

All but five of the 72 long-term care facilities in Montana have gone through surveillance testing and are coordinating weekly testing of employees; 117 of the 217 assisted living facilities in the state are also participating.

Bullock called facilities not participating in surveillance testing "unacceptable."

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services requires licensed facilities to isolate residents who have tested positive and to quarantine residents at assisted living facilities who have been exposed to COVID-19, even if they have tested negative, according to the Yellowstone County health department.

Montana has already seen multiple deaths result from an outbreak tied to an assisted living facility.
"This was not sexual assault," she said in a phone interview. "My son is innocent."

The mother said continued bullying since the incident, including eggs thrown at her house and her son's vehicle being vandalized, spurred her to move away from Seeley Lake and transfer her son to a school in Missoula. She said her son on Tuesday obtained a defense attorney, but she has acquired evaluations of her son from two psychologists deeming him no threat and referencing his claims of bullying at Seeley-Swan High School.

The mother said he could have made a better choice in the situation.

"There was a whole hallway full of people and he had been antagonized," she said. "He probably should have pushed him or walked away."
We want to confirm our zero COVID-19 status, Director Bob Lampert said in the press release. Due to the recent uptick in the incidence rate of COVID-19 in various communities in Wyoming, we want to be extra cautious. Therefore, we are going to test everybody as soon as we can reasonably do so. Once our baseline is established, we will institute ongoing surveillance testing in the same manner as nursing homes in order to maintain the safest possible living and work environment.

In a separate statement to prisoners, Lampert said the department hoped to complete testing by the end of August.

The press release did not indicate how much time prison and public health officials expect they will take to complete the testing protocol.

The prison system said in the same statement that it restricts the size of groups and mandates face coverings indoors and when within six feet of other people. People entering prisons are screened on their way in and family visitation is suspended, though prisoners have access to two free phone calls per week.
What cannot be said above all must not be silenced, but written. These words deeply resonate with me.

As a Green Party candidate for Montanas U.S. Senate seat, Im saddened and disgusted by the efforts of the Democratic Party, led by Gov. Steve Bullock, to silence me. I have been the subject of character attacks and had questions regarding my integrity and motives that are not just inaccurate, but flat out insulting. Recently, these smear efforts culminated in a lawsuit filed by the Montana Democratic Party to try and have me removed from the ballot. As the party that claims to promote equality, inclusion and acceptance, their efforts have been no less than shameful.

Let me be abundantly clear: my run for U.S. Senate as a candidate of the Green Party is about truth and transparency in our government  and I refuse to be silenced, like so many others have, through either bullying or non-disclosure agreements.

In fact, my resolve to run for U.S. Senate has only been strengthened by the Democrats attempts to remove me from the ballot. I will continue to use my voice to fight for greater transparency in our government  the same transparency that I saw deteriorate before my eyes when I worked for the Bullock administration.
Emirates Building Systems (EBS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai Investments, and one of the leading manufacturers of steel structures in the Middle East, has won a contract to provide 2000 MT of steel for the Dubai Municipalitys upcoming prosecution building and car-park in Umm Hurair, Dubai.

Designed in a modern and distinctive style to be an architectural icon overlooking the banks of Dubai Creek, the project, with a built-up area of 53,000 sq m, comprises ground plus two floors of parking, a mezzanine and five floors with a roof forming the main building structure and an extended car parking building with ground, two floors and a roof floor.

As per the agreement with the main contractor, the scope of the project covers engineering, fabrication and erection of steel structures in addition to fireproofing, said the statement from EBS.

The main building scope for EBS covers deck slabs - first and second podium levels, mezzanine, anf fifth floors and the roof, including the roof for the theatre area, left and right sides roof canopies. The deck slabs - first and second podium levels, and mezzanine level including staircases, steel bridges and sandwich panel roofing, covers the scope of the parking building of the project.

On the key contract win, General Manager Joseph Chidiac said EBS efficient production capabilities coupled with technical expertise play a major role in executing a fast-track project like the prosecution building.

"Keeping up with the timeline, rigorous sourcing, production and availability of the materials was a top priority despite challenging business times and the co-ordination between the electro- mechanical, aluminum, glass and steel structure teams clearly reflected our engineering capabilities," observed Chidiac.

"With our strong portfolio of government projects like the Dubai Metro project and the Dubai World Centre Passenger Terminal and Cargo Terminal to name a few, the current project is another addition to the list, reinstating our position as an efficient and reliable partner in the execution of key projects," he added.

According to Chidiac, the project is expected to be finished by December 2021 with the car-parking facility on priority to be completed by the end-year.

EBS is working closely with the main contractor to ensure timely completion of this fast-track prestigious project for Dubai Municipality, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Its a good country. Where a man can sit in his saddle and see  all across to the west stretch the Crazies, and, swinging in the stirrups, a man has to throw back his head to follow their abrupt shoulders up to the white crests of the peaks. A pretty clean country where a man can see a long way and have something to see.

 Spike Van Cleves words from Forty Years Gatherins, speaking of the view from his ranch

Considered an island range owing to their location separate of the massif of the Northern Rockies, the Crazy Mountains of south-central Montana are more akin to the Rockies than they are to the states other rounded and more forested isolated ranges. The valleys of the Yellowstone and Shields rivers set them well apart from the Absarokas to the south  and the Bridgers on the west. They are only about 30 miles by 15 miles in size but serve as sentinels on the horizon from many points east. Much of their geology, the bedrock that is, consists of an igneous intrusion  magma that rose under the surface rock forcing it upwards.

And they are significant to Native American culture. In 1857, Chief Plenty Coup, a great chief of the Crow Nation, is said to have climbed Crazy Peak, the ranges highest summit, to seek a vision so he might properly lead and guide his people.
DECATUR  The next few weeks for school district officials will entail brainstorming potential policies that would prioritize equity and cultural relevance as a way to make Decatur schools more inclusive.

Decatur school board members on Tuesday discussed changes to curriculum, employee training, school resource officers, professional development of minority teachers and several additional measures, all meant to address systemic racism within education.

We sit in a place of privilege as board members and six of us also sit in a place of privilege as white people, so we need to use those privileges to make the experience for our kids better than what it is, said Beth Creighton, a board member.

Education officials throughout Central Illinois are taking similar steps toward equality and fair treatment within their districts. Board members of Champaign Unit 4 recently approved a resolution that provides a framework of policies that would improve and ultimately eliminate racial disparities. The resolution approved in Champaign deems racism a public health crisis and was the point of discussion for the Decatur school board members on Tuesday, but district officials said they were already considering potential changes since March.

Jeff Dase, assistant superintendent, said hes been working on developing ways to improve cultural relevance within the schools. He said he would be monitoring the schools so they have representation of the district and community within daily activities.

When we walk through our school buildings, it shouldnt have to be asked. You should see the diversity on the walls throughout the activities, throughout the school year, said Dase. It shouldnt just be during one month, it should be ongoing so students can feel that sense of pride and that sense of belonging within their building throughout the school year.

Superintendent Paul Fregeau said he would be working with district leadership to improve equity within their programs and departments so that they could be better equipped in helping each student as an individual.

The conversations among leaders in education and other local governments are happening at the national level after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died in Minneapolis police custody. Protests honoring Black lives and demanding change have been happening across the U.S. steadily over the course of the last two months.

Roughly 100 protesters stood outside of the Keil Building last week and demanded education reform in Decatur. Jacob Jenkins, a local activist and organizer of the marches, led the group last week from the Keil Building to the Macon County Jail to symbolize the school-to-prison pipeline happening at the national level and in Decatur.

Black lives cant matter until Black students matter, Jenkins chanted during the march. He spoke to the crowd about having more Black and minority teachers and teaching assistants employed at Decatur schools. He also talked about the impact of having police officers in school buildings.

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One major component of the national conversation surrounding race and education reform is the presence of law enforcement in schools. Chicago school board members in June voted 4-3 to continue their $33 million contract with the city to have officers in schools despite objections from protesters and politicians.

Decatur school board members on Tuesday said they were open to reviewing the current contract with the city that outlines police presence in schools. Beth Nolan, board president, said the district needs to evaluate the current contract, which is renewed annually and then meet with police and city officials for further discussions.

Kendall Briscoe, board member, echoed Nolans statements and added that she would like to see a requirement for school resource officers to live within city limits if such a requirement does not already exist.

Nolan proposed that all of the potential policies discussed during Tuesdays meeting involve community input. She said one way to include the community would be through the Parent Leadership Training Institute. Dan Oakes, board member, added that the boards student ambassadors should have the opportunity to weigh in as well.

The board will continue discussions about potential policies in the coming weeks.

Creighton said making improvements and implementing policies that would apply to students and staff is a good first step, but she wants to see changes for the board as well.

If we are demanding it of everybody else, we should be demanding it of ourselves as well, said Creighton.

Regan Lewis, board member, said she doesnt want to see this fizzle out.

All of our kids, Black, Asian, white, multi-racial, all of our kids matter and I think that doing this is a statement to them and our teachers and our staff and our community, Lewis said. ...really making sure that this isnt something we are doing because this is the topic right now. This is something we are committed to moving forward for all of our kids and that it is going to benefit all of us and our community.

How much do superintendent in Macon County get paid?

Contact Analisa Trofimuk at (217) 421-7985. Follow her on Twitter: @AnalisaTro

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DECATUR  The fate of who gets to be Macon County sheriff is being re-decided one painstaking ballot at a time.

And with nearly 40,000 of them to pick through, the hand recount is likely to take three or four weeks in its attempt to figure out whether incumbent Democratic Sheriff Tony Brown remains duly elected or whether his Republican challenger, Lt. Jim Root, should have gotten the top job.

The court-ordered recount of the 2018 race for Macon County sheriff got underway Tuesday in the Macon County Office Building. The recount was a compromise Brown and Root agreed to after Root filed a legal challenge to the election that he lost by one vote, 19,654 to Browns tally of 19,655.

But whatever the recount outcome, excluding the possibility a clear vote lead emerges or the very outside possibility Root or Brown concedes the issue, the candidates are likely to be arguing in court about what happens next.

At issue are disputed ballots thrown up along the way where voters intentions arent clear. Champaign Circuit Court Judge Anna M. Benjamin, who ordered the recount, wants those dubious ballots sealed and she will decide what happens to them after hearing legal arguments from both sides.

Michael Raub, a lawyer acting for Macon County and advising Macon County Clerk Josh Tanner, said the whole process of a hand recount on this scale is very unusual. And, he said, its a vague legal area covering the mechanics of changing who gets to be sheriff if the judge, based on her judgement of what the majority of the voters intended, awards the race to Root two years into Sheriff Browns term.

I dont know how that works and even if the election code even addresses that point specifically, said Raub. And in Illinois, everyone has one appeal, meaning the judges decision itself could be contested.

The lawyers for Brown and Root, meanwhile, remain confident the hand recount, with every ballot examined by the human eye and not a machine, will yield a more definitive result.

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We have maintained all along that the recount would actually result in Sheriff Brown increasing his lead, said Christopher Sherer, Browns attorney. Brown had previously filed a motion to dismiss Roots legal challenge to the election result and Sherer said that had been based on an earlier discovery recount which Sherer said gave Brown more votes. The judge, however, ruled in June 2019 that Roots challenge could continue.

So once we see how everything shakes out here (at the hand recount) I think both sides will have a better idea of the relative strengths and weaknesses of their argument, Sherer added.

Roots attorney John Fogarty said that, whatever happens, this election re-result is going to be a close-run thing. But I would not be surprised if there is a movement of a handful of votes, maybe five or six, he added.

Out of the original 40,000 ballots cast, there will be a number of votes that didnt get counted because the marking isnt quite in the right place for the machine to read. But somebody who is reading it by hand now can tell that this is meant to be a vote for Brown or Root or whoever.

Fogarty said the main task ahead is to get the undisputed ballots counted and agreed and so to clear the way for the lawyers to do the math and fight about the rest of them.

Tanner, the county clerk, said the judges orders on the recount are very specific to ensure fairness. A total of 10 election judges, split between Republican and Democrats, hand count each precinct, two judges to a precinct. There are also 10 poll watchers, split evenly between Brown and Root, who are chosen by them and who monitor the process and can raise objections to a decision on any ballot.

Each weekday the recount starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 4:30 p.m. The judges get paid $10 an hour and get half an hour for lunch. When they leave to go eat or when they finish for the day, the ballots are gathered up and locked in a vault until the counting starts again.

Its awkward, but its the process, and so we just march on, said Tanner, who was not in office at the time of the original sheriffs vote. This has been a pretty unusual year and, hopefully, the election in November runs smoothly.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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BOSTON  Colleges and universities pushed back Wednesday against the Trump administrations decision to make international students leave the country if they plan on taking classes entirely online this fall, with Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filing a lawsuit to try to block it, and others promising to work with students to keep them on campus.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement notified colleges Monday that international students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer to another college if their schools operate entirely online this fall. New visas will not be issued to students at those schools, and others at universities offering a mix of online and in-person classes will be barred from taking all of their classes online.

The guidance says international students wont be exempt even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department said that international students are welcome in the U.S., but the policy provides greater flexibility for nonimmigrant students to continue their education in the United States, while also allowing for proper social distancing on open and operating campuses across America.

The guidance was released the same day Harvard announced it would be keeping its classes online this fall. Harvard says the directive would prevent many of Harvards 5,000 international students from remaining in the U.S.

Harvard President Lawrence Bacow said the order came without notice and that its cruelty was surpassed only by its recklessness.

It appears that it was designed purposefully to place pressure on colleges and universities to open their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction this fall, without regard to concerns for the health and safety of students, instructors, and others, Bacow said in a statement Wednesday. This comes at a time when the United States has been setting daily records for the number of new infections, with more than 300,000 new cases reported since July 1.

Universities across the U.S. say the more than 1 million international students have an important place in their communities. Many schools have also come to depend on revenue from international students, who typically pay higher tuition rates.

It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the U.S. last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online. Those attending schools that are staying online must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction, according to the guidance.

They may have just re-signed leases on apartments ... Our university starts in six weeks or seven weeks. They have been planning to be here, they have already spent money so its really devastating, said University of Southern California lecturer Melanie Johnson.

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The university last week reversed course on a plan to bring students to campus, saying classes will be hosted primarily or exclusively online. Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and Rutgers in New Jersey this week made similar announcements amid surging COVID-19 cases.

Johnson worries that even students who start off on campus will be prevented by travel restrictions from going home if a surge forces classes online mid-semester.

What if a student like that, who for no fault of their own, finds themselves here without their classes and ends up in a detention center or deported? she said.

Professors fielded messages from frantic students seeking assurances that at least some of their courses would be face-to-face.

They are, of course, all concerned, said University of Iowa Associate Professor Jan Wessel. I am on board with anything we can do to circumnavigate these circumstances, and Im willing to do any in-person arrangement if it helps a student.

But Wessel, who runs the university's cognitive neurology lab, said it was more important to take a stand against the policy and say politics should not use our students as a poker chip in whatever they are trying to do. He said he would suspend his teaching if any of his students was forced out.

At Brown University, President Christina Paxson issued a statement supporting the Harvard and MIT lawsuit and said she was working with peers to find other ways to oppose the new policy.

The lawsuit, filed in Bostons federal court, seeks to prevent federal immigration authorities from enforcing the rule. The universities contend that the directive violates the Administrative Procedures Act because officials failed to offer a reasonable basis justifying the policy and because the public was not given notice to comment on it.

The White House's press secretary on Wednesday sidestepped a question about whether it was designed to pressure colleges to reopen their campuses, saying the policy speaks for itself.

You dont get a visa for taking online classes from, lets say, University of Phoenix, so why would you if you were just taking online classes generally? Kayleigh McEnany said at a press briefing.

Paxson called the rule "nothing short of cruel and said she would work with faculty to minimize the chance that students would have to leave the country if the Rhode Island university had to alter its plans for a blend of classes.

New York University President Andrew Hamilton also promised to work with international students to keep them in the U.S., calling the rule needlessly rigid.

If there were a moment for flexibility in delivering education, this would be it, he said. Both on our own and in association with other universities, NYU will be reaching out to federal officials urging them to revoke or modify this rule.

An online petition in favor of letting international students stay if classes were online had drawn more than 220,000 signatures by Wednesday.
The University of Chicago removed two displays honoring late Illinois Sen. Stephen Douglas, a staunch defender of slavery who argued the practice was a matter of states rights before the Civil War.

The tributes -- a bronze plaque of Douglas in a student center and a stone mounted to a wall in a department building -- were ordered to be taken down and relocated to a collection in the university library, according to a message from university President Robert Zimmer and Provost Ka Yee C. Lee. U. of C. received the plaque as a class gift in 1901 and the stone as a donation in 1927.

Douglas profited from his wifes ownership of a Mississippi plantation where Black people were enslaved, the message says. While it is critical to understand and address the ongoing legacy of slavery and oppression in this country, Douglas does not deserve to be honored on our campus.

The changes were made as part of the universitys commitment toward building a stronger, more inclusive community, the message said, after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May prompted countrywide protests and brought the issue of racial injustice to the forefront of major U.S. institutions. In another example of how universities are confronting this legacy, Princeton University stripped President Woodrow Wilsons name from its renowned school of international affairs, saying his racist thinking and policies make him an inappropriate namesake.

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At U. of C., officials want to distance themselves from Douglas, who died in 1861 and has no ties to todays university, which was founded in 1890. Douglas did, however, donate land in Bronzeville that was used by the Old University of Chicago, a Baptist school that folded in 1886 due to financial difficulties, according to the schools library.

A prominent figure in Illinois political history, Douglas is credited with building and strengthening the states Democratic Party and served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He lost the presidential election of 1860 to another famous Illinoisan, Republican Abraham Lincoln. In the well-known Lincoln-Douglas Debates a few years earlier, Douglas defended slavery and argued that each territory should be allowed to decide for itself whether to permit slave owning.

Other Illinois universities memorializing Douglas might also face a reckoning as calls to remove symbols perpetuating slavery and colonialism have intensified in recent weeks.

At Eastern Illinois University, a former professor is calling on the school to rename an all-male dorm known as Douglas Hall. An online petition addressed to the university president argues that Douglas is remembered by historians for authoring racist legislation that expanded slavery and destabilized the nation. Specifically, the petition says, Douglas in 1854 proposed the law that overturned the Missouri Compromise, which had set a boundary prohibiting slavery in areas north of Missouris southern border.

A spokesman for EIU did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Douglas remains are preserved in the South Sides Groveland Park neighborhood, on a plot of land marked by a special granite sculpture and a mausoleum. The State Historic Preservation Office refers to Douglas on its website as a distinguished statesman.

Efforts to rename Douglas Park, which spans North Lawndale and parts of Pilsen, have also picked up steam in recent years. Opponents of the current name say the park should instead honor Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist and escaped slave who chronicled his experiences in widely-read autobiographies.

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NMC Healthcare has officially launched its new CosmeSurge Hospital in Jumeirah. The facility, completed in December of last year, specialises in providing cosmetic surgeries.

Located near the iconic Burj Al Arab, the hospital is the 17th branch of the CosmeSurge brand of facilities.

The launch coincides with all the significant measures currently undertaken by towards bringing life back to normalcy, including the issuance of tourist visas which came into effect today.

The event will be attended by NMC Healths CEO Michael Davis, along with Saeeda Jaffar, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Middle East Limited; Clancey Po, NMC Healths Director of Corporate Operations Strategy; Dr Zuhair Al Fardan, President of Emirates Plastic Surgery Society; and Caroline Stanbury, influencer and reality TV star.

Michael Davis, CEO of NMC Health, said: CosmeSurge takes pride in delivering the greatest level of clinical care through our experienced team of specialist consultants, doctors, nurses, and technicians. CosmeSurge adopts the highest international standards for quality, safety, and privacy in carrying out cosmetic surgery and aesthetics procedures and we will be particularly diligent in ensuring patient safety as we begin to treat patients in our post-Covid environment. Patients will no longer be required to travel to the west for state-of-the-art treatment, as we bring the expertise of Beverly Hills to our patients here in Dubai.

The AED65 million hospital will cater to the increasing demand of cosmetic surgeries among residents and shall bolster medical tourism across the region, thus enhancing the image of Jumeirah Dubai as the hub of wellness tourism, the statement said.

Dr Marwan al Mulla, CEO, Health Regulation Sector, said: With a strong emphasis on world class healthcare and medical expertise, Dubai attracts health tourism from around the world. Courtesy its well regulated environment, the Emirate also boasts of talented professionals from across the globe and continues to support investments in the healthcare industry that showcase the strength and ability of Dubai to provide the best treatment facilities for its residents and visitors.

The sprawling gadget-heavy facility in Dubai is aesthetically built consisting of eight in-patient rooms, two of which are designated VIP suites. The specialist in-patient procedures provided include cosmetic/plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine including: reconstructive surgery, cosmetic gynaecology, liposuction, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and nose reshaping. The hospital will also offer the latest in obesity treatment and management including weight loss surgery, nutritional management, and full body lift procedures.  TradeArabia News Service
" " Jackson, Wyoming's all-female town council was made up of (front row, left to right) Rose Crabtree, Grace Miller, Faustina Haight, (back row, left to right) Genevieve Van Vleck and Mae Deloney. They served from 1920 to 1923. Collection of Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum, 1958.0263.001

While the United States continues to lag in terms of female leadership statistics (America ranked 81st out of 193 countries as of June 2020, in women's representation in government), one unlikely town became known for unprecedented progressiveness a century ago: Jackson, Wyoming. In 1920  yes, the same year the 19th Amendment first granted women the right to vote  an all-female ticket nicknamed the "petticoat rulers" established order in the Wild West town.

"This may be a bit dramatic, but I often say that Jackson could have very easily faded into the landscape in the early 20th century if not for these women," Morgan Albertson Jaouen, executive director of the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum, writes via email. "This was a rugged place and incredibly difficult to settle. While Jackson had a strong community where everyone helped each other out, there was very little emphasis on government and civic responsibility."

It may be tough to believe an all-female government ruled a small town in early 20th century America when sexism still remains a major barrier in modern politics, but on May 11, 1920, Jackson elected Grace Miller as mayor and Rose Crabtree, Mae Deloney, Faustina Haight and Genevieve Van Vleck as council members. The five women claimed victory over an all-male roster, and Crabtree even beat out her husband, Henry. This landmark win was no accident, either: The election drew the most voters the town had seen at that point, and in many cases, the women dominated their male opponents by a margin of 2-to-1.

While Oskaloosa, Kansas, and Kanab, Utah, had already elected all-female town councils in 1888 and 1912, respectively, the election was a major turning point for Jackson. "The all-women town council of 1920 stepped up and shaped the town into the place we know and love today  they graded the streets, they expanded electrical service and installed street lamps, they established the first town cemetery, and built the town's budget to be able to continue serving community members," Jaouen says.

According to a 1922 article from The Delineator magazine, there was only $200 in town coffers when the women took office, due to uncollected fines and taxes. As the article states, "they went out personally and collected every cent due the town from those who ignored the notices. Before the end of a fortnight there was $2,000 in the treasury."

Things didn't necessarily all start out with a flashy bang, however, according to Jouen. "A funny story: I had always heard that the all-women town council had 'formalized' town square, and until recently, I assumed that meant creating the park-like square we see today," she says. "But what it actually meant was that these 'councilmen' (as they called themselves in official town documents) simply prohibited the grazing of cattle on town square. You have to start somewhere!"

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It's a Simple Question: What Is Good Government?

As for what inspired the women to effect lasting change, Jouen says their methods and motives were rather simple. "I think Mayor Grace Miller perfectly sums up their time in office when she said in an interview in 1922: 'We simply tried to work together ... we put into practice the same thrifty principles we exercise in our own homes. We wanted a clean, well-kept, progressive town in which to raise our families. What is good government but a breathing space for good citizenship?'"

While the so-called "petticoat rulers" successfully established a lasting legacy, Jouen cautions that celebrating their history simply isn't enough. "The story of the all-women town council is incredible, and certainly something to celebrate and be proud of for the town of Jackson," she says. "Jackson Hole has many stories of powerful women and generally our history is one of inclusivity, adaptability and ingenuity  everyone had to pull their weight and be open-minded in order to survive. However, it's still important to look at the big picture and use history as something to learn from and not just celebrate. Jackson did not see another woman in an elected position until the 1980s. The all-women town council was necessary and successful, but unfortunately did not create a new normal and Jackson was not immune to the times. But it is exciting and encouraging to see more diversity in our local government, including women in all levels of elected positions. The women of 1920 still serve as encouraging role models."

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Highlighting Women's History

The Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum is highlighting an exhibit of women's history in 2020:

"To honor and highlight women's history during this important anniversary year, the JHHSM has two special exhibits on display through 2020. The first exhibit in the museum's main gallery space, and coming online soon, is entitled 'Mountains to Manuscripts: Women's Writing in Wyoming, 1900-1950' and features notable women writers of the early 20th century in Wyoming. Narrative writing about the state  certainly, the Tetons  is sparse before 1950, and published works are few and far between in comparison to the rest of the American West. Women's words are even harder to come by, but provide important insight into the changing nature of the region," says Jouen.

The museum has also installed a traveling exhibit from the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center entitled "Wyoming Women" which includes 30 framed historic photographs of Wyoming women throughout history, specifically highlighting the leadership roles they pursued in their family, in the outdoors and in their community.

Now That's Interesting For anyone in Wyoming, a visit to the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum can offer plenty of additional insights into the legend of these women of the Wild West. The museum houses a number of historical documents and photographs of the women and information about their time in office, as well as Mayor Grace Miller's side saddle and the black coat she can be seen wearing in most photos. "The saddle and coat are currently on display in our museum through 2020, and all of this information can be researched and accessed through our Stan Klassen Research Center, Jouen says.
One possible solution is to use a new type of fuel in planes that doesnt produce harmful emissions  hydrogen. Long-touted as a sustainable fuel, hydrogen is now gaining serious traction as a possibility for aviation, and already tests are under way to prove its effectiveness.

Planes using hydrogen would emit only water, and initial tests suggest they can be just as fast as traditional planes, carrying more than a hundred passengers per flight over thousands of kilometres. A recent report on the potential of hydrogen-powered aviation said such planes could enter the market as soon as 2035.

There are still significant challenges to make this happen. But if they can be overcome, the future of aviation could be much greener than it is today and be a functioning component of a decarbonised world.

Propellers

Hydrogen planes would be similar aesthetically to traditional planes, albeit with a slightly longer length needed. Smaller planes would likely use propellers, with hydrogen-powered fuel cells providing electric propulsion to turn the propellers. Bigger planes could burn hydrogen to power jet engines.

The hydrogen-powered aviation report, released on June 22, said that hydrogen could feasibly be used by 2035 to power a commercial passenger aircraft on a flight of up to 3,000 kilometres. By 2040 or beyond, a medium-range flight of up to 7,000 kilometres should also be possible, leaving just long-range flights for traditional aviation.

By 2035 it should be possible for a short-range flight plane, said Dr Bart Biebuyck, executive director of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, a European public-private partnership to accelerate the market introduction of these technologies, which jointly commissioned the report. That means on European soil, you could connect all the big cities in Europe using hydrogen-powered planes. By 2050, the ambitious scenario is that 40 % of the (European aviation) fleet would be powered by hydrogen.

Reaching these goals will rely on a number of factors. First and foremost, hydrogen storage technologies need to advance to carry enough liquid hydrogen in planes for these journeys. New ways of transporting hydrogen to airports will need to be devised so that planes can be refuelled on runways. And redesigns of plane interiors will be required to work out how to integrate all the necessary systems and tubing to run commercial planes on hydrogen.

With integration, nothing has been done yet on a big plane, said Dr Biebuyck. That will be a big challenge. And we still need to prepare a lot of standards, codes, and regulations. For example, what would be the requirement for hydrogen tanks testing for aviation? Still a lot of this research has not been done.

Progress has been made, however, in developing the underlying technology of hydrogen planes. In 2008, Boeing flew the worlds first hydrogen-powered plane from an airfield near Madrid, Spain, a single-seater vehicle that proved the technology was possible. And in 2016 the first four-seater hydrogen plane, built in Germany by the German aeronautical research agency (DLR), the University of Ulm and a company called H2FLY, lifted off from Stuttgart Airport.

We cannot beat climate change without aviation being decarbonised. Dr Bart Biebuyck, Executive Director, FCH JU

Four components

Hydrogen planes essentially have four major components  a storage system to safely store liquid hydrogen, fuel cells to convert hydrogen to electricity, a device to control the power of the cells, and then a motor to turn a propeller. In order to make full commercial planes, all of these four areas must be developed sufficiently.

In Spain, a project called HEAVEN is working on integrating these components into an experimental plane. It is developing a powertrain to turn the propellers at high speed using electric power, along with similar liquid hydrogen storage systems to those that have been used in cars.

This will be the first liquid hydrogen storage system (for planes), which will be connected with a fuel cell and an electric motor, and then flown in a flight test, said Dr Josef Kallo from the DLR and a member of the HEAVEN team. The hydrogen storage (made by French firm Air Liquide) is built and will be finished this year. Next year will be integration time. And then the end of 2022 we will go into flight.

The powertrain being developed by the project turns the hydrogen into torque to turn the propeller. It is highly efficient and also quiet to run, producing about the same amount of noise as an internal combustion engine in a car  meaning passengers should have a pleasant, quiet flight.

For a 45-seater aircraft, a hydrogen-powered propeller plane will be capable of speeds of up to 600 kilometres per hour, compared to 850 kilometres per hour for a Boeing 747, according to Dr Kallo. While the focus at the moment is on propellers, there is also work underway to develop hydrogen-powered turbines, which are more efficient at higher speeds. (A parallel) step would be to use turbine-type propulsion, using high-speed motors, which are relatively low noise, Dr Kallo added.

Green aviation

Most of the worlds hydrogen today is produced by reforming methane from natural gas  a fossil fuel - which produces carbon dioxide. Efforts are underway, however, to develop green hydrogen by using an electric current from a renewable source to convert water into oxygen and hydrogen, and reduce emissions in its production. If that is possible, along with no emissions from the planes themselves, aviation could become a truly green form of travel.

By 2050 we need to (become) a carbon-neutral society, and the aviation sector needs to contribute, said Dr Biebuyck. Of course, it is not only aviation that will have to adapt. We all need to work together. But we cannot beat climate change without aviation being decarbonised.

Europe looks set to have a major part to play in this, with it leading the development of many hydrogen-driven technologies, including hydrogen planes. Europe is very far in front, said Dr Kallo. There are some projects in the US and China. But they havent shown the level of progress we have.

And it could very well be that in the coming decades, your flight from Paris to Madrid or Munich to Rome could be on a green, clean flying machine, one that produces no emissions and has no impact on climate change  an exciting glimpse at our decarbonised future.

This is really a chance to switch from hydrocarbon-based aviation to hydrogen aviation, said Dr Kallo.



The Issue In order for Europe to fully achieve the environmental benefits of hydrogen-powered the production of clean  or green  hydrogen needs to be dramatically scaled up. Clean hydrogen is produced from water using an electric current from a renewable source, rather than from fossil fuels. Today only a tiny fraction of hydrogen used in Europe is clean. On 8 July the EU published a hydrogen strategy setting out a vision for how Europe can scale up the production, distribution and storage of clean hydrogen.

The research in this article was funded by the EU. If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.
Jeffrey Epstein (centre). Photo: Palm Beach Post/TNS/Sipa USA/PA

Deutsche Bank (DBK.DE) has agreed to pay $150m (119m) to settle investigations into compliance failings in part linked to dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.

New Yorks Department of Financial Services said in a statement on Tuesday it had imposed the penalty on Deutsche Banks New York branch for significant compliance failures in connection with the Banks relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the accused child sex trafficker who died in police custody last year.

The penalty also covers anti-money laundering failings linked to Danske Bank Estonia and Cyprus-based bank FBME.

The settlement brings to an end three investigations by the regulator into compliance failings at the German banking giant.

It also marks the first enforcement action by a financial regulator linked to the Epstein case.

Epstein, who is believed to have been a billionaire, became a client of Deutsche Banks in 2013, five years after he pleaded guilty to procuring for prostitution a girl below the age of 18 in Florida.

READ MORE: Lloyds chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio to step down after decade in charge

Despite coverage of the settlement and subsequent allegations against Epstein, investigators found Deutsche Bank failed to properly monitor his account. Hundreds of transactions totalling millions of dollars that raised red flags were missed, the New York Department of Financial Services said.

These included payments to Epsteins alleged co-conspirators, settlement payments with victims totalling $7m, payments to Russian models, payments for womens school tuition and expenses, and payments to numerous women with Eastern European surnames that were consistent with public allegations of prior wrongdoing.

Repeated suspicious cash withdrawals by Epstein  totally over $800,000 over four years  also failed to raise concerns.

Deutsche Bank chief executive Christian Sewing: Working with Epstein was 'a critical mistake and should never have happened'. Photo: Natasha Livingstone/AP

Despite knowing Mr. Epsteins terrible criminal history, the Bank inexcusably failed to detect or prevent millions of dollars of suspicious transactions, New Yorks Superintendent of Financial Services Linda A. Lacewell said in a statement.

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A spokesperson for Deutsche Bank said the bank deeply regretted its association with Epstein and said over $1bn has been invested in training, controls and operational processes.

In a memo sent to staff on Tuesday and shared with journalists, Deutsche Bank chief executive Christian Sewing said working with Epstein was a critical mistake and should never have happened.

We acknowledge our error of onboarding Epstein in 2013 and the weaknesses in our processes, and have learnt from our mistakes and shortcomings, the spokesperson for Deutsche Bank said.

Immediately following Epsteins arrest, we contacted law enforcement and offered our full assistance with their investigation. We have been fully transparent and have addressed these matters with our regulator, adjusted our risk tolerance and systematically tackled the issues.

Danske Banks Estonia branch was found in 2017 to be at the heart of a money laundering scandal involving 200bn of suspicious transactions moving money out of Russia and former Soviet states. Photo: Francis Dean/Corbis via Getty Images

The $150m penalty also covers two separate investigations into Deutsche Banks relationship with Danske Bank Estonia and FBME Bank.

Danske Banks Estonia branch was found in 2017 to be at the heart of possibly the biggest money laundering scandal in history. An estimated 200bn of suspicious transactions were discovered moving money out of Russia and former Soviet states.

Deutsche Bank acted as a correspondent bank for Danske Bank, helping it handle US dollars. Internally, Deutsche Bank gave Dankses Estonia branch its highest possible risk score as early as 2010, due to the volume of suspicious transactions flowing through the Estonia branch. However, it kept dealing with the bank.

In total, Deutsche Bank processed $267bn-worth of transactions on behalf of Danske Bank Estonia between 2007 and 2015, including $150bn from Russia and other former Soviet states.

READ MORE: Coronavirus to cause deeper recession than expected in EU

In the case of FBME, the regulators investigation found Deutsche Bank raised concerns about transactions involving an offshore company ultimately found to be owned by a Russian businessman who was affiliated with a Syrian research facility responsible for developing and producing non-conventional weapons. Deutsche Bank was unaware of this at the time.

However, Deutsche Bank did not stop dealing with FBME until it was named a foreign financial institution of primary money laundering concern in 2014 by the US Treasury.

A spokesperson for Deutsche Bank said there was no intentional effort by anyone within the bank to facilitate unlawful activity in either case.

Banks are the first line of defense with respect to preventing the facilitation of crime through the financial system, and it is fundamental that banks tailor the monitoring of their customers activity based upon the types of risk that are posed by a particular customer, Superintendent Lacewell said.

In each of the cases that are being resolved today, Deutsche Bank failed to adequately monitor the activity of customers that the Bank itself deemed to be high risk.
Mumbai, Jul 8 (PTI) The gems and jewellery industry, which is going through a challenging time due to COVID-19 pandemic, has urged the government for a supportive e-commerce policy and a 'priority sector status' so that it can bring in operational benefits.

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) in a video meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday made a presentation on the critical issues concerning the gem and jewellery industry, according to a statement.

Some of the concerns presented by GJEPC include, e-commerce policy for the gem and jewellery sector, making MyKYCBank platform mandatory for all gem and jewellery entities, sale of rough diamonds by miners in Special Notified Zones (SNZs), reduction in import duty on polished diamonds and 'Gold Monetisation' scheme among others.

GJEPC also requested for a clarification on 'Online Equalisation' Levy for B2B international diamond auctions.

'COVID-19 has led to a paradigm shift in consumer behaviour across geographies. With e-commerce gaining momentum, a massive rise is seen in online purchases, and introduction of a supportive e-commerce policy for the sector will drive online jewellery purchases,' GJEPC Chairman Colin Shah said.

Shah further said that 'there is a need for a dedicated system-driven 'Fast Track Customs Clearance' of shipments for the gems and jewellery goods valued below USD 800'.

Shah said, GJEPC has also urged to reduce polished diamond import duty to 2.5 per cent from 7.5 per cent to help India to strengthen its status as a polished diamond hub, as all distribution would then be out of India, leading to increase in duty collection due to greater volumes.

The Council also proposed direct sale of rough diamonds by miners in SNZs. Currently, rough diamonds are sent to SNZs by miners for viewing and are shipped back to Dubai or Antwerp (Belgium).

'Sales aren't permitted, and if they do, it comes under the Permanent Entities as per the IT Act, and attracts income tax on the sale. The same goods are then shipped back to India via offices in Dubai or Antwerp, thus increasing costs for the importer,' he said adding as much as 60 per cent of the rough diamond is routed through Antwerp or Dubai.

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Shah further said 'we need to take measures and bring in reforms that would strengthen the ease of doing business in the industry, and at the same time make the industry self-reliant. The Finance Minister has assured us that she will look into the issues and address the concerns through periodical reviews'.

On the availability of bank finance, GJEPC Vice Chairman Vipul Shah said, the industry has access to about Rs 66,580 crore of bank credit, which amounts to 0.68 per cent of the total bank credit of Rs 98,91,788 crore, which is minuscule in comparison to the socio-economic contributions made by this sector.

'We have also raised our concerns over the limited financial support extended by the private banks,' he said.

GJEPC also gave suggestions to strengthen the Gold Monetisation scheme and for the development of SEZs into economic employment enclaves. PTI SM DRR DRR
Kabul [Afghanistan], July 07 (Sputnik/ANI): One Afghan serviceman was killed and two others were injured in a car bomb blast in the eastern Paktia province, Aimal Momand, a spokesman for the 203rd Thunder Corps of the Afghan National Army, said on Tuesday. At the same time, local witnesses say that four servicemen were killed as a result of the blast that hit the military vehicle. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. (Sputnik/ANI)
Mulk Healthcare has launched the Middle Easts first digital hospital  with a network of 2,000 doctors and access to the best diagnostic clinics, hospitals and medical experts.

For patients, E-Hospital offers complete end-to-end services from booking appointment, seeking consultation, securing health insurance approval, diagnosis, prescription and medication.

E-Hospital offers cost-effective medical solutions to all health-related problems, making it cheaper and less time consuming compared to the existing healthcare regime.

Mulk E-Hospital comes as a downloadable app that brings a whole range of healthcare services at the fingertip of a patient. This is the first major healthcare app in the region that will provide the full 360 degrees of healthcare from consultation to post hospital care.

The global telemedicine technologies market was valued at $17.8 billion in 2014 and is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18% from 2014 to 2020 reaching a current level of over $40 billion. During the current pandemic situation E-health is a perfect solution.

Dr Nawab Shafi Ul Mulk, President of Mulk Healthcare, stated: E-Hospital is the future of healthcare services and brings the entire healthcare services on your fingertips  from booking an online appointment to online consultation, online sharing health data, securing insurance approvals, getting medical advice, prescription, order medicine online, get medication and after-care services  all through the digital space.

In this age of globalisation and digitisation, a patients health issues dont need to be limited to the consultation or treatment of a few doctors in the neighbourhood he lives. With Mulk E-Hospital, we are bringing the best consultant physicians and healthcare solutions to the patients through our app.

He added: Mulk E-Hospital is a hospital without borders and unlocks the potential of healthcare services with unlimited possibilities. The Covid-19 social distancing prohibits most patients to physically visit clinics and hospitals and we are offering the perfect solution to address this concern.

Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, Chairman of Mulk Healthcare and Mulk Holdings, said: We are in the midst of the biggest public health crisis in a century. The healthcare sector needs digital disruption that minimises face-to-face interaction for consultation without compromising on the quality of healthcare. We are of the firm belief that Telehealth would grow exponentially and we hope to become significant E-health providers with Mulk E health. -- Tradearabia News Service
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 8 (ANI): As many as 2,384 persons who returned to Kerala from outside till Monday have tested positive for COVID-19, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Out of 2,384 people, 1,489 came back from abroad and 895 from other states, he said. "Malappuram district accounted for the maximum number of 289 such positive cases in the State followed by 285 in Palakkad district and 261 in Kannur district. Wayanad and Idukki districts have the least number of 49 cases each. COVID was found in 2.84 per cent of domestic arrivals (per 1,000 people) while it was 8.02 per cent for international arrivals. The most number of 407positive cases came from Maharashtra, followed by 181 from Tamil Nadu and 136 from Delhi," Vijayan said. "Since lockdown, 4,99,529 people have come from outside Kerala to the state. Of these, 3,14,094 people were from other states and 1,85,435 from overseas - 62.88 per cent domestic arrivals and 37.12 per cent international arrivals. Three were 3,40,996 men (68.26 per cent) and 1,58,417 women (31.71 per cent)," he said. The Chief Minister said that 64.35 per cent of domestic passengers came from Red Zone districts. "Most of these came by road, 65.25 per cent, 19.11 per cent by flights, 14.8 per cent by trains and the rest by ship. Malappuram district has the highest number of arrivals with 51,707 persons (16.46%) followed by 49,653 people in Kannur (15.8%) and 47,990 in Ernakulam (15.27%). Wayanad had the least with 12,652 people (4.02%)," he said. "More people came to Kerala from the neighbouring States, 97,570 persons from Tamil Nadu (31.06%) and 88,031 from Karnataka (28.02%) while 47,970 came from Maharashtra (15.27%). 74.35% came from these three states only," Giving details of those came from abroad, the Chief Minister said that the maximum number of 89,749 people came from the UAE followed by 25,132 from Saudi Arabia and 20,285 from Qatar. "2,553 persons (0.51%) who came back from outside Kerala have been admitted to hospitals," he said. As many as 272 new coronavirus and 111 recoveries reported in Kerala on Tuesday, he said. "The total number of positive cases stands at 5,894 including 2411 active cases. There are 169 COVID-19 hotspots in the state now," Vijayan said. (ANI)
Dhaka, Jun 29 (PTI) 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. PTI AR SCY SCY
Concerned over the rising number of COVID-19 cases in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said a "rigorous" lockdown will be enforced in all containment zones onward from 5pm on July 9.

The decision came on a day the state reported its highest single-day COVID-19 deaths with 25 patients succumbing to the disease, said the Bengal Health Department bulletin. The death toll in the state is now 807, it said.

The state government will also expand the areas under lockdown to stem the relentless spike in COVID-19 cases, said a senior official. The containment zones and buffer zones around them will be clubbed together and constitute a "broad-based" containment zone where total lockdown will be imposed from Thursday.

In this, broader containment zones (including the buffer areas) may be subjected to strict lockdown, and the following activities will be closed in this areas, which includes all offices including government and private, non-essential activities, congregations, transportation, marketing, industrial and trading activities.

A statement issued by Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman of Enforcement Task Force, said, Residents of the containment zones may be exempted and prohibited from attending government and private offices, in fact, their ingress and egress may be strictly regulated.

To the extent practicable, local authorities will try to arrange home delivery to the residents staying inside the broad-based containment zones. You may now delineate your broad-based containment zones. In case of Kolkata, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Kolkata Police will have to do it in mutual consultation. In case of districts, DM may initiate similar exercise in consultation with respective CPs/SPs, it added.

Trinamool supremo Banerjee had sent a letter to the Centre to stop domestic flights till July 31 to Kolkata from those states where the number of COVID-19 cases are high. The Kolkata Airport has already suspended flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai, Ahmedabad from Monday.

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Banerjee alleged that in Bengal the number of cases has increased because of the Centres poor planning while announcing the lockdown.

The statement, however, did not mention how long the fresh spell of the shutdown will last. The current phase of lockdown, in force till July 31, was largely limited to containment zones alone.

(With inputs from PTI)
Workers' Party's secretary-general Pritam Singh (left) chats with residents during a party walkabout at the Kovan Market and Food Centre. Former party chief Low Thia Khiang (seated) was also present. (PHOTO: Nicholas Yong/Yahoo News Singapore)

SINGAPORE  Days before Singapore goes to the polls, the decision by Workers Party strongman Low Thia Khiang not to contest GE2020 is still reverberating - but it should not have come as a surprise. Those who have been following Low since his entry into party politics 38 years ago would know that this is a natural follow-up to his decision to hand over the leadership baton to a younger man at the partys 60th anniversary dinner in 2017.

However, giving up politics at the relatively young age of 63 is unusual in Singapore. And Low is a fighter, not a quitter. So why did he give up? Sources say that it has all to do with pride, perhaps a particularly Chinese kind of pride.

The opposition leader did the impossible by leading his party to victory in Aljunied GRC in 2011, the first time the ruling party had lost a highly-prized constituency. But Low must have calculated that the Peoples Action Party (PAP) taking back Aljunied was a real possibility, especially after his party won it by a very narrow margin in 2015. And he had to act to save face.

Saving face

Former Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang greets a resident at Hougang MRT on Wednesday, 8 July. PHOTO: Nick Tan/Yahoo News Singapore

Face, for this former Nanyang University student, is nearly everything.

I went back to his article in Walking with Singapore, his partys book that was released to mark its 60th anniversary, and some of the interviews he has given over the years. His deep sense of anger over the closure of his alma mater, as well as his inability to study political science at the National University of Singapore because he was told the standard of his English was not good enough, must have left a deep scar.

Imagine such a man reaching the pinnacle of opposition power within two election cycles. Imagine also that he is now facing the possibility of losing a constituency that he and his team won with sheer guile, guts and a shrewd sense of timing.

In 2011, Low sensed that the PAP was heading for a beating because the government had allowed too many foreigners into the country. Singaporeans had to fight with migrants and foreign talent to get into MRT trains and had to join long queues for government flats. He then crossed into Aljunied with his team and dislodged two ministers and one senior minister of state.

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That sense of timing must have come into play again. Would he want to lose all that success, made all the more praiseworthy because it was achieved against an entrenched ruling party, just like that? With the possibility of bankruptcy over financial impropriety involving the town council hanging over his head, would he want to leave his political career in tatters?

A party weakened?

But here is the rub. By not contesting this election, he has made the Workers Party look vulnerable. While Pritam Singh, his successor, has shown a steady and calm demeanour in handling the PAPs onslaught, there is no doubt Low is being missed by his supporters, especially the Chinese. The partys strategic error, as Singh put it, in sitting out a TV debate in Mandarin, just shows how the party misses Lows political sharpness and tutelage. The decision didnt go down well with that important demographic.

What has made it worse for the party was the decision by Hougang MP Png Eng Huat to also stay away from GE2020. It was a double whammy that meant Singh had to worry not just about Aljunied but also Hougang. Singh had just started to blood some of the newbies like Raeesah Khan and Jamus Lim for GE2020. Now, he has to hurry the transition as the Low-Png blow sinks in. A couple of candidates from East Coast had to be moved to Aljunied to shore up the GRC, thus making it look like a low hanging fruit for the PAP.

In the wake of a recent bad fall, which resulted in the loss of his sense of smell, Low cited party renewal and leadership succession as the reason for throwing in the towel. But many of his supporters must have felt that this fighter is not the type who gives up easily, no matter the circumstances.

P N Balji is a veteran Singaporean journalist who was formerly chief editor of Today, as well as an editor at The New Paper. He is currently a media consultant. The views expressed are his own.

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General Election stories:

Low Thia Khiang: Most memorable quotes from his 32-year political career

COMMENT: Pandemic politics and Singapore's general election

COMMENT: Why master of the moment Low Thia Khiang is stepping down
Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Another big single-day jump of 24,248 Covid-19 cases took India's tally close to the 7-lakh mark today, while the death toll due to the disease climbed to 19,693 with 425 new fatalities, according to the Union health ministry. With this, the country has recorded over 20,000 cases of the infection for the fourth consecutive day. India went past Russia yesterday to become the third worst-hit nation by the COVID-19 pandemic. Only the US and Brazil are ahead of India in terms of total coronavirus infections.

According to the Monday morning update of the Union Health Ministry, a single-day jump of 24,248 COVID-19 cases pushed India's tally to 6,97,413. With a steady rise, the number of recoveries stands at 4,24,432 in the country, while one patient has migrated. There are 2,53,287 active coronavirus cases in the country, the data showed. "Thus, 60.85 per cent of the patients have recovered so far," the ministry said. The total number of confirmed cases also includes foreigners who tested positive in India. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 99,69,662 samples were tested for the disease in the country till July 5, with 1,80,596 just on Sunday.

The United States recorded 39,379 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, a tally by Johns Hopkins University showed Sunday, as infections continue to trend up around the country. The country's total number of cases now stands at 2,876,143. The world's largest economy also recorded a further 234 fatalities, bringing the death toll to 129,891, the Baltimore-based institution's tracker showed. Sunday's tally comes after a string of surging daily new infections, including a high of 57,683 on Friday. The lower number could be attributed to less reporting on the July 4th national holiday weekend.

The United States is the hardest-hit country in the global pandemic, both in caseload and deaths, and has struggled to respond to the devastation wrought by the virus. Some mayors say their cities reopened too early and worry that their health care systems will soon become overwhelmed.

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Officials at the epicenter of the worsening coronavirus crisis in the United States warned Sunday their hospitals were in danger of being overwhelmed by the upsurge, as India registered a record number of new cases.

The pandemic has killed at least 531,789 people worldwide since it surfaced in China late last year, according to an AFP tally on Sunday based on official sources. More than 11 million people have been infected in 196 countries and territories.

After the United States, Brazil is the hardest-hit country with 64,867 deaths, followed by Britain, Italy and Mexico. The US' annual July 4 holiday weekend was overshadowed by growing evidence that its fractured response has exacted a heavy price across the south and west, after previous hotspots such as New York emerged from the worst of the virus.

"Our hospitals here in Harris County, Houston, and 33 other cities... they're into surge capacities. So their operational beds are taken up," said Lina Hidalgo, chief executive of Harris County, which includes Houston, Texas. "Restaurants are still open. Indoor events can take place no matter the size," she told the ABC TV channel. "What we need right now is to do what works, which is a stay-home order."
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 weve learned is to turn patients on to their stomachs instead of their backs, it means were 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.

Fighting Fit to Invest in the Future

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out plans on Monday for a 10-year rebuilding programme for schools in England, part of government efforts to help Britain bounce back from the crisis.

Rebuilding schools, which have suffered years of government spending cuts, will be his first step, with funds targeted at the buildings in the worst condition, particularly in Englands northern and central regions.

Keen to demonstrate his own return to health, Johnson did some press-ups to show he was as fit as a butchers dog in an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper, just months after fighting for his life in hospital against the virus. The country is going to bounce forward, and I certainly feel full of beans. Never felt better, he said.

Chinese Vaccine Trials

Chinas 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.

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China is a major front-runner in the race to develop a vaccine, which has to prove its effectiveness in a Phase 3 human test involving thousands of participants before being cleared for sale.

Reclosing Time

California ordered some bars to close on Sunday, the first major rollback of efforts to reopen the economy in the most populous US state as cases nationwide soar to record levels. Governor Gavin Newsoms order follows Fridays moves by Texas and Florida to do the same.

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.
London, Jun 29 (PTI) The pattern of skin reddening and swelling reported in children during the pandemic, popularly called 'COVID-toes,' might not be associated with novel coronavirus infection, according to a study which found these lesions in infants who tested negative for COVID-19.

Researchers from the La Fe University Hospital in Spain assessed 32 patients, including 20 children and adolescents, with new-onset skin inflammation between April 9 and April 15.

Based on earlier COVID-19 studies, they said these skin lesions, referred to as acute acro-ischemia, have been reported as a possible sign of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adolescents and children.

However, the current research, published in the journal JAMA Dermatology, did not find any evidence that the skin lesions are related to COVID-19.

In the study, scientists including Juncal Roca-Gines, sought to evaluate the mechanism by which these acute skin lesions formed.

For this, they performed RT-PCR diagnostic test for the novel coronavirus in the patients, and a range of blood tests for the possible origins of the lesions.

According to the study, the researchers also performed skin tissue sample analysis in six of the patients.

Of the 20 patients enrolled, they said seven were female and 13 were male, with an age range of 1 to 18 years.

The scientists said none of the patients had remarkable blood abnormalities, including negative antibodies to the coronavirus.

They said the skin sample analyses showed findings characteristic of an inflammatory condition called perniosis.

Based on the observations made during the study, the scientists said three different scenarios may explain the abrupt appearance, during the peak of the pandemic, of these characteristic lesions in a group of SARS-CoV2-negative patients.

'One possibility is that the patients were in a very early stage of the disease, which would explain the negativity of PCR and serologic test results,' they explained.

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The second alternative, according to the researchers, is that the skin lesions were subacute manifestation of the infection, in which patients were once infected, but no longer had detectable viral particles when they were tested.

As a third possibility, the scientists said low quantities of the virus in the patients may have caused them to not develop clinical symptoms, with the pathogen not detectable during the tests.

In this scenario, they said the only manifestations of COVID-19 in the children could be the skin lesions and the formation of tiny blood clots in small blood vessels of the extremities, including the toes.

While such abnormalities have been described in patients with severe COVID-19 with co-existing medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, the absence of these risk factors in the studied children does not support this explanation, the researchers noted in the study.

'In this case series of 20 children and adolescents, a relationship between acute acral skin changes and COVID-19 could not be demonstrated,' the researchers concluded.

Since extensive testing failed to identify other risk factors for the acral lesions, the scientists suspect that lifestyle changes imposed by quarantine, such as walking barefoot in unheated homes, and time spent in sedentary positions, may explain these findings.

Citing the limitations of the study, they said the analysis said was carried out in a short period and with patients from a single center.

According to the scientists, a larger study with improved microbiological tests or molecular techniques to demonstrate the presence of the novel coronavirus in the skin can help validate the findings.

Scientists, including Claudia Hernandez, Section Editor of JAMA Dermatology, noted in a commentary linked to the study that it is still unclear whether a viral infection process or some other mechanism is responsible for these 'COVID toes.' 'Dermatologists must be aware of the protean cutaneous findings that are possibly associated with COVID-19, even if our understanding of their origins remains incomplete,' the researchers said. PTI VIS VIS
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 7 (ANI): Communist Party of India (CPI) National Secretary Dr. K Narayana on Tuesday said CPI will conduct Chalo Sriharikota program against the 'privatisation' of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by the Central Government. Dr.K.Narayana told ANI that, "CPI is expressing its happiness that the China and India border have a peaceful pact. Both China and India are the biggest countries. I hope this will continue." "The central government is making a decision to privatise the space organisation. It is going to privatise ISRO. It should not be privatized. We are going to oppose it, CPI is organising Chalo Sriharikota program. We will see that the Central Government withdraws the decision," he added. (ANI)
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Customs preventive officials have seized 4.5 lakh cigarette sticks illegally brought in a COVID special train at old Delhi Railway Station, officials said on Wednesday.

The cigarette sticks of Paris brand, valued at Rs 40 lakh, were packed in 15 cartons. It is suspected that they have been smuggled into the country from neighbouring Bangladesh, they said.

These cartons were recovered from a goods compartment of a train - that runs from Howrah to Amritsar via Delhi to ferry passengers during coronavirus-induced national lockdown -from the old Delhi Railway Station on Tuesday, the officials said.

The cigarettes of Bangladesh-origin are suspected to have been smuggled into the country through the porous India-Bangladesh border in Howrah, they said.

The officials said the parcels containing cigarettes were booked from Howrah to Varanasi and then from there to Delhi in a bid to dodge the customs authorities.

No arrests have been made so far. Further investigation in the case is continuing, an official said.

Foreign-brand cigarettes are in demand in the countrys grey market as they are of good quality and nicely packed, he said.

Whereas, cigarettes produced and packed in India have to mandatorily mention specified health warning, both in pictorial and text formats, that acts as a source of discouragement for the smokers, the official said.

Further, there is a requirement of a declaration for imported cigarette packs under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. The declaration on the packs should contain the name and address of the manufacturer or importer or packer, quantity of the product, month and year of manufacturing or pre-packing or importation and the retail sale price, among others.

Customs officials have been seizing cigarettes of foreign origin, in some cases of the same Paris brand, from other places as well.

They had last year seized large number of Paris brand cigarettes, in two incidents, from Bengaluru.

PTI AKV SRY
Farah hand sanitizer, manufactured by National Detergent Company (NDC), the maker of the detergent brand Bahar, has been approved by Omans Ministry of Health.

Farah hand sanitizer was re-formulated and upgraded in March 2020 as part of NDCs strategy to strengthen its hygiene products portfolio to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in Oman, the company said in a statement.

Today, a much sought-after product among customers in the Sultanate, Farah hand sanitizer contains 70% ethyl alcohol and can kill 99.99% of harmful germs, it added. The hand sanitizer is ideal for corporates, institutions, hospitals, individuals, families and frontline healthcare workers, it added.

NDC said it launched Farah hand sanitizer considering the fact that most people didnt have access to good quality hand sanitizers during the critical period. The company decided to step in and make the best quality Farah hand sanitizer accessible to citizens and residents of Oman at an affordable price. The company, it said, has the capacity to make two million bottles of hand sanitizers a month.

Anish Kumar, Head of Marketing at NDC, said: "We have received a great response from customers for Farah hand sanitizer which is a great value product that offers advanced germ-killing power in a formulation that is gentle and soothing on the skin. With affordable pricing and convenient packaging, Farah hand sanitizer ensures effective hand sanitization by way of quick and persistent action. Approved by Omans Ministry of Health, the sanitizer adheres to the local and global health standards. We urge customers to buy this approved hygiene product from a trusted manufacturer like NDC.

Farah hand sanitizer is a product made according to highest quality standards, and ensures well above 70% of ethyl alcohol (standard requirement is 60% ethyl alcohol). Since we use superior quality of ethyl alcohol it makes the product very safe. The moisturising effect in the formulation makes sure that hands dont turn dry after use, he added.

Farah hand sanitizer is available in 270ml pack in local stores including Lulu Hypermarket, Carrefour, The Sultan Center and pharmacies like Muscat Pharmacy. NDC has also supplied the product to corporate clients like Bank Muscat and Kalhat Cleaning among others. Farah hand sanitizer is also available in 500 ml, 5 litres and 20 litres packaging for the industrial and institutional segment.

NDCs other wellness and hygiene products in the laundry, personal and home care segments include Bahar detergent, Bahar Antiseptic, Bahar Clean, D'zire antibacterial soap and Farah anti-bacterial hand wash liquid.TradeArabia News Service
Swarajya

In the latest development, another Supreme Court judge has recused from hearing a case related to the state of West Bengal, Lawbeat reported. The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, was to hear West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's appeal challenging the Calcutta High Court order refusing her and state Law Minister Moloy Ghatak to file affidavits on their role on 17 May when four Trinamool Congress leaders were arrested by the CBI in connection with the Narada sting tape case. A bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Aniruddha Bose was formed to hear the separate appeals filed by the Chief Minister, Ghatak, and the West Bengal government.
New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) Indias total number of coronavirus cases and fatalities per million population is one of the lowest in the world, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday even as the country's infection tally went past the 7 lakh-mark and the death toll rose to 20,160.

Referring to the WHO Situation Report-168 dated July 6, the ministry said India's COVID-19 cases per million population is 505.37 as against the global average of 1,453.25.

Chile has witnessed 15,459.8 COVID-19 cases per million population, while Peru has 9,070.8 cases per million people.

The US, Brazil, Spain, Russia, the UK, Italy and Mexico have 8,560.5, 7,419.1, 5,358.7, 4,713.5, 4,204.4, 3,996.1 and 1,955.8 cases per million, respectively, according to the WHO report.

'The WHO Situation Report also shows that India has one of the lowest deaths (due to COVID-19) per million population. India's cases of death per million population is 14.27 while the global average is more than its four times, at 68.29,' the ministry said.

The United Kingdom has 651.4 COVID-19 related deaths per million population, while the metric for Spain, Italy, France, the USA, Peru, Brazil and Mexico is 607.1, 576.6, 456.7, 391.0, 315.8, 302.3 and 235.5 deaths, respectively, the WHO report said.

India has ramped up its hospital infrastructure to adequately and effectively manage coronavirus cases, the ministry said.

The preparedness includes arrangement of oxygen support, ICU and ventilator facilities. As on July 7, there are 1,201 dedicated COVID hospitals, 2,611 COVID healthcare centres and 9,909 COVID care centres to look after patients with very severe to very mild coronavirus symptoms, it said.

'Such level of preparedness has shown results in continuously improving the recovery rate and resulting in low case fatality rate, the ministry said.

'Early detection and timely effective clinical management of COVID-19 cases have resulted in increasing daily recoveries,' it said.

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During the last 24 hours, a total of 15,515 COVID-19 patients have been cured, taking the cumulative figure of recovered cases among COVID-19 patients in the country to 4,39,947 as on Tuesday.

'Coordinated efforts at all levels of the national and state governments for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 are showing encouraging results with consistently increasing gap between recoveries and active cases. Presently, there are 2,59,557 active cases and all are under medical supervision.

As on date, the number of recovered cases exceeded that of the active cases by 1,80,390 on Tuesday. The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients has increased to 61.13 per cent, it said.

Enhanced focus on Test, Trace, Treat augmented with various measures has facilitated widespread COVID-19 testing by states and Union territories.

This has resulted in more than 2 lakh tests being conducted per day, the ministry said.

It also said that during the last 24 hours, 2,41,430 samples have been tested. With this, the total number of samples tested for COVID-19 nationwide stands at 1,02,11,092.

According to the health ministry, the testing lab network of the country continues to expand with more number of laboratories being added in various states and UTs.

With 793 labs in the government sector and 322 private labs, there are as many as 1,115 labs in the country, it added.

PTI PLB SRY
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 7 (ANI): India's real estate industry has registered one of the largest improvements globally and regionally in JLL and LaSalle's biennial Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI) released on Tuesday. The country ranks 34th globally on the index with higher levels of transparency observed in India due to regulatory reforms, enhanced market data and sustainability initiatives. The improvement is led by the progress in the country's REIT framework attracting greater interest from institutional investors. India has also edged into the top 20 for Sustainability Transparency through the active role of organisations like the Indian Green Building Council and Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment. The 2020 Index is launched at a time of massive economic and societal disruption where the need for transparent processes, accurate and timely data and high ethical standards are in closer focus. The backdrop of COVID-19 is also ensuring that transparency within Asia Pacific's real estate legal and regulatory systems is more important than ever to global investors as they look to deploy about 40 billion dollars in dry powder capital into the region. "India has seen a steady improvement in the Global Transparency Index over the years. In fact, along with Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, we are among the handful of countries that have seen the highest improvement owing to positive governmental support and an enhanced ecosystem of transparency," said Ramesh Nair, CEO and Country Head (India) JLL. In particular, the national REIT framework has been a major contributor to transparency in India, and with ongoing progress and governance, will continue to attract more interest from institutional investors. "I see these as extremely positive signs of how much we have covered in the real estate sector and a strong base in which to build on transparency gains," said Nair. According to JLL, pressure exists from investors, businesses and consumers to further improve real estate transparency to compete with other asset classes and meet heightened expectations about the industry's role in providing a sustainable and resilient built environment in the age of COVID-19. Furthermore, innovative new property technology (proptech) is changing how real estate data is gathered and analysed and influencing industry transparency at a regulatory level. "While investment into commercial real estate has inevitably paused during the pandemic, the overarching trend toward rising allocations to this asset class will continue," said Samantak Das, Chief Economist and Head of Research & REIS at JLL India. "As investors look to allocate more capital into Asia Pacific real estate, transparency becomes fundamentally more important as will the enforcement of robust regulatory frameworks," he said. JLL and LaSalle have been tracking real estate transparency and championing higher standards since 1999. This 11th edition of GRETI covers 99 countries and territories, and 163 city regions. The latest survey has been extended to quantify 210 separate elements of transparency with additional coverage on sustainability and resilience, health and wellness, proptech and alternatives sectors. (ANI)
Mumbai's Covid-19 deaths outstripped China as the city toll crossed the 5,000 mark on Tuesday, while Maharashtra raced past Saudi Arabia's total corona cases, health officials said.

For the second consecutive day, Covid-19 cases in the state were in the 5,000 range, with 5,134 new patients. The number of fatalities in the state was 224, taking the toll to 9,250.

The country's commercial capital has now catapulted past China which has notched 4,634 deaths and 83,565 cases, ranking at No 22 on the Worldometer.

At the current number of cases, Maharashtra (2,17,121) overtook Saudi Arabia which ranks thirteenth on the Worldometer (2,17,108 cases), after whizzing past Turkey, and Germany over the weekend, and last month, shooting past Canada and France.

Tuesday's data works out to one death recorded roughly every 7 minutes and a staggering 214 new cases notched every hour in the state.

The recovery rate in the state changed marginally from Monday's 54.37 per cent to 54.06 per cent, while the mortality rate remained unchanged at 4.26 per cent.

The Health Department said of the total number of cases declared till date, 89,294 are active. On the positive side, 3,296 fully cured patients returned home on Tuesday - taking the number of those discharged today to 118,558.

Of the total fatalities in the state on Tuesday, Mumbai alone accounted for 64 deaths, pulling up the city toll from to 5,002 now, while the number of Covid-19 positive patients shot up by 785 cases to touch 86,509.

There were also 54 fatalities in Thane, 37 in Pune, 13 in Nashik, 10 each in Palghar and Solapur, nine in Raigad, eight in Jalgaon, five in Aurangabad, three in Latur, two each in Dhule, Yavatmal and Jalna, and one each in Ahmednagar, Nanded, Osmanabad, and Satara. One was from another state.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday inaugurated massive Covid care facilities of 3,520-beds in Bandra Kurla Complex and Mahalaxmi Race Court, including 120 ICU beds.

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Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray said the state is first in the country with a majority of all beds having either ICU or oxygen facilities, even as BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation announced a healthy 44-day doubling rate for the city.

The minister also announced the deployment of robotic technology for the care of patients and security of the doctors, nurses and other health staffers, with a robot named 'Gollar' joining duty at the Poddar Hospital, giving food, water and medicines to the Corona patients there.

After touring Thane for two days, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis will go on a tour of a few other districts in northern Maharashtra from Wednesday while calling for more tests, ventilators, ICU beds, and other facilities to curb the Covid cases and fatalities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The MMR (Thane Division) continues to see deaths and cases pile up, with a total of 6,652 Covid-19 fatalities so far, while a staggering 2,632 new patients, pushed up the number of positive cases to 151,770.

Thane cases have shot past the 50,000 mark to touch 50,829 with 1,381 fatalities - to emerge as the second worst-hit district after Mumbai in the state.

Pune district raced past the 30,000 mark by notching 30,131 patients and 926 deaths till now. The Pune division (comprising Pune, Solapur and Satara districts), which has recorded 34,901 patients and 1,292 fatalities, remains behind MMR and Thane district.

Nashik division has 652 fatalities and 12,623 positive cases, followed by Aurangabad division with 342 deaths and 8,267 cases, and Akola division with 149 fatalities and 3,274 cases.

Kolhapur division has notched 57 deaths and 2,464 patients, Latur division 60 fatalities and 1,366 cases, and finally Nagpur division recorded 20 deaths and 2,311 cases.

Among the eight divisions in the state, two - Kolhapur and Nagpur - have recorded zero fatalities on Tuesday, though both had new Covid cases, while Chandrapur and Bhandara are the only two districts with zero Covid deaths so far.

Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home quarantine increased to 631,985 now, while those in institutional quarantine went down to 45,463
US President Donald Trump lashed out at Harvard University on Tuesday, calling its decision to move all its courses online in the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic "ridiculous."

"I think it's ridiculous. I think it's an easy way out. And I think they ought to be ashamed of themselves," Trump said at a White House roundtable discussion, during which he called for schools and universities to reopen for the next semester.

Trump, who is campaigning for reelection in November, has taken a bullish approach to reopening the country even as virus infections continue to spike, particularly the south and west.

"Everybody wants it. The moms want it. The dads want it. The kids want it. It's time to do it," he said.

"We want to get our schools open, we want to get them open quickly, beautifully, in the fall."

On Monday, his administration said it would not allow foreign students to remain in the country if all of their classes are moved online because of the COVID-19 crisis.

A number of schools are looking at a hybrid model of in-person and online instruction but some, including Harvard, have said all classes will be conducted online.

The prestigious university, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has said 40 percent of undergraduates would be allowed to return to campus -- but their instruction would be conducted remotely.

With more than 130,000 deaths linked to the novel coronavirus, the United States is the hardest-hit country in the global pandemic.
Islamabad, Jul 8 (PTI) Pakistan said on Wednesday that Indian prisoner on death row Kulbhushan Jadhav has refused to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court against his conviction by a military court despite Pakistani authorities' offer to do so, a claim dismissed by India as 'farce'.

Jadhav, the 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of 'espionage and terrorism' in April 2017. Weeks later, India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July last year that Pakistan must undertake an 'effective review and reconsideration' of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.

On Wednesday, Pakistan's Additional Attorney General Ahmed Irfan said that on June 17, 2020, Jadhav was offered to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court for review and reconsideration of his sentence and conviction.

'Exercising his legal right, Commander Jadav refused to file a petition for the review and reconsideration of his sentence and conviction. He instead preferred to follow up on his pending mercy petition,' said Irfan, who was addressing a press conference along with Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry.

He said the Pakistan government promulgated an ordinance on May 20 to let the Indian government, Jadhav or his legal representative to file a review petition in IHC within 60 days. The ordinance would expire on July 19.

Commenting on Irfan's remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi dismissed his claim as 'continuation of farce that has been in play for the last four years.' Noting that Jadhav was sentenced to execution through a farcical trial, the ministry said that he 'was coerced to refuse to file review in his case'.

'Despite our repeated requests, Pakistan continues to deny India free and unimpeded access to Jadhav,' the MEA said and sought unimpeded access to him to discuss his remedies.

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Pakistan coerced Jadhav to forgo his rights to seek implementation of judgment of International Court of Justice, it said.

'Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with ICJ judgement in Jadhav case,' the MEA said, adding that India will do its utmost to protect Jadhav and ensure his safe return.

In Islamabad, Irfan claimed that Pakistan has repeatedly written to the Indian High Commission, inviting it to file a petition at the Islamabad High Court to appeal the judgement against Jadhav before the deadline.

He said Indian authorities had requested to appoint an Indian lawyer to advocate for Jadhav but if an appeal is filed in the IHC, only a lawyer that holds a license of the respective court would be able to represent him. Therefore, an Indian lawyer cannot advocate for Jadhav but they may be allowed to assist his counsel.

The MEA, however, said that Pakistan refused to hand over any relevant document, including FIR, evidence, court order, in Jadhav case to India.

Irfan said Pakistan allowed consular access to Jadhav twice in the past and has offered to do so again. Authorities have also offered to arrange Jadhav's meeting with his father and wife, he said.

Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran.

India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.

In its 42-page order, the ICJ, while rejecting Pakistan's objection to admissibility of the Indian application in the case, had held that 'a continued stay of execution constitutes an indispensable condition for the effective review' of the sentence of Jadhav.

The bench, however, rejected some remedies sought by India, including annulment of the military court's decision convicting Jadhav, his release and safe passage to India.

The ICJ upheld India's stand that Pakistan had 'breached' the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, which gives countries the right to consular access when their nationals are arrested abroad. PTI SH ZH AKJ ZH ZH
Actress Payal Rohatgi's Twitter account has been suspended for violating rules. The former Bigg Boss contestant was quite active on social media and did not shy away from speaking out on controversial topics.

The actress took to Instagram to urge followers to help her restore her Twitter profile. In one post she shared a screenshot of a message from Twitter saying her account has been suspended. She also uploaded a video with the title, "Why my Twitter Account is SUSPENDED ?????"

In the video Payal says that no reason has been given for the suspension and she has received no official communication on email id.

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In the video she further claims that she never uses abusive language on Twitter and shares facts with the people. "However, my attempt to do so has been projected in bad light by liberals and extremists who control Twitter. I appeal to people to please urge Twitter I appeal to people to please urge Twitter to restore my account, otherwise, I will not be able to talk to anyone," she added.

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The actress was booked by the Bundi police in Rajasthan under the IT Act on October 10 last year for posting objectionable content against Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and other members of the Gandhi family. Rajasthan Police had arrested her from Ahmedabad, said Bundi Superintendent of Police (SP) Mamta Gupta.

Payal has posted posted the objectionable content on September 6 and 21 on her social media handles - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
People in the illegally occupied PoK took to streets in Muzaffarabad against the construction of Kohala power project which they say will bring a multi-pronged crisis in the region. They shouted slogans urging Pakistan to roll back the decision of building a hydropower project in their region which was taken with Chinese permission, not their consent. Locals say they will not give in to any political or administrative manipulation and will continue their demonstrations until the construction site is shut with companies gone. They say they were misled during the entire pre-construction process and the two sides took their decisions keeping their individual profits in mind ignoring even the existence of Kashmiris. Earlier, a tripartite agreement for a 1,124 Megawatt hydropower project was signed between the government of Pakistan, the government of China and Kohala Hydropower Company Ltd, a subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation. As per the deal, a massive project will be constructed on river Jhelum in PoK under China's flagship China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan PM Imran Khan said this will provide clean fuel to Pakistan and PoK...locals say they will not get anything as Pakistan has never kept its promises in the past.
People in Kathmandu on Tuesday demonstrated in front of the Chinese Embassy to protest against Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi's interference in the political matters of Nepal. Demonstrators from the civic society held placards protesting against Hou's increased meeting with ruling politicos of the Himalayan Nation. As rift inside Nepal's ruling party, Nepal Communist Party (NCP), intensified the Chinese Ambassador has been holding meetings with leaders of the ruling party as well as the President Bidya Bhandari. On Sunday, Hou met the senior leader of the NCP, Madhav Kumar Nepal as well as President Bhandari and discussed various issues pertaining to the rift inside the party. She also met another NCP senior leader, Jhalnath Khanal, on Tuesday morning and discussed various issues. The meeting of Central Standing Committee of the ruling party has deferred till Wednesday 11 am with the potential of being postponed further as the duo chair- Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahalare yet to agree to a point for a solution to the ongoing problem.
Kathmandu [Nepal], July 07 (ANI): People here on Tuesday demonstrated in front of the Chinese embassy to protest against Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi's interference in the political matters of Nepal. Demonstrators from the civic society held placards and raised slogans protesting against Hou's increased meeting with ruling politicos of the Himalayan Nation. "All the foreign interventions in our country, we stand against it... We are turning a blind eye on what were are doing to stop the Chinese intervention and less concerned. Amidst that, Yanqi who is on run to manage our internal issue, solve the ongoing problem inside the ruling Nepal Communist Party, we have stood against it" Aliza Dhakal, a protestor told ANI. As rift inside Nepal's ruling party, Nepal Communist Party (NCP), intensified the Chinese Ambassador has been holding meetings with leaders of the ruling party as well as the President Bidya Bhandari. On Sunday, Hou met the senior leader of the NCP, Madhav Kumar Nepal as well as President Bhandari and discussed various issues pertaining to the rift inside the party. She also met another NCP senior leader, Jhalnath Khanal, on Tuesday morning and discussed various issues. The meeting of Central Standing Committee of the ruling party has deferred till Wednesday 11 am with the potential of being postponed further as the duo chair- Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal-are yet to agree to a point for a solution to the ongoing problem. Speaking on the recent Hou's meetings, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Zhang Si said, "The embassy keeps good relationships with Nepali leaders and is ready to exchange views on issues of common interest at any convenient time." Though Nepal and China call their meetings as just for maintaining a good relationship, it is speculated that Beijing might be intending to expand its political doctrine to Nepal. The Kathmandu Post reported that some officials in the Foreign Ministry have stated that the President's Office has been repeatedly violating the diplomatic code of conduct. It was further reported that the under-secretary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted at the President's Office, whose duty is to brief the President on potential meetings with foreign dignitaries and ambassadors, was not informed about the meeting between Bhandari and Hou. "As per the diplomatic code of conduct, Foreign Ministry officials should be present at such meetings, but we were not informed...So there is no institutional record of the meetings and we don't know what the talking points were," the ministry official was quoted by the Post. (ANI)
A landmark White Paper, setting out a route for the UK government to accelerate the growth of the drone industry and transform the UKs capability to achieve world-leadership in drone technology, has been presented to the Government following unanimous industry support during a three month period of consultation.

The White Paper, The commercialisation of the UK air drone industry has been developed by the Drone Delivery Group, the leading UK drone industry initiative, which brings together the first independent collaborative grouping of companies and organisations (over 300) involved in all aspects of the drone industry. It calls for the development of new testing grounds to deliver public safety, advance the industry, support the ambition of UK to become a global leader in drone technology and to provide a solution to the sectors biggest challenge in making commercial drone flights an exciting reality in UK skies.

The transformative impact of drone technology is set to be a game-changer for the global economy, with Barclays recently predicting that the global drone market is set to grow ten-fold in the next five years alone, reaching an estimated value of 30 billion ($37.64 billion), with a potential 77 billion in savings. The report highlights that the UK now has a window of opportunity to seize a leading role in reaping the potential of this cutting-edge technology.

The long-awaited White Paper, developed over two years, followed by a thorough public consultation process, addresses the vital need for a safe infrastructure where drones can operate safely in airspace potentially shared with other manned or unmanned aircraft. This includes testing sites for drones considered essential in enabling the commercial value of the industry to be realised. It states that a national approach is urgently needed in order to ensure this vital foundation for the drone industry is established quickly.

Robert Garbett, Chairman of the UK Drone Delivery Group, said: The presentation of this White Paper to the Government is a huge milestone for the progress of the UK drone industry. The industry guidance is clear, and the potential benefits are vast...

Drone technology will transform our immediate and long-term future... a positive game-changer for the global economy, with benefits for business, local communities and our quality of life.

Our guidance to Government, outlined in the White Paper, urges the creation of testing sites throughout the UK, a process that we in the Drone Delivery Group, have already started, with considerable interest, particularly from airports and large landowners.

The Government has been very supportive of the drone industry and it recognises that the speed of growth of this extraordinary sector will be guaranteed if we focus on the testing of its effectiveness and public safety, as outlined in our White Paper today. This acceleration of the drone industry will provide economic growth, jobs and career opportunities now, and for generations to come.

Implementing the guidance recommended in the Drone Delivery Groups White Paper is paramount to ensuring the UK grasps the outstanding opportunity for this industrys future growth. The USA, China and Japan have already started to embrace the need for testing infrastructure but have yet to evolve to a model which will accelerate the commercialisation of the industry... It is essential we act now. TradeArabia News Service
He has also been commended by Honourable Prime Minister on his initiative Clean-Ganga Awareness Yatra from Haridwar to Varanasi President of National Media club, Sachin Awasthi bagged Top Publicist honor under Global Humanitarian Award 2020. He is one of the 100 awardees nominated from 35 different countries and 9 continents. The award was delivered in London via webinar in the presence of Former President of the Republic of Kosovo, Fatima Sejdio; Former Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Madhav Kumar and the President of National Assembly of Andalusia, Spain, Pendro I. Altamirano.

While speaking about the initiative, Abdul Basit Syed, Founder of the World Humanitarian Drive (WHD), said, the awards were announced under the initiative Honoring the Honorable by the Global Humanitarian Award 2020 to honor women and men, who are selflessly working to improve society and the world, making it a better place to live in. Mr. Awasthi, while sharing about his inclination towards humanitarian causes, said, before any social service one should be a good person. Whenever you see a chance to help someone, do your best to mitigate the suffering. As per the information, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Sachin for organizing a 5-day-long Clean-Ganga Awareness Yatra, Vande Gange Swachhata Jan Jagran Yatra, Haridwar to Varanasi.

Working tirelessly to make people aware of Prime Ministers, Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan, his organization National Media Club inaugurated the Swachh Bharat - Sundar Bharat Mission in the year 2014, released the country's first toll-free number for cleanliness in the presence of former Union Minister and present Governor of Rajasthan, Kalraj Mishra, Former Union Ministers of State Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Ramkripal Yadav, Mohanbhai Kundaria, the present Central Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, present Union Minister of State, Arjun Ram Meghwal and several MPs and journalists.

To honor people working for cleanliness in Lucknow, Sachin organized an event in the year 2017. The occasion was graced by the presence of Honorable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath.

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As much as his devotion to god, Sachin has a holistic approach to keeping religious places clean. To do so, he took the help of children from schools and colleges and carried out a cleanliness drive on the 21 kilometer Govardhan Parikrama Marg in Mathura and administered the oath of cleanliness to thousands of people in the presence of Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti. He also hosted a cleanliness drive at Banke Bihari Mandir along with Raju Srivastava, a Prime Minister's Swachhata Navratnas. The drive was praised via twitter by honorable Prime Minister.

To aware children about the best practices of cleanliness and sanitation, a drawing competition was organized in schools and colleges from which 12 best pictures were selected to be a part of the sanitation calendar. The calendar was launched by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh in Raj Bhavan.

Sachin also saved the life of a policeman while passing through a national highway. He said I am glad to save his life with the mercy of God. The sad part is no passerby on the highway stopped and helped. He is also dedicated to uplift regional journalists through his organization, National Media Club, for which he has organized several events in the past.

And when Gonda was said to be the dirtiest district in India, Uttar Pradesh. Sachin uplifted youth to achieve the target and helped a young man to become the ambassador of the National Media Club. The man cycled from Jammu to Kanyakumari, for 5300 Kilometer to make people aware of the importance of cleanliness. For which he and the National Media Club name registered in the Limca Book of Records.

Pankaj Kulshrestha, a senior journalist, deployed in Agra faced a tragic death due to the coronavirus outbreak. National Media Club organized a webinar to pay tribute to the departed soul.

Sachin Awasthi reached out and financially assisted the family with 1 lakh rupees and also requested the government to help through Assembly Speaker Mr. Dixit. In the time of a global pandemic, Sachin Awasthi looks forward to helping everyone in need under Sri Ram Seva Mission. PWR PWR
Amritsar, Jul 7 (PTI) The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Tuesday announced Rs 1 lakh financial assistance to each of the families of the Pakistani Sikhs who were killed in a train-bus accident in that country.

At least 21 Pakistani Sikh pilgrims were killed when a minibus in which they were travelling was hit by a train in Sheikhupura district in Pakistan's Punjab province on Friday.

The SGPC, an apex gurdwara body, will also give Rs 50,000 to each of those who were injured in the accident.

Most of the Sikh pilgrims were from the north-western city of Peshawar. They were returning from the Sheikhupura-based shrine of Nankana Sahib, the most visited Sikh shrine in Pakistan.

SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal said, In these hours of grief, the entire Sikh community across the world is with the grieving families who lost their near and dear ones in the rail accident.' He further said it was an irrecoverable loss.

Longowal appealed to the Pakistan government to provide all possible help to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident and also sought action against those who were responsible for the same. PTI JMS CHS VSD ANB ANB
Colombo, Jun 29 (PTI) Principals, teachers and other staff in Sri Lanka returned to schools on Monday after three months of lockdown imposed in the country to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said the students will return to schools next week under four phases.

'The principals, teachers and the non-academic staff should return to work today (Monday) to set plans for the students' return next month,' Alahapperuma said.

'Our sons and daughters walking back to study would be the ultimate signal of the country returning to normalcy after the pandemic', Alahapperuma said.

The government claims that the spread of the pandemic has been successfully tackled with no community spread cases since April 30. Sri Lanka has reported only 11 deaths from a little over 2,000 positive cases of the coronavirus. No deaths have been reported since June 1.

However, the teacher trade unions said more planning needs to be done before reopening as some of the grades are to be subject to extended school sessions.

The students will return on July 6, 20 and 27 based on their grades.

Alahapperuma said at the first stage, circulars would be sent to schools requesting all teachers, principals, non-academic staff and School Management Boards to report to schools from June 29 to July 3.

The minister said there was no need for schoolchildren to attend schools for another week because the classrooms would have to be cleaned and disinfected.

'The students in Grades 5, 11 and 13 will have to attend schools from July 6 at the second stage, which will continue for two weeks until July 17,' he said.

The third stage will begin on July 20 for students in Grade 10 and 12. It will continue until July 24. The fourth stage will begin on July 27 for Grade 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9.' However, the Minister said no decision has been taken as yet to reopen schools for Grade 1 and 2.

The Ministry has decided to postpone the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level, which was earlier scheduled to begin on August 5, to be held from September 7-October 2.

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With the outbreak of the pandemic since mid March schools were given early vacation until late April.

However the health authorities decided it was not safe to reopen schools in late April.

Today's first stage of schools reopening came as the government formally announced the end to lockdown curfews with effect from last night.

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. PTI CORR AMS AKJ AMS
Done with shaving (razor bumps are no jokes) and considering alternatives like waxing or sugaring? We have you covered. Even though both services remove body and facial hair in a similar fashion, they have some key differences. We tapped an esthetician to give us the lowdown on sugaring vs. waxing and which one you should consider for your next appointment.

Whats the difference between sugaring and waxing?

Spoiler alert: They are actually both a type of waxing. The difference is in the ingredients. Sugaring is sugar-based while regular waxing is resin-based. Their formulas play a big role in how you apply and clean up the products. Aside from the process, youll also find that they each have different pain levels and specific hair and skin types they best for.

What Is Sugaring?

Sugaring dates back to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece. It essentially started as a home remedy and as the forefather of waxing, said Shobha Tummala, founder and CEO of Shobha, an NYC-based chain that specializes in threading, waxing, sugaring and laser hair removal.

It was considered a natural, easy way to remove hair and keep skin looking and feeling smooth for a long period of time. Despite its long history, the method recently started building momentum in the beauty world for being a quicker and cleaner alternative to traditional waxing.

Ingredients

Sugaring is created by three simple ingredients you can find right in your kitchen: sugar, lemon juice and water. Since developing the mixture can be pretty tricky, its recommended to let it be formed, applied and cleaned up by a licensed professional unless youre using the sugaring strips or pre-made kit.

Forms

Sugaring is molded into a gel-like paste and can be applied directly onto the skin at room temperature. The paste doesnt need any strips or sticks to be applied, but you may find salons or kis that do include these.

A tip from Tummala: Although many apply the paste directly, she uses denim stripes to reduce the pain while removing hairthanks to the fabric's thickness. (Plus theyre eco-friendly and reusable.)

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Sugaring Application and Clean Up

The area is cleansed and powdered (to provide distance between your skin and the paste) before a thin layer of paste is placed onto the skin. Its left on for a few seconds before its removed by pulling in the same direction that your hair follicles grow from the rootthis means the paste is more likely to take out your hair and not top layer of the skin. (Hence why its considered less painful.) Its important to note that the sugaring process can typically require some repeat application on larger areas (i.e. legs, bikini) as a result. Once your area is completely hairless, sugaring is easy to wipe off with warm water. The whole thing can usually takes between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the area and your specific hair growth.

Pros of Sugaring

Its a great exfoliator

Its hypoallergenic

Its easy to clean up

Its typically less painful

It doesnt need to be heated to apply

Its a great option for sensitive skin

Best for fine or medium hair

Cons of Sugaring

You might have to reapply to larger areas or tougher hair

Its typically more expensive than waxing

Its difficult to DIY

Not as great with thicker or coarse hair

What Is Waxing?

Waxing has a similar origin story to sugaring, dating back to Egypt as a go-to beauty service. The Egyptians relied on traditional waxings key ingredientbeeswaxto remove body hair. It then became widely popular in the 70s and 80s after wax strips were introduced to the market (and showing off some skin was more en vogue).

Ingredients

The ingredients found in traditional waxing are beeswax, resins (aka extracts from tree sap or gum) and vegetable oils. Sometimes essential oils (i.e. coconut or olive oil) and vitamins can be added to the mixture to prevent irritation and reduce pain. If youre buying your own wax to use at home, you might want to check the ingredients list because some waxes may actually be sugaring waxits not a big deal, but always good to know what youre dealing with, especially when it comes to application and clean up.

Forms

Waxing can be done with soft wax (aka the kind you need strips, fabric cloths or spatulas to apply) or hard wax (which is directly applied on the skin and removed after cooling). Both need to be heated before application. There are also pre-lined wax strips, which you can usually find in the salons or drugstore to do your own hair removal.

Application and Clean Up

While sugaring is applied at room temperature, wax is typically heated, which can feel warm or even hot on the skin. If youre dealing with the soft wax, the strips are then applied on top before removing the hair. Soft or hard, you then strip the hair in the opposite direction from where the follicles grow.

Since wax is water-resistant, it takes a gentle, oil-based cleanser to clean off any excess wax and a serum or lotion afterward to soothe the area. Tummala recommends Azulene oil, which she uses in her salons to soothe skin after treatment. It can also take up to 15 minutes to an hour for a service but can be quicker because wax can remove larger areas of hair at once.

Pros of waxing:

It removes larger areas of hair quickly

Its typically cheaper

Its typically more accessible to DIY. Here are a few options.

Its better at removing coarse or thicker hair

Cons of waxing:

Its typically heated, which means it has the potential to burn

It can be more painful since it can take off more skin

The strips arent eco-friendly

Does Waxing or Sugaring Last Longer?

Both waxing and sugaring last three to five weeks. It really all depends on how fast your hair grows back. But, if youre consistent with your appointments or at-home applications, you wont have to worry about stubble creeping up on you before the three weeks (and it can be less painful overtime).

Which One Is More Painful?

Sugaring adheres to the hair and less to the skin than wax, thus pulling less on the skin during the removal process. Less pulling means less irritation and less pain, while still effectively removing hair from the root, which is great for folks with sensitive skin, said Tummala.

Sugaring may be the clear winner in this category, but that doesnt mean its not going to pain-free removing hair from its root. A great tip to avoid hair removal being more painful? Trim before your appointment. Make sure your hair is short (close to a grain of rice) so its easier to remove the hair. (Still unsure what the heck is close to a grain of rice? If you can pinch your hairs, chances are its a bit too long.) But overallwax or sugarit depends on someones pain tolerance for either of them.

Waxing vs. Sugaring: Which One Should You Choose?

Short answer: Its up to you. They are open to all skin types and great exfoliators to not only remove hair but any lurking dead skin cells from the surface. They also last the same amount of time and follow the same routine to prep. So, maaaaybe you want to try both? Some people do waxing and sugaring for specific areas of the body, especially sugaring for the more sensitive areas.

Usually waxing is more expensive than sugaring so some parts of our body are less sensitive than other areas, said Tummala. So, for example, I sugar my bikini area, arms and underarm areas, but I dont mind waxing my legs. My legs are not as sensitive so I can save money using wax and waxing can be faster. Because sugar is not as sticky as waxing, sometimes you have to go over an area twice to remove all the hair.

When it comes to removing hair from the face, Tummala suggests sticking to waxing or even threading for the brows, forehead or lip area. At the end of the day, it all depends on your hair thickness, the area youre focusing on, hair length and price. (For example, it can be $70 to get your legs waxed but $100 to get it sugared.)

Are There Any Side Effects?

Aside from allergic reaction to the mixtures, there can be a risk of burning the skin if the paste is too hot, bruising if removed incorrectly or unwanted hair bumps due to the mixture staying on for longer than needed. Also if youre taking medication or treatment like retinol, vitamin C, steroids or Accutane it can further heighten these side effects from occurring. To avoid any of these issues, make sure youre getting these services done by a professional or consult with a dermatologist before booking an appointment.

A Few Things to Remember Before Either Appointment

Whether you choose waxing or sugaring (or both), avoid exfoliating, tanning or sunburn, working out or anything that can dry or make your skin extra sensitive beforehand. Also, avoid wearing any tight-fitting clothing to prevent any sweat or bacteria from getting trapped and leading to irritation later.

Another thing to keep in mind, if youre waxing or sugaring for the first time (and not sure how youre going to react to the service), Tummala recommends doing a patch test to make sure you dont run into any reactions or flare-ups during or after getting it done. Dont be afraid to suggest that option to the esthetician (or any concerns for that matter.)

Things to Remember After Your Appointment

No onewe mean no onelikes bumps, irritated skin or ingrown hairs, so taking care of the area afterward is super important. I think aftercare is very important to reduce the potential side effects of waxing and sugaring. The major takeaways are that you want to reduce any irritation and inflammation you may have for the first 24 to 48 hours by soothing and calming the skin, Tummala suggests. After that initial time frame, then the focus has to be to maintain the smooth skin, exfoliation.

If you still experience any of the side effects, be patient as it might go away in a few days. However, if you notice a bad reaction to any service, consult with a medical professional. Now that youre all caught up on sugaring and waxing, how about booking your next appointment hm?

RELATED: How to Do a Bikini Wax at Home, Because Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures
Karachi, Jun 29 (PTI) Four heavily armed militants, believed to be from a banned Baloch terror group, on Monday made a brazen attempt to take over the Pakistan Stock Exchange building here, killing four security guards and a police officer before being shot dead by security forces.

The militants, who arrived in a car around 10am, opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed 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, grenades and 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.

'The militants 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.

Director General Rangers Sindh Major-General Omer Ahmed Bokhari, addressing a press conference in Karachi, said the attackers intended to not only enter the building but also carry out violence and hold people hostage.

'Every terrorist was armed with weapons that included AK-47s, hand grenades, rocket launchers. They were also carrying food and water, he said.

'The PSX is an important symbol of economic activity hence the objective of these militants was to increase casualties here and hold hostages.

'It was an attempt to send a message to the world that Pakistan is not safe. They wanted to damage Pakistan's economic activity and harm investors' confidence,' he said.

The police and Rangers' officials killed all the four terrorists near the entrance gates within eight minutes, he said.

Four security guards, a police sub-inspector and two civilians 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.

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The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) linked Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack. The group is banned in Pakistan, the UK and the US.

The BLA has carried out several terrorist attacks in the past, including a suicide attack in August 2018 that targeted Chinese engineers in Balochistan, a November 2018 attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, and a May 2019 attack against Pearl Continental hotel in Gwadar, Balochistan.

A senior official of the Counter-Terrorism Department said that one of the militants was identified as Salman, who hails from Balochistan.

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'. He said trading continued without interruption.

Sindhs Inspector-General of Police Mushtaq Mahar said that the bodies of the attackers have been sent for 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 Karachis 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.

PSX Board Chairman Sulaiman Mehdi said 'trading didn't close even for a minute' due to the attack.

According to some media reports, the attackers were reportedly wearing clothes usually worn by police officials while they are off-duty.

President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the 'terrorist attack' and said that the country is determined to root out terrorism from its soil.

President Alvi, in a statement, said that terrorists will never succeed in their nefarious designs.

Prime Minister Khan condemned the attack and said that the entire nation is proud of the valiant personnel of the security agencies.

While strongly condemning the attack, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi alleged that India was involved in the attack.

'India cannot tolerate peace in Pakistan,' he said, adding that India was involved in the attack.

Reacting sharply to Qureshi's remarks, India described it as 'absurd comments.' 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.

Later, Pakistan Foreign Office said that the comments made by the MEA about the Karachi attack represent nothing but 'obfuscation and denial'.

'Indias sophistry, however, cannot hide Indias complicity in acts of terrorism against Pakistan,' it said.

The attack happened days after three low-intensity terror strikes were carried out in Karachi, Ghotki and Larkana in Sindh, leaving four people including two Rangers 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. PTI SH/CORR AMS CPS ZH AKJ NSA NSA
Japan's capital city of Tokyo reported 58 new cases of coronavirus, as the number remained at recent highs since last week and a top government official said the trend doesn't look good.

The number of cases in Tokyo rose to 60 on Sunday, highest since early May and nearly doubling from 31 five days ago. About half of recent daily confirmed cases have been detected among staff or customers of Tokyo's nightlife districts.

Tokyo's numbers were at their highs since the late May lifting of a pandemic state of emergency.

"We are closely watching the latest development," Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters. "Frankly, this gives me a rather bad feeling."

He said he planned to meet with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike to discuss the situation and a new set of caution scale that would balance disease prevention with maintaining economic activity. Koike planned to announce a new set of infection monitoring measures on Tuesday.

The latest cases brings Tokyo's total infections to 6,172, with 325 deaths, about one-third of national total.
Islamabad, Jun 29 (PTI) 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 UAEs 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.

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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. PTI SH RUP RUP RUP
Search below to see businesses in your community that received money from the Paycheck Protection Program meant to keep Americans employed during the pandemic. The program has been popular but also controversial.

The Paycheck Protection Program is the centerpiece of the federal governments plan to rescue an economy devastated by shutdowns and uncertainty. The program, which helps smaller businesses stay open and keep Americans employed during the pandemic, has been both popular and controversial.

Demand was so great that a first infusion of $349 billion ran out in just two weeks. Many businesses couldnt navigate the application process rapidly enough to get one of those first loans before funding dried up. Meanwhile, several hundred companies traded on stock exchanges -- hardly the image of a small business -- received loans maxing out at $10 million each, causing a public backlash and leading dozens to return the money.

And the public may never know the identity of more than 85% of the nearly 5 million beneficiaries to date because the administration has refused to release details on loans under $150,000 -- the vast majority of borrowers. That secrecy spurred an open-records lawsuit by a group of news organizations, including The Associated Press.
Aparajita Ghosh, TwoCircles.net

Mumbai: Vinayak Shingole, 70, resident of Bhiwandi, was suffering shortness of breath one evening and when he went to the hospital, he found there were no beds and no testing facilities. We got to know of an oxygen centre at Makkah Masjid from a social worker and obtained the benefits, he said.

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With the cases of COVID-19 in Maharashtra rising up to 1.92 lakh, the lockdown has been extended till July 31.

Kamruzzama Ansari, 59, had recently undergone an angioplasty and was low on oxygen after being home for a long time. Since our neighbour was suffering from pneumonia, we contacted Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Bhiwandi unit, and asked for oxygen to take precautions, he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is an organization that has assisted and conducted relief and rehabilitation work during the crisis in every corner of the country. Amid the ongoing pandemic, when the world is fighting the deadly coronavirus, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in collaboration with Movement for Peace & Justice (MPJ), Shanti Nagar Trust of Bhiwandi converted Shanti Nagars Makkah Masjid into a makeshift oxygen centre.

The initiative began on 18 June when the vicinity observed a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitals were shutting out of fear. The fear of contracting the virus caused jitters among civilians.

We decided to start an emergency oxygen centre and provide at least oxygen to relieve stress among individuals, said Ausaf Ahmed Falahi, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Bhiwandi.

In a span of three days, a setup with five beds and ten oxygen cylinders was stationed at the masjid. Within no time, the project was in the public eye and the demands began pouring.

Quickly, fifty more oxygen cylinders were procured to home deliver the deprived.

Both the initiatives are open for all regardless of caste, creed and religion. The beneficiaries are from all walks of life, says Shaheen, member of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Bhiwandi.

The general practitioners of the area are offering gratis and unlimited services for 24-hours, and the needy are provided with free medicines as well.

The initiative has benefitted nearly 195 patients till date and if needed, the services will be expanded.

The patients do not have to be suffering from COVID-19 to derive benefits from the service. Those currently availing treatments are majorly suffering from pneumonia, low-oxygen, asthma and even depression, which requires oxygen therapy.

This gives a very strong message out to people that a Masjid is not just open for ibaadat (prayers) but for benevolence and social causes too, says Riyaz Shaikh, a social activist.
Musheera Ashraf, TwoCircles.net

Former student of AMU and a leading student voice of the struggle against CAA, NRC, and NPR Sharjeel Usmani was arrested from his house in Azamgarh today evening, his family said.

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Sharjeel Usmani is one of the secretaries of the Fraternity Movement.

Speaking to TwoCircles.net, his family said that few men in civvies came to the house and took him away. We are trying to know what is the matter but the police are not accepting that they have arrested him, Sharjeels father Amir Usmani said.

Its very obvious that they are targeting all Muslim youth who have been vocal, said Afreen Fatima, a student activist and student of JNU.

According to her, no information has been given to his family.

His books and laptop and other personal belongings have also been taken, she said.

Students and activists gathered at Kotwali police station to enquire about the whereabouts of Sharjeel Usmani.

No information could be obtained yet, they said.

Maskoor Usmani, former president of Aligarh Muslim University Student Union told TwoCircles.net said that there are few students there at Kotwali thana but still we dont know where the police have taken Sharjeel. We have been continuously trying to speak with DIG and SSP but we have not been able to get through them.

Maskoor said that those student leaders who have emerged as the faces of the anti-CAA movement are getting targeted by the Yogi regime of U.P. They are continuously witch-hunting students of AMU. They arrested Farhan Zuberi and Amir Mintoee and now Sharjeel Usmani. He is a student of political science. They are targeting such minds who have a sense of political understanding because they just want to curb the voices of minorities in U.P.

Maskoor further said that one side they are unable to catch Dubey for past five days and hundred teams of police are searching for Dubey in five states, including Rajasthan, M.P, Delhi and Haryana and during COVID-19 pandemic when the government should think of improving health infrastructure of U.P because the coronavirus is at the verge of community spread, the police and government are continuously targeting the students. This shows the failure of the system that a gangster is not arrested while students are getting arrested.

Speaking on the arrest of Sharjeel Usmani to TwoCircles.net, National President, Fraternity Movement, Ansar Abubakar, said that Sharjeels arrest is illegal. Police are denying any information about his whereabouts. U.P police is arresting anti-CAA protestors from the Muslim community. We demand the unconditional release of Sharjeel Usmani. We condemn the arrest and witch-hunt by the U.P government. We demand the immediate release of these protestors and student activists, he said.

TwoCircles.net reached out to Azamgarh Police station but no information could be obtained regarding the arrest and charges.

The Fraternity Movement has released a statement demanding the immediate revocation of all charges against Sharjeel Usmani.

We believe that legitimate protest is a constitutional right, which cannot be diverted through propaganda and lies that are Islamophobic in nature, the Fraternity Movement said in the statement.
Nebraska has the most democratic legislature in the country, O'Donnell said, with individual members having more power and authority and the ability to affect outcomes.

Other state legislatures tend to be more authoritarian.

The Rules Committee was told that this year, legislatures in at least 23 states changed their rules or statutes to allow for remote participation of some kind during the COVID-19 emergency. Those states included Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Crawford said Wednesday's conversation was more about whether the Rules Committee should debate and discuss rules changes for January or future sessions. The speaker and clerk have worked hard to make this month's session safe, she said, although rules could be changed, if needed and feasible, she said.

"However, I don't think that we would be ready to activate it in these 17 days," she said. "If we made this rule change in these 17 days, that would likely be a part of the rules for the next session and would create the impetus for staff ... to prepare for possible remote proceedings or proxy voting for the next session."

If a member would test positive or have symptoms of the virus in these upcoming 17 days beginning July 20, Scheer said, they still could take part.
Our idea is to have an event and invite folks to come and show their support for law enforcement, he said. Its as simple as that.

But it will have music, from the Sarpy Serenaders barbershop chorus and others. It will have a master of ceremonies, former U.S. Rep. Hal Daub, who also served as Omaha mayor and on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Daub was happy to play a role showing visible community support for law enforcement and their families, he said.

Were not trying to politicize the event. Were trying to say to the community, Lets support law enforcement and stand up. Its a stressful job, not only for the men and women in uniform, but those families from which those folks come from.

The nation needs a strong public safety network to keep it safe, he said, and it benefits daily from first responders. But hes troubled by the disproportionate attention placed on a few negative actions.

We should not blame everyone for the mistakes of one, Daub said. The media seems intent on blaming everybody for the mistakes of one.

The event will include several speakers, representing law enforcement and the citys Black and Latino communities.
When I first heard that hot-headed vandals had knocked down a statue honoring a Confederate leader or a slave trader, I confess that I felt a twinge of satisfaction. Slavery was a horrible institution, after all, of which some of my own ancestors were victims.

But where does the lawlessness, once it is unleashed, end?

Sometimes in more tragedy and even farce.

In Philadelphia, for example, some self-appointed comrades of the cancel culture threw red paint on the statue of abolitionist Matthias Baldwin on which they also spray-painted murderer and colonizer.

They might as well have painted abolitionist. Yes, Baldwin argued for the right of African Americans to vote in Pennsylvania during the states 1837 constitutional convention. He also helped to establish and personally fund a school for black children.

Folks, we African Americans have plenty of opponents of our freedom, past and present, to criticize without going after our allies.

In Whittier, California, someone smeared BLM, the initials of Black Lives Matter, and (expletive) Slave Owners on a statue of poet John Greenleaf Whittier, after whom the town is named.
In addition to the task force, Payne and Frazier are facilitating conversations with the broader community to gather feedback on what RPD is doing well and what can be improved. More than 100 people signed up for Mondays session, the first of three planned virtual sessions.

The next two are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, and from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, July 13.

Where are the others?

While the task force is primarily tasked with examining the Racine Police Department, fairly early into the conversation on Monday, some members raised the point that the issues the community has with law enforcement are not confined to the city limits.

Maldonado asked Payne if other law enforcement officials, such as Racine County District Attorney Tricia Hanson, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling or Mount Pleasant Police Department Chief Matt Soens would be participating or undergoing a similar process.

We really need these key players as part of this process if not all meetings at at least some of the meetings and have these difficult conversations, Maldonado said. The communities of color and the police, theres a different relationship. And its hard to build trust when we dont have people like (Hanson) a part of this task force.
MADISON  The University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System are making it easier for students to plan credit transfers in Wisconsin by launching a new online credit transfer tool called Transferology.

Over the last year, the UW System coordinated the launch of Transferology to make transfer easier and more efficient in Wisconsin by replacing its current transfer information system with the new online credit transfer tool. UW System led a team from the UW System campuses and the technical colleges to convert all course data from their databases into Transferology and launch the new online tool. The project also included the College of Menominee Nation and the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College.

Students can access Transferology by visiting UW Systems Transfer Wisconsin webpage or each UW university or technical colleges credit transfer webpage. UW System has produced a short Transferology promotional video to show how the new tool will make it easier for students to check course equivalencies and help them make better decisions on transferring credits to another campus.
At least 20 states  including Illinois, Kansas and Michigan  have imposed some sort of mask requirement. Wisconsin had the second-fewest overall health restrictions in the nation, according to a report from the credit company WalletHub.

At the university

A similar mask rule was already in place on the UW-Madison campus, where employees are required to wear masks inside all campus buildings unless they are alone in a lab or office.

Spokeswoman Meredith McGlone said the university is enforcing that policy and is sharing the county order with students, faculty and staff for their awareness.

McGlone did not immediately respond to a question about whether the campus policy would be updated to match the governors, which does not include an exemption for when people are in a room by themselves.

Wednesdays memo to state workers said the changes were in response to the increasing spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin over the past several weeks.

Nearly 600 new cases were confirmed Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 33,154, according to the Department of Health Services. The death toll reached 807 with the report of two deaths Wednesday.
Ten months after former Madison Police Chief Mike Koval announced his retirement, the Police and Fire Commission have announced opportunities for the public to weigh in on the search process.

However, in a letter to the PFC Wednesday, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway expressed concern at how long the city has been without a permanent police chief and said she wants to have a decision from the commission in the next 90 days so this community can move forward.

Particularly in this transformative historic time, our community needs a permanent, community-vetted police chief to take us into a new era of public safety design and implementation, Rhodes-Conway said in the letter.

Also, the mayor said she hoped the PFC  which has authority to hire police and fire chiefs, fire them and hold disciplinary hearings when necessary  would release a calendar and list of resources needed to accomplish selecting a chief at its July 13 meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Nia Enemuoh-Trammell, president of the PFC, said the panel plans to discuss the timeline with a search firm hired to find candidates for the post.
Several Assembly Republicans issued statements in support of the forgivable loan program.

It has been over three months since the governor declared a state of emergency and unemployment claims spiked, Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance, said in a statement. His administrations failure and apathy must force consideration of emergency actions.

Also on Wednesday, DWD said customer service has markedly improved in recent weeks due to a more than threefold increase in staff  from about 500 people in mid-March to more than 1,700 as of Tuesday.

DWD has also expanded help center hours to 6:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays. However, Republicans such as Nygren have called for those centers to be open seven days a week.

Such changes have allowed the department to answer more calls and process more claims, DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman said.
Under the rule issued by DeVos, school districts are ordered to set aside a portion of their aid for private schools using a formula based on the total number of private school students in the district.

The policy has been contested by public school officials who say the funding should be shared based on the number of low-income students at local private schools rather than their total enrollments. Thats how funding is shared with private schools under other federal rules that Congress referenced in the legislation creating the relief aid.

But DeVos has said the funding is separate from other federal aid and was meant to support all students.

The rule creates a false choice where school districts must include private schools on the basis of their total population or be forced to jump through unnecessary hoops to do what Congress intended and make sure the funds get to schools that are hurting the most, Becerra said.

He said the rule undermines the intent of Congress and violates the separation of powers as established by the U.S. Constitution.

It could cost California public schools $1.5 billion in funding, he said.
- Angel Locsin conversed with a netizen in the comments section of her Instagram post

- The conversation began when the netizen accused Angel of ordering boxes of alcohol and not paying for them

- According to Angel, she has never ordered alcohol from her and that she orders directly from the alcohol company when she makes donations

- She also told the netizen to report the incident so that she would be able to find the person who scammed her

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Photo from Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/28324240@N07/)

Source: Facebook

Angel Locsin had an intense discussion with a netizen in the comments section of her Instagram post.

KAMI learned that the netizen accused Angel of ordering boxes of alcohol and not paying for them.

The Kapamilya star denied the accusation, telling the netizen that she has never ordered alcohol from her and that she orders directly from the alcohol company when she makes donations.

The actress also told the netizen to report the incident so that she would be able to find the person who scammed her.

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Angel Locsin is a famous actress and endorser in the Philippines, best known for her portrayal of the superhero Darna. The actress is currently engaged to her partner, Neil Arce.

She is also known as one of the most charitable celebrities in the country. Recently, she donated test kits for COVID-19 with the help of actress Anne Curtis.

Furthermore, Angel has been active in expressing her support for the ABS-CBN shutdown. The Kapamilya star has emphasized that trying to close down ABS-CBN would lead to thousands of employees losing their jobs.

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Source: Kami.com.ph
- Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte revealed that she tested positive for the coronavirus disease or COVID-19

- Belmonte bared that she is feeling fine and has no COVID-19 symptoms right now

- The contact tracing for those she interacted with recently has already started

- She also said that this should be a reminder to everyone to be more cautious in preventing COVID-19

- The Quezon City has 3,869 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of July 7, 2020

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Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte announced on Wednesday morning that she tested positive for coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

KAMI learned that Belmonte is thankful that she immediately discovered her current health condition.

Photo from Philstar

Source: Facebook

In a Facebook post by the Quezon City Government, Belmonte shared that she is asymptomatic and feeling fine.

Nais ko pong ipahayag sa lahat ng aking minamahal na QCitizens na ako po ay nag-positibo sa aking huling COVID-19 test. Nagpapasalamat po ako na agad itong natuklasan, she said.

Sa ngayon, maayos po ang aking kalagayan at wala po akong nararamdamang anumang sintomas, she added.

The local government of Quezon City already started the contact tracing for those she interacted with recently.

The QC mayor reminded everyone that she got infected by the deadly coronavirus even though she was being cautious, always wears her face mask, regularly washes her hand, and maintains social distancing.

Nangyari po ito sa kabila ng aking ibayong pag-iingat, pagsusuot ng facemask, madalas na paghugas ng kamay, at social distancing, Belmonte said in a statement.

Kaya sana ay magsilbi itong paalala na ang COVID-19 ay tunay na isang kakaibang sakit na dapat pag-ing atan pa nang lubusan, she continued.

As of July 7, 2020, the Quezon City has 3,869 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The active cases are 1,301, while 2,214 patients were able to recover.

Quezon City is a highly urbanized and most populous city in the Philippines. It is the largest city in terms of population and land area in Metro Manila.

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The approval rating of the Metro Manila mayors and local government units was released two months ago. Quezon City had the highest disapproval rating. 36.84% of the respondents were not satisfied with the COVID-19 response of Joy Belmonte.

Meanwhile, two barangays in Quezon City were placed under extreme enhanced community quarantine three months ago because of the spike in COVID-19 cases.

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- Alessandra de Rossi expressed her frustration on the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines

- She took to Twitter to write about the ABS-CBN franchise renewal issue being used to mask the reality

- The actress said the country is not winning the fight against COVID-19 because people are hungry, sick and dying

- Alessandra furthermore suggested, Let's focus on this pandemic

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Alessandra de Rossi took to social media to express her frustration on the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

Alessandra de Rossi airs frank thoughts on growing COVID-19 cases in PH

Source: Instagram

On her Twitter account, the actress retweeted on July 6 an update by GMA News that reads, BREAKING: DOH reports 2,099 new COVID-19 cases (1,258 Fresh, 841 Late), 6 new deaths, and 243 new recoveries. This brings the totals to 46,333 confirmed cases, 1,303 deaths, and 12,185 recoveries as of today, July 6.

She then wrote about giving so much attention to the ABS-CBN franchise renewal issue instead of focusing on the pandemic.

It kills my soul. 2k cases, 2 days straight. Sige, let's focus on abs-cbn pa. Let's talk about anything that's used a smokescreen to mask the reality! We are not winning. People are hungry, sick and dying, and they need to risk their lives for food. Ano, ABS-CBN pa rin ang issue? she tweeted.

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She added, Di ako galit. Nasasaktan ako. Wala. Akong magawa to make anything better, but to pray na tulungan natin ang isa't isa. Let's focus on this pandemic. Ito ang problema natin. Saka na yung iba. May oras para dyan. Pero ang buhay ng tao pag natapos, di mo na mababalik yun.

To recall, the Kapamilya network received an order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to stop its broadcast operation on May 5.

The NTC reasoned out that the legislative franchise of the giant media network already expired on May 4 so it cannot continue operating on television and radio.

Since then, it became one of the much-talked-about issues in the country. Several celebrities have already spoken their views about it.

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Alessandra de Rossi is an award-winning film and television actress in the Philippines. She was acclaimed for her performance in the 2017 breakthrough film entitled Kita Kita.

A month ago, the actress hilariously commented on the post of her sister Assunta about having an ultrasound amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. She also reacted to the latters post calling her luxury cars "useless" amid lockdown.

Also recently, Alessandra proved that she is a brave, courageous, and loyal friend to Heart Evangelista after the Kapuso actress got bashed by a netizen who accused her of being a show-off.

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- The Congress is reportedly set to decide about the fate of ABS-CBN after all the hearings are concluded this Thursday

- A popular news website in the Philippines obtained a copy of the unofficial list of votes

- Based on the said document, 27 lawmakers voted yes for the new franchise of the media giant

- However, it was not enough to outnumber the total no votes that the majority of the lawmakers gave

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The Manila Times, a prominent news website in the Philippines, recently showed the unofficial list of Congress votes regarding the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.

KAMI learned that based on the document that the said website obtained, the majority of lawmakers are voting no to the renewal of franchise of the said media giant.

Allan Cayetano

Source: Facebook

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Although the document was unofficial, it showed that a total of 25 solons voted in favor of the Kapamilya network.

However, the yes votes were not enough to outnumber the 57 no votes of lawmakers with regards to the said issue.

According to The Manila Times, the voting for a new franchise of ABS-CBN will happen after the hearings are concluded on Thursday.

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Copy obtained by The Manila Times

Source: UGC

ABS-CBN is one of the biggest broadcasting firms in the country. It has produced excellent artists such as Coco Martin and Kathryn Bernardo.

Several Kapuso celebrities reacted after learning that the said network was ordered to stop its broadcast operations due to the expiration of its franchise.

Vice Ganda also gave a heart-stirring message to the employees of ABS-CBN who are greatly affected by the issues that it is facing.

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- The pharmaceutical firm called Regeneron announced a piece of positive news on July 6

- It revealed that the possible drug against COVID-19 has now entered the final stage of clinical trials

- The last trial will assess the ability of the drug to prevent uninfected people from contracting the virus

- Regeneron also said that they have moved into the 2/3 portion of the two trials that assess the drugs effectiveness on infected patients

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A possible treatment for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has now reportedly entered the final stage of clinical trials.

KAMI learned that the pharmaceutical firm called Regeneron finally announced the much-awaited development on Monday, July 6.

Regeneron is the medical company behind the drug REGN-COV2, a combination of two antibodies that block the spike protein of the novel coronavirus.

Novel coronavirus

Source: Getty Images

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Jacqueline Howard of CNN recently reported that the Phase 3 trial of the said treatment will assess its ability to prevent uninfected people from contracting the virus.

The final stage of the trial will happen at more or less 100 sites, enrolling around 2 thousand patients from the United States.

With regards to the two trials that Regeneron is conducting in terms of the drugs ability to treat hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, the firm said that they are already into the 2/3 portion of the process.

INQUIRER.net shared a report that said the two trials will be conducted to 1,850 hospitalized and 1,050 non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and the US.

"We are running simultaneous adaptive trials in order to move as quickly as possible to provide a potential solution to prevent and treat COVID-19 infections, even in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic," said Dr. George D. Yancopoulos, the co-founder of Regeneron.

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The novel coronavirus pandemic is considered as one of the most dangerous health crises that the world has ever faced.

An Italian doctor claimed a few weeks ago that the said virus is becoming less dangerous now and it may just disappear without the need for a vaccine.

The team of Chinese medical experts who went to the Philippines to help fight COVID-19 also divulged their findings about the situation in the country.

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- Raffy Tulfo recently received a complaint against Janella Salvador on his popular program

- The actress former personal assistant accused her of not paying a total of 3,600 pesos

- Janella already took to social media her first and final response on the said issue

- The veteran broadcast-journalist also aired a strong message after reading the tweet of the celebrity

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Raffy Tulfo aired a strong and frank message for Janella Salvador after the actress former personal assistant complained about the salary that she received.

KAMI learned that a certain Michelle Pelongco went to the program of the veteran broadcast-journalist to air her accusation against the gorgeous celebrity.

The former P.A. claimed that Janella did not give the supposed 3,600 pesos as payment for the extra 12 days of service as an assistant.

The Born for You star already belied the accusation, saying that her former employee was just twisting the story to get money from her.

If you're gonna twist the story in your desperate attempt to get money from me... sorry, hun. 3.6K is small and I would gladly give it to someone who deserves it. Not worth my time, she wrote on Twitter.

Janella Salvador

Source: Instagram

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Raffy was made aware of the social media post of Janella and he immediately aired his honest reaction about it.

He stated that if the celebrity presented documents such as payslips, he and the show would have sided with her in the said issue.

The prominent host also mentioned that he already considers the case closed and he will do his best to help Michelle in case Janella tries to file a legal complaint.

Consider this as case closed. Maliban na lang kung magdedemanda si Janella. Lilitaw na kaming dalawa ang magdedemandahan. Kahit saan makarating, hindi ko bibitiwan itong si Michelle. Gagastusan ko to para sanggain yung demandang ikakaso ni Janella, he quipped.

I hope not. Kapag nagkademandahan, lalong lalaki ang kaso. Dehadong-dehado ka dito, Janella. So if I were you, tutal nabayaran ko naman na, keep quiet ka na lang, he added.

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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

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ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- BY: LIBBY CATHEY and LUIS MARTINEZ, ABC News



As President Donald Trump ramps up rhetoric stoking racial divisions in the country, asked directly to give his personal stance on the Confederate battle flag's place in society, Trump said, for him, it's "very simple -- it's freedom of speech."



"You do what you do, it's freedom of speech. NASCAR can do whatever they want, and they've chosen to go a certain way, other people choose to go a different route, but it's freedom of speech," Trump told Nexstar in an interview Tuesday, on the heels of a controversial tweet appearing to criticize the racing giant for banning the flag.



In a separate interview Tuesday, the president also declared, "We are in a culture war."



The flag has become a flash point in that increasingly bitter debate -- amplified by Trump as he tries to regain lost ground in a reelection campaign dominated by how he's dealt with the pandemic.



"If the Republicans don't toughen up and get smart and get strong and protect our heritage and protect our country, I think they're going to have a very tough election," he told RealClear Politics.



Trump contradicted his own White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who just the day before, looking to counter reports calling the president's Fourth of July speeches "dark and divisive," said, "This vision is not a culture war."



At that briefing Monday, she also deflected repeated questions about the president's NASCAR tweet and where Trump stood the Confederate flag issue, saying he hadn't taken a position.



"I spoke to him this morning about this, and he said he was not making a judgment one way or the other," McEnany said, when asked about the president's tweet. "At the very end the ban on the flag was mentioned in the broader context of the fact that he rejects this notion that somehow NASCAR men and women who go to these sporting events are racist."





Has @BubbaWallace apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX? That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2020

I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth Pocahontas Warren (of all people!) Amendment, which will lead to the renaming (plus other bad things!) of Fort Bragg, Fort Robert E. Lee, and many other Military Bases from which we won Two World Wars, is in the Bill!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2020

As versions of the Confederate flag come down at Mississippi state government buildings and elsewhere, Trump's calling displaying it "freedom of speech" may also be setting him up for a showdown with the United States military.As of earlier this week, the Defense Department was making plans to ban Confederate flags and other divisive symbols from all military bases which could be finalized as early as this week. A U.S. official told ABC News that the Pentagon last week asked the military services to review the proposed language of the ban and address any concerns or explain how they would carry out.Back in February the Marine Corps was the first military service to ban Confederate flags and divisive symbols, a ban that went into effect in June."It became pretty clear that some symbols were being hijacked by organizations and used a very bad, negative way," General David Berger, the Commandant of the Marine Corps told ABC News last week. "The Confederate battle flag was part of that."Berger said he undertook the move because divisive symbols undermine unit cohesion.In the wake of George Floyd's death the Army and Navy announced plans to work on their own bans -- until the Defense Department asked that they hold off unilateral action until they came up with a comprehensive plan.At least one four-star general serving internationally has taken the lead on his own command ahead of the Pentagon announcement.The head of U.S. Forces Korea, Army Gen. Robert Abrams, also banned the Confederate flag on all USFK installations last month, saying in a memo, "The Confederate Battle Flag does not represent the values of U.S. Forces assigned to serve in the Republic of Korea.""While I acknowledge some might view it as a symbol of regional pride, many others in our force see it as a painful reminder of hate, bigotry, treason, and devaluation of humanity," Adams said. "Regardless of perspective, one thing is clear: it has the power to inflame feelings of racial division."The growing pressure to ban the Confederate flag from bases also comes as the federal government grapples with the decision to rename ten of them named after Confederate officers scattered across the South.The GOP-led Senate Armed Forces Committee in June added an amendment to do so in its upcoming, annual Defense bill, and although the measure received bipartisan support, President Trump was quick to express opposition.In a tweet last week, Trump said he would veto the bill because of the amendment -- "plus other bad things!"Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, a member of the committee which approved the measure, asked directly last month about the president's opposition, said, "Well, we'll work that through, but we're moving in the right direction."Since Rounds' comments, a growing number of state and local governments, schools and sporting leagues have also attempted to reconcile the role racism has played in their own histories -- including with the state of Mississippi, once the heart of the Confederate South.Republican Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi, a Trump ally, signed a bill last week to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag, saying at the ceremony, "This is not a political moment to me but a solemn occasion to lead our Mississippi family to come together, to be reconciled and to move on."Trump has seen resistance from his own party since tweeting Monday that NASCAR's only full-time Black driver should apologize for an investigation he did not call for and "that & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!"Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said it "made perfect sense" that Bubba Wallace was concerned about a noose found in his garage and argued NASCAR was trying to "grow" its fan base by banning the Confederate flag."One way you grow the sport is you take images that divide us and ask that they not be brought into the venue," Graham told Fox News Radio Monday.While Trump has warned Republicans to "toughen up," a rift in his party appears to grow in size."We're starting to see some cracks within the Republican Party -- and that's one of the things that makes Trump's comments so strange -- because he does really seem to be left behind right now," said Kevin Levin, a historian based in Boston who specializes in Civil War history.Levin went on to note that even with President Trump not explicitly saying the word "Confederate," whether in his recent speeches or tweets, most Americans can deduce what the president is getting at."It's a dog whistle," he said, noting the White House's repeated references to "our history and our heritage.""People know how to interpret that," he added.McEnany at Monday's briefing went on to describe what she called "vast cancel culture" across the nation and warned against people taking down statues of Gandhi and George Washington when questioned about the Confederacy."[Trump] stands against the demonization of Americans, and he stands firmly on the side of preserving our history," she emphasized.Levin, noting the majority of Confederate symbols coming down are being removed by local governments and not "mobs," said a clash over the Confederacy may provide Trump with an opportunity -- though he notes the tension surrounding these symbols have existed well before Trump took office."Trump likes to think of himself as someone who has the support of the military. A showdown like this obviously doesn't lend itself well to that narrative, but, if anything, it will give Trump what he wants," Levin said. "Distraction."But Trump hasn't always been a hard-liner for flying the battle flag.Notably, in Trump's first news conference as a presidential candidate, asked whether he agreed with then-South Carolina GOP Gov. Nikki Haley's decision to remove the Confederate battle flag from the State Capitol grounds, Trump said "yes.""I think it probably does, and I think they should put it in the museum," he answered in June 2015. "Let it go. Respect whatever it is you have to respect because it was a point in time, and put it in a museum. But I would take it down."ABC News' Cindy Smith and Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
The La Crosse County Highway Department has received a portion of the $1,777,117 it was awarded in annual state funding for 2020.

General Transportation Aid is funded through the state and Department of Transportation, and is awarded annually to municipalities based on population and expenditures. It helps pay for maintenance like filling potholes and plowing snow.

This years funding is up a bit from 2019, when the county received $1,624,912, but officials realize that 2021 could look different due to the financial uncertainties COVID-19 has brought.

I have no crystal ball on this one, and theres definitely some concerns, said Ron Chamberlain, the La Crosse County highway commissioner.

Chamberlain said that this annual transportation aid is funded through gas tax and vehicle registration fees each year.

Fuel consumption has been down, gas tax revenue is down. How that balances out in the 2021 budget has yet to be seen, Chamberlain said.

But state officials have made reassuring remarks that roads are a top funding priority.
A total of 420 COVID-19 test kits were used during the free community drive-thru event held on the Vernon County Fairgrounds in Viroqua, Tuesday.

The Wisconsin National Guard and the Vernon County Health Department and Emergency Management hosted the testing event, which was open to people age 5 and older with and without symptoms of COVID-19. When the testing event was first announced, it was only for those experiencing one or more symptoms of COVID-19.

Linda Nederlo, public information officer for the county, said 400 tests were planned for, and they were authorized to use extra test kits if needed. An additional community testing event is pending. They discussed it last night, Nederlo said in an interview Wednesday morning. She said it depends on the National Guard to get the authorization for another test date.

Nederlo said the event went well, except for the thunderstorm that passed through the area at about 3:40 p.m., which caused a shutdown until 4:30 p.m. It blew really hard out there and rained hard, she said.
The Vernon County Historical Society is celebrating another milestone in 2020, the 150th birthday of the Sherry-Butt House! This simple but elegant two-story home, located at 795 N. Main in Viroqua, was built in 1870 by Cyrus M. and Margaret (Mc Auley) Butt. An excerpt from the Vernon County Censor, dated May 11, 1870, states: Col. Butt has begun the erection of his proposed dwelling house. It will be located on the fine building spot just north of the village, on the right-hand side of the road.

Today the Sherry-Butt House is owned and operated as a museum by the Vernon County Historical Society. In order to get to know the members of the Butt family and of the second family to own the home, Orbec and Hilda Sherry, we are featuring the homes residents in a series of columns. This week well look at Col. Cyrus M. Butt.

Cyrus Marion Butt was born in Morgan County, Ohio in 1833. His father was a Methodist minister, a veteran of the war of 1812, and of Irish descent. Butt attended Ohio Wesleyan University, taking the scientific course, from 1853-55, then studied law with a law firm in Mc Connellsville, Ohio in 1856.

In the spring of 1857 he moved to Des Moines, Iowa with his father. (His mother had died in Ohio in 1849.) One year later he moved to Viroqua. It was here that he finished studying for the law and was admitted to the Bar in 1859.
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Return to school?

During the press conference, Rombalski addressed media and community questions regarding the resuming of schools in the fall and the potential local mandating of wearing masks in public.

Of the former, Rombalski says a Health Department liaison has been sitting in on the weekly meetings with school district officials and it is believed local schools will relay a decision on the format of education early next month. Rombalski said, "I do think we should be in school. I do think we should be prepared, though, for some mixture of virtual and in-person classes.

"Having individuals in a classroom is really important for some students," Rombalski, who serves on a school board and notes some youth have difficulty staying engaged or up to speed on subjects without in-class engagement. "I think having kids be in school is such a critical part of our community."

There needs to be "flex," however, Rombalski says, with plans in place should a student be diagnosed with the coronavirus and safety standards set in terms of capacity and sanitation. The safety of school sporting events will also need to be considered, with social distancing and travel facets of concern.
How to get tested

If you have symptoms of COVID-19  such as fever, cough or shortness of breath  you should contact your health care provider to be tested. If you don't have symptoms but think you may have been exposed to the virus, you can visit one of several community testing facilities.

The Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way (enter from Rimrock Road), is the main community testing facility in Madison. Drive-thru, bike-up or walk-up testing is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

CVS Pharmacy, 6701 Mineral Point Road, is also providing screening by appointment.

In addition, Public Health Madison and Dane County and Madison365, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, has set up neighborhood testing facilities at the following times and locations:

Lighthouse Church, 6402 Schroeder Road: 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday

Northport Community Learning Center, 1740 Northport Drive: 1 to 7 p.m. July 14

The Hmong Institute, 4402 Femrite Drive: 1 to 7 p.m. July 16

Taft Street Club, 2001 Taft St.: 1 to 7 p.m. July 21

The McKenzie Family Boys & Girls Club, 232 Windsor St., Sun Prairie: noon to 6 p.m. July 23
The laws passed in the lame-duck session require Kaul to get permission from a GOP-controlled legislative committee to settle lawsuits, and they guarantee the Legislature can intervene in many cases using its own attorneys rather than those from the state Department of Justice.

Republicans also gave the Legislature greater control over the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.s governing board and suspended the governors authority to appoint the agencys CEO until September of 2019, after which Evers appointed Missy Hughes to replace retiring CEO Mark Hogan.

Republicans also confirmed dozens of former Republican Gov. Scott Walkers political appointees during the lame-duck session. Evers rescinded 15 of those appointments after a lower court told him he could essentially fire them, but the Supreme Court later restored the appointees to their posts.
As the owner of the ailing Shops at Rockvale prepares to redevelop the property by bringing in a mix of new uses, it wants to cast a wider net than previously announced.

Wharton Realty Group wants to be able to add a grocery store and a parking garage, along with its previously announced interest in apartments, townhouses, retirement living, offices, a convenience store, child-care center and other uses.

The new possibilities are included in a proposed amendment to the East Lampeter Township zoning ordinance that would make the mix of uses possible on a property thats zoned regional commercial, as the Rockvale outlet center is.

The townships supervisors are scheduled to vote on the proposed amendment at a special meeting on Monday, July 20 at 5 p.m. in the township office, 2250 Old Philadelphia Pike.

If the redevelopment occurs, it would be the first time in the county that part of a shopping center was repurposed for housing.

In March, Wharton Realty went before the supervisors with a draft of the amendment that would create an overlay district for underutilized shopping centers, defined by criteria that describe but do not name Rockvale, in the regional commercial zone, as LNP | LancasterOnline reported then.

Wharton Realty representatives told the supervisors about the Lincoln Highway East shopping centers struggles, attributing them to the emergence of a stronger rival 1.5 miles down the road, Tanger Outlets, which successfully wooed key Rockvale tenants and the shift of consumers to shopping online.

That losing battle, which has resulted in long swaths of empty stores at Rockvale, remains the cornerstone of Wharton Realtys pitch for the zoning amendment.

(Wharton Realty) is presently unable to find or maintain tenants for the vacant stores located in the Shopping Center, the proposed amendment says. Rockvale has about 45 stores currently, it says, down from a peak of 120 in the 1990s.

The proposed amendment, submitted June 18, is mostly the same as the draft.

It still has a three-point definition of underutilized shopping center, saying it must be at least 50 acres (Rockvale has 63 acres), have frontage on Lincoln Highway East and have a large chunk of retail area vacant for at least six months over the past year (up to 35% from 25% in the draft version).

The document also moderately reduces the maximum amount of the site that can be covered by impervious surfaces (such as buildings and parking lots) from 80% in the draft to 70%. The amount of impervious surface affects the propertys stormwater runoff.

However, the developer of such a project could exceed the 70% maximum if it demonstrates it could handle the additional stormwater.

In another change, the proposed amendment adds a minimum number of residential units per acre (4) across the entire site; the draft had no minimum. The maximum remains 12 per acre. These density parameters exclude retirement living or senior care facilities.

If the supervisors approve the zoning amendment, Wharton Realtys next step would be to submit a master plan for the redevelopment, showing how much of which uses would go where on the property.

A project spokeswoman declined to say when that might happen, saying only that Wharton Realty wants to do so quickly. Once a master plan is approved by the township, and various state and local permits are obtained, construction of the new uses could begin.

Its not known how many stores or how much of the estimated 520,000 square feet of buildings, some of which date to the centers opening in 1986, would be retained.

Wharton Realty acquired Rockvale in 2017. The New Jersey-based firm tried to revive the property the following year with a rebranding, new facades and new signage, but that failed to generate a significant improvement in revenue or occupancy.

Wharton Realty Vice President Isaac Massry did not respond to messages Monday and Tuesday seeking comment on the zoning amendment and the project timetable.
A Mountville food truck event in May was so successful, the local fire company is organizing a tasty encore this weekend.

Mountville Fire Company No. 1s Food Truck Festival 2.0 will be held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Froelich Park, 350 W. Main St., Mountville.

Unlike the May event, which was drive-thru only, the public will be able to walk up and order from local food trucks at this weekends festival. Thats because Lancaster County has entered the states green phase of reopening after the pandemic lockdown.

The event includes $5 raffle tickets, with three cash prizes on the line.

Parking will be available just south of the park, off Ruby Street. Event proceeds benefit the fire company.

About 10 regional food truck vendors will be available each day of the festival. Those include Scoops Ice Cream and Grille, Farm Show Milkshakes, Blazing Swine BBQ, Philadelphia Hoagie Co. On a Roll, The Perk Up Truck, Brickers Famous French Fries, Auntie Annes Pretzels, Dough Heads Waffles, and The Donut Guys. Some trucks will only be there for one day of the festival.

Pet Wants Lancaster, a pet treats truck, also will be on hand.

The Mountville Days carnival drive-thru food truck festival in May served people in 1,060 vehicles and raised $13,000 for the fire company.

The company ran the event when its annual Mountville Days fundraising carnival had to be modified because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For information on the festival and the food trucks scheduled to be there each day, visit the fire companys Facebook page at facebook.com/mountvillefire.
Columbia Borough police seek "community cooperation" after someone shot a gun during a fight involving "numerous" suspected teenagers on Tuesday night, according to the department.

Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of South Fifth Street at 9:13 p.m. for a fight in progress. Someone shot a firearm during the fight, police said.

A group fled the scene when officers arrived, according to police, and witnesses have not cooperated with police.

Anyone with information about the fight or who fired the gun is asked to call Columbia Police at 717-684-7735. People can also submit tips through the department's Crimewatch page.

For more Lancaster County news:
A body found Tuesday afternoon in a pond in Manor Township has been identified as a 61-year-old man missing since Monday.

Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni identified the man as Paul Wadel, of Manor Township.

An autopsy will be conducted Wednesday to determine the cause of death, Diamantoni said.

Police say there is no evidence of foul play after crews discovered Wadel's body while searching for him.

Wadel's family had last seen him July 6, police said.

First responders were first dispatched to search the area near Habecker Church and Central Manor roads around 2:06 a.m., according to Lancaster County-Wide Communications.

While searching near the 600 block of Habecker Church Road, police found Wadel's truck. Several items "of interest" were also found near a pond in the area.

Police were assisted by Blue Rock Fire Department and a dive team from the Rawlinsville Fire Company. After a dive was canceled due to "environmental" concerns, the pond was drained.

Wadel's body was discovered after a large portion of the pond was drained, police said.

More Lancaster County news:
When people took to the streets here and nationwide to protest police brutality after George Floyd died while in police custody in Minneapolis, their reaction was ignited by a video that gave a clear view of a blatant action.

But as Lancaster city planning commission Chair Eve Bratman knows, not all injustice is done out in the open and captured on a video that goes viral. Sometimes its more subtle, getting done with documents, rules and decisions in offices and meetings, rather than on a street.

I felt it was important to do a public reckoning in terms of racial justice issues, she said, including at the planning commission.

In what might be the first such action of its kind in the county, Bratman asked the city planning commission last week to approve a statement she drafted that condemns decades-old decisions that led to redlining, which segregated minorities, and public housing developments, which devastated some neighborhoods.

The statement includes a vow for planning commission members to put racial equity front and center in its work.

The planners agreed, by a 4-1 vote. Commission member Chris Modlin dissented because he thought it should be fleshed out by concrete steps the commission can take to make such a commitment happen.

Modlin and fellow commission member Lagena Wright were named to a subcommittee to do just that, by identifying actions to take and data to consider moving forward.

Nelson Polite Jr. was not present for the virtual vote but later joined the Zoom call. Remaining commission members Jocelynn Ritchey and Jose Colon were absent; a ninth seat on the board is vacant.

Members were supportive of the statement.

This is long overdue, said Wright. Its been going on for years and years and years.

Racialized social geography

In the now-sanctioned statement, the planning commission said it recognizes that the history of housing in the city has long involved a racialized social geography.

Bratman said she learned about many of the earlier urban planning policies in a book by fellow Franklin & Marshall College professor David Schuyler titled A City Transformed: Redevelopment, Race, and Suburbanization in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which chronicles the citys infrastructure development from 1940 to 1980.

Bratman said many of the policies on blighting wreaked havoc and destroyed the Black community in the areas which they lived at the time, mostly on the citys southern end, and enabled segregation in the form of a hyper-concentrated level of poverty in the citys southeastern end that remains to this day.

Blanding Watson, president of the Lancaster NAACP, welcomed the acknowledgement.

These admissions now allow for discussions and planning to go forward with clearer eyes and frank inputs for the future, he said in a statement to LNP | LancasterOnline.

The planning commission fell short of drafting an official resolution because it would have needed further consultation with the citys solicitor to find out the legal weight or binding-ness of a resolution, Bratman said, but adds she doesnt know if it would have made a difference.

Traditionally, planning commissions dont even do resolutions, Bratman said.

With this commitment, Bratman said she hopes the planning commission can take steps to reexamine how it takes certain actions, including limiting zoning for single-family homes, which she called incompatible with addressing some of the poverty in the city, as well as determining blighted properties, among other priorities.

Concrete action steps

Scott Standish, executive director of the county planning commission, said he was unaware of any other municipal planning commission approving a measure on racial equity in Lancaster County.

As a city resident, Standish said he personally appreciates what the city is doing in its reform efforts.

City council President Ismail Smith Wade-El hopes to keep the momentum going at council.

Were working on a resolution but were also working to pair it with concrete action steps that will take a little more negotiation, he said. He aims to have language put forth for discussion in council at a later date.

We also recognize that the council and the city administration have not gone nearly far enough in ensuring racial and social equity, and police are only a part of that, he said.

He said by addressing social equity barriers in planning such as housing, poverty and affordability  thats how we get ahead of the policing stuff.

--Staff writer Tim Mekeel contributed to this report.
Students at two of Lancaster Countys largest colleges are calling for tuition discounts in the fall as many classes shift online due to the coronavirus.

Online petitions urging Millersville University and Franklin & Marshall College to reduce tuition have received a combined 1,400 signatures and counting, as students express concern over paying full price for a potentially watered down academic and social experience.

"We should not be paying full price for these online classes," said Michael Kleine, a Millersville rising senior and music industry major who created a petition.

The movement comes as colleges across the country attempt to reopen safely and try to offer a comparable campus experience for students during a pandemic.

Like Millersville and F&M, many colleges and universities have opted to reopen in the fall under a blended approach, meaning a combination of in-person and online courses. Still, most of them havent reduced tuition. Princeton University, which announced Monday it will cut tuition 10% this school year, is one exception.

Some schools, like Temple University, faced lawsuits in the spring demanding partial tuition refunds because of the shift online.

Demanding a discount

In April, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, of which Millersville is a member, agreed to freeze tuition. It has done so for two consecutive years, despite myriad financial difficulties that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Still, Kleines petition demands tuition be reduced by 50% for students taking online courses.

Kleine said he created the online petition after learning all five of his classes in the fall would be conducted online.

"Theres an academic effect where youre not going to learn as much as you would face-to-face," Kleine, 21, said, adding that virtual classes make networking, an important tool for college students, next to impossible.

Millersville spokeswoman Janet Kacskos said in an email that the university sorely needs revenue, 75% of which is covered by tuition and fees, following the distribution of millions of dollars in refunds. She encouraged students to apply for assistance through the universitys coronavirus relief funds.

Dave Pidgeon, spokesman for the state system, said while he understands students may be in a bind, the credits they receive are "worth the same."

"We felt it was the right thing to do to hold the line on tuition and do everything we could do to ensure students could pursue credits toward their degree," he said.

A cost reflective of the product

At F&M, tuition, fees, room and board increased by 3.5% this year.

In his petition, Kyle Addis, a rising junior business major, urges the school to at least reverse the tuition increase.

Addis, 21, said participating in virtual classes last spring was "a completely different way of learning" and took away a large part of why he chose to go to a liberal arts school - meaningful, in-person interaction.

"The cost should reflect those differences," he said.

The college didnt respond to a request for comment, but in a May email announcing the tuition increase, college President Barbara Altmann wrote, "Since 1787, the value of an F&M diploma has fortified and bolstered generations of Diplomats throughout their professional and personal lives."

She continued: "We are proud to offer the same powerful F&M education to our students today, as together we adapt, learn, and stretch to prepare this generation for lifelong success in a changing world."

LNP | LancasterOnline could not find tuition-related petitions at Elizabethtown or Lancaster Bible colleges.

A spokesperson for Elizabethtown College, which also expects to offer a hybrid approach in the fall, said the college isnt planning to reduce tuition.

A Lancaster Bible College spokesperson responded but was unable to answer questions about tuition and refunds by LNP | LancasterOnlines deadline.

F&M statement Update: Franklin & Marshall College responded via email Tuesday at 8:09 p.m. Here's its statement: We respect the students' right to organize and petition. At the same time, Franklin & Marshall College's tuition reflects the high caliber of instruction and mentoring the College provides to each one of its students, which serve them well long after they have graduated. F&M continues to provide full need-based financial aid for admitted students for the four years of their undergraduate studies with us, and is working with families as necessary to adjust that aid as required. We will not be discounting tuition for next year. A large majority of our students have the option to come live and study on campus this fall. The hybrid mode of delivery we have decided on to deliver our curriculum will have the characteristic high impact elements of an F&M education. While the experience on campus will be different from residential life in a more normal year, it will be multi-facetted, with many of the usual elements of campus in place, including social, extracurricular, and recreational activities, academic enrichment, tutoring, advising, career services, wellness center, and counseling services. We are investing a great deal in equipment, tech capability, personnel, modification to spaces, and so on, to adapt to the necessary safety protocols and to make sure that the learning environment respects all guidelines for safety and allows for the collaboration and mentoring that define our approach to learning. We are taking family finances into consideration in other ways. There is no extra cost for the new, month-long J-term in January, which will allow students to get ahead by a course if they so choose.
The Manheim Township Board of Commissioners is still investigating an incident about "cheeky" bikini bottoms at Skyline Pool that resulted in a Black and Latino family being escorted out of the facility by police.

According to a statement provided to LNP | LancasterOnline, the board is currently interviewing witnesses, which include Manheim Township residents and pool guests. Though the board could not comment on the incident, the statement said the investigation is expected to be completed soon.

"The Township is also reviewing its current policies on pool attire, rules enforcement, and staff training to evaluate whether changes are needed," the statement said.

The township's department of recreation received major backlash on Facebook after Kristal Narkiewicz, the department's facilities and programs manager, called police following a dispute with resident and Skyline Pool patron Tonya Garcia on July 3.

The recreation department's Facebook page, after being bombarded with negative reviews from residents, was taken down without comment or explanation.

Two teenage girls  one who is Puerto Rican and Garcia's daughter, and the other who is Black and Venezuelan  were asked by Narkiewicz to leave the pool and change their swimsuit bottoms, according to witnesses.

The pool has a sign that prohibits "cheeky" bathing suit bottoms, or ones that show too much.

Both girls were cooperative with Narkiewicz and left the pool. They later returned with new swimsuit bottoms, said Justice McNeil, a witness.

Garcia approached Narkiewicz to clarify why her daughter had been asked to leave, McNeil recounted.

Garcia said she did not want to comment on the incident, and efforts to reach Narkiewicz for comment were unsuccessful.

After speaking with Garcia, Narkiewicz called the police, and Garcia and her family were escorted out.

According to McNeil, several white women were also asked to change their swimsuit bottoms or leave, but none did either.

There were so many other visible people with cheeky bathing suits, McNeil told LNP | LancasterOnline Sunday. The only difference is race.

Several residents quickly took to Facebook to express their outrage on the Manheim Township Recreation Department's page. Many left negative reviews and accused the department of racially profiling.

The department responded to comments, claiming that police are only called when "a situation warrants it" and all pool rules are enforced for all patrons.

By Saturday, the department's Facebook page no longer existed.

Witness accounts

Township residents who were at Skyline Pool July 3 spoke with a reporter after reading an LNP | LancasterOnline article detailing the incident.

I witnessed the swimsuit incident too and the response was not warranted at all, Justin Watt, a Manheim Township resident, said.

Watt wasnt able to hear the conversation, but said that when speaking with Garcia, the body language of Narkiewicz and another staff member was hostile.

Neither staff member looked like they (wanted) to listen or have a conversation, he said.

Ilianaveliz Torres-Beltran, another township resident, said that she overheard foul language used during the conversation between Garcia and Narkiewicz. Their voices were raised, she said.

Police werent needed, though, Torres-Beltran said, adding that they have more important things to attend to than a dispute over a swimsuit.

Torres-Beltran, 32, said that she was also approached by Narkiewicz who said her swimsuit wasnt appropriate and that she needed to change.

Torres-Beltran was confused, she said. She was wearing a one-piece suit that she didnt consider inappropriate.

She also felt embarrassed.

Whats wrong with me? Whats wrong with my suit? she questioned.

Torres-Beltran, who is Puerto Rican, said she felt targeted, along with the two other girls.

Is this rule for everyone? she asked.

Watt said he thinks the dress code policy encourages body shaming, and wonders if a government-owned pool has the right to tell township residents what to wear.

I feel like the staff is more concerned with enforcing the swimwear ban than enforcing the mask policy, Watt said, referring to the coronavirus pandemic.
A proposed zoning change to eight parcels of land near Lancaster General Hospital would pave the way for the development of new offices, retail outlets, restaurants and apartments, hospital representatives told City Council.

The proposed change, which has the blessing of the city and county planning commissions, would reclassify the 3.5-acre site as Mixed Use, which LGH says would allow more flexibility in developing the site.

Lancaster General purchased the parcels, which include the site of the old YMCA, in 2004. The old YMCA building was demolished in 2017. Since then the lot has been used for parking and as a temporary park/open space. There is also a child care facility on part of the parcel, as well as unoccupied commercial space with apartments on the upper floors.

If granted the zoning change, LGH plans to sell the parcel to its development partner for the project, Exton-based Hankin Group, which will build medical and administrative offices for LGH and develop the residential and retail aspects of the project.

Both county and city planners have endorsed the rezoning, saying that it is consistent with the goals expressed in both the county and city comprehensive plans.

In a letter presented to council as part of LGHs application, Marshall W. Snively, president of the Lancaster City Alliance, said the area has been identified as a key investment opportunity site in the economic development strategic plan adopted by the city in 2015, which envisions this area of the Stadium District as newly developed with a combination of dense retail, office, medical, and residential.

There is a great deal of consistency, in terms of this rezoning request, with existing city and county land planning documents, Michael W. Davis, the attorney for LGH, told council Monday.

Outdoor shopping areas?

Council agreed to put a first reading of the proposed change on the agenda for its July 14 meeting. A final vote on the changes is tentatively set for councils July 28 meeting.

An ordinance that would allow retailers to set up outdoor shopping areas in public spaces will also be on the agenda for the July 14 meeting.

The ordinance, which aims to help retail businesses recover during the COVID-19 pandemic, is similar to the ordinance recently adopted to allow restaurants to establish outdoor dining areas on sidewalks and other public spaces.
State prosecutors want to keep or destroy five video gambling machines, bar equipment, $6,689 cash and other items seized during a raid on a former Columbia speakeasy.

The items were taken from the 717 Social Club during a March 2019 raid.

Bruce and Jane Murray, of Columbia, owned the club, according to the attorney general office's forfeiture and condemnation petition filed June 1 in Lancaster County Court.

Reached Tuesday, Bruce Murray said he was unaware of the filing and declined comment.

According to the filing, the Pennsylvania State Police received an anonymous complaint that the club was operating an illegal speakeasy.

The club did have a liquor license but sold it a couple years before the raid. The Murrays unsuccessfully tried to get another license, but kept selling alcohol anyway, the filing said.

An undercover trooper joined the club in February 2019 and bought drinks and saw gaming terminals, the filing said.

Miele Manufacturing, of Williamsport, owned three of the Pennsylvania Skill machines and $2,748, the filing said.

Georgia-based Pace-O-Matic operates the Pennsylvania Skills machines.

Pace-O-Matic doesnt challenge confiscation of its machines associated with illegal activities, a spokesman said.

We certainly don't want our devices in places that are operating illegally, and that's one of the reasons we are pushing very hard for regulation and additional taxation on the skills game industry, said Michael Barley, director of communications for Pace-O-Matic.

The filing said R. Ashley Strayer, of Boiling Springs, owned two Pennsylvania Skill machines, along with $320, that were seized. Strayer contacted police during the investigation, telling them the machines were his, but refused a request for a police interview about payouts from the machines, the filing said.

Efforts to reach Strayer weren't successful.

The Murrays were each charged with illegal liquor sales and unlicensed consumption  the club did not have a liquor license  and have been accepted into the accelerated rehabilitative disposition program.

The probationary program for first-time offenders allows them to expunge their record upon completion. The Murrays were placed on probation last October for one year, ordered to perform 15 hours of community service and must pay fines and costs.

For related coverage:
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HARRISBURG  With the end of the states moratorium on evictions looming large, a state-run relief effort to help renters pay their bills has gotten off to a rocky start, as many applications were incomplete and the forms were not available in Spanish.

The problems added to mounting pressure on Gov. Tom Wolf to extend the moratorium, which was instituted by the state Supreme Court in March and then extended by Wolf in order to protect those who could not make rent during the coronavirus shutdown.

In the two days since the $150 million rental assistance program began, some local organizations administering it have been flooded with applications. But most were incomplete, they said, delaying their ability to get money out the door.

Some tenants struggled to gather all the necessary paperwork, which includes several months of paystubs, the organizations said. Other applicants didnt realize their landlord needed to fill out two of the three required forms.

Whats more, a version of the application form in Spanish will not be available until the end of the week. The program, however, is doling out assistance on a first-come, first-served basis, which could put Spanish-speaking applicants at a disadvantage.

The moratorium expires Saturday, and there is increasing concern that little or no money will be available to tenants in time to guarantee that the eviction process  which typically takes several weeks  will not begin.

Many tenants dont know about this program and if they know, they wont be able to apply, because they dont have access in their language, said Patty Torres, organizing director at Make the Road Pennsylvania, a Latinx advocacy group that is pushing for an extension of the eviction moratorium.

We cannot expect that the governor makes an announcement and every renter hears about it, she said. We need more time.

The program could be a lifeline for the thousands of tenants who have struggled to pay their rent as the coronavirus outbreak has shuttered businesses and caused record job losses. But advocates and Democratic lawmakers said it needs more time to get up and running to avoid a surge of eviction filings that could force people out of their homes.

Approximately 1.5 million people in Pennsylvania rent their homes, accounting for about 30% of all households. With each county receiving a limited amount of funding through the new program, some involved already expect there will not be enough to meet the anticipated demand.

Scott Elliott, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which is overseeing the program, said the department updated its website Monday to clarify that applicants must submit three separate forms and has moved as quickly as we could to provide Spanish applications that are complete and accurate.

The agency delayed posting the Spanish version of the application form to avoid paying for multiple translations as changes were made to the English version, Elliott said  a decision he emphasized was his alone.

I dont think anyone has been disadvantaged with this slight delay in producing translations for a program that runs 6 months, he said.

Local organizations administering the program in each county said they would work with renters who submitted incomplete applications to help them gather the correct paperwork. The assistance payments, which go directly to landlords, can cover up to six months rent, with a monthly maximum of $750 per tenant.

To qualify, renters must show that since March 1, they either filed for unemployment or lost at least 30% of their annual income, which must not exceed the median in their county.

Its not yet clear how long it will take each local organization to process applications and send out payments. Elliott, the PHFA spokesperson, said the timing could vary a lot from county to county.

In Chester County, only one of the 45 applications received so far has been complete, said Krystal Bentz, who is overseeing the rental assistance program for the county housing authority. People just want to get the application in, she said.

In York County, roughly 25 applications were submitted on Monday alone, but less than a handful were complete, said Carl Whitehill, director of marketing and communications at the Community Progress Council, which is administering the program locally. Most were missing the two forms that must be completed by landlords, he said.

Once the Spanish language form is available, that will bring in a lot more applications, Whitehill said.

By Tuesday afternoon, Philadelphia had already received more than 600 completed applications, even though renters there have more time to seek assistance than in most of the state. City lawmakers voted to extend the eviction ban through the end of August, and passed legislation creating an eviction mediation program, forgiving late fees, and requiring landlords to offer payment plans to struggling tenants.

Those changes are now the subject of a federal lawsuit filed by the Homeowners Association of Philadelphia, which argues that the new measures are unconstitutional and shift the financial burdens created by the coronavirus onto landlords, who are still required to make mortgage payments and pay property taxes.

The statewide rental assistance program is part of a $2.6 billion spending plan lawmakers passed at the end of May, funded by Pennsylvanias share of the federal stimulus package. Another $25 million is available for homeowners who need help making their mortgage payments.

The programs early stumbles underscore the need to extend the eviction moratorium, housing advocates said. Last week, Senate Democrats wrote to Wolf seeking an extension through at least the end of August. On Tuesday, House Democrats urged an extension of the statewide moratorium through Dec. 31, giving renters the time to apply for financial relief programs.

And Wednesday morning, 50 community groups and housing advocacy organizations across the state wrote to Wolf, calling for an indefinite extension of the eviction moratorium for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath, as well as a rent freeze and deferrals of mortgage payments.

As the statewide eviction moratorium is set to expire, thousands of poor and working class families are at risk of being unhoused, especially Black and brown families who already face much higher mortality rates from COVID-19, they wrote.

Given the time crunch, they argue, the new rental assistance program launched far too late to help many of the people who need it. Among the elected officials signing in support was Eddie Moran, the mayor of Reading, which has one of the highest eviction rates in the state, according to data from the Eviction Lab at Princeton University.

Asked at a press conference Monday whether he would extend the eviction moratorium, Wolf said he was not ready to say anything.

Torres, of Make the Road Pennsylvania, said waiting until the last minute would be a mistake.

I think he should already have been doing this last week, she said. Tenants need to feel safe right now.

If you need rental or mortgage assistance, visit phfa.org/pacares to learn more about the application process.

100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate.
Trump and Lopez Obrador To Meet at the White House

July 7, 2020 (EIRNS)If the meeting between the Presidents of Mexico and the United States is as unimportant and merely symbolic as the Wall Street/City of London pundits, media, and politicos on both sides of the borderthe same crew which seeks to drive both of these leaders out of officewhy are they so hysterical about it?

The hyenas are charging that Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors visit only serves Donald Trumps reelection drive and will ruin relations with Joe Biden, who, they say, is definitely going to win the election. Bitter complaints are aired that both Presidents are populists who rule by their gut instincts, rather than through the discredited institutions. House Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Joaquin Castro and 12 other of its 38 members (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, among them) even wrote to Trump that he should cancel Lopez Obradors visit because it was politicizing U.S.-Mexican relations! Trump replied: He is my friend and a wonderful man. I look forward to meeting with the Presidentwill be good + important for both Mexico and the U.S.A.

The fear is that a private meeting between the two Presidents will strengthen their already-friendly relations, and lay the basis for shared efforts to shift the global paradigm as the global breakdown crisis worsens. To that end, the LaRouche Citizens Movement in Mexico has circulated a statement urging Mexican President Lopez Obrador to discuss with President Trump the need for a world summit to address existential crises facing mankind.

Lopez Obrador will lay wreaths at the Lincoln Memorial and the statue of beloved Mexican President (and Lincoln ally) Benito Juarez in the U.S. capital. After that, he will go to the White House, where he and President Trump will first meet privately, followed by a meeting with their advisors, and then a dinner where businessmen from both countries will join them.

One potential British fly in the ointment is a push for Mexico to orient its economic development around enticing U.S. investors pulling out of China to relocate to Mexicoa message attached to the blackmail that that can only happen if Lopez Obrador rolls back his steps to restore energy sovereignty and build up the national oil and petrochemical industry. The presidents of the American Petroleum Institute and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Association wrote separate letters to President Trump in June, demanding he pressure the Lopez Obrador government to stop changing the rules for foreign oil, gas, and renewables investments by rebuilding the state oil company, PEMEX.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau told a June 25 conference of Mexicos Confederation of Industrial Chambers that a lot of businesspeople around the world are re-evaluating their supply chains and thinking, If we leave China, where do we go?  But if Mexico adopts disheartening measures, he stated, he will have to tell U.S. businessmen that this is not an opportune time to invest in Mexico.
U.K. Boasts Global Magnitsky Human Rights Sanctions Regime, as Pompeo Urges Collaboration

July 7, 2020 (EIRNS)With much fanfare, Britains Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab went before the House of Commons yesterday to announce the adoption of a Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, naming a total of 49 people (Russians, Saudis, North Koreans, and two generals from Myanmar) who will be sanctioned under the new system, allegedly for committing some of the worst human rights abuses in recent memory. In announcing the new regime, which is an adjunct to the 2018 Magnitsky Amendment to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering legislation, Raab insisted that it shows that Global Britain is committed to acting as a force for good in the world, and is taking the moral high ground in targeting thugs of despots and henchmen of dictators.

Not exactly. In the name of defending human rights and combatting illicit financial activity, the U.K.s new regime is intended to serve as a political weapon wielded against Russia, China and other enemies, as the Magnitsky Act does in the U.S. The authors of that legislative obscenity named it for Sergei Magnitsky, whom they claim was killed in prison by the Russian government in 2009 after he allegedly unearthed major government tax and financial fraud. Since its 2012 passage, it has been used for purely geopolitical purposes largely against Russia. Its instructive that Magnitskys partner, longtime British agent Bill Browder, was present when Raab spoke and gushed that the new regime represented a huge milestone in our ten-year campaign for justice. The British claim that the 25 Russians sanctioned under the new regime were involved in Magnitskys death.

The U.K.s new sanctions regime is described as the first time it will be acting alone in this area, not depending on the European Union or the UN. But as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in his effusive July 6 statement, the sanctions regime marks the beginning of a new era for U.K. sanctions policy and cooperation between our two democracies. The U.K.s new powers, he said, will complement the efforts of the United States and Canada, further enhancing our ability to act together.

Those sanctioned will have their assets frozen and will be barred from entering the U.K. In his speech, Raab was careful not to mention China, although made it clear China could be sanctioned in the future if it fails to live up to its international obligations and its international responsibilities particularly in relation to what weve seen in Hong Kong. The spokesman for the Russian Embassy in London issued a statement warning that the U.K.s action will not improve Russian-British relations....The imposition of the U.K. sanctions against 25 Russian nationals whom London considers involved in human rights violations is an unfriendly and outrageous step. Among those sanctioned, TASS reported, are Russian Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin, Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Grin, and Deputy Minister of the Interior Alexei Anichin. The inclusion of these individuals, as well as judges, sparks the most outrage, the spokesman stated. In Russia, the investigation, the Prosecutors Office and the court work independently from the executive power and are led solely by the law. Russia reserves its right for retaliatory steps over the unfriendly decision of the U.K.
FBIs Wray Gives McCarthyite Warning to Americans: Dare Not To Fall for Chinas Malign Influence

July 7, 2020 (EIRNS)FBI head Christopher Wray spoke this morning at the Hudson Institute. His core message was that the Chinese are sneaky, and their Malign Influence Program is primarily done through middlemen. So, if you hear China-friendly messages, you need to report it to the FBI to find out whether you might be targeted as a dupe of Chinas goal of becoming the sole superpower. Wray covered a lot, but he failed to mention anything about the fluoridation of the water or the sapping of our precious bodily fluids.

Wray characterized his presentation on the China threat as part of a fourfold assault: following that of National Security Adviser Robert OBrien and preceding presentations by Attorney General William Barr and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Wray announced:

The greatest-long-term threat to our nations information and intellectual property and to our economic vitality is a counterintelligence and economic espionage threat from China. It is a threat to our economic security and, by extension, to our national security.... I will provide more detail on the Chinese threat than the FBI has ever presented in an open forum.

All Americans are victims and they all need to get engaged in the fight. The Chinese Communist Party believes it is in a generational fight to surpass our country in economic and technological leadership ... it is waging that fight not through legitimate innovation.... China is engaged in an effort to become the worlds only superpower by any means necessary....

Chinas malign foreign influence was defined as subversive, undeclared, criminal or coercive attempts to sway our governments policies and distort our public discourse. China is engaged in a highly sophisticated, malign foreign influence campaign, including bribery, blackmail, and covert deals. Chinese diplomats also use both open, naked economic pressure, and seemingly independent middlemen, to push Chinas preferences on American officials.... [Further,] Chinese diplomats are aggressively urging support for Chinas handling of the COVID-19 crisis.... (Of note, the FBI has cited, in the past, as their classic case of naked economic pressure by diplomats to be their donations of PPE to U.S. communities, calculated to induce a sense of gratitude amongst unsuspecting Americans.) Wray went on at length with his illustration: Say someone wants to visit Taiwan and China wants to prevent it. So, they approach a governor, state senator or member of Congress, since China has leverage over the American officials constituents. They might threaten to take it out on a company from that officials home state by withholding the license to manufacture in China. Then, Wrays flight-forward: China

cannot stop there [with that conveyed threat] if it wants to stay in power, so it uses its leverage even more prodigiously.... China will work relentlessly to identify the people closest to that official, the people that official trusts the most.... The co-opted middlemen may then whisper in the officials ear without declaring that they are being used as pawns, because they, too, have been deceived....

Theres no recourse but to bring in the FBI to sort out matters.

Wray focused upon the devious so-called Thousand Talents Program (TTP) of China which pays scientists to secretly bring our knowledge and innovation back to China. He gave three examples of the FBI tracking down TTP scientists, though none of them seemed to actually be part of the TTP. (Wray employed lawyerly verbiage to suggest that they were, by saying they had applied to the program.) However, later on, Wray found some actual participants in the TTP: a former researcher with the Cleveland Clinic who worked on the genetics of cardiovascular disease who had to be arrested; an Emory University professor who pled guilty, that his grant from the TTP program wasnt reported as income on his tax return; and the chair of Harvards Department of Biology, arrested for allegedly making false statements to the FBI.

Otherwise, Wray explained that:

1. Chinas Fox Hunt campaign is not about tracking down corruption but is actually a Gestapo-like operation to target their critics in the U.S. They even sent an emissary to visit the targets family ... [asking them to forward the message that] the target had two options, return promptly or commit suicide. 2. Their Confucius Institutes were blatant efforts to censor anti-China speech or to drive China-friendly speech in a decidedly unorthodox way.... 3. Huaweis founder, according to some article Wray had read, told his staff, that to ensure the companys survival, they need to surge forward, killing as you go, to blaze us a trail of blood. (In fact, Wray simply repeated a headline from the oh-so-authoritative London Daily Mail, which itself was based upon a mistranslation by the Wall Street Journal of the Chinese characters for an idiomatic expression that meant, Fight your way out of a difficult situation.) And finally, 4. If you dare to use Huaweis cell phones, they can spy on youunlike the U.S., as the FBI director explained, where electronic privacy is sacrosanct.

Wray concluded that China uses an all tools, all sectors approach, and we need to counter with the same. Our folks at the FBI are working their tails off.... We are using a broad set of techniques ... [including] intelligence capabilities.... We are working more closely than ever with partner agencies here in the U.S. and partners abroad. We cant do it on our own. We need a whole society response. However, while he believes most Americans mean to be patriotic, when some of these non-state actors conceal their relationship with the Chinese government, the employers, companies and universities cannot make the informed decisions required. So, when you hear China-friendly speech, run, dont walk, to your local FBI office.
Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) took legal action Wednesday against the United States government. The schools are seeking to overturn the Trump administrations new rule on international student visas.

Under the rule, international students must take at least some of their college classes in person, transfer to U.S-based schools with in-person classes or leave the country. They will have to leave even if a health emergency forces their classes online later in the school year.

The government will reject visa requests from international students at colleges or universities that only offer classes online.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal law enforcement agency, announced the rule on Monday. The same day, many colleges, including Harvard, said all their classes later this year would be online.

MIT joined Harvard to file the legal challenge Wednesday morning in Boston. They asked a federal court to bar ICE from enforcing the new rule. They called for the return of the March 13, 2020 exemption, which permitted international students to attend classes online while retaining their visa during the health emergency.

In a statement, Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow wrote, The order came down without notice its cruelty surpassed only by its recklessness. He said the new rule was designed to pressure colleges to hold classes in person, without regard to concerns for the health and safety of students , and others.

The rule, Bacow added, comes at a time when the United States has been setting daily records for the number of new infections, with more than 300,000 new cases reported since July 1.

At a White House event on Tuesday, President Donald Trump denounced plans from Harvard and other colleges to hold classes online. "They ought to be ashamed of themselves," he said. "That's called the easy way out."

The new rule affects about 5,000 international students at Harvard and nearly 4,000 attending MIT. In all, nearly 400,000 students received the F-1 or M-1 visa in the 12-month period ending in September 2019.

Lewis Picard is a second-year doctoral student in experimental physics at Harvard University. The Australian told Reuters that having to leave would completely put a roadblock in my research. He added, Theres essentially no way that the work I am doing can be done remotely. Weve already had this big pause on it with the pandemic, and weve just been able to start going back to lab.

Aparna Gopalan comes from India. The fourth-year anthropology doctoral student at Harvard said telling students to attend other universities for in-person classes was not realistic. You cant transfer in July. Thats not what happens, she said.

Benjamin Bing, from China, was planning to study computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He said he no longer feels welcome in the United States and is looking at the possibility of finishing his study in Europe.

I feel like its kicking out everyone, he said, of the United States. We actually paid tuition to study here and we did not do anything wrong.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English with additional reporting from Reuters. George Grow was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

transfer - v. to move from one school (or place) to another

file - v. to give a legal document so that it can be considered in court

retain - v. to continue to have

cruelty - n. an action that causes suffering

surpass - v. to be greater than

recklessness - n. not showing concern about your own action

ashamed - adj. feeling shame, guilty or embarrassed

remotely - adv. from a distance

pandemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects large number of people around the world

tuition - n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there


The United States is facing increasing criticism for its withdrawal Monday from the World Health Organization (WHO).

China denounced the U.S. decision. Foreign ministry official Zhao Lijian said the withdrawal will weaken international efforts to fight the COVID-19 health crisis. He added that the damage would especially hurt developing countries where the need for aid is urgent.

Zhao spoke to reporters Wednesday in Beijing. He praised the work of the WHO, describing it as the most authoritative and professional international organization dealing with public health security.

The U.S. withdrawal will not take effect for a year as required by the WHO constitution. The U.S. also is required to pay any membership fees it owes the United Nations agency.

Health officials and opponents to President Donald Trumps administration also criticized the decision to withdraw. Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden said he would cancel the withdrawal on his first day in office if elected in November. Americans are safer when the U.S. is involved in worldwide health efforts, Biden said.

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, called the withdrawal an act of true senselessness. She wrote in a Twitter message, With millions of lives at risk, the president is crippling the international effort to defeat the virus.

For months, Trump has criticized the WHOs effort to deal with COVID-19. He accuses the organization of surrendering to Chinese pressure to mislead the public about the disease. In April, Trump suspended U.S. financial support for the WHO. In May, he said the United States planned to withdraw.

The presidents supporters agree that the WHO has had failings in the COVID-19 crisis. But, not all necessarily support Trumps decision to withdraw.

American lawmaker Lamar Alexander leads the U.S. Senates health committee. In a statement Tuesday, he agreed that the WHOs COVID-19 actions should be examined. But he added, the time to do that is after the crisis has been dealt with, not in the middle of it.

The U.S. was among the countries that established the World Health Organization in 1948. It is its largest donor, as well, providing more than $450 million to the agency every year. America leads the world with the most COVID-19 cases  over 3 million, and more than 131,000 deaths.

U.S. health experts called the presidents decision shortsighted and destructive of international cooperation in fighting all diseases.

Thomas File Jr., president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said the withdrawal leaves the U.S. at greater risk of COVID-19 as it will not be part of international efforts to develop and access vaccines. He said the U.S. would also face greater danger in future pandemics without WHO membership.

The World Health Organization said it will send a team of experts to China this weekend. It said the team would study how the new coronavirus started and made the jump from animals to humans.

Im Caty Weaver.

The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.

____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

authoritative -adj. having or showing impressive knowledge about a subject

crippling -adj. to make (something) unable to work normally: to cause great damage to (something)

access -n. a way of being able to use or get something

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com.
Scientific researchers and health officials say they can follow an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in a community by examining its wastewater. Such studies could provide a valuable addition to the tools of public health agencies, they say.

The idea is simple. Studies show that genetic material from the coronavirus can be found in the waste products of about half of patients with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

Researchers can find that genetic material by doing wastewater analysis. Over time, such tests can show changes in infection rates in a community.

It should be noted that the analysis includes wastewater from people who might not otherwise be counted. Examples include people who do not get tested for the virus or do not know they are infected. The analysis can provide early warning signs of a community outbreak before people get sick enough to go to the hospital, studies show.

One Dutch study found evidence of the coronavirus in wastewater six days before the community reported its first cases.

Gertjan Medema is a microbiologist at the KWR Water Research Institute in the Netherlands. Sewage can be used as a mirror of society, he said. Sewage is more than just a wastewater carrier, its also an information carrier.

Vince Hill is chief of the waterborne disease prevention office at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, in the United States. He described sewage monitoring as a very promising tool.

The CDC is now working to understand how useful it can be. There is a lot to learn, Hill said. Were working on this with urgency.

Wastewater has long been used to look for signs of the polio virus. With the new coronavirus, scientists are working to improve their test methods.

The Dutch, British and Italian governments have announced monitoring programs. We can detect the virus anonymously, quickly and on a large scale, said Dutch health minister Hugo de Jonge.

In the United States, results from a two-month-long wastewater test helped persuade Utah officials to approve a larger effort that will include wastewater from 75% of the states residents. That information came from Erica Gaddis, director of the states Division of Water Quality.



Utah is not the only state to show interest in wastewater monitoring.

When the Massachusetts company Biobot said on social media that it would test wastewater for free, it just kind of exploded, said its chief Marian Martus.

The company took on 400 wastewater processing centers in 42 states. That represents waste from about 10 percent of the U.S. population, Martus noted. The company now charges for its service, she said, and still has hundreds of people who send in water samples of about 150 milliliters.

The company does not yet have an exact way to show how many infected people are living in a community. But Biobot gives estimates, Martus said.

Peter Grevatt is the head of The Water Research Foundation. He said researchers are still working to make sure weve got the science right.

Experts say there are many things that are unknown about wastewater analysis. For example: How can laboratory results produced by different testing methods be compared? And how are samples affected by different sewage systems?

Im John Russell.

Malcolm Ritter reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted his story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

outbreak  n. the sudden or violent start of something, such as the spreading of disease

otherwise  adv. in a different way

sewage  n. wastewater and human waste products

monitor  v. to watch or observe something

detect  v. to discover or notice the presence of (something that is hidden or hard to see, hear, or taste)

anonymously  adv. not named or identified; made or done by someone unknown

sample  n. a small part of piece meant to show or represent what the whole is like




It gave them an opportunity to talk about their seven decades together in which they raised three children and now have seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

She knows how remarkable it is to celebrate a 73rd anniversary.

It is amazing. You just dont hear people get to have that many years together, Donna said.

Donna was born in Lacomb, but moved to Hoquiam with her family as a child. After getting married, the young couple stayed in Hoquiam for a year or two before moving to Aberdeen, Washington, which is just a few miles away.

Russel worked for many years at Rainier Incorporated, a pulp mill in Hoquiam. About five years ago, they moved to Lebanon to be closer to family members who live in the Willamette Valley.

I totally love it down here. The weather is so nice, Donna said.

She is thankful that Russel got a space at the veterans home and that she is able to see him frequently, even with the current restrictions.

I couldnt believe he got in there. Its a miracle that they had a bed available because I hear that place has a waiting list a mile long, she said. If you have to have assisted care, hes in a wonderful place and the people are just, hes family. They treat him good and they treat me good. They take care of me just as much as they take care of him.

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From 50 years ago, Wednesday, July 8, 1970

Tanker purchase paying off

Area residents over the weekend started getting their moneys worth out of the 1962 Mack diesel tanker that was bought with tax-levy funds approved by voters in December.

The 4000-gallon tanker was first pressed into service Saturday afternoon when piled rubbish and sawdust caught fire on the Ed Gaylord farm, Star Route 1, about three-fourths mile north of Lacomb. Seventeen men and five trucks responded to the blaze, which was reported at 2:55 p.m. No loss resulted.

About two hours later, the tanker again was called out, to a small grass fire on Gross Street in Waterloo, started when fireworks were tossed into dry grass. No damage was reported. Seventeen men and four trucks responded to this blaze, at 5:03 p.m.

From 25 years ago, Wednesday, July 5, 1995

Funding for reforesting program cut

The Oregon State Legislature cut funding for a program to promote the reforestation of small woodlands before ending the session.

That cut will impact two Linn County landowners who are interested in taking part in the program.
ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation.
Similar centers were set up across central Nebraska in communities which had been affected by 2019s flooding.

One year after the flooding, Dawson County Emergency Manager Brian Woldt said the damage to the county roads has been repaired. Efforts were hampered by other localized flooding events which damaged roads several times during the rest of the summer.

The main issue still facing Dawson County is getting reimbursed from FEMA, Woldt said.

These efforts have been hampered after the first FEMA member the county was working with had to leave due to a family emergency, and then it took several months for a new FEMA member to be assigned.

After this, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Due to the virus, no new work has been done and now the county will essentially have to start the reimbursement from scratch. Woldt said there are multiple hoops to jump through in order for the county to get reimbursed for their work.

When asked about the amount the county needed to be reimbursed, Woldt said he wasnt sure of the exact total and FEMA doesnt know yet either.

Woldt says the county continues to work with FEMA to get reimbursement but the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down the process.
Shelter Help Needed: The coronavirus pandemic has made it challenging to deploy trained disaster volunteers from other parts of the country should an emergency occur. In light of this, the Red Cross is asking local residents to be ready to help their community. There is a special need for volunteers to support sheltering efforts. Because of COVID-19, the Red Cross is placing those needing a safe place to stay in emergency hotel lodging when possible. If hotel stays arent possible, then the Red Cross will open traditional shelters. To help keep people safe, we have put in place additional precautions and developed special training for our workforce. Volunteers are needed to help staff shelter reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information collection and other vital tasks to help those we serve. Those interested in helping our community should a disaster occur should visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.
Lewistons long wait for more air service ended Monday with an announcement that United will begin nonstop Denver flights starting in October.
Construction on the Fifth Street sidewalk project is slated to kick off next week in an effort to create a safer route for students and other pedestrians walking to Solvang School and Mission Drive.

The city of Solvang recently awarded the project contract to JJ Fisher Construction of Nipomo.

Construction on the east side section of town is scheduled to begin July 13 and continue through October.

Public Works Director Matt van der Linden said the project will enhance the safety of students and other pedestrians traveling to Solvang School and Mission Drive from the dense residential areas south of Mission and west of Fifth Street.

The widening of Fifth Street will also improve traffic flow in this area and enhance the quality of life for our residents, he said. We appreciate your patience and understanding during the inconvenience of the construction. Once completed, the project will provide beneficial and needed improvements to Solvang.

Modifications will include a sidewalk and minor roadway widening along the east side of Solvangs Fifth Street, from Oak Street to Mission Drive. The project also will include new driveway approaches, access ramps, retaining wall and other related work.

A city spokesperson said the City Council had identified the location as being a high priority in the 2016 Sidewalk Master Plan.

Half of the project construction cost will be covered by the $168,000 competitive grant awarded to the Solvang Public Works Department by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments as part of the Measure A Safe Routes to School, Bicycle and Pedestrian Program.

For more information about the Fifth Street sidewalk project, contact Bridget Elliott, associate engineer/project manager, at 805-688-5575, or bridgete@cityofsolvang.com.
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Dear Meredith,

Last year, I studied in Argentina for a semester. I fell in love with it and decided to stay on, once the school year ended. I had just gone through a devastating breakup. But in May, toward the end of my semester, I met a guy. Sweet and handsome.

At first we saw each other a few times a week, then nearly every day, and by the time my internship was over and my visa had expired, we had confessed our love to each other. I didn't expect that we would stay in touch  I had fallen in love with him, but I thought distance would snuff out the romance  but here we are over a year later, still communicating. We've spoken nearly every day.

Since I left Argentina last July, I've asked him to visit twice. Both times he said no, but he expressed an intense desire to be with me. He told me I was his best friend. He said "te amo." After that second rejection, and without a label, I decided I needed space. We didn't speak for two weeks. And then the coronavirus hit. I was alone in the US, and before things even got bad, I had to recognize that he wasn't just my quasi-boyfriend; he was my best friend, my support system, and the person with whom I most wanted to share all of the terrible things happening around me.

Each time he rejected my desire for more, he justified his decision by saying that he didnt want to be in a long-distance relationship. It didn't make sense because he treated me like a girlfriend and still does. I couldn't understand what it would cost him to call me his girlfriend, especially if I wasn't asking for exclusivity. A few weeks ago, he joked about sending our children to a certain school near Buenos Aires. He often talks about activities we'll do "when you come here," and he says it with such earnestness that it feels completely true. He said if I were there with him, he would've asked me to be his girlfriend months ago. At this point, I don't know what to do. I want to go back to Buenos Aires, and I think it could be a good move for my career, but I dont know how long it would take for me to build the resume necessary to get there. I just graduated from college and things aren't exactly looking rosy for me.

He can't move to the US, though he plans to, because he hasnt finished grad school, and that will take years. No matter how much hedging we do, it seems like we can't help ourselves, and we keep getting closer even though we're continents apart. What do I do? How can I communicate my desire to be with him now, and not just in that hazy future? How can I make our separation a little bit easier to bear? I want to come up with a solution that gives us a date to look forward to, and some ground rules for the not-relationship we currently find ourselves in. I love him and I know he loves me. How can we make this work?

 Far away
Watching Greyhound was the first time I really felt it.

Movie theaters in Madison have been closed for four months, and up until now Ive been fine with the adjustment to watching and writing about new movies at home. But watching the World War II thriller Greyhound, premiering Friday on Apple TV+, was the first time I really missed the movie theater experience. To see a lean, relentless war movie like this on the big screen in a room full of strangers, bag of popcorn on my knee  I ached for that.

But watched alone on a smaller screen, Greyhound is still a riveting film that has the close-quarters suspense of a submarine thriller like Das Boot, even though it technically takes place above the waterline.

The year is 1942, and American troops and supplies are being transported across the Atlantic Ocean to join the European Theater. The middle of the Atlantic is a zone dubbed the Black Pit, where Allied planes cant travel to provide air support, leaving the ships at the mercy of roving German U-Boats known as wolf packs. In the film, Hanks plays Ernest Krause, the captain of an American destroyer named Greyhound that is escorting a flotilla of ships across the Atlantic.
A petitioner can only begin to circulate a petition after these documents are filed. The petitioner then has 60 days to gather a number of signatures that equals at least 25% of the votes cast in the city during the last gubernatorial election, or approximately 36,203. The 2018 midterm election, which also featured competitive races for a Senate seat and state attorney general, saw a large voter turnout in Madison.

The office holder can challenge the sufficiency of the recall petition within 10 days of it being filed.

A recall gives voters the right to reconsider elected officials, after they have been in office for at least a year, but it does not automatically result in the removal of officials from their offices. It could result in an elected official facing an election before the term expires.

Madison City Attorney Michael Haas said he was not aware of any previous local recall efforts in Madison, though he noted a mayoral recall effort in 2017 in the city of Green Bay and a recall election in the town of Long Lake in 2016.
In his book Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joseph McCarthy, author Larry Tye mined a first-ever review of the Wisconsin senators personal and professional papers, along with his complete medical and military records, and he took the first deep dive into 9,000 pages of unsealed transcripts of his closed-door congressional hearings. What follows is an excerpt from his definitive account that describes how, in 1946, McCarthy reached the U.S. Senate by toppling incumbent Robert La Follette Jr., the son of Fighting Bob. Tye is a former Boston Globe reporter and author of seven previous books, including bestselling biographies of Bobby Kennedy and Satchel Paige. Demagogue was released this week.

Seldom in American history has a state election had national consequences as monumental as Wisconsins did in 1946, trading one of the Senates most enlightened and honorable statesmen for its most ignoble. How that happened is only partly the story of Joseph McCarthy wresting away the seat, although that is the time-honed version. What really happened is that Robert La Follette Jr. surrendered it.

The La Follettes were to Wisconsin politics what the Lees had been in Virginia, the Tafts were in Ohio, and the Kennedys would become in Massachusetts  powerful to the point of royalty. The pompadour-wearing patriarch Robert La Follette, known as Fighting Bob, served as district attorney, congressman, four-term U.S. senator, and, in 1924, the combative presidential nominee of a national Progressive Party that he launched to further his ambitions. His younger son Philip was a three-term governor, implementing in Wisconsin many New Deal programs before President Roosevelt could do so nationally. Lacking his fathers oratorical fire and his brothers to-the-manor-born presence, the decorous and deliberate Robert Jr. seemed the least likely of the trio to matter when, upon his fathers death in 1925, he finished first in a special election to fill that seat. At age 30, in the shadow of his fathers name and his brothers promise, he became the third-youngest senator in U.S. history.

Young Bob defied the handicappers. Chairing one of the most productive investigating committees ever, he unmasked company-sponsored violence in the coal fields of Harlan, Kentucky, and established as fact the horrors of farm worker life depicted in John Steinbecks novel Grapes of Wrath. Anyone who collected unemployment compensation owed him a debt. Same for Social Security recipients. In 1928, he set a statewide record that still stands in Wisconsin, winning reelection with 85.5 percent of the vote. President Roosevelt was such a fan that he considered tapping him as secretary of state, Supreme Court justice, vice president, and even as his White House successor, all despite the fact that Young Bob was neither a lawyer nor a Democrat. By the time La Follette announced his bid for a fifth term in 1946, after 40 years of that Senate seat in family hands, he looked to outsiders like as-sure-a-thing as there is in politics.

The first sign of trouble came with his pick of political parties. Early in 1946, he formally disbanded the moribund Wisconsin Progressive Party that hed co-founded with his brother and under whose banner hed run in the last two elections. He rejoined a Republican Party that, minus its progressive wing, had moved rightward. That upset the Democrats, who were begging for his help in building a party capable of competing in Wisconsin. It also alienated organized labor, which had always sided with the Progressives and now saw the Democrats as its best alternative. Angriest of all were conservative Republicans  self-styled Stalwarts  who wanted Robert back even less than he wanted to return. They were hell-bent on keeping their party ideologically pure and on toppling, once and forever, the loathed La Follette dynasty.

That intra-party turmoil created just the opening a disrupter like Joe McCarthy thrived on, and that we can now track thanks to this authors first and exclusive access to McCarthys personal and professional papers that had been under lock and key at Marquette University, Joes alma mater. Looked at one way, an ex-New Deal Democrat like him was an impossible long-shot to trip up the party-hopping La Follette or sate the GOPs hunger for a true-blue conservative. But the circuit judge from Appleton was a master of spin, selling himself not just as a war hero with a judicial temperament, but, in the words of The Nation magazine, as a cipher whose strategy was the simple one of taking any position that La Follette opposed. He also was stealthily building bridges to grassroots Republicans and especially to youthful ones. It was this burgeoning network of Young Republicans that he saw as instrumental to winning over the grayer and stodgier Republican Voluntary Committee. Unlike the official party, the RVC had no statutory spending limits, was free to back candidates in the primary, and was under the thumb of anti-La Follette conservatives.

Pullout 2 The intra-party turmoil created just the opening a disrupter like Joe McCarthy thrived on, and that we can now track thanks to this author's first and exclusive access to McCarthy's personal and professional papers that had been under lock and key at Marquette University, Joe's alma mater.

If the RVC was the door to the Stalwart kingdom, Boss Thomas Coleman was the keeper of the key. A handsome, gracious industrialist, the 52-year-old Coleman had been drawn to politics by his principled conservatism and his abhorrence of the La Follettes. He knew 1946 offered the best shot at Young Bob. Yet a meeting in late-1945 with Judge Joe convinced him the Appleton roughneck was the wrong man to take it. Joe, youre a nice guy and I like you. But youre a Johnny-come-lately in Republican politics, Coleman told McCarthy as they sat in the English Room at Milwaukees elegant Pfister Hotel. If you work as hard as you have been working and gain more support, you may have a chance some time in the future. Sipping his bourbon-and-water, Joe calmly replied, Tom, youre a nice guy and I like you. But I got news for you. When that convention is over next year, Joe McCarthy will be the Republican-endorsed candidate for U.S. Senator. Coleman wasnt impressed, at least not then, barking back as he departed: What you need is some self-confidence.

McCarthy backed up his big talk. He crashed RVC meetings in 71 cities and towns, urging delegates to the May convention not just to endorse candidates for the primary, which they didnt have to, but to back him for Senate. And, on the eve of the Oshkosh convention, he muscled aside his two strongest competitors for the conservative mantle. He took a direct approach with Walter Kohler Jr., son of a former Wisconsin governor, scion of the plumbing-products empire, and a veteran whod recently gotten divorced. Seeing that failed marriage splayed across the front pages during a campaign wouldnt be easy to take, Joe advised. Who would do a thing like that? Kohler asked. Joe: I would. In the case of ex-Governor Julius Heil, Joe exercised the kind of bluff hed fine-tuned at the poker table. The chunky governor-turned-businessman was chatting up delegates over drinks when, one after another, they confessed that while theyd like to support him, All the boys seem to be strong for that upstart McCarthy. Which was just what Joe had told the hand-picked group to say to Heil who, after a sleepless night, announced he wouldnt be running for senator after all.

With the field cleared of its establishment favorites, the RVC-Stalwart delegates yielded to the McCarthy-made inevitability, giving him 2,328 votes compared to 298 for his remaining opponent, a barely-known lawyer from Milwaukee. This master of the political upset had won the first of three rounds in the battle for the U.S. Senate.

Round two was a one-on-one against La Follette in the Republican primary. I am glad to see Bob come over and fight in my own backyard, Joe told reporters, as if La Follette was the only one hurdling party fences. The fight will be very rough, but clean. McCarthy kept his promise at first by sticking to the issues, although newly-available transcripts of his speeches make clear that his stances evolved so often they were impossible to parse. To maintain the post-war order, he told Young Republicans in early-May, the world needed a workable United Nations that kept out countries like Switzerland, which couldnt be peace-loving because it hadnt fought during World War II.

To forge an effective armed services, America needed to break down the almost insurmountable social barrier between commissioned officers and enlisted men (an interesting response from a commissioned officer in the Marines), and to abolish all political appointments to the Naval and Military colleges (his attempt to infuse politics into military appointments would, years later, speed his undoing). He ended the speech by railing  in a way he knew Tom Coleman would relish  against two Democrats, liberal Senator Claude Pepper of Florida and President Harry Truman: They must be removed; they can be removed; and by Heaven they will be removed.

He had promised to fight clean, but his free-swinging style ensured some punches would land below the belt. La Follette, McCarthy told voters, was a gentleman from Virginia whod sat out the war. Joes point was plain: his country squire competitor had lost touch not just with the common American but with the heartland he was supposed to represent. Joe offered a striking contrast, as spelled out in his ads asserting that hed resigned his job to enlist as a PRIVATE in the MARINES, and that TODAY JOE MCCARTHY IS HOME. He wants to SERVE America in the SENATE. Yes, folks, CONGRESS NEEDS A TAIL GUNNER. So what if much of it was untrue? McCarthy, we know now, never resigned his judges job, he never was a buck private, and La Follette never lived in the run-down house in Virginia that he had sold two long years before.

The lies were a preview of those hed launch against this newspaper in his later years as Americas most fearsome Red-baiter. The Capital Times, hed charge, were the Red mouthpiece for the Communist party in Wisconsin, while City Editor Cedric Parker was closely affiliated with a number of Communist-front organizations. Parker had in fact flirted with communism years before, but now there was convincing evidence that he and the paper were as anti-Communist as the country. Joe wasnt fooled. If a fowl looks like a duck, walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then we can safely assume that it is a duck, asserted McCarthys 3,000-word screed, mailed to every media outlet in the state.

Pullout 1 The lies were a preview of those he'd launch against this newspaper in his later years as America's most fearsome Red-baiter.

Once an admirer of the La Follettes, Joe had learned from Fighting Bob and Young Bob how effective it was to target Eastern elites  grain dealers, railroads and bankers  saying they were out to screw beleaguered Midwesterners. But while both sprang from populist roots, La Follette-style Progressivism offered a litany of carefully-crafted remedies whereas McCarthyism, even in that nascent stage, meant endless scapegoating and few solutions. And while it remains an enigma how the same state could spawn such mismatched sons as Tail-Gunner Joe and Young Bob, Wisconsin politics always had two strains. In 1911, Wisconsin elected Americas first Socialist to Congress, but by 1925 its Republican Party was so strong that Democrats held none of the 33 seats in the state senate and only one of 99 in the assembly. Even the La Follettes were Republicans for 28 of their 40 years holding that U.S. Senate seat.

To break that hold, McCarthy showed that he could outhustle as well as outtalk this most cerebral, least pugnacious of the La Follettes. Joes campaign mailed out 750,000 booklets with gushing copy and flattering photos of him perched in the rear-gunners seat, machine-gun ready. He also launched a penny postcard offensive. One side of his mailer had a picture of Joe, the other the admonition, Your vote Tuesday will be greatly appreciated, by Joe McCarthy. While the stamps were bought at the Appleton Post Office, the campaign was so suspicious of its Democratic postmaster that the 500,000 cards were mailed from as far away as Milwaukee.

By the end of the summer Joe had logged 33,000 campaign miles and worn out two cars. One day in particular became part of that elections lore. He got up at 5:00 A.M. in Marinette, in Northeastern Wisconsin, and started driving toward Superior, in the northwest, 250 miles away, where he had a radio speech scheduled for 5:00 P.M. and a public appearance at 8:30 P.M., The Saturday Evening Post reported. In the first 100 miles, driving over rutted roads, McCarthy had four blowouts. He left his car in Rhinelander and took passage in a small passenger plane for Superior . . . Over Butternut the plane developed an oil leak and landed in an oats field. He hired a taxicab to finish the dash to Superior; its engine coughed out at Ashland. McCarthy, who had learned to fly small planes in the Solomons, borrowed one from a lawyer he knew in Ashland and flew it himself to Superior. He missed the radio date, but spoke at the public meeting.

Those efforts cost money, and the once-reluctant Tom Coleman was there to help. Some bills he and the RVC paid themselves. For others, they enlisted fellow corporate big shots. Altogether the McCarthy forces spent more than $50,000 on the primary campaign, nearly four times La Follettes $13,000.

Impressive as those exercises were, none would have been insurmountable if La Follette had mounted even a modest campaign instead of a white flag. The thrice-elected incumbent failed to reverse the defection of organized labor to the previously moribund Democratic Party. He failed to account for all the Democrats who would cross over in this open primary to vote for McCarthy, in the misplaced hope he would be easier than La Follette to beat in the general election. And he failed to foresee how hard the only Democratic candidate, former New Deal Congressman Howard McMurray, would pound him. Dredging up the senators anti-interventionist past, McMurray let loose with hyperbole nastier than McCarthys. La Follette spent five years before the war voting for Hitler, McMurray said, adding, If a man had to sell out his civilization to get votes he should not represent a free people in a democratic society. Could this senator, esteemed by his colleagues in Washington as one of the great men of the Senate, in fact be a Nazi quisling?

Young Bob was just 51 at the time, but he waged his campaign like an old man and a weak one. It was partly that, like many of his supporters, he took for granted the magic of the La Follette name and didnt take seriously enough the upstart McCarthy. After all that time living in Washington when his father was senator, and as a senator himself, he was as out-of-touch with his Midwest base as Joe made out. Ive been in the Senate representing Wisconsin for 20 years, La Follette explained wearily to William Benton, then assistant secretary of state. If the people at home have decided they dont want me, then Im ready to quit.

His miserable health helped explain that lassitude. When he was at the University of Wisconsin, a serious viral infection kept him from finishing his degree. The same bug, plus emotional strains, kept him in bed and out of World War I. As he aged, he suffered an inflammation of the leg that produced a blood clot. Other maladies included diverticulitis, bursitis, mild diabetes, and ongoing pain in his neck, hip, and shoulder. Underlying it all were too much drinking and ongoing marital troubles. Bob La Follette never liked campaigning and now was even more reticent, especially against a hardboiled brawler like Joe McCarthy.

When the senator finally did come home, six days before the election, he took to the airwaves and public podiums to position himself as a moderate: The Communists want Bob La Follettes scalp because I am not far enough to the left to suit them. The Colemanites have been attacking Bob La Follette because I am not far enough to the right to suit them. The way forward, he concluded, is the Middle Way, the American Way. It was a strategy that could have worked if hed begun earlier  and had kept his mouth shut about the governors race. Instead, he jumped in with a late endorsement of his friend Ralph Immell, who was challenging incumbent Governor Walter Goodland. That turned Goodlands boosters against him and dumbfounded the governor, who had been urging Tom Coleman to drop his support for McCarthy and get behind La Follette.

On primary day, McCarthys victory was more of a shock than it should have been. Two-thirds of voters stayed home the way they usually did in a non-presidential year, with some confused by a primary that had been moved from April to August during the war years. Given all that McCarthy had done right on the campaign trail, the biggest surprise was how close La Follette came. The final tally was 207,935 for McCarthy and 202,557 for La Follette, with Joes slender edge coming in Milwaukee, a labor stronghold that had been La Follette territory. Joe had won a Republican nomination that he would later call the sweetest political triumph of his life.

The story took familiar turns from there, with McCarthy easily winning the general election with an assist from the unlikeliest of sources, his vanquished primary rival Robert La Follette Jr. As one of the first respected liberals to sound an alarm about both Soviet aggression and the growing influence of the U.S. Communist party, Young Bob had enormous credibility on the issue. He put that on the line by publishing in The Progressive magazine slashing attacks on left-wing Democrats, unionists, and others who, like vermin, were prostituting liberalism for their own devious purposes. He didnt mention McMurray but didnt have to, since everyone understood and pro-McCarthy newspapers reprinted his articles. La Follette never had or would like McCarthy, but he liked McMurray so much less that on November 5, he pulled the lever for the man who had dethroned him.

Two-thirds of Wisconsin voters did the same. The final tally was 620,430 for McCarthy and 378,772 for McMurray. Joe had finished first in an eye-popping 70 of the states 72 counties and won all three rounds in the fight of his life. His rise from chicken farmer to U.S. senator at the age of 39 was the kind of rags-to-ruling story that would have impressed Fighting Bob, who took 12 years longer to make it to that sacred seat in the U.S. Senate.

There is one more painful twist to the McCarthy-La Follette narrative. Young Bob had suffered from depression and anxiety over the years, along with physical ailments. But hed always managed to rebound from the former and the latter werent more pronounced than normal when, on February 24, 1953, the ex-senator left his office in downtown Washington and headed home. Quietly entering the bathroom off his second-floor bedroom, La Follette fatally shot himself through the roof of his mouth with a target pistol his father had given him as a child. With no note explaining why, there was rampant speculation. Was it worries about his declining memory or a sense hed let his father down by yielding the family Senate seat to McCarthy in 1946?
That was a real head-scratcher a few days ago when Donald Trump's solicitor general sent the U.S. Supreme Court a legal brief asking it to end the Affordable Care Act.

In the midst of a pandemic, no less, this administration proposes to end a 10-year-old health care program that covers 21 million Americans, undoubtedly more than a few of them in the hospital fighting COVID-19 as we speak.

But, this is the kind of senselessness that has nourished the unfair and unequal economic system that plagues America and creates the unrest we're witnessing each and every day. Instead of doing what we can to create a more equitable society, clueless politicians do all they can to make sure the less fortunate among us stay that way.

It's hard sometimes to understand why. No doubt our two stalwart Republican Bobbsey twins, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, are just fine with this Trump initiative. They have spent the past decade making sure that Wisconsin didn't expand Medicaid for fear that it would signal their approval of Obamacare. And, of course, they hailed their compatriot, former GOP attorney general Brad Schimel when he joined the kill Obamacare lawsuit initiated by the Texas AG.
Driscoll, 40, has fought for reforms to Wisconsins gun laws for years as an activist with the Wisconsin Coalition for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Everytown for Gun Safety. Now she wants to take the fight to the Legislature as the representative for Wisconsins 76th Assembly District.

Ive just been seeing across Wisconsin so much harm thats being done to people and its motivated me to want to run and work on the issues that Ive been already advocating for and organizing on in the community, Driscoll told me.

Although gun safety is a primary focus of Driscolls activism and her campaign platform, shes far from a single-issue candidate. Shes also passionate about preserving and expanding access to health care and advocating for environmental justice.

Driscoll is also savvy about the political power the seat holds. Because its a safe seat for Democrats, she knows she would be well-positioned to look beyond Madisons isthmus to help candidates in tougher races throughout the state.

Democrats can talk a good game about fighting to get out of the minority, but Driscoll has already demonstrated her commitment to the effort, having knocked on doors in potentially flippable districts for Democratic candidates like Kriss Marion, Jeff Wright and Alyson Leahy.
Burgos asked for forgiveness. Nielsen said it was up to Zdroiks family, not the court, to forgive him. Two of Zdroiks children, who are both now adults and have children of their own, spoke at the sentencing. They both said they hope they can someday forgive him, but they havent been able to do that yet.

I would love to forgive you one day, I really would. But Im not there, one of them said, pushing through sobs.

I dont know how you, as a human being, how you can participate and take watch as a terrified, helpless woman got executed in cold blood and drive off and proceed with your life, the other child said.

Burgos responded: I cannot begin to imagine your grief  Nothing I can say is going to change what happened, but I offer you my apologies from the bottom of my heart.

Why did it take 20 years?

The break in the case came in January 2017, when investigators learned that a double homicide in Milwaukee, the one that Zdroik witnessed, may have been tied to Zdroiks death.

Blood from one of the other victims was found on Zdroiks pants.
PRAIRIE DU SAC  Murlee Mathew Bahr was born Oct. 22, 1952, in Hampton, Iowa, and went home to be with his Lord Jesus, July 4, 2020, Independence Day! He was the third child born to Melvin V. and Mary Ann (Hofmann) Bahr. Murlee is survived by his six siblings, Mickey (Linda) Bahr, Melody Bahr, Marilee (Jack) Eisele, Micah (Lori) Bahr, Melisa (Dan) Lapp and Manuel (Teresa) Bahr; many nieces/nephews, great-nieces/great-nephews and even some great-great-nieces/nephews; cousins; Uncle Ken (Win) Beers, Uncle Carl and Aunt Betty (Hofmann) Johnson. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Murlee was blessed with many talents. As a young boy, he would write poems, sang in church, played the harmonica, played the piano by ear and helped work on the family farm. He graduated from Richland Center High School, then went on to be a meat cutter. When the opportunity arose to work with his dad, Melvin; his mom, Mary Ann; youngest brother, Manuel; other family members and folks willing to put in a hard days work doing land drainage and tiling, Murlee manned the tiling machine. Murlee had a good eye, could dig a straight ditch and see from the lay of the land where the water would flow.
"It was not freedom of speech and it was not left to interpretation," Peyton Caire said. "It was wrong and it was aggressive and it was harassment."
Whats really so very serious about the situation were in right now is that by transmission going in the wrong direction, were at risk of the virus getting a foothold to the point where its widespread. In that situation, everybody is at risk, Westergaard said.

Wont list businesses

Following a video conference last week with local health departments, a DHS official said Tuesday the department had walked back potential plans to publicly list the names of businesses that see multiple positive cases of COVID-19.

We received feedback during that call (and throughout the week) about this proposal, DHS spokeswoman Elizabeth Goodsitt said in an email. We took all of that input into account and decided that we have no immediate plans to post the information on the website.

Palm also said the department had conversations with different partners about posting such data on the DHS website and through those conversations, we decided that we would certainly not be doing that this week.

However, DHS officials said the department currently is processing outstanding records requests pertaining to public health investigations at individual businesses to determine what information might be released.
DWD has boosted staffing, added call centers and expanded help center hours to manage the influx of claims. Despite the progress, DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman and Evers have come under fire, largely from Republicans, over delays in processing claims.

Steineke said Evers could implement the loan program without legislative approval and it could be set up through a department other than DWD, such as the Department of Revenue.

A July 1 report from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau states that, if the state provided $40 million in loan funding to the state Unemployment Insurance program, an estimated 30,581 people could receive a loan of $1,308  equal to four weekly benefit payments of $327.

Republicans say repayments on those loans could go into the state Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which supplements the unemployment program, to offset employer taxes.

Several Assembly Republicans issued statements in support of the forgivable loan program.

It has been over three months since the governor declared a state of emergency and unemployment claims spiked, Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance, said in a statement. His administrations failure and apathy must force consideration of emergency actions.
The coronavirus pandemic is heading in a dangerous direction.

Cases are up in Wisconsin and across most of the nation, as young people  many without symptoms  spread and contract the potentially deadly disease in greater numbers. The risk of transmission is highest indoors, where the virus can float longer in stagnant air.

Thats why Dane County is justified in mandating face coverings indoors starting Monday, unless you are in your home or outside. Dane County just confirmed its highest week of infections, averaging 111 per day, with more than 2,500 verified cases overall.

Thankfully, local hospitals are still operating well below capacity, with fewer people dying. But other states with surges in cases, such as Texas, havent been so lucky.

We dont agree with everything in Dane Countys order. Its demand that masks be worn by visitors inside private homes seems needlessly intrusive. Leave personal decisions about private living spaces up to individuals.
Next week is likely to be worse than this week, and the entire Lower 48 states and Alaska are likely to be warmer than normal for the last two weeks of July, traditionally the hottest time of year, according to the National Weather Services Climate Prediction Center.

Wisconsin could be battling it out with the Southeast for the nations hottest feels-like temperature  which factors in humidity  with heat indices pushing past 100. The worst prolonged heat looks to be around western Nebraska, Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, with temperatures approaching 110, but without the sticky humidity.

A giant ridge of high pressure, parking hot air, is stuck in the Southwest and extends farther east that usual, blocking cold fronts from moving in, while the jet stream has retreated to Canada, so nothing is pushing the heat along.

Its very widespread and its going to be very long lasting, Jeff Masters, founder of Weather Underground and now a meteorologist at Yale Climate Connections, told AP. Its not a record-breaking heat wave, but it is notable for its persistence.

The standard advice is to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air conditioning, and take frequent breaks if you must be outside, as heat stroke is a real possibility.
Senior living facilities, specifically memory care units, need immediate attention.

My mother suffers from advanced dementia. She has been in memory care in Coeur dAlene for over a year and a half and was in an assisted living home in Eagle, Idaho for three years prior.

The realities of memory care are difficult, debilitating, and tragic, even with regular visitation by family. We have discovered that only immediate family members visit memory care residents, often only a spouse or specific child will visit regularly. We also discovered that because of the cognitive level of most residents, phone conversations do not fill the void of in-person visits. Without holding my hand, listening to music together, retelling family stories again and again, or simply going outside together for a walk, my mother suffered a severe mental, emotional, and physical decline. She called me by my name every time I saw her prior to the three-month visitation suspension. She now is confused by my presence.

Lets be clear. Dementia patients will not recover or get better. They will die from the disease. The care they receive is palliative, not curative. That said, we obviously need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in memory care facilities.
Cordero and Kloots, a fitness trainer, relocated to Los Angeles, where he starred in the musical "Rock of Ages" in 2019.

He met Kloots, a former Broadway dancer, when they were both performing in "Bullets over Broadway," and they married in 2017.

According to Kloots, Cordero was initially hospitalized in March at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

She shared on social media that Cordero spent some time on a ventilator, suffered multiple COVID-19 complications and in April had to have his leg amputated.

He spent weeks unconscious, even as doctors brought him out of sedation, and the hashtag campaign #WakeUpNick sprung up on social media to support Cordero as he recovered.

In May, Kloots posted that her husband was awake and, while very weak, was making progress.

"Even closing his eyes, takes it out of him," she said. "They're waiting for him to regain strength, of course, time and recovery will help with that and then eventually PT will help him get stronger."
Williams lived at 237 Huntington Hills Drive in Bassett, a little more than three miles from where he was found.

Gillespies address is listed as Apartment 3 of the complex where the shooting occurred.

According to court records in Henry County, Williams was out on bail at the time of the shooting on a charge of grand larceny of an automobile. He had been arrested on March 24, the same day as the alleged offense, and released on bond on April 9.

He had been scheduled to return to Henry County General District Court on June 25.

Gillespie had been arrested on March 18 for a parole violation and appeared to have been in the Henry County jail until about May 6.

Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said on the night of Williams death that males and females were present for a period of time at the apartment where the shooting occurred, and after a possible robbery where weapons were involved, a small black sports-utility vehicle or crossover vehicle left the scene.
A Henry County resident had been hospitalized last week, and Fitzgerald in the past had been able to confirm deaths at the hospital.

VDH reports its data each morning, and Bell typically releases specific cases in the district later in the day. The information is not necessarily synchronized.

As of Tuesday there had been 66,740 cases statewide, with 1,881 deaths, and 6,512 people have been hospitalized.

Henry County now has 301 cases, with 24 hospitalized and the five deaths.

Martinsville has 98 cases, 12 hospitalized and one death. Patrick County has 48 cases, and four have been hospitalized and two have died.

Franklin Countys total is at 104, with six hospitalized and one death.

As of Tuesday evening Bell had not announced any new cases in the district, but she did fill in the gap of missing cases on Friday (when she was off duty).

Martinsville reported one case (a male in his 20s), and Henry County had five (two females in their 30s and three males in their 30s, 40s and 60s).

There were no new hospitalizations in the district.

Since July 1, West Piedmont Health District has grown by 59 cases, and all but a handful of cases have been found since May 1.
More than 90 businesses in Martinsville, Henry County, and Patrick County have received Paycheck Protection Program loans of at least $150,000, saving more than 1,600 local jobs, according to information released Monday by the federal government.

However, details missing from the federal data make it impossible to gauge the total amount of funding distributed locally or the true number of jobs impacted.

A list from the U.S. Small Business Administration provides only a broad range for each loan amount, meaning the largest PPP loans may have infused anywhere from $30.75 million to $74 million into the Martinsville area's economy. Several hundred smaller loans (less than $150,000 each) have added at least $16.5 million more.

PPP loans offer up to $10 million to help small businesses and nonprofits continue to pay workers, rent and utilities during the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Funds do not have to be paid back if employers use at least 60% to keep employees on the payroll.

After several news outlets sued in mid-May for borrower information to be made public, the SBA released a spreadsheet Monday identifying about 650,000 of the largest PPP recipients. This is a fraction of the roughly 5 million total borrowers across the country, according to The Associated Press.

Citing privacy concerns for smaller businesses, the SBA only named those that received at least $150,000 and categorized the loans by range: $5 million to $10 million, $2 million to $5 million, $1 million to $2 million, $350,000 to $1 million, and $150,000 to $350,000.

Locally, the largest amounts went to Piedmont Community Services and Drake Extrusion, which each received $2 million to $5 million. Piedmont reported it was able to retain 395 jobs as a result of the funding, and Drake reported 195 jobs were retained.

Nine local businesses obtained PPP funds in the $1 million to $2 million range. These included Primland Resort in Patrick County, supporting 260 jobs; Aerial Machine & Tool Corp. of Meadows of Dan, with 200 jobs; Ten Oaks of Stuart, 169 jobs; Blue Ridge SNF Operations of Stuart, 162 jobs; Nilit America of Ridgeway, 138 jobs; Applied Felts of Martinsville, 100 jobs; and Bassett Mirror, 87 jobs.

Virginia Mirror Company and Ameristaff Inc. were in the $1-2 million category, as well, but listed zero jobs retained. The SBA notes this information is self-reported by the loan applicants, and not everyone fills it out. Information also appears to vary based on the lender; for example, job retention numbers were listed as zero for the 24 largest local PPP loans handled by American Bank and Trust.

A total of 28 local businesses, including the nonprofit Carlisle School, were listed in the $350,000 to $1 million range. Another 53 borrowers received $150,000 to $350,000, SBA documents show.

Two affiliated nursing care facilities each received aid: Mulberry Creek Nursing & Rehab at 300 Blue Ridge St., listed as AFS of Martinsville, Inc., was approved for $1 million to $2 million. Mulberry Creek Assisted Living at 400 Blue Ridge St., listed as AFS of Martinsville ALF, Inc., received between $150,000 and $350,000, the document shows. Neither facility listed how many jobs were supported.

The Nelson brand of automotive businesses reported saving a total of 155 local jobs with PPP aid totaling between $650,000 and $1.7 million. Nelson Automotive Group Central in Stanleytown and Nelson Auto Group South, located on Greensboro Road in Martinsville, each received $150,000 to $350,000. Nelson Ford, Inc. on Commonwealth Boulevard in Martinsville is listed in the $350,000 to $1 million category.

The vast majority of local loans were for less than $150,000, going to at least 440 businesses in Martinsville and Henry County and more than 100 in Patrick County. These ranged from $634 for an unnamed trucking company to $148,000 for a law firm. The SBA did not give names or addresses for these recipients but did list the locality, industry classification code and which bank handled the loan.

Information on the SBA website shows that the agency does not directly issue the loans. PPP loans are made by lending institutions and then guaranteed by SBA. Borrowers self-certify that they are eligible, making a good faith certification that the borrower has economic need requiring the loan and that the borrower has applied the affiliation rules and is a small business. The lender then reviews the borrowers application, and if all the paperwork is in order, approves the loan and submits it to SBA, the website states.

As of June 30, the AP reports $521 billion in PPP funds have been distributed nationwide. The program has since been extended to Aug. 8, with $132 billion still available.

Kim Barto Meeks is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. She can be reached at 276-638-8801.

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Can America defeat this existential threat or will godless radicals destroy our nation? The Nov. 3 election affords a chance to restore our Judeo-Christian heritage by electing pro-life leaders who acknowledge God and enact laws aligned with divine authority. Americas future rests upon our willingness to repent and to trust in Gods loving-kindness. As II Chronicles 7:14 teaches, If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Camp Grier is located on 655 acres and is surrounded by the first tract of national forest purchased by the federal government under the Weeks Act. An 8,100 acre tract encompassing the Curtis Creek watershed was purchased for $7 an acre from the Burke McDowell Lumber Company in 1911. Following in that great tradition of conservation Camp Grier protected a 200 acre tract of our property surrounding Jarrett Creek in 2018, according to the camps Web site.

During the winter of 2018, Camp Grier added 10 acres of pasture land for the equestrian and agriculture program. There is also an effort to conserve an additional 40 acres surrounding the creeks and tributaries on our campus that feed into Jarrett Creek.

With the COVID-19 situation, the staff of Camp Grier is making every effort to maintain a safe environment for campers.

We know youre concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and how it will impact summer camp, reads the Web site. This situation reminds us of how important the outdoors is to our community. Camp Grier is committed to maintaining a safe, clean, and healthy environment for our staff and campers. In coordination with other overnight camps across North Carolina, local health departments, and state officials were closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and making necessary changes to our screening, cleaning, and programming routines.
MORGANTON  On June 9, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina purchased 96 acres in Burke County for permanent conservation. The protected land adjoins the 46-acre Mineral Springs Mountain parcel, which the conservancy acquired in 2019 for the creation of a future public trail to South Mountains State Park, other Foothills Conservancy preserve lands and the town of Valdese. Foothills Conservancy and partners are exploring several trail alternatives to attempt to connect these areas for North Carolina State Parks new Wilderness Gateway State Trail (WGST).

The Wilderness Gateway State Trail, while still in the planning stages, will provide public access to some absolutely gorgeous landscapes in McDowell, Rutherford, Burke and Catawba counties, said Smith Raynor, State Trails planner for North Carolina State Parks. The WGST, like all of our State Trails, will only be realized through essential partnerships with local government, private organizations and volunteers. Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina has proven to be an indispensable partner in the efforts to make the WGST a reality. Their capacity to preserve land, organize volunteers and collaborate in the planning is proving invaluable.
According to DHHS data, there were 994 people needing hospital care, setting another one-day high in the state since the COVID-19 pandemic reached North Carolina in early March. That was an increase from 989 on Tuesday as the total continues to creep up, the News & Observer of Raleigh reported.

With 89% of the hospitals reporting, 24% of the state's inpatient hospital beds were available and 20% of intensive care unit beds available. There were 1,435 new confirmed cases of coronavirus reported Wednesday, a slight increase from Tuesday (1,346) and 21,051 completed tests.

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In total, there have been 77,310 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. DHHS reported that 1,441 people have died from the coronavirus in North Carolina, which has a population of about 10.5 million people. That was an increase of 21 deaths from Tuesday's report and 43 from Monday's.
On June 5, the World Health Organization revised its guidelines about when people should wear cloth masks. Previously, the organization had recommended that only those with symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, or those caring for them, wear cloth masks over the nose and mouth.

On June 18, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide order requiring people to wear masks in most public spaces.

The new guidelines recommend that everyone who comes in close contact with others in crowded or close quarters, such as on a bus or in a store, wear a cloth mask composed of at least three different layers of material. People 60 or older, or those with underlying health conditions, should wear medical masks, such as surgical masks, in public, and physicians and health care providers should wear medical masks in all areas of a hospital, even if the area in which they are working has no COVID-19 patients, according to the organization.

The new guidelines were devised after WHO officials reviewed information from researchers at Stanford and elsewhere about the ability of cloth masks to slow the spread of the disease, which has now infected more than 8 million people worldwide and caused more than 400,000 deaths.

The revised recommendations more closely echo those of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which since early April has recommended cloth masks in public settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

Science writer Krista Conger spoke with two Stanford researchers involved in the change to the WHO guidelines: Amy Price, PhD, a senior research scientist at Stanfords Anesthesia Informatics and Media Laboratory, and Larry Chu, MD, a professor of anesthesia and director of the AIM Laboratory. They recently co-authored an article in Nanotechnology Letters assessing the filtering and breathability of various household fabrics often used to make masks.

1. How do cloth face coverings prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Chu: In order to answer this, its first important to understand the concept of source control. Weve learned that as many as 40% of people infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 may have no symptoms. But when they talk, cough or sneeze, they can still spread the virus to others in the form of respiratory droplets expelled into the air. Those droplets evaporate into fine particles that may linger. The mask traps these larger droplets before they can evaporate. So, wearing a mask regularly can prevent spreading at the source even when we dont know we are sick. But masks are just one important way to prevent this disease from spreading. Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and keeping at least 6 feet apart from one another are still vitally important.

Price: Many people argue that cloth masks cant be effective because they cant filter out viral particles, which are extremely tiny. But, as Larry explained, most of these particles leave the mouth and nose in much larger droplets that become smaller through evaporation as they move away from the body. Trapping droplets with the mask means not nearly as many viral particles escape. So, when all parties in a gathering are wearing well-constructed, well-fitting masks, it provides an extra layer of safety for everyone. If two people are wearing masks, the viral particles can travel about 5 feet away from each individual. When an infected person is not wearing a mask, those particles can floatthrough the air 30 feet or more and stay alive for up to 30 hours.

2. How do you respond to people who feel that wearing a mask can be harmful?

Price: Ive heard so many misconceptions about cloth masks. Some people think that if you wear a mask for long periods of time you will trap and breathe in excess amounts of carbon dioxide, which could lead to brain damage. Thats just not true. A properly constructed mask provides more than enough ventilation. In fact, one way to test if your mask is well made is to try to blow out a candle through the mask from about 1 foot away. If you cant do so, your mask might be too tightly woven. Other people feel that wearing a mask encourages people to touch their face and to loosen their adherence to other safety precautions like social distancing and hand washing. Weve found the opposite. Wearing a mask reminds people to continue to be cautious. With a mask on, you actually touch your face less. People who experience skin irritation should ensure their mask has a layer of wicking fabric, like cotton, against the face, and everyone should change the mask if it becomes wet or dirty. Finally, its been suggested that mask-wearing may increase the concentration of viral particles around an infected persons mouth and could increase the severity of the illness. While its true that some studies of health care workers have suggested that the viral dose is an important determinant of infection, its different for someone who is already infected. If you are sick, you already have the virus in your lungs; its not going to get any worse.

3. Whats the best way to make and use a mask?

Chu: Our studies show that, if constructed properly with high-quality materials, a homemade cloth mask can function as well as or better than a surgical mask. Based on our studies, the WHO now recommends a cloth mask of at least three layers of different materials. The outermost layer should be made of a fabric that is at least somewhat water resistant. That can be a fabric that is a combination of cotton and polyester, nylon or rayon. The middle layer should either be a polypropylene  a spunbond material used in some reusable grocery bags, mattress covers and craft projects  or three-ply disposable facial tissues like Kleenex. Finally, the innermost layer should be a wicking material to draw moisture away from the face. One hundred percent soft cotton works well here.
A pupil's temperature is checked on returning to school in Johannesburg, Tuesday July 7, 2020, as more learners were permitted to return to class. Schools were shut down in March prior to a total country lockdown in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus and are now slowly being re-opened. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

Africa now has more than a half-million confirmed coronavirus cases, while South Africa's health minister declared Wednesday that "we have now reached the surge."

The continent-wide total is over 508,000, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after South Africa recorded another day of more than 10,000 confirmed cases as a new global hot spot. The country makes up 43% of Africa's cases.

The true number of cases among Africa's 1.3 billion people is unknown as its 54 countries face a serious shortage of testing materials for the virus. "A tremendous problem, a real crisis of access," the World Health Organization's Africa chief, Matshidiso Moeti, said last week.

So far most testing has been concentrated in capital cities, but infections in many cases have spread beyond them.

Already COVID-19 has killed more people in Africa11,955than Ebola did in its deadliest outbreak from 2014 to 2016 in West Africa, the WHO said Wednesday.

"With more than a third of countries in Africa doubling their cases over the past month, the threat of COVID-19 overwhelming fragile health systems on the continent is escalating," Moeti said Wednesday.

"So far the continent has avoided disaster," she added. If countries can continue to improve testing, tracing and isolating, "we can slow down the spread of the virus to a manageable level."

A pupil's hands are sanitised on returning to school in Johannesburg, Monday July 6, 2020, as more learners were permitted to return to class. Schools were shut down in March prior to a total country lockdown in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus and are now slowly being re-opened. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

Africa's health systems are the most poorly funded and thinly staffed in the world. Already more than 4,800 health workers have been infected by the virus in South Africa alone, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said Wednesday. Half of them are nurses.

This week alone, some anxious health workers in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Congo and Sierra Leone have gone on strike or demonstrated for adequate protective gear or better pay.

The African continent has just 2.2 health workersand 0.3 doctorsper 1,000 people, according to the WHO.

Experts have warned that even if badly needed supplies such as ventilators are provided to African nations, another challenge is having enough trained workers to operate them.

So far, WHO-organized shipments to African countries have included more than 3,000 oxygen concentrators, another key piece of equipment to help with breathing.

Even simple items are running short. "Bed capacity is still expected to be breached or overwhelmed in all provinces" in the coming weeks, South Africa's health minister told lawmakers.

"We have now reached the surge," Mkhize said. "The storm that we have consistently warned South Africans about is now arriving."

Africa reaches the half-million-case milestone as a growing number of its countries decide to reopen their skies to commercial flights, saying their economies are sick, too. Months of closed borders bought time to prepare for the pandemic but hurt the delivery of badly needed humanitarian aid.

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 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
In this Tuesday, June 30, 2020, file photo, employees screen visitors for COVID-19 before they enter the building at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, Idaho. A new spike in cases, however, has turned the mostly rural state into a COVID-19 hotspot. (Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP, File)

For a time in Idaho, it seemed like the worst of the coronavirus pandemic could be over. After an initial onslaught of confirmed cases in the spring, by June numbers had dropped to a point that state leaders felt comfortable allowing businesses to reopen and life to get back to nearly normal.

A new spike of COVID-19 occurrences has prompted some concern, however. The number of daily confirmed new cases has quadrupled over the past two weeks to roughly 345nearly double what the numbers were during the state's first outbreak.

"It's alarming," Idaho Gov. Brad Little said Monday.

Idaho is still far from being a national hot spot: The state ranks about 14th in the nation for new confirmed cases per capita, and death rates linked to COVID-19 are minimal here compared to other stateswith about 5.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, compared to about 171 deaths per 100,000 New Jersey residents, for example. Death reports can lag behind coronavirus diagnoses by weeks, however, so it's too soon to tell if Idaho's death rate will remain low.

Despite his concern, Little doesn't anticipate shutting the state back down. He says hospitals have sufficient capacity and stocks of personal protective equipment.

But the heads of two major hospital systems in southwestern Idaho told regional public health officials Tuesday that testing systems are overwhelmed and stocks of protective equipment soon could see shortages as well.

Emily Wahl, center, and more than 100 other people gather at City Hall to protest Mayor Lauren McLean's order mandating people to wear face coverings in Boise, Idaho, Friday, July 3, 2020. For a while in Idaho, it seemed like the worst of the coronavirus pandemic could be over, with most businesses back to nearly normal operations in June and face masks few and far between in many areas. A new spike in confirmed cases, however, has turned the mostly rural state into a COVID-19 hot spot. (Katherine Jones/Idaho Statesman via AP)

Previous shutdown efforts have been controversial and sparked protests. For the heavily Republican, agriculturally focused state, the coronavirus has highlighted an ongoing clash between ultraconservatives who abhor government mandates and traditional conservatives who believe science and individual responsibility will lead the way through the pandemic.

Idaho reached Phase 4 of Little's four-step reopening plan in mid-June, allowing bars to reopen and large gatherings as long as people wore masks and took other precautions such as social distancing. By the middle of the next week, however, health officials announced an outbreak linked to infected patrons who visited half a dozen Boise bars. Another outbreak was linked to a grocery store in central Idaho. And in eastern Idaho, officials reported that an infected patron spent more than eight hours at a bar in eastern Idaho.

Health professionals say the Boise area is experiencing exponential growth, and that doesn't seem likely to change anytime soon.

"Our modeling shows week after week increases," said Chris Roth, the CEO of St. Luke's Medical System. "There's nothing that we've been able to determine is going to change the trajectory at this point, given the collective behaviors of the community."

Bruce DeLaney, who co-owns Rediscovered Books with his wife, Laura DeLaney, says responding to the pandemic has been a constant conversation at his home over the past several weeks. He doesn't want to see Boise become another New York City, at one point the nation's biggest hot spot, where his mom and brother saw the toll of the virus firsthand.

"It's tough hearing the stories out of there. You can't talk to people who've been there and not have that color what's going on here," he said. "I have a staff, I have a family, our customers have families and I don't want anybody getting sick because I made them come to work in unsafe conditions."

In this June 30, 2020, file photo, a pedestrian wearing a face mask walks past a tent used for taking coronavirus tests in a parking lot outside Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, Idaho. For a while in Idaho, it seemed like the worst of the coronavirus pandemic could be over, with most businesses back to nearly normal operations in June. A new spike in confirmed cases, however, has turned the mostly rural state into a COVID-19 hot spot. (Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP, File)

The state's introduction to COVID-19 started with a boom in March. Within days, Blaine County, home to the tony Sun Valley Resort, was under an emergency stay-at-home order amid a spike in cases sparked largely by out-of-state traffic to the region.

Yet many in the state were unconcerned. They still saw the coronavirus as a big-city problem, not something that could touch isolated ranching and farming towns where generations-old homesteads have withstood drought, blight and economic depressions. Social media posts with sentiments such as, "If you ever licked a salt block as a kid, you can't get coronavirus," started to become popular.

On March 25, Little expanded the stay-at-home order statewide. Within a few hours, the governor was garnering both praise for taking decisive action and complaints from those who said he overstepped. Some far-right lawmakers said mask recommendations and forced business closures violated residents' personal freedoms.

Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin was repeatedly critical of Little.

"I lose sleep at night because the heavy hand of our government is hurting so many Idahoans," she wrote in a May editorial, adding that many residents were still waiting for unemployment benefits.

Idaho's conservative lawmakers have long been reluctant to legislate medical matters, with frequent attempts to limit abortion, transgender care and other reproductive care issues being the big exceptions. The state is one of a few that still has "faith healing" exceptions to child abuse laws, allowing some parents to avoid prosecution if a child dies from lack of medical care. Idaho's vaccination requirements are also flexible, allowing unvaccinated kids to attend school if their parent objects to vaccines.

In this Thursday, July 2, 2020, file photo, a sign outside the Moscow Food Co-op thanks Mayor Bill Lambert for issuing a public health emergency order requiring people to to wear face masks in public to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. A new spike in cases, however, has turned the mostly rural state into a COVID-19 hotspot. (Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP, File)

As a result, the state has pockets with very low vaccination rates, and Idaho has become a popular destination for so-called "anti-vax refugees" from California and other areas with stricter vaccination rules. That ethos has spread to the pandemic public policy debate, and anti-vaccine groups such as Health Freedom Idaho have joined forces with libertarian lobbying and think tank organization Idaho Freedom Foundation to protest the stay-at-home orders.

Hospital capacity seems to be adequate so far: As of Sunday evening, state health department officials said there had been 369 people hospitalized, 124 of whom were admitted to the ICU. The state still had just over 100 available ICU beds and 468 ventilators available as of Sunday, however, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

DeLaney, like many other Idaho business owners, initially offered delivery services, then added curbside pickup and appointment-only shopping. Now numbers inside the store are limited and everyone must wear a mask and use hand sanitizer.

For the most part, he said customers have been understanding, though some have pushed back against the rules.

"They are pleased that we seem to value their well-being over being the best capitalists that we can be," he said.

Some local government leaders are taking action in the absence of a statewide face-mask mandate. Starting last Saturday, Boise's mayor, Lauren McLean, made face coverings mandatory for people in public spaces where social distancing can't be observed.

The order was met with relief by many, and protests by some. Health Freedom Idaho organized a protest that brought a few hundred people to Boise's City Hall last Friday. Some protesters burned masks and chanted, "We will not comply!"

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 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
People who work in jobs that require less physical activitytypically office and desk-based jobsare at a lower risk of subsequent poor cognition than those whose work is more physically active, suggests new research from the University of Cambridge.

Lack of physical activity and exercise are known risk factors for major health conditions, including cognitive impairments such as memory and concentration problems. However, evidence as to whether physical activity actually protects against cognitive decline has often been mixed and inconclusive.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge examined patterns of physical activity among 8,500 men and women who were aged 40-79 years old at the start of the study and who had a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and educational attainment. The individuals were all part of the EPIC-Norfolk Cohort. In particular, the team were able to separate physical activity during work and leisure to see if these had different associations with later life cognition.

"The often used mantra 'what is good for the heart, is good for the brain' makes complete sense, but the evidence on what we need to do as individuals can be confusing," said Shabina Hayat from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge. "With our large cohort of volunteers, we were able to explore the relationship between different types of physical activity in a variety of settings."

As part of the study, participants completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire, including information on the level of physical activity during both work and leisure, and underwent a health examination. After an average 12 years, the volunteers were invited back and completed a battery of tests that measured aspects of their cognition, including memory, attention, visual processing speed and a reading ability test that approximates IQ.

While many studies have only been able to report cross-sectional findings, the ability to follow up EPIC-Norfolk participants over a long period allowed the researchers to examine data prospectively. This helped them rule out any bias resulting from people with poor cognitionpossibly as a result of cognitive impairment or early dementiabeing less likely to be physically active due to poor cognition, rather than poor cognition being a result of physical inactivity.

Among their findings, published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology, the researchers report:

Individuals with no qualifications were more likely to have physically active jobs, but less likely to be physically active outside of work.

A physically inactive job (typically a desk-job), is associated with lower risk of poor cognition, irrespective of the level of education. Those who remained in this type of work throughout the study period were the most likely to be in the top 10% of performers.

Those in manual work had almost three times increased risk of poor cognition than those with an inactive job.

"Our analysis shows that the relationship between physical activity and cognitive is not straightforward," explained Hayat. "While regular physical activity has considerable benefits for protection against many chronic diseases, other factors may influence its effect on future poor cognition.

"People who have less active jobstypically office-based, desk jobsperformed better at cognitive tests regardless of their education. This suggests that because desk jobs tend to be more mentally challenging than manual occupations, they may offer protection against cognitive decline."

It was not possible to say conclusively that physical activity in leisure time and desk-based work offer protection against cognitive decline. The researchers say that to answer this question, further studies will be required to include a more detailed exploration of the relationship of physical activity with cognition, particularly on inequalities across socio-economic groups and the impact of lower education.

Explore further The benefits of physical activity for older adults

More information: Cross-sectional and prospective relationship between occupational and leisure time inactivity and cognitive function in an ageing population. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) Study. International Journal of Epidemiology doi.org/10.17863/CAM.51130 Journal information: International Journal of Epidemiology Cross-sectional and prospective relationship between occupational and leisure time inactivity and cognitive function in an ageing population. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) Study.
Doris Kelley, 57, sits in her home on Monday, June 29, 2020 in Ruffs Dale, Pa. Kelley was one of the first patients in a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center trial for COVID-19. "It felt like someone was sitting on my chest and I couldn't get any air," Kelley said of the disease. (AP Photo/Justin Merriman)

Desperate to solve the deadly conundrum of COVID-19, the world is clamoring for fast answers and solutions from a research system not built for haste.

The ironic, and perhaps tragic, result: Scientific shortcuts have slowed understanding of the disease and delayed the ability to find out which drugs help, hurt or have no effect at all.

As deaths from the coronavirus relentlessly mounted into the hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of doctors and patients rushed to use drugs before they could be proved safe or effective. A slew of low-quality studies clouded the picture even more.

"People had an epidemic in front of them and were not prepared to wait," said Dr. Derek Angus, critical care chief at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "We made traditional clinical research look so slow and cumbersome."

It wasn't until mid-Junenearly six months inwhen the first evidence came that a drug could improve survival. Researchers in the United Kingdom managed to enroll one of every six hospitalized COVID-19 patients into a large study that found a cheap steroid called dexamethasone helps and that a widely used malaria drug does not. The study changed practice overnight, even though results had not been published or reviewed by other scientists.

In the United States, one smaller but rigorous study found a different drug can shorten recovery time for seriously ill patients, but many questions remain about its best use.

Doctors are still frantically reaching for anything else that might fight the many ways the virus can do harm, experimenting with medicines for stroke, heartburn, blood clots, gout, depression, inflammation, AIDS, hepatitis, cancer, arthritis and even stem cells and radiation.

"Everyone has been kind of grasping for anything that might work. And that's not how you develop sound medical practice," said Dr. Steven Nissen, a Cleveland Clinic researcher and frequent adviser to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Desperation is not a strategy. Good clinical trials represent a solid strategy."

Few definitive studies have been done in the U.S., with some undermined by people getting drugs on their own or lax methods from drug companies sponsoring the work.

And politics magnified the problem. Tens of thousands of people tried a malaria medicine after President Donald Trump relentlessly promoted it, saying, "What have you got to lose?" Meanwhile, the nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned "I like to prove things first." For three months, weak studies polarized views of hydroxychloroquine until several more reliable ones found it ineffective.

In this photo provided by the UPMC, Doris Kelley, 57, participates in a teleconference interview with The Associated Press at the UPMC East hospital in Monroeville, Pa., on April 17, 2020. "It felt like someone was sitting on my chest and I couldn't get any air," Kelley said of the disease. (UPMC via AP)

"The problem with 'gunslinger medicine,' or medicine that is practiced where there is a hunch ... is that it's caused society as a whole to be late in learning things," said Johns Hopkins University's Dr. Otis Brawley. "We don't have good evidence because we don't appreciate and respect science."

He noted that if studies had been conducted correctly in January and February, scientists would have known by March if many of these drugs worked.

Even researchers who value science are taking shortcuts and bending rules to try to get answers more rapidly. And journals are rushing to publish results, sometimes paying a price for their haste with retractions.

Research is still chaoticmore than 2,000 studies are testing COVID-19 treatments from azithromycin to zinc. The volume might not be surprising in the face of a pandemic and a novel virus, but some experts say it is troubling that many studies are duplicative and lack the scientific rigor to result in clear answers.

"Everything about this feels very strange," said Angus, who is leading an innovative study using artificial intelligence to help pick treatments. "It's all being done on COVID time. It's like this new weird clock we're running on."

Here is a look at some of the major examples of "desperation science" underway.

A MALARIA DRUG GOES VIRAL

To scientists, it was a recipe for disaster: In a medical crisis with no known treatment and a panicked population, an influential public figure pushes a drug with potentially serious side effects, citing testimonials and a quickly discredited report of its use in 20 patients.

Trump touted hydroxychloroquine in dozens of appearances starting in mid-March. The Food and Drug Administration allowed its emergency use even though studies had not shown it safe or effective for coronavirus patients, and the government acquired tens of millions of doses.

Trump first urged taking it with azithromycin, an antibiotic that, like hydroxychloroquine, can cause heart rhythm problems. After criticism, he doubled down on giving medical advice, urging "You should add zinc now ... I want to throw that out there." In May, he said he was taking the drugs himself to prevent infection after an aide tested positive.

In this photo provided by the UPMC, Dr. Ruba Nicola, chairwoman of family medicine at UPMC East, adjusts her personal protective equipment at the UPMC East hospital in Monroeville, Pa., on April 17, 2020. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's 40 hospitals in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Ohio joined a study underway in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand that randomly assigns patients to one of dozens of possible treatments and uses artificial intelligence to adapt treatments, based on the results. (UPMC via AP)

Many people followed his advice.

Dr. Rais Vohra, medical director of a California poison control center, told of a 52-year-old COVID-19 patient who developed an irregular heartbeat after three days on hydroxychloroquine  from the drug, not the virus.

"It seems like the cure was more dangerous than the effects of the disease," Vohra said.

Studies suggested the drug wasn't helping, but they were weak. And the most influential one, published in the journal Lancet, was retracted after major concerns arose about the data.

Craving better information, a University of Minnesota doctor who had been turned down for federal funding spent $5,000 of his own money to buy hydroxychloroquine for a rigorous test using placebo pills as a comparison. In early June, Dr. David Boulware's results showed hydroxychloroquine did not prevent COVID-19 in people closely exposed to someone with it.

A UK study found the drug ineffective for treatment, as did other studies by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization.

Boulware's colleague, Dr. Rahda Rajasingham, aimed to enroll 3,000 health workers in a study to see if hydroxychloroquine could prevent infection, but recently decided to stop at 1,500.

When the study started, "there was this belief that hydroxychloroquine was this wonder drug," Rajasingham said. More than 1,200 people signed up in just two weeks, but that slowed to a trickle after some negative reports.

"The national conversation about this drug has changed from everyone wants this drug ... to nobody wants anything to do with it," she said. "It sort of has become political where people who support the president are pro-hydroxychloroquine."

Researchers just want to know if it works.

This photo provided by the UPMC shows packets of hydroxychloroquine which a computer chose as treatment for COVID-19 patient Dorris Kelley, 57, at the UPMC East hospital in Monroeville, Pa., on April 17, 2020. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's 40 hospitals in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Ohio joined a study underway in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand that randomly assigns patients to one of dozens of possible treatments and uses artificial intelligence to adapt treatments, based on the results. (UPMC via AP)

LEARN AS YOU GO

In Pittsburgh, Angus is aiming for something between Trump's "just try it" and Fauci's "do the ideal study" approach.

In a pandemic, "there has to be a middle road, another way," Angus said. "We do not have the luxury of time. We must try to learn while doing."

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's 40 hospitals in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Ohio joined a study underway in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand that randomly assigns patients to one of dozens of possible treatments and uses artificial intelligence to adapt treatments, based on the results. If a drug looks like a winner, the computer assigns more people to get it. Losers are quickly abandoned.

The system "learns on the fly, so our physicians are always betting on the winning horse," Angus said.

A small number of patients given usual care serve as a comparison group for all of the treatments being tested, so more participants wind up getting a shot at trying something.

Mark Shannon, a 61-year-old retired bank teller from Pittsburgh, was the first to join.

"I knew that there was no known cure. I knew that they were learning as they went along in many cases. I just put my trust in them," he said.

Shannon, who spent 11 days on a breathing machine, received the steroid hydrocortisone and recovered.

Doris Kelley, a 57-year-old preschool teacher in Ruffs Dale, southeast of Pittsburgh, joined the study in April.

Doris Kelley, 57, sits with her husband, Tom Grimm, 62, on the front porch of their home on Monday, June 29, 2020 in Ruffs Dale, Pa. Kelley was one of the first patients in a UPMC trial for COVID-19. "It felt like someone was sitting on my chest and I couldn't get any air," Kelley said of the disease. (AP Photo/Justin Merriman)

"It felt like someone was sitting on my chest and I couldn't get any air," Kelley said of COVID-19.

She has asthma and other health problems and was glad to let the computer choose among the many possible treatments. It assigned her to get hydroxychloroquine and she went home a couple days later.

It's too soon to know if either patient's drug helped or if they would have recovered on their own.

THE BUMPY ROAD TO REMDESIVIR

When the new coronavirus was identified, attention swiftly turned to remdesivir, an experimental medicine administered through an IV that showed promise against other coronaviruses in the past by curbing their ability to copy their genetic material.

Doctors in China launched two studies comparing remdesivir to the usual care of severely and moderately ill hospitalized patients. The drug's maker, Gilead Sciences, also started its own studies, but they were weakone had no comparison group and, in the other, patients and doctors knew who was getting the drug, which compromises any judgments about whether it works.

The NIH launched the most rigorous test, comparing remdesivir to placebo IV treatments. While these studies were underway, Gilead also gave away the drug on a case-by-case basis to thousands of patients.

In April, Chinese researchers ended their studies early, saying they could no longer enroll enough patients as the outbreak ebbed there. In a podcast with a journal editor, Fauci gave another possible explanation: Many patients already believed remdesivir worked and were not willing to join a study where they might end up in a comparison group. That may have been especially true if they could get the drug directly from Gilead.

In late April, Fauci revealed preliminary results from the NIH trial showing remdesivir shortened the time to recovery by 31%11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

Some criticized releasing those results rather than continuing the study to see if the drug could improve survival and to learn more about when and how to use it, but independent monitors had advised that it was no longer ethical to continue with a placebo group as soon as a benefit was apparent.

Doris Kelley, 57, sits in her home on Monday, June 29, 2020 in Ruffs Dale, Pa. Kelley was one of the first patients in a UPMC trial for COVID-19. "It felt like someone was sitting on my chest and I couldn't get any air," Kelley said of the disease. (AP Photo/Justin Merriman)

Until that study, the only other big, rigorous test of a coronavirus treatment was from China. As that country rushed to build field hospitals to deal with the medical crisis, doctors randomly assigned COVID-19 patients to get either two HIV antiviral drugs or the usual care and quickly published results in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"These investigators were able to do it under unbelievable circumstances," the journal's top editor, Dr. Eric Rubin, said on a podcast. "It's been disappointing that the pace of research has been quite slow since that time."

WHY SCIENCE MATTERS

By not properly testing drugs before allowing wide use, "time and time again in medical history, people have been hurt more often than helped," Brawley said.

For decades, lidocaine was routinely used to prevent heart rhythm problems in people suspected of having heart attacks until a study in the mid-1980s showed the drug actually caused the problem it was meant to prevent, he said.

Alta Charo, a University of Wisconsin lawyer and bioethicist, recalled the clamor in the 1990s to get insurers to cover bone marrow transplants for breast cancer until a solid study showed they "simply made people more miserable and sicker" without improving survival.

Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, former FDA scientists Drs. Jesse Goodman and Luciana Borio criticized the push to use hydroxychloroquine during this pandemic and cited similar pressure to use an antibody combo called ZMapp during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which waned before that drug's effectiveness could be determined. It took four years and another outbreak to learn that ZMapp helped less than two similar treatments.

During the 2009-2010 swine flu outbreak, the experimental drug peramivir was widely used without formal study, Drs. Benjamin Rome and Jerry Avorn of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston noted in the New England Journal. The drug later gave disappointing results in a rigorous study and ultimately was approved merely for less serious cases of flu and not severely ill hospitalized patients.

Patients are best served when we stick to science rather than "cutting corners and resorting to appealing yet risky quick fixes," they wrote. The pandemic will do enough harm, and damage to the system for testing and approving drugs "should not be part of its legacy."

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 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Timothy M. Miller, MD, PhD, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is the principal investigator of a clinical trial that found evidence that the experimental drug tofersen lowers levels of a disease-causing protein in people with an inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, caused by mutations in the gene SOD1. Credit: Huy Mach

An experimental drug for a rare, inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has shown promise in a phase 1/phase 2 clinical trial conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and other sites around the world and sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Biogen Inc. The trial indicated that the experimental drug, known as tofersen, shows evidence of safety that warrants further investigation and lowers levels of a disease-causing protein in people with a type of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, caused by mutations in the gene SOD1.

The results of the study, published July 9 in the New England Journal of Medicine, have led to the launch of a phase 3 clinical trial to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of tofersen.

"ALS is a devastating, incurable illness," said principal investigator Timothy M. Miller, MD, Ph.D., the David Clayson Professor of Neurology at Washington University and director of the ALS Center at the School of Medicine. "While this investigational drug is aimed at only a small percentage of people with ALS, the same approachblocking the production of specific proteins at the root of the illnessmay help people with other forms of the illness.

"This trial indicated that tofersen shows evidence of safety that warrants further investigation and that the dose we used lowers clinical markers of disease. There are even some signs that it slowed clinical progression of ALS, although the study was not designed to evaluate effectiveness at treating the disease, so we can't say anything definitive. Overall, the results are just what we hoped for, and a phase 3 trial is currently underway."

About 20,000 people in the United States are living with ALS. The disease kills the nerve cells that control walking, eating and breathing. Few people survive more than five years after diagnosis, and existing treatments are only modestly effective at slowing the pace of the disease.

About 10% of ALS cases are inherited, and one-fifth of those are caused by mutations in SOD1. Such mutations cause the SOD1 protein to be overly active, so reducing protein levels might help ALS patients with one of these specific mutations.

Tofersen is an antisense oligonucleotide, which is a DNA-based molecule that interferes with the genetic instructions for building proteins. The molecule is designed to block production of the SOD1 protein. In earlier studies in mice and rats with SOD1 mutations, the animals lived longer and showed fewer signs of neuromuscular damage when they were treated with the oligonucleotide.

To assess the oligonucleotide's safety and whether it is biologically active in people, Biogen and the participating sites recruited 50 people with SOD1 ALS for a phase 1/phase 2 clinical trial. Participants were randomly selected to receive the experimental drug or a placebo injected into the fluid surrounding their spinal cords. For every three participants selected to receive tofersen, one was selected to receive a placebo. Each participant received five doses over a 12-week period. The participants were divided into four groups and received 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg or 100 mg of the drug per dose.

The researchers found that the drug was generally well-tolerated. Most of the adverse events patients experiencedsuch as headache, and pain during the procedure and at the site of injectionwere linked to the drug being administered via spinal tap. Five patients who received tofersen and two who received placebo experienced serious adverse events, including two deaths in the tofersen group and one in the placebo group.

In addition, the study provided evidence that the drug lowered SOD1 protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Protein concentrations dropped by an average of 2% in the low-dose group and 33% in the high-dose group.

Biogen is continuing to provide tofersen to participants in the phase 1/phase 2 trial under an open-label extension, until further evaluation of the drug is complete. Additional participants are being enrolled in a separate phase 3 trial to further assess safety and whether the drug helps patients preserve muscle strength and function, and lengthens survival.

If tofersen proves effective in the phase 3 trial at treating SOD1 ALS, it would directly benefit only a tiny fraction of ALS patients. But this approach could pave the way for other experimental oligonucleotide-based drugs. The Muscular Dystrophy Association, the ALS Association, and the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) helped support the early work on oligonucleotides because of the potential such compounds hold for treating neurodegenerative conditions, many of which are linked to misshapen or abnormally high levels of proteins.

"Sometimes patients say, 'Why is all this work being done in the 2% who have SOD1 ALS? What about the 98%?'," said co-principal investigator Merit Cudkowicz, MD, director of the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital. "But the same technology that can turn off the SOD1 gene can be used to turn off other targets, and in fact, there are many companies working on other targets. Everything we have learned with SOD1 ALS could end up aiding new approaches to fighting other forms of ALS or other neurological conditions."
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The French government said Wednesday it was girding for a possible surge in coronavirus cases in coming months but ruled out another nationwide lockdown.

"My aim is to prepare France for a possible second wave while preserving our daily life, our economic and social life," new Prime Minister Jean Castex said in an interview on RTL television.

"But we're not going to impose a lockdown like the one we did last March, because we've learned... that the economic and human consequences from a total lockdown are disastrous," he said.

Instead business closures or stay-at-home orders would be "targeted" to specific areas, Castex added.

"The coronavirus is still here," he warned, adding that he would travel Sunday to France's South American territory of French Guiana, which is reeling from a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Officials reported 124 new cases in the territory on Tuesday, bringing the total to nearly 5,200, and the government has dispatched dozens of health workers from the mainland as well as a field hospital.

They also said that 32 people had died from COVID-19 in the latest 24-hour period, bringing the national toll to 29,965 since the first cases were reported in January.

The head of France's national health agency, Jerome Salomon, said authorities anticipated a second wave of cases "this autumn or this winter," depending on a seasonal impact that remains uncertain.

"What we have to understand is that the epidemic's resurgence will basically depend on our behaviour," he said in an interview with the Figaro newspaper.

Even as millions of people prepare to relax over the summer, Salomon urged continued social distancing and the use of face masks, "especially in crowded places and indoors."

Paris authorities said the capital would stage its traditional fireworks show from the Eiffel Tower on July 14, the national holiday, but that the event would be closed to the public.

'Protect people'

Castex was named by President Emmanuel Macron last week to lead a new government tasked with orchestrating the country's recovery from its worst health and economic crisis since World War II.

Billions of euros have been promised for investments as well as measures to limit job losses in an economy expected to shrink by around 10 percent this year.

"We are going to protect people, but above all we are going to invest in the ecological transformation, in our country's recovery," Castex said.

He confirmed he had increased a proposed wage hike and budget boosts for hospital staff by around one billion euros in talks with unions this week, bringing the total envelope to 7.5 billion euros ($8.5 billion).

But union leaders say that would lift monthly pay for nurses, technicians and others on the frontlines of the coronavirus fight by only 180 euros a month, far short of their demands for a 300-euro raise.

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 2020 AFP
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Results from a randomized clinical trial have shown that a potential new treatment can help control the immune response of patients with motor neuron disease (MND), which could reduce further damage in the brain and spinal cord.

MND is the name for a group of diseases which affects the nerves (motor neurons) in the brain and spinal cord causing muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste. It can affect how a person living with the disease can walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe, and there is currently no known cure.

Although the causes of MND (also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS) are not fully understood, it is known that inflammatory mechanisms influence motor neuron damage in the brain and spinal cord. Circulating regulatory T cell lymphocytes (Tregs) contribute to the control of this inflammatory response.

Researchers from the Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) were part of an international consortium contributing to the trial, IMODALS: Immune Modulation in ALS, the first of its kind for the potential treatment of ALS.

The studypublished in EBio Medicineinvestigated whether interleukin-2 (IL-2)  can control the immune response of patients with MND and found that as Tregs are dependent on IL-2 for survival and function. Treatment of IL-2 at low doses, as used in IMODALS, was found to be well tolerated and increases Treg numbers and function in the blood.

The IMODALS study had three main goals:

To demonstrate in MND patients that low doses of IL-2 (ld IL-2) amplify Treg numbers and function in relation to dose.

To ensure that ld IL-2 at the chosen doses would be safe to use in people with MND.

That the study provided an opportunity to investigate the potential of ld IL-2 to modify immune mechanisms in ways that might be beneficial in MND.

This third goal required regular blood sampling over the period of the trial to measure the numbers, function, and types of Tregs and of other circulating immune cells, and to test the hypothesis that ld IL-2 should alter the levels of blood markers (e.g., chemokines, cytokines and neurofilament proteins) of nerve cell damage in MND.

Professor Janine Kirby, Professor of Neurogenetics at SITraN, said: "Researchers in Sheffield looked at blood samples taken from patients over the course of the trial and saw what changes were occurring in the genes being expressed in blood cells. These results correlated with those changes viewed in the types of cells seen, such as an increase in the number of T cell regulatory cells, which are a type of immune cell."

The double-blinded study involved 36 people with MND, randomly assigned to three groups of 12 participants. Each group received one of two doses of ld IL-2, or placebo over five days every month over three months. Observations on safety continued for a further three months.

The main findings were that ld IL-2 significantly increased the numbers of circulating Tregs, as predicted, and foremost improved their ability to control other immune cell responses that contribute to nerve cell damage. This double benefit of 'more Tregs' and 'better Tregs' indicates that ld IL-2 therapy is fully functional in MND patients. Furthermore this response was related to the dose of IL-2.

Secondly, ld IL-2 was safe and well tolerated by the MND trial participants.

Thirdly, changes in blood cytokines and chemokines were in keeping with the notion that ld IL-2 reduces the harmful effects and enhances the beneficial effects of immune activity in the nervous system in MND.

Professor Dame Pam Shaw Professor of Neurology, Director of SITraN and Director of the NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Center said: "This was a pilot study to see if three cycles of low dose IL-2 treatment increased the number of T cell regulatory cells, as these types of cells are normally reduced in patients with MND. The treatment did increase the number of these cells, and importantly was also found to be safe to use in patients. These results allowed funding to be secured for a larger and longer Phase II Clinical Trial called MIROCALS to be undertaken."

She added: "The MIROCALS trial is currently underway across Europe and the Sheffield team is a key partner. The ultimate aim of this longer trial is to see whether low dose IL-2 improves life expectancy and quality of life of MND patients, and to obtain a biomarker read-out of the effectiveness of the treatment in individual patients."

Overall, the study findings strongly support the further investigation of ld IL-2 in MND and provide crucial insights on which to base larger trials designed to detect improvement in day to day activity and survival in MND.

More information: William Camu et al. Repeated 5-day cycles of low dose aldesleukin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (IMODALS): A phase 2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, EBioMedicine (2020). Journal information: EBioMedicine William Camu et al. Repeated 5-day cycles of low dose aldesleukin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (IMODALS): A phase 2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102844
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A majority of Chinese-Canadians say they have been victims of discrimination as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research by the University of Alberta and Angus Reid Institute.

In the first survey of its kind since the pandemic was declared, more than 500 Canadians of Chinese ethnicity were asked about their experiences with discriminatory behavior.

Two-thirds, or 64 percent, reported at least some level of disrespect during COVID-19, and half said they had been called names or otherwise insulted. Forty-three percent said they had been directly intimidated or threatened.

Sixty-one percent said they've had to adjust their routines to some degree in order to avoid unpleasant encounters, and just over half are worried their children will be bullied when they return to school.

"The big takeaway is that this is happening in proportions that are strikingly large, higher than I would have expected," said U of A social psychologist Kim Noels, whose contribution to the study is supported by the federal government's Rapid Research Funding Opportunity, created to aid in the battle against COVID-19.

Noels said the research follows work she's been doing for the past five years on language and identity development among Chinese-Canadians and the impact discrimination might have on immigrants' experiences settling in Canada.

Two of her research associates have also been tracking differences in attitudes between Asian-Canadians and non-Asian-Canadians toward protective face masks.

"Discrimination is really happening to a lot of people, and the fact people are changing their lives to avoid discriminatory incidents is revealing," said Noels.

"No level of discrimination is OK, no matter what the percentage, but these numbers are high."

A large proportion also felt the racist behaviorreferred to by some as the "shadow pandemic"would continue beyond COVID-19, she added.

Just under half of those surveyed were born in Canada, while one in five were born in either mainland China or Hong Kong, according to the report. While these groups were not the only ones singled out for insult, they have borne the brunt of it during COVID-19, said Noels.

Chinese-Canadians make up about five percent of Canada's total population, or 1.77 million individuals, according to Statistics Canada.

Thirty percent of those surveyed said they'd been exposed to anti-Chinese social media, graffiti, propaganda or jokes. Two-thirds felt North American media coverage had contributed to negative views of people of Chinese ethnicity.

Media reports about tense relations between China and Canadaand the detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavormay also be driving discriminatory perceptions and behavior, said Noels.

About one in five reported more direct abuse, such as regularly facing insults or being called names, while about 13 percent said they'd often been threatened or intimidated. Almost one in 10 said the abuse had been physical.

"Walking down the street with a mask on, there have been instances where people will scream at me to go back to China, or swear and say other racist remarks," said one woman in her 20s.

Another man in his 50s described abuse from a man who got too close in a grocery store lineup.

"I requested that he back up to allow for social distancing and he stated, "Shut up and go back to where you came from.'"

The next phase of Noels' research will consider strategies for countering racist behavior, she said.

"We want to talk to people about what can be done to support the Chinese community and how we can stand up to this kind of racism," she said.

"The question is, how do you do that in a way that doesn't increase the confrontation and make people more resistant and committed to their views, but rather is persuasive and helps them rethink their views?"

She also plans to explore whether perception of risk and personal threat from a health crisis like COVID-19 leads to greater prejudice and discrimination among the public.

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More information: Blame, bullying and disrespect: Chinese Canadians reveal their experiences with racism during COVID-19 Blame, bullying and disrespect: Chinese Canadians reveal their experiences with racism during COVID-19 angusreid.org/racism-chinese-canadians-covid19/
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Public acceptance of protective face masks has evolved dramatically in Canada since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new psychology research from the University of Alberta.

It's a sign people are heeding the advice of public health officials. But many in the Asian-Canadian community see it as confirmation of what they knew all along, according to the researchers.

"Many are saying it's about time," said Doris Zhang, who is examining the stigma of masks in Canada along with U of A anthropologist Heather Young-Leslie.

"North Americans haven't experienced severe respiratory epidemics since the so-called Spanish flu, whereas in Japan and in China they have had more serious epidemics," said Young-Leslie.

"Those societies have had a lot more practice and time to develop etiquette and social behaviour to get over concerns about things like wearing a face mask, whereas we are a bit behind that curve in North America," she said, especially when it comes to wearing a mask while not showing symptoms.

The ongoing study looks at differences in perceptions of masks between Asian and non-Asian Canadians. It is supported by a federal grant awarded to U of A psychologist Kim Noels through the federal government's Rapid Research Funding Opportunity, created to aid in the battle against COVID-19.

Cultural differences

Zhang and Young-Leslie have been collecting data mainly through focus groups and surveys of Canadians from across the country.

Before the pandemic, the prevalent assumption among non-Asian Canadians was that someone wearing a mask must be ill or overly sensitive to toxins in the environment.

However, those from East Asian culturessuch as China, Korea, Vietnam and Japanare accustomed to wearing masks for a variety of reasons, said Zhang.

"It's so prevalent that, even if you see somebody on the street wearing a face mask, you wouldn't automatically go straight to thinking they're sick. In fact you wouldn't think much about it at all.

"(In Asia) we wear face masks for everything from preventing the cold air from hurting our face to protecting ourselves from pollutants or allergens."

Asian celebrities will often wear masks like the Japanese Pitta to achieve anonymity in public or as fashion accessories, said Zhang.

Masks are also regarded as a sign of social responsibility in Asian cultures, said Young-Leslie.

"It's a way for people to demonstrate solidarity for their fellow human beings: 'I put a mask on, you put a mask on, and we'll be looking after each other.'"

Growing acceptance

Canadians are now approaching that same degree of acceptance, said Young-Leslie, seeing masks as a sign of goodwill. Whereas just three months ago they were regarded as "only for the weird or the sick," pressure is mounting for everyone to wear them, especially in grocery stores or crowded spaces.

In a poll conducted last month by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies, 51 percent of Canadians surveyed said they've worn masks to go grocery shopping. Fifty-three percent said masks should be mandatory in public and confined spaces like shopping malls and public transit.

Zhang and Young-Leslie also found there were differences between non-Chinese-speaking Asian-Canadians and recent immigrants.

"Before the pandemic, we had some non-Chinese-speaking Canadians saying, 'I don't wear a mask when I go out because I'm afraid it's going to make me more targeted,'" said Young-Leslie.

"Seeing more people wearing face masks made them feel supported when they did wear them outside."

For Chinese immigrants to Canada, however, the behaviour of others did not seem to affect their own behaviour, said Zhang.

One surprising finding was the stigma attached to N95 masks, especially early in the pandemic when there was a shortage of them, said Young-Leslie. Those wearing the medical-grade masks were seen as diverting critical PPE from the front line.

"People were ashamed, embarrassed or reluctant to wear an N95 mask in a non-medical setting, because they felt like it was somehow demonstrating disloyalty for health-care workers," she said.

Even those who already owned N95 masks for other purposes, such as smoke protection or construction, said they preferred to wear a paper or cloth mask in public, or nothing at all.

The encouraging conclusion of the study, said the researchers, is that attitudes towards masks directly reflect advice from public health authorities. But that advice must be consistent to be effective.

"If we don't get clear messaging about how to properly wear masks, and about what the science is showing on whether or not masks make a difference, people will lose trust," said Young-Leslie.

"I think that's a big concern."

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Customers wearing face masks buy sandals at a market in Barcelona on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Spain's northeastern Catalonia region will make mandatory the use of face masks outdoors even when social distancing can be maintained, regional chief Quim Torra announced Wednesday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Authorities in northeast Spain will start fining individuals who do not wear face masks 100 euros ($113) starting Thursday when the use of masks becomes mandatory in Barcelona and the surrounding Catalonia region following a resurgence of the coronavirus.

Spain ended a nationwide lockdown in mid-June after restrictions on movement and public activity succeeded in reining in the country's virus outbreak after it had pushed the healthcare system to the breaking point and killed thousands of people.

But with most restrictions lifted and some people not following social-distancing rules, the number of confirmed new cases reported daily in Spain has begun to creep up. Confirmed cases doubled between Tuesday and Wednesday amid dozens of small outbreaks.

The biggest increase was in the Catalonia region, with 52 new confirmed cases in a 24-hour period and nearly 2,000 in the past two weeks.

A number of the 500 recent confirmed cases in a rural county around the city of Lleida have been tied to the summer fruit harvest, which draws in migrant day laborers who often work and live in poor conditions. Regional authorities locked down the area on Saturday and have linked 11 of 15 outbreaks there to farm work.

Health authorities warn that the area's hospitals are already filling up. An inflatable emergency ward has been installed at the gates of a local hospital, a grim reminder of the makeshift medical facilities and morgues set up in Spain when it was among the world's leading virus hot spots in the spring.

Customers wearing face masks buy clothes for one euro at a stall in a market in Barcelona on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Spain's northeastern Catalonia region will make mandatory the use of face masks outdoors even when social distancing can be maintained, regional chief Quim Torra announced Wednesday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

"We are not saturated now, but we could be in the next few days if we don't reinforce our medical staff and start transferring patients," regional health official Ramon Sentis said Wednesday.

Masks are mandatory in shared indoor spaces and also outdoors when distance can't be maintained throughout Spain. Catalonia, which has a population of 7.5 million, is the first region to extend the requirement to situations when people are able to remain 1.5 meters (5 feet) from one another.

The move comes after a notable drop in face mask use in the streets and adherence to social distancing rules.

A county in the northwest Galicia region that is home to 71,000 residents also has been closed off, while masks are now mandatory in a town in the central north Basque Country region. Both Galicia and the Basque Country have regional elections scheduled for Sunday.

Customers wearing face masks walk past a stall in a market in Barcelona on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Spain's northeastern Catalonia region will make mandatory the use of face masks outdoors even when social distancing can be maintained, regional chief Quim Torra announced Wednesday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

A vendor selling face masks waits for customers at a stall in a market in Barcelona on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Spain's northeastern Catalonia region will make mandatory the use of face masks outdoors even when social distancing can be maintained, regional chief Quim Torra announced Wednesday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Customers wearing face masks pick second hand fabrics in a market in Barcelona on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Spain's northeastern Catalonia region will make mandatory the use of face masks outdoors even when social distancing can be maintained, regional chief Quim Torra announced Wednesday. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

The uptick in cases comes as Spain is hoping to salvage its critical tourism industry by encouraging Spaniards to take vacations inside the country and sending the message to foreigners that Spain is a safe place to visit despite the pandemic. Spain had a pandemic death toll of more than 28,390 as of Wednesday.

Neighboring Portugal, which had done well in controlling the virus, is also concerned about an increase in new virus cases in the capital of Lisbon.

Portugal's Health Ministry on Wednesday reported 443 new cases, 74% of them in the Lisbon metropolitan area.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said most of the country's stubbornly high daily number of confirmed cases is largely among people who live together.

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 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Money can't buy happiness, the saying goes, but it seems to be more closely connected than before.

A new study at San Diego State University found a correlation between happiness and the top indicators of socioeconomic statusincluding income and educationhas been growing steadily stronger.

Using data from the General Social Survey, one of the longest running surveys of adults in the United States, SDSU psychologist Jean Twenge and her Lynn University co-author A. Bell Cooper explored data on 44,198 U.S. adults from 1972 to 2016. The findings were published in the American Psychological Association journal Emotion.

The findings show that, on average, the more income someone makes, the happier they are. This differs from past studies finding that happiness leveled off after achieving a yearly income of about $75,000.

"I was surprised that income was so strongly related to happiness and that happiness didn't plateau at higher levels of income," said Twenge. "More money seems to equal more happiness, even after basic needs are met."

Twenge's research also discovered happiness is more strongly related to income now than it was in the 1970s and '80s. Twenge concludes money indeed can buy more happiness now than it did in the past.

As a result, there is a growing divide in happiness, though the specific pattern differs by race. The happiness of white Americans with no college education declines after 2000, but the happiness of white Americans with a college education has remained steady. The happiness of Black Americans with no college education has remained steady, while the happiness of Black Americans with a college education has increased. Thus, Twenge said, the "happiness gap" has grown for both races.

"We're not exactly sure why there's a growing divide in happiness, but it might be because of growing income inequality. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer," said Twenge, who authored the book iGen on generational trends.

Twenge said the research complements other studies finding increasing despair among working-class white Americans in the United States. The findings also fit the narrative of growing class divide that emerged after the 2016 election, the report notes.

Another possible explanation, Twenge explained, could be linked to marriage. While marriage rates were once similar between lower and higher-income Americans, lower-income Americans now are less likely to marry, and married people are reportedly happier on average.

More information: Jean M. Twenge et al. The expanding class divide in happiness in the United States, 19722016., Emotion (2020). Journal information: Emotion Jean M. Twenge et al. The expanding class divide in happiness in the United States, 19722016.,(2020). DOI: 10.1037/emo0000774
"Nurse-initiated and managed antiretroviral therapy" (NIMART) is an innovative approach to making effective medications more accessible to people living with HIV (PLWH) in low-resource countries. A new study identifies challenges and opportunities to promoting nurse- and midwife-led HIV services in eastern and southern Africa, reports the July/August issue of The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC).

Improved training, supportive supervision, and formal mentorship programs are key steps toward establishing or strengthening NIMART care, suggests the new research by Rebecca E. MacKay, MPH, of Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, and colleagues. They write, "Health facilities have important opportunities to advance NIMART practice through strengthening these aspects of in-service support."

Nurses/ Midwives Need Support and Education to Meet NIMART Goals

Eastern and southern Africa accounts for more than half of the PLWH globallyhowever, the region has also shown remarkable progress toward eliminating HIV. From 2010 to 2018, new HIV/AIDS cases declined by 28 percent in eastern and southern Africa, compared to a global decline of 16 percent.

Increasing access to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a major part of the Fast-Track Strategy of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which aims to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Designed to make ART more accessible, NIMART is a "task-sharing" approach that enables nurses, midwives, and nurse-midwivesprofessionals who are far more available than physicians in sub-Saharan Africanto provide advanced clinical services, including HIV testing and prescribing of ART for PLWH.

The study included a questionnaire completed by 200 nurses, midwives, and nurse-midwives at 30 healthcare facilities in 11 eastern and southern African countries. Up to 80 percent of nurses/midwives responded that they had "sufficient authority" to provide NIMART care. Sixty percent or more agreed that their pre-service education and in-service training had effectively prepared them to offer HIV treatment.

However, the nurses/midwives expressed more concerns about their level of supervision and mentorship. More than one-third of respondents felt they did not receive adequate supportive supervision or feedback on care provided. Nurses, midwives, and nurse-midwives providing pediatric HIV care tended to have less-positive responses than those providing prevention of mother-to-child transmission services for pregnant and breastfeeding women or HIV-exposed infants.

Interviews with 62 clinical supervisors at the same facilities identified several barriers to effective NIMART care: deficiencies in training, staff shortages, inadequate supplies or space, high workloads, and challenges in managing children with HIV. But the supervisors interpreted many of these barriers and challenges as potential opportunities for improving NIMART services: strengthening in-service training, increasing staffing, providing adequate supplies and space, and increasing capacity for pediatric services.

In a triangulation step, the issues identified in the nurse/midwife questionnaires and supervisor interviews were consistent with each other. "Although the nurses, midwives, and nurse midwives in the facilities assessed clearly had the authority to provide NIMART services, a substantial proportion did not feel that they were well prepared or well supported to deliver this care," Ms. MacKay and coauthors write.

The researchers believe their findings have implications for efforts to promote effective provision of NIMART care in southern and eastern Africa. Steps facilities can take to improve NIMART services include standardized in-service training, formal clinical mentorship programs in prevention, and specific protocols for ongoing supportive supervision. Ms. MacKay and colleagues conclude: "Taking advantage of these opportunities may be a critically important step toward meeting the Fast Track Strategy to the AIDS epidemic by 2030."

Explore further Midwives and nurse-midwives may underestimate the dangers of prenatal alcohol use
Credit: Edward Jenner from Pexels by CC 2.0

In a joint letter, Research Fellow Francesca Cavallaro, Associate Professor Katie Harron (both UCL GOS Institute of Child Health) and their colleagues explain how the COVID-19 pandemic has generated an urgency to improve data access.

The COVID-19 outbreak has sparked increased awareness of the importance of timely, system-wide data for examining trends and modeling different scenarios to inform policy response. The scale and speed of data access and use has been unprecedented in public health history. Pre-print articles sharing results before peer review have proliferated (with implications for research quality) and over 500 vaccine and treatment clinical trials have been initiated in record time. The entire economy of knowledge production related to COVID-19 has been accelerated, with the understanding that, if we wait for perfect information before acting, we will be too late. COVID-19 is providing valuable lessons on improving data access and the importance of using data for efficient and effective service response.

This situation contrasts sharply with the cumbersome processes usually faced by researchers using administrative (or routinely collected) health data to inform policy making on other topics, resulting from systems that are not purpose-built for research and summarized by four key obstacles.

First, the cost of using administrative data is prohibitive. For example, a non-commercial license for GP data through the Clinical Practice Research Datalink costs 75,000, and roughly double with linked socioeconomic and hospital data. Second, there are lengthy approval processes (up to one year) even for de-identified data posing little risk to confidentiality: researchers are required to demonstrate scientific quality and public benefit in applications to data providers and governance bodies, even when these important aspects have already been assessed by peer review and funders. While appropriate governance is important for protecting confidentiality and preserving public trust, approval processes are not streamlined and timelines do not reflect expectations of the public. Access to UK-wide data is particularly problematic due to different approval processes in different countries. Third, standard datasets are finalized several months after the time period covered, and inefficiencies in releasing data to researchers mean that it can take many months to receive them. These delays hinder the rapid production of results to inform policy in a timely way. Lastly, data access is inefficient: most data providers mandate the hosting of data in specified secure settings, often involving travel outside of usual research environments, with limited computing capacity, restricted hours and software. All these obstacles become exponentially greater for cross-sectoral linkage of administrative datasets, for which clear legal pathways for access may not exist.

Pre-COVID-19, these problems caused substantial delays to analyzing and reporting results on research in the public interestdelays which have been exacerbated since the start of the pandemic, due to the divergence of resources from non-COVID-related areas. Important research simply is not done when access is refused or when timelines jeopardize grant funding. Considerable opportunity costs are associated with non-use of health data and delayed evaluations of public programs, leading to a lack of evidence to inform more effective and equitable services, and to save lives (as well as money).

COVID-19 has highlighted the fundamental limitations of existing systems, and has sparked innovation for supporting data access. For example, the need for approval under Regulation 3(4) of the Health Service Control of Patient Information Regulations 2002 has been suspended by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care for specific COVID-19 related research projects, as the public benefit from this research is clear. The Office for National Statistics has enabled temporary remote access to data during the COVID-19 lockdown, exercising additional flexibility within the scope of regulations, albeit with logistical challenges. Existing research studies such as UK Biobank have been granted new access to data sources. However, these changes are too little and too late. When we reach the "new normal," we should not return to business-as-usual, but instead take heed of lessons learned during the pandemic and rebalance the public benefits of wider data use against numerous existing barriers. We recommend the following measures:

Reduce costs of administrative data access to researchers through core government funding for data processing, linkage and curation (avoiding cost-recovery models). This would enable more researchers to address questions in the public interest. This is already possible in some sectors, as demonstrated by the Department for Education for England and Wales, and in Sweden, where two thirds of MONA data system costs are centrally funded.

Simplify approval processes for de-identified data access through standardized guidance on necessary approvals proportionate to identification risk. Approval processes should be streamlined across organizations, including for demonstration of public benefit.

Reduce data release delays through increased capacity and more specialized data providers. Independent, accredited data providers should be created, with expert processing and disseminating capacity, knowledge of how data are used in research, and understanding of how best to prepare and deliver datasets to researchers (emulating the successful Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank in Wales). Innovations that have allowed more timely data release during COVID-19, such as the OpenSAFELY collaborative or more frequent releases of GP and hospital data, should continue and be made available to researchers to allow timely research on many topics. Timely data release should not compromise quality, and organizations providing data should adhere to transparent and efficient response times.

Enable more efficient data use through remote systems that comply with data protection requirements. E-infrastructure must be improved to enable rapid data extraction and analysis.

In addition, better data collection should be established for community services and social care, and household-based cohorts, among others. This would have facilitated tracking of transmission patterns during COVID-19, and is equally important for a range of other public health topics.

Underpinning all the above, public trust and understanding is essential if researchers are to continue to use administrative data, and we should harness the surge in realization of the value of data for decision-making resulting from COVID-19. Public engagement and involvement should be included "by design and default" within systems for data access, via individual research projects and high-profile national engagement campaigns.

COVID-19 has demonstrated the value of timely data sharing, while highlighting flaws in UK data access systems that prevent agile and responsive research. Although these concerns have been communicated to the government previously, it was not until COVID-19 that the potential impact was realized and actions taken. However, the implications are no less critical for other public health topics. The potential risks involved in the use of administrative data will always need to be carefully considered, but COVID-19 has shown that increased capacity and political will can successfully simplify approval processes, reduce delays and enable more efficient data access whilst respecting data protection principles. Building on the substantial interest in health dataand appreciation of its complexitiesarising from the pandemic, we urge the government and data providers to learn the lessons of COVID-19, and to work with the research community to build data access systems that are timely, resilient and responsive to changing local, national, and international contexts. Data providers need to fulfill their social license with the public to use administrative data from the public, to benefit the public. COVID-19 shows this can be doneit needs to continue.

This piece was first published as an open letter was sent to the UK Information Commissioner, Chief Medical Officers of the UK, and UK data providers, and signed by 374 signatories.

This article was published in the BMJ on 6 July.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: Reducing barriers to data access for research in the public interestlessons from COVID-19. Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Reducing barriers to data access for research in the public interestlessons from COVID-19. blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/07/06/r  ssons-from-covid-19/
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- FAW Group said its cumulative sales for the first half of 2020 climbed 2.3% from a year earlier to 1,630,923 units, defying against the overall downward trend mainly led by the impact of COVID-19 spread.



During the first six months, the state-owned automaker output 1,622,279 complete vehicles, a slight year-on-year increase of 1.5%.

Hongqi continued to see a sales hike in June. Last month, the premium brand sold 15,422 new vehicles, which represented a 92.5% surge over a year ago. Thanks to the six straight months of increase, Hongqi's first-half sales were more than doubled over the prior-year period to 70,045 units.

(Hongqi HS5, photo source: Hongqi)



According to FAW Group, the sales volume of the Hongqi HS5 SUV has exceeded 9,000 units for two consecutive months, which greatly contributed to the brand's overall sales growth.

Another two indigenous brandsJiefang and Besturnsold 278,235 (+35.6%) and 48,650 vehicles respectively from Jan. to Jun. During the past June, Jiefang saw its sales soar 94.5% to 48,672 units, and Besturn had a sales volume of 12,357 units.

As for joint ventures, both FAW-Volkswagen and FAW-Toyota boasted double-digit increase in June.



(Avalon)



According to the data offered by FAW-Toyota, the sales of Avalon reached 13,245 units in June, hitting a new high level in terms of monthly sales. A total of 36,103 vehicles from the Corolla family were sold last month, of which the volume of its hybrid version vigorously leapt 154% from the previous year. Moreover, the June sales of the all-new RAV4, the IZOA series, the Vios and the Prado amounted to 15,566 units, 5,893 units, 7,140 units and 3,282 units respectively.

FAW-Mazda sold 34,051 new cars so far this year. Notably, its sales in June remarkably grew 17.5% to 100,15 units.


Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

It's a trajectory followed by many who experience a severe case of COVID-19: They feel poorly for a few days, improve over a day or two and then, a week or 10 days into their infection, have respiratory difficulties, a stroke, organ damage, or another dangerous complication and wind up in the intensive care unit.

While countless mysteries remain regarding this disease, some clinicians and scientists have come to believe that this resurgence of symptoms in certain patients is the outcome of a cytokine storm, an onslaught of immune activity that veers out of control, causing serious harm or even death.

With a mutual interest in immunologyboth its helpful and harmful aspectsNilam Mangalmurti, a physician-scientist at the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM), and Christopher Hunter, an immunologist at the School of Veterinary Medicine, found they had a lot to discuss after colleagues introduced them two years ago. Their shared interest has gained a new relevance during the pandemic, and they recently teamed up to write a primer on cytokine storms for the journal Immunity.

Penn Today spoke with Mangalmurti and Hunter to discuss what they've learned, what questions are most pressing moving forward, and how emerging science is being applied to COVID-19 and other diseases.

How do you define cytokine storm and sepsis?

Hunter: The last time I had the flu, about 20 years ago, I had a fever, I felt like my bones were being crushed, and I thought I was going to die. That was not because the virus was replicating in my lungs and causing a huge amount of damage; it was that these soluble immune factors everywhere through my bodythese cytokineswere causing this whole-body shutdown and making everything feel terrible. That's how people think about cytokine storms.

Everyone has cytokines circulating in their bodies; that's a normal part of the immune response. But when that response overshoots where it should be to clear an infection, that's where it becomes pathological and is considered a "storm." And it doesn't have to be an infection that triggers it. It could be that something turns on a T cell by mistake, it could be an autoimmune response, or it could be a treatment that boosts the immune response to cure cancer.

Mangalmurti: Sepsis is now defined as an abnormal host response to a pathogen, whether it's bacteria, virus, parasite, or fungi. Most people should be able to clear the pathogen and return to a normal state. Sepsis is a dysregulated response where there is not necessarily a return to normal. In sepsis, the response is often characterized by both a hyperinflammatory and an immunosuppressive response happening at the same time.

Hunter: A cytokine storm can be part of that. The question is, At what point does cytokine activation become pathological? Immunologists may talk about cytokine storms, but I'm not sure we really understand why they make our muscles ache or cause a fever or respiratory distress or heart failure. That's one of the things we're trying to explain. Why does it feel like this? How does it amplify? Why do some people make an appropriate response to control infection and live while some overshoot and die?

A through-line of this work seems to be that the immune response isn't always either completely protective or completely harmful, but it can be somewhere in between?

Hunter: Yes, it's all about balance. Of course, we know that an immune response can be protective, but there are also immune-mediated diseases. Everyone knows someone with an immune-mediated condition like arthritis, lupus, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease.

How have the two of you been working together?

Hunter: When Nilam and I first met I quickly realized my interests coincided with hers. I do basic immunology studying mice, while Nilam's science is informed by her time in the ICU. I've enjoyed getting her perspective on how disease works and the model infectious system that my laboratory uses. When Immunity asked us to write a primer for people who didn't really know what a cytokine storm was, we took that opportunity and ran with it.

Mangalmurti: A pandemic is never a good thing, but it has been a learning opportunity for all of us and a chance to bring together bench-based scientists with physicians and physician-scientists. We have a huge number of sepsis researchers on campus that don't necessary think they're studying sepsis or don't contextualize their work that way.

A group of physicians and immunologists, including Chris and myself, started a joint sepsis working group so we could bring together scientists from many walks of life, so anyone from clinical epidemiology to fundamental basic scientists. The first meeting we had there were so many ideas flying back and forth about sepsis and pathogens and host response. It was exciting to see people from PSOM, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Penn Vet so engaged.

Now with the pandemic, a focus on understanding the host response to infection is amplified and relevant to questions like why some people with COVID have no symptoms while others get hit really hard.

How is what we're seeing with COVID-19 confirming or changing what we understand about cytokine storms and how to address them in patients?

Mangalmurti: Part of why I wanted to do this primer was to sort through this amazing amount of information about COVID that has been pouring in from Twitter, bioRxiv, and medRxiv and other places and try to make sense of it.

There was an opinion piece in the Lancet early on in the pandemic that everyone latched onto that suggested that specific therapies to tamp down cytokine storms were going to be beneficial for COVID. It was early in the pandemic, and this idea seemed to make sense. But we don't have rigorous evidence to back that up and, as we have learned more, we realized that it is not so simple.

In sepsis, multiple therapies to block cytokine have been tried before, and there hasn't been any survival benefit. In fact, there has been some increased mortality, maybe because the drugs are not striking the right balance of immune response versus immune suppression or are not being used at the right time point in the infection.

One thing that was very clear to us after the first week of seeing COVID-19 patients was that most who came into the ICU with organ failure clearly had a condition that seemed to predispose them to vascular injury: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, age, a history of vascular disease, or clots. And that was striking because it's not something we usually see in most other forms of sepsis, or other forms of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

That got us thinking about innate immunity in the vascular compartment and whether this virus had a penchant for the vasculature. Maybe there's a way to use what we know about this relationship with the vasculature to design and use more targeted anticytokine therapies.

Of course, when patients are doing poorly, clinicians are often desperate for a treatment. I understand that; we just need to remember to proceed with caution when we're treating with drugs outside of a controlled trial.

Hunter: From my perspective it's exciting to think about targeted therapies that are already available, like antibodies to cytokines that are already used in the clinic; maybe they could be repurposed and used in this setting. But we really need large clinical trials to assess whether our excitement about some of these approaches is meaningful and valid. Perhaps one consequence of the pandemic is that more people will be thinking about how to more effectively use cytokine therapies or cytokine neutralizing approaches, not just in COVID-19 but in sepsis in general. Sepsis is a disease where the advances in immunology have not yet had the same impact that they have in other conditions, such as cancer and autoimmunity.

Can the idea of a cytokine storm help explain the spectrum of responses we've seen to the coronavirus, from asymptomatic patients to those with severe disease?

Mangalmurti: There are certainly anecdotes from people who get this disease that they are home, they're having fevers every night, they don't feel well. These people are having a cytokine storm, but it resolves, and they don't end up on a ventilator in the ICU. Maybe those patients don't have the predisposing factors that we talked about. It could also be that they have less of a viral load.

Hunter: No one is studying the asymptomatic patients. One question is, How asymptomatic are they really? Maybe they had a small fever one day; maybe that was their cytokine 'shower." Also, as Nilam mentioned, in every other system the amount of the virus you are exposed to matters, so I'm not sure why it wouldn't matter here, too.

You wrote this primer hoping to reach an audience of immunologists. What do you hope they start doing or doing more of?

Hunter: We, the basic immunologists, need to be thinking more about the physiology of what we're doing. Often, we'll look at immune cells in isolation. We need to look at their effects on the vascular system, the impact on lung function, the impact on heart function. In general, we need to realize that it is really important to understand a whole disease process, to look at the system more broadly.

Your work seems to underscore the value of collaboration across fields.

Hunter: Absolutely. Nilam has worked on sepsis and has been seeing sepsis patients for a long time. She's dealing with really sick patients who have a lot going on. Basic scientists tend to want to simplify and reduce things. And you've got to meet somewhere in the middle, I think, for complex diseases. Penn is a really good place to do that, at PSOM, CHOP, and Penn Vet.

Mangalmurti: I'm usually talking with clinicians about ARDS and sepsis, and now to partner with immunologists who are taking a deep dive into the cytokines, into the pathobiology of these things and looking more at the host-pathogen interface, it's a really nice intersection. As awful as the pandemic has been, I hope some of our trainees will be intrigued by all these unanswered questions and want to learn more about disease processes.

More information: Nilam Mangalmurti et al., Cytokine Storms: Understanding COVID-19. Immunity (2020). Journal information: Immunity Nilam Mangalmurti et al., Cytokine Storms: Understanding COVID-19.(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.06.017
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new study led by researchers at Boston Medical Center, in collaboration with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, shows that value-based incentive programs aimed at reducing health care-associated infections did not improve infection rates in either safety-net or non-safety-net hospitals. Published in JAMA Network Open, these results also demonstrate persistent disparities between infection rates at safety-net and non-safety net hospitals, with higher rates of health care-associated infections in safety-net hospitals.

"While these value-based programs intend to use financial incentives and penalties to encourage hospitals to improve patient outcomes, our data demonstrate that the programs aren't actually resulting in any benefits for patients. In addition, because infection rates remain higher at safety-net hospitals compared to non-safety net hospitals, more safety-net hospitals are required to pay financial penalties," said Heather Hsu, MD, MPH, the study's first author who is a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center. "This may have unintended consequences on the financial stability of safety-net hospitals and health care systems, and the services they are able to provide for their patients."

In 2001, safety-net hospitals were defined by the Institute of Medicine as hospitals that provide care to a large share of uninsured or Medicaid patients, regardless of their ability to pay. As a result, many safety-net hospitals are under more financial stress than non-safety-net hospitals and rely on supplemental funding from both the state and the federal government to remain operational. According to America's Essential Hospitals, the average operating margin for its national membership of safety-net hospitals was 1.6 percent in 2017; for all hospitals nationwide, that rate was 7.8 percent.

Reducing health care-associated infections is a main target of quality improvement efforts across all health care systems. The Affordable Care Act established two value-based incentive programs to target health care-associated infections that were put in place in 2014: the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program, which rewards or penalizes the highest and lowest performing hospitals by up to two percent of total inpatient payments received, and the Health Care-Acquired Conditions Reduction Program (HACRP), which reduces payments by up to one percent for the lowest performing hospitals. These programs compare hospital performance for specific health care-associated infections based on data that hospitals and health care systems publicly report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network against national benchmarks.

For this study, the researchers analyzed data from 618 acute care facilities (including 145 safety-net hospitals) across the country that reported data to the National Healthcare Safety Network and had implemented HACRP and HBVP between 2013 and 2018. The specific health care-associated infections investigated in this study were: central line-associated bloodstream infections; catheter-associated urinary tract infections; and surgical site infections after colon surgery and abdominal hysterectomy.

The results showed that neither safety-net nor non-safety-net hospitals showed improvements in the four infections analyzed during the study period, including after the value-based programs were implemented. Safety-net hospitals had higher rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and surgical site infections after colon surgery compared with non-safety-net hospitals both before and after value-based program implementation.

Insurance coverage provided through Medicaid and Medicare, while critical, does not typically cover the actual cost of care. This results in safety-net hospitals relying on supplemental government funding to continue to provide necessary health care services to patients. At the present time, the availability of these uncompensated care funds is decreasing, and could be eliminated, which would have a detrimental impact on safety-net hospitals and other health care systems.

"Right now, the programs are not leading to any meaningful improvements in patient safety and are contributing to inequity in our health care system by disproportionately penalizing safety-net hospitals," added Hsu, assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine. "We hope that these results can serve as a starting point to re-evaluate and re-design value-based incentive programs."

The researchers note that adding in a social risk factor adjustment before assessing penalties based on reported outcomes data may help avoid systematic penalization of safety-net hospitals without setting lower quality standards in these institutions.

Explore further Success story or artificial inflation? Hospital performance in CAUTIs
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A Western Sydney University study has found that women may be prepared to deliver their babies at home, unassisted, if Australia's maternity health system is not reformed.

Honours student Heather Sassine, under the supervision of Professor Hannah Dahlen from the University's School of Nursing and Midwifery, surveyed 1681 women who had planned a homebirth in Australia as part of the 'Why do women choose homebirth in Australia?' study.

The results, published in Women and Birth, indicate that giving birth at home with a registered midwife was the preferred choice for 61 percent of the women.

However, half of all respondents indicated that if there was no access to a publicly-funded homebirth, or a registered midwife was not available, they would be prepared to have a freebirththat is, give birth at home without a registered midwife, or without any healthcare provider in attendance.

Professor Dahlen said the findings are concerning, aswhile giving birth at home with a registered midwife in attendance is a safe option for many women and their babiesfreebirth is not the best option for women.

"There are women in Australia, some of whom have complex pregnancies, who are choosing to give birth at home without a midwife," said Professor Dahlen.

"There is a stereotype that these women are selfish, misinformed or are not acting in the best interests of their childbut that's absolutely not true. In fact, these women are very well-informed, and are driven toward alternative births due to fundamental flaws in the maternity health system in Australia."

The 'Why do women choose homebirth in Australia?' study highlights a range of factors that ultimately influence women's decisions to plan a homebirth. These include:

Personal research, or information from childbirth education classes;

Exposure to friends or family who had homebirths;

Dissatisfaction with the care they were receiving;

Pressure to accept interventions they were not comfortable with;

Pressure to have a repeat caesarean;

A lack of suitable birth choices being offered, including a lack of access to waterbirth; and

Previous birth trauma, including the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a previous birth.

Professor Dahlen said the Australian health system is fragmented and inflexible and does not give women adequate options for quality maternity care.

"These fundamental flaws have never been more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemicwhen more women sought out the option of a homebirth, but there were not enough midwives or government support to meet the demand. If anything, the numbers of midwives providing homebirth care has declined in recent years."

The factors that influence where and how a woman chooses to give birth are also examined in Professor Dahlen's new book, Birthing Outside the SystemThe Canary in the Coal Mine. In the book, Professor Dahlen describes previous birth trauma as one of the biggest factors, driving women away from the Australian healthcare system.

"There are women, who have previously experienced traumatic births, who are our 'canaries in the coal mine'," said Professor Dahlen.

"These women are warning us that our healthcare system is often emotionally unsafe. Rather than blaming them for wanting to birth outside of mainstream hospitals, we need to recognise and fix the issues that are driving them to do so."

Professor Virginia Schmied, from Western Sydney University's School of Nursing and Midwifery, and lawyer Bashi Kumar-Hazard, from Human Rights in Childbirth and the University of Sydney's School of Law, also co-edit and contribute chapters to the book, alongside a range of experts predominantly from Western Sydney University.

Published by Routledge, the book represents over a decade of cross-disciplinary research and examines the birthing experiences of women and medical professionals. With more than 36 authors from 11 countries and nine different professions, the book is the most comprehensive to date on why women avoid mainstream care.

Explore further Study finds women's birth choices more likely to be supported by a midwife

More information: Heather Sassine et al. Why do women choose homebirth in Australia? A national survey, Women and Birth (2020). Heather Sassine et al. Why do women choose homebirth in Australia? A national survey,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2020.06.005
Some students at the University of Montana were left reeling Tuesday one day after new federal guidelines were released that bar international students with certain visas from remaining in the United States if their schools are entirely online in the fall. The change does not immediately affect UM students, but one UM administrator promised the university would do all it could to push back against the policy.

It was definitely a shock, said Shuhan He, a senior in UMs College of Business and one of roughly 150 students potentially affected by the change. (This is) definitely stressful. I feel lost and unsure for the future.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, amended earlier this year its online policy for spring and summer semesters due to COVID-19, allowing international students to take more online courses than usual. Monday, however, those temporary changes were modified for fall semester and make it illegal for students with "F" and "M" status nonimmigrant visas  students pursuing a full degree in the United States but not planning to stay in the country after graduation  to attend an institution that is entirely online.

The policy will go into effect Aug. 4.
POLSON  Wilhelmina Willie Vink Laughlin, 87, of Polson, passed away at Kingswood Place Senior Living in Surprise, Arizona, on Saturday, June 13, 2020. She peacefully joined her husband George Laughlin 18 years and one day after his passing in 2002.

Willie was born Nov. 23, 1932, in Scobey to Cornelis and Johanna Vink. She met the love of her life, George Laughlin, who was her senior prom date. Willie graduated from Scobey High School in 1950, and soon after accepted a job at the Bank of Scobey. In 1951, George left to serve in the Korean War as a Staff Sergeant in the Army. While deployed, Willie wrote George a letter every day until he returned home in 1953.

On Aug. 15, 1953 Willie and George married in Scobey where they started their new life together. Their daughter Debra was born in 1954 and son Edmond in 1955. After a few years in Scobey, George moved the family first to Helena and then to Deer Lodge for around a year each, finally settling the young family of four in Polson in 1959. There they built their family home on 4th Avenue East in 1961 where they brought home their youngest son George, Jr. in 1962 to complete the family.

Willie is preceded in death by her parents, Cornelis and Johanna Vink; and her husband George of 49 years.
What to do about the narrow railroad underpass near East Missoula, where pedestrians and bicyclists cross fingers and pray upon approach?

How about the off-highway access mess through an ever-growing East Missoula?

And the narrow, crowded highway shoulder at Sha-Ron Fishing Access on a hot summer day?

Long-discussed changes are on the way along Highway 200 East from the edge of Missoula through East Missoula and beyond, even though a hiccup induced by (what else?) the coronavirus has resulted in postponement of a key step in the planning process.

An open-air open house that had been set for Wednesday evening in East Missoula was canceled Monday.

Because of the rise in COVID-19 cases during the past week, the Missoula Metropolitan Planning Organization has decided that the wisest course is to reschedule the planned in-person open house  as an online meeting on Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m., a message to media from the city said.
Foster said not much has changed since the uptick in cases, and said The Bridge has continued to practice various measures they have had in place throughout the pandemic such as requiring staff to wear masks, using Plexiglas barriers for to-go orders and offering contactless delivery. Foster said they also expanded outdoor seating at both locations in Missoula and limited the number of tables indoors. They also keep hand sanitizer on each table and a card that indicates that the table has been sanitized.

"Right now it seems as though things are going to remain open, so we're kind of keeping with how things are and trying to maintain our staffs protection with gloves and masks as well as customers," Foster said.

Other businesses have also implemented various protocols since reopening.

Shelby Rude, an employee at FUEL Fitness, said the gym has turned off every other machine to ensure patrons remain six feet apart. They also provide each patron with their own towel to sanitize equipment. Rude said people are encouraged to wipe down their own equipment, in addition to hourly cleaning by staff.

"Usually we'll clean equipment for hours and hours and hours at the end of the day," Rude said.

On Tuesday, Farr stressed that cases will continue to spike as the state reopens.
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Welch said he has had the opportunity to talk to students and college faculty regarding the decision, which has resulted in mixed opinions from both parties.

Weve talked to (college personnel) who are ready to be on campus and others who are concerned, Welch said. The big thing is folks really would like a very clear-cut answer (regarding a return). Thats what were trying to give, in a situation thats constantly changing. We are maintaining some flexibility, but most folks  when we talk about having our courses in a remote format, that format works for most people.

Welch said a number of students have reached out to indicate their opinions to the college.

We have some students who are very clear that theyre only coming back if we offer classes in a distance format, he said. We also have some students who are telling us theyre waiting to enroll to see if we will offer some face-to-face classes. We know that some students learn better in that environment. I understand why theyre waiting, so thats why were looking at ways we may be able to serve them.

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The decision to hold mostly online classes came down to a number of factors, according to Welch.
 David Byron Garner, 60, of 275 Oscar Road, in Robbins, was charged with one misdemeanor count each of second-degree trespassing, assault on a governmental officer or employee and resist, delay or obstructing a public officer. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $5,000 secured bond. His trial date was set for Aug. 10.

The following charges were served on Tuesday, June 16:

 Ellis Richard Barnwell, 66, of 35 Hall Estates Drive, in Marion, was charged with misdemeanor larceny of property. He was released with a written promise to appear for a trial date set for Aug. 10.

 Seth Allen Tolbert, 29, of 1797 US 70, in Connelly Springs, was charged with felony larceny of property. He was transported to the Burke County Jail and placed under a $5,000 secured bond. His trial date was set for Aug. 17.
Because the electors are selected individually, a few of them over the years have entertained the idea that they, not the voters who chose them, should be allowed to decide for whom they will cast their ballots. After all, they say, they are electors, so they should be free to do the electing.

In practical terms, this would make a mockery of the idea that presidential elections are democratic at all. Its bad enough that the Electoral College system isnt purely majoritarian as it currently functions. Allowing electors to ignore their promises and follow their own agendas would introduce a huge element of randomness into a presidential election system that already occasionally thwarts the will of the majority.

Justice Elena Kagan, joined by six of her colleagues, held that Article II of the Constitution resolves the issue by stating that each state may select electors in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct. That language, she held, gives broad authority to the state legislature to figure out how it will choose electors, and that authority logically allows states to direct the electors to vote according to their promise; to sanction them if they do not; and to replace them with different electors who will do the job right. There are 15 states that already have such laws in place. It would be good for the other 35 to follow suit.
Lawbreakers at square should be charged

I was proud to see this communitys response to the armed white men who drove into our town and displayed their weapons on our courthouse square. There were letters from citizens denouncing the obvious defiance of the law by brandishing weapons on our public square and calling for a community that does not hate.

There was an editorial in our paper asking that African Americans, Sons of the Confederacy, town leaders get together and come up with a plan to move the Confederate Statue to a place that it can be seen as a part of our history, but not on our public square. There were meetings with the Police Chief asking hard questions about police training, racism in the force, ways to build trust and respect between the police and community.

The police at the scene on the courthouse square on that Saturday made a decision to not deal with the obvious violation of NC law by the white men bearing weapons. It was a decision that may have saved lives given the tensions that developed. There are also consequences for our community for that decision as measured and appropriate as it might have been.

The consequences seem to me to be:
Four people gathered in front of the Scott County Administration Building just before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Fifteen minutes later, there was a crowd of close to 20 men and women of all ages. None of them wore masks. They huddled in tight clusters and even posed for a group photo.

A number of those who gathered said they were not worried about spreading COVID-19  despite the fact the county has over 800 confirmed cases, including 274 cases in the past 11 days.

They were there to protest Scott County Board Supervisor Ken Crokens motion to make masks mandatory for everyone who ventures out into the public. The Board of Supervisors held its regular committee of the whole meeting to discuss his proposal, as well as his motion to ask that any visitor inside county buildings wear a mask.

A woman asked why Croken thought he could legislate what people want to do with their bodies. A man tried to explain how wearing a facemask could be even more dangerous because of elevated levels of carbon monoxide.

A few people raised their voices, but the protest remained peaceful.
URBANDALE, Iowa  Local officials don't have the authority to require that residents use masks to halt spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday, a day after the mayor of Muscatine issued such an order.

Asked at a news conference about Muscatine Mayor Diana Broderson's order, which took effect Monday, Reynolds said local officials need the governor's approval to implement such rules.

Because Reynolds has a public health proclamation in effect, a local official can't implement requirements that conflict with the state rules, the governor said.

"If it's not consistent with that then it's not appropriate and it's not in effect," Reynolds said.

Reynolds in March ordered schools closed, restricted large gatherings and also didn't allow indoor operations of bars, restaurants and other business. She began relaxing restrictions in late May and gradually lifted most of them in the weeks that followed. Since bars and restaurants reopened fully in early June, spikes in cases among young adults have been occurring, particularly in college towns with active bar districts. She never mandated a shelter in place order and never required face coverings to be worn.
Police Minister Bheki Cele has revealed in a parliament Q&A session that more than 270,000 people have been arrested for contravening South Africas lockdown regulations.

The statistics cited by Cele showed that 276,607 people were arrested for breaking lockdown rules from the declaration of the national state of disaster until 19 June.

Of those arrested, 22,815 people have paid admission of guilt fines, Cele said.

Cele noted that there were a number of common offences prevalent across all provinces during the various lockdown phases, most of which were related to people leaving their homes or engaging in public gatherings.

The most common offences during the various lockdown levels are reflected in the table below:

Lockdown rules most commonly broken by South Africans Level 5 Failure by a person to be confined to a residence during lockdown except to perform/obtain essential services/goods, collect a social grant, etc.

Failure by business/entity to cease operations during lockdown other than a business/entity involved in manufacturing supply or provisioning. Level 4 Failure by business/entity to cease operations during lockdown other than a business/entity involved in manufacturing supply or provisioning.

Failure by a person to be confined to his/her residence, read with Regulation 31 (2) (gatherings of people).

Convening of a gathering, assembly, concourse/procession on a public road or building, place or premises except at a workplace or normal residence. Level 3 Selling of tobacco products, e-cigarettes or related other than for export

Paying admission of guilt fines

The option to pay an admission of guilt fine may be offered to those arrested by the SAPS on suspicion of a less serious crime, allowing the person to admit guilt without having to appear in court.

This prevents the court system from being overloaded, but it is important to note that the fine will appear on the arrestees criminal record.

Cele outlined the number of people who had paid admission of guilt fines for lockdown offences in each province, with most of these fines being paid in Limpopo.

Province Number of people who paid admission of guilt fines Limpopo 11,417 Gauteng 3,148 KwaZulu-Natal 2,466 Mpumalanga 1,859 North West 1,433 Eastern Cape 1,379 Free State 810 Western Cape 194 Northern Cape 109

Problems in Gauteng

The number of COVID-19 cases in Gauteng continues to rise dramatically, with the local government stressing the importance of citizens complying with lockdown regulations.

The Gauteng provincial health department has addressed the rising number of cases in the province, blaming the increase on the blatant disregard of lockdown regulations by the citizenry.

Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku said that the province was in discussions with the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) about how it could more strictly enforce the advanced level 3 lockdown restrictions.

What we agreed on as the executive council is to see how we are able to apply and enforce the regulations that will help us to reduce the rate of transmission, he said.

These regulations are the ones that are already applied but are not being respected by the community.
NASA plans to use lessons from SpaceXs approach to software development after a failed test flight by a Boeing Co. craft showed the flaws of more traditional procedures, agency officials said.

After completing an independent review of the Boeing Starliners truncated mission to the International Space Station in December, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said Tuesday that it would boost oversight of the manufacturers repairs.

The review team offered 80 recommendations, with roughly half involving changes in how Boeing and the agency address software development and systems testing.

NASAs endorsement of SpaceXs methods was another example of how Elon Musks company has pulled ahead of Boeing in the space race. The agency has contracts with both companies to ferry astronauts to the space station. But only Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has done so, flying two astronauts to the orbital lab on May 30.

The companys approach to software engineering for its Crew Dragon requires more ownership by developers to ensure that code operates as intended after it has been integrated into larger systems, Kathy Lueders, NASAs associate administrator for human spaceflight, said on a call with reporters.

Software capability really drives the overall capability of your system, Lueders said. Were kind of breaking down how weve done things in silos.

Boeing, like NASA itself, uses a more traditional method in which software engineers build, test and then deliver products to other teams.

Because SpaceXs process was novel for NASA, the agency gave the process more oversight than it gave Boeings, said Steve Stich, the manager of NASAs commercial crew program. The agency has already assigned additional staff to Boeing software teams for heightened scrutiny as they fix the glitches that marred Decembers mission, he said.

Boeing plans to fly a second Starliner test flight without crew later this year. NASA officials said it was too soon to set a potential launch date.

Now read: Big Tech headed towards a showdown with China
NASA astronaut Doug Hurley has posted photos from the International Space Station (ISS) of South African cities at night, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria.

Hurley is an experienced astronaut having piloted two space shuttle missions, including the final flight of the space shuttle program.

He is also the spacecraft commander on the first crewed flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon which launched May 30, 2020.

Known as NASAs SpaceX Demo-2, the mission is an end-to-end test flight to validate the SpaceX crew transportation system, including launch, in-orbit, docking, and landing operations.

The spacecraft soft-docked with the International Space Station on 31 May and has been at the ISS for just over a month.

Hurley and joint operations commander for the mission, Robert Behnken, are set to return to Earth in August.

During his time at the ISS, Hurley has posted numerous photos of Earth on his Twitter feed and Instagram account.

His latest photos are of South African cities at night  Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria  tagged with the International Space Station as the location.

Cape Town

Joburg

Pretoria
In its lengthy obituary, The New York Times described the musician as Miles Daviss only true protege. Roney, whose style according to The Times, bespoke an investment in the entire lineage of jazz trumpet playing, represented a single degree of separation between his own protege, Koly, and the great trumpeter Davis  an extraordinary through line back to the young drummer.

A little over a year ago, Roney invited Koly to join his band, a quintet made up of players much younger than himself. The lineup echoed Roneys days in the 90s, when he toured and recorded with four of jazzs most accomplished players  Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock  in the acclaimed Miles Davis tribute band. All but the drummer, Williams, are still alive and performing.

New York jazz clubsKoly debuted on May 24-25 at Jazz Forum, a club in Tarrytown, New York, playing in shows that coincided with Roneys 59th birthday weekend. In a video of the performance online, hes mostly concealed behind the Big Man Roney, because the stage at Jazz Forum is tiny. The audience is out of the frame, listening with rapt attention.

Theres a certain kind of crowd that goes to a jazz club in New York, said Bobby Bradford, a Pasadena-based jazz trumpeter and longtime History of Jazz instructor at Pomona College.
1214  Report of a juvenile and a black dog swimming in someone elses pool on Stockton Street.

1447  Someone saw a box of fireworks in the middle of Carpy Field.

1636  Someone broke into a storage unit and stole a bike from a porch on Hunt Avenue.

1703  Hikers near Linda Falls got turned around and were unsure how to get back to their car. Police referred the matter to the sheriffs office.

2104  Lift assist on Fulton Lane.

2328  Report of a suspicious man near Main Street, driving a white Mercedes.

Monday, July 6

0807  Report of two German shepherds wandering near the railroad tracks on Pratt Avenue.

0910  Report of a drunk man screaming on a cell phone in front of a south St. Helena winery, with a bottle of Hennessey on the ground next to him.

1247  An officer assisted at the COVID-19 testing site on College Avenue.

1448  Report of a possible drunk driver swerving into oncoming traffic, last seen heading south in the lm tunnel.
Theyve struggled to get to this point and now theyre being told to close again, which means their staff will have to go back on unemployment and who knows how long it will take for them to receive their lost compensation.

I understand the move by the Governor, Dunsford said. I only wish that people would be more respectful of the science and adhere to the protocols. The poor judgement of certain segments of our community are wreaking havoc on the masses. Its not that hard to social distance, be safe and still enjoy life.

Rebel Vintners Keith spoke about the importance of granting businesses flexibility while regular operations remained disrupted. The tasting room is hoping the city will be open to the possibility of closing South Coombs Street to cars; seating could then be expanded into the sidewalk.

That all needs to be figured out on a much wider logistics level than were ready for, Keith added. Right now, were just planning to put up outdoor seating on Thursday morning when we open and go from there.
At Gettysburg, where the bloodiest and most decisive battle of the Civil War occurred, no fewer than 1,320 monuments are scattered across the rolling Pennsylvania landscape. Some memorialize Union generals and their men; others remember Confederates.

One is especially poignant: the Maryland monument, which lists both Union and Confederate units from one divided state. It depicts two wounded men, one from each army, propping each other up.

Theres a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, surveying the battlefield on horseback, and another of the Union commander, Gen. George G. Meade.

The Union monuments outnumber those of the Confederates, just as their armies did in 1863.

Trump isn't selling anything but noise and resentment Trump sounds like he wants a second term, but he won't tell us what he would do with it, columnist Doyle McManus says.

Its an open-air museum, and it leaves no doubt which side won: the North.

Almost 200 miles to the south, in Richmond, Va., Civil War statues were erected to convey a very different message.

Monument Avenue is the Virginia capitals grandest boulevard. Until recently, it was dominated by heroic statues of Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and others.

They are the men who lost the war  but on Monument Avenue, they appeared triumphant.

Trump doesn't like mail-in voting, but it's not his call There's no real evidence to support the president's frequent charge that mail-in ballots leads to fraud, columnist Doyle McManus says.

That was the point. Richmonds statues were erected more than a generation after the war ended, after white segregationists regained control of the Southern states.

The message (was) a victory narrative about the overturning of Reconstruction and the reestablishment of white supremacy, Yale historian David W. Blight, the biographer of Frederick Douglass, wrote last week.

Now the Richmond statues are coming down. Protesters toppled Davis on June 10, the city removed Jackson, and the governor is battling in court to remove Lee.

Their removal is long overdue. By contrast, Lees statue in Gettysburg should remain standing because its meaning is so different.

Trump's 'I'm not responsible' presidency For Trump, the buck always stops somewhere else, columnist Doyle McManus says.

In Richmond, Lee appears dominant, his presence designed to intimidate. At Gettysburg, outnumbered by federal troops and about to lose the most important battle of his career, he appears in a more appropriate context  as history, not mythology.

The distinction is not only whom the statue shows, but what message it conveys.

Monuments to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson celebrate their wisdom in founding the republic, not their flaws, chief among them their ownership of slaves. We honor them despite those flaws, not because of them.

Statues of Christopher Columbus pose a tougher question. Are we honoring him for his intrepid navigating or because he opened the Americas to European colonization?

Joe Biden is stuck in his basement. It just might help him win With the pandemic dominating our lives, Biden can only cause himself trouble if he tries to become the center of attention, columnist Doyle McManus says.

The good news about this summers protests is that theyve forced us to confront our history more squarely  not merely the mythologized version most of us received.

Case in point: Army bases. Until last month, how many of us knew that 10 U.S. Army bases in the South were named for Confederate officers who fought against the United States? The names were usually given to placate white politicians.

The strangest is Fort Bragg, N.C., named for Braxton Bragg, perhaps the least competent general in Lees army. One of his officers called him cruel, yet without courage ... crafty, yet without strategy. He resigned his commission after losing the battle of Chattanooga.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper says hes open to changes, but President Trump has declared the Army bases names a matter of high principle. The only principle involved is his relentless drive to nail down his conservative base by pushing a culture war against Black Lives Matter.

Trump's strange coronavirus show Unfortunately, much of what Donald Trump says amounts to self-promotion and wishful thinking, columnist Doyle McManus says.

The president waded back into the battle at Mt. Rushmore last week, charging spuriously that protesters against racism are determined to tear down every statue, symbol and memory of our heritage.

This argument has a long way to go. Since the death of George Floyd, 22 Confederate statues have come down  but 748 are still standing, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

And most of the public agrees with the protesters, not with the president. A Quinnipiac University poll last month found that a small majority, 52%, think the statues should come down  a notable change in public opinion.

The protests have not only started useful conversations; they appear to be building a new national majority in favor of change.

Those Confederate generals should be hoisted off their pedestals and put where they belong: in a museum or on a battlefield, not in a position of honor.

Watch Now: Californias new police use-of-force law, explained.

Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times.
On June 23, 1865, 155 years ago, Stand Watie became the last major Confederate field commander to surrender to the Union, which took place at Doaksville, in the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory.

Watie, a Cherokee, was the only Native American on either side in the Civil War who attained the rank of brigadier general.

Stand Waties surrender came 75 days after Robert E. Lees to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia, 66 days after Joe Johnstons to William Tecumseh Sherman, at Bentonville, North Carolina, and 21 days after Trans-Mississippi Department head Edmund Kirby Smiths to E. R. S. Canby at Galveston, Texas.

Himself a slave-owner of African-American plantation slaves, Watie was a diehard Lost Cause southerner.

+2 Shenandoah strikes her colors Editors note: This is one of an occasional series of stories commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Born Dec. 12, 1806 at Oothcaloga (now Calhoun) in the Cherokee Nation in northwestern Georgia, he was named Degataga, meaning Stand Firm. Watie was part Cherokee and part European. His parents were full-blooded Cherokee David UWatie (ancient one) and Susanna Reese.

Taught English at a nearby Moravian Missionary School as well as baptized, Watie was an educated Cherokee citizen of the Five Civilized Nations: Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole.

A collaborator of articles in his brother Elias Boudinots bilingual English and Cherokee newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix, Stand Watie forlornly stood for Native American rights and Cherokee national sovereignty within the Deep South cotton state of Georgia (and smaller portions of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.)

Passage of the Indian Removal Act by the U.S. Congress in 1830 heralded the forced relocation of all Native Americans southeast of the Mississippi River to mid-western Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma-state) within the Great American Desert.

Officer faced court-martial for last battle of Civil War Editors note: This is one of an occasional series of stories commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Already seizing prize Cherokee Nation land, the slave state of Georgia coveted its short-term gold deposits  and longer-term, rich, fresh black soil  so as to continue the westward-wave of white-owned cotton plantations. State rights thus reigned.

Taking his home, state agents kidnapped Cherokee Chief John Ross. A schism now ruptured the Cherokees into two factions  the majority faction headed by idealistic principal chief John Ross (who had also owned black slaves)  and the rebel minority faction political rivals, Major Ridge, John Ridge, Elias Boudinot, and Stand Watie.

On Dec.29, 1835, a minority Treaty Party of Cherokee, including Stand Watie, unilaterally signed the (removal) Treaty of New Echota (the Cherokee capital).

Pragmatic Stand Watie realized the only way the Cherokee Nation could survive and avoid disintegration into oblivion was to go with the course of events it could not control. President Andrew Jackson had prior demurred upon the Cherokee National Councils plea for federal intervention against Georgia by instead encouraging its removal to Indian Territory in spite of U.S. Supreme Court findings to the contrary.

+3 Destructive Southern campaign marked end of war Editors note: This is one of an occasional series of stories commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Along the 1,000-mile, bitter Trail of Tears, the eastern Cherokee Nation lost 4,000 in late 1838, including Quatie Ross, the wife of Chief John Ross.

Vengeful anti-treaty Cherokees murdered Stands older brother, Elias in 1839, along with both Ridges, in accordance with Cherokee tribal law, that it was a capital offense to give away the homeland. Lone surviving Stand Watie, in 1842, in turn killed one of the murderers, by which time, mortal violence extended to the Indian Territory. In more retaliation, his other brother, Thomas Watie was killed in 1845.

Fearing being overthrown when the American Civil War erupted in 1861, Chief Ross reluctantly had the Cherokee Nation join the Confederacy.

The blood-feuding Cherokees were split along Union and Confederate lineswhile still fighting their own parallel inner civil war. The two-thirds Ross faction, mostly full-blooded Unionists who democratically elected him, favored a united Cherokee Nation, and the mixed-blooded Cherokee one-third Watie faction, wanted it divided into two permanent Southern and Northern Cherokee Nations within the Indian Territory.

+2 Lincoln's thinking on slavery evolved during war Editors note This is one of an occasional series of stories commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Absconding with the Cherokee Nations government archives, pro-Unionist John Ross fled to the Northern-controlled area in 1862. Pro-Confederate Stand Watie, remained in the Indian Territory, usurping the role of principal chief in August.

Stand Watie ably took command of the 1st Mounted Cherokee Rifles, who perhaps numbered up to about 1,800 horsemen. Serving alongside the white Confederate soldiers, Waties Cherokee regiment fought in the battles of Pea Ridge/Elkhorn Tavern (1862), First Cabin Creek (1863), Flat Rock (1864), Second Cabin Creek (1864), and in the capture of the federal river supply steamboat J. R. Williams (1864).

Varying infamous stories of the Sept. 16 Flat Rock battle claimed either Waties Cherokees or accompanying fierce Texas troopers (or perhaps both), had massacred black Union soldiers, who were working as hay-cutters, as well as black women and children, also present.

Confederate Cherokee had an escalating desertion rate during the Civil War. If they captured enemy supply rations, they tended to leave the army to take them home to their families.

Upon facing-off for a battle, large groups of the Southern Cherokees openly deserted to the Union Creeks, with whom they felt no animosity. During the war, the Confederate Cherokees sometimes became Union Cherokees.

+2 Last desperate march of Army of Northern Virginia Editors note This is one of an occasional series of stories commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Native American Civil War soldier self-discipline was sporadic in battle. Artillery fire terrified the Confederate Cherokee soldiers. To them, the Yankee wagon-guns (cannons) were bad spirits spewing forth flame and thunder, which abruptly in turn brought death and disruption.

Elated upon their capture of one such demonic wagon-gun, it was set afire by igniting branches they had piled on and around it. Dancing and whooping in a circle about the burning artillery piece, the fires heat caused an explosion of powder inside the barrel, taking lives, sustaining low morale.

Half or more of the Cherokees of the Mounted Rifles were armed with only bows, arrows, and hatchets, their few firearms often being obsolescent muskets, rifles, or shotguns. Considered valiant, in combat by the white Confederate commanders, they came to be employed scouting, screening, or raiding the enemy, which they performed well.

On May 10, 1864, Watie received his promotion from colonel to brigadier general by Gen. Samuel Bell Maxey. (The white Texas troopers resented his advancement in rank.) Between set-piece battles, General Waties effort focused on guerilla fighting against the Union Cherokee for control of the Indian Territory itself.

Although the Southern Cherokee Braves battle standard was furled in June 1865, bravery was still much needed. Watie and his men might likely face the wrath of John Ross, reinstated as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Intense division loomed over both Ross and Watie factions as to the fate of their former black slaves, now freed-men, -women, and -children.

+5 Fall of Fort Fisher sealed vital Southern port Editors note This is one of an occasional series of stories commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

The Northern Cherokee wanted to adopt the mixed black-Cherokee ex-slave families into the overall tribe. However Waties Southern Cherokee wanted them to be segregated outside of the Indian Territory.

Journeying to Washington in ill health, Chief Ross, 75, signed a treaty on July 19, 1866, which gave the Cherokee Freedmen U.S. citizenship, federal annuities, and land in the new Canadian (River) Addition. Ross died in Washington on Aug. 1.

Exiled in the Choctaw Nation, Stand Watie returned to his land on Honey Creek in Cherokee Territory. Sadly, all three of his sons had already perished, from non-war causes. Although wealthy from his eastern plantation years, he could not bear his impoverishment of solitary loneliness (likely mental depression), dying at 64, on Sept. 9, 1871. New compromise principal chief, full-blooded Cherokee Lewis Downing brought permanent peace to the post-Civil War reunited Cherokee Nation.

Futini is a Napa-based history enthusiast. This is the latest in an occasional series recalling events of the Civil War.
Another body retrieved during search operations in Karabakhs occupied lands

Karabakh President intends to hold referendum of confidence

Aliyev declares Artsakhs occupied Shushi as cultural capital of Azerbaijan

Armenia Ambassador presents credentials to Lithuania President

Armenia independent MP to grant letter of recommendation for release of Armen Charchyan from custody

Russia envoy: Armenian peoples contribution is invaluable in Great Patriotic War victory

Lithuania President: Nikol Pashinyan has been given mandate of Armenian people

Armenia President congratulates Nikol Pashinyan on his political party's victory in the elections

Leader of Armenian extra-parliamentary force meets with Nikol Pashinyan

'Armenia' bloc member: Authorities will establish dictatorship of Nikol Pashinyan, not of law

European Parliament delegation on Armenia elections: We call on all political forces to acknowledge election results

Armenia acting MOD pays tribute to fighters who fell in the Great Patriotic War

Armenia former President Kocharyan on Erdogan's platform of 6": Hard to talk about what does not exist

Russia Federation Council wants to start cooperation with new Armenia parliament as soon as possible

Canada MFA congratulates Armenia on concluding successful parliamentary elections

Russia ambassador to Armenia: OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs format continues to function

International Union of Socialist Youth recognizes Artsakh independence

Menendez: No concessions to Erdogan

Russia envoy to Armenia: Work to return captives will continue

3 terrorist groups neutralized in Iran

Ambassador comments on report on Russia border guards deployment in Armenias Gegharkunik Province

EU Delegation to Armenia spokesperson issues statement on snap parliamentary elections

2nd President Kocharyan: Armenia will face another snap election if authorities continues in same spirit

Philippine President threatens COVID-19 vaccine protests with arrest

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: I have not yet decided whether to refuse, accept parliamentary mandate

Armenia army General Staff: Committee is set up to investigate course of Artsakh war

Armenia army General Staff chief: Russian peacekeepers will be deployed in Gegharkunik Province

77 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia delegation member calls on PACE to freeze Azerbaijan presidents European bank accounts

Hand grenade is thrown under Armenia public, political figures car (PHOTOS)

Newspaper: What is expected after Armenia snap parliamentary elections?

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM to use his "steel mandate" against opponents

Russia resumes full-fledged flights with Turkey

Another rally demanding Artsakh Presidents resignation to be held in Stepanakert

US State Department issues statement on Armenia snap parliamentary elections

Armenia ruling party member warns pseudo-lawyers

'Armenia' bloc issues statement on results of snap parliamentary elections and election observation missions

US will not warn Russia about cyberattacks, Psaki says

Armenia acting PM: Political crisis is resolved and is over

Zakharova: Russia hopes to strengthen ties with Armenia based on results of snap parliamentary elections

Gunshots heard in Yerevan, city's police chief is at scene of incident

Erdogan invites OSCE Minsk Group to Karabakh

Armenia President calls on making transition to presidential system again

Armenia MFA: Specifics of work with UNSC regarding Azerbaijani invasion of Armenian territory not subject to disclosure

Armenia acting minister says he will start using 'steel mandate' tomorrow at 9 am

National-Democratic Axis Party issues statement on results of Armenia snap parliamentary elections

Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of another 3 servicemen removed from Varanda (Fizuli) region

Ukraine heralds free trade zone with Turkey

Armenia President receives OSCE/ODIHR Director and OSCE PA Secretary General

Child dies from car accident in Armenia's Gegharkunik Province

Armenia Izmirlian Medical Center head is charged

Karabakh President congratulates Armenia's Pashinyan on victory in snap parliamentary elections

Russia MOD congratulates Armenian counterpart on snap parliamentary elections in Armenia

Armenia Investigative Committee charges citizen and head of campaign headquarters for violating ballot secrecy

Iran's President-elect says he has always protected human rights

Georgia PM congratulates Armenia's Pashinyan on winning snap parliamentary elections

PACE and OSCE PA election observers say they are content with elections in Armenia, in spite of violations

India kicks off nationwide free COVID-19 vaccination campaign

Azerbaijan, Pakistan agree to conduct military exercises

Armenia 1st President's spokesperson on snap parliamentary elections

Armenia MP: Azerbaijan is celebrating Nikol Pashinyan's victory, ruling party is holding fireworks display

Charles Michel congratulates Pashinyan on winning snap elections

OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission in Armenia says it heard allegations of administrative resources use

OSCE Secretary General thanks Russia for its work in Minsk Group on Karabakh settlement

Lavrov calls to wait for formation of new Armenia government

Armenia's Pashinyan garners 197,000 less votes compared with elections in 2018

OSCE/ODIHR: Power outages did not considerably affect Armenia snap elections

Garo Paylan congratulates Armenia's Nikol Pashinyan

'Armenia' bloc issues statement on results of snap parliamentary elections

Opposition party leader: 'Armenia' bloc doesn't accept results of vote and will apply to Constitutional Court

Digest: Armenia snap elections is over, Pashinyans bloc leads with almost 54%

OSCE Secretary General: We work within Minsk Group framework to achieve long-term solution to Karabakh conflict

Bayramov: Azerbaijan complains about non-fulfillment of points of trilateral statements on Karabakh

Azerbaijan FM believes that Armenia authorities will draw right conclusion

Pompeo: US should not negotiate with Iran's newly elected President

Azerbaijan blackmails, threatens Armenia under guise of cooperation proposal

Member of Armenia delegation to PACE: Azerbaijan delegation head said 50% of minefield maps given are fake

Armenia freedom fighter is detained, declares hunger strike

9 children killed in accident during storm in US

Swedish parliament passes vote of no confidence in PM's country

Kremlin is following Armenia post-election situation

Artsakh emergency service: Armenian, Azerbaijani sides exchanged bodies from time to time

Azerbaijan Prosecutor General's Office accuses Armenia of deliberate deforestation in Lachin

13 Armenian captives trial starts in Azerbaijan

What will happen if Armenia opposition forces do not accept their parliamentary seats?

Armenia Central Electoral Commission approves preliminary results of snap parliamentary elections

US won't issue threats or ultimatums to China in connection with investigation of pandemic causes

CIS, CSTO observers find no considerable irregularities in Armenia snap parliamentary election voting

Armenia acting PM visits Yerevan military pantheon

Heiko Maas considers new EU sanctions against Belarus inevitable

26 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Civil Contract Party will have constitutional majority in new parliament

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Counting of ballots over in Armenia snap parliamentary elections

Counting of ballots coming to an end in Armenia snap parliamentary elections

Armenia Central Electoral Commission counts 86.4% of ballots

Armenia Central Electoral Commission counts 80% of ballots

Armenia Central Electoral Commission counts two thirds of ballots
YEREVAN.  Hraparak daily writes: We asked Edmon Marukyan [chairman of the opposition Bright Armenia Party (BAP) and head of its parliamentary faction] whether they would join on July 8 the PAP's [opposition Prosperous Armenia Party] initiative to apply to the CC [Constitutional Court].

The BAP did not join the initiative to apply to the CC on the matter of the draft constitutional amendments, promising to join after the CC session slated for July 7 on the case of [ex-President] Robert Kocharyan.

"We have said that we will join once there is a session on that case," Marukyan said.

But you have a three-month period on the matter of applying to the CC. And what will happen if they don't hold a session on Kocharyan's case before that? "If it is not examined by the end of the three-month period, we will have to apply; but I don't think they will not examine [it before that]."

Let us remind that yesterday the CC session did not take place due to the lack of quorum ().
Photo taken on July 7, 2020 shows a view of the Lugou Bridge in Beijing, capital of China. (Photo: Xinhua)

By Wu Jihai and Fu Shuangqi

TAIPEI, July 8 -- The Lugou Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937, is recognized as the start of Japan's full-scale invasion of China, and China's whole-of-nation resistance against it. Tuesday marks the 83rd anniversary of the Lugou Bridge Incident, also known as the July 7 incident. In commemoration of this important day, many groups in Taiwan called on the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to draw lessons from history and to unite to promote peaceful reunification. Only in this way can we live up to the sacrifices of the sages and martyrs involved in the war against Japanese aggression.

Several groups in Taiwan including the Association for the Advancement of Taiwan Anti-Japanese Volunteers Relatives, Straits Review Monthly magazine, and the Taiwan History Education 'Three Self' Movement Association, jointly commemorated the 83rd anniversary for the July 7 incident in Taipei on July 7, 2020, with a total of over 100 people involved, including the descendants of Taiwan anti-Japanese volunteers, experts, and scholars.

Xiao Kaiping, chairman of the Association for the Advancement of Taiwan Anti-Japanese Volunteers Relatives, said in a speech that Tuesday marks the 83rd anniversary of the outbreak of China's whole-of-nation resistance against Japanese aggression and this year also marks the 125th anniversary of the outbreak of Taiwans anti-Japanese war. Since Taiwan was occupied by Japan in 1895, the people of Taiwan began to resist the Japanese ruling. After the Lugou Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937, countless Taiwan compatriots, including Mr. Xiaos father, went to the Chinese mainland to participate in China's whole-of-nation resistance against Japanese aggression, for which all the Chinese people made tremendous sacrifices.

Looking to the future, Mr. Xiao hoped that both sides of the Taiwan Strait would adhere to the 1992 Consensus to realize peaceful national reunification at an early date.

Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of Taiwans main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), said in a speech that the Lugou Bridge Incident broke out on the same day 83 years ago, the Chinese people finally won after eight years of fight. Since Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895, the people of Taiwan began to resist the colonial ruling by Japan. After the Lugou Bridge Incident, the people of Taiwan also joined China's whole-of-nation resistance against Japanese aggression, leaving a touching history of epic.

Wu Quen-tsai, a professor at the National Chiayi University in Taiwan, and Yang Kai-huang, a professor at Taipei's Ming Chuan University, delivered speeches on topics of "retrieving Chinese history education" and "dissolving Taiwan's anxiety with the 1992 Consensus".

At the meeting for 83rd anniversary of China's whole-of-nation resistance against Japanese Aggression held by Alliance for the Reunification of China in Taipei on July 6, chairwoman Chi Hsing stated that in 1937, Japan conspired the Lugou Bridge Incident, and the entire Chinese people got united in resistance against Japan and eventually won the war and reclaimed Taiwan. While eighty-three years later, some political forces in Taiwan have ignored the fact that both sides across the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, indicating that they have not been inspired by the history of China's whole-of-nation resistance ever. The Alliance for the Reunification of China hence solemnly appealed people across the Strait to get united and target the outside aggression, only in this way, can the peaceful reunification of China be achieved, and can the sacrifices of the sages and martyrs involved in the war against Japanese aggression be worthwhile.
The online discussion of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) took place on Tuesday.

The respective statement issued by the office of Hayk Konjoryanhead of the Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA) delegation to the OSCE PA reads as follows: "This format was new, the accusations of the Azerbaijani delegatesold. Azay Guliyev spoke about the holding of the Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] elections, Prime Minister of Armenias attendance to the inauguration [of the new President of Artsakh], accused the Armenians of disturbing the peace. The Armenian response is a reminder: They were democratic elections, it is incomprehensible to a country [Azerbaijan] with the same president since 2003, where power is transferred by inheritance.

"I would like to remind that the 1994 ceasefire agreement is still in force and has no time limit, and Armenia and Artsakh are committed to it. We consistently condemn the use of force, and we work for the establishment of a peaceful environment, but, unfortunately, the militant rhetoric and territorial claims by one partyAzerbaijanmake it impossible to resolve the conflict. Unfortunately, neither the statements of the [OSCE Minsk Group] Co-Chairs nor of the international community restrain Azerbaijan. Therefore, we attach importance to the implementation of monitoring; it should not be stopped, especially during the days of the pandemic, said Hayk Konjoryan, head of the RA NA OSCE PA delegation.

Our delegate reminded: Mr. Guliyev has repeatedly denied even the existence of the people of Artsakh. If you really want a peaceful settlement, are you ready to make the same statement that [Armenias] Prime Minister Pashinyan made? That is, the solution [to the Karabakh conflict] must be acceptable to the peoples of Artsakh, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

"When Mr. Guliyev talks about the rights of the people of Artsakh and says that he does not understand what it means, I think the reason is in not understanding the human rights phenomenon at all. The lack of human rights in Azerbaijan is reflected even in Mr. Guliyev's words. When you talk about democracy, I would like to say that Armenia is a democratic country, and if someonewhether a businessman or an officialcommits a crime, he must be held accountable for it. This is something that is incomprehensible to you, Mr. Guliyev.

Now let's look at Azerbaijan. The incumbent president has been president since 2003for 17 years. He inherited the presidency from his father. This is not democracy, this is heredity, this is nepotism, family dictatorship, but never democracy. That's why you don't understand the democracy of Armenia; the problem is not ours, but yours, Mr. Guliyev," Konjoryan said.
In order to promote sustainable, innovative and market-oriented agribusiness in Armenia, the EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia (EU-GAIA) has announced an open call for applications to support green and organic projects. The EU-GAIA project is funded by the European Union and co-financed and implemented by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme in Armenia. The projects Government counterpart in Armenia is the Ministry of Economy.

In partnership with the Ministry of Economy, we are glad to launch this new call for proposals aiming to make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly in Armenia, which is very much in line with the European Green Deal. We believe that farmers, small agribusiness producers will play a critical role in the COVID-19 recovery in the regions and overall transition towards more sustainable, competitive and resilient agriculture. The total size of this Agribusiness Support Programme within the EU-GAIA project is EUR 2,470,000 million, - as announced by EU Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin.

Various agribusinesses can take part in the call for applications: farmers, producers, processors.

The call consists of the following components:

Support for "Green" agricultural projects in Shirak, Lori and Tavush marzes (provinces).

The value chains selected in this component are:

Fruits, berries, vegetables, both fresh and processed.

To apply, please visit the Announcements section of the Ministry of Economy here.

Legumes, herbs and sheep breeding.

To apply, please visit here

Support for organic (certified or willing to get certified) agribusinesses in all regions of Armenia and in all value-chains. All value chains are selected in this component.

To apply, please visit here

The support for small scale agribusinesses will be provided through agricultural production machinery and equipment, post-harvest and processing equipment and some infrastructural inputs. Successful applicants will also be involved in the capacity building and marketing initiatives of the EU-GAIA project, ensuring their green/organic business projects to have a successful start and progress. Only fixed assets will be provided, not monetary grants.

Preference will be given to agribusinesses run by women as well as young people and vulnerable groups.

Applications will be selected per the set criteria and methodology. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
China has criticized the US for its official move to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), Reuters reported.

China noted that this step will create complications for developing countries.

Beijing calls on the international community to support WHO, the Chinese MFA spokesperson Zhao Lijian noted.

The UN said on Tuesday that the US would leave WHO on July 6, 2021.

The White House has officially moved to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO), The Hill reported referring to a senior administration official. According to the official, the US has already submitted its withdrawal notification to the UN secretary-general.

Sen. Bob Menendez noted that the administration informed Congress of the withdrawal plans. "To call Trumps response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interests  it leaves Americans sick & America alone," he tweeted.
US President Donald Trump said his administration is considering banning TikTok as one of the possible ways to reciprocate China for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloomberg reported.

Its something were looking at, yes, Trump said when asked in an interview with Gray Televisions Greta Van Susteren about Secretary of State Mike Pompeos remarks. Its a big business. Look, what happened with China with this virus, what theyve done to this country and to the entire world is disgraceful.

Trump did not provide any details regarding the possible decision.

He only noted that the TikTok ban is one of many ways that he is considering in response to the actions of the Chinese authorities to the COVID-19.
Assyrians Are Leaving Iraq Due to Ongoing Security Concerns

The Church of Mar Behnam and Mart Sarah in Qaraqosh, Iraq celebrates Christmas Mass Dec. 25, 2018 before the church's renovation. ( AFP/Getty Images) More Christian families left the Nineveh Plains than returned to their hometowns last year amid ongoing security concerns in northern Iraq, according to a recently published report by Aid to the Church in Need.

The report, "Life after ISIS: New challenges to Christianity in Iraq," documents how Iraqi Christians' worries over Iran-backed militias operating in their region drive emigration and economic insecurity.

"Christians who have returned to their homes still feel unsafe, and substantially more insecure than other groups in the region mostly because of the violent activity of local militias," Fr. Andrzej Halemba, the leader of ACN's Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, wrote in the report's foreword.

"Although economic concerns, especially employment, are paramount in some areas, it is impossible to decouple these from security considerations. These key factors need to be addressed to tackle the physical and economic insecurity that forces populations to move. If the tendency to emigrate is not stemmed, it will place, in turn, even greater pressure on Christians remaining in Iraq by reducing their critical mass and thus creating a less hospitable environment," he said.

The ACN report found that 57% of Iraqi Christians surveyed said that they had considered emigration. Among them, 55% responded that they expect to leave Iraq by 2024.

The number of Christians living in areas formerly occupied by the Islamic State has already declined from 102,000 to 36,000 people since 2014. The report stated that some displaced Christians who returned to the Nineveh Plains as their homes were rebuilt are now choosing to leave.

"In the summer of 2019, the Christian population of this region reached an inflection point, with more families leaving their hometown than returning. In Baghdeda alone, 3,000 Syriac Catholics left over the course of just three months in 2019 -- a drop of 12% in the number of Syriac Catholics in the town," it said.

With continued migration, the future of the Western Neo-Aramaic language known as Surith, and sometimes called "Syriac," is also threatened if the children of immigrants do not retain the language. One Christian in Bartella told ACN: "Learning Syriac is important because it's the language of Jesus."

The report named Australia as one of the primary locations where Iraqi Christians emigrate, with at least 139,000 moving there since 2007.

This is in part made possible by Iraqi Christians' family connections abroad. The study found that most Christians had at least one family member living abroad, which provides an added incentive and knowledge of how to leave Iraq.

However, the majority of the Iraqi respondents to the ACN survey cited security concerns over family reasons as the primary reason for wanting to emigrate.

In particular, living under an Iran-backed militia was directly correlated with feelings of insecurity. These Shia militia groups operate with the permission of the Iraqi government, but they have previously refused to comply with the prime minister's instructions to integrate into the Iraqi army.

The ACN report detailed Christians' complaints of theft, threats of violence, and injury perpetrated by these militia groups, which have been sanctioned by the U.S. government for human rights abuses.

Additionally, many Iraqi Christians live with the fear that the Islamic State or a similar group will return. The survey conducted by ACN found that 87% of these Christians felt unsafe or absolutely unsafe, and 67% believed that "it is likely or very likely that ISIS or a similar group will return in the next five years."

"Disputes between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government over certain Christian-majority areas have also hindered infrastructure reconstruction provoking further insecurity," Halemba said.

The priest underlined that reconstruction efforts in the Nineveh Plains needed to continue, adding that the number of families in the immediate region that would still like to return is estimated to be more than 2,000.

The report, published in June, is based on a stratified sampling survey conducted between August and November 2019 of 793 Christians living in areas formerly occupied by the Islamic State in the Nineveh Plains. The report was written by Halemba and Xavier Bisits, a management consultant for Bain & Company and ACN project support officer.

The authors said that the survey's results indicated that NGOs, churches, and governments should focus on the causes that drive Iraqi Christians to emigrate and advocate for the restoration of security in the Nineveh Plains in partnership with local Church leaders.

"The findings of 'Life after ISIS' make clear that restoring the stability of the Christian community in this post-conflict region is only possible with a concerted effort focusing on security, education, long-term economic opportunities, and reconstruction," Halemba said.
There have been several times when I, as a politician and as a representative of the My Step bloc, have stated that there is a constitutional crisis in Armenia. This is what Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan told reporters today, touching upon the fact that the Constitutional Court was able to convene sessions until now, but currently, there is no quorum during sessions, and it seems as though now is when a crisis has emerged in the Constitutional Court.

Touching upon the news that the National Assembly submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court to postpone examination of the issue related to the case of second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan on July 7, Ararat Mirzoyan said the following: I havent submitted any petition to the Constitutional Court. The National Assembly has a staff, which is an apolitical body and carries out its professional activities. The National Assembly has a representative in the Court who has the right to become familiar with the case materials, that is, the advisory opinions of the Venice Commission and the European Court of Human Rights. As far as I know, the case materials havent been provided to the National Assembly in Armenian to this day. The official language in Armenia is Armenian, and it is my duty to submit materials in Armenian, after which the representative of the National Assembly will give the parliaments opinion on the advisory opinions and the case.

As for the fact that the Constitutional Court isnt convening sessions due to lack of quorum, Mirzoyan said it would be better to ask the former or current members of the Constitutional Court about that.
Touching upon the opinion of the President of Armenia that it might be right to have the President, the Supreme Judicial Council and the National Assembly elect the nine judges of the Constitutional Court, deputy of the Bright Armenia opposition faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Taron Simonyan said in the past, the two halves of the Constitutional Court were formed by the President and the National Assembly, and this was the logic until the constitutional amendments were made.

Currently, the Constitution states that the Government, the President and the General Assembly of Judges each nominate three judges of the Constitutional Court, but the National Assembly elects them. The President of Armenia recalled that he had nominated candidates three times, but the National Assembly hadnt elected two of them.

I understand the Presidents concern. The constitutional amendments of 2015 led to the establishment of a system based on which one political force, which had a constitutional majority in parliament, formed everything. If you recall, the President of Armenia nominated two candidates, but the ruling parliamentary majority rejected them and made it clear that it will reject all candidates, even perfect candidates, if its desired candidate isnt nominated. This is troubling. This is a systemic issue because the working relations in the National Assembly are provided for by the Constitution of 2015 in which the institution of constitutional majority is enshrined, he said, adding that the President of Armenia expressed his opinion so that these solutions could be considered in the context of constitutional amendments.

It seems as though the Professional Commission on Constitutional Reforms has already reached consensus on the idea that there must not be a constitutional majority in parliament, the deputy of the Bright Armenia faction emphasized.
Twenty Assyrian villages in Iraq have been evacuated due to Turkish military operation, and the European Syriac Union (ESU) has issued a statement on this, informed the Assembly of Armenians of Europe. The statement reads as follows:

Expressing its support for the Assyrian people, the Assembly of Armenians of Europe condemns Turkey's Pence-Kartal (Claw-Eagle) military operation in northern Iraq aimed displacing and destroying ethnic non-Turkish peoples.

By inheriting their previous government, the current Turkish authorities continue to pursue the same inhumane and genocidal policies in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria.

We call on the international community not to remain indifferent but condemn the criminal policies of the Turkish authorities and take measures to stop Turkey's aggressive and brutal advances in the region.
Assyrians Caught in Crossfire Between Turkey, PKK Fighting

The sounds of Turkish bombs rattled the Assyrian community of Bersiveh in northern Iraq in the early hours of June 20. Although the village is accustomed to the booms and roars of airstrikes and nearby artillery fire, residents never know when or where to expect the attacks.

June's aggression is just the latest in a string of Turkish bombings that have exhausted Assyrian communities in the country for years, said Athra Kado, an Assyrian teacher in Alqosh, and they are slowly contributing to the erasure of the ancient population.

"This is not today's incident or event, this has been happening for decades," Kado told Al-Monitor.

Assyrians are an ethnic group indigenous to parts of Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran. Northern Iraq was host to many dozens of Assyrian communities, but a string of wars, terrorist attacks by the Islamic State and subsequent pressure from remaining militia groups have either emptied or destroyed many of these villages. Before 2000, more than a million Assyrians considered Iraq home. Today, that number is around 150,000.

Read the full story here.
YEREVAN.  The majority My Step faction in the National Assembly of Armenia has withdrawn the bill to increase the fines for not wearing face masks, as it has seen the need to discuss it more. Lilit Makunts, the leader of the My Step faction, said this in a conversation with journalists Wednesday.

"The key approach should be to do the utmost so that the virus is recorded as less as possible among the citizens; that is, this is the starting pointnot putting a goal of fining people. At this point, we took a short break [on this matter] because it is important for us to figure out whether it is enough, other steps are needed or not. There was a need for a little more discussionat least for a few days," she said.

According to Makunts, the condition for wearing face masks is observed in the parts of Yerevan where the number of police officers is large, but the same cannot be said about the areas that are out of the strict control of the police. "Nevertheless, there are issues of dilemma. On the one hand, the fine works because if we recall many public behaviors that exist today but did not exist before, they happened thanks to the introduction of fines. Today, those fines no longer apply, but people continue to follow (). On the other hand, we say they can pay the fine, but still not wear a mask," Makunts said.
The European Commission endorsed Germanys plans to create a fund of up to  500 billion to support businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This measure helps mitigate the economic consequences of the pandemic for Germany.

The statement, in particular, runs as follows:

The European Commission has approved German plans to set up a fund with a budget of up to 500 billion for providing guarantees and investing through debt and equity instruments in enterprises affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: In these difficult times, we continue to work in close cooperation with Member States to find workable solutions to facilitate the access to finance of companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak, in line with EU rules. The German fund aims to unlock 500 billion of liquidity and capital support. The scheme ensures that the State is sufficiently remunerated for the risk taxpayers assume, and, as regards recapitalisation measures, that there are incentives for the State to exit as soon as possible, and that the support comes with adequate conditions, including a ban on dividends, bonus payments as well as further measures to limit distortions of competition.

The German support measures

Germany notified to the Commission under the Temporary Framework a fund (Wirtschaftsstabilisierungsfonds') with a target size of up to 500 billion to provide liquidity and capital support to German enterprises affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Under the scheme, the support will take the form of (I) guarantees (that are expected to mobilise 400 billion of the total amount), as well as (II) subsidised debt instruments in form of subordinated loans, and (III) recapitalisation instruments (in total up to 100 billion), in particular equity instruments (acquisition of newly issued ordinary and preferred shares or other forms of shareholding) and hybrid capital instruments (namely convertible bonds and silent participations)
Judges of the first instance courts of general jurisdiction of Armenias Syunik, Shirak, Armavir, Lori and Tavush Provinces of Armenia today took oaths during a ceremony held at the presidential residence and attended by President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian.

President Sarkissian congratulated the newly appointed judges and wished them success. I am certain that you know very well how responsible judges and representatives of the judiciary are before the people. I wish you success, and I am certain that you will perform your duties at the highest level. By taking an oath, you assure that you will serve our people, the country and the state by staying true to the Constitution and laws. I hope you always keep your oath, he said.
Spokesperson of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan has responded to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyevs statements.

"Question: During his visit to Khatai district, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a historical excursion about Armenia and the Armenian nation. He also commented on Armenias domestic processes, Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, as well as criticized the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. We would like to ask for your comment on that.

Answer: My colleagues have already issued comments on this issue. I would simply like to add that President Aliyev, who was malicious about the spread of COVID-19 in Armenia a few weeks ago, today has no other words to address his society in lockdown than bringing forward the image of useful enemy. The Armenophobia is the last line of defense of Aliyevs power, and hiding behind it describes the evolving domestic crisis and desperation in Azerbaijan at its best.

Its ridiculous that Armenias domestic processes, human rights and freedoms have been reviewed by a leader of a country where for decades political and economic power has been in the hands of a single family, defined internationally as a repressive regime. Its noteworthy that Ilham Aliev, with his hostile and racist comments, expresses irresponsible and disrespectful attitude, first of all, towards the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issued a week ago, which contained concerns about the inflammatory and provocative rhetoric.

As the Prime Minister Pashinyan stated at the recent joint session of the Security Councils of Armenia and Artsakh: attempts to turn the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict into a long-term Armenian-Azerbaijani enmity within which our peoples will fight on everything - past, present, future and the whole region - is in the interests of neither the Armenian nor the Azerbaijani people.
Minister of Defense of Armenia Davit Tonoyan today received outgoing Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan Natalia Voutova.

The results of the actions implemented during the first stage of the Human Rights and Women in the Armed Forces of Armenia Program, which is being implemented by the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, were summed up, and the actions envisaged within the scope of the second stage, were considered during the meeting.

The parties emphasized the importance of the introduction of the program in the context of raising awareness about human rights and developing educational capacities in the armed forces, assisting in the implementation of institutional reforms of the Ministry of Defense and ensuring continuity of cooperation.

The defense minister expressed gratitude to Voutova for cooperating effectively since 2016 and wished her success in her new position.

The Program is being carried out within the scope of the Council of Europe Armenia Action Plan 2019-2022 and with funding provided by Germany, Ireland, Lichtenstein and Sweden.
The use of hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus patients has become highly politicized in the United States but it is used widely in India, a top White House official has said, asserting latest research showed the malaria drug is highly effective in early stages of COVID-19.

"It's the politicisation of this medicine by the mainstream media and portions of the medical community that somehow made this a battle between President Trump and them and created this undue fear and hysteria over a drug, a medicine that has been used for over 60 years relatively safely and is regularly prescribed to pregnant women if they are going to a malaria zone," White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Director Peter Navarro told reporters.

"The idea that this is a dangerous drug is just silly, but if you ask the American people based on the media's coverage of it, that is kind of the state of play right now," he said.

Navarro said a day earlier four doctors at the Detroit Hospital System filed a request for emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine. The request was for three things.

"One, for early treatment use in a hospital setting. Number two, treatment between a doctor and his patient in an outpatient setting. Three, not just as a therapeutic but also as a possible prophylaxis for preventative use," he said.

This request to the FDA comes on the heels of the publication of their study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases last week that showed an astonishing 50 percent reduction in the mortality rate for patients taking hydroxychloroquine, Navarro said.

"Give hydroxy a chance, and please don't contribute to hydroxy hysteria because if it's prescribed under the supervision of a doctor, the odds that it can harm you are way, way smaller than the odds that it can help you," Navarro said.

"This has become a highly politicized, but India uses this widely for prophylaxis. There is a number of studies which point to this actually working," White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Director Peter Navarro told reporters.

The official said if he were to show any kind of symptoms, he would first ask his doctor whether hydroxychloroquine is appropriate. "And then I wouldn't hesitate to take it," he said.

He said if one looks at the 14-day arc of the virus from the beginning of symptoms, the first seven days are critical: when a person may have fever, dry cough, possibly a profound sense of fatigue.

"At that point, your lungs are still intact, and the virus is not appreciably spread to the rest of your organs. Hydroxychloroquine, based on the science in articles like the one that originally appeared in 2005 in the Journal of Virology, works in a therapeutic way by raising the alkalinity of your cells which slows the replication of the virus and also can kill the virus," he said.

It also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is why it is used for rheumatoid arthritis, and the drug can therefore also help manage what is called the cytokine storm, he said.

The latest request to the FDA also comes on the heels of two decisions by the FDA over the last several months to shut down hydroxychloroquine. -- PTI
'Maids in mandatory quarantine shouldn't get salary'

An employers' association says government should make clear that helpers will not be paid during the mandatory quarantine as they are not working. Image: Shutterstock

An employers group said on Wednesday that foreign domestic helpers should not receive a salary when they undergo mandatory quarantine after arriving in Hong Kong, as they are not working during the two weeks.



This comes after the government announced that foreign domestic helpers will need to test negative for Covid-19 before they're allowed to enter Hong Kong, and they will also have to undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days at a hotel, with their employers footing the bill.



The chairwoman of the Hong Kong Employers of Overseas Domestic Helpers Association, Betty Yung, said this is discriminatory.



We want to ask the labour department to make it very clear that when they come to Hong Kong, when they stay in a hotel, they are not working, said Tung.



She said the Hong Kong government should talk to the Philippines consulate that no work that means no pay.



Just like the local labourers. Otherwise you are discriminating or [are being] unfair to the local labourers, she said. Local labourers, if they are not working, their employers wont pay them.



She also urged the government to consider subsidising employers who are less well-off for their helpers stay at hotels.



Health Secretary Sophia Chan had said on Tuesday that domestic servants arriving in Hong Kong now will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine in hotels as the city is facing another outbreak of coronavirus cases. But she had ruled out government paying for their expenses.
Now is the time to make content that makes people uncomfortable, boasts a recent front-page ad in Variety. It was promoting one of the new services that use streaming platforms to present viewers with virtual cinema now that actual cinema-going has been curtailed.

COVID  and overreaching politicians giddy with the power to control our lives  made that happen, but it might have been inevitable anyway.

The civilizing potential that movies once promised  to unify the public and bring creative, humane ideas and imaginative visions to multitudes of viewers  has shrunken because of Hollywoods increasing mediocrity and shameless one-sided politicization.

Its no wonder attendance had been waning. When the next James Bond release was rescheduled at the start of the lockdown, no one really cared; even the current star of that once-popular series had expressed his indifference. One frustrated fan noticed that he looks and acts like a perpetually hung-over KGB agent  the Russia-collusion hoax ruining everything. Meanwhile, Hollywoods last box-office hit before the lockdown was the hideous feminist tract Invisible Man, which deserves invisibility, separate from this list of good films that follows.

Midway through this movie year, we are faced with readjusting our needs, given Hollywoods determination to reeducate audiences (by redefining their social priorities) and change our aesthetic taste into non-entertaining social-justice complacency. Thats the ongoing cinematic culture war.

So for this midyear reckoning, its imperative that we pay attention to the films that did not make us uncomfortable but were edifying  reminding us that real cinema is still possible (in alphabetical order).

Capone is Josh (Chronicle) Tranks comeback, giving Chicagos most legendary gangster the much-needed Godfather, Part III treatment  no doubt a response to politics gone rogue and the moral reckoning to come. (Tom Hardy is MVP.)

Corpus Christi is Jan Komasas challenge to modern pessimism, a daring look at a renegade priests search for holiness in godless times.

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Deerskin stars Jean Dujardin and Adele Haenel as film freaks in a folie a deux. This is Quentin Dupieuxs satire on the madness inherited from hipster film culture (Tarantino style), part of the new horror genre that mirrors Millennial anxiety.

Ladies in Black is Bruce Beresfords tribute to the old-fashioned romantic melodrama as a vehicle for female perseverance. Julia Ormond, made over by life, pays high-fashion homage to Melania Trump.

On a Magical Night is Christophe Honores surrealist comedy in which a philandering couples romantic histories return (in person), diving into their deepest desires and memories as great movies used to do.

Straight Up is surprising because it seemed unlikely that in the middle of social turmoil, the years best film so far would be an American movie  and a sex comedy at that. Star and auteur James Sweeney submits every progressive shibboleth to brilliant satire, and his individuality wins. (Co-star Katie Findlay is MVP.)

Tommaso is another folie a deux, this time between director Abel Ferrara and actor Willem Dafoe, both confessing the complications of manhood, art and cultural heritage in the shadow of toxic masculinity. Its a worthy music video for Morrisseys Secret of Music.

The Traitor is Marco Bellocchios fact-based Mafia epic about the 1986 Maxi trials, made in the tradition of Italian neorealism and parading the political cost of societys moral decay. Its a spiritual documentary, a genre unknown to Hollywood.

The Truth is Hirokazu Kore-edas latest family melodrama set in the envious hot-house environment of an aging actress and her literary daughter  rivals too close to ever part. Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche make it a showcase where different acting styles merge.

Vitalina Varela, Pedro Costas high-art piece, has the effect of rebuking the phony Black Lives Matter movement that has, ironically, canceled most of our cultures black representations. Costas noir still-life about European colonialism, named for its star actress, offers a visual tour de force.

I was fortunate to see most of these films on the big screen  as real cinema, not virtual cinema. And none that I streamed made me uncomfortable, but quite the opposite. These good films are like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) against an industry committed to keeping audiences antagonized and agitated. Hollywood has lost the meaning of art and is broken. The 2020 Midyear Reckoning disregards such gimmicky anti-cinema (like Hamilton) and keeps the faith.

More from National Review
Turbo Engine Now Available for Mazda3 Hatchback and Sedan

- World Car Design of the Year winner adds enhanced performance

- Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine will deliver up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium 93 octane fuel

IRVINE, Calif., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The launch of the fourth generation Mazda3 stirred emotions with its bold yet sophisticated styling. Renowned as the World Car Design of the Year, fans were captivated by its mature interpretation of Kodo design, but some asked for more power and Mazda listened. Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announces the addition of the turbocharged Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine to the 2021 Mazda3 powertrain offering.

2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo: Refined Performance

Connected and engaging driving dynamics mean road trips are no longer just for special occasions. Each experience in the 2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo feels more pronounced and spirited. The Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine will deliver an impressive 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium (93 octane) fuel or a solid 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular (87 octane) fuel. This engine is specifically calibrated to the Mazda3 so as to deliver the unique driving dynamics expected by our most passionate drivers. The evolution of Mazda's turbo engine brings a sense of refinement befitting the brand's recent updates to the i-Activ all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The high torque characteristic of the Skyactiv-G 2.5T paired with the predictive i-Activ AWD create harmony with the driver's intentions  delivering greater responsiveness and confidence.

The Mazda3 2.5 Turbo comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Mazda Connected Services with three-year trial and in-car Wi-Fi hot spot with six-months or 2GB trial, Bose 12-speaker premium audio, 8.8-inch large center display with Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio, two front USB inputs and Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry. Complementing the feel of refined performance, heated leather wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, frameless auto-dim rearview mirror and chrome finishes around the push button start and glove box are exclusive to the turbo offering. Other interior features include Mazda's Active Driving Display head-up unit, power moonroof, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, leatherette seating, leather wrapped shift knob and aluminum speaker grilles. To encourage peace of mind, the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo includes standard i-Activsense safety technologies such as Mazda Radar Cruise Control with stop and go function, Smart Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist, Driver Attention Alert, Adaptive Front-lighting system and High Beam Control. Additional standard equipment include larger tailpipes, 18-inch black aluminum alloy wheels, gloss black heated door mirrors, "TURBO" badge on the trunk and on the engine cover, rearview camera, LED daytime running lights, automatic on/off LED signature headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers and a shark fin antenna. The Mazda3 2.5 Turbo sedan also features a gloss black front grille and sleek lower front bumper decoration.

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The new 2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo with Premium Plus Package heightens the refined styling with a gloss black rear lip spoiler for the sedan while the hatchback is equipped with a gloss black rear roof spoiler and front air dam. Further supporting driving confidence, this top-tier package introduces all-new i-Activsense safety technologies. Rear Smart City Brake Support with Rear Cross-Traffic Braking will automatically apply the brakes when the vehicle is in reverse, if an obstacle or a crossing vehicle is detected. The 360 View Monitor with front and rear parking sensors is now available on the Mazda3 with high-definition digital clarity. A new convenience feature, Traffic Jam Assist enhances Mazda Radar Cruise Control by providing steering inputs at speeds under 40 mph. These advancements in safety technology build upon other features such as Mazda's Active Driving Display and Adaptive Front-lighting System, which help the Mazda3 stand out among entry-level premium vehicles. The Premium Plus package includes leather seats, navigation and adds HomeLink to the frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Fans are encouraged to download the MyMazda mobile app to receive exclusive Mazda content as it becomes available (must have push notifications turned on), including the latest information on Mazda3 2.5 Turbo, which is expected to arrive in dealerships by the end of this year. For information on Mazda3 2.5 Turbo, please visit: https://www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/2021-mazda3-turbo.

In addition, the 2021 Mazda3 can be equipped with two naturally aspirated engine options, the Skyactiv-G 2.0 engine or an available Skyactiv-G 2.5 engine with optional i-Activ AWD. The naturally aspirated 2021 Mazda3 offerings will be arriving in dealerships next month, more details can be found in its press release. 2021 Mazda3 pricing will be announced on a later date.

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.

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/2021-mazda3-2-5-turbo-refined-performance-301089512.html

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations






The Mazda3 Turbo is here, and while its no Mazdaspeed, this is still a happy day for enthusiasts. Its full, official name is the 2021 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo, which begins to describe it perfectly. Just as was expected, Mazda has taken its 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder off its shelf and plopped it into the compact 3.

When run on 93 octane fuel, Mazda claims 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. You can still run it on 87 octane, but the numbers drop to 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Mazda says this engine has a specific calibration for the Mazda3 to deliver the unique driving dynamics expected by our most passionate drivers. The engine delivers a stout low-end shove in its other applications, so perhaps Mazda has found a way to make it more excitable in the upper rev ranges. Well see about that when we drive it.

The Turbo is also paired exclusively with all-wheel drive and the six-speed automatic transmission. It is sad to see the six-speed manual being left in the dust here, but Mazda has decided to not offer it as an option. The all-wheel drive system operates the same as the one in the naturally aspirated version, which should hopefully be good enough to mitigate torque steer and understeer. Mazda hasnt quoted any official acceleration times for the Turbo yet, but we expect it could chop about a second off the cars 0-60 mph time. Something in the low 6-second range seems plausible. There are no changes to the chassis, suspension or brakes for this model; Mazda says "the current Mazda3, as well as all our vehicles, are always designed and tuned to be focused on dynamic driving. We are confident that the turbo engine will help to refine the already exciting driving experience without the need to add more than is necessary."

It does come in a base trim (similar to a base hatchback in content), but even that trim is relatively well-equipped. A Premium Plus Package is available that raises the bar. This package includes leather seats, navigation, HomeLink, Traffic Jam Assist (provides steering inputs below 40 mph to stay in lane), 360-degree camera, rear automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic braking and parking sensors in front and back.

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Unfortunately, the new driver assistance features we listed above are exclusive to the Turbo and wont be available on other Mazda3 models this year. Youll be able to tell the Turbo apart from other Mazda3s by the TURBO badge on the trunk and on the engine cover, larger tailpipes and lower front bumper decor. The Premium Plus Package adds a gloss black rear lip spoiler to the sedan and a gloss black roof spoiler and front air dam to the hatchback.

Mazda announced more than just a range-topping new Turbo trim, though. Theres a new naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G four-cylinder joining the bottom of the lineup, too. This engine makes 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, and itll only be available with front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic. Itll slot in below the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder that carries over into 2021 making 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Just like last year, the NA 2.5-liter will be available with a six-speed manual, but only in the hatchback with the Premium package  all other configurations come with the six-speed auto.

Perhaps youre wondering where the high-tech 2.0-liter Skyactiv-X four-cylinder is. Its already launched in Europe and Asia, but now weve randomly been gifted the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine thats also available in those other markets. Were left wondering, when will the Skyactiv-X come our way?.

We asked Mazda, and received this in response: We are excited that Skyactiv-X has shown to be successful in the Mazda3 for both Europe and Japan. For us, our focus currently is to further connect heightened performance with our premium technologies and amenities to deliver an elevated ownership experience. Information on additional powertrains, such as Skyactiv-X, will be announced at the appropriate time.

The obvious answer is better fuel economy and a cheaper price, but we also asked why its decided to add the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G base four-cylinder to the lineup: Adding the Skayctiv-G 2.0 gives Mazda3 fans more options. More options that should help them find the right fit for their lifestyle, Mazda says.

It comes equipped in a virtually identical manner as the base Mazda3 sedan (16-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, a suite of driver assistance features, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto) that starts at $22,445. Maybe Mazda can tuck the base price back under $20,000 with the 2.0, making it more competitive with cheaper Civics, Corollas and more.

Youre probably itching for more photos and a price on the Turbo, but we dont have either yet. Mazda says the non-Turbo models will be going on sale next month, and the Turbo by the end of the year. Pricing for both will be available in due time, but one things for sure, the compact car segment just got a bit more complicated.

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Despite years of research that shows workers are, in fact, competent and capable grown-ups who can get work done at home, a lot of people still seem very worried about the idea.

The prospect of working from home  whether because your company is shuttered for the pandemic or your dream job happens to be in another state  conjures images of distracted loners and freeloaders wasting company time.

Ive been working from home in some form for a decade, and I can attest this is not what its about.

Working from home is a wonderful gift technology has given us, one that lets us find the jobs we want, no matter where we live; live the lives we want, no matter what we do for work; and make money on our own terms.

In support of my ongoing quest to turn more workers and employers on to the joys of remote work, Im going to squash some common fears that might be holding you back.

6 Myths About Remote Work You Should Stop Believing

Here are some work-from-home myths I commonly hear  and whats really going on.

1.



Working From Home Hurts Productivity

The most common fear I hear about remote work is that employees just wont get any work done.

Why anyone believes offices are unbeatable bastions of productivity is beyond me  but my opinion on the matter is unnecessary. Science has you covered.

A team at Stanford Graduate School of Business (GBS) conducted a study a couple of years ago that confirmed the benefits remote workers have been touting:

Work-from-home employees productivity went up 13%.

The company earned about $2,000 more profit per remote employee.

Subsequent studies (of varying scientific rigor) have found similar results:

A survey by gig app Airtasker found remote employees work an average 1.4 more days per month than office employees and waste 10 fewer minutes per work day.

Prodoscore, an employee visibility software company, found an overall 47% year-over-year increase in productivity in March and April 2020, amid the coronavirus interruption and massive shift toward remote work.

Productivity app RescueTime found employees spend about 68% of their time on core work from home, compared with 63% in the office  which works out to over an hour per week more productivity working from home.



Fact: Remote employees work more hours more efficiently and earn more money for their companies than their in-office counterparts.

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2.



Home Has Too Many Distractions

Worried you wont be able to concentrate on work if youre not in the office? Have you ever been in an office?

Yes, your home ostensibly has laundry, dishes, pets, family members or roommates, Netflix, Amazon deliveries and your neighbors incessant weed wacker.

But what about all those meetings in the office, watercooler chit chat, brownies in the break room, and oh my goodness, how loud can one person possibly chew, Karen?? Offices come with distractions, too.

That same Stanford GSB study said workers can concentrate better working from home and are more likely to work a full shift. No coming in late because of traffic or leaving early to meet a repair person, and no long lunches or getting cornered by a chatty Kathy in the hallway.

Plus, youre a grown-up. You know you cant watch Netflix during work hours, right?



Fact: Workers concentrate better from home, free from workplace distractions.

3.



Remote Work Is Totally Solitary

Getty Images

Some extroverts cringe at the idea of working from home, because they thrive on the energy of an office full of coworkers. But I know lots (er, at least two) of extroverts who love working from home.

Working from home doesnt mean going it alone  if you dont want it to.

Connect with coworkers through messaging apps, video conferencing and phone calls. Ive spent many a work-from-home day talking to my team in calls all day long. You can even set up quick calls just to catch up and maintain a personal connection with coworkers.

And you dont have to rely on your own coworkers for social stimulus. Join a coworking space if you want to be surrounded by others while you work. Hang out with friends after work, network through Meetup groups or join a yoga class.



Fact: Remote work can be just as social and collaborative as in-office work, if you want it to be.

4.



You Have to Have a Home Office

You might look around your 500-square-foot apartment and wonder where youd even work from home. Id say: Anywhere!

Im writing this from my living room couch, which has been my workplace of choice for years. I even set up a desk in a different room for a while, but never used it. I work from my kitchen table, hotel beds, coffee shops, front porches, airplanes  thats the beauty of online work.

The only requirements to work from home in most jobs are:

An up-to-date computer or laptop.

A high-speed internet connection.

A phone. Customer service jobs often require a hard-wired phone line, but otherwise, your cell phone will do.

A familiar work space is definitely useful for putting yourself in a productive mindset  I wont deny that. And a quiet, private space is necessary for remote meetings and work calls.

But neither of these requires a dedicated home office or work space.

Instead, they require a good mindset  which you can achieve by:

Showering and getting dressed in daytime clothes each morning.

Staying in touch with coworkers.

Creating a realistic to-do list.

Keeping a regular schedule to start work, have lunch, take breaks and end the day.

Blocking your time to stay focused on tasks.

Group calls with coworkers or colleagues to hold each other accountable to goals.

Popping on white noise or noise-cancelling headphones.

Dont worry that you have to invest in a home renovation or even new furniture just because you want to work from home. (And dont be intimidated if a nosy interviewer asks about your work space in an interview for a work-from-home job.)



Fact: You can do remote work from almost anywhere youre comfortable. Just choose the right kind of online job for the environment you want to work in.

5.



Online Workers Are Distracted by the Internet All day

If you have to be online for work throughout the day, will you linger on those Twitter threads a little longer? Watch a few more bread-baking videos on Instagram? Snag a couple of wardrobe recommendations from Pinterest?

Maybe. But youd probably do it in the office, too.

Workers pop into social media sites (or apps) on work time, according to a Pew Research Center study from 2016, for a range of personal reasons, among them:

34% to take a mental break from work.

27% to connect with friends and family.

17% to learn about someone they work with.

And we already know working from home tends to increase productivity  so maybe it doesnt matter if you want to unwind with a few minutes of Tik Tok before diving into the quarterly run-down.



Fact: In-house employees are just as connected to the internet as at-home employees, so youll face online distractions either way. But remote workers are still more productive.

6.



Working at Home Means No Schedule

Commuters get a clear start and end to the work day  you enter the office, you leave the office. At home, you work in the same environment where you cook, play and relax. How do you keep work and life from coagulating into one big stress blob?

In reality, workers overall arent great at drawing work/life lines  working from home isnt the culprit.

In 2019, RescueTime found:

28% of workers start working before 8:30 a.m. (5% before 7 a.m.).

40% use their computers after 10 p.m.

26% of work happens outside of normal working hours.

Your job might impose a schedule by expecting you to be available roughly between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or by scheduling regular meetings. You can commit to your own schedule if it doesnt.

Either way, stick to it.

Treat a work-from-home day as if you have to be ready to leave the house and head to the office by the start of the day. Shower, finish your breakfast, pour your coffee, walk the dog, log on and greet your coworkers. Log off at a regular time each day to maintain balance.



Fact: Work-life balance is a challenge for any worker, but you can take strides when you work from home to maintain it.

FROM THE MAKE MONEY FORUM



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Dont Be Afraid to Work From Home

Remote work challenges our common conception of work. Thats a serious hurdle to overcome, considering how fundamental work is in our culture.

But remaining chained to old ideas of work costs you  more than just the freedom of an afternoon walk.

Employers could save thousands of dollars each year by expanding telecommuting options, according to a report from FlexJobs. Workers would save 8 billion vehicle trips and pump 54 million fewer tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Your increased productivity could lead to better career opportunities. Increased flexibility could improve your mood and your relationship with your family.

You might even enjoy your job more.

If youre ready to make the move to remote work, heres how to talk to your boss about working from home.

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) has been writing and editing since 2011, covering personal finance, careers and digital media.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.
For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. So we wouldn't blame long term AEW UK REIT plc (LON:AEWU) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 31% over a half decade. The silver lining is that the stock is up 6.6% in about a week.

See our latest analysis for AEW UK REIT

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

During the five years over which the share price declined, AEW UK REIT's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 12% each year. The share price decline of 7.2% per year isn't as bad as the EPS decline. The relatively muted share price reaction might be because the market expects the business to turn around.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

LSE:AEWU Earnings Per Share Growth July 8th 2020

We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on AEW UK REIT's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for AEW UK REIT the TSR over the last 5 years was 1.7%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

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A Different Perspective

We regret to report that AEW UK REIT shareholders are down 18% for the year (even including dividends) . Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 11%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 0.3%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 4 warning signs we've spotted with AEW UK REIT .

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GB exchanges.

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.
FREMONT, CA  Alameda County hit the pause button Monday on loosening coronavirus restrictions as cases here surge, and hospitalizations across the Bay Area increase.

In a release to the public Monday afternoon, the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency said, "we are seeing unfavorable trends for cases and hospitalizations. Alameda Countys case rate per 100,000 people has increased from 63.2 to 71.1 over the past 7 days. Daily hospitalizations were decreasing through June 22nd , but since then we have seen a daily increase in hospitalizations."

Fremont is contributing to the increase. On Monday, it was reported that 276 cases have been confirmed in Fremont since the start of the pandemic, a number that has more than doubled in a short period of time. On June 8, Fremont had 101 confirmed cases.

In order to continue opening, Alameda County must be able to demonstrate to the state health department that we are beating coronavirus. County health officials rely on the following data indicators to measure progress against the pandemic:

rates of new cases and hospitalizations hospital inpatient bed capacity and surge capacity testing capacity disease containment capacity supply of personal protective equipment for health care providers.

"We are concerned by the increase in local cases, disproportionate impact on communities of color, local impact of the outbreak at San Quentin State Prison, and the alarming disease trends we see in counties that have opened at a faster rate," the county reports.

An outbreak at San Quentin has sent prisoners to hospitals in Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties. Across the Bay Area, there are 340 people currently in the hospital with COVID-19 complications.

"As the pandemic evolves, we will need to remain flexible and nimble in our response. We all play a part in safely reopening our communities and protecting people at high risk for COVID-19 infection and death," the county reports.

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Alameda County is not alone in seeing a spike in cases and hospitalizations. Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a news conference on Monday that the state is monitoring outbreaks, has already ordered some restrictions, and may impose more in the near future.

>>Contra Costa Delays Reopening Plan Amid Coronavirus Resurgence



CAs response to #COVID19 is based on science. Thats why we asked counties that are experiencing high transmission and positivity rates to close down bars & toggle back re-openings. We will continue to monitor counties across the state & take appropriate action when necessary. Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 29, 2020

Statewide, California is approaching 6,000 deaths, with the official tally now 5,935. The death toll in Alameda County is 133.



Worldwide, there have been more than a half million deaths attributed to coronavirus, with almost 126,000 of those deaths in the United States.

Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know

Don't miss updates about the coronavirus in California as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

This article originally appeared on the Fremont Patch
WASHINGTON  The Army officer who testified in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry announced Wednesday that he will retire from the military, citing intimidation from the White House.

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, an Iraq war veteran and Purple Heart recipient, had seen his promotion to colonel delayed this summer, a hold-up that some viewed as retaliation for his impeachment testimony.

Vindman testified last fall that he was alarmed by Trumps July 25 call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump asked the Ukrainian leader to open investigations of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who had business interests in the country. That conversation triggered Trump's impeachment, and Vindman became a star witness in the House Democrats' probe.

Vindman cited "bullying, intimidation and retaliation" by Trump in explaining his decision to retire, according to a statement from his lawyer David Pressman.

"After more than 21 years of military service, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman is retiring today after it has been made clear that his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited," Pressman said.

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman fired hours after Trump said he was 'not happy' with him

"Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career."

He said Vindman chose to put the interests of his country ahead of his own.

"LTC Vindmans patriotism has cost him his career. Today our country loses a devoted soldier, but it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure it does not lose the values he represents," the lawyer said.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., moved last week to block over 1,100 military promotions until the Pentagon promised not to interfere in Vindman's promotion to colonel. The Illinois Democrat, an Iraq War veteran who lost both her legs after her helicopter was shot down in 2004, demanded that Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirm "in writing that he did not, or will not block" Vindman's "expected and deserved" promotion to colonel.

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In a statement released Wednesday, Duckworth slammed the Pentagon for not acting to "protect a decorated combat Veteran against a vindictive Commander in Chief."

Her office added she would keep the hold on promotions in place "until the Secretary of Defense provides a transparent accounting of this disgraceful situation."

Esper on Monday approved a list of officers for promotion to colonel that included Vindman, according to a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the issue.

Esper and the Armys approval of Vindman for promotion to colonel over objection from the White House widens the rift between the military and Trump.

Last month, Army Gen. Mark Milley expressed regret for having appeared with Trump after mostly peaceful protesters had been forcibly removed from his path to a photo opportunity outside the White House.

Esper appeared in the photo as well, and later expressed regret for referring to American streets occupied by those demonstrating after the death of George Floyd as battle space that needed to be dominated.

Espers remarks, Milleys appearance and Trumps confrontational approach were roundly denounced by retired Pentagon officials, including former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Rep. Adam Schiff, who led the impeachment probe as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, thanked Vindman for his service and said he "did his duty and told the truth about presidential misconduct."

"Col. Vindmans patriotism is incomprehensible to the likes of Donald Trump, but it is at the heart of Americas strength," Schiff said in a tweet Wednesday.

Vindman also won praise Wednesday from Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton.

"For Alex Vindman to retire from the military after it must have been 21, 22 years now, is really a loss for the country," Bolton said on MSNBC. He suggested Congress may examine Vindman's decision to retire.

Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he hopes there is a "bipartisan effort" to look into Vindman's departure from the Army.

It certainly looks as if his career was a casualty of this Presidents partisan vendetta against truth tellers and whistleblowers," said Reed, of Rhode Island.

"Id like to believe that there is bipartisan concern about political interference with the promotion process," he said. "We need answers directly from Secretary Esper about what role, if any, the Trump Administration played in this process."

Vindman was among several aides who listened to Trumps July 25 call with Zelensky.At the time, Vindman was a Ukraine expert serving on the National Security Council, and during last fall's impeachment probe, he told lawmakers that he viewed Trump's request to Ukraine as "improper."

It was inappropriate, Vindman said during his high-profile hearing last fall. It was improper for the president to request, to demand an investigation into a political opponent, especially a foreign power where there is at best dubious belief that this could be an impartial investigation and that this would have significant implications if it became public knowledge.

After Trump's acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, Vindman was escorted from the White House by security guards. Trump had railed against the officer on Twitter, calling him "insubordinate."

The Army had reassigned Vindman to a base outside Washington as he prepared to attend the War College for officers being groomed for promotion. His decision to resign was first reported by CNN.

Trump said Vindman would be subject to a military investigation after his testimony, saying the officer did a lot of bad things.

But Pentagon officials maintained that Vindman would not face retribution for his testimony about the phone call. In February, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said Vindman was scheduled to complete his assignment in Washington and head to War College in the fall.

There is no investigation into him, McCarthy said.

The Army does not comment on personnel matters, spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said Wednesday.

Vindman confirmed his decision to retire in a Twitter post Wednesday but did not elaborate on his decision.

"Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army, an organization I love. My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives," he wrote.

In his Nov. 19 testimony, Vindman said he realized he was taking a risk in coming forward but believed he would be fine because of the protections afforded in a democracy. He recalled his fathers decision to flee the Soviet Union in search of a better life.

I am grateful for my fathers brave act of hope 40 years ago and for the privilege of being an American citizen and public servant, where I can live free of fear for mine and my familys safety, he told lawmakers. Dad, my sitting here today, in the U.S. Capitol talking to our elected officials is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to the United States of America in search of a better life for our family. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alexander Vindman retires from Army after Trump impeachment testimony
Welcome, Robin the AI robot

"Hi! Do you want to sing a song with me?"

With its big WALL-E eyes and sleek plastic body, Robin the robot has the huggable, child-friendly look of an animated Pixar character -- one that is eager to interact with pediatric patients to ease their anxiety and loneliness in the hospital.

The emotional-learning technology that enables Robin to engage realistically with children is even more essential in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which physical isolation has become all the more important for sick children, particularly those whose immune systems are compromised.

But while physical isolation is necessary, the feeling of being isolated is not, says Dr. Justin Wagner, a pediatric surgeon at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital and co-leader of the Robin project.

"Negative feelings are even stronger during this time," Wagner noted. "We hope to integrate Robin as a member of the team, augmenting our ability to give children contact, attention and companionship."

The artificial intelligence system was developed by Expper Technologies, a Silicon Valley-supported startup with roots in Yerevan, Armenia. Robin's technology enables the robot to build what is called associative memory -- it recognizes a child's emotions by interpreting his or her facial expressions and builds responsive dialogue by replicating patterns formed from previous experiences.

Robin is expected to begin zipping along the halls of the hospital by mid-July and will go through a yearlong training period during which it will be remotely operated by a specialist from the hospital's Chase Child Life Program. The specialist will provide Robin's voice and control the robot's actions and expressions as it "learns" how to respond to the needs of children and families.

"This is another tool in our toolbox to provide developmental and coping support for our young patients," said Kelli Carroll, director of the Chase Child Life Program. "While our traditional interventions are on pause during the pandemic, the need remains to prepare, educate and provide behavioral distraction for children. Robin will help our specialists do that."

In addition to providing emotional support for pediatric patients, Robin will be the subject of a study by a multidisciplinary team of medical and behavioral specialists that will assess the robot's impact on children and families. The goal is to determine how well this new technology helps both children and parents to cope with the stresses of being hospitalized.

"The ability to provide our pediatric patients with this type of social companionship is very compelling, particularly during this pandemic," says Dr. Shant Shekherdimian, a pediatric surgeon and co-leader of the project. "We also knew that by bringing Robin to UCLA, our team of clinicians and researchers would work tirelessly to improve this technology and make it an even more powerful tool."

###

This story has been published on: 2020-07-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Ford Motor's China branch announced earlier this week that it will begin testing the V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure) function based on C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything) technology in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, another city following Wuxi where Ford works on boosting the commercial application of the advanced communications technology.

The automaker said it will make joint efforts with Hunan Xiangjiang Intelligent Science and Technology Innovation Center Co., Ltd. (called "Xiangjiang Intelligence" for short) to test V2I function on the designated roads opened for ICV testing. The function is set to be launched to car owners for trial use at the end of this year through OTA updates of the SYNC+, Ford's in-vehicle communications and infotainment system.



As part of preparations for mass producing the first C-V2X-powered model in China next year, Ford Motor will continue to optimize the function according to users' responses and update it using OTA.

Located at Hunan Xiangjaing New Area, Changsha's ICV testing zone contains China's first open route for the demonstration of smart buses, a 100-km-long smart expressway and 100-square-kilometer urban roads powered by V2I infrastructures.

Xiangjiang Intelligence will contribute to the cooperation the intelligent infrastructures in Changsha's urban area and a smart transportation cloud control platform, in a bid to enable the two way communication among vehicles, infrastructures and the cloud-based platform.



The to-be-launched V2I function will be deeply integrated with the smart navigation feature of the SYNC+ system, so as to warn drivers of the status of the traffic light ahead and the information about speed limit, dangerous road sections and temporary constructions, the company said. By virtue of relevant algorithm and the analysis of road infrastructure updates, the V2I-enabled system is able to inform drivers of the optimal advisory speed limit so that they can directly drive through intersections without any delay (photo source: Ford China's WeChat account).
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it completely lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Unfortunately, high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson.

In the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, my choice may seem old fashioned; I still prefer profitable companies like AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC). While profit is not necessarily a social good, it's easy to admire a business that can consistently produce it. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, but time is often a friend of the profitable company, especially if it is growing.

Check out our latest analysis for AmerisourceBergen

How Fast Is AmerisourceBergen Growing?

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price will eventually follow. It's no surprise, then, that I like to invest in companies with EPS growth. We can see that in the last three years AmerisourceBergen grew its EPS by 13% per year. That's a good rate of growth, if it can be sustained.

I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. While we note AmerisourceBergen's EBIT margins were flat over the last year, revenue grew by a solid 6.3% to US$186b. That's a real positive.

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image.

NYSE:ABC Earnings and Revenue History July 8th 2020

Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want to check this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for AmerisourceBergen.

Are AmerisourceBergen Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

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Since AmerisourceBergen has a market capitalization of US$20b, we wouldn't expect insiders to hold a large percentage of shares. But we are reassured by the fact they have invested in the company. Indeed, they hold US$35m worth of its stock. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Even though that's only about 0.2% of the company, it's enough money to indicate alignment between the leaders of the business and ordinary shareholders.

Should You Add AmerisourceBergen To Your Watchlist?

One positive for AmerisourceBergen is that it is growing EPS. That's nice to see. Just as polish makes silverware pop, the high level of insider ownership enhances my enthusiasm for this growth. The combination sparks joy for me, so I'd consider keeping the company on a watchlist. We should say that we've discovered 2 warning signs for AmerisourceBergen that you should be aware of before investing here.

You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

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.
ATTLEBORO, MA  Monday was the day they were waiting for ever since the day that may have changed their lives forever.

For the first time in fourth months since the coronavirus crisis hit state bars and restaurants with a devastating fury, JR's Bar & Grill on Pine Street in Attleboro was finally open.

For Stephanie Connors, who owns the bar with her husband, Ray Connors Jr., it was a long, diligent and frustrating process filled with awaiting state guidelines, working hard to meet them, re-imagining the space of a 97-person capacity neighborhood haunt and determining the right time to figure out whether this can possibly work.

"We wanted to do everything by the letter of the book," she told Patch while driving to JR's with her bar manager, Jackie, on Wednesday morning. "We want to follow all the guidelines. We don't want our customers to get sick. We love our patrons. We want everyone to come back when it's a bar again."

For now "it's not a bar, it's a restaurant,"  a common refrain Connors said Jackie has to keep reminding regulars who wonder why some things are new, and other things won't be going back to the way they were for, perhaps, a long while.

JR's has added outdoor seating, moved tables around to space them out, put partitions up between those that remain and places plastic between the bar and the nearby tables so customers can only be served with the staff walking around to the dining floor, per state guidelines.

Customers now must order food to be served drinks. The pool tables and dart boards are strictly off limits. The hours are shortened. The staff is a skeleton crew. But some of the friendly faces have returned. And JR's is there for the ones who often don't have anyplace else to be, with the ever present reminder to "Live, Love, Laugh" spelled out on the ceiling.

"We are not by any means a nightclub," Connors said. "We are not a bar scene where people are shoulder to shoulder. We are your neighborhood mom-and-pop, family place. And I say 'family' because the people here are like family. It's that 'Cheers' vibe where everybody knows everyone by name."

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How Did We Get Here?

It was 11 years ago that Connors said her husband, who works for a liquor distribution business, made a delivery to a local watering hole with a "For Sale" sign in the window.

"He came home that night and said: 'I think we're buying a bar,'" she remembered.

But it was never just a bar to Stephanie. It was a place where the community could come together, enjoy the good times and lean on each other when times were at their hardest.

"The goal was for it to be what it became," she said. "We've had so many fundraisers for local customers and families who needed it  a family who lost a daughter in a car accident. We wanted a place where we could give back to the community. That's what we bought it for.

"We put our blood, sweat and tears into it. To have that maybe all be gone is scary."

Connors said she met with the staff each week to keep it updated throughout the closure with the intent of bringing everyone back who wanted to return once the place reopened. There were virtual Bingo nights to help support the bartenders while the bar was shuttered, and loyal customers bought gift cards on the faith that they would actually be able to use them one day down the line.

While some of the government programs did not work for the owners for various reasons associated with a business that glides on small margins, part-time staff and nimble allocation of resources, Connors did secure one Small Business Administration loan. She said she tried not to use it at first, but it has since helped fund the safety and patio supplies needed for the reopening, as well as some bills she had put on hold after Gov. Baker ordered the shutdown of all bars and restaurants in the state on March 15.

"I was worried about paying it back if two months down the road this doesn't work out," she allowed.

Announced hours after locking the doors from a busy Saturday night, and two days before St. Patrick's Day, the shutdown was originally supposed to last for three weeks.

"You just felt like you were stuck," she said. "Everything you'd worked for was for nothing. I know how hard it's been for someone to be closed for four months. If there are some bars that potentially won't be open at all this year, I think they will all be gone."

Keeping 'The Family' Together

Connors crunched the numbers and figured out that patio seating alone was not going to do it for JR's. She would have to have the handful of tables filled most of the night, and turn them over every 30 minutes  a foreign concept to the hearty clientele more apt to linger for a couple of hours telling stories of the day that sound oddly familiar to so many of the stories told each other so many other nights. So she knew she had to wait for some indoor seating to be allowed to give herself an honest shot at success.

Traditional bars were originally slated to get the go-ahead in phase 3 of the state's reopening plan, but were quietly shifted to phase 4 in May. When Gov. Baker announced the state was moving into phase 3 as of July 6, he revealed late in his news conference that there will be no phase 4 until there is a vaccine or effective treatment.





Taverns were left to figure out what they would need as a minimum food requirement to qualify as a restaurant and reopen, with some cities and towns allowing operation with food trucks, or makeshift operations like hot dog steamers and personal pizzas, and others clamping down on any place that did not have a fully operational kitchen prior to the coronavirus closure.

"We have some of our customers go to Norton where their restrictions and guidelines are way more lenient and want to know why we have to do it the way we are," Connors said. "Some people are allowed to half-ass it, and when people ask us why 'so and so doesn't make us do it that way' it makes it difficult."

Connors said she is counting on her regulars to be understanding and get used to it.

"Jackie has had to tell them: 'We are not a bar now, we are restaurant,'" said Connors, of the on-site voice of reason, whom Connors had talked with about someday taking over the place. "Rhode Island is three weeks ahead of us, so they can do a ton of things we can't do right now until they let us go back to being a bar."

With virus infection rates spiking across the country  causing even the Northeast states with low rates to tap the breaks on supposed culprit locations like bars  there is no telling when that will be.

"You do keep thinking: What do we do? Are we ready to be done with this?" Connors said. "We had to jump through a lot of hoops to be open. A lot of places have stayed closed. After two days, I don't know. Monday, a lot of people came back. Tuesday, we were slower.

"If they are not going to let bars open until there is a vaccine we'll take these next few months to see if it will be worth it to be open. I certainly hope for that. Or do I just close and sell the building? It's scary.

"We're not sure where this is going to take us."

Patch is looking to tell the stories of local businesses being innovative and battling to make it through during the coronavirus health crisis. If you would like your business profiled, contact Scott Souza at scott.souza@patch.com.

This article originally appeared on the Attleboro Patch
CHICAGO, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this global automatic paper towel dispenser market report.

Arizton Logo

The global automatic paper towel dispenser market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 16% during the period 20192025.

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

The global automatic paper towel market is expected to realize an absolute growth of 150%, around $2 billion revenue between 2019 and 2025. Various technological innovations such as IoT, sensing technology, and gesture recognition technology will boost the overall shipment of automatic paper towel dispenser market, reaching over 31 million units by 2025. Surface mounted automatic paper towel dispensers are witnessing a traction in demand from the commercial segment. The segment is expected to witness a high CAGR of over 16%, contributing incremental revenues worth over $430 million during the forecast period. With over 60% of the market shipments coming from the North America and Europe, vendors must look upon new markets to expand. Further, vendors should look upon innovative strategies and focus on rising hygiene concern after the outbreak of coronavirus to boost sales in other markets. With the increasing adoption for advanced technology, the infrared and LIDAR based automatic dispenser are witnessing high demand and infrared sensor based automatic paper towel dispenser is expected to reach over $2 billion by 2025

Key Offerings:

Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20192025

Market Dynamics  Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by mount, end-user, sensor, and geography

Competitive Landscape  Profile of 7 key vendors and 24 other vendors

Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/automatic-paper-towel-dispenser-market-size-analysis

The global automatic paper towel dispenser market size to reach approx. 31 million units by 2025. Automatic or touchless dispensers have witnessed a significant rise in demand. This can majorly be contributed to the growing trend of smart restroom technology. Most households in developed economies are likely to adopt and opt for increasingly advanced hygienic services due to high disposable incomes. Automatic paper towel dispensers are majorly used in a wide range of end-users' segments such as hospitality, healthcare, commercial, residential, and government agencies. These products play a vital role in maintaining the hygiene of highly touched surfaces. The market has undergone several changes in terms of quality standards and other crucial innovative advancements. Increasing innovations in the touchless industry, coupled with the growing demand from end-users, are expected to propel the demand. For instance, Kimberly-Clark Professional has also introduced an electronic touchless towel system that improves upon other existing Kimberly-Clark towel dispensing systems by offering the hygienic benefits of hands-free dispensing.

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The eruption of COVID-19 is expected to increase the sale during the forecast period. The healthcare and commercial end-users will undoubtedly invest more in automatic paper towel dispensers to attract customers in a post-COVID world. Although the demand for touchless sanitization products was somewhat latent early, the spread of the virus is increasing the demand for hand hygiene products among the health-conscious population worldwide.

The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the automatic paper towel dispenser market during the forecast period:

Increasing Automation Levels with New Technology

Integrating Multiple Technology with Gesture Controls

Rising Application of Sensing Technology

Increasing Awareness of Hygiene

The study considers the present scenario of the automatic paper towel dispenser market and its market dynamics for the period 20192025. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The report offers both the demand and supply aspect of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market.

Global Automatic Paper Towel Dispenser Market Segmentation

The global automatic paper towel dispenser market research report includes a detailed segmentation by mount, end-user, sensor, and geography. The Wall mounted paper towel dispensers are significantly being used as one of the essential amenities in modern-day washrooms. The usage of these products is deemed to be economical for resorts and hotels, thereby witnessing high adoption. The introduction of motion sensors, which is a special feature available on certain dispenser models, is also increasing traction among consumers.

Growing hygiene concerns have propelled the usage of the automatic paper dispenser in the residential sector. Private homes, residential societies, villas, apartments, individual uses, are the major end-users. The outbreak of COVID-19 has increased hygiene among homes and residential places. People are becoming more aware of maintaining personal health to fight against the continuous spread of contagious diseases. Therefore, paper towels are more hygienic than cloth towels.

The trend of smart bathrooms at public places to maintain hygiene is gaining significant traction. The growing adoption of sensor-activated products such as automatic faucets, automatic paper towel dispensers, and automatic paper towel dispensers is profoundly used in public places such as shopping malls, high-end office buildings, and multiplexes.

The growing penetration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the increasing consumer preference toward better energy management are expected to boost the demand for smart home automation technology, including infrared sensors. The growing number of connected devices is expected to propel the growth of the infrared sensor market. With advances in technology, infrared sensors are becoming affordable and light. Besides, the power consumption in such sensors is remarkably low. These sensors are increasingly being used in automotive, commercial applications, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors.

Segmentation by Mount

Surface Mounted

Countertop

Segmentation by End-user

Residential

Commercial

Healthcare

Hospitality

Corporate Spaces

Education

Government & Defense

Industrial

Others

Segmentation by Sensors

Infrared Sensor

LIDAR Sensor

Insights by Geography

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached North America in January 2020. The disease has spread in the US rapidly. Such outbreaks have increased awareness of hygiene consciousness among people. Therefore, touch-free paper towel dispensers are appropriate appliances as they help to enhance hygiene and counter the spread of contagious diseases such as COVID-19. North America is a mature market for tissue and hygiene products. In North America, the demand for paper towel dispensers, towels, tissue dispenser, soaps, napkins, and wipers has increased with commercial usage in settings such as buildings, restaurants, schools, and healthcare facilities after the onset of a pandemic.

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Segmentation by Geography

North America

Europe

APAC

Middle East & Africa

Latin America

Prominent Vendors

American Specialties

Bobrick Washroom Equipment

Dolphy

Euronics

Essity Hygiene and Health

Kimberly-Clark

OPHARDT Hygiene

Other Prominent Vendors

Ableman International

Bradley Australia

Brightwell Dispensers

Bright Pancar SDN. BHD

Cintas Corporation

Dolphin Solution

Ecolab

Franke Group

Jaquar Group

JVD Group

Kohler

Lovair

Marc Systems

Palmer Fixture

PHS Group

Toshi Automatic Systems (TASPL)

Toto

Saraya

Secura

Shenzhen City Itas In-Tech Sanitary Wares

Shenzhen SVAVO Intelligent Technology

Sloan Valve Company

Terramica Ceramics & Automation

Zaf Enterprises

Key Questions Answered:

What is the market size and CAGR of the automatic paper towel dispenser market? What are the factors impacting the growth of the residential paper towel dispenser market? What is LIDAR technology? What are the increasing benefits of the technology to the automatic paper towel dispenser market? Who are the leading vendors, and how are the rapidly changing technological factors influencing the vendor's market shares? How is the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic impacting the demand for tissue and paper towels in the North America region?

Explore our consumer goods & retail technology profile to know more about the industry.

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Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.

We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts.

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ASCP Names Avanir to its Prestigious Hall of Fame Award Winners

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has been named the winner of the prestigious Hall of Fame award from the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), a membership organization representing pharmacists, health care professionals, and students serving the unique medication needs of older adults. Avanir, a pharmaceutical company founded in 1988 and based in Aliso Viejo, is committed to delivering innovative central nervous system solutions.

On behalf of Avanir Pharmaceuticals, President and CEO Wael Hashad accepted the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Hall of Fame Award.

The ASCP Hall of Fame Award was established in 1989 to recognize an ASCP Corporate Partner for distinguished service and significant contributions to senior care, long-term care, and consultant pharmacy practice. ASCP's Executive Committee selects a winner from ASCP's Corporate Members, who have had active participation in the Society, sponsorship of projects and programs, and overall commitment in support of senior care pharmacists and the patients they serve.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals received the honor in recognition of its continued support and dedication to ASCP and senior care pharmacy practice.

ASCP Chief Executive Chad Worz, PharmD, BCGP presented the award to Avanir at the Richard S. Berman Memorial Leadership Awards Reception, a celebration marking ASCP's 50th anniversary. "Avanir has been a wonderful supporter of senior care pharmacists," said Dr. Worz. "We are proud to have them as an ASCP Corporate Partner." Dr. Worz, a board-certified geriatric pharmacist, has served as ASCP chief executive since April 2018.

Avanir President and CEO Wa'el Hashad accepted the award for Avanir. "Avanir and ASCP serve similar missions, as we both hold our patients' interests above all others," said Mr. Hashad. "It's an honor to accept this award on behalf of the dedicated Avanir employees who work tirelessly to deliver hope through tangible solutions for patients suffering from central nervous system conditions." Mr. Hashad joined Avanir in July 2017 with more than 25 years of pharmaceutical experience in sales, marketing and general management, in both the U.S. and international markets.

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About ASCP

ASCP is a membership association that represents pharmacists, health care professionals, and students serving the unique medication needs of older adults. ASCP is an international organization with members located in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and 12 countries. The society's mission is to promote healthy aging by empowering pharmacists with education, resources, and innovative opportunities. Learn more at ASCP.com.

About Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company committed to delivering innovative central nervous system (CNS) solutions to improve the lives of patients and their care communities. As part of our commitment, we have extensively invested in our pipeline and are dedicated to advancing CNS treatments in areas of high unmet medical need. For more information about Avanir, please visit http://www.avanir.com.

For additional information, please contact:

ASCP

Media contact: Christine Polite

E: cpolite@ascp.com

Corporate Communications, Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

T: 949-389-6738

E: mediarelations@avanir.com

Avanir Pharmaceuticals President and CEO Wael Hashad and ASCP Chief Executive Chad Worz, PharmD celebrated ASCPs 50th anniversary at the Richard S. Berman Memorial Leadership Awards reception in Grapevine, TX.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PRNewsFoto/Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)

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This past month Avon philanthropy efforts included donations to AMAR, Feed the Children, and Toys for Tots

NEW YORK, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon has donated over $16 million worth of products to numerous charitable organizations as part of its continuing commitment to giving back and making a positive impact on the world. Donations include AMAR in Puerto Rico and Avon's longtime partner, Feed the Children. Both organizations are crucial right now in providing supplies for those in need during the pandemic. Donations were also made to the Marine Toys for Tots program.

(PRNewsfoto/New Avon LLC)

Avon Puerto Rico has donated $1.3 million in product donations to AMAR, Alianza de Medicos Al Rescate (Alliance of Physicians to the Rescue). AMAR is dedicated to taking medicines and essential items to communities in need. For more than 25 years, they have provided free voluntary health services to the most vulnerable communities. Avon's donations to AMAR last month include clothing, personal care products, cosmetics, home products and more.

Feed the Children works closely with community partners like schools, civic organizations and food banks to serve the most vulnerable populations and others who may be experiencing difficulty due to a job loss in this uncertain environment. This past month, Avon donated over $13 million worth of products to Feed the Children to support these families in need. Over the last sixteen years, Avon has donated over 15,000,000 pounds of personal care and beauty products, clothing, shoes and home essentials to Feed the Children bringing relief to millions of families.

The Marine Toys for Tots has received a $2.4 million toy donation from Avon to support their mission to collect and distribute new toys for less fortunate children during the holidays. Over 60,000 toys were sent from Avon to Toys for Tots for the upcoming holiday season. Avon is proud to be a 5-Star National Corporate Sponsor for 2020.

ABOUT NEW AVON COMPANY

New Avon ("New Avon Company") is the leading social selling beauty company in North America, with independent sales Representatives throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Avon's portfolio includes award-winning skincare, color cosmetics, fragrance, personal care, and health and wellness products featuring brands such as ANEW, Skin So Soft, belif, CHI, and The Face Shop, as well as home essentials, fashion and accessories. Avon has a 134-year history of empowering women through economic opportunity, and supporting the causes that matter most to women. Avon philanthropy has contributed over $1 billion globally toward eradicating breast cancer and domestic violence. Learn more about New Avon and its products at www.avon.com .

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For more information, please contact Susan Small susan.small@avonusa.com, 212-282-6066

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The Daily Beast

Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty ImagesAfter the funeral of Prince Philip in March, there were acres of speculation about whether Harry had a long and healing chat after the ceremony with his father and brother.Now, it appears that there were no such deep and meaningful conversations, despite a deliberate effort to put on a good show for the media by the brothers. William and Harry talked together as they walked past the BBCs fixed point camera, which was providing pooled coverage of the event. The
Consider the food processor your sous chef in the kitchen. Itll slice, shred, grate and chop vegetablesor pulse butter and flour into doughhandling the prep so that you can get cooking.

Even experienced home cooks who prefer to slice and dice by hand find plenty of uses for their food processor, says CR test engineer Cindy Fisher, who oversees our food processor tests. Some models come with a special hook for kneading dough or one for spiralizing veggies into long, thin noodles.

The full-sized models we test come in a variety of sizes and capacities, ranging from 5 cups to an impressive 16 cups; theyre too big for processing small volumes of foods, such as minced garlic or chopped herbs and nuts. Some food processors come with mini chopping bowl attachments to accommodate lighter loads, but if all you do is chop small batches, opt for a food chopper. The ones we test cost as little as $30thats about one-twentieth of the cost of a souped-up food processor.

In our ratings, youll find almost 50 food processors and 17 food choppers that have gone through our extensive lab testing.

We evaluate each models ability to chop almonds and onions uniformly, grate Parmesan cheese, and puree peas and carrots into a smooth mixture. We also measure noise, because while all models are noisy, some are much more grating than others. If the food processor comes with slicing attachments, we test the slicing blade using mushrooms and celery, and the shredding blade with cheddar.

Read on for reviews of six top food processors and the top two food choppers from Consumer Reports tests, listed in alphabetical (not rank) order.

Check our food processor and food chopper ratings and buying guide for more details and options.

Breville Sous Chef BFP800XL/A

CRs take: The Breville Sous Chef BFP800XL is one of the few models tested that earn a rating of Very Good for pureeing, so you can be confident that veggies will turn out with a smooth consistency. It runs on 960 watts and is loaded with accessories. Touch buttons are easy to wipe clean. This food processor is 18 inches high and weighs 19 pounds, factors to consider if you plan to lift it out of a cupboard or cabinet with each use. Its one of the heaviest food processors weve tested. Add in the accessory storage case, which is included, and you can see how this model will eat up storage space in addition to a chunk of money. The warranty is for one year, but the motor is covered for 25 years, the longest in our ratings. Available in brushed aluminum, red, and black.

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Cuisinart Custom 14 DFP-14BCNY

CRs take: Cuisinart introduced the food processor to Americans in the early 1970s, and it has been a recognized brand in the category ever since. The Cuisinart Custom 14 DFP-14BCNY garners an Excellent rating for chopping, meaning it consistently chopped onions and nuts into midsized pieces. And its one of the quietest models weve tested. It has a 14-cup capacity and stands almost 16 inches high. Many of the food processors weve evaluated operate with touch buttons, but this one has leversone for on, the other for pulsing and off. The warranty covers three years; five for the motor. Available in brushed stainless, copper, and stainless mixed with black or white.

Cuisinart Pro Custom 11 DLC-8SY

CRs take: The Cuisinart Pro Custom DLC-8SY earns a rating of Excellent for slicing, turning out veggies that are evenly sliced, but its only average when it comes to pureeing. It has an 11-cup capacity and lever controls, and is the most compact of its brandmates highlighted here (weighing in at around 12 pounds and measuring 15 inches tall). Theres a three-year parts warranty, and the motor is covered for five years. Available in white.

Magimix 4200 XL

CRs take: Robot-Coupe, the French company that developed the first food processor, took the technology of its commercial models and applied it to the high-performing Magimix 4200 XL for home cooks. The 12-cup food processor garners Very Good ratings in our chopping, slicing, shredding, and grating tests. The only test it doesnt excel at is pureeing. (It wasnt able to get peas perfectly smooth.) The hefty 950-watt machine weighs 17.5 pounds and comes with all the extras: mini chopping bowls, a dough blade, a shredding disc, a grating disc, a blending attachment for liquids, a whipping attachment, and a case to keep them organized. The warranty lasts three years for parts and 30 years for the motor. Available in chrome, black, white, cream, and red.

Oster Versa Pro Series BLSTVB-104-000 Food Processor Attachment

CRs take: The Oster Versa Pro has a much smaller capacity than other food processors in this bunch, but if youre not processing huge batches of hummus or shredding pounds of potatoes, this 5-cup model should suffice. This set also includes a blender jar, so youre getting two appliances in one. The processor attachment delivers solid performance in several key tasks and is among the best at chopping, slicing, and shredding, earning an Excellent rating in these tests. The Oster Versa Pro weighs just over 6 pounds and is 15 inches tall. The warranty covers seven years. Available in black.

Vitamix Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment with SELF-DETECT 067591

CRs take: If you own a Vitamix blender, opting for the brand's food processor attachment might make sense. It's sold as a stand-alone item and works with the motor bases from the Vitamix Ascent blender line. We tested the Ascent A3500, and it's one of the top-rated models in our blender ratings. The food processor bowl has a 12-cup capacity and comes with a slicing disc, shredding disc, and a case for safe storage. It aced our chopping and shredding tests, and earned a Very Good rating for slicing.

Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus DLC-2A

CRs take: The Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus DLC-2A is a 3-cup chopper that combines great value with solid performance. In our tests, it was particularly adept at chopping almonds and onions, and grating Parmesan cheese, though other choppers were better at pureeing. This model is ideal if you have limited counter spaceit takes up as much counter space as a postcard.

Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004

CRs take: The Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004 chopper has a 2.5-cup capacity and features a top-mounted motor that you push down to operate. It earns a Very Good rating for chopping, turning out nicely chopped veggies and nuts in our tests. Included in the set is a larger 5-cup processing bowl and a 6-cup blender jar.
Paul Revere Williams, the storied African-American architect known as the architect to the stars, will see his cultural and creative legacy live on thanks to a new effort by the University of Southern California School of Architecture and the Getty Research Institute (GRI) to acquire his professional archives. The substantial trovewhich features roughly 35,000 architectural plans and 10,000 original drawingswas thought to have been destroyed decades ago.

According to lore, the archive had been housed within bank vaults at a building that Williams designed back in 1955. The bank began life decades earlier as a Woolworths store before Williams transformed it into a branch of Broadway Federal Savings and Loan Association. While some of Williamss business records were destroyed during the 1992 Los Angeles unrest, the majority of his history-rich paper trail was actually housed elsewhere. Now, it will be protected in perpetuity by USC and the Getty.

Born in Southern California in 1894, Williams is widely considered to be the most important African-American architect in U.S. history and a key member of Southern Californias mid-century architecture arena. Working within both his own practice and in partnership with major developers, Williams completed houses, hotels, and commercial buildings for a whos who of Hollywood royalty.

gri_2004_r_10_b223_f04_001 Photo courtesy of Julius Shulman/J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles

Although his commissions numbered in the thousands, Williamss standouts include homes for icons like Cary Grant, Lucille Ball, Tyrone Powers and Frank Sinatraalong with everything from an addition to the Beverly Hills Hotel to the Los Angeles County Courthouse and even the Beverly Hills outpost of Saks Fifth Avenue (he also designed notable structures in France and Colombia). A graduate of USC, Williams was a prolific design mind who left behind plans for an equally impressive number of unrealized projects when he died in 1980.

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This is one of the few Black architects operating at the scale and capacity that many of his white peers operated at, USC Architecture Dean Milton Curry recently told the Los Angeles Times. Williams accomplished a legacy that very few architects accomplished in their lifetime.

Photo courtesy of Julius Shulman/J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles

Indeed, Williams was a true pioneer who tallied up a slew of remarkable firsts during his lifetime. He was the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects, the institutes first African-American fellow, and its first African-American gold medalist. Theyre achievements made all the more remarkable considering that African-Americans comprise just 2 percent of practicing architects in the nation today, according to the National Organization of Minority Architects, with Black women a scant .2 percent.

The Williams archivewhich also contains myriad blueprints, hand-colored renderings, vintage photographs, and correspondencehas been safeguarded over the years by his granddaughter, Karen Elyse Hudson. Now, thanks to the USC-Getty acquisition, Williamss legacy will enrich both institutions research into the intersections between architectural and African-American history, and, of course, the key role Williams played in both.

gri_2004_r_10_b233_f04_002 Photo courtesy of Julius Shulman/J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles

The majority of Williamss archive is in excellent condition, the Architects Newspaper recently reported, and will be kept at the Getty. There it will be digitized and join the GRIs architectural collectionwhich includes archival material from local icons like John Lautner and William Kriselas well as serve as a cornerstone for the GRIs two-year-old African-American Art History Initiative. Meanwhile, at USC, its Architecture School will launch the Paul Williams Archive Initiative, part of its USC Center for Architecture + City Design.

The work contained in this archive tells many stories, Curry recently told USCNews. It contains the creative expressions of an architect working across many different constituencies in a socially complicated time. It also contains evidence of stunning aesthetic innovations that reimagined the space and program of public housing, hotels, and residential design and civic space. Paul R. Williams was an architect who believed that architecture could advance social progress.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Prosecutors in Iowa have filed a rarely used leak charge against Black Lives Matter protesters accused of stealing a confidential police document and displaying it during a television news broadcast.

Two protesters are charged with unauthorized dissemination of intelligence data, a felony that carries up to five years in prison.

The Iowa Judicial Branch says it's only the second time that the charge has been filed since 2010. It's intended to punish officers and others who share information that could undermine criminal investigations or violate privacy protections.

The document in question was a Des Moines Police Department bulletin that officers and state troopers had with them while patrolling a July 1 protest at the Iowa Capitol. The bulletin included photos of suspects who were wanted in the destruction of a Des Moines police car during a June 20 protest.

Alexandria Dea, 26, took the intelligence bulletin from an officers back pocket during a confrontation between officers and protesters, which began after officers arrested three of the suspects inside the Capitol, the criminal complaint against her alleges.

Protesters later gathered at the Polk County Jail to demand the release of those arrested during the clash. While there, 21-year-old Viet Tran discussed and displayed the bulletin during an interview that was broadcast on WOI-TV, an ABC affiliate, according to a complaint.

The first page of the four-page document has a notice warning that it shouldn't be shared or released publicly, and that doing so would violate Iowa code.

Des Moines police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said it was difficult to assess whether any harm resulted from its dissemination. But he said such bulletins contain confidential information such as driver's license numbers that must be protected under the law.

This is my first experience with it ever being applied to anyone outside law enforcement, but obviously the circumstances were pretty unique, Parizek said. Those documents are not supposed to be shared. Its actually written on them. As soon as they did that, the charge was appropriate.

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Tran remained jailed Tuesday on a complaint alleging he violated the terms of his probation from an assault case when he interfered with officers at the July 1 protest.

The television story didn't show the name or face of the person speaking about the document, but Parizek said police identified the source as Tran.

The reporter who included the bulletin in her story and tweeted photos of the document has not been charged.

It wouldnt be appropriate to hold a reporter accountable for trying to do their job, Parizek said. They get more leeway than the average person would.

Reporter Eva Andersen and the station declined comment.

Polk County Attorney John Sarcone, a long-serving Democrat whose office filed the charges, didn't return a phone message.

His office also charged Dea with felony theft for allegedly stealing the bulletin and throwing an officers radio that had fallen to the ground. That charge carries up to 10 years in prison.

Dea, who is free after posting $15,000 bond, declined comment. But her friend and fellow protester Jaylen Cavil said the charges were baseless.

They are attempting to scare and silence us by stacking these fabricated felony charges on young people, he said. They know that this can ruin people's lives, and that's why they're doing it.

The law defines intelligence data as information compiled in an effort to anticipate, prevent, or monitor possible criminal activity." Anyone who improperly obtains or shares it can be charged.

In the last time the law was used, a Wayne County sheriffs office employee was charged in 2016 with leaking information to suspects in drug and drunk driving cases. Ultimately, prosecutors dropped two counts and she pleaded guilty to interference with official acts.
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BNI (Business Network International) welcomed Scion Social (Scion) to the BNI family of companies on June 30, 2020. This acquisition represents a key step in BNI's global marketing strategy to impact more business owners around the world.

BNI New Logo

With the addition of its first-ever chief marketing officer in 2019, the launch of a refreshed brand in May 2020, and the build-out of a multi-year marketing plan, BNI has set the bar high for itself and its marketing efforts in 2020 and beyond. Acquiring Scion is another important step toward BNI's ability to reach more businesses and create a greater impact.

Scion, a digital marketing firm based in Bangalore, India, specializes in marketing strategy, social media presence, website development and communications. Scion has a proven track record helping its clients to build a bigger customer base, support a stronger foundation in the digital space and drive results for new customer conversion.

BNI's Chairman & CEO Graham Weihmiller remarks, "2020 is a capstone year for BNI's Global Marketing Team. With a growing team, a refreshed brand relaunch, several digital marketing pilots in progress, new materials and resources coming out weekly, and now the addition of an incredible team like Scion, I'm blown away by what we've been able to accomplish so far  and this is just the beginning. We have exciting work on deck for the balance of 2020 and I can't wait to see what we're able to achieve together."

"Having been a part of the BNI family for more than a decade as a Member, Executive Director and Marketing partner, I am thrilled to see Scion officially become part of the global team. The opportunities for our continued collaboration are endless. Scion is eager to contribute towards the world-class digital transformation that BNI has embarked upon, to enhance the member & franchisee experience in the years ahead," says Meena Srinivasan, president of Scion Social.

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"As we strive towards building a world class organization, I am thrilled to have Scion become a part of the BNI Global Marketing Team," shares BNI's Chief Marketing Officer Terry Atkins. "I've had the pleasure of working with Scion as a client, and now through this acquisition we will be able to work closely to build best in class marketing for BNI and our partners."

About BNI

BNI is the world's largest and most successful business networking organization. BNI has nearly 270,000 Members who attend one of almost 9,700 weekly chapters meetings in 70 countries around the globe. BNI's proven business networking platform provides its Members the ideal environment, technology, training, and support to help them build strong businesses. BNI OnlineTM is its newest product, an advanced online platform that helps Members connect in structured virtual environment. Since the beginning 2020, BNI Members have generated $7.4 billion in business through their referrals to one another.

To see the new look and learn more about BNI, go to www.bni.com.

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SOURCE BNI
A beloved Connecticut school teacher who disappeared in the early morning hours of his 50th birthday while quarantining over COVID-19 fears, has been found dead, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Gil Cunha

The body of Gil Cunha was found in the waters off the coast of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, near Fire Island, according to a release emailed to Dateline by the Suffolk County Police.

The release stated that a boater discovered Gils partial remains on Thursday.

Detectives determined the remains were from a body that had been discovered after being struck by the propeller of a tugboat on May 27 at 6:50 a.m., Suffolk County Police said in a statement. The cause of death is under investigation.

Bob Tavares, who spoke to Dateline about his missing cousin for Missing in America last week believes the recent coverage helped detectives connect the dots.

A terrible outcome but at least the family can have some closure, he told Dateline.

Gil was last seen by his father at his parents home in West Haven, Connecticut, just after midnight on May 7, 2020. Later that morning, his parents woke up to find that Gil was gone and assumed he had gone on one of his daily walks.

Lori Kenney, another of Gils cousins, told Dateline last week that it wasnt unusual for Gil to go on walks.

Related: Naya Rivera feared dead after going missing on lake

But when he didnt return later that day, his mom knew something was wrong, Lori said. He wouldnt just take off without contacting his family.

The family told Dateline that Gil had left his cell phone at home, along with his wallet. There had not been any activity on his accounts, his family has said.

Both Lori and Bob previously told Dateline that the family was also concerned because Gil had been experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and self-quarantined for three weeks prior to his disappearance.

He was never tested for the virus. But he wasnt feeling well and decided to self-isolate in his room because he was afraid he had the virus, Lori said. He wanted to make sure his family was safe.

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Gil had recently moved in with his parents in West Haven after living and teaching in Europe for the past 10 years.

The cousins described Gil as a kind and gentle, highly responsible person with a warm heart. He was also a talented guitar player and aspiring songwriter.

For two months, search teams, friends and family members continued looking for Gil -- and held on to hope that he was still alive. But there was no trace of Gil and no answers, until now.

Investigators from both Suffolk County Police Department and West Haven Police Department are working with a medical examiner to determine Gils cause and manner of death.

With respect to Mr. Cunhas family and friends, no further information will be released at this time, West Haven Police said in a statement.

Anyone with information that might be helpful to Gils case is asked to call the West Haven Police at 203-937-3900 or the Suffolk County Police at 631-852-6396.
DULUTH, Ga., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Boehringer Ingelheim a contract to help supply a vaccine bank that will protect U.S. livestock from foot-and-mouth disease.

Boehringer Ingelheim logo

The contract calls for Boehringer Ingelheim to create and maintain a strategic reserve of frozen vaccine antigen concentrate that the company could quickly formulate into a vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the event of an outbreak in the U.S.

The National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, commonly known as the U.S. vaccine bank, will let the U.S. stockpile veterinary vaccines and other materials to use in the event of an outbreak of a high-impact foreign animal disease.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other animals with divided hooves. It does not affect people. The U.S. eradicated FMD in 1929, but an outbreak could devastate the livestock industry and, consequently, our national food supply, if left unchecked.

"Boehringer Ingelheim has proudly supported the U.S. livestock industry for decades as a leader in animal vaccine technology," said Everett Hoekstra, President of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. "Infectious animal diseases can disrupt our food supply, and governments make significant investments to help prevent and prepare for such events."

"As a global leader in the storage and management of FMD vaccine banks, with FMD expertise dating back more than 70 years, Boehringer Ingelheim constantly monitors emerging disease threats," said Steve Boren, Vice President of the U.S. Livestock Business at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.

Veterinarians, researchers and livestock leaders have long worried about the possibility of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the United States. Congress set aside money in the 2018 Farm Bill for the vaccine bank and other measures to guard against foreign animal disease outbreaks.

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The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is responsible for overseeing the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank. It has more information about its most recent steps to supply the bank here.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Boehringer Ingelheim is the second largest animal health business in the world, with net sales of $4.5 billion (4 billion euros) in 2019 and presence in more than 150 markets.

As the lives of animals and humans are intertwined, our 10,000 global employees are dedicated to enhancing the well-being of both  through science and innovation, as well as through their commitment and passion.

Respect for animals, people and the environment is at the heart of what we do. We develop medicines, services and innovative digital technologies to protect animals from disease and pain. We support our customers in taking care of the health of their animals and protect our communities against life- and society-threatening diseases.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has a significant presence in the United States, with more than 3,100 employees in places that include Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.us, www.facebook.com/BoehringerAHUS or www.twitter.com/Boehringer_AH.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

Making new and better medicines for humans and animals is at the heart of what we do. Our mission is to create breakthrough therapies that change lives.

Since its founding in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim has been independent and family-owned. We have the freedom to pursue our long-term vision, looking ahead to identify the health challenges of the future and targeting those areas of need where we can do the most good.

As a world-leading, research-driven pharmaceutical company, more than 51,000 employees create value through innovation daily for our three business areas: Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. In 2019, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of $21.3 billion (19 billion euros). Our significant investment of over $3.9 billion (3.5 billion euros) in R&D drives innovation, enabling the next generation of medicines that save lives and improve quality of life.

We realize more scientific opportunities by embracing the power of partnership and diversity of experts across the life-science community. By working together, we accelerate the delivery of the next medical breakthrough that will transform the lives of patients now, and in generations to come.

Media Contacts:

Mark Bixler

Boehringer Ingelheim

Animal Health

U.S. Communications

678-209-3077

mark.bixler@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Cision

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SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.
Umar Kamani, son of Boohoo founder Mahmud Kamani and founder of PrettyLittleThing, with Sofia Richie at the Boohoo x Taylor Hill Tea Party at The Beverly Hills Hotel on 13 October 2019. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for boohoo.com

Fast fashion retailer Boohoo (BOO.L) has announced an independent investigation into its supply chain, following allegations of illegal and unsafe working conditions at UK factories that make its clothes.

Boohoo said on Wednesday it had hired top lawyer Alison Levitt QC to lead an investigation. Levitt and a team including Boohoo deputy chairman Brian Small will investigate working hours, compliance with COVID-19 regulations, and minimum wage payments at factories that supply Boohoo.

The company also pledged to invest an incremental 10m ($12.5m) into its supply chain to eradicate malpractice and said it would accelerate a separate third party review into conditions in its supply chain. New independent board members are also being recruited.

The commitments come after a series of allegations about working conditions at factories supplying the company.

On Saturday (4 July), the Guardian ran a report suggesting Boohoo may have relied on factories in Leicester that did not close during lockdown, which could have contributed to the current COVID-19 outbreak in the city.

The Sunday Times followed with an undercover expose alleging workers were paid as little as 3.50 ($4.37) an hour in Leicester factories supplying Boohoo, far below the minimum wage of 8.72 an hour. Home Secretary Priti Patel promised a crackdown on the Leicester garment industry in the wake of the reports.

As a board we are deeply shocked by the recent allegations about the Leicester garment industry, Boohoo chief executive John Lyttle said in a statement on Wednesday.

We wish to reiterate how seriously we are taking these matters and we will not hesitate to terminate any relationships where non-compliance with our Code of Conduct is found.

Boohoo said its initial investigation into the factory featured in the Sunday Times report has not found evidence of workers being paid 3.50 an hour. However, it had uncovered other evidence of non-compliance. Boohoo said it had terminated its relationship with two suppliers involved.

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Boohoo's share price has collapsed in recent days. Photo: Yahoo Finance UK

The scandal has so far wiped almost 1.5bn off Boohoos value, with shares falling by over a third since the weekend.

The stock fell another 8% on Wednesday morning. Late on Tuesday it emerged that retailers Asos (ASC.L), Next (NXT.L), Zalando (ZAL.DE), and Very.co.uk had stopped stocking Boohoos clothing amid the allegations.

Analysts at stockbroker Shore Capital downgraded Boohoo to a sell rating on Wednesday, warning the company could face a consumer boycott and saying increased compliance measures would likely lead to increased costs.

All these measures look sensible at first glance, but the genie is already out of the bottle, analysts Greg Lawless and Clive Black wrote in a note.
Boohoo, the British fast-fashion retailer known for dressing the stars of Love Island and Keeping Up With The Kardashians alike, was the subject of an undercover investigation published in the U.K.s Sunday Times last week. The article stated that Jaswal Fashions factory in Leicester, England, where Boohoo-brand clothing was being produced, was paying its workers 3.50 (or $4.40) an hour, despite the minimum wage for anyone over the age of 25 in Leicester being 8.72 (or $10.97). The investigation also claims that the factory in question was not taking proper precautions against COVID-19.

On Wednesday morning, Boohoo Group responded to the claims. We are deeply shocked by the recent allegations about the Leicester garment industry, John Lyttle, Boohoo Group chief executive officer, said in a statement provided to Refinery29. We wish to reiterate how seriously we are taking these matters, and we will not hesitate to terminate any relationships where non-compliance with our code of conduct is found. Later in the statement, the board states, The actions of a few do not continue to undermine the excellent work of many suppliers in the area, who succeed in providing good jobs and good working conditions.

The company also announced an immediate independent review of its supply chain, which will investigate supplier compliance with minimum wage regulations, COVID-19 regulations, working hours and record keeping, and right to work documentation and contracts of employment, according to the statement. Another independent review will be conducted by Verisio and Bureau Veritas, specialists in ethical audits and compliance. In the meantime, Boohoo Group is committing 10 million (roughly $12.6 million) to eradicate supply-chain malpractice.

The companys statement also includes findings from its own investigation into the claims. In it, the board states that they found some inaccuracies with the Sunday Times report, one of which being that no evidence of suppliers paying workers 3.50 per hour was found. However we have found other evidence of non-compliance with our Code of Conduct and the Group has taken the decision to immediately terminate its relationship with both suppliers, the statement reads. The two suppliers are Revolution Clothing Co. Limited and Morefray Limited, companies that, according to Boohoo, sent the garments to be repackaged in Leicester.

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The Secretary of State for the Home Department Priti Patel called for an immediate investigation by the National Crime Agency into the claims. Let this be a warning to those who are exploiting people in sweatshops like these for their own commercial gain, Patel says to the Sunday Times. This is just the start. What you are doing is illegal, it will not be tolerated and we are coming after you.

In light of the news, Boohoo, which was founded by Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane in 2006, saw its market value plunge by around $1.89 billion in two days, as per The Guardian. Retailers including Zalando, ASOS, and Amazon are now pulling Boohoo clothing  as well as clothing from Boohoo-owned brands like Nasty Gal, PrettyLittleThing, and BoohooMAN  from their virtual shelves.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

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WASHINGTON  Another primary night has come and gone, with few election surprises and little trouble for voters who cast their ballot.

Incumbent Sen. Cory Booker survived against a progressive challenger in New Jerseys Democratic Senate primary.

Booker faced off against little-known Lawrence Hamm, founder and chairman of the Peoples Organization for Progress, which works for social, racial and economic justice. Hamm's "Not Me. Us," was the same slogan used by Sen. Bernie Sanders in his presidential campaign.

Booker is one of only three Black senators and recently has been a vocal leader in the police reform debate on Capitol Hill. Ahead of the primary, Booker had run for president but ended his bid in January.

More: Where do Americans stand on election issues? Let them tell you.

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) speaks to the crowd during the 2019 South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention on June 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina.

Although Booker, who first arrived to the Senate in 2013, was expected to win, the primary challenge came at a time when progressive candidates, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have successfully bested establishment-backed Democrats. Most recently, progressive candidate Jamaal Bowman leads in the primary against Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., a 16-term incumbent and the House Foreign Affairs Committee chair who received endorsements from establishment Democrats like Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.

Here's a look at other news from Tuesday's primary

Rep. Jeff Van Drew to face off against Amy Kennedy

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who switched parties from Democrat to Republican last year, won the GOP primary and will face of against Democrat Amy Kennedy, who won the Democratic primary, in New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District.

In December 2019, Van Drew was one of only two House Democrats to break ranks and vote against both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Soon after his vote, he switched his party affiliation to the GOP. Trump earlier this year campaigned for Van Drew's re-election at a rally in Wildwood, N.J.

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More: Meet Jeff Van Drew, the party-switching lawmaker

Van Drew faced a primary challenge from conservative Bob Patterson, a former speechwriter in the George W. Bush administration.

For the Democratic primary, Kennedy, a former schoolteacher who is married to former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, defeated Brigid Callahan Harrison, a political-science professor at Montclair State University, and Will Cunningham, former congressional aide to Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who served as chief investigator for the House Oversight Committee.

Kennedy was endorsed by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, D-N.J., arrives for a classified briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 3, 2019. Van Drew, a Democrat who plans to switch and become a Republican, has said he plans to vote this week against impeaching President Donald Trump.

Voting issues not as prevalent as previous elections

After weeks of long lines at polling sites and various issues with voting, voters in New Jersey and Delaware faced few reported issues casting their ballots.

Both states expanded vote by mail and absentee voting options as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the country.

In New Jersey, Gov. Murphy ordered the election to be conducted mostly by mail after pushing the primary back from June 2 due to COVID-19. All vote-by-mail ballots postmarked on or before Tuesday, and received by 8 p.m. July 14, will be counted.

In Delaware, Gov. John Carney issued an emergency coronavirus declaration that allowed any voter to choose sick or temporarily or permanently physically disabled and be eligible to cast a ballot absentee. Absentee ballot applications were also sent to every registered Democrat and Republican in the state.

More: Several Republican senators say they will not attend GOP convention as COVID-19 cases in Florida spike

Biden officially wins his home state

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, officially won Delaware Tuesday evening.

Biden, who was the state's senator for more than 35 years, finally won his home state in his third run for president. Although he dropped out of the race before Delaware's primary in his previous presidential bids, Biden is the last Democratic candidate standing after out-lasting one of the largest and most diverse presidential fields in history.

Both Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren were on the ballot, despite both senators having suspended their campaigns in April and March, respectively.

Biden also won the New Jersey presidential primary Tuesday.

The former vice president has roughly 2,270 pledged delegates. Last month, he surpassed the 1,991 pledged delegate threshold needed to become the party's nominee.

Contributed: Savannah Behrmann; Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: June 7 primary: Van Drew faces Amy Kennedy, Cory Booker wins primary
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who said he is infected with the coronavirus, on Wednesday defended his government's handling of the pandemic that has killed tens of thousands of Brazilians and touted his use of a contentious anti-malaria drug.

Bolsonaro posted a photo of himself eating breakfast on Facebook, and a message that said his government provided payouts to informal sector laborers, thereby saving jobs and lives without spreading panic about the pandemic. The nation's confirmed death toll from COVID-19 is the second highest in the world after the United States.

No country in the world did it like Brazil, Bolsonaro said. "For those who root against hydroxychloroquine, but don't present alternatives, I regret to inform you that I'm very well with its use and, with God's grace, I will live for a long time still.

Bolsonaro said Tuesday that he tested positive for the virus, after months of downplaying its severity while deaths mounted rapidly inside the country. He repeatedly touted chloroquine, a more toxic version of the anti-malarial drug.

A string of studies in Britain and the United States, as well as by the World Health Organization, have found it ineffective and sometimes deadly because of its effects on the heart. Several studies were canceled early because of that.

The president told reporters he underwent a lung X-ray on Monday after experiencing fever, muscle aches and malaise. As of Tuesday, his fever had subsided, he said, and he attributed the improvement to hydroxychloroquine.

He stepped back from the journalists and removed his mask at one point to show that he looked well.

The 65-year-old right-wing populist who has been known to mingle in crowds without covering his face confirmed the results while wearing a mask and speaking to reporters huddled close in front of him in the capital, Brasilia.

I'm, well, normal. I even want to take a walk around here, but I can't due to medical recommendations, Bolsonaro said.

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Later Tuesday, he posted a video to Facebook of him taking his third dose of hydroxychloroquine, which has also been promoted by President Donald Trump.

Brazil, the world's sixth-biggest nation, with more than 210 million people, is one of the outbreak's most lethal hot spots. More than 65,000 Brazilians have died from COVID-19, and over 1.5 million have been infected.

The true figures are believed to be higher because of a lack of widespread testing. On Tuesday alone, 1,254 deaths were confirmed.

Other world leaders who have had bouts with COVID-19 include British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain's Prince Charles, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez.

Bolsonaro is the democratic leader who has most denied the seriousness of this pandemic, said Mauricio Santoro, a political science professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. "Him getting infected is a blow to his credibility. It will be seen as another example of the failure of his coronavirus response.

Bolsonaro has often appeared in public to shake hands with supporters and mingle with crowds, at times without a mask. He has said that his history as an athlete would protect him from the virus and that it would be nothing more than a little flu if he were to contract it.

He has also repeatedly said that there is no way to prevent 70% of the population falling ill with COVID-19 and that local authorities' efforts to shut down economic activity would ultimately cause more hardship than allowing the virus to run its course.

For nearly two months, Brazils fight against COVID-19 has been in the hands of an interim health minister with no health experience before April. He took over after his predecessor, a doctor and health care consultant, quit in protest over Bolsonaros support for hydroxychloroquine.

Brazilian cities and states last month began lifting restrictions that had been imposed to control the spread of the virus, as deaths began to decline along with the caseload in intensive care units.

Bolsonaro supporter Silas Ribeiro said on the streets of Rio that the president is correct in saying the dangers of the virus have been exaggerated.

Our president is a popular man. He is showing that he isnt afraid to die, said Ribeiro, 59. He is going to have health and get through this sickness.

Speaking near recently reopened shops in Rio, Wesley Morielo said he hopes Bolsonaro's sickness prompts him to reassess his stance.

"I think everything he said before, of not giving importance to COVID-19, came back against him, said Morielo, a 24-year-old student.

The World Health Organizations emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, wished Bolsonaro a speedy recovery and said his infection brings home the reality of this virus" by showing that it doesn't distinguish between prince or pauper.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly visited the hospital since taking office, requiring several operations to repair his intestines after he was stabbed on the campaign trail in 2018.

He said he canceled a trip this week to Brazil's northeast region and will continue working via videoconference and receive rare visitors when he needs to sign a document.

Unlike Britain's prime minister, who moderated his rhetoric after testing positive for the virus, Bolsonaro will probably not change his stance, said Leandro Consentino, a political science professor at Insper, a university in Sao Paulo.

He's going down a path of trying to indicate to his base of support that COVID-19 is just a little flu and take advantage of the illness to advertise for chloroquine, Consentino said.

___

AP video producer Diarlei Rodrigues contributed from Rio.
Luxury apparel retailer Brooks Brothers  which survived the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War II and the Great Recession  filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday as it tries to survive the retail industry's turmoil amid digital transformation and the coronavirus pandemic.

Founded by Henry Sands Brooks in 1818, Brooks Brothers requested protection from its creditors with a bankruptcy filing in Delaware, saying it is closing more than 50 stores and pursuing a sale.

The company joins a rapidly growing list of retailers that have stumbled into bankruptcy amid the wreckage of COVID-19, which temporarily shuttered non-essential stores due to health concerns. Others recently filing for bankruptcy have included J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus, J. Crew and Chuck E. Cheese.

Brooks Brothers representatives did not respond to requests seeking comment Wednesday.

Walgreens makes deal with VillageMD: Walgreens to open 500 to 700 in-store clinics with primary care doctors

Store closings: Dunkin' is closing 450 locations by the end of 2020

Models showcase suits during a Brooks Brothers fashion show in Italy in 2018.

Before the bankruptcy filing, the company set into motion plans to permanently close 51 of its 250 North American stores, according to a court filing. It has about 424 worldwide and about 4,000 employees, though nearly three-fourths of them are currently furloughed.

Brooks Brother, which calls itself the oldest apparel seller in America, introduced the button-down polo shirt in 1896 and later became known for its high-end men's clothing, including suits and ties. The company says that 40 of 45 U.S. presidents have worn its attire. The chain also sells jewelry, watches, women's apparel, personal care items and other goods.

The company, which made uniforms for the U.S. military during the Civil War, pivoted in recent months to make masks for the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2019, Brooks Brothers began exploring a potential sale. Those talks fell apart when the pandemic erupted, chief restructuring officer Stephen Marotta said in a court filing.

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Only 18 of the company's stores 236 stores in the U.S. have reopened since the pandemic temporarily shuttered retail. In addition to its own stores, the company supplies apparel for sale at other retailers, such as Macy's and Nordstrom, and makes uniforms for the U.S. military and for companies like United Airlines

CEO Claudio Del Vecchio and his family own 91% of the company, according to a court filing.

Marotta said Brooks Brothers hopes to arrange a sale to remain operating.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brooks Brothers store closings planned: Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed
The boardwalk in Mission Beach was full of locals, surfers and tourists during the Fourth of July weekend in San Diego. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the typical holiday crowd appeared to be less than in previous years. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

New coronavirus cases roughly doubled in California over the last month. Hospitalizations have soared 88%, filling some medical centers close to capacity.

Now, public health officials are bracing for the grimmest phase of the cycle: a spike in COVID-19 fatalities.

So far, new deaths have remained relatively flat in California even as cases have surged. In the last six weeks, the state has recorded an average of 436 weekly coronavirus deaths, down from the previous six-week average of 510 weekly deaths, according to a Los Angeles Times data analysis. But deaths are a lagging indicator, and many experts predict an increase in the coming weeks.

California has seen far fewer coronavirus fatalities than some hot spots across the country, recording more than 6,400 deaths, compared with more than 32,000 in New York and 15,000 in New Jersey.

How much the death toll in California will rise is the subject of some debate. This new wave of infections is increasingly being driven by younger people, while outbreaks in skilled nursing facilities have slowed. For that reason, its possible that fewer of the recent cases will result in deaths.

Its hard to say because right now, its this cloud of information that needs to sort itself out, said Dr. Neha Nanda, healthcare epidemiologist and medical director of infection prevention at Keck Medicine of USC.

But others on the front lines say the younger COVID-19 demographics won't necessarily result in a decreased death toll. Adrienne Green, chief medical officer for UC San Francisco Medical Center, said she is worried about the current wave of infections among younger people leading to a subsequent wave for older people who have interacted with them.

Perhaps there might be a lull in the death rates and then [they] catch up, Green said. I think its going to be a wave up and down.

Answers should come soon. Experts say 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.

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California recorded nearly twice the number of coronavirus cases in June as it did in May  119,938 versus 61,694, according to a Times data analysis. Yet the number of deaths declined, with 2,128 people dying in May and 1,915 in June.



Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that while a higher percentage of coronavirus tests are confirming infections, "we're not seeing a commensurate increase yet in mortality."

More younger people are also testing positive for the virus, a trend that has become apparent as the economy has reopened and working-age adults returned to jobs and resumed social gatherings.

Early in the pandemic, in March, about half of Californias new infections were identified among people ages 18 to 49, a Times data analysis found. In June, as the number of new cases began to climb sharply, that share increased to nearly 62%. So far in July, roughly 65% of new infections have been diagnosed among those 18 to 49. That's despite the fact that just 45% of Californians fall into that age range.

These are individuals who tend not to be as likely to get serious disease or require either hospitalization or to die from COVID-19, said Timothy Brewer, professor of medicine and epidemiology at UCLA. So particularly the 18- to 50-year-old age group is a group that has relatively low mortality rates, but there has been a big surge in infections.

Meanwhile, outbreaks in skilled nursing and other long-term care facilities have slowed. That appears to be particularly true in Los Angeles County, which is home to nearly half the states cases and more than half the deaths.

In early May, L.A. County was reporting an average of 25 daily coronavirus deaths out of nursing home residents. By late June, the average daily death toll from nursing homes was around 10, Barbara Ferrer, the county health director, said last week.

Officials have said better use of personal protective equipment, such as masks, gowns and gloves, and increased testing, has helped reduce the impact of the pandemic on skilled nursing facilities.

Brewer said he suspects the decline in care facility outbreaks is having a beneficial effect on overall mortality rates, as residents of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities account for 49% of the states total COVID-19 deaths.

Nick Jewell, a UC Berkeley biostatistics expert who has tracked the pandemic, said the steady mortality rate may also reflect that those who were most susceptible to the virus  the elderly and the infirm  have already succumbed to it.

To be crude, you wouldnt expect as many nursing home deaths today as you would two or three months ago because the susceptibles in the nursing homes have been picked off, said Jewell.

Improvements in the treatment and care of COVID-19 patients also may have made a difference, as doctors have learned more about how to treat the virus.

Medical staff have gotten better at managing the ventilation and oxygenation of critically ill patients, learning to do things such as positioning them on their bellies instead of on their backs, Brewer said.

Physicians also say they are generally intubating less frequently. Intubation  inserting a breathing tube down a person's throat  can cause an array of complications, but doctors have been able to choose other options first, instead of quickly intubating a person who is struggling to breathe.

Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid that has been shown to improve survival in patients who require oxygen or mechanical ventilation, is now in standard use in hospitals across California, Brewer said. Remdesivir, an antiviral that has been linked to improved outcomes, is also being widely used, he said.

UCSF's Green attributes better fatality rates to medications including Remdesivir but said the drug may soon be harder to come by.

Some point out that the declining numbers do not take into account the well-documented racial disparities seen in both infections and outcomes of COVID-19 cases. Across the country, researchers are finding that Black and Latino people are hit harder, and have worse survival rates than white counterparts.

In California as of Sunday, Latino people accounted for 55% of coronavirus cases and 42% of deaths, while making up about 39% of the state's population, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. Black Californians account for 9% of the states deaths, while making up about 6% of the overall population. But even those figures may be low  35% of cases are missing race and ethnicity data.

Stephen Lockhart, chief medical officer of Sutter Health, said it is too soon to know if reopening has made those disparities worse. Many of those who have worked through the pandemic or returned to work in recent weeks at jobs including retail, restaurants, agriculture and service sectors are people of color, he and other experts pointed out. Lockhart said that although the data are not yet available on how they are faring, he would be surprised if that were not the case that those workers of color will be hard hit in coming weeks.

That is just my conjecture as a Black man seeing what I am seeing and my overall intuition, Lockhart said. I am imagining that the gap has widened.

Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Stanford, said the demographics of the epidemic have really changed in recent months.

Now it has become much more in minority communities, much more blue-collar workers, Maldonado said.

On Saturday, Maldonado did free testing in a low-income Silicon Valley neighborhood that is predominantly Asian and Latino. After testing about 300 people, she found about 3% were positive  what she considers a difficult rate to contain, despite higher rates in other parts of the state and country, and one coupled with health and wealth disparities that can increase the severity of the virus..

We know that these are populations that have real health equity and access problems, Maldonado said, pointing to more risk factors such as diabetes, more crowded living spaces and less financial ability to take time off work.

Some also fear that its only a matter of time before California sees a surge in COVID-19 deaths to match the increase in cases and hospitalizations. Many experts believe the increasing infections began around Memorial Day, meaning a corresponding increase in deaths may begin soon. They also point out that recent Independence Day celebrations could bring another bounce in coming months.

On Sunday, there were 5,790 people hospitalized in California with confirmed coronavirus infections. Thats an 88% increase from that number on June 5, when there were 3,072 hospitalized.

L.A. County on Sunday broke a record for the largest number of hospitalized patients with confirmed coronavirus infections. There were 1,969 such patients in hospitals in the county on Sunday; the previous record was on April 28, when 1,962 were in the hospital.

Jewell cautioned that things are changing rapidly in the state. He said that California, though not as bad as states such as Texas  where hospitals are already facing capacity issues  remains in dangerous waters, and he expects July to be a real gut check.

There are also concerns that the younger people who are currently testing positive at a higher rate and also tend to have a higher level of mobility will eventually transmit the virus to more people, including those who are more vulnerable, driving deaths even higher.

Its not until the first group [of infected individuals] goes out and infects the next larger group and gets a bit exponential" that we see those deaths, said a nurse who works in an intensive care unit in L.A.

"It's the calm before the storm  I have no doubt," she added.

Times staff writers Ben Welsh, Colleen Shalby, Iris Lee and Sandhya Kambhampati contributed to this report.
The U.S. Department of Education is attempting to take pandemic relief funds away from K-12 public schools and divert the money to private schools, California and four other Democratic-led states argued in a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Trump administration. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the lawsuit, which was joined by Maine, New Mexico, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The suit also names Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as a defendant. Becerra said the department unlawfully interpreted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which established guidelines to distribute $13.2 billion in aid to schools nationwide using Title I funds earmarked for students from low-income families. Get the full story in the video above.
Public Health Agency of Canada

COVID-19 in Canada

Newly released short-term forecasting of the COVID-19 pandemic indicates Canada could see between 106,015 and 111,260 cases by Jul. 17. Additionally, up to 8,900 deaths (approximately 200 more than today) could occur by the same date.

Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada's deputy chief public health officer, indicated Ontario and Quebec have made up more than 80 per cent of cases in the country to date.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Looking at the number of cases per 100,000 people across Canada, Ontario and Quebec are still seeing the most, with a significant number of cases identified in northern Saskatchewan, relative to their population size.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Hotspots for COVID-19 cases include Toronto and Montreal, both having large populations and many cases linked to community transmission. Alberta and Saskatchewan have also seen a high number of cases, linked to localized outbreaks.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Canada's deputy chief public health officer said there has been a steady decline in COVID-19 cases since the peak in late April.

We have been able to impact the pandemic, control transmission nationally and benign the process of entering the next phase of monitoring and preventing a resurgence, Dr. Njoo said. I think overall, weve done an excellent job.

Public Health Agency of Canada

The effective reproduction number in Canada, how many people have been infected by each new case, has fluctuated above one recently, but remained fairly steady below one for the course of the last 10 weeks. Dr. Njoo indicated this number needs to consistently remain below one to indicate a slowdown of spread.

He added that as the case numbers continues to decrease, it is likely the effective reproduction number will fluctuate rapidly.

Public Health Agency of Canada

The number of COVID-19 cases in Canadas most elderly has significantly declined since April. However, the decline has been particularly slow in 20 to 39 year-olds since late May.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Canada's deputy chief public health officer said contact tracing is an important component of preventing the spread of COVID-19, indicating the sooner cases can be identified and isolated, the fewer people they may infect.

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The proportion of unknown sources of infection continues to decrease in Canada, which will assist in preventing a surge in infections.

Public Health Agency of Canada

Although Canada is down the right side of the first peak, Dr. Njoo said it continues to be important for people across the country to remain vigilant with existing public health measures, particularly while a vaccine is not available. He said if Canada relaxes measures too much or too soon the country will see a rapid rebound in COVID-19 cases.
A San Francisco lawmaker introduced the CAREN Act, an ordinance that aims to deter racially-motivated 911 calls.

San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies, or CAREN Act, on Tuesday. Its a reference to Karen, a slang term that has been used to describe women accused of racism, often when calling police on Black people, Forbes reported.

The bill would change the San Francisco Police Code to make it illegal to file a report motivated by race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, according to the publication.

Racist 911 calls are unacceptable thats why Im introducing the CAREN Act at todays SF Board of Supervisors meeting, Walton tweeted.

The bill would protect the rights of communities of color who are often targeted and victims of fraudulent emergency calls, Walton said in a statement, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. The CAREN Act will make it unlawful for an individual to contact law enforcement solely to discriminate on the basis of a persons race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Another California lawmaker, Assemblymember Rob Bonta, introduced a separate bill that would designate a false emergency report based on someones race, gender or religion as a hate crime.

The legislation comes in the wake of publicized incidents in which police have been called on Black people.

Amy Cooper, a white woman who called the police on a Black man in Central Park in New York on Memorial Day, was charged for falsely reporting an incident, Manhattans district attorney said on Monday.

The viral incident was caught on video and showed Christian Cooper, a Black man, telling Amy Cooper to put her dog on a leash while in a section of the park requiring pets to be leashed. Christian Cooper, who is not related to the woman, posted the video on Facebook and wrote that Amy Coopers dog was tearing through the plantings.

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In the video, Amy Cooper told Christian Cooper: Im calling the cops and Im gonna tell them theres an African-American man threatening my life.

Please tell them whatever you like, Christian Cooper said.

In another example, a white couple accused James Juanillo, a person of color, of vandalizing private property after he wrote Black Lives Matter outside his home in Pacific Heights, California, McClatchy News reported. The woman in the video said she knew who lived in the home, despite it belonging to Juanillo.
A San Francisco tech CEO issued an apology this week after he was seen in a viral video yelling racial slurs and expletives at an Asian American family on the Fourth of July.

Raymond Orosa and his family were celebrating his wife's birthday at Bernardus Lodge and Spa's Lucia restaurant when Michael Lofthouse can be seen on camera harassing them, saying, "F you Asians," "Go back to whatever f Asian country you're from" and "You don't belong here."

The video begins with the woman who filmed the vulgar encounter asking Lofthouse, sitting one table over, to repeat what he had just said to them. He stares at the camera for a few seconds, then extends his middle finger and said, "This is what I say."

Lofthouse then said, "Trump's gonna f you," as he stood up to leave, followed by "You f need to leave! You f Asian piece of s***." A server then yells at him, "No, you do not talk to our guests like that. Get out of here."

Michael Lofthouse seen in an Instagram video harassing an Asian family at a restaurant. / Credit: Jordan Chan / Instagram

Orosa told CBS News that he thinks Lofthouse's apology is not sincere. In a statement, the restaurant addressed the incident.

"This is an extremely unfortunate situation, however we are proud of our staff at Lucia in keeping with Bernardus Lodge's core values; this incident was handled swiftly and the diner was escorted off property without further escalation."

A message to the tech company where Lofthouse works asking for a statement has not been returned, according to CBS San Francisco, and a message sent to an Instagram account apparently used by Lofthouse was not returned. In addition, his LinkedIn account appears to have been deleted and his Twitter account has been suspended.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a sharp rise in attacks on Asian Americans across the country.

In Midland, Texas, in March, a hate crime attack left a man and his 2-year-old with knife wounds across their faces.

In April, a man in New York poured acid on an Asian American woman.

There have been more than 2,000 reports in the U.S. of discrimination and harassment aimed at Asian Americans since March.

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Manju Kulkarni, executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, said some of the attacks could stem from "racist rhetoric" by those in power.

"Some of that is driven by racist rhetoric from our elected officials," she said. "We know that President Trump has called COVID-19 'Kung Flu,' the 'Wuhan Virus,' the 'China Virus.'"

White House officials have repeatedly defended President Trump's statements while harassment cases have spiked.

Last month in Queens, New York, a South Korean man said he was shoved by a man yelling racial slurs and blaming Asians for the coronavirus.

A bulletin from the FBI earlier this year warned of a rise in hate crime incidents against Asian Americans because of the spread of the coronavirus.

Scientists say coronavirus can be spread farther than 6 feet in tiny airborne particles

Police in several Texas counties refuse to enforce governor's mask mandate

Trump pushes for schools to reopen, calls CDC guidelines "impractical"A
Conservatives are big on Chestertons fence. Thats G. K. Chestertons principle that you cannot reform what you do not understand, that you should not for the sake of convenience knock down a fence until you understand why it was put up in the first place.

When encountering a fence in his way, Chesterton writes, the more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, I dont see the use of this; let us clear it away. To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: If you dont see the use of it, I certainly wont let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.

If you are interested in what defunding the police looks like, Seattle has provided an excellent example in the form of CHOP, the few blocks of the citys Capitol Hill neighborhood that the citys supine municipal government ceded to the occupation of a left-wing militia, which declared itself the law of the land. Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan, useless as teats on a boar hog, declared that the scene in CHOP was just a big block party. The block party soon broke out in gunfire and other acts of violence, and it ended with the murder of children. Seattle did not send a platoon of social workers into militia-occupied Seattle to restore order  Seattle sent the police.

Call them Chestertons cops.

If they would be reformers rather than deformers, the people who are calling for the abolition of city police departments  Yes, We Literally Mean Abolish the Police reads the helpful New York Times headline  should begin by trying to understand why it is we have police departments in the first place. (They are not interested in being reformers; that Times headline is followed by the underline: Because reform wont happen.) As I wrote a few months ago, the familiar city police department is a relatively new kind of institution: We have had courts, bailiffs, and sheriffs going back into antiquity (a duke runs a duchy, a count runs a county, a sheriff runs a shire  he is a shire reeve), but there were no police departments until Robert Peel organized the Metropolitan Police in London in 1829. His program of policing by consent was a response to particular problems in his time and presents some useful principles for our own.

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Before there were police, there were many different competing models for providing security. The old Mafia, for example, performed many of the functions of a modern municipal government, from adjudicating disputes to policing public morality as a kind of Sicilian mutaween. The Mafia way of doing things remains pretty common in much of the world: The Taliban, for example, represents a similar combination of moral police, social-service provider, adjudicator, and criminal gang. The shortcomings of that way of managing community life are reasonably well-understood  the Sheriff of Nottingham was the corrupt villain of the Robin Hood stories, Wyatt Earp was both a lawman and a career criminal, hired marshals tended to defer to their paymasters. The kings court was not reliably impartial. As legal practice was regularized, a bureaucratic and professional police force evolved to accompany it. The problems that the modern police department was created to mitigate are very much still with us, and proposals to simply abolish them are fundamentally unserious.

Those police forces have serious problems. In many cities, the local police have through acts of unjustified and excessive violence lost the confidence of at least part of the population, usually in low-income non-white neighborhoods. Practically every big-city police department in this country has been penetrated by organized-crime syndicates at one time or another, from Los Angeless Rampart unit, which at its nadir was little more than a gang with badges, to the NYPD detectives acting as enforcers and hit men for the Lucchese and Gambino crime families. Less dramatic forms of police corruption  soliciting and accepting bribes, extortion of drug-dealers and other criminals, sexual exploitation, covering up the crimes of other police officers  remain distressingly common. The headlong foolishness of the police-abolition movement should not blind us to the severe and widespread problems of modern police departments.

Those are problems that could be partially contained through a combination of increased surveillance, professional independent review, and reducing the political power of public-sector unions, which reliably (and successfully) fight against enhanced discipline and oversight. But many reform efforts, including the police-abolition project, promise to recreate pre-Peel problems  some would-be reformers are blinded by ideology, some are unwilling or unable to do the necessary intellectual work.

For example, the idea of violence interrupters has enjoyed a slight resurgence in recent months, but the actual scholarship on the experience of programs such as Chicagos CeaseFire project provides very little reason for optimism. A 2009 report sometimes cited as documenting the successes of such programs contains a narrative of failure that would be hilarious if it were not tragic: In a quest for culturally appropriate messengers, CeaseFire hired former criminals and gang members, in some cases recruiting them while they were still in prison awaiting release; some of those criminals were not quite as reformed as one might hope (Some violence interrupters struggled to adjust to a nonviolent lifestyle) and ended up as persons of extreme interest in the very violence they were supposed to be mitigating. Program administrators asked employees to warn them about any criminal activity in order to avoid a painful termination process or CeaseFires reputation being tarnished. Because there was money changing hands, politicians tried to control the hiring process for patronage purposes. Hiring criminals estranged CeaseFire from the Chicago police, who wanted the program to function in part as a network of paid informers. Staff were taken away from program tasks to work on perennial funding crises.

(Please do read the entire report.)

The nexus of political patronage and criminality as a means of attempting to keep the peace would have been familiar in the pre-Peel era. Relying on the informal criterion of community standing rather than on public institutions with formal rules, accountability, and oversight  imperfectly realized as those may be  is not entirely unlike how things were done in lawless parts of the Old West or in Mafia-run Sicily a century or two ago. More to the point, it is precisely how things were being run in militia-occupied Seattle, with predictably disastrous results. That does not suggest a very fruitful avenue of reform.

The current atmosphere of chaos is both the fuel and the fire. As of June, murders were up 34 percent year-over-year in Chicago, and shootings were up 42 percent. In 2019, murders in Dallas spiked 30 percent, reaching a ten-year high, and the citys violent crime is rising in 2020. Clevelands homicide rate is up 55 percent year-over-year. Violent crime in Denver increased 21 percent during the coronavirus lockdown.

Reform is a never-ending task. But we cannot address the problems with the police departments if we ignore the problems to which the police departments were a response to begin with.

More from National Review
Chief Justice John Roberts was hospitalized overnight last month after a fall at a Maryland country club, a Supreme Court spokeswoman confirmed to the Washington Post.

Roberts fall at the Chevy Chase Club on June 21 left him with a head injury that required sutures. The 65-year-old was taken by ambulance to Suburban Hospital, where he stayed overnight for observation out of an abundance of caution before being released the next morning.

A witness to the incident told the Post that the fall left the chief justices head covered in blood.

While Roberts has a history of experiencing seizures, once in 1993 and again in 2007, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg told the Post that his doctors ruled out the possibility of a seizure-induced fall. They believe the fall was likely due to light-headedness caused by dehydration, she said.

Roberts fall came eight days before he sided with liberal justices to strike down a Louisiana law restricting who can perform abortions. The chief justice has sided with liberals on a slew of rulings recently, including one three days before his fall, when the Court blocked the Trump administrations attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and, before that, on a case that prohibited employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Roberts and the Court had not previously made the public aware of the situation. Arberg told CNN this is because the injury was not significant; he stayed overnight out of an abundance of caution and went home first thing in the morning. The Courts confirmation was the result of a tip received by the Post.

Though the lifetime tenure of Supreme Court justices often leaves the judges health subject to a great deal of public speculation, justices are not required to divulge information about their health or medical conditions.

The Court is working overtime to finish up its term remotely, with five cases remaining, including two involving President Trumps financial records.

More from National Review
China is attempting to rebrand Confucius Institutes following a worldwide backlash against the centers.

Confucius Institutes, which are present on dozens of U.S. college campuses and at other foreign universities, carry the stated purpose of promoting Chinese language and culture. However, U.S. officials have singled out the institutes as propaganda centers that serve as an extension of Chinas soft power.

The Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing has changed its name to the Ministry of Education Centre for Language Education and Cooperation. Additionally, the organization changed the name of its account on Chinese social-media app WeChat, although it is not clear if Confucius Institutes in other countries will themselves be renamed.

The name change is related to various kinds of pressure, but it is by no means succumbing to them, Sun Yixue, a professor at the International School of Tongji University in Shanghai, told the South China Morning Post. It is a timely adjustment made by China to adapt to the new situation of world language and cultural exchanges, but this does not mean that all overseas Confucius Institutes should be renamed accordingly.

Several American universities have shut their Confucius Institutes in the past several months, after the coronavirus pandemic led to increased public scrutiny of the U.S.-China relationship and Chinese influence on American campuses. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee are currently in the midst of an investigation into the institutes.

We cannot allow a dangerous Communist regime to buy access to our institutions of higher education, plain and simple, Representative Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) said in a statement upon announcing the investigation in May. We owe it to the American people to hold China accountable and to prevent them from doing further harm to our country.

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Beijing said Wednesday that US demands for it to join nuclear disarmament talks with Russia are a ruse to sink the negotiations, but it could take part if Washington lowers its arsenals to China's level.

US and Russian officials held talks in Vienna last month to discuss a replacement for the New START treaty, which limits each side to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads but is due to run out in February.

US President Donald Trump has insisted China be included in disarmament talks, citing what he says is the free rein Beijing has had to develop weapons systems.

China has shown no interest in participating.

Fu Cong, director general of the Department of Arms Control at China's foreign ministry, said the US pressure is "nothing but a ploy to divert world tension" and "create a pretext under which they can walk away from the New START".

"Their real purpose is to get rid of all the restrictions and have a free hand in seeking military superiority over any adversary, real or imagined," Fu said at a news conference.

The US and Russia hold more than 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

According to the institute's latest research, Russia has 6,375 nuclear warheads, including those that are not deployed, and the United States has 5,800.

By contrast, China has 320, France 290 and the UK 215.

"Saying that the small number of nuclear warheads that China possesses poses a threat to... US security, when the US has 6,000, I don't think that stands to logic," Fu said.

"I can assure you that if the US says that they are ready to come down to the Chinese level, China will be happy to participate the next day. But actually, we know that it's not going to happen. We know the US policy."

The priority for China is for Washington and Moscow to agree to extend the New START treaty and continue to reduce their arsenals on that basis, Fu said.

He added that China "will participate when their nuclear arsenals come down to a level comparable to the level of Chinese nuclear warheads".
Buyers looking for Gulf-Front property within driving distance of major Texas cities should know about this opportunity to get the coastal lifestyle from homeowners who perfected it

PORT ARANSAS, Texas, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Those who know Cinnamon Shorethe upscale, New Urbanist development on the outskirts of Port Aransas, Texasknow there is only one row of fewer than 20 homes that have direct Gulf views. Owners rarely put these Gulf-front tier homes on the market, but this week, a stunning, recently renovated, four-story masterpiece will be listed.

Nestled behind protective dunes, 186 Seaside Drive offers almost 5,000 square feet of living space, with five bedrooms, three main living areas, and a top-floor tower and bunk area; an additional 1,600 square feet of porches and decks; and 550 square feet of garage and storage space. Furthermore, the seller will give the buyer the opportunity to complete the coastal lifestyle with first rights to purchase a 35-foot Boston whaler, boat slip, and airplane/boat hangar nearby.

"This is an incredible opportunity to have the Gulf-front lifestyle of your dreamsin an instant," said Jodi Peters, broker at Cinnamon Shore Realty. "These types of homes rarely make it to the market, and we anticipate high interest."

Listed at $2.7 million, the residence is built atop Gulf-front property that's in very short supply in Texas, and the home has value that goes beyond its incredible architecture, interiors and Gulf-front views. "People purchase these types of homes because they want to give their families a place to gather and memories for a lifetime," Peters said.

Yet the home's design represents thoughtful consideration of how to enjoy every aspect of beachfront living, and the renovations and additions completed in 2015, before Hurricane Harvey, and after 2018, post Harvey, make it an even more incredible value. The home has undergone extensive cosmetic updates, including new exterior paint, interior paint refreshes, the addition of a Sub-Zero refrigerator to the already incredible kitchen, and refinished and newly stained hardwoods. It also has upgrades that increase its longevity in coastal conditions, including:

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New systems, such as the air conditioning system with three units and a whole house dehumidifier

New Marvin windows and doors

New foam insulation in attic and walls

New exterior siding with "air barrier" membrane

New Trex composite patio and steps

Newly done work on the metal roof

Cinnamon Shore Realty can share other recent renovations, including details on new landscaping and new window treatments.

Throughout the home, handsome woodwork and trim, coffered ceilings, and other details convey sophistication in a still-relaxed coastal scheme. With a main living space on the ground floor for easy access, Gulf views from all top-floor bedrooms, and extras such as a "man-cave" with its own mini-fridge and freezer, this house meets multi-generational vacation needs and represents a standard of luxury not often found on the Texas Gulf Coast.

To learn more about 186 Seaside Drive, contact Cinnamon Shore Realty at 361-749-1851, email jodi@cinnamonshore.com, or view the listing. For more about the community, visit cinnamonshore.com.

About Cinnamon Shore

Cinnamon Shore is a pedestrian-friendly planned community nestled behind the protective dunes on Mustang Island along the Texas Gulf Coast. It is the first new urbanism development for Sea Oats Group, which is fulfilling its vision of a traditional seaside village with a wide array of amenities and recreational facilities intertwined with beach cottages, luxury villas and vibrant town centers. Now comprised of two communities  the original, Cinnamon Shore North, and its new, 150-acre, Gulf-side expansion, Cinnamon Shore South  every detail of the master plan for both is designed to embrace the natural ambience of Mustang Island and the slow-paced charm of a walkable neighborhood. For more information, visit http://www.CinnamonShore.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@CinnamonShore).

About Sea Oats Group

Port Aransas-based Sea Oats Group is one of the most successful developers of coastal properties in any market nationwide, including the Texas Gulf Coast, where the value of its beachfront portfolio is unequalled. The firm is dedicated to creating traditional neighborhood developments that provide residents with the highest possible quality of life, while preserving the integrity of the resort landscapes they occupy. By combining living spaces with retail areas in a walkable, connected plan, Sea Oats Group weaves together beautiful places to live, work and play. For more information, visit www.SeaOatsGroup.com.

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Businessolver's MyChoice Market and CirrusMD Provider Network connect transitioning employees with immediate access to text-first virtual care

DENVER, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CirrusMD , a text-first virtual care solution, today announced that it was selected by Businessolver , the leader in SaaS-based benefits technology and services, as part of the MyChoiceSM Market benefits marketplace . Individuals moving into a benefits ineligible status, as well as those terminated or furloughed from employment, can have instant, text-first access to physicians through the CirrusMD platform. The platform is accessible 24/7 via app or web and delivers virtual primary care, behavioral health, urgent care, pediatric and other specialty care.

CirrusMD (PRNewsfoto/CirrusMD)

CirrusMD enables employees to access a live physician from any web-enabled device, with no upfront paywalls, waits or appointments. The platform's unique text-first, continuous-conversation design allows individuals to control the flow of the conversation and check in wherever, whenever they need care. By selecting CirrusMD and its provider network, Businessolver is offering a flexible way to help people more effectively receive care and navigate through healthcare challenges during this difficult time.

"The current COVID-19 pandemic has brought uncertainty to employers and employees alike, especially when it comes to providing and accessing critical medical-related benefits for terminated or furloughed employees," said Sherri Bockhorst , Businessolver's SVP of Product Strategy and Innovation. "CirrusMD's human centered, text-based approach to virtual care ensures that individuals and their families impacted by the current economic downturn have access to affordable coverage, now and in the future, regardless of their current state of work."

Businessolver's MyChoice Market provides access to comprehensive health insurance coverage options, including medical, vision, and dental, ACA-compliant plans, Medicare plans and other supplemental products. Additionally, it includes complimentary access to licensed Benefits Advisors to help employees research, compare and select best-fit plans. CirrusMD was selected for the MyChoice Market benefits marketplace alongside national payers, including Anthem, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, Cigna and more.

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"As a doctor, my first priority continues to be providing patients with quality, accessible care, both in the emergency room and on the CirrusMD telemedicine platform," said Blake McKinney, M.D., co-founder and chief medical officer at CirrusMD. "I'm proud to be partnering with Businessolver to ensure employees, who have been terminated or furloughed during this time and are unsure of where to turn to get care for themselves and their families, have barrier-free access to high-quality care, whenever and wherever."

CirrusMD partners with many of the country's largest payers, employers and delivery networks to empower millions of patients with barrier-free, on-demand access to virtual primary and multi-speciality care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has experienced annualized platform utilization rates of up to 56 percent for its payer and employer partners, and has generated 95 percent user satisfaction scores while keeping wait times to connect with a physician to under one minute.

For additional information on COVID-19 and how telehealth can help, view CirrusMD's rapid response solution for COVID-19 or email getstarted@cirrusmd.com today. For more information on the MyChoice Market or to get enrolled in a plan, visit mychoicemarket.com.

About Businessolver

Since 1998, Businessolver has delivered market-changing benefits technology supported by an intrinsic responsiveness to client needs. The company creates client programs that maximize benefits program investment, minimize risk exposure, and engage employees with easy-to-use solutions and communication tools to assist them in making wise and cost-efficient benefits selections. Founded by HR professionals, Businessolver's unwavering service-oriented culture and secure SaaS platform provide measurable success in its mission to provide complete client delight.

About CirrusMD

CirrusMD leads the market in text-first virtual care solutions that deliver simpler access, personal connection and unbeatable care navigation. The company delivers seamless virtual care that enables instant, human conversation between patients and an expert network of multi-specialty providers, connecting users to the resources they need to get and stay well  both on the platform and off. Available to millions of eligible users across the country, CirrusMD partners with the nation's leading health plans and employers to build trust, loyalty and better health through extraordinary virtual care experiences. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, CirrusMD is led by co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Andy Altorfer and co-founder and Chief Medical Officer Blake McKinney, M.D.

To learn more about CirrusMD's solutions, visit https://www.cirrusmd.com/

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BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's national lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus will be extended by just over two weeks until Aug. 1, President Ivan Duque said on Tuesday.

The Andean country has reported more than 124,400 cases of the novel coronavirus and 4,359 deaths.

Duque declared a national lockdown in late March to slow coronavirus infections across the country. While thousands of businesses have begun reopening, the lockdown was due to be lifted on July 15.

"After analyzing the country and considering we have cities where the rate of cases has accelerated and grown, as well as the mortality rate, we have continued to work on preserving the mandatory preventive isolation as the general concept," Duque said in a nightly televised broadcast.

While the quarantine continues, municipalities with no coronavirus infections or with low infection rates will be allowed to open restaurants, theaters and gyms under strict protocols - including the use of face masks and social distancing - at the request of mayors.

Colombia currently has 490 municipalities with no coronavirus infections, while 100 have low infection rates, Duque said. A further 295 have not reported cases in the last three weeks.

Latin America's fourth-largest economy has been battered by the measures taken to slow the spread of coronavirus and a slump in oil prices. Crude oil is one of the country's top exports and sources of foreign exchange.

The government expects the economy to contract by 5.5% this year. The country has suspended its fiscal deficit limits for 2020 and 2021 and issued billions in bonds as unemployment rises and businesses close during the quarantine.

(Reporting by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Stargazers have the opportunity to spot a rare object in the sky this month as a newly discovered comet flies through the inner solar system for the first time in 6,800 years.

Comet NEOWISE has been getting brighter and brighter in the early-morning sky, and this week, it will become visible in the evening after sunset.

"Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) - discovered back in March by NASA's NEOWISE mission - is getting the attention of skywatchers across the Northern Hemisphere this month," NASA said.

Earlier in 2020, two other newly discovered comets, Comet SWAN and Comet ATLAS, were showing promising signs of eventually becoming bright enough to see with the unaided eye, but both eventually fizzled. The third time was the charm when Comet NEOWISE was discovered as it has lived up to astronomers' predictions that it could become a visible feature in the night sky.

It is now brighter than Halley's Comet appeared when it zipped through the inner solar system back in 1986

Comet NEOWISE can be seen with the naked eye, but onlookers need to know what time and what direction to look to see it as it will not be a prominent feature in the sky.

Comet C/2020 F3 photographed low in the morning sky on July 7. (NASA/Bill Dunford)

Evening stargazers will be able to see the comet starting around July 15 off to the northwest, just below the Big Dipper.

"From mid-July on, it's best viewed as an evening object, rising increasingly higher above the northwestern horizon," NASA said. "Its closest approach to Earth will be on July 22, at a distance of about 64 million miles (103 million kilometers)." For comparison, the sun is about 93 million miles from Earth.

If cloudy conditions obscure the sky, onlookers can wait until the next night to try to look for the comet as it will be visible throughout the balance of July.

However, people may want to look for it sooner rather than later as it will gradually become dimmer and dimmer later in the month as it moves farther and farther away from the sun.

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Onlookers should also look for Jupiter in the southeastern sky after sunset as it will appear brighter than it will throughout the rest of 2020.

Many pictures of Comet NEOWISE on social media depict it as a brilliant object filling an area of the sky, but to the unaided eye, it may just look like a fuzzy star with a faint tail.

However, a simple telescope or pair of binoculars can reveal more details, especially when it is seen before twilight in the morning or after twilight in the evening.

Many of the images of Comet NEOWISE circulating on the internet were taken over a long period of time by cameras zoomed in on the object.

For people trying to take pictures of the comet, it is recommended to use a long exposure to allow the camera to capture more light, revealing more details of the comet.

A photo with an exposure of 5 to 10 seconds should be enough to capture the glow of the comet and its long tail with detail that the human eye simply cannot see.

Some smartphones are able to take long exposure photographs, either with the built-in camera or with the help of an app. A tripod is also a necessity to keep the camera still for several seconds.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Comet NEOWISE will certainly be an interesting feature to look for in the sky, but it won't be as grand as Comet Hale-Bopp, which put on a spectacular show in 1997.

Astronomers measure the brightness of objects in the night sky using a measurement known as magnitude. The lower the magnitude number a celestial body is given, the brighter it appears in the sky.

To be visible with the naked eye, an object must have a magnitude of 5 or 6. The full moon has a magnitude of around -12.

The brightness of celestial objects as they are seen from the Earth is measured in magnitude. The lower the number, the brighter the object appears in the sky. (NASA)

As of July 13, Comet NEOWISE had a magnitude of 1.6, according to TheSkyLive.com, a website that provides real-time data on the brightness of objects in the night sky.

For comparison, when the well-known Halley's Comet visited the inner solar system in 1986, it had a magnitude of around 2, according to Scientific American.

However, Comet Hale-Bopp was one of the rare comets to be brighter than a magnitude 0 and was visible to the naked eye for more than a year.

After Comet NEOWISE leaves the inner solar system, it won't return for another 6,800 years.

It is difficult to know when a long-period comet, such as Comet NEOWISE, will come along and put on a bright display in the sky, so be sure to take advantage of this rare opportunity to see a comet before it's too late.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
SINGAPORE, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent "opinion poll" found that the Budget Direct Insurance sock puppet is a hit with Singaporeans who were more likely to buy when familiar with its playful mascot.

The 'true blue kiasu' Singaporean puppet is the driving force behind many of Budget Direct Insurance's marketing campaigns, leading the search for better value and helping consumers save money on car, motorcycle and travel insurance.

Budget Directs mascot, Budsy, is a hit among Singaporeans according to recent brand study.

The brand mascot, named Budsy, has also provided a useful vehicle through which the award-winning insurer has been able to tackle issues which confuse consumers, by cutting through industry jargon.

And now it appears Budsy's role as a strong marketing tool is secured following results from a recent market research study by independent firm 2CV Research, which found that the fun mascot continues to have positive associations for the brand.

Simon Birch, CEO of Budget Direct Insurance, said: "The brand health survey results are encouraging; our message is clear and is cutting through. Budsy shows we're an insurer who likes to do things differently. He's a friendly value-seeker helping Singaporeans find a better deal and make smart and intelligent choices when it comes to their insurance."

Cohort Communications, the Singapore advertising agency behind the creative for Budget Direct Insurance, added: "We're delighted that Budsy is winning the hearts and minds of Singaporeans and is perceived as an icon of good budget insurance who at the same time is cheeky and fun. The concept helps redefine the traditional tone of insurance advertising in Singapore."

Budsy features in a series of online commercials, as well as print, outdoor billboards and radio adverts around town. He encourages motorists to compare their current car insurance renewal premium with a quote from Budget Direct Insurance. If the renewal premium is cheaper than a quote from Budget Direct, consumers get $100, even if they don't buy.

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Budget Direct insurance says that by shopping around and being smarter, consumers really can save money on their insurance. "Many customers have told us they've saved hundreds on car insurance when they switched to comparable cover with Budget Direct Insurance," added Birch.

His words are backed up by the results of a separate independent study conducted by a consumer research firm that showed Budget Direct Insurance offers one of the most competitive deals on car insurance in Singapore. In 2020, ValueChampion named the Budget Direct Comprehensive plan as their top pick for Cheapest Car Insurance for the third consecutive year.

In addition to low prices, Budget Direct Insurance consistently maintains high customer service ratings of 4.6 out of a possible 5 stars on independent reviews platform, Feefo. As a result, the digital insurer has won multiple awards over the years based on over 3,100 verified reviews. Recently, it received the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service 2020 award for achieving the Feefo Gold standard for three consecutive years.

Budget Direct Insurance is part of an international group which provides insurance solutions for millions of policyholders worldwide. Their brands include Compare the Market in the UK, Budget Direct in Australia and Telesure in South Africa.

About Budget Direct Insurance

Budget Direct Insurance is the trading name of Auto & General Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Limited, which is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and bound by the regulations and requirements for insurers.

Budget Direct Insurance was built as a digital start-up in Singapore, and is part of a privately owned global group of companies, whose principal businesses are engaged in insurance underwriting, direct insurance distribution, brokering and related services, online comparison and property development.

The Group, which provides insurance solutions for millions of policyholders worldwide, includes one of the largest direct personal lines insurers in South Africa and one of the largest personal lines insurance intermediaries in the United Kingdom.

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200707/2850201-1

SOURCE Budget Direct Insurance
VANCOUVER, BC, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (TSX:CMMC) (ASX:C6C) ("Copper Mountain" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has successfully installed and commissioned the Direct Flotation Reactors (DFRs) at its Copper Mountain Mine on schedule and on budget. This represents the first stage of its mill expansion project which will bring plant capacity to 45,000 tonnes per day from 40,000 tonnes per day. The installation of the DFRs increases the efficiency and the capacity of the current cleaner circuit, which is expected to increase copper concentrate grade from about 25% to 28%, resulting in lower concentrate transportation, smelting and refining costs. See appendix A for photos of the installed DFRs.

APPENDIX A: Direct Flotation Reactors installed at the Copper Mountain Mine (CNW Group/Copper Mountain Mining Corporation)

"We are pleased that the installation of the DFRs was completed on schedule and on budget," commented Gil Clausen, Copper Mountain's President and CEO. "The DFRs have been commissioned and turned over to operations. This is a testament to the great work of our operating and projects team. The DFRs are a low capital, high return project and we are already seeing improved concentrate grades. The next stage for the mill expansion project is the installation of the third ball mill. We have the ability to rapidly restart this stage as we have maintained long lead time expenditures and we also have the flexibility to accelerate the project as necessary. With the installation of the third ball mill, we expect production to increase by 15 to 18% as a result of higher throughput and improved recoveries."

About Copper Mountain Mining Corporation:

Copper Mountain's flagship asset is the 75% owned Copper Mountain mine located in southern British Columbia near the town of Princeton. The Copper Mountain mine currently produces on average approximately 90 million pounds of copper equivalent annually. Copper Mountain also has the permitted, development-stage Eva Copper Project in Queensland, Australia and an extensive 4,000 km2 highly prospective land package in the Mount Isa area. Copper Mountain trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "CMMC" and Australian Stock Exchange under the symbol "C6C".

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Additional information is available on the Company's web page at www.CuMtn.com.

On behalf of the Board of

COPPER MOUNTAIN MINING CORPORATION

"Gil Clausen"

Gil Clausen, P.Eng.

Chief Executive Officer

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include the successful exploration of the Company's properties in Canada and Australia, the reliability of the historical data referenced in this press release and risks set out in Copper Mountain's public documents, including in each management discussion and analysis, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Copper Mountain believes that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, Copper Mountain disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Copper Mountain Mining Announces Commissioning of Direct Flotation Reactors at the Copper Mountain Mine (CNW Group/Copper Mountain Mining Corporation)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/copper-mountain-mining-announces-commissioning-of-direct-flotation-reactors-at-the-copper-mountain-mine-301090020.html

SOURCE Copper Mountain Mining Corporation
The novel coronavirus is now infecting American prison inmates at a rate more than five times higher than in the overall U.S. population, and those numbers are escalating rapidly, according to a new analysis by the UCLA School of Laws COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project and Johns Hopkins.

When adjusted for age, those infected while incarcerated were over than three times more likely to die from coronavirus than those on the outside, the review of available data from state and federal prisons showed, according to the report released Wednesday.

We were surprised by the size of the gap, Professor Sharon Dolovich, director of the project, told ABC News. I think we knew that we were going to find numbers that were disproportionate, but we were all surprised that the disparity is so great.

Dolovich said she believes the disparity is likely even worse because many prison facilities are still only performing COVID-19 tests on inmates who are already showing symptoms of the virus.

If youre a facility thats only testing people with overt symptoms, then youre going to miss all of the asymptomatic people, Dolovich said.

MORE: 'We need help': Inmates describe prison system unprepared for coronavirus

PHOTO: A law enforcement officer walks outside the entrance to The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), in the Brooklyn borough of New York, July 6, 2020. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

The new findings come as the viral pandemic has been resurgent in nearly two dozen states, and many are being forced to re-impose precautions that help prevent further spread. But in the thousands of jails and prisons across the country where coronavirus has crept inside, inmates and corrections officers are finding it far more difficult to enforce social distancing and other preventive measures.

Some of the worst viral hot spots in the nation have been in prisons and jails. More than 2,400 inmates at the Marion Correctional Institution in Ohio tested positive, according to figures compiled by The New York Times. The San Quentin State Prison in California has seen 1,587 positive cases, and the Harris County jail in Houston, Texas has reported 1,390 with the illness, the Times data says.

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A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said the bureau has not yet reviewed the new study. But the spokesperson said inmates are being tested more and more as resources are becoming available, and protocols are in place to isolate those who test positive and treat those showing symptoms. The spokesperson added that its prisons follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, noting, "While a prison setting is unique when addressing a pandemic, the care and treatment of an identified positive COVID-19 case is not."

The initial strategy in fighting the virus behind bars involved suspending the movement of inmates from facility to facility within the federal prison system and modified operations to maximize social distancing, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Both federal and state facilities have also instituted the targeted release of inmates to reduce population -- though to varying degrees.

MORE: Judge: NY lockup's COVID-19 response lacked common sense

According to an internal memo obtained by ABC News, the Bureau of Prisons extended what it called its phase 7 of the COVID-19 plan. The memo says that inmate intakes are resuming somewhat normally, after removing quarantine sites. The BOP now says that institutions are supposed to designate specific quarantine and isolation areas, where inmates will be held for 14 days and then tested.

BOP is also starting to resume moving inmates between short distances. They say inmates will be quarantined for 14 days before and after the moves as well as tested at each facility. These policies will be in place until July 31. A BOP spokesperson did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment for this report.

Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis.

The Prison Policy Initiative, a non-profit that advocates against mass criminalization, analyzed pandemic responses at local jails and state prisons and found jails reduced populations by an average of about 30%, while state prisons showed an average reduction rate of 5%. Some advocates for inmates have promoted the approach, saying reducing inmate populations will not only help keep prisoners and staff safe, but could be crucial to protecting entire communities.

We have correctional officers, health workers, and other staff going in and out of these facilities every day, said Sarah Gersten, Executive Director and General Counsel for the Last Prisoner Project. Theres a risk that theyre going to then spread the virus into their own communities and overwhelm the already overwhelmed healthcare systems.

Gersten said inmates who are released do not pose the same threat because they are under strict quarantines and are screened prior to getting out.

The Last Prisoner Project is a nonprofit whose mission is to reform marijuana-related laws and advocate for the release of people incarcerated on marijuana-related charges. With the onset of coronavirus, Gersten said the group has widening its focus.

Weve expanded our program to capture anyone that might be particularly at risk of dying because of COVID, she told ABC News.

Despite the growing number of coronavirus cases inside prisons, legal advocates told ABC News that the number of inmates being released to help stop the spread does not appear to be increasing. Gersten and her team have been advocating for the early release of prisoners such as Michael Thompson, an inmate Muskegon Correctional Facility in Michigan.

Doctors diagnosed Thompson, 69, with Type 2 diabetes, placing him in a high risk category for the virus. He has been incarcerated in 1996 and has served more than half of a 42- to 60-year sentence for three counts of selling marijuana and two counts of illegal possession of a firearm. He was 45-years-old at the time of his arrest.

Thompson told ABC News in a telephone interview that he worries day and night about contracting the virus.

Im concerned when you dont have a way to fight it back, he said.

MORE: Michigan inmate serving 60-year sentence for selling weed requests clemency

PHOTO: Michael Thompson is seen here in an undated mugshot. (Courtesy Michigan Department of Corrections )

The Michigan Department of Corrections provided face coverings for inmates, but Thompson said he considered them flimsy, so he and other inmates have become creative.

I made my own mask out of undershorts, he said. One of the guys here who sews really good I gave him some brand new undershorts and he made it for me.

A spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections says the masks initially provided to inmates were made from excess prisoner clothing, but the department has since started using a custom cotton material.

The virus has changed life inside the prison walls. Inmates have less freedom and fewer contacts with loved ones on the outside.

Its a lot of controlled movement, he said. No visits for one, and only one unit goes out on a yard at a time.

The latest information from the Michigan Department of Corrections says nearly 1,300 inmates at Muskegon Correctional Facility were tested for COVID-19. The state says 1,282 tests were negative, none were positive, and nine are pending results. Michigan has not released information for individual facilities, but UCLA data shows just under 2,000 of Michigans 38,000 prison inmates have been released since the pandemic began.

Professor Dolovich says she hopes her teams work will help lead to increased release rates nationwide.

People inside are scared and the ones who are sicker are often not getting good health care, she said. Im hoping that with the publication of our findings there will be a refocusing on what I think is one of the most urgent crises facing the country right now.

The Michigan Department of Corrections spokesperson said inmates there are provided adequate healthcare. "We have a duty and obligation to care for all prisoners that the courts send to us," Chris Gautz told ABC News. "We spend a lot of time and care and money and energy providing medical care to prisoners."

But Thompson says hes not sure if he would survive COVID-19 if he contracted the virus.

Oh no. Prison dont work that way, he laughed. You know, as far as trying to save people. Its cheaper to let you die.

ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report. This report has been updated.

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





Coronavirus infecting Americas prison inmates 5 times more than outside, new study finds originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
LITTLETON, CO  Despite the recent expansion of some businesses and services, Littleton has seen a 'flattening of the curve' of new coronavirus cases over the past week, according to public health data.

On June 30, at least 19 new cases were reported in Littleton over the previous week; this week, only 7 new cases have been reported.

Jeffco Public Health and Tri-County Health Department have updated their COVID-19 data to offer more accurate case counts in Littleton. Tri-County now offers a breakdown by Littleton neighborhoods, and Jeffco has been able to assess which cases are linked to addresses within Littleton's municipal boundaries.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began, there have been nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Jefferson County side of Littleton, according to data updated Monday.

The following Tri-County case counts have been linked to Littleton addresses, but may not all be in the city's boundaries:

There have been more than 9,300 cases of the new coronavirus in Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties since the outbreak began, according to data posted by state health officials.



The number of cases in other surrounding Tri-County Health Department communities can be found here. The number of cases in Jefferson County cities can be found here.





Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in Littleton: Free Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook | Twitter

The Tri-County Health Department's top officials voted Wednesday to authorize the department's executive director to implement a mandatory face covering order; however municipalities will be able to opt out of the order.

Under the new statewide Safer at Home: New Guidelines phase, counties that have seen a downward trend of cases and that prove they have a solid plan for combating the virus can apply to expand some services.

Jeffco health officials appeared hopeful that some outdoor events could be hosted under public health guidelines, and worked with the Bandimere Speedway to allow the Jet Car Nationals to be held Saturday; however, event organizers failed to limit and manage the crowd size and implement social distancing requirements, the public health agency said.

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The county is monitoring the spread of the coronavirus to determine whether other outdoor events can be held safely.

"We want our businesses, who are pillars in our community, to be able to safely operate," said Mark Johnson, Jeffco Public Health's executive director. "At the same time, we are dealing with the most significant public health crisis of our lifetime, and cases of the virus are already starting to increase again in Jeffco.

"We are proud that the large majority of our local businesses are working diligently to keep themselves and others safe. However, when one business does not, it compromises the health and economy of our entire community."

Safer at Home: New Guidelines phase

Indoor events (conferences, receptions, museums) can begin to open

Outdoor events (concerts, fairs rodeos, receptions) can also begin to open

Residential overnight summer camps will be able to open with 10 kids together indoors and 25 kids outdoors

Personal services will be able to expand to include things such as facials, beard trimming, lip waxing, etc.

Non-critical manufacturing facilities can expand their in-person workforce

Denver, Arapahoe and Weld counties consistently have the highest overall number of cases in the state; however, Logan, Morgan and Saguache counties have had the highest case rates per 100,000 people.

Over the past week, 1,153 new cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Colorado, according to public health data. As of Tuesday, 34,664 people had been infected with the coronavirus in the state among 362,145 people who have been tested since the outbreak began, health officials confirmed. Around 5,741 people have been hospitalized, and the death toll among people who tested positive for COVID-19 has reached 1,696.





Graphs courtesy of Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. Data reported Tuesday, and may differ from Jeffco Public Health and Tri-County Health numbers as the state's reporting is a day behind.





This article originally appeared on the Littleton Patch
Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak last month. Photo: Heathcliff O'Malley/AFP via Getty Images

Firms and unions have welcomed a UK government pledge to create hundreds of thousands of high-quality jobs for young people to stave off a sharp rise in youth unemployment.

The Treasury confirmed a new 2bn ($2.5bn) Kickstart Scheme will be launched in August, subsidising employers who offer six-month work placements for 16- to 24-year-olds.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the measures on Wednesday ahead of his speech in the Commons on the governments wider hopes of reviving the economy and preventing another spike in unemployment.

There are widespread fears unemployment will continue to mount amid weak economic demand, cutbacks to the furlough scheme and young people leaving education this summer. Unemployment could hit 11.7% by the end of the year, according to figures released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Tuesday.

READ MORE: UK chancellor to launch 3bn green jobs package

Sunak said in a statement released by the Treasury late on Tuesday: Young people bear the brunt of most economic crises, but they are at particular risk this time because they work in the sectors disproportionately hit by the pandemic.

The Kickstart Scheme will be targeted at young people who are claiming universal credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. The government will cover the cost of paying the national minimum wage for 25 hours a week, with employers able, though not required, to pay more on top.

The Treasury hopes the scheme will give young people the chance to build workplace skills and improve their chances of securing long-term jobs.

The announcement was welcomed by business and union leaders. Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), called it a much-needed down payment in young peoples futures.

READ MORE: Unemployment could hit almost 15% if UK faces second wave

She said the scheme could help lessen the potential scarring impact of the crisis, with research showing unemployment can have damaging long-term consequences for young peoples careers.

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Fairbairn added that the government must work with employers to roll out the scheme simply and at speed.

Frances OGrady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), called the measures a good first step. But she warned the government must avoid job displacement, ensuring the scheme creates additional roles that would not be created otherwise.

The TUC has called for a higher real living wage, training and focus on key areas like decarbonisation in any youth jobs scheme.

READ MORE: What to expect from Rishi Sunaks summer statement

The Treasury has already confirmed Sunak will also unveil a 3bn ($3.7bn) green jobs package. Critics said the chancellor should have gone further, but it is hoped tens of thousands of jobs will be created making public buildings, social housing and private homes more energy-efficient.
Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19, and a U.S. senator says the U.S. has begun the process of dropping out of the World Health Organization.

But two U.S. pharmaceutical companies say they are closing in on drugs that could treat or even prevent COVID-19 within a few months.

A $450 million federal contract awarded Regeneron Pharmaceuticals could help get initial doses of their drug out by summer's end, the company said. Another company, Novavax, claimed a $1.6 billion contract and said if testing goes well it hopes to deliver 100 million vaccine doses as early as late 2020.

The news comes as confirmed cases surge across most of the U.S.; Dr. Anthony Fauci said the country is "still knee-deep in the first wave of this." Arizona is one hot spot: The state surpassed 100,000 cases Monday, and more than 62,000 of the 101,441 reported cases involve people younger than 44, state officials said.

President Donald Trump was undeterred, tweeting Tuesday that the U.S. has "the lowest Mortality Rate in the World. The Fake News should be reporting these most important of facts, but they dont!"

Here are some recent developments:

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, 65, revealed Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 after developing a cough and other symptoms.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said Tuesday that the White House has formally notified Congress that the U.S. has officially started the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization.

Caesars Entertainment told its employees in an email Monday that they could be fired for not wearing a face mask.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said FEMA denied multiple requests for a mega-COVID-19 testing site as they've done in other cities.

Florida state officials are ordering all school to reopen in August "at least five days per week for all students."

 Today's stats: The U.S. has seen almost 3 million confirmed cases and more than 130,000 deaths, according to John Hopkins University data. Globally, there have been 11.6 million cases and 540,000 deaths.

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 What we're reading: Hundreds of millions of dollars has gone to COVID-19 contractors accused of prior fraud. Those contracts range from masks and medical equipment to janitorial cleaning, video productions and even ferryboat services.

Our live blog will be updated throughout the day. For first-in-the-morning updates, sign up for The Daily Briefing.

Face masks required in 7 hard-hit counties in Ohio starting Wednesday

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the state will require masks in seven counties where the novel coronavirus is spreading most rapidly. The requirement will take effect at 6 p.m. Wednesday. "We are seeing a serious situation," DeWine said. "We have to take action."

That includes Hamilton and Butler counties, which were two of seven "red" counties on a new color-coded map to show where COVID-19 is infecting an increasing number of residents. The order will remain in effect as long as these counties are considered red level or if they increase to the purple alert. If the counties drop to a level 2, or orange level, the requirement will drop off.

DeWine proposed a statewide mask mandate in April but reversed course the next day, saying some Ohioans found the requirement "offensive." Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said hes against any mask mandate and he wont do anything to help enforce it. Im not going to be the mask police, Bulter said. Ive got a lot of important things to do, and being the mask police is not one of them.

 Jackie Borchardt, Jessie Balmert and Hannah K. Sparling, Cincinnati Enquirer

Levi's cuts 15% of its corporate workforce after sales drop

Levi Strauss & Co. is cutting about 15% of its corporate workforce worldwide because of a sharp decrease in sales due to the coronavirus pandemic, the company announced Tuesday. The cut of 700 office jobs, which won't affect employees at stores or factories, will save the San Francisco-based jeans maker about $100 million a year.

We started the year with strong momentum, but the global pandemic and economic crises had a significantly negative impact on our second quarter results, as our stores and most wholesale doors were closed around the world for the majority of the quarter," said Chip Bergh, president and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co, in a news release.

The company, also known as Levi's, said its revenues declined 62% to $497.5 million because of the temporary store closures, which included many of the department stores that sell its jeans were also shut. It reported a loss of $363.5 million, after reporting a profit a year ago.

 Kelly Tyko

Texas passes 10,000 confirmed new coronavirus cases in single day for first time

On Tuesday, Texas set record highs for new confirmed coronavirus cases (10,028), hospitalizations (9,286) and deaths (60), the Texas Health and Human Services Commission said. The hospitalizations have now reached record highs in nine consecutive days.

The daily confirmed new case mark surpassed July 4's previous high of of 8,260. Just one day ago, Texas had officially surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 cases, which was only 17 days after it passed the 100,000 threshold.

Also, Texas surpassed 200,000 total COVID-19 cases, just 17 days after crossing the 100,000 threshold, a figure that took the state nearly four months to hit. The milestone came just days after Florida reached 200,000 cases.

At least 8 Mississippi lawmakers test positive for COVID-19

At least eight Mississippi lawmakers have tested positive for the coronavirus after working for weeks in a Capitol where many people stood or sat close together and did not wear masks.

Among those who have publicly acknowledged having COVID-19 are Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who presides over the Senate, and House Speaker Philip Gunn.

The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said Tuesday there are also at least 11 other suspected cases of the virus among legislators and Capitol employees. In addition, Dobbs said the highly contagious virus is spreading at parties and other social gatherings around the state.

14 Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants test positive for COVID-19

Fourteen flight attendants tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a recent training at Hawaiian Airlines' Honolulu headquarters and are now in quarantine, according to the airline, which has canceled its flight attendant training due to the circumstances.

"We are supporting our team members in their recovery, and other employees involved in the training have been self-monitoring their health, in accordance with CDC and state Department of Health guidance provided to us," Alex Da Silva, a Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson, told USA TODAY. "We have also reinforced our office protocols to keep our employees safe and have temporarily canceled our flight attendant training in order to deep clean our facilities."

Guests are required to wear face masks on Hawaiian Airlines flights, and flight attendants wear them while serving guests on board, according to the airline's website. Mask requirements are now a given when flying in North America.

 David Oliver

Trump administration sets withdrawal date from WHO

The Trump administration has officially begun to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grip the globe and infections spike in many states across the U.S.

Congress received formal notification of the decision on Tuesday, more than a month after President Donald Trump announced his intention to end the U.S. relationship with the WHO and blasted the multilateral institution as a tool of China. The White House said the withdrawal would take effect on July 6, 2021.

Democrats said the decision was irresponsible and ill-considered, noting it comes as the pandemic is raging and international cooperation is vital to confront the crisis.

"This won't protect American lives or interests  it leaves Americans sick & America alone," Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, tweeted after receiving the White House's notification. "To call Trumps response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn't do it justice."

 Deirdre Shesgreen and Courtney Subramanian

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly downplayed the pandemic while numbers in his nation have soared, said Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. Bolsonaro, 65, was tested Monday after developing a cough and other symptoms. He confirmed the test results Tuesday while wearing a mask and speaking to reporters in capital Brasilia.

Im well, normal. I even want to take a walk around here, but I cant due to medical recommendations, he said. Bolsonaro has repeatedly urged his citizens to return to work in an effort to avoid an economic crash. But Brazil has become a hot spot: more than 1.6 million confirmed cases and more than 65,000 deaths. Bolsonaro celebrated the Fourth of July with U.S. Ambassador Todd Chapman, and photos from the event showed the men and their aides without masks. The U.S. Embassy said on Twitter Chapman is not showing any COVID-19 symptoms but would be tested.

State Fair of Texas falls victim to COVID-19

The State Fair of Texas, at 24 days the nation's longest running and also among the largest, was canceled Tuesday, another victim of the pandemic that has emptied restaurants, silenced concert halls and quieted sports arenas since March.

The fair usually draws more than 2.5 million people to Fair Park, and estimates on its economic impact on Dallas exceed $400 million. Texas, however, has been hit hard by the virus, with more than 200,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,700 deaths statewide. This year's fair as scheduled to open Sept. 25.

"It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the State Fair of Texas will not open for the 2020 season," organizers said in a statement. "We cant wait to welcome you back in 2021, in Texas-style of course, with the biggest and the best, 'Howdy, Folks!'

One event that takes place in the middle of the fairgrounds during the event - the annual Oklahoma-Texas football game - won't be impacted by the cancellation, both schools said.

Younger people driving boom in COVID-19 cases

People under 40 now make up the majority of COVID-19 cases, according to a USA TODAY analysis of data from 17 states. We found that the average age of a new person reported to have coronavirus has fallen significantly since March. Though the nation is now seeing more infections among young people, the elderly suffer more severe outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 out of 10 COVID-19-related deaths reported in the U.S. have been among adults aged 65 and older. Young people may be spreading the virus to more vulnerable Americans.

 Karina Zaiets and Ramon Padilla

Retailers to governors: Make masks mandatory in public everywhere

The Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents Target, Lowe's, Walgreens and other major chains, has asked the nation's governors to require all Americans to wear masks in public. The group, in a letter to the National Governors Association, said that fewer than half of U.S. states require face mask wearing in public. Inconsistent rules among states, and in some cases within states, have confused shoppers and prompted conflicts between customers and workers enforcing rules, the letter says.

Retailers are alarmed with the instances of hostility and violence front-line employees are experiencing by a vocal minority of customers, said RILA President Brian Dodge.

EPA loves its Lysol, says it's effective against coronavirus

It turns out that spewing Lysol Disinfectant Spray all around your house might actually be a good idea, if you can find the stuff. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has formally approved Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist as effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

EPA is committed to identifying new tools and providing accurate and up-to-date information to help the American public protect themselves and their families, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said.

Lysol may not be new, but it has been flying off shelves since the pandemic became a thing. But even Lysol maker Reckitt Benckiser realizes there are limits: After President Trump in April famously suggested injecting disinfectant, the company issued a press release emphasizing that "under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body."

Maryland, New York companies close in on COVID-19 vaccines, drugs

Add Maryland's Novavax to the list of biotechs winning payouts from the federal government's Operation Warp Speed to pursue COVID-19 vaccines and medications. Novavax has claimed $1.6 billion to pursue its candidate, NVX CoV2373. The program aims to speed development of a COVID-19 vaccine by paying to manufacture several possible vaccines.

This will likely result in millions of doses of failed vaccines having to be thrown in the trash, Dr. Anthony Fauci says. But it will also mean that if one or more vaccines proves safe and effective, the public will have quick access to it. Novavax said if testing goes well, it hopes to deliver 100 million doses as early as late 2020.

New York state-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals said Tuesday that it has won a $450 million federal contract to manufacture and supply REGN-COV2, the company's antibody cocktail that could begin rolling out "as early as end of summer."

 Karen Weintraub

Study: Most infections may be spread by people without symptoms

A majority of COVID-19 infections may be spread through "silent transmission" by people who have no symptoms or have not yet displayed them, a new study suggests. That could be crucial as states reopen their economies and schools, leaving isolation of infected individuals as the primary protocol curtailing transmission.

In the absence of population-wide restrictions, isolation of infected individuals is key to curtailing transmission. That won't work if most of the infections are being spread by people we don't even know are infected.

"We found that the majority of incidences may be attributable to silent transmission from a combination of the presymptomatic stage and asymptomatic infections," the study, published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." "Consequently, even if all symptomatic cases are isolated, a vast outbreak may nonetheless unfold."

Miami-Dade shuts restaurants, gyms, some rentals; hospitalizations spike

Miami-Dade County Mayor Mayor Carlos Gimenez has signed an emergency order closing restaurants (except for takeout and delivery services), ballrooms, banquet facilities, party venues, gyms and fitness centers, and short-term rentals. Gimenez, citing a spike in the percent of positive COVID-19 tests and hospitalizations, said the closure are effective Wednesday.

"We want to ensure that our hospitals continue to have the staffing necessary to save lives," the mayor said. Beaches, office buildings, retail stores and grooming services will remain open "for now," the mayor said.

Fraud claims no barrier for companies seeking federal COVID contracts

Federal purchasers have rushed out more than $16 billion in coronavirus contracts ranging from masks and medical equipment to janitorial cleaning, video productions and even ferryboat services. A USA TODAY investigation of 15 of the largest and hardest-hit states found hundreds of millions of dollars in non-competitive awards went to vendors that have been accused of defrauding taxpayers. Nothing in federal law prohibits it as long as they are still considered responsible and arent suspended or debarred from doing business with the government.

But under President Donald Trump, where federal contracting officials have seen their workload increase nearly fivefold, taxpayers are particularly vulnerable because this administration has diluted the oversight functions," Steven Schooner, who served as a career official in the Clinton administration procurement policy office, told USA TODAY.

 Josh Salman and Nick Penzenstadler

California State Capitol shuts down after outbreak

A coronavirus outbreak in the California Legislature has indefinitely delayed the state Assemblys return to work from a scheduled summer recess. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendons office confirmed five people who work in the Assembly have tested positive for the coronavirus. They include Assemblywoman Autumn Burke, who is believed to have contracted the virus while on the Assembly floor last month.

Rendon said Monday that the Assembly will stay in recess until further notice. He said the decision is to protect lawmakers, staff and the public. The Legislature shut down for nearly two months earlier this year during the pandemic.

More on the coronavirus from USA TODAY

Where a face mask is required: Many governors are instituting or renewing orders requiring people to wear face coverings in public as cases continue to rise. Is your state on the list? See it here.

Coronavirus Watch: We have a few ways for you to stay informed. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter here, and come together and share the latest information about the coronavirus, coping with lifestyle changes and more by joining our Facebook group.

Where are states on reopening? Some are taking preemptive measures to postpone further phases of their reopening, while others have rolled back their phases to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. See the list.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID; Brazil president positive; US drops WHO; Ohio governor masks
Marilyn Schneider is an executive secretary at Ohio's Cleveland Clinic where she gets her temperature checked several times a day.

When the 57-year-old got home from work March 27, an intense chill suddenly overcame her, accompanied by a rising fever.

It felt like something came up behind me and dropped a bucket of ice water on me, she said.

The next day, she got tested, and less than 12 hours later learned she was positive for COVID-19. Her fever climbed from 98 to 104.5 degrees in a single day, then the hallucinations began.

At first, Schneider heard voices through the walls that sounded like neighbors talking or her son in the next room  even though she lives alone and her son lives in Michigan. She called for her dog Scruffles, who died seven years ago.

Marilyn Schneider, an executive secretary at the Cleveland Clinic, suffered from COVID-19-induced hallucinations that she credits with saving her life this spring.

It culminated one night when Schneider was in bed and heard voices again. She turned over and was face-to-face with herself, a double, lying next to her on the bed. The vision's eyes were wide with fear, its arms extended. Marilyn, why arent you helping me? it said repeatedly.

Schneider reached through the hallucination to grab her cellphone on the nightstand and called 911. The next thing she remembers is running out to the street at 4 a.m. to flag down the ambulance. Doctors told her at the hospital that if she hadn't made that call, she would have been dead by morning.

The COVID hallucinations saved my life, she said.

Pravin George, a neurointensivist at the Cleveland Clinic, said hallucinations and delirium are becoming more common among COVID-19 patients. Its rare for someone to distinguish a hallucination from reality, then remember it afterward  like Schneider.

The fact that she was able to do a lot of those things is pretty remarkable, he said. Most of the patients arent able to remember a lot of these things happening.

Though experts cant confirm why COVID-19 patients experience hallucinations, George offered a few explanations.

'Wear masks': What doctors say about coronavirus risks at Trump's New Hampshire rally

Story continues

Check these rankings: Hospitals have long been judged on quality of care. These new rankings grade their commitment to community, too

The coronavirus can trigger intense inflammation caused by an overreaction of the bodys immune system. George said hallucinations could stem from such inflammation blocking blood to the brain or from the virus attacking the brain itself. Low oxygen levels from impacts to the lungs also can cause delirium.

COVID-19 patients who are heavily sedated in intensive care units can experience a different kind of delirium, called hypoactive delirium, George said.

The Cleveland Clinic said symptoms of hypoactive delirium include withdrawal, apathy, laziness and decreased responsiveness. Hyperactive delirium is characterized by anxiety, restlessness, rapid changes in emotion and hallucinations.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, isnt the first to lead to hallucinations and delirium. According to the Mayo Clinic, chickenpox, measles and tick-borne or mosquito-borne viruses can cause brain inflammation, medically known as encephalitis.

When Schneider arrived at the trauma center, the doctor said her lungs were the consistency of chocolate pudding.

Marilyn Schneider, 57, credits a coronavirus hallucination with saving her life.

I said, Please cover up the windows, I dont want my co-workers to see me die,  she recalled.

Schneider called her family to tell them her wishes and to say goodbye. She'd survived cancer and a double mastectomy and graduated college the year before, but she didn't have any fight left in her to conquer COVID-19.

Then another hallucination appeared. As she lay in the hospital bed intubated and heavily sedated, her late husband, aunt, sister and grandmother appeared in the room with a message.

"These people were telling me I had to go back and had to fight," she said.

Schneider's condition improved after that last hallucination. She was taken off the ventilator after several days and released from the hospital the following week.

She's mentally, emotionally and physically recovering from her illness. The vivid hallucinations she said saved her life prompted her to seek counseling, something she recommends for other COVID-19 patients.

"Hallucination, drug-induced, spiritual or whatever it is  I dont want to experience it again before it's my time," she said. "It was a very scary time. Im not minimizing cancer in any sense of the word ... (but) I would rather go through cancer again than go through COVID again."

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cleveland woman says 'COVID hallucinations' saved her life in the ICU
MPU Series Designed to Help Address Capacity Constraints

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CPC (Colder Products Company), part of Dover (NYSE: DOV) and maker of a broad range of single-use connectors, has introduced the 1" MPU Series connector for use with high-volume, large-flow fluid transfer in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

"As biopharmaceutical companies face capacity pressures, there is a need for components that support production optimization, including higher flow rates and seamless system integration," said John Boehm, Vice President of Biopharma at CPC. "Our goal is to help biopharma make the most of the production capacities they currently have and grow with them as they expand."

The new 1" MPU connector enables rapid fill and emptying of bioprocessing containers, which increases efficiency for bulk liquid transfer.

A 2019 survey of 341 global biopharmaceutical experts reported that more than 60 percent of commercial manufacturer respondents expect that their facilities will experience moderate-to-severe production capacity constraints in five years. The same survey identified adding in-house capacity, whether downstream (36.3%) or upstream (25.1%), as critical for avoiding significant capacity constraints.

The new MPU 1" connector offers higher flow rates than the existing 3/4" MPU, which has delivered reliable, leak-free performance for biopharmaceutical manufacturers for more than 20 years. The new product can be used with applications requiring a 1" connector for capsule filters, single-use bioreactors, mixing and storage tanks, chromatography skids, transfer lines and more.

The MPU connector helps to maintain smooth internal flow by minimizing transitional flow disruptions and fluid turbulence during liquid transfer and reducing the risk of product shear during processing. The MPU's new dual latching mechanism enables an easy twist-to-connect design that locks securely and guards against accidental disconnects, operator handling errors and potential contamination of the fluid path.

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For more information about the performance and versatility of the MPU series or any of the other 10,000+ innovative connection solutions CPC offers, please visit www.cpcworldwide.com.

About CPC:

CPC (Colder Products Company) is the leader in single-use connection technology, offering a wide variety of connectors for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Innovative, flexible designs easily combine multiple components and systems including process containers, tubing manifolds, transfer lines, bioreactors and other bioprocess equipment. Robust single-use connectors maintain media sterility and integrity while improving production yields, decreasing time to market and reducing costs. The company's well-known AseptiQuik connectors provide quick and easy sterile connections even in non-sterile environments. Learn more about AseptiQuik connectors and our entire portfolio at cpcworldwide.com/bio. Connect with confidence with CPC, an operating company within Dover Corporation.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of approximately $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Fueling Solutions, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Refrigeration & Food Equipment. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 60 years, our team of approximately 24,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com.

CPC Contact:

Jana Stender

(612) 564-2053

jana.stender@cpcworldwide.com



Dover Media Contact:

Adrian Sakowicz, VP, Communications

(630) 743-5039

asakowicz@dovercorp.com



Dover Investor Contact:

Andrey Galiuk, VP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

(630) 743-5131

agaliuk@dovercorp.com

Cision

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SOURCE Dover
Innovative efforts set Del Monte Foods, Inc. apart for creativity and agility in a rapidly changing market

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Del Monte Foods, Inc. has been recognized as Food Processing Magazine's Research and Development (R&D) Team of the Year. Each year, Food Processing Magazine nominates food or beverage companies across three size categories for innovative product development. Food Processing Magazine readers voted for Del Monte's R&D team to win in the large company category (more than $1 billion in sales) in the publication's 10th annual online poll.

Del Monte Foods Inc. R&D team members.

As consumer needs have changed rapidly, Del Monte Foods has continued to adapt products to fit into consumers' lives. The R&D team has championed this work by embarking on a more agile approach to innovation  through iterative learning, quicker consumer testing, and earlier feedback. Using this start-up mentality, as well as an integration of R&D and Marketing teams, Del Monte has enhanced its speed to market and growth outside existing product categories. This has led to the release of more than fifty new products in the past two years, including award-winning consumer favorites, such as Del Monte Fruit & Oats , Veggieful Veggie Bowls, Contadina Pizzettas, and the Fruit Crunch Parfait.

"We are extremely proud to see the hard work of our R&D team recognized by Food Processing Magazine this year," said Bibie Wu, Chief Marketing Officer who leads both the Marketing and R&D teams at Del Monte Foods. "There's been a tremendous amount of product innovation coming out of Del Monte Foods recently due to the creativity and agility of our R&D team."

A family-favorite for generations, Del Monte Foods continues to innovate, creating not only delicious, but nutritious products that fit into every lifestyle and budget. As Del Monte evolves its offerings, the brand expects to see more products come to market that will drive excitement from consumers across the nation.

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"We are creating a culture of innovation at Del Monte Foods led by the industry-leading product development efforts of our R&D organization  a team that is passionate about helping us reinvigorate our great family of brands," said Greg Longstreet, President and Chief Executive Officer at Del Monte Foods.

About Del Monte Foods Inc.

Del Monte Foods, Inc. is one of the largest producers, distributors, and marketers of premium quality, branded food products for the U.S. retail market. Brands include Del Monte, Contadina, College Inn, and S&W.

Del Monte Foods Inc. has a legacy of innovation and providing accessible nutrition to the American public, making it an iconic brand for over a century. In recent years, Del Monte Foods Inc. has been innovating from within, leveraging its history as one of the original plant-based food companies, and using its size and structure to transform and expand its product portfolio.

Del Monte Foods Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Limited (Bloomberg: DELM SP, DELM PM) and is not affiliated with certain other Del Monte companies around the world, including Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., Del Monte Canada, or Del Monte Asia Pte. Ltd. For more information on Del Monte Foods, visit www.delmontefoods.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

Laura Cohen

Edelman

Laura.Cohen@Edelman.com

415-486-3205

Del Monte Foods (PRNewsfoto/Del Monte Foods)

Cision

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SOURCE Del Monte Foods
SINGAPORE, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Electronics Int'l (Singapore), a provider of power and thermal management solutions, provided its first Delta Ultra Fast Charger in Singapore to leading land transport operator  ComfortDelGro. The fast charger unveiled on 1 July 2020 is the first of its kind in Singapore and the nation's fastest public commercial DC charger for taxis and EV owners.

Delta Provides Fastest DC EV Charger in Singapore to ComfortDelGro

The 100 kilowatt (kW) power output, Delta Ultra Fast Charger is located in ComfortDelGro Engineering's Loyang branch and can fast charge up to two vehicles at any one time.

If two EVs are being charged simultaneously, the charging station's power output is at least 50kW, enabling each EV to get a full charge in 30 minutes.

The Delta Ultra Fast Charger has a modular and future-proof system design that can easily upgrade later up to 150kW output power and can charge up to four EVs at once (two EVs DC charging and two EVs AC charging). It is a multi-standard, non-discriminative charger suitable for all available EVs today and in the foreseeable future.

Cecilia Ku, General Manager of Delta Electronics Int'l (Singapore), said: "With close to 50 years of experience in energy management and power technologies, Delta aims to provide our customer a one-stop service in building a future-proofed, more versatile and cost-efficient EV charging infrastructure solution."

Ang Soo Hock, CEO of ComfortDelGro Engineering, said: "While the interest in EVs continues to grow as more are looking to switch to greener options, charging time of EVs is still a key consideration. We hope that the introduction of faster charging solutions can help to alleviate those concerns and contribute to the development of a robust EV ecosystem in Singapore."

As a smart solutions provider in Singapore, Delta is supporting Singapore's electrification with its smart and efficient EV charging solutions that support e-mobility in green smart cities of the future.

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About Delta Electronics Int'l (Singapore)

Delta Electronics Int'l (Singapore), is a subsidiary of Delta Electronics (Thailand) Public Company Limited. The company is a producer of power and thermal management solutions. Delta also has a regional presence in several product segments including industrial automation, displays, and networking. Its mission statement, "To provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow," reflects the company's strong belief in sustainable development especially with issues related to the environment. As an energy-saving solutions provider with core competencies in power electronics and innovative research and development, Delta's business categories include Power Electronics, Automation, and Infrastructure. The company's global presence is supported by its sales offices in key regions around the world; manufacturing facilities in India, Slovakia and Thailand; and several R&D centers located in Thailand, India, Germany and other countries.

Delta continues to earn numerous recognitions for its achievements in the region and domestically. Some awards won include the prestigious ASEAN Business Award, Stock Exchange of Thailand's Best Company Performance Award and the coveted Prime Minister's Best Industry Award.

For detailed information about Delta Thailand, please visit: www.deltathailand.com

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200708/2851518-1

SOURCE Delta Electronics (Thailand) PCL
PORTSMOUTH, N.H.  The news that President Donald Trump will hold a rally Saturday raised concerns among medical experts about what his visit will do to the relatively low COVID-19 numbers in the area.

Some fear a large, crowded rally will reverse positive trends.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu urged residents to wear masks and practice social distancing at the outdoor rally.

It is imperative that folks attending the rally wear masks, he said.

From the outset of the pandemic, the state has not stopped people from peacefully assembling, including marches led by Black Lives Matter and protests from Reopen NH, Sununu said.

Coronavirus Watch newsletter: Get daily updates right in your inbox

Perception, influence play a role , expert says

Dr. David Itkin, infectious disease expert at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, said he looks at the upcoming rally from two perspectives.

The first is perception, Itkin said. Hes here. He is our leader. A lot of people, including me, have been working hard to keep our numbers low, to educate people about the best way to be safe. So I worry that the rallies give the perception that our president will be seen as a negative role model. I also worry his visit could undo what we have accomplished here.

Itkin said his second worry is for the people of southeastern New Hampshire.

I am not sure we have the ability to control infection in a really large crowd where some people will choose not to wear a mask.  Will there be the ability to do social distancing, or do they want that appearance of a packed house? Itkin said.

Itkin said his concerns are based solely on the science of infection control. He advised attendees to bring their own masks and hand sanitizer, to watch the crowd and to leave if they do not feel safe.

I am looking at the ability to protect the individual, the person who is going to leave there and go to the grocery store, to the pharmacy, Itkin said. Will that lead to a spike in cases? I guess well see.

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President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, June 20, 2020.

Out of the WHO: Trump has officially withdrawn US from the World Health Organization as pandemic spikes

'Crowds of any form inherently increase the risk '

Martha Wassell, director of infection prevention at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, New Hampshire, said any planned public gathering, regardless of size, during a pandemic is concerning from a public health perspective.

Crowds of any form inherently increase the risk of coronavirus transmission, Wassell said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released additional guidance on June 15 with a few questions to ask if considering attendance at a large gathering.

Wassell said attendees should consider how many people they will interact with, and for how long.

Being in a group with people who arent social distancing or wearing cloth face coverings increases your risk, she said. Engaging with new people raises your risk. Some people have the virus and dont have any symptoms, and it is not yet known how often people without symptoms can transmit the virus to others. Can you keep 6 feet of space between you and others? Will you be outdoors or indoors? The closer you are to other people who may be infected, the greater your risk of getting sick.

Keeping distance is especially important for people with increased risk of severe illness. Itkin said people 60 and older and those with cardiovascular diseases or compromised immune systems should stay home.

Mask mandate? Not yet

Dr. Ben Locwin, part of a group that advocates for mandatory masks in the state, said Gov. Sununu could require masks for the event.

His political affiliation and the enormity of the pressure amid the scenarios optics make that unlikely, Locwin said. Im guessing the Pease Development Authority could make any private property or zoned areas subject to their mask requests, should they choose to do so.

As I was the first to say back in February, cleaning surfaces is symbolic theater, and the principal transmission risk is droplets and aerosols in the air. Attendees on either side of the political divide can try to be as distanced as possible within the gathering and wear well-fitting masks/face coverings. Depending on the weather and the layout of the location, the receiving site could also put large industrial fans in place to force the fresh air exchange to limit the residence time of infectious particles in the air.

State Sen. Dan Feltes, who is challenging Sununu for governor, released the following statement: Given the impact of prior Trump rallies on public health, like the uptick in COVID-19 cases after Trumps Tulsa rally, Gov. Sununu should issue an order to require social distancing and masks and cancel the event if the Trump campaign will not comply. Gov. Sununu has kept the state of emergency in place and has the authority to do this. Public health of Granite Staters should take priority over politics.

Evangeline Thibodeau, an infectious disease doctor at York Hospital in Maine, is concerned about the people from her state who might attend.

Any situation where people will be at risk of not being able to stay at least 6 feet apart poses a risk, Thibodeau said. The crowds attracted to such a rally is concerning. The fact that many who attend choose not to wear a mask is concerning.

People standing together closely, with no mask for a long period of time, more than 15 minutes, raises risk, she said. We are doing well in Maine and in the Seacoast in general. Id hate to see us lose that.

Kenneth Cohen, a psychiatrist who lives in Kensington, New Hampshire, said he has watched the spread of COVID-19 and doesn't think a Trump rally is a good idea.

New Hampshire has been working hard to mitigate the COVID virus spread, and we have been cautiously wary, guarding against the uncertain course of this novel, lethal virus, Cohen said. The airborne droplet spread of the virus is certain, and the current national surge of cases and hospital admissions is alarming. Donald Trumps contempt of the science regarding this virus and his willful defiance against masks and holding large gatherings inflicts direct harm and escalates the spread of contagion.

Wassell urged attendees of the Trump rally to maintain at least 6 feet distance from others and to wear a mask.

Even if 6 feet can be maintained, for the sake of those around you, please choose to wear a mask to help control droplets and to prevent transmission, she said. Mask use is a kind, unselfish gesture of caring for the health and well-being of those around you. Please remember the hand sanitizer, and use regularly, especially before and after adjusting your mask.

Opinion: Trump's 'mission accomplished' moment is premature and deadly. We have not defeated COVID-19

More: Terry Crews and CNN's Don Lemon clash over Black Lives Matter during broadcast

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Trump New Hampshire rally: Portsmouth-area doctors have virus worries
Trump in front of Mount Rushmore at South Dakota's Independence Day event: Reuters

Donald Trumps niece warns that the re-election of her uncle would herald the end of American democracy in a new book that explores the presidents life and psychological health.

Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and daughter to Mr Trump's late brother, paints a picture of a man who was so scarred by his toxic upbringing that he is today unfit to be president.

If he is afforded a second term, it will be the end of American democracy, she writes in the prologue of the book, titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man.

"Honest work was never demanded of him, and no matter how badly he failed, he was rewarded in ways that are almost unfathomable. He continues to be protected from his own disasters in the White House," Ms Trump writes.

"But now the stakes are far higher than they've ever been before; they are literally life and death. Unlike any previous time in his life, Donald's failings cannot be hidden or ignored because they threaten us all."

The publication of the book, due to be released next week, follows a legal battle between Ms Trump and her family, who tried to block its release by claiming it violated a 20-year-old non-disclosure agreement signed in a lawsuit settlement over the will of Fred Trump, the presidents father and Ms Trumps grandfather.

The publisher, Simon & Schuster, describes the book as a revelatory, authoritative portrait of Donald J. Trump and the toxic family that made him.

Ms Trump, 55, who has a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, uses both her education and experience of growing up around the Trump dynasty to explain the president's behaviour today.

She details how, in her view, emotional abuse by his father destroyed Mr Trump and robbed him of the ability to develop and experience the entire spectrum of human emotion.

Child abuse is, in some sense, the expectation of too much or not enough. Donald directly experienced the not enough in the loss of connection to his mother at a crucial development stage, which was deeply traumatic, she writes.

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She adds that his fathers failure to make the younger Trump feel safe or loved during this time would scar him for life.

The personality traits that resulted  displays of narcissism, bullying, grandiosity  finally made my grandfather take notice but not in a way that ameliorated any of the horror that had come before.

She claims Mr Trump "meets the criteria for antisocial personality disorder, which in its most severe form is generally considered sociopathy".

Marys father, Fred Jr, was president Trumps eldest brother. He died of an alcohol-related illness in 1981.

Read more

The most surprising revelations from Mary Trump's book
As coronavirus cases spike across Florida, dozens of hospitals in the state have announced that their intensive-care units are at capacity and many more warn that they are dangerously low on beds to handle the influx of new virus patients.

At least 56 Florida ICUs have run out of beds for coronavirus patients, and 35 more have said their bed availability has dropped to 10 percent or lower. The news comes as Florida recorded more than 7,300 new coronavirus cases, 380 new coronavirus hospitalizations, and 63 more deaths from the infection.

Despite the rising number of cases, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that the death rate in his state has begun to taper off, noting that most of the new cases are younger patients.

We are prepared for this, DeSantis said. In places like Miami, youre seeing increased traffic in the hospitals, but its interesting, I was down there today, and they said that theyre actually seeing fewer hospitalizations from people in nursing homes, which is obviously a good sign because thats where the No.1 risk of mortality is.

Several other states have seen their coronavirus cases surge in recent weeks after they reopened large swaths of their economies. Georgia passed 100,000 positive coronavirus cases on Tuesday, making it the ninth state to reach that number. The same day, California recorded a record daily increase of more than 10,200 new coronavirus cases, as well as a record 6,000 hospitalized patients. Some Texas counties have also warned that their hospital ICUs will run out of beds over the next two weeks.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser for the Trump administrations coronavirus task force, noted on Tuesday that the death rate from the virus has decreased, but warned against false complacency as the pathogen continues to spread.

Its a false narrative to take comfort in a lower rate of death, Fauci said. Theres so many other things that are very dangerous and bad about this virus, dont get yourself into false complacency.

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The death rate is lower, I admit that. Because people in general, who are young or healthier. But that doesnt mean that you could not get seriously ill, he added.

The U.S. has recorded more than three million positive cases of coronavirus, and 131,200 people in the country have died after being infected.

More from National Review
A torture chamber, discovered by Dutch police, allegedly used by criminals to detain and interrogate prisoners - REUTERS

Dutch police said they discovered a torture chamber used by criminals for interrogations inside a shipping container, equipped with a dentists chair to hold prisoners and sound-proofing to stifle their screams.

Six people were detained on suspicion of kidnapping and hostage taking, the national police said in a statement.

Seven shipping containers were found in a warehouse on June 22 in the town of Wouwse Plantage near the southern border with Belgium. Six of the containers were used as prison cells.

Suspects called the seventh container the treatment room, which was very clearly meant for and prepared to torture people, the statement said.

Handcuffs were attached to the ceilings and floors of the cells, which could be watched remotely via a video feed.

Dutch police uses explosives to enter a building where a torture chamber is hidden in a shipping container - REUTERS

The site was found during an investigation into a 40-year-old man from The Hague suspected of drug trafficking and plotting an execution.

Police were able to read texts sent on the encrypted messaging app EncroChat, enabling them to follow real time conversations between the criminals, who swapped pictures of the dental chair, the statement said.

Police also confiscated 24 kilograms of the drug MDMA, police clothing, stolen vehicles and weapons, the statement said.

Video released by the police showed a heavily armed arrest team blasting open a door at the warehouse and discovering the improvised prison. Another armed team detained a suspect in Rotterdam.

A torture chamber, discovered by Dutch police, allegedly used by criminals to detain and interrogate prisoners - REUTERS

"Six of the containers were intended as cells in which people could be tied up and one container was intended as a torture chamber," Andy Kraag, head of the police's National Investigation Service, said in a video released by police, adding that the police operation "prevented a number of violent crimes."

A search of the containers uncovered bags containing tools including hedge cutters, scalpels and pliers.

A court in Amsterdam ordered the six suspects held for 90 days as investigations continue.
Following a challenging and unique spring, school officialsacross New Hampshire are working hard through the summer to prepare schools toreopen this fall. Last week, the School Transition, Reopening, and RedesignTaskforce (STRRT) submitted high-level recommendations to the Department ofEducation and the Governor.

STRRT was constituted in May to provide recommendations onreopening schools in September. It included nearly 60 work group members from awide variety of backgrounds, ranging from parents, to pediatricians, toteachers and bus operators. STRRT also conducted a survey that generated 56,000responses from parents, teachers, and administrators from across the state.

Using the large amount of data and the high-levelrecommendations as a framework, the Department is building out detailedinformation to assist districts as they plan for reopening. In collaborationwith the Department of Health and Human Services, we expect to publish thatinformation shortly.

Even as we prepare our schools for the fall, I want tostress the importance of setting realistic expectations for our return toschool.

Schools, it seems obvious to say, are filled with children.And children sometimes act, well, childish. They are still growing anddeveloping. We dont expect them to do everything correctly. Mistakes are partof learning. We teach them to make good decisions, but know that they dontalways do so. That is not a flaw. Its part of growing up.

Children will behave like children when they return toschool. Members of STRRT and school officials across New Hampshire are goingthrough an exhaustive process on how to reopen schools. We are consideringvarious strategies and procedures to help ensure the safety of both ourchildren and the staff that support them. Many of the ideas surfaced in thisprocess rely on the actions of children, and we need to be prepared for thefact that children will not always follow these procedures.

That means that in spite of all of our planning andorganizing, children may not always make good decisions. A quick survey of newsheadlines over the past couple of weeks helps illustrate that point. Consider,

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University of Alabama students recently partied aroundcampus  despite knowing they were infected with the coronavirus, a localreport said Tuesday.[1]

Three Florida roommates went out to party after reasoningtheir college town barely has any COVID-19 cases  and all ended up infected,according to a report.[2]

At least 17 Ohio high schoolstudents tested positive for coronavirus after a recent trip to Myrtle Beach,when they returned to a county that had previously reduced infection rates tozero.[3]

I could go on.

When we return to school, we will need to be realistic aboutour expectations for a couple of reasons. First, it is unlikely that children even some of the older ones  will follow our well thought out plans exactly asimagined. They are children. That is not a flaw.

We also need to recognize the negative effect on those samechildren of an overly constrained environment. Children are designed to becurious learners and explorers. Stifling of that curiosity also has healthconsequences to our children, and I do not want us to lose sight of that.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently publishedconsiderations for return to school that has some very good information forschool leaders. They identify an important, though perhaps subtle, aspect ofour return to school. There is a conflict between optimal academic andsocial/emotional learning in schools and strict adherence to current physicaldistancing guidelines. There is a balance that we are working to achievebetween the tension of keeping staff and students safe and not causing undueharm.

As an example, AAP states that, Although ideal, universal face covering use is notalways possible in the school setting for many reasons. Some students, or staff,may be unable to safely wear a cloth face covering because of certain medicalconditions (eg, developmental, respiratory, tactile aversion, or otherconditions) or may be uncomfortable, making the consistent use of cloth facecoverings throughout the day challenging If not developmentally feasible,which may be the case for younger students, and cannot be done safely (eg, theface covering makes wearers touch their face more than they otherwise would),schools may choose to not require their use when physical distancing measurescan be effectively implemented.

STRRT and thethousands of people who contributed to its work have done their best to come upwith ways to safely bring students back into our schools in September. In eachcommunity across New Hampshire, school leaders are working to come up withreopening plans that will work for those communities.

It is, however, asystem that relies, in many cases and by necessity, on children. We know itwont be perfect because none of us are perfect. That is not a flaw, but a factof life. If we set realistic expectations, and continue to work with oneanother, I believe we can have a safe return to school.



Frank Edelblutis Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education.



[1] https://nypost.com/2020/06/30/alabama-students-partied-knowing-they-had-virus-official/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=mail_app

2 https://nypost.com/2020/06/30/florida-woman-and-roommates-have-coronavirus-after-partying/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=mail_app



3 https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/23/us/ohio-students-myrtle-beach-coronavirus-trnd/index.html

This article originally appeared on the Concord Patch
LONDON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The last of the five prizes in the "Second Life of Things in Design" international student competition has been awarded to the creators of PackZero, a circular delivery network that combines reusable packaging with hybrid pickup and delivery. The project by by Ruoyi An, Yanhui Ban and Shijie Luan, students at ArtCenter College of Design, US, has been selected as the winning one by the Founder of BE OPEN think tank, entrepreneur and philanthropist Elena Baturina.

PackZero proposes to transform the current resource depleting online retail distribution system, with a circular delivery network that combines inflatable reusable packaging with hybrid pickup and delivery experience. It implies building central hubs at locations that users frequent or find easily accessible, thereby reducing overall 'product miles.' The reusable package is to be made of durable biodegradable material, which research estimates can be potentially used up to 100 time, which is projected to reduce the shipping packaging waste in the world by 20% from 2020 to 2030.

"I chose to support PackZero because of their system multi-aspect approach to the immense problem of packaging waste. I believe the more aspects of an issue are taken on by the solution, the more efficient it is going to be. Yet I find the ambition and the thinking behind each of the finalist entries remarkable, and am deeply impressed with them. I am hoping that this competition will help drive more engagement with young designers from the SDG-focused businesses, state and public bodies. I am very excited to see how far these projects will evolve." - Elena Baturina, BE OPEN Founder.

In 2019, BE OPEN and Cumulus joined forces to hold an international competition to support the UN's SDG programme. Students of arts, design and architecture-related courses submitted works that demonstrate a design-oriented take on the problems of sustainability, wiser production and consumption called for in one of the SDGs. The project accumulated a total of 683 submissions from 44 countries.

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The competition offered 4 more prizes: three main winners were selected by the international jury and awarded with 10,000, 6,000, 4,000 jointly by BE OPEN and Cumulus; online voting selected the winner of the Public Vote Award of 2,000. All the winners will attend the awards ceremony to present their ideas to a panel of academics, design professionals, sustainability experts.

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SOURCE BE OPEN Foundation
A condor in flight in Big Sur. (Associated Press)

For the first time in nearly 50 years, California condors have been spotted at Sequoia National Park, wildlife officials announced.

The majestic scavengers, the largest land bird in North America, with a 9.5-foot wingspan, once inhabited areas stretching from California to Florida and Western Canada to Northern Mexico. They were listed as endangered in 1967 by the federal government, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

At least six condors were spotted in the park in late May, including two near Moro Rock, a popular hiking destination. Four others were seen in the Giant Forest, the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Tuesday in a joint news release.

Condors historically occupied the Sierra Nevada mountains and were known to nest in the cavities of giant sequoia trees. But by 1982, the flocks population had dropped dramatically  largely because of lead poisoning  leaving less than 25 surviving condors, officials said.

Endangered California condors were spotted near the Giant Forest and Moro Rock at Sequoia National Park on May 28. (Wilson Garver / National Park Service)

The handful of remaining birds were placed in a captive breeding program at the Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park to prevent them from going extinct, wildlife officials said.

Condors were released back into the wild in 1992 in the mountains of the Los Padres National Forest in Southern California. This flock grew to 100 through the continued release of captive-bred birds and wild reproduction, along with the support of private and public agencies and organizations, local communities and landowners, biologists said.

Since being released nearly 30 years ago, California condors have been seen flying near Sequoia in the last seven to eight years, but May was the first time they actually landed in the park, according to Tyler Coleman, a wildlife biologist with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

It took decades for the population to recover to the point where they were being seen in locations far beyond their release site, Coleman said Wednesday. This is evidence of continued recovery of the species. The animal was on the brink of extinction, and arrival in Sequoia is good evidence that they are utilizing and occupying habitat where they once lived. It is an important milestone.

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Wildlife biologists used GPS to locate the condors in the towering trees and craggy cliffs of the parks.

We use GPS transmitters to track the birds movement, which can be over hundreds of miles on a single day, said Dave Meyer, a California condor biologist with the Santa Barbara Zoo.

On this particular day, we documented the birds signals around Giant Forest, and we are excited that park employees observed the birds and confirmed their use of this important historic habitat," he said.

GPS data allows biologists to identify important habitats, locate condor nesting and feeding activities, find sick and injured birds and locate condors that have died in the wild.

Researchers say lead poisoning is responsible for half of all condor deaths in which a cause is identifiable. The birds scavenge for their food, feeding on the bodies of dead animals, which often contain fragments of lead ammunition.

Lead-core bullets shed weight in small fragments as they hit game, and have the potential to poison wildlife, including condors, who scavenge the remains, said Chad Thomas, an outreach coordinator for the Institute for Wildlife Studies.

Thomas said his team educates hunting and ranching communities, which are key partners in wildlife conservation, on how ammunition impacts scavengers and about non-lead bullet options.

As their population continues to grow, condors have expanded their geographic range and now occupy portions of Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Tulare, Fresno and Madera counties and the Sierra Nevada mountains and adjacent foothills, officials said.

Condors have also returned to areas along Californias Central Coast, at Pinnacles National Park, and in Arizona, Utah, and Baja California, with a total wild population of approximately 340 birds, officials said.

As biologists, we are excited to see condors continue to expand back into their historic range, and also for the opportunity to engage with the local communities to share what they can do to contribute to the recovery of California condors, and also inform them about threats to these birds, said Laura McMahon, wildlife biologist with the USFWS California Condor Recovery Program.
Nominate an Inspirational Senior Between ages 60 and 69 To Be Featured in the Toledo 60 Strong Calendar!

TOLEDO, Ohio, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- You, or someone you know, could be featured as a "pin up" in the 2021 Toledo 60 Strong calendar, an exclusive calendar showcasing inspirational "60 somethings" and highlighting Toledo events and activities. In addition to appearing in the calendar, winners receive celebrity treatment with a virtual kick-off party, professional photo shoot and compensation for modeling time.

Anyone age 18 or older can nominate a friend or family member - age 60 to 69 -who has achieved remarkable levels of fitness, pursued a new hobby or helped those in need. The candidate might be "giving back", fighting a chronic condition or caring for someone who is.

Here's how it works:

Log on to www.Toledo60Strong.com and submit an application form, 200-400-word essay, head shot and full-length photo by Monday, Aug. 31. You can also upload a smart phone video describing the candidate.

Or download an application form at www.Toledo60Strong.com and mail the completed form, a 200-400-word essay, head-shot and full-length photo to: Toledo 60 Strong Contest, c/o Independence Health Senior Care Advantage, 4235 Secord Road, Toledo, Ohio 43623. The entry must be postmarked by Thursday, August 27, 2020 .

Those who nominate winners will receive a $50 gift certificate.

Toledo 60 Strong candidates must be between ages 60 and 69 on Sept. 1, 2020, and a resident of the following counties: Erie, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams, and Wood.

Celebrity judges will virtually select 12 winners who exemplify how life after 60 can be a vibrant and active time. Contestants are judged on health/fitness/wellness, community involvement, volunteerism and how they inspire others.

Winners must be available Thursday, September 17, through Saturday, September 19, 2020 for a virtual party and photo shoot. Questions? Email us at MedicareInfo@IndependenceHealthSCA.com. Proceeds from calendar sales benefit The Toledo Clinic Foundation, which provides financial assistance for patients undergoing cancer treatment at The Toledo Clinic.

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About Independence Health Senior Care Advantage

The Toledo Clinic is proud to announce the Toledo 60 Strong contest in conjunction with the launch of Independence Health Senior Care Advantage, a program designed to provide seamless and greater coordination of care for their senior patients.

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SOURCE Independence Health Senior Care Advantage
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Facebooks own auditor on Civil Rights and related issues like hate speech has found the platform to be lacking in meaningful change, and to have even harmed the progress of civil rights in the U.S.

Amid an ongoing ad boycott over Facebooks allowance and promotion of hate speech on its platforms, and just one day after a meeting with the civil rights groups behind the boycott, (a meeting the groups claimed was essentially pointless), Facebook has suddenly released the third and final installment of a Civil Rights review started two years ago due to concern over political disinformation on the platform. But even the auditor who led the review, Laura Murphy, previously of the ACLU, is disappointed in Facebooks lack of progress on issues like the proliferation of hate speech, racism and voter suppression on the platform.

While the audit process has been meaningful, and has led to some significant improvements in the platform, we have also watched the company make painful decisions over the last nine months with real-world consequences that are serious setbacks for civil rights, Murphy said in a statement within the audit report.

She added that even with the positive and consequential changes Facebook has made since the audit process began, At this point in history, the auditors are concerned that those gains could be obscured by the vexing and heartbreaking decisions Facebook has made that represent significant setbacks for civil rights.

As WWD reported, Facebook is also said to be starting this year a separate independent audit of its current system for handling hate speech, to be led by one of the big three consulting firms. The big three are generally considered to be McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group and Bain & Co. A report on the audit is expected to be made public, according to a source. Facebooks current system of monitoring content is led by AI, which flags certain posts for manual review by one of 35,000 people the company has hired for the specific purpose.

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In a blog post regarding the audit report, Facebook chief operations officer Sheryl Sandberg said it is the beginning of the journey, not the end.

What has become increasingly clear is that we have a long way to go, she wrote. As hard as it has been to have our shortcomings exposed by experts, it has undoubtedly been a really important process for our company.

Sandberg did not address in her post if or how Facebook would address the findings of the audit and its recommendations.

In her audit, one of Murphys recommendations was for Facebook to go beyond its current method of monitoring hate speech, implemented only last year. Facebook focuses on prohibiting explicit references to white supremacy and nationalism. Murphy said hate speech prohibitions should include express praise, support and representation of white separatism and white nationalism even where the terms themselves are not used.

So even while undergoing an audit of its practices (which Facebook only announced was being released yesterday, immediately after its meeting with the groups behind the ad boycott) Facebook has continued to host content on its platform that is deemed by many as racist. It has also continued to promote extremist content to users through its algorithm and allowed posts that spread disinformation to remain up and unflagged in any way, so long as the user posting is considered newsworthy.

President Trump has posted a number of times with misinformation regarding voting and voting rights, as well as racially charged rhetoric that many see as promoting violence, including the recent, When the looting starts, the shooting starts, regarding growing protests of the police killing of George Floyd. Facebooks decision that the post did not fall within its policy on speech that incites violence prompted the recent ad boycott.

Nevertheless, Murphy noted Facebook has made some changes over the course of the audit. Its committed to hiring an executive at the [vice president] level to lead its work on civil rights and broader civil rights training for workers; banning white supremacist content, and to have 30 percent of leadership positions be held by Black people within five years.

This initially led her and the audit team to be hopeful that a more coherent plan of action on such issues would be the result. It has not been.

Unfortunately, in our view Facebooks approach to civil rights remains too reactive and piecemeal, Murphy wrote. Many in the civil rights community have become disheartened, frustrated and angry after years of engagement where they implored the company to do more to advance equality and fight discrimination, while also safeguarding free expression.

In recent weeks, groups Color of Change, the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League seem to largely agree on Murphys point of such groups becoming disheartened, frustrated and angry.

All have met with Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and chief operations officer Sheryl Sandberg a number of times over the years, and little has changed with regard to how the company moderates racist and hate content. And the Facebook leaders are said to remain largely indifferent even after meeting with the groups yet again on Tuesday.

It was abundantly clear in our meeting today that Mark Zuckerberg and the Facebook team is not yet ready to address the vitriolic hate on their platform, CoC, the NAACP and the ADL said in a statement after the Tuesday meeting. Instead of actually responding to the demands of dozens of the platforms largest advertisers that have joined the #StopHateforProfit ad boycott during the month of July, Facebook wants us to accept the same old rhetoric, repackaged as a fresh response.

For More, See:

Facebook Releasing New Civil Rights Audit After Ad Boycott Meeting

Facebook Tells Advertisers Theres No Perfect Fix for Hate Speech

Facebook Wants to Meet Groups Behind New Ad Boycott

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Facebook removed more than 100 pages and accounts affiliated with convicted Republican operative Roger Stone, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, for trafficking in false information dating to at least 2015.

Nathaniel Gleicher, the social media giant's chief of security policy, said Stone used Facebook to manipulate the public conversation in the U.S. That kind of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" violates Facebook's rules.

Much of the activity, according to Gleicher, occurred just before and after the 2016 presidential election and included the posting of Democratic Party emails released by Wikileaks. The emails, damaging to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, were stolen by Russian hackers.

Roger Stone, former political advisor to President Donald Trump, arrives for his sentencing hearing at the Federal District Court in Washington on Feb. 20, 2020.

"We first started looking into this network as part of our investigation into the Proud Boys," Gleicher said, referring to the far right extremist group with ties to white nationalism that was banned from the platform in 2018. "We identified the full scope of this network following the recent public release of search warrants pertaining to the investigation by (Russia) Special Counsel Robert Mueller... Our investigation linked this network to Roger Stone and his associates."

Favored treatment: DOJ gave Roger Stone favorable treatment because he is an ally of the president, prosecutor says

Ahead of the November election, Facebook is under growing pressure to police misinformation, hate speech, white nationalism and other harmful and divisive content on its platforms. A civil rights audit released Wednesday found that Facebook's hands-off approach to problematic content, including posts from Trump, could suppress voter turnout.

Stone was sentenced to a little over three years in prison earlier this year, following his conviction on seven criminal counts including lying to lawmakers to protect Trump and his campaign and obstructing Congress' investigation on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race.

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The flamboyant political adviser, who has sought to delay serving his sentence because of the risk posed by the coronavirus pandemic, is scheduled to report to prison next week.

The deadly virus has killed nearly 100 federal prison inmates.

In all, Facebook said it took down 54 associated accounts, 50 pages and four Instagram accounts.

"The people behind this activity used fake accounts ... to pose as residents of Florida, post and comment on their own content to make it appear more popular than it is, evade enforcement, and manage pages," according to the Facebook statement.

More: Will the Facebook advertising boycott force the social media giant to change? Not likely

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Facebook removes Roger Stone accounts linked to 'inauthentic behavior'
china flag soldier

Feng Li / Getty

FBI Director Christopher Wray has called China "the greatest long-term threat to our nation's information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitality."

Wray said during remarks on Tuesday that China had "brazenly violated well-settled norms and the rule of law" by attempting to force its citizens to return home to silence criticism of the Chinese Communist Party.

Wray said China had threatened, coerced, and even arrested family members of Chinese nationals abroad who refused to return home.

"The Chinese government is engaged in a broad, diverse campaign of theft and malign influence, and it can execute that campaign with authoritarian efficiency," Wray said.

There have been several instances in recent years in which Chinese nationals have been threatened or kidnapped, seemingly at Beijing's behest.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday said China was "the greatest long-term threat" to the US and accused the country of secretive plots to steal US state secrets and forcibly repatriate its citizens.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC, Wray called China's clandestine operations "the greatest long-term threat to our nation's information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitality."

He said China had used undercover agents to steal state secrets through a recruitment program known as the Thousand Talents Program, used hackers to steal corporate and personal data to help develop the country's artificial-intelligence capabilities, and engaged in bribery and blackmail as part of a "highly sophisticated malign foreign influence campaign."

"The Chinese government is engaged in a broad, diverse campaign of theft and malign influence, and it can execute that campaign with authoritarian efficiency," Wray said in his remarks. "They're calculating. They're persistent. They're patient. And they're not subject to the righteous constraints of an open, democratic society or the rule of law."

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He continued: "China, as led by the Chinese Communist Party, is going to continue to try to misappropriate our ideas, influence our policymakers, manipulate our public opinion, and steal our data. They will use an all-tools and all-sectors approach and that demands our own all-tools and all-sectors approach in response."

China has denied engaging in digital espionage against the US.

In addition, Wray said China had "brazenly violated well-settled norms and the rule of law" by attempting to muzzle criticism of the Chinese Communist Party by coercing its citizens abroad to return home.

Wray said Chinese President Xi Jinping had spearheaded a program known as "Fox Hunt," which China describes as an "anti-corruption campaign." He described the program, which has been in operation since 2014, as a "sweeping bid" by Xi to "target Chinese nationals whom he sees as threats and who live outside China, across the world."

"Hundreds of the Fox Hunt victims that they target live right here in the United States, and many are American citizens or green-card holders," he said.

"The Chinese government wants to force them to return to China, and China's tactics to accomplish that are shocking. For example, when it couldn't locate one Fox Hunt target, the Chinese government sent an emissary to visit the target's family here in the United States. The message they said to pass on? The target had two options: return to China promptly, or commit suicide."

He continued: "And what happens when Fox Hunt targets refuse to return to China? In the past, their family members both here in the United States and in China have been threatened and coerced, and those back in China have even been arrested for leverage."

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to Business Insider for comment.

Part of a larger global operation

Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Damir Sagolj/Reuters

There have been several instances in recent years in which Chinese nationals have been threatened or kidnapped, seemingly at Beijing's behest. In May 2018, a Chinese student was reportedly kidnapped and taken to a California airport in an incident that the police deemed "very strange."

Foreign Policy reported in 2018 that Western intelligence officials are concerned over what appears to be a large-scale operation to forcibly repatriate individuals to China. The report cites kidnappings of businessmen, former Communist Party officials, and activists  some of whom are citizens of other countries.

In January 2017, Xiao Jianhua, a Chinese Canadian billionaire, was reportedly kidnapped from his luxury apartment in Hong Kong sent back to mainland China, after possibly being sedated and rolled away in a wheelchair.

In October 2015, Gui Minhai, a Hong-Kong based bookseller with Swedish citizenship, disappeared from his vacation home in Thailand and resurfaced in Chinese custody months later. After his release, he disappeared a second time in January this year, and his whereabouts remain unclear.

The practice appears to have occurred for nearly two decades.

In 2005, Chen Yonglin, a Chinese diplomat who defected to Australia, claimed kidnappings in Australia were carried out at least once a year. Chen also said security forces drugged and kidnapped the son of a former Chinese official and sent him back to China via a shipping vessel, though Australian officials and the alleged victim reportedly deny the claims.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Executive Team Strengthens with New Appointments

LOS ANGELES, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fisker Inc.  designer and manufacturer of the world's most emotion-stirring, eco-friendly electric vehicles and advanced mobility solutions  is announcing the successful completion of a $50 million Series C financing round funded by Moore Strategic Ventures, LLC, the private investment vehicle of Louis M. Bacon. The proceeds will be used to support the next phase of engineering work on the Fisker Ocean all-electric luxury SUV  due for launch in 2022. Cowen acted as the company's sole advisor and placement agent on the financing.

California-based Fisker Inc. is revolutionizing the automotive industry by developing the most emotionally desirable electric vehicles complemented with the longest EV range and shortest charging times on earth. The brainchild of EV pioneer and world-leading automotive designer, Henrik Fisker, Fisker Inc.s mission is to set a new standard of excellence and performance in the electric vehicle industry and mobility services. To learn more, visit www.FiskerInc.com. (PRNewsfoto/Fisker Inc.)

Commenting on the strategic importance of this latest investment, Henrik Fisker, chairman and CEO of Fisker Inc. said: "Since we first showed the car at CES earlier this year, reaction from customers and investors has been extremely positive. We are radically challenging the conventional industry thinking around developing and selling cars and this capital will allow us to execute our planned timeline to start producing vehicles in 2022."

As the company continues to progress the Fisker Ocean towards its planned production launch, the organization is also announcing today key executives joining the company in permanent and advisory capacities.

Burkhard Huhnke named chief technology officer (CTO) of Fisker Inc.

Huhnke comes with an extensive background working for both automakers and technology companies  having served as the former vice president of e-mobility for Volkswagen America and vice president of automotive at chip maker, Synopses. Huhnke will lead Fisker's R&D activities in Los Angeles as well as the newly established Fisker Innovation Lab in Silicon Valley, home to the company's investments in software related innovations for future vehicles and services.

Huhnke joins a growing Fisker Inc. executive team that includes Martin Welch, senior vice president of engineering, who has been leading the company's engineering function and, since early 2019, development for the Fisker Ocean program. Welch has also worked extensively across the automotive industry, including positions at McLaren cars and Aston Martin.

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Also announced today is the appointment of Simon Sproule as communications advisor to the CEO. Sproule is the vice president of communications for Toptal, an elite network of the world's top talent in business, design and technology. Sproule will support Henrik Fisker and the company in an advisory capacity.

"As we accelerate the development of the Fisker Ocean, I am excited to keep building an executive team capable of delivering our brand, product and service experiences," added Fisker. "We are seeing a profound disruption in the automotive industry, where digital customer experiences and software will join emotive design to become major brand pillars for any future car company. Fisker Inc. is ideally positioned to take full advantage of this transformation."

About Fisker Inc.

California-based Fisker Inc. is revolutionizing the automotive industry by developing the most emotionally desirable and eco-friendly electric vehicles on Earth. Passionately driven by a vision of a clean future for all, the company is on a mission to become the No. 1 e-mobility service provider with the world's most sustainable vehicles. To learn more, visit www.FiskerInc.com  and enjoy exclusive content across Fisker's social media channels: Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , YouTube and LinkedIn . Download the revolutionary new Fisker mobile app from the App Store or Google Play store.

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SOURCE Fisker Inc.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 07: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, seated next to Mayor of Miami-Dade Carlos A. Gimenez (R), speaks during a press conference about the coronavirus held at the Pan American Hospital on July 07, 2020 in Miami, Florida. Gov. DeSantis spoke about the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in the state of Florida.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Florida remains one of the few states to not release data on its daily COVID-19 hospitalization rate.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ignored questions about when he would release the data, the Miami Herald reported.

The Florida Department of Health reported 7,361 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the rate of positive tests spiking to over 19%.

The surge has been linked to DeSantis' early decision to reopen bars, restaurants, and other indoor facilities.

"When everything started to open up and ease up, then our volume picked up," Dr. Mark Supino, a physician at Jackson Health System in Miami, told Business Insider last week.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is refusing to say why his state has not begun reporting the daily COVID-19 hospitalization rate, despite earlier promising to do so, the Miami Herald reported Tuesday.

At a press conference on Tuesday, DeSantis, a Republican, ignored two direct questions about the data: one from the Herald and another from CNN.

His office also did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Earlier in the week, the governor's office promised to release the data on daily hospitalizations, according to the Herald, which is believed to be in the possession of the state's Agency for Health Care Administration. The agency does publicly report the number of hospital beds currently in use and the total number of COVID-19 patients the pandemic began.

"They won't release it unless there's public pressure or a lawsuit filed," state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, a Democrat, told the paper. "It's infuriating."

In total, over 16,400 Floridians have been hospitalized due to COVID-19, as of July 7, and over 3,800 have died.

The pandemic is also growing worse in a state that once served as a poster child for reopening, early  a decision that appears linked to the most recent surge.

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The Florida Department of Health reported 7,361 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the rate of positive tests spiking to over 19%. The department's stated "target range" is below 10%. That was last achieved on June 20.

"When everything started to open up and ease up, then our volume picked up," Dr. Mark Supino, a physician at Jackson Health System in Miami, told Business Insider last week.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former Fox News anchor Shepard Smith has signed a deal to produce a one-hour daily news program with CNBC, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

Smith resigned from Fox on air last October, weeks after he feuded with Tucker Carlson on their respective programs over the impeachment proceedings against President Trump. Smith had also repeatedly drawn criticism from Trump himself.

CNBC will debut The News with Shepard Smith this coming fall, to be broadcast on weeknights from 7 to 8 p.m. In a statement to the Journal, Smith said he was honored to continue to pursue the truth, both for CNBCs loyal viewers and for those who have been following my reporting for decades in good times and in bad.

CNBC chairman Mark Hoffman also offered praise for the planned program.

Information is coming at us from every direction, Hoffman said in a statement. If were not careful life-altering decisions will be made based on half-truth, rumor, misdirection or worse. We aim to deliver a nightly program that, in some small way, looks for the signal in all the noise.

Smiths resignation from Fox came amid tensions between the networks news and opinion divisions, with opinion programming taking a generally more pro-Trump line. News division employees were stunned by the announcement.

It feels like death in the news division, one Fox employee told CNN at the time, adding that others in the news room were crying.

More from National Review
George Floyd's final words became a mantra for protesters: Getty

George Floyd told Minneapolis police officers he could not breathe at least twenty times, a transcript of his final conversation has revealed.

The 46-year-old died after being detained by officers in May, with one officer kneeling on his throat for almost nine minutes, as cellphone footage captured him saying he could not breathe. He then passed out, and subsequently died.

In the days after his death, protesters across America and around the world, seized on this words, which echoed the final utterance of Eric Garner, who died after being placed in an illegal choke hold by police in New York in 2014.

The four officers who detained Mr Floyd were fired and one of them, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with murder.

The other three Thomas Lane, J Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, were charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter.

What was not clear until Wednesday, was that Mr Floyd had gasped that he could not breathe not just once, but up to 20 times. He also told officers he had once been shot and that he was nervous when he was arrested, for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill.

The new information was contained in a transcript of video from two police body cameras, that captured Mr Floyds final moments alive, and which were entered into evidence by one of the officers, Mr Lane, who is seeking to have the charges against him dismissed.

More follows....
Ghislaine Maxwell, longtime associate of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, speaks at a news conference on oceans and sustainable development at the United Nations in New York, on 25 June 2013: (Reuters)

Ghislaine Maxwell has hired the lawyer who helped prosecute El Chapo to defend her against charges of child sex trafficking.

Last week, Ms Maxwell was charged with facilitating the sexual abuse of minors and was moved to a New York jail ahead of a bail hearing on Friday.

The British socialite has been accused of luring and grooming underage girls, so her former boyfriend and business associate, Jeffrey Epstein, could abuse them.

Last year, Epstein died in his cell after he was arrested for the sex trafficking of minors. His death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner, but Epsteins lawyers dispute the finding.

Recent court filings show that Maxwell, 58, has hired Christian Everdell, who is the former assistant US attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY AUSA), to represent her in court, according to the New York Post.

Mr Everdell and his team were awarded the True American Hero Award for their work in investigating and subsequently prosecuting the notorious former head of the Sinola Cartel, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in 2019.

Guzman is currently serving a sentence of life in prison, plus 30 years and must forfeit assets worth more than $12.6bn (9.9bn), after he was convicted on charges of murder, money laundering and drug traffacking.

Jennifer Rodgers, who is a former colleague of Mr Everdell, suggested that he will try to get Ms Maxwell to turn over high profile names to get her a lenient sentence.

Chris Everdell was a longtime SDNY AUSA (who I happened to supervise once upon a time). He will of course do what is in the best interests of his client, she tweeted.

But no doubt he will be talking to her about the benefits of becoming a cooperating witness.

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The 58-year-old will make her first appearance in federal court on Friday, for a bail hearing in Manhattan that will determine whether she will remain in custody during the trial.

Audrey Strauss, the acting US attorney in the Southern District of New York, filed a memo last week that argued that Ms Maxwell should be detained throughout the legal proceedings.

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The attorney said that Ms Maxwell poses an extreme risk of flight; that she will not be able to rebut the statutory presumption that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant as required.

She added that the court should therefore order her detained.

Ms Maxwell could face up to 35 years in prison if she is convicted of the charges against her.

Read more

Fox News says it mistakenly cropped Trump out of Epstein photo
The United States' Largest Free-Floating Car Share Company Uses the Ridecell Mobility Platform to Easily Track Inventory, Rent Vehicles and Automate Operations

SAN FRANCISCO, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ridecell Inc. , the leading platform provider for shared mobility operators, today announced that GIG Car Share , powered by AAA Northern California, will use the Ridecell High-yield Mobility Platform for its expansion to Seattle. Gig already uses Ridecell for its other operating cities, including Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Ridecell platform enables Gig to operate its fleet efficiently while giving members a frictionless experience, including quick reservation on the Gig app plus keyless entry and Gig free parking locator within the app. Ridecell also keeps track of cars for easy service, cleaning and return, minimizing downtime and maximizing profitability.

RideCell Logo

Gig Seattle will begin with 250 brand new Toyota Prius XLE hybrid cars that seat five comfortably and provide outstanding fuel efficiency. The Ridecell platform provides Gig with end-to-end automation, instant driver verification, payment processing, on-demand scheduling, and custom analytics. In addition, the platform tracks vehicle locations to ensure safety and speedy service when needed.

"Gig has grown to be the largest* free-floating car sharing service in the country, despite the tough times most transportation services are facing," said Aarjav Trivedi, CEO of Ridecell. "Gig's great customer service orientation combined with our platform, has helped the company continue to succeed where other companies have faltered. We're proud to continue our partnership with them as they enter the Seattle market."

Ridecell offers the world's only end-to-end platform for all types of mobility, including car sharing, ridehailing, and short-term vehicle subscriptions. The platform is designed to create high-yield mobility businesses for greater profitability. For more information, visit www.ridecell.com

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About Ridecell

Ridecell helps companies build and operate profitable mobility businesses. With the company's High-yield Mobility SaaS toolkit of intelligent software, business services, and ecosystem partners, Ridecell customers maximize three key profit drivers: customer experience, fleet utilization, and operational efficiency.

Founded in 2009, today, Ridecell powers some of the most successful mobility services in cities across Europe and North America. These services include ZITY from Ferrovial and Groupe Renault, Gig Car Share from AAA Northern California, and Blu Smart EV ride sharing service.

Ridecell is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with more than 170 employees in offices across the globe.

About GIG Car Share

GIG Car Share, a service from AAA Northern California, is the largest free-floating car share in the nation.* In three years, Gig has grown to more than 65,000 members and operates more than 1,000 cars across Northern California (Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, Sacramento) and Seattle, Washington. The service launched in 2017 as the first venture from A3Ventures, AAA's innovation lab based in Berkeley, Calif. Learn more at gigcarshare.com.

*Based on the size of its fleet as of 6/1/2020

Media Contact:

Jane Gideon

Tel: 415-682-9292

Email: press@ridecell.com

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A Louisiana lawmaker said people who refuse to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic are being treated like Jews in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.

Republican State Rep. Danny McCormick posted a Facebook video Tuesday railing against mask mandates as an assault on liberty, triggered by a mask mandate issued by Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins.

In the video, McCormick shreds a surgical mask with a chainsaw, saying the "Constitution is being shredded before our very eyes."

"Government needed a villain," McCormick said in the video. "People who don't wear masks will be soon painted as the enemy just as they did to Jews in Nazi Germany. Now is the time to push back before it's too late. We can preserve America."

State Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City

'I feel threatened!':Florida man's viral outburst over Costco's mask policy costs him his job at insurance company

McCormick said his constituents are praising his post.

"It's a tremendous response," he said in an interview with the USA TODAY Network. "The liberty message is strong. It's amazing more politicians don't take on the liberty movement because it's so popular."

In the video, McCormick said mask mandates could be a precursor to government requiring people to "take the mark."

Mask questions: Can stores make you wear a mask? Do kids have to wear masks?

"Your body is your private property," he said in the video. "If the government has the power to force you to wear a mask, they can force you to stick a needle in your arm against your will. They can put a microchip in you. They can even make you take the mark. After all, it's for the greater good."

"Masks aren't bad," McCormick said. "Mandates are."

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Coronavirus: Louisiana lawmaker equates mask mandates to Holocaust
Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith and Noel Fielding. ( Love Productions)

The Great British Bake Off's 2020 series remains uncertain due to safety fears stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

Filming typically takes place in spring for the show to begin airing toward the end of summer but was delayed this year. Now, a spokesperson has said they are still trying to bring the show to screens.

We are working hard to deliver Bake Off to the audience this year, the priority is the safety of everyone involved in the production of the series, a rep from production company Love Productions told The Sun.

Read more: Sue Perkins reveals painful fallout with Paul Hollywood

The show was not included in Channel 4's recent release of its TV highlights for this autumn.

Richard Bacon (right) with judges and presenters for The Great British Bake Off (left to right) Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood at Channel 4 studios in central London.

It was announced filming would be halted on the contest in March as the programme said it would be following advice from Public Health England.

"We will delay filming on The Great British Bake Off until it is safe to proceed," a statement read.

Prior to the pandemic, presenter Sandi Toksvig stepped down from her role with comedian Matt Lucas later being announced as her replacement.

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He said in a statement back in March: "Im chuffed to bits to be joining the most delicious show on television. I cant wait to break bread with Noel, Prue and Paul and meet the brilliant bakers.

And bearing in mind my love of cake, Ive already ordered some much larger trousers in anticipation."

Toksvig said she would be leaving the show to focus on her other work after three series on GBBO.
A growing number of Texas sheriffs are announcing that they will not enforce Governor Greg Abbotts new requirement that residents wear a face mask in public, with some questioning whether the executive order is constitutional.

Law-enforcement officials in at least nine counties have said they will not issue citations for those who flout the governors order mandating face masks for residents in counties with 20 or more coronavirus cases. All of the counties in question  Denton, Houston, Montgomery, Gillespie, Upshur, Kerr, Gregg, Nacogdoches, and Panola  have more than 20 positive cases of the virus.

Abbott, a Republican, issued the mask requirement on Thursday as coronavirus cases spiked across the state. Repeat offenders may be fined up to $250 but may not be detained or jailed.

Coronavirus cases in Texas rose past 200,000 on Tuesday, threatening to overwhelm hospitals in several hard-hit areas. Abbott reopened much of the states economy in recent weeks but has since reimposed some restrictions as cases of the virus increased, including ordering bars to once again shutter temporarily.

The Kerr County Sheriffs Office said Monday that the mask requirement may be unconstitutional because it imposes the restriction on some but not others, like poll workers and those attending church services, who are exempt, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Other sheriffs offices, including Panola and Nacogdoches counties, have said they lack the staffing and resources to enforce the order, and the Smith County sheriffs office said it will strongly encourage voluntary compliance.

Meanwhile, the sheriffs offices of Montgomery, Kerr, Gillespie, and Upsurge counties expressed concern about the orders language prohibiting detaining those who do not wear a mask, saying that their officers are hampered in stopping people for neglecting to wear a face covering because that could be seen as detaining them.

Sheriff Tracy Murphree of Denton County also complained about the wording of Abbotts order and said that while he himself plans to wear a mask, his offices deputies will not enforce the requirement.

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His order does not direct me but gives me permission. Im complying by not enforcing it. If I cant detain anyone for this, I cant write them a ticket. I cant even stop and talk to them, Murphree told the Denton Record-Chronicle.

I dont have the time or manpower to worry about whether people are wearing masks or not, Murphree said Thursday. I believe the Constitution trumps everything, and I believe in personal responsibility.

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Immanuel Jarvis grew up in a Democratic household but feels Republican Party principles better serve Black Americans. (Mark Z. Barabak / Los Angeles Times)

Immanuel Jarvis has spent most of his life in sales. Cellphones. Life insurance. Real estate.

He comes at it naturally, with a warm smile, clever wit and outgoing personality. He's hard not to like.

And yet Jarvis gets taunting emails, nasty phones calls, dirty looks. He recalls people standing so close he felt their hot breath on his face as they told him, "If I was your mother, I'd be ashamed of you for who you are."

Jarvis is a Republican. He is Black. And he's a staunch supporter of President Trump.

After 3 1/2 incendiary years in office, the president is deeply loathed by many Black Americans. Polls suggest fewer than 10% of Black voters back his reelection and more than 7 in 10 of those surveyed not only disapprove of Trump's job performance but do so strongly.

Still, there are millions of Black Americans who will cast their ballots for the president in November, many enthusiastically. As chairman of the Durham County Republican Party, one of Jarvis' goals is to increase that number.

It may be the toughest sales job the 43-year-old has ever faced.

Durham County, located near the dead center of North Carolina, is nearly 40% Black. Trump lost here to Hillary Clinton by a crushing 78% to 18%. There is not a single GOP member of the County Board of Commissioners or Durham City Council.

"Not just Democratic," Kerry Haynie, a Duke University political scientist, said of the local political breed. "It's a progressive kind of Democrat."

Trump won't come close to winning Durham County in November. At best, he might lose in a less-big landslide. But the president hasn't helped himself by doing things such as retweeting a video of a supporter shouting "white power," equating the words "Black Lives Matter" with hate speech, or defending the heritage of the slave-holding Confederacy. And that's just of late.

Jarvis, however, is undeterred.

He harbors no illusion about the racist roots of this country, the inequality that Black Americans persistently face, the rampant discrimination and the casual bigotry that has become so normalized that, for some, it's almost second nature.

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"My heart grieves for where Black America is going," he said during one of several long conversations about politics and the presidential campaign.

He sees one remedy residing in the White House.

"How many people do you know that are standing up for us?" Jarvis asked rhetorically. "I know one. It's a person that the media hates. His name is Donald Trump."

::

Jarvis grew up in a household where the pieties of the Democratic Party flowed as plain and clear as water.

His father was an executive chef and entrepreneur who founded and profitably sold a number of high-end restaurants as the family moved between Texas and Virginia. His mother was an elementary school teacher.

When he turned 18, there was never a question which party Jarvis would join. He cast his first (and last) Democratic presidential ballot in 1996, voting to reelect Bill Clinton. It was reflex, not a matter of conviction. He didnt much care about politics; Jarviss greater interest was launching his career in sales, capitalizing on the booming cellphone market.

His perspective began changing in the late 1990s, after a hurricane threatened Virginia Beach, Va.

Jarvis figured the best source of information was on the AM dial, so he tuned in for the periodic news updates, figuring he would "stomach through" the rat-a-tat on right-wing talk radio. What he heard  an assertively conservative view on taxes, education, race, guns, abortion and other social issues  was a revelation.

"I would listen, sort of, 'OK, that's stupid, whatever,' and the point would be made and I'm like"  his face froze and eyes grew wide as he paused dramatically  That is right ...

"And over the course of just a couple days, as the storm is coming, Im listening to more and more of this stuff, and Im like, Well, thats true, too.' But, wait a minute, who are these guys? And why is this something different than Ive ever been taught?"

Jarvis launched on a course of independent study, a journey through the works of Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois. He found particular resonance in Washington's up-by-your-bootstraps philosophy of Black improvement through education and self-reliance.

The more Jarvis read, the more distaste he felt toward the Democratic Party and, in his eyes, its destructive paternalism. Democrats, he came to believe, don't really have the best interests of Black voters at heart, but prefer a transactional relationship: Here's some government aid; vote for us and we'll see you again in October of the next even-numbered year, when election time rolls around. It is part of a pattern, Jarvis suggested, as old as the country itself.

"Black people have been exploited," he said, "and manipulated and used as pawns for this entire time. Today it's just more sophisticated than it was before."

His true home, Jarvis felt, was in the God-fearing Republican Party, which he saw as more interested in helping raise up Black Americans by providing inspiration and, through education and economic incentives, the tools to succeed on their own rather than fostering dependence on never-ending relief programs.

"There's no reason generation after generation should live in public housing," Jarvis said. "One generation, I get it ... hard times, bad luck, death in the family, loss of a job, disability.... Republicans help you at the same time they restore you, so you don't stay there forever."

In 2000, Jarvis moved to Durham, where his then-fiancee had accepted a nursing position. Today the couple lives on a farm where they raise pigs and chickens with their two daughters and a son they adopted  not from Russia or China, Jarvis pointedly noted, but from right here in the Black community.

When the couple first arrived, Jarvis said, he considered it best to keep his political beliefs to himself. "I just felt I didn't need to be sticking out like that as an African American," Jarvis said, so he registered as an independent.

A few years later, a postcard arrived in the mail. It came from the chairman of the county GOP and was addressed to Jarvis' wife, a Republican who made no secret of her political allegiance. Did you know, the postcard stated, there were 1,067 registered Black Republicans in Durham County? The chairman invited her to a meeting at his home across town. She went, joining about 50 others, and texted her husband as he sat in class at the local community college.

Jarvis has a theatrical streak, with a range of voices and expressions used to play out different scenes, and sitting in a booth at an upscale seafood grill in Raleigh he reenacted the moment: He glanced at his phone over and over. He shook his head. "Oh man," he recalled thinking, "I wish I was there."

It was an epiphany, Jarvis said, realizing he and his wife were not alone, a moment akin to a gay person "coming out of the closet" back in the 1970s and finding "a place that you could go and, quote-unquote, 'be yourself' without being ostracized."

Jarvis grew politically active, promoting the Republican Party and conservative candidates while building a real estate investment firm. In 2015, he was elected chairman of the county GOP, beating a fellow Black Republican to win the position. He is now serving his third two-year term, though it hasn't been easy.

"I pick my battles," he said. "A little potshot here, a little potshot there. I take it. I just keep moving on."

::

Trump was not Jarvis' first pick for president in 2016, or even his second. He initially backed Ben Carson and then Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

But his ardent support of Trump is not at all grudging, or a matter of blind party loyalty.

In Jarvis' view, the list of the president's achievements on behalf of Black America is long, if underappreciated.

He cites legislation Trump signed to bolster black colleges and universities, the creation of "opportunity zones" to help economically distressed areas, education grants in the farm bill, and reforms aimed at ending racial disparities arising from federal law that includes a crime bill written by Trump's Democratic opponent Joe Biden.

"These are the kinds of things that help our folks," he said, adding that it was more than the nation's first African American president, Barack Obama, ever accomplished.

Jarvis views the eight years of the Obama administration, historic though they may have been, as a thudding disappointment. People were so focused on having "a Black man in the White House," he said, "that we forgot that the most important thing is getting a Black man in his own house, and that actually has more impact than anything else."

Some look at Obama's successor, his history of offensive remarks and stoking of racial tensions, and see a racist seated in the Oval Office. Nearly 9 in 10 Black Americans surveyed in a Washington Post-Ipsos poll said they believe Trump is biased against Black people.

Jarvis is not among them. Rather, he shares Trump's view that Democrats and the media purposely distort the president's statements, or wrench them out of context, to undermine Trump and paint him as a racist.

His voice flinty, Jarvis offered one example after another.

The president was not incorrect, he said, in pointing out a number of Black and brown leaders around the world horribly abuse their citizens, turning their countries into "s-holes." (Jarvis did not say the word Trump employed.)

He noted that Trump deleted the Tweet in which a supporter shouted "white power" after he became aware of the bigoted language. Had Biden done the same thing, Jarvis asserted, it would have been treated as a non-story.

He defended the president's criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement, which, in Jarvis' estimation, was a noble effort overtaken by anarchists and anti-capitalists bent on advancing their own agenda.

"The phrase itself is not hate speech," Jarvis said. "If you sat down with [Trump] and asked that question, I'm sure he'd probably answer the same way.... It's the organization and the way it's been hijacked."

Many condemn Trump for criticizing immigrants who come to the country illegally, Jarvis continued, but what he's really doing is standing up for Black people who are disproportionately hurt by the competition for jobs and limited government resources. "We're talking about giving healthcare ... and other freebies to people who are not supposed to be here, when our ancestors came over in chains," Jarvis said. "Think about it."

There are things that bother Jarvis, such as when Trump attacks individual reporters, or goes after local leaders. That, he said, is beneath the president.

But Jarvis welcomes what he sees as Trump's refreshing outspokenness and candor. He says things, Jarvis suggested, that many people  including many Black Americans  believe but don't dare utter aloud.

Just wait, he said: Polls are deceiving. Black people are keeping quiet. He can easily see Trump getting as much as 17% of the Black vote nationwide, which would more than double his 2016 performance and be the best showing for any Republican since President Richard Nixon won 18% in his 1972 reelection campaign.

Many consider that forecast to be wildly optimistic.

"It's fantasy,"said Cornell Belcher, a Democratic pollster who has spent years surveying Black voters. "It is based not in reality."

But Jarvis is adamant. Like any good salesman, he deeply believes in what he's pitching.

Even if it's no easy sell.
Hong Kongs education department has banned students from engaging in certain forms of protest against a new national-security law that cements Chinese control over the territory.

Students will be forbidden from singing the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong, posting political slogans online, or forming human chains, which have been seen at various pro-democracy protests in the territory.

Glory to Hong Kong contains strong political messages and is closely related to the social and political incidents, violence and illegal incidents that have lasted for months, Hong Kong education secretary Kevin Yeung said in a statement on Wednesday. Therefore, schools must not allow students to play, sing or broadcast it in schools.

Hong Kong students, including even middle-schoolers, have been a driving force behind the pro-democracy protests against Chinese encroachment. The phenomenon is of particular concern to Chinese authorities and pro-China officials in the territory, who are pushing for a more patriotic curriculum.

According to Yeung, over 1,600 students have been arrested at protests since the implementation of the national-security law. In broad and vague language, that law criminalizes behavior deemed damaging to the Chinese state. The law also technically applies to every person in the world, meaning that if a U.S. citizen is deemed to have broken the national-security law while in the U.S., that person can be charged if they enter Hong Kong.

In late May, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed Congress that the State Department no longer considered Hong Kong an autonomous territory because of Chinese encroachment.

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The worst result, after buying shares in a company (assuming no leverage), would be if you lose all the money you put in. But if you buy shares in a really great company, you can more than double your money. To wit, the Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited (ASX:HTA) share price has flown 169% in the last three years. Most would be happy with that. Also pleasing for shareholders was the 35% gain in the last three months. But this move may well have been assisted by the reasonably buoyant market (up 16% in 90 days).

See our latest analysis for Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia)

Because Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth.

In the last 3 years Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) saw its revenue grow at 17% per year. That's a very respectable growth rate. It's fair to say that the market has acknowledged the growth by pushing the share price up 39% per year. It's hard to value pre-profit businesses, but it seems like the market has become a lot more optimistic about this one! Some investors like to buy in just after a company becomes profitable, since that can be a powerful inflexion point.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

ASX:HTA Earnings and Revenue Growth July 8th 2020

Balance sheet strength is crucial. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time.

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 52% over the last year. That's better than the annualised return of 16% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

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If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges.

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.
- New AI-Powered RPA helps companies speed the completion of more types of work so employees can focus on higher value work

ARMONK, N.Y., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Brazilian software provider of robotic process automation (RPA) WDG Solucoes Em Sistemas E Automacao De Processos LTDA (referred to as "WDG Automation" throughout). The acquisition further advances IBM's comprehensive AI-infused automation capabilities, spanning business processes to IT operations. Financial terms were not disclosed.

IBM Corporation logo. (PRNewsfoto/IBM)

In today's digital era, companies are looking for new ways to create new business models, deliver new services and lower costs. The need to drive this transformation is even greater now given the uncertainties of COVID-19. IDC predicts that by 2025, AI-powered enterprises will see a 100% increase in knowledge worker productivity, resulting in shorter reaction times, greater product innovation success and improved customer satisfactioni.

When AI-infused automation is applied to business processes and IT operations, it can help shorten the time between identifying an issue and responding. This is critical as unforeseen IT incidents and outages, for example, can cost businesses in both revenue and reputation.

By embedding WDG Automation's RPA capabilities into IBM's existing AI-infused automation capabilities across business processes and IT operations, business leaders including Chief Operating Officers (COOs) and Chief Information Officers (CIOs) will have broader access to intelligent automation through software robots. The acquisition also will extend IBM Services' ability to transform clients' operations as RPA, analytics and AI bring more intelligence to the enterprise workflows that fuel adaptive and resilient businesses and helps to expand IBM's capabilities for delivering automation pervasively across client organizations.

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With today's news, businesses will be able to efficiently re-engineer, optimize and standardize operations, while eliminating business processes and IT operations that are redundant or unnecessary. Available through IBM Services, organizations will be able to quickly identify more granular opportunities for automation, including tasks that have many steps, as well as help ensure consistent and accurate data is being used across all tools and business functions, including customer service, IT, finance, HR, and supply chain.

"IBM already automates how companies apply AI to business processes and IT operations so they can detect opportunities and problems and recommend next steps and solutions," said Denis Kennelly, General Manager, Cloud Integration, IBM Cloud and Cognitive Software. "With today's announcement, IBM is taking that a step further and helping clients accelerate automation to more parts of the organization, not just to routine, but more complex tasks so employees can focus on higher value work."

"Automation is crucial in the digital era, as businesses need to perform several repetitive or routine tasks, so that employees are able to focus on innovation. I'm incredibly proud of the role WDG Automation has played in the RPA market with a unified and integrated platform to help companies in Brazil increase their productivity," said Robson Felix, Founder and CEO, WDG Automation.

"Joining forces with IBM will scale our capabilities to a wider audience, helping companies around the world accelerate their growth on their business transformation journeys," said Kleber Rodrigues Junior, co-founder, WDG Automation.

WDG Automation's RPA Capabilities Automate Basic and Complex Tasks

WDG Automation is a software provider of RPA, headquartered in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil. WDG Automation provides RPA, Intelligent Automation (IA), Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and chatbots primarily to customers in Latin America.

The WDG Automation technology is designed for business users to create automations using a desktop recorder without the need of IT. These software robots can run on-demand by the end user or by an automated scheduler.

IBM Offers Complete AI-Infused Automation Capabilities  Spanning Business Process to IT Operations

Today's news will further extend the capabilities of the IBM Cloud Pak offerings on Red Hat OpenShift, starting with Cloud Pak for Automation. As part of the acquisition, IBM will integrate over 600 pre-built RPA functions from WDG Automation into Cloud Pak for Automation to help businesses turn insights from AI into automated actions.

Available on any public or private cloud, or on-premises, the IBM Cloud Pak for Automation offers clients a single set of AI-infused automation software and services, including data capture, workflow orchestration, decision management, monitoring and reporting, that helps companies design, build and run intelligently automated business processes and IT operations. With WDG Automation, clients will be able to more quickly identify more granular opportunities for automation, accelerate the deployment of bots, and streamline more end-to-end workflows. For example, during invoice processing, WDG Automation click-mining capabilities can help prioritize RPA deployments with WDG Automation pre-built scripts, integrated with the Cloud Pak for Automation, and can be deployed faster and smarter with infused AI.

Organizations including Banco Galicia, ENN Group in China, PNC Bank throughout the U.S., several Qatar government entities, and UK NHS Blood and Transplant, already are using IBM Cloud Pak for Automation capabilities to digitize and automate work.

In addition to business operations, IBM plans to integrate WDG Automation RPA into its capabilities for automating IT operations, specifically Watson AIOps and Cloud Pak for Multicloud Management. IBM Watson AIOps, for example, automates how CIOs self-detect, diagnose and respond to IT anomalies in real time. RPA can help close the loop and ensure consistent data across all tools that connect to Watson AIOps. This can increase data quality and improve the accuracy of AI, as well as the productivity of engineers involved.

IBM's investment in AI-infused automation will help improve the workflows that drive the operations across an organization. IBM Services delivers fast prototyping, rapid scaling, and management of digital operations for business process and IT. For example, in a procure to pay process, the workflow engine determines that the best way to handle certain types of invoices is to route them to the bot. These intelligent workflows reduce response time and save time for the invoice processor to focus on other work by automating the entire process of requisitioning, purchasing, receiving, paying for and accounting for goods and services.

The WDG Automation technology will join the IBM Cloud Integration organization and be available through IBM Cloud Pak for Automation on-premises, and in public or private cloud environments.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. It is expected to close in Q3 2020.

For more information, visit: www.ibm.com/cloud/blog/why-ibm-acquired-this-rpa-provider.

i IDC White Paper, sponsored by IBM. "Architect Business Transformation with AI and Hybrid Multicloud." Copyright 2020

Media Contact

Hanna Smigala

IBM Media Relations

smigala@us.ibm.com

(203) 512-5497

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SOURCE IBM
CHICAGO  The Illinois cannabis industry blazed through another month of record recreational marijuana sales totals in June, as the state's 56 adult-use dispensaries sold nearly a million THC products worth nearly $48 million, not counting taxes.

Sales to those with out-of-state identification were up by more than 21 percent, while pre-tax spending by Illinois residents rose by less than 3.5 percent for overall monthly growth of about 7.5 percent.



In six months since the possession, use and retail sale of marijuana was legalized in Illinois, the state's dispensaries have sold over $239 million worth of merchandise.

(Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation)

Related:

Illinois Recreational Marijuana Sales Set Record In Month Of May

Recreational Marijuana Spending Spikes During Stay-At-Home Order

Cannabis Industry Deemed 'Essential' During Coronavirus

Recreational Marijuana Sales Stay High In March Despite Coronavirus

According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, more than $52.5 million in adult-use cannabis tax was collected in the first five months of the year.

The department is due to release June's tax figures later this month, when Patch estimates it collected at least $13 million more.

The start of July marked an increase of 3 percent or more to Illinois recreational marijuana taxes, as municipalities and counties that decided to allow adult-use sales can begin collecting their own taxes.

This month was supposed to be the deadline for issuing new types of licenses to allow smaller players into the state's cannabis industry, which has been so far dominated by a handful of large companies with little diversity at their helm.

Ahead of the passage of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, the bill legalizing recreational weed in Illinois, existing medical marijuana dispensaries lobbied legislators and the governor's administration to allow them to effectively monopolize the adult-use market for the first quarter of legalization.

Meanwhile, supporters of the bill, the nation's first legislatively implemented cannabis legalization scheme, praised it as the most equity-focused in the country.

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"The Pritzker administration remains committed to protecting and pursuing diversity in the adult-use cannabis industry, despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic," Toi Hutchinson, the former state senator who was one of chief sponsors of the bill and now serves as Pritzker's senior cannabis advisor, said in a statement last month. "Pritzker has made it clear the state's new industry is about more than revenue, it's about ensuring communities that have been left out and left behind have new opportunity."



But since the coronavirus pandemic shutdown much of state government, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued executive orders extending or suspending the deadlines to apply for and issue licenses to allow new businesses to enter the market, including independent dispensaries, craft growers, infusers and transporters.

Acting Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II said the department was working to offer multiple entry points into the industry for Illinois residents who live in communities hardest hit by cannabis prohibition.



"The COVID-19 pandemic and the 6-week deadline extension granted to applicants have caused unforeseeable delays in the application review process," Costello said. "The Department is working tirelessly to ensure that applications are scored and awarded in a fair, deliberate and equitable manner."

This article originally appeared on the Across Illinois Patch
DES MOINES, Iowa  Gov. Kim Reynolds said a state trooper who was driving her from an event last week "acted appropriately" when he hit a Black Lives Matter protester who was blocking the driveway of the business she was leaving.

"I do feel like the driver acted appropriately," Reynolds said Tuesday at a news conference in Urbandale.

She said she believes the protester, Jaylen Cavil, an organizer with Des Moines Black Lives Matter, "acted inappropriately" by stepping in front of her SUV as it was leaving the parking lot. Cavil was not injured in the collision.

"As we were leaving the vicinity, the individual sped up and stepped in front of the vehicle intentionally and you cannot block traffic as were leaving an event," Reynolds said.

Cavil said he was trying to block the vehicle from leaving but that Reynolds isn't telling the truth about him speeding up and stepping in front of it.

"Its not like I went out of my way to jump in front of the vehicle in the way that she explains it or the State Patrol explains it. I was already standing where the vehicle was driving to," he said.

Video of the incident shows Cavil taking a couple of steps into the driveway and then coming to a halt before the SUV hits him.

Sgt. Alex Dinkla, a spokesperson for the Iowa State Patrol, said the department's investigation showed Cavil intentionally placed himself in front of the vehicle to stop it from leaving. He said there was no crash report from the incident because Cavil was not injured and the vehicle wasn't damaged.

"The trooper was operating the vehicle in a safe and prudent manner and in accordance with dignitary protection training. The trooper driving the vehicle will not be disciplined as he did not violate departmental policies or procedures," Dinkla said in an email.

Cavil said the incident shows Reynolds is being held to a different standard. He also called it a distraction from the work he and other activists are doing to pressure Reynolds to sign an executive order to restore voting rights for people with felony convictions once they have served their sentences.

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"Folks in the state of Iowa should really be concerned about the sheer lack of accountability that were seeing and the exceptionalism that were giving to Gov. Reynolds," he said. "Because if it was me or anyone else who was driving a car or riding in a car that struck another person, that car cant just drive away and everything be fine."

Jaylen Cavil, of Des Moines, Iowa, takes a cell phone photo during a Black Lives Matter demonstration outside Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' office, Monday, June 15, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Reynolds said she has not been in touch with Cavil since the incident on June 30. Cavil was part of a group of activists who met with Reynolds twice in her office at the Iowa Capitol last month to urge her to sign the executive order restoring voting rights.

Last week, Cavil traveled with about two dozen Black Lives Matter activists to Reynolds' events in Steamboat Rock and Ackley to again urge her to sign the executive order. The trooper driving Reynolds' vehicle struck him while leaving the Ackley event.

Reynolds has said she will sign such an order by the late summer or early fall, but activists have demanded she act sooner.

"The fact that she was riding in a car that struck me and she hasnt reached out or had anyone from her office reach out just to even have a conversation with me is also pretty troubling and concerning and disheartening honestly," Cavil said.

Follow Stephen Gruber-Miller on Twitter: @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Gov. Reynolds defends driver who hit Black Lives Matter protester
The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories

What happened?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle joined a conversation with young leaders from the Queens Commonwealth Trust (QCT) in which they discussed racism and unconscious bias, and acknowledged a need to feel uncomfortable while past wrongs were righted.

Harry, 35, the Queens grandson, said: When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past, and  guess what  everybody benefits.

The Commonwealth, a voluntary organisation involving 54 nations (the highest membership it has ever had), is understood to be the achievement the Queen is most proud of from her reign. She has visited every nation bar two, Cameroon and Rwanda, that joined more recently.

Harry and Meghan are president and vice president respectively of the QCT. The QCT says it does not represent the views of anyone in the Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke to young leaders in the Queen's Commonwealth Trust. (QCT)

Why theres debate

Harrys comments have drawn fierce criticism in parts of the UK press, with accusations he does not understand history or the origins of the organisation.

It forms part of an ongoing debate around racism and racial injustice around the world that has been sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US.

The debate includes calls for radical change to tackle structural and institutional racism, something Harry called endemic in another recent message.

Some institutions have acknowledged or been told they have a past that needs to be addressed, like the Church of England or the Home Office. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby apologised for slavery in February, and said the church should repent and take action in June.

A report into how the Home Office dealt with the Windrush scandal found there was a culture of carelessness, and institutional thoughtlessness in dealing with cases.

But Harry is accused of conflating the Commonwealth with the British Empire.

Many say the Commonwealth is a force for good and has done much to progress beyond Britains slave owner past.

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However, others say the organisation is not truly voluntary as the countries involved would be at a disadvantage without it.

Whats next

Theres no doubt the conversation about racism and injustice will continue, and Harry and Meghan appear to be keen to be a big part of that.

Whether or not the couple can expect any personal reprimand from their grandmother will remain unknown  though it seems unlikely that the Queen will take any action against Harry and Meghan, as they dont carry out engagements on her behalf and the QCT isnt representative of any royal views.

Read more: 9 things the Queen has said about the Commonwealth she gave 'heart and soul' to

Perspectives

The Commonwealth has a strange magic, and is a one-off

Prince Harry is a sweet-natured, kind soul. But even he would not suggest he was the worlds greatest historian. If he knew more about the Commonwealth, he would appreciate its strange magic. In 1949, his great-grandfather, George VI, presided over the Commonwealths inauguration. In its 71-year history, there have only been two Heads of the Commonwealth: George VI and the Queen. The Commonwealth is a complete one-off. Founded in the declining years of the British Empire, it has pulled off a sort of happy magic trick. The forced authority of the Empire over colonies has been replaced by a voluntary association of those former colonies.  Harry Mount, The Daily Telegraph

If Harry believed in equality he would argue against the monarchy

His comments are a massive symbol of the flagrant hypocrisy of the woke ideology. Here you have a member of the Royal Family  who are the most significant beneficiaries of imperialism and colonialism  lecturing ordinary people on what they should do to reflect on the Commonwealths role in the past. If Harry believed in total equality he would be arguing against the Monarchy itself. I also think he is wrong, because I dont see any evidence that we have ignored the sins of the British Empire. We talk about colonialism and its horrors are taught in history lessons in school.  Inaya Folarin Iman, The Sun

The Commonwealth is Empire 2.0

The Commonwealth is a vessel of former colonies with the former imperial master at its helm. Or, as I like to call it, Empire 2.0. All countries use diplomacy to lobby in their own interests  there is nothing wrong with that. In Britains case, the Commonwealth has served very nicely to advocate its particular shopping list: liberalised, extractor-friendly regimes, low corporate tax rates, and a creative system of tax havens predominantly located in  you guessed it  other Commonwealth countries.... The Commonwealth is ultimately a voluntary organisation  unlike, obviously, the empire  and its members choose to stay. At the end of the empire, only Burma, Aden and the Republic of Ireland did not. Has it been a meaningful choice? For the majority of members, the 32 countries whose population is less than 1.5 million, thats questionable.  Afua Hirsch, The Guardian

No one is compelled to join - and nations come back

Just as no one has ever been compelled to join this club, so those who leave or who get kicked out soon end up trying to get back in (the Maldives have just been readmitted after a few years in the cold). It is hard to think of an organisation which has had a better record in confronting colonial oppression in modern times, be it bringing about the end of white rule in Rhodesia or fighting apartheid in South Africa. One of Nelson Mandelas first executive acts on being elected president of a new and democratic South Africa in 1994 was to resume its membership of the Commonwealth (before it even returned to the UN).  Robert Hardman, The Daily Mail

Someone can love the Commonwealth and believe it can improve

Apparently stating facts and history is being perceived as delivering an emotional punch to Her Majesty, an elderly woman. Because she loves the Commonwealth so much. But you can love the Commonwealth, and Harry wouldnt be President of the Queens Commonwealth Trust if he didnt care about it, while also understanding the reality of its beginnings  both things can be true. In fact, both things *should* be true if improvement is to happen. But this is why white fragility is such a barrier to improvement and change. Harry was actually trying to center the feelings of the marginalised.  Elaine Lui, Lainey Gossip

Theres no dirty secret about the Commonwealth

My view is that I dont think the Commonwealth has anything in particular to be ashamed of. There were parts of our history that were bad, but thats not particularly remarkable. The idea that we all have a rosy, upbeat view of the Empire as being simply good and nothing ever bad happened... Id be very surprised if most Brits arent aware of our involvement in slavery. I find the notion that theres some dirty secret about the Commonwealth extraordinary.  Prof Nigel Biggar, University of Oxford, The Daily Telegraph

These discussions might re-energise the Commonwealth

The fact remains that what its members essentially have in common is the national experience of being part of the British Empire. One problem of the Commonwealth is that its constituency of active supporters has been ageing, and discussion have become terribly platitudinous. By contrast, issues around reparations, race, the Windrush Saga are things that really grasp the imagination of young people. Although it might be uncomfortable for Britain, it might re-energise the Commonwealth and I think Harry and Meghan are right about that.  Professor Philip Murphy, director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London, The Daily Telegraph

The negatives of the Commonwealth outweigh the positives

I do accept that the Commonwealth games are splendid, that some excellent work is done by the association and connected satellite charities, that scholarships and education initiatives are wholly admirable, that connecting peoples in this increasingly fragile and splintered world is important and necessary. But the negatives far outweigh the positives. Clubs of the privileged are suspect at the best of times, but this global one reflects and embodies conservative, archaic values and, more alarmingly, has long undercut and subverted the central modern principles of equality, human rights, democracy and accountability. - Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, International Business Times
John Swing worked with multiple community organizations serving the Filipino American community. (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans)

In the final ceremony for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month webinar series in May, community leader John Eric Swing smiled proudly in his polo shirt emblazoned with the nonprofits logo.

SIPAs doors are always open, he said of the organization. Were here to be a bridge and be impactful in many ways, and how we make that impactful is in everyones collaboration with each other.

Swing was a leader in Los Angeles Historic Filipinotown and had worked with multiple community organizations serving the Filipino American community. He had been the executive director of SIPA, which is dedicated to Filipino American empowerment, for only two months when he died June 28 of complications from COVID-19. He was 48.

Swing was appointed after a yearlong nationwide search. He was excited to work on the redevelopment of SIPAs headquarters, which looked to include a small-business center, community space and a cultural center. The project was years in the making, and Swing had hoped to see it through.

He had been a staff member at SIPA since 2015 and formed close relationships with coworkers. Eddy M. Gana Jr., who serves as SIPAs mental health counselor, remembered him for his work ethic and selflessness.

When they were still in the office before the pandemic forced them to work from home, Swing would always be the first to offer to close up for the night.

If theres ever anything [you need], you can give me a call, anytime, Swing once told his colleague.

So how about 2 or 3 a.m.? Gana joked. Swing assured him he would answer the call. Every meeting after that, Swing would pretend to hold a phone to his ear and say, You can still call me anytime. Im waiting!

I never got to give him a call that late, Gana said.

Before Swings term even began, SIPA had to move operations online because of the pandemic, but he still found ways to help community members. The organization got a boost when California state Sen. Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar) obtained funding for delivering food to seniors and underserved families in Historic Filipinotown. The state Senate later honored SIPA and Swings leadership with a certificate of recognition as Unsung Heroes of Southern California.

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The organization also hosted two webinar series, Wellness Wednesdays and Filipino Fridays, during the month of May. SIPA continued community programming through Zoom meetings during the pandemic, and in early June, Swing shared in a board meeting that he was planning a session on anti-racism in the Filipino community to assist Black people.

On June 16, Swing told the president of the nonprofits board of directors that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and would be taking a few weeks off to focus on recovery. But within a week, his condition worsened and he was admitted to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center.

The son of Filipino immigrants, Swing spent his college years learning more about his Filipino American identity. As an ethnic-studies student at UC Riverside, Swing co-founded the Asian American fraternity Psi Chi Omega and volunteered in community service organizations.

He was proud of his heritage and loved Filipino pop music, or OPM. We teased him a bit because he had some favorite songs that were in Tagalog that are older songs our parents would listen to, said Jessica del Mundo, secretary of SIPAs board of directors.

After graduating, Swing served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves for six years. He received the National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal and earned a Rifle Expert Marksman badge. He worked as a senior probation corrections officer for the Riverside County Probation Department before pursuing community service and social work full time.

As part of the leadership team that chose him for the role, Del Mundo said she was struck by his commitment to serving all communities and people in need.

It wasn't so much about helping people with Filipino cultural programming, it was the culture of changing lives, no matter what ethnicity or background, Del Mundo said.

Johns story is so much more about a life of service and accepting all people, and helping all people, Del Mundo said. He always went above and beyond in providing resources and making an investment in the community.

Swing is survived by his parents, Ellis and Aurora; his wife, Maria Elena Rodriguez-Swing; children Zachary, Joshua, Chloe and Mackenzie; stepchildren Sasha and Nicco; sister Karen Bromley; and brother P.J. Swing.
Kanye West wears a "Make America Great Again" hat as he visits President Donald Trump in the Oval Office in October 2018. (Associated Press)

Billionaire rap mogul Kanye West is apparently serious about running for president this year, laying out his executive plans  and lack thereof  in a wide-ranging interview with Forbes published Wednesday.

After announcing his plans on July 4, he now has less than a month to formalize his bid but has resolved to get on the ballot. He won't run as a Democrat or a Republican but instead under the "Birthday Party" banner "because when we win, its everybodys birthday.

The rapper, 43, who has publicly (and controversially) supported President Donald Trump, said he has lost confidence in 45 and is "taking the red hat off," alluding to the Trump campaign's "Make America Great Again" caps.

"It looks like one big mess to me. I dont like that I caught wind that he hid in the bunker," West said, referring to Trump's retreat to the White House bunker in late May during the George Floyd protests.

The Grammy Award winner explained his puzzling, erstwhile endorsement of the president this way: "One of the main reasons I wore the red hat as a protest to the segregation of votes in the Black community. Also, other than the fact that I like Trump hotels and the saxophones in the lobby.

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Those luxuries aside, West said he won't be throwing his support behind former Vice President Joe Biden either because he's "not special."

"A lot of times just like political parties they feel all Blacks have to be Democrat. This man, Joe Biden, said if you dont vote for me, then you are not Black. Well, act like we didnt hear that? We act like we didnt hear that man say that? That man said that. Its a rap. We gonna walk, all the people. Jay-Z said it best," West said.

"For the other candidates, I just gracefully suggest yall bow out  Trump and Biden, gracefully bow out. Its Gods country, we are doing everything in service to God, nobody but God no more. I am in service of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and I put everything I get on the line to serve God."

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West, who explored his religious awakening on a pair of albums last year, admitted that he's never voted and denied that his White House bid is a publicity stunt to promote a forthcoming album. He also seemed fine with his presumptive run hurting Biden's chances of getting elected.

"That is a form of racism and white supremacy and white control to say that all Black people need to be Democrat and to assume that me running is me splitting the vote," West said.

"All of that information is being charged up on social media platforms by Democrats. And Democrats used to tell me, the same Democrats have threatened me.  The reason why this is the first day I registered to vote is because I was scared. I was told that if I voted on Trump, my music career would be over. I was threatened into being in one party. I was threatened as a celebrity into being in one party. I was threatened as a Black man into the Democratic party. And thats what the Democrats are doing, emotionally, to my people. Threatening them to the point where this white man can tell a Black man if you dont vote for me, youre not Black."

West added that his running mate would be Wyoming preacher Michelle Tidball and his campaign slogan would be "YES." On the Fourth of July, he got two key Twitter endorsements upon announcing his run: his wife, Kim Kardashian West, and Tesla founder Elon Musk. West has said he'll also consult experts and Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner on election matters.

"Lets see if the appointing is at 2020 or if its 2024  because God appoints the president. If I win in 2020 then it was Gods appointment. If I win in 2024 then that was Gods appointment," West said.

Elsewhere in the interview, West said he plans to bring a "design" team to the presidency to form policies. He loves China. He hasn't done enough research on taxes yet. He wants to bring prayer back to schools. He is pro-life and against the death penalty. And he wants to end police brutality.

Oh, and he envisions a White House modeled after the comic book-based country of Wakanda from Marvel's blockbuster "Black Panther" film.

"A lot of Africans do not like the movie ['Black Panther'] and representation of themselves in  Wakanda. But Im gonna use the framework of Wakanda right now because its the best explanation of what our design group is going to feel like in the White House," he said. "That is a positive idea: You got Kanye West, one of the most powerful humans  Im not saying the most because you got a lot of alien level superpowers and its only collectively that we can set it free."

So, WaKanye Forever?
As protests erupted in Los Angeles in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, some of the demonstrations were led by Asian Americans looking to the past to inform their activism.

The young activists recalled the 1992 Los Angeles uprising, which was sparked after a jury acquitted three Los Angeles police officers of use of excessive force for brutally beating Rodney King and failed to reach a verdict for a fourth officer, as well as the killing of Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old Black girl who was shot by a Korean convenience store owner who said she stole a bottle of orange juice.

The shop owner, Soon Ja Du, was sentenced to probation, community service and a $500 fine, a decision that was upheld a week before the uprising. Much of Koreatown was then destroyed, with thousands of businesses looted, vandalized or set on fire.

Young organizers today say that until Asian Americans reckon with what happened in 1992, their communities will not be able to organize effectively in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

"It hurts us as a whole, not just the Asian community, but just people of color in general, essentially pitting ourselves against each other," said Tom Ngo, an entrepreneur who organized an Asian American solidarity march.

Solidarity with Black lives

Ngo wanted to see more Asian Americans marching in the streets, so he took to social media.

"We were just putting out a call-out message, saying, 'Hey, we need to come out and support, we're going to show up on this day at this time, come out if you can,'" he said of the AAPI March for Black Lives, which he helped organize in Los Angeles on June 5.

The morning of the demonstration, about 1,000 protesters, most of whom were of Asian descent, gathered on the front steps of City Hall holding signs with slogans like "Asians for Black Lives" and "Asian Silence = Complicity."

David Bryant, co-founder of the Latasha Harlins Justice Committee, addressed the crowd.

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"Our Asian brothers and sisters, and particularly our Korean brothers and sisters, we would like you to know  history doesn't have to repeat itself," he said. "We can come together in unity."

IMAGE: Yellow and Brown Folks United for Black Lives protest (Phoenix Tso)

The legacy  and lessons  of the 1992 uprisings also inspired the activist Tyson Suzuki, who is half-Japanese and half-Black. For the past month, he has led daily political education sessions outside City Hall, where he frequently discusses what happened in 1992 and draws connections between past and present.

"Being shot in the head for orange juice divided the people, and sadly enough it sparked a complete divide among two racial minority groups that should have focused their aggressions towards the system of how they were being marginalized through police brutality," he said.

"If we're not white, we're a marginalized race as a whole  the Black community just so happens to see more violent acts towards them than any other racial group when it comes to police," he said. "It's understanding that but also engaging in conversations about community policing and restorative justice."

Healing old traumas

Some organizers say the Korean community is still holding on to trauma from 1992. Many business owners in Koreatown at the time had to fend for themselves as police protected wealthier neighborhoods during the uprising. Koreatown businesses  most of them owned by Koreans and Latinos  bore the brunt of the damage.

"I was afraid to see history repeat itself," Koreatown organizer Nara Kim said. "I didn't want to see Korean Americans arm themselves."

So Kim, along with fellow organizers Cat Yang and Alan Antonio, created a group called Ktown 4 Black Lives and planned a June 6 solidarity protest in Koreatown called Yellow and Brown Folks United for Black Lives. They envisioned that the protest would be a place for people to discuss trauma stemming from the 1992 uprising and to get educated on how to move forward.

"It really should be on the folks that are in the community, in Koreatown, with Korean Americans to be able to hold space and really unpack that trauma with folks," Kim said.

Learning from the 1992 uprising, the Ktown 4 Black Lives organizers wanted a space that would include all communities in Koreatown, including Latinos, who make up over half the neighborhood's population.

IMAGE: Haewon Asfaw (Phoenix Tso)

Yang started gauging interest among Asian American protesters at Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles actions and then helped form a coalition mostly of Asian and Latino organizers.

Korean and West African drum groups performed at the event. Protesters donated supplies to groups like the Watts Community Corps and the Downtown Women's Center, and volunteers distributed information in English, Korean and Spanish on Black Lives Matter and police abolition.

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Several speakers addressed 1992.

Haewon Asfaw shared her experience growing up half-Korean and half-Black in Los Angeles and called on both communities to resist efforts to pit them against each other.

"They played on loop that Korean store owner shooting 15-year-old Latasha Harlins, and they got in our heads, and they played that game, and they turned us against each other," Asfaw said. "This idea of scarcity and division is rooted in white supremacy, and we have to tear it down and rebuild."

About 500 people attended the event, which surprised organizers.

"I saw former teachers, classmates, friends that live in Koreatown," Antonio said. "It was overwhelming, but in a good way."

Follow NBC Asian America on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Waiter Jesus Segura, left, puts on gloves as waiter Alex Ortiz, passes by with breakfast plates for dine-in customers at rhe Original Pantry in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion Tuesday that will allow county health officials to impose fines or immediately revoke the permits of restaurants not complying with COVID-19 health orders.

The motion, introduced by supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Janice Hahn, expressed concern that the countys current method for inspecting restaurants is not adequate, given the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

If we hope to slow the rapid increase in new cases while still allowing businesses to reopen, we must ensure that businesses are following the Health Officer Orders and guidelines, the motion said.

The Department of Public Health now has 14 days to present an enforcement plan for approval, which will detail how large of a fine can be levied against a restaurant, as determined by the maximum occupancy of the business and the severity of violations. A restaurants operating permit could also be revoked after a second violation is reported.

Inspectors found that from June 27 to 28, 49% of bars and 33% of restaurants were not adhering to physical distancing protocols indoors, while 54% of bars and 44% of restaurants were not enforcing face mask and face shield requirements.

Under current rules, although a restaurant can temporarily be shut down after a third, fourth or fifth visit from an inspector, officials are often directed to advise the business on areas of noncompliance and eventually issue a violation order, which does not include a fine.

The entire process from the first visit to the decision to temporarily shut down a business can take several weeks, saps significant DPH resources, and potentially exposes hundreds or thousands of people to COVID-19, the motion said. We have neither the time nor the government resources to continue to spend weeks counseling businesses that should be prepared to adhere to public health rules before ever reopening.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is exploring what it would take to close the dilapidated Men's Central Jail within a year. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times)

Only a year ago, L.A. County leaders scrapped a plan to replace the decrepit Mens Central Jail, where thousands of inmates are held in cramped cells along narrow hallways in downtown L.A.

Now, the Board of Supervisors is looking at what it would take to close the 57-year-old lockup all together  with no replacement  as they focus on treating the mental health needs of the thousands of people who come in and out of the jail system, which is run by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and is the biggest such system in the nation.

Officials are also seeking to leverage a reduction in the jail population in recent months driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of large-scale outbreaks of the disease in cramped quarters.

The move also comes amid a national reassessment of the criminal justice system spurred by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Civic leaders across the nation are taking hard looks at defunding law enforcement agencies and diverting some of that money to mental health, housing and other community needs.

The county's focus on finding alternatives to incarceration began well before the recent protests over police brutality.

We must reduce our reliance just on caging people, said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. The closure of MCJ, as we continue to do that, wont be the revolutionary concept it looked like today. Itll simply be logical. Itll be fiscally prudent and another opportunity for community healing.

Supervisor Hilda Solis said she sees closing Men's Central Jail as part of a sea change that will require the county's criminal justice system as a whole to focus much of its attention on restorative justice.

"I think sometimes when youre in a crisis, that's when you have a chance to really change and pivot and go in a different direction, and the direction here is  people want to be treated fairly and equitably," Solis said.

Officials said they are not revving up the bulldozers just yet.

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The board on Tuesday endorsed developing a course of action to close Men's Central, the largest of seven facilities in L.A. County's sprawling and overcrowded jail system, within a year. That includes looking at where the inmates held there now would go, how the county's six other jails would be impacted and the potential cost-savings of such a move.

Any plans to tear down the jail would come with a ramped up Office of Diversion and Reentry, a team created five years ago to help inmates with mental illness or substance abuse problems find housing and support services. Officials pointed to a January study conducted by the nonprofit research agency Rand Corp., which found that more than 60% of the inmates with a mental illness in county jails would be eligible for diversion if there were more facilities capable of providing supportive care.

That means thousands of inmates could be taken out of the criminal justice system, which could save the county hundreds of dollars it costs daily to house each person behind bars. For many, officials said at the time, it would also end a cycle of arrest, homelessness and recidivism.

Since the pandemic began, the Sheriff's Department has reduced the jail population by about 5,000  from roughly 17,000 inmates to about 12,000  to ease overcrowding and avert deadly outbreaks. It marks the first time in at least 15 years that the jail population has dipped below the 12,404-inmate capacity set by the California Board of State and Community Corrections, even though crime has dropped significantly during that same period, according to county officials.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Tuesday that only the most dangerous offenders are left behind bars and suggested the closure of Men's Central Jail would lead to their release.

"The jail system today houses 1,199 murder suspects, 762 attempted murder suspects, 65 manslaughter suspects, 105 rape suspects, 391 child molestation suspects, 1,200 robbery suspects, 142 carjacking suspects, 743 domestic violence suspects," Villanueva told the supervisors. "Now, you tell me how safe you think you're going to be with them out there in the community."

The plan, however, does not call for broad scale releases of violent offenders.

"On any given day there are over 3,000 individuals with mental illness in our jail system who could be safely diverted," said Supervisor Janice Hahn. "We're not closing it without a plan, it's not our desire to release violent criminals into the streets, thus victimizing more people. This is a question we've all been asking: Can we demolish this antiquated and unsafe facility with another plan in place?"

Lex Steppling, director of campaigns and policy for Dignity and Power Now who worked with other advocates to help come up with a list of alternatives to incarceration recommended to the board, said Villanueva's remarks amounted to fear-mongering.

"We have an opportunity to take a much more comprehensive approach to public safety," he said.

Ron Hernandez, president of the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, told the supervisors that Men's Central was outdated but said he opposed its closure without a suitable replacement.

The board requested a report back from the Sheriff's Department and the Office of Diversion and Reentry in 60 days.

The motion, authored by Solis and co-authored by Kuehl, said closing the jail would eventually help to address budget shortfalls within the Sheriff's Department. Due to the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic, officials cut $162 million this fiscal year from the department's budget.

Times staff writer Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report.
There was plenty of news across Georgia on Wednesday. If you missed any of it on your local Patch, here's a roundup of the top stories from the past 24 hours.

Georgia's largest school district also postponed opening school until Aug. 12, a week later than planned.

Council amended the Atlanta Police Department's standard operating procedures to incorporate use of force alternatives.

Atlanta media mogul, Tyler Perry, plans to pay for the funeral of Secoriea Turner, 8, who was shot and killed Saturday night.

Not only did Georgia come close to setting another single-day record for new COVID-19 cases, Gwinnett County passed the 10,000 mark.

PPP Loans:

Contribute your own content to Patch by signing up for an account and clicking the "Post on Patch" button at the top right of the site.

Also Worth A Look Today:

Across America

This article originally appeared on the Gwinnett Patch
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Stefan Rousseau/-WPA Pool/Getty Images

EXCLUSIVE: Liz Truss, the UK's international trade secretary, privately raised deep concerns about Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit border plans in a letter leaked to Business Insider.

While Britain is set to leave European Union trading rules at the end of the year, the UK has announced that full border controls on goods will not come into effect until next July.

In a letter to other senior Cabinet figures on Wednesday, Truss said the plans could lead to smuggling from the EU and face a legal challenge from the World Trade Organisation.

She wrote to Rishi Sunak, the chancellor of the exchequer, and Michael Gove, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, setting out four key concerns about the plans.

Truss also said the plans could break international trading rules and harm the UK's reputation at the WTO.

A government representative said: "We do not comment on leaks."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit border plans could break international trading rules, risk the UK's international credibility, and lead to smuggling from the European Union, a senior member of his government warned in an explosive leaked letter seen by Business Insider.

Though Britain is set to leave EU trading and customs rules at the end of the year, the government announced last month that full border controls would not be applied on goods until July 2021.

Business Insider reported last week that the plan raised serious concerns among business groups, who said it could be a "disaster" for firms trading with the EU.

On Wednesday, Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, wrote in a letter to Rishi Sunak, the chancellor of the exchequer, and Michael Gove, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, expressing four "key areas of concern" about the government's plans to leave EU trading and custom rules at the end of 2020.

Story continues

Truss said the plans could create a series of logistical, political, and reputational risks for the government, including:

A legal challenge from the World Trade Organisation.

Increased smuggling from the EU if not all UK ports are ready to carry out checks.

Concerns over the union if EU tariffs are applied to all goods heading to Northern Ireland by "default."

The undermining of the UK's international trade policy.

Truss told Sunak and Gove that a failure to make sure all ports are ready to carry out the full range of checks on incoming goods by January could lead to smuggling into the UK.

"I would like assurances that we are able to deliver full control at these ports by July 2021 and that plans are in place from January to mitigate the risk of goods being circumvented from ports implementing full controls," she wrote.

Truss also said she was worried that the legality of the UK's plan for a phased approach to checks on goods coming from the EU from January to July could be challenged at the WTO.

She said the UK would "be vulnerable to WTO challenge" because of its border policy. This is because the UK plans to temporarily give the EU preferential treatment, which could be a breach of WTO rules if there is no UK-EU free-trade agreement in place.

Truss also suggested that as of January 1, all goods going to Northern Ireland from elsewhere in the world could have the EU tariff applied by default, as the system for applying both UK and EU tariffs is not expected to be ready on time.

"I understand that the digital delivery of the dual tariff system (both EU and UK tariff) in Northern Ireland is a high risk and that HMRC are planning to apply the EU tariff as a default to all imports in NI on 1 January 2021," she wrote.

Truss said she was worried that it would anger unionists in the province, telling Gove and Sunak that "this is very concerning as this may call into question NI's place in the UK customs territory."

This section of the letter is likely to fuel concerns in Northern Ireland that businesses in the province will face significant new costs as of next year. Business Insider reported last month that businesses were considering leaving the province in anticipation of trade with Great Britain becoming more expensive.

Responding to the leaked letter, the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium's Aodhan Connolly said: "If true, a plan to implement EU tariffs as a default provides unprecedented problems to retailers who trade in Northern Ireland."

He told Business Insider: "Retail accounts for 70% of the value of trade that crosses GB-NI and even if we were able to reclaim the tariffs the implications for cash flow while waiting for refunds makes the premise untenable."

He added: "I am glad the International Trade Secretary shares our concerns about a workable system being in place by January 2021. That's why we want to see tried and tested off the peg solutions such as a trusted trader or green channel scheme that will remove friction and allow the majority of goods to flow freely."

In her letter, Truss also appeared to confirm that a UK government plan to waive customs declarations on exports to the EU had been dropped.

"I am pleased to hear that following the XO [EU Exit Operations] meeting last Friday, it was decided that the temporary waving of export declarations will not be included in the publication," she said.

Truss signed off by telling her colleagues: "We need to ensure that the UK border is effective and compliant with international rules, maintaining our credibility with trading partners, the WTO and with business."

The UK trade department needs a "clear view of operational plans, timescales and risks going forward," Truss wrote.

Johnson's government is set to publish its full plans for how the borders will work from January 1 on Monday.

The opposition Labour Party said the letter showed that the government was "making things up as they go" on Brexit.

"This email confirms fears that several ministers have been making things up as they go with a lack of awareness of the real world consequences of border policies they've had four years to develop," said Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and shadow Cabinet Office minister.

"At the general election people were promised an 'oven-ready' deal to be implemented by the end of this year, not chaos, confusion and a further risk to jobs."

A government representative said: "We do not comment on leaks."

Truss' 'explosive' letter confirms business groups' worries

Dover Brexit

BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images

Truss' letter, which was also shared with Home Secretary Priti Patel, echoed concerns voiced by business groups in recent weeks over the UK's readiness for leaving the European single market and customs union in 2021.

Groups last week told Business Insider that Johnson's government had failed to guarantee that the new IT system for processing customs checks on exports  the Goods Vehicle Movement Service  would be ready on time.

Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrats' spokesman for Brexit and foreign affairs, called on Johnson's government to explain the letter to Parliament, telling Business Insider: "At a time when the UK is already facing the COVID-19 crisis, we cannot afford to crash out of the EU without a deal in place or to accept bad deal.

"Time and again this Government has brushed off concerns about the damaging consequences of Brexit for trade and the border on the island of Ireland. This explosive email clearly reveals the panic in the dark corridors of Whitehall.

"It is essential the Government publishes detailed impact assessments immediately and come before Parliament and be honest with the public."

Naomi Smith, the CEO of Best For Britain, a group campaigning for a comprehensive UK trade deal with the EU, said: "The government ignored concerns that we wouldn't be ready to end the transition period on 31st December, despite numerous warnings from business and trade bodies."

Smith added: "This email proves that those concerns were valid, and the senior Cabinet minister trusted with Britain's future trade shares them."

The campaign group has also called on Truss to publish the letter  as well as Gove and Sunak's response  in full.

Read the original article on Business Insider
LeBron James is looking to expand his real estate portfolio in Los Angeles. The Lakers star is reportedly in contract to purchase a sprawling 13,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion, according to The Real Deal. The property is situated on a 2.5-acre plot of land and belongs to soap opera legend Lee Phillip Bell, who co-created The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless.

Though it was previously on the market for $39 million, its unclear how much James ultimately paid for the estate, which boasts, among other amenities, seven fireplaces, a screening room, a lighted tennis court, and a pool house with two bathrooms. Images of the home shared to Twitter by sports business reporter Darren Rovell reveal skylights and indoor fountains, as well as entire walls of glass sliders that open up to reveal unobstructed city views.

See the video.

James already owns two other homes in neighboring Brentwood, which he snapped up in the years before he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2018. One is a $23 million mansion boasting eight bedrooms and eleven bathrooms, with a home theater, wine cellar, cigar room with air-purifying technology, and even an onyx bar. Theres also a professional indoor/outdoor gym that is directly connected to a spa with a steam room, sauna, shower, and massage room, ideal for a star athlete looking for a little rest and relaxation. He purchased that place in 2017, two years after picking up his first Brentwood house, a $21 million mansion custom built by Ken Ungar.

James also previously owned a home in Miami, where he played for the Heat between 2010 and 2014; that mansion came to market earlier this year for $13.95 million.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
A Tennessee man is being hailed as a hero after police say he saved a woman during a violent attack Tuesday.

Around 2 p.m., Jefferson City police responded to reports of a fight outside a Bojangles restaurant where a legally armed Good Samaritan had stepped in to stop the woman from being assaulted and strangled during a domestic incident, according to a report posted to the departments Facebook page.

Police learned a man and woman started arguing as they walked near the restaurants drive-thru. Thats when the suspect, identified as James Michael Shelton, slammed the woman to the ground when she tried to flee, the report states.

Shelton proceeded to strangle the woman and drag her away  until a witness in the drive-thru lane jumped into action, police said.

A bystander in the drive-thru noticed the assault and immediately exited his vehicle and trained his pistol toward the male suspect and ordered him to stop, according to police. The suspect immediately complied and was eventually taken into custody by responding officers.

Shelton, 25, is now jailed on aggravated domestic assault and aggravated kidnapping charges, police said.

The victim was treated at a local hospital. An update on her condition was not provided.

Jefferson City police havent identified the Good Samaritan.

Jefferson City is about 30 miles from Knoxville.
A statue of Thomas Jefferson stands inside the Jefferson Memorial in Washington. (Karen Bleier / AFP/Getty Images)

To the editor: I agree with columnist Doyle McManus that monuments proclaim the beliefs of the people who erected them.

Monuments in public spaces that run counter to current beliefs should be removed from public view and preserved instead in museums. They must be presented within their historical context so that the viewers can learn from the mistakes of the past.

Monuments to flawed leaders should be restructured to promote their beliefs or accomplishments. For example, the Jefferson Memorial in Washington should remove the statue of Thomas Jefferson, a slaveholder, and instead commemorate the Declaration of Independence. That change would send the proper message to the world about American aspirations.

Mark Rhomberg, Pacific Palisades

..

To the editor: I am originally from Pennsylvania, and my older sister graduated from Gettysburg College. My family and I visited the Civil War battlefields of Gettysburg, Antietam and Manassas. I was young then and saw only information about the battles, strategies and death tolls.

Robert E. Lee was like a rebel hero figure  it made an impression, but there was not a conscience to it. Recently I've been reexamining those experiences, and McManus' column helped me distinguish between acknowledging history and honoring the white supremacist traitors of the Civil War.

My wife and I have visited Germany often over the last 25 years, and we have never seen a statue or monument that honors Adolf Hitler. We have traveled in Italy extensively, and I cannot recall having seen a monument to Benito Mussolini.

Battlefield monuments like those in Gettysburg honor history and the people who fought and died there. City monuments like those in Richmond, Va., are not on battlefields and serve only to remind us of a culture of white supremacism. That's not a history to be honored.

Ron Roup, San Clemente

..

To the editor: "Statues of Christopher Columbus pose a tougher question," McManus writes. "Are we honoring him for his intrepid navigating or because he opened the Americas to European colonization?"

Story continues

This ignores the fact that Columbus and his men raped, killed, maimed and enslaved Indigenous peoples in their quest to obtain gold and resources. There is no honor for Columbus.

As an enrolled member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and also someone of Choctaw descent, I would like to see everyone learn the true history of this explorer. And while we are talking, decolonize your newsroom, Los Angeles Times.

Allison Hicks, Whittier

..

To the editor: Trump threatens severe penalties on those who would topple and deface the monuments and statues of traitorous Confederate generals. But during his tenure, he has overseen the shrinking and desecration of national monuments that protect our natural heritage.

In Utah, the size of Bears Ears National Monument has been cut by 85%, and Grand Staircase-Escalante was eviscerated by half, allowing the extraction industries to move in. Trump is attempting to open the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing, defeating the purpose of the sanctuary.

The administration is bulldozing through the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, destroying Tohono O'odham sacred sites and threatening endangered species.

Apparently, stone and bronze pigeon perches are more important to Trump than to our cultural and natural wealth.

Tony Baker, Rancho Palos Verdes
Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix.

Screenshot/FOX 10 Phoenix

Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix told NPR that librarians and other municipal employees were being asked to help with the city's coronavirus testing.

The city doesn't have its own health department, though there is a public-health department for the county.

Gallego also said Arizona's surge in cases could be due to the state reopening too soon.

Healthcare workers in the state also attributed the surge in cases to an early reopening.

Many are worried the state is not testing enough  and doesn't have the capacity to test enough people.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Librarians are now being called in to help with coronavirus testing in Phoenix because the city does not have a health department that could assist with a surge in need, Mayor Kate Gallego says.

"As a mayor, there's no one else to pass the buck to, so that's why we've challenged our librarians, parks workers, and public-works employees to step up and help with testing," Gallego toldNPR in an interview.

She added: "But in the United States of America, I have to think that there should be more resources, and we shouldn't yet again depend on our librarians."

A representative from Gallego's office told Business Insider that city employees were not administering the coronavirus tests but were setting up and manning testing sites.

"From start to finish they are the ones setting it up," the person said.

City workers like librarians and park workers are teaming up with healthcare providers to bring the necessary testing. The representative added that a core team of about a dozen city employees worked on the logistical side of creating partnerships with providers, and several dozen employees normally worked various testing sites, depending on the needs of each location.

City employees may be the people who help patients fill out paperwork, direct them, and clean up, among a variety of other tasks needed to keep testing locations functional.

Story continues

Gallego told NPR she went to a testing site in Phoenix where she said people were lined up for eight hours in temperatures as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit, or about 43 Celsius.

Arizona is struggling with COVID-19 testing, including getting lab results back in a timely fashion and contact tracing, especially in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, which has a county health department. Gallego said she had asked for federal assistance with testing.

Gallego told NPR that Arizona opened too quickly and that it could explain why the state's cases doubled in just two weeks to more than 100,000.

"We sent a message that we had defeated COVID-19, and we had not," Gallego told NPR. "We are really in a bad situation where we need more resources for our medical system and help with testing."

Doctors in Arizona also told Insider the state opened too soon.

Dr. Matthew Heinz, a hospitalist and internist at Tucson Medical Center, works the overnight shift and said he remembered clearly that he started admitting more people into the hospital for COVID-19 on the night of June 3. He said he was expecting more cases around that time, since it was approximately three weeks since the state reopened on May 15.

"They reopened the state of Arizona far too early and did not meet any of the criteria to even being considering a reopening and they kept moving forward and forward," Heinz said. "Because it takes three weeks for any action that we take, whether it's requiring masks or doing a shutdown or opening the state or whatever  it takes three weeks until you see what happens on the hospitalization side, where I see people."

After reopening much of the state, last week Gov. Doug Ducey suspended the operation of several types of businesses, such as gyms and bars, for another 30 days as the state's cases surpassed 3,000.

Gallego, however, is concerned that more still needs to be done.

"I would like for mayors and city councils to have the tools to make decisions in our local community. For example, I'm concerned that there's still transmission incurring in packed restaurants. So could we move those to takeout?" she told NPR.

Gallego said there was a problem with adequate testing in Phoenix.

"I also would really ask that every level of government help the city of Phoenix with testing," she said. "This weekend I was at a testing location where people were waiting in 110 degrees for hours and hours, eight hours in their car, running out of gasoline, desperate to get a test. I would love to see more support."

The state reported another 3,653 cases on Tuesday along with 117 deaths, the most recorded so far.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Steve Goodchild spent 13 hours a day for the three months working to complete his wooden craft. (SWNS)

A man who spent three months building a 16ft boat during lockdown was forced to remove the patio door to get it out of his house.

Steve Goodchild, 73, spent 13 hours a day while the UK was kept at home during the coronavirus pandemic working to complete his wooden craft, named Barnacle.

But during construction he scaled up the project  and it proved too big to move outside.

The dad-of-three said he had to pull down the door and frame to squeeze it through so the boat could set sail on its maiden voyage on Saturday.

The boat proved to big to move outside the house. (SWNS)

Steve Goodchild removed his patio door to get the boat through. (SWNS)

The retired former land surveyor, of Paignton, Devon, said the vessel would have sailed through the door without issue if he had he stuck to his original design.

Goodchild said: "I have always done a lot of woodwork and have been a sailor since the age of four, so I thought I would build a boat

MORE: Risk of COVID-19 spreading in Australia 'extremely high

"The idea of cruising along the south coast in good weather really appealed to me.

"I hate to think how long it took in terms of hours, but in total I worked on it for three and a half years.

The wooden Stornaway, which Goodchild started building in 2017, was completed during lockdown but the patio door proved to be a challenge.

The boat sailed on its maiden voyage on Saturday. (SWNS)

Goodchild said: "I was always good at measurements and I knew I would get it out the door if I stuck with the initial design.

"But I changed it to give me a front deck and it made it fatter. I knew a long time ago it was going to be too bit and I would take out the door frame.

MORE: Government to scrap free parking for NHS staff

"It was still a tight fit. I don't think anyone who saw the build thought I would be able to get it out. But I did.

''All it needed was to remove the plastic door frame and undo a few bolts. After building an entire boat, that was the easy bit.

The wooden Stornaway, which Steve Goodchild started building in 2017, was completed during lockdown. (SWNS)

As the government eased lockdown, Goodchild took Barnacle out on Saturday on the waters off Paignton harbour for the first time.

He said: "It was blowing probably a force 5 or 6, which is a bit much for a sailing dinghy, but I was determined to get it out and so I motioned it out of Paignton harbour, I put the sails up and it went like a bird.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UKs Up Close And Socially Distant
Motorists line up at a coronavirus testing site at Dodger Stadium Monday, June 29, 2020, in Los Angeles.

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Los Angeles' largest coronavirus testing site at Dodger Stadium closed for four days over the weekend, local outlet KTLA reported.

The site could administer 6,000 tests a day and is anticipated to allow for 6,500 tests once it reopens.

LA county medical services director Dr. Christina Ghaly said the city was already struggling to meet its testing needs prior to this weekend.

Cases in the county are rising, and experts are worried that the Fourth of July weekend is going to cause another surge in cases.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Los Angeles' largest coronavirus testing site at Dodger Stadium closed for four days over the weekend, local outlet KTLA reported.

A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Garcetti's office, Andrea Garcia, told KTLA that when the site reopens it will have the capacity to test 6,500 people a day.

"The Dodger Stadium location was not scheduled to be open [Monday] but it will be open tomorrow. No appointments were canceled. City sites provided 2,800 tests today and will provide 80,000 tests this week," Garcia's office told local news outlet KCAL.

According to KCAL, the site is supposed to open on Tuesday.

However, KTLA reported that the center did not have available appointment slots until Wednesday.

"We encourage folks to go onto the website to make appointments," Garcia told the outlet. "It's not closing; it was just from a holiday."

Los Angeles county medical services director Dr. Christina Ghaly Ghaly told the outlet that the county plans to have more testing availability this week. However, Ghaly said the county was already struggling prior to this weekend to meet testing demands, according to KTLA.

"There continues to be high demand for testing services," Ghaly said during a briefing Monday. "We opened up 6,000 slots this morning; those are currently full. We'll add additional slots and open those up tomorrow and the next day."

Story continues

Coronavirus cases in Los Angeles County have been on the rise, and more young people have been hospitalized for COVID-19, KTLA also previously reported.

On Friday, the county hit a record 3,187 new daily coronavirus cases. On Monday, 1,584 new coronavirus cases were recorded and 48 deaths.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Barbara Ferrer, the Los Angeles County director of public health said that as of this Saturday, "almost 50% of new cases occur among younger people" or adults under 40.

The Times added that only a third of the county's population is between the ages of 18 and 39. Additionally, in early April young adults under 40 only made up 30% of new coronavirus cases.

Hospitalizations have also increased with 1,921 people in the hospital for coronavirus, according to KTLA. The outlet reported that health officials said 28% of those hospitalized were in the ICU, and 18% were on ventilators.

Additionally, the LA Times reported that younger adults are now being hospitalized at higher rates. As of Saturday, The youngest adults, those 40 and under made up 25% of hospitalizations compared to around 15% at the end of April. Those who are between the ages of 41 and 64 made up 45% of hospitalizations compared to around 35% at the end of April. Thos over 65 now makes up less than 30% of hospitalized cases compared to 50% back in April.

Experts across the country are concerned that this past holiday weekend would lead to yet another surge in cases.

"Our numbers are going through the roof," Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the public-health officer in nearby Riverside County, told The New York Times. "We started seeing more and more cases after Memorial Day, and we can't afford another jump after the Fourth of July."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Reuters

Mary Kay Letourneauwho gained tabloid infamy for raping her 12-year-old former student, having children with him, and later marrying himhas died of cancer, her attorneys said.

The 58-year-old split from husband Vili Fualaau, now 36, more than a year ago. It was not publicly known that she was ill.

Expected but sad anyway, her attorney David Gehrke, told TV station KOMO. She was a good person.

Letourneau was a married mom of four working as a sixth-grade teacher in Washington state in 1997 when she was arrested for sexual contact with Fualaau. The case made headlines around the globe and turned her into a national punchline.

She gave birth to their first child shortly before being sentenced to six months as part of a plea deal. Weeks after her release, she was caught with Fualaau in violation of that agreement and tossed back in prison for seven years. She gave birth to their second child, another girl, behind bars.

The two began a legal romance after she was released, and they married in 2005even though Fualaau had unsuccessfully sued the school for failing to protect him from her.

She got out of prison and I asked her to marry me right away, Fualaau told A&E for a special in 2018. I knew that my kids would have both their parents in a house and that was something I didnt have, and I wanted them to have that experience.

She maintained that she didnt know that having sex with a boy was illegal.

If someone had told me, if anyone had told me, there is a specific law that says this is a crime, she told Australian TV in 2018. I did not know. Ive said this over and over again. Had I known, if anyone knows my personality. Just the idea, this would count as a crime.

The scandalous union hit the rocks in 2017 and they formally separated in February 2019. People magazine said Letourneau struggled after the breakup.

Shes trying to pick up the pieces and move on, but shes feeling kind of lost, a source told the magazine in March. Shes not sure what to do next.

Story continues

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"Maryland Business: Rebooted" Starts Online July 13

COLLEGE PARK, Md., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To help Marylanders get back into the workforce and prepare for the new economic and business environment, The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business has developed an online business program -- free to all residents of the state of Maryland.

Maryland Business: Rebooted, starts July 13, 2020, and is designed especially for individuals who have been managing or working in small and medium-sized companies.

Maryland Smith faculty experts will lead a series of webinars that cover entrepreneurial and business leadership skills in terms of teamwork, developing a company strategy, financial decision making, mitigating financial and cybersecurity risks, making decisions based on data, improving a website and marketing businesses on social media.

"The program is the brainchild of Michel Wedel (Distinguished University Professor), Judy Frels (Clinical Professor and MicroMasters Program Director), and Christine Thompson (Executive Director of Executive Education), who have worked tirelessly to design the program, recruit faculty, and seek support from the broader community," says Michael Ball , Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research.

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, says Thompson, "has unimaginable health, psychological and economic impact on the lives of Maryland residents, especially those managing or working in small and medium sized businesses."

"The program may help them pick up their job more effectively, launch a new career, restart or revitalize an existing business, start a new enterprise, or prepare for further education," she adds.

Each of the following modules will consist of three one-hour webinars:

Strategy for Businesses of all sizes: Webinars: "Strategy Health Check," "Rethinking your Strategy" and "Future Robust Planning" ( Oliver Schlake , July 13-Sept. 7)



Financial Accounting: Key Metrics for Performance Management: Webinars: "The Nature of Accounting and its Relevance for Business," "Income and Cash Flow Statements" and "Managerial Accounting" ( Eugene Cantor , Aug. 10-Oct. 12)



Digital Marketing: Targeting the Right Customers, through Social Media and Search: Webinars: "Creating your company's website for the best customer experience," "B2B Websites" and "Social Media" ( Mary Harms , Sept. 22-Nov. 30)

The topics in the three modules also are sequenced with free " MicroMasters " courses that Maryland Smith already offers on the edX platform. This provides for participants to choose to engage only in the webinars or in both the webinars and corresponding MicroMasters courses.

Story continues

The sessions will further accommodate and promote participant interaction -- to share experiences and exchange ideas. And, Maryland Smith will partner with the Maryland Small Business Development Center to provide business coaching to participating small business owners.

While the MicroMasters courses are delivered via the edX platform, all webinars will be delivered via Zoom. All webinars and approximately 85% of the content of each MicroMasters course is available at no charge to the participants.

Panel Discussion with Maryland Black Business Owners

As part of the Maryland Business: Rebooted series, Maryland Smith will host an online panel discussion with Black entrepreneurs who will shed light on unique challenges facing their companies and share experiences of successes and failures in meeting those challenges. This webinar takes place 3-4 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, and is free with advance registration .

Victor Mullins , associate dean of undergraduate programs, and diversity officer for Maryland Smith, lead the discussion with Monique Rose Simms, co-owner and managing partner of Milk & Honey; Kibwe Hughes, founder and managing partner of Relentless Management Group; and Ashton Clark and Ryan Clark, founders of TicketFalcon.

"I am truly excited about the panel discussion that Dean Mullins will host with four Black entrepreneurs and business owners, and alumni of the Robert H. Smith School of Business, as part of our program," says Wedel. "It is a unique opportunity to hear about the challenges that small and medium sized companies and their employees are facing during this pandemic, and how the panel members have navigated them."

For more information and to register for Maryland Business: Rebooted, go to go.umd.edu/marylandbizreboot .

About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business

The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, specialty master's, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.

Contact: Greg Muraski at gmuraski@rhsmith.umd.edu

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SOURCE University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
CHICAGO, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this global medical central vacuum system market report.

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The medical central vacuum system market share is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 16% during the period 20192025.

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

The revenue of the global medical central vacuum systems market will grow by 2.5 times during the forecast period. Europe was the largest market for medical central vacuum systems, with a share of approximately 40% in 2019, followed by North America with a share of over 34%. The medical central vacuum systems market in APAC is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of around 20% between 2019 and 2025. COVID-19 has impacted the market for all consumer appliances including conventional vacuum cleaners. However, the impact of COVID has provided a stimulus to the market for medical central vacuum systems and the revenue gain will be impressive from 2020 till the forecast period. Vendors such as mentioned that impact of COVID-19 has been low and manageable in Q1 2020. They have, however, suspended earning projections for full year 2020 and revised estimated are expected toward end of H1 2020. Europe is expected to witness an absolute growth of around 138% from 2019 to 2025. In North America, pharmaceuticals segment will grow by a CAGR of over 17% and the growth is driven by high involvement of companies to develop treatments for coronavirus. In APAC, hospitals segment is expected to add revenue of around $8 million during the forecast period. In Latin America, revenue potential for medical equipment is also improving in smaller markets such as Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, and Argentina. The demand for medical central vacuum systems will witness highest growth in the hospital segment with an incremental revenue of around $32 million.

Key Offerings:

Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20192025

Market Dynamics  Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities

Market Segmentation  A detailed analysis by end-user, application, technology, and geography

Competitive Landscape  Profile of 2 key vendors and 25 other vendors

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The global medical central vacuum system market revenue will grow by 2.5X during the forecast period. The market is expected to witness a rise in non-conventional cleaning equipment such as centralized vacuum systems in several end-user segments on account of the growing awareness of hygiene, clean indoor air, and green cleaning practices. Central vacuum systems are becoming an ideal choice for residential as well as non-residential segments where they are installed at a designated location. An increase in awareness toward the need for enhanced safety requirements and health hazards at workplaces in the healthcare sector is driving the demand for medical central vacuum systems.

The surge in COVID-19 impact worldwide is increasing the demand for new hospitals. For instance, several governments are developing makeshift hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients. Due to the demand for isolation wards, several major and other prominent vendors are strengthening their market presence to meet the increasing demand for medical vacuums. Hence, the outbreak of pandemic has provided a stimulus to medical central vacuum systems.

The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the medical central vacuum system market during the forecast period:

Increase in General Cleaning and Non-medical Potential

Enhancements in Functionalities of Vacuum Systems

Construction of new Hospitals

The study considers the present scenario of the medical central vacuum system market and its market dynamics for the period 20192025. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The study offers both the demand and supply aspect of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market.

Medical Central Vacuum System Market Segmentation

The global medical central vacuum system market research report includes a detailed segmentation by end-user, application, technology, and geography. The coronavirus pandemic has led to unexpected growth in demand for medical central vacuum systems. The hospital and pharma segments have witnessed unprecedented growth due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The pandemic has laid the foundation of several specialty hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The requisite of clean medicine production, avoidance of cross-contamination, and safe elimination of hazardous chemicals, pathogens, and a hygienic environment in operation theaters are driving the demand for central vacuum systems.

Multifunctional medical central vacuum systems have witnessed an impetus in 2020 due to the rising demand from rapidly build hospitals for COVID-19 patients and hospitals, which have retrofitted as designated COVID-19 hospitals. The demand for effective multifunctional systems is growing as they remove bodily secretions and maintain clean and pure indoor air. The demand for medical central vacuum systems for dedicated gas scavenging applications is likely to be highest from two end-user segments - hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.

Rotary vane pumps are available in two types  oil-less and oil-sealed. Oil sealed rotary vane pumps are durable, long-lasting pumps with high application in hospital and laboratory end-users. The use of oil in the pump increases efficiencies, lowers operating temperatures and decreases sound levels. Therefore, the segment is witnessing high adoption in several end-user applications. Central vacuum systems with oil-sealed rotary vane pumps are capable of achieving the highest level of vacuum and suction. As these systems are relatively low cost than other central vacuum system technology types, they are finding higher adoption in general cleaning applications with hospitals being their key end-users.

The demand for oil-sealed rotary vane technology is expected to gain traction in India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Mexico, Argentina, and Sri Lanka. Dry claw pumps are the most technologically advanced innovation and are gaining traction in medical and laboratory applications. Central vacuum systems with claw pump technology have lower ultimate vacuum levels than oil-sealed rotary vane pumps, and this makes them ideal for use in dedicated waste anesthesia gas disposal systems.

Segmentation by Technology

Rotary Vane

Clamp Pump

Segmentation by Application

Multifunction

Gas Scavenging

General Cleaning

Segmentation by End-user

Hospitals

Pharmaceuticals

Clinics and Nursing Homes

Others

Insights by Geography

The healthcare segment in Europe is expected to emerge immune from political uncertainties post the Brexit negotiations and the corona pandemic. The economic growth in the region could result in low demand for cleaning services and non-conventional cleaning equipment during the forecast period. Vendors of medical central vacuum systems have been able to meet new orders in Q1 2020, despite lockdown in several countries. However, these events are expected to have an impact on the overall global economy by affecting manufacturing on a global scale, and it will also affect the production and supply chain for medical central vacuum systems, which can eventually decline production capabilities in Q3 2020.

Germany is the largest market in Europe due to the presence of over 1,942 hospitals, 1,142 habilitation nursing homes, 19,478 pharmacies, and extensive cleaning industry in the country. Healthcare institutions and pharmaceutical industries in Germany are increasingly adopting eco-friendly or green cleaning technology to reduce the risk of environmental pollution. Smart cleaning technology, such as a centralized collection for medical waste, will continue its growth in the region.

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Segmentation by Geography

North America

Europe

APAC

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Prominent Vendors

Busch LLC

Tri-Tech Medical

Other Prominent Vendors

Atlas Copco

Cardiovascular Systems

Toshniwal

Lindsay Manufacturing

Medikar

Medicare Gas Pipeline Services

VAC-U-MAX

Nilfisk

Labconco

Dustcontrol

AutoVac

Becker

Drainvac

Dint-Tech Control

MIL'S

Republic Manufacturing

BGS GENERAL SRL

NOVAIR MEDICAL

Megasan Medikal

MIM Medical

Millennium Medical Products

Powerex

Allaway

Drager

Dynapumps

Silbermann

Key Questions Answered:

What is the market size of the global medical central vacuum system market analysis? What are the factors impacting the growth of the medical central vacuum system market forecast? What is the growth of Europe Medical central vacuum system market during the forecast period? How will the hospital segment growth be likely in the medical central vacuum systems market during the forecast period? What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the market?

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SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence
LONDON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis is home to many Canadian businessmen, according to one of them, interviewed for a new documentary from Professional Wealth Management (PWM), a publication from the Financial Times. John Zuliani, President of Vacation for Life and owner of the emblematic Royal St Kitts Hotel, says that medical tourism on the islands is growing. The successful business owner and philanthropist suggests that the country's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme had a "shotgun effect" with tangible impact on stimulating the economy.

In a Financial Times PWM documentary, Canadian businessman John Zuliani explains why St Kitts and Nevis appeals to foreign investors and how important the Citizenship by Investment Programme is

Mr Zuliani also explained that Foreign Minister Mark Brantley and Prime Minister Dr the Honourable Timothy Harris are working towards establishing a visa waiver agreement with Canada. Nonetheless, the Canadian investor says that the current process for St Kitts and Nevis citizens to obtain a 10-year visa for Canada is via a straightforward online application. In addition, citizens normally have visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to 156 countries and territories.

Commenting on investment opportunities on the islands, Mr Zuliani said: "We have the ability to accommodate short-term hotel guests, as well as long-term guests. There are some medical universities on the islands, and medical tourism is growing in St Kitts." He also mentioned working "with a healthcare group to open certain services that we can market, focused on the healthcare services that St Kitts could eventually start providing."

One of the country's most prestigious higher education institutions is the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, it attracts many US students or those wishing to start a career there. Moreover, the islands' peaceful and healthy lifestyle and decreasing criminality are other factors convincing families to send their children to university in St Kitts and Nevis. Furthermore, the islands prioritise safety and had a "solid" response to COVID-19, as mentioned by Norway's Foreign Affairs Ministry.

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PWM Editor-in-Chief Yuri Bender visited the islands to find out what makes foreign investors have "faith in the tourism industry of these islands for so many years." He gives the example of the Zuliani family, who "has been a fixture of the real estate and hospitality industries in St Kitts and Nevis for the best part of four decades. The late Archie Zuliani came here from Toronto, Canada, in the early 1980s and began to develop and renovate coastal properties. Now, his son, John, is the islands' best-known developer." Detailing his expansion plans, Mr Zuliani said: "Our strategy is just to continue investing. At the end of the day, St Kitts is booming."

Subject to due diligence, investors and their families earn the right to live, work and study in the Federation by applying to the CBI Programme. The fastest way to obtain second citizenship from St Kitts and Nevis is through the fund option. A temporary offer allows families of up to four to obtain citizenship for a reduced contribution of US$150,000.

Contact: pr@csglobalpartners.com, www.csglobalpartners.com

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SOURCE CS Global Partners
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff and Melania Trump pictured in New York City in 2008.

BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former friend and adviser to first lady Melania Trump, plans to publish a book about their relationship, Vanity Fair and The Daily Beast reported.

"Melania and Me: My Years as Confidant, Advisor and Friend to the First Lady" is due out September 1.

It is the latest in a string of books written by former Trump family associates that Simon & Schuster is publishing.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The White House is grappling with yet another potentially damaging memoir, this time written by a former close friend and adviser to first lady Melania Trump.

The New York City socialite Stephanie Winston Wolkoff's "Melania and Me: My Years as Confidant, Advisor and Friend to the First Lady" is due out on September 1, according to Vanity Fair and The Daily Beast.

It's being published by Simon & Schuster, the publishing house behind a string of recent books from former Trump associates like John Bolton and Mary Trump, the president's niece.

People familiar with the book told The Daily Beast that it is largely negative and paints the first lady in a bad light.

"In her memoir, Wolkoff chronicles her journey from their friendship that started in New York to her role as the First Lady's trusted advisor to her abrupt and very public departure, to life after Washington, being an advocate for children's and women's causes," a description of the book obtained by Vanity Fair says.

Trump in Baltimore on November 26.

Erin Scott/Reuters

'Was I thrown under the bus? Yes'

Wolkoff, who takes her maiden name from her stepfather, the son of jeweler Harry Winston, worked as an event planner for Vogue before she helped the Trump campaign plan the 2017 inauguration. After the inauguration, she joined the first lady's office as an unpaid adviser, according to The New York Times.

But Wolkoff left the East Wing in 2018 amid controversy about the inaugural committee's spending.

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Wolkoff left the situation upset at how she was let go, telling The Times a year later that the reports over lavish spending and that she was pushed out were false.

"Was I fired? No," Wolkoff said at the time, according to The Times. "Did I personally receive $26 million or $1.6 million? No. Was I thrown under the bus? Yes."

According to last year's Times report, Wolkoff has been cooperating with investigators looking into how the Trump inaugural committee raised money for the event.

Trump lawyers are likely to fight to stop the book's publishing because Wolkoff signed a nondisclosure agreement when she agreed to work on the inauguration, which she confirmed to The Times last year.

The White House and people adjacent to it have used NDAs to halt upcoming books in the past.

Earlier this month, the president's brother Robert Trump invoked the NDA signed by his niece Mary Trump to get a temporary injunction against her tell-all book about their family.

While Mary Trump is continuing to fight to get that injunction against herself lifted  which bars her from speaking about the book  the book itself has been cleared for publishing because the injunction against Simon & Schuster was lifted.

The publishing house has since bumped up publication by two weeks, from July 28 to July 14.

Read the original article on Business Insider
China's President Xi Jinping (R) meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 24, 2018.

Getty

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has come under heavy criticism from her own party and opposition politicians who say she is not taking a tough enough line on China.

It comes amid international condemnation of China's new security law in Hong Kong, which critics say undermines the island's independence, and which has already seen police arrest hundreds of pro-democracy protesters.

Powers including the US and the UK have all vocally condemned the new legislation, with the UK going as far as to offer citizenship to up to 3 million Hong Kong residents.

Merkel, however, has been reluctant to condemn the move and insisted on the need to 'seek dialogue' with China on the basis of 'mutual trust.'

It came as FBI director Christopher Wray said that China represented 'the greatest long-term threat' to US security and accused of secretive plots designed to steal state secrets.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The German Chancellor is under growing pressure to cut Germany's ties with Beijing as the Hong Kong crisis triggers a backlash against the Chinese government in Europe.

Figures from across the political spectrum in Germany this week accused Merkel of being too soft on China, after Germany's foreign ministry warned German citizens in Hong Kong not to post comments that could be perceived to be critical of China because they could possibly be arrested.

"What the German government said about Hong Kong was the absolute minimum, and it just wasn't enough," said Norbert Rottgen, a member of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party and the head of the German parliament's foreign affairs committee, in comments reported by the Financial Times.

Merkel has long advocated strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between with Beijing, which is Germany's biggest trading partner. She said last week that she would "continue to seek dialogue and conversation" with China and insisted that ties with the country are of "strategic importance" to the European Union.

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"Merkel's China policy is behind the times," said Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesperson for the Social Democrats, the junior partner in Merkel's coalition government, according to the Financial Times report.

"She still sticks to this idea of convergence, that as we deepen our economic ties with China, it will become more liberal and western-oriented. But that's just out of date."

Her approach contrasts sharply with the tough response to the new security law taken by countries including the UK and US.

Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, reacted to the news by offering residency visas up to 3 million Hong Kong citizens, denouncing Beijing's move as a "clear and serious" violation of the Sino-British treaty which governs the semi-autonomous island.

Beijing has responded by making multiple threats that it will carry out sanctions against the UK, with some China hawks in London warning that China's participation in Britain's nuclear programme could be the source of the next diplomatic row between the countries.

The US, meanwhile, has approved a series of sanctions on China, penalising banks which do business with Chinese officials, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi branded the move a "brutal, sweeping crackdown against the people of Hong Kong, intended to destroy the freedoms they were promised."

On Tuesday, the FBI Director Christopher Wray said China was "the greatest long-term threat" to the US and detailed hundreds of secretive plots against Washington to steal state secrets, intellectual property, and forcibly repatriate its citizens.

"The Chinese government is engaged in a broad, diverse campaign of theft and malign influence, and it can execute that campaign with authoritarian efficiency," Wray said in a speech at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC.

"They're calculating. They're persistent. They're patient. And they're not subject to the righteous constraints of an open, democratic society or the rule of law."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Washington (AFP) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador held talks with Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic and the US leader's past disparaging remarks about America's southern neighbor.

Speaking after an Oval Office meeting, Trump hailed the US-Mexico relationship as "outstanding," and Lopez Obrador -- a left-wing populist -- adopted a conciliatory tone.

"The relationship between the United States and Mexico has never been closer than it is right now," said Trump, who ran for president on a pledge to build a wall along the border with Mexico to keep out "rapists" and "criminals."

"Each of us was elected on the pledge to fight corruption, return power to the people and put the interests of our countries first," Trump told Lopez Obrador. "I do that and you do that."

Lopez Obrador thanked Trump for his "understanding" and told his US counterpart: "You have not tried to treat us as a colony.

"On the contrary, you have honored our condition as an independent nation. That's why I'm here: to express to the people of the United States that their president has behaved with us with kindness and respect."

The Mexican leader also thanked Trump for helping on trade and with medical equipment to treat coronavirus patients.

Officially, the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Lopez Obrador was to celebrate the launch of the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade deal, a modified successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump had branded a killer of working-class US jobs.

But their bonhomie did not convince Trump's Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden.

"Trump launched his 2016 campaign by calling Mexicans rapists. He's spread racism against our Latino community ever since," Biden tweeted.

He called for a return of "dignity and humanity" to the US immigration system.

Story continues

- 'Four years of insults' -

Lopez Obrador has shown a pragmatic streak in managing relations with Trump, mindful that even small actions by the giant neighbor can have enormous consequences for his country, especially on the economic front.

Despite coming from opposite sides of the political spectrum, Trump and Lopez Obrador have also been cooperating in the US leader's efforts to stop Central Americans seeking asylum in the United States as they flee violence.

Lopez Obrador is banking on the new trade agreement to prop up the Mexican economy, which is expected to contract 8.8 percent this year due to COVID-19. The virus has left more than 30,000 dead in Mexico.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to come to Washington to make it a three-way summit.

But there was a buzz of anticipation for Lopez Obrador as around 100 Mexicans gathered outside the White House to cheer his arrival.

Crediting him with tackling corruption, Maria Varela, 40, said she understood he had come for the sake of trade.

But some Latino lawmakers have been aghast at Lopez Obrador's willingness to meet Trump.

Representative Chuy Garcia, a Democrat from Chicago who was born in Mexico, said Trump was seeking a photo-op with Lopez Obrador in a bid to paper over "four years of insults, attacks and damaging policies" toward Latinos as he seeks a new term in the November election.

Lopez Obrador's predecessor, Enrique Pena Nieto, similarly stunned many observers when he welcomed candidate Trump in 2016 for a brief visit, letting the reality TV star show a statesman-like side before the cameras.

Despite their differences in tastes and ideology, Trump and Lopez Obrador share common traits.

Both have scorned traditional media yet dominated the headlines -- Trump through Twitter and Lopez Obrador via press conferences every morning.

And both have shown nonchalance over COVID-19 despite mounting deaths, refusing to ground all normal life and scoffing at the need to wear masks.

AMLO, as Lopez Obrador is known, had vowed on taking office two years ago never to travel abroad, but he flew to Washington -- commercially in economy class with his face covered in compliance with airline rules.
Then-UC Irvine Chancellor Michael V. Drake stands beside UC President Janet Napolitano at UCI's class of 2014 commencement ceremony at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Michael V. Drake, a national champion for access and equity who previously headed The Ohio State University and UC Irvine, was selected Tuesday as the new president of the University of California and first Black leader in the system's 152-year history.

The UC Board of Regents unanimously approved Drake's selection, seizing a historic opportunity to hire a person of color to head a system whose 285,000 students are now majority nonwhite as the nation grapples with a sweeping racial reckoning. He will succeed President Janet Napolitano, who will step down Aug.1 after seven years.

In brief remarks after the vote, Drake thanked his supporters and said he looked forward to working with UC colleagues to meet such major challenges as the global pandemic, climate change and "the yawning wounds of social injustice."

He said he changed his plans to retire when he was presented with the chance to return to the university that transformed his life.

"Thinking about the trajectory of the country ... the place that the university was and the chance that perhaps there might be a way to contribute further to the future really became a compelling opportunity," Drake said.

Board Chairman John A. Perez said Drake emerged from the 10-month search process as the candidate of choice not only because of his vast experience but also because he reflects UC values to support the "whole student," faculty and staff and understands the university's "transformative power."

"We're just lucky to get him to dedicate these next years to continuing to move the university, to fulfill that public mission, to serve the totality of the state of California in a meaningful way," Perez said.

Drake, who will turn 70 on Thursday, would bring leadership experience, academic credentials, political savvy and personal qualities to that position at a time of deep challenges facing the UC system.

He would oversee the nation's most complex public research university system  a $39.8-billion operation of 10 campuses, five medical centers and three national laboratories  as it confronts a global pandemic, financial uncertainty and demands to further diversify campuses and defund UC police.

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"Michael Drake is a spectacular choice for the University of California," said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, which represents more than 1,700 colleges and universities. "He has proven himself to be a visionary and effective leader in every role he's taken on, from the University of California to Ohio State to national roles in leading associations, including the NCAA."

Unlike Napolitano, a former Homeland Security secretary and Arizona governor who came to the job with no UC or academic leadership experience, Drake has spent nearly four decades in the California university system. He earned his medical degree in ophthalmology at UC San Francisco, joined the faculty in 1979 and became the UC vice president for health affairs in 2000. He was named UC Irvine chancellor in 2005 and served there for nine years before heading to Ohio State in 2014.

At the same time, Drake has served as board chairman for the NCAA, the Assn. of American Universities and the Assn. of Public and Land-Grant Universities.

Drake emerged as a rumored top candidate immediately after Napolitano announced she was stepping down. Many UC veterans believed he could both reassert the university's national leadership role and attend to its particular issues, in partnership with the system's uniquely empowered faculty.

"Michael is as poised as anyone can be to be successful," said George Blumenthal, a former UC Santa Cruz chancellor who now heads the UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education. "He's been around the block. He knows higher education well and the UC system well."

A hallmark of Drake's long career has been widening access to higher education for students from diverse racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds. As vice president for UC health affairs, he increased the diversity of newly minted medical professionals through a program that offered incentives for them to work in underserved communities. He also worked with UC Irvine to launch a groundbreaking program to develop a pipeline of "physician leaders" to serve the unique health needs of the Latino community.

Under his Irvine chancellorship, Drake laid the groundwork for the campus to become a Hispanic Serving Institution, qualifying it for federal grants to support Latino students. Irvine is now the top UC choice for Latino freshman applicants.

Drake continued his commitment to diversity at Ohio State. Under his tenure, the university boosted the number of students who are low-income, underrepresented minorities and the first in their families to attend college. Black students, however, remain underrepresented at Ohio State, accounting for 6.8% of enrolled students in a state where Black residents make up 13% of the population. That's a larger gap than at UC campuses, where Black students account for about 4% of enrollment compared with the state's proportion of Black residents at 6%.

At Ohio State, Drake also worked to lower the cost of attendance and increase financial aid. He introduced a financial model that raises costs for tuition, mandatory fees, housing and dining once for incoming freshmen, then locks them in for four years. Under his tenure, Ohio State boosted financial aid by more than $200 million since 2015, twice his initial target, and increased grants and scholarships.

He is also credited with helping Ohio State hit record highs in applications, graduation rates and sponsored research awards. Last year, he announced a $4.5-billion fundraising campaign, the largest goal in the school's history.

While some faculty at both Ohio State and UC Irvine said he was not the most visible or hands-on academic leader, he was popular with students. Alexis Gomes, an incoming fifth-year Ohio State student in neuroscience, said students appreciated his initiatives to cut fees, lower textbook costs and provide all students with an iPad, Apple pencil and a notetaking app.

Drake steps into the top UC job at a time of financial distress. The COVID-19 pandemic has cost the university system $1.2 billion in increased costs and lost revenues from March to the end of April, and faces potential state budget cuts. At the same time, UC regents have pulled a proposal for now to raise tuition in light of pandemic-caused economic distress.

UC veterans are hopeful his political savvy and personable manner will help secure more funding and improve relations with Sacramento, and they point to his success in winning approval for a UC Irvine law school in 2007 after a two-decade battle. They also say his success at mending fences with Erwin Chemerinsky over the law school deanship  Drake offered him the job, withdrew the offer, then restored it amid a national political furor  illustrates his ability to recognize his mistakes, apologize and move on.

Chemerinsky went on to co-teach a UC Irvine undergraduate class with Drake on civil rights, music and the U.S. Supreme Court. He said he would be "thrilled" with a Drake presidency.

"He has a wonderful combination of warmth and rigor," said Chemerinsky, who now heads UC Berkeley's law school. "All of the skills that you would want in a university president, he has them."

Drake weathered controversies at Ohio State as well, including the firing of a popular marching band director over what a university investigation found to be the band's "sexualized culture."

At UC, other top issues Drake will immediately face include managing campus fall reopenings during the pandemic, rising demands to defund campus police and calls to better support Black students triggered by the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

The president-elect, who will take the helm by Aug. 15, will be paid a base annual salary of $890,000  a significant boost from Napolitano's $570,000 but slightly less than his Ohio State salary. He agreed to a 10% pay cut through next June, as other UC leaders have done in light of pandemic-related fiscal challenges.

Drake was born in New York City and raised in New Jersey and Sacramento as the son of a doctor and a social worker. He attended Stanford University before moving to UC San Francisco for medical school. A music fan, he plays the guitar and is an avid cyclist. He is married to Brenda Drake, an attorney, and has two sons and four grandchildren.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global modular instruments market size is expected to reach USD 3.11 trillion by 2027, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% according to a study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. The growth of wireless communication industry has resulted in the adoption of modular instruments for testing, inspecting, and monitoring the performance of the devices. Moreover, Technological advancement in the wireless communication industry, such as the evolution of 5G, radar communication, satellite communication, radio, and television broadcasting among others coupled with the rapid adoption of IoT devices, are some of the factors anticipated to affect the market growth positively.

Grand View Research Logo

The growing communications networking industry has resulted in the need for increased network capacity and faster transmission speeds. This need is driven by the increasing number of connected mobile devices and the demand for high-speed broadband access to support high-bandwidth applications. Modular instruments are used for testing of devices and components at the development or manufacturing stage of the device. Thus, owing to the need for greater network agility and high-performance networks, there has been increased adoption of modular instruments.

Key suggestions from the report:

The PXI segment accounted for market share exceeding 78% in 2019 owing to several benefits including improved performance, low cost, and computer-based modular architecture

The telecommunication segment held the largest market share of over 35.0% in 2019, which can be attributed to rising investments in IoT and 5G technologies. The growing adoption of IoT devices by the end customers is spurring the market growth

Asia Pacific is expected to witness substantial growth owing to the rising number of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the region

The market is consolidated and characterized by large and medium size companies. The major global players operating include Keysight Technologies, National Instruments, Fortive Corporation, and Viavi Solutions

Read 100 page research report with ToC on "Modular Instruments Market Size, Share, & Trends Analysis Report By Platform (PXI, AXIe, VXI), By End Use (Telecommunication, Automotive & Transportation), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/modular-instruments-market

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The proliferation of connected mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets has driven network usage and dependency on the networks. Furthermore, expansion of IP based services, which provide users with anywhere-anytime access to content over a range of electronic devices and increasing deployments of higher-speed networks, has resulted in a need to reduce the deployment time and cost. Several companies are focusing on developing accurate network communication devices, thereby creating opportunities for the growth of the market. For instance, in October 2019, GBT Technologies Inc., a company engaged in the development of IoT enabled tracking and networking technologies, announced the set-up of research and development for IC micro-solar cell structures. This company is planning to explore solar micro-solar cell technology targeted to operate applications that require either an intermittent or continuous power source.

Modular instruments are significantly used in the automotive industry by several automobile manufacturers owing to trends related to autonomous driving and connected car technologies. Similarly, the rising implementation of IoT devices in vehicles is generating the need for testing, inspecting, and verifying the devices owing to complexities and design constraints of the devices. Hence, to ensure devices work correctly, modular instruments are used. Additionally, the advancement of technologies related to infotainment systems, collision avoidance, driverless vehicles, and the Wi-Fi standard 802.11p in the automotive industry is anticipated to drive the market growth.

Grand View Research has segmented the global modular instruments market based on platform, end-use, and region:

Modular Instruments Platform Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Modular Instruments End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Modular Instruments Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

List of Key Players of Modular Instruments Market:

Find more research reports on Communications Infrastructure Industry, by Grand View Research:

Data Center Power Market  The rise in introduction of advanced systems to reduce power consumption coupled with emergence of modular data centers is expected to drive the market growth.

Command and Control Systems Market  Rising need for situational awareness in military, security and surveillance, law enforcement, utilities, and manufacturing industries coupled with alarming rise in terrorist activities are expected to drive the growth.

Fiber Optics Market  Growing demand for high bandwidth communication is boosting the growth of the market.

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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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DUBLIN, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ResearchAndMarkets.com published a new article on the motorcycle industry "Motorcycles May See Increased Popularity Post COVID-19"

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Motorcycle sales fell 10.6% during the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year. Many manufacturers had to shut down their production facilities and as a result of lower production dealers may not receive additional models. Harley Davidson reopened factories in May and plans to offer a narrower range of motorcycles to dealers as a result of the shutdown in production. The company is also offering dealers financial support for motorcycle inventory and extending credit payment due dates on parts and accessories.



Several motorcycle manufacturers have seen high demand for online ordering during the pandemic. Polaris introduced the Click.Deliver.Ride program in response to high levels of traffic on their website. The program allows customers to arrange delivery of motorcycles from local dealers. Ducati also implemented the Ducati Delivers program which gives customers an entirely contactless purchase and delivery process. Ducati has reported that dealers have seen higher retail sales in April 2020 versus April 2019 as a result of this program. Analysts predict that motorcycles may see increased popularity post COVID-19 as a result of fears over using public transport and increased comfort with two wheeled transport through electric motor scooter services like Revel and Scoot.



To see the full article and a list of related reports on the market, visit "Motorcycles May See Increased Popularity Post COVID-19"

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The first image from Jonathan Glazer's Strasbourg 1518. (BBC)

Surprise! Acclaimed filmmaker Jonathan Glazer has made a brand new film during the coronavirus lockdown and its coming to BBC Two very soon.

The world premiere of Strasbourg 1518, the latest film from the director of Sexy Beast, Birth, Under The Skin, The Fall will take place on BBC Two at 10pm on Monday, 20 July and will be available on BBC iPlayer after transmission.

Featuring a soundtrack by the Oscar-nominated composer Mica Levi (Jackie, Under The Skin, Monos), Strasbourg 1518 is inspired by a powerful involuntary mania which took hold of citizens in of the French city of just over 500 years ago.

Its billed as being a collaboration in isolation with some of the greatest dancers working today.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 25: Director Jonathan Glazer and composer Mica Levi attend the premiere of A24's "Under The Skin" at The TheatreaAt Ace Hotel on March 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images)

Strasbourg 1518 was co-commissioned by Artangel and Sadlers Wells and produced by Academy Films for BBC Films and BBC Arts.

The film is part of BBC Arts Culture In Quarantine; bringing the arts into the homes of the nation at a time of national lockdown.

Read more: The best British films of the 2010s

In July 1518, a woman started a dancing vigil in the streets of Strasbourg that is said to have lasted between four to six days. People began joining her and, according to reports, after a month she was joined by up to 400 people. Dozens of people are said to have died of exhaustion from the so-called dancing plague that gripped the city.

A still from Jonathan Glazer's Strasbourg 1518. (BBC)

In his book A Time to Dance, A Time to Die: The Extraordinary Story of the Dancing Plague of 1518, historian John Waller said that the event took place is undisputed."

"These people were not just trembling, shaking or convulsing; although they were entranced, their arms and legs were moving as if they were purposefully dancing," he said.

Scarlett Johansson in Jonathan Glazer's deeply unsettling Under The Skin. (Studiocanal)

British filmmaker Glazer hasnt directed a feature film since 2013s critically acclaimed Under The Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson, but is currently developing a drama about the Holocaust, set in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

He released a short film, The Fall, in 2019 on BBC Two. Watch it here.

Strasbourg 1518 will air on BBC TWO at 10pm on Monday, 20 July.
Its said to be her proudest achievement as Queen.

The Commonwealth involves 54 nations, covering a third of the worlds population and was brought together in the wake of the British Empire.

As its head for seven decades, the Queen has visited nearly every member state and formed strong relationships with heads of government across the nations over the years.

She receives regular updates on the Commonwealth nations, and through the coronavirus pandemic, called leaders to speak to them directly about how their countries were faring against the disease.

In her 2020 Commonwealth Day message, she called it a special community and its often referred to as her beloved Commonwealth.

Its been said that her grandsons comments about the Commonwealth needing to look at its past will upset her. Here are some of the key comments she has made about the Commonwealth.

Read more: Queen's royal homes to reopen within weeks as staff braced for job cuts

The Queen at the 2020 Commonwealth Day service in London. (Getty Images)

This ancient commonwealth - which we all love dearly

If we all go forward together with an unwavering faith, a high courage, and a quiet heart, we shall be able to make of this ancient commonwealth, which we all love so dearly, an even grander thing - more free, more prosperous, more happy and a more powerful influence for good in the world - than it has been in the greatest days of our forefathers.

To accomplish that we must give nothing less than the whole of ourselves. There is a motto which has been borne by many of my ancestors - a noble motto, "I serve". Those words were an inspiration to many bygone heirs to the Throne when they made their knightly dedication as they came to manhood. I cannot do quite as they did.

A speech given on her 21st birthday, still as Princess Elizabeth, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh (behind) on Commonwealth Tour in 1952. (Getty Images)

The Commonwealth is a new conception

Thus formed, the Commonwealth bears no resemblance to the Empires of the past. It is an entirely new conception, built on the highest qualities of the spirit of man: friendship, loyalty and the desire for freedom and peace.

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To that new conception of an equal partnership of nations and races I shall give myself heart and soul every day of my life.

Her Christmas Day message in 1953.

I cannot lead you into battle - but I can give you my heart

It has always been easy to hate and destroy. To build and to cherish is much more difficult. That is why we can take a pride in the new Commonwealth we are building.

This year Ghana and Malaya joined our brotherhood. Both these countries are now entirely self-governing. Both achieved their new status amicably and peacefully.

This advance is a wonderful tribute to the efforts of men of goodwill who have worked together as friends, and I welcome these two countries with all my heart.

In the old days the monarch led his soldiers on the battlefield and his leadership at all times was close and personal.

Today things are very different. I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.

The Queens Christmas Day message in 1957.

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan say people will be 'uncomfortable' as racism and unconscious bias are tackled across the Commonwealth

The Queen has made dozens of visits to her Commonwealth countries, like Australia, here in 2011. (Getty Images)

The European Economic Community poses no threat

The new links with Europe will not replace those with the Commonwealth. They cannot alter our historical and personal attachments with kinsmen and friends overseas. Old friends will not be lost; Britain will take her Commonwealth links into Europe with her.

The Queens Christmas Day message in 1972.

The Commonwealth stands for what all mankind needs

The Jubilee celebrations in London started with a Service of Thanksgiving in St. Paul's Cathedral. To me this was a thanksgiving for all the good things for which our Commonwealth stands - the comradeship and co-operation it inspires and the friendship and tolerance it encourages. These are the qualities needed by all mankind.

Her Christmas Day message in 1977.

The Commonwealth can make a major contribution

Out of the old Empire sprang the Commonwealth family of nations that we know today, and that, too, has grown and changed over the years. In October, 51 representatives of Commonwealth governments met in Edinburgh, very much in the spirit of a family gathering. We all enjoy meeting old friends and making new ones, but there was also important business to be done. The world saw that the Commonwealth can make a major contribution to international relations and prosperity.

Her Christmas Day message in 1997.

Nelson Mandela was close with the Queen in part because of the Commonwealth. (Getty Images)

The Commonwealth helped bring the end of Apartheid in South Africa

Politically, the Commonwealth sees its diversity as a strength. That was certainly true of its invaluable contribution to the ending of Apartheid in South Africa. The practical assistance it is able to offer in such crucial areas reflects the kaleidoscope of its membership and its expertise.

As a result, the Commonwealth was able to work with all the different communities of what is now proudly called "the rainbow nation". Bridging social and political divides has also been a feature of the Commonwealth's continuing work in seeking to encourage democracy, good governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.

The Queens Commonwealth Day message in 2002.

Read more: Hotel loved by the Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge set to reopen

The greater the diversity, the greater the gains

This is an essential ingredient of belonging to the Commonwealth: the willingness to share, to exchange and to act for the common good. By including others, drawing on collective insights, knowledge and resources, and thinking and working together, we lay the foundations of a harmonious and progressive society. The greater the diversity of those included in such a shared enterprise, the greater the gains. Each of us has cause to celebrate the sense of belonging expressed in our 2016 theme: 'An Inclusive Commonwealth'.

Her Commonwealth Day message in 2016.

The impact of the Commonwealth is real

We are able to look to the future with greater confidence and optimism as a result of the links that we share, and thanks to the networks of cooperation and mutual support to which we contribute, and on which we draw. With enduring commitment through times of great change, successive generations have demonstrated that whilst the goodwill for which the Commonwealth is renowned may be intangible, its impact is very real.

A speech given on Commonwealth Day in the 70th anniversary year.
Novak Djokovic, the worlds No. 1 ranked mens tennis player, believes hes the subject of a witch hunt after players tested positive for COVID-19 at the Adria Tour tournament he hosted last month.

The event ended up being canceled and both Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, tested positive after the tour. Djokovic took heavy criticism for putting players in that position and holding a tournament at all.

Djokovic: Criticism an agenda, witch hunt

Tennis stars slammed the event in Croatia with Nick Kyrgios calling it a boneheaded decision to play the exhibition. It received widespread rebuke as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and the world attempts to halt its spread.

I can only see criticism lately and much of it is malicious, Djokovic told Serbias Sportski Zurnal on Wednesday, via CBS Sports. "It's obviously more than just criticism, it's like an agenda and a witch hunt are on. Someone has to take the fall, a big name."

There were no social distancing protocols and players traveled from all over the world. Videos showed tennis stars at a nightclub days before the first positive test.

The event was canceled after world No. 19 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 33 Borna Coric and ATP pro Viktor Troicki all announced they had tested positive.

Djokovic notes he complied with laws

Novak Djokovic says he's the subject of an 'agenda' and 'witch hunt' after the Adria Tour he organized during the pandemic. (Recep Sakar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Djokovic told the paper his intention was pure to organize a humanitarian event in the Balkan region.

We complied with all the laws and regulations. But weve learned our lessons and some things could have probably been done in a different way.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises social distancing and gives guidance on wearing a mask in public areas.

Djokovic at first refused to take a COVID-19 test, but then changed his tune and announced the positive test on June 23. He and his wife tested negative for COVID-19 last week, 10 days after that. They had no symptoms and self-isolated in Croatia, per a statement.

Will Djokovic be at the US Open?

The ATP postponed events in March due to the spread of the virus. The US Open is still scheduled to take place in New York City beginning Aug. 31 without fans. Djokovic is unsure if he will be there.

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I still havent decided whether I will play in the U.S. Open, the upsurge in registered COVID-19 cases in the United Staes and New York in particular are not playing into the events hands, Djokovic said.

New York City is no longer a hot spot for the virus. The number of new cases is about the same over the past two weeks, per the New York Times. Cases are spiking in southern states such as Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Georgia. The larger risk is that players could bring the virus from a place with rising cases to fellow competitors in New York.

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LONDON  As the lurid headlines swirl in the wake of the arrest of Jeffrey Epstein's longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, questions again are surging over what comes next for Britain's Prince Andrew, who is caught up in the high-profile affair.

Maxwell, a British socialite, is behind bars at a detention center in Brooklyn, New York, and is expected to appear in court in New York next Tuesday, having been arrested in New Hampshire last week. She will face charges on four counts in connection with the trafficking of a minor for criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury.

Maxwell, 58, has not entered a plea, but has long denied any wrongdoing. Her attorney declined to comment after her arrest.

Meanwhile, the scandal that has for years dogged Andrew, 60, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, does not appear to be going away.

"It's a bit of a nightmare at the moment," British public relations agent Mark Borkowski told NBC News. "He's inextricably linked with this story, there is no exit strategy."

Image: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Princess Beatrice, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during Trooping The Colour, the Queen's annual birthday p (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)

Borkowski, who is not working with Andrew but has worked with celebrities including the "King of Pop" Michael Jackson and the comedian Joan Rivers in the past, said much now rests on exactly what Maxwell tells U.S. authorities.

He suggested Andrew should either stay silent or invite U.S. authorities "to come and meet him on home turf" in the United Kingdom and make public that he's attempting to "take the heat off him" by explaining his relationship with both Epstein and Maxwell.

Andrew has acknowledged that he knew both Epstein and Maxwell, the disgraced financier's formergirlfriend, but has denied any wrongdoing.

In a widely panned television interview with the BBC in the fall, Andrew said that he had been introduced to Epstein by Maxwell, and that he went to stay with him in New York for four days in 2010. The trip was to break off the friendship, Andrew said, after Epstein served time for soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.

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Andrew has also denied allegations that he had any form of sexual contact with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who has repeatedly said she was trafficked by Epstein when she was 17 and directed to have sexual relations with the prince.

Andrew said that he had no recollection of ever meeting her  despite a widely circulated photograph showing the pair together.

Virginia Giuffre with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at Prince Andrew's London home.

Epstein, 66, died by suicide in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Prosecutors accused the politically connected financier of preying on dozens of underage girls in New York and Florida in the early 2000s.

After his death, prosecutors vowed to continue the investigation and the case brought renewed attention to several high-profile people in Epstein's orbit, including Andrew.

The royal abruptly stepped down from his public duties after the disastrous BBC interview, saying in a statement that he was willing to help "any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required."

After Maxwell was arrested Thursday, the acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss for the Southern District of New York told reporters: "I'm not going to comment on anyone's status in this investigation. But I would say we would welcome Prince Andrew coming in to talk with us. We would like to have the benefit of his statement."

Andrew's lawyers have previously said that they offered his help as a witness to U.S. authorities on at least three occasions this year, while his team shot back that they were "bewildered" at the Department of Justice's latest comments.

Because Andrew is only a witness, NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos said, U.S. attorneys could not compel him to appear. Although he warned that "someone who may be considered a witness can quickly become a target, depending on what their answers to the questions are."

He said that U.S. attorneys could travel to the U.K. to interview Andrew but could not compel him to appear.

"If I was defending Prince Andrew, he would never leave the U.K. again, and he would only give carefully vetted written statements," Cevallos said.

If Andrew does travel to the U.S., Cevallos said that lawyers for Epstein's victims could see him as a potential civil defendant and serve him with either a subpoena or a lawsuit.

But whether Andrew travels to America may not be entirely up to him.

If he is charged with a crime or sentenced in the U.S., he could face extradition proceedings, although legal experts say this is highly unlikely.

Both politically, because of the relationship between the two countries, and legally, as a member of the royal family, Andrew could be protected by crown or sovereign immunity.

Mark Stephens, a media lawyer at the London-based law firm Howard Kennedy LLP, who represented British cavalry officer James Hewitt after allegations of an affair with Princess Diana, said U.S. authorities were trying to "ensnare" the royal and that it was unlikely he would be extradited to the U.S.

Stephens said the principle of sovereign immunity  which makes certain individuals immune from prosecution  would make it difficult for Andrew to be summoned to the U.S.

If U.S. prosecutors wanted to gather information, they could do so through written testimonies or prosecutors traveling to the U.K. to collect evidence, Stephens said. This was done recently when U.S. authorities came to speak to U.K.-based survivors of the convicted rapist and disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Even if he was extradited to America, Andrew would be under "no obligation to give evidence," Stephens added. "You can subpoena someone to court, but you can't force someone to give evidence," he said, citing an individual's legal right to silence.

However, Juliet Sorensen, a former federal prosecutor and a professor of law at Northwestern University, said the royal would most likely not be shielded by sovereign immunity.

"Sovereign immunity would not apply to a case in which a sovereign has engaged in criminal activity," she said. "If somebody is participating in sexual trafficking and exploitation of minors and young women, that has absolutely nothing to do with their duties as a sovereign, so sovereign immunity would not apply."

Meanwhile, Maxwell remains behind bars after prosecutors said she posed an "extreme" flight risk because of her access to substantial funds and American, French and British passports.

Her arraignment and first court hearing will occur on Tuesday, according to a court order, and will take place online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse," Strauss, the U.S. attorney, said. "In some cases, Maxwell participated in the abuse herself."

Andrew's advisers should be "glued" to any testimony Maxwell gives, says Borkowski, the PR guru, as the case will continue to garner headlines, leaving the prince in the eye of the British media storm.

For now, "there's nothing much more he can do," Borkowski counseled.
Nurses Speak Out: Keep Mount Vernon Hospital Open For Care!

Nurses Speak Out: Keep Mount Vernon Hospital Open For Care!

PR Newswire

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y., July 8, 2020

Speak Out includes Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard; State Senator Alessandra Biaggi; Candidate for U.S. Congress Jamaal Bowman; and NYSNA President Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN

Speak Out includes Caravan Rally to Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the New York State Nurses Association, joined by community advocates, elected officials and religious leaders, are speaking out about the shutdown last week of the Intensive Care Units at Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital ("MMV"), amid COVID-19 pandemic. The closure and dismantling of ICUs, as well as emptying of Telemetry Units and the limiting of admissions to the Medical/Surgery Unit, leave the largely African American population of Mount Vernon highly vulnerable.

(PRNewsfoto/New York State Nurses Associati)

The closures come as a resurgence of the COVID-19 virus in metro NYC continues to be predicted. More than 2,700 Mount Vernon residents have already contracted COVID-19 and 1,410 residents of Westchester County have lost their lives. Nurses are among the many voices demanding that every available resource be afforded to the people of Mount Vernon in the face of the deadly virus. On July 7th, NYSNA Executive Director Pat Kane, RN, wrote to Health Commissioner Howard A. Zucker, M.D., raising these concerns.

Moreover, during the pandemic, MMV was at capacity for COVID-19 patients and some patients were transferred to other facilities where they were placed in hallways and closets.

Yet the parent company, Montefiore Health System, which across all divisions posted total revenue of $6.2 billion last year, seems determined to deny Mount Vernon residents critical care to fight the virus. It was this same company that promised in 2016 to expand MMV.

Nurses and others cite another compelling reason to keep MMV open for care: without the hospital and critical care units mortality rates are sure to go up. Those suffering heart attacks, strokes, serious accidents and other life-threatening events must go elsewhere, adding precious time to their emergencies and ultimately raising the city's death rate. Nurses estimate that deaths from heart attack will now be 4-9% higher with the critical care closures at MMV.

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"We are fighting for lives here on two fronts," said NYSNA's Executive Director Pat Kane, RN. "The first is to keep open critical care units when the coronavirus is still very active. Second, Mount Vernon residents now need to travel to another city for serious emergencies. How many reasons do you need to keep your community hospital open?"

"Some of our patients need dialysis, have diabetes, or need cardiac care and are emergency cases. The ICU is essential to the community," said MMV ICU nurse Kameisha Brown, RN. "Montefiore is ignoring us. They are just moving forward with the closure. We are a hospital of mostly Black nurses and they are not treating us fairly, not treating the community fairly. We need justice."

"Throughout this pandemic, the City of Mount Vernon has been one of the hardest hit areas in Westchester County. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that our community desperately needs more access to emergency and intensive-care services, not less. I stand firmly with the New York State Nurses Association, advocates, and my colleagues in government in calling for the full reopening and revitalization of Mount Vernon Hospital. Now more than ever, we must invest in the resources and infrastructure our communities need to survive and prosper," said State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/Westchester).

"We will not allow Montefiore to gamble with the public health and safety of our residents. Montefiore is continuing to systematically remove and shift services out of a community that they themselves reported to be medically underserved. If All Lives Matter, then Black lives should matter too, and Dr. Ozuah and the Montefiore Health System should come to the table to prevent the closure of our hospital during a pandemic. Montefiore cannot continue to use Mount Vernon's healthcare numbers to push resources into more wealthy communities, or their actions will be seen as violent and negligent towards Mount Vernon. We are calling on our state and federal elected officials to take a stand with Mount Vernon to ensure that the safety and welfare of our community is a priority. Mount Vernon deserves a fully functioning, fully staffed hospital, especially in this season of COVID-19, and beyond," said Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard.

"The population that depends on this hospital is largely African American, and we're in the middle of a pandemic that is disproportionately infecting and killing African Americans. This is the worst possible time to be shutting down intensive care units. This is the problem with a health care system that values profit over human lives  particularly Black lives. That's why I'm standing with nurses who are fighting for justice and demanding that every possible medical resource be available for the people of Mount Vernon as we battle this deadly virus," said Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress New York - District 16, Jamaal Bowman.

The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, please visit our website at www.nysna.org .

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Octavia Spencer has two projects out this season, the crime drama "Truth Be Told" and the biopic "Self Made: The Life of Madam C.J. Walker." "Madam C.J. was someone I revered," Spencer says. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

After winning an Oscar for "The Help" and being nominated two years in a row for "Hidden Figures" (2016) and "The Shape of Water" (2017), Octavia Spencer executive produced the best picture winner "Green Book," then starred in and executive produced the quirky horror film "Ma." She also provided the voices for the duck Dab Dab in Doolittle and a tavern-owning mythical creature in Pixars Onward.

But why stop there? Now there are two dramatic roles  in the Netflix four-hour biopic Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker and the Apple TV+ crime thriller Truth Be Told (both of which she also executive produced)  that she has top of mind.

Spencer says she was drawn to Truth Be Told because she has always been a mystery buff. The crime drama centers on a former New York Times journalist who starts a podcast to exonerate a wrongly convicted man.

My producing partner, Brian Clisham, knows that Im a huge true crime and mystery fan, she says. We were looking for a project that could have a fighting chance in the premium world of cable and streaming, and we came across this project from Reese Witherspoon and Peter Chernins companies. They sent me the manuscript of the book by Kathleen Barber before it was published, and I just loved it.

The project took five months to shoot in Los Angeles last year and was quite demanding. Spencer explains, I had to go back and learn about some of the basic tenets of journalism as well as podcasting. I am a big fan of podcasts like Serial and S-Town. Playing Poppy was challenging because when we first meet her, she is full of good intentions, but I was grappling with her moral compass. The show kept it all very suspenseful until the very last episode. I had no clue who the killer was, and I wont reveal it in case people want to catch up!

Spencer plays a real-life character in Netflixs four-part series Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame C.J. Walker, which tells the inspiring story of the African American hair-care entrepreneur. Madams story was always part of my upbringing. My mom used her as a standard bearer in our household to teach us that you can achieve anything you can dare to dream of.

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"We came from very humble beginnings, so it was important for us to learn about this woman. Her siblings and parents were slaves yet she never allowed anyone to limit her. She was able to become the first self-made female millionaire in America, across all racial and ethnic divides, at a time when women werent even allowed to vote.

The Alabama-born actress says she strove to do justice to Walker's life story, although some characters and timelines were changed to fit everything into four hours. Madam C.J. was someone I revered, so I felt this great responsibility to get it right. Fortunately, the series was based on the book written by her great-granddaughter ALelia Bundles, and she was also involved and a wonderful part of the process.

The drama also stars Tiffany Haddish, Carmen Ejogo, Blair Underwood and Kevin Carrol. Kasi Lemmons (Harriet, Eves Bayou) executive produced and directed two of the limited series' episodes. From the beginning, I knew that because this was a very intimate, clearly African American female story, we were going to need African American female storytellers, Spencer notes. Of course, Kasi Lemmons was on top of our wish list for directors."

Self Made was shot in Canada over two months, and Spencer worked 59 of those 60 days since she was in most of the scenes. It was a very demanding role physically, and I was experiencing some vertigo and nausea during the shoot, she says. Interestingly, Madam C.J. also had some physical ailments: She suffered from fainting spells and had high blood pressure and diabetes, so I incorporated all of that!

The actress says shes happy to see more diversity both on and off the screen.

When I was working on Fruitvale Station, our director, Ryan Coogler, had all of the people he went to film school with working on the movie, and that was the first time I worked with a female [director of photography]. I had never seen so much diversity on the set, and I looked around and thought, Wow, this is how things should be!

"Now, thanks to women like Shonda Rhimes and Ava DuVernay coming through the ranks, the landscape has slowly changed. I do think it should all be organic. We shouldnt have to say we need women of all ethnicities to direct and be part of the decision-making process."
Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador once likened President Trump to Hitler. But on Wednesday, it was smiles, handshakes and praise as the two leaders held a day of meetings in the White House to celebrate a new trade agreement that both hope can salvage their respective economies, devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump and Lopez Obrador, unlikely allies who now call each other "friends," came to the meeting as each is combating domestic political troubles over policies that have failed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Lopez Obrador, a proud Mexican nationalist who favors leftist rhetoric, was heavily criticized for using his first trip abroad in 19 months as president to confer with Trump, whose right-wing broadsides often disparage Mexicans and whose policies are stubbornly anti-immigration.

Trump, who once warned of "dark invasions" from Mexico, on Wednesday lauded Mexicans as smart businesspeople who contribute to U.S. society and the economy. "The Mexican people are incredible," Trump said, with Lopez Obrador at his side.

Lopez Obrador thanked Trump for respecting Mexican sovereignty by never attempting to impose demands, though Trump has repeatedly pressured the Mexican government to acquiesce to his restrictions on migration, even threatening to cut aid if Lopez Obrador did not comply.

"We are not fighting, we are friends, and we will continue to be friends," Lopez Obrador said to Trump.

Trump, falling in polls ahead of the U.S. presidential election, appeared eager to mark a rare, concrete achievement  the trade agreement  while also showing he can still host the Mexican president despite his administrations hard-line approach toward the southern neighbor.

Trump can tout one of his few foreign policy achievements and claim that by renegotiating [the North American Free Trade Agreement], the U.S. ended up with a better deal, said Michael Shifter, an expert on Latin America and president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue. He can also appear with a Mexican president, whose people and migrants Trump has relentlessly insulted but who has nonetheless been notably accommodating to the U.S. president on a range of issues.

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Lopez Obradors strategy appeared aimed at providing enough flattery to keep Trump happy and keep the U.S. at bay, Shifter added.

The two are in a symbiotic relationship, said Christopher Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at the London-based Chatham House.

The central theme, at Wednesday's meetings and a working dinner, was to mark the trade treaty reached by the United States, Mexico and Canada that took effect July 1.

Trump's economic advisor Larry Kudlow hailed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, as a major job creator, especially in automobile and other manufacturing industries, that will boost economic recovery after the pandemic.

As the three countries respect this deal then youre gonna have an explosion of entrepreneurship  entrepreneurship and new innovation in North America, Kudlow said on Fox News.

In fact, the agreement is an update of the 1994 NAFTA accord among the three countries. It adds labor and environmental protections, but experts predict it will have limited short-term impact on growth.

Lopez Obrador had hoped that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would also be at the White House this week as a form of political cover to what is a controversial trip both here and in Mexico. But Trudeau declined, citing a busy schedule and the inappropriateness of international travel amid the pandemic that continues to rage in the United States.

Like Trump, Lopez Obrador has been scornful of the science behind the disease and downplayed the risks. The Mexican president says he has never been tested for COVID-19 because he has no symptoms, and would take a test only if the White House required it. It did. Neither Lopez Obrador nor Trump wore a mask as they stood outside the Oval Office.

"For both presidents, this serves as a distraction from the crisis in their countries, which is COVID-19," said Fernando Cutz, a former member of Trump's National Security Council in charge of Latin America and now at the Wilson Center think tank and Cohen Group consulting firm.

"They'd be very happy to be able to shift the conversation to anything else as quickly as possible. Neither has been perceived as doing a particularly good job" in fighting the pandemic and its economic consequences, Cutz said.

Lopez Obrador has cooperated with Trumps immigration policies by agreeing to keep migrants and potential asylum seekers in Mexico to prevent them from reaching the United States. He has tempered some of Trump's other tough ideas, deflecting threatened tariffs on Mexican products destined for U.S. markets and a possible restriction on Mexican exports of petroleum.

In addition to the White House appearances, Lopez Obrador placed wreaths at the Lincoln Memorial and at a statue of Benito Juarez, the 19th century Mexican hero who fought for independence from the French and became the country's first indigenous president. Noisy crowds of mostly supportive demonstrators accompanied the leader, chanting in Spanish, "Presidente! You are not alone!" There were small protests as well.

The White House dinner was to include Mexico's telecom tycoon Carlos Slim, one of the world's richest men. No meetings with Mexican American or immigrant groups, or U.S. lawmakers were scheduled.

Lopez Obrador is ignoring strong opposition to his visit from both U.S. Democrats and many Mexicans. A dozen Latino members of Congress wrote Trump urging the meeting be canceled and calling it a political stunt.

According to Axios, Trump returned the letter with a note scrawled at the top, apparently with a black Sharpie, ignoring the plea and calling the Mexican president my friend and a wonderful man."

"I look forward to meeting with the president," Trump wrote. "Will be good (+important) for both Mexico + the USA."

Lopez Obrador also praised his relationship with Trump, whom he had never met.

Our adversaries say, 'How can I go if Mexicans have been insulted?' Lopez Obrador told reporters before departing Mexico City. I can say to the people of my country that since we have been in office, there has been a relationship of respect, not only toward the government, but especially toward the people of Mexico.

Even as Lopez Obrador spoke, however, Trump was tweeting photographs of a portion of the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico  much hated in Mexico  which he has vowed to expand.

And Trump is reportedly considering attempting again this week to kill the so-called Dreamers program, which protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants who, as children, were brought to the U.S. illegally by relatives.

The Supreme Court struck down Trumps first attempt to rescind the Obama-era program, whose beneficiaries are largely Mexican-born, though most scarcely recall the country.

Nice [welcome] gift for Mexicos president, tweeted Arturo Sarukhan, the former Mexican ambassador to Washington who now runs a consulting firm in Washington for multinational corporations.

Some analysts worried that Lopez Obrador's fawning regard for Trump so close to a U.S. presidential election could undermine the bilateral U.S.-Mexico relationship, especially if former Vice President Joe Biden wins in November.

During the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, when Trump repeatedly used Mexico as a punching bag, he traveled to Mexico City to meet with then-President Enrique Pena Nieto in an encounter widely seen as politically damaging to the Mexican leader.

Taking place at a time when few Democrats are in town  Congress is in recess  Lopez Obrador's visit could be seen as a highly partisan gesture, said Juan Gonzalez, a former senior advisor to Biden. But Gonzalez added that the bilateral relationship is too important and is unlikely to suffer long-term damage, especially in a Democratic-led administration.

Some economists saw more positive potential in the Lopez Obrador visit, especially if it focuses on trade and how Mexico can replace China in supply chains.

Plus, it could allow Lopez Obrador to reassure international investors jittery about his reputation as a leftist, said Juan Carlos Baker, a former deputy commerce secretary in the Mexican government, during in a Tuesday teleconference organized by the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank.

"The reality is that regardless of the political context in both countries, the U.S. and Mexico cannot give themselves the luxury of not speaking to each other," he said. "The axis of the visit must center around economic issues and the possibility for recovery."




The total cost of dying typically soars above 10,000, according to funeral provider Farewill. Photo: Getty

The high costs associated with funerals, probate and wills are currently forcing one in eight families in the UK into funeral poverty.

According to data from will writer and funeral provider Farewill, the total cost of dying typically soars above 10,000 ($12,500), with the average UK cremation costing 3,250 and will writing costing an average of 180.

Meanwhile, it typically costs more than 800, plus up to 5% of an estates value, to get the grant of probate.

The issues around the cost of dying and complex processes surrounding death have been thrown into sharp relief in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 94% of people who have lost a loved one to coronavirus found administrative tasks negatively affected by the crisis, says Farewill.

Some 40% found it difficult to register the event due to lockdown restrictions, and 39% said that dealing with pensions, tax and probate was almost impossible.

READ MORE: Top tips on making a will and protecting yourself

Almost a third (27%) reported that the companies they needed to speak to were closed, and 24% were told services were on hold.

Farewill announced on Wednesday that it has raised 20m in its latest funding round to enable the company to continue its goal of transforming the UK's over-priced death industry using technology and design.

This latest round of funding was led by growth-stage experts Highland Europe, alongside Keen Ventures, Rich Pierson of Headspace, Broadhaven Ventures, and Venture Founders.

They join previous investors  including Augmentum Fintech, Taavet Hinrikus (TransferWise) and Kindred Capital. It takes the total raised so far to 30m.

Farewill said the investment will be used to fund expansion in the UK, as well as ongoing service improvement and product innovation.

The companys goal is to make the often-taboo topic of death easier for people to manage, and cut the costs associated with dying.

Using an online platform, Farewill helps people to write a will in just 15 minutes.

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The platform also checks the will within an average of 24 hours, compared to weeks with a traditional solicitor, and it can cost as little as 90, half the national average.

To obtain the grant of probate, Farewill charges a fixed fee starting at 595. An application takes seven days, compared to the UK average of three weeks. To help tackle the problem of funeral poverty the firm also provide cremations from 980.

READ MORE: The six ways a will can be challenged

Dealing with death is one of the hardest parts of life, and we started Farewill to take some of the pain out of the process, said Farewill chief executive Dan Garrett.

The latest investment from Highland Europe shows their conviction in our vision for fairer, more transparent services in this space. It means we can build on what weve started, growing our world-class team and designing easy-to-use tools that help people during incredibly tough times.

How about entirely removing the administrative pain for those grieving for their loved ones? How about providing an affordable, effortless and considerate service? Thats what the Farewill team is doing  with an extraordinary blend of compassion and tech-fueled efficiency.

For too long, the wills and funeral industry has been largely geared towards profit over purpose, said Stan Laurent, a partner at Highland Europe.

Since our first meeting with Dan, we knew that Farewill had the ingredients to radically disrupt the industry. Were excited to back them as they broaden their ambition, he said.
Princeton University has decided to remove Woodrow Wilson's name from its School of Public and International Affairs because of his racist views. (Mel Evans / Associated Press)

Princeton Universitys president, Christopher L. Eisgruber, recently announced that Woodrow Wilsons name will be removed from the universitys School of Public and International Affairs and from a residential college.

No new facts prompted the decision, which was a reversal from Eisgrubers refusal just five years ago to remove Wilsons name from the program and buildings. Wilsons record as a racist and segregationist has long been widely known. He segregated federal civil services when he was president of the United States from 1913-21, after it had been desegregated for decades.

Even in January 1964, Princeton alumnus Charles Puttkammer argued, Princeton must overcome a deeply ingrained reputation for discrimination going back to Woodrow Wilsons presidency and before. As Eisgruber said in a statement, Wilsons racism was significant and consequential even by the standards of his own time.

American colleges and universities have a long history of reinforcing racist norms and social structures. Historian Craig Steven Wilder made this clear in explaining how many of the most well-endowed universities benefited from the institution of slavery. Yet college presidents have mostly resisted demands to remove racist names and symbols on their campuses. At Yale, for instance, decades passed before the 2017 decision to remove from a residential college the name of John C. Calhoun, who defended slavery as a positive good.

But the last month brought broader societal demands for racial justice, and college leaders around the country have had similar revelations over racist names and symbols. Clemson University trustees recently voted to remove Calhouns name from its honors college, and there are current demands to rename Iowa State Universitys Catt Hall and Indiana Universitys Jordan Hall, named after an ISU alumna and a former IU college president who had espoused racist views.

These are long overdue physical changes to campus buildings, but they will mean very little if campus leaders fail to also address racist operational structures, such as policies and practices that guide how institutions function.

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In the 1960s, college presidents faced similar social pressures that warranted abrupt action aimed at addressing racism, but some co-opted the original demands for a more equitable higher education system and, instead, deployed them to maintain racist norms.

One example is the relationship between higher education and housing discrimination. For decades, Black people demanded an end to racist restrictive covenants and redlining. Those demands quickly became relevant to white university leaders as overcrowded Black neighborhoods encroached on their campuses. University of Chicago Chancellor Lawrence A. Kimpton coordinated urban university leaders to join the national effort to save American cities. They were powerful voices in demanding urban change and in lobbying federal lawmakers to secure millions of dollars in urban renewal funding.

We simply cannot operate in slums, Kimpton told Newsweek in January 1960. But slum clearance and university property acquisitions disproportionately displaced Black families and perpetuated racist norms. By 1960, the University of Chicagos plan involved 900 acres, using nearly $200 million in federal, university and private funds. This plan proceeded despite Black residents comprising two-thirds of the citys 86,000 residents displaced by urban renewal. Historian Stefan Bradley demonstrated similar Black displacement occurred in Philadelphia and New York because of university acquisitions.

Racialized outcomes are also seen in the history of college access. Black veterans were denied the full benefits of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, known as the G.I. Bill, including limited access to some educational programs during the postwar college enrollment boom. The California Master Plan for Higher Education of 1960 further compounded the access problem for Black students, with its stricter admissions standards for the University of California system, for example.

That plan eventually passed despite public concerns over its effects. Scholars like Noliwe Rooks and Martha Biondi have documented how Black enrollment declined between 1960 and 1968 on Californias public four-year campuses, largely limiting them to the states two-year colleges. San Francisco State Universitys Black enrollment, for example, dropped from 12% to 3% in that short period.

The history of affirmative action shows perhaps most succinctly how some college presidents co-opted demands for equity to maintain racist norms. In July 1963, President John F. Kennedy turned to university leaders for assistance in the fight for civil rights: The leadership that you and your colleagues show in extending equal educational opportunity today will influence American life for decades to come.

The presidents of Black and white colleges then outlined ambitious initiatives applicable to all of higher education. Most initiatives focused on Black colleges: summer institutes and advanced graduate-level training for Black college faculty, and exchange programs between Black and white colleges.

However, the momentum behind the idea of broader transformation stalled. Expressing concern about collaborating with Black colleges, in March 1964, University of Wisconsin President Fred Harrington said he assumed desegregation would negate the need for Black colleges. Soon the systemwide changes applicable to all higher education institutions were replaced by the largely symbolic effort to enroll a limited number of Black students at select majority-white campuses.

College presidents today are, once again, making symbolic proclamations, by saying Black Lives Matter and removing racist names. But without operational changes, colleges will remain ingrained with racism  whether offensive names on physical structures remain or not.

Eddie R. Cole is an associate professor of higher education and organizational change at UCLA, and the author of the forthcoming book, "The Campus Color Line: College Presidents and the Struggle for Black Freedom."




A cellblock at San Quentin State Prison, where more than 1,400 prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Over the last several weeks, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 at San Quentin State Prison has skyrocketed to more than 1,400, including six deaths so far. As a staff physician who provides medical care to incarcerated patients, I am devastated by the news, but sadly, Im not surprised.

On a daily basis, our medical teams work diligently within the constraints of the prison system to limit transmission, and our patients do what they can to protect themselves in their environment, but the undeniable fact is that the state prisons are well over capacity  despite court-mandated reductions over the past several years.

The only way to prevent catastrophic loss of life both inside and outside the prison system is to significantly reduce the prison population.

The current outbreak at San Quentin has been particularly harrowing. It began after a busload of prisoners was transferred there from the state prison in Chino, where more than 800 people were infected with the coronavirus. However, what happened at these two facilities is not isolated  prisons throughout the system are struggling with infections among the staff, prisoners or both.

As of Wednesday, 5,513 state prisoners in California have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 30 have died from the disease. That represents 4.8% of the total prison population, a staggeringly high rate of infection. For perspective, this would be equivalent to about 1.8 million Californians testing positive for the coronavirus, compared with 284,000 confirmed cases. In addition, more than 1,119 prison staff have also tested positive.

I am a primary care physician at a prison in Northern California that houses more than 2,000 people, many of them medically high-risk. Before the pandemic, I spent my days seeing patients for regular check-ups, urgent care, and treating chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and liver disease. My patients have stepped up admirably during this horrifying ordeal, to protect themselves and each other as much as possible  wearing cloth masks, washing hands with soap, disinfecting surfaces and using hand sanitizer when it is provided. Many patients have been tested for COVID-19 because of symptoms or recent arrival or transfers. Thankfully, we have not had a significant outbreak yet. But my patients are worried because it is not possible to properly social distance and they know a contagious virus can spread like wildfire in this environment.

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The majority of them have chronic illnesses that make them extremely high risk for severe illness and death if they come down with COVID-19. Quite a few of my patients have declined recommended and necessary medical procedures and referrals, out of fear of being exposed to the coronavirus at outside medical facilities, due to community spread.

Last week, the California Senate Public Safety Committee held a hearing on the outbreaks in California state prisons. During the hearing, Dr. David Sears, an expert in prison health at UC San Francisco who was brought in to San Quentin to give recommendations during the current outbreak, reported that none of his recommendations will work if they are not accompanied by immediate release of prisoners.

He said that the San Quentin prison population must be reduced by at least 50% to stop the current spread. This idea should be applied to the entire state prison population. There are several ways to achieve this, including by moving up parole hearings, allowing for more medical parole, granting clemency, and releasing older people and all those who are at low risk of re-offending, regardless of the crime of conviction. With the virus surging throughout the state, keeping it out of prisons is impossible. And without dramatic decarceration right now, there is no way to properly quarantine, isolate and socially distance inside overcrowded facilities.

Gov. Newsom and other state leaders have the opportunity to make history during this unprecedented time. This country has been trying simultaneously to control a deadly pandemic and to dismantle systems that perpetuate structural racism  which, of course, has resulted in Black and brown people suffering disproportionately from this disease.

Releasing people from prison would be a big step toward addressing these two crises at the same time. It is also our best shot at preventing more deaths among people who are in the care of the state.

Joshua Connor is a family medicine doctor and a primary care provider for incarcerated patients in California.
However, a final decision on the pilgrimage to the shrine in Himalayas will be taken later next week.

New Delhi: The annual Amarnath Yatra in the Himalayas will be conducted in a staggered manner and not more than 500 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the sacred cave shrine of Lord Shiva daily due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Wednesday.

The issue of pilgrimages to the Amarnath and Vaishnodevi shrines, both located in Jammu and Kashmir, was discussed at a high-level meeting attended by Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Jitendra Singh and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Jammu and Kashmir administration.

The Amarnath Yatra is likely to commence on July 21.

"This year's pilgrimage will be conducted in a staggered manner and not more than 500 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the shrine daily due to the COVID-19 situation," an official privy to the discussion said.

Around 9,000 people have been tested COVID-19 positive in the Union Territory and around 145 people succumbed to the virus so far.

The route through Pahalgam is yet to be cleared as it is full of snow and the pilgrimage may be allowed only through the Baltal route this year.

However, a final decision on the pilgrimage to the shrine in Himalayas will be taken later next week, the official said.

The authorities are particularly concerned over the COVID-19 pandemic as the symptoms for the virus and high- altitude sickness are almost same.

The doctors in the Union Territory and the armed forces are already stressed and hence, allowing a large number of pilgrims to go for the Amarnath pilgrimage will be an additional burden on medical staff and infrastructure, another official said.

In case of Vaishnodevi shrine, the visit to the temple has been suspended till July 31 and authorities are contemplating allowing it first for local people. Later, depending on the coronavirus situation, people from outside the state will be allowed, the official said.

The meeting also reviewed the ongoing development works in Jammu and Kashmir.

These include implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, progress in achieving targets under the Prime Minister's Development Package 2015, issues raised during the outreach carried out by the union ministers in January this year, and issues related to implementation of J&K Reorganisation Act.

The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated on August 5, 2019 into two UTs after abrogation of the special status given to it under Article 370.

The UTs -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh -- came into existence on October 31, 2019.

The meeting was also attended through video conference by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, and other senior officers.
Three recent decisions by the Supreme Court have worked to confuse the notion of religious liberty, while eroding the wall of separation between church and state. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press )

Religious discrimination. Its an accusation we hear with increasing frequency. Indeed, discrimination on the basis of religion is one of the few common concerns our divided society has left. But even here, political polarization has left its mark.

As conservatives use it, religious discrimination carries a meaning that is largely lost on the broader public. Now, with three new decisions from the Supreme Court, we can see how that conservative conception of religious discrimination intrudes on some of the most basic principles of the American democratic tradition.

One case decided last week, Espinoza vs. Montana, ruled that a state constitutional provision limiting state-subsidized scholarships only to secular schools discriminates against religious schools and the parents who choose them, and thereby violates the Free Exercise Clause of the 1st Amendment.

On Wednesday, the court handed down two more decisions, further eroding principles of religious freedom that require the separation of church and state.

In the case of Our Lady of Guadalupe School vs. Morrissey-Berru, the court dramatically expands the ministerial exemption, which protects church autonomy by barring ministers from suing their employers. The court broadened this exemption by classifying any teacher who performs religious functions as a minister, even if those functions are as minimal as joining children in a religious service or even if the employee is not a



practicing member of the religion governing the school.

The teachers worked at two Los Angeles-based Catholic schools, and their primary responsibility was secular education. They had not undergone religious training, but the schools contended that they should be classified as ministers and claimed that to decide otherwise would impermissibly discriminate among religions. The Supreme Courts decision, without using this language itself, upholds the claim promoted by religious conservatives that requiring religious schools to abide by the principles of anti-discrimination law is itself an act of religious discrimination.

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The court supported an even broader version of the conservative view of religious exemptions in another case decided on Wednesday, Little Sisters of the Poor vs. Pennsylvania. This case involves a challenge to the Trump administrations policy on religious exemptions from the Affordable Care Acts rules that require employers to provide contraception coverage in employee health plans.

That policy, pushed through by conservatives, deemed the exemption allowed by the Obama-era policy to be discriminatory because it required employers claiming the exemption to go through a simple self-certification process which ensured that employees would continue to receive coverage for contraception. The Trump administration got rid of that process and expanded the exemption to apply to any employer claiming a moral or religious objection to providing contraception coverage in employee health plans.

Although the decision was based on a narrow determination of whether the Trump policy conformed to administrative law requirements for the rule-making process (the court ruled that it did), the consequence of upholding the policy is that between 70,500 to 126,400 women will lose coverage for cost-free contraceptive services.

The results of all three cases support the idea that any law applied to a religious group amounts to unconstitutional religious discrimination if the group opposes the law.

But the premise behind this conception is false. There is ample room for disagreement over when religious objections should be accommodated, or whether supplying public funding for religious education on equal terms with nonreligious education is necessary to religious liberty or threatens it. Many conservatives hold that it is necessary. Thats not unreasonable.

But to claim that refusing to provide public funding is discriminatory is specious, as is the claim that progressive policies are discriminatory just because they reject conservative beliefs. These arguments show an inability to distinguish between disagreement and discrimination. Using the democratic process to resolve moral and policy disagreements is not discrimination, so long as every group gets due consideration.

This false view of discrimination has led to a complete reordering of the two key religion clauses of the 1st Amendment. It has diminished the Establishment Clause principle that prohibits state support for religion and has overinflated the Free Exercise Clause by suggesting that people have the right to do anything their religion requires them to do, even if it poses a risk to public health.

The ascendancy of this position represents the culmination of a movement, strongly backed by evangelical Protestants, conservative Catholics and Orthodox Jews, that has been steadily gaining ground over the last several decades.

This movement not only accounts for the Supreme Courts recent decisions; it also holds the key to President Trumps unshakable support among religious conservatives. The Trump administration has made the restoration of religious liberty and protection from religious discrimination a top priority, appointing justices, judges and agency heads who firmly adhere to this point of view.

For religious conservatives, these recent decisions deliver on his promise to protect them from discrimination. For the rest of us, they confuse the notion of religious discrimination, while eroding both the principle of equality and the wall of separation between religion and state.

Nomi Stolzenberg is the Nathan and Lily Shapell Professor at the USC Gould School of Law.




Activists who support the contraceptive mandate demonstrate outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. (Pete Marovich / Bloomberg)

A divided Supreme Court appeared to hand a major victory to President Trump and the religious right Wednesday when it ruled that the administration could, in fact, undermine the mandate that employer-provided health insurance plans cover birth control for women with no out-of-pocket costs.

But the ruling appears to give the next president the power quickly to reverse much of Trump's initiative. And in the meantime, it left the door open for proponents to keep fighting on behalf of contraceptive coverage for all female employees.

At issue are the breathtakingly broad exemptions that the Trump administration provided to the rule, promulgated under the Obama administration, requiring health insurance policies to cover specific forms of female contraception and sterilization. The 2010 Affordable Care Act required new insurance policies to cover preventive care at no extra cost, but it left it to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to specify which forms of care had to be covered.

The Obama administration, under pressure from religious employers, exempted churches and created a workaround that required insurers or plan administrators to provide, on their own dime, the contraceptive coverage to a religious-affiliated employer's workers. The workaround didn't satisfy some religious-affiliated entities and private employers with strong religious beliefs, such as the Catholic service organization Little Sisters of the Poor, which complained that the workaround made them complicit in immoral behavior. So the Trump administration issued new rules, declaring that any employer with a "sincerely held" religious objection and any non-publicly traded employer with a similarly strong moral objection could just ignore the mandate.

As I have written previously, the argument against the Obama workaround is baloney, undone by its critics' gross misunderstanding of the mechanics. The Supreme Court, however, didn't address the question of whether the previous rule was adequate; instead, it focused solely on whether the Trump administration had the authority under the ACA to do what it did. And the court's five conservatives, joined by liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer, held that it did. (Actually, in her concurrence Kagan argued that the law wasn't clear but that, under the court's landmark Chevron ruling, the court had to defer to the administration's interpretation.)

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But, much to Justice Samuel Alito's chagrin, the majority opinion (written by Justice Clarence Thomas) did not hold that the Trump administration was compelled to exempt employers with a sincerely held religious objection to the mandate. Alito would have ruled that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act required a complete exemption, but that question wasn't before the court.

Instead, it is likely to be litigated in the lower courts as opponents of the Trump rule argue that, although the administration may have had the authority to issue the exemption, the scope was arbitrary and capricious. Kagan helpfully laid out a roadmap for them, citing a series of court precedents.

"An agency acting within its sphere of delegated authority can of course flunk the test of 'reasoned decisionmaking,'" Kagan wrote. "The agency does so when it has not given 'a satisfactory explanation for its action'  when it has failed to draw a 'rational connection' between the problem it has identified and the solution it has chosen, or when its thought process reveals 'a clear error of judgment.' ... Assessed against that standard of reasonableness, the exemptions HRSA and the Departments issued give every appearance of coming up short."

Among the reasons, Kagan asserted, are the "mismatch between the scope of the religious exemption and the problem the agencies set out to address" and the failure to minimize the harm to women who are denied contraceptive coverage. Although some employers may feel as if the Obama workaround leaves them complicit in immoral behavior, regardless of whether it actually does, not every employer that is religiously affiliated or has a moral objection to contraception has that belief. Yet Trump's rule exempts them all.

The Little Sisters don't have a direct stake in this fight; a federal judge in Colorado has permanently blocked the mandate from applying to the Sisters or its insurer, Christian Brothers, which itself is a religious-affiliated entity.

But female employees do have a stake. The Trump administration has gone to great lengths to make it more expensive for them to obtain contraceptive coverage. Perhaps the president will pay for that in November, but in the meantime, the Supreme Court left the door open for the fight to continue.
Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh wrote that Congress couldn't make an exception for robocalls used to collect debts. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press)

On Monday the Supreme Court gladdened the hearts of cellphone users by ruling that a 1991 federal law outlawing most robocalls could largely remain on the books. But it struck down a 2015 amendment that made an exception for calls seeking to collect debts owed to or guaranteed by the federal government.

The carveout, the majority concluded, was an unconstitutional content-based restriction on speech. That was small consolation for the political consultants who brought the lawsuit. They still cant use robocalls to solicit contributions to political campaigns or conduct polls.

The decision in Barr vs. American Assn. of Political Consultants was obviously a victory for long-suffering cellphone users. But if you read the several opinions in the case, something else becomes clear: The various justices dont see free speech in the same way.

Thats worrisome because, with the spectacular exception of the 2010 Citizens United campaign-spending case, liberal and conservative justices alike usually have been receptive to free-speech claims under the 1st Amendment.

For example, in 2011 the court ruled 8 to 1 in favor of the hateful Westboro Baptist Church, which had been sued by the father of a Marine killed in Iraq whose funeral had been picketed by the anti-gay church. In his majority opinion Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote: As a nation we have chosen . . . to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate.

Flash forward to Mondays robocall decision. Kavanaugh, in an opinion joined by Roberts and Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas, said the exception for government debt collectors was the sort of content-based regulation of speech that the court subjects to "strict scrutiny." (Justice Neil M. Gorsuch agreed in a separate opinion. Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the debt-collection provision couldnt survive even a less exacting standard of scrutiny.)

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But three of the courts liberal justices would have upheld the carveout for robocalls related to government debt collection.

Justice Stephen G. Breyer, in an opinion joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan, suggested that the court neednt subject the debt-collection carveout to strict scrutiny because it concerned commercial regulation, not political speech. (Breyer also warned that too zealous an application of the content-neutrality principle could undermine regulations that involve speech, such as drug labels or safety warnings in the workplace.)

Actually, so-called commercial free speech has been protected by the court under the 1st Amendment since 1976, when the court struck down a Virginia law prohibiting pharmacists from advertising the prices of prescription drugs.

In the majority opinion in that case, Justice Harry Blackmun wrote: As to the particular consumer's interest in the free flow of commercial information, that interest may be as keen, if not keener by far, than his interest in the day's most urgent political debate.

Then and now, the idea that the 1st Amendment protects commercial speech is controversial, but the issue hasn't always divided liberals and conservative members of the court.

Liberal justices William J. Brennan and Thurgood Marshall joined Blackmuns opinion in the drug advertising case. The only dissenter was the conservative Justice William H. Rehnquist, who complained that the majority elevates commercial intercourse between a seller hawking his wares and a buyer seeking to strike a bargain to the same plane as has been previously reserved for the free marketplace of ideas.

Moreover, advertising by profit-making businesses isnt the only area in which courts have found 1st Amendment protection for speech involving money.

In 1980, the Supreme Court struck down an ordinance that prevented some charities from soliciting door to door. (Rehnquist dissented in that case as well.) And in 2015, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals cited a Supreme Court precedent in striking down a local ordinance banning panhandling. Its a reach to describe a request for spare change as a political statement that would be protected under Breyers reading of the 1st Amendment.

Not every legal thinker approves of the doctrine of "commercial free speech." An old joke has it that liberals hate it because it's commercial and conservatives hate it because it's free speech. But whatever your opinion, a divide on the court about what the 1st Amendment means is troubling  even in a case about annoying phone calls.
Time & Sync Platform Delivers Resilient, Precision Time & Frequency Solutions

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Orolia, the world leader in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), through its Orolia Government Systems business, has been selected by Raytheon Missiles & Defense to support the US Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radar program with its low SWaP (Size, Weight and Power), rugged time and frequency system. Raytheon Missiles & Defense was selected by the United States Army in October 2019 to provide the next-generation LTAMDS, which is an advanced air and missile defense radar. The LTAMDS system will help the U.S. Army defeat advanced threats, including hypersonic weapons.

Orolia was chosen for the LTAMDS program based on its core expertise in resilient timing and configurable ruggedized PNT systems for challenging environments, together with its proven track record of successfully delivering time and frequency platforms for other Raytheon Programs of Record. Orolia was the first company to receive approval for a time and frequency reference system on the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN) Approved Products List for network interoperability, with its flagship SecureSync system.

"Ultra-precise mission timing and sync technology are fundamental building blocks for the Resilient PNT systems that warfighters rely on for continuous operations in contested environments," said Hironori Sasaki, President of Orolia Defense & Security. "We are proud to be a Raytheon Missiles & Defense partner on LTAMDS and other programs that utilize GPS signals for timing, frequency and network synchronization across critical military systems."

From critical timing solutions to GPS/GNSS simulation, interference detection, and mitigation, Orolia is the industry leader in end-to-end NAVWAR and Resilient PNT solutions to protect, augment and strengthen military systems for GPS-denied environments.

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About Orolia

Orolia is the world leader in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions that improve the reliability, performance and safety of critical, remote or high-risk operations, even in GPS-denied environments. With a presence in more than 100 countries, Orolia provides virtually failsafe GPS/GNSS and PNT solutions to support military and commercial applications worldwide. www.orolia.com

Orolia Defense & Security provides Resilient PNT solutions and custom engineering services to U.S. Government agencies, defense organizations, and their contractors, and is authorized to work on the full spectrum of U.S. Government classified and unclassified projects. www.OroliaDS.com.

Contact:

Jennifer Hewitt

571-388-8671

jennifer.hewitt@orolia.com

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WASHINGTON  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is revising its guidance on reopening schools after President Donald Trump tweeted his disagreement with them, Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday.

"The president said today we just dont want the guidance to be too tough," Pence said at a news conference at the U.S. Department of Education. "That's the reason why, next week, CDC is going to be issuing a new set of tools, five different documents that will be giving even more clarity on the guidance going forward."

Trump tweeted Wednesday that he disagrees with the CDC's "very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools" as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

"They are asking schools to do very impractical things," Trump tweeted. "I will be meeting with them!!!"

He also threatened to withhold funding from schools that don't populate their classrooms this fall.

Asked about that threat, Pence said the administration wants to include "incentives for states to go forward" in the next federal stimulus package.

"And as we work with Congress on the next round of state support, we're going to be looking for ways to give states a strong incentive and encouragement to get kids back to school," said Pence, the head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks as Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos listens during a White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing at the U.S. Department of Education July 8, 2020.

Most education funding comes from the state and local levels, but the federal government provides billions to schools through grants for low-income schools and special education programs.

More: Trump threatens to withhold funding to schools if they don't reopen this fall

More: School reopening plans are now part of COVID-19 politics. Teachers fear for their safety.

On Tuesday, the president and first lady Melania Trump staged a White House event designed to push local school districts to reopen in the fall. The event provided a forum for teachers, administrators, students and parents to discuss "best practices" for safely reopening schools around the country.

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The first lady urged parents, teachers and schools to inform children about the CDC's guidelines on coronavirus at the start of the school year and to implement those guidelines when appropriate.

At Wednesday's news conference at the Education Department, CDC Director Robert Redfield said he wanted to make it very clear that the guidelines are intended to help schools reopen and are not to be used as a rationale to keep schools closed.

Pence said that was the sentiment behind Trump's tweet about the guidelines.

"What the president was saying this morning is, that if there are aspects of the CDCs recommendations that are prescriptive, or that serve as a barrier to kids getting back to school, we want governors and local officials and education leaders to know that we're here to work with them," Pence said. "Every American knows that we can safely reopen our schools."

At a later briefing at the White House, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany cited one example of a CDC recommendation she saw as problematic: "Have children bring their own meals as feasible, or serve individually plated meals in classrooms instead of in a communal dining hall or cafeteria, while ensuring the safety of children with food allergies."

McEnany focused on the first part of that recommendation, saying there are millions of students who depend on schools for meals and can't bring their own.

"There are 28 implicit acknowledgements that these guidelines aren't even feasible," she said.

On funding, McEnany said Trump is looking at "potentially redirecting" federal dollars so it's "tied to the student, and not to a district where schools are closed."

In Pence's home state of Indiana, the Republican state superintendent of education expressed her displeasure Wednesday with the threatening message coming from the White House.

Jennifer McCormick tweeted that while schools and health departments are working on re-entry plans, schools "cannot & should not be bullied from DC into ignoring safety concerns."

"Not helpful," she added.

The CDCs readiness assessment to monitor recommended practices includes a multi-page checklist schools can follow. It covers such items as coming up with procedures for regular cleaning, for daily health checks of staff and students, for limiting contact throughout the school day and for responding if someone does become infected.

The CDC says implementation should be guided by what is feasible, practical, acceptable, and tailored to the needs and context of each community.

Contributing: Michael Collins

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pence: CDC changing coronavirus school guidelines after Trump attack
Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday said coronavirus infections are starting to level off in some states that have been experiencing sharp spikes in cases, even as state-level data paints an increasingly worrisome outlook for positive tests, hospitalizations and deaths.

Pence during a White House coronavirus task force briefing touted early indications of positive tests flattening in Arizona, Florida and Texas, which have each seen a surge of new infections in recent weeks.

We believe that the takeaway for every American, particularly in those states that are impacted is keep doing what youre doing because were starting to see the first indications ... that they are having a good effect, Pence said.

Pence cited federal data presented by White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx showing the seven-day average of tests that were positive in Arizona and Florida is beginning to level off at about 20 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

But data from the Arizona Department of Health Services shows 25 percent of samples collected on July 5 tested positive for the virus  up from 14 percent near the beginning of June and 5 percent in early May.

Pence also suggested emergency room visits are beginning to drop off in Arizona and Florida. But Arizona state data shows that key metric continuing to climb. A record 2,008 suspected or confirmed coronavirus patients were seen Tuesday.

In Florida, more than 223,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed and nearly 17,000 patients have been hospitalized, according to the Florida Department of Health. Many hospitals in the state are running out of intensive care unit beds, according to data from the state Agency for Health Care Administration.

And while Floridas positivity test rate does appear to be growing at a slower pace, the seven-day moving average stands at about 19 percent, according to Johns Hopkins Universitys data dashboard. Texas testing positivity rate has remained steady over the past few weeks at around 14 percent.

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Trump's own health officials have suggested a positivity rate below 10 percent is desirable, though other public health experts say the goal should be 5 percent or lower.

Pence made the comments as President Donald Trump and others in his administration push to reopen schools in the fall. Public health experts have expressed concerns with moving forward with cases on the rise in most states and the U.S. total surpassing 3 million on Wednesday.

Birx, Pence and Trump have all touted a lower coronavirus mortality rate in recent days, but public health experts including NIH infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci have cautioned deaths are a lagging indicator.

"It's a false narrative to take comfort in a lower rate of death," Fauci said during a live stream Tuesday with Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.).

Birx, during Wednesday's briefing, advised Americans in states that have seen a sudden rise in cases to return to the earliest phase of reopening guidelines, which include avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people and the wearing of face coverings. She praised governors in Arizona, Florida and California for shutting down bars and reinstating social distancing orders.

We are really asking American people in those counties, in those states, to not only use face coverings, not go to bars ... but really not gather in homes either, Birx said.

CDC Director Robert Redfield said his agency would be releasing additional guidance next week on how schools can safely reopen in the fall, just hours after Trump on Twitter criticized his agencys initial guidelines for schools as tough and expensive.

We will continue to develop and evolve our guidance to meet the needs of the schools in the states that we continue to provide that assistance to, Redfield said. He declined to answer whether his agency is revising guidance in response to the presidents criticism.
Permutive is announcing that it has raised $18.5 million in Series B funding, as the London-based startup works to help online publishers make money in a changing privacy landscape.

CEO Joe Root, who co-founded the company with CTO Tim Spratt, noted that publishers are facing increasing regulation, while web browsers are phasing out support for third-party cookies  all good news for privacy advocates, but with a real downside for publisher ad revenue (blocking cookies causes an average 52% decline in ad revenue, according to a Google study last year, though other estimates have been dramatically lower).

Permutive tries to address these issues by allowing publishers to utilize their own first-party data more effectively. Root estimated that without cookies, web visitors break down to 10% who are logged in and authenticated, while 90% are anonymous, and he said, "We use the insight and understanding from that 10% to make predictions about that 90%."

So from a single anonymous pageview, Permutive can collect 20 or 30 data points about visitor behavior, which it then uses to try to project who that visitor might be and what they might be interested in. Root also noted that the company's technology relies on edge computing, allowing it to process data more quickly, which is crucial for publishers who may only have a few seconds in which to show a visitor an ad.

If you're wondering whether this approach has any privacy or regulatory implications of its own, Root suggested Permutive spends "a lot of time making sure we are ideologically aligned with [European privacy regulation] GDPR and ideologically aligned with the browsers."

Joe Root - Permutive

Joe Root - Permutive

For one thing, "We dont believe data should be portable across applications," which is why Permutive is focused on helping publishers use their own data. For another, Root said Permutive is committed to "the destruction of identity in the adtech ecosystem."

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"Using data isn't a problem  its when you attach data to an identity," he added. So without identity, "Instead of saying, 'Here is an ad for Anthony, look up everything you know from Anthony,' we say, 'Here is an ad for a user interested in tech media.' One model leaks data and the other doesn't."

Root also suggested that these shifts will allow ad dollars to move back to the premium publishers who have more engagement with and data from their readers  publishers who he argued have "up until now funded the long tail" with their cookie-based data.

This approach is reflected in the publishers Permutive already works with, including BuzzFeed, Penske, The Financial Times, The Guardian, Business Insider, The Daily Telegraph, The Economist, Bell Media, News UK and MailOnline.

Founded in 2014, Permutive previously raised $11.5 million, according to Crunchbase. The Series B was led by Octopus Ventures, with participation from EQT Ventures and previous investors.

"Today, Permutive is the U.K. category leader in its field and is beating billion-dollar global businesses on a consistent basis in trial processes," said Will Gibbs of Octopus Ventures in a statement. "The team has hired many incredible people and is now ready to replicate the success seen in the U.K. in the U.S. Given the evolving regulatory and customer priorities, Permutives technology could be genuinely pioneering in its field."

The startup is also announcing that it has hired Aly Nurmohamed (former global managing director for publisher partners at Criteo) as its general manager for publishing and Steve Francolla (former head of global publisher strategy at LiveRamp) as head of partnerships.
"ncompass" Solution Will Support Franchisees In All Areas Of Operations

ATLANTA, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Naranga, a leader in franchise management software, and the Pizza Factory have recently announced an expanded partnership in which The Pizza Factory will use Naranga's "ncompass" software solution to manage franchise operations, sales, and standards throughout its entire franchise network.

Pizza Factory has been a Naranga client since selecting its Emaximation as its sales lead management software in 2017 and was so impressed with the results as well as Naranga's customer service they decided to add ncompass for operations management.

"We engaged Naranga services a couple of years ago with the sales module. Since then, because of their service and ease of programs, we have moved on to ncompass," said Pizza Factory CEO Mary Jane Riva. "We have been very happy with the communication and ability to speak to their team whenever needed. We never feel we have to wait on them, or that we are asking too much."

Naranga's ncompass product provides a comprehensive, easy to use platform to seamlessly manage day to day franchise operations including on-boarding new franchisees, centralizing visibility, maintaining brand standards, increasing communication and to monitor and ensure compliance.

"We are thrilled to partner with such a dynamic brand and management team," Naranga President and COO Dmitry Simoniv said, adding that The Pizza Factory management team was especially impressed with Naranga's affordable franchise management ecosystem, its free set-up as well as its one-of-a-kind support that guarantees seamless integration of the software solution."

Based out of Oakhurst, California, the Pizza Factory has served customers since 1985 and is known for its hand-tossed pizzas topped with authentic mozzarella. The brand now has more than 100 locations nationwide.

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"The COVID pandemic has created unique demands on all franchise retail brands and the importance of having a flexible and dynamic mobile solution such as Naranga's is critical to addressing those demands," Simoniv added.

About Naranga

Naranga, a franchise technology provider, delivers software solutions that help businesses scale, at any size. Naranga has over 250 clients representing over 300 brands. Their software enhances overall operations, lead management, brand standards/field auditing, and employee training. Clients turn to Naranga when support, scalability, visibility, and brand consistency are their top priorities. For more information, visit the website at naranga.com.

About Pizza Factory

Founded in 1985, Pizza Factory is a nationwide pizzeria with over 100 locations in six different states. Over 30 years of experience has gained them a spot in the "Top 20 for Franchise Satisfaction", and the number of interested franchisees continues to grow. Pizza Factory is known for their hand-tossed pizzas, calzones, wings, and range of other menu choices.

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Reuters Videos

Chicago-area utility Commonwealth Edison's (ComEd) website showed that more than 22,000 customers were without power as the thunderstorms swept through the region, near Lake Michigan in the north of the U.S. state of Illinois.The tornado touched down near Route 53/75th Street in Woodridge, DuPage County, around 11 p.m. ET on Sunday. About a dozen homes were damaged, and four people were rushed to area hospitals with minor injuries, CBS Chicago reported.A CBS Chicago reporter tweeted that six people were injured in total and some residents were evacuated to nearby shelters. The news outlet added that there were no fires, but there were lots of gas breaches.Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis said that anyone who was displaced from their homes could go to Ranchview Elementary School, which was designated as a place of shelter.
Viral videos depicting a group of white men allegedly assaulting a Black man in an Indiana park on the Fourth of July has caught the attention of Indiana investigators who are seeking more answers and community leaders who are seeking justice.

Vauhxx Rush Booker of Bloomington, Indiana, posted a video on his Facebook page of his confrontation in Lake Monroe, where the alleged attackers are seen cursing and using racial epithets against him. A bystander who came to Booker's aid also filmed the incident and the video showed several white men pin a Black man to a tree with his arms behind him, while several other people shouted for the alleged attackers to let him go.

Booker, an activist who is on the Monroe County Human Rights Commission according to his Facebook page, told ABC News that he suffered a minor concussion, ripped hair and some abrasions, and that he was grateful that his friends and bystanders came to his aid.

PHOTO: A still from a video shows an altercation involving Vauhxx Rush Booker. (Obtained by ABC News)

"How many Black people had the same surreal and terrifying experience of strangers talking about their own murders in front of them, who then didn't live to see another day?" Booker, 36, wrote in his Facebook post.

Booker told ABC News that the incident took place when he and his friend were on their way to an organized event to view the lunar eclipse on Saturday. While he and a friend were walking on a path, they encountered a white man with "an oversized hat with a confederate flag print on it." The man followed Booker and his friend from behind in an ATV, he said.

The man informed Booker and his friend that they were on private property, and the pair apologized and made their way to the event, Booker said. Then Booker was approached by members of the group participating in the park event, who said that some people had blocked their access to the beach.

"As more group members arrived they informed us they had encountered this gentleman and he blocked off the beachway with a boat and several ATVS and he had yelled 'White Power' at them, along with some other slurs," Booker said.

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MORE: Grand jury indicts 3 men arrested for murder of Ahmaud Arbery

Booker said he and the group decided to go talk with the people to clear the air, but when they approached the individuals, things escalated.

"We were calm and polite, but looking back now, it's apparent that these individuals began targeting our group the moment they saw myself, a Black man, and were looking to provoke a conflict," Booker said in his Facebook post.

Booker said he and a friend backed away and tried to leave the scene but several people followed and yelled at them. Two of them allegedly jumped Booker and eventually five men overwhelmed him, according to Booker.

Booker said the men dragged him, pinned him to a tree, pounded his head and ripped his hair, and at one point one of them jumped on his neck. Another group of people came to intervene, according to Booker.

PHOTO: A still from a video shows an altercation involving Vauhxx Rush Booker. (Vauhxx Rush Booker)

"While they were beating me against this tree and people were pleading for them to let me go and struggling to get towards me, one of the gentleman yells to his friend to get a noose," Booker said. "Not a rope, but literally a noose. And I hear a white woman yell, 'Dont kill him.' And I realize that shes talking about them killing me."

"They were literally referring to me as a boy," he added. "They didnt even see me as human. They didnt stop to care if I had family that loved me. Or if I had children that depended on me. They just saw me as something they could abuse and get away with."

Booker said the people who came to his aid, who were white, got the attackers off him and got him out of the situation, according to the Facebook post. The group called 911 and told officers about the incident, Booker said.

The officers allegedly didn't make any arrests, despite viewing footage of the incident, according to Booker.

MORE: Man kidnapped, tied to tree naked; 2 suspects arrested: Police

"They didnt seem overly concerned that I might need medical attention or anything else," Booker told ABC News. "I didnt even feel like they were going to do an investigation. It wasnt until those same folks who intervened demanded that they arrest these folks that they even started to investigate, to make sure that they had these individuals' names."

"I was heartbroken when the supervising officer, the major, showed up. I felt re-traumatized as I recounted to him how I was afraid for my life," Booker said. "It was mind-blowing. What this officer said to me was, 'Well I could go arrest these guys but they would tell me, "Hey, what about our property rights. We have a right to defend our property."' It was earth shattering."

A spokesman for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division confirmed to ABC News that they responded to a 911 call about an alleged battery at the lake Saturday night, and that an investigation regarding the incident is underway.

"The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division is working diligently with the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office to ensure a lawful resolution," the spokesman said in a statement.

Monroe County prosecuting attorney Erika Oliphant's office also said in a statement that it is anticipating "receiving the case soon."

"As soon as that happens, we will thoroughly review all of it and determine what charges are appropriate," the office said.

PHOTO: Vauhxx Booker is pictured here. (WRTV)

"Im not sure what burden of proof theyre looking for," Booker told ABC News. "They had video tapes. They had testimonies from several individuals who were assaulted during the altercation."

News of the incident sparked outrage from Indiana elected officials. Mayor John Hamilton and Bloomington City Clerk Nicole Bolden released a statement Monday condemning the alleged violence against Booker and a separate incident where a sheriff was accused of racial profiling a Black resident.

"These separate incidents exemplify the persistence of racism and bias in our country and our own community. They deserve nothing less than our collective condemnation," they said in their statement.

Booker met with Indiana State Senator Eddie Melton Tuesday to discuss the incident.

"I was literally shaken but Im resilient and hopeful," Booker told ABC News.

This report was featured in the Wednesday, July 8, 2020, episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast.

"Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Police in Indiana investigating alleged gang assault of Black man caught on video originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The number of recoveries now stands at 4,56,830, while there are 2,64,944 active cases in the country.

Even as the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said that Indias total cases and fatalities per million population was among the worlds lowest, the spectre of coronavirus continues to haunt the country.

Referring to WHOs Situation Report 168, the Centre has said Indias Covid-19 cases per million population was 505.37, against the global average of 1,453.25. Chile saw 15,459.8 cases per million population, while Peru has 9,070.8 cases per million.

The United States, Brazil, Spain, Russia, Britain, Italy and Mexico have 8,560.5, 7,419.1, 5,358.7, 4,713.5, 4,204.4, 3,996.1 and 1,955.8 cases per million respectively.

The WHO Situation Report also shows India has among the lowest death rates per million population. Indias deaths per million population is 14.27, while the global average is more than four times, at 68.29, the ministry added.



Meanwhile, with 22,752 fresh cases of COVID-19 in a day, India's virus caseload increased to 7,42,417 on Wednesday, while the death toll climbed to 20,642, as 482 people succumbed to the disease. This is the fifth consecutive day Covid-19 cases rose by over 20,000.

The number of recoveries now stands at 4,56,830, while there are 2,64,944 active cases in the country.Around 61.53 per cent of patients have recovered so far.

It took 110 days for coronavirus cases to reach one lakh, but just seven weeks to cross seven lakhs. The ICMR said that a cumulative total of 1,04,73,771 samples have been tested up to July 7, with 2,62,679 samples being tested on Tuesday.

Of the total 20,642 deaths reported so far, Maharashtra accounts for 9,250 fatalities  the highest in India, followed by Delhi with 3,165 deaths, Gujarat with 1,977, Tamil Nadu with 1,636, Uttar Pradesh with 827, West Bengal with 804, Madhya Pradesh with 622, Rajasthan with 472 and Karnataka with 416.

Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 2,17,121, followed by Tamil Nadu at 1,18,594, Delhi at 1,02,831, Gujarat at 37, 550, Uttar Pradesh at 29,968, Telangana at 27,612 and Karnataka at 26,815. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 23,837 in West Bengal, 21,404 in Rajasthan, 21,197 in Andhra Pradesh, 17,999 in Haryana and 15,627 in Madhya Pradesh.

The number of cases has risen to 12,570 in Bihar, 12,522 in Assam, 10,097 in Odisha and 8,931 in Jammu and Kashmir. Punjab has reported 6,749 cases of infections so far, while Kerala has 5,894 cases.
OKLAHOMA CITY, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Progentec, a leader in next-gen diagnostics and digital technologies for the management of autoimmune diseases, announced today that it has entered into licensing agreements with Stanford University and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation to commercialize and sell laboratory technologies related to multiple sclerosis (MS). The licensing agreement includes laboratory tests supporting the prediction of MS relapses, the measurement of MS disease activity, the classification of Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), and the assessment of treatment response.

Progentec Logo (PRNewsfoto/Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.)

"The use of blood-based laboratory tests for the measurement of multiple sclerosis disease progression offer an opportunity for clinicians to intervene more proactively to increased disease activity, potentially limiting the brain damage experienced by patients," said Mohan Purushothaman, President and CEO of Progentec. Digital technologies for the development of digital biomarkers and patient engagement tools will accompany these laboratory products. MSCorner.com, a health literacy website and collection of social media channels, is currently available.

The multiple sclerosis laboratory tests are expected to be available in 2021 and will be marketed under the brand name aiMSTM DX.

Progentec also announced today the formation of a Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Advisory Board. The Scientific Advisory Board will provide strategic guidance and therapeutic-area expertise to the senior management team as the company expands its product offering.

"Each member of our Scientific Advisory Board has a track record of successfully transitioning products from the research laboratory into clinical practice," said Purushothaman. "Their guidance will propel Progentec towards our mission of developing technologies that support clinician decision making and improve patient outcomes."

The membership of the Scientific Advisory Board can be seen at: https://www.progentec.com/scientific-advisory-boards

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About Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.

Progentec is committed to improving access and health outcomes for patients in therapeutic areas with a high level of unmet need by combining clinically-validated diagnostic interventions with state-of-the-art digital technologies. Through collaborations with research institutions and health practitioners around the world, Progentec is working to reduce mortality and morbidity while improving care management and service delivery for chronic health conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that represent management's beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this news release based on currently available information. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that these expectations will prove to be correct. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

Contact:

Mohan Purushothaman

(973) 885-5242

mpurushothaman@progentec.com

Related Links:

https://www.progentec.com

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IRVINE, Calif., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CPT Group, Inc. announced today proposed settlements reached with Defendants 1-800 Contacts, Inc., Vision Direct, Inc., Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., Walgreen Co., Arlington Contact Lens Service, Inc., National Vision, Inc., and Luxottica of America, Inc. (f/k/a Luxottica Retail North America, Inc.) in Thompson v. 1-800 Contacts, Inc., et al., No. 2:16-cv-01183. The lawsuit alleges that 13 contact lens retailers entered into bilateral written agreements with 1-800 Contacts, Inc. that affected the online retail market for contact lenses in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. 1.

CPT Group, Inc. (PRNewsfoto/CPT Group, Inc.)

If you purchased contact lenses online from one or more of the Defendants between January 1, 2004 and September 12, 2019, you may be eligible to participate in these settlements and receive a payment.

To qualify for payment, you must submit a Claim Form to the Settlement Administrator. You may submit a Claim Form online through the settlement website, www.onlinecontactlenssettlement.com. Your Claim Form will be reviewed, and a determination will be made as to whether you have any contact lens purchases qualifying and allowed for payment. Claim Forms must be submitted by December 4, 2020.

For anyone unsure if they are a Settlement Class Member, more information, including a detailed notice, is available at www.onlinecontactlenssettlement.com, or by calling 1-888-506-0436.

Settlement Class Members who do not opt out will release certain legal rights against the Defendants and the Released Parties, as explained in the detailed notice and settlement agreements, available at www.onlinecontactlenssettlement.com. Settlement Class Members who do not want to take part in the proposed settlements must postmark their opt out request by September 21, 2020 and mail it to the Settlement Administrator at CPT Group, Inc., 50 Corporate Park, Irvine, CA 92606.

Settlement Class Members who do not opt out may object to any part of the proposed settlements. To do so, you must file your objections by September 21, 2020.

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The Court will hold a hearing on October 20, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., at the United States District Court for the District of Utah, 351 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, to consider whether to approve the proposed settlements, the Plan of Distribution, and Co-Lead Class Counsel's application for an award of attorneys' fees, expenses, and service awards to the Class Plaintiffs. Settlement Class Members or their lawyers may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at their own expense, but do not have to.

More details about the settlements are available in the Settlement Agreements. To obtain copies of the Agreements, please visit www.onlinecontactlenssettlement.com or contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-888-506-0436.

Contact:

CPT Group, Inc.

Thompson v. 1-800 Contacts, Inc.,

50 Corporate Park

Irvine, Calif. 92606

1-888-506-0436

Cision

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In a potential presage of fireworks to come, two House Republicans have asked the head of an upstart social media network to weigh in on the House Judiciary Committees bipartisan antitrust investigation into tech giants. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) sent a letter on Wednesday afternoon to John Matze, the CEO of Parler, asking him to weigh in on the state of competition in social media.

Parler differentiates itself on the quality and features of its platform namely, its commitment to not censor or editorialize, share or sell user data, the lawmakers wrote. This commitment positions Parler in stark contrast to Twitter, which has made increasingly clear in recent weeks and months that only users who refrain from expressing certain unfavored political beliefs are welcome to fully participate on its platform. In turn, Parlers commitment to free expression takes the place of price as an incentive driving consumer behavior.

On the same day, the two representatives sent a letter to Twitters CEO asking for a host of materials, including explanations of all moderating decisions made in the U.S. over the last year. They also asked for all of Twitters internal communications about the decision to fact-check one of President Donald Trumps tweets and apply a warning to another.

Conservatives have long argued that Twitter unfairly censors people on the righta contention the company vehemently disputes. The network has banned a variety of far-right personalities for violating its terms of service, which has generated great disgruntlement in some circles.

Parler bills itself as something of a free speech alternative to Twitter, and a number of prominent conservativesincluding Rep. Devin Nunes and Sen. Ted Cruzhave opened profiles on the site and promoted it to their Twitter followers.

I will be on PARLER celebrating Independence Day with the rest of the patriots! Nunes tweeted jubilantly on Independence Day.

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The Republicans requests come as the date nears for the House Judiciary Committees antitrust panel hearing with the CEOs of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google parent company Alphabet. And the hearing could be a historic moment in the complex relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington.

The committee has been scrutinizing the companies for months for anti-competitive practices, and is expected to release a report on its findings this summer. That undertaking began with broad bipartisan support.

But the Republicans letters suggest their concerns about partisan social media censorshipwhich their Democratic colleagues emphatically do not sharewill gain significant airtime at the hearing.

The letter charges that Twitter has sought to silence conservative voices while leaving untouched tweets from Irans supreme leader calling for the destruction of Israel.

Jordan sent a letter yesterday raising different concerns about the hearing and Democrats approach to the tech probe. The letter accused Democrats of negotiating in bad faith with the tech companies and with Republicans, and criticized them for having the tech CEO hearing before the subcommittee rather than the full committee. Jordan is the top Republican on the committee.

Although Republicans look forward to this hearing, we were surprised to learn it would not occur at the full committee  the venue that makes the most sense given the scope of the committee's investigation, the broad interest from members of both parties who do not serve on the subcommittee, and the significance of the witnesses who will testify," Jordan wrote Tuesday.
Willie Acosta, left, helps Walter Mercado get ready for a museum event in Miami in a scene from Netflix's "Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado." (Netflix)

Take an origin myth befitting of a Catholic saint. Add one part telenovela actor. Marinate in the esoteric. Dress in an assortment of extravagant capes.

Walter Mercado, the late television astrologer who turned the act of delivering daily horoscopes into a combination of high camp and high performance  not to mention a nightly broadcast event  lived a life ripe for documentary.

There is the legend of his youth: Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, he reportedly once healed a bird with his touch  after which penitents would arrive at his home in hopes that the young boy's touch could heal their ailments.

And there was the improvisational way in which he became an astrologer. It was 1960s San Juan, where Mercado, by then a stage and telenovela actor, was starring as a Hindu prince in a theatrical production. Asked to shoot a promo for the play at a local television station, he was asked to fill in for a variety show guest who had canceled at the last minute. He took to the set in his resplendent tunic and melodramatically delivered the horoscopes for a straight 15 minutes.

Walter Mercado, caped TV astrologer, was born.

An entertainer who turned the flamboyance up to 11, he made mincemeat of gender norms. Mercado liked his lips glossy and his jewelry chunky. Brocade was his fabric of choice, and his hairdo was a feathered, back-swept crop in shimmering shades of honey blond. His horoscopes included coquettish winks and purred rrrrrrrrs  delivered in ways that could make Cardi B blush.

Walter Mercado poses in a shimmering red cape for an exhibition at the HistoryMiami Museum in 2019. (Giovan Cordero Colon)

For all of this, Mercado, who died last year at age 87, was wildly beloved among Latinos  the very culture that helped insert the word "macho" into the global vernacular. And he got away with it because he seemed to be not quite of this world. "As a child, I believed he didn't live on Earth," a Latina colleague told me recently. "I seriously thought he reported live from the sun and different planets."

A new documentary, which streams on Netflix starting Wednesday, probes Mercado's story and his ongoing significance.

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"Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado," directed by Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch, and produced by Alex Fumero, charts the basics of Mercado's biography  the rise from miraculous boy wonder to astrologer with a multimedia empire. (At his peak, Mercado was on TV, radio, had various newspaper and magazine columns, as well as sundry lines of merchandise.)

Did he really heal that bird? For the filmmakers, the question is irrelevant. These are simply the compelling narratives that get at larger truths. In Mercado's case, a relentless positivity that practically turned him into a popular saint, especially among immigrants and the poor. "He almost became like a religion," says one talking head.

It was a religion with its own codes and customs, such as his iconic television sign-off, delivered with papal hand flourishes and a blown kiss. "Con mucho, mucho amor," Mercado would say at the end of each and every segment. With lots and lots of love.

Walter Mercado, left, with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Miranda's father, Luis, in "Mucho Mucho Amor." (Netflix)

While the documentary recounts the arc of the astrologer's life, with vintage video that is a veritable feast of over-the-top Mercado-ian aesthetics, it focuses  most compellingly  on his final years.

It was a moment in which he was trying to resuscitate his public profile after some critical business setbacks, including an acrimonious legal battle with his former business manager, Bill Bakula, to whom he had signed over the rights to his name and likeness in perpetuity. Mercado claimed he had done this unwittingly. As the court cases dragged into the late aughts, he was left unable to practice astrology as himself  bringing his work to a grinding halt. (He ultimately won back the right to his name and his likeness.)

It is an older and frailer Mercado than the one who used to appear on Univision who greets us via the filmmakers in his San Juan home, a blue-and-orange villa with Moroccan flourishes, a structure whose interiors are done up in the maximalist decorating style I think of as "Tia Latina." (Think: porcelain flowers, Corinthian pedestals, ceramic angels, doilies and elaborate furnishings in the style of Louis XV.)

Mercado gave the filmmakers enviable access. And they were able to capture this larger-than-life figure in moments of banal routine: eating breakfast, reviewing old VHS tapes, being tended to by his devoted assistant and (platonic) companion, Willie Acosta.

It all culminates with Mercado prepping for a show about his career at the HistoryMiami Museum in Florida. Unable to walk because of a recent fall, he is wheeled into the opening atop a golden throne. (It is perhaps the most dramatic artist entrance since Frida Kahlo was carried into her Mexico City exhibition on a four-poster bed in 1953.)

Fans approach him like supplicants in search of selfies and blessings. It was one of his last public appearances.

Walter Mercado makes an entrance at the HistoryMiami Museum last year for an exhibition on his life and career. (Getty Images)

But Mercado, as a subject, nonetheless remains elusive. From a young age, he states in the documentary, he was determined to "create a famous person in me." This can make it hard to divine where the persona ends and the real man begins. Partly it's because there is only so much he was willing to reveal of himself.

Throughout his career, Mercado punted questions about his sexuality  and in the film, he does much the same. "I have sex with life," he says, seconds after a camera has panned to a photo of him opposite a portrait of Oscar Wilde. "I have sex with everything."

The film acknowledges Mercado's importance to younger generations of queer Latinx kids who could turn on the TV and see something of themselves in a figure who was widely beloved. Mercado embraced his androgyny and his flamboyance with an energizing self-assurance. In his writings, he acknowledged LGBTQ relationships matter-of-factly. In one scene in the film, he is asked by a Brazilian TV hostess about his feminine appearance. Mercado confidently responds that "it doesn't bother me" if he is confused for a woman.

As Acosta observes at one point: "Walter always takes a pill called an I-don't-care pill."

It is territory that the filmmakers could have explored a bit more. An entire segment of "Mucho Mucho Amor" is devoted to the moment in which "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda meets Mercado for the first time  a meeting that comes off as a ploy to show that Mercado is appealing to younger generations. More interesting would have been an exploration of what it meant for Mercado and other 20th century entertainers in his vein  say, Liberace in the U.S. or Juan Gabriel in Mexico  to perform in societies racked by homophobia and misogyny.

"There are so many societal laws that he broke," LGBTQ activist Karlo Karlo says at one point, "it goes beyond coming out."

While Mercado remains slippery, the filmmakers nonetheless manage to capture unspoken moments of humanity: Mercado applying makeup. Mercado practicing hand flourishes for the camera inside his home. Mercado commanding a cameraman to shoot him only from the neck up as he sits in a wheelchair  lest the footage destroy the illusion of glamour.

It is a practically impossible task to bring the otherwordly down to Earth. But in these quiet moments, "Mucho Mucho Amor" finds the truth amid all the invention. He is a performer until the end.

"He used to be a star," Mercado says, musing on his own death in the third person. "But, now, Walter is a constellation."
Courtesy Tonya Pitts

Long before master sommeliers were pop culture icons and the subject of TV series, Tonya Pitts was building wine programs with a sense of place and purpose. Throughout her 20-year career, she has been an advocate for featuring women and people of color on wine listseven before that was a movement.

From the Midwest originally, Tonyas fine art studies brought her to San Francisco. While she waited for her school semester to begin, she snagged a server job at the citys legendary Zuni Cafe. Quickly she was entrenched in the joys of food and wine. Much to her familys dismay she never did go back to school and instead became a sommelier. She is now the wine director of One Market Restaurant, a fine dining institution with decades of history, where she has built one of the citys most impressive beverage programs.

Tonya is a Black woman in a world where white men historically hog the spotlight. Recently, over a Zoom call I listened to how she built her career and at what personal cost. She is a rare ebullient light during these challenging times and has a calm expertise acquired from years of honing her craft.

Are Great Sommeliers an Endangered Species?

Victoria: Can you share with me the wines youve been drinking during the pandemic?

Tonya: Everyday drinking wines for me are usually dry whites that are aromatic. Champagne is more my water than anything else. I taste every day. Im quarantining with my poor mother, shes like more wine? Oh girl, theres wine everywhere. Im sitting here at my kitchen counter and over a third of the space is packed with wine bottles. And then in the refrigerator there is more Champagne and white wine and rose. I drink rose all year round, its not just for warm weather. It pairs really well with a lot of different dishes and when its older, the nuances start to come out, which makes it completely different from something bright, fresh and tart.

Victoria: Youve been in the industry for more than 20 years. Tell me about what brought you here and what keeps you in this world.

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Tonya: It was not a bed of roses. I love what I do but it was a struggle. There were times I wanted to give up because it was lonely. There wasnt anyone to talk to as a peer who looked like me. There werent even many women and women as allies. Its been a wild ride. Its also been great though, it really, really has.

Right after high school, I was fortunate enough to get a job working as a hostess at a French restaurant in St. Louis. My first job ever. It was with a female chef who had lived and worked in Provence, then came home to open her own restaurant. All her friends came to help her open. There was a family meal at the end of the night and always wine on the table. I couldnt drink [legally] but I could swirl and smell. And it dawned on several at the table that I had a palate. They put everything in front of me, they were career restaurant people: chefs, bartenders, sommeliers. And it wasnt until later in life that I realized just how lucky I was to have this as my first experience.

I then decided to leave St. Louis because I was going to university and was in a pre-law program. I had always done art and soon found myself spending more time though in the studio. The dean of the art department said perhaps I should switch gears. Meanwhile, I came to San Francisco for a long weekend and absolutely fell in love with the city. It was January, it was cold, foggy and misty. It felt like home. Not being a resident, I couldnt go to school right away. So, I got a job in restaurants.

Victoria: You started in San Francisco as a server, working under chef Judy Rodgers at Zuni Cafe, a restaurant I personally love, and Chef Jeremiah Tower at Stars. Tell me about those experiences and what you learned.

Tonya: I did research. I went after Zuni Cafe. To show you how green I was, I went in on a Monday, a day theyre closed and do inventory. The door was open, so I walked in. Sylvie Laly, the wine director, was doing inventory. She was awesome. She talked to me for an hour and basically told me to come back the next day and what to wear.

Chef Judy Rodgers was fantastic. You realized when you walked in the door that you were there to learn in this really fantastic place surrounded by food and wine. And it all went hand and hand. It was really intricate. Line-ups were pretty long. Mondays were dedicated also to staff training. Everyone got to taste. Even the people in the kitchen, we were all there. There was food as well. It became ingrained in me that way.

Ive always been an unassuming person. Im there, Im doing my work. Im taking care of you. At the time, my roommate was working at Stars. Chef Jeremiah Tower came into Zuni all the time. You know, theyve seen you, my roommate said, they really like you, they want you to come work at Stars. So, I did a stage for two days and really liked it. Both chefs shared me, for two years. I worked six, sometimes seven days a week.

Victoria: What was your journey from server to sommelier like?

Tonya: I met Loretta Keller working at Stars. When she opened her own restaurant, Bizou, I left to work with her. It was there that things shifted gears. It was a different time in food and wine, there were lots of female chefs as well, a camaraderie. Everyone was helping one another. And thats not to say we dont have that now, but it seemed very prevalent back then. And I think after years of seeing me on the floor and listening, Loretta said, you know, youre not supposed to be a captain, youre supposed to be a sommelier.

You dont always think people are watching you. But they are. You know the answers, youre always tasting, reading, studying. Loretta took a chance on me. I had never run a wine program before but thats how I got started. She gave me her program at Bizou.

I never went back to school. My family was not happy with my choice of not finishing my degreeall the money spent on private school. But my grandfather understood the role of a sommelier because he had been in Europe for WWII. But my grandmother is a different story, she has come around but has still not really warmed up to the idea.

Courtesy Tonya Pitts

Victoria: Can you describe challenges youve faced as a Black woman in a field that is notoriously an old boys club?

Tonya: My first wine tasting, it was rough. This was in the late 1980s, early 90s. Most of the women in that sphere were sales reps, not really sommeliers. I can clearly remember that they were all in their brightly colored suits in the middle of the room, talking. None of them were wandering around the tables to taste. But I was trying to work my way into the tables and was being ignored. It shouldnt be about whether you know a person, just pour them a taste of wine. Thats when peoples prejudices really show, when they dont know your background. But if youre in the room you deserve to be there. Period. I shouldnt have been questioned or ignored.

Thats a memory Ive never gotten over. I dont like to tell that story, but that story its true. But Im still here and Im not going anywhere.

Victoria: Youve also seen so much change and development in your career. What are some things you are happy to see change and what are some things we still need to work on as an industry?

Tonya: I think because of where we are, there is a light being shined upon race relations, diversity and inclusivity. So, theres that light. And then we are also thinking about how our industry will change because of what happened with Covid-19.

The art of hospitality can also be lost sometimes these days. I was having a conversation with someone about this recentlyweve forgotten that we are here to be hospitable. People dont have to come eat with us. Good food is good but if the service isnt warm and welcoming, why go and give your money? Running a wine program and a restaurant, its just a lot of work to make that magic happen.

For me, I always feel like wherever I am, thats my house. And youre coming into my house and Im the host and Im having a party, and youre going to have a fantastic time at my party. So much that youre going to come back time and time again.

Victoria: I read in Haute Living that you wake up daily at 6 AM (very impressed) and that you work often until midnight. How do you find balance with such a demanding lifestyle?

Tonya: Im a workaholic. I thrive on being busy and just getting things done and Ive always been that way. Its not unusual for me to burn the midnight oil, I was that way in high school and college as well. But self-care is important. Even the little things, I schedule out every two weeks [before Covid happened], a spa session. Whether its a facial or the biomat. Ive also been doing a lot of baths and sound therapy. I start my day by walking to the water or surrounding myself with some sort of greenery. It sets my intention for the day.

Victoria: What is some advice youd like to give young women and Black people entering this industry?

Tonya: My advice to young people, and people period, if you want to get into hospitality, if there is someone ask them to mentor you. Ask them questions. I cant say that enough because within that, there is opportunity. Theyll invite you to tastings and bring you into that inner circle. I was able to taste so much wine just because I asked.

Victoria: I loved that last year you hosted your second annual Women in Wine month at One Market Restaurant. You said, Women have a voice in food and wine, but it doesnt get heard very often, because its a very male-dominated industry. Tell me more about this initiative and what you saw accomplished.

Tonya: I started that program wholeheartedly in 2013 and Ive been doing it ever since. We have to support one another. If the wine is good and delicious, why shouldnt someone have an opportunity to get in front of people? Same thing with Black winemakers as well. But for me, I dont denote that on the list, I want the wines to stand up on their own merit.

Victoria: Do you want to give a shout-out to someone who has impacted your career in a positive way?

Tonya: Sylvie Laly, of course, from Zuni. Larry Stone also was a mentor. He took me under his wing, whenever there were events, I was his wingman. And Loretta Keller. I saw Loretta a couple of years ago at one of the first women in wine events that several of us [female sommeliers] like Shelly Lindgren, had put together with chef Nancy Oakes, it was huge. It was a tasting menu and wines from female winemakers.

This was when I got an opportunity to tell Loretta thank you, because she took a chance on me, and she had faith in me, and Im forever grateful. And, of course, there were tears. Its not always an opportunity that happens. Particularly for a young Black woman, you just dont really see Black people in our field anymore. Being from the Midwest you would see Blacks in hospitality working in restaurants. I can recall going on a trip back then to Chicago, and it was just glorious, you saw Black GMs and sommeliers and it was pretty spectacular. That was 20 years ago. In a sense, weve gone a little backwards. But if you dont know that opportunity is there, and you dont necessarily see someone that looks like you, you dont know theres a career path for you there.

Victoria: Youre also a mentor to many and help foster growth within the community. Can you share a story of the impact this has had on you?

Tonya: When I talk to younger people, or people shifting careers, and this isnt even necessarily a gender or race thing, they just dont realize they could have a career in hospitality. Ive always been very encouraging of mentoring and giving advice, its very natural for me in that way. Also, within my program at One Market, there is lots of education, we taste every day.

I had an experience last year with a young man that had worked with me at several restaurants. He worked his way up, from server to bartender, and was really interested in wine. He then had an opportunity to go and sell wine retail and asked for my advice. I said, you know it would be a good experience for you, you could taste a lot more wine and educate your palate. I looked up and three years later he was running his own wine program at Liholiho Yacht Club. It made me so happy and so proud that hed done that. And he came to see me [at One Market] and thanked me. Of course, it was the day that I decided to wear my cobalt-blue mascara, I kept saying, dont cry Tonya. Its stuff like that is why I keep doing what I do. The glint and the gleam in someones eyes when you open up a whole new world for them.

Victoria: So incredible. Youre always growing your own career and building up others. So whats next for Tonya Pitts?

Tonya: There is so much more that I want to do. My future is fluid, evolving and my mind is always ready for a new challenge. I will always continue to mentor. Oh, I want to make wine, too. Maybe from Paso Robles, something high elevation, or Howell Mountain, the Willamette Valley. For our restaurant group, we have always had proprietary wines and Ive helped with the blending process, like the sparkling with Iron Horse that we currently carry. Its something I know I can do, offer my services and expertise to wineries.

Also, I want to write more. There was a time when I was doing a bit of writing, Im getting comfortable with that again. At some point, Im going to write a book about my life.

Interview has been condensed and edited.

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New appointments bring further strength of entrepreneurialism to the board of the rapidly growing e-commerce technology company.

NEW YORK, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rokt , the global leader in e-commerce marketing technology, today announced that global entrepreneurs, Katie May and Phit Lian Chong have joined the Rokt Board of Directors. Both May and Chong are celebrated business leaders with extensive experience in fast growth businesses. They join the board at a significant moment, as Rokt's growth is further accelerated in a world where e-commerce has become more essential than ever.

Katie May joins the Rokt Board of Directors.

Phit Lian Chong joins the Rokt Board of Directors.

Founder of kidspot.com.au and previous CEO of ShippingEasy.com, May brings to the board a wealth of knowledge in e-commerce having built both from the ground up into multi-million dollar businesses. With deep expertise in SaaS, B2B and B2C, plus a long career in Marketing including CMO of seek.com.au, May's experience will be invaluable to the Rokt team as they forge ahead to become a billion dollar company.

"Rokt has quickly become an essential part of so many marque e-commerce tech stacks and I am delighted to be joining the Board at this pivotal moment in their journey," said Katie May. "Having seen first-hand the massive growth opportunity that exists in e-commerce, I was drawn to Rokt's AI, and their passion to make e-commerce smarter, faster and better for both the consumers and companies they touch."

Chong, former CEO of Jetstar Asia and one of Singapore's most lauded entrepreneurs, brings to the board extensive experience in scaling and developing major corporations. She has previously held the role of President and Chief Executive Officer at The Singapore Mint, CEO of Orange Star Group (Jetstar Asia)/ValuAir Ltd., CEO and Board member of Singbridge Corporate Pte Ltd, as well as numerous additional board and corporate advisory roles including Eu Yan Sang International Ltd, Tianjin Everbest Gear Company, TigerAirways Ltd, Temasek International Advisors, Mega Fortris Pte Ltd (an investment of Singapore Economic Development Board International), Singapore Polytechnic International and Singapore Science Centre Global.

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"As both a Global business leader and entrepreneur, I am incredibly excited to be joining the Rokt Board of Directors and look forward to helping scale the business from a USD$100m ARR to fantastically higher heights," said Phit Lian Chong. "Alongside the other Board members, I am confident that Rokt will continue to deliver above and beyond expectations while transforming the experience and effectiveness of e-commerce."

"Both Katie May and Phit Lian Chong join Rokt at an incredibly exciting time as we go from strength to strength in revolutionizing e-commerce and the Transaction Moment," commented CEO and Chairperson of the Rokt Board, Bruce Buchanan. "The entire Board of Directors is committed to rapid expansion into new markets, deeper technical expertise and a deeper understanding of our clients' needs. With the global and entrepreneurial strength of our Board we are confident that we can deliver this."

May and Chong join existing board members Steve Krenzer (ex-Groupon), Bruce Buchanan (CEO and Chairperson), Tom Cowan (from TDM Growth Partners), John Ho (from Janchor Partners) and Bill Magnuson (from Braze) on the board of directors effective immediately. In addition, board members Tushar Roy (from Square Peg Capital) and Tek Heng (Company Secretary) will be stepping down from the board with the company's thanks for having contributed enormously to Rokt's success to date. Paul Bassat (Square Peg Capital) remains an alternate.

Rokt, who recently closed US$48m in their Series C investment round, has transformed e-commerce in over 11 countries by identifying that when customers are buying online as a consumer or on behalf of a business, they increasingly expect more personalized and relevant experiences. Rokt's proprietary technology, machine learning and AI makes e-commerce smarter, faster and better. By unlocking the hidden potential in every single Transaction Moment, Rokt enables clients to stay ahead of their competition, and deliver a more relevant customer experience. Rokt currently solves complex e-commerce challenges for global clients including Live Nation, Staples, Groupon, GoDaddy, Expedia and Wells Fargo.

For more information on Rokt, please visit rokt.com .

ABOUT ROKT

Rokt makes e-commerce smarter, faster and better. When customers are buying online, they increasingly expect more personalized and relevant experiences. Rokt uses real time data and decisioning to deliver the next best action for each person in each Transaction Moment.

Founded in Sydney, Rokt now operates in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, The Netherlands, Spain and Japan. Our clients include Live Nation, Staples, Groupon, GoDaddy, Expedia, Wells Fargo, Vistaprint and HelloFresh.

Rokt unlocks the hidden potential in every single Transaction Moment.

Learn more at rokt.com .

Rokt logo (PRNewsfoto/Rokt)

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SOURCE Rokt
E-commerce tech company continues to invest in strengthening the executive team with appointment of new CFO, Michael Gordon, Deputy CFO, Laura Mineo and Chief People Officer, Lisa Craven

NEW YORK, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rokt , the global leader in e-commerce marketing technology, today announced that their vision to make e-commerce smarter, faster and better is further strengthened with the appointment of former Greenlit Brands executive, Michael Gordon, Goldman-Sachs alumni, Laura Mineo and leadership executive, Lisa Craven in the roles of Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, and Chief People Officer respectively. Gordon and Mineo will oversee the finance and legal operations of the business, working closely with CEO, Bruce Buchanan and the board of directors to manage the continuing acceleration of global growth. Craven will oversee people operations, learning & development and recruitment, signaling Rokt's ongoing commitment to investment in its 225+ group of employees.

Rokt welcomes former Greenlit Brands executive, Michael Gordon, Goldman-Sachs alumni, Laura Mineo and leadership executive, Lisa Craven in the roles of Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, and Chief People Officer respectively.

Gordon, who was previously Group CFO and MD of Group Services for Greenlit Brands Pty Limited in Australia & New Zealand, was instrumental in guiding the business from a turnover of USD$170m to a USD$1.65 billion vertically integrated retailer including the brands Freedom, Snooze, Fantastic, Plush, OMF, Best & Less and Harris Scarfe.

Mineo joins the Rokt team from Goldman Sachs in New York, where she most recently served as Executive Director, Firmwide Strategy. Mineo brings invaluable experience across mergers and acquisitions and capital markets across multiple industries and geographies. Mineo will take on the role of SVP Strategy in addition to her role as Deputy CFO.



Craven, who was previously consulting for Rokt, has an extensive career in leadership development, organizational design, people and culture initiatives, diversity & inclusion and human resources. Previously Global Chief People Officer at Sizmek, Craven has also served as a lecturer at Macquarie University, Janice Newman Institute and Drew University. Craven brings experience leading large-scale global teams in organizational effectiveness, and will use this to help drive a culture that attracts, and retains the best, and brightest talent.

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"We are delighted to welcome Michael, Laura and Lisa to the Rokt executive team," said Rokt CEO, Bruce Buchanan. "In Michael & Laura, we are incredibly lucky to have two individuals with such strong expertise and a deep understanding of financial operations join at a pivotal time for the company. As we now target the next growth arc from ARR$100m to $1b, Gordon and Mineo's global experience and knowledge of both private and publicly listed businesses will enable us to double down on our preparedness for scalability and the financial events we will consider on our trajectory.

Buchanan continued, "As a people first organization, Lisa is one of our most pivotal hires. Her expertise in organizational effectiveness and leadership development will be crucial in further deepening our people first culture, and helping us scale as we grow our business and look to continue to accelerate our recruitment across the globe.

"Rokt has quickly cemented their position as the leading technology company in e-commerce marketing and is poised to have even more significant global impact through continued innovation in research and development," said Gordon. "I am excited to be joining such an inspirational business and look forward to working alongside the executive team to help drive this company through to the next stage of growth."

"In what has been such an unprecedented year, it's exciting to see a company such as Rokt thriving and innovating to keep up with, and exceed their clients' needs," commented Mineo. "During times of agility, financial rigor and strategic direction is more important than ever. I'm excited to come on board and help take this company to new heights of success."

"Having spent some time recently with Bruce, and the wider executive team at Rokt I was delighted at having the opportunity to join the team in a full time capacity," added Craven. "Rokt has embraced the people first mentality, pushing forward initiatives to ensure their values and culture are at the heart of every decision they make. I look forward to coming on board to amplify Rokt's already significant investment in its greatest asset - it's people."

Rokt, who recently closed US$48m in their Series C investment round, has transformed e-commerce in over 11 countries by identifying that when customers are buying online as a consumer or on behalf of a business, they increasingly expect more personalized and relevant experiences. Rokt's proprietary technology, machine learning and AI makes e-commerce smarter, faster and better. By unlocking the hidden potential in every single Transaction Moment, Rokt enables clients to stay ahead of their competition, and deliver a more relevant customer experience. Rokt currently solves complex e-commerce challenges for global clients including Live Nation, Staples, Groupon, GoDaddy, Expedia and Wells Fargo.

For more information on Rokt, please visit rokt.com .

ABOUT ROKT

Rokt makes e-commerce smarter, faster and better. When customers are buying online, they increasingly expect more personalized and relevant experiences. Rokt uses real time data and decisioning to deliver the next best action for each person in each Transaction Moment.

Founded in Sydney, Rokt now operates in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, The Netherlands, Spain and Japan. Our clients include Live Nation, Staples, Groupon, GoDaddy, Expedia, Wells Fargo, Vistaprint and HelloFresh.

Rokt unlocks the hidden potential in every single Transaction Moment.

Learn more at rokt.com .

Rokt logo (PRNewsfoto/Rokt)

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SOURCE Rokt
The Army could take action against any personnel found to be using these banned apps from July 15.

New Delhi: The Indian Army has asked its officers and jawans to immediately delete their Facebook accounts. It has also barred them from using 88 other apps, including PUBG and Instagram.

Among the apps which have been barred include some Indian applications like Hike messenger, which was founded by Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittals son Kavin Mittal.

As far as Facebook is concerned, the army personnel are required to not just deactivate their accounts. They have to also deactivate their Facebook account, said a senior army official. According to sources, there have been several cases in the recent past where foreign spies used Facebook to target Indian personnel.

The Army could take action against any personnel found to be using these banned apps from July 15. This is the strictest warning sent by the army to its personnel at a time when foreign spies have been using apps for espionage purposes.

Among the apps which have been banned are Zoom, True Caller, Nimbuzz, Line, Helo and Snow. Army personnel will also not be allowed to use the popular dating app Tinder to prevent honey traps by foreign spies. Other dating apps which have been barred are TrulyMadly, Happn, okCupid, Badoo, Elite Singles and Couch Surfing among others. Seventeen e-commerce apps have also been banned, including AliExpress. Blogging sites Reddit, Tumbir and news apps like DailyHunt, too, cannot be used by army personnel. In music apps, Hungama and Songs.pk have been barred.

The list also includes some of the 59 Chinese apps like TikTok, WeChat, Beauty Plus and UC Browser, which have already been banned by the government.

An army dossier last year had warned its men against honey-trapping by Pakistan spies who create fake female profiles on social media like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. It had asked its personnel to avoid accepting friend requests from unknown people, avoid suspicious websites and not to take calls from or chat with unidentified people.

Last year, Rajasthan Police had arrested two Indian Army personnel for sending sensitive information to Pakistan. Both of them were honey-trapped by Pakistani spies posing as women on Facebook with the name of "Seerat".
The United Nations says 2.8 million people depend on humanitarian aid in northwest Syria - Anadolu

Russia and China vetoed a Security Council resolution on Tuesday that would maintain cross border aid to Syrias rebel-held northwest, in a move criticised as threatening millions of civilian lives.

Russia instead proposed a resolution that would allow the delivery of aid through a single crossing point from Turkey for six months. Syrias closest ally, Moscow argues that aid should be delivered via Damascus across conflict lines.

China said it was in favour of maintaining cross border aid but opposed the resolution because its drafters Germany and Belgium failed to include a condemnation of unilateral US sanctions on Syria.

The veto was the 15th Russia had used since the start of the Syrian war in 2011, and the ninth for China.

A European diplomat told AFP the veto was an "extremely negative development".

"They want to strangle the population even more," the diplomat said, speaking anonymously, adding that aid "cannot reach the population from one" crossing point.

"Insisting on only one crossing point is cynical and it doesn't meet the needs of the people," the source said.

The UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said the two crossings at Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Haw are "a lifeline for millions of civilians whom the UN cannot reach by other means."

He told the Security Council last month that 2.8 million people in Idlib, 70 per cent of the regions population, need humanitarian assistance.

The crossings were operating at maximum capacity, according to President of the International Rescue Committee David Miliband, who said it defied reason to support cutting aid to Idlib during a pandemic.

Russia and China have put Syrian lives on the line, he said.

In January, Russia used its veto threat to force the Security Council to adopt a resolution closing a border crossing from Jordan and another from Iraq into northeast Syria.

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In May, Russian ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told his American counterpart: Do not waste your time on efforts to reopen the closed cross-border points.

The closure of the Iraq crossing cut 40 percent of medical aid to northeast Syria, according to western diplomats.

The Syrian government has reported over 250 cases of coronavirus, including nine deaths, the United Nations has said.

But the risk of coronavirus reaching Idlibs overcrowded displacement camps meant "a perfect storm is in the making", according to a UN report released Tuesday.

The report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria described the unfathomable suffering of civilians in Idlib, as both pro-government and rebel forces committed flagrant war crimes during a campaign launched last year by Damascus to recapture the province.

Access for aid in Idlib is more important than ever, said an author of the report, Hanny Megally. Pandemics know no borders, neither should life-saving aid.
AFP via Getty Images

A Russian billionaire's art foundation wants to buy two controversial American statues that Black Lives Matter protesters have campaigned to be removed due to their links to racism and colonialism, reports say.

The statues of Theodore Roosevelt and Alexander Baranov have received heightened criticism in the past month following the killing of George Floyd by police and subsequent protests against racial injustice.

Businessman Andrey Filatovs Art Russe Foundation has said it wants to purchase the statues as both men left a positive mark on Russia and in the name of preserving cultural and historical heritage", CNN reported.

Both the 26th President of the United States, Roosevelt, and the governor of Russian settlements in North America, Baranov, were statesmen who left their positive mark in Russia's history. We therefore see the need to preserve their memory for future generations," an Art Russe Foundation spokesperson told the outlet.

The statue of Roosevelt, which sits at the entrance of the Natural History Museum in New York City, has long been the subject of controversy and vehement calls for removal.

The memorial has stood outside the museum since 1940 and depicts a Native American man and a black man standing at the feet of the US president.

Roosevelt's ties to Russia lie in a treaty he brokered between the country and Japan in 1904, bringing their year-and-a-half-long war to an end.

The sculpture of Baranov has stood in the city of Sitka since 1989 and has also long faced calls for removal from Native American communities.

A petition calling for the monument's removal describes Baranov as "a Russian colonist who came to Sitka, Alaska, without an invitation, to enrich himself, his company and his country". The petition currently has over 2,800 signatures out of its 5,000 goal.

Baranov once governed Russian America, the parts of North America owned by Russia before they were sold to the United States.

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We have deep respect and appreciation for individuals who contributed to the development of Russia and were associated with the history of our country, a foundation spokesperson told CNN.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's office confirmed in June that the Roosevelt statue will be taken down, saying that it "explicitly depicts black and Indigenous people as subjugated and racially inferior".

The foundation confirmed to the broadcaster that it had expressed interest in the two statues by contacting Sitka's City Hall, the American Museum of Natural History, and unspecified New York City authorities.

The spokesperson did not tell CNN how much they would be willing to offer for the statues, instead stating that the artworks' monetary value is subject to negotiation.

Read more

New York museum to remove statue of Teddy Roosevelt

Whipping post on display in Delaware public square finally removed

Trump rages at 'anarchists' for tearing down Frederick Douglass statue

Christopher Columbus statue toppled and thrown into water

Trump vows to defend statues in dark Independence Day speech
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 7-2 upholding President Donald Trump's move to let more employers opt-out of the Affordable Care Act mandate guaranteeing no-cost contraceptive services for women.

The case involved a 2018 regulation from the Department of Health and Human Services exempting any employer with a religious or moral objection to contraception from a requirement that such coverage be included in an employee's health insurance plan.

Seventeen states, led by Pennsylvania and New Jersey, challenged the policy as fundamentally unlawful and it's rationale as "arbitrary and capricious."

The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to include "preventive care and screenings" as part of "minimal essential coverage" for Americans, but it left to HHS to define what services qualify. Since 2010, all FDA-approved contraceptives have been included. Millions of women obtain birth control at no cost through their employer-sponsored health insurance plans under these rules.

MORE: Chief Justice John Roberts injured head in fall during walk, Court says

Justice Clarence Thomas, writing the majority opinion, concluded that a "plain reading" of the law gives the administration "virtually unbridled discretion" to decide what counts as required coverage and any religious and moral exemptions that may be necessary.

PHOTO: A pedestrian holding an umbrella walks along First Street, as a series of rulings are issued at the United States Supreme Court in Washington, July 6, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters, FILE)

"No language in the statute itself even hints that Congress intended that contraception should or must be covered," Thomas writes. "It was Congress, not the [administration], that declined to expressly require contraceptive coverage in the ACA itself."

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh joined Thomas' opinion. Justice Elena Kagan filed a concurring opinion in the judgment, in which Stephen Breyer joined.

Kagan made clear, however, that the fight over the exemptions may not be over. While the administration has the right to change the policy, she said, "I question whether the exemptions can survive administrative law's demand for reasoned decisionmaking. That issue remains open for the lower courts to address."

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MORE: Supreme Court blocks Trump from ending DACA

The Administrative Procedure Act requires federal agencies to consider their impact of regulations and provide a public rationale for changes to the law. The courts did not fully examine whether HHS complied in this case.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented, saying the court's ruling "leaves women workers to fend for themselves."

"As the government estimates, between 70,500 and 126,400 women would immediately lose access to no-cost contraceptive services" under the judgment, Ginsburg wrote.

Expanded contraceptive services coverage under the ACA has had a sweeping impact say women's health advocates. The benefit saved women an estimated $1.4 billion on birth control pills in 2013 alone, according to the National Women's Law Center. Increased access has also been credited with reducing abortion rates nationwide.

Contraception should not be singled out from the rest of health insurance coverage," said Lourdes Rivera, senior vice president at the Center for Reproductive Rights. "Todays ruling has given bosses the power to dictate how their employees can and cannot use their health insuranceallowing them to intrude into their employees private decisions based on whatever personal beliefs their employers happen to hold."

Conservatives hailed the decision as a resounding win for religious liberty and the Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic religious nonprofit that operates homes for the elderly in several states that has been fighting the ACA policy.

PHOTO: Members of the public wait in line outside the U.S. Supreme Court for a chance to hear oral arguments inside the court on March 2, 2020 in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

"The Courts decision today upholding that exemption is a victory for freedom of religion and conscience," tweeted Frank Scaturro, vice president and senior counsel at Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative legal advocacy group.

"It is outrageous that the Obama administration forced a group of nuns to violate their religious beliefs in the first place," he said.

The court's decision is the third to address the contraceptive mandate. In 2014, the justices ruled that "closely held for-profit businesses" can raise religious objections and be exempt. The narrow decision did not address a more sweeping approach adopted by Trump.

MORE: Hospitalized Justice Ginsburg joins Supreme Court debate on Trump contraception rule

White House press secretary Kayleigh Mcenany said today's ruling "vindicated the conscience rights of people of faith" adding that the president has tried to strike a balance.

"We are allowing women who lack access to contraceptive coverage because of their employers religious beliefs or moral convictions to more easily access such care through the Title X program at little to no cost," Mcenany said in a statement. "Ensuring that women receive the healthcare they need does not require banishing religious groups that refuse to surrender their beliefs from the public square."

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion group, called it a "major victory for President Trump." "We hope todays victory at the Supreme Court will finally allow the Little Sisters to carry out their mission to love and serve the elderly poor without having to violate their conscience."

The decision comes as the Trump administration seeks to more fully dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Later this year, the administration and a group of 20 Republican-led states will ask the court to strike down the law in its entirety, calling it unconstitutional. Despite promises to present a viable alternative health care plan, President Trump has not yet done so.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a staunch defender of the ACA, blasted the court's ruling on contraception coverage as a "brutal assault on women's health, financial security and independence."

"The Affordable Care Act was explicitly designed to prevent discrimination against women and to ensure that women have access to preventive care, including contraception," she said. Pelosi did not address why Congress in 2010 did not explicitly articulate those protections in the law itself.

Fortunately, the disastrous regulations that the Court upheld today can be reversed by a new president," said Reps. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. "They also can and should be reversed right now by Congress through the Protect Access to Birth Control Act," Democratic legislation that would reverse the Trump administration's employer exemptions.

The Republican-controlled Senate has shown no willingness to take up such a bill.

"No one should be forced to violate their deeply-held religious beliefs due to a government mandate," tweeted Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. "Great day for religious liberty!"

This report was featured in the Thursday, July 9, 2020, episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast.

"Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Supreme Court allows Trump to exempt employers from Obamacare birth control mandate originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock is among the Democratic Senate candidates who have pulled down impressive fundraising totals lately. (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press)

A group of Democratic challengers to incumbent Republican U.S. senators has once again posted massive fundraising numbers, raising the party's hopes of reclaiming the Senate from the GOP in the November election.

The Democrats' figures, which include donations between April and June, are all the more impressive for coming while the nation underwent a historic economic crunch because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, challenging Republican Sen. Steve Daines, reported raising $7.7 million in the year's second quarter. Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon raised $9 million over the same period in her contest against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Former North Carolina state Sen. Cal Cunningham reported a $7.4-million haul in his bid against Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.

The fundraising spree has extended into typically deep-red South Carolina, where former state Democratic Party Chair Jaime Harrison amassed $13.9 million over the quarter in a showdown with prominent Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. In Kentucky, former combat pilot Amy McGrath's campaign reported raising $17.4 million for the quarter in her challenge against GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"Some of these Democratic challengers are raising crazy amounts of money for a single quarter," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director at the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks political spending. The average winning Senate candidate last cycle spent a total of $15.7 million for the cycle."

The Republican candidates have not yet posted their figures. Campaigns tend to release fundraising numbers earlier when they've had a strong quarter, experts say.

Krumholz said the Democratic totals were "extraordinary," because just a few months ago, several of the Democratic challengers would have been viewed as "long shots" who "would have had great difficulty raising this kind of money.

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The huge hauls are just the latest in a series of alarm bells for the GOP, whose leader, President Trump, significantly trails Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden in the polls and has flailed in recent months with his responses to a historic pandemic and an impassioned activist movement for Black lives.

In polling that only tests party affiliation, generic congressional Democratic candidates lead GOP candidates by more than 10 percentage points, according to an average by Real Clear Politics. The Democratic fundraising crush raises the prospect that the Republican Party might reprise its disastrous showing in the 2018 midterm, when Democrats took over the House of Representatives.

A "green wave" of Democratic cash in that midterm "was just far too much for Republican incumbents to overcome, and [Democrats] ended up picking up and flipping the House, and I think these are sort of the telltale signs we are seeing in the Senate as well," said Jessica Taylor, the Senate and governors editor at the nonpartisan Cook Report, which tracks elections.

Of the 35 Senate seats up for election this cycle, 23 are held by Republicans, giving Democrats multiple opportunities to pick up the three seats needed to claim a majority in the chamber.

"The problem for Republicans is that Democrats are going to have the resources to get their message out and keep expanding the map in our direction by putting more Republican seats in play," said Stewart Boss, national press secretary for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "Not just Arizona and Colorado, but South Carolina and Kentucky, where those are tougher states."

National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Jesse Hunt said in a statement that "Democrats will need to spend every penny to defend records that are disqualifying in the eyes of mainstream voters who will decide the outcome in key Senate races. Personal scandals and a party rallying around a socialist agenda are problems money cant solve.

Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections, a nonpartisan newsletter, thinks that the biggest surprise is that these monster fundraising quarters are no surprise anymore," saying that Democrats overall have taken impressive fundraising loads in the last three years.

"Theres one key motivator for Democratic donors, and I think thats President Donald J. Trump," Gonzales said. He thinks a similar phenomenon is driving donors to the opponents of McConnell and Graham, whose seats are not considered toss-up races.

"These are some of the highest-profile members of the Republican Party. Democratic donors are reacting to their dislike of those senators," Gonzales said, adding that the Democratic spending will likely force the GOP to direct more resources to what had normally been considered safe seats.

"The Republicans cant just walk away and let Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell get outspent by $30 million," Gonzales said. "Thats not a position you want to be in, even if the state is trending in your direction.
Tucker Carlson speaking about Tammy Duckworth on Monday evening: (Fox News)

A senator who lost both her legs in Iraq has hit back at Fox News host Tucker Carlson after he claimed she and other Democratic officials hate America.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, who became a recipient of the Purple Heart after she lost both her legs in a helicopter crash while serving in Iraq, was criticised by Carlson for comments she made on CNN on Sunday.

Ms Duckworth said that there should be a national dialogue around monuments that honour George Washington, because he owned slaves.

During Tucker Carlson Tonight on Monday evening, the host said that most people ignore the senator, but added: When Duckworth does speak in public, youre reminded what a deeply silly and unimpressive person she is.

After playing a portion of the CNN clip, Carlson said: Youre not supposed to criticise Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military.

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Its long been considered out of bounds to question a persons patriotism, Carlson said. Its a very strong charge and we try not to ever to make it.

However, the host went on to criticise the senator and said: But in the face of all this, the conclusion cant be avoided: These people actually hate America, and added: Theres no longer a question about that.

Later on during the segment, Carlson claimed that the Democratic party despise this country, and wondered: Can you really lead a country that you hate?

Ms Duckworth hit back at the Fox News host on Tuesday, and tweeted: Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?

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President Donald Trump also waded into the debate, after he retweeted a clip of Carlsons monologue to his Twitter feed, according to USA Today.

His campaign later released a statement saying the senator was using her military service to deflect from her support for the left-wing campaign to villainise Americas founding.

Ms Duckworths comments on CNN came amid a growing conversation in the US about the place of monuments that honour figures who were involved in slavery, following Black Lives Matter protests.

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Over the past month, monuments to officials in the Confederacy  as well as statues of figures including Christopher Columbus  have been taken down across the US.

During the show on Monday, Carlson only showed a small clip of the interview, and did not include the senators full answer about George Washington monuments.

Ms Duckworth said that we should listen to everybody about the monuments, but referenced the coronavirus pandemic, and added: Im more worried about the 130,000 who have lost their lives recently ... than I am about our historical past.

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Trump threatens anyone who destroys monuments with 10 years in prison
WASHINGTON  Several top Republican lawmakers said they would skip the Republican National Convention as coronavirus cases climb in Florida, where President Donald Trump is set to accept the party's nomination in August before a large crowd.

The RNC backed out of Charlotte, North Carolina, last month and picked Jacksonville as the main site for the convention after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles wouldn't commit to allowing a full convention because of health concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On a Monday conference call with local reporters, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, at age 86 the oldest Republican senator, said he would avoid the convention "because of the virus situation."

Grassley said he has attended every RNC since he was elected to the Senate in 1980.

Since the convention was moved, Jacksonville has begun requiring that face masks be worn in public and indoor locations as a health precaution.

More: 'Far beyond garden-variety narcissism.' Book by Trump's niece paints him as habitual liar, inept businessman

More: Jacksonville, new site for President Trumps convention speech, will require masks in public, indoors

Florida has seen a dramatic uptick in coronavirus cases over the last month, setting new daily records in the past few weeks. The state saw more than 210,000 total infections and 3,840 deaths as of Tuesday.

Trump himself signaled he was "flexible" on holding the convention in Jacksonville as coronavirus cases climb.

"It really depends on the timing. Look, We can do a lot of things, but we're very flexible," he said in a Tuesday interview on Greta Van Susteren's "Full Court Press."

Other Republican lawmakers have said they will skip the convention or are undecided on attending, though they did not explicitly reference the coronavirus risk.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who is retiring at the end of the year, said Tuesday through a spokesperson he would not be attending the convention.

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Spokesperson Taylor Haulsee said the senator, despite being an honorary chair of the Tennessee Trump campaign, would not attend "because he believes the delegate spots should be reserved" for those who have not attended the convention before.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, "does not plan to attend the convention at this time," spokesperson Karina Borger told USA TODAY.

More: At least 21 states pause reopening or take new steps to limit the spread of COVID-19

More: Black Americans report hate crimes, violence in wake of George Floyd protests and Black Lives Matter gains

Following widespread protests over racial injustice and outrage over Trump's response, Murkowski said she is struggling over whether she can support the president in November.

"I am struggling with it. I have struggled with it for a long time," she said in June.

In a set of tweets, the president appeared to respond, vowing to campaign against her and back any other candidate running, no matter the person. Murkowski is up for reelection in 2022.

More: Trump to hold campaign rally in Portsmouth, N.H., as several states report jump in coronavirus cases

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said through a spokesperson to USA TODAYthat she would not be attending the convention because it was her custom not to attend the convention in years she was up for reelection.

She skipped the convention in 2008, as well as in 1996, when she first ran and was elected to the Senate, according to the Bangor Daily News.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, "wont be attending the RNC convention, spokesperson Arielle Mueller told USA TODAY.

His office did not specify whether his absence would be due to COVID-19 or for other reason, though Romney and the president have had a turbulent relationship.

In February, saying the president committed "an appalling abuse of the public trust," Romney voted to convict Trump on the first article of impeachment following the Senate trial, becoming the first senator ever to vote against his own party's president in an impeachment trial.

More: Trump claims 99% of coronavirus cases are 'totally harmless'; 'long haulers' with lingering symptoms say he's wrong

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, told local reporters at the end of June he would make a decision depending on the virus situation.

"We'll see where we are in late August," Portman said at the time. "If I go, I'm going to go taking precautions."

On Tuesday, Sen. Joni Ernst told reporters she also is planning to attend, though it would likely be "one day in and out."

"But that may change," she said. "We certainly need to monitor what's going on on the ground."

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., told reporters in the Capitol on Thursday he was "probably not" going to the RNC.

"Well, I have some things to do in Kansas that I got to do, Roberts, 84, said. "And unfortunately I didnt know what was canceled and what was not or whatever so I will probably not be."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also declined to say whether he would attend.

Asked by reporters in an event in Covington, Kentucky, on Thursday if he would attend the convention, McConnell, 78, called the convention a "challenging situation" and said, "we'll have to wait and see how things look in late August" to determine whether it would be safe.

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Additionally, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., the second-most senior Republican in the House, "has yet to decide if he will attend the convention this year," spokesperson Ryan Kelly said.

Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, told the Wichita Falls Times-Record News, part of the USA TODAY Network, he was not attending because he was retiring from Congress this year.

Republicans have been wrestling with Trump's response to the protests and coronavirus, with some pleading for him to tone down his rhetoric.

Contributing: Wichita Falls Times-Record, Des Moines Register, Cincinnati Enquirer

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Several Republican senators say they will not attend the convention
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet parents can now purchase Simply Kind Hearted cat and dog treats on Amazon and should be on the lookout to find the products at their local independent pet specialty store throughout the United States and Canada. Focused on a holistic health approach, Simply Kind Hearted treats are highly palatable ways to bond with and support a pet's well-being. The brand offers two treat lines: Squeezables, which are premium oil-based lickable treats for cats and dogs with treating occasions including directly from the tube, by hand, or on food as a topper; and Munchables, crunchy and tasty cat treats and cat milk replacement.

Simply Kind Hearted Cat & Dog Treats

Gimborn USA, Inc. partnered with an expert in the pet industry, North Carolina's Trone Brand Energy to develop the name, packaging, and website for Simply Kind Hearted. The website is live and bringing the brand's essence to life with its fun and unconventional features, images, and messages. Simply Kind Hearted was designed by pet parents for pet parents to help them express how unique their relationship with their fur baby is. The brand has been engaging with pet parents on its Instagram page. Pet parents who interact with the brand online, review it on Amazon, or tag it on Instagram or TikTok could receive one free year of Simply Kind Hearted treats.

Squeezables, Munchables, and Cat Milk Replacement were created to meet the needs of the North American pet parents and their fur-babies. The brand offers 18 recipes: from Hairball Control to Vibrance, from Radiance to Dental Care. "In difficult times like the ones the world is now experiencing, topics such as holistic health and well-being are even more important. I love that we can provide pets all over North America with daily treats that are good for their health while being delicious and fun," said Christine Kirby, Marketing Director.

The Simply Kind Hearted brand is owned by Gimborn USA, Inc., which is a subsidiary of German-based H. von Gimborn GmbH. Gimborn brands have been trusted by pet parents all over Europe for decades. Every product is supported by over 55 years of research and experience. The company complies with all standards defined by AAFCO and FDA and boasts a world-class research and development facility in Germany.

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Simply Kind Hearted. Unconditionally Kind. 50% Treat. 50% Supplement. 100% Love.

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Skeletal remains pulled from the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania last week are believed to be 31-year-old Alex Mardis, a Clinton County man who has been missing since October, Pennsylvania State Police confirmed to Dateline.

Alex Mardis (Katie Byrne)

Sergeant Andrew Peters told Dateline that two fishermen found the body Thursday afternoon in the Susquehanna River near Avis, Pennsylvania.

A body was pulled from the river and its presumed to be Alex Mardis, Sgt. Peters said. The remains were found in the same area where Alex was last known to be. But we wont officially know until we get positive identification from the coroners office.

He added that it might take several weeks for the Clinton County Coroner's office to confirm the identity through DNA and dental records.

Sergeant Peters told Dateline that the family members have been notified that the remains found are believed to be Alex.

Alex, who had been living with his grandfather at the time, was last seen leaving the Avis, Pennsylvania home on October 30, 2019, family members previously told Dateline.

His girlfriend told police that Alex grabbed a fishing pole and left to go fishing at the Susquehanna River. His cell phone, which was broken, and his drivers license, had been left behind at the house.

Alexs aunt, Tammy Mackey, told Dateline that her father, Alexs grandfather, does not believe Alex would have gone fishing at that time, even though he is an avid fisherman. They said it had been raining so hard that the rivers water levels were dangerously high and even the Halloween parade had been canceled.

I dont believe it for a second, Tammy said about the idea that her nephew went fishing that day. He knew better and would not have put himself in danger.

The same day that Alex disappeared, a water rescue was issued after someone called 911 and reported seeing a man in the middle of the Susquehanna River yelling for help.

State police from Lamar deployed divers and search dogs to the areas around the boat launch in Wayne Township. They found a Muck boot, but no rod or tackle box.

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Tammy told Dateline that they have heard rumors of Alexs lifestyle involving drugs, but said they know him as a kind and loving young man with a good heart.

He was a good man and he loved his family, Tammy previously told Dateline. He loved his cat, Jack, and loved to go fishing, and helped anyone that he could. He had a good heart and was getting his life in order.

If you or someone you know have information that could help investigators on Alexs case, call the Pennsylvania State Police Lamar Station at (570) 368-6000.
Grappling with COVID patients that have more than tripled in number since Memorial Day weekend, Miami-Dade Countys public hospital network, Jackson Health System, has asked the state for help with its most pressing issue: hiring more nurses.

Jackson Health CEO Carlos Migoya spoke to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday night to request help, according to a hospital spokesperson, and was told he would receive 100 healthcare workers by Friday through a private staffing company. About 75 of the nurses will be ICU-ready, the spokesperson said.

We think we can have them seeing patients within a few days of getting here, said Matt Pinzur, vice president and chief marketing officer at Jackson.

But the additional nurses will only meet Jackson Healths current needs. More reinforcements may be needed next week if Florida and Miami-Dade, the county with the most COVID-19 cases in the state, cannot slow the increase in patients, said Martha Baker, a trauma nurse and president of the labor union representing Jackson Health doctors and nurses.

We need probably close to 100 nurses to get to where we need to be, Baker said, noting that Jackson Memorial Hospital alone recently had about 78 nursing positions open. If we cant stop the peak, well need another 100 next week.

DeSantis announced the aid on Tuesday at a press conference in Miami, saying the state will send 100 contract personnel, mostly nurses, to be able to augment [Jackson Healths] operations. DeSantis said the nurses are needed to help isolate and treat people coming into the hospitals for non-COVID related reasons and then testing positive.

Baker said many patients coming in for other needs, such as appendicitis or a car accident, are testing positive for COVID-19 but waiting hours in the emergency room before they can be transferred to a staffed bed in the ICU or the medical surgical floor for an overnight stay.

The caregivers inside are stressed to the max, Baker said. Usually, you have a charge nurse whos free of assignments. If I take care of two ICU patients and somebody stops breathing or their heart stops and I need help, the charge nurse is available to help. Now charge nurses are getting patients, so theres nobody free to help in an emergency.

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About 30% to 40% of non-COVID patients at Jackson hospitals have come into the health system only to test positive in the last two weeks, according to internal data shared by the hospital network.

I think that is something that will be very useful to them as they continue to deal not only with COVID patients, but all patients, DeSantis said, of the additional staffing.

The governor said the federal government is also working on bringing additional nurses to South Florida, but he wanted to act sooner.

The surge staffing from the state comes on top of about 80 nurses the hospital network has hired in the last two weeks, Pinzur said, but those hires can take longer to clear hurdles such as background checks and giving notice to their former employers.

Baker said she hopes the nurses are ready to step in right away and handle the intensity of the COVID-19 crisis unfolding in the states largest public hospital.

I cant imagine the training theyre going to need to pop into one of the busiest hospitals in the country at a COVID crisis time, she said.

Baker said the nurses dont have to be experts in COVID-19 care, because many patients are hospitalized for other reasons.

Jackson Memorial has 201 COVID-19 patients today and 691 patients in beds, including the ones waiting in the ER, she said. So really, you know, they could even help with the 2/3 of patients who are not there for COVID.

Jackson has dealt with a months worth of steadily rising COVID patient numbers, with the bulk of them coming from some of the countys poorest ZIP codes. Migoya, the CEO, has said that the hospital has been seeing waves of younger, working-age patients who have no choice but to work and, in turn, expose themselves to the virus.

More recently, internal data from Jackson shows that the hospital system is now seeing a larger number of older patients as well.

Baker told CBS4 Miami at the end of June that healthcare workers at the public hospital were struggling to keep pace with the surge of COVID patients. Many of the nurses, she said, have not gotten much of a break since the pandemic began.

Pinzur confirmed that many of the nurses who treat COVID patients have been working more shifts than usual, which he said takes a toll on their ability to help the waves of new patients arriving to the emergency department each day.

He said nurses who typically work four shifts one week and three shifts the next have been working four shifts every week to help handle the increasing number of patients.

It can be physically exhausting, Pinzur said.

Baker said doctors and nurses have been working around the clock at Jackson Health for weeks now, and they need the communitys help to slow the spread of COVID-19. She added that hospital workers are encouraged by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenezs recent emergency order closing restaurants, ballrooms, party venues and other facilities. The county also has a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, except for essential workers and those who must be out for religious reasons.

We need the community to work with us to slow down this peaking, Baker said, and then we have to take care of the patients we have and see the numbers start to dwindle over time and dampen the curve.
Two persons threw stones on glass windows, and damaged CCTV cameras and potted plants at Rajgruha.

Mumbai: The police on Wednesday detained a suspect after a man vandalised `Rajgruha', Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's residence in Matunga in central Mumbai.

The incident, which took place on Tuesday night, evoked condemnation from political leaders including Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray who said strict action will be taken against those involved.

As per the complaint lodged by Ambedkar's grandson Bhimrao Ambedkar at Matunga Police Station, the unidentified accused who was captured in CCTV seemed to be mentally unstable.

He had spotted the man near the house on Monday evening, Bhimrao Ambedkar told the police, an official said.

When he asked the man why he was loitering, he glared at him in anger before leaving, Ambedkar told the police.

Mumbai police had registered an FIR against unknown persons following the vandalism at Rajgruha. Two persons threw stones on glass windows, and damaged CCTV cameras and potted plants at Rajgruha in Dadar area here on Tuesday night, the official said.

CCTV footage from the erstwhile home the Constitution architect shows a person smashing flower pots in the compound before fleeing, the official had said.

Located in Hindu Colony, Dadar, the two-storeyed heritage bungalow houses the Ambedkar Museum where Babasaheb's books, portrait, ashes and vessels are among the artefacts.

The current residents of Rajgruha include Babasaheb's daughter-in-law, and his grandsons Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar, Anandrao and Bhimrao.

Prakash Ambedkar, who was in Akola when the attack took place, had appealed for calm and asked his followers to not gather outside the house.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has already assured that strict action will be taken against the culprits.

"This is highly condemnable. @CMOMaharashtra should immediately look into this. Rajgruh is not just a memorial, it is a reminder of the legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar," AIPCMumbaiEast tweeted.
Complete nutrition that's delicious!

LOS ANGELES, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Soylent Nutrition, Inc. , the makers of Soylent complete nutrition beverages, powders & bars, rolled out improved, better-tasting versions of their famous drinks. This is the most recent display of how the seven-year-old food tech start-up is shaking things up for the better under its new leadership.

Less sugar, natural flavors, and better taste than the competition and their previous line. This is another big win for the Soylent team.

This ready-to-drink product optimization comes on the heels of a number of other accomplishments in recent months for the company including new Powder formats , lower pricing on Powder subscriptions and updated packaging . The renewed focus on its core products and consumers has allowed the company to return to its mission while simultaneously restoring a sustainable business model.

As far as flavor goes, the company spent significant effort updating, tweaking and testing new, all-natural flavors that could beat their competition, and they have finally done it. Building on their commitment to innovation and science-based nutrition, they are improving taste and lowering sugar content. Now, in blind taste tests, Soylent's new Creamy Chocolate flavor beats the dairy-based competition, while delivering complete plant-based nutrition that is also good for the planet.

"The focus of the company has always been on utility and function, and we are not getting away from that," says Soylent CEO Demir Vangelov. "Since our founding, we have remained focused on delivering complete nutrition in convenient formats in order to reduce meal-time trade-offs. This takes that idea one step further. Our complete nutrition shakes now have an upgraded taste, in addition to improved functional benefits. This is a significant achievement for our plant-based product portfolio."

Soylent's new, optimized line of complete nutrition drinks will roll out over the summer, starting with Original, Vanilla, Strawberry, Mint Chocolate and Cafe Mocha flavors. In addition, they have launched brand new fan favorites flavors Banana and Creamy Chocolate.

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When asked how this was accomplished, Soylent's VP of Product Innovation & Quality, Julie Daoust, Ph.D. remarked, "We wanted the new formulas to be co-created with Soylent consumers; so we conducted several product tests across the country until we got it right. We started the project some time ago, and it took many prototype iterations to get to the delicious formulas we launched."

In addition to removing artificial flavors and using the latest flavor technology for a better taste experience, Soylent has also reduced added sugar per bottle from 9g in the previous version to only 1g in this new version. This is in part thanks to a change to allulose - a carbohydrate found in nature that works to maintain the low glycemic index of Soylent beverages.

Less sugar, natural flavors, and better taste than the competition and their previous line. This is another big win for the Soylent team. In the last six months, Soylent has lowered prices on their cornerstone powder products, relaunched in Canada, launched a limited edition large format Soylent powder product, and created the most delicious Soylent to date. The company is making big moves as well as continuing to exceed customer expectations on taste and function.

You can order your optimized Soylent drinks now on soylent.com !

About Soylent

Soylent is a pioneer in food technology, producing delicious, functional foods, with complete nutrition that are good for the body and the planet. In 2013, Founder Rob Rhinehart developed the first iteration in his kitchen after recognizing the need for a simpler, more efficient food source. The company has grown to become both a disruptor and a driver in the Food Tech world. Soylent is on a mission to provide complete, sustainable nutrition that is accessible, appealing and affordable to all; and its line of products are engineered from the ground up to provide the vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates and protein that the body needs - all in convenient packages. The Company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

For additional information please visit www.Soylent.com .

Media Contact

Jamie Sullivan

Director, External Affairs

press@Soylent.com

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Linking the fight against police brutality with a broader need for racial equity and justice, major unions and civil rights groups said Wednesday they will stage a nationwide walk out later this month to demand change.

The Strike for Black Lives will take place on July 20 in more than 25 cities, from Los Angeles to Boston, and could draw tens of thousands of workers who will walk off the job and stage other protests to call for better wages, benefits and an end to systemic racism both in the workplace and their communities.

We cannot achieve economic justice without racial justice, Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union, said in a statement announcing the walk out. Today, in this national moment of reckoning, working people are demanding fundamental changes to Americas broken system... Until Black people can thrive, none of our communities can thrive.

Retailers want masks to be mandatory: 'Wearing a mask is not about fear': Retailer group urges governors to require everyone to wear a mask

Racial housing gap: Race matters: Gap between Black and white homeownership is vast, new report finds

The union is joining with more than a dozen other groups including the United Farm Workers, the Fight for $15, the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, and the Movement for Black Lives.

Workers at fast food restaurants, airports and other businesses will walk out for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on the neck of George Floyd, a Black man, killing him in May.

Women protesting on June 15, 2020, in Atlanta.

Other actions will follow. Workers in Ferguson, Missouri will march to a memorial for Michael Brown, a Black teenager killed by police in 2014. Fast food and nursing home employees will gather to protest their lack of workplace protections as they work amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And rideshare drivers in Los Angeles will join workers in other industries to call on the nation's second largest school district to remove police officers from campuses.

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Companies like McDonalds cannot on the one hand tweet that Black Lives Matter and on the other pay us poverty wages and fail to provide sick days and adequate'' safety equipment, Angely Rodriguez Lambert, a McDonald's worker in Oakland, California said in the statement. We're going on strike because McDonald's and other fast-food companies have failed to protect us in a pandemic that has ravaged Black and brown communities across the country.''

Workers are calling on companies to lift pay, permit the forming of unions and advocate for greater health care that can help narrow the economic gap that hinders Black and brown communities. They want lawmakers to enact change as well.

"We must push toward economic uplift for everybody, poor and low-income Black people, white people, brown people, indigenous people, and Asian people,'' Rev. Dr. William Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, said in the statement. "In other words, everybody in, nobody out."

Follow Charisse Jones on Twitter @charissejones

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Workers will go on 'strike for Black lives' amid reckoning on racism
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  A suicide truck bomber targeted a police district headquarters in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province on Wednesday, killing three officers, a local official said. Three other police officers, including a district police chief, were killed in a roadside bombing in eastern Ghazni province.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for both attacks.

In the Kandahar attack, the suicide bomber struck in the district of Shah Wali Kot, according to Bahir Ahmadi, the provincial governor's spokesman. The explosion also wounded 14 people, both policemen and civilians.

Ahmadi said the guards at the district headquarters realized the truck was suspicious and opened fire before it could reach the building. But the shooting set off the explosives' load, triggering a huge blast that caused the casualties and damaged several nearby buildings as well as the district headquarters, which also houses the office of the police chief and the district administrative department.

In the roadside bombing in Ghazni, Wahidullah Jamazada, the provincial governor's spokesman, said Habibullah, the police chief of Dayak district, was killed along with his two bodyguards. Habibullah, who like many Afghans used only one name, was inspecting checkpoints early in the morning when the attack happened, Jamazada said.

Separately, the Defense Ministry said Afghan soldiers repelled Taliban attacks on Tuesday on army checkpoints in the district of Khogyani in eastern Nangarhar province. The statement said at least 20 Taliban insurgents were killed, including their group leader.

The Taliban did not claim responsibility for the Nangarhar attack or issue any statements about it. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group are active in eastern Afghanistan, especially in Nangarhar. Afghanistan has seen a recent spike in violence, with most attacks claimed by the local IS affiliate.

The Taliban and the Afghan forces have been trading blame over the recent surge in attacks across the country  even as peace efforts press on to try and bring about the start of a direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

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The Taliban accuse government forces of targeting them in their homes, their families bearing the brunt of those anti-Taliban operations. Kabul, meanwhile, accuses the Taliban of stepping up attacks against both civilians and the security forces.

The violence has been a key obstacle to any negotiations between the Taliban and the Kabul government  talks that were envisaged by the U.S.-Taliban deal signed in late February to end 19 years of war in Afghanistan.

The deal also called for the Afghan government to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for the Taliban releasing 1,000 government and military personnel they hold captive. So far, the government has freed 4,015 imprisoned insurgents while the Taliban have freed 669, according to data by the Afghan government.
WASHINGTON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Research Council President Tony Perkins applauded the U.S. Supreme Court's verdict in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor, a religious charity who have been fighting a legal battle for survival for the past nine years. In 2011, President Obama's Department of Health and Human Services threatened fines reaching into the tens of millions of dollars unless the sisters violated their religious convictions by covering free abortion-causing drugs and services in their health insurance plan. Although they won after a 5-year battle, the Little Sisters were dragged back before the highest court in the land after multiple states tried again to force them to violate their religious convictions.

Family Research Council logo (PRNewsFoto/Family Research Council)

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

"The Little Sisters' long struggle for survival is one evidence of the growing hostility to religion in America. It should be common sense to allow a religious group to conduct themselves according to their religious convictions, and yet government agents have tried to punish them with obtuse fines for doing just that. We are pleased to see the Supreme Court still recognizes religious freedom.

"There is no more fundamental freedom than to obey the dictates of one's own conscience, and no freedom should be held more sacred from government interference.

"We are glad that the Constitution protects the Little Sisters and others willing to stand up for their beliefs in the face of intense, longstanding opposition. These brave women have endured nine years of legal persecution for their religious beliefs, and we sincerely hope the Supreme Court's decision today is the end of this unjust saga. Enough is enough," concluded Perkins.

Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at Family Research Council, added: "It's time the Little Sisters of the Poor are able to focus on the religious mission of caring the poor and lonely without worrying about the government forcing them to provide abortion-causing drugs and services against their conscience. I am thankful that with today's ruling the Little Sisters and many others who simply want to live out their faith free from government coercion can do just that."

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SOURCE Family Research Council
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday cleared the way for the Trump administration to give the nation's employers more leeway in refusing to provide free birth control for their workers under the Affordable Care Act.

The ruling is a victory for the administration's plan to greatly expand the kinds of employers who can cite religious or moral objections in declining to include contraceptives in their health care plans.

Up to 126,000 women nationwide would lose birth control coverage under President Donald Trump's plan, the government estimated. Planned Parenthood said nearly nine in 10 women seek contraceptive care of some kind during their lifetimes.

The Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, gives the government authority to create the religious and moral objections, said Justice Clarence Thomas for the court's 7-2 majority.

The Department of Health and Human Services "has virtually unbridled discretion to decide what counts as preventive care and screenings," and that same authority "leaves its discretion equally unchecked in other areas, including the ability to identify and create exemptions from its own guidelines," he said.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement, "It is a shame that nuns ever had to go to the Supreme Court to ensure they can care for the elderly poor without violating their consciences, but thanks to their courageous advocacy and the leadership of President Trump, they  and all Americans of faith  have now triumphed."

In their dissenting opinion, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said the court in the past has struck a balance in religious freedom cases, so that the beliefs of some do not overwhelm the rights of others.

"Today for the first time, the court casts totally aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree" and "leaves women workers to fend for themselves" in seeking contraceptive services, they said.

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Womens groups condemned the ruling. The National Womens Law Center said more than 61 million women get birth control coverage through Obamacare.

The Supreme Courts decision will leave their ability to receive this critical coverage at the whim of their employers and universities," the group said. "This decision will disproportionately harm low-wage workers, people of color, LGBTQ people, and others who already face barriers to care.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, said Wednesday night that, "Health care is a right that should not be dependent on race, gender, income or zip code. Yet as a result of today's decision, countless women are at risk of losing access to affordable, preventive care."

"As disappointing as the Supreme Court's ruling is, there is a clear path to fixing it: electing a new President who will end Donald Trump's ceaseless attempts to gut every aspect of the Affordable Care Act," he said in a statement.

In addition, the court announced that Thursday is the last day of the term. It is expected that rulings on two cases involving Trump  the Manhattan district attorney's effort to get years' worth of his tax returns as part of a probe into hush-money payments to two women and the House Democrats' bid to obtain financial records from the Trump Organization's accounting firm and two banks  will be released on Thursday.

Since Congress passed Obamacare in 2010, the issue of which employers can decline offer contraceptive coverage has remained highly controversial.

Houses of worship and their auxiliaries were originally given an exemption, and a later rule allowed some non-profit religiously affiliated employers an accommodation: They could opt out of directly providing the coverage as long as they gave notice of their objection. Their insurer or the government would then pick up the cost of the coverage.

In a 2014 case involving the Hobby Lobby stores, the Supreme Court said a private, religiously oriented, and closely held company could get an exemption from the contraceptive mandate on religious grounds.

Wednesday's decision involved Trump administration rules that would allow publicly traded companies and large universities to claim a religious objection for refusing to provide the coverage. Even more broadly, employers and schools with any moral objection would also be exempt from the requirement.

The rules were intended to deliver on a campaign promise by Trump to roll back the coverage requirement. He said employers should not be "bullied by the federal government because of their religious beliefs."

New Jersey and Pennsylvania sued, saying they would have to pick up most of the cost of contraceptive coverage, and a federal appeals court last year blocked enforcement of the rule nationwide. The Trump administration and the Little Sisters of the Poor, an order of Catholic nuns who have consistently fought the contraceptive insurance requirement, defended the proposed rule.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court will complete its 2019 term Thursday with rulings on President Donald Trump's effort to keep his tax returns and other financial records away from congressional investigators and New York prosecutors.

The long-awaited decisions are important for several reasons: They could result in Trump's finances becoming public in the midst of his re-election campaign. They could redefine the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches. And they could determine if a sitting president, unlike other citizens, is above the law.

The court announced Wednesday that it would release its final opinions Thursday beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The two cases involving Trump's finances were heard on May 12, the second to last day of oral arguments, and were conducted by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The justices' rulings will carry political, legal and constitutional implications for the president, Congress and law enforcement officials who have argued the records could reveal evidence of criminal wrongdoing or lead to new legislation on Capitol Hill.

More: Supreme Court grills both sides in landmark battle over Trump's financial records

Trump, acting through his personal legal team, has refused to comply with subpoenas from three House committees controlled by Democrats, as well as Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., seeking information from his accounting firm and banks.

President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla., Saturday, June 20, 2020.

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform issued a subpoena to Mazars USA, Trump's accounting firm, more than a year ago seeking financial records from the president, his family business, a trust and the company that runs Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. Thus far, two federal courts have upheld the subpoena.

Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified before Congress that as a private citizen, Trump routinely overstated or understated his holdings for financial gain. The panel wants to compare eight years of financial documents to Cohen's testimony and government disclosures.

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The House Financial Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee issued subpoenas to Deutsche Bank and Capital One more than a year ago seeking records from Trump, his three oldest children and the Trump Organization. The panels are probing risky lending practices by major financial institutions and efforts by Russia to influence U.S. elections. They, too, have been upheld twice in lower courts.

The Manhattan district attorney's subpoenas came later as part of a criminal probe of hush-money payments that Cohen said were made to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed they had affairs with Trump that he has denied. Once again, two lower courts upheld the subpoenas.

Trump's lawyers have argued that the president has absolute immunity while in office from grand jury investigations of criminal conduct. During oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, they contended Trump could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and escape prosecution until he leaves office.

In previous separation-of-powers battles over documents or testimony, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously against Presidents Richard Nixon in 1974 and Bill Clinton in 1997, with their nominees in agreement. The decisions led eventually to Nixon's resignation and Clinton's impeachment, though he was not ultimately removed from office by the Senate.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump's tax returns, finances: Supreme Court ruling on Thursday
One of the teachers in the case taught at St. James Catholic School in Torrance. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday barred teachers who work at church-run schools from filing discrimination lawsuits against their employers, ruling that the Constitution's protection for religious liberty exempts church schools from state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

The justices, by a 7-2 vote, shielded two Catholic elementary schools in Los Angeles County from discrimination claims by two teachers who complained they were unjustly fired, one due to an illness and the other due to age.

The court found that since such schools are part of a church's religious mission, the government may not interfere with decisions about hiring, supervision and firing of teachers.

The decision effectively closes the courthouse door to tens of thousands of teachers nationwide in religious and parochial schools who encounter workplace discrimination based on their race, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation that would otherwise be impermissible. It is also written broadly enough that it could include many other types of workers at the schools, such as counselors, nurses, coaches and office workers.

In the past, the Supreme Court has recognized an implied "ministerial exemption" that shields churches, synagogues or other religious bodies from being sued by priests, pastors and other ministers. The issue in the pair of cases from Southern California was whether that exemption extended more broadly to teachers in a church-run school whose primary duty was not necessarily religious instruction.

"The 1st Amendment protects the right of religious institutions to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church government as well as those of faith and doctrine," Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. wrote for the majority in Our Lady of Guadalupe School vs. Morrissey-Berru.

"The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission," he continued. "Judicial review of the way in which religious schools discharge those responsibilities would undermine the independence of religious institutions in a way that the 1st Amendment does not tolerate."

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Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.

Kristen Biel was a fifth-grade teacher at St. James School in Torrance whose teaching contract was canceled shortly after she told the principal she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She later sued under the Americans With Disabilities Act, which protects employees from discrimination based solely on a disease like cancer. She died last year, but her husband, Darryl Biel, maintained the suit.

Agnes Morrissey-Berru had taught fifth grade at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Hermosa Beach for decades when the principal suggested she might want to retire. She refused, and her teaching contract was not renewed. She then sued, alleging age discrimination.

Lawyers for the Catholic Archdiocese said the suits should be dismissed, citing the ministerial exception recognized by the high court. Also in 2012, the Supreme Court threw out a discrimination suit by a "called teacher" at a Lutheran school in Michigan, whose job included leading worship services.

Citing that precedent, two federal judges in Los Angeles ruled the Southern California suits by the two former teachers should be dismissed. The 9th Circuit Court disagreed, however, and cleared both suits to proceed, ruling that neither teacher was a religious leader at school.

Sotomayor, in her dissent to Wednesday's ruling, called the court's decision "simplistic" because it allows a church to decide which of its employees are central to its religious mission and therefore not covered by anti-discrimination laws.

"Even if the teachers were not Catholic, and even if they were forbidden to participate in the churchs sacramental worship, they would nonetheless be 'ministers' of the Catholic faith simply because of their supervisory role over students in a religious school. That stretches the law and logic past their breaking points," she said.

"The courts conclusion portends grave consequences. Thousands of Catholic teachers may lose employment-law protections because of todays outcome. Other sources tally over a hundred thousand secular teachers whose rights are at risk. And that says nothing of the rights of countless coaches, camp counselors, nurses, social-service workers, in-house lawyers, media-relations personnel, and many others who work for religious institutions. All these employees could be subject to discrimination for reasons completely irrelevant to their employers religious tenets."

Darryl Biel said he was disappointed by the court's opinion. "The court overstated Kristens religious duties, which were limited to a couple hours per week. Alito's opinion did not characterize what Kristen did at that school," he said. "I am also disappointed in St. James, the Archdiocese, and Trump and his administration for supporting blatant discrimination against women and those with health disabilities."

It was the third major win for a religious liberty claim in a week.

In a Montana case, the justices ruled that parents who send their children to church-run schools have a right to the same state subsidies or tuition grants afforded to other private schools. There, the court said the Constitution required equal treatment for religion, overriding state constitutions that barred any taxpayer money from going to religious institutions.

And also Wednesday, the justices agreed with the Trump administration and Catholic charities that employers with religious or moral objections to birth control have a right to be exempted from the part of Obamacare that requires them to provide contraceptives to their female employees.

In the case involving Catholic school teachers, the court rejected the notion of equal treatment for religion  central to the Montana decision  when it came to churches as employers. Instead, religious employers were given a special shield from federal discrimination laws.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles welcomed the ruling. Religious schools play an integral role in passing the faith to the next generation of believers, said Adrian Alarcon, spokesperson for Los Angeles Catholic Schools. We are grateful that the Supreme Court recognized faith groups must be free to make their own decisions about who should be entrusted with these essential duties.

Today is a huge win for religious schools of all faith traditions, said Eric Rassbach, a lawyer for the Becket Fund, who argued the case. The last thing government officials should do is decide who is authorized to teach Catholicism to Catholics or Judaism to Jews."

Rachel Laser, president of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the decision "demonstrates how the Supreme Court continues to redefine religious freedom  twisting what is meant to be a shield that protects us into a sword to harm others. The court elevates a distorted notion of religious freedom over fundamental civil rights."
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld most of a Trump administration regulation that would free employers from providing contraceptives to their employees if they have a religious or moral objection, potentially leaving more than 120,000 women with no coverage.

In the 7-2 decision, the court goes further than before in shielding companies, colleges and charities from the part of Obamacare that requires employers with more than 50 employees to pay the cost of preventive healthcare, including the full range of contraceptives.

The ruling is a clear win for the Trump administration and religious conservatives, but it is not a final victory. The case will return to an appeals court in Philadelphia, which had blocked the regulation but has not considered all of the possible procedural objections.

In the past, the court had ruled in favor of religious employers and private companies who claimed an exemption based on their religion, including the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores. But then, the justices also upheld an accommodation proposed by the Obama administration under which the health insurers would step in and provide contraceptives for female workers. The insurers agreed to do so because providing birth control would cost less than paying for a pregnancy and delivery.

But some religious conservatives objected to that approach because it would make them complicit in sin if their insurers were involved in providing the contraceptives.

The Trump administration proposed a broader rule to cover more employers and exempt them entirely from the Obamacare regulation. The administration conceded the new regulation, if put into effect, could take away contraceptive coverage from 120,000 women or more.

The rule had been blocked on the grounds that the Department of Health and Human Services did not have the authority to make exemptions to the preventive care law and that the administration did not follow proper procedures.

Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, said both conclusions were wrong. "We hold today that the departments had the statutory authority to craft that exemption, as well as the contemporaneously issued moral exemption. We further hold that the rules promulgating these exemptions are free from procedural defects."

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Thomas was joined by the other four conservative justices, while Justices Stephen G. Breyer and Elena Kagan concurred in the outcome. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.

Ginsburg said the court had wrongly tipped the balance too far in favor of religious claims at the expense of the rights of female employees.

Ignoring what Congress did in protecting women's health, "this court leaves women workers to fend for themselves, to seek contraceptive coverage from sources other than their employers insurer, and, absent another available source of funding, to pay for contraceptive services out of their own pockets," she said.

State attorneys in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California sued to challenge the rule, and it was blocked by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.

Wednesday's decision in Little Sisters of the Poor vs. Pennsylvania rejected all the reasons cited by the 3rd Circuit for blocking the new rule. But the appeals court did not decide whether the rule was "arbitrary and capricious" in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

So while Thomas and four of the conservative justices upheld the Trump administration's approach, they could not put the rule into effect immediately.

In her concurring opinion, Kagan said it was a close call whether the 2010 law allowed for such a religious exemption, and said she was willing to defer to the government agency. But she said the rule still may not pass muster on procedural grounds. The government did not provide a "reasoned explanation" for its decision to give a broader exemption than it did before, she said.

"This fight is not over," said Pennsylvania Atty. Gen. Josh Shapiro. "While I am disappointed with much of the majority opinion, I am pleased the court allowed our challenge to the administrations overly broad rules to proceed."

Maureen Ferguson, a senior fellow for the Catholic Assn., said the "Little Sisters of the Poor engage in the noblest of front-line healthcare work, selflessly caring for the elderly poor in nursing homes; yet for seven years they have been legally harassed by the Obama-Biden administration and other government officials in an attempt to force them to distribute abortion-inducing drugs in their healthcare plans. Today the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration had the authority to grant an exemption for the Little Sisters and other conscientious objectors."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said the court's decision to "enable the Trump administrations brutal assault on womens health, financial security and independence is a fundamental misreading of the statute. The Affordable Care Act was explicitly designed to prevent discrimination against women and to ensure that women have access to preventive care, including contraception."
The Supreme Court has upheld the Trump administrations exemptions to mandatory contraception coverage under Obamacare for employers with sincerely held objections. The ruling is welcome, particularly in its recognition that First Amendment religious liberty is not confined to identifiably religious organizations, such as churches, but to all Americans. Regrettably, however, the justices stopped short of a definitive ruling that would end the litigation, which the Little Sisters of the Poor have had to pursue for seven long years.

That explains the seemingly lopsided 72 decision in Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania. In his opinion for the Court, Justice Clarence Thomas concluded that the Trump administration had the authority under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) to issue the exemptions. Justice Thomas rejected the objecting states claims that the exemptions were not permitted under the ACA; and that, even if they were permitted, the administration had failed to comply with technical notice-and-commentary requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. (Interestingly, such technical APA flaws were Chief Justice John Robertss rationale for joining the Courts four-justice left-wing bloc to invalidate the administrations rescission of the Obama DACA decree  notwithstanding that the Obama administration had not complied with the APA in promulgating DACA.)

The Courts ruling is fine as far as it goes. Nevertheless, Thomas reasoned that because the case could be decided based on the terms of the Obamacare statute itself, the Court need not reach the closely related question of whether the contraceptive mandate violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores (2014), the Court had held that the contraceptive mandate unduly burdened the free exercise rights of closely held corporations with sincerely held religious objections.

Clearly, the narrowness of the ruling is what drew the concurrence of two of the liberal justices, Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer. In her concurrence (joined by Justice Breyer), Justice Kagan concedes that the ACAs terms authorized the administration to exempt certain employers from contraceptive coverage. She contends, nevertheless, that the exemptions the Trump administration issued are unlikely to survive administrative laws demand for reasoned decisionmaking, a question she encouraged the lower courts to explore.

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It is certain, then, that the litigation will continue. The objecting states (Pennsylvania and New Jersey) will now claim that the exemptions should be invalidated as arbitrary and capricious under the APA. That inevitability prompted Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, to pen a concurrence that faults the Court for failing to decide the RFRA issue. Justice Alito forcefully argues that contraceptive mandate would unlawfully burden the free exercise rights of employers, such as the Little Sisters, who harbor sincerely held religious objections.

The RFRA is triggered when the government burdens a persons right to free exercise of religion, even by the enactment of a neutral law of general applicability (i.e., a law that applies to everyone and is not overtly hostile to religion). Substantially burdening religion is prohibited unless the government can show that the law in question (a) furthers a compelling government interest (b) by employing the least restrictive means of doing so.

Alito reasons that the contraceptive mandate obviously imposes a substantial burden on employers who hold sincere religious objections. The mandate is not in furtherance of a compelling government interest. Indeed, Congress did not even prescribe such a mandate in Obamacare  it was subsequently imposed by regulation. Moreover, Congress has never indicated that there is a compelling government interest in providing all women with access to all FDA-approved contraceptives without cost-sharing. To the contrary, ACA regulations still leave gaps in contraceptive coverage, and there are many important medical services that are not guaranteed (e.g., as Alito observes, the ACA does not require that a plan cover dental services). Finally, even if it were conceded for arguments sake that the mandate served a compelling government interest, Alito (relying on Hobby Lobby) pointed out that the government has other means of accomplishing it without imposing a substantial burden on religion. For example, the government itself could assume the cost of providing contraceptives to women unable to obtain them under their health-insurance policies.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Justice Ginsburg posited that in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree, the Court was cast[ing] totally aside countervailing rights and interests. That is sheer hyperbole. In reality, the Court could have secured the religious rights in question, but elected not to; the ruling is merely a temporary reprieve. Furthermore, while religious rights are actually in the Constitution, our fundamental law does not undertake to, as Ginsburg puts it, afford gainfully employed women comprehensive, seamless, no-cost insurance coverage for contraceptives. It is baffling that she could see the latter right as weighty enough to be countervailing in this context, particularly when  contrary to her breezy assertion  Congress did not deem it worthy of being written into the ACA.

I suspect Chief Justice Roberts (if not others in the majority) would not agree to reach the RFRA issue if the case could be decided without doing so. Consequently, the Court gets a what looks like a collegial, nonpartisan 72 ruling, rather than a 54 cliffhanger that the Democrat-media complex would have portrayed as a triumph of rightwing religious fanaticism over womens health. Meanwhile, the Little Sisters of the Poor can look forward to more years of legal combat to vindicate rights that area supposed to be guaranteed.

In another case bearing on religious liberty, the Court also ruled today that the First Amendment bars courts from entertaining employment discrimination suits against religious schools if brought by a teacher responsible for the religious education and formation of students. Writing for a 72 majority in Our Lady of Guadalupe v. Morrissey-Berru, Justice Alito reasoned that that responsibility goes to the core mission of most private religious schools; therefore, religious liberty requires leaving employment decisions touching on that mission to the schools. Once again, Justices Ginsburg and Sotomayor dissented (this time, the latter writing, joined by the former).

The Court announced that tomorrow morning it would issue the remaining decisions for this term. These will presumably include efforts by congressional committees and a New York state grand jury (through the Manhattan district attorney) to obtain President Trumps financial records and tax information.

More from National Review
The foreseeable future of dining out in Miami-Dade County  come heat, humidity or hurricanes  is outside.

Restaurants will be limited to offering only outside seating, along with takeout and delivery, starting July 9, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said during a Tuesday press conference alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis. Gimenez said he intends to sign an emergency order to close inside dining areas at all county restaurants to suppress recent spikes in the countys coronavirus cases.

Taking off your mask in an interior space, according to our experts, is dangerous because the virus spreads as people talk, Gimenez said during the press conference. Its not that [restaurants] did anything wrong. Its just the nature of the business and the number of people and the percentage of positives that we have in Miami-Dade.

Gimenez initially said July 6 that he intended to close all on-site dining but changed his mind later that night after speaking with medical experts and a group of restaurateurs in his committee to reopen the county. Leading experts still say that, after takeout, dining outdoors remains the safer option. And the World Health Organization has said the most recent science says crowded, closed, poorly ventilated spaces pose the greatest risk, according to a New York Times story.

Reopening part 2?

How long restaurants will have to keep their dining room closed depends on how quickly the number of positive tests for the coronavirus drop in the county.

Gimenez said he is following medical guidelines that say it is unsafe to reopen inside dining areas until fewer than 5 percent of all coronavirus tests come back positive. That standard is set by the WHO.

As of June 6, more than 21 percent of all people tested for the coronavirus in Miami-Dade came back positive, according to the Florida Department of Health. The county now has 51,058 confirmed cases and 1,057 deaths, the highest in the state.

Once we get back down to 5 percent, then we can start to again open up the interior spaces of restaurants, Gimenez said. Until then, we are going to have to go with what weve got right now.

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Adrian Arguelles, 41, owner of Miyako Doral Japanese Restaurant, speaks during an outdoor meeting near Giralda Plaza in Coral Gables, Florida, on Monday, July 6, 2020. More than 30 restaurant owners and staff, from Kendall to the Upper East Side, attended the meeting in opposition of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenezs recent order to shut down restaurants later this week.

Not for five to six weeks, if past performance is any indicator, Dr. Mary Jo Trepka, chair of the department of epidemiology at FIUs college of public health, wrote the Miami Herald in an email Tuesday.

She pointed to Miami-Dades 19 percent positive tests when the Safer at Home order was issued March 26. It didnt drop below 5 percent until May 7, she wrote, citing the Miami-Dade COVID Project, which analyzes the county numbers to track the virus trend.

So about six weeks later. And that was with the complete shut down, she wrote.

And Miami-Dade is certainly not completely shut down.

The mayor initially planned to close gyms Monday, as well as restaurants. But he changed his mind again Tuesday, allowing gyms to allow people to work out with masks. Hair salons, stores, offices and beaches also remain open.

Restaurant owners have bristled at that back and forth.

A group of more than 50 Miami-area restaurant owners sent a letter to Gimenezs office Tuesday, asking to see the specific scientific data the mayor used to determine that spikes in COVID-19 cases came from restaurants. They are also asking for revisions to the countys reopening plan to address those spikes  and to remain open while their questions are answered.

We are, of course, as citizens, concerned about the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Florida, and especially Miami-Dade. However, the entire restaurant industry cannot be held accountable for the rise in coronavirus cases without concrete proof that coronavirus is highly transmittable in a restaurant setting.

Restaurants go al fresco

Kyu restaurant will be the first Wynwood restaurant to turn parking spaces out front into outside seating, which is the only kind of dine-in service Miami-Dade County will allow starting July 9 because of the rise in coronavirus cases.

Some Miami restaurants have long been preparing for outdoor dining.

Wynwoods high-end Asian-style barbecue restaurant Kyu (pronounced like the last syllable in barbecue) set up 14 tables in former parking spaces in front of the restaurant, copying a model that is being used in New York City, where inside seating has not yet reopened. Soon, the popular Zak the Baker will follow.

The Wynwood Business Improvement District has been filing applications for its member restaurants for city of Miami permits to allow seating in parking spaces. Permission is approved though the middle of August and the BID is asking the city to extend those permits indefinitely.

We got ahead of the curve, said Manny Gonzalez, executive director of the Wynwood BID. We see this as the future.

Wynwoods Businesss Improvement District has worked with its member restaurants to turn parking spaces into outside seating, the only kind of dine-in restaurant service that Miami-Dade County will allow starting July 9 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Kyus outside tables are covered with tents and arranged with fans and lighting. The tables are protected from traffic by heavy, water-filled plastic barriers. Kyus first dinner service at those tables will be Wednesday.

They know the weather will be an issue. Were right in the middle of Miami in the middle of summer, said Kyu co-owner Steven Haigh.

And they know not all South Florida restaurants have the luxury of turning outside spaces into dining rooms.

Its a logistical challenge for sure, chef-owner Mike Lewis said. But were pretty good at rolling with the punches.
Amar Dubey carried a reward of Rs 25,000.

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday made some significant gains in the ongoing hunt for dreaded gangster Vikas Dubey, the prime accused in last week's Bikru ambush wherein eight policemen died.

It killed an aide of Dubey in an encounter in Hamirpur district and arrested another following an encounter in Kanpur for their alleged role in the killings. Two policemen were also injured in the encounter in Hamirpur.

Amar Dubey, who carried a reward of Rs 25,000, was killed in an encounter in Maudaha village in Hamirpur district, Special Task Force IG Amitabh Yash said.

Superintendent of Police, Hamirpur Shlok Kumar said, "Acting on a tip off, a team of STF and local police surrounded Amar and he was injured in the firing and died during treatment in the hospital."

Two policemen including an Inspector from Maudaha and an STF constable were injured in the encounter. An automatic weapon used to fire at police and a bag was recovered from the spot, the SP said.

In a separate encounter, hours after Amar was gunned down in Hamirpur, another associate of the gangster was arrested in an encounter in Chaubeypur area in Kanpur, police said.

"Vikas Dubey's aide Shyamu Bajpai was arrested after an encounter with police in Chaubeypur area. Bajpai, carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 sustained bullet injury on his leg," SHO Chaubeypur KM Rai said.

According to sources, Amar was involved in the security of Vikas Dubey and travelled with him wherever he went while Bajpai too was close to the gangster.

Another two associates of Vikay Dubey -- Prem Prakash Pandey and Atul Dubey were killed by police in an encounter in Kanpur on Friday.

IG STF, said, "STF was tracking all those named in the FIR and wherever we get information we are taking help of local police. We are also trying to trace weapons of policemen taken away from the spot and also weapons used by the criminals to attack the police force."

About the delay in the arrest of Vikas Dubey, the IG said, "He is a hardened criminal and was used to hiding so it is taking time but we will surely nab him. We have started getting success."

Eight policemen were ambushed in Chaubeypur police station area when they were going to arrest Vikas Dubey and fell to bullets fired from rooftops shortly after midnight on Friday.

Vikas Dubey, the notorious criminal who carries a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh, is still absconding.
Texas is set to move forward with the execution of an inmate Wednesday, its first since a five-month delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Billy Wardlow, 45, was convicted of capital murder after he fatally shot an 82-year-old man, Carl Cole, in 1993 during a robbery at Cole's home.

Wardlow was 18 at the time. The minimum age a person can receive the death penalty in Texas is 17 years old.

Wardlow's attorney, Richard Burr, told ABC News Wednesday that there are three pending petitions in the Supreme Court that could possibly result in a stay of execution.

He called those petitions "the most serious and hopeful."

MORE: ACLU sues AG Barr, feds to delay execution amid coronavirus pandemic

One petition, which has been pending since June 10, has to do with the question of predicting future dangers, according to Burr.

In Texas, in order to be sentenced to death, a person has to be deemed someone who is likely to be dangerous in the future.

"You can scientifically know now it was impossible to predict future dangers of an 18-year-old because their brains are still not fully formed," Burr said.

Prosecutors argued that society has long used the age of 18 as the point where it draws the line for many distinctions between childhood and adulthood, according to the Associated Press.

Wardlow senselessly executed elderly Carl Cole to steal his truck, something that could have been taken without violence because the keys were in it, according to a petition filed with the Supreme Court by the Texas attorney generals office, the AP reported.

The two other petitions involve what Burr described as ineffective counsel and an incorrect waiving of another appeal in state and federal court.

PHOTO: Death row inmate Billy Joe Wardlow in an undated prison photograph provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, Texas, July 7, 2020. (Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice via Reuters)

Burr said he has also requested with the Texas Supreme Court to withdraw the execution order because of the risk amid the pandemic and the "huge rise of COVID-19 cases in Texas."

A judge moved Wardlows execution date from April 29 to July 8 because of the pandemic. Six executions scheduled in Texas for earlier this year were postponed by the courts because of the outbreak, according to the AP.

Story continues

Texas is among the states that have seen an increase in coronavirus cases, the daily rate of positivity, hospitalizations and deaths, according to an ABC News analysis.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied a request to delay Wardlows execution or commute his sentence to life in prison on Monday, Burr said.

Wardlow's execution time is set for 6 p.m. CST, but can occur any time after that until midnight, according to Robert C. Hurst, a spokesman at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

MORE: Coronavirus infecting Americas prison inmates 5 times more than outside, new UCLA study shows

Jason Clark, chief of staff at the state's Department of Criminal Justice, told ABC News the agency can "carry out the process safely for those participating and witnessing the execution."

Witnesses will have their temperature taken, will be provided with a mask and be spaced out, Clark said. No more than five witnesses are allowed for the inmate and victim each, a limit that predates the pandemic.

If carried out, it will be Texas' third execution of the year. The two others took place in Jan. 15 and Feb. 6.

Texas set to resume executions after COVID-19 delay originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
When the band known as the Dixie Chicks dropped Dixie from their name last month, it mightve seemed like a fresh decision, a quick response to the national conversation about racism and which symbols need to go in order for the country to heal. The truth is that it was a long time coming.

We wanted to change it years and years and years ago, Natalie Maines told the New York Times in a story published Wednesday. I just wanted to separate myself from people that wave that Dixie flag.

Maines and the other two members of the trio, sisters Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire, were subject to an avalanche of hate after what they call the incident. It happened in 2003, after Maines said during a performance in London, as the country was invading Iraq, Were ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas. Country music fans and even some of their fellow artists quickly turned against them. Radio stations refused to play their music, even drove a tractor over them.

But they had also had massive success  becoming the best-selling female group in America, with albums including 2006s Taking the Long Way  under the name, so they didnt think changing it was an option. They finally made the switch after Strayer last month saw an Instagram post of a Confederate flag referred to as the Dixie Swastika. Strayers reaction, she said, was I dont want to have anything to do with that.

They were never really in love with their name anyway. Strayer and Maguire chose it because of the Little Feat song Dixie Chicken.

We were literally teenagers when we picked that stupid name, Maguire said.

As the story notes, the group separated from country music long before the name change made it official. They famously made a comeback from all the President Bush-era hate in 2006, when they swept the Grammys with their very personal album addressing the brutal experience of being cast out of the country music family.

Their high-profile performance alongside Beyonce at the 2016 Country Music Association Awards, singing her song Daddy Lessons, did not make them feel any more welcome.

Story continues

They treated us very weird backstage, Maines said.

Singer Alan Jackson even walked out on their performance.

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For them to disrespect her that way was disgusting, Maines said of Beyonce.

The Chicks performed with Beyonce at the 2016 CMA Awards. (Photo: Image Group LA/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

Of course, theyve received criticism for becoming the Chicks, but its not really affecting them this time around. Maines pointed out that she now calls out the president daily, thanks to social media.

Strayer is just over being affected by outside opinions.

I used to care way too much what people thought, Strayer said.I really have a dont-give-a-[expletive] part to me now, which I didnt have before.

The Chicks will drop their new album, the first under their shortened name, on July 17.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
Conference call and webcast scheduled for 8:30 a.m. EDT

TORONTO, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters (NYSE, TSX: TRI) announced today that its second-quarter 2020 earnings will be issued via news release on Wednesday, August 5, 2020.

Thomson Reuters logo. (PRNewsFoto/Thomson Reuters)

Steve Hasker, president and chief executive officer, and Mike Eastwood, chief financial officer, will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast that morning at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Discussions may include forward-looking information.

You can access the webcast by visiting the "Investor Relations" section of the Thomson Reuters website. Registration for the webcast is now open. Additionally, an archive of the webcast will be available following the presentation.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world's most global news service  Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.

CONTACTS MEDIA Andrew Green Senior Director, Corporate Affairs +1 646 223 4228 andrew.green@tr.com INVESTORS Frank J. Golden Head of Investor Relations +1 646 223 5288 frank.golden@tr.com

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SOURCE Thomson Reuters
Tide CEO Oliver Prill. Photo: Tide

Thousands of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) face an uncertain future after business account provider Tide was forced to suspend Bounce Back loans.

Fintech Tide said in a blog post late on Tuesday it would pause lending under the Bounce Back loan scheme, a government-backed loan programme aimed at supporting businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tide is an app-only business account provider with 200,000 customers in the UK. The startup, founded in 2015, was approved to issue Bounce Back loans in mid-May and lent over 50m ($62.8m) by mid-June.

However, Tide is not a bank  a third-party provides its bank account  and so cannot lend customer deposits. Instead, it raises money from investors to then lend.

Tide was surprised by the level of demand among its customers for Bounce Back loans and said last month it needed to raise hundreds of millions of pounds to meet all the demand on its waiting list.

READ MORE: Furlough scheme caps out at 9.4 million people

The company had been holding talks with financial institutions about securing additional funding but discussions collapsed on Tuesday morning. Chief executive Oliver Prill told Yahoo Finance UK it was a tough day with tough decisions.

Many lenders are unwilling to finance Bounce Back loans because of their small margins. The loans carry a fixed rate of 2.5% over 6 years. After costs, the returns are tough to sell to investors.

The pause leaves thousands of small business owners in limbo. Tens of thousands of businesses are understood to be on Tides Bounce Back waiting list, with many unable to secure funding from elsewhere. Most banks that do offer Bounce Back loans are only offering them to existing customers.

We went into this because we understand that theres a large number of SMEs that dont have access to the Bounce Back loans, Prill said. A lot of these are our members. What we tried to do is find a solution which unfortunately we havent been able to do at scale.

Story continues

Tide is not a bank and so cannot lend customer deposits. Instead, it raises money from investors to then lend. Photo: Tide

Tide is now lobbying the government to provide direct funding for its Bounce Back loans. The government offers a 100% guarantee but does not put up cash itself.

The government is already taking all the risk, Prill said. We are more than willing to unpause but we think, having spoken to a large number of institutions, that can only be done if the government provides the funding.

If you look at the Future Fund, thats lending by the government. Its not like the government hasnt done it before.

The state-owned British Business Bank, which runs the Bounce Back loan scheme, said on Twitter it was disappointed that Tides funding fell through. In an email, the bank said it had been working closely with Tide and its initial approval for the Bounce Back scheme was based on secured funding for initial lending.

READ MORE: Fintech sector 'squeezed' by Bounce Back loans

The British Business Bank said government funding was an area for discussion between Tide, the Bank of England and HM Treasury.

Yahoo Finance UK reported in May that fintech companies including Tide were lobbying the Treasury and the Bank of England for access to the small and medium-sized enterprise term funding scheme (SMETFS). The programme, announced in response to the crisis, lets banks borrow money directly from the Bank of England at close to the base rate of 0.1%, so long as the funding is used to lend to SMEs.
Latest Funding Will Accelerate Warm Cookie Delivery Company's Nationwide Expansion

AUSTIN, Texas, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tiff's Treats, the iconic brand that started the warm cookie delivery concept, today announced it raised $15 million in a planned $10 million funding round that includes investors Dirk Nowitzki and Kendra Scott, among others. The investment will help accelerate Tiff's Treats' nationwide expansion and follows $50 million of funding over the past five years that kicked off the company's aggressive growth. Tiff's Treats now has 59 locations across Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Tiff's Treats' classic chocolate chip cookies are made to order and delivered warm.

NBA legend Nowitzki and renowned fashion designer Scott join a heavyweight team of investors in the Tiff's Treats warm cookie delivery experience: PE firms CIC Partners, led by Mike Rawlings, former Pizza Hut CEO and Mayor of Dallas, and Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital; a host of former C-Suite executives from major retail/restaurant brands such as Starbucks and Whole Foods Market; and brand ambassadors Brooklyn Decker and Andy Roddick.

"We're thrilled to welcome our new investors including Kendra Scott and Dirk Nowitzki," said Leon Chen, co-founder and CEO at Tiff's Treats. "Kendra, a hugely influential entrepreneur and philanthropist, is someone we've known for several years and have been a big fan of both personally and professionally. We're thrilled to have her join our team." Tiff's Treats recently partnered with Kendra Scott to deliver jewelry pieces along with cookies for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.

"I have long admired the work that my friends Tiff and Leon have done, starting right here in Austin. They have been a beacon of joy, celebration and philanthropy in our community, and I am honored to join them as they continue to expand that effort nationwide. I look forward to supporting and working alongside Tiff's Treats through this next exciting phase of growth," said Kendra Scott, Founder and CEO of Kendra Scott.

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"I'm excited to be part of team Tiff's Treats," said Dirk Nowitzki. "Thrilled to be part of the journey to see this great brand grow."

"Dirk has brought so much joy to the City of Dallas, where Leon and I grew up," said Tiffany Chen, co-founder and Chief Cookie Officer at Tiff's Treats. "Having met him through a couple of our current investors, we could instantly see that his joy and cheerfulness was infectious and a perfect match for our mission of spreading happiness through warm cookie moments."

Tiff's Treats delivers its signature baked-to-order cookies and brownies from stores across Texas and in Atlanta, Nashville and Charlotte, N.C. Tiff's Treats hired 500 new team members this spring, pushing its team member count to over 1,400. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the business has committed more than $1 million to its employees in the form of bonuses, pay raises and a new paid time off benefit for all hourly employees.

About Tiff's Treats

In 1999, Tiffany Taylor accidentally stood up Leon Chen for a date. As an apology, she baked and delivered a batch of warm cookies, and the concept of warm cookie delivery was born. Tiff and Leon, just 19-year-old sophomores at The University of Texas at Austin at the time, opened Tiff's Treats with $20, a cell phone and a dream. Since then, the business has grown to 59 stores in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina, with more than 1,400 employees, baking more than 100 million cookies since the company started. The founders are now married and the business continues to grow, but Tiff's Treats has the same core mission: creating memorable moments through classic, baked-to-order cookies and specialty desserts from high-quality ingredients, and delivering them straight from the oven to the home or office, warm, in about an hour. Customers can order online, with the Tiff's Treats app or by phone, all supported by industry-leading technology and top-notch customer service. The charitably-minded company continually gives back. On top of hundreds of thousands of cookies per year donated to nonprofit organizations, each new store's grand opening benefits a local charity. To date, Tiff's Treats has donated over $200,000 to worthy causes through these events. To learn more, please visit www.cookiedelivery.com.

Customers can choose to pick up their cookie order in-store or stop by for a sweet treat.

Cookie fans are greeted with a sweet message inside a Tiff's Treats store.

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SOURCE Tiff's Treats
Ms Truss expressed four 'key areas of concerns' about the Government's border plans, which are due to be published on July 13 - Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Liz Truss, the Trade Secretary, has warned that Boris Johnson's Brexit border plans could result in smuggling and the breaking of international rules in a leaked letter.

The Government announced last month that full border controls will not be applied on goods until July 2021, despite Britain leaving EU trading and customs rules at the end of 2020. Business groups fear the delay risks a "disaster" for firms trading with the EU.

In an explosive letter to Cabinet ministers on Wednesday, Ms Truss warned that the new regime risks the UK's international credibility.

The leaking of the letter to Business Insider has raised suspicions that she may be moved from her post in a mooted summer reshuffle.

In the private correspondence to Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, and the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, Ms Truss highlighted four "key areas of concerns" about the Government's border plans, which are due to be published on July 13.

Saying that the proposals would create a series of logistical, political and reputational risks for the Government, the letter demands "assurances that we are able to deliver full control at ports by July 2021 and that plans are in place from January to mitigate the risk of goods being circumvented from ports implementing full controls".

Suggesting that a lack of preparedness could lead to smuggling from the EU if UK ports are not ready to carry out checks, she said the UK could "be vulnerable to WTO challenge".

This is because Britain plans to temporarily give the EU preferential treatment, which could breach WTO rules if there is no UK-EU free trade agreement in place.

Angela Merkel has told the EU to prepare for a no trade deal Brexit - Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said on Wednesday that the EU should be prepared for a no trade deal Brexit, a day after Mr Johnson told her Britain was "ready" to walk away without an agreement.

Ms Truss also expressed concerns over the union if EU tariffs are applied to all goods heading to Northern Ireland by "default."

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"I understand that the digital delivery of the dual tariff system (both EU and UK tariff) in Northern Ireland is a high risk and that HMRC are planning to apply the EU tariff as a default to all imports in NI on 1 January 2021," she wrote.

She also said she was worried that it would anger unionists in the province, telling Mr Gove and Mr Sunak: "This is very concerning, as this may call into question NI's place in the UK customs territory."

The letter also appeared to confirm that a previous UK Government plan to waive customs declarations on exports to the EU had been dropped.

"I am pleased to hear that following the XO [Exit Operations] meeting last Friday, it was decided that the temporary waiving of export declarations will not be included in the publication," Ms Truss wrote.

She signed off by telling her colleagues that "we need to ensure that the UK border is effective and compliant with international rules, maintaining our credibility with trading partners, the WTO and with business".

The UK trade department needs a "clear view of operational plans, timescales and risks going forward," she said.

On Wednesday, the Environment Secretary said Britain could forgo annual negotiations with the EU over fishing opportunities for some types of fish.

In the latest sign a deal over British waters could be edging closer, George Eustice told a House of Lords Select Committee: "It's not uncommon for there to be a multi-annual agreement, but not necessarily on all stocks [...] it can happen on individual stocks."

The UK has demanded a Norway-style fishing deal with annual negotiations over fishing opportunities. The EU appears ready to drop its demand that its boats retain status quo access to UK waters provided a deal is negotiated for the long term rather than yearly.

A Government spokesman said: "We do not comment on leaks."
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty

By now, congressional Republicans are largely finished with their fruitless, decade-long quest to repeal and replace Obamacare. It, however, is not finished with them.

Like a zombie, that effort has lurched forward without the buy-in of congressional Republicansaided, this time, by the branch of government that sits across the street: the U.S. Supreme Court. A group of GOP state attorneys general, backed by President Donald Trump, are pushing a lawsuit that would repeal the Affordable Care Act. With arguments in the case set for the fall, the decision on the fate of the sweeping health-care law could come before January 2021, when either Trump or Joe Biden will be sworn into office.

Thats put the ACA, once again, at the forefront of the political conversation. And with the election looming and the coronavirus pandemic raging, Republican aides and lawmakers have been left to watch it all with a mix of frustration and anxietyfrustration that the administration is pushing ahead with a lawsuit they believe is politically toxic to their party and anxiety that they have no actually plans for what to do if the high court actually does strike down the law.

It does beg the question of what you just askedwhats Plan B? said Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), a member of the Senates health panel, on Thursday. And I dont know that there's anything there ready to go.

The Coronavirus Is Killing Americans, but Trump and Barr Are Trying to Kill Obamacare

Republicans famously could not pass a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare even with unified control of government. Since then, they have thrown out various proposals but none have gained steam. Key members of the party have actually floated measures to shore up the law, not destroy it; privately, many believe its here to stay, whether they like it or not.

Asked by The Daily Beast, several GOP lawmakers pointed to some of those specific bills from their colleagues as vehicles that could serve as stopgap measures should the court strike down Obamacare. But none could point to a specific person or persons in their ranks crafting a plan to replace the ACA, should it cease to exist. Spokespeople for two of the lawmakers central to the Senates last repeal-and-replace bill, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), did not respond to requests to comment on the current status of Obamacare replacement legislation.

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The level of discussion within the Republican ranks regarding the possibility they may have to replace the ACA soon appears, in fact, to be minimal to nonexistent. Last week, a small delegation of GOP senators traveled to the White House to meet with administration officials for a discussion on several health care-related topics. Obamacare or the lawsuit threatening it did not come up, according to a source familiar with the meeting.

Youre asking me whether theres a planthere are a lot of plans, plural, said Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH). I mean, lots of us have ideas.

Others simply resorted to the presidents go-to line: that Republicans will have something ready to go, at some point. Were not going to leave the American people without insurance, said Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA). We will replace the Affordable Care Act with something better.

John Cornyn Promotes Obamacare as He Keeps Trying to Kill It

The latest existential threat to the ACA at the high court comes from 18 states, led by Texas, which argue that the centerpiece of the lawthe so-called individual mandate to purchase insuranceis unconstitutional, because the tax penalty for not obtaining insurance was eliminated by the GOPs 2017 tax law. The states argue that since the individual mandate is inseparable from the rest of the law, the entirety of Obamacare must be struck down.

Privately, Republican lawmakers and aides doubt that Chief Justice John Roberts court would actually strike down the ACA. Roberts has upheld the law in key cases before, and his recent siding with liberal justices on decisions about abortion and immigration have some conservatives convinced he wouldnt overturn it now.

Key Republicans, like Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chairman of the Senate Health Committee, have also disparaged the merits of the case brought by the GOP attorneys general. I never thought that was a very good case, Alexander said recently on CNN. I don't remember hearing anybody in the United States Senate saying at the time we thought we were repealing Obamacare, we thought we were repealing the penalty on the individual mandate.

But the suit could be plenty damaging to Republicans, no matter what the high court ultimately decides. Democrats successfully took back the House in 2018 on the strength of backlash to the GOPs repeal-and-replace effort, and theyd love nothing more than to run on the issue again in 2020. The GOP, likewise, has been anxious to retool their health care messaging on the campaign trail, recognizing Democrats political advantage on the issue. The Trump lawsuit effectively scuttles thatand its making operatives tear out their hair.

Nobody wants to have this fight, no one wants to talk about itthis helps no one, said one party strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue candidly. If were talking about health care, were losing Its a bad issue for us. By continually bringing it up, we highlight a weakness.

For the Senate Republicans facing competitive re-elections this fall, the ACA lawsuit represents yet another potent obstacle in the minefield of Trumps Washington, where breaking with the president can be politically lethal but sticking with him on an unpopular stance can be just as harmful.

In a radio interview on Wednesdaydays after the Trump administration filed another brief solidifying its support of the states lawsuitSen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) dinged his Democratic opponent, John Hickenlooper, on health care but didnt give a straight answer as to whether he backed the ACA lawsuit, despite being asked repeatedly. What we need to do is find Republicans and Democrats who are willing to find a better solution to the Affordable Care Act, Gardner told Colorado Public Radio. Gardner is one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents this fall, standing for re-election in a state that Biden is expected to win comfortably.

Other incumbent Republicans on the ballot this fall, like Sen. David Perdue (R-GA), have decided to wholeheartedly endorse the Trump effort to overturn the ACA. I support the president in his attempt to do that, Perdue told a local TV station last week, adding we know what a debacle the Obamacare law was. The first-term Republican is not a top Democratic target but could face a tougher re-election fight in an increasingly hard fought presidential state.

Asked if the lawsuit would be a political anchor for Republicans, Sen. John Barasso (R-WY), the No. 3 Republican in the chamber, downplayed concerns, saying that the electoral environment can shift quickly.

Every election is unique in its own way but when you get a look at what's happening in the world, with the coronavirus, the impact on the economyfour months ago, this was going to be an election about the economy, said Barasso. Now thats all changed.

But other Republicans acknowledge that the lawsuit will be a headwind for them. If we're not out there with something, especially trying to reform the industry, said Braun, you know, I think we'll be responsible accordingly.

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President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at a White House meeting Tuesday. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

President Trump on Tuesday urged the nation's public schools to reopen "quickly and beautifully" and jabbed at districts like Los Angeles' that remain uncertain, again injecting politics into the pandemic response.

As the nation's death toll from COVID-19 surged past 130,000 this week, cases are rising in 38 states, including an outbreak at childcare facilities in Texas. Teachers are anxious. Parents are confused and divided. And public health experts worry that local officials nationwide haven't spent the time and money to copy the preliminary successes of some European countries that have sent students back to schools in recent weeks.

Federal officials say it can be done, while conceding the risk and the need to track new cases closely. The American Academy of Pediatrics has said it's imperative for the health of children to give school re-openings a go, given the risk children face of abuse and social isolation at home, among other potential ills.

Yet even many of those urging a return to school worry that Trump's diminished credibility on managing the virus' spread makes him ill-suited to lead the kind of debate on balancing competing concerns.

"The president has made himself beyond irrelevant on this, and no one can afford to listen to him because what he has done already is so dangerous and has cost so many lives," said Arne S. Duncan, who served as secretary of education under President Obama and was the former superintendent of Chicago Public Schools.

Trump, increasingly desperate to revive the economy ahead of November's election, claimed during a White House roundtable on the subject that school officials who don't quickly re-open classrooms would be acting in their political self-interest.

"They think it's going to be good for them politically, so they keep the schools closed. No way," Trump said. "So we're very much going to put pressure on governors and everyone else to open the schools, to get them open. It's very important."

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Afterward, six groups representing teachers, parents and school officials  including the two largest teachers unions  faulted the White House for offering at best conflicting guidance for school reopening and lacking a comprehensive plan that includes money for safety upgrades and equipment.

No one wants students to safely return to classrooms more than parents, educators and administrators, the statement said. We also recognize that we must do it the safest way possible, not the most politically expedient way.

Across the country, superintendents, principals, teachers, nonprofit groups and local elected officials have been working on plans and surveying parents during the prolonged pandemic. Many schools will be open in just weeks, but with a mix of in-person and virtual learning, staggered schedules with smaller groups of students attending classes on different days, new procedures for lunch distribution and physical education, and likely without extracurricular activities like school choirs.

This has got to be done thoughtfully," Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said in an interview. "It's not one-size-fits-all, and there will be some increased transmission in schools."

Even as many infected children may not show symptoms, some do. "And we dont know what the long-term health effects could be even on those without severe symptoms, Koplan said.

The White House roundtable, one of several events to highlight Trump's call to open schools, featured multiple panelists, including administration officials and supporters who praised the president  his education secretary, Betsy DeVos, even added the unrelated kudos, "Thanks to you, we've defeated ISIS." While some attendees referred to precautions being taken by schools, there was little talk of ongoing risks, in keeping with Trump's own minimization of the coronavirus' toll.

Senior administration officials, speaking anonymously in a briefing with reporters, conceded that fully opening schools could lead to more infections but emphasized the lower threat to people younger than 30. They said damage could be mitigated if communities take steps to limit the spread and double down in our commitment to protect the vulnerable.

The advisors said Trump was not proposing to use federal funds to pressure local and state officials.

Los Angeles Supt. Austin Beutner said on Monday that no decision has been made about reopening campuses in the nations second-largest school system given ongoing safety concerns and the districts inability to pay for and properly manage testing and follow-up contact tracing for the coronavirus.

California and Los Angeles County officials largely have left the issue of when and how to reopen classes to local school districts. The decision has been complicated by the states recent jump in infections.

Many families have indicated that they are not ready to allow their children to return. In a poll of parents, the L.A. district found that one in five were uncertain about their students returning. Another one in five were adamant that they would not send their children back.

Many L.A. school employees also expressed reservations: 20% were uncertain about returning and 36% were against it; 56% said theyd prefer to do their work primarily from home.

The issue is also tricky for Trump's Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, given the apprehension from the teachers unions whose support is central to the Democratic Party. During a video conference with the National Education Association on Friday, Biden anticipated schools will use distance-learning for a while longer, and he echoed the union's call for more money for safety measures.

Anita Cicero, deputy director at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and a specialist in pandemic preparedness, in an interview said she worried that too many states are pushing ahead without waiting for caseloads to drop for 14 days, as the CDC initially recommended. While lower income families would benefit most from sending children to school  many parents work outside the home and depend on social services schools provide  they may be most at risk of an outbreak, Cicero said. Such families are more likely to have members with underlying health risks and less access to good healthcare.

There should be a lot of discussion, knowing that there will be outbreaks  what should the triggers be to close them again?" she said.

In Florida, where Republican leaders have been aggressive about lifting pandemic limits, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran on Monday ordered all schools to open five days a week, though the state has one of the biggest surges in illnesses.

"Our biggest concern is when we see places like Florida say schools are going to open five days a week, in total disregard of the safety issue," Daniel A. Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, said in an interview. The association has posted 40 pages of guidance for school systems on its website.

He estimated that additional expenses incurred by school districts  paying for masks, enhanced cleanings and additional busing to account for social-distancing requirements  will run nearly $500 per student, which adds up to $1.8 million for average-sized districts and as much as $100 million for major metropolitan districts like Los Angeles and New York City.

A fifth round of federal pandemic relief would likely include additional funding for schools, but officials question whether Congress will provide sufficient money, and soon enough to make a difference.

"The problem is we're running out of time," Domenech said. "We're in to July, and schools will be opening up in a month. And if the money isn't there, how in the world will schools and superintendents be able to open schools safely?"
Wanis killing also inspired hundreds of Kashmirs youth to join militants ranks

A partial to complete shutdown disrupted normal life across Kashmir Valley on Wednesday to commemorate militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on his 4th death anniversary.

The authorities snapped internet services partially in four districts of south Kashmir-Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian- and also in northwestern town of Sopore as a precautionary measures. The reinforcements from J&K police and Central armed police forces were earlier fanned out across the Valley to maintain peace, the official sources said.

None of the separatist organizations or leaders had issued a call for the strike. On Tuesday, an open letter attributed to separatist patriarch Syed Ali Shah Geelani, calling for a shutdown in the Valley on Burhan Wani's death anniversary on Wednesday and again on Kashmir Martyrs Day on July 13, had gone viral. But the J&K police were quick to step in, informing the people that it was a fake letter. The police also said that they have filed a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and for public mischief under Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Burhan, the 22-year-old Internet savvy poster boy of frontline indigenous militant outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, was along with two associates killed by the security forces in Kokernag area of Anantnag district on July 8, 2016, triggering widespread unrest in Kashmir and parts of Chenab valley of Jammu region during which more than eighty people were killed, most of them in security forces actions.

Wanis killing also inspired hundreds of Kashmirs youth to join militants ranks. However, the tough counterinsurgency campaign being spearheaded by the Army and other security forces has caused a heavy toll on militants during the past three years.

The officials say that as many as 139 militants have been killed in counterinsurgency operations across J&K, so far, this year. Thirty-two security personnel and thirteen unarmed civilians also died during this period.

The Narendra Modi government has played tough also on separatist political leadership. Most separatist leaders have been jailed or placed under house detention.

The government cracked down hard on the entire separatist camp before and after it stripped J&K of its special status and split it up into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. It has also sought to sideline the mainstream Kashmiri politicians, many of whom were even incarcerated immediately before or after the Governments contentious August 5 move.

The government continues to give them a cold shoulder and their pleas for initiating dialogue on issues confronting J&K have been ignored by it, creating a political vacuum in the erstwhile restive state.
Two San Francisco-area residents accused of painting over a "Black Lives Matter" mural are facing hate crime charges.

Nicole Anderson, 42, and David Nelson, 53, both of Martinez, were charged Tuesday with three misdemeanor counts, including a hate crime violation, the Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office said in a statement.

The July 4 incident was captured on video that shows a woman splattering black paint on the yellow block letters on a downtown Martinez street and then using a roller to cover some of the letters in the mural, which was city approved.

In the video, which had previously been shared on social media and by the Martinez Police Department, a man can be heard saying, "the narrative of police brutality, the narrative of oppression, the narrative of racism, it's a lie."

The woman painting says "keep this [expletive] in New York. This is not happening in my town."

Both are white, and the man is wearing what appears to be a "Make America Great Again" hat and a shirt with the words Trump and "Four More Years."

Police confirmed that the two people seen in that video are Anderson and Nelson, a spokesman for the district attorney's office said. Anderson painted over part of the mural, and Nelson "directly aided in the alleged criminal conduct," the district attorney's office said.

Both are charged with violation of civil rights; vandalism under $400; and possession of tools to commit vandalism or graffiti; which are all misdemeanors, according to the district attorney's office.

Police have said that the mural was completed on July 4, and that both went to the mural with the purpose of painting over it.

If convicted, they face up to a year in county jail.

Image: Aerial view of BLM mural (Martizians for Black Lives)

Phone messages to numbers that appear linked to Anderson or Nelson in public records were not immediately returned Tuesday night. It was not immediately clear if either had an attorney.

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Black Lives Matter protests against racial injustice and demonstrations calling for police reforms have been held across the country following the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.

Some cities, including Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, have had the words of that movement painted on streets.

"We must address the root and byproduct of systemic racism in our country. The Black Lives Matter movement is an important civil rights cause that deserves all of our attention, County District Attorney Diana Becton said in Tuesday's statement.

"The mural completed last weekend was a peaceful and powerful way to communicate the importance of Black lives in Contra Costa County and the country," Becton said. "We must continue to elevate discussions and actually listen to one another in an effort to heal our community and country.

Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder said in a statement Tuesday that permission was granted to the group Martizians for Black Lives to paint the mural on July 2.

That request was made after what the mayor described as "anti-black hateful flyers" that threatened harm against Black Lives Matter supporters were found downtown on June 27.

"Approval of the use of our streets sends a message to all that African-Americans and other people of color are equal members of our community and hateful rhetoric will be actively rejected by our City," the mayor said.

Martinez is a city of around 38,000 in Contra Costa County, northeast of San Francisco.
The big shareholder groups in Custodian REIT Plc (LON:CREI) have power over the company. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. Companies that used to be publicly owned tend to have lower insider ownership.

Custodian REIT is not a large company by global standards. It has a market capitalization of UK374m, which means it wouldn't have the attention of many institutional investors. Our analysis of the ownership of the company, below, shows that institutions are noticeable on the share registry. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about Custodian REIT.

View our latest analysis for Custodian REIT

LSE:CREI Ownership Breakdown July 8th 2020

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Custodian REIT?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

Custodian REIT already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Custodian REIT, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

LSE:CREI Earnings and Revenue Growth July 8th 2020

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Custodian REIT. Mattioli Woods Plc, Asset Management Arm is currently the largest shareholder, with 60% of shares outstanding. This implies that they have majority interest control of the future of the company. BlackRock, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 4.5% of common stock, and Legal & General Investment Management Limited holds about 2.1% of the company stock.

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Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage.

Insider Ownership Of Custodian REIT

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Custodian REIT Plc. It appears that the board holds about UK2.4m worth of stock. This compares to a market capitalization of UK374m. Many investors in smaller companies prefer to see the board more heavily invested. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, with a 17% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for Custodian REIT you should know about.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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.
U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Announces Name Change to U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action

U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Announces Name Change to U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action

PR Newswire

CHESTERFIELD, Mo., July 8, 2020

New name highlights role farmers and ranchers play to ensure more sustainable food systems

CHESTERFIELD, Mo., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After a decade of driving collaboration within the agriculture and food sectors, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance today announced it will change its identity to U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA). The non-profit agriculture and food value chain leader is evolving its name to illustrate the active role farmers and ranchers play to advance food and nutrition security, environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.

U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Announces Name Change to U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (PRNewsfoto/U.S. Farmers & Ranchers)

"Farmers and ranchers are integral members of our communities who play a vital role on the frontlines of our food system, and their work to feed America's families has become even more crucial during these challenging times," said Chip Bowling, USFRA Chairman and row crop farmer from Newburg, Maryland. "As we look to further realize the benefits of sustainable food and agriculture, we must also acknowledge the extraordinary potential America's farmland holds to draw down carbon, help mitigate climate change and unlock investment and growth opportunities for our economy. Climate-smart agriculture practices are a solution that we can put into action to really make a difference. We're proud to focus on that action with the new name."

"The very definition of sustainability is critical in understanding what the new USFRA brings to the table," explained Erin Fitzgerald, USFRA CEO. "In agriculture, we often talk about environmental sustainability or climate impacts. But we also have to look at economic sustainability of our farms and food system, and how investing in agriculture can also support community vibrancy. Our new name represents the leaders in action who are committed to co-creating the sustainable food systems of the future."

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As part of the new name, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action launched a new digital destination that highlights the stories of food and agriculture leaders and calls the industry to join in action projects to ensure a more sustainable food system. From mapping agriculture against the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals to uncovering the greatest needs to transform economic investment in agriculture technologies and innovation, USFRA is convening stakeholders to take action. This September, these efforts will continue at the Honor the Harvest Forum, a virtual collaboration between food and agriculture leaders co-create shared pathway that will lead to a more sustainable food future.

Working together, leaders across the food and agriculture sector can be a tremendous force for good. During the COVID-19 disruption, for example, an alarming portion of the population has struggled to feed themselves and their families. The entire supply chain, from farmers to retailers to packaged good companies, has stepped in to make contributions and help those in need.

"It's inspiring to see what can happen when we all work toward one common goal," continued Fitzgerald. "Working together on our future, we can continue to meet other challenges, united in the recognition that we are all in this together. With collaboration, ingenuity and a sense of community, we can help meet the needs of people and planet. We're asking all leaders in food and agriculture to join us on this mission of a lifetime."

ABOUT USFRA

U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) represents farmer and rancher-led organizations, and food and agricultural partners, with a common vision to further our global sustainable food systems. We believe farmers uniquely contribute to nourishing our planet, people, and natural resources. Our focus is creating a proactive collaboration between the best minds in food, agriculture, science, and technology to co-create solutions that will result in environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Learn more at www.usfarmersandranchers.org.

Cision

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SOURCE U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action
WASHINGTON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Research Council President Tony Perkins applauded the decision handed down today by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, in which a teacher responsible for leading students in prayer and religious preparation sued a Catholic School that desired to discontinue working with her.

Family Research Council logo (PRNewsFoto/Family Research Council)

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

"We are pleased that the Supreme Court has decided to uphold First Amendment free exercise of religion in this case. The ability to curate who provides religious instruction is fundamental to the free exercise of any religiously-informed institution.

"Despite the egregious decision in the recently-decided Bostock v. Clayton County case, today's First Amendment decision suggests that religious institutions still have a prayer of preserving and promoting their biblical teachings when it comes to employment decisions. This tiny step is far from sufficient, but it does offer a glimmer of hope that the Supreme Court has not forgotten that religious freedom is the most fundamental right of all," concluded Perkins.

Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at Family Research Council, added: "It is not the government's role to dictate who may teach the faith to the next generation. I'm glad the Supreme Court properly recognized the spheres of authority separating Church and State and protected this school's ability to determine who will teach the faith to the children under their care."

Cision

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SOURCE Family Research Council
Fighting is still simmering in eastern Ukraine despite a 2015 truce that put an end to major hostilities - Anatolii Stepanov/AFP

Ukraine's security service has detained a suspected Russian agent who was allegedly planning to blow up an ammonia tank in the countrys war-torn east.

Ukraines SBU secret agency claims the unidentified Ukrainian national is an agent of Russias FSB intelligence agency, tasked with targeting key infrastructure of the Luhansk region.

The FSB did not have immediate comment.

The man was reportedly caught red-handed in the city of Severodonetsk, a few dozen miles away from the separatist-controlled area, as he was retrieving two grenade launchers from a weapons cache for the attack that was supposed to blow up a 3.5 tonne ammonia tank at a local chemical plant.

Ammonia is a highly toxic substance, and a spill would have endangered lives and caused environmental damage.

Footage released by the SBU on Wednesday showed the man lying on his stomach following the arrest, with SBU agents finding two grenade launchers in a gym bag nearby.

The man, who was previously wanted by Ukrainian police for fighting alongside Russia-backed separatists is now in custody facing charges of sabotage, the SBU said.

The conflict between pro-Russian separatists and government troops in eastern Ukraine has claimed more than 13,000 lives and displaced a million people since it erupted in 2014.

Major hostilities died down after a 2015 truce but fighting is still simmering, and large swathes of Ukraines industrial east remain under separatist control.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, has been pushing for a peaceful solution to the deadly conflict since he assumed office last year.

Hopes for a peace settlement emerged when Mr Zelenskiy sat down for talks with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, last year and saw through two major prison swaps that secured the release of more than 200 Ukrainian prisoners from separatist custody.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said on Wednesday that it was too early to talk about a new round of peace talks for eastern Ukraine.
United Airlines Warns 36,000 Workers They Could Be Laid Off or Furloughed

United Airlines soon plans to issue furlough and layoff notices to roughly 36,000 employees, including pilots, flight attendants, customer service agents and maintenance workers, warning them they could lose their jobs by early October, when federal funding for paycheck supports expires, the carrier told workers on Wednesday.

United said the estimate may not be exact, and could change as more workers leave voluntarily, or if demand for air travel unexpectedly strengthens. But Uniteds executives repeatedly have stressed the U.S. airline industry is in dire shape, and this week told investors that this summers limited recovery may have stalled, as more U.S. Covid-19 cases pop up in many regions. Several U.S. airlines, particularly ones with robust long-haul networks, like United, expect to be significantly smaller over the next three to five years.

Uniteds job cut proposal is significant. At the end of 2019, the airline had roughly 96,000 employees, and since then about 4,000 have taken voluntary packages to leave, executives have said.

The airline expects job loss notices will go to roughly 15,000 flight attendants, 11,000 customer service and gate agents, 800 catering employees, 2,250 pilots, almost 1,000 reservations center employees, 5,500 maintenance workers and 225 employees in its network operations center.

While the notices will go out soon, individual employees will not definitively learn of their future until mid-to-late August, an airline official said. But because most of these workers are covered by collective bargaining agreements that reward seniority, the airlines more recent hires can reasonably expect they will lose their jobs.

There also will be other involuntarily job losses. United expects about 1,400 more management employees will lose their jobs later this summer, but they will not receive notices in this round. Those decisions will be made based on merit, not seniority.

The reality is that United simply cannot continue at our current payroll level past October 1 in an environment where travel demand is so depressed. And involuntary furloughs come as a last resort, after months of company-wide cost-cutting and capital-raising, United said Wednesday in a message to employees.

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Not Final Yet

U.S. airlines recently took $25 billion in CARES Act funding that they have used to pay employee salaries. Congress gave airlines the money so carriers could pay costs during what it hoped would be short-term drop in travel demand. But with the Coronavirus sticking around, no one expects normal to return soon.

Congress could extend the funding, but United executives have said they cannot count on another bailout and must manage their business accordingly.

The airline also is not expecting significant turnaround this year, saying Tuesday in an investor filing that August may be its high-water market for 2020 recovery. United is expecting to fly 35 percent of its originally planned schedule next month, a number that could stay roughly stagnant for the rest of the year. Business has been getting slightly worse in recent weeks, the airline has said, as more big cities have instituted new restrictions on travel, including quarantines.

If demand unexpectedly returns, United could keep more employees than it outlined on Tuesday. United also may be able to layoff and furlough fewer workers if more employees take voluntary departure packages. The airline has said fewer employees have accepted these voluntary packages than it wanted, but that may change once workers see how many employees will have to leave, without the extra benefits.

United is also hoping more workers will agree to work fewer hours, allowing more employees to keep their jobs.

Recall Rights

Most airline unions are strong, relative to other industries, and contracts tend to require airlines to offer furloughs, rather than layoffs.

The majority of unionized workers here will receive open-ended furloughs. That means United will have to offer them their jobs back before it can hire new workers.

After previous crises, including 9/11, it has taken airlines several years before they recalled all their employees. Not all will want to come back, however, as some find new jobs and careers while they are on furlough.

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WILMINGTON  A conservative nonprofit, along with a news website co-founded by Fox News host Tucker Carlson, are suing the University of Delaware for its refusal to release former Vice President Joe Bidens senatorial records.

The lawsuit claims the university is violating the Freedom of Information Act by denying requests to release the documents.

The university maintains that Bidens Senate papers are not public records, university spokeswoman Andrea Boyle Tippett said in a statement.

Bidens sealed Senate documents, donated to the university in 2012, have pushed the university into the political spotlight this year. Some have suggested the collection could contain files related to former Senate staffer Tara Reades accusation that Biden sexually assaulted her when she worked in his office.

The nonprofit Judicial Watch filed the lawsuit Wednesday, on behalf of itself and the Daily Caller News Foundation. Both organizations have filed information requests for Bidens Senate collection, along with any records about the preservation and release of the documents.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks at Alexis I. du Pont High School in Greenville on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

PAST PRESSURE: UD is now at the center of the sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden

Initially, the papers were expected to be available to the public two years after Bidens last day in elected office. After Biden announced his bid for president, the conditions of the agreement changed. The documents will not be made public until two years after Biden retires from public life.

The university has stated that it will not violate its contract by releasing the documents without Bidens consent.

A former Senate staffer, Reade previously told the Associated Press that in a Capitol Hill office building in 1993, Biden pushed her against a wall, groped her and digitally penetrated her without her consent.

Biden has repeatedly denied the allegation, saying it never happened.

In this April 4, 2019, photo Tara Reade poses for a photo during an interview with The Associated Press in Nevada City, Calif. (AP Photo/Donald Thompson) ORG XMIT: WX121

Reades own public account of her allegations has shifted over the past year, and she has faced scrutiny for not stepping forward sooner. But traumatized victims of sexual violence are not always able to tell consistent stories about their abusers, and often do not share those stories at all, according to abuse experts.

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Wednesdays lawsuit is the latest in months of pressure on the university to open the collection for public review. In May, Reades attorney demanded Biden open up the archives  a vast collection that spans more than 1,850 boxes, along with 415 gigabytes of electronic records.

AD CAMPAIGN: GOP targets University of Delaware in ads over Tara Reade's claim about Biden

Shortly after, the university was the target of an ad campaign pushed by the Republican National Committee, claiming it is being complicit in a sexual assault cover up by not releasing the documents.

Now, Judicial Watch and the Daily Caller are leveraging a legal battle against the universitys long-held exemption from most Freedom of Information Act requests.

The university initially denied Judicial Watch and the Daily Callers requests because public funds are not used to support Bidens Senate collection. The state attorney generals office upheld this.

Judicial Watch and the Daily Caller argue that the university was able to make that statement without offering full corroboration that no state dollars went into funding the Biden collection.

Students hang around Old College near Main Street on the UD campus. College enrollment is down nationally, 2.4 million fewer students than in fall 2011, but University of Delaware has managed to increase their enrollment.

PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? Think Delaware's two biggest universities are public? Think again

Partisan gamesmanship by a public university is unseemly and unlawful, Daily Caller president Neil Patel said. If they dont want to do the right thing, we will force them in court.

In accordance with Delaware law, UD and Delaware State University are not state agencies, and are exempt from information requests unless they directly pertain to the expenditure of public funds. The question of whether UD is public or private has been explored in numerous court cases.

UD has long pointed to its charter as evidence that it is a privately governed, state-assisted university. While it must share information directly related to public funds, all other financial information is considered private. Because of this, taxpayers are largely kept in the dark about the schools finances and business practices.

Whether the collection contains evidence relateReades accusation is unclear. Reade has maintained that her workplace discrimination and harassment complaint would be housed in the collection at UD. Biden has said that any personnel files would be in the National Archives, and not the UD collection.

The collection is still being curated, and the university expects the process to last until at least the spring of 2021.

Natalia Alamdari covers education for The News Journal. You can reach her at (302) 324-2312 or nalamdari@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Biden records: University of Delaware sued over refusal to Senate records
There has never been a presidential campaign in the United States where the administration was so massively opposed by the principal media outlets as in this election. Nor, in at least a century, have the national political media so widely and thoroughly discarded the traditional criterion for journalistic professionalism: the clear division between comment and reporting. Almost throughout the four-term presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the great majority of American newspapers was officially opposed to him. But far more important than the publishers editorial recommendations were the generally favorable disposition to him of the working press. He charmed them and the journalists ate from his hand.

Many aspects of the Trump presidency are unprecedented; he is the first president never to have sought or held a public office, elected or unelected, or a high military command; and this is the first presidency, at least in living memory, in which almost the entire national political media have completely and constantly misreported the presidents public remarks and policies. The former newspaper of record, the New York Times, has been commendably forthright in declaring that it was opposing rather than just reporting on the Trump administration. Trump delivered the greatest speech of his career on Friday evening at Mount Rushmore, devoted altogether to celebrating the idealism of the American Revolution, the suppression of the Confederate insurrection in the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, and the enactment  albeit tardily  of the Jeffersonian promise, renewed by Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, that all men are created equal. The Washington Post editorial board declared that he had reached new depths of depravity. This is an outrage worthy only of the press of a totalitarian country describing an opposition figure.

With very few exceptions, the United States is now served by a national political media that is incapable of reporting about the president accurately, that baits him at press briefings with disgusting insolence, and that is extraordinarily negligent in ignoring or downplaying anything that reflects poorly on the presidents other enemies, the medias allies in the war against the president. The hideous permutation of the legitimate protests following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25  protests the president endorsed  into widespread arson, pillage, vandalism, and assault resulting in more than 20 deaths in many cities across the country was largely ignored or deemphasized by the media. On the July 4 weekend, Chicago had 87 shootings resulting in 17 deaths, New York City 64 shootings and 10 deaths, Atlanta 31 shootings and five deaths, and the crime rate in New York City since the city council voted to reduce the annual police budget by a billion dollars has increased 130 percent over the corresponding figure in 2019. The anti-Trump media have said almost nothing about this.

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The semi-organized mobs of urban guerrillas masquerading as social reformers and champions of racial equality have been generally soft-pedaled by the anti-Trump media as understandable forces of resistance to Trumpian injustice. Black Lives Matter (BLM), a Marxist organization that is anti-white and denies that all lives matter, has been sugar-coated as legitimate reform. Trump and most of American history and its most admired personalities have been explicitly or tacitly debunked. The destruction of a statue of Frederick Douglass, Americas greatest 19th-century black leader, in Rochester, like the destruction of a San Francisco statue of U. S. Grant, newly morally indistinguishable from his Confederate opponent, Robert E. Lee, was almost entirely ignored. Most of the national political media have treated the American public, in BLM Marxist parlance, as an ignorant lumpenproletariat unworthy of hearing the truth.

In the same spirit, the national political media have simply dismissed the administrations view of the evolution of the COVID-19 crisis. The fact that weekly fatalities have descended by nearly 90 percent in two months is never mentioned. Also rarely mentioned are the facts that large increases in detected coronavirus cases have occurred because almost 40 million Americans have now been tested and most of these new discoveries are cures, and that a large number of healthy people have contracted the virus with no or minimal symptoms as the country has reopened and are essentially progress towards the general immunization of the country, as second infections are rare and comparatively resistible. The failure of the administrations COVID-19 policy has been enthroned as conventional wisdom despite these contrary facts.

Another unique aspect of this election campaign is that the candidate who has emerged from a contested nomination, Joe Biden, is not now moving back toward the center. He was extracted by the party elders from the ditch where the primary voters had deposited him, transported to the finish line on the wheels of the Democratic machines that have so disgraced themselves in the dissolution of metropolitan government in the last months, and in so far as he is campaigning at all, he is still moving to the left. He has promised to transform America. Given the influence now being exercised within his party of a rigorous, authoritarian socialism that no substantial American electorate has ever approved, that ticket is likely to be written by the Sanders-Ocasio-Cortez-BLM faction of the Democrats. At Mount Rushmore, the president condemned the socialistic and anti-American brainwashing conducted in a great swath of American schools and universities. The following day, Biden promised the primary teachers union (NEA), that he would abolish charter schools and produce an education system for the teachers. The status of the students and their parents was nebulous.

The principal reason for these unprecedentedly profound cleavages in public sentiment and media conduct is that this president ran as an outsider to win the Republican nomination and an upset victory for the presidency. He had attacked the governance provided by both parties as working almost indistinguishably together on key issues in the post-Reagan years, and was severely critical of the resulting Bush-Clinton-Obama record of poor economic growth, increasing poverty and violence at home, and in the world, enervating, endless war in the Middle East, and loss of status to a rising China as the Western alliance slowly disintegrated. He promised to drain the Washington swamp, conspicuously including the national political media.

That he has been assaulted by all those whom he promised to depose or reform cannot be a source of amazement. As no such candidate had been elected before, it was impossible to foresee the fury and tenacity of the resistance to him. The Russian-collusion fraud, the spurious impeachment, and the profound dishonesty of the national political media have been the result. If President Trump is reelected, his enemies will not have the strength or credibility to continue to obstruct with the fiendish determination of his first term. If Joe Biden wins, he will be an ineffectual figurehead in a chaotic and radical administration. With Trump gone, many of those distracted by their fear and hatred of him will return to a recognizable concept of the national interest, and the replacement administration will be an unmitigated shambles. From this distant point and in this hypothesis, the most likely president for 2024 could be a revenant Donald Trump, bidding to succeed Grover Cleveland as the only other two non-sequential-term president in American history.

After four years of a dysfunctional Biden Tower of Babel, Trump would be a nostalgic figure.

More from National Review
Upward Farms' expansion accelerated with new $15 million capital investment, enabling the company to continue sustainably growing leafy greens and fish with the highest ecological and quality standards

BROOKLYN, N.Y., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Upward Farms , the aquaponics operation revolutionizing indoor farming by creating complete ecosystems and cultivating a robust microbiome, today announced growth plans including a rebrand from Seed & Roe and construction of a new headquarter farm in Brooklyn that will significantly increase production. These announcements come following the company closing more than $15 million in new funding, including investment led by Prime Movers Lab .

A look inside the new Upward Farms headquarters, an indoor aquaponic ecosystem growing leafy greens and fish. The new Brooklyn facility is on track to open in 2020 and will increase production by 20x over the original facility.

The coronavirus pandemic is significantly increasing consumer demand for organic, sustainable food, indicating heightened awareness for healthy, nutritious eating.1 Fresh produce sales have remained elevated during the pandemic period, with produce sales showing sustained double-digit, year-over-year growth March through June 2020.2 As consumers continue to gravitate toward fresh, organic produce and purchase more groceries online, Upward Farms offers consistent product availability and quality, scalability, and a shortened supply chain for East Coasters to receive locally grown greens.

Upward Farms' breakthrough approach to indoor aquaponics, using fish to fertilize crops in a complete ecosystem, results in increased yields, more control in disease prevention, and unprecedented food safety. This approach reconnects eaters with flavorful and nutritious local food, rather than relying on long haul distribution systems and imported food.

"By cultivating complete ecosystems with a strong microbiome and leveraging the precision and control of indoor agriculture, Upward Farms not only grows thriving plants and animals, but offers the potential for a sustainable food supply that is both scalable and safe," said Jason Green, Upward Farms Cofounder and CEO. "With the support of this capital investment, we will continue to expand the marriage of nature and nurture to produce affordable greens in abundance and make them accessible. Everyone should be able to easily and affordably nourish their body, family, and the planet."

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"As a leading investor in breakthrough scientific companies, we are honored to join Upward Farms' journey to transform billions of lives through next-level nutrition, safety, and deliciousness," said Suzanne Fletcher, General Partner at Prime Movers Lab and now a member of the Board of Directors at Upward Farms.

Previously known as Edenworks and then Seed & Roe, the company has raised more than $20 million in total funding to date to provide a sustainable source of greens and fish for consumers. The new Upward Farms name and brand is an expression of the company's mission to heal the broken food system. It also aligns with the company's plans for expansion, including the opening of additional farms and broadening of its product portfolio for both retail and foodservice. The look for the redesigned logo, new product packaging and digital presence represent Upward Farms' fresh, clean greens and forward-thinking approach.

In late 2020, Upward Farms plans to unveil a brand new company headquarters in Brooklyn that will demonstrate and advance the company's next generation technology through both commercial production and research and development facilities. The new operation is expected to increase production of Upward Farms greens by 20 times over its original facility, also located in Brooklyn. The expansion will enable the brand to supply its washed and ready-to-eat salads to grocery stores across New York City.

Upward Farms' growing practices eliminate harmful bacteria like E. coli and other pathogens without the use of pesticides, antibiotics or synthetic fertilizers to produce the safest leafy greens on the market. Grown from Non-GMO seeds, Upward Farms leafy greens are pesticide free, washed, and ready to eat.

"Recent events have highlighted what we at Upward Farms already know -- biology has a lifeforce all its own that must be respected. That's why we are stewards of nature, learning from and building technology to enhance biology," shared Green.

ABOUT UPWARD FARMS

Based in Brooklyn, Upward Farms was cofounded in 2013 by Jason Green, a neuroscientist and biotechnologist, Ben Silverman, a designer of high performance buildings, and Matthew La Rosa, an innovator in manufacturing and construction. Upward Farms' breakthrough approach to indoor agriculture melds these diverse talents -- whole ecosystems that were a paradigm shift in productivity and scalability compared to status quo production methods dependent upon synthetic chemicals. Upward Farms -- then Edenworks -- initially launched in Brooklyn grocery stores, including Whole Foods Market. Reconnecting eaters with flavorful, nutritious, local food, the greens quickly earned consumer loyalty to become the salad category leader where sold. Upward Farms has attracted investors and top talent thanks to its 20-year vision to create a sustainable future for the food system by advancing the importance of the microbiome in both indoor and outdoor agriculture. Visit us at www.eatupwardfarms.com .

1 Katy Askew, " Organic Food's Coronavirus Boost. " Food Navigator, May 6, 2020.

2 Ashley Nickle, " Father's Day weekend boosts produce sales growth past 15% ," The Packer, June 30, 2020.

MEDIA CONTACT

Elaine Dion

SchroderHaus on behalf of Upward Farms

415-615-2658

elaine@schroderhaus.com

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/upward-farms-announces-rebrand-from-seed--roe-and-plans-to-open-a-new-headquarter-farm-in-brooklyn-ny-301089757.html

SOURCE Upward Farms
The attack took place on the fourth death anniversary of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

SRINAGAR: A local BJP leader, along with his brother and father, was shot dead by unknown assailants in Jammu and Kashmirs Bandipore district late Wednesday evening.

Blaming the attack on militants, police officials said that Sheikh Waseem Bari, a former district president of the BJP, was sitting in a family shop on the ground flood of his roadside house in the main Bandipore town, 66-kilometre north of summer capital Srinagar, when the attack took place. They said his father Sheikh Bashir Ahmed and brother Umar Bari, who were also present, were critically injured in the indiscriminate firing by the militants.

The attack took place at the end of a one-day shutdown observed in Kashmir Valley Wednesday to commemorate the fourth death anniversary of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

Police and hospital sources said that the trio was rushed to Bandipores district hospital where doctors declared them brought dead.

Another report from Bandipore said that Waseem and his father and brother were attacked by gunmen while they were standing outside their house located opposite the towns main police station.

Police sources said that ten policemen were assigned to guard the family in view of the militant threat. But none of them were apparently present at the time of the attack. Sources said that all of them have been suspended.

However, a report from Bandipore said that they have been arrested too. A local news agency quoted Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar, as saying, "All the ten PSOs have been arrested."

Earlier another police officer said, As the house and shop are together, the PSOs were allowed to sit on the first floor but, unfortunately, none of them was kept along at the time of the incident.

The police officials said that a manhunt has been launched for the assailants. None of the militant outfits active in J&K has, so far, owned responsibility for carrying out the attack.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The top U.S. official on North Korea accused a senior North Korean nuclear negotiator on Wednesday of being locked in an old way of thinking, days after the negotiator said Pyongyang won't resume talks with Washington because of its hostile policies.

The comments by Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun were a rare case of a senior U.S. official directly criticizing North Korea since the two countries launched now-stalled diplomacy on North Koreas nuclear arsenal in 2018. The comments suggest that Washington may not be interested in resuming the diplomacy anytime soon.

Ive seen some recent press reporting that the North Koreans are not prepared to meet with me on this visit, Biegun told reporters after talks with South Korean officials. We did not request a meeting with the North Koreans. This visit is to meet with our close friends and allies, the Republic of Korea, and we had an excellent discussion.

Biegun was likely referring to recent North Korean state media reports that cited Vice Foreign Minister Choe Sun Hui as saying Pyongyang wont resume the diplomacy unless Washington discards what she described as hostile policies. Choe, who has been deeply involved in the nuclear talks, also slammed the U.S. for its shallow tactic to use North Korea for domestic political gains.

I also want to be very clear on one point. I do not take my direction from (Choe), nor from Ambassador John Bolton, Biegun said.

Along with Choe, Biegun was referring to President Donald Trumps former national security adviser, who in his recently released memoir accused him of pursuing an unhealthy negotiation path by demonstrating a willingness to negotiate a step-by-step deal advocated by North Korea.

Both are locked in an old way of thinking, focused on only the negatives and what is impossible, rather than thinking creatively about what is possible, Biegun said in a written statement published later Wednesday. That comment wasnt included in his earlier verbal remarks to reporters, which were almost identical to the written statement.

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It wasnt immediately clear why Biegun's verbal remarks did not include that comment. South Korean media speculated that Biegun may have been trying not to provoke North Korea too much, though he could have simply accidentally missed those parts.

In both his verbal and written remarks, Biegun, who has previously described Choe as his potential counterpart when talks resume, said the U.S. would be ready for talks with North Korea when his dialogue interlocutor is named, in his apparent disapproval of Choe as his counterpart.

When Chairman Kim appoints a counterpart to me who is prepared and empowered to negotiate on these issues, they will find us ready at that very moment, Biegun said, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Koreas state news agency on Wednesday didnt issue any fresh statements on the United States. Earlier in the day, it reported that Kim had visited a mausoleum in Pyongyang to pay tribute to his late grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung on the 26th anniversary of his death.

Trump and Kim have met three times since 2018, but the nuclear negotiations have fallen apart since their second summit in February last year in Vietnam. North Korea has repeatedly said in recent months that it would no longer give Trump the gift of high-profile meetings he could boast of as foreign policy achievements unless it gets something substantial in return.

North Korea recently dialed up pressure on South Korea by cutting off virtually all cooperation and blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office in its territory last month. That followed months of frustration over Seouls unwillingness to defy U.S.-led sanctions and restart joint economic projects that would help the Norths broken economy.

Some analysts believe North Korea will also avoid serious talks with the Americans for now and instead focus on pressuring the South in a bid to increase its bargaining power before an eventual return to negotiations after the U.S. presidential election in November. They say North Korea likely doesnt want to make any major commitments or concessions when there is a chance that U.S. leadership could change.
Donald Trump and Mike Pence take part in an event on reopening school amid the coronavirus pandemic at the White House: REUTERS

The US announced it would withdraw from the World Health Organisation in a statement Tuesday.

The United Nations announced the country would withdraw from the organisation after it received a letter from president Donald Trump more than a month ago.

Mr Trump gave the WHO a one-year notice of his intention to withdraw from the UN health organisation.

The US joined the organisation in 1948 and currently owes the WHO more than $200m in back contributions. The USs contribution to the WHO accounted for approximately 15 per cent of the organisations budget.

Mr Trump threatened to leave the organisation last month after claiming the organisation was unwilling to challenge China regarding the coronavirus.

Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organisation and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent public heath needs, Mr Trump said in a statement today. The world needs answers from China on the virus. We must have transparency.

Democrats were predictably angered by Mr Trumps unilateral move to end the USs relationship with the WHO.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi called Mr Trumps original threats to leave the WHO dangerous and illegal.

New Jersey Democrat Bob Menendez of New Jersey chastised the president on Twitter.

Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the US from the @WHO in the midst of a pandemic, he wrote. To call Trumps response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesnt do it justice. This wont protect American lives or interests  it leaves Americans sick & America alone.

Republicans on the partys China task force urged Mr Trump to reconsider leaving the organisation, arguing the US would be a more effective agent of change if it remained within the WHO rather than abandoning it altogether.

Health officials fear that a US withdrawal could impact current clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine and other treatments.

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Mr Trumps move to leave the organisation comes at a time when coronavirus cases are surging in the US. As of Tuesday, the US has reported nearly 3 million coronavirus cases and more than 130,000 people are reported to have died from the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The US withdrawal is not effective until next year, and could be reversed during that time. Joe Biden, who is the presumptive Democratic candidate who will run against Mr Trump is the 2020 US election, has not stated whether or not he will maintain the plan to leave the organisation should he be elected.

Read more

Trump says coronavirus therapy drugs more important than vaccine
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A Russian bid to get the United Nations to reduce cross-border humanitarian aid to war-torn Syria was voted down by the Security Council Wednesday, an official said.

Authorization for the aid, which comes through two crossing points on the Turkish border -- at Bab al-Salam, which leads to the Aleppo region, and Bab al-Hawa, which serves the Idlib region -- expires Friday.

Under its resolution, Moscow had wanted to abolish the first crossing point and put a time limit of six months on the second.

Russia needed nine votes and no veto from a permanent member of the Council to get its resolution passed -- but received only four votes, announced the President of the Security Council, German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen.

Seven countries voted against it and four abstained. "The draft resolution has not been adopted, having failed to obtain the required number of votes," Heusgen said.

Diplomats said that Russia, along with China, Vietnam and South Africa, had voted for the resolution.

Against were the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Estonia and the Dominican Republic.

Tunisia, Niger, Indonesia and Saint Vincent abstained, the diplomats said.

The vote came after Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a draft resolution by Germany and Belgium providing for a one-year extension of the cross-border authorization and the maintenance of both crossing points.

In an interview with AFP on Wednesday, Washington's ambassador to the UN, Kelly Craft, said the US opposed any reduction.

"We know the right thing to do is to have both border crossings in the northwest remain open to reach the maximum amount of Syrians that are in need of humanitarian aid," Craft told AFP.

When asked if the issue was a "red line," she replied, "Yes, absolutely."

Russia's move "is just another attempt for them to politicize humanitarian assistance," she said.

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According to Craft, keeping only one border crossing open would cut off 1.3 million people living north of Aleppo from humanitarian aid.

- 'Right and wrong' -

The choice to be made between the Western position and that of Russia and China is "between good and evil, right and wrong," said Craft, noting that Germany and Belgium "already have a new draft in mind and we are very supportive."

The two European countries submitted their new draft Wednesday evening. In their latest draft text, obtained by AFP, Germany and Belgium asked for just a six-month extension of cross-border aid authorization, instead of one year.

But they have kept both border crossings open, and there is no indication that Moscow -- in a position of strength on the subject, as it was six months ago -- will be satisfied with the changes.

The result of a forthcoming vote on the new draft, which Russia could again block, is not expected until Friday, when the UN cross-border authorization expires.

Craft in 2019 visited one of the crossing points from the Turkish side near Bab al-Hawa, an experience that made a lasting impression and made working with displaced Syrians "a personal issue," she said.

Authorization for cross-border humanitarian aid has existed since 2014, with periodic extensions.

Tuesday's vote was the 15th time that Russia has used its veto since the start of the Syrian war in 2011, and the ninth for China.

They argue that the UN authorization violates Syria's sovereignty, and that aid can increasingly be channeled through Syrian authorities.
The US State Department has demanded that China release a law professor who was taken from his home in Beijing by police on Monday after he publicly criticised Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

It was the latest example of the countries' rapidly deteriorating relationship, less than one week after Beijing imposed a new national security law in Hong Kong that many fear is designed to smother free speech in the territory.

"We are deeply concerned by the PRC's detention of Professor Xu Zhangrun for criticizing Chinese leaders amid tightening ideological controls on university campuses in China," Morgan Ortagus, the State Department spokeswoman, said in a tweet on Tuesday.

"The PRC must release Xu and uphold its international commitments to respect freedom of expression," she said.

Beijing has not yet acknowledged the arrest, which was reported by close contacts of Xu's family, but the outspoken 57-year-old professor had been closely watched by Chinese authorities since at least last year.

In May, he published an essay urging the country's leadership to reflect on its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and apologise for its mistakes.

In February, while the outbreak still raged in China, he publicly blamed senior Chinese leadership for "putting politics ahead of the people" and wrote that the country's political system had "collapsed under the tyranny".

One year before, Xu had been suspended from his teaching post at Tsinghua University, one of China's top schools, after he published an article condemning the Communist Party's decision to remove presidential term limits.

In the same period of time, especially after Covid-19 began to spread widely in the US, the State Department has grown increasingly comfortable issuing blunt condemnations of China's actions.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a radio interviewer on Monday that there was an "enormous mismatch" between Xi's policies and "the most fundamental human rights".

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On Tuesday, another top American official, the head of the FBI, issued his own dire warning about China's efforts to stifle criticism inside and outside its borders.

In a speech on Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that Beijing has been systematically pressuring overseas Chinese citizens whom the Communist Party views as dissidents to return home, in some cases by threatening their families.

He said the programme, called Operation Fox Hunt, was led by Xi.

"We're talking about political rivals, dissidents and critics seeking to expose China's extensive human rights violations," Wray said.

He encouraged people who fear they are a target of the programme to contact their local FBI field office.

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.
Army soldier Vanessa Guillens disappearance and death has sparked outrage across the country and calls for change in Congress.

Her case also raises troubling questions about harassment and sexual assault in the military, and even sparked the social media hashtag #IAmVanessaGuillen, which others have used to share their stories.

The 20-year-old was last seen alive in April at one of the largest Army installations in the country, Fort Hood, in Killeen, Texas.

Army investigators located human remains last week, buried near a river about 20 miles from the base. The Army confirmed this week that the body was indeed Guillens. On that same day, a suspect accused of helping to get rid of her body, Cecily Aguilar, appeared in court, where she was charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence.

Aguilar allegedly told the FBI that her boyfriend, Army Specialist Aaron Robinson, reached out to her after he had killed Guillen. She said she helped him get rid of the body and that the pair went back to where they disposed of Guillens remains days after her death to break them down more, according to a complaint.

Aguilar led investigators to Robinson. When they confronted him on July 1, he shot and killed himself.

Guillens family says she told them she was being sexually harassed by a soldier before her disappearance but didnt report it. Its not clear if Robinson was that soldier.

PHOTO: Cecily Aguilar is seen in this undated booking photo. (Bell County Sheriff's Office)

The Army says its investigating those claims but says it hasnt found any evidence that Guillen was sexually harassed.

How this happened at work, at base, with thousands of people there, Natalie Khawam, the Guillen familys attorney, told ABC News. I think this will haunt everyone forever.

Vanessa Guillens family says the Army didnt take her disappearance seriously.

MORE: Suspect in Vanessa Guillen case appears in court; remains confirmed as Guillen's

Clearly, they're not capable of anything, her sister, Lupe Guillen, told ABC News. Because they didn't get answers. They had two months. Two months. And that's a disgrace.

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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a prominent Latino civil rights organization, is now urging Latinos not to join the military until they have answers as to how this couldve happened to Guillen.

LULAC CEO Sindy Benavides told ABC News it the military took too long to say foul play was involved in Guillens disappearance.

It was really almost two months later when they finally said that there was foul play that was involved. That really made us wonder  if the proper protocols [were] follow[ed], she said.

PHOTO:Dawn Gomez holds her 3-year-old granddaughter, Saryia Greer, who waves at Vanessa Guillen's mural painted by Alejandro 'Donkeeboy' Roman Jr. on the side of Taqueria Del Sol, July 2, 2020, in Houston. (Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Army investigators are trying to figure out the exact nature of the relationship between Guillen and Robinson. For years, the military says it has worked to combat sexual harassment and assault across the services.

A Pentagon survey released last year shows the number of sexual assaults increased in 2018 to 20,500, a result that led Pentagon officials to review and make changes to sexual assault prevention efforts. The Pentagon also reported in 2019 that 1,021 formal sexual harassment complaints had been submitted -- a 10% increase from the previous year.

Benavides says its not just Latin women at risk.

We know that women experience a significant number of harassment, of sexual assault, of rape in the military. We also know that men are targeted, but disproportionately it is women who unfortunately are experiencing this, she said. I want to recognize that they are trying to take steps with the SHARP program. And what I do see is the failure in preventative measuresThese are more reactive programs.

MORE: Remains of missing Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillen identified, lawyer says

The Armys Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention Program (SHARP) aims to educate soldiers on the issues surrounding sexual violence and provides a mechanism for how those who experience incidents of sexual assault or harassment can report it to a designated victims advocate.

We want to make sure that there's an assessment of the SHARP program but we want to see more aggressive measures to make sure that the military is taking those steps to protect our community, Benavides said.

Guillens case isnt the first high-profile incident where sexual harassment or assault has been alleged within the military.

Sen. Martha McSally, an Arizona Republican and the first woman in the Air Force to fly in combat, told a Senate hearing room last year that she had been raped by a superior officer.

I also am a military sexual assault survivor, but unlike so many brave survivors, I didn't report being sexually assaulted, she said in 2019.

PHOTO: Juan Cruz, boyfriend of Army soldier Vanessa Guillen, kneels in front of a mural honoring her Sunday, July 5, 2020, in Houston. (Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle via AP)

I blamed myself. I was ashamed and confused. I thought I was strong but felt powerless. The perpetrators abused their position of power in profound ways. In one case, I was preyed upon and raped by a superior officer, she said. I almost separated from the Air Force at 18 years of service over my despair. Like many victims, I felt like the system was raping me all over again. I didnt quit. I decided to stay and continue to serve and fight and lead.

In January, Army Col. Kathryn Spletstoser filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff sexually assaulted her multiple times when they worked at U.S. Strategic Command in 2017.

Speltstosers allegation had taken center stage at Air Force General John Hytens confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill last year. The hearing was delayed pending an investigation, which concluded the allegations were unsubstantiated. McSally even called her a liar.

Speltstoser told ABC News at the hearings that his confirmation would signal that if you're a senior and general officer who is a popular guy, you will get away with felony sexual assault.

But if you are a victim who also has a very distinguished record and no record of lying under any circumstances, you won't be believed  despite the fact that there was no credible evidence that I was lying because I wasn't, she said. It basically tells sexual assault survivors, Don't bother to report. You won't be taken seriously, and we'll give your attacker a promotion.

Hyten was ultimately confirmed and he continues to deny the allegations.

ABC News also spoke to Air Force Prosecutor and Ret. Col. Don Christensen, who now leads the non-profit Protect Our Defenders, which aims to end sexual misconduct in the military. He said that in the military, the chain of command determines the process when a service member comes forward to report sexual assault or harassment.

[In the] military, the prosecution decisions are made by command, not prosecutors, said Christensen. In the civilian world, if someone was sexually assaulted, they would go to the police and then they would eventually head that case with  a prosecutor. In the military, that decision is [placed] entirely in a commander who often knows the offender. The result of that is a lack [of] faith in the process. And the end result of everything is there are very few prosecutions despite [there being] over 20,000 sexual assaults [that] occur.

The Army has tried to curb instances of sexual assault and harassment by using tools like the buddy system. The initial thought behind it was to pair each service member with an assigned troop to build camaraderie and keep one another accountable. But in recent years, its also been used on military installations, informally, as a way to prevent young women from being assaulted on base camps.

In our nations capital, calls are growing louder for Congress to act.

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who also serves as a major in the Army National Guard, has called for an independent investigation into what happened to Guillen.

Vanessas family has suffered throughout her disappearance with no real answers or transparency about what happened to Vanessa and why. Vanessa and her family deserve justice and closure. Our servicemen and women deserve justice and faith that the military they serve in will take care of them, said Gabbard. The Department of Defense Inspector General must conduct a full and independent investigation. While we are too late to save Vanessas life, we must honor her life by getting to the truth and working to prevent this from happening to others.

Guillens family is asking for the same, and also pushing legislation to protect other service men and women.

I just want justice. I want that bill to be passed because at the end of the day, we're all human, Lupe Guillen told ABC News. At the end of the day, we all deserve to be respected, especially the ones that put their lives at risk every.

Vanessa Guillens death shines light on militarys handling of sex assault and harassment originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Katherine Heyes admitted being drunk on an aircraft. (Reach)

A veterinary nurse whose drunken behaviour almost caused a plane to be diverted has been spared jail.

Katherine Heyes, 29, started becoming abusive to Thomas Cook crew flying from Manchester to Antalya in Turkey in May last year.

A previous hearing at Manchester Magistrates Court heard the Wigan resident, who was travelling with her daughter, was a nervous flyer and accepted a drink from friends who brought a bottle of vodka on board.

She was told to calm down but continued to be disruptive, swearing and shouting at crew and passengers, who later asked the captain to divert the aircraft and land.

Heyes pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft at an earlier hearing and was described as every passengers worst nightmare by Judge John Edwards on Wednesday.

He told her it was only because she was a single mother with a four-year-old that was he not sending her straight to jail.

Prosecutor Eileen Rogers said in a previous hearing that Heyes and her two friends were seen going to the toilet with a beach bag, which crew suspected was used to carry alcohol. The three women were asked to use the toilet individually.

Heyes, 29, became abusive with crew on a Thomas Cook flight from Manchester to Antalya after they found an empty bottle of vodka near her seat. (Reach)

Crew members found an empty bottle of vodka where the group sat, removed it, and instructed the trio not to drink further.

The court heard all three were thought to be under the influence and Heyes slurred her words, finding it difficult to understand what a senior member of staff was saying.

After a dispute with another passenger, other travellers called the crew.

Cabin crew approached Ms Heyes and told her to calm down and directed her to put her seat-belt on, but she didnt do so, Rogers said.

There was another altercation and the other women were trying to calm her down and get her into her seat, but she caused a scratch to one of their faces and the crew had to intervene again.

The incident took place on a Thomas Cook flight to Turkey last year. (PA Images)

Passengers asked for the plane to be diverted but the captain said they were only 40 minutes from Antalya, where police escorted the women off after landing.

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Donna Smith, a senior member of staff, said in a statement: This was a worrying incident and we had to contemplate diverting the aircraft.

Things became chaotic because of the actions of Katherine, and there were no thoughts or considerations to the effect on the well-being or safety of all the other passengers on board.

Prosecutors said the incident lasted for most of the four-and-a-half-hour journey.

Defence lawyer Nicola Johnson said Heyes was deeply remorseful and sorry for her behaviour, which was out of character.

She didnt set out to consume alcohol or get herself into this state, Johnson said.

She is a nervous flyer, she has only flown once before and is very nervous about long flights.

She was stressed and worried about the flight from the outset and the suspected amount of alcohol must have exacerbated her emotional state.

Heyes was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court in Minshull Street. (PA Images)

She is the author of her own misfortune.

The court was told on Wednesday that Heyes works full-time and is the sole carer for her daughter because the father left when she became pregnant.

She rarely travels, Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard, and social services were satisfied Heyes is a good mother.

She was given a 12-month community order with 80 hours unpaid work and told to pay 250 in costs.

Judge Edwards said: It is because of [the daughter], and only because of her, Im not sending you down the steps.

You are every passengers worst nightmare, or you were on the 18th of May last year. You were, to use your own phrase, out of it. You should be ashamed.

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Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key witness in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry, said in a tweet Wednesday he is retiring from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of military service, saying his future "will forever be limited" due to political retaliation.

"Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army, an organization I love. My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives," Vindman said.

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The news was first reported by CNN.

Vindman's attorney Amb. David Pressman said in a statement obtained by ABC News that his client has endured a "campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation" and that "he was bullied by the President and his proxies" since his November testimony in House impeachment hearings.

"Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers," the statement read.

PHOTO: Key Impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman has been removed from White House job on Feb. 7, 2020, but remains active duty in the military. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILE)

Pressman added that Vindman's "patriotism has cost him his career."

Trump fired Vindman as the top expert on Ukraine on the National Security Council in February, two days after his acquittal in the Senate, along with his twin brother who was serving at the White House as an NSC lawyer.

According to U.S. officials, the resignation comes as Vindman's name was included among the Army's list of officers selected for promotion to colonel.

A senior Defense official tells ABC News that Vindmans promotion had been approved by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Monday and that his name and the others on the promotion list was going to be sent to the White House for final approval later this week.

On Monday, Esper approved the list of lieutenant colonels who had been selected for promotion to colonel and Vindmans name was on the list, said the official. The DOD's executive secretary prepared the list Tuesday for transmission to the White House later this week.

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The promotion list provided by the Army had been reviewed by the Department of Defenses office of Personnel and Readiness (P&R) for the past two to three weeks. Last Thursday that office had reviewed the list and recommended to Esper that he approve it. The review process by P&R took a bit longer because of a new demographic initiative put in place by Esper a month ago after George Floyds death.

While Vindmans selection had been cleared by the Pentagon, there was always the chance that his name could have been taken off by the White House since all military nominations must be approved by the president.

Back in February, Trump tried to justify the move on Twitter, without evidence, saying Vindman "had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information."

"He was very insubordinate, reported contents of my 'perfect' calls incorrectly, & was given a horrendous report by his superior," Trump tweeted claimed in the attack.

The official Twitter account of the White House also attacked Vindman's credibility while he was testifying before the House Intelligence Committee.

We do not comment on personnel matters said Cynthia Smith, an Army spokesperson, when asked about Vindmans decision.

When Vindman's retirement packet is submitted to U.S. Army Human Resources Command it will be reviewed for approval just as it is for all soldiers.

PHOTO: Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and his brother Leonid Vindman exit Longworth House Office Building after testifying before the House Intelligence Committee Nov. 19, 2019 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

Top military leaders, including Esper, have said that Vindman would be protected from retaliation after he transitioned from the White House back to the Pentagon, but some some officials had expressed concerns whether the White House would leave his name on the list or remove it as potential retaliation for his testimony.

Some Democratic lawmakers also believed that Vindman was still being targeted.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois announced just last week that she would block Senate confirmation of 1,123 senior U.S. Armed Forces promotions until she received assurance that Vindman's promotion wouldn't be blocked.

In a statement Wednesday, Duckworth said: Lt. Col. Vindmans decision to retire puts the spotlight on Secretary of Defense Mark Espers failure to protect a decorated combat Veteran against a vindictive Commander in Chief."

Secretary Espers failure to protect his troops sets a new, dark precedent that any Commander in Chief can interfere with routine merit-based military promotions to carry out personal vendettas and retaliation against military officers who follow duly-authorized subpoenas while upholding their oath of office and core principles of service," she continued.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee which called Vindman as a witness in the impeachment proceedings, thanked the officer for his service in a tweet and included a jab at President Trump.

Alexander Vindman did his duty and told the truth about presidential misconduct, because here, right matters. Col. Vindmans patriotism is incomprehensible to the likes of Donald Trump, but it is at the heart of Americas strength," Schiff said.

During his dramatic impeachment hearing testimony, Vindman, an immigrant from Ukraine, said that he reported his concerns out of a "sense of duty."

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The decorated officer recalled his father's decision to leave the Soviet Union for the U.S. and said he did not fear telling the truth.

"Dad, I'm sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol, talking to our elected professionals, is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to the United States of America in search of a better life for our family," Vindman said in November.

"Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth," he said.

Trump impeachment key witness Alexander Vindman retiring from military citing 'campaign of bullying' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
SAN FRANCISCO and WASHINGTON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Scality and ViON today announced RING8 as a core technology powering two of ViON's predefined cloud service offerings: Object Storage-as-a-Service (OSaaS) and the long-term Archive-as-a-Service (AaaS). These new cloud services are central components of the ViON Enterprise Cloud (VEC) Infrastructure Services. ViON, a leading cloud service provider, brings over 18 years of experience deploying hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures in the Federal marketplace and currently holds one of the largest contracts ever awarded for storage.

Together with ViON's extensive U.S. federal market experience and Scality's unstructured data technology, the joint solution will address storage challenges for some of the largest federal agencies.

"RING8 is the perfect fit to extend our as-a-Service (aaS) solutions into object storage," said Tom Frana, Chairman and CEO of ViON. "As our first pre-defined private cloud offering, Scality's core technology for object storage is best-in-class."

The extended VEC portfolio delivers private cloud solutions with better pricing and a wider feature set compared to similar public cloud offerings. Each of ViON's new VEC Cloud Infrastructure Services are designed to scale non-disruptively as customers' needs change. Scality's software-only, vendor-agnostic approach means ViON can also customize on-prem hardware to the exact specification and budget of each customer. This supports the government's agile IT modernization requirements.

"Scality's platform empowers ViON to provide a secure, scalable service with market leading SLA's at cloud scale cost," said David Kushner, VP of Sales at ViON. "This offering provides a unique service, which helps customers store, manage, and protect unstructured data at any scale with confidence."

Scality Platform Provides Native File and Object (AWS S3 and Azure Blob)

VEC's OSaaS comes in three classes of service to meet the typical workload demands of customer environments: a single-site storage bucket, a single-site storage bucket with data replication for disaster recovery, and a multi-site storage bucket with data replicated between the two active sites. To support ViON and customer requirements, RING provides comprehensive, native AWS S3 API compatibility to ensure all cloud applications that run on AWS can also run on RING as well as AWS IAM compatible multi-tenancy on top of its core capability of limitless scalability. RING also uniquely supports object storage with a native Azure Blob API to further expand application compatibility.

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Archival Service Fueled with RING8

ViON also selected RING8 to power long-term data archiving. Archive as-a-Service (AaaS) gives organizations the ability to retain backed-up data on premises to meet long-term retention needs with either an enterprise-grade, modular tape library or a single-site object storage offering.

"We are honored that ViON selected Scality as the technology backbone of their Object Storage-as-a-Service and disk based Archive-as-a-Service private cloud offerings," said Jerome Lecat, CEO of Scality. "Together, our partnership extends the reach to some of the most mission-critical data sets in the world."

About Scality

Scality builds a market leading software-defined file and object platform designed for on-premise, hybrid and multi-cloud environments. We give customers the freedom and control necessary to compete in a data-driven economy. Scality is recognized as a leader by Gartner and IDC. Follow us @scality and LinkedIn. Visit www.scality.com or subscribe to our company blog SOLVED .

About ViON Corporation

ViON Corporation is a cloud service provider with over 40 years' experience designing and delivering enterprise data center solutions for government agencies and commercial businesses. The company provides a large portfolio of IT as-a-Service, including infrastructure, multi-cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. ViON delivers an outstanding customer experience at every step with professional and managed services, backed by highly-trained, cleared resources. A veteran-owned company based in Herndon, Virginia, the company has field offices throughout the U.S. (www.vion.com).

Contact:

Kristen Wiltse

A3 Communications

978-927-1747

kristen.wiltse@a3communicationspr.com

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Pakistan said that India has been invited to file review and reconsideration petition on his behalf.

New Delhi: Pakistan on Wednesday said former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, sentenced to death for alleged espionage, has refused to file a review and reconsideration petition and has instead preferred to follow up on his mercy petition.

Pakistan said that India has been invited to file review and reconsideration petition on his behalf. Pakistan Foreign office spokesperson said that the mercy petition is a separate process that has nothing to do with the review and reconsideration plea. Pakistan has also said that it is ready to give India second consular access to Jadhav and allow him to meet his wife and father.

The review and reconsideration petition can be filed by (a) Commander Jadhav himself, (b) legally authorized representative, or (c) a consular officer of the Indian High Commission. While Commander Jadhavs mercy petition is still pending, India is invited to file review and reconsideration petition to give effect to the Judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The foregoing has been conveyed to India through diplomatic channels as well, a Pakistani official said.

Rejecting Pakistani claims, India said that Jadhav has been coerced by the Pakistan military not to file a review petition. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Pakistan is trying to create a mirage of compliance with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order which has already held that Pakistan is in egregious violation of international law. The official said the Government of India will do its utmost to protect Jadhav and ensure his safe return to India.

To that end, it would consider all appropriate options, the official said. It is expected India may take Jadhavs case to the ICJ again.

Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a farcical trial. He remains under custody of Pakistans military. He has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case. India sought unimpeded access to Jadhav to discuss his remedies under the Ordinance. In a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy under the Ordinance, Pakistan has obviously coerced Jadhav to forego his rights to seek an implementation of the judgment of the ICJ, the MEA spokesperson said.

It is learnt that in June, India and Pakistan had remained engaged on Jadhavs matter but India did not get much help on its four main requests. India has sought a copy of the `unedited video and raw of the consular access provided to Jadhav in 2019, and all documents pertaining to his trial  copy of FIR, chargesheet, witness statements etc  which Pakistan has refused to give. While saying no video of the consular access will be given, Pakistan has told India that the copy of FIR, chargesheet etc it will be handed over only to the lawyer of Jadhav.

Pakistan has only accepted Indias request to provide it a copy of the newly enacted `International Court of Justice Review and Reconsideration Ordinance, 2020 which allows review petitions within a certain period of time.

India has also sought permission from Islamabad to hire a legal counsel for Jadhav from outside the country, even Indian lawyers, but this request has been turned down. India was told that only a Pakistani lawyer can take up this case and no one outside the country will be allowed.

Despite our repeated requests, Pakistan continues to deny India free and unimpeded access to Jadhav. Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with the ICJ judgment, the MEA spokesperson said.
Tatenda Musapatike is senior director of campaigns at Acronym, a progressive group focused on voter registration. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

While some progressives are bullish about the outlook for the November election, Tatenda Musapatike surveys the political landscape and sees masses of unregistered voters who were supposed to be on the rolls by now, but for the pandemic.

It is making her increasingly anxious, and she is not alone.

It is hard to overstate just how underwater voter registration is, said Musapatike, senior director of campaigns at Acronym, a progressive group focused on digital strategy.

Democrats and Republicans alike are struggling to confront a simmering crisis that could hurt either or both of them in assorted contests this fall. Yet the stakes are particularly high for the left, which is relying heavily on mobilizing the sorts of people who often don't vote to help oust President Trump.

The numbers of new voters added to the rolls lately are way below where progressives want and need them to be. Voter registration is yet another casualty of the pandemic, which in this case tore apart carefully laid plans for mass mobilization through door-to-door drives signing people up.

After a lot of talk about progressive groups being well-equipped to shift their efforts online, the reality has so far proven more complicated. Many tactics Democrats rely on to lure potential voters are older even than the partys septuagenarian presidential candidate. The messaging is stale, the targeting out-of-touch and the infrastructure not entirely compatible with the digital age.

That has operatives like Musapatike working at a breakneck pace to innovate, desperately trying to bring cultural relevance and technological competence to the anachronistic American ritual of voter-registration drives. While money from big donors is flowing their way, they are confronting headwinds as some party leaders question how much to invest in experimentation.

We know what has worked in the past, Musapatike said. But we havent expanded our learning. Big ideas need to be explored. The $11-million effort she is spearheading, under the brand Peoples Power Grab, aims to talk to groups such as young Black and Latino Americans on platforms including TikTok and Instagram, with the kind of culturally resonant content that e-commerce marketers tapped into long ago.

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One video has a stylish Black woman swiping through a dating app and checking out the playful profile of another user, only to balk when it reveals hes a nonvoter. Viewers of the video can then tap on a link that brings them to a page where they can register easily. It is supported by pioneering technology that simplifies the process and enables organizers to track the registration status and engage with the new voter through election day.

Jesse Horwitz, an e-commerce entrepreneur, has been pushing Democrats to embrace just that kind of campaign, with limited success. Before the pandemic, he ran a voter-registration pilot program that experimented with e-commerce targeting tactics and user-driven content that has served corporate America well. Horwitz said he enlisted voters to register at a fraction of the price of traditional models, which often cost more than $100 for each registration.

While he offered his blueprint free to organizations spending big to register Democrats, it's mostly been collecting dust. Its befuddling to me, Horwitz said.

A voter registration recital at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York. (Associated Press)

The groups that have experimented outside the box are seeing some big successes. Voto Latino, a 15-year-old, digitally-oriented organization focused on spurring the Latino vote, saw its unconventional tactics rewarded with an explosion of interest amid the recent racial justice protests. More than 98,000 people registered through its platform in June, a nearly ten-fold increase over May, which was already a decent month for new registrants.

After the 2018 midterm election, half of the countrys voting-eligible Latinos reported they never got contacted by anyone about their registration status or plans to vote, according to Voto Latino. There is this stigma in the establishment that Latinx people dont come out and vote, said Danny Turkel, the groups communications director. Democrats must "invest in contacting them and speaking their language, which is not Spanish but the way they communicate in their everyday lives."

Rock the Vote has also seen a surge in registrations lately, attracting college-age voters with events headlined by celebrities and influencers. When We All Vote, a new organization co-chaired by Michelle Obama and stars including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Janelle Monae, has mobilized tens of thousands of young voters by seizing on what is trending and on the energy of the current protests.

When #couchparty started trending on Twitter  signifying the popularity of DJ D-Nice's online tunes-spinning for people stuck at home  the group pounced, launching its own virtual couch parties with him. The wildly successful events featured both music and talk  to recruit those participating to vote, and to get their friends registered, too.

We knew it was important for people to talk about voting in a way that reaches people, not about doing this in some politically correct way, said Stephanie L. Young, a managing director of the group.

For all such efforts, the voter-registration decline triggered by states' stay-at-home orders persists. Not even 200,000 people were registered in May, compared with nearly 1.5 million in May of 2016, according to the Democratic data analysis firm TargetSmart.

Those early numbers also showed people of color and voters under 40 making up a smaller share of new voters in April and May than previously. That gap, analysts at TargetSmart say, may have closed in June, when nationwide anti-racism protests ignited the interest reflected in the numbers posted by groups like Voto Latino and When We All Vote.

Yet many progressives are alarmed. They have been furiously trying to upgrade technology to navigate states' balky registration systems, to help volunteers easily find who isn't registered, and then get them on the rolls more simply.

Outvote is a start-up that seeks to enable activists to enlist people in their social networks to register and vote. It is unfortunately very complicated to vote in this country," said its founder, Naseem Makiya. "Our app helps you see which forks they are stuck at, and make sure they move to the next step.

The firm Civitech is arming progressive groups and community activists with technology that uses Google Maps to create a real-time digital map of every unregistered voter. Neighbors, for example, can see who in their community is not on the rolls and then reach out to them.

A hospital in Philadelphia adopted every block within a one-mile radius, urging residents to send in their applications for vote-by-mail ballots, with a tongue-in-cheek note about not wanting to see them at intake with COVID-19 contracted during in-person voting.

Building this 10 years ago would have been impossible, said firm co-founder Jeremy Smith, crediting Google and Amazon mapping applications. There are a lot of people who would vote if you bothered to ask them.

His technology enables even citizen activists to engage in sophisticated microtargeting. It can, for example, find the seven Latinos who are unregistered in one particular neighborhood in Riverside. Or it can more broadly give organizers a view of where in a county Black residents are registering at high rates, and where there is work to be done. After potential voters are reached by cell phones, organizations can arrange to send them registration forms with prepaid postage, or walk them through online registration, where available.

But states' and counties' constantly shifting registration rules are a persistent challenge. Only two states  Pennsylvania and Virginia  accept voter-registration applications submitted through sites like Peoples Power Grab. Everywhere else, the information needs to be routed onto a state-sanctioned form.

And the hurdles some states have created to getting a vote-by-mail ballot are adding to the challenge, even as the pandemic pushes voting in that direction.

The rules are radically different state by state, said Emily Del Beccaro, a co-founder of OpenField, a digital organizing firm that shifted its strategy to focus on enabling activists to register voters remotely. Wisconsin, she said, has no single place voters send their vote-by-mail application. Hundreds of voting offices process them, and the voter must find the office for their area, making automation tough for organizations aiming to register thousands of voters a day.

All these organizations have been having to build new systems from scratch, Del Beccaro said. It is incredibly complicated.
BETHESDA, Md., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it completed the sale and financing for The Moretti at Vulcan Park. The 135-unit property is a Class A, luxury apartment community located in the Homewood neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama.

Moretti at Vulcan Park

Walker & Dunlop's financing team comprised Managing Directors Stephen West and Matt Wallach, as well as Senior Managing Director Will Baker. Leveraging their deep understanding of GSE lending programs, the team secured a ten-year Freddie Mac loan with five years of interest-only payments and an attractive, fixed rate. The financing assignment was completed on behalf of ApexOne Investment Partners, who acquired the multifamily property from Raia Capital Management via Walker & Dunlop's property sales team, comprised of Managing Directors Kris Mikkelsen and Telly Fathaly.

Said Mr. West, "We're pleased to have executed both the sale and acquisition financing for The Moretti at Vulcan Park in the face of significant logistical challenges created by the COVID-19 crisis." He added, "This property is a cornerstone investment in Homewood, a premier neighborhood with high barriers to entry. Despite considerable volatility in the markets, we were able to lock in very attractive debt terms for ApexOne."

"We're excited to announce the addition of Moretti to our portfolio. The property fits perfectly within our strategy of purchasing high quality assets with the opportunity to increase value over time by improving common areas and interior units," commented Tim Burns, Partner and Chief Investment Officer of ApexOne Investment Partners. "We are further pleased to complete this acquisition during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, showing the capability of our team to execute when markets are difficult and opportunities are presented. The Walker & Dunlop teams were integral to the execution of this transaction."

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Located in one of Birmingham's most highly sought single family neighborhoods, The Moretti at Vulcan Park is within walking distance to downtown Homewood, a lively and upscale boutique shopping and dining destination. The property is one of only two multifamily communities to deliver in Homewood within the last 20 years and is proximate to Birmingham's top neighborhoods, schools, lifestyle amenities, and employment centers. Built in 2014, The Moretti features a premium amenity package, high-end in-unit finishes and fixtures, and ample parking.

Walker & Dunlop is a top-ranked multifamily lender; the firm was the largest Fannie Mae DUS multifamily lender and the 3rd largest Freddie Mac Optigo multifamily lender by volume in 2019. The company has also achieved dramatic growth in its property sales group, with $5.4 billion in sales volume completed in 2019.

For information about Walker & Dunlop's view on the apartment market, including expert perspectives on markets, leadership, and the road ahead, visit our new Driven by Insight information center.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate finance companies in the United States. The company provides a comprehensive range of capital solutions for all commercial real estate asset classes, as well as investment sales brokerage services to owners of multifamily properties. Walker & Dunlop is included on the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and was ranked as one of FORTUNE Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Walker & Dunlop's 850+ professionals in 40 offices across the nation have an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction.

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SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.
A group of 239 scientists from over 30 countries have published a letter urging the World Health Organization (WHO) and other public health agencies to more seriously consider the potential spread of COVID-19 through inhalation of small particles lingering in the air.

The WHO said in a press briefing on Tuesday that it would consider "emerging evidence" that the virus may be spread through small aerosolized particles -- sometimes called airborne transmission. The debate around whether or not the virus can be spread through particles in the air has been ongoing for months but the current WHO guidance states that the virus spreads "primarily through droplets of saliva or or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes."

"The World Health Organization acknowledges that transmission is mainly by large respiratory droplets when you cough or talk and fly through the air and land directly on someone's eyes or nose or mouth," said Dr. Linsey Marr, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, who specializes in aerosol science and contributed to the letter. "But there's been increasing evidence that transmission is happening also by inhalation of much smaller droplets that we call aerosols and some public health organizations have recognized this but we wanted to make the WHO more aware of this so they can put out guidance worldwide."

MORE: US submits formal notice it will withdraw from WHO

In Tuesday's press briefing WHO technical lead for the infection prevention task force Professor Benedetta Allegranzi said, "We acknowledge there's emerging evidence in this field - as in all other fields regarding the COVID-19 virus and pandemic -- and therefore we believe we have to be open to this evidence and understand its implications regarding the modes of transmission and regarding the precautions that need to be taken."

But WHO's epidemiologist Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove was still more cautious in her response saying that the WHO has been been looking into these reports since April. Now, the focus is on "the possible role of airborne transmission in other settings ... particularly close settings where you have poor ventilation."

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PHOTO: Healthcare workers move a patient in the Covid-19 Unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas Thursday, July 2, 2020. (Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images)

"We've got clusters of person to person transmission happening indoors and there is asymptomatic transmission going on, no coughing, no sneezing, no large droplets being generated and splashed into people's face," said Dr. Lisa Brosseau, an aerosol specialist and research consultant at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. She said that in these scenarios the most likely mode of transmission is inhalation of particles in the air.

Droplet transmission describes the situation when a person spreads the virus through directly sneezing or coughing on someone. Sometimes these large respiratory droplets may also land on surfaces and a person can be indirectly infected through touching their face after coming in contact with a contaminated surface.

Although experts generally agree the virus can be spread through respiratory droplets there is less consensus around aerosolized -- or airborne -- transmission, or the how long and how far these tiny infectious particles can travel in the air.

MORE: Atlanta mayor says she has tested positive

In the letter scientists point to a mounting body of evidence that supports the potential of airborne transmission. They cite a Chinese case study of video records where the virus was transmitted between three parties in a restaurant without any evidence of "direct or indirect contact," suggesting that the virus must have been spread through the air.

They also point out that particles from viruses of the same family, such as Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), can be exhaled and detected in indoor environments of infected patients, posing a risk to people sharing this environment and breathing in the same air.

Additionally, several hospital-based studies have detected the coronavirus' genetic material in air samples collected from isolation rooms of COVID-19 patients -- although it's not clear yet if these samples are capable of infecting people.

PHOTO: A healthcare worker closes her eyes and leans on her colleague to rest outside of the Covid-19 Unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas on July 2, 2020. (Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images)

Scientists acknowledge that more evidence is needed. According to Marr, studying airborne particles is much harder because you "need specialized techniques and special equipment to collect aerosols and measure them," which is only fully understood by a small subfield of aerosol scientists. The standards, she said, for proving airborne transmission are set much higher than that for other types of transmission.

"We have as much evidence for airborne transmission as we do for any other form of transmission at this point," Marr said.

Experts say that outdated definitions and arbitrary dichotomies are also adding unnecessary hurdles in further clarifying how the virus is actually transmitted.

MORE: Is COVID-19 even subject to herd immunity?

"Traditionally the word airborne has been associated with traveling long distances, but really what we are trying to say is that it seems that inhalation of aerosol happens at short and close contact ranges too," said Marr. Some experts have taken issue with the WHO's technical definition of 'airborne,' arguing it is too narrow and relies on methods derived from the 1930s and 40s.

The WHO says a virus is 'airborne' if it can be spread by particles that are smaller than 5 microns -- smaller than an invisible grain of dust -- and viable over a distance greater than approximately 3 feet.

Brosseau said that the definition of airborne completely overlooks the potential inhalation of particles near the source and has previously pushed WHO along with other public health organizations to expand their definition. "It doesn't meet common sense. You don't need to be a physicist."

MORE: Florida teen who died of COVID-19 attended large church gathering, was given hydroxychloroquine at home

According to Dr. Donald Milton, professor of environmental health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health and co-author of the letter, "You can have particles as big as 10 or 20 or even 30 microns that can float quite a long distance indoors."

Experts say that the 6 feet rule may not always be enough.

"In a poorly ventilated environment 6 feet is not gonna mean very much," said Milton. "Indoor air is still and being stirred up by air conditioning system and heat/thermal plumes from people, lamps, and computer screens. This will keep aerosols much bigger than 5 microns floating around and and carry them much farther than 6 feet, even if it's just people talking and singing nobody with explosive coughs."

PHOTO: A healthcare worker tends to a patient in the Covid-19 Unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, July 2, 2020. (Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images)

"We should replace the 6 foot rule with distance and time matters," added Brosseau. "Distance and time is key. The further you are from the source and the shorter period of time, the lower the concentration will be. I can't say what the distance is, but make it as great as possible."

Milton emphasized that "the virus is no different today than it was yesterday. What's different is our understanding of how it transmits." As a respiratory virus, some of it is indeed still transmitted through direct contact of respiratory droplets secreted through sneezes and coughs or contaminated surfaces, so washing hands and disinfecting surfaces is still important.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in their criteria on how the virus spread, say the virus is spread"mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks" and that some of these droplets can "possibly be inhaled into the lungs." ABC reached out to the CDC for comment.

MORE: More answers to your COVID-19 questions

There is concern about creating fear, said Milton, but acknowledging the potential mode of transmission through aerosol particles may help us learn how to stay safer in the long run.

Experts are still determining how many infectious particles a person must be exposed to in order to actually get sick. "We don't know the infectious dose," said Brosseau and it may vary based on your current medical condition, or whether or not the particles are being inhaled or droplets are coming in direct contact directly with your face.

Dr. Lydia Bourouiba, an associate professor at MIT who studies fluid dynamics and the spread of pathogens, published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association in March calling for the rethinking of coronavirus transmission -- pointing to her research that showed that sneezes and coughs could spread gas clouds of droplets much further than 6 feet.

FILE PHOTO: Employee Philipp Hoffmann, of German biopharmaceutical company CureVac, demonstrates research workflow on a vaccine for the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease at a laboratory in Tuebingen, Germany, March 12, 2020. (Andreas Gebert/Reuters)

In an interview on Tuesday, she called the dispute over droplet and aerosol transmission a "false debate," that limited efforts to craft effective safety guidelines.

"In terms of reopening, guiding everything based on this social distancing rule of one to two meters, or three to six feet in different countries  reopening based on that is not sufficient for indoor spaces," she told ABC News.

Bourouiba, who did not sign the letter to the WHO, citing "gaps in the way the science and solutions" were presented, said the CDC should implement different distancing guidelines based on categories of indoors spaces, that also take airflow and circulation into account.

MORE: Epidemiologist on elevated COVID-19 rates in Latino community

And while the science of airborne COVID-19 transmission is still being studied, experts including WHO officials agree that an enclosed, crowded, poorly ventilated room is riskier than the outdoors and recommend optimal ventilation, physical distancing, face coverings, among other precautions to reduce risk of infection.

All experts also say to avoid the 3 Cs: closed, poorly ventilated environments, crowded spaces, and close contacts. "When the three overlap, that's where you get outbreaks," said Milton.

Milton added, "I think if you are careful with the messaging you can make it clear there are things you can do, it's not out of your hands, you can empower people with that knowledge."

ABC News' Ben Siegel contributed to this report.

Why scientists think COVID-19 may be spread through particles in the air originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Will Smith (AP Foto/Thibault Camus)

Will Smith has spoken about the racial abuse he was subjected to at the hands of the police while growing up in Philadelphia.

The Hollywood icon was discussing the Black Lives Matter movement during an interview with broadcaster Angela Rye.

Appearing on the podcast On One With Angela Rye, he said: I've been called n****r by the cops in Philly on more than 10 occasions.

Read more: Bad Boys 4 in development

I got stopped frequently. So I understand what it's like to be in those circumstances with the police.

Smith went on to discuss how he grew up in Philadelphia when controversial mayor Frank Rizzo was in charge of the city.

Rizzo, a former police officer who was made commissioner in 1968, the year Smith was born, became mayor in 1972. A staunch opponent of desegregation in the city who advised supporters to vote white, he was racist in his campaigning and also his policies while in office,

I grew up under Mayor Rizzo. He went from the chief of police to becoming the mayor, and he had an iron hand, Smith said.

Demonstrators march in honor of Philando Castile on July 6, 2020 in St. Anthony, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Referring to the worldwide Black Lives Matter protests, Smith went on: We are in a circumstance that we've never been in before.

The entire globe has stood up and said to the African American people: 'We see you and we hear you. How can we help?' We've never been there before.

Smith recently signed up for Emancipation, a slavery drama by Training Day director Anthony Fuqua.

Read more: Spike Lee says sorry for defending Woody Allen

He is set to play the role of Gordon aka Whipped Peter, who escaped from a Louisiana plantation in 1863 and was the subject of a harrowing photograph showing his scars from years of abuse that was used by abolitionists as a glimpse into the horrors of slavery.

After his gruelling journey through the swamps of Louisiana, Gordon joined and fought with the Union army in the US civil war.

Production is due to begin in 2021.
MONTREAL, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- X2O Media, part of the STRATACACHE family of marketing technology companies, announced today that it has successfully completed Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II audit examination of X2O Platform, a cutting-edge visual communications solution that significantly improves communications throughout the enterprise. X2O Media invested in achieving SOC 2 certification to give their customers the assurance that all critical service commitments and system requirements are in place.

"As more of our customers outsource security operations, there is an increasing need for cloud providers such as X2O Media to ensure security and confidentiality of the systems used to process our customers' data. It was important for us to earn a SOC 2 Type II certification for our customers who can feel confident that there is on-going commitment to safeguard their data," said Mansour Brek, President of X2O Media.

SOC 2 accreditation, jointly developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, is based on a set of trust service principles and criteria for professional assurance, and attestation services is recognized as a gold standard for data security. To achieve compliance, X2O Media invested in a third-party evaluation proving that, on behalf of their customers, X2O Media follows strict information security policies and procedures. The review process was performed by an independent audit firm over several months, and X2O Media's SOC 2 examination confirmed that the company's X2O Platform meets the rigorous SOC 2 Type II criteria.

When partnering with a SOC 2 certified company like X2O Media, it is guaranteed that data is kept secure through the implementation of standardized controls as defined by five sections in the set of criteria for SOC 2 certification  security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. SOC 2 Type II compliance assures customers that X2O Media has the best-in-class insurance in place to ensure the security of their information.

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Learn more about X2O Media Platform here: www.x2omedia.com

About X2O Media

X2O Media provides technology and services for the emerging visual communications and real-time data visualization market. The award-winning X2O Platform represents a new category of communication tools that improve the way enterprises engage with their employees and build brand awareness. By extending standard digital signage, X2O Media's next generation corporate communications solutions reduce costs, drive safety and deliver corporate information and performance dashboards for intelligent targeting to audiences on the screens they use most  their desktop and mobile devices. X2O Media is part of the STRATACACHE family of digital media/marketing technology companies and is headquartered in Montreal. For more information, contact X2O Media at sales@x2omedia.com and follow X2O updates on LinkedIn , Facebook and Twitter .

About STRATACACHE

STRATACACHE provides scalable customer experiences, empowering retailers to learn deeply about their customers' shopping preferences and behaviors, allowing for personalized shopper interaction. Our solutions deliver consumer activation at the point-of-decision, generating new sales opportunities and enhanced retail profitability. With 3.3 million+ software activations globally, we power the biggest digital networks for the world's largest brands. Across the STRATACACHE family of complementary digital media/ad tech solution companies, we have the technology, expertise and track record to bring retail innovation that delivers results. Learn more about the STRATACACHE family at stratacache.com , follow us on LinkedIn , Facebook or Twitter.

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SOURCE X2O Media
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At least 10 people were killed among 64 shootings reported in New York City over the Fourth of July weekend, which saw a violent spree in several major cities still reeling from coronavirus infections and widespread protests against police violence.

For the first time since 2016, the city surpassed 400 shootings by mid-year. The New York Police Department reported that the city saw 528 shootings by the end of June, one of the most violent halves of the year in more than 20 years.

Last week, 18 people were murdered in New York.

At a Monday briefing, Mayor Bill De Blasio pointed to several factors for the weekend's sharp spike in violence, including the "dislocation that has happened over these last four months with the coronavirus".

Covid-19-related deaths have recently plummeted in the state, which emerged as an epicentre at the onset of the outbreak, leading to the deaths of more than 32,000 New Yorkers.

Hospitalisations from coronavirus also have dropped to their lowest point since 18 March, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this week.

But officials are pointing to a beleaguered justice system, a looming recession and mass unemployment as cities brace for more summer violence.

"This is something that we have to double down on," Mayor De Blasio said of recent violence. "The fact that the court system is not working, the economy is not working, people have been penned up for months and months  so many issues underlying this challenge."

He has also called for increased support from church groups and nonprofit organisations.

Last month, the mayor and city officials ultimately agreed to cut $1 billion from the city's police department following demands from New Yorkers to end disproportionate spending among law enforcement, though a compromised budget didn't go far enough for many activists as urgent calls for police reform continue amid Black Lives Matter protests.

But police top brass have criticised the cuts, along with reform measures passed by state lawmakers and the city council to hold officers accountable for violence they commit.

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Mayor De Blasio has not yet signed a package of police reform legislation, which includes a measure that would criminalise the use of chokeholds, following an outcry from police department bosses objecting to language that holds officers accountable for "sitting, kneeling or standing on the chest or back in a manner that compresses the diaphragm".

On Monday, police commissioner Dermot Shea called the measures "insane", claiming that "police officers should not have to worry more about getting arrested than the person with the gun that they're rolling around on the street with".

Chief of Crime Control Strategies Michael LiPetri told reporters on Monday that police "don't have the power" but did not elaborate on what police have lost with recent reforms.

The mayor has resisted calls from city officials and residents to oust the commissioner after he appeared to blame recent violence on bail reform efforts that he claimed had emptied "half the population of Rikers Island and put it onto the streets" during a recent radio interview.

"This leadership group has achieved so much for this city," Mayor De Blasio on Tuesday. "I chose Commissioner Shea, having known him and worked closely with him for six years. He is an extraordinary public servant."

Violence over Independence Day weekend prompted Georgia's governor to declare a state of emergency on Monday after 30 people were injured and five people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed in Atlanta.

In Chicago, 87 people were shot between Thursday and Sunday night. Seventeen people were killed.

Read more

Georgia declares state of emergency after violent weekend

Seven-year-old girl among 17 killed and 89 shot in Chicago

AOC says New York police budget cuts dont go far enough

New York City mayor plans to cut $1bn from police budget
WASHINGTON  Perry Green doesnt believe that Joe Biden is listening to what young, Black Americans want right now.

Across the country, young people are protesting systemic racism and calling on political leaders to reallocate funding from local police to other community resources. Green, who is Black, criticized Biden for not supporting the Defund the Police movement that many activists support.

You got Black youth across the country, calling for defunding the police and thinking differently about law enforcement, and ... a couple days later, in the midst of all the protests  (Bidens) campaign says 'Let's spend more money on community policing,'" Green told USA TODAY.

Green, 34, lives in Alameda, California, and said he's still undecided on whether he will vote for Biden after supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary. But he added if he was living in a swing state like Ohio, Michigan or Pennsylvania, he would be voting for Biden.

"I think that if I were to see the campaign attempt to engage with more grassroots leaders, that would make me feel a little more encouraged about voting for Biden," Green said.

With the November election four months away, polling shows Biden's support with younger Black voters trailing significantly behind that of older Black voters. And while polls show the majority of young Black voters support Biden over President Donald Trump, many are unenthusiastic at best or hesitant at worst.

Black voters of all ages have been a pillar of the Democratic party's coalition for decades and strong turnout from the Black community, particularly in key battleground states such as Michigan and Florida, will be key for Biden to take the White House in November.

Stefanie Brown James, CEO and founding partner of Vestige Strategies and former director of the National African American Vote for the Obama for America Campaign, is pictured.

"I think this is a time for Joe Biden to be explicitly clear on his stances," said Stefanie Brown James, who led Obama for America's effort to engage African American leaders and voters in 2012. "Don't skirt around the issue. Talk to these young people directly, and then have policies that he's championing to show how he wants to push for this progressive change to happen."

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Data shows split between older and younger Black voters

Younger voters who came of age during President Obama's administration, where Biden was vice president, have higher expectations of their politicians, and likely want to see a more progressive Democrat in office, said Chryl Laird, assistant professor of government at Bowdoin College and author of Steadfast Democrats: How Social Forces Shape Black Political Behavior."

(Young Black voters) are going to have some reservations about Joe Biden, Laird said, adding that Biden represents a very clear image of a status quo politician within the Democratic Party.

Older voters, and particularly older Black voters, are more pragmatic when it comes to deciding who to vote for because they have seen that change takes time, Laird said.

Biden has had moments of problematic commentary or statements, Laird said. And they don't really see him as the direction that takes the party in a more progressive lean.

Demonstrators protest Saturday, June 6, 2020, near the White House in Washington.

Still, voting for the Democratic candidate is the norm within the Black community, Laird said, and young Black voters will likely fall in line. A Pew Research Center study this year found that the majority (68%) of Black Democrats described themselves as either moderate or conservative. But in 2016, for example, 89% of all Black voters supported Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

I don't imagine any (young Black voters) going to vote, if they are planning to vote, and voting for Donald Trump, she said, adding that they will likely vote for Biden but not be happy about it.

James noted it's "a critical year for young Black voters to be engaged and feel as though they are a part of the process." Because young voters "are not waiting" and will "move forward how they feel is best," James said, it's crucial for Biden to take a step back and meet with young activists in this moment.

"Being able to say, in no minced words, 'Yes, I know that Black lives matter because x, y, and z,' " is important, said James, who is also CEO of Vestige Strategies and co-founder of Collective PAC.

Aerial Langston, 31, said she will likely vote for Biden in November because the alternative would be voting for the current president. But Langston, who is from Houston, Texas, also said she would like to see Biden be more cautious with his words.

"I need someone who could carry America with a little bit more dignity and I won't be so ashamed to be like, 'Oh, that's my president. Period,' " she said.

Amid nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism, young Black voters, who have taken the lead in many of the demonstrations, are more skeptical of Biden, according to an analysis from the Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape project published in May in the Washington Post.

The analysis found:

91% of Black voters 65 and up said they plan to vote for Biden.

68% of Black voters from ages 18 to 29 said they planned to vote for Biden  more than 20 percentage points fewer than Black voters 65 and up

In the 2016 election, Democrat Hillary Clinton drew 85% of young Black voter support, and won 93% of Black seniors.

13% of Black voters ages 18 to 29 said they plan to vote for Trump.

A recent Washington Post/Ipsos poll published in June found that 92% of Black registered voters said they plan to vote for Biden in November. But it was a near even split as to why: 50% of the Black registered voters surveyed said it was mainly because they oppose Trump, while 49% said they mainly support Biden.

More: Joe Biden comes out against 'defund the police' push amid mounting attacks from Trump after George Floyd protests

The age schism is softened by the fact that older voters, across demographic groups, vote at much higher rates than younger voters.

In 2016, about 70% of voters 65 and up cast ballot, while about 46% of voters ages 18 to 29 turned out to vote, according to data from the Census Bureau. Among African American voters, the voting rates are similar, with young Black voter turnout at about 46% and voter turnout for Black voters 65 and up at 71% in 2016, according to the Census Bureau.

History, recent comments draw criticism from young Black Americans

In the early weeks of the Democratic primary contests, Biden was badly trailing Sanders. But overwhelming support from Black voters, particularly older Black voters, delivered Biden a stunning turnaround in South Carolina.

Biden often touted his record and ties to the African American community during the primary. But parts of his record have come under criticism.

As a former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Biden promoted the 1994 crime legislation that included the Violence Against Women Act and authorized billions in funding for more police and prisons. Biden also previously worked on anti-crime legislation with the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., a longtime segregationist who ran for president in 1948 as a Dixiecrat.

Several of Biden's rivals in the Democratic primary, including Sens. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., pointed to 1994 crime bill's long-term impacts on the Black community, particularly its contribution to mass incarceration.

More: From coastal cities to rural towns, breadth of George Floyd protests  most peaceful  captured by data

Recently, Biden had a testy exchange during an interview with radio host Charlamagne Tha God on his popular morning radio show, The Breakfast Club.

The conversation in May lasted nearly 20 minutes and ended with a gaffe that the former vice president had to apologize for hours later.

"If you have a problem figuring out whether youre for me or Trump, then you aint black, Biden told Charlamagne after the radio host urged Biden to visit New York to continue the discussion. Biden later that day said he regretted the comments, saying he should not have been so cavalier.

I've never, never, ever taken the African American community for granted, Biden said on a call with members of the U.S. Black Chambers Inc., a group that advocates for Black business leaders.

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., a staunch Biden supporter, said he "cringed" at the former vice president's comments. He said he knows that Biden is not perfect but said he should be compared to the alternative, not the Almighty."

Biden has also said he doesnt support defunding the police, which protesters and activists have called for, but supports the "urgent need for reform," including funding for public schools, summer programs and mental health and substance abuse treatment "separate from funding for policing," so officers "can focus on the job of policing."

And after committing to having a woman as his vice presidential choice, Biden is facing increasing calls for that woman to be a woman of color.

African American voters, particularly African American women voters, are crucial to the road to the White House," Marc Morial, president of National Urban League, told USA TODAY earlier this year. I just believe that anyone running for president today is a fool to ignore Black voters, particularly Black women voters.

But Biden is trying to find ways to engage young Black voters.

Earlier this month, Biden's campaign launched a grassroots group called "Black Students for Biden." The campaign also launched an HBCU Students for Biden earlier this year to activate student organizers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country.

Is Biden's connection to Obama a strength?

The recent protests against police violence and systemic racism have again highlighted Biden's different relationships with younger and older Black voters.

In Washington, D.C., Paul Talbert was among hundreds of protesters who marched to the U.S. Capitol in June. He said he still believes Sanders was "the correct choice for Black folks, for younger Black voters like myself." He noted he was going to vote in November but would not say if he was going to vote for Biden.

I wont vote for Donald Trump, Talbert, 28, said. He criticized Biden as trying to ride on Obama's coattails.

I think that whole Obama thing, it got the older generation really going, he said.

Cassandra Dalmida, 19, also said she doesnt want Biden to piggyback off of Barack Obama. Dalmida said she is going to vote in November, but has not committed to the former vice president yet.

Honestly, I want him to not bring up Obama at all, said Dalmida, who is from Orlando, Florida. Dalmida noted she would vote for Biden if he can convince her that he will implement changes that would combat systemic racism across the nation.

More: US voter registration plummets during coronavirus pandemic, challenging both parties

But some older Black voters like Biden's association with the Obama administration.

Walter Wiggins, 67, is pictured.

Walter Wiggins, 67, emphatically declared Biden as his candidate, saying he voted for him in the primary and will vote for him in November.

He was under President Obama, so thats how I feel about him, Wiggins said. Hes a good guy. I respect him.

Wiggins said Biden will continue to build on Obamas legacy by strengthening the Affordable Care Act and he believes Biden will help pass a law to address police brutality.

Carolyn Jones, 72, said that if Biden becomes president, she hopes he brings "stability" back to the United States.

"What the country needs is solidarity," Jones said. "Bring some solidarity, bring some peace. If he doesn't do anything, just bring some solidarity."

And not all younger Black voters are holding out on throwing their support for Biden.

Biden wasnt Stephanie Moore's first choice. I'm not in love with the fact that he is the nominee, she said. But Moore, 49, believes Biden not only has the best chance to beat Trump, he also has the empathy to lead in this moment now.

We all just need a hug, she said, and to hear I'm working for you guys and I know it's hard, I understand. Joe Biden is great at that. I really think that he can start to bridge the gap of hatred and anger and nastiness has just come with a Trump administration.

Lieutenant governor candidate Garlin Gilchrist II at the Fellowship Chapel in Detroit, Tuesday, October 9, 2018.

The former vice president has also received support from leading young Black political leaders, such as Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

Gilchrist, who endorsed Biden in early March, said he knows how many young Black voters feel at the moment.

Gilchrist, 37, voted for Sanders during the 2016 Michigan primary. But he threw his support to Biden in part because of the plans he has set forward and also because the former vice president "has ... always surrounded himself with young hungry smart, talented people to be successful."

"He's someone who clearly recognizes not only the generational moment that we're in, but also the fact that we need to empower young people to step into their leadership and step into their power," Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist praised Biden for stepping up and listening to community leaders at this moment where the entire nation is talking about racism.

"As a young person, I want people who are in the generation ahead of me to recognize my potential and my leadership and give me the opportunity to demonstrate that," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden: Young Black voters say they're not excited about candidate
Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the oluwo of Iwoland, has kicked against the adoption of family planning saying it could lead to the eradication of the human race.





In a lengthy post on his Instagram page, the monarch said there is need to fight several misconceptions such as equating huge population with poverty.





There is, however, no research that proves that a large population would automatically cause poverty. Rather, poverty is due to the countrys inability to adequately provide for its population.





Citing Canada as an instance, the Iwo monarch said nations adopting family planning are at the risk of having the land occupied by foreigners.

He said China  which boasts of a huge population  is evidence that human strength is critical to the socio-economic development of nations.





According to him, the focus should be on how government can provide the right environment for individuals to explore their potentials not shrinking population.





Akanbi also said there is a need for the government to improve the quality of both formal and technical education to enrich and promote brains needed for economic growth.





There is much more strength in procreation. We ignorantly related poverty to overpopulation. If it were to be, China, by now should be the most affected nation by poverty. But no, China is the emerging world power, getting it very right, he wrote.





Few other powerful nations are getting it wrong for placing a limit on childbearing years back.









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As far as the forces are concerned, we take extraordinary care to reduce such events, collateral damage in anti-militancy operations

A senior Army commander said Tuesday the security forces dont want to kill militants and each one is given an ample opportunity to surrender during counter-insurgency operations by the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lt. Gen. Baggavalli Somashekhar Raju, commander of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, said in a television interview that any loss of life is sad. He said: As far as the forces are concerned, we take extraordinary care to reduce such events (collateral damage in anti-militancy operations). Leave alone civilian casualties, we dont want to kill even militants we give them an opportunity to surrender, he said.

Meanwhile, one militant was killed and two Army jawans and a J&K policeman were injured in a gunfight in southern Pulwama district since Tuesday morning, officials said. They said that the militant was gunned down by the security forces after he tried to jump from a house during a cordon-and-search operation in Pulwamas Goosu village. Local sources said two to three more militants who too were trapped in the houses managed to break the security dragnet and escape.




Following the notice of impeachment signed by 14 members of the Ondo State of House Assembly on Tuesday against the embattled Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, he has said that he was yet to be served with the impeachment notice.





According to Ajayi, who spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, he is unruffled with the political situation surrounding his office as well as the current development in the state.





Agboola noted that with what he had so far read on social media and heard from the news so far today that nine lawmakers had dissociated themselves from what he described as kangaroo impeachment process, the move is dead on arrival.





He maintained that he had already approached the court for necessary action.





Earlier, the 14 out of 26 lawmakers had signed impeachment notice against the deputy governor with nine of the states legislators distancing themselves from the move.





During the plenary, Ajayi was alleged of gross misconduct, financial recklessness, abandonment of office among other allegations.

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A political activist, Timi Frank, has condemned the call for probe of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki, ex-Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Senator Dino Melaye and himself.





He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) demanded investigation of the Peoples Democratc Party (PDP) after the arrest of Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi, because it wanted the downfall of opposition leaders.





The Nigerian was recently arrested in Dubai and extradited to the United States where he is currently facing trial.





In a statement on Tuesday, Frank said in making the call, APC merely relied on images of the politicians with Hushpuppi at a public function.

Frank noted that photographs do not prove any of them had business dealings of any kind with him.





He stated that Hushpupi, like any other Nigerian, asked for photos with the PDP stalwarts, and they obliged.





Frank said it was beyond the comprehension of the APC, because Nigerians loathe them and run away from them whenever they come across them in foreign countries, hence they are trying to rope us into imaginary business dealings with Hushpuppi.





Does the APC think that the USA and its security agencies, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) make arrests before investigation? Does the APC government not realise that the investigation was carried out before Hushpuppi was arrested?





Frank stressed that America is not Nigeria where APC militant wing, alias the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies, go about harassing innocent citizens even before any investigation is carried out.





He said the federal government and sycophantic town criers are very good at weaving lies, propaganda, stealing and embezzlement of public funds, supporting Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and protecting APC political Hushpuppis.





Frank mocked the cabals in the Villa, noting that before 2015, they were in debt and extreme poverty but have within the last five years of Buharis regime become multi-billionaires.





The outspoken critic noted that they acquired Etisalat, now known as 9Mobile, Keystone Bank, etc. Some of these APC political hushpuppies even had bullion vans in their houses during the 2019 presidential election campaigns.





He recalled how an APC governor opened a bank in his Babariga where he openly pocketed huge amounts of dollars without personal shame or repercussions from this government.





The activist alleged that billions of dollars have been taken away at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other government agencies under the APC regime.





The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, last week, called for the sack of the head of the EFCC over corruption allegations. The EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, is presently being quizzed by a Presidential Panel. What can be more embarrassing to a country than for the head of its anti-graft crusade to be indicted for corruption?





Obaseki vs Ize-Iyamu: No free dollars for you to loot in Edo - PDP fires back at Ganduje NEWS:Obaseki vs Ize-Iyamu: No free dollars for you to loot in Edo - PDP fires back at Ganduje

Frank advised the government to bury their head in shame. This is the most corrupt democratic administration in the history of our beloved country. If Hushpuppi had been extradited to Nigeria, this corrupt and clueless Buhari-led APC regime would have set him free.





The former APC deputy spokesman added that the FBI does not need anybody to urge them to investigate any individual.





Frank warned the Buhari administration and the APC to stop wasting time sponsoring unnecessary protests.





He urged them to focus on delivering, the fake promises they made to Nigerians during their electioneering campaigns and to think of how to repay all the debts they have accumulated through incessant foreign and local loans.

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The Senate on Tuesday passed the Sexual Harassment Bill which sought to redress sexual harassment of students in tertiary educational institutions.

The bill is titled: A Bill for an Act to prevent, prohibit and redress sexual harassment of students in tertiary educational institutions and for matters concerned therewith, 2019.



This followed the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters by Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele.

While presenting the report, Bamidele noted that the bill was sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate Ovie Omo-Agege and co-sponsored by 106 senators.

He said that the bill was read for the first time on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019 while on Wednesday, Nov. 6, was passed through second reading.

According to Bamidele, the objectives of the bill was to prohibit the offence of sexual harassment of students of tertiary institutions and criminalise the act of neglect or failure of administrative heads of tertiary educational institutions to address complaints of sexual harassment within a specified period of time.

Create a strict liability offence by removing mutual consent as a defense in the prosecution of sexual harassment cases in tertiary educational institutions.

He said that the committee members with stakeholders at the public hearing supported the passage of the bill except the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

We observed that sexual harassment in our tertiary institutions is one of the major factors responsible for the decline in academic excellence in the country today, as hard work, merits and transparency have been compromised by this ugly trend.

This has provided a hostile learning environment for students, thereby creating an enabling atmosphere for mediocrity, indiscipline and inefficiency in our tertiary institutions.

That the absence of a legislation to particularly mitigate the menace of sexual harassment in our tertiary institutions is the reason for the overwhelming rise in cases of sexual harassment as have been reported in recent times.

That the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is of the view that the Bill is ad hominem because it targets a particular community, which in this case, are the educators in the tertiary institutions, whereas sexual harassment is a general societal problem that is not peculiar to tertiary institutions alone;.

Contributing, Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege said the Senate was seeking to elevate students in tertiary institutions who were otherwise adults, who ordinarily ought to be covered by extant laws dealing with rape.

If this crime were committed against a minor, that is those under 18 years, under the extant laws, it is a strict liability offence.

Leader of the Senate, Yahaya Abdullahi said that the evidence of facts and intentions should be looked at under the Act.

Sen. Babba Kaita (APC-Katsina) said that the essence of the bill was for a lecturer or staff not to use his office to exploit an innocent girl.

The essence should be that a student who has reported or has been harassed by a lecturer can be able to report to the institution so that she can seek redress.

In his remarks, President of Senate Ahmad Lawan said that this was one very important and landmark legislation that the ninth Senate had passed.

We have to protect our daughters, sisters and mothers from predators.

We pray that those educators dont have to be taken before the courts of law for any offence.

We want our tertiary institutions to be very important, very safe and peaceful learning environment for everyone and this is a legislation that will ensure that, Lawan said.(NAN)

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A 29 year-old suspected kidnapper and killer, Lekan Raheem, has told newsmen that he and his nine man-gang specialised in kidnaping children.

The gang which comprised two females and seven males killed their victims and sold their body parts to ritualists.



Raheem, a resident of Ojo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, made the confession while being paraded after his arrest by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Oyo State Command, Ibadan.

He was later handed over to the police.

The Public Relations Officer, PRO of Oyo State NIS, Olufemi Adetunji, told newsmen that the suspect was arrested following a tip off by concerned citizens.

Raheem told NIS that his gang had a Micra Car with which they carried out their operations, adding that they would buy enough biscuits inside the car to entice the children.

The suspect was reported to have explained that anytime his gang came across any child walking alone along the road, they would stop and entice the child with biscuits, put him or her inside the car and zoom off.

Adetunji said the NIS, Oyo State Command has handed over the suspect to the Police to continue and conclude investigations.

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Adisa Logun, chief of staff to Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara state, has died of COVID-19 complications.





Rafiu Ajakaye, chief press secretary to the governor, broke the news on Tuesday night.





He said Logun died hours after the result of his coronavirus test was released.





With total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, we wish to announce the passing of the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kwara State Aminu Adisa Logun (mni), Ajakaye said in a statement.





Logun, an industrialist, a public intellectual, and an elder statesman, died Tuesday evening of complications from COVID-19. He died only a few hours after the test of his result returned positive.





The entire government and the people of Kwara State have lost an outstanding public servant who diligently served the state at various times, including as Chief of Staff to the Governor from June 7, 2019 until he returned to his Lord.





The Governor has declared a seven-day mourning in honour of the late Chief of Staff. The Governor commiserates with the family of the late Chief of Staff and the entire Ilorin Emirate for this tragic development.





We pray the Almighty Allah to grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus and give the family the fortitude to bear the huge loss. Details about his janazah will be made public by the family and the government in due course.





According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Kwara had 284 COVID-19 cases as of Monday.




Home | News | General | COVID-19: Humanitarian affairs minister commended for administering aid to poor Nigerians

- Sadiya Farouq, the minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development has been commended for her devotion to ameliorating the challenges faced by poor Nigerians

- The commendation was given by the Coalition for Good Governance (CGG)

- The group said the social intervention programmes in the country is an indication of President Muhammadu Buhari's commitment to Nigerians

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The minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, was on Tuesday, July 7, commended for her supervision and transparent administration of aides to the poorest Nigerians since the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic.

A report by the Coalition for Good Governance (CGG), also lauded the minister's management of emergency issues and the N-Power scheme which recently began enrolling Batch C.

Signed by Mohammed Abu, the report said the ministry under Farouq has impacted on the lives of millions of less-privileged and young Nigerians.

Kogi guber: Huge number of APC aspirants is due to my efforts, says Gov Bello

It said after a critical assessment of the various social interventions in the country, it found out that the ministry has rendered a lofty standard in governance and administration in Nigeria.

The group said it suffices to state that it was not business as usual as the distribution of monies and food items meant for the vulnerable groups were strictly monitored through an enhanced feedback system the detects any shortcoming on the part of the field officers.

"The winding down of the Batch A and B streams of the N-Power scheme and the introduction of the Batch C Stream is indeed commendable due to the impact it would have in the lives of over 500,000 youths across the country," the group's report said.

Minister Sadiya Farouq giving aid to a Nigerian. Photo credit: Ministry of humanitarian affairs

Source: Facebook

It said the initiative reinforces the commitment of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in touching the lives of the youths and ordinary citizens in numerous ways in line with his electoral promises.

Interesting opportunities available on the NPower portal

The group also called on the federal government and relevant stakeholders to sustain its support for the minister.

It recommended that: "That the federal government of Nigeria should as a matter of necessity continue to give the required support to the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development in the implementation of the various social intervention programmes in the country."

Also, all Nigerians must support the federal governments efforts towards alleviating the sufferings of the ordinary citizens in the country.

Nigerians should show support the activities of the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the ministry of humanitarian affairs disclosed the number and categories of jobs available to Batch C of the N-Power programme.

The ministry said the new phase of the scheme will focus on the following areas of human endeavours: N-Teach; N-Health; N-Agro as well as N-Build, N-Creative and N-Tech.

NYSC portal login and registration process will be easy with our guide

It also said that while the N-Teach and N-Health are open only to graduates, graduates and non-graduates are eligible to apply to N-Agro as well as N- Build, N-Creative and N-Tech.

5 years after, Nigerians speak about Buhari's administration | Legit TV

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Home | News | General | Fresh legal moves to sack Hope Uzodinma as Imo governor resumes

- There are fresh moves to remove Senator Hope Uzodinma as Imo state governor

- A recent judgment of the Supreme Court affirmed Uche Nwosu as the authentic candidate of the APC in the Imo guber

- This has triggered a legal loophole which is being explored to send Governor Uzodinma packing

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Fresh legal moves to sack Senator Hope Uzodinma as governor of Imo state has commenced before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, Daily Sun reports.

The fresh suit was filed by the Reform and Advancement Party (RAP) and its 2019 governorship candidate in the state, Okere Kingdom.

Kingdom and his party are asking the court for a judicial interpretation on whether the All Progressives Congress (APC) actually sponsored Uzodinma as its candidate for the said election.

Kogi guber: Huge number of APC aspirants is due to my efforts, says Gov Bello

Governor Uzodinma's lawyers should be getting ready to keep him as Imo governor. Photo credit: Douglas House

Source: Twitter

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The plaintiffs are specifically asking the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Governor Uzodinma and to issue a fresh one to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha as the validly elected governor of the state.

The suit is predicted against the backdrop of the judgment of the Supreme Court in appeal no: SC/1384/2019 which upheld the decision of both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court and affirmed Ugwumba Uche Nwosu as the authentic and duly elected/nominated 2019 Imo state governorship candidate of the APC.

In an originating summons dated and filed on Saturday, June 25, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/677/2020, the plaintiffs formulated several questions for determination by the court.

Uzodinma was proclaimed governor by the Supreme Court last year in a decision many described as controversial.

Fact check: How true is the claim that Ogun guber election should be declared inconclusive?

The governor has since faced heavy opposition from most residents if Imo state who feel aggrieved over the apex court's decision.

Recall that the Department of State Services in Imo state recently arrested Comrade Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, the director-general, Imo PDP new media directorate.

The PDP chieftain was said to have made some social media posts targeting the government of Governor Uzodinma.

His arrest and detention had sparked outrage in the state leading to social media campaigns with the hashtag #FreeAmbrose.

Uzodinma: Why Mbaka's prophecy is seen as a mathematical calculation - Ubani| Legit TV

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Home | News | General | BREAKING: Security agents storm Magus homes in Abuja

- These are very tough times for embattled former EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu

- A team of policemen and operatives of the DSS are currently ransacking his houses in Abuja

- The operatives were detailed to conduct searches at Magus houses in search for evidence against the former EFCC boss

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A report by Premium Times indicates that a combined team of riot policemen and operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) are currently searching the residences of Ibrahim Magu in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

According to the report, Magu's private home in Karu, a suburb in Abuja and his official residence in highbrow Maitama are under siege by the security operatives.

Embattled Magu, is the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and is currently under suspension.

Coronavirus: Traders reveal hike in cost of food items as Easter beckons

These are tough times for Ibrahim Magu. Photo credit: EFCC media

Source: Depositphotos

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A source quoted in the report said the operatives were detailed to conduct searches at Magus houses in search for evidence against the former EFCC boss.

A family source and domestic staff who spoke under the condition of anonymity confirmed the raids on Magu's houses.

As I speak with you our men are on their way to Maitama, having finished with his house in Karu, one of the sources said.

An earlier report by Tribune newspapers indicates that Magu has moved some of his personal belongings out of the headquarters of the commission.

According to the report, the EFCC boss instructed his aides to remove his belongings from the EFCC facility on Tuesday, July 7 while he was on his way to the presidency for the second day of his grilling.

Coronavirus: Engaging activities you can do to avoid boredom following the stay at home order

A source quoted in the report disclosed that the aides came to the EFCC headquarters in two vehicles to pack some of the belongings and they may come again on Wednesday, July 8 to pack what remains in the office.

Meanwhile, Professor Femi Odekunle, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has said the plans to replace Magu are already in motion.

He made the allegation in a statement sent to journalists on Monday, June 6 in reaction to Magu's invitation to the presidential panel.

Magu's ordeal began a few weeks ago when the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), recommended his removal to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Malami, in a memorandum to the president, anchored his recommendation on several grounds raging from diversion of recovered loot to insubordination and misconduct by Magu.

Kogi guber: Huge number of APC aspirants is due to my efforts, says Gov Bello

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Home | News | General | JUST IN: Edo PDP gets great boost ahead of guber, receives 106 defectors

- Things seem to be moving fine for the PDP in Edo

- Not less than 106 ADP members have defected to the opposition party in the state

- The defectors were led by Oshodin Izedomwen, the former organising secretary of the ADP

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state has gotten a great boost for victory ahead of the much-awaited forthcoming governorship election.

Not less than 106 members of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) on Tuesday, July 7, defected to the opposition party in the state, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The defectors from Egor, Ovia Southwest and Ovia Northeast local government areas of the state were led to the PDP by the former organising secretary of the ADP, Oshodin Izedomwen.

prince Uche Secondus and other PDP bigwigs

Source: Facebook

Reacting to the development, the chairman of the PDP in Edo, Tony Aziegbemi, said that the move of the defectors is much like home-coming.

Coronavirus: Traders reveal hike in cost of food items as Easter beckons

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that hours after he boasted that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Edo governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, would defeat his main challenger and candidate of the PDP, Godwin Obaseki, the opposition had hit hard on Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

The PDP described Ganduje, who is the chairman of the APC national campaign council for the Edo governorship election, as a barefaced treasury looter, who has no moral rectitude to speak on corruption.

Legit.ng gathered that the PDP described as a huge irony that Governor Ganduje, who it said has become a national shame after being seen on viral video stuffing his robe with gratification in foreign currency, would be accusing the PDP of corrupt intentions in the Edo state governorship election.

The party in a communique issued on Monday, July 6, said it is a paradox that an individual who has earned himself the disgraceful public sobriquet of gandollar, after being caught collecting gratification, would attempt to accuse others of having the intention of looting the treasury of a state.

Kogi guber: Huge number of APC aspirants is due to my efforts, says Gov Bello

The PDP further pointed out that it is only in a party like the APC, under a Buhari presidency, that such a tarnished individual can be selected to speak in public, let alone lead a governorship election campaign.

Our party invites Governor Ganduje to note that there is no free dollar for him and other APC leaders to loot in Edo state. Under the PDP, the resources of Edo state, and indeed other PDP states, belong to the people and not to any political cabal and their godfathers..." the party said.

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Home | News | General | End of the road: Magu moves personal belongings out of EFCC headquarters

- It seems the end of the road for Ibrahim Magu as the EFCC boss is near

- The embattled anti-graft campaigner has directed his aides to move his belongings out of the EFCC head office

- An official of the federal government had earlier alleged that Magu is already on his way out as EFCC boss

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A report by Tribune newspapers indicates that the embattled acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has moved some of his personal belongings out of the headquarters of the commission.

According to the report, the EFCC boss instructed his aides to remove his belongings from the EFCC facility on Tuesday, July 7 while he was on his way to the presidency for the second day of his grilling.

Coronavirus: Traders reveal hike in cost of food items as Easter beckons

A source quoted in the report disclosed that the aides came to the EFCC headquarters in two vehicles to pack some of the belongings and they may come again on Wednesday, July 8 to pack what remains in the office.

Magu has reportedly moved his personal belongings out of EFCC headquarters. Photo credit: EFCC

Source: Depositphotos

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The ongoing grilling of Magu is has been a trending topic in Nigeria for the past 24 hours.

Inside sources say there are weighty allegations against the anti-graft boss and the presidential panel is seeking to unravel the truth.

As expected, on social media, Magu is the number one trending topic in the country as many Nigerians shared their thoughts on his ordeal.

Bolanle Cole Esq wrote on Twitter: President Buhari should apologise to the Nigerian Senate led by Bukola Saraki and Nigerians for imposing Magu on us against his rejection twice by the Senate. Saraki meant well for Nigerians.

Jose Mourinho makes stunning statement about Lampard after win against Wolves

Gimba Kakanda wrote from another perspective: If Magu is ever found guilty of this, the irony of being a perpetrator of the very vice he was employed to stop, may demoralize a generation of change-makers misled to think that change has come.

Olusola Jide is already suggesting a replacement: I think it will make sense to return Nuhu Ribadu to replace Magu as EFCC boss even if it's just in an acting capacity. At least he is not known to be corrupt. That guy held corrupt guys by their balls. He was fearlessly fearless.

Magu's ordeal is coming two weeks after the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), recommend his removal to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Malami, in a memorandum to the president, anchored his recommendation on several grounds raging from diversion of recovered loot to insubordination and misconduct by Magu.

Exciting details about the new Joker movie: trailer, release date, early reviews

Meanwhile, Professor Femi Odekunle, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), has said the plans to replace Magu are already in motion.

He made the allegation in a statement sent to journalists on Monday, June 6 in reaction to Magu's invitation to the presidential panel.

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On Pangong Tso is concerned, there has been no major disengagement move yet by Chinese troops

The Indian and Chinese armies continued their disengagement process on Tuesday in a bid to resolve their two-month standoff in Ladakh. India expects the Chinese PLA to complete its disengagement from the Hot Springs flashpoint by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, and move back its forces by around 1.5-2 km.

In the Galwan region, Chinese troops on Monday moved back around 2 km from Patrolling Point 14, the site of the June 15 clash. Satellite images by individual open source intelligence on Tuesday confirmed Chinese troops had vacated the Galwan areas.

In Gogra Post, the disengagement by Chinese troops is expected to be complete in 2-3 days. The Indian Army will do a verification to confirm the Chinese disengagement from these points.

Sources said that under the agreement between the corps commanders, a buffer zone of at least 1.5 km on both sides of the LAC mustbe created in all the standoff areas.

The buffer zones are being set up as both armies were in an eyeball-to-eyeball position and it increased the risk of clashes between the two sides. There will be some restriction on patrolling in the buffer areas for some time and these zones will be monitored via drones and satellites.

On Pangong Tso is concerned, there has been no major disengagement move yet by Chinese troops. On Monday, some Chinese troops moved from Finger 4 towards Finger 5, but it was not significant, sources said. Pangong Tso is likely to remain a sticky point between the two armies for some more time.

Once the buffer zones are stabilised and confirmed by both sides (likely this week), the two corps commanders will meet again to discuss further steps for de-escalation. The next step will be moving out forces from the depth areas and in the final step restoring the status quo of April 2020.

Some analysts expressed concern that by stopping Indian troops from patrolling till PP-14 there has been a change in the status quo. Sources said, however, that patrolling by Indian soldiers will resume after all the phases of disengagement are over.

Border Roads Organisation director-general Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh on Tuesday briefed defence minister Rajnath Singh on all construction activities in the border areas and the need to boost ongoing projects.
Home | News | General | Ize-Iyamu lauds Buhari over deployment of fire-fighting trucks to Edo

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The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Edo State Governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government for the deployment of a six thousand liters capacity fire-fighting truck to Edo State following the spate of fire outbreaks recorded in the state.

In a statement released today by Mr. John Mayaki, the Director of Communication and Media of his Campaign Organization, Ize-Iyamu praised the donation as an important intervention by the Buhari-led FG that will bridge the regrettable gap and inefficiencies caused primarily by the failure of the Obaseki-led administration to invest in the Edo State Fire Services.

He said: As a truly progressive and patriot, the President has acted in a way and manner that deserves our ultimate gratitude with the donation of a six thousand liters capacity fire-fighting truck to Edo state.

Despite the shame Governor Godwin Obaseki has brought upon the APC and the whole of Edo State with his incompetence and neglect of governance, the President has once again demonstrated his fatherly love for all and commendable sense of responsibility for all Nigerians wherever they live with the important donation and additional direction to the Federal Service to provide help to the Edo State Fire Service crippled by the directionless Obaseki led administration.

Since the emergence of his government in 2016, Godwin Obaseki has failed to procure a single fire-fighting truck for the states fire service department. Yet, within these four years, there have been numerous and devastating fire outbreaks that wiped out the source of livelihoods of many and brought untold hardship on all, especially our women.

Rather than rise up to the occasion with meaningful interventions just as the President has done, Godwin Obaseki rather politicized the unfortunate situation with grandiloquent speeches insensitive to the plight of the grieving traders and investors who are still struggling to recover from their losses.

Worse still, his promises to compensate the traders and rebuild their markers gone unfulfilled.

The Edo APC, on behalf of all Edo people, express our gratitude to the president.

Even though Obaseki has momentarily pitched his tent in a party of tax collectors against the wishes of the majority of Edo people who voted and maintain their support for the APC specifically because of public-spirited actions that President displayed yet again, we are confident that the anomaly will be undone on the 19th of September and Edo State will rejoin the fold of Progressives to properly align with the center for speedy growth and economic transformation.

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Home | News | General | BREAKING: White House formally withdraws from WHO

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As WHO says move leaves Americans sick and alone

President Donald Trump of USA.

The Trump Administration has told Congress the nation has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization, which is seeking to organize an international response to the coronavirus pandemic.

News of the move broke on a day U.S. deaths to the virus topped 130,000 and the country was on the cusp of 3 million infections.

President Trump announced the move in May after repeatedly accusing the international group of catering to China and failing to protect other nations from the outbreak.

Senator Robert Mendendez (D-N.J.), who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, announced the notification on Twitter, while blasting the decision as shortsighted and risky.

Congress received notification that President of the United States (POTUS) officially withdrew the U.S. from the @WHO in the midst of a pandemic. To call Trumps response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesnt do it justice. This wont protect American lives or interestsit leaves Americans sick & America alone, he wrote.

Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the U.S. from the @WHO in the midst of a pandemic. To call Trumps response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesnt do it justice. This wont protect American lives or interestsit leaves Americans sick & America alone.  Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) July 7, 2020

The administration also told the UN Secretary-General, an administration official told Fox News. The move would take effect July 2021  which in theory would give Trump or Democrat Joe Biden, who is leading in the polls, the chance to roll it back.

Trump blasted the WHO this spring as he shocked U.S. and world officials when he announced the move. He said the WHO had failed to make greatly needed reforms, and said the U.S. would divert funds to other global health organizations.

The move drew pushback even from prominent Republicans, who have called out some missteps by the WHO but nevertheless saw the benefit in having a global health group tending to issues like COVID-19, Malaria, and Ebola.

U.S. officials have hammered WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for praising China for its transparency early in the outbreak.

Trump once again referred to the coronavirus as the horrible China virus on Tuesday.

Source: Daily Mail

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Home | News | General | 774,000 jobs: Im not bound by illegal, unconstitutional resolution of NASS  Keyamo

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Keyamo

Says lawmakers want him out at all cost

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA- MINISTER of State, Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, has told the National Assembly that he was not bound by its resolution that the 774,000 jobs under the Special Public Works Programme should be executed by the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE.

Mr. Keyamo described the resolution of the National Assembly telling him to hands-off execution of the 774,000 jobs as illegal and unconstitutional, adding that he was only bound by the provisions of the law and the Constitution that all public officers swore on oath to uphold.

The President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan had on Tuesday during a courtesy call on him by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the Minister of State, Keyamo and other officials of the Ministry told the Minister of State to hands-off on the execution of the programme.

The two Ministers were at the National Assembly to honour the invitation on interactive session with the Joint Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity on the implementation of the 774,000 jobs by the Ministry.

Infuriated by the resolution of the National Assembly, Mr. Keyamo said he would not engage on illegality as both President Muhammadu Buhari and the Constitution have placed upon him the responsibility of executing the programme.

He said, Earlier today, I appeared again before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Labour and Employment. Before the Committee sat, we paid a courtesy call on the Senate Leadership where the Senate President announced that I, as supervising Minister of the NDE, should hands off the preparation and execution of the Programme.

He further directed the DG, NDE to bring his plans for the execution of the Program DIRECTLY to the National Assembly on Monday, July 13, 2020, for scrutiny and approval. The Joint Committee also took a similar position and adjourned.

With the utmost humility, I regret to say these directives are against the provisions of the NDE Act made by the National Assembly itself and the Constitutional provisions on Separation of Powers.

By virtue of Section 3 (2)of the NDE Act, as supervising Minister, I am the Chairman of the Board of NDE that superintendents and gives directions to the Management of the NDE

That by virtue of section 15 of the NDE Act, I am also authorized, as supervising Minister, to give general directives to the Board and Management, with which they must comply.

By virtue of Section 16 (1) of the NDE Act, the supervising Minister has the sole prerogative to constitute Committees for the Agency.

In addition to the above, Section 6(2) of the National Directorate of Employment Act states that, The Director-General shall, subject to this Act, be the Chief Executive of the Directorate and shall be responsible to the Minister for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the Directorate.

By a memo Ref: CAO.143/S.1/T11/8 dated October 18, 2019, and forwarded to all Government functionaries by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, I was mandated by Mr. President to oversee all the activities of the National Directorate of Employment.

In addition to the above, by a letter, Ref: SH/COS/14/A/1217 dated 6 May, 2020, Mr. President, once again, approved that I supervise the preparation and execution of the Special Public Works Programme domiciled under the N.D.E

However, today, the National Assembly swept aside all these provisions of the law and Presidential directives and authorized the DG of NDE to proceed to submit a plan without the express approval of the Minister. This was done in a desperate bid to get me out of the way at all cost.

My involvement in this process so far is to constitute multi-sectoral Committees at State levels to ensure a grassroots selection process. This was done after an inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the DG NDE made such a recommendation which I accepted.

As stated above, I am authorized to do so by virtue of Section 16 (1) of the NDE Act. As a result all the sponsored allegations and attacks in relation to my role so far are nothing but cheap blackmail. My actions are backed by law.

In the circumstances of the above, I regret to say I am not bound by such a patently illegal and unconstitutional resolution by the National Assembly and I am only bound by the provisions of the law and the Constitution that all public officers swore on oath to uphold. 

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Home | News | General | Magus case should be properly investigated  Nkanga

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Ibrahim Magu

By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF and former military administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd) has advised that the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the arrested acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Ibrahim Magu should be properly investigated

Nkanga, who spoke in an interview in Uyo added since Magu said that his arrest was a power play, that he should tell the truth and open up on why they are trying to tarnish his image to prove that he is not guilty.

He pointed out that there were similar cases in the past where persons in position of authority were be accused of corruption and found not guilty afterwards.

Nkanga said, That is why I am saying that they should go into the bottom of this particular one. It is important to get to the facts correctly so that we dont accuse him wrongly. We must take this very seriously.

I think I heard him on Monday on Television when he said his arrest was a power play. I dont know whether he has issues with the major power players in the system that they want to rubbish him.

 And advice that he should tell the truth and the truth will set him free. If it is power play he should open up and tell Nigerians who is causing the power play. That will expose whether there is a cabal in the system. This is an opportunity for him to say that he is not guilty

Nkanga who recalled that when the issue of Magus integrity was challenged initially leading to the National Assembly not confirming his appointment, that the government in power ignored it, wondered why the same government now feel that that it is time for them to do the needful now.

He however expressed concern that if Ibrahim Magus was eventually guilty it was going to have a very serious dent on Nigerians, stressing, In the first place this is not a very positive thing for the country. However All we want is for the right thing to be done with facts and figures. He is not above the Law

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Home | News | General | My successor will not face same financial challenges  LASU VC

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By Adesina Wahab

The Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, has vowed to leave the university better than he met it four years ago.

Fagbohun is the eighth substantive VC of the university, and his five-year tenure will lapse in January, 2021.

He gave the assurance on Tuesday when the LASU Financial Sustainability Committee submitted its report to him at the Vice Chancellor s Conference Room, Senate Building, Main Campus, Ojo.

Fagbohun, while commending the committee, under the Chairmanship of Professor of Physical Planning, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, said the university managements resolve to ensure that the university remains financially sustainable in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic informed the creation of the Committee.

It was Covid-19 that informed the formation of this Committee. When you look at the roadmap of our administration, we have five imperatives to build peace, entrench academic excellence, ensure financial stability of the university, consolidate on the gains of previous administrations and be a veritable partner to the government. For us, we have achieved almost all of these imperatives and we were already cruising home.

However, one of the biggest challenges that we have had to face is being financially sustainable in the face of lean resources. To achieve this, we continued to engage the state government to increase our subventions enough to take care of salaries with the assurance that we would build our internally-generated revenue to drive development within the university.

It was at the time that our request finally received the governors attention that Covid-19 happened, forcing the government to divert priority to other pressing areas.

Prof. Fagbohun further assured that with the work of the Committee, the university is on its way to becoming financially sustainable, in spite the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant dip in the universitys resources.

As a management, we decided that the incoming Vice Chancellor should not inherit the same financial challenge I encountered. We must make the university financially sustainable such that the new administration will not have to start from ground zero. If we want to be fair to the system, we must not leave this university in limbo.

On the composition of the Committee, he said: In putting this Committee together, we wanted people who can ask questions, disagree and agree. We wanted critically minded people drawn from all sections of the university who can have diverse but robust perspectives to come up with the kind of answers we want. I thank the members of this Committee for a great job done. Gold and silver we dont have, but you can be sure that we will express out appreciation to you. 

He also expressed his joy at the immense support given to him by the university community so far:

When you see everyone working with one purpose, there is no way you wont achieve success. I know for a fact that the kind of robust support that I have enjoyed in this system, I am not sure I can enjoy more than that anywhere else. The people of LASU have been there for me. They dont give excuses, call some of the officers at any time of the day and are available. That is why my memoir will be written and will mention people s names.

The Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, while presenting the report, assured that, if implemented, the report would enhance the universitys financial position in the coming years.

He said, When you appointed us about two months ago, what we set out to do was look at where we are, where we want to be in five years, and what can we do to get there. You gave us two weeks to submit this report but we recognised that to do something that will stand the test of time, we needed more time.

This report will help the new VC to quickly identify what direction to follow financially. With this, it is my believe that the next VC will not be running around to pay salaries.

I thank you for your love for this University. You could have just finished your tenure and go, but you are already thinking ahead about the next administration. It means you love this University and you have seen it as a part of you. I cant remember any VC that voluntarily handed over to another VC in LASU, but I believe that by Gods grace, when the time comes, we will have a successful baton exchange.

The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos Chapter, Comrade Agnes Sessi, who is also a member of the Committee, in a brief remark, thanked the Vice Chancellor for the leadership he has provided in the last four years and prayed that in future, the Vice Chancellor would have another opportunity to serve the university in a new capacity.

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Home | News | General | COVID-19: FG frees 7,813 inmates in 18 states, FCT

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Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA  The Federal Government, on Tuesday, said it has released a total of 7, 813 inmates from various Correctional Centers since the outbreak of Coronavirus in the country.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, who made the disclosure at a press conference in Abuja, said FG took the decision so as to curb the spread of the virus among inmates.

Malami said the Federal Executive Council had earlier in 2017, passed a resolution that directed the Federal Ministry of Justice to put in place measures to fast track the decongestion of Correctional Centres nationwide.

He said as a result of the resolution, a Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reform and Decongestion was inaugurated in October 2017.

Highlighting some achievements of the Presidential Committee headed by the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Ishaq Bello, since it was inaugurated, the AGF, said it brought modalities that were used to identify the inmates that were freed due to the rampaging Coronavirus.

The AGF said the Committee visited and appraised about 39 prisons in 18 states, especially cases of awaiting trial inmates he said accounted for above 70% of the population of custodial centres.

The Committee also conducts special review of cases of inmates awaiting trial for upwards of five (5) years, inmates eligible for Prerogative of Mercy and looks into cases of condemned convicts on death row for over ten (10) years, with the view to getting relevant authorities to commute the sentences to life imprisonment and peculiar cases.

A total number of 7,813 have been so far released during these visits through advocacy overtures to relevant authorities and in collaboration with other stakeholders, via general review of peculiar cases and via payment of fines for convicts for minor offences with the option of fine who are unable to pay the fines.

These payments were made possible through the financial assistance of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, State Governments, NGOs and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

In the course of these visits, the Committee also encountered a startling number of convicts who ought to be recommended as deserving consideration for the grant of Presidential Pardon.

Malami said the list of such inmates had since been complied and forwarded for consideration.

On his part, Chairman of the Presidential Committee, Justice Bello, said FG had initiated the upgrading of libraries in various Custodial centres with the aim of aiding the re-orientation of inmates.

He said the Committee had after it reviewed cases of inmates eligible for Prerogative of Mercy and condemned convicts on death row for over 10 years, wrote letters of appeal to several governors to act on some special cases they encountered during the visits.

He said the governors were in the letters, urged to exercise their powers of clemency in deserving cases or commute to life sentence those condemned to death.

I interact with the Medical officers in charge of the clinics during inspection usually with a view of detecting the critically ill inmates with life-threatening ailments who cannot access adequate treatment to be released or recommended for release.

Inmates who are lucky to be released are extensively counselled and in most cases are given transportation stipends to enable them return to their families. Sometimes we have requested officers to get them home, Justice Bello added.

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Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been sent back to area 10 force criminal investigation department (FCID) of the police in Abuja where he spent the night on Monday.





A source disclosed this, saying he was moved to detention at the end of questioning by the panel on Tuesday.





He was arrested on Monday and whisked to the presidential villa in Abuja where the panel set up to probe the commission has been sitting.





Abuja. Some of the aides of the anti-graft czar had earlier moved his personal belongings out of his official residence in the Maitama area of the nations capital while security operatives raided his residence at Karu, still inAbuja.





A family source said the security operatives who carried out the operation found nothing incriminating in the house.





They were said to have left with some documents.





Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Magu over some weighty allegations.





The AGF had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Magu over some weighty allegations, including the diversion of recovered loot.





In addition to allegedly re-looting the recovered loot, Malami accused the acting EFCC chairman of insubordination and misconduct.





An EFCC source said Magu went to the panel with documents to prove that Malamis allegations were false but surprisingly he has not been asked any question on that.





He went to the panel with many documents. He has a lot of files on him to respond to the allegations. Surprisingly, the panel has not asked him any question on the issues raised against him, the source said.





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Home | News | General | Policemen search Magus house

Some policemen attached to the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department on Tuesday searched the home of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu.

A top police officer told The PUNCH that the policemen searched Magus house located on Abduljalil Street, Karu Site, on the outskirts of Abuja, for several hours and made away with vital documents..

The policemen who carried out the search were said to be the same ones who arrested Magu on Monday.

The officer said, On Tuesday evening, a team of policemen stormed the home of Magu in Karu. That is the house where Magu used to live before he moved to Maitama after his appointment as EFCC chairman.

The policemen made away with some items and everything will be processed as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that Magu was detained for a second day after answering questions from the panel for over five hours on Tuesday.

He was subsequently taken into custody again at about 7pm.

A top source told The PUNCH that a police investigation was ongoing simultaneously with that of the panel.

As the panel makes it findings and establishes certain allegations, the police will continue to open investigations. We were told that he had bought some properties, so one of the reasons we searched the Karu home was that we wanted to lay our hands on some of these documents. We have been able to make some findings, he said.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that Magu may be brought before the Force Disciplinary Committee made up of deputy inspectors-general of police for trial and possible dismissal.

A top security agent said since Magu is a Commissioner of Police, he cannot be charged until he is properly dismissed from the police.

He said, After the panel has finished sitting and once Magu is found wanting on any of the 24 allegations, he would be made to face the Force Disciplinary Committee which comprises the DIGs. The committee would make a recommendation to the IG who would in turn forward the report to the Police Service Commission. The PSC would then do the needful.

Magu already has an existing disciplinary case in his police file. So, as a second-time offender, dismissal would be very easy.

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Home | News | General | We were under pressure to declare Orji Kalus seat vacant, but we refused  Lawan

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan said Tuesday that the Leadership of the Upper Chamber was under serious pressure to declare vacant, the seat of the Chief Whip of the Senate during his incarceration at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Speaking in Abuja when leaders of thought from Abia State paid him a visit in his office, Lawan who gave an insight into why the Senate refused to yield to pressure to declare Kalus s seat and position vacant, said that what the Senate did by preserving the seat was not extra-ordinary but the right and just thing to do..

The delegation of the leaders of thought led by Senator Chris Adighije was at the National Assembly in Abuja to appreciate the Senate and its leadership for showing their concerns for Kalu during his incarceration.

Recall that Kalu was the Senate Chief Whip when a court in Lagos sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment in December 2019 for fraud committed while he was Abia State Governor between 1999 and 2007.

Kalu spent six months in the Correctional Facility before he eventually regained his freedom and returned to the Senate following the Supreme Courts judgement which nullified his conviction on grounds of lack of jurisdiction by the trial judge.

Speaking further, Lawan told his guests that there was no way anybody could convince us in the Senate that somebody should take the Abia North Seat because it wasnt vacant.

He(Kalu) was on several appeals and until he exhausted all the opportunities available to him, that seat remained his seat.

Similarly the position of the Chief Whip, we didnt even appoint an acting Chief Whip. The Deputy Chief Whip continued to play that role until he was released.

We came under pressure, of course. But we thought the right thing to do was to keep that seat, that position until he was able to get his judgement.

It would have been premature, unjust and unfair to declare his seat vacant or his position to be given away because he was in that situation.

So we didnt do anything extra-ordinary really. We did what was right, what was just, what was necessary.

Looking at the bi-partisan composition of the group, the Senate President who commended the leaders for the unity and understanding among them and their followers, said, It has been a long time, I have not seen or heard the kind of unity, understanding and desire to move a state forward in a bi-partisan way.

Our people need us to give them leadership. They need us to give them good governance. They want to have better life and particularly in Abia state, you have a lot of business people. They would like to see their businesses grow and do well.

Once the leaders are united, it makes it much easier for the followership to remain united and supportive so that reaching the promised land can be quite easy.

Earlier in his remarks, leader of the delegation, Senator Chris Adighije who noted that the visit was to appreciate the Senate and its leadership for their concerns for the former Governor, said, We want to thank the Senate. Its something that the entire Abia State and Indeed the South East appreciate very much 

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Home | News | General | Magus suspension: Buharis anti-corruption fight political  Kingsley Moghalu

Kingsley Moghalu, the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and presidential candidate in 2019 election has insinuated that the anti-corruption war under President Muhammadu Buhari is not independent of politics.

His position came in reaction to the suspension of Ibrahim Magu as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday..

Multiple sources had confirmed Magus suspension to The Nation after he faced the Presidential panel on corruption at the Presidential Villa on Monday morning over the allegation of corruption, insubordination and abuse of office  charges recently reported via memo by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami to the President.

The ex-deputy governor of CBN on Twitter Tuesday evening said: News of the suspension of EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu by President Buhari, and all the factional controversy surrounding him since his appointment, goes far beyond Magu.

Our fight against corruption in Nigeria has been more of politics and power play.

While suggesting that the politics may responsible for reasons why concrete measures have not been implemented in tackling corruption, Moghalu, however, maintained neutrality on the allegations Magu is being probed for.

I take no position on whether or not Magu is guilty as alleged or not. But I think all the controversies indicate that control of EFCC is a prize that is being contested by powerful interests. This may be why we have not taken the real, PREVENTIVE measures necessary, Moghalu noted.

Aside from the call for the sack of Magu contained in Malamis memo to Buhari, it is also on record that the 9th Senate led by Dr. Bukola Saraki refused to confirm the suspended EFCC chief as the chairman of the anti-graft agency on the account of questionable integrity.

He only served in acting capacity throughout.

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Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is headed by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.

In a major development that is bound to create more tensions between the Congress and the ruling BJP, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday set up an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into violation of various legal provisions of PMLA, Income Tax Act, FCRA etc by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

As per the ministry's notification, a Special Director of the ED will head the committee.The committee will also investigate two other organisations: The Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

The latest development amid allegations by BJP chief JP Nadda that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, which is headed by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, had received funds from the Chinese government.

On June 29, Nadda had 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.

Nadda had also asked the Congress to come clean on its "links" with China, and the details of its MoU with the Communist Party of China.

The BJP chief had also attacked 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.

The Congress, however, dismissed Nadda's attack on the RGF over alleged donations to it from the Chinese embassy as a "diabolical game of deception" by the ruling party to divert attention from the alleged Chinese occupation of Indian territory.
Home | News | General | Magu faces likely dismissal after suspension as probe panel meets Buharis chief of staff

- Ibrahim Magu is still facing integrity test following his suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari

- Retired Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential probe panel has met with the president's chief of staff Ibrahim Gambari

- Houses and properties belonging to the embattled EFCC boss have been placed under the watch of the security operatives

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The Ayo Salami-led presidential probe panel investigating allegations of gross misconduct against the suspended EFCC boss Ibrahim Magu has met the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari.

The agenda of the meeting between Gambari and members of the panel was unknown, NAN reports.

Legit.ng recalls that Magu was on Tuesday afternoon, July 7, suspended from office following an ongoing investigation by the presidential panel after he was indicted by Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the federation.

N10 billion fraud allegation: IGP orders probe of Udoms appointee

Properties belonging to the EFCC boss has been since laid under siege by the combined operatives of the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

According to the sources, the suspension is meant to allow for probe into allegations against him.

Retired Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential probe panel has met with the president's chief of staff Ibrahim Gambari.

Source: Twitter

Magu, who appeared before the panel on Monday, July 6, after being gripped and Tuesday, has been given two days to present his defence lawyers.

The source had earlier maintained that the ongoing interrogation of Magu is to clear him of weighty allegations levelled against him.

The source also stated that the probe of the anti-graft boss was an affirmation that nobody under the present administration is above scrutiny.

According to the source, the Buhari administration will not prejudge anyone because it can be counted on to uphold justice and fairness.

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Kogi guber: Huge number of APC aspirants is due to my efforts, says Gov Bello

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Dino Melaye, a former lawmaker representing Kogi West, has mocked Ibrahim Magu, embattled EFCC chairman following his suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting to Magu's trial, the former lawmaker took to his Twitter page to mock the anti-graft sheriff, saying he has warned about Magu but President Buhari did not listen.

Melaye, who posted a video of himself singing, said the president has now seen the devil in Magus' anti-corruption fight.

Mike Ozekhome, a senior lawyer, also said he had warned in 2017 about the embattled acting chairman of EFCC who he said was looting the treasury with his cronies.

How Nigerians should fight corruption - civil society group | - on Legit TV

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Home | News | General | Tears as bandits kill Nigerian Army captain, kidnap wife, mother

- Some gunmen have stricken havoc in the life of a Nigerian Army Captain, GSM Abubakar

- The criminals shot dead Abubakar along the Okene-Lokoja highway

- The gunmen also kidnapped the deceased's mother and wife

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A Nigerian Army officer, Captain GSM Abubakar, with identification number N/13600 was on Sunday, July 5, attacked and killed by some gunmen along the Okene-Lokoja road.

The Nation reports that late Abubakar was on his way to the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, in Jaji, Kaduna from Lagos with his wife and mother when he was shot dead by the bandits.

After confirming that the officer was dead, the culprits who are now in hiding abducted his wife and mother.

Other officers travelling alongside Abubakar narrowly escaped the attack by maneuvring their ways and speeding away from the scene.

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The remains of the officer which were first moved to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja have been claimed by his family members.

Other officers travelling alongside Abubakar narrowly escaped the attack by maneuvring their ways and speeding away from the scene.

Source: Depositphotos

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had continued to record massive win in the fight against terrorism as Nigerian troops killed 45 Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in several operations from June 11  18, a period of one week.

This was disclosed by the coordinator, defence media operations, Major-General John Enenche, at a press briefing on Thursday, June 18, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

Eneche speaking on military operations said the soldiers during a counter-attack on Monguno town rescued 33 that were held captives and recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and equipment.

The defence spokesman went on to note that the Nigerian Military recorded successes against armed bandits operating in the region. The troop carried out aggressive clearance operations where they neutralized scores of bandits.

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They caught 3 suspects and freed 6 kidnapped victims amongst other recoveries. Meanwhile, the troops were able to restore peace to Olegeje community in Agatu local government area of Benue state after apprehending a popular militia leader known as Alhaji Audu on Sunday, June 14.

Alhaji Audu was suspected to be responsible for several attacks in the community and has been on the wanted list of security agencies for some time.

Can Nigerian Soldiers really not deal with Boko Haram fighters?| Legit TV

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Home | News | General | Veteran actor Pa James house sacked by flood after heavy rains in Lagos (photo)

- Veteran Nollywood actor, Kayode Olasehinde Ajirebi aka Pa James, is facing tough times during this rainy season

- The veteran film stars abode has been sacked by flood and well-meaning Nigerians are calling on others to come to his aid on social media

- A photo of Pa James waterlogged house was shared on social media and this is coming a year after his son cried out on Instagram about the same issue

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Finding accommodation in a buzzing city like Lagos is perhaps one of the most important decisions an adult can make. Many times, people do not know the true conditions of their residence till the rains come.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Kayode Olasehinde Ajirebi is currently facing a very tough time with accommodation due to the recent heavy rainfalls.

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The film stars residence which is located in Oke Isagun community of Oke Odo LGA in Lagos state has been sacked by flood and from photos shared on social media, Pa James house looks like a small river.

Veteran actor Kayode Olasehinde Ajirebi aka Pa James

Source: UGC

Well-meaning Nigerians have now taken to social media to call for financial assistance for the movie veteran. Nollywood actor, Kunle Afod, shared photos of Pa James house and in his caption he begged Nigerians to come to his aid.

He wrote: Let's come together to support Pa James ...This is his house, taken over by flood...

Pls and pls God will help u as u lend your helping hand...OLASEHINDE JAMES OLUKAYODE, 0113635178 GTB.

See his post below:

This is coming just a year after Pa James was in a similar situation. In May 2019, the actors son, Samuel Ajirebi, complained about the situation of his fathers house and added that it was the 10th year in a row that they were experiencing such flood in their home.

Listen and enjoy the latest single by Bensoul - Niombee

See photos taken in 2019 of Pa James' flooded home:

Veteran actor Pa James house sacked by flood after heavy rains in Lagos (photo)

Source: Instagram

He wrote: This year makes it ten years of repeated and consistent occurrence of this with severe damages done annually to properties, at times leading to temporary displacement! Letters have been written, TV appearances made, press releases written, still no significant step taken by the government to channel the overrunning canal....This is not a sympathy plea for anything, but a call to the state and local government authorities of Lagos ( @akinwunmiambode and @jidesanwoolu ) Oke Odo LGA respectively to please wake up to your responsibility and stop making citizens suffer in neglect! We need governmental intervention in Oke Isagun Community of Oke Odo LGA! "We lose properties! We lose rest whenever we see rain signs! Tonight is going to be a partial prayer moment for families, because it must not rain tonight.... No house for us to sleep in anymore! "This is sad and heartbreaking!.

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Home | News | General | Baby Born Holding His Mothers Contraceptive Coil That Was Supposed To Stop Her From Getting Pregnant (Photos)

The baby boy can be apparently be seen clasping his mothers yellow and black intrauterine device in his hand.

Extraordinary images appear to show a newborn holding his mums contraceptive coil that failed to stop her falling pregnant with him..

The baby boy can be apparently be seen clasping his mothers yellow and black intrauterine device in his hand at Hai Phong International Hospital in the city of Hai Phong in northern Vietnam.

Obstetrician Tran Viet Phuong said the device had come out when the baby was born.

The infant had it held firmly in his hands when the picture was taken, it is claimed.

Dr Phuong told local media: After delivery, I thought him holding the device was interesting, so I took a picture.

I never thought it would receive so much attention.

The babys 34-year-old mother claims she had the coil inserted two years earlier but it did not work because she later discovered she was pregnant.

Dr Phuong said the device may have been moved from its original position, becoming an ineffective form of contraception and allowing the mother to become pregnant.

The baby was healthy when born, weighing 7lbs, and both mother and child were under observation in the hospital after the birth, its reported.

The mother had previously had two other children, according to reports.

The coil is supposed to stop sperm fertilising a womans eggs and can work by either releasing copper or hormones after being inserted into a womans uterus.

***

Source: The Sun UK

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Home | News | General | Investigate Tinubu Bullion Van, Stop Insulting Atiku  Group Protests

A group of protesters numbering over a hundred, under the aegis, Anti-Corruption Network, today, converged in front of the Unity Fountain, Abuja to protest what it described as the social media trial and attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC) party to drag the names of the former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki; former House of Representatives Leader, Yakubu Dogara, Former Senator, Dino Melaye and other PDP members to the mud by alleging they have links with Hushpuppi.

The group, who condemned the act by the APC, however, said that Atiku and the former lawmakers are Democrats who should be commended for their roles in bringing growth to Nigeria.

Recall that a suspected Nigerian internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi was recently arrested in Dubai and extradited to the United States of America (USA) where he is currently facing trial.

Following his arrest, the APC had called for the probe of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, including Atiku, Saraki, Dogara, Melaye and Timi Frank for appearing in certain photographs with the suspect many months back.

But Atiku, Saraki, Dogara and Frank have, in separate statements, denied any business connection or link with the suspect.

Meanwhile, addressing newsmen during the protest today, the convener of the group, Mr. Odih Rowland corroborated PDPs earlier statement and described the call for the arrest and probe of some of the partys prominent members over alleged links to Hushpuppi as reckless, irresponsible and a cheap blackmail, saying it further exposed a victimisation agenda of the APC.

The group said Atiku, Saraki, Dogara, Melaye and those accused are prominent Nigerians with good track record known beyond Africa and that attempt to bring their good names to ridicule would be vehemently condemned by the group. It however called on the president to investigate the Hushpuppi case as well as focus on fixing the economy to save Nigeria instead of allowing his party to distract him in trying to drag the names of Atiku and others to the mud.

According to Mr. Rowland,  we are here to ask Mr. President to investigate who and who are behind Hushpuppi. Calling on the PDP that they are behind Hushpuppi, that is a big lie.

The APC should not drag the name of Atiku into this. The PDP will not accept it.

 Atiku is a Democrat. Bukola Saraki is a Democrat; Dogara is a Democrat. We say no to the intimidation. No more social media trial.

We are calling on Mr. President to say enough is enough. Mr. President should go and investigate who is behind Hushpuppi. Stop insulting our leaders. Our leaders are doing the right things. Focus on economy to save Nigeria.

The President should set up a panel to investigate Hushpuppi. Hushpuppi is a criminal and Nigerian youths are not part of Hushpuppi, he said.

See protest video below

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Home | News | General | Coronavirus: Ebonyi workers to commence 1-hour daily prayer session for Umahi

- Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi is currently not showing COVID-19 symptoms

- This was revealed by the deputy governor of the state, Kelechi Igwe

- The deputy governor revealed that all government agencies in the state will commence daily prayer session for the governor

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The deputy governor of Ebonyi state, Kelechi Igwe has said Governor David Umahi is currently not showing COVID-19 symptoms and is conducting official duties from isolation.

Igwe revealed this on Tuesday, July 7 at a meeting with top government officials and the state COVID-19 response team in Abakaliki, the state capital.

He declared that the governor is still very strong, adding that the government would use prayers to speed-up his recovery process.

Governor Umahi is currently on self-isolation as directed by the NCDC for COVID-19 patients. Photo credit: Ebonyi govt

Source: UGC

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We have directed all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to immediately commence one-hour daily prayer session for the governors recovery, including others infected with the disease in the state, the deputy governor said.

Igwe noted that the government would not abdicate on the fight against the virus because of the governors temporary isolation, saying that the fights sustenance would help him recover quicker.

Governor Umahi on Saturday, July 4, confirmed that he has contracted the deadly coronavirus.

Umahi announced his coronavirus status in a statement, adding that some of his aides have also tested positive for the deadly virus.

Although the governor revealed that he is asymptomatic at the moment, Umahi stated that he has gone into self-isolation in line with protocols given by the National Centre for Disease Control.

The governor went on to say that until further notice he will attend all meetings virtually; he called on all residents in the state to strictly observe all safety measure to curb the spread of the disease.

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Meanwhile, the Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has extended its sympathy to Governor Umahi.

In a statement signed by AESID president, Ambassador Pascal Oluchukwu and made available to journalists on Sunday, July 5, the group expressed shock and prayed that pandemic be successfully managed and further spread curbed in Ebonyi state, Nigeria and globally.

While wishing Umahi a speedy recovery, Ambassador Oluchukwu commended the governor for handing over to his deputy to lead the frontline coordination of the battle to contain and manage the further spread of the dreaded COVID-19 virus in the state.

In a related development, the federal government has expressed worry over the rising positive cases of the virus among people in positions of authority.

The federal government expressed its concern through the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.

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Speaking on Monday, July 6 at a press briefing by the PTF, Mustapha described the situation as a threat to national security and governance.

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Home | News | General | 2023: Southeast PDP rejects alleged zoning to northern Nigeria

- Southeast PDP has rejected the purported zoning of the party's 2023 presidential ticket to the north

- A former governor of Benue state, Senator Gabriel Suswam gave the hint in a recent interview

- The southeast PDP said the decision on the zoning of the presidential ticket has not been discussed by the party

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), southeast zone, on Tuesday, July 7, rejected the rumoured zoning of the party's presidential ticket to the north in 2023.

PDP national vice chairman, southeast, Chief Austine Umahi, in a statement sent to journalists, said the decision on the zoning of the presidential ticket has not been discussed by the leadership of the party.

Umahi was reacting to a recent statement by a former governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam, that the PDP had zoned its 2023 presidential ticket to the north.

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He said the former Benue governor's statement were personal wishes which could not be seen as the collective decision of the party.

Senator Suswam's recent comment on the 2023 presidential election has generated reactions. Photo credit: Haruna Salami

Source: Facebook

Umahi also urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to quickly address Suswams comment for the interest of peace and unity of the party.

He said no zone should be neglected or underrated in the decision-making process of the party, especially the southeast, stressing that the region had made tremendous sacrifices for the growth, wellbeing and survival of the PDP.

As a political party, positions are only zoned in the PDP after they have been robustly debated by all six zones and unanimously agreed on as serving the best interest of the unity of the party and national exigencies.

As such, the NWC of our party cannot allow Senator Suswam to pass across personal wishes as collective resolve, except if it is a case of the bird dancing by the road with the drummer lurking in the nearby bush.

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The statement amounts to one being a judge in his case, which offends all known laws of natural justice, Umahi said.

Also reacting to Suswam's comment, a chieftain of the PDP from the southeast, Hon. Innocent Nwachukwu said the PDP is yet to take such decision on the issue.

Nwachukwu stated that the PDP is a party built on justice and will make a decision that will reflect the mood of the nation and not the whims and caprices of a single individual.

He warned against statements that do not reflect the view of the party noting that PDP, for now, is focused on how to reclaim Edo state from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Suswam had in an interview, offered reasons why the PDP will zone the 2023 presidency to the North again.

Suswam said since the PDP did not win the presidency when it was zoned to the north in 2015 and 2019, it must take another shot at it in 2023.

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Meanwhile, apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation in Nigeria, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged political parties in Nigeria to look the way of the Igbos and give them a chance in 2023.

John Nwodo, the president general of the socio-political group, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit to Imo state governor Hope Uzodinma in Owerri.

Nwodo speaking on the 2023 presidential elections, expressed confidence that the situation in Nigeria will be turned around if Igbos are given the opportunity.

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Home | News | General | Breaking: Another official reportedly picked to replace Ibrahim Magu at EFCC

- A new official has reportedly been selected to head the EFCC following Ibrahim Magus suspension

- An unmanned EFCC official said Magus replacement is Mohammed Umar, the director of operations at the commission

- The source said the reported suspension of the acting chairman has not been officially communicated to the anti-graft commission

Following the reported suspension of Ibrahim Magu, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a new official has reportedly been selected to head the affairs of the anti-corruption agency.

A new official has reportedly been selected to head the EFCC following Ibrahim Magus suspension. Photo Credit: EFCC

Source: UGC

A senior EFCC source, who does not want to be named, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, July 7, that Mohammed Umar, the director of operations at the commission has been picked to oversee the affairs of the agency in place of Magu.

According to the official, Umar was selected by EFCCs hierarchy after the commission learnt that Magu has been suspended.

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The EFCC source said the reported suspension of the acting chairman has not been officially communicated to the anti-graft commission.

However, when contacted about Magus reported replacement, the spokesperson of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, declined to comment.

Meanwhile, amid the raging arguments over the suspension of Magu, the acting chairman of the EFCC, a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, has mocked President Muhammadu Buhari's anti-corruption fight.

Channels TV reported that Falana said Magu's probe has put a big question mark on the anti-graft agency.

Legit.ng gathered that he disclosed this on Wednesday, July 8, during an interview on Channels Televisions Sunrise Daily.

He said: Even though Mr. Ibrahim Magu is presumed innocent of all the allegations levelled against him, it is an anti-climax for an anti-corruption czar to be linked to a miasma of corrupt practices."

Speaking further, the legal practitioner said the federal government should not make the mistake of appointing someone, who he described as an outsider, to head the EFCC in acting capacity should Magu be suspended or found guilty of the allegations.

N10 billion fraud allegation: IGP orders probe of Udoms appointee

According to him, this is to ensure that the name of such nomination would easily be sent to the National Assembly for confirmation

Falana also called on the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel to carry out a thorough investigation into the allegations of corrupt practices levelled against the EFCC boss.

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Home | News | General | $9.7m, 74,000 found in my house by EFCC was given to me as gifts, Ex-NNPC GMD, Yakubu tells court

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Mr. Andrew Yakubu ex GDM NNPC

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA  Former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, who is facing money laundering charge, on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that $9.7million and 74, 000.00 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, found in his house in 2017, were part of monies people gave to him as gifts.

Yakubu, who opened his defence before the trial court, said he received the monies in tranches of not more than $10, 000 and not more than 5, 000.

Testifying as his own witness, the former NNPC boss told the court that people gave him monetary gifts on occasions such as birthdays, thanksgiving services, and other celebrations he hosted after he left service.

It will be recalled that officials of the EFCC had on the strength of a tip-off by a whistleblower, raided the Defendants guest house situated at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State, and recovered alleged loot which was in foreign currencies.

EFCC said it discovered the sum of $9.7million and 74,000 that Yakubu hid in a fireproof safe inside the house.

Following the discovery, a Federal High Court in Kano, on February 13, 2017, issued an interim order that forfeited the recovered monies to the federal government.

Though the anti-graft later preferred a six-count criminal charge against Yakubu who was GMD of the NNPC between 2012 and 2014, the trial court, on May 16, 2019, struck out counts 5 and 6 of the charge based on a no-case-submission that was made by the Defendant.

Likewise, following an appeal by Defendant, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal further struck out counts 1 and 2 of the charge and ordered him to open his defence with respect to only counts 3 and 4 of the charge.

At the resumed proceeding at the trial court on Wednesday, the Defendant mounted the witness box to narrate his own side of the story.

Led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, the Defendant said: Yes my lord, I confirm that the monies were contained in a safe taken from my property.

As I stated in my statement with the EFCC, the money found in the safe, is mine. The money was not received in bulk. It was received in tranches of not more than $10, 000. 00 and not more than 5, 000. 00 pounds.

Substantial part of that amount was given to me after I left service. It was given to me on such occasions as birthdays, thanksgiving services, and other celebrations that I hosted after leaving my office.

I also hosted marriages of my daughters. In fact, over 98% of the money came from gifts.

The purpose of keeping the money was to think of business ventures I will embark on, but it was not my intention to go into business investment without going through a financial institution.

Since the money was given to me unexpected, I kept the money in safety, in a safe, pending when I decide on specific business venture to embark on. And as soon as the decision is crystalized, the business would be funded through the financial institutions.

He continued: For over 25 years, I had reason by virtue of my schedule to travel to many parts of the world. I was entitled to estacodes in United States Dollars.

Any saving I made during the trip, I came back and saved. The other 2% of the funds recovered from my safe was from such savings I made from travels.

The prevailing rate of dollar at that time was average of N150 to a Dollar and N250 to Pound Sterling. That was about the bank rate at that time.

When I was asked the time frame within which the safe was placed in the location, I told them that it was within 2010 to 2014.

While being cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, Mr. M.S. Abubakar, Yakubu, told the court that he joined NNPC in 1980 and became the Managing Director of a subsidiary of NNPC Warri Petrochemical & Refining Company in 2007.

I was appointed the Executive Director in charge of Exploration and Production in 2011 at NNPC headquarters.

I became the Group Managing Director of NNPC in 2012 and retired in 2014.

He said his brother Bitrus Yakubu was present when EFCC conducted the search at his house in Kaduna from where the safe and money was found.

I was told that EFCC stormed into my property, broke into my room, took the safe and asked my brother to accompany them to Kano.

When I reported to EFCCs office in Kano, my brother was there.

The former NNPC boss told rhe the court that he made a total of four statements to the EFCC.

Meanwhile, attempt by counsel to the EFCC to cross-examine on a document before the court marked as Exhibit-J was resisted by the defence lawyer who insisted that it related to counts of the charge that were struck out.

Trial Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the case to July 22 for EFCCs lawyer to respond and for further cross-examination of the Defendant.

Specifically, in the sustained counts, three and four of the charge marked FHC/ABJ/ CR/ 43/ 2017, EFCC, alleged that Yakubu had between 2012 and 2014, without going through a financial institution, received cash payments of $9, 772, 800 and 74, 000, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 and punishable under section 16(2) of the Act.

Yakubu had on March 16, 2017, pleaded not guilty to the charge, even as the court granted him bail to the tune of N300m.

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The Sena leader also asked the Opposition not to indulge in politics over transfer of the DCPs.

MUMBAI: Amid the Opposition's claim over the lack of coordination in the MVA government, Shiv Sena leader and spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said that there are no differences or bickering between the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition partners. The MVA government would complete its five-year tenure, he added.

Replying to BJP leader Devendra Fadnaviss claim that there is lack of coordination among three constituents of the MVA, Raut said, There is no lack of coordination and there is no bickering in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. There are also no internal differences as the Leader of Opposition (BJP leader) Devendra Fadnavis is saying. The term internal differences does not exist in the dictionary of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

On Monday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and home minister Anil Deshmukh met Thackeray at the latters residence over the transfer of 10 police officials in Mumbai. Five Sena councillors at Parner in Ahmednagar district also joined the NCP party last week. Raut played down both the developments.

The Sena leader also asked the Opposition not to indulge in politics over transfer of the DCPs as similar incidents have happened in the past too. Such incidents do take place while running a government. This is not the first time that transfers have been stayed, Raut said, denying reports that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was in the dark about the transfers. The issue has ended at our level, he said.

On the Parner issue, he said that the two parties discussed and it was a very local level matter. The councillors of Shiv Sena had joined NCP in the presence of Ajit Pawar. "It does not mean that Ajit Pawar or any senior leader poached those councillors.... But, henceforth, we should speak to each other before taking such a decision," Raut said.
Home | News | General | Seven die in NNPC explosion at Benin River Valve Station

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File photo

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has reported seven fatalities in an explosion incident which occurred at Gbetiokun, Oil Mining Lease (OML 40), operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), its subsidiary.

The corporation disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesman Dr Kennie Obateru, in Abuja on Wednesday.

NPDC operates the OML on behalf of the NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture.

He said the incident, which occurred on Tuesday during the installation of a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during discharging of Gbetiokun production, unfortunately, caused seven fatalities.

He added that investigation on the cause of the explosion had commenced, while the Department of Petroleum Resources had been duly notified and Form 41 was being prepared for the industry regulator as required in circumstances of this nature.

The bodies of casualties have been deposited in a morgue in Sapele, while families of the personnel involved are being contacted by their employers: Weld Affairs and Flow Impact, which are consultants to NPDC, he said.

He noted that all personnel onboard the platform had been fully accounted for adding that the NNPC Group Managing Director, Malam Mele Kyari, had commiserated with the families of the bereaved.

He noted that Kyari prayed that God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of their loved ones.

NAN

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Home | News | General | Magu Moves His Personal Belongings Out Of Official Residence

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, has moved his personal belongings out of official residence in Maitama.

Credible sources have confimed to TVC News that security agencies in two vehicles visited his personal residence in Karu and may have been looking for incriminating documents..

It is not clear if they have visited his official residence in maitama, but TVC News has also learnt that Mr Magu has removed his personal effects from the Maitama house

The seven-man panel has concluded its sitting today with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi representing Mr Ibrahim Magu.

It is still unclear why Mr Magu is being held and has not returned to his personal or official residence.

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Home | News | General | FEC approves N108bn for road projects in four states

- Some key infrastructure projects have approved at the FEC meeting held on Wednesday

- The projects are in the ministries of works and housing and education, under Fashola and Adamu respectively

- The approved projects which include roads in four states and a hostel project in Kaduna are worth N109,187,264,000

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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved projects worth a total of N109,187,264,000 for the Ministry of Works and Housing and the Ministry of Education.

The Nation reports that the projects were approved during the FEC meeting held on Wednesday, July 8.

Legit.ng gathers that meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. The meeting saw two ministers, Babatunde Fashola and Adamu Adamu present three memoranda; two from Fashola and one from Adamu.

Fashola said his ministry submitted two memoranda for projects estimated to cost a total of N108.443Bn.

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According to him, the FEC approved an augmentation of an existing contract by N25 billion for the completion of the Enugu  Lokponta section of the Enugu  Port Harcourt highway.

The second memoranda was the award of three different roads. The first is Dikwa-Marte-Mungunu road for N60.273 billion and the Numan road linking Borno and Adamawa for N15.527 billion and the third is for Gombi-Biu linking Adamawa and Borno also for N7.643 billion, the minister added.

Also, Education minister Adamu said FEC approved an agreement between the Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY) and an investor to renovate 18 blocks of student hostels.

The contract, which is a 15-year concession at the cost of N744,264 million, is under a Renovate Operate, Maintain and Transfer (ROMT) arrangement.

It will take one year to construct the hostels, after which the contractor will run it for 15 years within which they will recover what they have sunk into the project.

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There are 18 blocks of hostels and each room in a block will house four students. The total number of students to be housed will be 4,032," the minister said.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Governor Nyesom Wike praised President Buhari for approving refund of the sum of N78.9 billion to the Rivers state government.

The money was released as the cost of execution of the federal government's road projects in the state.

He also commended Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the support he provided to the state.

"I wish to, therefore, appeal to Mr. President to kindly oblige us with a State visit when invited, to see what we have accomplished for the state and our people with the money," the governor said.

Kogi guber: Huge number of APC aspirants is due to my efforts, says Gov Bello

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Home | News | General | I was paid N10k monthly by a SAN, worked from 7am to 8pm - Nigerian lawyer laments

- Agboeze Ugochukwu, a Nigerian lawyer, has decried his plight in the profession as he said he was once given N10,000 salary

- The legal luminary said the SAN that paid him such ridiculous amount asked them to work from 7 am to 8 pm daily

- Ugochukwu said that he has been able to garner post-law school two years experience as a lawyer

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A Nigerian lawyer, Agboeze Ugochukwu, has lamented the plight of lawyers in the country, saying he was once paid N10,000 monthly salary.

He made this known in an interview with The Nation. Ugochukwu said that he attended the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School and was called to bar on Thursday, November 29, 2018.

Ugochukwu, the third child in a family of six, said that he is the first lawyer in his lineage. He added he was once derided by his colleagues because he played school politics.

Nigerian striker scores 2 goals to help top European club stretch their unbeaten run to 9 games

The young lawyer said that the first firm he worked with, which was owned by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), paid him N10,000.

At the said firm, lawyers were expected to resume work by 7 am and close by 8 pm every day with 30 minutes break daily.

A collage of Ugochukwu and lawyers in the courtroom. Photos sources: The Nation/Business Day

Source: UGC

He said he was very committed despite the meager salary until his boss said he wont pay him for the permitted two weeks he was away to see his sick father.

Ugochuckwu said before he was laid off, the next law firm he worked with paid him N30,000 monthly. On the day he was asked to go, his boss gave him N15,000 and told him that he would call him back if things improve.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that a Nigerian lady, Chika Eze, represented the country well in the diaspora. She was on Monday, June 8, sworn to the State Bar of Georgia. The ceremony was performed by Judge Emily K Richardson of the Fulton County Superior Court.

N10 billion fraud allegation: IGP orders probe of Udoms appointee

With the swearing-in, Chikas name can now be found in the Georgia attorney directory and also the Nigerian Bar Association. She is under 30 years and has two bar licenses in the US and Nigeria.

In other news, a Nigerian, Abimbola Johnson, spoke about the realities she faces in UK being a criminal defense lawyer.

Abimbola said that her experience in a white-dominated country has made her sensitive to how a persons identity can affect them in life.

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In talking about her work and skin, she said that sometimes she is the only one sharing the same blackness with her clients in courts.

My blackness also means that often Im the only person in court that shares skin colour with my clients and there are times when Ive understood a cultural context to their instructions that has not been picked up by others, she said.

Kogi guber: Huge number of APC aspirants is due to my efforts, says Gov Bello

Abimbola recalled how her cultural experience has helped in saving a client who had been misunderstood of the term he used.

Unemployed graduates are too many in my ghetto | Legit TV

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Home | News | General | $9.7M, 74,000 Found In My House By EFCC Were Given To Me As Gifts  Ex-NNPC GMD

Former Group Managing Director of the NigerianJ National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, who is facing money laundering charge, on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that $9.7million and 74, 000.00 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, found in his house in 2017, were part of monies people gave to him as gifts.

Yakubu, who opened his defence before the trial court, said he received the monies in tranches of not more than $10, 000 and not more than 5, 000..

Testifying as his own witness, the former NNPC boss told the court that people gave him monetary gifts on occasions such as birthdays, thanksgiving services, and other celebrations he hosted after he left service.

It will be recalled that officials of the EFCC had on the strength of a tip-off by a whistleblower, raided the Defendants guest house situated at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State, and recovered alleged loot which was in foreign currencies.

EFCC said it discovered the sum of $9.7million and 74,000 that Yakubu hid in a fireproof safe inside the house.

Following the discovery, a Federal High Court in Kano, on February 13, 2017, issued an interim order that forfeited the recovered monies to the federal government.

Though the anti-graft later preferred a six-count criminal charge against Yakubu who was GMD of the NNPC between 2012 and 2014, the trial court, on May 16, 2019, struck out counts 5 and 6 of the charge based on a no-case-submission that was made by the Defendant.

Likewise, following an appeal by Defendant, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal further struck out counts 1 and 2 of the charge and ordered him to open his defence with respect to only counts 3 and 4 of the charge.

At the resumed proceeding at the trial court on Wednesday, the Defendant mounted the witness box to narrate his own side of the story.

Led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, the Defendant said: Yes my lord, I confirm that the monies were contained in a safe taken from my property.

As I stated in my statement with the EFCC, the money found in the safe, is mine. The money was not received in bulk. It was received in tranches of not more than $10, 000. 00 and not more than 5, 000. 00 pounds.

Substantial part of that amount was given to me after I left service. It was given to me on such occasions as birthdays, thanksgiving services, and other celebrations that I hosted after leaving my office.

I also hosted marriages of my daughters. In fact, over 98% of the money came from gifts.

The purpose of keeping the money was to think of business ventures I will embark on, but it was not my intention to go into business investment without going through a financial institution.

Since the money was given to me unexpected, I kept the money in safety, in a safe, pending when I decide on specific business venture to embark on. And as soon as the decision is crystalized, the business would be funded through the financial institutions.

He continued: For over 25 years, I had reason by virtue of my schedule to travel to many parts of the world. I was entitled to estacodes in United States Dollars.

Any saving I made during the trip, I came back and saved. The other 2% of the funds recovered from my safe was from such savings I made from travels.

The prevailing rate of dollar at that time was average of N150 to a Dollar and N250 to Pound Sterling. That was about the bank rate at that time.

When I was asked the time frame within which the safe was placed in the location, I told them that it was within 2010 to 2014.

While being cross-examined by the prosecution counsel, Mr. M.S. Abubakar, Yakubu, told the court that he joined NNPC in 1980 and became the Managing Director of a subsidiary of NNPC Warri Petrochemical & Refining Company in 2007.

I was appointed the Executive Director in charge of Exploration and Production in 2011 at NNPC headquarters.

I became the Group Managing Director of NNPC in 2012 and retired in 2014.

He said his brother Bitrus Yakubu was present when EFCC conducted the search at his house in Kaduna from where the safe and money was found.

I was told that EFCC stormed into my property, broke into my room, took the safe and asked my brother to accompany them to Kano.

When I reported to EFCCs office in Kano, my brother was there.

The former NNPC boss told The the court that he made a total of four statements to the EFCC.

Meanwhile, attempt by counsel to the EFCC to cross-examine on a document before the court marked as Exhibit-J was resisted by the defence lawyer who insisted that it related to counts of the charge that were struck out.

Trial Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the case to July 22 for EFCCs lawyer to respond and for further cross-examination of the Defendant.

Specifically, in the sustained counts, three and four of the charge marked FHC/ABJ/ CR/ 43/ 2017, EFCC, alleged that Yakubu had between 2012 and 2014, without going through a financial institution, received cash payments of $9, 772, 800 and 74, 000, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 and punishable under section 16(2) of the Act.

Yakubu had on March 16, 2017, pleaded not guilty to the charge, even as the court granted him bail to the tune of N300m.

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Home | World | Africa | Mnangagwa consoles Chamisa Family

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has sent his condolence message to the family of MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa following the death of his mother, Gogo Chamisa.

Gogo Chamisa died yesterday at her rural home in Gutu.

Posting on his official Twitter page, President Mnangagwa said he was saddened by the passing on of Ambuya Chamisa.

"I was sad to hear of the passing of Ambuya Chamisa, the mother of Nelson Chamisa. Our thoughts and prayers are with @nelsonchamisa and the Chamisa family at this difficult time," he said.

MDC-T acting president Dr Thokozani Khupe also expressed her condolences.

"My deepest condolences to the Chamisa family. I pray that the lord comforts you in this difficult time. MHSRIP," she posted on her Twitter page.

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The MDC e-rally gave the party leaders the opportunity to once again grandstand and drum their chest like silverback gorillas!

"The video by this nurse (protesting nurse) is a reflection of the true situation that our country has reached. There is no better description other than to say that the country has gone to the dogs. This is the sign of what is to come. One day is one day!" proclaimed Job Sikhala, MDC A vice chairperson.

"The comfort zones for these people (in government) will soon be a bonfire. People are ready. They are just waiting for leadership!"

The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC leaders into power on the promise the party will implement the democratic reform, democratic changes, to end the Zanu PF dictatorship. MDC has been on the political stage now for 20 years, 5 of which they were in the GNU, and have failed to implement even one reform!

Did MDC leaders fail to implement the reforms to take the nation to the edge, "the country gone to the dogs", so there can be street protests? This is just nonsense! These MDC village idiots are refusing to accept they have sold-out and are now pretending their failures were indeed part and parcel of their master plan to drive the nation into a crisis from which they will lead us out of.

This is no different from the economic prosperity mirage Zanu PF has been promoting these last 40 years. Zimbabwe had a thriving economy in 1980 Zanu PF misrule has all but destroyed the economy and Zanu PF has never acknowledge it is corrupt, incompetent and has no clue how to revive the economy.

However, the party has without failure maintained it had the solution to make Zimbabwe prosperous. Zanu PF did not have to destroy everything to make the country prosperous and yet that is exactly what the regime has been saying in its double Dutch!

Both Zanu PF and MDC have proven beyond doubt that they are corrupt, incompetent and utterly irrelevant, they are the problem and not the solution; the sooner the nation accepts that reality the sooner the nation can start focusing on the task of finding a way out of the mess.

"This time, the wave (protests) will be unstoppable. I don't make empty threats. I am not that character. I am a practical man. We deserve our peace and happiness," continued Sikhala.

"People governing our country should take responsibility for their failures. Trying to use other people as scapegoats is dangerous to their (the government's) very survival."

MDC has its own share of failures to take care of, charity begins at home. As for the unstoppable protests, this is exactly the situation the nation has been avoiding. Turning Zimbabwe into another Libya is the nightmare scenario we have been dreading but which is now a certainty.

If Zimbabwe is dragged into violent social unrest then both Zanu PF and MDC leaders will have a lot to answer for because it is these two parties blatant betrayal of the nation to feed their insatiable greed for power and wealth that has led to this.

"I am a practical man!" Yeah right! Then why have you failed to implement even one reform in 20 years and saved the nation from the 40 years and counting Zanu PF nightmare!
Home | World | Africa | Undenge loses last bid for freedom

JAILED former Energy Minister Samuel Undenge has lost his application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against a High Court decision upholding a 30 month-jail sentence imposed on him for corruption.

Justice Joseph Musakwa also dismissed Undenge's application for bail pending appeal in a judgment delivered on Monday. He ruled that there are no prospects of success on appeal against sentence. Undenge sought leave to appeal following his committal to prison last month to serve his sentence.

He had lost a High Court appeal to quash both the conviction and the sentence imposed on him, last year.

Undenge was convicted of criminal abuse of office by a Harare magistrates court for corruptly instructing the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) to hire former Highfield legislator Psychology Maziwisa and former ZBC news anchor, Oscar Pambuka, as consultants for which they were paid US$12,659.

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Even six days after 28 ministers took oath, Chouhan is unable to allocate portfolios to ministers.

Bhopal: Taking a dig at the BJP in Madhya Pradesh over apparent resentment in its ranks in view of recent expansion of cabinet, former MP Shatrughan Sinha on Wednesday said the saffron party was divided into three camps--"Maharaj, Narazand Shivraj"- in the state.

Besides Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Sinha was apparently also referring to former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia whose exit along with 22 MLAs led to the collapse of then Kamal Nath government in March this year.

The BJP formed government under Chouhan on the support of these MLAs who have since joined the saffron party along with Scindia, who belongs to the royal family from Guna.

"Are you going to say something about this Sir? In Madhya Pradesh, BJP is divided into three camps. 1. Maharaj, 2. Naraz and 3. Shivraj," Sinha tweeted.

By mentioning 'naraz', Sinha seems to be hinting at heartburn caused among senior BJP leaders who could not be accommodated in the newly-formed council of ministers, which now consists of more than a dozen loyalists of Scindia.

The second expansion of the cabinet took place on July 2, nearly three months after the first 'mini' expansion in April this year.

Even six days after 28 ministers took oath, Chouhan is unable to allocate portfolios to them.

The CM had recently visited New Delhi to meet top BJP brass apparently to discuss the issue.

"I am working on it...distribution will take place soon," the CM had said on Tuesday after returning from Delhi.

BJP MLA Ajay Vishnoi had last week shot off a letter to the chief minister stating that there was resentment among the people of Jabalpur and Rewa divisions.

Asked about the delay in cabinet expansion, Chouhan had cryptically said on July 1, "Only amrit (nectar) comes out of manthan (churning), vish (poison) is consumed by (Lord) Shiva".
Home | World | Africa | Fresh push for Mnangagwa, Chamisa dialogue

Zimbabwe's clergy is on a fresh drive to bring political parties to the negotiating table aimed at coming up with lasting solutions to the country's worsening economic challenges, CITE reported.

The next round of Indaba has been slated for July 13 at a venue to be disclosed.

"On the 13th of July 2020, Bishops will be meeting leaders political parties for a shared reflection on the current situation and explore possible shared solutions," a Zimbabwe Council of Church (ZCC) official said.

According to the official, there has been buy-in from some political parties.

However, the source said there was not at liberty to disclose more about the upcoming Indaba at this stage.

"Some principals have already confirmed participation. This will be a closed-door meeting although a public communique will be shared with the media.

"Bilateral pre-meetings are currently underway in preparation for the consul Indaba," said the official.

In May, the clergy, civic groups and other stakeholders resolved to engage Government and other stakeholders in coming up with a national settlement framework (NSF) necessary to solve the country's multi-faceted crisis.

This formed part of the resolutions of a National Convergence Platform (NCP) virtual summit held on May 25 that brought together over 50 participants bringing together the clergy, associations and unions representing people from different backgrounds including informal traders from across the country.

The NCP, an initiative of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) seeks to bring together all political parties, civic society groups and Zimbabweans from all sectors to input into a national vision that seeks to among others get the country out of its political and socio-economic crisis.

This comes in the wake of planned 31 July protests called by Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume to remove President Emmerson Mnangagwa from power.

Other opposition parties notable the Nelson Chamisa led MDC has endorsed the protests.

In June, Ngarivhume announced the mass action plan on social media, where the hashtags #July31 and #ZanuPFMustGo have been trending.

He said the call was "not a political project".

Zimbabweans are grappling with an economic crisis not seen in over a decade.

Doctors and nurses are on strike, and other civil service unions have threatened strikes unless the government pays them United States dollar salaries.

In December, the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Olav FykseTveit and Zimbabwe Council of Churches Secretary-General Dr Kenneth Mtata where he pledged to his government support to a churches' initiative towards finding a lasting solution to Zimbabwe's problems.

On the political front, the opposition MDC is questioning the legitimacy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and insists on dialogue to also deal with the legitimacy issue.

Mnangagwa has said he is open to dialogue with MDC leader Nelson Chamisa but under Political Parties Dialogue (Polad) meetings with some opposition parties that participated in the 2018 presidential elections.

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Home | World | Africa | The truth about King Lobengula's treasure revealed

Historical notes from Percy Crewe who was close to King Lobengula has refuted reports that the King had lots of money and treasure given to him by the whites

Crewe writes that the King had a few hundred pounds given to him per annum.

Read his account below:



There has been a lot of nonsense talked and written about Lobengula's treasure. The Chartered Company paid him 100 per month from the date of the granting of the [Rudd] concession and the Tati Company paid a yearly rental. I forget the amount, but it did not amount to more than a few hundred per annum, but from this he bought every year a certain number of salted horses for cash.

When I went down country in 1893 he gave me 500 to pay expenses and he sent several hundred pounds as a peace offering after his flight from Bulawayo. This money was intercepted by some of the Bechuanaland Border Police, then stationed at Inyati and never reached its destination. If it had there would probably have been no massacre of Allan Wilson's party.

Lobengula had no other sources of income and I do not think that at the time of his flight from Bulawayo he can have had more than 3,000 in cash, if that. He may have had diamonds, but I never heard of any. Lobengula's wealth, like that of every other native King lay in his flocks and herds. Ivory of course had been plentiful, but at the time I came into the country it was scarce, and I do not think one thousand pounds was brought to the King in a year.

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Zimbabwe is a like a soldier marking time and not going anywhere.

Our government has been so dysfunctional for a very long time, but the majority of the people feel in the air the winds of change blowing in from all four corners of the country.

The old Zanu PF models no longer serve their purpose and this is now the opportunity to unlock more diverse perspective and design new ideas of doing politics in Zimbabwe.

It is time to decolonise the system and arrest all forms of ineptude within the current leadership. The government is not working. The economy is not working and the citizens are suffering.

Zimbabwe has very deep wounds to heal and there is need to take a paradigm shift on the way the people will treat these wounds.

It is so painful that politically, socially and economically Zimbabwe is limping with toxic ideas and the people have vowed to confront this elephant in the room and deal with it once and for all.

The majority are just down trodden particularly the young people who have never seen what a pay slip looks like. Not all the people can be entrepreneurs or can create their own jobs without the government playing the major part.

The rate of unemployment is alarming. This is the right time for people who have suffered under the leadership of this regime to rally behind enterprising politician Jacob Ngarivhume who has set the pace and taken it upon himself to lead the struggle.

The joining of Nelson Chamisa of MDC-Alliance, Dr Noah Manyika from Build Zimbabwe and Nkosana Moyo of APA to join the masses is a welcome move.

The regime cannot stop an idea whose time has come. This is not to advance the ideals and goals of any political party but its for all concerned Zimbabweans.

The people are ready from 31st July 2020 to occupy the streets in all major cities and towns. Workers are planning to stop work except hospitals. Diaspora must also play a role and occupy embassies.

Zimbabweans have been so patient enough with the government but with no answers coming up. The country has been captured by a few individuals who have shared amongst themselves the country's resources whilst a few number of people wallow in poverty.

All around the world, eating together is a ritual that binds a family together. Greediness has divided the nation. Those who have and those who have not cannot see eye to eye.

In order for Zimbabwe to grow in each facet of the economy we need to adopt the spirit of eating together, a philosophy of Ubuntu, pool our resources and draw on our shared experiences to reach both our individual and collective dreams.

There is a lot of anger percolating in the country and this anger is real and must be calmed down.

I strongly believe that there are a lot of talented Zimbabweans who are not given the chance to exercise their God given talents just beacuse they do not belong to a certain political party.

We have talented engineering graduates, journalists ,civil engineers who are scattered all over the globe and serving other nations but they could not come home.

What they are all crying for us to be be given the right tools to polish their works to a standard that does justice to their vision. The current government has been aborting so much talent due to politics of patronage.

The current government lacks the inclusiveness of other progressive ideas. It does not even attempt to engage the opposition and always suspect it as the greatest impediment to its policies.

Zimbabweans have been lied to and cannot further take these lies from the government anymore.

No one will take this Zanu PF leadership seriously which believed in Rotina Mavhunga's folk tale that pure diesel was oozing from Chinhoyi Caves.

People are still waiting for the government's promise that operations of oil discovered in Muzarabani would start by mid 2020.

Soon after the coup we saw the President breaking new grounds and signing new mega deals but not even one mega deal came into fruition but all what we witness is corruption throughout.

Let the 31st of July 2020 be the start of a journey and mark the beginning of peace and prosperity to progressive Zimbabweans. Together we can.

Contacts

Facebook - Leonard Koni

Twitter- @Leokoni

WhatsApp - +27616868508

Email - konileonard606@gmail.com
Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua has signalled his readiness to virtually offer prayer for COVID-19 patients in isolation centres around the world.

In a special announcement posted to Joshua's YouTube channel Emmanuel TV, the cleric called on relevant government and medical authorities to "organise those who are in isolation" and "arrange how to connect them to us on Emmanuel TV".

"The blessing of Jesus is for those who knock and ask," the announcement began. "In whatever way you support to make this happen, we are a team; we are not doing more than you," it added.

"Together we shall pray for them. Together we shall be set free from this COVID-19," the statement continued, quoting the Biblical reference in Luke 4:40 where Jesus healed "all who had various kinds of sickness after the mass prayer."

"The same anointing that heals one is also able to heal all at the same time," it concluded, calling on all interested parties to contact the church via their email address info@emmanuel.tv.

Last week, the World Health Organisation reacted to a trending video in which a Cameroonian medical doctor was 'healed' from COVID-19 after receiving "interactive prayer" from Joshua's ministry, acknowledging "spiritual leadership is very important in a time like this".

His testimony was followed days later by a couple of university lecturers who equally acknowledged receiving healing from the dreaded virus, replete with medical reports before and after prayers from Emmanuel TV.

Since starting its Interactive Prayer' - in which online prayer is offered via video calls - Joshua's ministry has prayed for COVID-19 patients from around the world including citizens of USA, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Honduras and Cuba.

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Home | World | Africa | Zimbabwe records 34 local COVID-19 cases in 24 hours

Fifty-three people tested positive for COVID-19 this Tuesday bringing the total number of positive cases to 787.

In a COVID-19 daily update, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the people who tested positive include nineteen returnees and thirty-four (34) local cases.

"53 cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. These include sixteen returnees from South Africa, three from Botswana, and thirty-four local cases who are all isolated," the Ministry said.

29 of the local cases are contacts of known confirmed cases, and investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the other 5 local cases.

New recoveries were reported in Bulawayo (2) and Mashonaland East (2).

The total number of confirmed cases stands at 787, with 201 recoveries, 577 active cases, and 9 deaths since the beginning of the outbreak in Zimbabwe on the 20th of March 2020.

To date, a total of 81 335 tests have been done.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has also called on Zimbabweans to report any returning citizens who abscond quarantine.

"To protect yourself and others, report to health authorities any suspicious returning citizens or residents that might not have gone through quarantine."

Harare has the highest number of cases (250) which are mainly imported cases, while Bulawayo has recorded the highest number of local cases.

The cases so far recorded in the country, however, do not have a specific trend and are largely influenced by the volumes of returnees.

There are currently no cases admitted in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

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Matabele people must not blame Chamisa for addressing a rally in Shona, instead they must blame themselves for voting the little tribalist and fool who does not care about them.

The sooner the people of Matabeleland understand the dangerous tribal political game played by Shona supremacists like Chamisa and many other Shona leaders and supporters in Zimbabwe, the better.

There is always a very serious conflict of interests between Shonas and Matabele in Zimbabwe. That is something that every Matabele should take note of.

Shona supremacist like Chamisa, Biti and many other Shona leaders do not represent the interests of Matabeleland people but those of Shonaism. That is, continued oppression, genocide, marginalisation, tribal hegemony, dehumanisation and humiliation of Matabele people.

To vote any Shona leader with the hope that your long standing grievances ie restoration of Matabeleland, Matabeleland genocide, tribal segregation, Shona domination, murder of our identity, culture and languages and theft of Matabeleland resources, will be solved, is wishful thinking and waste of time. Failing to see the difference between our enemies and comrades is perilous.

Read my leaps! No Shona leader and I repeat, no Shona leader in our lifetime and beyond will ever solve Matabeleland problems. On the contrary their role is to promote the Grand Plan and see to it that it is implemented successfully and effectively. Unfortunately they are achieving their diabolic goals with the assistance of our politically naive brothers and sisters.

Trying to force Chamisa to stop addressing rallies in Shona language or beg Shona leaders to recognise our presence and existence in Zimbabwe through none existent devolutio is a lost cause.

Remember, Shona is the language of oppressors and the best tool of domination and oppression. It is also stated in the Grand Plan of 1979 that the Shona language should be promoted over all other languages in Matabeleland for the evil purpose of oppression. So trying to persuade Chamisa to shun addressing the people of Matabeleland in Shona language is like asking a poacher to abandon his shooting gun.

It is naive to think that Nelson Chamisa as the leader of MDC Alliance does not know that in Zimbabwe there is a territory called Matabeleland involuntarily annexed into Zimbabwe which covers half of Zimbabwe and has a population of more than 5 million people who do not speak or understand Shona language.

Addressing Matabele people in Shona was carefully orchestrated to undermine the people of Matabeleland and demonstrate that Matabele and Shona people are not equal. And that the language and existence of Matabele people is not recognised in Zimbabwe.

The only choice that we have which is the best for us is to unite. Forget about MDCs and Zanupf that serve the interests of the Shona people only. Forget about the falsehood called Zimbabwe and fight for the restoration of Matabeleland state.

Any Matabele person who foolishly ignores the calls for the restoration of Matabeleland to try to be politically correct in Zimbabwe will always meet tribalism, hatred, humiliation and death.

Joshua Nkomo who spent almost all his life fighting for the independence of Zimbabwe was humiliated in the 1980s when he was forced to escape into exile dressed as a woman.

Welshmen Ncube, late Gibson Sibanda, Thokozani Khupe were all humiliated when they were all beaten, called dissidents and chased out of Harare by MDC youth on different occasions.

Phelekezela Mpoko, Kembo Mohadi, Jonathan Moyo and Obert Mpofu to mention a few, have received a fair share of humiliation.

Matabeles will never taste freedom in Zimbabwe unless and until they unite and restore the statehood of Matabeleland.

As we all know, freedom cannot be given on a silver platter. Oppressors do not free the oppressed unless they see blood on the floor.

We are not Zimbabweans. It humiliates us to be referred to as such. Matabeleland is not Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe is not Matabeleland.

"With our AKs and necklaces, we shall liberate ourselves."

Izenzo kungemazwi!

Israel Dube

MLO Secretary for Information and Public Affairs
Home | World | Africa | Chinese man who shot 2 black workers released on $10 000 bail

A Chinese mine manager Zhang Xuelin who is accused of shooting two black employees in Gweru has been freed on a ZWL$10 000 bail by a High Court Judge in Masvingo.

Justice Garainesu ordered Xuelin to reside at his known address number 1 Maple Road, Windsor Park in Gweru and to report at ZRP Gweru every Friday until the case is finalised.



Chinese national Zhang Xuelin, thought to be an ex-soldier or still serving, coldly takes aim and fires at workers (miners) for demanding pay. This happened in Zimbabwe Gweru Town@Julius_S_Malema @MmusiMaimane @MbuyiseniNdlozi @nelsonchamisa pic.twitter.com/jpCvZeSDng  SavannaNews.com (@savannanewsZA) June 27, 2020

He was also ordered not to interfere with state witnesses and to surrender his passport and temporary resident permit with the Clerk of Court in Gweru.Zhang was charged with attempted.

After the shooting incident at the mine, the Chinese Embassy was quick to issue a statement saying it was concerned about the reported incident, which it described as isolated, adding that it hoped it would not soil the strong ties between the two countries.

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Home | World | Africa | Ramaphosa fails to manage South Africa's coronavirus death rate

South Africa now has the world's 14th highest number of Covid-19 infections globally and officials are concerned that the virus's "doubling rate" is currently higher than all countries with more cases than South Africa.

The doubling rate is the time taken for the total number of cases of an infectious disease to double.

South Africa is in the middle of winter when the spread of coronavirus is expected to increase drastically.

And it is beginning to happen - 192 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours  the highest so far.

More than 10,000 new infections were recorded over the same period.

The Western Cape has the most cases currently, with just over 72,000 infections.

But Guateng, the country's economic hub, is set to become the new epicentre of the disease in the next few days.

Prof Salim Abdool Karim, chairperson of the Covid-19 ministerial advisory committee, said the virus was spreading fastest in Gauteng for two reasons:

The province has the highest traffic of foreign and domestic employees, and Gauteng also has the highest population density.

Although the re-opening of more industries is deemed necessary to save the economy, the government has asked South Africans to continue taking precautions to help slow down the spread of the virus.

At least 3,470 people in South Africa have died from the disease.

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Home | World | Africa | Mthuli Ncube in trouble

FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube and some officials in his ministry face contempt of Parliament charges after the parliamentary portfolio committee on Public Finance accused them of treating the august House with disdain.

This comes after Finance ministry's permanent secretary, George Guvamatanga, principal director for budgeting-PFungwa Kunaka and acting accounting general, Edwin Zvandasara failed to turn up to give oral evidence to the Tendai Biti-chaired committee to explain an overspending of US$10,6 billion from 2015-2018 before Parliament approves its Financial Adjustment Bill.

Biti told the media yesterday that his committee was expecting the officials, giving a final chance for the ministry officials to appear before his committee next week or face contempt of Parliament charges after they absented themselves without formal communication.

While Treasury officials had written an email to committee clerk Christian Ratsakatika, Biti said that was not enough as the procedure provides that they officially communicate with Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda.

"Regrettably, on Friday last week, the committee clerk received an email from Guvamatanga advising that they will be unable to attend because they had not obtained a legal opinion from the Attorney-General and also that they are busy with the mid-term monetary policy review  we express for the fourth time our extreme disappointment with the continued disdain of this committee by the minister and his officials.

"We don't accept the explanation that the AG has not given a legal opinion and that they are busy with the budget because they are not the ones responsible for that. We have therefore resolved that they should come again on the 20th of July failure of which we will instruct the Clerk of Parliament to issue a warrant in terms of Parliament's rules," Biti said

Biti said his committee intended to grill the officials on why they had not complied with the Constitution.If a government ministry or department spends money in any financial year in excess of the amount appropriated, or for a purpose for which nothing was appropriated, the minister of Finance is required in terms of section 307 to cause a Bill to be introduced in the National Assembly seeking condonation of the unauthorised expenditure, no later than sixty days after the extent of the unauthorised expenditure has been established.

In this case, Mthuli was supposed to seek condonation for unauthorised expenditure incurred by line ministries of US$25 305 741 for the year ended 2015, US$1 530 890 050 for year ended 2016, US$4 562 064 123 for year ended 2017, US$3 560 343 130 for year ended 2018.

In June last year, the committee and the ministry consented to adjourning the oral evidence gathering to allow them to seek legal advice from the august House's legal counsel and Attorney-General respectively.

"We wanted to find out if it was legally possible for the ministry to seek condonation for the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 in June of 2020 when it should have happened within 60 days. We had taken notice of the fact that this was unauthorised expenditure of unauthorised expenditure," Biti said.

In June, Kunaka had requested for a ministerial statement by Ncube to explain further on how they used the US$10,6 billion in four consecutive years which Biti turned down.

In one year alone, the budget was exceeded by US$3,5 billion according to the Auditor-General's report.

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The Mirwaiz and Geelani factions of the Hurriyat had no popular leaders in their ranks

In this file photo dated Thursday, June 12, 2008, of Syed Ali Shah Geelani waves at a crowd, in Srinagar. Geelani, the lifetime chairman of the pro-Pakistan Hurriyat Conference, made a surprise announcement of completely dissociating himself from the 16-party amalgam. PTI Photo

On the Kashmir stage, the cast of characters has suddenly been hit by an absence -- that of the ailing, 91-year-old Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The hawk who abruptly removed himself from the proscenium last week, sending shockwaves across Kashmir and in the Pakistani security establishment, has been the dean, as it were, of pro-Pakistan tendencies in the Valley for decades.

When Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence orchestrated the 1989-90 move to constitute and strengthen Hizbul Mujahideen as the armed, local wing of the integrate-with-Pakistan factions of Kashmiri separatism, that mainly owes allegiance to Jamaat-e-Islami ideology, by brutally suppressing and eliminating the pro-Kashmiri independence JKLF, until then the Valleys frontline armed group enjoying Pakistans active support, it is to Geelani that Pakistans Deep State turned for benediction.

Until his shock resignation last week from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (Geelani) that he created in 2003 (and was its chairman for life) out of the broader Hurriyat umbrella, the stalwart, who possessed charisma, had enjoyed undoubted prestige, although not popularity.

And yet his leaving the scene could have the portents of being a transformative phase in Kashmirs politics, much of course depending on how New Delhi negotiates the post-Geelani landscape.

Popularity eluded Geelani because Kashmiris, who are mainly Muslim, are on the whole against the idea of Kashmir being territorially or politically linked to Pakistan, strange as this may seem to the BJP-RSS. But they saw the pro-Pakistan patriarch as being steadfast in his beliefs, unlike most Valley politicians.

Also, unusually for a top separatist leader, Geelani was elected three times (the last in 1987) to the J&K Assembly. This partly explains his prestige and charisma, and the charge of having no base cannot be easily flung at him, unlike other leading separatists.

The Mirwaiz and Geelani factions of the Hurriyat had no popular leaders in their ranks. But protest calls by them were generally obeyed at the public level. This is for two seemingly contradictory reasons.

One of them is the fear of the gun. Pakistan-backed armed groups backed some Hurriyat constituents and there was the fear of incurring their wrath if the strike calls were disregarded.

The second is that, for a variety of reasons to do with the perception of erosion of the promised constitutional autonomy enshrined in treaty terms (which was wholly ended by the BJP government on August 5 last year), the presence of the security forces in increasingly large numbers over time, raising human rights concerns, as well as mass unemployment, Kashmiris are up for protest and are relatively easy to mobilise in that direction. They have an aggravated sense of victimhood.

Since the mainline parties have been in and out of government, the protest aspect of public life in Kashmir has been a virtual monopoly of the Hurriyat factions. Even so, there is an inbuilt dichotomy here.

Top Hurriyat leaders of both factions are seen by the wider public as having done extremely well by themselves, amassed wealth, sent their children out for good education while expecting ordinary people to make inordinate sacrifices all the time --through general strikes and mass actions that invite intervention by the security forces, leading to all manner of problems and the disruption of life.

Therefore, when a Hurriyat leader falls foul of the authorities, is taken for questioning or sent to jail, the ordinary Kashmiri is apt to rejoice (quietly, never publicly) for having received his just desserts.

And yet, there is a complexity that cannot be overlooked, a serious conundrum: Is sustained peoples protest possible if the separatists did not exist? (Incidentally, all those who marched to the protest tunes of Geelani or the Mirwaiz may not subscribe to their fundamental beliefs and ideologies.)

This question appears to speak to the split public personality in the lives of the people of Kashmir, and yet points to a larger truth -- to the grand idea of politics in the Valley, and the channels of its articulation outside of the periodic voting exercise to elect MLAs, MPs or municipal councillors, for which the people of Kashmir turn up in respectable numbers (frequently in the face of shootings and bombings), which is yet another important face of the complex reality of Kashmir.

It is due to the associational link between the politics of protest and the availability of the idea of the Hurriyat that the resignation from public life of an ailing 91-year-old man sets the wider stage for a contemplation of the possibilities of Kashmirs future politics in a way that was not there earlier.

Had Geelani pleaded ill-health as his reason for quitting, the boat would not have been rocked. But in a fairly explicit departure statement (and a video on social media) the nonagenarian cited corruption in the Hurriyats Occupied Kashmir unit and its endorsement by the Valley unit.

This seems to signal intense faction-fighting not just in the political platforms shaped by Geelani (with Pakistans shadowy backing) but possibly also at senior levels of the Jamaat-e-Islami, which is really the ideological parent of all such groups.

The people of Kashmir are bewildered. They also have a question for the two Hurriyat factions -- Geelanis and the Mirwaizs. Why did they not bestir themselves after the Union government ended J&Ks autonomy in August 2019, igniting the politics of protest, although many of them were not taken into preventive custody, unlike mainstream politicians, who were all put in prison or placed under house arrest?

If faith in the principal articulators of protest politics has been shaken (at least for now), it is not inconceivable that the mainstream parties -- the National Conference, PDP and Congress -- will benefit as a result, bringing the prospect of some relief, provided the Centre does not continue to suppress these parties in various ways.

If Geelani and his brand of politics reflected Muslim communalism, the BJP-RSS brand of Hindu communalism has been a spectre in J&K in recent years.

In the absence of the Geelani school of politics, this latter brand may be tempted to try and prevail through force and continue to suppress Kashmirs mainstream politicians and their parties through the misuse of state power. This will be a serious mistake from the perspective of nation-building.
Home | World | Africa | Chiwenga's ex battles property attachment over debt

VICE PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga's ex-wife Jocelyn Chiwenga has filed an urgent chamber application seeking to bar possible attachment of her property after failing to settle a $99 000 Tian Ze Tobacco Company (Pvt) Ltd (Tian Ze) debt.

Tian Ze obtained the order against Chiwenga on June 11, 2018 after failing to supply tobacco to the company from which she had obtained $286 400 worth of farming inputs on credit.

Tian Ze said it, however, fulfilled the terms of the agreement and supplied Jocelyn with farming inputs of the requested value on different occasions during the 2013-2014 tobacco farming season.

However, in breach of the contract, Jocelyn is said to have failed to deliver the expected quantity of tobacco for sale to the firm and has thus accumulated a debt of $99 014 for the inputs she had already received.

Chiwenga now disputes the currency in which the debt must be settled with Tian Ze demanding US dollar payments and has applied that the court orders that it should be payable in Zimbabwean dollars at the rate of 1:1.

She also wants Tian Ze interdicted from attaching and selling her property in pursuant of the writ of execution they are armed with from the court order.

"The law and policy prevailing when the order was entered was that the US dollar and its surrogate currency were on a 1:1 basis. Further to the judgment, the applicant proceeded to service the debt leaving a balance of $82 014, 21 by November 7, 2019," Chiwenga said.

"On June 22 the applicant (Chiwenga) requested banking details to enable her to transfer the balance. Surprisingly, on June 24 the first respondent through its legal practitioners wrote a letter to applicant's attorneys indicating that the total amount was supposed to be settled in US dollars.

"The first respondent (Tian Ze) is already equipped with a writ of execution and it is most probable that at any point the second respondent (sheriff) can be instructed to attach and sell applicant's property in execution of a debt that applicant is willing to settle."

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Upshur, director of Economic Development & Tourism, said her office has been working on the expansion with corporate partners at Bausch + Lomb since June 2019.

With the Economic Development Authority, we are proud to partner with the Commonwealth to provide financial support for the company's expanded footprint in Lynchburg Center for Industry, one of the City's industrial parks, and the creation of new jobs in this growing and important sector, she said.

Joseph C. Papa, Chairman and CEO of Bausch Health Companies Inc., said expertise in Lynchburg made it the right place to invest in the expansion, which will help the company meet anticipated demand for newer and innovative contact lens products.

The additional capability in Lynchburg will enable us to ensure Americans have access to our high-quality contact lenses, which is critical to our companys ongoing transformation and to helping us meet our mission of improving peoples lives with our health care products, he said in the news release.
5th District signals change

5th District Take Down June 13, 2020: The delegates of Virginias 5th Congressional District had a choice to make. Who would be the Republican nominee for Congress? Rep. Denver Riggleman, who voted against border wall funding, officiated a same-sex marriage and joined the climate solutions caucus with Mitt Romney and several Democrats? Or Bob Good, a true constitutional conservative, with a proven record on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors, who stood unapologetically in his support of limited government and traditional family values?

On June 13, the voters of the 5th District chose Bob Good with 58% of the vote, with record turnout of almost 3,000 delegates. Why? Because the values of Mr. Good align with those of the delegates. Goods positions on life, marriage, the Second Amendment, citizenship/immigration and support of the president resonated with the citizens of the 5th District.

This was not the case with Congressman Riggleman, specifically regarding life, marriage and support of President Trump. The organizers of the event ran a fair process, and we are grateful for their hard work. In spite of numerous desperate attacks by the Riggleman campaign, the delegates spoke overwhelmingly in favor of Bob Good, and they will do so again in November, when Good faces off against the Democratic candidate.
If theres ever an emergency, Pat Henry is here to help keep the power running in Council Bluffs, the state and some of its neighbors.

Henry is a native of Logan and graduated from Logan-Magnolia High School in 1999. Hes been with his wife, Mary, for 12 years and their three daughters  Ryanna, Adalynn and Danica  go to school in the Logan-Magnolia Community School District. The family lives just south of the town these days.

After high school, Henry put in 20 years working for a generator supply company, where he did service work and sales. He changed jobs two years ago, and has since been serving as the project manager for generators at PowerTech in Council Bluffs. PowerTech is a Council Bluffs-based electrical company offering both residential and commercial services.

Henry said the company wires new homes and also does remodel and basement finishing work. The company also does electrical work for commercial facilities and places such as hospitals, data centers, call centers and more.

Their generator division is also available for residential and commercial properties looking for emergency power installations. The company offers its services in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and northern Kansas.
The isolation room will not be like a cell or a closet, Gray said.

Theyll be able to get comfortable and have something to do until their parents come, he said. Once their parents pick them up, the room will be sanitized.

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Students and staff who pass the screening will not be required to wear masks, the press release stated. Those who choose to will need to provide their own masks.

Class sizes will be the same as usual, but desks will be spaced out as much as possible and will not be set up in pods, the press release stated.

Cameras will be installed in each classroom, and all classes will be livestreamed for any students who may be uncomfortable attending in person or are absent because of illness. They will also provide a transition to distance learning if a shutdown occurs. All lead and resource teachers will be issued new laptop computers to make that transition easier.

HCS understands the importance of your childs education, said HCS Board Chairman Lonnie Parton. Our commitment has not changed from the inception of the school: to provide the best possible Christian education in a safe environment.

Staff members will carry thermometers and screen students periodically, Gray said.
Chinas pre-meditated aggression all around its neighbourhood is a matter of deep concern

As China pretends to negotiate, it has continued single-mindedly to capture, consolidate and arm the disputed islets. AFP Photo

The Southeast Asian countries have finally realised the futility of expecting that the long-delayed code of conduct would check Chinas predatory designs in the region.

As China pretends to negotiate, it has continued single-mindedly to capture, consolidate and arm the disputed islets, trampling on the sovereignty of Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

At Aseans recent Hanoi summit, held virtually, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc warned that the international situation and international law have been seriously challenged during the global crisis. Pointing a finger at China, he said: While the entire world is stretched thin in the fight against the pandemic, irresponsible acts in violation of international law are still taking place, affecting security and stability in certain regions, including our region.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte added: As our region struggles to contain Covid-19, alarming incidents occurred in the South China Sea We call on parties to refrain from escalating tensions and abide by (their) responsibilities under international law.

Both Vietnam and the Philippines had protested in April against Chinas unilateral creation of new administrative districts on islands on which both Vietnam and the Philippines have long-standing rights and claims.

Vietnam was further aggrieved as one of its fishing boats was sunk by a Chinese maritime surveillance vessel in April.

Aseans June 27 statement unambiguously declared the 1982 UNCLOS is the basis for determining maritime entitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests over maritime zones. China and all 10 Asean members are signatories to the UN Convention on Law of the Seas.

The leaders stressed the importance of freedom of overflights over SCS, making their position clear in case of any ill-advised Chinese attempt to declare any Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the area.

In 2013, China declared an ADIZ over vast tracts of the East China Sea, which was contested by several nations, including the United States, Japan and South Korea.

In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian arrogantly declared that every country has the right to establish an ADIZ, and said: In the light of air security threats China faces over SCS waters, China will carefully and prudently study the relevant issues, taking into account all factors.

These statements signal a stiffening of Asean leaders spine in challenging Chinas exaggerated and untenable claims in the SCS.

The Asean leaders also expressed concern over the land reclamations and serious incidents in SCS which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region.

Indonesia is also upset over Chinas increasingly aggressive claims around its Natuna Islands and complained to the UN in May that its economic interests were jeopardised by Chinas claims and 9-dash line.

When China responded by inviting Indonesia to negotiate what it called overlapping claims of maritime rights and interests , Indonesia replied to the UN on June 12, rightly stressing there was no reason to negotiate as Jakarta had no overlapping claims with China in the South China Sea.

Importantly, Philippines President Dutertes policy towards the United States is undergoing a 180-degree turn under the unrelenting cartographic, administrative and physical onslaught of China on Philippines maritime territory and EEZ.

President Duterte was very unhappy with US criticism of his governments human rights record, and last February he had decided to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US, central to US troop deployments in the Philippines. However, in early June, its foreign minister said this move was suspended due to political and other developments in the region. Thus, President Dutertes policy of downgrading US ties has for now been halted.

It should be recalled that in July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration under UNCLOS at The Hague had clearly ruled in the Philippines favour that China had no historical rights based on 9-dash line map and upheld the Philippines claims on Scarborough Shoal. However, China rejected this award even as China is a signatory to UNCLOS.

Strangely, after his election later in the year, President Duterte did not press for the implementation of this award and adopted a course of friendship towards China. President Duterte has now realised the folly of extending an olive branch to China.

The Philippines reconsideration of the merits of its strong defence ties with the US was the result of continued Chinese provocations. A Chinese fishing fleet recently sailed near a Philippines-occupied islet and a Chinese survey vessel also came towards the area. In Chinas book of creeping aggression, its fishing boats and survey vessels form the vanguard.

It is significant that at present three US Navy aircraft-carriers are patrolling the Indo-Pacific region -- USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea on July 4-5 and are deployed in the Western Pacific. Since March, the US Navy had four sailings in the SCS, asserting its right of navigation.

At the virtual Brussels Forum 2020 on June 26, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the US was reviewing its global deployment of forces to ensure that it is postured appropriately to counter the rising Chinese military threat to countries like India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

On June 25, in a rare briefing for the foreign media, Japanese defence minister Tara Kono emphasised the need to watch Chinas military capabilities and intentions across Asia.

Chinas pre-meditated aggression all around its neighbourhood is a matter of deep concern. Its exaggerated unilateral territorial claims based on Orwellian lies need to be robustly contested by its aggrieved neighbours from the Asean members to India, and must be supported by all regional and global powers.
The Iowa Board of Regents has added special ACT testing dates at Iowa Western Community College to provide timely opportunities for students to take the test.

A lot of those other testing dates and locations didnt happen because of the COVID, so they were trying to provide some more opportunities for students to take the test, said Christy Nash of the Western Iowa Regents Resource Center.

Testing will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon on Aug. 7, 8 and 14 in Dodge Hall at Iowa Western Community Colleges Council Bluffs Campus, 2700 College Road, she said.

To be eligible for the special testing sessions, a student must be an Iowa resident attending an Iowa high school planning to graduate in winter 2020 or spring 2021 and must be taking the test for the first time, a press release from the Board of Regents stated. Scores from the special testing sessions will be valid and accepted only by the three State of Iowa Regent institutions (University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa).

All test takers will be required to wear face masks at ACT check-in and throughout the exam, the Board of Regents website states. Social distancing practices will be in place throughout the test day.
Why would anybody who is concerned about public health and safety want to bring in people from all over the country for three separate execution in the span of five days to a virus hot spot? questioned Robert Dunham of the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonpartisan organization that collects information on capital punishment.

The original execution plan last year appeared to be political. And the current plan eliminates any doubt about that," he said.

Attorney General William Barr has denied that politics played a role in the decision last year to resume executions, which ended an informal freeze on imposition of federal capital punishment. Barr has said the government has an obligation to carry out the sentences, including the death penalty, that are imposed by courts, and that the Justice Department owes it to the families of the victims and others in their communities to do so.

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.
Moving to a new home can be an exciting adventure. Since its a very busy time, there are many tasks to accomplish through every phase of your move. When you add your pet into the mix, considering his needs along with yours can add to your checklist of to dos. However, by following some p
(Bloomberg) -- The chief executive officers of Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc., Alphabet Inc. and Apple Inc. will testify on July 27 before a congressional panel investigating competition in the technology industry, according to an announcement from the House Judiciary Committee.

Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook are likely to face a torrent of critical questions from lawmakers on the panels antitrust subcommittee as the investigation builds a case for revamping antitrust enforcement.

Bezos may be in for a particularly tough session. Unlike the other chiefs, the worlds richest man will be addressing Congress for the first time, and his company has sparred with subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline over previous testimony by another company official and allegations of anticompetitive conduct.

The appearances may be virtual, according to the Monday evening announcement, which said additional details on the format would be forthcoming.

Given the central role these corporations play in the lives of the American people, it is critical that their CEOs are forthcoming, said Cicilline and Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler in a joint statement. As we have said from the start, their testimony is essential for us to complete this investigation.

Some of the companies had been reluctant to send their top executives even though Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, has said he would be willing to subpoena CEOs. He has said he wants to use their appearances to inform a final report recommending changes to antitrust law.

Antitrust scrutiny of giant technology companies is accelerating. Facebook and Alphabets Google both face competition inquiries by federal enforcers and nearly all 50 states. Amazon is under investigation in California, Bloomberg has reported, and both the e-commerce giant and Apple are facing scrutiny from the European Union.

The Judiciary Committee had previously announced that the four men would testify, but had not set a date or format.

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Trumps niece accuses him of paying someone to take SAT for him in a tell-all book scheduled to be published next week

Picture used in cover for "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man". (AP)

Washington: President Donald Trump paid a proxy to take a standardized college entrance exam for him when he was a high school student, his niece writes in a tell-all book scheduled to be published next week.

In the book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man, Mary Trump writes that Trump paid someone to take the SAT, an entrance exam used by most U.S. universities, in his place, according to The New York Times.

The high score the proxy earned for him, Ms. Trump adds, helped the young Mr. Trump to later gain admittance as an undergraduate to the University of Pennsylvanias prestigious Wharton business school, reports the Times, citing a manuscript of the book.

White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway, when asked about the book on Tuesday, told reporters at the White House that it was a family matter.

Hes not her patient, hes her uncle, Conway said, apparently referring to Mary Trumps degree in clinical psychology. I think family matters are family matters.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Tuesday: Its a book of falsehoods and thats about it.

The College Board, which administers the SAT test, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Yeezy, the California-based fashion label run by Kanye West, managed to get a multimillion-dollar loan from the federal government's coronavirus stimulus package, Daily Beast reports. The U.S. Treasurys Small Business Administration released records on Thursday and eagle-eyed analysts found Yeezy among the list of small businesses that are receiving funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which is part of President Trump's lager CARES Act, which offers up economic relief during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

RELATED: Kanye West Tweets He's Running for President in 2020

Records show that Yeezy was awarded a loan in the range of $2 million and $5 million and that the funds went to saving 160 jobs. The Daily Beast notes that California business records list West as the manager of Yeezy LLC, though it's not just a fashion house. It's a holding company established in Delaware and run out of La Palma, California. The Yeezy brand reportedly made $1.5 billion last year.

The PPP loan raises the issue of a conflict of interest. West has been an outspoken supporter of President Trump and has made multiple trips to the White House. According to Forbes, West officially became a billionaire back in April. PPP loans, which are intended for companies with fewer than 500 employees, are generally written off by the government if the companies that qualify spend the money on eligible costs and also retain a certain amount of staff. A complete list of the 40,000 companies that received loans of $150,000 and above was made public today.
Not everyones comfortable talking about their sex life, but knowing what goes on in other peoples bedrooms can help us all feel more inspired, curious, and validated in our own experiences. In HGs monthly column Sex IRL, well talk to real people about their sexual adventures and get as frank as possible.

You dont need me to tell you that being in a relationship can be difficult. Between societal pressure, familial pressure, and the pressure you put on yourself, it can sometimes feel like you and your partner are navigating a hedge maze of emotions. You also dont need me to tell you that these difficulties can be compounded if youre in an interracial relationship.

According to the most recent census, about 17% of all new marriages in the U.S. had spouses of two different races or ethnicities. This accounts for a fivefold increase since 1967, the year that Loving v. Virginia ruled that interracial marriage was legal throughout the country. But thats just newlyweds. The same census saw also that one in ten married people in 2015not just those who had recently walked down the aislewere in interracial marriages. (Believe it or not, Honolulu has the highest percent of interracial marriage.)

Even though we see more interracial marriages now than when our parents were young, attitudes toward these relationships are still stuck in the past. A recent study showed that nine percent of people said there was an issue with interracial relationships when askedand that both white and Black people showed significant implicit and explicit biases against interracial couples.

But regardless of those biases, the number of interracial relationships will continue to grow. And while there can be plenty of difficulties navigating a relationship with someone of a different raceespecially as racial injustices continue to be played out in this countrythere is also joy in them.

So I decided to talk to a handful of couples in interracial relationships about what its like and how it affects their sex lives. Heres what they had to say.

Story continues

I can sit on a white mans face and still be unapologetically Black.

I saw a lot of interracial relationships growing up. That said, my extended family is a lot more conservative about things. My grandmother was alive through the last few decades of colonization in our country and doesnt see white people as anything but bad news.

My current boyfriend and I have been together for over two years. The best part is getting to know the other person better through their culture. We love to play the music we grew up listening to for each other. It makes me feel like were letting each other in on some precious formative experiences. Its really bonding. But the hardest part is the times we get harassed in public. Neither of us really knows how to respond at the moment, and it leaves things rocky for a while afterward. As old-school as it sounds, I want him to step up and protect us when things like that happen. If hes going to have Black kids one day, hes going to have to know what to do. We eventually sit down and talk about it, but its a pretty painful reminder of the fact that our relationship is not like other ones, and not always in a positive way.

Things can go either way when it comes to racial tension. In our everyday lives, we take opportunities to unpack how differently we experience the worldme as a Black woman and him as a white man. When shit really hits the fan, as it has now, its hard for me not to feel totally alone. As thoughtful and empathetic as he might be, were just having fundamentally different life experiences, which really makes me doubt the longevity of our relationship. I wonder if I can spend the rest of my life with someone who will never fully understand my lived experience.

As for intimacy, its hard to feel sexy when youre anxious about the state of the world and your place in it. Even worse is when it feels like youre literally sleeping with the enemy. Its disturbing to say it in that way, but thats exactly what it feels likelike my ancestors are watching me in disgust. But at the same time, I try to remember that being close to someone is exactly what Im craving the most right now and that I deserve to have those moments of joy in these dark times. I can sit on a white mans face and still be unapologetically Black.

 anonymous, 30, together with her boyfriend for two and a half years

I think weve benefited from this new wave of awareness.

My mother is from Mexico, and my father is from California and is of European descent. So not only was I the product of an interracial relationship, but by definition, pretty much any woman Im dating is technically in an interracial relationship, since I am biracial.

My girlfriend is from northern India, but she looks Hispanic. I sometimes forget Im in an interracial relationship because we look alikeeven some of my Hispanic family members will talk to her in Spanish because they forget she isnt Hispanic, too. My girlfriends family is more progressive, too, and theyre okay with her dating a foreigner now. They were a bit wary of me as a long-term prospect since Hollywood and the media tend to portray Westerners as promiscuous and unfaithful.

I think weve benefitted from this new wave of awareness that seems to be spreading now, but as any minority or person of color can tell you, racism in the U.S. isnt anything new. Xenophobia has long tendrils in this current administration. Were more worried about visa issues and her having to go back home more than anything else under the Trump administration. The COVID-19 pandemic is throwing a wrench into the economyand, as a result, some people's visaswhich is causing some stress. Fortunately, my girlfriend likes to use sex to destress, so if anything, our sex life has seen a bit of an uptick.

 Steve, 32, with his girlfriend for nine months

"I also think we need to address the issue of fetishizing certain races."

The best part about being in an interracial relationship is the richness it brings to my life. My husbands parents are immigrants from Vietnam, so I feel like I am being exposed to a broader world view. A difficult part is that they speak virtually no English, and I dont speak Vietnamese, so I am left out of conversations. This usually doesnt bother me, except when the conversations concerned our wedding or my daughter.

As an Asian immigrant to Canada, my husband does not feel the same pressures as other minorities, such as being targeted by police or discriminated against in employment. Personally, I have concerns about my young daughter. I am acutely aware that my daughter will grow up biracial, Asian and white, and I will not be able to relate to her on that level. I have absolutely no frame of reference for that experience, and I understand it can be difficult for people on a personal level. I hope that when the time comes, I can figure out what she needs from me.

My husband always says he feels more Canadian than Vietnamese, so I think people need to understand that each individual has a unique tie to their own cultural background. I also think we need to address the issue of fetishizing certain races. I worry about this for my daughter, but I know that it happens with other minorities as well.

 anonymous, 32, together with her husband for seven years, married for three

Its not that love sees no color. I see his color and it is beautiful to me.

I remember being young in Brooklyn, asking my Italian father if he would mind me dating a Black man. He responded by saying as long as I was happy and being treated right, he didnt care. He is currently proving that to be true.

The hardest part was the beginning of our relationship and the assumptions. I was concerned about whether his family would like me or care if I was white. Luckily, all is fine, and everyone is loving and welcoming. There have been other interracial relationships in their families. But the best part is learning about different cultures, expressions, and languages. It will always amaze me how calm holidays and events are with his family compared to the big, long, loud Italian family holidays!

That said, my brain plays out the worse-case scenarios whenever I wait for his text saying he made it home safe. Recently, a 9 p.m. curfew was put in place when the protests began. None of us got the alert until 10 p.m. I knew he was with his mother and granny, and I was scared for him to make the 10-minute drive home. There were times that we were both so stressed that it did affect how we were intimate with one another. But the truth is that its not that love sees no color. I see his color and it is beautiful to me.

 anonymous, 41, with her boyfriend for three years

Getty Images

"I wish people would know that interracial relationships are very common and they shouldnt be treated as a novelty or a fetishization!

Ive exclusively been in interracial relationships but never really thought of them because my parentsan Asian man and a white womanare in one. Early on, when vacationing in certain states or being in certain situations, people would express their distaste towards their marriage or toward me, but [my parents] always explained to me that it wasnt so much about their marriage but rather racist people that werent comfortable with them.

Ive always loved sharing my culture and traditions with my partners. While there are cultural boundaries that Ive experienced, like wanting my grandparents to be accepting of my partner, its mostly fun getting to show someone I love the traditions I grew up with or celebrating Chinese holidays with them.

Being in an interracial relationship does sometimes affect how we interact. Ive oftentimes had to explain how Im affected by racial unrest because he doesnt necessarily understand it nor has he been a victim of it before. Hes also less inclined to notice when people are clearly uncomfortable by our relationship, whereas I have a much sharper eye for people who say things directed at me or us as a couple. But I wish people would know that interracial relationships are very common, and they shouldnt be treated as a novelty or a fetishization!

 Melissa, 22, with her boyfriend for a year and a half

Our relationship grew stronger day by day as we learned about what shaped our lives to who we are today.

Growing up in a South Asian household and attending school in a predominantly white suburb in Houston, Texas, made me feel like I was living a double life at times. At school, I was your typical teenager crushing on the hot white guy, but at home, I was this submissive, 'good' Indian girl that didn't talk back to my parents, studied hard, and was actively involved in the South Asian community. The thought of even getting into an interracial relationship (or let alone any relationship) was forbidden when I was in high school. My parents would have freaked!

When my fiance and I started dating, it became clear our upbringing was, surprisingly, very similar. I used to think, growing up, [that] this commonality would have only been found with another South Asian guy, but everything about his life changed my point of view. We both grew up in immigrant households dominated by strong women. We both weren't allowed to hang out with kids from school and only with our cousins or close family friends. We were both also lucky to have moms that raised us on home-cooked meals, with recipes they learned growing up in Mexico and India. With all these commonalities, our relationship grew stronger day by day as we learned about what shaped our lives to who we are today.

Growing up in immigrant households and as first-generation kids of immigrants, we have a strong sense of cultural awareness. My parents came to this country in 1974 during a time when skilled South Asians were favored by white people to succeed, and not necessarily because they're smarter or better. Other minority groups in this country were just as smart and capable, but systemic racism denied them of basic, fundamental rights in this country, essentially making it difficult for them to earn a decent living and become successful. We both fully acknowledge how grateful we are and continue to protest, make donations, voice our opinions, and actively stay on top of this movement.

 anonymous, 33, with her fiance for about three and a half years

I think we both have a very strong sense of culture and understanding because were both first-generation children of immigrants.

I always thought that I would have to marry someone who shared my language and culture, so growing up I would try and date other Hispanic women so that I would feel less self-conscious about bringing them home and having to translate. Or worse, the idea of bringing them home and having them judge me. But then I met my fiance.

For me, learning about how our cultures and upbringing are actually SO similar was great. What Ive learned is that people have stories and histories that arent always the first thing you might learn about them. A lot of times, especially in ethnic cultures like Hispanic or Indian cultures, a lot of the norms and standards are the same. I cant say that people have looked at us in a different way or treated us differently due to her or my race.

I think we both have a very strong sense of culture and understanding because were both first-generation children of immigrants. So when we look at unrest and protests, we consider ourselves to be a part of the movement and support in every way, because we know that our people and people who look like us are being discriminated against every day. We recognize the privilege we have and try to figure out how to use it to help everyone else.

 anonymous, 32, together with his fiance for about three and a half years

Getty Images

Its hard to watch your partner feel bad for you while you feel even worse because had they not been involved with you, they wouldnt receive that treatment.

I come from an interracial marriage. My mom is white and my dad is Black. All of my relationships have been interracial, and every girl Ive dated has been white. The best part about being in an interracial relationship is the strength that can be displayed when the world shows its ugly side. There's an openness and love that can be expressed that are, in my opinion, unmatched. But its hard to watch your partner feel bad for you while you feel even worse because had they not been involved with you, they wouldnt receive that treatment.

My fiance and I communicate very well. Im lucky to have found that in a partner. We not only have personal conversations but with others to inform, educate, and help people become aware of the everyday life we live. It doesnt affect our intimacy.

We get looked at lots of places we go, and we know why. I wish people knew how bad it hurts when your partners family isnt welcoming to the idea and the strength of the partner who stays by the person they love. Its hard being a biracial human. Its hard to be in an interracial relationship. But its beautiful, its real, and it will make you stronger mentally, physically, and emotionally. Its everything I could ask for.

 Michael, 30, with his fiance for six years

Ill never be able to fully feel how he feels.

My experience with interracial relationships was nonexistent. I grew up in a very sheltered place, so exposure to people of color and their cultures was limited. But Im glad that we can spark conversation. The flavor, the swag, and the sex are great, too. Its hard to know that he has to deal with the things that come with the relationshipthe looks in public or the name-calling. I feel guilty about that. Im not able to walk in his shoes. Ill never be able to fully feel what he feels.

When there are moments of unrest like were seeing now, I try to listen, ask questions, and ask more questions. I ride with him no matter what. If we want to change, we need to have those tough conversations with our friends and family. It all starts at home. It doesnt affect the way my fiance and I interact with one another, though. If anything, he admires my continued support, and that has a positive effect on the overall health of our relationship. But it doesnt affect our intimacy.

This shit isnt easy. But our love and strength are unmatchable. Also, stop staring! Try smiling.

 Alexis, 30, with her fiance for six years
OP, please put the second and third tweets behind a cut.

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damn stan twitter doing investigative work over someone's bf lmao like ya'll need to chill sometimes

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Seriously this is kind of scary

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Lol right? Also, registering under a party doesn't require you to support their candidate.

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Yup, my co-worker is a Republican and is not even remotely pro-Trump. Like at all.

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My sister is a registered Republican (has been since 2000), and she is VERY anti-Trump to the point where she's lost religious/Republican friends by not drinking the Trump kool-aid.

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i find this really creepy. people need to understand boundaries. and i don't think her posting a couple selfies with him or whatever makes him a public figure or is an invitation to dig into his personal life.

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Being registered as a republican doesn't mean he... oh he is following Trump... nevermind.



As I was saying I am a registered republican but I always vote Democrat. I was told by my grandmother it matters in my county to do this in order to get a job.



She may be right about that.

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ehm... why register in the first place?

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My mom is a registered Republican, despite being really left, so she can use her vote to influence what happens in primaries in my GOP-dominated state (but we live in a moderate county/congressional district) -- if there's a Democrat who has a chance to win in the general, she'll vote for the batshit crazy GOPer in the primary. If the Dem has no chance, she'll vote for the more moderate GOPer. Closed primaries!

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I've considered changing my registration to republican because I like in a conservative state and I'd like to be able to vote in the primaries.

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the fact that americans need to register for a party is ridiculous

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My exact thought process. I came in here to say his registration means nothing and he might not even remember he did it, but then I saw the rest of the post and... nevermind.

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It's still possible he isn't a Trump supporter... lots of people follow him just to see his new posts in their feed. A follow on social media doesn't automatically translate to support of that person. I guess if you're a celebrity/public personality it does, but this dude is nobody. My friend and her husband are registered Republicans and her husband follows Trump on Instagram... they both hate him and both voted for Hillary. I follow Ann Coulter on Twitter and I'm a Warren voter. It happens.

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I imagine your voting registration as a Republican is less likely to get lost, too.

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i said this on twitter but a lot of registered democrats or those of democrat thinking, as well as democrats in positions of power, and those of no party affiliation follow trump on twitter so that's not any indication of support, either

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Same, my best friend is a registered Republican because she lives in Utah and it is more worth it to get a Republican that will do the least amount of damage

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Of course this tied went to penn state. My school continues to be an embarrassment.



I got called the N word for the first time in my life there

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fucking gross. i'm sorry bb. that's horrible.

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Ugh fuck that, Im sorry you had to ever experience that.

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Are people's personal and political records that easy to access in the US? That's insane.

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Your party identification is public (if you choose to have one) but not who you actually voted for or anything.

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That's wild.



I mean, isn't it then easy for employers, etc to discriminate based on your politics (regardless of who you vote for)?

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That's fucked up. You have to register to vote in the primaries though! Can you register as an independent everywhere or just in some places?



Talk about a polarising system...

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This is actually blowing my mind because I didnt realize this was thing?? Now Im glad Ive never actually registered for a party. But its really...uncomfortable that everything is public record that any random can look up to be a creepy, investigative stan

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which includes your address and shit. i had to have my shit taken down becaue a cyber stalker

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Sure is, which is one reason I haven't and won't register for a party.

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depends on the state. and i'm pretty sure you can get yourself removed from the online databases if you have a protective order.



a few states require harder-to-get info before they'll display a record

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I also find it insane that you can pretty much find the exact address of people and who bought what property for how much

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Yes. When you vote you have the option to register your party

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I like it. Its just part of the research I do before I start dating someone seriously.

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same as brazil. we don't have primaries, and you don't have to be affiliated to any party in order to vote for anything, but if you choose to register with a party, that's public info

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I mean, sure... but also stans

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university lacrosse team. so he was an adult.



Burke was not permitted to play in the Nittany Lions' 11-10 double overtime loss to Johns Hopkins at Homewood Field Saturday night ha-ha



anyway, republican, lacrosse, boston...I feel like I have the full picture



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How bad do you have to be to get kicked off a lacrosse team, the most enabling of all white university sports

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Technically, he was only suspended for one game, and it was by the Big 10, not Penn State, the most enabling of all universities.



Anyway, the Big Ten only started lacrosse because MD joined the conference and pulled Hopkins in with them, and it was the first year Big Ten did lax on their own (and iirc MD lax was not happy about leaving the ACC because the under armour guy wanted that midwestern football money) so he kicked a player on the wrong team at the wrong time.

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Unfortunately since cancel culture is over I'm unable to comment

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lol

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I cancel you for this post.

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haven't you heard??? culture got picked up for another season

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which network

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Republican... lacrosse... is she dating Sterling Archer?

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DANGAHZOOOOOONE!



I feel like making an ONTD Original post about Archer now

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LMAOOO. I need new season

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LMFAOOO

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danger zone

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really? according to google he was team captain in the next year and completed a successful season of 2015 or whatever that means in Lacrosse terms, a sport I know nothing about

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How did they even meet?

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Woo people have the time! These people should be marketing their skills as PIs.

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mte this is like advanced shit i wish i had the skills

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For real I hope they use that energy into real world use!

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private detecives on stan twitter act like they're on Who Framed Roger Rabbit lmao

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he's her bf because they have one selfie together?..........

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they also had a video + he made a playlist called 'jodie's songs', but i couldn't be bothered to link the other stuff in the thread

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I wish you were



I'll start collecting firewood for the stake

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boo hoo. Go cry into a pile of your millions.

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so many fans have defended him saying 'he wanted to give money to charity' and I was like 'well they just open your cheque book'.



tbf to him he has given a lot to charity during this period, but he didn't need to do THIS if he wanted to give more.

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Oh gee, poor poor djoker... getting rightfully called out because the tournament you helped organise fucked up.



Tennis fans please end him.

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It is his fault, he created an ill advised and poorly set up tournament. Hes lucky no one has gotten seriously ill. But no telling how many people theyve exposed.

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he is so malignant. shut up and enjoy your millions and don't expose people to a pandemic via your unscientific bs maybe?



it's very very funny when people point at things like 'justified criticism' or 'mild pushback' and call it a witchhunt or cancel culture. and by funny i mean terrible! it muddies the waters, creates a climate of incredible defensiveness and selfishness, and makes it difficult for anyone to hold others to account or be accountable themselves. go cry in your mansion and stfu

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men should never get to use the term 'witch hunt' imo

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mte

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Consequences? To MY actions??? I don't think so! Sounds more like a witch-hunt/cancel culture/scapegoat/fake news/media bias/an agenda!

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They could have mitigated some of the criticism by not partying it up like they did though and if they'd taken serious precautions after coming in contact with someone who was positive.



But no, it's just a witch hunt I guess.



Also, that Atlanta event should have been more scrutinized tbh

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are you talking about that club pool party petri dish or some other sporting event?

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A tennis exhibition this past weekend with all American male players. Frances Tiafoe tested positive on day one and the show went on.

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Yep Atlanta should have ended when Tiafoe was tested positive.



At least Adria Tour stopped at that.

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Oh, didums.



The dark mythical agenda strikes again! I miss the days when us queers and our lobby were the only one with an evil agenda.

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Kyrgios was so right about him, Djokovic is obsessed w being liked & being considered the best. He's probably going to beat Federer's record soon & he would still be less liked. No amount of awards will change his dad & him are trash

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Broken clock is right twice a day. But Novaks obsession with being liked is his downfall. He should have just played up being a villain like Lendl (except Ivan really didnt care about being liked).

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Medvedev did everything Djokovic should have done.



They were booing him but they loved him by the final. He was a pantomime villain and it was wonderful.



omg this bitch is everything Novak should have been https://t.co/VFQIwolaiC  Shego (@LadyBellatrix) October 12, 2019 I thought that with Medvedev at USO 2019.Medvedev did everything Djokovic should have done.They were booing him but they loved him by the final. He was a pantomime villain and it was wonderful.

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lmao what the fuck ever



people rightfully calling him out for being careless and reckless and basically organizing a covid outbreak is not a witchhunt 

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*Novaxx Djocovid



Edited at 2020-07-08 07:20 pm (UTC)

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The History of Working From Home

Three months since the coronavirus sent millions of Americans out of their offices to work from home, businesses are realizing that working from home is possible. Telecommuting does not have the best track record, but things are changing.

The coronavirus hit the U.S. in January, and by mid-March, office buildings went vacant, people got used to their work from home chairs and skyscrapers in cities like New York City turned off their lights. Now, three months after corporate America was sent to work from home, employers and managers are realizing that working from home is, at the very least, working.

One New York Times article shares advice from Richard Laermer, though, who reminds readers that managing a work-from-home workforce should still be taken seriously. His biggest piece of advice? Do not be an idiot.

Working from home is a great option for some, and not for others. For some people, working from home has allowed them to be more productive, to see their families or to manage their mental health. However, others admit they have been less productive.

Laermer said a few years ago, he let his employees work from home on Fridays. This did not work out well, though, as he found that he could not find people when he needed them.

Every weekend became a three-day holiday, he said. I found that people work so much better when theyre all in the same physical space.

Other groups have found that telecommuting is more harmful to a workforce and business. However, large companies like Facebook, Shopify, Zillow, Twitter and more are developing plans to let employees work remotely forever. Many are curious to see how these decisions will play out, as some businesses past experiences with a work-from-home workforce have proven not so positive.
In the late 2000s, Big Oil led by Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A), BP Plc. (NYSE: BP), ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), and Chevron (NYSE: CVX) hyped algae biofuel as the fuel of the future, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the emerging industry with promises of decarbonization and energy innovation. More than a decade later, the algal biofuel dream has remained just that--a dream--with virtually all big players but one--Exxon--pulling the plug on their expensive projects.

In 2009, Exxon entered the algae biofuels race with a bang, teaming up with unicorn biotech startup Synthetic Genomics Inc., and outlining plans to invest more than $600M in the clean energy project. Exxon had lofty ambitions to produce algae biofuel within a decade but later pushed back the ETA in 2018 by saying it planned to produce 10,000 barrels of algae biofuels per day by 2025.

Exxon now stands as the only oil and gas supermajor that is still pursuing algae biofuels in a big way with the company claiming on its website to have invested ~$250M in biofuels research over the past decade.

However, it's going to take some serious feats of financial engineering for Exxon's algae biofuels to compete in this era of $30-$40/bbl oil or for the company to convince its critics that this is not just another attempt at greenwashing.

The Future of Energy?

To be fair, algae biofuels are not such a terrible idea.

Algae does have some clear advantages over other biofuel candidates, mainly because these photosynthetic microorganisms are super-efficient at converting sunlight into biomass, have high lipid content of up to 80% for some varieties, and are more versatile than, say, corn, a common biofuel crop. Indeed, ancient algae lipids, not fossilized dinosaurs, are responsible for the crude oil that these companies pump. From a technical standpoint, the oil-company-funded efforts to turn algae into fuel were largely successful. However, it's proven really hard to make the economics of algae biofuels competitive with those of crude.

Mind you, oil was at ~$100/barrel at the height of the algae biofuel craze with even government agencies ponying up funds for algae research. But it's becoming increasingly clear that we could have entered the era of "Low Forever" with oil prices set to remain depressed for years if not decades. Indeed, an employee of algae-based bioproducts firm Cellana has told BI that crude would have to be around $500/bbl for algae biofuels to compete successfully.

Related: Oil Falls After EIA Confirms Large Crude Inventory Build



Several scientists have questioned the economics of Exxon's algae biofuels and termed the prospects of commercial algae biofuel within the next decade unrealistic. Others have labeled Exxon's algae efforts a PR charade.

Others have swung to the furthest end of the pendulum.

A couple of years ago, Exxon published an article on the New York Times website titled "The Future of Energy? It May Come From Where You Least Expect" where it touted its algae biofuels advances. Unfortunately, this was viewed as just another example of Exxon's evolving climate denialism and landed the oil giant in trouble.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey quickly filed a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, alleging that Exxon's marketing of "green" petroleum products under flagship brands like Mobil 1 and Synergy was a thinly veiled attempt to mislead consumers about the role of its products in climate change. The AG said that Exxon's frequent use of the New York Times editorial section was meant "...to shift public perception and was among the most significant and longest regular  in this case, weekly  uses of media to influence public and stakeholder opinion in modern U.S. history."

Healey took issue with the fact that Exxon failed to mention that 10,000 barrels of algae biofuels constituted a mere 0.2 percent of the company's refinery capacity.

Asset Write Down

Algae make other products such as protein and omega-3 fatty acids that are far more valuable than diesel. Exxon might have to tweak its business model and concentrate on these high-value products and sell the resulting fuel as a by-product.

Alternatively, it could simply write off its algae biofuel assets. But good luck with that considering that it has stubbornly refused to follow the lead of Shell and BP who have written off ~$40B of their shale assets following the oil price crash.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Big Oil majors have been scrambling to make the most ambitious climate commitments in the industry, planning a pivot to clean energy, talking about net-zero emission bills, solar, and wind. However, there is another clean energy source that has remained out of the spotlight--one that may eventually rise to prominence: geothermal.

Geothermal energy is, simply put, the heat from the Earths mantle brought to the surface to use for heating and, more importantly, electricity generation. Iceland is the usual example of successfully harnessing geothermal energy. Iceland, however, is not the only place where geothermal can be tapped. In fact, its everywhere. You just need to know exactly where and how to drill for it.

Yes, the keyword here is drilling and extraction: the same thing oil and gas companies do. It should come as no wonder then, that a number of oil and gas industry veterans have decided to go down the clean energy road with geothermal projects. And according to them, geothermal is the future of the energy industry, along with solar and wind.

How does this geothermal energy extraction work? The Earths core and the mantle are superhot, which is why the deeper you drill for oil and gas, the hotter the rock. Drill deep enough, and you would reach formations where the temperature is 200 degrees Celsius (392 F) and above. This is where geothermals potential begins. The planet produces heat constantly, which means it is a much more reliable source of energy than solar and wind with their intermittency problems. And this heat is clean, unlike oil and gas. It sounds almost too good to be true.

There are two principal ways of extracting heat from the ground. One is via enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), and the other is closed-loop extraction or advanced geothermal systems (AGS).

Related: Will Working From Home Increase Emissions?

EGS is in a way similar to gravity-assisted oil extraction in the oil sands, involving drilling first vertically and then horizontally, and fracking the formation to release the heat, which heats the water injected into the well and then brings it to the surface.

AES, or closed-loop systems, are essentially radiators drilled into the ground, as the executive director of the Geothermal Entrepreneurship Organization at UT at Austin, Jamie Beard, explains here. You drill deep enough to tap some high heat, flush a special fluid inside, it heats up, travels up, and powers the turbines of a power plant. This is the biggest promise of geothermal: clean electricity generation.

Clearly, extracting heat is quite similar to extracting oil and gas, which is why industry experts are the most likely proponents of this alternative energy. Two of them, vets from Weatherford and Shell, have even designed a hybrid geothermal extraction system that combines fracking and closed-loop drilling to extract geothermal energy. In that system, Lance Cook and Lev Ring, co-founders of startup Sage Geosystems, do away with the need to drill superdeep vertical wells. Thanks to fracking, you could drill a shallower well and then frack roots downwards to capture the heat.

So far, so good. But what are the advantages over oil and gas? Besides the fact it is clean energy, geothermal has potentially lower costs over the long term, not just because the drilling equipment has already been invented, but also because it is not cyclical, unlike oil and gas. Operating expenses in oil and gas are high precisely because of the cyclical nature of the industry. In geothermal, this is absent.

Another advantage: quick development. Cook told Oilprice.com that Sage could go from proof of concept to fully operational hybrid system powering a 10-MW plant inside three years. And it can compete with solar and wind on upfront costs right out of the gate, Cook said.

Of course, there are also challenges. First of all, costs are an issue over the short term, the executive director of the Research Triangle Consortium and former Halliburton executive Vikram Rao told Oilprice.com. Even though the equipment and drilling expertise is there, in the oil industry, capital costs are high and need to go down.

Related: Venezuelas Oil Riches Are Quietly Falling Under Russian Control

Then there is the question of where it is best to drill. While there is heat everywhere in the world, the planets crust is uneven. To pick the sweet spots, similar to shale oil and gas, the Earths subsurface needs to be mapped, said Rao, adding that this is not too challenging a task. Mapping is, in fact, relatively easy. It just needs to be done before geothermal really takes off.

Then there is shallow versus deep drilling. As in oil and gas, at greater depths, drilling becomes a lot more expensive. This is why shallow geothermal systems, at temperatures of up to about 200 degrees Celsius, are the only potentially economical ones at the moment, according to hydraulic fracturing expert Mukul Sharma from the Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering Department at UT Austin.

For deep drilling, the equipment needs to be adjusted to handle the greater temperatures, which damage the drillbit and any electronicsthink sensorson it. There is also the issue of resource depletion, even though this depletion would be temporary as the heat is produced constantly in the core of the planet. Yet the promise of the technology is so great that, according to the pioneers in the field, that more and more oil and gas industry executives are starting to pay close attention to geothermal.

And why wouldnt they? Geothermal may be the key to truly distributed power, making centralized grids redundant, and thus significantly reducing the risk of blackouts and other problems. And we could have the first operating system in between three and five years after a successful proof of concept. After that, Sharma says, wider adoption will be quick.

Imagine when the next Bugsy Siegel decides to build the next Las Vegas in the middle of a desert, Sages Lance Cook told Oilprice.com. All that will be needed is a call to Sage and well install a 10MW geothermal plant in months. While we are there, well drill the water wells for them as well.



By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Encouraged by higher oil prices, Canadian oil companies are bringing back some of the crude oil production they had curtailed, the top executives of some of the largest firms said at an energy conference.

Husky Energy, Cenovus Energy, ARC Resources Ltd, Baytex Energy Corp, and Imperial Oil are restoring part of the production they had curtailed when prices plunged in March and April. Out of the 1 million barrels per day (bpd) curtailed production in Canada, at least 20 percent is being brought online again, according to Bloomberg estimates.

Were seeing a strong price signal to bring production back, Alex Pourbaix, president and chief executive officer at Cenovus, said on the TD Securities energy conference on Tuesday.

Nobody should be surprised to see our production moving back to full production capacity. We are significantly cash-flow positive at the levels were at now, Pourbaix said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

Cenovus curtailed around 60,000 bpd production and stopped crude-by-rail shipments when prices plunged. The company has already restored half of the shut-in production, Pourbaix said, as carried by The Canadian Press.

Husky Energy has also restored half of the 80,000 bpd output it had curtailed due to growing demand for crude oil at U.S. refineries, chief financial officer Jeff Hart said.

We continue now to bring up both our upstream and downstream production in concert with one another and in concert with where we see the end demand, said Hart, adding that the company expects to restore full production by August at the latest.

U.S. producer ConocoPhillips said at the end of June that it expects to increase production at Surmont in Canada in the third quarter from curtailed levels.

Early on Wednesday, Western Canadian Select (WCS), the oil sands benchmark, traded at $37 a barrel, compared to single digits at the end of April.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The latest oil price collapse coupled with the considerable economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has battered Colombias fragile economy. As the strife-torn Latin American country emerged from decades of civil conflict and narrowly avoided becoming a failed state, it pegged future development and economic growth on oil. While oil was responsible for Colombias considerable development and economic growth over the last decade, that dependence has left it extremely vulnerable not only to sharply weaker prices but the risk of essentially running out of crude. When that occurs, as the severe impact of the latest oil price collapse on Colombias economy demonstrates, it will push the Andean nation into a deep fiscal crisis.

By the peak of the last oil boom in 2013, Colombia was experiencing extraordinary rates of economic growth. In 2011, Colombias GDP expanded by an impressive 7% year over year followed by 3.9% in 2012 and 5.1% for 2013. This stellar growth rate was far higher than many of Colombias neighbors and triggering considerable optimism giving the strife-torn nation considerable hope that it could escape its violent past.

By 2013, oil production peaked at an all-time high of just over one million barrels daily, investment in Colombias oil patch was booming and many within the government and oil industry believed it was only a matter of time until the next major oil discovery.

According to data from Colombias statistical agency DANE, crude became the countrys most valuable export during 2013 accounting for 54% of export earnings and a fifth of government revenues.

As a result, Colombias economic fortunes, fiscal income and its currency, the peso, became closely intertwined with the price of oil. This made the Andean nations economy highly vulnerable to weaker oil prices.

The carnage wrought on Colombias economy by the latest oil price crash highlights the considerable economic vulnerability created by this overdependence on crude. By May 2020, the South American nations oil production had fallen to an average of 732,120 barrels daily, which was 18% lower year over year and the lowest level in over a decade.

Related: Worlds Biggest Oil Importer Is Running Out Of Storage

Consequently, fiscal revenue has fallen sharply materially impacting government spending. It is estimated that every $1 decline in the price of Brent causes the Colombian government revenues to drop by $200 million. The latest oil price collapse, which sees Brent trading at around $43 per barrel, caused government revenue to deteriorate appreciably.

Even after slashing spending, Colombias budget deficit is expected to balloon out to 6.1% of GDP or likely even higher, potentially creating the worst deficit on record. That will further sharply impede the Duque administrations ability to provide basic public goods in a country where successive governments have failed to honor their social contract. The situation is so severe that Colombias fiscal advisory body has suspended budget deficit limits until 2022.

It is anticipated that substantially weaker oil, along with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, will cause Colombias economy to contract sharply during 2020. The IMF estimates that 2020 GDP will shrink by almost 8%, the economys worst performance on record.

Those events underscore Colombias considerable economic dependence on petroleum extraction, making it particularly vulnerable to weaker oil prices. Imagine the fallout for Colombias economy and future development if the fourth largest oil producer in Latin America were to exhaust its already severely limited petroleum reserves.

By the end of 2019, the Andean nations proved oil reserves totaled a mere two billion barrels, substantially below the volumes of other major oil producing nations. Alarmingly, Colombias reserves only have an estimated production life of 6.3 years, indicating that they will expire before the end of the decade. When coupled with Colombias considerable economic dependence on crude, this underscores the urgency with which the country needs to expand those reserves to head-off an economic catastrophe.

While Colombias political leadership recognizes the hazards, with President Duque in 2018 stating Colombia needs to add two billion barrels to its oil reserves, sizable oil discoveries have been non-existent in recent years. Sharply weaker oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic forced oil producers in Colombia to slash 2020 capital budgets, suspend non-essential operations and shutter uneconomic production.

Related: Oil Prices Range Bound As Pipelines Come Under Pressure



As a result, oil investment in Colombia will plunge below $4 billion, significantly less than what is required to boost oil reserves and production. Most of that capital will be directed towards maintenance and development activities rather than exploration. Subsequently, hydrocarbon exploration in Colombia essentially ground to a halt boding poorly for any much-needed oil discoveries during 2020. That is evident from Colombias rig count where at the end of May 2020 there was only a single operational rig, although that grew to five by the end of June.

Such circumstances augur poorly for the large oil discoveries which are required to head-off Colombias looming economic catastrophe. Despite many within Colombias government and oil industry pointing to the nations tremendous oil potential, there have been no major oil strikes recorded in the Latin American nation since the 1990s. President Duque pinned his hopes on unconventional oil, which catapulted the U.S. ahead of Saudi Arabia to become the worlds leading oil producing nation. Those ambitions, however, are being stymied by public dissent and concerns over whether it can be conducted safely. Doubts also remain over whether Colombia shares the hydrocarbon rich geology of its neighbors and whether fracking genuinely has the potential to provide the much-vaunted increase in oil reserves.

The dearth of major hydrocarbon discoveries in Colombia since the late 1990s indicates that the South American nation lacks the oil potential of its immediate neighbors Venezuela and Brazil. Colombia may produce oil, but it is not a petroleum producing nation. This, along with dwindling oil reserves and deteriorating production despite significant exploration efforts and government incentives, indicates that the heyday of Colombias oil patch is over. Bogota needs to significantly reduce the economys dependence on oil extraction and diversify into other industries before Colombia suffers an economic catastrophe.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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Shaul David Judelman founded a peace group, Shorashim-Judur (Friends of roots), with Palestinian Khaled Abou Awad. The forces pushing for annexation will not succeed, but the underlying cause of division remain. Differences separate Gantz from Netanyahu whilst Fatah and Hamas remain apart. The US plan missed an opportunity to revive negotiations.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews)  Shaul David Judelman, an Israeli rabbi who lives in a Jewish West Bank settlement, is the founder, with Palestinian Khaled Abou Awad, of Shorashim-Judur (Friends of Roots), a group that promotes dialogue and coexistence between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

Speaking to AsiaNews, he said that true "reconciliation" is a basis for "political initiatives" that can heal past pain and suffering. For him, this includes not ignoring the identities of vast swaths of our populations, both settlers and refugees, as well as promoting "investment in grass-roots programs", from education to religion, that must involve leaders.

Shaul David Judelman left Seattle for Bat Ayin, a religious settlement in the Occupied West Bank. Together with a Palestinian, with whom he developed a close bond of friendship over the years, he has tried to promote coexistence in one or two states.

This is more relevant than ever, at a time of renewed tensions over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan to annex part of the Jordan valley. Under the plan, which follows Trumps controversial deal of the century, Israel would annex 30 per cent of the land of the future Palestinian state. For the rabbi, the plan is bound to fail, but it mirrors the conflict between the parties and their inability to have real dialogue and a frank discussion to find a solution.

Here is the interview (edited for clarity and length) with Shaul David Judelman:

Do you think that in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and despite appeals by the international community, except for the US and few others, the Israeli government will go ahead with the annexation plan?

I don't think the forces pushing for annexation will go ahead with it in the end. There are complex reasons for this, based on whether the annexation can bring about a real paradigm shift in future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and the international discourse. I think that is out of reach.

Benny Gantz can play some role in limiting Netanyahu policies. How can this evolve?

Benny Gantz has a large role because the Americans want the decision about annexation to come from a unified Israeli coalition. But here lies the big difference between Gantz's perspective and Bibis. Gantz probably isn't looking for a unilateral step that will close the gate on a Palestinian state (maximalist annexation) but probably sees it as a way to acknowledge (albeit unilaterally) things that Israel consider as de jure like the settlement blocks that were largely agreed upon for land swaps in previous negotiations.

The question of the Jordan Valley is the real breaker for the Palestinian Authority (PA). I don't know for sure how Gantz sees it. There was a very insightful article by Haviv Rettig Gur in the Times of Israel that spoke about aspects of what annexation means from a geo-political perspective. (The article sees US disengagement from the Mideast as the drive behind the annexation.)

What should the PA do?

I don't know. It would have been a masterful move for them to have accepted some parts of Trumps plan as a basis to negotiation. Bibi would have been caught by surprise. They [the Palestinians] would have had tremendous world and Arab support. But that didn't happen. We ended up where we are today because of actions from both sides, but had the PA agreed to recognise the Jewish-Israeli heritage in the West Bank, even offered a real recognition of that in a form of proposed settlements, that would have taken a lot of wind out of Israeli sails. But they seem to have become "national red-lines" that the PA or the PLO wouldn't allow.

I think the PA should probably face its questionable legitimacy (lack of elections) with some kind of democratic PLO-based process of hearing what the Palestinian people want, and acting on its behalf. [. . .] But the split between Fatah and Hamas has been the real catastrophe for the Palestinian cause over the last ten years. As much as I'm glad Im not Bibi, and I'm even more grateful that I am not Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas).

For many years, the international community seems to have forgotten the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Is it too late to try to find a suitable agreement and revive dialogue?

I don't think the problem is with the international community. The problem is within both societies and the lack of a partner on either side. Some political voices in both nations, that claim to have the truth, have had their way.

The role of the international community in this conflict is very tricky. If you think it can just force an agreement upon the Israelis, like the pro-Palestinian camp wants, you overlook a lot of realpolitik in the world and Israel's successes. If you think (like Trump) that you can force the Palestinians, you overlook the principled perspectives and pride of the Palestinian cause.

I think the question should be: Is it too late to empower the moderate camps to start building trust and hence a voter base that could support leaders looking for a suitable agreement? It's not too late, but everyones focus seems to be on the wrong factors.

In your website you seem to focus on two major points: building trust and understanding. Are they still possible between leaders and ordinary people?

As a civil society initiative, we believe that this is our role. There is a paradox between reconciliation work and political rights. I think that, at this stage of the conflict, it is not just over ideas, but deep about "fight or flight' emotions that charge many peoples perspectives. Without reconciliation, there is no will to try political initiatives to overcome past pain and suffering in our societies.

On the ground, there is so much that can be done. Last week, an Israeli man jumped into a lake to save a Bedouin family of four. He died while saving them. An ordinary Israeli did that. But if you ask in a Palestinian Facebook page "who are the Israelis?" you can imagine what kind of answer you'll get. Likewise, there are many stories of Palestinians helping Israeli motorists after accidents. But those are stories about ordinary people. If there was a little more political will, and a framework to advance the common good in the policies that really affect people  like water access and building rights, condemning of attacks against civilians and recognition of Jewish heritage even in the West Bank/Judea-Samaria  these would be real steps that can reset things.

What mistakes of the past must not be repeated?

Ignoring the identities of vast swaths of our populations in the political design. Be they refugees or settlers, theirs are core stories to the Palestinian and Israeli identity that cannot be ignored.

Without investment in grass-roots programs, from the education system and regional planning to the involvement of religious leaders, we will remain victims of the calls and actions of the extremists. The late Rabbi Menachem Froman once said, "religion in this land is not just some dust you can sweep under the carpet and carry on. It's like a tiger, and if you do that, it will rise and bite." We would be foolish to ignore this again.
North Dakotas oil regulators decided on Tuesday not to impose any oil production restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Bismarck Tribune reported.

North Dakota follows Texas and Oklahoma in deciding not to mandate proration. Instead, they will let the market decide for itself how much oil should be produced.

In May this year, the Railroad Commission of Texas voted against the idea of pro-rationing production in Texas after Ryan Sitton, the Commissioner who first floated the idea, failed to convince his two co-commissioners that mandatory cuts were essential.

Now the North Dakota Industrial Commission unanimously rejected this week the idea of pro-rationing, as many producers and mineral owners from the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation opposed the idea of mandatory production cuts.

Lets let the private sector hammer out some of these things and where government can assist and intervene well do so, but its probably best if we dont go down this road, state Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, who sits on the three-person North Dakota Industrial Commission, said.

While North Dakotas oil producers were grappling with low oil prices, they suddenly faced this week a new major hurdle to their plans after a federal judge vacated authorization for the Dakota Access Pipeline  operational since 2017  and ordered it shut within 30 days. Related: China Inks Military Deal With Iran Under Secretive 25-Year Plan

If Dakota Access is shut down pending a new environmental impact assessment, it could stifle the Bakken oil industry in North Dakota.

According to The Bismarck Tribune, North Dakota state officials are concerned that if Dakota Access shut down, the Bakken crude could lose value, and some producers might leave the state.

In North Dakota alone, the oil industry provides more than 50% of all state tax revenues and supports over 55,000 jobs. This order will directly harm North Dakotas economy and its citizens, Ron Ness, President of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said, commenting on the court order.

Shutting down the pipeline will cut off North Dakota oil producers from the safest, most reliable and economic method of transporting our high-quality Bakken oil to the best markets in the country. Increased rail traffic will impact North Dakota and regional farmers by creating rail capacity issues as harvest season ramps-up this fall, Ness added.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The Bakken shale is already declining because of financial struggles and the oil market downturn, but the potential shuttering of the Dakota Access pipeline could close off the possibility of a rebound.

The 570,000-barrel-per-day oil pipeline carries Bakken oil to the Midwest. On Monday, a federal judge ordered the pipeline to shut down within 30 days after vacating authorization for the project. Energy Transfer immediately appealed for a provisional stay, but on Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg shot down that request.

Energy Transfer will still file a conventional appeal to stay the judges order, and surely the company will follow through on that as quick as possible. But its not clear how quickly the judge will respond to that; meanwhile he ordered Dakota Access to be drained by August 5.

Even if a stay is granted, the pause could be short-lived, ClearView Energy Partners wrote in a note to clients. The firm cited a separate case involving an electric transmission line that resulted in the Army Corps of Engineers being forced to undertake an environmental impact statement after the project was completed.

Put another way, even conservative jurists can back a court ruling that finds agency environmental reviews flawed and should be suspended while redone, ClearView Energy Partners wrote. [T]he horizon for Dakota Access may be darkening, the firm added.

Assuming that Dakota Access goes offline and undergoes an environmental assessment, which could take the better part of a year, the process will drag on into a potential Joe Biden administration. At that point, the Army Corps, under a new direction, may change its stance, killing off the pipeline.

Time will tell, but in the interim, the temporary closure is an enormous victory for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. This pipeline should have never been built here. We told them that from the beginning, the Tribes Chairperson Mike Faith said. Related: China Inks Military Deal With Iran Under Secretive 25-Year Plan

If Dakota Access is forced to shut down for good, it could head off any hopes on the part of the oil industry to revive production in the Bakken. Without the pipeline, a large portion of Bakken production would need to return to the practice of moving large volumes by rail.

I think everybody is forming their game plan now, and if they have tank cars, theyre probably thanking their lucky stars, one source familiar with Bakken rail operations told Reuters.

However, a sudden rush of shipping oil-by-rail will increase the risk of derailments and explosions. Early on in the Bakken shale boom, it was all too common for oil trains to derail and explode, earning them the nickname of bomb trains. A return of oil train shipments would increase safety risks.

Meanwhile, because putting oil on rail is more costly, Bakken crude would need to be discounted for the process to make sense.

Already, the region is seeing a larger discount. Shortly after the court decision ordering Dakota Access to shut down, the price of Bakken oil at the hub of Clearbrook, Minnesota declined. Relative to WTI, the discount widened from $1.15 per barrel to $2.75 per barrel, according to Bloomberg, which was the largest markdown since May. Related: The Death Of The $2 Trillion Auto Industry Will Come Sooner Than Expected

The Bakken was already slowing down before the pandemic. Years of red ink from shale drillers soured investors on the whole fracking enterprise, but that is particularly true in the Bakken. For example, Continental Resources, which has a prominent presence in the Bakken, saw its stock price fall in half between late 2018 and late 2019.

Bakken production hit a peak in October and November of last year at just over 1.5 million barrels per day (mb/d), before declining to 1.43 mb/d in February, just before the global pandemic rocked the market.

Because the North Dakota region has much less storage capacity than Texas and Oklahoma, Bakken drillers were immediately squeezed when the market went into a tailspin, forcing them to shut in thousands of wells. The EIA expects production from the Bakken to dip below 1 mb/d in July.

A source at one unnamed Bakken oil producer said that the regions total production will need to decline to 950,000 bpd in August if Dakota Access shuts down. At the start of this week, Continentals share price is off by more than 15 percent, a reflection of the negative impact of the DAPL shutdown.

Production of crude oil is going to be landlocked in North Dakota, Sandy Fielden, director of oil and products research at Morningstar, told Reuters. Its going to be congested and thats going to cause discounts in the price of Bakken crude to WTI.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

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When the bottom fell out of international crude oil markets earlier this year, global oil storage was at a premium. In the United States, finding sufficient crude oil storage became such a challenge that the West Texas Intermediate crude benchmark plummeted below zero on April 20, ending the day at -$37.63 per barrel, meaning that you would essentially be paid $40 to take a barrel of oil off of someones hands. China, however, soon busied itself stocking up on cheap oil, to the extent that Beijing played a key role in the global oil markets recovery by helping to buy off a significant portion of the worlds severe oil glut. This is not to say that Chinas government was alone in taking advantage of historically low oil prices or buying up oil in an attempt to salvage their own struggling energy sector. Back in March, the United States government pledged to support domestic oil producers by buying 30 million barrels of oil for the nations Strategic Petroleum Reserve. But analysts said that China's stockpiling dwarfs what other nations have done in response to cheap prices, writes CNN. Matt Smith, director of commodity strategy at ClipperData, told CNNs reporters that "China is the only country that has been buying like crazy. They went out and bought the dip."

In fact, China went out and snapped up cheap crude at such a breakneck place that they now have their own critical oil storage issue. International news has been reporting for weeks on Chinas jam-packed waterways filling up with crude tankers. On July 1 CNN reported that China bought so much foreign oil at dirt-cheap prices this spring that a massive traffic jam of tankers has formed at sea waiting to offload crude as the countrys purchases begin to arrive. China's so-called floating storage -- defined as barrels of oil on vessels waiting for seven days or longer -- has nearly quadrupled since the end of May, according to ClipperData. Not only is that the most on record going back to early 2015, it's up seven-fold from the monthly average during the first quarter of 2020.

Related: China Inks Military Deal With Iran Under Secretive 25-Year Plan



The vast majority of the oil arriving to China in recent weeks was purchased in April and May, when low prices spurred a shopping spree. The hoarding of oil at sea is a reflection of China's bargain-hunting during a time of extreme stress in the energy market, writes CNN. According to the report, the oil tanker issue crowding Chinas seas is not, however, because mainland storage is already at capacity, but simply because they cant get it there fast enough. ClipperDatas Smith said that onshore storage could still take on a lot more crude, and that the current issue is simply related to terminal congestion. They've got so much coming in that they can't bring it onshore quickly enough."

This week, however, at least one Chinese news outlet is telling a different story. While Chinas onshore storage may not be full, they say, its getting dangerously close. Just this week, Beijing-based media group Caixin reported that China is almost out of space to hold the oil that domestic traders bought at bargain-basement prices earlier this year when the Covid-19 pandemic crushed global crude demand.

Caixins reporting is based on numbers provided by Oilchem China, which show that, as of Wednesday, Chinese crude oil storage was at 69 percent capacity with the 33.4 million tons it had stockpiled, up by 24% from the previous year. This is dangerously close to overflow. Thats only 1 percentage point away from the 70% threshold that experts view as the countrys capacity limit, reports Caixin.

And this stockpile will likely continue to grow, surpassing even Mays massive intake. The situation, which has also been exacerbated by low turnover, is most prominent in East Chinas Shandong province, one of the countrys oil refining hubs. Oil tankers have to wait 15 to 20 days there before they are able to offload their cargos, says Caixin. The amount of oil held in storage may peak later this month as the countrys demand for fuel continues its slow march to recovery, but if not, this could spell big trouble for Chinas storage sector.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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The ongoing shale bust is proving to be nothing short of catastrophic, leaving investors wondering whether even the titans will come out of it in one piece. Shale pioneers Chesapeake Energy and Whiting Energy have already filed for Chapter 11 with dozens more expected to follow suit while a colossal wave of asset write-offs sweeping through industry serves as an ominous sign that the sector might never be the same again. Thankfully, ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) and Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX), two of the most recognizable oil and gas supermajors, are considered as some of the most financially sound thanks to their respective strong balance sheets that help them weather downturns better than most.

But just because they face no immediate danger of going under does not mean that investors will happily continue throwing good money after bad.

XOM stock has lost 37% in the year-to-date with CVX dropping 28% in what is turning into another annus horribilis for the industry. Investors are voting with their wallets and have lost patience with a sector that has become an investment black hole, guzzling billions of investors' dollars with little to show for it in the way of profits. The energy sector is deeply out of favor, and the Covid-19 pandemic has only served to add to the uncertainty facing the industry.

Nevertheless, investors who buy at these discounted levels can still profit if the global economy can recover over the coming months, and oil demand bounces back.

Balanced spending

Prior to the pandemic, a cross-section of Wall Street was beginning to warm up to Exxon, believing years of investments were about to start paying off.

Specifically, Bank of America Merrill Lynch had tapped XOM as its top 2020 stock pick, arguing that the stock could surge as production in the Permian Basin and projects in offshore Guyana ramped up.

Related: COVID-19 Set To Hasten UK Ban On Sales Of Gasoline And Diesel Cars

Unfortunately, that playbook has changed dramatically.

Unlike the past couple of years, investors are no longer rewarding shale companies with aggressive expansion plans. Instead, they are rewarding the shale companies that demonstrate better cost discipline.

XOM stock has fared worse than CVX partly because Exxon's counter-cyclical spending model has left the company cash flow negative for years and put the all-important dividend in danger.

Chevron has generally maintained more modest capital investment plans and was quick to lower its 2020 capex when oil prices nosedived. CVX has made further spending cuts as conditions further deteriorated, taking its planned capex from $20 billion to $14 billion.

Exxon delayed its spending cuts but finally lowered its 2020 capex from $33 billion to $23 billion. Unfortunately, that has not stopped the company's debt from ballooning, with XOM's long-term debt surging 30% to $19 billion at the end of the June quarter. Exxon's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36 is still considerably lower than that by most of its supermajor peers but could present a problem considering the company's juicy dividend--XOM's dividend yield of 8.05% is at an all-time high.

Related: Venezuelas Oil Riches Are Quietly Falling Under Russian Control



Chevron's debt has also been expanding, but at a more manageable clip of 20% during the period. The company's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24 is the lowest among the supermajors, while its dividend yield of 5.98% appears more sustainable than Exxon's.

Chevron more resilient

With so much uncertainty surrounding the oil and gas sector and fears that the downturn might last for years, the ability of a company to withstand a prolonged bust cycle is an important consideration.

And...Chevron wins the stress test by a country mile.

Wood Mackenzie, a global energy, renewables, and mining research and consultancy group, has reported that Chevron Corp and Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) are the most resilient, thanks to their robust deepwater projects and LNG as well as less exposure to high-cost assets.

WoodMac has reported that Exxon is the most vulnerable of the majors due to its huge exposure to low-margin assets.

Exxon might stack up poorly against its giant peers but is still better placed than many shale players who lack its deep pockets.

Goldman Sachs has been backing CVX and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) ahead of their earnings and saying to sell XOM because the former "...could see net debt broadly unchanged at quarter-end, thanks to capital discipline and boosted by asset sales closed during [Q2], while Exxon could see large debt builds."

At this juncture, we will have to concur.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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The Chinese and Russian leadership have over the years intensified political and economic collaboration. Troubling relations with the West in general and the U.S. in particular are increasingly driving Beijing and Moscow into each other's arms. The countries' economies are highly complementary, which is an opportunity for further integration. While China has become the world's factory and an important technological powerhouse, Russia is extremely wealthy in terms of energy and minerals.

The obvious advantages have led to the landmark $400 billion Power of Siberia pipeline agreement for the export of natural gas from Russias far east to northern China. On top of this success, Gazprom and Moscow have been pushing for the 'Power of Siberia-2 pipeline from Western Siberia to Chinas Xinjiang region. The proposal has been met with a lukewarm response from Beijing because the region is already well-supplied with Central Asian gas. However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic and Gazproms adjusted plan, the Power of Siberia-2 project is gaining momentum.

Russias motives

Russia's relations with the West nosedived after the Ukraine crisis and the annexation of Crimea. Ever since Moscow has been reaffirming that it's not politically isolated by increasingly engaging with its giant Asian neighbor. The problem, however, is that the majority of Gazprom's export capabilities end in Europe. Pivoting to China, therefore, was essential to lessen dependence. Related: Oil Prices Range Bound As Pipelines Come Under Pressure

Gazprom's initial proposal through the Altai region and into Western China has been replaced with the 'Mongolia alternative' with an annual capacity of 50 bcm. The recent Russian assertiveness comes from Moscow's assertion that its position in key market Europe is under threat. The Corona pandemic has increased the pressure even further. According to Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, "Gazprom sees that its position in the European market is eroding over the long run because of growing competition and a push by some countries to reduce dependence on Russia. Gazprom has to market gas from fields in Yamal and Western Siberia, and China is the big market next door."

China is essential for Russia which can be seen in Gazproms fast-tracking of investments concerning the enlargement of Power of Siberia-1 pipeline. Despite quarantine measures, some 3,000 laborers were infected with Corona who were drilling new wells and constructing power and compressor stations.

Chinas motives

Of the two parties, Russia is more inclined to strike a deal. Beijing, in theory, has more options due to its relative proximity to large natural gas producers and the size and potential of the Chinese market. However, since Donald Trump's presidency relations between the U.S. and China have deteriorated strongly which is pushing Beijing and Moscow towards each other.

Economic relations between Russia and China were already poised to grow due to the complementarity of their economies. The pandemic has exacerbated both the upward and downward trends of relations with Russia and the U.S.

According to Lin Boqiang, dean of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University, before the current situation between China and the United States, China was planning to buy a lot of energy from the U.S. because of the trade agreement. But now the situation looks uncertain, and that will certainly encourage China to cooperate more with Russia.

The alternatives for Bejing are increasing imports from Central Asia and LNG. Both are not appealing due to different reasons. LNG is either shipped from politically unfriendly nations, e.g. the U.S. and Australia, or cargoes need to travel through bottlenecks such as the strait of Malacca. Concerning Central Asia, imports from the region dwarf Russias meaning a choice for the latter would improve energy security through diversification. Furthermore, Siberian natural gas is very competitive due to the favorable price difference.

Striking a deal

Despite the favorable environment, it is yet to be seen whether a deal can be struck. In the case of Power of Siberia-1, it took four years to sign a contract from the moment terms and conditions were agreed. Furthermore, construction took five years after the long-term contract agreement was signed. Power of Siberia-2 could take a similar amount of time meaning it could be operational around 2030.

Gazproms flexibility in considering the Mongolia route offers an additional advantage. Russian gas could be supplied to the heavily polluted capital city Ulan Bator which ranks among the most polluted cities in the world. Poverty and a relatively small state budget rule out big energy projects that would bring cleaner fuels to Mongolia's cities. The Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, therefore, is a unique opportunity.

However, the biggest beneficiaries would be China and Russia because the pipeline could further solidify the political and economic integration of the world's second-biggest economy with the world's largest energy producer.

By Vanand Meliksetian for Oilprice.com

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Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) is ready to lift the force majeure at the oil port of Es Sider, allowing a tanker to load crude oil from storage, the state oil firm said on Wednesday.

NOC placed the oil terminals at Hariga, Brega, Zueitina, Es Sider, and Ras Lanuf under force majeure at the beginning of this year, after forces affiliated with the Libyan National Army (LNA) of eastern Libyan strongman General Khalifa Haftar occupied Libya's oil export terminals and oilfields.

The blockade at the ports is now in its seventh month, but parties are currently negotiating the re-opening of the oil terminals and the restart of oil production, which had plummeted to just 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) compared to 1.2 million bpd before the blockade.

NOC "calls on all Libyan parties to support the corporation and allow a tanker on standby at Es Sider oil port to start loading crude oil from storage. NOC also demands that foreign mercenaries and armed groups leave Es Sider port immediately," the state oil firm said today.

"There is an urgent need to restart the production as soon as possible to stop the damage to Libyan oil infrastructure and to protect the NOC's vital assets from further deterioration and collapse," NOC noted, after warning earlier this week that Libya's oil production could halve in the coming years if the blockade is not lifted soon.

So far this year, Libya has lost revenues worth $6.5 billion because of the blockade on its ports and oil production, NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla said on Tuesday. The country also faces costs for workover of up to 260 wells, and maintenance and repair at the surface equipment at the oilfields, he added.

The potential imminent return of Libyan barrels on the global oil market is set to give the OPEC+ group another conundrum to solve just as its record 9.7-million-bpd collective cut is set to ease to 7.7 million bpd from August 1.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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A Russian vessel capable of completing the pipelaying for the Gazprom-led Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project left a German port on Wednesday and entered Danish waters where the last section of the controversial pipeline has yet to be completed.

According to vessel-tracking data from Refinitiv Eikon cited by Reuters, Russian ship Fortuna, sailing under a Russian flag, departed from the Mukran port in Germany on the Baltic Sea and moved into Danish territorial waters.

The move comes several days after the Danish Energy Agency allowed Nord Stream 2 AG to use pipelaying vessels with anchors for the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The Danish agency previously allowed self-positioning pipelaying vessels (DP pipe-laying vessels) in the construction permit for the Nord Stream 2 pipelines.

With an anchored Russian vessel, Gazprom could complete the construction of the pipeline in Danish waters. Because of the U.S. sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project from December, Western vessel and technology providers pulled out of the project.

Following the announcement of the sanctions, Switzerland-based offshore pipelay and subsea construction company Allseas immediately suspended Nord Stream 2 pipelay activities.

Russian officials have claimed that Russian firms can complete the project without the help of foreign partners.

U.S. lawmakers, for their part, have been seeking more sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project, which the United States sees as further undermining Europes energy security by giving Russian gas giant Gazprom another pipeline to ship its natural gas to European markets.

The U.S. sanctions on the project have divided Europe, with Germany criticizing the U.S. interference in Europes energy policies and projects. Germany, the endpoint of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, looks at the economic benefits of the project, while the U.S., including President Donald Trump, have been threatening sanctions on the project and even on Germany over its support for the project.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Shell is considering selling its 240,000-barrels-per-day refinery in Convent, Louisiana, as part of a broader strategy to reshape its refining portfolio, the supermajor's spokesman Curtis Smith told Reuters.

Sources with knowledge of the Louisiana refinery operations told Reuters that Shell's executive vice president of manufacturing, Robin Mooldijk, had told employees that Shell might put the refinery up for sale.

Shell became the sole owner and operator of the Convent refinery in 2017 when the supermajor and Saudi oil giant Aramco separated the assets of Motiva Enterprises. Shell ended up owning the Norco and Convent refineries, while Saudi Aramco assumed full ownership of the Motiva Enterprises LLC entity and the largest U.S. refinery in terms of crude processing capacity, Port Arthur in Texas.

Shell is now implementing a new downstream strategy to reshape its refining business towards a smaller, smarter refining portfolio focused on further integration with Shell Trading hubs, Chemicals, and Marketing.

As part of this strategy, Shell sold earlier this year the Martinez Refinery in California to PBF Holding Company for US$1.2 billion.

At the time of the finalization of the transaction in February, Shell said:

"By 2025 we expect to have interests in a smaller, core set of refineries. A key advantage of these core sites will come from further integration with Shell trading hubs, and from producing more chemicals and other products resilient in a lower-carbon future, such as bitumen and base oils."



Related: Huge Debt Payments Come At Worst Time Possible For Canadian Drillers

Shell also announced in March that it started marketing the sale of the Mobile refinery in Alabama and the Puget Sound refinery near Anacortes in Washington as part of its new downstream strategy. At the time, however, Shell said that the U.S. Gulf Coast would remain a key manufacturing hub for the company, along with Rotterdam and Singapore.

After the plunge in oil prices in Q1, Shell slashed its dividend by 66 percenta first cut to the company's dividend since World War II to preserve cash and value in a highly uncertain macroeconomic environment.

Shell reportedly plans to announce by the end of the year a significant restructuring to reflect its net-zero emissions goal for 2050 and to align itself with a green recovery from the pandemic.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Under Beijings control the office is in charge of executing the legislation that bans criticism of the regime. Homeland security forces have settled in the city. The Office will be headed by Zheng Yanxiong, considered a "hawk" of the regime.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Authorities today opened the City Office for National Security, charged with implementing the new legislation that bans criticism of the Beijing regime. For the first time since 1997, the year of Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty, mainland security forces have settled in the city.

The security law for the former British colony, which entered into force on 30 June, introduces the crimes of separatism, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. It permits closed door trials, the extradition of arrested for trial in China and grants the police broad powers of surveillance. Under the provision, damage to public property can also be considered an act of terrorism.

The Chinese Communist Party claims to have imposed new legislation to restore order; the democracy and citizens movement, which has been demonstrating for a year for Hong Kong's autonomy from the motherland and to safeguard its liberal system, instead accuses the Beijing leadership of wanting to repress dissent.

The Office will be headed by Zheng Yanxiong, considered a regime "hawk". Zheng, a former CCP general secretary in Guangdong, was appointed by the Chinese government. He is known for his role in suppressing protests in Wukan. Between 2011 and 2016, villagers rebelled against the Guangdong authorities' decision to requisition their land without paying compensation.
by Shafique Khokhar

Minorities are increasingly discriminated. A Christian dies after he was shot for buying a house in a Muslim neighbourhood. The Archbishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi calls on the authorities to protect all citizens, without distinction of belief. Attempts to block the construction of a Hindu temple are unconstitutional.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped religious intolerance in Pakistan. This is the bitter comment from the National Commission of Justice and Peace (NCJP) after the recent death of a Catholic man who died after he was gunned down for buying a house in a Muslim neighborhood.

On 4 June, Nadeem Joseph was attacked by Muslim residents in the Sawati Phatak colony in Peshawar. The attackers, some of whom were immediately arrested (but not the leader of the attack), wanted to force the Christian and his family to abandon their home.

In a statement, the NCJP condemned the act of violence against Nadeem, calling on the authorities to do everything in their power to capture the main culprit.

Everyone has the right to buy property in Pakistan, the NCJP says. This incident is a clear violation of human rights; it is an act against the law and cannot go unpunished.

Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, urges the government to protect Nadeems family whose lives are now danger.

The prelate goes on to say that acts of discrimination are growing across the country, and that the current government must take them seriously and provide protection to all religious minorities.

Catholic Church leaders have been complaining of a growing climate of intolerance in the country. Minorities find it increasingly difficult to live in Pakistan. They are even discriminated in the distribution of food aid and COVID-19 health protections.

The attempt to block the construction of a Hindu temple in Islamabad is another example of hatred towards non-Muslims.

According to NCJP national director Fr Emmanuel Yousaf (Mani), the controversy over the Hindu temple reflects the age-old hostility of the Muslim majority's most conservative fringes towards minorities.

All this is contrary to the values enshrined in the Constitution, which allows religious minorities the freedom to profess religion and manage religious institutions.
The British government maintains the civilian casualties in the conflict are "isolated incidents" and there is no "clear risk" of new episodes in the future. NGOs and international bodies fear increase in deaths among the population. Globally the Saudi kingdom is the biggest buyer of weapons of war.

Riyadh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - London is ready to resume the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, despite the concerns of international activists and NGOs that they can be used against the civilian population in Yemen, in violation of international humanitarian law.

Trade was suspended last year following a legal battle; in recent years Riyadh has been the worlds number one buyer of weapons of war.

A study sponsored by the UK authorities highlighted "isolated incidents" and possible violations of international law, while excluding the "clear risk" of future attacks and violence related to the sale. In reality, for those who fight against the arms trade like the "Campaign Against the Arms Trade" movement, the decision is "morally bankrupt".

A top Vatican representative also intervened against the global arms trade and the spike in military spending, in a context of world emergency triggered by the new coronavirus pandemic.

In a meeting held yesterday, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appia Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for the service of integral human development and chairman of the commission for Covid-19, asked that the pandemic stop military spending and promote security.

However, in spite of the appeals, the lethal trade continues to sow death and the consequences are paid by the civilian population as in Yemen, where thousands of people, including women and children, have died due to the bombings and millions have been left homeless. UN sources speak of 7700 civilians killed since 2015, 60% of whom were hit by bombs launched by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, which also includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In a statement, British Minister of International Trade Liz Truss spoke of an in-depth study of the incidents that have taken place in recent years. And, while admitting some "possible" violations, the London government representative stresses that these are "isolated incidents".

"In the light of all that information and analysis, I have concluded that...Saudi Arabia has a genuine intent and the capacity to comply with international humanitarian law," she said. "On that basis, I have assessed that there is not a clear risk that the export of arms and military equipment to Saudi Arabia might be used in the commission of a serious violation."

Campaign Against the Arms Trade activists reply that the London government's decision is "shameful" because Saudi bombings in Yemen created "the worst humanitarian crisis in the world" and "British weapons played" a role". In recent years civilians have been hit in the midst of weddings, funerals and market expenses: "The government - the activists conclude - says that these are isolated incidents, but how many hundreds of isolated incidents will it take for the government to stop providing weaponry?".
Robert Emmet Statue

by Robert O'Driscoll

Consul General of Ireland, San Francisco

Statue Stats

Location: Golden Gate Park, Music Concourse

Artist: Jerome Connor (1874-1943)

Benefactor: Senator James D. Phelan (1861-1930)

Subject: Robert Emmet (1778-1803)

Dedicated: July 20, 1919

Inscription: "Robert Emmet, Irish Patriot, Executed in Dublin, Sept. 20, 1803, Aged 25 Years."

Robert Emmet, Irish patriot and revolutionary leader (1778 - 1803)

Born in 1778 to a wealthy Anglo-Irish family, Robert Emmet led the 1803 rebellion in Ireland along with his fellow United Irishmen, Thomas Russell and James Hope. The rebellion ultimately ended in military failure. During his trial for treason that followed, Emmet, speaking from the dock on September 19, 1803 delivered perhaps the single most effective and affecting speech in the history of Irish nationalism. His speech is particularly well known for the final lines, which read:

"I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world. Let no man write my epitaph; for as no man who knows my motives dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me rest in obscurity and peace, and my name remain uninscribed, until other times and other men can do justice to my character. When my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written. I have done."

Emmet's life, though short, was rich with deed. Emmet is viewed as a romantic hero (he had by all accounts an epic romance with Sarah Curran), a person great of intelligence and eloquence, and a man of principle and passion. But above all else, Emmet was a man of Republican ideals. A man who took his ideological lead, not from the French Revolution which had inspired Wolfe Tone and the 1798 Rebellion in Ireland, but from the American Revolution, stories of which filled the Emmet household in his youth. It is recorded that Emmet's ultimate ambition in his teenage years was to be an Irish George Washington.

The words spoken by Emmet on that day in September 1803 have reverberated throughout history, shaping perceptions and ideals, values and principles. In the U.S., they resonated particularly strongly with a young Abraham Lincoln - born five years after the death of Emmet - who, it is noted, learned Emmet's valedictory off by heart as a young man and would recount it to guests who visited the Lincoln homestead in Perry County, Kentucky.

Speaking recently, the Irish historian and broadcaster, Myles Dungan, noted the enduring influence of Emmet on Lincoln. In February 1865, Lincoln was reviewing the death sentence of a young confederate spy when he received a petition from Willard Salisbury, no friend of Lincoln, to support the young man's plea. In his petition, Salisbury requested the President to review the young man's defence, to compare it to Emmet's and to act how the President of the United States should act. Lincoln duly commuted the death sentence.

The Robert Emmet Statue in Golden Gate Park

A statue commemorating Robert Emmet stands outside the Academy of the Sciences in Golden Gate Park. It was unveiled on July 20, 1919 on the occasion of the visit of the "President of the Irish Republic", Eamon de Valera to San Francisco. De Valera's visit to San Francisco was part of a nationwide tour of the U.S. seeking recognition of the newly declared Irish Republic and Ireland's first independent parliament - Dail Eireann - and seeking to raise funds to support the new independent state.

The unveiling was a prestigious occasion with the great and the good of the Irish and Irish-American community in San Francisco. There were reportedly as many as five hundred in attendance. This picture captures well the bustling nature of what was a red-letter day for the Irish in San Francisco.

The statue by Kerry-born sculptor Jerome Connors is one of four in existence, the first of which was unveiled in 1916 in Washington D.C. and which today stands in Robert Emmet Park on the same street as Ireland's Embassy to the United States. The statue in San Francisco was the second to be unveiled in 1919 and the remaining statues are today resident in St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, Ireland (donated by the U.S. Congress to the new Irish Free State in 1922) and in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

Then California Senator and former Mayor of San Francisco James Phelan donated the statue to the City of San Francisco. It remains the only unambiguously 'Irish' statue in the City and County of San Francisco.

Emmet, Ireland, and San Francisco

When I reflect on the celebrations around the unveiling in 1919, it is clear that while the statue is undoubtedly a tribute to one of Ireland's most eloquent revolutionary leaders, the statue and its placement in the prime position outside the Academy of the Sciences has a broader meaning.

Firstly, it is an appropriate representation of the deep Irish heritage in this city, which is perhaps not as evident today as it once was. San Francisco was a welcome home for the many Irish who made their way west following the gold rush. Coincidentally, this occurred at the same moment as our national tragedy in Ireland, the Great Famine (1845-49), the result of which was over 1.5 million people leaving our island, many of whom sought refuge in the U.S.

Many of these ventured west. By 1881 fully one third of San Francisco's population was identifiably Irish or of Irish descent and the list of prominent Irish people in the history of the city is remarkable when viewed as a whole.

People such as Frank McCoppin, who was elected Mayor of San Francisco in 1867, the first Irish-native to lead any major city in the U.S. Malachi Fallon, the city's first chief of police appointed in 1849, who hailed from Cork. One of the earliest Irish settlers was the surveyor, Jasper O'Farrell, the man responsible for Market Street and for the original 1847 grid system on which this great city was built. In business people like John Sullivan, founder of the Hibernia Savings and Loan Society, which was the first State-chartered bank in California, amongst others. Another Irish native, Kate Kennedy, was a distinguished educationalist, suffragist and labour activist who launched a successful campaign for equal pay for equal work in 1874 and was one of the first women to run for elected statewide office - Superintendent of Public Instruction - before women had the vote.

Secondly, it reflects deep connection to and affinity for Ireland retained by many in attendance and the Irish / Irish-American community in San Francisco. Ireland is about 5,000 miles away from San Francisco but the strength of the connection between the City by the Bay and the Emerald Isle belies the distance. This is evident in the manner in which this city celebrates Irish traditions - the first St. Patrick's Day parade for example dates back to 1851. The parade is organised by the United Irish Societies of San Francisco which also organises the annual Robert Emmet Day celebrations that include a march to the statue, a re-enactment of Emmet's "Speech from the Dock," and a fun Irish musical medley at the Golden Gate Park Band Concourse.

The depth of the connection is also reflected in the enormous generosity for Irish causes. When Douglas Hyde, the President of the Gaelic League, one of the leading organisations of the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Gaelic cultural revival in Ireland, visited San Francisco in 1906 he left the city with around US$20,000 (half of which he later returned after hearing of the 1906 earthquake). In the fund-raising drive that followed de Valera's 1919 visit, over US$2,000,000 was raised in California under the leadership of Fr. Peter Yorke to support the fledgling state - an enormous sum of money.

Finally, as illustrated by Emmet's connection to Presidents Washington and Lincoln, the statue reflects well the breadth and depth of Ireland's relationship with the United States of America, with the State of California and with the City of San Francisco.

A relationship in which each side in turn has throughout history shared their values, their knowledge and their wealth to the betterment of the other - a mutually beneficial continuous circle of inspiration - a 'fainne inspioraide' - that continues to replenish and revitalise the Irish-American relationship. There are few figures in the shared history of Ireland and the U.S. who encapsulate this 'fainne inspioraide' better than Emmet, which is why it is so fitting that he stands so proudly in Golden Gate Park today.

Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places!
" " A voter drops off an absentee ballot on March 17, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio after the Ohio Primaries were canceled due to coronavirus. MEGAN JELINGER/AFP via Getty Images

After seeing and waiting in hours-long lines to vote during the 2020 primary elections in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many U.S. voters say they are considering voting by mail in the November presidential election. An April 2020 Gallup Poll found that 64 percent of Americans want voting by mail as an option in November. However, that percentage varies greatly by party: 83 percent of Democrats surveyed support it compared to 68 percent of Independents and only 40 percent of Republicans.

These differences could have something to do with concerns about voter fraud. The same Gallup Poll found that nearly half (49 percent) of Americans think that voting by mail would lead to more voter fraud, though only 27 percent of Democrats hold that opinion compared to 76 percent of Republicans.

However, the Washington Post and the nonprofit Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) found just 372 possible cases out of 14.6 million votes cast in the 2016 and 2018 general elections of double voting or voting by deceased people by mail. In other words, only a minuscule 0.0025 percent.

But a study conducted by economists at The University of Wisconsin and Ball State University, did find a "statistically and economically significant association" between in-person voting and the spread of COVID-19 after Wisconsin's April 7, 2020, primary election.

So whether voting by mail is critical this election to avoid a spike in COVID-19 cases or just as a more convenient way to cast a ballot, understanding how it works is the first step.

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How Does Voting By Mail Work?

Voting by mail, which is also referred to as absentee voting, means you cast your ballot without visiting a polling place either on Election Day or during early voting. Instead, you receive your ballot in the mail and complete it off-site, then return your ballot by mail or via an official dropbox, which is usually on the property of a government building, according to Marilyn Marks, executive director of the Coalition for Good Governance, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group focused on election security and transparency.

Mail-in ballots typically come with two envelopes  one for the ballot, which you should hand mark in indelible ink, and one that serves as an outer envelope, which you sign. After making your selections on your ballot, you then put the ballot inside the inner envelope. Next, you place that envelope inside the outer envelope for mailing or dropping off. Some states also require a copy of your voter's ID.

Once your polling officials receive your ballot, they will verify your signature on the exterior envelope against the signature they have on file and confirm that you are an eligible voter  and that you haven't already voted. The inner envelope is passed on, and your ballot inside is counted by a different polling official. When it works as it should, the two-envelope process ensures secrecy.

" " Maine allows voters to hand-deliver their ballots to a ballot box at the City Clerk's office in City Hall. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images

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Pros and Cons to Voting By Mail

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), mail-in ballots allow voters more time to review and study the issues, which leads to increased convenience and satisfaction. There are benefits for the jurisdictions too, like financial savings because mail-in ballots reduce costs for staffing and equipping polling places. And when voting by mail processes are followed in a legal and fair manner, neither political party would be advantaged, Marks says.

There is evidence of increased voter turnout, too, when states move to all-mail ballots, according to NCSL. However, the level of voter turnout for allowing voting by mail as a choice, rather than providing mailed ballots for all voters, is less clear.

Despite the obvious convenience factor, voting by mail comes with some potential disadvantages. If it cuts down on staffing and polling location expenses, there could be an uptick in printing and postage costs, according to NCSL. Voters may also mismark ballots  either overvoting or undervoting. These are mistakes that voting equipment at polling locations could catch.

Problems with mail delivery can hinder voters from receiving their ballots, as well, a situation Fulton County, Georgia, voters faced before the June 2020, primary. Native Americans on reservations without specific street addresses or low-income citizens who move frequently may be particularly affected, too. These issues also cause challenges for in-person voting, too.

Still, Stacey Abrams, founder of Fair Fight, an organization that works to promote voter participation and to end voter suppression, who incidentally had issues with her mail-in ballot in Georgia's June primary, believes mail-in voting as an option should be widespread.

"Voting by mail is safe, secure and convenient," Abrams said in an emailed statement sent to HowStuffWorks. "It allows voters to better engage with democracy by providing time to research the candidates and positions that best reflect their values."

" " In some states, voters can simply drop off their ballots at their polling place, rather than mailing it in. MEGAN JELINGER/AFP via Getty Images

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State-by-state Differences

So do all states allow voting by mail? Currently yes. Every state permits some type of absentee voting, according to Marks.

"It is really a question of how restrictive or liberal they are," she says. Voting by mail varies greatly state to state, though. In fact, no two states are the same.

Some states have what's called "no excuse" voting, which means you don't need to provide a reason to vote by mail. A handful of states mail out a ballot automatically to every registered voter. California recently became one of them. Five states conduct all elections entirely by mail, including Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah.

"Other states have far more restrictive requirements," Marks says. They might limit voting by mail to specific reasons a voter cannot get to the polling place, such as being out of town on Election Day, or being an older citizen. Oftentimes, a voter needs to apply to get a ballot by mail.

States differ in how mail-in ballots can be submitted too. Marks explains that in Georgia, the law prohibits voters from dropping off mail-in ballots at a polling place on Election Day unless the county permits it. This rule caused issues during the June primary when voters in Atlanta's DeKalb County were allowed to drop off their ballots, but voters in Atlanta's neighboring Fulton County could not  and instead had to surrender their mail-in ballots and wait to vote in person.

"There is no uniform answer," Marks says. "You need to check with your local county to see what their rules are."

" " (From left) Maritza Gonzalez and Maria Novales work on opening mail-in ballots in Reading, Pennsylvania to be counted on June 3, 2020, after the state's primary election. MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via/Getty Images

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How Are Mail-in Ballots Counted?

By law, mail-in ballots are always counted if they can be determined to have come from eligible voters, Marks says. When the ballots are counted, however, depends on the state. For example, in Colorado, ballots can be counted 15 days before the election; in Georgia, though, no ballot counting is permitted until the afternoon of Election Day.

To keep track of who voted in person and who voted via a mailed-in ballot  and to make sure no person did both  polling officials consult electronic polling "books" that are updated in real time.

Paid employees count the ballots, while volunteers appointed as watchers and advocates for the candidates or parties oversee the process. In states like Colorado, which sees a significant number of mail-in ballots, the counting is mostly automated. But in states like Georgia and North Carolina where there has traditionally not been a lot of voting by mail in the past, "sheer people power" must get the job done, Marks says.

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Is Fraud Higher With Voting by Mail?

"I have been fighting against mail-in ballots for years," Marks says. "But let me be clear. Some people truly need to vote by mail-in ballots. I'm all for no excuse mail-in ballots if you need that. However, it is not a secure way to vote."

Yet, Marks' concerns about mail-in voting are not the same as those claimed by some politicians, including those from Donald Trump.

Marks worries, instead, about things like the voter coercion, which could include a spouse telling  and forcing  their partner how to vote; a boss pressuring employees to bring ballots to work to fill them out together in the company's favor; and landlords "helping" tenants fill out ballots and even collecting them along with the rent. She says she's witnessed many of these firsthand.

Also, when volunteers are counting mail-in ballots, they decide whether to count the ballot based on the information the voter included on the outside envelope, including the voter's signature and date of birth.

During this process, there is potential for human deceit, but the issue, Marks says, is not that people are voting multiple times and stuffing the ballot box. Instead, situations arise like what happened in 2018 in Georgia's Gwinnett County. Voting rights activists, including the Coalition for Good Governance, accused polling officials there of rejecting a disproportionate percentage of mail-in ballots from Asian American and African American voters because of missing birthdates, address discrepancies and signatures that didn't match registration records. Marks blames a lack of transparency in the ballot-counting process.

"If you are a voter who feels you really need to protect the privacy and secrecy of your ballot, you probably shouldn't vote by mail," she says. "It is not as private of a process, particularly in rural counties. That's the not the way it's supposed to work, but human nature takes over."

" " A woman casts her ballot in Wisconsin's presidential primary election on April 7, 2020. A followup study traced a significant rise in cases of coronavirus back to the primary. KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images

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Mail-in Ballots and COVID-19

So should states make mail-in ballots more accessible during the 2020 presidential election simply because of the unprecedented times? Marks say yes, with stipulations. "We should definitely encourage and facilitate mail-in ballot voting during the time of the pandemic," she says. "This year, I am strongly encouraging mail-in ballots, although it is not what I would push, promote and advocate for longer term."

Along with those mail-in ballots, though, she recommends more transparency in the process by authorizing poll watchers who can get close enough to the process to see whose ballots are being rejected.

Fair Fight's Abrams agrees. "Amid COVID-19, anyone who is able to cast an absentee ballot should do so to better protect themselves and to make in-person voting safer for all who need it," she said in her statement to HowStuffWorks. "I encourage everyone to call on their senators to pass the HEROES Act to expand access to vote by mail and better ensure a free and fair election."

Now That's Interesting One concern the National Conference of State Legislatures raises about mail-in voting is over the loss of tradition. Going to a polling place to cast a vote is an experience many enjoy sharing with family members. If states move to all voting by mail, many would lose this source of national pride.
by Nirmala Carvalho

Card Bo remembers the clergyman who died yesterday. A former executive secretary of the FABC Social Communications Office, he was also a consultant for Radio Veritas Asia. He loved the poor as is evident in his painstaking work to found and nurture the Andhra Pradesh Social Service Society (APSSS), which ensured sustainable livelihood and economic development for thousands of families.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  Father Raymond Ambroise was a calm missionary priest with deep love for the Church. He devoted all his energies to serve the Lord," said Card Charles Maung Bo, chairman of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), in a statement.

The clergyman died yesterday at the home for the disabled where he lived together with hundreds of people who had no home or relatives. For them, he was their Father.

Card Bo writes: On behalf of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC), I express our grief and sorrow at the sudden demise of Rev Fr Raymond Ambroise, former Executive Secretary of the FABC Office of Social Communications and consultant to Radio Veritas Asia.

"Fr Raymond was a quiet and calm missionary priest with a deep love for the Church, who served the Lord with all his strength. He was a trail blazer and a luminary in the field of social communication, social development, innovative educational programs and numerous other forms of pastoral ministry.

An able administrator and meticulous planner, he was calm, unassuming, gentle and above all deeply spiritual in all that he did. He handled lots of funds and projects but lived a very frugal and austere life.

His deep insights and progressive thinking helped Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) migrate from Short Wave to an online service. He guided the process of transition with diligence. He was a visionary and his efforts have borne abundant fruit.

He loved the poor as is evident in his painstaking work to found and nurture the Andhra Pradesh Social Service Society (APSSS) which ensured sustainable livelihood and economic development for thousands of families.

Fr Raymond never retired from any work, but those who had known his abilities continued to seek his support and advice. He was always ready to render any service with utmost commitment.

Sadly, We never expected he would leave us so soon, but we believe that in the Lords reckoning he had faithfully completed the work entrusted to him. We bow in gratitude to God for the life and witness of Fr Raymond. We trust the Lord to reward him with eternal life.

The cardinal noted that in March 2019 Fr Raymond, at the end of his assignment with the FABC, wrote: As I returned to India after completing my assignment at FABC-OSC, my heart was exuberant with Joy for what God has done in my life and particularly in the last nine and half years in the field of Social Communication and Radio Veritas Asia (RVA); further with a heart-filled gratitude to God for having fulfilled my desire through RVA to be a missionary in my life to bring Jesus to the teeming millions of Asians all over the world.

I thank God for having selected me to serve RVA as a consultant from 2003 to 2009 and, from 2010 to April 2019, to serve the Asian Church as the secretary of FABC-OSC. As I always acknowledged, I consider the selection as [part of] Gods plan to use me in spite of my inadequacies.

However, since I was serving the Lord and it was He who selected me, I was confident that He would complement and empower me to achieve His plan for all my assignments and in particular to Radio Veritas Asia as per the demands of the new technological innovations. In all these I had to be only an instrument in His Hands. I thank God for the manifold ways by which He accompanied me to fulfil my assignment.

For his part, Father Anand Mathew IMS, director of Vishwa Jyoti Communications, Varanasi, expressed his condolences in a note sent to AsiaNews, in which he defines the deceased as "the doyen of Indian Catholic media.

As director of Amruthvani, he produced the well-known movie Karunamayidu/Dayasagar which made a deep impact on the minds of people even in the remotest villages of India.

I cherish sweet memories of interacting with him at the APSSS office. May he from above inspire and guide us in our media service and ministry towards the marginalised.

Bishop Moses Prakasam of Nellore, speaking on behalf of the Telugu Catholic Bishops Council (Andhra and Telgana), remembers his "tireless and highly dedicated services for the growth of the regional Church on all fronts, and expresses its "high regard, appreciation and thanks from the depth of our hearts" for the services he rendered in the spreading of the Gospel "in words and deeds".

"We have every reason, in faith, to believe that the gates of heaven are kept open to you with a glorious welcome [. . .]. With folded hands, we thank you very much for all the precious services you have rendered to the Church in our Telugu States".

"In spite of your official duties and responsibilities, you have also found amount of quality time to live the Gospel of Charity with the poor and the humble, offering concrete and very tangible services with genuine love and commitment.

By our Christian faith, we are convinced that you are now in the presence of God seeing Him face to face, praising, adoring and worshipping Him. [. . .] Please pray for us and intercede for all of us, the whole Church, especially for the Church in our Telugu States.
MANILA, Philippines  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced that 31 countries have already lifted the inbound border restrictions on Filipino travelers subject to medical protocols.

The latest additions to the list of countries that have recently opened their borders include Bahamas, Egypt, Ethiopia, and UAE.

This is out of 177 nations and territories that declared travel bans due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

However, the DFA said a total of 68 countries and territories still do not allow entry into their borders such as Cuba, Haiti, Palau, Timor Leste, France, and most countries in the Middle East/Africa, among others.

About 78 countries/territories, despite inbound border closures, give entry exemptions to Filipinos who are citizens of the destination country and returning residents, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with work visas and contracts, diplomatic or UN passport holders going to post or on official travel.

The new update under this category is Macau SAR, with imposed medical protocols.

Likewise, the DFA said the updated list confirms that 138 countries now allow Filipinos to return to the Philippines, subject to flight availability and other special arrangements.

New countries which have allowed departures for the Philippines include the mentioned countries which also recently opened their inbound restrictions.

Meanwhile, with the recent announcement of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on the resumption of international flight operations at NAIA Terminal 3 beginning 12:01 a.m. of July 8, the DFA reiterated that travel restrictions can change without prior public notice.

The DFA advises all travelers to always check ahead of travel dates with the airlines that will be used as well as with relevant embassies or consulates before departure or before booking a ticket.

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The post 31 countries lift inbound border restrictions on Filipino travelers  DFA appeared first on UNTV News.
Itching to travel overseas and conquer your wanderlust? Too bad, because the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said yesterday that Filipinos are still barred from travelling overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BI made the reminder yesterday after its officials caught six Filipinos who were about to take a chartered flight bound for Cambodia at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). The six reportedly said that they were going to Phnom Penh to attend a business meeting about shrimp farming.

Couldnt they do that on Zoom instead?

As a consequence, immigration employees offloaded the group because the purpose of their travel wasnt really considered essential and the bureau concluded that the group were actually just planning to do some R&R.

We want to emphasize and reiterate that Filipinos are still prohibited from leaving the country unless they are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), holders of study visas or permanent residents in the country of their destination, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said.

Port Operations Acting Chief Grifton Medina assured Filipinos that the restrictions are only temporary.

We should always bear in mind that the government implemented these measures to protect our countrymen against this deadly coronavirus, he said.

In the mood for some shrimp farming? Time to cancel your flights, folks.

Read more Coconuts articles here.

This article, 6 Filipinos barred from traveling to Cambodia to attend shrimp farming meeting, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
COVID-19 survivor and broadcast journalist Howie Severino was accosted this afternoon by the authorities in Quezon City when he removed his face mask to have a drink.

Photographer Luis Liwanag captured images of Severino as he was taken by officials in a post that has been shared almost 10,000 times.

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Journalist Howie Severino who momentarily pulled down [h]is mask for a drink, is apprehended by village officers and police and was brought to the [A]moranto stadium for a short seminar on proper use of face masks in public. About hundreds of persons including women and the elderly were brought in, wrote Liwanag.

Read: Marikina police defends men who confronted GMA reporter for not wearing uniform and ID

Liwanag has not responded to Coconuts Manilas request for comments.

In the posts comments section, Severino told fellow journalist Luz Rimban that the incident happened while he was having a drink with Liwanag near a corner bike store.

Image: Liwanag/FB

In another message, Severino said that when he was at the Amoranto, he noticed that there were a lot of people who were brought in for the seminar.

I offered to give the talk on Covid hehe. [But] they just allowed me to go home after I told them I had just finished drinking, he wrote.

Image: Liwanag/FB

In a post that followed the incident, Severino said he saw Liwanag at Mother Ignacia Street, where the incident happened.

We bought drinks at the store next door, and drank them after pulling down our masks below the mouth (because we have not learned to drink yet with masks on). We were all outdoors where the risk of infection is much lower than indoors and maintained at least four feet distance from each other. I had just finished my drink and returned the bottle to the store before I could pull my mask back up, when at least two vehicles of QC law enforcers arrived to tell me I was talking without my mask covering my mouth and had to be brought to Amoranto for a seminar, he said.

However, I am kind of glad that as QC is an epicenter of the disease in the Philippines, they are finally doing something, even if its a bit draconian. I even offered to give a talk at the seminar. Instead they returned my bike and told me I could go home, the award-winning documentary filmmaker added.

Story continues

Quezon City, like the rest of Metro Manila, has made wearing face mask mandatory to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

While Severino appeared unperturbed by what happened, other people were annoyed and even angry. Eunice Novio wrote, How can someone wearing a mask have a drink? These fools become worse each day.

Image: Liwanag/FB

Nicky Gocuan said, What is wrong with these people? They need to be reprimanded. What needs to be practiced is social distancing. Mr. Howie Severino does not need a lecture on how to use a mask. How anyone drink? Is there a law that forbids Howie from drinking water or whatever it was? In fact , I know he knows better than most of you do. There are more important task that needs attention. Youre wasting your salary that comes from taxpayers money. Do these people have name tags at least visible?

Image: Liwanag/FB

Meanwhile, Ernesto Enqirue accused the officials of being a bunch of power trippers.

Image: Liwanag/FB

Do you think the officials went overboard? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.

This article, Howie Severino accosted by Quezon City officials after removing facemask to drink, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
Temperatures soared 10 degrees Celsius above average across much of permafrost-laden Siberia last month, which was tied for the warmest June on record globally, the European Union's climate monitoring network said Tuesday. The 12-month period to June 2020 was also tied for the warmest to date across the planet, on a par with the ones ending in May 2020 and September 2016, an exceptional El Nino year, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported. That means Earth's average surface temperature for July 2019-June 2020 was 1.3C above pre-industrial levels, the standard benchmark for global warming. The 2015 Paris climate treaty calls for capping the rise in temperature to "well below" 2C. In 2018, however, the UN's climate science panel (IPCC) concluded in a landmark report that 1.5C -- only two-tenths of a degree above the new 12-month high -- is a far safer guardrail. In the Arctic, meanwhile, an hourly temperature record for June -- 37 degrees Celsius -- was set on the 21st near Verkhoyansk in northeastern Russia, where a weather station logged a blistering 38C on the same day. The previously registered Arctic hourly highs in 1969 and 1973 were at least a full degree Celsius cooler. Freakishly warm weather across large swathes of Siberia since January, combined with low soil moisture, have contributed to a resurgence of wildfires that devastated the region last summer, C3S reported. Both the number and intensity of fires in Siberia and parts of Alaska have increased since mid-June, resulting in the highest carbon emissions for the month -- 59 million tonnes of CO2 -- since records began in 2003. "Last year was already by far an unusual, and record, summer for fires in the Arctic Circle," said Mark Parrington, senior scientist at the EU's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), warning of "intense activity" in the coming weeks. - Permafrost 'carbon bomb' - Copernicus has said that "zombie" blazes that smouldered through the winter may have reignited. Globally, June 2020 was more than half a degree Celsius warmer than the 1981-2010 average for the same month, and on a par with June 2019 as the warmest ever registered. Siberia and the Arctic Circle are prone to large year-on-year temperature fluctuations, but the persistence of this year's warm spell is very unusual, said C3S director Carlo Buontempo. "What is worrisome is that the Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world," he said in a statement. Across the Arctic region, average temperatures have risen by more than two degrees Celsius since the mid-19th century, twice the global average. Despite lower-than-average temperatures in its western reaches, the whole of Siberia -- larger than the United States and Mexico combined -- was more than 5C above normal for June, according to C3S satellite data. The softening of once solid permafrost -- stretching across Siberia, Alaska and northern Canada -- has upended indigenous communities and threatens industrial infrastructure, especially in Russia. A massive diesel spill into rivers near the city of Norilsk, Russia resulted when a tank at a power plant built on melting permafrost collapsed in late May. "Widespread permafrost thaw is projected for this century," the UN's climate science panel, the IPCC, said in a landmark report last year on the world's cryosphere, or frozen zones. "The majority of Arctic infrastructure is located in regions where permafrost thaw is projected to intensify by mid-century." Soils in the permafrost region across Russia, Alaska and Canada hold twice as much carbon -- mostly in the form of methane and CO2 -- as the atmosphere, more than 1.4 trillion tonnes. One tonne of carbon is equivalent to 3.65 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Steadily increasing traffic congestion has proven to be one of the most serious problems in large metropolitan areas across the world. Fortunately, many navigation systems installed in cars today come with real time traffic monitoring systems that drivers can use to bypass overloaded roads and road closures.

Toyota has provided its customers with a convenient way to track traffic in real time. The easy-to-use-map enables its users to have access to a navigation system that shows real-time information about various traffic conditions and roads in Japan.

Toyota Map

Drivers in Japan can now check whether roads on their planned route are passable or not with the online map, easily accessible from any smartphone, computer, or other mobile device.

In Toyota's digital map, road closures, road sign icons, and more are displayed in real-time. Users will also be able to check traffic data from the past 1, 3, 6, or 24 hours if they choose. The system can also narrow searches down to include areas of traffic congestion, which is helpful in a variety of situations from daily route planning to disaster relief.

T-probe traffic information provides Toyota's own real-time traffic information. Traffic regulation displays road closures and chain regulation information is provided by JARTIC/VICS Center. An aerial photograph, provided by Pasco Co., Ltd., is also added and it shows an aerial view by pressing the camera icon.

In the event of a natural disaster, the affected area or areas automatically become the focal point of the map. At other times, the map will default to the Kanto region.

If it ever becomes available in the Philippines, this helpful system would be one of the most advantageous tools for any driver traversing the heavily congested Metro Manila roads, especially since it doesn't require subscription or fees like most traffic monitoring apps.

To access Toyota Japan's traffic map, click here.

Photo from Toyota Japan

Also Read:

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Toyota Safety Sense upgraded to curb bike crash

Ford chooses TomTom navigation app for Ford SYNC
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Some animals fake their body size by sounding bigger than they actually are. Maxime Garcia from the University of Zurich and Andrea Ravignani from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics studied 164 different mammals and found that animals that lower their voices to sound bigger are often skilled vocalists. Both strategiessounding bigger and learning soundsare likely driven by sexual selection, and may play a role in explaining the origins of human speech evolution.

"If you saw a chihuahua barking as deep as a rottweiler, you would definitely be surprised," says Andrea Ravignani, a researcher at the MPI and the Dutch Sealcentre Pieterburen. Body size influences the frequency of the sounds animals produce, but many animals found ways to sound smaller or bigger than expected.

"Nature is full of animals like squeaky rottweilers and tenor chihuahuas," explains Ravignani. Some animals fake their size by developing larger vocal organs that lower their sound, which makes them sound larger than you would expect. Other animals are good at controlling the sounds they produce. Such strategies (called dishonest signalling by biologists) could be driven by sexual selection, as males with larger body size or superior singing skills (hitting very high or low notes) attract more females (or vice versa).

Garcia and Ravignani wondered whether some animals may have learned to make new sounds as a strategy to attract mates. Few animal species are capable of vocal learning, among them, mammals such as seals, dolphins, bats and elephants. For instance, seals can imitate sounds, and some seals copy call types of successfully breeding individuals. Would animals who often 'fake' their body size also be the ones capable of learning new sounds?

The researchers analysed the sounds and body size of 164 mammals including mice, monkeys, and water-dwelling mammals such as the subantarctic fur seal and the Amazonian manatee. They combined methods from acoustics, anatomy, and evolutionary biology to compare the animals in the dataset.

The scientists found that animals who fake their body size are often skilled sound learners. According to Garcia and Ravignani, their framework provides a new way of investigating the evolution of communication systems. "We want to expand our theory to take into account other evolutionary pressures, not just sexual selection," adds Ravignani. "We also want to replicate our preliminary findings with more mammals and test whether our ideas also apply to birds or other taxonomic groups."

In their position paper, Garcia and Ravignani suggest that there may be a link to human speech evolution. "We believe that a dishonest signalling strategy may be a first evolutionary step toward learning how to make new sounds of any sort," says Garcia. "Speculatively, it brings us closer to understanding human speech evolution: Our ancestors may have learned how to speak after learning how to sound bigger or how to hit high notes."

The study is published in Biology Letters.

More information: Acoustic allometry and vocal learning in mammals, Biology Letters, royalsocietypublishing.org/doi  .1098/rsbl.2020.0081 Journal information: Biology Letters Acoustic allometry and vocal learning in mammals,
A rat is less likely to help a trapped companion if it is with other rats that aren't helping, according to new research from the University of Chicago that showed the social psychological theory of the "bystander effect" in humans is present in these long-tailed rodents. Credit: Mason Lab

A rat is less likely to help a trapped companion if it is with other rats that aren't helping, according to new research from the University of Chicago that showed the social psychological theory of the "bystander effect" in humans is present in these long-tailed rodents.

The study, titled "The Bystander Effect in Rats," also demonstrated that in the presence of other potential helper rats, rats are more, rather than less, likely to help. Whether helping is facilitated or suppressed depends on the circumstances rather than on personal temperament or morals, a finding with implications for human society. The research, published in the July 8 issue of Science Advances, builds off previous research on rat empathy.

In 2011, Peggy Mason, Ph.D., professor of neurobiology and senior author of the study, and her UChicago team of researchers found that rats consistently freed trapped companions, even saving a bit of chocolate for them, and this behavior was driven by a rat version of empathy. A subsequent study showed that rats treated with anti-anxiety medication are less likely to free a trapped peer because they do not feel its anxiety. In another study, researchers found that rats only freed trapped rat strains that they had previous social experience with.

The roots of the classic bystander effect date back to 1964, when Catherine "Kitty" Genovese was murdered in a crowded residential neighborhood in Queens, New York. An account published in the New York Times reported that 38 bystanders saw the murder but did not intervene. Though this story was later proven inaccurate, it inspired psychologists Bibb Latane and John Darley to investigate why so many people would fail to help.

The pair tested human subjects alone and in the presence of "confederate" bystanderspeople who were part of the research team and were instructed not to helpas they confronted a variety of experimental scenarios with someone (an actor) in distress. Latane and Darley consistently observed that subjects were far less likely to help in the presence of non-helping confederates than they were when tested alone. This phenomenon, referred to as the bystander effect, is now a pillar in psychology, included in every introductory textbook and class. The mechanism for the classic bystander effect is thought to be a diffusion of responsibility whereby people reason that they need not act because others in a group will.

First author John Havlik was a UChicago undergraduate in Mason's laboratory, when the topic of the bystander effect came up during a lab meeting.

"My students had been bugging me to do this experiment for years," said Mason. "But it wasn't until John came along and would not let the idea go that we took the plunge."

When multiple rats encounter a rat trapped in a restrainer, they help him by opening the restrainer door earlier and more consistently than does a single rat. Credit: David Christopher, University of Chicago

Havlik, now a student at the Yale School of Medicine, spearheaded experiments to examine whether rats, which lack complex reasoning skills, would show a classical bystander effect.

The research team used their trapped rat paradigm in combination with rats that were made into "confederates" by administering an antianxiety drug that made them indifferent to another rat's distress, ensuring that they would not help. The team found that rats tested with confederates were less likely to help than those tested alonea bystander effect in rats. Digging deeper, they saw that the presence of confederates blocked reinforcement for helping.

"It's worse to have a non-responsive audience than to be alone," Mason said. "The rats try helping, but it's just not a rewarding experience because the other rats don't appear to care. It's as though the rat was saying to himself, 'I helped yesterday and no one cared. Not doing that again.' "

Mason and her team then wanted to know how the presence of untreated rats affected the helping behavior. Counter to the prediction of the bystander effect, duos and trios of rats actually were more likely to help than solo rats.

"At first, I thought the experiment had failed," Havlik said. "But after doing more research into human studies, we realized that behavior has actually been mirrored in people, too."

In research published last year, an analysis of surveillance videos revealed that groups of bystanders helped in more than 90% of violent encounters.

"The reason we see these patterns of helpfulness goes deeper than the lessons we learned in kindergarten about being nice to each other," said study co-author Maura Jacobi, MD, a 2020 graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and co-first author of the study. "This is a phenomenon that's not exclusive to humans."
MIT economist David Autor has produced a new study showing that Blacks and Hispanics are particularly affected by the decline in middle-class urban jobs in recent decades. Credit: MIT News

The great U.S. economic boom after World War II was an urban phenomenon. Tens of millions of Americans flocked to cities to work and forge a future in the nation's middle class. And for a few decades, living in the big city paid off.

By 1980, four-year college graduates in the most urban quartile of job markets had incomes 40 percent greater, per household, than college graduates in the least urban quartile. And workers without four-year college degrees ("non-college" workers) in the same urban areas had hourly wages 35 percent higher than their rural counterparts.

But those were different times. Since 1980, the U.S. landscape of work has changed "remarkably," says MIT economist David Autor, who has produced a new study showing how much middle-paying jobs and incomes have receded in cities. From 1990 through 2015, the wage advantage for non-college workers in the most urban quartiles of the U.S. was chopped in half, with African American and Latino workers most affected by this shift.

"It used to be [cities] were a magnet for people who were less fortunate, fleeing discrimination or underemployment, and served as an escalator for upward mobility," says Autor, the Ford Professor of Economics at MIT. But today, he adds, "urban workers without college degrees are moving into lower-paid services rather than higher-paid professional jobs. And the extent to which that is occurring is larger among Blacks and Hispanics."

Even in the same locations, Blacks and Latinos are more affected by this shift. The wages of white workers without college degrees in the most urban quartile of the job market have risen slightly since 1980, compared to non-college workers in the least urban job markets. But for Black and Latino men and women without college degrees in those places, the reverse has happened.

"The urban wage premium has risen a bit for non-college whites, but fallen for everyone else without a college degree," Autor says.

This wage stagnation also helps explain why many workers without college degrees cannot afford to live in big cities. Yes, home prices have soared and cities have not produced enough new housing. However, Autor suggests, "The change in wages alone would be sufficient" to price most non-college workers out of cities.

Autor's new white paper, "The Faltering Urban Opportunity Escalator," was released today in partnership with the Aspen Institute's Economic Strategy Group. In examining the hollowing out of economically secure middle-skill jobs for non-college workers, the research also addresses a core topic of MIT's Work of the Future task force, an Institute-wide project Autor co-chairs.

"The set of economically secure career jobs for people without college degrees has narrowed," Autor says. "It's a central labor market challenge that the Task Force is focused on: How do you ensure that people without elite educations have access to good jobs?"

What kinds of work?

To conduct the research, Autor drew on U.S. Census Bureau data and his own previous research examining the changing structure of urban labor markets in the U.S.

As Autor details in his report, in the U.S., as in most industrialized countries, employment has become increasingly concentrated in high-education, high-wage occupations, and in low-education, low-wage jobs, at the expense of traditionally middle-skill career jobs. Economists refer to this phenomenon as employment "polarization." Its causes are many, rooted in both automation and computerization, which have usurped many routine production and office tasks; and in globalization, which has substantially reduced labor-intensive manufacturing work in high-wage countries. As polarization has advanced, workers without college degrees have been shunted out of blue-collar production jobs, and white-collar office and administrative jobs, and into servicessuch as food service, cleaning, security, transportation, maintenance, and low-paid care work.

In 1980, U.S. employment was roughly evenly divided among three occupational categories: 33 percent of workers were in relatively low-paying manual and personal-service jobs; 37 percent were in middle-paying production, office, and sales occupations; and 30 percent were in high-paying professional, technical, and managerial occupations. But by 2015, just 27 percent of the U.S. workforce was employed in middle-paying occupations.

That shift has mostly been felt by non-college-educated workers. More specifically, in 1980, 39 percent of non-college workers were in low-paying occupations, 43 percent were in middle-paying vocations, and 18 percent were in the high-paying, occupations. But by 2015, just 33 percent of noncollege workers were in the middle-paying occupations, a 10 percentage-point shift. About two-thirds of that change has moved workers into traditionally lower-paying jobs, occupations that require less-specialized skills. These jobs, accordingly, offer fewer opportunities for acquiring skills, augmenting productivity and pay, and attaining job stability and economic security.

A key finding of Autor's work is that this change has been "overwhelmingly concentrated in urban labor markets," as the paper notes. In the study, Autor analyzes 722 census-defined "commuting zones" (local labor markets) in the U.S. from 1980 through 2015, and finds that in the country as a whole, non-college urban workers with high school diplomas saw their wages fall by 7 percentage points relative to their non-urban equivalents; for urban workers who did not finish high school, the relative fall was even steeper, at 12 percentage points.

The jobs most affected are manufacturing and office clerical jobs, which have largely vanished from cities. As Autor's study shows, these positionsalong with administrative and sales jobsmade up a much bigger share of employment in cities than in non-urban areas in 1980. But by 2015, they represented a roughly equal share of employment in both urban and rural settings.

"Cities have changed a lot for the less educated," Autor says. In the past, "non-college workers did more specialized work. They worked in offices alongside professionals, they worked in factories, and they were [performing jobs] they didn't have outside of cities."

Losing ground

Given the demographic composition of U.S. cities as a whole, any large shift in urban employment will affect African American and Latino populations, Autor notes: "African Americans and Hispanics are heavily represented in urban areas. Indeed, the Great Migration brought many African Americans from the South to Northern industrial cities in search of better opportunities."

But as Autor's study shows, African Americans and Latinos have lost more ground than whites with the same education levels, in the same places. Take again the top quartile of most-urban labor markets between 1980 and 2015. Among whites, Blacks, and Latinos, by gender, employment in middle-paying jobs among non-college workers declined sharply in this time period. But for white men and women, that employment decline was just over 7 percent, while for Black men and women and Latino men and women, it was between 12 and 15 percent.

Or consider this: Among workers with a four-year degree in the same urban settings between 1980 and 2015, the only group that saw a relative wage decline was Black men. In part, Autor says, that could be because even middle-class Black men were in more precarious employment situations than middle-class workers of other racial and ethnic groups, as of 1980.

"The black middle class  was more concentrated in skilled blue collar work, in clerical and administrative work, and in government service than non-minority workers of comparable education," Autor says.

Still, Autor adds, the reasons for the relative decline may be deeply rooted in social dynamics: "There is no ethnic group in America that is treated more disproportionately unequally and unfairly than Black men."

Push or pull?

While no social circumstance that pervasive has easy solutions, Autor's paper does suggest setting an appropriately calibrated minimum wage in cities, which would likely erase some of the pay gap between whites and Blacks.

"There's a lot of evidence now that minimum wages hikes have been effective," Autor says. "They have raised wages without causing substantial job loss." Moreover, he adds, "Minimum wages affect Blacks more than they affect whites.  It's not a revolutionary idea but it would help."

Autor emphasizes that boosting wages through minimum wage hikes is not a cost-free solution; indeed costs are passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices, and sharp hikes may tend to put low-productivity employers out of business. Nevertheless, these tradeoffs may be appealing given the falling earnings power of workers without college degreeswho constitute the majority of workersin U.S. cities.

The current research also suggests that the crisis of affordability in many cities is more than a shortage of affordable housing. While many scholars have criticized urban housing policies as being too restrictive, Autor thinks the problem is not just that workers without four-year degrees are being "pushed" away from cities due to prices; the relative wage decline means there is not enough "pull" being exerted by cities in the first place.

"Cities have become much more expensive, and housing is not the only factor," Autor says. "For non-college workers, you have a combination of changing wage structure and then rising prices, and the net effect is making cities less attractive for people without college degrees." Moreover, Autor adds, the eroding quality of jobs for non-college urban workers "is in some sense a harder problem to solve. It's that the labor market has changed."

Autor will continue this line of research, while also working on MIT's Work of the Future project along with the other task force leadersExecutive Director Elisabeth B. Reynolds, who is also executive director of the MIT Industrial Performance Center, and co-chair David A. Mindell, professor of aeronautics and astronautics, the Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing at MIT, and founder and CEO of the Humatics Corporation.

The MIT task force will deliver a final report on the topic this fall, having published an initial report in September 2019, which observed the economic polarization of the workforce, detailed technological trends affecting jobs, and contained multiple policy recommendations to support the future of middle-class work.

Explore further Pandemic-fueled job losses exacerbating preexisting inequalities among workers

More information: The Faltering Escalator of Urban Opportunity. The Faltering Escalator of Urban Opportunity. workofthefuture.mit.edu/sites/  ch-Brief-Autor_1.pdf

This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching.
Emergence of a temperature signal when going from one RCP emissions pathway to another. Thick lines show calculations from MAGICC6. Thin lines show evolutions of interannual variability of global mean surface temperature, extracted from the CESM1 LENS. Triangles above the graphs indicate the number of ensemble members where the temperature difference between the RCPs is significant, when accounting for internal variability. Credit: Nature Communications (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17001-1

A trio of researchers at the CICERO Center for International Climate Research in Oslo, Norway, has found evidence that it could take decades for the planet to start cooling after human greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, B. H. Samset, J. S. Fuglestvedt and M. T. Lund describe the factors that went into the model and its results.

As the planet continues to heat up due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, scientists continue to try to predict how the planet will respond. In this new effort, the researchers wondered what might happen if the people of the world finally saw the light and made serious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The work involved using multiple climate models to determine how the planet would react to different levels of emission reductions, and also to reductions in different types of emissions.

The researchers found that only reductions in carbon dioxide would result in reversing the ongoing global warming trendand it would take a long time. But cutting emissions of other gasses is also important; without such reductions, the planet would take much longer to cool. In a best-case scenario, they programmed the model to represent severe emission restrictions (near zero) starting this year. The model showed it would take until 2033 before the planet started to respond in a positive way. And when they programmed the model to represent the world reaching RUCP2.6 this year (a climate scenario deemed by many in the field to represent an achievable emissions reduction), there were no positive changes until 2047. If emissions were reduced by 5 percent each year, we would see some results by 2044.

The researchers acknowledge that the results shown by their model cannot be used as a predictor of actual events, though they suggest it does give us a glimpse of what humanity is up againstand shows in a very powerful way that time is of the essence. The longer we wait to drastically reduce emissions, the longer it will take to recover from the damage that we have done.

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More information: B. H. Samset et al. Delayed emergence of a global temperature response after emission mitigation, Nature Communications (2020). Journal information: Nature Communications B. H. Samset et al. Delayed emergence of a global temperature response after emission mitigation,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17001-1

 2020 Science X Network
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

America's youth have historically been excluded from using public spaces how they want, in addition to being left out of design discussions. Including them in this process will have long-term societal benefits, according to an Iowa State University researcher.

A recently published book about youth-inclusive design practices in cities includes research by Ben Shirtcliff, associate professor of landscape architecture and urban design at Iowa State. Shirtcliff's work focuses on adolescent development, public space and social media. The book is titled "The Routledge Handbook of Designing Public Spaces for Young People: Processes, Practices and Policies for Youth Inclusion."

The book serves as a resource for those who want to increase youth access to public spaces by influencing policy and design.

"The ability of youth to freely enjoy public spaces, and to develop a sense of belonging and attachment to these environments, is critical for their physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development," according to the book. "Young people represent a vital citizen group with legitimate rights to occupy and shape their public environments, yet they are often driven out of public places by adult users, restrictive bylaws, or hostile designs."

Decades of segregation- and isolation-driven design and planning practicessuch as redlining that exacerbated inequalities in cities across the U.S.  ensured marginalized communities didn't have equitable housing or access to basic services like safe places to play.

Policy- and design-driven exclusion persists today, Shirtcliff says, including exclusion of teenagers who are often considered a nuisance in public spaces. Teens represent a challenging age group to address because the intersectionality of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality and class is coupled with status quo ideas that they are "up to no good" because of their age.

One example of public spaces designed intentionally to exclude youth is the addition of behavior-excluding elements in public features, such as anti-skateboard metal brackets on planter walls, railings and walkways.

"Youth-inclusive design is based on the idea that everyone should have rights to the city and rights to public space, but in my research in New Orleans I found it was very common for adolescents to be pushed out of public space by adults assuming authority," Shirtcliff said.

The power of youth in New Orleans

Shirtcliff's research looks at where it's safe for adolescents to play in suburban, rural and urban contexts like New Orleans. As he walked through a New Orleans neighborhood one day, he saw two young Black teenagers crossing the street, both carrying skateboards and smiling. It occurred to Shirtcliff that he rarely saw young Black men portrayed in this positive light in mass media.

"One of the reasons this research happened was because I wanted to investigate how come underrepresented communities don't resemble how they are often presented in the media," he said. "They're a very active community trying to change their city.

"The concept of institutionalized racism is called that because racism is so embedded within institutional practices to the point that you can't even see how it excludes people, but it continues to impact people often in negative and harmful ways. If you have more inclusive cities, you'll be better able to meet every citizen's needs whether in crisis or in terms of long-term chronic needs."

Shirtcliff saw an example of this with the evolution of the skatepark in New Orleans. After skaters spent two and a half years DIY building, authorities demolished the park in minutes. Months later, skaters began building a new park hundreds of feet away. This time, they played the long game and pulled in support from around the world.

One of Shirtcliff's chapters in the book revolves around his study of this phenomenon in New Orleans, showing how including youth in the design and planning process was beneficial in the long run. Instead of using prohibitive policies and practices, Shirtcliff says, the city and community partners got on board. Ten years after Hurricane Katrina, Parisite DIY opened as the first skatepark in the city's history.

"When we look at the way cities operate, if we engage in practices that don't allow for this coming together of people from different walks of life, when do they get the chance to talk to each other to improve the city?" he said. "Isolation and exclusionary design build barriers rather than break them down."

Social media a window into youth culture

Shirtcliff uses social mediaparticularly video-centric platformsto understand how adolescents use public areas, as well as how they are pushed out of public spaces. Social media provides a realistic counter-point to negative portrayals of young people in mass media. As data, social media can inform planners and policymakers who are designing public space.

Social media is not only a distraction, he says. It's embedded in youth culture: They turn to social media to advocate for themselves and to learn about the world. It also demonstrates how they take that new knowledge and apply it locally to create new venues and opportunities.

"These are the people we need to start advocating for," he said. "They're missing from the conversation and they are our future leaders."

Next, Shirtcliff will focus his research on rural, Latinx teenagers in the Midwest.

Shirtcliff wrote two chapters in "The Routledge Handbook of Designing Public Spaces for Young People": "How to Use Big Data for Youth Inclusion: Lessons and insights from video-based social media research on adolescent free play in cities" and "Parisite, New Orleans: Some place to play."
After prison, Nguyen Quoc uc Vuong will be on three-year probation. For experts, this is the harshest verdict for online content offences. It is a sign of growing repression by the communist authorities. Recently, at least a dozen people have ended up in jail for their social media use.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  A Vietnamese court sentenced pro-democracy advocate Nguyen Quoc uc Vuong to eight years in prison, plus three years of probation.

The court found the activist, arrested on 23 September last year, guilty of "criticising" the government and the communist regime on Facebook.

For Nguyens lawyer, the sentence is too severe. Experts say that this is the toughest verdict ever by a court so far for an offence associated with social media content; however, it reflects growing repression by the countrys authorities.

After a three-hour trial, Nguyen was found guilty of making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents, and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in violation of Art 117 of Vietnams Penal Code.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), during a livestream video, Nguyen said: I am not certain that the entire state apparatus is corrupt, but I am 100 percent certain that those who have been involved in corruption are Communist Party members. Vietnam only allows one single party and does not allow any competing opposition.

On his account, which had more than 10,000 followers, he discussed sensitive issues like land seizures and political prisoners. He also expressed support for Hong Kong protesters opposed to the extradition bill to China law and for government change in Venezuela.

His defence attorney, Nguyen Van Mieng, noted that the court did not explain which of the 366 posts or 98 videos were at fault.

Official media, including Vietnam News, claimed the activist admitted to all the charges and that he did not oppose the prosecution.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) recently estimated that at least a dozen activists or ordinary people broke the law by posting on social media.

Vietnam has a population of 92 million, with 55 million using Facebook. However, it is not deemed free because of systematic internet censorship and suppression of free thought in the press.

Dissent is not tolerated by the countrys one-party Communist regime. The authorities routinely use the Penal Code to arrest and convict tens, if not hundreds of bloggers, writers, journalists, environmentalists and activists.
Credit: Dennis Lan

The first time David Ulin visited Los Angeles in the late 80s, he stayed with a friend who had a giant, aerial map of the city pinned to his breakfast room wall.

"What was amazing about it was that every piece of that grid, from the mountains to the sea, was filled in," Ulin recalls. "And my first thought was, "Trantor. It looks like Trantor.'"

Ulin, formerly the Los Angeles Times book critic and now associate professor of the practice of English at USC Dornsife, is referring to the fictional urbanized planetan entire planet as citydescribed by science fiction "Grand Master" Isaac Asimov in his acclaimed Foundation series.

It was, Ulin still feels more than 30 years later, a fitting comparison to make with L.A. and its majestic urban sprawl"the city that ate the desert," as the celebrated author and urban theorist Mike Davis so memorably characterized it.

With what once seemed like limitless space to expand, L.A. has long bucked the rules, flouting the established conventions of what traditionalists thought a city "should" be, to set its own radical urban trajectory. While L.A."s experimental architecture by pioneering practitioners such as Richard Neutra and Rudolph Schindler invented new ways of indoor-outdoor living, and its space-themed designs (the LAX Theme Building and John Lautner's Chemosphere immediately spring to mind) reinforced its futuristic image, the city's legendary love affair with the automobile was also carving its legacy into an urban landscape crisscrossed by freeways and embellished with swooping interchanges. When one also takes into account L.A.'s dynamic relationship with the aerospace industry and, thanks to Hollywood, its global reputation as the world's dream factory, it's hardly surprising that the metropolisperched on the western edge of the New Worldhas long captivated the global imagination as the futuristic city par excellence.

Professor of History William Deverell points out the irony herethat L.A. has been a city of the future for so long that there's now a past to the notion that L.A. is the future.

Indeed, L.A.'s Chief Design Officer Christopher Hawthorne, professor of the practice of English at USC Dornsife and former architecture critic for the Los Angeles Times, traces the concept of L.A. as a futuristic city all the way back to the 19th century and its history as a place made by successive waves of newcomers.

"If you have a populace who arrived here with the idea that they could remake themselves in L.A., it's probably only a matter of time before the city begins to think of itself as capable of the same kind of reinvention," he notes.

Now L.A. faces new challenges to reinvent itself in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit the city hard, particularly in economic terms. Fewer than half the residents of L.A. County were employed as of mid-April, according to a survey by the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research.

Sci-Fi City

If L.A. has always been a magnet for those wishing to reinvent a new future for themselves, the city also drew others interested in creating a different kind of futuristic fantasy: science fiction. While L.A. may not have been the birthplace of science fiction, it's certainly the capital of the genrethe place where sci-fi was embraced and popularized.

Since the early 1930swhen members of the legendary Los Angeles Science Fiction League, (now the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society), including a teenage Ray Bradbury, met downtown at Clifton's CafeteriaL.A. has provided a conducive environment for practitioners of the genre. Many, including Philip K. Dick, Robert Heinlein and Octavia Butler, made their mark in a city that allowed them to free their creative spirit.

"Hollywood's embrace of popular storytelling meant there were financial and creative opportunities for sci-fi writers in L.A. that just didn't exist elsewhere," Ulin notes.

The presence of the aerospace industry and the prevalence of space science in L.A., he says, also had a profound influence in both transforming L.A. into an epicenter for science fiction and contributing to its glittering reputation as the city of the future.

But Ulin goes a step further, arguing that L.A.'s setting and infrastructure make it a science fiction citynot just in books and films, but also in reality.

"The dependency on technological intervention to make the city livable in an inhospitable climate is in a lot of ways not dissimilar to what we imagine would happen if we built a colony on Mars," Ulin says. "And then in the 50s, all those dystopian invasion-of-Mars movies took place in L.A. because they were shot here." These two elements, he argues, led to the conflation in the public imagination of L.A. and a futuristic, science fiction city.

Paradoxically for a city built and promoted by its boosters as a utopian paradise, the overwhelming majority of the sci-fi written, filmed and set in L.A. has beenlike those alien invasion moviesdistinctly dystopian. Davis' 1998 book, Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster, tallies the novels and movies featuring L.A.'s destruction: at least 138 from 1909 to 1999, something in which, Davis claims, the city takes a certain civic pride.

Even when L.A. isn't being annihilated by aliens, other dystopian visions of the city abound, from Steve Erickson's early novels, Rubicon Beach and Days Between Stations, which are set in a dysfunctional, broken down, futuristic L.A., to Cynthia Kadohata's In the Heart of the Valley of Love, which takes place in L.A. in the 2040s, where everything, Ulin says, "is just bigger and kind of worse."

L.A.'s most iconic dystopian fantasy remains, of course, the acid rain-washed hellscape of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, a film inspired by Philip K. Dick's award-winning novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? One of the film's key settings, the 19th-century Bradbury Building in downtown L.A., is a physical manifestation of just how intimately science fiction and reality can be interwoven in the City of Angels. The Bradbury's distinctive, wrought-iron railings and open-cage elevators provided an unforgettable backdrop for much of Scott's film, but the building's design was actually inspired by another work of science fictionAmerica's earliest, in fact: Edward Bellamy's 1887 novel, Looking Backwards, which takes place in 2000, 19 years before Blade Runner is set but 18 years after it hit our screens in 1982.

"What's interesting," Ulin says, "is that we use the future to comment on the present in L.A., in a way that I don't know of other cities doing." The further we move away from 1982, the more Blade Runner looks like a film about how Angelenos viewed their downtown at the time as a scary wasteland, he argues, and not a movie about 2019, when it's set.

"I think that's often what science fiction does," Ulin says. "We think about science fiction as an imaginary excursion into the future, but really it's a projection of the present."

A Better Tomorrow

Now that we've caught up with Scott's sci-fi masterpiece, what's fascinating, Ulin notes, is that in 2020 we don't live in the L.A. of Blade Runner. Instead, he says, we live more in the L.A. of In the Heart of the Valley of Love, a city in which the wealthy live in gated communities while everybody else must make do outside them.

Hawthorne, one of the nation's foremost experts on the built environment, is determined to change that. As L.A. turns its back on the dystopian fates so often predicted for it in science fiction and instead reinvents and redefines itself for the 21st century and beyond, he's working to find more user-friendly, sustainable and equitable solutions to the city's multiple challenges.

"We've always toyed with both utopian and dystopian ideas of what our future would be," he says, "and L.A. was always capable of standing in for the future city in either scenario."

However, Hawthorne argues that this is a strength. "L.A. has been seen for most of its modern existence as unfinished, in eternal flux or on its way to some dystopian or utopian future, far more than New York, Chicago or San Francisco. Our ideas of what those cities mean and what they look like are much more fixed and immovable."

For a long time, L.A. always assumed it had more room to grow, more space to conquer. "Being aware of our limits now that we've run out of room to expand has produced a shift in mindset in terms of how we see the future," Hawthorne says.

"We're moving to a city that will not be so reliant on the car or the kind of low-density sprawling development that has marked so much of the region."

Those two building blocks, how we live and how we get around, are undergoing dramatic reinvention as L.A. moves toward a future that actually looks a lot more like its pasta city with a bustling downtown, that's more connected, that has more affordable housing, more successful public open spaces and a mature and comprehensive transit system.

"That's what the future of L.A. looks like and that's how the voters have told us they want the future of the city to look," Hawthorne says.

Is there a certain irony in the fact that L.A. is now looking to its past to become a city of the future? Deverell, the historian, thinks not.

"I always think we should look to the past to figure things out," he says. "The past is not way behind us. It's right at our shoulder; it's right there. It's how we understand better the present and to understand the present is to make steps in the right direction for the future."

As he draws a blueprint for our urban future, Hawthorne is also helping USC Dornsife build bridges between its experts and community leaders through his 3rd LA project, which he brought to USC in January. This laboratory for urban reinvention will be a cornerstone of USC Dornsife's Academy in the Public Square initiative, which encourages USC Dornsife scholars to collaborate with policymakers and nonprofit and industry leaders to address complex challenges such as climate change, affordable housing and public health.

"USC Dornsife has embraced that set of challenges and really sees itself as a proving ground for new ideas, new technologies, new solutions for helping build this more equitable, and, in some ways, more resourceful city of the future," Hawthorne says. "We hope that the Academy in the Public Square will play an important role as a convener for these conversations. There's more momentum, I think, at USC than in any other institution in the region to galvanize work on those fronts."

Even as L.A. evolves, Hawthorne believes the city will remain a futuristic icon in the world's imagination.

"I think because of Hollywood and the creative industries that are here, this will always be a center for innovation."

Deverell agrees.

"If you're a city of the future, then that's built on optimism," he says. "I would like to be part of that. Who wouldn't?"

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An organic solvent, shown in yellow, and water, shown in blue, separate and form nanoclusters on the hydrophobic and hydrophilic sections of green-colored plant material, driving the efficient deconstruction of biomass. Credit: Michelle Lehman/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory used neutron scattering and supercomputing to better understand how an organic solvent and water work together to break down plant biomass, creating a pathway to significantly improve the production of renewable biofuels and bioproducts.

The discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sheds light on a previously unknown nanoscale mechanism that occurs during biomass deconstruction and identifies optimal temperatures for the process.

"Understanding this fundamental mechanism can aid in the rational design of even more efficient technologies for processing biomass," said Brian Davison, ORNL chief scientist for systems biology and biotechnology.

Producing biofuels from plant material requires breaking its polymeric cellulose and hemicellulose components into fermentable sugars while removing the intact lignina structural polymer also found in plant cell wallsfor use in value-added bioproducts such as plastics. Liquid chemicals known as solvents are often employed in this process to dissolve the biomass into its molecular components.

Paired with water, a solvent called tetrahydrofuran, or THF, is particularly effective at breaking down biomass. Discovered by Charles Wyman and Charles Cai of the University of California, Riverside, during a study supported by DOE's BioEnergy Science Center at ORNL, the THF-water mixture produces high yields of sugars while preserving the structural integrity of lignin for use in bioproducts. The success of these cosolvents intrigued ORNL scientists.

"Using THF and water to pretreat biomass was a very important technological advance," said ORNL's Loukas Petridis of the University of Tennessee/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics. "But the science behind it was not known."

Petridis and his colleagues first ran a series of molecular dynamics simulations on the Titan and Summit supercomputers at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility at ORNL. Their simulations showed that THF and water, which stay mixed in bulk, separate at the nanoscale to form clusters on biomass.

THF selectively forms nanoclusters around the hydrophobic, or water-repelling, portions of lignin and cellulose while complementary water-rich nanoclusters form on the hydrophilic, or water-loving, portions. This dual action drives the deconstruction of biomass as each of the solvents dissolves portions of the cellulose while preventing lignin from forming clumps that would limit access to the cellulosic sugarsa common occurrence when biomass is mixed in water alone.

"This was an interesting finding," Petridis said. "But it is always important to validate simulations with experiments to make sure that what the simulations report corresponds to reality."

This phenomenon occurs at the tiny scale of three to four nanometers. For comparison, a human hair is typically 80,000 to 100,000 nanometers wide. These reactions presented a significant challenge to demonstrate in a physical experiment.

Scientists at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a DOE Office of Science user facility at ORNL, overcame this challenge using neutron scattering and a technique called contrast matching. This technique selectively replaces hydrogen atoms with deuterium, a form of hydrogen with an added neutron, to make certain components of the complex mixture in the experiment more visible to neutrons than others.

"Neutrons see a hydrogen atom and a deuterium atom very differently," said ORNL's Sai Venkatesh Pingali, a Bio-SANS instrument scientist who performed the neutron scattering experiments. "We use this approach to selectively highlight parts of the whole system, which otherwise would not be visible, especially when they're really small."

The use of deuterium rendered the cellulose invisible to neutrons and made the THF nanoclusters visually pop out against the cellulose like the proverbial needle in a haystack.

To mimic biorefinery processing, researchers developed an experimental setup to heat the mixture of biomass and solvents and observe the changes in real time. The team found the action of the THF-water mix on biomass effectively kept lignin from clumping at all temperatures, enabling easier deconstruction of the cellulose. Increasing the temperature to 150 degrees Celsius triggered cellulose microfibril breakdown. These data provide new insights into the ideal processing temperature for these cosolvents to deconstruct biomass.

"This was a collaborative effort with biologists, computational experts and neutron scientists working in tandem to answer the scientific challenge and provide industry-relevant knowledge," Davison said. "The method could fuel further discoveries about other solvents and help grow the bioeconomy."

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More information: Sai Venkatesh Pingali et al. Deconstruction of biomass enabled by local demixing of cosolvents at cellulose and lignin surfaces, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2020). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Sai Venkatesh Pingali et al. Deconstruction of biomass enabled by local demixing of cosolvents at cellulose and lignin surfaces,(2020). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922883117
This illustration depicts NASA's Perseverance rover operating on the surface of Mars. Perseverance will land at the Red Planet's Jezero Crater a little after 3:40 p.m. EST (12:40 p.m. PST) on Feb. 18, 2021. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

In less than a month, NASA expects to launch the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Loaded with scientific instruments, advanced computational capabilities for landing, and other new systems, the Perseverance rover is the largest, heaviest, most sophisticated vehicle NASA has ever sent to the Red Planet.

"Perseverance sets a new bar for our ambitions at Mars," said Lori Glaze, planetary science director at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We will get closer than ever before to answering some of science's longest-standing questions about the Red Planet, including whether life ever arose there."

What drives Perseverance's mission and what will it do at the Red Planet? Here are seven things to know:

1. The Perseverance rover draws on the NASAand scientificspirit of overcoming challenges.

The rover has a tough mission. Not only does it have to land on a treacherous planet, it has to work on its science goals: searching for signs of ancient microbial life, characterizing the planet's geology and climate, collecting carefully selected rock and sediment samples for future return to Earth, and paving the way for human exploration beyond the Moon.

These activities epitomize why NASA chose the name Perseverance from among the 28,000 essays submitted during the "Name the Rover" contest. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the months leading up to the launch in particular have required creative problem solving, teamwork, and determination.

"Building this incredibly sophisticated rover has been the hardest thing I've ever been a part of as an engineer," said Ray Baker, the mission's flight system manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "While coronavirus added significant challenges and logistics, the team has shown great determination and diligence to build a rover we can be proud to send to Mars. We can't wait to see the many years of dedication pay off at the launch pad."

2. Perseverance builds on the lessons of other Mars rovers.

NASA's modest first roverSojournerdemonstrated in 1997 that a robot could rove on the Red Planet. Spirit and Opportunity, which landed in 2004, found evidence that the planet once hosted running water before becoming a frozen desert. Curiosity, which has been exploring Mars since 2012, discovered that its landing site, Gale Crater, was home to of a lake billions of years ago, with an environment that could have supported microbial life.

Perseverance aims to take the next step, seeking, as a primary goal, to answer one of the key questions of astrobiology: Are there any signs that life once existed on Mars?

3. The rover will be landing in a place with high potential for finding signs of past microbial life.

Jezero Crater is 28 miles (45 kilometers) wide and sits on the western edge of Isidis Planitia, a giant basin just north of the Martian equator dug out long ago when a space rock hit the surface. Sometime between 3 billion and 4 billion years ago at Jezero, a river flowed into a body of water the size of Lake Tahoe.

"The science team has had many discussions internally and externally about where the next Mars rover should go," said Ken Farley, the mission's project scientist, based at Caltech in Pasadena. "We ultimately chose Jezero Crater because it is such a promising location for finding organic molecules and other potential signs of microbial life."

4. Perseverance will also be collecting important data about Mars' geology and climate.

Mars orbiters have been collecting images and other data from Jezero Crater from about 200 miles (322 kilometers) above, but finding signs of ancient life on the surface will require much closer inspection. It demands a rover like Perseverance, which can look for signs that may be related to life and can analyze the context in which they were found to see if they were biological in origin.

Understanding Mars' past climate conditions and reading the geological history embedded in its rocks will also give us a sense of why Earth and Marswhich formed from the same primordial stuffended up so different.

5. Perseverance is the first leg of a round trip to Mars.

Verifying ancient microscopic life on Mars carries an enormous burden of proof. Perseverance is the first rover to bring a sample-gathering system to Mars that will package promising examples of rocks and sediments for return to Earth by a future mission.

A Mars Sample Return campaign is being planned by NASA and the European Space Agency because here on Earth we can investigate the samples with instruments too large and complex to send to Mars. Terrestrial laboratories would be used to establish whether any potential signs of life detected by the rover are definitive evidence of past life.

6. Perseverance carries instruments and technology that will pave the way for human missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Terrain-Relative Navigation system, which autonomously helps the rover avoid hazards during landing, and the Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrumentation 2 (MEDLI2) sensor suite, which gathers crucial data during the journey through the Martian atmosphere, will help future human missions land more safely and with larger payloads on other worlds.

Perseverance also has features that will help astronauts once they're on the surface of another world: improved self-driving smarts for more efficient travel and the Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) instrument suite, which will provide key information about weather, climate, and dust. Meanwhile, the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) technology demonstration aims to produce oxygen from Mars' carbon dioxide atmosphere, demonstrating a way future explorers might produce oxygen for rocket propellant as well as for breathing.

7. You will get to ride along.

The Perseverance rover and other parts of the Mars 2020 spacecraft feature 23 camerasmore cameras than any interplanetary mission in history. They'll help engineers put together a high-definition view of the landing process after the rover safely touches down on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021, and they'll deliver images of the landscape and scientific specimens in breathtaking detail. And as with previous Mars missions, this one plans to make raw and processed images available on the mission's website.

Perseverance also carries three silicon chips with the names of nearly 11 million people who signed up to ride with the mission.

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While precisely editing the DNA in a cell's nucleus (blue) has become easier thanks to advances like CRISPR/Cas-9, it's been much harder to edit DNA in the mitochondria (red). Now, a new tool brings precision gene editing to mitochondrial DNA. Credit: Tslil Ast/Mootha Lab

Scientists can now precisely edit the genes inside mitochondria, the tiny energy factories inside of cells.

Over the past decade, gene editing has exploded in popularity. With CRISPR/Cas9 and related technologies, scientists can make targeted changes to DNA more easily than before. But while these state-of-the-art tools work in a cell's nucleus, where most genetic information is stored, some parts of cells have remained stubbornly out of reach for CRISPR.

Now, a new CRISPR-free tool brings that gene editing power to cells' second, smaller genomethe one in their mitochondria. It's the first precision gene editor for mitochondrial DNA, says Joseph Mougous, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator at the University of Washington.

The advance is the result of a cross-country collaboration between Mougous and two other HHMI InvestigatorsDavid Liu of Harvard University and the Broad Institute and Vamsi Mootha of Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute. The team, led by Mougous and Liu, reported its findings July 8, 2020 in the journal Nature.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can lead to a variety of rare and poorly understood diseases.

Until now, scientists studying these diseases in the lab could get rid of mutations by destroying the organelle's DNA. But they couldn't reliably correct a single mutation while leaving other mitochondria genes intact, Liu says.

While this new tool is far from ready for use in humans, it'll make it easier for scientists to study those diseases, as well as basic mitochondrial biology, in animals, Mootha says. "This is a transformative technology for my field," he says. "It will now be possible to create mouse models of mitochondrial DNA diseasethis has been super difficult until now."

An unusual protein

Mougous didn't set out to create a gene editor. His lab studies bacterial warfarespecifically, the toxins that bacteria use to attack other bacteria.

Two years ago, Marcos de Moraes, a postdoc in Mougous's lab, was trying to understand how one of these toxins worked. But it was defying all his expectations. The toxin was a deaminase, a protein that can cause genetic mutations by removing nitrogen-containing pieces from DNA and RNA "letters."

Most deaminases target single strands of DNA, or RNA, which is naturally single-stranded. This deaminase was oddit didn't appear to work on either. For months, de Moraes unsuccessfully tested the protein. Then one night, alone in the lab, he decided to try it out on something he didn't expect to work: double-stranded DNA.

DNA is usually found as a double helix, but testing the protein on it in this form "just didn't cross our minds," Mougous says. "It seemed that deaminases only worked on single-stranded DNAend of story."

While precisely editing the DNA in a cell's nucleus (blue) has become easier thanks to advances like CRISPR/Cas-9, it's been much harder to edit DNA in the mitochondria (red). Now, a new tool brings precision gene editing to mitochondrial DNA. Credit: Tslil Ast/Mootha Lab

But the unusual deaminase surprised them. It left the double-stranded DNA in tatters, de Moraes says, weakening the DNA at every spot where it had edited a letter. "BOOM, we had this super-positive result!" he says. "It was probably the most exciting moment of my scientific career."

De Moraes and his colleagues spent the next few months confirming their initial findings. And then, sensing that the lab might be onto something useful for gene editing, Mougous reached out to Liu.

A new editor

Liu's lab was already pushing the boundaries of gene editing. His team had previously developed several precision tools for editing DNA in the cell nucleus, including "base editors" that can change individual letters. But mitochondrial gene editing had been tougher.

The famed CRISPR/Cas9 system relies on a small piece of "guide" RNA to lead the Cas9 enzyme to a specific spot in the genome, where it can snip both strands of DNA. Liu's team's base editors use the same approach. But CRISPR hasn't been able to edit mitochondrial DNAbecause nobody has figured out how to transport guide RNA into mitochondria, Liu says.

A deaminase that worked directly on double-stranded DNA might be a workaroundno guide RNA required, the researchers realized. Liu took Mougous's initial call about the new deaminase during his morning commute and was so caught up in the conversation, he didn't hang up when he arrived at work.

Mougous's new molecule was exciting, but it was a naturally-occurring bacterial toxin, not a ready-made gene editor. Left unchecked, it would rampantly destroy DNA anywhere it could, just as de Moraes had shown in his early lab tests. To "tame the beast," as Liu describes it, he'd have to find a way to prevent the deaminase from altering DNA until it got to just the right spot.

The solution: splitting the protein into two harmless halves. Liu's team, led by graduate student Beverly Mok, relied on 3-D imaging data from Mougous's lab to divide the protein into two pieces. Each piece did nothing on its own, but when reunited, they reconstituted the protein's full power. The team fused each deaminase half to customizable DNA-targeting proteins that did not require guide RNAs. Those proteins bound to specific stretches of DNA, bringing the two halves together. That let the deaminase regain function and work as a precision gene editor -but only once it was correctly positioned.

Liu's team used the technology to make precise changes to specific mitochondrial genes. Then, Mootha's lab, which focuses on mitochondrial biology, ran tests to see whether the edits had the intended effect.

"You could imagine that if you're introducing editing machinery into the mitochondria, you might accidentally cause some sort of a catastrophe," Mootha says. "But it was very clean." The entire mitochondrion functioned well, except for the one part the scientists intentionally edited, he explains.

This mitochondrial base editor is just the beginning, Mougous says. It can change one of the four DNA letters into another. He hopes to find more deaminases that he and Liu can develop into editors able to make other mitochondrial DNA alterations.

"One of the most fun aspects of this work has been the fact that our three labs came together organically," says Liu. "Not because anybody told us to get together and do something, but because that's where the science led us."

Explore further Evolution drives greater risks of mitochondrial disease in males, fruit fly study suggests

More information: A bacterial cytidine deaminase toxin enables CRISPR-free mitochondrial base editing, Nature, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2477-4 , www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2477-4 Journal information: Nature A bacterial cytidine deaminase toxin enables CRISPR-free mitochondrial base editing,
In this Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 photo made available by NASA, Boeing, NASA, and U.S. Army personnel work around the Boeing Starliner spacecraft shortly after it landed in White Sands, N.M. On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, NASA officials said they have identified 80 corrective actions for safety, mostly involving software, that must be implemented before the Starliner capsule launches again. The previous count was 61. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

NASA has added more safety fixes for Boeing's space capsule before it can fly astronauts following a pair of close calls during last year's test flight.

In closing out the seven-month investigation, NASA officials said Tuesday they have now identified 80 corrective actions, mostly involving software and testing, that must be done before the Starliner capsule launches again. The previous count was 61.

"It's a bit of a wake-up call for NASA and its contractors" across the board, said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's commercial crew program.

During its space debut last December with no one on board, the Starliner ended up in the wrong orbit and could not reach the International Space Station. Ground controllers barely had time to solve another software problem that could have destroyed the capsule at flight's end.

Boeing will repeat the flight later this year before attempting to launch astronauts next spring.

SpaceX, meanwhile, successfully launched two NASA astronauts to the space station in May. They will return home next month aboard their Dragon capsule, splashing down off the Florida coast.

In hindsight, NASA did not focus enough on the software portion of the Boeing flight, Stich said. The space agency instead probably concentrated more on SpaceX because of its non-traditional approach to software development, he acknowledged.

Boeing had plenty of experience working on large NASA projects like the space shuttle and space station, and so NASA was "a little more used to the Boeing process," Stich said.

"It's often natural for a human being to spend more time on that newer approach, and maybe we didn't quite take the time we needed with the more traditional approach," he added.

NASA has since added more of its own staff to monitor software development at both Boeing and SpaceX.

NASA is also borrowing SpaceX's "robust" approach to software, which involves going back to the designers following testing for feedback, said Kathy Lueders, NASA's new human spaceflight chief who until a month ago managed commercial crew. She wants to see more of that type of approach across other NASA programs.

Boeing will need several more months to complete its software upgrades and tests before repeating the first test flight, officials said. SpaceX plans to launch a second crew later this summer or early fall.

"This has been a big learning experience for us," Lueders said.

Explore further Boeing hit with 61 safety fixes for astronaut capsule

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In the most comprehensive report to date on the economic implications of protecting nature, over 100 economists and scientists find that the global economy would benefit from the establishment of far more protected areas on land and at sea than exist today. The report considers various scenarios of protecting at least 30% of the world's land and ocean to find that the benefits outweigh the costs by a ratio of at least 5-to-1. The report offers new evidence that the nature conservation sector drives economic growth, delivers key non-monetary benefits and is a net contributor to a resilient global economy.

The findings follow growing scientific evidence that at least 30% of the planet's land and ocean must be protected to address the alarming collapse of the natural world, which now threatens up to one million species with extinction. With such clear economic and scientific data, momentum continues to build for a landmark global agreement that would include the 30% protection target. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity has included this 30% protected area goal in its draft 10-year strategy, which is expected to be finalized and approved by the Convention's 196 parties next year in Kunming, China.

This new independent report, "Protecting 30% of the planet for nature: costs, benefits and economic implications," is the first ever analysis of protected area impacts across multiple economic sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, and forestry in addition to the nature conservation sector. The report measures the financial impacts of protected areas on the global economy and non-monetary benefits like ecosystem services, including climate change mitigation, flood protection, clean water provision and soil conservation. Across all measures, the experts find that the benefits are greater when more nature is protected as opposed to maintaining the status quo.

Currently, roughly 15% of the world's land and 7% of the ocean has some degree of protection. The report finds that the additional protections would lead to an average of $250 billion in increased economic output annually and an average of $350 billion in improved ecosystem services annually compared with the status quo.

Credit: Provided by Campaign for Nature

The nature conservation sector has been one of the fastest growing sectors in recent years and, according to the report, is projected to grow 4-6% per year compared to less than 1% for agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, after the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Protecting natural areas also provides significant mental and physical health benefits and reduces the risk of new zoonotic disease outbreaks such as COVID-19, a value that has not yet been quantified despite the extraordinarily high economic costs of the pandemic. A recent study estimated the economic value of protected areas based on the improved mental health of visitors to be $6 trillion annually.

"Our report shows that protection in today's economy brings in more revenue than the alternatives and likely adds revenue to agriculture and forestry, while helping prevent climate change, water crises, biodiversity loss and disease. Increasing nature protection is sound policy for governments juggling multiple interests. You cannot put a price tag on naturebut the economic numbers point to its protection," said Anthony Waldron, the lead author of the report and researcher focused on conservation finance, global species loss and sustainable agriculture.

The report's authors find that obtaining the substantial benefits of protecting 30% of the planet's land and ocean, requires an average annual investment of roughly $140 billion by 2030. The world currently invests just over $24 billion per year in protected areas.

"This investment pales in comparison to the economic benefits that additional protected areas would deliver and to the far larger financial support currently given to other sectors," said Enric Sala, co-author of this report, explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society and the author of the forthcoming book The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild (August 2020). "Investing to protect nature would represent less than one-third of the amount that governments spend on subsidies to activities that destroy nature. It would represent 0.16% of global GDP and require less investment than the world spends on video games every year."
Moai statues at the Rano Raraku site on Easter Island. Credit: Javier Blanco

Through deep genetic analyses, Stanford Medicine scientists and their collaborators have found conclusive scientific evidence of contact between ancient Polynesians and Native Americans from the region that is now Colombiasomething that's been hotly contested in the historic and archaeological world for decades.

"Genomics is at a stage where it can really make useful contributions to answering some of these open questions," said Alexander Ioannidis, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford. "I think it's really exciting that we, as data scientists and geneticists, are able to contribute in a meaningful way to our understanding of human history."

Before this study was conducted, proponents of Native American and Polynesian interaction reasoned that some common cultural elements, such as a similar word used for a shared agricultural staple, hinted that the two populations had mingled before Europeans settled in South America. Those who disagreed pointed to studies with contrasting conclusions and the fact that the two groups were separated by thousands of miles of open ocean.

This new study is the first to show, through conclusive genetic analyses, that the two groups indeed encountered one another, and did so before Europeans arrived in South America. To conduct the study, Ioannidis and a team of international researchers collected genetic data from more than 800 living Indigenous inhabitants of Colombia and French Polynesia, conducting extensive genetic analyses to find signals of common ancestry. Based on trackable, heritable segments of DNA, the team was able to trace common genetic signatures of Native American and Polynesian DNA back hundreds of years.

"Our laboratory in Mexico has been very interested in understanding the genetic diversity of populations throughout Latin America and, more generally, of underrepresented populations in genomic research," said Andres Moreno-Estrada, Ph.D., professor and head of genomic services at the National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity in Mexico. "Through this research, we wanted to reconstruct the ancestral roots that have shaped the diversity of these populations and answer deep, long-standing questions about the potential contact between Native Americans and Pacific Islanders, connecting two of the most understudied regions of the world."

A paper detailing the study will be published July 8 in Nature. Ioannidis, who conducted much of this work while a graduate student at Stanford's Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, is the lead author. Moreno-Estrada is the senior author.

Polynesian individual with genetic roots tracing back to diverse regions across the Pacific and the Americas, denoting the mixed origin of the population. Credit: Ruben Ramos-Mendoza.

The mystery of the sweet potato

Before the study brought scientific evidence to the debate, the idea that Native Americans and Polynesians had crossed paths originated from a complexboth in its structure and originscarbohydrate: the sweet potato. It turns out the sweet potato, which was originally domesticated in South and Central America, has also been known to grow in one other place prior to European contact. That place is known as Oceania, which consists of many islands, including Polynesia.

"The sweet potato is native to the Americas, yet it's also found on islands thousands of miles away," Ioannidis said. "On top of that, the word for sweet potato in Polynesian languages appears to be related to the word used in Indigenous American languages in the Andes."

The overlap in culture made some archaeologists and historians think it was not only feasible, but likely, that the potato's arrival in Polynesia was the result of the two peoples mingling.

The researchers believe that the Polynesians landed in what is now Colombia. It is also possible, though less likely due to their coastal travel norms, that one or two ships carrying Native Americans could have sailed off course and run into Polynesia, Ioannidis said.

Without scientific evidence, the idea of overlap was just conjecture. Earlier, other groups of researchers turned to the genetics of the sweet potato, hoping to show that the domesticated potatoes from South America and Polynesia were genetically one and the same. But their efforts to trace the tubers have been inconclusive, as the sweet potato's genetic origins were too complex to definitively point to human-mediated spread.

Other studies have analyzed ancient DNA from bones belonging to Native Americans and native Polynesians. Ancient DNA samples, however, are often degraded, so these studies were unable to provide sufficient evidence that the two populations shared a moment in history.

Sunrise at the Tongariki site on Easter Island Credit: Andres Moreno-Estrada

Carriers of history

Ioannidis' team took a different, big data approach, analyzing the DNA of hundreds of Polynesians and Colombians. Before collecting any samples or conducting genetic analyses, the researchers visited the communities to explain the study, gauge interest in participation and ask for consent. The scientists then collected saliva samples from 807 participants on 17 Polynesian islands and 15 Native American groups along the Pacific coast of the Americas from Mexico to Chile, conducting genetic analyses to look for snippets of DNA that are characteristic of each population and for segments that are "identical by descent," meaning they are inherited from the same ancestor many generations ago.

"We found identical-by-descent segments of Native American ancestry across several Polynesian islands," Ioannidis said. "It was conclusive evidence that there was a single shared contact event." In other words, Polynesians and Native Americans met at one point in history, and during that time people from the two cultures produced children with both Native American and Polynesian DNA. Statistical analyses confirmed the event occurred in the Middle Ages, around A.D. 1200, which is "around the time that these islands were originally being settled by native Polynesians," Ioannidis said. Using computational methods developed as part of Ioannidis' graduate work, the team then localized the source of the Native American DNA to modern-day Colombia.

"If you think about how history is told for this time period, it's almost always a story of European conquest, and you never really hear about everybody else," Ioannidis said. "I think this work helps piece together those untold storiesand the fact that it can be brought to light through genetics is very exciting to me."

Explore further Genomic data support early contact between Easter Island and Americas

More information: Native American gene flow into Polynesia predating Easter Island settlement, Nature (2020). Journal information: Nature Native American gene flow into Polynesia predating Easter Island settlement, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2487-2 (2020). www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2487-2
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Army researchers developed a new way to protect and safeguard quantum information, moving quantum networks a step closer to reality.

Quantum information science is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field exploring new ways of storing, manipulating and communicating information. Researchers want to create powerful computational capabilities using new hardware that operates on quantum physics principles.

For the Army, the new quantum paradigms could potentially lead to transformational capabilities in fast, efficient and secure collecting, exchanging and processing vast amounts of information on dynamic battlefields of the future.

Drs. Dan Jones, Brian Kirby and Michael Brodsky from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory, joined by Gabriele Riccardi and Professor Cristian Antonelli from the University of L'Aquila, studied sources of noise in quantum communication channels.

Noise is a common plague of any communicationanyone who has ever used a radio, a walkie-talkie or a phone experienced noisy reception now and then, Brodsky said. Communication engineers devise intricate schemes to remove the noise and to clean the transmitted signal as much as possible.

According to Brodsky, quantum communications are no different in their susceptibility to noise in communication channels. In fact, even more so than the regular classic communications because the quantum signals are extremely low power.

"To engineer a useful quantum network, we need to understand how far, how fast and how reliably we could send quantum information," Brodsky said. "That requires understanding of the noise in communication channels."

As the team modeled, emulated, characterized and measured different types of noise in quantum channels, the researchers realized that while some quantum noise types are impossible to filter out, others could be removed quite easily.

Surprisingly, it turns out that the bad noise could be converted into good noise by simply adding a cheap extra component to the quantum channel. Having this extra control allows them to tweak the channel and to adjust the properties of the noise that masks the transmitted signal.

The overall focus of the lab's Quantum Networking Group is to experimentally explore the most efficient and secure ways to create, store and process quantum information based on state-of-the-art photonic technologies of the day. The main workhorse of the group is the lab's quantum networking testbed that they have built at its headquarters in Adelphi, Maryland. Researchers use the quantum testbed to test-drive various photonic technological approaches to the fast and robust delivery of quantum information over large distances.

"We approach our research quite uniquely by wearing system engineer hats," Jones said.

The research scope of the group spans developing the architecture and operational principles of quantum networks, as well as understanding and mapping technological limitations to its practical implementation, and, finally, inventing methods and techniques to engineer around these limitations. The current research results belong to the latter two categories.

The next projects in the pipeline focus on demonstrating an intriguing way of completely error-free transmission of quantum information. Further down the line is creating a multi-user quantum network testbed deployed in the field and demonstrating secure secret sharing protocols between two distance metropolitan campuses.

The field of quantum information science is booming worldwide as it potentially leads to unsurpassed capabilities in computation, communication and networking. It offers new paradigms in the ways information is being handled, which would lead to secure secret sharing, distributed network sensing and efficient decision making.

"Our research results are a step towards arming the warfighter of the future with quantum advantages and a good example of how operationalizing science results in transformational overmatch," Brodsky said.

The group summarized their research results are in a paper, Exploring classical correlation in noise to recover quantum information using local filtering, accepted by the peer-reviewed New Journal of Physics.

Explore further Scientists revolutionize cybersecurity through quantum research

More information: Daniel Jones et al, Exploring classical correlations in noise to recover quantum information using local filtering, New Journal of Physics (2020). Journal information: New Journal of Physics Daniel Jones et al, Exploring classical correlations in noise to recover quantum information using local filtering,(2020). DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/ab990c
The young tuskers - who rangers estimate are three to four weeks old - were spotted in the Minneriya sanctuary in Sri Lanka

A pair of baby elephants feeding from the same mother have been spotted in a Sri Lankan national park, with officials speculating Wednesday the two could be a rare set of twins.

The young tuskerswho rangers estimate are three to four weeks oldwere spotted in the Minneriya sanctuary about 200 kilometres (125 miles) north-east of Colombo, grazing with a herd of about a dozen elephants.

After observing the pair from a distance, officials are confident enough to "say they are twins," Department of Wildlife Conservation Director-General Tharaka Prasad told AFP.

The two were also photographed feeding from the same cow on Monday by renowned conservationist Sumith Pilapitiy, who also told AFP he believed the two were twins.

Rangers were carrying out DNA tests on the herd's dung to confirm, Prasad said.

If the results matched, it would mark the first time wildlife officials on the Indian Ocean island had sighted twins alongside their mother, he added.

The sighting was near the area where seven elephants died from poisoning in September, in an act blamed on local farmers.

Nearly 200 elephants are killed every year on the island, many by farmers after the pachyderms stray onto their land.

Marauding elephants kill an average of 50 people annually, mostly when they stray into villages near their habitat.

The country's elephant population has declined to just over 7,000 according to the latest census, down from an estimated 12,000 in the early 1900s.

Explore further Three more elephants killed in Sri Lanka, bringing toll to seven

 2020 AFP
Microsoft, Zoom, Facebook, Google and Twitter are vetting the implications of the new law for their users. The legislation requires them to work with investigations. For analysts, tech giants are taking their time, but in the past, they have worked with China. This might change if the Trump administration intervenes.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  The list of high-tech giants that will not provide for now Hong Kong authorities with information on their users is growing.

Yesterday, Microsoft and Zoom joined Facebook, Google and Twitter, stating that they want to assess the impact of Chinas new national security law on Hong Kong, including human rights, before making a final decision.

So far, the major US tech companies have operated in Hong Kong without restrictions, receiving only a small number of requests regarding users.

The new legislation, which criminalises separatism, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, require the telecom giants to work with the police of the former British colony.

In order to conform with the security law, they must close the personal accounts of people under investigation, share their personal data, and delete posts and comments.

For analysts, the multinationals are taking their time, as they face the dilemma of saving their business interests in China and Hong Kong or protect the rights of their users as required by the United States government.

In the past Apple, Yahoo and Cisco gave in to Beijing's demands, sharing customer data and information, and taking part in building its firewall. The latter allows Chinese authorities to control internet traffic, and in some cases, led to the arrest of political activists and journalists.

In June, Zoom, the video-conferencing programme, suspended the accounts of some activists for commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. At present, at the request of the Chinese government, the US-based company is studying ways to exclude Chinese residents from using its service.

According to several observers, the picture could change if the Trump administration imposes sanctions on US technology companies that work with the Chinese government in implementing the new security law.

Technological dominance is a key aspect of the great geopolitical battle between the two superpowers.
Dec. 10, 1926  June 21, 2020

QUEENSBURY  Phyllis M. Mann died at home at the Glen in Queensbury on June 21, 2020, a day of brilliant sunlight on the longest day of the year.

Phyllis was born on December 10, 1926 in Binghamton, New York, the daughter of Erma Jaquay Smith and Philip Walker Smith, the younger sister by two years, to the day, of Loring Burr Smith. Phylliss memories of growing up were free spirited and happy, from roller-skating several miles to her piano lessons to attending neighborhood churches regardless of denomination, based on their activities for teenagers. Swimming and boating summers on the nearby Finger Lakes, Phylliss father built a cottage on Keuka, the smallest Finger Lake.

Salutatorian of her high school class, Phyllis headed off to the University of Michigan. She thrived at the U of M, achieving Phi Beta Kappa in her Junior year. A superb Jeopardy player, far better than her husband or daughters, when asked where she had acquired so much knowledge, Phyllis would shrug and say that much of it was from her basic college courses in History, Literature, Psychology, 70 years before!
It was huge that we were able to receive this funding, he said. It allowed us to keep our staff on, so that when things did improve, we were able to resume normal operations much faster.

The nonprofit operates lodges in the Lake George area, which have only just resumed operations following the shutdown, Brosseau said.

Cash for more than staff

Business owners have used the funding for a variety of reasons.

Funds can be used to pay overhead costs, including mortgages, rent and utilities.

George Pensel, the owner of Boats by George, said he would have been able to continue operations even without receiving a PPP loan, but borrowed money anyway to pay his staff, because he has concerns about the long-term economic impact the virus will have on his business.

Pensel said he received around $500,000 in funding.

Were not looking at this like just what happened, he said. Were looking at this as whats going to happen.

Carr, too, said hes concerned about the future.

The loan has helped in the short-term, but hes hoping business continues to pick up as the summer wears on.
We can come up with a structure that can support the borrowers need, he said. I dont think theres a one-stop, cookie-cutter approach here.

Representatives from both banks said additional funding may be allocated, depending on demand.

Costs to upgrade a failing septic system vary. A new system typically costs between $17,000 and $30,000, depending on its size.

Faulty septic systems are one of the biggest threats to the lakes health, Siy said.

Nutrients entering the lake from faulty systems feed invasive algal blooms and contaminate drinking water.

An estimated 6,000 septic systems are located around the lake, and an estimated two-thirds of them may be failing, according to the Fund.

A study last year by the organizations Waterkeeper program analyzed 400 septic systems along the lake. Two-thirds of the systems were near or past their life expectancy, which can be as long as 40 years, depending on the system.

One out of five systems analyzed in the study were found to be undersized, and half had no maintenance records.
 Litter pickup. Keep Scott County Beautiful will receive $2,000 to restock supplies for the 16th annual Xstream Cleanup.

Rather than host a single big cleanup day, the new model is to have hundreds of volunteers worth throughout the year in areas of their choosing.

 Water quality sampling. Partners of Scott County Watersheds will receive $1,835 to buy equipment to do water quality sampling, rather than having to borrow from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The equipment will allow the organization to continue its spring, summer and fall "snapshot" volunteer water quality monitoring and contribute to its 20+ years of water quality data.

 Bluebells. River Action, Inc. will receive $1,500 to do a bluebell planting in Davenport's Junge Park. In partnership with the city of Davenport, a section of land will be planted in native prairie and woodland plants. Initial work will include removing invasive plant species growing there now, including honeysuckle, red canary grass, Japanese hops and garlic mustard.
Lehman also asked Hart how farmers can be better connected to local communities through grocery stores and schools.

Hart acknowledged the need for more grocery stores in small and rural communities, saying their presence would create a positive ripple effect.

"A lot of people are 30 miles or more from a grocery store where they can buy a decent head of lettuce or good produce," she said. "Very few (stores) are left because they've been squeezed out of the market. Yet we have some of the best farmland in the world right here, and it doesn't take very many acres to (grow) a ton of produce. But we lack the way to bring those things together."

Hart said communities should sponsor entrepreneurs willing to grow produce, build greenhouses and work with local school districts and FFA groups to provide students with nutritious food and small grocery stores with products.
Todd Maisch, president of the Illinois Chamber, said at the news conference the coalition  which he is hopeful will grow to include several more business groups  was not prepared to address how much it was willing to spend on the fight.

However, there will be resources, he said. But again, the important thing is we don't need to match the proponent spending. We only have to go ahead and be competitive. We don't need to spend dollar for dollar because this is, frankly, an unpopular idea once voters figure out what's really going on.  If the proponents were certain that they had this in the bag, would they have written a $51 million check? I don't think so.

The news conference prompted a swift pushback from pro-amendment groups, including from Vote Yes for Fair Tax, another committee backed by community and advocacy groups, labor organizations and faith groups.

Working people overwhelmingly support the fair tax amendment because everyone who makes under $250,000 will get a tax cut or pay no more, John Bouman, the groups chairman, said in a news release.

The rate structure
But they didn't. When the Ukraine whistleblower approached the House Intelligence Committee last fall for informal guidance on whistleblower procedures, Ratcliffe railed against both the whistleblower and the committee's chairman, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Haspel's public silence spoke volumes.

If either had spoken up to protect an intelligence officer who followed the rules and made a protected disclosure, then the recent leaks of sensitive intelligence could have been made to the congressional intelligence committees rather than to the news media. But under our current whistleblower system, making a disclosure directly to these committees is difficult, to say the least. As the public learned last year, our intelligence whistleblower protections are a patchwork of laws and policies, and disclosures must be made to certain people to trigger protections from reprisal.

Congress needs to clarify these protections to ensure that whistleblowers can come directly to the relevant congressional committees with their concerns. Even if the concern is something seemingly small, the consequences of inaction can be deadly. Lawmakers, the intelligence community's overseers, deserve to know. They can seek corrective action on whistleblowers' behalf; securely, maintaining the information's secrecy while examining the problems.
What I love about Charles Village, besides the house stock, is the mix of people associated with University living, she said. They are artists, they are engaged, they are tolerant, they are thinkers. That makes up for the parts that I dont like so much, she said. Im determined to find a way to bring the optimism from the new life that comes from an education of young people.
Just for fun

Comic books and cosplay lovers, unite! The Davenport Quad Con Comic & Toy Show, hosted by Quad Con Comic & Toy Show, Cool Stuff, and Mellow Blue Planet Comics & Collectibles, is coming up from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 11, at Golden Leaf Banquet Hall, 2902 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport.

Admission is free.

The event will feature art, toys, games, comics and more, as well as a live auction around 1:30 p.m. to benefit the Helping Hannah's Heart Foundation. Cosplay is encouraged. Masks must be worn.

For more information, visit bit.ly/2YNQbep.

With the family

Looking for a turtley good time with your toddler? The Nahant Marsh Education Center will host Toddler Tales: Turtle Time, from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, outside the center, 4220 Wapello Ave., Davenport, for kids ages 3 to 5 and one adult per child.

Learn about the turtle species that live in Iowa, meet Nahants resident turtles, and more. There also will be a story, craft and snack, according to the Facebook event page.
Documentaries fascinate me.

I could watch documentaries all day  upon occasion, I have.

They are so often movies made from the heart. Someone has to become intrigued with a topic  a situation or a person, generally  enough to have the patience to assemble them, to pursue them and to try to find an audience for them.

There are a lot of documentaries available, but sometimes you have to look pretty hard to find them. Among the new ones is Money Machine, directed by Ram Denison.

Its a film about a massacre in Las Vegas, and why you may have forgotten about it. It has mystery, politics and crime in its brief run time. It will appeal to true-crime enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists alike.

This is what the director himself has to say about the movie in his online statement: Money Machine exposes a rigged game of corrupt policing and corporate cover-ups that I never would have been able to expose without the cooperation of the retired cops who provided it.
"We have to do the right thing as a community, and we have to keep everyone safe," Kobylski said.

Pleasant Valley parents responded in April to a district-wide survey giving them options to celebrate graduation, with administrators agreeing to a traditional ceremony held outdoors in the high school's Spartan Stadium.

The school district sent emails and text messages to parents Tuesday morning with the cancellation announcement, also citing an increase in COVID-19 cases and the potential risk to students and families.

"It is with deepest regret, the Pleasant Valley Community School District is canceling live graduation," the email read. "Due to the increased cases of COVID among our students and the community, we do not want to jeopardize the health of our families. It is not wise to have over 1,000 students and family members in our stadium as the cases continue to increase. Therefore, the decision has been made to cancel the ceremony this coming Saturday, July 11.

"We will hand out diplomas to each student when he or she would have picked up their tickets today and tomorrow. Please know this decision was not made lightly. It is a disappointment for us as much as it is for your student and your family. This is truly unfortunate for our students, and we apologize that we are not able to hold a live ceremony."
We continue to see a growing number of people in their teens, 20s and 30s test positive for COVID-19. In fact, 20 of todays cases are patients younger than 40 years old, Nita Ludwig, administrator of the Rock Island County Health Department, said in a news release Wednesday. No one knows how their body will react to this new virus. Weve seen younger people become seriously ill and die. We also are significantly concerned about younger patients who have mild symptoms exposing more vulnerable people. This virus is especially serious to older people and those with underlying health conditions.

Scott County Health Department Director Ed Rivers said once the numbers started to climb, the higher infection rates among younger people should not have been a surprise.

Young people want to be out, they want to socialize, Rivers said in a recent Q-C COVID-19 press briefing. No one can blame them for that. But we soon saw bars packed shoulder-to-shoulder. We saw little social distancing and few people wearing masks.

The need to get out after three long months of a near-shutdown was very real. But we have to keep safety measures in place to try to keep people safe.

Ludwig pointed out being young and seemingly healthy is not a free pass through COVID-19 infection.
In most infectious-disease modeling, you project different scenarios based on assumptions made up front, said Santillana, director of the Machine Intelligence Lab at Boston Childrens Hospital and an assistant professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at Harvard. What were doing here is observing, without making assumptions. The difference is that our methods are responsive to immediate changes in behavior and we can incorporate those.
The university last week reversed course on a plan to bring students to campus, saying classes will be hosted primarily or exclusively online. Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and Rutgers in New Jersey this week made similar announcements amid surging COVID-19 cases.

Johnson worries that even students who start off on campus will be prevented by travel restrictions from going home if a surge forces classes online mid-semester.

What if a student like that, who for no fault of their own, finds themselves here without their classes and ends up in a detention center or deported? she said.

Professors fielded messages from frantic students seeking assurances that at least some of their courses would be face-to-face.

They are, of course, all concerned, said University of Iowa Associate Professor Jan Wessel. I am on board with anything we can do to circumnavigate these circumstances, and Im willing to do any in-person arrangement if it helps a student.

But Wessel, who runs the university's cognitive neurology lab, said it was more important to take a stand against the policy and say politics should not use our students as a poker chip in whatever they are trying to do. He said he would suspend his teaching if any of his students was forced out.
So districts are attempting to plan for myriad contingencies. There is no state-required date by which districts must determine which plan to employ; Williamson said those decisions will be made at the district level.

The unfortunate thing is its hard because there is no date. The virus isnt giving us a date we can work with, Williamson said. That is difficult, and I think its hard for administrators.

The state also issued public health guidance for districts, but that was met with widespread condemnation from the education community. Among other items that upset educators, the guidance provided jointly by the state education and public health departments did not require or even recommend the use of face masks or shields for students or staff.

Mike Beranek, president of the Iowa State Education Association, which represents roughly 40,000 public education workers, called the state re-opening guidance irresponsible, ambiguous and contradictory.

We were frustrated and angry on behalf of the students and staff who are affected, Beranek said during an online news conference. Our school districts are looking for clear guidance based on science and health. That should not be hard.
And theres surely something to this. I dont think any other advanced country (but are we still an advanced country?) has a comparable number of people who respond with rage when asked to wear a mask in a supermarket. There definitely isnt any other advanced country where demonstrators against public health measures would wave guns around and invade state capitols. And the Republican Party is more or less unique among major Western political parties in its hostility to science in general.
At least in Iowa, it seemed to me theyre trying to teach at least the principles of government, he said. Grassley, a history buff, said its important that history is taught because you got to understand the past if youre going to see a path forward, a pathway forward for the future.

He did share another speakers concern with the removal of historical monuments, some of which have been criticized as racially or culturally insensitive.

Grassley said he thinks its the duty of the federal government to protect monuments on federal property, and to have a process for determining if they come down and how they come down, as opposed to having mobs tear them down.

In response to questions about privacy concerns of companies collecting personal information and sometimes selling it, Grassley said there are discussions in Congress about regulating the process but it is not going to be an easy process.

California has taken the lead on addressing privacy issues with a state law that sets rules and allows people to see the data a company has collected about them. Grassley said the state has followed the lead of the European Union, which he said is considering even more extensive privacy protections.
Belvadine took the position of Receptionist/Cashier/Bookkeeper a the Crawford Hospital, that was operated by the Lutheran Hospital and Homes Society of Fargo, ND, in 1953 on a part time basis, but soon moved into the full-time position. She accepted the position of Administrator of the hospital in 1962, having completed a course in hospital administration from the University of St. Louis, MO. Her husband was transferred to the power plant in Chadron in 1960, and the family moved to Chadron. Belle commuted to Crawford for the next 10 years. spending four months in 1970 at the home office in Fargo. She was offered another position as hospital administrator in New Mexico, but chose to return to Chadron where she took a position with Ross Transfer in Chadron, as a Rate/Auditor, a position which she held until 1988, when she retired.

Through the years, Belle has been active in the Methodist Church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, the Women's Society and chairing various committees, including the History and Record Committee of the Chadron church for many years. She became a member of the Dawes County Historical Society when they moved to Chadron, and has been actively associated with the museum, having served as President and Vice President for several years, and Director of the museum from 1991 to 2008. She edited the newsletter for the society and the Golden Age courier for many years. She was instrumental in the publishing of the Diaries of Billy the Bear Iaeger in 1990, a primary source of information about Chadron and this area. She resigned as Director of the museum in 2008, but continued to be the research/membership chairman, and an active volunteer until 2017.
In one teachers English class, I read Black Like Me, the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. While these landmark texts represent the pinnacle of my education on race, all were published before 1962  a distant past when I graduated in 2017. Further, I am disgusted by the lack of representation for Native American perspectives.

Our schools need to integrate modern titles like The Hate U Give, Just Mercy, and The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace which not only reflect our times, but are digestible for young audiences. Books like On the Rez  taking place on the Pine Ridge reservation  and There There offer perspective on the Native American experience in South Dakota and America.

When I left Rapid City for College in Minnesota, I had to confront the failures of the education I received on race. While some of my peers lamented the redundancy of being retaught concepts, I rushed to grip ideas like microaggressions (comments or actions that indirectly discriminate against historically marginalized peoples) and intersectionality (the overlap of identities that highlight interdependent oppressive systems; for instance, a Black woman will face increased discrimination within Black communities for being a woman, and heightened disadvantage amongst woman for being Black.)
The title for this column is not meant to make light of papyrophobia. Rather my opinion piece discusses the wrongheadedness of censorship exercised by those in control whether organizations, the media, government or business. Fear in the title refers to the state of mind of a censor. Censorship by those in power has and always will be with us. The best we can hope is when brought to light censorship might be reduced. Censorship is an advanced restraint on the expression of ideas. Censorship might be imposed by those who do not know what is yet to be said or written - consider the reputed policy of the British Board of Film in years past: the board may not know the content of the message, but in the boards opinion it is doubtless objectionable.
News

Microsoft Partners with Movial To Bring Android to Surface

Microsoft is adding more Android expertise to its in-house engineering teams via a deal with Movial, a software engineering and design services company based in Helsinki, Finland.

According to reports this week, Microsoft is recruiting Movial's Romanian operations to develop an Android-based operating system for the Microsoft Devices business segment, which oversees the building of Surface PCs and other Microsoft hardware devices. About 60 Movial employees will join the Microsoft Devices business segment under the deal, according to a SeeNews account.

Movial's office in lasi, Romania will become a Microsoft research and development center as well, the SeeNews account explained. Neither Microsoft nor Movial published an announcement describing the deal, although Microsoft confirmed to the press that it had hired Movial employees.

Press accounts have suggested that Microsoft isn't buying Helsinki, Finland-based Movial, a private company with offices in lasi, Taipei, Redwood City, Calif. and Seattle. Instead, they suggested that Movial previously worked with Microsoft on developing an Android-based operating system for the Surface Duo device. With the Movial deal, Microsoft is now bringing those Android development efforts in house, they indicated.

According to an AndroidCentral story by Zac Bowden, Microsoft bought Movial's local development support in "Romania, Taiwan and the USA" to work full time on the Surface Duo. He cited a Movial spokesperson as indicating that "Movial will continue operating as an independent company going forward."

The notion that Movial employees are working on an Android OS for the Surface Duo, with its foldable screens, just comes from press accounts. Microsoft had introduced the Surface Duo back in October as a pocket-size device for making phone calls. It was said to run using the new Windows 10X operating system that was "building upon Android."

In May of this year, Microsoft announced a turnabout with Windows 10X, indicating that it was now building the OS for single-screen devices first, with a possibility of entering the dual-screen market at a later time.
When Grace was 3, Matt and Kristen Wilsey found out why  Grace had a genetic disorder so rare only one other child in the world, a little boy in Utah, was known to have it. It was caused by a mutation in a gene, NGLY1, but scientists did not know what that gene did or why a mutation would result in such devastating effects. They didnt know how the disease would progress or if Grace would die young.
Deputies involved in a late-night shooting Tuesday on Whippoorwill Road describe a harrowing scene of an ambush along a dark and woodsy driveway. So dark was the night deputies had to look for the light of gunfire to identify where the suspect was hiding.

Two deputies, along with the suspect, were shot. One deputy was released. The other is in serious condition at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where the suspect is also listed in serious condition.

Wythe County sheriffs deputies were called to the home at in the 500 block of Whippoorwill Road shortly before 10 p.m. Maj. Anthony Cline with the sheriffs office said that the suspects wife called 911 to report that during an argument her husband had fired a gun in the house. She took her daughter and ran from the home, a log house at the end of a winding asphalt driveway.

According to Cline, officers, believing the suspect was still in the home, gathered at the top of the driveway.

He and a Virginia State Police trooper hopped in a state police armored personnel carrier and started down the driveway. A group of law enforcement officers followed.

We were going to negotiate, tell him to come out with your hands up, that kind of thing, Cline said.
Washington and Lee Universitys board of trustees on Tuesday announced the creation of a board committee to review the schools Confederate ties, including the schools name.

This announcement comes after support from many campus groups, including the student government and a majority of the faculty, to drop Robert E. Lee from the universitys name.

The Board recognizes the dissonance between our namesakes connections to slavery and their significant contributions to the university, board Rector Mike McAlevey wrote in an email to the campus community. And we are committed to a deep and detailed review of our symbols and our name with the intention of securing the brightest possible future for this institution.

In the past, the board has expressed its wish to retain Lees presence both in the name of the university and on campus. But amid nationwide calls for the removal of Confederate symbols following the killing of George Floyd, the push for a name change is stronger than ever.

The board committee, composed of 10 current trustees, will collect input from all W&L constituencies, gather and analyze data and consult experts, according to the email. There is no timetable for this work, but the email said it will be a primary focus for the board.
Gov. Ralph Northam has signed legislation banning the use of handheld mobile devices, but it wont go into effect until next year to give time to train law enforcement and educate the public.

Northam signed the bills Wednesday during a virtual ceremony, where he was joined by state lawmakers who sponsored the bills as well as people who have been advocating for addressing the problem of distracted driving.

This is going to save lives, said Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, who sponsored the legislation. Its unusual we can definitively say that about a piece of legislation. But anybody who drives on highways in the commonwealth knows that this problem is an epidemic, and as our phones become more powerful and as traffic becomes worse, people have let their guard down and let these things distract them more and more.

The law, which will go into effect Jan. 1, will prohibit people from holding a handheld communications device while driving. Its a primary offense, which means police can pull a driver over for that alone. First-time offenders face a fine of $125, and additional offenses are a fine of $250.

Virginia law already prohibits texting and emailing while driving, but phone use is otherwise not restricted, except in highway work zones.
Were just trying to help them fit the guidelines to their individual situations, she said.

The updated school guidance can give schools added flexibility depending on their building layouts, she said.

And I think everybody knows its very important for children to be in school to learn, and theyll have a better experience overall  this isnt just about health, its about social and intellectual and cognitive development, she said, adding that its impossible to frame it from just a COVID prevention point of view.

Guidance may continue to change between now and the start of the school year, she said.

I think what people are gearing up to is to create an environment thats as safe as it can be based on the knowledge we have now and give parents options for their level of comfort, she said.

In Mondays letter to superintendents and local school districts, State Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver and Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane wrote that the update reflects the latest science, and the best public health guidance and recommendations available intended to reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in school settings.
A passenger was killed during the holiday weekend when a Jeep Cherokee crashed through a fence and struck a tree, according to the Virginia State Police.

The wreck happened around 6:39 a.m. Friday in Bedford County south of Moneta on Radford Church Road (State Route 654), less than a mile east of Tuck Road, officials said.

The victims name wasnt immediately released Tuesday as investigators were awaiting positive confirmation of the persons identity.

The driver, whose name also wasnt immediately released, was treated at a hospital for minor injuries, authorities said. The state police said charges are pending but had not been filed as of Tuesday.

Officials said the crash happened when a 1994 Jeep Cherokee traveling westbound veered off the right side of the road, hit a post, and crashed through a fence.

The Jeep continued into a field and struck a tree, authorities said. The impact of the crash sparked a vehicle fire.

The passenger died at the scene, officials said. The state police investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
In 2015, the Virginia Department of Forensic Science said it handled the DNA testing in roughly 700 kits per year with a turnaround time of 72 days. On Wednesday, the department said the turnaround time averaged 120 days and noted that state law now requires that police submit all collected kits for testing within 60 days.

Herring, however, said Wednesday that too often, cases were not given the seriousness that they deserved, some of them were swept up under the rug, and those days are over.

He said that he has spoken with many rape victims. When they heard that we were going to eliminate the backlog of untested kits, it meant so much to them because ... then they knew that their Commonwealth understood how serious an offense that was and that we would stand with them.

Debbie Smith, a sexual assault survivor and victim advocate, was raped in 1989 and her assailant  a man in prison for other assaults  was implicated in 1995 by a DNA cold hit, the fourth such hit in Virginia.

Her assailant was convicted as a result of DNA evidence. She said that after the trial, she was taken to a room and shown a storage area holding sexual assault rape kits and told that there was no money to test them.

That is what got me started in my advocacy because I knew what the testing of my kit gave me, it gave me freedom, she said. With her cold case solved, she said she could walk comfortably in her own neighborhood for the first time since she was attacked.
The 22-foot bronze Stuart statue was unveiled at the beginning of a Confederate reunion on May 30, 1907, at the intersection of Lombardy Street and Monument. An animated portrayal of the cavalry commander was the theme for British-American sculptor Frederick Moynihan.

Stuart was born in Patrick County, along the North Carolina border, in 1833. He was wounded in the Battle of Yellow Tavern in Henrico County and died the next day  May 12, 1864  at the home of his brother-in-law. A Virginia Historical Marker on the sidewalk at 200 W. Grace Street marks where the house stood. Stuart is buried in Hollywood Cemetery.

Since protests against police brutality erupted in Richmond on May 28, the J.E.B. Stuart monument has been blazoned with spray paint messages and become a popular skateboarding spot.

The site has also seen at least one violent police confrontation. On June 21, after protesters tied ropes around the statue and appeared poised to pull it down, police declared an unlawful assembly and launched tear gas to disperse the crowd. Six people were arrested.

On Tuesday, the paint-spattered Stuart statue went from its plinth to a flatbed trailer within four hours. It will be put into storage until the city determines its final resting place.
The proposed change in Boring is one of thousands submitted as part of Baltimore Countys once-every-four-years zoning open call, known as the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process. Anyone can submit a change for any property in the county. The process gathers input from residents, property owners, the county Planning Board, county staff, and County Council. The council makes the final decision  often deferring to the council member who represents the area of the proposed change  on whether to change zoning with a vote by September.
Why were the soldiers there? Because their government told them to go. Volunteers or draftees, they all went because politicians told them to go. They suffered shot and shell, starvation, unimaginable wounds and indignities most cannot imagine. They were told they were doing it to protect their country and way of life. Most had no understanding about politics of the day. They fought for their country. They stood for bravery, loyalty, honor and duty. It did not matter if it were Gen. Robert E. Lee, Gen. Stonewall Jackson, Pvt. Jefferson VMI Corps of Cadets, or Pvt. Ryan on Omaha Beach, they all fought for their country, not their politicians. Now we blame them for injustices politicians created. We no longer look at their sacrifices. We only see the uniform of the country for which they fought. Why do we blame soldiers? They were instruments of politicians elected by the people. Soldiers say, you fight for your buddy. They are our neighbors, sons, daughters, Americans all. For reasons of the day we want to destroy memories of the sacrifice they made for their countrymen. We want to tear down statues, rename streets, parks and cemeteries, many their final resting place. We forget that sacrifice for ones country is timeless. Many gave their all.
We list all those names to make a point: We dont know what Chase is trying to do here, but she is not coming from  or going to  a place where any Republican nominee for governor has ever been before. Perhaps that is entirely her point. Holton used his inaugural address to declare that we must see that no citizen of the commonwealth is excluded from full participation in both the blessings and responsibilities of our society because of his race. Chase, meanwhile, complains (in an earlier statement) about erasing the history of the white people.

Chase may call herself a Republican, but she is very much at odds with the history of the Republican Party  and, as weve seen, even much of the Republican Party as presently constituted. This is a problem for her, politically, but its also a problem for the Republican Party itself, just in a different way. Does the Republican Party want to be associated with the type of people that Chase is associating herself with here?
Since its inception in 2016, the New River Valley chapter of Virginia Organizing, a statewide grassroots non-partisan organization dedicated to fighting injustice, has worked to address racism and racial disparities in discipline and educational attainment in Montgomery County Public Schools. Beginning in May 2017, we pressed the MCPS School Board to issue a statement affirming its commitment to inclusivity and racial equality in the schools. The statement was passed in February 2018. Last year and this year, we held Education Justice Forums that gave directly affected students and parents an opportunity to voice their concerns and push for change. For the past 13 months, we have been engaged in an effort to get MCPS to update its Memoranda of Understanding with local law enforcement agencies to reflect state guidance and clearer accountability for school resource officers. We are still waiting on signatures and closures for those MOUs.
There are lots of missing days in the data before 1952, including some years in the late 1940s with almost no snow at Blacksburg and considerably more at Roanoke, which is doubtful.

Still, other than that odd dip in the 1940s that briefly goes below 10 inches, Blacksburgs 10-year average annual snowfall generally stays between 20 and 25 inches, about what wed expect, almost reaching 30 inches briefly in the 1970s.

The rainfall data also shows many missing days in the early part of the record period, but some of that may be days that had no rain being recorded as missing data rather than zero. In 1898-99, Blacksburg got more than 51 inches of rain, but the data lacks 157 days  its a good bet most of those 157 days were days it just didnt rain.

Blacksburgs 10-year average rainfall generally stays between 35 and 45 inches though the period of record, with a couple of brief boosts over that near 1980, and is near 44 inches now.

As for temperatures, Blacksburgs data displays much the same pattern as Roanoke, with a peak in the 1930s and 40s, a dip toward the 1960s-70s, and a gradual climb ever since.
Several inter-country tours are now being prepared to meet this new demand, and Ho Chi Minh City is promoting joint regional tours for travelers looking to sightsee new places or simply to relax. Most recently, Ho Chi Minh City has joined hands with the Provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh to develop strong regional tourism packages.

Speaking with Saigon Investment, Mr. BUI TA HOANG VU, Director of the Department of Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City, said that first they must affirm that the Southeast Region is rich in tourism resources, as previously there has been no such attempt at developing these areas.

According to Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Ho Chi Minh City is now playing a central role after the realization that there is more of an urgent need to connect with other provinces in the region to create interesting tourism products in line with new tourist trends. That is the main reason for the cooperation between several southern regions in developing Southeast tourism packages.

In the first instance, the regions by way of location complement each other. In order to unify complementary tourism products, a tourism delegation of Ho Chi Minh City and five provinces conducted surveys of destinations in each locality to create interesting tour itineraries.

Secondly, by linking promotional activities through many channels, such as participating in fairs at home and abroad, or on media channels, the products can reach a diverse number of intended visitors. For instance, if visitors to Ho Chi Minh City want to have a beach holiday they can link with a tour going to Ba Ria-Vung Tau. If tourists want to visit a historical religious site, then the unique architectures in Toa Thanh Cao Dai in Tay Ninh can prove to be attractive, while Binh Phuoc can offer agro-forestry sites, Binh Duong has a trade village, and Dong Nai has relics and architecture dating hundreds of years.

Thirdly, it is important to share links in training human resources, a very decisive factor in tourism activities. Ho Chi Minh City has the advantage of being a national training center, is well versed in tourism and can provide strong link support to other provinces. In turn, local artisans across many fields can enliven tourism activities in Ho Chi Minh City.

Fourthly, cooperation calls for huge investment in tourism infrastructure. Ho Chi Minh City and localities annually organize forums calling for investments in tourism so that investors can access information of the whole region, and the possibility of expanding tourism development infrastructure in each locality.

Fifthly, sharing information jointly in management and policy-making to develop a smart tourism infrastructure is absolutely imperative.

JOURNALIST: - Sir, in some localities tourism products are not really attracting many tourists. Does this make it difficult for businesses to build online inter-regional tours?

Mr. BUI TA HOANG VU: - In tourism development there can be no uniformity between localities. There are places with many outstanding products but also where new products need to be exploited. When linking travel, we see the potential in all products. Enterprises also recognize popular tourism potentials and are building attractive inter-regional tours based on this information, such as tours of Ho Chi Minh City-Tay Ninh that have only just started.

The formation of regional links in tourism comes from the needs in the business. Especially in the context of domestic tourism becoming an important target to recover tourism in the aftermath of the pandemic. In parallel to forming complementary tourism products, the connection between provinces and cities will also encourage more local people to travel. Ho Chi Minh City also wants to attract tourists from other localities to come to taste the cuisine, enjoy a drink, shop in its markets and malls or even stay for the best medical attention.

- With Ho Chi Minh City playing a leading role in building tourism links, what is the City planning on the development of new tourism products?

- In the process of creating interesting tourist links with regions, we are facing a challenge in lack of uniformity in tourism infrastructure as it is not easy to create products of uniform quality. In addition, we also have difficulty in connecting traffic in waterways and roads, which affects costs when planning tour routes. Another difficulty is a similarity in geography, soil, and cultural regions, so creating products that are different and competitive as well as attractive also bring challenges for product designers.

According to an evaluation done by a German Consultancy Group that is planning a tourism development strategy for Ho Chi Minh City, we need to refresh and upgrade the products altogether, and the City's advantages in cultural history, cuisine and shopping must be highlighted. In a survey of visitors to Ho Chi Minh City, 54% of foreign visitors come to the City because of its past history.

Ho Chi Minh City is also a base for the convergence of workers, experts, artisans from many regions. They come to study, work and bring with them part of their own indigenous regional culture. In particular, Ho Chi Minh City has many shopping centers, and many traditional markets to meet the diverse needs of visitors. This is an advantage for the City and in the future, the City also plans to develop more medical tourism products. We are trying to survey, evaluate, and then recommend to visitors the unique features of Ho Chi Minh City.

- Thank you very much.

Thanh Dung (Interviewer)
This report was compiled by Mike Hodgson, associate editor for the Santa Maria Times. He can be reached at mhodgson@santamariatimes.com.
In this file photo from May 2018, Patrick Rigali participates in an address to the St. Joseph High School graduating class. Rigali was the senior class president that year.
 CNNs Fareed Zakaria Declares That Israel Does Not Want Peace | Main | When TV Interviews of Ilhan Omar Constitute Journalistic Malpractice 

July 07, 2020

Boston TV Station WCVB Teamed Up With Terrorist Supporter CAIR

WCVB-TV (channel 5) (Bostons ABC network affiliate) recently misled area viewers about a matter involving antisemitic propaganda. This occurred on its local Sunday show Cityline hosted by Karen Holmes Ward who is described by the television station as Director of Public Affairs and Community Services as well as host and executive producer of CityLine, WCVB's award-winning weekly magazine program which addresses the accomplishments, concerns and issues facing people of color living in Boston and its suburbs.

Curiously, WCVB deemed the aftermath of George Floyd's murder an opportune moment to re-air a CityLine broadcast about the negative reaction to Member of Congress Ilhan Omar's comments that were widely condemned as antisemitic.

The broadcast

John Robbins (of CAIR) and Karen Holmes Ward (WCVB host)

The May 31, 2020 CityLine, focusing on the Boston area Muslim community, featured an interview with John Robbins, the executive director of the Massachusetts chapter of CAIR, designated an unindicted co-conspirator in a criminal conspiracy to help fund Hamas.

Ward, noting that Ilhan Omars comments led to a U.S. House of Representatives resolution condemning antisemitism and other forms of hate, asked Robbins about his view that Islamophobia, rather than the nature of Omar's remarks, were driving criticism of Omars comments that were akin to classic antisemitic propaganda. Thats in the pot along with anti-black racism, responded CAIR's Robbins, apparently understanding that linking Omar's critics with anti-black racists demonizes them yet more.

Ward asked, Do you feel politicians on both sides are treating her [Omar] harsher because she is Muslim? Over and over again, answered Robbins.

Ward pointed out that Omar's words are thought to denigrate the Jewish community, but even this, she suggests, is a solely Jewish-centric view, turning to Robbins to confirm that "in the larger world" Omar's views are not necessarily considered antisemitic. She asks: In fairness to the Jewish community, many feel her comments were inappropriate. How are her comments being interpreted to the larger world?

She [Omar] apologized for anyone offended by that  [but] the idea is that anybody should be able to freely criticize any individual lobbying organization in the U.S., argued Robbins, adding, Our hope is that this could be a breakthrough moment in which American Muslims can feel open to discuss any issues without taboo affecting our community, especially those in the Palestinian community who have felt they have not been able to discuss important issues.

But whats the evidence that Palestinians and other Muslims have fear, or reason to fear, to openly state their views on important issues? The host fails to ask. Meanwhile, viewers were left in the dark about what CAIR and Ilhan Omar are really all about.

 In a November 2012 tweet, Omar accused Israel of hypnotizing the world, while insinuating that her fellow lawmakers are purchased by Jewish money, and that the Jewish Americans among them have dual loyalties. Her comments meet the widely accepted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, used by the U.S. State Department and others.

 In February 2019, Omar voiced the antisemitic dual loyalty trope while referring to American Jewish supporters of Israel, [There is] the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country.

 In February 2019 Omar tweeted, Its all about the Benjamins, baby! in response to a report about AIPAC, a pro-Israel organization. Omars tweet echoed a longstanding antisemitic trope  in particular, the implication that Jewish political influence operates entirely (all about) through money. The tweet refers to the fact that a representation of Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 bill, the largest U.S. dollar bill in circulation.

 In March 2019 Omar stated some people [who] did something  in describing the Islamist terrorists who killed thousands of Americans on Sept. 11, 2001.

Why at this time of racial unrest including sometimes violent protests, would a Boston TV station rebroadcast a segment in which a disreputable source accuses critics of antisemitism of being racists?



WCVB viewers deserve better.



Posted by MK at July 7, 2020 04:13 PM

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The county has seen 529 community cases. Of those, 10 are younger than 10 years old; 30 are in the 10-19 range; 89 are 20-29 years old; 75 are 30-39; 83 are 40-49; 141 are 50-59; 68 are 60-69; 19 are 70-79; and 14 are 80-89. Women have accounted for 263 of the positive tests, men for 266. In cases where race is known, 87% of those testing positive have been white, 7% have been Black, 6% other. Where ethnicity is known, 17% are Hispanic.
Kendall et Kylie Jenner

Nouvelle polemique pour les surs Jenner. Depuis la pandemie de coronavirus et le ralentissement des ventes, le groupe qui soccupe de leur marque de vetements aurait cesse de remunerer leurs employes au Bangladesh.





La crise du coronavirus a affecte de nombreuses entreprises de pret-a-porter. Kendall + Kylie, la marque des surs de Kim Kardashian, na pas echappe aux consequences de cette crise. Les ventes ont considerablement baisse ces derniers mois. Recemment, les deux jeunes femmes ont ete accusees de ne plus remunerer leurs employes au Bangladesh. Ces accusations ont ete portees par le compte Instagram Diet Prada qui sinteresse au milieu de la mode et le site web de mode ethique ReMake.





Les surs reagissent





Via un communique de presse publie sur le compte Instagram de leur marque, les surs ont reagi et nie ces denonciations. Nous souhaitons reagir a la rumeur malheureuse et fausse selon laquelle la marque Kendall + Kylie appartient au groupe Global Brands Group et a cesse de payer les employes dateliers au Bangladesh a cause du Covid-19. Cest faux. La marque Kendall + Kylie appartient a 3072451 Canada Inc., pas a Global Brands Group. La marque a travaille avec CAA-GBC (la division de licence dexploitation de CAA, Creative Artists Agency, une des agences de management de stars les plus influentes de la planete, n.d.l.r.) dans un cadre de vente et developpement, mais nous navons actuellement aucune relation avec GBC.




Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has consistently downplayed the risks of coronavirus, announced Tuesday he has tested positive, as the United States -- the nation hardest hit by the pandemic -- formally launched its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). The UN health agency meanwhile acknowledged that there was "emerging evidence" of airborne transmission of COVID-19, which has infected nearly 11.7 million people around the globe and caused more than 539,000 deaths. Bolsonaro, who said he had experienced only mild symptoms, has ignored containment measures such as social distancing, despite Brazil being the second-worst hit country, with more than 66,000 dead. The far-right leader, who at 65 is in the highest-risk age category, insisted he was feeling "perfectly well" and took off his face mask during a TV interview announcing his test results. He repeated his mantra that the "collateral effects" of the virus should not be worse than the illness itself. Since the beginning of the virus outbreak, Bolsonaro has minimized the risks of what he initially called "a little flu" while resisting wearing a mask in public. Brazil is a large reason why Latin America and the Caribbean has now surpassed three million cases, according to an AFP tally. The region has seen nearly 140,000 deaths, nearly half of them in Brazil. - 'Chaotic and incoherent' - In Washington, a senior US official said the United States had informed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres of its intention to leave the WHO, effective July 6, 2021. President Donald Trump has been critical of the WHO's pandemic response, accusing it of bias toward China and ignoring early signs of human-to-human transmission of the deadly virus. The United States is the largest financial contributor to the WHO -- which leads the fight on global maladies from polio and measles to mental health -- providing $400 million annually. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said Tuesday he would immediately reverse the decision and keep the US in the WHO if he defeats Trump in November. Senator Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the Trump administration's move. "To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic and incoherent doesn't do it justice," Menendez said. "This won't protect American lives or interests -- it leaves Americans sick & America alone." - 'Unsustainably high numbers' - Critics say Trump is seeking to deflect criticism from his own handling of the pandemic, which has killed nearly 131,000 people in the United States, by far the highest death toll of any nation. Officials have said hospitals in some parts of the country are in danger of being overwhelmed, with many states hit particularly hard after they eased virus restrictions. Texas -- one of the new US hotspots -- on Tuesday registered a new daily case total of 10,028, making it the third state after New York and Florida to hit the grim milestone. Top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has warned the country is still "knee-deep" in the first coronavirus wave. But Trump pounced on that comment Tuesday, saying the United States was "in a good place" and adding: "I disagree with him." Experts are still struggling to understand COVID-19, and the WHO said it was open to new research after scientists lobbied for it to stress that the virus can spread through the air farther and for longer than initially believed. There have been explosions of infections across the world, including Iran, which announced 200 new deaths on Tuesday. Australia on Tuesday ordered five million people locked down in Melbourne, its second-biggest city, to combat a surge in cases. "We can't pretend" the crisis is over, said Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria state. The restrictions in the Melbourne area will last at least six weeks, while Victoria state will be effectively sealed off from the rest of the country. Cases are also surging in India and four new coronavirus field hospitals were opened on Tuesday in the financial capital Mumbai as the nationwide death toll jumped past 20,000. - 'Viral bomb' - Italy's health minister ordered a one-week suspension of flights to Rome from Bangladesh on Tuesday, after 21 passengers arriving from Dhaka tested positive, adding to the number of cases within the Bangladeshi community in the Lazio region surrounding Rome. Lazio's top health official Alessio D'Amato called it a "veritable viral 'bomb' that we've defused." Meanwhile, the head of the prestigious Royal Society science journal said Tuesday that people who refuse to wear face masks during the pandemic should be stigmatized in the same manner as drink-drivers. "If all of us wear one, we protect each other and thereby ourselves, reducing transmission," wrote Venki Ramakrishnan. burs-cl/sst/st
A series of high profile officials in Beijing have recently voiced openness about China joining a trans-Pacific trade pact abandoned by the United States in one of the first acts of Donald Trumps presidency.

But officials who helped negotiate the deal formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), now the slimmed down Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), are not taking Beijings advances seriously.

Officials differ in their rationale, with some saying that Chinas increasingly state-led economy would not satisfy membership criteria on state-owned enterprises, labour rights or corporate data localisation, while others point to Chinas increasingly bitter geopolitical rows with Australia and Canada, both cornerstones of the 11-nation pact.

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But those who negotiated the agreement are united in their cynicism towards Chinas expressions of interest.

Beijing has not yet registered formal or even informal interest with the current 11 members of the CPTPP, according to senior sources in New Zealand and Mexico, the agreements depository member  the party with whom membership interest would have been registered  and convening member for 2020  the annual host which would have to convene members to discuss new interest  respectively, who would be notified of any efforts by Beijing to sound out members.

We have not heard directly from China, said one senior Mexican official, who did not wish to be identified.

The highest profile statement out of Beijing so far came from Premier Li Keqiang, who in a press conference rounding off the National Peoples Congress in late May said China has a positive and open attitude toward joining the CPTPP.

To read it in the media was interesting. But there has been no approach through [existing] membership, we would hear from the members, said a senior official in Wellington, also noting comments towards the end of June from former commerce minister Chen Deming, who said that China is interested in joining but that we want to know more about the attitude of Japan.

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They would want to be really sure [of being welcomed], you do not want to be embarrassed by one country holding it up, whether that is Japan or anyone else

New Zealand official

So far we have heard from Thailand, South Korea, and Britain, but nothing from China. They would want to be really sure [of being welcomed], you do not want to be embarrassed by one country holding it up, whether that is Japan or anyone else, said the New Zealand official, who also asked not to be named due to the potential sensitivity of China-facing geopolitics.

Instead, there is a feeling among current members and former US officials, who would like to see Washington resume interest in the deal that the Obama administration staked out to contain Chinas rise in Asia-Pacific, that Beijing is engaging in a bit of mischief in expressing interest in a deal Trump dumped in the early days of his presidency in 2017.

How can either of them let any opportunity pass? asked a CPTPP minister, referring to what they viewed as an effort by the Chinese government to bait rivals in Washington.

One negotiator described Chinas statements of intent as a cost-free dangle and a way of sticking it to the US by being the ones out there talking up CPTPP, but theyre not sitting down with countries, talking about changing seriously key aspects of their behaviour.

But not everyone is complaining as China would be by far the biggest member economy should serious interest materialise, with many Pacific Rim nations keen to grow their commercial ties with Beijing, even as the politics become more fraught.

Noises from China, however, also have the added benefit of tweaking Washingtons attention to a deal that some hope it will return to under a different administration.

We do think its a bit of mischief, but it is not a bad thing for us, any time a noise comes out that China is open to joining, Washington sits up and takes notice. Every time China says that, it sends a frisson through Washington, which is great, said a negotiator from a Pacific nation.

It is not the first time China has expressed interest, with a former top US trade official saying that high level engagement took place in 2013, even if it never went very far.

There were overtures of interest from China at senior levels. Particularly once Japan joined the TPP, Chinese interest became a lot stronger. Then it became a much more serious proposition, said the source, speaking anonymously due to the confidential nature of the information.

On Chinas interest, one would ask, is China really interested in the substance of the agreement or does it have other motivations?

Barbara Weisel

But it never became formal policy in Beijing, with China focusing its multilateral negotiating resources on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which was billed as a TPP rival deal before Trump withdrew the US in January 2017.

I dont think China itself was serious about joining at the time that we were negotiating the original agreement. It was involved in many other negotiations. China occasionally made passing comments about possibly joining in the future, but I dont think China actually ever expressed any serious interest at the time, added Barbara Weisel, formerly chief US negotiator for the TPP, now managing director of Rock Creek Global Advisors, an economic policy advisory.

She added that even had China expressed an interest, membership wasnt extended just because a country raised its hand and said it wanted to join and that accession is a lengthy process.

On Chinas interest, one would ask, is China really interested in the substance of the agreement or does it have other motivations? Im not going to speculate as to what Chinas real motivations are. I think that its interesting that China expressed interest after Taiwan did so, but it may have other motivations as well, said Weisel, referring to previous interest from Taipei which resulted in substantial talks with TPP members, but no formal application to join.

Because the US is not in there, it is seen as an opportunity for China, but even if China wanted to join, the negotiations would take year

Tu Xinquan

RCEP has dragged its heels for years and lost India at the end of 2020, significantly shrinking the size of the deal. It is viewed as a lower-quality free trade deal than CPTPP, focusing mainly on tariff reduction, rather than the meatier standards and non-tariff barrier removal in the deal that was dragged over the line by Japan when the US exited.

I think it is preliminary, some government agencies are trying to study the CPTPP, there has not been serious discussion in the government, mainly scholars promoting or proposing that China should join. Some government agencies started studies, but there are no serious policy discussions, said Tu Xinquan, dean of the China Institute for WTO Studies, who said RCEP is Chinas priority.

Some Chinese scholars, Tu said, think the timing is right to try and join the CPTPP, which currently comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Because the US is not in there, it is seen as an opportunity for China, but even if China wanted to join, the negotiations would take years. Who knows what will happen in the US? If [Joe] Biden wins the election, would he rejoin? Tu said.

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As vice-president under Barack Obama, Biden was a strong supporter of the original TPP and has said during the campaign that he would renegotiate pieces of [the deal] with the Pacific nations that we had in South America and North America, so that we could bring them together to hold China accountable for  the rules of the road as to how trade should be conducted.

A Gallup poll conducted in February found that 79 per cent of Americans view foreign trade as an opportunity for economic growth through increased US exports, the highest level of support for trade in 25 years, following four years of Trump administration protectionism.

A Pew research poll conducted in March, meanwhile, found that 66 per cent of Americans held an unfavourable view of China, up from 47 per cent in 2017. But US politicians are not certain that even in such an environment a trade policy aimed at containing China would fly with the American public.

I think it would be very challenging for a Democratic administration to take this up, certainly in the first term. And so if Joe Biden were to win in November, I do not believe that this would be something that you would be willing to spend political capital on immediately, said Clark Jennings, White House trade adviser to former president Obama.

I think the most difficult part of joining the CPTPP would be complying to standards about [state-owned enterprises], right now the trend of SOE reform in China is in the opposite direction

Tu Xinquan

Wendy Cutler, vice-president at the Asia Society and one of the lead US negotiators on the original TPP, added that it is not as simple as the US deciding to rejoin because things have evolved both in the world and in the United States, since the TPP was concluded [in 2015] and CPTPP came into effect [in March 2018].

Things have also evolved in China. Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, Beijing has strengthened the state sector at the expense of private enterprise, slowing progress towards market liberalisation, while engaging in a bruising trade war with Washington. Analysts expect the trend of state-led growth to continue after the economic shock of the coronavirus.

I think the most difficult part of joining the CPTPP would be complying to standards about [state-owned enterprises], right now the trend of SOE reform in China is in the opposite direction. They are not so consistent with the direction of CPTPP, trying to separate governments from SOEs, it is very controversial in China right now, added Tu, the Beijing-based World Trade Organisation (WTO) professor.

Then there are the geopolitical skirmishes in which China now routinely engages, embroiling technical customs and trade issues with political tangles.

Ongoing examples are Chinas embargo on Canadian canola and the detention of two Canadian citizens, linked by many to the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver, along with bans on some Australian beef and prohibitive import tariffs on barley, allegedly linked to Canberras support for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus.

Some Chinese proponents of multilateralism, though, view trade as the olive branch which can help heal such wounds.

Joining CPTPP could greatly improve the relations with these countries. China has already become a major trading partner with these countries, they also depend heavily on China. I think, in the end, economic common sense will prevail and CPTPP could bond China and these countries together through joining CPTPP, said Wang Huiyao, an adviser to Chinas State Council and the founder of the Centre for China and Globalisation, a Beijing think tank.

But trade experts in the countries on the receiving end think differently.

Theres no way the Canadian government at this point in time could stand up and say this is a good idea

Michael Woods

Michael Woods, founder of Ottawa law firm Woods, LaFortune LLP, who led Canadas bilateral talks with China over Beijings accession to the WTO, said that if he was in that role now, I would have a difficult time with the concept at this point in time of China being able to accede to the CPTPP.

For one, there is a so-called poison pill clause in the US-Mexico-Canada-Agreement that entered force last week, which could theoretically allow Washington to veto any efforts by its North American partners to sign a deal with China.

But even before it gets to that stage, Woods said Canadian public opinion vis-a-vis China has soured so badly as to make such a move impossible.

Theres no way the Canadian government at this point in time could stand up and say this is a good idea, he added.

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Screenshot of Singapore Parliament. (PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore)

by Bertha Henson

I watch a lot of Chinese period dramas, so when I hear the word mandate, I think of mandate from Heaven. And the mandate takes the form of the imperial seal, that square chunk of jade that the Emperor uses to stamp on imperial decrees. Of course, now the mandate is from the people, to legitimise the authority of our representatives and those who will govern us.

But I have trouble deciphering what a strong or clear mandate (for the PAP) means. No one wants to put any numerical figure on strong or clear in terms of number of parliamentary seats or percentage of popular votes. Yet, the implication is that a weak mandate will make the job of governing more difficult and hobble policy implementation.

I think we can all agree that in GE2011, the PAP was not given a strong mandate. It took 60.1 per cent of the votes and 81 out of 87 seats in Parliament. (Note that this is uniquely Singapore, as political parties elsewhere would probably kill for that kind of election result.)

What happened post-GE2011? The PAP became a lot more consultative. It started the Our Singapore Conversation, moved unpopular ministers to the backbench, slowed down the inflow of foreign workers and ramped up the building of HDB flats.

In GE2015, we can all agree that the PAP was given a strong mandate, with 69.9 per cent of the vote. And what did it do with that mandate?

Of course, the PAP continued to govern. It was also confident enough to suggest constitutional changes right from the beginning of the term of Parliament in 2016.

The Prime Minister called for voting rights to be given to non-constituency MPs and a re-look of the qualifications and types of checks on an elected president. Half-way through its term, it broached the need for a law to prevent online falsehoods. There were other pieces of legislation, yes, but what stuck in my throat were those three above.

All three merited further discussion. Yes, there was discussion, of a unique kind.

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So there was a parliamentary select committee on POFMA, but this was about getting a consensus on the need for a law. We know some kind of legislation is needed but what kind. I tried hard to get people to lobby their MPs to call for another select committee to scrutinise the LEGISLATION instead. But it went through second and third reading and became law. Now, we can see the effects of POFMA, when we have trouble figuring out what some of the falsehoods which have been POFMAed are about.

Then you have the PAP-dominant Parliament voting to give their non-elected counterparts the right to vote in Parliament. I was astounded. They have no pride in their role or what? The next time I see a PAP candidate who tries to convince me to vote PAP because got NCMP, I will reply: So you will be my glorified contractor ah?

The constituency political broadcasts seem to confirm this contractor role of an MP. Except for a few opposition candidates, no PAP candidate seeking re-election saw it fit to talk about his or her contribution to lawmaking. Instead, we hear about fitness parks and covered linkways.

As for the changes to the elected presidency, yes, there was a constitutional commission which tightened up the qualifications and the checks on the presidents power as requested. It was also asked to see how to include a race component in the election - not to study whether this was needed. Okay, maybe the whip was firmly in place in Parliament and the PAP MPs couldnt do much about the race bit especially since the PM had set the agenda early, but the least they can do is question far more vigorously this strange timing of who the EP started with. The Government says its Wee Kim Wee, not Ong Teng Cheng, the man they had so much trouble with.

So, what does a clear and strong mandate mean? That the government will not be able to implement what it said it would? That would be the case if the PAP doesnt get half the seats in Parliament and therefore unable to form the government. But what if it gets 70 per cent of the seats? Lose another GRC or two? Is the PAP going to say that it will re-think its jobs policy? Put a couple of projects on hold in the GRC that did not vote for it?

The PAP shouldnt just throw around this need for strong and clear mandate. What does it mean by it?

Let me give it a shot.

Maybe, it is saying that having more opposition in Parliament means that it will have to spend time countering opposition views and cannot push legislation through quickly. PM Lee gave some examples of COVID-19 legislation that took just one day to get through - the result of a highly competent government. In my view, if the legislation is urgent, then the opposition looks real stupid to stymie its progress. But MOST times, legislation is not urgent, even if it is important.

Is the PAP saying that all its legislation is fully justified and full/fool-proof? That all soundings have been taken behind closed-doors? That Parliament cannot improve on Bills, because it isnt as smart as the executive? That second and third readings of the Bill are simply stages of a legislative process that has been a parliamentary tradition?

Has it asked itself whether it is better to get more buy-in from the people, rather than get legislation passed quickly. That greater acceptance trumps efficiency? That it may well be that other people have ideas that can be implemented to the nations advantage?

I would be more willing to countenance a dominant PAP in Parliament if its MPs had shown some gumption in questioning their political masters. But over the years, with the exception of a few, PAP MPs have become more and more subdued. They sound like frontbenchers, and sometimes ask questions that seem primed to give the frontbench a platform to expound on the governments point of view.

Yet in the late 80s and 90s, PAP MPs werent all cut from the same cloth. They took to heart their membership in the newly conceptualised government parliamentary committees, offering fierce critiques of policies and boasting of advisory panels with brand names. Now, the GPC is just a label attached to the MP, reminding him or her to speak up when the ministry he has been allocated to oversee is up for debate in the committee of supply.

Am I harsh? Probably. Thats because I take the institution of Parliament seriously, more seriously than the Members in the House who seem always to be on their hand-held devices rather than listening to speeches. So seriously that I will never pass up the chance to call for live-streaming of parliamentary proceedings.

If a strong mandate means business as usual, a strong government and a subdued Parliament, Im not sure I like the balance very much.

From what I have seen in Chinese period dramas, that imperial seal denoting the mandate from Heaven is so heavy that the Emperor can knock a person dead with it too.

Bertha Henson is a veteran Singapore journalist who now lectures at NUS. The views expressed are her own.

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People shopping in groups in Singapore. (PHOTO: Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed 158 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (8 July), bringing the total to 45,298, as well as an additional death of a patient with the infection.

The 69-year-old Singaporean man, Case 45227, was confirmed to have COVID-19 on the same day of his death on Tuesday. The preliminary cause of death is cardiorespiratory failure, pending further investigations by the coroner.

The man had been found unresponsive at his place of residence and was conveyed to Sengkang General Hospitals emergency department on Tuesday. He had a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, hypothyroidism, and chronic kidney disease.

The ministry also announced an additional cluster of nine cases linked to a dormitory at 12 Kian Teck Crescent.

Of the new cases, nine are classified as cases in the community. Three others are imported cases, while the remaining are foreign workers living in dorms.

Overall, 96 per cent are linked to known clusters, while the rest are pending contact tracing.

Of the nine cases in the community, three are linked to previous cases or clusters. Of these, two (Cases 45250 and 45307) had been identified as contacts of previously confirmed cases, and had been tested during their quarantine to determine their status. The remaining case (Case 45288) is asymptomatic, and was detected as a result of our proactive screening of workers in essential services.

Of the six community cases which are currently unlinked, three cases (Cases 45290, 45289 and 45291) were tested as they work in essential services, even though they are asymptomatic.

The remaining three (Cases 45183, 45227 and 45242) were swabbed under the community testing to test all individuals aged 13 and above who are diagnosed with acute respiratory infection at first presentation to a doctor. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing for these cases.

The number of new cases in the community has increased, from an average of eight cases per day in the week before, to an average of 14 per day in the past week. The number of unlinked cases in the community has also increased from an average of four cases per day in the week before, to an average of six per day in the past week.

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Amongst the three imported cases, two (Cases 45196 and 45197) are Indian nationals who are Dependants Pass holders, and have returned to Singapore from India on 26 June. The remaining case (Case 45241) is a Singaporean who returned to Singapore from the Philippines on 26 June. All of them had been placed on 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon arrival in Singapore, and had been tested while serving their SHN.

The following dormitories have been cleared, and now house only recovered individuals and those who have recently tested negative for COVID-19 infection. As such, the clusters have now been closed.

 10 Tuas South Street 12;

 109 Ubi Avenue 4;

 11 Defu Lane 1;

 12 Kwong Min Road;

 18 Woodlands Industrial Park E1;

 55 Genting Lane; and

 6 Tuas View Square.

The Ministry of Manpower said in a media release that 384 more dormitories have been cleared of COVID-19 with effect from Tuesday.

These comprise one purpose-built dormitory, 345 factory-converted dormitories and 38 construction temporary quarters. In addition, 23 blocks for recovered workers in 5 purpose-built dormitories have been cleared.

This takes the total number to 625 dormitories and 44 blocks for recovered workers in 17 purpose-built dormitories cleared of COVID-19.

Over 90% have fully recovered

With 321 more patients discharged from hospitals or community isolation facilities on Wednesday, 41,323 cases  over 90 per cent of the total tally  have fully recovered from the infection.

Most of the 215 hospitalised cases are stable or improving, while one is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

A total of 3,734 patients with mild symptoms or are clinically well but still test positive are isolated and cared for at community facilities.

Apart from 26 patients who have died from COVID-19 complications, 13 others who tested positive for the virus were determined to have died from unrelated causes.

Only cases where the attending doctor or pathologist attributes the primary or underlying cause of death as due to COVID-19 infection will be added to the COVID-19 death count, said the MOH in previous press releases, adding that the method of assessment is consistent with international practices for classifying deaths.

As of 29 June, the ministry has conducted 757,746 swab tests, of which 414,396 were done on unique individuals. This translates to around 132,900 swabs conducted per 1 million total population, and about 72,700 unique individuals swabbed per 1 million total population.

Singapore entered Phase 2 of its reopening  with various safe distancing measures still in place  on 19 June. This phase is expected to last up to six months or longer, according to authorities.

Singapores General Election will take place on 10 July during this phase.

Follow Yahoo News Singapores GE2020 coverage here.

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General Election stories:

COMMENT: The dilemmas of a first-time voter

COMMENT: Lows departure has accelerated the Workers Partys transition - but at what cost?

GE2020: 6 women candidates who have caught our attention

GE2020: For love and a bigger cause - The Workers' Party couple reluctantly in the spotlight
Dozens of people were injured and around 20 arrested after protests against a new coronavirus curfew in Belgrade deteriorated into violence before dawn Wednesday, with running battles between demonstrators and police wreaking havoc in the Serbian capital. Several thousand people streamed into the city centre late Tuesday to protest at the return of a round-the-clock weekend curfew to combat a new surge of the virus. The initially peaceful gathering turned to clashes as police used tear gas on protesters, some of whom had stormed into the parliament building while others threw stones and other projectiles at the officers. The outrage was targeted at President Aleksandar Vucic, who critics accuse of inviting the second wave of infections by rapidly lifting initial lockdown measures in order to hold elections on June 21, which his party won by a landslide in a vote boycotted by the main opposition. - 'Violent attack on parliament' - On Wednesday, a rights group accused police of excessive force during the protest. Images broadcast by regional TV channel N1 showed officers use batons to beat three men sitting peacefully on a bench. "We have 43 injured policemen and have information about 17 injured demonstrators," police chief Vladimir Rebic told public broadcaster RTS on Wednesday. "We used force only when it was used against us," he said, adding that 23 people were arrested while three police horses were also hurt. The demonstration brought together protesters from across the political spectrum, spanning the left to the far-right. Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who hails from Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), condemned the demonstration as a "violent attack on parliament". The Alliance for Serbia, a coalition of opposition parties which boycotted the June election to protest Vucic's growing authoritarianism, announced a new demonstration for Wednesday evening in Belgrade. After reining in its first outbreak of COVID-19 in early May, the Balkan country has logged a rebound over the past two weeks, reporting more than 300 cases daily. Vucic warned that hospitals are being pushed to the brink. The resurgence comes after virtually all restrictions were lifted to allow major sporting events with thousands of spectators and national elections in June. The government has reported nearly 17,000 infections and 330 deaths in the population of seven million.
The Serbian capital was hit by clashes for a second night on Wednesday as police clashed with protesters outraged over the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Clouds of tear gas and smoke filled the city centre in chaotic scenes that mirrored violence the night before, when thousands came out to protest the return of a weekend lockdown due to a spike in new cases. Although President Aleksandar Vucic said Wednesday that the weekend curfew is likely to be scrapped, several thousand people again gathered in front of the parliament to protest. Their anger is focused on the powerful president, who critics accuse of inviting a second wave of coronavirus infections by rapidly lifting initial lockdown measures before an election in June. "The government only seeks to protect its own interests, the people are collateral damage," said Jelina Jankovic, a 53-year-old who attended the rally, which brought together citizens from the left to the far-right. Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won the June poll by a landslide in a vote boycotted by the main opposition. Since then, coronavirus infections have shot up to more than 300 daily, overwhelming hospitals. "We've had enough of the manipulating of the data of COVID-19", said another protester Danijela Ognjenovic, referring to accusations that authorities are under-reporting the death toll. After a peaceful start, Wednesday's rally saw protesters hurl flares and other objects at police who responded with tear gas. An opposition leader who had boycotted the June election, Bosko Obradovic, told regional TV broadcaster N1 that he was beaten by police in the melee. Once the main crowd outside the parliament building was dispersed, anti-riot police and bands of demonstrators clashed on surrounding streets. Ten officers were injured, said Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic. - 'Decide tomorrow' - Earlier in the day, Vucic said he was still in favour of a weekend lockdown but that a government crisis team would "decide tomorrow". "There will definitely be tightening of the measures for Belgrade" though the "crisis team seems to think that there should be no curfew", he said, distancing himself from the decision. The 50-year-old, who is accused of authoritarianism despite holding a ceremonial post, branded the protesters as "fascists" and said there were suspicions of "meddling of foreign intelligence", without providing any evidence. Vucic also conceded that some police officers, who were accused of excessive force on Tuesday night, "failed" and that they would be held accountable. Scenes of police brutality were captured on TV, including an incident on Tuesday in which officers used batons to beat three men sitting peacefully on a bench. The Council of Europe's Human Rights Commission Dunja Mijatovic condemned the "violent dispersal of demonstrators", saying it "raises serious human rights concerns". Serbian police chief Vladimir Rebic, however, said officers "used force only when it was used against us", adding that some 40 police were injured the first night. The new spike of coronavirus cases comes two months after Serbia lifted almost all restrictions to allow major sporting events with thousands of spectators and national elections in June. In the past two weeks daily infections have shot up, while the country reported its deadliest day yet on Tuesday with 13 fatalities. The government has reported nearly 17,000 infections and 330 deaths in a population of seven million. mat-mbs-ljv-ssm/ach
The original stars of CBSs popular series Dukes of Hazzard are speaking their mind about the recently renewed criticism of the shows use of the Confederate flag.

John Schneider and Tom Wopat, who played Bo and Luke Duke in the series which ran from 1979 to 1985, addressed the controversial symbol of the Confederacy that is painted atop the shows famous car, a Dodge Charger nicknamed the General Lee.

I have never had an African American come up to me and have any problem with it whatsoever, Schneider, 60, said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The whole politically correct generation has gotten way out of hand.

Also Read: Kanye West Renounces Trump Support, Declares Own Political Party the 'Birthday Party'

Wopat, 69, was more understanding of the current generations call to remove the flag from pop culture.

The situation in the country has obviously changed in the last 40 years. I feel fortunate to be living in a time when we can address some of the injustices of the past, he said. But the car is innocent.

The series creator, Gy Waldron, 87, also explained his feelings about the Confederate flag, going back to his childhood in Kentucky.

I had relatives fight on both sides of the Civil War and we honored both the American and Confederate flags, he told THR. No one even connected the Confederate flag with slavery. It was simply a part of our Southern culture.

Also Read: Mary Trump's Tell-All Book: President Cheated on SATs, Commented on Niece's Breasts, Abandoned Brother on Deathbed

But Waldron added that he does wholeheartedly support the Black Lives Matter movement and its quest to address racism around the world.

THR also spoke to Ben Jones, the actor who played Cooter the mechanic on the show and later went on to serve as a Democratic Georgia congressman from 1989 to 1993, took a sympathetic stance to the flag.

There are 80 million descendants of the Confederacy  one out of four people has that heritage. Most of them have no problem with the flag at all, Jones, 78, said. This was a family show. Black families watched it for generations. I know this. I had a [congressional] office right there in the Martin Luther King district. Kings right-hand man Andy Young is a dear friend of mine. We couldnt care less about rebel flags.

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Jones has been known to throw an annual fan convention for the series in West Virginia called the Good Ol Boys Fest. He also runs a Dukes of Hazzard themed-shop called Cooters Place.

Also Read: Apple TV+ Signs Overall Deal With 'Where the Wild Things Are' Author's Maurice Sendak Foundation

Speaking to the possibility of removing the flag from the roof of the car digitally within each episode, Jones said That wouldnt please anybody.

After 40 years seen all over the world  in thousands of jigsaw puzzles, on model cars and lunch boxes  the General Lee, by not having the flag there, would just draw attention to itself, he added.

Schneider agreed with Jones, saying he feels the show is being unfairly discounted.

Dukes of Hazzard was a unifying force. Mom, grandma, everyone wanted to watch it together. But who benefits from division? he says. The Dukes of Hazzard has been shot down, I believe unfairly. We havent missed a generation yet, but we may miss this next one.

TheWrap also reached out to Catherine Bach, who played Bo and Lukes cousin Daisy Duke on the series. Reps for the actress did not immediately return requests for comment.

The Dukes of Hazzard is not currently airing in syndication on TV, but it is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. Reps for the streaming service, as well as CBS and the original studio, Warner Bros. Television, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Read original story Dukes of Hazzard Stars Defend Shows Confederate Flag Use: The Car Is Innocent At TheWrap
I know my aunt, shes always the first to fight for people, Cohen said. She goes out to stand up for people, that kind of thing. I honestly expected her to do something and just had no idea what it was going to be. It turned out to be this and I think its awesome. Of course, I worry about her, try to make sure she has enough water or walking too long.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Dutch police arrested six men after discovering sea containers that had been converted into a makeshift prison and sound-proofed torture chamber complete with a dentist's chair, tools including pliers and scalpels and handcuffs, a high ranking officer announced Tuesday.

Authorities said police conducted the raid before the torture chamber could be used and alerted potential victims, who went into hiding.

The grisly discovery was made last month by officers investigating leads generated by data from encrypted phones used by criminals that were cracked recently by French police. Detectives in Britain and the Netherlands have already arrested hundreds of suspects based on the encrypted messages.

Tuesdays announcement gave a chilling insight into the increasingly violent Dutch criminal underworld, which is involved in the large scale production and trafficking of drugs.

Dutch police said last week that their investigations, code-named 26Lemont, based on millions of messages from the EncroChat phones, had led to the arrest of more than 100 suspects and seizure of more than 8,000 kilograms (17,600 pounds) of cocaine and 1,200 kilograms (2,600 pounds) of crystal meth as well as the dismantling of 19 synthetic drugs labs and seizure of dozens of firearms.

On June 22, Dutch national police force officers arrested six men on suspicion of crimes including preparing kidnappings and serious assault. Detectives also discovered the seven converted sea containers in a warehouse in Wouwse Plantage, a small village in the southwestern Netherlands, close to the border with Belgium, according to a statement released Tuesday.

They were tipped off by messages from an EncroChat phone including photos of the container and dentist's chair with belts attached to the arm and foot supports. The messages called the warehouse the treatment room and the ebi, a reference to a top security Dutch prison. The messages also reaveled identities of potential victims, who were warned and went into hiding, police said.

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Video released by the police showed a heavily armed arrest team blasting open a door at the warehouse and discovering the improvised prison. Another armed team detained a suspect in Rotterdam.

Six of the containers were intended as cells in which people could be tied up and one container was intended as a torture chamber, Andy Kraag, head of the police's National Investigation Service, said in a video released by police, adding that the police operation "prevented a number of violent crimes.

A search of the containers uncovered bags containing tools including hedge cutters, scalpels and pliers. The tools were likely intended to torture victims or at least put them under pressure," the police statement said.

In searches of other properties, including what police described as a base for the criminals near the port city of Rotterdam, officers found police uniforms and body armor, stolen vehicles, 25 firearms and drugs.

A court in Amsterdam ordered the six suspects held for 90 days as investigations continue.

This is a great result of the 26Lemont investigation, Kraag said. And, take it from me, many more results will follow.
By Echo Wang

NEW YORK (Reuters) - TikTok will exit the Hong Kong market within days, a spokesman told Reuters late on Monday, as other technology companies including Facebook Inc <FB.O> suspend processing government requests for user data in the region.

The short form video app owned by China-based ByteDance has made the decision to exit the region following China's establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the semi-autonomous city.

"In light of recent events, we've decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong," a TikTok spokesman said in response to a Reuters question about its commitment to the market.

The company, now run by former Walt Disney Co <DIS.N> executive Kevin Mayer, has said in the past that the app's user data is not stored in China.

TikTok has also said previously that it would not comply with any requests made by the Chinese government to censor content or for access to TikTok's user data, nor has it ever been asked to do so.

The Hong Kong region is a small, loss-making market for the company, one source familiar with the matter said. Last August, TikTok reported it had attracted 150,000 users in Hong Kong.

Globally, TikTok has been downloaded more than 2 billion times through the Apple <AAPL.O> and Google <GOOGL.O> app stores after the first quarter this year, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower.

The source said the move was made because it was not clear if Hong Kong would now fall entirely under Beijing's jurisdiction in light of the new law.

TikTok was designed so it could not be accessed by mainland China. That was part of a strategy to appeal to a more global audience. Its equivalent on the mainland is called Douyin.

There are no plans currently to introduce Douyin to the Hong Kong market, a ByteDance spokesman said.

Although Douyin is not available on overseas app stores, it has gathered more users than TikTok in Hong Kong, according to a second source familiar with the situation. Mainland Chinese users can download the app while in the mainland or by switching accounts.

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"Douyin has lots of users in Hong Kong and will continue to serve the users there," ByteDance China CEO Zhang Nan said in a statement.

Fang Kecheng, an assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said TikTok's move highlighted the dilemma faced by Chinese companies trying to internationalise, adding that it was "inevitable".

"You have to follow local policies and try not to offend the Chinese government and the public. ByteDance's separation of TikTok (from Douyin) was the same strategy."

(Additional Reporting by Yingzhi Yang in Beijing and Pei Li in Hong Kong; Editing by Kenneth Li and Jacqueline Wong)
Former Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang. (PHOTO: Screenshot/Facebook)

SINGAPORE  Former Workers Party chief Low Thia Khiang insisted that he is not stepping away completely from the political arena, and will continue to serve the public by imparting knowledge and sharing his experiences with the younger generation.

The 63-year-old had decided not to take part in this years General Election, after serving 29 years as a Member of Parliament for Hougang single-member constituency (SMC) and Aljunied group representation constituency (GRC)  the longest-serving opposition party member in Singapore.

While he had suffered a serious fall in April, he insisted that he had always planned to step down at this GE  a natural progression from his handing over of the WP secretary-general post to Pritam Singh during the partys 60th anniversary dinner in 2017.

On Wednesday (8 July), the WP put up two videos on its Facebook page  one in Mandarin, one in Teochew  with Low explaining his decision not to contest at this GE as well as encouraging voters to vote for the next generation of opposition party members come Polling Day on Friday.

I will continue to groom politicians who can debate effectively in Parliament against the ruling party, and to fight for the interests of the people, he said in the videos.

After 29 years in Parliament, the Workers Party has secured six elected Parliamentary seats. We must maintain the momentum by voting for capable young candidates, to cultivate a new generation of politicians and establish a rational, responsible and respected Workers Party.

Experiences of discrimination prompted entry into politics

Low said that he had hoped to thank his supporters at rallies and house visits during the GE campaign, but as the GE is held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to convey his heartfelt appreciation through video.

He related how his experience of being discriminated as a Chinese-educated student, as well as his witnessing of how students were impacted by the unfair streaming policy, prompted him to resign as a teacher and enter politics all those years ago.

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After I was elected in 1991 in Hougang, people doubted my ability to represent voters, as government correspondence and most parliamentary debates were carried out in the English language, he said in the video.

Despite the attacks and ridicules against me, I persisted in voicing out, because this is my conviction.

Low added that, having experienced lawsuits, smearing campaigns and an uneven playing field in the political system, he is even more convinced now that Singapore needs a rational and responsible opposition party.

He said that, in the WPs momentous victory at Aljunied GRC in 2011, voters have delivered a tight slap to the ruling party, and effectively conveyed the peoples expectations of achieving democratic progress and improvements to their lives.

The opportunities you have given to the Workers Party over the years have encouraged young aspiring Singaporeans to join us, and they now form the next-generation leaders. We owe it to the voters for where the Workers Party stands today, he said.

More opposition members for holistic discussion in Parliament: Low

Low ended off his video by urging voters to vote for WP candidates. He posed the question whether, in these uncertain times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Singaporeans can rely solely on the ruling party to take care of people in need.

We ought to groom more opposition members with alternative suggestions and opinions to enter the Parliament, to provide a holistic discussion on policies, he said.

At the same time, we will let the ruling party know that the support of the people must never be taken for granted, or like a blank cheque for the government to use at will.

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Related stories:

COMMENT: Lows departure has accelerated the Workers Partys transition - but at what cost?

Low Thia Khiang: Most memorable quotes from his 32-year political career

COMMENT: Pandemic politics and Singapore's general election

COMMENT: Why master of the moment Low Thia Khiang is stepping down
China has imposed a sweeping new national security law on Hong Kong that opponents say undermines the semi-autonomous city's liberties. Here are the key developments since Beijing first floated the legislation. - 'Enforcement mechanisms' - On May 22 China unveils plans to strengthen "enforcement mechanisms" in Hong Kong. A draft proposal for the law says it will "guard against, stop and punish any separatism, subversion of the national regime, terrorist group activities and such behaviours that seriously harm national security". But the precise content of the legislation is kept hidden from Hong Kong's 7.5 million residents. An attempt by the Hong Kong government to introduce a similar law in 2003 sparked huge protests and was eventually shelved. Beijing's new plan draws a rebuke from many Western nations, which say China is eradicating the freedoms it promised the city under its handover from Britain in 1997. - Washington takes a stand - The United States on May 27 revokes Hong Kong's special status under US law, paving the way to strip the city of its trading privileges. Washington accuses Beijing of trampling on the territory's autonomy. The next day China's parliament endorses the law despite mounting pressure from the West. - Law passed - Two weeks after it was first unveiled, China passes the security law on June 30, only revealing its wording later that evening. The legislation is unanimously approved by Beijing's rubber-stamp parliament and signed by President Xi Jinping, according to the official Xinhua news agency. It allows Beijing jurisdiction over cases deemed to be serious breaches and introduces life sentences for the worst offences. It also allows China's security agents to operate openly in Hong Kong for the first time. Four young pro-democracy leaders announce the same day they are resigning from their party, Demosisto, which is then disbanded. One of them, Nathan Law, flees the territory. On July 1, the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule, the first arrests are made under the new law. Most of those arrested were flying flags and carrying pamphlets calling for Hong Kong's independence from China. One man was charged with secession and terrorism for allegedly driving his motorbike into police while waving an independence flag. - International reaction - Twenty-seven member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council, including France, Germany and Japan, call on China to revise the text. Britain says it will open its door to migrants from Hong Kong, judging the law to be a breach of the 1984 Joint Declaration signed by Beijing and London. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatens China with sanctions, saying it is a "sad day" for Hong Kong. The United States Congress then adopts a law providing for sanctions against Chinese officials who apply the new security rules against Hong Kong. The US legislation also targets banks that finance those officials. Canada says it is suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong. China says it will respond with reciprocal measures against any moves to punish it for the law. - Books pulled, tech firms rattled - Hong Kongers start scrubbing and deleting social media accounts. On July 3 a number of books written by democracy activists are withdrawn from Hong Kong libraries, and three days later the government orders schools to get rid of books that could be in breach of the law. Three days later the government announces enhanced surveillance powers for police, including the power to censor the internet if posts breach the national security law. Facebook, Google and Twitter say they will no longer respond to requests for information on their users from Hong Kong authorities while the tech giants review the impact of the legislation. Video app TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, announces several hours later that it will pull out of Hong Kong. On Wednesday China opens a new office for its security agents to operate openly in the city for the first time, transforming a hotel into the force's headquarters.
Iceland's President Gudni Johannesson has been re-elected with a whopping 92 percent of the vote, according to final results released on Sunday. The former history professor won his second four-year term in the largely symbolic position in Saturday's vote, the second election held by a European country after coronavirus lockdowns were lifted. Since suffering spectacular bank failures in 2008, the volcanic North Atlantic island of 365,000 inhabitants has recovered some economic and political stability, which worked in the 52-year-old independent's favour. The final results showed he took 92.2 percent of the 168,821 votes cast, crushing rightwing challenger Gudmundur Franklin Jonsson. "I am honoured and proud," the president told AFP in Reykjavik on election night. "This result of this election is, to me, proof of the fact that my fellow Icelanders... have approved of how I have approached this office." The dominant win had been predicted by opinion polls, which had shown the president winning between 90 to 94 percent. Voter Hjalmtyr Heiddal told AFP on Sunday that he "very happy" with the winning margin because "it means that 92 percent of Icelanders want this type of president who does not take sides and is simply neutral." It is the second-highest margin of victory in the history of Iceland's presidential elections. Vigdis Finnbogadottir, the first woman in the world to be democratically elected as head of state, holds the record, winning re-election in 1988 with 94.6 percent of the vote. In this parliamentary republic, the president is largely symbolic, but he or she does have the power to veto legislation or submit it to a referendum. There are no term limits -- Johannesson's predecessor Olafur Ragnar Grimsson served for five terms. However Johannesson has said he would limit himself to two or three terms at the most. Turnout for Saturday's vote was 66.9 percent, dropping from 75.7 percent during Johannesson's first election victory in 2016, when he became the country's youngest president since independence in 1944. The coronavirus pandemic had not been expected to affect voting, as the country has been only mildly infected. It has reported 10 deaths, and currently has around 11 active cases. Challenger Jonsson is a former Wall Street broker close to Icelandic nationalists and a vocal fan of US President Donald Trump. He campaigned on wanting Iceland's president to play a more active role by exercising the right to veto legislation campaigns, but struggled to gain traction with voters. "I send my congratulations to Gudni and his family," Jonsson told public broadcaster RUV.
Iran has said it will strengthen Syria's air defences as part of a bilateral military deal aiming to "fight terrorism" and counter American pressure. Key US ally Israel, Iran's arch-enemy, has launched hundreds of strikes in Syria since the start of a civil war there in 2011, including against Iranian forces. Iran, one of President Bashar al-Assad's main allies in the conflict, has always denied sending forces to fight in Syria, saying it only has military advisors there. Under the latest deal, "we will strengthen Syria's air defence systems in order to improve military cooperation between the two countries," Iranian state TV quoted armed forces chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri as saying. The deal will "further enhance our will... to confront pressures by America," he added. Along with Moscow, Tehran has played a key role supporting Assad in the war that has ravaged the country and killed more than 380,000 people, displacing millions. Israeli strikes have meanwhile targeted government troops, allied Iranian forces and fighters from the Iran-backed Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Syria was one of the few countries that helped Iran during the 1980-88 war with Iraq, and Tehran and Damascus signed a deal in 2006 sealing their military alliance. State TV's website on Wednesday published a video of Bagheri and Syria's Defence Minister Ali Ayoub signing the latest agreement in Damascus. It shows an Iranian military spokesman reading a joint statement saying the "comprehensive military-security agreement" aims to "confront increasing dangers (and) takfiri terrorism supported by international and regional powers". Iranian officials use the term "takfiri" to refer to Sunni jihadists, including groups fighting in Syria. - 'Strategic and firm' - Syrian state news agency SANA quoted Ayoub calling Syrian-Iranian ties "strategic and firm". "Bilateral military and security cooperation is qualitative and ongoing... despite increasing pressure and the mounting severity of threats," he said. Ayoub vowed to confront "any new challenges with more determination ... with the efforts of all the Syrian people and cooperation with friends and allies determined to confront terrorism in all its forms." The joint statement Wednesday also demanded "the withdrawal of all foreign armed forces having entered Syria illegally". Turkey and the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group have both sent troops to Syria, despite objections from Damascus. The latest deal between Iran and Syria comes after the US in late June urged the UN Security Council to extend a ban on conventional arms sales to Tehran, set to expire in October. The lifting of the embargo, agreed under the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear treaty, would allow the country to obtain battle tanks, combat aircraft, warships and missiles or missile systems. The Trump administration, which pulled out of the 2015 accord in 2018, has warned it could employ a disputed legal move to restore wide UN sanctions on Iran if the Security Council does not prolong a ban. Washington's European allies have voiced support for extending the embargo but also oppose new sanctions, saying the bigger issue is Iran's nuclear program. The nuclear accord has been on life-support since the US withdrew from it and reimposed crippling unilateral sanctions on Iran. A UN embargo on materials, goods, equipment and technology that Iran could use for its ballistic missile programme is to remain in place until 2023. The European Union has said it will continue its own embargo against Iran after the UN limitation is lifted.
When the new coronavirus hit Tanzania in mid-April, President John Magufuli called for three days of national prayer to seek Gods protection from the scourge. Barely a month later, he claimed victory over the disease and invited tourists to return to his East African nation.

His rush to reopen came despite alarm from the World Health Organization (WHO) over an almost total lack of information on the spread of the virus in the country of 55 million people, which has one of the regions weakest healthcare systems.

The shortage of reliable data afflicts many African nations, with some governments reluctant to acknowledge epidemics or to expose their crumbling health systems to outside scrutiny. Other nations simply cannot carry out significant testing because they are so ravaged by poverty and conflict.

Sharing information is vital to tackling the pandemic in Africa  both for planning the response and mobilising donor funding - public health experts say. As things stand, it is impossible to gauge the full severity of the contagion across the continent.

According to the latest data collated by Reuters, Africa, with a population of 1.3 billion people, had over 493,000 confirmed cases and 11,600 deaths. By comparison, Latin America, with roughly half the population, had 2.9 million cases and 129,900 deaths.

The official numbers make it seem as though the illness has skirted much of Africa, but the real picture is certain to be worse, with WHO special envoy Samba Sow warning on May 25 of a possible silent epidemic if testing was not prioritised.

By July 7, 4,200 tests per million people had been carried out across the continent, according to a Reuters analysis of figures from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a body set up by the African Union in 2017. That compares with averages of 7,650 in Asia and 74,255 in Europe.

Interviews with dozens of health workers, diplomats and local officials revealed not just a scarcity of reliable testing in most countries, but also the lengths some governments have gone to prevent news of infection rates from emerging, even if that meant they missed out on donor funding.

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We cannot help a country against its own will, Michel Yao, head of emergency operations for the WHO in Africa, told Reuters. In some countries, they are having meetings and not inviting us. We are supposed to be the main technical advisor. Yao declined to single out countries, saying the WHO needed to preserve a working relationship with governments.

For more details, see this graphic: https://graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/AFRICADATA/dgkplxkmlpb/

TROUBLE IN TANZANIA

Tanzania confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 16. The next day, the government convened a task force to coordinate the response with international partners including the WHO, foreign embassies, donors and aid agencies, multiple sources said.

This body never met again with outsiders, two foreign officials familiar with the situation told Reuters, while government officials failed to show up to dozens of subsequent coronavirus-related meetings, they said.

Its very clear the government does not want any information about the state of COVID in the country, said one aid official, who like many of those interviewed by Reuters for this story, asked not to be identified for fear of antagonizing political leaders.

Tanzanias health minister Ummy Mwalimu and government spokesman did not respond to phone calls or emailed questions raised by this article about their handling of the crisis. The spokesman, Hassan Abbasi, has previously denied withholding information about the countrys epidemic.

Tanzania has not published nationwide figures since May 8, when it had recorded 509 cases and 21 deaths. Days earlier, President Magufuli dismissed testing kits imported from abroad as faulty, saying on national television that they had also returned positive results on samples taken from a goat and a pawpaw fruit.

According to three emails seen by Reuters sent between May 8-13, the WHO believed it had reached an agreement with the government to let it take part in joint surveillance missions around the country. However, a WHO spokeswoman said these were all cancelled on the day they were supposed to start, with no reason given.

Donors have released some $40 million to fund Tanzanias coronavirus response, two diplomatic sources involved said. But the countrys lack of engagement meant it had missed out on tens of millions of dollars more, another official said.

By mid-May, the government decided to ease its lockdown, despite doctors and diplomats saying the outbreak was far from contained. The U.S. Embassy warned its citizens on May 13 that hospitals in the main city Dar es Salaam were overwhelmed, an assertion denied at the time by the Tanzanian government.

Tanzanias failure to share information about its outbreak has frustrated its neighbours, who fear that gains won through painful lockdowns in their own countries could be jeopardized as Tanzanians cross porous borders.

The WHO organised a call on April 23 with African health ministers to discuss, among other things, a lack of information sharing, Yao said. He declined to say who was on the call, and Tanzania did not respond to requests for comment as to whether its minister participated.

The United Nations agency cannot compel cooperation and must tread carefully. When WHO officials expressed concern in late April about a lack of measures to contain the virus in Burundi, the tiny East African nation expelled its top representative and three other WHO experts without explanation on May 12.

Burundi was one of the first African countries to shut its borders in March, which seemed to slow the virus spread initially. But the country saw an uptick in suspected cases after rallies were held in the run-up to May 20 general elections, a health care provider said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Burundis 55-year-old president, Pierre Nkurunziza, died in early June amid speculation he had come down with COVID-19. The government said in a statement he had suffered a heart attack. An air ambulance service told Reuters it had flown his wife, Denise Bucumi, to Kenya on May 21 but declined to confirm reports in the Kenyan media that she had sought treatment for the coronavirus. A family spokesman declined to comment.

Burundi's new president, Evariste Ndayishimiye, has promised measures to tackle the pandemic, including mass testing of people in areas suspected of being epicentres of the virus.

Another African state to fall out with the WHO was Equatorial Guinea. It hasnt shared figures with the U.N. agency since late May, when its government accused the WHO of inflating the caseload and demanded that it recall its representative. The WHO blamed a misunderstanding over data and denied any falsification of figures.

Mitoha Ondo'o Ayekaba, Equatorial Guineas deputy health minister, did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the dispute. The Central African country has continued to provide periodic updates to the Africa CDC, which puts the number of confirmed cases there at 3,071 with 51 deaths.

SURVEILLANCE GAPS

While some countries wont share information, others cant: Their health systems are too broken to carry out any large-scale testing, surveillance or contact tracing.

"Even at the best of times, collecting quality data from countries is not easy because people are stretched thin, said John Nkengasong, director of the Africa CDC. Combine that with an emergency, and it becomes very, very difficult.

For example, Islamist militants and ethnic militias operate across vast swathes of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, making it impossible for governments there to establish a nationwide picture of the spread of the illness.

As in other countries, a shortage of kits has led Burkina Faso to largely limit the number of tests it conducts to contacts of confirmed cases and people arriving from abroad. This means there is little data on local transmission, health ministry reports show.

Some countries, like Cameroon and Nigeria, have decentralised testing, but many others have very little capacity outside their capitals, said Franck Ale, an epidemiologist with the international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders).

Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation of 85 million that was already battling Ebola, was quick to suspend international flights and lock down parts of the capital Kinshasa when the virus hit in mid-March.

However, it took three months before the government was able to process tests outside Kinshasa, said Steve Ahuka, a member of Congos COVID-19 response committee, citing a lack of laboratories, equipment and personnel. In many areas, it still takes two weeks to get results, said two doctors.

South Africa, the continents most advanced economy, is one of the few to have rolled out mass testing. But it had a backlog of more than 63,000 unprocessed specimens as of June 10, because global suppliers were unable to meet its demand for laboratory kits, according to the health ministry. South Africas national laboratory service declined to disclose the current backlog.

In the absence of comprehensive testing data in other parts of the world, researchers look to different yardsticks to judge the prevalence of the coronavirus, including reviewing the number of deaths that exceed the average for the time of year.

But even that is not possible in most of Africa because data from previous years is lacking. Only eight countries - Algeria, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Egypt, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles and South Africa - record more than 75% of their deaths, according to the United Nations. Ethiopia records less than 2%, the countrys health ministry said.

Without information about how severe an outbreak is and what resources are available to cope with it, nations risk lifting lockdowns too soon or maintaining them too long, said Amanda McClelland of the U.S.-based health policy initiative Resolve to Save Lives.

The big gap for us is really understanding the severity of the outbreak, she said. Without clarity on data, it is very hard to justify the economic pain that shutting down countries causes.
FILE PHOTO: A LVMH luxury group logo is seen prior to the announcement of their 2019 results in Paris

PARIS (Reuters) - The fallout from the coronavirus crisis will weigh on LVMH's earnings for some time yet, though there were some signs of recovery this month, executives at the world's biggest luxury goods group said on Tuesday.

Second quarter earnings at the owner of Louis Vuitton and other brands will be hit particularly in Europe and the United States, Chairman Bernard Arnault told a shareholder meeting, conducted online.

"We can only hope at this point for a gradual recovery," Arnault told investors, adding that the second half of the year looked better. He flagged some "quite vigorous" signs of recovery in June, as virus lockdowns lifted in much of Europe, including in Milan and Paris, two major shopping hubs.

Luxury labels are still suffering from a lack of tourist travel even though consumption is picking up again on a local level as stores reopen, including in China.

Finance chief Jean-Jacques Guiony said the fallout would still be felt in the months to come but that it was not possible to make definite projections.

Asked whether the crisis had changed LVMH's view of its $16 billion purchase of Tiffany - which has yet to close - managing director Antonio Belloni said only that the U.S. jeweller was an "emblematic brand" which had its place in the company's portfolio.

Sources told Reuters in early June that Arnault was exploring ways to potentially pressure Tiffany to lower the acquisition price, including by examining its compliance with its debt covenants.

Since then, however, Tiffany has amended some of its debt agreements, removing any immediate threat of hiccups in this regard.

LVMH, which has come under scrutiny from French tax authorities over how and where its activities are reported, said on Tuesday it paid 50% of its taxes in France. It declined to give details for other countries.

(Reporting by Sarah White, Editing by Dominique Vidalon and Susan Fenton)
Cary Fukunaga (Credit: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Cary Fukunaga has said that he is 'mentally finished' with Bond movie No Time To Die, and won't be using the delay in its release to make any changes.

The Beasts Of No Nation helmsman was set to release the 25th Bond film in April this year, but the plans were postponed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking to Empire magazine, he said: You could just fiddle and tweak and it doesnt necessarily get better.

For all intents and purposes, we had finished the film. I had mentally finished the film. Mentally and emotionally.

Read more: 15 actors who could be the new Bond

The making of the movie was not without its hiccups.

Daniel Craig as James Bond in a still from No Time To Die.(Eon/Universal)

After first director Danny Boyle departed the project, Fukunaga took over, only for star Daniel Craig to injure his ankle while filming in Jamaica, needing surgery in the US.

An on-set explosion at Pinewood also left a crew-member with minor injuries.

The director has suffered similar adversity, with his 2009 movie Sin Nombre.

Cary Fukunaga (Director), Daniel Craig (James Bond) and Lashana Lynch (Nomi) on the 007 sound stage at Pinewood Studios from NO TIME TO DIE, a DANJAQ and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. (Nicola Dove  2019 DANJAQ, LLC AND MGM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

He continued to Empire: My first movie, Sin Nombre, came out during swine flu [pandemic in 2009], and it came out in cinemas in Mexico right when the President of Mexico said, Do not go to cinemas.

Read more: Craig hints at No Time to Die connection to Casino Royale

So I had trauma from that experience, and as I was following the news of this, almost every day I was asking [the producers], Whats the plan, guys? Because this isnt stopping.

Lea Seydoux, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Ana de Armas, Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris and Lashana Lynch (Credit: AP Foto/Leo Hudson)

No Time To Die, starring Craig in his last appearance as James Bond, alongside Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Lashana Lynch and Ana de Armas, will now be released on 12 November.
A South Korean court ordered Pyongyang's leader Kim Jong Un to compensate two former prisoners of war who spent decades as forced labourers in the North, in a move that could set a far-reaching legal precedent on the divided peninsula. The ruling was the first time a South Korean court claimed jurisdiction over Pyongyang or issued a compensation order against its leader, according to a campaign group backing the plaintiffs. The two men -- one surnamed Han, 87, and the other Ro, 90 -- say they were captured during the 1950-53 Korean War, but were never repatriated after the armistice that brought hostilities to a close. Instead, they say they were forced to work at coal mines and other facilities for decades until they escaped the North via China. Ro returned to the South in 2000, and Han a year later. They filed the suit in 2016, saying they had suffered "enormous mental and physical damage" in the North. The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday ordered the North and leader Kim to pay each of them 21 million won ($17,500), a court spokeswoman told AFP. Following the ruling, a civic group supporting the two said they would take legal steps to seize North Korean assets under Seoul's control, such as copyright fees for Pyongyang's state TV. By the end of the war, there were 170,000 North Korean and Chinese prisoners in the US-led UN forces' POW camps, while 100,000 South Korean and UN troops were held in the North, according to data by the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul. Pyongyang repatriated only 8,343 South Koreans after the armistice, according to the Seoul government. The South has since raised the issue many times, but the North maintained no former soldiers from the South were being held against their will. Civic groups say some 80 South Korean POWs escaped the North and returned to the South in 2000 and 2001. Lawyers representing the two men welcomed the ruling, saying a South Korean court for the first time "exercised jurisdiction" against "illegal acts committed by Kim Jong Un". "This is a milestone ruling," said lawyer Koo Chung-seo, adding it paved the way for further legal action by other individuals against Kim and his regime. Inter-Korean relations have been in a deep freeze following the collapse of a summit in Hanoi between Kim and US President Donald Trump early last year over what the nuclear-armed North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions.
During this pandemic, political leaders around the world and at all levels of government have shared their knowledge and information with their citizens through the expertise of their governments. Those who have been honest about the challenges, present, and future, have earned the appreciation and respect of their citizens by telling us what we need to know, not necessarily what we want to hear. Because of their honesty and straight-shooting communication, they have earned the respect and admiration of a majority of their constituents.
Not too late to present your side of Al Jazeera report - Ambiga tells ministers

Former National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president Ambiga Sreenevasan said it is not too late for the relevant ministers to present their sides to claims made by Al Jazeera in a contentious documentary.

In a tweet, Ambiga (above) pointed out that the international news organisation had claimed to have sought the responses of Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin and their deputies, prior to airing the report.

However, their requests were allegedly not entertained.

Al Jazeera in a 25-minute documentary aired on July 5, titled Locked Up in Malaysias Lockdown, criticised Malaysia in its handling of undocumented migrants during the movement control order (MCO) enforced to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was reported that apparently relevant ministers refused to be interviewed by Al Jazeera. Pity isnt it since that would have been the best opportunity to present their side.

Its not too late. They can still do it, said the former member of the Institutional Reforms Committee under the previous government and Bersih chairperson.

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She made the posting in response to a tweet by Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin, who shared a compilation of netizens comments criticising the documentary, which is now the subject of a police probe.

The government also seeks for Al Jazeera to apologise to all Malaysians over the inaccurate report, the minister tweeted.

Her tweet echoed the call for an apology by Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (above), who labelled the documentary as unethical and denied that the government had been racist in handling undocumented migrants.

Controversy immediately erupted over claims aired on Al Jazeeras 101 East programme that it misrepresented facts.

Among others, it deemed the immigration raids "military-style", alleged that minors were handcuffed and migrants were housed under cramped conditions.

The documentary also questioned if the crackdown was the practical reality of dealing with the pandemic or is it racism?

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The report included interviews with migrants, NGOs, civil society organisations, and trade associations.

While not addressing the claim that Al Jazeeras request for comment had not been entertained, Ismail responded later that the Perikatan Nasional government had not specifically targeted migrants, but everyone located in those areas specifically hit hard by Covid-19.

"It is not true to accuse us of being racist in our action as we acted according to the law. The Immigration Department nabbed the undocumented migrants based on the Immigration Act, he had said.

Hamzah had since maintained that the authorities acted within the law, as well as according to the peoples wishes, while Health Minister Dr Adham Baba also denied the racism claim.

Aside from police investigations, the authorities are also searching for a Bangladesh national who was interviewed on the show.

Social media anger over the report continued to be fuelled, with Twitterjaya calling for the reporters and the interviewee to be deported.

Some have even taken to doxing the interviewee by revealing his purported known locations and place of work.

The National Security Council (NSC), which is coordinating the response to the virus outbreak, has also issued a warning that migrants risked having their immigration passes cancelled if they make inaccurate statements against the country.
Shoppers in Australia's second-biggest city stripped supermarket shelves Wednesday as millions in Melbourne prepared for a return to virus lockdown, with warnings the new restrictions could prompt a mental health crisis. Five million residents were ordered back into a six-week lockdown beginning midnight Wednesday into Thursday as soaring community transmission of the coronavirus brings more than 100 new cases daily. A further 134 infections were detected in the past 24 hours -- small in comparison to the tens of thousands in hard-hit countries such as the US and Brazil, but considered a major spike in Australia, which had otherwise been successful in containing COVID-19. The country's largest supermarket chain, Woolworths, said it had reimposed buying limits on items including pasta, vegetables and sugar after shoppers rushed to stores across Victoria state. Experts have warned that people everywhere will have to get used to the "new normal" of on-and-off restrictions as new clusters emerge and subside, while there are also concerns over the economic and mental health impacts the measures will bring. "As frustrating as it is I support (the lockdown) -- but ask me again in six weeks," stoic Melbourne resident Michael Albert told AFP. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Melbourne lockdown would cost the economy up to Aus$1 billion ($700 million) a week, telling public broadcaster ABC the burden would "fall heavily on businesses". "This is not the situation that anybody wanted to be in, but it is the reality that we must confront," said state Premier Daniel Andrews. Restaurants and cafes will be limited to serving takeaway food, while gyms, beauty salons and cinemas will be forced to close again. Residents will be restricted to their homes except for work, exercise, medical care or to buy essentials -- a return to social isolation that was only recently lifted. Professor Michael Kyrios, a clinical psychologist at Flinders University, warned that Victoria needed to brace for a "coming mental health crisis" as a result. - Guards replaced - "This will likely place the mental health care system in a precarious situation with very limited ability to mobilise resources in response to the increased incidence of mental illness arising from the COVID crisis," he said. Health authorities say they have linked many of the Melbourne coronavirus cases to hotels where residents returning from overseas were being quarantined. Local media reported security guards had breached infection control regulations -- including allegedly having sex with guests held in isolation -- prompting the government to replace the private contractors with prison staff and launch an inquiry. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country was now considering limiting the number of citizens returning from abroad, after Victoria began diverting international flights to other cities to ease the burden on its quarantine facilities. "There is a volume that can be accommodated by the (other) states and territories currently, but they certainly wouldn't want to see that increase," he told reporters in Canberra. Thousands of health workers are knocking on doors in the worst-affected areas of Melbourne urging residents to get tested for coronavirus, with officials saying about 10,000 people have refused after being influenced by online disinformation. Around 3,000 people in the city have already been locked inside their homes since Saturday in Australia's strictest coronavirus response to date after a cluster emerged in a high-rise public housing estate. A total of 75 cases have been detected in the densely populated towers during a major testing blitz. Long queues of cars were backed up at Victoria's border Wednesday after neighbouring New South Wales closed the boundary for the first time in the pandemic -- essentially sealing off the state from the rest of Australia. The hastily announced decision left residents of border towns scrambling to obtain permits to cross for work or other essential reasons, while school holiday travellers were rushing to return home. Police checkpoints have been set up at major road crossings and drones are monitoring large sections of the vast border, with one man arrested Wednesday after allegedly attempting to cross illegally. Australia has recorded almost 9,000 cases of coronavirus and 106 deaths.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday denounced China's "aggression" toward India and said that a fresh dispute over Bhutan showed Beijing's plan of "bullying." The remarks were the most extensive by the top US diplomat since a deadly clash between the world's two most populous nations on June 15, which killed 20 Indian soldiers and sent tensions soaring. "The Chinese took incredibly aggressive action. Indians have done their best to respond to that," Pompeo told a news conference, saying he had spoken about the tensions several times with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Since the incident with India, China has taken issue with an international grant application by Bhutan for a wildlife sanctuary, saying the border with the Himalayan kingdom was in dispute. Pompeo linked China's statements on Bhutan, whose foreign policy is guided by New Delhi, to Beijing's island disputes with Vietnam and Japan. "There aren't many neighbors that can satisfactorily say that they know where their sovereignty ends and that the Chinese Communist Party will respect that sovereignty," Pompeo said. "Beijing has a pattern of instigating territorial disputes. The world shouldn't allow this bullying to take place." Pompeo is known for his hawkish views on China but had been unusually restrained in public comments on the tensions between Beijing and New Delhi, only offering condolences via Twitter over India's loss of life. Experts say that India, despite a growing relationship with the United States, does not want to be seen as following Washington's lead on issues touching on its own sovereignty. US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate between India and China, although officials in the three countries have not provided details.
Princes William and Harry have agreed to split the future income of their mothers memorial fund as they take separate paths.

Financial documents show an agreement signed last December, which divides the funds between the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the now abandoned Sussex Royal.

Harry and Meghan had hoped to use Sussex Royal after leaving their senior roles in the Royal Family, but had to wind it up this month after agreeing not to use the word royal in their branding.

Prince Harry and Prince William are splitting the future funds of the Diana memorial trust. (Getty Images)

The Royal Foundation assumed control of The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund in April 2013, to safeguard future income after its operations ended.

At the time, the foundation covered the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

The fund is no longer actively raising money but still receives some legacies and donations. The money will now be split between the Royal Foundation, and Sentebale, at Harrys request.

Sentebale is a charity Harry set up to help the victims of extreme poverty and HIV/Aids in Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi.

Prince Harry and Prince William, meeting well wishers and viewing tributes to Princess Diana in 2017. (WireImage)

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan say people will be 'uncomfortable' as racism and unconscious bias are tackled across the Commonwealth

The Royal Foundations report and consolidated financial statements for the year ending 31 December, 2019, said: On 18 December 2019, an agreement was signed with the Sussex Royal Foundation by which The Royal Foundation intended to grant half of the net future proceeds received by the Diana Fund to Sussex Royal.

In March 2020 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they would no longer be operating Sussex Royal as their primary philanthropic vehicle in the UK and accordingly their share of the net income will instead be donated to another charity of The Duke of Sussexs choosing.

The documents show the Foundation received 21,346 from The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund  close to the 21,583 received in 2018.

The Royal Foundation documents also show that 145,000 was awarded to Harry and Meghan as an unrestricted grant for them to set up Sussex Royal after the Cambridges and the Sussexes agreed to split their households.

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A further 100,000 was given to Prince Harry as a restricted grant to set up Travalyst, his sustainable tourism project.

The project is continuing as a non-profit which will be based in the UK.

Princess Diana with Prince Harry and Prince William in Kensington Palace. (Getty Images)

Read more: Harry and Meghan close Sussex Royal charity ahead of big 2021 launch

The Royal Foundation has also provided a home for legacy projects set up by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

It means Hubb Community kitchen, which the Duchess of Sussex worked with, is still given grant funding through the foundation, as well as the Empowering Communities and Full Effect programmes, which combat youth violence in London and Nottingham.

It was announced earlier this year that the Endeavour Fund Awards, another passion project for Harry, was transferred to the Invictus Games Foundation.

Harry, 35, and his wife Meghan, 38, are planning their next move as they prepare to launch the Archewell Foundation next year, which will be a non-profit organisation.

They have also signed up as speakers with an agency that also represents Barack and Michelle Obama, as well as Meghans friend Serena Williams.

The Royal Foundation continues to be the main philanthropic vehicle for Prince William and Kate.
A high-profile Russian journalist who became an adviser to the head of the space agency was detained for two months Tuesday on charges of treason for allegedly divulging state secrets. Ivan Safronov, 30, worked for business newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti and was one of Russia's most respected journalists reporting on defence. On Tuesday, he was detained by the FSB security service and after hours of deliberation, Moscow's Lefortovsky court approved Safronov's arrest for two months despite a massive outcry against his detention. A member of Safronov's defence team, Yevgeny Smirnov, told AFP after the hearing the former journalist is suspected of cooperating with Czech intelligence since 2012. Safronov's arrest on charges that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars, sparked an uproar among supporters, some of whom took to the streets of Moscow to protest earlier in the day. Twenty five people had been detained, said OVD Info which tracks detentions at political protests. Safronov's lead lawyer Ivan Pavlov said it was the first time in nearly 20 years that a reporter had been accused of state treason in Russia, adding the fate of independent journalism was now on the line. Supporters took to social media arguing that the charges were a response to his reporting, which had ruffled feathers among the ruling elite. Safronov's arrest came after President Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for two decades, oversaw a controversial nationwide vote that allows him to extend his grip on power until 2036. The FSB said Safronov had collected confidential data about the Russian military, defence, and security and was "handing it over" to the intelligence of a NATO member country. Safronov allegedly handed over to the Czech republic data about Russia's military cooperation with Africa and the Middle East in 2017, lawyer Smirnov said, citing investigators. The Kremlin insisted his detention was not related to his previous work as a journalist. "Our counterintelligence is very busy, has a lot of tasks, and does its job very well," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. But the space agency said the charges were unrelated to Safronov's work at Roscosmos where he started working in May. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said Safronov "did not have access to secret information". In recent years authorities have ramped up efforts to squelch dissent and a wide range of individuals including scientists have been accused of high treason or disclosing state secrets. Security analyst Andrei Soldatov said Safronov's arrest indicates that repression in the country may be entering a new phase. "The case against Ivan Safronov is an absolutely new level of repression against journalism in the country," he said. - 'Arrest after arrest' - Safronov reported on the military, politics, and Russia's space programme, which has suffered a series of embarrassing setbacks and corruption scandals in recent years. In 2019, Kommersant removed from its website an article he co-authored about the delivery of Russian fighter jets to Egypt after court proceedings were opened into the disclosure of state secrets. He was forced to quit Kommersant in May last year following the publication of an article he co-authored which reported that the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament was planning to step down. The entire politics desk of the newspaper resigned in protest against his dismissal. A number of media outlets including Kommersant issued statements in defence of Safronov, describing him as one of the best Russian journalists and a patriot. "It is simply impossible to imagine Ivan, the son of an officer, to be a traitor," said Vedomosti. Safronov followed in the footsteps of his journalist father who also covered defence for Kommersant. Ivan Safronov senior died in 2007 after falling out of a window under murky circumstances. At the time of his death he worked on a story about Russia sending air defence systems and planes to Iran and Syria. On Monday, a reporter from the northwestern city of Pskov was fined nearly $7,000 for "justifying terrorism", in a case that sparked an outcry. "Watching arrest after arrest of Russian journalists - it's starting to look like a concerted campaign against #MediaFreedom," tweeted Rebecca Ross, a spokeswoman for the US embassy in Moscow.
The United States and China imposed visa restrictions on each other in tit-for-tat moves over their disagreement on Tibet, adding fuel to the diplomatic fire between the superpowers. China announced Wednesday its curbs on people from the US who "behave badly" on Tibet-related issues, in retaliation for American curbs unveiled a day before. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday he was taking action against an unspecified number of officials under a new US law that presses China to let Americans visit the far west region, renewing a call for "meaningful autonomy" in the predominantly Buddhist area. "Unfortunately, Beijing has continued systematically to obstruct travel to the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas by US diplomats and other officials, journalists and tourists, while PRC officials and other citizens enjoy far greater access to the United States," Pompeo said in a statement. Pompeo restricted visas to Chinese officials determined to be "substantially involved" in the exclusion of foreigners from Tibetan areas. The State Department declined to name the officials or say how many people were affected, citing US confidentiality laws. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian expressed China's "firm opposition" to the move and urged the US to "immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs through Tibet-related issues". "In response to the wrong actions of the US, China has decided to impose visa restrictions on US personnel who behave badly on Tibet-related issues," he said, warning of further damage to US-China relations and cooperation. Amid high tension with China, the United States has increasingly been issuing such visa sanctions, earlier taking action over Beijing's clampdown on free expression in Hong Kong and its incarceration of some one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic minorities. The Tibet action comes under a 2018 law passed by Congress that aims to pressure China over its tight restrictions in the Himalayan region. Beijing says its troops "peacefully liberated" Tibet in 1951, but many Tibetans accuse the central government of religious repression and eroding their culture. Human rights groups say that Tibetans live under strict surveillance with the threat of jail or abuse for any signs of a non-Chinese identity, including possessing images of the Dalai Lama, their exiled spiritual leader. Beijing has largely barred foreign journalists from visiting Tibet since 2008, when the region experienced a wave of self-immolations as protests, and has not responded to US requests to set up a consulate in the regional capital Lhasa. By contrast, the law notes that Chinese nationals admitted to the United States face no restrictions on visiting any part of the country. - 'A clear message' - The International Campaign for Tibet, a rights advocacy group close to the Dalai Lama, welcomed the implementation of the law. "The US is sending Beijing a clear message that it will face consequences for its human rights abuses and continued isolation of Tibet from the outside world," said the group's president, Matteo Mecacci. The campaign said it saw momentum, pointing to a recent joint call by 57 European parliamentarians from 19 countries to set up their own version of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act. A British MP has also introduced similar legislation. "China's oppression of the Tibetan people won't stop tomorrow even with this law's implementation," Mecacci said. "But international pressure on the Chinese government to open up Tibet to the outside world is a vital step toward bringing justice and human rights back to Tibet." The US action comes one day after the 85th birthday of the Dalai Lama, who has spent most of his life in exile in India. While the Dalai Lama is believed to be in good health, the charismatic monk has reduced his once constant travel, raising fears that the spotlight on Tibet will fade without him.
Why probe Al Jazeera instead of investigating claims? - activists

A group of 35 civil society organisations and 17 individuals have expressed horror and concern that police are investigating Al Jazeera on its reporting, instead of the government providing an explanation to the public or probing potential mismanagement of power or accountability.

"We are alarmed by actions taken by the government following the release of a documentary on July 3 by Al Jazeera that reported on Malaysia's treatment of undocumented migrants during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Ministers, heads of government agencies and the police have come out strongly against Locked Up In Malaysia's Lockdown, with investigations being opened under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

"Besides that, the Immigration Department has since threatened to revoke the passes of foreign nationals who make 'inaccurate statements aimed at damaging Malaysia's image', said the group in a joint statement this morning.

Released by the Centre for Independent Journalism, among the signatories of the statement are Aliran, Amnesty International Malaysia, Bersih, Sisters In Islam, Tenaganita as well as a host of other human rights groups. Among the 17 individuals were the Bar Council's Andrew Khoo and PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.

"A credible action by the government when such news is released is to hold a press conference and provide a legitimate and reasonable counter or explanation in order to avoid being seen as benefiting from the whole government machinery for political ends," they added.

The activists said they are seeing a spike in hate speech and threats of violence and harassment against foreign workers, exacerbated further after one interviewee in the Al Jazeera documentary was outed on social media for comments he made in it.

"His personal information, such as his purported phone number and Facebook account, has gone viral, with a litany of hate comments and derogatory language directed at him.

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The group blasted the Immigration Department for releasing the individuals name, passport number and last known address, saying it had made matters worse.

In addition to that, refugee rights activist Heidy Quah (below) was also being investigated by Bukit Aman over a Facebook post exposing the alleged mistreatment of refugees at immigration detention centres.

"We fear that this could turn into a witch hunt and place not just this individual but other migrant workers in fear of their security and possible harm.

"The government should not be complicit in human rights abuses against migrant workers, such as doxxing and threats, by promoting hatred or discrimination in their messaging," the group said.

"We worry that statements by officials in recent days could further heighten tensions and incite violence and discrimination against migrants, specifically undocumented workers in the country, besides completely undermining the need for critical media reporting and exercise of freedom of expression."

They added that they stand in solidarity with Al Jazeera and strongly condemn efforts by the state to intimidate and threaten media freedom and independence in the country.

These instances, they said, have been systematic and heightened since the change of government this year and included investigations and charges using various laws which were levied against journalist Tashny Sukumaran, former radio deejay Patrick Teoh and CodeBlue editor-in-chief Boo Su-Lyn, among others.

"We remind the state and its leaders that media freedom and freedom of expression and speech underpins the fundamental right to seek and exchange ideas, opinions and information that would enable the public to form their own opinions and allow for dissenting or alternative positions, specifically on issues of public interest.

"This would, ultimately, aid in the promotion of good governance and in holding the state and its officials to higher account, which is no doubt what is expected of a democratic state."

They called on the Perikatan Nasional government to end and refrain from the continued use of intimidating measures to threaten and punish the media and silence critical voices.

The group urged the government to:

Drop all investigations against Al Jazeera and their sources or interviewees. Initiate an independent inquiry into possible mismanagement or abuse of power by state apparatus and officials in the handling of the raids targeted at migrant workers. Stop all forms of intimidation and threats against foreigners, specifically migrant workers, from exercising their rights and voicing out their opinions. Prevent incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against migrant workers and other foreigners through government rhetorics or messaging. Ensure doxxing, threats and other human rights abuses, both online and offline, against migrants including undocumented migrant workers, are investigated and perpetrators are held accountable. Move ahead with the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council as a transparent and independent self-regulatory body for the industry, and to avoid the government from becoming the sole arbiter of truth and deciding what information is true and what is not.

In a separate statement, Lawyers For Liberty (LFL) coordinator Zaid Malek (above) hit out at the reaction to the documentary.

"We have carefully considered the entirety of the documentary, and state that there is nothing there that warrants any criminal investigation by the authorities.

"If there truly was anything that was misreported, the government could simply release their own statements to refute any inaccuracies.

"Instead, the authorities appear to be determined to stifle any criticism regarding the mass crackdown on migrants during the movement control order (MCO)," he said.

LFL cited the now classified "No Further Action" police investigation on Tashny who was probed under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for her tweets on the immigration raid at Selangor Mansion, Kuala Lumpur.

"These sort of heavy-handed responses to criticism serves to threaten journalistic freedom," Zaid added.

He took the Immigration Department to task over its circulation of the notice concerning the Bangladeshi man interviewed in the documentary.

"We are appalled that the authorities chose to single out this individual, an action which would have the unfortunate result of further stoking the disproportionate outrage this man is currently facing."

He said the notice which contained the interviewee's details "can be construed as a state-sanctioned witch hunt which could bring untold harm to this individual."

LFL said it must be noted that concerns for the condition of those in detention centres are not without reason as an Indian tourist, Zeawdeen Kadar Masdan, was reported to have died on June 12 after contracting Covid-19 while under immigration detention.
Forcing chained monkeys to pick coconuts is not widespread and part of local culture, the agriculture sector has responded to a growing international ban over the practice.

After stores in the United States and Europe joined a boycott of Thai coconut products called by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, Nukul Look-in, president of the Thai Coconut Farmers Association, said that most coconut harvesting does not involve abusing or forcing monkeys to pick them.

According to Nukul, only a slice of all coconut products  10%  are harvested with monkey labor, specifically from coconut trees over 25 meters tall.

The Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit also spoke out as well to deny the allegations. He said using macaques to pick coconuts is a way of life in the south, while a small number are used to attract tourists.

Coconut-picking by monkeys on an industrial scale does not exist in Thailand, Jurin said. Most of them you see are for lifestyle, culture and tourism.

Jurin said today he would meet PETA representatives to discuss the topic as the allegations will significantly harm the sale and export of coconut products.

On Saturday, PETA released a video showing chained and distressed monkeys and a statement calling for the global boycott of Thai coconut products  including top producers Aroy-D and Chaokoh  for abusing and exploiting the monkeys.

A disturbing PETA investigation reveals that terrified young monkeys in Thailand are kept chained, abusively trained, and forced to climb trees to pick coconuts that are used to make coconut milk, meat, flour, oil and other products, PETA wrote in a statement.

The animal rights group said it visited eighth farms where monkeys were forced to pick coconuts, and that some monkey-training facilities put on coconut-picking competitions.

Thousands of retailers have already agreed to remove the products: more than 9,000 Walgreens in the United States; 2,700 Boots stores in the United Kingdom and Thailand; as well as nearly 900 Albert Heijn stores in the Netherlands.

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Related

Zoo ordered to stop sending chimp on bike to spray disinfectant

This article, Commerce Minister defends monkey slave labor, will meet PETA, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
After being in Singapore for about 3 months, a Malaysian mum was finally able to return home with her 9-month-old daughter after restrictions under the Movement Control Order (MCO) eased.

In a vlog posted on 3 July, the mum documented the process of travelling from Singapore back to Malaysia.

Arriving at the Singapore customs. | Photo: Youtube screengrab

The pair arrived at the Singapore customs at 7 am. According to the mum, there were no people nor buses in sight at the Woodlands Checkpoint.

But rather than arranging for a bus to take them to the Johor Bahru customs, the mum decided to cross the causeway on foot with her child instead.

Mum walks across causeway with infant daughter. | Photo: Youtube screengrab

With her baby in tow, the mum walked across the causeway with a carry-on hand luggage as well. In the video, she shared how there were some kind-hearted people who offered to carry her bags and expressed gratitude towards them.

Long Wait to Getting Tested

According to the mum, she and her child arrived at the Johor Bahru customs some 30 minutes later.

After going through an arduous journey, they were welcomed by a snaking queue to register for a mandatory COVID-19 swab test.

Photo: Youtube screengrab

Following the testing protocol, they then moved to queue up for a registration number which will allow them to board a bus that will take them to the testing centre.

The pair then had to wait further for nearly two hours on a hot-weather day before finally being able to hop on the bus for the testing centre at 10:30am

Waiting to get swabbed. | Photo: Youtube screengrab

Both the mum and baby completed the swab test at around 1pm. They were instructed to wait on a minibus before they were brought to a waiting centre.

Photo: Youtube screengrab

Further waiting ensued, where they spent another 3 hours in the facility, which the mum said caused her and her child great fatigue.

Photo: Youtube screengrab

9-month-old Tested Positive

The mum was jolted awake at about 3 pm when she heard her daughters name being called. They were then told to wait outside the waiting centre. She was then told that her child tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be able to go home as yet.

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She, on the other hand, was tested negative.

An ambulance immediately came to bring her and her baby to Kluang Hospital.

Five days later, the mum shared an update on her child hospitalisation. In the same video, the mum can be seen tearing up while caring for her baby.

The distraught mum says that she misses home. | Photo: Youtube screengrab

Suspected Misdiagnosis

In a post update on Sunday (5 July) in the comments section, the mum shared that she believes her child may have been misdiagnosed, citing that another swab test showed that her baby tested negative.

She noted that her baby was asymptomaticdid not experience symptoms, fever, cough, nor any discomfortwhen the test results came back positive.

Baby did not experience any symptoms. | Photo: Youtube screengrab

Despite the struggles faced, the mum said that she and her baby are now fine, and have spent 21 days in isolation.

She also assured that those who assisted with their baggage do not have to worry about being infected.

For those who helped us with our baggage, do not worry as we believe this was a misdiagnosis. Everyone who came in contact with the baby tested negative twice, she wrote.

The mum also shared in her update that she chose to walk instead of arranging for a bus because she wanted to hurry homeeven if it meant a tough 30-minute journey back.

And she believes that [our] hearts are the same when it comes to missing home. She noticed many pregnant mothers who did the same, crossing over the causeway via foot.

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The post COVID-19: Mum Walks Across Causeway With Infant Daughter Who Later Tested Positive For The Virus appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids.
(PHOTO: Rhonda Wong)

Buying a house is one of the biggest purchases in ones lifetime but yet the process is often confusing and cumbersome. To tackle the issue, Rhonda Wong, together with her sister Race Wong, started Ohmyhome, a one-stop solution for housing needs.

Yahoo Lifestyle SEA finds out more from Wong, the newly crowned Singapore winner for the Women of The Future Awards Southeast Asia 2020, on being a woman in a traditionally masculine industry, striking a work-life balance, and the future of Ohmyhome.

We wanted to create solutions that could revolutionize the entire housing transaction experience, to provide people with a platform and services that are simple, fast and affordable, Wong shared. Started in 2016 and expanded beyond Singapore, Ohmyhome now has a branch in both Malaysia and the Phillippines.

Race Wong pictured left with her sister Rhonda. (PHOTO: Rhonda Wong)

With the goal to streamline the housing transaction journey, Ohmyhome serves home buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants, providing agents, DIY platform, mortgage information, and legal help on their 24/7 platform.

A traditionally masculine industry, Wong let on that she had built a culture and made sure the work environment at Ohmyhome is free from all forms of discrimination.

Thats one of the greatest beauties of building and leading your own space. With our team safe at work, we have the right environment to focus on our passion for building the perfect housing transaction world for our customers who may sometimes be treated differently by the other agents that they hire due to the size or price of their unit.

Recognising and empowering female talent and leadership across industries, the Women of The Future Awards Southeast Asia 2020 celebrates inspirational women from Southeast Asia across 10 industry categories. The third edition of the awards was held on 25 June, and Wong is the Singapore winner for the awards.

I am very honoured to be recognised alongside all the inspirational and visionary women at the Women of The Future Awards. It definitely inspires me to carry on shaping the Proptech industry to create a better future for all, especially with respect to the most important asset in their lives - their homes and property investments.

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Rhonda pictured with her son Ashton. (PHOTO: Rhonda Wong)

As the CEO of Ohmyhome, we could only imagine how heavy Wongs daily workload will be.

Asking her for tips on how to have a better work-life balance, the CEO shared that the key is in setting a routine. Finding a routine that allows you to integrate family and work will help to alleviate some of the stress of balancing both as there is one less burden on your mental load.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many expats left Singapore for their own countries and property sales slowed down. Ohmyhome too, was not spared from the global economic slowdown. With offices in three countries, Wong has to come up with different approaches to combat the challenges faced in each market.

When Singapore first implemented its Circuit Breaker measures and property viewings became impossible, it brought a surge of interest to Ohmyhomes virtual tours. We found ourselves taking the lead ushering in a new era, where house buyers can purchase their next homes through virtual viewings without the traditional physical viewings through Ohmyhome platform.

Setting goals to make Ohmyhome a global player in the Proptech sector, Wong also hopes that the platform can contribute to housing the less fortunate, investing for the middle class, preserving for the wealthy, and making homes safer for the young and the ageing in the future.

Today, Ohmyhome is an agent of change and innovation, but our methods and speed of transacting will be the norm in the future.
Stansbury was born and raised in Havre de Grace, the youngest of seven children and the son of Mary V. Stansbury and Clayton C. Stansbury Sr. He attended the segregated Havre de Grace Colored High School, setting county records as a member of the track team, and graduated in 1953, according to his obituary. Stansbury was part of the last class to graduate from the Colored High School  Black students in the Aberdeen and Havre de Grace areas then attended Havre de Grace Consolidated School in the Oakington area until Harford County Public Schools were desegregated in 1965.
Social media influencer Wendy Cheng, better known as Xiaxue, blamed past sexual assault for racially offensive tweets now being investigated by the police.

In a lengthy blog post today, the 36-year-old online personality said the police had questioned her motive for posting the old messages and told her to remove them after receiving a number of complaints. Cheng, who said she gave a statement to the authorities, went on to link the messages to frequent sexual assault when she was a minor.

By now, some of you may have seen that some idiots went to dig up 10 year old tweets of mine and reported them to the police. And yes its true, the police came to my house yesterday and took my statement, she wrote in a post titled Raeesah Khan, GE 2020, and being labeled a Racist.

Race has become a flashpoint in the final days before Fridays election, and one of Chengs past posts purportedly targeted migrant workers.

Singapore is seeing a flurry of race-related police complaints being filed after an investigation was launched into Workers Party candidate Raeesah Khan for allegedly promoting racial enmity in the past. Supporters say she was calling out systemic inequality by alleging unequal justice for minority groups compared to residents of Chinese and European descent. #IStandWithRaeesah has been trending online since Monday.

Xiaxue said the officers were obligated by protocol to take action.

Im fine, the police were pretty nice and just asked why I wrote what I wrote etc. It is important to note that once a police report is filed, the police are are obligated to make an investigation. This by no means shows I will be charged, she added. By instruction of the police, I was told to remove the offending articles but they have more or less gone viral now, so really, there is no point in the deleting.

Man reports Xiaxue to police over 2010 little India tweet

One person who reported Cheng was 21-year-old Vignesh Sankar. He told Coconuts Singapore yesterday he had done so over a 2010 tweet in which she described a group of people who sexually abused people, leered at underage girls and crowded Little India.

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While Cheng did not explicitly identify which group she was referring to, Sankar said it was clear she was trying to stir up anti-Indian sentiments.

Cheng has not responded to messages seeking comment since yesterday.

In todays post, she said she could not remember which group she was referring to in the tweet but went on to refer to them as Group B and said she had been sexually abused by members of the group when she was younger.

Man files police report against PAP over statement on Raeesah Khan

Cheng alleged that men groped her, sat on her, and exposed themselves, among other incidents.

When I was a child and teenager, I was often sexually assaulted by members of this group. They would touch my boobs or butt on public transport (particularly buses), they grabbed my hands, one of them literally sat on my lap on the bus. All while I was in my school uniform, as a minor. Ive encountered flashers in lifts, public masturbation more times than I can count, you name it, she wrote.

These tweets are but a very small slice of a much larger story. Not finding an excuse for my behavior. It is what it is. If you are still offended, I dont give a fuck, she wrote.

I was speaking from trauma, and it may not be polite, but its real. My tweets were emotionally charged, but havent you posted rude shit before when you were angry? Once again, if you never experienced what I did, you have no right to tell me how to feel, she added.

In the two other offending tweets, Cheng had questioned why there were many members of the Bangladeshi community in Jurong East and made repeated use of the N-word to explain its use in different contexts, respectively.

An online petition Punish Xiaxue for seditious content has garnered more than 10,000 signatures. Some are emailing to brands that have worked with Cheng to dissuade them from endorsing her.

Cheng also addressed this in her post by shining a spotlight on her child and elderly parents and questioned how she would care for them without an income.

Toward the end of the post, Cheng turned her attention to Raeesah Khans support for American political activist Angela Davis, calling on the Workers Party to explain why they had fielded a candidate with extreme left-wing views.

Other stories you should check out:

Man reports Xiaxue to police over 2010 little India tweet

This article, Xiaxue deletes racist posts, cites past sexual assault to vilify Group B, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
At the working session with the Laotian delegation, the HCMC mayor highly appreciated the traditional friendship, special solidarity and the comprehensive cooperation in various fields between the two counties which is still going on. Vietnam is the third-largest foreign investor in Laos, contributing to the bilateral economic and trading development.



He hoped that the recent talks between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi will help HCMC connect cooperation relations with Laos localities after the Covid-19 pandemic is brought under control.

The municipal authorities will kick off several cooperation projects with Laos, such as improving the quality of beef cattle herds in Vientiane, organizing a trade and tourism fair. Additionally, the HCMC Department of Foreign Affairs plans cooperation programs with Laotian localities in the 2021-2025 period, especially the twinned localities with HCMC, Vientiane capital and Champasak province, he said.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong hoped that newly-appointed ambassador will continue to strengthen solidarity and friendship between the two countries.

On his part, newly appointed Ambassador of Laos Sengphet Houngboungnuang expressed his joy about the two countries achievements in monitoring and controlling the Covid-19 pandemic. He informed that Laos and Vietnam will continue to carry out the programs of the Laos-Vietnam Inter-governmental Committee, including the cooperation in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, the reopening of border gates and flights between the two sides.

At the meeting with outgoing Hungarian Consul General in HCMC Baloghdi Tibor, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong expressed his regret at activities marking the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Hungary (February 3) that were cancelled due to coronavirus fears. He hoped that events will be organized in the second half of the year.

He honored outstanding contribution of the outgoing Hungarian Consul General in boosting HCMC-Hungary relations in trade, education, investment and the connection of businesses of the two sides.

The municipal chairman hoped both HCMC and Hungary will continue further development of education, health, wastewater treatment and culture.

By Thuy Vu  Translated by Kim Khanh
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CHEROKEE, Iowa -- Even when the Cherokee Public Library's doors were closed for roughly two months amid the COVID-19 pandemic, its internet service was available 24/7.

Director Tyler Hahn said several people asked if they could back up their photos to the cloud or update their video game stations and cellphones from the library's parking lot.

"We're one of the few resources within our community where you can utilize internet without having to make any sort of purchase. You're just kind of free to exist without the expectation of having to spend money," he said.

With few clothing retailers in Cherokee, Hahn said finding a pair of black slacks, for example, was difficult at the time, so residents turned to online shopping. He said both younger and older adults had never made a purchase from Amazon before and sought help from library staff to do so.

"We had a lot of people needing a walk-through with how to go ahead and address those various steps and then even for printing materials like return labels," he said. "We're one of the few places in town where you can go ahead and make a copy. A lot times, we were making copies and having that be a part of our curbside services as well."
I was shocked when I first read it, said his mother, Tameka Lloyd. I started to tear up. As a 38-year old, I know how these events have affected me emotionally. But I didnt realize my 11-year old was so attuned of everything thats going on. I was proud that my son was able to articulate himself in the poem, but it was saddening at the same time that were still fighting the same fight.
The governor said corrections already had tested about 300 people. She said state public health officials were slated to test another 600 inmates and 100 staff at the facility starting Wednesday.

Its just incredibly important for us to get in there, do the testing so that we can understand the scope, do the isolation for those who have been exposed and really take the measures that we need to take to prevent it from spreading throughout the facility, Reynolds told reporters.

The Corrections Department has been trying to keep COVID-19 out of its nine prison facilities because the highly-contagious virus can spread easily in the close quarters where prisoners are held, as the swift increase in Fort Dodge illustrates.

The warden of the Iowa Medical and Classification Center abruptly retired in May after the state Corrections Department director launched an investigation of an outbreak at the facility in Coralville, The Gazette reported last month.

Vanlengen had been serving a 100-year maximum sentence for four convictions of second-degree sex abuse from Black Hawk County. His sentence began on December 1, 1995, and his tentative discharge date would have been Jan. 17, 2039.
The Atlantic Coast Pipeline was a planned underground highway of natural gas, meant to cover 600 miles across the South. Activists were hugely worried about the environmental impact of the pipeline, so their strategy was to block every attempt to get it built. They tried to keep pipelines away from the Appalachian Trail. They argued that construction of the pipeline put endangered species at risk. They filed lawsuits. All this work slowed the pipeline down, but what no one was expecting was what happened this weekend: After six years of legal fights, Duke Energy and Dominion Energy, the companies behind this pipeline, announced that the whole thing was canceled. How did this victory happen? And can it be replicated?

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On Wednesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Lyndsey Gilpin, the founder and editor in chief of Southerly, a media organization covering ecology, justice, and culture in the South, about the people who dedicated years to successfully busting the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Mary Harris: Youve written about how right now the U.S. is in this boom time for pipelines. Can you explain why thats so?

Lyndsey Gilpin: The energy industry has shifted from a reliance on coal to natural gas, and a major part of that is because the global market for coal has declined as natural gas and renewables have gotten cheaper. The other part of that is even the major utilities in the South are saying they want to reduce their carbon footprint.

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What does this boom look like? How many miles of pipeline are we talking about?

Oh, God. I mean, tens and tens of thousands of pipelines. This is not new in any sense, especially in the South. If you look at a map of Louisiana, for instance, you cant even see the outline of the state because there are so many pipelines criss-crossing. And you need pipelines to try to transport gas. A lot of them are very small. I think the difference here is theres only a few out there that are 42 inches in width and that extend the length of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The other thing is that this one is traversing a landscape no other pipeline has traversed.

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Tell me about the original vision for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Why was it necessary?

So Dominion and Duke said they needed to increase the amount of natural gas they were getting to their customers in Virginia and North Carolina. The idea was that, If we build this large pipeline because were the developers and also were buying the pipeline, we can more cheaply supply natural gas to our customers.

So its a win-win. Its like, Were doing this for us, but then well also be able to give you a break on the energy.

Right. So the way they got this through a lot of county commissioners and city councils was that they said, While were building this huge project thatll make your energy cheaper, well provide thousands of jobs and in construction, and in general, itll be an economic boon for the area. Thats sort of why it so easily passed through. It was an easy sell to leaders.

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As the pipeline project grew more complicated, with construction delays and legal challenges, its costs ballooned. So the promise of cheap gas seemed like less and less of a sure thing. And in places where the energy industry had left an ugly scar on the land, or pollution in the air or water, people were more skeptical of any promises from Duke and Dominion about the economic upside of a massive natural gas pipeline.

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From the beginning, this project was opposed by more people than would typically have opposed such a project in the past, because theyve seen how the coal industry has decimated these communities, how its made a ton of wealth off Appalachian communities and then left them high and dry, with high unemployment rates. They left people sick and dying from pollution and black lung disease. So while it was an easy sell, the jobs part was very short term. I mean, Dominion told me that all in all, it would create a couple dozen permanent jobs. And the frame has always been, Its going to provide thousands of construction jobs. Which is true. The construction jobs are not insignificant. But the other part of that is a lot of the construction jobs are very specialized. So many people in places I traveled through were saying these arent local jobs. Theyre bringing in people from companies outside the region who know how to build pipelines, welders or people of a higher level of education or training. So locals werent actually getting those jobs that they were promised.

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You talked about local opposition as opposed to political acceptance of the pipeline. And you traveled the entire length of the proposed pipeline to try to understand how local communities were reacting to the project. Im wondering if you can take us to a couple of the places you visited.

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One of the spots I went to in Virginia was Bath County, which has this place called Little Valley, which is this tiny narrow hollow with this creek running through it. I met this couple who had this land that had been in this womans family for hundreds of years. This pipeline was going to cut right across their property. I saw pieces of that throughout the whole route, these very small and significant attachments to the landscapes that people had because their families had grown up there. This is a place they called home. It might just seem like somebodys backyard to a pipeline company. But to the people, it was everything.

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In some of these communities you went to, you found people really fighting over the pipeline, having different opinions about whether the pipeline should go in. Can you take me inside one of those disagreements?

Theyve seen how the coal industry has decimated these communities, how its made a ton of wealth off Appalachian communities and then left them high and dry.  Lyndsey Gilpin

I met one couple with some farmland in North Carolina. The pipeline was right by their property. Right next to their house was this other little white house. The husband of the couple said, Thats my brothers house and we dont talk anymore. Hes angry at me for fighting this pipeline. His brother had apparently been very for the pipeline because he said it was an economic development opportunity. I ran into that a lot. There were church congregations that were very divided over this issue, with that sort of framing, Youre an environmentalist and youre not for economic development, which is a very simplistic narrative that theyre fed by local officials and the companies.

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It creates these divides that arent necessarily accurate. It doesnt have to be a pipeline or nothing. It doesnt have to be coal or nothing. But thats the easy explanation people are given. When you have that combined with the fact that there are very few jobs and a lot of problems with a lack of hospitals, a lack of resources in general, no clean watera lot of places like that make a project like this have more weight than you would imagine.

The activists you spent a bit of time with had worked in neighboring counties trying to get their communities involved and talking about the pipeline. Can you talk a little bit about what motivated them and why this was so important to them?

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Two of the best people I met were Gary Grant and Belinda Joyner. They have for decades been fighting proposed industrial projects that could cause public health risks or environmental harm in their communities, in this particular region of eastern North Carolina that is predominantly Black. Where Grant is from, in Halifax County, the area is mostly agricultural. It was part of a New Deal settlement where Black people were given land to farm and to start making some money. But they were quickly flooded out and bought out by white settlers. And Appalachia is dominated by the coal industry. This part of North Carolina is really dominated by industrial farming, mostly hogs and now poultry. These farms cause a lot of issues with smell and waste and public health concerns.

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Gary had been fighting all this for a really long time and has been on TV and quoted in newspapers and has literally never stopped. He convinced Joyner to join in the fight for other issues in their community. Joyner created this local group and took on, like, every industrial project that has come through this area in the past several years. Its especially significant in this area of North Carolina because the environmental justice movement started a country over.

How did Grant and Joyner become interested in the pipeline and start organizing people around that?

They have their ears to the ground on everything. They heard about this pipeline because there were three compressor stations that were supposed to be built along the route that would help transport the gas. They immediately started organizing against the pipeline. One they started, they were connected with other people in north and eastern North Carolina who were also fighting the ACP. That gave Grant and Joyner a lot more momentum because a lot of the communities in North Carolina that would have been affected by the pipeline are predominantly Black and Native American.

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One piece of your reporting was focused on the fact that it wasnt just that the pipeline was going through these rural and traditionally disenfranchised areas. It was also that it was being built in news deserts, places where there were no local newspapers. Or maybe the local paper was only coming out once a week or once a month, and it might not have the staff to really dig into the issue of the pipeline and the impact it might have on the community.

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It took me a long time to piece that together. You have national media that covered it initially and then they left and came back when there was big newsmaybe when some permit was canceled or it went to the Supreme Court. But those stories dont really give context to whats happening on the ground. If you just read the reporting of it by state and national newspapers, it just seems like, oh, this projects still moving forward, and some people are against it while others are for it, a very simplistic narrative. And I think that that contributed to the fact that a lot of people felt defeated throughout all of this, like there was nothing they could do.

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So many of the papers along the route are weeklies, and a lot of them are very clearly pro-business, pro-industry. Without local news, you realize how easily the narrative of economic versus environmental can manifest. Thats how you get such big divides in a lot of these places.

In your reporting, you push back on the idea that theres this economic versus environmental dichotomy. You say its a false choice. But that said, the thing that stood out to me that there are real problems both sides are trying to articulate and address here, whether its the world needing more energy or the local communities needing more jobs and tax revenue. I wonder how these local groups are thinking about addressing those other needs that maybe their neighbor across the street sees and is scared about: that if these energy jobs go away, there wont be anything left.

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One of the most fascinating conversations happening in the region right now is how to transition in a way thats equitable and affordable for everybody. And also how to incorporate environmental justice into all these decisions. Its a shift in understanding what Appalachia and other rural areas can look like. And how to make that fair.

One of the advocates whod been suing over the Atlantic Coast Pipeline said in a statement they put out after this big win that now is the time for these energy companies to pivot to solar and wind. Is there any sign these companies are planning to do that?

I think thats a really big question. Whats really going to push them is whats happening at the state level. Virginia passed a really historic piece of legislation called the Clean Economy Act a couple of months ago that will force Dominion to move forward with clean energy. North Carolina is sort of on that path too. So you see local communities moving toward this faster, but its going to take state-level work for utilities to change because they have the monopolies in these areas. Thats why anything they do is really hard for people to to fight, because they dont have another choice for energy production. They cant buy their power from somebody else in most cases.

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I wonder if you look at this pipeline and see lessons for environmental justice activists in other places who might be thinking, How do I make myself heard? How do I repeat the work thats been done here?

It shows you how long it takes for something like this to happen. It took six years. Six years of your life volunteering to get a project like this stopped is such a huge commitment. I can see very clearly why people feel defeated, why they feel like its not worth it. It just doesnt happen very often like this.

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 adapted from A Silent Army, the fourth episode of Slow Burns new season.

The Blind River Bar was located in swampland in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, about 40 miles outside Baton Rouge. One morning in the summer of 1990, 300 people headed there to eat and drink and cheer on David Duke during his campaign for the United States Senate.

Duke had staged a different kind of rally in Livingston Parish in 1975. Back then, the Klan leader had burned a 40-foot cross, shouted the N-word, and threatened Black Americans with violence. Give us liberty, he said, and give them death.

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By 1990, Duke had learned to use softer language. But the politician and his followers were still focused on the same enemy. Public radio journalist Plater Robinson asked one attendee, who identified himself as an unemployed boiler repair man, what brought him out that day. I was a small businessman at one time. And I got run out by minorities, he said.

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The people gathered at the Blind River Bar wanted to believe in David Duke, and they were tired of the media telling them that they should know better than to vote for an ex-Klansman. As the Senate candidate barnstormed across the state, a sort of Duke-mania began to take hold among white voters in Louisiana. When Duke addressed his clamoring fans, he made it clear that this wasnt just a campaign. It was a cause.

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Now, ladies and gentlemen, I look around at this country. I love this country deeply. And I believe were losing it, he told them. And I know what we once were, and I want to make us great again, ladies and gentlemen. We gotta stand up for this country!

Bess Carrick spent 1990 following Duke around. She was making a documentary about the politician and his movement, and after a while all the rallies she went to started to blend together.

He would create that virulent crowd mentality. They were transfixed with what he had to say. They would do whatever he told them to do.  Bess Carrick

They had this blond woman with a blue dress who, you know, just absolutely was like the picture-perfect Aryan superwoman. And she sang the national anthem every time I went to a Duke rally, she remembers. And then hed have some rabble-rousers that would come on stage. And this one fella would wind up the audience.

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Dukes warmup act was a former Democratic congressman named John Rarick. Rarick had represented the Baton Rouge area in the U.S. House in the 1960s and 70s. One Black legislator called him the leading racist in Congress.

Plater Robinson recorded Raricks speech at the Blind River Bar. Theres only one candidate that says he believes the whole civil rights bill should be changed to just say its against the law for an American to discriminate against an American, Rarick said, to a roaring response.

God, what a miserable son of a bitch that guy was, Bess Carrick says, recalling Raricks speeches. Everybody was very happy and they would jump in front of the camera and wave and carry on and say, you know, Put me on TV. Put me on TV. Then once Rarick got em all wound up, the mood in the room would just absolutely become palpably tense and bitter and horrible.

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David Duke didnt sound as angry as his followers were. He presented himself as a sorrowful patriota man who wanted to restore the United States to its former glories.

I know why Im here and I know why youre here, he told the crowd at one rally. We know that America cannot prosper and be safe and sound for all of its citizens and offer hope for all of our young people until we have a system that rewards people who work and produce.

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People who work and producethat was a not-so-coded reference to Dukes white base. And then there were the people that allegedly didnt work, and didnt produce. Duke talked about them, too.

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Ladies and gentlemen, weve got to find a way to reduce the massive, illegitimate welfare birth rate, because I tell you people on welfare are having children faster than they can raise our taxes to pay for them all, he said.

Before I started working on this season of Slow Burn, I wrote a book and made a podcast series about the origins of the welfare queen stereotype. When Ronald Reagan ran for president in 1976, he told an exaggerated story about a woman named Linda Tayloran anecdote that depicted poor Black women as a drain on society. She used 80 names, 30 addresses, 15 telephone numbers to collect food stamps, Social Security, veterans benefits for four nonexistent deceased veterans husbands, as well as welfare. Her tax-free cash income alone has been running $150,000 a year, Reagan said, inaccurately, of Taylor.

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During his 1990 Senate campaign, Duke put his own spin on the welfare queen myth. The story he told was cruder than Reagans, and even more ludicrous. But the crowd reacted just the way Duke wanted it to.

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The doctor said, he said, Representative, Ive got a bit of information for you that you might find interesting. He said, Right now I have a lady in my outer office who is on welfare. Shes in her 30s, she has three teenage daughters that were all born illegitimate. And this lady is pregnant now with an illegitimate child. And all three of her daughters are now also pregnant with an illegitimate child. And he said, You know what else? And I said, I cant imagine what else. He said, The woman and all three of the daughters are all pregnantby the same man. [Crowd: Oooooooh.] I tell you. That guys jealous over there. [Laughs.]

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Aid to Families With Dependent Childrenthe program commonly known as welfaremade up just 2 percent of Louisianas annual budget. The states monthly stipend for a family of three was one of the stingiest in the country$190.

But for David Duke, the reality of welfare wasnt important. What mattered was the message he sent by demonizing it.

The people at Dukes rallies were primed to receive that message. At one campaign event, a woman screamed out: Were tired of those lazy bastards collecting checks.

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Ive been around, you know, racists and whack jobs, Bess Carrick says. But the problem with David Dukes rallies was that he would create that virulent crowd mentality. And he had a real cultlike following. And they were transfixed with what he had to say. They would do whatever he told them to do.

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One time, at a Veterans of Foreign Wars outpost in New Orleans, Carricks cameraman started shooting B-roll of the crowd. She followed him down the center aisle.

And we see the faces of the Duke supporters. And I looked in their eyes.  It felt like they had been broken a long time ago. And it hit me like a wave. And I felt extremely nauseous and sad at the same time. That broken people do search for these leaders that imbue them with a sense of rage and power thats all a complete illusion. Like, if we did not have our own barriers up and our own awareness, we could feel the fishhooks of his propaganda, like hooking into part of our brains and just reeling us off to the side. He is just very convincing, and everything he says, if you dont examine it carefully, if you just eat it, eat it, eat it in. Swallow it. Youre going to buy it.

Listen to this full episode of Slow Burn below, or subscribe to Slow Burn on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Join Slate Plus for your ad-free feed and bonus episodes, including this weeks: Topher Grace talks about what it was like to play David Duke in BlackKklansman.
The man was walking on the trail after midnight and near the Harundale Plaza when four assailants allegedly assaulted him, police said.
Under the cover of the pandemic, the Trump administration has closed the southern border indefinitely to desperate asylum seekers, suspended visas for skilled workers, threatened to deport foreign students, and generally increased the opacity and bureaucracy of the immigration system. Simultaneously, human rights organizations along the border or near ICE detention centers are pleading for volunteer attorneys across the country for one- or two-week stints to assist migrants seeking protection from persecution. When Ive visited and volunteered at those sites in Tijuana, Nogales, and southern Texas, the truth is obvious to me: there is no way that we volunteers can adequately pick up the slack of doing quality work for more than a handful of individuals during our visits. After all, there are more than 60,000 migrants waiting to apply for asylum at the border right now, and more than 30,000 in ICE detention centers around the countrymany operated by for-profit private prison companies. There are simply not enough of us. It is time to require the government to provide an immigration attorney to those who cannot afford one because of whats at stake.

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The legal organizations that do exist cannot meet the need of our local communities. For example, as one of more than twenty legal services programs in the San Francisco Bay Area funded to represent noncitizens facing deportation, the University of San Francisco immigration clinic that I help operate has about 350 open and active cases, with a waiting list of more than 200. Some of the other area agencies have even larger waitlists.

No one should be stuck on a waitlist for vital legal representation. But there is simply not enough legal aid and pro bono help available for those who need it. The law provides that someone facing deportation has a right to counsel, but not at government expense. In other words, if you cannot afford an attorney, you have to hope a law school clinic, a legal services attorney, or a pro bono attorney can take your caseotherwise, you are on your own. The Sixth Amendment does grant a right to government-appointed counsel to criminal defendants, but deportation cases are classified as civil rather than criminal in nature.

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No one should be stuck on a waitlist for vital legal representation.

Due process arguments that the federal government should provide counsel to those facing removal have not been successful. The only exception is one federal court that ordered the government to provide counsel to immigrant detainees with mental disabilities. But thats it. Non-detained respondents who are mentally incompetent are not covered by the ruling. Even children facing deportation are not provided counsel; they are regularly forced to represent themselves in court.

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Does having an attorney make a difference? Of course. Those in removal proceedings with representation are three times more likely to win their case than those without attorneys. Broken down further, for those in detention without an attorney only one out of seven avoid removal, while detained people who are represented prevail almost half the time. For children facing deportation; only 15 percent of unaccompanied minors facing deportation without representation are permitted to remain in the country, while 73 percent of those with representation are granted relief. Only about a third of individuals facing deportation have counsel.

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Why does having an attorney in removal cases make a difference? Of course it helps to know how the process works in the immigration court and the legal requirements for such things like asylum or cancellation of removal relief. However, from there, the list of what attorneys do is long. An attorney can help someone rounded up by ICE prove their U.S. citizenship or, often, determine if they are a U.S. citizen and simply dont realize it. Then theres the task of researching whether the governments allegations are accurate and gathering evidence, letters of support, expert testimony, and psychological evaluations. The client has to be prepared to testify credibly and consistently, and face cross-examination by the governments attorney (the government is always represented in deportation cases even if the respondent is not). Clients suffering from PTSDmost asylum applicantsneed to be evaluated and counseled more carefully. The client also needs to be prepared to be questioned by the immigration judge. For clients who are unaccompanied minors who fled gang or cartel violence, the attorney may need to go into state court for a special order to protect the child from deportation. Similarly, for clients facing deportation because of criminal charges, the attorney may need to go back into to state criminal court to challenge the viability of the guilty plea that resulted in the criminal conviction that led to deportation charges.

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Its not surprising that U.S. immigration laws are often referred to by federal judges as byzantine. The Supreme Court recognized those complexities and the importance of knowing the immigration laws in Padilla v. Kentucky, a 2010 case that imposes a duty on criminal defense attorneys to inform clients of the risk of deportation.

Different cities and states around the country have recognized the importance of providing immigration attorneys to individuals facing removal. The New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, a program funded by the New York City Council, is the nations first public defender system for immigrants facing deportation. NYIFUP has pioneered representation for detained indigent immigrants in deportation proceedings in New York City who were unrepresented at their initial hearing. In northern California, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Sonoma, Santa Clara counties provide funding for individuals facing removalincluding many who are not detained. The state of California regularly provides funding for immigration services, including special funding for representing unaccompanied minors. Chicago also created a fund for immigrant legal services in response to the Trump administrations aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. These efforts are encouraging, but thousands are falling through the cracks of this patchwork system.

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Its time for a more drastic intervention to ensure everyone who needs representation in immigration court gets it. Weve made such a move before. Before 1963, states were not required to provide counsel to every criminal defendant under the Sixth Amendment. However, in Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court reinterpreted the Constitution to mandate that every defendant in criminal court be provided an attorney. There was too much at stake, namely personal liberty, to rule otherwiseeven for Gideon, who was charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit petty larceny. In the Courts view, the assistance of counsel is a safeguard necessary to insure fundamental human rights of life and liberty. In a concurrence, Justice Clark emphasized that it would be a difficult value judgment to make that the deprival of liberty [is] less onerous than deprival of life.

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We are at a Gideon v. Wainwright moment in immigration law today. There is simply too much at stake in deportation hearings to allow the outcome to be determined by whether the respondent is wealthy enough to afford counsel or lucky enough to obtain competent pro bono counsel or a waitlist spot opens up in a legal services program. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has come close to ordering court-appointed counsel for indigent children in removal proceedings. But thats it. Just as the Supreme Court has stepped up to recognize that due process requires the appointment of counsel for all criminal defendants in Gideon as well as juveniles in delinquency proceedings, the courts must do the same for deportation respondents. If not, Congress needs to intervene to fund universal representation for immigrants facing removal.

Justice Brandeis recognized long ago that deportation is akin to the loss of property or life, or all that makes life worth living. Now we should borrow the principles of the Sixth Amendment and apply them to individuals facing deportation. Counsel should be provided at government expense. The vast majority in proceedings are either facing the prospects of separation from loved ones here or extreme violence in places like Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. For them, getting an attorney is a matter of life and death.
On Friday, reading from a teleprompter at Mount Rushmore, President Donald Trump saluted the four presidents carved on the mountain: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. On Saturday, he recited a list of American heroes, including Washington, Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman. But on Monday morning, Trump blurted out his real feelings. After demanding an apology from Bubba Wallace, a Black NASCAR driver who was mistakenly thought to have been targeted for intimidation by a garage-door cord knotted like a noose, the president denounced NASCAR for banning the display of the confederate flag at its events.

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Trumps defense of the Confederate flag, as opposed to defending statues of the American founders, is callous and inflammatory. Its also stupid. By focusing on the flag, he squanders what would otherwise be a political advantage. In an Economist/YouGov poll taken last week, voters were evenly divided, 44 percent to 44 percent, on whether statues of Confederate generals on public property should be removed. When the poll asked about statues of American presidents who were slaveholders, like Washington, Jefferson, and [Andrew] Jackson, a lopsided majority, 62 percent to 18 percent, said those statues should remain. Thats why the scripts written for Trump talk about Washington and Jefferson. You might view these men as unworthy of veneration because they kept human beings in bondage. But most Americans currently disagree.

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Thats not true of the Confederate flag. When the Economist poll asked about Confederate emblems on state flags, such as the state flag of Mississippi, most voters55 percent to 34 percentsupported removing them. And while thats not the same thing as banning displays by NASCAR fans, it shows that the flag scores about 10 points worse20 points, if youre counting the gap between support and oppositionthan Confederate statues do. By picking a fight over the flag, Trump has chosen the most difficult ground to defend.

A Yahoo News poll, also taken last week, found a similar result. It described (and visually depicted, since the poll was online) a statue of Roosevelt on horseback and flanked by an African man on his left and a Native American man on his right. When voters were asked whether the statue should be taken down from the entrance to a major science museum in New York, they said it shouldnt, 59 percent to 25 percent. But when they were asked about the Mississippi legislatures vote to remove the confederate emblem from Mississippis flag, they agreed with that decision, 51 percent to 34 percent.

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From Trumps point of view, the most promising poll is a Politico/Morning Consult survey taken four weeks ago. It asked American adults (not just voters) whether NASCAR should prohibit fans from displaying Confederate flags at its facilities and events or whether, as an alternative position, NASCAR fans should be allowed to express themselves however they want, including by displaying the Confederate flag. Even with this generous language, which framed the pro-flag position as libertarian, respondents were evenly split: one-third for prohibition, one-third against it, and one-third undecided. Independents and suburbaniteswho had said by clear pluralities just a few days earlier that statues of Confederate leaders should remain standingmarginally preferred prohibition of the flag to toleration of it at NASCAR events.

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At best, Trumps defense of the flag diverts him from an advantageous position on statues to a fight on which he barely breaks even. And it threatens to turn the public against him on related matters. When voters are asked whether the Pentagon should rename military bases that are named after Confederate leaders or leave the names alone, a plurality prefers to leave them alone. But when the same question is framed as part of a ban on Confederate-related paraphernalia at bases, a plurality endorses renaming the bases. Thats a warning to Trump: By fighting over the flag, he conveys the impression that the whole debate is about Confederate nostalgia, not patriotism. And that impression, polls suggest, is what inclines voters to rename bases and remove statues.

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The White House, sensing the damage, is scrambling to control it. On Monday afternoon, Trumps press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, dismissed his comment about the flag as one word at the very bottom of a tweet. (The tweet said NASCARs Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!) Trumps intent, McEnany risibly asserted, was was not to indicate approval or disapproval of that particular policy of NASCAR. The real story, she insisted, was leftists trying to tear down George Washington, tear down Lincoln, and tear down our monuments.

Thats what its like to shill for Trump. You scheme, spin, and struggle to pretend he cares about our history and our values. You go on Fox News to clean up his outbursts. Then he attacks NASCARs only Black full-time driver and stands up for the Confederate flag. The more he talks, the more people see his bombast about statues and heritage for what it really is.
The Trump administration began this week the process of official withdrawal from the World Health Organization, notifying both the United Nations Secretary General and the U.S. Congress of its intention to pull out of the global health organization in the middle of a global health crisis. The White House does not have the authority to leave the WHO immediately and by law must give one years notice and settle any outstanding debts. The U.S. currently owes $198 million in unpaid membership dues, according to NPR. A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed the receipt of the letter of withdrawal dated Monday and said that the U.N. is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met.

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The three-line letter of withdrawal comes after President Donald Trump spent weeks railing against the global health agency, looking to shift blame for the viruss spread rather than actually working to stop it. As the Trump administration stumbled in its response, the WHO morphed into an effective catchall boogeyman for Trump: a foreign entity that is technocratic, collaborative, and utterly unglamorous in its day-to-day functioning. The WHO is not a perfect organization, but it derives much of its capacity from American dollars and expertise, particularly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so its not like the WHO has been operating in some secret lair in Beijing. Its funded by American money and staffed by American experts, but its the problem. Trump had already paused U.S. funding for the organization that coordinates global technical responses to diseases around the world that dont make headlines in the U.S.

Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

Leaving the WHO is obviously a bad idea. There is no serious constituency for this bad idea other than Trump himself and the elected leadership of the party he represents. Public health experts think its a bad idea, as do serious legal and international relations thinkers, hundreds of whom signed on to a letter opposing the move.
This story was originally published by Undark and has been republished here with permission.

On April 22, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a successful launch of what they described as a military reconnaissance satellite, which came after several failed attempts. The satellite joined a growing list of weapons and military systems in orbit, including Russias test of a missile system designed to destroy satellites, also in April, and Indias test of an anti-satellite weapon, which the country launched in March 2019.

Experts like Brian Weeden, director of program planning at the Secure World Foundation, or SWF, a nonpartisan think tank based in Broomfield, Colorado, worry that these developmentsall confirmed by the newly reestablished United States Space Commandthreaten to lift earthly conflicts to new heights and put all space activities, peaceful and military alike, at risk. Researchers at SWF and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, both released reports this year on this rapidly evolving state of affairs. The reports suggest that the biggest players in space have advanced their space military abilities, including anti-satellite weapons, which destroy satellites, and technologies that merely disrupt spacecraft, for instance by blocking data collection or transmission.

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Many of these technologies, if deployed, could ratchet up an arms race and even spark a war in space, the SWF and CSIS researchers caution. Just blowing up a single satellite scatters debris throughout the atmosphere, said Weeden, co-editor of the SWF report. Such an explosion could hurl projectiles in the paths of other spacecraft and threaten the accessibility of space for everyone.

Those are absolutely the two best reports to be looking at to get a sense of whats going on in the space community, said David Burbach, a national security affairs expert at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, who was not involved in the new research.

The world is very different today compared with the Cold War era, Burbach added, when access to space was essentially limited to the United States and the Soviet Union. Now, the countries involved in space have expanded beyond the U.S. and Russiaespecially India, Iran, and North Korea, but also France, Japan, and Israel.

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Despite this expansion, as well as the array of new space weapons, relevant policies and regulatory bodies have remained stagnant. What worries us in the international community is that there arent necessarily any guard rails for how people are going to start interfering with others space systems, said Daniel Porras, a space security fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva. There are no rules of engagement.

The new reports use available evidence and intelligence to explore a range of weapons that American, Russian, and Chinese militaries are developing or testingor already have operational. Notably, CSISs report doesnt include the U.S. But many of the think tanks top corporate donors are U.S. weapons manufacturers, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. CSIS is closer in outlook to the Pentagon and to industry than SWF, Burbach said, but they dont cater to specific donors. In contrast, SWFs stated purpose is dedicated to the secure and sustainable use of space for the benefit of Earth and all its peoples.

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The researchers also assessed the advancing programs and weaponry of newcomers. Each nation has unique abilities and characteristics. For example, India has invested heavily in space infrastructure and capabilities, while Japans postWorld War II space activities were limited until a recent change to its constitution. For Israels space program, Weeden said, there isnt a lot of good data available.

Potential missile attacks on military satellites tend to get most of the attention, but that is not all that we see happening around the world, said Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS and a principal author of their report, during a livestream on April 6.

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For example, there is the potential collateral damage to the thousands of everyday satellites that already circle low-Earth orbit, below an altitude of 1,200 miles. About half are from the U.S.many of the rest are from China and Russiaand provide key services like internet access, GPS signals, long-distance communications, and weather information. Any missile that smashes into a satelliteeither as an attack or during a testwould disperse thousands of bits of debris, any one of which, still hurtling at orbital speeds, could take out another spacecraft and create more debris.

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Its very easy to pollute space, Burbach said. The debris doesnt discriminate. If you create debris, it might just as well come back and hit one of your own satellites. So I think were pretty unlikely to see countries actually use those capabilities. Still, he said, it would be worrying to see countries showing off that we can do it and start testing.

When China conducted an anti-satellite missile test in 2007, it created a massive cloud of space junk that drew international condemnation. Indias engineers tried to limit debris by conducting their recent test at a low altitude, so that Earths gravity would pull pieces down, where they would burn up on descent. But some pieces flung up to the International Space Stations orbit. There were no collisions, and as of February, only 15 trackable pieces of debris remained in orbit, said Victoria Samson, director of the SWFs Washington office, during the April 6 CSIS livestream.

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As for new military technologies, the experts say many would be worrying to adversaries. France, for instance, is working on laser beams fired from the ground that could dazzle a spy satellite, preventing it from taking pictures of classified targets; North Korea on jamming radio frequency signals sent to or from a satellite; and Iran on cyberattacks that could interfere with a satellites systems. Meanwhile, the big three space heavyweights, the U.S., Russia, and China, are already capable of all three approaches, according to the SWF report.

The big three also have begun to master what the reports call rendezvous and proximity operations, which involve using satellites as surveillance devices or weapons. One countrys satellite could maneuver within miles of a rivals classified satellite, snap photos of equipment, and transmit the pictures down to Earth. Or if one satellite sidles up to another, it could spray its counterparts lenses or cover its solar panels, cutting off power and rendering it useless. Russia may be ahead with this technology, having already launched a series of small inspector satellites, as theyre called by the Russian Ministry of Defense, and last fall, according to Gen. John Jay Raymond, chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, one crept near a U.S. spy satellite, which he referred to as potentially threatening behavior.

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So far, there are no international policies or norms to tell militaries whats allowed in modern-day space and whats not. An incident or a misunderstanding could escalate tensions if its perceived as an armed attack, the SWF report argues.

The lack of guidance has left room for a range of activities. In December 2019, the Trump administration signaled its intention to strengthen U.S. space weapons and protect U.S.

spacecraft from possible attacks by Russia and China, Weeden said, by transforming the Air Force Space Command into Space Force. The shift brought a full-time operational focus to the space domain, which was a needed change, wrote U.S. Space Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Christina Hoggatt in a statement to Undark. With these forces, the Defense Department seeks to strengthen deterrence and improve capabilities to defend our vital assets in space, she wrote. This emphasis likely means that U.S. military will focus on making satellites more resilient to attack, Burbach said, rather than developing offensive weapons.

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Unlike the U.S., smaller space powers have few satellites and therefore less to lose, Porras said. He argues that a tense regional relationship could be particularly unpredictable. For example, he said, North Korean leaders, in a standoff with South Korea and the U.S., might decide to launch and detonate a nuclear weapon in space, which would burst and propel dangerous radiation that would disable most satellites.

The U.N. and other international groups, including SWF and the Outer Space Institute, a global research organization based in British Columbia, are working to avoid such scenarios. As long as countries dont launch a destructive space weapon near others spacecraft, conduct an overtly provocative test, or disable a critical satellite, peaceful space activities could continue, Weeden said. For now, he points out, countries have only tested missiles on their own defunct satellites, while exercises against other countries spacecraft have remained non-destructive.

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The only existing international laws offer little guidance for modern weapons in space. While they prohibit weapons of mass destruction in space, they dont explicitly limit the use of other kinds of space weapons, weapons tests, or military space forces. These laws include the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which passed in 1963, and the U.N.s Outer Space Treaty, which was passed in 1967.

Weeden points out that space diplomats could create new guidelines by developing something like the Incidents at Sea agreement, which the U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed upon during the Cold War to maintain a safe distance between ships and avoid maneuvers in heavy traffic. But until such rules are hammered out, he said, any unexpected satellite tests will inevitably fuel speculation and paranoia.

Any time you have militaries operating near each other without a lot of transparency or clarity, he added, you always have the opportunity for misperceptions that could lead to something very bad.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Since the death of George Floyd on May 25, Americans have taken to the streets to peacefully protest in unprecedented numbers, calling for an end to our national culture of racism and police brutality. These protests have, on too many occasions, been met with violent force from police, who have been caught on camera using tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and other supposedly less-lethal weapons against unarmed and compliant people. Police around the country are also devoting considerable time and energy to collecting intelligence on protesters and protest movements, with methods ranging from monitoring social media posts to aerial surveillancesometimes, with drones.

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Police, military, and federal government forces have regularly flown surveillance helicopters and small, crewed surveillance aircraft over protest areas, capturing real-time video and photographs of protest movements. The New York Times found that by mid-June, the Department of Homeland Security had captured more than 270 hours of surveillance footage of protests from helicopters, airplanes, and drones, data that was shared with a digital network accessible by other federal agencies and by police departments. On May 29, U.S. Customs and Border Protection even flew a large military Predator drone 20,000 feet over protests in Minneapolis, allegedly at the request of still-unidentified federal law enforcement partners.

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Some U.S. police agencies have also begun flying small, multirotor drones made by civilian manufacturers over protest marches and rallies, using the devices to capture real-time information on whats happening on the ground. On social media, protesters have begun warning others to keep their masks on, afraid that authorities will use these drone-captured photos to identify protesters, using ever-more-common police facial recognition technologies. Drones  represent the power of new surveillance tech as deployed by law enforcementa new future where they have at their disposal incredibly powerful new devices, said Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst at the ACLU.

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The presence of drones at protests sets a worrisome precedent: Their deployment over even peaceful protests as a preemptive measure normalizes persistent surveillance and reminds protesters that theyre always being watched. But its important to clarify what police drones are, what they can and cant do, and what their true purpose is when they hover over a protest.

While police drones are more common than theyve ever been before (especially in the response to COVID-19, as Ive recently written about), they arent exactly new. American law enforcement agencies have been experimenting with small drones for well over a decade, a trend thats accelerated since the 2016 passage of the Federal Aviation Administrations landmark Part 107 rule, which allowed licensed nonhobbyistsincluding private businesses and governmentto operate drones in U.S. airspace. March 2020 data from the Center for the Study of the Drone found that at least 1,578 state and local public safety agencies in the U.S. have drones, and 70 percent of these disclosed agencies are law enforcement.

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However, these small police drones are very different beasts from the CBPs high-altitude, thousand-pound Predator drone typically associated with American military use abroad. Most police drones today are consumer models produced by the same companies that make the drone your dad got for Christmas, like Chinese drone-maker DJI: These companies often market their aircraft to public safety agencies but dont sell exclusively to them. Unlike a Predatorwhich is capable of staying aloft for more than a daythese small drones usually have short battery lives, from as little as 16 minutes, when carrying a very heavy camera, to 35 minutes when carrying a lighter sensor. (Drone evasion tip: If you think youre being followed, duck under a shelter or a convenient tree. You can probably wait the drones battery out.)

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Police drone users are largely not exempt from the same rules that other drone users must abide by, which include restrictions on flight over people, at night, and beyond the pilots visual line of sight. Beyond that, drone use by U.S. police is not standardized at the federal level and varies widely from agency and agency: Many state and local statutes place restrictions on what police can legally use small drones for, such as mandating that police obtain a warrant before they can collect drone data. Police drone users also need to get a special Part 107 waiver or a certificate of authorization from the FAA for usually off-limits actions like operating drones at night or over peopleboth activities weve seen a lot of during the past few weeks of protest. (These are published online, so you can even see whether your local law enforcement agencies hold waivers for these activities.)

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So what do police use all these drones for? Mostly for situational awareness. Aerial drone shots give police a clearer sense of where crowds are moving and where vehicles are going, and can help them stay one step ahead of protesters. Police also use drones to find or follow people in certain scenarios, like filming setup drug deals, following burglary suspects on the run, or tracking down a suspect mired in a swamp. Some drones are now equipped with on-board sensors that can automatically follow a moving person or a vehicle, albeit under very limited conditions (and for a short period of time).

Thats probably unsettling, but heres comforting news. While a police drone can certainly chase someone for a bit, that doesnt mean police can readily use drone-collected imagery to identify who that person is. In my research for this piece, I couldnt find a single example of U.S. law enforcement using facial recognition technology and drone imagery to identify someone in the real world. This almost certainly isnt because police dont want to, or because theyve been legally barred from doing so. Its because accurately recognizing individual people from aerial drone imagery is really, really hard.

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As surveillance experts have long observed, people who think theyre being watched are much easier to frighten and to control.

Facial recognition technology in general still suffers from serious accuracy problems. While current verification algorithms can achieve very high levels of accuracy, thats only the case under ideal environmental conditions: where lighting is perfect, the subjects face is clear and totally unobscured, and (importantly) the camera is low enough to the ground and close enough to the subject to get a good picture. Under imperfect, real-world conditions (like, say, a protest where most people are wearing masks), errors become more common. Even the CEO of Clearview AI, the worlds creepiest facial recognition company, lamented to the New York Times that his app doesnt work well when its given photographs taken from surveillance cameras that are placed too high on the wall or on the ceiling.

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Real-world tests of facial recognition technology, conducted by independent researchers, have revealed disturbingly poor accuracy rates. Academic evaluators found that Londons Metropolitan Police facial recognition system had a whopping 81 percent error rate in real-world trials. Researchers have also discovered that common facial recognition techniques are far better at accurately identifying white males than they are at identifying people from other demographic groups, errors that could lead to more nonwhite people being falsely accused of crimes. This has already happened: In January, a Black man in Michigan was wrongfully arrested after a police facial recognition system matched his photo with that of a shoplifter.

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If its hard to accurately identify faces from a camera on the ground that doesnt go anywhere, we can assume that its even harder to identify faces from pictures taken by a moving drone, where the cameras view of the person being surveilled is constantly changing. While many researchers (and the U.S. military) are certainly trying to figure out how to recognize people and faces from drone imagery, it appears to be slow going.

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Although some scientists have had some success in applying person-recognition algorithms to drone imagery, theyve only been able to accomplish this in highly controlled lab settingsand there are many remaining technical issues to resolve. While some companies and police forces say they have (or are planning to get) high-accuracy drone facial recognition technology, I couldnt find any well-supported evidence of drone facial recognition technology being used to identify individual people in the wild. And humans, as it turns out, are even worse at identifying people from aerial photos than computers are. A 2017 study found that human analysts failed miserably at identifying individuals from aerial imagery shot by a low-flying drone. While its possible that researchers will figure out how to accurately ID individuals from aerial photographs in the future, the technology simply isnt up to the task yet, and I suspect that it wont be anytime soon. Thats a good thing, because it gives us time to figure out how to constrain it. There are still no national laws in the United States that limit police use of facial recognition, and while cities and states have developed their own policies, they are only partial solutions. We should demand that the federal government write laws that adequately protect people from facial recognition of all types, both in the air and on the ground.

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But the point of drones may not be surveillance itself. As surveillance experts have long observed, from the pyramid builders of ancient Cahokia to Foucault, people who think theyre being watched at all times (even if they actually might not be) are much easier to frighten and to control. Jake Laperruque, senior counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, thinks that the mere presence of drones at peaceful protests could create a chilling effect. He told me, Just the possibility [of being identified] can have a problematic effect for First Amendment expression and for protests.

Disquieting as police drones are, you shouldnt let their presence, and their symbolic powers of surveillance, intimidate you out of protesting, reporting, or other means of exercising your rights. While we should all be concerned about the potentially privacy-violating presence of small drones at protests, theyre something of a distraction from more powerful and effective law enforcement tools for identifying protesters, like smartphone tracking and surveillance cameras, which use technologies that are more proven and often less obvious than a buzzing, blinking drone.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
An ultra-game Sansovina Hanover endured a parked-out :26 opening quarter yet had enough to hold off all challengers in capturing the Tuesday (July 7) feature at The Meadows, a $10,800 Filly & Mare Conditioned Pace.

Sansovina Hanover had to deal first with the uncovered bid of Greenhill Hanover, who could not reach. Then, in deep stretch, the five-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Shacked Up found just enough for Mike Wilder to prevail in 1:51.4. Vibrent Kelly was second, beaten a neck, with Ask Me Ifi Care third. Greenhill Hanover, who had won three straight since being imported from Great Britain by the Ron Burke stable, finished fourth and suffered her first domestic loss.

Doug Snyder trains the winner, who boosted her lifetime bankroll to $326,543, for Frank Poerio, Jr. It was one of five wins for Wilder on the 15-race card.

Elsewhere on Tuesdays program, Just Wanna Feel, who scored on Nov. 7, 2018 and followed it up with 54 straight losses, snapped her futility streak when she won for trainer Bob Krenitsky, Jr. and owner Julie Krenitsky. Jeremy Indof kept the six-year-old mare near the lead, and she responded with a 1:56.1 mile, taking a $5,400 Conditioned Claiming Pace by one-and-a-quarter lengths.

Live racing at The Meadows continues Wednesday (July 8), first post 12:45 p.m. (EDT).

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Deciding not to charge because the conduct was within what the law allows does not mean that we endorse the Involved Officers conduct, they wrote in their investigative report. BPD should train officers to exercise restraint in every situation, even those where Maryland law allows less restraint than we would prefer to see.
Kids Kastle was constructed in 1994 and will be going through a rebuild.
 Ty Oliver Roy Webb, 30, of Lexington, parole violation, malicious conduct by a prisoner and larceny of a motor vehicle, no bond on the parole violation charge and $15,000 bond on the remaining charges, North Carolina Department of Probation and Parole and Iredell County Sheriffs Office.

June 27

 Demario Jamon Chambers, 40, of Charlotte, two counts of trafficking heroin and one count of maintaining a dwelling/vehicle for sale of controlled substance, $150,000 bond, Iredell County Sheriffs Office.

June 28

 Victor Alexander Fraley, 36, of Lippard Street, Statesville, parole violation, failure to notify of change of address as a registered sex offender and sex offender residence limitation violation, no bond on the parole violation and $20,000 on the remaining charges, North Carolina Department of Probation and Parole and Iredell County Sheriffs Office.

June 29
Parliamentary elections are set for July 19, and confronting the economic sanctions imposed on the regime is a priority for the the Baath leadership writes Asharq Al-Awsat.

Syria is bracing for parliamentary elections, which will be held on July 19. The ruling Baath Partys decisions in the buildup to the polls have revealed three trends: The Baath leadership is keen on restoring state institutions and forming a war council to confront sanctions; the role of new businessmen and groups that fought alongside the army has grown; political money has taken centerstage amid the stifling economic crisis raging in the country.

The elections will be held in regime-held areas and partial polls will be staged in regions where it has some control, such as Hasakeh, Idlib and al-Raqqa.

It appears that Damascus is keen on holding the elections, as it did in 2012 and 2016, regardless of the course of the UN-led peace process aimed at implementing Security Council resolution 2254, which was approved in 2015. The resolution calls for holding constitutional reform that would pave the way for UN-supervised parliamentary and presidential elections.

Western countries do not recognize the results of Syrian elections and have instead been pushing for the implementation of resolution 2254. This has not deterred Damascus, which is forging ahead with its plans, regardless of the fact that it only controls 65 percent of Syrian territories. It is still a step up from 2015 when it only controlled 15 percent.

President Bashar Assad had relieved last month prime minister Imad Khamis of his duties, replacing him with Water Resources Minister Hussein Arnous. Former Homs governor Talal Barazi is seen as the favorite to be named premier after the election of the Peoples Council.

Baath efforts

The Baath, which is supposedly no longer the ruling party after a 2012 constitutional amendment, has sought to give its members greater freedom in choosing their candidates for the 250-member council, which includes 65 independents. The Baath has lost a lot of its support during the conflict due to its handling of the crisis and the defection of several members.

Days ago, Assad chaired a Baath meeting, saying the negative and positive elements that the electoral process has revealed are significant not just for the party, but the whole country.

Electoral campaigns are underway in Syria with the Baath included in the National Progressive Front list that includes national, communist and Nasserite parties licensed by Damascus. Several pro-regime businessmen are in the running. They include Mohammed Hamsho, who is sanctioned by the West, and Samer al-Dibs in Damascus and Hussam Qaterji in Aleppo. The leaders of pro-Damascus armed factions are also running in the elections. They include Fadel Warda, leader of a factions in the Hama countryside and Bassel Sudan, leader of the Baath Kataib, who is running in Latakia.

Candidates have reached 8,735, running in 15 electoral districts. The Baath list boasts 166 candidates from the party and 17 from other parties.

Implicit quotas

Researchers Ziad Awad and Agnes Favier had compiled a report for the European University Institute on the elections. They wrote: While the 2011 uprising deeply challenged the authoritarian regime in several regions, analysis of the parliamentary election in wartime is crucial to understanding how the regime attempted to renew its social base, which is assumed to have shrunk during the first years of the conflict.

The last poll to elect the 250 MPs of the Peoples Council took place in April 2016 in a country deeply divided, at a time when regime forces were still weak and controlled less than 40% of the territory. Despite the profound upheavals caused by the conflict, the Syrian authorities organized the election in a manner similar to the pre-war process. The Regional Command of the Baath Party played a key role in the pre-selection of candidates despite having lost its role as the leading party in society and the state in the 2012 constitution.

The Baath Party increased the proportion of the seats (more than 67%) it has held in the council since 1973. The slight rise in the number of Baath Party seats came at the expense of both the other authorized political parties (only six of the National Progressive Front parties and one party newly established after 2012 won seats in 2016) and independents (the number of which has never been so low since 1990).

Although the distribution of seats by sectarian and ethnic group and gender is not a recognized form of representation in the Peoples Council, the implicit quotas for minorities which were applied in the pre-war decade were also much the same in 2016.

However, the profiles of MPs show significant changes to the traditional categories which were usually represented in the Peoples Council before the war and included active members of the Baath Party or of its affiliated popular and union organizations, notables and tribal elders, businessmen, clerics and public figures. Except for traditional Baathists, who still were the most numerous in 2016, the characteristics of representatives of other interest groups (such as businessmen, clerics and tribal leaders, who are traditionally elected as independents) profoundly changed and new social categories (such as militia leaders and families of martyrs) emerged, said the report.

War council

The common characteristic of these newcomer MPs is that they had participated in war efforts alongside the regime. Shifts were more visible in governorates which had experienced major military, political and demographic upheavals (Aleppo, Daraa, rural Damascus, Deir Ezzour and Raqqa) than in ones which had been spared from violence (Damascus, Latakia and Tartous) or retaken early by regime forces (Homs), continued the report.

The 2016-2020 Assembly looked like a council of war and reflected three priorities of the regime in one of the most critical periods of the armed conflict. First, the regime needed to promote its most active supporters (involved in military or propaganda activities) all over the country at a time when its first objective was to win the military battle. Second, the large presence of traditional Baathists reveals a decision to restore the central role of the Baath Party in keeping alive state institutions after the internal crisis and shifts within the party in the first years of the uprising. Finally, the election of new actors (such as members of martyrs families) illustrates the need for the regime to maintain its social base, particularly among minorities, it noted.

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.
One longtime store owner, who did not want to be identified because she said she is well known in her community and feared retribution, said ATM thefts have occurred over the years, but used to be rare. She no longer keeps an ATM on her property, both because she didnt want to deal with the potential for damage and because the owner of the machine didnt want to keep it there either.
It has been announced that a raft of new craft and industrial facilities have entered the labor market in Suweida, bringing with them 40 job opportunities writes SANA.

16 craft and industrial facilities have entered the labor market in Suweida province during the first half of 2020 and they have provided 40 job opportunities.

Suweidas Director of Industry Department, Haitham Amer, said in a statement to SANA that the implemented facilities have been distributed among the engineering, chemical and food sectors.

Amer pointed out that there are 16 industrial projects, which are under implementation, and six projects that are partially carried out according to investment law no.10 and decree no 8.

Amer noted that licenses have been given for the establishment of two industrial facilities whose cost was estimated at 80 million Syrian pounds and the works for establishing them will start in the coming period.

In 2019, 58 new craft and industrial facilities entered the labor market in Suweida province.

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.
The Syrian Arab Army has engaged militants that were attempting to infiltrate Homs, killing three and arresting a further three reports Al-Masdar.

The Syrian Arab Army carried out an ambush in southern Syria on Tuesday, as they monitored a group of militants that were leaving the US controlled al-Tanf area for the government areas in Homs.

According to a report from the Homs Governorate, the Syrian army ambushed the group of militants that infiltrated from the al-Tanf Zone towards the al-Bishri Mountain.

The report said the Syrian army managed to kill three of the militants, while arresting three others and seizing their weapons.

Meanwhile, north of the al-Bishri Mountain, the Syrian army clashed with a group of Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists that attempted to attack their positions in the Badiya al-Sukhnah region.

A source from the Syrian army said their forces were able to defeat the ISIS attack, forcing the terrorist group to retreat back into the desert.

Since the start of July, ISIS has launched a number of attacks against the Syrian army; this has prompted the latter to strengthen their defenses in the Badiya al-Sham region by sending reinforcements and heavy weapons.

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.
Tribal and community leaders in Qamishli have lambasted the US and warned them against hostile practises, while praising Russian efforts in the area writes North Press.

Tribal and community leaders close to the Syrian government in Qamishli, northern Syria, warned the US about provoking them, and threatened to repeat the experience of the Arab tribes in Iraq. At the same time, they thanked Russia for its efforts to support the stability of the region.

This came in a statement issued on Monday after the gathering of pro-Syrian government tribal and community leaders in the Tayy neighborhood south of Qamishli, under the name of One Syria Gathering.

The statement described the policies of the US as hostile and provoking hatred towards them, accusing them of provoking Arab tribes by supporting exclusionary projects that distort the reality of the region and create strife among its communities.

This comes 20 days after two Kurdish political blocs announced that they had reached initial understanding, under American auspices, of a first step to a comprehensive agreement between them.

Arab tribal leaders warned the American administration that they would repeat what happened in Iraq when the Arab tribes revolted against them, and that this could happen in the Jazira region in Syria.

While the statement attacked the US and Turkey as occupiers of Syrian territory, it thanked Russia for its field and political activities in the Jazira region in Syria and its positive role in supporting security and stability in the region.

They welcomed the dialogue between the Kurdish parties, and the Russian role in supporting dialogue between the Kurds and the Syrian government. However, they expressed their disapproval of the results of any agreement in which they are not included, and which doesnt preserve the interests of all communities in the region, according to the statement.

Russian military leaders previously held meetings with a number of pro-Syrian government tribal and community leaders at the Russian base at Qamishli airport in early June.

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.
The leader of the Tiger Forces has visited Raqqa, where he toured military points and met with regime fighters reports Baladi News.

Regime forces Brig. Gen. Suheil al-Hassan, who is the current commander of the 25th Special Mission Forces Division, also known as the Tiger Forces, made a surprise visit to the western countryside of Raqqa, a regime-controlled area.

Pictures published by the Russian ANAA agency on its Telegram channel showed Hassan, accompanied by his men, in the desert of the western countryside of Raqqa. The exact region was not specified.

Russian news agency Sputnik quoted a military source in the 25th Division, saying, Suheil al-Hassan toured several military points in the region, and met with a number of regime officers.

The source added, Huge Syrian military reinforcements have recently arrived in the Raqqa countryside, loaded with ammunition, before being spread out in the region.

Regarding the possibility of a regime-led military operation in the region, the source said that all possibilities are on the table and that they are prepared to receive and implement orders  including any military mission that the General Command of the Armed Forces may decide to carry out in the region.

According to sources, the military operation that the regime might launch in the region would be against the Syrian Defense Forces (SDF), which is led by Kurdish units, for, despite the presence of regime forces in some parts of Raqqa, most of the governorate, including the city center, is under SDF control.

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.
Regime fighters in the costal area are being killed or dying under mysterious circumstance, with some believing that the regime eliminating witnesses to war crimes writes Zaman Al-Wasl.

Despite the death toll of the regimes army decreasing in Tartous and Lattakia over the past two months, two high-ranking officers, a Major General and a Brigadier General have met their ends in mysterious circumstances.

Moreover, other people were also killed as a result of the poor medical care they received after being injured while fighting alongside the regime.

Furthermore, a number of Assads soldiers, in Jableh and in Qirdaha, were killed in what was attributed to miscellaneous incidents. Incidents that ranged from traffic accidents to killings involving hand grenades.

Opposition lawyer, Abd al-Salam Abu Khalil, originally from Lattakia, said in an interview with Zaman Al-Wasl that the mysterious killings of some of Assads officers were due to the fact that those people were eyewitnesses and were involved in major crimes against the Syrian people.

Abu Khalil said that the Assad regime has been adopting this methodology for a long time now, and this is evidenced by the killing of Rustum Ghazaleh, Jameh Jameh, and others.

On the other hand, pro-regime voices have begun to rise, demanding to know the fate of their missing children during the revolution years.

Umm Ali Abad from the town of Qirdaha demanded that the Assad regime share the whereabouts of her son, Lt. Col. Ali Abad, in her weekly visit to the Jablah Division.

Eyewitnesses from the town of Qirdaha mentioned that the Jablah division has witnessed an influx of people demanding to know what has happened of their sons. According to the sources, the people want to get information about their family members so that they can update their death records and process inheritance procedures and make sure the rights of their family members are safeguarded.

Zaman Al-Wasl monitored a number of murders during May and June in the provinces of Tartous and Lattakia.

These are the names of those who have been killed:

Maj. Gen. Suleiman Muhammad Khallouf  killed in mysterious circumstances, in his office. He was the Director of the al-Ishara College, located in Homs. He was from the village of Tel Termas, Safita district, Tartous Governorate.

Brig. Gen. Haitham Muhammad Othman  died in undisclosed circumstances. He was affiliated with the Military Academy of Military Engineering. He was from the village of Qarso in the countryside of al-Qurdaha. No funeral was held, amid rumors that Othman had contracted the coronavirus, which was used as an excuse to not open the casket and expose the body.

Shadi Nazeer Ahmed  died of his wounds as a result of negligence on the part of the regime authorities. He was from the village of Basir al-Jord, Safita district, Tartous Governorate.

Ali Zuhair Hamid  was killed in Raqqa Governorate. He was from the Safita district, Tartous Governorate.

Nibras Nasser Ghanem  was killed in the Raqqa countryside. He was from al-Dulaiba village, in Barmana district, al-Mashayekh, Tartous.

Ethar Ghanem  was killed in a mysterious accident after a hand-grenade exploded in the city of Jableh. He was affiliated with the Fourth Division.

Faris Ibrahim  was killed on the Shatha al-Qirdahah road, while he was riding his motorbike to military service in the eastern countryside of Idleb. He was from al-Qirdahah, Mesit village, Lattakia Governorate.

Ali Munir al-Qawzi  was receiving treatment in intensive care, suffering from a serious condition. He was attacked and wounded by an unknown source. He was from the village of al-Eidiya, region of Jableh.

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.
North Redondo Beach will absorb most of the 2,500 new homes over the next eight year.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Youth Services Center has only four juveniles in detention, Court Administrator Chad Connors said Tuesday: Two ICE youth and two non-ICE youth. The ICE youth are under federal jurisdiction, so any decision about their release is up to federal officials and not Cowlitz County, Connors said.

Connors referred any questions about the release of ICE detainees to immigration officials. TDN has reached out to ICE for comment on Arthurs case and other matters related to the detention of juveniles in Cowlitz County, although they have previously declined to comment on cases involving pending litigation.

In the meantime, Godoy has been seeking information on other cases like Arthurs.

In April, the Center for Human Rights came out with a more forceful statement in light of the COVID-19 pandemic: Migrant juveniles must be released immediately.
Beach and her new roommate have been texting, deciding who will buy what for their dorm and registering for classes. Shes deciding what will get boxed up to go in the car and what will have to wait.

As America has in the past, were just going to push forward and put our best foot forward and do our best to keep things going, she said.

However, recent Kelso grad Cooper Joy is worried about starting her year at Boise State University, and she said many of her friends decided to stay local.

Its kind of freaky thinking, What if I move away and get sick? Or if one of my family members gets sick? Its stressful to think about it and knowing that you have to be so careful, Joy said.

She considered starting out at Lower Columbia College, but ultimately she stuck with her original plan because she wants to live with her sister, a junior at Boise State.

While not living in the dorm will be a plus during the pandemic, Joy said shes worried about how she will make friends without traditional college social activities.
Vindmans name was on a promotion list sent to Defense Secretary Mark Esper earlier this year, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter. But that list was delayed for weeks because the White House asked for an investigation of Vindman, one of the officials said. The Pentagon did a review and found that any suggestion of misconduct was unfounded. One official said the list was resent to Esper about a month ago, but again was delayed.
Chingari co-founder Sumit Ghosh on Tuesday said that the company will soon raise Series A funding. Without divulging details of the deal, Ghosh said that the funding will come from a global VC. A formal announcement is expected to be made later this month.

Bengaluru-based Chingari is one of the Indian platforms that has recorded a massive surge in usage following the ban on TikTok and 58 other China-linked applications. Chingari is considered among the top Indian alternatives to the banned TikTok application.

Ghosh revealed that Chingari has approximately 5 million daily active users. He further said that the unprecedented surge in usage has prompted the company to make some changes to its roadmap.

Prior to the ban, the app had some 3.5 million downloads. A tweet from Anand Mahindra favouring Chingari over TikTok helped propel the downloads, he added. Now, the company has come up with a new strategy for execution of its plans.

I hadnt ever downloaded TikTok but I have just downloaded Chingari... More power to you... https://t.co/9BknBvb8j3  anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 28, 2020

ALSO READ: TikTok is gone, but these Indian apps are ready to take over

So, the earlier roadmap was let's say a six to nine months strategy, now that it has shot into a three-month strategy, he said in an interview with Hindustan Times.

Chingari is also looking to bolster content creators ecosystem on its platform. Earlier this week, the company announced it will allow users to earn money based on their video views, and it is now planning to let music composers earn some revenue as well.

The company is now gearing up for a new app update, scheduled to roll out on Sunday. The update will bring a new interface along with various other improvements. Ghosh hinted that the interface will be very similar to TikToks.

He further said that the app will soon receive live streaming functionality. The app will also get new AR filters. These features will be available to both Android and iOS users.
President Donald Trump said his administration is considering banning the short video app TikTok in the U.S. as one possible way to retaliate against China over its handling of the coronavirus.

Trumps comments on Tuesday came one day after Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said officials were looking at barring the app, whose parent company is Chinas ByteDance Ltd.

Its something were looking at, yes, Trump said when asked in an interview with Gray Televisions Greta Van Susteren about Pompeos remarks. Its a big business. Look, what happened with China with this virus, what theyve done to this country and to the entire world is disgraceful.

Trump did not offer any specifics about a potential decision. He said that banning TikTok is one of many ways he is looking to hit back at the Beijing government over the coronavirus, which has infected nearly 3 million people in the U.S. and killed more than 130,000.

The president has seen his poll numbers plummet as his own response to the pandemic has come under widespread criticism, including for his refusal to unequivocally urge Americans to wear masks.

TikTok played up its U.S. ties and said it doesnt feed user data to China, pushing back against comments by Pompeo, who said the government was weighing a ban in part over concerns about its ownership.

TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product, and public policy here in the U.S., a company spokesperson said. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked.

TikTok hired former Walt Disney Co. executive Kevin Mayer as chief executive officer last month. He also serves as chief operating officer of ByteDance.

Calling attention to Indias recent move to ban almost 60 Chinese apps, including TikTok, Fox News host Laura Ingraham asked Pompeo whether the Trump administration would also consider banning the app in the U.S. Were certainly looking at it, Pompeo responded.

He then recommended Americans not download the app unless they want to see their private information fall in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.

Pompeo joins other U.S. government officials, including Senators Marco Rubio and Chuck Schumer, who have called for investigations of TikTok over possible threats to national security. The U.S. government has also launched a national security review of ByteDances acquisition of Musical.ly, a startup that later merged with TikTok.

Young people organizing through Tiktok were cited as one reason many people signed up to attend Trumps first post-shutdown campaign rally last month in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but then didnt show up. The Trump campaign denied the online organizing effort contributed to lower-than-expected attendance.

In the U.S., TikTok has been downloaded more than 165 million times, according to SensorTower estimates. TikTok has denied allegations that it poses a threat to U.S. national security.

In a public show of support for protecting user data from the Chinese government, TikTok said Monday it would cease operations in Hong Kong over a national security law that compels social media apps to hand over user data to Beijing. TikTok operates a separate version of its app in China called Douyin.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Amazon is preparing to open its second automated-checkout grocery store in a Seattle suburb and is hiring managers for a third store in the nation's capitol.

The commerce giant's grocery strategy is also advancing on another front, with new locations of its conventional checkout grocery stores coming to Seattle, California, and the Chicago and Washington, D.C., areas.

The company says on its website a Go Grocery store is "coming soon" to what was formerly a Sears automotive building in Redmond, Wash. Amazon opened its first Go Grocery on Capitol Hill in Seattle this year after a lengthy development period, its latest move in an ongoing effort to capture more of consumers' grocery budget.

The Go Grocery concept is a larger version of the Go convenience stores it began testing publicly in late 2016 and which now number 26 locations in Seattle, New York, Chicago and San Francisco, though several are temporarily closed. The stores are equipped with cameras and other sensors that enable the company to bill shoppers through an app for items they pick off shelves, eliminating the need for a checkout line.

Amazon also introduced a grocery store format with a conventional checkoutseparate from the Whole Foods Market chain it acquired in 2017at a store in Woodland Hills, Calif., that opened early this year but was converted temporarily in March to fulfill online grocery orders only as the company struggled to catch up with a rapid increase in demand amid the growing coronavirus pandemic. A second store in Irvine, Calif., was similarly repurposed.

Grocery unions have decried Amazon's moves in the grocery business, citing the company's pursuit of automation as a risk to grocery store jobs and noting that it has maintained Whole Foods' anti-union stance.

"This company does not share the same values as our community, and Amazon's desire to replace workers is a threat to working people of all walks of life," Joe Mizrahi, secretary-treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers 21, which represents more than 46,000 workers in Washington state.

To counter these criticisms, Amazon points to its hundreds of thousands of U.S. employees in warehouses, logistics networks and grocery storesboth automated and conventional.

An Amazon jobs site that previously listed openings for the Woodland Hills store now advertises positions for stores in Seattle, the Los Angeles area, the Chicago suburbs and the Washington, D.C., area.

Meanwhile, Amazon lists more than 180 openings for various roles on its Go stores team, including openings for retail associates in Redmond posted on Wednesday, and for managers of a Go Grocery store in the Washington, D.C., area.

A company spokesperson confirmed the Redmond and Washington, D.C., Go Grocery stores, as well as conventional stores coming to North Hollywood, Calif., and Chicago suburbs Oak Lawn, Schaumburg and Naperville. She gave no timelines for the opening of individual stores and declined to confirm the location of the Seattle store.

Amazon has bought and developed a range of grocery concepts as it vies for a bigger slice of the grocery business against U.S. market leaders Walmart and Kroger. In the first quarter, the company recorded net sales at all its physical storesnumbering 571 at the end of 2019, mostly Whole Foods but also including some that sell books and other merchandiseof more than $4.6 billion, up 7.7% from a year earlier. But that does not include online grocery orders that are fulfilled through its physical stores.

Some industry analysts see the company's development of its own line of conventional-checkout stores as a key to tapping grocery shoppers beyond the affluent Whole Foods demographic. Amazon also has demonstrated how its new stores can serve both online and in-person grocery shopping, a hybrid approach that is quickly becoming the norm across the industrymore so since the pandemic.

Meanwhile, many Whole Foods stores have been altered under Amazon's ownership to accommodate more online orderswith Amazon workers racing through the aisles to fulfill themand as pickup points for other Amazon shipments.

Amazon's Go Grocery store in Seattle, opened in February, is about 10,400 square feet, stocks about 5,000 items in a broader array of categories than the Go convenience stores, and employs about three dozen people.

The Amazon spokesperson did not provide details of the Redmond store going into the Overlake Fashion Plaza. Plans filed with the city of Redmond indicate a floor area of about 19,500 square feet, with an outdoor dining area, though it wasn't immediately clear if the entire building would be occupied by Amazon. Craig Ramey, managing director at property owner Regency Centers, said the company was looking forward to completion of the project but provided no additional details.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing recession, retail analysts said Amazon was well-positioned to take advantage of a commercial real estate market suffering from a glut of space left by shuttered stores as it grows its own physical retail footprint. Amazon's Woodland Hills, Calif., grocery store was formerly a Toys R Us, for example.

The Sears store in Redmond closed in 2018 as the retail stalwart of the 19th and 20th centuries spiraled toward bankruptcy.

Amazon also recently took space for its tech workers in the erstwhile Redmond Town Center Macy's.

Explore further Coronavirus fallout: Amazon is placing new online grocery customers on a waiting list

2020 The Seattle Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
In this Sept. 5, 2018, file photo, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on "Foreign Influence Operations and Their Use of Social Media Platforms," on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sandberg and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with civil rights leaders Tuesday, July 7, 2020, including the organizers of a widespread advertising boycott of the social network over hate speech on its platform, in an effort to convince critics that it is doing everything it can to rid its service of hate, abuse and misinformation. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

A two-year audit of Facebook's civil rights record found "serious setbacks" that have marred the social network's progress on matters such as hate speech, misinformation and bias.

Facebook hired the audit's leader, former American Civil Liberties Union executive Laura Murphy, in May 2018 to assess its performance on vital social issues. Its 100-page report released Wednesday outlines a "seesaw of progress and setbacks" at the company on everything from bias in Facebook's algorithms to its content moderation, advertising practices and treatment of voter suppression.

The audit recommends that Facebook build a "civil rights infrastructure" into every aspect of the company, as well as a "stronger interpretation" of existing voter suppression policies and more concrete action on algorithmic bias. Those suggestions are not binding, and there is no formal system in place to hold Facebook accountable for any of the audit's findings.

"While the audit process has been meaningful, and has led to some significant improvements in the platform, we have also watched the company make painful decisions over the last nine months with real world consequences that are serious setbacks for civil rights," the audit report states.

In this Jan. 13, 2015, file photo, Laura Murphy, director, ACLU Legislative Office, speaks at the President's Task Force on 21 Century Policing at the Newseum in Washington. A two-year audit of Facebook's civil rights record found "serious setbacks" that have marred the social network's progress on matters such as hate speech, misinformation and bias. Facebook hired the audit's leader, former American Civil Liberties Union executive Laura Murphy, in May 2018 to assess its performance on vital social issues. Its 100-page report released Wednesday outlines a "seesaw of progress and setbacks" at the company on everything from bias in Facebook's algorithms to its content moderation, advertising practices and treatment of voter suppression. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

Those include Facebook's decision to exempt politicians from fact-checking, even when President Donald Trump posted false information about voting by mail. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has cited a commitment to free speech as a reason for allowing such posts to remain on the platform, even though the company has rules in place against voter suppression it could have used to take downor at least add warning labels toTrump's posts.

Last month, Facebook announced it would begin labeling rule-breaking postseven from politiciansgoing forward. But it is not clear if Trump's previous controversial posts would have gotten the alert. The problem, critics have long said, is not so much about Facebook's rules as how it enforces them.

"When you elevate free expression as your highest value, other values take a back seat," Murphy told The Associated Press. The politician exemption, she said, "elevates the speech of people who are already powerful and disadvantages people who are not."

In this Oct. 25, 2019, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at the Paley Center in New York. Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg met with civil rights leaders Tuesday, July 7, 2020, including the organizers of a widespread advertising boycott of the social network over hate speech on its platform, in an effort to convince critics that it is doing everything it can to rid its service of hate, abuse and misinformation. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In this Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, file photo, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People President Derrick Johnson faces reporters during a news conference in Boston. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg met with civil rights leaders, Tuesday, July 7, 2020, including the organizers of a widespread advertising boycott of the social network over hate speech on its platform. Johnson, who was present on the Zoom meeting, said Facebook's executives only delivered cheap talk, filled with little commitment to new rules or actions that would curb racism and misinformation. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

More than 900 companies have joined an advertising boycott of Facebook to protest its handling of hate speech and misinformation.

Civil rights leaders who met virtually with Zuckerberg and other Facebook leaders Tuesday expressed skepticism that recommendations from the audit would ever be implemented, noting that past suggestions in previous reports had gone overlooked.

"What we get is recommendations that they end up not implementing," said Rashad Robinson, the executive director of Color for Change, one of several civil rights nonprofits leading an organized boycott of Facebook advertising.

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, said in a Facebook newsroom post that the company has a long way to go, but is making progress.

"This audit has been a deep analysis of how we can strengthen and advance civil rights at every level of our companybut it is the beginning of the journey, not the end," she wrote. "What has become increasingly clear is that we have a long way to go. As hard as it has been to have our shortcomings exposed by experts, it has undoubtedly been a really important process for our company."

Explore further Facebook pledges more action on toxic content ahead of meeting

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

As nationwide protests force a deep examination of police tactics and funding, technology companies say they are re-evaluating their relationship with law enforcement as well. Amazon has halted police use of its facial recognition technology for one year and the website Nextdoor has stopped forwarding tips to police.

Now, privacy groups and activists are scrutinizing the relationships between Amazon and local police departments that allow law enforcement to request access to video recordings from doorbell cameras installed in private homes.

Amazon's expanding network of law enforcement "partners" for its Neighbors app remains intact, an arrangement that critics say is designed to boost sales of its Ring cameras and capitalize on fears of property crime. Social media and news channels are filled with stories of package thieves and other incidents captured on Ring cameras, which acts as a form of marketing for the products.

Seeking access to video footage and crime tips, law enforcement agencies in Elk Grove and Rocklin, and sheriff's offices in El Dorado and Placer counties have each signed on to be partners. The Roseville Police Department is considering a partnership, too.

The Neighbors app attracts the same kind of conversations as Nextdoor. Many conversations are indeed about property crime, missing pets, and community disturbances. It also allows residents to make snap judgments about people they don't recognize and promptly alert police.

At a time when Black Lives Matter and other activists are demanding cities cut back on police spending, the agreements with Amazon motivate the kind of profiling that contributes to harmful encounters with police, privacy groups and activists say.

"They encourage a kind of vigilantism and racism in the use of the Neighbors platform that is deeply troubling," said Mohammad Tajsar, an attorney for the ACLU of Southern California. "And that will hurt poor people, homeless people and people of color who are innocents and have done nothing wrong other than being captured by cameras owned by wealthier homeowners."

No money typically changes hands between Amazon and the law enforcement agencies. But privacy experts say the agreements could also give the impression that the government favors Ring camera products over all others.

Some cities have gone so far as subsidizing the purchase or Ring cameras for residents, and local police departments and Amazon often coordinate messaging when the partnerships are announced and agencies agree to increase users of the website.

This is one of many red flags, experts say.

"All of this creates an incentive system where police are out on the street promoting a for-profit company," said Matthew Guariglia, a researcher at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. He added that if a police department then recommends buying cameras, residents could have reasons to doubt their intentions.

"This creates uncertainty about whether your neighborhood is unsafe or police are just operating under some shadowy agreement with a for-profit company," Guariglia said. "You shouldn't have that ambiguity about why police are telling you to install surveillance cameras on your house."

Amazon has grown its roster of partners to more than 1,300 agencies nationwide.

The city of Rocklin received its first pitch in November 2018, records show. A Ring official sent an email to Police Chief Chad Butler after he'd attended a law enforcement conference in Orlando. The company offered him 5 free Ring devices and access to its new neighborhood watch app.

Butler forwarded the email to one of his captains: "Is this something that would be beneficial to us? It's free."

Butler gave the free devices away in a raffle, according to police department spokesperson Scott Horrillo. Rocklin became a partner about 7 months later. Horrillo said they have not sided with one video doorbell company over others.

"We're not endorsing any product. My understanding is even though this is Ring, anybody's camera can send or share video with people in their neighborhood or city," Horrillo said. "It's just another way of fighting crime."

In Elk Grove, tips from cameras have not solved any crimes

The Elk Grove Police Department became a partner last July after a string of video doorbell thefts.

"It was obviously a platform our community members were posting videos on and sharing with other community members," said Jason Jimenez, a police department spokesperson. "What we found is there are times that people posted a video but did not report the crime. Or maybe it was some suspicious activity that (a) community member felt."

The department wanted to be aware of all those incidents, he said. Now, almost one year since joining, Jimenez said the tips from the Neighbors app have not led to any solved crimes.

True to form, the Neighbors app in Elk Grove is filled with suspicions that are often either inconclusive or wrong.

A month ago, a video was posted in which a woman walks up to the front door of a house from the street and glances around the porch for a few seconds before walking back toward a group of women pushing strollers. The video was titled "Package thief?"

The comments started out reasonable: "She might be looking for her package, lately Amazon (has been) delivering to the wrong house and UPS. It happened to me twice," said Neighbor 2.

"No way is she looking for 'her' package!," Neighbor 7 posted.

"Yeah, probable package thief ... they come in all shapes and sizes and appearances ... Most do their best to appear innocent," Neighbor 10 added.

"I'll leave a box full of st next time," said Neighbor 13.

And on and on it went. Weeks later, the original poster returned with the verdict.

"This was not a package thief this time. This was my daughter and we got an alert our package was dropped off but it wasn't there ... I'm sorry we startled you!"

Do video doorbells lower crime?

Ring operates with the mission to "make neighborhoods safer." Video doorbells heighten awareness but it remains to be seen if they lower crime. Small scale studies of communities in Utah and California have tried to answer this question but the results are either contested by academics or lack rigor.

"There is no empirical evidence that suggests they are helpful. The only evidence that they have is a case study in Los Angeles," said the ACLU's Tajsar. "That study has been debunked by a group of researchers at MIT."

The publication MIT Technology Review tried to reproduce a study of a Los Angeles neighborhood that claimed crime fell by 55% over six months after the devices were installed. The initial study was conducted by Ring but researchers could not replicate the result, concluding that burglaries in the area studied actually increased.

In another study of West Valley City, Utah's second-largest city, an analyst found that burglaries fell over a one-year period after installing Ring doorbells. But the community without themthe control groupwas found to be safer.

The mixed results leave little evidence that cameras make communities safer.

Ring officials did not answer the question when asked if the company had any proof its doorbells help lower crime. A spokesperson said Ring devices and the Neighbors website "have helped resolve crime and safety incidents" and allowed communities "to share valuable information in times of crisis."

"Ring will continue in support of our mission while maintaining our commitment to user privacy, security and control," Ring spokeswoman Morgan Culbertson said in an email. She then listed a handful of incidents throughout California where the technology helped nab criminals.

The lacking evidence hasn't stopped residents like Pauly Parker, who lives in East Sacramento with his wife, from buying them. An IT professional by day, Parker said he bought a Ring doorbell after a "slow escalation" of thefts in his neighborhood along Folsom Boulevard.

The last straw was when a thief stole bikes worth thousands of dollars from his neighbor. Parker worried about his own collection of music equipment.

With the Ring cameras, Parker is now alerted when a person walks onto his driveway or porch, sometimes looking around and checking under ledgesfor somethingwhen he's not home. When that happened recently, Parker said he was able to announce himself through the doorbell even though he was not home. Soon after the interaction, the man walked away.

"Almost daily I'm getting notifications. It seems to be escalating, although most of them are uneventfulpeople coming up the driveway, taking a look, and then walking back down the driveway," Parker said. "It really gives us an immediate and tangible grasp about what's going on when we're not here."

'Key talking points' for police agencies

A common facet of the agreements is a three-page memo of "key talking points" that details how agencies should announce the partnerships. It includes a section on social media messaging and "success metrics" pegged at increasing both users of the Neighbors app and responses from people who are already members.

The Elk Grove Police Department received the talking points, too. Jimenez, the department spokesperson, said their announcement on social media was no different than when the city joined Nextdoor.

"They have rules; you're agreeing with their rules," Jimenez said of the contracts.

"I don't know what they (Amazon) get. But the Ring platform is essentially no different than any of the other social media channels out thereFacebook, YouTube, Twitter. You have people sharing videos on those platforms all the time," Jimenez said.

Ring officials said the same thing; how the agreements help police adhere to its terms and conditions, particularly limiting access to the agency's staff.

Critics disagree. They say the focus on results shows how the company is entangling local governments in its business plan instead.

"This is a deliberate and intentional corporate plow to dramatically increase the market share of Ring in communities that it would otherwise have a much more difficult time to get access to," said Tajsar.

Tajsar said some communities have subsidized the purchase of Ring cameras under the impression it will lower crime.

"These partnerships really ought to be resisted by community members," Tajsar said. "Police departments really need to take more seriously the problems associated with Ring devices."

Some cities, like the Roseville Police Department are still on the fence after fielding several requests to join and meeting with Ring officials, said police spokesman Rob Baquera.

"We are open to partnering with any trusted platform that helps increase communications," Baquera said, adding that Ring has set itself apart by creating an online community. "If there was another platform doing the same thing we would also consider joining."

Still, Baquera said they're going in with their eyes open.

"Any time we're operating with a privately held company we absolutely keep the concept in the back of our mind there may be some linkage or further process for a profit margin down the line," Baquera said.

What is Amazon's next move?

Amazon has moved swiftly into new industries before, disrupting and then dominating them.

Surveillance technology could be next. With the Ring devices and the Neighbors app, Amazon is on common ground with law enforcement agencies who have an increasing interest in video footage.

Companies pay millions to advertise products like video doorbells to consumers. Critics say the arrangement turns police departments into unwitting salespeople for Ring, boosting the brand's image in communities through their own government.

Andrew Ferguson, a law professor at the University of the District of Columbia who studies police use of surveillance technology, said the agreements show a preference for Ring over other companies.

"There is an open question about whether police should be favoring a private platform that offers a service, maybe a valuable service, but isn't doing it out of the goodness of their heart," Ferguson said.

Tech companies, he said, make these products inexpensive or even free because the data collected from them is far more valuable in the long run.

Civil liberties and privacy groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have criticized the company for its apparent lack of security on Ring cameras and the Neighbors app.

The group found that Amazon was also selling user data to advertisers. Another group of researchers was able to reveal the precise location of website users, showing that their information was vulnerable and could be easily exposed. Hackers were able to breach a live feed of a Southern California home.

In February, Ring said it would no longer allow multiple login attempts, require two-factor authentication and stop most third-party advertisement tracking. The company later said it would allow users to turn off law enforcement calls for video in the settings.

Some agencies like the police department in Roseville take solace in some of the improvements.

"The piece that we appreciate is that a private resident has to self-select and push their information if they want," said Baquera, the Roseville police spokesperson. "They push it out and they have the options to share the information if they want."

Guariglia said those moves still aren't enough.

"How many people are going to go into their features and deliberately turn them off?" Guariglia said. "And it doesn't matter because the police can send a warrant to Amazon and get your footage without you knowing."

Explore further Amazon's Ring doorbell cameras attract congressional concern

2020 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The one thing we know to be true about COVID-19 is that masks help mitigate the spread of the virus. So, why is it only now that we are starting to get a powerful media messaging consensus on wearing them? Why werent health officials pounding home that message in the media since March? And why werent medical and public health officials crystal clear that Mr. Trump was dangerously wrong in not wearing a mask and that people who emulated him were putting their lives and the lives of others in danger?
The VB 10,000 crane vessel is expected to move back into position over the remains of the shipwrecked Golden Ray in the St. Simons Sound within the next day or two, resuming cutting operations that stopped more than a week ago for maintenance, said U.S. Coast Guardsman Michael Himes, spokesm
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. High 89F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 78F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Maddy said the Tinker ruling was from a higher court and as a Supreme Court ruling, it would take precedence despite the more recent ruling.

During Monday nights meeting, Maddy said that the recent protests and backlash against racism would place the school system on good footing should it decide to ban the flag.

You have to have documented incidents within the community and, certainly, todays climate is a result of that, Maddy said.

One of the reasons the board chose not to ban the flag was the First Amendment, and the fact that we had not had any substantial cases to come forward, said Superintendent Mark Church. In light of the issues, what our country is going through right now and some of the concerns that people have, I feel like at this point, it would be appropriate to ban the flag.

The board saw six votes to ban the flag with Cosmato and Union Hall District member P.D. Hambrick abstaining.
President Donald Trump made his most forceful push yet Tuesday for schools that closed due to the coronavirus to reopen their buildings to students.

We want to get our schools open, Trump said at a White House event focused on the issue. We want to get them open quickly, beautifully in the fall. As you know this is a horrible disease, but young people do extraordinarily well.

Trump said he would continue to pressure governors and state leaders to open schools. He spoke as education groups continued to push for more dedicated funding they say is necessary to reopen schools after unprecedented closures .

Trump and his campaign have also sought to use school reopenings for political advantage in the 2020 president campaign, issuing statements challenging former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, on the issue.

Corrupt Joe Biden and the Democrats dont want to open schools in the Fall for political reasons, not for health reasons! They think it will help them in November. Wrong, the people get it!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2020

Biden, meanwhile, has said schools need more funding and support to reopen, which he included in his coronavirus recovery plan.

Theres probably a high probability well have to continue with remote learning in some parts of the country for a while longer, Biden told National Education Association delegates at their annual assembly Friday, which was held virtually.

The White House summit Tuesday came the day after Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran issued an order requiring schools to open buildings for instruction in August. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos praised Florida for that guidance Tuesday, even as administrators in Florida criticized the wisdom of the move, citing surging virus rates in the state. On Tuesday afternoon, Texas issued similar instructions to its school districts.

The president has been inconsistent on the issue. Hes regularly said schools should reopen, but he also once suggested he might override Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis , a fellow Republican, when he suggested he would open them in the spring.

On Tuesday, Trump also suggested leaders may be considering keeping schools closed for political reasons, not practical ones.

We dont want people to make political statements or do it for political reasons, Trump said. They think its good for them politically so they keep the schools closed. No way.

Hybrid Approaches

With everything in life, there is a matter of risk, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said at the White House event. Its a matter of assessing those risks and taking everything into account.

Most school leaders around the country have pushed for in-person instruction in the fall, but they say it may be not be possible to fully reopen buildings to all students under protocols recommended to slow the spread of the virus.

Districts are preparing multiple options for the fall, with most anticipating the use of a hybrid plan. Under that model, rotating groups of students would learn from home a few days a week and in classrooms on the remaining days. They are also preparing for possible rolling closures should virus rates surge in their areas, causing the need for additional stay-home orders and remote learning.

Read our special report: How We Go Back to School

While states have released reopening guidance of their own, district leaders have relied heavily on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC called for strategies like face coverings and social distancing in schools, reducing capacity of school buses, closing communal spaces like cafeterias, and grouping students in classroom cohorts to minimize potential for the virus to spread between groups.

I think its worth noting that the CDC never recommended general school closure throughout this pandemic, CDC Director Robert Redfield said at the White House event. He said the agency would soon issue additional guidance on masks, student health screenings, and preparing schools for reopening.

State and local leaders should not hide behind CDCs guidance as an excuse to not reopen schools, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said at that event. Vice President Mike Pence delivered a similar message on a call with governors Tuesday, Azar said.

In deciding whether to reopen school buildings, leaders should consider factors beyond the virus itself, health and education representatives said at the event. Schools are also important for childrens social and emotional development, they said, and they serve as hubs for health care, nutrition, and reporting of child welfare concerns.

DeVos said remote learning hadnt worked well for all students and that some schools hadnt pivoted to online learning well.

Health officials at the event noted that children appear to be at lower risk for contracting COVID-19. But teachers and administrators have also expressed concern about the health of adults who work in their buildings. Last week, for example more than 40 school principals in Santa Clara, Calif., were told to quarantine after they were exposed to COVID-19 at a meeting called by their district.

Azar stressed that schools should be able to reopen with very basic common sense strategies like spreading desks six feet apart to promote social distancing, requiring face coverings and masks, and promoting practices like hand washing. And students and teachers with health vulnerabilities should be accommodated, he said.

I think [parents] should expect that schools can deliver a safe learning environment for their kids, even when we experience a pandemic of this sort, Azar said.

Officials also frequently referenced recent guidance by the American Academy of Pediatrics that leaders should prioritize reopening schools for in-person learning. That guidance includes some restrictions that differ from the CDCs.

We urge you to ensure that schools receive the resources necessary so that funding does not stand in the way of reopenings, AAP President Sally Goza told Trump.

More Federal Funding?

Practices like social distancing in schools are anything but simple, principals and superintendents have told Education Week. Schools around the country lack adequate space to spread desks apart. Dated facilities have led to concerns about issues like ventilation. Wearing masks has become a political issue in some parts of the country, and teachers worry that families wont comply with the rules. Transportation directors have struggled to redraw bus routes and shuffle schedules with heavily reduced capacity on school buses.

And theyre doing so as they face steep cuts to state and local funding.

Advocates from national teachers unions and education organizations have pushed for additional federal relief funding to help address these concerns, and to help address the learning needs of students after an inconsistent period of remote learning in the spring.

Educators yearn to look into our students eyes and reassure them and give them the dedicated time and attention they need, National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia told a House committee Tuesday. But the safety of students and educators cannot be compromised. ... All of this demands more educators and more resources, not fewer.

The first federal relief packagethe Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Actincluded about $13 billion in funding for K-12 school districts and other potential aid from governors. But education groups have said schools need more money to deal with the logistics of re-opening. Theyve offered varying estimates of how much aid is necessary.

The HEROES Act, written by House Democrats and passed by that chamber in May, allocates $58 billion for districts . But the Republican-led Senate has said it wont consider the bill.

While some Republicans have been skeptical of more spending, Senate Education Committee Chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., recently said it would take from $50 billion to $75 billion for K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities, to reopen safely, lending his support to additional aid. And Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who has said he will entertain discussions of further stimulus after a two-week recess due to end July 20, said last week that his priorities are kids, jobs, and health care.

Last week, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the administration may push to include targeted funding to help schools reopen in the next federal coronavirus relief package, but he didnt give any specifics.

Neither Trump nor any other administration official raised the issue of additional federal aid for schools at Tuesdays meeting.

Photo: President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing with the coronavirus task force, in the Brady press briefing room at the White House, last month. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa .
The kidnapping turned into a slave trade with more than 500 Taino sold in Seville markets, people Columbus referred to as cannibals. In a letter to his friend Andres Bernaldez, Columbus referred to the Taino: They came thus to this land as they had been born to their own and with no more embarrassment than if they were wild animals, of which all were sold and this proved to be very bad as they all died, being unfitted for the land, according to AmericanHeritage.com. Father Las Casas raged against and documented Columbus abject cruelty upon the Taino in his search for gold. What greater or more supine hard-heartedness and blindness can there be than this? Las Casas wrote in the Historia, adding, in the name of the Holy Trinity he [Columbus] could send all the slaves which could be sold in all the said kingdoms. Many times I believe blindness and corruption infected the Admiral. Las Casas wanted Columbus returned to Spain in chains and in shame for his sins.
David Lee Murphy and Kendell Marvel are the Southern Illinois natives with the most country music star power.

Murphy wrote Here and Now, the title track for the new Kenny Chesney album, and major hits like Big Green Tractor for Jason Aldean. Besides being an incredible songwriter, the Herrin-raised artist hit classic country pay dirt with Dust on the Bottle and Party Crowd.

Former Thompsonville resident Marvel is also a songwriting phenom and tours with Chris Stapleton and Jamey Johnson. His new album Solid Gold Sounds received critical acclaim throughout the industry and his (almost) monthly Honky Tonk Experience shows at the Exit/In are among the hottest tickets in Nashville.

There is another tremendous local talent has been flying under the radar for decades.

Guitarist Bruce Brown of West Frankfort played his last show as band leader for Mel McDaniel in 1989 on a stage specially constructed for outdoor concerts at the now defunct Egyptian Drive Inn on the outskirts of Energy.

After years of picking in local bands, then moving to Nashville to hone his craft and make contacts in the music business, Brown had finally landed his dream job. He had successfully auditioned for the legendary Charlie Daniels Band.
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Coleman reminded those gathered that we are the Black elite.

Alongside the march and program of speakers, there was also a Black business fair with tables set up outside the church for vendors to sell their wares and give out information about their services. There was jewelry, food and candles, as well as a travel agent there. Maxwell said she was nervous earlier in the day  the possibility of rainy weather gave some of the vendors cold feet. But she was energized Tuesday evening when she saw the respectable turnout.

Shakeia Smith started her Royal Butterfly Princess business two years ago and said she decided to table at Tuesdays event the moment she saw the flyer. She said the business community should be a ladder of people supporting others to see their own success. Smith said Tuesday was an outlet to spread that message.

Danielle Vaughn worked the booth for her Paparazzi jewelry business with her daughter, Jackie Pollard, and mother, Jackie Weston. The business is a part-time venture for her, but one that she said has taken off. She said it was important to participate Tuesday, and she said it speaks volumes that we can come together.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois chief election authority told a federal appeals court Monday it wants to continue its appeal of looser election rules for third-party candidates.

If an appeals court agrees, the matter is unlikely to be settled before the July 20 petition filing deadline granted by Rebecca Pallmeyer, chief judge of the Northern District of Illinois. She extended the cutoff established by statute in response to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the states election rules during COVID-19.

While the appeals courts decision is unlikely to affect ballot access for third parties in the current general election cycle, its decision could have implications on future elections as the state continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its court filing, the Illinois State Board of Elections acknowledged that date is quickly approaching, but points out it has not passed. The issue presented in the case  a District Courts authority to rewrite Illinois statutory requirements that govern how the board conducts an orderly election during the COVID-19 global pandemic  is one that might resurface.
It was a blessing to be able to work together with organizations like 1890 Extension and Harvest Hope to provide relief for the community, said Rankin.  Cars were backed up for almost a mile as they waited patiently to receive food items. That serves as an indicator there is a need within the community during trying times caused by the pandemic. We want to continue to do more outside of these four walls (at Hamer Church of God) and continue to work with organizations like 1890 because we can do so much more working together, Rankin said.

In a time where unemployment is at its highest due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for each organization to come together to be a resource for the community was critical, said Pee Dee Branch Director of Harvest Hope Nicole Echols.

"Each organization played a key role in the success of the mobile food distribution as 1890 Extension provided the resources, Hamer Church of God provided the facility, and we (Harvest Hope) were able to provide the food items.

Harvest Hope Food Bank is South Carolinas largest food bank, providing over 50,000 meals by distribution to food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens to those in need in the Midlands, Pee Dee and Upstate areas. The Pee Dee Harvest Hope region serves Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Lee, Marlboro, Marion and Sumter counties.
The New Mount Zion Baptist Church Deacon and Deaconess Ministries honored first responders on Wednesday at the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office.

With gift bags of treats and encouraging scriptures, the New Mount Zion members hoped to show their support to the countys policemen and women for their hard work through the pandemic and during the current social tensions.

One thing that we believe in as a church is being an encouragement, Pastor Todd A. Brown said. We wanted to put together a small token of appreciation to let you all know that were praying with you, we support you, were there to be an encouragement with you and we are your community partners.

Brown said when looking at the effects of COVID-19 and the social climate the world is in combined with what the sheriffs office does, being first responders keeping individuals safe, We thought it only right and fitting to make sure that as a household of faith and a community partner that we properly encourage them as they put their lives on the line in so many ways.

We just want to take a moment to let them know that theres people in this community who are praying for them, who are thinking about them, and think the world about them and the work that they do, Brown said.
'With no regard'

On June 15 at about 1:30 p.m. on a Monday, just as I had left the hospital to be fitted for a heart monitor, my wallet was lifted from either the counter or my purse by the lady that was in line behind me.

I am handicapped and was pushing a rolator, juggling my purse and paying for a purchase. Obviously I was distracted for a few moments.

I frequent the Emarket on St. Matthews Road, as everyone there is nice, polite and helpful. As soon as I left the store and reached over to retrieve my wallet to use at my next stop. I had left there only moments before.

To the person who stole my wallet, none of the information that you have from my wallet is of any use to you. A freeze was put on everything within minutes.

I am 73 years old. You have no idea what you have done to my life and I am sure you dont care. Because of COVID-19, it has been terribly difficult to get my cards replaced. So many places are not open or on limited hours.

I had absolutely NO information to prove who I was. Thankfully I had a passport at home to help me retrieve my Social Security card and driver's license, which I am yet to receive.
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Well-respected experts have urged policymakers to consider that measures such as extreme physical distancing, masks for children and restrictions on movement are unlikely to impact viral transmission or impact significant illness in children. To the contrary, such measures are likely to have a substantial impact on students social interaction, emotional well-being, and academic achievement. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a scenario in which a fourth grader is able to use a mask in an appropriate and sanitary manner throughout an eight-hour day. It is difficult to imagine a scenario in which students can have developmentally appropriate interactions while staying six feet away from each other. Other health experts have said such invasive measures are not needed for safe reopening.
Staff Reporter  The Zimbabwe Daily

Durban, South Africa  More than 1 000 truckdrivers mainly in Johannesburg and Durban have embarked on a strike demanding to be put first.

The South African truckdrivers who are currently embattled in the strike are demanding truck companies to stop hiring non South Africans.

Although the Pretoria High court ordered an interdict on the strike on Monday, the truckdrivers are seemingly not concerned.

The strike is illegal, they are saying foreigners dont have proper documentation, as far as I am concerned no one is allowed to drive without proper documentation, companies know that because they know if they do that they wont be compensated in the event that there is an accident, said Mary Phadi, president of the Truckers Association of South Africa (TASA).

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Gavin Kelly spokesperson of the Road Freight Association also said the strike was highly uncalled for.

According to the department of labour, 10 percent of employees are foreigners not 90 percent. These stats are with the department of labour and a survey on that was completed last year. If you find truck employers who are breaching labour laws then they should face the full might of the law.

Kelly also acknowledged that South Africans should be prioritised first when it comes to employment but disagreed with the issue of having a quota system.

When it comes to employment South Africans should be given first preference but I dont think a quota system is the right way to go, said Kelly.

Sam Morotoba, Deputy Director General of Public Employment Services in the Department of Labour said the issue of not hiring non South Africans was not feasible.

We cant just say no more hiring foreigners, we have to understand that we have people on asylum, refugees and those with special permits who are qualified to be employed, besides there are SADC agreements that we have in place, said Marotoba.

Chairperson of the African Diaspora Forum, Dr. Vusumuzi Sibanda said there was nothing wrong with truck companies employing non South Africans.

Companies employ on merit and they do tests and the foreign drivers are employed because they do well on these superlinks and triaxle trucks as well as defensive driving. This strike is malicious and fuelled by cheap politicking, said Dr. Sibanda.

Since most of the non South African truckdrivers are Zimbabwean, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) also weighed in on the issue.

SA is part of SADC and should not segregate SADC nationals. There is nothing new with transborder truckers being nationals of various countries because of the nature of their work.

Such behavior being demonstrated by South African truck drivers brews xenophobia, said Japhet Moyo, secretary general of ZCTU.

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Staff Reporter  The Zimbabwe Daily

Bezaruto, Mozambique  Following massive outcries from the public and environmentalists, South African petrochemicals giant Sasol, has opted to give up its licence to explore for gas in Bezaruto.

Last week, the Marine Megafauna Foundation said the Vilanculos and Inhassoro communities were overwhelmingly opposed to the project due to the high likelihood of negatively affecting marine tourism and fishing.

The Bazaruto Seascape is home to the last viable population of dugongs on the African continent.

In addition to the dugong, several species of dolphin live in the region, including the endangered humpback dolphin. Seasonally, larger cetaceans, like the humpback whale, use this coastline to give birth and find mates. This project would have placed incalculable stress on these highly sensitive species.

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Of particular concern was the proximity of the project to the last remaining viable population of dugong in Africa, which stands at only a few hundred strong. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) just declared this area an important marine mammal area (IMMA).

Concerns were also voiced about Sasols ability to adequately deal with the waste pollution generated from this type of project, as well as the short and long term impacts the various stages of the project could have on the local marine ecosystem and the potential eyesore it would cause.

Moreover, local communities in this region are critically dependent on coastal resources for subsistence and for their livelihoods, said the Marine Megafauna Foundation in a statement.

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Staff Reporter  The Zimbabwe Daily

Pretoria, South Africa  The United States (US), has pledged to support South Africa in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the US is hurled in its own COVID-19 storm, the worlds economic powerhouse has once again shown its undying support for South Africa by ensuring that the southern African country has personal that are well equipped to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

USAID will train up to 10 000 critical care nurses and physicians to ensure safe and effective utilization of donated ventilators through online modules.

USAID will also support supply chain assistance for oxygen therapy and has procured 25 high flow nasal cannula oxygen units for the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health, another important emerging intervention for patients with respiratory failure.

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Through an All-of-America approach, the United States is providing life saving support by coordinating with the government of South Africa and other stakeholders to identify priority areas for investment.

The total U.S. government financial commitment to South Africas COVID-19 response is over US$41.6 million (R767 million), read a statement from the US Embassy and its consulates in South Africa.

South Africa now has more than 215 000 COVID-19 cases. Its also the country with the most number of COVID-19 cases on the continent.

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George, Jimmy, and Jack were the beneficiaries of Breannas Law passed in 2015 mandating CPR and AED training as a requirement for high school graduation in Maryland. Jimmy and Jack were likely aware that CPR is now hands only without mouth-to-mouth, an important thing to know during the COVID-19 pandemic. The chances of a rescuer contracting the virus during hands-only CPR are vanishingly low and should not be a deterrent to performing CPR.
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Visiting the capital's palace will be possible again starting 14 July.

If you are interested in the life and history of Luxembourg's monarchs, you will soon be able to enter the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City once more.

The guided tours allow visitors to see the halls for public receptions as well as rooms filled with pieces of art.

A tour lasts 75 minutes and is lead by an official guide from the city of Luxembourg, who provides information on the history of the monarchal family.

The Luxembourg City Tourist Office organises up to eight visits per day in several languages. Tours begin in fron of the office at 30, Place Guillaume II. Tickets can be purchased starting 9 July on their website.

Current sanitary measures have to be respected during the guided tours, which will only allow a maximum of ten people per group.
Nearly 100 Democratic lawmakers on Monday urged President Donald Trump's administration to press Colombia over attacks on rights activists and warned that US assistance should not contribute to surveillance.

A UN report earlier this year found that 108 human rights defenders were killed last year in Colombia, with activists of indigenous and African descent hit especially hard.

"Colombia is now the most dangerous country in the world for human rights defenders," the 94 members of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

They called for pressure on conservative President Ivan Duque, a close US ally, to "stop this tragedy."

"We urge you, Mr. Secretary, to ensure that all agencies of the United States speak with one clear voice to condemn these ever escalating murders," said the letter spearheaded by Representatives Jim McGovern and Mark Pocan, leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The lawmakers called for the United States "to press the Duque administration to take the necessary steps to identify and prosecute the intellectual authors of these crimes and dismantle the criminal structures that protect them."

They also warned they were watching the nature of US aid, which amounts to $528 million in the current fiscal year, after accounts that Colombian intelligence has spied on activists and journalists.

US financial help must not "assist, aid or abet such illegal surveillance, now or in the future," they wrote.

Colombia in 2016 signed a landmark peace agreement with FARC rebels that end a half-century of conflict.

But security remains dangerously lax in impoverished areas formerly controlled by the rebels as they lay down their arms.

The lawmakers said that illegal arms groups were filling a vacuum amid the COVID-19 pandemic, "further increasing the vulnerability of targeted rights defenders and local leaders."
Peru's President Martin Vizcarra on Monday lambasted a reform approved by Congress that strips presidents, ministers and lawmakers of their immunity, saying it was a smokescreen designed to maintain impunity.

"It's a ploy to maintain parliamentary immunity," Vizcarra said, accusing Congress of using unconstitutional methods to approve the bill that would ensure it was thrown out.

Congress approved the reform on Sunday in record time, adding to an initiative by the government to end presidential and ministerial immunity.

"They got approval for a completely distorted immunity where they include the president. They want to make fools of the Peruvian people," Vizcarra told journalists during a visit to the northern region of Tumbes.

Congress approved the reform hours after Vizcarra announced that he would hold a referndum on ending parliamentary immunity alongside presidential and parliamentary elections in 2021.

The move comes after some politicians have avoided going to prison after being convicted in the courts.

"They have distorted it (the reform proposal), surely someone will go to the Constitutional Court to have it annulled. Then, the parliamentary immunity will continue," as it has until now, Vizcarra said.

The president has maintained high approval ratings, and currently has around 70 percent approval, for an anti-corruption crusade.

Vizcarra said he personally had no fear of the consequences of losing his immunity.

"If they want something against the president, here I am," he said.

"I have no fear of being deprived of presidential immunity, because I have always acted with transparency and honesty throughout my life as a professional and a citizen," he said.

Congress speaker Manuel Merino announced that the reform must be ratified by the next parliament, which begins work on Monday.

Vizcarra launched his crusade against corruption in 2018 after taking over from disgraced ex-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-2018), who was forced to resign over a corruption scandal.

Four former presidents are embroiled in a scandal by which Brazilian developers Odebrecht doled out millions in bribes to Peruvian officials in exchange for public works contracts.

Opposition leader Keiko Fujimori is also facing trial in the scandal.

Vizcarra dissolved Congress last September after repeated clashes with opposition lawmakers. Fujimori's Popular Force party lost its parliamenary majority in subsequent January 26 elections.

But the new parliament will only serve for a year, with new elections scheduled for April 2021.

The Congress is now dominated by center-right parties but none has an absolute majority.
Western countries pushed members of the global chemical weapons watchdog Tuesday to formally condemn Syria after a probe explicitly blamed Damascus for nerve gas attacks for the first time.

A report in April by a new investigations team at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) found the Syrian air force used sarin gas and chlorine on the village of Lataminah in March 2017.

The team was set up in 2018 under Western pressure to identify the perpetrators of attacks. Previously the watchdog could only say whether attacks had been carried out, and not who was responsible.

France said the conclusions were "clear-cut" and called for the OPCW's executive council -- its decision-making body comprising 41 of its 193 member states -- to take action against Damascus for breaching the Chemical Weapons Convention.

"A broad group of states parties propose for the adoption by the council a draft decision that condemns the non-compliance of the Syrian regime with its obligations under the convention," French ambassador Luis Vassy told a meeting of the council.

Finland said the council decision would demand that Syria cease all use of chemical weapons, provide a "full declaration" of its weapons programme and cooperate fully with the OPCW.

"The draft decision has been the subject of extensive consultations among states parties, and we hope for broad support for its adoption," Finnish ambassador Paivi Kaukoranta said.

Graphic on the 2017 Syria gas attacks on Lataminah that were carried out by Syria, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has concluded /  AFP/File

The OPCW report in April found that two Syrian fighter jets dropped bombs containing the nerve agent sarin on Lataminah and that a helicopter dropped a barrel bomb full of chlorine on the village.

Any condemnation by the OPCW's executive council could set up a bigger vote at the annual meeting of all member countries in November.

Damascus and Moscow have dismissed the probe's conclusions, alleged that chemical weapons attacks were faked, and accused Western powers of politicising the OPCW, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.

Syria has continued to deny the use of chemical weapons and insists it has handed over its weapons stockpiles under a 2013 agreement, prompted by a suspected sarin attack that killed 1,400 in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta.
Bolivia's interim President Jeanine Anez on Tuesday named former senator Oscar Ortiz as the Latin American country's new economy minister, just two months before elections.

Ortiz replaced Jose Luis Parada, who has been economy minister since Anez was sworn in last November after ex-president Evo Morales resigned.

The government gave no reason for Parada's removal.

At an event at the government palace in La Paz, Anez said the new minister would "work for Bolivian families" to alleviate the economic effects of the coronavirus.

The virus has so far infected more than 40,000 people and killed more than 1,400 in the country.

Ortiz, who came in fourth in last year's presidential elections, said his priorities would be "to work for economic stability and for jobs."

Right-wing interim leader Anez is running for president in the September 6 elections, but is trailing in opinion polls behind the frontrunner Luis Arce -- handpicked by the exiled Morales to run for his Movement for Socialism party, and centrist former president Carlos Mesa.

Ortiz has previously been minister for economic development.
The United States on Wednesday blasted a UN finding that a US drone strike that killed a top Iranian general was unlawful, saying the report whitewashed Qasem Soleimani's record.

"It takes a special kind of intellectual dishonesty to issue a report condemning the United States for acting in self-defense while whitewashing General Soleimani's notorious past as one of the world's deadliest terrorists," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

"This tendentious and tedious report undermines human rights by giving a pass to terrorists and it proves once again why America was right to leave" the UN Human Rights Council, she said.

Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, concluded Tuesday that Soleimani's killing in January at the Baghdad airport violated the UN charter.

The US had provided no evidence that an imminent attack against US interest was being planned, she wrote, calling it an "arbitrary killing."

"Soleimani was in charge of Iran's military strategy, and actions, in Syria and Iraq. But absent an actual imminent threat to life, the course of action taken by the US was unlawful," she wrote.

The independent rights expert does not speak for the United Nations but reports her findings to it.

She will present her findings on Thursday to the Human Rights Council, from which US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018, pointing in part to alleged bias against Israel.

Callamard, expanding on her report on Twitter on Wednesday, noted the rapid proliferation of drones around the world.

She warned that states could not be allowed to distort the concept of an "imminent" attack.

"For the first time, a State drone targeted a high-level official of another state on the territory of a third one," she wrote.

"The international community must now confront the very real prospect that States may opt to 'strategically' eliminate high-ranking military officials outside 'known' wars," she wrote.

Trump ordered the drone strike, which also killed Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, after escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, against which Trump has imposed sweeping unilateral sanctions.

Shiite paramilitary groups backed by Iran had been blamed for a series of attacks on bases housing US troops and later for trashing the US embassy in Baghdad.

Trump administration officials later faced grilling by lawmakers, mostly from the rival Democratic Party, who said there was no evidence of an imminent attack that would legally justify killing a top Iranian official.

Soleimani headed Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force which carries out operations outside of Iran including in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Were very frustrated with the way the election was handled in the primary by the State Board of Elections and the city board of elections, Hogan said. Mistakes were definitely made, and it was unacceptable and inexcusable that they screwed up so much with respect to getting the ballots out on time and getting them out to everybody.
As of Wednesday, there have been 53,364 tests performed for COVID-19 in Wyoming: 27,083 from the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory and 26,017 reported by other labs. A total of 38,577 Wyoming residents have been tested.

Less than 74% of confirmed patients have fully recovered, a number that grows to 74.5% when factoring in probable figures.

Patients have tested positive for coronavirus in all 23 of Wyomings counties. Wyoming has the third lowest recorded number of coronavirus deaths of any state (Alaska and Hawaii), and its death rate (3 per 100,000 residents) is fourth-lowest to Montana, Alaska and Hawaii, according to the New York Times. The states infection rate (289 in 100,000) is eighth-lowest among states, also according to the Times, which includes probable counts where they exist.

Less than 9% of Wyomings cases required a hospital stay. In 28.3% of the cases, health officials dont know if the patient was hospitalized.
The press release said Thom met with a lawyer representing NDN Collective before the protest but did not identify him.

Bruce Ellison, whos defending the only protester charged with felonies, told the Journal that hes the lawyer who met with the sheriff. He rejected Thoms characterization of the protest and idea that the agreement had been broken. He also said it was the National Guard that escalated the situation.

Ellison told Thom that the protest would be peaceful but that some people may lay in the road and refuse to move, something they know might result in their arrest, the news release says. Ellison also said all resistance would be passive.

Ellison said he told Thom that NDN Collective wants a peaceful protest but that there will be civil disobedience. He said they went over potential scenarios, such as how people who lay in the street could be arrested and how cars blocking the road could be towed.

I applaud the sheriff for the discussions that were had, he said.
COLONIAL Life Insurance Company (Trinidad) Ltd (CLICO) is solvent, yet it still owes the Government $2.09 billion as part of its 2009 bailout arrangement.

In addition, approximately $1.66 billion provided with respect to British American Insurance Company (Trinidad) Limited (BAT) remains unpaid.

This according to 38th quarterly report of the Central Bank, which was filed in the High Court pursuant to section 44E (7) of the Act, which reported on the period which ended March 31, 2021.

The report provides a snapshot of the progress of proposals to restructure CLICO, BAT and Clico Investment Bank (CIB)

In summary, of the approximately $18 billion (inclusive of preference interest due) provided by the Government in respect of CLICO, approximately $16.6 billion has been repaid by CLICO, leaving a balance of approximately $2.09 billion as at February 28, 2021, the report noted.

Payments for interest on the preference shares due to the Government have commenced. As at February 28, 2021, the remaining interest due to the Government on these preference shares amounted to approximately $32.8 million, it noted.

The report noted that by January 24, 2019 approximately $5 billion in cash payments were made to the Government in consideration for an appropriate reduction in CLICOs liabilities to GORTT.

A further cash payment of approximately $300 million (paid in tranches) was made to GORTT by CLICO between March 20 and 27, 2020. An additional $125 million was paid to GORTT on July 8, 2020. On September 17,2020, pursuant to another Ministerial direction, CLICO was directed to pay GORTT $600 million, in cash, in two tranches in exchange for an appropriate reduction in liabilities owed to GORTT.

The first tranche of approximately $300 million was paid to GORTT on September 30, 2020 and the second tranche of approximately $300.1 million was paid in two parts on October 24,2020 and October 30,2020, respectively, it said.

CLICOs most recent audited financial statement, for the 12 months ending December 31, 2020, indicate the company had positive net worth of $3.23 billion at the end of 2020.

That means the insurance company is in a position to pay off all of its liabilities, including the $2.09 billion it owes the Government.

The 2020 audit showed that CLICOs after tax profits plunged by 95 per cent for the year ending December 31, 2019.

CLICO recorded $119.23 million in after-tax profit in 2020, compared with $123.69 in 2019

Its total assets amounted to $13.55 billion in 2020, down from $14.90 billion at the end of 2019, while its total liabilities for 2020 were $10.31 billion.

CLICO has been under the control of the Central Bank since 2009, in accordance with Section 44D of the Central Bank Act.

In an interview earlier this year, Central Bank Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire said he is anxious for T&Ts regulator of financial institutions to close the book on this countrys largest bailout.

As I told you before, we want to get out of this thing yesterday. Right? We are not in the business of running insurance companies. Most of the conditions are no longer there in terms of the systemic issue. And in terms of the health of the financial system, so we dont have a systemic problem, he had said.

Ministerial directives

Despite CLICO being under the management of the Central Bank, the report noted that a number of transfers were made pursuant to ministerial directives over the course of the Central Banks management of CLICO.

Directives by the Minister of Finance to CLICO are allowed under section 44 F(5) of the Central Bank Act, which states: In the performance of its functions and in the exercise of its powers under section 44D the Bank shall comply with any general or special directions of the Minister and shall act only after due consultation with the Minister.

Among the ministerial directives recorded in the Central Bank document are:

1. In January 2017, in light of the unanticipated delay in the sale of MHIL shares and pursuant to directions from the Minister of Finance to the Central Bank, CLICO obtained an independent valuation of CLICOs 100 per cent shareholding in Occidental Investment Limited (OIL) and Oceanic Properties Limited (OPL) in preparation for the transfer of these shareholdings to the Government, thereby appropriately reducing CLICOs liabilities to the Government.

The valuation report was completed and the share sale and purchase agreement executed by the parties on March 28,2017. On May 8, 2017, the parties signed the necessary share transfer forms to facilitate the transfer of CLICOs 100 per cent shareholding in OIL and OPL to the State Enterprise, Golden Grove-Buccoo Limited.

2. In November 2017, pursuant to directions from the Minister of Finance to the Central Bank, arrangements were commenced to facilitate the purchase and cancellation of certain Government bonds held by CLICO in consideration for an appropriate reduction in liabilities owed by CLICO to the Government in order of priority. The relevant Sale and Purchase Agreement was executed on July 26, 2018 and a Variation Agreement which amended the value of binds to be transferred was executed on August 30,2019.

3. On April 11, 2018, approximately $107 million of a WASA loan facility together with a cash payment of $21 million were effectively transferred to the Government for an appropriate reduction in liabilities owed by CLICO to the Government in order of priority.

4. Pursuant to directions from the Minister of Finance, agreements were executed on March 29, 2018 for the transfer of CLICOs approximately 21 per cent shareholding in One Caribbean Media Limited (OCM) and approximately five per cent shareholding in West Indian Tobacco Company Limited to the Government based on an independent valuation, in consideration for an appropriate reduction in liabilities owed by CLICO to the Government in order of priority. These shares were transferred on April 25, 2018.

5. On April 30, 2018, CLICO received from the liquidator of CIB, the Deposit Insurance Corporation, an interim distribution of 27,619,219 Republic Bank Limited (RBL) shares and 848,564 OCM shares.

Pursuant to directions from the Minister of Finance, the Central Bank directed CLICO to transfer to the Government the RBL shares and the OCM shares based on the price determined by an independent valuation in consideration for an appropriate reduction in liabilities owned to the Government in order of priority. These shares were transferred to the Government on July 4, 2018.

6. On September 7, 2018 and April 4, 2019, bonds totally approximately $502 million (now valued at approximately $500 million pursuant to a Variation Agreement dated August 30, 2019) were transferred to the Government (for cancellation) in exchange for an appropriate reduction in liabilities owed by CLICO to the Government.

7. Further to directions to the Central Bank from the Minister of Finance, CLICO was directed to transfer one of its properties located in Chaguanas and one another located in Port of Spain to the Government, based on an up-to-date independent valuation, in consideration for an appropriate reduction in liabilities owed by CLICO to the Government.

For the property located on Chaguanas, the relevant sale and purchase agreement was executed on April 9, 2019 and the deed of assignment was registered on February 6, 2020.

The purchase agreement and the deed of lease for the property located in Port of Spain were executed on August 5,2020 in exchange for an appropriate reduction in liabilities.

Stalled sale

The report noted that progress on the sale of traditional insurance portfolios of CLICO and BAT has been impacted by ongoing court proceedings in the context of a challenge by one of the bidders of the portfolio. An injunction was granted to Maritime Life (Caribbean) Ltd in July 2020.

In the 2019 financial statement, it reclassified assets in preparation for sale to Sagicor.

CLICOs balance sheet showed the reclassification of over $7 billion in assets, in the form of Government bonds, from investment securities to assets held for sale.

In addition, it shifted all of its $6.43 billion in insurance contractsand all but $145.48 million of the $1.66 billion classified as investment contractsto $7.72 billion of liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale.

Note 18 of CLICOs financial statement indicates: The sales and purchase agreement allows for the parties to exit the contract by mutual agreement as well as by either party, if the other party fails to fulfil stipulated terms as outlined in the agreement.

But Note 18 adds: CLICO remains fully committed to the sale of the portfolio and the execution of the signed agreement.

Directives to sell the asset from the Central Bank as controller of CLICO under section 44D of the Central Bank Act have not changed.
Staff at the Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) have reached their breaking point as they claim they have not been paid for two months.

The situation has become so dire, employees said they are struggling just to make ends meet.
Princes Town MP Barry Padarath says he will be home in time for the general election.

This, as United National Congress (UNC) officials confirmed Padarath was selected as the candidate for Princes Town in the August 10 election.
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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.
THE legislative road has been paved for the decriminalisation of pepper spray in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2021 was passed yesterday in the House of Representatives with no objection.
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.


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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.
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?
LET them eat cake.

This is a saying that clearly shows what is happening now in Trinidad and Tobago, how the insensitivity to our suffering citizens and clearly the incomprehension of the realities of the life that our population is facing by the lockdown restrictions and the pandemic are totally being mishandled by the Rowley Government at this time. They are out of touch with the common man.
There was both beauty and deja vu in the weekends outpouring of outrage that fired up social media against the naming of Jouvert Rum. The passion with which so many people hugged the name Jouvert as a prized cultural possession was a wonder to behold. And yet, over time, this orgy of outrage over cultural loss and dispossession has become almost ritualistic.
PHOENIX  A judge on Tuesday rebuffed a bid by a locally owned chain of fitness clubs to remain open while it challenges an order by Gov. Doug Ducey shuttering Arizona gyms through July 27  if not longer.

In an extensive ruling, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Timothy Thomason said the evidence shows that Mountainside Fitness is a good citizen that went above and beyond what was necessary to ensure the health and safety of its patrons and employees. And the judge said courts have to be sure that government officials, in closing down private businesses, are not exceeding their authority.

But Thomason said the order could not be quashed at this point as there is not enough evidence to show that Ducey acted illegally in shutting down Mountainside Fitness and other chain and mom-and-pop operations.

The governors June 29 executive order was issued following a spike in COVID-19 cases after Ducey allowed businesses, including gyms, that had been closed in March, to reopen in May.

None of that means that the judge wont eventually conclude, following further hearings, that Ducey exceeded his legal authority.

But attorney Joel Sannes said that will require presenting evidence and witnesses, something that could take weeks. And by that point, he acknowledged, the governors order may have been lifted, making it pointless to continue the lawsuit.

Even then, theres no guarantee that Thomason will side with Mountainside or conclude that gyms can reopen despite what Ducey ordered. In fact, the judge called it unlikely that the company will prevail, even after a full-blown hearing.
He will be at Arizona Beer House, 150 S. Kolb Road, this Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12.

I offer samples to customers who are unfamiliar with pastizzi, Gauci said. They try the sample and get hooked. It doesnt take much after that.

He starts customers off with the basic ricotta cheese pastizz, then moves them onto split pea and curry before introducing them to The Southwest, Gaucis own pastizzi creation, stuffed with bacon, Hatch chiles and a ricotta base.

The Southwest is a big hit in Tucson, he said.

Nationally, Gauci has made a name for himself as one of only a few baked goods companies in the country shipping pastizzi. During the pandemic, Gauci has been sending out up to 30 orders a month, ranging from four to 10 dozen a shipment.

People are ordering it from all over the country, Gauci said. They dont want to go out right now to get pastizzi. They want it at their door. They are happy someone can provide that service. Shipping has been carrying me through the pandemic.

The goal, Gauci says, is to one day move his business from a commercial kitchen that he rents on Tucsons west side to his own factory where he can produce pastizzi on a larger scale.

I am proud of it, he said. The business is bigger than last year and much bigger than the year before. I want to see where it will take me.

Contact reporter Gerald M. Gay at ggay@tucson.com.

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Arizona recently saw its slowest week-to-week increase in coronavirus cases in about a month.

This is a bit of a subtle point. Things are still going to get worse, just not as quickly as before, Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor with the University of Arizonas Zuckerman College of Public Health, said in an interview Tuesday. Absolute counts of new cases will continue to increase, they just wont be as large as past increases.

If cases continue to increase at a slower rate, it provides evidence that mask-wearing ordinances are effective, Gerald wrote in a report published Saturday.

Although Arizona does not have a statewide mask requirement, Gov. Doug Ducey said in late June that three-fourths of the state, including Pima County, is covered by local mandates that masks be worn in public during the pandemic.

Statewide and countywide cases both increased by less than 50% from one week to the next for the first time since the week after Ducey let his stay-home order expire on May 16, according to data published Tuesday by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

New confirmed cases in Arizona totaled 26,603 from June 21 to June 27. This was an increase of 6,456, or about 32%, from the week of June 14-20. Statewide increases had hovered between 52% and 68% over the previous four weeks.

In Pima County, new cases totaled 2,212 from June 21 to June 27, an increase of 242, or 12%, from the previous week. The four previous week-to-week increases had been between 50% and 87%.
Benjamin is a 2017 Ironwood Ridge High School graduate. According to Benjamin, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Tucson.

I learned that hard work driven by passion and never allowing yourself to quit is the recipe for success, Benjamin said.

U.S. Navy Medicine is the most decorated career field in the Navy. Navy Hospital Corpsmen have earned 22 Medals of Honor, 179 Navy Crosses, 959 Silver Stars and more than 1,600 Bronze Stars. Twenty ships have been named in honor of corpsmen.

In its century of service, the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps has supported millions of sailors and Marines in wartime and peace around the world. As the years have progressed, technological innovations are transforming medical training for the next generation of hospital corpsmen, according to Navy officials.

I am proud to be a member of the Hospital Corps because it takes selflessness and dedication to care for others every day, Benjamin said. Not everyone has what it takes to be a corpsman.

As a member of the U.S. Navy, Benjamin, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition that dates back centuries. Their efforts, especially during this time of challenge brought on by the Coronavirus, will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who provide the Navy the nation needs.

Johanna Eubank is a digital producer for the Arizona Daily Star and tucson.com. She has been with the Star in various capacities since 1991. Contact her at jeubank@tucson.com
The Star endorsed Mosher. No surprise. The biggest print customer of the paper is Jim Click. He is a Republican but endorsed Mosher. 1 plus 1 
OPINION: Is America on the right track when Patrick Mahomes makes $500 million on his new contract, and teachers are struggling to get by? That's the question one of our letter writers asks in this edition of Letters to the Editor.
OPINION: "Anti-maskers are literally wishing that death  alone, scared, clutching the hand of a doctor or nurse begging them to save you  on strangers because they dont want to wear a mask," writes our local columnist Renee Schafer Horton.
If support one of two insiders in the race to replace Barbara LaWall, you have to believe criminal justice can be reformed by an experienced insider. Otherwise your choice is the total outsider.
The number of people losing their jobs to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic may reach 500,000 in Ho Chi Minh City in the coming months, according to the municipal Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs.

A total of 327,952 citizens became jobless in the first six months of 2020, the departments director Le Minh Tan told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday, adding that 90,041 of them have signed up for unemployment assistance.

A survey revealed that 13,933 businesses were affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, accounting for 85.4 percent of the respondents.

The labor official predicted two possible scenarios that may happen in the second half of this year.

If the epidemic continues to worsen, such services as accommodations, catering, tourism, and transportation and industries as textile, footwear, apparel, wood processing, food processing, and construction will face a lot of difficulties.

In this case, another 4,800-5,000 businesses will be affected and 160,000-180,000 more people will lose their jobs, which means the number of workers who are made unemployed by COVID-19 will reach 500,000 in the city.

If the pandemic is under control, businesses will have more opportunities to boost their operations, thus reducing unemployment rates.

However, certain fields will still suffer the negative impact of the epidemic due to limited imports and exports.

About 4,400 more companies will be hit and 100,000-120,000 more employees may have to stop working in this scenario.

The municipal Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs will coordinate with management boards of local industrial parks and export processing zones, as well as district-level administrations to monitor the situation and provide necessary support.

The labor department said it will listen to businesses regarding the challenges they are facing and to employees before giving advice on the most viable solution.

It will also make sure laid-off laborers receive suitable support and benefita, while asking firms to establish policies that prioritize older employees, pregnant women, and workers in dire straits.

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Four undergraduate students in Ho Chi Minh City have turned so-called waste materials, such as rice straws, sugarcane bagasse, and coffee grounds, into antifungal and mold-resistant products.

The students who all specialize in chemistry became friends after taking a short course on flavoring preparations together.

The team, called UST, includes the only female Tran Linh Chi, from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, and three males Nguyen Ba Manh Khang, Vo Le Viet Khai, and Le Thanh Duc, from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Science.

They aim to seek answers to their research interests.

Water buffalo meat

Locals in the mountainous provinces of northwestern Vietnam have the habit of hanging buffalo meat above their cooking area as a way of preserving it.

It was a question that kept bugging Chi: How can a piece of buffalo meat be left out in the open for a long time without going bad?

Convinced that kitchen smoke was key to helping the meat last longer than usual, she started looking for substances in the smoke that could explain the preservation method.

She brought up the issue to Associate Professor Le Thi Kim Phung, a lecturer in the faculty of chemical engineering at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

The answer to the issue instantly became the theme of research for her team, who spent a great deal of time in the schools laboratory working on their project.

Chi said they are fortunate to receive enthusiastic support from teachers.

[Otherwise,] poor students like us could not afford to buy materials and rent labs, she says.

Meanwhile, Khang said everyone in the group had to stay focused on their schoolwork and projects, and they were only able to work with each other after school since they are from two different universities.

We wouldn't leave the lab until 9:00 pm almost every day, Khang said, adding that if they were allowed to stay overnight, they would likely have done so.

In the early days, each member was assigned to read certain research and studies, most of them are in foreign languages.

The students gradually realized that they could use agricultural residues that are abundant in Vietnam such as rice straws, rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, and coffee grounds for their research.

Antifungal, mold-resistant products

The agricultural products can also be used to make biological oil, which plays a key role in the groups research.

The students employ this type of biological oil to extract and separate compounds of natural origin from agricultural residues through separation processes, such as sedimentation, filtration, centrifugation, and the use of green solvents.

When diluted to appropriate levels, the compounds become products with antifungal, mold and stain resistance properties on cellulose-based materials, such as wood products.

The students have tested their new products out in a laboratory setting, and on a wooden surface in a natural environment. The result reveals that their antifungal and mold resistance has reached more than 90 percent.

Duc told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that they will take the research further even though they have already conducted multiple tests at different levels of dilution.

He explained the solution can be mixed with essential oils to create a wide variety of odors, but there remains a typical smell of smoke that not everyone will like. Also, the color needs improvements to satisfy esthetic requirements.

The students have found similar foreign products which are made from chemicals, not organic materials, so they feel quite confident about their initial results.

Natural oil extracts can be mixed into wood pulp during the wood production process. As a result, finished products will have the ability to maintain mold and stain resistance.

Low-value oil can be used to create higher-value products. The remaining amount of solid waste after the gasification process can be even used to improve agricultural land, Chi said.

We will make further research, test, and improve the products so that they will be introduced to the market as soon as possible."

Associate Professor Phung, who instructs the group of students, said their initial results are promising as they are just second- and third-year students.

The products are made from completely natural materials and are without any chemicals, the instructor underlined.

A few more steps are, however, needed to enhance the products which are poised to be commercially viable, she added.

The students won second prize for their antifungal and mold-resistant products at an innovation contest at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology this year.

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TOKYO  A few hours after sundown last week, Thi Tu Luong dragged her suitcase down a side street in Tokyos business district, looking for the temple that would take her in for the night.

Luong, a 22-year old Vietnamese worker, had just been fired from her job at a hotel in a hot springs town north of Tokyo.

After a few minutes of walking the street, she saw Jiho Yoshimizu, who runs a support group for Vietnamese workers, waving her in from the entrance of a concrete building.

The three-storey Buddhist temple, Nisshinkutsu, has become a haven for young Vietnamese migrant workers, one of the groups hardest-hit by the economic slump that followed the novel coronavirus outbreak in Japan.

I felt abandoned, said Luong, shortly after she arrived at the temple.

Im just really grateful I can be here.

Jiho Yoshimizu helps Thi Tu Luong, a Vietnamese migrant worker who lost her job amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, to enter a Buddhist temple which has turned into a shelter for young Vietnamese migrant workers in Tokyo, Japan, July 2, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Lured by higher wages but often burdened by debt to recruiters, Vietnamese are the fastest-growing group of foreigners in Japan.

They numbered 410,000 in 2019, up 24.5% from the previous year.

In ordinary times, nuns at the temple would offer prayers for the deceased, but with the coronavirus upending the economy, they now spend their time making care packages for Vietnamese scattered across the country.

Inside the temple, young Vietnamese workers whose lives are in limbo study Japanese, cook Vietnamese food, look for work or book flights home.

We do everything. We take care of people from when theyre inside the womb to when theyre inside an urn, said Yoshimizu, who heads the Japan-Vietnam Coexistence Support Group, a nonprofit based out of the temple.

A Vietnamese migrant worker who lost her job amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, studies Japanese language at a Buddhist temple which has turned into a shelter for young Vietnamese migrant workers in Tokyo, Japan, July 2, 2020. Photo: Reuters

The temple became known to Vietnamese circles after it took in Vietnamese workers who were left homeless after the 2011 earthquake in northern Japan.

As Yoshimizus reputation spread in the community, she started receiving messages from young Vietnamese  including women seeking abortions, workers who were abruptly dismissed with nowhere to go, and labourers fleeing abusive employers.

In 2019, Yoshimizu handled about 400 cases, but since April that number has spiked.

She now receives between 10 and 20 messages a day, all pleas for help from Vietnamese across Japan.

Ive lost count, she said, sitting next to a phone that beeps and rings ceaselessly with calls and messages from labour brokers, employers, and desperate Vietnamese workers.

No one else in Japan right now can provide this kind of support, she said.

A Vietnamese migrant worker who lost her job amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, walks past sacks of rice which will be sent to Vietnamese people in need and living in Japan, while she prepares for a dinner at a Buddhist temple which has turned into a shelter for young Vietnamese migrant workers in Tokyo, Japan, July 2, 2020. Photo: Reuters

When Luong was fired without warning and told to leave her dorm, she turned to Yoshimizu for help.

I have no job, no place to stay right now. Please, please help me, Luong messaged Yoshimizu.

Can I come to the temple today?

Luong graduated from a vocational school in March and started a job in mid-April at a high-end hotel in Nikko, a tourist destination known for its temples.

But she said she wasnt given any work and spent her days in a dorm room with nothing to do.

Luong said she was paid about 30,000 yen ($279.04) in May and was not sure if she had been paid in June.

A representative of the hotel where she worked told Reuters they were not in a position to comment because they did not employ Luong directly.

Vietnamese volunteers and migrant workers, who lost their jobs amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, eat lunch during a break while they prepare packages of food and protective masks for Vietnamese people in need and living in Japan at a Buddhist temple which has turned into a shelter for young Vietnamese migrant workers in Tokyo, Japan, May 2, 2020. Photo: Reuters

Many Vietnamese workers arrive in Japan as students or trainees, making them dependent on their employers and therefore vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Yoshimizu spoke in parliament last month to urge the government to do more to support Vietnamese students who do not have employment insurance.

The current governments coronavirus policy is focused on helping the Japanese first, Yoshimizu said.
Torrential rain pounded the centre of Japan on Wednesday as authorities said 55 people were feared dead in days of heavy downpours that have triggered devastating landslides and terrifying floods.

Rains that began early Saturday on the island of Kyushu have already caused widespread damage across a swathe of the southwestern portion of the country, causing rivers to burst their banks and hillsides to collapse.

The weather front was now moving north, and on Wednesday morning the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued warnings for Gifu and Nagano prefectures in central Japan, though it downgraded the advisories from its top level by midday.

"In these areas, heavy rains are at an unprecedented level," a JMA official said at an early morning briefing.

"Especially in areas designated as high risk for landslides and flooding, the possibility is extremely high that some kind of disaster is already happening," he warned.

Japan Self-Defense Force soldiers search for missing people at a landslide caused by heavy rain in Tsunagi, Kumamoto prefecture on July 7, 2020. Photo: AFP

At least 80,000 rescue workers have already been deployed in a desperate effort to reach survivors stranded by flooding and landslides.

Late Tuesday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to double the number of troops involved in the rescue effort to 20,000.

The toll in the disaster has risen steadily as rescue workers discover new casualties.

Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said 52 deaths had been confirmed with three more people feared dead.

The toll is expected to rise, with more than a dozen people reported missing, and authorities investigating whether six additional deaths are linked to the disaster.

A person walks by a collapsed road caused by heavy rain in Kuma, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, July 7, 2020. Photo: AFP

'I was terrified'

In hardest-hit Kyushu, the rains had mostly stopped by Wednesday morning, as residents tried to come to terms with extensive damage.

Naomi Nishimura told Japan's NNN broadcaster that her parents had been killed in flooding in Hitoyoshi City in Kumamoto region.

"Even though a neighbour came over and pleaded with my parents to evacuate, they didn't go... because I had told them that I'd come home (that day)," the tearful women said as she attempted to clean her parents' flood-devastated home.

In Kashima city in northern Kyushu's Saga region, a woman was mopping the floor of a local souvenir shop inundated when a nearby river burst its banks.

"It usually settles at the very edge of that stone bridge, but this time the water splashed up without stopping," she said.

"The water rose so fast that I was terrified. I was too scared and shaky to do anything, I just kept going this way and that," she added, surrounded by knick-knacks now coated in mud.

Rains turn a road into river in Japan, July 7, 2020. Photo: AFP

Non-mandatory evacuation orders have now been issued for 1.4 million people, with millions more under lower-level warnings.

But the coronavirus has complicated evacuation efforts, with the need to maintain social distancing reducing capacity at shelters.

Japan has been relatively lightly affected by the pandemic, with just over 20,000 cases and fewer than 1,000 deaths.

But local media reported that some people were preferring to sleep in cars rather than risk infection at shelters.

At some facilities, cardboard walls were set up to separate families and try to reduce the risk of infection.

Authorities have warned that the rains will continue.

A map shows areas affected by torrential rains in Japan, July 7, 2020. Photo: AFP

"The rain front is expected to stay at least until Friday, and a wide swathe of the country... will likely have heavy rains," said Yoshihisa Nakamoto, the chief of the weather agency's forecast division, at a late morning press conference.

"Please be extremely vigilant for potential landslides, flooding rivers and inundation on low-lying areas," he warned.

Japan is in the middle of its annual rainy season, which frequently unleashes deadly floods and landslides.

Experts say climate change has intensified the risks of heavy rains, because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.

In 2018, more than 200 people died in devastating floods in western Japan.
Check out the news you should not miss today:

Society

 Thousands of smuggled products and goods allegedly imitating famous brands were discovered at a 10,000-square-meter warehouse in the northern province of Lao Cai on Tuesday during an inspection by the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance in collaboration with the Mobile Police High Command and the Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Police.

 The 108 Military Central Hospital in Hanoi said it has recently received some patients with sepsis caused by the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, a parasitic species in shellfish like shrimp and oysters which can cause rapid necrotizing fasciitis. One patient from the northern city of Hai Phong was hospitalized a few hours after he ate uncooked seafood.

 The border guard station at Lao Bao Border Gate in the north-central province of Quang Tri on Tuesday said it had detected a man who hid in a fridge in a truck to avoid quarantine when the vehicle traveled from Laos to Quang Tri. The man is currently under temporary quarantine before being taken to a quarantine zone for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as per Vietnam's regulations.

 Police in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 12 in collaboration with professional units under the Ministry of Public Security recently busted a case of illegal drug trafficking, seizing more than three kilogram of drugs, six guns, 540 bullets of many kinds, and six homemade swords.

 Vietnams COVID-19 tally was at 369 on Wednesday morning, with 27 in treatment and 342 recoveries, according to the Ministry of Health. Wednesday also marked the 83th day without community transmission of the virus in the country.

Business

 After Vietnam reopened its economy following a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, the domestic economy has showed signs of recovering faster than expected, according to Yun Liu, an ASEAN economist of HSBC Global Research.

Lifestyle

 The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam is set to organize a traditional Japanese doll exhibition in Hanoi from July 11 to August 10, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A Chinese woman who unlawfully entered Vietnam this month has tested negative for COVID-19, according to healthcare authorities.

The woman was quarantined and had her sample taken when coming to Ho Chi Minh City, with test results already returning negative, the municipal Center for Disease Control said on Wednesday.

This is the fifth illegal entry that has been detected in Ho Chi Minh City since May, the center said.

On Monday, the medical center in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City was notified that a Chinese national having illegally entered Vietnam came to a location at 336 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, Ward 4, District 10.

The center immediately conducted an epidemiological investigation, traced her travel history, and disinfected the location.

The woman was taken to a centralized quarantine zone and tested for the novel coronavirus as per regulations. Her result came back negative.

The Chinese citizen arrived in Cambodia from Tianjin, located in northeastern China, on May 2, according to a Center for Disease Control report posted on its verified Facebook page.

On July 5, she went by road from Cambodia to Ha Tien, a city in southern Vietnams Kien Giang Province.

She caught a long-haul bus from Ha Tien to Ho Chi Minh City on Monday.

Ho Chi Minh City authorities detected 14 illegal entrants from Cambodia from May to June 17, the Center for Disease Control said.

Vietnam has confirmed 369 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday morning, with 342 recoveries and zero deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

The Southeast Asian nation has denied entry to all foreigners, exceptions made upon government approval, since March 22 to prevent viral transmission.

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Vietnams Ministry of Health convened an urgent meeting on Tuesday after one new locality in the Central Highlands region had reported a case of diphtheria, raising the national tally to 63 patients.

The new diphtheria case was recorded in Dak Lak Province, the fourth locality in the Central Highlands and the fifth in Vietnam to have documented patients of the disease since June, after Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Ho Chi Minh City.

The total number of 63 diphtheria patients nationwide is already three times the annual average, according to the health ministry.

The disease has killed a four-year-old boy in Gia Lai and a 13-year-old boy and nine-year-old girl in Dak Nong.

Speaking at Tuesdays meeting, Dang Quang Tan, head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, reported that nearly half of the patients were asymptomatic, and the majority of the infected people are above seven years old and have not been adequately vaccinated against the disease.

The health ministry considers diphtheria to be a dangerous disease that can cause complications including myocarditis  an inflammation of the heart muscle  and death.

Nguyen Thanh Long, acting Minister of Health who was appointed to the post on the same day, at the meeting requested the whole health sector to focus on preventing diphtheria and immediately launch a vaccination program for all children from two months old.

In the immediate future, the program will be carried out in the Central Highlands provinces and the central provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai  two localities bordering the highland region with a high risk of diphtheria infection.

On Wednesday morning, the Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department under the health ministry requested the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the Childrens Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City to urgently set up task forces to provide technical assistance to the Central Highlands provinces and retrain local health workers on diphtheria diagnosis and treatment.

The three aforementioned hospitals and health facilities in the Central Highlands region shall establish a procedure for receiving, screening, treating, and transferring diphtheria patients as well as preparing medicine and isolation rooms for treatment of the infectious disease.

A hotline and online support platforms must also be established to provide technical assistance to health facilities in this area.

Acting Minister of Health Long will pay a visit to Gia Lai Province on Thursday to inspect the diphtheria prevention measures there.

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Thousands of smuggled fashion and beauty products were seized at a massive warehouse in northern Vietnam where more than 40 staff members worked to process at least 100 to 200 orders for the allegedly counterfeit goods per day.

On Tuesday, the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance joined hands with the Ministry of Public Security in raiding a warehouse covering more than 10,000 square meters in Lao Cai, the capital city of the namesake province in northwestern Vietnam.

Authorities found thousands of smuggled fashion products that showed signs of being counterfeits of famous global fashion brands at the time of the swoop.

Three staff members were caught livestreaming such the products on different Facebook accounts in order to sell them online.

These employees confessed that they receive at least 100 to 200 orders a day via livestream sales.

After each livestream session, more than 40 employees would work to process customers orders, package the goods, and have them delivered to the buyers.

Hundreds of thousands of items had allegedly been sold online by the ring by the time of the raid.

The owner of the warehouse has been identified as Tran Thanh Phu, 28, who resides in Lao Cai Province and runs the facility with his younger sister, authorities said.

Their products include footwear, glasses, watches, and cosmetics.

Traders of smuggled goods in Vietnam face a fine of up to VND200 million (US$8,600), according to a 2013 government decree.

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The rove beetle, a small, poisonous insect, is plaguing the lives of many residents in apartments and dormitories around Ho Chi Minh City, with thousands of people being treated for wounds.

Rove beetles do not bite people but cause a very painful chemical burn when their toxin comes into contact with the skin, according to Dr. Doan Binh Minh, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Malaria  Parasite  Insect Institute.

Medical experts said rove beetles are present during rainy seasons and attracted to home lights as well as clothes, beds, sleeping mats, and blankets.

The overuse of pesticides in agriculture and urbanization in such suburban areas as District 9, District 7, Hoc Mon District, and Cu Chi District have gradually shrunk the habitat of insects in general and rove beetles in particular, forcing them to invade residential quarters, according to Minh.

Students staying in a dormitory at the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City in Thu Duc District have been worrying about the insect as they discovered many rove beetles in their rooms.

Many of the students in the dorm have sustained wounds caused by the poisonous insect.

Wounds caused by rove beetle toxin. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

The number of patients, including children and adults, being treated for wounds caused by rove beetles has also spiked.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermato Venereology, in recent days, some 100 patients come to the infirmary a day to seek treatment for allergic dermatitis resulting from contact with insects, mainly rove beetles.

Patients often have inflammation and blisters at certain or different body areas around their face, neck, hands, and legs, which are the body's normal reactions to the insect's venom, Dr. Vu Thi Phuong Thao at the dermatology hospital said.

She advised patients not to touch or squeeze the wounds in order not to spread the infection.

The rove beetle toxin is highly toxic, even more potent than that of a cobra, according to the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health.

Wounds caused by rove beetle toxin. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

If exposed to rove beetle toxins, people should wash their affected areas immediately with soap and water, and then use cold compresses, antihistamines, or apply aloe vera to alleviate symptoms, Dr. Thao said.

Severe skin reactions to the toxin should be reported to doctors.

As precautions, medical workers advise the public not to crush rove beetles if they are found inside the home, to avoid skin contact with them, but blow or use objects to remove the insects.

People should not leave their lights, particularly white lights, on when sleeping and should keep their windows closed at night to keep the insect out.

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UK period drama The Last Kingdom, starring Alexander Dreymon, has been renewed for a fifth season by Netflix.

An adaptation of Bernard Cornwells The Saxon Stories, season 5 will be based on Cornwells ninth and tenth novels: The Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer.

The 10-part series will continue to follow the adventures of Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Dreymon), a warrior born a Saxon but raised as a Dane, in ninth and tenth-century England.

Executive producer Nigel Marchant said: We are really proud of The Last Kingdom, which continues to entertain audiences all over the world. We had such a tremendous response to the last season, so are thrilled to be bringing it back for season five on Netflix.

Source: Deadline

Related
FILE PHOTO: The logo of SoftBank Group Corp is displayed at SoftBank World 2017 conference in Tokyo

By Stephen Nellis

(Reuters) - Arm Ltd plans to transfer two software businesses to its Japan-based parent, SoftBank Group Corp <9984.T>, in a strategic shift to focus on growing its core chip businesses, the British-based company said on Tuesday.

The units, under Arm's internet-of-things services group, help chip purchasers manage data generated by all sorts of devices connected on the internet. Arm, based in Cambridge, England, said in a statement it hopes to complete the transfer by September.

SoftBank, a telecommunications carrier, acquired Arm for $32 billion (25.52 billion pounds) in 2016, its largest-ever purchase, in part to expand into the "internet of things," which connects everyday devices from traffic signals to refrigerators to the internet.

Arm has forecast that 1 trillion devices would become connected by 2035, many with chips containing its intellectual property, from which it generates license and royalty fees.

Arm supplies the chip technology for virtually all mobile devices such as phones and tablets but is expanding into processors for cars, datacenter services and other devices. SoftBank plans to relist Arm by 2023.

"Arm would be in a stronger position to innovate in our core (intellectual property) roadmap and provide our partners with greater support to capture the expanding opportunities for compute solutions across a range of markets," Arm Chief Executive Simon Segars said in statement.

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Richard Chang)
Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Biomass Boiler to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: On the basis of Feedstock Type, the Biomass Boiler Market is studied across Agriculture & Forest Residues, Biogas & Energy Crops, Urban Residues, and Woody Biomass.

New York, July 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Biomass Boiler Market Research Report by Feedstock Type, by Product Type, by Application, by End-User - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913606/?utm_source=GNW





On the basis of Product Type, the Biomass Boiler Market is studied across Bubbling Fluidized Bed (BFB) Boilers, Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Boilers, and Stoker Boilers.



On the basis of Application, the Biomass Boiler Market is studied across Heating and Power Generation.



On the basis of End-User, the Biomass Boiler Market is studied across Commercial, Industrial, and Residential.



On the basis of Geography, the Biomass Boiler Market is studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region is studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region is studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region is studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Biomass Boiler Market including Aara Energy Innovations Ltd, Alstom, Amec Foster Wheeler, Dongfang Electric, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, Ecovision Systems Ltd, ETA Heiztechnik GmbH, General Electric Company, Hurst Boiler & Welding Co, Inc., and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Sytems.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Biomass Boiler Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Biomass Boiler Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Biomass Boiler Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Biomass Boiler Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Biomass Boiler Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Biomass Boiler Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Biomass Boiler Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913606/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




LANCASHIRE HOLDINGS LIMITED

7 July 2020

Hamilton, Bermuda

Notice of Q2 2020 Results and Conference Call

Lancashire Holdings Limited (Lancashire or the Company) will be announcing its 2020 second quarter results at 7:00am UK time on Wednesday 29 July 2020 and hosting an analyst and investor conference call at 1:00pm UK time / 8:00am EDT on Wednesday 29 July 2020. The conference call will be hosted by Lancashire management.

Participant Access:

Dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the start time using the number / confirmation code below:

United Kingdom Toll-Free: 08003589473

United Kingdom Toll: +44 3333000804

United States Toll-Free: +1 855 85 70686

United States Toll: +1 6319131422

PIN code: 46831254#

URL for additional international dial in numbers:

https://events-ftp.arkadin.com/ev/docs/NE_W2_TF_Events_International_Access_List.pdf

The call can also be accessed via webcast, for registration and access: https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=548AF467-7210-41FE-83C0-4FC47E9F9DFA

A webcast replay facility will be available for 12 months and accessible at: https://www.lancashiregroup.com/en/investors/results-reports-and-presentations.html





For further information, please contact:

Lancashire Holdings Limited

Christopher Head

+44 20 7264 4145

chris.head@lancashiregroup.com Jelena Bjelanovic +44 20 7264 4066

jelena.bjelanovic@lancashiregroup.com FTI Consulting +44 20 37271046 Edward Berry Edward.Berry@FTIConsulting.com Tom Blackwell Tom.Blackwell@FTIConsulting.com

About Lancashire

Lancashire, through its UK and Bermuda-based operating subsidiaries, is a provider of global specialty insurance and reinsurance products.

Lancashire has capital of approximately $1.8 billion and its common shares trade on the premium segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol LRE. Lancashire has its head office and registered office at Power House, 7 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.

The Bermuda Monetary Authority is the Group Supervisor of the Lancashire Group.

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For more information, please visit Lancashires website at www.lancashiregroup.com.

This release contains information, which may be of a price sensitive nature that Lancashire is making public in a manner consistent with the EU Market Abuse Regulation and other regulatory obligations. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 17:30 BST on 7 July 2020.

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

ALL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR OTHERWISE SPEAK ONLY AS AT THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. LANCASHIRE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING (SAVE AS REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH ANY LEGAL OR REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS INCLUDING THE RULES OF THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE) TO DISSEMINATE ANY UPDATES OR REVISIONS TO ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES IN THE GROUPS EXPECTATIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH ANY SUCH STATEMENT IS BASED. ALL SUBSEQUENT WRITTEN AND ORAL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE GROUP OR INDIVIDUALS ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP ARE EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY THIS NOTE.
The parents of nearly three-quarters of students in a recent poll believe their children learned less during remote instruction than they would have if theyd been in school for face-to-face lessons, according to a new Education Next survey released Wednesday.

And parents of a whopping 40 percent of students said their children had no one-on-one meetings with their teachers during that period.

Still, a majority of them72 percentsaid they were satisfied with the activities and instruction that their childrens schools provided during COVID-19s prolonged disruption of schooling.

Those seemingly at-odds results were part of a poll conducted in mid-May to gauge parents and teachers perceptions of the remote instruction period.

Answers varied based on whether students attended traditional district, charter, or private schools, the schools demographics, as well as the parents race and income levels.

The nationally representative poll lands as school districts are under increasing pressure to craft reopening plans for the 2020-21 academic year and as they conduct cost-benefit analyses of the different reopening options that take into account both academic and health consequences.

Remote learningby far the safest option for districts amid the pandemic has also revealed glaring inequities and has placed a heavy burden on parents and teachers who have to juggle both work and school.

A June poll released by The Education Trust-New York found that parents became more disillusioned with distance learning as time progressed. About 57 percent of parents who responded to a similar poll in March said remote learning was successful, but that number fell to about 43 percent in June.

And there was as huge gap in perception based on income, with nearly half of higher income parents48 percentsaying that remote learning was successful, compared with 36 percent of lower-income parents.

And while parents in the New York poll said they valued face-to-face interactions with teachers, that was not often the case, especially for parents of color. Slightly more than half of parents (56 percent) said they had regular teacher interaction, while just 53 percent said their children regularly had live classes.

Fifty-two percent of Black and Hispanic parents said their children had access to live instruction, phone calls, or video calls regularly with their teachers, while 57 percent of white parents said that was the case.

Parents earning more than $100,000 also were more likely to report more teacher feedback during that period than low-income parents.

The Education Next poll also showed a disconnect between teachers and parents perception of remote learning.

Teachers took a dimmer view of the kind of learning that was taking place during the shutdown. While parents of 71 percent of the students said their children learned less, 87 percent of teachers thought the same. And while parents of 72 percent of the students said that their children had required assignments multiple times a week, just a little more than half of teachers said that they assigned work that regularly, according to Education Next.

Parents whose children attended charter and private schools were more likely to report that teachers covered new content during that period, more required assignments, and whole-class meetings. Those parents were generally more satisfied with instruction than their counterparts in traditional public schools.

Parents of charter school students also reported more face-to-face interactions than other sectors and a higher percentage reported daily or weekly feedback than parents whose children attend regular district schools ( 60 vs. 46 percent). And while the majority of all parents said their children learned less during the shutdown, a smaller percentage of charter school parents did so. Parents of 30 percent of the charter school students said their children learned more during the remote learning period, according to the poll.

Black and Hispanic children were less likely to be exposed to new material during the shutdown. While about 77 percent of white children had access to mostly new material during the shutdown, that percentage fell slightly to 72 percent for Hispanic children and 67 percent for Black children.

Parents of about a third of elementary school students said they did not receive grades or feedback on assignments during the closure.

Parents of Black and Hispanic students also reported that they spent more time helping their children with at-home schooling. White parents said they averaged 3.1 hours a day with their children on school work, Black parents reported spending 4.3 hours, while Hispanic parents said they spent 3.9 hours doing so.

Teachers, however, seem to have spent more time trying to reach out to Black and Hispanic students during the shutdown.

While about 30 percent of white parents said they interacted with teachers either by phone or on the internet at least once a week, nearly half of the Black parents and 55 percent of Hispanic parents said they connected with teachers either by phone or on the internet at least once a week.

And among the three different types of schools, charter schools were most likely to have contact with students, according to the poll.

The survey was conducted between May 14 and May 20. The results are from 1,249 parents with children in K-12 schools. The survey also included data from 490 K-12 teachers.

You can dig into the poll results here.


Strictly Confidential

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW. PLEASE SEE ALSO THE IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

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.

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Press Release

Regulated Information

Mid-Stabilisation Period Announcement





Liege (Belgium), 07 July 2020, 18:30 (CEST)  regulated information  Within the framework of the initial public offering of new shares of Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA ("Hyloris" or the "Company"), with the admission of all of its shares to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels under the symbol "HYL" (the "Offering"), KBC Securities NV/SA has been appointed by the Company as stabilisation manager (the "Stabilisation Manager").

Further to the start of the Stabilisation Period on 29 June 2020, KBC Securities NV/SA (contact person: Stephanie Van Heyste, telephone number: +32 2 429 98 43) hereby gives notice that the Stabilisation Manager undertook stabilisation (within the meaning of Article 3.2(d) of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU 596/2014)) of the following securities within the framework of the Offering:

Issuer: Hyloris Pharmaceuticals SA Securities: Common Shares (BE0974363955) Size of the Offering: 6,612,500 common shares without nominal value Offer price: EUR 10.75 per share Regulated market: Euronext Brussels Ticker: HYL Stabilisation Manager: KBC Securities NV/SA

Stabilisation transactions(1):

Date Quantity Price (EUR) Number of transactions Stabilisation Trading Venue 29/06/2020 7,233 10.2500 26 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 1,161 10.2600 5 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 248 10.2700 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 100 10.2740 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 250 10.2760 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 735 10.2800 3 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 100 10.2880 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 100 10.2900 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 293 10.2980 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 29,512 10.3000 80 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 125 10.3060 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 1,802 10.3100 3 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 1,804 10.3200 7 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 1,584 10.3240 4 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 751 10.3300 5 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 25 10.3340 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 459 10.3360 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 550 10.3380 3 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 500 10.3400 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 377 10.3420 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 110 10.3480 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 18,905 10.3500 31 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 151 10.3680 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 410 10.3720 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 108 10.3740 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 524 10.3780 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 2,930 10.3800 11 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 100 10.3820 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 505 10.3840 3 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 120 10.3860 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 400 10.3880 3 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 50,836 10.3900 14 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 750 10.3920 5 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 661 10.3960 3 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 55 10.3980 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 11,683 10.4000 73 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 840 10.4020 7 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 1,187 10.4040 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 2,387 10.4060 19 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 100 10.4160 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 2,913 10.4200 10 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 100 10.4280 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 887 10.4300 3 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 225 10.4340 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 300 10.4360 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 1,160 10.4400 3 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 1,505 10.4420 5 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 164 10.4460 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 10,370 10.4500 10 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 176 10.4600 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 275 10.4740 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 250 10.4888 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 100 10.4900 1 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 199 10.4960 2 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 15,000 10.5500 12 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 25,000 10.6500 8 Euronext Brussels 29/06/2020 130,000 10.7500 69 Euronext Brussels DAY TOTAL 29/06/2020 320,095 10.5466 468 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 11 10.4200 1 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 1,365 10.4400 4 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 695 10.4600 1 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 1,100 10.4800 4 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 2,362 10.5000 9 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 411 10.5200 3 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 27,205 10.5400 14 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 5,391 10.5600 21 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 849 10.5800 8 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 3,476 10.6000 12 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 1 10.6400 1 Euronext Brussels 30/06/2020 299 10.6600 3 Euronext Brussels DAY TOTAL 30/06/2020 43,165 10.5406 81 Euronext Brussels 01/07/2020 5,163 10.5000 20 Euronext Brussels 01/07/2020 3,450 10.5200 16 Euronext Brussels 01/07/2020 12,536 10.5400 20 Euronext Brussels 01/07/2020 1,139 10.5600 6 Euronext Brussels 01/07/2020 990 10.5800 4 Euronext Brussels 01/07/2020 3,322 10.6000 7 Euronext Brussels 01/07/2020 250 10.6200 2 Euronext Brussels 01/07/2020 150 10.6400 1 Euronext Brussels 01/07/2020 1,000 10.7200 4 Euronext Brussels DAY TOTAL 01/07/2020 28,000 10.5472 80 Euronext Brussels 02/07/2020 664 10.5000 1 Euronext Brussels 02/07/2020 3,139 10.5200 9 Euronext Brussels 02/07/2020 7,987 10.5400 19 Euronext Brussels 02/07/2020 955 10.5600 6 Euronext Brussels 02/07/2020 6,265 10.5800 18 Euronext Brussels 02/07/2020 570 10.6000 5 Euronext Brussels DAY TOTAL 02/07/2020 39,000 10.5325 99 Euronext Brussels 03/07/2020 664 10.5000 1 Euronext Brussels 03/07/2020 3,139 10.5200 9 Euronext Brussels 03/07/2020 7,987 10.5400 19 Euronext Brussels 03/07/2020 955 10.5600 6 Euronext Brussels 03/07/2020 6,265 10.5800 18 Euronext Brussels 03/07/2020 570 10.6000 5 Euronext Brussels DAY TOTAL 03/07/2020 19,580 10.5510 58 Euronext Brussels 06/07/2020 499 10.5000 3 Euronext Brussels 06/07/2020 1,900 10.5200 6 Euronext Brussels 06/07/2020 2,928 10.5400 15 Euronext Brussels 06/07/2020 610 10.5600 5 Euronext Brussels 06/07/2020 3,903 10.5800 16 Euronext Brussels 06/07/2020 4,732 10.6000 30 Euronext Brussels DAY TOTAL 06/07/2020 14,572 10.5670 75 Euronext Brussels 07/07/2020 1,250 10.5200 5 Euronext Brussels 07/07/2020 3,727 10.5400 21 Euronext Brussels 07/07/2020 1,961 10.5600 10 Euronext Brussels 07/07/2020 5,980 10.5800 17 Euronext Brussels 07/07/2020 3,629 10.6000 18 Euronext Brussels 07/07/2020 824 10.6400 8 Euronext Brussels DAY TOTAL 07/07/2020 17,371 10.5719 79 Euronext Brussels

Note

(1) All data contained in the table above has been provided by the Stabilisation Manager.

Banks involved in the Offering:

KBC Securities NV/SA and Van Lanschot Kempen Wealth Management N.V. acted as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners in the Offering.

-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.

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 Offering, as the case may be, is only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe for, purchase, or otherwise acquire securities is engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents.

KBC Securities NV/SA and Van Lanschot Kempen Wealth Management N.V. (the "Joint Global Coordinators") are acting for the Company and no one else in relation to the 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 Offering.




Valmet Oyj's trade press release on July 7, 2020 at 11.00 a.m. EET

Valmet has received an order to supply wash press technology to Phoenix Pulp & Paper Public Company Limiteds (PPPC) hardwood bleached pulp plant at the Nam Pong mill, located in Khon Kaen province in Thailand.

The order is included in Valmets orders received of the second quarter 2020. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The start-up is scheduled for the third quarter of 2021.

Valmets technology and services are in line with our sustainable profile, reducing water footprint and improving hardwood bleached pulp plant effluent, says Wichan Charoenkitsupat, Chief Operating Officer, Fibrous Business, SCG Packaging Public Company Limited.

PPPC decided to choose Valmet as their key technology provider based on our good references for TwinRoll presses. Our wash press technology is designed to increase washing efficiency, reduce water and chemical consumption, and effluent discharge, says Fredrik Wilgotson, Vice President, Pulp and Energy, Asia Pacific, Valmet.

Information about Valmets delivery

Valmets scope of delivery includes two TwinRoll presses including liquor filter, spare parts, engineering and site services. The new presses are designed for a capacity of 540 air dried tonnes per day hardwood bleached pulp and will reduce the mills fresh water consumption and effluent generation.

Information about Phoenix Pulp & Paper Public Co., Ltd.

Phoenix Pulp & Paper Public Company Limited is a pioneer in pulp products. Founded in 1975, the company is a subsidiary of SCG Packaging Public Company Limited, one of the leading integrated producers of pulp and paper products in Thailand. Phoenix Pulp & Paper sells its products to customers in Thailand and abroad.

VALMET

Corporate Communications



For further information, please contact:

Pornpracha Wattanakijsiri, Director, SEA region, Valmet, tel. +66 81825 1578

Fredrik Wilgotson, Vice President, Pulp and Energy, Asia Pacific, Valmet, tel. +66 61384 7911

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Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2019 were approximately EUR 3.5 billion. Our more than 13,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward  every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

Read more www . valmet . com , www . twitter . com / valmetglobal

Processing of personal data




By Andrew Osborn and Tom Balmforth

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian security forces on Tuesday detained a former journalist who works as an aide to the head of Russia's space agency and accused him of treason, saying he had passed military secrets to the Czech Republic.

Footage released by the FSB security service showed Ivan Safronov being detained outside his Moscow flat by armed agents who searched him before putting him into a van.

He could later be heard saying "I'm not guilty" as masked agents led him past reporters to a court hearing that was closed to the public.

The court ruled he be held in pre-trial detention for two months until Sept. 6. His lawyers said they would appeal.

Safronov, who committed his alleged crime when working as a journalist covering military affairs for the Kommersant newspaper, faces up to two decades in jail if found guilty. His trial is expected to be closed.

It is the first time in nearly two decades that a journalist has been accused of treason in Russia, said Ivan Pavlov, one of Safronov's lawyers.

Pavlov said investigators alleged that Safronov had passed secrets to the Czech Republic via the internet in 2017.

The information concerned Russian arms deliveries to the Middle East and Africa, Pavlov cited investigators as saying, saying the secrets were later passed to Washington.

TASS reported last year that prosecutors wanted to bring a case against Kommersant for disclosing a state secret.

Russian news portal The Bell said then that an article which Safronov had worked on had disappeared from Kommersant's site.

It said Egypt had agreed to buy Russian Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets. Washington threatened Egypt with sanctions if the deal went through.

Safronov's detention has raised fears among journalists of a new wave of repression. Staff at Kommersant said in an editorial that the allegations looked absurd because he was a real patriot.

Some of Safronov's former colleagues and friends protested outside FSB headquarters before being detained.

The FSB had earlier issued a statement accusing Safronov of working for an unnamed NATO foreign intelligence service and of handing over "state secrets and information about military-technical cooperation and about the defence and security of the Russian Federation."

(Additional reporting by Alexander Marrow, Maxim Rodionov, Anton Zverev and Alexander Reshetnikov; Editing by Giles Elgood, Gareth Jones, Mark Heinrich and Jonathan Oatis)
By Jonathan Stempel, Tom Sims and John O'Donnell

NEW YORK/FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank will pay a $150 million fine from a New York regulator for allowing disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein to make payments to Russian models and withdraw suspicious amounts of cash during five years as a client.

Tuesday's settlement with the New York State Department of Financial Services is the first such action against a bank related to Epstein. The registered sex offender committed suicide in a Manhattan jail in August, a month after his arrest for allegedly sexually exploiting dozens of girls and women.

The fine is also another blow to Deutsche Bank's reputation as it goes through a major restructuring, following five years of losses totaling more than 15 billion euros ($17 billion).

"For years, Mr. Epstein's criminal, abusive behavior was widely known, yet big institutions continued to excuse that history and lend their credibility or services for financial gain," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.

New York found "significant compliance failures" in Deutsche Bank's dealings with Epstein, who the bank had considered "high-risk". It also knew of Epstein's history of sex trafficking and abuse, including his 2007 guilty plea to state prostitution charges, yet ignored these "red flags" and processed hundreds of transactions "obviously implicated" by his past.

In its statement New York also criticized unrelated dealings by Germany's largest bank with Danske Bank's Estonia branch, which is embroiled in a massive money laundering scandal, and the Federal Bank of the Middle East.

Epstein was a Deutsche Bank client from August 2013 to December 2018, when the relationship ended after further negative press surfaced about his misconduct.

The transactions processed by the German bank included payments to alleged accomplices, lawyers, victims, Russian models and women with Eastern European surnames, and "suspicious" cash withdrawals averaging $200,000 a year.

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'NOT SUSPICIOUS'

Email traffic showed that Deutsche Bank weighed the risks of retaining Epstein as a client but put them aside, enticed by the millions of dollars in annual revenue he might generate.

According to a consent order, two Deutsche Bank employees visited Epstein in his New York home in early 2015 and asked about new allegations of sex with underage girls.

But they appeared "satisfied" by Epstein's response and did nothing to verify the allegations, the consent order said.

The bank also chose in 2017 not to scrutinize payments to a Russian model and a Russian publicity agent. "[S]ince this type of activity is normal for this client it is not deemed suspicious," a compliance monitor said in an email.

New York said Epstein had more than 40 Deutsche Bank accounts, some of which were for the "Butterfly Trust", whose beneficiaries included co-conspirators in alleged sexual abuse.

This created a risk that payments could be used to "further or coverup criminal activity and perhaps even to endanger more young women," the New York settlement, which reflected Deutsche Bank's cooperation over several years, revealed.

Accepting Epstein as a client "was a critical mistake and should never have happened," Deutsche Bank Chief Executive Christian Sewing told staff in a memo.

The New York regulator said Deutsche Bank was also sanctioned for ignoring warning signs while processing billions of euros of payments for Danske Bank, which it ranked as "high-risk" in 2007, before shortly afterwards identifying alerts on its foreign customers with Russian or Latvian connections.

The German bank ignored internal warnings of the risks until late 2015, transferring at least $150 billion from Russia and other former Soviet states during that time.

Deutsche Bank also acknowledged deficiencies in its monitoring of Danske Estonia and FBME.

"We all have to help ensure that this kind of thing does not happen again," Sewing said.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by John O'Donnell and Tom Sims in Frankfurt; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Will Dunham, Marguerita Choy and Alexander Smith)
FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday urged China-born people in the United States to contact the FBI if Chinese officials try to force them to return to China under a program of coercion that he said is led by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Wray issued the unusual appeal in an address to the Hudson Institute think tank in which he reiterated U.S. charges that China is using espionage, cyber theft, blackmail and other means as part of a strategy to replace the United States as the world's dominant economic and technological power.

He said Xi has "spearheaded" a program called Fox Hunt aimed at strong-arming people born in China living outside of the country who are regarded as threats to return home in order to silence criticism of Beijing's political and human rights policies.

The families of those who refuse to return are threatened and some have been arrested in China "for leverage," he said

"Hundreds of these Fox Hunt victims that they target live here in the United States, and many are American citizens or green card holders," he continued. "The Chinese government wants to force them to return to China and China's tactics to accomplish this are shocking."

The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wray's address. Beijing has denied U.S. charges that it employs cyber espionage against the United States.

Wray related a case in which he said the Chinese government sent "an emissary" to visit a family in the United States of an unidentified target who could not be located. The emissary left a message that the target could chose between returning to China or committing suicide, Wray said.

"I want to take this opportunity to note that if you believe the Chinese government is targeting you, that you are a potential Fox Hunt victim, please reach out to your local FBI field office," he said.

Wray also said that almost half of nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases now underway are related to China.

"We've now reached a point where the FBI is opening a new China-related counterintelligence case about every 10 hours," Wray said in his address.

(REUTERS)
Authorities fired flash bangs to disperse protesters in Portland, Oregon, late on July 7 and into July 8, following a vigil held for Summer Taylor, a Seattle protester who died after a car dove through a crowd on July 4.

This footage shows parts of the vigil. In the video, masked protesters hand out wipes and saline solution during a sit-in outside a federal courthouse, and flash bangs are fired as authorities move in to disperse those gathered.

According to news reports, protesters have taken to the streets in Portland for 40 consecutive nights since the death of George Floyd sparked unrest nationwide. Credit: @gravemorgan via Storyful
Frances male population of under 65-year-olds from sub-Saharan Africa was the worst affected by the coronavirus during March and April when the country was under lockdown.

The findings by INSEE, the French governments statistics agency, are the closest France has come to acknowledging with numbers the virus's disproportionate impact on the country's minority groups.

The increase in deaths was higher among people born in Africa  114 percent more among the population from sub-Saharan Africa, compared to the same period in 2019," wrote the authors of the study, Sylvain Papon and Isabelle Robert-Bobee.

The hike in deaths was also significant among the population born in Asia (INSEEs definition here includes Turkey)  91 per cent more than March-April 2019.

INSEE believes that the high death rates among the population born in Africa and Asia could be explained because most of them live densely populated areas across the country as well as Ile de France, a region worst hit by Covid-19.

A third of the population from the Maghreb region (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) live in Paris and its surrounding Ile de France region. It is also home to half of the population born in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

The stats show that, in the Seine-Saint-Denis district  scene of racial riots during lockdown  where death rates were among the highest in France, the rise for the sub-Saharan population reached 368 percent, as compared to 95 percent for the population born in France.

The study was the first in France to cross-reference deaths that occurred in March and April, when intensive care units were swamped with Covid-19 patients, with the regions of origin of the people who died.

It does not, however, take into consideration how the children of minority groups born in Africa and Asia fared during the health crisis, nor its undocumented population living in France.

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Small flats

Papon and Robert-Bobee wrote that the cramped accommodation where under-privileged minorities live constitutes an added factor for virus transmission and mortality.

The African and Asian population also widely use public transport to travel for work.

People from Africa were most exposed to risks of infection because of their jobs, the authors wrote.

They occupy essential jobs where they had to carry on working despite a nation-wide lockdown. From health workers to cleaners and food sellers, they are the invisible work force that proved to be essential during the health crisis.

The study also shows that men from sub-Saharan Africa were more affected than the women. Death rates among the under 65 age group were highest among the African communities when compared to Asian and French communities.

Fatalities, among the under-65, were 30 times higher for the population from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia than it was for those born in France, the authors wrote.

By highlighting dramatic increases in deaths among the population born in Africa and Asia, the research helps fill some of the gaps in France's understanding of its minority communities.
France's new prime minister firmly defended on Wednesday the contested promotion of a colleague accused of rape as his interior minister, in charge of enforcing French laws, following a backlash from feminist groups.

Prime Minister Jean Castex's vigorous expression of support for the minister, Gerald Darmanin, comes amid questions about whether President Emmanuel Macron is failing in his promises to make a priority of equality between men and women.

Castex told broadcaster BFM-TV that he took total responsibility for Darmanin's appointment at the interior ministry. He was promoted from his previous job as budget minister.

He, like everyone else, has the right to the presumption of innocence, Castex said.

Darmanin is under preliminary investigation over a rape accusation that he firmly denies. Macrons office has said the probe was not an obstacle to Darmanins appointment to his new job in charge of police and other law enforcement bodies.

The recently reopened investigation is based on a 2017 legal complaint by a woman who alleged that Darmanin raped her when she sought legal help from him in 2009.

Darmanin, the highest-ranking French official accused of sexual misconduct in the #MeToo era, says the encounter was consensual. He has sued the woman for slander.

>> French feminists criticise choice of justice, interior ministers over sexism and rape claims

In another controversial appointment, Macron handed the justice ministry to provocative lawyer Eric Dupond-Moretti, who previously ridiculed the #MeToo movement and defended a top official accused of rape.

On Tuesday, feminist groups staged two protests in Paris over the appointments they see as burying Macrons promises to make equality between women and men the Great Cause of his five-year term.

Its a slap in the face, said Pauline Baron of the feminist group NousToutes, which campaigns against sexual violence. We are once again celebrating people who are accused of rape or say things that negate the voice of victims. It stifles victims and feeds sexual violence and rape culture.

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Referring to the #MeToo movement, Dupond-Moretti has criticized the crazy women who crucify men on social media. He also dismissed the worlds first law against catcalls and other street harassment, passed in France in 2018, as a joke.

In a reshuffling of the French government on Monday, Macron replaced the high-profile womens rights minister behind that law, Marlene Schiappa. She will now work under Darmanin in a new role focusing on citizenship.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)
A shopper was charged with battery after an alleged altercation in an Illinois Home Depot over the wearing of face masks, on July 3.

Local media reported Teri A. Hill, of McHenry, got into a disagreement with another customer that turned into a physical altercation.

The other woman, Sydney Waters, who filmed the video, posted on Facebook that Hill was wearing a mask but took it off to ask an employee to force other customers to wear a mask as well.

When we passed her I said maam if youre going to demand other folks keep their masks on its important you do too. Then she took her mask all the way off, put it in her pocket and let me know she was going to spit & cough on me, " Waters wrote in her Facebook post.

In the video Hill holds her phone in front of her face. She is heard saying, Yes I am entitled. Im white and Im a woman.

Waters goes on to ask, What does you being white have to do with you getting your way? to which Hill is heard saying, Because Im a white woman and thats what happens. I believe in white power.

Waters alleges Hill hit her, and took off Waters mask when they fell to the ground.

Local media reported police charged Hill with battery and disorderly conduct, and her case will be heard in court on August 19. Credit: Sydney Waters via Storyful
Libyas UN-backed western government has begun cleaning up the capital Tripoli of mines and unexploded ordinance. The United Nations says mines in the area have killed more than 80 civilians and nearly 60 soldiers since the conflict ended. FRANCE 24's Moaz Al-Sheikh and Yuka Royer report.

A ceasefire in early June put a stop to six months of deadly fighting in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, but dangers persist for the civilians returning there. The Libyan health ministry has set up new medical facilities to deal with a growing number of accidents from unexploded mines and booby traps.

Click on the video player above to watch FRANCE 24's report.
Sky News

The UK has joined the US, the European Union and Canada in imposing sanctions on Belarusian officials following the forced landing of a Ryanair flight last month. The plane travelling from Greece to Lithuania on 23 May was diverted to the Belarusian capital Minsk where authorities arrested opposition blogger Roman Protasevich. In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Office said seven individuals and one organisation had been sanctioned due to the diversion of the flight and a further four individuals and an entity had been sanctioned over human rights abuses in Belarus by President Alexander Lukashenko's regime.
Moscow will apply counter-sanctions against Britain, the Kremlin said Tuesday, after London blacklisted Russian officials for their alleged involvement in the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. "We can only regret such unfriendly measures," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "Obviously the principle of reciprocity will be applied," he added, without elaborating. The 25 Russians included on the sanctions list drawn up by Britain's Foreign Office were included for their alleged involvement in the death of Magnitsky. Magnitsky, a tax consultant for British financier William Browder, died in prison of untreated illness in 2009 after accusing Russian officials of tax fraud of $230 million. Russian officials to be targeted by the sanctions include Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the powerful Investigative Committee that reports directly to President Vladimir Putin. The Russian Embassy in London on Monday denounced the sanctions, saying the country's legal system was "independent" of the executive authorities and "guided by law alone". A spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday that the sanctions were targeting individuals involved in "some of the most notorious human rights violations of recent years". Britain also sanctioned a number of individuals from Saudi Arabia and North Korea. London has accused Russia of "destabilising" activities including the 2018 chemical attack that almost killed former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Russia has rejected accusations that officers from its GRU military intelligence agency used a powerful nerve agent to poison Skripal in retribution for his work with British and other Western spy services.
Russian authorities have warned residents of regions near Mongolia against hunting marmots but stressed there was no risk of bubonic plague spreading across the country. Russian public health authorities appealed to residents of the mountainous Tuva and Altai regions following last week's confirmation of two bubonic plague cases in Mongolia. The cases involve brothers who had eaten marmot meat. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization said it was also monitoring a case of bubonic plague in China after being notified by the authorities in Beijing. Authorities in the Tuva region urged residents in a statement to be vigilant and "refrain from hunting marmots and eating marmot meat." In Altai, which like Tuva also borders Mongolia, officials have launched a public awareness campaign distributing leaflets to local residents, government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta said on Monday. The special focus is on Altai's Kosh-Agach district, which has been known as a natural hotbed of plague since the 1950s and where marmot hunting is formally banned. By the start of the hunting season 18,000 people had been vaccinated against plague in the region including 16,500 people in the Kosh-Agach district. Plague is highly contagious and transmitted between animals and humans through the bite of infected fleas and contact with infected animals like marmots. Despite the precautions Rospotrebnadzor, Russia's consumer safety watchdog, said that even if individual cases appear in the country they would not lead to the spread of the disease thanks to the existence of a vaccine and drugs. "There is no danger of bubonic plague spreading in Russia," the watchdog said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Sri Lanka and Maldives have become the first two countries in the World Health Organisations South-East Asia region to eliminate both measles and rubella ahead of a 2023 target.

This success is encouraging and demonstrates the importance of joint efforts in combating diseases as the world grapples with the coronavirus, WHO South-East Asia regional director Poonam Khetrapal Singh said in a statement.

A country is considered to have eliminated measles and rubella when there is no evidence of endemic transmission of the viruses for more than three years and there is a well-performing surveillance system.

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The Maldives reported its last endemic case of measles in 2009 and rubella in October 2015, while Sri Lanka reported its last endemic case of measles in May 2016 and rubella in March 2017.

The UN health agency praised the efforts of countries in the region to continue vaccinating children while battling the coronavirus pandemic.

It said all of the countries in recent years have introduced two doses of measles vaccine and at least one dose of rubella vaccine in their routine immunisation programs.

First-dose coverage of measles vaccine is now 88% and second-dose coverage 76% in the region, WHO said.

Since 2017, nearly 500 million more children in the region have been vaccinated for measles and rubella, it said.

Last September, the 11 countries in WHOs South-East Asia region set 2023 as a target for the elimination of measles and rubella.

The countries in the WHO region are Bangladesh, Bhutan, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Burma, North Korea, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

WHO said Bhutan, East Timor and North Korea have succeeded in eliminating measles.
Scientists believe they may have stumbled on new species of dinosaur that lived in the Arctic 70 million years ago, when the region was warmer than it is now.

The findings are based on a rare piece of dinosaur jawbone thought to belong to a juvenile dromaeosaurid dinosaur, predatory animals closely related to birds.

Dromaeosaurids, whose members include the velociraptor, lived during the Cretaceous period, between 145-66 million years ago.

Teeth remains of these creatures have previously been found in North America, South America, and Asia but lack of bone fossil records have made it hard for palaeontologists to trace the paths the domaeosaurids took as they dispersed between continents.

Many scientists believe the Arctic was a migratory pathway for many dinosaurs when they crossed between Asia and North America.

But researchers now say the discovery of the jawbone fossil of a juvenile appears to contradict these suggestions and believe the animals lived there all year round.

The palaentologists say that the early developmental stage of the bone suggests the young dromaeosaurid was born nearby, strong evidence that some of dinosaurs were nesting there.

Fossil jawbone from Alaska (Alfio Alessandro Chiarenza/Imperial College London/PA)

Anthony R Fiorillo, of Southern Methodist University, and one of the authors of the study published in the journal Plos One, said: Years ago when dinosaurs were first found in the far north, the idea challenged what we think we know about dinosaurs.

For some time afterwards, there was a great debate as to whether or not those Arctic dinosaurs migrated or lived in the north year round.

All of those arguments were somewhat speculative in nature.

This study of a predatory dinosaur jaw from a baby provides the first physical proof that at least some dinosaurs not only lived in the far north, but they thrived there.

One might even say, our study shows that the ancient north was a great place to raise a family and now we have to figure out why.

Story continues

The 14mm long fossil, which was found near the Arctic Ocean, is preserved at the Prince Creek Formation of northern Alaska, which hosts the worlds largest collection of polar dinosaur fossils.

It is the first known non-dental dromaeosaurid fossil from the Arctic.

Scientists say bones belonging these dinosaurs are fragile and do not preserve well in the fossil record.

Alfio Alessandro Chiarenza, of Imperial College London, and lead author on the study: Even with such an incomplete jaw fragment, our team was not only able to work out the evolutionary relationships of this dinosaur, but also to picture something more on the biology of these animals, ultimately gaining more information on this Ancient Arctic ecosystem.
Story and video from Newsflare

A tourist is pleading to be rescued after spending more than 100 days living in an airport due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Roman Trofimov has been staying in the departures area of Manila airport in the Philippines since he arrived in the country on an AirAsia flight from Bangkok on March 20.

The Estonian, who had been travelling in Southeast Asia, said his passport was taken before going through immigration.

The airline was also unable to return him to Thailand.

Coronavirus across the globe105

Roman was denied entry into the Philippines due to the entry visas no longer being issued for arrivals. Roman was then caught up in the ensuing chaos and confusion.

He has been living in the airport for 110 days between March 20 and July 7.

The tourist likened his situation to being a prisoner. He said: ''I've been stuck here for more than 100 days. I need help getting out.

"The airline said I need to wait for Enhanced Community Quarantine to be over before I am allowed to fly. I've been waiting here ever since.''

Roman had an onward flight to Cebu province booked for the same day on March 20 and a return flight to Bangkok for April 2. Both were cancelled.

The desperate tourist said he had asked his embassy for help but they were unable to organise a repatriation flight.

He has been sleeping in an airport departures hotel room and surviving on food and snacks donated by staff.

Coronavirus restrictions were implemented according to the risk level of a region. The Metro Manila was under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) for a few months before it shifted to a lower level General Community Quarantine in June.

However, despite having a more relaxed guideline under the GCQ status, most flights are still not allowed to resume including going to Estonia.

Roman added: "I am a person with disability, my health is getting worse because of malnutrition, lack of sun, and fresh air. I have no other choice, but to go public."
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Ambassador to UN Craft attends Security Council meeting about situation in Syria in New York City

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Russian bid to halve access for humanitarian aid deliveries to Syria from Turkey to just one border crossing failed at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, garnering just four votes in favour from the 15-member body.

Russia and China cast vetoes on Tuesday to block the council from extending its approval for a year of aid deliveries to Syria from Turkey through two border crossings. Russia then put forward its own text that would only approve one of those crossings for aid access for six months.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft told Reuters she had urged her Security Council counterparts - who all voted in favour of Tuesday's resolution - to oppose Russia's draft resolution, describing the choice as "good versus evil."

"We're talking about the difference between life and death for millions of Syrians," she said, adding that council members should continue to push to keep two border crossings open.

Russia and China have argued that cross-border aid deliveries are not needed as those areas can be accessed from within Syria.

The more than six-year long cross-border aid operation is currently authorized until Friday, so diplomats said another council member is now likely to put forward for a vote a new proposal to authorise the two Turkish crossings for six months.

A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain.

During the coronavirus pandemic the council has been operating virtually, which means members have 24 hours to cast a vote on a draft resolution. Seven council members voted against the Russian draft on Wednesday, while four abstained.

Craft accused Russia and China of wanting to end all cross-border humanitarian assistance for Syria in an effort to help "prop-up" Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

A crackdown by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on protesters in 2011 led to civil war, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington supporting the opposition. Millions of people have fled Syria and millions are internally displaced.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
HOUSTON (AP)  A few weeks after more than 100 people attended her husband's funeral, the widow herself was on the brink of death.

Her oxygen levels had fallen deadly low due to complications from COVID-19, and her heart stopped. Ten people, each in two layers of protective equipment, surrounded her hospital bed. Two climbed on opposite sides of the bed  one pressing on her chest, the other on her abdomen.

At the foot of the bed, Dr. Joseph Varon called out a rhythm: one-two, one-two, one-two.

Keep on pumping! he yelled.

But they couldnt save her.

At least 10 people who were at the funeral later developed coronavirus symptoms, according to her daughter, who fell sick herself. Most people weren't wearing masks. Her daughter says her mother told her she wished they had been more careful.

We didnt take precautions like we should have, the daughter said. We just got totally caught up in the moment.

Now, the 66-year-old Latina woman's death is a grim warning for Texas, which has seen a surge in the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus since it began aggressively loosening restrictions in May. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in the state have more than doubled in the last two weeks, and Texas is reporting, on average, more than four times as many cases each day as it was a month ago. It surpassed 10,000 new confirmed cases in a single day Tuesday and recorded 98 deaths on Wednesday, a new daily high.

Nearly 80% of the state's hospital beds are in use, and intensive care units are filling up in some of the nations biggest cities, including San Antonio and Houston, where leaders are warning their health facilities could become overwhelmed in the coming days. In all, Texas has recorded more than 2,670 deaths and more than 200,000 confirmed cases of the virus.

While rising case numbers partly reflect more testing, Texas has a positive test rate of 13.5%, more than double the rate from a month ago.

Story continues

"Were going to get into situations like Italy did, like Spain did, like New York did just a couple of months ago, said Varon, board chair at United Memorial Medical Center, a small north Houston hospital.

United Memorial has been rapidly dedicating more and more space to virus care. Now, 88 of 117 beds are devoted to such patients  and Varon says the hospital may soon turn over the entire facility to treating those with the virus. Outside, long lines of cars wait hours for tests.

The hospital has taped off three separate wings with a sequence of large tarps and gates. Assisting Varon is a team of nurses and volunteer medical students. Anyone seeing a patient with COVID-19 is required to wear two sets of masks, gowns, gloves, shoe and head coverings, and a face shield.

Varon has worked more than 100 days with barely a rest and normally sleeps just a few hours a night. When he isnt seeing patients or trying to obtain more hospital supplies, he does media interviews to encourage people to wear masks and take the virus seriously.

People need to see this so they can understand and wont do stupid things, he said, standing in the widows hospital room. Every day, we have stuff like this. Every single day.

The Associated Press, which spent Monday inside the hospital, is not identifying the widow because it was unable to speak to her before her death and is withholding her daughters name to protect the mothers identity.

The widow entered the hospital in late June  about a week after the funeral for her husband, who died from liver cancer.

Around 10 a.m. Monday, the widow's oxygen levels fell dangerously. Varon decided that she needed to be placed on a ventilator. Like many doctors, he has tried to use alternatives to ventilators because of the relatively low survival rate of people on the machines.

When the ventilator failed to restore her oxygen levels, medical staff ran to bring a second one just in case there was a problem with the first. Varon also ordered shocks to her chest and injections of epinephrine, a hormone that stimulates the heart.

Every effort that you can imagine, everything that has been written, we did, and yet we were unsuccessful, he said later. The problem is with COVID, thats what were seeing.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. But it can cause severe symptoms in and be fatal for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.

Next door to the widow was LaTanya Robinson, who was breathing with a machine providing high-flow oxygen through her nose and could see hospital staff running into the widow's room as they tried to save her. Monday was the first day Robinson felt well enough to have a conversation about her illness.

The 51-year-old says she cared for her adult son when he got the virus. Both she and her husband eventually caught it. While her son and husbands symptoms were relatively mild, she went from feeling tired and struggling to move to hardly being able to breathe.

Robinson says she was held in an urgent-care center for two days before being moved to United Memorial because the first available hospital beds were in Corpus Christi and Lufkin, cities at least a two-hour drive away.

Texas leaders say there are still 12,000 available hospital beds statewide  about 23% of total beds. But Robinsons case shows that even if the sprawling state still has spare capacity, that may not accommodate people in cities where the virus is surging.

Robinsons son had recently spent time outside the house and his girlfriend had gone out with friends. She thinks one of them may have originally gotten the virus and infected her, but isnt certain.

Asked what she would tell people outside the hospital about the virus, she said: "The only thing I can do is to live to be that example for them. You dont take anything for granted.

United Memorial, already near capacity, could soon be filled, Varon says, as he braces to see what Fourth of July celebrations might bring. Some people gathered for the holiday even as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instituted new restrictions on outdoor get-togethers and required mask-wearing indoors.

After Varon's team did three rounds of compressions on the widow, he stopped them. Thank you, everybody, he said. The 10 people around the bed filed out of the room, one of them sighing. The machines around her continued to beep.

A few people worked to prepare her body for the undertaker and placed a sheet over her.

Varon called the widow's daughter, expressing condolences first in Spanish, then English. He repeated that he had done everything he could and to call if there was anything she needed.

When he hung up the phone, his bluish gray eyes were filled with tears.

Thats the one thing you dont want to do when youre a doctor, he said. But you've got to do it. Somebody has to do it.
Photo credit: Unsplash

From Red Online

At 37 weeks pregnant, Arina* doesnt leave her Kiev apartment often. The pandemic ricocheting around the globe means the 28-year-old surrogate can't ride the now-closed subway or tram to the city centre. To pass the time, she sticks to a daily routine of morning calisthenics, porridge, and TV in the three-bedroom apartment she shares with two other surrogates.

Stranded on the 25th floor, in a white wallpapered apartment, facing another row of grey apartments, Arina leaves only to take short walks through the neighbourhood or to sneak in an occasional ice cream run to the local supermarket.

The Ukrainian mother of two hasnt seen her own children since early March. Two months ahead of her due date, Lotus, the Israel-registered surrogacy company that matched Arina with a foreign couple, wanted her to see their appointed doctor and to monitor the second-time surrogates baby closely.

Just as the coronavirus seeped across Europe, Arina left her 4-year-old and 7-year-old daughters at home with her partner in Melitopol, 400 miles southeast of the capital, and took a 12-hour overnight train to the Pozniaky neighbourhood on the Dnieper River.

She writes fairy tales for her girls, though she doesnt speak to them often. It makes all of them sad to be so far apart for such an uncertain amount of time. Now in the last days of her pregnancy, she feels trapped, confined to the small world of her apartment. She doesnt have the energy to make up happy endings.

'I want to feel some positive emotions but there are none,' she says.

While statistics arent official, its estimated that in 2019, hundreds of babies were born in Ukraine each month through large surrogacy agencies, according to a representative from the Medical and Reproductive Law Centre in Kiev.

This year, as the country suffers COVID-19-related restrictions and remains locked down, there are likely, again, hundreds of babies being born to surrogates. Parents from France, Australia, China, Spain, the United States, and Israel are trying to get to Ukraine or are stranded in the country with their newborns.

Story continues

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Since countries across Asia banned surrogacy in 2015, citing exploitation of the system by foreign couples and abuse by agencies, Ukraines industry has thrived. Most European Union countries ban commercial surrogacy, though legislation and reasoning vary by country. In Germany and France, for example, surrogacy is seen as disregarding the dignity of women.

But surrogacy has become popular in Ukraineboth for foreign women who want children of their own at a lower cost than in the United States and for local women who are drawn to the work by promises of payments more than three times Ukraines average salary. Arina made around $300 a month as a taxi caller and by selling clothes online; once the baby is born, she will receive a $15,000 payment from the parents, an amount of money she needs to support her family now more than ever. Since the start of coronavirus-related stay-at-home orders, more than a million Ukrainians have lost their jobs, according to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The money will allow her to buy a home for her family and find a sense of economic stability.

Twelve days after Arina made the temporary move to Kiev, Ukraine closed its borders to foreigners. The babys French mother isnt sure she will make it to meet her child when he enters the world this month. Lotus, the surrogacy agency Arina works with, did not respond to repeated requests for comment about the procedures in place for babies whose parents wont be able to meet them at birth.

However, another Ukraine-based surrogacy agency BioTexCom, one of the largest in the country, connected Marie Claire with nannies currently taking care of 62 babies (and counting) at the Hotel Venice on the outskirts of Kiev. BioTexCom has owned and operated the hotel since 2016. There, BioTexComemployed nannies like Olha Kuts watch over parents and babies, teaching families how to bathe, feed, and change their newborns. Before the pandemic, parents would spend time with their newborns at the hotel, sometimes leaving them with nannies for short breaks. Now, under new company protocols input as the coronavirus spread to Ukraine, Kutss job has taken on an exhausting, new dimension. She doesnt leave the hotel, eating and sleeping there between long hours spent minding babies whose parents are countries away.

'Babies are here around the clock,' says Kuts, 34, part of a team of nurses watching more than two dozen children born to parents from France, Germany, China, Spain, and Romania, among other countries. When the nannies do get time off, they are fully isolated from the outside world. After overnight shifts, Kuts, who has worked with the company for two-and-a-half years, is granted a three-hour nap. Then, she must return to work. Theres too much work to be done, her manager tells her. It was unclear if she was being monitored by a company agent as she spoke with Marie Claire.

The company posted promotional pictures to its website, even advertising that they have reduced the fee for child care from 50 Euros to 25. In one photo, seven nurses pose behind 14 clear, plastic cribs lined up in three rows with babies wrapped in lime green, blue, and pink blankets. In another, a happy-looking nurse poses for the camera, holding a pair babies in her arms. In each picture, the nurses wear light blue masks and dark blue gloves.



Sophie Parkinson, the 30-year-old mother to the baby Arina carries, has, like many intended parents, been searching the web for any information on what happens to babies born via surrogate during this lockdown. She found the photos BioTexCom has put out but cant bear to look at them. Shes heard theres a video, too, of nannies cradling newborns, cooing to them to sleep. Parkinson had come to terms with her own infertility after years of trying to have a baby. She was just weeks away from holding her own.

'To see newborn babies waiting in cribs for their parents to pick them up because they are not here was too hard. I dont want to look at that,' she says via phone from Cormeilles, a small town in Normandy.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

She flew from Brisbane, Australia, to France, where she has family, trying to get to Kiev in time. But everything happened too quickly: Ukraine closed its borders. Her days are filled with phone calls, texts, and emails, strategising ways to make it to Ukraine in time for the birth. 'I am trying to reach out to French embassies, the Ukrainian embassy in France, the French government, other French intended parents, so that we can build a case, and find out what we have to do. So that we can get authorised to get to Kiev,' she says.

In the time of coronavirus, dozens of families are in the same predicament, says fertility lawyer Natalie Gamble at NGA Law. As coronavirus began to spread, she told Marie Claire: 'In a few weeks there might be children born whose parents wont be able to get to Ukraine because of the travel restrictions.'



Arina has been staying in touch with Parkinson, telling her she needs help, that she needs help giving birth and cant do it alone. The two women text daily via Viber. Lotus allows contact between surrogates and parents, though many agencies do not. 'Everybody is very scared. The uncertainty is very hard for our emotional state,' says Parkinson. 'We are trying to avoid the baby to be looked after by a nanny for a few weeks or months.'

Though BioTexCom paints a rosy picture, many surrogacy agencies have dubious reputations in the country, says Sergii Antonov, the director and founder of the Centre for Medical and Reproductive Law Centre in Kiev. While a number of agencies do operate under fair conditions for both mothers and surrogates, some, like BioTexCom, for example, are involved in a number of scandals, he adds. It is one of the most notorious surrogacy agencies. In an interview posted to BioTexComs website, the owner, Albert Tochilovsky, even admitted that he has been 'accused of trafficking thousands of Ukrainian babies abroad.' (Tochilovsky says 'the children have a genetic kinship with their foreign parents.')

'There isnt that kind of external regulation to make sure that things are being done properly,' exacerbating an already rickety process in times of uncertainty, like a global pandemic, suggests Gamble. Additionally, there are no Ukrainian laws protecting the rights of a surrogate, Antonov says, only the contract. 'The contracts do not always ensure the balance of interests of all participants,' he says.

Like Arina, Olena, who would not provide her last name, came to Kiev two months before her due date, as recommended by BioTexCom. She gave birth in March. As of our interview in April, the Spanish couple she carried the baby for have not been able to meet their child. With the parents arrival uncertain, a nanny with BioTexCom has been taking care of the baby.

When we last spoke with Olena, she had not yet been paid. The 34-year-old has chosen to stay in Kiev, more than a hundred miles from her family, paying for an apartment out of her own pocket, waiting for her payment and to sign documents to signal the end of the process. Olena, connected to Marie Claire through BioTexCom, did not voice any worries about when she might receive payment, saying, 'I completely trust the clinic, and if they said it will be this way, it will be this way'.

Photo credit: Courtesy

Another Spanish couple, Gema Garcia, 45, and Jose Antonio Sanchez, 39, made it into Ukraine for their childs birth a week before the borders closed.

Garcia tried for seven years to get pregnant, once giving birth prematurely at 20 weeks to a baby who did not survive. Adoption is complicated, her partner adds in; surrogacy seemed the best option. They began the process in 2018 with a company called SurroBaby. Neither one could have imagined that two years later, they would be sitting in a rented apartment in Kiev with a new baby, afraid to leave their temporary home.

'We are in a foreign country, we dont speak the language,' says Garcia. 'This is a worldwide health crisis. We cannot leave the home here in Kiev. We are afraid that something will happen to us or to our daughter.'

Recent changes to surrogacy laws in Spain have made the process even more challenging. Parents must obtain Ukrainian citizenship for newborns before returning to Spain, says Sanchez. As he spoke, he turned the phone camera to show a baby girl sleeping in her crib next to him.

Two months after their daughters birth, after they were told passport service centres were working in a limited mode and that the new parents would not be able to obtain a passport for their child, the couple finally received the document and returned to Spain in early May. 'We [were] counting the seconds until we [could] go home with our daughter,' the relieved father says.

Only a few weeks before Arinas due date, the surrogate worries how pandemic protocols will impact her birth plan and what comes next. During her last pregnancy, the hardest part of her final weeks was the challenge of rolling out of bed with her expanding belly. With this pregnancy, coronavirus has left her in a constant state of distress but not all of it is for herself.

'I dont want him to stay in the maternity clinic alone for a long time,' Arina says. After all, shes only human, she adds. 'I worry about the baby because its not his fault.'

*Name has been changed to protect subject's privacy.

Daniela Prugger and Oksana Parafeniuk are contributing reporters based in Kiev, Ukraine, with The Fuller Project, a nonprofit journalism organisation that reports on global issues impacting women. Khushbu Shah also contributed to this piece.

This article originally appeared as part of a partnership between Marie Claire and The Fuller Project.



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My synagogue decided some weeks ago that for reasons of health and safety, our Days of Awe this year will be streamed / Zoom-based, rather than in person. Ever since then, I've known that I would need to adapt Days of Awe, the machzor / high holiday prayerbook that we use at my shul and that I shared for public adaptation & use some years ago, into a set of slide decks designed for screenshare over Zoom.

I've been leading Zoom davenen since the pandemic began, and over those months I've changed what I do and how I do it. I've learned a lot about what works for me and for my community -- best practices, how best to share materials, and more. I knew that my work this summer would be taking what I've learned there, and applying it to preparations for a High Holiday season like no other we've known.

I know I'm not alone in needing slides like this. So I talked to my hevre at Bayit: Building Jewish, about sharing an editable set of machzor slide decks in return for a (tax-deductible) donation to Bayit. Our mission is to create, curate, and share meaningful tools for "building Jewish." In this pandemic time, when we're all confined to home, a set of machzor slide decks definitely feels like it fits that bill.

(Also, people often ask how they can support the work that for years I've put out into the world for free. Thank God, I have a job and I don't need to ask for your donations for my own support. Instead, I'd rather have folks donate in support of Bayit, the nonprofit that I co-founded. Your support will help us bring more relevant, meaningful, "pray-tested" tools and ideas and practices into the world.)

This is the first slide in the first slide deck...

Enter Holy at Home, a set of six slide decks: 1) erev Rosh Hashanah (interweaving ma'ariv / the evening service with the Sefardic custom of a seder for Rosh Hashanah), 2) Rosh Hashanah morning, 3) Kol Nidre, 4) Yom Kippur morning with Yizkor, 5) Yom Kippur afternoon (avodah and mincha), and 6) Ne'ilah. All are editable, so each community can customize in ways that will meet their needs.

Much of whats in these six slide decks comes from Days of Awe. If you've been using Days of Awe, you'll recognize a lot of what's here -- Hebrew and English, readings and prayers, tradition and creative riffs on tradition, poetry and artwork, translations and transliterations. That said, the original material from Days of Awe has also been adapted and improved for these slide decks in a variety of ways:

Weve made many typo fixes; Every word of Hebrew is now transliterated and translated (more on that below); There are full-color images adorning most slides, because that's possible via slides in a way it was not possible in print; Ive steered away from prayer variations or settings that are rounds, or that work primarily because of harmony (given that it's not possible to sing simultaneously over Zoom); And there are also a lot of new things added to these slide decks -- new prayers, new poems, new illustrations, new approaches to haftarah -- that arent in the book.

When Bayit released our volume for the mourner's path, Beside Still Waters, we committed to the promise that there will be full translations and transliterations in everything Bayit puts out. Unlike Beside Still Waters, which took a few years to bring to fruition, these slides were created by me during a global pandemic and I can't promise that I caught every extra space or typo... but I did my level best.

The slide decks streamline whats in Days of Awe in many ways. The printed volume is rich with additional poems and readings, on the theory that someone who isn't engaged by prayer services might find meaning in thumbing through the pages and running across poems or meditations that speak to them. That doesn't work for a slideshare, where everyone sees the same screen at the same time.

In other ways, the slides remain expansive, offering multiple choices to those who lead prayer. For some prayers, there are multiple options -- e.g. three versions of Ahavat Olam, two variations on the Amidah, three versions of Aleinu. The idea is that once someone donates to receive a download link for the slide decks, they can copy the slide decks, choose which option they want to use, and delete the other slides.

If this interests you or would be useful to you in your High Holiday preparations, let me know? We're proofreading the slides now, and our hope is to release them sometime next week so that everyone (else) who is (also) planning their Days of Awe now can get the slides, begin imagining how to work with them, begin adapting them as necessary, etc. For now... back to proofreading!
The coronavirus pandemic made adjustments to the Karabakh conflict negotiation process. Contact groups, as well as diplomats, hold video conferences. On June 30, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov held a video conference with the participation of mediators from the United States, France and Russia. However, they only exchanged recommendations. The video conference lasted about an hour, which is not really productive, since in the history of the Karabakh peace process there were talks which lasted many hours and many days.

What did Mnatsakanyan and Mamedyarov say to each other? Azerbaijan once again recalled Armenia's illegal activities in the territory of occupied Karabakh and the need to comply with international agreements on the de-occupation of the territory of the former Karabakh autonomy and seven surrounding areas. For some reason, the Armenian side described Azerbaijans rhetoric as warlike, reading out a traditional set of theses. Armenian diplomacy traditionally refers to Azerbaijan's military doctrine, defining it as the main threat to the security of the negotiation process.

It was not worth it to expect a breakthrough from such unusual talks. It is much more interesting to look at what happened after the video conference during Mnatsakanyans working visit to occupied Karabakh on July 4. According to the Armenian foreign minister's statement, Yerevan still tries to ensure the participation of the self-proclaimed regime in the Karabakh talks, although the format of the negotiations has been repeatedly approved and does not imply the participation of the unrecognized "NKR".

During the video conference, this issue was not discussed. However, this does not prevent Zohrab Mnatsakanyan from assuring the public of the unrecognized "NKR" of the need to involve the "new" Karabakh authorities in the peace process. The position of the top Armenian diplomat fully repeats Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statements made in the summer of 2018. It seems that Armenian diplomats have nothing to add with the exception of words about effective cooperation between Armenian and so-called Karabakh diplomacy over the past two years.

What is the effectiveness of cooperation between Armenia's Foreign Ministry and the "NKR Foreign Ministry"? The self-proclaimed "diplomatic agency" does not bear any international obligations. International practice does not allow diplomats of unrecognized entities to participate in interstate agreements. The de facto "NKR Foreign Ministry" exists in a space of complete irresponsibility, since an unrecognized state does not have partners who would raise the question of responsibility in case of violation of international law. The activities of the unrecognized republic's so-called Foreign Ministry can be reduced to consultative work, as well as diaspora politics, which in no way affects the speedy settlement of the Karabakh conflict. On the other hand, the presence of a rudimentary diplomatic service allows the Armenian Foreign Ministry to appear before the public as an advocate of the fundamental issue of the participation of the separatist leadership, despite the fact that this is obviously not feasible.

However, if we consider the Karabakh conflict situation in terms of slowing down the negotiation process, then the Armenian Foreign Ministry copes with its task. Although it is not clear what the Armenian side is striving for, since the issue of restoring territorial integrity is a matter of state importance for Azerbaijan, and nothing can change the priorities of Azerbaijani foreign policy. As for international institutions, the likelihood that the United Nations will revise its fundamental principles in order to recognize the occupation is unlikely. Thus, in terms of the conflict settlement, delaying the peace process is pointless.

At the same time, the threat of the novel coronavirus infection spreading in Karabakh may hinder the negotiation process. Perhaps Yerevan will try to take advantage of the situation by manipulating information about the epidemiological situation, since only the Armenian side knows real data. Therefore, it was proposed to postpone the discussion of possible meetings, as well as the co-chairs' visit to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh for an indefinite date.
Israel is widely believed to be a member of the nuclear powers club. The country does not comment on the information about its nuclear weapons, but according to some experts, it possesses nuclear warheads of its own design since the late 1960s. The country will likely not declare itself a nuclear power any time soon; ambiguity over ownership of nukes has served the country very well.

In a private email leaked to the public in September of 2016, former secretary of state and retired U.S. Army general Colin Powell alluded to Israel having an arsenal of 200 nuclear weapons, The National Interest writes in the article The Not-So-Secret Nuclear Weapons of Israel. While this number appears to be an exaggeration, there is no doubt that Israel does have a small but powerful nuclear stockpile, spread out among its armed forces. Israeli nuclear weapons guard against everything from defeat in conventional warfare to serving to deter hostile states from launching nuclear, chemical and biological warfare attacks against the tiny country. Regardless, the goal is the same: to prevent the destruction of the Jewish state.

David Ben-Gurion was reportedly obsessed with developing the bomb as insurance against Israels enemies. Although an ambitious goal for such a small, initially impoverished country, Israel did not have any security guarantees with larger, more powerful statesparticularly the United States. The country was on its own, even buying conventional weapons off the black market to arm the new Israeli Defense Forces. Nuclear weapons would be the ultimate form of insurance for a people that had suffered persecution but now had the means to control their own destiny.

Ben-Gurion instructed his science adviser, Ernst David Bergmann, to direct Israels clandestine nuclear effort and set up and chair the Israel Atomic Energy Commission. Shimon Peres, who later went on to serve as president and prime minister of Israel, cultivated contacts with a sympathetic France that resulted in the latter agreeing to supply a large, heavy water nuclear reactor and an underground plutonium reprocessing plant, which would turn spent reactor fuel into the key ingredient for nuclear weapons. The reactor was built at Dimona in the Negev desert.

By the late 1960s the United States assessed Israeli nukes as probable, and U.S. efforts to slow the nuclear program and get Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty went nowhere. Finally in September 1969, Nixon and Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir reportedly reached a secret agreement that the United States would cease its demand for inspections and Israeli compliance with antiproliferation efforts, and in return Israel would not declare or test its nuclear weapons.

Israel didnt have long to wait for its first nuclear crisis. The 1973 Yom Kippur War saw Arab armies achieve strategic surprise, sending Israeli ground forces reeling in both in the Sinai desert and the Golan Heights. Israeli nuclear weapons were placed on alert and loaded onto Jericho I surface-to-surface missiles and F-4 Phantoms. Determined Israeli counteroffensives were able to turn the situation on both fronts around, and the weapons were not ultimately used.

Not much is known about early Israeli weapons, particularly their yield and the size of the stockpile. The strategic situation, in which Israel was outnumbered in conventional weapons but had no nuclear adversaries, meant Israel likely had smaller tactical nuclear weapons to destroy masses of attacking Arab tanks, military bases and military airfields. Still, the relatively short ranges between Israel and its neighbors meant that the Jericho missile, with only a three-hundred-mile range, could still hit Cairo and Damascus from the Negev desert.

Israel does not confirm nor deny having nuclear weapons. Experts generally assess the country as currently having approximately eighty nuclear weapons, fewer than countries such as France, China and the United Kingdom, but still a sizeable number considering its adversaries have none. These weapons are spread out among Israels version of a nuclear triad of land-, air- and sea-based forces scattered in a way that they deter surprise nuclear attack.

Israels first nuclear weapons were likely gravity bombs delivered by fighter aircraft. The F-4 Phantom is thought to be the first delivery system; as a large, twin-engine robust fighter, the Phantom was probably the first aircraft in the Israeli Air Force capable of carrying a first generation nuclear device. A new, smaller generation of nuclear gravity bombs likely equips F-15I and F-16I fighters. While some might argue a gravity bomb is obsolete in light of Israeli advances in missile technology, a manned aircraft allows a nuclear strike to be recalled right up to the last minute.

Israels first land-based nuclear weapons were based on Jericho I missiles developed in cooperation with France. Jericho I is believed to have been retired, replaced by Jericho II and -III ballistic missiles. Jericho II has a range of 932 miles, while Jericho III, designed to hold Iran and other distant states at risk, has a range of at least 3,106 miles. The total number of Israeli ballistic missiles is unknown, but estimated by experts to number at least two dozen.

Like other nuclear-armed nations, the Israeli Navy has reportedly deployed nukes to what is generally agreed to as the most survivable seagoing platform: submarines. Israel has five German-built Dolphin-class submarines, which experts believe are equipped with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. The cruise missiles are reportedly based off the Popeye air-to-ground missile or the Gabriel antiship missile. This ensures a so-called second-strike capabilityas long as one submarine is on patrol, some portion of Israels nuclear deterrent remains invulnerable to a nuclear first strike, guaranteeing the ability to launch a nuclear counterattack.

The establishment of a nuclear triad demonstrates how seriously Israel takes the idea of nuclear deterrence. The country will likely not declare itself a nuclear power any time soon; ambiguity over ownership of nukes has served the country very well. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and general instability across the Middle East has ensured that Israel will likely remain the only nuclear-armed state in the region for the foreseeable future, but a collapse of the agreement or some new nuclear program could easily change that. In the meantime, Israels ultimate insurance policy isnt going anywhere.
The eurozone economy will sink deeper into recession than previously thought due to the effects of the pandemic, the European Commission (EC) has said, BBC writes in the article Eurozone recession 'will be deeper than forecast'. The bloc will contract a record 8.7% this year before growing 6.1% in 2021. It compares with the EC's May forecast of a 7.7% slump and 6.3% growth. France, Italy and Spain will struggle the most, the EC said. Its revised forecast comes amid concerns about the US economy after a surge in infections. This has prompted several states to delay or reverse lifting restrictions.

Commission Valdis Dombrovskis said in a statement: "The economic impact of the lockdown is more severe than we initially expected. "We continue to navigate in stormy waters and face many risks, including another major wave of infections." The Commission revised its previous forecasts because lifting coronavirus lockdown measures in eurozone countries was taking longer than it had initially thought. Earlier growth forecasts for France, Italy and Spain were cut after they were hit hard by the pandemic, and the EC now expects downturns higher than 10% this year in each nation. By contrast, Germany, which had fewer Covid-19 deaths, will have a 6.3% contraction, less pronounced than May's forecast of 6.5%.

Economic drag

The EC's latest forecast assumes there won't be a second wave of infections leading to renewed lockdown restrictions. However, it does assume that social distancing measures persist, and that monetary and fiscal policy measures support the recovery. The main risks include a potential wave of new infections, more permanent scars from the crisis, including unemployment and corporate insolvencies, and the absence of an EU-UK Brexit trade deal.

It said that a failure to agree a Brexit trade deal could result in lower growth, especially for the UK. "At the global level, the still rising rate of infections, particularly in the US and emerging markets, has deteriorated the global outlook and is expected to act as a drag on the European economy," the report added.

Although the US has put in place "bold" fiscal and monetary policies, it said, "the increasing rate of new US infections is expected to weigh on consumer and business confidence".

Some reopening plans have been put on hold and restrictions placed on the bars, restaurants and other hospitality industry companies that helped the US economy add 4.8 million jobs in June.
Violation of Russias territorial integrity could be punishable by between six and ten years in prison, according to a draft law submitted to the government, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov said on Wednesday.



The bill was drawn up in order to confirm new provisions of the Russian Constitution, which outlaw any steps aimed at the alienation of Russian territories. The document was submitted to the government for approval to be later considered by the lower house of parliament, the State Duma.



"Since the Constitution confirms a direct ban on the alienation of parts of Russian territory or carrying out any other steps aimed at violating territorial integrity, there is a proposal to add new article 280.2 to the Russian Criminal Code, "Violation of Russias territorial integrity." The proposed penalty is a prison term of between six and ten years," Krasheninnikov was quoted by the cabinets press service as saying.



The lawmaker noted that "amid the events happening in the world and the existing global threats" it is vital to ensure inviolability of Russian state borders, TASS reported.

"The amendments to the key law confirm the principle of protecting Russias sovereignty and territorial integrity. The proposed bills will ensure the implementation of new constitutional provisions, as well as justifiably and proportionately distinguish administrative and criminal liability for public calls for carrying out actions aimed at violating our countrys territorial integrity," Krasheninnikov stressed.

Calls for breaching Russia's territorial integrity may be punished by a fine of up to 300,000 rubles ($4,128).
China is ready to participate in trilateral arms control negotiations with the United States and Russia, but only if the United States were willing to reduce its nuclear arsenal to Chinas level, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Wednesday.



Washington has repeatedly called for China to join in trilateral negotiations to extend New START, a flagship nuclear arms treaty between the United States and Russia that is due to expire in February next year.



Fu Cong, head of the arms control department of Chinese foreign ministry, reiterated to reporters in Beijing that China has no interest in joining the negotiation with former Cold War-era superpowers, given that the U.S. nuclear arsenal is about 20 times the size of Chinas.



"I can assure you, if the U.S. says that they are ready to come down to the Chinese level, China would be happy to participate the next day. But actually, we know thats not going to happen," Reuters cited the diplomat as saying.



Fu asserted that for the United States, asking China to participate in trilateral negotiations is "nothing but a ploy to divert attention" and an excuse for the United States to walk away from the New START extension.



"The real purpose is to get rid of all restrictions and have a free hand in seeking military superiority over any adversary, real or imagined," said Fu.

Fu maintained China is not shying away from the international nuclear disarmament process and is prepared to discuss within the framework of the United Nations Security Councils five permanent members all issues related to the reduction of nuclear risks.

Russia has not asked China to join, it is the US who did it, the diplomat added.

US Presidential Special Envoy Marshall Billingsley said in May that Russia must persuade the Chinese to join talks on the extension of the Treaty on strategic offensive arms (start), calling it a condition for extending the U.S.-Russian Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Later he added that a new agreement must include all nuclear weapons and not just strategic nuclear weapons.
The work of the Kremlin pool of journalists is organized in a way to prevent violations of the law on state secrets, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on the case of national space agency advisor Ivan Safronov, who used to be part of the pool and has recently been detained on suspicion of high treason, TASS reports.

"As for the presidential pool, the work is organized in a way to prevent violations of the law on state secrets," he noted.

When asked if the case raised questions as to the agencies that checked reporters before including them in the Kremlin pool, Peskov said that "the relevant agencies do their job properly."

The spokesman admitted that if a journalist of the Kremlin pool is recruited by foreign intelligence, he may have an opportunity to collect data. "If he [a journalist] is recruited by NATO special services, of course this cannot be ruled out," Peskov said answering a question if a journalist of the Kremlin pool could obtain sensitive information, talk to high-ranking officials, make certain conclusions and hand them over to special services.

"Actually, we contacted with [Ivan] Safronov as a very talented journalist and we highly appreciate his journalistic talent," Peskov said.

However, the Kremlin spokesman noted: "You and I dont know those accusations voiced against him," adding that the court had familiarized itself with these accusations and would consider them.

He pointed out that a court ruling in Safronovs case was yet to be made.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday dismissed the report from the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria that accused Russia and Damascus of war crimes in Idlib, Sputnik reports.

The report was published on Tuesday at the behest of the UN Human Rights Council and claimed that in addition to a slew of rights abuses perpetrated by terrorist organizations on the ground, civilian facilities in Idlib were also subjected to airstrikes by Syrian government forces and Russian forces in the country.

According to Lavrov, the commission is one of many biased organizations that were formed by western powers that are opposed to the Syrian government.

"The commission was not established by consensus, its mandate raises many questions, as do its working methods. The decision to establish the commission was pushed, first of all, by western countries that have taken the course of regime change in Syria, they do not hide it, and by voting in the UN Human Rights Council a mechanism was formed with the stated purpose - to seek dirt on Damascus and on those whom they call allies of Damascus," Lavrov said.

Speaking to reporters following a virtual meeting with his counterparts from the African Union troika of Egypt, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lavrov said that the commission never visited Idlib.

"This commission has never been to Idlib, just as many structures from the western NGOs, in order to collect data that would somehow denigrate the actions of the Syrian government," Lavrov said.

Idlib is the last Syrian region beyond the government's control and has become a melting pot of all remaining anti-government groups, including those designated as terrorist groups. The region is primarily administered by the Turkish military.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeals for unity and solidarity within the European Union to tackle the coronavirus pandemic as she presents her country's European Council presidency plans, Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking to the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, Merkel called for support for the disputed EU-wide economic recovery package.

"I believe in Europe. I am convinced by Europe," she said. "No one can make it through this crisis alone. We are all vulnerable."

Merkel also spoke about the United Kingdom's exit from the EU.

Germany will continue to push to seal a new partnership agreement with the UK by the end of the year, but the EU should prepare for an abrupt split of ties from 2021, she said.

"Progress in negotiations thus far has been slim, to put it diplomatically," Merkel told the European Parliament.

"We have agreed with the UK to accelerate the pace of the talks ... I will continue to push for a good solution, but we should also prepare for a possibility of a no-deal scenario."
Moscows Lefortovo court on Tuesday ruled to place in pretrial custody Ivan Safronov, a senior official with Russias state-run space corporation Roscosmos, who is suspected of high treason.



"The investigators motion is granted. Custody for the period of one month and 30 days is chosen as a measure of pretrial restraint for Safronov," Judge Sergei Ryabtsev announced.



Safronovs lawyer Oleg Yeliseyev said the defense team would appeal the decision, TASS reported.



A law enforcement source said that Safronov would be taken to Moscows Lefortovo detention facility, where he will be placed in quarantine upon arrival.



Safronov, a media adviser to Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin, pleaded not guilty in the court. According to a TASS source, he refused to testify during questioning.



The FSB public relations service informed that Safronov is suspected of communicating confidential state secrets to a representative of one of NATOs intelligence services and was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agents. Prosecution launched criminal proceedings on the count of state treason against Safronov, who is now facing 20 years behind bars. The FSB added that the investigation continues. Earlier, Roscosmos informed that Safronov had been arrested but underlined that the arrest is not linked to his current duties as Roscosmos advisor.



"Safronovs case is about providing the Czech Republics special services with military and technical information about Russias arms deliveries to Middle East and Africa back in 2017," lawyer Oleg Yeliseyev said.



According to case materials, read out by Yeliseyev, Safronov "committed those actions for reasons of personal gain."



Another lawyer, Ivan Pavlov, said that "Roscosmos is mentioned in case materials only as his [Safronov's] present-day place of work." "The investigator said the case does not concern Safronovs journalistic activities," he added.



He also said the United States "is mentioned in materials of the case as a country that received classified information via Czech special services."



"Special services kept an eye on Safronov for quite a while. According to the investigation, Safronov was recruited by Czech special services in 2012 and fulfilled their assignment in 2017," the lawyer said.



In turn, lawyer Sergei Malyukin said investigators had submitted to the judge what is believed to be the suspects correspondence with Czech special services, but defense lawyers so far had no chance to study its contents.



A source familiar with the materials of the case said the case file contains "an experts statement, which confirms that Safronov had divulged state secrets."
Russia and Germany are mulling over the possibility of producing a Russian vaccine against COVID-19 in Germany, the Russian Health Ministry informed on the outcomes of the meeting between Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko and German Ambassador to Russia Geza Andreas von Geyr, TASS reports.

"During the meeting, they have discussed the prospects of further cooperation, namely the use of Germanys production capacity to produce a Russian coronavirus vaccine," the message says.

In late December 2019, Chinese officials notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia.

On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. According to the latest statistics, over 11,965,900 people have been infected worldwide and more than 547,000 deaths have been reported. In addition, so far, over 6,913,000 individuals have recovered from the illness across the globe.
A bomb attack by the Kurdish YPG militia killed 6 people and wounded 11 on Tuesday in the northeastern Syrian town of Tel Abyad, near the Turkish border, the Turkish Defence Ministry said.



The Arab town, from which Turkish-backed forces last October pushed out the YPG militia in a major campaign spearheaded by the Turkish army, has seen a series of car blasts that have killed dozens of civilians.



The attack was carried out with a car bomb and wounded civilians were treated in hospitals on both sides of the border, according to a statement by the governor's office in Turkey's southeastern province of Sanliurfa.



The governor's office said 17 people were wounded in the attack, Reuters reported.
Yanai Hisayuki - Chief administrative officer, Nidec Chaun Choung Vietnam Corporation Ever since 2018 when Nidec laid its first project in Vietnam, we have seen rapid changes in Vietnams economy, but still it is very open and friendly to foreign enterprises. The investment environment in Vietnam has always been appealing, even in the middle of this current pandemic. The Vietnamese government has done an incredible job in protecting the country as well as maintaining economic growth. Japanese investors assess this as a big achievement and appreciate what the Vietnamese government has done. As we have a big investment in a high-technology project in Hoa Lac High-tech Park, our expectations range from receiving the highest incentives under law to having support from the authorities in implementation of the project. We have recorded interruption in the project progress due to the pandemic, hence our expectation is to catch up with the planned progress in order to promote project efficiency and meet global demand. Vietnam has always been an attractive investment environment to the world on the strength of good infrastructure, dynamic market, cheap materials, and cultural diversity. There are, however, still some weaknesses. The first to mention is air pollution, which is a major problem for citizens in Vietnam and particularly in Hanoi. With the rapid growth of many industrial zones across the country, the Vietnamese government should take action to protect the environment, and secure healthy living conditions for both investors and citizens. Secondly, the condition of freeways in Vietnam is still poor and many potholes appear. This also lowers the volume of freight transported, causing a rise in transportation costs for investors. Ywert Visser - Vice chairman, EuroCham Vietnam It is already clear that Hanoi is a national leader when it comes to overseas investment, as it attracted more than $8.4 billion in 2019. Economic growth today here in Hanoi has more than doubled over the past decade, and is not just because it is Vietnams capital  its also a direct result of positive administrative reforms and acted as a magnet for investors. In particular, the rise in digital service associates and business registration tax declarations help to reduce the administrative burden on companies. Hanois strong infrastructure network and good connections to industrial and export zones make it an obvious choice for overseas companies looking to invest in Vietnam. And this will even become more prominent in light of upcoming implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement with a huge favour on taxes, which opens up new chapters for European investment and innovation. In order to continue attracting foreign direct investment now and in the future, our members recommend continuation of development of online resources, specifically for investors from the EU. Aleksandrs Parfjonovs - Head of Vietnam Operations Grindeks JSC There has been positive development in the investment climate in Vietnam, but there is still a lot of work to be done. An online registration platform was launched recently, easing the process of submitting applications for pharmaceutical registration. It is a great incentive, which however needs to be also be implemented efficiently. I represent the Hanoi offices of two pharmaceutical companies, and our main focus is being able to bring high-quality medical products to Vietnamese people within short times frames. We hope, as pharmaceuticals contribute to more than 10 per cent of Vietnamese imports, that this industry will get more support for high-quality EU-branded generics. We are constantly working on increasing our product portfolio in Vietnam, as it is our key market in Southeast Asia, with the highest growth expected. We are planning on significantly increasing our revenues over upcoming years, but in order to do so, we hope there will be more support in the timely review of pharmaceutical applications. VIR
Commercial banks have six months to fulfill procedures to list their shares on the bourse, as requested by the Prime Minister.

Listing shares on the bourse is a must for commercial banks as stipulated in the plan to restructure the stock and insurance markets by 2020.





The strategy on developing the banking sector by 2025 states that commercial banks must fulfill their listing by the end of 2020.



The plans aim to increase the amount of goods for the stock market and improve transparency in banks operation. This also helps protect the benefits of investors and shareholders.



At the annual shareholders meeting held some days ago, SeABanks plan to list shares at the HCM City Stock Exchange (HOSE) in 2020 was approved.



For the time being, SeABank will authorize the board of management to consider and decide the registration to list shares on UpCom if necessary.



OCB is also planning to list shares at HOSE this year. To prepare for this, since 2019, the bank has conducted private offerings to its partners. After negotiations, which lasted many months, OCB signed an agreement on stock sale with the Japanese Aozora Bank.



Though the plan to merge with HDBank remains open, the shareholders of PG Bank decided to approve the plan to put its shares in transactions on UpCom.

The strategy on developing the banking sector by 2025 states that commercial banks must fulfill their listing by the end of 2020. The plans aim to increase the amount of goods for the stock market and improve transparency in banks operation. This also helps protect the benefits of investors and shareholders.

As for Nam A Bank, the board of management said it has submitted a dossier to the Vietnam Securities Depository Center (VSD), following necessary procedures to list shares.

The board of management of the bank is going to submit the plan to list shares at HOSE by December 2020 at the latest, at the shareholders meeting to be held in some days.



Meanwhile, other banks have decided to move their shares to new homes.



ACBs shareholders have approved the plan to move to HOSE in 2020.



This would help increase the value of the share market and bring bigger benefits to shareholders as the VN Index represents the Vietnams stock market and it is used by investment funds as reference when measuring investment efficiency, a senior executive of the bank said.



VIB also plans to move from UpCom to HOSE this year, after it fulfills the capital increase plan with bonus shares.



VIB shares are always among the most wanted shares over the last few years. However, they are absent in the investment portfolios of many large institutions and funds just because they are listed on UpCom. That is why VIB maf such a decision.



SHB has also decided to move from the Hanoi Stock Exchange to HOSE and LienVietPost Bank from UpCom to HOSE.

Kim Chi

Rubber group to move listing to HoSE The Vietnam Rubber Group JSC (GVR) will move four billion of its shares listing on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) to the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE).
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and FTAs have brought more job opportunities to workers but also challenges as Vietnamese workers will have to compete with international staff in the home market.

A study of ILO International Labor Organization) and ADB (Asian Development Bank) found that AEC would help Vietnams GDP grow by 14.5 percent more by 2025 and the number of jobs increase by 10.5 percent.





With EVFTA, the average job demand for skilled workers is expected to increase by 28 percent, while the figures are 23 percent for low skilled workers and 13 percent for highly skilled workers. There would be opportunities to improve millions of lives.



The Institute of Labor Science and Social Affairs predicted that with EVFTA, in 2021-2030, Vietnam would have 18,000-19,000 more jobs a year, mostly in the production and service sector.



In HCM City, according to the Center for Human Resource Forecast and Labor Market Information, in 2020-2025, the city needs 310,000-330,000 jobs each year, including 140,000 new jobs. The worker demand is expected to increase because the city continues to maintain high growth and supports small and medium enterprises, and startups.



The demand for workers in four groups of industries, including electronics - IT, mechanical engineering, chemicals  plastics  rubber, and food and foodstuff processing account for 21 percent.

A report shows that from now to 2025, HCM City will need 12,400-13,200 workers in the healthcare sector a year, 52,700-56,100 workers in technical consultancy, and 12,400-13,200 workers in architecture and construction engineering.

Meanwhile, the demand in nine business and service fields account for 55 percent, and the remaining 24 percent belongs to biotechnology, architecture  construction engineering, textile & garment  footwear, fashion design, communication technology, agricultural technology and seafood processing



In addition, electronics - information technology, services - warehousing, trade, tourism, finance - banking, insurance, architecture, construction and environment also continue to attract human resources.

Staff working in these fields are mostly those with high technical and professional qualifications, intensive training, high level of knowledge and good skills training, and good foreign language skills.



Experts warned that though worker demand is on the rise, it will not be easy to find good jobs.



In the context of 4.0 industry, businesses have to apply high technology and adjust the production process to adapt to the new circumstances. They will need workers with professional and technical qualifications, equipped with many skills.



AEC and EVFTA have created an open labor market in which workers can move freely and seek job opportunities in member countries.

There are eight occupations that can freely move within ASEAN through similar recognition agreements, including accountants, architects, practitioners of medicine, nurses, dentists, technical consultants, surveyors, and jobs in the travel industry.



A report shows that from now to 2025, HCM City will need 12,400-13,200 workers in the healthcare sector a year, 52,700-56,100 workers in technical consultancy, and 12,400-13,200 workers in architecture and construction engineering.

Mai Lan
Rice quotas for Vietnam under the EVFTA are expected to push Vietnams rice exports up from the second half of this year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

browser not support iframe.

Under the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) effective from August 1, the EU pledges to provide an annual rice quota of 80,000 tonnes to Viet Nam and completely liberalise trade in broken rice. After three to five years, tariffs on rice products will be slashed to zero per cent.

Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director of MoITs Import and Export Department, said that in 2019, Viet Nam had a modest value at US$10.7 million from rice exports to the EU because of high import tariffs in this market.

At present, the EUs import tariffs for Vietnamese rice is 175 euros ($198) per tonne of milled rice, 65 euros per tonne of broken rice and 211 euros per tonne of paddy.

"The rice quotas of 80,000 tonnes to Viet Nam according to the commitments in the EVFTA is an opportunity for Viet Nam to enhance its rice exports to this market, which has annual demand of about 2.5 million tonnes of rice," Hai told the Hai quan (Customs) newspaper.

Meanwhile, the EU also sets a range of conditions for those quotas such as origin certificates on Vietnamese rice. The rice exported to EU must have authenticity certificates issued by Vietnamese authorities.

To take advantage, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the MoIT are compiling a draft decree guiding the registration process for certification of rice categories exported to the EU to submit to the Government for approval.

According to this draft, eligible rice varieties exported to the EU must meet Viet Nams technical standards and regulations on quality, region cultivating rice varieties, and processes of harvesting, preserving, grinding, milling and packaging rice.

Pham Thai Binh, general director of the Trung An High-tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company in Can Tho City, said Vietnamese rice reaching those requirements to enter the EU with low tariffs would help Viet Nam increase its rice exports in the future.

"When the tariff for Vietnamese rice is reduced to zero per cent, it gives local rice products more advantages in competing with rice from Cambodia and other countries in the EU market," Binh said.

The agriculture sector expects to significantly increase exports of many key products until 2025 thanks to the EVFTA, such as rice (up 65 per cent), sugar (8 per cent), pork (4 per cent), forest products (3 per cent), and cattle and poultry meat (4 per cent).

However, those products must overcome many trade barriers of the EU, such as technical barriers on origin, product quality and intellectual property protection.

Therefore, experts said that local farmers and businesses in the agriculture sector have to improve production capacity and product quality, find export markets and build brands for agricultural products.

In the long term, strict regulations on quality standards for exported Vietnamese agricultural products, including rice, would force the agriculture sector to undertake comprehensive restructuring in production and business.

According to MARD, Viet Nam earned $1.71 billion from exporting nearly 3.5 million tonnes of rice in the first half of this year, up 17.9 per cent in value and 4.4 per cent in volume year-on-year. In June alone, 409,000 tonnes of rice worth $207 million was shipped abroad.

The Philippines was the top buyer between January and May, importing 1.3 million tonnes of Vietnamese rice worth $598.6 million, or 40 per cent of total rice exports. They were up 23 per cent in volume and 42 per cent in value from a year earlier.

During the first five months, markets to which the value of rice exports enjoyed the strongest year-on-year growth were Senegal (18.3-fold), Indonesia (2.9-fold), and China (2.3-fold).

Meanwhile, rice export prices increased 13 per cent from the same period last year to average $485 per tonne.  VNS

VN's rice exports bounce back after one-month interruption While exports of many products have plunged because of Covid-19, rice exports are growing, with prices of some products reaching an 8-year high.
The northern province of Ninh Binh is not only known as home of the UNESCO-recognised Trang An Tourism Complex but also as the birthplace of a whole host of talented people in the craft trade.

Centuries of fame have come the way of the delicate products created in Van Lam embroidery village.

Located at the entrance to the Tam Coc - Bich Dong Tourism Site in Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, the village has long been a special destination for tourists to the province.

Embroider artisans work in Minh Trang Company's showroom.

Nguyen Van Hoat, chairman of the Ninh Hai Commune Peoples Committee, said there are some 1,200 households with 3,000 people in Van Lam Village, many of whom have maintained its traditional craft.

Children here begin to embroider at the age of seven and villagers of 80 can still hold a needle and thread, he told Viet Nam News. In the past few years many people have switched to offering tourism services to earn a better living but still work with the craft in some way.

Local people say embroidery skills have been handed down through the generations for over 700 years.

During the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400), royal tutor Tran Thu Do (1194-1264) trained his army in the Ninh Binh area and his wife Tran Thi Dung (1193-1259) opened classes for people to learn how to embroider.

Embroidering requires great skills and cares.

Villagers then became specialists in embroidering royal costumes and costumes for rituals.

In 1910, under the French colonial time, brothers Dinh Ngoc Henh and Dinh Ngoc Xoan went to Hanoi to study French embroidery skills and then passed them on to the village folk.

The village's embroidery artisans have created more lace designs inspired by European tastes since then, according to artisan Vu Thi Hong Yen, owner of the Minh Trang Company.

Embroidering skills around holes, which has been learnt from French in early 20th century.

The local embroidery craft has grown into a selection of thousands of different items, including bedsheets, curtains, tablecloths, placemats, and interior decor items.

The village is now home to nine companies and dozens of workshops gathering together 700 households in the craft. Revenue from the trade each year reaches some VND80-90 billion (US$3.4 million-3.8 million).

Chairman Hoat said that Van Lam was now also combining handicrafts with tourism.

You can see it along the road leading to Tam Coc - Bich Dong, where there are dozens of shops offering embroidery of various types, like paintings, clothes, and household items, he said.

Embroidery was recognised by the province as a traditional handicraft in 2006 and in November 2007 the Vietnam Handicraft Villages Association included Van Lam among 12 embroidery trade villages in the country.

Table cloth with embroidery patterns.

Several village elders have earned the title artisan, including Chu Van Luong and Dinh Van Uynh, both of whom are over 80 years of age. Three local companies, meanwhile, have been praised for their services to the industry - Minh Trang, Pataco and An Loc.

Our commune has introduced a policy of moving away from agriculture but not the homeland, Hoat said. Villagers have continued the craft in Van Lam while also offering tourism services.

The province has set aside a large plot of land near Tam Coc - Bich Dong for a handicraft centre, where local people will be able to show off their embroidery skills and products.

Authorities, however, remain unsure of when the centre may open as there are still obstacles to address.

An embroidery painting by artisan Vu Thanh Luan.

Vu Thanh Luan, chairman of the villages Artisans Association, has ten homestay rooms for guests, where they can experience local handicrafts as well as do sightseeing.

They can also try their hand at embroidering and take their creations home.

Maintaining tradition

Ninety per cent of Minh Trang companys products are now for foreign markets.

Our fashion items go to Japan, Australia and the UK, while our silk bedding products are sold in South Korea, France, and Spain, owner Yen said.

A major challenge for the company is that many local people have moved away from tourism and sought jobs in industrial zones.

We must maintain our team of experienced embroiderers and other skilled workers, she explained. If our young people leave, the craft will gradually disappear from our village.

Her company has teamed up with a local vocational centre for several years to hold training classes for people, including the young, in other communes nearby.

The novel coronavirus outbreak, meanwhile, wreaked havoc on the industry, with overseas orders down by half.

We have retained a skeleton staff to work on existing orders while we wait for brighter days, Yen said.

One encouraging sign, however, is that more than a few people have taken up embroidery once again, having lost their jobs in tourism or at industrial zones during the social distancing measures introduced to tackle the pandemic.

The traditional handicraft still has a role to play in our village, she said. It has given us a stable living and come to our rescue during the difficult days of COVID-19.

She hopes the State and local authorities will be able to introduce policies favourable to companies like hers, so that they can continue to provide jobs while maintaining the culture and history of the area and the craft.

Dinh Thi Mai, who was born in the village and now runs a shop selling embroidery in Hang Gai Street in downtown Hanoi, said the artisans of Van Lam picked up techniques from the French but are now far superior in terms of designs.

Many foreign customers place orders at my store and are surprised to receive goods that far exceed their expectations, she said. Im very proud of the people in my homeland.

Embroidery handicraft brings stable income to locals in Van Lam Village. VNS Photos Doan Tung

After more than 20 years in the field, Luan feels fortunate to have been born into a family where a traditional handicraft is handed down.

His companys products are mostly exported to Japan and France.

Not being able to hand down the craft to the young of our village would be a great regret, he said. Our family continued to embroider even during the American bombings of North Vietnam, working under the light of oil lamps.

The villages products are more varied in form and artistic style than similar products from elsewhere, as the people of Van Lam combine traditional Vietnamese skills with French skills to make works of art.

An artisan must have not only a good eye but also experience and passion to create striking products, he said. For example, in an embroidered painting of a rooster, the artisan must know where each coloured thread goes, how to make its feathers look shiny and colourful, and how to make its eyes brighter.

The association, Luan said, is doing what it can to attract young people to the art so the tradition stays alive, like offering training courses, while tourism also represents a way forward. VNS

Le Huong & Ho Hoang

Artworks to be displayed in Ninh Binh An exhibition featuring artworks that resulted from a creativity camp will begin at Tam Coc Centre in Hoa Lu District in the northern province of Ninh Binh today.
So far, Vietnam and the US have conducted more than 4,000 joint investigations, with 1,000 missing military remains being handed over to the US. The two sides are continuing to coordinate in searching for 200,000 Vietnamese martyrs and Vietnamese soldiers missing in the war. In photo: The reception of four US soldiers' remains at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi in the presence of US Secretary of State Warren Christopher, August 5, 1995 (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South Asia and Southeast Asia Amy Searight co-chair the Vietnam-US Defense Dialogue in Hanoi, October 21, 2014 (Photo: VNA)
A deep desire to help poor ethnic Bahnar children motivates Chhoi, a teacher in Blen Village, Lo Pang Commune in the Central Highlands Gia Lai Province, to devote himself to education.

Now 56, he has spent more than 35 years sharing his knowledge with children in Mang Yang District.

OUT OF CLASS: Students at the Alao school point enjoy play-time. VNA/VNS Photos Hong Diep

Despite the fact he is approaching retirement, he remains enthusiastic and willing to overcome any and all hardships to be in the classroom every day and night.

He never tires of supporting his students in their studies, and hopes to help them change their lives with knowledge gained in his lessons.

I am set to retire at 60, Chhoi said. My health is not what it used to be but is not a problem. I will teach until the end of my days.

He began teaching in 1985 and since then has helped many generations of students at Lo Pang Primary School to read and write.

Some of his former students have gone on to become teachers themselves, some giving up better jobs in the city to return home and do as Chhoi has done.

POWER OF PERSUASION: Chhoi (left) must convince the parents of his students to allow them to attend school.

The chief of Blen Village, Thi, was once one of his students and then followed in his footsteps, becoming a teacher at Lo Pang Primary School.

I remember Chhoi was always full of enthusiasm and he passed that on to my friends and I, who are now in the commune to do teaching, he said.

After a long period teaching at the local school, Thi started working in administration and was elected as village chief. One of his main goals is to increase awareness among the villagers about the importance of schooling and to support the provision of education.

Villagers used to only think about whether they had enough food for the day, so disregarded the need to study, he said. They must change their thinking, and Chhoi is helping them look at education differently. Learning how to read and write will take them out of poverty.

Lo Pang Primary School actually has six small facilities called sub-school in different villages around the commune.

The Pyau sub-school - the nearest at 12km from the main school - is where Chhoi taught for ten years from 2000 to 2010.

Getting to the school used to involve a 20-km walk every day along rocky jungle paths. Many teachers preferred to begin their working week on Sunday afternoon, arriving in the village late at night and sleeping in a local home before teaching first thing on Monday morning. On Friday afternoon, after classes had ended, they would head back along the rocky path to spend the weekend with their families.

A road to the sub-school was built in 2010 but it didnt really help because it was on a slope and was easily damaged whenever it rained heavily, Chhoi remembered.

The road was dangerous and riding a motorbike was difficult because it was so muddy.

He fell off many times while riding along the road, but that never stopped him teaching.

Then, finally, a concrete road was built last year and travel has become much easier. The new road has eased the hardship facing teachers, Chhoi said.

Hanh, a Grade 5 student at Lo Pang school, said he liked Chhois lessons as "they open up a new world" to him.

He has helped me realise I can have a bright future and has inspired me with new dreams, he said. For many years he has encouraged my friends and me not to drop out of school. My parents listened to him, and have allowed me to stay in school. I will study as best I can, in tribute to my teacher.

Hanh has dreamed of also following in Chhoi footsteps and becoming a teacher, fulfilling his own desire to teach children in poor villages.

Chhoi also teaches at other sub-schools in Lo Pang Commune.

They all suffer from the same poor conditions Pyau sub-school must cope with, including bad roads and low awareness among the local community about the importance of schooling.

To better teach his students and move up in his career, Chhoi undertook further studies at the Teachers Training College in the provincial capital Pleiku.

Upon finishing, he returned to the commune and began working as teacher at Alao sub-school in Alao Village, where hes been for two years.

The students at Alao all love him, as he comes to all of their homes in the morning, no matter rain or shine, to convince their parents to let them come to school rather than working in the fields, as is the custom in ethnic families.

In the early days of each school year, Chhoi and many of the other teachers go out to the fields to persuade parents to let their children attend school. They are now also supporting the children by providing them with breakfast each day and warm clothing in winter.

This is a good way for the parents to feel okay about letting their children continue to go to school, he said.

The parents of one student said they were happy to let Chhoi take care of their child and had agreed to let him continue his studies.

Vu Thi Hoi, deputy principal at Lo Pang Primary School, greatly appreciates Chhois contribution to educating local children, saying his devotion over more than 35 years sets a glowing example for the other teachers.

Chhoi has overcome many challenges to help eradicate illiteracy in remote and mountainous villages, winning the love and respect of his colleagues and students by doing so, Hoi said.

DAYS OF STUDY: Poor Bahnar minority students learning in the classroom.

Teaching is a noble profession, and teachers in remote areas deserve even more respect. Without teachers like Chhoi, ethnic communities in remote villages could never improve their circumstances.

All of the teachers have helped life in remote parts of Gia Lai Province by spreading knowledge, Hoi added, and the example set by Chhoi encourages younger teachers to do what they can to promote the importance of schooling in the community. VNS

Hong Diep

Teachers, students overcome difficulties to go to school Encouraging children to go to school in some of Vietnams mountainous areas is not easy by any stretch of the imagination.
The cost repairing the runways at the nations two largest international airports, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat, has led to a severe backlog occurring in terms of the flight schedule of both aviation hubs with many flights forced to be canceled.

Severe congestion at Noi Bai international airport (Photo: Zing.vn)

Late June saw the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam announce it had closed two runways for repair at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports, causing long queues of aircraft to form as they were left waiting on the runway to take off.

After the closure of one runway at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, the airport was only able to operate 32 flights per hour, marking a decline of 12 flights compared to normal times. Furthermore, Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi capital was also forced to reduce its operation capacity to 29 flights per hour in comparison to its normal schedule of 32 flights.

In a statement released on July 7, Bamboo Airways noted that repairs to the runways had forced the airline to adjust the flight times of 12 scheduled flights in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City during July, in addition to cancelling six flights on routes between Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc.

Meanwhile, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines also confirmed that it has reduced the number of flight slots it had at Tan Son Nhat due to the closure of a runway for repairs. Many flights operated by Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines have been affected by the disruption, leading to delays in flights at other airports.

A representative of the airline outlined that the on-time flight index (OTP) has seen sharp drops, hovering between 50% and 70%. Indeed, July 3 saw the company's OTP decrease by 36.7% due to runway congestion and poor weather conditions.

Tackling the issue, Transport Minister Nguyen Van The sent a letter expressing sympathy to passengers that have been affected by these incidents.

As a result, all passengers travelling from the airports in the immediate future have been advised to arrive two hours before their scheduled departure times in an effort to avoid delays when conducing check-in procedures.

Both Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports are now operating only one runway each. The repairs are predicted to last until the Lunar New Year festival known as the traditional Tet holiday in Vietnam, as contractors have to work both night and day to keep the new runways in use during the peak period that is the annual Tet holiday. VOV
The InterNations Expat Insider survey has ranked Vietnam as fifth among the leading 10 friendliest destinations for expats worldwide to live.

InterNations, a large network of people who live and work abroad, conducted a survey among 20,259 expats from 187 different countries and territories globally. The survey was based on a range of criteria, including a place being easy to settle down in, a location feeling like home, and making friends easily. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ranking highly, Vietnam finds itself in fifth position in the list, with plenty of expats from the United States and other countries praising the countrys friendliness and the kindness of local people. (Photo: Getty Images)

With Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City both representing two modern and safe destinations, they are good suggestions for tourists who are travelling solo. Here, foreigners participate in a carnival held in Hanoi back in September, 2017. (Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh)

The Middle East nation of Oman tops the list. The vast majority of expats in Oman greatly appreciate the general friendliness among the local population that exists towards foreign residents. After gaining an outstanding general satisfaction rate of 87%, expats seem to be highly content with their life in Oman. (Photo: Getty Images)

Second in the list is the vibrant country of Mexico, with foreigners noting the friendliness of locals, meaning that they never feel alone. (Photo: Getty Images)

The only European country to be named among the rankings is Portugal, which comes in third overall. The sunny country located in South Europe offers an equally warm welcome to its foreign residents, with many respondents noting that they felt at home almost instantly upon arrival. (Photo: Getty Images)

Colombia features in sixth place, just behind Vietnam. While people from South America are generally open, friendly, and willing to help others, residents in Colombia have a particular fondness for sharing their traditional music with international friends. (Photo: Getty Images)

In seventh position is the Philippines. For foreigners, the vast island state has an array of things to discover, including being home to over 7,000 islands, in addition to the warm welcome given by local people. (Photo: The Culture Trip)

Indonesia is in eighth position and is home to a number of wonderful beaches, majestic mountains, and resorts, while also boasting a very low cost of living. (Photo: Medium.com)

In ninth place is the Central American nation of Costa Rica. Many respondents are perfectly happy with their life here, expressing how they feel at home with the local culture. (Photo: Pinterest)

Bahrain ranks tenth in the list, with plenty of expats stating that local people have a friendly attitude towards the countrys foreign residents. (Photo: Magnitt)

VOV
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Vietnam is to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign against diphtheria, starting on July 9, as the contagious disease is evolving in a complex manner in the Central Highlands, with a total of 65 infections, including three deaths.

Taking samples for diphtheria testing in the Central Highlands

The vaccination campaign will be carried out in the four Central Highlands provinces of Dak Nong, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Dak Lak and two high-risk neighbouring provinces of Quang Ngai and Quang Nam, said acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.

Priority will be given to children of all age groups who are most vulnerable to diphtheria infection, according to Long.

The acting minister said the Ministry of Health will quickly dispatch four working teams comprised of experienced specialists to the four affected localities in the Central Highlands to assist with epidemic prevention.

He has assigned Bach Mai hospital and the National Pediatrics Hospital to provide quick training for medical workers in the Central Highlands region.

The Central Highlands region has become the countrys diphtheria hotspot with 65 infections, including three deaths. Dak Nong has so far recorded 25 cases, the highest number among the four affected provinces. It was followed by Kon Tum (23), Gia Lai (16) and Dak Lak (1).

Local authorities have set up check-points to quarantine thousands of residents, however experts feared the number of infections is likely to keep rising in the coming days.

In the rainy season, cold and humid weather is a very good environment for diphtheria to develop, said Dang Thanh, director of the Dak Nong provincial Centre for Diseases Control (CDC).

Thanh said his centre has zoned off and conducted massive screenings to early detect new cases, especially those living in far-flung areas.

In response to the Ministry of Healths request, Central Highlands provinces have mobilized all resources, including personnel, medicines, medical supplies and chemicals, to receive patients and disinfect affected facilities.

Low vaccination rate has been attributed to the diphtheria outbreak in the region. According to the General Department of Preventive Medicine, the diphtheria vaccination rate in the Central Highlands region just hoovers around 48-50%, leaving it susceptible to repeated outbreaks.

Gia Lai records three more diphtheria patients amid outbreak in Central Highlands

Three more diphtheria cases were recorded on Tuesday in a rural village in Gia Lai, bringing the total infections in the mountainous province to 13.

All of the newly discovered cases lived in the ethnic minority village Bong Hiot in Hai Yang Commune, ak oa District.

A four-year-old boy in the district has succumbed to the disease which he reportedly contracted after a visit to the neighbouring province Kon Tum as diphtheria infection outbreak in the Central Highlands rose to 56.

A nine-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy in ak Nong Province have both died of the disease, and both showed heart complications when they were hospitalised.

Gia Lai health department has asked agencies to step up surveillance efforts to monitor the situation in ak oa District, quickly suppress outbreaks in the village, and continue to isolate suspected cases to prevent widespread transmission in the community.

The entire village was put on lockdown, with health workers and local public security personnel setting up checkpoints to watch over all entries or departures. Outsiders can only enter the village in cases of providing food or emergencies but will need to take preventive medicine.

All villagers have taken antibiotics and were examined by doctors. All those with symptoms of coughing and fever will be brought to medical facilities for treatment.

Gia Lai health department has asked the local medical facilities to stock up on medicines and equipment and stand ready to receive patients and provide emergency care for not only diphtheria cases but also other types of infections.

Information campaigns were also ordered to provide correct information to the population and avoid panic.

The provincial health department has asked the Ministry of Health for 100,000 diphtheria vaccine shots to be given to all people in ak oa District. VOV/VNS

Diphtheria claims three lives, 34 test positive in central Vietnam The Ministry of Health has asked Central Highlands provinces to take urgent preventive measures against diphtheria after 34 people have tested positive and three have died of the disease there.
Dengue fever infections could spike nationwide if drastic measures to control the disease are not taken, the Ministry of Health has warned.

Health workers spray chemical to kill mosquitoes in the central province of Binh Thuan.

According to the ministry, since the beginning of this year, dengue fever has been reported in almost all localities in Vietnam.

By the middle of last month, nearly 30,000 dengue cases had been reported in 58 provinces and cities, of which, three people in the provinces of Binh Dinh, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh died of the disease.

Up to this week, 12 provinces and cities across the country, namely Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ben Tre, HCM City and Hanoi, reported new dengue cases weekly.

In the last six months, Hanoi confirmed 634 dengue cases in 28 out of 30 its districts and 198 out of 579 communes/wards.

Hanois major dengue outbreaks are Tam Hiep Commune in Phuc Tho District (182 cases), Khanh Ha Commune in Thuong Tin District (48 cases) and Thanh Thuy Commune in Thanh Oai District (44 cases).

According to the citys Health Department, the number of dengue cases of this year is fewer than that in the same period of last year but in the last few weeks, the number has been increasing.

The central province of Ha Tinh on Monday announced the first outbreak of dengue fever appeared in the province this year.

At least six people in Tan Thanh Hamlet, Ky Nam Commune, Ky Anh Town in the province were confirmed to have dengue, Nguyen Chi Thanh, vice head of the provinces Centre for Diseases Control said.

The first reported case was a 41-year-old woman who returned from Quang Binh Province which also reported cases of dengue.

Thanh said that as soon as the outbreak was detected, local authorities cleaned the environment and sprayed chemicals to kill mosquitoes and local residents were examined at the communes health centre.

The health ministry last week asked localities to speed up activities to kill larvae to once a week in high-risk areas where dengue cases were reported and twice a week in areas with a high density of mosquitoes/larvae.

Dangerous complications

Doctor Pham Trung Cap, head of the Emergency Department at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said dengue fever had two common complications  a decrease in platelet counts and dangerously low blood pressure.

When a patient suffered from a low level of blood platelets, they would not feel fatigued so people easily ignore their symptoms until massive bleeding appeared. With dangerously low blood pressure, patients usually felt very fatigued, pain in the liver area, vomiting and drowsiness lasting for 24 to 48 hours.

Cap said both complications were dangerous to patients. Bleeding could be seen easily but other complications were hard to see.

Finding early warning signals of complications is very important, Cap said, adding that patients must go to the hospital at once when they see symptoms of bleeding, continuously vomiting, severe stomachache, unconsciousness, cold hands/feet or breathing difficulties.

People who continued having a high fever after taking medicine should also go to the hospital as soon as possible, Cap said.

According to the Health Ministry, on average, Vietnam reports more than 100,000 dengue cases yearly. However, last year, the number hit 320,331 cases, the highest figure in the last 32 years, with 53 deaths. VNS

Risk of dengue fever outbreak in Hanoi Environmental pollution, waste and temporary houses at construction sites are risk factors for a dengue outbreak in Hanoi, said Nguyen Khac Hien, director of Hanoi Department of Health.
Deputy education minister Nguyen Huu Do talks on waiving tuition fees and textbook selection issues in the 2019 Law on Education.

A literature class at Duong Xa Secondary High School in Gia Lam District, Hanoi.

One of the newest changes in the 2019 Law on Education is to waive tuition fees for secondary high school and kindergarten students under five years old, in a staggered roadmap. Can you tell us more about the education ministrys vision for this roadmap?

Waiving tuition fees for secondary school students and kindergarten students under five years old to boost general education to a wider population is a major policy by the Party and the State, showing the attention to promoting the education level in the country, especially in remote and economically challenged areas, or regions dominated by ethnic minority groups.

However, as tuition fee exemptions will certainly have a great impact on State budget expenditure if the policy is rolled out immediately, the States capacity to balance the budget might be undermined.

Therefore, the Government issued Resolution No 104/NQ-CP on August 8, 2018, in which it agreed on tuition waivers for preschool children under age five and secondary high school students but the implementation will be in phases, with the current priorities on exempting tuition fees for five-year-olds and lower secondary schools in disadvantaged areas, ethnic minority people and remote areas.

What are the estimated costs for this policy?

The Ministry of Education and Training has worked with concerned agencies and ministries to explore the impacts of the tuition waiving policy on the State budget. We found the State will have to spend an additional VND1.378 trillion (US$59.5 million) a year if the pre-schoolers under five years old no longer have to pay tuition fees, and an additional VND2.143 trillion ($92.4 million) a year for secondary highschoolers.

A staggered roadmap is even more relevant now that State budget collection has been severely hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the education ministry is working with the finance ministry to submit to the central Government a reasonable plan given the new development.

Another item in the new education law is to give provincial or municipal Peoples Committees the authority to select textbooks instead of deferring to education institutions like in the case of the first-grade curriculum for the 2020-21 school year. How has the education ministry prepared for the change?

The education ministry issued a draft circular in mid-May providing guidelines on the new policy.

Per this draft circular, provincial and municipal Peoples Committees will set up separate councils for each subject of an education level to advise the committee on textbook selection decisions. The members of this council will include leaders and professionals from local education departments, active education managers and teachers from educational institutions in the locality. The council needs at least 15 members, two-thirds of whom must be working teachers or heads of schools faculties.

Many think that letting the education institutions deciding on what textbooks they use is a reasonable and practical policy. So what has the education ministry done to ensure that the voices of teachers and schools have substantial weight in the decision-making process?

The draft circular detailed a six-step process for the selection of textbooks.

First, the subject faculty from each school will research and discuss the merits of available textbooks. The teachers will cast a vote on one textbook for the subject of their profession, then they will report to the leaders of the schools on the list of the selected textbooks, with voting results included.

Next, the schools will research, discuss and evaluate the textbooks, with input from students and parents.

After this, schools will submit their choices with voting results to the local education department, which will inform the provincial or municipal People's Committee.

Therefore, although the provincial and municipal People's Committee has final authority to decide on textbook selection, teachers and schools still play a very important role. The decision of the teacher and educational institutions will influence the ultimate decision by their local governments. VNS

Education Ministry requires to collect suitable tuition fee for online teaching In its document to peoples committees in cities and provinces yesterday, the Ministry of Education and Training required private-run schools to collect suitable tuition fee for online teaching during Covid-19 closure.
Two of the nations leading tourist destinations, Sa Pa and Ninh Binh, have been listed among 14 up-and-coming destinations across Asia to visit this year, according to travel magazine Trips to Discover.

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According to the magazine, Sa Pa represents one of the most popular places to visit nationwide.

It sits high up in the Hoang Lien Son mountains and makes a great base for trekking or mountain bike tours with routes that will take you past magnificent waterfalls, through rice paddies, and around charming mountain villages home to families known for making fantastic local handicraft items, says Trips to Discover.

The magazine also suggests that tourists try to travel to villages where they can view firsthand how these items are made, in addition to purchasing products such as traditional weavings and carvings as souvenirs.

Furthermore, Trips to Discover went on to describe Ninh Binh as an incredibly picturesque destination.

It boasts hundreds of limestone monoliths that are topped by vibrant greenery that rise from the ground, scattered throughout the city with rivers flowing through them, the magazine exclaimed.

Moreover, the publication recommends that visitors take in a number of pagodas situated around Ninh Binh, such as Bai Dinh and Bich Dong, the latter of which has been built into a cave.

Elsewhere on the top 14 list are destinations such as Gifu of Japan, Sarawak of Malaysia, Bagan of Myanmar, Sumba of Indonesia, Ella of Sri Lanka, Nusa Lembongan of Indonesia, Belitung of Indonesia, Okinawa of Japan, Hoh Xil of Tibet, Champasak of Laos, and Koh Kood of Thailand. VOV
Statewide

All information from the Iowa Department of Public Health, except where noted. (In parenthesis: how the number has changed since the day before.)

Cases of coronavirus: 32,343 (+414)

The total number of people who tested positive for an active novel coronavirus infection since testing began in March 2020.

7-day average of cases: 362 (+13)

Percent change in cases over 14 days: 41.1% (-6%). National average: 74.2% (-6.9%). (Info: KFF.org)

Rate of spread: 1.16 (+0.04)

The average number of people who become infected by an infectious person. Over 1.0 means the virus will spread, and below 1.0 means it has stopped spreading. (Info: Rt.live)

Deaths: 732 (+7)
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If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 814-368-3173 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com.
The Times conducted numerous interviews with U.S. and Afghan officials privy to the intelligence, Azizis neighbors, friends and business associates. Intelligence files described multiple payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

An Afghan provincial official told the Times, The target of the operation was (Azizi), who was going back and forth to Russia for a long time and said he worked there but no one knew what he did.

U.S. intelligence reportedly became aware of the scheme in late 2019. It sought more confirmation, but took it seriously enough to prepare options for the president.

The Russians reportedly were seeking to enhance their position with the Taliban amid its peace talks with the Trump administration. Russia issued its standard denial.

Russia was booted from Afghanistan in 1989  nine years after its invasion installed a puppet regime. The CIA armed rebels, allegedly including funding Mujahideen soldiers trained by Osama bin Laden, to help oust it.

National Security Adviser Robert OBrien said, If this (bounty) information turned out to be true, and now we may never know, but if it turned out to be true, we had options ready to go, and the president was ready to take strong action, as he always is.
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There are certain defining moments in life that show not only who you are but also how the world will see you. For me, like for many Black boys, one such moment came when I was just 16. That's when I received The Talk.

Rites of passage exist in communities around the world, from the quinceanera to the Maasai lion hunt to the classic American prom. The Talk is an initiation for African-Americans. Our mothers and fathers all know The Talk, as do our children, especially the sons. No, it's not the birds-and-the-bees talk known to other teenagers, but rather a conversationtips, suggestions, warningsabout how to act as a Black person: in the face of a world that may be afraid of you, in the face of those who might want to harm you, in the face of law enforcement when one small action or gesture might save your life.

When I turned 16, I got my drivers license. Excited and relishing my newfound freedom, I brought it home to show my family. My mother's face betrayed her horror; we argued, she cried, I am not ready for him to go.

It's true, I wasn't the best at driving. I had a lead foot, but I got my license and I was ready to go wherever I wanted, when I wanted. I didn't understand why my mom made such a big deal about it. But The Talk came a day or two later, and my mother was serious. "Look, as a Black teenager, there are some things you need to know when you are out there driving."

She spoke for what felt like hours with warning after warning about how to avoid trouble. Be home before the streetlights turn on. Don't attract attention by playing the music too loud. Be careful in "those little towns."

But her disposition became grave as she explained what I would need to do when, not if, I was pulled over by the cops. Keep your hands on the steering wheel at 10 and two. Do not make any sudden movements. Be polite, say ma'am or sir. Put them at ease, show that you're not a threat. She made it clear: Upon all of this my life depended.

"You aren't doing anything wrong. You're just Black," said the author to his 13-year-old mentee who had been harassed by the police while walking to school in San Francisco. (Photo by Kay on Unsplash)

The first time I was pulled over, I was in midtown Kansas City, Missouri. I was driving maybe 10 miles over the speed limit (remember my lead foot). When I heard the siren and saw the flashing lights behind me, I immediately froze. I breathed rapidly and gripped the steering wheel tight, trying to catch my breath. When the officer approached my car, I made eye contact, studying his face, eyes, ears, and uniform. I waited for him to speak, and replied, my clutch on the wheel loosening only to hand over my license and registration, both ready on the passenger seat. My eyes locked on the rearview mirror while I waited for him to run my license before he came back to my car, handed me my license, registration, and a speeding ticket, and drove off. The whole stop took maybe 20 minutes, but it felt like hours.



In the seven or eight times I have been pulled over by the police, I have always had the same reaction: tense, nervous, and scared. I wonder will this be it? I've felt fortunate to drive away from police encounters physically unscathed, but I have friends and family members who cannot say the same. They get pulled over for having new cars or for driving in predominantly white neighborhoods. One friend of mine was threatened, another was roughed up. I was lucky. To be honest, one reason I moved to San Francisco is because I do not have to driveanything to reduce my interactions with police.

When I relocated to SF in 2013, I set a goal to become a mentor for a Black child. I had many great people in my life and felt that I owed it to help someone else. My mentee was Brandon, a young kid living in the Tenderloin. We would often hang out and talk about teen stuffvideo games, sports, the girls he liked. One day as we were walking down Polk Street to Bob's Donuts, the conversation turned to Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old Black kid who had been fatally shot in 2012; his killer, George Zimmerman, had just been acquitted.

Brandon, 13 at the time, told me he and his friends had been harassed by a police officer on their way to school. He said the cop began to question them in a very harsh tone, asking what were they up to and where were they going. "We were just going to school. We weren't doing nothing," Brandon told me.

I sighed, recognizing his situation all too well. I have been followed around in stores as though I was expected to steal, I have been asked do you belong here? I have been stopped by the police simply for being Black. There's no other culture I know of where The Talk is so common and requisite, that moment when we must tell our kids that life isn't fair, that the cards we've been dealt, that who we are is a setup for injustice. "You aren't doing anything wrong. You're just Black," I told him.

"It's not fair," Brandon said, and of course it isn't. We stood on the street in silence for a couple of minutes before walking on from that sad, important moment. Brandon needed to be prepared for what he will experience in life. Our talk was a rite of passage for him to receive, as well as for me to give.

Since that day, Brandon has grown in size and mind. He is more weary of the police and realizes that, as a Black man, he inhabits a different space than his white friends. And just because I gave him The Talk, it does not guarantee his safety.

As I write this, I think about George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and even more recently Rayshard Brooks, an unarmed 27-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by an Atlanta police officer. There are few things to make a person feel more helpless than being pulled over for driving while Black. When I hear those sirens, I know that whether I drive away or don't is a game of chance. I just hope luck falls my way.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only brought more attention to the issue. Ongoing research shows that Black, Indigenous and Latino American patients have all experienced infection, hospitalization and fatality rates higher than those seen in white patients, and implicit bias has been suggested as contributing to the racial disparities seen in COVID-19 outcomes, at least among Blacks.

To increase awareness about this critical issue and its effects on patient care and public health, the AAFP's Center for Diversity and Health Equity, through a grant from the AAFP Foundation, has awarded 12 Academy chapters the opportunity to host their own implicit bias training events starting this fall.

"Reducing health care disparities and achieving health equity requires multisector approaches by individuals, organizations and industries," said Danielle Jones, M.P.H., the Academy's director of diversity and health equity. "Physicians can do their part by first acknowledging that implicit bias exists and developing skills to reduce its effects in the clinical setting."

Training Details

The 12 AAFP chapters to receive funding are California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Utah. According to Jones, each chapter will receive $10,000.
Kellys Heroes

Torn between watching a war movie and a heist movie tonight? Heres both, in a war film that is in its own more conventional way an antiwar film like M*A*S*H (with whom it shares star Donald Sutherland). Clint Eastwood is great as an alienated warrior who leads a gang of misfits (Telly Savalas, Don Rickles and Sutherland) behind enemy lines to steal millions worth of gold bars. And they look like heroes!

Watch it here: Amazon, iTunes, Vudu

RELATED: Need more Clint? Do you? Our critics ranked the Top 10 Coolest Clint Eastwood Movies.
Like other approaches, the MyDataHelps app for Android and Apple smartphones is compatible with multiple devices, Radin says. It can tap into information from devices ranging from smartwatches, like the Garmin Fenix 6 and Apple Watch, to activity trackers, such as the Fitbit Charge 4 and Polar A370.



The manufacturers emphasize that none of these accessories is a medical device. Nevertheless, the technology can provide invaluable insights into a person's health, according to researchers.

Most of these smart devices use a mass of tiny sensors to get a picture of how you're doing and where you are. Optical sensors against your skin estimate heart rate and blood oxygen levels; accelerometers and gyroscopes track movement; and galvanic skin response, a change in sweat gland activity, assesses your levels of exertion.

Other sensors measure ambient light and temperature, your location through GPS and barometric pressure, delivering a wealth of information on your health by establishing a baseline.

"Some of these measurements, like heart rate, are very accurate, says Michael Snyder, M.D., chairman of the genetics department at Stanford University School of Medicine, about 30 miles southeast of San Francisco. Others like SpO2 [blood oxygen levels] are not, but it is the change from baseline that counts.

The programs first establish normal readings for a week or two (the so-called baseline), then look for any abnormalities that might indicate illness in future readings. Radin and Snyder say they are focused mostly on heart rate changes and sleep disruptions, but other information, including breaths per minute and pulse oxygenation levels, could help identify a specific illness, such as COVID-19, along with the assistance of data from thousands of patients and the application of artificial intelligence programs.

The more people who participate in such programs, the more accurate the health predictions may be about a specific illness, they say. That also will make more public health data available that officials can use during new outbreaks.

Smart ring might be less intrusive

One of the most ambitious programs aimed at warning the public and health professionals about coronavirus outbreaks is run by the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and WVU Medicine in Morgantown, in conjunction with Oura Health. Finland-based Oura makes a smart ring that measures not only heart rate but a person's temperature  one of the few such smart devices to do so.

"The Oura ring has a good form factor, and people can wear it when they are sleeping, instead of a watch, which can be uncomfortable to wear in bed, explains Ali Rezai, M.D., a neuroscientist and executive chairman of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. By observing resting heart rates, body temperatures and deep-sleep patterns, the group is looking to forecast the illness with a degree of accuracy and predictability previously not possible.
Staff reports

Aberdeen News

A person who attended an event tied to the Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo in Mobridge has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a news release from the South Dakota Department of Health.

The person attended the event was able to transmit the virus to others between 5 and 7 p.m. June 30 and between 5 and 7 p.m. July 1, according to the release.

June 30 and July 1 were the dates of The Horse Nations Indian Relay at the rodeo grounds, so the person who has tested positive likely attended that event.

The races were added as part of the 75th annual Sitting Bull Stampede. The rodeo itself was July 2, 3 and 4.

Our understanding is that the entire event is titled the Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo and took place from June 30-July 4, said Derrick Haskins, spokesman with the South Dakota Department of Health

Because of the risk of exposure, the health department suggests people who attended the rodeo during those times should monitor for symptoms for 14 days.

A screening tool is available at covid.sd.gov, which can help recommend when to call a medical provider if a person develops symptoms.

Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure and include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or a runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the health department.

This story has been clarified with more information.
Staff reports

Aberdeen News

Two people have been arrested in connection to at least 60 reports of window damage to vehicles in Aberdeen and Brown County Wednesday.

Brendan Dennis Grover, 22, of Aberdeen and Dawson Glen Gahm, 19, of Hitchcock are facing criminal charges, according to a news release from the Aberdeen Police Department.

Grover is facing charges of felony intentional damage, discharging an air rifle within city limits and 60 counts of misdemeanor intentional damage, according to the release. Gahm has been charged with aiding and abetting felony intentional damage.

Additional arrests and charges are expected.

The charges are in connection to numerous instances of intentional damage to vehicles on Wednesday. As of about 8:30 a.m., more than 50 reports of intentional damage of vehicles  many with windows shot out  had come in since midnight, according to Aberdeen police. The first report was shortly after midnight.

Police Capt. Eric Duven said Wednesday afternoon that reports were still filtering in.

Police and the Brown County Sheriffs Office offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the damage. According to the afternoon news release, several people reached out to assist with the investigation, but no public tip led to the arrests.

It appears the damage was caused by a BB gun fired from a moving vehicle at parked cars, vans, SUVs and pickups on or near streets and roads, per the release. The reports were from all over town as well as from outside city limits.

The sheriffs office is investigating cases outside of Aberdeen.

People with security cameras are asked to check the footage for anything suspicious and report to the police or sheriffs office, according to the release. The phone number for the dispatch center is 605-626-7911.
In 2015, a devastating earthquake in Nepal resulted in the loss of 9,000 lives, 3.5 million people left homeless and entire neighbourhoods flattened.

To prevent destruction on the same scale again, the multidisciplinary team behind The SAFER Nepal Project has been working with local partners to improve the seismic safety and resilience of school and community buildings in Nepal.

We cannot prevent earthquakes from happening, but we can devise smart, low cost solutions to mitigate seismic risk and enhance community resilience," said Anastasios Sextos, Professor of Earthquake Engineering at the University of Bristol and Principal Investigator of the SAFER Nepal project.

The landmark SAFER Nepal project, funded by EPSRC as part of UKRIs Global Challenges Research Fund, draws on knowledge and experience from Nepal and around the world, incorporating earthquake, structural and geotechnical engineers, seismologists, earth scientists, computer scientists, social scientists, stakeholders, decision-makers and more. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the aim is to build a better understanding of the seismic threat, identify existing vulnerabilities of the buildings, understand the needs and response of the communities affected, build databases and technology - all with the goal of developing real solutions that can be used in the local context.

Collapsing buildings greatly increased the fatalities in 2015 and caused severe, long-term social and economic consequences. One challenge for Nepal, and other low-to-middle income countries, is finding affordable ways to make buildings more secure.

One proven method of protecting new buildings in earthquake zones in developed countries is to rest them on sliding surfaces. This can be prohibitively expensive for many regions, but in Nepal, were using that principle to investigate low-cost, culturally acceptable and locally-sourced ways of co-producing a similar system, said Professor Sextos.

In order to create a low-cost seismic isolation platform, a team led by Dr Nicholas Alexander, Associate Professor of Structural Dynamics, is using the seismic shaking table at the University of Bristol to investigate how replicas of Nepalese classrooms, strengthened with cost-effective techniques, perform under seismic excitation.

Essentially the idea is if we can decouple the ground from the building, then if an earthquake happens, the ground will move but the building will remain unaffected, said Dr Alexander.

The team is developing a simple, state-of-the-art phone app so that local engineers can identify at-risk schools and enhance their safety. In partnership with National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET), Nepal, and Kathmandu University and Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University the team has also been testing the engineering properties of locally-used building materials.

We need to understand the engineering properties of local building materials, particularly stone. Working with local partners including NSET, we have been testing different types of mortar and design. What we learn will allow our partners to assess existing buildings and build safer structures in the future, said Professor Sextos.

All the research has been supported by workshops and on-site training so, with the aid of local and international partners, the team leaves behind the skills and expertise for communities to rebuild Nepal safely. Following this training from the project team (including Save the Children), local partners in Nepal are about to embark on a large campaign of field testing across the country.

Another important outcome of the project is the assembly of an open-access database of geotechnical properties of the soils of the Kathmandu Valley. The effort, led by Dr Paul Vardanega, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, involved collecting data from new ground investigations as well as compiling and harmonising existing data.

"The geotechnical database is a major step forward. Various datasets have been combined, harmonised and made publicly available. The database can now be used for activities such as planning of new infrastructure or assessing liquefaction potential and seismic hazards in the area," said Dr Vardanega.

In collaboration with seismologists in Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, the team is now creating a state-of-the-art probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for Kathmandu and Nepal. Seismic hazard maps provide vital information for designing earthquake-resistant buildings and for prioritising the retrofitting of school buildings.

"The densely-populated Kathmandu Valley is located only 10 km above a major tectonic plate boundary, and its basin structure can trap and amplify the seismic waves of earthquakes even more. The new geo-database is critical for an accurate re-assessment of the seismic hazard in the region," said Dr. Max Werner, Senior Lecturer in the School of Earth Sciences.

In Nepal, SAFER is also working with government, academic institutions and NGOs, including Arup International Development, to strengthen resilience and post-quake structural health. Working with Save the Children, Nepal, there have been surveys of 160 school buildings and consultation with communities, focusing on school management committees, teachers and students. The aim is to understand the factors affecting resilience in order to tailor and target interventions to help children get safely back to school.

"It has to be something useful, tangible, applicable and low cost. The value of all these community engagements we have at all levels of the educational pyramid, means we can produce something meaningful for the people of Nepal, said Professor Sextos.

SAFERs guidelines for constructing schools in a novel, low-cost way, are due to be delivered in September 2020.

Were essentially creating a framework that allows local decision-makers to plan for and react to another major earthquake and our collaboration will improve local design culture through new, safer, construction techniques and responses that can be easily replicated by other countries.

Our focus has been to create tangible outcomes and influence how policy-makers approach building new schools in Nepal. Most importantly of all, were helping protect lives, especially the lives of the young learners who will shape Nepals future, said Professor Sextos.

Dr. Prachand Man Pradhan, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at Kathmandu University, said: Collaboration between Kathmandu University and the University of Bristol has been highly productive and memorable for me. Particularly, I would like to thank Professor Anastasios Sextos for trusting me in the specific jobs to test various construction materials that are used in Nepal. In this regard, I also thank my team at Kathmandu University for helping me complete the job successfully. The SAFER project has been a wonderful and unforgettable experience to me. This project has not only been able to identify the mechanical properties and strengths of various construction materials, but also helped me learn the technological heights acquired by the University of Bristol. The results obtained should be ultimately useful for the earthquake resistant design and construction for new School Buildings to be constructed in Nepal.

Professor Prem Nath Maskey, from the Institute of Engineering at Tribhuvan University, said: The collaboration among the universities and organizations of Nepal, UK and other countries coming together for the research project of SAFER (Seismic Resilience of Schools in Nepal) has been exemplary. The Impact of the project lies in the importance of research and collaboration on the seismic resilience of schools. The impact of the project will be reflected in the necessary strengthening and reconstruction of the schools for the future earthquakes and other disasters.


More Excellent Results at Wiluna Mining Centre

Perth, July 8, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Wiluna Mining Corporation Limited ( ASX:WMX ) ( FRA:NZ3 ) ( OTCMKTS:BKHRF ) is pleased to report further results from drilling at Golden Age and Lennon within the Wiluna Mining Centre. This drilling programme commenced in November 2019 to delineate Mineral Resources and provide further transitional feed to the free milling operations. Lennon and Golden Age are part of the northern mining area at Wiluna (Figure 1*) and will continue to be mined during Stage 1 and 2 expansion phases.Milan Jerkovic, Wiluna Mining's Executive Chair commented: "These results continue to deliver on our strategy to extend the Golden Age zone and surrounding areas. We aim to sustain or increase production and improve transitional cashflow over the next 15 months ahead of sulphides production from September 2021".Mine Extension DrillingThe Company continues to extend the Golden Age orebody, which is a non-refractory quartz-reef style of deposit located at the Wiluna Mining Centre (Figure 1). Latest results are from a further 11 holes for 2,086m drilled at Golden Age Lower and the adjacent Lennon target (Figure 2*).Increasing Mineral Resources and conversion to Reserves is key to the Company's 24-month, five-point strategy to:1.Strengthen the balance sheet2.Increase operational cash flow3.Transition to include gold concentrate production4.Expand production, and5.Undertake exploration and feasibility studies to fully develop a more than 250kozpa, longlife gold operation.For further information on the transition and the Stage 1 and Stage 2 expansion please see the latest company presentation released to the ASX on 1 July 2020 and ASX release dated 23 December 2019.The Wiluna Mining Centre is divided into four geographical areas (Figure 1)*, centred on underground mine portals and planned mining areas of the Stage 1 Sulphides Expansion plan. Golden Age and Lennon are within the Wiluna North Mine Area and are accessed from the Bulletin decline.In November 2019, the Company quantified Exploration Targets at the Golden Age mine (see ASX release dated 13 November 2019). The Company has progressively completed drilling at the Golden Age Footwall and Golden Age Main targets, (see ASX release dated 4 June 2020) with resource modelling currently in progress. Drilling is now focussed on the Golden Age Lower and Lennon targets, with results to follow in due course (Figure 2*).Golden Age LowerDrilling is now focussed on the Golden Age Lower zone. Together with previously reported results (see ASX release dated 4 June 2020) including GARD0112: 7.1m @ 7.47g/t, these results show that high-grade Golden Age mineralisation remains open for a considerable distance below the current workings (Figure 3*).Drilling is ongoing and further results will be reported when they become available. Latest results from the Golden Age Lower programme are positive, confirming Golden Age reef mineralisation of similar tenor to previous holes:GARD0101: 8.35m @ 1.67g/t from 168.3mGARD0102: 1.82m @ 8.92g/t from 259.1m, incl. 0.68m @ 23.2g/tGARD0104: 2.50m @ 10.53g/t from 303.5m & 2.4m @ 12.67g/t from 308.1mGARD0105: 0.55m @ 2.20g/t from 284.1mGARD0106: 2.12m @ 8.55g/t from 304.7mLennonA resource development programme at the Lennon target has also commenced. Lennon sits in the immediate footwall below Golden Age and mine development has commenced to access the mineralisation (Figure 2). Lennon mineralisation comprises multiple high-grade partially refractory sulphide shears, with economic gold recoveries expected through the existing free-milling circuit and as part of the proposed staged expansion of the Wiluna Mining Operations processing plant at Wiluna.Latest results from Lennon (Figure 4 & 5*), include:BUUD0081A:5.5m @ 1.37g/t, including 0.75m @ 6.01g/t0.6m @ 9.23g/tBUUD0092:1.35m @ 5.65g/tBUUD0093:3.65m @ 2.07g/t, including 0.25m @ 7.40g/t, 0.3m @ 11.9g/t0.9m @ 5.55g/tBUUD0094:1.5m @ 4.71g/t, including 0.4m @ 9.06g/t1.1m @ 6.92g/t2.25m @ 4.36g/t11.25m @ 4.26g/t, including 7.3m @ 5.17g/t, & 0.65m @ 6.63g/tStage 1 Sulphide Mineral Resource DevelopmentMineral Resource development drilling is ongoing at the Wiluna Mining Centre, with outstanding results recently published (see ASX release dated 26 May 2020 and 23 June 2020). The Company is focussed on infill and extensional drilling to methodically increase the geological confidence in the Mineral Resources that will underpin Stage 1 production. The Company's objective is to develop and maintain four years of underground Ore Reserves in front of production through progressive infill drilling and conversion of our very large Mineral Resource base.The Wiluna Mine is a large gold system with greater than 10 million ounces of gold endowment including current Mineral Resources and historical production. With a combined open pit and underground Mineral Resource of 35.5Mt @ 3.90g/t for 4.45Moz, including 2.2Moz (49%) in the Inferred category, there are significant opportunities to define additional Mineral Resources and life-of-mine extensions.The aim of Stage 1 of sulphide mining is to ramp up production from September 2021 to 120kozpa of gold dore and gold in concentrate being produced, with a subsequent Stage 2 expansion envisaged to increase gold production to 250kozpa (see ASX release dated 23 December 2019).About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd

Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMX) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential.
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The female rocker slams London police officers following an incident where nine cops surrounded a pair of black athletes and handcuffed them in front of their young kid.

Jul 8, 2020

AceShowbiz - Chrissie Hynde has demanded change from London police after witnessing an incident in which two black athletes were aggressively handcuffed before they were released without charge.

Ricardo dos Santos and Bianca Williams, two British athletes trained by Olympic sprinting champion Linford Christie, were stopped, told to get out of their car and handcuffed before being released in Maida Vale, west London on Saturday (04Jul20), despite their three-month-old son being in the vehicle.

In a letter to The Guardian published Tuesday, Hynde writes that she witnessed the "disturbing" incident - which she sees as evidence of London's Metropolitan Police being woefully "out of touch."

"On Saturday I saw an incident that illustrates how out of touch the police in London have become," her letter reads. "They pulled over a couple, made them step out of their car and were handcuffing them, surrounded by nine officers. The couple's baby was left unattended in their car. No prizes given for guessing that the couple were black."

"The incident was disturbing and aggressive, and the police van remained parked there for over an hour. The couple were innocent of whatever charges they were suspected of and were eventually let go."

Metropolitan Police officials deny any misconduct took place, but Christie complained on Twitter and The Pretenders rocker compares the incident unfavourably to their failure to tackle gangs in the area - demanding police change their approach to apprehend the real criminals.

After mentioning the stabbing of a friend's son, and a robbery on a local shop she witnessed but struggled to report due to being held on the phone, the musician called on officers to get their priorities right.

"For years there has been no protection at all on the streets and now hordes of police are pulling over innocent citizens and causing real distress for no reason," she adds. "Can the police get their house in order and start patrolling the gangs, and leave parents to do their shopping?"
Cosmopolitan Magazine/Dana Scruggs Celebrity

The former 'True Jackson' actress says the current President of the United States only has himself to blame for the unrest happening everywhere in the States.

Jul 8, 2020

AceShowbiz - Keke Palmer has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of "inciting a race war."

Palmer hit out at the leader in an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine in which she discusses the state of the world following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery at the hands of white police officers and civilians.

While Trump, 74, spoke out in support of Floyd's family after his death while in Minneapolis, Minnesota police custody, the President went on to blast the largely peaceful protestors, whom he described as lawless "thugs" and threatened to respond with military force.

"I think President Trump plays into it too. He's inciting a race war," she told the publication. "His craziness is inspiring us to just really get him the f**k out!"

"It's like we needed somebody who riled us up so much for us to be activated to the point of saying, 'Oh, hell no. I can't let this guy continue," Palmer raged.

In June, the "Hustlers" star hit headlines for urging national guardsmen to "march with us" during a protest against police brutality.

And she suggested the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement amid the coronavirus pandemic has allowed people the space to be more "reflective."

"Of course no one wanted the coronavirus pandemic to happen," she told the magazine. "But I think quarantine allowed us to be more reflective. Maybe before, we'd be able to gloss over it because of work."

She continued, "It's also been a buildup: There have been so many names turned into hashtags, so much pain. It blows me away because our language has progressed - I don't mean specifically Black people. I mean young people, millennials. Naming white supremacy, saying that out loud. When I heard 'defund the police,' I'm like 'Oh s**t. We actually could do that.' "

Recalling her encounter with the national guardsmen, Palmer told Cosmopolitan, "At that moment, I felt, 'You're human like me. I'm fighting out here, not just for me but for you too, you and the universe.' "

"Everything I said came out like word vomit. I know I didn't let him (guard) get a word in edgewise, but it was because I wanted him to feel me. I wanted to connect to the human, not the suit, not this robot-a** s**t."
CNN Celebrity

Additionally, while the anchor seems to think that he's on the right side of the argument, some people don't think so as they criticize the anchor for not knowing the real purpose of Black Lives Matter.

Jul 8, 2020

AceShowbiz - CNN anchor Don Lemon receives huge backlash for his remarks about Black Lives Matter during a heated argument with Terry Crews. Discussing BLM movement in the Monday, July 6 episode of Lemon's CNN show "Tonight", the anchor invited the "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" actor who has been under fire for his stance on BLM movement.

"Black lives do matter, but when you're talking about an organization, you're talking about the leaders. You're talking about the people who are responsible," Crews said, doubling down his statement that Black Lives Matter could change into Black Lives Better. He then noted that no one talked about how a number of children had been fatally shot since mid-June.

"This is the thing, Don. Black people need to hold other Black people accountable," he added, before calling the movement Black America's #MeToo. "If anything is going to change, we, ourselves, have to look at our own community and look at each other and say, 'This thing cannot go down.' "It has to be all Black Lives Matter. And because I even challenged it, because I even questioned and warned people."

Lemon then cut him off, saying, "The Black Lives Matter movement was started because it was talking about police brutality. If you want an all Black Lives Matter movement that talks about gun violence in communities, including Black communities, then start that movement with that name." He continued, "That's not what Black Lives Matter is about. It's not all-encompassing. If someone started a movement that said 'cancer matters,' and then someone came and said, 'Why aren't you talking about HIV?' It's not the same thing, we're talking about cancer."

"So the Black Lives Matter movement is about police brutality and injustice in that manner, not about what's happening in Black neighborhoods. There are people who are working on that issue, and if you want to start that issue, why don't you start it? Do you understand what I'm saying?" Lemon went on to say.

When Crews tried to explain that police brutality is not the only thing BLM is talking about, the anchor once again talked over him. "I agree, but that's not what the Black Lives Matter movement is about, Terry. Black Lives Matter is about police brutality and about criminal justice," Lemon argued. "It's not about what happens in communities when it comes to crime. People who live near each other, Black people, kill each other. Same as whites. It happens in every single neighborhood."

While Lemon seemed to think that he was on the right side of the argument, some people didn't think so. Internet users criticized the anchor for not knowing the real purpose of BLM. "Don Lemon might as well skip asking questions. He can spend his time asking questions and then answering them. He gets to have free speech," one Twitter user tweeted.

The way Lemon interjected Crews every time the "America's Got Talent" host talked also rubbed viewers the wrong way. "@donlemon wouldn't even let Terry talk. Idiot that Lemon is, he doesn't even know BLM was not started because of police brutality. It was started because [George] Zimmerman was acquitted for [Treyvon] Martin's death."

"Don Lemon intentionally talked over Terry Crews when Crews started to talk about all the other things that Black Lives Matter stands for... which FYI is A LOT and has nothing to do with black lives," someone else added. Another user, meanwhile, thought that Lemon "has some kind of hate toward black people" because he attacked "another Black man in the way he did on @CNN and not know that BLM was started because of Trayvon not because of police brutality. ... @terrycrews was attacked."

Lemon has yet to respond to the backlash.
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The rapper, known for his collaboration with Gucci titled 'Ballin on a B***h', claims he wasn't at fault after shooting erupted at a nightclub in South Carolina over the Fourth of July weekend.

Jul 8, 2020

AceShowbiz - Gucci Mane's protege Foogiano has spoken up after reports emerged of a shooting at a South Carolina club that involved him. Taking to his Instagram page on Monday, July 6, he dispelled rumors that he caused the ruckus.

"Y'all seen videos so what happened happened but that s**t ain't my fault. I don't promote violence," he said in a three-minute video, denying responsibility for the incident. Sending his message of sympathy to one of the victims, he added, "My biggest condolences to that girl and her family. I talked to her baby daddy and told him. Anybody that knows him, get in touch with him."

Foogiano also lashed out at those who blamed him for the violent act, denying that he was hiding after the incident. "Y'all on here tryna bash me like I'm just a savage a** killer or something. Like I just killed this girl," he stated. "One, I've talked to her baby daddy. He called me. We got a good understanding. There was no hiding, feel me? I did not leave. I stayed in South Carolina the same night, you feel me? I talked to everybody that I needed to talk to. Stop bashing me like I'm just out here shooting people."

Foogiano, whose real name is Kwame Brown, was performing at the Lavish Lounge nightclub in Greenville to mark his 27th birthday when shooting erupted on early Sunday, July 5. Two people were killed and eight others were injured in the incident.

Reports suggest the violence erupted after someone attempted to steal a chain from the birthday boy, whose entourage apparently clashed with members of the crowd as they threw up different gang signs, according to the local Greenville News. Video footage shared on social media appears to show someone onstage aiming a gun at the audience and firing the weapon numerous times.

While Foogiano himself is not thought to be responsible, the Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said they believe it's Foogiano's affiliates that the ones behind the shooting. "From watching some of the video footage from in there, most of it may be from, maybe some of his staff," the sheriff said on Sunday. "I wouldn't call them followers. They were probably traveling with him, but I don't think he was directly involved."
Instagram Celebrity

In a post shared on Instagram Stories, the model encourages others to 'post where their mothers and fathers were born' to 'remind them how proud you are of where you come from!'

Jul 8, 2020

AceShowbiz - Bella Hadid is proud of her Palestinian heritage and refuses to let Instagram prevent her from expressing how much love she has for Palestine. The supermodel recently called out the photo-sharing site for removing a post about her Palestinian father, Mohammed Hadid, that she shared on Instagram Stories.

Posting a screenshot about the notice she received from Instagram, Bella wrote, "Instagram removed my story that only said, 'My baba and his birthplace of Palestine' with a photograph of his American passport. @instagram exactly what part of me being proud of my father's birth place of Palestine is 'bullying, harassment, graphic or sexual nudity'?"

"Are we not allowed to be Palestinian on Instagram? This, to me, is bullying," she added. "You can't erase history by silencing people. It doesn't work like that."

Bella didn't stop there. She later re-posted the passport twice with different captions. In the first post, she sarcastically asked, "Do you want him to change his birthplace for you?" while the second post found her saying, "I am proud to be Palestinian. Everyone should post where their mothers and fathers were born today! Remind them how proud you are of where you come from!"

Bella has never shy away from highlighting her Palestinian roots and expresses solidarity with the people of Palestine on multiple occasions.

For instance, when President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017, the Victoria's Secret model said, "I've been waiting to put this into perfect words but I realized there is no perfect way to speak of something so unjust. Watching the news and seeing the pain of the Palestinian people makes me cry for the many many generations of Palestine. The treatment of the Palestinian people is unfair, one-sided and should not be tolerated. I stand with Palestine."
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Grazing the magazine's first digital edition with two covers, the Puerto Rican rapper discusses his rise to the top, his new music and his experience as an ally to the LGBTQ community.

Jul 8, 2020

AceShowbiz - Latin rapper Bad Bunny has made Playboy magazine history by becoming the only man to land a solo cover, other than late founder Hugh Hefner.

The Puerto Rican artist graces the outlet's first digital edition with two covers for a story titled, "Bad Bunny Is Not Playing God", in which he discusses his rise to the top, and new music, and his experience as an ally to the LGBTQ community, having featured same-sex relationships in the recent video to his Sech collaboration, "Ignorantes".

"I do all of this and I'm not even sure what (impact) I cause," he shared. "It's not until someone comes up to me and tells me, 'Man, thank you,' that I realise the impact."

The "Mia" star goes on to insist that when it comes to sex, there's a "giant world" to explore.

"Everyone is free to see it as they want and do it with whoever they want, however they want, with infinite possibilities," he said.

"In the end, we are human beings. Everybody feels, everybody falls in love with whoever they're meant to."

The accompanying photos were shot in Miami, Florida, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, and feature Bad Bunny in various poses, including as a semi-naked Greek god, while another features the rapper sporting a colourful manicure, complete with mini jewel accessories.
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The Houston, Texas rapper, who earlier this year released a sex tape with his white girlfriend on Onlyfans, claims that black people don't value teamwork.

Jul 8, 2020

AceShowbiz - Sauce Walka clearly has no problem mixing his personal life and business, and he has now shared his key to make profits out of it. The Houston, Texas rapper, who has launched an Onlyfans page where he releases adult contents, reveals that he only dates white woman because it's good for business.

In a candid interview, Sauce brags about his fortune and his dating life. "I'm rich for real," so he claims. "I got White b***hes who wash my dishes and clean my clothes, and dry my body off when I get out the shower."

When asked if he would ever date a black woman, Sauce honestly replies, "I love black women and would f**k a Black b***h, but no I wouldn't date them." While he has nothing against black women, Sauce says his preference to only date white girls is a "good business decision," because he catches everyone's attention with their relationship.

As to why he won't do business with black women, Sauce, whose real name is Albert Walker Mondane, reasons that black people don't value teamwork.

Surprisingly, many people agree with Sauce's opinion on black people's work ethic. "Ppl gon try to 'cancel' him but what he speakin' is the truth," one person writes in the comment section of the interview video.

"Dude ain't saying nothing wrong, black women & men are broken," another weighs in, before adding, "but I love the hell outta my sistas that's all I'm attracted too." A third commenter also acknowledges this, saying, "I'm so glad we are starting to wake up to our own dysfunction."

"There's too much $ in the world to hate. He's right about teamwork," another defends Sauce, while someone else explains, "Yo that guy just said something too real I feel you sauce this independent stuff is out of control white people buy a house by property and pass it on to their kids they work as a unit, black people keep trying to be independent instead of being with the family."

Someone, however, disputes Sauce's claim about black people not being loyal to one another. "It's not that bro. It's just some of our people don't know how to disagree then come back together !! we work together fine it's just when things get rough some people get hard headed!!" the said person argues.
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The Duchess of Sussex reportedly dumps 'her most loyal friend just to look woke' after the fashion stylist was accused of white privilege by Canadian blogger Sasha Exeter.

Jul 8, 2020

AceShowbiz - Meghan Markle may have sacrificed her friendship for the sake of staying relevant amid the Black Lives Matter movement. The Duchess of Sussex has reportedly dumped her bestie Jessica Mulroney following the latter's white privilege scandal.

"Jessica's team have made it clear that she feels completely ditched by Meghan and fears she is going to cut her out of her life for good," a source tells The Sun of the former actress' reaction to her BFF's controversy. "Meghan has forsaken her most loyal friend just to look woke."

According to the source, Meghan's action has left Jessica, who is the godmother of the Duchess' son Archie, in utter shock. "She's completely distraught and devastated because Meghan has done nothing to stand up for her publicly," the so-called insider claims. "It's a brutal blow after a 10-year friendship. Jessica has been there for Meghan through thick and thin."

In June, Canadian socialite Sasha Exeter claimed that Jessica threatened to ruin her career after they had a disagreement over the BLM movement. In an Instagram video, the social media influencer said that the stylist took "offence to a very generic call to action" she made on social media to "help combat the race war and what's happening to the Black community."

"What happened next was a series of very problematic behavior and antics that ultimately resulted in [Mulroney] sending me a threat in writing last Wednesday," Sasha detailed. She added that Jessica claimed to have spoken to "companies and people about the way you have treated me unfairly," leaving her "paralyzed with fear." She added, "For her to threaten me - a single mom, a single black mom - during a racial pandemic blows my mind.

In the wake of the scandal, Jessica lost her TV gigs. She later released an apology, saying, "I want to say from my heart that every word of my apologies to Sasha over the course of the last two weeks privately, and again both publicly and privately today is true." She continued in the statement posted on Instagram, "I did not intend in any way to jeopardize her livelihood. We had a disagreement and it got out of hand. For that I am sorry."
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The 'After Earth' actor recounts his experience with racism where he was frequently stopped and called the racial slur by police officers in Philadelphia.

Jul 9, 2020

AceShowbiz - Will Smith revealed he has been called the N-word by police officers on "more than 10 occasions" as he reflected on the Black Lives Matter movement on Tuesday (07Jul20).

The 51-year-old actor spoke to political commentator and activist Angela Rye on her podcast, "On One With Angela Rye", about his own experiences with racism throughout his life.

Will grew up in Philadelphia and was just four years old when the notoriously racist Frank Rizzo went from chief of police to becoming the mayor of the state, and the instances of racially-motivated incidents of police brutality increased dramatically under his watch.

"I've been called n**ger by the cops in Philly on more than 10 occasions," Will said. "I got stopped frequently. So I understand what it's like to be in those circumstances with the police."

Will was reflecting on his own experiences in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police after he was killed when an officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes while arresting him.

As for his hopes following the renewed attention on racially motivated police incidents, the "After Earth" star continued, "We are in a circumstance that we've never been in before. The entire globe has stood up and said to the African American people, 'We see you and we hear you. How can we help?' We've never been there before."

And now the father-of-three is hoping the next generation can learn to use their privileged positions to help aid the world in a more compassionate outlook.

"I am pledging my unending devotion to the evolution of my community and the evolution of my country, and ultimately the world, towards the greatest harmony that we'll be able to create," he concluded. "I am happy to be alive during this time, and to serve."
Employees at a Jimmy John's sandwich shop in Georgia have been fired after filming themselves with a noose made of dough and simulating a hanging.

In the 16-second clip, which was first shared on Snapchat, a White Jimmy John's employee fits his head through the dough, knotted and fashioned to look like a noose.

Employees can be heard laughing while the "noose" hangs around one employee's neck as other people laugh off screen. Another person holding the end of the dough noose raises it above the man's head to make it appear like he's being hanged.

A Fourth of July sticker is tacked on at the bottom of the clip, which Jimmy John's first responded to on Sunday.

Jimmy John's confirmed to CNN that the employees worked at a location in Woodstock, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. The statement said the employees in the clip have been fired by the local franchise owner. Jimmy John's did not disclose how many employees were fired.

"The actions seen in the video are absolutely unacceptable and do not represent the Jimmy John's brand nor the local franchise ownership team," a Jimmy John's spokesperson said late Monday to CNN in a statement. "As soon as we were alerted to the video, we notified our franchisee, who quickly investigated and terminated all employees involved. The franchisee is also meeting with their team to conduct training to help prevent anything like this from ever happening again."

While the motivations of the former Jimmy John's employees are not clear, the incident comes during a national reckoning over racism in the US, which has seen Black Americans intimidated with symbols of hatred and oppression like nooses.

On Twitter, the company said it has "zero tolerance for racism or discrimination in any form."

CNN's calls to the two Jimmy John's locations in Woodstock were unreturned.
(CNN) -- The Trump administration has notified Congress and the United Nations that the United States is formally withdrawing from the World Health Organization, multiple officials tell CNN, a move that comes amid a rising number of coronavirus cases throughout the Americas in the last week alone.

Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee tweeted the news Tuesday.

"Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the U.S. from the @WHOin the midst of a pandemic. To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interestsit leaves Americans sick & America alone," he wrote.

A State Department official also confirmed that "the United States' notice of withdrawal, effective July 6, 2021, has been submitted to the UN Secretary-General, who is the depository for the WHO."

The letter addressed to the UN is very short, around three sentences, a source briefed on the correspondence told CNN, and it will trigger a one-year withdrawal timeline. However, this source also cautioned that they cannot confirm they saw the final version of the letter.

While lawmakers from both parties have long cited systemic problems with the WHO, many have also denounced the President's decision to withdraw during a once-in-a-century global pandemic.

Despite alleging that the World Health Organization "enabled" the Chinese government's sweeping cover-up of the coronavirus pandemic's origins, members of the GOP China task force urged President Donald Trump last month to reconsider his decision to terminate relations with the international body, arguing that the US can do more to affect change as a member.

Among its current functions, the WHO is attempting to coordinate efforts to get personal safety and medical equipment, like ventilators, to hospitals around the world.

Some have warned that withdrawal in the current environment could also interfere with clinical trials essential for developing vaccines, as well as efforts to trace the spread of the virus globally.

Move comes as virus is surging

Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases continues to surge across the US and in various countries around the world.

There are at least 2,953,423 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 130,546 people have died from the virus in the country, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases.

On Monday, Johns Hopkins reported 17,346 new cases and 261 deaths. The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.

Trump has repeatedly insisted that the rise of cases in the US is purely the result of increased testing, but a WHO official knocked down that claim on Monday.

WHO scientists and experts are scheduled to travel to China this weekend to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Tuesday.

Specifically, experts will be seeking to trace the narrative of how the coronavirus might have spread from the wild to possibly farm animals to humans, said Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program.

Trump initially announced his intention to withdraw from WHO in May and has consistently accused the organization of aiding China in covering up the origins of the virus. He has also claimed that if the WHO had acted appropriately, he could have instituted a travel ban on people coming from China sooner.

Decision could be reversed if Biden wins election

The Trump administration has already diverted funding from the WHO and the process to formally withdraw will take a year to complete. Critics of the decision hope that the withdrawal decision will be reversed if Trump loses the presidential election in November.

"Whatever is done now can be reversed in the year to come, because it will not be final," a UN diplomat told CNN Tuesday, pointing to how long the process of withdrawal will take.

Trump's decision to permanently terminate the US relationship with the WHO follows a years-long pattern of railing against global organizations, with the President claiming that the US is being taken advantage of. The President has questioned US funding to the United Nations and NATO, withdrawn from the Paris climate accord and repeatedly criticized the World Trade Organization.

But health experts, US lawmakers and world leaders have expressed concern over defunding the organization amid a pandemic.

After Trump's announcement in May, a WHO spokesperson told CNN, "We have no comment to offer at this point."

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New York (WLNY) -- A plane from Miami bound for LaGuardia Airport was diverted to John F. Kennedy International Airport after being struck by hail.

Delta Air Lines flight 1076 from Palm Beach International landed safely at JFK at 6:55 p.m. Monday evening after reporting a problem with navigation equipment, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Photos show the planes nosed caved in.

Delta flight 1076 operating from West Palm Beach to New York-LaGuardia diverted to New York-JFK out of an abundance of caution following a mechanical issue. The flight landed safely and without incident and maintenance is evaluating the aircraft, Delta said in a statement.

There were 43 passengers on board.

Despite early speculation that the damage may have been caused by a bird strike, Delta later said the impact was caused by hail.

A bird strike is what prompted the Miracle On The Hudson, when Capt. Chesley Sully Sullenberger safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009.

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United Airlines is warning nearly half of its frontline workforce that they could be furloughed this fall.

The world's third-largest airline says 36,000 workers  including 15,000 flight attendants, 11,000 customer service and gate agents, 5,550 maintenance employees and 2,250 pilots  will receive layoff notices.

The Wednesday announcement paints a grim picture for an air travel recovery only days after United announced it would ramp up its schedule in August. But as the pandemic worsens in some areas of the United States, bookings have once again started to tumble.

United has warned for months that it would cut thousands of jobs if travel does not pick up before October. So far, airline workers have been largely insulated from the job losses that have wracked other industries. The federal CARES ACT, enacted in March, offered billions of dollars in bailout funds to the industry and barred companies that accepted the money from cutting jobs, pay rates or involuntarily furloughing workings.

That prohibition lifts on October 1.

Notices were sent to employees Wednesday because federal law requires employers to notify workers 60 days before a mass layoff.

The airline is operating only a quarter of flights compared to last year, a company executive said Wednesday, and those flights are, on average, 55% full. 'Involuntary furloughs that we worked so hard to avoid are now the last option left,' the executive said.

The president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents 50,000 flight attendants at airlines including United, called the furloughs a 'gut punch.' But, 'they are also the most honest assessment we've seen on the state of the industry,' the union president, Sara Nelson, said in a statement.

The Air Line Pilots Association said in a letter to its United members that the union is still working to secure an 'early-out package that will mitigate furloughs by incentivizing pilots to retire early option to prevent furloughs.' It says it expects those negotiations to be completed soon.

'This crisis dwarfs all others in aviation history and there's no end in sight,' Nelson said. She said the union will continue to work with airlines 'to create voluntary options' to avoid some involuntary furloughs. Nelson also called on Congress to extend the CARES ACT in order to save hundreds of thousands of airline jobs and 'extend it and expand it for all working people.'

United previously disclosed in a presentation to employees that it would be sending layoff notices this month.

'Just because you receive a WARN notice does not mean your job is being eliminated,' United told its workforce at the time. 'However it is a sign that your job could be affected by an involuntary furlough.'

United insists it's done everything it can to avert layoffs. Tens of thousands of employees took voluntary unpaid leave as the company began urging workers to do so.

Last month, the company mortgaged its frequent flier program for a bank loan, and at the time the company said between that money and the federal bailout funds it would have $17 billion in cash on hand by the end of September, roughly three times the normal amount of cash it carries.

United and all the other major US carriers also applied for a new round of loans made available under the CARES Act, the Treasury Department announced Tuesday.

The airlines already received $25 billion in aid from the first part of the act. This new round of loans could end up totaling another $25 billion, and the airlines have until September 30 to decide to close on the new loans. Delta, Southwest and United had said Tuesday that they have yet to make a firm decision on whether they will need the additional federal help.

The airline says it's hemorrhaging $40 million each day.

The United executive also said the company is not confident lawmakers will pass another round of support in this election year, but that company and union officials are engaged in conversations with DC.

'We do not feel like we can count on additional federal government support to survive, and we have to take steps to protect the company and protect the long term interest of the company and the prospects for United employees,' the executive said.
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif.  A Marysville woman was arrested for human sex trafficking of a minor victim to an undercover Butte County Sheriff deputy, according to the sheriff's office.

On June 16, Butte County Sheriffs deputies were contacted by a victim who reported his firearm had been stolen. Through investigation, deputies said the victims firearm was stolen by a female prostitute, later identified as 25-year-old Zydia Saunders.

An undercover BCSO detective began communicating with Saunders on July 1 through the phone. Saunders told the undercover detective she was willing to have sex for $230, according to BCSO. She also asked if he/she wanted two girls for $500.

The undercover detective agreed and made arrangements to meet Saunders at a local motel the next day.

Saunders contacted the undercover detective via telephone July 2 and stated she and another female were walking through the motel parking lot. Undercover detectives then contacted Saunders and a minor.

Saunders was placed under arrest and the minor victim was transported to the Butte County Sheriffs Office so she could receive services from Butte County Children Services, according to the sheriffs office news release.

During an interview, Saunders admitted she brought the minor victim to the motel so the minor victim could perform sexual acts for money, according to the sheriffs news release. Saunders also admitted she brought the minor victim to at least three other prostitution meetings where she and the minor victim performed sexual acts on adult men in exchange for money.

Saunders was arrested for four felony counts of pimping a minor victim, one felony count of human trafficking a minor victim, and one felony count of child endangerment, according to BCSO. Her bail was set at $300,000.

This investigation is ongoing. The Butte County Sheriffs Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact Detective Mary Barker at 530-538-7671.
PARADISE, Calif. - The Town of Paradise continues to make gains as it works to rebuild and recover after the Camp Fire. Disaster Recovery Manager, Katie Simmons, spoke with Action News Now Linda Watkins-Bennett with what you need to know.

New this week, Kevin Phillips was selected as the new Town Manager. The Paradise Town Council will formally hire Phillips on July 14. He comes to Paradise after serving as District Manager of Paradise Irrigation District.

Statistics Update

1,076 Building Permit Applications Received

917 Building Permits issued

240 Homes Rebuilt (certificate of occupancy issued)

4,584 Tree ROEs received (State Program)

3,995 Tree ROEs received (Private Program)

Other Updates

Paradise Private Hazardous Tree Removal Program Underway: Starting Tuesday, July 7, Tetra Tech will have four arborists in the field. This number will ramp up over time, according to the town. The arborists will be wearing blue vests with yellow safety stripes and TT logos. Vehicles will also have the Tetra Tech TT logo.



Starting Tuesday, July 7, Tetra Tech will have four arborists in the field. This number will ramp up over time, according to the town. The arborists will be wearing blue vests with yellow safety stripes and TT logos. Vehicles will also have the Tetra Tech TT logo. Broadband Feasibility Study: With a goal to provide broadband access to homes and businesses on the ridge, a study is under preparation.

With a goal to provide broadband access to homes and businesses on the ridge, a study is under preparation. Paradise Wastewater Treatment Project in Review: The Paradise Wastewater Treatment project is in preliminary engineering and environmental review. The new system proposes to connect 1,469 parcels in the sewer service area.

The Paradise Wastewater Treatment project is in preliminary engineering and environmental review. The new system proposes to connect 1,469 parcels in the sewer service area. COVID-19 Meal Service: Paradise Unified School District is launching its COVID-19 Meal Service Plan on June 5. The plan will run until Aug. 7 and is available to all kids 18 and under. Meals are distributed on Monday through Friday. Each child will receive two days worth of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Click Here for times and locations, or call Tanya Harter at 530-720-5552.

Paradise Unified School District is launching its COVID-19 Meal Service Plan on June 5. The plan will run until Aug. 7 and is available to all kids 18 and under. Meals are distributed on Monday through Friday. Each child will receive two days worth of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Click Here for times and locations, or call Tanya Harter at 530-720-5552. Help Keep Paradise Fire Safe: If you own a lot in Paradise, it is your responsibility to maintain it. If you need help clearing your lot of weeds and brush, you can contact a local company who can do the work for you. Find a list of companies with Paradise Business Licenses, HERE.

If you own a lot in Paradise, it is your responsibility to maintain it. If you need help clearing your lot of weeds and brush, you can contact a local company who can do the work for you. Find a list of companies with Paradise Business Licenses, HERE. Hope Plaza One Step Closer to Construction: Located at the corner of Foster Road and Skyway, Hope Plaza will serve as a place to reflect and inspire hope. All funds used for the project and maintenance are from private sources. No public funds will be used for the project. Read More

Located at the corner of Foster Road and Skyway, Hope Plaza will serve as a place to reflect and inspire hope. All funds used for the project and maintenance are from private sources. No public funds will be used for the project. PID funding restored: The Paradise Irrigation Districts $7.3 million backfill from the State of California has been restored in the budget signed by Governor Newsom.

The Paradise Irrigation Districts $7.3 million backfill from the State of California has been restored in the budget signed by Governor Newsom. ROEs and Inspection Access Forms: The Butte County ROE Center is still accepting ROEs and Inspection Access Forms. Inspections are scheduled to begin in mid-June and tree felling is scheduled to begin in July. Download your ROE or inspection Access form HERE. You can mail the form to 205 Mira Loma Dr., Ste 50, Oroville CA 95965 or email it to TreeROE@buttecounty.net. For questions, call the Tree ROE Information line at (530) 552-3030.

The Butte County ROE Center is still accepting ROEs and Inspection Access Forms. Inspections are scheduled to begin in mid-June and tree felling is scheduled to begin in July. Download your ROE or inspection Access form HERE. You can mail the form to 205 Mira Loma Dr., Ste 50, Oroville CA 95965 or email it to TreeROE@buttecounty.net. For questions, call the Tree ROE Information line at (530) 552-3030. Important: As of January 1, 2021, the rules about living in RVs on private lots in town will change back to pre-fire rules. You will be required to be actively rebuilding a permanent home on your property (different than a temporary RV permit) to continue living on your property in an RV. For information on the building process and to connect with financial resources for rebuilding, contact Rebuild Advocates at (530) 872-6291 x429 and x430.

As of January 1, 2021, the rules about living in RVs on private lots in town will change back to pre-fire rules. You will be required to be actively rebuilding a permanent home on your property (different than a temporary RV permit) to continue living on your property in an RV. For information on the building process and to connect with financial resources for rebuilding, contact Rebuild Advocates at (530) 872-6291 x429 and x430. Hazardous Tree Removal: Hazard trees that could fall on a public or private road are required to be removed. Property owners may enter the Government Tree Program to have the trees removed by the State at no out-of-pocket cost. Enrollment in the Government Tree Program requires a Right-of Entry form. Property owners may also identify and remove hazard trees themselves but must submit an inspection form so an inspector may verify the removal of the hazard trees from the property. Property owners may also call the Tree ROE Center directly at (530) 552-3030 or submit Tree ROEs by email at TreeROE@buttecounty.net. The Tree ROE is available for download online, HERE. ROE forms may also be picked up at the Tree ROE Center at the Building Resiliency Center at 6295 Skyway in Paradise.

Hazard trees that could fall on a public or private road are required to be removed. Property owners may enter the Government Tree Program to have the trees removed by the State at no out-of-pocket cost. Enrollment in the Government Tree Program requires a Right-of Entry form. Property owners may also identify and remove hazard trees themselves but must submit an inspection form so an inspector may verify the removal of the hazard trees from the property. Property owners may also call the Tree ROE Center directly at (530) 552-3030 or submit Tree ROEs by email at TreeROE@buttecounty.net. The Tree ROE is available for download online, HERE. ROE forms may also be picked up at the Tree ROE Center at the Building Resiliency Center at 6295 Skyway in Paradise. Rebuilding & Looking for Homeowners Insurance? The Rebuild Paradise Foundation has informative flyers listing local offices and which cover site/stick build and manufactured homes.

The Rebuild Paradise Foundation has informative flyers listing local offices and which cover site/stick build and manufactured homes. The Camp Fire Shed Project is now accepting applications for Round 2: The second build will take place Aug. 30 through Sept. 18, 2020. If you applied for round 2 prior to COVID-19, theres no need to reapply. Applications found here. Recap: If you owned a home on 11/8/2018 and lost your home or had significant damage due to the Camp Fire, are located within the burn scar area, currently living in an RV/Trailer/Tent, intend to rebuild and your insurance did not cover shed replacement, this program might be for you. Visit the criteria form to learn more.

Town FAQ
PARADISE, Calif. - The town of Paradise held its first meeting open to the public since the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.

This meeting was called "State of the Town Part 2: Department Reports", you can see an agenda for the town meeting here.

The meeting was held at the Alliance Church in Paradise on Clark Rd.

The church holds about 1,200 people, but the town council was only allowing 100 people in, and you must've been wearing your mask.

Town leaders like the Chief of Police and Fire along with Paradise Mayor and city council were all present at the meeting.

"We're going to have a lot of information about the financial status of the town and the status of all the projects, the recovery projects," said Paradise Council Member Jody Jones. "It's something that we just felt that our citizens should be allowed to come and hear."

The meeting began at 6 p.m. Around 40 people attended.

It was also live-streamed on Paradise's Facebook and YouTube. You can CLICK HERE to watch previous council meetings.
Happening this morning, the White House Coronavirus Task Force will hold a briefing at the Department of Education. The briefing could shed light on plans to reopen schools for the fall semester. At the white house Tuesday, President Trump said he would put pressure on governors to reopen schools.
Oroville man arrested for Sierra County shooting

An Oroville man is waking up behind bars after a shooting that killed one person and injured two others. Sierra County Deputies arrested John Thomas Conway of Oroville, they said Conway shot at a group of people in the Poker Flat area of Sierra County. During the arrest, deputies said Conway tried to hit wildlife officers with an off-road vehicle and exchanged shots with deputies.

1 person found dead with gunshot wound west of Redding airport

Police are investigating after officers found someone dead-- in the street with a gunshot wound. Redding Police say the call came in around 11:40 Tuesday night on Meadview Drive, just west of the airport. Officers have cleared the scene but say they are still investigating.

REU to conduct annual patrol and infrared inspection

The Redding Electric Utility today kicks off what it calls the annual patrol and infrared inspection. Crews will be out and out about in the utilitys service area, getting an up-close look at its transmission facilities to check for any problems or hazards that could trigger power failures. Customers are reminded REU crews will be working in clearly marked vehicles, so you will know if and when they are in your area.

Deputies investigate disturbance at Palermo home

Action News Now is working to learn more information on what Butte County Deputies are calling "a disturbance" at a Palermo home. Action News Now was on scene, our crew saw a large number of deputies - with guns gathered outside the home on Oakwood Lane, blocking off a stretch of that road, but deputies made no arrests.

Fire crews responded quickly to get a wildland fire just west of Glenn County under control. Crews and aircraft worked to contain the Nail Fire. It broke out in the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino national forest about 30 miles west of willows Tuesday. At last count, the fire was at least 25 acres. Investigators are working to learn the cause of the fire.

U.S. reaches over 3 million COVID-19 cases

There are now over 3 million cases of coronavirus in the United States. With many states; in fact, more than half the nation - seeing a surge in infections. Several states also saw a record number of hospitalizations. On Tuesday Texas reported over 10,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day. And the number of cases in Georgia officially passed 100,000.

White House coronavirus task force holds briefing to discuss reopening schools

Happening this morning, the White House Coronavirus Task Force will hold a briefing at the department of education. The briefing could shed light on plans to reopen schools for the fall semester. At the white house Tuesday, President Trump said he would put pressure on governors to reopen schools.
Indias long-standing Marathi News channel, ABP Majha, celebrated 13 years of successful operations on 22nd June, 2020. By the dint of umpteen flagship shows & initiatives, 24x7 local news coverage, and a highly viewer-driven approach, the channel has created a strong brand-equity in the ferociously competitive market of Maharashtra.

The remarkable journey of the channel witnessed numerous memorable shows such as Aaple Bharat Ratna, which celebrated the maestros of Maharashtra who received the Bharat Ratna Award; Majha Katta, a flagship weekly show which deliberated on the major developments of the society with renowned personalities, and Dahchya Batmya, the daily 10 pm Flagship bulletin of ABP Majha, which has been lauded by the viewers time & again. The riveting formats & timeless appeal of these shows has contributed immensely to the success of the channel.

Also read: ABP Majha concludes its first ever Education E-Conclave

ABP Majha has always been on the top of its game in terms of delivering exclusive content. It was the first channel to interview Sharad Pawar after the formation of Maharashtra government and conducted many noteworthy exclusive interviews of prominent personalities of the state & nation, such as Ramdev Baba, Sonam Wangchuk, Amir Khan, Ratan Tata, Rajiv Bajaj, and Shankar Mahadevan, to name a few.

Apart from memorable programming & exclusive content, over the years, ABP Majha has also dominated the viewership charts during various major news events. The channel has been a clear No. 1 in its respective segment  a trait it shares with the entire ABP News Network, which has a rich & proven legacy of leadership on big news days.

In 2019, ABP Majha was Maharashtras most preferred news channel with 44.6 avg wkly GVMs. In fact, during the COVID-era, the channel has emerged as no. 1, in the Marathi News Genre, and triumphed over all GECs with 32.5 Mn impressions on day of lockdown announcement. These numbers truly reflect the popularity and reach amassed by the channel over the years.

Equally impressive have been the channels efforts in creating a meaningful impact on the society through critical initiatives like Majha Shikshan Parishad, the first ever Education E-Conclave, which brought together various eminent personalities in the realm of education at one platform, to deliberate on the ongoing issues & concerns about the augmentation of educational operations amid COVID-19. Maharashtra Government took note of the solutions that emerged from the conclave and implemented one of them by cancelling the final year examinations, with results to be announced on the basis of aggregate marks scored by the students in the past semester.

During these challenging times, ABP Majha has also been on the frontlines in helping various communities in need. As a result of the COVID-19 instigated lockdown, woeful stories of struggle have known no bounds; from the plight of the migrant labourers to communities stumbling for a morsel of food.

In this vein, ABP Majha brought to light another gruelling story to the fore  that of the blind people of Vangani, whose source of income was entirely dependent on selling things on the trains. After ABP Majhas coverage and due recognition, the community received great support through local NGOs, individuals & politicians. In fact, BJP Minister Ram Kadam also donated ration for 350 families.

Through these powerful stories & initiatives, ABP Majha has come out as a close ally of the people of Maharashtra during tumultuous times.

On this milestone, Mr. Avinash Pandey, CEO, ABP News Network said, Im absolutely elated & overwhelmed to be celebrating this significant milestone in the memorable journey of ABP Majha. It gives me immense pride to reflect on the past 13 years and see the consistency, perseverance and dedication with which ABP Majha has remained on the top of its game, year in year out. Through numerous heartfelt shows & initiatives, the channel has acquired a really special place in the hearts of Marathi viewers. And this touchstone only inspires us create & innovate more, and fulfil the needs of our viewers.
India is just emerging out of an over two-month long 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. It has been a trying time for many of us, with everyone working from home and having to adapt to a new way of working and living. 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.

Anant Raj Kanoria, CEO iQuippo, is the factor behind the disruption created in the B2B construction equipment and infrastructure space for having started the most efficient online platform from the house of Srei. Kanoria has been the brain behind iQuippo and has been steering its operations successfully since May 2017 before the company got finally registered under the companies act in November 2017.

What are the key lockdown lessons as a professional during the lockdown period?

I think one of the key learnings during the lockdown was that productivity is better when you are working from home and you can actually connect with more people by saving on logistics time and cost. Also, with everything coming to a standstill, it was a great time to strategise, as we would never have such a time in our lifetime where the entire world is on a halt and you dont have to worry about operating issues. So, I think the lockdown was a kind of reset for the routine life, to learn how to look at things in a new way and remodel your business to address and tackle all kinds of crisis.

Please tell us some of the key takeaways in terms of life lessons from the lockdown period?

With a lot of time to reflect upon things, it showed me how we take a lot of things for granted and forget to notice it in our regular busy schedules. It also showed that there are so many things that we dont need and can do without in our lives. All the material things which we have or want to possess are of no value or utility in our daily lives. Also, the lockdown helped us understand the value of some of the people around us and what they do to make our lives easier. It also allowed me to get back to some of my old passions like playing the piano or learning a new skill like cooking. Finally, I think this entire crisis made us aware about how dynamic life is and that we need to be prepared for any change. And in order to deal with such changes, we need to keep our mind, body and soul active and energised.

How did you manage and achieve work-life balance while working from home?

I was pretty lucky and privileged to have help during the lockdown as well and, therefore, really didnt face much issues in getting a work-life balance. But I got time to clean out my room, which I would not have had time for generally and sort out my old belognings. Also, with being at home you have the pleasure of spending more time with family, so it really improved the work-life balance and you can give more concentrated and productive effort when working. Moreover, with less travelling it really helps in bonding and keeping you more energised.

It has been more than two months since the lockdown was enforced. How are you gearing up for back to office mode?

It was a long lockdown and with limited human interaction, peoples energy reduces. But we have been having regular video conferences and connecting with all our stakeholders during this time to keep it normal. We have still kept the option for people to work from home as we have seen that productivity has improved. Although where there is a human interaction required, we are educating our employees on best practices and taking all precautions when they move out of home. We have sanitized all our offices and are following all local government rules to keep it safe. We have also had our new strategy in place during the lockdown and were in touch with all our people, which has kept the energy going. And now they know that it is time for implementation, as being a digital platform, this crisis has become an inflection point for us to propel our growth to new heights.

Any lessons that you picked up in financial management from the lockdown period?

One of the greatest lessons that the lockdown has taught is that you need to be very frugal when it comes to costs and that you cannot run a start-up with a loss funding model. Whenever you become lenient with your costs, it is hard to turn it around, and then crisis like this will be hard to sail through. Also, I feel that travelling related costs have been an eye opener and the COVID-19 crisis has changed how business and travel costs need to be looked at. The last thing which this crisis has taught us is that you should have a lot of flexibility in your costs as that is the only thing in your control, so when required you can scale up or down.
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has launched a campaign Intezaar Aapka to draw the attention of the potential tourist who would like to visit Madhya Pradesh. This campaign is successfully running on all MPTBs Social Media handles and gaining upright response.

The campaign tagline Intezaar Aapka states that MPTB understands the emotion and situation of desirable travelers who have been patiently waiting to step out to visit their favorite tourist destinations. MPT is resonating with their thoughts and come up with series of communication that talk about The destination is waiting for you, thus driving home the thought of eagerness and empathy. Its been over 100 days of lockdown and now most of the people want to go out with their families, loved ones if not far but for a short and quick weekend getaway.

Keeping this in factor the tourist destinations being promoted through campaign that include Amarkantak, Panchmari, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Ujjain and Mandu highlighting the major key factors of the destinations. Going through the campaign tourists will came to know about the major attractions of the destinations. In the first Phase the wildlife, Parks and temples has opened from 15th June and in the second phase ASI monuments opened from 6th July.

Through this campaign, the tourism board aims to establish the confidence back in the tourism sector by offering tour packages to the tourists that are specially designed keeping in mind safe travel, stay, and excursion for prevention from COVID-19 infection. In order to facilitate smooth travel, the board has come up with short road itineraries mainly for 2 -3 nights and solves the boredom of a weekend from the neighboring states with all safety measures that are required at the destination.

Also read: Exclusive | MP mein Sau Tarah Ke rang Hai: Raghwendra Singh
Media consulting firm Ormax Media has announced the launch of The Ormax Prime Minister and Chief Minister Approval Rating. Based on continuous nationwide tracking across 22 states and one Union Territory, the polling tool covers 275+ cities and towns in India, with a monthly sample size of 12,000+. The Ormax Approval Rating will be Indias first through-the-year poll to track the public perception of the nations leadership. The tracking is being done independently by Ormax Media, with no affiliations to any media organizations or political parties.

Also read: 82% audience said they are missing theatres a lot during the lockdown: Ormax Media

Approval Rating is a measure out of 100 (%) of the proportion of eligible voters who approve of the governance of the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister of their state. Speaking on the launch of the Ormax Approval Ratings, Shailesh Kapoor, CEO - Ormax Media, said: Approval Ratings are a norm in many democracies in the West, including the US. Hence, it is surprising to note that there has been no continuous tracking on the public perception of the political leadership in India all these years. After piloting this project for many months since mid-2018, we are now ready to roll out these ratings in the public domain. In a country with many political opinions and biases, including in the media, credibility and political neutrality are the cornerstones on which this poll has been conceptualized. We will not be sharing any ratings by religion, caste or any other such variable that can take the discourse around these ratings away from actual governance.

As per the first Ormax PM Approval Rating report released by Ormax Media, Prime Minister Narendra Modis Approval Rating jumped from 59 in early February 2020 to 68 at the end of June 2020. The sharpest growth was seen in the week when the PM addresses the nation twice on either side of the Janta Curfew, announcing the three-week lockdown on March 24 in the second address. The Approval Rating saw a further jump in the second half of June in the aftermath of the escalation at the Galwan Valley. His popularity is the highest in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha and Goa, where he enjoys 71+ Approval Rating in June 2020.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is by far the most popular Chief Minister across the 22 states covered in the track currently, with an Approval Rating of 78 in June 2020. Assams Sarbananda Sonowal and Keralas Pinarayi Vijayan rank 2nd and 3rd on the list.








Dr. Vera Etches has issued an order that as of July 7, 2020, face masks are to be mandatory. This order has been issued after a firmly established city and national decline in the community spread of COVID-19 during the last months of the prevailing pandemic. The issuing of an order during such a decline without any apparent vetting by Ottawa city councillors in a public forum not only smacks of fascism but is an absolute insult to all the collective efforts and sacrifices that Ottawa-area residents have made under the coordinated leadership of Premier Doug Ford.

In fact, it is becoming more apparent that so-called "public health officers," from Dr. Vera Etches to Dr. Theresa Tam, are apparent fifth columns working to use the coronavirus to implement the early stages of a totalitarian society and planet as a result of the eventual transformation of the United States from a democracy into a fascist society in order to "cope with coronavirus."

The apparent job of public health officers in Canada is to anticipate the transformation of the United States into a totalitarian society by getting the Canadian public used to more and more controls imposed by New World Order (NWO) public health officers who seek control the movements of everyone in the name of "containing the virus," which was reportedly hatched in a Wuhan, China, laboratory to expedite a New World Order.

The apparent game under the regime sought by Dr. Tam is to impose artificial intelligence (AI) technologies aided by microchipped COVID-19 vaccinations to monitor and dictate what people do, when, where, how, and who with, and Dr. Etches' new face-mask policy in Ottawa appears to be part of this coordinated plot. People who disobey would be placed under house arrest or imprisoned. This plot south of the border was revealed by former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, who showed viewers such concentration camps operated by fusion centers under the control of a political-military-industrial complex and technocrats like public health officers.

This pandemic has nothing to do with an outbreak from bats or an "unsanitary market" in China. That's all an apparent cover story.

Other jurisdictions have sought to implement a mandatory-face-mask policy to rein in an upward trend in community spread.

However, it is apparent that Dr. Etches is simply trying to use her authority in a pandemic as a basis to consolidate her power and authority in her apparent role to support and help expedite a New World Order.

Indeed, cases of COVID-19 in Ottawa have been the result of the failure of technocrats like Dr. Etches to ensure the health and well-being of our senior citizens in extended-care facilities across Ottawa.

Instead of Dr. Etches using her authority to ensure the health and safety of vulnerable populations in Ottawa, she has sought to arbitrarily undermine the freedoms and liberties of Ottawa residents.

Don't be surprised if Dr. Etches eventually starts to demand that you wear a mask outside and, eventually, in your own home.

The apparent plan-demic is a complete orchestration to spread disease that can be used to support a New World Order agenda controlled by technocrats like Dr. Vera Etches.

Such technocrats have been substantively linked to Bill Gates' agenda to force everyone into being microchipped through a mandatory vaccination program.

The goal to force everyone to wear face masks is being pushed by an organized anti-democratic fifth column that wants to make everyone's life so oppressive that you will be willing to eventually get microchipped so you can then be free of the immediate tyrannies imposed by technocrats. This microchip plan has been confirmed by Express.co.uk and many diverse media sources.

Traditioninaction.org presents a telling fact: Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer, who is currently at the forefront of the countrys pandemic response (while fully abiding by the World Health Organizations guidelines) appeared in a bizarre 2010 movie about a pandemic. The movie Outbreak: Anatomy of a Plague is about the fictional scenario of the resurgence of smallpox in Canada. What she says during the movie is stunning.

In the movie, Tam talks about measures to be taken if theres an outbreak of smallpox.

She says,If there are people who are non-compliant, there are definitely laws and public health powers that can quarantine people in mandatory settings. She adds,Its potential you can track people, put bracelets on their arms, have police and other setups to ensure quarantine.

The narrator of the movie continues:

Police checkpoints are set up on all the bridges and everyone leaving the city required to show proof of vaccination. Those who refuse to cooperate are taken away to temporary detention centers.

If you dont believe that these words were ever spoken by Dr. Tam, who is Canadas chief public health officer, then I invite you to listen to her in the above video declaring that the creation of a totalitarian society under AI control would be an appropriate response to a pandemic. When you have a video of Dr. Tam endorsing an NWO agenda, theres no need to rely on a so-called conspiracy theory.

There you have it, folks. The words right out of Dr. Tam's mouth point to the real agenda, which is not safeguarding lives.

Dr Etches and Dr Tam are an apparent effort to move Canada into becoming on a step-by-step basis into a Police State under the guise of "protecting people" from a 'pandemic' through the mass mind control via Problem-Reaction-Solution. If you examine the evidence documented in Coronavirus: Ventura reveals Archons seek destruction of America and democracy and listen to the words that come out of Dr Tam's mouth in the above video it is apparent that Dr Etches and Dr Tam are both NWO operatives of an orchestrated pandemic scenario.



Coronavirus: Ventura reveals Archons seek destruction of America and democracy
Rain will often cause high nutrient losses in bales stored outside
Pulse USA, a pulse crop and forage seed company based in Bismarck, N.D., is now fully-owned by some of the employees who work there.
HERMAN, Minn.  While finding a time to interview my dad, Dana Blume, I had a hard time to even sit down and have an interview with him, as he
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Fifteen workers at Los Alamos National Laboratory might have been exposed to plutonium, a potentially grave mishap that some industry observers and critics say portends trouble for plutonium pit production, a separate cross-country nuclear weapons mission.

At least one lab worker received "significant contamination" on his hair, skin and protective clothing, according to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, following a June breach in a glovebox, a sealed piece of equipment used to handle dangerous or toxic substances.

"The room experienced significant" airborne radioactivity at the time and alarms triggered, inspectors with the independent board reported. A Los Alamos spokesperson on Wednesday said "laboratory employees responded promptly and appropriately, and cleared the room in a safe manner."

The one worker, the DNFSB noted, was successfully decontaminated and provided chelation therapy, a treatment for heavy-metal poisoning.

Los Alamos is investigating the June 8 exposure, and the total 15 workers are being monitored and evaluated, the same spokesperson said. The area where it happened at the New Mexico lab has been secured, pending a review.

Exactly how long that review will take is unclear, as are its consequences.

The "serious" incident last month is a "tiny window into long standing problems here," Greg Mello, with the watchdog Los Alamos Study Group, said in an interview with the Aiken Standard. It comes at a time, too, when the lab is maneuvering toward and preparing for jumpstarted plutonium pit production, the forging of nuclear weapon cores.

Federal law mandates the production of 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030  a tight schedule, defense officials have acknowledged. While the Savannah River Site would produce 50 of those pits per year, according to a joint recommendation made by the National Nuclear Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Defense in 2018, Los Alamos would produce 30.

What recently transpired at Los Alamos "casts a long shadow" over the lab's "pell-mell rush to acquire a huge plutonium production mission, namely pit production," Mello said this week. Stephen Young, a Washington representative for the global security program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, described the circumstances as "tricky, dangerous," expensive and time consuming.

"This is yet another example of why the current pit production plan is doomed to failure," Young said.

Savannah River Site Watch Director Tom Clements on Wednesday similarly said the plutonium exposure is troubling  for both South Carolina and New Mexico.

"The rush by DOE to quickly expand plutonium pit production to SRS is fraught with risks and this accident serves as a red alert about those fast-tracked plans," he said. "NNSA must immediately pause their overly ambitious pit production plans and fully review this troubling plutonium accident and its implications in environmental documents being prepared on pits at both SRS and Los Alamos."

Los Alamos, near Albuquerque and Santa Fe, has been recognized as a plutonium center of excellence. Plutonium-238, what was being handled June 8, is not used in nuclear weapons, as NASA has noted.

Pit production at the Savannah River Site, according to the 2018 recommendation, would mean repurposing the failed and incomplete Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility.
While politicians and intelligentsia in Iran often blame the US government for racism towards minorities, their track record at home is far from perfect. The Afghans experience is a case in point.

When American George Floyd was killed on the street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in late May, his death sparked a global movement demanding justice for minorities. However, the movement has not fully reached the Middle East in general, and Iran in particular. When "Black Lives Matter" echoed across the Middle East, many members of media and intellectuals used it as another example of American hypocrisy. However, a discussion on racism and discrimination is long overdue. The difference is in the victims of oppression, not all of whom are black, in countries across the region.

There are many things that set Iran and Afghanistan apart from one another. However, few countries in the world have such a tight bond. They have share a cultural heritage and mythology and celebrate the same literary figures and heroes. They were part of the same political entity until the mid-19th century, when Afghanistan became a nation-state in its own right. Despite this history, few foreigners are treated as foreign as Afghan immigrants in Iran.

At the time of Irans Islamic Revolution of 1979, there had been 400,000 Afghans in Iran, working and living in Irans eastern provinces, sharing a border with Afghanistan. However, the situation changed dramatically when the USSR invaded Afghanistan following a communist coup in Kabul. Thousands of Afghans sought refuge in Iran, a country with the same language, religion, history and culture. It was the beginning of their saga.

Iran soon found itself in a war of attrition with its western neighbor Iraq, as its eastern neighbor was going caught in the mayhem of a brutal civil war. The number of Afghan refugees reached 1.6 million, mostly residing in the capital city of Tehran, the industrial hub of Isfahan and the provinces of Khorasan and Fars. They sought employment as unskilled and low-skilled workers. They worked as seasonal workers, construction workers and farmhands. Their presence changed the market equilibrium, marking the beginning of many myths about their socio-economic status in Iran.

According to the Statistical Center of Iran, Between 1979 and 2000, the average wage increased by 31.3% in Iran. However, the average salary in construction dropped by 52.8%. Many attributed the discrepancy to the added supply of Afghan workers. During the 90s, Afghans constituted 4% of Irans population but 6% of its labor force. Since Afghan children were not welcome in Irans public school system during the 80s and 90s, there was an increase in child labor. Many Iranians began to believe that Afghans were crowding out Iranian unskilled workers from the construction sector. However, studies showed that Afghans live and work in areas with unemployment rates below the national average. Iranian unskilled workers did not experience a higher than average unemployment rate because of the Afghan immigrants.

Distorting the labor market is only one of the accusations Afghan immigrants face in Iran. News reports and the state authorities accuse Afghans of abusing public subsidies, increasing the crime rate, wasting the limited resources of the public health care system, sending much needed hard currency to Afghanistan and unofficially marrying Iranian women. It is ironic how many parallels exist between the treatment of Afghan immigrants and the accusations certain groups levy against African-Americans in the United States and in both cases, the allegations are not supported by facts.

For example, Afghans cannot use Irans public health care system without an official residency permit. They have no access to skilled workers job markets. If Iranian employers prefer undocumented Afghan workers, it is because they do not have to pay social security for them and their services can be acquired at much lower price. Afghans are limited to poor neighborhoods and often live on construction sites or dairy farms or in low-income ghettos in metropolitan areas, where crime is already a frequent occurrence.

Saleh, an Afghan immigrant who have been living in Mashhad for more than three decades, told Al-Monitor, We are considered second-class human beings. We dream of being second-class citizens."

The list of what Afghans cannot do or have in Iran is long. In the age of telecommunication, an Afghan immigrant cannot own his or her own mobile line. They often use pay-as-you-go lines issued to Iranian account holders they have to pay a fee. Afghans cannot open bank accounts in Iran, cannot have debit cards, cannot use ATMs and cannot wire money using banking channels to their families.

For these people, who speak, read and write Persian, education in the largest Persian-speaking country in the world is a challenge. Afghans cannot operate their own schools. Until the academic year of 2014-2015, Afghan children were not admitted to public schools without certain documents. Many had been studying in underground schools run by Afghan intellectuals who were not permitted to work in Irans institutions. It took a decree from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, the highest authority in the land, to open the schools to undocumented children in Iran. Even then, many were reluctant to admit Afghan students.

After graduating from high school, Afghan students can take the national universities admission exams. If they score high enough to enter the state universities, which are tuition-free for Iranians and very competitive, they have to pay tuition in hard currencies such as dollars or euros. Arriving on campus, Afghan students continue to face misunderstandings. Jaffar, a second-generation Afghan, told Al-Monitor, On the first day at the University of Tehran, students were surprised that I speak Persian. I had to tell them we Afghans speak Persian!

The truth is after living in Iran for four decades, Afghan immigrants are not considered Iranian citizens. They residency cards must be renewed each year. Many have to carry a travel permission card so that they can go from one city to another. Even if they fight for the rights granted them by existing laws and regulations, they face discrimination and cannot be confident they will win their cases. Saleh said, I moved to Iran 35 years ago. I cannot say anything has fundamentally changed.

However, there have been some changes. Afghan volunteers and recruits, known as Fatemiyoun, fought in Syria in support of Iran. In 2016 the Iranian government announced that it would grant citizenship to the family members of martyred Fatemiyoun, including their widows, children and parents. As Afghans make their way through Irans higher educational institutions, they have gained access to policy-makers and government officials. Many Afghan college graduates have voiced the issues and challenges their community faces in Iran.

Jaffar observed, Iranian people are showing increasingly more empathy toward Afghan immigrants. They reach out more often these days. Many Iranians support Afghans access to public schools and health care. However, there is a long way ahead before most Afghan immigrants can become Iranian citizens. Jaffar added, We second- and third-generation Afghans do not feel at home visiting Afghanistan, but we are not considered Iranians either. Iranians empathy for Afghan immigrants has not translated into truly substantial change.

George Floyds death serves as a reminder that ignoring discrimination and racism can prove costly for society. It is a reminder that Iranian authorities need to take Afghan lives and livelihood seriously.
Irans President Hassan Rouhani mounted a rosy defense of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after the latter was cornered by the hard-line lawmakers who are in full control of the countrys new parliament.

In a televised cabinet meeting July 8, Rouhani expressed admiration for Zarif as the embodiment of Irans political power. Rouhani also borrowed from the constant praise that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has lent Zarif and his emphasis that the foreign minister ought to be respected.

During his first address to the newly elected legislative body last week, the Iranian foreign minister was heckled by a group of parliamentarians who greeted him with slurs and name-calling. Death to the liar and Youre a traitor, they shouted before the Iranian top diplomat sarcastically thanked them for their hospitality.

The outcry was meant to be an expression of anger against Zarifs role as the architect of the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the foreign minister vigorously backed as a document of national pride. Zarif also reminded his critics that we are all in the same boat when it comes to Irans tensions with the United States, whose departure from the JCPOA in May 2018 has left the multilateral accord in tatters.

There was no stuttering in Zarifs defense and that is what infuriated the attackers, who were going out of their way to make him slam the door, a pro-Rouhani news outlet reported of Zarifs day of patience and criticized the new parliament for taking a path of confrontation rather than one of interaction with the moderate government.

During the cabinet meeting, Rouhani called for unity against American and Israeli plots aimed at sowing division among Iranian officials. This is not the best time for an exchange of diatribes, he said, at a moment when the country is facing too many enemies and has to fight across multiple fronts from sanctions to the coronavirus.

The presidents advice came only three days after 130 lawmakers signed a motion to summon him for questioning on the parliament floor. Among other issues, the meeting is expected to revolve around Rouhanis economic performance, his handling of the JCPOA and his engagement with Western states.

Under Article 88 of the Iranian Constitution, if the signatories of the motion are left unconvinced by the presidents explanations, they are authorized to proceed to the next stage, which could be impeachment. This could be a critical moment when Rouhani will perhaps have to pin his hopes on intervention from the supreme leader, whose informal but binding directives have blocked similar attempts by other parliaments in the history of the Islamic Republic.
The revelations that Moscow paid Taliban warriors bounties to kill U.S., British, and other allied soldiers in Afghanistan is already generating a scandal in the United States. Yet for those who closely monitor Russian foreign policy in Central Asia and Afghanistan, this represents a particularly grisly escalation of policy but not a change in strategy. Moscow has long been determined to enhance its position with the Taliban and accelerate the ejection of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, which it regards as a threat to its position in Central Asia and to Russia. In Moscows imagination, the presence of several U.S. and/or NATO airbases in Afghanistan could strike Russian targets in Central Asia. Moreover, Russia has consistently expressed a visceral reaction to the presence of foreign military forces, especially Western ones, in and around Central Asia.

BACKGROUND: Russias bounty hunting is an intensification of its strategy to cooperate with the Taliban and ensure that it has a place in any future Afghan government, and to perpetuate Russias dominant military presence in Central Asia, not least by perennially invoking potential terrorist threats from Afghanistan to justify its lasting presence in the region. This tactic is utterly repugnant and it appears the GRUs notorious Unit 29155, linked to destabilizing and covert operations like the 2018 poisoning of former agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, conducted the bounty hunting. But it fits with Russias past policy. While it may appear like a major escalation against the U.S., in the regional context, it is a significant tactical intensification of a long-established strategy.

By 2013, Russia was sharing intelligence with the Taliban and not long afterwards transferred weapons to it. This occurred simultaneously with Russian-voiced apprehensions about the course of the war with the Taliban and efforts to strengthen its ties with all the major Asian players active in Afghanistan, namely China, Pakistan, and India. These initiatives have continued since, reflecting Moscows bet that any postwar Afghan regime will be substantially subjected to influence radiating from those states. Moscow concurrently posed as a disinterested mediator willing to bring about negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government. It justified its position by stating that the Taliban was less of a threat to its interests than ISIS, whose presence in Afghanistan was often alluded to but not conclusively established. At the same time, Moscow also made clear its steadfast opposition to any extension of the U.S. and NATO presence in Afghanistan. It also undertook a continuing policy of strengthening its military ties with all of the Central Asian states, including neutral Turkmenistan. While the extent of success has varied with each country in Central Asia, recent Russian military initiatives in Central Asia reflect not only concern about a potential Chinese threat.

This multi-pronged policy aimed to ensure that Russia had a reliable client in Afghanistans post-war government that would ensure its lasting leverage and influence in a permanently unsteady regime. It also aimed to ensure that its sphere of influence would not lead to heightened tensions with or among the other players. Thus, some sort of modus vivendi could be worked out, leaving everyone more or less satisfied and ensuring Russias enduring place in this constellation. At the same time, the U.S. and NATO would be reduced if not eliminated as factors of concern to Moscow as well as other players. At the same time, because of the precarious security situation in Afghanistan, Moscow could continue to justify its dominant military position in Central Asia to Central Asian governments. Achieving these outcomes at minimal expense, since Russia will not willingly entrap itself again in Afghanistan, would entail a major geopolitical success for Russia and enhance its position in South and Central Asia while not incurring substantial new risks and costs.

IMPLICATIONS: While all of the aforementioned policies moved forward, Russo-American relations have steadily deteriorated and Russia, since the invasion of Crimea in 2014, has essentially returned to a state of Cold War with Washington and Europe. In this war, Russia has continued to develop innovative multi-dimensional or cross-domain forms of coercion for launching endless probes against the West, on a global basis. The GRU has taken a large role in these programs and its special unit 29155, named as the likely source of these bounties, has played a particularly prominent role in organizing all kinds of cyber, information, chemical warfare (Skripal), and other jobs, including assassinations against Western and other supposedly anti-Russian targets.

Given its global remit, high political support from Moscow, the increasing signs of the unpopularity of the Afghan war within the U.S., and President Trumps oft-stated desire to exit Afghanistan, it is not at all surprising that this unit would be tasked with or volunteer for operations including but not limited to this bounty hunting program. From the GRUs and Putins point of view, it is probably a big step from intelligence sharing, diplomatic support, and gun running for the Taliban. Once again, this is a relatively cheap stratagem to intensify the pressure on both the U.S. and its NATO allies as well as upon the Afghan government to accede to a reconstituted government that includes the Taliban and that thereby guarantees  or so Moscow expects  a lasting platform for Russian influence. Russias policies also recall classic examples of Tsarist and Soviet foreign policies in seeking to expand Russias influence among weakening, fractious states like the nineteenth century Ottoman Empire or foreign states that Russia sought to move towards Socialism without raising too many suspicions in the West.

While Moscow probably does not aspire, and in any case cannot afford to dominate Afghanistan, it does intend to preserve a lasting voice on what happens in Kabul and exclude the West from participating in those events.

This program also pertains to Central Asia. Foreign interest in the region is rising; however, China and Russia are clearly the leading foreign actors. It also is clear that there is rising demand from within Central Asia for more regional coordination and with Afghanistan independent of Moscow and Beijing. At the same time, Chinese economic-political influence has greatly expanded through the Belt and Road Initiative with which Russia cannot compete. Moreover, Russia now faces growing competition from Chinese military power projection into Central Asia, with which it will be hard pressed to contend.

By securing an enduring role in a fragmented Afghan polity, it will be able to invoke the persistent threat of renewed terrorism and instability in Afghanistan and emanating from it. In turn, that threat assessment, which Central Asian states profess to share, plus the provision of subsidies, arms sales, and education of local military officers in Russian academies, would also allow Russia to preserve its currently leading foreign military position in Central Asia as the main external provider of security to the Russian military base in Afghanistan. Again, it will be able to do so on the cheap.

CONCLUSIONS: Whether or not this strategy will succeed in the longer term is, of course, an open question. Russias capabilities relative to China are steadily diminishing and it will have to do more to satisfy the growing demands of Central Asian states for more agency in their domestic and foreign policies as well as their defense. Moreover, it is highly doubtful that the Taliban, once in power, will abide by their assurances to Russia that they will not strive to export their version of Islamic revolution abroad. However, these policies also highlight an even more threatening phenomenon, namely the entrenchment of the Putin regimes habitual resort to criminal and brutal policies abroad as well as at home. Moscow will not leave behind its legacy of power in Central Asia or anywhere else without fighting for it as we still see in Ukraine. In the context of its steadily waning capabilities and capacities for sustaining its imperial and great power legacy, this warning is a most sobering one.

AUTHOR'S BIO:

Stephen Blank is a Senior Fellow with Foreign Policy Research Institute, www.fpri.org.

Image Source: Public Domain via Wikipedia accessed on 7/8/20
The sounds of Turkish bombs rattled the Assyrian community of Bersiveh in northern Iraq in the early hours of June 20. Although the village is accustomed to the booms and roars of airstrikes and nearby artillery fire, residents never know when or where to expect the attacks.

Junes aggression is just the latest in a string of Turkish bombings that have exhausted Assyrian communities in the country for years, said Athra Kado, an Assyrian teacher in Alqosh, and they are slowly contributing to the erasure of the ancient population.

This is not todays incident or event, this has been happening for decades, Kado told Al-Monitor.

Assyrians are an ethnic group indigenous to parts of Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran. Northern Iraq was host to many dozens of Assyrian communities, but a string of wars, terrorist attacks by the Islamic State and subsequent pressure from remaining militia groups have either emptied or destroyed many of these villages. Before 2000, more than 1 million Christians  including Chaldeans, Syriacs and Assyrians  considered Iraq home. Today, that number is around 150,000.

Turkey has waged a recurring war against the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, in Iraq and Syria since 1984. Peace talks between the two sides collapsed in mid-2015. Today, the PKK is a designated terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Tension between Turkey and the PKK escalated on June 14 when Turkey launched Operation Claw-Tiger in retaliation for what the Turkish Defense Ministry said was increased militant attacks on Turkish army bases and police stations near the Iraqi border.

In a statement 36 hours after the operation began, the ministry said that more than 500 PKK targets were already destroyed. And on Twitter, the ministry shared images of helicopters targeting the PKK in the Haftanin area of the Kurdistan region.

Often during these attacks, marginalized communities such as the Assyrians are left without consideration and little to no protection.

On the evening of June 14, the Assyrian village of Sharanish in Dahuk province was hit by several Turkish airstrikes, destroying the villages electric and water distributors as well as a meeting hall. Fears of future attacks forced the more than 200 villagers to flee.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom condemned Operation Claw-Tiger and called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to end the assault. Once again, Turkey is showing their disregard for vulnerable religious and ethnic minorities who live in, or have been displaced to, those same areas, the commission wrote in June.

But a spokesperson for Turkeys Foreign Ministry said the commission and other such organizations ignore the fact that the PKK oppresses marginalized groups such as the Assyrians and Yazidis.

Turkish bombs hit near Assyrian communities because that is where they believe many PKK members are hiding. But Assyrian communities are not in a position to kick out PKK members who demand food and shelter near these villages, Kado said, because when towns say no to PKK fighters, they are often attacked.

Dozens of Assyrian communities in northern Iraq have been emptied or destroyed by attacks like the one last month, Kado said. Since Junes airstrikes, nine of the 11 Christian villages in the Zakho district have been evacuated, according to the International Christian Concern.

All of these geographic areas, that [include part of] Iraq, part of Turkey, part of Iran, part of Syria, was Assyrian land. Today, its completely emptied of Assyrians, Kado said. We are barely surviving. We want to survive in our land. We want to stay in our land. If the situation continues as it is, maybe not by leaving but in other ways, we wont survive for more than decades.
Ten new ambassadors and one consul general were appointed July 5  a record number rarely seen in Israel in recent years. All of the new envoys are career diplomats, and all of them have served in multiple senior positions in Israel and abroad. The impressive list includes three women  Hagit Ben-Yaakov, Meirav Eilon Shahar and Zehavit Ben Hillel. And it also includes Israels first Bedouin ambassador  Ismail Haldi.

With most of the new envoys expected to take up office at the beginning of September, they have little time to prepare. Still, the atmosphere at the ministry in Jerusalem seems to be festive.

Israels Foreign Ministry had its share of tough periods. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also served as foreign minister for several years, conducted Israels diplomacy out of his own office, with the diplomats relegated to relatively minor topics. The Palestinian issues, the Iranian file, the renewal of contacts with African Muslim countries and the creation of ties with Arab Gulf states were Netanyahus domain. And even when he finally appointed a full-time foreign minister  Israel Katz  he kept the reigns of diplomacy on the big strategic issues in his own portfolio.

Then there was the issue of the budget. In September 2019, the Finance Ministry announced the freezing of financial activities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following a severe budget deficit. A decision that literally meant that the ministry and its diplomatic missions abroad would be almost completely paralyzed. Israeli diplomats were shocked  but then they werent. Over the years, the ministrys budget was cut again and again, so obviously in the end it went into a deficit. Some diplomats who served in Jerusalem told Al-Monitor at the time that there were no more funds even for the most basic office supplies. Inviting a foreign diplomat for a cup of coffee was out of the question; delegations of journalists from Turkey and Europe were canceled. And the list went on. The salaries of diplomats and other embassy staff also suffered, and the labor union planned strikes more than once.

And as if that was not enough, many of the responsibilities of the ministries were taken away and handed over to other ministries. For instance, the battle against the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement was relegated to the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, even though it was Israeli diplomats facing and confronting the boycott activists across the globe.

Shortly after being appointed, Israels new Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi signaled that he was going to change things. On June 7, he approved the long-awaited nomination of Amira Oron as Israels new ambassador to Egypt. On June 18, he appointed the much-appreciated diplomat Alon Ushpiz as the new director general of the ministry. Ushpiz replaces veteran Director General Yuval Rotem. Rotem is also a career diplomat, but after serving several years under Netanyahu, the ministry certainly needed someone new at its helm. Ministry staff appreciated Ashkenazi choosing one of their own, and not bringing in an outsider.

On June 24, Ashkenazi posted on Facebook a photo of a meeting he held at the ministry with veteran retired Israeli diplomats, writing, "I received a lot of advice, I [learned] from their rich experience, I listened to every word and wrote everything down. I promised them that I would make sure to return the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to its natural place as a leading and decisive factor in policy decision-making processes and strategic stages."

Netanyahu, of course, is still holding his own diplomatic cards. He appointed Minister Gilad Erdan as Israels next ambassador to New York and to the United Nations. Former Deputy Minister Tzipi Hotovely, also a Likud member, is expected to be appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom. The position of ambassador to France, vacant for many months now, will also be filled by an associate of Netanyahu. And so, key diplomatic positions will be manned by loyalists of the prime minister.

The other problems are not all resolved. Israel has now its biggest-ever government, with 34 ministers and plenty of new ministries that did not exist before. Ashkenazi can expect a fierce battle with the Finance Ministry over funding and with other ministries over responsibilities. Still, his greatest challenge lies with Israels diplomatic agenda. If Ashkenazi manages to involve the ministry on the Palestinian and the Iran portfolios, then we could start talking about rehabilitating the Foreign Ministry.
Russias Libyan allies are ready to sign a cease-fire but the Tripoli-based government is unwilling, according to Russia's top diplomat.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today that the Libyan National Army (LNA) is prepared to lay down its arms, but that the UN-recognized and Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) wants to continue fighting.

Now, the LNA, according to our assessments, is ready to sign such a document on immediate cease-fire, said Lavrov, as reported by Russias state-run TASS news outlet. But this time it is the Tripoli government who does not want to do it, counting on the military solution.

Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates support eastern-based strongman Khalifa Hifters LNA in its war with the GNA, which is heavily backed by Turkey. France also allegedly supports the LNA. The GNA controls the area around the capital Tripoli and much of the northwest, while the LNA rules large swaths of the rest of the country.

Lavrov made the comments following a videoconference with African Union states including Egypt. The LNA wanted to continue fighting earlier in the year, but now favors a cease-fire, said Lavrov, according to TASS.

Despite Lavrovs comments, neither side has shown signs of stopping the bloody conflict. Turkey said this week it wants to help the GNA take the coastal city of Sirte and Libyas largest airbase in Al Jufra from the LNA. Egypt has threatened military action if the LNA loses Sirte. And unidentified aircraft bombed the GNAs airbase at al-Watiya this week.

Earlier this year, the LNA suffered a series of defeats and failed to capture Tripoli.

Libya has been mired in civil war since 2014. The country has not had political stability since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011 that deposed longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi. The current conflict has increasingly become a proxy war and exacerbated tensions among European and Middle Eastern states.
Russia and China have blocked a proposal at the United Nations Security Council aimed at keeping open two border crossings that channel aid into Syrias opposition-held northwest from Turkey.

Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the conflict, previously made clear its intent to veto the proposal, despite last-minute hopes the Kremlin might abstain.

According to Reuters, Russia and China want to approve only one aid crossing from Turkey for a period of six months.

The move is bound to worsen the already drastic humanitarian crisis in Syrias northwest, where more than a million people displaced by the war are struggling with rising prices of food and medicine.

The 15-member council voted 13-2 today to extend a cross-border aid mechanism that is set to expire Friday.

Germany and Belgium introduced the draft resolution last month to extend the opening of the Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa crossings with Turkey. The initial proposal also called for reopening the Yaroubiyah crossing with Iraq to be opened for six months, but that provision was scrapped in hope Russia would allow the other crossings to remain open.

Russia and China have repeatedly threatened to veto proposals to keep cross-border aid routes into Syria open. January saw the closing of Yaroubiyah under pressure from the two countries.

Some 40% of the aid destined for Kurdish-controlled areas of Syrias northeast flowed through Yaroubiyah, and the UN has since said more than two-thirds of medical facilities that previously got aid in the northeast are no longer receiving it.

The result is that Syrias northeast has been forced to largely rely on aid routed through Damascus, which is demanding that the Kurdish-led autonomous region come under centralized government control. The same is true for the Rukban camp in Syrias eastern desert, from which tens of thousands of people have been forced to return to regime-controlled areas due to lack of provisions.

Anything that arrives in Damascus is ending up in the pockets of people close to the regime, or at the least in regime-loyal areas, said Thomas McClure of the Rojava Information Center based in northeast Syria.

Syrias rebel-held northwest now appears set to face a similar situation, if not worse. The Syrian regime has consistently leveraged UN aid as a tool of coercion throughout the war.

Syria is also facing a potential coronavirus catastrophe, with the opposition-held northwest particularly vulnerable. Many of Idlib provinces hospitals were targeted in Russian and regime airstrikes in the governments offensive that began in April of last year.

The continued closure in the northeast, and any closure in the northwest will have the effect of driving further misery and poverty among ordinary Syrians for the crime of trying to live outside the control of the Assad regime, McClure told Al-Monitor via WhatsApp.

All of this conducted unfortunately under the aegis of the United Nations, he said.

A representative of the UN refugee agencys office in Damascus did not immediately return a request for comment.
Near the village of Taoujout, a road of packed dirt leads up a steep hill toward the settlement of stone houses perched at its top. In the low spots below the road, palms sprout among green gardens. While only six miles from the regional administration center and tourist sights, Taoujout appears totally disconnected from the outside world.

Beside the road, a small outbuilding decorated with traditional ornamentation serves as the cultural center and language school for the Amazigh, the name North Africas indigenous pre-Arab inhabitants use to refer to themselves. At a desk in the building, Ahmed Gwirah, president of the Taoujout Association for the Preservation of the Amazigh Villages, discussed the history of the Amazigh communitys marginalization and underdevelopment with Al-Monitor.

The situation for us in Taoujout was better under the French. They built a lot for us, including two wells. They also built the roads connecting us [to the outside]. Thats development.

Gwirah said that after Tunisias independence, the mountain villages like his  many of them Amazigh-speaking  were seen as supporters of Salah Ben Yousef, former President Habib Bouguibas arch political rival who was assassinated. They were also home to the Fellagha, pro-independence fighters who attacked outposts of the French colonizers, with whom Bourguiba had a warm relationship even after independence.

The real marginalization started after independence, said Gwirah, pointing out that the government built new settlements in the lowlands for each of the handful of remaining Amazigh-speaking villages. He noted the case of Zraoua, a small stone village on another hilltop nearby.

Old Zraoua is now empty of inhabitants. Amazigh buildings and architecture with no one living there. The authorities interfered with them after independence. They cut off their water, their electricity and forced them to move down to New Zraoua in the plains below.

Gwirah said moving the rebellious Amazigh down to the newly created villages and taking their arms was a way of keeping an eye on them, integrating them into the Arabic-speaking majority and consolidating the power of the post-independence state  as well as Bourguibas rule.

He noted that Tunisias post-revolutionary constitution in 2014 waved in legislation to distribute power to municipalities from a highly centralized state. He expressed doubt about the laws' ability to bring real positive change to the southeast of Tunisia, where the last Amazigh communities live, because of the concentration of wealth and power in the north.

The north and coast areas are nothing like here in the south. The administration, the money and development are all in Tunis.

In New Zraoua, Ali Zieda, one of the founders of the Azro Association for Amazigh Culture, sat at a closed shopfront on the main street. The village looked abandoned, almost all residents hiding in their houses from the midday sun. He said the villagers had been protesting and getting some attention from the state: After the revolution we began to take action. We formed this association, which would have been illegal before. In the village we had no high school. All the children had to study in other towns. So we held a big sit-in in Matmata, and finally the government built us a high school.

Protests have brought other modest improvements to the village. Doctors who used to come work at the local clinic once a week now come three times as often. New Zraoua once had no streetlights, but now the state has installed some.

Ali believes the most progress, however, has been made in cultural preservation. He said his villagers were the first to produce Amazigh rap music. His association Azro introduced the use of the Tifinagh, the once-banned Amazigh alphabet, teaching children to read and write in it. Even Ziedas small smartphone keyboard is Tifinagh lettering  a recent and rare innovation.

Further, he noted that since villagers moved into New Zraoua decades ago, Arabic-speaking families from the surrounding plains moved in, raising their children among the Amazigh speakers. The Amazigh villagers, though, maintained their identity strongly.

Now even the Arab children speak Amazigh, Zieda said.

Only a few miles away, in Matmata, the municipal center of the Amazigh villages, the infrastructure is in better condition, boasting a health center, paved roads and well-built schools. Yet the towns district has the lowest development indicators of all of southeastern Tunisia.

Matmata is pocked by carved pits in the desert that served as homes to the Amazigh's ancestors and as the backdrop for the planet Tatooine in "Star Wars." However, no Amazigh speakers remain. Matmata, an Arabic tribal name, used to be called Athweb  Good earth  by locals.

Rebab Benkraiem, head of the Matmata Municipality, says that despite the newfound freedoms of expression after Tunisias revolution, theres still a sense of cultural marginalization for some Amazigh after decades of oppression. Writing or speaking their language in public invited arrest or even physical violence.

Even students who come from the Amazigh villages to school in Matmata  you can sense they feel less than others. They stick with each other, and when theyre speaking with each other in the Amazigh language and you ask them what theyre speaking, they say, Its nothing, she said.

Sitting beside her, Ghaki Jalul, vice president of the Amazigh World Congress, said, Theyre being careful with those that dont speak their language. If its a fear that theyve inherited over 100 years, it wont be easy to get rid of it."

They said that since the outbreak of the revolution nearly 10 years ago, when various marginalized groups demanded employment and development, theres been little change. Benkraiem said, Its true  after the revolution, citizens can express themselves. They can make demands of the government. They can protest. But in development, theres nothing new. No new jobs for us.

Jalul noted that the regions marginalization by Tunisias rulers goes much farther back than Bourguiba.

Since the time of the [local Ottoman rulers called] beys, Matmata was marginalized. The state only sent tax collectors to Matmata in order to collect taxes from the surrounding tribes, and left once they had collected.

Riadh Bechir is the president of the Development and Strategic Studies Association of Medenine, a city in southeast Tunisia. He explained the failures of the state that left the countrys south impoverished and underdeveloped, saying, In the 1970s, the state built factories in Gafsa and Gabes [a city near Matmata], but they didnt succeed in bringing enough employment for the regions to prosper.

Neglect has left the Amazigh villages doubly marginalized, causing emigration from their ancestral towns and villages in search of employment, Bechir said, referring to the now-empty Amazigh villages of Chenini and Douiret and those near Tataouine. Most have fled to Tunis for work. Most of the newspaper sellers in the capital are Amazigh from there.

He said that since the 2011 revolution, the situation in the south has not improved, largely because a lack of competent governance, political conflict that impedes implementation of reforms and international loans the government has taken to pay salaries instead of using the resources to develop the south.

Soubeika Bahri, a Tunisian professor of linguistics at the University of Coloroado, Denver, specializes in Tunisian Amazigh. She said that while acceptance of and even interest in Amazigh culture among ordinary Tunisians have improved greatly, geography keeps them in a precarious position.

The Amazigh are the most vulnerable community affected by the geographic divide in the Tunisian economy and the distribution of wealth, she said.

And though Bourguiba and his successor Ben Ali are gone, said Soubeika, their Arab nationalist ideology that sidelined cultural pluralism has remained central to national politics.

Among politicians, even those deemed progressive, theres a tendency to folklorize the Amazigh instead of acknowledging and teaching their language and culture, lest they be deemed separatists, she said. But the Islamists have been the biggest change. They deny ethnic pluralism. Their concept of the Muslim nation has played a crucial role in suppressing Amazigh identity.
Turkeys drive to establish a security corridor against Kurdish groups along its southern borders  all the way from Afrin in northwestern Syria to the Qandil mountains in northeastern Iraq  is unfazed despite military and political predicaments. Since mid-June, the Turkish military has been targeting Kurdish militant bases in northern Iraq in operations dubbed Claw-Eagle and Claw-Tiger, following operations Claw-1-2-3 conducted last year, along with Operation Peace Spring in the enclave between Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain in Syria.

The ongoing onslaught against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has relied on bases in northern Iraq in its long-running armed campaign against Ankara, stands out from previous operations in terms of its implications on the ground and the reactions it has provoked. Turkey has targeted the PKK inside Iraq since the 1990s.

The latest operation, launched June 15, saw Turkish forces quickly expand the number of their bases as tensions escalated with both the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which runs the area, and the central government in Baghdad.

The campaign targets not only the areas of Qandil, Zap, Avasin-Basyan, Gara and Hakurk, where PKK camps are located, but also the Yazidi-populated Sinjar and the Makhmour camp near Kirkuk, which is home to Kurdish refugees from Turkey. According to Kurdish sources, the Turkish forces have pushed forward 50 kilometers (30 miles) inside Iraqi Kurdistan, setting up 12 new bases and checkpoints. A map released by Turkeys communication directorate July 6 shows a Turkish military presence at 37 sites, up from 24 in June.

The campaign has significantly affected civilian areas. The Iraqi Kurdish media network Rudaw reports that 25 villages have been evacuated thus far because of the operations. According to Jabbar Yawar, secretary-general of the KRGs Peshmerga Ministry, Nearly 100 villages have been evacuated over the past month in the Zakho and Amedi region alone. About 450 villages had been previously evacuated along the border already.

According to Turkeys Defense Ministry, more than 500 PKK targets were hit in the first 36 hours of the operation with F-16 jets, drones and howitzers. As of the end of June, their number stood at over 700.

Village evacuations and civilian casualties have turned up pressure on the KRG, while the reactions of the Baghdad government, in which the Kurds are represented, have been tougher than Ankara expected. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has twice summoned the Turkish ambassador in protest and warned Iraq may take the issue to the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the UN Security Council. It has also threatened economic sanctions against Turkey, urging the withdrawal of Turkish forces from all the sites they occupy, including the Bashiqa base near Mosul.

The Kurdistan administration may be irked by the PKKs growing influence in the region, but can ill afford to ignore public pressure against Turkeys military actions. The Kurdish parliament set up four commissions to examine the situation in border regions.

At least 27 civilians have been killed in areas bombed by Turkey in the past three years.

The changing Arab attitude on Turkish strikes inside Iraq is noteworthy after years of letting Ankara have its way against the PKK.

Turkeys rivalries with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have markedly heightened in recent years, leading the Arab League to grow more vocal against rising Turkish influence in the Middle East and North Africa. The Arab League has accused Turkey of violating Iraqs sovereignty and pursuing expansionist ambitions. The changing Arab attitude has served Kurdish interests while also swaying the Sunni actors Ankara used to see as natural conduits of its regional influence until several years ago. As a result, Sunnis aligned with the Saudi-Emirate axis have come to avoid collaboration with Turkey.

Yet, how far can Ankara and Baghdad's bilateral ties be strained? The warnings of the new Iraqi government led by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi are in line with the hardening Arab sentiment toward Turkey, but do they mean that Baghdad could risk the collapse of relations with Ankara?

On June 11, four days before Turkeys latest cross-border move, Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan traveled to Baghdad to meet with officials from Kadhimis government. According to information obtained by Al-Monitor, Kadhimi, who is on good terms with the Kurds, was reluctant to greenlight a fresh Turkish operation as the tussle between the United States and Iran is already shaking Iraq. Turkey launched the operation anyway.

Still, many quarters in Iraq would have no interest in falling out with Turkey at a time when curbing Iranian influence in the country has fueled the biggest of rows. Nevertheless, Kadhimi is compelled to pay attention to growing public sensitivity over the erosion of Iraqs sovereignty as well as the swelling anger among Kurds.

Baghdads reactions aside, Turkish-Kurdish tensions have produced the remarkable side effect of strengthening Baghdads hand vis-a-vis Kurdistan. Turkeys fury with the project for an independent Kurdistan and the PKKs expanding influence in the region is indirectly laying the ground for Baghdads return to Kurdistan.

Turkeys latest military operation provided an opportunity for Baghdad to deploy forces along the Turkish border in Kurdistan, albeit in small, symbolic numbers. The central government sent senior military officials to Dahuk June 22 to visit the sites of Turkish strikes and meet with local officials and then stationed border guards at several localities around Zakho. Hamada Dizayee, the commander of the border guards, said Turkey had offered to cooperate on border security.

As part of its anti-Kurdish corridor plans, Turkey has offered also the creation of a second border crossing with Iraq to bypass the existing one, which opens into Iraqi Kurdistan. The proposed crossing, at Ovakoy on the Turkish side, would provide a route to Tel Afar and Mosul and allow Baghdad to reclaim some border control. The plan  designed after Iraqi Kurdistans failed independence referendum in 2017  was thrown into limbo amid political instability in Baghdad, but Ankara has not given up on it. In any case, emerging opportunities for cooperation with central government forces at the border mesh with Turkeys corridor plan.

At present, however, the return of central government forces to the border remains limited and far from swaying things on the ground. These border units are comprised mostly of Kurds, along with some Arabs and Turkmens.

Also, the success and sustainability of the corridor plan remain questionable in general. Turkeys operations and bases are no doubt restricting the PKKs movement, but experience shows that the sprawling size of the area and its rugged mountainous terrain stand in the way of definitive and lasting results.

Moreover, the PKK has become capable of organizing itself in urban areas over the years, both in Iraqi Kurdistan and in Syria, meaning that controlling mountain passes and stepping up drone surveillance, intelligence, surgical strikes and assassinations will not make the problem go away.
Picture this: A woman is home alone in Diyarbakir province in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeast. At 5 a.m., 100 policemen from counterterrorism and special forces units storm the apartment, instructing the neighbors to stay inside and not communicate with anyone. Then they sledgehammer the door and unleash two police dogs to attack Sevil Rojbin Cetin. But that is only the beginning.

Cetin is an activist in womens movements and a former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) mayor, elected in 2014 and replaced by a government appointee in 2016.

Cetin was interrogated for 3 hours in her apartment while her legs were bleeding from multiple dog bites. The apartment was turned upside down, while she was blindfolded and beaten.

She was stripped half naked with her hands tied, while photos were taken of her. The physical and sexual torture was coupled with verbal abuses; a gun was held to her head. At one point she was taken to the balcony and the officer told her, If your apartment was on the 5th floor, you would have jumped by now and we would not have to deal with you, said Meral Danis Bestas, a pro-Kurdish HDP lawmaker.

Cetins Attorney Gulistan Ates, who took photos of her injuries after the ordeal and shared them with the press, was called to the police station and an investigation has been launched against him.

The 2019 US State Department human rights report emphasized that violations affect Turkey's Kurdish citizens disproportionally. Kurdish women or women who refuse to be model citizens in the eyes of the Turkish state are increasingly becoming targets of arbitrary arrests, strip searches, sexual violence in detention, insults and threats of rape.

Remziye Tosun, HDP lawmaker who has been targeted for wearing white scarves in the parliament, told Al-Monitor, During the siege of Sur [in 2016], I stayed at home with my young children. Then they [security forces] took us outside; I had my two daughters with me  one was 18 months and the other nine years old. The security forces were determined to send my children to social services despite my pleas to call my family. But they sent my 9-year-old to an orphanage; my nursing child was allowed to stay in prison with me.

Tosun said that since 2015 state forces have increased gradually the intensity of torture and abuse of women. We have gone back in time  back to the days of Esat Oktay Yildiran. That is the mentality of the AKP [Justice and Development Party] right now; torture has come back with a vengeance. (Yildiran was a military officer who was notorious for his gruesome torture techniques at the Diyarbakir prison in the 1980s.)

Tosuns house in Sur was demolished, and she was imprisoned for 15 months with her youngest child. Despite all that has happened, she keeps her kind and compassionate spirit. The thing that hurt the most was not the physical hardship but the humiliation. One day we were cleaning the newly built prison in Elazig, but we had little access to cleaning products. We saw a group of female guards staring at us, so one of the inmates asked why the guards laughed nervously among themselves. One replied, 'Look they speak, they are human.' This I cannot forget, but I understand.

Tosun said that she has forgiven those guards, adding, The prejudice against the Kurds, the sayings about the Kurds having tails and not being civilized is still happening because of the official education system. And that mindset helps justify cruel treatment and discrimination.

The Kurds in Turkey are perceived as pseudo-citizens, and therefore as potential terrorists. The Kurds are accepted to some degree, and as long as they assimilate diligently they are viewed as prospective Turks.

Ayse Acar Basaran, HDP lawmaker and spokeswoman for the HDPs Womens Council, told Al Monitor, Since July 2015, we have had over 16,000 members of our party detained by the security forces. About 4,000 are in prison.

Basaran noted that all womens organizations have been shut down since the July 15, 2016, coup attempt. Violence against women has spiked even further as men are given a blank check and women are left more vulnerable in their homes and on the streets. When the government ended the peace process and intensified its aggressive security policies women became the biggest victims. Now they are arresting members of the two remaining womens associations  Rosa Women's Association and TJA-Free Womens Movement. The charges against the members include attending International Women's Day on March 8, promoting peace, searching for missing women and seeking justice for female victims of domestic violence. Women  particularly those in the Kurdish womens movement  pose a direct challenge to the AKPs wish to monopolize power, because they are so organized, she added.

Eren Keskin, vice-president of Turkeys Human Rights Association and a prominent attorney, told Al-Monitor that torture of women both in detention and while being taken into detention is becoming routine. Torture is clearly defined as illegal in both the Turkish Constitution and several international treaties that Turkey has signed.

In the 1980s, torture was hidden and frequently denied by government officials. Today, senior bureaucrats welcome and even encourage it. For example, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said in April, I told [the security forces] when you catch them [terrorists] tear them apart. Soylu also said that photos of the bodies would be made public. Some of those commenting on these images on social media suggest further gruesome acts on the alleged terrorists. In what seems to have become the normalization of torture and violence, the display of the mutated body parts of Kurdish women have become an event to celebrate.

Sebnem Korur Fincanci, president of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, announced that according to the foundation's records one in every 500 people in Turkey has been tortured.

HDP lawmakers are now asking who is responsible for torturing Cetin for 3 hours, and who gave the order for this torture. The images of the torture did not cause an uproar among social media users. So far, no police investigation has been launched about any torture claims. The problem of impunity of government officials in Turkey has reached levels never seen before. Instead, we can expect more investigations for human rights lawyers, HDP lawmakers and journalists who dare to report cases of torture or abuse.

There are several loopholes in the law to protect torturers. Although torture is to receive severe punishment, the prosecution can easily turn the case into an act of brutality, which would not even cost the officer his job. These acts are becoming routine because they are condoned by the government and justified under the argument of combatting terrorism  with little to no room left to ask how torturing these women helps combat terror.

Turkey is regressing fast to the days when police officers marched chanting, Damn human rights  starting in 1992 at a funeral of four officers.
ISTANBUL  Britain is scrapping a quarantine requirement for Turkey this week, offering a lifeline to a tourism industry hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic and snubbed by the European Union, which excluded the Mediterranean country from its safe list of countries for travel.

The pandemic has plunged the worlds tourism industry into free fall as countries imposed strict travel restrictions and canceled international flights earlier this year to stop the spread of the deadly disease. The United Nations said losses in tourism will shave at least 1.5% off of the global economy this year.

Tourism accounts for about 10% of Turkeys economy, brings in tens of billions of dollars in hard currency and employs millions of people. International travel restrictions crushed the industry in April and May, the traditional start of the season, when a mere 54,000 foreigners arrived in Turkey, compared to 7.3 million in the same two months of 2019.

In a bid to lure back visitors this summer, the Tourism Ministry unveiled a safe tourism initiative last month. The concept applies to airports, transportation, hotels and tourism sites such as archaeological parks and museums. Measures include social distancing, limits on capacity and regular disinfection of shared spaces. Some 500 hotels, restaurants and other businesses have been certified after they met dozens of hygiene requirements.

The initiative includes free coronavirus testing at airports for visitors who exhibit symptoms and medical treatment for those who test positive with the purchase of insurance that costs between 15 and 33 euros ($17-$37). Tourists can receive treatment that follows Turkeys drug protocols either at hospitals or hotels that have set aside special quarantine floors.

The efforts may have helped convinced the British government to include Turkey last week on a list of 70-odd countries and territories where a 14-day quarantine rule for those returning to England will not apply beginning this Friday. Scotland and Wales have not yet announced whether they will offer the same exemption.

Turkey hopes the initiative will entice some of the 2.56 million British holidaymakers who visited in 2019. Britains ambassador to Ankara, Dominick Chilcott, was quoted as saying on Wednesday he was impressed by the Turkish industrys safety measures and he hoped British tourists would continue to choose Turkey as a top destination.

His comments came as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu traveled to Britain on Wednesday to meet his counterpart Dominic Raab to discuss tourism and other issues. Cavusoglu said the two nations would sign a free trade deal, part of the two nations close alliance amid their own issues with the EU.

The green light from Britain will not make up for the loss of European tourists, who accounted for about 40% of Turkeys visitors last year. Last week, the EU excluded Turkey from its list of 14 countries where self-isolation is not required upon the return home, and such lengthy quarantines will likely deter travel to places like Turkey.

Cavusoglu hosted the EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, this week to tackle a myriad of disputes and accused the EU of failing to base its list on objective criteria by including some countries with a poorer record on the outbreak. At their joint news conference, Borrell rejected the assertion the list was not objective and said it was strictly based on each countrys health situation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier lashed out at Brussels for excluding Turkey for political, not health reasons. The Foreign Ministry said it expected a correction of this mistake when the bloc reviews the list in mid-July.

Low infection rates and transparent data reporting were required to make the EU list. Turkey has been hit hard by COVID-19, reporting some 208,000 cases. The government re-opened restaurants, beaches and museums on June 1 and the country soon saw new daily cases spike.

Turkey drew nearly 52 million foreign visitors last year, making it the worlds sixth most popular tourism destination. It may see a 70% drop in tourists in 2020, estimated Bahattin Yucel, a former tourism minister. People just dont want the risk for a holiday, he said.

Yucel praised the safe tourism initiative for including international accreditors to boost transparency, but said the governments failure to regularly release full details on the outbreak had undermined confidence abroad.

Turkey does not count patients treated for COVID-19 if they test negative, and until recently declined to provide regular regional or demographic breakdowns of the data. But it boasts one of the lowest overall death rates in Europe at 2.5% of reported cases and credits a robust health care system, partial lockdowns and innovative drug therapies for saving lives.

Among the drugs Turkey gives all patients is the controversial malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine. Der Spiegel reported last week Germany has refused to lift a travel warning for Turkey for fear that its citizens will be treated with the drug if they fall ill. Research has been mixed on whether hydroxychloroquine is safe and effective for COVID-19 sufferers.

More than five million Germans visited Turkey in 2019. The countrys biggest source of tourism is Russia, which last year sent more than seven million tourists to Turkey. Moscow has thus far refused to resume international flights.

Turkey is among Europes most affordable destinations, easily beating out Mediterranean rivals like Spain and Greece. Turkey has always attracted lower-income tourists, and that segments spending power has been especially hard hit by their own countries economic downturns during the pandemic, Yucel noted.

But thousands of miles of coastline, unmatched historical ruins and a culture of hospitality will continue to draw intrepid visitors despite the risks.

Ill go as long as the plane takes me. Turkey is paradise to me, said Wales' Andrew Hughes, who has booked a September holiday in the southern resort of Fethiye. It will be his 38th visit since 1997 to the beachside town, also home to about 5,000 British expatriates.

Hughes, 54, brushed off the risk of infection, citing Turkeys culture of cleanliness and strict rules on mask wearing. And if I die in Fethiye, Ill die happy, he added.
The British government can legally resume issuing licenses to export weapons to Saudi Arabia, the countrys trade minister said yesterday.

Licensing was suspended last year after a court ruled that the government violated British law by covertly selling arms to Riyadh without duly examining whether the weapons may be used to harm noncombatants.

The ruling came after a rights group presented evidence that the weapons posed a clear risk to civilians in Yemens civil war.

UK Trade Secretary Liz Truss said Tuesday that the licensing process had been adjusted to comply with the ruling and licensing would continue.

In a letter to the British Parliament, Truss wrote that the specified cases of Saudi Arabia's alleged violation of international humanitarian law were isolated incidents. The Saudi-led coalition has serially misrepresented incidents of civilian casualties in Yemen.

Andrew Smith, a spokesperson for the Campaign Against the Arms Trade, which brought the suit against the government, called the decision to resume arms sales disgraceful and morally bankrupt.

The Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen has created the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, and the government itself admits that UK-made arms have played a central role on the bombing, Smith said, according to Reuters.

Smith also said his organization will consult its lawyers about the decision and will be exploring all options available to challenge it. Britains opposition Labor Party also slammed the decision.

The announcement came only a day after the British government announced it would sanction 20 Saudi individuals accused by Turkey of involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018.

The sanctions included Saud al-Qahtani, former adviser to Saudis Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the former deputy chief of Saudis General Intelligence Directorate, Ahmed Asiri.

Labor Party representative Emily Thornberry said the decision marked at the very least a case of mixed messages, undermining the governments claim to be human rights defenders, according to The New York Times.

Similar criticisms have been levied at the United States government. The Donald Trump administration has signaled its intent to continue arming Saudi Arabia while Congress is renewing its opposition.

Riyadh is among the top buyers of British weapons. The UK has licensed at least $5.9 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia since the outbreak of the Yemen civil war in 2015.
A lengthy UN report on northwest Syria includes apparent human rights abuse violations from both government and rebel forces.

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic released a report on rampant human rights violations in the Idlib province and surrounding areas on Tuesday, per a request from the UN Human Rights Council. The findings covered November 2019 to June 2020, and documented 52 attacks that killed civilians or damaged civilian infrastructure. Both pro-government and rebel forces were responsible for the attacks on hospitals, schools, markets and homes, the UN said in a press release.

What is clear from the military campaign is that pro-government forces and UN-designated terrorists flagrantly violated the laws of war and the rights of Syrian civilians, said commission chair Paulo Pinheiro in the release.

Northwest Idlib province is the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. The government of President Bashar al-Assad has regained control of most of the rest of the country. Turkey also controls parts of the north, while Kurdish-led forces control most of the northeast. Idlib is dominated by the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the UN designates as a terrorist organization.

The report included a variety of figures within the stated timeframe. From November 2019 through April 2020, there were 676 civilian deaths tracked by the commission from attacks on schools, markets and medical facilities in Idlib and the western Aleppo area. Western Aleppo neighbors Idlib and is also controlled by rebel forces. The actual death toll is likely much higher, according to the report.

Pro-government forces were responsible for a majority of the attacks and 641 of the deaths, with other armed groups being responsible for 35 in their attacks. The armed groups refer to HTS and other rebel forces, the commission said.

The killings by the government largely came from airstrikes. We didn't choose to leave; there was no other alternative. The attacks were barbaric, a man from the town of Maaret al-Numan said on the December government offensive to take the area, according to the report.

Government offensives led to a massive displacement of more than 500,000 people, the report found.

Rebel groups also attacked civilians. A total of 202 civilians in adjacent government areas were killed by rebel groups in western Aleppo from November 2019 through April of this year, according to the report.

The rebel attacks on civilians took several forms. Armed groups utilized long-range artillery systems which could reach positions in parts of western Aleppo controlled by the government, the commission said.

Groups including HTS used mortar attacks on civilian areas as well as improvised explosive devices, among other tactics. The UN described their attacks as brutal violence.

The UN referred to government actions as widespread and indiscriminate bombardment, adding that this may amount to the crimes against humanity of forcible transfer, murder and other inhumane acts.

On HTS, the commission said they executed civilians for dissent and shelled civilian areas, among other abuses. Commission member Karen Koning AbuZayd said the acts by HTS members amount to war crimes, per the press release.

The humanitarian situation in northwest Syria is bleak. UN Security Council members are currently arguing over which border crossing points are to remain open into the embattled territory. Closing some of the crossings into Idlib through Turkey, as Russia and China want, could further worsen the situation. More than a million people are displaced there and are struggling with the rising prices of food and medicine.
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Turkeys relationship with the United States is historically fraught. A recent report by the German Marshall Fund of the United States noted there has never been a golden era for Turkeys relations with the United States or the West. US-Turkish frictions have been particularly severe as of late since the failed coup attempt in 2016 that the Turkish government attributes to US-based cult leader Fethullah Gulen, and as Turkey has taken a nationalist turn.

Indeed, the list of US-Turkish differences is longer than ever, including the pending extradition request for Gulen; opposition to US support for the People's Protection Units, which Turkey ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party, and other Kurdish groups seeking control in northern Syria; Turkeys S-400 purchase from Russia and the subsequent removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter consortium; Turkeys strained relationship with Israel; and the recent congressional resolutions questioning Turkeys future within the NATO alliance and commemorating the Armenian genocide, a deeply sensitive issue within the Turkish American community and widely opposed. Increased Turkish repression at home, including the targeting of independent media and civil society, is another area of growing concern. Needless to say, Turkey is not currently a popular ally in Washington and vice versa.

The only exception to the fraying ties appears to be the strong personal relationship between presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump, where periodic phone calls smooth over friction and reportedly lead to areas of alignment  first in Syria with the surprise US withdrawal announcement and then in Libya with support for Turkeys intervention in support of the UN-recognized government. Despite strong congressional pressure, Trump has continued to hold off imposing the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act on Turkeys purchase of a Russian air and missile defense system, currently under storage reportedly due to the coronavirus pandemic. But such rare cases of alignment and accommodation driven by personal ties are likely to be short-lived given the underlying gaps between Ankaras and Washingtons strategic priorities. Consequently, regardless of who is in the White House after the 2020 US elections, continuing friction in the US-Turkish relationship is likely for the foreseeable future.

And yet, Turkey is too critical a player in the Middle East to write off. As one of the major non-Arab powers alongside Israel and Iran, and one of the most experienced, well-equipped militaries in the region and a NATO ally, it may be important for the regions stability and prosperity to find constructive ways for the United States to work with Turkey in the years ahead.

Turkeys entanglement in regional conflicts, as well as Erdogans shift to a revisionist regional policy through military interventions in Syria and Libya, could make it difficult to frame the agenda with Turkey around ending regional wars. Turkey may find its own constraints with continuing its military operations and eventually focus attention back home, particularly given increasing economic challenges in the midst of the global economic downturn and the pandemic. Regardless, we do not foresee openings for significant improvement in bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States as long as the current political dynamics and deep disagreements leading to strong anti-American sentiments are in place.

Consequently, we might suggest an alternative approach focused on a regional rather than a bilateral agenda  specifically, a possible road map for US-Turkish cooperation focused on a regional security and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) nonproliferation agenda. This could be a critical issue for regional stability and an area with multiple looming crisis points in the months and years ahead. In principle, it may also be an area where there is common interest in preventing the further spread of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Indeed, despite continued Turkish-Iranian economic ties and Turkeys political engagement with Iran through forums like the Astana process, Turkey continues to be wary of Iranian intentions and supports the Iran nuclear deal. Turkey opposes the capability of Iran to acquire nuclear weapons because of the threat this would pose to regional stability. Similarly, Turkey adamantly opposes the chemical attacks by Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime. This could provide a foundation for a cooperative regional agenda with the United States, working with international forums, despite the general friction in the bilateral relationship.

While the pandemic caused the postponement of the 10th review conference of the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) until early 2021, remote consultations and planning have already started. The year 2020 also marks the 50th anniversary of the NPT regimes entry into force. The 1995 NPT review conference not only resulted in the indefinite extension of the treaty but also called for the establishment of an effectively verifiable Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear, chemical and biological, and their delivery systems.

Despite consultations and efforts to establish an agenda for a WMD free zone in the Middle East, a consensus was not reached at the last review conference in 2015. At a time when arms control regimes are under strain due to great power competition, member states could have a common cause to focus on Article IV of the NPT, i.e., the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and international cooperation under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The focus on keeping nonproliferation norms relevant to the growing energy needs and civilian nuclear plans is likely to generate interest and regional buy-in. As the United Arab Emirates recently operationalized its first nuclear power plant, many others, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey, are looking to follow.

While Turkey is embarking on a nuclear energy program with Russia at the Akkuyu site, the fact that it will not pursue the nuclear fuel cycle and enrichment can address nonproliferation concerns if the project proceeds in a transparent manner. The United States and Turkey already have the 123 Agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation under agreed nonproliferation controls. The 2008 agreement has an initial term of 15 years due in 2023, with a provision for automatic renewal in five-year increments.

To bypass political deadlocks, under the NPT review conference umbrella, the United States and Turkey have a common interest in the continued facilitation and convening of dialogue with regional parties on tailored confidence-building measures and technical cooperation through the IAEA. Building on this framework, as well as the upcoming first review conference for the amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material in 2021, one area to collaborate on could be establishing a regional information-sharing mechanism for regionalizing the IAEA nuclear security resources on best practices in combatting terrorist access and insider threats.

These are tough days for Turkeys future in the Western alliance. But a long-term approach that looks beyond the current leadership and identifies openings for cooperation and engagement in the future when strategic conditions and political orientations may change could help. Building on this shared interest in WMD proliferation in an active conflict region and reinforcing norms for the peaceful use of nuclear energy may help alleviate the myriad tensions in US-Turkish relations and provide a foundation for improved relations in the future. It may also have the added benefit of advancing stability in a region on the brink.
Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced a $100 million grant program that will give small businesses up to $15,000 for expenses occurred because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Small businesses will be eligible for the Revive Alabama program if they didnt receive federal assistance for the expenses that they claim to the state, the governors office said. The expenses have to be incurred by operational interruptions caused by the pandemic and related business closures. The funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until the $100 million is used up.

In many ways, our small businesses were hit the hardest from the coronavirus pandemic, Ivey said in a statement. Ensuring these owners have every opportunity to recoup expenses incurred due the disruption of business is essential to getting our economy roaring once again.

Business owners can apply for a Revive Alabama grant here. Applications will be taken from noon on July 16 until midnight on July 26.

All applicants have to sign up for a My Alabama Taxes account to protect their personal and business information on their applications.
An Alabama lawmaker said today said she will sponsor legislation next year to allow cities and counties to relocate historic monuments on public property.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, said that under her proposal, monument removals would require a transfer of ownership to the Alabama Department of Archives and History or the Alabama Historical Commission.

Those state agencies would maintain the monuments in a location for public display.

A state law called the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act currently prohibits cities and counties from moving monuments on public property that have been in place 40 years or more.

Across the state of Alabama, citizens are calling for the removal of prominently placed statues and monuments that are insensitive or offensive to the communities that surround them, Givan said in a press release. City and county governments must be able to address the demands of their citizens. This legislation provides a tool for local governments to safely remove these artifacts so that they can be moved to a site more appropriate for preserving or displaying the historical monument.

The Legislature passed the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act in 2017 at a time when calls for removal of Confederate memorials from public property were gaining support. The Republican majorities in the House and Senate passed the bill over opposition from Democrats. Givan sponsored a bill in 2018 to repeal the law but it did not pass.

The protests for racial justice after the police killing of George Floyd in May sparked a new wave of removals and calls for removals of monuments linked to the Confederacy. In Alabama, the Memorial Preservation Act has come into play because of those efforts.

Birmingham took down the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument in Linn Park in June, one day after efforts to topple it failed during a protest that turned violent. Mobile took down its Confederate statue of Admiral Raphael Semmes a few days later.

Under the Memorial Preservation Act, both cities face fines of $25,000 for removing the monuments.

The Madison County Commission is seeking permission to remove the Confederate monument outside the courthouse in downtown Huntsville.

Changes to the Memorial Preservation Act are expected to be an issue when the Legislature returns for its next annual session in February. Givan said she believes her bill can win bipartisan support.

It respects the will of communities that want the monuments removed. It also respects those who wish to preserve history, Givan said. With this legislation, Confederate monuments could be relocated to a public site, like Confederate Memorial Park, whose purpose and mission is to interpret and tell these stories. When the Legislature convenes, I hope to have the support of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Related: Where are Alabamas Confederate Monuments? Markers, many at courthouses, exist across Alabama
The Alabama committee designated to hear appeals to remove or relocate historic structures has canceled its meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The Madison County Commission had hoped to make its case to the committee Thursday to relocate a Confederate monument outside the courthouse in downtown Huntsville.

The postponement puts the effort to relocate the Madison County monument on hold. The next scheduled meeting of the Committee for Alabama Monument Protection is Oct. 1, according to its website.

Its unclear why the meeting was canceled but as of last week, it was still on the calendar for July 9.

Related: Huntsvilles controversial Confederate statue is a 1960s replica

Madison County Commission Chair Dale Strong could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.

The commission submitted its application for the monuments relocation to the review committee last week. Exactly when the clock started on that submission date could be critical because the law states that if a decision by the committee is not rendered within 90 days of the applications submission, the waiver is automatically granted.

The commission unanimously passed a resolution last month seeking a waiver for the removal of the monument outside the west side of the courthouse. The vote came in the aftermath of a series of protests in Huntsville following the death of George Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis police on May 25.

The monument was among the issues cited by protesters as they chanted, Take the statue down. Two of the protests ended with law enforcement releasing tear gas and firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.

I think weve got a great situation for a waiver that was not created based on what has happened in the last month, Strong told AL.com last week.

The commission stressed it wanted to follow available legal avenues to remove the monument rather than incur a $25,000 fine for removing it without permission. The cities of Birmingham and Mobile were assessed the fines for removing Confederate monuments without the review committees OK.

Strong cited long-range plans for courthouse expansion as justification for moving the monument off the courthouse grounds. The Huntsville city council voted unanimously last month to place the monument at city-owned historic Maple Hill Cemetery, which is the final resting spot for hundreds of Confederate soldiers.

The solution of Maple Hill is excellent in preservation, Strong said. But also getting it at a location more suitable so we can move forward with the progression of Madison County.

Repeating points he made in an earlier interview with AL.com, Strong said that the courthouse  built in the 1960s  needs major renovation on the inside as well as the exterior. Among the exterior upgrades needed is for the building to be more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Strong said.

The monument stands a couple of feet from the concourse on the courthouse exterior. The 2017 law that prohibits removal or relocation of historical structures that have been in place more than 40 years allows exemptions for certain construction projects.

The monument, first put in place in 1905 by the Daughters of the Confederacy, includes the statue of a non-specific Confederate soldier and the engraving on the base states: In memory of the heroes who fell in defence of the principles which gave birth to the Confederate cause.
Doug Patterson, the Limestone County district judge indicted on felony charges of stealing court funds and money from legal clients, has resigned from his position.

My resignation should not be viewed in any way as an admission of guilt on my part, Patterson wrote in a letter to the Alabama Supreme Court. The unescapable reality is that I cannot financially, mentally, or emotionally continue to fight the full weight, power and resources of the State of Alabama in two different theaters.

Therefore, after much prayer and consideration, I have determined that it is best for my family and the people of Limestone County that I resign from my position, Patterson wrote in the letter.

He said that, with a heavy heart, he was resigning effective July 3. The resignation letter was first reported by WAFF-48 News and later released publicly by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary. Pattersons defense attorney Chuck Warren didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

[Read Pattersons resignation letter here or at the bottom of this story]

Some, including State Rep. Andy Whitt, called for Patterson to resign after the judge was indicted on three felony charges late last year and suspended from the bench. At the time, Whitt, whose district includes a portion of Limestone County, said Patterson should resign so taxpayer money wouldnt be wasted on the salary of a judge who isnt working.

As AL.com has reported previously, Patterson continued to draw his $10,808.84 monthly gross salary despite being suspended from the bench. Most recently he received his paycheck on June 26, according to the state checkbook.

Whitt said today that the county can move forward with finding a new judge to replace Patterson.

In the time since Patterson was indicted and put on leave, the court system, families, and the children of Limestone County have all suffered, Whitt said in a statement to AL.com.

[Read more: Prosecutor wants fast trial for judge who is on state payroll while indicted for theft]

Patterson is accused of using his position as a judge to steal about $47,000 from a juvenile court fund. During his previous work as a lawyer, Patterson is accused of stealing thousands from two clients: one who was incapacitated and living in a nursing home for veterans and a second who died.

Patterson has pleaded not guilty to charges of using his position for personal gain, financial exploitation of the elderly and third-degree theft. He confessed to the crimes in a letter sent to Limestone County Presiding Judge Robert Baker and the other local judges shortly after the indictments were issued. Defense attorney Chuck Warren later said his client had been pressured by Baker to plead guilty. A prosecutor from the Alabama Attorney Generals Office at the time said the claim was unsubstantiated.

Pattersons criminal case was scheduled for trial last month but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Its unclear when the case will be rescheduled, because jury trials in Alabama have been halted until September. If convicted, Patterson faces up to 40 years in prison.

Patterson also faced a separate trial, scheduled for this week, at the Alabama Court of the Judiciary. That trial has been postponed, but its not immediately clear how Pattersons resignation will affect the case. The Court of the Judiciary, which hears complaints against judges, determines whether judges violated the Alabama Canons of Ethics, which is punishable by removal from office, suspension without pay, censure, or such other sanction as may be prescribed by law.

Patterson became a district judge in 2016. He was appointed by then-Gov. Robert Bentley to complete the term of retiring Judge Jeanne Anderson. Patterson was elected to a full term in 2017. He was born in Athens and attended the local high school. He attended Athens State University before going on to the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, according to his bio on the county website.

Serving as District Judge for Limestone County has been the highest privilege of my professional life, Patterson said in his resignation letter. No matter what others and the media may say, I can resign today knowing that I served the people and children of Limestone County well during my time as District Judge. I leave knowing the children of Limestone County are much better served now than when I took office.
A homicide investigation is underway in Huntsville after a man was found dead in a field this morning, the authorities said.

Emergency crews were called around 8:30 a.m. to the 2700 block of Oakwood Road Northwest, where they found a body lying in a field. The scene was next to Madkins Chapel Cumberland Church, near the intersection of Oakwood and Darby Court.

Madison County Coroner Tyler Berryhill declared the man dead at the scene. His body was being taken for autopsy at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. The mans name and suspected cause of death havent yet been released.

Huntsville police Lt. Michael Johnson said the man was about 20-30 years old.

A homicide investigation is underway, police said, but few details are being released.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Huntsville police Major Crimes Unit at 256-213-4532.

The case is one of at least six homicide investigations in Huntsville so far this year. It marked the second death investigation in the city between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. On Tuesday around 11:40 p.m., police started investigating a deadly shooting and stabbing about four miles away at a home on Levert Street Northeast.
The federal agency that regulates workplace safety fined chicken producer Pilgrims Pride $26,988 for hazards found after a worker died in an accident in January at a plant in north Alabama.

On July 1, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued findings of two serious violations at the processing plant in Guntersville.

Inspectors found that a mechanical lift had no safety device to prevent falls and had been used to move loads heavier than the rated amount. Overloading of the lift also exposed workers to potential crushing hazards, they found.

Gabriel Seth Brutley, 35, died Jan. 6 after he fell from a lift designed to move materials. A lawsuit filed on behalf of his children alleges that a supervisor removed a safety device from the lift before Brutleys fatal fall. The wrongful death lawsuit says negligence by Pilgrims Pride led to the accident that killed Brutley.

Pilgrims Pride and others named in the suit denied any wrongdoing. In answers to the lawsuit, they said Brutley failed to exercise caution in the performance of his job.

Brutleys death followed several serious but non-fatal accidents at the Guntersville plant since 2016. Pilgrims Pride has been fined in 2016 and 2019 for other workplace hazards at the plant, including a machinery malfunction that amputated the tip of one workers finger and an ammonia leak.

The company has 15 days after citations are issued to respond to OSHAs findings and dispute the fines.
Patti Page probably got the coronavirus from a patient. In March, a couple people with respiratory illnesses arrived at the hospital where she worked as a nurse in Gadsden.

There were two or three that it could have been possibly been, Page said. They were not testing everybody at the time.

Page, a 59-year-old Gadsden native, worked 12-hour shifts four times a week. She led the department during overnight shifts for 16 years, taxing work that kept her moving. Although she had diabetes and high blood pressure, she managed both with medication and did not allow those conditions to slow her down.

At the end of March, Pages nose started running. Probably allergies leftover from mowing the lawn, she thought. The next day brought fatigue and then fever. When it hit 103, she got tested.

Page spent almost two months on a ventilator. She came so close to death, hospital staff told family members to consider making funeral plans. But Page survived the virus.

Still, her life today feels nothing like it did four months ago, when she regularly juggled long shifts at work with caring for her grandchildren.

Usually in the morning I check my blood sugar, eat some breakfast and take my medicine, Page said. I make my bed and take a shower. Then I have to sit down for a little while and get over that.

Moving the clothes from the washer to the dryer saps Pages strength. Running errands can set her back for days.

Physically, she has come a long way. Her doctors told her she is making steady progress regaining her strength and lung function, but its a frustrating process for a woman who rarely missed a day of work before coronavirus.

It does a lot to you, Page said. My muscle mass is almost gone. The main thing is getting my strength back, including my pulmonary strength.

Dr. Sheetal Gandotra, a critical care pulmonologist at University of Alabama at Birmingham, said patients on ventilators frequently have long, complicated recoveries. Many must be sedated and turned on their stomachs while receiving care. They cant eat normally or exercise, which causes many to lose significant amounts of muscle.

Some patients also suffer post-ICU syndrome, which impairs brain function, making it difficult to concentrate and solve problems. Patients with long stays in the ICU and many underlying health conditions tend to have the longest recoveries, she said.

The end of an ICU stay is just the beginning of the next stage of recovery, Gandotra said.

They are going to have to work hard at rehab building back muscle strength, Gandotra said. Many patients post critical illness suffer from nightmares, anxiety, depression. Many people have flashbacks similar to PTSD. Their recovery will go on for months.

The long road back

Page counts herself lucky, having come so close to death and survived. But her long recovery isnt uncommon.

Even those who dont end up in the hospital with coronavirus may struggle with symptoms for months.

Pages sister-in-law Linda Mashburn came over for Sunday dinner days before Page fell ill. In all, six of the nine people at dinner that night came down with coronavirus.

Mashburn and her husband got sick the following week. Flu-like symptoms set in first, followed by extreme fatigue.

I basically slept for four days, Mashburn said. I didnt know what was happening during that time.

Her husband developed a cough so severe he couldnt catch his breath. Mashburn said the first couple weeks of the illness are a blur. She barely got out of bed while a wracking cough kept her husband awake for days on end.

Mashburns doctor kept tabs on her by phone. Her husband nearly went to the hospital when his breathing took a turn for the worse but managed to ride it out at home. Because neither one went to the hospital, their experiences with COVID-19 would be classified as mild.

One of Pages grandchildren had a one-day fever and almost no other symptoms, Mashburn said. Meanwhile, Page, her brother and Mashburn struggled for months.

Mashburn, who is 54, said she and her husband have now fully recovered from coronavirus.

It took a good two months to where I felt halfway normal again, Mashburn said. Ive had the flu. Ive had pneumonia three times and I have never had anything that bad.

Close-knit but far apart

The familys experience shows the range of illness caused by coronavirus.

According to the COVID Symptom Study app based in the United Kingdom, 10 percent of patients reported symptoms that lingered for three weeks or more. Some long-term patients report waves of symptoms that come and go over time.

Mashburn quarantined for months, until she tested negative twice for coronavirus. The close-knit family remained separated from children and grandchildren as they battled the virus. Only recently have they begun to venture out and meet with family members.

Then theres the mental recovery. Page doesnt remember much about her bout with coronavirus. Soon after she got sick, she went to the hospital  a hazy memory that went dark when doctors placed her on a ventilator.

When hospital staff tried to remove the ventilator, Pages vocal cords became swollen and doctors quickly inserted a breathing tube through a hole in her throat. She survived the procedure and sustained no permanent damage. Her children had to make several difficult decisions, and even though it worked out, the trauma of those months hangs over the family.

Its real and its scary, Page said. Not knowing whether I can get it again or not, that really scares me. Im being very cautious everywhere I go.

COVID-19 is a new disease and scientists are still trying to determine whether survivors will live with long-term damage. With few patients in recovery for more than a couple months, its difficult to make predictions about what long-term outcomes might look like. The physician said she hopes most patients will recover much of their health, even if they never return to the level they had before they became ill.

I think what we hope for is that most patients who recover from this will have an acceptable quality of life, Gandotra said. The longer your ICU course, the more time you spend on continuous sedation, what other health conditions you had going into it, those all contribute to how long a person might take to recover.

Page hopes to return to work part-time. That may be months off.

At home, she does physical therapy and blows into a tube that exercises her lungs. Page has not had to use oxygen since she left the hospital, and her doctors are encouraged. She wakes up feeling great, Page said, but quickly hits the wall.

Yesterday I had to get a haircut, then I had to come back and rest, Page said. Its really tough not having the strength to do anything you want to do.
A Walker County sheriffs deputy has been indicted in a 2019 crash that killed a 14-year-old boy who was on an ATV.

Blake Carter Hudson, 31, is charged with manslaughter. The felony indictment was issued by a Walker County grand jury on July 2, according to court records. He is charged in the death of Austin Aaron.

The crash happened shortly before 11 p.m. that Friday, Aug 2, on Alabama 69 South at the intersection of Old Tuscaloosa Road in Jasper. Austin was driving an ATV when he and Hudsons sheriffs patrol cruiser collided.

Austin was transported to Childrens of Alabama where he remained until his death three days later. His mother, Amanda Aaron, posted on Facebook after his death that the family had chosen to donate some of his organs to help save other children. Hold your babies close because you never know what God has in store for them,' she wrote, asking people to remember his contagious smile, silly laugh and big heart.

Austin Aaron, 14, was killed when he was riding an ATV in 2019. A Walker County sheriff's deputy has now been charged in his death. (Special to AL.com)

Hudson hasnt been with the department since August 2019.

The indictment states that Hudson was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash and was driving his patrol vehicle at excessive speeds, in an unsafe manner and without his emergency lights. Following the indictment, Hudson was booked into the Walker County Jail on $30,000 bond.

Sheriff Nick Smith released this statement to AL.com Wednesday: Recently, a Grand Jury in Walker County determined probable cause existed enough to present an indictment for vehicular manslaughter on former deputy Blake Hudson, in an incident that resulted in the death of a juvenile boy.

Mr. Hudson was booked into the Walker County Jail and bonded out a short time after. This indictment is a direct result of the investigation performed by officials with ALEA. The investigation of the incident was immediately turned over to ALEA after it occurred, and unfortunately, investigations of this nature generally take a frustrating amount of time to conduct. That amount of time is vital, however, to carrying out a thorough and complete investigation, evidenced by the indictment itself.

Austin Aaron, 14, was killed when he was riding an ATV in 2019. A Walker County sheriff's deputy has now been charged in his death. (Special to AL.com)

This indictment is also evidence that the administration of this department, in line with department protocol, was committed to providing the victim and his family with the fairest investigation possible by bringing in an outside agency. This is the first step in a long process towards closure for both families.

Our hearts and thoughts are with them as they prepare for what we hope will be a swift and judicious end to a terrible situation. To ensure that judicious end, the Sheriffs Office, also in line with department policy of not commenting on other agencys cases, will make no public statements regarding the details of the case in an effort to preserve its integrity.
Two more people have been charged in the shooting death of 8-year-old Royta Giles Jr. inside the Riverchase Galleria.

Hoover police on Tuesday announced capital murder charges against King Gary Williams and Demetrius Dewayne Jackson Jr. Both are 19 and from Birmingham. They also are charged with three counts of second-degree assault each in connection to the wounding of three others inside the mall Friday. They will be held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. Court records do not list any prior arrests.

On Sunday, police announced the same charges against 22-year-old Montez Moses Miracle Coleman. Coleman is charged with capital murder and three counts of second-degree assault. He remains jailed without bond.

Royta was shot in the head while he, his mother Jesslyn Layfield, stepfather Anthony Jones, and little sisters Trinity, 5 and Marlee, 4, were waiting to get into the Childrens Place to buy new outfits for the Fourth of July.

Hoover police discuss a development in Fridays Galleria mall shooting that killed 8-year-old Royta Giles Jr. and injured three other bystanders. Posted by al.com on Tuesday, July 7, 2020

According to Hoover police, a shootout that lasted only seconds long ended Roytas life and wounded three other innocent bystanders who are now recovering.

Investigators on Sunday said they were trying to identify five others sought for questioning in the horrific shooting. After releasing surveillance photos of them, they received multiple tips from the community within hours. By Monday, all five had been located and questioned, and additional witnesses also had been interviewed.

Our detectives were inundated by calls from the community identifying these individuals and relaying other information. Some of these individuals came in like we asked, said Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis. Those who didnt, we went out and found them. "

The chief said Williams surrendered to police Sunday night, and Jackson turned himself in on Monday evening. He said he does not expect any additional people to be charged at this point.

While the investigation is not complete, the first step to holding those responsible for this horrible act have been taken,' Derzis said. The way the community rallied together to bring these suspects to justice shows that this type of reckless behavior will not be tolerated.

Nothing can bring Royta back, but it is our hope that one day his family will find peace in knowing that the people who took their boy will have to answer for it in a court room,' he said.

We cannot bring Royta back to his family and we know that and we are saddened by that,' said Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato. But we can provide them with answers about what happened and we can bring these individuals to a court system to face justice.

Hoover police and fire medics responded to the Galleria at about 3:18 p.m. Friday after the Hoover 911 center received multiple calls of shots fired inside the mall. Responding officers located three victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

Two victims were transported to Childrens Hospital and the third victim was transported to UAB Hospital. A fourth victim drove himself to American Family Care and was transported to UAB Hospital.

Royta was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at Childrens. Police said the three other victims were all treated and released Friday evening.

As additional officers arrived on the scene, they were alerted to a male with a firearm running through the parking deck of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. That suspect has now been identified as Coleman. He was taken into custody without incident.

The investigation has determined Coleman got into a verbal argument with a group of males on the first level of the mall, near the food court. He said there was no indication that any of this was planned. We believe this was just a feud that had been going for a while that came to a head in the mall,' Derzis said.

During the argument, the suspect brandished a 5.56 caliber handgun - an AR pistol - concealed in a backpack and fired at the other males. Several of the males were armed with handguns and police believe Williams and Jackson immediately returned fire. Police have not said publicly who fired the shots that struck Royta and the other victims.

It was over in a matter of seconds,' said Lt. Keith Czeskleba. It was literally that quick.

All we can say is thank God more people werent hurt because those bullets were flying through that mall,' Derzis said. Its incredible that more people werent hurt.

We know this much  these three individuals were firing rounds in that Riverchase Galleria and those bullets were whizzing everywhere,' he said.

When the gunfight started, Royta and his family were preparing to buy outfits for the Fourth of July holiday. His mother spoke to AL.com hours after the shooting. We heard the gunshots and I grabbed them, and we hit the ground,' she said. When we all got up, he was the only one who didnt get up.

Royta had just finished the second grade at Jonesboro Elementary School in Bessemer. Family members said he was energetic, always smiling and had wanted to be a rapper.

Roytas parents, grandmother, sisters and two dozen other family members and friends gathered Monday at Birminghams Avondale Park to talk about the boys life and legacy.

The Rev. David Miller of Chosen Ministries in Birmingham, accompanied by his wife, Intranet, said its vital that Roytas death not go unnoticed.

Our hearts all went out because of what happened to George Floyd. The whole world went crazy, standing up for the brutality of George Floyd and how he was taken,' Miller said. Everybody marched, everybody rioted, everybody tore up everything and we understand that.

But his life matters too. This baby boy will never, ever see the age of George Floyd and yet we want to make it known that a change has to happen now. Right now,' he said. Everybody wants to be on TV, everybody wants to get publicity for rioting, but nobody wants to stand up when our own takes our own. We are here to say enough is enough.

A memorial service is scheduled for him Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Bessemer Recreation Center. The Riverchase Galleria is paying for Roytas funeral, which will be held at noon Saturday at the Bessemer Civic Center.

Hoover City Councilman Derrick Murphy announced Tuesday that he will host a prayer vigil in the wake of the tragic shooting. The vigil will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the upper, far left parking lot of the Macys Department Store at the Riverchase Galleria. Roytas family is expected to attend, as well as city and county officials and members of Gallerias management.

Murphy released this statement: First, I feel it is imperative that we pray for Roytas family and for all of the victims injured in this senseless shooting. Not only will we pray for them, but for everyone who was at the mall that day and experienced trauma in some way. It is also important that we pray for our first responders and our community as a whole. We are all hurting from this situation. Now is the time to pray and support each other, knowing we will get through this together.

We must also address the issue of gun violence in our region. Our young people have too many easy avenues through which they can obtain guns today. That, coupled with their inability or unwillingness to solve disagreements effectively, is leading to the loss of too many lives. There must be a change, it must start now, and it must start with the heart.

The mayor and police chief said theyre going to do everything they can to make shoppers feel safe. Theyve been meeting since Friday, looking at various tools including improved security, police presence and technology to restore shoppers confidence.

There have been several high-profile shootings at the mall since 2018 in which three people were killed in three separate incidents. Our mall is a safe place but its not a safe place when people pull guns out and start shooting at each other. That happens other places also,' Derzis said.

You look at the tragedy of the Fourth of July all over the United States. We saw how many people were killed this past weekend,' he said. Somethings got to stop. This is just literally insanity.

Its been said, Who takes a gun to a mall?' You get into an argument and all of the sudden you feel comfortable enough that when you get mad at somebody, you just pull it out and start shooting,' he said. Im not sure how to stop it. Id be a multi-millionaire if I did.
A second teen has died following a Monday crash in Houston County, and the driver who struck them is now charged in their deaths.

The crash happened about 4 p.m. on U.S. 84 at the intersection of Alabama 123, eight miles west of Dothan. A 15-year-old girl died Monday, and a 17-year-old boy has now died as well. Troopers do not release the names of juvenile fatality victims.

Authorities said the those injured were passengers in a 2015 Nissan Altima that was struck from behind by a 2010 Ford F150 driven by 55-year-old Anthony Miquel Bishop of Enterprise. Two additional vehicles were damaged in the crash.

Three occupants of the Nissan were taken to Flowers Hospital in Dothan, as well as Bishop. Bishop was released from the hospital and charged with DUI. He now also has been charged with two counts of murder and remains held in the Houston County Jail.
As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we would do well to heed the lessons of history. In the throes of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and World War I; Jefferson County residents were asked to alter their daily lives and make sacrifices much like we are today.

Just as we promote handwashing and use of hand sanitizers, several antiseptic solutions were used then to decrease the spread of disease. During that pandemic, Birmingham schools were used as emergency hospitals. During this pandemic, local hospital executives, our Health Officer, the Army Corp of Engineers and others made rigorous surge capacity plans in case our hospitals or nursing homes get overwhelmed.

Dr. Judson Dowling, the Jefferson County Health Officer in 1918, closed all schools, picture shows, churches, and public gatherings as the epidemic worsened. Social distancing was a significant public health strategy, as one local newspaper noted that large numbers of citizens are isolating themselves so far as possible during the epidemic. One columnists wrote, The children are out of school and naturally restless, but parents would be doing the city a great service by forbidding their children from gathering in the streets with their playmates or visiting other homes until the epidemic has spent its force and has been subdued.

Dr. Dowling wrote, We are convinced that the wearing of a simple gauze face mask is the most practical and efficient general method at our command to limit the spread of influenza. The cooperation of every organization and every person in the city of Birmingham and the entire community is requested in our efforts to popularize this movement. A person wearing one of these masks not only enjoys almost absolute protection, but the added satisfaction of knowing that he is not dangerous to his neighbor. Store clerks were expected to wear face masks and the Pastors Union asked their congregants to do the same.

These measures indeed flattened the epidemic curve, but it wasnt without economic harm. Coal production and retail sales were down. Despite that, citizens were asked to purchase Liberty Bonds to help finance the war effort. Nevertheless, the collective community made tremendous sacrifice on behalf of the greater good. In the local newspaper, it was noted that, In response to the magnificent co-operation of the general public  many of whom have made considerable personal sacrifice to aid the cause  the first ray of light broke through the epidemic cloud. The community understood that their individual choices would greatly impact their collective survival.

That generation bore the Greatest Generation that, in turn, survived the Great Depression and won World War II. Even in these and other times of national tragedy and hardship, Americans have stood in solidarity against common foes. In early 1799, the U.S. Congress, during the President John Adams and Vice President Thomas Jefferson administration, passed the first public health laws and soon thereafter, health departments began to be formed. In fact, patriot Paul Revere was the first President of Bostons Board of Health.

The Jefferson County Department of Health was formed in 1917 after the community demanded more concerted efforts to control several recent outbreaks of cholera and typhoid fever. Just as it was then, we are facing a formidable foe the likes of which most of us have not experienced in our lifetimes. COVID-19 is not as lethal as the Spanish flu but has certainly wielded widespread damage to society.

The practice of public health must strike a balance between what some view as unnecessary encroachments on civil liberties and our duty and obligation to protect against public health threats. As noted in a 2007 essay by virologist Reinhard Kurth, individual rights should be a very high priority in any situation, but these rights should be trumped by the right of the public to be protected. Each case has to be evaluated on its own terms and ifand only ifan individual refuses to comply with voluntary measures, then compulsory measures should be enforced. Public health laws and regulations such as mandatory vaccinations, tobacco control measures, motor vehicle safety and many others place limits on individuals liberties, but save millions of lives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot afford failing to act. We must ask ourselves who we are as Americans and Alabamians. Let us not be mistaken. When knocked down, we get right back up. We are resilient. We care for others. We support each other. Let us unite to defeat this foe just as our ancestors did. Let history show that we survived  together.

David Hicks, DO, MPH, FAAFP, Deputy Health Officer, Jefferson County Department of Health
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Thursday marks the 16th anniversary since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) deemed Israels separation wall illegal.

In 2002, Israel started constructing the wall, slicing through Palestinian communities, agricultural fields, and farmland at the height of the second Intifada.

The wall has been described by Israeli officials as a necessary security precaution against terrorism.

Palestinians, however, have decried it as an Israeli mechanism to annex Palestinian territory as it is built deep within the West Bank and not along the 1967 Green Line, the generally recognised boundary between Israel and the West Bank.

While the ICJs decision is non-binding, it found the wall violates international law and called for its dismantlement. It also ruled Israel should pay reparations for any damage caused.

A month after the ICJ decision, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) voted overwhelmingly to demand Israel to comply with the UNs highest legal body.

The vote called on UN member states not to recognise the illegal situation resulting from the construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by such construction.
Perhaps it does not require a moral compass to feel outrage and fury over the image of a three-year-old Kashmiri child sitting on his slain grandfathers chest in the middle of a street. You probably need only one of the two to feel something: A pair of eyes or a heart.

The 65-year-old man, Bashir Ahmed Khan, was killed after a shootout between militants and Indian paramilitaries in the northern town of Sopore. Khans family have said he was killed in cold blood by Indian paramilitaries. The child, turned into a PR spectacle by the security forces, has also said it was the police who shot his Papa. The police insist Khan was killed in the crossfire.

Perhaps words such as cruelty, depravity and dehumanisation fall short in describing the narrative games that the Indian state and its extensions in the media now routinely play over Kashmir.

We are being asked to believe that militants shot dead a man out driving with his toddler grandchild, then a good Samaritan chose to first photograph the stunned child  no photojournalists could have been present at the scene  before handing him to the police to be rescued.

Interestingly, in the carefully composed photo, the child is not looking at his grandfathers face, which might be a childs first instinct, but has his back towards it. In turn, someone felt compelled to click a photograph of the boy in the arms of a uniformed cop during the rescue mission.

But perhaps not satisfied with still images, because what is modern PR without a video full of viral potential, someone chose to make a clip of the uncontrollably sobbing child who was, by then, inside a police vehicle. A voice can be heard saying, Well give you a biscuit, but the filming does not pause.

All this as a noble act of rescue. Curiously, no such sentiment was available for the grandfather whose dead body, the same set of images show us, a policeman can be seen straddling rather casually. A Kashmiri body quite literally under a jackboot.

It gets worse: The armed forces, journalists, cantankerous TV anchors, and a news agency known for its reliance on facts-as-defined-by-the-state, all chose to broadcast the video of a bewildered, heartbroken minor crying copious tears inside a police car. This is against the law almost everywhere on the planet. But Kashmiri lives, whether young or old, do not matter.

It did not come as a surprise, therefore, to see many Indian media outlets, seasoned journalists and political knuckleheads speaking in roughly the same language of cold calculation and profit: How best to deploy the photo of a stupefied three-year-old boy sitting on his grandfathers bloodied corpse.

On the ground and on the airwaves, in the militarised space of Kashmir and among the halls of commentary in Delhi, the disregard and disdain for Kashmiris is now so complete, so pervasive that the worst is [always] precise, as a broken-hearted poet, Agha Shahid Ali, once said.

The responses to the viral image  a photo that should neither have been taken nor distributed  point precisely to the astonishing breakdown of basic codes of civility, common decency, and humanity among large sections of Indian society and media. Kashmiris have, of course, always known.

Soon after the near-dystopian incident in Sopore, more than a few media outlets and Twitter-handles chose to broadcast verbatim what the Indian police claimed. Police rescue toddler! The immediate familys on-record version, that the old man was dragged out of his car, shot dead, and his grandson made to sit on his chest for a photo-op, did not matter or carry the same weight.

It would have complicated the story  a neat, unambiguous version is always helpful to and liked by the state.

It is necessary to note here that the Indian administration in Kashmir  not a press body, not an editors guild, or a school of media studies, but a group of government officials answerable only to themselves  recently came up with its own set of rules to define what constitutes news and journalism. Calling them Orwellian does not quite do justice to these rules.

Sambit Patra, a spokesperson of the ruling party in India, went further and chose a different tactic. Bizarrely incensed at the recent Pulitzer Prize that honoured three brilliant photojournalists for their coverage of Kashmir after the erasure of the regions autonomy last year, he chose to deploy the image to scoff at the award. To poke fun, to mock.

Perhaps politics in contemporary India has all gone far beyond the confines of taste and ethics, perhaps it is now so far removed from what is right and wrong that a spokesman of Indias ruling party salivates at the appearance of a macabre photograph.

In the politicians fertile mind, it made for good material perhaps because it allowed the regime to momentarily distract its loyal followers from the Chinese incursions in Ladakh. But it is probably even worse than that. The depravity is the point.

This kind of performative cruelty, germane to all occupying regimes and empires, will not be independently investigated because that is how the state operates among those it essentially considers an expendable people. It will be so because that is precisely how it has been all these years: A state of exception in which the lives of Kashmiris are always subject to the will and machinations of the colonial state.

It was like this before India illegally erased Kashmirs nominal autonomy in August last year. Since then, it has run Kashmir according to a tyranny of law. A tyranny by law. A staggering 99 percent of habeas corpus pleas  requests to courts to review unlawful detention  in the state have been in suspension for nearly a year.

Indian TV studios ran both the footage of the toddler and an interview with the cop who supposedly rescued him, after all possible PR opportunities were exploited. There were no interviews with the family of Bashir Khan or with eyewitnesses from Sopore.

There is a saying in Kashmiri, Khoon diy baarav, which loosely translates to blood shall speak. It is the solemn cadence of that last word  baarav  that makes Kashmiris remember every zulm (oppression) and wound. In our present reality, the translation acquires a fresh potency: Blood shall howl. It is to this many turn to during times of unspeakable grief and fury.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Glen Johnson

Johnson is a New Zealand reporter who worked as a foreign correspondent for more than a decade, mostly out of the Middle East and North Africa.
The New Zealand governments COVID-19 response was a success story, national medias coverage of it was not.

New Zealands health minister, David Clark, has been forced to resign and the nations hyperactive media have claimed their latest scalp. In the middle of a pandemic, no less.

Unseemly as the medias months-long hit on Clark was  a classic example of trial by media  it was consistent with the borderline misconduct that has defined much of the reporting throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

While the response to the pandemic threat from the national capital, Wellington, can be held aloft, for now, as a rare success story in a world of disarray, the machinations of much of the nations media leaves much to be desired.

Taken over time, New Zealands reporters have appeared focused on managing perceptions, berating and cajoling a fearful public on numerous fronts. In doing so, and from the earliest stages of a four-level alert system, public health concerns have been eclipsed by a clamouring commentariat, all seeking to score political points and undermine the governments health-first priorities.

A case can be made that the nations media, laundering many of the oppositions attack lines and big business talking points, have repeatedly endangered public health.

This was driven not only by the countrys clutch of prominent Fox News-style commentators  Mike Hosking, Heather du Plessis-Allan and Duncan Garner  each of whom hawks anger and division to drive ratings, but by senior reporters and editors.

Omission and the economy

New Zealand entered alert level four at midnight on March 25. Public fear had built throughout February, sharpening to a peak in the latter part of March.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her government had to rapidly scale up a response when it became clear in January that China had not contained the virus.

With multiple clusters across the country  a high school in Auckland, a wedding in the deep south, a bar in the tourist hub of Matamata  the government heeded the advice of leading epidemiologists.

They opted for an elimination strategy. That would mean a strict and prolonged lockdown, easing over time. New Zealanders overwhelmingly endorsed this approach, putting public health above all other considerations  specifically the economy.

Daily life ground to a halt.

The opposition, business elements and an instinctively conformist media moved quickly to set the agenda, artificially narrowing the parameters of public discourse.

There were, for example, no deep-dive stories into the state of the health system, eviscerated by aggressive neo-liberalism since the late 1980s, yielding the country acutely vulnerable to COVID-19.

Little was said about our hyper-globalised societies increasingly fraught relationship with nature, of which COVID-19 is a symptom.

Such discussions were omitted from the news agenda. Instead, economic considerations dominated media messaging.

Then-leader of the National Party, Simon Bridges, began imitating Donald Trump, claiming that the medicine should not be worse than the cure. Disinformation about a spike in suicides as a result of lockdown proliferated.

Trans-Tasman rivalry was cynically leveraged into the public domain, with claims that Australia was outperforming New Zealand on health and economic outcomes due to its less stringent lockdown.

An organisation called Plan B, a cross-disciplinary group of academics, became ubiquitous in the media. Its website read, International health data and experience is showing that New Zealands lockdown may now be unnecessary, and even more harmful than the problem were trying to solve.

The messaging was clear: the government had overreacted and it was time to get back to work.

With Ardern set to announce whether cabinet would move down alert levels on April 20, journalists and commentators brazenly agitated for a move to alert level three, which would allow for cafes and restaurants to offer contactless delivery and take away services, namedropping their favourite fast-food chains in a media-wide in-joke.

They showed little concern for the minimum-wage workers who would have to stand at open windows, handing food to thousands of people in the middle of a pandemic.

The health minister, Clark, became a target. With an election approaching  and the Labour Partys popularity skyrocketing  the opposition needed to drive a wedge between the government and its popular health response.

The media obliged.

A flood of reports castigated Clark for breaking lockdown rules by driving 20km to a beach with his family.

Then, he carried some belongings from a former residence, used as an office, to his new home a few hundred metres away. This set off the reporters at Newshub, who argued that it constituted moving homes  forbidden under lockdown provisions.

It speaks of one set of rules for the Health Minister and another set of rules for all other New Zealanders, wrote Newshubs Tova OBrien.

Put simply, much of the media appeared to be conditioning the public. This approach continued as the country rushed through alert levels three and two.

Alert level one

The country moved to alert level one on June 8, having reported 1,504 COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths. It was the 17th-straight day that no new cases had been discovered.

The country was virus-free.

The New Zealand Heralds front page that day, before Ardern announced her cabinets decision, smacked of Diktat  a propaganda technique  reading: Only 1 Option.

All domestic restrictions were lifted. New Zealanders were free to do as they wished. Meantime, the outside world was entering a period of pandemic acceleration.

Ardern and her reassuring director-general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, had delivered a world-leading health response. The government had additionally protected the economy, through massive government spending.

Yet political and media pressure had forced a number of concessions over several months. These included: allowing compassionate leave for relatives of the terminally ill; increasing the numbers of mourners at funerals during level two; and, most importantly, moving early into alert level one, which Bloomfield felt should not happen before June 22.

A national disgrace

On June 16, National Party spokesman for health, Michael Woodhouse, told parliament that two returning New Zealanders, released early from managed isolation to visit a dying relative, had met with friends in Auckland and shared a kiss and a cuddle  after becoming lost on the citys motorways.

The pair had driven some 650km to Wellington, where they tested positive for COVID-19. The implication was clear: they may have unwittingly reseeded the virus.

At around the same time, the media ran a number of stories about the nations managed isolation facilities, suggesting systemic failings. Woodhouse claimed that a homeless man had entered an isolation facility, spending two weeks living it up on taxpayer money.

Even worse, apparently, 1,359 people who were released after two weeks in managed isolation were not swabbed for COVID-19 under a new testing regime. That regime required tests on days three and 12 of isolation.

Media variously described the situation as a shambles and a fiasco, chaos and a national disgrace. The National Partys new leader, Todd Muller, suggested that the country had undetected cases of community transmission.

The publics fury was unbridled.

To his credit, Bloomfield, venerated by the public, took responsibility for any failures by local health officials to implement ministry protocols.

The media, unsatisfied, went scalp-hunting.

Thrown under the bus

On June 25, press gallery reporters approached Clark and Bloomfield following a select committee meeting, pressing the health minister to accept blame for border failures.

The director-general has accepted that protocols werent being followed, he has accepted responsibility for that and has set about putting it right, said Clark.

A Newshub cameraman panned to focus on Bloomfields face.

Newshubs story, written by OBrien, was headlined: Health Minister David Clark brutally throws Dr Ashley Bloomfield under the bus while standing right next to him.

The media piled on, running probably hundreds of pieces riffing off the phrase thrown under the bus.

Clark, the countrys most effective health minister in decades, tendered his resignation.

Clickbait

The problem with all of this is, however, that the two women who drove to Wellington did not kiss and cuddle their friends; that was an incendiary exaggeration by the political opposition.

After reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing widely, authorities found no evidence that Woodhouses homeless man existed.

The medias claims of systemic failings at managed isolation facilities began to look more like isolated instances, blown out of proportion. Numerous returning Kiwis said that the facilities were well run.

A month on, and with tens of thousands of tests conducted, there is no evidence that the virus has reseeded in, let alone spread throughout, the community.

The inescapable conclusion is that the media willingly colluded with the oppositions attack lines, relying on the fear and scandal that generated to attract eyeballs  clickbait.

Dirty politics

On the first weekend of July, the personal details of COVID-19 patients at the countrys border facilities were leaked to multiple media organisations. The opposition leader, Muller, framed this serious breach of privacy as another example of government incompetence.

It talks to a government thats slipping off the side of a cliff, in terms of managing this issue, the border, the information pertaining to it, said Muller.

These guys need to step aside and let a competent government take over, he added.

However, Mullers party on Tuesday admitted that it was behind the leak.

National MP Hamish Walker had engineered it, using information allegedly obtained by a former party head, Michelle Boag. Walker had recently attempted to stir-up racist sentiment towards New Zealanders returning from India and Pakistan.

Will the media hold the National Party to account?

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
IDPs in Buea registering to receive government aid Atia Azohnwi

Eight International Nongovernmental Organisations, INGOs, delivering humanitarian assistance to crisis-affected populations in the North-West and South-West regions have renewed their commitment to strictly respect humanitarian principles.

In a dispatch Monday, they call on Non-State Armed Groups and State Forces in the area to allow for a swift response to the dire needs of persons affected by the ongoing humanitarian emergency.

We do call on all parties and stakeholders to maintain and facilitate swiftly our access to all affected populations across these regions in order to save civilian lives and recall that humanitarian staff and personal must be protected in all circumstances, in accordance with international humanitarian laws, they wrote.

Action Against Hunger, Care, Catholic Relief Services, the International Rescue Committee, Intersos, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Refugee Council and Plan International say they remain committed to deliver humanitarian assistance to all civilian populations affected by the on-going crisis based on need and without discrimination, in order to save lives.

We are strongly committed to do so in full compliance with our mandates which are based on the four humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. Those principles guide our action for the entire benefit of the civilian populations and thus in full independence and neutrality from political or military objectives.

At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading in these two regions, unrestricted access to populations is of ultimate importance to carry-out life-saving interventions to more than 700,000 people in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. We reiterate that the principles of humanitarian action: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence govern the way humanitarian response is carried out by NGOs.

The United Nations Security Council had on July 1 taken a resolution on COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus, demanding a cessation of hostilities and recognizing the UN Secretary-General's global ceasefire appeal.

In Cameroons North West and South West regions, armed separatists have since 2017 been fighting to create a breakaway state christened Ambazonia. State forces have been deployed to the area with running gun battles causing untold hardship for the civilian population.

In January, the European Union described the humanitarian situation as increasingly fragile. It noted that violence has uprooted hundreds of thousands of people in the restive Anglophone regions.

According to the EU, the situation has turned into violent clashes and a full-blown humanitarian crisis, with no fewer than 730,000 people out of their homes and more than 1.3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

Mondays dispatch from the International Nongovernmental Organisations comes at a time humanitarian workers are increasing being attacked in the line of duty.
Professor Banlilon Victor Tani Atia Azohnwi

Professor Banlilon Victor Tani, Registrar of the University of Bamenda, is no more.

The sagely Professor of International Relations traveled to the world beyond the night of Tuesday, July 7, 2020.

The political scientist served the educational community in several capacities. After earning a couple of postgraduate degrees abroad, Prof. Banlilon taught in many universities in West Africa including the Ahmadou Bello University. Upon his return to the country, he joined the University of Buea and walked through the ranks.

Described as a very nice, calm, cool, collected intellectual and gentleman, Prof. Banlilon's demise has left his students, colleagues, friends, and family inconsolable.

Tata Mbinglo, former President of the University of Buea Students' Union, UBSU, says the diseased professor was a mentor, soft-spoken and kind-hearted.

To his former student, Dzeayee Henry Ngalimnyuy, It's so hard to believe you're no more Prof. Banlilon Victor Tani, my erudite Lecturer in Political science and International relations. The cold hands of death don't have any respect even for icons. Your legacy lives on Professor. 

Leslie Ngwa recalls his first moments with Professor Banlilon in a tribute posted on Facebook. Last time there was some form of interaction was when Prof Victor Banlilon liked one of my posts in June. He may have been Registrar and many other things, but above all, you were a very good teacher prof. There are not many. If someone teaches you and several years after you still remember what he taught you, then he did his job. Your lessons on the similarities and differences between power, influence, and authority during my first year in university stuck. Your students say you solved their problems - not like others who created them. 

Professor Banlilon will be buried this Thursday at his residence in Bamenda.

Biodata

Born on January 1, 1967, Banlilon attended Government Primary School Jakiri, and proceeded to the Presbyterian Secondary School Mankon and Cameroon College of Arts and Technology Bambili respectively for his secondary and high school education.

After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Public Law from the University of Yaounde, Banlilon enrolled in the Ahmadou Bello University in Nigeria where he bagged home his Master's degree and Ph.D. He attended Bard College, Annadale-on-Hudson, NY, the USA in 2014 for a SUSI Scholar under the aegis of the US Department of State Program on US Foreign Policy.

Banlilon started his career as an Assistant lecturer at the Ahmadou Bello University before returning to Cameroon to be recruited as Assistant Lecturer, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, University of Buea.

He became Senior Lecturer in 2005 and was promoted to the Professorial rank in 2015. Among others, Prof. Banlilon served as Head of Service for Teaching and Research, Faculty Officer at the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences and Head of Department of Political Science and Public Administration all at the University of Buea.

In December 2014, he was appointed Secretary-General of the Higher Institute of Transport and Logistics, University of Bamenda. On June 27, 2017, he was appointed Registrar of the University of Bamenda.
The Broadway Palm Dinner Theater in Fort Myers has announces that it has cancelled the planned productino of The Sound of Music. At first delaying the start of the run of the production, the theatre remained optimistic that Southwest Florida would see a decline in cases of COVID-19, but with the numbers continuing to rise and theater management the need believe to protect guests, staff members, performers and the entire community.

All ticket holders for these cancelled performances of The Sound of Music will be contacted. The Sound of Music was the final show in Broadway Palms 27th season. The theaters 28th season is still scheduled as planned and will begin on Aug. 20.

For additional information, please visit BroadwayPalm.com.
Alpine, TX (79831)

Today

Morning clouds will give way to afternoon sunshine. High 91F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low near 70F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Wichita State University has announced the names of more than 3,700 students who were on the WSU dean's honor roll for spring 2020. Local students receiving award were: Cynthia L. Martin from Alva, Oklahoma; and Andrea K. Cunningham, Victoria L. Fagan, Brady F. Flesner, Brooke L. Hammond and Riston F. Landwehr, all of Medicine Lodge, Kansas.

To be included on the dean's honor roll, a student must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours) and earn at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

The graduate school offers an extensive program including more than 40 master's degrees...
Lake Charles, Louisiana (70615)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High 86F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
The fallacy of Supreme Court neutrality is that so long as the Court advances or upholds the woke progressivism that has strangled the country since the 1930s  but especially since the 1960s and 1970s  everything is hunky-dory. If, however, the Court ever had the audacity not merely to rule in the general direction of even mainstream conservatism, but to restore the original constitutional union our forefathers established, then the knives would be out in full force, and complaints of an anti-American, anti-constitutional, and radically political Judiciary would dominate the bullhorns of our petty tyrants masquerading as defenders of democracy.

The problem with stare decisis and the mainstream conservative juridical philosophy is that it accepts, prima facie, the uniform, universalist, and progressive anti-Constitution that has been coercively imposed over the United States in the twentieth century. It is unsurprising that it is always Republican Court nominees who become liberals. The logic of stare decisis demands it. A clearly unconstitutional ruling, so long as it was imposed over the country by the Supreme Court, becomes the new constitutional precedence to affirm and build from. Any challenge to this anti-constitutional constitutionalism  how's that for a contradiction?  is met with opposition as being radically destructive.

In Federalist 78, the most oft-cited of the Federalist Papers concerning the Supreme Court, Alexander Hamilton expounds on the need for an independent Judiciary. I do not think anyone would disagree on the principle of an independent judiciary. The problem is that this veil of judicial independence masks the fact that we do not even operate under the constitutional union Madison, Hamilton, Jay, and others envisioned when authoring the Federalist Papers and the Constitution itself. When Hamilton writes that the Court should "exercise ... judicial discretion, in determining between two contradictory laws," he does not mean that in a state-versus-federal dialectic. He meant it in a federal-versus-federal dialectic.

The original constitutional union was meant to protect the sovereignty and independence of the individual states from the prospective imposing tyranny of a homogenizing federal government. The Constitution speaks of a "union" of states, never a "nation" in the nineteenth-century ideal of European progressives and Abraham Lincoln. This union of states meant to maintain the sovereignty of each colony turned state with its own particular history, heritage, and legal customs and traditions. The original constitutional union was the first and only embodiment of a true pluralism in the United States.

The greatest document that testifies to this early reality is Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America. The French aristocrat, originally in America to report on its prison system, ended up penning the quintessential work of early American political science and philosophy. In it, Tocqueville noted the unique exceptionalism of the American political union:

It is proposed to examine the following chapter what is the form of government established in America on the principle of the sovereignty of the people; what are its resources, its hindrances, it advantages, and its dangers. The first difficulty which presents itself arises from the complex nature of the constitution of the United States, which consists of two distinct social structures, connected and, as it were, encased one within the other; two governments, completely separate and almost independent, the one fulfilling the ordinary duties and responding to the daily and indefinite calls of the community, the other circumscribed within certain limits; and only exercising an exceptional authority over the general interests of the country. In short, there are twenty-four small sovereign nations, whose agglomeration constitutes the body of the Union.

Tocqueville would go on to say, "The attributes of the Federal Government were therefore carefully enumerated and all that was not included amongst them was declared to constitute a part of the privileges of the several Governments of the States. Thus the government of the States remained the rule, and that of the Confederation became the exception." What becomes clear, when carefully reading the language of the American Constitution, alongside the Federalist Papers and Tocqueville, is that the "Government of the States" was meant to be the norm and the federal government the exception. When Hamilton writes of an independent Judiciary "exercis[ing] judicial discretion, in determining between two contradictory laws," he means it from the perspective of federal law only. Do new federal laws passed contradict the established federal laws in existence? New federal laws were never meant to overturn existing state laws and traditions.

This is apparent to anyone with modest knowledge of American history and legal jurisprudence  at least before it was destroyed and rewritten through an unconstitutional accretion over a century of Supreme Court rulings. The Constitution, as we know, permits freedom of religion and prevents Congress (the federal Legislature) from establishing a national (federal) religion. However, the individual states were permitted to have state religions of their own. The religious traditions of Massachusetts and Connecticut, for instance, differed from those of South Carolina and Maryland.

What those states did was not a matter of concern for the federal government. So it was that the states had their own state churches until they voluntarily disestablished them, many in the 1800s (1817 in Connecticut and 1833 in Massachusetts, 1790 in South Carolina). The disestablishment of the state churches was not by a Supreme Court mandate, but through state legislative discretion (often because of growing religious diversity wrought by the Great Awakenings). This is one, perhaps the most evident, example of how the original constitutional union worked. State traditions and laws were left in the hands of the states and federal law was left in the hands of the newly established federal government. The federal Constitution meant to apply to the federal government and not retroactively imposed (as it is now) over the individual states.

A long series of wars, literal and juridical, have since been fought over whether the United States would remain a union of states or become, in the European manner, a homogenized conglomeration called a "nation." The Civil War, the New Deal, and the Great Society all advanced the cause  unintentionally or intentionally  of uniform and universal progressivism over the Union. The Union, by 1965, had all but ceased to exist. The United States had become the national state ruled by a bureaucratic and managerial imperium emanating out of Washington, D.C. and fully backed by the Supreme Court after its rulings throughout the 1940s1970s.

This brings us to the toughest pill to swallow. It may be counterintuitive at first glance. We still lack a politicized Supreme Court in the sense of an "activist court" leading the charge to build the fantastical "new nation" dreamt of by Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson. Instead, the Supreme Court acts as the buttress against any threat to the new national empire and its unconstitutional tyranny. In doing so, the Supreme Court acts as the legitimist veil for the woke empire that corrosively poisons the United States. However illegal the new policies of the federal government are, you can count on the Supreme Court backing it up. The Court, in actuality, is the subjugated legitimizer of the unconstitutional imperium that has been coercively imposed over the United States.

The Supreme Court no longer adjudicates federal law. Instead, it destroys the local laws and customs of the individual states and subjugates them to the federal Leviathan. The rich plurality of customs, laws, and traditions that fascinated Tocqueville and earned his praise and admiration has become a dry and bland entity universality dictated from above by Washington bureaucrats and middle managers backed by the dictatorial gavel of black robes.

So-called Court independence and neutrality, as promoted by our woke imperial establishment, is whenever the Court rules to defend its illegal imperium. Conservatives must choose between being cuckolded servants of the woke empire  simply with a sprinkle of low taxes here and pro-business rulings there, as they currently are  or truly restorationist constitutionalists, who will dismantle the accreted tyranny of the national state, which suffocates and destroys the now 50 small sovereign nations that make up the American union. Anything short of restoring the government of the states as the norm and dismantling the imperial Leviathan's grip on the states will only lead to continued strangulation of this once great republic.
Let's start with a series of rhetorical questions related to the upcoming presidential elections:

 Does a broken storefront add votes to the Democrats?

 Does a burning car add votes to the Democrats?

 Does a killed or wounded policeman add votes to the Democrats?

 Does a toppled statue add votes to the Democrats?

 Does an "autonomous zone" add votes to the Democrats?

 Does a demolished synagogue or a destroyed church add votes to the Democrats?

Simple human logic suggests that the answers to all these questions are negative. Why do Democrats do all of this? Currently, the majority opinion is solidly against the rioters. Why did Democrats move from ideological gangsterism to a real one? After all, this is silly, just silly. Democrats have brought America into a post-Orwellian world, in which they demanded the presence of the police at a protest rally dedicated to defunding of police. So many police officers, abandoned by their Democrat mayors, decided to go Galt. Are Democrats complete blockheads or political duffers? What is prevailing here  (D)egeneratism or (D)ementia?

I belong to the camp of those who don't consider Democrats idiots. This raises the question: why, then, are they slipping into this criminal quagmire? To answer this question, we need to understand how the mass disinformation media work.

As an example, consider the analogy with the stock market. Many believe that the stock market instantly responds to the latest economic news. This is far from the case.

The stock market does not respond to news as such. It responds to the expectation of how the news can affect the state of an already established portfolio in about six months. Therefore, for example, sometimes bad news leads to higher stock prices, and sometimes the opposite occurs. Occasionally, good news can also lead to an increase or decrease in stock prices. It all depends on how the Wall Street bigwigs have positioned their current portfolios, whether they are focused bullish or bearish, and what they foresee about six months out.

In parallel with the real exchange market, there is virtual, informational reality. In this domain, there is always some news to rationalize the minute price movements. From the entire cacophony of news, only the news that is selling the best, and that authoritatively "explains" why values went up or down today, penetrates the front pages. It applies not only to economic news, but also to all pertinent political news.

In other words, political and economic news per se does not matter. From a political standpoint, the only news that is relevant is what is consistent with the point of view of existing political positions, what is in an already formed political portfolio. It must be suited within a previously approved political platform. That explains, inter alia, why the majority of mass disinformation media eventually morph into propaganda machines, and the audience of news channels is polarized very quickly.

Just as today's events in the stock market are designed to maximize the value of the portfolio in about six months, the current actions of the Democrats are aimed at maximizing their political portfolio in the post-election period.

The Pan-American pogrom is happening because it looks as if the Democrats know that Trump has already won the 2020 election.

The elections will be held on November 3, but Democrats, probably, already know the name of the winner, and they act accordingly. At the same time, President Trump does not attack the feeble-minded Marxist blackshirts with the help of the Army, although he has the authority. His team focuses on election issues. So while riots concentrate in heavily Democratic states, nobody should expect any reckless movement from the White House. Stopping vandalism in the states that traditionally vote for Democrats will not offer Trump a single electoral vote. In a simple Machiavellian way, Trump forces the electorate in such states to enjoy the preview of socialism they dream of.

President Trump knows that Democratic vandalism is not a response to his actions or his policies  the destruction and pillage are a response to his victory. Democrat Party bosses, like Wall Street bosses, do not look to the past, not to the present, but into the future. Leftist gangsters and leftist bankers are acting alike.

The riots of the Democrats are today's answer to Trump's future victory.

If the current stock market movements reflect the expectations of the future monetary level of existing portfolios, the pogroms reflect the expectations of the dwellers of the Democrats' swamp on the value of their political positions after losing in November.

The gangsterization of the Democrat Party is the last effort, the last reserve, the last straw for the Democrats drowning in their leftist racist filth to maintain morale in the losing camp. They know that Trump has accumulated sufficient political capital, and his campaign has collected impressive cash reserves.

Democrats are pushing Trump to waste his political and monetary capital on the fight against the Democrat rioters in the Democrat states and squander all the political ammunition before the official start of the presidential race.

So far, Donald Trump has not taken the bait.

In addition, Democrats are aware of Baader-Meinhof syndrome  those obsessed with an idea need to nourish their faith in this idea continually. Those who want to see America in the fire of pogroms and vandalism will always find suitable sources. Those who see God's business everywhere and in everything will always find confirmation of this. If someone is looking for evidence that the United States of America has become the United States of Anarchists, he will always find evidence on CNN, MSNBC, and other left-wing media. In conclusion, the propaganda of the gangsterization of the Democrat Party is fascinating to those who, in fact, are enthralled with the gangsterization of the Democrat Party.

The stage of Jewish pogroms in America seems to have passed. Democrats will soon take on Christian saints and churches. However, in America, the stance toward Christianity is significantly different from that of Europe. In America, there has never been Bartholomew's night or the Inquisition, and the attitude toward Christianity in its entirety is positive. When the statues of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other symbols of Christianity begin to fall, this will mean that the Democrat Party has finished digging its own grave.

The very first desecrated statue of the Virgin Mary will lead to a powerful rebuff the likes of which the Democrat Party  the party of former slave-owners and the KKK  has not experienced since the Civil War. The Democrats' swan song will be the overthrow of the statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, a peaceful black Republican preacher.

There will be no socialist revolution in America. In fact, all left-wing revolutions in world history took place in countries where people did not have the opportunity to defend their rights with firearms. Right-wing revolutions in world history took place in countries where the people not only had the right, but also possessed enough weapons. Examples of this are well known  the left revolutions in France (1789) and Russia (1917) and the right revolution in America (1776).

Therefore, if the next revolution threatens America, then it will, like the Revolution of the 18th century, be right-wing. (Trump's conservative revolution in America may already be taking place. If you haven't noticed it, you should turn off the TV.) Law and order will eventually be restored  political gangsters in America will be quickly and efficiently disposed of after the 2020 elections.

Gary Gindler, Ph.D., is a conservative columnist at Gary Gindler Chronicles and the founder of a new science: politiphysics. Follow him on Twitter and Quodverum.
Last Spring, seven GOP legislators threatened Jordan with economic sanctions and the withholding of aid money if it didnt extradite the infamous terrorist, Al-Tamimi.

Al-Tamimi was involved in the terrorist bombing of the Sbarro Pizzeria in Jerusalem in 2001, which claimed the lives of 15 civilians, including two Americans. Due to a prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel in October of 2011, Al-Tamimi was released to Jordan where she has been living ever since.

King Abdullah has refused to extradite her to the U.S. despite her being placed on the FBI's most wanted list and a criminal extradition treaty signed between U.S. and the Government of Jordan (GoJ) in 1995.

For years, if not decades, Congress and succeeding administrations have looked very favourably on King Abdullah of Jordan. Only a select group of Americans knew the truth, namely that Abdullah was not a friend.

In response to questions from Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) posed at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings a few days ago, President Trump's nominee ambassador to Jordan, Henry Wooster, confirmed,

"The United States has multiple options and different types of leverage to secure Ahlam Aref Ahmad Al-Tamimi's extradition," "We will continue to engage Jordanian officials at all levels not only on this issue, but also on the extradition treaty more broadly. U.S. generosity to Jordan in Foreign Military Financing as well as economic support and other assistance is carefully calibrated to protect and advance the range of U.S. interests in Jordan and in the region."

On June 16/20, AP reported that "US considers withholding aid to Jordan to force extradition." Considering that the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs released a report dated June 30, 2020, claiming,

The United States is Jordan's single largest provider of bilateral assistance, providing more than $1.5 billion in 2019, including $1.082 billion appropriated by the U.S. Congress to Jordan through USAID in the 2019 fiscal year budget, and $425 million in Foreign Military Financing.

This was a heavy-duty threat.

The king's excuses have ranged from the fact that the extradition agreement has never been ratified by the Jordanian Parliament, to Jordan's Court of Cassation ruling that the treaty was illegal, thus denying the U.S. request to extradite Al-Tamimi.

Sources inside the king's intelligence apparatus have confirmed that King Abdullah will not change his position on Al-Tamimi's extradition. The reason for this is simple: Al-Tamimi is a member of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood (MB).

The king's administration has told the media several times that "The Muslim Brotherhood is a part of the Jordanian system" and that "The Muslim Brotherhood is a part of the regime".

Abdullah is even more dependent on the MB now because the Bedouin upon whom he used to rely have developed a hatred for him.

As for Jordan's Palestinian majority, it has historically hated Abdullah and his family.

King Abdullah knows President Trump is nowhere near as forgiving as previous U.S. administrations have been when it comes to terrorism supporters, especially those who call themselves America's friends.

Abdullah's tactic is to keep dragging the issue out in the hopes that President Trump will lose the 2020 presidential elections and that America forgets.

As for the courts ruling against Al-Tamimis extradition, the king is the head of the judiciary authorities in Jordan. According to the constitution, he could override any court decision.

Jordanians have not exhibited any support for Al-Tamimi in social media or on the streets. For the vast majority of them, she is a non-issue. But they have protested against the king.

The king himself breaks the law, violates the constitution and provokes Jordanians every day by trying civilians before the State Security Court, a martial court deemed illegal by the Jordanian constitution and even international law. Every week, this court sentences critics of the king to jail and has sentenced people to lengthy jail sentences for things like issuing bad checks. Additionally, this court has ordered executions.

Al-Tamimi is not the only killer of Americans the King is protecting. He is also protecting Muarek Abu Tayeh.

Abu Tayeh was the Jordanian airman who killed three Green Berets in cold blood in November 2016. The Americans have always insisted on interrogating Abu Tayeh independently, and the king rejected this request on multiple occasions. The king and his government protected him, and even promoted him in rank at the beginning.

Thanks to the victims' families pressure and lobbying in D.C. the king eventually agreed to have Abu Tayeh prosecuted for the lesser crimes of second-degree murder. He was eventually sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing three people. Abu Tayeh has sustained his claim during and after trial "I have carried out the orders," hinting he was asked to do what he did.

Nevertheless, the FBI has not been allowed to independently interrogate him. Simply put, Abu Tayeh has a story to tell that may involve his commanders, and the king does not want the Americans to hear it. If the U.S. seeks to have him extradited, that could be another pandora's box opening in the king's face.

How long can the King refuse to cooperate? Is the Trump administration determined to bring him to heel?

We shall see.
In Seattle, home to the leftist paradise formerly known as CHOP (which was formerly known as CHAZ), white city employees were "invited" to attend a Maoist abuse session during which they were told they were inherently racist and must henceforth perform thought control to re-orient themselves to correct thinking. Does that sentence sound over the top? Well, yes  but it's also entirely accurate.

In a mind-boggling Twitter thread, Christopher F. Rufo introduces Americans to a June 12, 2020, City of Seattle training session entitled "Interrupting Internalized Racial Superiority and Whiteness." Thanks to a public records request, Rufo was able to obtain copies of the handouts at the training session, although Seattle is currently refusing to produce other information, such as the names of those teaching and the amount they were paid.

As you may recall, Seattle, in a frenzy of woke guilt, declared June 12 a "day of reflection and action" following George Floyd's death. However, the city decided upon a special way for its white employees to reflect: it emailed employees informing them that there would be "a training on Internalized Racial Superiority tomorrow morning, specifically targeting white employees[.]"

As @DrKarlynB first reported, the invitation for this training was strictly segregated to "white City employees."



The goal is to teach them how they have "complicity in the system of white supremacy" and must be held "accountable to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color." pic.twitter.com/kPbppFYDtM  Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 6, 2020

If you're having a hard time reading the small text in the tweeted image, above, the email:

... invite[d] City employees who identify as white to join this training to learn, reflect, challenge ourselves, and build skills and relationships that help us show up more fully as allies and accomplices for racial justice. [snip] White employees are invited to sign up here so we know youre joining us[.]

The Civil Rights Act makes it illegal to treat people differently based on skin color. And while the email is framed as an "invitation," it's hard to imagine that white employees supervised by black employees or working closely with black colleagues did not feel coerced into attending the seminar.

According to the materials Rufo obtained, employees who attended the seminar were barraged with material that flat-out called them racist. The basis for this accusation was simple: their skin color. If you are white (which includes being Arab, Jewish, Finnish, German, Italian, Armenian, or Irish), you are a racist.

Indeed, one handout explicitly states that almost all human emotions or beliefs are proof that a white person is either elevating his whiteness or denigrating other races:

First, diversity trainers informed white participants that "objectivity," "individualism," "intellectualization," and "comfort" are all vestiges of internalized racial oppression. pic.twitter.com/qrZwHZgx1H  Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 6, 2020

(See the whole thread at the end of this post.)

For fifty years, Americans have been taught that stereotyping people by their race and, worse, treating them as second-class citizens because of their race is racist. Now, though, we're in a weirdly inverted Jim Crow South, a world in which racist black eugenicists and sociologists sagely opine that whites are inherently hate-filled, inferior creatures who need to be whipped (a word I use deliberately) into shape.

Having worked his way through the racist Maoist nonsense that the City of Seattle paid for and pressured its white employees to attend, Rufo urges people to fight back: "When you find something like this in your community, expose it, criticize it, mock it, and reject it."

Sadly, so far, few white Americans fight back. In the upper echelons of corporate America, the people who run the companies have thoroughly internalized the Marxist self-loathing in which they were indoctrinated while at college. For example, this is what you'll currently see at the homepage for Good Housekeeping, once a magazine dedicated to creating a lovely home for one's family:

Those employees who managed to escape the brainwashing or who never attended college don't protest for a very specific reason: their mortgages. Or maybe the kids' college funds. Or possibly the payments on their cars.

In other words, America's middle classes, from working, to lower, to upper, are prisoners of their lifestyles. They have too many possessions and obligations to risk making a stand.

They may privately gripe about the indoctrination and insults heaped upon them at work, on social media, and even in their middle-class neighborhoods, but they're not going to make a stand. Doing so risks everything. It's only the very rich or those unencumbered with family obligations who can afford to push back.

The following is the Twitter thread:

First, diversity trainers informed white participants that "objectivity," "individualism," "intellectualization," and "comfort" are all vestiges of internalized racial oppression. pic.twitter.com/qrZwHZgx1H  Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 6, 2020

What's next?



The City of Seattle diversity trainers encourage white employees to "practice self-talk that affirms [their] complicity in racism" and work on "undoing your own whiteness." pic.twitter.com/CJxNEcIeh2  Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 6, 2020

Then they go through a flow chart that outlines how white people "cause harm to POC," "show up small and inauthentic," and are unable to access their "humanity." pic.twitter.com/jcJppWXe0k  Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 6, 2020

As @DrKarlynB first reported, the invitation for this training was strictly segregated to "white City employees."



The goal is to teach them how they have "complicity in the system of white supremacy" and must be held "accountable to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color." pic.twitter.com/kPbppFYDtM  Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 6, 2020

So far, the City of Seattle has refused to provide the names of the diversity trainers, the budget for the program, or the video of the session.



I'm going to keep pushingbecause this is exactly the kind of thought-policing they want to implement everywhere.  Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 6, 2020

As @ConceptualJames and others have shown, the new cultural revolution is being fought via corporate HR, city diversity training, and public school curriculums.



When you find something like this in your community, expose it, criticize it, mock it, and reject it. /End  Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) July 6, 2020

Image: Sampho Tsewang Rigzin and his wife being humiliated and tortured during Maos cultural revolution.
In 1964, Ronald Reagan burst upon the national political scene with his consequential speech about America's worrisome move away from traditional American governance that focuses on the individual and reveres traditional morality. Americans nevertheless elected a Democrat who believed that smart government could right all wrongs.

That choice set America on the path to the 2020 election. This time, the choice is no longer between bigger and smaller government. Instead, Americans must choose between individual liberty under the Constitution and full-bore, totalitarian Marxism.

We chose wrong in 1964, but America's inherent strength gave us a 46-year grace period. This time, however, we'd better get it right, for there are no do-overs.

Conrad Black has written a compelling article focusing readers on the gaping chasm that now exists between Democrats and conservatives. Note that I do not say "between Democrats and Republicans." Black explains that part of the breakdown in America today is that, beginning with George H.W. Bush, Republicans elected to throw their weight in with the Democrats:

He [Bush, Sr.] was a dutiful vice president and competent president, but he never understood how or why Reagan had moved the Republican Party. When Bush sought reelection in 1992, he lost 20 million mainly Republican votes to the political charlatan Ross Perot, thereby bringing the Clintons down upon America. President Clinton moved the Democratic Party closer to the center, away from the nostrums of Jimmy Carter and George McGovern. And the Bush-McCain-Romney Republicans were almost Clintonian political look-alikes. It was OBushinton government for seven terms and, on balance, it was a disaster.

The "OBushinton" world brought us one disaster after another, even as America managed to maintain a semblance of civil society: the Iraq War, the financial collapse of 2008 (flowing from Clinton's regulatory policies), open borders, North Korea's and Iran's growing nuclear power, etc. As Black sums it up:

It was the most incompetent period of presidential government in American history, exceeding the decade prior to the Civil War and even the Prohibition, isolationism, and the crash of 1929 which led to the Great Depression of the 1930s. Distinctions became blurred between Republicans and Democrats, and the mediocre performance of the United States in the world and the failure of scores of millions of hard-working Americans to better their lot created the discontent in which Donald Trump was able to win control of the Republican Party by sweeping the primaries in 2016.

As James Taranto once explained (and I'm paraphrasing here, because I can't find his original Wall Street Journal article), Republicans in Washington, D.C., docilely followed Democrats on almost all policies. The only difference was that Republicans fretted about how to pay for those policies.

Donald Trump was the great disrupter in this OBushinton world. He stood up to the Democrats and the OBushintons (whether the latter were politicians, pundits, or Deep Staters). Their convulsive desire to cast out the man whose stated goal has been to destroy them and to return America to a more traditional form of constitutional governance created the fever conditions that gave birth to the so-called "Resistance" and then led to the madness of 2020.

You could say that the American political body has a plague and the deadly buboes of that plague are, first, the Democrat response to the Wuhan virus (lockdowns, the reflexive opposition to hydroxychloroquine, the mask wars) and, second, the George Floyd riots that quickly morphed from mourning to all-out civil war, with violence on the streets and a sustained attack on every institution in America.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Somalia) gave voice to this deadly political and cultural sickness on Tuesday when she announced that America's only hope lies in "dismantling" its "economy and political systems":

Rep. Ilhan Omar calls for "dismantling" of the U.S. "economy and political systems," which she calls a "system of oppression." pic.twitter.com/AP072GsmzW  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 7, 2020

To "dismantle" does not mean to "reform." Instead, Omar is demanding that America "disassemble or pull down; take apart" an economy and liberty-oriented system of governance that has brought more people out of poverty and into freedom than any other system in the history of the world. This is the death of a liberty-oriented government.

The oath Omar took upon entering the House of Representatives, the one that calls upon her to support the Constitution, means nothing to a woman steeped in Marxist Islamic doctrine. But note well: Omar didn't walk into the House on her own. Voters put her there, and the Democrat party considers her the voice of the future.

For those voters bewildered or bemused by what's playing out before them  the willfully destroyed economy, the street riots that Democrat politicians and bureaucrats encourage, the media that has abandoned any function other than attacking Trump, the cancel culture that is infecting every aspect of American society, the speech codes imposed on us through big tech and our employers, and the elevation of a Nazi-style obsession with race  this is our time for choosing.

Image: YouTube screen grab.
The League of Women Voters of Lee County has posted an online voters guide at www.VOTE411.org. The guide includes ballot information and responses to questions from Lee County Candidates for contested races including:

Lee County Commission Districts 1, 3 and 5

Lee County Property Appraiser

Lee County School Board Districts 2, 3, and 7

Lee County Sheriff

Fort Myers Mayor

Fort Myers City Council Wards 2, 4 and 6

Cape Coral City Council Districts 2, 3, 5, and 7

Lee County Mosquito Control Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7

Lee Memorial Health Board District 1, 3, and 5

Bonita Springs Mayor

Bonita Springs City Council Districts 2, 4, and 6

Within the next two weeks, the Guide will include information on state and national candidates including:

Florida House Seats 76, 77, 78 and 79

Florida Senate District 27

US House Seat 19

The League urges voters to Be Informed. Vote Informed. www.Vote411.org is a one-stop resource for nonpartisan election information, including Amendments, and Candidate Information for Lee County, Florida, and the U.S. By the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

The League of Women Voters of Lee County, in partnership with the Alliance for the Arts, a nonprofit visual and performing arts center in the heart of Fort Myers, will present Virtual Candidate Forums for the Lee County races by mid-July. Virtual Candidate Forums are available to the public, for free, by visiting www.lwvlee.org, vote411.org and ArtInLee.org/VirtualForums.

For the Aug. 18 Primary Election, the deadline to Register to Vote or to Change Party Affiliation is July 20 and the deadline to request a Vote-By-Mail Ballot is Aug. 8. All voters should verify their registration status. Florida is a closed primary election state, without a party affiliation you may only vote in non-partisan races.

Also, Voters may contact Lee County Elections, 239-533-8683, www.lee.vote for voting and registration information.

About The League of Women Voters of Lee County

The League of Women Voters voter service activities are designed to provide citizens with unbiased, factual information that can be used as a basis for understanding the election process and reaching their own voting decisions. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose candidates and/or political parties.
The Jesuits were once renowned for their intellectual rigor. Any person who graduated from a Jesuit-run institution was presumptively well educated, morally centered, and capable of reasoning. Marquette University, a Jesuit institution, has slipped from that standard, for it attacked an incoming freshman for supporting Trump. However, the bracing honesty coming from New Saint Andrews College signals that there's still hope for a rigorous Christian education in America.

In 1881, the Jesuits founded Marquette University, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To Marquette's credit, although established as a single-sex men's college, in 1909, it became the first coeducational Catholic university in the world. It is consistently one of the more highly ranked American colleges.

Don't let the college rankings fool you, though. The Jesuits are among the most liberal groups within Catholicism. That is their right. It becomes a problem, though, when a Jesuit institution such as Marquette lets an incoming college freshman know that it might rescind its offer because she supports President Trump. Marquette backed away from this position only when the story went public.

The College Fix initially reported the story as follows:

Soon to be Marquette University freshman Samantha Pfefferle has yet to even step foot on campus, yet she said she is already facing possible dismissal from the school. The threat to cancel Pfefferle's admission came after she posted a video to her account on the popular social media site TikTok showing her support for President Donald Trump.

In the video that sent leftist tempers soaring, Pfefferle dances joyously before a Trump 2020 sign and a Marquette 2024 sign, along with captions revealing the prejudice she faces for supporting Trump:

The video went viral, and many in the Marquette community responded badly, with some going as far as to threaten her life or  and this is something significant coming from an ostensibly Christian community  saying she is unworthy of prayers. That pushback was to be expected. One enterprising person even created a form letter asking Marquette to eject her.

What wasn't to be expected was the school's official response:

Pfefferle explained that following the TikTok, she was contacted by Brian Troyer, dean of undergraduate admissions at Marquette, who she said told her her acceptance to the school was far from certain. "[He] had the heart to tell me I wasn't a student," Pfefferle said. "This means that my classification is still in limbo and is currently being decided by the administration. I have been accepted, I paid for my housing, I have my roommates, I even have a complete class schedule. If that doesn't make me a student, what does?" Some Marquette administrators also asked Pfefferle a series of questions meant to judge her morals, she said. "They also asked me hypothetical questions regarding Dreamers," she said. "How would I respond if a Dreamer who lived down the hall from me came up to me and told me she didn't feel safe or comfortable with my views and me being on campus. They also asked me if they thought there was anything I could do to improve my image on campus. They proceeded to ask if I was comfortable with the reputation I have established for myself. The assistant dean asked if I put any thought into the response I would be getting from my videos."

Once the story went public, though, the college decided not to revoke her admission. In other words, Marquette is a craven institution that doesn't have the courage to stand behind its execrable values.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, Idaho, New Saint Andrews College shows the kind of muscular, humanist Christianity that drove the Great Awakening, along with abolition, the end of child labor, and universal suffrage. The school, founded in 1994, is a liberal arts college that hews to the classic tradition: it is neither a trade school nor a purveyor of woke indoctrination. Instead, the small school, which has roughly 200 students, teaches all of its students a classical liberal arts curriculum with a Christian slant.

Because its faith is real and not a political garment, despite today's censorious cancel culture, the school is unafraid to trumpet its beliefs. Its latest offering is a powerful reproach to the Black Lives Matter movement, a movement that has little to do with putting a value on black lives and everything to do with leading a Marxist political revolution:

In our mob-run, cancel culture world, it takes real courage to say such things. Speaking to PJ Media, college president Benjamin Merkle said there's been pushback but the school, and he can take it:

"If Christian colleges aren't ready to be bold in this moment, there isn't much of a future for them as distinctively Christian schools," he warned. I asked him if he's getting more interested students and he said web traffic has been up but that won't necessarily translate into new students. Mainly, the full-throated message he's sending is to stand up to the rage mob and tell the truth. That hasn't always gone over well. "We've had a lot of people get upset," he explained. "We had the mayor of our city also write an editorial in our local paper denouncing us. But I've seen a bunch of our alumni be really supportive. And my board is very behind us as well." And if the rioters come calling? "I'm not worried about physical safety."

Image: Facebook screen grab.
The news is filled with stories of black children dying or exposed to violence in Democrat-run cities. Actor Terry Crews, a rare principled individual in Hollywood, is refusing to back down from saying that all lives matter, a belief that inevitably demands that blacks address violence in their communities.

Faced with Crews's moral stance, CNN's Don Lemon announced that Black Lives Matter has nothing to do with black violence or dead black children. It was an illuminating admission, to say the least.

The news, lately, is heartbreaking. The mobs are gone, and so are the police. Without police, violence in black communities is soaring, and children die. Here are just a few of the stories.

On Sunday, a man was fatally shot in the Bronx as he walked across the street, holding his six-year-old daughter by the hand. In the video, we see the terrified child, whose father has just been executed in front of her, run away. Be warned that while you won't see bloody details in the video, it's a brutal snuff film:

On Sunday, July 5th, police officers from the 44th Precinct responded to a 911 call for a male shot at Sheridan Avenue and East 170th Street. pic.twitter.com/kiEmmJfuEW  Chief Rodney Harrison (@NYPDDetectives) July 6, 2020

On Saturday night in Atlanta, Black Lives Matters "protesters" killed an eight-year-old girl when her mother drove into a Black Lives Matter encampment. Her parents understand that black lives didnt matter to these psychopaths.

"They say Black Lives Matter. You killed your own... You killed a child.



Secoriya Williamson, father of 8-year-old Secoriea Turner, addressed the public after his daughter was shot and killed last night in Atlanta by armed protesters. pic.twitter.com/J8zngZsjaQ  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 6, 2020

Also on Saturday, an 11-year-old boy was killed by a stray bullet when five adult men started firing their guns. His grandfather, the founder of D.C.'s Guardian Angels chapter, also understands that, to the psychopaths firing wildly on city streets, black lives don't matter:

Terry Crews, unusually for someone in Hollywood, will not apologize for saying all lives matter:

Are all white people bad?



No.



Are all black people good?



No.



Knowing this reality- I stand on my decision to unite with good people, no matter the race, creed or ideology.



Given the number of threats against this decision-



I also decide to die on this hill.  terry crews (@terrycrews) July 4, 2020

Crews later appeared on dead-eyed Don Lemon's CNN program. He made what was, to Lemon, a horrifying statement: if Black Lives Matter is to mean something, it must address black-on-black crime.

Crews is concerned that the BLM movement cannot be criticized. He sees a "dangerous self-righteousness" that makes the movement "almost supremacist," say that "their black lives mattered a lot more than mine."

Lemon black-splains to Crews that any civil rights change is always viewed as extremism. Crews, however, properly responds that if black civil rights movements don't have a non-racial component that improves society for all, people just end up moving from "one oppressor to the next." King; Mandela; and, eventually, Malcolm X all understood this.

Then Crews reaches the nub of his argument, which is that black-on-black violence is killing children  and the Black Lives Matter movement has said nothing. A perplexed Lemon asks what that has to do with equality. Lemon says the gun culture and poverty are different from equality. To him, it's apples and oranges.

Crews responds with the unforgivable truth: "Black people need to hold other black people accountable." Blacks, he says, have to have their own version of the MeToo movement. He reminds Lemon that good people are held hostage by the predators in black communities who then have the temerity to claim that black lives matter.

And it's at this moment that Don Lemon states the truth, which is that Black Lives Matter is a purely political movement that has nothing to do with black lives mattering:

The Black Lives Matter movement was started because there was talking about police brutality. If you want an All Black Lives Matter movement that talks about gun violence in communities, including black communities, then start that movement with that name. But that's not what Black Lives Matter is about.

Dead-eyed Don doesn't realize that "All Black Lives Matter" and "Black Lives Matter" mean essentially the same thing. He tries an analogy: Crews, he says, is like someone claiming a group named "Cancer Matters" should also care about HIV. What Lemon doesn't grasp is that cancer is not HIV, but black lives are black lives.

Terry Crews deserves a medal for his willingness to die on the hill of equality for all and, more importantly, the hill of personal responsibility. No matter what whites have done, are doing, or will do, until blacks take responsibility for the violence that plagues the underclass, people, including innocent children, will continue to die

Lemon followed up by trying to lecture Crew on the Civil Rights movement, but that didn't go too well for him. pic.twitter.com/xeWVkG7v1u  Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) July 7, 2020

Growing increasingly indignant, Lemon tells Crews that BLM should NOT care about black-on-black crime since it's not in their mission, and tells his guest to start that organization himself. He also compared it to saying "cancer matters" and people asking 'what about HIV?' pic.twitter.com/g6xsaqKOKn  Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) July 7, 2020

As the interview closed, Crews agreed that police brutality was important, but said the leaders of BLM had more to their agenda and they needed to be grilled on it. Crews was also concerned that he, in general, wasn't being allowed to speak in the broader discussion as an equal. pic.twitter.com/feyMpO8VVO  Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) July 7, 2020

Image: Twitter screen grab.
The BLM flag is hardly new to Vermont, being displayed at many of its schools for years. More recently, "BLACK LIVES MATTER" was painted in large yellow letters on State Street in Montpelier, in front of the State Capitol. Permission for this event was granted quite quickly, through a permit process with the Montpelier City Council.

On June 29, "John Klar for Governor" filed an application with the City of Montpelier to paint an American flag beside the "BLACK LIVES MATTER" painting, opposed with the phrase "LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL" in conjunction with a planned Fourth of July celebration at the Vermont State House, and with the express intention of invoking that American creed to come alongside BLM to find common constitutional ground.

Two days later, the event application was denied for shortness of notice, then resubmitted  it will be heard July 7 at a Montpelier City Council meeting.

One city councilor, Conor Casey, launched a defamatory tirade against the applicant:

Casey said that while "Liberty and Justice For All" might be a positive message, the mural's proposed location suggests other motives. "It is saying 'you know what, that's how little Black lives matter to us, we need to be included as well," Casey said. "It's an example of white people being pretty fragile." Casey added that he believes the attempt amounts to little more than a publicity stunt.

For a government official to impute motive by "proposed location" (a U.S. flag next to a Fourth of July celebration) is odd enough, but to give it a racist voice that is conjured from Mr. Casey's toxic oratory (coupled with insinuations of white fragility) is simply out of control.

But Councilor Casey didn't stop there  he had already voted no:

"It's a political stunt and I'm not interested in spending any time at council debating whether it's the right way to go or not," City Councilor Conor Casey said. Casey said Liberty and Justice is a fine [ sic ] principal but he won't be voting in favor of it next week. "Black Lives Matter comes first and foremost and we won't achieve liberty and justice for all until that stands in everybody's mind," Casey said.

This is a public servant, attacking someone he doesn't know, attributing intentions, motives  even words  to a citizen applying for a permit (before the hearing).

Fortunately, constitutional law is pretty clear about this type of abuse of power. Government cannot embrace one political party, or religion, or cause, over another. Having granted BLM a permit, the city cannot constitutionally deny a competing political claim  in this case, a depiction of the American flag and a phrase from the Pledge of Allegiance (radical stuff, that). In fact, having granted the privilege of public display of a political message by an obviously left-wing, race-related organization, the City Council has opened the door to more extreme applicants than defenders of constitutional balance.

The same would be true if Montpelier permitted a Planned Parenthood mural or event  it would have to allow Right to Life. Anti-gun; pro-Second Amendment. And so on. Otherwise, political extremists might employ government and even public property to advance their own side and eclipse the rights of those they oppose, as Councilor Casey seeks to do in this case.

If the subject application is a political stunt, that would be a core protected right subject to the highest protection against government intrusion such as that seen here  indeed, is BLM's painting not a "political stunt"? The whole point is to communicate disparate views  it's called free speech.

Did the City Council, when it granted BLM's application nearly overnight, also endorse its express messages, such as on its BLM Vermont facebook page?:

How Black folks living with disabilities and different abilities bear the burden of state sponsored Darwinian experiments that attempt to squeeze us into boxes of normality defined by white supremacy, and that is state violence.

Or perhaps it espouses the various positions of BLM Burlington, including:

The purpose of our revolutionary struggle is deconstructing external & internal oppression. We recognize that oppression is rooted in the assertion of dominance and power. We are committed to decolonizing wellness and creating a culture of collective vulnerability & trust.

I expect that it was his alarm at these Darwinian experiments being inflicted in the Green Mountains that led Councilor Casey to seek to decolonize wellness by supporting BLM "first and foremost" over the United States Constitution. (Surely, there was no oppression rooted in his assertion of dominance and power!)

In supporting BLM with public funds (and in Vermont, statutorily providing that a BLM representative be a member of various committees), might it matter what precisely is being funded? BLM has no detailed policy goals to offer.

Yet this Councilor went much farther in his opposition to the American flag and pledge  he implied motive and displayed overt political bias and very poor judgment. If the City Council now rejects the application, the Vermont Courts will apply the United States Constitution to its conduct, and the flag and pledge will be placed in the balance.

They will win.
On the evening of July 3, I watched President Trump's speech at Mt. Rushmore, a soaring defense of America and its values. The next morning, I returned to the reality of the sad state of the Republican Party of Virginia, as exemplified by my own 6th Congressional District.

The 6th, in northwest Virginia, contains most of the Shenandoah Valley and routinely gives Republican candidates a vote share of 60% or more. However, the Republican political situation is complicated.

The party is divided into three camps. All three genuflect to the official Republican Creed of limited government, equal justice, free enterprise, religious faith, and fiscal responsibility, and each tries to outdo the others in swearing fealty to Trump, but differences are important.

Members of the faction usually called GOPe (for "establishment") have made their peace with imperial government as long as they can control it and benefit. They are comfortable with ever growing spending, more bountiful benefits for government employees, less government accountability, and cozy relations. Government is their rice bowl.

The GOPe controls the state party apparatus, which is criticized for a blend of sloth and incompetence. As the GOPe demonstrated in the 2018 U.S. Senate election, it would rather lose to the Democrats than let a non-member of the faction win. Its current state will probably cost Trump a state he could win and re-elect the slimy Democrat Mark Warner to the U.S. Senate instead of war hero Daniel Gade.

At the other end of the Republican spectrum is the Freedom Caucus, which has a strong, and mostly unheard, positive agenda: privatizing government functions, facilitating entrepreneurship, developing alternative educational options, realistic economic development, opposition to climate-change cronyism, a sense of fiduciary obligation to the taxpayers, and defense of American culture and values.

The third group is in the middle, not strongly engaged in politics, confused by the chaos; yearning for civility, peace, and unity; and perhaps unduly influenced by the politics of personal destruction.

Cutting across this tripartite division are the great social issues of abortion, sex and gender, Second Amendment, religious conviction, and wokeness. The Freedom Caucus is firmly on the side of defending conservative values. The GOPe is more wishy-washy on both social issues and wokeness. A cynic would say it uses these to keep the Republican base from looking at the cozy link between the GOPe and government on economic issues. The middle group is...well, in the middle, though probably more on the Freedom Caucus side.

The GOPe and the Freedom Caucus fight bitterly over control of the 32-member 6th District Committee. The F.C. has a slight majority, but the winner of the chairmanship in 2018 was the GOPe's Jennifer Brown, who will seek re-election at a convention on July 11. Her Freedom Caucus opponent is John Massoud, a business executive and municipal official of Afghani descent.

Relations between the two factions are poisonous. Brown calls her party "male, pale, stale" and characterizes the committee she chairs as "a bunch of old people with nothing better to do." She and her legal liaison (and fiance) tweet comments about political opponents that astonish in their meanness and vulgarity.

Behind the personal vitriol is a serious philosophical disagreement. Brown talks of the need to reach out to women, minorities, and Millennials, but with no specifics about substance. She seems to want the Republicans to adopt identity politics a la Democrat, in which the only relevant identities are those of victim and government dependent.

The Freedom Caucus agrees on the need to respect identity politics but holds that every person has not one but many identities. It is the Democrats who focus like lasers on those identities permeated with "victim" and "government dependent" to the exclusion of all else, such as worker, taxpayer, wife, mother, American, and many others.

For the Republicans to compete with Democrats over victimhood and dependence is suicidal. The party needs to reach out to everyone in terms of identities that promote pride and agency, and on the principle that almost everyone would be better off under a Freedom Caucus agenda.

Whichever side wins the 6th District chairmanship next Saturday, current congressman Ben Cline should not rest easy.

He is in no trouble this year, when the great engine of Donald Trump will dominate out here. But the intraparty chasm is wide, and things could change over the next couple of cycles. If Brown wins and continues to push her opponents out of the party, with Cline's silence, the Freedom Caucus might well primary him in 2022. The odds would be in his favor, but incumbency isn't what it used to be, and he could lose. Cline has shiny Freedom Caucus credentials from his service in the Virginia Legislature, but the current acrimony has turned them into a wasting asset.

Were Cline to lose to a Freedom Caucus choice, the GOPe might well sit out the election or bolt to the Democrats.

If Massoud wins next Saturday, then Cline will have to take seriously the possibility that Brown's faction is so at odds with the Freedom Caucus that it would ally with the Democrats, in some kind of weird fusion based on victimhood and dependency. This may seem improbable, but such alliances are actually occurring at the local level, such as my own Shenandoah County, and could be extended.

So watch the 6th District of Virginia. Its politics provide an interesting window into the state of the nation.

James V DeLong lives in the Shenandoah Valley. He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and a combatant on the side of the Freedom Caucus.

Image: Mark Warner via Flickr.
When I heard that NYC mayor Bill de Blasio had disbanded the anti-crime branch of the NYPD, I instinctively knew that the city was in for a new wave of violent crime.

In 1972, when the unit was first started, my buddy Ronnie Meehan and I were among the first radio motor patrol (RMP) teams to apply for a position in the plainclothes investigation unit. Ronnie and I had been a team in the 105th Precinct in Queens for a couple of years and had a well earned reputation as the "first on the scene" type of team when a crime in progress came over the radio. Our record of arrests and convictions made us an obvious choice for the so-called "elite" group of crime-fighters.

There were six of us on the night tour (4 P.M. to midnight) and six on the day tour (8 A.M. to 4 P.M.). However, we knew from the get-go that this wasn't a job in which you punched a timeclock. More often than not, we were still processing prisoners at our office or in court when the tour ended. That meant overtime, which we didn't dare expect to get in our paychecks. The most we could hope for was to get time back, to be used when we accumulated at least eight hours. We worked in teams of two per car, and we didn't have assigned sectors, which meant we could be patrolling any area of our precinct at any time.

Three unmarked cars were assigned to us, and we had an office adjacent to the detective squad in each precinct. The proximity to the squad was an extra incentive for us because we were advised that the anti-crime assignment was a step toward that coveted "gold shield." Each tour began with a review of crimes committed the preceding 24 hours. As we patrolled the high-crime areas of our precinct, we had an advantage over the marked cars, allowing us to get close to the bad guys before they spotted us. That was a two-pronged benefit to the law-abiding residents of the community because we were able to come upon crimes in progress and capture (very often after a car or foot chase) the culprits, and secondly, the criminally inclined had to be extra careful when pouncing on a victim due to the fact that any car moving along the avenue could be occupied by cops.

Keep in mind, street thugs are vigilant when it comes to surveying the landscape before plying their nefarious trade. Hence, when unmarked units like ours began crisscrossing the neighborhoods with indefinite patterns, the muggers were a lot more fearful of being collared. Moreover, our teams were generally more physically fit than most in the uniformed segment of the department. It soon dawned on the fleetfooted purse-snatcher or burglar that we had more stamina than they expected when they tried to abscond with their purloined property. Some of my fondest memories include those long foot races in the streets, over fences, through rear yards and parks, as my quarry continually looked back with terror in his eyes as I closed the gap between us.

Those anti-crime units made up about five percent of a precinct's personnel, but they effected more arrests than the other 95%. In addition, we can only imagine how much more crime was prevented because the predators no longer had the luxury of feeling confident before they launched an attack on the unwary citizen. Those were the days in which law enforcement ruled the streets, not lawbreakers. We knew the environment of the area and the behavior patterns of its malefactors. When a brutal gang was abusing residents in a given vicinity, we reached out to the gang leader, spoke with him privately, and allowed him to see the error of his ways. After a good talking to, he made it his mission in life not to disappoint us. Thus, the residents were able to leave their homes without wondering if their next stop would be a hospital or a morgue.

If anyone tells you that residents of the inner cities want fewer cops on the job and more restraints on cops, he's lying. No one knows better than an urban dweller that cities can't function without a strong police presence. Some may view dedicated cops as overzealous, but I assure you that the hoodlums frequenting your orbit are even more zealous in their pursuit of a free lunch at your expense. I may be an old hair bag retiree now, but I remember a conscientious band of industrious cops who made it possible for decent, hardworking people to go about their lives each day without the mortal fear and the bitter scent of gunpowder as part of the experience.

Mayor de Blasio will regret his dangerous, politically motivated stunt, but not nearly as much as the families of the victims who will lose their lives because of his insanely reckless maneuver.

Image: Public Advocate Bill de Blasio via Flickr.
Has the failure of the blue states finally bit the Democrats on the butt?

We all know that President Trump is struggling in the polls. But campaign finance figures for statehouse races like these suggest plenty of trouble for Democrats.

According to Breitbart's Matt Boyle:

Americans significantly decreased contributions to Democrats running for state legislature seats in the second quarter as the Democrat Party has turned hard left, fundraising information announced this week shows. The lackluster performance by Democrats at the state level could have broader national implications. First off, state-level political trends sometimes forecast later looming national trends  "from the State House to the White House," the saying goes. But more importantly, the state legislatures elected this year will handle redistricting next year heading into the 2022 cycle  influencing the direction of and perhaps control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the next decade. The drop-off in Democrat Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) fundraising  which has Democrats $20 million shy of their stated cycle-long goal of $50 million total  comes as their Republican counterparts nearly doubled the total raised by Democrats in the second quarter.

That's good news for Republicans and their prospects of shifting the power of legislatures to a conservative, pro-America direction. We know for sure that the high Republican statehouse-fundraising and indeed state legislative and gubernatorial victories in 2012 set the stage for the Republican takeover of the House by 2014, so past may be prologue.

But more important, these shifts signal that "Had enough?" is not just a Republican slogan. Voters are in fact disgusted, at their limits, quite possible even in blue states.

They've had enough.

Blue-state rule, particularly the one-party rigged kind, is starting to disgust voters.

What's the Democrat record, after all, after years and years of power?

The Democrats' coronavirus response certainly serves as one indictment. Nursing homes were seeded with COVID patients, despite the availability of U.S. federal accommodation, likely to get rid of the old people with their high health care costs, but costing some 12,000 blue state residents their lives, given the disproportionately high death toll from this cause. Lockdowns continued endlessly; every week, a new goalpost moved, as people saw their jobs and livelihoods evaporate. Effective treatments, such as hydroxychloroquine, were demonized, not on science grounds, but to Get Trump.

Professor Steve Hanke at Johns Hopkins University had a good chart showing just how lethal it was to be living in a blue state over a red:

The #Media has woven a fantastical tale of #Republican #coronavirus incompetence. But, the data tell a different story. States led by #Democrats have typically fared worse on a population-adjusted basis than those led by #Republicans. Hmm! pic.twitter.com/wBSnFnozlo  Prof. Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) July 2, 2020

Worse still, the blue-state nightmare extended to riots, none of which was effectively handled by blue-state governors. Billions of dollars' worth of damage hit states such as Minnesota, Washington, California, Georgia, Connecticut, Illinois...with stores, cars, homes, and public establishments trashed. Police stations were taken over, police were ordered to stand by, police were demoralized by state and municipal officials and demonized. Public art in countless public squares was desecrated, even monuments to anti-slavery giants such as Frederick Douglass and anti-slavery war heroes such as Ulysses S. Grant. The great American presidents were desecrated and condemned as symbols of "white supremacy," by Democrats, while museums were threatened, and assorted people went down to cancel culture. None of this could have happened without Democratic state governance, which is to say an absence of governance in the name of appeasing the far left mob.

Even worse yet, crime is now engulfing the great blue cities and states, with some of the highest numbers seen in years. No Democrat in power has any idea how to effectively deal with this. And people and companies are fleeing the blue states and cities, something Democrats have loudly sneered at.

All this in a miasma of unfunded but bloated pensions for do-nothing bureaucrats and fiscal deficits as far as the eye can see.

What these fundraising figures show is that the public is pinning the blame for these catastrophes where it belongs: on Democrats. It can't come soon enough. It's surprising it didn't happen sooner.

Image credit: Twitter screen shot.
Twenty-six states are run by Republican governors and twenty-four by Democrat governors, and the ten largest cities have Democrat mayors, with the sole exception of San Diego. The relative approach to governance in these states and cities has become increasingly disparate. The purpose of government is to keep us safe and improve our lives. Factually, how are the two groups of states and cities doing?

COVID-19

Deaths in blue states were 45 per 100,000, while deaths in red states were 21 per 100,000. This means that a person was more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19 in a state with a Democrat governor.

When the legislatures and tenure are examined, the results become even worse for Democrat leadership. The two Republican states in the top 10 are the traditionally Democrat states of Massachusetts and Maryland, where Democrats continue to control both houses of the Legislature. Basically, all the states with the highest death rates were Democrat, or historically Democrat with the legislatures in Democrat hands. Throw into the mix the District of Columbia (78/100,000) and the picture becomes dismal.

Crime

All top ten cities for crime are run by Democrats. Detroit has been the most dangerous city in the nation for four years running. The average for these ten cities is 1,560 violent crimes per 100,000 people. By contrast, the nation's eighth largest city, Republican-led San Diego, has only 370 victims per 100,000 and has been designated by the FBI as the safest city in America.

It's too early to get an accurate fix on the George Floyd riots, but anecdotally, the severest damage has occurred in the Democrat-controlled cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, New York, and D.C. Insurance claims are estimated to be "catastrophic."

Taxes

On average, income taxes are 30% higher in blue states, with California, New York, Minnesota, Oregon, New Jersey, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia leading the pack. If you like paying taxes, the following Democrat cities have an additional city income tax: New York City; the District of Columbia; Louisville; Birmingham; Baltimore; Detroit; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo, Ohio; and Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, Pa.

A Google search came up with no Republican mayor that imposed a city income tax.

Illegal aliens

Over 67% of the county's illegal aliens live in Democrat-run cities. Eight of the top ten cities with an illegal population have Democrat mayors, with one Republican and one progressive independent. Six self-designate as sanctuaries. Texas has a state law forbidding sanctuary cities or it would likely be eight out of ten. Nearly a quarter of the nation's illegal aliens reside in California, where they constitute more than 6% of the population. (Other estimates are far higher.)

Homelessness

New York has the highest number (47) of homeless per 10,000 residents, followed by Hawaii (46), Oregon (35), California (33), Washington (30), Massachusetts (29), Nevada (25), with Colorado and Maine both at 19. All blue states. In contrast, the large red states of Florida (15), Arizona (14), and Texas (9) come in much lower. The remaining red states are (13) and below.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, an average of 568,000 individuals were homeless in 2019. Over one third of those live in the three blue states bordering the Pacific Ocean, the citadel of progressive Democrats. Add in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, and you have well over half of the nation's homeless in eight Democrat states. Outside Hawaii and Southern California, it's certainly not the weather that attracts the homeless to these states.

Income Disparity and Poverty

When cost of living is taken into account, California has the highest poverty rate (18.1), putting almost seventeen percent of California residents below the poverty line. California poverty is exceeded only by Washington, D.C. (18.2). Overall, blue-state poverty is 4.2% greater than in red states, but the picture become bleaker when income disparity is examined. Income disparity is 7% greater in blue states than in red states; however, only four states and D.C. are above the national average (.486) as measured by the Gini coefficient. D.C. (.542), New York (.523), Louisiana (.499), Connecticut (.495), and California (.490) substantially skew the average upward for the rest of the nation. Ironically, these bastions of progressivism constantly harangue the rest of us about the evils of income disparity.

There seems to be but one conclusion.

Democrat politicians can't govern their way out of a wet paper bag.
Another in a long list of anti-Trump books is about to drop, displacing Bolton's despicable whine as the craze among the haters. Ever since Trump was elected, there has been a stream of such books. Not one of them has damaged the president, but they do damage their authors, because each of them has revealed said authors' lack of decency.

These books are not about Trump; they each display for all to read the angry emptiness of the writers themselves. Exactly who goes about writing books to bring down a duly elected president? Hollow people  the kind of people so full of envy and hatred for those who have accomplished or achieved what they have not. This book will be not at all different. It will reveal Mary Trump as the damaged member of the family.

Mary Trump and her fellow authors of anti-Trump books are really not at all different from those who have been so busy tearing down statues of great men from Columbus to Frederick Douglass and have their eyes on statues of Lincoln; Jefferson; and every other founding father, civil rights leader, or foreign national like Gandhi and Churchill. The Antifa and BLM rioters and statue-destroyers express their resentment of the triumphs of others by rioting, looting, and destroying any and all memorials to those who came before us.

The Mary Trumps of the world attempt to do the same via their trashy books. She and her ilk are no better than the thugs destroying their own cities from Seattle and Portland to Chicago and Atlanta. They seek to destroy others just as any narcissistic personality disordered person does. They just do it with the craven blessings of a publishing company that sees revenue. Simon & Schuster has published this one! The once renowned brand has sullied itself for what? So the thoroughly ignorant anchors at CNN and MSNBC can wax rhapsodic for a week or so? Of course. They may reap some short-term gains and publicity but will lose the respect of readers who once revered their publishing judgment.

What do writers like Mary Trump hope to achieve? They seek to affect the 2020 election. All the Democrats, the NeverTrump Republicans, and the ill educated youths who are pillaging the streets of their own cities are willing to see America destroyed if that is what it takes to remove Trump from office. They seem not to realize that they are doing his campaign's work for him. They are defending the rioting, the looting, the criminal destruction of memorials.

Why has the FBI not arrested the leaders of these anarchist organizations that are doing so much damage? Clearly, the FBI is still a Deep State institution. Our premier law and order enforcement agency seems to have been permanently rendered ineffectual, as afraid of our anti-American media as the cowardly Republicans. The media long ago obliterated all meaning from the word "racism," but our self-appointed government elites still fear it as surely as the devil fears a cross. All the media have to do to make a member of Congress cower is call him a racist. Few have the guts to rise above their bullying.

So go ahead, Simon & Schuster  publish Mary Trump's trashy, betrayal-of-her-family book, and see what it gets you. Chances are, it will get you a landslide victory for Trump in November. Normal people, all those who make the country work, do not like, believe, or put any faith in people like Mary Trump. The publication of her book may puff her up for a few weeks on cable TV, but she will ultimately regret writing it. For a while she will be invited to all the right D.C. parties who will hail her as a heroine, but in the end, she is just another angry, envious misanthrope who turned her poison pen against her own uncle, who has been the best president since Reagan.

Those of us who support him do not care about the personal details of Donald Trump's childhood any more than the media cared to reveal JFK's family history while he was in office or the many inconsistencies in Obama's largely fabricated personal history. It is people like Mary Trump, John Bolton, and the rest of those who have attempted to cash in on the bits and pieces they think they know about Donald Trump who will ensure his re-election. Most Americans instinctively know that it is "better to have an enemy who slaps you in the face than a friend who stabs you in the back." We don't like, respect, or believe backstabbers.
Mogadishu-born Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has found something new to be ungrateful for: the entire U.S. political and economic system, which she now calls upon to be canceled:

"As long as our economy and political systems prioritize profit without considering who is profiting, who is being shut out, we will perpetuate this inequality," Omar said. "We cannot stop at criminal justice system. We must begin the work of dismantling the whole system of oppression wherever we find it."

According to the Daily Caller:

Omar held an event Tuesday in her home state of Minnesota with members of the Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous Caucus. Omar tweeted earlier Tuesday that the purpose of the event was to address "racism in policing" in the aftermath of George Floyd's death.

So abolishing the police is not enough  although it certainly looks as though she's got some impressive bodyguard police protection herself. Rather, the entire economic and political system of her adopted country has got to go, too, in the country that embraced her as a supposedly pitiful Somali refugee who grew up in part in a Kenyan refugee camp. Instead of look on the United States in awe, as normal immigrants do, she stands in judgment, and the U.S. is just not good enough.

Nope, tear it down, as they did it back in Mogadishu. She'd like the U.S. to engage in some cultural appropriation, a Somalification of the United States in order to achieve perfect equality among nations, or perhaps to feel more at home:

Didnt she immigrate here because the place that she immigrated from had dismantled its economy and political system? https://t.co/h8Aa8zyTim  Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) July 7, 2020

So much for defending her oath of office in any case. Not surprisingly, she got ratioed on Twitter, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn suggested she put her money where her mouth was:

Ilhan Omar took an oath to defend and protect the Constitution, not shred it. Omar and her Marxist comrades are a threat to our Democracy. Omar should resign.https://t.co/ujBGxbWXtR  Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) July 7, 2020

Her response to that was predictably flip and arrogant:

This is bad stuff, given that the best policy is to believe someone when he says this is what he intends to accomplish while in power. Omar's ideas are a threat to the founding ideas of this country, and from her perch, she's signaling that she would gladly destroy it from within. The 9/11 terrorists used to think this way, too.

What we have here is a foolish, stupid leftist, convinced that if she can just knock the pillars out from under the United States, some sort of Utopia will remain, that somehow, the assumptions of justice, equality, and freedom, as well as prosperity, that the United States actually created through its Constitution, and rule of law, would be sitting there like a prized jewel, all the bad stuff around it gone, and the woke would be there to gather it. It's a socialist idea that has failed disastrously every time it's been tried. Yet the rotting resentment of third-world thinking continues to think it will be there for them.

It's a view that casts the United States as fundamentally flawed, and all of its prosperity, institutions, rule of law, and other things that millions of immigrants seek when they come to this country "yearning to breathe free" are somehow detached from its political and economic moorings. Get rid of the entire political system and economy, destroy America as it is, in all its invisible institutions that no third-world hellhole has and paradise will be the result. This has been the promise of every oppressive fourth-world dictator since the post-colonial era, and all the places that became one-man, one-vote, once, embraced this sort of lie. America's prosperity and progress are always there for everyone if only America can be gotten rid of. V.S. Naipaul used to write about this idiocy of the resentful confused third-world elites quite mockingly.

It's a hellish vision, and the glints of its inevitable outcome can be seen in the burning embers and people-flight of the Minneapolis she represents. So long as an America-hater like Omar represents this city in Congress, the message sent to the rest of us is that the U.S. has got a lot of rebuilding to do on just the intellectual front.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of screen shot from shareable Rep. Ilhan Omar Facebook Live video.




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Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Brian Hamman has announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Hamman made the announcement on his Facebook page Wednesday morning, stating that he is not certain how he caught the coronavirus. He received the positive test results on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, I have tested positive for COVID-19, Hamman said. The good news is my symptoms are mild. They are a lot like a cold and everybody in my family seems to be in about the same kind of shape. The kids are fine so thats really good news. The biggest symptom for me is I can not smell or taste anything. Hamman said he lost his sense of taste or smell about six days ago and immediately we isolated ourselves.

The Florida Department of Health has started contact tracing to let everybody know, Hamman said. Hamman said he has been following social distancing guidelines and wearing a mask.

I honestly have no idea where or how I caught this, he said. Ive been following all of the guidelines I have been recommending to all of you.

Hamman said let it be a warning to you that anyone can catch this and anyone can spread this. Hamman said people should take precautions to protect other people.

Take every symptom that you have right now. I never had a fever neither does my wife but we both have allergy or cold-like symptoms so if you get symptoms like that please isolate yourself, make an appointment to be tested and do your part not to spread this disease. Please wear your mask when you cant physically distance.

The commissioner said he will be quarantining at home and called on people to limit social activities and wash their hands.

There is just so much of this out there. Now is not a good time to be going to any kind of parties or anything like that.
Telangana New Secretariat To Be Completed In A Year:- Soon after the Telangana High Court cleared all the hurdles for the construction of the new Secretariat, the government of Telangana started the demolition process of the old Secretariat buildings. The impression and the sketch of the new Secretariat building were released by the Chief Minister's Office yesterday. The process of demolition started during the early hours of Tuesday and it is expected to complete in a week. The new complex will have a historic architecture with all the modern technology equipped presenting the culture and tradition of the state.

As per the update, the construction of the new Secretariat will start from the end of this month which also collides with the commencement of Sravanam, an auspicious month for Telugu people. The officials already made it clear that the new Secretariat building would be ready in a year and the estimated cost for the project is said to be Rs 500 crores. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao already approved the designs that are submitted by Oscar and Ponni of OCI Architects based in Chennai. The firm already submitted ten designs after which the best one was picked and released.

(Image Source: Twitter.com/baraju_SuperHit)

The new Secretariat will be fully Vaastu complaint and will have all the safety measures met including fire safety, green premises, disaster management and all the mandatory regulations would be followed. The new Secretariat will be constructed with Deccani and Kakatiya architectures in the 25-acre space. The complex will have a separate entrance for the Chief Minister. The East side of the complex is allocated for the ministers and officials.

The new Secretariat building will be rectangular in shape with six floors with seven lakh sq.ft area. All the state officials of the Telangana government will work under the same roof once the Secretariat building is constructed. The terrace has solar rooftop panels and the parking lot is huge. To allow free airflow throughout, the complex has huge corridors. The Secretariat complex will also have two major lawns along with the canteen, banks, ATMs, fire stations, places of worship.

(Video Source: 10TV News Telugu)
(Image source from: Bloombergquint.com)

Coronavirus Cases In India Stand At 7.4 Lakhs:- The new cases of coronavirus in India are not stopping anytime and they are increasing at a rapid pace. Indian witnessed 22,752 new cases in the past 24 hours in the country and 482 people passed away due to the deadly virus. The total number of cases as per the reports of the Union Health Ministry stands at 7,42,417. There are 2,64,944 cases active and 4,56,831 people got cured of coronavirus. The total number of deaths in the country reached 20,642. India conducted 1.04 crore tests til date and 2,62,679 samples were tested yesterday alone as per the records from the Indian Council of Medical Research.

US President Donald Trump accused WHO of turning a puppet for China. Hydroxychloroquine is widely used in India but when it comes to the USA, it is highly politicized. Maharashtra is the worst-hit state of the country with 2,17,121 cases. Tamil Nadu stands second with 1,18,594 cases. India is the third worst-hit country in the world due to coronavirus. India reported more than 1.57 lakh cases of coronavirus in the past one week and 3236 people passed away due to the deadly disease. For the sixth day in a row, the daily spike of new cases is over 20,000.

With the widespread of the virus, Mumbai opens coronavirus tests for everyone and there would be no prescription needed to get the test done. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged the evidence emerging of airborne spread of coronavirus. Earlier before this, a bunch of scientists said that the disease is airborne and they had several proofs.
(Image source from: Thehansindia.com)

Atchan Naidu Gets A Partial Relief:- TDP leader and legislator Atchan Naidu has been arrested in ESI scam case by the officials of the Enforcement Directorate. He was produced in a special ACB Court which granted judicial custody. His bail plea was rejected twice in the special ACB Court. Atchan Naidu underwent surgery for piles recently and he was arrested even before he recovered completely. Atchan Naidu was provided medical aid in Guntur Government Hospital after which he was shifted to Vijayawada jail recently. The TDP leaders have been demanding better medical help for the leader. The Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the state government to allow Atchan Naidu to get treated in a private hospital.

The High Court asked the government to consider his health condition. The lawyer who argued for the government said that the Superintendent of the Guntur Government Hospital should be given a chance to make the decision about finalizing the hospital that can treat Atchan Naidu. The High Court rejected this proposal and said it will be Atchan Naidu who will decide about the treatment and the hospital. The court said that he is free to choose about the hospital.

Atchan Naidu may be treated in Ramesh Hospitals, Guntur soon. Several petitions are filed in the AP High Court after Atchan Naidu was arrested considering his medical condition. He was rushed to Vijayawada jail in a wheelchair which did not go well with many. Even the High Court of Andhra Pradesh questioned about the urgency in shifting him to Vijayawada jail. It is heard that Atchan Naidu was discharged even before he recovered completely. Atchan Naidu's judicial remand is extended till July 10th and the interrogation is currently going on.

(Video Source: AP24x7)
So, it seems like the very first smartphone with the all-new Snapdragon 865 SoC could launch on July 22. What phone is that? Well, its the ASUS ROG Phone 3, a gaming smartphone.

This chip-related confirmation comes from Ishan Agarwal, a well-known tipster. He did share a post from the company itself, a post on Twitter, though that tweet has now been deleted.

We dont really know what that post was about, to be quite honest. In any case, the tipster says that the phone will probably launch with the Snapdragon 865+.

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That is something every rumor in the last couple of weeks has been pointing at. The phone is all basically confirmed at this point, it got certified recently, while the company has already teased it in China.

The first smartphone with Snapdragon 865+ to launch on July 22 in form of ASUS ROG Phone 3

The company did confirm that the phone will launch on July 22, as a landing page is already up and running. That will also be a global event, by the looks of it. It will start at 11 AM EST / 5 PM CET.

The ASUS ROG Phone 3 will look like a gaming phone, no doubt about it. In other words, it will probably look considerably different than your regular smartphone.

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You can expect this phone to launch free of display notches and holes, as its all about screen real-estate and gaming enjoyment. The phone may also include some sort of LED lighting on the back.

The device will most likely keep the 6.59-inch fullHD+ AMOLED panel from the ROG Phone 2. It may even have the same refresh rate as that device, 120Hz refresh rate.

The phone will include a large battery

The device will, allegedly, include three cameras on the back. Two of those three will be 64 and 13-megapixel cameras. Its battery will also be quite large, it will be between 5,800mAh and 6,000mAh in capacity.

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The phone is said to support fast charging as well. If rumors are to be believed, it will ship with 30W fast wired charging, just like its predecessor. 10W reverse charging may also be included (wired as well).

Android 10 will come pre-installed on the phone, along with ROGs very own software. The company will release some accessories with this device, almost certainly. While some previous accessories will be compatible as well.

There you have it. The ASUS ROG Phone 3 may become the first smartphone to feature the Snapdragon 865+. Everything will be revealed on July 22.
Google had its Smart Home Virtual Summit this evening and announced a number of new developer tools and also explained the new smart home controls that are coming in Android 11.

Most of the updates that Google gave during this summit is geared towards developers. This is likely the talk that Google was planning to give during I/O, but since that was cancelled, the Smart Home Virtual Summit happened instead.

The Device Access program is replacing Works with Nest

At Google I/O last year, Google announced that it was killing off the Works with Nest program. And would be moving over to the Works with Google Assistant program. Which would build on the foundation of privacy and data security to ensure that users have confidence in how Google and its partners protect their home data.

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And thats where Device Access program came into play. Its a program that will provide a way for partners to integrate directly with Nest devices. The Device Access Console is coming soon, which is going to be a self-serve console that guides commercial developers through different project phases. Theres no word yet on when specifically this will launch.

Expanding Routines, Building on Smart Home Controls in Android 11 & more

Google has a lot more to show developers in the smart home space. Including expanding routines. Currently, Nest users have the ability to automatically trigger routines based on whether they are at home or away. And later this year, that functionality will come to the Google Assistant.

Google is also going to launch Gently Sleep and Wake effects that will work with any smart light, out of the box, later this year. Gentle Sleep and Wake is a feature that launched last year for Philips Hue. Where it slowly brightens or dims the lights at a specific time. And it can also be tied to your morning alarms. Just say turn on gently wake up and youre all set. Its a much more pleasant way to wake up.

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One of the big new features in Android 11 is the new Smart Home Controls. Which Google used to introduce a dedicated space for Smart Home controls that users can find quickly. Now when you press the power button, youll have access to your smart home devices. Users are able to choose all, or just their favorite controls in a single place. Google is letting partners know that there is no new development work required for this. There are sliders which allow developers to adjust specific settings, like the temperature and such. And developers can also customize which devices are visible. But that is not required.

Theres a lot more developer tools available for the smart home, thanks to Google at the Smart Home Virtual Summit, which you can check out here.
The Lenovo Legion gaming smartphone has just stopped by the benchmarking website AnTuTu, revealing a few key details. The smartphone, bearing the model number L79031, scored impressive 648,871 points on AnTuTu tests.

According to the listing, the upcoming gaming phone from Lenovo will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ SoC. The chipset is tipped to launch sometime this month, featuring significant upgrades over the vanilla Snapdragon 865.

Were looking at an overclocked CPU with a maximum frequency of 3.09GHz. The octa-core CPU features a Kyro 585 Prime core operating highest at 3.09GHz, three Kyro 585 Gold cores operating at 2.42GHz, and four power-efficient Kyro 585 Silver cores operating at 1.80Ghz. The Snapdragon 865, on the other hand, has a maximum clock speed of 2.84GHz.

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The new chipset incorporates the same Adreno 650 GPU as the Snapdragon 865. However, theres still a significant improvement in GPU performance, which is ideal for a game-centric smartphone.

The upcoming Lenovo smartphone also gets 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage.

The UX score of 100,176 points means AnTuTu believes the display might have a 144Hz refresh rate, which would again make sense for a gaming phone.

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It could be an OLED panel with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. The AnTuTu listing also reveals that the upcoming Lenovo Legion gaming phone will run Android 10 out of the box.

Lenovo Legion gaming phone posts impressive AnTuTu scores, might launch soon

Lenovo last month confirmed that its Legion gaming smartphone would arrive in July. While the exact launch date is still a mystery, the device keeps popping up on the internet quite often.

Past leaks and rumors suggest the phone to come with two USB Type-C ports, which would help greatly with gaming. An in-display fingerprint reader, a 64-megapixel dual rear-camera setup, a side-facing pop-up selfie camera, and dual speakers are also among expected features.

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There are some fluctuating reports about this phones battery capacity and charging speed. While some reports claim a 5,050 mAh battery with 55W fast charging, others speculate a 4,000 mAh battery with 45W or even 90W charging speed.

A 4,000 mAh battery seems a bit low for a gaming smartphone, though. Well have to wait for more credible reports or the official announcement for confirmation on that.

Lenovos Legion gaming phone will arrive later this month with 5G connectivity, gamepad accessories, and some kind of liquid cooling technology. It will be pitted directly against the ASUS ROG Phone III, which also likely features the Snapdragon 865+ chipset. The ASUS gaming phone launches on July 22. Itll be interesting to see how the two gaming smartphones fair.
Microsoft is long working on a foldable Android device  the Surface Duo. The company has been relying on a third-party firm called Movial for software development for its first Android-powered mobile device. However, it has now moved the development in-house.

The Windows software maker has acquired the three Movial teams that had been developing the Surface Duos flavor of Android. It has reportedly hired the teams based in Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. Movial employees from these locations will now work on this project as full-time employees at Microsoft.

According to a report from SeeNews, Movials office in Iasi, Romania will become Microsofts fourth research and development center in the country.

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A total of 60 Movial employees from that location will be joining Microsoft. Its unclear how many Movial employees Microsoft has hired in total across the three locations.

Microsoft isnt acquiring Movial as a whole, though. The Helsinki, Finland based privately held software engineering firm will continue to operate as a standalone company out of its headquarters.

Microsoft hires Movial employees to boost the Surface Duo software development

Microsoft first showcased the Surface Duo during the Microsoft Surface event in October last year. It is a foldable Android device featuring two separate screens, much like the ZTE Axon M or the LG V50 ThinQ 5G. The device was also spotted in wild earlier this year.

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The company is planning to launch this foldable phone later this year. It will come equipped with two 5.6-inch AMOLED displays, an 11-megapixel camera, a Snapdragon 855 SoC, 6GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage.

Ahead of that, the Windows giant has now bolstered its in-house Android expertise by hiring the three Movial teams.

The newly hired employees will handle post-launch software support for the Surface Duo. Additionally, the teams will also work on the successor to the device, supposedly called Surface Duo V2. The second-generation Microsoft foldable is already in the early stages of development.

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Microsoft engineers have also begun contributing to the Android Open Source Project. The company appears to be looking to get the Surface Duo to pass Androids Compatibility Test Suite.

Additionally, it has a number of job listings seeking Android engineers to work on the Surface Duo, as well as its future Android endeavors.

All this suggests that Microsoft has renewed its interest in mobile devices and is serious about it. And this time around, the company is tapping on Android OS. Its efforts with Windows Phone were discontinued in 2017.
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For droplets to be responsible for that kind of spread, a single person would have to be within a few feet of all the other people, or to have contaminated an object that everyone else touched. All that seems unlikely to many experts: I have to do too many mental gymnastics to explain those other routes of transmission compared to aerosol transmission, which is much simpler, Marr said.
(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 8 - Some 125 Bangladeshi passengers who arrived in Rome from Qatar Wednesday will not be allowed to land and will return to Doha on the same plane later in the day, Fiumicino authorities said.

Italy is stopping Bangladeshis from arriving after a spike in COVID cases among the Bangladeshi community in Rome.

The other passengers on board the flight from Qatar are being tested with COVID swabs.

They will then be quarantined, authorities said. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 8 - Premier Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday continued to firm up Spanish and Portuguese support for Italy's stance on the EU's planned Recovery Fund, flying from Lisbon to Madrid.

Political sources said there was full agreement between the three countries that there should be a swift European response, with a deal by the end of this month.

Italy, Spain and Portugal also agree that most of the funds must come in grants rather than loans, according to the European Commission's original 750 billion euro proposal.

Northern European countries, on the other hand, are pushing for more loans than grants and have said there is no great hurry on an agreement.

On Tuesday Conte stressed the need for a reaction to the COVID crisis, which risks destroying the single market, saying "if some countries have greater difficulty, all the others will suffer as a consequence".

Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez said an agreement on the Fund could and must be reached, in an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Sanchez spoke of a pact for Europe between Italy and Spain.

He added that Madrid for now has adequate access to credit and will therefore not resort to the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund.

Italy, too, has been cautious about using the ESM, with some in government saying that a no strings attached promise may not be true.

Conte, for his part, has said it is up to parliament to decide whether Rome should tap into the ESM for COVID-related spending.

(ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 8 - Premier Giuseppe Conte has invited the centre-right opposition to talks, but League leader Matteo Salvini said Wednesday that he does not intend to go.

Giorgia Meloni, the head of the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, announced that the opposition has been invited to the premier's office on Thursday.

Meloni said her participation was conditional on Conte presenting "a document with precise proposals, not vague press statements".

Forza Italia (FI) leader and ex-premier Silvio Berluconi, meanwhile, said Wednesday that his party would vote in favour in an eventual parliamentary vote on whether Italy should apply for funding from the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

The other centre-right parties, FdI and the League, are against taking up the option to obtain dozens of billions of euros from the bailout fund at zero interest.

They are fearful that use of the fund could come with strings attached, even though the EU says there will not be any as long as the money is used for health spending.

The parties supporting Conte's government are also split over this issue. (ANSA).


Authorities said Varnum called the sponsor of the Vaccinate All Children Act, and in a transcript of the call, Varnum said he would travel to Miami to kill her. Wilson was the lead sponsor of the bill, and the only one of the sponsors who is from Miami.
(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 8 - The COVID emergency has united Italy and Spain even more than before, Premier Giuseppe Conte said at a press conference with Premier Pedro Sanchez in Madrid Wednesday agreeing with the Spanish PM's call for a Recovery Fund deal by the end of the month.

Conte said Madrid was the second stage, after Lisbon, of his tour of EU capitals to drum p support for a Recovery Fund deal.

He said the trip "has boosted our conviction that we must work in harmony".

Conte said "we must finalise the package of EU measures by the end of July" He said there should be "no giving way" on the European Commission's initial proposal of a 750 billion euro fund to come more in grants than loans.

Conte said an "elevated" response was needed from the EU, and not a "compromise among the 27".

Sanchez told the press conference that the EU must reach a deal on the COVID emergency Recovery Fund by the end of this month.

"We need a joint response from Europe," he said alongside Conte.

"There can be no other moment for the accord than beyond this month".

Conte is continuing to firm up Spanish and Portuguese support for Italy's stance on the EU's planned Recovery Fund, after flying from Lisbon to Madrid.

Political sources said there was full agreement between the three countries that there should be a swift European response, with a deal by the end of this month.

Italy, Spain and Portugal also agree that most of the funds must come in grants rather than loans, according to the European Commission's original 750 billion euro proposal.

Northern European countries, on the other hand, are pushing for more loans than grants and have said there is no great hurry for an agreement.

On Tuesday Conte stressed the need for a reaction to the COVID crisis, which risks destroying the single market, saying "if some countries have greater difficulty, all the others will suffer as a consequence".

Sanchez said an agreement on the Fund could and must be reached, in an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper Wednesday.

Sanchez spoke of a pact for Europe between Italy and Spain.

He added that Madrid for now has adequate access to credit and will therefore not resort to the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund.

Italy, too, has been cautious about using the ESM, with some in government saying that a no strings attached promise may not turn out to be accurate Conte, for his part, has said it is up to parliament to decide whether Rome should tap into the ESM for COVID-related spending.

(ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 8 - Premier Giuseppe Conte said at a press conference with Premier Pedro Sanchez in Madrid Wednesday that the two countries agreed a Recovery Fund deal must be found by the EU by the end of this month.

The two leaders also said the COVID emergency has united Italy and Spain more than ever.

Conte stressed that Madrid was the second stage, after Lisbon, of his tour of EU capitals to drum up support for a Recovery Fund deal.

He said the trip "has boosted our conviction that we must work in harmony".

Conte said "we must finalise the package of EU measures by the end of July" He said there should be "no giving way" on the European Commission's initial proposal of a 750 billion euro fund to come more in grants than loans.

Conte said an "elevated" response was needed from the EU, and not a "compromise among the 27".

The Italian PM said "we have to dare, we must not be indulgent".

"The single market is at stake here, unless we find a deal we will destroy it".

Sanchez, too, told the press conference that the EU must reach a deal on the COVID emergency Recovery Fund by the end of this month.

"We need a joint response from Europe," he said alongside Conte.

"There can be no other moment for the accord than beyond this month".

Conte is continuing to firm up Spanish and Portuguese support for Italy's stance on the EU's planned Recovery Fund, after flying from Lisbon to Madrid.

Political sources said there was full agreement between the three countries that there should be a swift European response, with a deal by the end of this month.

Italy, Spain and Portugal also agree that most of the funds must come in grants rather than loans, according to the European Commission's original 750 billion euro proposal.

Northern European countries, on the other hand, are pushing for more loans than grants and have said there is no great hurry for an agreement.

On Tuesday Conte stressed the need for a reaction to the COVID crisis, which risks destroying the single market, saying "if some countries have greater difficulty, all the others will suffer as a consequence".

Sanchez said an agreement on the Fund could and must be reached, in an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper Wednesday.

Sanchez spoke of a pact for Europe between Italy and Spain.

He added that Madrid for now has adequate access to credit and will therefore not resort to the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund.

Italy, too, has been cautious about using the ESM, with some in government saying that a no strings attached promise may not turn out to be accurate Conte, for his part, has said it is up to parliament to decide whether Rome should tap into the ESM for COVID-related spending.

Sanchez said in Madrid Wednesday, however, that "we must not be ashamed to use the ESM".

Conte said that proposals on using the ESM should be examined after the end of EU negotiations.

He said it was "ideological" to say at the current stage whether the ESM should be used or not.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for her part, said that a deal on the Recovery Fund must be reached by the end of the summer.

Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri, for his part, told a Bloomberg online forum that Italy would only use state intervention when necessary and it had shown a courageous response to the health emergency.

Gualtieri said Italy would use the ESM if necessary, saying there was no stigma attached.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met with other 'frugal' leaders from Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden in a videoconference Wednesday and said they had coordinated their stance on the Recovery Fund.

He said he was looking forward to meeting them again in person in Brussels at a July 17 summit.

The four countries are leading a push for funding to be handed over as loans with strings attached, such as structural reforms.

(ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 8 - Premier Giuseppe Conte said at a press conference with Premier Pedro Sanchez in Madrid Wednesday that the two countries agreed a Recovery Fund deal must be found by the EU by the end of this month.

The two leaders also said the COVID emergency has united Italy and Spain more than ever.

Conte stressed that Madrid was the second stage, after Lisbon, of his tour of EU capitals to drum up support for a Recovery Fund deal.

He said the trip "has boosted our conviction that we must work in harmony".

Conte said "we must finalise the package of EU measures by the end of July" He said there should be "no giving way" on the European Commission's initial proposal of a 750 billion euro fund to come more in grants than loans.

Conte said an "elevated" response was needed from the EU, and not a "compromise among the 27".

The Italian PM said "we have to dare, we must not be indulgent".

"The single market is at stake here, unless we find a deal we will destroy it".

Sanchez, too, told the press conference that the EU must reach a deal on the COVID emergency Recovery Fund by the end of this month.

"We need a joint response from Europe," he said alongside Conte.

"There can be no other moment for the accord than beyond this month".

Conte is continuing to firm up Spanish and Portuguese support for Italy's stance on the EU's planned Recovery Fund, after flying from Lisbon to Madrid.

Political sources said there was full agreement between the three countries that there should be a swift European response, with a deal by the end of this month.

Italy, Spain and Portugal also agree that most of the funds must come in grants rather than loans, according to the European Commission's original 750 billion euro proposal.

Northern European countries, on the other hand, are pushing for more loans than grants and have said there is no great hurry for an agreement.

On Tuesday Conte stressed the need for a reaction to the COVID crisis, which risks destroying the single market, saying "if some countries have greater difficulty, all the others will suffer as a consequence".

Sanchez said an agreement on the Fund could and must be reached, in an interview with Corriere della Sera newspaper Wednesday.

Sanchez spoke of a pact for Europe between Italy and Spain.

He added that Madrid for now has adequate access to credit and will therefore not resort to the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund.

Italy, too, has been cautious about using the ESM, with some in government saying that a no strings attached promise may not turn out to be accurate Conte, for his part, has said it is up to parliament to decide whether Rome should tap into the ESM for COVID-related spending.

Sanchez said in Madrid Wednesday, however, that "we must not be ashamed to use the ESM".

Conte said that proposals on using the ESM should be examined after the end of EU negotiations.

He said it was "ideological" to say at the current stage whether the ESM should be used or not.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for her part, said that a deal on the Recovery Fund must be reached by the end of the summer.

Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri, for his part, told a Bloomberg online forum that Italy would only use state intervention when necessary and it had shown a courageous response to the health emergency.

Gualtieri said Italy would use the ESM if necessary, saying there was no stigma attached. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - GENOA, JUL 7 - Italian police on Tuesday busted one of Europe's biggest cybercrime gangs making 13 arrests in Italy and Romania.

The gang's leader was based in Genoa, they said.

Police seized tens of millions of euros in assets.

They said the gang had committed a "host of different cybercrimes" ranging from fake holiday homes to infiltrating firms' IT systems and phisging. (ANSA).




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Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa met his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte here Tuesday and discussed the upcoming European Council meeting that will decide the approval of the 750-billion-euro (846 billion U.S. dollars) EU economic recovery plan.

At a joint press conference with Conte, Costa said: "it is necessary to move forward with ambition, because the situation is very serious across Europe, and the best way to save resources is to attack the crisis."

"It is a crisis where, beyond the health dimension, there has been a terrible impact on the economy, employment and household income and that is why it is more important than ever that we approve the economic and social recovery plan," Costa said.

"It is essential that, at the European Council next week, we can reach an agreement on the proposal," he said.

For his part, Conte said that both Portugal and Italy "will play their parts" since the two "have always cultivated a dialogue, intense, direct, frank and we share common positions."

"We share our respective national realities, but without losing sight of our home -- Europe. There will be no countries that will win and others that will lose. We either win together, or we lose together," said Conte.

"There is no more time, and it is necessary to have the courage to decide immediately," he said.

Southern European countries, such as Italy, Spain and Portugal, are busy with shuttle diplomacy these days to coordinate their stance over the EU recovery plan.

On July 17-18, EU leaders will have their first in-person conference in Brussels since the COVID-19 pandemic, to discuss the recovery plan to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and a new long-term EU budget.

(CGTN)
Owosso, MI (48867)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies and rain during the afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 65F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 48F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
The county has seen 526 community cases. Of those, 10 are younger than 10 years old; 30 are in the 10-19 range; 87 are 20-29 years old; 75 are 30-39; 83 are 40-49; 140 are 50-59; 68 are 60-69; 19 are 70-79; and 14 are 80-89. Women have accounted for 265 of the positive tests, men for 261. In cases where race is known, 87% of those testing positive have been white, 7% have been Black, 6% other. Where ethnicity is known, 17% are Hispanic. The number of community hospitalizations since the beginning of the pandemic rose by one, to 77.
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ASHLAND -- Two women spoke to Ashland City Council Tuesday evening, requesting council members and the mayor acknowledge and converse with the individuals who have been protesting police brutality and racism in downtown Ashland for more than a month.

Ashland resident, Erin Schaefer and one other expressed disappointment in a "lack of dialogue" between city leadership and the local group that now peacefully protests at least once daily at the corner of Main Street and Claremont Avenue.

The two were joined by a small group of other local protesters in council chambers.

"I'm not asking any of you to hold a sign. I'm asking you to have a conversation," Schaefer said. "If we can't even discuss racism in our community, how will we ever address it?"

She pointed to Mayor Matt Miller's presence at the Shield the Line Rally, an event held in late June to support local law enforcement.

"I saw that you Mayor Matt went to the police rally, and I support that. I'm glad that you went to the rally because this group (the downtown protesters) is not anti-police, this group is not against the police, it is against police brutality and racism that occurs," Schaefer said.

Referencing the biblical parable where Jesus tells his disciples to cast their net on the opposite side of their boat, Schaefer asked Ashland leaders to purposefully put themselves outside their own comfort zones.

In the story, the disciples listen, leaving behind their usual routine of fishing on the one side. Upon moving their net to the other side of the boat, they reel in plenty of fish.

"It's easy to go to the places where you know people -- like a big police rally; it is easy to go to a places where people are similar, where they think the same, where they have the same views, where they support what you do," Schaefer said. "But people on the corner are no less a part of Ashland, people on the corner are no less important, they do not have any less value."

Her counterpart, Lisa Shafer is currently spending the summer in Ashland, which is her hometown. She expressed intentions to move back.

"I'm so pleased with the way Ashland has changed in terms of its beauty with the flowers, and the brewery and the theatre and it's really looking great, but I too am very concerned about an ugliness that we are not acknowledging," she said.

She relayed a story of passerby who told a Black girl at the downtown protest that he hated her for her race. The girl sat quietly, and when he left, she and her mother prayed for the man, according to Shafer.

"It's not okay to say racism doesn't exist in Ashland. It's not okay to focus only on the beautiful parts of Ashland," she said. "We need to dig deeper into our souls, and make every Ashlander feel special."

Schaefer also recounted her experience attending the protests at least twice a week since early June.

"Each time I am there our group gets flipped off, screamed at, cussed at, told to get a job -- even though we have jobs -- and we've even had people yell 'white power' at us multiple times. Yet even with this hostility, the group remains calm, peaceful and steadfast in its mission," she said.

She has heard some accuse the local protesters of being members of Antifa or getting paid to stand with their signs. This isn't true, she said.

Neither is the sentiment she's seen on social media that racism doesn't exist in Ashland, she continued

"Even in someplace special, there are people who do not feel connected, supported and accepted," Schaefer said.

Following the meeting, Mayor Matt Miller did respond and shared how city level law enforcement works to prevent the "ugliness we've seen in these other places around the country."

"I want to make very clear I haven't heard any of our city leaders, including our police department, say there is not racism in Ashland. Racism exists all across this country and all across this world," Miller said. "Now, I will say, however, we do a lot to emphasize especially with our new officers that they treat everyone with dignity and respect, gentleness and humility and kindness, even those who may not be obeying the local law."

Since the local protests began, the mayor said he has spoken with a handful of people about race.

"I will be glad to listen to anyone who has a concern, and what I'm interested in is hearing is individuals' personal experiences with racism here in our community," he said. "So far the people I've been meeting with are Black, they've lived here most of their lives."

On the experiences shared from Schaefer and Shafer, the mayor also commented.

"It is very disheartening to hear these stories of some of the comments and some of the ridicule that some of the folks standing on the corner are hearing from passing motorists, and we do not support that," he said.

Councilman Robert Valentine chimed in, too.

"Just because I'm not down there doesn't mean I don't agree with them. They have more free time than me. I run a store in town, I have grandkids I watch three days a week, a dog I have to take care of," he said. "And I feel sorry for them if they had to put up with that abuse, but the way it is, I can't stop that abuse."

He said Tuesday was the first occasion that he'd been personally invited to visit the scene of the downtown protests. He didn't indicate whether or not he'd accept the invitation.

"It depends. Do I need to go down? She asked the whole council to go down," Valentine said.
A police spokesman said that a case (FIR No 265/2020) under section 13 ULA(P) Act, 505 IPC (public mischief) has been registered.

SRINAGAR: An open letter attributed to Kashmirs separatist patriarch Syed Ali Shah Geelani, calling for a shutdown in the Valley on Burhan's death anniversary on Wednesday and again on Kashmir 'martyrs' day' on July 13, went viral on Tuesday.

However, the Jammu and Kashmir police was quick to step in, informing the people that it was a fake letter. The police also said that it has filed a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and for public mischief under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The letter is fake as the same was not issued by the nonagenarian separatist leader, the police said.

As per the family sources of SAS Geelani the letter is fake and not issued by him. This is published from Pakistan. Police are taking action against those who are circulating it through different social media platforms to instigate violence and create law and order problems (sic), the J-K police tweeted.

A police spokesman said that a case (FIR No 265/2020) under section 13 ULA(P) Act, 505 IPC (public mischief) has been registered in police station Budgam and that further investigation is in progress.

A tweet from @hurriyet_news handle said As informed earlier that Twitter handle @GeelaniOfficial has been compromised and is now being controlled by Md Hussain Khateeb instead of Geelani Sahabs representative Abdullah Geelani. A fake letter has been issued by @GeelaniOfficial on 6 July to misguide us.(sic)

Geelani had last week announced his decision to quit his faction of Hurriyat Conference, an amalgam of separatist parties.
Smith did not live at the apartments where the shooting occurred. His most recent address was on Cedar Crest Court, in the Woodbridge Commons apartments, a little more than two miles from where he was shot, Cristie Hopkins, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office, said at the time.
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Remember when we reported about the leaked photo of the supposed Toyota Corolla Cross? Well, it looks like we will soon be seeing it without any camouflage as the automaker appears to be gearing up for its launch tomorrow in Thailand.

While the automaker hasn't stated exactly that it will be the Corolla Cross, our friends over at Headlightmag managed to get some key details regarding the all-new crossover. Beginning with its exterior dimensions, the Corolla Cross will supposedly measure 4460mm long, 1825mm wide, and 1620mm tall. This puts the new crossover on par with its closest competitors like the MG ZS, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, and the all-new Nissan Kicks.

As mentioned before, the Corolla Cross will supposedly be available in four distinct variants (1.8 Sport, 1.8 Hybrid Smart, 1.8 Hybrid Premium, 1.8 Hybrid Premium Safety) and could come with two 1.8-liter engines. The first engine is a naturally-aspirated inline-four that puts out 140 PS along with 175 Nm of torque. It is then paired to a CVT and only comes in front-wheel-drive. Meanwhile, the other engine is a gasoline-hybrid which appears to have been derived from the Corolla Altis Hybrid. It has a total system output of 122 PS with 142 Nm of torque and is also mated to a CVT.

The Corolla Cross will also reportedly come with a wide array of standard features and amenities. These include dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable driver's seat, 360-degree around-view camera, electric sunroof, and an automatic tailgate. It will also be available with Toyota Safety Sense features such as lane departure alert with lane tracing assist, dynamic radar cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beam assist, and a pre-collision system.

As to what the Corolla Cross may look like, we have yet to see the car without any camouflage. The only clear image we have of the upcoming crossover is the one that we found last April. The crossover in question is draped in heavy camouflage, although we do see some Corolla Altis-like design cues on the tailgate and on the taillights.

Will the supposed Corolla Cross make its way here in the Philippines? Well according to an insider, Toyota Motor Philippines has plans for it to be offered locally. The only question now would is when will TMP actually launch it in the country. For now, all we can do is patiently wait and hope that we won't have to wait long for the Corolla Cross.
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Responding to the death of George Floyd at the knee of a Minneapolis policeman, people of all races and creeds across the nation and the world took to the streets amid the most lethal pandemic in more than 100 years to announce with clarity and conviction that enough is enough; that civilization will no longer be defined by racism, hate, and intolerance.
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Chief Justice John Roberts was hospitalized overnight after a fall on June 21, a Supreme Court spokesperson confirmed to the Washington Post on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Speculation regarding justices' health  given their lifetime appointments  always runs rampant, and this incident may have not been made public if the Post hadn't "received a tip."

Roberts' fall at the Chevy Chase Club caused an injury to his head that required sutures.

The court did not initially notify the public because the "injury was not significant; he stayed overnight out of an abundance of caution and went home first thing in the morning," Kathy Arberg, the court's public information officer, told CNN.

The state of play: Roberts is 65 and has a history of seizures  in 1993 and 2007.

Arberg told the Post that seizures had been ruled out as a cause for this incident, saying doctors "believe the fall was likely due to light-headedness caused by dehydration."

The big picture: The news comes as the Supreme Court is working to finish its term, with opinions on five cases still outstanding, including those regarding President Trump's tax returns and financial records.
As tensions between the U.S. and China escalate, more U.S. media companies like The Information, Politico and The Wire China are looking to invest in coverage of the country and its technology and business boom.

Why it matters: "It's coverage you have to have if you're a serious tech or business news operation," says Bill Bishop, author of the Sinocism newsletter.

The Information, a business and tech news media company founded by Wall Street Journal veteran Jessica Lessin, is launching a new Chinese-language newsletter covering Silicon Valley and Chinas tech sector for a Chinese-speaking audience. It will be its first non-English language editorial product.

The Information has four reporters in Hong Kong covering China and Asia technology: Shai Oster, Wayne Ma, Juro Osawa and Yunan Zhang.

Zhang will be the lead writer for the newsletter, which will be free and published weekly beginning this week.

The goal of the newsletter is to bring coverage of Silicon Valley and Chinese tech to the Greater China audience and Singapore and to introduce its China coverage to a wider Chinese audience.

At Politico, the company's new China Watcher newsletter written by David Wertime has quickly become one of its top-performing products since launching in May.

"Open rates are well north of 50%, putting it in the top tier of POLITICO newsletters from an engagement standpoint," says spokesperson Brad Dayspring.

Between the lines: Other journalists have found China's economic boom to be compelling enough to warrant its own publication.

David Barboza, a former longtime correspondent with The New York Times, co-founded The Wire China, a digital news magazine dedicated to understanding China's economic rise in April.

"Most publications consider China a tiny piece of what they cover; having a publication focused entirely on China and with its own database would likely mean improved reporting but also a decent readership for a very important topic," Barboza tells Axios.

Yes, but: Rising tensions between the U.S. and China and recent crackdowns in Hong Kong by mainland authorities will make it harder for international media operations to continue covering the country from within.

This will "make the job of doing journalism in the region harder in China and in Hong Kong," says Gady Epstein, The Economist's China affairs editor and a former media editor.

"It's going to be harder to get accreditations for visas in the future," says Bishop, who notes that organizations that already have staff in Hong Kong will be eager to keep existing staff in place.

Be smart: For many major news outlets, Hong Kong has for years been the hub for Western news coverage of China, but the new Chinese security law may make it harder for bureaus and journalists to remain there.

Journalists at big papers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have already been expelled due to tensions between the U.S. and the Chinese government.

Epstein speculates that some news organizations could move their Asia bureaus to places like Tokyo, Singapore or Taiwan, but so far, none of the major news organizations with bureaus in Hong Kong have announced plans to move.

The big picture: Economic downturns have in the past prompted an unprecedented rise from China's business sector, forcing U.S. media companies to take notice.

"The leverage of the Chinese government and economy after the financial crisis shifted overnight," says Epstein, who helped start The Economist's China section in 2012.

"It was a daunting realization of how important the Chinese market was. Now coming out of pandemic, China didn't handle the initial epidemic well, but they seem to be getting their footing economically and people are relying on China again ... One again the business world looking to China as a leading edge of a recovery."

The rise of Chinese tech giants like Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu and ByteDance (TikTok's parent company) has also forced Western news outlets to invest in coverage of Chinese innovation and investment.
Lead organizer at Dennys, Marguerite Morris, claims she was treated poorly by the management twice, but they claim she was trying to sell doughnuts in restaurant and later argued over the cost of a salad. She was escorted out of the restaurant by county police, exacerbating her ongoing feud with the agency over a finding that her daughters death was a suicide.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (D) Wednesday called off the Texas Republican Party's in-person convention set for next week because of a statewide spike in coronavirus cases.

Driving the news: The Republican Party of Texas filed a lawsuit against Turner and the city of Houston on Thursday for a breach of contract and asked for a temporary restraining order to prevent the city from restricting convention center events.

Mayor Turner canceled the convention because he wanted to, not due to any act of God  only due to his desire to do so and to hold the Republican Party of Texas to a different standard than other entities," Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey stated.

Turner has pushed the state GOP to host its convention online and on Wednesday instructed the venue's operator to cancel its contract with the party.

What they're saying: "A letter has been sent to the (executive committee) of the state Republican Party by Houston First signed by the president and the chairman canceling this convention," Turner said at a press conference, according to CNN.

"These are some very serious times and the public safety of the people attending the convention, the employees, their family members, the people in the city of Houston  the public health concerns are first and foremost, paramount."

The big picture: Turner told CBS Sunday that the coronavirus outbreak in Houston could overwhelm its hospital system.

Houston's Harris County has reported more than 39,000 coronavirus cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.

On Tuesday, Texas reported a record 60 new deaths and 10,000 new cases. In total, it has seen more than 216,000 cases and at least 2,796 deaths.

Go deeper: At least 5 Republican senators say they will not attend GOP convention
The Trump administration is engaged in a full-court press to reopen schools this fall: The president threatened this morning to cut off federal funding if schools don't reopen, and claimed  without evidence  that Democrats want them closed through November for political reasons.

What they're saying: "Ultimately, it's not a matter of if schools should reopen  it is simply a matter of how," Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said, assailing "elite" D.C.-area schools for their "disaster" of an attempt at distance learning this spring. "They must fully open and they must be fully operational."

Why it matters: Virtual learning isn't as effective, and schools provide critical in-person resources for kids with disabilities, mental health issues and nutritional needs.

Millions of parents need their kids back in schools so that they can fully reenter the workforce. The burden of extended closures will hit hardest along class, racial and gender lines.

need their kids back in schools so that they can fully reenter the workforce. The burden of extended closures will hit hardest along class, racial and gender lines. The question is how to reopen safely: So much is uncertain about the role of children in spreading the coronavirus, which could affect teachers and at-risk adults at home.

Driving the news: Vice President Pence said today that the CDC will issue a set of five documents next week on school reopenings, after President Trump criticized the agency's existing guidelines  which include keeping kids six feet apart at all times, if possible  as "very tough & expensive."

Between the lines: How and when schools return will be a decision left to state and local authorities. Pence said the administration will be "looking for ways to give states a strong incentive" as part of negotiations with Congress over a Phase 4 relief package.

New York City's 1,800 public schools will adopt a hybrid model that will limit in-person attendance to just one to three days a week, Mayor de Blasio announced today.

will adopt a hybrid model that will limit in-person attendance to just one to three days a week, Mayor de Blasio announced today. Others are likely to follow in the footsteps of the nation's largest public school system with an indefinite mix of in-person and remote learning.

in the footsteps of the nation's largest public school system with an indefinite mix of in-person and remote learning. But unlike New York, which has largely flattened its curve after getting hammered by the virus this spring, states across the South are still seeing a massive surge in infections that could turn schools into a petri dish.

The bottom line: Trump griped on Twitter today that Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden are reopening their schools.
President Trump's campaign rally and related protests in Tulsa in late June "more than likely" contributed to the area's recent surge in confirmed coronavirus cases, Tulsa City-County Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Dart said Wednesday.

Why it matters: Public health officials, including Dart himself, had urged the campaign to postpone the rally, fearing that a large indoor gathering with few people wearing masks could accelerate the spread of the virus.

What they're saying: In the past few days, weve seen almost 500 new cases, and we had several large events just over two weeks ago, so I guess we just connect the dots, Dart said.

Asked about Dart's comments at a press briefing Wednesday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded: "I would just say I have no data to indicate that on my end. It is the decision of individuals whether they go. We encourage the wearing of masks."

The state of play: Tulsa County confirmed 261 new coronavirus cases on Monday and 206 cases on Tuesday. The state has over 17,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, per Johns Hopkins University.
The U.K. may further restrict technology from Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, on its 5G networks, due to security concerns, the Washington Post reports.

The big picture: The move is seen as a diplomatic victory for the U.S., which has sought to prevent Huawei technologies from being employed in communication networks across the world. China, meanwhile, accuses the U.S. of using security rationales to squeeze Huawei from international markets because it is hostile to economic competition.

The reported move by the U.K., which might ban new Huawei equipment from being used in U.K. networks by the end of the year, follows a gradual toughening of restrictions on Huawei there, though U.K. officials have generally taken a more conciliatory position toward the company than their U.S. counterparts.

Unlike the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, for instance, the U.K. set up a special center, paid for by Huawei but overseen by members of GCHQ, the U.K.'s signals intelligence agency. The facility gives British intelligence officials access to Huawei software and hardware to inspect any unintended  or purposeful  vulnerabilities that might allow China to snoop digitally on other countries' networks.

In January, British officials banned Huawei technology from being used in its "core" communications networks, as well as those close to the military, intelligence, and nuclear sites.

The new reported restrictions further squeeze Huawei's ability to operate in the country  and are likely tantamount to a total ban.

Go deeper: FCC bars Huawei and ZTE from subsidies, citing national security
Top White House officials have bluntly warned the head of a board that administers railroad workers' retirement benefits that the investment trust he oversees is exposing investors to undue economic risk and endangering U.S. national security because it invests in certain Chinese companies.

Driving the news: The letter, dated July 7 and obtained by Axios, asks for a response within a week as to whether the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, an independent federal agency, will cut off these Chinese investments.

Why it matters: This is the latest action the Trump administration has taken to curtail U.S. investment in China  part of a broader pressure campaign the administration is waging against the Communist Party of China.

Behind the scenes: Trump's national security and economic advisers Robert O'Brien and Larry Kudlow use the letter to take board chairman Erhard Chorle to task  and raise the prospect that these investments could be unlawful without being explicit about what they'll do if the board doesn't change course.

They scold Chorle for "permitting hundreds of millions of dollars of railroad workers' retirement assets to be invested in companies from the People's Republic of China (PRC)...that present a national security risk to our country."

They allege that the investment trust "exposes the retirement funds of railroad workers" to significant risk and that the investments channel money from American workers into Chinese companies that violate U.S. sanctions and "assist the PRC's efforts to build its military and oppress religious minorities."

Chorle is a Trump nominee. His term is set to run into 2022.

The investment of the retirement savings of hardworking Americans in Chinese companies is neither prudent from a risk perspective nor responsible from a long term strategic perspective, especially given Chinas culpable actions with respect to the pandemic, National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement.

O'Brien and Kudlow allege that the list of companies that receive railroad workers' retirement investment funds includes "contractors that provide military aircraft, missiles, and telecommunications support to the People's Liberation Army..."

"...companies like Hikvision that manufacture surveillance equipment that China uses to oppress religious minorities, and at least one company, ZTE, engaged in a multi-year conspiracy to supply, build, and operate telecommunications networks in Iran using U.S.-origin equipment in violation of the U.S. trade embargo, and committed hundreds of U.S. sanctions violations involving the shipment of telecommunications equipment to North Korea."

The other side: Board spokesman Michael Freeman said the board "is looking into the issues raised in the letter" and will respond directly to O'Brien and Kudlow. He said the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust manages most railroad retirement funds, not the board, and that the board would discuss the issues with them.

The big picture: Chinese state secrets law forbids Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges from complying with many audit requirements mandated by U.S. law, meaning that economic risks from fraudulent practices, and political risks from close association with Chinese entities that are or may become sanctioned, are not disclosed.

As Axios recently reported, these concerns drove a recent bipartisan Senate vote to delist Chinese companies that do not allow third-party audits.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from the board.
Armenias Constitutional Court did not make a quorum on Tuesday to start hearings on the legality of coup charges brought against former President Robert Kocharian.

The court has been in limbo since the Armenian parliament passed late last month constitutional changes calling for the immediate dismissal of three of its nine judges. They also stipulate that Hrayr Tovmasian must quit as court chairman but remain a judge.

Tovmasian and the three ousted justices have rejected the changes as unconstitutional, filing relevant appeals in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

In what appeared to be a related development, Tovmasian and another remaining judge, Arevik Petrosian, went on vacation last week.

Consequently, the majority of the Constitutional Court members did not show up for a court session which was due to discuss the case against Kocharian along with several other issues.

Kocharian is prosecuted under Article 300.1of Armenias Criminal Code dealing with overthrow of the constitutional order. The accusation rejected by him as politically motivated stems from the 2008 post-election unrest in Yerevan that left ten people dead.

The current code was enacted in 2009. Kocharians lawyers maintain that the article in question cannot be used retroactively against him. They argue that the previous code, which was in force during the dramatic events of March 2008, had no clauses relating to overthrow of the constitutional order and contained instead references to usurpation of state power.

Prosecutors say that there are no significant differences between the two definitions of a crime allegedly committed by the man who ruled Armenia from 1998-2008.

Kocharians legal team last year asked the Constitutional Court to declare the coup charge illegal. A Yerevan judge who initially presided over the ex-presidents trial likewise asked the court to pass judgment on the legality of the accusation.

The Constitutional Court in turn decided in July 2019 to request an advisory opinion on the matter from the ECHR as well as the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe. The Strasbourg-based courts Grand Chamber released a lengthy and complex opinion in May, while the Venice Commission offered its assessment in June.

One of the six remaining Constitutional Court judges, Vahe Grigorian, was earlier barred by his colleagues from dealing with the Kocharian case. They argued that Grigorian cannot make impartial decisions on the matter because he had represented relatives of nine of the ten people killed in March 2008.

One of their current lawyers, Tigran Yegorian, demanded on Tuesday that Tovmasian and three other justices be also excluded from the high-profile case because of what he described as a conflict of interest and political bias. A lawyer representing Kocharian dismissed the demand, saying that Yegorian is not in a position to voice such demands.
Armenias Court of Appeals overturned Wednesday a lower courts refusal to sanction the arrest of Gagik Tsarukian, the indicted leader of the main opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK).

One of Tsarukians lawyers, Samvel Dilbandian, told RFE/RLs Armenian service that it ordered a Yerevan district court to hold new hearings on the arrest warrant sought by prosecutors.

Dilbandian insisted that the Court of Appeals stopped short of allowing investigators to arrest Tsarukian.

Tsarukian, who is one of the countrys richest men, was charged with vote buying immediately after the Armenian parliament dominated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians allies lifted his immunity from prosecution and arrest on June 15. The National Security Service (NSS) said that he created and led an organized group that bought more than 17,000 votes for the BHK during parliamentary elections held in 2017.

Tsarukian strongly denies the accusations. He and his party maintain that Pashinian ordered the criminal proceedings in response to the BHK leaders June 5 calls for the governments resignation. Pashinian and law-enforcement authorities deny that the case is politically motivated.

The district court refused to allow Tsarukians pre-trial arrest on June 21. Both the prosecutors and Tsarukians lawyers appealed against that decision. The lawyers objected to the courts conclusion that investigators have grounds to suspect that Tsarukian handed out vote bribes.

The prosecutors kept pressing for an arrest warrant even after it emerged on June 30 that Tsarukian has been infected with the coronavirus.
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 78 times, Trend reports on July 8 referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan is invited to take part in the 9th St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum to be held on November 12-14.

The country, which received the honorary "Guest Country" status is currently working on an extensive range of events that seek to demonstrate the wealth of the national culture and art.

At the 2018 Forum, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture signed a joint statement regarding the award of this special status to Azerbaijan in 2020. This statement will help further strengthening of cooperation between the two countries and foster further mutual enrichment processes between Russia and Azerbaijan.

Speakers from Azerbaijan will take an active part in the business program of the Forum, including the discussions of the Open Lectures Culture 2.0, screening of Azerbaijan films, presentation of the puppet exhibition, a concert of the symphony orchestra in Shostakovich Academic Philharmonia of Saint Petersburg, "Love Legend" ballet by Arif Melikov, Azerbaijani composer, and Peoples Artist of the USSR in Mariinsky Theatre and a gala concert of the Folk Dance Ensemble.

Another memorable event will be the opening of the Azerbaijani Hall in the State Hermitage Museum. The upcoming exhibition will display cultural artifacts from Azerbaijan that are kept in the museum collection. The Russian Museum of Ethnography will also present its own renewed Azerbaijani Hall.

In addition, it is also planned to open an exhibition dedicated to life and work of the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi.

Another planned event is the performance of music by the Azerbaijani composer Faraj Garayev by the Baku Chamber Orchestra.

Literary recital, participation of Azerbaijani artists in Jazz Across BordersForum & Festival and other events are among other projects to be held as part of the forum.

The annual forum brings together theater, opera and ballet stars, outstanding directors and musicians, public figures.

The forum's activities are focused on international cooperation, mutual enrichment of cultures and integration of Russia into the global cultural space.

The large-scale project features both a business program for professionals and numerous cultural events for residents and guests of St. Petersburg.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan State Art Gallery is pleased to announce a new virtual project "+ 5C" on July 8, at 18:00.

The Gallery invites art lovers to participate in the first online knowledge contest on Azerbaijani art, answer 5 questions and win some prizes.

You can join and participate in the virtual project through the live broadcast on Instagram.

For more information, please visit the gallery's Facebook.

Founded in 1975, Azerbaijan State Art Gallery displays more than 14,000 paintings, graphics, sculptures, decorative and applied arts and contemporary art examples.

The main activities of the gallery include preservation and restoration of Azerbaijan's cultural heritage, researches on the current situation and prospects of the fine arts and decorative-applied arts and much more.

The majority of exhibitions in Azerbaijan and abroad are mainly composed of the works stored in the gallery.

The State Art Gallery regularly successfully holds various art projects, lectures and other events.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Laman Ismayilova

"Ice Statue", a story in Spanish translation by Azerbaijans prominent writer Anvar Mammadkhanli has been posted on the frequently visited "De la literature" Facebook page, based in Colombia.

This initiative was held within Azerbaijan State Translation Center's project - Azerbaijani Literature in a Virtual World, aimed at promoting Azerbaijani literature worldwide.

"De la literature" also provided insight into the writer's personal life and his creativity.

Anvar Mammadkhanli was part of a generation of talented writers distinguished on the literary scene for their unique works.

In 1939, critic Mikayil Rzaguluzade described the young writer as the founder of lyrical, psychological and emotional prose in Azerbaijan. Forty-five years later, another critic, Professor Abbas Zamanov, dubbed him the "poet of prose".

Through his characters, the writer draws the reader into the struggle for justice.

His characters are modern thinkers for their time, sensitive, with a sense of responsibility and duty to society.

His first collection of stories "Baku Nights" (1935) was a combination of realism and romanticism.

Over the forty years, "Baku Nights" and the stories "Sevinj" and "My Mother's Death" were included into the school textbooks in Azerbaijan.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Aisha Jabbarova

Azerbaijans Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov and First Deputy Minister of Defence Najmaddin Sadikov have visited military units on the front line, the ministrys press service reported on July 8.

After hearing reports on the operational situation, the Defense Minister observed the adversarys positions on the opposite said and gave relevant instructions to ensure combat readiness of the units, the ministry said.

Assessing the situation on the line of contact, Hasanov informed the military personnel of the tasks ahead.

After familiarizing himself with the conditions in the units, the minister also met with servicemen serving on the front lines, emphasizing that the measures taken to further improve their social and living conditions are constantly continued due to the state care and attention, the ministrys report reads.

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By Aisha Jabbarova

President Ilham Aliyev and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have discussed the UN General Assemblys session on COVID-19 initiated by Azerbaijan, Azertag reported on June 8.

As the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, President Ilham Aliyev thanked Guterres for his prompt response to the request to hold UN General Assembly's special session on COVID-19, noting that over 130 UN member states have supported this initiative.

In the phone conversation, president Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan was ready to contribute to resolving technical and logistical issues in connection with the special session.

Furthermore, the president reminded that Azerbaijan had donated $10 million to the World Health Organization and provided humanitarian and financial aid to over 30 countries to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

In turn, Guterres reiterated his support for the initiative to hold General Assemblys special session on COVID-19, adding that the UN was ready to work with Azerbaijan to address technical and logistical issues related to the session. At the same time, the Secretary-General said that Azerbaijan is actively working to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

President Ilham Aliyev and Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed confidence that the special session will be an important step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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By Ayya Lmahamad

The recent so-called elections held in Armenian-occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region was another failure for Nikol Pashinyan and his puppets, as leading international organizations adopted several statements and documents unequivocally refusing to recognize this event as an electoral process.

The international community yet again supported Azerbaijans fair position, although there were those who pretended not see anything, for example, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

This organization is already known for its anti-Azerbaijani sentiments. Having lost its reputation, PACE has turned into a structure where Armenian lobbyists have taken roots, seeking to vilify Azerbaijan by means of provocative resolutions and statements pushed through Western organizations.

It is astonishing how PACE, which reacts literally to everything happening in Azerbaijan, does not notice what is happening in the occupied part of the country, closing its eyes to the long- term occupation, violation of the rights of millions of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs. Apparently, such selective blindness has a reason.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has already expressed his position on this matter, which he reiterated the other day during his visit to the frontline regions.

"The Council of Europe has been silent. Why? It is apparent. One of the main goals of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is to slander Azerbaijan, to undermine the countrys reputation, to spread fabrications about it, to encourage the adoption of fictitious reports, to support the "fifth column", traitors in Azerbaijan and in terms of the conflict - the Armenian side. That explains why the Council of Europe has not uttered a word in connection with these fictitious elections. What objectivity, what justice in this case we can talk about, the president questioned.

MP Sevil Mikayilova said in an interview with Trend said that anti-Azerbaijani tendencies observed in PACE cause fair indignation among the Azerbaijani public. She stated that the adoption of biased decisions, false statements, biased assessment of events and processes can seriously undermine the political reputation of PACE.

Mikayilova noted the significance of values such as equal cooperation, democracy, intercultural dialogue, peace and security is decreasing within the PACE.

There is an impression that PACE is turning into an organization that is governed by various circles for the purpose of political manipulation. Recently, we have been witnessing a growing increase in anti-Azerbaijani tendencies within this organization. It is no secret that PACE is gradually turning into a regional organization where double standards are flourishing. Unfortunately, we have been observing for over past 20 years that it has been acting as a political ally of certain forces acting against Azerbaijan, the MP said.

This organizations antipathy towards Azerbaijan is obvious and has already acquired the form of a campaign. Apparently, Azerbaijan's achievements at the international level and the fact that reputable international organizations recognize and perceive our country as a reliable partner cause sharp irritation within PACE. Hence, ungrounded statements are voiced from time to time by this organization towards our country. For example, PACE's biased position in connection with the extraordinary parliamentary elections held in Azerbaijan once again clearly demonstrated the true goals of this organization," the MP stated.

Another MP Arzu Nagiyev emphasized that PACEs behavior is yet another manifestation of international organizations double standards against Azerbaijan.

"The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has not made any statement in connection with the illegal "elections" [in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh]. Their statements, in fact, have no meaning. The anti-Azerbaijani, pro-Armenian forces existing in the Council of Europe demonstrate a hostile stance towards Azerbaijan," Nagiyev said.

The MP added that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will remain Azerbaijans foreign and domestic policy priority in 2020.

Azerbaijan and the country's leadership have been consistently pursuing an independent policy which is primarily focused on the interests of the state and people. Due to this, Azerbaijan has been showing unprecedented pace of development in the global scale, becoming one of the most prosperous countries in the post-Soviet space.

Certain forces in the West are not happy with Azerbaijans independent, principled policies - they need weak Azerbaijan that only follows instructions.

Forces seeking to exert pressure on Azerbaijan, must finally understand this: Azerbaijan has always been the country pursuing an independent policy and will remain so. This is the country whose highest goal is to protect and restore its territorial integrity, as well as to constantly develop for the benefit of its citizens.

Azerbaijan will never turn away from this path. Policies pursued by President Ilham Aliyev, which are based on the wide support of the Azerbaijani people are the guarantor of this path.

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By Trend

Export of steel from Turkey to China soared by 74.9 percent from January through May 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, having stood at over $6.1 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend.

In May 2020, steel exports from Turkey to China rose by 50.1 percent compared to May 2019, and exceeded $1.2 million.

Export of steel from Turkey to world markets dropped by 22.9 percent in the first five months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019 and amounted to $4.8 billion

According to the ministry, the overall export of steel from Turkey made up 7.9 percent of the country's total export over the reporting period.

"In May 2020, Turkey exported the steel in the amount of $817.7 million abroad, which is 39.7 percent less compared to the same month of 2019," the ministry noted.

Turkeys steel export in May this year amounted to 8.2 percent of the country's total export.

During the last 12 months (from May 2019 through May 2020), Turkey exported the steel in the amount of over $12.3 billion.

In April 2020, Turkey exported the steel in the amount of $903.1 million to the world markets, which is 26.9 percent less compared to the same month of 2019.

From April 2019 through April 2020, Turkey exported the steel in the amount of $12.9 billion.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- As COVID-19 cases continue to climb, schools are making plans for the new year and in many cases offering multiple options to parents who are still finding it tough to decide what exactly to do.

LIST: Phoenix-area school districts alter plans as COVID-19 cases decrease School districts in the Phoenix-area are starting to alter in-person learning plans as COVID-19 cases grow in Maricopa County.

Im just so scared of making the wrong decision, but I think that there is no right decision, said Stacia Ehlen, a mother of three who has spent much of the summer grappling with what is best for their health and education. We dont know if they are going to go to school and get sick, we dont know if they are going to learn well if they are home online.

COVID-19 nearly five times more prevalent than influenza in Arizona Coronavirus is also responsible for more than 10 times as many deaths as last season's flu.

Tuesday, Gilbert Public Schools, like many valley districts, announced that it is kicking off the new year online and once students can return to campus, parents can choose one of three options, either online, on campus or a flex model. But Ehlen still has concerns.

I still have a bazillion questions as Im sure other parents do and Im sure the district does because nobody knows all of the answers, said Ehlen. I dont think kindergarten or starting kindergarten online is a good option at all.

Ehlen's 5-year-old and 3-year-old will attend a private school with smaller class sizes. While her 8-year-old will return to Gilbert Public Schools as soon as its allowed.

Gilbert Public Schools outlines preventative measures and COVID-19 protocols for managing positive cases/exposure on their website.

MORE STORIES ABOUT REOPENING SCHOOLS IN THE FALL
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- On the same day a judge denied Mountainside Fitness CEOs request to throw out Gov. Doug Ducey's executive order to close gyms, there is evidence that gyms are remaining open in Arizona.

Court denies Mountainside Fitness request to throw out Ducey's executive order A judge has denied a request by the CEO Mountainside Fitness to throw out Gov. Ducey's executive order to close gyms.

Judge Timothy Thomason ruled Tuesday morning that Ducey's executive was not irrational. Mountainside Fitness shut down at 2 p.m. on Tuesday to comply with the courts decision, pending litigation.

On Tuesday afternoon, Orangetheory Fitness sent an email to members and posted on social media that they would close. The gym remained open since Gov. Duceys executive order on June 29. Arizonas Family has confirmed Scottsdale and Tempe police made contact at Orange Theory locations in the past week to inform them of the executive order, but no citations were issued.

As of Tuesday night, Club Pilates and YogaSix are still operating in the Phoenix-area. Both franchises have classes readily available to book online.

State liquor board suspends licenses at two Life Time Biltmore restaurants Investigators with the agency suspended the liquor licenses of the Life Cafe & Lounge and the Rooftop Bistro.

Club Pilates has locations in Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Mesa, Queen Creek, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Goodyear and Peoria. The majority of their locations are open and some classes even are waitlisted because they are full.

The Arcadia, Gainey Ranch and Scottsdale Shea Club Pilates have closed and are planning to reopen at a later date.

Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Tempe police departments said no citations have been made in their jurisdictions. Phoenix police, where most of the Club Pilates studios are located, did not respond to Arizonas Family request for comment on the studios still operating in their jurisdiction.

YogaSix has two locations in Scottsdale, both with classes available to book right now. Scottsdale police have visited these locations, but the contacts have been educational only.

A spokesperson for Gov. Duceys office released the following statement about Club Pilates and YogaSix remaining open, The governor's executive order will continue to be enforced. Businesses need to comply with the public health orders and we ask all individuals continue to make smart decisions, wear a mask, and stay home as much as possible.

Arizonas Family has reached out to Club Pilates and YogaSix and asked them why they are still open. They have not yet responded.
The office of the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner has released its report on the death of Carsyn Leigh Davis, the 17-year-old honors student at Cypress Lake High School who died in Miami on June 23 from COVID-19 complications.

Davis had a complex medical history, including bronchial asthma, the report states.

According to the reports findings:

On June 13, three days after attending a church function for children, Davis developed a frontal headache, sinus pressure and a mild cough. The family thought she had a sinus infection and she was treated with azithromycin by her parents. Her mother is a nurse and her stepfather is a physicians assistant, according to the report.

On June 19, Davis mother supplied her with the teens grandfathers home oxygen and gave her a dose of hydroxychloroquine after she looked gray while sleeping. Her parents took her to Lee Healths Gulf Coast Medical Center and Davis was transferred to the pediatric critical care unit at the Golisano Childrens Hospital of Southwest Florida. She was found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2  the virus that causes COVID-19  on the same day she was admitted. Her parents declined intubation, the process of putting her on a ventilator. Davis received convalescent plasma therapy on June 20 and 21.

Messages left with Lee Health spokespersons were not immediately returned.

On June 22, with her condition not improving, Davis was intubated. Her cardiorespiratory status continued to decline with her oxygen levels remaining low. Her mother requested heroic efforts despite knowing she had a low level of meaningful survival, the report states. Davis was transferred from the Golisano Hospital to the Nicklaus Childrens Hospital in Miami for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a type of life support measure. Other life support measures were taken but failed.

Her cause of death is listed as complications of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia.

Contrary to some media reports, there is no active criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into the death of Davis. The FDLE keeps track of COVID-19 deaths with records from the medical examiners report, according to spokesperson Jessica Cary.
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- Phoenix police announced on Tuesday afternoon that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will conduct an independent civil rights review after a deadly officer-involved shooting on July 4 involving 28-year-old James Porter Garcia.

Phoenix police will conduct an internal investigation of the shooting and the homicide unit will conduct a criminal investigation.

Chief Jeri Williams released the following statement on the FBIs involvement, While I'm confident in the investigative work done by my team, I recognize the value of an unbiased outside agency in strengthening the public trust into an investigation.

Police only release moments after deadly officer-involved shooting in Phoenix Police have released body worn camera video that shows the apparent moments after a man was shot and killed in Phoenix.

On Monday, police released body-worn camera video that shows the apparent moments after Garcia was shot and killed in Phoenix. The department did not release any footage that showed what led to the shooting.

The shooting happened while officers were following up on an assault investigation at a home near 59th Avenue and Indian School Road. When police arrived, they found Garcia inside a car in the driveway of the home. Police say the man armed himself with a handgun and didn't listen to their commands. That's when shots were fired.

The video released on Monday does not show the actual shooting, Phoenix police have that footage but have not released that to the public. The video shows officers mentioning a gun is in Garcia's vehicle and clearing the scene.

Chief Williams also announced on Tuesday an effort to release available body-worn video within a 10 to 14-day window of a critical incident. Currently, the department policy is to release video within 45 days of an incident.
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- The Maricopa County Attorney's Office said Wednesday morning that it will review the Dion Johnson case to determine whether charges need to be filed.

Dion Johnson, 28, was shot and killed by an Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper during a traffic stop on Loop 101 at Tatum Boulevard on Memorial Day. Phoenix police investigated the shooting and have submitted the case for review by MCAO.

DPS trooper shoots and kills man on Loop 101 in north Phoenix A man is dead after a shooting involving the Arizona Department of Public Safety on Memorial Day morning.

"I can confirm that we received the Johnson case late yesterday. There is no timeline for a charging decision, but the county attorney has asked staff to prioritize a review of this case. A review of the case is currently underway," said Jennifer Liewer, the communications director for MCAO.

Johnson's family has been asking for answers from investigators. Protesters have also demanded information about his death.

Video from the Arizona Department of Transportation freeway camera does not show the actual shooting but does show Dion behind his car. Two DPS troopers are with him. One of the troopers appears to be next to Dion while another trooper is standing over him.

Video shows apparent moments after Dion Johnson was shot by DPS in Phoenix New video shows the moments after 28-year-old Dion Johnson was shot and killed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Arizona's Family started recording the live camera feed after hearing about a shooting on the freeway. The camera shown in the video is controlled by ADOT and is not operated by Arizona's Family.

Dion's mother, Erma Johnson, was shaken by what she saw in the clip. "He's moving and the officer takes his boot and kicks him back down. That's devastating."

The Johnson family viewed the video with their attorney, Jocquese Blackwell. He claims Dion was shot in the stomach and could have survived if he had received immediate care.

Erma Johnson called on the feds to look into the matter.

"This hurts worse and worse," she said. "I can't eat, I can't sleep, and I have nightmares," she said on June 5.

The FBI confirmed last month that they would review the case.

FBI will review DPS shooting death of Dion Johnson "Experienced prosecutors and agents will be assigned to review the matter for potential federal civil rights violations."

The FBI said the United States Attorney's Office in Arizona, the United States Department of Justice and the FBI were aware of the death and will "review all available evidence to determine what federal response is warranted."

"Experienced prosecutors and agents will be assigned to review the matter for potential federal civil rights violations," said Jill McCabe with the FBI Phoenix Field Office.

Other community members wrote to the Department of Justice, asking them to step in. DPS said the Phoenix Police Department is in charge of the investigation, but critics have wondered if a police department is the right agency to investigate an officer-involved shooting.

After reviewing the case, MCAO will determine if charges will be filed against the troopers involved.
A Texas woman is counting her blessings after contracting COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. (KTRK, Eleana Topp, CDC via CNN Wire)
TEMPE, Ariz. (Jaime's Local Love) -- A little veggie oasis in the Arizona desert, 24 Carrots serves botanically inspired cuisine that showcases global flavors and local harvests.

Owner Sasha Raj worked at a juice bar while studying for her biochemistry degree at Arizona State University. While there, she learned about the great trust customers must have in a restaurant. While she never expected to become a restauranteur, she felt the need to create a fully transparent vegan restaurant. 24 Carrots was born, creating handmade pastries, nutritive juices and smoothies, local coffee and tea bar and scratch-made delicious -- and nutritious -- dishes.

The award-winning restaurant has served the Valley community for 12 years and counting! In the pandemic, 24 Carrots went to an online model and is thriving.

 Tempe restaurant struggles to survive, hopes for federal help

24 Carrots Natural Cafe

ADDRESS: 1701 E. Guadalupe Road, Tempe

PHONE: 480-753-4411

 www.24carrotscafe.com

SOCIAL MEDIA: www.instagram.com/24carrots | www.facebook.com/24Carrots | www.twitter.com/24Carrotsjuice
CDMO addressing growing customer demand

Investment in additional clinical filling options in Europe

Planned go live in 2021

RAVENSBURG, Germany and RANKWEIL, Austria, July 08, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- With biopharmaceutical development heavily focused on specialized therapeutics, drug sponsors are increasingly turning to expert outsourcing partners to meet growing demand for complex fill and finish solutions. Vetter, a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) is further investing in additional capacity to meet that growing global demand with the purchase of a clinical manufacturing site located in Austria.

As the healthcare environment continues to evolve, the global shift towards specialized medications, complex molecules, and smaller batch sizes has rapidly expanded the role of the manufacturing partner. An ever-growing number of pharmaceutical and biotech companies are seeking manufacturing partners who provide comprehensive clinical manufacturing resources as well as customized and product specific support with their development strategy, says Senator h.c. Udo J. Vetter, Chairman of the Advisory Board. The new site expands our European footprint and can be seen as counterpart to our existing US clinical manufacturing site near Chicago.

The production site was purchased along with its existing inventory including a vial filling line and a freeze dryer for liquid and lyophilized products as well as material preparation and laboratory equipment. Thomas Otto, Managing Director, Vetter explains: With the additional site we will further support our capability for early clinical development in Phase I and Phase II. Over the coming months the facility will be evaluated and modified to the extensive Vetter quality and process standards in aseptic fill and finish for injection systems. Only an hours drive from Vetters headquarters in Ravensburg, Germany, the new site is well-positioned for a successful integration into our existing clinical operations.

Vetter Development Service Rankweil (VDS-R) plans call for the start of operations in the second half of 2021.

Caption: With the new Vetter Development Service Rankweil site in Austria, Vetter expands its European footprint.

For high resolution please click the image.

Caption: Senator h.c. Udo J. Vetter, Chairman of the Advisory Board and member of the owner-family (middle) and Vetter Managing Directors Peter Soelkner (left) and Thomas Otto (right) give the go ahead for the new production site.

Find the Vetter press kit and more background information here.

About Vetter

Headquartered in Ravensburg, Germany, Vetter is a global leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with production facilities in Germany and the United States. Currently employing 5,000 individuals worldwide, the company has long-term experience in supporting biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers both large and small. Vetter services range from early stage development support including clinical manufacturing, to commercial supply and numerous packaging solutions for vials, syringes and cartridges. As a leading solution provider, Vetter appreciates its responsibility to support the needs of its customers by developing devices that contribute to increased patient safety, convenience, and enhanced compliance. Great importance is also given to social responsibility including environmental protection and sustainability. Learn more about Vetter at www.vetter-pharma.com.

Contact

Vetter Pharma International GmbH

Markus Kirchner

Corporate Spokesperson / Media Relations

Eywiesenstrasse 5

88212 Ravensburg

Germany

+49 (0)751-3700-3729

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Keywords: Outsourced Services; Austria; Commerce; Biological Products; Pharmaceutical Services; Biotechnology; Drug Packaging; Product Packaging

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Police on Monday confirmed a horrific end to the search for Patricia Alatorre, a Bakersfield girl who turned 13 less than two months ago, was 
As Armando Cruz, the suspected killer of 13-year-old Patricia Alatorre, pleaded not guilty to all 12 felony charges against him in Kern County
Bluefield, WV (24701)

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Cloudy with rain ending for the afternoon. Cooler. High 66F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Partly cloudy skies. Low near 45F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Democratic Party Should Be the Real Target of Protestors and Rioters

We have all seen the consistent destruction and looting that has been occurring in major cities in the name of Social Justice and fighting Racism. In truth the real targets should not be Republicans, conservatives and innocent Bystanders. The Real target should be the Democratic Party and their history of Racism. If our Young Rioters were properly instructed on the real facts of US History they would understand the truth of which party has a history of racism.



Let us look at the facts. The Republican Party was started in 1854 and did not hold its 1st National Convention until 1856. It was formed to replace the Whig Party and was made up of anti - Slavery members who wanted to wipe out slavery. They included Free Democrats, Former Whig Party members, Abolitionists, Liberty Party Members and Freed Blacks. The Party included many Blacks noted in their fight against slavery. They include Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Sujourner Truth.



The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Republican President Abraham Lincoln and took effect affect January 1st 1863. It freed all slaves in states fighting the Union and helped guarantee Anti- slavery Nations like Britain and France did not aid the South. In addition it became the model for the 13th Amendment that abolished Slavery. Another effect allowed the Department of the Army to organize Afro American fighting forces. By the end of the war they numbered 200,000. Notice it was Republicans not the Democrats that led the day.



In addition it was Republicans not the Democrats that passed the 13th Amendment in 1865. This amendment abolished Slavery in all the United States. Many if not all of those who opposed these actions joined and became leaders of the Democratic Party. In fact the Southern Democrats became the leaders and implementers of the "Jim Crow" laws. These laws were designed to restrict the Freedoms of the newly freed slaves and in fact found ways to enslave them again at least temporarily. In addition the Democrats in the South Formed the KKK designed to terrorize and kill the freed former slaves who tried to exercise their new rights as citizens.



The 14th Amendment was passed by Republicans to fight the Democrats Black Codes or Jim Crow laws. As many Democrats in the North did not want to extend voting rights to the Freed Slaves the15th Amendment was passed in 1865. It guaranteed freed slaves the right to vote anywhere in the US. Again it was passed by Republicans.



Moving into more modern times, it was the Democrats, led by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who gathered up all Japanese citizens in the US and put them into camps for the rest of World War II. Again if it was not for massive Republican support The Civil Rights act of the 1964 would not have passed as many Democrats opposed it. It was a Republican President, Richard Nixon who had passed the 1st Affirmative Action plan in 1969.



The Press is not fully reporting the removal of 4 portraits of former speakers of the House of Representatives by current Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Three of the 4 were members of the Democratic Party and the 4th a former member of the Whig party. NONE were Republican.



Senator Robert Byrd, a noted Democratic Senator from West Virginia was a KKK member and in fact in his twenties and thirties had the title "Kleagle" after recruiting approximately 150 members to the West Virginia Klan. Admittedly he recanted these positions in his later years but our current protesters and rioters do not ever forgive anyone else of past transgressions.



Interesting that this past week, the Democrats in the US Senate refused to support a resolution that condemns the violence and looting going on in our cities. It sounds like they want it to continue not for the betterment of a particular group but to use it politically against President Trump.



So I repeat, maybe our Protesters, looters and rioters need to review their history and start focusing their upsetment on the Democratic Party. Then as they attack and destroy Statues and monuments to Democrats such as FDR, Byrd etc., and they demonstrate in front of Democratic Party offices, we will suddenly see an urgency by the Democratic Party to stop the lawlessness.


It is a scandal when students graduate from a liberal arts program-or any educational program at any level-with no understanding (or, worse yet, grotesque misunderstandings) of the arguments advanced by serious scholars and thinkers who dissent from campus orthodoxies on [important] issues.

Part of the problem, of course, is that once groupthink has taken hold, those who are caught up in it don't recognize the problem. When was the last time you met someone who said, "Yeah, you know what? My problem is that I'm caught up in groupthink. I tend to just think what everyone else around me thinks."

merica's system of education has failed in one of its most important goals: forming future generations of American citizens.This is particularly true in higher education, where students are encouraged to become "global citizens" instead of Americans. At many of our institutions of higher learning, character education has been replaced by moral relativism at the same time that rigorous academic standards have given way to a mentality of "college for all."We are seeing the results of our education deficit now, as rioters tear down statues that commemorate not only the former Confederacy, but America's founding fathers, abolitionists, and former presidents.In a new book from Templeton Press, 20 conservative thinkers articulate their vision for halting this trend. How to Educate an American : The Conservative Vision for Tomorrow's Schools focuses mostly on K-12 education. The entire book, edited by Michael J. Petrilli and Chester E. Finn, Jr., is a must-read for education reformers  even those who work most closely with colleges and universities.Its four sections address "History, Civics, and Citizenship;" "Character, Purpose, and Striving;" "Schools, Family, and Society;" and "Renewing the Conservative Education Agenda." According to the publisher, the book is targeted at anyone who wants to teach future generations toA chapter by Robert P. George, entitledfocuses on higher education's role in creating our current predicament. George is the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. His work promoting civil discourse has given him insight into the particular problems on college campuses.George begins by acknowledging that the politicization of the academy is a "grave threat" to universities'Politicization, he says, manifests itself in disinvitations and shout-downs of campus speakers, the failure of schools to host heterodox speakers at all, and the absence of opportunities for students to engage withGeorge laments:The cure for campus illiberalism is the return toThese virtues must be taught, says George, and it is the university's responsibility to do so.Ensuring that there is viewpoint diversity on campus is a practical approach to ensuring that students learn at least some of the aforementioned virtues. George offers excellent examples from his own experience of ways that universities can introduce dialogueThe positive models George cites include the classes he co-teaches with his friend and intellectual adversary, Cornel West, and the James Madison Program at Princeton.But how can viewpoint diversity and open debate be introduced at a university where groupthink and illiberalism are already the norm? Because, as two other chapters in the book hint, groupthink is already the reality on many campuses. ("Irradiating the Past" by Jonah Goldberg and "History: Critical and Patriotic" by Eliot A. Cohen describe the damage that has been done by groupthink  and other ills  within the academic historical community.)George admits that "how" is a difficult question to answer:This is the weakest part of George's otherwise excellent contribution to How to Educate an American. He relies on impassioned pleas to his "friends in academia who are on the progressive side of the political divide" to speak up against viewpoint discrimination. He also implores "teachers, administrators, school board members, [and] parents" to teach children, especially high school students, that people of goodwill can and do disagree on many issues so that college students are ready to encounter viewpoint diversity when they arrive. George ends his chapter with a recommendation that K-12 schools return to an old model: teach the facts. Give students a fund of basic knowledge to inoculate them against bias and groupthink in higher education.These solutions are laudable-and would almost certainly work if anyone actually put them into practice. But many of our public and private institutions across the country have demonstrated that they are either unwilling or unable to do so. Private philanthropy (which is addressed in chapter five by Adam Meyerson and Adam Kissel) has seen some success, but can only do so much. Policy change is needed.Bill Bennett's capstone chapter, "Rebuilding a Conservative Consensus," recognizes this essential challenge.he writes.Together, the book's authors and editors articulate the great need for reform at all levels of American education and present a compelling vision of what education might look like if everyone involved-from policymakers to parents-finds the political will to do it.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson has escalated his criticism of Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., lambasting the double-amputee combat veteran as a "coward," "fraud" and "moron" on his second night of attacks against her. While Carlson is no stranger to criticism, the reaction to his latest remarks has been particularly swift.

On the Monday night edition of his prime time show, Carlson called Duckworth "a deeply silly and unimpressive person" who "[hates] America," taking issue with comments she made on CNN about having a "national dialogue" regarding monuments of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson amid the larger reckoning on race after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

In response, Duckworth responded on Twitter that Carlson should "walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America." (In 2004, Duckworth lost both her legs when a Blackhawk helicopter she was co-piloting was shot down in Iraq.)

But, on Tuesday night, Carlson intensified his criticism of the senator. "What a coward," he said. "Tammy Duckworth is also a fraud."

Two Democratic senators who have appeared recently as guests on Fox News criticized Carlson's comments in statements to The Washington Post on Wednesday afternoon.

"Tucker Carlson's comments were reprehensible, and I have no interest in appearing on his hateful, pro-Trump propaganda show," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. "His baseless attacks on decorated war veteran Tammy Duckworth are just another attempt to distract Americans from the facts and the truth of Donald Trump's failed leadership."

"Senator Duckworth has made incredible sacrifices serving our country and for Tucker Carlson, who is not a veteran, to suggest she holds America in anything other than the highest regard is ludicrous," said Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. "I will continue appearing on Fox News with hosts that engage in fair and robust debates about the issues facing our country. I will not surrender to the political division people like Tucker Carlson are trying to sow."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized Carlson and President Donald Trump, saying in a statement that "President Trump and Tucker Carlson are clearly intimidated by strong female leaders like my friend Sen. Duckworth. She has more honor and love for our country in her pinky finger than they'll ever have."

In a statement to The Washington Post on Tuesday night after Carlson's show, a Democratic National Committee spokesperson said: "Tammy Duckworth is a Purple Heart recipient and a hero who served her country in Iraq and continues to serve her country now. Tucker Carlson serves as nothing more than an accomplice to Donald Trump, content to sit behind the safety of a TV screen and attack veterans." (Fox News Channel has not responded to a request for comment about Carlson's latest remarks.)

A spokesperson for Joe Biden's presidential campaign said "Tucker Carlson and his colleagues who traffic in hate speech masquerading as journalism are accomplices to Donald Trump's perverse mission to use division and bitterness to tear this country apart."

On Tuesday night, Carlson told viewers that his show had invited Duckworth to appear as a guest but that her spokesperson said she wouldn't consider appearing until he issues "a public apology" for his Monday night comments.

A person with knowledge of the exchange, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said Duckworth's staff asked whether Carlson would apologize for his initial comments about her patriotism but did not say she wouldn't consider appearing on the show until he apologized.

Ralph Peters, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who served as a strategic analyst for Fox News until he quit in March 2018, criticized his former colleague in an email. "Tammy Duckworth paid her dues with her blood," he wrote. "Tucker just pays his platinum credit card bills."

In July 2019, Carlson faced criticism for comments he made about Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. But, amid escalating calls for Fox News management to take him off the air, the host said he wasn't going anywhere. "We want to reassure you that's not going to happen," he told viewers. "Why? Because we work at Fox News, and they've got our back, and we're thankful for that."

Jon Soltz, an Iraq War veteran who serves as chairman of the liberal veterans advocacy organization Vote Vets, directed his ire over Carlson's comments about Duckworth toward the leadership of Fox News.

"The executives at Fox have a real decision to make," Soltz said. "Do they want their resources to be used to slander legitimate war heroes and patriots? Do they have any lines they will draw, or is it now company policy that attacking the patriotism of double-amputee Purple Heart recipients is OK?"

Duckworth has appeared in the past for interviews on Fox News, and sat for a panel discussion at the 2019 Politico Women Rule summit that was moderated by Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner. "It is never enough, but having grown up the daughter of a colonel, thank you," Faulkner told Duckworth.

In November 2018, Duckworth defended Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, a fellow wounded veteran, after he was the butt of a joke on NBC's Saturday Night Live. "This is absolutely appalling," she wrote on Twitter. "No one should ever mock a Veteran for the wounds they received while defending our great nation, regardless of political party or what you think of their politics."

The backlash against Carlson's comments comes at a time of record ratings for him, even as his show has lost a few large advertisers. In the second quarter of 2020, Carlson's show attracted an average of 4.3 million viewers per night, according to Nielsen Media Research data, a cable news record.
Entrepreneurs are the catalysts for bringing economic development for their respective nation of origin.

While taking a risk for themselves, they choose not to be merely a job seeker after completing their academic learning which is considered a safer option; an entrepreneur chooses to be a job creator by making his or her smart & innovative idea into a reality and hence creating job opportunities for many others.

Chandigarh University has taken an initiative to inculcate entrepreneurship skills amongst its students so that a pool of next-generation Indian entrepreneurs can make India a technological and economic powerhouse.

"Chandigarh University has set-up a Technology Business Incubator (CU-TBI) at its campus to foster the spirit & skills of entrepreneurship amongst its students and we have witnessed outstanding results in the last three years," said Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor, Chandigarh University.

CU-TBI has been successful in establishing 103 start-ups by the university students of different departments ever since its inception in the year 2016.

"We are working towards the realization of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of 'Make in India' and 'Start-up India, 'Stand-up India' by preparing a pool of next generation of young entrepreneurs who through their innovative business ideas have the ability make Self-Reliant India," added Satnam Singh Sandhu.

Chandigarh University has reserved an annual fund of Rs 1.5 crores to finance new start-ups and the university organizes National Level Innovation Day Competition on the birth anniversary of former President and Scientists Dr APJ Abdul Kalam which encourages the Indian Youth participate with new business ideas and proposal each year.

"The highest number of 30 start-ups has been established by our students has been in the field of Automobile Engineering which is followed by 20 start-ups in the field of Computer Science Engineering," said Dr RS Bawa, Pro-Chancellor, Chandigarh University while giving details about the start-ups at CU-TBI.

The business ideas of the students are examined by an expert committee comprising of successful Indian Entrepreneurs, Scientists of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, Angel Investors and members of PSU Banks like SIDBI, IDBI, and others who evaluate the projects on the basis of various parameters.

"Young Entrepreneurs at CU-TBI are given every possible support in the form of training, assistance to get financial support from banks & other government agencies, registration of their companies, providing infrastructure and other resource support to the students so that they are able to sustain during the initial years of the establishment of their respective ventures," said Dr. Bawa.

"Seeing the response of the students, we are sure that Chandigarh Technology Business Incubator will be able to establish 200 plus start-ups in the next two years," added Dr Bawa.

-ANI

Also Read: PM Modi made India proud as China agreed to disengage at LAC: BJP
After at least three Jefferson County departments this week had to send employees to be tested for coronavirus, officials are developing a protocol to determine who should be tested when and how a worker can be cleared to come back to work.

The issue was first raised at Commissioners Court on Tuesday by County Clerk Carolyn Guidry, who had seven employees out of the office last week as they waited for COVID-19 test results. One remained at home Tuesday.

Determining when and how her employees can come back to work has raised questions, such as how many days after potential coronavirus exposure should an employee be tested. She also asked if employees should be required to get a negative test result before being allowed to come back to work.

Related: Evidence growing that virus here is more contagious

County Tax Assessor-Collector/Voter Registrar Allison Getz, who had 20 office employees out on Monday, asked similar questions.

The concern my employees have is have we (tested) too soon and are they going to need to get tested again, she asked the commissioners. I think we have to have a policy, a plan as to when somebody says that theyre getting sick and getting tested, when we should be testing our people.

County Judge Jeff Branick added that the District Clerks Office also had to close Tuesday for cleaning after an individual tested positive for the virus.

More Information Coronavirus testing sites When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday Where: Bob Bowers Civic Center, 3401 Cultural Center Drive, Port Arthur When: 9 a.m. to 4p.m. Sunday Where: Pleasant Green Baptist Church, 3420 St. James, Beaumont When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday Where: Northridge Manor, 4155 Maida, Beaumont When: 9 a.m. to 4p.m. July 19 Where: John Davis Community Center, 3580 E. Lucas, Beaumont When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 20 Where: Forest Park United Methodist Church, 255 S. Major Drive, Beaumont When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 20 Where: Stonehurst Apartments, 1615 E. Lucas, Beaumont When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 21 Where: Alice Keith Community Center, 4050 Reed, Beaumont When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 22 Where: Sterling Pruitt Community Center, 2930 Gulf, Beaumont When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 23 Where: Rogers Park Community Center, 1455 Dowlen Road, Beaumont When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 24 Where: Central Park Community Center, intersection of Fourth Street and Fannin, Beaumont When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 27 Where: Pointe North, 3710 Magnolia, Beaumont At a glance Confirmed coronavirus cases in Jefferson County Beaumont1,298 Mark W. Stiles Prison Unit710 Port Arthur281 Larry Gist State Jail237 LeBlanc Prison Unit234 Nederland88 Groves59 Port Neches50 China14 Cheek11 Hamshire8 Nome6 Fannett9 Bevil Oaks3 Source: Beaumont and Port Arthur Public Health Departments and Texas Department of Criminal Justice See More Collapse

Branick and county staff members this week had already started creating a plan to test all county employees for coronavirus. That plan now is expected to address the concerns voiced Tuesday morning.

Related: Beaumont sets another single-day coronavirus record

Prior to the unprecedented local case growth that started in mid-June, Jefferson County had been allowing elected officials and department heads to decide the best way to handle the pandemic within their respective offices, Commissioner Everette Bo Alfred said during the meeting.

At the county, we dont have anything in place, he said. I think we might need to start looking at it.

The discussion came as COVID-19 further tightened its grip on the state, which for the first time surpassed 10,000 new coronavirus cases confirmed in a single day.

Tuesday also was the second day in a row that all 86 beds in the countys combined intensive-care units were full, according to data from the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council.

The percentage of coronavirus patients occupying those beds had fallen below 50% on Tuesday after reaching 57% on Monday.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

A call to the agency about any potential activation of surge capacity was not returned Tuesday. Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames said hospitals had not yet confirmed a need for extra space for patients.

Coronavirus cases across Jefferson County also continued to grow on Tuesday, with the Beaumont Public Health Department confirming 87 new cases of the virus.

Nine of those cases were spread across Hamshire, Fannett, Cheek and Bevil Oaks.

The Port Arthur Public Health Department reported 28 new cases confirmed within its namesake city. Twelve more were confirmed across Port Neches and Groves.

Related: COVID-19 spikes at Beaumont, Jasper prisons

Tuesdays cases brings Jefferson County to 1,827 COVID-19 cases confirmed since the pandemic began.

An additional 1,181 cases have been reported at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities in the county.

The quickly rising numbers were a main reason Alfred also urged the county to establish a procedure for testing employees. He said this is a way to take care of those workers and their families as the pandemic grows.

This stuff is real, Alfred said. Commissioner Sinegal is not here today because the two relatives he talked about last week, both of them passed this weekend. Its real yall. We need to follow the science.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
Lamar University has opened an investigation into a professor after she allegedly used her work email to send a message to a boot business stating that she would boycott them for sponsoring an upcoming GOP convention.

Lamar University has been made aware that a faculty member, using Lamar University property and email, has sent a message to boycott a company for sponsoring the Republican convention in Houston, university spokesperson Shelly Vitanza told The Enterprise. We are investigating this very serious matter and have no further comment as this time.

In the email from the professor to the business, which was forwarded to The Enterprise, the sociology professor says there is a growing movement in Houston who will be boycotting your company if you continue to sponsor the Republican convention in Houston, despite the crisis we are enduring re COVID-19, adding that they should expect thousands of letters and phone calls within the next few days.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday that he instructed the Houston First Corporation to cancel the Texas Republican Party's convention, which was slated to be held in Houston next week.

The owner of the North Texas business Fenoglio Boots responded by calling on social media followers to email the university, call and email the professor on her work email.

According to a post by the company, which was shared over 300 times as of Wednesday night, the LU staff member called the store in addition to sending an email.

I asked not to receive any similar calls in the future and she stated that it was her constitutional right to speak her opinion, the Facebook post said. To my friends and family, please back me up on this situation and give her some feedback regarding your thoughts on this accusation. Id like you all to exercise your constitutional right to express your opinions to her with a phone call. Perhaps in the middle of the night.

One email sent to university president Ken Evans calls for an apology from the staff member and the university, while another shared with The Enterprise asks for appropriate action to be taken.

According to LUs Appropriate Use Policy, which is agreed to by all students and faculty when they use official Lamar accounts, Lamar University is not responsible for the content of documents, exchanges or messages that reflect only the personal ideas, comments and opinions of an individual.

That policy is up for review later this month.

The Texas Medical Association, which had originally purchased $5,000 in advertising, changed course and sent a letter last week urging the party to cancel the convention as cases of the coronavirus continue to surge in the city.

This is just not the time to bring thousands of the party faithful from around the state to an indoor meeting in a county that, as I write, reports more than 18,000 active COVID-19 cases, TMA President Diana Fite said in the letter to party leadership. As an emergency physician in Houston treating patients with COVID-19, I speak from firsthand experience: It would be best for the health of your conventiongoers and the residents of Houston for the RPT not to hold its biennial convention there as planned.

Texas has seen a consistent surge in cases in recent weeks, with more than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases being reported on Tuesday, marking the highest single-day increase since the pandemic began, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

That move prompted local officials to raise the threat level for the city, and ask residents to stay home.

Related: Harris County raises COVID-19 threat to most critical level, residents encouraged to stay home

The professor did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

Chron.com contributed to this story.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

twitter.com/isaacdwindes
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is considering a bid for the presidency in 2024, embarking on a virtual book tour this month that will continue to elevate his national profile in Republican circles.

Hogan, now in his second term, emerged during the novel coronavirus pandemic as a leading Republican voice for an aggressive response to the virus. He delayed publication his previously drafted memoir, "Still Standing," by nearly two months to add a chapter about the health emergency.

David Weinman, who directs one of the governor's political action committees, said Hogan is "fully focused on being governor right now."

While it is "way too early to discuss a White House bid," Weinman said, Hogan "has not ruled it out, and is not actively considering running for U.S. Senate in 2022."

Hogan is the second Republican in deep-blue Maryland to win a second term in the governor's mansion. His consistently high approval ratings have sparked widespread speculation about his political future.

A 2019 Washington Post-University of Maryland poll showed residents backing Hogan over an established Democrat for the U.S. Senate when his term expires, though Hogan has said he has little interest in Congress.

The governor toyed with a primary challenge to President Donald Trump last year, after being courted by the "never Trump" wing of the GOP. He ultimately declined to run.

His memoir is co-written with political author and commentator Ellis Henican and set to be released by BenBella Books on July 28. Hogan depicts himself as an "unlikely" leader who steered through several crises and values pragmatism over party allegiance, according to the book's promotional materials.

In addition to the pandemic, the book covers Hogan's upset election victory in 2014, his response to the unrest in Baltimore in 2015, his treatment for lymphoma that same year and his views on polarization in politics.

Hogan's a virtual book tour includes appearances with former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, former governors Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Jeb Bush of Florida, as well as Hogan's friend and political mentor Chris Christie, a former governor of New Jersey.
President Donald Trump's relentless attacks on the security of mail voting are driving suspicion among GOP voters toward absentee ballots - a dynamic alarming Republican strategists, who say it could undercut their own candidates, including Trump himself.

In several primaries this spring, Democratic voters have embraced mail ballots in far larger numbers than Republicans during a campaign season defined by the coronavirus pandemic. And when they urge their supporters to vote by mail, GOP campaigns around the country, are hearing from more and more Republican voters who say they do not trust absentee ballots, according to multiple strategists. In one particularly vivid example, a group of Michigan voters held a public burning of their absentee ballot applications last month.

The growing Republican antagonism toward voting by mail comes even as the Trump campaign is launching a major absentee-ballot program in every competitive state, according to multiple campaign advisers - a delicate balancing act, considering what one strategist described as the president's "imprecision" on the subject.

"It's very concerning for Republicans," said a top party operative who, like several others interviewed, spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid drawing Trump's ire. "I guarantee our Republican Senate candidates are having it drilled into them that they cannot accept this. They have to have sophisticated mail programs. If we don't adapt, we won't win."

The president, however, has been arguing the opposite. Nearly daily in recent weeks, and usually on Twitter, Trump has attacked mail balloting, leveling many unsubstantiated allegations. He has claimed without evidence that it will lead to widespread fraud and that foreign governments will try to dump millions of forged ballots into U.S. elections. He has accused Democrats of using the pandemic to expand mail balloting for political gain.

"Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history - unless this stupidity is ended," the president tweeted late last month. "We voted during World War One & World War Two with no problem, but now they are using Covid in order to cheat by using Mail-Ins!"

Veteran Republican campaign operatives, who note that the party has long had strong absentee-ballot programs in states including Arizona and Florida, have cringed at such comments.

"It does reduce the likelihood of Republicans embracing this process," said a senior GOP strategist. "Especially for older, more rural voters, that could be important for Republicans getting out the vote in 2020. I don't want 'I will not vote by mail' to become a political statement. But it may be too late."

Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said the president is critical of universal mail balloting, not the kind of absentee voting available only to a narrow group of qualified voters, such as older voters or those out of the country on Election Day.

"What the president is talking about is efforts on the Democrats' part to weaken the integrity of our elections," Murtaugh said.

However, in 29 states - including Florida, where Trump himself voted by mail this year - there is no such distinction. Any voter is allowed to cast a ballot by mail.

Justin Clark, a senior Trump campaign adviser, said "people don't give voters enough credit," saying they are able to separate what the president is saying about absentee ballots vs. mass voting by mail.

"The president is absolutely right when he says vote by mail is less secure," he said, adding about Trump's stance: "I haven't seen any data or evidence that it is dampening voter turnout."

The campaign has launched what another adviser, Chris Carr, called an "aggressive" effort to get voters to cast ballots by mail, including direct contacts with those who have voted absentee in the past and a successful test run in a recent California election.

The president's message "doesn't mean we don't push absentee in a state that allows it," Carr said.

The challenge for Republicans is particularly acute because the pandemic has dramatically changed the way voters are casting ballots - with mail-voting rates in some states rocketing from below 10 percent in previous elections to upward of 70 percent in this year's primaries. A Democratic advantage is emerging in those turnout numbers.

In Virginia, 118,000 voters applied for absentee ballots for Democratic primaries June 23, while only 59,000 voters did so for the Republican primary - even though Republicans voted in a statewide Senate primary contest, while Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., was unopposed for his own nomination.

Mail voting also soared in Kentucky's June 23 primary; only about 10 percent of Democratic votes were cast on Election Day, while 20 percent of GOP votes were.

Similarly, in Georgia's June 9 primaries, about 600,000 voters cast mail ballots in Democratic primaries, while about 524,000 did so in Republican contests, according to the Georgia secretary of state's office.

"It's a legitimate question whether or not the president's rhetoric changes voter behavior on the Republican side," said Josh Holmes, a longtime adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. "I think there's some evidence to suggest that it has."

Some of the surge in Georgia and Kentucky can be attributed to increased overall enthusiasm on the Democratic side; Democrats turned out in larger numbers than Republicans in Georgia, for instance, with 1.2 million votes compared with just under 1 million.

But the trend line concerns Republicans at a time when efforts to expand voting by mail for the fall are the subject of court battles around the country.

According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll in late May, a sharp partisan divide has emerged over whether to make it easier for people to cast an absentee ballot, with 87 percent of Democrats and 33 percent of Republicans saying it should be easier.

Democratic and Republican campaigns alike have long sought to "bank" votes before Election Day - amassing as many votes as early as possible, whether at early-voting sites or through absentee ballots. That way, a sudden turn of events - such as an economic collapse or a surge in coronavirus infections - is less likely to dampen turnout.

If Republican candidates lock down fewer votes than Democrats, they are more susceptible to the whims of Election Day - long lines, closed polling locations and the possibility that their voters decide to stay home.

And anti-mail-balloting sentiment has recently been cropping up in races around the country.

Last month, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, posted a simple message for her Facebook followers, exhorting them to vote in the next day's primary and offering a link with "information on how to return your absentee ballot," a process Iowa made easier to reduce the risks of coronavirus infection.

Not everyone welcomed the suggestion. "I will be voting, in person, for you," wrote one supporter. "Senator, I can't believe you'd support absentee ballots," wrote another. "We need in-person voting with ID or no voting at all."

Other Republicans officials are encountering similar pushback.

In Texas, Republican officials have offered a nuanced argument in opposing a Democratic push to allow anyone who fears coronavirus infection to vote absentee, saying the law limiting the practice to those out of the country, with disabilities or 65 and older should remain in place.

"The truth is, we don't have the infrastructure in place right now to accommodate universal mail-in ballots," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in a recent interview with a Fox station in San Antonio that he posted on Facebook.

But dozens of commenters on Cornyn's post declared that the entire system is risky. One supporter said "there is no way" to safely vote by mail. Another said "STOP THE MAIL IN BALLOTS." Yet another described mail balloting as the "easiest way to cheat that I know of with the exception of crooked election judges stuffing the ballot boxes."

Spokesmen for Cornyn and Ernst declined to comment on whether they were worried that such sentiments will discourage Republicans from casting ballots by mail.

In perhaps the most dramatic sign of Republican skepticism about mail balloting, the campaign of one Republican senator seeking re-election this year recently sent a text urging roughly 100,000 to apply for absentee ballots - and received hundreds of negative replies, according to a person familiar with the responses.

One text said, "No thank you. I'll vote in person." Another said, "Absentee ballot? Nah. I'll be there in person. No one should legitimize this mail in voting hogwash."

In Michigan, where Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson decided to mail a ballot request form to every voter in the state, many Republicans have reacted negatively.

"I don't want you sending a ballot application with my name on it to somebody else who could do something bad with it, and then I show up on Election Day, and I'm not allowed to vote," said Joel Freeman, the chairman of the Kent County Republican Party in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Such concerns prompted one local activist, Michael Farage, to organize a protest June 13 in Grand Rapids, at which he and about 100 others burned their ballot applications before television cameras.

"I believe there is shady business going on," Farage said in an interview.

In fact, Michigan's absentee-ballot application is available to download on the secretary of state's website. Both parties have distributed the forms to supporters. To falsify an application, someone would have to know a voter's full name, address and birth year and forge that voter's signature. A Benson spokesman said such attempts have been rare.

Top Trump campaign officials and their conservative allies are discussing how to ensure GOP voters are receptive to their efforts to get them to vote absentee in the fall.

Conservative activist and Trump ally Leonard Leo is among those who have argued that Republicans need a "voter education" effort to teach them how to cast their ballots by mail, according to people familiar with his views.

"You have to educate the base about how to do it, how to get their ballot, when they have to mail it in by," said one GOP operative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. "You've probably got to start that outreach earlier than you normally do."

Carr and Bill Stepien, another top Trump campaign aide, are among those on the task of building an absentee-ballot "chase" program, according to people familiar with their roles.

Such efforts typically involve a series of contacts with voters, including text messages and social media ads urging them to apply for a ballot, as well as follow-up texts, phone calls and in some cases door knocks to urge them to turn in their ballots.

In some states that publish daily lists of the names of voters who have requested absentee ballots - as well as lists of those who have turned their ballots in - the operations can be even more sophisticated, with campaigns able to winnow their list of targeted voters and narrowly focus their resources on the ones who haven't yet acted.

"We may not always agree on what is handed down from a governor. Even if we don't like it, we are going to work within the rules," Carr said. "We are going to work within the law and execute successfully."

"The messaging changes by state and the particular state's rules," he added. "But I'm confident our people are going to show up."

But even as the campaign works to expand absentee balloting among its supporters, the president's rhetoric attacking the practice is unlikely to subside, a former senior administration official noted.

Trump regularly rants about voter fraud and mail ballots in the Oval Office, this official said - and will continue to do so until Election Day because "one, he truly believes it, and two, it gives him an out if he loses."

- - -

The Washington Post's Scott Clement and Alice Crites contributed to this report.
The Congress party slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government over the issue of job losses in the country as well as for plight of NRIs abroad stating that it has "proved to be singularly and uniquely disastrous for the country".

"The Modi Government at the Centre has proved to be singularly and uniquely disastrous for the country. Consistently pulling the country down on all socio-economic indices ever since it came into power in 2014, the thoughtless and mindless decisions taken by it especially during the last three months or so - ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began have wreaked havoc,"

Congress leader KC Venugopal said in a statement.

"The failure of the government on domestic as well as diplomatic fronts has led to an unprecedented employment crisis for our youth and working citizens," he added.

The Congress leader claimed that the decision by the US to suspend H-1B Visa "will result in about 2 lakh Indians being sent back home".

"As if the nearly 13 crore domestic job losses were not enough - with many states reaching unemployment figures of 40 per cent, the decision by the United States of America to suspend H-1B Visa w.e.f. June 24 will result in about 2 lakh Indians being sent back home," he said.

"Additionally of all the 85,000 H-1B Visas, since more than 60,000 were being availed by Indians, it would mean as many lost job opportunities for Indians," he added.

Venugopal went on to say that a "bigger tragedy is staring at Indians in the Gulf with the Government of Kuwait bringing about legislation limiting the number of Indians to not exceed more than 15 per cent of the total expat-population."

"This in effect would mean that 8.5 lakhs Indians in Kuwait who were till now sending home hard currency and sustaining the economy of many states like Kerala will be forced to leave Kuwait and come back home where nothing but despair awaits them. In 2018, India received close to USD 4.8 billion (approx. Rs 35,939 crore at present rate) from Kuwait as remittances," he said.

"The failure of the Modi government in not creating job opportunities at home as also buckling down to even hitherto friendly states in securing India's interest is more telling than ever before," he added.

The Congress leader said that despite repeated requests and written suggestions on part of the Congress party and its leadership to resurrect the Indian economy and effectively fight the COVID-19 pandemic, this government in its "arrogance has failed to do anything."

"It is demanded that Modi government wakes up and takes necessary measures to arrest the continuous down slide by addressing issues at home and standing up to the threats being imposed on the Indian employees abroad," he added.

(ANI)

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi not a doctor, willing to give him a demo: AgVa rejects allegations of faulty ventilators
Northern Ireland's tourism sector has lost around 200m so far due to the Covid-19 crisis and will not return to pre-virus levels for several years, it has been warned.

John McGrillen, chief executive of Tourism NI, says he does not believe international tourism will truly return to these shores until spring next year.

He says the effective four-month shutdown of the industry here has left a 200m dent in the economy.

And Mr McGrillen says an ambitious target to double tourism spending to 2bn a year by 2030 is now out the window, and that regaining our pre-virus spending is a more realistic target to aim for over the next three to four years.

But speaking on the Ulster Business Podcast, he said that because around 75% of our sector relies on the rest of the UK and Ireland, we may not feel the long-term hit as strongly as other areas such as the Republic, which relies heavily on visitors from the US and Europe.

And he argues that as Northern Ireland still offers a good tourism product it will encourage people from here to holiday at home - injecting some much-needed spending into the tourism and wider hospitality sector.

"We have seen a freezing of the world's tourism industry and not just Northern Ireland," he said.

"All global connectivity has more or less just stopped. There is no likelihood about people coming in from overseas.

"In effect, the tourism industry in Northern Ireland has been closed since March.

"The only revenue flowing through many doors up until now being the looking after of essential workers. (Some) hotels had stayed open to allow that to happen.

"I would imagine we are looking at a loss in the region of 200m to the NI economy over that period of time."

Mr McGrillen said while the reopening of much of the local hospitality sector is a positive step, it may still take some time for people to begin returning to businesses here.

"It's difficult to predict. People have been told to stay at home for four months. I think people are still reticent (about) going out," he added.

"It's a bit difficult to get a sense of how long it will take to recover.

"What we do know is about 57% of people on the island intend to take a break on the island of Ireland. With a little bit of luck, when we see some of the connectivity return to the UK, we may be able to drive some business out of the UK in August and September."

Mr McGrillen said around 40% of visits from people in Britain happen outside the busier peak season.

"We will see virtually no European business and no American business this side of Easter next year, I'd imagine."

He says there "appears to be demand" for international travel, looking ahead to 2021 and 2022.

You can listen to the interview at www.ulsterbusiness.com
Finance Minister Conor Murphy and his Scottish and Welsh counterparts have urged the Chancellor to hand them greater borrowing powers - a move a leading economist says should only be considered "very carefully".

Alongside Kate Forbes and Rebecca Evans, Mr Murphy yesterday pleaded with Rishi Sunak to end "rigid fiscal rules" and allow them to increase their borrowing levels, ahead of the Chancellor's summer statement today.

They argue that it will help regions to respond better to the Covid-19 pandemic.

All three finance ministers are calling for the freedom to switch capital funding to day-to-day revenue and put an end to arbitrary limits on borrowing.

Mr Murphy said it is "crucial" that devolved administrations are "equipped to respond swiftly and effectively to the challenges arising from Covid-19".

"More financial flexibility can help us deal with these challenges and use our budgets to support public services, protect the vulnerable, and deliver an economic recovery," he added.

Dr Esmond Birnie, a senior economist at Ulster University's Business School, said that it was important to recognise the task faced by the finance ministers in devolved administrations, as well as Mr Sunak, during the coronavirus crisis.

He said that during the course of 2020/21, total UK public borrowing - the gap between what the UK central government receives in the form of taxes and the amount spent - may be 250bn to 300bn compared to the roughly 50bn expected.

That extraordinary level of borrowing was the price paid to keep as much of the economy in cold storage ready to come back after the lockdown, said Mr Birnie. "That all said, rules relating to the behaviour of government have some value and shouldn't be torn up just because there may be some short term advantage," he added.

"In particular, rules relating to fiscal policy may have value in establishing the credibility of government in financial markets (hence, in the longer term, reducing the cost of borrowing by government).

"There may be a case to provide some short term easing of the rules relating to borrowing by the UK Government to cover the period of the virus but I think it would be reckless to throw away the rule book once we return to semi-normality."

He added that Northern Ireland has already been given around 1.3bn since March, as well as the finances for the Job Retention Scheme and income support for the self-employed.
A man who is accused of stabbing his mother multiple times in the neck called for a police negotiator when officers arrived at the scene of the incident outside the defendant's family home, a court has been told.

Robert Gannon, 33, from Dunvale Close in Londonderry, is charged with wounding his mother with intent to do her grievous bodily harm and with damaging a G4S tag.

Opposing bail, a detective constable told District Judge Ted Magill that, at 6.35pm on Monday, police received a report from the woman's neighbour that the victim was at his front door "covered in blood and staggering".

The neighbour said the victim told him that her son had stabbed her in the neck.

When the police arrived the defendant, who was also covered in blood, was waving a hammer which the officers persuaded him to put down, the court was told.

Body worn footage was recorded by the police as they spoke to both the victim and her son who said he would only go with the police if accompanied by a police negotiator.

The victim was later treated for her injuries in Altnagelvin Hospital where she received stitches for multiple neck wounds and the defendant was also treated for lacerations.

Applying for bail, defence barrister Sean Doherty said the defendant had been released from custody in April by the High Court and had abided by strict bail conditions since his prison release.

"There is no statement from the injured party who has made it clear she will not give a statement to the police", Mr Doherty said.

The barrister said while it was a serious matter and while he accepted there was a risk of the defendant re-offending or interfering with a witness, he could be released on bail, under the strictest of conditions, to an address well outside of Derry.

However the District Judge refused the bail application and remanded the defendant in custody until August 3.

"Clearly he is not a suitable candidate for bail. There is a clear and present danger in this case", Mr Magill said.
A Co Down shielder has urged authorities to pinpoint Covid-19 clusters after she found out about an outbreak near her home via rumour.

On Tuesday South Down MLA Colin McGrath confirmed there had been 11 cases identified in Crossgar and Ballynahinch.

Social media had lit up with speculation of a local spike after a Crossgar cafe closed to sit-in customers, citing an outbreak in our area.

In a statement, the Public Health Agency (PHA) said it had not identified any current clusters other than household related infections in Newry, Mourne and Down.

Michaela Hollywood, who is particularly vulnerable as a ventilator user, said she was flying blind, going on hearsay from neighbours when she should have been told directly.

She lives just half a mile from Crossgar township.

Monday's figures from the PHA revealed Newry Mourne & Down was the only local government area in Northern Ireland where the number of people who tested positive had increased.

The specific locations of the outbreaks were only confirmed after Mr McGrath spoke with the Health Minister.

Ms Hollywood said she was petrified on hearing from a neighbour there could be local cases, and has gone into double lockdown to protect herself.

She said: I need reliable, detailed information, not scraps.

I think theyre forgetting that lives like mine are at stake. I would happily sign a non-disclosure agreement to get information which could protect me and my family from this.

The PHA said it was aware of media speculation regarding an alleged cluster but would not comment on individual cases in case people were identified, or deterred from getting tested.

In a statement, the agency said: The Contact Tracing process will identify any potential links between positive cases both within and outside households.

With some ongoing community transmission of COVID-19, it is expected that there will be variation in the number of cases detected across geographical areas, and with small numbers of cases, we must be cautious about the significance of these variations.

We will not comment on individual cases as this could lead to people being identified and deter others with symptoms coming forward to be tested. We would ask everyone to be mindful of this risk.

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In a post to social media SDLP MLA Mr McGrath said all 11 people impacted had been contacted.

He said: Contact Tracing has been implemented [which] should control the outbreak. Please remember to stay safe, wash hands and socially distance.

Outbreaks will happen and we will get through this together.

Sinn Feins South Down MLA Emma Rogan said there had been considerable concern locally.

She added: Rumour and misinformation are not helpful so the PHA needs to keep the local community updated on what is happening.

In an emergency meeting on Tuesday morning Rowallane councillors agreed to call on Robin Swann and the PHA for positive cases to be broken down by District Electoral Area  of which there are seven within NM&D.

Currently cases are only broken down by local government area.

In a joint statement, councillors said they had met to : Provide some clarity on rumours circulating about the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the area and formulate a plan to ensure timely and accurate information is disseminated to residents to protect themselves and loved ones.

Councillors are concerned that local residents are feeling anxious and consequently businesses are being affected by erroneous information being circulated and we want to do our best to put peoples minds at ease whilst ensuring safety for all.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivers a summer economic update in a statement to the House of Commons, London. Credit: House of Commons/PA Wire

The Department of Health has confirmed there have been no further coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, marking the sixth consecutive day with no fatalities.

The death toll in the region remains at 554.

A further 1,228 lab tests have been carried out on 808 people, resulting in four more positive cases of the virus.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases since the start of the outbreak is now 5,765.

It comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes will see a temporary cut in their VAT from 20% to 5%.

In his summer statement, Mr Sunak also confirmed a much-signposted stamp duty holiday which raises the threshold for payment of stamp duty on house purchases from 125,000 to 500,000.

That will be good news for the Northern Ireland housing market though first-time buyers are currently exempt from stamp duty on homes costing up to 300,000.

Stamp duty is paid on property or land sold for more than 125,000 or more.

Meanwhile, First Minister Arlene Foster has said police must show that no one is above the law.

Mrs Foster made the comments after a meeting with PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne over potential breaches of coronavirus regulations at the funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey.

While a motion calling on deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Finance Minister Conor Murphy to apologise over their attendance at the funeral was passed in the Assembly on Tuesday night, it has no legal power to compel the ministers to do so.

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Speaking after the meeting with Simon Byrne, Mrs Foster said: "It is vital that the police send out a clear signal in all their actions that no one is above the law.

"There can be no special status as far as the law is concerned. We are all equal under the law and equally subject to it.

"The Chief Constable has a duty to fully investigate all alleged breaches and demonstrate to the public that the rules are being implemented fairly."

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During Tuesday night's debate, Michelle O'Neill said it "was not and would never be" her intention to hurt anybody.

She added: "I am satisfied that I did act responsibly within the church, as part of the cortege and at Milltown Cemetery," she added.

"I take very seriously indeed my responsibility as a public office holder."

Michelle O'Neill and First Minister Arlene Foster have not shared a podium for the Executive's coronavirus press conferences since the controversy came to light.

Follow our live blog below for all of Wednesday's coronavirus developments:
The Stormont Assembly has passed a motion urging Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill to apologise for attending Bobby Storey's funeral during the pandemic.

Hundreds lined the route of the veteran republican and former IRA member's cortege in west Belfast last week.

The Assembly's declaration passed without a vote yesterday evening.

DUP Assembly Member Christopher Stalford said: "I regret to say that the Deputy First Minister's credibility is shot to bits."

The resolution was backed by the DUP, UUP, SDLP and Alliance - but does not have any practical legal effect.

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DUP First Minister Arlene Foster has asked her power-sharing partner to step aside while the PSNI considers the matter.

Mrs O'Neill has apologised "for grieving families experiencing more hurt".

No new deaths have been recorded with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said yesterday, leaving the total number of people who have died at 554.

It is the fifth day in a row no deaths have been reported here - the longest stretch without a death since March.

Another five positive cases have been notified since Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 5,761.

A group of around 30 walked in Mr Storey's cortege from St Agnes' Church to Milltown Cemetery.

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Police are investigating whether any social distancing breaches occurred.

Mrs O'Neill has said she did everything she could to minimise numbers including encouraging thousands to watch it online, while marshals kept the crowds away from the cortege during the journey through west Belfast.

Yesterday she said: "It was not and would never be my intention to hurt anybody within society.

"I am satisfied that I did act responsibly within the church, as part of the cortege and at Milltown Cemetery.

"I take very seriously indeed my responsibility as a public office holder.

"I have acted in accordance with those responsibilities."

Mr Storey was cremated at Roselawn Cemetery in the east of the city, where 30 people were allowed to attend an outdoor committal service.

The other eight cremations that took place on the same day were not allowed services at the site.

Belfast City Council has apologised to those families.

Mr Stalford said social distancing breaches included:

Hundreds of people following behind the cortege.

Widespread advertising of the event online.

Installation of a public address system at Milltown Cemetery.

A "mass rally" at the cemetery.

The Sinn Fein vice-president posing for a selfie next to others.

Mr Stalford, who represents South Belfast, said: "I regret to say that the Deputy First Minister's credibility is shot to bits."

He added that he was not being cruel or unpleasant, but making a statement of fact about alleged breaches of the coronavirus regulations.

"These rules don't apply to a senior member of Sinn Fein who is being buried.

"That is what really sticks in people's craw.

"That is what is at the core of this issue.

"Do as I say, not as I do."

The SDLP's Daniel McCrossan quoted the principle that all citizens are equal and that everyone will be afforded the same opportunities and treatment under the law.

"The actions of those Members are a very great betrayal of that ideology," he said.

"There cannot be one rule for those who govern and another for the rest of us."

UUP leader Steve Aiken said there was even different mathematics for Sinn Fein in counting the numbers present. "Somehow in the Orwellian Adams world your interpretation of the rules means that somehow you are more equal than the others."

Sinn Fein's Orlaithi Flynn said there had been a relentless media focus on the funeral and appealed for people to respect the grief of Mr Storey's family.

Alliance's Kellie Armstrong said the Executive needed to be ready to deal with the fallout from the end of the jobs furlough scheme, help carers who are at breaking point and reinstall services while remaining alert to the danger of a second spike of the virus.

She said: "Our government is an all or nothing.

"It is either pull the place down or get on with it."

Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd said some of those criticising Mrs O'Neill for attending the funeral had themselves attended a funeral.

He said: "They are human. They did what they had to do at that time."

The Assembly motion also singled out Finance Minister Conor Murphy's presence at the funeral.

It "pays tribute to those who selflessly prioritised the need to keep each other safe above their own personal needs, particularly during times of trauma, loss and grief; expresses disappointment in the actions of those in ministerial office who breached public guidance and failed to share in the sacrifice that we have asked of others; implores members of the public to stay with us and to continue acting in accordance with the regulations in order to keep each other safe and prevent further deaths; recommits to upholding the spirit and the letter of the Covid-19 regulations and the related public health guidance; and calls on the Deputy First Minister and the Minister of Finance to apologise for their actions, which have caused immense hurt".
Alisha Briggs (right) had hoped to meet with Peter Weir to share the concerns of hundreds of parents whose children are set to sit transfer tests later this year

Parents whose children are distressed about doing the transfer test have been told the Education Minister is too busy to meet them, a mother has said.

Alisha Briggs had hoped to meet with Peter Weir on behalf of hundreds of parents, some of whose 10 and 11-year-olds have stopped eating or sleeping, and even talked about self-harm.

The Department of Education said Mr Weir was too busy to meet directly with parents, but had agreed to meet with Alliance Party MLA Chris Lyttle in their stead.

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Almost 1,000 people have signed Ms Briggs' petition to suspend academic selection.

The Lisburn mum said the refusal made her feel like she had let down "900 people and mummies who are at their wits' end".

She said: "We feel very deflated by the fact that he can't give us 30 minutes.

"They [ministers] are not at home with children having night terrors, crying, not sleeping, not eating.

"For us it feels like he doesn't care about the emotional needs of the children.

"If he doesn't speak up for the needs of our children, who's going to support them?"

She said her own daughter had become "tearful and withdrawn", but insists on doing the test so she can go to her chosen school.

Other parents had pulled out because their kids were not coping.

Ms Briggs added: "Personally, my daughter cries because she's beating herself up because she feels she should be doing better.

"Then there's other days when the children are crying just looking at the test papers.

"No parent likes to see their child hurting; at this moment in time life is so scary and you just want to protect your child."

The Department of Education said: "The minister has confirmed that he was content to meet with Chris Lyttle on behalf of the delegation of parents in his capacity as MLA.

"It was the minister's understanding from the outset that Chris Lyttle was going to be representing the views of said parents to the minister, which would be the usually accepted format.

"The minister's time is already extremely limited given the wide range of issues the department is currently dealing with, such as education restart.

"That said, the minister did indicate to Mr Lyttle that he would make time for him to express and represent the views of the parents who have made direct contact with his office."

But Lisburn and Castlereagh Alliance councillor Sorcha Eastwood said the minister needed to hear from the parents themselves.

Ms Eastwood, who has been working with the group, added: "Parents would have been uniquely placed to express to the minister how they feel.

"It shouldn't fall to parents to have to think up these alternatives. This is entirely within the Education Minister's remit, and to not consider alternatives as a matter of urgency is both negligent and unfair."

Mr Lyttle, her Alliance colleague and education committee chairman, said Mr Weir's refusal was "surprising and unacceptable", and should be reversed.

This year's post-primary transfer tests have been delayed by two weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The parents of two children in Northern Ireland have won High Court permission to challenge decisions to delay the tests.

Their lawyers argued last month that the decision to delay by a matter of weeks amid so much disruption to their education is unlawful.

Meanwhile, a number of Catholic grammars and an integrated school have said they will not use transfer test results to admit pupils in 2021.
Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has taken a decision not to prosecute two individuals in connection with the murder of German teenager Inga Maria Hauser in Northern Ireland more than 30 years ago.

After weighing up the evidence, prosecutors concluded there was no reasonable prospect of a conviction.

A 60-year-old man was reported to the PPS in connection with her murder and a woman reported on suspicion of withholding information.

The PPS said there was no evidence to link Ms Hauser to the male suspect after she got off the ferry at Larne or to the location her body was found.

DNA evidence did not match the suspect and there was a "lack of clarity" from expert evidence.

In relation to the second suspect, the evidence was insufficient to establish that she possessed and withheld information that would have been of material assistance to the police investigation, the PPS said.

The family were said to be "deeply disappointed and distraught" over the decision not to take the matter to the courts.

Claire McKeegan the family solicitor acting on behalf of the Hauser family said: After all of this time we are no further on in term of identifying the person responsible of this heinous crime.

"The family are distraught as a consequence."

She said the PSNI had made progress in the case to a "limited extent" but concern remained over initial 1988 investigation when it would have been easier to collect evidence in the immediate aftermath of the killing.

She said key crime scene exhibits that may have had crucial DNA were not retained. They are working to have the Department of Justice appoint an independent panel involving a a pathologist, lawyer and police from outside Northern Ireland examine the case.

"We are well aware that there are people in the community who perhaps have knowledge of this case and have previously felt unable to share that knowledge," Ms McKeegan said.

"We appeal to anyone who may have relevant information however minor it might seem to make contact with us.

"We will be discussing with the family our next steps."

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Michael Agnew said: "The standard of proof required in a successful criminal prosecution is high.

"The PPS can only prosecute a case which is assessed as having a reasonable prospect of conviction. In this case, our conclusion was that the available evidence was insufficient to meet this standard and therefore the test for prosecution was not met."

The body of the Munich teenager Inga Maria Hauser was found dumped in a remote part of Ballypatrick Forest, outside Ballycastle, Co Antrim, 14 days after she was last seen alive on a ferry from Scotland.

She was found half naked with her neck broken, head and face beaten and bloodied in what was described as a violent and cruel attack.

The 18-year-olds death in April 1988 remains one of the regions most high-profile unsolved murders. No one has ever been charged with the murder.

The police investigation led to one of the largest DNA screenings ever undertaken in the UK, with 2,000 samples taken. None resulted in a match however.

On the 30th anniversary of the crime, detectives said they believed a number of people may have been involved either directly in the murder or in the subsequent cover-up, and said they only need fractional pieces of evidence to bring the chief suspects to justice.

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Ms Hauser had travelled through England and Scotland and, according to diary entries, intended to travel south to Dublin after her ferry docked at Larne, Co Antrim.

For unknown reasons she ended up going in the opposite direction and was found dead in remote woodland two weeks later.

It is thought the IRA carried out its own investigation into the killing 30 years ago.

It is believed republican paramilitaries had considered passing information about the alleged murderer to the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the height of the Troubles, but did not follow through.



John Dallat, the East Londonderry SDLP Assemblyman, who passed away aged 73 in May, worked tirelessly to prevent the case from being forgotten and kept pressure on police to continue their investigations.

Mr Agnew said that the reasons for the decision not to prosecute were outlined to Ms Hauser's family on Wednesday morning. He thanked her sister Friederike for taking the time to talk with them through a video conference. He said they would always be available to them should they need questions answered.

He added: "The murder of Inga Maria Hauser causes enduring distress and pain over 32 years later.

"We in the PPS acknowledge the deep disappointment felt today by the family and friends who loved Inga Maria and still miss her.

The file received by the PPS contained the product of extensive PSNI investigations and was given the most careful consideration by a team of highly experienced prosecutors.

"The test for prosecution was applied to this evidence, in line with our code for prosecutors.

He added: We have offered reassurance to the family of Inga Maria that this decision was taken only after a most careful and thorough consideration of all available evidence.

Michael Madden solicitor of Madden and Finucane which represented the male suspect said the decision was the correct one.

"He co-operated with police during their investigation and vehemently maintained his innocence throughout," he said.

"During his police interviews, our client expressed sympathy towards Miss Hausers family and he hopes that the police are still able to find the person responsible for her tragic death."



Police said they would continue to investigate and renewed their appeal for information.
The Public Health Agency has insisted there are no current coronavirus clusters in Northern Ireland.

The PHA issued a statement on Tuesday following speculation of clusters in Crossgar and Ballynahinch in Co Down, describing instead household-related infections.

A cafe and a care home in the area closed their doors as a precaution, citing an outbreak of Covid-19 in our area.

It is understood the virus was detected over three households and had been identified through contact tracing.

The Public Health Agency said: We are aware of current media speculation regarding an alleged cluster in Newry, Mourne and Down area.

The contact tracing process will identify any potential links between positive cases both within and outside households.

We have not identified any current clusters other than household-related infections in the Newry, Mourne and Down area.

With some ongoing community transmission of Covid-19, it is expected that there will be variation in the number of cases detected across geographical areas, and with small numbers of cases, we must be cautious about the significance of these variations.

PHA will continue to monitor all cases of Covid-19, look for trends and linked cases and where we need to advise or inform the public of any increased risk to public health we will do so in a timely manner.

In a post on social media, Crossgar business Cafe Q said it had taken the decision to close for sit-in customers for a few weeks.

No one on our staff has been affected and we want them that to stay this way and ensure that our customers also remain healthy, the business posted on its Facebook page.

SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath urged local people to remain vigilant.

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The virus has been a worrying development sweeping across the world and it is concerning to hear that it has spiked in the Crossgar and Ballynahinch area, he said.

This underscores the need for people to be vigilant and ensure that they are continuing to wash their hands and be observant of social distancing rules.

While we have had many easements to the regulations that were in place to guide us through this pandemic, it is apparent that it is still in our community and spikes can occur at any stage in any place.

I welcome that the department has moved quickly to isolate this outbreak and I would ask the community to be vigilant of further cases and to follow any official directions to try and contain this outbreak.

Contact tracing is an important element and if anyone is asked to isolate they should do so immediately.

It is through working together with the authorities that we will contain any spread. I wish all those who have contracted the virus a quick return to full health and hope they receive all the support from the health services to help return to full health.

Meanwhile, no additional deaths were recorded with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, according to data compiled by the Department of Health, leaving the total number of people who have died in the region at 554.

Another five positive cases have been recorded since Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the region to 5,761, according to the department.
Kelly-Anne McKittrick, Executive Head House Keeping Manager at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast checking rooms as lockdown eases allowing hotels and bars to reopen.

The money generated by tourism in Northern Ireland is likely to drop from 1 billion last year to 400 million in 2020, a Stormont committee has heard.

Janice Gault of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation said around 50% of hotels reopened over the weekend following the latest relaxation of lockdown rules.

She said strong performances in food and drink sales were reported, but lower levels of room occupancy.

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It looks like around 50% of hotels opened over the weekend, the majority of them will open in the month of July with everybody intending to be open by the end of the summer, she told the committee.

Its probably around 30%-40% occupancy, food and beverage very strong and quite a number of our normal income streams cut off. Business tourism will be low, low international visitors probably over the summer.

In the medium term, we would hope to get the GB market back and there is a certain amount of activity in that.

For us, we see the really difficult time of trading is going to be from September through to next March.

She described breaking the billion-pound mark in tourism spending last year, but said businesses were expecting 400 million this year, if were lucky.

I think it is a question of what parts of the industry can we ensure survive Janice Gault

We are prepared to give it a go, I think everyone has risen to that challenge, she said.

We have weddings starting this weekend.

But in reality its a question of what will happen next year, and I think it is a question of what parts of the industry can we ensure survive to go forward and make sure we return to the very vibrant industry that we were.

Joanne Stuart of the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance told the committee it is critical to the survival of businesses over the winter period that they can maximise the rest of this years season.

With schools starting in August that season could be quite a bit shorter than expected, she said.

This will require marketing campaigns that reassure and encourage our local visitors to support the local tourism industry by booking holidays at home.

We also need to attract visitors from the Republic and GB to consider Northern Ireland as a destination.

What we now need to see is communication from our political leaders to encourage people to stay local and support local businesses this year.

She added businesses believe it will take at least two to three years to recover from lockdown.

Ciaran ONeill, managing director of the Bishops Gate Hotel in Londonderry, told the committee it had a very strong first weekend in terms of food and beverage, but slower in terms of rooms with 40%-50% occupancy.
The Parades Commission has put restrictions on a loyalist march in north Belfast, rerouting it to avoid the potential for public disorder.

Ballysillan Volunteers Flute Band had notified the watchdog of its intention to parade in the area with 30 members, in accordance with the current health regulations.

In its determination the commission explained the proposed route is "near sensitive interfaces, creates uncertainty, and poses a major risk to community relations".

"The parade's long route, with its entry into multiple residential neighbourhoods, and its long duration, against the backdrop of the pandemic, is potentially highly disruptive to community life," it said.

"There is a potential for public disorder."

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The north Belfast parade is one of three to have been so far categorised as "sensitive" by the commission, which was informed last month by the Attorney General that it had no legal powers to prevent parades from taking place.

As the Twelfth falls on a Sunday this year, official demonstrations were due to take place the next day. However, the Orange Order announced in April it would not hold demonstrations due to the pandemic.

More than 260 loyalist bands have made notifications to parade between July 11 and 13. The watchdog said the Ballysillan notified route includes a "parading area with a history of sensitive parades" and it had previously received "substantial objections" to loyalist marches.

The parade has been limited to two-and-a-half hours and it is prohibited from certain residential areas, conditions the commission described as "proportionate, necessary and fair".

It noted the parade organiser had said they were willing to avoid Squires Hill Road and had prepared a banner reminding supporters not to follow the band, adding leaflets echoing the same message had been distributed to households.

Meanwhile, the Stoneyford Somme parade has been told by the commission not to enter Stoneyford village on July 13, and must only last 15 minutes. The original notification had requested an hour.

The same time limit restriction has been imposed on the local Sons of William Flute Band parade, which is to take place on July 11 and has been ordered to reroute its outward parade, as well as being prohibited from walking its return route.

The commission noted that the respective organisers of the Stoneyford parades had a "history of notifying parades (in the area) that do not take place", adding both bands have "few if any members, and may exist in name only".
An Alliance councillor has vowed she will not be silenced after a row with a veteran DUP representative over comments he made about coronavirus.

John Carson said in March that Covid-19 was a "judgment from God", claiming the pandemic was God's wrath for abortion and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

He apologised, saying his comments were "misinterpreted".

However, he has since stressed he did not apologise for what he said, instead hitting out at the media for "blowing the matter out of proportion".

At a meeting last month of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Mr Carson clashed with Alliance's Patricia O'Lynn over the matter.

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After Mr Carson praised the community spirit shown during the pandemic, Ms O'Lynn said she was "delighted" that he accepted lessons had been learned from the experience.

"I would just like to reiterate that coronavirus did not discriminate among gender, race, religion or sexual lines and I hope that he is taking this opportunity to reflect on his comments made about attributing blame to certain members of our community," she said.

Ms O'Lynn said that she hoped Mr Carson would continue to meet the standards expected of a councillor in future.

However, Mr Carson rejected her comments, saying that he "made no apology for what he said".

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"I am going to take no lessons from anyone that supports the murder of the unborn child and I want to make that very, very, clear," he told the council.

"I stand over what I said, but the media blew the whole thing out of proportion and took a statement that I said and made it out that I said something which I didn't say."

At Monday's full council meeting Ms O'Lynn attempted to query the accuracy of the minutes of the June meeting in reference to the exchange and asked for Mr Carson's comments on her stance on abortion to be included.

However, DUP mayor Peter Johnston said that as her request was made outside the 24-hour cut-off point for amendments, it could not be heard.

Following the meeting she said that while she would normally accept the decision of the mayor, she felt the need to speak out. She said that she would not be "silenced".

In response, Mr Johnston said: "Councillor O'Lynn's request was outside standing orders, therefore with a very busy agenda for a meeting which lasted more than four hours, it was my job as mayor to ensure business was completed.

"I stand by my decision."
Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a media briefing following the first cabinet meeting at Dublin Castle (Julien Behal/PA)

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has described Sinn Feins calls for a border poll on a united Ireland as divisive and said he would favour a different approach.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said a referendum on Irish unity is imperative to growing the Irish economy.

Speaking in the Dail on Tuesday she said: A united Ireland is the best idea for the future of our country.

It is essential to the prosperity of all our people because growing our economy requires an all-Ireland approach.

Protecting our health service requires an all-Ireland approach.

Mr Martin said an all island unit has been set up in the Department of the Taoiseach but said Sinn Feins insistence on a border poll is divisive.

He said: I dont believe precipitating or organising a referendum like that is the way to go.

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That was the Sinn Fein position since Brexit happened and you have come back a bit from it.

I think the over focus on the border poll was too divisive, too partisan and would only run counter to what you wanted to achieve.

I would favour a different approach.

I would favour a stronger north-south relationship and the development of that.

He said: The agenda for the future of this island is how we engineer and develop an accommodation where we can all live in peace and harmony on the island and to not try to dictate to one tradition about what the solution is going to be which seems to be the agenda youre pursuing.

The Good Friday Agreement is the defining document because it is based on three sets of relationships, the British-Irish relationship, the north-south relationship and the two traditions within Northern Ireland itself.

Mr Martin said the focus of the all island unit is to see how the Government can develop a shared future.

Irrespective of what may emerge in the future, it is my view that these three sets of relationships will have to underpin any future arrangements.
A surgical mesh kit similar to the ones which have been used

Thousands of women could have been spared complications from mesh surgery, a damning new review has concluded.

A number of mesh-injured women said their doctors, surgeons or GPs "ignored or dismissed" their concerns.

"Some clinicians' reactions ranged from 'it's all in your head' to 'these are women's issues' or 'it's that time of life'," the report states. "For the women concerned this was tantamount to a complete denial of their concerns and being written off by a system that was supposed to care."

The review says that women have also raised concerns about "missing or altered medical records". And many women said they were told the treatment was a "new gold standard".

The treatment has been used in the pelvis for 20 years, but the review said that its "long-term risk profile" is still unknown.

Nearly 7,000 women in Northern Ireland had vaginal mesh implants between 2005 and 2015.

The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review was so concerned by tales of suffering from women who had been fitted with mesh, that it recommended a pause in mesh procedures for stress urinary incontinence in 2018 - meaning procedures should only carried out in exceptional circumstances.

"The review was formed to address the concerns raised by women, but surely others could and should have listened and taken action before," the report states.

It says that in 2003, guidance on mesh for stress urinary incontinence recommended only experienced surgeons should operate and an audit of numbers of procedures, outcome measures and adverse events should be kept.

"There were no checks on implementation of the guidance nor enforcement and no consequences for not following it," the report states.

"Had it been implemented, it is likely that many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of women would have been spared mesh complications."

An "apology is due", and support is required for those who have suffered avoidable harm, the review added.

But it stopped short of recommending a ban.

The review details how women were not always told about the risks of mesh before their procedures and how some women who have faced life-changing consequences only had 'relatively minor' stress urinary incontinence at the time.

"The complications that followed have reduced so many to a shadow of their former selves, taking a terrible toll on partnerships and family life," the report states. Kath Sansom, founder of the campaign group Sling The Mesh, said: "The report is hard hitting and recognises the total failure in patient safety, regulation and oversight in the UK.

"It also makes it very clear that our medical establishment is deeply entrenched in institutional denial and misogyny.

"While we welcome all of the recommendations, there is no glory in knowing thousands of women have been maimed by mesh since the late 1990s then ignored when they asked for help, suffering debilitating, life altering and irreversible pain."
Concerns have been raised following reports of a cluster of coronavirus cases in Co Down - although it is the only one in Northern Ireland, according to health officials.

A cafe and a care home in Crossgar have closed their doors as a precaution, citing an "outbreak of Covid-19 in our area".

It is understood the virus was detected over three households and had been identified through contact tracing. Up to 16 people are reportedly affected.

Two were hospitalised and two of those affected are children.

In a post on social media Crossgar business Cafe Q said it had taken the decision to close for sit-in customers for "a few weeks".

"No one on our staff has been affected and we want that to stay this way, and ensure that our customers also remain healthy," the business posted on its Facebook page.

Glasswater Lodge care home in Crossgar told the BBC that it had closed its doors to visitors for the time being.

"We're going to sit tight over the next week or so and see what happens and then hopefully continue with our plan to reopen once it is safe to do so," a staff member said.

"It's a bit of a setback but the staff are all great and we're sticking to the guidelines, so the atmosphere in the home is positive. We've had no cases, thankfully, and the families have all been very supportive of our decision to remain closed."

SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath has urged local people to remain vigilant.

"The virus has been a worrying development sweeping across the world and it is concerning to hear that it has spiked in the Crossgar and Ballynahinch area," he said.

"This underscores the need for people to be vigilant and ensure that they are continuing to wash their hands and be observant of social distancing rules.

"While we have had many easements to the regulations that were in place to guide us through this pandemic, it is apparent that it is still in our community and spikes can occur at any stage in any place.

"I welcome that the department has moved quickly to isolate this outbreak and I would ask the community to be vigilant of further cases and to follow any official directions to try and contain this outbreak.

"Contact tracing is an important element and if anyone is asked to isolate they should do so immediately. It is through working together with the authorities that we will contain any spread. I wish all those who have contracted the virus a quick return to full health and hope they receive all the support from the health services to help returns to full health."

SDLP peer and former MP Margaret Ritchie tweeted: "Speedy recovery to all those affected. Hope there is an adequate track and trace in place."

The Public Health Agency (PHA) said it is "aware of current media speculation regarding an alleged cluster in Newry, Mourne and Down area".

It said: "The contact tracing process will identify any potential links between positive cases both within and outside households. We have not identified any current clusters other than household related infections in the Newry, Mourne and Down area.

"With some ongoing community transmission of Covid-19, it is expected that there will be variation in the number of cases detected across geographical areas, and with small numbers of cases, we must be cautious about the significance of these variations.

"PHA will continue to monitor all cases of Covid-19, look for trends and linked cases, and where we need to advise or inform the public of any increased risk to public health.

"We will not comment on individual cases as this could lead to people being identified and deter others with symptoms coming forward to be tested. We would ask everyone to be mindful of this risk."

Meanwhile, no additional deaths were recorded with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, according to data compiled by the Department of Health, leaving the total number of people who have died in the region at 554.

Another five positive cases have been recorded since Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the region to 5,761, according to the department.
Actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife Amber Heard arrive separately at the High Court in London for the first day of his libel case against The Sun (Steve Parsons/PA)

Johnny Depp has alleged his ex-wife Amber Heard is a calculating, narcissistic sociopath who married him to progress her own career.

The Edward Scissorhands actor said nothing in life has upset him as much as Ms Heards words and behaviour towards him.

Mr Depp said he first met Ms Heard when she auditioned for The Rum Diary, and later reconnected with her when they were promoting the film.

In one of his witness statements filed as part of his libel case against The Suns publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), Mr Depp said: She was then extremely friendly to me and keen to tell me about the break-up with her former partner that she had recently gone through.

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If I had known then what I know now, I would have seen the red flag warning signs, but I did not.

She was beautiful, seemingly incredibly interested in me and my work, and I fell for it.

She bombed me with what appeared to be love.

It was not until much later that I understood that she had an agenda, namely to get married to me in order to progress her own career and/or to benefit financially, and she knew how to bring it about.

For example, at the time, she repeatedly told me how much she admired my films; however, later in our relationship she admitted that she had never seen any of my films.

She knew what she wanted and I was an easy target.

Mr Depp said their time together was incredibly unhappy, adding: She is a calculating, diagnosed borderline personality; she is sociopathic; she is a narcissist; and she is completely emotionally dishonest.

I am now convinced that she came into my life to take from me anything worth taking, and then destroy what remained of it.

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Mr Depp said the pair sought the help of a marriage counsellor who he says confirmed to him that Ms Heard had a borderline, toxic narcissistic personality disorder and is a sociopath.

According to Mr Depps statement, Ms Heard continuously belittled him and called him a fat old man.

He said he found it devastating and heartbreaking to hear Ms Heard call him a horrible father.

Mr Depp said he resolved to divorce her after faeces were left in their bed.

He said he understands that Ms Heard or possibly one of her friends defecated in their bed, with Ms Heard allegedly describing it as just a harmless prank.

Mr Depp said he has never abused Ms Heard, or any other woman, in his life.

He said in his statement: I am from a Southern family and rules were instilled in me from birth by my mother: you would be a Southern gentleman or it would be beaten into you.

Even as a child, chivalry was extremely important and, whether or not this is considered old-fashioned, it is still something that I consider very important.

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Integrity, dignity, honesty, and respect for women: these were characteristics of a gentleman and characteristics that I was always expected to have.

As part of this, I feel it is a strong and central part of my moral code that I would never strike a woman, under any circumstances, at any time.

I find it simply inconceivable and it would never happen.
Tourists travelling to Scotland from Spain will have to continue to quarantine, Nicola Sturgeon said as she rejected some countries on the UK Governments list of air bridges.

Speaking at her daily briefing on the virus, the Scottish First Minister said the 14-day quarantine restriction will be lifted on July 10 for people returning or visiting from 39 countries with a low prevalence of Covid-19, including Germany, Norway and Malta.

Other countries which have a lower or not significantly higher prevalence of the virus than Scotland  including France, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy and Poland  will also be included on the list.

Were not yet at the stage where we can say weve virtually eliminated the virus in the community, but that prize is clearly attainable Nicola Sturgeon

But she said the restriction will not be lifted for Spain or Serbia.

She said the difficult decision had been driven by the evidence.

I know how many people from Scotland enjoy travelling to Spain and I know how much we love welcoming Spanish tourists, she said. My hope is these restrictions can be relaxed soon, and possibly very soon.

While Spain is not currently on the approved list, the First Minister said that will be kept under regular review to see if cases of the virus there decrease enough.

She also said that if necessary data becomes available, the Scottish Government would consider accepting people travelling from Spanish islands such as the Canaries or Ibiza.

She said there will not be a way around the quarantine rules by flying into English airports, because Scottish health officials will have the details of those who are travelling back into the UK.

Ms Sturgeon also emphasised that those who travel to Scotland from countries on the approved list will still have to adhere to the latest social distancing and hygiene measures.

And she warned quarantine measures could be reimposed if virus cases begin to spike again.

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Ms Sturgeon said she hopes the agreement will be reciprocal, with travellers from Scotland able to go to the approved countries without the need to quarantine.

Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport welcomed clarity on an issue he said had dragged on far too long.

But he added: However it does still pose some serious questions and threats to the industry with the exclusion of Spain.

This is one of Scotlands biggest and most important destinations for inward and outward tourism, and that impacts on airline decisions about where to base their fleet. We hope to see this resolved quickly.

The First Minister said the prevalence of the virus in the Scottish population is currently 28 in every 100,000 people.

Were not yet at the stage where we can say weve virtually eliminated the virus in the community, but that prize is clearly attainable and brings with it the prospect of a brighter future and more sustainable recovery, she said.

But she warned the prevalence of the virus is higher elsewhere, including in the rest of the UK where 180 people per 100,000 have the virus.

She added: This is relevant to the decisions that we take in relation to quarantine.

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Ms Sturgeon also gave the latest Covid-19 figures for Scotland.

She said a total of 2,490 patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus, up by one from 2,489 on Tuesday, and 18,309 people have tested positive for the virus, up by seven from 18,302.

The National Records of Scotland earlier revealed 4,173 people have died with Covid-19 under its weekly measure, which records all deaths with a suspected or probable case of the virus involved.
When Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt breached the Covid-19 regulations he immediately admitted his offence and swiftly resigned his chairmanship of the Executive oversight committee in the Assembly. At the time Michelle O'Neill declared that: "We're in difficult times, but none of us are exempt from these regulations."

How right she was.

But it is a pity that she hasn't applied those words to herself and followed Nesbitt's honourable decision and resigned her own position as Deputy First Minister, or at least stepped aside temporarily until the mess she helped to create was cleaned up.

Mrs O'Neill, as Deputy First Minister, made a deliberate choice to attend the west Belfast funeral of her friend Bobby Storey, knowing that it was alleged that he was the IRA's chief of intelligence and mastermind of the break-in at Castlereagh police station in 2002 to steal sensitive files relating to police personnel and informers.

He was also allegedly the chief planner behind the IRA robbery of 26.5m from the Northern Bank in December 2004.

Both of these high-profile incidents were at the time very damaging to the peace process and, in particular, power-sharing at Stormont.

Indeed, they may well have been carried out to sabotage the out-workings of the Good Friday Agreement. The Assembly is now having to wrestle with the political fallout from this stage-managed republican funeral.

The funeral was rightly regarded by all except Sinn Fein as having breached the public health restrictions on social distancing.

The fact is that Sinn Fein urged the general public to attend along the route of the funeral.

It encouraged its own members to turn out in west Belfast and, indeed, told them to follow a black-and-white dress code.

The massed ranks of republicans in their distinctive dress was an arrogant display of their might and power in west Belfast.

It had all the hallmarks of an IRA funeral, without the black berets and balaclavas. That was its political objective.

It was staged for visual effect without concern for the public health regulations or the health and welfare of the community in west Belfast.

The irresponsible charade of marching hundreds of people down the Andersonstown Road to the republican plot in Milltown Cemetery, knowing that the deceased was to be cremated at Roselawn was not simply bizarre, but a deliberate demonstration of the militaristic character of the event.

At its heart Sinn Fein is still a militaristic organisation that honours the IRA as a legitimate military force. The shadow of a gunman still haunts that party.

Sinn Fein has an internal culture which warps its thinking. It does not consider its aberrant behaviour as being outside the law, because it regards itself as the law.

Sinn Fein has been foremost in insisting on the public health restrictions being strictly in place for as long as possible, though when it came to Mr Storey's funeral the restrictions went out the window.

Its leadership has, rightly, faced massive public and political criticism for failing to comply with the rules.

As the SDLP's Patsy McGlone said: "To many people, it seemed that they were saying: 'Do what I say, not what I do.'"

The obvious failure to be socially distant at the funeral and not to obey the rules was so blatant that those previously affected by the deaths of loved ones killed by the virus were outraged and protested with great passion.

So much so, despite initially stonewalling and saying that this was just "political point-scoring", Mrs O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald rowed back and gave public apologies, although these were generally considered to be half-hearted.

Mrs O'Neill is totally isolated on this issue and has succeeded in uniting all the other parties in the Assembly against her.

Given the brittle politics of Stormont, the very continuance of the Executive is now under growing stress and, as she refuses to relent, the crisis deepens.

And it may well be, given the gravity of the situation, that the only solution is for Mrs O'Neill to step aside temporarily until the dust settles on this self-created crisis.

Mind you, the thought of a suitable alternative to her is pretty scary, given the scarcity of talent within its ranks.

Imagine the gaffe-prone Conor Murphy becoming Deputy First Minister, or Martina Anderson, the former "outreach officer" to unionists, taking the reins of power in Stormont.

But at the heart of this matter is Sinn Fein's continued failure to purge itself from the culture of the IRA and to democratically reconstruct itself.

The existence of the Army Council is no myth, as the PSNI and Garda have both confirmed.

Until its paramount role is ended, Sinn Fein will never be a normal political party.
Sinn Fein must know that it has shot its own credibility to bits on Covid-19, but it's certainly not admitting that.

There was no 'mea culpa' from Michelle O'Neill as she faced an Assembly debate last night on her actions at Bobby Storey's funeral.

But she cut a strikingly subdued figure in the chamber - in comparison to the strident aggression of her party's social media warriors defending her actions.

It will take some time and effort before her authority is rebuilt with the other Stormont parties, and the wider public.

She will face the same uphill climb that Arlene Foster did after RHI.

Indeed, Alliance's Kellie Armstrong suggested that the repercussions following the Storey funeral were even more sweeping.

"Unlike RHI, Covid-19 has touched ever single family in Northern Ireland," she said. "This crisis is personal."

The collegiate approach that the Executive had taken on tackling the disease until last week was now in shreds, she said.

In their constituencies, MLAs were hearing from the public "Why should I? Why should I stick to the rules now?", Ms Armstrong said.

Most MLAs spoke as much in sorrow as in anger during the debate. The SDLP's Colin McGrath's powerful contribution touched on the huge sacrifices that ordinary citizens have made during this pandemic.

He said that 5,000 people had died here since coronavirus restrictions were introduced. "They were told in no uncertain terms that they must stick to the rules. They did what they were told," he said.

"They had no wakes. They had no visitors to the house. They stuck to the rules in chapels. They took their time slots and followed staff guidelines at the crematorium. They didn't organise an after service or dress codes or set up a PA system."

Mrs O'Neill had effectively said that "her movement, her people, and her party" was more important than everybody else's, he said.

The Deputy First Minister had explained her decision to pose for a selife in Milltown Cemetery was one made in "the blink of an eye". DUP MLA Alex Easton told her that when he watched footage of the entire funeral he wondered "how many blinks of eyes did you have that day?".

He said the funeral had "made a mockery of this Assembly. Why would anybody take us seriously?".

The SDLP's Daniel McCrossan said his party had been unable to attend the funeral of former party colleague and deputy Stormont Speaker John Dallat. "We made the decision that our grief, our pain, our needs had to come second to the public health advice we had committed to and had asked others to do the same," he said.

MLAs must "practise what we preach" but instead Sinn Fein had created a "hierarchy of pain" which betrayed republicanism's commitment to equality.

"There cannot be one rule for those who govern and another for the rest of us," Mr McCrossan said.

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said there was even different mathematics for Sinn Fein in counting the numbers present at funerals.

"Somehow in the Orwellian Adams world your interpretation of the rules means that somehow you are more equal than the others," he said. A ruthlessly forensic dissection of the breaches of coronavirus regulations and guidelines at the Storey funeral was offered by DUP MLA Christopher Stalford.

"More than 30 in attendance, hundreds more behind them, advertising the event, installing a public address system, a mass rally in Milltown, posing for selfies, shaking hands.

"Yet the Deputy First Minister insists her actions were within the regulations," he declared. "In a fashion that would shame the Trump administration, the Deputy First Minister asks us to shut our eyes to what we can all see and stuff our ears to drown out what we can all hear."

The Sinn Fein MLAs who spoke answered none of the detailed allegations of coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral. Pat Sheehan referred to his friendship with Bobby Storey. He had been "with him in the Army, in prison, and in Sinn Fein".

Orlaithi Flynn focused on the respect that the Storey family deserved following their loss. Sinn Fein is simply battening down the hatches and hoping that after the Twelfth, and the summer, this crisis will have passed.
Apart from the NHS, education has been the public service hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. It has caused severe disruption at pivotal periods of thousands of children's lives, forced parents to attempt to home school and to work from home in order to look after their offspring.

Trying to reopen the schools is also fraught with difficulty. Teachers' unions had long and, sometimes, acrimonious discussions with Education Minister Peter Weir over how the return to the classroom could be managed and there are obvious concerns over the absence of GCSE and A Level examinations and whether the always controversial transfer test for Primary 7 pupils should go ahead.

No one can deny that Mr Weir has a busy agenda to deal with, yet it beggars belief that he is too busy to meet a representative of parents concerned about the distress the transfer test debacle is causing.

The parents of two children have won High Court permission to challenge decisions to delay the tests and a number of Catholic grammar schools and an integrated school have said they will not use the transfer test results to determine which pupils they will admit in 2021.

Almost 1,000 people have signed a petition to suspend academic selection and Alisha Briggs had asked to meet Mr Weir to express the concerns of those parents about the effects of the dispute on their children.

They claim that some children - aged 10 and 11 - have been so upset they have occasionally stopped eating and are sleeping badly. Some have even talked about self-harm.

There is no doubt that the transfer procedure heaps enormous pressure on young children at the best of times, but this year, with additional concerns over how social distancing will work in schools and whether they will be able to see their friends during the school day, the pressure has increased.

The Department of Education says the Minister is prepared to meet an Alliance MLA to discuss the parents' worries. If he can do that surely he could meet one of the mothers instead who could tell him of the problems from first hand experience.

That would assure the parents that he is taking them seriously and that their concerns will be weighed in the balance with all the other problems associated with restarting education later this year. No Minister is so busy they have not got 30 minutes to spare.
Amid concerns that Bangladesh is starved for funds while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the Finance Ministry has asked China to consider funding additional infrastructure projects, according to analysts and a copy of the proposal seen by BenarNews.

In a letter to the Chinese Embassy, parts of which were obtained by BenarNews, the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance proposed nine projects valued at about U.S. $6.4 billion (542.7 billion taka), while dropping requests for four others from a list of 27 joint development projects agreed by the two sides in 2016.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused huge damage to the economy of Bangladesh. The economic activities have slumped and the government revenue collection is not satisfactory. The government needs money to continue the development projects, Mustafizur Rahman, an analyst with the Center for Policy Dialogue private think-tank, told BenarNews.

The government wants to finish the projects despite the coronavirus pandemic. So it has been seeking funds from different sources including the Chinese government, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, he said.

Some of the nine new projects involve construction of roads, bridge and ports possibly linked to the One Belt, One Road initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to analysts.

Premature

Bangladesh is one of the countries targeted for OBOR, Beijings geopolitical strategy to build a modern-day Silk Road through a network of ports, railways, roads and trade routes to connect China to markets in Southeast Asia, South Asia and beyond.

During an October 2016 visit to Dhaka, Xi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding regarding funding for development projects in Bangladesh. The Chinese government announced at the time it would provide $25 billion (2.1 trillion taka) for 27 development projects.

Chinas footprint in Bangladeshs economy has expanded massively since then, with Beijing now the South Asian nations biggest foreign investor, according to official figures in December 2019. Beijing outpaced Washington as Bangladeshs top investor in 2018, when overall Chinese investment reached $1.03 billion  a 16-fold increase from its investments in 2016.

Responding to BenarNews requests for comment about the May 21 letter outlining the proposal for the nine projects, Bangladesh economic officials said the proposal was not final. The letter included a proposal to construct an institute of technology to be named for Hasina.

Why dont you write about some projects we are working on? These projects have yet to be finalized  please consider the interest of the country, Shariar Kader Siddiky, the joint secretary in-charge of the ERD Asia desk, told BenarNews.

If you write at the premature stage, it affects our diplomatic relations with China. China officially told us not disclose anything before finalization.

Siddiky said the Chinese funds were needed to pay for necessary projects.

If we can implement the projects in time, we will not fall into a debt trap, he said.

The Chinese embassy in Dhaka did not respond to a request for comment.

COVID-19

Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus case on March 8, leading the government to impose a shutdown that ran from late March to the end of May. But the spread of the pandemic has accelerated since then, with authorities on Tuesday reporting a cumulative tally of 168,645 COVID-19 cases and 2,151 deaths.

Former ambassador Humayun Kabir, the acting president of a local think-tank, the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, said the governments current focus is battling the pandemic while restoring the economy and continuing development projects.

Bangladesh is seeking funds from China for its development needs. There is some criticism in media that Bangladesh has been aligning with China instead of India. But actually this is not the case, he told BenarNews.

This is because a countrys foreign relations is determined by its own national interests and priorities. Bangladesh is seeking money from China for implementing development projects.

The projects

In addition to the technology center named for Hasina and valued at $155.4 million (13.17 billion taka), the ERD proposed a sewage collection system for Dhaka valued at $120 million (10.17 billion taka), expansion of the power grid valued at $805 million (68.2 billion taka), and a comprehensive management and restoration project for the Teesta River valued at $853 million (72.3 billion taka).

Other requests include $250 million (21.2 billion taka) in funding to purchase oil tankers and coal carriers; an upgrade to the Barisal-Patuakhali-Kuakata road valued at $535 million (45.36 billion taka); May bridges on rural roads valued at $800 million (67.8 billion taka).

The letter from Masuma Akter, ERD deputy chief, to Liu Zhenhua, economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Dhaka, suggested that funding for four other projects be dropped. He wrote that funding would be available from other sources without elaborating.

Those projects are a four-lane highway linking Dhaka to Sylhet, a coal-fired power plant in Gazaria, a metering project for the Bangladesh Power Development Board and an extension to increase production at the Barapukuria coal mine.
Updated at 6 p.m. ET on 2020-07-08

A Malaysian palm oil producer defended itself Wednesday over allegations that it used child and forced labor on its plantations, and said it had progressed in improving workplace practices, after an anti-trafficking group urged U.S. authorities to ban imports of the companys products.

The Sime Darby Plantation (SDP) firm said it was not given an opportunity to respond to allegations raised by Liberty Shared in a petition filed with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. The Hong Kong-based anti-trafficking NGO had filed the petition on April 20 and posted an update along with a 17-page summary of the petition on its website earlier this week.

We believe over the years we have made genuine progress in improving our labor practices on the ground through various initiatives and collaborations with multiple partners and NGOs, SDP said in a statement released Wednesday.

We wish to point out that the petition was submitted without soliciting any feedback from our company, it added. Currently, SDP has access only to the petition summary which provides issues that were raised without any details on the interviews that were conducted.

Liberty Shared said the petition, which it did not make public, is approximately 50 pages in length with over 60 supporting documents. The NGO said it had interviewed workers over the past few years, including some who were interviewed multiple times over the past year. Liberty Shared said it had also contacted experts from civil society and reviewed publicly available resources and audit reports.

In its request that the U.S. ban imports of palm oil products made by Sime Darby, Liberty Shared alleged that workers were subjected to abuses on the job.

For example, workers described the imposition of arbitrary penalties, threat of and actual sexual harassment, physical threats and abuse, various and inconsistent deductions in pay, varying conditions of accommodation, and fees charged for basic facilities, it said in the summary of its petition.

Children were among those who suffered, Liberty Shared claimed.

Local workers reported that, as recently as less than four years ago, children of local plantation workers were used by a plantation manager and (foreman) to place rat poison at the foot of the palm oil trees, the NGO said.

The workers explain that the (foreman) had supported the use of children for this task but then the manager who had approved this activity departed. The new manager did not approve of this practice and it was stopped.

The NGO said the new manager had since left the plantation and workers feared that children would again be involved in harmful practices.

Citing U.S. law, Liberty Shared argued that SDPs products could be seized and the importers be made liable for criminal investigation.

Section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act prohibits the importation of merchandise mined, produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, in any foreign country by forced labor or indentured child labor  including forced child labor. Such merchandise is subject to exclusion and/or seizure, and may lead to a criminal investigation of the importer(s), it said.

In response, SDP said officials were willing to engage with the NGO.

In the spirit of openness, transparency and collaboration that SDP has always upheld, we intend to engage with Liberty Shared to further understand these allegations in detail to enable us to conduct a thorough and immediate investigation and take corrective action as the findings may warrant, the company said.

A spokesman for the U.S. Customs agency said it welcomed the petition.

CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] welcomes and evaluates actionable information concerning allegations of forced labor from a variety of sources, including the trade community, non-governmental organizations, the media, and the public. This information, in combination with CBP and U.S. Government findings, is essential to identifying products made with forced labor and preventing their entry into the United States, the spokesman told BenarNews.

Tenaganita support

Malaysian NGO Tenaganita, which is involved in anti-forced labor activism welcomed the petition, according to a spokesperson.

Yes we are aware, there has been evidence of this over the years. We are glad that they have proceeded with this, the unidentified spokesperson told BenarNews.

In August 2019, Tenaganita urged another Malaysian palm oil producer, FGV Holdings, to review its conduct after a separate group of NGOs  International Labor Rights Forum, Rainforest Action Network and SumOfUs  filed a similar petition with U.S. Customs.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the countrys Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities told BenarNews that members were discussing their response and a statement would be issued.

The ministry last week announced that it would be taking legal action with the World Trade Organization to challenge the European Unions restrictions on palm oil-based biofuels, citing the latters anti-palm oil campaign as a discriminatory policy.

In March 2019, the 28-nation European bloc said palm oil should be phased out of renewable transportation fuels by 2030 over concerns that the plantations contribute to deforestation.

Malaysia, which produced 20.5 million tons in 2019, is the worlds second largest palm oil producing country behind neighbor Indonesia.
Australia, Japan, and the United States have taken a verbal swipe at Chinas conduct in the South China Sea, decrying what they called dangerous or coercive use of Coast Guard ships and maritime militia and efforts to disrupt oil exploration.

The allied nations issued the joint statement after their defense ministers met in Washington on Tuesday to discuss security in the Indo-Pacific region as they step up cooperation in the face of China. On Wednesday, Japans navy drilled in the South China Sea with two U.S. aircraft carriers.

Australian Minister for Defense Linda Reynolds, Japanese Minister of Defense Kono Taro and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper primarily discussed the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but also underlined the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The ministers expressed serious concern about recent incidents, including the continued militarization of disputed features, dangerous or coercive use of coast guard vessels and maritime militia, and efforts to disrupt other countries resource exploitation activities, the joint statement said.

Although the statement did not explicitly mention China, it follows a sequence of Chinese actions that have unnerved its neighbors. Those actions include the recent deployment of survey ships into Malaysian and Vietnamese waters, widely viewed as an attempt to pressure those nations out of exploring for oil with international partners.

A China Coast Guard ship is at Vanguard Bank in the Spratly Islands off Vietnam, the scene of a prolonged standoff last year between China and Vietnam over similar issues.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added his own criticism on Wednesday  drawing a link between tensions at many of Chinas contested land and maritime borders. That includes a dispute at a mountain frontier where Chinese and Indian troops were engaged in hand-to-hand fighting last month.

From the mountain ranges of the Himalayas to the waters of Vietnams Exclusive Zone, to the Senkaku Islands, and beyond, Beijing has a pattern of instigating territorial disputes. The world shouldnt allow this bullying to take place, nor should it permit it to continue, Pompeo said at a press conference in Washington.

China was quick to respond to the allies joint statement of Tuesday, insisting that the South China Sea  which Beijing claims largely for itself  is stable. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, however, alluded to U.S. military deployments in the region as a threat to that stability.

Out of selfish motives, certain non-regional countries frequently hype up matters related to the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and even send advanced military vessels and aircraft in a massive scale to the relevant waters in a bid to promote militarization and threaten peace and stability in the region, Zhao told a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday. China firmly opposes that.

The current round of military posturing began when China conducted a naval exercise in the South China Seas disputed Paracel Islands last week, prompting diplomatic outcry from Vietnam, the United States and the Philippines. The U.S. subsequently began its dual aircraft carrier drill within sight of the Paracels over the weekend.

Although the U.S., Australia and Japan are not South China Sea claimants, they appear to be taking a firmer stance and are making greater effort to show presence in the region.

On Wednesday, Japans navy practiced alongside the USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz, according to a release by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. It is the first time the U.S. has deployed two aircraft carriers at once in the South China Sea in at least four years.

In their statement Tuesday, the three defense ministers called for a peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

China bases its sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea on historic rights to its waters and land features  a position that has never been supported by UNCLOS and was struck down in a key 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in a case brought by the Philippines against China.

With regard to the South China Sea, the ministers reinforced strong opposition to the use of force or coercion to alter the status quo, and reaffirmed the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, the defense ministers statement read.

The emphasis on overflight closely mirrors a statement made by the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at a summit in late June, and echoes ASEANs concerns over speculation that China may unilaterally establish an Air Defense Identification Zone over the South China Sea, restricting commercial air travel in the region.

Australia, for its part, unveiled a new defense strategy on July 1 explicitly citing Chinas so-called grey-zone activities in the South China Sea  a reference to Chinas aggressive use of paramilitary fishing fleets and its coastguard against vessels of other nations  as a focus for its military planning.

Australia is conducting a military exercise with Brunei, an oft-overlooked South China Sea claimant state. Dubbed Exercise Penguin, the drills involve the two nations navies and air forces and runs until July 14. Australia sent an advanced maritime surveillance aircraft in advance of the drills.
Buena Vista, CO (81211)

Today

Mostly sunny. High near 85F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 52F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Voters passed a $195 million bond issue to build a new central library and improve several satellite libraries. The new location will be north of the sheriff's offices. Some oppose the new location, even through the board paid $12 million for the land. Some want more funds allocated to the other, satellite libraries. Your thoughts? Email us at letters@bendbulletin.com

You voted:
What Does Lion of Judah Mean?

To get an understanding of this phrase, there are two places in Scripture where the lion and Judah are tied together. One of them is in Revelation.

Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals (Revelation 5:5).

Lets consider the significance of the tribe of Judah. Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob. To make is simple, the descendants of these sons formed the twelve tribes of Israel. A reference to the tribe of Judah is a reference to the human or natural lineage of Christ. You can read the genealogy in Matthew 1.

Jesus was a descendant of Judah which also included David, Solomon, eventually making its way all the way down to Joseph, Jesus earthly father (actually stepfather if you want to be technical).

The other mention of the lion happens in Genesis 49. In this occasion, Jacob calls his sons together and tells them what will happen to each of them in the days to come. Clearly Jacob is speaking with prophetic language. When he gets to his son Judah here is what he proclaims:

Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your fathers sons will bow down to you. You are a lions cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lionesswho dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the rulers staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk (Genesis 49:8-12).

When you consider these verses, then a reference to the Lion of the tribe of Judah points to the conquering, victorious king that would descend from Judahs lineage. We know that this lion was pointing to only one person, Jesus himself, God in human form, who is the lion of the tribe of Judah. This truth is important because it fulfills the promise and prophecy of Gods word. It also gives us hope and confidence in this one who will ultimately be our deliverer.
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BIG RAPIDS  Receiving text messages from an unknown source is usually alarming.

However, receiving texts boasting about being reunited with unclaimed property is at the top of the Michigan Department of Treasury's list of concerns lately, as they encourage residents to ignore and delete these potential scams.

The state treasury department has received reports over the last week about text messages going out to the public stating individuals have unclaimed property at random dollar amounts. The text message asks the recipient to click on a link to claim their property, resembling a phishing scam.

Please do not interact with or respond to these texts, Deputy State Treasurer Ann Good said in the release. These messages are not affiliated with the state Treasury Department and could be a scam. If you have questions about unclaimed property, visit our website or contact us directly.

The release goes on to say that the state Treasury Department is the custodian of millions of dollars in lost or forgotten assets from dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, valuables left in safe deposit boxes and stock certificates. Because these properties were considered abandoned and unclaimed by the bank or company entrusted with them, they are turned over to the state as required by law.

According to the release, more than $400 million has been paid to claimants in the last five years.

"My office does send any checks that were issued by the county but were unclaimed/uncashed for two years to the Michigan Treasury as well," Mecosta County Treasurer Sherry Earnest said. "So, if there are any questions concerning payments that may have been sent by a county, but lost and unclaimed, they can still contact their local county treasurer to find ways to claim these funds."

Individuals can search for unclaimed property on the Michigan Unclaimed Property website at michigan.gov/unclaimedproperty. Claimants may also call 517-636-5320 between 9 a.m. and noon Mondays and Fridays and between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

"And if (residents) ever receive any phone calls, text messages or letters ... please (do) not assume they are from a good source," Earnest said. "Please contact the state or my office, or their local county treasurer to ask questions.

"We dont mind the calls, especially when they are related to questionable notices. We are here to help the public."

Individuals looking to contact Earnest may call 231-592-0169 or visit mecostacounty.org.
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Acquired marketing authorization from 52 countries around the world and signed sales agreements with 80 countries

Korea's Daewoong Pharmaceuticals original botulinum toxin product Nabota is stepping up to expand its influence across Asia.

Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on 23 June 2020 that the company obtained marketing approval for Nabotas indication of glabellar wrinkles from the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA).



Taiwan is one of the countries in Southeast Asia where the beauty market is expected to grow, and this marketing approval allows the company to raise Nabotas global standing in the Asian cosmetic surgery market.

Currently, Nabota has been launched in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, India and the Philippines, and it obtained marketing authorization back in December.



Daewoong is planning to launch Nabota in Taiwan in the second half of this year. Orient Europharma Co., Ltd. (OEP) will be in charge of selling Nabota to Taiwan. OEP is a global pharmaceutical company based in Taiwan, and it is expected to produce synergy with Nabota as it has a major pipeline and strong sales network in the cosmetic surgery area.



Seongsoo Park, head of Daewoongs Neurotoxin Business Division, said, It is particularly meaningful as Taiwan is one of the Asian countries whose beauty market is growing rapidly and an important market to test a possibility of success in China. This marketing authorization is expected to allow us to further strengthen Nabota as a global brand.



Meanwhile, this botulinum toxin product originally manufactured and supplied by Daewoong has obtained marketing authorization in 52 countries around the world, including the US, Canada, and Europe, and signed sales agreements with approximately 80 countries.


BBC has launched a support platform for Innovators developing products for fighting against COVID-19

Six products were launched by Minister of IT, BT and S&T and Deputy Chief Minister Ashwathnarayan at the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T. These six products have been developed at Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC) under the mentorship of Dr Jitendra Kumar and his team.

The products launched were Shieldex 24- a UV-ROS box for COVID 19 sterilization, Florescence probes and PCR mix for RT-PCR detection, a remote foetal monitoring device- Keyar and Daksh, Viral Transport Media- DeConto VTM, Cov-Astra an AI based device for detection of COVID-19 and Anti-microbial face wash containing herbal antimicrobials,

Shieldex 24, UV-ROS box for COVID 19 sterilization

Shieldex 24- is a UV-ROS box for COVID 19 sterilization developed by Biofi, an incubatee of BBC. This product can be used at the entrance of any office, airports, railway station for quick sterilization of items, baggages etc. The fast sterilization is achieved by novel technology of free radical generation for which patent has been filed.

Florescence probes and PCR mix for RT-PCR detection of COVID 19

Florescence probes and PCR mix for RT-PCR detection of COVID 19 developed by VNIR, an incubatee of BBC. Currently India is importing these probes and reagents from abroad is very expensive. This product is indigenously developed with a proprietary process and is very cost effective.

Foetal monitoring device- Keyar and Daksh

It is a remote foetal monitoring device- Keyar and Daksh developed by Janitri, a start-up funded and mentored by BBC. This product is specifically useful during COVID pandemic as doctors can monitor pregnancy without physical examination. The foetal heart rates and other vitals can transmitted from home to doctors through app and is an example of telemedicine.

Viral Transport Media- DeConto VTM

Viral Transport Media- DeConto VTM developed by Denovo Bio labs, incubated at IBAB, funded and mentored by BBC. This is a very much needed product for sample collection and preserving the integrity and viability of the COVID 19 samples obtained from patients. This is a proprietary technology which can be used for efficient transport of COVID 19 samples from patients to the diagnostic clinic.

Cov-Astra an Artificial intelligence based device for detection of COVID 19

Cov-Astra an Artificial intelligence based device for detection of COVID 19 developed by Aindra, a graduate start-up of BBC. This platform can analyse chest X ray and CT scans to predict that the patients might be infected with COVID 19. This will help doctors to treat patents effectively.

Anti-microbial face wash containing herbal antimicrobials

An Anti-microbial face wash containing herbal antimicrobials developed by Atrimed, an incubatee of BBC. This is a proprietary product which can be used to disinfect the face with COVID 19 and other microbial infections.

During the launch, Deputy Chief Minister congratulated the start-ups who developed the products and said these technologies and products developed by the start-ups at BBC shows that Karnataka has emerged as a leading state in developing solutions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and is a result of robust Innovation ecosystem present here. Ramana Reddy, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka and Chairman, BBC said We are very proud to launch the Technologies and Products in timely manner to fight the pandemic and some more Technologies and Products are in the pipeline.

Dr Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director said It is heartening to see that the start-ups have come up with the products in short time and this demonstrates that the Incubation, facilitation, funding and ecosystem building efforts by BBC which is generously supported by KITS, Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, Government of Karnataka is bearing fruits. He also stated that BBC has launched a support platform for Innovators developing products for fighting against COVID 19 and that some more products for diagnosis and therapy are being developed at the centre.
Recently appointed Machine_ MD Robyn Campbell tells us everything from how the agency is adapting to the fast-changing consumer and media environment to deliver more valuable, effective and innovative solutions, to where the industry is at on its journey towards transformation and what it was like joining a new agency during lockdown...

Robyn Campbell, Machine_'s newly appointed MD

My love for digital and firm belief that success comes from supporting and nurturing talent, culture and passion make me believe Machine_ is the perfect home for me. I hope I can bring some of that experience and build on what this great agency has already achieved.

#DigitalAgencyShowcase: Emphasis on the silent 'plus' at HelloFCB+ Rob Stokes, chairman of Red and Yellow School, got their second #digitalagencyshowcase underway by calling Mark Tomlinson and Robyn Campbell of HelloFCB+ to the podium, to explain the process of combining Hellocomputer and FCB Cape Town as HelloFCB+, and why the 'plus' is silent but so important...

Congrats on your appointment. How do you feel about it?

How and when did this come about/take effect? And comment on the timing given the lockdown/global crisis.

Joining a new agency during a lockdown has been surreal. Trying to get to know a new team without those smaller interactions like coffee runs, watercooler banter and bar nights has made me have to get more creative on how to get to know them all, master the digital impression, keep my camera on more (even if no one else has theirs on) and learn through trial and error. Theres nothing like a jarring silence on a conference call to let you know youve missed the mark.

What does your role entail?

What excites you most about the agency and your role in particular?

#SheSays: How to deal with toxic colleagues and finding your tribe Why do women drag other women down? How can we make it stop? How do you find your best-ever work wife (or husband)? SheSays Cape Town invited a panel of women to unpack 'the pink elephant' in the room...

Comment on the current state of the industry, how the industry has responded to the crisis and Machine_ in particular, and how you plan to navigate the agency through this.

The industry as a whole has really surprised me. The speed of adaption to remote working and collaboration has been amazing. Ive seen a great deal of generosity across the board, the sharing across groups and agencies  that has been really heartening, and I think we are all showing up with a lot more kindness and willingness to adapt. I see adaptability, agility and good, old fashioned creativity as key tenets in shaping our new ways of working. We certainly arent going to let this good crisis go to waste and are making sure that as we pivot, we are adapting our policies, ways of working and product to emerge stronger and more capable than before.

What do you love most about your career and the advertising industry?

#Bookmarks2020: Behind-the-scenes judging insights from the jury chairs 2020 Bookmark jury chairs share behind-the-scenes judging insights and what they most looking forward to from this year's haul...

Tell us a bit about your experience and how this has equipped you for your new position.

From pitch wins, client losses, hoisting of shiny trophies in the air, joining global networks, judging award shows, managing talent, speaking at events, driving the transformation agenda and fighting for my people, Ive had to navigate some epic highs and manage some dismal lows.

BREAKING: Machine appoints Robyn Campbell, Lindsey Rayner to top management Brand experience agency Machine has appointed two women to the top management team. Robyn Campbell as MD and Lindsey Rayner as managing partner...

Youre passionate about industry transformation and equality, and as head of the IAB Agency Council, you contribute regularly to thought leadership, mentoring and development initiatives to uplift the industry. What does transformation mean to you, where is the industry on its journey towards transformation and what steps do you believe the industry needs to take to achieve or fast-track this?

Transformation is key to this industry thriving or even surviving. Unfortunately, I dont believe the work needed in elevating and amplifying black talent, at all levels, is being championed across our industry. There are pockets of real change, but the truth is we have all been too slow. As an industry, we are still so far from even making a dent, but recently there has been some much-needed momentum towards holding businesses, leaders and brands to a higher account. The industry needs to reset, rethink and reposition. There has never been more conversation or supporting material for leaders to leverage.

What are you most looking forward to (at Machine_/in your new role)?

Whats at the top of your to-do list?

What are you currently reading/watching/listening to?

Tell us something about yourself not generally known?

Managing director Robyn Campbell recently joined Machine_ from HelloFCB+. She has over a decade of experience in the agency world, with a heavy focus on the digital environment. During her tenure at HelloFCB+ she drove digital-first thinking, developing various specialist units including the social media department, digital content production and digital media offerings.Thank you so much! I have always held Machine_ in such high regard, watching from the sidelines over the years and being impressed by the strong culture, talented people and rich work they have consistently produced. Now that I have the opportunity to be part of the story, I feel very honoured and excited for the ride.I decided to make the move across earlier this year, with my new role at Machine_ commencing on 1 May. When I weighed up taking the role, I never thought a global pandemic should be considered in my pro/con list, but I suppose tackling the unexpected is part and parcel of advertising. The timing was difficult, leaving HelloFCB+ was like leaving behind family, and those farewells were made all the tougher by not being in the same office for the last six weeks of my time there.Although it may feel a bit uncomfortable or challenging at times, the entire world is in a state of flux and we are all adapting together. My focus has been on grabbing the opportunities to adjust our sails and come out of each challenge as a stronger, more future-focused business.I oversee the Machine_ agency in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. My role covers all sorts, from managing the agency, building our client relationships, overseeing financials and budgets, driving transformation, planning our brand strategy, and augmenting our agency offerings and how to adapt to our clients needs. I do this while working very closely with my management team and together we co-author our business strategy and drive the implementation of our initiatives.The people. There is a group of hugely talented people at Machine_ that have a raft of experience I can learn from, engage in and collaborate with.That at its best, we get to tackle problems using creativity.Ive always had a real curiosity around the digital landscape, from studying computer science as a subject at school to specialising in digital design at college, its been a big part of what makes me tick. From joining a wild, young independent digital agency, Hellocomputer and learning from some of the best talent in the industry, there have been so many experiences that have been fundamental in shaping my career.Those learnings have shaped my management approach and armed me with grit and resilience. My love for digital and firm belief that success comes from supporting and nurturing talent, culture and passion make me believe Machine_ is the perfect home for me. I hope I can bring some of that experience and build on what this great agency has already achieved.A good example fromasking business leaders to be intentional in their support: Adland open letter calls for solidarity and action after death of George Floyd It is up to us to listen and educate ourselves, not wait to be educated. We need to identify where we can make a difference and stand up and act.Being exposed to new clients and their businesses. I love learning new things and getting insight into how some of these brands thrive in the South African market.Deploying our revised transformation approach.I am just getting started onby Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I am a big Adichie fan and can highly recommend her work, particularlyand: Ive been enjoying Netflixs take on previous podcast series I really enjoyed.andhave been well-produced distractions.Sadly, my podcast listening time has been cut down dramatically during Covid. Travelling in cars, planes and trains has always provided me with pockets of time to indulge in podcasts. Being homebound has impacted that, but here are some of my favourites:andI am a very mediocre amateur bird watcher.
The TBWA Group, along with a number of partners and contributors from various media organisations are working with the Solidarity Fund to launch a national campaign. TBWA ECD Carl Willoughby tells us more about their Citizens in Solidarity campaign and why we need to come together as not just an industry but a nation...

With the need to kickstart the economy and I guess life in general, were seeing people ambitiously trying to resume life as if Covid doesnt exist. This is not the case, in fact we need to exercise more caution and adopt these behavioural actions to help us through this pandemic. The industry coming together helps us amplify this important message beyond our own means. The nation coming together helps us fight this virus. Weve come together before, as South Africans we can certainly do so again.

Carl Willoughby, TBWA's ECD

For the past few weeks some of us have been working on the Solidarity Fund campaign. It's a behavioural change campaign going live as South Africa faces what will probably be the most significant climb in Covid related Cases. The images in these posts indhttps://t.co/gURKr1YVEc  Carl Willoughby (@thewilloughby) June 26, 2020

#Newsmaker: TBWA's Carl Willoughby seeks a better way of working in the ad world Carl Willoughby, who joined TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris in December as ECD, responsible for the major Standard Bank and Nissan integrated accounts, is perhaps more challenged to find a better, more collaborative way of working, not just within the agency, but in terms of the actual agency model and the ad industry at large...

The idea was developed by a small team who collaborated with the client, Solidarity Fund with the intention to affect behavioural change and inspire the nation during this time.Commenting on the importance of unity or coming together for the industry and the nation as a whole during this pandemic, TBWA ECD Carl Willoughby could not stress enough how important this is.As much of the country prepares to go back to work, it is essential that everyone takes personal responsibility for how they act. Washing your hands, wearing a mask, keeping a safe social distance doesnt just protect you, but also those around you. So the campaign asks all South Africans to display that unique generosity of spirit and can-do attitude as we actively fight Covid-19, together. By doing this they become not just citizens of South Africa but also citizens in solidarity, and that is really the crux of this campaign.Willoughby commented on its effectiveness, being predominantly copy-based. "Copy can be direct, it can be short and instructional, and the boldness of it helps create a recognisable identity. While copy-based it also allowed us to create a sense of colour, of vibrancy that is uplifting. We didnt want the communication to seem depressing or dreary. The structure also allowed us to create clear messaging in various languages to help us remain relevant to all South Africans. In short, if the messages are clear, then its easy for people to understand how they can become citizens in solidarty."The Citizens in Solidarity campaign will appear in all media from TV, print, radio, out of home and across all social channels. In addition, role models such as Bryan Habana have joined the initiative. He is also currently working through his own foundation to deliver food parcels to the most vulnerable.The campaign also has a smart layer of utility. Any South African individual, brand or corporate can access a free downloadable Citizens in Solidarity toolkit. This toolkit can then be used to integrate the campaign messaging and artwork within their own communications and platforms. The idea is for the campaign to become a movement, and for that we need the largest share of voice possible.This is a call for everyone to get involved. "The response to the campaign is great, but we urge people to help us spread the message, to take action. We want corporates to reach out. We want them the see this campaign as a simple open-source solution for some of the necessary communication they need during this time. All they have to do is add their logo. Its that simple."
Mahindra South Africa, its staff, dealers, and partners are following the company's ethos of #MahindraRISE by heading to disadvantaged communities to help people in need.

Source: Supplied

Source: Supplied

The #RISE ethos is at the heart of everything the company does across the globe, including South Africa. The ethos has three pillars, namely 'Accepting no limits', 'Alternative thinking' and 'Driving positive change'. These remain the key driving principles behind all the company's endeavours.The campaign kicked off at the start of July with a series of road trips by Mahindra's staff to support a worthy cause. Each of the company's various departments has received money towards a #RiseForGood initiative, with staff adding their own contributions and each department left free to decide on what it wants to do."At Mahindra, we are always looking for opportunities to help our local communities. We conceptualised the idea of partnering with everyone in our sphere of influence for a #RiseForGood campaign, which was kick-started by our friend and the winner of the lastseries, Rob Bentele," says Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa."Bentele started the momentum by using his own money, commandeering his friends and family - and his XUV300 - and delivering as many food parcels as possible to needy households in his childhood community of rural KwaZulu-Natal.Following this selfless action, we handed the baton to our staff and challenged them to do the same, and we encourage dealers and other companies in our sphere of influence to help out."The #RiseForGood campaign is part of a wider initiative by Mahindra to spark positive energy among its staff, customers and the communities in which it operates. In this, it is working closely with its network of 67 dealers and their communities.Mahindra believes that 'doing good' goes beyond philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. It is more than just random acts of kindness. 'Doing good' is a purpose, an attitude, and a way of life. A guide for conducting business and the company itself."We are very fortunate that our dealer network has adopted this philosophy and that they are also keen to #RiseForGood. Many of them have already started helping their customers and communities with donations, service support and even transport during the lockdown," says Gupta.Mahindra South Africa's #RiseForGood campaign started on 1 July with the first donations by some of its internal departments. Its marketing team will monitor these, and the projects initiated by its dealers.Customers and the public at large who would like to participate are invited to share their campaign on social media, using the tags #MahindraSA, #RiseForGood, #WithYouAlways, #AlwaysUpForAChallenge and #MahindraRise.
Guest presenter and YFM news editor, Mfundo Mabalane

YFM 99.2, Gautengs number one youth station is launching a one-of-a-kind talk show -. The hard-hitting show will air between 7pm and 9pm every second Thursday, starting on 9 July.The first two episodes ofwill focus on the prevalent and very serious issue of rape, its consequences, victims and the people behind the laws that are meant to protect. The, rape episodes, will be hosted by guest presenter and YFM news editor, Mfundo Mabalane.There are several burning issues in our country that need honest conversations but, more importantly, solution-driven conversations.will be that platform. This generation must play its part in the deconstruction of a society, which has enabled a culture of violence against women and children, corruption, and injustice against the marginalised, says Mabalane.Theproject is a concept created by YFMs weekday producers, who are also at the helm of their respective daytime shows. This is the team behindand. The group has teamed up to share their talents and editorial skills on this latest addition to the YFM programming lineup.Taking the reins as senior producer of the firstepisodes is Lumko Johnson, who also produces AnathisJohnson is a Wits University-trained creative content specialist, who over a career spanning close to 10 years, has conceptualised content solutions in the urban youth space, for television, digital advertising as well as radio.Expect a raw and frank discussion about rape and the subjects that underline it. Mabalane will be joined by three experts who have worked extensively in the space of gender-based violence and the show will address multiple talking points such as rape culture, structures and resources available for victims, trauma and triggers, toxic masculinity as well as the psyche and/or pathology of South African men that incite violent behaviour towards women.Here, the topic of gender-based violence will remain front-and-centre, with the focus on consent. Joining Mabalane in the studio will be a panel of guests sharing their stories, including the devastating and traumatic impact the abuse has had on their personal lives and the experience of someone refusing to hear the word no. Accompanying them will be credible voices from the legal, justice, and psychology fraternities to explore the topic even further. There will be a discussion on the Sex Offenders Register, its purpose in our society, and ways in which the general public can gain access to it.Says YFMs MD, Haseena Cassim: The effects of gender-based violence can be life-long. We want to use our platform to create a safe space to provide some kind of guidance about how to deal with the horrors of this type of violence. This show is one that we are very proud of at YFM and hope that we can make a difference in our listeners' lives by offering a voice to those who need it most.In the following months, many other topics and themes will be tackled and produced by YFMs top brains behind some of the great content that is heard on YFM.The show plans to educate listeners by tackling a wide range of social issues affecting the South African youth by having frank and honest discussions on air. Each episode will feature well-informed guests, thought leaders and credible experts to discuss the issues and solutions.Listeners are encouraged to join in the conversation by sending any questions, comments, or relevant stories on the YFM app or YFMs social media channels.
The Covid-19 pandemic, the world over saw many industries and organisations thrust into making rapid changes to how they conduct everyday business and put a spotlight on the technologies available to do so. And the education sector was massively impacted by this too.

Natasha Davies: Pinnacle education portfolio manager

With an addressable market of some 23,500 schools and 12.9 million students in South Africa, as well as over 400,000 teachers in the K12 system, it is encouraging that the South African government is driving multiple initiatives from the National Student Device project. This rollout plan to make devices accessible to teachers and learners alike will be more important than ever.The goal of the project is to provide a digital workbook or tablet to every school child over the next few years, with the aim of moving to paperless classrooms and encouraging literacy enablement by allowing children to read in their mother tongue before moving to English.This opportunity, suggests Natasha Davies, Pinnacles education portfolio manager, only grows further when considering the tertiary education environment, where there are 26 universities and 677 TVET colleges in SA to equip. Considering the ever-changing landscape of the South African education system, as well as the current Covid-19 situation, she adds that now is the ideal time for resellers to upskill and capitalise on the digital revolution and be part of the drive to get a device in every learners hands.As long term partners of HP Inc (HPI), Pinnacle play a vital role in the roll out of the HPI Education offering to the South African education industry, something which is differentiated by the fact that the solutions offered are not built around specific devices. Instead, they are aligned to the learning experiences of students and educators, with a strong focus on the education value chain and segmentation of the individual links needed to deliver the right solution and devices to assist institutions in achieving their learning objectives and desired outcomes, she explains.We aim to make education one of the most basic human rights by providing accessibility to the masses through the implementation of build best practice that creates end-to-end solutions suitable for all budgets.Davies is quick to point out that there are numerous challenges facing classroom digitisation, not the least of which are students that dont have access to technology or connectivity and therefore are computer illiterate. In addition, the education sector itself is not always ready for adoption and deployment of technology within the classroom  but this has been forced to change, and the need is even greater.To this end, we have digital solution offerings designed to address the shortcoming of technology in the classroom and home environment, enabling students to build the confidence to engage on a different level through technology.We are also aware that a critical part of any digital education initiative is that of educating the educator. We simply must ensure teachers are familiar with any technology implemented before they begin using it in the classroom. If educators are more comfortable with the solution, this is conveyed in their actions to the children, who will in turn have greater confidence in the technology themselves.Ultimately, it is all about driving positive changes in the education environment. Understanding that there are very broad demographics and budgets involved, she says, Pinnacle works on a scalable approach to education solutions. In this way, it can help to bridge the gaps and get all learners, teachers and schools on the same level.Following the presidents Sona (State of the Nation) announcement, earlier this year, of a greater focus on the digital economy and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), it is clear these are exciting times for the education environment. It is exciting for us too, as our partnership with HPI means that we have access to a range of already-proven global solutions that can be tweaked to suit SAs own education requirements.The main goal of Pinnacles education strategy is to make education accessible to everyone, by using the HPI offerings to build best practice, end-to-end solutions that allow for greater classroom interactivity and help to excite the learners  something we believe is critical in keeping them highly engaged. Innovation in education technology is stronger than ever, especially due to mobile devices, cloud technologies and virtual reality, and the time is thus right to adopt a holistic approach in regard to leveraging technology as an enabler to learning. Pinnacle, thanks to its carefully selected partners, strives to be the leader in creating and implementing this change, concludes Davies.
RTHK: US restricts visas on Chinese officials over Tibet

The United States said on Tuesday it was restricting visas to Chinese officials over Tibet, renewing a call for "meaningful autonomy" in the predominantly Buddhist region.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was taking action against an unspecified number of officials under a new US law that presses China to let Americans visit Tibet.

"Unfortunately, Beijing has continued systematically to obstruct travel to the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas by US diplomats and other officials, journalists and tourists, while PRC officials and other citizens enjoy far greater access to the United States," Pompeo said in a statement.

He said he was restricting visas to Chinese officials determined to be "substantially involved" in the exclusion of foreigners from Tibetan areas.

He did not name the officials and the State Department did not immediately comment on how many people would be affected.

The United States has increasingly been issuing such visa sanctions, including over China's recent clampdown on rights in Hong Kong and its ongoing incarceration of some one million Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims.

The Tibet action comes after a 2018 law passed by Congress that aims to pressure China over its tight restrictions in the region.

Beijing has largely barred foreign journalists from visiting Tibet since 2008, when the region saw a wave of self-immolations as protests to conditions, and has not responded to US requests to set up a consulate in Lhasa.

By contrast, the law notes that Chinese nationals face no restrictions on visiting any part of the United States. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-07-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The MTN Business App of the Year Awards, now in its 9th year, has opened entries for aspiring entrepreneurs and digital innovators across the country. This year's edition comes with a number of relevant and exciting additions, including the launch of a dedicated app development and coding initiative, the MTN Business App Academy.

Upskilling youth in ICT

Categories

Best Consumer Solution



Best Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)



Best Enterprise Solution



Best Incubated Solution



Most Innovative Solution



Best Health Solution



Best Gaming Solution



Best Agricultural Solution



Best Educational Solution



Best Financial Solution



Best South African App



The Peoples Choice Award



Best Breakthrough Developer (from the MTN Business App Academy)



Best Youth App (18  26 years of age, from the MTN Business App Academy)



(Overall) App of the Year winner

The aim of the MTN Business App Academy is to mentor and upskill aspiring talent for a career in app development. This will be done through a six-week online coding programme which feeds into a new category for the app awards, specifically for the developers who went through the academy.The MTN Business App of the Year Awards eco-system continues to evolve and expand. It is now truly a year-long initiative focused on producing the highest calibre of cutting edge and market-ready solutions. At the same time, we are building and deepening a future pipeline of digital brilliance to ensure South Africa, its people, communities and the economy can harness the full benefits of the digital economy and the fourth industrial revolution, says Kholo Magagane, head of Marketing, MTN Business.As part of the drive to grow an inclusive digital eco-system, the top three apps from the MTN Business App Academy will be assisted to develop their apps into fully-fledged solutions. A go-to-market strategy will then be devised to implement the solutions, with MTN assisting them to identify a customer, or customers, that are faced with problems that the market-ready solutions can solve.At its core, the MTN Business App Academy is really about upskilling South Africans, particularly the youth, for a future in ICT, software and mobile app development. The plan is for the academy to develop into a fully-fledged development hub that MTN Business will run with regional partners, academic institutions and enterprise clients for many years to come.We are very excited to be extending the reach and duration of the MTN Business App of the Year platform in 2020  leading into 2021, and beyond. It is encouraging that we will be reaching new audiences and laying the foundations for more people in South Africa to benefit. As a champion of app development talent in South Africa, the MTN Business App of the Year Awards will continue to uncover and celebrate local impact-makers, and out-of-the-box tech thinking that drives disruption and change, says Magagane.The number of submissions has increased year-on-year since inception, with over 600 entries received in 2019, and Magagane says even more undiscovered and untapped tech talent in the country will be given an opportunity to flourish.The icing on the cake for the overall MTN Business App of the Year winner (or winning team) is a trip to a tech-related destination to the value of R200,000, while the top three Best Youth App entrants will each receive a share of R100,000. The prize for the Best Youth App award will be split - R50,000 for the first-place winner, R30,000 for the second-place winner and R20,000 for the third-place winner.The full App of the Year Awards category list is:All eligible developers selected for the Academy will participate in a six-week online coding programme, with the objective being to solve a common social challenge facing South Africa. These are access to education, safety, and access to health, says Magagane.They will then move on to take part in a 72-hour hackathon. Participants will use their new knowledge and skills to develop their solution, and a team of tutors will be on hand to help.The solutions coming out of the hackathon will be entered into the Best Breakthrough Developer and Best Youth App categories and will be part of the overall awards judging process.It is anticipated that this years awards event will once again bring together a combination of more than 1,000 techies, leading app developers and key industry stakeholders  albeit via digital/virtual platforms.We are looking forward to one of our best years yet as we broaden the ICT eco-system well beyond Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. I encourage all aspiring innovators and techies from across the country to enter and showcase their talent as we, together, expand and develop the ICT industry in a meaningful way, concludes Magagane.To enter, app developers can submit their entriesby going to [[https://www.appoftheyear.co.za/ appoftheyear.co.za. The awards ceremony will be stream lived on 29 October 2020.
Evidence that Covid-19 may be airborne

The World Health Organisation (WHO), in a press conference, acknowledged "evidence emerging" that that the airborne transmission of Covid-19 cannot be ruled out.
Directive applies to counties currently experiencing four or more active cases of COVID-19
A merger with Northwest would allow NorthShore to serve more patients and continue focusing on community-based care, said NorthShore President and CEO J.P. Gallagher. And the deal would give Northwest patients better access to specialists, research and data that can be used to improve care, said Steve Scogna, CEO of Northwest.
It is our civic duty to fight for reforms that would allow a little girl to visit her grandmother on the West Side without being shot in the head. We have the power as a city to make it happen. The question is, do we have the will?
Last month, news broke of the horrifying scope of Chinas plan to build a genetic database of every man and boy in the country.

For years, police have been harvesting blood samples from men and schoolchildren in order to build a gigantic, genetic family tree that the state claims is meant to aid law enforcement. Once China hits roughly 70 million samples, which is ten percent of the countrys male population, it would theoretically be able to link anyone in the country to their relatives based on their DNA.

Now, Nature News reports, scientists and activists are pushing back against the plan, which they say would enable China to enact human rights violations and persecute its population.

You can think of nasty uses if you are creative, Columbia University computation biologist Itsik Peer told Nature News. Police basically do whatever they want.

Chinas Ministry of Public Security didnt answer Nature News request for comment and clarification about how the genetic database would be used  or if there are concerns about misuse beyond the stated scope of aiding criminal investigations.

But even if the genetic information is used exactly as claimed, it puts people, especially minority groups, at risk of state-sanctioned violence.

Instead of tracking down criminals, experts warn that it will enhance Chinas ability to surveil its populace and squash dissent.
What we are witnessing all over the country right now is incredibly sad. In the aftermath of the tragic death of George Floyd, it would have been wonderful to see the entire nation unite behind an effort to make our society less violent, more just and more peaceful. But instead, we have seen a tremendous explosion of violence and lawlessness that doesnt seem likely to end any time soon.

Violent crime rates are surging in major city after major city, and the 4th of July weekend was particularly bad. At least 41 people were hit by gunfire in New York City during the holiday weekend, and this continues a trend that we have seen throughout the first half of 2020. Just check out these numbers

According to figures released by the New York Police Department, for the first six months of this year, there were 176 murders, an increase of 23 percent on the 143 killed during the same period last year. The number of shooting victims has gone up 51 percent to 616 this year. In June alone, there were 250 shootings compared to 97 in the same month last year. Month-on-month, burglaries are up 119 percent and car thefts up 48 percent.

I dont know which one of those numbers is the worst, because they are all quite horrific.

A tremendous amount of money has been shifted away from the NYPD budget, and that certainly isnt going to help matters. For years, the hard work of the NYPD had helped to make New York safer than many of our other major cities, but now that is changing at a pace that is absolutely breathtaking. In fact, one British news source is now referring to the city as lawless New York

Two bullet-ridden bodies lay sprawled on bloodstained concrete steps. Alongside, relatives of the victims are wailing and collapse to the ground. In another part of the city, a gang of youths use spray paint to disable security cameras before robbing a corner store. Later, video footage captures police officers sitting helplessly in their patrol car as a baying crowd hurls glass bottles at them. This is lawless New York  a city that was once Americas glittering crown jewel but which risks descending into mob rule.

Of course New York still has a long way to go if it wants to rival Chicago. According to authorities, there are more than 100,000 gang members living in Chicago at this point, and the violence never seems to stop.

Sadly, the last couple of days have been particularly bad. Over the 4th of July weekend, at least 67 people were hit by gunfire in the Windy City

At least 67 people were shot, including 13 fatally, over the Independence Day weekend in Chicago, according to authorities. Nine of the weekends victims were minors, and two children died, officials told Fox32. That includes 14-year-old boy who was among four people who were killed in the South Side neighborhood Englewood on Saturday evening.

But instead of blaming the criminals, the Chicago Sun-Times seem to think that cutting funding for police could lead to a better and safer Chicago.

Seriously?

Do people actually believe such nonsense?

Philadelphia is another major city that is seeing a massive increase in violent crime at the same time funding for the police is being cut back

Shootings are up 67 percent. Victims of armed violence are up 29 percent. Homicides are up 25 percent. So of course it makes sense to defund the Philadelphia PD by $19 million.

Most Americans desperately want their neighborhoods to feel safe, and this could be the one issue that could rescue the Republicans from a potential disaster in the November election.

Right now, most Democrats are extremely hesitant to speak out against the violent protests that we have been witnessing all over the nation, and that is a huge mistake.

And we definitely witnessed more alarming violence during the political protests that were held over the past few days. For example, protesters in Portland were launching projectiles and shooting fireworks at police officers in Portland for hours. If Democrats want to win over independent voters, they cannot be seen as siding with such violence.

Law enforcement in downtown Portland have been under attack for hours at the federal courthouse by antifa extremists. They hurl projectile weapons at police & when officers respond, go on social media tagging politicians & lawyers claiming police brutality pic.twitter.com/K6I3sxw7jS  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) July 3, 2020

By engaging in such utter lawlessness, these radical protesters are actually hurting their own cause, because it is only going to help President Trump.

The more violence that we see, the more the American people are going to want it to stop. If tens of millions of voters believe that Joe Bidens America is an America filled with rioting, looting and violence, that could potentially be enough to push Trump over the top in November.

So Joe Bidens unwillingness to strongly call for law and order may turn out to be his Achilles heel.

The way national elections are won in America is by winning over the millions of confused people in the middle, and right now the images of these protests that those confused people are viewing on their television screens are definitely not helping Democrats. For example, over the weekend protesters in New York were burning American flags as they chanted America was never great

FAR left protesters have burned American flags outside Trump Tower and the White House. Video shows the Stars and Stripes being burned just outside the White House as the demonstrators chanted America was never great.

Does anyone out there actually think that such stunts will make the confused people in the middle more likely to vote for Democrats?

Right now, Trump is way behind in the polls, but if he makes these protesters the central issue of the campaign over the next several months he may still have a chance of winning.

But no matter who wins in November, it appears that we have now entered a new era of violence and rioting in this country.

Many of our major cities already resemble war zones, and what we have experienced so far is just the beginning.
Within just one week the recent attempt to revive 'Russiagate' has failed. It was an embarrassing failure for the media who pushed it. Their 'journalists' fell for obvious nonsense. They let their sources abused them for political purposes.

On June 27 the New York Times and the Washington Post published stories which claimed that Trump was informed about alleged Russian bounty payments to the Taliban for killing U.S. soldiers and did nothing about it:

A Russian military spy unit offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to attack coalition forces in Afghanistan, including U.S. and British troops, in a striking escalation of the Kremlins hostility toward the United States, American intelligence has found. The Russian operation, first reported by the New York Times, has generated an intense debate within the Trump administration about how best to respond to a troubling new tactic by a nation that most U.S. officials regard as a potential foe but that President Trump has frequently embraced as a friend, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive intelligence matter.

The story ran on page A-1 of the paper version of the NYT.

We immediately called it out as the obvious nonsense that it was:

Now the intelligence services make another claim that fits right into the above ['Russiagate'] scheme. Reporters from the New York Times and the Washington Post were called up by unnamed 'officials' and told to write that Russia pays some Afghans to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. There is zero evidence that the claim is true. The Taliban spokesman denies it. The numbers of U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan is minimal. The alleged sources of the claims are criminals the U.S. has taken as prisoners in Afghanistan. All that nonsense is again used to press against Trumps wish for better relations with Russia. Imagine - Trump was told about these nonsensical claims and he did nothing about it!

Others likewise dumped on the shady reporting:

But that the story was obviously bullshit did not prevent Democrats in Congress, including 'Russiagate' swindler Adam Schiff, to bluster about it and to call for immediate briefings and new sanctions on Russia.

Just a day after it was published the main accusation, that Trump was briefed on the 'intelligence' died. The Director of National Intelligence, the National Security Advisor and the CIA publicly rejected the claim. Then the rest of the story started to crumble. On June 2, just one week after it was launched, the story was declared dead:

A memo produced in recent days by the office of the nations top intelligence official acknowledged that the C.I.A. and top counterterrorism officials have assessed that Russia appears to have offered bounties to kill American and coalition troops in Afghanistan, but emphasized uncertainties and gaps in evidence, according to three officials.

...

The memo said that the C.I.A. and the National Counterterrorism Center had assessed with medium confidence  meaning credibly sourced and plausible, but falling short of near certainty  that a unit of the Russian military intelligence service, known as the G.R.U., offered the bounties, according to two of the officials briefed on its contents. But other parts of the intelligence community  including the National Security Agency, which favors electronic surveillance intelligence  said they did not have information to support that conclusion at the same level, therefore expressing lower confidence in the conclusion, according to the two officials.

The NYT buried the above quoted dead corpse of the original story page A-19.

Last week we also learned that Adam Schiff, who had blamed Trump for not reacting to the fake 'intelligence' and who used the story to call for more Russia sanctions, had been briefed on the very same 'intelligence' months ago:

Top committee staff for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, were briefed in February on intelligence about Russia offering the Taliban bounties in Afghanistan, but he took no action in response to the briefing, multiple intelligence sources familiar with the briefing told The Federalist.

...

The revelation raises serious questions that Schiff is once again politicizing, and perhaps even deliberately misrepresenting, key data for partisan gain. Asked by a reporter Tuesday if he had any knowledge of the Russia story prior to the New York Times report, Schiff said I cant comment on specifics. Schiffs recent complaints that Trump took no action against Russia in response to rumors of Russian bounties are curious given that Schiff himself took no action after his top staff were briefed by intelligence officials. As chairman of the intelligence committee, Schiff had the authority to immediately brief the full committee and convene hearings on the matter. Schiff, however, did nothing.

As Schiff and his committee staff knew about the claims they may well have been the ones who pushed it to the reporters.

Consider that both papers, the NYT and the WaPo, attribute their knowledge to 'officials'. There is a code for anonymous sources in U.S. political reporting that is usual adhered to. Sources are described as 'White House officials, 'administration officials, 'Pentagon officials or 'intelligence officials when they are working for the government. Congressional sources are usually described as 'officials' without any additional attribute.

The original sources also made the false claim that Trump had been briefed on the 'intelligence'. Source in the White House or the CIA would have likely known that this had not been the case. Sources from Congress had no way of knowing that.

That makes it quite likely that Schiff and/or members of his staff were the original sources of the fake story. Consider that it was Schiff who for two years had claimed again and again that there was 'direct evidence" that the Trump campaign had colluded with the Russian government. That has turned out to have been a lie. It is certainly not beyond Schiff to sell a dubious 'intelligence' report, based on circumstantial evidence, as alarming news that required immediate action.

The purpose of this shabby round of 'Russiagate' nonsense was to hinder Trumps plans to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan before the election, to sabotage the cooperation between Russia and the U.S. on the negotiations with the Taliban and to blame Trump of another 'collusion' with the ever hated Russia.

But the short live of the false claims made certain that it failed to achieve this.
Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton on Tuesday charged the peaceful protesters seen painting over a city-approved Black Lives Matter street mural with a hate crime and is seeking to put them in prison for a year.

BREAKING: The #Martinez couple caught on video painting over the approved #BlackLivesMatter mural on #FourthofJuly are being charged with a hate crime, according to a release from the #ContraCostaCounty District Attorney's office. pic.twitter.com/9L21byNsE1  KCBS 106.9 FM/740 AM (@KCBSRadio) July 7, 2020



Becton's office released the following statement:

Martinez, Calif.  Today, the Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office charged Nichole Anderson (42-years old Martinez resident) and David Nelson (53-years-old Martinez resident) with three misdemeanor counts, including a hate crime, for their alleged actions on Saturday, July 4, when defendant Anderson covered up a Black Lives Matter mural with black paint. Nelson directly aided in the alleged criminal conduct. The incident was captured on video by witnesses.



On July 1, a local Martinez resident applied for a permit to paint a Black Lives Matter temporary mural in downtown Martinez in front of the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse. The permit was approved by the City of Martinez and the painting was done on July 4.



Nelson and Anderson arrived at the scene of the mural after it was completed with paint supplies. Anderson started to paint over the yellow letters "B" and "L" in the word "Black." She used black paint and a large paint roller to do so. The video has been shared widely by witnesses and shared on social media.



"We must address the root and byproduct of systemic racism in our country. The Black Lives Matter movement is an important civil rights cause that deserves all of our attention," stated Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton. "The mural completed last weekend was a peaceful and powerful way to communicate the importance of Black lives in Contra Costa County and the country. We must continue to elevate discussions and actually listen to one another in an effort to heal our community and country."



In total, both defendants are charged for the following alleged offenses:



- Violation of Civil Rights, PC 422.6(b)

- Vandalism Under $400, PC 594(a)

- Possession of Tools to Commit Vandalism or Graffiti, PC 594.2(a)



If convicted, both defendants face up to a year in county jail. The alleged offenses are exempt from a specific bail amount due to the current county bail schedule in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.



Case information: People v. Nicole Claudia Anderson and David Richard Nelson, Docket Number 01-194031-1 [Emphasis added]

Becton is vindictively throwing the book at these two to "heal our community and country."



Leftist are not being prosecuted for rioting, looting and toppling statues all over America but a pair of Trump supporters are being charged with a hate crime and face a year in prison for painting over divisive city-sanctioned graffiti.







The "social justice" movement is not about seeking equality, it's about seeking revenge.



Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab and Minds.


There are no moderate, mainstream centrists in the US-centralized empire. They do not exist.

Its not that moderate, mainstream centrism is an inherently impossible position. In a healthy world, thats exactly what the predominant worldview would be. But we do not live in a healthy world.

There are no moderate, mainstream centrists anywhere in the tight alliance of nations which function as a single empire on foreign policy, because that functional empire is built upon murder, terrorism, exploitation, oppression, ecocide and the stockpiling of armageddon weapons.

People who support the status quo of this empire are called moderates, but, just like the so-called moderate rebels of Syria, they are in fact violent extremists.

This is the reality of living in a world that is profoundly psychologically unhealthy. If you make a career out of facilitating wars which cause explosives to be dropped from the sky on top of innocent human beings causing their bodies to be ripped to shreds and buried in rubble, then you are treated as an exemplar of ideal leadership and rewarded with prestigious positions in politics, punditry, book publishing and think tankery. If you oppose those same wars, you are marginalized and smeared as at best an extremist whack job and at worst a literal traitor conducting psyops for a foreign government.

Because the plutocratic class owns the political class which advances depraved plutocratic agendas and the media class which normalizes and justifies those agendas, a mainstream consensus has been forcibly manufactured that maintaining the oppressive, exploitative, omnicidal, ecocidal status quo is a good and sane thing to do. Voices which point out that this is bat shit crazy are marginalized and ignored when possible and smeared and demonized when necessary.

The ability of our plutocratic rulers and their lackeys to do this is the only reason why defenders of the status quo get to call themselves centrists and moderates. Its not because their position is middle-of-the-road in any way whatsoever, its because they stand in alignment with the consensus that has been deliberately artificially manufactured and shoved into the mainstream by sheer force of narrative control.

This consensus manufacturing is then carried home by a glitch in human cognition known as status quo bias, which causes us to tend toward holding to the familiar as a default preference and perceive the risk of losing what we have as far less favorable than the reward gaining something better. Psychology Today explains:

Research from Kahneman and Tversky suggests that losses are twice as psychologically harmful as gains are beneficial. In other words, individuals feel twice as much psychological pain from losing $100 as pleasure from gaining $100. One interpretation is that in order for an individual to change course from their current state of affairs is that the alternative must be perceived as twice as beneficial. This highlights the challenges we may face when considering a change to our usual way of doing things. When military members are considering their choices as their contract comes to an end, many consider re-enlisting simply because they are unaware of the many opportunities that exist for them. Even when we understand our current path is no longer beneficial or no longer makes us happy, we must still overcome the natural urge to stay on the path unless the alternative is sufficiently attractive. In order for us to readily pursue an alternate path, we must believe that the alternative is clearly superior to the current state of affairs. The status quo effect is pervasive in both inconsequential and major decisions. Oftentimes we are held back by what we believe to be the safe option, simply because it is the default. Bearing in mind our natural propensity for the status quo will enable us to recognize the allure of inertia and more effectively overcome it.

Status quo bias is further exacerbated in our current predicament by the fact that so many people are now so close to the brink of financial ruin and so terrified of what can happen to them if things change in a sudden and unpredictable way. The result of this is that now youve got the majority of people in the most dominant country on earth supporting the slow incremental change philosophy of so-called centrism, which in practice has always ended up meaning no change whatsoever. Meanwhile our ecosystem is dying and the US is escalating nuclear tensions with Russia and China and everyones getting more and more crazy and miserable under the oppressive and exploitative status quo.

Did you ever climb a tree when you were a kid and get stuck because you were afraid to climb down? Its a common experience for a lot of us. You get lost in the joy of the climb and so pleased with yourself in how well youre doing, then suddenly you notice that the branches are getting a lot thinner and the wind is starting to sway you back and forth, and suddenly you look down and get terrified.

Maybe you called out for your mother and she came out and told you to climb down, calling up Well you cant stay up there! And you knew she was right, but in that moment the idea of looking down and letting go of the thin branches you were clinging to felt so much scarier than just staying put in your precarious and unsustainable position.

Thats exactly where were at right now with status quo bias in our current predicament. People know things need to change, but theyre in such a precarious position that the risk of change feels far too scary to take the leap and force a deviation from our trajectory toward disaster.

But that is our only choice if we are to survive as a species. We know we were able to climb down from whatever trees we got stuck in as kids, and we know that our mother was as right then as that small inner voice inside us is now: we cant stay here. Weve got to wake up from the status quo narrative management and find a way to get down from our precarious and unsustainable position to the stable ground of sanity.

_____________________

Thanks for reading! The best way to get around the internet censors and make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for my website, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking me on Facebook, following my antics onTwitter, checking out my podcast on either Youtube, soundcloud, Apple podcasts or Spotify, following me on Steemit, throwing some money into my tip jar on Patreon or Paypal, purchasing some of my sweet merchandise, buying my books Rogue Nation: Psychonautical Adventures With Caitlin Johnstone and Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what Im trying to do with this platform, click here. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish, use or translate any part of this work (or anything else Ive written) in any way they like free of charge.

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Listen, back when I was your age, we didnt have the luxury of worrying about touchy-feely things such as deadly viruses or communicable diseases or continuing to live. We went to school and learned, and if we got polio or smallpox, we just went about our day and said, Thank you very much, and sometimes even ran back to the ol polio man and asked for seconds.
Closure may be coming almost two years after a couple vanished after their cabin became engulfed in flames in the Laycock Creek Road area.
The coronavirus pandemic has been a financial challenge and has meant financial hardship for a great number of students. Some of them are facing financial difficulties again. Students who are entitled to receive funding under the Federal Training Assistance Act ( BAfoG ) but have not yet applied for it  either because they had earned enough from a part-time job or received enough money from their parents and whose income has been interrupted due to the pandemic  should now apply for a BAfoG grant. However, some students do not fulfil the criteria to receive BAfoG (e.g. because they have exceeded the standard period of study or are enrolled in a second period of university studies). The Federal Ministry of Education and Research ( BMBF ) makes interim financial aid available for this group of students. There are two components of the financial aid: the well-established student loan from the KfW banking group, and financial aid, which is allocated by student services organizations.

KfW student loan: Basic questions and answers

How does the student loan work? Since 8 May 2020, students have been able apply for a loan from KfW which is interest-free until 31 March 2021. Students from EU member states who have resided in Germany for less than three years and students from third countries can apply since 1 June 2020. The BMBF will pay the interest costs until 31 March 2021 on KfW student loans, which are in the disbursement phase before that date. After that date, students are expected to pay the applicable interest rate themselves. Depending on need, the loan is granted for an amount of up to 650 per month following an unbureaucratic online application procedure. The temporary interest-free period on student loans also applies for students who have already taken out a KfW student loan and are receiving disbursements. The loans being made to students will likely enable additional funding of up to 1 billion in total. What are the rules governing student loan repayment? The usual, very flexible, repayment schedules for KfW student loans apply. Terms and conditions can be agreed and amended on an individual Basis. The basic conditions for loan repayment are as follows: no repayment is due during a grace period of 6 to 23 months, but during which interest may accrue. A minimum instalment of 20 per month is due in the subsequent repayment phase. A maximum repayment period of 25 years is in effect. Loans must be repaid by the borrowers 67th birthday. Unscheduled repayments are allowed, which is attractive in particular for small-volume and shorter-term financial aid. Further information is available here. Who is eligible for KfW aid? The KfW student loan as interim financial aid is available to the previously eligible group: students aged 18-44 who are enrolled at a state-recognized institution of higher education in Germany and fulfil one of the following conditions: German citizens who are registered as living in Germany

Dependants of German citizens who live with them in Germany and who are registered here

EU citizens who have been lawfully residing in Germany on a permanent basis for at least three years and who are registered here

Dependants of EU citizens (who fulfil the above criteria) and reside with them in Germany and who are registered here

Non-nationals who have acquired their university entrance qualifications in Germany and are registered in Germany In addition, the group eligible for a KfW student loan will be expanded for a limited period of time. International students  third country nationals and EU citizens who have resided in Germany for less than three years  can take advantage of the loan, provided their primary residence is in Germany. To check if you fulfil the criteria for the KfW loan, go to the KfW website . How does one apply? Applications for interim financial aid can be submitted to KfW since 8 May 2020. Students from EU member states who have resided in Germany for less than three years and students from third countries can apply since 1 June 2020. Further information is available on the KfW website at www.kfw.de/studienkredit-coronahilfe When can applicants expect disbursement of the student loan? If an application for aid is made by the fifteenth day of the month, disbursement will begin on the first day of the following month. Is there any other form of emergency aid for students in need? Yes. A sum of 100 million was available, in addition to the aid from KfW , during the months of June through September 2020. Students faced with pandemic-related financial hardship and who need immediate help could apply for financial aid with the student services organisations.

Students of German and foreign citizenship enrolled at a public or state-recognized institution of higher education can apply again for interim financial aid in the form of a grant. The grant is meant to alleviate pandemic-related hardship and is distributed by the local student organizations (Studentenwerke). Federal Education Minister Anja Karliczek explains: The pandemic is an enourmous burden for our society. I receive a lot of replies in which students describe their very personal situation. To me it is important that nobody needs to stop studying because of losing his source of income or because his parents income has declined. I think it is right to offer the interim financial aid seamlessly also over the course of the whole summer semester 2021 as support of students.

Extendingthe student aid once more is part of the governments actions to alleviate financial burdens related to measures against the pandemic decided by the Federal Republic of Germany and its states. Due to the closure of gastronomic businesses and cultural institutions, it is to be expected that the income situation of students stays limited. Thus, pandemic-related financial hardships could remain.

This diagram shows the number of applications submitted by month. The percentage of completed applications which were approved is also shown. Many applications for March and April are still being processed; changes are still to be expected for these months (last updated 7 April 2021). *Applications for the month of April can be submitted until 30 April.  BMBF

The application for the current month can still be submitted via the established national IT platform. Applications can only be submitted online. Any documents or inquiries sent directly by post or email to the Studentenwerke, Deutsches Studentenwerk or the BMBF cannot be processed or returned.

Interim aid for students: frequently asked questions

Note on the month of November Before preparing your application  which is not yet possible  please note the following: - You will need the complete bank statements of the last month previous to the month of application and up to the last bank day before the application. - Your name and your bank account number need to be recognizable on your bank statement. Please do not use screenshots taken with your mobile phone but rather PDF documents. Usually it is easier to create PDFs from the desktop view. - Please include all accounts that are available to you at short notice (e.g. checking account, online deposits, securities portfolio). - It is absolutely necessary to submit either the notice of termination of employment or the suspension of employment from the employer(s) or a declaration by the applicant of the loss of self-employment or a declaration by the applicant of the loss of parental financial support. If it is not obvious from the notice of termination of employment that the termination is due to the corona pandemic, please state this in your declaration. If your parents cannot continue to provide you with financial support, please upload proof of the circumstances. - You must submit either your identity card or your passport and certificate of residence (Meldebescheinigung) as proof of your current address. The front and back of your ID must be generally recognizable. Your usual place of residence must be within Germany. This will be checked on the basis of your documentation. - You must also submit your higher education enrolment certificate for the current semester (no other).


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Preckwinkle has said the county is working to close those shortfalls, although shes also hoping Congress passes another round of coronavirus relief that would include money for local governments. The Democratic-led U.S. House has approved additional legislation, which it dubbed the HEROES Act, but the GOP-controlled U.S. Senate has not taken up the matter and is on recess until July 20.
Many of the problems seniors struggle with are influenced by class and race, as well as by location. The lack of robust health care, housing, or food programs can disadvantage senior citizens who are not well-off or who live in rural areas, Vahos said. In this way, social inequalities can become sharper as people age.

But while aging can be extremely challenging, especially for those who are poor or middle class, Vahos acknowledged that growing older brings gifts, as well. "I also want to focus on the positive, which shows the strength in aging," she said.

"There is a lot of happiness and joy in getting older and coming to view yourself and the world in different ways as you age."

Though she is only twenty, Vahos said some of the themes she's looking at relate to all phases of life, including her own, which is more often associated with transition and self-reflection. "Our idea of personhood changes through time as we get new jobs or hit new life markers, and this is acutely true for seniors as well," she said. "And it is really important because that impacts a plethora of things, like mental health and physical abilities."

In the first weeks of summer, Vahos is focusing on conducting a literature review about aging in America. She then plans to interview those who work with the elderly in Maine, as well as senior citizens themselves.

The goal of her summer research is to lay the foundation for an anthropology honors project. While she isn't pitching her findings as policy recommendations, Vahos acknowledged that anthropologists play a role in social change.
Theyve helped us build a groundbreaking testing infrastructure that will continue to make a difference to Illinoisans long after their mission is completed in the coming days, Pritzker said at a news conference. These citizen soldiers spent months away from their families and their regular civilian jobs to see our state through the worst of this pandemic. What I hope is the worst of this pandemic.
Two provincial parks in Westman were given additional protections by the Manitoba government on Tuesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 8/7/2020 (349 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Two provincial parks in Westman were given additional protections by the Manitoba government on Tuesday.

In Duck Mountain Provincial Park, northwest of Dauphin and southeast of Swan River, 951 hectares (9.51 square kilometres) of land will no longer be designated as resource management and will now be designated for backcountry land use.

At Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, south of Boissevain and along the border with North Dakota, 5,114 hectares (51.15 square kilometres) of land is likewise being redesignated from recreational development and resource management to backcountry land use.

For Duck Mountain, the reason cited for the move is the protection of rare plant species in the affected area. In Turtle Mountain, the aim is to help the local moose population recover. After Tuesdays moves, 11.1 per cent of the provinces lands are now set aside for biodiversity conservation.

"Our government is committed to the protection and preservation of lands, parks and local ecosystems in Manitobas eco-regions," Conservation and Climate Minister Sarah Guillemard said in a release. "In consultation with local residents, affected stakeholders and Indigenous communities, we are proud to make these changes that will enhance the protection of rare and at-risk species and habitat in our provincial parks."

Guillemard also thanked Tundra Oil & Gas, which voluntarily ceased operations and rehabilitated its lease sites in the affected area at Turtle Mountain in recent years.

However, a Manitoba-based campaigner for nature advocacy group the Wilderness Committee takes issue with the provinces description of the situation at Turtle Mountain.

While hes glad the whole park is now protected, Eric Reder said the only reason Tundra ceased operations at the park is because it was no longer economically feasible to do so, not out of a sense of charity.

"Tundra couldnt make a go of any more work financially, and they announced this back in 2018," Reder said. "For (the province) now to say Oh this is a wonderful partnership, this isnt a wonderful partnership. They stopped paying the government money to destroy the park."

He also takes issue with the province "celebrating a fossil fuel company for not destroying public lands inside a park" in one of its news releases, especially after what he says is evidence of fossil fuel-related climate change during the recent storms and flooding in Westman.

As for the Duck Mountain announcement, Reder said it was lacking given that the newly protected area covers less than one per cent of the parks land.

"Its kind of a slap in the face, because 61 per cent of Duck Mountain Provincial Park is available for clear-cut logging," he said. "Its one of the only provincial parks left in Canada where there is logging allowed. The other is (Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario). This is really Manitobas shame."

He said he doesnt object to the wetland ecosystem being protected by the announcement, but he would have liked to see more of the park being protected.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
The Paycheck Protection Program offered businesses with fewer than 500 employees loans of up to $10 million to help them keep people employed as the COVID-19 pandemic upended the economy. The original program, launched in early April, made the loans forgivable if at least 75% was used to cover payroll for eight weeks, but that was later changed to 60% of the loan covering 24 weeks of payroll.
That isnt to say that the cascade of decisions that got Illinois to this point were easy, Pritzker said Wednesday. In fact, every one of them has been a choice between bad and worse  muddled further by the White Houses broken promises on testing supplies and PPE deliveries.
Stay-at-home orders, layoffs and furloughs dented consumer spending that is only now coming back in fits and starts. U.S. retail and food service sales rose an estimated 17.7% in May compared with April, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Still, many consumers are dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic and worries about venturing into stores, especially as an increase in new COVID-19 cases nationwide has led some states to slow their reopening plans.
Care for Real, which also provides food and clothes for people, started a pop-up food pantry in Rogers Park because others had shut down in the area, Meyerson said. The added labor meant their pet food pantry had to temporarily close while a smaller number of staffers tried to help more people in need of other essentials.
Illinois reported 36 new deaths from COVID-19 Wednesday as well as 980 new confirmed cases. The total of new confirmed cases is the highest in more than a month, since 1,156 new cases were announced June 5.

Also on Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for a national mask mandate, a national containment strategy for COVID-19 and additional federal aid for states to offset large revenue losses created by the pandemic in testimony before a Congressional committee.

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Later in the day, the governor also announced that more than 500 Illinois National Guard members will end their missions at 11 state-run testing sites this month, after operating the sites since March and administering more than 200,000 tests.

Heres whats happening Wednesday regarding COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois:

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5:37 p.m.: Chicago History Museum reopens July 10 with free tickets

The Chicago History Museum will reopen its doors to the public July 10 and will offer free admission through the end of the month, the North Side museum announced Wednesday.

As Chicagos principal home devoted to the citys past and stories, its building on the edge of Lincoln Park has been shut by the COVID-19 pandemic since mid-March. It will reopen at reduced capacity, with timed entries and a maximum of 275 visitors at a time, and following the State of Illinois Phase 4 guidelines for museums.

Read more here. Doug George

5:20 p.m.: The retail bankruptcies and store closings just keep coming. For some merchants, the pandemic was the straw that broke the camels back.

Many of Americas storied retailers already were facing big challenges, but the COVID-19 pandemic has hastened difficult decisions that will mean job losses and empty storefronts in the Chicago area and elsewhere.

Stay-at-home orders, layoffs and furloughs dented consumer spending that is only now coming back in fits and starts. U.S. retail and food service sales rose an estimated 17.7% in May compared with April, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Still, many consumers are dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic and worries about venturing into stores, especially as an increase in new COVID-19 cases nationwide has led some states to slow their reopening plans.

Chains with deep roots are filing bankruptcy. Others have sped up plans to close underperforming stores. And unlike in past retail reckonings, the list of tenants that might be interested in filling those spaces, like medical offices and fitness facilities, likely has shrunk, given economic concerns as well as social-distancing rules.

Read more here. Lauren Zumbach

4:56 p.m.: Cook County to start dividing up much-needed $51 million in federal CARES Act funding to suburbs hardest hit by coronavirus pandemic

Cook County suburbs will receive about $51 million in federal aid under a formula that officials say will prioritize areas with the direst financial and public health needs, board President Toni Preckwinkle announced Wednesday.

More than 100 cities, towns and villages will receive a slice of the money, which makes up 12% of the total $429 million coronavirus relief fund given to Cook County under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Preckwinkle said at a news conference in west suburban Berwyn.

When announcing what she called much-needed relief to local governments, Preckwinkle stressed that racial equity surrounding the coronavirus response was paramount  a common theme during her messaging since the pandemic started. The county worked with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to devise an equitable funding formula that considers a municipalitys immediate needs, median income and public health statistics, she said.

As we know, COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on Black and brown communities, Preckwinkle said. This approach is designed to ensure these dollars are going to communities most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Read more here. Alice Yin

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4:50 p.m.: Lake County warns COVID-19 cases climbing among young adults, teenagers

The number of COVID-19 cases is climbing among Lake County teenagers and young adults even as the countys overall totals have held steady, the Lake County Health Department warned Wednesday.

Two Lake County high schools  Lake Zurich and Vernon Hills  have reported cases among participants in their summer athletic programs, leading Lake Zurich High School to suspend its athletic camps until further notice and ask participants in three of the camps to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to the Lake County Health Department.

The Lake County Health Department has found during its investigations into positive cases across the county that many young people who attended social gatherings with their friends have become infected with COVID-19, Dr. Sana Ahmed, the departments medical epidemiologist, said in a news release.

For much of the pandemic locally, those under 30 had fewer cases per 10,000 people compared to the overall population, but that began to change in mid-June, Lake County data shows.

On May 8, when coronavirus cases were at a high countywide, the seven-day rolling average was 2.71 per 10,000 Lake County residents. For those under 30, the number was lower: 1.97 per 10,000.

The two averages began to converge around mid-June as the number of new cases fell, hitting a low around June 21, the data shows. At that point, the seven-day average was 0.49 per 10,000 residents and 0.43 per 10,000 residents under 30.

The rate for under 30 surpassed the overall population on June 25 and since then the gap has grown. As of Tuesday, the seven-day average was 0.62 per 10,000 for those under 30 compared to 0.81 for the overall population.

Read more here. Emily Coleman

3:27 p.m.: Loyola, U. of C. make plans for students coming from high-risk states to quarantine under city order

Loyola University Chicago is preparing lists of students who will need to quarantine when arriving on campus this fall, President Jo Ann Rooney said at a Wednesday webinar.

The university is making efforts to comply with the citys recent order requiring travelers from 15 states with high rates of coronavirus to self-quarantine for 14 days when entering Chicago. The order applies to students from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. City officials said the list of high-risk states may change with time.

Were working that into a timeframe for when those students  if they were planning on living on campus  when they would need to be on campus or even in the city to quarantine during those two weeks prior to any classes starting, Rooney said.

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She said students can quarantine in their dorms or apartments two weeks prior to classes starting, or they can participate in classes online for two weeks before transitioning to their classrooms.

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They would be asked then to join that classroom in an online component, and then be able to join when medically feasible, Rooney said.

The University of Chicago previously announced that its faculty, staff, students and other community members must adhere to the citys order if they travel from listed states.

Members of the University community should therefore build in as much flexibility as possible when making Autumn Quarter travel arrangements, Provost Ka Yee C. Lee wrote in a Friday email.

Some other Chicago colleges, including University of Illinois at Chicago, DePaul University, Northeastern Illinois University and Illinois Institute of Technology, have not yet announced plans related to the order.

Sydney Czyzon

2:40 p.m.: Illinois National Guard coronavirus mission to wind down; 980 new known COVID-19 cases, 36 additional deaths reported

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday that more than 500 Illinois National Guard members will end their missions at 11 state-run testing sites this month, after operating the sites since March and administering more than 200,000 tests.

Theyve helped us build a groundbreaking testing infrastructure that will continue to make a difference to Illinoisans long after their mission is completed in the coming days, Pritzker said at a news conference Wednesday. These citizen soldiers spent months away from their families and their regular civilian jobs to see our state through the worst of this pandemic. What I hope is the worst of this pandemic.

Roughly 100 National Guard members will remain active through the end of this month to assist with the transition of COVID-19 related missions the Guard has been involved in, according to the Governors Office.

After testing sites are turned over to contract staffers, Guard members will quarantine for two weeks, per public health guidance to stem the spread of coronavirus.

The announcement came as the Illinois Department of Public Health on Wednesday announced 980 new known coronavirus cases today and 36 more deaths, raising the statewide totals to 149,432 confirmed cases and 7,099 deaths since the pandemic struck Illinois. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity rate stands at 2.6%.

Read more here. Jamie Munks

1:46 p.m.: Which parts of the Chicago area got the most PPP loans? Check out this ZIP code analysis.

As federal money flowed into Illinois to support businesses during the pandemic, much of it went to Chicagos downtown and North side neighborhoods as well as its northern suburbs.

Businesses in ZIP code 60062, which encompasses the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, received the greatest number of loans  1,907  though the vast majority were small loans of less than $150,000, according to an analysis of data released this week by the Small Business Administration.

Read more here. Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz and Jonathon Berlin

12:50 p.m.: Taste of Chicago To-Go launches today  heres how to take part

Taste of Chicago started Wednesday. You may be forgiven for not noticing.

The citys premier food and music summer festival was canceled  do we really need to mention why?  for 2020, but it continues through July 12 as Taste of Chicago To-Go, a series of restaurant promotions, free community meals and virtual entertainment.

12:28 p.m.: Pritzker calls for national mask mandate and containment strategy in congressional testimony

Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for a national mask mandate, a national containment strategy for COVID-19 and additional federal aid for states to offset large revenue losses created by the pandemic in testimony before a Congressional committee on Wednesday.

Pritzker said a national containment strategy for the highly-contagious COVID-19 should involve additional testing and contact tracing.

It may even mean national restrictions that will be followed in every state, Pritzker said, testifying remotely to the U.S. Committee on Homeland Security.

The mask mandate that took effect in Illinois May 1 aligns with our most significant downward shifts in our infection rate, Pritzker said. Its not too late for the federal government to make an impact. In fact, its more important than ever.

Read more here. Jamie Munks

12:11 p.m.: Despite Trumps push for nations schools to reopen this fall, Lightfoot says the decision should be local

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday said the question of whether schools should reopen this fall must be a local decision but she doesnt put much thought into what President Donald Trump says and added that its ironic for a Republican to advocate against individual states rights.

Making some broad declaration at the federal level and ignoring the particular circumstances of a locality, where they are ... what their plans are, eliminating the possibility for some kind of a hybrid model, that doesnt make any sense, Lightfoot said.

The city doesnt know whats going to happen in September, Lightfoot said.

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We all want to do whats in the best interests of our children and thats got to be dictated by the public health guidance, she said.

Read more here. Gregory Pratt

10:26 a.m.: State extends deadline on expiring drivers licenses, vehicle stickers to Nov. 1

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse Whites office will extend expiration dates for drivers licenses, identification cards and license plate stickers an additional month, to Nov. 1.

The extension by an additional month means that anyone with an expired document, including those that expire in July, August and September, dont need to rush to a drivers services facility to renew right away, White said in a statement Wednesday.

The Secretary of States Office continues to advise Illinois residents to use its online services where possible, including renewing license plate stickers, to lessen customer volumes within facility amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Until July 31, the Secretary of States Office is serving only new drivers, those with expired licenses, identification cards and vehicle transactions. Face masks are required in drivers services facilities and customers are asked to be prepared to wait outside.

Jamie Munks

9:44 a.m.: Lightfoot marks kickoff of virtual Taste of Chicago amid coronavirus pandemic

Mayor Lori Lightfoot kicked off the citys Taste of Chicago to go, a symbolic and virtual way to keep the popular summer tradition alive.

The mayor peppered her remarks at Grant Park with praise for the resiliency of restaurateurs, saying they had a very tough go this year but have continued to pursue their dreams.

Having some sort of Taste of Chicago continue, she said, is about giving people something to look forward despite the changes to life brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

Shutting down, having nothing, that doesnt bring hope and inspiration, she said.

There will be online cooking demonstrations hosted by popular Chicago chefs as part of the Taste.

Gregory Pratt

7:41 a.m.: For the 1st time since March, fans took in a live sporting event in Chicagoland with the Chicago Dogs home opener: We just wanted to get on with our lives a little bit

Wearing a hot dog designed calf-length poncho Tuesday night, Danny Schwartz and his family walked into Rosemonts Impact Field, eager to see live sports for what Schwartz said felt like an eternity.

Ive missed it immensely, said Schwartz, who with Haley Damm brought their 4-year-old son Jackson. When the opportunity arose to come out here, we jumped at it.

The family from Barlett was in the crowd of 1,400 fans that watched the first professional sports event in Chicagoland since the Chicago Blackhawks beat the San Jose Sharks at the United Center on March 11. Since then, arenas and stadiums across the nation shuttered amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As other sports  like the NBA, WNBA, MLS, NWSL and MLB  plot to play again, the Dogs season is underway.

Read more here. Shannon Ryan

6:45 a.m.: Online Taste of Chicago starts today

A coronavirus-era Taste of Chicago kicks off this morning with a parade of food trucks from Buckingham Fountain, online food demonstrations and a list of restaurants to order food from or sample via their food trucks.

This years Taste will largely be either online or symbolic, with the city designating a list of restaurants participating in the festival, usually held in Grant Park, but which this year will have takeout food trucks available with special Taste menus.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot was scheduled to kick off the fest Wednesday morning at Buckingham Fountain, followed by a parade of food trucks from participating restaurants.

There will be daily food demonstrations online and other programming. For details check this Tribune story and the Tastes online home, TasteofChicago.us.

Chicago Tribune staff

6 a.m.: Chicago students earning stipends through online summer program

This summer, incoming Lane Tech senior Jasmin Aquino is sewing a fanny pack. Enamored with fashion design since childhood, Jasmin finally learned to sew clothing through an After School Matters program in 2017. Shes since made jumpsuits, a floor-length gown, shirts, backpacks, and recently, masks for friends and family to wear during the coronavirus pandemic.

Knowing how serious the virus is and how cautious people need to be, Jasmin said shifting the summer program online offers students like her a chance to earn a bit of money and do something they love from home.

More than 10,000 Chicago teens could earn stipends this summer for participating in After School Matters programs, now in their 30th year. Close to 17,000 applied for a spot in one of more than 500 programs, which began Monday. Summer students earn participation stipends ranging from $336 to $850, depending on the programs complexity, time commitment and level, such as apprenticeship and internship, said Chief Program Officer Melissa Mister.

Programs are also offered during the school year. Funding for the nonprofit comes from the city and state, the private sector and individual donors. In fiscal year 2019, more than half its revenue came from government grants, according to the organization.

Read more here. Hannah Leone

6 a.m.: Demand escalates for pet food pantries during COVID-19 crisis: We didnt know how we were going to manage

Chicago animal shelters and pet food pantries have scrambled to provide enough resources for pet owners as demand has escalated as people have lost their jobs and suffered financial strain during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many pet food pantries in the region have shut down, while others looked to new ways of doing things to stay afloat.

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Pantries have had to abandon their reliance on volunteers, many of whom have been told to stay at home to adhere to social distancing guidelines and minimize exposure to COVID-19. As a result, fewer workers are picking up more work.

Read more here. Kelli Smith

Breaking coronavirus news Stay up to date with the latest information on coronavirus with our breaking news alerts.

Here are five things that happened Tuesday related to COVID-19.

A lender halted funding for a planned Helmut Jahn-designed skyscraper on Michigan Avenue because of economic concerns resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, putting the project in doubt.

Free saliva-based COVID-19 tests began at the University of Illinois, but the school wont say if students are required to take them.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched an all-out effort to reopen schools this fall.

The Historic Sandwich Fair, the oldest in Illinois since 1888, was canceled due to pandemic.
The banking industry's move to give struggling borrowers more time to repay loans has underlined the risk of a rising tide of bad debts as the economy faces a major setback from the lockdown enforced in Melbourne.

In an attempt to avoid what some fear is a looming financial "cliff", the banks are giving an extra four months to those customers who have deferred their loans since the start of the pandemic. The change means some people who have deferred their loans since March will be able to go up to 10 months without making payments to their bank, up from six months previously.

APRA chairman Wayne Byres: "This will help to avoid unnecessary hardship and foreclosures." Credit:Jessica Hromas

On Wednesday Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) chairman Wayne Byres said the policy would help customers get on top of their debts, adding that the temporary changes, which will be supported by concessional capital rules, would give banks an incentive to support customers through a period of high uncertainty.

"This will help to avoid unnecessary hardship and foreclosures, and allow the banking sector to work with its customers to find the best solution to manage their debts.
The analyst community has learned the hard way that you cant outrun a share price with more momentum than a high-speed train. Just ask the investment bank research teams that have turned themselves into knots attempting to backfill their reasoning for doubling their price targets for Afterpay.

The first tranche of Afterpays $800 million (and wildly supported) equity issue focused attention on Citi analysts' move to more than double the target price of the buy now, pay later fintech only a week before Citi was one of two tapped as an underwriter.

Eyebrows were further raised because it was only in April that Citi downgraded the stock. But it wasnt the only broker playing catch up. RBS doubled its target price to $60 on Monday and Macquarie got in on the act on Tuesday after Afterpays capital raising and business update, increasing its target price by 94 per cent to $70.

Anthony Eisen and Nick Molnar are cashing in on the booming success of their buy now, pay later company.

The UBS research team was also dragged into upgrading the stock on the back of a strong set of customer and merchant acquisition numbers. But UBS still extremely cautious with a target price of $25 - and thats after raising it by 78 per cent.
Melbourne's plunge back into lockdown to contain a COVID-19 outbreak and the closure of the NSW border to Victoria has scuttled airlines and airports' tentative recovery from the health crisis which had brought their operations to a standstill.

Qantas and its budget arm Jetstar are significantly reducing their flights to and from Melbourne in light of the outbreak, killing off plans to lift Qantas' domestic flying from 15 per cent of its usual network to 40 per cent through July.

Sydney Airport is again closed to all but essential visitors from Victoria. Credit:Steven Siewert

Qantas will cut its Melbourne-Sydney schedule from five flights a day to three starting on Thursday while Jetstar will drop from five per day to one or two. Qantas will also suspend all flights from Melbourne to Brisbane and Adelaide for six weeks, a spokesman said.

Virgin Australia - in the middle of a sale and relaunch from administration by Bain Capital - is also reviewing its already minimal flight schedule.
Australia's largest newspaper publishers are in advanced discussions about shutting some print centres and merging other operations as they look for ways to reduce costs without cutting editorial jobs.

Multiple industry sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Nine Entertainment Co (publisher of this masthead), Rupert Murdoch's News Corp Australia and Australian Community Media have been in talks for months about redrawing current print partnerships through the potential amalgamation of print centres.

Talks currently underway between Australia's biggest news publishers could reshape the newspaper printing industry. Credit:AP

ACM, which is run by real estate entrepreneur Antony Catalano and owned by billionaire investor Alex Waislitz, told staff on Wednesday it was looking at the potential closure of sites in Albury, Ballarat, Canberra and Murray Bridge. News Corp began consulting with Queensland printing staff last week about plans to consolidate two centres weeks after deciding to shut 112 community and regional print newspaper editions.

The closure of a printing site could save publishers tens of millions of dollars but it could change the location and cost of printing key mastheads. All three publishers have print agreements in place with one another which would change if sites were consolidated. News Corp and Nine have separate deals with ACM in New South Wales. Nine and News Corp also share resources in Queensland and New South Wales. Sources stressed no new print deals had been signed despite the reviews of print centres underway. News Corp, Nine and ACM declined to comment.
Virgin Australia's administrator Deloitte has defended its fire sale of the airline to Bain Capital, saying doing so avoided the company being liquidated, as bondholders step up their own efforts to take control of the company.

One of Virgin's largest bondholders, Broad Peak Investment, lodged an interlocutory process in the Federal Court on Tuesday seeking access to the secret sale agreement signed on June 26 between Deloitte and Bain.

Bondholders are challenging the deal to sell Virgin to Bain Capital. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Bain and Deloitte have refused to say how much the private equity firm will pay Virgin's creditors, which are owed a combined $6.8 billion, or how many of Virgin's 9000 workers will lose their jobs.

Broad Peak, a Singaporean hedge fund, was part of a group of bondholders that proposed swapping their $2 billion in debts for ownership of Virgin. Deloitte passed over the proposal and a rival bid from Cyrus Capital in favour of Bain.
In Beverly, Victor Davis is in his fourth year of After School Matters Leadership Council program. Entering his senior year in the finance pathway at Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, Victor wants to continue studying finance and become a CEO, with particular interest in tech branding. A problem-solver who loves figuring out how to finish a task most efficiently, Victor said hes inspired by innovations from Elon Musk and Google, but lately has also been moved by businesses helping the community. In addition to telling his mom his ideas all the time, he said he writes them down in a journal.
New Zealand's housing market is defying predictions of a slump, for now at least, as thousands of citizens living abroad flock home to the COVID-free nation.

Home values gained 7.4 per cent in June from a year earlier, only slightly down on the 7.7 per cent annual growth rate in May, government-owned property research company Quotable Value said on Wednesday. Prices rose 1.3 per cent over the past three months, taking the average to $NZ738,018 ($696,000).

Auckland's prices jumped to an average of $NZ1.08 million. Credit:Alamy

New Zealand's success in eliminating community transmission of the coronavirus allowed it to exit a nationwide lockdown early and resume normal life. That's attracted many kiwis living overseas back to their homeland, fanning demand in the property market even as an economic slump drives up unemployment and dents consumer confidence.

"A combination of pent up demand following lockdown, plus vast numbers of returning expats over the past few months has contributed to strong attendance at open homes, auctions and tenders in most locations throughout New Zealand," said QV General Manager David Nagel.
Australia's second-largest superannuation fund is preparing to dump its shares in companies that derive more than 10 per cent of their revenue from thermal coal mining as it embarks on the most aggressive immediate climate push of any large local investor.

First State Super, which holds $130 billion in retirement savings, is distributing a new climate plan among its members detailing initiatives to shield their money from the threats of global warming, including setting a 30 per cent emissions-reduction target across its investment portfolio by 2023 and a 45 per cent cut by 2030.

First State chief executive Deanne Stewart told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald climate change posed the single biggest risk to Australians' retirement savings, and superannuation investors must "take bold and decisive action now" to safeguard members' long-term interests.

First State Super CEO Deanne Stewart.

"Climate change clearly poses the most significant risk to investment portfolios over the long term," she said. "Why we are stepping it up to a much greater degree now is we see that risk front and centre in terms of the impact it is likely to have on investment returns for our members."
Up to 40 per cent of apprentices could lose their jobs by the end of this year without an economic recovery and an extension of employer subsidies, including JobKeeper payments.

Business NSW, which represents more than 25,000 businesses, will on Thursday release a report which shows the impact of COVID-19 on skills training will be worse than previously expected.

Jayden Fleischer is a fourth-year apprentice carpenter. Credit:Peter Rae

"We knew that apprentices were doing it tough, but we hadnt realised how tough," Business NSW chief executive Stephen Cartwright said.

The analysis of real-time data predicts the number of young people starting apprenticeships will fall by 36 per cent this year, compared to last year. That means 54,000 fewer apprenticeships starting across Australia in 2020  97,000 compared to 151,000 last year.
Josie and the Podcats is the kind of series that could only exist as a podcast, following two friends as they dedicate a year of their lives to researching and discussing the cultural impact of a teen comedy that bombed at the box office.

Maria Lewis, discovered Josie and the Pussycats  the 2001 movie adaptation of the classic comic as a twelve year old and became immediately obsessed.

Host Maria Lewis and producer Blake Howard present the slick short-run series Josie and the Podcats.

"It was so incredibly funny and really smart. And visually it looks like you could lick it," she said.

"Like any cult film it becomes that secret language. It's that secret password that you can use to speak with people who are like minded."
Lands and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt will not wade into the sale of the Jubilee Downs cattle station in Western Australia's Kimberley after a local native title group in the region was knocked out of the bidding process.

Last week the Yi-Martuwarra Ngurrara native title group voiced disappointment its consortium's $25 million bid had been knocked back because it couldn't compete with bids which have reached at least $30 million.

The property comes with 11,000 head of cattle. Credit:Fairfax Media

Elders Real Estate is managing the sale and said it received eight expressions of interest for the station, which also includes the Quanbun Downs lease and 11,000 head of cattle. Three EOIs were around the $30 million mark.

The Yi-Martuwarra Ngurrara consortium, which includes global environmental land buyer The Nature Conservancy, speculated the higher bids came from wealthy individuals with pastoral interests in the Kimberley.
North Sydneys tallest building has been approved by the NSW government, with a 42-storey commercial office block to tower over the new Victoria Cross Metro Station within four years.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes announced the approval on Wednesday while touring the cavernous metro construction site almost 50 metres underground with Transport Minister Andrew Constance.

Mr Stokes said the development above the $476 million Metro station would transform the North Sydney CBD, making it more pedestrian friendly.

An artist's impression of the newly approved 42-storey North Sydney office tower above Victoria Cross Metro Station.

North Sydney, particularly in the '60s and '70s, was turned into a very classic old fashioned downtown which was alive only between 9 and 5  this is all about breathing new life and liveability into an urban core, he said.
New restrictions for NSW could be announced as early as Thursday as Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned there was an "extremely high" probability the resurgence of COVID-19 in Victoria would spread to NSW.

The warning came as the number of active COVID-19 cases in Victoria hit 860  its highest point since the pandemic began  and NSW Health authorities were left scrambling to find passengers who travelled to Sydney from Melbourne on Tuesday night and who left Sydney Airport without a health screening.

Police stop and question drivers at the NSW-Victorian border. Credit:Getty Images

"The probability of contagion in NSW given what's happening in Victoria is extremely high," Ms Berejiklian said.

The options being considered by the NSW government include a second checkpoint north of the border town of Albury and tightening the permit system to further restrict movement in and out of Victoria.
A planeload of passengers from Melbourne was allowed to disembark at Sydney Airport on Tuesday night without undergoing health screening for coronavirus.

NSW Health authorities have blamed Jetstar for the bungle, saying airline staff breached protocols by allowing the 137 passengers to disembark from flight JQ520 at 6.40pm on Tuesday before health teams had arrived to conduct the screening.

The COVID-19 testing site in Summer Hill where passengers of a Jetstar flight from Melbourne to Sydney on Tuesday were brought after not being screened before leaving the airport. Credit:James Brickwood

In a statement, NSW Health said health staff, airport staff and NSW Police "acted quickly to bring the passengers back to the gate to be screened".

But while authorities managed to track down 89 passengers, who were then screened and cleared before leaving the airport, 48 people had already left the airport.
Police have seized almost $1 million worth of cannabis after searching a Gold Coast property last week.

The Ferguson Street address in Yatala was raided by officers about 9.30am last Wednesday.

The drugs are believed to have an estimated street value of close to $920,000. Credit:Queensland Police Service

Police will allege they found at the site 369 plants growing under lights in a shed and in bushland elsewhere on property.

The drugs have an estimated street value of $920,000.
The mission to build one of the country's largest solar farms near the central Queensland coastal city of Gladstone has received backing from Britain.

The Queensland government confirmed British investment group United Green reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake from current project owner Renew Estate.

The Rodds Bay Solar Farm (not pictured) will connect to Queenslands 275 kilovolt transmission network between Bororen and Rodds Bay. Credit: Leigh Henningham

The proposed $350 million Rodds Bay Solar Farm, which would be about 50 kilometres south of Gladstone, would create more than 300 construction jobs.

If all goes to plan, the project is due to start this year.
Bolsonaro has often appeared in public to shake hands with supporters and mingle with crowds, at times without a mask. He has said that his history as an athlete would protect him from the virus and that it would be nothing more than a little flu if he were to contract it.
Queensland University of Technology researchers will use Australian rock formations to help the Mars rover Perseverance in its search for signs of life on the red planet.

The rover mission, being run by NASA with contributions from dozens of researchers from around the world, has a launch window of the end of July to mid-August.

Adjunct Professor David Flannery (right) and PhD research student Vanessa Zepeda. Credit:QUT

It will aim to touch down in February next year near the Jezero crater, which scientists believe was flooded with water millions of years ago.

Adjunct Professor David Flannery, who previously worked with NASA and is now based at QUT, is one of the scientific leads on the rover mission.
Lung cancer specialists have sounded alarm bells over the falling rate of GP referrals for the deadly disease, which they credit to people avoiding doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

GPs, specialists and hospitals have previously reported a downturn in the number of patients during the pandemic, and warned that a subsequent lack of referrals for treatment could lead to worse outcomes for patients.

There are concerns people are at risk of undiagnosed lung cancer because they have been putting off visiting their GP during the pandemic.

Now the Lung Foundation is warning that as many as 1000 people could have undiagnosed lung cancer.

They base that on the fact that 2610 cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in Queensland in 2016, but there has been a 50 per cent decrease in lung cancer referrals from GPs during the pandemic.
Public hearings for an mining safety inquiry, set up after a central Queensland coal mine explosion that seriously injured five men, will begin in August.

The board of inquiry established by the state government following the May 6 Grosvenor mine incident will hold hearings from August 4 at the Brisbane Magistrates Court, with hearings also live-streamed.

The explosion at Grosvenor mine near Moranbah saw five men hospitalised. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Inquiry chairman Terry Martin, SC, said the first set of public hearings would not focus on the Grosvenor incident, as there were still investigations under way. Instead, the first set of hearings would investigate the Queensland Mines Inspectorate, industry safety and mine management.

The Grosvenor underground explosion, at the Anglo-American-owned mine near Moranbah, sent shockwaves through the industry and shut down the mine for weeks.
Australian and British researchers are collaborating on a trial to see whether a common asthma inhaler could drastically prevent people being hospitalised with severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Associate Professor Dan Nicolau from Queensland University of Technology is working with colleagues from the University of Oxford in Britain to run a clinical trial investigating whether there is any benefit to giving people a steroid inhaler in the early stages of the disease.

Researchers are looking into whether a steroid inhaler could prevent the worst COVID-19 symptoms. Credit:File photo.

Professor Nicolau said his interest in the idea was raised when he and his colleagues looked at the data on COVID-19 patients and realised there were very few asthmatics and people with chronic lung disease among those who have to be hospitalised with COVID-19.

"That was really interesting, because you would expect those people to be at higher risk of suffering bad effects, but the data suggests the opposite," he said.
The doctor is the latest in nearly a dozen healthcare workers to be diagnosed with coronavirus in the past week.

A doctor at Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital has tested positive to COVID-19 sending 15 staff into quarantine after potential exposure. Credit:Scott McNaughton

A St Vincent's spokeswoman said: "There has been no operational impact on our services. We are working closely with the Department of Health and Human Services and our infection control team is providing support."

The doctor works in an acute medical team at the hospital.

A doctor at Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital has tested positive to COVID-19, sending 15 staff into quarantine after potential exposure.

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An outbreak at the Northern Hospital in Epping was first revealed last Friday. By Tuesday, nine staff linked to the emergency department had tested positive.

Australasian College for Emergency Medicine president Dr John Bonning said he was "deeply concerned" and seeking further information on the recent rise in infections among healthcare workers.

"It is our strong view that frontline staff must be involved in decision-making processes as part of ongoing hospital and healthcare system responses to this fast-moving and dynamic situation," he said.

"Any case of healthcare workers contracting COVID-19 is deeply concerning and our thoughts are with affected colleagues in Victoria, who are doing an incredible job under very difficult circumstances."
Fifty years ago Victoria had an epidemic of drinking and driving. The death toll on the roads continued to rise despite education and publicity campaigns, the testing of drivers involved in accidents, and severe legal penalties.

As behaviour changed, the culture around drinking and driving also changed. Credit:Paul Rovere

These failed to work because drivers did not think they would be caught.

One of the greatest newspaper campaigns waged in Australia was Declare War on 1034, the number of people killed on Victoria's roads in 1969.

The number is now around 250 a year because War on 1034 led to laws setting a blood-alcohol limit of .05 for drivers, introducing random breath testing, and making the wearing of seatbelts compulsory. Now we have a Towards Zero campaign.
Coronavirus clusters are spreading through Victoria's aged care homes and hospitals, infecting healthcare workers, vulnerable patients and elderly residents at heightened risk of dying from the virus.

Although the number of people in hospital in Victoria with COVID-19 has more than tripled in a week, several health projects commissioned by the government to expand the states capacity to battle the pandemic have been cancelled, are over-budget or are not ready to deal with the recent surge in infections.

While the state has thousands of vacant hospital beds for those infected by the latest outbreak, the lack of targeted planning is expected to place further strain on the budget.

Victoria recorded another 134 new cases on Wednesday, although the number was later readjusted to 118.
The mayor of Wodonga has insisted freedom of movement is essential in her border community as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged tougher restrictions on the border with Victoria.

Some residents of Victoria faced delays of up to two hours as they passed through the checkpoint between Wodonga and Albury on its first day of operation on Wednesday.

Extensive congestion is set to continue this week, with police stopping every car passing through the Lincoln Causeway that connects local traffic between Albury and Wodonga.

VicRoads confirmed that dozens of roads on the border had been closed to stop motorists from Victoria entering NSW and that checkpoints had been set up at other crossing points.
Victorias Supreme and County courts have suspended plans to restart jury trials after a surge in coronavirus cases in Melbourne prompted the Andrews government to reimpose strict lockdown restrictions.

Tentative plans to resume jury trials on July 20 have now been scrapped and they will now be postponed indefinitely, according to a joint statement issued by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Chief Judge of the County Court.

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on Victorias court system. Credit:Penny Stephens

But the delay has been criticised by barristers, with national criminal justice spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, Greg Barns, SC, warning of the damage a backlog of cases could do to the legal system.

"The further delay of jury trials is deeply concerning to the point where it amounts to a human rights crisis," Mr Barns said.
A veteran homicide detective has accused Victoria Police command of intentionally undermining one of the most significant murder investigations of the gangland era to protect the secret that lawyer Nicola Gobbo was working as a supergrass.

Detective Sergeant Sol Solomon, who was in charge of trying to bring the murderers of police informer Terence Hodson and his wife Christine to justice, has claimed that interference from a "powerful force" within police meant the crime might never be solved.

Detective Sergeant Sol Solomon Credit:Chris Hopkins

The explosive allegations have been made in a sworn statement by Sergeant Solomon tendered to the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants. Sergeant Solomon is the longest-serving member of Victoria Polices homicide squad and was the senior investigator for the Hodson murder inquiry, known as the Petra Taskforce.

"It is also obvious to me that we were up against a powerful force operating behind the scenes who were determined to ensure that the case against the Hodson murderers and the other significant prosecution of [allegedly corrupt police detective Paul] Dale would never see the light of day in a courtroom," he wrote in his statement.
A prominent figure in Illinois political history, Douglas is credited with building the states Democratic Party and served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He lost the presidential election of 1860 to Abraham Lincoln two years after the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, in which Douglas argued that each state should be allowed to decide whether to permit slavery. He also proposed the law that overturned the Missouri Compromise, which had set a boundary prohibiting the expansion of slavery in the North.
Western Australias enviable status as a place that has likely eliminated coronavirus locally has created a new type of problem for the McGowan government.

After spending months working to get the virus out of the state, authorities are now seeing a surge in Australian residents, both overseas and interstate, trying to get into WAs COVID safe haven.

People are surging into WA, dubbed a 'safe haven' due to its COVID-free status.

Curtin University social geography expert Tod Jones predicted the influx in May, saying living in WA could become a huge incentive for overseas Australian residents looking to escape virus-ridden countries.

Over time it will become more about how safe it is for people to work, and if people can come to work in a COVID-free location, theyre probably going to want to do that, he said at the time.
In a sign that tensions between the Commonwealth and state Premier Mark McGowan aren't diffusing any time soon, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced he would be delivering a plan to lessen the load of returning Australians to every state, not just Western Australia.

Yesterday WA Health Minister Roger Cook announced the state had received the federal government's endorsement to cap international arrivals to Perth at 525 passengers a week, or 75 people a day.

But Mr Morrison on Wednesday told a press conference in Canberra he would announce a plan on Friday to address the overall influx of returning Australians, which was "a lesser load for everybody rather than shifting Western Australia's load on to someone else".

"Western Australia has been taking about a quarter of what New South Wales has," Mr Morrison said.
Health experts and unions have urged the government to roll out paid pandemic leave for all workers to encourage Australians to stick to self-isolation rules after the national industrial tribunal said a similar scheme would be too expensive for healthcare employers.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald all workers, regardless of how much they are paid, should be given paid leave by the government for as long as necessary to cover coronavirus isolation. The ACTU had previously called for a cheaper paid pandemic leave scheme which prompted a claim to the Fair Work Commission on behalf of healthcare workers. It is now arguing for a broader, more generous and more expensive paid pandemic leave scheme focused on casual workers who are not entitled to paid leave.

ACTU Secretary Sally McManus has made an ambitious call for all workers to be given unlimited paid pandemic leave. Credit:Paul Harris

"If we do not urgently adopt this approach, insecure low paid workers are more likely to avoid [COVID-19] testing because they are scared of losing their job and being left with nothing," Ms McManus said.

"It is clear our country must do much more to contain and live with the coronavirus. What we have done so far is not enough and has exposed the holes in our defences."
Billions of dollars worth of personal income tax cuts would be brought forward by at least a year to help boost the economy out of the coronavirus recession under a plan the Morrison government is considering.

The move, which has already been backed by the Labor Party as a way to help support household consumption, would result in the 2022-23 tax cuts  worth about $5 billion  being announced in the upcoming October budget and start from July 1 next year instead.

Bringing forward the already-legislated tax reform would take the top threshold for the 19 per cent tax rate from $41,000 to $45,000. The low-income tax offset is slated to increase from $645 to $700.

For people earning between $22,000 and $30,000 a year, the tax cut would be worth $55. People earning more than $50,000 would save $540 a year.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced more than 6100 new home care packages for older Australians who want to keep living independently, while delaying reform to the sector by extending the Aged Care Royal Commission.

Mr Morrison said while "there will be more" funding for home care in the federal budget, its delay until October had prompted the government to release the additional packages earlier to give families "greater choices".

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced thousands of new aged care places. Credit:Shutterstock

"We have many challenges in this country at the moment, but ... we will guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

The $326 million funding announcement still leaves more than 100,000 people on home care waiting lists, including almost 22,000 who are waiting for a level four package - the highest level of care - which are not being expanded.
A snap review of the nation's hotel quarantine regime is under way amid growing fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections linked to international arrivals.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will consider the review with state and territory leaders on Friday as the national cabinet prepares to limit flights into Australia to ease the burden on the quarantine system.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will take a review of hotel quarantine measures to national cabinet on Friday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

With the Victorian government pressing for an extended pause in flights into Melbourne, other states fear an increase in numbers at their main airports after the arrival of about 28,000 people over the past month.

Mr Morrison asked the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) to review the hotel quarantine arrangements and report to the national cabinet meeting this Friday on whether the existing checks were adequate.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told people to avoid travel to and from border communities, flagging further restrictions could be placed on border towns as well as the rest of NSW as Victoria's coronavirus caseload increases.

The changes to NSW's coronavirus restrictions as a whole, to be announced on Thursday morning, "would not be anything major", Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday, "but we are considering tweaking some health orders in NSW to ensure additional safety in relation to some types of gatherings".

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian addresses the media on Wednesday flanked by Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant and Police Commissioner Mick Fuller. Credit:James Alcock

Furthermore, the Premier said the government was considering making hotel quarantine mandatory for NSW residents returning from Victoria, which residents would have to pay for themselves.

"We understand that, due to financial hardship or other reasons, people have made arrangements to get back to their family or get back to their place of work. We understand that. But that tolerance pretty much finishes once there's been sufficient time for people to make those adjustments."
Australia is set to offer Tiananmen-style visas to Hong Kong residents currently in Australia, as federal cabinet considers tearing up an extradition treaty with the Chinese territory.

The move will mark the most significant offer to Chinese migrants from an Australian Prime Minister since Bob Hawke offered 27,000 students in Australia places following the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. Scott Morrison will on Wednesday night assess cabinet proposals to provide safe haven to thousands of students and other temporary migrants from Hong Kong already in Australia.

"We continue to be concerned about issues in Hong Kong, as many nations are.": Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Cabinet will also examine ways to bolster skills and investor stream places for those looking to leave Hong Kong after Beijing introduced extraordinary new national security laws that will criminalise dissent in the former British colony. Hong Kong's newly established National Security Office on Wednesday occupied a major hotel that towers above Victoria Park, a popular protest site, and replaced the Metropark Hotel's icon with China's national emblem.

"We continue to be concerned about issues in Hong Kong, as many nations are, and we have remained in close contact with other like-minded countries about this issue," Mr Morrison said ahead of an expected announcement by the end of this week. "These are decisions for Australia about who we provide visas to and on what terms and over what period of time."
The Hague: Dutch police have arrested six men after discovering shipping containers that had been converted into a makeshift prison and sound-proofed torture chamber complete with a dentist's chair, tools including pliers and scalpels and handcuffs, a high ranking officer announced on Tuesday.

Authorities said police conducted the raid before the torture chamber could be used and alerted potential victims, who went into hiding.

Dutch police discovered shipping containers that had been converted into a makeshift prison and sound-proofed torture chamber complete with a dentists chair.

The grisly discovery was made last month by officers investigating leads generated by data from encrypted phones used by criminals. The communications network was cracked recently by French police. Detectives in Britain and the Netherlands have already arrested hundreds of suspects based on the encrypted messages.

Tuesdays announcement gave a chilling insight into the increasingly violent Dutch criminal underworld, which is involved in the large scale production and trafficking of drugs.
Washington: Kanye West has said he will run for the White House under the banner of the "Birthday Party" and is ending his past support for Donald Trump, in his first interview since tweeting that he would seek the US presidency.

During what Forbes magazine described as "four rambling hours of interviews", the 43-year-old rapper gave insights into his political thinking as well as making a number of controversial statements.

West said he had never voted before but had been thinking about a campaign for years. He said his campaign slogan would be "YES!" and he would run under the label of the Birthday Party: "Because when we win, it's everybody's birthday."

He claimed he was no longer supporting Mr Trump - despite the interviewer noting West had texted him a few weeks ago with the message "Trump 2020" - saying: "I am taking the red hat off, with this interview."
There was a lot of fear of the unknown, given the economy, the virus, protecting family ... it was real fear vs. psychological fears that youre up against in the studio, Kent said. I just started focusing. What was important to me was that (my children) kept seeing me make and they kept seeing me push through, even though there were days of boredom for them or there were conversations around sickness. Its more poignant than ever for me to do what I do as a painter, to show up and to represent at this moment. I am trying to go forth in a moment of faith and believing that what I do is going to matter in the future, whether thats just for my family as legacy or in a larger cultural context.
Novavax just sealed the biggest contract to date with the Trump administrations Operation Warp Speed. (Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)

Novavax has signed a contract with the United States government's Operation Warp Speed vaccine program valued at up to $1.6 billion, obtaining more government dollars than any other organization for a prospective COVID-19 vaccine.

The New York-listed biotech group is aiming to use the funding to embark on a final-stage clinical trial and make 100 million doses of its vaccine candidate by January but has yet to get any drugs approved.

Novavax joins major drugmakers Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, and AstraZeneca in Operation Warp Speed, a U.S. Department of Health initiative championed by United States President Donald Trump that seeks to fast-track the development of a COVID-19 prospect.

Through this contract, the federal government has now spent approximately $4 billion in vaccine-pursuing firms but has received no detail about how Operation Warp Speed invests money, which departments the funding comes from, or how decisions are carried out.

The money has been allotted to six firms with different track records and promising but untested innovations in other cases. British drugmaker AstraZeneca has been granted $1.2 billion in federal funding for its vaccine, which uses a harmless virus to cause an immune response.

Moderna Therapeutics, which has gotten over $500 million, also has never produced a product to market and uses a genetic technology that is valued for its speed but has never brought out a successful human treatment.

In a statement, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said adding Novavax' candidate vaccine to Operation Warp Speed's large portfolio of drugs "increases the odds that we will have a safe, effective vaccine as soon as the end of the year," Melissa Quinn of CBS News, wrote.

Novavax received the biggest grant by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations at $388 million, which helped the group fund the first test and acquire a facility in the Czech Republic that will have the capacity to produce 1 billion doses of the vaccine in 2021.

Shares in Novavax (NVAX) are currently climbing 42 percent during early morning sessions after the company disclosed the US government funding. In January, Novavax's stock traded around $5. As of Monday's close of trade, the stock was near $80.

Novavax chief executive officer Stanley Erck said they are pleased with the US government for its confidence in the biotech group and are doing their best to produce a vaccine to contain the pandemic. Erck added the deal with the US government would allow the group to start making the drugs before the company concludes final-phase clinical trials, expected by end of 2020.
Lansdale, PA (19446)

Today

Showers this morning becoming a steady light rain during the afternoon hours. Thunder possible. High 72F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital Editor
E-commerce companies in India like Amazon.com's local unit and Walmart's Flipkart have begun to update their back-end systems to allow sellers to identify the country of origin on all new product listings on their platforms, two sources aware of the matter said on Wednesday. The Indian trade ministry's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which hosted an online meeting of e-commerce players on Wednesday, wanted the changes to be implemented by the end of July. The companies, however, said they would need two to three months, according to the ...
Unidentified persons vandalised



'Rajgruh', Dalit icon Dr B R Ambedkar's house in Mumbai, on Tuesday evening, the police said.

Home Minister Anil Deshmukh condemned the incident and assured that strict action will be taken against the culprits.

"The attack from some unidentified men on Dr Ambedkar's residence in Dadar 'Rajgruh' is condemnable," he tweeted.

"The police are probing the matter and strict action will be taken against the guilty," he added.

While two other ministers, Jayant Patil and Dhananjay Munde, also condemned the incident, Prakash Ambedkar, president of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and Dr Ambedkar's grandson, appealed for peace.

People should not gather outside 'Rajgruh', he said.

Bhimrao Ambedkar, another grandson of the architect of Indian Constitution, too appealed for peace, saying that it was a minor incident.

(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.)
"There's so many people that love Amanda and Elvis, and we're all going to be doing our part to help give this child an extraordinary life," Braff said. "The last thing Nick texted me before he went unconscious was ... 'Please look out for Amanda and Elvis,' and I promise that I'm going to do that for the rest of my life, and I want to make him proud."
The global coronavirus case count currently stands at 11.7 million, of which almost 4.5 million cases are still active. 541,635 people have lost their lives in the pandemic worldwide. Globally, roughly 7 per cent of all closed cases end up as a fatality. In India, there are now over 720,000 cases, of which 259,557 are currently active.

As many as 439,947 people have been cured of the virus till now, while the death toll is now above 20,000. More than half of all cases in the country are from just three states: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi. Here are some data points on the ...
Some flights are likely to be operated from India to the UAE very soon for Indians having valid residency or work permit for the UAE, its Ambassador here Ahmed Al Banna said on Wednesday.

India suspended all scheduled international passenger flights on March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many passengers have used social media to demand resumption of international passenger flights from India to the UAE and other foreign countries. "One question is asked on what about the Indian nationals who are in India and they have valid residency and valid work permits for the UAE? ...
Fred really does not want to do a reboot, McKellar, who played love interest Winnie Cooper, told Us Weekly last year. And he makes a good point: The show was about a certain time in your life that you cant go back to and  the bittersweet memory of that is what gave the show its flavor.
reported its highest single-day COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday with 25 patients succumbing to the disease, the state health department bulletin said.

The death toll in the state is now 807, it said.

Out of the 25 deaths Tuesday, 23 people succumbed due to comorbidities where COVID-19 was incidental, the bulletin said.

It said that 850 more people have tested positive for the disease, taking the COVID-19 tally in to 23,837.

For the third consecutive day, the state witnessed more than 800 new infections.

The state now has 7,243 active cases.

Since Monday, 555 patients have recovered from the disease, the bulletin said.

Of the deaths reported on Tuesday, Kolkata accounted for 10, while nine patients died in North 24 Parganas, three in South 24 Parganas and one each in Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur and Hooghly districts, it added.

The highest number of 291 fresh COVID-19 infections was reported from Kolkata, followed by 187 from North 24 Parganas, 74 from Howrah, 70 from South 24 Parganas, 50 from Malda and 37 from Darjeeling. The remaining 141 cases were reported from 15 other districts.

A total of 10,130 samples have been tested in since Monday.

(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.)
Maharashtra Leader of Opposition has written a letter to Chief Minister requesting him to send Centre the proposals of the state for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for Maharashtra's rural road projects.

In the letter, Fadnavis also reminded Thackeray that Maharashtra has approval of 6,550 kms of rural roads under this project.

"But despite a reminder in January, Maharashtra has not sent its proposal to the Government of India while there are around 17,0000 kilometres projects of other states are already approved," he stated.

(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 report pointed out that China's biggest capabilities also lie in capital goods and high value consumer goods export

India needs to take a calibrated call in reducing import dependence from China and not through sudden stops.

At present, a huge clamour has grown about banning imports from China, after the border standoff.

According to the SBI Ecowrap report, India must go for imposing restrictions on certain products in which it has a revealed comparative advantage over China, and which will provide support to the country's MSMEs.

"However, demanding to curtail all imports at one go from a country which is so entrenched in our economic system is unreasonable and might disrupt the local supply chain when looked at, either from the producers' side or consumers' side," the report said.



Accordingly, the report cited that India is dependent on China for a lot of products at the lower end of manufacturing.

In FY97, at 2 digit classification basis, there were 22 categories in which India did not import any- thing from China, whose value of imports in FY20 is around $500 million.

"In principle, China has spread out in all other categories, including low value manufacturing to high value capital and electrical goods," the report said.

"Although value wise the import is miniscule in the categories in which China has started importing over the years, these are some labour intensive and small scale industries like, prepared products of vegetables, fruits, cereals, flour, meat and fish, products of milling industry, wood and articles of wood, headgear and parts."

As per the report, utmost caution has to be exercised to see that the rights of consumers in the form of variety of choice are protected, while making sure that China does not eat away the local industries which can easily build capabilities in these areas, so that India does not have to import these products.

Besides, the report pointed out that China's biggest capabilities also lie in capital goods and high value consumer goods export and in case of India too China's machinery and electronics imports dwarf the rest of the industries.



"When we sum the 84 and 85 HS Classifications', they accounted for 49.7 per cent of the total imports from China in FY20,a the report said.

"This share was just 14 per cent in FY97. The sudden spike came in FY 03, when the share went from 24.8 per cent to in the previous fiscal to 35.3 per cent. The growth rate of these imports was an astonishing 94.6 per cent for FY03. The time period from FY03 to FY08, saw more than 60 per cent increase every year in these imports, helping China slowly and steadily build a solid base in machinery and electronics imports in India."

Nevertheless, the report mentions that beginning FY08 the growth rate has moderated.

"However, some years have seen sudden jumps in growth rate. But these are not as high as the period mentioned before. In fact FY19 saw the highest decline of 19.4 per cent in imports of these commodities," the re port said.



"FY20 data also shows negative growth rate. However, for India to make a significant dent, it will have to substantially bring down these imports over the years. Given the productive nature of capital and electronic goods, the decline in these imports has to be gradual as India builds domestic capacity to fulfill the needs of domestic population, as well as meet export demand."

(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.)
Tears roll down the face of Vauhxx Booker as he speaks to the hundreds gathered at the Monroe County courthouse, Monday, July 6, 2020, in Bloomington, Ind. Booker, a local civil rights activist and member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission, says a group of white men assaulted him and threatened to get a noose after claiming that he and his friends had trespassed on private property as they gathered at an Indiana lake over the Fourth of July weekend. (Rich Janzaruk/AP)
The scheme was initially rolled out for three months till June to ensure no poor goes hungry during the Covid-19 crisis. Under the scheme, five kg of wheat or rice and one kg of pulses per month are being provided free of cost. "The Prime Minister had announced that this scheme will be extended and the same has been approved by the Cabinet today," Information and ...

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital Editor
Delhi University has decided to postpone DU final year undergraduate exams, scheduled to commence from July 10, to August. The decision comes two days after DU informed the Delhi High Court that Open Book Examinations (OBE) for under-graduate courses will commence from July 10 and those students who are unable to take them, be it persons with disabilities or others, will be allowed to appear for the exams physically in September.

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.



Digital Editor
Brazilian President says he is confident that he will swiftly recover from the new thanks to treatment with hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that has not been proven effective against COVID-19.

Bolsonaro said he tested positive for the new on Tuesday after months of downplaying its severity while deaths mounted rapidly inside the country.

The president told reporters he underwent a lung X-ray on Monday after experiencing fever, muscle aches and malaise. As of Tuesday, his fever had subsided, he said, and he attributed the improvement to hydroxychloroquine.

He stepped back from the journalists and removed his mask at one point to show that he looked well.

The 65-year-old right-wing populist who has been known to mingle in crowds without covering his face confirmed the results while wearing a mask and speaking to reporters huddled close in front of him in the capital, Brasilia.

I'm, well, normal. I even want to take a walk around here, but I can't due to medical recommendations, Bolsonaro said.

Later Tuesday, he posted a video to Facebook of him taking his third dose of hydroxychloroquine, which has also been promoted by President Donald Trump..

Today I'm a lot better, so certainly it's working, Bolsonaro said, downing the dose with a glass of water. We know today there are other remedies that can help fight the We know none of them have their efficacy scientifically proven, but I'm one more person for whom this is working.

So I trust hydroxychloroquine. And you? Brazil, the world's sixth-biggest nation, with more than 210 million people, is one of the outbreak's most lethal hot spots. More than 65,000 Brazilians have died from COVID-19, and over 1.5 million have been infected.

Both numbers are the world's second-highest totals, behind those of the U.S., though the true figures are believed to be higher because of a lack of widespread testing. On Tuesday alone, 1,254 deaths were confirmed.

Other world leaders who have had bouts with COVID-19 include British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain's Prince Charles, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernndez.

Bolsonaro is the democratic leader who has most denied the seriousness of this pandemic, said Maurcio Santoro, a political science professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro.

"Him getting infected is a blow to his credibility. It will be seen as another example of the failure of his coronavirus response.

Bolsonaro has often appeared in public to shake hands with supporters and mingle with crowds, at times without a mask. He has said that his history as an athlete would protect him from the virus and that it would be nothing more than a little flu if he were to contract it.

He has also repeatedly said that there is no way to prevent 70% of the population falling ill with COVID-19 and that local authorities' efforts to shut down economic activity would ultimately cause more hardship than allowing the virus to run its course.

For nearly two months, Brazil's fight against COVID-19 has been in the hands of an interim health minister with no health experience before April. He took over after his predecessor, a doctor and health care consultant, quit in protest over Bolsonaro's support for hydroxychloroquine.

Brazilian cities and states last month began lifting restrictions that had been imposed to control the spread of the virus, as deaths began to decline along with the caseload in intensive care units.

Bolsonaro supporter Silas Ribeiro said on the streets of Rio that the president is correct in saying the dangers of the virus have been exaggerated.

Our president is a popular man. He is showing that he isn't afraid to die, said Ribeiro, 59. He is going to have health and get through this sickness. Speaking near recently reopened shops in Rio, Wesley Morielo said he hopes Bolsonaro's sickness prompts him to reassess his stance.

"I think everything he said before, of not giving importance to COVID-19, came back against him,? said Morielo, a 24-year-old student.

The World Health Organization's emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, wished Bolsonaro a speedy recovery and said his infection brings home the reality of this virus" by showing that it doesn't distinguish between prince or pauper.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly visited the hospital since taking office, requiring several operations to repair his intestines after he was stabbed on the campaign trail in 2018.

He said he canceled a trip this week to Brazil's northeast region and will continue working via videoconference and receive rare visitors when he needs to sign a document.

Unlike Britain's prime minister, who moderated his rhetoric after testing positive for the virus, Bolsonaro will probably not change his stance, said Leandro Consentino, a political science professor at Insper, a university in Sao Paulo.

He's going down a path of trying to indicate to his base of support that COVID-19 is just a little flu and take advantage of the illness to advertise for chloroquine, Consentino said.

Over the weekend, the Brazilian leader celebrated American Independence Day with the U.S. ambassador to Brazil, then shared pictures on social media showing him in close quarters with the diplomat, several ministers and aides. None wore masks.

(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.)
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro says he has tested positive for Covid-19 after months of downplaying the virus' severity. Bolsonaro confirmed the test results while wearing a mask and speaking to reporters in capital Brasilia. "I'm well, normal.

I even want to take a walk around here, but I can't due to medical recommendations, Bolsonaro said. The president has often appeared in public to shake hands with supporters and mingle with crowds, at times without a mask. He has said that his history as an athlete would protect him from the virus, and that it ...
A former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Roberta Jacobson, questioned the timing of the visit and Mexicos decision not to meet with Democrats. In a letter to Trump last week, a dozen Democratic members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus denounced the meeting with Mexicos president as an effort to distract voters from rising cases of coronavirus in the United States and said it was a blatant attempt to politicize relations between the allies.
US President said on Tuesday that his administration will put pressure on state officials to reopen schools in the fall despite the novel pandemic.

"We're very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools, to get them open... We're going to be putting a lot of pressure to open the schools in the fall," Trump said during a round-table discussion at the White House.

Earlier on Tuesday, the White House said the Trump administration is concerned about the negative impact school closures may have on child and adolescent development, especially children in under-served communities.

Some US medical experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci have previously suggested that some schools open cautiously while others located in areas where the novel is not contained should remain closed.

However, Trump - and medical experts - said via Twitter on Tuesday that the novel death rate in the United States has plunged tenfold since its peak during the pandemic and the country now has the lowest mortality rate in the world. Trump blamed what he called the fake news media for not reporting "the most important facts" - the death rate relative to the number of infections.

The United States has reported nearly 3 million novel coronavirus cases and more than 130,900 virus-related deaths, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins 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.)
Harvard and MIT said on Wednesday that they had filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a directive that would strip foreign students of their visas if their coursework was entirely online. The White House measure, announced Monday, was seen as an effort to pressure universities into reopening their gates and abandoning the cautious approaches that many have announced they would adopt to reduce transmission of the coronavirus. The order came down without notice  its cruelty surpassed only by its recklessness, Harvards President, ...
The Standing Committee meeting of the Communist Party (NCP) to reach a consensus on the party's fate has been adjourned till 11 am (local time) on July 10, said Surya Thapa, press advisor to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Earlier, the Standing Committee meeting which was earlier to be held on Monday was deferred till Wednesday after the party's officials sought time for further discussion. The fate of Oli, who has been asked either step down as the Prime Minister or the ruling party's co-chair by other members, was to be decided in that meeting.

Talks between Oli and party co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday failed to reach consensus once again.

The NCP is in the verge of a split with the Oli and Dahal factions hardening their positions.

The Dahal faction, backed by senior leaders including Madhav and Jhalanath Khanal, has been demanding that Oli should step down both as party chair and prime minister. Oli, however, has refused to budge.

The Prime Minister has been criticised within and outside the party for the government's 'failure' to address a range of issues, particularly after he made a public statement that India is trying to topple him.

(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.)
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) will raise $1.25 billion through dollar bonds to repay its existing debt.

The fund-raising plan was approved by the board of APSEZ on Tuesday (7 July). The bonds will be issued in one or more tranches overseas on a private placement basis or otherwise, to eligible persons, entities, bodies corporate, companies, banks, financial institutions and any other categories of eligible investors permitted to invest in the bonds under applicable laws. The board has authorized the finance committee to determine the detailed terms and conditions thereof.

On 3 January 2020, APSEZ signed an agreement to buy a 75% stake in Krishnapatnam Port Company (KPCL) for an enterprise value of Rs 13,572 crore.

Shares of APSEZ fell 1.27% to Rs 341.60. The stock has lost 5.2% in three sessions from its recent closing high of Rs 360.40 on 3 July 2020. The S&P BSE 100 index, of which the company is a constituent, has gained 2% during the same period.

APSEZ, a part of globally diversified Adani Group, is the largest port developer and operator in India.

The port operator's consolidated net profit slumped 74.11% to Rs 340.21 crore on a 5.23% decline in net net sales to Rs 2,921.19 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Hong Kong stock market finished session near a four-month high on Wednesday, 08 July 2020, as market sentiment was lifted on hopes of recovery in the Chinese economy after government pledged more spending after the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world's second-biggest economy. Meanwhile, buying sentiments underpinned further on expectations an influx of hot money into stock offerings will support prices, overshadowing concerns over new coronavirus infections in the city and further fallout from the national security law.

At closing bell, the benchmark Hang Seng Index added 0.59%, or 153.52 points, to 26,129.18.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rose 1.39%, or 147.70 points, to 10,748.11.

Hong Kong hosted 64 new stock listings in the first half this year, allowing mostly mainland companies to raise HK$87.5 billion (US$11.3 billion) in capital from investors.

Hong Kong's government may be fighting a third wave of coronavirus outbreak after confirming 19 of 24 new Covid-19 cases as local origins on Wednesday, in addition to 9 of 14 cases on Tuesday.

The monetary authority has spent almost HK$73 billion in 24 interventions this year to weaken the local dollar from the stronger end of its trading band. The Hong Kong dollar is back in the spotlight after Bloomberg News reported that some top advisers to President Donald Trump were mulling steps to undermine the city's 37-year currency peg to the US dollar to punish China for implementing the controversial security law in the former British colony.

New economy stocks led gains in Hong Kong. Tencent rose 5.2% to HK$543.50, while Meituan Dianping advanced 8% to HK$199.80.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vietnam joins UNSC open debate on peace operation, human rights

Head of the Vietnam Permanent Mission to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy highlighted the basic principles of peacekeeping operations and the primary role of host countries in protecting and promoting human rights during a UN Security Council (UNSC) open debate on July 7.









Head of Vietnam's Permanent Mission to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy speaks at the UN Security Council (UNSC) video teleconference on peace operation and human rights on July 7. (Photo: VNA)

The video conference was held on the topic of peace operations and human rights under the chair of Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, German Federal Minister of Defence.



Briefers included High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Special Representative for South Sudan and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) David Shearer and Senga Dismas Kitenge of Groupe Lotus, a human rights non-governmental organisation based in Congo.



Speaking at the debate, Quy said that UN peacekeeping missions must ensure the accuracy and neutrality of information gathered during the supervision, reporting and analysis of the host countries enforcement of human rights.



All peacekeeping operations must adhere to such basic principles, take into account the local economic, social and cultural features, and particularly pay attention to protecting vulnerable groups in conflicts, he noted.



Peacekeepers should function as role models in complying with the UN principles and disciplines in human rights, and be provided with necessary knowledge and skills regarding this matter both before and during operations, the Vietnamese diplomat added./.
Debbie Smith, a survivor of sexual assault and an advocate for others who have been raped, spoke at Wednesdays press conference with Herring. She said seeing stacks of untested kits was heartbreaking because the testing in her case gave her the freedom to continue living her life without a sense of constant fear. She said the lengthy exam during which victims have evidence collected from their bodies can bring stress, trauma and embarrassment, even though the assault is not their fault.
NBCC (India) rose 1.28% to Rs 27.70 after the company said it secured total business worth Rs 431.63 crore in June 2020.

The company bagged an EPC order worth Rs 284.63 crore from BHEL for construction of natural draught cooling towers for 5X800 MW Yadadri STPP. It also won a project worth Rs 147 crore for construction & development of students hostel and faculty apartments at IIT-BHU, Varanasi. The announcement was made on Wednesday (8 July).

On the technical front, the stock's RSI (relative strength index) stood at 75.983. The RSI oscillates between zero and 100. Traditionally the RSI is considered overbought when above 70 and oversold when below 30.

The stock was trading in between its 50-day moving average (DMA) placed at Rs 20.99, with will act as a support in the near term and its 200-day moving average (DMA) placed at Rs 28.77, would act as a resistance in the upcoming trade.

The company's consolidated net profit fell 41.2% to Rs 83.78 crore on 16.8% decline in net sales to Rs 2,568.73 crore in Q4 March 2020 over Q4 March 2019.

NBCC (India) provides civil engineering construction services. The firm operates through three segments: Project Management Consultancy (PMC), Real Estate Development & Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC). As of 31 March 2020, the Government of India held 61.75% stake in NBCC (India).

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On July 5, the Defence Research and Development Organisation opened a 1,000-bed facility for Covid-19 cases which it set up in, reportedly, a record 11 days. On the same day, the Delhi government inaugurated a 10,000-bed facility which, we are told, is the largest in the world.

No doubt the late Sardar Patel, the Congress leader the Sangh Parivar has appropriated as its hero, would be gratified that both hospitals have been named for him. Whats more, we have shown those encroaching Chinese that anything they can do such as building a hospital in a week  we can do ...
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Ananda in the Himalayas (www.anandaspa.com) is all set to open its gates to domestic travellers from the 1st of August 2020. As India emerges cautiously from lockdown, wellness remains a top priority for everyone.

To improve health and wellbeing through traditional sciences of Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation, and Vedanta, Ananda reopens with an enhanced 360approach, offering not only comprehensive wellness programmes at the retreat but also an entire range of new virtual wellbeing programmes. The multi-award-winning destination spa enters the 20th year of its wellness journey this year.

Guests staying at Ananda will be able to book all its signature wellness programmes, along with two new programmes - the Ayurvedic Rejuvenation and Immunity Booster programme, now designed to help people focus on enhancing their immune system.

The second and much-needed programme will help guests address Chronic Pain Management through Physiotherapy, aided by Yoga and Ayurvedic therapies. The rest of Ananda's comprehensive signature wellness programmes including Detox, Weight Management, Active-Fitness, Stress Management, Rebalance, Renew, Yoga and Dhyana Meditation will also be offered with customisation at every level to meet varying health needs of Ananda's clients.

Mahesh Natarajan, Sr. Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, says "Ananda is a 100-acre palace estate surrounded by pristine forests, clear blue skies and breath-taking mountain views, an ideal location for Indian travellers emerging from the lockdown. The sheer space, abundance of untouched nature, and ability to rejuvenate in a safe environment with ample distancing, is what Ananda offers. We expect strong interest from those seeking to invigorate in such a setting while experiencing the best in therapeutic wellbeing."

"Every aspect of making Ananda the most exclusive and secure wellbeing haven has been considered" according to General Manager Aniket Sarkar. "As part of Ananda's safety led initiatives, our entire wellness, and guest services team will be located on Ananda's premises including spa therapists, Ayurvedic Doctors, and Yoga teachers, Chefs and Restaurant staff, housekeeping, room service, and front office staff."

To provide complete safety and a secure environment, the entire Ananda team will be tested regularly. All required protocols, including daily assessments by a team of Doctors, will be followed with guests at Ananda. Enhanced digital technologies through mobile app will enable seamless check-in, check out, ordering of meals, and spa services. Deep cleaning and regular sanitisation of all guest rooms, dining, and spa area is planned to happen daily. All customer-facing staff will use the necessary protection gear in their interactions.

To help guests and patrons start their wellbeing journey even before arriving at Ananda, and also to continue the healthy lifestyle on their return, Ananda has launched a complete range of personalised Online Wellbeing Services with their wellness experts that guests can follow from the comfort of their homes.

Ananda's six new programmes range from daily yoga classes on monthly subscriptions, to comprehensive packages offering online video consultations with Ayurvedic Doctors and personalised yoga and meditation guidance with their Yoga teachers. The virtual wellness programmes are designed to create a personalized program with ongoing mentoring for the most successful results.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RBSE class 12 results 2020: Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) will release the results of Class 12 Science stream today, July 8 at 4pm. Rajasthan Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra will announce the results from the Ajmer office of the state board in presence of RBSE chairman DP Jarauli.

Those who appeared for Rajasthan board higher secondary Science exams can check their results on the official RBSE websites- ajresults.nic.in and/or raheduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. In case the official website slows down due to increased traffic, the candidates can also check their results at third party websites such as examresults.net and indiaresults.com.

Here's how to check your RBSE Class 12 Science result 2020 online

Step 1: Visit any of the official Rajasthan board official websites

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link that reads "RBSE Class 12 result 2020"

Step 3: Key in details such as exam roll number and log in

Step 4: Verify all the details with your hall ticket click on submit

Step 5: Your RBSE Class 12 Science result will appear

Step 6: Download and take a printout for future reference

More than 2.39 lakh candidates appeared for Class 12 (Science) exam, according to reports. RBSE used to declare the resutls for all streams together but this time it decided to declare the results for Science stream first, followed by the Commerce stream and then the Arts stream.

Also read: Indian-Americans stage 'Boycott China' protest at Times Square in New York
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has proposed August 1 as the deadline for e-commerce companies to start displaying 'country of origin' for new listings on their platforms. However, the online sellers have sought an additional time of 3 to 4 months citing large numbers of products and compliance burden on sellers and MSMEs, CNBC TV-18 reported. No final decision has been taken on the deadline so far.

In a meeting held on June 25 with the DPIIT, the e-commerce companies reportedly said that they were ready to comply with the latest requirement but it could take a significant amount of time. The new rule has been introduced amid the ongoing border tensions with China which led to boycott Chinese products.

The government last month also made it mandatory for sellers to enter the country of origin while registering all new products on Government e-Marketplace (GeM). In addition, the sellers, who had already uploaded their products before the introduction of this new feature will have to update the given details. The products shall be removed from GeM if sellers fail to update the same, it noted. Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

"GeM has taken this significant step to promote 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. GeM has also enabled a provision for indication of the percentage of local content in products. With this new feature, now, the Country of Origin as well as the local content percentage are visible in the marketplace for all items," Ministry of Commerce and Industry had said.Also read: Petrol prices remain unchanged for 9th consecutive day; diesel prices see pause

Also read: India may see 2.87 lakh coronavirus cases a day by next year, says MIT study
Jio Platforms, the digital arm of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, said that it has received the subscription amount of Rs 43,574 crore from Facebook. The social media giant had pledged this amount in April to buy 9.99 per cent stake in the Indian company.

"We hereby inform that, after receipt of all requisite approvals, Jio Platforms Limited, a subsidiary of the Company, today received the subscription amount of Rs 43,574 crore from Jaadhu Holdings, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Facebook Inc). Jio Platforms Limited has allotted equity shares to Jaadhu Holdings following which Jaadhu Holdings holds 9.99 per cent of the fully diluted equity share capital of Jio Platforms Limited," the company said in a regulatory filing.

Jaadhu Holdings is a Facebook-owned subsidiary incorporated just a month before the Mark Zuckerberg-led company announced the investment in Jio Platforms. It is based in Delaware, US - a famous tax haven for corporations.

Only 11 weeks from the deal with Facebook, Jio has secured 11 other deals cumulatively worth Rs 117,588.45 crore. The entrant to Jio investors club is Intel Capital, the investment arm of chip manufacturing major Intel. On Friday last week, Intel Capital announced to invest Rs 1,894.5 crore for 0.39 per cent stake in Jio Plaforms.

The companies, apart from Facebook and Intel, that have already pumped in money in Jio Platforms are Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, KKR, Mubadala, ADIA, TPG and L Catterton and Saudi Arabia-based Public Investment Fund. Together, all these investments amount to 25.09 per cent stake in Jio Platforms.
Uttarakhand High Court has issued notice to the Central government on a writ petition filed by Ashok Leyland challenging the reduction in benefits granted by the Central Government under the GST regime's Budgetary Support Scheme.

The manufacturer of commercial vehicles has challenged the scheme saying that as against 100% up front exemptions available earlier under the area-based exemptions in the Excise regime, benefits in the GST regime have reduced only 58% of the Central GST paid and 29% of the Integrated GST paid.

The Uttarakhand High Court has asked the Centre to a file a counter affidavit and listed the matter for hearing in five weeks. According to lawyers, many such writs on the issue are pending before high courts of Uttarakhand and J&K.

In the excise regime (Pre-GST regime), area-based exemptions were available to units located in specified under-developed areas like North East, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and J&K. After the implementation of GST, this scheme was replaced by Budgetary Support Scheme. The Budgetary Support Scheme is necessarily a cash refund scheme so that the credit chain is not broken. The scheme allows refunds of taxes paid in cash to the extent of 58% of the Central GST and 29% on interstate taxes. The logic behind a limited refund is the fact that taxes under GST are divided between the states and the Centre.

Also read: Coronavirus: Ashok Leyland seeks rebate in GST, road tax to revive CV industry
Amid the ongoing war of words between the Centre and Opposition Congress over Chinese money in Indian organisations, the government has opened another front by setting up a committee to probe alleged financial violations by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and other Congress foundations. The Congress trusts under government radar are Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

India Today, citing sources, said the probe committee, headed by Special Director of Enforcement Directorate, will primarily focus on money laundering, manipulation in declaration and filing of Income Tax and foreign money angles. "An inter-ministerial committee has been set up to coordinate investigations into violation of various legal provisions of PMLA, Income Tax Act, FCRA etc by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust & Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust," a home ministry note said.

The investigations regarding FCRA and PMLA violations, and tax evasion and fund diversion will be carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department, respectively.

Sonia Gandhi is the chairman of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, which was set up on June 21, 1991. The other trustees of the organisations are Dr Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Suman Dubey, Rahul Gandhi, Dr Ashok Ganguly, Sanjiv Goenka and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT), a not-for-profit organisation, was set up in 2002 and has both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi as its board members. The organisation works in the area of the rural development of underprivileged.

The probe against the Congress trusts comes days after the Congress party raised objections over Chinese firms contributing to the PM CARES Fund. The party had asked why the government was accepting such donations while India and China are engaged in a tense border standoff in Ladakh.

The PM CARES Fund was set up in March this year with an objective to deal with any emergency arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, some opposition parties have demanded the donations received by the fund be made public.

Also read: Now banned TikTok gave Rs 30 crore to PM CARES Fund
I saw the way that some of my friends were treated that were people of color, London said. I didnt want kids to have to go back to school this next year, after experiencing everything thats happening this summer, to have to go to school and having been fighting for change to systems nationally but have nothing change in the school system, where theyre supposed to feel safe.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Some traders and manufacturers are negotiating with suppliers in Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam instead of China

Manufacturers in India are expected to rejig their supply chain in coming months and distance it from China

China offers far more competitive rates due to its sheer scale

China is also known to not play by rules and it is alleged that the government offers subsidies and incentives to corner a bigger share of global export pie

Some traders and manufacturers have started charting out plans to import raw materials from South East Asian countries even though it will be 5-10% more expensive than buying from China.

Gyan Chand, who runs a small-scale chemicals and plastic company Manya International, has started negotiating with suppliers in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam to import synthetic polymers. So has Noida-based computer hardware manufacturer Deki Electronics.

These firms are talking to local buyers for medium term order pipelines to ensure that they are ready to pay for the additional cost. But at the same time, they want clear policy from the government over import of various items so that they are not at risk should relations with China return to normal after a few months and their new plan goes haywire.

ALSO READ: E-tailers seek 3-4 months to display 'country of origin' on products

"We have decided to shift. It will cost us a little more. But as a country we should be ready to pay if we want Atmanirbharta (self-reliance). Wherever possible we are trying to develop Indian vendors and where it is not possible we are looking at South Korea and Taiwan instead of China," said Vinod Sharma, Chairman of CII National Committee on Information Communication Technology & Electronics (ICTE) and Managing Director, Deki Electronics Ltd.

Deki's total imports are about 50% of its turnover, and out of this one-third comes from China. In wake of bloody skirmishes on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, there has been growing demand to shun imports from the neighbouring country. The delay in customs clearance to goods coming from China seems to be a reflection of popular sentiment.

While frontline troops on the LAC start disengagement, manufacturers in India will have to rejig their supply chain in coming months. Additionally, there is emphasis by the government to increase localisation and local manufacturers have started responding positively. But the shift is expected to take longer than expected given that China offers far more competitive rates due to its sheer scale.

For instance, the auto component industry in China is estimated to be around $550 billion which is almost 10 times the size of India's auto component market of $57 billion.

ALSO READ: US to maintain 'strong stand' on TikTok ban: Vice President Mike Pence

Besides, China is also known to not play by rules. The government is believed to offer subsidies and incentives to corner a bigger share of the global export pie.

"We have started trying to explore new source markets. For some products we are planning to shift to Taiwan while for some others we may import from South Korea. But some products we would continue to import from China," said Adarsh Mahipal Gupta, Director (Finance and Marketing) at auto-component manufacturing firm Autopal.

Autopal which has companies like Tata, Volvo and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) as clients imports auto parts worth about Rs 8-10 crore from China.

Vinnie Mehta, Director General, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) noted that one of the key lessons from the lockdown in the aftermath of Covid has been to de-risk the supply chain and look at China plus One policy.

"Everybody in India is thinking about deep localisation and see how they can be self-reliant. But this does not happen overnight," Mehta said adding that product development is a long-drawn process, and takes time to develop, validate and test.

India has had a huge trade deficit with China for years with imports far exceeding exports. It narrowed down in FY20 but continues to remain heavily tilted in favour of China.

ALSO READ: US to restrict visas for some Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Tibet: Mike Pompeo
The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study has been an important tool of environmental governance in India since 1994. It provides a basic fact-sheet of costs and supposed benefits (not exactly a cost-benefit analysis) of projects like dams, mines and industries that have high potential to damage the environment and local communities.

In 1997, an important and mandatory component was added: pubic consultations before EIA could be finalised and presented for green clearances. The EIA of 1994 was replaced with the EIA of 2006, which specified a four-stage process of green approval: screening, scoping, public consultation and appraisal by expert committees.

Screening is to identify if a project needs an EIA study; scoping sets up the terms of reference (TOR) for EIA study; public consultation or hearing to invite objections and facilitate dialogue with local communities and experts before government approval is sought.

The EIA is issued under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 for the purpose of protecting and improving environment and preventing pollution.

Section 3 (1) of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 Act reads: "Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central government shall have the power to take all such measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing controlling and abating environmental pollution."

In March 2020, even as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) put out a draft EIA of 2020 to replace the EIA of 2006.

The draft EIA of 2020 seeks to achieve the opposite of the very raison d'etre of the EIA - protection, and promotion of environment and local communities.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy III: All that's wrong with India's environmental governance

Here is how.

Brings in retrospective green clearances declared illegal by the Supreme Court (SC)

The draft EIA of 2020 (clause 22) provides for "ex post facto" environmental clearance (EC) to projects (new or expansion and modernisation of old projects) which the SC struck down as "unsustainable in law" on April 1, 2020 in the Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd versus Rohit Prajapati & others case.

The draft says, in case of a project operating without the mandatory prior-environment clearances (prior-EC), would be asked to provide two plans - "remediation plan and natural and community resource augmentation plan", corresponding to 1.5 times the ecological damage assessed and economic benefit derived due to violation.

It also proposes a late fee of Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 per day on the violators. The amount may seem stiff not when the value of one day's mining of iron ore, coal, or even stones and sands is considered.

While ruling "ex post facto" environment clearance as illegal, the SC had, in its April 2020 judgement, explained the logic: "The concept of an ex post facto EC is in derogation of the fundamental principles of environmental jurisprudence and an anathema to the EIA notification dated 27 January 1994..."

It added: "The reason why a retrospective EC or an ex post facto clearance is alien to environmental jurisprudence is that before the issuance of an EC, the statutory notification warrants a careful application of mind, besides a study into the likely consequences of a proposed activity on the environment. An EC can be issued only after various stages of the decision-making process have been completed."

It also pointed out that since the retrospective clearance is a "purely administrative decision", it "cannot override the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986" - which is the governing law.

The Pune bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had earlier struck it down in January 2016. Ruling on a ministerial circular of May 14, 2002 which sought to grant retrospective green clearances, the NGT ruled that the circular "is void, ab initio and ought to be struck down" because it has no legal basis.

The practice of providing retrospective clearance began in 1998, during the NDA-I regime, when the green ministry first issued such a circular. The 2002 circular was the third one and was supposed to be the "final" opportunity for polluting projects running without green clearances.

The practice resumed during the NDA-II regime. At least two more such circulars were issued on March 14, 2017 and March 8, 2018.

Now this has been made a part of the EIA.

It is not a revelation that pollution of air, water and soil imposes a heavy cost on people living nearby by spreading illness and deaths. Depletion of forests not only causes global warming and climate change but deprives millions of people surviving on forests of their source of livelihood too.

The SC has played a big role in allowing retrospective green clearance.

The April 2020 ruling cited above did declare it illegal ("unsustainable in law") and yet overturned it in the same judgement by expounding the "principle of proportionality".

What the court meant by the "principle of proportionality" is this: the polluting industries in question operating without prior legal authorisation (a) had been operating for many years and "have made infrastructural investments and employed significant numbers of workers" (b) obtained ECs in 2002 and 2003 (even though retrospectively) and (c) in similar cases of violations in the past, the apex court had not revoked their clearances or ordered their closure as the NGT ruling of 2016 did.

In effect, the apex court overruled its own rule declaring "ex post facto" green clearance illegal.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy II: What stock market boom means to people and economy

Denying citizens' right to complain against green violations

The draft EIA of 2020 denies people's right to object or complain against violations of environmental laws by denying them a platform (public hearing while finalising EIA), thereby striking out transparency and accountability from the green clearances.

The draft lists four ways (clause 22) in which a violation of environmental laws can be taken "cognizance" of (i) suo motu application from the violating project (ii) reporting by any government authority (iii) detected by appraisal committee (giving green clearances), and (iv) detected by the regulatory authority.

This makes environmental violations a strictly government-to-industry business. There is no role for communities that bear the cost of pollution or experts and civil society.

Here is food for thought.

In December 2018, the medical journal Lancet published a study saying India lost 1.27 million lives in 2017 (12.5% of total deaths that year) to air pollution. The life expectancy of Indians would have been higher by 1.7 years had the air quality been good, it added.

What would be the cost of lives lost and the healthcare cost of millions of others who fell sick from air pollution?

Exemptions from green clearances, EIA study, and public consultations

The draft EIA of 2020 exempts a wide range of projects and activities from prior environment clearance, EIA studies, and public consultations - all key safeguards for local communities and environment.

All projects have been categorised into A, B1 and B2 on the basis of their potential social and environmental impact and spatial extent of these implications.

B2 projects are completely out of EIA coverage and public consultations. They don't even need environment clearance (EC); instead they will get "environment permission (EP)" without requiring assessment of the Expert Appraisal Committee.

These projects include all inland waterways, expansion of national and express highways up to 100 km; up to 25 megawatts hydroelectric power; irrigation projects irrigating 2,000 to 10,000 ha land; small and medium cement plants; MSMEs making bulk drugs, synthetic rubber, organic chemicals, paints and construction projects with build-up area up to 1.5 lakh sqm, etc.

All they need is to present the Environment Management Plan (EMP), which would be a self-declaration of the project without the green ministry's involvement.

No public consultation would be required (clause 14) for projects declared as important for defence, security, or strategic purposes by the central government. In such cases, no information would be placed in public domain (clause 5(7)) either.

How a project would be defined thus has not been spelt out.

Further, no public consultation would be required for any oil, gas and slurry (coal and other ores) pipelines "passing through national parks or national sanctuaries or coral reefs or ecologically sensitive areas" or in border areas; highways/expressways/ring roads/multi-modal corridors in border areas (clause 14; items 31 and 38 of the Schedule).

Centralisation of power

Just as the central government has done with inter-state water disputes and dam safety, here too states are short-changed.

In the existing EIA of 2006, the central government is required to set up decision making and regulatory bodies at the state level "in consultation" with respective state governments.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy I: Why stock market is booming when COVID-19-hit economy sinks

Not so in the draft EIA of 2020. "In consultation" does not figure either in setting up a decision-making a state and union territory-level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC or UTSEAC) or regulatory body Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA or UTEIAA). The states and union territories would merely forward names.

Doesn't address flaws in existing EIA framework

The EIA of 2006 is full of holes, none of which is filled by the draft EIA of 2020.

The CAG's performance audit report of 2016 on 'Environment Clearance and Post-clearance Monitoring' pointed out: "No penalty was imposed by the Ministry for violating conditions of Environmental Clearance in the last two years".

It said, in 25% cases the EIA studies did not comply with the terms and conditions set; cumulative impact study/assessment lacking and the SC's 2011 directive to appoint a regulator at the national level "to carry out an independent, objective and transparent appraisal and approval of the projects for environmental clearances and to monitor the implementation of the conditions laid down in the environmental clearance" has not been implemented.

There are plenty of other problems.

Firstly, the EIA study is a self-certifying exercise. Just as corporate entities appoint and pay for auditing of their accounts (leading to massive frauds in the Satyam Computers and IL&FS, for example, which went undetected ), the EIA studies are done by agencies hired and paid for by those setting up the project.

The fallout is evident.

The Vedanta's alumina project in Odisha's Lanjigarh (for which it needed to mine the Niyamgiri hills for bauxite) went into production after carrying out a partial and rapid EIA study in the rainy season, which is expressly prohibited.

The EIA that was presented for public consultation was different from the one presented for environment clearance and yet green clearances were granted.

In the case of French company Lafarge's limestone mining in Meghalaya's Khasi hills for its cement plant in Bangladesh, the EIA report said the mining area was "wasteland" and "covered with rocks". After production started in 2006 (mining had broken up 21.44 ha forest land by then), the hills turned out to be "natural and virgin forests" with rich flora and fauna.

In 2011, the Supreme Court acknowledged the wrongdoings but used "doctrine of proportionality" to let the legions of central and state government officials and pollution control agencies involved off the hook.

Secondly, exempting EIA studies for small mining, thermal or hydro-electric projects have devastating impacts when allowed in clusters and industrial estates. For example, small sand mining projects in the Aravali hills, iron ore mining in Bellary, and bauxite mining in Andhra Pradesh have caused havoc with their environment.

Also Read: Nitin Gadkari calls Environment Ministry guidelines outdated, hindrances to growth

Clusters of small thermal plants and multiple small hydro-electrical projects in a single river basin present big environmental threats, which have been acknowledged by governments and courts but went unaddressed in the EIA of 2020.

Monitoring of projects for environmental mitigation is another major concern.

The CAG report of 2016 said there wasn't even a data base for complaints received from states; the MoEF&CC itself hadn't set up a separate monitoring cell as the apex court had asked for and third-party independent monitoring was virtually non-existent.

Non-compliance with pollution mitigation conditions ranged from 5% to 57% in the samples it examined.

What does the draft EIA of 2020 propose to do about it?

It has made compliance self-certifying.

That is, the polluting industries themselves would file annual "compliance reports" about the environmental mitigation, making mockery of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 and other such laws.

Environment protection law to protect polluting industry

Instead of carrying out meaningful dialogue and debate, the MoEF&CC sought to rush the draft EIA of 2020 through during the pandemic lockdown.

Despite strong protests from experts, the window for filing objections was limited to June 30. The Delhi High Court intervened on the same day to extend the deadline to August 11, and later asked for the draft EIA of 2020 to be translated into all 22 languages listed in the Constitution (instead of just English and Hindi) and uploaded on the websites of all central and state environment ministries and pollution control boards for wider reach.

The rush to notify the new EIA is to speed up clearances to projects that impose heavy social and environmental costs on the economy.

Ironically, the EIA is an instrument that draws its power from Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 that aims at "protecting and improving the quality of the environment and preventing controlling and abating environmental pollution".

Economic historian Prof. Dirk Philipsen of Duke University wrote about what China found when it tried to calculate the social and environmental cost of polluting industries in 2004. He said a study was published in 2006 which found the cost "devastating".

In his 2015 book, 'The Little Big Number: How GDP Came to Rule the World and What to Do About It', Philipsen wrote that 20% of China's GDP was found directly based on depletion of resources and degradation of the environment and in several provinces, pollution-adjusted growth rates turned out to be "negative".

Here is about the depletion of forests in India.

According to a study by a Columbia University scholar, in six years between 2014 and 2020, forest land nearly equal to the size of Nagaland has already been approved for non-forest use or is pending approval.

During this period, 14,822 sq km of forest land has been diverted, while during the previous 39 years between 1975 and 2014, the diverted forest land stood at 21,632.5 sq km.

India's first National Forest Policy of 1988 aimed to raise forest cover from 23% to 33% (geographical area). In December 2019, the MoEF&CC released its report on forest cover stating that India was far behind its target at the current forest cover of 24.56%.
Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan said on Wednesday mild signs of improvement in Indian economy are visible even though a lot needs to be done as the full recovery will take a long time.

He stressed on factors impeding India's comeback such as containing coronavirus, coming out with a vaccine, effective method of testing, and getting medical policy right.

Talking about several issues concerning the current situation in the world and India alike, Rajan told CNBC TV18 why macros and markets are contradicting, adding that bouts of anxiety over the COVID-19 pandemic can bring markets down. He further stated that India cannot afford to bail out all companies like the USA.

Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: Amartya Sen, Raghuram Rajan, Abhijit Banerjee suggest economic measures

"Clearly the fear factor is mounting in India. We haven't contained the virus yet and it still looks like it is growing in an exponential way. Given these concerns, at some point this is going to be damaging for the economy. People are not going to come out and spend beyond a certain point. Yes, we do see a little bit of a V-shaped recovery, but that's because we went down so far and the initial comeback is just the opening. What is really needed is a full recovery and that's going to take a very long time," Rajan said.

The former RBI governor further highlighted global economies are going to be significantly impacted except Europe and East Asia, that have managed to contain the virus and are in the process of ensuring a quick and stronger turnaround. He underscored that unless "there is good news on COVID-19 vaccine discovery and a quick and cheap method of testing, we are going to have bouts of anxiety that could bring the stock markets down."

Also Read: Lockdown not enough to contain coronavirus in India: Raghuram Rajan

Talking about how India can design a macro-economic policy, Rajan said that the country first needs to get its medical policy right.

"I understand the enormous efforts going about, the brave warriors such as doctors, and healthcare workers, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic from the front lines, but that is not sufficient. India now has the third-largest number of coronavirus cases in the world," he highlighted.

"Although the developing countries including India with large rural areas, have had relatively low death rates, a World Bank paper suggests that it is a puzzle. Why is it that the deaths per million are so much lower amongst the emerging nations? Albeit it's beneficial for such countries, but the increasing number of coronavirus cases need to be brought down as well. Until India manages to contain the virus cases, its economy is not going to open fully. Bending the curve on a reliable basis is the need of the hour," Rajan stressed.

Commenting on the Modi government's Rs 20 lakh crore economic stimulus package to rescue the COVID-19 affected economy, Rajan said that it was insufficient. He said that although the Centre provided migrant workers with free food grains under the package, they have become unemployed, and need money to buy vegetables, milk, edible oil and pay rent.
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Trump administration formally informs UN of decision to pull out of WHO

The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization, officials said, breaking off ties with the global health body amid the expanding coronavirus pandemic. The US has accused the WHO of siding with China on the outbreak of the virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, alleging the health body misled the world resulting in deaths of over half a million people globally, including over 130,000 in America.

Mumbai allows coronavirus testing for everyone without doctor's prescription

People in Mumbai can now test themselves for coronavirus infection at designated private hospitals without any doctor's prescription, according to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This decision has come as a big relief for several citizens who want to get tested for coronavirus but don't show symptoms. Earlier, only patients with symptoms and a doctor's prescription were allowed to get tested.

WHO acknowledges 'evidence emerging' of airborne spread of COVID-19

The World Health Organization on Tuesday acknowledged "evidence emerging" of the airborne spread of the novel coronavirus, after a group of scientists urged the global body to update its guidance on how the respiratory disease passes between people.

Investing in Gold bonds? Key things to know

Unions raise alarm as industrial accidents rise in India post lockdown

India is witnessing increased instances of industrial accidents in the last few months as factories have started to come back to life after an over month long complete lockdown in March and April. Since May, more than 30 industrial accidents have been reported in the country that have led to the death of 75 workers and injuring over 100 others. In a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, IndustriALL Global Union has warned of recurring instances that indicate a pattern of prolonged lapses in safety, regulations and inspection and has asked for a thorough review.

ICICI Bank to reward 80,000 employees with salary hike for working during coronavirus

ICICI Bank plans to reward more than 80,000 of its employees for giving services during the coronavirus pandemic. The country's largest private sector bank has decided to give a salary hike of up to 8 per cent to more than 80,000 of its frontline staff, news agency PTI reported citing unidentified sources. It amounts to over 80 per cent of its total workforce. The hike is for FY21 and applicable from July onwards, it reported. The development comes at a time when companies are slashing employee salaries to contain costs amid coronavirus crisis.

Jio receives Rs 43,574 crore from Facebook for 9.99% stake

Remdesivir selling at Rs 60,000; drug regulator warns against black marketing

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has directed the department officials in states and union territories to keep strict vigil and prevent the black marketing of COVID-19 treatment drug Remdesivir, following complaints of the medicine being sold above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) to the public.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS

All airlines are flying at 30% capacity even though the government has permitted 45%

Underlying factors - fear of flying, fare bands, and inconsistency in state government policies - are dragging down demand

Demand expected to remain low, at least in short term

Only 0.003% of the air passengers contracted COVID-19

There's an unsettling trend that has started to worry the bosses at domestic airlines. Soon after domestic flights resumed on May 25, the air traffic began to expand consistently. This was on the expected lines since there was a lot of pent-up demand for people who got stuck before the first lockdown. Airlines and sector experts believed that once this kind of demand gets fulfilled, there would be a sudden contraction in traffic. That didn't happen. Instead, the airlines have been caught in a range-bound demand cycle which could be lethal for their survival. Most airlines have deployed just 30-35 per cent capacity at the moment. This is despite government allowing airlines to deploy 45 per cent capacity from July 1 - an increase from 33 per cent allowed previously.

Their load factors (seats occupied as percentage of total seats) also linger between 50 per cent and 60 per cent. Even more worrying is the trend in the flow of the traffic which remains uni-directional - more people flying out of metros to the east of the country - even after more than 45 days of reboot.

ALSO READ: IndiGo loss likely at Rs 2,670 cr for Q1, SpiceJet's at Rs 1,000 cr: Report

A 30-35 per cent capacity deployment is still better than the seven days of May when it was lower than 20 per cent. For instance, all domestic carriers are flying about 70,000 passengers a day now as compared to 24,000 a day in May. But staying in that zone when international flights are still banned could hurt the airlines' topline and bottomline. Given that 40 per cent of their costs are fixed, and ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices are on a rise, airlines need to quickly ramp up their capacity to return to profitability. But they can't do it because of a host of issues: the general fear of flying, no flexibility to play around with fares, and huge inconsistency in state regulations.

Above all, the passengers' confidence in air travel remains a key for airlines. Though airlines and government have been trying to allay fears by putting out data and publicising their new safety protocols, the rising number of COVID-19 cases have deterred people from travelling.

As per Usha Padhee, joint secretary at Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), out of the total domestic passenger traffic of around 4.7 million (in about 37-38 days), just 800-odd cases have been found positive. "That's 0.003 per cent. Out of that, contact tracing has been done in every case. We can produce proof that air travel is the fastest and the safest," she said at a recent webinar.

ALSO READ: Vistara in talks with planemakers, lessors to delay aircraft delivery

To deal with health fears, the airlines are continuously highlighting the stringent safety protocols at the airports and how safe the air cabins are.

"Inside an aircraft, the air quality is fantastic because there are HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters which are used in hospital surgical rooms. For a virus of this size (0.06 to 0.14 micron), 99.99 per cent of them are cleared by HEPA filters. In a typical aircraft cabin, the air is fully changed 20-30 times per hour. The changes in our health protocols are akin to the changes in safety protocols after 9/11," said Sunil Bhaskaran, CEO and MD at Air Asia India.

Not just that, SpiceJet is facilitating insurance for passengers in case of COVID-19 hospitalisation - first airline to do so. Its chairman Ajay Singh has recently said that these are massively challenging times, and the worst he has ever seen during his time in the sector. In 2004, Singh acquired SpiceJet and revamped the airline.

Though airlines are trying to downplay the safety risks, they are particularly irked with the state regulations when it comes to flying. Over the past one month, state governments have been fairly inconsistent in terms of rules for flights in their respective states. For instance, West Bengal government reportedly sought a ban recently on flights to Kolkata from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Chennai, Indore, Ahmedabad and Surat till July 16. The flip-flop on flight schedules to Kolkata is detrimental for airlines like Vistara who have been using its widebody Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner so that it can carry for passengers.

ALSO READ: Domestic airlines may need $3.5 billion funding: CAPA

"If we had a situation where all state governments were behaving the same way, we would have seen an improved situation. It will take 3-4 weeks before we see state governments align to a common protocol. That will push the demand," said Sanjay Kumar, chief strategy and revenue officer at IndiGo in a webinar.

Airlines like IndiGo and Vistara have already expressed their dissatisfaction with fare bands. In a recent interaction with Business Today, IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta had said that he's not able to stimulate demand by lowering traffic because of these fare bands imposed by MoCA.

Fare bands have both cap and floor rates. For instance, fares on Delhi-to-Patna flight can be priced in the band of Rs 3,000-9,000 per ticket. "That's part of the problem with this band and I hope the government takes it away in August as promised because we need a little more flexibility to play on this unidirectional traffic, and bands somewhat come in the way of that," Dutta had said.

As per some estimates, the passenger traffic in June was just 16 per cent of the corresponding month last year (12.03 million). In the first week of July, it was slightly better. In June, ratings agency ICRA said that traffic recovery in a meaningful manner is expected towards FY22, and that FY19 passenger traffic levels of 345 million are likely to be surpassed only in FY23.

Even as the airlines remain hopeful of the domestic demand pick-up, and re-opening of the international segment, the underlying factors will continue to keep the demand low at least in the short-term.

ALSO READ: Domestic air traffic to fall up to 46% in FY21 due to coronavirus pandemic: ICRA
Healthcare firm Baxter India on Tuesday said it has received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for the use of its Oxiris blood purification filter for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The filter is intended to be used in the critically ill COVID-19 patients in need of blood purification where excessive inflammatory mediators are present, Baxter India said in a statement.

"The COVID-19 cases in India have been spiralling and putting pressure on our the healthcare system. This approval has come at a crucial time when such filter sets are much required to ease the burden on healthcare providers," Baxter India General Manager Ravinder Dang said. The company hopes that the availability of Oxiris will go a long way in fighting the COVID-19 cases in India, he added.

During blood purification therapy, the patient's blood passes through the Oxiris filter set, where it can adsorb inflammatory mediators, and remove fluid, electrolytes and uremic toxins, before returning the patient's blood to the body, Baxter India said. Baxter India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baxter International Inc.

It started operations in India in April 1997.

Also read: Coronavirus vaccine: US govt awards Novavax $1.6 billion to cover testing, production
Highlights Facebook held a virtual meeting with civil rights activists and Stop Hate for Profit campaigners to address their issues.

Facebook said it was making changes, "not for financial reasons or advertiser pressure, but because it is the right thing to do."

The civil rights activists were not convinced and said Facebook is not doing enough to stop hate on the platform.

Facebook has been long criticised for carrying hate speech on its platform. Recently, the social media giant held a meeting with civil rights activists and campaigners in the backdrop of the Stop Hate for Profit movement.

The virtual meeting was held between Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, COO Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, and the leaders of the NAACP, Color of Change, Free Press, and the Anti-Defamation League.

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg in a statement before the meeting had said, "Facebook stands firmly against hate. Being a platform where everyone can make their voice heard is core to our mission, but that doesn't mean it's acceptable for people to spread hate."

She further said that Facebook was making changes, "not for financial reasons or advertiser pressure, but because it is the right thing to do."

Sandberg said that Facebook has worked for years to try to minimize the presence of hate on the platform. "That's why we agreed to undertake the civil rights audit two years ago. Over many years, we've spent billions of dollars on teams and technology to find and remove hate as well as protect the integrity of our platform more generally and have become a pioneer in using artificial intelligence technology to remove hateful content at scale," she added.

However, the civil rights activists were disappointed after the meeting.

Business Insider quoted ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt who said, "Today we saw little and heard just about nothing. We didn't get commitments or time frames or clear outcomes. We expected specifics and that's not what we heard."

As per the report, the groups discussed 10 demands with Facebook which included items such as C-suite level executive with civil rights expertise, public and independent civil rights audits, changes to Facebook's moderation policies around hate speech and misinformation, refunds to advertisers whose ads are shown next to hate speech, and live customer support for user experience, hate or harassment.

The groups were not convinced by Facebook's response. The groups said in a statement that Facebook only paid heed to the advice to hire a civil right expert but offered no attempt to address the other nine demands.

In the past few weeks, hundreds of advertisers including Microsoft, Verizon, GoPro and others have paused spending on Facebook ads citing the inaction that Facebook takes over the hate that is spewed through posts.




Highlights Samsung is set to host its Galaxy Unpacked 2020 on August 5

The event could see Samsung launching the Galaxy Note 20

It could also announce the Galaxy Fold 2

Samsung has confirmed the date of launch for its next Unpacked event. The company has announced that it will be hosting its second major event for the year on August 5. While the company hasn't revealed the announcements it will make on the day, the Unpacked event till now has been used by Samsung to unveil flagships. As such, the company is expected to launch the Note 20 and Galaxy Fold 2 on this day.

This would also fall in line with latest teasers which have claimed in the past that Samsung would launch the Galaxy Note 20 at the beginning of August. Talking about the phone, there isn't much that we know about the device at the moment. However, leaks in the past have still revealed some crucial information about the device.

Over the past few weeks, many renders have shown the upcoming phone to come with a triple stacked camera module on the back, with an LED flash sitting at its side. Previously we've seen CAD-based renders of the device appear online which also claim to reveal the design of the phone. The renders have shown a design that borrows heavily from the Galaxy S20 series. On the front, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has been shown to bring slight curves and a boxy design -- something we've previously seen on Galaxy S20 Ultra and even the Galaxy Note 10 last year.

As for the specs, OnLeaks has claimed in the past that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will bring a rather big display at 6.9-inches. This will be bigger than the one found on the Galaxy Note 10+ which came with a 6.8-inch display. Reports in the past have suggested that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra could come with a 120Hz mode for faster refresh rates. Additionally, reports claim the panel on the phone will be built using LTPO tech. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is also tipped to get a 108-megapixel main camera. However, there is no clarity if both the phones in the Galaxy Note 20 series will get the massive camera.
Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) announces the opportunity for mid-level executives to participate in 2020 PTC Academy courses through a new live online training format. Led by senior expert instructors from the PTC Membership community, the course provides exclusive insight and learning for up-and-coming leaders in the telecommunications industry, in addition to earning continuing education units.

Thanks to such close access with C-level industry heavy-hitters, the PTC Academy equipped me with incredible insights crucial for understanding the dynamics that are changing telco and how to see the opportunity in that disruption, says Tim Hewitt, former indirect sales director at Colt Technology Services and current vice president of Commercial/M&A Legal at Marelli. These insights were a game changer for progressing my career in completely new spheres.

Through a partnership with Submarine Telecoms Forum, an IACET-accredited continuing education provider, participants completing the program will earn 1.2 continuing education units that can be used to satisfy a wide variety of professional requirements across a range of industries.

The PTC Academy provides exceptional management training to rising stars within our industry, says Sean Bergin, co-founder and president of APTelecom, and PTC Academy instructor. The curriculum is focused on strategies and tools that can be used to identify and solve issues within the participants respective businesses. The coursework provides substantial real-world experience which brings relevance and credibility to the curriculum.

PTC Academy: Executive Insight for Exceptional Leaders, will be taught online over a 2.5-week period from 14 to 30 September 2020, at 09:00 to 10:30 SGT (UTC+08:00), with the second course taking place from 2 to 20 November 2020, at 09:00 to 10:30 PST.

As one of PTCs Community Outreach Initiatives, the PTC Academy is helping to fulfill the organizations mission in promoting the advancement of information and communication technologies (ICT) and improving the quality of life in the Pacific Rim.

For more information or to register for the upcoming PTC Academy, visit www.ptc.org/ptc-academy.

ABOUT PACIFIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL

Recognized as PTC, the Pacific Telecommunications Council is the leading global non-profit membership organization promoting the advancement of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the Pacific Rim, the most dynamic geography of the world, spanning over 40 nations. Alongside technology interests, the PTC fosters academic, developmental, regulatory, and legal perspectives. PTC organizes conferences, exhibitions, and other forums to promote the open exchange of information, ideas, and views in the context of the commercial, social, economic, and other development needs in the regions it serves and beyond.

ABOUT SUBMARINE TELECOMS FORUM CONTINUING EDUCATION:

PTC partnered with Submarine Telecoms Forum, an IACET-accredited continuing education provider, to bring PTC Academy into the next generation of industry training. With this partnership, PTC Academy now provides Continuing Education Units to applicable learning event attendees. These credits are internationally accepted and can be used to satisfy a wide variety of professional requirements across a range of industries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005926/en/
Germany will continue to push to seal a new partnership agreement with Britain by the end of the year, but the European Union should also prepare for an abrupt split from 2021, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.

Britain left the EU in January and is currently in a standstill transition period with the bloc to give the two sides time to fix a new relationship in everything from trade to security.

Last week's round of talks was cut short, with both sides saying that, while they wanted an agreement, they had yet to overcome the gulf in positions that could see Britain leaving the transition period without a trade deal.

British and EU officials meet in London this week for talks on goods, services, fisheries, governance, the so-called level playing field guarantees of fair competition and law enforcement after the two sides' negotiators had an informal dinner.

"Progress in negotiations thus far has been slim, to put it diplomatically," Merkel told the European Parliament as Germany assumed the EU's rotating presidency for the rest of the year.

"We have agreed with the UK to accelerate the pace of the talks ... I will continue to push for a good solution, but we should also prepare for a possibility of a no-deal scenario."

Britain has so far rejected EU pressure to commit to close ties in areas ranging from fisheries to harmonizing competition standards - a 'level playing field' - since Prime Minister Boris Johnson - a key campaigner for Brexit - wants only a narrower trade deal.

A spokesman for Johnson described a dinner between Britain's chief negotiator David Frost and the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier as "a constructive opportunity for David and Michel Barnier to meet in a more informal way ahead of the specialized sessions that are taking place today."

On Wednesday, Barnier repeated that his team was working hard on fisheries and a level playing field - two of the elements that have blocked an agreement so far in talks.

Johnson late on Tuesday told Merkel in a telephone call that Britain would leave the transition period "on Australia terms" if no better deal was agreed. Australia does not have a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU.

Should such a no deal emerge, some businesses say major trade and travel disruptions could ensue. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
She warned him that the occupants could be Latin Kings, the bitter rival to his Two-Six gang, a dispute with a history of bad blood in the Little Village neighborhood that stretches back to the early 1970s. The pair maintained their course on the West Side street until two people emerged from the car, each wearing hoods, face masks and carrying handguns with attached laser sights, according to Cook County prosecutors.
Gilead Sciences today announced plans to invest approximately 7 million in the companys Irish operations, opening a new base in Dublin and creating 140 jobs. As part of this expansion, the company will also establish a paediatric centre of excellence in Ireland.



The company is currently in the process of selecting a location for its new Dublin office, where the majority of the new positions will be based with the remaining roles located at Gileads existing Cork facilities. Gilead expects to fill 80 of the positions over the coming 12 months, with the remainder hired by early 2022.



Its manufacturing operations in Ireland supply countries across Europe and other parts of the world outside of the United States. The company has commenced the recruitment process and expects the positions to be filled by early 2022.

Gilead is adding positions at all levels in departments including clinical development, process development and analytical operations, legal, human resources, supply chain, information technology, facilities and engineering, and financial shared services.



Gileads sites in Ireland include a drug product manufacturing and packing facility in Carrigtwohill Co. Cork that manufactures and packages 22 Gilead drug products. The facility manufactures HIV and HCV solid oral products, representing 25 percent of Gileads total solid oral drug production. The company also has a financial shared services centre in Little Island, Co. Cork, which supports Gilead affiliates in Europe, Middle East, Asia and South America and was established 11 years ago, and a distribution centre in Dublin that distributes to 90 markets worldwide.

Welcoming the news, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Leo Varadkar said, "Gilead has been steadily growing its presence here over the last 20 years and todays announcement underlines the companys commitment to Ireland. This expansion shows that Ireland offers the right conditions  particularly our skilled and talented workforce  to allow companies like Gilead to grow their operations here. I wish them well in this next exciting chapter."

Vice President, Manufacturing Operations and General Manager, Gilead Sciences Ireland, David Cadogan added, "Gilead has a long record of operating in Ireland and our teams here have played a critical role in ensuring that patients in Europe and other parts of the world outside of the United States have access to our medicines. With this additional investment, we are looking forward to continuing this important work and growing our presence here in Ireland."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
It was announced today that JYSK is due to open its first Dublin store in Gullivers Retail Park in Norhtwood, Santry.

The Danish retail chain have signed a ten-year lease on a 7,667 sq ft unit and took access on 8th June, with fit-out works starting on 15th June. Planning has already been granted to almost double the square footage by adding a 6,600 sq ft retail mezzanine level.

The global brand, which specialises in household goods such as furniture and interior decor, already has seven outlets across Ireland with further expansion planned over the coming years. Recruitment for their Sligo unit, due to open in August, has already commenced and Dublin is expected to open in October of this year.



Speaking this week, Roni Tuominen of JYSK said, "It goes without saying that in this Covid-19 environment safety needs to come first but with unemployment in Ireland at a record high we all need to help. I am delighted to say that all seven of our stores in Ireland have reopened and JYSK are still very much committed to our expansion strategy in Ireland and plan to have 20 stores across the country by the end of 2021, with roughly 200 new jobs being created."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Pub operator Wetherspoon announced today it is set to open its new pub and hotel in Dublin on October 20. The company is investing more than 21 million euros developing the pub and 89 bedroom hotel, named Keavans Port, in Camden Street Upper and Lower.



Up to 200 full and part-time jobs will be created at the pub and hotel. The pub will feature two bars, one located on the lower ground floor and the other at ground floor level within the gazed atrium. There will also be two enclosed courtyards.



Speaking this week, Wetherspoon Chief Executive, John Hutson said, "We are looking forward to opening our new pub and hotel in Dublin. It is the companys biggest single investment on a site and will also house its largest hotel. The project has gone back a few months as building work was put on hold due to Covid-19, however, we are delighted that building work is once again underway."

He added, "We believe the pub and hotel will be a great asset to Dublin and hopefully it will act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in the city."



Source: www.businessworld.ie


Think back to your elementary school days when there was always that one kid with the weird parent. Maybe it was something small, like the parent dressed strangely. Or maybe it was something bigger, like the parent was an ultra-disciplinarian. The bottom line was the same: nobody wanted to play with that kid, even though they may have been perfectly normal.

That metaphor is quite fitting for the current state of affairs in Chinas high-tech realm, where a host of otherwise promising names like ByteDance and Huawei are quickly becoming outcasts in the global schoolyard due to their odd Beijing parent.

Huawei has been getting ostracized for more than a year now by the playground bully, the U.S., which is leaning heavily on other Western countries not to buy the tech giants 5G equipment. But Huawei has always been slightly hobbled by the fact that its founder, Ren Zhengfei, is a former member of the Peoples Liberation Army. It also doesnt help that he comes from an older generation that often sees the state as a sort of elder brother they would never dare to challenge.

None of that can be said of the much younger ByteDance, however, and its founder Zhang Yiming, 37, who grew up mostly in Chinas internet age and well after the iron rice bowl era had ended. Yet despite that youth, the crown jewel of Zhangs empire, the short video app called TikTok, has suddenly become a lightning rod for foreign governments and their fears and uneasiness towards Beijing.

TikTok, which goes by Douyin in China, has been in nearly nonstop headlines these days, as its arguably the first made-in-China internet story thats found widespread success globally. The app currently has hundreds of millions users outside China, including at least 120 million in India and anywhere from 30 million to 80 million in the U.S., which are two of its biggest overseas markets.

Things started getting tough for TikTok last year when U.S. politicians began raising concerns about the companys ability to protect user data, with the heavy implication that it might hand over such data to central authorities if requested to do so. Last week the problems spread to Chinas neighbor India, which banned TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps in the country after a brief flare up in the two sides decades-long border tensions.

Now, the U.S. is making noises like it could follow Indias lead and ban TikTok outright. First U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hinted that such a move was being considered, and President Donald Trump was quick to confirm that was indeed the case.

Some might say this is all Trumps doing, since Huaweis blacklisting by Washington last year and now TikToks potential U.S. ban have all occurred under his watch. But I would argue this misses the point. The fact is that the U.S. has blocked its major domestic carriers from buying Chinese networking equipment for nearly a decade. The only difference now is that Trump has become a very vocal global voice for the same kinds of national security concerns that have been expressed all along.

Rebels or mutants?

All that said, Ill spend the second half of this column discussing whether concerns being expressed by the folks in places like New Delhi and Washington are legitimate. Then Ill close with a look at how things are likely to play out, which could see Chinas big internet names ultimately emerge as either high-tech rebels or mutants.

Well begin with the first point, which centers on the question Why all the fuss? There really was no such fuss for the first 30 years of Chinas opening-up era, since the only thing the country sent abroad during that time was low-end manufactured goods like clothing and tchotchkes that were extremely low-tech and hardly the stuff of high-drama spy novels.

But then Huawei began to get noticed in the second decade of the 21st century as it muscled out older names like Motorola, Ericsson, Alcatel and Lucent to become a major supplier of top-notch equipment at very competitive prices. That became troublesome for security-minded people in Washington, since such Huawei equipment being deployed at the core of many countries telecom networks could theoretically be tinkered with to allow for eavesdropping.

Nobody that Im aware of has found any evidence of such backdoors to date, at least not that theyve shown publicly. Cases of Chinese companies giving user information to central government authorities in Beijing have occasionally come to light, but nearly all have involved people and instances in China. Whats more, Western governments also frequently request such information from their domestic companies when they suspect crimes.

Still, the fact that Chinese companies comply with government requests with little hesitation, since they really have no recourse like an independent judiciary, can hardly be reassuring for foreign governments. Personally speaking, I really couldnt imagine Huawei or ByteDance refusing to carry out a government order. So in that regard, concerns by foreign governments are probably within the realm of reason.

That will leave Chinese companies with two choices. Either they go along and comply with Beijings wishes, in which case they will probably be shunned outside China forever and will evolve into mutants that can only survive in Chinas unique high-tech landscape; or they can take a very public stand about asserting their lack of ties to Beijing and perhaps even go so far as to move their headquarters offshore to stay out of Beijings legal grasp. In that case they become rebels that are pushing back against their odd parent.

ByteDance is already taking some of the rebel steps I mentioned by trying to build firewalls between its China and offshore operations. I could even envision Zhang someday moving his companys headquarters offshore, for example by creating a holding company in a more neutral territory.

But only the boldest and most progressive companies are likely to take that path, and could easily get their wings clipped for their efforts. At the end of the day, I do expect to see ByteDance take some unusual and perhaps radical steps to try and salvage its early global success.

One or two others like Tencent may follow suit if they start to find their own global success as well. But for the most part, Chinas high-tech realm, especially the internet, will probably belong to the home-grown mutants for the foreseeable future, since few foreign firms will want to venture inside this unusual market and none of the Chinese names will have what it takes to survive outside.

Doug Young has lived in Greater China for two decades, including a 10-year stint at Reuters, where he led China corporate news coverage. Send your questions or comments to DougYoung@caixin.com
The Japanese government organized the tour of the Olympic and Paralympic Village on Sunday as it prepares for the 2020 Summer Games due to start on July 23, despite ongoing protests against the event over Covid-19 and organization costs. The village, which will open on July 13, consists of 21 residential buildings with 3,600 rooms. Athletes who live there will be tested daily and required to wear masks, maintain social distancing, and ventilate their rooms

Jun 22, 2021 05:40 PM
Im not saying its a bad idea, Catanzara, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7, said of the new unit. If it knocks down the crime numbers, so be it. The community component, I dont think a team that youre creating for citywide to go to hot spots should be designated for anything other than tamping down the hot spots. ... If youre going to create this force, it should be to suppress the violence and the guns behind that violence.
St. Johnsbury, VT (05819)

Today

Rain showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. Cooler. High 66F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Unlike many of the tests used to detect the coronavirus, which require an uncomfortable swab deep into the nose, a new test at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign relies on saliva. All participants need to do is drool into a test tube, hand it to a worker and wait for results within about 24 hours.


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Fatalities lag behind cases because COVID-19 is a rather slow-going illness. It takes time to develop an infection severe enough to require hospitalization. It can take longer still for an acute infection to result in death. Add in that deaths aren't always reported in a timely manner, and you see why fatalities are slow to rise and fall. Note that at the moment, the U.S. is less than a month into a sustained increase in cases.




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FILE - In this Jan. 17, 2019, file photo Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. At least 10 lawmakers and three congressional caucuses have ties to organizations that received federal coronavirus aid, according to government data released this week. A regional casino company led by the husband of Rep. Susie Lee received money. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2011, file photo, a man passes a Brooks Brothers store on Church Street in New York's financial district. The 200-year-old fashion retailer that says it's put 40 U.S. presidents in its suits, is filing for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
With all the issues between police officers and the communities they are hired to serve, it is easy to forget why police officers  and all public employees  form unions. The purpose is to be represented during bargaining over their terms and conditions of employment. It is the right of the employees who have to do the work to make proposals as to how they believe it should be done: safely, fairly, effectively and sensibly. This system came about because it was badly needed.
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Carroll, IA (51401)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 82F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 63F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Photo: CTV News Vancouver

A Vancouver high school teacher is being investigated following allegations that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old student.

Kyle Ledingham teaches band and fitness at Prince of Wales Secondary School, where his alleged relationship began with the student, CTV News reports.

Vancouver Police have presented a package to Crown for their approval of charges. We are working with the school board as well as Crown, says Sgt. Aaron Roed.

Ledingham is now ineligible to teach, according to records signed in May.

Ledingham's lawyer, Claire E. Hatcher says: My client is of course presumed innocent under law, and maintains that innocence. And indeed, Mr. Ledingham has not been charged with any offence. It remains unclear whether Crown counsel will proceed with charges. However, if the matter ever does proceed to court, we look forward to mounting a full and rigourous defence at trial of this matter."

The incidents are alleged to have occurred when the female student was in Grade 11, in April and May of 2019.

The student shared a phone conversation on social media alleged to be between her and Ledingham.

You tried to go under my pants several times, says a female.

Well, I thought you wanted me to, replies a man.

What gave that? What made you think that? the female asks.

Well, I wont, says the man.

 with files from CTV News Vancouver
Photo: adobe.com

It took me more than a month to get medical cannabis

You know how people tell you to lift with your knees and not your back? I learned the hard way what happens when you dont heed that advice.

While packing for a move in March, I bent at the waist to lift a box containing a 20-pound bag of flour and far too many canned goods. When I tried to lift it, I felt a zap in my lower back and crumpled to floor.

As I crawled to my bed, I knew the injury was serious.

Being in the midst of the pandemic lockdown, I waited to get help. Eventually, I had to admit the injury needed some professional attention, so I booked an appointment with my doctor.

A few weeks later, I was in Vernon Jubilee for an MRI. The diagnosis: a herniated disc in the lower lumbar that was pressing firmly on my sciatic nerve.

Unfortunately, it isnt the kind of injury that has an easy fix. Over the long-term, surgery is about as successful as letting it heal on its own. The only problem is pain. Lots of pain.

This wasnt my first experience with traumatic injury. Several years ago, I had a major mountain bike crash and cannabis helped me take the time I needed to heal. I was lucky enough to know someone who knew a girl who knew a guy who grew cannabis.

It took a day to get the medicine I needed, albeit rather shadily. Keep this timeline in mind.

Medical cannabis is stuck in the past

In the time between these two injuries, recreational cannabis has come a long way. Its been legalized and the variety of products available on the market is substantial  from topical creams to water-soluble drops.

It is easy to get recreational products, and generally affordable. Walk into a store or make a few clicks online and boom, weed.

Through the legal rec market, I was able to get some immediate relief. The much talked about cannabinoid, CBD, is an anti-inflammatory and well-suited to easing an injured back. And Ive found THC to be very helpful in helping me to work through the relentless pain and discomfort that seems to hang on like a pesky little demon.

Getting my hands on medical cannabis, however, has been an awful process.

When I talked to my family doctor on June 9 about getting cannabis, especially with surgery not being an option, he was apologetic that he wasnt willing/able to prescribe. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia takes a rather gatekeeping approach to cannabis.

My doctor recommended I talk to one of the organizations that specializes in prescribing cannabis through nurses.

Consider for a moment that if you need medication for an illness, a doctor will generally write a prescription on the spot and hand it to you; you can then take it to a pharmacy, and voila, you have it in an hour.

That is not so with medical cannabis. The process is time-consuming and drawn out.

First, there is very little information available on organizations that can prescribe cannabis. I had to turn to Reddit forums to find other medical patients experiences. Eventually, I settled on Ontario-based National Access Cannabis as a conduit to a prescription.

From here, it took a few days to make contact with NAC over email.

I had to fill out five lengthy questionnaires  some were very probing about my mental health. It took another few weeks before I was able to get a virtual appointment with a nurse, another day to get my treatment plan.

With prescription in hand, I now had to choose between a dozen or so licensed producers (LPs) for medical cannabis products  its an important choice because once you commit, its not easy to switch.

Once that decision was made, I had to fill out an application with the LP. Then it takes a couple more days for the LP to approve it and register you as a patient.

From there, you can order.

My prescription medicine was shipped on Monday, and I should (fingers crossed) receive it by the end of the week.

The total time to access: more than a month. Is that an acceptable timeframe to get such a widely available medication?

Email me at [email protected].
Photo: The Canadian Press Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum meets with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2018.

One of British Columbia's largest cities is in a unique position to redefine policing at a time when anti-racism advocates are calling for an overhaul.

Surrey was in the midst of replacing the largest RCMP detachment in Canada with a municipal force when the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis led to Black Lives Matter protests around the world.

But with Mayor Doug McCallum envisioning an increase in police presence rather than defunding the force, Surrey's new model appears unlikely to fulfil protesters' vision for a fundamental shift in the mandate of the police.

"It's going to be a new, modern, proactive police service," McCallum said in a recent interview, adding that he'd like to see officers so involved in the community that they pre-empt 911 calls.

"It's not like the old model of policing that is all reactive  somebody phones 911, they rush to see what the problem is. That's all reactive. We want to get out in front of that so that they don't have to make that 911 call."

McCallum, who also chairs the police board, said it will be a priority to hire officers who reflect the city's diversity.

The wheels were set in motion for the new police service in 2018, when Surrey's new council terminated its contract with the RCMP. Voters filled all but one council seat with Safe Surrey party members, including McCallum, who ran on making the change.

Safe Surrey has pointed to rising crime as justification for the shift while the RCMP has defended its record, saying statistics don't back up that perception.

Since then, the anti-racism movement has prompted deeper questioning in North American communities about what role officers should play in society. Protesters have called for governments to redirect spending from police into community resources like housing and health services.

While the budget for Surrey's municipal force has not been set, it appears to require broad funding, including for positions outside the police force itself.

According to McCallum's vision, front-line officers would be backed by an increase in bylaw officers, school liaison officers and others.

He also expects they will work in teams with social workers, health workers and others when responding to issues like homelessness or mental health emergencies.

"Putting a team together to address it is the most effective way to do it," he said. "Yes, police have to be part of the team, but they're only a part."

Mounties in Surrey already work in teams with nurses specializing in mental health through its Car 67 program. Those teams responded to just under 900 of the 7,600 mental-health calls the detachment received last year.

McCallum is only one voice on the nine-member police board and whether his vision comes to fruition remains to be seen. The mayor said the board plans to meet by the end of July and hire a police chief in August.

Chief Harley Chappell of the Semiahmoo First Nation said he applied to join the police board because the municipality has not included his community in plans for the new force, despite the city being home to one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in Canada.

After a long history of poor relations with police, the First Nation has finally developed a good working relationship with the RCMP, said Chappell, who was appointed to the board by the province.

Semiahmoo leaders are in regular contact with the staff sergeant of the RCMP's diversity unit. And an officer dedicated to the First Nation has taken time to develop relationships with its members over many years, he said.

Now that work seems to be at stake. Chappell said he'd like to see those relationships expanded, not scrapped.

"My wish is to have that diversity unit expanded to have First Nations policing as part of the municipal force, to ensure that relationship is there between the municipality, the police service and the First Nations people in the area."
Photo: The Canadian Press

Johnny Depp denied hitting ex-wife Amber Heard in a jealous rage, dangling her tiny dog out a car window and being a Jekyll-and-Hyde monster, as he was cross-examined for a second day Wednesday by a lawyer for British tabloid The Sun. The newspaper is defending a libel claim after calling the Hollywood star a wife beater.

Depp is suing The Suns publisher, News Group Newspapers, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over an April 2018 article that said he had physically abused Heard.

The case opened Tuesday at the High Court in London, with Depp sitting in the witness box and denying Heards allegations that he assaulted her on multiple occasions.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star said Heards sick claims that he assaulted her on multiple occasions were totally untrue. He called his ex-wife sociopathic, narcissistic and emotionally dishonest.

Depp, 57, and Heard, 34, met on the set of the 2011 comedy The Rum Diary and married in Los Angeles in February 2015. They divorced in 2017, and now bitterly accuse one another of abuse.

While Heard isnt on trial, the case is a showdown between the former spouses, who accuse each other of being controlling, violent and deceitful during their tempestuous marriage.

The Suns defence relies on Heards allegations of 14 incidents of violence by Depp between 2013 and 2016, in locations including Los Angeles, Australia, Japan, the Bahamas and a chartered jet. He denies them all and says Heard, an actress and model, attacked him with items including a drink can and a cigarette, and severed his finger by throwing a vodka bottle at him.

Cross-examining Depp, The Suns lawyer, Sasha Wass, recounted an allegation of abuse that Heard says took place at her home in March 2013. She said Depp became enraged at a painting by Heard's former partner, artist Tasya van Ree, that hung in Heard's bedroom.

Depp acknowledged that he could be jealous but denied Heard's claim that he took the painting off the wall, tried to set it on fire and slapped Heard when she intervened.

I did not hit Ms. Heard and furthermore I have never hit Ms. Heard," said Depp, who wore a gray suit, blue shirt and patterned tie for his court appearance.

He also denied hitting Heard in 2013 after she laughed at a tattoo he had that read Wino Forever. He said he'd had it altered from Winona Forever after he split up with actress Winona Ryder years earlier.

"I dont recall any argument about any of my tattoos," Depp said.

Depp rejected every allegation of violence put to him by Wass, dismissing the claims as not correct and patently untrue.

Asked about an incident in which he allegedly dangled Heard's Yorkshire terrier, Pistol, out a car window, Depp said it is absolute, utter falsity.

"That is not my idea of fun, although my sense of humour is rather skewed, he said.

He denied the lawyer's suggestion that his memory had been impaired by alcohol and drug abuse.

Wass has tried to paint Depp as a volatile personality with a longstanding drug habit and an anger-management problem.

Depp acknowledged taking both prescription and illegal substances since childhood, but said Heards clam he became a monster when he drank and took drugs was delusional.

The lawyer read out an email to Depp that Heard had composed in 2013 but never sent, in which she said he was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and called his behaviour a full on disco blood bath.

Depp said Heard's claims of abuse were a "hoax" and said the email was evidence that Ms Heard was building a dossier as "an insurance policy for later.

Depp and Wass also clashed over whether Heard had tried to curb his drinking and drug use. Heard claims she tried to support Depp to become sober and never took cocaine during their relationship.

There were many times in our relationship, early on, where not only did she chop the cocaine with a razor blade into lines, she would then take the cocaine on her finger and rub it on her gums," Depp said.

When Wass said Heard often had two or three glasses of wine during an evening, Depp shot back: Two or three bottles.

That is complete nonsense, Mr. Depp, the lawyer said.

Heard is attending court and is expected to give evidence later in the trial, which is scheduled to last three weeks.
Photo: The Canadian Press

DavidsTea is seeking court protection from creditors so it can continue operating while it restructures and plans to close a significant number of its stores.

The Montreal-based company said Wednesday it will seek an order in Quebec Superior Court to allow it to restructure under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act.

It also plans to seek similar orders for its U.S. subsidiary under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

The company said during the restructuring process it plans to continue operating online through davidstea.com and its wholesale distribution channel, which supplies grocery stores and pharmacies.

The chain's stores have been shut since March 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The transformation of our business model is necessary to position the company for a return to profitability," chief financial officer Frank Zitella said in a statement.

"DavidsTea has experienced a multi-year decline in brick and mortar sales and the post COVID-19 retail environment creates significant challenges for our unique in-store customer experience."

It had warned in mid-June that it hadn't paid rent on any of its stores for April, May and June and that it may seek a formal restructuring.

Zitella said Wednesday it would seek more favourable lease conditions from landlords and ultimately may terminate "a significant number" of its 222 leases.

DavidsTea's founder and interim chief executive, Herschel Segal, said he regretted the impact that the restructuring will have on its employees.

"This has been an incredibly difficult decision to take, but a necessary one to ensure the long-term viability of our company," Segal added.
Photo: Glacier Media

Richmond city council is taking a stand against the expansion of the Tilbury liquefied natural gas plant located across the Fraser River in Delta.

Council voted 8-1 to send a clear message to senior levels of government that the expansion isnt welcome in their backyard, citing risks to the Fraser River, wildlife and air  a list of concerns were compiled by Richmond city staff about the proposed expansion.

At Mondays committee meeting, only Coun. Alexa Loo opposed the endorsement of staffs report - to be forwarded to provincial and federal environmental assessment agencies - and a motion to state council opposed the expansion.

Coun. Harold Steves asked staff to add concerns around breaches at the plant  either by terrorists or crackpots  who might cause a large-scale explosion that could have an impact on Richmond.

Steves referred to an LNG plant in Boston where, when a vessel goes in and out of the plant, the bridges are closed and police and army guard the roads.

Thats why in the United States they dont recommend having LNG anywhere near where people are living, Steves added.

Coun. Kelly Greene noted the project is double the size of Woodfibre LNG in Squamish, and that the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators recommends a 3,500-metre hazard zone around the shipping route and terminal.

This is the wrong project for here, she said.

Coun. Carol Day also suggested meeting between council and federal and provincial environmental ministers to explain councils opposition to the plant expansion.

We are industrializing Fraser River and putting Richmondites at extreme risk with having LNG directly across from jet fuel  surely theres more we can do to make the ministers understand what grave consequences could happen if ever there was an accident or spill, Day said.

The upgrade to the LNG plant is planned to begin within two years. It will include a new storage tank and a marine jetty. The company says they dont plan to expand any further although the Richmond report states they are pursuing an environmental assessment to access offshore markets by 2028.

The report raises concerns about the proposed volumes of LNG  this expansion would allow for a capacity 163,000 cubic metres of LNG, an increase of more than 50 per cent from its current capacity.

Ian Finke, LNG operations director with FortisBC, said the plan is to have one vessel come to the jetty every five days, and the size is limited to 100,000 cubic metres of LNG  export ships usually carry 200,000 to 240,000 cubic metres of LNG.

Currently, FortisBC trucks its LNG to ships where its used as fuel, for example, on BC Ferries vessels and has a series of transmission lines, one of which goes through Richmond.

Citing the volatility of LNG, the Richmond city staff report highlights risks to the community and the Fraser River in regards to spills, accidents, malfunctions and security breaches.

LNG is natural gas  largely methane  that is compressed by reducing its temperature to -162 degrees Celsius so that it can be stored and transported in a liquid form.

Finke pointed out LNG is stored in sealed double-walled containers that prevent oxygen from entering and igniting the fuel. Furthermore, any leak of LNG would just turn into a vapour that would dissipate into the air, he added.
Brown fled the hotel in Rockford, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) northwest of Chicago, before eventually crashing along an interstate in central Illinois. An hours-long standoff ensued that ended with Browns arrest. He could face the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges.
Photo: CTV News

Reynolds to the rescue!

B.C.'s own Ryan Reynolds, Hollywood actor, will have to put his money where his mouth is now that a fund-raiser he supports has reached its goal.

CTV News Vancouver island is reporting that Reynolds pledged his support for Victoria-based conservation group Pacific Wild. The fundraiser called, "Make Ryan Pay," is raising money for B.C.s Great Bear Rainforest, a 6.4-million hectare area of the provinces north and central coast.

The Deadpool star promised to match donations up to $50,000 just last week and the group reached their goal Monday, now Reynolds will be matching donations for a total of $100,000.

This fundraiser was so successful, Pacific Wild says another anonymous donor has been inspired by Reynoldss campaign and has offered to match even more donations to Pacific Wild.

Until Aug. 3, which is B.C. Day, the anonymous donor will match up to $25,000 in donations. As of Tuesday morning, roughly $7,000 had been raised.

-with files from CTV News Vancouver Island
Do you remember Admiral Norman?

He was the second highest ranking military officer in Canada, whom our PMO claimed had leaked government secrets and who was charged by the government with breach of trust.

Some falsely accused him of treason, that he leaked information on the refurbishment of a (military) supply ship, the MV Asterix.

The contract had been given to an east coast company under the Harper government, but when the Liberals came to power, they wanted to favour a Quebec company with the contract, at a reported cost of $83 million for the cancellation.

Can you imagine your anguish if you were criminally charged, facing imprisonment by your own government, after serving your country faithfully for almost 39 years?

Norman was cleared of all charges, but not before the PM tried to destroy his life and career, and caused him untold grief and misery. The PMO also held back exculpatory evidence that would prove the admiral innocent of the charges, until his lawyer had the evidence brought forward by legal means.

The admiral won his case, but his career was terminated.

In my opinion, the PMO deceived the nation and the man. The news reported that a mutual agreement had been reached and we heard nothing more about it. Why?

The good admiral was accused of everything from being a sexual abuser to a treasonous spy.

Actions and accusations by the PMO were despicable as they tried to bring him down with a hammer-like blow to cover up their Quebec preferred refurbishing company choice.

After the mutual agreement, the government eventually decided to honour a contract that Davie (the original company) had with the Harper government to lease Asterix for five years at a cost of $677 million.

Do Canadian taxpayers not have a right to know how many millions were rightly paid to the vice-admiral for the PMOs debauchery? Is silence only golden for the government?

They tried to destroy a worthy mans life and career and probably came close to destroying his family, friends and his mental state.

Why is there no accounting to or by the Canadian voters for this horrific action of the PMO to attempt to destroy a mans life and career?

Garry Rayner, West Kelowna
We all sense that the current crisis in our nation is more than just a passing bit of social unrest.

The anger legitimately directed at racism and police brutality has somehow morphed into an indiscriminate rejection of the past, a desire to sever us from all that came before. Thus the vandalism and toppling of statues of the Founding Fathers, Christopher Columbus, Ulysses S. Grant  and Stevie Ray Vaughn (is nothing sacred?!).

This renunciation might seem all-of-a-sudden to many people. In fact, it's been prepared for years by bad education and, even more, the erosion and weakening of that foundational virtue, piety.

By piety I mean reverence for the people, wisdom, principles, and institutions that precede us and have shaped who we are. Piety looks to our parents: Honor your father and your mother. It extends to our community, town, and country. Most of all it looks to God  to the Source of all life and good. And this looking back to sources contains a blessing for the future: Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Ex 20:12)

Piety is the virtue that inclines us to receive instruction from those who have gone before us. We regard them as having some wisdom to teach us, not only about this world but the next. Piety disposes us to be taught.

The piety of Israel is heard in the Psalmist's words:

We have heard with our ears, O God,

our fathers have told us the story

of the things you did in their days,

you yourself in days long ago. (Ps 44:1)

The people of Israel were pious  they looked to receive the truth from their fathers. Saint Augustine echoed this in his words, Happy are we if we do the deeds of which we have heard and sung. For the Christian, the model is Jesus Christ Himself, who in his sacred humanity was pious towards his parents and his people's traditions.

Piety is the virtue that inclines us to receive instruction from those who have gone before us. Piety disposes us to be taught.

But piety is first of all a natural virtue. The Romans prized it highly. To drive home its importance, Virgil repeatedly refers to Rome's founder as pious Aeneas. In fact, one scene from the Aeneid serves as a great summary of piety's importance for a nation. As the Greeks are sacking Troy, Aeneas salvages what he can from the city. He hoists his aged father on his shoulder and, taking his son by the hand, leads them out of the city.

That is, he brings with him both the wisdom of the past and the promise of the future. That image is perhaps a first-century anticipation of Edmund Burke's observation: "Society is a contract between the past, the present and those yet unborn." Piety draws from the past to provide for the future.

As the Romans intuited, piety is essential for a free people. Ordered liberty requires something that comes from beyond it  beyond present trends, or control by the state; an order that reaches beyond the present to give future generations more than mere government can provide.

We live in an impious culture, which if it will not change will not long be free. For us the past has nothing to teach; only the present matters. Wisdom is discounted; only technology is worthwhile. We are increasingly cut off from the examples of our flawed but noble past. In The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis wrote about such impiety: We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. Likewise, we refuse to receive the wisdom of our founders and wonder at our current confusion.

I'm not an old man, but I remember a line in political discussions, "What would the Founding Fathers think?" It served as either a powerful rebuke or legitimate question. Today it would be just a quaint suggestion  that those 18thcentury men might have anything to teach us . . . or that their writings and our founding documents might wisely impose some restraint on us.

Our culture celebrates impiety as liberation from outdated ideas or constraints. Our celebrities traffic in it for laughs and to burnish their "woke" credentials. The more dismissive of the past, the more woke you are.

I'm not an old man, but I remember a line in political discussions, "What would the Founding Fathers think?" It served as either a powerful rebuke or legitimate question.

In fact, all that impiety does is leave us vulnerable to whatever ideological virus is in the air. The impious are fickle  rootless, unprincipled, chasing after novelties. Having nothing stable, they have nothing to give the descendants they will not have. They are history's orphans: no patrimony to receive or to bestow.

It's not the impious who are free but the pious. Those tethered to the wisdom of the past are not seduced by ideologies or panicked by demagogues. Piety prompts a reverence for the rule of law rather than an arrogant or casual dismissal of it. What is more, devotion to lasting principles means the pious have something to contribute. They have materials from which to build. Piety thus serves as the necessary foundation for reform, which is why two of our greatest reformers  Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.  rooted themselves in Christianity and our nation's founding.

Most of all, religious piety contributes to a free society. Religion has been the bearer of wisdom, both human and divine, throughout the ages. Faithful people are pious people. Their piety extends, yes, to the goodness of their nation  but also and more importantly to the wisdom bestowed by the devotion of centuries and millennia.

Their piety emancipates them from slavery to the ideas, trends, rulers, and mobs of the here and now. The pious have the capacity to judge rightly even their own rulers because they have received the wisdom of the past. Such people bear within themselves something of eternity itself.

May we be a pious people that revere the best of our nation's founding and principles  but more importantly that reveres the eternal truths to judge rightly here and now. May we be like Aeneas  carrying with us, out of the wreckage, the wisdom of the past with a view to bestowing it on the future.
The decision to remove the Confederate emblem from Mississippi's state flag is being cheered by politicians and civil rights leaders alike. (Source: WLBT, WJTV, WAPT, CNN, Hearst, WJLA: WRAL, WVUE, Getty Images, YouTube, MS Gov's Office via CNN Wire)
Protesters called on Congress to pass a zero tolerance policy on sexual assault in the Armed Forces, which organizers said might have prevented the death of 20-year-old Army specialist Vanessa Guillen. She was killed and dismembered by Army Spc. Aaron David Robinson, 20, of Calumet City, who shot himself to death July 1 as police were about to arrest him for Guillens murder, federal and military authorities have said.
Cement exports from Bangladesh record a 12% fall in FY19-20

08 July 2020

Bangladesh's cement industry has earned export revenue of US$9.14m in the FY19-20 (July 2019-June 2020), compared to US$10.41m bagged in 12MFY18-19, a significant contraction of 12.2 per cent YoY. The export figure also includes a minor amount of salt, stone and related products, says data of Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).



The export value for cement decreased by -13 per cent, underperforming when compared with the FY19-20 government target.The EPB had set a lower export target for the cement industry at US$10.50m for FY19-20 compared to US$14m for the previous fiscal year, following a decrease of cement export earnings to U$10.41m in FY18-19.



The country's total export earnings continued to decline as merchandise shipments witnessed a 16.9 per cent fall in FY19-20. The aggregate export earnings from July 2019-June 2020 stood at US$33.67bn, against US$40.53bn earnings of the corresponding period of last fiscal, according to the EPB data.



Bangladesh cement producers export cement to overseas markets including India, Myanmar, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

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Carie Fitch Hatmaker, 45, of East Brainerd went home to be with the Lord, Saturday July 4, 2020.A lifelong resident of Chattanooga, Carie was a 1993 graduate of The Baylor School (an avid Baylor fan) and received her Bachelors degree in Interior Design from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.She was a longtime member of Woodland Pak Baptist Church and was attending Silverdale Baptist Church.Carie was currently Manager of The Chattanooga Mercantile in East Ridge and formerly worked as a wholesale gift sales representative for over 15 years.She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Jim and Alma Underwood and W.R. and Willene Fitch.Carie will be remembered as a loving wife, daughter, sister and her greatest joy in life was being a mom.She is survived by her husband, Vincent Hatmaker; two sons, Jax and Hoss Hatmaker; parents, Roger and Susie Fitch, all of Chattanooga; brother, J.R. (Autumn) Fitch and son, Samuel, Apison; mother-in-law, Marie Gilreath, East Ridge, father-in-law, Carl (Bea) Hatmaker, two aunts, Nelda (Steve) Orth, and Gayle Underwood, and many cousins.Graveside services will be held on Thursday, July 9, at 1 p.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with her father, Roger Fitch officiating.Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share condolences to the family and view the memorial tribute.The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 8, from 4-8 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road. CDC regulations will be observed. Guests will be asked to wear a face covering while attending visitation.
Francis Mathieson passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at Alexian Village, Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

Frances was born in Port Chester, NY to the late Bert and Frances Riith and was a graduate of Greenwich, CT High School. Frances was a member of St. Augustine Church, Signal Mountain.

She was preceded in death by her son, Robert (Matt). She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert Bob Mathieson, grandson, Justin, sisters: Barbara, Karen and Kathleen, brother, Robert.

Frances travelled extensively with her husband, a nuclear engineer, having lived in many U.S. cities and for some years in Turkey, Iran and Japan, retiring eventually in Signal Mountain. Frances didnt stay retired very long and soon established a Special Occasion gift mail order business, which lasted until she became more active as a nursing home ombudsman recruiter volunteer. Frances also attended Chattanooga State Community College where she obtained a degree in physical therapy, a profession she pursued until mandatory retirement.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. on Friday, July 10, at Lane Funeral Home.

The family will have a private interment at St. Augustine Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Alexian Brothers of Signal Mountain.

Arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, www.lanefh.com, 423 877-3524.
The application from Immunotek Biocenters for a special exceptions permit that would allow the company to operate a plasma collection center at 2101 Dayton Blvd., failed to receive approval at the Red Bank Commission meeting Tuesday night. The room was filled with residents and business owners in opposition to the proposal who applauded the decision.

A speaker who lives within walking distance of the location said that allowing this in the heart of Red Bank and near residential neighborhoods would change the citys character. After researching it, she said that the company, which collects plasma, is a for-profit business and the collections are not a donation, despite the term being used by Immunotek Biocenters. "It is a predatory business," she said, "targeting poor people, homeless shelters and those with drug addictions."

The owner of a physical therapy office said she wants Red Bank to grow responsibly and she would not have bought her office building or her house knowing it would be in close proximity to a plasma collection center. The owner of commercial property across the street from the Save-A-Lot grocery store, where the business would be located, said his property is for sale and a buyer backed out of a contract, partially because of the possibility of this business locating nearby. He said, If we allow this, well see the lowest moment for the citizens of Red Bank to experience.

Commissioner Tyler Howell made the motion to deny a permit, seconded by Commissioner Carol Rose who said it would not attract new homeowners and the revenues it would bring would not off-set the expenses that could be caused by this type of business. She then made another motion, which the commission passed, to put a six-month moratorium in place for plasma and blood donation centers and similar businesses, so the commissioners can identify if there are appropriate locations for them.

The commissioners also updated a resolution that had not been reviewed for many years regarding adult-oriented businesses. The updates will enhance the citys ability to regulate these businesses and will restrict their location to the C-1 zone.

Mayor Ruth Jeno said she was excited to see all the new housing being built in Red Bank with properties being developed for new homes and the families that will follow. Tuesday night, developers of three different properties were given the zoning changes needed for new housing.

Property at 5005 Dayton Blvd. was rezoned from R1-A Residential to R-3 Residential Planned Unit Development (PUD) for single family detached homes and attached townhomes. Chris Anderson, representing Green Tech Homes which developed the Midvale Highlands area above Ashmore Avenue, said his company will use the location to build another development similar to Midvale Highlands.

Another PUD was approved for Pinebreeze Road. It will have 29 units that will have some attached units but will be mostly single-family detached homes. There will be a single road entrance off of Pinebreeze.

Property at 14 Kingston St., was given final approval for a zoning change from R-1 Residential to R-TZ Townhomes/Zero Lot Line Residential. The new construction will replace a house that has been vacant and in disrepair for the past five years.

Commissioner Rose noted that the city is actively pursuing development at the location of the old middle school property. She said although it is not evident, Red Bank has been working to determine the restrictions on the property regarding what has to be dedicated for public use. For the time being no development can take place there because there is a sewer moratorium.

In regular business, the commissioners voted to increase the stormwater utility service charge from $36 to $40 per year. Approval was given to purchase a backhoe in the amount of $98,967 for use by the solid waste department.

A resolution authorized the city to participate in the Public Entity Partners Safety Partners matching grant program. The money received will be used to buy 40 protective hoods for the fire department.
Cleveland City Schools will offer a traditional, in-person school format for the upcoming school year employing policies to prevent, identify, and mitigate the spread of COVID19, as well as two other options, officials said.

A traditional, at-home (hybrid) plan will also be available for students in the event that a school or the system must close due to COVID-19.

Finally, the Virtual School of Cleveland will be offered for those families that need an alternative to the preferred option of a traditional setting.

Highlights of the plan include a change to the 2020-2021 academic calendar whereby students will now report back to school on Monday, Aug. 10, for a reconnection week experience.

School schedules for the fall are being altered to take into account the need for mitigation factors such as temperature checks before entering the schools. The elementary schools will be open from 8:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m., the middle school will operate from 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m., and the high school will be open from 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Dr. Russell Dyer, director of Cleveland City Schools, said, "I am proud of the work of this task force led by Dr. Jeff Elliott. The group considered the needs of students, families, and our employees to make the hard decisions needed to begin the upcoming school year. The school board asked great questions and together we will be prepared to welcome back our students on Aug. 10."

Online registration will begin today and conclude on Wednesday, July 22. Parents are asked to check their email associated with their PowerSchool account for additional information on registration. This and additional information, including the Re-Entry and Reopening Guide, will be uploaded to the CCS website soon.

The Cleveland City Schools Board of Education approved the Re-Entry and Reopening Guide for the 2020-2021 School Year at its board meeting on Tuesday afternoon. The plan was written in conjunction with guidance provided by the Tennessee Department of Education as well as the Tennessee Department of Health. Information from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institution for Excellence in Teaching also was utilized in the formation of our plan.

The Cleveland City Schools Reopening Task Force also included principals, directors, and supervisors from the school system. Brittany Hopkins, Director of the Bradley County Health Department, also consulted with this task force. Surveys from families and staff as well as a teacher focus group also were utilized to guide the work of this committee.
Tennessee Valleys longest running Christian Music Festival, Jfest, scheduled for Aug. 1, is cancelled. As COVID-19 precautions are extended, Jfest management does not foresee rescheduling for the 2020 season, it was stated.

After much prayer and heavy consideration, we feel it is in the best interest of the community at large to cancel this years Jfest, said Jfest Festival Director, Ted Gocke. Any tickets purchased for Jfest 2020 will be honored for Jfest 2021 or can be used as a tax-deductible donation to J103 and Partners for Christian Media.

"We are looking forward to seeing you May 22, 2021 at the Tennessee Riverpark for Jfest 2021.

"Partners for Christian Media asks for the community to join them in prayer for continued unity and healing of our region."

For more information you may contact PCM directly at 423-892-1200 or visit jfest.com.
Crews from the Environmental Restoration excavate high levels of arsenic contaminated soil from the back yard of East Chicago homeowner Mary Poe, at far right, as employees from the EPA oversee the project, Monday, Oct. 3, 2016. Poe and neighbor Raejean Zipko, in center, were looking on from a neighbor's gangway. Poe's house is at left. Raeijean's home was on another block. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Via something called an "Executive Order," the facemask mandate will go into effect in Hamilton County on Friday until Sept. 8. This is an illegal executive order and carries no legal weight. Those issuing it know this, which is why Jim Coppinger was too cowardly to issue it himself, but passed off the dirty deed to Dr. Paul Hendricks, who is not even a duly elected representative of the people.



The County Sheriff has said he is not interested in enforcing the mandate. Why? Because the Sheriff knows the District Attorney won't seek to prosecute. Why? Because attorneys, who actually know the laws of the land, aren't interested in things that aren't laws.



Governors, mayors, and "health officials" are not allowed to make laws, according to the U.S. Constitution and all State Constitutions. That question is not up for interpretation or discussion. Legislatures make laws, hence the name LEGislature. From the Latin lex/legis, meaning law/of the law. State legislatures also have access to all of the same information the governors have concerning the dangers of Covid, so why aren't they making laws? Why are governors making laws? Because the state legislatures are supposed to be direct representatives of the people, and apparently they don't feel these laws are necessary. So they are just being bypassed.

It is much easier for Bill Gates and the Federal Reserve (who have already stolen trillions from us with this latest crisis at the behest of the private banks who control them) to buy off 50 governors than to buy off thousands of state senators and representatives, so that is what we are seeing. We are seeing legislatures mothballed in favor of fascist and illegal rule by governors.



The media tells you the governors and mayors have this authority, when they do not. It is basically a big bluff, but if you believe it and act on it, it is all the same. At that point they have you. If you will obey illegal orders, then they can just dispense with the law and the Constitution, ruling you through fear and bluff. If you will do anything you are told with no laws to back it up, you are then what? A slave. Not just like a slave, but a slave by the definition of the word. If you are ruled by fear and force, with no laws and no representation by a legislature, you are a slave. Period.



Colin Stayton

* * *

I agree whole-heartedly with Mr. Stayton. Neither the county mayor nor the county health department have the authority to mandate wearing masks in public. They dont require us to get flu shots, so why start with this flu?

We live in a republic not a communist country. The liberals will stop at nothing to make sure Trump does not get re-elected.

I wont be wearing a mask in public (I will in businesses that ask) until the County Commission passes a bill requiring it and the mayor signs it into law.

Brian Watson

* * *

We can debate the legality of the Health Departments public health order, or we can simply recognize that, legal or not, its a good idea. The dispute over wearing masks reminds me of the cries of those who objected to wearing seat belts when that became law. I wonder how many people didnt wear seat belts because they wanted to make a statement for personal freedom, only to become injured in an auto accident because they didnt wear one. Just like then, Its not only the law, its a good idea.



Unlike wearing a seat belt, however, the purpose behind wearing a mask is not to protect yourself, but rather to protect those around you. Shouldnt we all be willing to sacrifice a momentary inconvenience for the health and welfare of our fellow citizens?



Lets put politics and blustering aside, and talk about the economics of the matter. We have a better chance of returning to some semblance of normalcy - children going to school, restaurants operating at normal capacity, festivals and county fairs being held, and football games being played- and restarting a robust economy, if we follow the CDC guidelines and the Health Departments mandates.



Ive made many mistakes in my life, and no doubt will make many more. I have unintentionally hurt those around me. I pray that I dont give a loved one or a friend, or even a stranger, COVID-19 because I was unwilling to accept the simple inconvenience of wearing a mask for limited periods of time.



George Caudle

* * *

I agree that the mask mandate is not enforceable. I encourage the public to send the Mayor an email on his official site informing him that you will not follow the mandate on wearing a mask.



Joe Giles

* * *

...Idiot wind

Blowing every time you move your mouth

Blowing down the back roads headin' south

Idiot wind

Blowing every time you move your teeth

You're an idiot, babe

It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe...

Idiot wind

Blowing through the flowers on your tomb

Blowing through the curtains in your room

Idiot wind

Blowing every time you move your teeth

You're an idiot, babe

It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe...

Bob Dylan (Likely not written for mask objectors, but apropos).

Michael Mallen, health, safety and environmental attorney, still desperately trying to inform based on facts and best practices.

* * *

If there is ever a fascist takeover in America, it will come not in the form of storm troopers kicking down doors but with lawyers and social workers saying. "I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

- Jonah Goldberg

There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.

- Ayn Rand

Chris Morgan

* * *

I will wear my mask to all functions or stores or any place I must go. I have loved my husband for 55 years.



My husband has Mantle Cell Lymphoma, something I never heard of until November 2014. It has been one cancer treatment after another over these years. His immune system is very fragile. I do not want to bring home a disease that will end him. I love him.



I do not want to harm another human being by being childish enough to think by not wearing one I am safe. Because I do not know if others I interact with are healthy or not. I am not selfish or childish. I have learned a thing or two over the years. Fear does not rule me, LOVE DOES.



Julia Buckner

* * *

Whats that saying about free speech, its okay to yell, Its safe in here in a burning theater? Lord knows nowadays it wont be crowded.



America: land of the free and home of the self absorbed. Four percent of the worlds population and nearly 25 percent of the world cases.



Prentice Hicks

* * *

I have heard people state that there is no need to pass laws regarding the use of a mask in public, common sense will prevail.



Although the "mandate" is not a law, it is a good suggestion. So is washing your hands and disinfecting your home and belongings.The problem is common sense. Very few people seem to have it. Masks and handwashing and disinfecting are easy things to do. They rank right up there with lights on when raining and coming to a complete stop at a STOP sign.



Perhaps the "mandate" will encourage enough people to wear a mask and in the long run wearing masks will help us in the battle against covid. We already know that the great majority of the masks seen in public will not stop the virus--its way too small and passes through the fabric with ease.

They do prevent the expression of sneezes and coughs directly into the air and they assist

in keeping your hands away from your mouth and nose. If you wear glasses you have a trifecta of prevention for yourself.



The six foot rule is a great suggestion also, but it is not practiced, except by a very few. Yesterday we were out shopping. While we were standing close to a display looking at items, a teen [15-17 year old?] squeezed in front of us, just inches away, to grab an item from the display. She did not even think to say "excuse me" or "pardon me" to give us a chance to move away.



Common sense is an endangered animal.



Teddy Ladd

* * *

Heres some fun facts for you sufferers out there.



Total staffed hospital beds in the State of Tennessee 18,456.



Present hospitalizations from Covid-19: 1,160 patients, which would make up 6.28 of present rooms utilized in Tennessees hospitals.



Cumulative hospitalizations from Covid-19: 3,023 patients, and if all were hospitalized at once would have been just 16.4 percent of available rooms.



All this for that?



Again I say, "Wake up!"



Jay Reed

* * *

Given the opinions and now mandatory requirements to wear face masks and social distance in Hamilton County, it appears to me that we are now living in a time where personal responsibility and kindness have been advocated by city and county politicians to rules and regulations.

I wish we all could be civil and do the right thing, but now it's more about "a political statement" and "what is right vs. wrong" by wearing or not wearing a face mask.

We have lost our rights given the motivations of groups, including local government and media outlets, based on their view of what is right or wrong. How much more are we willing to give up? What will it take to get it back if we can? Will we be ostracized for saying the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag? Can we still speak without retribution? If I don't wear a mask, does it prevent someone from getting COVID-19?



I wish no harm to anyone, but reserve my right to do what I believe is right and not [what] the city mayor or county government [believes is right].





Timothy Bittenbender

* * *

I hate that this issue has become so polarizing, however here is my question -



We have reputable studies that show the size of a flu virus particle.



We have reputable studies (that were completed pre-COVID-19) that analyze the effectiveness of various types of masks against flu particles. They are inconclusive or advise against use of cloth face coverings for flu.



We also know that initially masks or face coverings in general were advised against use for COVID-19 outside of various medical providers.



We can look up the size particles range for COVID-19 virus and can compare that size to the size of a flu virus particle. Flu virus particles are much larger.



We know now face coverings of any type are being mandated across the country.



We also know that the many exemptions in these mandates exist due to it not being practical or medically advisable for numerous people to wear masks.



Why is this issue so polarizing?



Amanda Newman

* * *

I just spent a few minutes reading the comments/opinions about the mandate to wear masks. I don't know about you - but making us wear shoes and shirts to be allowed into a restaurant was when it all began for me. Don't these people understand how hard it is to properly tie shoes? Don't these people realize buttoning a shirt can sometimes take up to 30-40 seconds. Now they want us to actually wrap an elastic band around BOTH of my ears just in case I have a highly contagious and often deadly disease. Come on fellas - enough is enough - how much inconvenience can one man take?



Quit whining and put on the d**n mask.



George Parker

* * *

I personally choose not to wear a mask.

Being 72, some may feel I am in a compromised group of citizens. I take a flu shot every year, as my doctor advises. He has not advised me to wear a mask. Since Ive been his patient for almost 40 years, I trust his opinion more than Mayor Berke or Mayor Coppinger.



Ultimately everyone is responsible for their own well-being, and if they feel vulnerable they should have been social distancing long before being mandated to wear a mask.



This is my right, just as yours is to decide whether you wear one or not.

Ive always practiced social distancing and no handshakes if I felt I had an illness.



David Garren

* * *

I have never seen such "snowflakes" whine and cry about a piece of cloth or mask in my entire life. Since the 1960s, restaurants have posted signs that say "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service"......where is your outrage For over 40 years you should have been up in arms about not showing your "grocery store" feet and man-bosoms when you go get your hot wings and beer.





There is no federal or state law that has been passed that requires shirts and shoes in restaurants. It is arguably not a health hazard. (The rules were put in place in the 60s to keep hippies out.). And while all of the folks out there with their high school diploma, GED and drop-out papers want to scream "it's unconstitutional".....you are not ....I repeat not...Constitutional Scholars. In the Preamble to the United States Constitution, one of the fundamental purposes and guiding principles is too " promote the general welfare".





For those who don't know, the entire text of the preamble is:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.





And the 10th Amendment states:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.





So, if the federal government doesn't do it, and the states aren't prohibited by law from doing it, the states have every right to pass laws protecting the general public.





And I assure you that even with my UGA United States History and Political Science classes, I certainly don't grasp the intricracies of the U.S. Constitution. But, to me, "promote the general welfare" of the populace in a global pandemic would fall under something that the government has control of. Scholars of the Constitution and professors of Constitutional Law may correct me if they deem my opinion incorrect.



I am an ER nurse.....with 26 years experience. I assure that this virus is nothing to disregard or make light of. I see it every shift. If you think it is, then speak to the families of the folks that I have cared for and have died. Maybe one person wearing a mask would let them have their loved ones for a few more years. No matter what you think.





Nothing I say here is going to change the mind of the narrow-minded and self-centered. It just isn't. Our world, our societies, at this point, with few exceptions are a failed segment of evolution. So many believe that "rights" are only good for those that look like them, believe like them, worship like them and all "others" don't deserve the same benefits and rights that society has to offer. It's a sad testament to what our Founding Fathers hope for this country. We have a whole segment of the population in the South that take pride and celebrate their lack of education and ignorance. It's very disheartening and sad. So many lack any empathy for the elderly that are stuck in nursing homes and have been exposed to this virus and may die of it through no fault of their own. And you won't wear a small mask to maybe give them a few more years to see their grandkids and great-grandkids grow up. You are horrid people. Selfish, self-centered, and narcissistic...bordering on sociopaths.





Story time: Standing in line at the store recently....I had my mask on...the clerk had her mask on. A gentleman behind me commented "Y'all look silly wearing those masks everywhere." He, of course, didn't have one on. I turned to him and said, "I'm an ER nurse. I see and take care of Covid positive patients most every shift I work. If you would like, I'll take off my mask and talk to you face to face if you think I look silly." He backed away and said "Ummm, I don't think that will be necessary." I looked at him, shook my head and said, "I didn't think so. But, sir, you never, ever know who you are standing close to. Protect yourself....get a mask."





Probability of Transmission:

Covid + Person without mask and a Healthy Person with a mask = 70%

Covid + Person with a mask and a Healthy Person without a mask = 5%

Covid + Person with a mask and a Healthy Person with a mask = 1.5%





You wear a mask to protect others, they wear a mask to protect you. We not me.





Grow up people and stop throwing tantrums like toddlers. Your actions will cause another shut down....and the people to blame will be those not following the instructions of healthcare providers and healthcare experts.





Ken York, RN

* * *

Having read the prior 14 opinions, fundamentally "Opinions are like butts, everyone has one and they all stink."



The bottom line is that it makes obvious two things; we are a divided nation due to fake news; and it is another rule that cannot be enforced.



P.S. Where are the masks that make you safe? I'm not spending 10 bucks on a hunch.



Jack Varner




Be The Bridges Southeast Tennessee Region Chapter, a faith-based group that seeks to inspire the church toward a transformative response toward racial healing, has officially launched The College Hill Podcast.

The College Hill Podcast is a narrative podcast about the College Hill neighborhood of Cleveland, Tennessee. It explores the history of College Hill, and in doing so, paints a larger picture of the racial divide that has existed in Cleveland, as well as building a framework for a better way forward.

This podcast includes honest, difficult conversations about race, injustice, and the way that division can often be disguised in Southern towns across America. In it we hear from government officials, business owners, educators, and members of the College Hill community, and we take a look into the progress that has been made, and all the progress that still is to come.

Our vision is to be a credible witness to authentic racial healing, racial literacy, and personal and organizational transformation, said Be The Bridges Olympia Pierce. Our heart and passion is to display Gods glory by inspiring the Church not only to have these difficult conversations, but to have actionable and distinctive responses to racial division.

The College Hill Podcast, made available by the financial support of the United Way Ocoee Region and the efforts of Be The Bridge Southeast Region, is a project 15 months in the making, and includes behind-the-scenes photos to go with the episodes. Each conversation revolves around an interview with a key member of the College Hill community, as well as the narrators own revelations as he learns more about this community, the history of Cleveland, the racial division in the city, and how it has impacted our entire community.

Be The Bridge is a non-profit organization that inspires people to have a distinctive and transformative response to racial division and be present and intentional toward racial reconciliation. For more information on Be The Bridge, please visit Bethebridge.com.
Collegedale Commissioners voted Tuesday night to participate in two programs which use shared information with other law enforcement agencies.

The Take Me Home program assists police in quickly identifying and having emergency information available when they encounter a person who has dementia or cognitive issues. The program will be set up on the Collegedale website and will be in conjunction with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department and Chattanooga Police Department. Family members can provide information and photographs of the individual, which is kept secure, said Police Chief Brian Hickman. The identifying photos and information will be matched to those people who are lost and unable to talk to the officers who can get those individuals to their homes. There is no cost for the city to participate in this program.

The commissioners also approved participation in the Tennessee Integrated Justice Program. Police Chief Brian Hickman said Collegedale has been enrolled in this program for the past eight years. The federal, state, county and municipal agencies that join, have access to the shared information and allows officers in patrol cars to run tag information and to look up identification and drivers licenses. It is a joint venture with the agencies that are allowed to use the system.

When a K-9 officer is retired after reaching its time of useful service, the dog is given to its handler which has a commitment to take good care of it. To assist, Collegedales commissioners will provide a maximum amount of $500 per year toward medical expense for five years after retirement.

The Collegedale Municipal Airport will be making some needed improvements with the help of grants from the state of Tennessee. Airport Director Chris Swain told the commissioners that the airport will be reimbursed with a grant. The state will pay 95 percent and Collegedale will be responsible for just five percent, up to $15,000 for maintenance.

A second grant from the state, with a 95/5 percent split, will be used for replacing a culvert that runs under the runway. The state will contribute $287,565 toward the total amount of $302,700. Collegedales share will be $15,135.

The roof on the sewer pump station continues to be damaged by high winds and tornadoes as they move through Collegedale. It is again in need of repair after the Easter night storms, and a lot of water has been getting in to the main control room during the recent thunderstorms. Protecting the electronics in the building is considered to be an emergency. Insurance has paid the city $14,614, the value of the old roof, but Eric Sines, director of public works, and City Manager Ted Rogers have done research to determine which kind of roof would be more secure and decided that a pitched metal roof with trusses anchored into concrete will be more durable than the previous one. The low bid of $37,800 was approved for a new roof.
The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Wednesday that is providing incentives to businesses and schools to install UV-C germicidal lights that remove viruses, like COVID-19, and bacteria from indoor air.



As the largest public power provider in America, a key focus for TVA is helping to keep our children and the public safe by supporting technologies that are proven to kill viruses, said Jason Snyder, manager, TVA EnergyRight. Schools and businesses realize they need solutions to purify indoor air, and we want to help them install it as they reopen.



UV-C light is a short wavelength ultraviolet light used around the world to disinfect air in hospitals and laboratories. Studies show UV-C light is 99.9 percent lethal to bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the same technology is ideal for schools, offices and retail locations to help keep people healthy.



According to Mr. Snyder, a TVA Preferred Partners Network professional can install germicidal lights into the ductwork of many existing commercial HVAC systems. Customers who use TVAs provider network can receive a $30 per ton incentive toward the adoption of approved UV technologies that directly combat COVID-19.



Mr. Snyder said, As an innovation leader, TVA will continue to identify and promote technologies that help businesses and schools succeed and thrive for years to come.



Contact your local power company or visit TVAs website https://energyright.com/business-industry/incentives/ for more information.
90 Day Fiance star Ariela Danielle, a freelance writer from Princeton, New Jersey, quickly became pregnant just weeks after meeting Biniyam Shibre, a 31-year-old choreographer, personal trainer, and MMA fighter from Ethiopia.

Ariela and Biniyam hadnt planned for a baby, but, on the second season of TLCs 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, the couple decided to try to make it work so they could co-parent their baby in Biniyams home country.

On a recent episode of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, a very pregnant Ariela hopped on a plane with her mom, Janice, to move to Ethiopiahopefully permanently. But Biniyams friends advised him against making the same mistakes that he made with his ex-wife, another American, with whom he also had a child.

Biniyam Shibre | Biniyam Shibre via Instagram

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Deavan Clegg Says Jihoon Lee Needs To Get His S*** Together

Biniyam described pain and tragedy in his past as he introduced himself

On 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, Ariela and her mom made their way to Ethiopia on a long, arduous flight. Ariela hoped her boyfriend would recognize how much of a sacrifice she was making to be with him.

This is the biggest and riskiest decision of my life, the 90 Day Fiance star admitted. I just hope that Biniyam understands how much Im giving up to be with him.

Meanwhile, Biniyam introduced himself to 90 Day Fiance audiences for the first time. He explained that he lived with his brother and had endured tragedy in his life at a young age.

Everybody in my family takes care of me because my parents died when I was young, Biniyam revealed. I was 13 or 14. I know they both died from illness, but I dont know how exactly they died.

The 90 Day Fiance star had to make it all on his own after tragically losing his parents. We were all of a sudden left with nothing, he remembered. But, to get where I am today, I did it all myself.

Biniyam described himself as an ambitious person who had worked hard for his success. I have a lot of jobs, he shared. I do personal training. Im a dancer in the nightclub, and Im doing the MMA fighting.

Arielas boyfriend reflected on meeting his American bride-to-be

Arielas boyfriend also reflected on meeting his American love, whom he planned to propose to after she arrived in Ethiopia. He met the recently-divorced Ariela when she was on a spontaneous trip to his country. The couple hit it off while she was waiting for a taxi outside her hotel, and the rest was history.

She have beautiful eyes and smile, Biniyam gushed about Ariela. Shes so different from other girls. And she support me like no one else has.

As for Biniyam and Arielas pregnancy, Biniyam confirmed that it wasnt planned. But in the throes of passion, the 90 Day Fiance star said, it had just happened. We didnt think about it for a baby, but we fall down off the bed, he said.

When a producer asked Biniyam what that phrase meant, Biniyam laughed and replied only, We sleeping together romantically.

The 90 Day Fiance star assured his friends that Ariela was different from his ex-wife

Still, during a meeting with his music producer, Brook, and another friend, Firezerwith whom Biniyam was crafting a music career under the alias Baby Cool, having already recorded eight songsthey painted a less rosy picture of Biniyams romantic past.

When Biniyam told his friends he planned to propose to Ariela, they warned him about making any hasty moves. You should make sure, like, you dont want to make the same mistakes like you have done before, Brook advised him.

Biniyam revealed that his ex-wife, like Ariela, was American. They were together for six to eight months before she got pregnant, and they ultimately stayed married for four years before splitting up.

According to the 90 Day Fiance star, his ex-wife went back to the U.S. with their son and didnt allow Biniyam to contact him. I feel so, so sad about my son, Biniyam lamented. He doesnt know me anymore.

Biniyam assured his friends, however, that Ariela was nothing like his ex. My ex, she never trust me, the 90 Day Fiance star explained. Ari, she understand me. She trust me. Thats the difference.

But Biniyams friends werent convinced. Brook told 90 Day Fiance producers that watching his friend go through such heartbreak had been difficult, and he didnt want to go through it again.

To be honest, Im scared, Brook said of Biniyams relationship with Ariela. Because his ex was the samethe American girl. She was nice, but she just changed. For one year, I didnt see him smile. So how can we trust this one?
The drama between Rose Vega and Big Ed Brown continues.

The exes had a fallout in the fourth season of 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days that culminated in a huge fight at the reunion special. Ever since, they have continued to go back-and-forth online in regards to their relationship. Most recently, Vega appeared on 90 Day Fiance: B90 Strikes Back! where she made a cringe-worthy claim about her former beau.

Big Ed and Rose Vega of 90 Day Fiance | thisisbiged via Instagram; rose_vega_official via Instagram

Inside Rose Vega and Big Ed Browns relationship

Vega and Brown met online and started dating a while before the show started. Brown later packed his things and traveled to the Philippines to meet Vega, waiting at the airport for what seemed like hours for her to show up. When she did, she gave Brown a big hug before explaining there had been a delay in traffic.

As they talked, Vega noticed that Brown had been dishonest about his height and had exaggerated it by more than a few inches. She was able to move past it but as they continued to spend time together, Vega started to take issue with many of Browns behaviors.

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Fans Cant Decide Who They Hate More Between Andrei and Big Ed

The fallout between Rose Vega and Big Ed Brown

Throughout their trip, Big Ed did many things that hurt Vegas feelings  from demanding that she take a STD test to complaining about her personal hygiene. The final straw came when Brown, 54, failed to tell the 23-year-old he didnt want more children, knowing she did.

Brown apologized for not being more forthcoming, but Vega wasnt having it. She went off on him, left him, and then claimed he never loved her.

He doesnt really care about me, she said in a since-deleted Instagram clip. He just wants to be famous, thats why hes doing that. He did not even give me any gifts except bra and panties. All the words out of his mouth are lies. Its not at all true. He did not care about me, especially my son. I always talk about you. You are always liar. You are a liar. Its fake. All this is lies.

Brown has since defended himself against the allegations, calling himself the most authentic cast member out of all of them, per The Hollywood Gossip.

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Big Ed Brown Brings Out Receipts to Prove That Rose Vega Has Been Lying

Rose Vega talked more about Big Ed Brown in a new interview

Vega had been answering fan questions in an interview published on July 4 when she started talking about their meeting at the airport. She revealed that she was not actually stuck in traffic but had stopped at a local McDonalds for some grub. And when she did finally make it to Brown, he smelled sour, according to Vega.

Ed did not freshen up when we meet. He smelled sour and maybe its because of mayo in his hair, she said, referencing Browns habit of using mayonnaise as a sort of conditioner.

Brown did not comment on her remarks, but he did claim that he had told Vega about his decision not to have more kids and that she had never brought it up again. Watch here:
The lifestyles of the rich-and-famous seem so extravagant sometimes that its hard to remember that theyre humans just like us. From Kylies immense designer bag collection to Cardi Bs fridge full of half a million dollars, some celebrities have access to luxuries that the rest of us can only dream of.

As impressive as a fridge full of cash is, one rapper  Akon  may have outdone Cardi in the race toward most outrageous displays of wealth. What could be more luxurious and extravagant than half a million dollars in cash, you ask? Your very own diamond mine. Yes, seriously!

Who is Akon?

Akon | Getty Images

Akon, born Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Tiam, first shocked the world with his beautiful voice and incredible R&B songwriting skills back in the early 2000s. His debut album was released in 2004, and included his smash singles Locked Up and Lonely.

Since then, Akon has seemed like an unstoppable musical legend, churning out hits like Smack That and I Wanna Love You. Hes also worked with incredibly talented musicians, including the late Michael Jackson.

He took a three-year hiatus from creating solo music in 2010 and seemed to drop out of the spotlight for a few years in 2015, but in 2019 made a hugely successful return to the music industry.

Akon was born in St. Louis, Missouri to parents from Senegal, and spent many years during his childhood back in Senegal. He still considers Senegal to be his true childhood home and has engaged in many philanthropic efforts to make a positive impact there.

Akon is a successful businessman and philanthropist

RELATED: Akon Moves Forward With $6 Billion Plans To Build His Namesake Futuristic City

Its clear that Akon has enviable talent in music, but it turns out that hes a savvy businessman and philanthropist, as well. Hes estimated to be worth around $80 million, but its what hes done with that money thats impressive. Hes currently working on building an entire futuristic city in Senegal  yes, really!

Apparently, this city will run on his very own cryptocurrency, called Akoin, and will be located on 2000 acres of land that was gifted to him by Senegals president. Hes been calling it the real-life Wakanda, and we have to admit it sounds pretty cool. It will be completely run on renewable energy sources and will also be a smart city, using modern technology to make things run in eco-friendly ways.

Akon isnt only focused on making money, however. Hes always been dedicated to making a positive difference in his childhood home of Senegal, and hes stayed true to his vision so far. For example, in 2015, he launched Akon Lighting Africa, a solar project that brings electricity to 480 communities spanning across different countries in Africa.

In 2007, he set up Konfidence, a non-profit organization that promotes health and education for young people in impoverished communities in both Senegal and the United States. To top it off, he created Konfidence with his mother. It seems like Akon is truly a fantastic human being.

Akons personal diamond mine

However, one of Akons business ventures doesnt seem to fit in with his overall vision of being socially conscious and helping those in need. Akon has long been famous for the unique bling that he flaunts, and after how hard hes worked, were not denying that he deserves to splurge a little.

When asked where he gets such unique and extravagant diamond jewelry, though, Akon revealed that he owns his very own diamond mine in South Africa. Surprisingly, considering the negative ethical impact that diamond mines are said to have.

In 2007, when asked about this ethical dilemma, Akon replied that he doesnt believe in conflict or blood diamonds.

Thats just a movie, he said at the time. Think about it. Aint nobody thought about nothing about no conflict diamonds until the movie came out.




Kanye West is actually running for president. Its not a joke and according to him, its not a publicity stunt. The rapper turned fashion mogul is now throwing his hat into the presidential ring. Now that West has made his intentions clear, there is a lot that people need to know about him. What is his stance on foreign policy, what are his views on abortion, how would he help America through the COVID-19 pandemic, and what party is he planning on running under?

Kanye West | Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

What party is West running under?

Previously, West has made his love for President Donald Trump pretty well known, donning the tell-tale red cap whenever he could. But now, hes withdrawing his support for Trump.

Im not saying Trumps in my way, he may be a part of my way, he told Forbes. And Joe Biden? Like come on man, please. You know? Obamas special. Trumps special. We say Kanye West is special. America needs special people that lead. Bill Clinton? Special. Joe Bidens not special.

West would like to run as a Republican but that isnt possible in this race.

I would run as a Republican if Trump wasnt there, he told the outlet. I will run as an independent if Trump is there.

Who is his vice president?

West is calling his party the Birthday Party because when he wins, its everybodys birthday. Right now, his advisors are Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian West. But he has also been speaking with others with more of a political background.

RELATED: The View: Meghan McCain Reacts to Kanye West 2020 Presidential Run Announcement

Im speaking with experts, Im going to speak with Jared Kushner, the White House, with Biden, he told the outlet.

Hes even already chosen his running mate, Michelle Tidball a preacher from Wyoming.

How would Kanye handle coronavirus (COVID-19)?

One of the issues that has plagued Trumps presidency is the current pandemic and from the looks of things, this will be something that the next president has to worry about as well.

When asked about the cure for the coronavirus, West gave a very simple answer.

We pray, he said. We pray for the freedom. Its all about God. We need to stop doing things that make God mad.

Currently, several companies are working to make a vaccine for the virus, but West isnt necessarily on board.

Its so many of our children that are being vaccinated and paralyzed So when they say the way were going to fix Covid is with a vaccine, Im extremely cautious, he said. Thats the mark of the beast. They want to put chips inside of us, they want to do all kinds of things, to make it where we cant cross the gates of heaven. Im sorry when I say they, the humans that have the Devil inside them. And the sad thing is that, the saddest thing is that we all wont make it to heaven, that therell be some of us that do not make it. Next question.

RELATED: Fans Are Begging Taylor Swift to Somehow Stop Kanye West From Running for President

Foreign policy

Though West says he has been thinking about running for president for a while, he has yet to do any of the required research. When asked about his foreign policies, he didnt have any.

I havent developed it yet, he said. Im focused on protecting America, first, with our great military. Lets focus on ourselves first.

In fact, he hasnt really developed any policies.

I dont know if I would use the word policy for the way I would approach things, he told the outlet. I dont have a policy when I went to Nike and designed Yeezy and went to Louis and designed a Louis Vuitton at the same time. It wasnt a policy, it was a design. We need to innovate the design to be able to free the mind at this time.






Despite her young age, Mckenna Grace has acted opposite many big stars. Her latest film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, is no exception. It has been delayed, but it would have premiered this weekend. Heres are all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe actors Grace has been billed alongside before this role.

Mckenna Grace played 13-year-old Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel

(L-R) Mckenna Grace and Brie Larson attend the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios Captain Marvel on March 4, 2019 | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

In Captain Marvel, Brie Larson portrayed the titular hero. Though she begins the film as a Kree soldier who goes by the name Vers, she slowly begins to learn about her true identity through her past. Shes actually Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot who obtained powers from an explosion years earlier.

The flashbacks that inform Carols awakening see her in her childhood, as a teenager, and as a young adult. Grace depicts her as at 13 driving (and crashing) a go-cart. Thank you Marvel and Disney for the opportunity to play Young Carol Danvers, she wrote on Instagram. Brie is amazing and inspirational as Captain Marvel!

Before that, she worked with Captain America AND the Winter Soldier

One of Graces most significant roles to date was in the 2017 drama Gifted. In the film, she played Mary, a mathematically inclined child who lives with her Uncle Frank, played by Chris Evans. Of the MCU star, Grace said, Hes more than just Captain America, hes a super hero in real life. He has a kind heart and does a lot for others. I love him.

That same year I, Tonya was released. Grace portrayed the main character as a child, played as an adult by Margot Robbie. She didnt act with Sebastian Stan, who played Tonyas husband, Jeff Gillooly. But Grace wrote on Instagram she wasnt so sure about him at first (he did try to beat up Captain America in Winter Soldier), but was happy to meet him in real life.

Graces latest project is Ghostbusters: Afterlife with Paul Rudd

RELATED: Ghostbusters: Afterlife Is Coming: Heres What We Know (So Far)

Grace stars as Phoebe in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The film was due out on July 10, 2020, but was pushed back due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In the movie, Phoebe moves with her mother, Callie, and brother, Trevor, to Oklahoma. (See the trailer above.)

Together, the kids learn about their familys link to the Ghostbusters (its heavily implied that they are the descendants of Harold Ramis Egon Spengler). Phoebe gets some help from her teacher, Mr. Grooberson. Hes played by Paul Rudd, or, as MCU fans know him, Ant-Man.

She also worked with these Marvel stars

Grace has worked with other well-known Marvel actors, not just Avengers. She had a role in Independence Day: Resurgence, which starred one of her favorites, Jeff Goldblum. In 2018, he was in Thor: Ragnarok as the Grandmaster, and may reprise his role in future films.

One of Graces first films was the indie flick Suburban Gossip. It starred Kat Dennings, who portrayed Darcy in the first two Thor movies. Dennings will reprise her role in the MCU series WandaVision. Finally, Grace was in How to Be a Latin Lover, acting opposite Salma Hayek, who will be seen in The Eternals in (hopefully) 2021.
Tracy Tutor from Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles revealed she is a huge fan of Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Mediterranean. Tutor shared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that she met Yawn at BravoCon and thinks the captain is simply, dope.

Captain Sandy Yawn, Reza Farahan | Heidi Gutman/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

I loved Captain Sandy so we became tight, Tutor shared. And shes dope. I love the Below Deck crew. I dont know if these boys watch all these shows, but Im like a Housewives ho and I do all those shows. Tutor appeared on WWHL along with the entire cast from Million Dollar Listing LA.

Not only did Tutor connect with Yawn at BravoCon, but she and Yawn were also part of a real estate panel in early March. High Octane Branding in the Age of the Bravolebrity Had a blast sitting on this panel yesterday with my DE family at #Ellimansummit. We talked all things digital and what our audiences are seeking in 2020, Tutor shared on Instagram. In addition to Yawn, Kelly Bensimon from The Real Housewives of New York City was part of the group from Bravo.

Below Deck Med and Million Dollar Listing crossover?

Tutor insists she was more of a fan when she was in the green room during BravoCon. So it was so fun for me, she says. Josh Altman gave Tutor some ribbing. Well, Tracy is used to being on her yacht, so shes used to the whole Below Deck crew, he joked.

Tutor shared a number of photos and videos from her experience during BravoCon last November. Thats a wrap #bravocon 2019! I dont know how @bravotv tops this next year, but our fans are the best and Im lucky to be even the smallest part of it!! Got to hang with old friends and met some great new ones! Heres a little taste of my highlights from the last couple daysxoxo, TT, she posted. Her first video in the series almost captured the now-infamous liplock between Fredrik Eklund and Bravo producer Andy Cohen, which they discussed during WWHL.

RELATED: Do Million Dollar Listing LA Brokers Think Selling Sunset Is Fake?

Cohen suggested a Below Deck and Million Dollar Listing crossover. High-end real estate meets superyachts might be an enticing special as viewers watch crew members battle below deck while agents snipe at each other from multi-million dollar homes. Charter guests, buyers, and sellers blend together as production could likely draw from the same pool.

Other Bravo shows have crossed over on Below Deck

Below Deck has hosted a few Housewives, plus hoped someday to see a Below Deck and Southern Charm crossover. Alexis Bellino from The Real Housewives of Orange County appeared on Below Deck season 7, along with her new boyfriend and friends. Also, Cynthia Bailey and Claudia Jordan from The Real Housewives of Atlanta joined the crew during season 3.

RELATED: What Did Captain Lee from Below Deck Say About a Southern Charm Crossover?

Patricia Altschul from Southern Charm mused in the past about a Below Deck crossover with her show. She discussed the idea when she appeared on WWHL last year. I want to charter a yacht and take all of Southern Charm on it, Altschul said. Thats what I want to do.
Up to 213 Vietnamese workers in the Republic of Guinea are calling for local authorities help to repatriate them amid the serious Covid-19 pandemic.



The workers, including many infected with Covid-19, are working at Sendje Hydro-power Plant. They have come to the Republic of Guinea under the contract signed by the UKs Duglas Alliance Ltd and Vietnams CMVietnam and LILAMA 10.





Earlier, a representative from CMVietnam, said that 15 had tested positive for Covid-19 for the first time. The result will be checked again to ensure accuracy.



According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola and the Republic of Guinea, the embassy was informed of the case by CMVietnam and LILAMA 10. The firms have co-operated with general contractors and local health agencies to conduct the Covid-19 prevention measures, including tests and quarantine, so that the Vietnamese workers can return home as soon as possible.



CMVietnam and LILAMA 10 are required to keep a closed eye on the workers in order to provide support and report to their family.



Under the instruction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been actively working with local agencies abroad and airlines to conduct flights to bring Vietnamese people in Covid-19 affected areas to home. To date, 51 flights of this kind have been provided, repatriating more than 12,000 people who have been all quarantined as regulated.
While some of the coursework is similar, including Cannabis 101 and 102  classes that teach students about cannabis from a legal, scientific and historical perspective  the new program will be more focused on the business management aspect of the industry, including state laws and regulations aimed at securely transporting and tracking the product, Battista said.
Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish are known for their on-screen rivalry as Jamie Fraser and Dougal MacKenzie on Outlander. But the two actors are actually good friends in real-life, and after road-tripping around their home country of Scotland, theyre bringing some of their death-defying experiences to light in a new book.

Men in Kilts Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish | Starz

Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish started a podcast in 2019

After working together closely on a few seasons of Outlander, Heughan and McTavish were inspired to explore more of Scotlands rich history and culture. In early 2019, the actors announced they were working on a podcast called Clandlands which would chronicle their road trip around the country.

Wed been playing these Highland warriors for years now, faking it, and we thought, you know, itd be nice to sort of find out a bit more about it,' Heughan said when talking to Oprah Magazine. Ive always been interested in Scotlands history, the clans, and the culture. We have such huge tourism from Outlander. We just wanted to sort of go on that adventure as well, and bring some of that to people, because its part of the show that we dont get to explore anymore as the show has moved on.

RELATED: Outlander Stars Recall the Great Lengths Set Designers Went to Recreate the Shows Historic Scottish Castles

They turned their podcast into a Starz series

A few months after Heughan and McTavish announced Clanlands, Starz picked up their idea and turned it into a series. Their new show, called Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham, will follow the actors around Scotland, as they explore the history, food, and culture of their home country.

Its a really fun, light-hearted adventure around Scotland, Heughan recently revealed on Good Morning America. Were really dipping into Scotland as the country that we obviously know through working on Outlander, but actually learning more about the food the drink, the people, the stories.

RELATED: How 2 Outlander Stars Turned Their Real-Life Bromance Into a Spin-Off

As of now, Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham does not have an official premiere date. But Starz has confirmed it will air eight half-hour episodes of the series sometime this year.

The Outlander stars are now chronicling their adventures in a new book

Inspired by their Clanlands podcast and their new Starz series, Heughan and McTavish recently announced they are chronicling their Scottish adventures in a new book. Also titled Clanlands, the book will feature exclusive photos, anecdotes, and maps of their road-trip.

Weve written a book!!! Heughan wrote in an Instagram post. @grahammctavish and I have written a book about our road trip around Scotland, fuelled by copious amounts of whisky. We reveal the history and culture, our personal lives, Acting, friendship and everything in between. So excited for you to read what weve been working on!

In a chat on Heughans Instagram, McTavish described the new book as a confessional, meets a road trip, meets a death-defying experience. Clanlands is currently only available for preorder in the UK, New Zealand, and Australia.
Currently, low-alloy aluminium is widely used in electrical engineering and machine building. At the same time, it should be noted that modern electrical engineering places very high and in some cases mutually exclusive requirements to aluminium alloys.

For example, conductive aluminium alloys must have both high electrical conductivity and strength, and sometimes also long term thermal stability, if they are to be used in conditions of long term exposure to certain temperatures. Typically, high strength and thermal stability of aluminium alloys is provided by means of complex alloying, which leads to a sharp decrease in electrical conductivity of the materials.

In 2017, a research team of the Physics and Technology Research Institute at Lobachevsky University in Nizhny Novgorod, on the initiative of the Moscow Plant for Special Alloys Processing, took up the task of improving the performance of aluminium alloys. To obtain new low-alloy aluminium alloys, Nizhny Novgorod researchers used the technology of induction casting in vacuum.

According to Professor Alexey Nokhrin, Head of the Materials Diagnostics Laboratory at the UNN Physics and Technology Research Institute, one of the main tasks was to develop the regimes of casting for new aluminium alloys.

"The structure of the cast metal is very heterogeneous, it has a needle-like dendrite structure and contains large particles that resulted from casting. Because of this, it is very difficult to form the cast metal. In order to achieve the required results, it was necessary first to determine very precisely the metal casting regimes that would help to get rid of large particles, and then, by using plastic deformation, to refine the cast dendrite structure. The second step was especially difficult, since it was not possible to process the alloy at elevated temperatures, as it is usually done at factories. An increase in temperature would have resulted in the precipitation of large particles, which would have caused the wire with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm to rupture", explains Alexey Nokhrin.

To solve the problem of obtaining thin wire, a large amount of research has been conducted by UNN scientists to study the effect of casting regimes on the homogeneity of the structure and properties of aluminium alloys containing magnesium and scandium microadditives. Intensive plastic deformation technologies, including equal channel angular pressing and rotary forging, were used as the key methods for controlling the structure of aluminium alloys.

As a result, a homogeneous highly plastic structure was obtained in the alloys where nanoparticles were formed by annealing, which provided the required level of strength and thermal resistance of the wires manufactured.

The new alloys have demonstrated a number of unique characteristics. Lobachevsky University researchers managed to solve the difficult task of increasing simultaneously electrical conductivity, strength and thermal resistance of the alloys while ensuring a very high level of plasticity at elevated temperatures.

The research shows that new alloys possess superplasticity: during tensile testing at 500 degrees Celsius and at high rates of deformation the samples showed the elongation of more than 1000%, and after cooling became very strong and electrically conductive again.

"This will allow the producers to manufactire the wire using the superplasticity regime, when special deformation mechanisms are activated and the metal "flows" like liquid glass", concludes Alexey Nokhrin.

At present, the team is working on the next stage of the project. The researchers are studying the possibilities of replacing expensive scandium with other alloying additives (Zr, Yb, etc.). The aim is to maintain high characteristics of the alloys produced while sharply reducing their cost.
The protests that followed the killing of George Floyd in May started with a focus on police brutality. But six weeks later, a dominant theme is the removal of monuments, and memorials. Protesters have torn down or vandalized dozens of statues connected to the Confederacy and to other controversial historical figures like Christopher Columbus.

But this isnt the first time that statues have been torn down en mass amid widespread protests. After Constantine allowed Christianity in the Roman Empire, Christians tore down so many statues that in Athens they reportedly became known as the people who move that which should not be moved. Early church battled each other over religious iconography. Reformation Christians inspired another round of eager statue smashing and removal.

What's funny is when I was first getting acclimated to art as a Protestant, and learning that art history mattered, we were embarrassed about our iconoclastic heritage, said Matthew Milliner, associate professor of art history at Wheaton College. But what an honor to be known as the people who moved that which should not be moved.

Milliner joined global media manager Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen to discuss how much earlier Christian battles over statues echo todays fights, what Christians have learned that might help us better understand the call to remove statues today, and whether we should even be creating memorials and monuments in the first place.

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Music by Sweeps

Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee and Matt Linder

The transcript is edited by Bunmi Ishola

Highlights of Quick to Listen: Episode #220

Let's start with a bit of art history. In the intro, we referenced how after Constantine made Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire, early Christians tore down and destroyed many pagan images. Is that accurate or was it a more limited action focused on specific images or places?

Matthew Milliner: If it's inaccurate, there are a lot of brilliant forgeries out there that have successfully transported back in time and carved crosses on the statues of the head of Aphrodite.

It is accurate. This was done. You go to Egypt and you'll just see a cross carved into this beautiful hieroglyph. In some senses, this breaking of images is the birthright of Christians, the people who moved that which should not be moved was the way Christians are described.

What's funny is when I was first getting acclimated to art as a Protestant, and learning that art history mattered, we were embarrassed about our iconoclastic heritage. But what an honor to be known as the people who moved that which should not be movedthe ministers who gathered together as Silent Sam goes down and are singing as an idol is removed.

That is an element not just of the Protestant tradition, it is the universal DNA of what it means to be a Christian. It is an image breaking thing to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Your ego is getting across carved into his forehead. And your idol of yourself is being drowned with Jesus. And so in some senses, there's nothing surprising about it.

This has happened many times before. and Christianity has a part to play in it. Iconoclasm is the foundation of Christianity as it is. It just lays it out in the New Testament.

Were most of these statues of gods and goddesses and, or of Caesar? Or were there statutes of just rich and influential citizens that were also torn down or destroyed?

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Matthew Milliner: Well, it's not that every single statue in the ancient world was taken down. And that's what's so fascinating. Sometimes they were repurposed or used in a different way. Some were renamed. For example, we're going to take this statue of Aphrodite and maybe be inspired by it as we move down the centuries, assimilating that understanding instead of the need to utterly destroy it.

People love when they write their catalogs to make fun of Christians for doing this, but now that's not so cool because that's what we want to do. We realize the impulse to destroy an image is a part of justice. But to stop at the iconoclasm impulse would be inadequate. I think Christianity itself had to realize, we need to move past that icon breaking stage and move into the recreation, assimilation, and creative responses, not just destructive responses to the idols that are around us.

Could you give us a sense of how hard these statues were to make, what it meant to make them, and whether it was hard to tear them down?

Matthew Milliner: Well, it's as difficult to tear them down as it was a week ago to try and tear down of the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson in front of the White House.

The technology of creating those kinds of imperial portraits required resources. And the early Christians did not have the resources to produce those statues nor did they want toand not only did they not have the money because Christianity was a persecuted minority at first. Even when they had the money that style was changing because to create something that's too imminent was seen as idolatrous because of course Christiania inherits the DNA of Judaism and there's this suspicion about what images can do.

But bronze casting isnt easy, but The Dark Ages were glittering with mosaics. The reason they're not pursuing that technology of political imminence is because the gold mosaics are pointing to the other world, getting you into heaven, and giving you an idea of a world that is saturated with God and moves you beyond the world to God. That's the early Christian cosmos. And so they are not interested in that kind of statuary. But then in the Renaissance, when they redevelop that, it's immediately used to glorify political rulers and we're in the same situation again.

And when we're looking at the 19th century, early 20th century statues that are being taken down right now, when they were built it was America trying to flex its aesthetic muscle to say, Look, we can keep up with the standards of Europe and we can make beautiful, big statues like they did in the Renaissance.

And if we're taking those down, we're in some senses in accord with some early Christian principles. Or not. You have to be principled in the decisions that you're making. And I think you see an evolution and development of sophisticated thought about art that happens in Christianity, but we don't know how to think in a sophisticated way about art. So of course our only response to it is to get rid of it.

But if we inherit these lessons, we can move up the schema into a more sophisticated approach to these monuments. The approach of just destroy and deface can be liberating. It's part of what it means to be recreated, you have to destroy the old. But what happens when you move forward? That's the next step in the conversation.

In Christian history, there was this debate about whether icons were okay or not. And during the Reformation, many images and other kinds of devotional objects were removed. The second commandment is often used as a reason to not create images of God, but how did the incarnation of Christ change the ways Christians thought about images?

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Matthew Milliner: The Christian Church was no longer the persecuted minority, but they had torn down all the statues, so now theyve got to make some things of their own. And they just started doing it. And then a couple of centuries later, they begin asking, is there a theological rationale for this? And then a bunch of people says no and so they start to take some down. It did happen to an extent on theological grounds.

Its a century-long theological debate, but the decision was made that it is indeed permissible to create images of God because He imaged himself first in Christ. It is not a violation of the commandment to not make graven imagesthat's God saying, wait, don't make pictures of me. Let me do that myself. Here I am. Jesus. Now you can depict me.

Christians come to the realization that it is permissible. Now we can have a redemptive image that shows us, reminds us of, what it would have been like to have walked with Christ and with the disciples.

That is never at the cost of the invisibility of God. It shouldn't be, sometimes it becomes that, but that's bad Christian visual theology. The image of Jesus has to be held hand in hand with the undepictability of the Father. If we make that mistakeas the Christian so often have donewe write atheists a ticket for all the misunderstandings that they hold, we've given it to them for free, that we invented that deity.

You have this rhythm of negative destruction of images, positive creation, and then some negative destruction again moving toward positive. And we're feeling those rhythms now in this country.

How does this understanding impact depictions of saints or the human celebrities of the faith?

Matthew Milliner: Once you get Jesus permissible, you've secured Normandy, right? Jesus was the hard one. And so it becomes okay from that point forward to create images of saints and others. You just can't worship them.

And they never said they were. That's the caricature that John Calvin projects onto the past. And in some cases, I think he was on target, but they weren't worshiping them as if they were the saints themselves. There were in a sense, not doors but windows into the present.

We believe those people are with Godto be absent from the bodies to be present with the Lord. If you have a picture of a deceased loved one in your home, you're doing that. And your heart might inflame with love as you look at that image. That's what early Christian images of the saints offered us. And there was a theological council that deemed that to be permissible.

The Reformers looked at images of human saints and felt Christians were giving them too much attention because they are spiritually fallen and broken beings. Do you see a connection between the debate over imaging sinful humans in the church have and the current discussion were having about which statues to remove in the US?

Matthew Milliner: That's a very acute question because the choice to remove images didn't mean they went away forever. They just came back in a political form.

You often see naval captains honored in churches in Amsterdam. And you see it in New York too. In great places like St. Paul's, there it is an American political figure has taken over that space, which was intended to be preserved and kept clean. And so we have made our little Caesar images of one kind or another, even if we're honoring them as these great Christian heroes who did their service to their country.

What I would say to anyone listening to this is to audit your visual space. What is being honored? When you walk through Protestant visual culture, youll realize there have been some errors made in this regard. And maybe we need to summon up our iconoclastic heritage that is shared with the entire Christian tradition.

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Thats what the Orthodox church did in the last 20 years when they cleansed Russia of these images of Stalin and Lenin. And in one case, they even put them into what's colloquially referred to as Stalin World, which is this is a park in Lithuania. They just took all of these images that were intended to provoke awe and wonder and fear, and now people can take their little family selfies as they go through these decapitated heads and busts.

And it's one of the most redemptive things imaginable. These images that were responsible for the slaying of so many people have now become jokes. That's the toppling of the idols in our time. So we're living through that again. And maybe that's what some of these missed opportunities with these statues that we're taking downall kinds of stuff could happen with that Confederate statueto not let the next generation off the hook.

How are we going to responsibly repurpose these monuments? Or maybe a responsible destruction is necessary in order to move forward as a democracy, instead of just ripping these things to pieces.

Would you say that there's something that makes statues uniquely special or different from a mural or a painting?

Matthew Milliner: The Christian tradition, and the Jewish tradition, has always felt just a little bit differently about three dimensionalities, because it's so real, it's so here.

There's maybe a good reason that that technology was lost for a while because it claims to offer a lot. And it doesn't mean it can't be used redemptively, but that's why it's always important to remember the icon is the brake on visual culture.

If you want to find the brake pad for how to deal with the images that are saturating your life like never before in human history, you get an icon. That will slow you down. Because an icon was deliberate. The icon is this central gift.

It's not beholden to the romantic individualism that has infected the artistic culture now. The thing about the icon is this tradition that seeps through history and it contains all this wisdom. In some senses they're intended to restrain the mental faculties, rather than delight and stimulate the eye, putting you in touch with God who is with us all the time.

And it's an experience that many Protestants are recovering, and there are creative reinventions of that tradition for this day. In our art department classroom, we have the classic Sinai icon of Jesus, and it's this glorious image, but right next to it, we have this image of the Black Christ. I don't think Jesus was African, but I know that he identifies with his body, the African American church, just as he identifies with me as a white person. It's important for me to remember that. So I have this image.

Now, you put that next to the image of a more accurate historical Jewish Jesus, and then you have a rich visual Christology that can guide us through these times.

What type of charge would you have for the church at largemany of whom do not necessarily identify as artists, but have strong and robust opinions about statues and so forth? And what type of charge might you have for Christians who are in the arts community?

Matthew Milliner: First, understand what's going on in contemporary art. That's so important. We are just not in the traditional, statue-making, catch-up-with-Europe culture anymore. And so there are so many fascinating, exciting developments that have occurred. So many exciting things are happening in memorial culture. So understand what's going on there.

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And then, stop pointing fingers at the South. If you live in the Midwest, realize we've got some stuff to cover ourselves. Because we're sitting on the land of people who received and embraced the gospel with joy and then were ejected by Andrew Jackson. You will get a perspective of redemption hope and healing in this country, but you don't get that until you deal with the suffering until you deal with what happened.

And there are ways to do that. It's all available to us. It's all there. We just have to hear that. And what we're hearing that we're not going liberal. We're not tilting to the left. No, we're going deeper into the body of Christ because that's Jesus speaking to us through his persecuted people.

And realize it's not unpatriotic. It's the most patriotic thing you could do! We've got to do a whole audit of what our memorials have done in this country and realize that we are in no way safe here in the Midwest, because the wonderful work of repentance is ahead of us, and we believe in grace.
A common term for adoption placements is forever family, indicating the child has now been legally and symbolically grafted into a new home. After being relinquished (voluntarily or not) from their birth family, some children stay with the first placement that follows. To their biological connections and culture, they might say, goodbye forever, family.

On the more extreme end: Some children in the Kansas foster care system navigated over 100 placements, according to a recent lawsuit. Its not uncommon for some children to say, Goodbye, forever family to multiple caregivers throughout their lifespan. Such was the case in a recent controversy regarding a transracially adopted child from China. Social media influencer Myka Stauffer posted an apology about rehoming Huxley to another family after recognizing he needed more care than her family could provide:

I apologize for being so naive when I started the adoption process, I was not selective or fully equipped or prepared. I received one day of watching at home online video training and gained my Hague adoption certification, which was required by my accredited adoption agency, Stauffer wrote on Instagram.

How do you measure the intent of someones message along with its impact? Sometimes, theyre different. Other times, the purpose was accomplished. I think adoption, as an institution and as an experience, can be like that.

I remember standing on the playground as a fourth grader. A boy walked up to me and taunted, Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, look at these! Simultaneously slanting his eyes up and down with his fingers, he finished by lifting up his shirt so we could all see his chest.

I cant claim to know what that boy was intending on the playground. However, in that moment, as a transracial adoptee, I felt incredibly uncomfortable, foreign, inferior, embarrassed, ashamed, confused, and severely out of place. I didnt tell my parents about it because I couldnt imagine theyd understand; they were white, along with all the teachers. So, throughout my childhood I generally kept those incidents to myself. It wasnt healthy and I paid for it later on.

Perhaps adoption, as an institution in need of reform and redemption, doesnt intend to hurt us in that way. And yet it shapes lives profoundly, for better and worse.

But lets be careful not to let the Stauffers story distract us from the larger narrative. Internationally and domestically, same-race and transracial adoption is the original dissolution. There will be an impact. Therefore, we ought to expect needs related to mental health and actively prepare the way for something (and someone) better.

In her Ted Talk, adult adoptee Sara Jones recalls how, when she was adopted from Korea at age three, the experience overwhelmed her and she stopped speaking for six months. When she started speaking again, one of her first phrases in English was, Sara sad.

Not only does research show how mental health needs are intrinsically woven into the adoption experience, but youth and adult adoptees have pleaded with those in power to change the way they see and serve us (Ive posted a list at my blog for families interested in listening).

As Christians, we navigate the already and not yet reality of Jesus Christ who has freed us from the penalty of sin, rescues us from its power over our lives here and now, and sends us toward the complete absence of brokennessthere and beyond the grave. His work, not ours. And yet, were sent as his workers, his ambassadors.

What does that mean for us, individually, as we walk throughout a fallen world, institutionally? How are we called to participate in a way that represents the hands and feet of a suffering Savior? And what do we do when we see an institution (and individuals within it) hurting people, either intentionally or because of its collateral impact?

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For me, as a licensed clinician and adult adoptee, part of my professional calling is to take those kinds of questions into the foster and adoption community and serve in a way that moves the folks within it toward health and restoration.

The mental health of adoptees

To begin with, adoption-related needs are often comorbid with other mental healthrelated needs. This is not a personal heart-check for adoptive parents as much as its a community assessment of the system that uses their money, and, ultimately, a call to understand and serve the children who are impacted by the experience of birth, relinquishment, nonpermanency, and adoption.

Comorbid. Co means joint, mutual, or common. Morbid indicates disease. Comorbidity as a mental health term refers to the presence of two or more conditions in one person. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is used to classify symptoms into diagnoses (such as PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Reactive Attachment Disorder). I put conditions in quotes because I recognize not all clinicians find value in ascribing DSM-5 labels to actual people, as if they were somehow problems to be fixed, reduced to a pathology of sorts. Can it help with insurance and gaining access to services? Sometimes. Can it also help put a name to a unique experience, a set of symptoms and struggles? Certainly.

However, as well-known psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk puts it, Before they reach their twenties, many patients have been given four, five, six, or more of these impressive but meaningless labels. If they receive treatment at all, they get whatever is being promulgated as the method of management du jour: medications, behavioral modification, or exposure therapy. These rarely work and often cause more damage.

I can see it from both sides. Here are some of the common DSM-5 labels foster children and adoptees might receive at some point in their narrative:

Anxiety Disorder Adjustment Disorder Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Childhood Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Conduct Disorders Oppositional Defiant Disorder Reactive Attachment Disorder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

As an adoptee and clinician, my heart sinks when I imagine how many of us might be struggling to navigate any one of those sets of symptoms right now, let alone multiple layers of them.

Take just one of those diagnoses: Some research suggests ADHD is higher among adoptees than non-adopted peers. This could be due to the increased stress related to poor neonatal conditions, separation from caregivers, or neglect during the process of foster care/adoption. Theres also the added stressor of having to make sense of life events. If an infant or toddler is wrapped up in meaning-making, its possible thered be a delay in other milestones related to emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Because ADHD includes a genetic component, adoptive parents must also consider the generational impact of addiction, depression, abuse, and other factors.

In all diagnoses, an important takeaway here is that foster and adoptive placements can contribute to that stress or serve as a factor of protection. Sometimes, theyre both.

On top of the clinical diagnoses, some adoptees struggle to make sense of the death, or perceived death, of their biological/natural parents (see author and adoption activist Valerie Andrews, the executive director of Origins Canada, for a dialogue on language).

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Biological parents, the original attachment figure, remain psychologically present yet physically absent, an idea that social worker, professor, and adoptee JaeRan Kim unpacks in her article on ambiguous loss. And when an adoptee is not given social or cultural approval to mourn that loss, it becomes more challenging to heal from it. This invalidation is called disenfranchised grief. I would never ask the couple struggling with infertility, Why cant you just be thankful? We need to be just as sensitive with children navigating adoption and foster care; otherwise, we risk blocking them from such restoration.

On top of that, we must consider transracial adoption and the complexities bound within a white supremacist country, laws and policies (written or unwritten) that build or maintain inequity between racial groups, individual (internalized, interpersonal) and systemic (institutional, structural) racism, racial abuse (microaggressions), and other various forms of racialized oppression. How inconsistent is it for a country to facilitate its citizens to adopt babies into their homes but sustain walls and rules and attitudes against their peers and parents? Children notice this.

Comorbidity touches adoptees in many ways. Its important to affirm that not all adoptees experience mental health needs at a clinically significant level. We do not want to pathologize children navigating adoption and permanency. We do want to normalize our experiences and we do want to raise awareness about our stories. If the only adoptee voices you listen to are the ones who report, My parents were awesome and Im so grateful, then you miss out on rich and essential learning for your family.

Adoption disrupts many of us from the daily life experiences most take for granted, and that needs to be brought into the light. We can call it adoption, foster care, rehoming, dissolution, dissolved, disrupted  but whatever we call it, our actual lived experiences will hurt.

Where do we go from here?

Im not the judge of anyone who has adopted or has spoken out against adoption (or rehoming), or even over any particular agency. A friend recently shared, Its not our business. We werent there. Its between them and God.

I think theres a lot of truth to that.

My observations are not punitive; theyre meant to re-posture us as a community to consider how our current laws, policies, and beliefs around adoption dont serve the ones being adopted. If were concerned about the current and next generation of adoptees, we must have the courage to ask those in power, trusted leaders, policymakers, and arbitrators to do better.

They challenge us as Christians in two ways: our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationship with others.

In our relationship with God, where have we replaced God with something (or someone) else? In his book Parenting, author and theologian Paul Tripp explicitly names the tendency parents have to use their children as a means for self-serving purposes, robbing God of glory because they want it for themselves. Adoption is an occasion for those distorted desires to hijack our families and institutions for the worst of our humanity to flourish under the guise of our best humanitarian efforts.

We cant forget the transactional nature of adoption, according to social scientists. Anthropologist Eleana Kim writes that adoptees are vulnerable to commodification, quoting sociologist Sara Dorow: Transnationally adopted children are not bought and sold, but neither are they given and received freely and altruistically; the people and institutions around them enter into social relationships of exchange, meaning, and value that are both caring and consumptive.

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Kim adds, This close imbrication of commodification and care can make it difficult to distinguish between the caring-parent and the consumer-parent or between humanitarian and egocentric motivations.

In our relationship with others, how have we either sought to be a god or made children into gods, rather than seeking to serve as Gods ambassador? And when have adoptees seemed more like barriers between us and our desires rather than the very people weve been called to love?

Adoption agencies, in general, play a symbiotic role within a larger system of cultural and institutional forces, such as stigma of children born outside of marriage, lack of mental health awareness and training, barriers to education, shame-based family values, poverty, pride, nationalism, ableism, racism, religion, coercion, and sexual violence. Despite genuine progress in some post-adoption services, I believe many agencies themselves fall short of the kind of support and diligence that children and families need, and thus their practices should be reformed.

If in adoption we were seeking to be the hands and feet of Christ, were also called to embrace the idea that Christs hands and feet were nailed to a cross by those he came to rescue. He suffered. He faced tribulation. Adopters (not just adoptees) will suffer.

This is not because humans are actual saviors, but because, like any good work, caring for orphans and widows (James 1:27, NLT) will demand from us strength we dont have, pushing us to depend on the actual Savior, and will perhaps reorient our distorted motives along the way. This does not mean we cant outsource our needs to professionals skilled in a particular domain or discipline. There are times and situations when that step makes sense. What it means is we need to count the costs of adoption and hold institutions accountable when they hide the cost from us.

Parenting in general is a place where were meant to serve rather than be served. And, the more we embrace that message, the more well be a source of health and hope for the ones who truly need it.

Those who labor to be like Christ in this world will certainly feel the pain of his cross. Yes, for the joy set before us. Yes, toward a resurrection like his. And yes, for the keeping of many lives. And by his grace God keeps us. Even when we cant.

Cameron Lee Small has been working to raise consciousness about faith, child welfare, and mental health since 2012, after meeting his biological mother in Korea. He provides therapy services online from Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he lives with his wife and family.

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Describing churches as a "major source of coronavirus cases" is odd, since that's not even the case their own article makes.

Image: CCCM campus photos, Thom Walker

The New York Times just published an article with this headline: "Churches Were Eager to Reopen. Now They Are a Major Source of Coronavirus Cases."

Headlines are chosen by editors, of course, and dont always tell the whole story.

However, the lede continues: "The virus has infiltrated Sunday services, church meetings and youth camps. More than 650 cases have been linked to reopened religious facilities."

The Drudge Report now links to the article with the ominous headline, Churches Now Major Source of Spread.

As someone who has strongly advocated for churches to take COVID seriously, and whose church is not yet meeting, I read this article with great interest. And, after reading it twice, I can say that this article seems to tell a different story than its title.

For example, they report:

More than 650 coronavirus cases have been linked to nearly 40 churches and religious events across the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, with many of them erupting over the last month as Americans resumed their pre-pandemic activities, according to a New York Times database.

Thats 650 since the beginning of the pandemic, mind you. There are now 3 million people infected in the United States.

Furthermore, there were 60,000 cases each of the past two days in America. That's almost 100 times the 650 cases that the New York Times reports in churchesand that is since the beginning of the pandemic.

The article does have some good and insightful reporting. However, there are several unhelpful parts, even beyond the headline.

Let me unpack some of the more obvious issues with the article.

First, churches have cooperated.

Churches have been remarkable partners in the fight again the coronavirus, with the vast majority closing their gatherings all around the country. Yes, there have been a few outliers, but their paucity demonstrates the cooperation of churches with officials throughout this pandemic.

Churches have overwhelmingly been partners with health authorities and have carefully taken each small step.

Second, hyperbole helps no one.

It is strange (at best) to use words like major and erupted when describing 650 cases. You could easily write an article with the headline, Of the 3 million cases, only 650 connected to churches.



On that point, the headline is misleading. Having 650 cases in my county might be news, but 650 nationally out of 3 million cases is a headline looking for a story. The real story is this: churches are gathering and remarkably few infections are taking place.

Third, the article understates the obvious.

In fact, it buries something quite essential: ... some of the recent cases appear to have occurred in churches that did not require masks or keep members apart. For example, 236 cases in Oregon were linked to one church in that state.

Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Island City was apparently not following basic protocols:

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that a deleted video from the churchs Facebook page showed hundreds of worshipers singing, dancing, and jumping around at a May 24 service despite the governors orders restricting gatherings

This one church (out of 300,000 churches in the country) accounted for about one-third of the total in the NY Times article.

To be clear, every case mattersevery life matters. But making churches out to be the problem does not come from the data.

It is worth saying again that Ive been one of the most cautious. I hosted an early Facebook Live (viewed by almost 200,000 church leaders) urging churches to take the crisis more seriously. My church is not gathering. Ive cautioned churches not to rush to do so.

We have been cautious because gathering is a riskier activity. It is indoors. There are a lot of people. Thats why we need to take this seriously, and so many churches are.

And thats the story that got missed.

Fourth, this kind of article causes people to dismiss important information.



Im a subscriber to The New York Times. Good journalism matters.

And, good journalism needs context. There are over 300,000 churches in the United States, the overwhelming majority who are doing amazing in their COVID response.

Articles like this remind us why the Knight Foundation and Gallup found in a 2018 poll that Americans trust toward the media continues to decline. Most adults have lost trust in the media. Articles like this won't help in rebuilding trust among church leaders.

Don't misunderstand: gathering is risky, and proper protocols need to be followed. But, churches are doing so. Pastors care for their people and have represented the balance between gathering and safety overwhelmingly well.

Will there be an outbreak at a church that follows the rules? Yes. there will be. Just like there will be at colleges that meet this fall, and at Amazon warehouses, big box stores, and at workplaces. This disease is insidious and spreads easily. Thats why we need to continue to be careful.

However, articles like this create a false narrative concerning churches and places of worship, cause people to believe reporting on religion cant be trusted, and it enflames rather than informs.

Reading the responses to my original tweet is instructive. The Times is already written off by many people of faith. However, Im not among those yelling, Fake news. Yet, when stories are poorly framed, it has consequences.

Finally, this article simply misses the point.

The article provides the opposite of its headline. A few churches have made some bad decisions and this has led to community spread. However, even in these cases, your chance of catching the virus at church isbased on the data in the storyremarkably low.

And, if you make wise choices, it is even lower.

The picture used for the Times article is from a Calvary Chapel. The Calvary Chapel I visited on Sunday is more representative of their network of churches in particular and most churches in general. They literally have cones between every car (unlike at stores), clearly defined zones for people to gather, health and cleaning teams, and more. They are following the rules and observing proper protocols. (See update at the end of the article.)

We all recognize the difficulties we face today, whether we are talking about churches, workplaces, schools, or sports. Inflammatory articles like this help no one but may instead cause harm both to the subject and to the source.

The New York Times is a place for serious journalism, and much of this story is good work the quotes, the personal stories, and more. However, it frames the story in a way that is unhelpful and ultimately misleading.

The New York Times needs to take churches, and their work to protect their own people, more seriously.

Note: Calvary Chapel churches play a prominent role in The New York Times article. On Sunday, I visited Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (the founding church of the Calvary Chapel movement). Their church was gathering following all state and county mandates, right down to the detail of parking one spot apart. They have seven zones, all with ushers, health workers, cleaners, etc. I will share more on this in a future article.
Well over a half million pastors, church staff members, and ministry employees kept their jobs and continued serving their communities during the pandemic thanks to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, according to a list released last week.

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed in March, the government offered grants to cover payroll costs for employers, including religious organizations, as a way to keep the economy going and reduce layoffs.

It was the first time the US government had offered to cover the salaries of clergy and ministry workers as part of a stimulus. Some criticsincluding within the churchdiscouraged Christian organizations from accepting government funds due to concerns over church-state separation, while others saw it as a way churches and charities to continue to meet community needs during the pandemic.

A list released Wednesday by the Small Business Administration (SBA) showed that at least 11,500 Christian organizations took advantage of the opportunity and received loans of $150,000 or more.

The list was culled based on a keyword search of terminology including church, Christian, Catholic, and diocese, so the totals do not include ministries without Christian wording in their names or those that received smaller loans. More than 80 percent of the 5 million US employers that were granted PPP loans took in less than $150,000, according to the Associated Press, and werent included in the recent data.

Through the program, companies and organizations with fewer than 500 employees could request up to two and a half months of payroll costs (excluding salaries above $100,000) to offset the economic hit of the coronavirus shutdowns. Most churches and ministries on the list fell in the $150,000 to $300,000 range. Using the federal funds, the average church retained about 60 jobs.

A few megachurches and denominations ranked among the largest stimulus loan amounts, taking loans of over $5 million. They include Willow Creek Church in Chicago, which preserved 353 jobs, and Life.Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, which kept 451 jobs.

The stimulus loans do not need to be repaid if used for eligible payroll and operations expenses.

On the SBA list of recipients of $150,000 or more, 7,009 had the word church in their name.

Of the churches whose names included denominational markers, Catholic and Baptist congregations were the most common beneficiaries. More than 2,000 Catholic churches received PPP loans, as did more than 1,000 Baptist churches. The rankings reflect Christian affiliation in the USaround 20 percent of the country is Catholic, while around 15 percent belongs to Baptist denominations (across evangelical, mainline, and historically black Protestant traditions), according to the Pew Research Center.

The most populous states saw the most religious organizations taking funds and the most jobs saved.

Texas had 1,072 Christian organizations that received PPP funds, and California was close behind at 1,025. Those recipients indicated the funds were used to retain nearly 70,000 jobs in Texas and nearly 60,000 in California.

Among the biggest Christian employers taking advantage of the stimulus opportunities in those states were Catholic Charities of San Francisco, which retained 500 jobs through the program, and First Baptist Church of Dallas, which recorded 293 jobs being saved through a loan of between $2 million and $5 million from the PPP.

Other large states followed, with Florida at 869 Christian organizations and Illinois at 643.

While the larger states had more ministries and churches receiving PPP dollars, the concentration of religious recipients was greatest in the Midwest.

Christian organizations in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska made up at least 3 percent of all PPP beneficiaries in the state, higher than the national average. Indiana had the highest concentration of religious recipients, with 4 percent. The states biggest PPP loan to a religious organization went to First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, which was able to retain 322 employees with a loan of between $350,000 and $1 million.

In a majority of states, PPP funds preserved over 10,000 church and ministry jobs. Of the 665,000 Christian positions covered by the loans, nearly 20 percent were in Texas and California alone.

Although both states had between 1,000 and 1,100 Christian employers receive PPP funds over $150,000, Texas recipients represented an additional 8,500 jobsperhaps a sign of the greater concentration of megachurches with large staffs located in the state.

Across industries, the PPP retained 31.4 million workers in organizations that received more than $150,000 in funds; those in Christian organizations represented 2.1 percent of all workers in this group. (Editors note: Christianity Today is a recipient of PPP funds.)

For many churches not meeting in person this April, May, and June (and not passing the offering plate), the PPP provided the monies necessary to pay staff and clergy, potentially heading off tens of thousands of people applying for unemployment benefits.

Yet there are some signs that churches and ministries initial financial concerns may have been overblown. A survey by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability found that by April, more than half of churches and Christian nonprofits reported that giving was back to pre-pandemic levels.

Christian camps and conferences as well as Christian schools remain most pessimistic about their financial future. Some Christian colleges have cited COVID-19 as a factor in recent faculty cuts.

Ryan P. Burge is an assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University. His research appears on the site Religion in Public, and he tweets at @ryanburge.
This week my family and I were on a bike ride through our neighborhood in the early evening in the hot Texas heat. With three young children it doesnt matter what time of day, we ride our bikes for miles and miles. Usually my three year old daughter rides in the carriage that attaches to my bike. But on this day she decided she wanted to ride her bike. She only just learned to ride a bike with training wheels a few weeks ago. She learned quickly because our next door neighbor gave us a hand-me-down bike. It is pink and white with streamers hanging from the handlebars and a basket at the front. She loves it. She has to use the entire weight of her little body to get those wheels to turn but it is her favorite thing to do. It makes her feel like she fits in with her big brothers. On this particular day, we had gone about a mile slowly but surely, and the boys had long abandoned us for a faster pace, when she looked up at me and declared that she wasnt going to ride her bike any further. So I took her off her bike and put her in the toddler seat that was still attached to mine and we left her bike sitting there on the sidewalk in front of a neighborhood home, planning to pick it up with the car later.

Hours later and after dark, we had returned home and put the kids in bed when my husband finally returned in the mini-van to collect the bike. Upon arrival he saw that there was a police car in front of the home where we left the bike. He learned that the home owner had called the police fearing that a child had run off and left the bike. Once my husband arrived he cleared everything up with the police offer, he loaded the bike in the car and drove the short distance to our home. As he told me this story, he reflectively said these words to me: Kel, in interacting with the police officer and the home owner, there was not one moment where I felt un-safe. He went on to tell me that they were joking with each other by the end of the exchange. One white man interacting with a white home owner and a white police officer turned into a perfectly friendly exchange.

My husbands comment, and the world full of race-based violence we are living in today, has me thinking about white privilege. The reason that my husband felt completely safe is because of the reality of white privilege. Before you tune me out, consider this. White privilege is not about wealth. It is not about how hard a person works, or how lazy a person is. It not about morality, how a person behaves or doesnt behave. You can be privileged because you are white and still be a good person, a bad person, a hard worker, an unemployed person, a poor person, or a rich person. White privilege is actually not even about individual accounts of racism exactly. You can be privileged because you are white and not be racist. You can even be an anti-racist, full blown ally and still benefit from white privilege because it is the water that we swim in. Asking a white person to define white privilege is like asking a fish to define water. White privilege is the ever- present, pervasive and normative experience for white people in America that puts them at an ever-present advantage over black people and people of color, based on the color of their skin.

White privilege is the reason that my husband approached that police officer at night in front of a home and felt completely safe and white privilege is the reason that my black friends Graham and Steven and Rachel would feel absolutely terrified and probably terrified to the point of not even considering picking that bike up until the next morning.

Why does white privilege matter for white Christians today? For Christians, we are called to do two things with our privilege.

To lay aside privilege and power for the sake of others as we follow the way of Jesus. (Philippians 2:7-9) Jesus set aside the greatest privilege of being God, fully Divine, to share in our human experience. He suffered and he died because he loved human kind. Any privilege that we have should be both utilized and set aside for the sake of others.

How do we do this? Here are two ideas you can try this week:
12 Christians arrested by Iran's Revolutionary Guard in 3 cities: report

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At least a dozen Christians in Iran were reportedly arrested, some of whom were allegedly beaten, by Revolutionary Guard intelligence officers last week in three cities, according to a human rights monitoring group.

Article 18, a London-based nonprofit that promotes religious freedom and tolerance for Christians in Iran, has reported on the arrests of Christians in three operations in the cities of Tehran, Karaj and Malayer that took place on June 30 and July 1.

Along with the 12 Christians who were arrested, dozens of other Christians were forced to provide their contact details for future questioning, the organization noted.

According to Article 18, the first arrests occurred around 8 p.m. last Tuesday in Tehrans Yaftabad district when 10 intelligence officers raided the home of a Christian convert where 30 Christians were gathered.

The agents reportedly were polite at first when they were video recording the incident. But after the cameras were off, the Christians were said to have been mistreated.

The agents read out a list of names that were written on an arrest warrant.

Included on that reported list were Joseph Shahbazian, an Armenian-Iranian Christian, and five Christian converts named Reza, Salar, Sonya, Mina and Maryam, who were present at the gathering.

The six of them were reportedly handcuffed, blindfolded and transported. The families were not immediately told where their loved ones have been transported to, Article 18 explained in a statement.

Others at the gathering who were not arrested had their cell phones taken and required to fill out forms stating that their phones had not been confiscated by agents.

The intelligence officers drove the six arrested Christians and some others to their homes in Tehran and Karaj to search their properties for Bibles and Christian literature and any communications devices.

Witnesses told Article 18 that some of the Christians were beaten along with their non-Christian family members.

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is illegal for a Muslim to convert to Christianity.

The agents also went to the homes of three converts who were not present at the gathering but whose names were on the arrest warrants and arrested two of them.

Three other Christian converts in the city of Malayer were arrested by the Revolutionary Guard the next morning. They were detained but released the next day after posting bail of about $1,500.

All that is known about the fate of the other arrested Christians is that two of them had their bail set at 50 million tomans (around $2,500), and are currently seeking to raise the amount to secure their temporary release, Article 18 said.

It is believed that the raids were coordinated with the help of an informant, who had infiltrated the group within the past few months and gained their trust.

Open Doors USA, an international Christian persecution monitoring organization that is present in over 60 countries, including Iran, called for Christians to pray for the believers in Iran who were arrested last week.

Ask God to calm their fears, that they would know that theyre not alone and that the worldwide Church is standing with them. Pray that they would be treated well and for quick release to be back home with their families.

Iran ranks as the 9th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. Converts from Islam in Iran often face persecution from the government and face the threat of arrest for attending an underground church. It is illegal to hold church services or produce Christian literature in Farsi, the main language.

Marziyeh Amirizadeh and Maryam Rostampour, two women who were born into Muslim families who went on to lead house churches and evangelized to Muslims, are examples of converts who have been arrested for their faith.

The women spent a total of 259 days in Irans notorious Evin Prison in 2009. Since departing from Iran in 2010, they have often shared their experiences as converts in Iran.

We know firsthand how difficult it is for those who attend house churches because they risk their lives to attend house churches, Amirizadeh said at an event in February hosted by the Family Research Council. Any time if the government find out, they can raid the gathering, arrest people, torture them and confiscate their property.

Open Doors USA reports that 169 Christians were arrested in Iran during the organizations 2019 reporting period  Nov. 1, 2018, to Oct. 31, 2019.

According to Iran Human Rights Monitor, the Iran Revolutionary Court in southern Iran sentenced last month seven Iranian Christian converts for the alleged crime of spreading propaganda against the state." The converts were sentenced to prison, exile, a financial penalty, and a ban on work and social activities.

In addition to being one of the worlds largest state sponsors of terrorism, Iran is also listed by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern for tolerating and engaging in systemic and severe violations of religious freedom.
Arkansas Baptist leader says report blaming churches for COVID-19 spread 'unfair'

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An Arkansas Baptist leader has said that he believes a state government report on the spread of COVID-19 unfairly singles out and names churches as sources of infection.

Arkansas Baptist State Convention Executive Director J.D. "Sonny" Tucker recently sent out an email of complaint to Governor Asa Hutchinson and other state officials.

At issue was a report on June 26 by the Arkansas Department of Health in which they named dozens of churches, including two Baptist congregations, as having allegedly documented COVID-19 exposure.

The Christian Post reached out to the ABSC for comment, with the Convention directing CP to a statement that Tucker released on Monday regarding the emailed complaint.

Tucker explained that he questioned listing the two churches, calling to question the culpability of the congregations in actually spreading the coronavirus among the population.

Those two churches had at least 22,000 unique individual attendees since February 26, yet the ADH put them on the list for having four people attend (a family of three at one church, one person at the other) who later tested positive for the virus, stated Tucker.

These two churches in particular, as well as a multitude of other Arkansas Baptist Convention churches, have provided an incredible amount of ministry to Arkansans during this pandemic, provided thousands upon thousands of meals, served their communities through Disaster Relief efforts, and served first responders and the medical community.

Tucker felt that singling out churches is unfair and damaging, adding that Hutchinson graciously reached out to both churches and has also stated that he did not intend for the church list to be published.

Our churches are thankful for the protection the Governor has provided churches, and most have been diligent to meet or exceed the guidelines to protect those who visit our churches, continued Tucker.

The two Baptist churches listed by the health department were Cross Church, a multi-site church in northwest Arkansas, and Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro, according to Baptist Press.

There were 44 churches listed by the department, each with only a few COVID-19 cases.

I don't like the fact that the media presented the information like there was a cluster in a particular church or that they had been careless, Hutchinson told the Democrat-Gazette. That is not the case.

Houses of worship have been a source of controversy for states as they gradually reopen after shutting down public gatherings earlier this year to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Last week, a church in Alabama announced that it was returning to online-only services after meeting for in-person worship for a few weeks with social distancing due to a spike in COVID-19 cases among attendees.

First Baptist Church of Tillmans Corner, a Mobile-based congregation with about 1,500 members that had limited in-person worship to around 350, made the announcement on Facebook last Wednesday.

Regardless of what is happening nationally or statewide, there has been a significant increase in cases among FBTC members in the past two weeks. We need to move quickly and decisively to stop the virus before it spreads any further, explained First Baptist Pastor Derek Allen.

We dont want to see any of our faith family members suffer through a COVID-19 infection, and we want to do our part to contain this spike as much as possible.
Black pastors decry Jacksonville's hosting of RNC convention amid COVID-19

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More than 70 black pastors have signed a letter urging Jacksonville, Florida, city officials to reconsider hosting parts of the Republican National Convention in late August amid rising cases of coronavirus and fears of ethnic tensions.

As clergy and community leaders, we urge our city officials to reconsider hosting the Republican National Convention, the letter made public on Monday reads.

Recent times have found municipalities across our country wrangling with lifes most unimaginable phobias. Fears such as ethnic tension, economic uncertainty coupled with the first pandemic in a century have exponentially amplified the level of anxiety in our society. These occurrences affect Jacksonville.

Titled For the Safety of Our Community, the pastors' correspondence was sent to Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Currys office and expressed grave concern that the citys agreement to host the convention signifies that our city is placing profits over people.

The 2020 Republican National Convention will be hosted in Jacksonville as well as Charlotte, North Carolina. The events in Jacksonville will take place on Aug. 25-27 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Curry had touted the estimated $100 million in economic impact the convention could have on the city. But the letter, led by Pastor Arthur Jones Sr. and Ardel Jones of All People International Church, argues that it is disingenuous to estimate that any convention would bring $100 million to Jacksonville when the city is burgeoning more diseased each day.

Over a month ago, Governor Ron DeSantis ordered quarantines for the residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut upon entering Florida, the letter reads.  New York and the surrounding states represented the epicenter of the Coronavirus two months ago. Six weeks later, these tri-states have returned the favor. Upon entering their states, Floridians must be quarantined upon entry due to our ascending numbers of those testing positive for COVID-19.

The pastors argue that their concern is not hyperbole or embellishment. They cite a letter recently sent to Currys office by hundreds of doctors calling the decision to host parts of the convention medically disrespectful to the citizens of this city.

Florida has become one of the hotspots for the coronavirus in recent weeks as it recorded another 7,300-plus coronavirus cases on Tuesday, days after setting single-day highs in confirmed cases over the weekend.

With the alarming, escalating numbers of COVID cases, more businesses are sure to close, be it temporarily or permanently, the pastors letter reads. At this critical juncture of where we are as a city and a nation, dialogue, healing, and decency are essential to reconciliation. Incendiary rhetoric and bellicose speech are toxins that continue to rip away at the fabric of our democracy.

In a statement provided to The Christian Post, RNC spokesperson Mike Reed said that the RNC is committed to holding a safe convention that fully complies with local health regulations in place at the time.

The event is still almost two months away, and we are planning to offer health precautions including but not limited to temperature checks, available PPE, aggressive sanitizing protocols, and available COVID-19 testing, Reed explained. We have a great working relationship with local leadership in Jacksonville and the state of Florida, and we will continue to coordinate with them in the months ahead.

The pastors also voiced concern with the fact that President Donald Trump is slated to accept the Republican Partys 2020 presidential nomination in Jacksonville on Aug. 27, the anniversary of what is known as Ax Handle Saturday.

Ax Handle Saturday was a racially motivated attack in Jacksonville in 1960. The pastors say Ax Handle Saturday was one of the bloodiest days in our citys history. The pastors feel that having the president accept the Republican nomination on the anniversary of the tragic day is unthinkable!

This will set our city back decades, the pastors argued. As leaders of African American congregations along with the entire African American community, we urge our city officials to reconsider our city as the host city of the RNC for the safety of our city.

Critics have accused Trump of stoking racial division. Most recently, Trump seemed to have criticized NASCARs decision to ban the confederate flag. Although he has been accused by some of appealing to a white nationalist base, Trump has in the past condemned white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

RNC Senior Communications Advisor for Black Media Affairs Paris Dennard told CP in a statement that Trump has been a champion for the Black community.

[W]e applaud the achievements his administration has made in the areas of economic development, education, and criminal justice reform, Dennard said. While we cannot erase some of the darkest moments of our nations past, we can denounce them, learn from them, fight for justice and a more perfect union for every American. That is exactly what President Trump has done.

Dennard added that the RNC is excited to showcase the best of Jacksonville and provide a multi-million-dollar boost to their local diverse economy as we nominate Donald J. Trump for the next four years.

Currys office has vowed to respond to the pastors letter similarly to how the office treats others who contact his administration. In a statement to local news outlet WJXT, a spokesperson for the mayors office said that the office could not offer any further comment.

In a memo Monday night, a spokesperson for the Jacksonville host committee, Erin Isaac, explained that everyone attending the convention within the perimeter will be tested and temperature checked each day.

Isaac clarified to CNN that attendees of the convention will be tested for COVID-19. More information about testing and other health measures will be made available closer to the convention, according to a party official.
The fifth annual China Fashion Gala in New York City will be held as a one-hour virtual event to be broadcast globally on Thursday, according to the event's organizers.

Themed "One World in Beauty," this year's gala will honor Chinese American actress Lucy Liu with the Icon Award, and designer Phillip Lim will be honored with the Leadership Award.

Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist Wendy Yu will be honored with the Millennial Leadership Award. The Beauty Award, an inaugural award of the gala this year, will go to American cosmetic giant Estee Lauder, which has over 2,000 retail locations in more than 129 Chinese cities.

Held by China Institute and Yue-Sai Kan China Beauty Charity Fund, the event serves as a platform for Chinese talent emerging onto the international stage, and a forum for recognizing individuals whose contributions have helped position China at the forefront of global fashion and beauty.

Chinese American fashion icon Yue-Sai Kan said the event will "celebrate beauty in its many delightful and wondrous forms to deliver a message of inspiration and hope."

"We believe that it's important that the world know China through its culture -- through fashion, music, dance and language," said Kan.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit the many diverse programs of China Institute, the New York City-based non-profit founded in 1926 that serves as a gateway for Americans to Chinese language, culture, art and business.

"In the current environment, we need to find moments to celebrate and share joy," said James B. Heimowitz, president of China Institute. "China Fashion Gala is an opportunity to do just that through the prism of 'One World in Beauty.'"
Cornerstone Church Atlanta votes to leave SBC: We should've done it sooner, black pastor says

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Pastor John Onwuchekwa, lead pastor of the diverse but predominantly black Cornerstone Church Atlanta, announced Friday that his congregation has voted to leave the Southern Baptist Convention.

On Sunday we voted as a church to leave the SBC. I don't say this for applause (there's nothing particularly commendable about our decision). I only mention it to bring clarity surrounding where (and with whom) we stand in days like this. Frankly, we should've done it sooner, Onwuchekwa wrote in a series of tweets last Friday.

Onwuchekwa, Richard Mullen, Moe Hafeez and rapper Trip Lee planted Cornerstone Church Atlanta after they moved to the citys historic West End neighborhood in 2015. In a 2016 interview with The Christian Post, Lee, who is no longer listed on the churchs website, said the church at the time attracted about 200 predominantly young worshipers weekly who were about 60% black and about 40% white. It is unclear what the current composition of the church is as Onwuchekwa did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CP.

The pastor, who authored Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church, said in his post that sometime in the coming weeks he would elaborate on the reasons for his congregations vote.

An official with the SBCs Executive Committee confirmed Tuesday that the church was planted with the help of the conventions North American Mission Board and referred questions about the vote to them. A response from NAMB is pending.

In Fridays announcement and a number of public statements on social media leading up to it, Onwuchekwa hinted that among the reasons his church is severing ties with the SBC is that he did not want to send the wrong message to particularly other Christian leaders of color that the organization is healthy for them.

Often when you find yourself with people you dearly love and want the best for, you end up staying around longer than you should. That was us. In the coming weeks, I'll be more vocal and comprehensive as to our reasons why. But for the time being, I'll say this much, he continued. Whenever you swim in certain streams, you implicitly hold up a sign that says Come on in, the water's fine. We don't want to hold up that sign. Instead, if I'm going to hold up any signit's going to be one on the outside of the pool that says Enter at Your Own Risk!

Just over a week before Cornerstone Atlanta Churchs decision to leave the SBC, Onwuchekwa, noted that he was suddenly being asked by apparently white church leaders to "talk" about racial reconciliation and "catch" up in the wake of social unrest over racial inequality and police brutality.

Ive often found that making progress in conversations like these are difficult because we start from two different places, Onwuchekwa said in his proposed response to white leaders seeking to talk and catch up.

Id say the best way to enter into conversations is do your homework beforehand. One part is understanding that even the concept of racial reconciliation is often a majority culture concept. Aimed at reconciling the races. While reconciliation is the ultimate goal, so many people treat reconciliation as the pathway as if the solution is as simple as reconciling two people that have an argument, he continued.

While the majority culture is often concerned with racial reconciliation, minorities (who already have a ton of reconciled majority culture relationships) are concerned with something different  namely racial equality and justice. The gospel in action is needed to address these issues. And in order to understand how the gospel needs to be applied, there needs to be understanding as to what exactly is the problem. A proper diagnosis is needed, he insisted. In other words, (as stated above) before any conversation is helpful its important that both parties that come to the table are able to define the problem the same way.

Studies show significant gaps in the way people from different ethnic groups view racism. A 2016 Barna study showed, for example, that while 59% of black U.S. adults disagreed that racism is a problem of the past, only 39% of white adults strongly disagreed. There was also confusion on whether the Church specifically contributed to that problem. And while six in 10 U.S. adults somewhat or strongly disagreed, black Americans were nearly twice as likely as white Americans to view Christian churches as complicit.

Responding to Onwuchekwas announcement, popular Bible teacher and author Beth Moore invoked the words of John Dollard, a psychologist and social scientist best known for his studies on race relations in America, in a statement on Twitter.

Thinking about this quote. Oftentimes, just to go away is one of the most aggressive things that another person can do...it is one of the few ways in which pressure can be put. John Dollard, 1937 Blessings to you & your church in this glorious journey of faith. He awaits, Moore wrote.

Last month, during his SBC presidential address J.D. Greear, endorsed the black lives matter movement as a Gospel issue to members but denounced the Black Lives Matter organization that sparked the movement in 2013.

Greear, who leads The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham area and has long been a champion of intentional diversity in the SBC, explained how the denomination started 175 years ago by founding members who supported slavery. The denomination has, over the years since then, rejected and repented of its racist past to become one of the most ethnically diverse religious groups in the United States.

A lot of people dont know that, but nearly 20% of all Southern Baptist churches are majority non-white and the North America Mission Board tells us that more than 60% of new churches planted recently have been planted and led by people of color, Greear said.

He noted, however, that the organization still struggled with expanding that diversity into its leadership ranks.

Rolland Slade, the black 62-year-old senior pastor of Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon, California, was elected last month as the first black chair of the SBCs Executive Committee.
JK Rowling raises concerns over trans hormones, calls it 'new form of gay conversion therapy'

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Author J.K. Rowling has continued to raise concerns about transgender activism, particularly the promotion of experimental puberty blockers prescribed to minors, for which she was recently accused of attacking people who take medication to aid their mental health.

The bestselling writer voiced her frustrations on Twitter Sunday, where she said she's "ignored fake tweets attributed to me and RTed widely. I've ignored porn tweeted at children on a thread about their art. I've ignored death and rape threats. I'm not going to ignore this," she added, referring to accusations that she described people who take medication for their mental health as "lazy."

The online harassment Rowling has endured in recent days stems from her criticisms of transgender ideology.

"When you lie about what I believe about mental health medication and when you misrepresent the views of a trans woman for whom I feel nothing but admiration and solidarity, you cross a line," Rowling added in the tweet-thread on Tuesday.

"Ive written and spoken about my own mental health challenges, which include OCD, depression and anxiety. I did so recently in my essay TERF Wars. Ive taken anti-depressants in the past and they helped me."

Rowling's 4,000-word essay "TERF Wars" was published on June 10 on her website where she articulated her perspective on the dangers transgenderism poses to women and their rights. TERF stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist and is considered a derogatory slur.

The author further explained in her posts that she believes modern gender-transitioning amounts to a new kind of gay conversion therapy that might cause sterility and the loss of their full sexual function, pointing to a recent BBC documentary scrutinizing the Tavistock clinic in London where whistleblowers spoke about how such transitions were driven by homophobia.

"The long-term health risks of cross-sex hormones have now been tracked over a lengthy period. These side-effects are often minimized or denied by trans activists," Rowling continued, linking to a February 2019 News-Medical.net article about an American Heart Association study on hormone use that revealed an elevated risk of cardiac problems such as heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.

Rowling also highlighted the words of Oxford University professor of medicine Carl Henegan who has called the off-label use of puberty-blocking drugs on minors an "unregulated live experiment on children."

In response to Benjamin Cohen, CEO of the LGBT media outlet Pink News, who dismissed her concerns as uninformed on Sunday, Rowling added Tuesday: "I'm a world expert on being talked over, lied about and defined by misogynists, on being instructed to centre everyone but my own demographic in my activism and on being denied credit for my own achievements by envious men. In other words, I'm a woman."

The renowned British author has faced an intense media backlash in recent weeks due to her comments, including from "Harry Potter" film stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.

Her words about the controversial medical practices come as England's National Health Service updated its guidelines on the medicalization of gender dysphoria, shifting away from having previously claimed that puberty blockers were reversible. The revised NHS guidelines now say that the long-term side effects of the drugs remain unknown and also lists several risk factors.

Meanwhile, an ongoing lawsuit against the Tavistock clinic, in which detransitioner (a formerly trans-identified person) Keira Bell is a claimant, alleges that gender-confused children were being rushed into hormonal and surgical transitions without an adequate explanation of the permanent effects on their bodies.
Pope omits comments in speech about China's security law in Hong Kong; Christians raise concerns

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Pope Francis omitted comments expressing concern over China's national security law for Hong Kong in a recent speech, according to Italian journalist Marco Tosatti, raising alarm for many Christians.

In a post on his website, Tosatti reported that the Holy See handed out a bulletin with prepared remarks by the pontiff that included his prepared speech.

The prepared remarks included comments on the China legislature's recently passed national security law that broadens Beijings direct control over Hong Kong and which many believe erodes the citys human rights and freedoms. Pastors who support the pro-democracy movement have also feared that under the new laws they could be extradited and tried in mainland China.

I have followed with particular attention and not without concern the development of the complex situation in Hong Kong, and I wish to show above all my heartfelt closeness to all the inhabitants of that territory, the pope's original comments stated before they were changed, according to Tosatti.

It added, I hope therefore that all the people involved will know how to face the various problems with a spirit of far-sighted wisdom and authentic dialogue. This requires courage, humility, non-violence, and respect for the dignity and rights of all.

The prepared statement also included a call for societal freedom, and especially religious freedom to be expressed in full and true liberty, as indeed various international documents provide for it.

However, according to Tosatti, when Francis gave his remarks at the window of St. Peters Square, the journalists were informed that the comments pertaining to China and Hong Kong had been omitted from the speech.

What is not known  is what sort of pressure Beijing put on the pope so that he would not speak on world television about the drama of the former British colony, even in the most delicate and peaceful tones possible, wrote Tosatti.

In 2018, the Vatican and Beijing approved a provisional deal in which the Vatican would recognize as legitimate bishops appointed by the communist regime.

Chris Altieri, Rome Bureau Chief with The Catholic Herald, wrote in an analysis that the pope's recent omission has made many question the deal between the Vatican and China.

The critics of the Vaticans deal with China say it puts the Vatican in a supine position: it gives away the store. A more cautious view of the business would have it that the Vaticans objectives are not to usher in a golden age of religious liberty on the mainland, but to stave off full-fledged, Diocletian-level persecution, wrote Altieri.

The unexplained omission makes it harder to defend the deal, and measurably more difficult to defend the Vaticanas this journalist has doneagainst accusations theyve bent the knee to Beijing.

Last month, communist Chinese President Xi Jinping signed the new national security law for Hong Kong, which aims to crack down on subversive activity in the semi-autonomous region.

Many human rights groups, including Amnesty International, oppose the law, saying it undermines the status of Hong Kong and curbs civil liberties.

Joshua Rosenzweig, the head of Amnestys China Team, released a statement in advance of the law being passed, saying that the measures were of great concern.

Hong Kong stands at the cliff-edge of an uncertain and unsettling future, its freedoms threatened by national security legislation that could override the laws currently protecting the citys inhabitants from the worst excesses of state-sponsored repression, stated Rosenzweig.

The Chinese government must abandon plans to pass a national security law for Hong Kong unless it can provide water-tight guarantees that the legislation conforms with human rights in all aspects.
Supreme Court says Catholic schools can dismiss teachers for religious reasons

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The Supreme Court has ruled that two Catholic schools were within their rights to dismiss two teachers on the basis of classifying them as ministers rather than secular professionals.

In a decision released Wednesday morning, the high court ruled 7-2 that two California-based Catholic schools can classify their teachers as ministers and not be held by the standards of state antidiscrimination laws.

Justice Samuel Alito delivered the opinion of the court, being joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh.

Alito cited the 2012 Supreme Court decision Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC, in which the court ruled unanimously that antidiscrimination laws do not apply to religious employment decisions.

The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission, wrote Alito.

Judicial review of the way in which religious schools discharge those responsibilities would undermine the independence of religious institutions in a way that the First Amendment does not tolerate.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored a dissenting opinion, being joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in which she argued that the decision strips thousands of schoolteachers of their legal protections.

 the Courts apparent deference here threatens to make nearly anyone whom the schools might hire ministers unprotected from discrimination in the hiring process, wrote Sotomayor.

Agnes Deirdre Morrissey-Berru sued Our Lady of Guadalupe School of Hermosa Beach under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, claiming age discrimination.

Our Lady of Guadalupe argued that Morrissey-Berru was let go due to poor performance and because of a new rating system implemented that featured the teachers becoming catechists.

Although a district court ruled in favor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a three judge panel of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overturned the ruling in April of last year.

The panel concluded that as a teacher, Morrissey-Berru held a position that was too secular to warrant a ministerial exemption and thus her claim of age discrimination remained valid.

Aside from taking a single course on the history of the Catholic church, Morrissey-Berru did not have any religious credential, training, or ministerial background. Morrissey-Berru also did not hold herself out to the public as a religious leader or minister, concluded the Ninth Circuit panel.

Morrissey-Berru did have significant religious responsibilities as a teacher at the School  However, an employees duties alone are not dispositive under Hosanna-Tabors framework.

In the other case, Kristen Biel sued St. James School of Torrance over not renewing her contract, allegedly because she had cancer, which violated the Americans With Disabilities Act.

St. James School responded Biel was released because of poor performance and that the decision was made before Biel disclosed her cancer diagnosis to the school.

In December 2018, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit ruled 2-1 that Biel was not a minister according to the standards set out by Hosanna-Tabor and thus could sue the school.

There was no religious component to her liberal studies degree or teaching credential. St. James had no religious requirements for her position, concluded the panel majority.

Nor did St. James hold Biel out as a minister by suggesting to its community that she had special expertise in Church doctrine, values, or pedagogy beyond that of any practicing Catholic.

The two cases were consolidated and argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in May, with the religious liberty law firm Becket representing the Christian schools.

Our view was the court really seemed quite broadly in agreement that the schools should win their case and that the 9th Circuit was wrong, Becket Senior Counsel Daniel Blomberg, a member of the legal team representing the schools, told The Christian Post at the time.

I think the thing that the justices were probing was less about this particular case but more about how to draw the line doctrinally in future cases. I think thats one of the things that came through really clear was that the line being drawn by opposing counsel wasnt the right one.
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Its one thing when the leftwing media bashes Donald Trump, seeing him as a menace. But how should we respond when 30 evangelicals write a book titled, The Spiritual Danger of Donald Trump: 30 Evangelical Christians on Justice, Truth, and Moral Integrity?

While working on my new book Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test?, I familiarized myself with some of the most important, bestselling, anti-Trump books, including:

There was even The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President, yet another New York Times Bestseller.

I also devoted a chapter to Christianity Todays call for Trump to be removed from office, written by senior editor Mark Galli, as well as chapters to two other major, Christian calls for Trumps removal, including one from the Bonhoeffer society.

So, I am quite familiar with the arguments against Trumps fitness for office, including concerns raised by evangelical Christians.

For the first time, though, a whole book has been compiled by evangelical Christians raising grave concerns about Trump.

The authors include respected professors, psychologists, psychiatrists, philosophers, historians, songwriters, lawyers, theologians, missions leaders, and pastors, many of them highly respected in their fields. And while some of the authors are known for their left-leaning positions, it would be an error to dismiss them all out of hand.

The book is divided into three parts: 1) On Trump; 2) On Evangelical Support of Trump; and 3) On Theological, Historical, and Constitutional Issues Regarding Trump.

Authors like Prof. Stephen Haynes, a Bonhoeffer expert, argue that the evangelical embrace of Trump is similar to the Nazi embrace of Hitler.

Prof. George Yancey makes clear that he understands evangelical concerns about Trump fighting for our religious freedoms. But he writes, Trump cannot fix what troubles Christians because at best, even if he is competent, he can only offer a political solution. The issue is the culture. What Trump can do is make the situation worse by turning the culture against us further.

Psychologist Chris Thurman argues that Trump is a pathological liar (and more).

Napp Nazzworth, former editor with the Christian Post who holds a Ph.D. in political science, penned a chapter titled, Race-Baiter, Misogynist, and Fool. He argued, What makes Trump particularly dangerous for evangelicals was the manner in which he campaigned for our vote. He promised to be our protector and to make us successful by filling our pews. Trumps promises to evangelicals was similar to Satans offer to Jesus.

Ronald Sider, an influential evangelical author who edited the collection, contributed an article critical of the presidents handling of COVID-19, while other authors critiqued Trumps pride, the reproach he has brought to Christianity, and his immigration policies as compared to Scripture, just to give a sampling.

All of which leads us back to a simple question: Is Donald Trump a spiritual danger?

The simple answer is: 1) only if we put our trust in him rather than in the Lord (see my recent article, Christ, Not Trump, is the Solid Rock on Which We Stand); 2) only if we defend him when he is indefensible; 3) and only if we are known more as Trump supporters than as followers of Jesus.

Otherwise, I do not believe he is a spiritual danger, either to the nation or to the Church.

After all, with the constant concerns we have heard about his alleged instability for the last four years, has he provoked an international war? Did his relocation of our embassy in Israel to Jerusalem spark a massive response in the Muslim world? Did he start a nuclear battle with North Korea?

As for him keeping his promises to evangelicals, has any president in recent history been as loyal to this constituency? Has any president stood up more for our freedoms? Has any president kept the door open to us the way Trump has? Has any president dared to take the public, pro-life stands he has taken, including speaking at the annual March for Life in DC? Has any president appointed as many quality judges to the federal courts?

As for the predicted mental breakdowns, they have not happened yet. (If you want to brand him crazy, then hes as crazy today as the day he was elected.)

As for him asserting dictatorial powers over the nation, he has done no such thing, even during the current pandemic.

To be sure, to the extent we have looked to Trump as some kind of savior or defended him at every turn, we have tarnished our witness. That, to me, is undeniable and something we must correct.

On other hand, evangelical leaders have not sided with Trump in a cult-like, blindly loyal manner. Just think of the backlash he received from leaders like Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham when he pulled our troops out of Syria, thereby endangering our Kurdish allies. The warning from some of these evangelical leaders was quite intense.

Thats why I am fully convinced that, should Trump abandon the values of his evangelical base, we would not stand with him. We are not part of his cult.

To be sure, some of the authors in the Spiritual Danger book are more nuanced in their critiques of Trump, and I do believe theres much we can learn from some of their writings. It would be a mistake to write all of them off or dismiss them entirely. Evangelical support for Trump is a complicated issue, which is the whole reason I wrote Evangelicals at the Crossroads.

But in the end, as long as we keep the cross before the flag and are even-handed in our evaluation of the president, showing our support when deserved and making known our displeasure when merited, he will not be a spiritual danger to us.

Trump certainly could be a spiritual danger, so I suggest we take these warnings seriously. But Trump need not be a spiritual danger at all. To the contrary, he could continue to prove a strong ally, though a totally unlikely one.

And come November, should the choice be between a vote for Donald Trump, Joe Biden, or an unelectable third-party candidate, for many of us, that will be an easy choice to make.
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I find myself asking: Is America still the land of the free and the home of the brave? Or is our nation dangerously adrift on a sea of complacency and immorality? Too often we are content to think only of our families and ourselves, and ignore the world around us. We pay little attention to the continual changes taking place in governmental policies.

Like the frog in lukewarm water  unaware that the water is boiling until it is too late for him to leap  we, too, may be in more danger than we realize. When more than 3,000 babies are aborted every day, the Bible and the Ten Commandments are removed from the classroom, and prayer in the school is forbidden, it is time to assess where we are as a nation. As mobs topple the statues of Founding Fathers, we must not forget what those great men advocated: faith and liberty.

Psalm 33:12 states: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.

We should ask ourselves whether the Lord is still Americas God  or, like the children of Israel, are we now pursuing other gods? Our Founding Fathers based Americas important documents such as the Declaration of Independence on Christianity and the Bible, but because of indifference, ignorance, and neglect of biblical principles, we are in danger of losing our precious freedoms. Thankfully, it is still possible to reclaim what weve already lost if Gods people will awake and rise up.

America, in her generosity and kindness, has always opened her doors to immigrants like me. I am most thankful for that. As a young man in Egypt, I read everything I could about America, its founding, and its values knowing that I would be punished if an informant discovered me. Let me assure you that many modern-day immigrants want the America envisioned by her Founding Fathers.

We want the America of which George Washington said, It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.

We want the America of which Abraham Lincoln said, The only assurance of our nations safety is to lay our foundation in morality and religion.

We want the America of which the Supreme Court in 1844 said, The Bible, and especially the New Testament [should] be read and taught as divine revelation in the [schools, otherwise] ... where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly or so perfectly as from the New Testament?

We want the America of which Daniel Webster said, The principles of all genuine liberty and of wise laws and administrations, are to be drawn from the Bible and sustained by its authority. The man, therefore, who weakens or destroys the divine authority of that book may be an accessory to all of the public disorders which society is doomed to suffer.

Websters words are all too prophetic. And many immigrants, myself included, want to see a return to the America Websters words described  an America that looks to the Bible for guidance and direction. Today, far from heeding the words of earlier courts, our present-day courts have been busily chipping away at the Christian foundation of our nation.

The education bureaucracy is busy rewriting American history, too. Growing up in Egypt, I had a better grasp of American history and the Christian basis for its foundation than most students in American schools. Today, American children learn little about actual American history because radical grievance groups have influenced whats put in our childrens history textbooks.

For a moment, lets look back at history, at what we celebrate today. On July 4, 1776, one of the most important documents in the history of the United States was signed. This document signified the birth of this great nation, which, under God, was destined for world leadership. Although this document was called the Declaration of Independence, it was really a Declaration of Dependence. While Americas forefathers sought independence from the British crown, they signed a declaration of dependence on Almighty God. Further, while they desired freedom from foreign domination, they chose to surrender to the Creator of the universe.

Their intentions are clearly stated in the closing words of the Declaration of Independence: With firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

To defend our land of the free, we too must be brave and fearless, joyfully advocate the return to our founding values and dependence on God.
San Francisco students and teachers who return to school campuses next month will be required to wear masks. Teachers and all staff will also be using face coverings.

City health officials released guidelines for on-site learning at public, independent and parochial schools Wednesday and the guidance emphasizes the use of masks. It also recommends physical distancing, maximizing outdoor space, limiting non-essential staff and visitors, frequent hand-washing, and regular cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

If everyone does their part by wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing and washing their hands, that will contribute to our progress and to our hope that schools can reopen with modifications, said Dr. Grant Colfax, the city's director of health.

The statement from the city also said learning on site at school campuses will only be a part of the next academic year if the coronavirus pandemic is contained and conditions allow.

I know that many parents, caregivers and kids cant wait to get back to the routine and the supportive learning environment of our schools, but reopening depends on us and how successfully we are able to control the spread of COVID-19, Mayor London Breed said in a statement. The next several weeks are critical. We all need to follow the requirements to stay at least six feet apart, cover our faces when we go out and practice good hygiene so that teachers and students can return to class.

Schools will work closely with DPH on training staff and students on safety practices. When students or staff test positive at a school, DPH will help determine if their cohort needs to be quarantined or if the classroom or school should temporarily close.

San Francisco Unified has yet to release an official plan for the fall, but the San Francisco Chronicle reports it's unlikely to be prepared for all students to return to classrooms full-time on the first day of school on Aug. 17.

Other districts around the Bay Area have shared details on their reopening plans and they reveal a patchwork of approaches, with some districts such as Brentwood Union and Oakley Union opening with distance learning only and others such as Berkeley and San Jose Unified leaning toward hybrid models.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

 San Francisco pushes back reopening timeline for indoor dining, outdoor bars

 Beachside Coffee Bar & Kitchen permanently closes in the Outer Sunset

 First brewery in Jack London Square closes permanently

 Tom Hanks delivers a blunt message about COVID-19 on 'Today'

Levi's to cut 700 office jobs due to virus-related slump

Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
Thirteen-year-old Xochitl Gomez strapped on a mask and held a "Latino 4 Black Lives Matter" sign as she joined hundreds of other protesters (and her mom) in Los Angeles's Echo Park on May 31.

"No justice, no peace!" she chanted at another march in West Hollywood a few days later. Fictional tween activist Dawn Schafer, whom Gomez plays in Netflix's reboot of "The Baby-Sitters Club," would be proud.

Shay Rudolph, a white 14-year-old who plays cosmopolitan Stacey McGill, changed the link in her Instagram bio to direct her followers to a Black Lives Matter resource site. "Although posting black screens may feel like solidarity and activism, it is not enough," she posted on Blackout Tuesday. "BLACK! LIVES!! MATTER!!!"

And just last week in Vancouver, Canada, Malia Baker, who portrays the shy Mary Anne Spier, gave a rally speech urging listeners to take action. "I hope you're all shaking in anger with me because I am tired and angry," the 13-year-old said. "I am an African-born Canadian. I am black youth. I have experienced racism that comes from unawareness and targeted racism, as well. We need change."

Since the growing movement to address racism and police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death, the fresh-faced stars of "The Baby-Sitters Club," who are all 13 or 14 years old, have spoken out more than some who are double or even quadruple their age, largely pivoting their social media content from promoting their breakout roles to independently rallying for social justice. And for all of its feel-good wholesomeness and comforting nostalgia, the Netflix family dramedy, which began streaming July 3, echoes the actors' calls for a more equitable world.

"The actresses who were chosen to portray the characters are very strong, both personally and in the way they come through in the show," book author and series producer Ann M. Martin told The Washington Post in April, ahead of the series' originally planned Mother's Day launch. "I think it's great and really necessary."

Martin's mega-popular franchise about a group of middle school friends who form a neighborhood babysitting club in their idyllic hometown of Stoneybrook, Conn., is already a multigenerational phenomenon. Sensing an appetite for babysitting-related content from its young readers, Scholastic published the first "Baby-Sitters Club" book, "Kristy's Great Idea," in 1986. Over the next decade and a half, 212 more tomes aimed at 8- to 12-year-olds followed, as did TV and film adaptations, graphic novels, spinoff series, computer games and dolls. Selling more than 180 million copies, Martin's depiction of young female entrepreneurs, as well as diverse leads such as artsy Japanese American Claudia Kishi and black ballerina Jessi Ramsey (she and fellow junior officer Mallory Pike arrive later in both the books and Netflix series), resonated with readers searching for representation.

For this reboot, the producers were adamant about pushing things further. More than 1,000 young actresses auditioned for the five main roles across the United States and Canada. While both Gomez and Baker's characters were illustrated as white on the original book covers and portrayed by white actors in the short-lived 1990 HBO TV series and 1995 movie - Dawn, the blond, blue-eyed California transplant; Mary Anne, the bookish brunette - that quickly changed.

"We wanted a Latina Dawn because she's supposed to be the quintessential California girl," said showrunner Rachel Shukert, who is also a producer on the Netflix series "GLOW." "To me, Xochitl, who plays Dawn, is the quintessential California girl. When we first met her, we heard this clinking in her jacket pocket, and she was like, 'Oh, those are my crystals.' And then she and her mom drove around Culver City looking for a vegan ice cream place to go to after her audition."

Botswana-born, Canada-raised Baker caught Shukert's eye when she was the only girl to audition for Mary Anne wearing glasses, adding an extra layer to the character. And for Baker, who discovered a box of her mom's old BSC books and connected with Mary Anne even before auditioning, the chance for viewers to see the character as a biracial black girl is extra special.

"Growing up, I saw a lot of blond characters on screen, and as far as we've come (with black representation), we have a long way to go," Baker said. "Even though my skin obviously isn't as dark as some kids out there, I hope that they can see their lives represented."

Meanwhile, an open casting call took place to find the perfect Claudia. That role ultimately went to Japanese Canadian actress Momona Tamada, who also played young Lara Jean in flashbacks in "To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You." Tamada recalled reading about Claudia growing up and "always looking up to her," as did executive producer Naia Cucukov, who praised the character for being one of the first Asian American role models "who didn't fit the traditional mold being shown to us in the media."

"Claudia was aspirational - effortlessly cool, artistic, original. She was the first protagonist who I can recall really wanting to emulate," Cucukov said. "And for many of us who grew up in immigrant households, her interactions with her live-in grandmother, Mimi, really struck a chord. None of my friends understood why my grandmother lived with me or the bond we shared, so having a touchstone to tell me that, while my experience might seem different, it was still recognized, was really impactful."

On the show, decisions like having everyone take off their shoes upon entering the Kishi house and centering a moving story line involving Japanese American history acknowledge cultural differences rather than attempt to homogenize the girls' life experiences. "Representation matters," Cucukov said. "It mattered to little me in 1995, and it matters to kids today."

That representation extends beyond casting. Behind the camera, the team staffed the show with female directors and writers from a variety of backgrounds. Eight out of 10 episodes are directed by women, and all 10 episodes are written or co-written by women, including black, Latina and Asian creatives.

"It was an incredibly conscious choice," said Cucukov, who is also the executive vice president of development and production at Walden Media. "I cannot stress enough how vital it is to have support and representation in the rooms where decisions are made. We all held each other accountable and sometimes had tough conversations, but it was remarkable to be part of such a strong, creative group of women, and I think that spirit carries into our girls and their values, both on and off the screen."

While the half-hour episodes correspond with early books in the series and millennial fans of the originals will delight in the familiarity - Claudia deals with phantom phone calls, Kristy's mom (Alicia Silverstone) remarries, the girls have a super special adventure at summer camp - small tweaks have been seamlessly made throughout to reflect the world today.

Like when Mary Anne babysits a trans girl and demands ignorant adults call the child by her proper pronouns. Or how the "witch" who lives next door to Kristy's stepdad is now a multidimensional "spiritual practitioner." Another neighborhood family has two dads. And when a young boy mentions he has a crush on another boy, no one bats an eye.

"I really wanted to have a group of characters not only in the club, but in the wider community of Stoneybrook, reflect communities the way they are today," said Martin, who consulted on the series and provided feedback on scripts, "which is a lot more diverse than they were 30 or 35 years ago."

Still, Martin's books were fundamentally progressive. Her feminist heroines focused on their booming business while also dealing with issues such as dead or divorced parents, diabetes and racism. And Martin's favorite books in the series are the ones where she was able to bring attention to topics such as autism in "Kristy and the Secret of Susan" and the deaf community in "Jessi's Secret Language."

One outdated element did make it into the reboot: Claudia's landline. While the girls all have cellphones on the show, Shukert cleverly found a way to make sure the iconic landline in Claudia's bedroom is still used when parents call to book a sitter during the club's thrice weekly meetings. But these actors are part of a new generation, one who learned to navigate FaceTime before they hit double digits and whose previous encounters with corded phones happened only in jest.

"I had this one friend who had a play kitchen with a play landline, and we would always pretend to call our other friends on it," said Sophie Grace, who plays club president Kristy Thomas. "So, when I heard that there was gonna be a landline on the show I was like, 'I am familiar with this!' "

The hope is that the young cast will eventually get to reunite on the show's Vancouver set for a second season. Shukert and Martin would both love to see the series get renewed, provided they can shoot before the girls have aged out of their roles. (Despite being approached numerous times to write a grown-up "Baby-Sitters Club" sequel, Martin believes fans don't really want to see her beloved characters move beyond middle school.)

For all of the excitement around this new "Baby-Sitters Club" iteration, Martin lives a quiet life in upstate New York, where she fosters rescue kittens and sews face masks for those in need. One of the 64-year-old's greatest joys comes from seeing what happened to the kids who read her books in their formative years. Many, she said, became writers, journalists or other creatives - among them, most of the team behind the Netflix show. In fact, Shukert believes "The Baby-Sitters Club" laid the foundation for her success.

"There are a lot of reluctant heroines in teen literature, like, 'I just wanted to be a normal girl, but I was chosen to save the world!' " Shukert said. "The Baby-Sitters Club girls chose this mission for themselves. It felt like a real prototype for being an ambitious girl who wanted to have a big career later in your life."

Cucukov added that Martin was in her 30s "at the time she started writing the books, and we are around that age now making the show. It feels really powerful to realize that these books had such an impact on who I am today and that we might have a similar impact on a new generation of kids."
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government firmly rejected recent public remarks made by the Consul General of the United States of America to Hong Kong on The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR.

Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, joined by Secretary for Security of the HKSAR government John Lee Ka-chiu, met with the U.S. consul-general Hanscom Smith on Monday to register the HKSAR government's grave concern over the matter.

The spokesman said, "National security is a matter within the purview of the central authorities. In a unitary or federal state, legislation on national security is invariably carried out by the central authorities rather than local governments.

"As the highest organ of state power in China, the National People's Congress has the constitutional power and the duty to enact national security legislation for the HKSAR. The national law enacted has taken into account Hong Kong's actual situation."

The spokesman stressed that the implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle in the HKSAR is entirely an internal matter of China. No other state or legislature has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, in such internal affairs.

"The national security law seeks to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for four types of acts and activities that seriously endanger national security," said the spokesman.

It targets an extremely small minority of people without adversely affecting the basic rights and freedoms legitimately enjoyed by Hong Kong people, the spokesman added.

It is an important step towards improving the "one country, two systems" institutional system and represents an essential and timely decision for restoring stability in Hong Kong, said the spokesman, adding that the law will not affect the high degree of autonomy, judicial independence and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Social unrest, the failure of the rule of law and a lack of protection for corporate assets and personal safety are genuine factors that would undermine investors' confidence, the spokesman noted.

"As a matter of fact, these were the factors that led to the fall of Hong Kong's international rankings in the past year. The U.S. has its own national security legislation, but we have never heard that such legislation affected the economic development and business environment of the U.S."

The national security law can promptly reverse the chaotic situation of the past year and restore stability in Hong Kong, and it thereby would improve Hong Kong's business and investment environment, said the spokesman.

"We strongly believe that only with national security safeguarded, can Hong Kong enjoy long-term stability and security," said the spokesman.

The spokesman said the legislation will be conducive to Hong Kong continuously improving its strengths, attracting overseas talents and strengthening its status as an international financial center as well as a shipping and trading hub, in addition to giving impetus to promoting the development of innovation and technology.

"Our much-valued institutional strengths and core competitiveness will also remain intact. They include the rule of law and judicial independence, open and flexible markets, a simple and low tax regime, an efficient public sector and a favorable business environment with a level playing field."
New York

Since contracting COVID-19 in March, Tom Hanks has been, by most measures, busy. He and his wife, Rita Wilson, flew home after recuperating in Australia, where he had been shooting Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Presley film. He hosted a from-home episode of "Saturday Night Live," an already distant enough memory that it takes a beat for him to remember it. And he saw his new World War II naval drama "Greyhound" steered from theatrical release by Sony Pictures to Apple TV+  the streaming service's biggest movie yet.

But he's mostly been taking it day by day.

"There's sort of an ongoing physiological maintenance for your brain and for your body that we've been following through," Hanks said, speaking by video conference from his home in California. "What can you do but try to bind up the hay in neat little bundles? That's what we've been doing. Just going into the barn with the baling machine, saying, 'Well, we got all this hay. Let's at least stack it up and get it ready for the next day."

For many, Hanks' contraction of COVID-19 was the first loud alarm bell that went off in the early days of the pandemic. If "America's Dad" could get it, so could anyone. The decision to go public with their diagnoses was twofold, Hanks said. He didn't want any rumors about why the production was shut down. And if he was going to serve as an overdue public service announcement, so be it.

"Why hide from the facts?" he said. "These were the facts."

The ordeal, one experienced with varying severity and symptoms between Hanks and Wilson, gave him a perspective on differing national responses to the coronavirus. The comparison with Australia, Hanks grants, isn't a favorable one for the United States. But he said, there's no need for "another dump truck to unload all the things that have gone wrong" in the U.S.

"Here we are. And let's just all do our part, eh?" Hanks said. "Can we not all just wear a mask and social distance and wash our hands? It sounds pretty simple to me, and if you have a problem with that, I certainly wouldn't trust you with a driver's license. Chances are you'll drive as fast as you want to, never use your turn signal and aim for pedestrians."

Before the pandemic, "Greyhound" was going to hit theaters in early June, smack in between "Wonder Woman 1984" and "Top Gun 2." "We were going to fight like the scrappy runt of a litter in order to get somebody to pay attention to us," Hanks said, chuckling.

Now, "Greyhound" will head straight into homes as a marquee event with little competition of similar scale or star power. A Tom Hanks-led, special effects-laden World War II movie is a weight class above most straight-to-streaming options in this strange summer movie season. Disney+ has "Hamilton," but Apple TV+ has Hanks.

The film, made for about $40 million and acquired by Apple for a reported $70 million, is a taut 88-minute naval drama about a lesser-seen theater of World War II, the Battle of the Atlantic. Hanks' character is a humble captain for the first time shepherding a convoy of boats across the Atlantic, guarding them from attacking German U-boats while traversing the "black pit"  the middle ocean territory bereft of air support. With heavy waves, faint sonar blips and evasive maneuvers, the film takes on almost mythical qualities.

"When everything went kablooey, we began to imagine: 'Well, we have this movie about the stasis of characters in the middle of something of which they have no idea how long it's going to last,'" Hanks said. "We didn't expect a worldwide pandemic to mirror the theme and the action of the movie."

"This is just about yesterday, today and tomorrow," Hanks said. "Those three days are pretty much all humanity has."

"Greyhound" has long been a pet project for the 63-year-old actor. He wrote the script, adapted from C. S. Forester's 1955 novel "The Good Shepherd," a book first given to him by his late friend and "Sleepless in Seattle" director Nora Ephron.

"It just stuck with him," said Gary Goetzman, Hanks' producing partner and co-founder of their company, Playtone. "As happens with him, he'll ruminate about a certain idea, it goes in his blender, and one day he just put a script on my desk and very much wanted to make it."

Hanks had approached others to write it and met with other filmmakers. But they tended to envision a grander version of the film.

"I said, 'I love you so much but that's not the point of what we're trying to do,'" Hanks said. "We're trying to condense this. We're trying to get as much coffee in the can."

Instead, he found a director in Aaron Schneider, a veteran cinematographer who last helmed 2010's "Get Low," with Robert Duvall.

"Tom always called it 'the perfect little 90-minute movie,'" Schneider said. "From the beginning, his point of entry was about maintaining this almost hyper-subjective point of view in terms of this captain's experience. You would throw the audience into his world, sticking to over his shoulder."

Hanks, of course, has been in similar worlds before. He's been a captain four times previously: "Saving Private Ryan," "Apollo 13," "Sully" and  his last time manning the bridge  "Captain Phillips." A voracious reader of history, he's returned frequently to World War II. With Steven Spielberg, Hanks is developing for Apple a third miniseries, following "The Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific."

For Hanks, whose father served in the Navy, his attachment to the era goes deeper than DNA. It's about connecting to the wartime mentality of survival and sacrifice.

"I'm asked by every journalist, 'Why do you keep going back to World War II?'" said Hanks, donning a vaguely European accent. "The answer is because I come back to that position of the stress upon a human being's psyche. It doesn't have to be a captain, necessarily, on board a destroyer in the middle of the North Atlantic. It can be on an 8-year-old kid or a 24-year-old woman or even a 54-year-old man back in the United States wondering, 'Are we going to live or die? Are we going to be free or not? How long is it going to go on?' To me, that's the human condition in every circumstance, even in today in 2020."

The film had just weeks of post-production remaining when Hollywood shut down. During that time, a modern-day Navy captain, Capt. Brett Cozier, was removed from command on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt after pleading for permission to take crew members ashore during a COVID-19 outbreak on the ship. In Cozier, who like Hanks later tested positive for the virus, Hanks saw the kind of character he's often drawn to playing.

"I thought," said Hanks, "that guy's kind of badass."
The city of Midland will start to take a more comprehensive look at its senior center facilities to provide a better experience in the long term.

Community Services Director Tina Jauz told the Reporter-Telegram the plan is to develop a senior services master plan to give an idea of what that (senior programming) looks like moving forward.

Jauz said the plan will take less than a year to create and those things it addresses include current facilities and programs. Last year, the Midland City Council talked about putting money into new senior facilities. Jauz said the master plan will give them an idea what is needed.

Currently, the city of Midland has two senior centers: Midland Senior Citizens Center, 3303 W. Illinois Ave., and Southeast Senior Center, 1803 E. Indiana Ave.

The city works with Senior Life Midland, which currently operates the facilities. Jauz said that the nonprofits board came to a decision to focus on nutrition and not programming. Senior Lifes contract with the city runs out at the end of October, and Senior Life expressed interest in continuing to partner with the city on nutritional needs associated with the centers, Jauz said.

She said the current contract with Senior Life Midland is $600,000  an increase from $400,000 one year ago. The money saved will be put into resources that will allow the city to hit the ground when they take over operations in November. During a fiscal 2021 budget workshop on Tuesday, the city heard about plans to hire a superintendent and two program specialists for the new Senior Services division. The proposed budget also includes money to replace exterior LED lighting and exterior ceiling tiles, paint the Southeast Senior Center and install outdoor benches.

The last time the citys Recreational division oversaw Senior Services was 1988, according to Jauz.

The staff is excited, Jauz said. We have a staff member with experience with senior recreational activities in other cities.

Jauz said the citys senior centers arent open right now because of the coronavirus pandemic. She said should the council approve moving forward with a consultant and the creation of a master plan, then a survey will be used to obtain feedback. Jauz said Senior Life is currently doing grab and go meals, to help meet the nutritional needs of Midlands older population, and the city will distribute the survey when residents pick up meals.
Of all the interesting insects on our planet - and we have about 1.7 million known species to choose from - the bombardier beetle may be the most interesting. It deters would-be attackers, such as ants, frogs and lizards, by shooting hot, toxic chemicals from its body.

And it does it "without killing or even burning itself; it's amazing," says Athula Attygalle.

Attygalle wanted to figure out how they do this. He's an analytical chemist at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Attygalle teamed up with other researchers, including Kipling Will, a biologist at the University of California at Berkeley.

Will collected 18 of the beetles. He fed and injected them with chemicals similar to the ones the beetles use to protect themselves. The chemicals are strong enough to irritate human skin and kill ants, but they didn't bother the beetles at all.

Attygalle analyzed the beetles' spray using a piece of equipment called a mass spectrometer.

The scientists were able to trace the route the chemicals take through the beetles' bodies. The chemicals collect in a reservoir, where they are stored until they are needed.

That happens when the beetles are threatened - when they've been swallowed by a frog, for example. Valves open and the chemicals are pushed into a "reaction chamber." There, they are mixed with enzymes. This heats them to a boiling 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). It also converts the chemicals into their final, sometimes-deadly product.

Then, "like detonating a bomb," Attygalle says, the beetles shoot the spray from their backsides. The spray is so pungent and irritating, the frog spits the beetle out.

The scientists also discovered that how the spray is made is different than researchers once believed. Once it was thought that the two compounds in the spray were made from the same starting material. Scientists now say they're made from two substances.

Attygalle says bombardier beetles aren't the only ones that use these chemicals to protect themselves. Other beetles, spiders and some millipedes do, too. But bombardier beetles are the only ones that "heat it up and spray it," Attygalle says. His team's research shows that these different organisms "have independently come up with these mechanisms, which is biologically interesting."

Many kinds of chemicals are important throughout the insect population. In fact, "nearly all insects are chemistry-controlled," Attygalle says. "It's why they have been so successful at surviving evolutionary pressures."

For example, when monarch butterflies mate, the males transfer a toxic chemical to the females. This chemical protects their eggs from being eaten by predators.

Attygalle says his favorite part of insect-chemical research is having his theories proved right.

He and collaborators such as Will "start with stories, which need a lot of imagination - and often your imagination is wrong," he says. "You wouldn't believe how many times we get negative results." But when it all pans out after months of trying, "all the bells are ringing - it worked! That is the biggest fascination and joy."
For more than a month, the news has been filled with stories about protesters seeking racial justice and equality. Demonstrators, many carrying signs that say "Black Lives Matter," have been marching in cities across the nation.

Similar demonstrations are taking place in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Racial injustice binds many countries. In ours, its roots stretch back to pre-colonial times.

"Protest is patriotic and has been a part of our nation since the beginning," Lonnie Bunch, who heads the Smithsonian Institution, told KidsPost.

Indeed, anger among 18th-century colonists about their treatment by Great Britain led to the American Revolution. Although founded on the idea that "all men are created equal," the United States has struggled to achieve that reality, including ending the enslavement of black people, one of the key issues that led to the Civil War. A century later, the civil rights movement for African Americans led to new laws calling for equal rights in education, housing and voting.

Protests played a big role.

Rosa Parks's refusal in 1955 to give up her bus seat to a white person in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked black people's year-long refusal to ride the city's buses. It was the nation's first major demonstration against racial segregation. One of its leaders was a young pastor named Martin Luther King Junior. The boycott ended after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregated busing was illegal.

In 1960, four black college students quietly sat down at the "whites-only" lunch counter at Woolworth's in Greensboro, North Carolina. They weren't served, but they didn't budge. The next day they returned with more students. Soon they numbered in the hundreds, and sit-in protests sprang up in a dozen states. A few months later, Woolworth's led the way in opening its lunch counter to everyone.

The Smithsonian's Bunch, who as a boy was refused service at a similar dining spot, has called these sit-ins "one of the most important moments in the 20th century." A section of the Greensboro lunch counter is displayed at the Smithsonian.

In August 1963, thousands of people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. That's where King give his powerful "I Have a Dream" speech. The march pressured the federal government to move forward on historic civil rights bills.

Not all protests were peaceful. At a 1965 voting rights march in Alabama, state troopers and others attacked marchers with clubs, tear gas and snarling dogs in what became known as "Bloody Sunday." Two weeks later, federal troops protected the marchers on their 54-mile walk to the state capital. Their protest led to the landmark Voting Rights Act.

Today, new activists carry the torch for racial justice. Bunch said he is "hopeful, seeing millions of young people all over the world seizing the moment." Earlier civil rights protesters "made the world better," he said, "and I have no doubt that the new generation is doing the same."

- - -

U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT KEY DATES (1948 to 1968)

July 1948: President Harry Truman ends racial segregation in the military.

May 1954: Supreme Court outlaws segregation in public schools.

December 1955: Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama.

January 1957: Southern Christian Leadership Conference is formed, with the aim of ending legalized segregation and securing voting rights for black people.

February 1960: Black students hold sit-in at "whites-only" lunch counter in North Carolina.

September 1962: Troops stop rioting at University of Mississippi as James Meredith becomes first black person to enroll.

August 1963: Thousands rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The Reverend Martin Luther King Junior delivers "I Have a Dream" speech.

September 1963: Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, kills four black girls and injures at least 14 people. Two black teenage boys are killed in rioting that follows.

July 1964: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 bans discrimination in the workplace and public places and gives added support to school integration and voting rights.

March 1965: Voter registration march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, subjected to violence on "Bloody Sunday."

August 1965: The Voting Rights Act of 1965 curbs the ability of states and cities to stop people from voting. The act is expanded several times before Supreme Court cuts it back in 2013.

April 1968: King is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.

April 1968: The Civil Rights Act of 1968 makes hate crimes a federal offense, protects Native Americans' civil rights and prohibits housing discrimination.

- - -

LEARN MORE

To download a Civil Rights Activity Book for kids, ask an adult to sign on to splcenter.org/sites/default/files/splc_civil_rights_activity_book_online.pdf.
BIG RAPIDS  Cars packed the Trinity Fellowship parking lot Wednesday as health officials and the Michigan National Guard administered free COVID-19 testing to Mecosta County residents.

The District Health Department No. 10 will again offer free testing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday at the same location.

"We've been working with the state police and National Guard to offer pop-up testing centers," DHD No. 10 Health Officer Kevin Hughes told the Pioneer. "These are opportunities for people who are maybe asymptomatic or maybe are just interested in finding out if they are positive for COVID."

Testing done at the pop-up location was through nasopharyngeal swabs and was only to determine the current coronavirus status of those being tested.

Related: Health officials can test up to 3,000 for COVID-19

"It's not an antibody test, it's simply a diagnostic test, so it will tell you as of the day you're tested whether you're positive or negative," Hughes said.

Having previously offered pop-up testing in White Cloud, Manistee and Cadillac, Hughes said about 200-700 people showed up to be tested between the two days offered at each location. He anticipated the same for Big Rapids.

Due to the large number of people being tested, Hughes said it is possible to see a slight surge in confirmed coronavirus cases.

"The more you test, the more you're going to find positive cases," Hughes said.

However, he said by wearing masks, social distancing and following proper hygiene procedures, individuals can continue to keep coronavirus numbers low.

According to Hughes, those being tested can expect to see results within 5-7 days, but positive cases can be determined much quicker. Individuals will only receive a call from DHD No. 10 if they test positive.

"No news is good news in this case," Hughes said.

Trinity Fellowship EFC Parking Lot is located at 15085 220th Avenue in Big Rapids.

In related news, Mecosta and Lake counties both reported another day without any new coronavirus cases. Mecosta County's total remains at 29.

However, for the third consecutive day, Osceola County added to its list. On Wednesday, the Central Michigan Department Health Department confirmed one new case in Osceola County putting its new total to 36.

The DHD No. 10 serves residents in Mecosta, Crawford, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Newaygo, Oceana and Wexford counties.

This is Wednesdays breakdown of coronavirus numbers in the health departments jurisdiction:

Cumulative total:

 828 positive COVID-19 cases in the DHD No. 10s jurisdiction.

 76 positive cases in Crawford County

 28 positive cases in Kalkaska County

 10 positive cases in Lake County

 22 positive cases in Manistee County

 63 positive cases in Mason County

 24 positive cases in Missaukee County

 180 positive cases in Newaygo County

 353 positive cases in Oceana County

 43 positive cases in Wexford County

Deaths:

 18 deaths from COVID-19 in the DHD No. 10s jurisdiction. Deaths are included in the positive cases listed above.

 5 deaths in Crawford County

 2 deaths in Kalkaska County

 1 death in Missaukee County

 4 deaths in Oceana County

 4 deaths in Wexford County

Recoveries:

 369 recoveries from from COVID-19 in the DHD No. 10s jurisdiction (based on whether individuals are still alive 30 days past the confirmed date).

 54 recoveries in Crawford County

 17 recoveries in Kalkaska County

 6 recoveries in Lake County

 11 recoveries in Manistee County

 32 recoveries in Mason County

 19 recoveries in Mecosta County

 15 recoveries in Missaukee County

 116 recoveries in Newaygo County

 90 recoveries in Oceana County

 9 recoveries in Wexford County

As of Wednesday, there are 67,237 confirmed cases and 6,015 confirmed deaths in Michigan.
LUDINGTON  District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) is offering free drive-through community testing for COVID-19 next week.

The event will be held from 2-7 p.m. on July 15 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16, at Ludington High School parking lot, located at 706 E. Tinkham Ave. in Ludington in collaboration with the National Guard, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Local Law Enforcement and Emergency Management and Ludington Area School District.

Anyone age 18 or older can be tested for COVID-19. A picture ID is required.

DHD #10 is not accepting appointments; testing will be done on a first come, first served basis.

Testing is open to all surrounding counties and is not limited to symptomatic individuals.

Antibody testing is not offered; testing is to determine current COVID-19 status.

Testing is nasopharyngeal swab (long cotton-tipped swab inserted in nose).

Test results will take seven to nine days. Those to participate will receive instructions for logging in to BioReference Laboratories Patient Portal to obtain results. Those who are tested will only be contacted by DHD#10 if results are positive for COVID-19.

In addition to COVID-19 testing, DHD#10 is offering free Hepatitis A vaccines to interested community members during the COVID-19 testing clinic.

For questions, email info@dhd10.org or call (231) 305-8659.

There are also other options for getting tested for COVID-19. Check out the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website to find no-cost COVID-19 testing sites across the state.
Albany

Albany County officials issued a plea to restaurant owners and out-of-state travelers Tuesday, asking that they take the recommended health and safety precautions to prevent coronavirus spread after recent clusters of cases tied to these groups were detected in the Capital Region.

County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen said the county is receiving complaints about people wearing masks incorrectly inside restaurants and about people who have traveled out of state not following New York's 14-day quarantine rule once they return.

"If you are wearing a mask, it is necessary to cover your nose and your mouth," she said. "To have your nose hanging out is not wearing a mask. To have it under your chin is not wearing a mask. I have observed people wearing masks like this at a restaurant myself within the last week and it's very important for restaurant owners and managers to take responsibility and ensure that they are appropriately monitoring their staff in and out of kitchen to make sure that they are wearing their masks appropriately."

Whalen said these complaints were not directed specifically at the two restaurants  Delmonico's Italian Steakhouse on Central Avenue and Philly's Bar and Lounge in Latham  that were forced to shut down last week after cases were detected among employees but rather to restaurants in general.

On Friday, the county Health Department reported the restaurants had three cases each among staff. The department ordered them closed for two weeks so that the state Health Department could come in and conduct on-site testing for the remaining employees.

On Tuesday, County Executive Daniel McCoy said that 63 Delmonico's employees have since been tested and five more came back positive, making eight confirmed cases at the restaurant. At Philly Bar, 35 employees were tested and four came back positive for seven confirmed cases overall.

"Both restaurant owners have been very compliant," Whalen said. "From the get-go, they have been responsive to doing whatever is necessary to protect both their staff and members of the public. So they are doing the right thing. They have indicated that they will do whatever is necessary."

Whalen said the county has also been fielding complaints about people who may have traveled to one of the states for which New York has issued a travel advisory. The advisory requires anyone returning to New York from states with significant coronavirus spread to quarantine for 14 days immediately upon their return.

Whalen said the county is specifically concerned about potential recent travelers to Atlanta, where the mayor, Keisha Lance-Bottoms, recently tested positive despite feeling no symptoms.

"We know Albany has lots of ties to Atlanta," Whalen said. "We have heard that there were many residents of Albany County that may have been in that vicinity for the Fourth of July. Please ensure that you get tested if you are asymptomatic."

States on New York's quarantine list include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

County officials are particularly concerned about young people who may be spreading the disease, Whalen said. Those between the ages of 20 and 29 now have the most confirmed cases in the county at 352.

"The concern, again, is that you can unknowingly transmit this infection to someone who could suffer much more severe consequences," Whalen said. "We want to keep our numbers low, we want to keep our hospitals open to the public that needs them for other reasons, and we want to keep open."

The number of confirmed cases in the county rose by five on Tuesday to 1,953 and the number of people placed under quarantine rose by 11 to 234, McCoy said. There are now 53 active cases in the county  three of whom were hospitalized Tuesday, he said.

Despite a recent "small uptick" in the number of daily positives, he said the region's numbers are still low compared to where it was and still heading in the right direction to remain open.

"We have done so much work as New York state and as the Albany County community in the past 16 weeks and I offer a warning that that work can be undone very quickly," Whalen said. "We have seen exponential growth starting from small numbers of cases in other states and we don't want to go there. So please be mindful of these recommendations. Be mindful about masks, about social distancing, and getting tested and quarantined if you are back from travel."

Elsewhere in the region

The region saw another death due to COVID-19, it was reported on Tuesday. The victim was a Schenectady County resident in her 90s. No further details were released.

So far, 310 residents of eight local counties have died after contracting the illness.

An additional 28 people tested positive across the region on Tuesday. Warren County confirmed that at least one of its two new cases may be connected to a household member who traveled to Florida recently.

The county's Health Services department is monitoring 45 people under precautionary quarantine as a result of the state's travel advisory. Other local counties are not reporting the number of recent travelers they are monitoring, but have said they are seeing increases related to out-of-state travel.

In Rensselaer County, meanwhile, officials said a new coronavirus outbreak has been detected at a private nursing facility in Castleton-on-Hudson.

Up to eight cases of the virus have been confirmed at the Riverside Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, an 80-bed home located across from the Hudson River on North Main Street, county operations director Rich Crist said.

Seven of them are tied to residents, and the eighth is tied to an employee, he said. The infected residents range in age from 69 to 100 years old.

A notice dated Tuesday has been posted on the facility's website, announcing the confirmed cases among residents and staff.

"We continue to work diligently to protect all our residents and staff," it reads. "We review the situation with the Department of Health on a regular basis. We continue to monitor all residents for increased temperatures and observe for any changes in condition or new symptoms."

"We are in communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking all the appropriate steps," it continued. "We are doing everything we can to ensure we stop the spread of this within our facility. Our staff and residents are following the recommended preventative actions. We continue to restrict visitation of family and visitors until the virus has been eradicated in our community."

In accordance with a state directive, nursing homes must test employees for coronavirus at least once a week.

There is no similar requirement for resident testing, though the state Department of Health has spent considerable time in recent months conducting universal testing inside elder-care facilities. Advocates for the elderly say more frequent testing of residents will be necessary, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends facilities take the temperatures of residents daily and screen them for symptoms.

Anyone who displays signs or symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, should be tested, CDC recommends. A single new case in a resident should be treated as an outbreak, and facilitywide testing of residents should begin immediately, it says.
Before David and Donna Bullard have served you a deli sandwich, theres a good chance youll have already sampled some homespun humor, a hearty welcome and a big dose of family camaraderie.

During a time when all of that might be in short supply elsewhere, the married couple, owners of Dixie Deli, are doing their darnedest to please customers.

While many other restaurants have fallen victim to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the small delicatessen at 364A FM 1959 (Dixie Farm Road) near Ellington Field has never closed.

With two employees, loyal customers and a menu plan that features as much take-out business as sit-down service have all contributed to Dixie Deli making ends meet.

Throw in a heavy side of determination, too.

That character trait was ingrained early in David, 68, and Donna, 70.

I dont give up easily

More Information Dixie Deli What: A deli owned by David and Donna Bullard since 2007. Where: 364A FM 1959 (Dixie Farm Road) near Ellington Field Contact:http://dixie-deli.com/, 281-484-3083 See More Collapse

Ive always been hard-headed, David said. I will figure out a way to make it. I dont give up easily. In fact, I dont think Ive ever given up on anything.

Its like this: Donna and I are down here until four oclock every morning getting things ready for the next day because we dont have enough help now.

Im not going to bring on any more full-time help until things get really turned around.

Donna echoes those sentiments.

Well do what we have to do, she said. Its perseverance.

The deli is a popular lunch destination for staff members at Ellington and law enforcement personnel and workers at a handful of businesses in the area.

Dixie Deli is a cozy eatery featuring a variety of sandwiches, soups and salads and neighborly chit-chat. The lone television in the restaurant offers a continuous loop of The Andy Griffith Show.

Customers buy lunch for soldiers

We have some customers that every time theyre in here they will hand us $20 or $30 to feed the soldiers, David said.

We have other customers that will give us a $100 or $200. We even have one lady that will hand us $500 to buy the soldiers lunch.

We have some people wholl sit in the corner, and I know their signal if a soldier or a police officer walks in. Theyll give me a little sign because they dont even want the solider or the law enforcement person to know they bought the lunch.

During Thanksgiving week, Sagemont Church will pay for the lunches of all military personnel who venture into Dixie Deli.

Sagemont tells us not to turn down first responders, either, Donna said. Theyll pick up the tab for them, too.

Were successful, but God is the one that has made us successful, David said. Mostly Gods kept us out of trouble in the bad times.

He really brought brought us into and maintained the business with all the stuff thats going on.

Thats who we give the credit to. We thank God every day for us and our customers.

God has always made me successful in everything weve undertaken.

The delis other employees are Cecy Garcia and Lulu Gallegos.

During working hours, Garcia and Gallegos are busy preparing the sandwiches and delivering them to customers, whether for sit-down meals or to go.

Its all hands on-deck every day at Dixie Deli. Theres no specialization. Youve got to be able stock shelves, cut meat, clean the refrigerators, make sandwiches, answering the phone, take orders or whatever.

A good deal of friendly shouting isnt unusual.

David likes to say about Garcia and Gallegos: Those two gals are the best employees Ive ever worked for.

Situated in Harris County, the deli now is only allowed to serve at 25 percent capacity.

We keep up with how many times we open the cash register, David said.

On an average day before the pandemic, we were opening the drawer about a hundred times a day.

That one drawer opening could represent one person, or it could represent 10 people. It could mean a half-dozen take-outs or a handful of people that are putting two tables together.

Donna, who crunches the delis numbers, said that during the pandemic the worst business day had the register opening 35 times.

PPP loan, take-out business have helped

We were very fortunate in that when (the coronavirus) first started, we were already set up for take-out, Donna said. We also do Saturday catering for car dealerships, and that business really didnt drop off.

David said a Paycheck Protection Program loan prevented him from having to make some difficult business decisions.

Because of the coronavirus, the three biggest office buildings around us were shut down completely, he said. I think I was told at one time that between 500 and 1,000 people per day are in those office buildings

We basically started watching our buying, David said.

But I can say this about our customers  they are so loyal and very supportive. They make a point to come by.

At the deli, you can get a lunch special (sandwich, chips and drink) and usually get change from a ten-dollar bill.

First-time customers are treated to a homemade brownie.

Also helping the Bullards cause is a familiar real estate truism: location, location, location.

Weve got a Mexican restaurant on one end from us and a Jack In The Box on the other end, David said. Thats about it; so that helps all of us, I guess.

15-, 18-hour days

A normal day for the Bullards constitutes about 15 hours of work, and an 18-hour day isnt out of the norm.

The deli opened in 2007, and its customer base has grown every year. However, David knows the day will arrive when hell have to pass the torch.

The ideal situation is this, and Ive thought about it a lot, he said. I would love to see a young couple come to us and want to buy this place and want to spend about five years learning this business inside and out.

Then we could walk away from it selling it to them. Id want to set them up so that theyre successful.

While there are days that can take their toll, its the customers that keep the Bullards moving onward and upward.

The compliments and expressions of appreciation really humble us, Donna said.

Go on Yelp and look at our reviews, David said. Youll see a couple which arent any good, but when you do a little digging, youll see those people write negative reviews everywhere they go.

Most of our customers are outstanding and they do appreciate us. Every time somebody says something positive to us, its like saying sic em to a junkyard dog. It just makes me say, Hey, we got to keep going.

David is also a partner in the Texas Dive Center, which is next door to Dixie Deli. His early morning hours are spent repairing regulators until he runs out of energy.

In other words, theres never a slow day in the Bullard household.

The energetic couple has endured several firestorms but always emerged smiling in 43 years of marriage.

Somebody asked me how we stayed married this long, David said. I told them that on or 20th anniversary, Donna wanted to go somewhere special; so I took her to China.

Then they asked me what we did on our 40th anniversary, and I told them I went back and got her.

David says he doesnt know how long the pandemic will last, but he says hes in it for the long haul.

Whatever I need to do to make it work

Ill do whatever I need to do to make it work, he said. Thats it. I dont have another answer.

Our customers are so good. Weve got Homeland Security in here, (Houston Police Department), Harris County Sheriffs Department, Clear Lake City police, the FBI, every branch of the military. I cant see us deserting those folks or anybody else.

I told Donna when we opened the doors, this would be a 10-year project and then well get out. I guess I lied.

tdunnam@hcnonline.com
Courtesy of the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office

The Fort Bend County Sheriffs Office has arrested and charged a man with two counts of third degree felony possession of child pornography.

Dontis Alanis, age 18, was taken into custody on July 7 following a four-month long investigation by the Sheriffs Office. Detectives from the specialized Human Trafficking/Internet Crimes Against Children Unit executed the search warrant at the 13600 block of Krueger Road in the Guy area of Fort Bend County.
After new research was released showing that the novel coronavirus strain in Houston is potentially more infectious than the original strain, a top Houston doctor and researcher is offering more insight on what the new information means.

"This virus has been in Houston since March," Dr. Joseph Petrosino, chairman, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at the Baylor School of Medicine. "It has better fitness than the original. It can outcompete the original strain. It's associated with 78% and 80% of the cases we see in Houston and Europe. It's a mutation that is present all over Europe and the world. One thing we see for sure, this virus is more prevalent."

In a peer-reviewed paper published in the medical journal Cell last week, scientists reported that novel coronavirus strains spreading quickly Europe and the U.S. have a mutated spike which is potentially stronger and more infectious. Researchers at Houston Methodist also gathered data for a preliminary study in May that concluded most strains in the Houston area are actually mutations from Asia and Europe.

"Viruses are mutating all the time. It's part of their natural replication cycle," Petrosino said. "The strain that has the beneficial mutations will be able to replicate faster. It will enable it to spread more quickly."

KNOW YOUR RISK: These activities put you most at risk for COVID-19

Petrosino said the new feature of the virus is a stronger spike on the actual surface of the virus used to gain entry into the cells. The mutated version is less likely than the original to break off when attempting to bind with certain receptors in a person's airways.

"The mutation stabilizes the spikes. It actually makes them last longer. The spikes are stronger," Petrosino said. "This allows more opportunities to 'handshake with the host.'"

Petrosino said the research does not reflect that the mutated COVID-19 strain is more deadly.

"The data suggests that it is more contagious, but it does not lead to more deaths."

Petrosino said that there are growing early reports that immunity to this novel coronavirus isn't sustained for very long periods of time.

"Multiple reports suggest that some of the antibodies that are thought to be protective don't stay around too long."

He said this could potentially impact how people are vaccinated against COVID-19 in the future.

"We may need to vaccinate on an annual basis to make certain we are fully immunized before the next strain, potentially."

SPIKING HOSPITALIZATIONS: Governor Abbott warns of 'greater fatalities' ahead for Texas

Petrosino emphasized the critical need for social distancing at this juncture in Houston, especially after Texas surpassed 200,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday.

"The emotional and mental impact is not to be underplayed here," Petrosino said. "Once we become committed to work as a community to social distance effectively, we'll see the same successes as those in Europe."

alison.medley@chron.com
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stressed the importance of ensuring people's well-being, and advancing reform and innovation to boost development.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection tour to the cities of Tongren and Guiyang in southwest China's Guizhou Province, from Monday to Tuesday.

In his visit to a company in Tongren, Li encouraged enterprises to expand production, promote industrial poverty alleviation, and create more jobs for migrant workers.

He urged governments at all levels to make all-out efforts to secure and boost employment.

Guizhou has suffered from severe and widespread floods since June. While visiting the Guakou Village in Tongren, the premier stressed the need to take various measures to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.

He said related departments should coordinate financial support for the reconstruction of destroyed houses and facilities, and priority should be given to poverty-stricken households and disaster-stricken areas.

Despite the disruptions from the COVID-19 epidemic and floods, all-out efforts should be made to win the tough battle of poverty alleviation this year, no matter how difficult it is, Li said when talking with local villagers.

He underlined the need to prevent people from falling back into poverty due to the epidemic or disasters.

While visiting a data center in Guiyang, Li acknowledged the great potential of the city in developing a big data industry, and urged related departments to step up support for the construction of new types of infrastructure to bolster the growth of emerging industries.

In his visit to a government service center in the province, Li stressed the importance of solving financing problems for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as for science and technology firms, to boost their development.
The Bellaire City Council returned to telephonic meetings as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Houston. Monday nights meeting was the first meeting of the new year without City Manager Paul Hofmann, as he announced he will be stepping down to manage the city of Bastrop in early August.

In the meeting, Assistant City Manager Brant Gary reported as of July 6, Bellaire has 32 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 24 recoveries, zero deaths and eight active cases. The Bellaire Town Square Family Aquatic Center is currently closed to the public and the city library has resumed curbside services since June 29.

Related: West U resident loses 50 pounds doing at-home workouts amid quarantine

Following Garys report, the council had a last-minute audience submission from Raquel Boujourne, CEO and president of A Status Construction, who conveyed her frustration with AARK engineering. A Status Construction has been the construction company working with AARK engineering in completing the Bonds for Better Bellaire 20116 Group C Phase 2 project which includes construction projects on Maple/Bolivar Street and Spruce/Fifth Street.

Majority of the delays due to the errors made were due to planning done in the blueprint, Boujourne said. We are not at fault for these delays and we are doing everything we can to get this project done as quickly as possible.

Weve even worked seven days a week, 12-hour days, without even asking for the city to pay for that overtime because we empathize with your local businesses.

Related: Fresh Arts in Houston focuses on diversity and equity

Bourjournes grievances stem from councils June 1 meeting where council postponed adopting an ordinance that would pay AARK Engineers an additional $116,303 to complete the already delayed project. Council again postponed the payment in their June 15 meeting to have a closed-door session with city attorney Alan Petrov regarding the citys legal position.

According to Boujourne, A Status Construction has been unfairly pinned as the reason the delays have taken so long as they have reached out to the city multiple times for claims that have not yet been approved.

I find it difficult to believe that my particular situation that Im dealing with the city of Bellaire is a coincidental one, said Boujourne. Ive had to deal with AARK Engineers before in Pearland and Im having to go above and beyond what should rightfully be ours in addition to having to provide more than what is minimally required.

After a discussion regarding the roles and procedures of the city manager and proceeding the meetings regular session, council attended a closed-door meeting to decide the citys new interim city manager.

Council resumed the regular session with approving Gary as the citys interim city manager from a vote of 5-2, with council members Catherine Lewis and Jim Hotze objecting. Included in the appointment was a $575 biweekly stipend. Gary has been assistant city manager since December of 2019 and has also served as Bellaires Public Works director.

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com
In order to make education equitable for students across the district, the Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees approved a purchase of Chromebook laptops not to exceed $44 million dollars for the 2020-2021 school year.

The board gathered at the Instructional Support Center on July 7, where multiple officials with the school district discussed the Cy-Fair ISD Learning Together Everywhere, or CFISD LTE, plan that requires the laptops.

District serves millionth meal: Cy-Fair ISD serves more than 1 million meals through curbside program

CFISD Chief Financial Officer Karen Smith said the technology will provide 1 to 1 instruction for all students regardless of their status of in-person or virtual instruction.

The CFISD Learning Together Everywhere, or LTE 1 to 1 program vision is to provide equitable access to all students, Smith said.

Karen Fuller, director of network infrastructure and communications, said the district chose Chromebooks as their preferred device for K-12 students due to its touch capability, low cost, long battery life and security. Fuller said CFISD already proved the concept of district-wide internet by placing buses with LTE hotspots in Cy-Fair communities lacking internet.

The district is proposing a device for every student, which will allow for instruction to continue no matter what a student is currently learning, Fuller said. Cameras and microphones will allow Zoom and other video conferencing resources to enhance the instructional experience.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Even after extended deadline, half of Houston households are still missing from 2020 census

Katie Gentry, director of the 1 to 1 program, said CFISD has already provided devices for students in the spring and summer of 2020, and will prioritize disabled and at-risk students when distributing devices. All devices will have safety and security measures to stop students from using the computer inappropriately online and offline.

Parents will also receive digital citizenship information and tips for monitoring their students from home, she said. Students will participate in short courses on digital citizenship and Chromebook care throughout the year to ensure they understand the best way to work in a digital environment.

Fuller said CFISD staff would immediately begin requesting quotes for laptops and 4G LTE broadband wireless internet access points for the district that would only allow student devices to connect.

A 4G LTE broadband solution will enable to district to provide students an unlimited data plan by connecting to a district managed mobile hotspot, Fuller said.

Although the district is now preparing to equip students for at-home instruction, Chief of Staff Teresa Hull said families will be asked if their student will return for in-person instruction.

By the end of July, we would send out information to parents so that they could make that election as far as virtual or face-to-face (instruction), Hull said. But we first thought it was important that we finalize our plans for virtual instruction because it will look very different (from) the learning at home program that parents and students experienced in the spring.

For more information, visit https://www.cfisd.net/.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady addressed hospital capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday calling the health care system over prepared as the spike in cases continues.

While numbers originally leveled off as Gov. Greg Abbott rolled out his phased plan to reopen the state, Brady said the Houston region is and continues to see a flare up. Abbott has since put a hold on his reopen plan.

Its important for America to open safety and responsibly and that we achieve healthy lives and a healthy economy, Brady said during a phone conference. Its clear Texas achieved both through phases one and two  but in phase 3 we have experienced a flare up. It is not unexpected; you see this globally as economies reopen.

Montgomery County health officials confirmed 130 new cases Wednesday but noted the countys active case dropped by 17. The total number of cases is now 2,784 with 1,032 active.

Hospitalizations, including both county and out of county residents in Montgomery County hospitals increased to 227 with 54 of those in ICU.

Brady emphasized the solution to control the spike is smart behaviors to drive numbers down.

The good news here is our Houston are hospitals are over prepared with surge plans and are capable of adding bed capacity and staffing, he said. What they are seeing are younger aged cases, shorter stays and more likely to leave hospitals over the older COVID-19 patients.

But, he added the spike in cases is serious and hospitals will not be able to sustain the surge long term.

It is proven that social distancing, hand washing and self-monitoring yourself for COVID-19 symptoms and then masks where social distancing isnt possible.

The CDC recommends the following measures in a public place: stay at least six feet from others at all times; wear a cloth face covering to help protect yourself and others; wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and bring hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol to use if soap and water are not available.

For those needing to be testing, MCPHD has launched an online registration process for its voucher program for both symptomatic and asymptomatic. The testing is for Montgomery County residents only.

To get a voucher, go to mchd-tx.org or mcphd-tx.org and click on the need to be tested link. Fill out the information. A voucher will be emailed. Once you have the voucher, make an appointment at your choice of testing center and get tested.

For more information, the MCHD/MCPHD COVID-19 Call Center is open Monday-Friday 8:00am-3:30pm. Please call 936-523-5040.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
When spring semester classes at Lone Star College had to move online, the college system took the opportunity to move as many classes as they could to an online format, planning ahead for the fall semester.

On Wednesday, the college system announced even more details of what the upcoming semester will look like as the area continues to be impacted by COVID-19.

According to a release from LSC, about half of the fall semester classes will be online only. A quarter of the classes will be a mix of online and in-class instruction, and a quarter (predominantly workforce training) will remain as in-class instruction. These numbers will vary by campus depending on facilities, elevators, room sizes, workforce requirements, etc.

We understand there continues to be uncertainty, but it is important for students to know their safety is our No. 1 priority, said Stephen C. Head, LSC chancellor, in a release from the college system. We have taken every precaution necessary to ensure students can continue their education in a safe environment.

Limited access

Access to LSC facilities that have been reopened will be limited only to students taking face-to-face classes, and the necessary staff and faculty to run them. Everyone entering these facilities will be required to wear a mask and their temperature will be taken at the door. They will be asked to complete a health questionnaire and will be provided PPE if they do not have their own. The college system has been purchasing PPE since March and created an on-campus warehouse out of what used to be the community building.

The college system is adhering to CDC and local government agency guidelines and best practices to address COVID-19.

This coming semester LSC will offer 4,400 online classes in 128 different subjects. Most will follow a traditional online format but many of which will include a weekly face-to-face teleconference. In the spring, LSC increased its online class options from 1,624 sections of online courses to 6,825.

Online shift

To help students transition to online classes, the college system is using stimulus to purchase laptops for 5,000 students. They will be available for students to check out from the office of technology services. The college system will also be using funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act for emergency financial grants to students to help with COVID related expenses.

If in-person classes are canceled again, Head said, LSC is working on contingency plans to transition back to all online instruction.

Those which cant be fully 100 percent online (workforce training, etc.) will shift to an online component with additional training made available once campuses reopen, said Kyle Scott, LSC vice chancellor of Strategic Priorities.

No changes have been made to the upcoming academic calendar, as of yet, but the college system will delay a planned tuition increase that was scheduled for the fall semester.

All online and face to face credit hours will cost the same, Scott said. When face to face classes were switched to an online format in spring, the online learning fee was waived. We are currently considering that same policy for the fall in the event that a scheduled face to face class must shift to online delivery as a result of the coronavirus.

More information about the upcoming semester can be found on the Lone Star College website: www.lonestar.edu/Fall2020.

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
As early voting wraps up for the Republican and Democratic primary runoff, election officials are urging residents to take advantage of the opportunity to cast a ballot to avoid crowds on election day.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday. Election day is Tuesday.

With only a few contested races on the ballot, voter turnout has been light.

According to numbers from Election Central, since June 29 through Tuesday, only 6,669 Republicans have voted and only 1,762 Democrats have cast ballots.

The Woodland remains the hot spot with 2,653 total voters. Conroe followed with 1,740, Montgomery with 1,121, Willis with 788, Magnolia West with 657, East County with 588, Magnolia Event Center with 534 and Spring Creek with 348.

Elections administrator Suzie Harvey said every precaution has been taken to ensure voters and poll workers are safe.

Harvey explained that voters should wear a face mask or face covering at the polls and use the hand sanitizer provided when entering the polls. Masks, face shields and hand sanitizer and gloves are provided to poll workers to help keep voters safe. Floor markers are in place to help with social distancing and poll stations are set up six feet apart. Additionally, all voting stations are sanitized between each voter.

Harvey also encouraged voters to bring their own pen for check in.

If not, we have a device at every station where they need to use a pen that sanitizes the pen after every use, she said.

On the Republican ballot are the contested races for the new 457th state District Court and Precinct 2 Constable. There are no local contested on the Democratic ballot this primary.

457th state District Court

The Woodlands-based attorney Eric Yollick and former Montgomery County prosecutor Vince Santini are facing each other for the Republican party bid in their race to fill the bench of the 457th state District Court.

After the March primary, Yollick was out front with 21,662 (37.53 percent) votes over Santini with 14,468 (25.07 percent).

Introduced in February by state Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, Toth said he requested the new judicial district at the behest of the Montgomery County Commissioners Court and county judges in light of a caseload growth.

Yollick, who brings 31 years of experience to the race, said he is focused on the Republican platform.

I dont care about what you say about me personally, he said in a previous Courier article. As far as the Republican party principals, Ill argue with you. Thats the test. You need to judge me by judicial temperament.

For Santini, serving the public is what a judge does. Experience, he noted, is important for the position, pointing out he has managed court dockets for both the 435th and 359th state district courts. The 457th court, he noted, was created for docket management to help reduce caseloads.

I have a plan to move this court effectively, he said.

Santini began his career as a criminal prosecutor but moved to civil law in July 2018.

The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Marc Meyer in November. Meyer currently serves of the Montgomery County Democratic Party chairman.

Precinct 2 Constable

Its been eight years since Precinct 2 Constable Gene DeForest found himself in a runoff election but is facing off with Daniel Pena. But DeForest remains confident in his reelection bid after serving 19 years as constable.

I do the job the people have elected me to do, he said. Hopefully, they will come out and vote and keep me here another term. I was hoping to pull off 51 percent of the vote, but it didnt happen.

It is what it is and Ill keep fighting.

DeForest edged Pena in the March primary with 2,845 (39.58 percent) votes to 1,808 (25.15 percent) votes.

Pena, 43, said he is looking forward to the runoff and is continuing to meet with different community groups to inform voters why he would be a good constable. With more than 15 years in law enforcement, he said his initial plan is to provide a better equipped and trained deputy for the department.

I feel I can provide a better product, he said.

Early voting locations

North Montgomery County Community Center, 600 Gerald Street, Willis

Lone Star Community Center, 2500 Lone Star Parkway, Montgomery (Note: Not the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe.)

East Montgomery County Fair Association Building, 21675A McCleskey Road, New Caney

South County Community Center, 2235 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands

Lee G. Alworth Building, 207 W. Phillips, Conroe

Magnolia Event Center, 11659 FM 1488, Magnolia

West Montgomery County Community Development Center, 31355 Friendship Drive, Magnolia

Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center, 1300 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring

For more information on voting, COVID-19 procedures or curbside voting, call Election Central at 936-539-7843.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
You are here: China

A ceremony was held Tuesday in Beijing to mark the 83rd anniversary of China's whole-of-nation resistance war against Japanese aggression.

The Lugou Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937, is recognized as the start of Japan's full-scale invasion of China, and China's whole-of-nation resistance against it.

Tuesday's event was held near the bridge, at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

It was presided over by Cai Qi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC.

More than 200 people, including family members of military leaders and martyrs of the war, attended the ceremony.

People offered floral tributes and bowed to pay respects to those who died in fighting the Japanese aggression more than eight decades ago.
The Washington Post

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- - -
After an Odessa doctor said in recent media interviews he believes hes found the silver bullet for treating COVID-19, Midland Memorials chief medical officer disputed that claim, saying theres no evidence the treatment offers any benefit to coronavirus patients.

Dr. Richard Bartlett, a family medicine doctor in Odessa, has said in multiple interviews with broadcast and radio stations that hes treated dozens of COVID-19 patients with an inhaled form of budesonide, which is often used to treat asthma.

When asked about the treatment during a press conference last week, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Larry Wilson said there have been no studies showing a benefit in using inhaled steroids to treat COVID-19.

There is evidence that some steroids, including dexamethasone, may be effective in treating severe cases when given orally or intravenously, Wilson said. However, giving steroids to patients who are not severely ill may do more harm than good, he said.

The way that steroids work is to create an immune suppression, he said. And you want an immune response to fight the virus.

He said weighing the benefits of steroid treatment with the possibility of suppressing the immune system is a judgment call that should be made only on hospitalized patients.

Most recently, Bartlett was interviewed Friday for the YouTube show America, Can We Talk? In that interview, he said early intervention with budesonide was the key to surviving the coronavirus and likened the drug to a silver bullet.

Those who have shared the interview on Facebook are having it removed for violating the platforms policies regarding misinformation on coronavirus, according to commenters on the YouTube video.

Bartlett made several claims in the video which are demonstrably false, including that 20 percent of the worlds population is at risk of dying from COVID-19 and that Japan and other countries have low numbers of coronavirus infections because they are using inhaled steroids.

A series of case reports from Japan found patients improved on ciclesonide  a different inhaled steroid  but the reports are considered very low quality evidence, according to an article in the European Respiratory Journal, because the treatment was given to only three patients and its unknown whether those patients would have improved without intervention.

And while about 20 percent of people globally are considered at-risk for developing a severe case of COVID-19, the mortality rate is estimated to be about 1 to 3 percent.

Odessa Regional Medical Centers chief medical officer also addressed budesonide treatment in a report from KOSA-TV. Dr. Rohith Saravanan said blind, controlled studies, rather than anecdotal evidence, are needed to prove any effectiveness.

If they say, Oh, five cases, all solved. Magic pill. Silver bullet  well, thats not how science works, he said.
Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area.

3:30 p.m.

The Texas GOP convention, planned to be held in-person in Houston next week, has been canceled, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced during a press conference.

8:45 a.m.

A COVID-19 outbreak has been reported at a nursing home that is under investigation in East Houston, according to a news release from Harris County Public Health.

Data shows 57 residents and staff members at the Jacinto Nursing & Rehabilitation Center located off Holland Avenue are "actively being monitored" by county health department staff for COVID-19. There have been four deaths at the nursing home to date, but whether those deaths are COVID-19 related is still unknown.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: As half of Texas nursing homes report coronavirus infections, one local outbreak diminishes

The county health department launched an investigation into the facility on June 10 after 12 people tested positive and one person died from COVID-19. As of July 3, HCPH is now working with Texas Health and Human Services to ensure health protocols are being followed and to track possible transmission of the virus.

8 a.m.

Texas reported more than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, marking the highest single-day increase in new cases and deaths since the pandemic began, according to the Houston Chronicle's data team. From Monday to Tuesday, the statewide total had risen by 10,414 cases, or 5.06 percent, to 216,167 cases. A record 75 deaths were reported over that one-day period; the statewide death count is now at 2,758.

There are 9,286 hospitalized for COVID-19 across Texas hospitals, a record high. There are still 12,925 beds and 5,283 ventilators available in the state.

In the Houston region, cases had risen by 2,147 cases, or 4.05 percent, up to 55,122 cases total. Nine more deaths were reported in the region yesterday, bringing the death count up to 581. Harris County saw 1,535 new cases, or a 4.06 percent increase, and is now at 39,311 cases total.

NOTE: The numbers included in this report represent a one-day change in confirmed cases from Monday, July 6 through Tuesday, July 7. It is still unclear how many of the state's new cases can be attributed to jail inmates from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
A total of 10.71 million Chinese students Tuesday began taking the annual national college entrance examination, known as the Gaokao, amid strict COVID-19 control measures at exam centers across the country.

This year's Gaokao, the most important event for Chinese students, has been delayed by one month due to the epidemic. More than 7,000 exam centers have been set up, with around 400,000 examination rooms, while 945,000 people work as invigilators or service providers.

In Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, body temperature checkpoints have been set up at the entrance of exam centers, and disinfection is carried out after every exam.

At Xi'an Huanghe Middle School, students went through two temperature checks before entering the exam rooms. In between the checks, students waited in the school playground for ID verification.

The school also set up three spare exam rooms for quarantine, where students with fever and cough are sent after a diagnosis.

In Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, local educational authorities reduced the number of students in each exam room from 30 to 25 and replaced fingerprints with facial recognition to avoid contact.

According to the Ministry of Education, daily temperature checks and health monitoring of Gaokao candidates and staff began across the country 14 days before the exam. Emergency plans have also been drawn in flood-hit areas.

With the one-month delay, China has entered one of the hottest months and educational authorities have adopted measures to mitigate the impact of heat on students' performance.

In south China's Guangdong Province, local educational authorities said air conditioners had been installed at all exam centers across the province this year for the 674,000 students.

Similar measures have also been taken in central China's Wuhan, a city formerly hit hard by the novel coronavirus, where about 59,000 students are taking Gaokao at 58 air-conditioned test centers.

Society has also been mobilized to make it more convenient for students to take the Gaokao.

In Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, 10 volunteer service stations have been set up across the city to provide students and parents with epidemic control information, psychological counseling, free rides to exam centers, and traffic guidance.

The service has been provided for over 10 years during the Gaokao, but this year volunteers serve with extra care, requiring students and parents to wear masks and providing disinfectants.

Xiao Dan, a health worker in northeast China's Jilin Province, is serving during the Gaokao for the first time in her 23-year career, and admits to being under pressure.

In charge of epidemic prevention at an exam center, she determines whether a student needs to use spare exam rooms or undergo nucleic acid tests.

One week before the exam, Xiao and her team had started disinfecting exam centers and making preparations. She arrived at the school two and a half hours before the first exam Tuesday to rehearse the process again.

"My child is in the second year of high school, so I very much understand how the parents feel. I am also trying my best to make sure all goes well for the students," Xiao said




ALBANY  A state Department of Health report says New York's order requiring nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients is not to blame for the staggering number of deaths among their elderly residents.

Well, OK. We've got our answer. The controversy is put to bed and sleeping soundly. We can move on.

Right? Of course not.

Anyone with a cursory understanding of New York government under Andrew Cuomo knows state investigations will always point blame elsewhere and never direct fire inward. That's the unfortunate reality.

Remember the Moreland Commission, the panel created by the governor and charged with investigating corruption? When its members starting peeking under rocks the governor didn't want lifted, Cuomo shut the whole thing down.

So there was no chance a Department of Health investigation into the March 25 nursing home order was going to fault the controversial decision endorsed and defended by Cuomo  even though New York has the highest COVID-19 nursing home death toll in the country.

"It's like an arsonist investigating his own arson," said Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, an early critic of the nursing home order who described the state's findings as "a total whitewash."

The report, issued Monday, says the order forcing nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients couldn't have been the reason for the 6,300 deaths (at least) tied to the facilities because of the timing.

It found that the peak of deaths in nursing homes came before the peak of their admissions of COVID-19 patients. The report also says nursing home deaths coincided with the peak of infections for nursing home employees.

Therefore, the employees are the ones who must have introduced the virus to nursing homes  and the state is off the hook! The governor wasted no time in blasting those who'd suggested otherwise.

"It was pure politics and it was ugly politics," Cuomo said. "And now the report has the facts, and the facts tell the exact opposite story."

Sorry, but claiming that criticism of the nursing home mandate is purely political is not just false, but rips a page from the cynical playbook worn thin by, among others, President Donald Trump. Discredit the motives of the messenger and you blunt the message.

Sure, some of the heat on nursing homes has come from frequent Cuomo critics such as McLaughlin or U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, both Republicans. But Democrats have also faulted the nursing home order, as did investigations by respected news outlets such as ProPublica and the Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, PolitiFact has rated Cuomo's claim that the order simply followed federal guidelines as "mostly false."

But what about those "facts" in the report? Do they really absolve the state of blame?

Not at all.

Bill Hammond, director of health policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy in Albany, has discovered that New York's count of nursing home deaths omits residents who were transferred to hospitals before they died. He knows of no other state that tallies the number that way.

New York is therefore undercounting, perhaps dramatically, the real nursing home toll. The "fact"  6,300 deaths  at the heart of the Department of Health report is faulty, which means its conclusions are also flawed. (Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for the governor, did not respond to a question about how the state tallies nursing home deaths.)

An honest and thorough report, Hammond said, would have started by reporting an accurate number of deaths tied to nursing homes. That the Department of Health ducked so important a question, he added, suggests the report was not actually an attempt at uncovering the truth. (Shocking, I know.)

"I think the report puts way too much emphasis on protecting the governor's reputation and not enough emphasis on protecting public health," Hammond said. "That undermines the whole thing."

The suggestion here isn't that sweeping conclusions of the state report are entirely wrong. It is likely true that nursing home employees introduced the virus into some facilities, perhaps more than initially believed. But it is also likely true that the state mandate did the same  and was therefore a terrible mistake.

But we still don't have firm answers, which is why Hammond is among those who have called for a truly independent investigation of New York's coronavirus response and the nursing home order. So are some Democrats and Republicans in the state Legislature.

A real investigation is more necessary than ever now, simply because the Department of Health report should not be the final word. Its findings are potentially dangerous.

By so conclusively absolving the state policy of blame, it opens the door for a repeat of the nursing home order in a second wave of the coronavirus or during future pandemics. It potentially puts nursing home residents at unnecessary risk.

Again.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
You are here: China

Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged college graduates throughout the country to make more contributions for the Party, the country and the people.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter Tuesday to graduates studying at the Karamay campus of China University of Petroleum-Beijing.
WASHINGTON - Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued the Trump administration Wednesday over an order that would require international students to take classes in person this fall, despite rising coronavirus caseloads that are complicating efforts by colleges and universities to offer in-person learning.

The lawsuit represented a swift response to an unexpected order issued this week by the federal government, as universities rush to protect the status of thousands of international students. It also marks a new battle line in the war between President Donald Trump and education leaders over how to safely reopen schools in the midst of his reelection bid.

"We will pursue this case vigorously so that our international students - and international students at institutions across the country - can continue their studies without the threat of deportation," Harvard's president, Lawrence Bacow, told the Harvard community Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Northeastern University in Massachusetts joined the suit, with Joseph Aoun, the school's president, saying the new guidance "creates chaos for international students and has the effect of weakening American higher education - one of our nation's signature strengths."

On Monday, the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program announced that visas would not be issued to students enrolled in schools that are fully online this fall. Under the rule, those students would be barred from entering the country. And to keep their visas, students already in the United States would need to leave the country or transfer to a school with in-person instruction.

The rule has not been published yet, but the guidance issued Monday stunned university officials and panicked students. Though international students were previously required to take classes in person, the government had offered schools and students flexibility this spring, after the pandemic shut down most campuses. And it had said that the new guidance would remain in effect for the duration of the emergency.

So as university officials worked to finalize fall plans, many assumed that their international students would be allowed in the country even if they weren't in the classroom. With cases rising across the country, most colleges are at least prepared to switch to fully virtual instruction if needed. Others, including Harvard and the sprawling California State University System, have already announced plans to offer little to no in-person instruction.

Harvard has about 5,000 international students, and MIT 4,000. In their lawsuit, the universities argue that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's decision was designed to force universities to conduct in-person classes, part of an apparent political strategy from the Trump administration to pressure schools, from kindergarten to graduate school, to fully reopen this fall, even as virus cases soar.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, seeks a temporary restraining order that would quickly stop the government from enforcing the policy. The schools argue that the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs rulemaking by federal agencies.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Carissa Cutrell, a spokeswoman for ICE, said the agency "is unable to provide further comment due to pending litigation."

The lawsuit cites remarks from acting deputy secretary of homeland security Ken Cuccinelli on Tuesday, in which he said the directive "will . . . encourage schools to reopen."

The decision also reflects the administration's continued efforts to limit and reduce the presence of international students in the country, the lawsuit argues.

The Trump administration contends the new policy will provide more flexibility for colleges and universities. Cuccinelli indicated Tuesday that international students could remain in the United States as long as they receive at least some face-to-face instruction.

"Anything short of 100 percent online classes," he told CNN in an interview. Cuccinelli denied that the administration was seeking to "force" universities to offer in-person teaching. But he acknowledged that the administration wants to spur movement in that direction. "This is now setting the rules for one semester, which we'll finalize later this month that will, again, encourage schools to reopen," he told CNN.

The ICE ruling frightened international students, who worried they risked deportation if their schools were not providing classes in person.

"That's horrifying - I couldn't sleep," said Mita Rawal, who's studying pharmacology at the University of Georgia. "It's not just me, it's my son, he goes to school here. If I had to pack up my bags and go to Nepal," she said, and then broke off.

She had already been through a tumultuous spring and summer, with a sudden need for a computer for her own studies and a secondhand laptop for her 5-year-old son's schooling, paid for with the help of an emergency grant from a nonprofit. Her dissertation was put on hold, and she was unable to travel home for the summer.

And then news broke from ICE. "I had not anticipated in my wildest dreams that I would be in this situation," she said.

Outraged faculty are mobilizing to defend international students. Some are brainstorming ways to work around the administration's policy, creating makeshift classes for international students.

Dana Fisher, a sociology professor at the University of Maryland at College Park, said she woke up Wednesday to 25 emails from terrified students. She had fielded even more frantic emails the day before. On Twitter, she offered an independent-study course to any student who needs to take an in-person class this semester. Dozens are interested, she said.

Sarah Parkinson, an assistant professor of political science and international studies at Johns Hopkins University, said there is talk among professors about holding improvised face-to-face sessions with anyone who might need them to ensure they don't get caught in a crackdown. Holding a class session in a park with a few students, sitting six feet apart, could be an option.

"It's not even a question. Of course you'd do it," Parkinson said.

The administration's policy prompted an array of higher education leaders to defend the ideals of international education and student exchange. Millions of students have come to the United States in the past century, they said, an extraordinary pipeline of talent that has promoted democracy around the world and helped build the U.S. economy.

MIT's president, Rafael Reif, told campus Wednesday: "Our international students now have many questions - about their visas, their health, their families and their ability to continue working toward an MIT degree. Unspoken, but unmistakable, is one more question: Am I welcome?

"At MIT, the answer, unequivocally, is yes." He wrote about his own memories of the anxiety of arriving in the United States to study, "excited to advance my education, but separated from my family by thousands of miles. I also know that welcoming the world's brightest, most talented and motivated students is an essential American strength."

For the past several years, according to the Institute of International Education, the United States has hosted a little more than 1 million international students.

Fall typically heralds the arrival of a new group of more than a quarter-million. But educators worry the pandemic could lead to a sharp drop, slashing tuition revenue for colleges across the country. The administration's new policy adds to those concerns.

"The present efforts by American leadership to eliminate this truly successful, strategic asset of American economic and cultural leadership is a deeply misguided mistake," Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University, which has more than 10,000 international students, wrote in an email.

Matyas Kohout arrived in the United States from the Czech Republic wearing Converse sneakers covered in American flags. Coming from a formerly Communist country, where his parents had been unable to go to college, read Western literature or travel outside the country, the United States was a dream for him.

He even shared a birthday, he said: July 4.

He got a glimpse of fireworks as best he could from a window while quarantined this year. Two days later, he saw the news about visas. At first, he thought it was a mistake. When he realized it was true, he tried to figure out what would happen if George Washington University Law School moved to online classes partway through the semester. Would he have to leave? What would he do with his furniture? Could he come back?

He hopes the lawsuit will be successful. But he said his thinking has changed about the United States. "I find a lot of obstacles," he said, and over time, those began to make him wonder. He loves the school and wants to complete his law degree. But he also wonders if his future is in Europe.

- - -

The Washington Post's Lauren Lumpkin contributed to this report.
Hong Kong has become a main topic in the international media, especially since the 2019 protests. Even though other protests have happened before, there is no doubt that since 2019 the rhetoric around China's issues with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has become more redundant and hyperbolic.

Whatever action China does or does not take in Hong Kong is immediately related with the concepts of suppression, domination and anti-democracy. Therefore, the consequent avalanche of Western criticism and rejection of Chinese actions, like the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, is based on false, uninformed, and manipulated ideas regarding Chinas sovereignty, role and intentions in Hong Kong.

This situation is nothing occasional. In fact, the "pro-democracy" angle that the media uses to describe Hong Kong protests creates the perfect stage needed by the United States to use Hong Kong as a Trojan horse, for US President Donald Trump's clear attempt to conveniently frame China as the enemy of the US hegemony and the international values system. Turning an internal issue into an international one, under the speech of freedom and democracy, is an old American recipe to generate destabilization of the target. It serves to deviate attention, gain votes and justify international policies that would have never been approved had it not been for the international system double standard.

As history shows, this recipe has not only been unsuccessful over the medium term but has had catastrophic consequences for the countries involved. Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt, Syria and Ukraine are some recent examples. However, China is a totally different type of target, and the consequences of using this same recipe could have regrettable global impacts in the most vulnerable international system that we have seen in decades. To widen the perspective on what is really happening with Hong Kong, and to better understand why China must launch the national security law, is important to clarify certain points.

Hong Kong is part of China

The freedom and secession rhetoric when explaining the Hong Kong issue, leads to think that somehow China has not rightful sovereignty over Hong Kong. Let's remember that Hong Kong belonging to China has never been a question. Hong Kong was colonialized by the British Empire, as part of the worst moment for the Chinese history, the Opium War (1840-1842). The hundred years of humiliation and defeat are the episode that gave birth to China's determination of ending western colonialism, reconstructing, reunifying and rejuvenating the Chinese nation and peacefully strengthening the country to the point that no foreign power can invade China ever again.

During the 155 years of British colonialism in Hong Kong, there were no freedoms no democracy in the island. Hong Kong was led by the British governor. There were no elections, no legislative autonomy, and no constitution. It was not until the expiration of the agreements was close, that British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher suddenly expressed her worries about the future of the freedoms and democracy that were non existing in the island, as well as the future of the capitalist system. This was a clear British attempt to propose a co-administration of the island so they would not have to leave. Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping was prepared and determined to put an end to this terrible chapter of Chinese history, here is when the "one country, two systems" model was established.

Democracy, special autonomy, legal system, etc. only arrived at Hong Kong in 1997 after China rightfully recovered the sovereignty over the island. In terms of the capitalist system, economic growth, stability, welfare, financial support, they were never better than after 1997. Hong Kong's prosperity and stability relay almost totally on the support and relationship with the Chinese mainland. One country, two systems is fundamental for the Chinese central government, and it has never been endangered by it. On the contrary, to protect this principle, China must safeguard its sovereignty. If the central government legislates to protect the security of Hong Kong, it is not an invasion, the island is part of China and the Chinese central government has all the sovereign power over its own territory.

Some facts about Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong protests have been portrayed around the world as organic pro-democracy expressions of grassroots youth. However, some leaders of the movement like the controversial Jimmy Lai, the protest symbols and slogans, and specially, the US and pro-democracy institutions declarations after the approval of the national security law of HKSAR, prove the protests to be more xenophobic and western funded than organic expressions.

In this point, it is important to clarify that, as expected, the British did not totally leave the island. It was their intention, with the support of the United States to keep presence in Hong Kong so they could undermine China's sovereignty in the island. Just before 1997, they established a partially elected but mainly pointed government and established and founded several parties. Since then, they had spent millions of dollars funding all kinds of institutions in Hong Kong. As Sara Flounder states, "The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions receives US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) funding, along with British support. It promotes 'pro-democracy, independent unions' throughout China. The HKCTU was established in 1990 to counter and undercut the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions founded in 1948, which is still the largest union organization with 410,000 members".

These institutions have promoted western, anti-China, anti-communism, and other ideas among people, especially young people that did not even live in the colonial Hong Kong. It is not a surprise then that during the protests British and Hong Kong's colonial flags were being held, with slogans like "Hong Kong for the Hongkongers" a known xenophobic approach that has been related to many attempts to stop people from Chinese mainland to enter in the island. Also, the American flag is exposed while singing the American anthem and asking Donald Trump "Please liberate Hong Kong and defend our constitution". As Chief Executive of HKSAR Carrie Lam stated after the extradition bill was canceled, the continuity of the protests at that point, demonstrated that they were promoted as secessionist, anti-China protests. The leaders of the protests did not deny this statement but reaffirmed their intention of incentivizing western countries to intervene and "liberate" Hong Kong.

The international media did not cover the other side of the coin, the common people of Hong Kong asking the activists to stop the mobs and vandalism that had led the city to an economic recession, and expecting for China to restore the stability. After the national security law banned foreign founding of the protests, the US openly admitted having funded 2019 protests, and was forced to freeze $2 million in planned payouts to Hong Kong protests groups. On the other hand, all the groups that were leading the protests decided to close their offices after knowing that they will not receive any more foreign funding. If these groups were functioning only because they had foreign funding, does not this mean that the locals are not as supportive of the cause as the media is portraying them?

The international conjuncture, who is threatening whom?

As stated before, Hong Kong issue is legitimately an internal affair of China. So why is China being forced to deliver a national security law over HKSAR? Let us look to what has happened with the US  China relationship lately.

US President Donald Trump has openly decided to declare China the contender of the US and a threat to the international system. Apart from China being militarily encircled by the US, (half of the 800 US overseas military bases surround China), Trump started a trade war with China, he did not only increased tariffs but also slander Huawei and China regarding 5G technology. In 2020 he has been blaming China for the COVID19 and asking China to be held accountable for the pandemic. It does not matter from which perspective is observed, China's peaceful development, economic freedom, wellbeing, and security are being openly threatened by the US. In the context of the presidential elections, using the China card as smoke screen has become the rule to deviate attention from internal problems.

In this context, and being aware of the traditional war recipe mentioned at the beginning of this article, it is evident that Hong Kong had become Trump's ace under the sleeve to destabilize China. Allowing internal affair to become an international affair would mean to open the door to the biggest threat to China's most sacred good: sovereignty. Therefore, legislation of the national security law is the only legitimate way for China to protect the country from the US threat. Only with this law can China warranty an honest, secure, and fundamental social process within Hong Kong. Only in the context of prosperity and stability can the one country two systems formula evolve as it must for the next 27 years.

History has told us that foreign intervention in internal affairs does not come selflessly. It comes as a strategy intended to benefit the hegemonic power. The US is activating what is known as the Thucydides trap, intensifying confrontation with China instead of promoting cooperation. Fortunately for the world China has a very practical foreign policy and does not seek benefit from war. Hong Kong is China's internal affair and it should not be another focal point of international confrontation.

Lina Luna is a sinologist and internationalist, Lecturer and Researcher at Externado University of Colombia. Her research areas include China's foreign policy, China-Latin America relationship and emerging economies. She is also the General Secretary of the Colombia-China Friendship Association.
The Texas Department of Transportation on Wednesday began receiving bids on the first phase of a $132 million expansion of FM 1960 between Humble and Atascocita.

The project includes reconstructing and widening the existing roadway from four to six lanes; building an overpass at West Lake Houston Parkway; improving drainage; and constructing 5-foot wide sidewalks on both sides of the road, according to department spokesman Danny Perez. Construction could begin next year.

CORONAVIRUS: Texas passes 10,000 confirmed new virus cases in single day

The project consists of two parts. The $58.7 million first phase will improve a nearly four-mile-long stretch from the intersection with FM 1960 Business to just east of Twigsworth Lane. The $73.4 million second phase includes a grade separation at West Lake Houston Parkway and ends at the FM 1960 bridge. Phase II will go to bid this fall.

The expansion is necessary because of population growth in the Lake Houston area.

With significant growth in these areas, we always look at ways to address the congestion in these areas, Perez said. In many of these communities, were seeing increased traffic volumes, so what we want to do is to improve traffic flow, improve mobility in these communities.

Utility adjustments are expected to begin in December, with construction getting underway in the summer of 2021. The entire project is to be completed by the summer of 2024.

The first step for crews will be to adjust utilities and build a sound wall. Then the team will widen the road temporarily on the left side to shift traffic based on the proposed center line. Workers will construct half of the proposed roadway on the right, then do the same on the left side. Finally, a raised median will be constructed at the center of the road.

TRAFFIC: Texas sees rise in speed-related road deaths during the pandemic

TxDOT also takes into account traffic and crash data.

We always look at ways to improve mobility on these roads, but in addition to improving mobility we want to improve safety, Perez said.

Many businesses are situated alongside FM 1960, including grocery stores and pharmacies. They could be affected if Lake Houston-area residents begin to avoid the area during the three-year project.

Sonia Chapa, co-owner of El Jalapeno Mexican Cafe, remains optimistic even as she deals with the challenges created by the pandemic and looks ahead to years of road construction. Chapa said she is thankful for the support the community has provided since the new coronavirus affected the restaurant industry.

El Jalapeno Mexican Cafe sits just west of the intersection of FM 1960 and Timber Forest, in a large shopping center. Although the restaurant has an access point from FM 1960 directly in front of the business, Chapa hopes that customers will use the secondary entrance on Timber Forest Drive as well. While they may lose parking spots, Chapa said there is plenty of parking in the shopping center lot.

In our business, maybe people will get tired of sitting in the parking lot and stop by and get a margarita  thats what were hoping for, Chapa said. Were going to take advantage of the slower traffic and maybe post big signs alerting potential customers to stop in and check us out instead of waiting in traffic.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
More than 240 citizens fly home from Taiwan

A VietJet Air flight carrying more than 240 citizens from Chinese Taipei landed in Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.









The passengers wait for the flight to return home



The passengers are children aged under 18, pregnant women, sick people, and students and workers with expired labor contracts.



Preventive measures were deployed throughout the flight to prevent transmission of COVID-19.



This is the 36th repatriation flight arranged by Vietnamese competent authorities in collaboration with domestic and foreign airlines to bring home 9,770 Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad due to COVID-19, official data shows.



As of 7 pm on June 7, Viet Nam confirmed 369 patients, including 342 recovered cases, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.



A total of 13,047 people are under medical surveillance or quarantined at hospitals, centralized quarantine camps, and places of residence./.
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Disney said Tuesday that the company will continue the phased reopening of its theme parks in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday with a combination of measures to help reduce risks amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.



The reopening of Walt Disney World Resort will mark the first of Disney's theme parks in the United States to welcome back guests after being closed for months.

Disney closed its domestic parks and resorts in mid-March in response to the spread of the extremely contagious disease.

"As we continue the phased reopenings of our parks and resorts across the world, promoting health and safety for our guests, cast members, and the larger community is a responsibility we take very seriously," said Disney Parks Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel in a statement.

"From increased cleaning and disinfecting across our parks and resorts, to updated health and safety policies, we have reimagined the Disney experience so we can all enjoy the magic responsibly," Hymel added.

Disney urged guests to follow new safety instructions while visiting Walt Disney World Resort.

The company said that it will reduce capacity by letting fewer people enter its parks and all guests will be required to make advanced ticket purchases and reservations.

Park officials are also adjusting experiences to allow for physical distancing. This includes physical distancing in dining experiences, attractions, queues and other locations. Additionally, physical barriers have been installed in areas where physical distancing may be difficult to maintain, like cash registers.

Both cast members and guests ages two and older are required to wear a face covering unless swimming or when eating or drinking. Quick temperature checks are required for all guests at entry to the theme parks, according to the company.

Disney announced last month that the company will delay the phased reopening of its theme parks in Anaheim, California. The theme parks were scheduled to reopen on July 17, pending state and local government approvals.

The Disneyland Resort, which is home to two theme parks -- Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, is still awaiting California guidelines for reopening.

Florida and California are among a number of U.S. states that have seen a surge in new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

Disney reopened Shanghai Disneyland in China on May 11 under a slew of health and safety measures, making it the first among six Disney theme parks worldwide to welcome visitors again since the outbreak of COVID-19.
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The bodies of two missing boaters were recovered Wednesday, the day after their boat was found empty and washed ashore in Pasadena.

A teen girl, who also was on the boat, was found safe Tuesday. The U.S. Coast Guard said a boat crew found one of the missing boaters, a man in his early 60s, around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday . The other missing boater, a woman in her early 30s, was located later that afternoon by the Kemah Police Departments Marine One Division. Both were found near Seabrook.
An 11-year-old boy mortally wounded in a crash Tuesday along Interstate 45 near Spring died at a Houston hospital, the second child killed as a result of the wreck.

The crash also left a 13-year-old dead, both of whom were passengers in the back seat of a Nissan Altima that was stranded in an unprotected HOV lane on I-45 near the Hardy Toll Road. The car had a flat tire, authorities said, so the driver stopped in the HOV lane and waited for help.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that sheriffs in at least eight Texas counties are refusing to fine or cite people who won't cover their faces when out in public, despite Gov. Greg Abbott's new order asking law officials to do so.

Abbott issued an order last Thursday, requiring all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases. The counties refusing to enforce Abbott's order are Denton, Nacogdoches, Smith, Upshur, Kerr, Gillespie, Panola and Montgomery. All have more than 20 coronavirus cases, according to data from each county's website.

According to the order, first-time violators will be issued a warning, and repeat offenders could be fined up to $250, however, states violators cannot be detained or jailed.

RELATED: 'Unconstitutional': Kerr County Sheriff won't enforce Gov. Abbott's face mask order

That limitation has frustrated sheriffs in Montgomery, Kerr, Gillespie and Upshur counties, who have said via Facebook accounts that they are unable to stop anyone who isn't wearing a mask since that could be construed as detaining them. The Gillespie County Sheriffs Office wrote on its Facebook account on Saturday that "the wearing of objects near the face and neck provides an offender possible tools to impose harm to an officer."

The Kerr County Sheriff's Office told mySA.com on Monday that the order may be "unconstitutional" because it treats people differently as some people such as poll workers and churchgoers are exempt from wearing a face mask.

Denton County, located north of Dallas and Fort Worth, is by far the most-populous county where the rule isnt being enforced, The Washington Post reported. Sheriff Tracy Murphree has expressed concerns about the prohibition on detaining people and told a local newspaper that he predicts Texans "will rebel and purposefully try to go into establishments without masks," predicting that it would invite "chaos and protest."

In other parts of the state, including East Texass Panola and Nacogdoches counties, local sheriffs have said on their Facebook accounts that they lack the resources to enforce the order or keep track of repeat violators. Smith County, located east of Dallas, said on its sheriff's office Facebook account it will "strongly encourage voluntary compliance."

Counties with 20 or fewer active cases are exempted, if they decide to opt-out. Click here to see the more than 40 counties that have decided to be exempt from the order.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Update July 8:

Police have located Carlos Robinson, 69, who is accused of stabbing his wife and teenage stepson.

Authorities located him in Temple on Wednesday.

Robinson fled the 600 block of Ferris Ave. on the East Side after critically injuring the mother and her son at approximately 9:26 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Police have not released additional information on the case and did not provide an update on the condition of mother and son.

Update July 7:

San Antonio police are seeking the public's help in locating a man who allegedly stabbed his wife and 15-year-old stepson.

Carlos Robinson, 69, fled the 600 block of Ferris Ave. after critically injuring the victims at approximately 9:26 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

The San Antonio Police Department asked anyone with information on Robinsons whereabouts to call 911.

Robinson is wanted on three felony warrants, police said.

Court records show that he was arrested Thursday for violating a protective order. He was released on a $2,000 bond.

Original:

A mother and her son were stabbed after the woman was involved in a verbal altercation with her ex who showed up at her East Side residence, San Antonio police spokeswoman Alisia Pruneda said.

Pruneda said she does not know if the man was the woman's ex-boyfriend or husband but said the mother, who is in her 50s, and her 15-year-old son were stabbed several times by the man and taken to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.

The woman suffered stab wounds to her neck and head area, police said. The womans son was inside the home when he heard her cries for help. Police said the teenager attempted to talk the man into dropping the weapon but he stabbed the boy several times.

Pruneda described the weapon as a cutting instrument." Investigators found a knife thrown onto the roof of the home but said they were unsure if it was the weapon.

The man fled and police believe he may be hiding in a home in the area.

If you know his location, please do not approach him, just call 911 with the best location and we will come get him, Pruneda said. We just want to make sure he is safe and figure out what happened here today.

The man is described as being in his late 60s to early 70s and is about 5-foot 6-inches, weighing 150 pounds. Pruneda said the man was wearing a white T-shirt and dark shorts, but may have taken off his shirt.

Police were searching the area with its EAGLE helicopter and a K-9 unit.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
There are two things I can say for sure that Ive given up on.

The first of those things happened some time ago: I gave up imagining Ill ever be skinny. And no, I dont mean it like Ive been fighting to take off weight my entire life (although I could always lose a few more pounds), as thats a struggle people really live with and not something that concerns me very much. Instead, I just mean Ive had to deal with the fact that Im broad. Ive got big shoulders and a wide chest. Not quite husky  more of a Bluto from Popeye type of body. I could probably lug boxes of carp across a frozen tundra, but a beach body, no sir. Ill never be tiny. Pre-coronavirus, I was at the gym and eating healthy, and still, I remained, well, thick. And Im good with that.

The other thing is more recent. Im sick of popping on a T-shirt to sit at my desk in my home office. That doesnt mean I want to get dressed (although the Matt Hraneks and Alexander Krafts make it look fun to put on a suit during all of this). I still want to wear shorts and not to have to worry about too many buttons  but a few buttons would be nice, a little barrier to distinguish my work clothes from my lounging ones.

There is, believe it or not, some good news for me these days in regards to both of those things. We are living in a great time for soft collars, and despite the reports that this summer is going to be a scorcher, I feel confident that Ill be able to deal with it without dressing too chill.

Ive seen these types of shirts called everything from Camp collars to Cuban shirts, and really dont have much in common with each other besides the fact that theyre comfortable as hell and easy to pair with just about anything.

A few sterling examples, below.

The Party Shirt

One that Im particularly fond of is the O.N.S Clothing collaboration with Los Angeles-based artist Leah Goren. The OKI Camp Collar Shirt is a blend of 55 percent linen and 45 percent cotton, which is exactly what Im looking for. I like linen just fine, but  and Im saying this in a very Larry David kvetchy voice  too much linen is overkill. It feels like Im walking around in a crumpled rag, if Im being honest. This one I paired with my favorite shorts of the summer, pink Patagonia Baggies. For this kind of look, I can wear loafers or slides. The great thing about this or any other soft collar shirt is that it has a certain zero fucks given feel to it. Youre not dressy, but youre still dressed up. You actually put on a button-up shirt during a pandemic when your friends and loved ones are still in sweats and Ts. You do you.

The Any Occasion Soft Collar

The previous number is my special occasion shirt. I wear it to drinks in the street six feet away from my friends and other socially distanced events that involve cocktails in some way. The day-to-day shirt has been the pink Todd Snyder camp collar. Now, I know what I said about linen above, but the fact is that a lot of places use cheap linen, and the fabric can feel scratchy against your skin. The Todd Snyder shirts are made with 100 percent Portuguese linen, so its super airy and easy to pair with everything from a pair of khaki shorts or even, if you must, some jorts. Its not a fussy shirt, but its also no slouch.

The Don Abides

I understand the urge to take fashion inspiration from Tony Soprano. The thing is, if Im going to dress like a gangster, Im going more for Hyman Roth chilling in Florida in The Godfather 2, except, you know, bigger. Then there are the other days, where Im going a little more Tony Montana before he realizes the world is his. A loud pattern with a soft collar can either say Im in the twilight of my years and just want to tinker around on the beach with my metal detector or I will sell you cocaine at a Miami Beach nightclub in 1982 and, frankly, both are admirable looks.

I found myself starting out this summer in a few Uniqlo shirts that were inexpensive when I bought them, and are currently on sale for under 20 bucks a pop. I cant really speak to the quality of these shirts, but theyve treated me well after a number of washes. I dont feel like a jerk sitting on a roof and drinking countless beers, sweating in the sun in a shirt that didnt cost a lot.

A shirt that Ill be bringing with me on holiday, whenever that might be, is the Belize, a Cuban collar shirt from Reiss that really makes me miss eating dinner on the beach. Am I going to be able to do that again in 2020? I have zero idea. But for now, this is my shirt for chilling out under an umbrella while I sip rose and waste away the hot days.

The Griller

I really hate the idea that something as wonderful as a Hawaiian shirt could be considered controversial, but, then again, this is 2020 were talking about. So, sadly, the one shirt that I got this season that I would feel comfortable wearing to a luau is really being held for home grilling and other assorted activities that might involve fire. The Freemans Sporting Club Amboy is that shirt, and Ive labeled it my fun shirt. Im well aware that Brooks Brothers has their own version of a fun shirt, but thats not what Im going for right now. These days, I want some palms, an ice-cold beer and anything that is going to take my mind off pretty much everything. I just want a little fun at a safe distance, and this is just the shirt for that.

The post The Camp Collar Is the Perfect Summer Shirt for Bigger Guys appeared first on InsideHook.
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A United Nations spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that the United States notified on Monday the UN secretary-general of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization.



"In answer to questions received just now, I can say that on July 6, 2020, the United States of America notified the secretary-general, in his capacity as depositary of the 1946 Constitution of the World Health Organization, of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, effective on July 6, 2021," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said in an email sent to UN resident correspondents.

"The United States is a party to the World Health Organization Constitution since June 21, 1948. The United States' participation in the World Health Organization was accepted by the World Health Assembly with certain conditions set out by the U.S. for its eventual withdrawal from the World Health Organization. The said conditions include giving a one-year notice and fully meeting the payment of assessed financial obligations," said the spokesman.

"The secretary-general, in his capacity as depositary, is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met," Dujarric added.




Florida, FL (34429)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms becoming likely this afternoon. High 84F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 73F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Invitations to apply for a provincial nomination were issued to foreign tech workers and international students through the BC PNP.

Latest B.C. Tech Pilot draw issues 57 invitations Invitations to apply for a provincial nomination were issued to foreign tech workers and international students through the BC PNP.

Latest B.C. Tech Pilot draw issues 57 invitations Invitations to apply for a provincial nomination were issued to foreign tech workers and international students through the BC PNP.

Latest B.C. Tech Pilot draw issues 57 invitations Invitations to apply for a provincial nomination were issued to foreign tech workers and international students through the BC PNP. Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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British Columbia held a new Tech Pilot draw on July 7 and issued 57 invitations.



The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot was launched in 2017 to assist employers in attracting potential immigrants in the Information Technology (IT) sector and to facilitate the immigration process for foreign tech workers and international students.

The BC PNP issues weekly Tech Pilot invitations to eligible candidates with a valid one-year job offer in one of the programs specified occupations. The job offer must also have at least 120 days remaining at the time of application.

The July 7 draw saw invitations issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories of the Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration streams.

Selected candidates in all the subcategories needed a minimum provincial score of 80.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

Express Entry candidates who receive a nomination from British Columbia will be awarded an additional 600 points toward their Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and are effectively guaranteed an Invitation To Apply (ITA) in a future federal draw.

In order to be considered for immigration to British Columbia through the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories, individuals must first create a profile through the BC PNP online portal and register under the programs Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

Latest BC PNP Tech Pilot figures

The province of British Columbia has conducted 14 tech-only draws so far in 2020 through its BC PNP, with the most recent draws prior to todays draw taking place on June 9 and June 23.

Recent statistical data show that last year was a big year for B.C. immigration in terms of registrants, nominees, and the Tech Pilot.

The number of Tech Pilot nominations was 1,509 in 2019, a 33 per cent increase over 2018. Tech Pilot nominations accounted for 23 per cent of all nominations, up from 17.4 per cent in 2018.

In addition, it should be noted that B.C. continues to invite foreign workers and graduates in non-tech occupations.

Last week, the province held its largest draw since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and the second largest of 2020. A total of 314 Express Entry and Skills Immigration candidates were invited in that draw. That number of invitations is comparable to the number of invitations issued in the largest draw that took place on March 10, before the start of the pandemic, when 332 invitations were issued.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
Canadians use Twitter to urge the CEO of the billion-dollar language application to come to Toronto.

Why Toronto would be a good location for Duolingo

Why Toronto would be a good location for Duolingo Canadians use Twitter to urge the CEO of the billion-dollar language application to come to Toronto.

Why Toronto would be a good location for Duolingo Canadians use Twitter to urge the CEO of the billion-dollar language application to come to Toronto.

Why Toronto would be a good location for Duolingo Canadians use Twitter to urge the CEO of the billion-dollar language application to come to Toronto. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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After the CEO of Duolingo said that he may be forced to move jobs to Toronto due to the U.S. immigration ban, prominent Canadians are saying, Let us know if we can help.

The tweet by Luis von Ahn went viral on July 6. Canadas Chief Trade Commissioner, Ailish Campbell, and the COO of Shopify, Harley Finkelstein, offered their support for the tech giant to move jobs north of the border.

Let us know if we can help   Harley Finkelstein (@harleyf) July 7, 2020

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

Twitter was quick to point out that Torontos multicultural demographic would be a great fit for Duolingo, a tech company that offers language lessons in a mobile app.

Nearly half of Torontos 3 million residents are foreign-born, according to the 2016 Statistics Canada census. This makes for over 200 languages spoken in the city.

A recent study from Ryerson University found that the Greater Toronto Area was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in Canada and the U.S. thanks to immigration.

Toronto is also becoming known as a tech hub in Canada. Last year Toronto was the number one city in Canada and the U.S. for brain gain, meaning there were more jobs created in tech than there were grads in the same field.

There are also several avenues for foreign tech workers to immigrate to Canada. Here are just three options.

Global Talent Stream

Canadas Global Talent Stream provides work permits in two weeks to skilled workers. In order to be eligible for this Temporary Foreign Worker Program stream candidates must either work for one of the designated companies or be employed for certain tech occupations.

This facilitated immigration pathway has been attracting tech talent to Canada since 2017.

Express Entry

Express Entry is Canadas application management system for three main economic-class immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Nearly 110,000 new permanent residents and their family members were admitted to Canada through Express Entry in 2019. It is Canadas largest source of economic-class immigrants.

Candidates enter their profiles into the Express Entry pool, where they are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on factors such as age, work experience, education, and language ability.

The highest-scoring candidates are issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through regular Express Entry draws.

Many Express Entry candidates also seek out a provincial nomination, which automatically awards them an additional 600 CRS points. This bonus boosts them to the front of the line to receive an ITA.

One example of a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw that is tailored for tech workers specifically, is the Ontario Tech Draw.

OINP Tech Draws

Ontario occasionally holds invitation rounds for Express Entry candidates with work experience in one of six occupations:

Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173)

Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174)

Computer engineers (NOC 2147)

Web designers and developers (NOC 2175)

Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172)

Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213)

So far there have been two Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Tech draws in 2020.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
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Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

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A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Cooler. High 66F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Kids from the Lakeway area answered the call of the great outdoors last week when they showed up for the Tennessee Wild Child Day Camp organized by the University of Tennessee Extension Service and the University of Tennessee 4-H Program, in conjunction with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced on Tuesday that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.



Bolsonaro came down with symptoms on Monday, including a fever of 38 degrees Celsius, cough and headache, leading to a test at the Brazilian Armed Forces Hospital.

Bolsonaro canceled planned visits to the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais this week, according to the state news agency Agencia Brasil.

The president is considered to be in the high-risk group for COVID-19 due to his age, 65.

Bolsonaro campaigned for continued economic activity and often appeared in public without a face mask and disregarded social distancing.

The president was tested three times in March, following a trip to Washington in which 20 members of his delegation or people he met with later tested positive for COVID-19.

At first he declined to make the test results public, saying only that he had tested negative. Eventually, Brazil's Supreme Court ruled the results were in the public interest and had to be published.

Brazil has suffered the second largest COVID-19 outbreak in the world, just after the United States. The country's death toll has surpassed 65,000 on Monday, with 1,623,284 confirmed cases.
A new New York state Department of Health report posits that unwitting nursing home staff, and possibly visitors, caused thousands of COVID-19 deaths at facilities across the state. While that could be true, that does not mean that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is as blameless as the report concludes.

There are a few broad reasons to ascribe some responsibility to Cuomo, who has said he has no regrets about his handling of nursing homes during the coronavirus outbreak. The first is that he is a three-term governor who could have done more early on in the pandemic to safeguard nursing homes, especially when it came to ensuring facilities had adequate staff and personal protective equipment. Such issues are outside the direct purview of the report, yet still relevant to its conclusions that nursing home quality and admission policies had little effect on the nursing home death toll, which stands at 6,432 as of the reports July 6 release. That accounts for about a quarter of New Yorks 24,914 from confirmed or likely cases of COVID-19 as of that same date.

The report cites data suggesting the coronavirus had spread through the facilities weeks before anyone even knew it was in the state. Therefore, it argues, Cuomos subsequent actions cant be to blame.

Nearly all the deaths in nursing homes came after the Cuomo administration ordered facilities to accept COVID-19 patients from hospitals, but there are reasons to believe the coronavirus was already surging before then and there is a lag between infection and death. So the report asserts that admission policies were not a significant factor in nursing home deaths.

This is all complicated stuff  you can read the report here  so it makes sense to go through a few important issues about nursing home deaths, which shows things are much more complicated than the report lets on.

A few dates are key to the report

More than 6,000 COVID-19 patients were moved from hospitals to nursing homes between March 25 and May 10 in order to free up hospital beds during the worst of the pandemic. Nursing home deaths from COVID-19 reached their peak on April 8, whereas nursing home admissions of patients with COVID-19 reached their peak on April 14.

The intervals between these various dates are important to the reports key claims. This includes the idea that the 14 days in between the March 25 order and April 8 apex in deaths is too short of a time for the skyrocketing death toll to be caused by patients with COVID-19 returning to nursing homes after the March 25 order and subsequently spreading it throughout the facility, considering federal guidance that suggests it takes about 18 to 25 days for the coronavirus to kill someone.

If admitting COVID-19 patients to nursing homes was driving the deaths, the report asks, then why did they peak six days before admissions? This suggests that admissions were not the overriding cause for deaths in nursing homes, but that is very different than saying they were not a factor at all  and absolving the governor of responsibility for the March 25 decision in the process. A number of possible factors could also explain why deaths peaked earlier than admissions, such as increasingly better treatments for COVID-19, more awareness of its dangers, and a wider availability of PPE as time went by.

The report also makes a claim, based on the length of time between the peak of deaths and the day when the most facilities reported COVID-like symptoms among staff, which was nine days before the March 25 order. That shows that the virus was already in dozens of nursing homes before COVID-19 patients began coming in from hospitals. CDC guidance at the time allowed asymptomatic people to work in nursing homes, which added to the spread of the coronavirus.

It all paints a picture that this came earlier, said Jim Malatras, president of SUNY Empire State College, who has taken a leading role in analyzing COVID-19 data on behalf of the Cuomo administration. Many of those staff members worked in the most impacted communities of color  (the pandemic) was already infecting those regions.

The timeline can be interpreted in other ways

The March 25 order remained in effect for 46 days, the deadliest period of time during the pandemic. Even if it took 25 days for a COVID-19 case to go from infection to death, that still leaves three weeks when the order arguably caused fatalities before the order was rescinded on May 10. This is a period of time when more than 2,000 people died of the disease in nursing homes.

A graph in the report with these key dates does not include data from nursing home deaths that happened in the 25-day period after May 10, but it is entirely plausible that some deaths could have happened after that date due to admissions from hospitals. Yet, the report cites claims that such patients could not have been contagious by the time they reached the nursing homes because of federal guidance that suggests people are not very contagious nine days after the onset of symptoms.

Some big scientific assumptions make the DOH timeline work

The Cuomo administration has blasted the CDC throughout the pandemic. Cuomo has even noted at various junctures just how much the coronavirus has surprised scientists and policy makers alike in recent months. This is especially true when it comes to how much asymptomatic people spread the virus.

Yet, the administration still believes that the CDC has it right with its claims about how long someone is infectious and how long it takes for COVID-19 to kill. Like so many other things with the pandemic, these are just informed guesses rather than bulletproof scientific conclusions.

You can be critical at times, Malatras said of the disconnect between the administrations criticism of the CDC and reliance on its data.It's not all black and white.

Even so, these lengths of time are based on COVID-19 patients at-large. The situation could be different with older, more vulnerable, nursing home residents though they are disproportionately killed by the virus. There is some evidence for example that it could take as few as 10 days for an older person to die from COVID-19. If that were proven true, it would challenge the whole premise of the DOH report. There just are no definitive answers on this point about how long it takes, considering the lack of peer-reviewed scientific studies on the pandemic. All you can do is measure things, and then point out the strongest factors, said Malatras, while considering that future research could change the scientific understanding of just how long it takes COVID-19 to kill people or how long they are contagious. If you put a gun to my head and say: You know, with 1 million percent certainty? Of course not, he added about the reliance on the CDC guidelines. That's why you have academic journals.

More PPE from the state surely would have helped

The state has insisted that it has provided nursing homes with adequate personal protective equipment, such as masks, since the onset of its COVID-19 outbreak, despite reports that have suggested otherwise. From the beginning (of the pandemic), New York state took aggressive steps to prepare healthcare facilities, including nursing homes, State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said during a press conference on Monday. New York sent over 8.5 million pieces of PPE, took staff temperatures, suspended nursing home visitation statewide. The purpose of all these actions was to limit the opportunities for nursing home residents to be exposed to COVID-19.

While Zucker is citing the total amount of PPE sent to healthcare facilities, its unclear what portion of those supplies were distributed to nursing homes, as opposed to, say, hospitals.

In April, the Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn told The Wall Street Journal that the nursing home spent weeks asking state officials for more PPE.

Other nursing homes throughout the state have reported similar issues. Assemblyman Ron Kim told the New York Post in April that, Zuckers assertion that necessary precautions were being taken to prevent the spread of infections in nursing homes was clearly not the case.

Its either hes lying or they have absolutely no idea whats going on on the ground, Kim said. The staff, the families, everyone is telling me theres completely a lack of support and they dont have the necessary PPE to be safe.

Staffing shortages had already made nursing homes vulnerable

New York doesnt have minimum employment requirements when it comes to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, which has often resulted in understaffed nursing homes. You cut the staff because you can, Robyn Grant, director of public policy and advocacy at the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, told City Limits in 2019. You cut it to the bone, and then what we end up seeing is terrible, terrible understaffing.

Nursing home employees are also underpaid and, because of the often grueling nature of the work that they do, its difficult to attract more staff. Lowpaid employees are often forced to work at multiple facilities to make ends meet, which could have contributed to wider spreading the virus. A smaller staff also means that employees have to take on more work, which can put elderly and immunocompromised individuals at increased risk due to employees prolonged exposure to individuals who may be infected.

Lack of Medicaid funding

State Sen. Rachel May, Chair of the Committee on Aging, told City & State in early May, that she believes a large reason why the state's nursing homes were hit so hard by COVID-19 was due to a lack of Medicaid funding. (The states nursing homes) have gone 12 years without a cost-of-living rate increase for Medicaid recipients, May said. That means, in skilled nursing homes, they're spending a lot more money per day on care for their residents than they are receiving back from Medicaid. And that has led to a financial crisis and cuts to funding numerous times. The state has also cut some capital funding to nursing homes so they weren't able to expand or create safer spaces (for their residents during the onset of the outbreak).

However, the state has rebuffed the notion that the lack of funding, PPE or staff are to blame for the unprecedented outbreak.

There seems to be new theories every day, but lets stick to the actual facts: as this pandemic tested every facet of our healthcare system, top Cuomo aide Rich Azzopardi said in a statement sent to City & State. Nursing home infections became a nationwide issue and New York responded by providing a database of more than 96,000 healthcare workers  which more than 400 of 600 nursing homes used  and provided more than 14 million pieces of PPE to these mostly private businesses. We have also put into place safety protocols to try to keep the virus at bay which included barring visitors, required temperature checks and later testing of both workers and residents. As weve seen in the DOH analysis released this week, the virus was in facilities and in our communities way before New York received its first confirmed positive from the federal government and through no fault of their own, were likely brought in (by) asymptomatic employees.

Its true that  as one might expect in light of their vulnerable populations and close quarters  nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have accounted for a remarkably large share of deaths in some other states as well. In New Jersey, the proportion of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes has been even higher than in New York.

The report even cites one statistic that finds New York was in the bottom tier when it comes to nursing home deaths as a share of a states total COVID-19 death toll. Yet, if correlations do matter  and the report uses several of them to make its various claim  then it should be noted that while New Jersey and Pennsylvania adopted policies similar to the March 25 order in New York, a Pro Publica analysis found nursing home deaths went down in California after it stopped sending COVID-19 patients to nursing homes early on in the pandemic.

Conclusion

The report revealed a lot of new information about how nursing home staff, and maybe visitors, spread the coronavirus through nursing homes in February and March. A more effective federal response to the pandemic obviously made it harder for the state and nursing homes to react to the danger once they knew it was there. Maybe nursing home staff were the biggest vector for the coronavirus, and the biggest overall factor driving the deaths. But even if that is true, that does not mean that COVID-19 patients from hospitals had no effect at all.

There are a lot of outstanding questions about how easily the coronavirus spreads, how fast it kills and how long people remain infectious once they recover, so it is too early to really know how one factor or another contributed to COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. Yet, there are still reasons to believe that the March 25 order at least played some role, as well as Cuomos handling of PPE, staffing and other issues. With so much up in the air, the one thing we do know is the DOH report raises as many questions as it sought to answer about the governors role in the tragic affair.
After pushing off the start date for counting absentee ballots from the June 23 state legislative and congressional primary  which was legally supposed to begin last week, but was delayed because of the record number of ballots coming in  the New York City Board of Elections started the count citywide on Wednesday, after Staten Island got a headstart on Monday. While boards of elections in other parts of the state, such as Erie County and Monroe County, did manage to start on time, they are similarly facing a glut of ballots to sort through that will slow the process.

The New York City BOE is set to count mailed-in votes for 17 Assembly primary races on Wednesday, but its not clear when results will be certified.Those districts are in upper Manhattan, northern portions of the Bronx, all of Staten Island and southern and eastern parts of both Queens and Brooklyn.

Most of the districts being counted this Wednesday feature only one candidate in the running, but a couple of races could be swayed by the remaining absentee ballots. In Queens,Democratic Assembly Member David Weprin is 785 votes ahead of the current second-place candidate Mahfuzul Islam, while 4,940 absentee ballots sent in for that race are set to be counted. Other races being counted include races in districts currently being led by Assembly Members Alfred Taylor, Jeffrey Dinowitz and Michael Benedetto, who are currently leading among in-person votes.

The Board of Elections will update at the end of the day Wednesday which districts ballots will be counted on Thursday.

The overall process of garnering results will take longer than usual, because of the volume of ballots that have come in. Democratic voters in New York City returned 379,614 ballots this year, according to the citys most recent tally. In comparison, just 157,885 of all voters statewide requested a ballot in the 2016 presidential primary.

Not all the submitted absentee ballots will be counted, however. They may be thrown out because voters failed to sign their envelope or chose to vote in-person, as happens every year. One issue that is likely to be particularly pertinent this year is missing postmarks.

In order to be counted, absentee ballots must have been postmarked by primary day and be received by June 30. But because New York approved the use of prepaid postage for absentee ballots this year as a result of the pandemic, workers with the United States Postal Service may omit the postmarks needed to get a ballot approved. This may legally invalidate votes from people who otherwise filled out their ballots correctly.

How long exactly the counting will take is unclear, but one election expert previously said that it would require at least two to three weeks for all results to be finalized.

The process may also be drawn out depending on the results of litigation over which ballots are counted. Given that candidates only had until July 6 to file a lawsuit, several have done so preemptively in advance of any possible issues, including Bronx-Westchester Rep. Eliot Engel, who is losing to Jamaal Bowman in results from in-person voting and Brooklyn Rep. Yvette Clarke, both Democrats, and several state-level candidates.

Several political organizations, elected officials and candidates  including a few in competitive primaries, such as Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, who is running in the 34th Assembly district in Queens  have called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to loosen rules for counting ballots to allow postmarkless ballots to be counted. Votes with missing or illegible postmarks should be counted if they arrived on or before June 30, they said in a letter, unless they were clearly postmarked after June 23. No one is calling for counting ballots that were postmarked after June 23, although there would be a good case for doing so, since so many voters didnt receive their absentee ballots until that day, or even later, if they received it at all. (Presumably, most voters in that situation never sent in an absentee ballot anyway.)

I called upon the governor to accept all the absentee ballots that were not postmarked, Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte, chairwoman of the Kings County Democratic Committee, said in a separate statement. Sadly, experts have informed me that there is no way to determine which ballots met the statutory postmark deadline date.
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Welcome back to the Year of Fear. Each week until Election Day, CJR and the Delacorte Review will bring you another chapter from one of our four towns. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

In a long-term project such as The Year of Fear, you need a premise to keep everyone on track. Our premise of looking at the 2020 political landscape from four different areas of the country, unserved or underserved by newspapers, has been blown to hell, first by COVID-19 and now by the police killings of George Floyd which sparked weeks of major protests across the entire country.

A similar murder happened in Macon-Bibb, about seven years ago. Sammie Junebug Davis, Jr., a forty-nine-year-old black man with a history of mental illness regularly hung around the Kroger grocery store. Most everyone who frequented the store knew Junebug. He was a panhandler  and he was big, but slow as molasses in winter, and no threat to anyone. On a sunny day with a high of fifty-two, four days before Christmas, 2012, eighty-four-year-old Vivian Marable called 911 and told the dispatcher, Theres a guy sitting out front, walking, following me to my car and asking me for money. Its a big, uh, big black guy. Other than Ms. Marable, another person who didnt realize that Junebug was harmless was the Macon policeman who responded to her call. Clayton Sutton, a twenty-nine-year-old officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, arrived at the parking lot with a number of complaints of excessive force already on his record. When Sutton approached Junebug, the officer said Junebug attacked. Sutton fired his service weapon four times killing him. The police department initially said Sutton was there to serve Junebug a warrant  and that he had a weapon. There was no warrant and no weapon  and it took the department a week to clarify.

In the end, Sutton wasnt charged in Junebugs killing, and there were three months of marches decrying Junebugs death. A few weeks into it, the Macon Police Department merged with the Bibb County Sheriffs Office as part of government consolidation and Sutton had a new boss  Sheriff David Davis. The sheriff has a distinct approach to policing  and thats probably why the county didnt explode into violence over Junebugs murder. Davis wants his deputies to be viewed by the community as protectors, not warriors. The marches over Junebugs death never crossed the line from peaceful to violent. Certainly, the Bibb County Sheriffs Office has all the riot gear and SWATery, but you didnt see deputies in riot gear holding protestors at bay  then or now.

Two years later, Sutton was involved in another shooting downtown and was placed on administrative duty and ordered not to engage in any law enforcement duties. However, he confronted two men he suspected of theft with his gun drawn and was fired for insubordination. He appealed his firing twice, but to no avail. In the summer of 2018, Sutton was indicted for aggravated stalking in Dodge County, south of Macon-Bibb.

Six years after Junebug died, that same Midtown Kroger, located in the middle of three affluent neighborhoods, closed. The store had been built only after a three-year zoning fight that went all the way to the Georgia Supreme Court. Now the neighborhoods are left with a twenty-three-acre empty hole and the closest grocery store is more than three miles away.

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Macon-Bibb voters remembered this story this month as they learned of four similar tragedies, two of which are in their own state. Breonna Taylor, sleeping in her bed after midnight in Louisville, Kentucky, was killed by plainclothes officers exercising a no knock warrant, while the man they were looking for, who lived miles away, was already in custody. Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed for the offense of jogging while black in Brunswick, Georgia, while the vigilantes who killed him were not arrested until a video was leaked three months later. The last straw was Floyds unnecessary death, in all its gruesome detail, and the nations citizens, black and white, erupted. Three weeks after Floyds death and subsequent protests began, twenty-seven-year-old Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed while running from police in what should have been, at most, a simple DUI, in Atlanta, Georgia. Officer Garrett Rolfe was fired immediately and later indicted, and the citys police chief, Erika Shields, resigned.

Local demonstrations

When the citizens of Macon-Bibb peacefully gathered in Rosa Parks Square on May 31, an Ecumenical Day of Solidarity to listen to faith leaders and pray for the families of Arbery, Taylor and Floyd, not a rock was thrown as demonstrators sang gospel songs. Bethel African Methodist Episcopals pastor, The Rev. Marvin Colbert said we needed to, come together to have a day of solidarity, not protest. We are moved to come together today to pray.

Sheriff Davis, who attended, told The Telegraph, The things were seeing across the country are heartbreaking, and people have to have an outlet for that. They have to have an outlet for that outrage. Very fortunately, we have a good relationship with our community. Were here to support, were here to show our dismay and disappointment in our law enforcement brethren for treating individuals the way they have.

Two demonstrations were held in Warner Robins, the last one on June 13, was titled, Unity in the Community. Marchers, numbering more than 500, carried signs and chanted as they marched about two and a half miles to City Hall along Watson Blvd., the citys major thoroughfare. Speakers included Warner Robins Police Chief John Wagner, Perry Police Chief Steve Lynn and Houston County sheriffs Maj. Alan Everidge. At all of the marches, in both cities, the demonstrators were ethnically diverse.

All this is about is having a conversation about things, said Chief Wagner. Thats the strong action of talking and should be whats done. They were very grateful for this and well continue that open relationship and communication.

May 31, 1921  May 31, 2020

Those attending the Ecumenical Day of Solidarity were aware that ninety-nine years before to the day, on May 31, 1921, white residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma attacked the black Greenwood District, known as the Black Wall Street. Three hundred black residents were estimated to have been killed and buried in mass graves. Hundreds more were injured, and thousands fled. The rampaging white mobs burned everything  churches, schools and hospitals. Greenwood was the first place in the United States to be bombed from the air. In the end, thirty-five city blocks were torched.

Did members of the white mob get arrested? No, but police and National Guardsmen rounded up every black resident who was still around, according to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum. Over 6,000 people were held at the Convention Hall and the Fairgrounds, some for as long as eight days.

The two white papers in town  the Tulsa World and the now-defunct Tulsa Tribune  mostly ignored it, according to Scott Ellsworth, a professor of African American history at the University of Michigan who has written extensively about the massacre, and reported by the LA Times.

The Tribune, Ellsworth noted, didnt publish a single article about the massacre until 1971. The bottom line is that for half a century, the white newspapers of Tulsa intentionally kept the massacre buried. The only outlet to print accounts of the massacre before 1971 and is still in publication, was the black-owned Daily Tulsa Star founded in 1913, which was torched during the massacre (now the Oklahoma Eagle).

Toxic atmosphere

It was in this atmosphere of tragedy and conflict both historical and current  with COVID-19 still having its way and demonstrations all over the nation  that Georgia held its primary elections on June 9.

The biggest upset was in the Democratic Primary for District Attorney. Anita Reynolds-Howard, an African American, trounced the incumbent, David Cooke, by 9,374 votes. Cooke was hit by a perfect storm because many of his supporters voted in the Republican Primary where he wasnt on the ballot and there was no Republican candidate for the position.

The race for mayor is headed to an August 11 runoff between Lester Miller, the top vote getter, and Cliffard Whitby, an African American candidate, as a new mayor is chosen for the first time in twelve years. Four new Macon-Bibb County commissioners, none with elective experience, will join the board in January 2021. The school board will also see four new members, but one school board race is also headed to a runoff as two political newcomers vie for the seat.

Georgias two U.S. Senate seats could be decided  in two very different ways  come November. The match up in one has been determined. Democrat John Ossoff beat back six competitors to win the nomination outright without a runoff to face Republican Sen. David Perdue. The other U.S. Senate seat is the subject of a Jungle primary where twenty-one candidates, of all political ilk, seek to fill the unexpired term of Sen. Johnny Isakson. If theres a runoff, the race wont be decided until January 5, 2021. Whoever wins will have to run again in 2022.

Locally, eight of the nine Macon-Bibb County Commission seats, the mayors office, school board seats and Water Authority positions  all nonpartisan  were in play. Voters who selected the Democratic ballot saw the contested races for District Attorney and U.S. Senate. Republican ballots were mostly perfunctory.

It would seem voters in Macon-Bibb County had reasons to vote in the delayed primary, but that was not the case. Only 38,514 ballots were cast in the mayors race, the only seat besides DA that was county wide. Thats a paltry 36.3 percent of registered voters. Was COVID-19, long lines, or altered campaigns, to blame?

A hot mess

While Macon-Bibb County had its problems election day, some precincts had equipment malfunctions, it was the reporting of the voting results that were particularly galling. Precinct information on election night was unavailable  in fact  no information was available. Some results dribbled out Wednesday, June 10, but a final tally wasnt released for ten days  until June 19. The Board of Elections, which normally receives about 3,000 absentee ballots, received 15,000, and the chair of the board said 10,000 of those were marked incorrectly. Voters, instead of filling in the bubble next to their choice, circled or marked an X. Workers had to go through each ballot to make sure votes counted. On top of that, many of the absentee ballots mailed by the state were printed on thinner paper than those locally produced, and the scanners couldnt read them and they had to be manually tabulated.

Additional problems included 289 people who had been mailed incorrect absentee ballots. Voters who requested a Republican ballot in 2nd Congressional District received a ballot for the 8th Congressional District and a new database had to be created to count those voters. The elections board had to wait for the manufacturer of the $107 million new voting system to merge the new database with the old  and the chairman of the Board of Elections Mike Kaplan, said on June 16, Theyre having an extremely difficult time with that. We wouldve been done if we had the old system. The board of elections is asking for a budget increase before November to handle the anticipated increase in absentee ballots.

Those issues were nothing compared to the Atlanta Metro area where hours-long waits were the norm. It was a noxious combination of human error (not enough trained poll workers, many of them were new); equipment issues (Some precincts didnt have voting equipment until the morning of the election; and some equipment was delivered to the wrong locations). Polls which were supposed to close at 7 p.m. had to stay open past 10 p.m. One precinct, where the lines stretched for three blocks, was a nursing home, putting voters and residents at risk of COFID-19. Local officials pointed fingers at the Secretary of States Office, the agency that oversees elections in Georgia, and state officials blamed locals. Georgia has 159 counties and each county is responsible for selecting precincts to counting votes.

Georgia We Must Do Better screamed the front-page-above-the-fold headline tagged to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial boards opinion. Georgia blew it  big time, the editorial began. An election meltdown that had been simmering here for a long time finally boiled over for all the world to see. The election process  what should be a near-scared ritual of this Republic  quickly developed into what national and local commentators called, with ample justification, a hot mess.

The Georgia Speaker of the House has called for an investigation. Brad Raffensperger, the secretary of state, has asked the Legislature for the power to step in if a county cant perform its election functions. However, he has enough to say grace over. His offices website, where all the returns are posted statewide, was useless election night.

The AJCs editorial said it best: The back-and-forth we saw Tuesday was simply childish and unbecoming of the leadership for a state that proclaims itself as world-class. Our elections apparatus certainly and spectacularly failed this week to live up to those claims. And its fair to ask just what that says about the caliber of leaders weve chosen here.

This project is supported by a gift from the Delacorte Center for Magazine Journalism Fund at The New York Community Trust.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Charles Richardson has lived in Macon, Georgia, since 1982. His journalism experience spans newspapers, radio and television. He is the recipient of Knight-Ridder fellowships at Duke University and the University of Maryland, College Park. He was the editorial page editor at The Macon Telegraph, from which he retired in 2018.
A little over a week ago, China unveiled and immediately implemented a draconian new law cracking down on dissent in Hong Kong. Its first full day in effectJuly 1, which marked the twenty-third anniversary of Britain restoring Hong Kong to Chinese controlought to have been marked by massive pro-democracy protests; thousands of people did take to the streets, but faced water cannons, pepper spray, and mass arrests, including under the new law. (Among those detained: a 15-year-old with a pro-independence flag.) As Vivian Wang and Alexandra Stevenson reported for the New York Times last week, the enacting of the law also led to self-censorship: activists deleted social-media accounts; writers asked at least one news website to remove their old posts. We are being paranoid, Albert Wan, who owns an independent bookstore, told the Times. I dont know how else to put it. Since Wan said that, books by pro-democracy leaders have been pulled from public libraries, pending a review.

As is often the case with speech restrictions, the new law is broad and vague. Nominally, it criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign powers; in practice, observers fear that it gives Chinas ruling Communist Party a pretext to ban activity that it doesnt like. On the mainland, one such activity is independent journalism; Hong Kong, by contrast, has traditionally been a beachhead for free reporting, with a vibrant local press and a heavy presence of international news organizations. Now journalists in the territory fear a retrenchment. Before the law was enacted, almost all of the respondents to a poll conducted by the Hong Kong Journalists Association said that they expected it to affect press freedom, and a strong majority said that it made them either very or somewhat afraid for their personal safety. Sure enough, the law as enacted contains provisions that will regulate news outlets and impose limits on their reporting, including their access to court proceedings. Technically, Reporters Without Borders writes, the law can be used to threaten journalists writing about Hong Kong from anywhere in the world. According to The Guardian, foreign freelancers who have been covering the protests in Hong Kong are thinking about leaving, and local outlets are seeking to clarify whether theyre still allowed to quote pro-independence slogans; in a tweet last week, RTHK, a public broadcaster, rendered Liberate Hong Kong as L*******#HongKong. According to the Financial Times, one unnamed outlet already started rejecting sensitive content.

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The law contains provisions specific to foreign media working in Hong Kong. (This comes, of course, in the context of a tit-for-tat between the US and China over press registration and access; in March, China expelled American journalists working for the Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal from the mainland, and banned their employers from reassigning them to Hong Kong.) China has established a new national-security bureau in Hong Kong which, among other things, will oversee the management of and services for foreign news agencies. On Friday, we learned that the bureau will be headed by Zheng Yanxiong, a Party official from Guangdong province, which neighbors Hong Kong, who has a background in propaganda and crushing dissent. In 2011, during a local uprising which garnered significant international attention, Zheng was recorded saying that foreign media can be trusted when pigs can climb trees. The Journals Chun Han Wong reports that Zheng was involved in suppressing critical newspapers in Guangdong. Wu Qiang, an expert in Chinese politics, told the Journal that Zheng is expected to impose stricter controls over press and speech freedoms in Hong Kong.

What might that look like? Jodi Schneider, a Bloomberg editor who heads the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club, told the Post recently that she expects Beijing to place limits on the number of Western correspondents allowed to work in the territory. Bill Bishop, who writes the newsletter Sinocism, says he expects visa accreditation to become more complicated. Gady Epstein, China affairs editor at The Economist, even speculated, to Axios, that international outlets that use Hong Kong as a regional hub might decamp for Tokyo, Singapore, or Taiwan.

Journalists working in Hong Kong are no strangers to restrictions on press freedom. The territorys media climate has deteriorated in recent yearsin 2002, it ranked 18th on Reporters Without Borderss World Press Freedom Index; now it ranks 80th. (The 2020 index lists 180 countries and territories worldwide. The US ranks 45th; China ranks 177th.) Figures linked to the Chinese government have expanded their ownership of local outlets, allowing Beijing to manipulate coverage from afar. In 2018, Victor Mallet, then Asia news editor at the Financial Times, was expelled from Hong Kong, after he chaired an event with a pro-independence activist. Journalists faced official harassment while covering pro-democracy protests in 2014, then again last summer; a year ago, Clarence Leung wrote for CJR that police routinely assaulted reporters at the protests, and that 2019 was shaping up to be the worst year for Hong Kong media since the territory was returned to China, in 1997. In February this year, police arrested Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy media mogul, on charges including illegal assembly; last month, officials charged two reporters, Ma Kai-chung and Wong Ka-ho, with rioting after they covered the occupation of a legislative building.

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Still, the new law marks a clear escalation of these trends, and could be a grim turning point for journalism in Hong Kong. Yesterday, Charles Ho, a member of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference who also owns a media company in Hong Kong, told the Financial Times that foreign reporters could be expelled from the territory should they cross the line in their coverage of the independence movement. (If you promote Hong Kong independence of course they will kick you out, Ho said. Dont do any fake news, thats the most important.) Stevenson, of the New York Times, shared the interview on Twitter. Hos warning, she wrote, doesnt mean it will happen. But [the] fact that its acceptable to talk about curbs on free speech says a lot about how things are changing.

Below, more on China, Hong Kong, and international press freedom:

A reckoning for big tech: On Monday, Facebook, Twitter, and Google all said they would halt compliance with government requests for data on users in Hong Kong while they assess the implications of the new law. (TikTok, a video app which is owned by a Chinese company but is not available in mainland China, said it would remove its app from use in Hong Kong completely.) Authorities in Hong Kong have threatened that tech companies staffers could be imprisoned should data requests go unfulfilled. Paul Mozur writes, for the Times, that tech giants are on the front line in a global fight between the United States and China over censorship, surveillance and the future of the internet.

On Monday, Facebook, Twitter, and Google all said they would halt compliance with government requests for data on users in Hong Kong while they assess the implications of the new law. (TikTok, a video app which is owned by a Chinese company but is not available in mainland China, said it would remove its app from use in Hong Kong completely.) Authorities in Hong Kong have threatened that tech companies staffers could be imprisoned should data requests go unfulfilled. Paul Mozur writes, for the Times, that tech giants are on the front line in a global fight between the United States and China over censorship, surveillance and the future of the internet. A growth area: Sara Fischer reports, for Axios, that outlets in the US are increasingly looking to invest in coverage of China, its economy, and its relationship with the US, despite mounting restrictions such as the Hong Kong security law. In May, Politico launched a new China newsletter that the site says has established itself as a top-performing product. And The Information is launching a Chinese-language tech newsletter that will be anchored by Yunan Zhang, a reporter based in Hong Kong.

Sara Fischer reports, for Axios, that outlets in the US are increasingly looking to invest in coverage of China, its economy, and its relationship with the US, despite mounting restrictions such as the Hong Kong security law. In May, Politico launched a new China newsletter that the site says has established itself as a top-performing product. And The Information is launching a Chinese-language tech newsletter that will be anchored by Yunan Zhang, a reporter based in Hong Kong. Stifling dissent: On Monday, police in Beijing arrested Xu Zhangrun, a law professor who has sharply criticized the Chinese government, on charges that he solicited prostitutes. In a series of essays that he started in 2018, Xu condemned Chinese President Xi Jinpings moves to consolidate power.

On Monday, police in Beijing arrested Xu Zhangrun, a law professor who has sharply criticized the Chinese government, on charges that he solicited prostitutes. In a series of essays that he started in 2018, Xu condemned Chinese President Xi Jinpings moves to consolidate power. Meanwhile, in Russia: Yesterday, officials in Russia arrested Ivan Safronov, a former journalist who was advising the countrys space agency, on treason charges; he stands accused of leaking classified intelligence to another country. Throughout the day, journalists held single-person demonstrations in Moscow to express solidarity with Safronov. At least eight of themincluding Elena Chernenko and Kristina Dyuryagina, of Kommersant, and Olga Churakova, of Proektwere arrested. Meduza has more.

Yesterday, officials in Russia arrested Ivan Safronov, a former journalist who was advising the countrys space agency, on treason charges; he stands accused of leaking classified intelligence to another country. Throughout the day, journalists held single-person demonstrations in Moscow to express solidarity with Safronov. At least eight of themincluding Elena Chernenko and Kristina Dyuryagina, of Kommersant, and Olga Churakova, of Proektwere arrested. Meduza has more. Meanwhile, in Poland: Voters in Poland will elect a new president on Sunday. In recent days, the incumbent, Andrzej Duda, who is running for reelection, has waged public attacks against German media companies, including Axel Springer, and accused them of trying to interfere in the election. On Monday, Duda and his opponent, Rafa Trzaskowski, appeared on separate TV networks after they failed to reach agreement on a presidential debate. Jan Cienski has more for Politico.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: The mystery of Tucker Carlson

Update: This post has been updated to clarify the positions of Victor Mallet and Charles Ho.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
The 2019 flooding of the Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas Rivers in the United States impacted 19 states and caused $20 billion in losses. Waters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana stayed above flood levels for 211 days, longer than any flood in its recorded history. The long-lasting flood kept farmers from harvesting food, put construction projects on hold, and halted barge traffic on the Mississippi River from March through June, leaving approximately 6.3 million tons of grains (worth almost $1 billion) unshipped.

Flooding continues to be a major risk in the Mississippi Basin given the growing intensity and frequency of rainfall in the region due to climate change. New analysis from Aqueduct Floods finds that by 2030, riverine flood risk in the Mississippi is expected to threaten $4.2 billion in GDP annually  an $831 million increase from 2010.

The situation is even more worrisome globally. By 2030, riverine flood risk is expected to threaten $1.1 trillion in GDP annually, a $790 billion increase from 2010.

Of course, flooding does not happen in isolation. Mississippi farmers were already struggling with financial repercussions from the U.S.-China trade war when the 2019 floods hit. By the end of 2019, farm bankruptcies were up 13% in the Midwest compared to 2018. Farm bankruptcies in the Midwest are predicted to increase by 42% this year, thanks in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the nation prepares its economic response, hard-hit farm businesses will need special attention.

Federal investment in flood protection can provide the Mississippi Basin with long-term economic relief by protecting farmland and increasing resilience to future floods  but only if those investments include nature-based solutions alongside traditional solutions like levees.

Traditional Levees Are Part of the Problem with Flooding

Levees are the backbone of flood protection in the Mississippi River Basin. While they have helped prevent billions in damages, they also increase flood risk.

Levees changed the Mississippi River by increasing river level and speed. Flooding has worsened as a result. For example, the magnitude of a 100-year flood (a flood with a 1% probability of occurring in a given year) in the region increased 20% over the past 500 years, largely due to river engineering.

Levees also create an illusion of protection that incentivizes development and agricultural activity on flood-prone land. This has not only increased the cost of flood damages over time by putting more people, crops and property in harms way, but has also resulted in the loss of 85-90% of the Upper Mississippi Rivers native wetlands. Wetlands serve as natural storage containers for flood water. A study in Illinois found that losing 1% of wetland cover can increase total flood volume by as much as 7%.

As the rate and intensity of flooding increases, maintaining levees is becoming unfeasible. In 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. levee system a D grade and estimated it would cost $80 billion to bring the system up to national standards. Out of 57 National Flood Insurance Program evaluations performed on Mississippi River and Tributaries Project levees in 2010, 38 returned negative reports, meaning they did not provide reasonable assurance that the levees could protect against a 100 year flood (a flood with a 1% annual probability of occurrence).

Pairing levees with a diverse set of nature-based solutions will help counteract these downsides. Simply put, nature-based solutions make levees better prepared to resist floods. Levee setbacks are an optimal and cost-effective first step. They consist of relocating a levee farther away from the river. This option retains the added protection of the levee, while creating space for nature-based solutions that increase the resilience and effectiveness of flood mitigation, such as:

1. Reconnecting the floodplain: Floodplains give rivers room to shift and grow. A wider floodplain allows a river to create curves, store more water and flow more slowly. The Nature Conservancy recently found that conserving undeveloped lands in floodplains is also a cost-effective solution, where every dollar invested returns at least $5 in savings from avoided flood damages. Floodplains will be particularly important for building resilience to stronger storms in the future.

For example, after devastating floods in its Puyallup Basin in 2009, Washington state, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, implemented an extensive levee setback and floodplain restoration project that included conservation easements on farmlands. Fewer than 5 years later, 2009-level rainfall hit the basin yet again  only this time, the system could absorb the water and prevent flooding, allowing farmers to operate as normal.

2. Wetland restoration: Restoring wetlands is a critical defense against flood damage. Wetlands function as sponges that retain water during heavy rainfall and then slowly release it over time. Restoring wetlands on just 1.5% of a landscape is shown to reduce flood peaks (the maximum height and volume of waterflow) by as much as 29%. Many organizations, including the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), are beginning to utilize wetlands for both their environmental and economic benefits. For example, the USACE found that wetlands could reduce Bostons flood risk for one-tenth the cost of relying on new engineered infrastructure.

These recommendations are just the tip of the iceberg. WRI, in partnership with the World Bank, released a comprehensive guide to nature-based solutions, including detailed examination of their benefits and limitations. Engineers and environmentalists alike have been continually advocating for these solutions, particularly in the wake of major floods, such as in 1993 and 2019. Whats needed now is support from federal and state governments. Increased funding and targeted policies can make it possible to scale these efforts for the benefit of the environment and farmers.

Hybrid Flood-mitigation Solutions Can Generate Net Benefits for Farmers

The failures of existing flood-control infrastructure force landowners to face the realities of flooding head-on. As a result, farmers are exploring alternative solutions, including nature-based ones, despite the required trade-off of taking a portion of land out of production. For instance, by intentionally allowing the rivers floodplain to flood, unintentional flooding of farmland will decrease. A study found that 8,000 hectares of reconnected floodplain would protect approximately 26,000 hectares of farmland from flooding.

The government can support this movement by making nature-based solutions a centerpiece of future flood and disaster management to address the impacts of climate change and increased flooding.

Environmental organizations and federal agencies like USACE and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offer incentive-based programs that sustainably mitigate floods while generating long-term benefits for farmers (such as conservation easements and reduced flood damage). However, funding remains limited, and too much is being asked of farmers. These solutions are only effective on a landscape level; therefore, individual farmers cannot be expected to assume the risk. Instead, a greater effort needs to be made through policies and funding that ensures large-scale implementation, appropriate compensation, and a high confidence in potential avoided costs of flood damage.

For instance, through the right combination of policy and market incentives, farmers in the corn belt have more than doubled crop cover from 1.9 million to 4.2 million acres over the last two decades. Growing cover crops  plants that cover the soil but are not harvested  can protect soil from erosion, improve fertility and control pests. This technique increases the soils capacity to recover from extreme weather and contributes to flood mitigation by storing nearly 3 times more water than bare soil. Cover crops have a low cost of $37 dollars per acre and reduce peak water levels and economic losses.

Hybrid solutions are not the panacea, but rather, a form of eco-friendly insurance that minimizes the risk of a total loss in production for prolonged periods of time. If implemented on entire landscapes and done through adequate incentives and compensation, these solutions will generate long-term net benefits for farmers.

Green Infrastructure Has Global Potential

Engineers, scientists and mayors have been calling for a new system of flood management in the Mississippi region. Solely building more human-made, or gray infrastructure, is an ineffective, economically unfeasible approach. As the region recovers from 2019 flooding and now faces an economic recession due to the coronavirus, this is a pivotal time to build back better. We can no longer rely on levees and other gray infrastructure alone.

Nature-based solutions, and approaches that blend gray and green infrastructure, are not just relevant on the Mississippi River. The number of people around the world facing riverine floods is expected to rise from 65 million in 2010 to 132 million in 2030. From the United States to Peru, from India to China, nature-based flood protection can help millions of people build resilience to the growing threats of flooding.

This article originally appeared on the World Resources Institutes website.
HONOLULU  Hawaiian Airlines Inc. says 13 of its employees have tested positive for the coronavirus following an annual training course.

The employees who tested positive for COVID-19 took part in flight attendant training at the airlines Honolulu headquarters about two weeks ago, the company said.

One infected attendant worked during a flight last week, the airline said.

All employees involved in the classes have self-isolated in accordance with protocols issued by the Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Health, the air carrier said.

The training involving about 60 employees included close interaction and that masks were optional, the company said.

The Association of Flight Attendants, the union representing Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants, said the yearly training mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration was delayed because of the pandemic, but classes resumed last month with new safety measures in place.

Following the outbreak, the union wants Hawaiian Airlines to reevaluate those measures and has asked the federal government to outline safety measures to be required for all U.S. airlines.

We need to make sure that every airline is instituting effective COVID-19 safety measures, and that we get COVID-19 safety measures instituted from the federal government in order to ensure one level of safety across the aviation system, association spokesperson Taylor Garland said.

The updated safety measures followed during the training included smaller class sizes, social distancing, glove use, and frequent cleaning, Hawaiian Airlines said.

There will be more rigorous protocols when training resumes including required face coverings, electrostatic disinfection and additional time between activities to minimize interactions, the company said.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some _ especially older adults and people with existing health problems _ it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A small drone was almost certainly the object that damaged a news helicopter flying over Los Angeles last year, and the remote-controlled devices are suspected in two other mid-air impacts with aircraft, according to U.S. investigators.

A KABC-TV chopper was struck about 1,100 feet above sea level in the vicinity of Los Angeles City Hall on the evening of Dec. 4, 2019, prompting the pilot to land after hearing a loud noise, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report on the incident.

The object left a hole in the helicopters tail structure, a small gouge punched into one of its blades and dented and scuffed the rear of the craft, according to the report. The report was completed June 29, but wasnt announced by the agency.

The NTSBs findings are the latest indication of the growing risks of the millions of civilian drones in operation across the U.S. In addition to the three previously documented drone collisions, the safety board in its report on the Los Angeles incident said it now suspects the devices were involved in two other cases, an impact with a helicopter in Hawaii and a small plane in Oregon, both in 2018.

None of the cases led to injuries, but the small devices have hit with enough force to pierce metal structures, according to investigators.

Though a drone in the Los Angeles case was never found, evidence in the choppers damaged areas pointed to such a device. Tests revealed the presence of polycarbonate, a material used to make an exemplar popular drone, around the area of impact.

The damaged areas were consistent with the shape of a small drone and a computerized reconstruction of the impact by investigators predicted damage similar to what was found. There also was no biological evidence of bird remains.

Although no drone was located, preventing complete certainty, all the available evidence was consistent with a collision with a small UAS, the NTSB said in its report, using the acronym for unmanned aircraft system.

A physical search didnt find a downed drone in the area at the time, the report said. It additionally notes two drone detection companies in the vicinity said they did not have any targets in the area at the time, although both companies reported less than complete coverage of the area.

The helicopters pilot, whod logged more than 3,700 hours flying at the time of the collision, said hed never seen a small drone while flying the chopper, according to the report.

KABC reporter Chris Cristi, who was aboard the helicopter when it was struck, told Good Morning America that the occupants initially assumed theyd hit a bird, but realized something else was the case upon landing. It was a scary couple of minutes, and we were all looking at each other, you know, looking for a spot to land, and we eventually put it down and fortunately, everyones OK, Cristi said in the interview.

The Federal Aviation Administration generally forbids small drone users from flying the devices beyond their line of sight and no more than 400 feet above them.

The FAA is finalizing regulations that would for the first time require civilian drones to broadcast their identity and location, a measure designed in part to lower the risks of mid-air collisions.

Through June 2019, there had been more than 8,700 reports received by the FAA of drones flying in prohibited areas or in an unsafe manner. There are typically more than 200 such incidents a month when the weather is warmer, according to FAA data.

The first mid-air collision involving a drone occurred on Sept. 21, 2017. The small quad copter operated by a civilian in Brooklyn crashed into an Army helicopter 2.5 miles away from him during a time when the United Nations General Assembly was meeting and flights in the area by civilian aircraft were prohibited, the NTSB found.

About the photo: A SZ DJI Technology Co. Mavic 2 Zoom drone flies over the Brooklyn Navy Yard during an event in the Brooklyn Borough of New York, U.S., on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. Mark Kauzlarich/Bloomberg

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
 Flash

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said Wednesday that his country strongly supports cooperation between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) amid Seoul's efforts to resume inter-Korean cooperation.

"The United States strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation, and we believe this plays an important component in creating a more stable environment on the Korean Peninsula," Biegun told reporters in Seoul after talks with Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, according to Yonhap news agency.

"We look forward to fully supporting the government of (South) Korea as it advances its goals with North Korea (DPRK) in inter-Korean cooperation," the U.S. nuclear envoy said.

His comment came as South Korea is seeking a U.S. support for the resumption of inter-Korean cooperation projects that have been suspended under international sanctions toward Pyongyang.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in offered in late April to the DPRK resuming inter-Korean cooperation by jointly tackling the COVID-19 outbreak, before expanding the cooperation.

Moon vowed in his New Year address to seek realistic ways for a broader inter-Korean cooperation while continuing efforts for the success of the DPRK-U.S. denuclearization negotiations.

Citing the vision U.S. President Donald Trump and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un had through summits for the past two years, Biegun said his team will focus on "creating a more durable peace on the Korean Peninsula, transforming relations on the Korean Peninsula, elimination of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and a brighter future for the Korean People."

Kim and Trump met three times in 2018 and 2019, but the talks between Pyongyang and Washington to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula have been stalled since the Hanoi summit between the leaders in February 2019 ended with no agreement.

"When Chairman Kim appoints a counterpart to me who is prepared and empowered to negotiate on these issues, they will find us ready at that very moment," said Biegun.

"I believe this is very much possible. President Trump has given us his full support to continue this effort," he noted.

Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the Department of U.S. Affairs of the DPRK's Foreign Ministry, said Tuesday that the DPRK was unwilling to talk face to face with the United States, urging South Korea to stay away from meddling in Pyongyang's affairs.

Kwon's remarks reaffirmed the statement issued earlier by Choe Son Hui, first vice minister of foreign affairs of the DPRK, who said last weekend that the DPRK had no interest in holding another DPRK-U.S. summit, which was proposed last week by South Korean President Moon, before the U.S. presidential election in November.

Tensions escalated on the peninsula as the DPRK demolished the inter-Korean liaison office building in the DPRK's border city of Kaesong last month in protest against anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by South Korean civic group activists, mostly defectors from the DPRK. Pyongyang has cut off all communication lines with Seoul.

Biegun arrived here Tuesday for a three-day visit. He paid a courtesy call earlier in the day to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and held a strategic dialogue with Cho Sei-young, South Korea's first vice foreign minister.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to withhold federal money if schools dont reopen in the fall, and he lashed out at federal health officials over school reopening guidelines that he says are impractical and expensive.

Taking to Twitter to voice his frustration, Trump argued that countries including Germany, Denmark and Norway have reopened schools with no problems. He also repeated his claim that Democrats want to keep schools closed for political reasons, not because of any risks associated with the coronavirus.

The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, Trump said, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!

He did not immediately say what funding he would cut off or under what authority he had to make the move.

Trump made the comments a day after launching an all-out effort pressing state and local officials to reopen the nations schools and colleges this fall. At a White House event on Tuesday, health and education officials argued that keeping students out of school for the fall semester would pose greater health risks than any tied to the coronavirus.
COLUMBUS, OhioVisitors are or soon will be again allowed to see inmates at seven Ohio prisons for the first time since the coronavirus crisis arose in March, the states prisons agency announced Tuesday.

The announcement is the latest move by Gov. Mike DeWines administration to ease restrictions put into place months ago to curb the spread of the virus.

Visitors have again been allowed at the Dayton Correctional Institution as of last week, according to an Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction news release. Madison Correctional Institution (Zone B only), Noble Correctional Institution, and Southeastern Correctional Institution are scheduled to resume visitations on Wednesday, while Grafton Correctional Institution and Warren Correctional Institution are currently expected to resume visitation on July 19 and July 26, respectively.

At those six facilities, most visitations will be held outside, though indoor visits will be allowed during bad weather.

The Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown will allow visits to resume on July 15  though, as a maximum-security prison, all such meetings will be indoors.

While visits are again being allowed at these prisons, they will be noticeably different than visits held prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Under new rules, transparent barriers will be set up between inmates and visitors, masks must be worn (in most cases), and no physical contact between them  or even playing board games or cards  will be permitted.

Each inmate will only be allowed to see two visitors at a time, and -- for now, at least  children under the age of 12 will not be permitted to visit.

All inmates and visitors will have to wear face masks provided by the prison, and visitors must undergo a coronavirus screening process when they arrive that includes a temperature check and answering questions to indicate whether they might have the virus.

In a statement, state prisons director Annette Chambers-Smith said the decision to re-allow visitors at the seven prisons came after officials examined the status of the coronavirus at the prisons, testing results, and physical capabilities of the facilities.

None of the seven prisons have reported any coronavirus deaths to date, and the only prison among them to have any inmates who currently have the virus is Southeastern Correctional Institution, which has only a single case, according to the states coronavirus website.

State prison officials will continue to track the virus to determine when other prisons can once again accept visitors or whether they need to again suspend visits at the seven prisons, Chambers-Smith stated in the release.

One of the most significant changes we made in response to COVID-19 was the suspension of in-person visitation, she said. This decision was not reached lightly because we understand that visiting plays a key role in helping to maintain hope and support positive connections with loved ones. The health and safety of our staff, visitors, and the incarcerated population is our primary concern as we move forward and learn how to live safely in this new reality.

Read more Ohio coronavirus stories:

Gov. Mike DeWine orders that masks be worn in 7 counties hit the hardest by coronavirus

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See which Ohio businesses received coronavirus-relief loans under PPP: searchable database

Ohio coronavirus cases up 948 as surge continues: Tuesday update

Ohio is extending unemployment benefits another 20 weeks
COLUMBUS, Ohio - An attorney for a kindergartener whose parents said she was bullied asked the Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday to hold educators responsible for not doing enough to stop it -- which he said culminated in the child being stabbed in the face with a sharp pencil.

The case has garnered statewide attention in the education community because the Toledo Public School District district could lose its immunity from liability if the court agrees with the childs attorney that administrators were reckless to a child during her tender years.

Tender years is a phrase used in previous Ohio court decisions to require heightened duty because of childrens inability to appreciate risks.

The child, identified during Wednesdays arguments as A.R., was a four-year-old in 2016 who began kindergarten early after having been evaluated as gifted. Other students started calling her a baby after the school year began, according to the childs parents -- in particular a classmate identified as S, who ultimately stabbed her later in the school year, the childs attorney said.

The school district -- as well as the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, the Ohio School Boards Association, the Ohio Federation of Teachers and the Toledo Federation of Teachers Local 250, in friend-of-court briefs -- argue that educators checked with the child numerous times after the parents reported the teasing.

Jennifer Dawson, the attorney representing the educators, argued that for the court to waive immunity, it must determine whether the school district was reckless, which has been defined by the court as perverse disregard for a known risk.

Dawson argued that because educators checked in on A.R. numerous times after the teasing started, that couldnt have been the case. Educators also talked to S, about the bullying. The student S, didnt have a history of violence or disciplinary problems. In fact, at one point A.R. told an educator they were friends and there werent any issues between them.

On the day of the alleged stabbing, the classroom teacher didnt hear any crying, she didnt hear any screaming. No student reported it to her, Dawson said.

In fact, A.R.s mother took her to a Girl Scouts meeting after school, instead of to a doctor, Dawson said.

Anthony Glase, the attorney for A.R., on the other hand, said school officials didnt do enough -- particularly because they never talked to A.R. alone as the bullying occurred. Either A.R. or her parents had reported bullying to the school at least four times, Glase said.

He characterized the pencil incident as a stab and slash because S. allegedly stabbed the pencil into A.R.s cheek in a way that caused a slash mark.

Justices seemed skeptical of Glases arguments that the educators didnt do enough.

What more could have been done here to protect A.R.? Justice Melody Stewart asked Glase.

Glase responded A.R. could have been kept separate from her bullies, as a lower court noted.

You think one of the students should have been moved to another class? Stewart asked.

I think, yes, thats a reasonable step to do, Glase replied.

Which one? Stewart asked.

I dont think that necessarily matters, Glase argued. Maybe it could have been either one.

Why wouldnt that matter? Stewart said. Why wouldnt it matter which child youre taking and removing from a class?

Chief Justice Maureen OConnor said the court will review the case and notify the attorneys on each side of its decision, which usually happens in a few months.

Other coverage:

Ohio Department of Health says to dispose of dangerous brands of hand sanitizer

Gov. Mike DeWine orders that masks be worn in 7 counties hit the hardest by coronavirus

Ohio coronavirus cases up 948 as surge continues: Tuesday update

State Rep. Stephanie Howse says she has tested positive for the coronavirus: first Ohio lawmaker to publicly announce illness

With an announced closure, Ohio will soon have 8 abortion clinics
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County wont release the name of any sheriffs department employee under investigation in connection with the May 30 bean-bag shooting that caused a man to lose his eye during a protest at the Justice Center.

The incident, which left 24-year-old John Sanders missing his left eye, has garnered national attention and news coverage led the Cuyahoga County sheriffs department to announce on June 24 that it had asked the Ohio Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Investigation to help the department investigate the incident.

BCI is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident, while the sheriffs department is conducting an internal review, county spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan told cleveland.com Tuesday.

In a break from past practices of confirming names of employees under investigation, the countys Public Safety department cited the BCI investigation that the county requested in refusing to tell the public who is under investigation.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations is currently investigating this matter. While ongoing, we cannot provide details of their investigation, including subject names, Madigan said in a statement. Please contact BCI with any further inquiries.

Madigan later corrected the countys statement to say that both the sheriffs department and BCI are currently investigating the incident.

We are not going to share the name of the subject of the investigation, Madigan said.

When asked to confirm that there was a subject of the investigation, Madigan replied, BCI is conducting their investigation. Im not going to reveal the subject.

BCI spokesman Steve Irwin said in a statement Wednesday morning that the agency cannot release the name of the individual(s) under investigation as they are uncharged suspect(s) in a criminal investigation.

Sheriff David Schilling wrote in a letter to BCI Special Agent Mark Kollar that he was asking for the agencys help investigating the incident due to the sensitive nature of the incident and the possible criminal implications that may result, according to a copy of the letter that BCI provided.

Schilling also said the request was in the interest of transparency, impartiality and the preservation of the publics trust.

County officials have routinely released the identities of officers under investigation for various use-of-force incidents and did not explain why this case is different.

The move is the latest piece of information that the county has failed to make public related to the May 30 protests that devolved into rioting after deputies and police began firing chemical and explosive munitions at a crowd at the Justice Center.

Cleveland.com requested on June 4 video from security cameras mounted inside and outside of the Justice Center, as well as any body camera video and use-of-force reports filed by all deputies from May 30. The news outlet said on June 23 that it was considering filing a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims if the county did not produce the records.

The county released security video on June 26 from several cameras, but not a camera that was on the outside wall near where the bag struck Sanders. County officials did not explain why the video did not include video from that camera and have yet to offer an explanation.

A seven-second video clip obtained by cleveland.com shows the moment that a bean-bag struck Sanders during the demonstration.

Sanders said he had approached the Justice Center at about 5:30 p.m. to take a photograph of graffiti that was spray-painted on the building, and a group of men he didnt know ran up and started throwing bricks at the windows. A law enforcement officer from inside the Justice Center tossed a canister of chemical spray at the group, and the brick-throwers ran away, Sanders said.

Sanders turned and walked away from the building when multiple rounds of munitions came flying at him, the video showed. A bean bag full of lead pellets fired out of a 12-gauge shotgun struck him in the left eye, and blinded him, he said.

A group of people rushed over to him and escorted him to safety, where they called paramedics to rush him to the hospital, Sanders said. Surgeons said the bean bag exploded when it struck his face and sent the pellets into his eye, and they removed it, Sanders said.

Read more stories

Ohio BCI, sheriffs department investigating after protester shot with bean bag round lost eye

Man who lost eye to police-fired bean bag round during Clevelands George Floyd protests: I did not deserve this

Cuyahoga County Board of Control agrees to restock Sheriffs Departments supply of riot gear

Browns Myles Garrett personally helps protester shot in eye with beanbag during Cleveland police brutality protest, report says

Couple shot with projectiles while photographing Justice Center damage during Cleveland protests: it felt like we were just target practice
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first time DeErik Johnsons mother told him she planned to enroll him in Cleveland organization Peace in the Hoods annual anti-violence summer camp, he didnt want to go.

Its been more than a decade since Johnsons first Peace Camp, and hes returned every year since then. The summer camp has been a refuge for Johnson, who at 16 years old has grown up in a city where violence too often become a part of many teens everyday lives. He credits Peace Camp and other positive influences in his life for keeping him safe.

Its taught me to be caring and responsible, Johnson said Wednesday while attending the camp on Clevelands East Side. Positive influence really brings a whole different perspective to who you are.

This years Peace Camp, a month-long event outside the Concerned Citizens Community Center on Clevelands East Side, is taking place immediately after a violent Fourth of July weekend. The Cleveland police department investigated 27 shootings and four homicides over the weekend, officials said. Twenty people were shot, including three men who died, during one nine-hour period late Saturday into early Sunday.

Peace Camp, now in its 23rd year, works to curb some of that violence by encouraging children and teens to avoid negative influences in their everyday lives. The camp includes activities like games and arts and crafts but also features educational talks about Black history and civil rights, and speakers who discuss the dangers of violence and substance use.

Four children were among the dozens injured in shootings over the Fourth of July weekend, including an 8-year-old girl shot in the arm as she sat in the backseat of a car struck by gunfire. Those are just the latest of a slew of shootings that have altered the lives of Cleveland children and teenagers in recent years, said Peace in the Hoods Ruth Standiford.

Standiford said parents and guardians, government officials, community organizations and faith leaders must work together to help keep children and teens safe.

[Violence] is, unfortunately, becoming all too real for them, Standiford said. Its just a fact of life.

Peace in the Hood considered canceling this years camp due to the coronavirus. But the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the nationwide protests over law enforcement violence made the organizers reconsider, Peace in the Hood co-founder Khalid Samad said.

It gave more energy to us getting together and sitting down and talking about whats going on, Samad said. Were living in an unprecedented time.

With the coronavirus still a threat, Peace in the Hood asked campers to wear face masks and take other precautions. Peace Camp is an outdoor event, which medical experts say carry a lower risk for transmitting the virus than indoor gatherings.

Campers said Tuesday that theyre glad the camp is happening this year. Among them is Eric Jefferies, a 15-year-old friend of Johnsons who has also been attending Peace Camp for more than a decade. Jefferies said the camp is essential to him because it helps him deal with some of the more complicated aspects of being a teenager in Cleveland.

It helps me understand things in our terms, as younger people, Jefferies said. It helps to talk about things we normally wouldnt want to talk about.
EUCLID, Ohio -- Euclid police released a handful of details about why an officer shot someone at a bar early Wednesday.

The shooting happened just before 5 a.m. at the Midway Bar & Grille on Lakeland Boulevard just west of East 222nd Street, Euclid Police Capt. Mitch Houser said.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating.

Euclid police confirmed that there was a crash on I-90 west near East 156th that is connected to the shooting. The east and west lanes of I-90 were closed all morning as BCI investigated.

Authorities have not identified the officer who opened fire, or the person struck by the gunfire. Paramedics took the injured victim to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

No officers suffered injuries in the incident, and Houser did not release any information about the condition of the person the officer shot.

Euclids last officer-involved shooting happened in March 2017 when officer Matthew Rhodes shot an unarmed Luke Stewart. Rhodes shot and killed Stewart during a struggle while Stewart was driving with the officer in the passengers seat. The city prevailed in a civil lawsuit filed by the lawsuits family, but the federal judge criticized the police departments training that an appeals court deemed offensive June 18 in a separate lawsuit.

Cleveland.com has requested all body camera and dashboard camera video, along with incident reports and call logs.

Read more crime stories on cleveland.com:

Cleveland police received nearly 700 complaints for fireworks on Fourth of July weekend, four times 2019

Man stabbed to death in Clevelands Clark-Fulton neighborhood, police say

I dont lie: Cleveland police chief responds to his claim that rioters breached Justice Center at May 30 protest

Man riding ATV fatally shot in Akron

For second time in 4 years, experts tell Cleveland police they need more detectives to solve citys increasing number of homicides
SANDUSKY, Ohio - A mix of local and regional bands will perform at Cedar Points stages in the amusement parks new Bands in Residence live music series.

The lineup includes Northeast Ohio acts Thor Platter, Jul Big Green, The Ohio Weather Band and The Bakers Basement. Musicians and bands from Illinois, Tennessee, North Carolina and more round out the lineup.

Each act will perform for a few days or a full week at the park, taking the stage at either BackBeatQue, Gossip Gulch or the Red Garter Saloon. Gossip Gulch and BackBeatQue are outdoor stages.

The Bands in Residence series came together as a part of Cedar Points 150th celebration, and it drew more than 500 submissions from bands and musicians, according to Cedar Points website. Forty bands were chosen to perform at the park, but many of the performances have been bumped to 2021, according to the website.

Find more information about the live concert series at Cedar Points website, cedarpoint.com/play/events/bands-in-residence.

Check out the full 2020 series lineup:

July 9-12: Eastern Heights

July 9-12: Shannon Clark & The Sugar

July 13-19: Bliss Nova

July 13-19: The Bakers Basement

July 20-26: The Conkle Brothers

July 20-26: The Ohio Weather Band

July 27-Aug. 2: Jul Big Green

July 27-Aug. 2: The Wallens

Aug. 3-9: Hooked Like Helen

Aug. 3-9: Rachel Lipsky

Aug. 10-16: Michael Tracy

Aug. 10-16: The Bakers Basement

Aug. 17-23: Moment 44

Aug. 21-23: Conscious Pilot

Aug. 21-23: Hooked Like Helen

Aug. 28-30: Dan Getkin and the Twelve Six

Aug. 28-30: River Road Trio

Aug. 28-30: Tim Litvin

Sept. 4-7: Olivia Frances

Sept. 4-7: Reckless Saints

Sept. 4-7: Thor Platter

READ MORE: Cedar Point opening day preview: Face masks, social distancing, HalloWeekends and more
Emmanuel Olawales description of what might happen should President Donald Trump lose the election is spot-on and should terrify any American who values democracy and the rule of law (I lived through various coup attempts in Nigeria, July 8). This op-ed should be distributed to all news organizations of integrity across the country, so that their readers, viewers and listeners can hear a firsthand account of where this country could be headed under this flawed president.

Sherrie F. Korman,

Reseda, California
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Cuyahoga County Jail inmate died Wednesday, the first death at the troubled jail in 14 months.

The inmate, whose name officials have not released, is in his 50s, according to Cleveland EMS.

An ambulance took him to MetroHealth about 10:15 a.m. Cuyahoga County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan said he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

No other information was immediately available, including the circumstances surrounding the mans death. Madigan said county officials are investigating the death.

Its the first inmate death at the jail since the May 10, 2019 death of Nicholas Colbert, a 29-year-old Army veteran who took his own life. Colberts death was the last in a string of nine inmate deaths in 11 months at the jail, an unprecedented rate.

Five of the deaths came by suicide, three by drug overdoses and one of health-related complications.

The deaths sparked a U.S. Marshals Service investigation that found, among other things, inhumane conditions for inmates, an understaffed and crowded jail.

The FBI launched a civil rights investigation at the jail and an Ohio Attorney Generals Office investigation netted criminal charges against several corrections officers for inmate beatings, the jails warden and jail director.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine implemented statewide changes to the way the state oversees local jails in the wake of the deaths.

County officials in the ensuing year made several changes including upping the number of corrections officers, changing top personnel and ceding inmate medical care to MetroHealth.

Some of the deaths and inmate mistreatment are subjects of several lawsuits filed against the county.

The jail in the last few months battled the coronavirus pandemic. County officials  including the prosecutor, public defender, sheriff and MetroHealth  created a plan that released some 900 inmates accused of non-violent, low-level offenses. That freed up space for inmates to be separated from each other to help stem the spread of the virus.

The jail population dipped to an all-time low of 950 inmates, but has since crept back to above 1,200. At the same time, the number of corrections officers  once at an all-time high of 705 dropped to 656 as of last month.

The county laid off five corrections officers in order to save money lost because of the coronavirus pandemic. The officers union previously said the layoffs were in retaliation for the union voting against forced furloughs.

More than 160 inmates tested positive for the virus in the jail, along with more than 30 corrections officers. One officer, Greg Clark, 36, died Tuesday after contracting the virus.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Longtime Cuyahoga County Jail officer who died after contracting coronavirus was loving father, grandfather, pastor

Cuyahoga County Jail officer suspended for stomping inmates arm through food chute in cell door

Cuyahoga County Jail inmate died of drug overdose after jail officials ignored warning signs, including that he couldnt walk, lawsuit says
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Ohioans in Cuyahoga County and six other counties with large numbers of coronavirus cases must wear a mask in public beginning at 6 p.m. today, or face a misdemeanor charge.

But whos going to enforce it?

The order -- which also affects Butler, Franklin, Hamilton, Huron, Montgomery and Trumbull counties -- was released about 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Dan Tierney, a spokesman for the governors office, on Wednesday said enforcement of the mask order would be up to city and county health departments. He said did not anticipate that the health departments would ask police for help enforcing the mask order, except in extreme situations. A health department might call for help if someone sick with COVID-19 was purposefully spreading the virus, for example.

Were not necessarily, as the governor said, expecting criminal law enforcement of this. They wouldnt be the primary enforcers, anyway, Tierney. Dont call the law enforcement switch board on these orders. Call your local health department if theres a particular issue you need to raise to their attention.

The health department would have the ability to charge people with misdemeanors, and fines.

How the locals handle it will be up to them, Tierney said. The governor just wants to make it clear that, he was not expecting you were going to see lots of people arrested, or that type of enforcement.

DeWine on Tuesday emphasized that the goal isnt to punish Ohioans for refusing to wear masks. Its about making mask-wearing the standard.

Were not looking to see a lot of people arrested. Thats not the idea at all. The idea is this is the norm. This is what is needed for Ohioans to stay safe, DeWine said Tuesday.

Masks help stop the spread of coronavirus through respiratory droplets, which people exhale when they talk, sneeze or cough, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Local health authorities in Cuyahoga County say they havent seen the order.

We do not want to speculate about the contents of the order or any potential role our agency could play in terms of enforcement or regulation, Cuyahoga County Board of Health spokesman Kevin Brennan said in an email.

A spokesman for the Hamilton County Board of Health, home to Cincinnati, said the agency hasnt seen the order, either. But the county will enforce the order based on complaints from the public, spokesman Mike Samet said. They aim to use the order educate the community about the benefits of masks. But Cincinnati police have said they dont plan to enforce the order.

Our position has always been education over enforcement.' The mask mandate is not an enforcement issue, but one of education and encouraging all to work together to protect one another, Samet said in an email.

A spokesman for the Franklin County Board of Health, home to Columbus, did not respond to a request for comment.

In other states, a mixture of law enforcement and health departments have been charged with enforcing the mask orders.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday signed an order requiring most people living in counties with more than 20 cases to wear face coverings in public if social distancing isnt possible. After a first-time warning, people who violate the order could face a fine of up to $250. No one can be arrested or jailed for not following the order. But they could be asked to leave private property. The Texas governor charged law enforcement and other local officials, as appropriate with enforcing the order.

But sheriffs in at least nine Texas counties said they would not enforce the order, according to reporting by CBS News. The law enforcement officials blamed staffing concerns and general difficulty with enforcing the order.

In Massachusetts, an order requiring masks in public when social distancing isnt possible went into effect in May. The order requires masks in all grocery stores, pharmacies, or other retail stores, or in taxis, public transit or ride shares. Violators could face a $300 fine.

Local health authorities and the state department of health enforce the rule, if necessary may do so with the assistance of state or municipal police. Enforcement is mostly up to local officials, according to reporting by the Boston Globe.

Police in Worcester, Massachusetts, outside Boston, said they give masks to people who break the rules, according to the Globe. Police there want to try and not give people citations. Police in Chelsea, another Boston-area city, encouraged officers to politely educate violators about the mask requirement, and give them one if they dont have one, the Globe reported.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Gregory Clark Jr. spent his life trying to help people. Emulating his father, he became a pastor at an area church.

He began a career as a corrections officer in 1998 after years of watching is father preach to children as the chaplain of the Cuyahoga Hills Correctional Facility, his mother Annie Clark said.

Clark, 46, died early Tuesday after a nearly two-month battle with the coronavirus that included a 45-day stay at the Cleveland Clinic, where he died. He is the first person either inmate or officer at the jail to die from the virus or the complicating health issues that come with it.

Everything happened gradually, Annie Clark said. They did so many procedures on him, it was almost like they had a zipper on his chest, they had to open him up so much. Its been horrific.

Clark leaves behind a wife of 22 years, three children 23, 18 and 12 and a 3-year-old granddaughter.

Annie Clark criticized the county for failing to provide the protection that jail officers need, especially in a close-quarters environment. More than 30 corrections officers have tested positive for the virus, according to the Ohio Patrolmens Benevolent Association, the union that represents the countys corrections officers.

I just dont feel like they were providing the protection necessary for the officers, Annie Clark said. Realizing how serious this was in a correctional environment where there is no physical distancing, they should have done more.

Cuyahoga County prosecutors, public defenders, judges, sheriff and MetroHealth officials, who are in charge of healthcare at the jail, worked in late March to release some 900 inmates from the chronically crowded jail to free up space to hold inmates who tested positive in cells away from others who hadnt been infected. Cuyahoga County Sheriff David Schilling also refused to house anyone arrested on misdemeanor crimes.

Corrections officers, as part of the plan, were given masks and gloves to wear, and officers who worked directly with inmates with positive or who came into close contact with anyone who tested positive were given extra equipment, including N95 masks and shoe coverings.

MetroHealth and county officials in a May 20 Cuyahoga County Council Safety Committee hearing hailed the plan as a success.

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish in a statement said Clark worked every day to keep county residents safe.

Gregory Clark is an example of a truly selfless worker  one who may not have been seen every day by the public, but one whose work was crucial to all of us in the county. We mourn with his family because he was one of us.

Clark grew up in Cleveland Heights, where he graduated from Cleveland Heights-University Heights High School. When he was in his high-school years, he started working on Christian rap songs. He continued that in his adult years and had recently finished his newest album, his mother said.

He was hired as a corrections officer in 1998, and became a pastor at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Cleveland.

Clark was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018, his mother said, but the cancer went into remission by the end of the year.

He typically worked at the countys Bedford Heights jail that houses fewer inmates accused of or sentenced for low-level crimes. In early May he was reassigned to work in the downtown jail at the Justice Center, during a time when coronavirus cases surged.

Within a week, he tested positive for COVID-19, his mother said. He quarantined in his home for about a week-and-a-half, and apologized to his mother because he couldnt cook for her on Mothers Day, an annual tradition.

His condition worsened and an ambulance took him to MetroHealth on May 26. He was flown via emergency helicopter to the Cleveland Clinic on June 1, where he was put on a ventilator. His mother said he underwent multiple surgeries and blood transfusions. His lungs collapsed several times and his kidneys failed.

His mother said last week he finally received three negative tests for the virus. He remained on a ventilator because of the damage to his lungs and other organs.

Everything shut down, Annie Clark said. His lungs were damaged beyond repair, his kidney and heart were severely damaged. It was just unbelievable.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Cuyahoga County Jail officer dies after contracting coronavirus, union says

Coronavirus cases in Cuyahoga County Jail drops to 2, county says

Cuyahoga County Jails efforts to stem coronavirus spread a success, but pitfalls loom, officials say

Cuyahoga County Jail officers union seeks hazard pay, more PPE due to coronavirus outbreak
MARTINEZ, California  A man and woman are facing multiple misdemeanor charges, including a hate crime, after a video showed them painting over a Black Lives Matter mural last weekend.

KPIX Channel 5 reports Nichole Anderson, 42, and David Nelson, 53, are charged with violation of civil rights, vandalism under $400 and possession of tools to commit vandalism or graffiti. If convicted, each could face up to a year in jail, KQED reports.

The Black Lives Matter mural was painted on the street by about 100 volunteers on Saturday in front of the Contra Costa County Courthouse. The mural had been approved by he city.

Shortly after it was completed, a man and woman identified as Anderson and Nelson arrived. Anderson can be seen dumping black paint on the mural and using a roller to try and cover the letters. Nelson can be seen recording her with his cellphone.

In a video taken by another bystander, the woman can be heard yelling, Keep this s--- in f------ New York, this is not happening in my town.

Meanwhile, the male, wearing a hat and T-shirt indicating support for President Donald Trump, says Were sick of this narrative. Thats whats wrong. The narrative of police brutality. The narrative of oppression. The narrative of racism. Its a lie. There is no oppression. There is no racism. Its a leftist lie. Its a lie from the media, the liberal left.

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton released a statement saying the mural was a peaceful and powerful way to communicate the importance of Black lives in Contra Costa County and the country, KPIX reports.

We must address the root and byproduct of systemic racism in our country, Becton said. The Black Lives Matter movement is an important civil rights cause that deserves all of our attention. ... We must continue to elevate discussions and actually listen to one another in an effort to heal our community and country.
SEATTLE, Washington  Mary Kay Letourneau, a former teacher who was convicted of raping a 12-year-old male student that she later ended up marrying, died on Tuesday of cancer at the age of 58, according to reports.

Letourneaus lawyer, David Gehrke, tells King 5 that Letourneau died of stage 4 cancer. It was expected but sad anyway, Gehrke tells KOMO News. She was a good person.

Letourneau became notorious in the mid-1990s when it was revealed she had been sexually assaulting a 12-year-old student, Vili Fualaau, who was a sixth-grader at Shorewood Elementary in Burien, Wash.

She initially was sentenced to three months in jail as part of a plea agreement in 1997 in which she said she would no longer have any contact with Fualaau. She gave birth to Fualaaus child while awaiting sentencing.

However, shortly after being released from jail, she was found in a car having sex with Fualaau. A judge then sentenced her to seven years in prison. She gave birth to a second child while in prison.

After being released, Letourneau and Fualaau were married in 2005. The couple were divorced in 2019. Letourneau had four children from a previous marriage.
Ever since the coronavirus emerged in Europe, Sweden has captured international attention by conducting an unorthodox, open-air experiment. It has allowed the world to examine what happens in a pandemic when a government allows life to carry on largely unhindered.

This is what has happened: Not only have thousands more people died than in neighboring countries that imposed lockdowns, but Swedens economy has fared little better. Swedens grim result  more death, and nearly equal economic damage  suggests that the supposed choice between lives and paychecks is a false one: A failure to impose social distancing can cost lives and jobs at the same time.

Swedens laissez faire approach does appear to have minimized the economic damage compared with its neighbors in the first three months of the year, according to an assessment by the International Monetary Fund. But that effect has worn off as the force of the pandemic has swept through the global economy, and as Swedish consumers have voluntarily curbed their shopping anyway. (New York Times)

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Florida invited the nation to its reopening  then it became a new coronavirus epicenter (Washington Post)

Texas shatters daily record with over 10,000 new coronavirus cases (CBS News)

Trump pushes states to reopen schools this fall amid coronavirus pandemic (Associated Press)

WHO confirms theres emerging evidence of airborne transmission of coronavirus (CNN)

Trump has officially begun to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization as pandemic spikes (USA Today)

U.S. looking at banning TikTok and other Chinese social media apps, Mike Pompeo says (CBS News)

U.S. general skeptical that bounties led to troops deaths (Associated Press)

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Trump going with his gut in fanning racism, frustrating some White House aides (NBC News)

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Video shows fatal restraint of Cornelius Fredericks, 16, in Michigan foster facility (NBC News)

Phoenix protesters demand answers after police fatally shoot man parked in driveway (NBC News)

2 face hate crime charge after allegedly vandalizing Black Lives Matter mural in California (CBS News)

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Dozens of bodies found in Burkina Faso, and rights group suspects extrajudicial killings (Reuters)

Dutch police discover secret torture site in shipping containers (CNN)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Clevelands school board unanimously voted on Tuesday evening to begin the process of placing a tax increase on Novembers ballot.

A 15-mill tax is set to expire this year, which makes up about 12 percent of the districts budget.

The measure would renew the tax and increase it by 5 mill, of which an additional half mill would be shared with partnering charter schools.

The increase would run from January 2021 through December 2030, asked as a single ballot question. This 10-year period extends the time between renewals; the tax previously was for a four-year period.

The vote was recommended by CEO Eric Gordon, after working with a committee of education, city and business leaders.

Gordon acknowledged that it is a difficult time to ask for an increase due to economic instability from the coronavirus pandemic. Without the renewal, though, the district would need to make significant cuts to balance its budget.

The additional five mills is necessary to continue the districts progress and to offset financial challenges from COVID-19, he said.

The board voted to approve the first of two resolutions which would put the measure on the ballot. The first declares that the district intends to ask for the increase. Board members will need to vote again, likely in a special board meeting on July 21, to submit the measure to the board of elections.

The deadline for submitting the resolution to the board of elections is in August.

See Gordons full presentation to the board about the increase here.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State University President Michael Drake, who announced he would retire from his OSU position in 2020, is the next president of the University of California system, where he spent the majority of his professional career.

Board members approved Drakes appointment Tuesday afternoon. Drake is the first Black president of the system, made up of 280,000 students and more than 227,000 faculty and staff, according to its website.

The system contains 10 campuses, five medical centers and three nationally affiliated labs. Drake will take the helm of the university in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, as higher education institutions nationwide face the question of reopening in the fall and financial shortfalls.

Drake obtained his doctorate in medicine from University of California, San Francisco. He became chancellor of UC Irvine in 2005, after working for UC San Francisco in various roles since his first academic position in 1979, according to UC online library records.

Dr. Drake personifies the qualities we looked for in selecting a new president: He is committed to seeing the whole student and to supporting all our students. He recognizes the incalculable value of faculty and staff to the Universitys mission, and he understands the importance of the public and private partnerships that help us achieve that mission, UC Board of Regents chair John Perez said in a press release.

As the first person of color to serve as UC president, Dr. Drake returns to UC at an important point in the Universitys journey. This is a homecoming the University of California is very excited to be celebrating early.

Drake was named as OSU president in 2014. He replaces outgoing president Janet Napolitano, stepping down Aug. 1.

Napolitano, who led the system since 2013, announced her retirement last year. At the time, she felt after accomplishing many of her priorities as president, it was time for a leadership transition, according to a release from the university.

Drakes base salary will be $890,000, according to board documents.

OSU announced in June that Kristina Johnson, the chancellor of New Yorks university system, would replace Drake. She is the second female president in OSUs history.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio will pay more than $158,000 to repair damage to the Ohio Statehouse resulting from two vandalism incidents amid ongoing protests in downtown Columbus.

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, the agency that oversees the Statehouse and the surrounding property, released the figure on Wednesday, after getting final quotes for the repairs.

The Statehouse was damaged in two incidents, which both remain under criminal investigation. First, on May 29, when protesters broke windows, light fixtures and door frames as a demonstration against the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody escalated. At least one protester briefly broke into the building, according to police.

And second, on June 18, when demonstrators painted red handprints and slogans on the marble buildings exterior and nearby statues.

Much of the damage has been repaired, although windows remain boarded up, according to CSRAB spokesman Mike Rupert.

Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, denounced the damage, prompting the State Highway Patrol to increase its visibility and numbers while patrolling the grounds. And Republican House Speaker Larry Householder criticized DeWine and Columbus officials for not doing more to prevent the damage in the first place or to prosecute those who committed it.

Householder has threatened to cut Columbus local government funding to cover the damages, and also has said hes researching whether to propose withdrawing the Statehouse from Columbus control.

Read related coverage from cleveland.com:

Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder says hes researching withdrawing Statehouse from Columbus city limits over vandalism concerns

After Statehouse vandalism, Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder leans into condemning insurgent demonstrators

Gov. Mike DeWine says state troopers will prevent future damage to Ohio Statehouse

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine angry over Statehouse vandalism
COLUMBUS, Ohio  An untold number of Ohio House staff have been placed on administrative leave, after a legislative aide tested positive this week for COVID-19.

Taylor Jach, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Larry Householder, said the aide, assigned to a House Republican, has been sent home, as has anyone determined through contact tracing to have been within six feet of the aide for more than 15 minutes. She declined to say how many employees were affected.

We have initiated deep cleaning of the impacted employees work spaces and the common areas, and we are following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jach said.

The Ohio House is on summer recess, but legislative staff continue to work daily in the Riffe office tower in downtown Columbus since Householder ended a temporary work-from home policy in May.

The new case is the second instance of a state legislative aide testing positive for COVID-19. Last month, a staffer assigned to a state Senate Democrat tested positive, leading Democratic Sen. Theresa Fedor to indefinitely close her office. And this week, state Rep. Stephanie Howse, a Cleveland Democrat, announced she had tested positive, making her the first known Ohio state lawmaker to do so.

But news of the new case has unnerved House Democrats, who have criticized Householder and other Republicans as not taking the coronavirus threat seriously. Householder has refused to wear a face mask, as part of his broader criticism of measures taken by Gov. Mike DeWine and others to try to control the disease, as have most of his fellow GOP House members.

Some House Republicans have been vocal in portraying the response to COVID-19 as overblown and intrusive, including touting their refusal to wear masks on social media and in one case this week, encouraging people not to get tested. Howse said this attitude creates a dangerous workplace in the state legislature.

There has been a voice from the speaker and members of the Republican Party basically denying COVID is real, she said. People are contracting COVID whether they go to get a test or not, which then poses a dangers for staffers that are in the Riffe.

DeWines administration on Tuesday announced a public-health order making masks mandatory in public in Cuyahoga County and six other counties with elevated coronavirus levels, saying they will help a current spike in the number of cases from getting out of hand. The governors order includes Franklin County, which contains Columbus. But Kim Hartman, Householders top human-resources official, issued a memo shortly after DeWines announcement telling legislative staff the order didnt affect House policy, which does not require them.

Ohio Republicans also have tangled with Democratic Columbus city officials over whether a local mask ordinance would apply to state properties, and Householder blocked a mandatory mask resolution from a House Democrat in May.

State Rep. Jessica Miranda, a Cincinnati Democrat, said her aide was ordered home for 14 days on Tuesday, after being told contact tracing determined he had been in contact with someone in the House who had tested positive.

But Wednesday morning, he got a follow-up call saying he had been mixed up with someone else with the same first name. House Republicans and Democrats work on different floors of the Riffe building.

Miranda said staffers are on edge, and shes worried House operations will be disrupted if more people end up catching COVID and spreading it. She said she doesnt trust Republicans will tell them if the disease begins to spread.

This whole kind of secret nature of our building is creating a ticking time bomb, Miranda said. What happens when an outbreak really does come to fruition?

Read related coverage from cleveland.com:

Gov. Mike DeWine orders that masks be worn in 7 counties hit the hardest by coronavirus

State Rep. Stephanie Howse says she has tested positive for the coronavirus: first Ohio lawmaker to publicly announce illness

After staffer tests positive for COVID-19, Ohio senator refusing to return to Statehouse, citing concerns with safety protocols

Republican state lawmakers block Democratic proposal requiring masks at Ohio Statehouse
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The State Medical Board of Ohio added cachexia, also known as wasting disease, to the list of ailments for which people can legally obtain medical marijuana.

It is the first condition added by the medical aboard. The other 21 conditions on the list were approved by the legislature when it passed the law legalizing medical cannabis in 2017, which range from AIDS to Parkinsons disease.

Board President Dr. Michael Schottenstein, a psychiatrist in Columbus, said he supported adding cachexia due to fewer concerning side effects than the pharmaceutical medicines given to treat the condition.

Patients can receive a drug by the brand name of Marinol, which can treat wasting syndrome. Marinol contains synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Marijuana is less expensive, and we have good quality assurance for the medical marijuana product, Schottenstein said, reading from prepared remarks. I would also say cachexia is a devastating syndrome for patients and their families. Poor appetite is a very real quality-of-life issue, and so one could make a case that increasing the appetite of a patient with this condition is beneficial -- especially from a mental health standpoint -- because eating is a source of enjoyment for patients.

Food is also a way people can socialize with family and friends, which is especially important when someone has a disease that can keep them isolated from others.

The vote was unanimous, except for board member Michael Gonidakis, who abstained because he works for a medical marijuana company.

The state medical board staff will work with the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to add it to the patient and caregiver registry, so doctors can begin recommending it to patients who need it.

The medical board also voted Wednesday to reject medical marijuana for anxiety and autism, saying that while theres new medical evidence showing its effective, members werent convinced the benefits outweigh the potential harms of the drug.

A panel last month had recommended that the full board vote against medical marijuana for autism and anxiety, so the rejection Wednesday doesnt come as a surprise.

Other coverage:

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Until I came to the United States 23 years ago, I grew up mostly under a series of authoritarian regimes in Nigeria. Of the first 20 years of my life, only four involved a democratic government, from 1979 to 1983, when I was too young to understand political systems.

I witnessed my first coup detat at the age of 6. We woke up to the sound of martial music on the radio, then a military leader came on the radio and the television screen to announce that the democratic government had been suspended along with the constitution. He announced that they would instead rule by decrees and he delineated a set of new decrees which became effective immediately, including a national curfew.

The whole country was paralyzed with fear and uncertainty. There were speculations about counter coups, battles raging between military factions, rumors and gloomy surmises about the plight of the civilians the military just ousted.

Before I emigrated from Nigeria to the United States in 1997, I witnessed two more unsuccessful coup plots and two successful coups; numerous election postponements; and two election annulments after the voters had cast their votes.

Emmanuel Olawale is a lawyer in Columbus.

The most notable of the annulled elections was the 1993 presidential election in which a philanthropist, Moshood Abiola, was a presidential candidate. According to international observers, it was the fairest and freest election in Nigerian history. Mr. Abiola won the election, only for Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, the military dictator, to annul the election after making promises for eight years to hand over to a democratic government. Mr. Abiola died in prison five years later under a military dictatorship. He was imprisoned without a trial because he refused to renounce his claim to the presidency.

The average American reading this prologue might wonder what this has to do with their lives or with the United States.

It has everything to do with you and this nation if you cherish the democratic ideal and respect for the rule of law -- the virtues of Americas brand of global leadership.

You are at the cusp of losing the freedom and democracy you enjoy, if not totally, then to a great degree. The American democratic tradition of honor is being daily desecrated with a concentric cycle of chaos and with reckless disregard for truth.

People like me fled dictatorial regimes in search of democratic freedom in the United States. However, every symptom of dictatorship and authoritarianism we fled from has now become manifest in the current administration:

* The lack of respect for the rule of law.

* The politicization of the Justice Department, where the presidents foes are investigated and punished, while friends are rewarded with pardons after convictions and a conviction is quashed arbitrarily.

* The administrations arbitrary and capricious manner of churning out executive orders targeting particular groups of people, without any rational governmental basis, and their fiendish enforcement, are synonymous with military dictatorships rollout of decrees.

This frontal assault on the rule of law, the lack of respect for congressional oversight and contempt for the courts when they rule against the administration are precursors of what is to come in the event President Donald Trump loses in the November elections.

If Trump loses, he is likely to use every power within his arsenal to reject the results and prolong his presidency without regard for the constitutional authority of the other arms of government. This nation could be plunged into a constitutional crisis of unimaginable proportions, a first in the history of the republic, one that could upend a peaceful transition of government for the first time since 1776.

Hence, the U.S. House and Senate need to draw up a bipartisan contingency plan for such a situation, to ensure the preservation of the integrity of the upcoming presidential election and a smooth transition of power if the incumbent loses.

Emmanuel Olawale is an attorney based in Columbus and the author of Flavor of Favor: Quest for the American Dream.

To reach Emmanuel Olawale: emmanuel@olawalelaw.com

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
Its not clear when I will be making my next visit back to the United States from Israel. At the moment, I would have to go into two weeks of quarantine on my arrival in America and then another two weeks on my return to Israel due to the coronavirus.

But when I do visit, Im sure I will be struck by how the country has changed, not only due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge toll that it has taken in American lives and on the economy, but also as a result of the gains made by the Black Lives Matter movement.

I recall a college professor of mine noting the central issue that has vexed American life throughout the countrys history is race. The stock taking that the George Floyd case has prompted and the major shift in attitudes that it has engendered among whites is therefore particularly welcome.

Israel needs a Black Lives Matter moment, too, although I would hope that it would not require another senseless death for it to come about. The perennial issue in Israel is not race, but our relationship with the Palestinians. Israeli Jews need a Palestinian Lives Matter moment just as the Palestinians surely need a Jewish Israelis Lives Matter reckoning. But because I am Jewish and Israeli, Israels need to own up to its own history seems easier to address.

I am a firm believer in the justice of Israels cause  and of the right of the Jewish people to self-determination. If I werent, I would never have moved here. But if Israel is ever to make peace with the Palestinians  something that I believe is attainable if both sides make the necessary concessions  its going to require that the two sides recognize the others needs, and the others pain, just as the American public has begun to come around to recognizing the discrimination that Black Americans still suffer 157 years after Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation.

In the Israeli context, it means recognizing the displacement and statelessness that the Palestinians have suffered since Israels creation. I can make a persuasive argument that the displacement was the by-product of Arab rejection of a Jewish state, but for the Arabs who fled their homes  or in some instances were forced out of their homes during Israels War of Independence  they suffered just the same. Palestinians call the displacement the nakba, catastrophe in Arabic, and they mark it on May 15, the day Israel became independent in 1948.

In 2011, rather than acknowledging the nakba, the Israeli government of the time, which was more right-wing than the current center-right government, passed a law authorizing cuts in government cultural funding to institutions that reject Israels existence as a Jewish and democratic state or that mark Nakba Day as a day of mourning.

The law is problematic in part because once the government starts using funding recipients politics as a criterion, the next step could be denying funding to plays advocating a Palestinian state, or if a left-wing government were in power, denying funding to arts organizations that glorify Jewish settlements in the West Bank. But there is something more fundamental at play here.

The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians requires both sides to acknowledge the others past. That means Palestinian and Israeli acknowledgment that Jews are not foreigners in this region of the world and that Palestinians arent either. Once Israeli voters recognize Palestinian suffering, it will be easier to elect a government willing to make the necessary concessions toward peace that both sides would benefit from so greatly.

Cliff Savren is a former Clevelander who covers the Middle East for the Cleveland and Columbus Jewish News from Raanana, Israel. To read more of Savrens columns, visit cjn.org/savren.
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
Clinton, IA (52732)

Today

Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Rain. Low 59F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
WASHINGTON  In blistering remarks Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray slammed the Chinese government for its use of espionage and cyberattacks against the United States which has amounted to what he called "one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history."

"The stakes could not be higher, and the potential economic harm to American businesses and the economy as a whole almost defies calculation," Wray said of the Chinese government during an address at the Hudson Institute.

"To achieve its goals and surpass America, China recognizes it needs to make leaps in cutting edge technology, but the sad fact is that instead of engaging in the hard slog of innovation, China often steals American intellectual property and then uses it to compete against the very American companies it victimizes, in effect, cheating twice," he said, adding that the Chinese government targets "research on everything from military equipment to wind turbines."

When asked if the United States had an estimate on the financial damage the Chinese government has caused on the American economy, Wray said he didn't know of an exact number, but added that "every figure I've seen is breathtaking."

"Confronting this threat effectively does not mean we shouldn't do business with the Chinese, does not mean we shouldn't host Chinese visitors, it does not mean we shouldn't welcome Chinese students or coexist with China on the world stage," Wray explained. "It does mean that when China violates our criminal laws and international norms, we are not going to tolerate, much less enable."

Wray's comments come on the heels of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's threat to ban TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps citing national security concerns. The nation's top diplomat explained in a Monday interview with Fox News that the Trump administration will examine the infrastructure of Chinese social media apps as it did with Chinese telecommunication giants Huawei and ZTE.
The Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Justice Department are looking into allegations that popular app TikTok failed to live up to a 2019 agreement aimed at protecting children's privacy, according to two people interviewed by the agencies.

A staffer in a Massachusetts tech policy group and another source said they took part in separate conference calls with FTC and Justice Department officials to discuss accusations the China-based short video sharing app had failed to live up to an agreement announced in February 2019.

The Center for Digital Democracy, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and others in May asked the FTC look into their allegations TikTok failed to delete videos and personal information about users age 13 and younger as it had agreed to do, among other violations.

Reuters could not determine whether any action would be taken against TikTok by either of the two agencies.

A TikTok spokesman said they take "safety seriously for all our users," adding that in the United States they "accommodate users under 13 in a limited app experience that introduces additional safety and privacy protections designed specifically for a younger audience."

Officials from both the FTC, which reached the original consent agreement with TikTok, and Justice Department, which often files court documents for the FTC, met via video with representatives of the groups to discuss the matter, said David Monahan, a campaign manager with the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.

"I got the sense from our conversation that they are looking into the assertions that we raised in our complaint," Monahan said.

A second person, speaking privately, confirmed that advocates had met with officials from the two agencies to discuss concerns TikTok violated the consent decree.

The FTC declined to comment. The Justice Department had no immediate comment.
Bed Bath & Beyond said Wednesday its sales tumbled nearly 50% during its latest quarter, even as online sales surged more than 100% during April and May, with consumers stocking up on cleaning supplies and home decor.

The company said it plans to permanently close roughly 200 of its namesake stores over the next two years, starting later in 2020, as it works toward getting back to profitability against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. As of May 30, it operated a total of 1,478 stores, including 955 Bed Bath & Beyond shops.

Its shares were falling nearly 7% in after-hours trading.

Bed Bath  which also owns the chains Buybuy Baby, Christmas Tree Shops and Harmon Face Values  said these actions should generate annual cost savings of between $250 million and $350 million, excluding related one-time costs.

"We saw there were a number of stores dragging us down," Chief Executive Mark Tritton told CNBC in a phone interview. "We will continue to look at the rest of our concept doors, now that we have established the data criteria."

Here's how the company did during its fiscal first quarter ended May 30:

Adjusted loss per share: $1.96

Revenue: $1.31 billion

Bed Bath said its net loss narrowed to $302.29 million, or $2.44 per share, from $371.09 million, or $2.91 a share, a year ago.

Excluding one-time items, it had a loss of $1.96 per share.

Sales fell 49% to $1.31 billion from $2.57 billion a year ago, as the retailer's stores were temporarily forced shut for much of the quarter like many other companies, to try to help curb the spread of Covid-19.

Analysts were calling for Bed Bath to report an adjusted loss of $1.22 per share on revenue of $1.39 billion, according to Refinitiv estimates.

Online sales surged 82% during the period, with increases of more than 100% during April and May, the company said. Digital sales represented about two-thirds of its first-quarter sales.

Gross margins dropped almost 8 percentage points, in part due to the company selling more online, which comes with higher fulfillment and shipping costs.

According to Tritton, as Bed Bath's stores are reopening, many are performing ahead of the retailer's internal expectations. Consumers during the pandemic have shifted from stocking up on cleaning supplies, water filters and coffee, to bigger-ticket items like home decor, bedding and accessories for the backyard, he said. This trend also should help profit margins, he said.

"Home is now everything," Tritton told CNBC. "It's the epicenter."

Bed Bath said it will not provide a 2020 outlook at this time, as the pandemic "remains volatile."

Some retailers including Levi's and Macy's are currently looking at having to close stores for a second time, as Covid-19 cases are spiking in states including Florida and Texas. Some local governments are, once again, tightening restrictions on which businesses may operate to try to control the outbreak. Meanwhile, Apple has already reclosed dozens of stores on its own.

Bed Bath said Wednesday that it believes it has a "strong financial position" to manage through the crisis. It ended the first quarter with roughly $1.2 billion in cash and investments.

Bed Bath shares have fallen almost 40% this year. The company has a market cap of $1.3 billion.

Find the full earnings press release here.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, said Wednesday there's no evidence that children drive the spread of the coronavirus. But that's likely because the U.S. hasn't tested enough kids to know one way or the other. "We really don't have evidence that children are driving the transmission cycle of this," Redfield said at a White House Task Force briefing to address school reopenings. It's a point that was also cited at a White House event Tuesday on school reopenings by American Academy of Pediatrics President Sally Goza, who said, "Children are less likely to become infected and they are less likely to spread infection." But there's not enough data to arrive at that conclusion, White House health advisor Dr. Deborah Birx said later in the briefing on Wednesday. She said U.S. data is incomplete, because the country has not been testing enough children to conclude how widespread the virus is among people younger than 18 and whether they are spreading the virus to others. The question of whether kids might be a driver of transmission is key, especially as local officials decide whether and how to reopen schools in the fall. President Donald Trump has been mounting pressure on officials to reopen schools for in-person learning in the fall even as the country grapples with the largest outbreak in the world. And while kids appear to be less likely to get severely sick from Covid-19, their role in the broader spread of the virus is unknown. "I think it really comes to the evidence base of what do we have as far as testing in children," Birx said Wednesday, addressing a question about whether kids spread the virus. "So if you look across all of the tests that we've done, and when we have the age, the portion that has been the lowest tested portion is the under-10-year-olds."

Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), center, speaks during a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Joshua Roberts | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Testing resources have been tight in the U.S. since the first Covid-19 patient in the U.S. was identified in late January. As a result, severely sick people and those who have symptoms have been prioritized to be tested. CDC data indicates that younger and otherwise healthy people are less likely to become sick or develop Covid-19 symptoms, so the U.S. hasn't tested many of them, Birx said. "Remember, early on, we said test if you have symptoms and now we know that if you're under 18, the majority of you don't have symptoms," Birx said, explaining the lack of data on children in the U.S. "Our data is skewed originally to people with symptoms, and then skewed to adults over 18, so we are looking very closely into that category by using our antibody test." Antibody tests are used to determine whether someone has previously been infected with the coronavirus. Large-scale antibody tests are used to determine how prevalent the virus has circulated throughout a given community. They have been used by scientists to study how many people, both with and without symptoms, have been infected with the virus in hard-hit cities like New York. Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were not immediately available to answer CNBC's inquiry on whether the agency is conducting a widespread antibody survey among minors. While proponents of aggressively reopening schools say the coronavirus does not present a major health risk to most kids, others worry that kids in packed school buildings could become infected and spread the virus to parents, who may be more susceptible to severe illness. White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was not present at Wednesday's briefing, has previously said that even though children don't appear to be as vulnerable as older people, kids can still become extremely sick and even die from Covid-19. "Even though the incidence is less of serious complications, we are now getting multiple examples of young people who are getting sick, getting hospitalized and some of them even requiring intensive care. The death rate is lower. I admit that," Fauci said during a livestreamed event with Democratic Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama. "Even if you do not get any symptoms and you do perfectly well, by getting infected, by allowing yourself to get infected because of risky behavior, you are part of the propagation of the outbreak, so you are part of the problem," he added.

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci (L) speaks as Response coordinator for White House Coronavirus Task Force Deborah Birx looks on during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images
A file photo dated March 01, 2020 shows President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro (L) along with his wife Michelle Bolsonaro (R) arriving at the inauguration ceremony of Uruguay's new President Luis Lacalle Pou, at the Plaza Independencia in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's positive diagnosis for the coronavirus marks the "beginning of the end" of his administration, one analyst told CNBC, while others expect the right-wing leader to double down on his highly-criticized pandemic response.

Bolsonaro told reporters in a television interview on Tuesday that he had tested positive for Covid-19 after experiencing symptoms for the disease over the weekend.

He claimed he now felt "very well," saying the high temperature he had experienced on Sunday had since gone down.

The president also said he was taking hydroxychloroquine  an anti-malaria drug championed by his ideological ally, President Donald Trump  and azithromycin, an antibiotic, to treat the virus.

Neither of the drugs have been proven to be an effective prophylactic or treatment for Covid-19.

The diagnosis comes after Brazil's president consistently dismissed the threat of the virus for months. He has previously described the disease as nothing more than "a little flu" and claimed his past as an athlete would make him immune to the worst symptoms.

"Despite publicly shrugging off his positive test for Covid-19, it marks the beginning of the end of his administration," Robert Muggah, director of the Igarape Institute, a think tank based in Rio de Janeiro, told CNBC via email.

"It is yet another visible expression of his recklessness and ineptitude," Muggah said, before adding the country was still without a coordinated national strategy to tackle the outbreak.

A government spokesperson was not immediately available to comment when contacted by CNBC on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump ramped up his pressure campaign to get public schools to fully reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic, tweeting Wednesday that he may withhold federal funding from schools that do not resume in-person classes this fall.

TRUMP TWEET

The tweet was the latest step in an administration-wide effort to convince schools nationwide that the risks of not reopening for in-person classes outweigh those posed by the coronavirus pandemic, which has reached record levels across the country in recent weeks.

The lion's share of school funding in America comes from states and municipalities, and not from the federal government. Nonetheless, the White House is exploring ways to use the next coronavirus relief bill to tie the slice of school funding that does come from Washington to the pace of different schools' reopenings.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence confirmed that the Trump administration is looking to the upcoming Phase 4 coronavirus relief bill as a potential way to exert leverage over schools. "As we work with Congress on the next round of state support, we're going to be looking for ways to give states a strong incentive and encouragement to get kids back in school," said Pence.

Shortly after Trump's first tweet about defunding schools, the president pivoted to attacking his own administration's health guidelines for reopening schools, calling them tough, expensive and impractical.

TRUMP TWEET 2

But instead of laying out a plan to enable schools to meet the existing CDC guidelines, Pence said that next week the CDC will "be issuing five new documents." These documents will include new guidelines on preparing communities for school reopenings, as well as "decision making tools for parents and caregivers," and "symptom screening considerations" for students and teachers.

"As the president said today, we just don't want the guidance to be too tough," Pence told reporters. "That's why the CDC will be issuing more guidance going forward, because we know each school system has unique capabilities and different facilities."

Reopening schools is also a key component of helping the U.S. economy get back on solid footing after record breaking job losses this spring. More than 50 million children attend school in the United States, and the near blanket closures of schools and daycare centers in March and April forced millions of parents to become teachers overnight, often on top of holding down their own full-time jobs.

But with the traditional start of the school year just weeks away, there are still few concrete plans in place on either the state or the federal level to help schools determine how best to reopen safely.

And now, with daily rates of new coronavirus cases soaring, parents and educators are growing increasingly anxious about whether there is any way to make in-person school safe enough to convince both students and teachers to return to the classroom.
United Airlines on Wednesday said it is warning about 36,000 front-line employees  more than a third of its staff  about potential furloughs as the coronavirus pandemic continues to roil travel demand.

The potential for the mass job cuts, the largest announced by a U.S. airline so far, comes as signs of a recovery in air travel fade with new coronavirus infections and travel restrictions. Other airlines have warned employees about possible staff reductions and are likely to follow suit with similar formal notices in the coming weeks.

Federal law requires employers to give staff notice about possible layoffs or temporary furloughs 60 days in advance. United and other airlines that took $25 billion in federal payroll support are prohibited from laying off, furloughing or cutting the pay rates of staff until Oct. 1.

In a memo sent to employees Wednesday, United said workers who are informed that their jobs are at risk might not ultimately get furloughed. The company said it will exhaust voluntary measures before cutting employees. Some of the furloughed staff may be called back to work but that will depend on a return to demand, which some industry executives say could take years.

"The reality is that United simply cannot continue at our current payroll level past October 1 in an environment where travel demand is so depressed," the carrier said in its staff note. "And involuntary furloughs come as a last resort, after months of company-wide cost-cutting and capital-raising."

The furloughs would apply to unionized workers and warnings are going to some 15,000 flight attendants, more than half of the airline's cabin crew, and more than 2,200 pilots. The airline also said more than 4,500 mechanics and technicians as well as more than 11,000 airport operations staff will receive Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN, notices.

"The United Airlines projected furlough numbers are a gut punch, but they are also the most honest assessment we've seen on the state of the industry," said Sara Nelson, a flight attendant for the airline and president of the Association of Flight Attendants, which represents cabin crews at United, Hawaiian, Spirit, and several other carriers.

Furloughs start with the most junior employees. But because United is eyeing such deep staff reductions, flight attendants safe from furloughs would had to have started at the carrier around mid-November 1996 or earlier, according to another staff memo.

"Furloughing employees is corporate triage with a terrible impact on thousands of United families," said Capt. Todd Insler, chairman of the United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, the pilots' labor union.
Walt Disney will stick to its plans to reopen its Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando, Florida, to a limited number of guests on Saturday, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Florida's coronavirus cases have soared in the last month, with the state's daily count topping 10,000 three times in the last week. The death rate from Covid-19 rose nearly 19% in the last week from the week prior, bringing the state's death toll to more than 3,800.

Some workers have signed a petition asking Disney to delay Walt Disney World's reopening. The resort, home to the world's most-visited theme parks, was closed to guests in March.

In a statement on Tuesday, Disney's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pamela Hymel, said new requirements from temperature checks, to face coverings and extra sanitation would enable guests to enjoy Disney World "responsibly."

"While Covid-19, and the risk of contracting it, is present in public places, there are many important ways that we can all help promote each other's safety," Hymel said.
Recent studies have suggested that people's blood types may affect their risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus or developing a serious case of the disease.

Overall, the findings indicate that people with Type O blood seem to be more protected and that those with Type A appear more vulnerable. So does that mean some people can slack off on preventive measures while others need to ratchet them up?

Not so fast, say doctors who point out that the findings show associations, not causation  and don't indicate that any particular blood type guarantees protection.

While the findings may catch the public's attention at a time when people fatigued by the pandemic are looking for signs of hope, doctors say the results are more relevant to researchers trying to better understand the virus.

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"I think something like this has much more sex appeal than it does real practical value," said Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of medicine and chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau in New York.

Any possible influence of blood type on Covid-19 appears small compared with the substantial impact of known risk factors, such as older age and underlying health conditions, said Glatt, who is a spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "In any individual patient, if they have risk factors or they don't have risk factors, that is far, far more important," he said.

People shouldn't jump to conclusions that they are safer or not because of their blood types, he said.

"They certainly shouldn't walk around high-fiving and saying, 'I can do whatever I want, I don't have to mask, I don't have to worry about anything because I have O,'" Glatt said. "And they shouldn't crawl into a corner of the world and not let anyone near them because they have A. Everybody should practice exactly the same way, whatever your blood type is, in terms of appropriate masking and social distancing."

Dr. Lewis Kaplan, a professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania who is president of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, agreed.

Even if some people have reduced risks based on blood type  and the risks vary by study  they don't have zero risk, Kaplan said. "It might mean they have less risk, but if you engage in risky behavior, we don't know just how much risk you need to incur to overwhelm whatever potential protection you might have," he said. "We have no clue."

A European study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people with Type A blood were 45% more likely to develop severe Covid-19 requiring oxygen supplementation or a ventilator than people with other blood types and that those with Type O blood were 35% less likely. The study involved 1,610 patients with severe Covid-19 and 2,205 control subjects.

But people with Type O can still get very sick. "They have a decreased risk to get infected and to develop severe disease," study author Andre Franke, a professor of molecular medicine at the University of Kiel in Germany, said in an email. "However, this is only a relative risk reduction, i.e. there is no full protection. Among our patients who died there were also many with blood group O."

A couple of related papers have been released on the preprint server medRxiv without the peer review scrutiny that published papers typically receive. Studies in China and New York both found that people with Type A blood had a greater risk of coronavirus infection than those with other blood types, while those with Type O had a lower risk.

And the gene testing company 23andMe wrote a blog post about preliminary unpublished data suggesting that people with Type O blood were less likely to test positive for the coronavirus than others.

Dr. Roy Silverstein, a professor and chair of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin who is senior investigator at Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, cautioned against putting too much weight on findings that haven't been peer-reviewed and said more research is needed.

"We have to be careful about overreacting," Silverstein said.

Blood types O and A are most common, so the studies were able to draw stronger statistical conclusions about those types than B and AB, he said.

An explanation for the findings isn't known, but there is speculation that blood type may affect clotting or other factors in Covid-19 patients or somehow affect infectivity or immunity. The hope is that the findings can be applied to future research to better understand why the coronavirus affects people differently and to develop treatments.

The results aren't expected to alter how doctors care for patients now.

"The fact that you have O or A is not going to change one iota how we monitor a patient," said Glatt, of Mount Sinai South Nassau. "If somebody has O and they're not doing well, I'm not going to say, 'Oh, don't worry about it, you have O.' I would treat them appropriately. And if they have A and they're doing very well, I would say, 'OK, we're going to continue to watch you.'

The article "How Blood Type May Affect Your Coronavirus Risk" originally appeared on NBC News.
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, speaks to the media following a meeting of the ECB governing board on March 12, 2020 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Christine Lagarde, the president of the European Central Bank, has hinted that the institution could use its asset purchase program to focus on green goals.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Lagarde made a commitment to look at "greener" changes to operations at the euro zone's central bank, including its bond buying.

"I want to explore every avenue available in order to combat climate change," she told the publication. "This is something that I hold very strongly."



Lagarde added that the bank "has to look at all the business lines and the operations in which we are engaged in order to tackle climate change, because at the end of the day, money talks."

As part of its pandemic emergency purchase program, the ECB is buying 1.35 trillion euros of assets in the region. This is on top of its bond-buying program of 20 billion euros per month.



Lagarde's comments represent the latest move by European officials and governments emphasizing the importance of both the environment and the economy.



Later on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak, the U.K.'s finance minister, is expected to lay out green investment plans worth billions of pounds as part of his summer statement.

In June, German Chancellor Angela Merkel unveiled a 130 billion euro "economic stimulus and future technologies package."

At the time, the German government described the package as being "geared to climate change mitigation and to promoting the technologies that will be important in future, alongside social-policy components."

The European Commission's overarching plan for the European Union to be climate neutral by 2050, the European Green Deal, is backed by financial initiatives such as the Just Transition Mechanism.

This aims to mobilize "at least" 150 billion euros between 2021 and 2027 and will focus on "regions that are the most carbon-intensive or with the most people working in fossil fuels."
European markets closed lower Wednesday as surging coronavirus cases in parts of the world continue to cast doubt over the prospect of a global economic recovery.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed down by 0.7%, with autos shedding 2% to lead losses as almost all sectors and major bourses slid into negative territory.

The U.S. is nearing 3 million cases and Florida faces an impending shortage of intensive care unit beds, as a majority of states continue to see spikes in new Covid-19 infections.

Meanwhile, the White House has begun the process of formally withdrawing from the World Health Organization as worldwide cases pass 11.8 million. A WHO official said Tuesday that it shouldn't "be a surprise" if coronavirus deaths start to rise again.

The WHO on Tuesday also acknowledged that evidence was emerging of the airborne spread of the coronavirus, after more than 200 scientists urged the body to update its guidance.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Economist Gita Gopinath warned on Tuesday that many countries may need to restructure their debt in the aftermath of the pandemic as borrowing surges.
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg continues to miss the mark when it comes to controlling political speech on the giant social media platform, former Facebook security chief Alex Stamos told CNBC on Wednesday.

Facebook should not be concerned about whether it is censoring the flow of information, whether right or wrong, from elected officials, but about the amplification of misinformation, said Stamos, now director of the Stanford Internet Observatory at Stanford University.

Zuckerberg has been under intense scrutiny over Facebook's approach to regulating free speech and the kind of content, particularly political ads, that can be posted to the website since his speech on free expression at Georgetown University last fall.

The issue is "what kind of capability does Facebook provide people to amplify their speech well beyond what would have been possible 5, 10 years ago before everybody was on social media," Stamos said on "Power Lunch." "If [Zuckerberg] changed his view on that and applied a little more of a subtle model to this, I think he could do a lot better."

In the October speech in the nation's capital, Zuckerberg argued that social media has become a "fifth estate," alongside the fourth estate of traditional news media, that lets the public air their thoughts and ideas without relying on gatekeepers. The event was his response to pressure from politicians on both sides of the aisle looking to address how Facebook and other social media regulate speech online, especially with the 2020 election getting closer.

Zuckerberg, the chief executive and controlling shareholder of Facebook, decided that the company would not fact-check ads by political candidates, though he admitted to considering banning political ads altogether.

"We think people should be able to see for themselves what politicians are saying," he said in the speech. "I don't think it's right for a private company to censor politicians or the news in a democracy."

Twitter, Facebook's smaller rival that has banned political ads, set a standard on this front, Stamos said. The short message platform is a favorite of President Donald Trump.

"And to be honest, this is actually a really hard problem," explained Stamos, who also serves as an advisor to Zoom Video Communications. "There is a reason why in our country we don't have laws around this, because we have decided that more political speech is generally better and that it's very dangerous to allow centralized powerful organizations to control that speech."

The two social platforms also took polarized approaches to the president's racist "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" posts. Zuckerberg ruled that it did not violate policies, while Twitter warned users of "violent rhetoric" in the tweet.

Twitter also moved to attach warning labels to two Trump tweets about mail-in voting in May.

While the company would find it hard to "deplatform" someone like Trump from its website whenever rules are broken, Twitter now limits how much election disinformation can spread by labeling misleading information, Stamos said.

"They will use their own First Amendment right to say 'we don't agree with this' and 'we don't think this is true,' and they will limit the spread of that message" via a "middle way," Stamos explained. "I think that's the kind of middle way that, if Mark had adopted it a couple months ago, Facebook would be in way better shape right now."

Stamos, who departed the company more than two years ago due to disagreements over its handling of disinformation in the 2016 election, said he thinks Facebook will continue to face challenges moving forward as long as Zuckerberg stands his ground on these issues.

As of late, Facebook is back in the news because of an advertising boycott against hate speech being led by multiple civil rights groups. Additionally, a two-year audit commissioned by Facebook and released Wednesday concluded that some newly installed policies led to "significant setbacks for civil rights."

"Because there's really no legal framework here, this is up to Facebook themselves, and they are kind of vacillating back and forth as the political wind shifts and making these decisions, it seems, in a pretty little bit of a haphazard manner," Stamos said.
Roger Stone arrives for his sentencing at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, DC on February, 20, 2020.

Facebook on Wednesday announced it removed a network of more than 100 accounts and pages posting misinformation on the company's social network with ties to Roger Stone, a longtime Republican operative and ally of President Donald Trump.

"Our investigation linked this network to Roger Stone and his associates," Facebook said in a statement.

The network of "coordinated inauthentic behavior" used Facebook to pose as Florida residents and post misinformation regarding local politics in Florida, land and water resource bills in Florida, material released by Wikileaks ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and Stone's trial as well as his websites, books and media appearances.

The network was followed by more than 320,000 accounts across Facebook and Instagram. It consisted of 54 Facebook accounts, 50 Facebook pages and four Instagram accounts. The network spent $308,000 on Facebook ads.

This group was also active on other internet services besides Facebook, the company said.

The company began looking into this network as part of an investigation into the far-right group Proud Boys' efforts to return to Facebook after it had been banned from the service in 2018.

Stone was convicted last fall of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. The charges were brought by a grand jury as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Stone, 67, is currently scheduled to report to federal prison next week. His lawyers recently asked a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., to delay his surrender date to at least early September, citing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in correctional institutions.

Stone has asked for clemency from Trump, who has signaled he may be considering a pardon or commutation of sentence. In June, for instance, the president tweeted that Stone "was a victim of a corrupt and illegal Witch Hunt, one which will go down as the greatest political crime in history. He can sleep well at night!"

Stone's social media presence has long been a source of controversy. Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who in February imposed a 40-month prison sentence on Stone, slapped a strict gag order on the self-described "dirty trickster" in February 2019 after he posted a photo on Instagram showing the judge next to a rife scope's crosshairs. In July 2019, Jackson banned Stone from major social media sites after ruling he breached his gag order.

Stone did not respond to a request for comment.

Neither the Justice Department nor the U.S Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, the entity that prosecuted Stone, immediately responded to requests for comment.

Additionally, Facebook also removed a network of accounts focused on posting misinformation in Brazil with ties to Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro. the network consisted of 50 Facebook accounts, pages and groups and 38 Instagram accounts. The Facebook pages were followed by 883,000 accounts, and 917,000 users followed the Instagram accounts, the company said.

Brazil's Foreign Affairs Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

-- CNBC's Kevin Breuninger and Dan Mangan contributed to this report.
If you need extra income, you might check out some freelance work.

Unemployment levels are high, and the extra $600 in weekly federal jobless benefits is set to run out the end of July. But the good news is that finding some extra work may be easier. Companies often to turn to freelancers as a more economical solution to regular staff, according to job-search website FlexJobs.com.

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Keep in mind, though, some states are looking to reshape labor laws so that more independent contractors are considered employees  sparking a backlash among freelancers who fear this could impact their ability to get work.

Flexible positions are especially available in computer and IT, administrative and support services, and project management.

FlexJobs lists a number of freelance positions with hourly rates that, according to compensation software and data company PayScale, can often top $18. These seven jobs also specify part-time or flexible schedules.
The last British governor of Hong Kong has accused the Chinese Communist Party of setting out to "destroy" the Chinese territory by implementing a national security law there.

"What the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing has set out to do is to destroy the Hong Kong which has been so successful for decades  one of the freest cities in the world and a great Asian financial hub, and they've done it in a traditional way," said Chris Patten, who was governor of Hong Hong until the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

CNBC reached out to the Hong Kong government and the Communist Party of China for comment but has not heard back. However, the Beijing government says the law is aimed at prohibiting secession, subversion of state power, terrorism activities and foreign interference.

Patten was speaking to CNBC's Karen Tso and Julianna Tatelbaum on Tuesday, one week after Beijing passed and implemented the Hong Kong national security bill.

Opponents of the law, such as U.K. Foreign Minister Dominic Raab, say it undermines Hong Kong's autonomy that was promised when the special administrative region was handed over to China in 1997.

Under the "one country, two systems" policy, the territory has a largely separate legal and economic system from the mainland that reflects its British colonial heritage. That framework  known as the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China  was supposed to be in place until 2047.

Citing American sinologist Perry Link, Patten said that China's "rule by fear" rather than "rule of law" is like an anaconda in the chandelier  a metaphor referring to the power of self-censorship in China. "You never knew quite when it was going to drop but you knew there was always a danger of it dropping on you," Patten added.

Patten said it was a "comprehensive dismantling of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary" in Hong Kong and "very bad news" for the city which depends on the rule of law and the freedom of information to be successful.
J.K. Rowling has joined around 150 authors and academics in denouncing the so-called "cancel culture," which refers to the online shaming of individuals who have done or said something that angry social media users consider objectionable or offensive.

The world-famous author of the "Harry Potter" series signed an open letter warning of an "intolerant climate" for free speech. The letter was published by Harper's Magazine on Tuesday.

The signatories welcomed the "needed reckoning" on racial and social justice but argue that it has "intensified a new set of moral attitudes and political commitments that tend to weaken our norms of open debate."

Other signatories include Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, cognitive scientist Noam Chomsky, and novelist Salman Rushdie.

"The free exchange of information and ideas, the lifeblood of a liberal society, is daily becoming more constricted," they say.

"While we have come to expect this on the radical right, censoriousness is also spreading more widely in our culture: an intolerance of opposing views, a vogue for public shaming and ostracism, and the tendency to dissolve complex policy issues in a blinding moral certainty."

They go on to say President Donald Trump is a "real threat to democracy" but argue that "resistance must not be allowed to harden into its own brand of dogma or coercion."

The fact that J.K. Rowling's name is among the signatories perhaps isn't that surprising. The British writer was recently attacked on social media for making comments that offended some transgender people.
Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey, speaks during a news conference in Trenton, New Jersey, U.S., on Monday, April 6, 2020.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday ordered people to wear face coverings outdoors when social distancing is not practicable.

New Jersey was the first state to require face coverings indoors, Murphy said at a press briefing, adding that it was "the right call from the get-go and it has saved lives."

"Requiring masks outdoors is a step, frankly that I hoped we would not have to take ... But unfortunately we have been seeing a backslide in compliance," he said. "The weather has gotten warmer, and not surprisingly as a result, our rate of infection has similarly crept up."

Exceptions to the rule apply to individuals who are eating and drinking at an outdoor dining establishment, those who cannot wear a face covering for medical reasons and children under age 2.

Murphy tweet

The governor on April 8 ordered customers and workers at essential businesses to wear face coverings. According to the guidance, businesses must provide masks and gloves for their employees. If a customer refuses to wear a cloth face covering for nonmedical reasons, businesses are not allowed to let them in.

New Jersey is one of several states that recently updated or issued a new face covering mandate as the number of coronavirus cases continues to spike nationally. These states include California, Texas, Kansas, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington.

On Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order requiring the use of face coverings in public spaces in counties with 20 or more active Covid-19 cases.

Abbott also issued a proclamation giving mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of over 10 people.

"We have the ability to keep businesses open and move our economy forward so that Texans can continue to earn a paycheck, but it requires each of us to do our part to protect one another  and that means wearing a face-covering in public spaces," he said in a press release.

While many states are now enforcing the use of face coverings in public spaces to curb the spread of the virus, each state has outlined different rules and exemptions.

Like Texas, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also issued an order effective this week requiring the use of face coverings only in counties that are designated as areas with a very high risk of exposure and spread. Seven counties in the state meet this health emergency level.

Other states that mandate masks outdoors when social distancing is not feasible include California, Delaware, Kansas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo blasted President Donald Trump on Wednesday for pressuring state officials to reopen schools this fall, saying the federal government doesn't have any authority over the matter.

"School reopenings are a state decision. Period. That is the law, and that is the way we're going to proceed. It's not up to the president of the United States," Cuomo said during a news briefing in Albany. "The president does not have any authority to open schools. We will open the schools if it is safe to open the schools. Everybody wants the schools open."

On Tuesday, Trump  joined by first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence at the White House  said he would pressure states to reopen schools this fall. Although dozens of states are struggling to contain a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, the president called for schools to open in August and September.

Trump ramped up his campaign earlier Wednesday, threatening to withhold federal funding from schools that don't resume in-person classes this fall.

Trump tweet

Meanwhile, Cuomo said he will announce the state's decision in August on whether schools will open after thoroughly reviewing public health data and reopening plans from local school districts.

The governor said he has been consulting with educators and others on how schools should reopen in September. By July 13, the state hopes to finalize its guidance so that local school districts can submit their reopening plans by the end of the month. Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7, New York will make an announcement on its decision, Cuomo said.

"The test that I bring to all of these things, day camps, overnight camps, is my child test. I am not going to ask anyone to put their child in a situation that I would not put my child in, and that's how I make these decisions," he said. "If it's not safe for my child, it's not safe for your child. So we'll get that data, and we'll make that decision in August."
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, U.S., July 8, 2020.

WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that the Trump administration would seek to block the Chinese government's efforts aimed at stealing American citizens' private information through telecommunications and social media.

"The infrastructure of this next 100 years must be a communications infrastructure that is based on a Western ideal of private property and protection of private citizens information in a transparent way," the nation's top diplomat said at the State Department. He accused Chinese hardware and software companies of not following this model.

Pompeo's remarks come two days after he said the U.S. was looking at banning TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps citing national security concerns. He explained in a Monday interview with Fox News that the Trump administration will examine the infrastructure of Chinese social media apps as it did with Chinese telecommunication giants Huawei and ZTE.

"The comments that I made about a particular company earlier this week fall in the context of us evaluating the threat from the Chinese Communist Party," Pompeo told reporters at the State Department, referencing TikTok.

"We are now evaluating each instance because we believe the U.S. citizens data that they have on their phones or in their system or in their health-care records, we want to make sure that the Chinese Communist Party doesn't have a way to easily access that," he added.

Read more: TikTok beefs up lobbying team as U.S. government scrutiny intensifies

Pompeo, who has previously described Huawei and other Chinese state-backed tech companies as "Trojan horses for Chinese intelligence," did not elaborate on the steps the Trump administration would take to protect American citizens' private information.

In November, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States began an inquiry into TikTok over cybersecurity concerns.

In December, the Defense Information Systems Agency advised that all Department of Defense personnel should not use the Chinese-owned social media platform, citing a "potential risk associated with using the TikTok app." A year prior, the Pentagon halted sales of Huawei and ZTE mobile phones and modems on military bases around the world citing national security concerns.

Read more: Pentagon: 'Huawei is too close to the government'

U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese intellectual property theft has cost the economy billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs and that it threatens national security. Beijing maintains that it does not engage in intellectual property theft.

In a blistering address Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray described Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft against the United States as "one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history."

"The stakes could not be higher, and the potential economic harm to American businesses and the economy as a whole almost defies calculation," Wray said of the Chinese government during an address at the Hudson Institute.
Students who want to return to campus at Purdue University in Indiana this fall will have to be tested for the coronavirus, the school's president, Mitch Daniels, told CNBC on Wednesday.

Every student "will have to submit a negative test prior to moving into a residence hall or attending the first class," Daniels said on "Squawk Box."

The university will be requiring "every member of the Boilermaker community" to sign the Protect Purdue Pledge, agreeing to assume personal responsibility for monitoring and reporting Covid-19 symptoms and agreeing to "participate in testing and contact tracing to preserve the wellness of the community."

Purdue University, whose main campus is located in West Lafayette, will also have strict policies on wearing face masks on campus and taking other steps to reduce the density on campus. Purdue has more than 40,000 students.

Daniels said Purdue's plan will include testing anyone who exhibits any symptoms "immediately." He added, "We may do some surveillance testing on top of that."

Purdue estimates its testing protocols will cost "in the millions," Daniels said. The overall cost of preparing the campus for the fall, including the "miles of Plexiglas" that is being installed, will be in the "tens of millions" of dollars, he added.

"No one says this will be easy, but the cost of not attempting it in the lives, in our case tens of thousands of young people, would not be acceptable," said Daniels, a Republican former Indiana governor. He was one of the earliest voices this spring to advocate for college students to return to campus despite the threat of the coronavirus. He outlined preliminary plans to do so in April.

Daniels' comments Wednesday come as more colleges and universities announce their plans to return students to campus this fall. Harvard University announced that it will test students on campus every three days. Cornell University will test all its students upon their return to campus and then test them once a week afterward.

Purdue is offering an all-online option for students who do not want to return to campus or who cannot return.

However, Daniels said that "probably 90% or more" selected the in-person option.

"Students want to be on campus very much. They know, and we agree, that there are elements of the on-campus that no one has figured out how to fully replicate online yet," he added. "It's our job to find ways to allow them to pursue their education and get their lives launched on schedule."
Samsung's "Galaxy Unpacked" will take place on August 5, 2020. The South Korean electronics giant is expected to unveil a new device in its Note series of smartphones.

Samsung is set to reveal its next major smartphone on August 5  and media reports say the latest version of its high-end Galaxy Note 20 smartphone could be unveiled.

The South Korean electronics giant usually unveils a new version of its Galaxy Note series of devices at its August "Galaxy Unpacked" event. This year's edition will be virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The promotional video featured the tip of a stylus  known as the S Pen, which comes with Samsung's Galaxy Note phones.

This appears to back up a number of leaks that suggest the next device will be the Galaxy Note 20 which will come in several versions.

A report by SamMobile earlier this year also said that another foldable smartphone could be unveiled called the Galaxy Z Fold 2. That would be the successor to the Galaxy Fold Samsung released last year that had serious technical problems when it launched.
The exterior of New York Hardcore Tattoos on the first day of re-opening as New York City officially begins Phase Three, of opening on July 06, 2020. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Many states are pushing jobless residents to get back to work  and are using their unemployment benefits as leverage. State officials are re-imposing rules requiring unemployed workers to look for work as a condition of receiving their weekly jobless benefits. States generally have "work search" requirements in normal times, to encourage recipients of unemployment insurance to rejoin the workforce. More from Personal Finance:

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How to handle Medicare coverage if you move to another state Workers who don't comply risk losing their unemployment benefits  including both the state benefits and the extra $600-a-week federal supplement being paid through July 31. They may also have to pay back some benefits they received. Most states waived these rules at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, as the public-health emergency necessitated social-distancing measures and economic shutdowns pushed employers to cut more than 21 million jobs from their payrolls in March and April. Now, as states slowly reopen their economies and businesses recall people to work, officials in states like Arkansas, Missouri and Nebraska are reinstating the job-hunt rules.

States clamping down

States are likely clamping down because their trust funds have been drained amid an onslaught of unemployment applications and as they seek to limit fraudulent claims for benefits, said Susan Houseman, research director at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. More than 31 million Americans were receiving unemployment benefits as of June 13, according to most recent Labor Department data. More than 1 million Americans have been filing new claims every week since mid-March.

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It appears state officials are also encouraged by a recent improvement in the country's employment metrics. The unemployment rate dropped to 13.3% and 11.1%, respectively, in May and June as states eased lockdown measures. That optimism meshes with the views of many lawmakers on Capitol Hill, primarily congressional Republicans, who want to end the extra $600-a-week unemployment payments and replace them with a cash bonus for people who return to work. Gov. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, a Republican, ordered the state's labor department to re-impose work-search requirements beginning July 12. Nebraska is in the third phase of reopening and state employers are currently listing more than 30,000 jobs as available, according to Ricketts' executive order issued Tuesday.

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However, there were about 57,000 people receiving unemployment insurance in Nebraska as of June 20, according to the U.S. Labor Department. There were also roughly 26,000 recipients through a separate Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program as of June 13, according to most recent data. Missouri's Department of Labor and Industrial Relations re-imposed work-search rules beginning this week. The Arkansas Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Services, put its rules back in place as of June 28. All states had eased their work-search requirements by late April and early May, around the peak of state lockdowns, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Roughly half did so for all unemployment insurance beneficiaries, and the remainder waived rules just for people receiving unemployment due to Covid-19-related circumstances, according to the Conference.

A surge in Covid-19 cases across the country may push some states to pause their plans to reimpose job-hunting rules. The Texas Workforce Commission delayed its requirement and will reexamine the decision in late July, according to a June 30 announcement from Ed Serna, the commission's executive director. "It is a challenging time to try to find a job, but you must make your best effort," according to the New York Labor Department. "Essential businesses are still open and many are hiring due to spikes in demand."

Big hurdle?

Like most aspects of the unemployment system, details will vary by state as to specific work-search requirements and how rigorously officials police the rules, experts said. Fortunately for workers, it's generally not too challenging to pass the work-search test and continue collecting jobless benefits, Houseman said. "You get disqualified for not trying. But you don't get disqualified if you don't succeed" in finding a job, Houseman said. "It's something of a hurdle to jump over. But it's not a huge one." In Missouri, workers must complete three work-search "activities" during each week for which an individual requests unemployment benefits, unless they are in approved training, have a definite recall date from an employer, or are enrolled in a work-share program, according to the state labor department.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday voted 7-2 to uphold Trump administration rules to allow employers with sincere moral or religious objections to deny employees access to free contraceptive coverage.

The rules broadened a carve-out to the contraceptive coverage mandate included in the Affordable Care Act, the health-care overhaul commonly known as Obamacare. According to government estimates, the religious exemption would lead to possibly as many 125,000 women losing their coverage.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who authored the majority opinion, wrote that the Trump administration "had the authority to provide exemptions from the regulatory contraceptive requirements for employers with religious and conscientious objections."

"The only question we face today is what the plain language of the statute authorizes," Thomas wrote. "And the plain language of the statute clearly allows the Departments to create the preventive care standards as well as the religious and moral exemptions."

Thomas' opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Justice Elena Kagan wrote separately to explain her vote with the majority, and was joined by Justice Stephen Breyer. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.

The Supreme Court challenge came after Pennsylvania and New Jersey had successfully halted implementation of the regulations in the lower courts. The states argued that the federal government failed to follow the legal protocol known as notice-and-comment in creating the rules.

The states said that if the rules went into effect, they would be saddled with increased costs to run their taxpayer-funded family-planning programs.

A federal district court sided with the states and prevented the new rules from going into effect. That decision was affirmed by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Philadelphia.

The Trump administration, via the Department of Justice, and the Roman Catholic nonprofit Little Sisters of the Poor, asked the Supreme Court to reverse those rulings.

The Justice Department told the court that the exemptions are required by the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which prohibits the government from substantially burdening religious exercise unless it can show that it is using the "least restrictive means" to further a compelling government interest.

Thomas declined to say whether the Trump administration's rules were required by the RFRA.

"In light of our holding that [Obamacare] provided a basis for both exemptions, we need not reach these arguments," he wrote.

In a concurrence, Alito said that he would have found that the RFRA required the exemptions, noting that by failing to do so, the majority left room for continued challenges. Alito's concurrence was joined by Gorsuch.

"We now send these cases back to the lower courts, where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey are all but certain to pursue their argument that the current rule is flawed on yet another ground," he wrote. "This will prolong the legal battle in which the Little Sisters have now been engaged for seven years  even though during all this time no employee of the Little Sisters has come forward with an objection to the Little Sisters' conduct."

Kagan, joined by Breyer, wrote that she also foresaw additional litigation  and that it was quite possible that the administration would lose.

"I question whether the exemptions can survive administrative law's demand for reasoned decisionmaking," Kagan wrote. "That issue remains open for the lower courts to address."

Kagan wrote that, on that front, the exemptions "give every appearance of coming up short."

The application of the exemptions to publicly traded companies and to "those without any religious need for it" raised questions about whether they were reasonable, Kagan wrote.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement that "this fight is not over."

"Our case was never about requiring religious groups to provide contraception  organizations like the Little Sisters are already exempt," Shapiro said. "Our case is about an overly broad rule that allows the personal beliefs of CEOs to dictate women's guaranteed access to contraceptive medicine."

Ginsburg, joined by Sotomayor, slammed the court's decision in dissent, writing that in the past, the court had "taken a balanced approach, one that does not allow the religious beliefs of some to overwhelm the rights and interests of others who do not share those beliefs."

"Today, for the first time, the Court casts totally aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree," Ginsburg wrote.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany celebrated the ruling on Wednesday.

"Today's Supreme Court ruling is a big win for religious freedom and freedom of conscience," McEnany said in a statement.

"Since Day One, the Trump Administration has sought to lift burdens on religious exercise for people of all faiths. As the Supreme Court has previously stated, protecting the ability of people to worship and live according to the dictates of their conscience is part of 'the best of our traditions,'" McEnany said. "The Court's decision today carries forward that noble tradition."

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement that the ruling was "a major victory for President Trump's defense of religious liberty and protects Americans of faith who provide vital healthcare and social services to millions of Americans, especially the needy and vulnerable."

The ultimate impact of the decision could be shaped by the outcome of November's presidential contest.

Katherine Franke, the faculty director of the Law, Rights, and Religion Project at Columbia University, said an irony of the case was that "it does give the federal government very broad powers."

"If Trump is voted out of office, and the Biden administration is voted in, I would predict the first thing they will do is reinstate a broad contraceptive mandate," she said.

The cases are Donald Trump v. Pennsylvania, No. 19-454, and The Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania, No. 19-431.

In a separate case, the court ruled 7-2 on Wednesday in favor of two religious schools that argued they should not have to face job discrimination lawsuits brought by ex-teachers.
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 on Wednesday in favor of two religious schools that argued they should not have to face employment discrimination lawsuits brought by former teachers.

The case concerned the "ministerial exception" to employment discrimination laws that protects religious employers from certain lawsuits brought by employees. It was brought by two Catholic schools in California that were hit with discrimination lawsuits by teachers whose employment was terminated.

"The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission," Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court.

"Judicial review of the way in which religious schools discharge those responsibilities would undermine the independence of religious institutions in a way that the First Amendment does not tolerate," he wrote.

Alito's opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissented.

The schools argued that the ministerial exception prevented them from facing those lawsuits, but the teachers countered that they should not qualify as ministers under the 2012 Supreme Court precedent that established the rule.

In that case, Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. EEOC, the Supreme Court outlined four factors for lower courts to consider when weighing whether an employee qualified as a minister.

Those factors included a formal religious title, whether the title reflected ministerial training, whether the employee presented herself as a minister, and whether the employee's responsibilities include "important religious functions."

Panels of the 9th U.S Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the teachers, allowing them to move forward with their lawsuits. The appeals court judges reasoned that, while the teachers' work did involve teaching religion, they did not meet all of the criteria required for the exception to apply to them.

The schools brought the cases to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to reverse the lower court decisions.

"The ministerial exception is a fundamental part of the architecture of church-state relations in this country," wrote Eric Rassbach, a lawyer at the nonprofit Becket, in a filing submitted on behalf of one of the schools. "The Ninth Circuit's aberrant rulings have severely weakened this critical constitutional protection across a wide swath of the nation."

Alito wrote that in the Hosanna-Tabor case, the top court had not created a "rigid formula" for determining when an employee qualified under the ministerial exception. Instead, the opinion had "identified circumstances that we found relevant in that case."

Sotomayor wrote in a dissention opinion joined by Ginsburg that the majority's "simplistic approach has no basis in law and strips thousands of schoolteachers of their legal protections."
SUSE, a Linux distribution company controlled by private equity firm EQT, has agreed to acquire Rancher Labs, a start-up with technology that helps organizations run software in virtual containers across many servers.

The companies announced the deal Wednesday but didn't disclose the terms. Two people familiar with the deal said SUSE is paying $600 million to $700 million.

The transaction suggests that even during a recession, demand remains high for technology that can enable companies to operate more efficiently.

Talks between the companies began in the spring, and the process became competitive with additional bids, Ursheet Parikh, a partner at Rancher backer Mayfield Fund, told CNBC on Tuesday. There were "lots of Zoom calls," Parikh said.

In the past few years, with the rise of start-ups such as Docker, containers became a trendy alternative to more traditional virtualization technology for running applications on each computer server in a company data center. Amazon, Microsoft and other cloud providers came out with services that developers can use to place code in containers, and in 2017 SUSE introduced its own service for managing containers. The companies haven't finalized integration plans as the deal still faces regulatory approval.

Rancher's core software draws on the Kubernetes container management software that Google released under an open-source license in 2014. People have downloaded it over 100 million times, the company said in March, and it claimed annualized revenue growth of 169% in 2019 without specifying a dollar amount. Rancher also offers its own small distribution of the Linux operating system.

Rancher's customers include American Express, Comcast, Deutsche Bahn and Viasat.

In the world of Kubernetes, Amazon, Google and Microsoft have not moved as quickly as more traditional information-technology companies, said Rancher CEO Sheng Liang, who sold Cloud.com to Citrix in 2011. SUSE is the rare major open-source company that doesn't operate its own cloud infrastructure, Liang said, contrasting it with IBM's Red Hat, for example. That lets it appeal to companies that don't want to be stuck using one cloud. In particular, some companies that compete with Amazon in retail and other areas, such as Walmart, are reluctant to use Amazon's market-leading cloud.

Rancher was founded in 2014 and is based in Cupertino, California, with more than 200 employees listed on LinkedIn. The start-up has raised $95 million from Mayfield, Nexus Venture Partners, Telstra Ventures and other investors.

"So far we haven't spent two-thirds of it," Liang said of the $95 million. "That kind of gives you an idea of how efficient we've really been. We weren't burning money."

SUSE was founded in 1992 and has operated under Novell and other owners over the years. In March 2019 EQT bought SUSE from Micro Focus for $2.5 billion. Last year, former Salesforce and SAP executive Melissa Di Donato replaced Nils Brauckmann as SUSE's CEO.

Disclosure: Comcast is the owner of NBCUniversal, parent company of CNBC.

WATCH: VMware COO: It's our 'birthright' to own the container movement in digital transformation
A TikTok logo is seen on a mobile device in Mountain View, California on November 2, 2019 as a photo illustration.

TikTok is bulking up its lobbying team as the U.S. government intensifies its oversight of the social media company, which is owned by Chinese firm Bytedance.

The hires include people with deep experience in government and public policy. One of the new hires, Michael Hacker, confirmed the appointments.

Starting this week in the company's public policy office are:

Hacker, who previously worked as senior advisor to House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C.

Michael Bloom, who last worked as senior vice president of the Internet Association

Carolyn Lowry, who worked as an associate in the public policy group at law firm K&L Gates

Dayo Simms, a privacy professional who last worked for Uber

Albert Calamug, a policy advisor with a track record in the defense and aerospace industry, including 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Kim Lipsky, who was staff director of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation until last July, joined earlier this summer.

They are joining on the heels of Michael Beckerman, former CEO of powerful lobbying group the Internet Association, who started at the company this spring.

"Michael Beckerman is a best-in-class government relations professional with more than 15 years experience," said Hacker, the former Clyburn advisor. "When he got the job, he asked me if I'd consider coming to help him."

The hiring spree comes as the TikTok app has enjoyed an explosion in popularity, particularly with adolescents and young adults who enjoy recording themselves doing choreographed dances and viral challenges. As Americans have been forced indoors by the pandemic, it has become the most downloaded app of the year.

With that growth comes scrutiny, particularly as politicians on both sides of the aisle are looking closely at all of technology companies' size, access to data and privacy protections. TikTok's Chinese ties have made it particularly vulnerable to such inquiries.

Last year, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States began an inquiry into the application over concerns Beijing could access its data and use it to threaten U.S. national security.

President Donald Trump told Gray TV's Greta Van Susteren that the administration is looking at banning TikTok, citing its size and his dissatisfaction with how China has handled the coronavirus.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo previously told Fox News that the U.S is "looking at" banning TikTok and other Chinese social media apps. On Wednesday, he told reporters the administration is looking broadly at technologies owned by foreign companies, rather than targeting one in particular.

The tough words come after Hong Kong announced a new law that grants the Chinese government sweeping powers, including tighter control over online content.

TikTok and has announced plans to exit the Hong Kong market, as other technology companies have put data requests there on hold.

TikTok has previously said that U.S. user data is stored in the United States, with a backup in Singapore. The company also said that its data centers are located entirely outside of China, and none of its data is subject to Chinese law.

-- CNBC's Arjun Kharpal contributed to this report.
National Security Council Director for European Affairs Alexander Vindman arrives for a closed-door deposition at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on October 29, 2019. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images

WASHINGTON  Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who provided lawmakers with some of the most damaging testimony during President Donald Trump's impeachment proceedings, submitted his retirement paperwork Wednesday. The 45-year-old Vindman, who served 21 years in the military and was up for a promotion, was thrust into the spotlight when he was called before the House to testify about Trump's dealings with Ukraine. "Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army, an organization I love. My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives," Vindman wrote on Twitter. Vindman's lawyer alleges that since testifying in the impeachment saga late last year, the lieutenant colonel was bullied by Trump and his proxies and that "his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited."

"Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President," Vindman's lawyer David Pressman said in a statement. "LTC Vindman's patriotism has cost him his career. Today our country loses a devoted soldier, but it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure it does not lose the values he represents," wrote Pressman, a former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Security Council. The White House, the Pentagon and the U.S. Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said she would put a hold on the more than 1,000 military promotions until Secretary of Defense Mark Esper provided assurances that Vindman's promotion was not being blocked. "Lt. Col. Vindman's decision to retire puts the spotlight on Secretary of Defense Mark Esper's failure to protect a decorated combat Veteran against a vindictive Commander in Chief," Duckworth said in a statement Wednesday. "Secretary Esper's failure to protect his troops sets a new, dark precedent that any Commander in Chief can interfere with routine merit-based military promotions to carry out personal vendettas and retaliation against military officers who follow duly-authorized subpoenas while upholding their oath of office and core principles of service."

Impeachment drama

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, National Security Council Director for European Affairs, arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill November 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee | Getty Images
People line up outside Kentucky Career Center prior to its opening to find assistance with their unemployment claims in Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S. June 18, 2020.

Layoffs associated with the coronavirus pandemic have hit lower-income workers much more than those at the highest end of the pay scale, but their compensation while off the job can double their typical wages.

A National Bureau of Economic Research look at employment trends over the past three months showed that two-thirds of all displaced workers are eligible for benefits that exceed their typical wages.

In some cases, the increase can be dramatic.

Unemployed janitors can collect 158% of their pay, while the typical retail worker can get 142% of what they had been earning, according to a study by NBER researchers Peter Ganong, Joseph S. Vavra and Pascal J. Noel. Each is affiliated with the University of Chicago.

Overall, they discovered that 68% of the unemployed can get benefits exceeding what they had been earning, with the median replacement rate being 134%. Those in the bottom 20% of income are eligible more than 200% of their salaries. Occupations with the highest percentage of unemployment compensation compared to salary include food service, janitors and medical assistants.

The extra benefits are the result of the CARES Act, which sought to provide a life raft for workers displaced by efforts to combat the virus. The program gives millions of workers $600 a week above what they would normally collect in unemployment insurance benefits. Workers considered essential, such as those in health care and at grocery stores, are getting their normal salaries as they have continued to work through the crisis.
The U.K.'s finance minister has unveiled plans for a 3 billion ($3.8 billion) "green investment package" that will attempt to boost the energy efficiency of buildings and help create jobs, but environmental groups criticized the government for failing to match the commitments of their European counterparts.



Rishi Sunak made the announcement during a wide-ranging economic statement to the U.K. Parliament that focused on providing support to an economy reeling from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.



"This is going to be a green recovery, with concern for our environment at its heart," Sunak, who has been in his role as chancellor of the exchequer since February, said on Wednesday.



As part of his plans, the minister announced a 2 billion "green homes grant" that will enable landlords and homeowners to apply for vouchers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

"The grants will cover at least two-thirds of the cost, up to 5,000 per household, and for low-income households we'll go even further, with vouchers covering the full cost, up to 10,000."

It's hoped that the scheme will generate jobs at a local level. Improvements could include works on floor, wall and loft insulation, the government said.



A separate 1 billion will focus on making public buildings, such as hospitals and schools, greener, while a 50 million fund will "pilot the right approach to decarbonize social housing."



The finance minister said that, taken together, it was expected that the measures would "make over 650,000 homes more energy efficient" and save households as much as 300 each year on bills.



In terms of the environmental impact, he added that the plans would "cut carbon by more than half a mega tonne per year" and "support around 140,000 green jobs."



Rebecca Newsom, head of politics at Greenpeace U.K., said the chancellor had "made many of the right noises about sparking a green recovery."



"But instead of digging deeper to deliver on this promise, he seems to have downed spades with the job only part done," she added.

"The 3 billion announcement on energy efficiency is an important start but it can only be a beginning and is dwarfed by green recovery commitments in Germany and France."

"We need more and sustained investment in energy efficiency, transport and nature than we got today."
U.K. Finance Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a back-to-work bonus scheme for businesses bringing furloughed employees back to work, and a 50% restaurant discount for all citizens through the month of August.

In a de-facto "mini-budget" unveiled Wednesday, Sunak told the House of Commons that the jobs retention scheme, which has subsidized wages for 9.3 million furloughed workers, will be tapered down to end in October. Businesses will receive 1,000 ($1254.55) bonuses per furloughed worker retained through January earning at least 520 per month.

Ahead of Wednesday's update, economists had warned that ending the furlough scheme in October would give rise to a much-feared unemployment crisis. However, Sunak claimed the scheme "can't and shouldn't go on forever" and labeled calls for a further extension to the furlough scheme "irresponsible."

"We have to be honest. Leaving the furlough scheme open forever gives people false hope that it will always be possible to return to the jobs they had before, and the longer people are on furlough, the more likely it is their skills could fade and they will find it harder to get new opportunities," Sunak argued.

Mike Bell, global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, said that while the economy will benefit from today's proposals, they would not be enough to offset the hit from the winding down of the furlough scheme.

"Removing the furlough scheme before activity has recovered is like building three quarters of a bridge and not finishing it because it is becoming expensive," Bell said in reaction to the budget.

"Prematurely winding down the scheme risks having merely delayed job losses for millions of people, particularly in the worst affected sectors such as hospitality and retail."
The United States reported more than 60,000 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, setting a fresh record for new cases reported in a single day, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The country reported 60,021 newly confirmed cases over the previous 24 hours as outbreaks continue to expand across a number of states, mostly across the American South and West. Arizona, California, Florida and Texas have accounted for nearly half of all new cases in the U.S. in recent days. The record spike comes after daily new cases fell below 50,000 over the past few days, though some public health officials warned there could be a backlog of reporting due to the July Fourth holiday weekend. The U.S. has reported about 51,383 new cases on average over the past seven days, a record high seven-day average, up nearly 24.5% compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of data collected by Johns Hopkins.

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Top health officials, including White house health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci have lamented in recent days that while many other countries succeeded in shutting down and reducing daily new cases to a manageable level, the U.S. has failed to do the same. "The European Union as an entity, it went up and then came down to baseline," Fauci said Monday during a Q&A discussion with Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. "Now they're having little blips, as you might expect, as they try to reopen. We went up, never came down to baseline, and now it's surging back up. So it's a serious situation that we have to address immediately." Fauci said last week that the U.S. is "not in total control" of the coronavirus pandemic and daily new cases could surpass 100,000 new infections per day if the outbreak continues at its current pace. "I can't make an accurate prediction but it's going to be very disturbing," Fauci told senators at a June 30 hearing held by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "We are now having 40-plus-thousand new cases a day. I would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around, and so I am very concerned." But the U.S. probably isn't diagnosing all infections in the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, because some people remain asymptomatic and never get tested. Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, has said the U.S. is probably diagnosing 1 in 10 cases. Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, however, said earlier this week that the U.S. is probably catching an even smaller portion of all infections because some areas with major outbreaks don't have enough resources to test everyone who wants to be tested. "The CDC says we're diagnosing 1 in 10 now," he said Monday on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "We're probably more like 1 in 12 because these states are getting pressed and we're falling behind." Cases were growing, on average, by at least 5% in 37 states as of Tuesday, according to a CNBC analysis of data collected by Johns Hopkins. CNBC uses a seven-day trailing average to smooth out spikes in data reporting to identify where cases are rising and falling. Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are also up, on average, by at least 5% in 24 states, according to CNBC's analysis of data compiled by the Covid Tracking Project, an independent volunteer organization launched by journalists at The Atlantic.

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Vietnam is among the "brightest" spots in Asia despite the challenge of trying to contain the coronavirus pandemic  and its economy is poised to rebound, a UBS economist said this week. "Vietnam is suffering some pain from the impact of Covid-19, but the outlook is looking one of the brightest in the region," said Edward Teather, Asean economist at UBS Research. "Retail sales, imports (and) industrial production were all actually up on the year in the month of June, which is better than you can say for most economies in the region," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Monday. Many economies contracted in the second quarter of 2020 compared to a year ago, but Vietnam's gross domestic product grew slightly at an estimated 0.36%.

A woman leaves a cosmetics store in Hanoi, Vietnam on July 6, 2020. Nhac Nguyen | AFP | Getty Images

The country was successful in containing its coronavirus situation even though it shares a border with China, where the virus outbreak was first reported. Vietnam has reported 369 cases and no deaths so far, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The country has for a population of under 100 million. "Vietnam is growing and is well-positioned to continue to take global market share in terms of exports going forward, so pretty bright prospects in a relative sense in the region," Teather said. The nation is seen as an alternative manufacturing hub for companies that want to shift production out of China due to tensions between Beijing and Washington that have resulted in rising tariffs.

Boost to the economy
14 illegally cross into Vietnam

Police in Quang Ninh Province has detained and quarantined 14 Vietnamese people who illegally crossed the Vietnam-China border.







Nine people caught for crossing border illegally





At 10 am on July 8, the border guards from Bac Son Border Station detected nine people acting suspiciously near the border marker1364+400 in Luc Phu Village, Mong Cai City. All nine were Vietnamese nationals who had illegally crossed the border from China to Vietnam.



They admitted to illegally crossing the border with China in November 2019 to find jobs and then crossed the border again to Vietnam.



At 3 pm on July 7, the border guards from Bac Son Border Station also caught five Vietnamese people illegally crossing the border from China to Vietnam near border marker 1364+300. They were from Thanh Hoa, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces.



The Bac Son Border Station has reported the cases and sent them to quarantine centres.
Walgreens Boots Alliance will soon have doctor offices inside of hundreds of its U.S. drugstores.

The pharmacy chain said Wednesday it has struck a deal with VillageMD, which will staff and run the primary-care clinics. The companies said they will open the clinics in 500 to 700 stores in more than 30 U.S. markets over the next five years.

Walgreens shares, which are valued at $37 billion, rose about 3% in premarket trading on the news. Since January, the stock has fallen more than 28%.

Walgreens will invest $1 billion in equity and convertible debt in VillageMD over the next three years as part of the deal, including a $250 million equity investment completed Wednesday. Most of the money will be used by VillageMD to open the clinics and integrate its technology with Walgreens.

VillageMD will recruit and pay employees' salaries, cover other operating expenses and pay Walgreens to use the space. Walgreens said it will own about 30% of the primary-care company after the multiyear investment.

Walgreens is expanding its focus on medical care as it cuts costs and invests in new areas. It has closed hundreds of stores and laid off employees, while experimenting with innovative business models. The company wants to turn its drugstores into health and wellness destinations where people spend more time and money. For example, it leases space in some stores to optical company For Eyes and weight loss company Jenny Craig. The chain is also testing a small-format pharmacy designed to strengthen relationships between pharmacists and patients, particularly those on multiple medications.

Walgreens already has 14 primary-care centers in its drugstores, through partnerships with providers VillageMD, Partners in Primary Care and Southwest Medical Associates.

Investors and analysts will get an update on how the company's efforts are going during the coronavirus pandemic on an earnings call Thursday morning.
Warren Buffett just announced his annual charitable donations to the five philanthropies he's chosen to give the vast bulk of his fortune to.

This year, the "Oracle of Omaha" is distributing 15.9 million class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway valued at about $2.9 billion. That brings his total philanthropic donations to more than $37 billion since 2006.

Buffett has said he will give away more than 99% of his fortune, with the bulk going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; a charity founded by Buffett's late wife, Susan Thompson Buffett; and charities run by each of his three children.

After making the most recent donation, Buffett will still hold 248,734 Class A shares of Berkshire, valued at about $67.5 billion.

Before he began carving out a portion of his holdings each year for charity, he held 474,998 Class A shares of Berkshire, which would be valued at roughly $129 billion today.

Buffett is often accused of making charitable donations in order to accrue beneficial tax considerations. This year, he revealed the extent of his tax benefit for his philanthropic activities: His combined federal and Nebraska income tax paid  including projections for 2020  has been reduced by about 43 cents for every $1,000 he has given the foundations over the last 15 years.
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The White House coronavirus task force is slated Wednesday to hold a press briefing on reopening schools at the Department of Education after the U.S. reported a record single-day spike of 60,000 cases on Tuesday.

Earlier Wednesday, President Donald Trump tweeted that he disagrees with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines on reopening schools safely in the fall, calling them tough and expensive.

The CDC published guidelines in May for what schools ought to consider in how to bring students back into buildings. The guidance recommends more frequent and intensive cleanings, distancing students, closing communal areas and more. That could mean asking schools to hire more staff and invest in re-fitting school buildings, which could weigh especially heavily on districts with less funding.

Trump's tweet about the guidelines comes one day after he vowed to pressure state officials and educators into reopening schools  even as several states continue to grapple with rapidly expanding outbreaks.

"We're very much going to put pressure on the governors and the schools to reopen," Trump said at a White House event Tuesday on school reopenings. "Open your schools in the fall," the president told state officials and school teachers in attendance.

Schools across the country closed early for the year when the virus hit the U.S. hard in March, moving from in-person learning to distance, or virtual, learning. However, educators have emphasized that virtual learning is disruptive to student growth and many students depend on their schools as a safe environment and source of meals.

Last month, the United Nations published a report about the impact of school closures on children around the world, saying that "we have seen a rise in violence and hate online" as a result of school closures.

Children who become infected with the virus are less likely to become severely sick, according to data from the CDC, but some children have exhibited serious health complications and some have died. Scientists are still researching the long-term health consequences for adult and childhood survivors of Covid-19.

The role of children in overall spread of the virus remains unclear as well. Epidemiologists have stressed that there isn't good data that shows how easily children are infected with the virus and whether they play a major role in transmission.

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
An employee assembles an excavator at the Caterpillar Inc. manufacturing facility in Victoria, Texas.

JPMorgan upgraded the hybrid truck manufacturing company and said the stock is "starting to look attractive" for long-term investors.

"The stock has fallen 40% in July month-to-date (S&P 500 up 1.5%), and could fall some more in the near term when the special purpose acquisition company shares are freely tradable (and can be sold short), but NKLA stock is now trading below our $45.00 price target and starting to look attractive for long-term investors in view of a number of potential positive catalysts in coming weeks and months. In our view NKLA is currently a story-stock, but we are on board as long as the company executes to plan, and providing the stock offers a favorable risk-reward trade-off."

Read more about this call here.
Any employer with a sincere religious or moral objection can now opt out of covering contraceptives in employee health plans, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. That decision could cost those who use contraception hundreds of dollars per year in out-of-pocket costs alone.

The case stems from a 2018 rule issued by the Trump Administration that expanded the types of employers who could opt out of the provision in the Affordable Care Act mandating that preventive health services, including birth control pills, rings, intrauterine devices, etc., be covered by most insurance plans at no additional cost. Now, any employer, including some publicly-traded companies, can choose to drop contraceptive coverage if they have a religious or moral objection.

In 2013  the first year the mandate was in effect for many health plans  women saved an estimated $1.4 billion on birth control pills alone, according to a study from Health Affairs.

The SCOTUS ruling could result in up to 126,000 women losing contraceptive coverage, costing $584 each annually, according to estimates from the Department of Health and Human Services. That said, the cost of birth control varies greatly depending on the type, with longer lasting, more effective varieties like IUDs costing significantly more upfront than other types, like the pill. The Health Affairs' study found that women saved, on average, $254.91 per year on the pill after the ACA's mandate went into effect.

That cost barrier could make contraception unaffordable for many, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research organization.

"Numerous studies have demonstrated that even seemingly small cost-sharing requirements can dramatically reduce preventive health care use, particularly among lower-income Americans," writes Adam Sonfield, Guttmacher's associate director of policy analysis.
Homebuyers rushed back into the real estate market last week, taking advantage of record low mortgage rates. After a brief pullback at the end of June, mortgage applications to purchase a home rose 5% for the week and were a remarkable 33% higher than a year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications to refinance rose 0.4% from the previous week but were 111% higher than one year ago. (CNBC)

Goldman Sachs is warning that the upcoming presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden could see delayed results similar to Bush-Gore in 2000. If that were to happen, Goldman strategist David Kostin said in a note to clients last night, "We see heightened risk that election-related volatility could extend beyond Election Day." (CNBC)

Despite a record 60,000 new U.S. Covid-19 infections Tuesday and total cases in American approaching 3 million, President Donald Trump said the White House plans to pressure governors and educators to reopen schools in the fall. White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said, "We should try the best as possible to get the children back to school." But he added, "You don't want to be risking the health of the children or their families." (CNBC)



* Survey: 66% of parents anxious about sending kids to crowded classrooms again (CNBC)

The president points to a drop in U.S. deaths from the coronavirus despite surging cases as a positive. While the case-to-fatality rate in the U.S. is lower than many European nations as many more young people are among the recent new cases, Fauci said it's a "false narrative to take comfort in a lower rate of death." He added, "There are so many other things that are dangerous and bad about this virus."



* World Health Organization says deaths could start to rise again, shouldn't 'be a surprise' (CNBC)

* White House begins the process of withdrawing from the WHO (CNBC)

* Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, who downplayed risks, tests positive for coronavirus (CNBC)

* Trump, Mexico's Lopez Obrador to celebrate USMCA; Canada's Trudeau skips (USA Today)

Texas reported more than 10,000 new infections Tuesday, a record-breaking daily surge as the state responds to a growing outbreak and rising hospitalizations. Texas is one of 36 states where cases grew by 5% or more, based on a seven-day average. The state has reported an average of 6,990 new cases based on a seven-day moving average, a near 26% increase from the previous week. (CNBC)



* Some Florida hospitals run out of ICU beds in largest counties (CNBC)

Brooks Brothers, pioneer of the polo and uniform of the polished prepster, filed for bankruptcy Wednesday, as it continues to search for a buyer. The retailer, which is more than two centuries old, boasts of having dressed 40 U.S. presidents and countless investment bankers. (CNBC)

A two-year audit of Facebook's civil rights record, released today, found "serious setbacks" that have marred the social network's progress on matters of hate speech, misinformation and bias. The audit results come as more than 900 companies have joined a recent advertising boycott of Facebook (FB) and Facebook-owned Instagram to protest the company's handling of hate speech and misinformation. (AP)



* Facebook's new Oversight Board says it won't get started until 'late fall' (CNBC)

J.K. Rowling has joined around 150 authors and academics in denouncing the so-called cancel culture, which refers to the online shaming of individuals who have done or said something that angry social media users consider objectionable or offensive. The "Harry Potter" author signed an open letter warning of an "intolerant climate" for free speech. (CNBC)

Trump is a textbook narcissist and his late real estate developer father Fred Trump Sr. was a sociopath, writes the president's niece, Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and the author of the forthcoming book, "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man." The highly anticipated family tell-all is due to be released Tuesday. CNBC obtained an advance copy of the manuscript.

Warren Buffett announced today his annual charitable donations to the five philanthropies that will receive the bulk of his fortune. This year, the "Oracle of Omaha" is distributing 15.9 million class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway valued at about $2.9 billion. That brings his total philanthropic donations to more than $37 billion since 2006. Buffett has said he will give away more than 99% of his wealth. (CNBC)
The fund has climbed more than 5% since its launch. Its top 10 holdings are as follows:

David Mazza, head of product at Direxion, told CNBC's "ETF Edge" on Monday that WFH has seen "a significant increase in assets and trading volume as investors begin to embrace the fact that it's not just about stay-at-home trades or work-from-home trades."

The Direxion Work From Home ETF (WFH) has been attracting investors since its June 25 launch, a testament to the rising interest in offerings based on the new normal brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

"This is a long-term theme that's beginning to play out in the market, and by that I mean societal acceptance of having greater remote work and the ability to work from anywhere," Mazza said. "The names ... in this portfolio cover four technological pillars that are driving the ability for people to work from home."

The first pillar is cloud technology, represented in Direxion's fund by tech giants Microsoft and Amazon, which both have growing cloud-computing businesses, Mazza said. The second pillar is cybersecurity, which folds in stocks such as Fortinet and Okta. The third pillar is "project and document management," Mazza said, citing holdings such as Box and Dropbox. The fourth and possibly most relevant pillar is remote communications, which accounts for high-profile holdings such as Zoom Video, but also lesser-known names including 8x8 and Twilio, Mazza said. He added that Twilio is helping facilitate New York City's Covid-19 contact-tracing initiative.

"Many of these might not displace a Microsoft or displace an Amazon just because of their influence and pervasiveness across so many pillars that we use as consumers," Mazza acknowledged. "But I think the broader point is that when we begin to think about what are the themes that are going to have legs in the new normal, to me, one of those is all the potential ... to empower us to be productive, to be efficient, whether that's working partially in an office, collaborating with people that are socially distanced from us there or collaborating where some of us are in the office, some of us are at our homes or some of us may be other places."

Tom Lydon, the CEO of ETF Trends and ETF Database, said in the same interview that investing in stay-at-home stocks is "definitely not a fad."

"Everybody in America and around the world is embracing technology, and stocks are benefiting from that," he said. "Some of these stocks you maybe have never heard before, but the ETF companies like Direxion do a great job in talking about the underlying stocks and, really, why they might be different from other holdings that you have in your portfolio."

Lydon called attention to the market's near-obsession with the FAANG names, the longtime acronym for the stocks of Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google parent Alphabet. Along with Microsoft, the six are heavily represented across indexes and ETFs given their massive market caps.

"The question is: What are the future FAANG stocks going to be?" Lydon said, adding that the equal-weighted S&P 500 is now down more than 12% year to date, a sign that big-cap names are responsible for the broader index staying afloat in 2020. The S&P 500, which is market cap-weighted, is down nearly 3% for the year.

"It's been those big stocks that have kind of carried the day, but there are also other stocks that are growing that haven't yet made it into those indexes," Lydon said. "So, we have opportunities with these new creative ETFs that are out there."

WFH climbed 1% on Wednesday. In mid-June, BlackRock filed for its own thematic ETF called the iShares Virtual Work and Life Multisector ETF, though it has not yet disclosed any holdings.

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February 22, 2021 10.00 am

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  President Rodrigo Duterte's economic managers believe the economy is showing signs of recovery, citing signs that activity has started to pick up.

After the 0.2 percent economic contraction during the first three months of the year  which included the first two weeks of a Luzon-wide lockdown  the economy seems to be en route to a gradual recovery, the economic team says.

"The monthly data coming out on trade, on production are actually starting to show improvements. From the deepest contraction in April, we are seeing still a contraction in May, but improving," Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said during Wednesday's pre-State of the Nation Address forum.

RELATED: Gov't eyes more loans, lower taxes to revive economy after lockdown

"We are also seeing a significant part of the economy actually loosening up from the quarantine, so these are important elements to suggest that the economy is starting to recover," he added. "How soon or how fast we reach positive territory depends on how we will proactively respond with our recovery program and how the public will respond by cooperating, maintaining the minimum health standards and ensuring that they care for each other."

He added that the past three months have been used to beef up testing and contact tracing. Chua added that testing will be expanded to cover returning workers from abroad, even those not showing symptoms.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said in a separate presentation that the recovery in Customs collections in June also showed a pickup in imports, suggesting brisker manufacturing activity compared to the previous months when most businesses were forced to close shop.

READ: Companies hold off plans to reassess business operations under 'new normal'

The reality is that this virus will not go away until a vaccine is found. In the meantime, we must get back to work while staying safe, Dominguez said in his speech.

He added that Metro Manila and Calabarzon, which collectively account for two-thirds of domestic output, should reopen as soon as possible to help boost activity. These areas remain under strict general community quarantine controls, with certain buinesses allowed to partially reopen.

The government earlier estimated losses due to the pandemic at 2 trillion, which could lead the economy to shrink by as much as 3.4 percent this year  the first time since 1998.

When asked if the government had taken any missteps in fighting the pandemic, Dominguez said: "The answer is no."

RELATED: Roque allays fears amid rising COVID-19 cases, insists PH still winning vs pandemic

Chua said that about 75 percent of the local economy has reopened, from a low of just 25 percent back when strict stay-at-home rules were enforced from March to May to fend off further infections.

There are 47,873 confirmed cases in the country as of Tuesday afternoon, of which 12,486 patients have recovered and 1,309 have died. More than 30,000 remain active cases, according to the Department of Health.

The government has been working to ease restrictions despite rising infections, with Malacanang admitting that the government has no other choice but to reopen economic activity. The focus now should be regaining consumer confidence so they can return to their offices and start going out to spend again, Dominguez added.

However, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno on Tuesday admitted that the rebound to growth will take a U-shaped path, admitting that output is "likely to contract further in the remaining quarters of 2020."

By 2021, Diokno said the low base and revival in consumption could push growth to between 8-9 percent for the year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  As the Philippine government eases restrictions on flights out of the country, two of the nations foremost travel organizations said it may not yet be business as usual for their sector  one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recently released Resolution no. 52, part of which lifts the ban on non-essential travel by Filipinos.

Among the conditions for travel include submission of confirmed round-trip tickets for those holding tourist visas, travel and health insurance to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses if stranded, as well as hospitalization for infection, and to execute a declaration indicating the passenger knows the risks involved in travelling.

Officials from both Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS) tell CNN Philippines that those who planned to travel this year have either changed their mind or wanted to travel instead once a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available.

The end result: travel agencies working hard to process refunds.

Yan talaga yung sobrang stress ng mga travel agencies ngayon  mga refunds ng clients nila na hindi natuloy, Marlene Dado-Jante, former PTAA president and current ex-officio member, said in a phone interview. Yung iba, naibayad na sa airline, naibili na ng ticket, naibayad na sa operator.

[Translation: That is what stresses travel agencies right now  refunds for clients who didnt push through with their travels. Some of the funds were already paid back to airlines, others are either spent on tickets or tour operators.]

Dado-Jante claimed that travel agencies under the PTAA would process at least 5 to 10 customer refunds a day, depending on the size of the agency and client needs.

NAITAS chairman Robert Lim Joseph agreed, saying, if the agencies have paid the airlines, the travel agency cannot give a refund because their money is with the airlines. They (travel agencies) dont keep huge amounts of money because we are buying ticket agents of the airlines.

Both Dado-Jante and Joseph said that almost four months of travel restrictions in the Philippines have seriously impacted both the sale and cost of airline tickets and bus tours, as well as passenger behavior.

Its a wait and see situation, Joseph explained. Things like this (traveling), you dont want to really have the spirit of celebrating. You want to save money. You do not know how this pandemic will further affect us.

Talagang may COVID scare ang tao," Dado-Janten lamented. "May scare talaga sa infection yan. Pangalawa, medyo financially distressed din dahil nga sa yung iba nawalan ng pasok, yung iba no-work-no-pay."

[Translation: There is a COVID scare among people, especially in terms of infection. Secondly, people are financially distressed because others didnt go to work, some had no-work-no-pay arrangements with their companies.]

She added that airlines are looking at how much costs would increase, given physical distancing rules.

Joseph noted that trips to the United States, especially for the rich who can afford business class, have significantly increased. Business class was before at $1,700 or $1,500," he said. "Now its at $2,500, $3,000, sometimes even $4,000.

Dado-Jante added, Ang experience ko sa travel agency, marami din akong hinahawakan na mga single na millennials. Sinasabi nila sa akin, from their salary, nagse-save sila para maka-travel sila. Pero sa ngayon siguro, hindi priority sa kanila ang travel. Gusto nilang makabawi."

[Translation: In my experience as a travel agent, most clients Ive talked to are single millennials. They tell me they save money from their salary in order to travel. But for now, travel is not their priority.]

Others are really looking for another job, according to Dado-Jante, saying that her recent clients are singles in the 20 to 40 years old age bracket. She also said it may take time for airlines to offer promotions such as cheap fares or seat sales, given the airplanes limited carrying capacity due to social distancing.

Future plans, appeals to government

However, both Dado-Jante and Joseph are hopeful that the next few years would see their sector bounce back from the serious blow they experienced due to the pandemic.

For one, Dado-Jante reiterated the PTAAs appeal to the government for financial suppport.

Sana we also get support from the government, even if we are in the private sector," she said. "Yung ibang agencies nagbi-bleed talaga, so nag-expect kami na magkakaroon ng support through loans.

The Department of Tourism earlier said in April that it has a plan moving forward to cushion the impact of the global crisis among travel agencies.

Among the options presented were a moratorium on the collection of accreditation fees from new and renewing applicants from tourism and tourism-related enterprises, the waiving of participation fees in international fairs and exhibitions until the end of 2021, and extending low interest loans for tourism enterprises severely affected by the pandemic, in cooperation with the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Dado-Jante also said PTAA will coordinate with travel and tourism offices of various countries once outbound flights resume to ensure travelers safety. Hindi tayo basta magdadala ng mga turista, hindi tayo basta magdadala ng Pilipino, kung hindi natin alam talaga na safe (yung bansa), at hassle-free (yung travel nila)," she said.

Joseph said, if everything is well, next year will be good for tourism.

He said the last few months of 2020 is a good phase for agencies to start planning and networking for the eventual return of tourism to where it was before the outbreak.

As long as they are getting the shots in their arm, then, they can go, Joseph said. We will be doing a lot of Zoom meetings, webinars and trainings to develop the skills of our members to show different product presentations from other countries. Now is the time to do friendships. Huwag tayong maghintay na pag um-okay na, doon ka bumira, hindi pwede. Dapat, meron tayong strategic planning.

[Translation: Lets not wait for things to be okay before we act. We need strategic planning.]

But for both Dado-Jante and Joseph, building confidence in the tourism industry by supporting the local tourism market should be the main focus at the moment.

To move on, were looking forward to domestic tourism perhaps within the Luzon area, Joseph pointed out. If there will be domestic tourism, it would have to start next year.

We will push for that, Dado-Jante said. We want also to help the local economy and the Philippine government. Yan din 'yung focus namin talaga, na Pilipinas muna. Alam naman din natin kung gaano ka-popular si Boracay at si Bohol, so once pwede na, at masigurado natin yung safety, wala namang problema yun.

[Translation: Thats also our focus, to put back the Philippine tourism on the map. We know how destinations like Boracay and Bohol are very popular, so well start pushing (for the return of tourists) once we can assure the safety of the people.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8) - Months after she recovered from COVID-19, actress Iza Calzado did not forget the nurses who helped her while battling the highly-infectious disease.

On Instagram, Calzado expressed her gratitude to some of the frontliners from the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City who took care of her.

Allow me to shine the spotlight on my amazing team of nurses (missing a few though!) from Asian Hospital who gave me the best love and care any patient could ever ask for, said Calzado as she shared a photo of them wearing face masks.

Together with my brilliant doctors, I really couldnt have asked for a better team to help me fight and beat Covid 19. I am forever grateful, she added.

She was one of the celebrities who got infected with the viral disease.

Calzado tested positive for the virus on March 28 and was confined due to pneumonia. She was discharged days after her test results turned negative.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  The national government has filed more cases against local officials found remiss in their duties to distribute cash aid during the COVID-19 crisis, an official said Wednesday.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said administrative complaints have been filed against 182 barangay officials, while 19 mayors have been asked to appear in court to explain their failure to properly distribute financial assistance to poor families severely affected by strict lockdown measures.

He added 886 local government officials are the subject of criminal cases stemming from complaints of 596 private citizens. Of this number, 195 criminal cases have been filed with the fiscal office, Ano added.

Meanwhile, National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. lauded several local government units and their chief executives for successfully responding to the health crisis in their localities. He called Davao City, Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley as "model" areas when it comes to COVID-19 response.

"We have seen that the areas with unity of command and unity of effort, we were able to manage and contain the spread of the COVID-19," he said in a public meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte and other key members of the COVID-19 task force.

Galvez said the lack of unity between local executives lead to failure in response and surge in COVID-19 cases, citing Cebu City as an example.

"Kailangan pong magkaisa tayo po dahil kasi minsan pagka po hindi nagkakaroon ng pagkakaisa katulad ng nangyari po sa Cebu na nagkaroon po ng hidwaan sa politika, talaga pong minsan po hindi po sumusunod ang mga tao," he said.

[Translation: We need to be united. When we are not, similar to the political divide in Cebu City, people do not follow the rules.]

Duterte said Cebu City saw a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases and became a coronavirus hotspot because residents were "nonchalant" in the early days of the health crisis.

"We had all the warnings in place and the police were very strict but following the national direction. But it could only arrest so many... People were partying, gambling outside of their houses in Talisay, thats in Cebu. Basta para sa kanila balewala [They ignored it]," he said.

The Philippines COVID-19 cases have reached 47,873, with the Department of Health reporting 1,540 new infections on Tuesday. Cebu City recorded 7,015 cases, with 146 new cases recorded on Tuesday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  The Philippines participation in the global search for COVID-19 vaccine will not only ensure a secured portion of the vaccine supply for the country, but more likely be given for free, according to a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) official.

Unang-una, tayo po ay nag-commit na sa Solidarity Trial na gagawin ng WHO (World Health Organization). So, sa pagkakaalam po namin, ang bakuna ay malamang ibibigay nang walang bayad, said DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development executive director Dr. Jaime Montoya in an online media briefing on Wednesday.

[Translation: First of all, we have committed to the WHO Solidarity Trial. So, to our knowledge, the vaccine will likely be given for free.]

He went on to clarify that other expenses needed to provide vaccination in communities will likely be shouldered by the DOST and the Department of Health.

The Philippines is among the participating nations in the global clinical trial seeking to find a vaccine for the viral disease. Montoya said partaking in the trial will ensure that the country has access to the vaccine, as well as secure a shorter and easier route in registration with the Philippine Food and Drugs Administration.

Experts eyeing 8 candidate vaccines

In the same press briefing, Dr. Nina Gloriani, a professor at the University of the Philippines - Manila, said there are eight candidate vaccines that are showing more potential than others.

This number is out of around 20 that are currently under phases one to three of the clinical trials being done across the globe, according to Gloriani.

Particularly standing out, she said, are the vaccines being developed by companies in the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and India.

Kasama po dyan sa walo na yan yung kino-consider natin na syang it-test sa Pilipinas. Ito yung dalawa sa China na na-mention kanina na in-approve ng IATF, she said.

[Translation: Included in those eight are those that we are considering to test in the Philippines. These are the two from China, which were approved by the IATF and which I earlier mentioned.]

The Inter-agency Task Force for COVID-19 earlier approved collaborations for vaccine trials with five vaccine developers, three of which are based in China. These include the Chinese Academy of Science - Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, the SinoPharms Wuhan Institute and Beijing Biologicals Institute, and the Sinovac - Biotech Ltd.

Apart from the five, Gloriani said the Philippines continues to connect with international collaborators and vaccine companies with promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

PH trials for COVID-19 supplementary treatments

Meanwhile, Montoya said the countrys clinical trials on the use of melatonin as a supplementary treatment for COVID-19 patients is expected to start in the next few days.

According to Montoya, the DOST is just finishing the preparation of the site at the Manila Doctors Hospital, as well as in two to three more hospitals in Metro Manila and Cebu City.

READ: DOST to conduct trial on melatonin as supplementary treatment for COVID-19

Trial on the possible benefits of virgin coconut oil (VCO), meanwhile, is ongoing in Laguna for patients with mild symptoms, he said. Currently, the VCOs efficacy is being tested in 17 patients, and another VCO trial will be done in the Philippine General Hospital.

READ: Virgin coconut oil trials for PGH COVID-19 patients approved

As for the trials for the traditional herbal medicine tawa-tawa, Montoya said the agency is just awaiting the decision of the Single Joint Research Ethics Board, after it recently received approval from the Ethics Review Board to start the project.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  Hospitals cannot refuse to admit people who are mildly ill due to coronavirus disease, the Department of Health said Wednesday, adding that they must properly refer the sick to temporary treatment and isolation facilities first.

Hindi sila pwedeng magtanggi. Kailangan i-coordinate ng maayos, Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters in a media forum.

[Translation: They cannot refuse. They have to properly coordinate with other health facilities first.]

Vergeire explained that appropriate referral must be done as health facilities for people with mild COVID-19 symptoms as well as those without symptoms do not accept walk-in patients. But the official also noted that mild or asymptomatic cases can be confined in hospitals when they have preexisting medical conditions.

On Monday, DOH said 11 hospitals in Metro Manila reported that all of their beds for COVID-19 patients are occupied, leaving no space for incoming patients.

In May, the department asked hospitals to dedicate up to 30 percent of their total beds for COVID-19 patients, but Vergeire said some of them have given them "justifiable" reasons as to why they could not comply. Among them is lack of space.

Understandable naman pero sabi ni Secretary Duque, gagawan ng paraan," she added.

[Translation: It is understandable but Secretary Duque said he will find a way to solve this.]

For its part, the Philippine Hospitals Association, which is composed of 2,000 members, said they cannot reserve 30 percent of the beds for COVID-19 patients because they lack manpower.

PHA President Jaime Almora told CNN Philippines: "Thirty percent is the maximum capacity already. Mahirap i-attain yan dahil ang private hospital kailangan kumita. Kailangan mag-manage pa rin sya ng non-COVID patients di ba? Ang COVID cases iilan lang iyan pero extensive ang manpower requirement."

[It is hard to attain because a private hospital has to earn money. It still has to manage non-COVID patients, right? COVID-19 cases are just few, but their manpower requirement is extensive.]

Almora noted a shortage of healthcare professionals in private hospitals even before the pandemic. He said many nurses and doctors have joined the military and the police when the salary for uniformed personnel increased.

CNN Philippines Correspondent Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  The Department of Health on Wednesday expressed apprehension over the recommendation to randomly test commuters for coronavirus disease as doing that is resource intensive.

Hindi ko pa alam kung kakayanin iyan ng ating sistema iyong sinasabing randomized testing, Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media forum in response to the suggestion of researchers from the University of the Philippines, which was made after over a hundred personnel from MRT-3, including ticket sellers, have tested positive for COVID-19.

[Translation: I still do not know if our healthcare system has the capacity to conduct randomized testing.]

Vergeire added, Our testing is a point in time event, so kapag tinest kita ngayon, maaaring bukas may bago ka nang exposure. Itetest ba kita ulit?

[Translation: Our testing is point in time event so if I test you today, and you have new exposure the next day, do I test you again?]

Be that as it may, the DOH will look study the proposal of UP OCTA Research group, Vergeire said. We will study that. We put that on our table to discuss.

While there is still no randomized testing, minimum health standards meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 must be properly enforced, the official stressed, noting that contact tracing does not work in areas with widespread community transmission.

RELATED: Gov't to MRT-3 passengers: No contact tracing yet, check yourselves for COVID symptoms for now

Nationwide, the number of COVID-19 cases is nearing 50,000, with the DOH reporting more than 1,500 infections on Tuesday.

The Health Department has been logging between 1,000 and 2,000 backlogged and fresh cases over the past few days. Vergeire said the recent increase is mainly due to community transmission and also because of non-compliance to health protocols.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  An arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday against six people allegedly involved in the fatal hazing of a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet.

The warrant was signed on July 7 by Judge Maria Ligaya Ilitiong Rivera of Branch 5 of Baguio's Regional Trial Court. It named Capt. Flor Apple Apostol, Major Maria Ofelia Beloy, Lt Col. Caesar Almer Cadelaria, Shalimar Imperial Jr., Felix Lumbag Jr., and Julius Carlos Tadena as those who would be arrested for murder.

It also stated that no bail was set for Tadena, Lumbag, and Imperial, while Apostol, Beloy, and Cadelaria had a fixed bail of P200,000 each.

In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it has not received a copy of the warrant, and said the Judge Advocate General would attend to the matter and recommend to Chief of Staff General Felimon Santos Jr. what the proper action should be taken regarding the cadets.

The statement also said six PMA cadets have been arraigned and are now facing trial before a General Court Martial for violating rules.

Speaking to reporters, AFP spokesperon MGen Edgard Arevalo said the arraignment was held on Feb. 14 and the cadets pleaded not guilty.

As for the three officers named in the warrant, Arevalo said the PMA will take appropriate action.

"Meron silang sariling Judge Advocate General, ang tawag natin dun is Staff Judge Advocate of the PMA to determine (what action to take) so the best way to do is to ask PMA kung ano disposition nila dun," he said.

[Translation: They have their own Judge Advocate General, we call it the Staff Judge Advocate of the PMA to determine (what action to take), so the best way is to ask the PMA what the action will be.]

The AFP said it is cooperating in the case and assisting in the dispensation of justice.

"We owe it to the people  especially to the parents of the late Cadet Darwin Dormitorio  and the community of PMA Alumni," it said.

In a statement, PMA spokesperson Maj. Cheryl Tindog said Beloy posted bail on Tuesday.

"With the assistance of our judge advocate, inassist sya, kasi civilian court kasi siya so pagdating dun sa civilian proceedings medyo hands off si PMA kasi may sarili silang lawyers e. May sarili silang law, so kung ano lang yung assistance na kailangan, yun lang yung pinoprovide ni PMA. Pero sa exact location niya nandito sya sa PMA, nagpost sya ng bail and she is readying herself to face the court," said Tindog.

[Translation: She was assisted by the judge advocate, because it's with the civilian court, so when it comes to civilian proceedings, the PMA is a bit hands-off because they have their own lawyers. They have their own law so we extend only the help that is needed. But as for the exact location, Beloy is here at the PMA, she has posted bail and is readying herself to face the court.]

The six individuals were charged in the death of 20-year-old PMA cadet Darwin Dormitorio in September 2019 after reportedly enduring a month of maltreatment at the hands of several upperclassmen.

State prosecutors have recommended hazing and murder charges against those named. They said Imperial and Lumbag should be charged with murder, along with Candelaria, commanding officer of the PMA Station Hospital, and attending physicians Captain Flor Apple Apostol and Major Ofelia Beloy.

Meanwhile, Tadena should be prosecuted and charged with less serious physical injuries, the prosecutors ruled.

Several resigned officials of the PMA were cleared of charges for lack of evidence.

READ: Darwin Dormitorio's family feels 'deprived of justice' as prosecution clears ex-PMA officials in hazing case
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  President Rodrigo Duterte issued another threat against journalist Maria Ressa, who has long earned the ire of the current administration.

In a speech aired on Wednesday, Duterte said his Cabinet secretaries are being accused of corruption while they are busy with their duties in the COVID-19 fight.

"General Galvez, General Lorenzana, General Ano, tapos na, they have served their country and theyre still serving the country. Why would they destroy their name? Magkano ba kickback mo? May kickback ba na 50 million? Magsabi ka na may 200 million na kickback, ewan ko, pero huwag kayong maniwala," he said.

[Translation: Why would the Carlito Galvez, Delfin Lorenzana, Eduardo Ano destroy their names? How much is your kickback for saying that? Are you receiving 50 million or 200 million? Do not believe these allegations.]

He then warned Ressa, the chief executive officer of online news website Rappler, that he is gathering evidence to prove that the award-winning journalist is a "fraud."

"I have some folders in me given all throughout the years. You will have a dose of your own medicine one of these days... Si Ressa is a fraud, maniwala kayo. Give us time. Too early for you to enjoy yung mga award-award mo," he said. "We are just compiling at this stage. And someday in bold letters, we will show your incongruity."

[Translation: I have some folders in me given all throughout the years. You will have a dose of your own medicine one of these days... Believe me, Ressa is a fraud, give us time to prove that. It's too early for you to enjoy your awards.]

Ressa appeared unperturbed by Duterte's threat.

"Was he referring to me? Maybe the President is just seeing too much fraud from where he sits," she told CNN Philippines when asked for a comment.

The embattled Rappler CEO has earlier decried what she said was the governments abuse of power and moves to muzzle independent media, with at least 11 complaints and cases filed against her and her news outfit.

In June, she was convicted of cyberlibel stemming from a 2012 Rappler investigative article, which reported on a businessman's alleged connection to illegal activities. The article was published two years before the cyberlibel law came into effect in the Philippines, but it was updated two years later to correct a misspelled word. The Department of Justice, which brought the libel charges to court, said that by updating the story, Rappler effectively republished it online.

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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday recorded 2,539 new cases of COVID-19 infections, the highest single-day increase reported in the country, bringing the national tally to 50,359.

The latest batch of infected individuals broke the previous record high of 2,434 logged on Sunday, July 5.

Of the newly reported infections, 1,922 were fresh cases or those that were detected within the last three days, the DOH said. The other 617 were labeled as late cases or those part of the validation backlog, it added.

Metro Manila accounted for 1,066 or over 40 percent of the new cases. Central Visayas had 443, while other regions nationwide registered a total of 1,030 infections.

The department said that 202 more patients have gotten well, with recoveries reaching 12,588. It also listed five more deaths, bringing the total count to 1,314. These figures bring the country's active cases to 36,547.

In its case bulletin, the DOH noted that 90 percent of the newly-reported patients went ill in the past two weeks.

An increase in the number of cases were also reported from closed settings (MRT and a construction site), with the MRT reporting 202 cases, the DOH said. There is also continuous clustering observed in barangays.

READ: MRT-3 halts operations starting July 7 as more employees get sick with COVID-19

According to the department, clustering has been observed in six new barangays in Metro Manila, and one barangay each in Cebu City, Mandaue City, Palawan, and Albay.

These are apart from the earlier detected clustering in 314 barangays in the country's capital and 64 in Cebu City.

The Philippine National Police also confirmed on Wednesday 39 more positive cases among its ranks. Total infected police personnel reached 981, with 429 recoveries and nine deaths.

Meanwhile, an additional 74 Filipinos abroad tested positive for the virus, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The number of infected overseas Filipinos is now at 8,762. Recoveries also went up to 5,237, with 19 more getting well, while the death toll climbed to 590, after 13 more died.

Around 11.8 million people across the globe have been afflicted by COVID-19. More than 544,000 of this number resulted in death, while recoveries are now over 6.4 million.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong said on Wednesday that the production team led by director Joyce Bernal and actor Piolo Pascual followed health protocols when they arrived in the city this week.

Magalong said the team was on an official business to shoot a video that will highlight Cordillera heritage for President Rodrigo Dutertes fourth State of the Nation Address on July 27.

They were not given any preferential treatment. Like the rest, they were made to wait in line and had to follow all the protocols set in place, Magalong said in a statement.

As Baguio has well-equipped triage stations, we are capacitated to screen persons who enter our borders. Our safety as a city was never put at risk, he added.

He posted photos of Pascual and Bernal wearing face masks during triage. He said before its arrival, the team had a permit from Malacanang, accomplished health declaration forms online, and submitted the requirements.

The trip was controversial following reports that the local governments of Sagada and Banaue barred them from entering amid the threat of coronavirus.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  San Juan's Agora Market will remain closed until July 15 after swab tests of some vendors turned up positive for COVID-19.

A statement from the office of Mayor Francis Zamora on Wednesday said he ordered the market temporarily closed after 23 of the 637 swab test results conducted on market vendors and workers at the Palacio de Maynila on July 1 and 2 came out positive for the virus.

"I ordered the temporary closure of the market pending the results of the swab tests conducted on our market vendors and workers," Zamora said. "Unfortunately, a number of them turned out positive so we are extending the closure as per the guidelines of IATF and NTF. The health and well-being of San Juanenos must take precedence."

Zamora said those who tested positive were asymptomatic and were now in isolation facilities, their close contacts have also been tested and are in quarantine.

All other market vendors and workers were all tested and only those who will test negative will be allowed back on July 16 after they secure a clearance from the City Health Office.

Officials from the city and Agora Market met with Zamora on Tuesday and agreed to follow more stringent protocols, as well as appoint health and safety officers to implement measures to avoid further spread of the virus.

Zamora first ordered the market's closure on June 1 after a fish stall helper tested positive for the coronavirus. Contact tracing was immediately done, along with swab testing.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 8)  The Supreme Court says that President Rodrigo Dutertes public appearances in recent months prove he is not suffering from serious illnesses.

The high court issued on Wednesday a six-page notice of resolution two months after it dismissed a petition seeking the release of the presidents health records.

It emphasized that the president has been conducting regular Cabinet meetings and televised addresses regarding the governments response to contain the spread of COVID-19, which shows that he is not suffering from serious illnesses.

Apparently, petitioners allegation that the President is seriously ill is unsubstantiated and is based merely on petitioners surmises and conjectures regarding his perception of the declining health of the President, it added.

In May, the Supreme Court junked the petition filed by lawyer Dino de Leon in April who argued that the Office of the President is duty-bound to disclose the health of Duterte as mandated by the Constitution.

Thirteen justices voted against the petition, while two dissented.

READ: Supreme Court junks bid to disclose Duterte's health records

The notice of resolution also noted that the petitioner failed to establish the existence of a clear legal right that was violated. Moreover, his claims of illnesses being suffered by Duterte are merely based on what he saw on online news, which the court said are hearsay.

The Supreme Court added that based on their deliberations, the president has the choice on how he will inform the public of his health status.

Duterte has openly admitted that he is suffering from several illnesses like daily migraines, nausea, pain due to a spinal injury, Buergers disease or a disorder affecting blood vessels, and Barretts esophagus or a complication which causes heartburn or acid indigestion.
Editor's note: David A. Andelman, Executive Director of The RedLines Project, is a contributor to CNN where his columns won the Deadline Club Award for Best Opinion Writing. Author of "A Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today," and the forthcoming "A Red Line in the Sand: Diplomacy, Strategy and a History of Wars That May Still Happen,"he was formerly a foreign correspondent for The New York Times and CBS News in Europe and Asia. Follow him on Twitter @DavidAndelman. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

(CNN)  Donald Trump managed to avoid touching off a forest fire in the tinder-dry forest around Mount Rushmore with his Independence Day fireworks display, but instead his administration seems to be doing its best to set Asia on fire in the South China Sea.

Two aircraft carrier strike groups headed by the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz have moved into the South China Sea for the largest military exercises in years just as China has been holding its own drills around the Paracel Islands, which it seized from Vietnam in 1974 in a move the United States has never accepted.

Indeed, there's been considerable concern in the region that China has used international, particularly American, preoccupation with the Covid-19 pandemic, to reinforce its presence on vast stretches of both the Paracel and Spratly Islands and artificial islands built for clearly military purposes. With China having largely brought its Covid-19 surge under control, it has been able to turn its attentions more directly to this region that Beijing considers central to its own security. This has not escaped US and regional military leaders as well as Trump, who has been eager to paint himself as a China hawk, particularly in television attack ads charging his Democratic challenger Joe Biden is soft on China.

China, for its part, denies it has any new designs over the vast island groups scattered across thousands of square miles in its offshore waters. "There is nothing to support the claim that China is using Covid-19 to expand its presence in the South China Sea," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in May.

Ironically, it's not the first time Trump tried to use an aircraft carrier strike group to intimidate an Asian power. In April 2017, in an effort to send chills up the spine of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, the President puffed to one of his favorite interlocutors, Maria Bartiromo of Fox Business, "We're sending an armada. Very powerful," to the waters off North Korea, then elaborated, "He [Kim] is doing the wrong thing. He is making a big mistake." The only problem was that at that very moment, the USS Carl Vinson group was sailing in exactly the opposite direction, headed for joint exercises with the Australian Navy in the Indian Ocean, 3,500 miles away. Eventually, the "armada" turned around.

The Paracels include more than 130 small coral islands and reefs scattered across some 5,800 square miles, with a total natural land area of just under three square miles. Together with the Spratly islands, they represent not only valuable strategic locations, dominating one of the most heavily-traveled shipping routes in the world, but also sit atop or on the fringe of at least 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 11 billion barrels of crude oil, with another projected 160 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 12 billion barrels of oil still undiscovered.

China has already invested heavily in building military emplacements, even tourist resorts, at times side by side, but in all cases designed to cement its hold over the region. On Woody Island, the largest in the Paracels, at least a thousand Chinese live alongside a 9,000-foot runway and launch sites for anti-ship cruise missiles with a 250-mile range, particularly the lethal YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missile. In 2017, a colorful artist's rendering titled "China Dream: Paracel ArchipelagoWoody Island future development" also showed a vastly expanded island with skyscrapers, parkland, and a passenger jetliner preparing to land on an extended two-runway airfield. A May 2019 Pentagon report identifies at least eight "Chinese-occupied outposts" with 60 other potential outposts in the Spratlys alone.

It's this kind of future for the region that the other nations bordering on and laying quite legitimate claim to these islandsVietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Bruneihave long sought to restrain. Since Japan and Taiwan particularly, as well as Australia and Singapore have substantial interest in maintaining free flow of shipping traffic through this region, they have been supportive of American efforts to challenge China in the region and uphold the letter and spirit of international law.

But rarely have the two superpowers come into such direct military proximity with significant naval forces than this week. "The purpose [of the planned exercises] is to show an unambiguous signal to our partners and allies that we are committed to regional security and stability," said Rear Admiral George Wikoff, the operation's commander, adding that the maneuvers would include "round-the-clock flights testing the striking ability of carrier-based aircraft." Indeed, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted a week before exercises opened, "China cannot be allowed to treat the SCS [South China Sea] as its maritime empire." A spokesperson for the fleet confirmed that these exercises had been long planned, and were not in response to global events. China itself began five days of drills near the Paracels on Wednesday.

In the past, large-scale American operations in the region have had little dissuasive impact on Chinese activities or Beijing's unceasing effort to build, reinforce and staff military facilities across the island groups. At the same time, China has pressed ahead with its own efforts to build a blue-water navy capable of challenging American dominance of the Pacific, while cementing its hold over the South China Sea. Andrew S. Erickson of the US Naval War College, one of America's leading experts on Chinese naval power, has testified to Congress about China's naval strength, which includes advanced weapons and anti-ship missiles that could take these US aircraft carriers out early in any battle.

The central question is how directly the US wants to challenge a China that is clearly determined to dominate the region by force of arms, threatening an accidental conflict that could quickly, even catastrophically, escalate. Earlier in his presidency Trump proclaimed his ability to negotiate even the thorniest international problem. But today, fighting for his political life in an election where most polls suggest he is trailing badly, he seems to have no interest in negotiating any stand-still agreement with China in the region or guaranteed free passage of ships of all nationalities through and in the South China Sea. A concept a successor, with nothing more to prove, might be prepared to explore.

This story was first published on CNN.com Trump's risky nose-to-nose challenge to China in the South China Sea
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 78F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
A petition directed toward Gov. Tom Wolf and Penn State urges the university to maintain in-person classes for international students to avoid deportation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ICE announced this week that international students attending American universities that go completely online will be deported. Students currently outside of the United States will be denied visas.

The petition  which had roughly 1,445 signatories of its 1,500 goal Tuesday evening  said that although Penn State is currently planning for in-person instruction until Thanksgiving break, a spike in coronavirus cases could lead the university to move "online-only."

University spokesperson Wyatt DuBois said the university is "deeply concerned about the potential impact" that ICE's new policies could have on the international community at Penn State.

"Our international students need to rely, like all our students, faculty and staff, on a safe and flexible learning environment that will help make possible the attainment of their educational goals in a safe and healthy manner," DuBois said via email. "In the midst of a global pandemic, the imposition of these new unreasonable rules is unfair and wrong."

The author of the petition wrote that transitioning to online-only instruction would "detrimentally impact" thousands of international students, harming educational opportunities and causing access and communication difficulties for students from their home countries.

MORE COVERAGE

In ICE's announcement, international students were given the option to transfer to a university that allows for in-person or hybrid instruction in order to remain in the United States. However, the petition said transferring could cause a multitude of issues.

"Many have committed financially to housing and cars for the year with car and housing leases," the petition reads. "...Many students cannot transfer due to upper-division class restrictions, forcing them to put a pause on their education."

The petition said the only way to guarantee protection of "our community" is that Penn State maintain its plans for teaching a hybrid model of courses "for the remainder of the pandemic."

DuBois said the university is calling for the "immediate reconsideration" of ICE's policies alongside the "AAU, ACE, APLU and other colleagues in higher education."

"That is in Americas best interest, and, we believe, simply the right thing to do," DuBois said.

Additional details regarding how ICE's policies could impact Penn State's international students are forthcoming.

DuBois added that students with immediate questions can contact their academic adviser or the Directorate of International Student and Scholar Advising at 814-865-6348. Students can also submit questions at iStart.gp.psu.edu.
In 2019, a group of Penn State students founded the organization Survivors and Allies United to provide a safe, supportive space for survivors of sexual assault. Since then, it has branched out to promote additional resources for survivors, grow its membership and help others in the process.

Toward the end of the spring 2018 semester, Penn State alumna Sophia Braverman, who graduated in May 2019, said she and a group of students came up with the idea for Survivors and Allies United through a communications class they were taking with media studies professor Michelle Rodino-Colocino.

For the class, Braverman said students were assigned a project in which they had to design a campaign for a cause of their choosing. Since Braverman and other members of her group had been affected by sexual assault, they decided to focus on the issue for the assignment.

After completing and submitting the project, Braverman said the group felt inspired to continue with the campaign and make it a real organization at Penn State. With help from Rodino-Colocino, the faculty advisor for the club, they began turning their idea into a reality in September 2019.

Since the organization's founding, group members have focused on creating a comfortable space for both survivors and allies of victims to discuss sexual assault in weekly therapy sessions.

Braverman said the group reached out to Penn State Counseling & Psychological Services and the Gender Equity Center to provide resources for those seeking help. They have also arranged guest speaker events, organized community involvement activities and attended protests.

Braverman said the organization works to spread awareness about stigmas that make it difficult for survivors of sexual assault to seek help.

Johannah Nelson, the organization's current president, said she joined Survivors and Allies United about halfway through its creation process after hearing a speech given by a member at a State College womens march. Being a survivor of sexual assault, she decided to get on board as a co-founder in January 2019 to help grow the group and its member base.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Penn State students consider staying home for fall semester amid coronavirus pandemic Though many Penn State students were thrilled when the university announced its plans to reo

Nelson (senior-digital and print journalism and history) said she was also drawn to the group because of the ways it differed from similar organizations on campus. She said other clubs did not focus as much on helping individuals overcome the discrimination they face when sexually assaulted, which inspired her to get involved.

According to Nelson, a current goal of the organization is emphasizing intersectionality and encouraging any interested students, graduates, professors or State College residents to join  regardless of race, gender or sexuality.

She added that the group has always been a bit hodge-podge, as they have not focused on just one form of advocacy. The group hopes to partner with other Penn State organizations and support a variety of causes that fight for equal treatment of all people.

We are a coalition of people at Penn State and State College that is working to make the community a better place that treats people equally, Nelson said. We just want to help people out and see our world change.

Nelson created an Instagram page for the organization (@saunitedpsu) earlier this summer to reach more Penn State students, show the groups support for sexual assault survivors and advocate for other causes  including the importance of consent, the LGBTQ community, police reform and the Black Lives Matter movement.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Its been really great to see the ways we can support people and the people coming to us because they want to support our mission, Nelson said.

With the coronavirus pandemic limiting in-person contact, Nelson said online advocacy will be more important than ever before in ensuring the group can continue its efforts.

Organization member Lexi Tingley, who has been a part of Survivors and Allies United since halfway through the 2019-20 academic year, said she appreciates the clubs support of other causes and thinks having a social media platform eliminates difficulties that can arise when starting conversations about advocacy.

Its pretty cool because Im able to share that on my Instagram story, Tingley (sophomore-biobehavioral health) said. It can be intimidating to just say Hey, come to this club meeting with me, but spreading awareness on social media makes it a little easier.

Tingley said she was drawn to the group after a friend introduced her to it because of her past experience with sexual assault.

She added that she wants to help spread awareness of how sexual assault survivors can be aided by Title IX, the federal civil rights law that no one can be denied the right to participate in or reap benefits from any educational program or federal financial assistance on the basis of sex.

Although the switch to remote learning brought by the pandemic prevented her from attending more in-person club events, Tingley said she looks forward to helping grow Survivors and Allies United in the coming fall semester.

She also said she feels comfortable talking about difficult subjects with the group because of the environment its leaders foster.

Everyones super nice, Tingley said. Its a really safe space and everyone there wants to be supportive.

Going into the fall semester, Nelson said she hopes they are able to continue growing the organization, since it is still in its developmental stages.

Nelson is also looking to partner with Times Up  a movement against sexual harassment that raises money for a legal defense fund supporting survivors.

Braverman said she tried to partner with Times Up during the clubs initial stages and even planned on naming the organization Times Up, Penn State instead of Survivors and Allies United.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Second petition for Penn State to reduce virtual class costs gains over 2,900 signatures A petition started on July 3 by Penn State student Brandon Sheaffer calls for online class t

According to Braverman, however, the Time's Up movement was not yet prepared to spread their work to college campuses. Nelson's attempts at partnership in the spring 2020 semester were then thwarted by the global coronavirus pandemic.

Now, however, Nelson said she is hoping to revisit the subject and become a Times Up collegiate affiliate, which she feels would help expand the groups influence.

She also said she would like to see the group do more protesting. With the next presidential election approaching, Nelson said it is important to advocate for policies that ensure equality for all people, as well as decrease the discrimination victims of sexual assault face.

Braverman said although the group still has work to do, she feels they have made good progress toward achieving their goals.

I think [the group members] have been successful, she said. Its probably going to take another year or so to become known on campus, but nothing is done overnight. Were just trying to build a better Penn State community.

Editor's Note: Johannah Nelson was a reporter for The Daily Collegian in spring 2018.
Over the past few days, some of my friends and I keep seeing tweets about people who acted ridiculous this weekend and acted like life was completely normal. We were making fun of all of these people, like one person who literally tested positive for the coronavirus and was still at Fire Island celebrating the Fourth of July.

These friends and I havent been personally affected by the pandemic in terms of our own health or family members. But, were still taking things very seriously.

We thought it was funny and absurd that this person with the coronavirus at Fire Island was posting about how he was still at the beach and just sitting slightly further away from a crowd. I think most people tend to turn to humor during hardship, especially since these incidents this weekend have exposed the full problems we are going to continue to face for an undetermined amount of time if we dont take this literal pandemic more seriously.

We can keep making fun of people who refuse to wear masks because for some reason they think a piece of cloth is infringing on their rights, or of people who continue to throw parties  but people are sick, suffering, and dying.

As much as Im sure most people would not want to go back in quarantine, we have to to prevent this continual spike in cases.

The United States has an obsession with individualism that has been taken so far to the point that I think our country appears selfish and uneducated from an outside perspective. This need to be constantly expressing our freedom has led to many states reopening far too quickly and too aggressively with too little regulations.

I dont know why some people thought the coronavirus would just disappear after a couple of months in isolation. It is still very much present and affecting people.

Its interesting that the people who chose to celebrate the Fourth of July in large gatherings also tend to be the type who refuse to wear a mask, and are also racist and xenophobic and overly patriotic. There is a clear problem with selfishness in the United States that has extremely dangerous consequences, translating into people dying from the coronavirus and the presence of blatant white supremacy.

Most news outlets have been publishing statistics on how the pandemic is disproportionately affecting Black and Indigenous populations. But, the people who fought for businesses to reopen and protest wearing masks dont care and wont care unless theyre being personally affected by the coronavirus.

According to CDC statistics last updated on June 25, the hospitalization rate for the coronavirus among Indigenous people and Black people is five times higher than white people. The rate of hospitalization is four times higher for Hispanic or Latino people than for white people.

But, the United States  and especially the Trump Administration  continues to not care and prioritizes businesses and money over human lives.

Capitalism has continued to prove to be detrimental for so many Americans, and specifically BIPOC, during this past year.

Cases are continuing to spike across the country. And most states arent doing anything, or doing the bare minimum, to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus again.

I dont think anyone can say they are unaffected and unbothered by the spread of the coronavirus. I havent been able to find a job this summer, my internship program in Washington D.C. was canceled, and Im extremely nervous about the fate of my study abroad program in Paris this spring. I desperately want my life to return to normal.

But, facing less-than-ideals situations is not an excuse to act like the pandemic doesnt exist anymore. As much as being in isolation is definitely not enjoyable, we are at a point where I dont think we should have a choice.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce threw its formal support behind U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner on Wednesday  putting its mouth where its money has been, following the business advocacy organization's heavy spending already this cycle to back the Colorado Republican's re-election bid.

The endorsement comes as no surprise. The chamber has already spent $500,000 this cycle supporting Gardner, owner of a 92% lifetime rating from the Chamber, including last month's six-figure buy for a TV ad that praised Gardner's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

In difficult times, we are reminded of the importance of having leaders that understand the genius of the American system of government and free enterprise and who are willing to tackle the hard problems that confront our nation, said U.S. Chamber CEO Thomas J. Donohue, in a statement.

As our country faces many challenges and is collectively working to not just reopen our economy, but return to growth and expanded opportunities for all Americans, we need leaders like Senator Cory Gardner. He has a proven track record of leading responsibly and standing up for good policies. The U.S. Chamber is proud to endorse Cory and looks forward to partnering with him in the future.

Gardner is facing Democratic challenger John Hickenlooper, founder of a brewpub and restaurant empire and the former two-term governor who previously won praise from the Chamber for his work to make Colorado "the most pro-business state, with the highest environmental and ethical standards."

Christopher Guith, senior vice president for policy at the U.S. Chamber's Global Energy Institute, elaborated on the chamber's endorsement during a Wednesday videoconference with Gardner and local chamber leaders.

"The United States Chamber of Commerce is purposeful in their efforts to support those who will stand with pro-growth policies and work across the aisle," he said, calling Gardner the rare lawmaker "willing to tackle the hard problems."

"He has continually demonstrated the bipartisan leadership that Coloradans expect of their caucus," Guith said, particularly in the energy and environmental realms.

He applauded Gardner's leadership steering the Great American Outdoors Act to Senate passage last month with 73 votes in favor, a feat Guith called a "remarkable achievement in an election year."

Touting his bipartisan effectiveness  by one measure, he's the third-most bipartisan member of the Senate, and he's had more bills signed into law than the rest of the Colorado delegation combined  Gardner said he's scored victories on each element of the "four corners plan" he ran on in 2014, citing achievements on the economy, in energy, education, and the environment.

"It's amazing what you can do when you decide this country is more than just parties, it's more than just red and blue  it's red, white and blue," Gardner said. "When you believe in Colorado, anything is possible. It's not because you're a Democrat, it's not because you're a Republican, it's because you're for Colorado."

The chamber, for its part, has only endorsed Republican senators this cycle and plans to help Republicans keep control of the Senate after the November election. Democrats need to net four seats to take the gavel  or three seats, if the party wins the White House  and the Colorado race is expected to be among the most hotly contested and expensive races in the country this fall.

Gardner said during the videoconference with chamber leaders that he wants the Senate to get to work on the next round of legislation to help Americans get through the pandemic and position the country to rebound once its over.

"I believe there will be a phase four  there must be a phase four," Gardner said, adding that he would like to see the Paycheck Protection Program not only extended through the end of the year but expanded to allow businesses that have already benefited from the program to apply for additional money, and to make it available to applicants who weren't able to participate during previous rounds.

In addition, Gardner said, Congress needs to consider what he called "bigger-picture, light at the end of the tunnel ideas," like an infrastructure program to rebuild the nation's roads and bridges, as well as billions that could fund broadband expansion without costing taxpayers a dime.

"Let's make it big, let's make it bold," he said. "Until we can have a vaccine, we have to make sure that we are there for our employees and our employers."

Gardner said the only way the country can afford the $3 trillion price tag for relief legislation already passed is by making sure the economy is growing as strongly after the pandemic as it was going into it.
Columbia, MO (65201)

Today

Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 84F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low 63F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Robert Lee Alexander passed away in Florissant, Missouri on June 11, 2021, at the age of 90. He was a loving and devoted husband of 64 years to Jacqueline Lee (Blaine) Alexander, who preceded him in death in 2018, and a devoted and loving father to Cindy Sander, and Robert Alexander Jr., and
A month after announcing sweeping name and default-settings changes to Office 365's distribution framework, Microsoft this week followed up with a reworking of its Windows 10 preview program.

Existing names for Windows Insider's build tracks  like Slow Ring and Fast Ring  will be replaced by the terms Dev and Beta followed by the label Channel, the latter matching the current term for polished Windows distributions.

The short version of Monday's naming announcement: Microsoft swapped labels on two of the three Insider build rings, canned Ring entirely and went for Channel instead.

Forget frequency, consider quality, says Microsoft

Microsoft explained the name convention changes to Insider as a switch from emphasizing how often the company released new previews to a focus on their general quality.
The most obvious problem with June patches was a conflict between Microsofts latest version of Windows and Microsofts latest version of Office (er, Microsoft 365) Click-to-Run: If you installed patches as soon as they came out, Outlook wouldnt run. That bug got cleared up when Microsoft fixed Office a week later, even though Windows was to blame.

We also saw a bunch of belated patches for printers that didnt work after installing the June Windows updates.

As it turns out, the weird method of patching holes in Microsofts HEIC drivers through the Microsoft Store was warranted: The patches came out via the store because, were assured, you were only vulnerable if you had downloaded specific drivers from the store. It took Microsoft a week to make that clear. You dont need to do anything to guard against the way-out-of-band threats as long as youre connected to the Windows Store. Alls well that ends well, I suppose.

Microsoft still hasnt fixed the reboot race condition that leads to missing data (which isnt really missing at all, just relocated to a completely inscrutable location), but that problem is well understood now. Its just a pain.

Heres how to get caught up.

Make a full backup

Make a full system image backup before you install the latest patches. Theres a non-zero chance that the patches  even the latest, greatest patches of patches of patches  could hose your machine. So it's best to have a backup that you can reinstall if your machine refuses to boot. This is in addition to the usual need for System Restore points.

There are plenty of full-image backup products, including at least two good free ones: Macrium Reflect Free and EaseUS Todo Backup.

Install the latest Windows 10 June Cumulative Update

If you havent yet moved to Win10 version 1909 (in the Windows search box type winver and hit Enter), I recommend you do so. The bugs in version 1903 are largely replicated in 1909 and vice-versa, so theres very little reason to hold off on making the switch  although, admittedly, theres almost nothing worthwhile thats new in version 1909. I have detailed instructions for moving to 1909 here.

To get the latest June Cumulative Update installed, click Start > Settings > Update & Security. If you see a Resume updates box (see screenshot), click on it.

Microsoft

Thats all you need to do. Windows, in its infinite wisdom, will install the June Cumulative Update at its own pace. If you dont see a Resume updates box, you already have the June Cumulative update and youre good to go.

If you see an offer to Download and install the Feature update to Windows 10, version 2004, ignore it. Studiously.

If you see a notification that Feature update to Windows 10, version 2004 / The Windows May 2020 Update is on its way. Were offering this update to compatible devices, but your device isnt quite ready for it, (screenshot above) rub that lucky rabbits foot again and realize that your machine is just fine -- its just that Microsofts truly artificial intelligence hasnt yet targeted your machine. Ignore it, too.

Win10 problems you may hit, and how to handle them

When your machine comes back up for air, dont panic if your desktop doesnt look right, or you cant log in to your usual account. You got bit by the temporary profile bug, which weve known about  and complained about  for months. Try restarting your machine four or five times; the bug may go away. We have three separate threads on AskWoody about solving the problem [1, 2, 3] and if you need additional help, you can always post a question. (Thx @PKCano.)

If you have misbehaving printers after the update, there are two potential sources of known, acknowledged bugs:

If you can no longer access a network-attached printer, or your printer starts throwing wild error messages, youve hit an acknowledged hard bug in the June patch. Microsoft has a fix for the bug, but you need to manually download and install the second June cumulative update to get it. See Knowledge Base article 4567512 .

If you have a USB-attached printer and Windows cant see it, look at Knowledge Base article 4566779 : If you connect a USB printer to Windows 10 version 1903 or later, then shut down Windows and disconnect or shut off the printer, when you start Windows again the USB printer port will not be available in the list of printer ports.

While youre mucking about with Windows Update, it wouldnt hurt to Pause updates, to take you out of the direct line of fire the next time Microsoft releases a buggy bunch of patches. Click Start > Settings > Update & Security. Click Pause updates for 7 days. Next, click on the newly revealed link, which says Pause updates for 7 more days, four more times. That pauses all updates for 35 days, until early August. With a little luck thatll be long enough for Microsoft to fix any bugs it introduces in July, so you can skip the drama.

Patch Win7, Win8.1, or associated servers

If youve paid for Win7 Extended Security Updates and youre having trouble getting the updates installed, Microsoft has a new document called Troubleshoot issues in Extended Security Updates that may help. Were also fielding questions on AskWoody.

If youve paid Microsoft for Extended Security Updates and have installation problems, make sure to follow all of the steps at the bottom of KB 4561643, the May Monthly Rollup Knowledge Base article. In particular, you need to install all outstanding updates, then get the Servicing Stack Update installed (expect a new Servicing Stack every month), before the June patch will appear.

Windows 8.1 continues to be the most stable version of Windows around. To get this months puny Monthly Rollup installed, follow AKB 2000004: How to apply the Win7 and 8.1 Monthly Rollups. You should have one Windows patch, dated June 9 (the Patch Tuesday patch). No, you dont want the Preview of Monthly Rollup.

After youve installed the latest Monthly Rollup, if youre intent on minimizing Microsofts snooping, run through the steps in AKB 2000007: Turning off the worst Win7 and 8.1 snooping. If you want to thoroughly cut out the telemetry, see @abbodi86s detailed instructions in AKB 2000012: How To Neutralize Telemetry and Sustain Windows 7 and 8.1 Monthly Rollup Model.

Whether youve paid for Extended Security Updates or not, if you connect to Windows Update in Win7 or Win8.1, Microsofts going to push its latest, greatest version of the Chrome-based Edge browser onto your machine. The new Microsoft Edge icon (which is a surly-swirly version of the old one) shows up on the taskbar. Internet Explorer is still there, but you have one more choice in browsers  whether you want it or not. Its, you know, free.

Thanks to the dozens of volunteers on AskWoody who contribute mightily, especially @sb, @PKCano, @abbodi86 and many others.

Weve moved to MS-DEFCON 3 on the AskWoody Lounge.
Video conferencing apps Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Skype performed better due to lower latency during May 2020, as the COVID-19 lockdown entered full force, because these used Australia-based servers.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published its Critical Services Report which analysed NBN fixed-line broadbands ability to support such applications.

The report revealed that GoToMeeting, Webex and Zoom latency was 10 times worse as these are hosted across Singapore, the Netherlands and the US, respectively. The long distance to their hosts from Australia created the long latency.

Most services had consistent daily average latency with the exception of GoToMeeting, which presented considerable variations.

Ciscos Webex was the worst performer with the highest overall latency, which also varied across different retail services providers. For Webex, Aussie Broadband showed the lowest latency and recorded lower latency compared to other providers.

A Cisco spokesperson said the claim that Cisco does not use servers based in Australia in inaccurate. The spokesperson also refuted the results in performance presented by the report and the use of a server in the Netherlands for Australian services.

Although ACCC noted that different technologies showed variations in latency, it concluded the difference was too small to affect the user. Instead, delivery latency was the major it factor, it found.

Western Australia has the highest latency for Google Meet and Teams, which suggests that traffic is being directed to servers on the East Coast of Australia. This does not occur with Skype as it uses alternative servers.

ACCC Video conferencing services latency in May 2020 on Australias NBN. Higher latency corresponds to how far away the servers are, with the slowest ones being outside Australia.

WA also has the lowest latency for GoToMeeting as it is hosted in Singapore. With Zoom, the result is the opposite for the state; Zoom showed the highest latency as it is hosted on servers in the US, which is much further away.

Unsurprisingly, Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria experienced the lowest latency across the services hosted in Australia as most of these use servers located in those regions.

The report shows that the video conference platforms worked equally well across both NBN 50 and NBN 100 plan speeds.

It also looked at streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix, which reduced their streaming quality to ease pressure on broadband services. This resulted in faster downloads during May compared to February.

As previously reported, Australian telcos started to prepare for increase in boradband usage early, which was supported by NBN Cos decision to provide up to 40 percent additional capacity to RSPs. This was crucial to keep services going with minimal interruptions.

ACCCs Critical Services Report is the first of a planned series to track NBN Co broadbands performance across streaming and video conferencing apps. The services were tracked from 8 to 31 May.

Computerworld Australia has reached out to ACCC to know if the number of users could have had an impact in the results reported. ACCC later explained that during the testing the average latency measurements remain constant in the time of day charts, including across times of high network use and low network use. "So we inferred that user traffic across the network wasnt a significant influence on the latency."
Enabling quarantine-free travel with Australia, in whats referred to as the trans-Tasman bubble, could be of huge benefit to the New Zealand tech ecosystem. Thats according to Callaghan Innovation CEO Victoria Vic Crone, who also co-chairs the Innovation stream of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum.

Callaghan Innovation Callaghan Innovation CEO Vic Crone

Theres a tightness and a bond thats been developed through COVID-19. The two countries are charting similar paths, and I believe that there is a renewed interest in us, that we have become more helpful to Australia, Crone says. They have been interested in our innovation for a while. They are very curious about how we stand up things like Xero and space, for example. So, the opportunity is that, while the spotlight is on us, we should take advantage of that.

[ Keep up on the latest thought leadership, insights, how-to, and analysis on IT through Computerworlds newsletters. ]

Accessing Australian capital should be a New Zealand focus

Access to Australian capital for tech companies is uppermost for Crone, who notes that it is a pretty easy market for New Zealand companies. Capital is restricted globally, so the opportunity for us to get in front of Australian investors with our ideas, thats a big one. And that is actually the biggest impact I think we could have. In an environment where capital is drying up, how could we encourage investment in new ideas?

She says that new funds to encourage venture capital investment such as the $300 government-backed Elevate fund, wont be enough to solve the issue of lack of capital for companies with revenues between $3 million and $10 million. Australia has a lot of capital through its super funds and is probably a little further ahead of us in regards to taking risks around using super funds to invest in innovationthats my personal view. Its ripe for a conversation to sharing ideas and to be attracting that capital, and its in a market that is similar to us in many ways.

Crone notes that often New Zealand companies find that they can get more funding from overseas investors, and that means that sometimes our entrepreneurs have to go offshore to get the value of it on the world stage.  Often the world values our IP [intellectual property] more than we do. The world is prepared to pay more for our IP than we are in NZ. And thats just because were an isolated country at the end of the world and we do things on the smell of an oily rag, she says.

According to Crone, areas of interest for Australian investment are agritech and health sciences. This chimes with the recent Genome Start-Up report which surveyed more than 250 tech ecosystems and identified the same two areas where New Zealand has the potential to be a global leader.

Other areas of possible cross-Tasman cooperation

The other area of common interest between New Zealand and Australia is ensuring there is enough technical talent in both countries, given that immigration is on ice for the foreseeable future. We already knew pre-COVID that there was a shortage of technical talent in the industries that we need to grow as countries, she says. What technical skills will be required from industry in the future of work scenarios and how can we combine our efforts around that. I think for me that is a very emerging relevant area as our borders remain closed to immigration, our technical talent is constrained in these countries, so how can we work together around that?

Crone is also keen for Australia to join the online Scale Up platform, launched in New Zealand last year, which provides an overview of the innovation ecosystem, currently referencing more than 1,400 companies, 90 investors, more than 145 hubs and 32 multinational companies. If Australia joined the platform it would provide an opportunity to compare its ecosystem with New Zealands, as well as those in Israel and Ireland.

Callaghan Innovation working on new vision for New Zealand

Meanwhile, Crones firm, Callaghan Innovation, is working on how to facilitate a vision for the future of New Zealand that is based on innovation and technology. It follows on from Visionweek, a series of online seminars hosted by Infrastructure New Zealand in early June 2020.

Crone says they have collated several pieces of thought leadership from a think tanks, entrepreneurs, media commentators and scientists. There is a lot of commonality around the role that New Zealand can play as a leader in sustainability on the world stage in regards to inclusion and equality, and the need for us to diversify the economy into a digital IP-based economy, Crone says.

What we know from the last economic recession is that the distribution of benefit was not equal, and so were trying stimulate that conversation on how can we use innovation and tech to grow all aspects of our economic wealthwhether thats economic, financial, social. and not for people to just see technology as profit for business.

Callaghan Innovation expects to have an outcome from this research in three to four months time. Were looking at trying to involve a range a wide range of views. We believe our role in activating innovation is around the process, not deciding the content.

Crone provided a list of papers being considered as part of this work to Computerworld New Zealand; they range from online opinion pieces through to multi-authored reports:
07/07/2020

Photo (c) Ali Kerem Yucel - Getty Images The Google Play Store has removed another 25 third-party apps for allegedly violating security rules. It took the action after a French cybersecurity firm, Evina, reported that the apps were accessing users Facebook credentials.

Evina reports that all the apps appear to have been developed by a single threat group and provide widely used features like wallpaper and flashlight functions. Once downloaded, however, they reportedly access Facebook usernames and passwords.

When an application is launched on your phone, the malware queries the application name,

Evina explained on its website. If it is a Facebook application, the malware will launch a browser that loads Facebook at the same time. The browser is displayed in the foreground which makes you think that the application launched it. When you enter your credentials into this browser, the malware executes javascript to retrieve them. The malware then sends your account information to a server.

Apps that have been removed

Evina listed the following apps -- now removed from the Google Play Store -- as being security risks:

Super Wallpapers Flashlight

Padentaef

Wallpaper Level

Contour Level Wallpaper

iPlayer & iWallpaper

Video Maker

Color Wallpapers

Pedometer

Powerful Flashlight

Super Bright Flashlight

Super Flashlight

Solitaire Game

Accurate scanning of QR code

Classic Card Game

Junk File Cleaning

Synthetic Z

File Manager

Composite Z

Screenshot Capture

Daily Horoscope Wallpapers

Wuxia Reader

Plus Weather

Anime Live Wallpaper

iHealth Step Counter

Com.tqyapp.fiction

Consumers who have downloaded any of these apps are advised to uninstall them. According to tech news site BGR, Google also disabled the apps on the user end after removing them from the store.

Cybersecurity firm Norton advises consumers to always use caution with downloading third-party apps. Even though the Apple Store and Google Play Store require developers to follow strict security guidelines, its a good idea to seek user reviews of the apps before downloading them.
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
The Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) announced the creation of the Madam C.J. Walker Scholarship in support of under-represented minority students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in chemical, physical, medical, pharmaceutical, biological or related sciences and technology. This scholarship is part of the SCCs initiatives to support diversity, equality and inclusion in the cosmetic and personal care industry, and is funded through the support of Mary Kay Inc.

Related: SCC Honors Juneteenth with Inclusive Cosmetics R&D Initiatives

Madam C.J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove; 1867-1919) was an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and political and social activist. She is regarded as the first female self-made millionaire in America. Walker made her fortune by developing and marketing a line of cosmetics and hair care products for Black women through the business she founded, Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company.

Two scholarships, in the amount of $5,000 eachsponsored by Mary Kay Inc.will be awarded to students of under-represented minority groups (Black/African American, Native/American Indian, and Latin/Hispanic American) pursuing an undergraduate or post-graduate degree.

In addition to the scholarships, the SCC will provide each awardee with a $250 travel voucher, one nights accommodation and a complimentary full access registration to attend the SCC 75th Annual Meeting and Showcase in 2021, to be held Dec.14-15. The scholarships and travel stipends will be presented at the Awards Breakfast.

According to the SCC, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of its organizational values. The organization and the industry are strengthened by the varied identities, experiences, cultures and perspectives of leadership, employees and members.

Madam C.J. Walker is an icon who spent her entire career breaking through barriers to become one of the nations greatest entrepreneurs despite the many obstacles that stood in her path, Lucy Gildea, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Mary Kay, said. It is important that we continue to honor her legacy by supporting young minority scientists. By partnering with the SCC and creating the Madam C.J. Walker scholarship, we hope to inspire and empower the next generation of student scientists who want to follow in Walkers footsteps.

The SCC is committed to efforts to support diversity, equity and inclusion for all participants in the cosmetics and personal care industry, said Erica OGrady, CAE and CEO of the SCC. We are grateful for the generous support of our scholarship sponsor, Mary Kay Inc., in assisting us with these efforts to educate under-represented groups pursuing degrees related to cosmetic and personal care product development.
During the American Chemistry Council (ACC)s Annual Meeting, Ashland Global Holdings Inc. was awarded for sustainability leadership thanks to its environmental protection and circularity practices.

Related: Second Nature: Sustainability as the Outgrowth of Naturals, A Commentary

The ACC judging panel reviewed and selected award winners based on a range of factors including: the level of innovation the initiative demonstrated; the scope and reach of its impact; and the extent to which it addresses priorities outlined in the ACCs Sustainability Principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Ashlands Benecel MX modified cellulose won the award for sustainably, as it addresses the growing popularity of plant-based foods and meat alternatives. The ingredient offers a firm texture to protein products that are eaten warm; such as vegetable burgers, meat substitutes and meat hybrid blends. The products thermally reversible gelling capability helps products to retain moisture for an enjoyable eating experience.

Additionally, the Benecel MX manufacturing site in Belgium decreased the environmental impacts of its operations through initiatives that have helped to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and conserve water.

Previously: Certified 'True': Food Virtues in Beauty, Part I

The manufacturing processes for Benecel requires a significant amount of steam, said Keith Silverman, senior vice president, global operations, quality and environmental, health and safety of Ashland. Instead of burning gas to generate steam on site and adding an environmental burden, Ashlands solvers worked with a neighboring facility that produces a large amount of surplus steam through its waste incinerator processes to create a steam network that has resulted in a reduction of burned gas and fewer emissions to the environment.

Overall, the project will provide a GHG reduction equivalent to the energy from 50 windmills, which helps Ashland to meet one of its 2020 environmental goalsa 10% GHG emissions reduction.

The Ashland facility also generates wastewater with high salt content, which must undergo on-site biological treatment before being released into the local river. Ashland set an agreement with an adjacent site to receive its rainwater and water drainage, and added these new water sources to its on-site rainwater collection points to help treat salted wastewater streams. The amount of water sourced this way is estimated at 64,000 cubic meters per yearequivalent to 26 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Also related: No Eco-scuses: Packaging Can Conform with Natural Tenets

The chemical industry plays a critical role in addressing and solving global sustainability challenges faced by society, said Chris Jahn, president and chief executive officer of the American Chemistry Council. ACC is proud to recognize Ashland with the 2020 Sustainability Leadership award for their work to advance solutions to feed a growing global population, while also implementing innovative manufacturing processes that embrace circular practices.

Sustainability provides opportunities for growth while underscoring the responsibility to change, said Guillermo Novo, chairman and chief executive officer of Ashland. At Ashland, our solvers rethink chemistry to innovate and solve complex challenges for customers with a conscious and proactive mindset for the planet. It is a business imperative, and the right thing to do.

For more information, contact Ashland.
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Remember the Before Times, when America's public healthcare system was a well-oiled altruistic machine that effortlessly served a rational nation? If so, you should get a professional head examination that somehow costs $57,000, or consult your cousin who thinks vaccines are part of a nefarious government plot to sterilize him, thus ending a line of threatening freethinkers who are great at Hearthstone and complaining about the Packers. Back in the halcyon year of 2019, the United States was dealing with a measles resurgence, and while out of sight may mean out of mind it doesn't mean out of body.

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Let's start with a quick recap, if for some crazy reason other events have been on your mind recently. In 2019, America's 1,282 measles cases were the most the country had seen in 25 years, and while that number looks downright quaint compared to COVID, it was enough for New York and Washington to declare public health emergencies. The outbreak was linked to "vaccine hesitancy," otherwise known as "selfish gibbering conspiracy theory idiocy," and so mandatory vaccinations were backed by the threat of fines, laws eliminating "personal and philosophical" vaccination exemptions were pushed forward, and the anti-vaxx courting Trump administration flipped to encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated.

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While the White House unfortunately threw out their bold "We should probably do what medical professionals suggest" stance when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve as though their brains had reverted to pumpkins, the measles problem was still solved, right? Well... yes and no. While those 2019 outbreaks were quashed, the CDC has warned of another possible outbreak thanks to COVID preventing parents from taking their children to be vaccinated. 76.1% of 16-month-olds were vaccinated in May 2019, but that dropped to 70.9% in May of 2020, and 90% is the benchmark cited to achieve herd immunity.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, better known as ICE, better known as shitty toilet slugs, will now be deporting any international students attending colleges that operate online. Considering that many colleges and universities, including Harvard, USC, Georgetown, etc., are suspending in-person education for their 2020-2021 semesters because of COVID-19, that essentially means almost all foreign students are going to be forced to leave the country.

It's a baffling move that screws over just about everyone involved. Obviously you can start with the students who presumably invested ample time, money, and resources in order to travel to America and study here. Said Valeria Mendiola, a 26-year-old graduate student at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, "If I have to go back to Mexico, I am able to go back, but many international students just can't." She's right. Many countries have travel restrictions in place because of that whole coronavirus thing you might have heard about, and that goes doubly for anyone traveling from the US. It's the classic philosophical case of having to deport an un-deportable person, but it's possible the scholars at ICE skipped that lecture in Philosophy 101, so we're not confident they'll be able to handle their self-inflicted conundrum well. You can almost feel the disgust lurching from Harvard University President Larry Bacow's mouth when he said this in a statement on Monday:
Jair Bolsonaro, the President of Brazil, has repeatedly downplayed coronavirus, refusing to wear a mask and flouting social distancing measures for his country. The result is that Brazil is now the second most COVID-19 impacted country in the world, behind the US, with 65,000 deaths and 1.6m confirmed cases as of this reporting. So it's easy to think that Bolsonaro testing positive today for COVID is poetic justice.

Unfortunately, if our world is experiencing poetic justice, it is the type of justice found in a poem by Albert Camus, where the only solace is that everyone dies in the end. At least, that's how it's starting to feel because if you'd think that a politician catching a deadly disease would cause said politician to feel empathy for his citizens susceptible to that disease, it has only emboldened Bolsonaro to further disparage the safety of his citizens.

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Bolsonaro is doing everything short of gargling with COVID samples to prove that he's fine. He has condemned the mayors of his cities for disallowing people to go to the beach and has boasted that, "The majority of Brazilians contract this virus and don't notice a thing." Of course, it's one thing to put on a brave face, but it's another to dismiss the effects of the virus altogether when it has killed 65,000 people within your country and counting. Humans are predisposed psychologically to take cues from our leaders and others around us. Bolsonaro's strongman routine might be as transparently fake as a dude with synthetic biceps, but his citizens are still going to follow his lead (by not wearing masks, etc.) until the virus smacks him down hard.
If there's anything the wealthy love more than oppressing people, it's droning on as verbosely as possible about how unfair it is that people get mad at them for oppressing people. That's clearly what motivated at least some of the writers and various intellectuals who added their names to a truly stupid open letter arguing that Political Correctness Has Gone Too Far published by Harper's Bazaar yesterday.

The letter is titled "A Letter on Justice and Open Debate," but with the attention span of your average reader being what it is these days, it should have been titled "But." Yes, bigotry is bad, but you can't just go around giving people consequences for being bigots. Yes, our democracy is crumbling, but that's no excuse to yell at people just for swinging a wrecking ball around. You get the idea.

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It's all couched in lofty terms of "good faith" and "ostracism" and other words that tend only to be heard within the echoes of one's own ass, but the mask drops pretty quickly with their examples of the "dire professional consequences" suffered by people who dared to disagree with anyone. "Editors are fired for running controversial pieces," they warn. "Books are withdrawn for alleged inauthenticity; journalists are barred from writing on certain topics." Ironically, they don't question whether maybe writers and their bosses shouldn't publish articles that cause harm or books that exploit and appropriate oppressed cultures. No one has a right to a job they suck at. "Professors are investigated for quoting works of literature in class" they go on, (oh, no! Not an investigation!), "a researcher is fired for circulating a peer-reviewed academic study," (he was definitely chiding Black Lives Matter protesters for perceived violence), "and the heads of organizations are ousted for what are sometimes just clumsy mistakes." Oh? Perhaps it was a "middle-aged moment?"
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This photo, posted on May 27, shows Mark Eberly with his teepee-style tent on Fairfield Glade undeveloped property not far from Winchester Dr. This is not far from where authorities said Eberly and a sheriffs deputy exchanged shots during a traffic stop. Eberly was fatally wounded.
Education

School Board members at odds over Pledge of Allegiance policy

Chase Groskreutz Julie Pennertz

Litchfield Public Schools will continue with the Pledge of Allegiance policy teachers and administrators have followed for years following affirmation by the Litchfield School Board.

The board voted 4-2 during its meeting June 29 to continue with the district policy of reciting the pledge at least once every week.

Under that policy, administrators at each of the districts three schools  Lake Ripley, Litchfield Middle School and Litchfield High School  determine the frequency of the pledge recitation, with policy requiring at least once per week.

Currently, according to Superintendent Beckie Simensen, students at Lake Ripley say the Pledge of Allegiance every day, with middle and high school students saying it at least once per week, usually as part of the daily announcements.

During the boards routine reviewal of district policies, board member Chase Groskreutz suggested that the weekly minimum be changed to a daily requirement. The issue quickly became a debate about more than the Pledge of Allegiance.

I honestly think, growing up, history has shown, it would be best if it was done daily across all schools in the morning, Groskreutz said. I know what MSBA (Minnesota School Board Association) says, but why cant we have our own rule? I think this is a huge thing for our country.

Board member Julie Pennertz questioned why Groskreutz believed that mandating a daily pledge was appropriate, yet opposed a requirement that all those who attend a school board meeting wear a mask as prevention against the spread of disease in the age of the coronavirus pandemic.

Back to masks, said Groskreutz, who during a previous virtual meeting implied that he would refuse to wear a mask for an in-person meeting. There is nothing out there whatsoever that says I or anyone has to wear a mask. If you want to talk about dictating  if the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) says we have to wear a mask, that is dictating.

Im not putting my foot down, dictating this, he continued. I think its good practice. Ive also had plenty of parents say  maybe prayer in school. If you want to bring up masks, its because I believe I dont need to.

Board member Greg Mathews said he agreed 100 percent with Pennertz. A former history teacher in the district, Mathews then launched into a review of the history of the pledge.

Saying he thought it wrong for anyone to judge ones love for country by their recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, Mathews added that, patriotism comes from the heart, not from words.

But board member Dave Huhner, who later joined Groskreutz as the two votes opposing the current pledge policy, said a daily recital of the Pledge of Allegiance was teaching students respect.

Whats lost in the world is the term respect, in particular, for each other, Huhner said, later adding that I dont think its a bad thing that we try to teach respect, because almost every way of teaching respect in the classroom has been taken away. At what point do we start teaching respect again?

Mathews replied that he didnt think reciting this (pledge) 170 times a year is going to get us respect.

Board member Marcia Provencher said we could digress quite a bit on this whole topic, but she thought the best action would be to take it to an administrative decision.

When the issue came to a vote later in the meeting, Pennertz moved to leave the policy the same as its been, with the required minimum of students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance once per week. Provencher seconded, and the final vote was 4-2.
Dan Aykroyd is an actor, comedian, filmmaker, and entrepreneur, famous for his contributions to The Blues Brothers, Ghostbusters, and the House of Blues venues, among others. Aykroyd talks with #ThePlaybook host David Meltzer about Crystal Head Vodka, the spirits brand he co-founded, and his business approach.

Aykroyd speaks about his prioritization of fun, which motivated him to pursue a business opportunity to import Patron Tequila into Canada and to enter the $50 billion vodka market with an additive-free vodka bottled in glass skull-shaped containers.
EAST HAVEN  People will be prohibited from swimming or fishing at beaches in Branford and East Haven, as well as in New Haven, in the near term after millions of gallons of sewage spilled into the Mill River , officials said Wednesday.

In a message to residents, East Haven Mayor Joseph Carfora said he was forced to close town beaches to swimming, recreational shellfishing and fishing for several days or at least until the water is deemed safe by local health officials.

This is not a decision taken lightly but was done after consultation with local health officials who said the water is not currently safe to enter, said Carfora.

In Branford, town officials closed beaches and shellfishing areas until further notice, according to an announcement sent to residents.

We anticipate that the closures will last for the next 2-3 days depending on water quality testing. This applies to all public and private beaches, Branford officials said. For updates please check the East Shore Health Department website .

West Haven Parks & Recreation said on its Facebook page that, according to Health Director Maureen B. Lillis, as a precaution, city beaches are closed until further notice due to the sewage spill in New Haven. ... The city will notify the public once Lillis is confident that the beaches are safe to reopen.

Dr. Joseph Zelson, the former health director in Orange, said five members of his competitive swim team were training at Montowese Beach in Branford, as they do nearly every day, for about 45 minutes Tuesday before they were notified that the beaches were closed. There were no signs posted, he said.

He said he was concerned that something in the system was not working properly, given that information was not shared more broadly until two days after the spill.

There should be a better, more reliable system to disseminate information quickly and completely. Most towns have reverse 911 systems when they tell about road closures or parades and other less critical issues, said Zelson. This certainly should qualify. If yesterday wasnt so cold and windy and wavy, there would have been many swimmers in the water.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Tuesday that more than 2 million gallons of sewage had spilled into the river near the Whitney Dam before a pipe was repaired by the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority.

At a news conference on Wednesday, he and other officials advised residents to avoid the river water in the near future.

As a resident of New Haven and a neighbor of the Mill River  and someone that walks with my family along the Mill River all the time  its obviously very concerning, the fact that we had a pretty significant sewage leak, Elicker said at the Wednesday press conference streamed by the New Haven Independent .

WPCA Director of Operations Gary Zrelak said the city was notified at roughly 5 a.m. Monday that water was running down Whitney Avenue, with officials finding a pipe collapse had blocked the normal flow of sewage down the major line  which carries roughly 3 million gallons on a normal day  and caused it to flow to the surface.

The nearest manhole is 2,100 feet away on Park Street, Zrelak said, complicating repair efforts. The portion of the pipe that collapsed does not have a cover, he said, to maintain a siphon effect that helps effluent run downhill.

The majority of the flow was stopped by 9:30 p.m. or so, Zrelak said, and completely closed by 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The segment of the pipe will be replaced, Zrelak said. It had already had been on the to-do list, he said  crews had been scheduled to stop the line Tuesday to allow for the interior lining to be replaced; the collapse happened on Monday.

Murphys Law prevails, said Zrelak.

Zrelak said the WPCA would work on its notification skills and protocols for future incidents.

Elicker said the city had been informed of a small leak, but not told promptly about the true extent of the problem, delaying its ability to share information with residents.

He said a car full of youths pulled up alongside him while he was walking his dog around 7 p.m. Tuesday, telling him there were dead fish in the river  he then realized there was a bigger issue than the city had thought, and the advisory to residents was issued shortly thereafter.

Zrelak said WPCA had notified the state and Hamden officials of the issue within two hours, as required, as the spill occurred over the line in that community.

The magnitude of the situation needs to be clearly communicated (in the future), said Zrelak.

New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond said residents were advised not to swim or boat in the river as a precautionary measure until water testing results come in.

Initial information was expected Wednesday afternoon, she said, with additional tests of water quality and safety scheduled for the coming days.

Elicker said the spill does not affect the safety of tap water.

Will Healey, spokesman with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said Tuesday that staffers had not seen a fishkill or visible solids in the river while monitoring the spill.

Typically there is minimal remediation that can be done for such an event. If there is evidence of solids, DEEP would expect the municipality to have crews perform cleanup of the solids. We dont recommend chlorination, as the impacts from chlorination are often worse than potential impacts of the sewage spill. Potential for bacterial impacts typically dissipates after 48 hours, Healey said in an email.

Healey said that while DEEP believes that this spill would not significantly impact water quality at either Hammonasset Beach State Park or Silver Sands State Park, additional water quality testing will be conducted at both on Thursday, with results available Friday. Hammonasset is in Madison and Silver Sands is in Milford.

Any closures will be announced on DEEPs Twitter feed, @CTStateParks, and at

https://portal.ct.gov/

whatsopenoutdoors .

UPDATE: The original version of this story indicated that the members of Joseph Zelsons swim team were training in the Mill River. He clarified Thursday that they were swimming off of Montowese Beach in Branford, which was also closed after the spill.

william.lambert

@hearstmediact.com
/ Josh LaBella

FAIRFIELD  A suspect has been identified in the hit-and-run that killed a Pennsylvania woman, according to the Fairfield Police Department.

Marileidy Morel Araujo, a 32-year-old woman from Matamoras, Pa, was struck and killed Saturday night on Redding Road. On Tuesday evening, police said a suspect vehicle and its operator have been identified, adding that they are requesting a warrant for their arrest.
NEW HAVEN -- The FBI has announced it is investigating a New Haven police sergeant for possible misconduct, a New Haven police spokesman said Wednesday.

Jennifer Gondola, of Ansonia, was using her iPhone to record police officers arrest a man outside Pulse Nightclub on June 2. She was arrested after she refused to hand over her phone to a police officer. She says the officer was using excessive force.

"I told him it was my civil right to film and he told me he would need to review the tape," Gondola said. "I told him it wasn't evidence of the suspect doing a crime, it was police doing a crime."

As a result of her claims, police launched an internal investigation. Soon after, the FBI began its investigation into the same incident.

Police spokesman David Hartman said there is no presumption of misconduct and they are awaiting the results of the reports.

No other details were released. Hartman said he will not answer questions surrounding Gondola's arrest until the conclusion of the investigation.

The sergeant has been identified by the New Haven Independent as Sgt. Chris Rubino. The Independent said

Gondola was issued a ticket for interfering with police and is set to appear in court later this month. A 24-year-old Bridgeport man was arrested during the incident, according to the Independent. His name has not been released per the website's policy.

Read more from the Independent here: http://bit.ly/Lraamh
WESTPORT  The Board of Selectmen acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority unanimously rejected a sewer extension request to increase housing density on Hiawatha Lane.

First Selectman Jim Marpe said he supported a denial of the 1,600-foot sewer extension proposed by Summit Saugatuck LLC because it was rejected by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Both the statute and our own WPAC policies would not allow us to approve it, Marpe said.

The denial is the latest in Summits highly contested plan to bring a 187-unit housing complex to Hiawatha Lane.

The Water Pollution Control Authority denied the sewer line extension proposal in 2003 and again in 2016 because the main pipe underneath the Saugatuck River and Pump Station 2 needed repairs.

A similar proposal was rejected by the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2017, with a court appeal by Summit sustained in 2018, before eventually being reversed by the Appellate Court. That case is now pending review by the Connecticut Supreme Court.

Tim Hollister, Summits attorney, said the repairs to the main pipe and Pump Station 2 have since been made.

This re-application has been made at the direction of the Connecticut appellate court with a reference in the courts opinion to the expectation that the extension will be approved, or at least that the issues of denial will be resolved upon re-application, Hollister said.

When an agency issues denials, it is obligated to state all of its reasons, he said.

It cant issue one reason in year one, and then if that reason is later invalidated at some point in the process, reintroduce new or different reasons that could have been raised previously in the initial application, he said.

Hollister said the Planning and Zoning Commission ignored administrative law by creating new reasons for denial not stated in the first denial.

If this board chooses to deny this application based only on the 8-24 negative report....we will take that issue back to the court system, Hollister said.

Peter Gelderman, the towns attorney, said a similar issue has come up in prior litigation with the trial court not supporting the towns position, but the appellate court stating its complex.

We feel strongly that our interpretation of 8-24 is correct, he said. In fact, I dont personally see another way to read it.

Gelderman said he believed the town would prevail in court if that was the next step.

dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com
Governments of both Westport and Fairfield have only one step more before a new dispatch center to serve both communities from the campus of Sacred Heart University is finalized.

On Monday in a virtual meeting, the Fairfield Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the Fairfield County Dispatch Interlocal Agreement; on Tuesday, Westports Representative Town Meeting did the same.

The Fairfield RTM will next review and vote on the agreement at its meeting July 27.

The document you have in front of you is the last step before we can start construction on a joint dispatch center where we will share 911, police, fire and EMS dispatch capabilities with Fairfield, Westport Fire Chief Robert Yost said at the Westport meeting. This will save us money and potentially save us a lot of money down the road, but more importantly, this is going to increase our efficiency and our call processing time on 911 calls.

Yost said the document was two years in the making with local officials from both towns working together. Fairfields RTM approved $2.8 million in a bond resolution for the projects funding in 2019.

Fairfield will operate the center and pay 67 percent of the operational costs, while Westport will pay 33 percent, which is based on population and call volume. The division of operational expenses will also be periodically adjusted.

Fairfield Deputy Police Chief Donald Smith told his board the agreement allows the two municipalities to become partners in the venture. In response to questions from Fairfield Selectman Tom Flynn, town attorney Jim Baldwin said he was satisfied with both the budget process and the legal language in the agreement.

Similarly, Yost praised the partnership between the municipalities. He said the interlocal dispatch center will have a 25-year lease with Sacred Heart for $1 a year, with each town paying 50 cents of that.

Weve already had interest from other towns, but the goal is were going to start it, were going to get it up and running, and then well entertain other municipalities coming in and then we will see the reduction in our share of the costs, he said. Its a pretty exciting time. Its got a lot of attention, and were very excited to start construction.

Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe said the discussions that went into the agreement strengthened the relationship between Westport and Fairfield.

Ive negotiated this contract and have been a part of the negotiations with two different selectpersons in Fairfield representing both political parties, Marpe said. Im very proud we have established something  an interlocal agreement  that is still a bit of a rare thing in the State of Connecticut.

Marpe said he was confident in the mechanisms should differences of opinion arise in managing the facility.

Certainly the management teams can have the opportunity to resolve it, the first selectpersons of each community has the opportunity to resolve it, and then beyond that theres certainly arbitration clauses as well, he said.

Westport RTM member Harris Falk said he has long been in support of the idea.

This is great, well merge our systems, dispatch will be better and there will be savings to the town, he said.

Yost said the fire departments current dispatch center will continue to be used for a short time until things are smoothly running at the newly merged center. He said the departments dispatch center will then be used as the womens bunk room, which was its original use.

I could pick a date that we would like to be in there, but were also kind of beholden to the state of Connecticut for the fiber-optic and they only come out at a certain time to run that, Yost said. My goal is to have a ribbon-cutting in January. Im kind of going out on a limb on that.

Reporter Josh LaBella contributed to this report.

dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com
BRIDGEPORT  A city man was charged with child pornography offenses Tuesday after authorities said he possessed and traded images that depicted the sexual abuse of children.

A federal criminal complaint charged 53-year-old Bridgeport resident Robert J. Mosley with receipt of child pornography, solicitation of child pornography and possession of child pornography, a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham said.

Mosley has been detained in state custody on a parole violation since Jan. 28.

The complaint stated that Mosley was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court on a charged of second-degree possession of child pornography in 2016. He was sentenced to serve 10 years in jail, suspended after six years, followed by 20 years of probation.

In November 2018, Mosley was released on parole.

On Jan. 28, parole officers and state troopers did a home visit at Mosleys residence and found him in possession of an unapproved smartphone, as well as an approved phone that contained suspected child pornography, authorities said.

Both phones were seized by investigators and Mosley was taken into custody on the parole violation.

The seized phones and cloud storage Mosley were analyzed and revealed thousands of images and hundreds of videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, primarily boys between the ages of 2 and 14, according to the news release.

Investigators also said Mosleys email account also revealed that he sent several emails soliciting child pornography, sent images of child pornography to others and sent links to his cloud storage account.

The receipt and solicitation offenses carry a minimum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum term of 40, while the possession charge carries a minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20. The prison time in this case has been enhanced, authorities said, based on Mosleys alleged criminal history.

Child exploitation can be reported at www.cybertipline.com.
BRIDGEPORT  The victim of a shooting Wednesday afternoon was uncooperative with investigators, according to police officials.

Police officers responded for a ShotSpotter activation around 1 p.m. to the 100 block of Yaremich Drive.
The U.S. Supreme Court Monday released its decision in a lawsuit, Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants, Inc., challenging the Telephone Consumer Protection Acts (TCPA) exception for government-backed debt. The Supreme Court found that it violates the First Amendment, upholding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuits decision in the case.

Under the exception, calls intended to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the U.S. are exempt from the TCPA. The Supreme Court found that this provision is severable from the TCPA, leaving the rest of the law intact. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals also previously found the exception violates the constitution.

In addition to this issue, the Supreme Court could review the TCPAs definition of an autodialer. In 2018, the Ninth Circuit expanded the definition; NAFCU has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take a narrower approach to defining an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS).

NAFCU has actively engaged with the FCC on efforts to modernize the TCPA for many years to ensure credit unions can contact their members regarding important, time-sensitive information, without fear of frivolous litigation.
Where do we go for stability when so much around us is in turmoil? As we all face these ever-fluid economic and cultural dynamics, it is natural to look for security & safety. Think about your own tendencies as a consumer these past three months  most of us have flocked to trusted, tried, and true brands. Ones weve known for years, who likely know us and our buying habits. Were also seeing a continued rise in preference for organizations which value people and purpose over profit. This Zeno study shows consumers are four times more likely to purchase from, champion, and trust a company with strong purpose.

Credit unions are perfectly situated to be one of those trusted sources, to exude the people-and-purpose-over-profit promise inherent in their very structure, and to guide members through this rocky time and towards financial strength(for them AND for your organization!). Is your credit union ready to step into this moment?

But, how does a credit union build trust when personal member interactions are decreasing? Members are adopting digital products faster than ever. Branch traffic is down and unlikely to return to pre-pandemic patterns. And, call centers are seeing increases in call volume, but the pressure to take care of one member quickly and move on to the next is not an ideal environment for developing relationships.

While member-facing activities are undergoing dynamic, often daily, operational changes, indirect interactions, such as marketing and brand-building, are what well need to ramp up. Take the time now to develop a strategic marketing framework for building loyalty, trust, and the brand in general, then youll see the payoffs for years to come.

Know Thyself

So whats the first step? Being authentic. Its much more than just a buzzword for social media. Being authentic allows members and potential members to really see the culture and personality of your organization. Hold up a mirror to your organization and really get to know thyself, as the Greek philosophers believed. Being authentic means aligning your core culture to your communications in such a way that when people encounter ANY type of communication they get to know the organization a little bit. And those communications are more effective when they have a bit of the organizations spark, or personality, showing. If you took your credit unions logo off that notification letter, your website or brochures, would people be able to distinguish it from the financial institution down the street? If not, its time for a chat.

Be Steady

Theres a second component to being a trusted brand: consistency. This consistency is so important for financial institutions especially as members entrust us with very personal information. If they received communications which did not fit the branding styles, trust would start to degrade. Is this REALLY from my credit union? Maybe its a scam instead? We want them to look for certain cues on the credit unions communications which signal it truly is from their trusted financial partner. Being consistent also allows consumers to recognize your brand faster among all of the consumer noise out there. Consistency comes through using the same fonts, colors, imagery style, tone of voice, as well as other communication elements. Even being consistent in the member experience can make a big impact on building trust. Think about how we expect the Starbucks experience we have in our local store to be the same in the Starbucks we visit anywhere else. Now thats building trust!

Be Helpful

The third major component is transparency. This one is fairly new to the financial industry (relatively speaking) and tends to be a harder one to put into practice. But because of that, the more transparent your organization is, the more yours will stand out from those who arent! Banks and credit unions have traditionally been very secretive about their processes, but that no longer squares up to being a successful brand.

But what does being transparent even mean? With information more widely available at the stroke of a keyboard, any disingenuous efforts are quickly rooted out by consumers. Conflicting experiences are called into question and they want to know why it happened. Consumers, especially younger ones, are demanding to have more information about how an organization makes its decisions, where the profits go (and dont just show them the annual report), and how that organization meaningfully serves the community. So its best for everyone to just be upfront and honest in their communications at the onset to save everyone heartache later.

A specific tip for being transparent? Think of Kris Kringle in the movie Miracle on 34th Street. He worked for Macys but would recommend other stores if the requested toy wasnt available at Macys. Macys leadership was appalled! They even started to fire Kris, until they heard from customers how much it helped them. It actually created loyalty and goodwill. My clients use the same philosophy when it comes to helping their members and clients  if a member would be better off with a product available from another institution, then theyll recommend the other institution. Thats one way of being transparent, of being there to serve the member first, not the organization.

For another example, lets take a look at the restaurant industry. Several pizza places offer a tracker which consumers can view to follow their pizza order. What if you had a loan tracker allowing members to view the process timeline? Where their loan was within that timeline? Could certainly save phone calls and emails asking about the status, but more importantly it provides a look into the process itself, providing more information, being more open and collaborative, being helpful. Definitely more appealing, more trust-worthy, than being closed off and secretive.

So trust has become more important than ever. And trust is what will get your credit union through this immediate crisis and position it for long-term success. In fact, a recent Accenture study shows us trust-based initiatives in financial institutions can lead to an increase in revenue. Even more importantly though, growing your credit union through trust-based initiatives allows your organization to have even more positive impact on your members and your community. Start with being Authentic, Consistent, and Transparent and youll be creating a trusted source in your community.

If you want more information about the ACT framework, including additional actions for each component, get the ACT guide here!
Eugene Crow, age 91, of Cullman, went home to be with his Lord on Saturday, June 19, 2021. He was born June 13, 1930 to Felix and Pearl Stowe Crowe. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Irene, his parents, two brothers and a sister. Mr. Crow served his country and is a veteran of The 
STORY LINK GBP to AUD Exchange Rate Slips from Fortnight Best as Risk-Sentiment Remains Volatile

GBP Exchange Rates Gaining Ahead of UK Summer Statement amid Brexit Speculation

Chief EU Negotiator Michel Barnier visited London and met his British counterpart David Frost for dinner  which included fish. The fate of fisheries is one of the points of contention in talks. While their silence following the encounter may signal progress, headlines coming out from their bosses are less encouraging. PM Johnson told German Chancellor Merkel that the UK is ready to end the transition period without a trade deal. Talks may become more serious only after the summer.

AUD Exchange Rates Benefitting from Lingering Risk-Sentiment despite Victoria Virus Surge

Our initial sense is that the re-opening reversal stemming from the lockdown will see the economy surrender some  but not all  of the better than expected trajectory

GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: UK Summer Statemenrt and Coronavirus Developments in Focus

Chancellor Rishi Sunak's is set to lay out measures to kickstart the economy, and some of the ideas have already been released to the press. Previous ideas regarding green investment have been unfavorably compared with parallel schemes in major European countries. Sunak will speak at around 11:30 GMT and investors will pass judgment. For the Pound  more spending is better.

Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues:

Despite a lack of particularly strong support for the Pound, the British Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate is climbing this week. Investors have been finding the Pound a little more appealing due to Brexit hopes, helping the British currency to sustain gains. The Australian Dollar, on the other hand, is seeing mixed demand due to a surge in coronavirus infections in Australia, while signs of risk-on sentiment persist despite this.GBP/AUD saw highly mixed and fairly narrow movement last week. After opening the week at the level of 1.7975, GBP/AUD briefly slipped lower to a 2020 worst of 1.7875 before rebounding slightly. GBP/AUD closed last week just around its opening levels.This weeks movement has been similar, but GBP/AUDs recovery attempt has been stronger. A dip to near yearly lows at the beginning of the week has been followed by a visit to its best levels in a fortnight, the level of 1.8102.At the time of writing, GBP/AUD has slipped slightly from those highs and trends in the region of 1.8061.Investors have been buying the Pound back from its lowest levels since last week.A combination profit-taking at the end of Q2 2020, as well as fresh Brexit speculation, helped the Pound to claw back some gains from its worst levels all year.Towards the end of last week, speculation rose that UK-EU Brexit negotiations could see some kind of breakthrough over the next month. These hopes have been keeping the Pound buoyed this week as well.However, Sterlings potential for gains has been limited. Hopes for a Brexit breakthrough are not enough to lead to a sustained recovery in the Pound, as there are some analysts warning that talks may not heat up until later in the year.According to Yohay Elam, Analyst at FXStreet:Amid Brexit uncertainty and anticipation for upcoming UK Budget news, the Pound struggled to hold its best levels today.There has been a surge in reported coronavirus cases in Australia over the past week.While markets had been previously impressed with Australias handling of the pandemic, the nations recovery seems in for a major stumbling block.Australias State of Victoria has been hit with a shock surge in infections. It is one of the incidents causing global concern of a second wave of infections to rise.Victoria is Australias second-largest city. It is seeing a hard lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus, and markets are anxious about how this will hurt the chances of Australia seeing a solid economic recovery.According to Phil Odanaghoe, Analyst at Deutsche Bank:The Pound is slipping back from highs, but it could see a jump in demand if todays UK Budget news impresses investors.UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be holding a supplementary Summer Statement presentation at around midday. If he unveils any impressive stimulus for Britains economy, the Pound could see a stronger rise in demand.FXStreets Yohay Elam said:With Australia seeing a new strict lockdown, coronavirus developments will of course remain influential for the Pound to Australian Dollar exchange rate as well.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

TAGS: Pound Australian Dollar Forecasts
MICHELLE GANASSI

michelleg@dailyamerican.com

One of state Rep. Carl Walker Metzgars prison reform bills are heading to the governors desk.

House Bill 256, which lowers the threshold for what is considered an assault from serious bodily injury to simply bodily injury, was sent to Gov. Tom Wolfs desk. It was not clear Tuesday evening if he would sign the measure.

The measure passed the House 174 to 27.

Metzgar, who introduced the bill as part of a reform package in response to the February 2018 death of 60-year-old Mark Baserman, said that this measure is one of the biggest bills of the package. He said currently felony assault is defined as seriously bodily injury.

This lowers the threshold to bodily injury, he said. The penalty for prisoners who attack a guard in any way is higher and the sentence would run consecutively for that offense. It will not run concurrent with their existing time, which is what happens often.

Metzgar said that the goal is to help deter attacks on guards and employees.

The secretary of prison has lost control of the prisons, he said. This legislation is trying to empower the staff and protect the staff of these correctional facilities.

Metzgar said that the bill also has an institutional sexual assault component that if someone is in police custody or detention there is no way for them to give consent.

Baserman died from injuries he sustained when 22-year-old life inmate Paul Jawon Kendrick, of Pittsburgh, knocked him to the ground and kicked him in the head with Timberland boots at SCI-Somerset, according to the department and state police.

Other pieces of legislation in Metzgars reform package include:
RICK KAZMER

rickk@dailyamerican.com

Sheetz attorney Mark E. Kozar told the public Tuesday that Meyersdale Borough is part the companys goal of selling beer and wine in all of its Pennsylvania stores.

He spoke during a pubic hearing mandated by law to transfer a liquor license from Jenner Township to the Center Street location, which is necessary to sell alcohol in town.

About 20 people, including town officials, attended the hearing. Comments included questions about the convenience stores alcohol policies, market competition, health, safety and philanthropy.

Kozar defended the company on all fronts, offering examples from around the state along the way.

Sheetz has a . . . responsible alcohol management program, he said.

One example he mentioned was from years ago when a location in Altoona was cited for selling alcohol to minors. Sheetz, upon guidance from their attorneys, installed ID scanners at the point of sale with more strict monitoring. He said that solved the problem.

Sheetz sells beer and wine at 225 Pennsylvania stores, Kozar said, including two of the three Somerset Borough locations. The company has more than 600 locations in multiple states.

The expansion in Meyersdale includes room for dine-in eating, accommodating about 30 patrons. Construction on the Center Street business has been ongoing for weeks. Kozar said three or four more employees will likely be hired as a result.

During public comment, Dave Suder, owner of Suders Beer Distributors along Dale Street, said he is worried about precedent.

If they (council) approve this license for Sheetz, what are they going to do down the road? he said about the possibility of other businesses making the same request. How many licenses?

Mayor Mike Brant suggested to Kozar that Sheetz buy the beer they sell from the local distributor, but Kozar said that Sheetz likely buys their stock from the same source as the local business.

Other concerns included increased crime and public safety. Kozar said Sheetz has seen no evidence those concerns are a problem elsewhere where the company sells beer and wine.

Borough council President Jeff Irwin said he recently visited Sheetz locations in Somerset, and in Richland Township in Cambria County, where beer and wine is sold.

Irwin said that he has concerns with the beer cave and wine locations in the stores, citing fear that minors could easily grab a bottle and leave the store.

Thats why they have beer caves, Kozar said in response, noting that cameras monitor the rooms. He said its a better option than having the beer on the main sales floor.

Borough council is scheduled to meet in one week to decide on whether to grant the transfer. Kozar fielded a question about what would happen should borough officials decline the request.

There is an appeal process, he said. We have used that in the past.
MICHELLE GANASSI

michelleg@dailyamerican.com

Somerset County employees have reached a deal with the county after they voted to strike last week.

The non-professional group of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, which includes the 911 dispatchers, maintenance workers and clerks, had rejected two proposals by the county as part of negotiations that began last year.

Union representative Sue McCormick said that the union and county formed a tentative agreement late last week, which union members overwhelmingly passed on Tuesday.

We decided to go back to April 1 for retroactivity, she said. There is a 40-cents increase each year of the contract.

There was dispute on how early in the year to retroactively pay raises. She said the employees also pay the same percentage for health care for the life of the contract.

As we said before, the county and union always worked well together, she said. We had a disagreement, not a dispute, and we came together and worked something out.

Pittsburgh labor attorney Chris Gabriel, who works on the countys behalf during contract negotiations, said that it is his understanding that the union ratified the agreement.

He anticipates the county will do the same.

Those of us on the inside expected this to happen, he said. There was a disagreement and there was a moment when the parties were not together. I am not surprised that they came to an agreement.

This group, along with the professional employees and the sheriffs deputies, began negotiating their new contract in June 2019. In February the professional bargaining unit employees agreed to a deal, and received a $1,250 raise annually for workers with over 10 years of service and $1,750 annually for employees with over 20 years. All other bargaining unit employees will receive a 2.5% raise retroactive to Jan. 1.

In the sheriffs office, the new contract will increase the hourly rates for full-time deputies by $1 and for part-time deputies by 40 cents.
The Daily American

(Editors note: This is the eighth in a series of articles on the unsolved homicide of Barbara Ann Mangus, a 21-year-old wife and mother from Johnstowns West End who was killed in December of 1974.)

Its no secret that police begin homicide investigations by speaking to those closest to the victim. The circle eventually widens after investigators question romantic interests, family members and friends.

In the case of Barbara Ann Mangus, this meant that state police were going to question her husband, Walter Sonny Mangus Jr.

Any time you have a homicide like this, a loved ones going to be looked at, state police Cpl. Matthew Auker said. So, yes, (Sonny) was looked at.

Hours after his wife disappeared Dec. 15, Sonny reported her missing. He told police that shed left the Christmas party along Frankstown Road after theyd argued about him being at the bar for too long.

She was dancing with her friends, Sonny said. She knew everybody there, I didnt know anybody. She worked in the office, so it was all office people mostly.

We had an argument, and I more or less says, you know, These are your friends, not mine. But I didnt think she left. I was still at the table.

I finally asked the one girl to see if she was in the ladies room. She was gone. But I had figured she got a ride with somebody she knew. I never thought she . . . walked.

Sonny said he thought his wife would have been at home or at her mothers house, where their young son, Jimmy, was staying for the night.

Because he knew his club bowling league party at the Oakhurst Lounge was likely still going on, Sonny decided to go there. But first he stopped to see his friends, Tom and Vicki Goldberg.

  

A summary of Jan. 2, 1975, case notes provided by Auker suggest that Sonny showed up at the Goldberg residence along Duwell Street at approximately 2:15 a.m. Dec. 15.

State police Trooper Raymond Torta wrote that Tom Goldberg said that he was watching TV with his wife when Sonny arrived. He got dressed and met Sonny outside.

According to Goldberg, Sonny talked about how his wife left him at the Christmas party after their argument. Sonny then asked Goldberg if hed go out with him for a few drinks. Goldberg told police he declined because his wife would have been mad at him.

Sonny allegedly left by 2:30 a.m.  a visit of no more than 15 minutes.

Later on Dec. 15, Torta wrote that Goldberg went to Sonnys house to ask him whether Barbara had returned. Sonny said that she hadnt, and Goldberg stayed the night there. A few days later he met with Sonny again to look for Barbara.

Trooper Bill Tomallo, Tortas partner in the investigation, arrested both of the Goldbergs on Dec. 8 of 1975. He said he had information exposing the couples story as a lie.

According to Tomallo, witnesses placed both Sonny Mangus and Tom Goldberg at the Oakhurst Lounge at approximately 2 a.m. the date of Barbaras disappearance.

They were charged with hindering apprehension, I believe, because they initially werent forthcoming as to where Mr. Mangus was at or having seen him after that party, Auker said.

Added Trooper Cliff Greenfield: That was the belief at the time. (They were) actually found not guilty of that charge.

According to Sonny, Tomallo specifically was trying to place Tom Goldberg at the Oakhurst Lounge during those early morning hours, which would have contradicted his original statement.

The truth, Sonny said, is that Tom Goldberg was only at the lounge during daylight hours to play the pinball machine. No one had seen him at the lounge after midnight.

The police was trying to say that put a hole in the (timeline). They were trying to pin (the murder) on me, he said.

Their lawyer told Tom, he says, You know if they find you lying or they find you and Vicki guilty, theyre taking . . . your buddy out in handcuffs.

Sonny said his dad, a bartender at the lounge, was arrested at one point as well.

My father said (to a couple), You better not go up there and lie against my son. My dad worked for the city  they picked him up working and then he had to get bond, Sonny said. They said he was threatening witnesses.

He was just asking them to tell the truth. You wouldnt believe what all was going on at that time.

  

On June 16, a reader asked on social media whether police ever found a match for the blue paint found at the crime scene.

According to the reader, Bethlehem Steel employees were being questioned about their vehicles. Police believed that the paint may have been from a vehicle driven by Manguss murderer.

Auker confirmed this finding.

Blue paint transfer was found on a tree branch near where Barbara Mangus was found dead, he wrote in an email. There was a male employee at the (Bethlehem) Wire Mill who danced with Mangus at the Christmas party. A sample of paint from his car was obtained for comparison. This employee also submitted to a Polygraph Examination and passed.

Tom McMillen, Barbaras nephew, said this could be critical evidence.

The thing of it is, now they can take the paint and analyze it, McMillen said. And they can tell you exactly what color it is, who made it and what year (vehicle) it was on.

But this evidence  like the DNA and tire tracks  is apparently no longer available to investigators.

From Auker of the state police: The sample found at the scene wasnt found until April 1975, by Tpr Torta and Johnstown PD Chief Oreskovich. The sample was examined by a Chemist at the PSP Greensburg Regional Laboratory on 04/10/75. It was her opinion the paint sample could have come off of a vehicle. It was only examined under a microscope at the time due to the fact that if a complete analysis was performed, the sample could have been destroyed. Also, I have a receipt within the report dated 10/14/75 from the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Crime Lab. It looks like Tpr. Tomallo and Cambria County Detective Steve Harris delivered the sample there along with paint samples from other vehicles for comparison.

There is no record in the report of any results and we do not currently have a paint sample from the scene in evidence. It would be my assumption the paint sample was expended at the lab and if there were any positive comparison results it would have been documented.

Sonny said Torta told him about the blue paint at the time. He believes Bethlehem employees were under suspicion because of possible workplace jealousy.

These guys would get these weeks and weeks of vacation. (Barbara) was doing their jobs, he said.

She got to the point where she knew everybodys job and, from what I heard . . . they was considering her for a big (promotion).

  

The case against Sonny Mangus appears to have dissolved in the early months and years of the investigation. So current state police have entertained other theories about the identity of Barbaras killer.

You can be assured that the initial investigators, and subsequent investigators over the years, have conducted a lot of interviews  many, many interviews. and were keeping an open mind, Greenfield said.

I think thats the most we can tell you right now.

Added Auker: We believe a lot of the people that were suspects or could have been involved in this are deceased.

One of the early suspects who was ruled out was a man named James Lape.

In his obituary, Lape was described as an avid hunter and sportsman with a career in trucking. He lived along Lynn Street, which intersects Decker Avenue at the top of its steep incline, just beyond city limits. Decker Avenue is the spot where the last credible witness was said to have seen Barbara.

According to Auker, Lape was brought in for questioning Dec. 4, 1975. He denied having any information on the Mangus homicide and submitted to a polygraph test the following day.

The polygraph exam, Auker said, indicated that Lape made no apparent attempts at deception to questions pertaining to knowledge or direct involvement in the crime. He passed the test.

Lape died in 1997 at the age of 56.

  

Making sense of a mystery this old is daunting  the reality faded and blurred in the passing of time like photos in old newsprint, and complicated by a string of conflicting accounts.

It cant be true that the unidentified men at the Act III Diner both stayed longer than Barbara and left at the same time.

It cant be true that Matthew Kelly was both on the clock and off duty when he talked to Barbara, or that K-9 Officer Al Lloyd both talked to Barbara and didnt.

And it cant be true that Tom Goldberg was at home at the same time he was at the Oakhurst Lounge in the early morning hours of Dec. 15.

Perhaps unraveling these threads and others is inconsequential. Then again, maybe unraveling the right one will break the case and result at last in its resolution.

Back then obviously things were handled differently than they are now, Auker said. If this would have happened nowadays, I believe it would have been solved just because of the scientific (advancements) . . . that we have access to now that they didnt have access to then.

Plus . . . nowadays training has come a long way with us.

Greenfield agreed.

Also, today many businesses have surveillance cameras which would have aided our investigation in tracking her walk toward her home, he said. We may have been able to capture something that happened on video.

Sonny, Jimmy Mangus and Tom McMillen said they still hope for some sort of closure, but dont expect it.

Not unless somebody does the right thing that knows something and comes forward, Jimmy Mangus said. Were not seeking any kind retribution against any family members of whoever did it.

We just want to find out who did it, Sonny said.

Its piece of mind for (Sonny), Tom McMillen added. A 500-pound gorilla off his back.

When Barbara was killed after that 1974 Christmas party, the family lost a young woman who was, by all accounts, kind, intelligent and strong-willed.

See, now that I think about it, I think Aunt Barb was like Gram in a lot of ways. Shed give you the shirt off her back, but if you ticked her off you were on that list for a long time, Tom McMillen said, sharing a hard laugh with both Sonny and Jimmy.

When asked why they think the case has gone cold, the three of them insist that it was a mix of police incompetence and something worse.

They keep returning to the comments from investigators that one or more city police officers were involved in Barbaras killing and concealment. They question what contemporary testing of the lost evidence  the DNA, the tire tracks, the blue paint  would reveal.

Do we know what color police cruisers were back at the time? Jimmy Mangus asked.

Blue, Tom McMillen said. Blue and white.

Added Sonny: They were all blue and white.

(Editors note: This was the eighth and final installment of a series on the unsolved homicide of Barbara Mangus, a 21-year-old wife and mother from Johnstowns West End who was killed in December of 1974. Visit dailyamerican.com or ourtownjohnstown.com/dailyamerican for the previous articles and web extras, including podcast episodes.)
Mr. Donald Lee Brown, age 72, of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Saturday, June 19, 2021, at Chatsworth Healthcare Center. He was born January 8, 1949 in Rutledge, GA a son of the late Herbert and Sadie Bell Brown. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Brown, brothers, Ed
B.A.D. Golf Postponed

Due to the forecast for cold weather and rain, B.A.D. Golf and Live After Six with The Jeremy DeWall Band ...
File photo

Eastbrook Middle School students Scarlett Guzman, left, and Diana Garcia work to make a tower from spaghetti hold a marshmallow during a teamwork exercise on their first day of school in August 2019. The Whitfield County Board of Education approved a fiscal year 2021 budget that accounts for a 10% reduction in state funding but manages to not lose any days for students or staff.
Ryan Anderson/Daily Citizen-News

Children wait in line for books and food from Whitfield County Schools staff members during a Power Lunch event on June 12. Since mid-March, when school buildings closed due to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Whitfield County Schools had served nearly 500,000 meals to children through June 30 and given away more than 1,200 books, said Amy Smith, middle school curriculum director.
Ola Hawatmeh leads Kyle Van De Water by about 500 votes in the Republican primary in New Yor
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, about the process for deciding when and whether schools in the state will reopen this fall.
KINGSTON, N.Y.  Mayor Steve Noble says he is willing to sign legislation being considered b
This map shows where New York state has acquired 208 acres in the town of Kingston.
Dutchess County

Race forum participants say time for talk is over
Paul Kirby is a reporter for the Freeman, covering Kingston politics. He has been at the Freeman since August 1996.
The following items are based on information provided by officials in law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
Silver Price Forecast Overview:

Silver prices have lagged their golden counterpart throughout the coronavirus pandemic. However, silver prices may soon be ready to stretch their legs.

Silver volatility has started to edge higher, which given the contextual performance of other asset classes, may be a sign that more gains are on the way for silver prices.

Recent changes in sentiment suggests that silver prices may soon breakout to fresh highs.

Silver Prices Left Behind; Ready to Shine?

The flood of central bank liquidity during the coronavirus pandemic undoubtedly provided stability to financial markets. While this flood of liquidity initially found the path of least resistance by flowing into gold, silver prices were decidedly left behind: year-to-date, gold prices are up by +18.3% while silver prices are up by +2.3%.

Now, as the coronavirus pandemic persists in the United States in particular, the prospect of persistently low rates and excessive fiscal deficits have curated an environment for falling real yields  an environment in which silver prices tend to outperform. Coupled with rising volatility among precious metals, it may be the case that silver prices play catchup to their golden counterpart.

Its worth nothing that during the height of the US housing market crash and early stages of The Great Recession in 2008 and 2009, neither gold nor silver prices performed well. Instead, their gains came on the side of financial market stabilization: the gold and silver bull run was at its strongest in 2010 and 2011 (peaking in September 2011).

Silver Prices Running Ahead of Silver Volatility

While both gold and silver are precious metals that typically enjoy a safe haven appeal during times of uncertainty in financial markets, the scale and scope of the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has shifted investors focus from the positive nature of silvers safe have appeal during times of crisis to the negative nature of silvers economic uses during an historic collapse.

While other asset classes dont like increased volatility (signaling greater uncertainty around cash flows, dividends, coupon payments, etc.), precious metals tend to benefit from periods of higher volatility as uncertainty increases silvers safe haven appeal.

VXSLV (SILVER VOLATILITY) TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY PRICE CHART (MARCH 2011 TO JULY2020) (CHART 1)

Silver volatility (as measured by the Cboes gold volatility ETF, VXSLV, which tracks the 1-month implied volatility of gold as derived from the SLV option chain) has rebounded more than 10% since its low in late-June, currently trading at 34.42. However, silver volatility remains severely depressed relative to its all-time high set during March when VXSLV hitting 113.68.

The recent bump in silver prices has coincided with the rebound in silver volatility in the past two weeks, leading to a normalization of the typical relationship. The 5-day correlation between VXSLV and silver prices is 0.51 and the 20-day correlation is -0.52. One week ago on June 30, the 5-day correlation was -0.09 and the 20-day correlation was -0.09, and one month ago on June 9, the 5-day correlation was 0.06 and the 20-day correlation was -0.26.

SILVER PRICE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (JULY 2019 TO JULY 2020) (CHART 2)

The parallel from the descending trendline from the August 2013 and July 2106 highs comes into play against the June 2020 high at 18.3896 over the course of the next week. Recent price action suggests that silver has been consolidating in an ascending triangle after bottoming in March, outlining the potential for more gains in the coming sessions.

Silver prices are holding above their daily 5-, 8-, 13-, and 21-EMA, while daily MACD has started to rise while in bullish territory and Slow Stochastics have moved back towards overbought territory. The conditions for a bullish breakout are set; failure comes below the July 2 low at 17.7669.

SILVER PRICE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: WEEKLY CHART (JUNE 2013 TO JULY 2020) (CHART 3)

The longer-term bullish momentum profile would improve meaningfully should a bullish breakout above the parallel of the descending trendline from the August 2013 and July 2016 highs, at which point it may be time to declare the long-term bottoming effort as officially completed; the multi-month rebound would be underway.

This would be a strong indication that market sentiment had evolved, insofar as looking past the negative aspect of silvers economic uses and focusing more on the positive aspect of silvers safe have appeal. For what its worth, now that the Federal Reserve has boosted its balance sheet past $7 trillion, the economic fallout argument thats been weighing down silver prices has been diminished.

Failure to break through 18.3896 resistance by the end of July 2020 would be a poor omen for silver prices.

IG Client Sentiment Index: Silver Price Forecast (July 7, 2020) (Chart 4)

Silver: Retail trader data shows 87.18% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 6.80 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 0.47% lower than yesterday and 1.83% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 8.05% higher than yesterday and 5.62% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests Silver prices may continue to fall.

Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current Silver price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Currency Strategist
Glo Stidham Whitt of South Charleston, WV, formerly of Catlettsburg KY passed away on June 19, 2021. She is survived by her children, Judson Whitt, Lee Jones, Daniel Whitt, and Robin Whitt, five grandchildren and four grandsons. As requested there will not be a public service.
Sunbury, PA (17801)

Today

Cloudy. Periods of rain this morning. Cooler. High 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
MISSING PERSON

Amish woman vanishes

Philadelphia region on high-alert for Amish woman, 18, after she never returned home from church on Father's Day
As Harry demands the Commonwealth atone for its past  apparently confusing it with the Empire  the Mails ROBERT HARDMAN, who has covered the organisation over many years, pens this heartfelt open letter to the Duke . . .

You were one of the best things to happen to the Commonwealth in the past few years when you became the passionate new royal envoy for an organisation covering a third of the Earths population.

I was in the room at the 2018 London Summit when you took your seat as the Queens new Commonwealth Youth Ambassador. Given that two-thirds of the Commonwealth are under the age of 30, it was an important role.

A month later, I was at Windsor Castle to see you and your dazzling bride step out into the world as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Stretching behind you both was that poignant and clever tribute to both the Commonwealth and its Head, the Queen.

The Duchesss veil (like the Queens Coronation dress in 1953) had been embroidered with the flowers of every single Commonwealth nation. There were 53 of them on your wedding day, though its now gone up to an all-time record of 54.

At the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding in 2018 (pictured), Meghan's veil had been embroidered with the flowers of every single Commonwealth nation

Thats the funny thing about the Commonwealth. It keeps on getting bigger. People keep wanting to join this post-imperial club  even if they were nothing to do with the British Empire in the first place.

Which is why so many of us were surprised and disappointed by the tone of your remarks this week. Joining an online discussion with Commonwealth youth leaders from your new home in California, you made it clear that the overarching priority for the organisation must be to atone for its wrongs.

When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past, you declared. So many people have done such an incredible job of acknowledging the past and trying to right those wrongs, but I think we all acknowledge there is so much more still to do.

This struck such an odd note that I initially wondered whether you had been misquoted. But then I watched the full video and there was the Duchess saying the same.

On the question of the Commonwealth, she said it raised a question on both a macro and micro level: What have we done in our past that we put our hand up? This is a moment of reckoning where so many people go: You know what, I need to own that. Maybe I didnt do the right thing there. 

Harry (pictured left alongside Meghan) announced in a video conference with Commonwealth leaders that we cannot ' move forward unless we acknowledge the past'. Perhaps he got the Commonwealth confused with the British Empire

It is a common enough mistake among people with no great interest in the subject, but it's a baffling error for the grandson of the Queen (pictured right with Princes Charles)

She also said: Were going to have be a little uncomfortable right now, because its only in pushing through that discomfort that we can get to the other side of this.

Im not entirely comfortable saying this, but you seem to assume that the Commonwealth and the British Empire are one and the same thing.

It is a common enough mistake among people with no great interest in the subject, but a pretty baffling howler for the President of the Queens Commonwealth Trust (as you continue to be, despite relinquishing the Youth Ambassador role).

The modern Commonwealth was born as the Empire shrivelled. It was, and is, an entirely voluntary organisation created in 1949 with the King as the symbol of the free association of its independent member nations and as such the Head of the Commonwealth. The whole point was that no one had to belong.

And yet given the choice, almost all the free and independent nations which had once been part of the British Empire gladly signed up to this new creation. To this day, 15 of them (not including Britain) freely retain your grandmother as their head of state.

A few of those have even had the odd referendum on replacing her with a president but, each time, the voters have vetoed the idea. No compulsion there, either.

Just as no one has ever been compelled to join this club, so those who leave or who get kicked out soon end up trying to get back in (the Maldives have just been readmitted after a few years in the cold).

It is hard to think of an organisation which has had a better record in confronting colonial oppression in modern times, be it bringing about the end of white rule in Rhodesia or fighting apartheid in South Africa.

One of Nelson Mandelas first executive acts on being elected president of a new and democratic South Africa in 1994 was to resume its membership of the Commonwealth (before it even returned to the UN).

No one was more delighted than the Head of the Commonwealth herself, as I discovered when writing my book, Queen Of The World.

In 1994, when Nelson Mandela (pictured middle) was elected president of South Africa , one of his first tasks to resume its membership of the Commonwealth, which delighted the Queen (second right)

She would go on to become a great friend of Mandela (one of the only non-royal world leaders who would routinely call her Elizabeth and get away with it), as she has with so many of those titans of Commonwealth history.

Some, including Jawaharlal Nehru, founding father of modern India, had even been imprisoned under British imperial rule.

However, they always drew a very clear distinction between the British government on the one hand, and the Queen and her Commonwealth on the other.

That is because she has always drawn a clear line herself. When her British Prime Minister Edward Heath (who loathed the Commonwealth) tried to keep her away from the 1973 Commonwealth summit in Ottawa, she went behind his back and accepted an invitation in her capacity as Queen of Canada.

During the Sixties, when Harold Wilson tried to treat the first holder of the newly created post of Commonwealth secretary-general like a junior clerk, the Queen invited him round for dinner. She then redrafted the order of precedence to make him the most senior diplomat in London.

Shortly after Ghana had removed her as head of state, she still ignored bomb threats and pressed ahead with her 1961 state visit to the fledgling republic (against the advice of many in Parliament), making world headlines as she danced with the fiery President Nkrumah.

The white queen dancing with the black father of independence, at the very moment that South Africa was being ostracised for its hated apartheid regime, spoke louder than any oratory. All through her reign, she has quietly but purposefully endorsed Nehrus original Commonwealth mission statement: a touch of healing.

Which is why, Sir, your remarks go against all that the Queen has attempted to do over all these years.

Prince Harry (pictured middle)'s latest remarks go against what the Queen (right) has been trying to build over the last few decades regarding the Commonwealth

Its about seeking consensus and positives and looking forward, says one senior ex-diplomat. If you want to start raking over the past, youll soon find muck but it wont be Britain that tries to shut down that conversation. He points to the entrenched racial divides in Malaysia, Guyana, Fiji and elsewhere.

The Commonwealth may not be the force it once was. It might embrace diversity (encompassing every major faith on every continent) but it can also be equally diverse when it comes to human rights.

Many members, for example, still criminalise homosexuality; more than 20 of them still have the death penalty. It doesnt pretend to be perfect, but gets things done among nations with a shared language and legal code, all of whom have pledged to improve their democratic standards.

As such, it remains an important badge of respect, a fact underlined by the queue of countries which want to join despite no links to Britain, imperial or otherwise.

You may recall you yourself visited one of them on your tour of southern Africa last year  Angola. Other non-British ex-colonies such as Cameroon and Mozambique are already members.

Last year, Prince Harry visited Angola (pictured) one of the countries which want to join the Commonwealth despite no links to Britain

None is more enthusiastic than Rwanda. Until the pandemic intervened, the former Belgian colony had even been due to host last months Commonwealth summit, with your father, the Prince of Wales  and future Head  opening the proceedings.

Yes, we are in the midst of a global debate about racism. As you say in an under-reported section of your speech, you want to be in the vanguard of change: Everything is coming to a head. Change is happening far quicker than before. We just need this movement to continue this momentum for as long as it takes.

But in painting the Commonwealth as a problem rather than an answer, you are undermining an organisation which has gone to great trouble to embrace you.

And, in turn, you are devaluing one of the great successes of your grandmothers record-breaking reign.

Yours, Robert Hardman
Rishi Sunak sat alone, his head a swirl of heaven-knows-what as he awaited his latest date with destiny.

Around the chamber, every eyeball was fixed upon him. Those denied access peered round doorways like distracted ostriches. Up in the press gallery, pen-chewing hacks craned to cop a better view. Tension throbbed.

A mere Summer Statement this might have been, but really it was so much more than that. It was a one-time pitch to save our frazzled economy. Yet amid this taut scene, Rishi perched unprickled, totally unfazed by the enormity of the moment.

Shortly after 12.30pm Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle rose from his padded throne. The Chancellor of the Exchequer! he hollered. To a chorus of noise, Rishi strode toward the despatch box to deliver what turned out to be a 30-minute speech  half an hour to shape an entire generation.

Around the chamber, every eyeball was fixed upon him. Those denied access peered round doorways like distracted ostriches. Up in the press gallery, pen-chewing hacks craned to cop a better view. Tension throbbed

Once again the young Chancellor, on whose dainty shoulders rests so much, dazzled the House. It was a speech dripping with Rishi-ness: imaginative and empathetic, with plenty of sunshine pouring through the skylights.

Will his pledges be enough? Only time will tell. But what a composed performance it was.

On his brilliant Budget debut four months ago, he started out like a Bambi-eyed fawn. Yesterday, right from the off, he looked a different creature: sleeker, more assured.

He began sombrely. He spoke of those who were anxious about losing their job, about unemployment rising. He does the tender stuff very well, Rishi. His predecessors in the Treasury such as Gordon Brown and Philip Hammond did sympathy about as well as the Duke of York does charm.

Once again the young Chancellor, on whose dainty shoulders rests so much, dazzled the House. It was a speech dripping with Rishi-ness: imaginative and empathetic, with plenty of sunshine pouring through the skylights

We heard about the special bond which brought us all together during the crisis, made possible by the strength of the United Kingdom. Och! The SNP grumblers didnt like that. Across the way, I could just make out their Treasury spokesman Alison Thewlisss eyes flickering irritably from side to side.

There were appreciative nods as the Chancellor focused on helping out the young. He spoke of the need for apprenticeships, traineeships, career advisors. As he laid out these plans, some Labour MPs listened itchily. For the most part though they drank it up in respectful silence.

Directly behind the Chancellor, two rows back, was Sajid Javid, giving each announcement little thwacks of approval. Until February, The Saj had been Rishis boss in the Treasury. How cruelly the political wheel turns. How quickly reputations fade.

As Rishi turned attention to his energy-saving green homes initiatives, acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey began making furious jabbing gestures at himself. At first I was worried Sir Ed might have got a piece of bubblegum trapped in his gullet until I realised he was trying to claim these were his ideas. Oh well. Not as if the Lib Dems are going to be able to put them into practice any time soon.

The first great cheer from the government benches came when it was announced thered be a temporary axing of stamp duty on homes costing less than 500,000. At this moment, the Prime Minister, sat further along from his Chancellor, spun around, looking to bathe himself in the appreciation of colleagues. He only succeeded in locking eyes with Javid. The pair exchanged sheepish hellos. Awkward.

The PM did not look altogether chipper at the adulation his young charge was garnering. He spent most of the session slumped petulantly, his lower jaw jutting the way Gordon Browns once did when in one of his sulks.

The first great cheer from the government benches came when it was announced thered be a temporary axing of stamp duty on homes costing less than 500,000. At this moment, the Prime Minister, sat further along from his Chancellor, spun around, looking to bathe himself in the appreciation of colleagues

His right leg spent most of the time juddering up and down impatiently as though he had somewhere better to be. Occasionally, he would hoist one of those great ham hocks over the other and sit back sprawled, cowboy-style.

He perked up when the Chancellor announced he was cutting VAT to just 5 per cent, shooting the opposition a smug look as if to say Whaddayathinkathat? Further coos of delight greeted the imaginative eat out to help out scheme. That slightly stately figure John Penrose (Con, Weston-super-Mare) turned to the press gallery and began shouting Down the pub, everyone! Moneybags Penrose, Id wager, has never set foot in a boozer in his life.

And there was some lovely personal stuff to finish. Rishi said his statement was not a question of economics but of values. He talked of the nobility of work, the inspiring power of opportunity.

Social distancing rules prevented the customary backslaps from colleagues but there were warm gurgles of approvals.

His opposite number, Anneliese Dodds, was nervy as a number 11 batsman in the pavilion. Bit of a jumpy character, I fear. Has that permanent look of someone whos left the gas on.

Sir Keir Starmer nodded along supportively at her response  though I noticed his focus for most of the session remained centred on the slight man opposite her. Some say its the Chancellor, not the Prime Minister, whom he now fears the most.
People who have been diagnosed with terminal illness have revealed what it really feels like to know your life is gonig to be cut short, and for some the news was not as devastating as you might imagine.

Taking to the Q&A site Quora, people from around the world suffering with incurable diseases shared their stories in response to the question: 'Is it abnormal to be glad youre diagnosed with a terminal illness?'

Many said that after initial shock, the news had motivated them to make the most of their remaining days, and spoke of suddenly having a sense of 'freedom' because everyday worries just don't matter anymore.

One man dying from brain and bone cancer said that once he'd come to terms with the news, the 'world just lifts off your back'.

Others said they had welcomed their diagnosis because it confirmed fears they had abut their health, and finally freed them from any uncertainty.

People from all over the world living with incurable diseases have revealed why they were 'happy' to receive terminal diagnosis in a Q&A on Quora (stock image)

One man wrote: 'I've got terminal brain cancer and bone cancer but for me, the first thing was feeling sorry for myself, I was never in denial but either you accept the situation or you'll drown in the misery of the situation,' he wrote.

'You don't have to like it but once you accept it and come to terms with the fact that your not the indestructible force you thought you were, well it feels like the world just lifts off your back.

He added: 'In some strange way, knowing from the start that this was incurable[...] took the stress out of the situation.'

Another woman from Florida said that a friend of hers who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer in her 30s had the same reaction, realising she just didn't have to put up with the things that weighed her down anymore.

Others said they welcomed knowing from the start their conditions were incurable, as it was giving them time to prepare for the unavoidable

'She told me her first reactions were the usual, shock, denial, why me? etc. Then, after a couple of days, she said she felt a sense of freedom".

'She said she realized that because her time was short, there was a lot of BS she didn't have time for and therefore didn't have to put up with, anymore. And she didn't,' the woman explained.

Another respondent from Florida answered the question, saying it's 'not abnormal to feel happy' when diagnosed with a terminal illness.

'My belief is that you come here- to this school called earth- to find out who you are and do what you came here to do and when you feel done you get to leave joyfully,' she said.

People said feeling glad about hearing a terminal illness diagnosis was not 'abnormal' and that they themselves had felt glad to hear that their doubts were confirmed

Others argued that a sense of happiness comes from the relief of finally getting a diagnosis that validates your fears.

One woman from Europe wrote that many are diagnosed after a 'long and painful road' and it's confirmation that 'what you're going through is real'.

She added a diagnosis also led people to get the help and support they needed, and makes them feel 'seen and heard.'

'So yes, being happy is completely normal. Beause getting a diagnosis often means you have rights, support and help coming along with it,' she said.

'You know you you might get bad news, but the bad news gives you relief as it may tell you who you are.'

Another person, from Australia, agreed that getting confirmation that something was wrong with their body could give people a sense of relief if there has been long-term suffering.

'The relief to find out it wasnt all in your head and that it wont last forever can be major,' they said.

Some said they initially a hard time dealing with the news and cried or panicked at the thought of their condition

A retired teacher who suffered from Parkinson's Disease said she felt sorry for those who said they were 'glad' about their diagnosis

Another woman with Stage IV cancer explained that she initially felt like a 'deer caught in the blinding headlights', but said that it's important to find happiness despite the situation.

'Once the shock of the diagnosis wore off, it then became a matter of attitude,' she added.

'Keeping a positive attitude goes a long way towards fighting and dealing an with an incurable terminal illness.'

However, others did not share these opinions and said they had been devastated to hear their own diagnosis.

'Im sorry to hear that you have a terminal disease and even sorrier that you are glad,' said a US-based retired teacher who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

'I have one too, Parkinsons disease, it kills you slowly. But I am not happy about it. I accept it because I have no choice, it is what it is,' she said.

A woman with breast cancer revealed she asked her oncologist if she could cry when she heard the news, before 'breaking down for a few minutes.

'Who wants to be sentenced with a terminal illness when you're just about to fully experience life? (I just finished my PhD and was on track for a good research position at the university),' she added.
Advertisement

The Duchess of Cornwall offered royal fans a look inside the Library at Clarence House in a photo released to mark her latest radio appearance.

Camilla, 72, was photographed in her official London home during the recording of her special BBC 5 Live show, which was broadcast yesterday.

The Library is used by Prince Charles, 72, and the Duchess of Cornwall for official engagements and is one of five rooms on the ground floor of the house that are open to the public. The Queen Mother, who lived at Clarence House for almost five decades, used the room for intimate dinners.

A closer look at the image - combined with more detailed views offered by Google Arts & Culture's virtual tour - reveals how the room is filled with royal treasures, from a portrait of Queen Anne (1665-1714) to ornate candelabra.

Inside the Library: 1. Painting of Queen Anne at the Order of the Garter ceremony in 1713; 2. Landscape with a Large Tree, 1780; 3. Pair of display cabinets with gilt bronze detailing; 4. Display including Chinese snuff bottle; 5. Open armchair (1813); 6. Carved and gilded wood stool (1828); 7.Portrait of the Duchess of York, future Queen Mother (1923); 8. Display table (1777-80); 9. Pair of gilded bronze candelabra (1770-90); 10. Portrait of the then Princess Elizabeth, future Queen (1948)

Queen of the airwaves: The Duchess of Cornwall, 72, was photographed in the Library of Clarence House, her official London home during the recording of her special BBC 5 Live show, which was broadcast yesterday

Among the highlights is a Chinese snuff bottle, which was given to the royal family as a Christmas present in 1914, and is showcased in a charming wall-mounted display cabinet, seen in the background of the portrait.

Elsewhere there are twin portraits of the Queen Mother, commissioned while she was still the Duchess of York, and the then Princess Elizabeth, which hang on either side of the grand double doors to the Morning Room.

Other artwork includes landscapes painted by 18th century artist John Taylor.

Here, using archive information made available by the Royal Collection Trust, FEMAIL explores the stories behind just 10 of the objects in the Library at Clarence House...

1. Garter Installation by Queen Anne, August 4th 1713 (painted 1899)

Royal history: Painting is thought to depict the Chapter of the Order of the Garter held by Queen Anne at Kensington Palace, on 4 August 1713, a year before her death. The ceremony was held in London, rather than Windsor, due to her ailing health

This painting is thought to depict the Chapter of the Order of the Garter held by Queen Anne at Kensington Palace, on 4 August 1713 and is a 1899 copy of an original painting that is dated to the 1720s.

The ceremony was unusually held at Kensington Palace rather than Windsor Castle, where it is held to this day, due to the ill health of Queen Anne at the time.

The Queen is seen seated to the right of the painting beneath a green canopy and is depicted leaning forward to touch the hand of a kneeling Kight of the Garter, who is being presented to her by another Knight.

The painting, which hangs above the door from the library to the corridor, is attributed to an 'MC Hennel'. This is thought to be the artist Mary C Hennell, who exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1917.

2. Landscape with a Large Tree, signed and dated 1780

Classic landscape: This painting of a large tree by artist John Taylor, dated 1780, was presented to King George IV in 1822

This painting of a country landscape is one of 18 pictures by artist John Taylor that were presented to King George IV by the artist's son, Dr J Taylor, in 1822.

Another of Taylor's painting hangs on the other side of the door in the library. There is a third housed by the Royal Collection.

As the name suggests, the focus of the piece is a large tree in the middle of a woodland area. A viaduct can be seen in the background.

3. Pair of display cabinets with gilt bronze detailing & 4. Chinese snuff bottle

Treasures: A rectangular hanging display cabinet that houses a collection of objects, including Chinese snuff bottles (bottom)

Either side of the door to the corridor is a pair of rectangular hanging display cabinets, which house a collection of objects including the ornate Chinese snuff bottles (more information below).

Unlike many items in the Royal Collection, the designer of these pretty little cabinets is not known.

The cabinets feature beautiful gilt bronze detailing. Above the glass doors are stylised leaves set in a 'u' shape.

Among the objects on display in the glass cabinets is a Chinese snuff bottle, which was given to the royal family as a Christmas present in 1914 by aristocratic humanitarian Lady Paget (1881-1958).

Lady Paget, married to British diplomat Sir Ralph Spencer Paget, helped set up a military hospital in Belgrade during the First Balkan War (191213) and later became president of the American Women's War Relief Fund, which was founded to fund and aid First World War relief efforts.

The royal family is known to favour smaller, thoughtful gifts at Christmas, or ones that hint at a private joke. This tiny snuff bottle, which is just 7cm tall, certainly fits the bill.

The piece is beautifully carved with flowering peony bush and butterflies and a fish in water with clouds coming out of its mouth. The piece is topped with a coral stopper.

5. Open armchair (1813) & 6. Carved and gilded wood stool (1828)

Silk seating: This is one of a set of seven matching red silk armchairs bought from Tatham, Bailey and Saunders. Beneath it is a stool, which features carved and gilded wood and lion's paw feet, which was given to King George IV circa 1827

This is one of a set of seven matching red silk armchairs bought from Tatham, Bailey and Saunders.

Originally founded in the 1780s, the company was responsible for supplying furniture to the Royal Pavilion and the Prince Regent's household generally.

This chair, and the matching one on the other side of the door to the corridor, add a touch of colour to the room.

This pretty damask covered stool was given to King George IV between 1827 and 1829 for his then newly built apartments at Windsor Castle.

Designer Nicholas Morel had previously worked for George IV when he was still the Prince of Wales on furnishings for Carlton House and the Royal Pavilion at Brighton and had impressed enough to earn yet another royal commission. In order to fulfil the contract he entered into partnership with George Seddon III whose family had large and long established furniture workshops in Aldersgate Street in the City of London.

The stool, which features carved and gilded wood and lion's paw feet, is positioned beneath an armchair in the library. There is a second stool beneath the matching armchair on the other side of the door out to the corridor.

7. Portrait of the Duchess of York, the future Queen Mother (1923)

Beloved grandmother: This portrait of the Queen Mother was completed in 1923, the year she became the Duchess of York on her marriage to her husband the Duke of York, later King George VI. It depicts the Duchess of York in her early 20s

On the wall behind the Duchess of Cornwall is a painting of her husband's beloved grandmother, the Queen Mother.

The portrait was completed in 1923, the year she became the Duchess of York on her marriage to her husband the Duke of York, later King George VI.

Then in her early 20s, the Duchess of York is depicted seated in an armchair with green sash draped over the back. She is holding white gloves and a straw hat hangs from her arm.

The painting, possibly commissioned by the subject, was the work of Russian artist Savley Sorine, who trained at the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in St Petersburg before moving to Paris.

An exhibition of Sorines work in London that year may have provided the motivation for the commission.

8. Display table (1777-80)

Showcase: This display table is part of a pair designed and made by William Gates in the late 1770s

This display table is part of a pair designed and made by William Gates in the late 1770s.

It is thought they at one point furnished the apartment of George IV (then Prince of Wales), which his father King George III had ordered as part of the construction of a new wing on the north side of Buckingham House.

Today the gilded display cases, which feature carved legs and a hinged tops, are used to showcase various items in the Library at Clarence House. It is thought these pieces were originally built with marble tops and later replaced with glass.

The second display table is located on the other side of the door in the library.

9. Pair of gilded bronze candelabra (1770-90)

Ornate lighting: Stationed either side of the double doors to the Morning Room are a pair of ornate gilded bronze candelabra

On either side of the double doors leading out to the Morning Room are a pair of ornate gilded bronze candelabra dated to between 1770 and 1770.

The four-light candelabra each feature a baluster shaft, surmounted by an urn, with reeded, acanthus scroll branches, terminating in Egyptian masks, the lower stem with Egyptian terms and circular, domed foot cast with acanthus.

The provenance of the candelabra is not known but they were included in a 1827-1833 inventory of some of the royal family's clocks, vases, candelabra and other miscellaneous items.

10. Portrait of Princess Elizabeth (1948)

Young princess: This 1948 portrait of the then Princess Elizabeth was commissioned by her mother, then Queen Elizabeth

On the opposite side of the door to her mother's portrait hangs one of the then Princess Elizabeth, dated 1948.

The portrait by Russian artist Savley Sorine was commissioned by the princess's mother, then Queen Elizabeth. It was completed the year after Princess Elizabeth married the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey.

The composition is typical of Sorine's work and features a similar cool colour palette to her mother's matching portrait.

The princess is depicted wearing a white chiffon decollete dress with a blue sash tied in a bow around her waist and a double string of pearls around her neck.
A love story about an engaged, precious, young socialite from a wealthy, New York family who reunites with a righteous eco-warrior she met years earlier at a glamorous wedding on the Italian island of Capri is set to be the novel of the summer.

Sex and Vanity, the latest offering from Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan, has already won rave reviews, with the Atlantic branding it 'The Shakespeare of Status Anxiety' and Town and Country calling it 'a razor-sharp take on the one percent'.

It tells the tale of the very glamorous life of Manhattan's elite, and even features the real-life socialite Cornelia Guest as a character - the goddaughter of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, an old friend of Kwan.

In the novel's racy scenes, the main character Lucie role plays as a British aristocrat and a Russian Princess with her fiance Cecil, who tells her to 'check out his royal scepter' during sex.

Speaking to Tatler, Kwan said the novel is inspired by his own entry into 'the real Gossip Girl world' which included 'running with Park Avenue Princesses' who flit between 'six parties at night, heading uptown, downtown, staying out until dawn and appearing in the tabloids the next morning'.

Sex and Vanity, the latest offering from Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan, has already won rave reviews. It tells the tale of the very glamorous life of Manhattan's elite, and even features a a fictionalised version of Cornelia Guest (pictured in 1989) - the goddaughter of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, and old friend of Kwan

Guest, a former debutante who was childhood friends with Truman Capote and 'BFFs with Andy Warhol '(left in 1985) has become an animal rights activist in recent years. She is pictured left with Kim Kardashain at DuJour magazine's Spring issue in 2013

Extract from Sex and Vanity Cecil pulled her toward him and began kissing her neck, reaching that sweet spot right below her ear. Lucie sighed softly in languorous pleasure. Er  will you do Lady Mary, please? Okay. Lucie nodded, clearing her throat and breaking out her best British accent: What on Gods earth are you doing here? I really dont think its appropriate for you to be in my bedchamber, sir. I couldnt resist, I had to see you! Please, let me worship you in my seraglio and bring you to the gates of paradise, Cecil said in a vaguely Omar Sharifesque accent. But my ladys maid could discover us at any minute. Dont worry, I gave Anna a very generous tip to disappear. Besides, shes too busy schtupping that gimp Bates in the servants quarters to notice your cries of pleasure tonight. No, youre wrong. Anna is always watching over me. Well, let me watch over this, Cecil said as he slowly unhooked Lucies bra from behind. As she turned to face him, he stared at her with his mouth agape. Dont move! he whispered, utterly transfixed by the sight of her body. As he traced the curve of her breasts with his finger, he muttered, I cant believe youre mine. Youre absolutely perfect! Youre more exquisite than the Venus de Milo! He buried his face into her chest as she began to unzip his perfectly pressed Dormeuil trousers. Mr. Pamuk! Lucie let out an exaggerated gasp. My goodness, is this what happens to boys who eat too much Turkish delight? Sorry, Lady Mary isnt doing it for me tonight. Can we transition to Alexandra? Lucie almost wanted to roll her eyes. She was enjoying the Lady Mary pantomime, but she knew this was going to happenCecil always ended up wanting Alexandra. As if sensing her reticence, Cecil pleaded, I promise this is the only time Ill ask you for the rest of the month. Well, in that case  Lucie gave him a mischievous smile and took a deep breath, raised her arm, and slapped him clear across the face. Cecil gasped loudly, grinning. Nikolai Alexandrovich, you have behaved very badly, Lucie scolded, her Agent Amasova impersonation spot-on. Check out my royal scepter, baby, Cecil said eagerly. You peasant! How dare you insult me with your  your filthy Rasputin? Lucie roared with outrage. Ooohh! Ooohh!!! Cecil moaned in delight. Scold me more, my queen! Tell me about the heirloom dagger! Tell me more about it, baby, Cecil grunted, his jaw clenched and his breath quickening. Its a scimitar with a gold filigree handle studded with ancient Burmese jade and a scabbard crafted of lapis lazuli and inlaid amber. The razor-sharp blade is hand-forged of meteoric iron, hardened and hardened by centuries of pounding against the jagged steppes of the Caucasus. Agggrrrhhhh! Cecil shuddered in ecstasy, hugging Lucie tightly as he began sobbing against her shoulder like a little boy. Advertisement

Guest, a former debutante who was childhood friends with Truman Capote and 'BFFs with Andy Warhol' has become an animal rights activist in recent years.

Her real-life passion is reflected in the fiction, which includes a scene at a glitzy gala to raise funds for an animal shelter gala, where the socialite's pet dogs eat all the canapes for the high society guests.

Cornelia is someone who really epitomises the Park Avenue princess, she was cool enough that she spent most of her time downtown, partying with Andy Warhol at Studio 54. She straddled both worlds. And in a strange way, I did that too,' Kwan added to Tatler.

Many have drawn comparisons from the racy novel to the Cecily von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl books which became a huge Noughties TV hit.

Speaking to Tatle , Kwan (right) said the novel is inspired by his own entry into 'the real Gossip Girl world' which included 'running with Park Avenue Princesses' who flit between 'six parties at night, heading uptown, downtown, staying out until dawn and appearing in the tabloids the next morning'. The book jacket is pictured left

Excited readers have already given the novel, released last week, rave reviews on Goodreads, calling it a 'read in one sitting' kind of book and 'the perfect summer read'.

Others compared it to E.M. Forster's A Room With A View and called it a fun romp.

'The Crazy Rich Asians trilogy will always be my must-read classics. So happy to finally have my hands on Kevin Kwans new book SEX AND VANITY. Im ready!!!' wrote one.

'Stayed up half the night reading Kevin Kwans Sex and Vanity and all I can say is that its different from Crazy Rich Asians and more thought-provoking,' another penned.

'Ordered the eBook as soon as I heard about this  it was a read in one sitting kind of book, and I loved everything about it. The perfect summer read,' commented a third.

Excited readers have already given the novel, released last week, rave reviews, calling it a 'read in one sitting' kind of book and 'the perfect summer read' (pictured)

Kwan has described the book as 'a love letter to New York' and it follows his smash hit trilogy Crazy Rich Asians, which was adapted into a hit film which grossed $283 million (225 million) in 2018.

Like Gossip Girl, Sex and Vanity is set in the Big Apple and explores the very glamorous and often scandalous lives of wealthy socialites - including the rapacious nouveau riche - and their interactions with high and mighty old money families, Waspy Upper East siders, and dynasties of Asian American Wall Street families.

It focuses on the tale of Lucie Tang Churchill, a biracial New Yorker whose mother is of Chinese descent and has 'Wall Street money,' while her father 'came over on the Mayflower' and has generational wealth.

Cornelia Guest, the real life socialist who stars in the racy, glitzy, novel, is pictured in a stunning black gown at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar's Party

Lucie lives a life of mega yacht parties wearing Valentino bikinis and eating lobster ravioli.

The novel opens with the nuptials of a Tatler-cover girl and Taiwanese heiress to an Italian count on the idyllic island of Capri.

'Incredibly beautiful' 19-year-old Lucie has a holiday romance with a mysterious wedding guest, George Zao - a 'self-righteous Mama's boy' and 'eco-warrior' from Hong Kong.

She considers him 'a brooding weirdo that takes himself much too seriously', but a spark quickly develops between the diametrically opposed pair, with Lucie describing him as a 'godlike Apollo'.

In one scene, she describes submitting to George in a 'way she never had before' and 'letting herself get lost in a pleasure so intense she thought she was going to pass out'.

One passage from the book reads: 'Lucie didnt want it to ever stop, and as his fingers and lips found her breasts and tortured her so exquisitely, she found herself pushing his head down, down, down, until her diaphanous skirt pooled around his head and she could feel his stubble graze her inner thigh, his searing tongue on her skin, hearing him murmur, Are you sure its okay?.'

However, unsure what her parents will think of the Hong Kong surfer boy, Lucie flees the island and returns to the comfort of the Upper East Side.

Kwan has described the book as 'a love letter to New York' and it follows his smash hit trilogy Crazy Rich Asians, which was adapted into a hit film which grossed $283 million (225 million) in 2018. The film starred Constance Wu and Henry Golding (pictured)

The reader next meets Lucie five years later, where she's engaged to a ludicrous, Instagram-obsessed billionaire millennial (referred to as a 'billennial') called Cecil.

Cecil is described as 'Armie Hammer handsome', and one of the most desirable bachelor's on the planet. He gives Lucie a ring 'the size of a rhino's testicle'.

Kwan based 'ghastly' Cecil on an amalgam of friends he knew in New York, but says the character provokes sympathy as the amount of money they're born into creates a toxic lifestyle.

'[Lucie's] life, her image, her whole being up till this point, had been a study in perfection,' Kwan tells the reader.

'She had gone to Brearley [an all-girls private school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan] and had always been popular as Lucie Tang Churchill, the cool half-Asian girl. She had graduated from Brown with honors.

Cornelia made her name in the 1980s as an IT girl and friend of many stars - including Andy Warhol. Pictured, together in New York

'She had landed her dream job with the coolest company in town, and she was about to marry a dashing, erudite gentleman whom even Esquire proclaimed "The Most Desired Dude on the Planet."

'They would live in an exquisitely original town house in the West Village, summer in East Hampton, and maybe even get a place in Provence.'

But when Lucie comes across George again in a yoga class, she's reminded of her old feelings - and notions of old-fashioned propriety are set against a whirlwind of trendy restaurants, ultra-fashionable clothes, high-tech drones and cocaine-fuelled parties.

Her conflict continues throughout the novel, with Kwan also exploring her complicated emotions about being biracial.

Kevin Kwan (left) is pictured with Crazy Rich Asians star Michelle Yeoh at the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California

Her mother was born in Seattle, but she often gets asked 'where are you from', she resents her brother for looking more Caucasian than her, and George's Asian background is the reason she doesn't immediately fall for him - despite electric, exciting sex scenes.

Kwan also pokes fun at the one per cent in the novel. Every time a new character is introduced, he gives their full educational history in brackets, starting at pre-school, such as 'I'm Renee Pike (Saint Cecilia / Port Neches Middle School / Central Senior High / UT / Harvard Business School).'

While he admits he's poking fun of it, Kwan added to Town and Country it was inspired by real life as it's 'the most New York thing'.

'You go to any cocktail party, and people name drop their schools within the first five minutes. Its a way of connection, but its a portrait of a person in five words.'

The novel is the first in a trilogy, with the second set to explore London's upper class and the third will take the protagonists to Paris.
The wife of left-wing barrister Michale Mansfield has revealed how she had her 'femininity taken away' by a pelvic mesh operation which left her unable to use a tampon or have penetrative sex.

Thousands of women who have suffered life-changing injuries as a result of vaginal-mesh operations are set to be vindicated by a landmark inquiry, which will reveal how many women were left in excruciating pain due to the implants.

Yvette Greenway-Mansfield, 56, from Leamington Spa, had pelvic mesh fitted in 2009, to treat her to treat a uterine prolapse, but it wasn't until in 2017 she faced 'horrendous pain and bleeding' as a result of the implant.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain today with her husband, 79, she said the procedure has left many patients 'unable to fully identify' as women, and says the psychological impact of the mesh hasn't been explored.

Yvette Greenway and Michael Mansfield pictured at Parliament Square in London, after Yvette delivered a letter of intent for the #BackTo60 campaign

Appearing on Good Morning Britain today with her husband, barrister Michael Mansfield, 78, she told pelvic mesh procedures has left many patients 'unable to fully identify' as women

She said: 'It is a trauma we have been through and continue to live with because everyday the pain is there, that impact how you feel about yourself.

'For so many of us our femininity has been removed. Do we identify as women anymore because of what has been done to us? The truth is we don't.

'The psychological impact of that has not been measured or properly understood, and that is an area that really needs to be explored. '

The long-anticipated report into the use of pelvic mesh will be published by the Independent Medicines And Medical Devices Safety Review and will reveal alarming stories of how women's complaints were handled, according to The Mail on Sunday.

Yvette told host Lorraine Kelly (pictured) had pelvic mesh fitted in 2009, to treat her to treat her uterine prolapse and hysterectomy, but it wasn't until in 2017 she faced 'horrendous pain and bleeding' as a result

The main manufacturer of the mesh used in England, Medical firm Johnson & Johnson, has reportedly agreed to pay 50million to women in Scotland who say they were left in agony by the implants.

Yvette went on: 'The whole consent process has to be looked at. In my opinion a patient cannot fully consent unless they are given the full facts.

'For women to have informed consent, we need informed choice. This is what's missing for women, we've been railroaded and look at the consequences.

'There are women who are so poorly there are woman who have died, they can't undo what they have done to us, forever and we're stuck with our problems and Matt Hancock is not apologising for that, is he?'

WHAT ARE VAGINAL MESH IMPLANTS? Vaginal mesh implants are devices used by surgeons to treat pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence in women. Usually made from synthetic polypropylene, a type of plastic, the implants are intended to repair damaged or weakened tissue in the vagina wall. Other fabrics include polyester, human tissue and absorbable synthetic materials. Some women report severe and constant abdominal and vaginal pain after the surgery. In some, the pain is so severe they are unable to have sex. Infections, bleeding and even organ erosion has also been reported. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MESH? Mini-sling: This implant is embedded with a metallic inserter. It sits close to the mid-section of a woman's urethra. The use of an inserter is thought to lower the risk of cutting during the procedure. TVT sling: Such a sling is held in place by the patient's body. It is inserted with a plastic tape by cutting the vagina and making two incisions in the abdomen. The mesh sits beneath the urethra. TVTO sling: Inserted through the groin and sits under the urethra. This sling was intended to prevent bladder perforation. TOT sling: Involves forming a 'hammock' of fibrous tissue in the urethra. Surgeons often claim this form of implant gives them the most control during implantation. Ventral mesh rectopexy: Releases the rectum from the back of the vagina or bladder. A mesh is then fitted to the back of the rectum to prevent prolapse. Advertisement

In August 2017, Yvette suffered sudden excruciating pain in her lower right abdomen, which radiated down her leg and her vagina started bleeding - all as a result of the tape she had put inside her in 2009.

She explained: 'I had a uterine prolapse and I had incontinence because of that. I went into hospital to have a hysterectomy and they said they'd put this tape inside me.

'I thought whatever, it wasn't discussed. You don't doubt what you are told, you believe in the medical profession. This was in 2009, fast forward to 2017 and I had the most horrendous pain.

In August 2017, Yvette told how she suffered sudden excruciating pain in her lower right abdomen, which radiated down her leg and her vagina started bleeding

Her husband Michael told host Lorraine of feeling 'powerless' while he wife suffered in pain due to the operation

'I started bleeding and didn't stop until the surgery. Life because an absolute nightmare, the inflammation, the sheer exhaustion I felt constantly. It was just awful, it was a complete disruption of my life.'

Her husband Michael told of feeling 'powerless' while he wife suffered, and that despite visiting doctors, they're still unsure if they will be able to remove the full pelvic mesh .

He said: 'You're powerless and you can't see it, you just know it's a painful situation and you think, where do we go? What do we do?

'There's nobody who knows how to deal with this, how to get it out of the woman. We've met a surgeon, one or two who can't guarantee they can get it all out.'
Parents from across the UK have shared their children's unintentionally hilarious works of art.

Taking to Twitter, British mother Sophie Law, shared a snap of her child's rather questionable portrait showing 'Mummy with her lady bits' and asked others to share their best examples.

The post has since garnered 71,000 likes and hundreds of comments, with parents offering up sketches of a wonky Mickey Mouse, scribbly faces and portraits complete with 'vampire teeth and claws'.

Here, FEMAIL shares just some of the entries that are sure to leave you in stitches.

Sophie Law, from the UK, took to Twitter and shared these two photos alongside a caption which read: 'When I discovered theres a company that makes childrens drawings into keyrings, I knew it was time to immortalise my sons most famous depiction of me in silver for eternity. I give you Mummy With Her Lady Bits'

Another parent, from Stoke-On-Trent, also contributed to the amusing gallery of photos and alongside this gem, penned: 'Might get this absolute likeness of me made into a keyring then...complete with vampire teeth and claw hands?! Bit scary actually...'

Sue Talbot, believed to be from the UK, posted this creative portrait her child drew of her, alongside the caption: 'Apparently its a skirt (although others would argue its my ample rack)'

Betty Gibbo, from Nottingham, shared this detailed drawing without so much as a caption. It's fair to say, the picture speaks volumes!

Geoff Jein, from London, also contributed to the comments section with this imaginative drawing of an animal, which appears to have a rather accusatory middle finger!

Another social media user, who goes by the handle @tansal79, and is believed to be from the UK, replied with this picture and commented: 'Omg I love this. Thank you for posting, I have now ordered a version of my four year olds awesome picture of me done earlier this year'

Danielle, from Nottingham, posted this colourful drawing and penned: 'When she was 3 my youngest drew this picture of me. I had to stand still so she could get my smile just right'

Another social media user, believed to be from the UK, shared a picture drawn by her niece and added: 'It's because I say Im gonna leap in the shower. Apparently the dark area is to cover my private area'

Ruth Tickle, from the UK, shared this picture and penned: 'Coming in a bit late here but cant resist posting my daughters pic of her dad and me...'

Mary O Connor, from the UK, posted this chalk drawing and wrote: 'This is my daughters pic of Mickey Mouse, apparently thats his tail'
A travel blogger who found herself stranded on a Yemen island during the coronavirus crisis reveals how she resorted to sailing for six days on a cargo ship to the UAE in order to catch a flight home to Poland.

Eva zu Beck, 29, arrived on Socotra, in the Arabian Sea, on a commercial flight from Cairo in early March, but struggled to find a way to leave after the island shut down due to protect the population from COVID-19.

With flights not allowed to land on the island, the only commercial options were to sail to Oman, which had closed its borders, or to the mainland, which Eva believed was risky due to the health crisis and civil war.

As the political situation worsened on Socotra - Yemeni separatists have since seized the island from the Saudi-backed government - Eva spent weeks searching for a way home before being granted passage on a cargo ship to the Middle East.

Eva zu Beck, 29, arrived on Socotra, in the Arabian Sea, on a regular commercial flight from Cairo in March, but struggled to find a way to leave after the island shut down due to COVID-19

Eva spent weeks searching for a way home before being granted passage on a cargo ship to the Middle East. She documented the journey on her YouTube channel (pictured on the ship)

The journey, which was documented on Eva's YouTube channel, took six days and the group were made to spend another eight days on board the vessel off the coast of the UAE to quarantine before being allowed in to transit and take a flight home.

Speaking from her home in Poland, Eva said: 'I found myself on the island of Socotra in Yemen, and stayed there for the next 80 days.

'That means I got to spend pretty much the entire lockdown in Socotra and Im so blessed to have been there on that incredible island.

'But I knew that situation wouldnt last. I knew I couldnt be there forever and the political situation on the island was slowly deteriorating while we were there, which was three weeks ago.'

Eva said she was 'so lucky' to have spent time on the 'incredible island' of Socotra, in the Arabian Sea but wanted to leave before the political situation worsened. Pictured on Socotra

Eva, who has 475,000 Instagram followers, documented her time on Socotra on the social media site. Pictured, Eva exploring the island during her travels this spring

Yemen has faced major conflict since late 2014 when the country descended into civil war. In recent weeks the crisis has worsened on Socotra itself, with Yemeni separatists deposing its governor and driving out the forces of the Saudi-backed government, which condemned the action as a coup.

Alongside rising political tensions, Eva was aware that the island's windy season, known as Khareef, was fast approaching, which brings with it winds so strong that the island is effectively 'cut off' until the weather turns again in October.





Eva continued: 'I knew if I stayed there I ran the risk of being stuck there until Autumn. My friends and I spent about a month trying to find a way off the island since the beginning of May.

'See, there was no coronavirus on the island, as far as I know there still isn't. But the island was keen to protect itself and its people from the virus, so there were limited travel options.'

After several weeks, Eva (pictured) and the rest of her group were granted permission to take a cargo ship to Abu Dhabi, which would take six days travelling 2,500 kilometers at a speed of around 15 kilometers an hour

On the ship, Eva (pictured) reflected on what life was like on the island without any Wifi or easy contact to the outside world

After arriving in the UAE Eva and her friends were unable to leave the ship for an additional eight days, and needed a coronavirus test before being given a visa

After several weeks, the group were granted permission to take a cargo ship to Abu Dhabi which would take six days, travelling 2,500 kilometers at a speed of around 15 kilometers an hour.

However, after arriving in the UAE, Eva and her friends were unable to leave the ship for an additional eight days, and needed a coronavirus test before being given a visa.

Even though we had docked at the port we werent allowed to leave the ship, not yet,' she explained.

Showing footage filmed on her 12th day on the ship, Eva can be heard saying: You can see the city behind me, its so close, its within arms reach.

As per the local law, the group had a coronavirus test which came back negative and meant they were able to leave the ship and enter the United Arab Emirates. Pictured, Eva on the cargo ship

'The other day someone on Instagram sent me a picture, a video of our boat from one of those buildings were that close.

'Were not leaving the boat, were still here. Honestly, I think this is a quarantine. Im kind of keen to just get back home you know.'

As per the local law, the group had a coronavirus test which came back negative and meant they were able to leave the ship and enter the United Arab Emirates.

A further clip from the trip shows Eva explaining: 'Ive got the visa. After exactly 14 days after a coronavirus test, were able to go into Abu Dhabi as an evacuation measure and from here, Ill be flying back home.'
Netflix's newly-released trailer for hotly-anticipated sequel to hit teen romcom The Kissing Booth sparked a frenzy of interest online - but not for the reasons you might think.

While some viewers expressed excitement at the prospect of the second movie's release, dozens of other social media users were left stunned by actor Jacob Elordi's appearance in the trailer - which many branded as 'miserable'.

The 23-year-old actor, who sky-rocketed to fame when he starred in the first Kissing Booth installment alongside actress Joey King - whom he dated in real life for months after its release - however his return to the franchise has left many of his fans scratching their heads.

Upset? Netflix viewers have criticized the new trailer for The Kissing Booth 2, insisting that actor Jacob Elordi looks 'miserable' in the teaser

Awkward? Some have pointed out that it may have been difficult for Jacob, 23, to reunite with his co-star, and ex-girlfriend, Joey King, after the two split following the first movie release

Surprise! Many people believed that the Australian-born actor would not return to the Kissing Booth franchise for the second movie because of his split from Joey, 20

Since the release of the first Kissing Booth movie, Jacob's career has gone from strength to strength - with the Australian-born actor landing a major role in the HBO series Euphoria, a dark departure from the cutesy Netflix film that launched him to stardom.

His personal life has also become the subject of serious scrutiny.

Shortly after the release of the first Kissing Booth movie in 2018, it was revealed that Jacob and his co-star Joey had gone from on-screen love interests to a real-life couple while filming the flick in South Africa.

However, while fans of the film went wild over their romance, the couple called it quits towards the end of 2018, after over a year of dating - and in recent months, Jacob has been linked with another co-star, his fellow Euphoria actor Zendaya.

Although the couple have not confirmed their romance publicly, they have been pictured together on numerous occasions, sparking intense speculation that they are dating.

However Jacob's former relationship with Joey has continued to be the subject of much speculation, over a year after their split.

Moving backwards? A number of people have insisted that Jacob 'doesn't want to be in' The Kissing Booth - pointing to his split from Joey, and his advancing career away from romcoms

History: Jacob and Joey met on the set of the first Kissing Booth movie, which was filmed in South Africa, and dated for over a year before breaking up

Excitement: The Kissing Booth became something of a cult hit among younger Netflix viewers, and as a result Joey and Jacob's relationship came under intense scrutiny from fans

Many questioned whether his break-up from Joey, 20, would actually prompt Jacob to pull out of The Kissing Booth 2 - and now that the trailer has been released, viewers are left convinced that appearing alongside his ex-girlfriend is at least part of the reason why he appears so 'miserable' in its new trailer.

'Jacob Elordi looks miserable af in the trailer of the new Kissing Booth movie,' one Twitter user wrote.

'I mean he's in a movie he basically don't wanna be in while having to make-out with his ex-girlfriend.'

Many others called out the stark difference between The Kissing Booth and Jacob's other major project, Euphoria, a critically acclaimed series that addressed a number of very serious, taboo topics, from teenage drug use to domestic abuse.

Jacob's performance in the HBO hit was a serious move away from his role in The Kissing Booth - with several Twitter users insisting that it must have been an unhappy experience for the actor to return to a project that isn't in any way as serious.

'Jacob looks miserable in the trailer #kissing booth,' one person tweeted, while another joked: 'I'm gonna watch the new Kissing Booth movie just to see how well Jacob Elordi can hide how miserable he is.'

A number of social media users have even expressed their own disappointment in the actor's decision to return to the more light-hearted romcom franchise after making such a bold pivot away from it - while others have shared words of sympathy with Jacob.

Breaking away: Many people insisted that it is a step backwards for Jacob to return to The Kissing Booth franchise after his critically-acclaimed role in dark HBO hit Euphoria

'I know Jacob Elordi is mad asf he has to keep going with The Kissing Booth movies... he bodied Nate in Euphoria and now he has to go back to long hair and an annoying significant other,' one wrote.

'The Kissing Booth 2 will be the death of me,' added another. 'Euphoria was Jacob Elordi's redemption after that horrible movie came out, now he's dragged back into it for a sequel? I hate it here.'

A third chimed in: 'So how am I supposed to watch Jacob Elordi go from his amazing performance in Euphoria to The Kissing Booth 2?'

'I literally thought Jacob Elordi couldn't act until Euphoria,' another added. 'The Kissing Booth didn't do him justice.'

Some Netflix viewers have called attention to the fact that Jacob has thus far failed to post anything on social media in celebration of The Kissing Booth 2's impending release - while many of his co-stars have happily shared the news.

'Jacob Elordi reacting to The Kissing Booth 2 release reminds me of the sloth in Zootopia,' one person wrote on Twitter, referring to a particularly unenthusiastic character in a popular cartoon movie.

Staying silent: A few people claimed that Jacob's lack of public celebration about The Kissing Booth 2's upcoming release is a sign that he isn't invested in it

Impressive: Several social media users admitted that they didn't think Jacob could act before seeing him starring as Nate in Euphoria

A new romance? Since the release of the 2019 series, Jacob has been linked with his co-star Zendaya, whom he has been pictured with on a number of occasions

Return: Both Jacob and Zendaya are set to appear in the upcoming second season of Euphoria, which is due to debut at the end of 2020

Defense: A few of Joey's fans called attention to the fact that she has also done impressive work since The Kissing Booth's release - pointing out her Emmy nomination for The Act

Another person said: 'Lol @ Jacob Elordi not posting anything about The Kissing Booth.'

A few people jumped in to defend Jacob's ex-girlfriend and co-star Joey, pointing out that she has also starred in a major, and very serious, project of her own since the release of the first Kissing Booth movie.

Last year, Joey appeared alongside Patricia Arquette in Hulu true crime series The Act, in which she played the role of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was convicted of the murder of her mother, Dee Dee.

The role earned Joey an Emmy nomination - and a legion of new fans, who confessed that they were thrilled to see her trying her hand at a more serious part.

And now, those fans have been quick to speak out on her behalf, insisting that people shouldn't suggest that The Kissing Booth is 'below' Jacob when Joey has also gone on to experience similar success away from the franchise.

'The fact that so [many] people feel bad that Jacob Elordi had to go back to The Kissing Booth series after doing Euphoria... [They] clearly didn't see Joey King in The Act where she got nominated for an Emmy.'

Jacob is set to return to Euphoria for a second season, which is currently due for release at the end of 2020.
Kylie Jenner has denied accusations that she was refusing to support a Black-owned business because she didn't tag a dress designer on Instagram, saying the allegations against her were a 'reach.'

The 22-year-old entrepreneur took to Instagram on Monday to share photos of herself modeling an orange bodycon dress with mesh detailing at the exclusive Amangiri resort in Canyon Point, Utah.

While Kylie didn't initially tag the brand, eagle-eyed fans were quick to find out the dress was made by LoudBrand Studios, a Black-owned business based in the UK.

Backlash: Kylie Jenner, 22, has hit back after being accused of refusing to support a Black-owned business because she didn't tag her dress designer on Instagram

Controversy: Kyle didn't initially tag LoudBrand Studios, a Black-owned business, when she took to Instagram on Monday to share photos of herself in the brand's dress

People took to the comments to urge her to tag the brand, with some claiming she actually deleted their messages.

A number of critics went as far as accusing her of refusing to support a Black-owned business, insisting the snub was intentional.

'Kylie Jenner is refusing to tag the designer of the dress she just posted, which is a black owned brand, and now limiting her comments. [Clown face emoji] @LoudBrndStudios is the designer!' Twitter user @zoeyy227 wrote.

'AND FOR EVERYONE SAYING "she doesnt have to tag it if she bought it" YES I KNOW. BUT SHE DELETED COMMENTS THAT WERE TAGGING THE BRAND AND THEN LIMITED COMMENTS AND THATS GRIMEY!!! Stop defending them, they wont notice you losers,' she added.

The Kylie effect! Even without the reality star tagging the designer, the $144 limited-edition 'Vashtie' dress sold out shortly after she shared the posts

Accusations: People took to the comments to urge her to tag the brand, with some claiming she actually deleted their messages

Kylie responded to Zoey's tweet on Tuesday, writing: 'Ok this is just a reach. Why would I ever REFUSE to tag a brand and block comments. This is completely false.

'I think this brand is amazing and I wanted to show support and will continue to do so. Everyone go check out @LoudBrndStudios,' she added.

The reality star returned to her post to tag LoudBrand Studios, and she also promoted the label on her Instagram Stories.

Even without Kylie initially tagging the designer, the $144 limited-edition 'Vashtie' dress sold out shortly after she shared the posts with her 184 million followers.

LoudBrand Studios tweeted thanks to Kylie and her stylist Jill Jacobs as well as everyone who purchased their designs.

Making up for it: Kylie later tagged LoudBrand Studios in her post and promoted the brand on her Instagram Stories

Not having it: The beauty mogul also denied the claims against her on Twitter

Pleased: LoudBrand Studios tweeted thanks to Kylie and her stylist Jill Jacobs as well as everyone who purchased their designs

Back and forth: Kylie's tweet was in response to to a series of accusations shared by a Twitter user named Zoey

'Hi guys!!!! We are so overwhelmed with the outpouring of love wow !!!' the brand wrote. 'We are so grateful for Jill and Kylie because this has really changed things for us so excited to be featured on her platform how amazing !!! Thank you so much Jill and Kylie.'

Kylie retweeted the message, writing: 'Love you guys!!!!!!!!'

While the label has made it clear that they are grateful for Kylie's support, the controversy started a fierce social media debate about whether or not the beauty mogul should have tagged the label in the first place.

'I don't love the Kardashians but seriously, I don't agree with you on this, one person tweeted. 'Kylie has no obligation to promote that designer/brand. She was not paid to advertise for them.'

Right or wrong? The controversy started a fierce social media debate about whether or not the Kylie should have tagged the label in the first place

'Kylie rarely tags any brand on her page big or small so how is this different?' someone else asked. 'It would be nice if she did but she really isn't entitled to especially not for free.'

Others disagreed, insisting Kylie should be using her platform to help smaller Black-owned businesses.

Some critics also pointed out that Kylie and her sisters have a history of being accused of cultural appropriation and profiting off of Black culture.

'Y'all be so happy to tag Dior and all them brands but when it comes to Black-owned brands y'all forget the @ then limit the comments,' one person tweeted.

Conspiracy theories: A few people hypothesized that Kylie didn't tag the brand because she planned on ripping off the design, citing a similar incident from 2017

Throwback: Three years ago, Tizita Balemlay, the creative director and founder of PluggedNYC, accused Kylie of copying her camouflage garments for her own designs

'She steals and profits from black culture yet can't even tag a black-owned brand,' someone else commented. 'She's embarrassing.'

A few people hypothesized that Kylie didn't tag the brand because she planned on ripping off the design, citing a similar incident from 2017.

Three years ago, Tizita Balemlay, the creative director and founder of PluggedNYC, accused Kylie of copying her camouflage garments for her own designs.

The Black designer also shared screengrabs of email conversations that appear to show a member of Kylie's team asking for some PluggedNYC clothes to be sent to the star just a month she released the lookalike collection.
A former sorority sister has lifted the lid on how 'twisted and screwed up' Greek life can be as she recounted how she was repeatedly 'censored' and 'slut-shamed' before being pushed out by her sisters.

TikTok user @loljj_, who goes by JJ, opens up about the time she spent in the Kappa Alpha chapter of Kappa Delta at Florida State University in a viral video that has has been viewed more than 3.5 million times.

In the clip, she details how a fellow sorority sister claimed she was found naked and passed out on a couch in a fraternity house. Instead of asking her what happened to see if she had been sexually assaulted, she was reported for alleged misconduct.

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Candid: TikTok user @loljj_, who goes by JJ, opened up about the time she spent in the Kappa Alpha chapter of Kappa Delta at Florida State University in a viral video

Story: JJ, pictured in college, recounted how she was 'censored' and 'slut-shamed' before being pushed out by her fellow sisters less than a year after she received her bid in 2017

'I've stayed quiet for a lot of years, but I'd like to share my story on the incredibly twisted and screwed up world of Panhellenic Greek life,' she says, explaining she received her bid from the Kappa Alpha chapter of Kappa Delta at Florida State University in the fall of 2017.

'While I was in the chapter, I experienced some of the most extreme displays of elitism, censorship of social media, and slut-shaming that I've ever seen.'

JJ says in mid-March of 2018, she was called to appear in from of the Standards Board, a disciplinary body that hears allegations of misconduct within the chapter.

'Other girls can write letters to the board about what they think you did wrong,' she explains, recalling how the board of her peers sat her down to read two letters that were written by two of her 'sisters' in the chapter.

Problems: JJ said in mid-March of 2018, she was called to appear in from of the Standards Board, a disciplinary body that hears allegations of misconduct within the chapter

@loljj_ i was never asked if i was hurt. i was never told the girl shouldnt have left you there. i was shamed and left alone.  original sound - loljj_

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'The first one essentially accusing me of being self-centered and a slut,' she says. 'In the second one, a sister claimed she saw me naked, passed out on the couch in the middle of a fraternity house  a claim that's not true, but I was never asked my side of the story.

'I was never asked if I was hurt or victimized,' she adds. 'Instead, they tried to put me on national probation, saying it was important that they keep their relationship with that fraternity.'

Allegations: A fellow sorority sister had claimed JJ was found naked and passed out on a couch in a fraternity house

JJ didn't elaborate on what had actually happened, but she alluded to the incident in her caption.

'I was never asked if I was hurt. I was never told, "The girl shouldnt have left you there." I was shamed and left alone,' she wrote.

JJ says she ended up dropping out of the sorority that spring, noting that leaving was not entirely of her own accord.

The video has received thousands of comments, which have been a mix of people defending Greek life and condemning it.

'I was in Greek life at FSU, this shocks me 0%,' one person wrote, while another agreed: 'Also a former member of FSU Greek life and this is exactly what my KD friends have said.'

'People forget that just because their sorority/frat experience was great, the foundation itself was built on all of this horrible stuff,' someone else pointed out.

In a follow-up video, she details how her sorority would drill it into their heads that they needed to be 'wife material.' JJ, who has since come out as a lesbian, was being told this at a time when she 'secreted wanted a wife' herself.

What? 'I was never asked if I was hurt or victimized,' JJ said. 'They tried to put me on national probation, saying it was important that they keep their relationship with that fraternity'

'The sorority I was in has this very strange obsession with the reputation of being classy, respectable ladies, and multiple times during chapter meetings they would sit us down and essentially yell at us, telling us that we needed to act more like "wife material,"' she recalls.

'We were pushed into this trope more times than I can count. They would say things like, "Men come to KD to find who they're going to marry," and even sometimes shame other sororities, saying, "That's who they go to when they want to sleep around."'

JJ also shares how her sorority had an 'old white lady' speak to them about 'professionalism.' She says the woman just showed them PowerPoint photos that she had taken of other women without their knowledge

'She made fun of them and explained why we shouldn't do the things that they were doing,' she recounts.

Issues: In a follow-up video, she detailed how her sorority would drill it into their heads that they needed to be 'wife material'

Just saying: JJ pointed out that anyone who 'has found happiness and family in sororities' should be some of the strongest advocates for fixing the system

'All of these were superficial things, like how you should and shouldn't be dressing, which if you ask me, is ironic behavior for someone who is supposed to be talking about professionalism.'

JJ later filmed a video addressing some of the comments she has received, many of which were supportive and from sorority members, but she has also been told that 'not all sororities are bad.'

'I totally respect the fact that some women have found their homes in sororities,' she says. 'However, this is a systemic issue. It's bigger than individual sisters. Issues like how the Standards Board functions are written into sorority life. It has nothing to do with the individual intent of the girl in the sorority.

'Many of the girls in my KD chapter were kind, smart, independent, and strong-willed, and many of which have reached out to me,' she notes. 'But this just goes to show that no matter how well-intended these individuals were, they could not protect me from a system that has a lot of issues.'

JJ points out that anyone who 'has found happiness and family in sororities' should be some of the strongest advocates for fixing the system.

'When people love something, they recognize its flaws so they can make it better,' she explains. 'Whether you like it or not, there is a rampant issue of systemic racism, classism, and sexism that exists in sororities.'
Amateur bakers are green with envy over an accountant's epic homemade New York cheesecake which looks like it came straight from the oven of a professional kitchen.

Maria Rangel posted her recipe and photos of the finished cake in Baking Ourselves Crazy, a Facebook cookery group.

After members raved about her skill and likened the dessert to ones from iconic US restaurant chain The Cheesecake Factory, the home cook from Miami, Florida said her trick is baking the cake at different temperatures without opening the oven door.

The cheesecake should initially be cooked on a high heat to ensure the eggs are fully cooked, then slow-baked at a lower temperature to give the filling a silky smooth consistency.

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Florida accountant Maria Rangel's professional standard New York style cheesecake

The trick to the seamless top and smooth filling (pictured) is cooking the cheesecake at different temperatures without opening the oven door

The secret to flawlessly fluffy filling Bake the crust and raw cream cheese mixture at 230C for 20 minutes, then reduce to 110C and cook for one hour. This turns the edge golden brown and cooks the eggs while keeping the filling silky smooth. Advertisement

Interestingly, Ms Rangel said she did not bake the cheesecake in a water bath, also known as a bain-marie, which is widely accepted in culinary circles as the secret to an exceptionally creamy filling that cooks without cracking.

The moisture rising from the water seals the surface of the cake to stop it from cracking in much the same way that moisturisers hydrate and strengthen skin.

The absence of a water bath makes Ms Rangel's perfectly smooth top and filling all the more impressive.

There are two major differences between New York style and traditional cheesecake.

New York style is made with simple ingredients and always baked in the oven, whereas traditional cheesecake is wrapped with plastic or aluminium foil and refrigerated for anywhere between eight hours and two days to set.

And while traditional cheesecake relies on double and sour cream to thin the batter and create a silky texture, New York cheesecake contains more cream cheese which makes it denser and richer.

To make the base for her New York masterpiece, Ms Rangel said she crushed 18 graham crackers - the American equivalent of plain digestive biscuits - into crumbs and mixed them with half a cup of melted butter.

For the filling, she mixed four blocks of full fat cream cheese with two cans of sweetened condensed milk, six large eggs and one extra egg yolk, two tablespoons of vanilla extract and the zest of a lemon.

She said she adds lemon and vanilla to balance out sweetness and conceal any traces of egg which could taint the flavour.

Ms Rangel then added three tablespoons of cornflour to slightly thicken the consistency.

Ms Rangel adds the zest of a lemon and two generous tablespoons of vanilla extract to her cheesecake (pictured) to balance out sweetness and conceal any traces of egg flavour

After lining the base of a springform pan with the buttery biscuit and allowing it to cool, she poured the filling on top and baked in the oven for 20 minutes at 230 degrees Celsius.

Without opening the oven door, she lowered the temperature to 110 degrees Celsius and cooked for another hour.

'You will see that the cheesecake is still jiggly, but it's normal,' she assured.

Once cooked, she left the cake in the oven with the door slightly open for a further hour, then removed and allowed it to cool to room temperature before refrigerating overnight.

Easy recipe for baked cheesecake Ingredients 18 graham crackers or digestive biscuits 4 blocks of full fat cream cheese 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk 6 large eggs 1 egg yolk 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract Zest of a medium sized lemon 3 tablespoons of cornflour  teaspoon of salt Method 1. Melt butter and crush graham crackers, then combine both into a buttery biscuit crumb. 2. Mix cream cheese, condensed milk and eggs with lemon zest, vanilla extract and salt until smooth and creamy. 3. Add cornflour to thicken. 4. Line the base of a springform pan with the buttery biscuit and pour the creamy filling on top. 5. Bake for 20 minutes at 230 degrees Celsius, then lower oven temperature to 110 degrees Celsius without opening the door and cook for one hour. 6. Open the oven door slightly and leave to stand for an hour, then remove the cake and bring to room temperature. 7. Refrigerate overnight to set, then gently run a spatula over the top and sides to smooth. 8. Pile mixed berries on top and serve with whipped cream and raspberry coulis. Source: Baking Ourselves Crazy via Facebook

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She gave the dessert plenty of time to set before gently running a spatula over the top and sides to smooth out any inconsistencies.

'Most importantly, I allowed it to cool overnight. When you do that, it kind of shrinks a little and separates itself from the pan,' she said in reply to a comment.

People were stunned by her talent, with one woman jokingly begging her to deliver a cake to her door.

'I want cheesecake now, that looks so good! Please send some to Texas,' she said.

'Girl! Cheesecake Factory, watch out,' said another.

Others called the cake 'perfection' and 'beautiful eye candy' and thanked her for inspiring them to make their own.
Australian fashionistas are dressing in bright colours, quirky animal prints, and faux fur this winter, a list of Amazon's best-selling jackets has revealed.

The online retailer on Wednesday revealed its most popular styles since temperatures plummeted in May, including a trendy designer coat from Rachel Roy for just $39.

Shoppers are most interested in American and British labels, according to the list, with top-sellers coming from names like Calvin Klein and French Connection.

Brightly coloured puffers were the most popular style, with a $70 khaki jacket from Kendall + Kylie and a $196 red hooded zip-up from Orolay flying out of stock.

Quirky prints were in demand this year with an $83 coat from Steve Madden covered in pink and cream snakeskin one of the retailer's fastest sellers.

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Brightly coloured puffers and quirky animal prints were the most popular styles, like this $70 khaki jacket from Kendall + Kylie (left) and $83 snakeskin coat from Steve Madden (right)

A model wears a trendy quilted coat from womenswear designer Rachel Roy, available for just $39 on Amazon

SAVE (on jackets under $100)

Arguably the best value in Amazon's winter outerwear is the $39 Rachel Roy quilted design, closely followed by the $70 piece from Kendall + Kylie.

Hot on their coat tails is a padded jacket from Armani Exchange, available in fuchsia, black and forest green for a remarkably affordable $80.75.

Launched in 1991 as an offshoot of luxury fashion house Armani, Armani Exchange is targeted at younger customers unable to afford the dizzying price tags of the iconic Italian label.

There's also a $70 black fur coat from womenswear brand Elliatt, which has a wide collar and stops just above the knee.

An Armani Exchange padded jacket (left) available for $80.75 and a fur coat from Elliatt (right) which costs $70

SPLURGE (on coats to keep forever)

Perhaps the most stylish jacket on the list was a $206 aviator jacket from Calvin Klein, complete with cream shearling trim and zipped pockets.

Another stylish design is a $202 navy parka from Kenneth Cole, a US fashion label that specialises in streetwear and utility chic.

A $233 blush pink shearling zip-up from premium label Paige also made the best-seller list, in a nod to the current trend for trucker jackets which have been wildly popular in Australia this year.

Other top sellers included a $215.75 cropped fur jacket from ASTR the Label and a $138 long fur coat from French Connection.

A $233 blush pink shearling zip-up from premium label Paige and a $196 hooded zip-up from Orolay that's flying out of stock
A food expert has revealed the five food rules to follow for the perfect lunch box, as parents across the country prepare for the new school term later this month.

Katie Fowler, from the Australian healthy eating program The Healthy Mummy, said there are several things to remember when you want to pack a nutritionally-dense, tasty and balanced midday meal - but the most important thing is that you need to be prepared in advance.

'Being prepared with a list, food items and good storage methods is the most efficient method for busy parents,' Katie said.

So what should the perfect lunchbox look like?

A food expert has revealed the five food rules to follow for the perfect lunch box, as parents across the country prepare for the new school term later this month (a perfect lunch pictured)

The first thing to do for the perfect lunch box is load up on the five food groups needed for a balanced meal - these are fruit, vegetables, complex carbs, protein and dairy (stock image)

What does the perfect lunch box include? * Fruit * Vegetables * Complex carbohydrates * Protein * Dairy Advertisement

1. Load up on the five food groups

The first thing Katie said you must do for the perfect lunch box is load up on the five food groups needed for a balanced meal.

These are fruit, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, protein and dairy.

'As most kids are in school five days a week, their lunch box constitutes as a high portion of their daily food intake so ensuring multiple food groups are covered is essential,' Katie told the publication.

Nutrition Australia recommends you spread your food groups over four different components of the lunch box: in the main item, the fruit or vegetable-based snack, the second snack and drink.

When it comes to the perfect lunch box, Katie said a good fruit and vegetable-based snack would be something like carrots and grapes, while your other snack could consist of either raspberry swirl muffins or cheese with seed crackers.

The nutrition expert said an ideal main meal for a school-aged child is something like tuna pasta salad, and this is good because it contains vegetables, grains and protein.

The second rule to preparing a good lunch box is being organised in advance, and potentially getting the kids involved in the making of the lunch (pictured)

2. Prep in advance

The second rule to preparing a good lunch box is being organised in advance.

A good meal plan will mean you have everything on hand in order to make the perfect midday meal.

'Involving your kids in the cooking process of school lunches can be the difference between an empty lunch box come home time and a full one,' Katie said.

Even if you're just using up leftovers the next day, she said you could get them to help spoon portion-sized pieces of lasagne into containers ready to enjoy the next day.

The nutrition expert said an ideal main meal for a school-aged child is something like tuna pasta salad, and this is good because it contains vegetables, grains and protein (pictured)

3. Think about storage

What does the ideal school lunch sandwich contain? * WHOLEGRAIN OR SOURDOUGH BREAD: Slow release carbohydrates help to stabilise blood sugar levels. * PROTEIN: Lean meat, salmon, tuna, egg or tofu will help with alertness and endurance. * HEALTHY FATS: Things like sunflower seeds, avocado and pumpkin seeds increase satiety, help to stabilise kids' moods and boost their concentration. * VEGETABLES X 2-3: Foods such as capsicum, carrot, mashed potato and cucumber contain fibre, vitamins and minerals kids need to keep their immune systems healthy. Advertisement

If you want your kids to eat all of their lunch and return home satiated, Katie said you absolutely must think about how and where you're storing their food.

'To keep food fresh and appetising in the heat, try adding a frozen drink wrapped in a plastic zip lock bag as a substitute for an ice block cooler,' she suggested.

Alternatively, you can freeze their water bottle and put it inside the container.

Choosing the right sort of container will also go a long way to keeping food fresh.

You could even use multiple smaller-lidded containers to keep foods like fresh fruit and veg separate from their sandwiches.

4. Try healthy sweet treats

There aren't many children who won't enjoy some sort of sweet treat in their lunch box come 11am.

But this doesn't have to be lollies, a chocolate bar or biscuit.

Katie recommends you instead make your own healthy sweet treats, like raspberry swirl muffins, Turkish delight bites and choc chip fudge.

All of the Healthy Mummy recipes can be made with healthy swaps including cacao and dark chocolate.

There aren't many children who won't enjoy some sort of sweet treat in their lunch box come 11am, but you can make your own healthy versions (pictured)

5. Avoid allergy foods

Lastly, Katie said you should steer clear of foods that might cause allergies or be banned, like peanuts.

'A main ban in most schools lunch boxes are nuts,' Katie said.

'This includes any kind of food that has a nut trace  like certain cakes, peanut butter sandwiches etc.'

You can give your child a 'nutty' taste with something like a muesli bar instead.
A $2.29 bottle of bathroom cleaner from Aldi has been crowned the best on the market after shoppers voted for their favourite products of 2020.

Australian consumer review website Canstar Blue rounded up the top 16 brands - including Jif, White King, Ajax, Earth Choice, Pine O Cleen, Exit Mould, and Coles.

More than 1,900 consumers surveyed in the annual review were asked to vote for their favourite bathroom cleaners based on effectiveness, ease of use, smell, value for money, packaging design, environmental friendliness and overall satisfaction.

Power Force, which is one of Aldi's exclusive brands, mopped up the top spot after being the only brand to earn a five-star rating for overall satisfaction.

Australian consumer review website Canstar Blue rounded up the top 16 bathroom cleaner brands - including Aldi's Force Pro, Ajax, Jif, Earth Choice, Dettol, Domestos and White King

Best bathroom cleaners of 2020 1. ALDI Power Force - $2.29 2. Domestos - $5.50 3. Orange Power - $5 4. Jif - $3.50 to $5 5. Earth Choice - $4.15 6. Dettol - $4 7. White King - $3.50 8. Ajax - $5.80 9. Windex - $4.40 to $5.60 10. Exit Mould - $7.50 11. Coles Ultra - $3 12. Strike - $2.50 13. Easy Off Bam - $5 14. Pine O Cleen - $5 15. Mr Muscle - $13.70 16. Shower Power (OzKleen) - $6.85 Advertisement

The $2.29 product scored full marks for value for money and packaging design, and four stars for effectiveness, ease of use, smell, and packaging design but received three stars in the environmental friendliness category.

But Aldi wasn't the only brand to shine, with Domestos taking out the second spot after scoring an impressive five stars for effectiveness.

The $5.50 disinfectant bottle earned four stars for ease of use, value for money, packaging design and overall satisfaction but scored three stars for smell and environmental friendliness.

Australian-owned Orange Power earned five stars in the ease of use and smell categories, but landed on four stars for effectiveness, value for money, environmental friendliness, packaging design, and overall satisfaction.

A bottle of Orange Power Shower, Bath & Tile Cleaner start from $5.

Aldi's $2.29 Power Force mopped up the top spot while $5.50 Domestos came second

Australian-owned Orange Power, Jif and Earth Choice rounded up the top five of 2020

Jif, a regular in the cleaning aisle for years, scored four stars across effectiveness, ease of use, smell, value for money, packaging design and overall satisfaction but got three stars for environmental friendliness.

Products from the Jif range cost between $3.50 to $5.

Eco-conscious Earth Choice scored a stellar five star rating for environmental friendliness and earned four stars in all other categories, including effectiveness, ease of use, smell, value for money, packaging design and overall satisfaction.

Prices for Earth Choice products range between $3 to $5.

Former champion, White King, landed a few spots down the leader board on a respectable four stars across effectiveness, ease of use, and overall satisfaction but fell short in the smell and environmental friendliness categories with three stars.

Other top brands included Dettol, Ajax, Windex, Exit Mould, Coles Ultra, Strike, Easy Off Bam, Pine O Clean, Mr Muscle and Shower Power.
A player who walked away from an 'easy' 1million question on last night's episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire has told how his life is 'not too different to anyone else's' since his big win.

Davyth Fear, 60, from Caernarfon, Wales, who flew through the questions and secured an impressive 500,000 with his phone-a-friend lifeline still available, was left stumped when reaching the final round by a question dubbed as 'easy' by fans of the quiz show.

The retired geography teacher - whose episode first aired in September 2019 - decided to walk away with half a million pounds - and says that helping his family out with his winnings has been 'the best bit.'

Speaking of the first thing he spent his money on, Davyth exclusively told FEMAIL: 'I helped my family out. I've got a brother, two sisters, nephews and nieces and helped them. I gave them a cash sum.'

'One of them spent it on new windows for his new house, I've got one in university and they're keeping it safe for afterwards just in case, while my sister likes diving, so spent it on a motor home.'

Scroll down to see the correct answer...

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire viewers were left 'screaming at their TVs' after a contestant (above) walked away from an 'easy' 1million question last night

Retired geography teacher Davyth Fear, from Caernarfon, Wales, flew through the questions - securing an impressive 500,000 with his phone-a-friend lifeline still available. But he was stumped when reaching the final round by a question dubbed as 'easy' by fans (above)

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Questions 1. Fastest Fingers First question Starting with the earliest in the year, put the following greetings cards in the order they would typically appear in UK shops. A: Christmas B: Valentine's Day C: Mother's Day D: Father's Day 2. (100) 'Extra virgin' is considered to be the best type of which food? A: Bananas B: Olive oil C: Marmalade D: Pork chops 3. (200) Which of these is used as a symbol of surrender of truce? A: White flag B: Blue banner C: Green emblem  D: Yellow jack 4. (300) The golfer born Eldrick Tont Woods is best known by what first name? A: Snake B: Tiger C: Vulture D: Shark 5. (500) The popular name of the ceremony seen outside Buckingham Palace is 'The Changing of the ...' what? A: Regiment B: Soldiers C: Troops D: Guard 6. (1,000) When referring to a toilet, what do the letters WC stand for? A: Wash Cupboard B: Waste Chamber C: Walled Cabinet D: Water Closet 7. (2,000) What is the title of the best-selling series of scary children's books created by R.L. Stine? A: The Famous Five B: Goosebumps C: Captain Underpants D: A Series of Unfortunate Events 8. (4,000) Which TV chef campaigned to have Turkey Twizzlers removed from school dinner menus? A: Gordon Ramsay B: Heston Blumenthal C: Jamie Oliver D: John Torode 9. (8,000) In November 1931, Al Capone was sentenced to eleven years in prison for what crime? A: Extortion B: Kidnapping C: Tax evasion D: Perjury 10. (16,000) The song 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing', performed by Aerosmith, featured on the soundtrack of which 1998 film? A: The Big Lebowski B: Armageddon C: Deep Impact D: The Truman Show 11. (32,000) Which British military figure signalled to his troops 'England expects that every man will do his duty'? A: Lord Cardigan B: Lord Nelson C: Duke of Wellington D: Lord Kitchener 12. (64,000) Which is the second highest park in the British Isles? A: Snowdon B: Slieve Donard C: Scafell Pike D: Ben Macdui 13. (125,000) Georges Braque was one of two key figures in the development of which art movement? A: Cubism B: Impressionism C: Art Nouveau  D: Abstract expressionism 14. (250,000) The Taj Mahal UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in which Indian state? A: Uttar Pradesh B: Kerala C: Gujarat D: West Bengal 15. (500,000) Which of these condiments is the oldest, having been established since 1814, as stated on its label? A: HP Sauce B: Heinz Tomato Ketchup C: Colman's Mustard D: Hellmann's Mayonnaise 16. (1million) Which of these people was born the same year as Queen Elizabeth II? A: Audrey Hepburn B: Judy Garland C: Julie Andrews D: Marilyn Monroe Advertisement

He continued: 'I'm not interested in big cars, or fancy watches. I bought myself a nice camera. The money takes the pressure off.

'We'd already bought a house and so on, so I didn't need to prove anything by buying this, that and the other. It's just a matter of being able to enjoy life and not necessarily spend stupidly and enjoy what we have.'

'My life isn't too different to anyone else I would think, since we've all been in lockdown.'

'I'm enjoying being at home and taking the dog for a walk in the morning, not meeting anyone else. We had three months of glorious sunshine, so I've been spending time in the garden.

But while he hasn't splashed his cash on materialist items, Davyth, who has always loved travelling, did take a dream trip to Uganda.

'My wife needed a new hip and two new knees,' he explained. 'She had the hip done but is still waiting for her two knees, so I did go on holiday to Uganda to see the chimpanzees.

Reaction: Several Twitter users (pictured) were quick to boast that they knew the answer to the million pound question

'Which of these people was born the same year as Queen Elizabeth II?' host Jeremy Clarkson (pictured) asked before presenting Davyth with the options: 'Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews and Marilyn Monroe.'

Davyth was praised by the audience at home (above) for his win after flying through the first couple of questions without assistance

'I went by myself to see the gorillas and so on because you're in the mountains she wouldn't have been mobile enough to make it.'

As for the future, he added: 'I've always liked travelling. It's not on the agenda for the next year or so because my wife still needs two knee operations, but she's always wanted to go to Antarctica, so we would like to go on the cruise to see the penguins.'

'My wife also wants to go to Canada to see polar bears, so perhaps that'll happen in the next couple of years.'

Davyth went on to explain that he retired full-time as a teacher around four years ago, and was a supply teacher from then on.

'I was thinking about giving up being a supply teacher anyway last year, but after winning all this money, I didn't need to make that decision, did I?' he said.

However, after the episode aired last night, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire viewers were left 'screaming at the TV' after Davyth walked away from an 'easy' 1million question.

Speaking of the viewers reaction, Davyth said: 'It's easy if you know it. I was guessing at the 2, 000 and 4, 000 question.

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'The question about goosebumps I didn't know and that was probably the hardest question for me. I didn't want to risk a lifeline and I didn't know the answer. It was an educated guess.'

Jeremy Clarkson read the question: 'Which of these people was born the same year as Queen Elizabeth II?' before presenting Davyth with the options: 'Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews and Marilyn Monroe.'

Having thought the correct answer was Audrey Hepburn before ringing a friend who claimed it to be Judy Garland, Davyth decided not to risk it and walked away with half a million.

Queen Elizabeth II was born in 21 April 1926, which was the same year as Marilyn Monroe.

Judy Garland was born four years earlier in 1922, while Audrey Hepburn came along in 1929 - making Julie Andrews the youngest with a birth date of 1 October 1935.

Viewers watching the episode yesterday were left sunned with the uncomplicated question, worth 1million.

One person wrote: 'Easy question for the 1million,' while another said: 'Screaming at the TV! For a million pounds!'

A third boasted: 'When you get a million pound question right before the answers are revealed!', as a fourth viewer added: 'I knew the answer to the million pound question before the options came up.'

Davyth was a contestant on the 4th episode of the 33rd Series of the UK version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and the 10th contestant to win 500,000.

He was praised by the audience at home for his intelligence after flying through the first couple of questions without assistance.

Davyth won the 500,000 after using his second to last lifeline and asking the audience for help with the penultimate question (seen above)

One person wrote on Twitter: 'He was amazing! Seriously cool, not greedy and went at the right moment. Respect.'

Another said: 'Well done! 500,000 is a brilliant amount. You did good,' while a third added: 'Congrats to Davyth on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Great TV. Gripping stuff.'

Davyth won the 500,000 after using his second to last lifeline and asking the audience for help with the penultimate question.

'Which of these condiments is the oldest, having been established since 1814 as stated on its label?' he was asked, with the options being: 'HP Sauce, Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Colman's Mustard and Hellman's Mayonnaise.'

With 61 per cent voting for Colmans Mustard, Davyth opted for the condiment despite being torn between the audience's answer and HP Sauce.

Thankfully, he stuck with the audience who proved to be right - making Davyth 500,000 richer.
Royal biographer Judy Wade, who reported on the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana and was a confidante of the late princess, has died at the age of 81.

Australian-born Judy, who lived in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, after retiring in 2015, passed away at Whittington Hospital in London on July 5 following a brief illness.

Judy was in the congregation at St. Paul's Cathedral in 1981 for the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer to Prince Charles, and noted that she was closer to the bride than the end of Diana's 25ft train.

Writing in The Sun, she described the occasion as 'heart-stoppingly, eye-mistingly marvellous'.

Royal biographer Judy Wade, who reported on the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana and was a confidante of the late princess, has died at the age of 81

Royal photographer Mark Stewart paid tribute to Judy, who was friends with Sarah Ferguson and got to know Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice

She went on to become a close confidant of Diana and penned The Truth in 2000, which featured interviews with Natalie Symons, Diana's personal hairdresser, and Marie Sutton, a close friend who looked after the princess when she travelled to Australia to plan her new life with Dr. Hasnat Khan. She also published Diana: The Intimate Portrait in 2007.

It is believed that Judy sensed all was not right in Charles and Diana's marriage before they announced their separation.

In 2017, former newspaper executive Roy Greenslade told People documentary The Story of Diana that Judy had a 'hunch' that their relationship was on the rocks, sensing a change in their body language on outings and royal tours - despite her colleagues detecting no problems.

Judy also helped royal photographer Arthur Edwards with his book I'll Tell the Jokes Arthur - the title of which was inspired by a jovial put-down from Diana.

Australian-born Judy, who lived in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, after retiring in 2015, passed away at Whittington Hospital in London on July 5 following a brief illness

In 2017, former newspaper executive Roy Greenslade told People documentary The Story of Diana that Judy had a 'hunch' that their relationship was on the rocks, sensing a change in their body language on outings and royal tours - despite her colleagues detecting no problems

One of the few women on the royal beat at the time, Judy travelled the world interviewing royals and celebrities in 69 countries, often on the same planes as those she was writing about.

She was friends with Sarah Ferguson and got to know Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.

Judy also attended the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011. Diana's eldest is known to have joked that Judy probably knew more about his life than he does.

Her favourite royal was allegedly Prince Philip, because he is 'so rude and makes your laugh'. She told The Sun he once approached her at Sandringham and said, 'Having a good snoop, are we?'

One of the few women on the royal beat at the time, Judy travelled the world interviewing royals and celebrities in 69 countries, often on the same planes as those she was writing about

Judy helped royal photographer Arthur Edwards (pictured together) with his book I'll Tell the Jokes Arthur - the title of which was inspired by a jovial put-down from Diana

Royal photographer Mark Stewart paid tribute to Judy on social media this week, writing: 'Remembering great friend and doyenne of royal reporters Judy Wade who passed away yesterday.

'One of the very best journalists of her generation; from royal births to royal weddings and royal tours, Judy was there witnessing and reporting history as it happened in her own unique style.'

Judy was a close confidant of Princess Diana

Judy's daughter Jordan McGarry, a mother-of-two, also shared a heartfelt tribute to her mother on Twitter earlier this week, admitting: 'We're all a bit broken.'

Her family have set up a JustGiving page to raise money for the hospital which took care of her before she died.

Writing on the page, Jordan said: 'How can I ever write words in this little box that will do justice to my mum, the super scribbler?

'Mum became very unwell about 10 days ago, and I'm completely gutted to say we lost her yesterday, on the 72nd anniversary of the NHS. At the end, she was very comfortable, in a sunlit room with a large open window and a lot of Hey Jude playing in the background. I am very glad to say I was there to hold her hand.

'I'll have more to say in the days ahead but for now, if you'd like to pay tribute to Mum, rather than sending flowers to me I'm asking people to please donate to the Whittington Hospital, who took such amazingly good care of Mum in the last week of her life.

'Alternatively, just turn up the volume and sing along with the Na Na Nas next time you hear her theme song.'
A letter in which Prince Philip criticised Australia for feeling aggrieved at Britain for failing to 'protect them from the Japs' during the war' has gone up for sale.

Prince Philip, 99, penned the note about Australia to Sir Howard Hartley, who was chairman of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, in 1965.

In the letter, the forthright royal wrote that Australians were unfairly hostile towards Britain yet showed 'almost excessive gratitude' towards the US which he theorised was because America had come to Australia's aid in World War Two, sending its military might to defend them from Japan.

The six page handwritten letter is being sold by a private collector with International Autograph Auction, of Malaga, Spain, and is expected to fetch 150.

MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

A hand-written letter by Prince Philip, 99, from 1965 in which he criticises Australia is set to go on sale (pictured, the first page of the note)

Philip had just spent a week in Australia, performing a series of tasks including presenting the Dunrossil Lecture to the Institute of Royal Engineers in Canberra.

In the letter Prince Philip said Australians felt they were overlooking the fact that Britain was in no position to do so as it was 'fighting for its life in Europe'.

He stated that if Australia did things half as well as Britain or Canada they could 'be pleased with themselves'.

He wrote: 'Australia is a fascinating place. They're absolutely mesmerised by the Americans and yet they take it as a personal insult that Britain should be in such a muddle at the moment.

In the letter, Prince Philip criticises Australia for feeling aggrieved at Britain for failing to 'protect them from the Japs' (pictured, the Duke of Edinburgh with the Queen at Windsor Castle)

'Australian nationalism is growing rapidly and naturally it is directed almost entirely at Britain.

'They still haven't got over the fact that Britain was not able to protect them from the Japs, in spite of the fact that she was fighting for her life in Europe.Therefore their gratitude to the US is almost excessive.'

In the letter, the Duke of Edinburgh unflatteringly described the Australian public servant Sir Henry Bland, who he met during the trip, as a 'small, dark balding man with large eyes and a rubbery face'.

He explained how he 'buttered up' the Secretary of the Department of Labour and National Service who was 'soon purring'.

Prince Philip had recently returned home from a trip to Australia when he penned the note in 1965 (pictured, in December 1965)

He added: 'He announced that he thought the Australian conference should break new ground by studying problems peculiar to Australia & useful to the emerging countries and other things along those lines.

'I couldn't help saying that if Australia did this half as well as England & Canada they could still be pleased with themselves.'

Auctioneer Francisco Pinero said: 'The letter from Prince Philip is interesting for the comments that he makes regarding Australia and the relationship with America and also its relationship with Great Britain, which has not always been completely harmonious over the years.'

Japanese aircraft bombed towns and airfields in Northern Australia on 97 occasions during 1942 and 1943.

As the letter goes on sale, parts of the note have been published, including Prince Philip's comments that if Australia is 'doing half as well as England and Canada they could be pleased with themselves' (left) and calls it 'a fascinating place (right)

Elsewhere in the note, the royal writes that Australia 'still haven't got over the fact that Britain was not able to protect them from the Japs'

In response to these attacks, the US set up numerous miltary bases in Australia before being deployed to Papua New Guinea.

Almost one million US personnel passed through Australia during the war.

Australian Prime Minister John Curtin stated: 'Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom.'

The sale of the letter takes place on July 22.

In the letter, which was penned in 1965, Prince Philip recounted meeting the Australian public servant Sir Henry Bland

The royal described Bland, who he met during the trip, as a 'small, dark balding man with large eyes and a rubbery face'

It comes after reports hundreds of royal staff could lose their jobs this month amid doubts over the Queen's return to London, as Buckingham Palace feels the impact of the coronavirus crisis.

As many as 250 workers have reportedly been offered voluntary redundancy after Covid-19 created an 18 million black hole in Her Majesty's finances.

And the monarch herself is expected to head not to the palace, but back to Windsor Castle, where she has spent the entirety of the lockdown, after her summer holiday in Balmoral, according to the Telegraph.

The Queen, 94, and Prince Philip have been cared for at Windsor since lockdown started in mid-March by a devoted team of staff who provide a protective shield - dubbed 'HMS Bubble' - around them.
Prince Harry has reignited the row over Britain's colonial history as it emerged today he wanted the organisation to 'acknowledge the past', even if it's 'uncomfortable'.

It is likely to cause a ruckus in the Royal household, with his grandmother the Queen being head of the 54-nation group, and his father Prince Charles to succeed her when she dies.

His claims have touched on a delicate subject which Britons have mixed views, with some supporting the Commonwealth and noting its differences from the British Empire, while others detest them both.

The Queen is the head of the 54-nation Commonwealth. She is pictured here with Jamaica's Governor General Patrick Allen and his wife Patricia during a reception for Commonwealth Governors General at Buckingham Palace in 2012

The Commonwealth consists of 54 independent countries, the vast majority of which were at one point controlled by Britain.

The UK is one of the member states in the Commonwealth of Nations, as are Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

Other member states include India, Pakistan, Singapore, Barbados, Namibia and Papua New Guinea and others from across Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Association in the Commonwealth of Nations, which is based at Marlborough House on Pall Mall in central London, is voluntary.

The Queen heads the organisation, with her son and Harry's father Prince Charles set to take over when she dies.

It is designed to promote peace, human rights, democracy and other core values among its member nations.

Association in the Commonwealth of Nations, which is based at Marlborough House on Pall Mall (pictured) in central London , is voluntary

The Commonwealth is still seen by many as relevant, with its 2.4billion-strong membership making up a third of the world's population.

It is often a platform for smaller nation members to be heard on the world stage, when otherwise they would be ignored.

Commonwealth leaders drop by Marlborough House when they are in London and have the chance to raise concerns to the British, who sit on the United Nations Security Council and have a louder voice than places such as the small Pacific island of Nauru.

On a more direct level, the Commonwealth connects people, with one example being deploying doctors or vets or lawyers from one member state to another which has a shortage.

It also helps out financially, which with the current pandemic still raging across the world is a saviour for many of the poorer nations.

Some less economically developed countries in Africa and Asia see the organisation as a lifeline to help boost sectors such as business - with at least 1.039billion being spent since 2015.

The importance of the association was made abundantly clear at a meeting in April 2018, where principles were drawn up to protect journalists working in hostile countries to the trade.

Some reporters had been facing death threats in rural parts of India, while others were physically attacked in Rwanda - both member nations - but the meeting agreed to make sure 'journalists can work without fear of attack, intimidation or interference, and to take prompt measures to protect them when they face a serious threat of harm or are subject to attack'.

The power of the Commonwealth, sometimes referred to as a 'family of nations' was also on show more recently during Theresa May's premiership, with the organisation playing a part in exposing the Windrush Scandal.

World leaders from the organisation were gathered in London in 2018 when the story broke, heaping pressure on the government to U-turn in policy and issue an apology.

The Balfour Declaration, named after Lord President of the Council and former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour, enshrined equality and autonomy to the Dominions of the British Empire

The Commonwealth has only been a recognised organisation since 1931, but its origins can be traced back further to the Balfour Declaration in 1926.

The document, named after Lord President of the Council and former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour, enshrined equality and autonomy to the Dominions of the British Empire.

The 1931 Statue of Westminster codified the independence of the Empire's Dominions and officially established the Commonwealth.

After a wave of decolonisation swept across the world after the Second World War, the Commonwealth of Nations was officially declared by the London Declaration on April 28, 1949.

Over the years, a number of countries have either voluntarily left or joined the Commonwealth, while others have recognised their own Heads of State in lieu of the British Monarchy.

Some feel strongly today that the Commonwealth is just a second British Empire masking as something else, despite efforts by the organisation to move away from its colonial past.

One writer pointed to the control Britain still has over vast areas of the world thanks to the organisation.

Afua Hirsch said in the Guardian that UK companies rule of over $1trillion resources in Africa - including gold, diamonds and oil - shows the continent is still under the power of the Empire.

Some people continue this link between the Commonwealth and Empire, pointing to atrocities the British oversaw in its territories.

Colonialism had many benefits for smaller overseas territories, such as economic development and greater transport systems - including the building of India's railway network, which helped transform the country.

So-called 'Whig' historians, such as 19th century historian Thomas Babington Macaulay, argued the British Empire led to greater liberty, the spread of democracy and scientific progress in its colonies.

Maccaulay played a major role in the introduction of English and western concepts to the education system in India - including replacing Persian with the English language.

But there were a number of atrocities involving the British Empire - including the concentration camps in the Second Boer War, the Amritsar massacre in 1919, the aftermath of the partition of India, the Mau Mau Uprising and famines in India - that people criticise Britain for and question its right to have any power over these countries today.

Coils of barbed wire form a makeshift compound during the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya by rebels against the British Colonial Administration in the 1950s

In the Boer War, between 1899 and 1902, Britain fought with two Boer republics in South Africa.

Though the cause of the dispute is debated by historians, some suggest it was an attempt by Britain to take control of the world's largest cold mining complex.

The vastly superior British army, of around nearly 500,000 soldiers, fought the much smaller 88,000 strong force of Boers - who used the hostile terrain of their land to their advantage.

Frustrated by the guerrilla warfare tactics, Britain turned to a scorched-earth policy, destroying Boer farms and rounding-up inhabitants into concentration camps - many years before their infamous use by the Nazis.

Thousands of women and children captives died due to to poor conditions - causing protests in Britain and damaging the country's reputation worldwide.

Less than two decades later, in 1919, British troops slaughtered 379 Indian civilians in the bloody Amritsar massacre.

A painting of the Amritsar massacre in which at least 379 died

The killings took place when soldiers fired on a group of unarmed Punjabi civilians in Jallianwala Bagh public garden as they protested the British government's forced conscription of Indians to join the armed forces and also the war tax which threatened to cripple the Indian economy.

The Amritsar massacre remains a flashpoint between the UK and the Commonwealth country to this day. Last year, then-Prime Minister Theresa May expressed the UK's 'deep regret' over the massacre.

Another contentious issue, which has more prominence today due to the Black Lives Matter movement, is the calls for Britain to pay reparations to people descending from slaves.

There were 14 countries in the Caribbean alone aiming for this, but Hirsch claimed the UK government was using using jurisdiction problems to manoeuvre around any payments.

This argument came to a head when former Prime Minister David Cameron ruled out slavery reparations during a trip to Jamaica.

He admitted 'these wounds run very deep', but said Britain's role in ending the slave trade should be remembered and called for people to 'move on'.

The Old Etonian was asked to personally atone for his family's slave owning past and for the country to pay back billions, which he refused.

But perhaps the most famous scandal involving the Commonwealth was the treatment of the Windrush generation, whose parents had been invited here in the 1960s but the country tried to deport them over the last decade.

The Windrush generation was named after the ship that brought over one of the first groups of West Indian migrants invited to the UK in 1948 to help rebuild post-war Britain.

The Windrush generation was named after the ship that brought over one of the first groups of West Indian migrants invited to the UK in 1948 to help rebuild post-war Britain

Over the next 25 years thousands followed, taking jobs to fill shortages, particularly in the nascent NHS.

When the scandal blew up in 2018, the then Home Secretary Amber Rudd was forced to resign after misleading parliament about how many people had been affected.

The forgotten victims were the hundreds who had their lives turned upside down by the policy. They lost their jobs and their rights, were incarcerated and even deported.

The Winsrush Scandal was seen as a product of the British attitude to the Commonwealth, buried deep in racism.

Some trace the scandal back to the laws on immigration to the UK from the Commonwealth in the 1960s, while others point to the 'working holidaymaker rules' in the 1970s.

Regardless of how others see the Commonwealth, Prince Harry made a huge gamble by wading into the debate, with the rest of the Royal Family and their involvement in the organisation unlikely to leave them impressed with his comments.
Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain put safety first when continuing their tour of their country today, with the royal couple sporting protective face masks.

Mother-of-two Letizia, 47, and her husband, 52, visited the medieval Monastery of San Juan de la Pena in the south-west of Jaca.

The trip is part of a royal tour taking the couple through several Spanish autonomous communities with the objective of supporting economic, social and cultural activity following the coronavirus outbreak.

Letizia looked the picture of sophistication in stylish black culottes and a cream knit when appearing alongside her husband, who sported an equally charming blazer and trouser combo.

Queen Letizia (pictured above) and King Felipe of Spain put safety first when continuing their tour of their country today, with the royal couple sporting protective face masks

Mother-of-two Letizia, 47, and her husband (pictured together), 52, visited the medieval Monastery of San Juan de la Pena in the south-west of Jaca

The trip is part of a royal tour taking the couple (pictured) through several Spanish autonomous communities with the objective of supporting economic, social and cultural activity following the coronavirus outbreak

Looking relaxed in the historic setting, the royal wore her brown hair scraped back into a sleek curly ponytail and kept her eye make-up minimal.

She completed her look with black espadrilles and highlighted her slender frame with a slim matching belt, cinched in the waist.

Letizia's husband Felipe complemented her fashionable outfit by wearing a light blue shirt, smart cream trousers and a pair of brown leather shoes.

Letizia looked the picture of sophistication in stylish black culottes and a cream knit when appearing alongside her husband (pictured together), who sported an equally charming blazer and trouser combo

Looking relaxed in the historic setting, the royal (pictured centre with her husband) wore her brown hair scraped back into a sleek curly ponytail and kept her eye makeup minimal

Letizia's husband Felipe (pictured together) complemented her fashionable outfit by wearing a light blue shirt, smart cream trousers and a pair of brown leather shoes

Letizia (pictured) completed her look with black espadrilles and highlighted her slender frame with a slim matching belt, cinched in the waist

The royal couple seem to have perfectly adapted to the new normal, sporting face masks during a walkabout.

The Monastery of San Juan de la Pena is hidden in the cliffs and is 'one of the jewels of the medieval age and one of the most important monuments in the area,' according to one local tourist website.

Felipe and Letizia then headed into Jaca's downtown area and visited the local Cathedral during their trip.

The couple's outing comes after they put on a solemn display to attend a funeral mass at La Almudena Cathedral in Madrid this week.

Elsewhere, King Felipe and Queen Letizia (pictured together) are seen visiting the centre of Jaca this afternoon

The royal couple (pictured right) seem to have perfectly adapted to the new normal, sporting face masks during a walkabout, pictured left in Jaca

King Felipe and Queen Letizia are seen visiting the downtown area of Jaca and its Cathedral. Pictured, the royal couple standing in front of the religious building

Letizia and Felipe joined their daughters Princess Leonor, 14, and Princess Sofia, 12, as they paid tributes to the victims of COVID-19 at the service by wearing black.

Felipe joined the family in wearing facemasks, as the country slowly ease lockdown rules following the coronavirus pandemic.

The family made their way into the church, watched by hundreds, where they stood at the front to listen to the service marking the tragic events.

Felipe and Letizia have been attending a range of touristic and cultural engagements to help boost the country's economy following their stringent lockdown.

The Monastery of San Juan de la Pena is hidden in the cliffs and is 'one of the jewels of the medieval age and one of the most important monuments in the area,' according to one local tourist website. Pictured, Letizia at the historic building
A woman who spent 15 years in 'cult' where she married a stranger in a mass ceremony with 60,000 other people says she was 'manipulated' by the church.

Yolande Brener, from Windsor, 55, joined the Unification Church (UC) at the age of 25 and claims she was lied to by the organisation, who told her 'things that were untrue' in order to convince her to join the religious group.

She told on This Morning today how she was only allowed three hours sleep a night, was made to fast, have cold water thrown on her back, and spend her days begging for money on the street, or attempting to coax people into joining the group.

After marrying a stranger in a huge ceremony in South Korea, mother-of-two Yolanda spend an additional two years living in a dormitory with other brides, because the religion does not allow married couple to have sex for years after the ceremony.

Yolande Brener (pictured bottom), from Windsor, 55, appeared on This Morning today to speak about her 15-years as a member of the Unification Church (UC)

She told she joined at the age of 25 and claims she was lied to by the organisation, who told her 'things that were untrue' about her family members recovering from illness

She said: 'I sense when I speak about this, people want me to speak out against the church. I do think I was manipulated. It was my choice ultimately I was vulnerable and looking for answers.'

'I was told things that were not true. I was told my family member would recover if I dedicated my life to god, I was told the world would change in three years, I was told I would have eternal love. There were times I had to do things I didn't feel comfortable with.'

In 1981, aged 17, Yolande moved to art school in London and after graduating, began working on a film 'about the human soul', where she met several members of the church.

She told: 'A close family member was suffering from mental illness and that affected me deeply. I wanted to find an answer. The man I was in love with, it wasn't working out, I reached what I call a quarter life crisis and I wanted answers.'

Known for its mass weddings, the church teaches a unique Christian theology. It has generated much controversy, and its members are commonly derided as 'Moonies.' Pictured, one of the church's mass weddings

What is the Unification Church (UC) The Unification Church is a religious movement founded in Pusan, South Korea, by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon in 1954. Known for its mass weddings, the church teaches a unique Christian theology. It has generated much controversy, and its members are commonly derided as 'Moonies.' According to Moon, the world was created from God's inner nature, which is reflected in the 'dual' expressions of life, (causal, masculine) and (resultant, feminine). The purpose of creation, Moon believes, is to experience the joy of love. Controversy surrounding the church led to congressional hearings, and in 1982 Moon was convicted of tax evasion. His supporters, including many mainline church leaders, saw the trial as an example of government religious persecution. In 1994, on the 40th anniversary of the founding of the church, Moon announced the formation of the International Federation for World Peace, which assumed many of the functions formerly performed by the church. Source: Encyclopdia Britannica Advertisement

In July 1990, she interviewed a man called Andreas who was working at the church's Principle Life Study Centre in London, and she soon began studying the workings of the religion.

Yolande said she initially felt happy after finding the church, which made her give up worldly possessions such as clothes and books - but admitted there were 'difficulties' from the outset.

She told: 'Initially I felt embraced and happy. I was in an unhappy situation, many of my decisions were failing.

'When I gave up responsibility, I gave up my clothes, my books I was reading and I thought everything would be alright.

'At the beginning I was very happy, I felt I had found the answers and found something bigger.'

The Unification Church is a religious movement founded in Pusan, South Korea, by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon (pictured) in 1954

She added: 'There were difficulties from the beginning, I wasn't supposed to speak to anyone who wasn't in the church, my friends or family.'

In February 1991, the church sent her to live in New York after friends and her ex-boyfriend had tried to convince her to leave the church.

'I had much tighter control', she said, 'I wasn't supposed to sleep more than three hours a night. I had to go out either begging for money or trying to bring people into the church.'

She added later: 'There were fasting conditions, there were cold shower conditions. I had to throw 120 buckets of water on my back. There were times where people hit me because they dreamed something bad against me.

'I don't disagree with the church, but I agree with people being kept under such strict rules.'

In July 1992, she was told the church had found a match for her, a man called Gabriel, 28, from Ecuador and she was soon to be married in a mass ceremony.

It was a very surreal experience,' said Yolande, 'I was excited and scared. I didn't know my husband at the time, he seemed like a serious person, but not a bad person.

'I hadn't been able to had any contact with a man for two years and we wouldn't have been able to consummate the marriage for another two years.'

In 2002, mother-of-two Yolande was able to break free from the church after her husband left her, and in 2006 the pair were legally divorced

She explained to hosts Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield (both pictured) that she was able to leave the church of her own volition and was shunned by other members

She added: 'When you hear 60,000 people say "yes" to the vows, it was exciting, it was frightening. Some people seemed happy, some tried to run off and then come back. It was a really mixed experience.'

Over the next two years, the married couple would see each other occasionally at religious events and exchange letters before finally being able to have sex in 1994 after being permitted by their church elders.

In 2002, mother-of-two Yolande was able to break free from the church after her husband left her, and in 2006 the pair were legally divorced.

She explained that while she was able to leave the church of her own volition, but was shunned by other members. Yet, she was contacted asking if her children would attend studies.

She added: 'I would be devastated if my children were to enter any kind of cult, because it stop people doing what they want to do.'

A spokesperson for the church said: 'All allegations of mind-washing and mind control practises we are concluding as baseless. It saddens us Miss Brener is trying to profit from her own salacious accusations.'
Amber Heard arrived for her estranged husband Johnny Depp's libel trial at the High Court in London today in her second black outfit of the week - a move that shows she 'means business', according to a stylist.

The Hollywood legend, 57, is suing The Sun newspaper for labelling him a 'wife beater' and has been accused of slapping the American actress, 34, three times in 2013 after she laughed at his infamous 'Wino Forever' tattoo.

The trial will last three weeks and promises to be full of revelations about Depp and his celebrity friends as he fights allegations that he attacked Amber during their five-year relationship.

Yesterday Amber donned a chic below-the-knee black dress cinched in at the waist with a belt, with sleeves capped just above the elbow. Today her outfit featured a longer, floatier skirt but remained demure with long sleeves and a looser fitted top.

British stylist Susie Hasler, who who runs Styled by Susie, told FEMAIL that Amber has carefully chosen her wardrobe for this 'incredibly important moment in her life'.

Amber Heard arrived for her estranged husband Johnny Depp's libel trial at the High Court in London today in her second black outfit of the week - a move that shows she 'means business', according to a stylist

British stylist Susie Hasler, who who runs Styled by Susie, told FEMAIL that Amber has carefully chosen her wardrobe for this 'incredibly important moment in her life'

'Amber Heard means business with her outfit choices to appear in court,' she said.

'Both her black dresses are feminine but in a "don't mess with me" kind of way. Her outfits have been carefully chosen for this incredibly important moment in her life.

'She hasn't opted for a style that is distracting in any way or that draws the spotlight from what is being said in court.'

Amber has worn her long blonde locks down and in a natural wave during the trial and also opted for minimal make-up and accessories.

She added a touch of glamour to her muted outfits with black leather pointed toe stilettos.

Amber has worn her long blonde locks down and in a natural wave during the trial and also opted for minimal make-up and accessories. Pictured in her all black outfit yesterday

Susie continued: 'Amber's black dresses are chic and figure-hugging, and her hourglass figure is accentuated with the use of a belt.

'It's smart and straightforward, not fussy, overpowering or too glamorous - just like her choice of a pointy court shoe.

'She's looking her formal best for the occasion. It's a very typical outfit to wear in court.'

Amber's splash of colour in the red scarf is how she's making a statement, letting her personality shine through, according to Susie

Susie added that Amber's choice of a red polka dot scarf as a face covering to comply with Covid-19 precautions and an accessory is also most likely a very deliberate move.

'The red scarf is interesting as red is a powerful, intimidating colour,' she pointed out.

'Today, again, we see her with limited accessories - except the splash of colour in the red scarf. This is how she's making a statement, letting her personality shine through.

'Red is worn in powerful meetings to assert your authority.'

Susie said: 'Amber's black dresses are chic and figure-hugging, and her hourglass figure is accentuated with the use of a belt'

Her estranged ex also opted for all black attire, dressing his three-piece suit with a blue shirt and a cream tie with a geometric print, along with a monochrome paisley print scarf. Yesterday Depp sported a navy suit with a white shirt and black tie.

Speaking about his attire, Susie told FEMAIL: 'He's also wearing a typical court outfit - a suit. However, we see the parts of the actor's personality coming through, too.

'With his bracelets and white sunglasses, as well as his beads and bandana - and the blue shirt and white tie - he's putting his twist on a formal style.'

Today, Depp, was asked by The Sun's lawyer Sasha Wass QC if he had taken cocaine at the time of the alleged slapping in March 2013.

Susie added that Amber's choice of a red scarf as a face covering to comply with Covid-19 precautions and an accessory is also most likely a very deliberate move

Ms Wass put it to Depp that the actor first hit Heard, 34, in early 2013 - one of 14 separate allegations of domestic violence, all denied by Depp, relied on by The Sun in their defence.

When asked if he was taking cocaine in March 2013, Depp said it was 'difficult to recollect' but was 'possible'.

The barrister asked Depp about a tattoo he had done on his arm during his relationship with actress Winona Ryder, which read 'Winona Forever' and which he had changed to 'Wino Forever' after they split.

Ms Wass asked if he thought it was a joke at the time, to which he replied: 'Yes, it seemed fitting.'

Johnny Depp also opted for all black attire, dressing his three-piece suit with a blue shirt and a cream tie with a geometric print, along with a monochrome paisley print scarf

Yesterday Hollywood legend Depp, 57, sported a navy suit with a white shirt and black tie

She then probed the actor further about the alleged incident in March 2013, which Depp agreed was at a time when he had 'fallen off the wagon' following about 160 days of sobriety.

The barrister put it to Depp that he had slapped Heard three times after she laughed at the 'Wino Forever' tattoo during a period where he was drinking heavily.

She said: 'Do you accept that Ms Heard was making a joke out of your tattoo, 'Wino Forever'?'

Mr Depp replied: 'I don't recall any conversation.'
The courtroom sketches of Johnny Depp taking the stand in his explosive legal battle against The Sun newspaper are attracting attention for all of the wrong reasons.

Twitter is ridiculing the court artist sketches that have emerged of the 57-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean star, suggesting that Depp looks like he's at a 'funeral' and that the A-lister might be 'livid' if he saw the depiction of himself.

The headline-grabbing trial is in its second day at London's High Court with both Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard and the Hollywood star appearing.

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It's the court case of the year, with some of the finest legal minds in the land gathering to represent A-lister Johnny Depp - but the court artist charged with depicting a realistic pencil drawing of the actor. 57, has found themselves the subject of ridicule on social media.

Many on social media suggested that given Depp's high profile status, the court artist might have managed a more accurate likeness...but others defended the sketcher's depiction of Depp's trademark sharp cheekbones

@davelee1968 wrote: 'I know court artists have to leave the room and draw these things from memory, so they often dont render a great likeness. But when its Johnny Depp, they can practise all they like before arriving. Theres really no excuse for this.'

@DaveTenacious agreed, writing: 'Am I alone in thinking that the court sketch artist has done an amazing job of drawing someone who looks almost a bit like one of the most famous and recognisable people in the world (if you squint and somebody told you it's meant to be Johnny Depp...)?'

@GuidoBennett added: 'Imagine being a court artist. And then one day you get told you're going to be drawing Johnny Depp. And then this is what you come out with.'

Others praised the sketch. @KaffeineEdward5 wrote: 'Hats off to the scetch artist doing the Johnny Depp v Amber Heard courtcase. Those cheekbones are exquisite Smiling face with heart-shaped eyes.'

Johnny Depp has been accused of slapping Amber Heard three times after she laughed at his infamous 'Wino Forever' tattoo on the second day of his blockbuster libel case in London

Depp, 57, and Heard, 34, both arrived this morning at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where scores of photographers were waiting outside the entrance, wearing face coverings

The second day of the blockbuster libel case saw Depp accused of slapping Amber Heard three times after she laughed at his infamous 'Wino Forever' tattoo.

The actor was cross examined on the stand by The Sun's lawyer who alleged that he slapped Heard in 2013 after she laughed at the tattoo during a period where he was drinking heavily.

Depp, who is suing The Sun after it labelled him a 'wife beater', originally got the tattoo reading 'Winona Forever' in tribute to his then girlfriend Winona Ryder, and changed it after they broke up in 1993.
Transgender children have been sharing what its like to grow up as a trans child after a new hashtag was set up to give them a voice.

The Twitter account @TransKidsSpeak was created by parents of transgender children this week to offer a platform to 'one of the most debated minorities'.

Trans kids from the US and UK have been posting photos and drawings that reflect their feelings, with one directly addressing Harry Potter author J K Rowling, who has made a series of controversial comments about the trans community in recent weeks.

This week, the Harry Potter creator likened hormone therapy and surgery for transgender young people to 'a new kind of conversion therapy'.

One ten-year-old trans girl, known as 'G' and living in the US, wrote: 'Dear JKR, I love your books... but you dont love girls like me. Hermione would be disappointed.'

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The Twitter account @TransKidsSpeak was set up by parents of transgender children this week to give a voice to 'one of the most debated minorities'. This trans girl, a ten-year-old from the US addressed Harry Potter author J K Rowling directly

Trans girl Noah, seven, pictured with her mother, said she was 'tired of the bullies'

The Twitter account's bio explains: '@TransKidsSpeak has been set up as a space to elevate and boost trans kids voices.

'Only 1% of the world's population is trans, and trans kids make up only a tiny percentage of that 1%. Trans kids are one of the most debated minorities, yet so often their voices are never heard.'

It adds: 'Some of our kids are out and proud; keen to be trans ambassadors, blazing a path for those that follow. While others are happy to blend into the background, to be seen as "just one of the gang" and go through life quietly and without comment as the gender with which they identify.'

Amongst the posts, one reads: 'I am 16, I took puberty blockers for two years, and have been on testosterone for a year and a half. I am finally happy with who I am and my outside finally matches my insides.'

Another added: 'I am a straight A student and am going into my senior year of high school online. Im going to graduate a year early, then go off to nursing school so I can help other kids like me.

Trans girl Rylee, from the US, aged nine, posted that she just wanted to be 'acccepted'

This drawing was posted on behalf of Ollie, a seven-year-old from the UK, who wrote 'now I get to be me'

Alongside a cute pencil self-portrait, a trans boy added: 'I am 7 and I am Ollie. I am glad that I opened up to everyone and now I get to be me.'

A nine-year-old, Rylee, wrote: 'What we want is to be loved, treated fairly, and accepted for who we are!'

Some criticised the account, saying children were too young to make a decision about their gender.

@GenderfreeCamp wrote: 'There is no such thing as a trans child. It's like a vegan cat we all know who is making the decisions. Leave children alone in their healthy natural bodies. Allow them to express themselves however they want to without drugs without surgery without fear.'

Last month, J K Rowling posted a controversial blog outlining her beliefs on the transgender community, saying that her interest was in protecting single-sex spaces, such as public toilets.

She had previously also objected to use of the phrase 'people who menstruate'.

This week, the author likened hormone therapy and surgery for transgender young people to 'a new kind of conversion therapy'.
In case you missed it, Amazon's Summer Sale is well underway, and the mega-retailer has launched hundreds of deals across its departments. This includes huge discounts on bestselling beauty products.

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The woman behind the memoir that inspired Netflix hit Unorthodox has revealed that she now has a 'great relationship' with her ex-husband - a decade after she escaped their strict Jewish community in New York for Berlin.

In a new interview, Deborah Feldman, now 33, said her ex-husband left the community four years after she took the plunge, and even wrote her a letter to thank her for helping him turn his life around.

In 2012 Deborah released the explosive memoir In Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of my Hasidic Roots, recounting years 'trapped' in her Satmar community, the religious sect barring her from individual freedoms and, she says, promoting silence and suffering in their place.

After entering an arranged marriage at the age of 17 and giving birth at 19, she was able to flee Brooklyn for Germany, aged 23, where she made a new life for herself. Her story was turned into hit Netflix drama Unorthodox, this year.

Deborah Feldman, now 33, revealed that she now has a 'great relationship' with her ex-husband - a decade after she escaped their strict Jewish community in New York for Berlin

In a new interview, Deborah Feldman, now 33, said her ex-husband (seen) left the community four years after she took the plunge, and even wrote her a letter to thank her for helping him turn his life around

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Lives Emma Barnett, Deborah then revealed that her ex-husband left the community four years after she did, and lives a secular life married to a non-religious woman.

'He has two further children and both my son and I have a very good relationship with him', she said.

Explaining that he regularly visits them in Germany, she added: 'A few years back he wrote me a lovely letter where he expressed his appreciation for everything I had done for our child, and his gratitude for setting him on his own path.'

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live s Emma Barnett, she said: 'He has two further children and both my son and I have a very good relationship with him'.

Deborah regularly shares pictures of her religious relatives to her Instagram

Deborah also relived the moment she decided to leave, recalling: 'The first year after my marriage was a very brutal year.

'It starts with the wedding night which is the centre of the series, and continues with the intense scrutiny by my family, my husband's family, the Rabbi, the community, of my body, my sex life, constant pressure, and just the feeling of complete isolation and suffocation.'

A year after her marriage she fell pregnant, and she continued: 'As soon as I discovered I was pregnant it was like I woke up again.

'I thought, "what is going to happen now, I will bring a child into this world and it will grow up the way I did. I will condemn it to the same unhappiness I have experienced, and suddenly it was clear to me that everything I should have wanted was absolutely wrong.'

Deborah also relived the moment she decided to leave, recalling: 'The first year after my marriage was a very brutal year', revealing that she decided after her son's birth to leave

Admitting that she wasn't able to act in the way that character Etsy is shown doing in the new Netflix series, she continued: 'I stayed throughout my pregnancy, I was really terrified and depressed through it.

'The first hour after giving birth, when I was holding my son in my hands was when I made that very concrete decision to leave.

'It was a decision made in the throes of biological euphoria I guess. It was just these very stereotypical maternal instincts where you look down at your child, and you know you're ready to do everything it takes to fight for this child to have a better life.'

However it took Deborah three years of 'careful preparation' to be able to put that plan into place.

In 2012 Deborah released an explosive memoir detailing her journey to break free from the strangling repression of life in a New York Orthodox Jewish household.

In Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of my Hasidic Roots, Deborah Feldman recounted years 'trapped' in her Satmar community, the religious sect barring her from individual freedoms and, she says, promoting silence and suffering in their place.

It took Deborah three years of 'careful preparation' to be able to put that plan into place and escape America for Germany

She tells how she left her ultra-conservative Satmar community in the Williamsburg neighbourhood of Brooklyn for a new life in Germany.

At just 17, Ms Feldman found herself in an arranged marriage.

She had known her husband for just thirty minutes before agreeing to taking the vow to spend her life with him, in his service.

The rabbi has the final word on sex and health - even inspecting underwear 'in a zip lock bag' to declare whether a woman's period is kosher or nonkosher.

In 2012 Deborah released an explosive new memoir detailing her journey to break free from the strangling repression of life in a New York Orthodox Jewish household

In a note from the author, Ms Feldman explains the roots of Satmar Hasidism, a Jewish sect that is largely shielded from modern life - and one that she describes as a reaction to the atrocities of Holocaust.

In the book, she describes how she was forbidden from speaking in English and was told that 'impure languages' act as welcome mats 'put out for the devil.'

She suggests that at age 12, she was sexually assaulted by a cousin and was made to feel it was her problem: 'Its obviously all your fault and not his, and you need to keep quiet about it,' she told the Post in a 2012 interview about the book.

And this year Netflix made her book into series Unorthodox, a four-part series which tells the story of a young woman named Esther 'Esty' Shapiro, [Shira Haas] who decides to flee the Hasidic Jewish community in Williamsberg.

She flees to start a new life in Berlin away from her arranged marriage to Yanky, who tries to track her down and win her back.

The series describes itself as 'loosely based' on the true-story memoir Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection Of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman.

Rising star Amit Rahav shot to fame playing Yanky Shapiro in the series, released this year.
Princess Diana's bombshell Panorama interview is set to feature in a new Channel 4 documentary which will be 'uncomfortable viewing for the royal family', according to a TV insider.

In the explosive interview, which was watched by 21 million people when it aired in 1995 , the late Princess talked candidly about her and her husbands extra-marital affairs, and questioned Prince Charless suitability to be King.

Now the interview will be re-broadcast this autumn, with a TV insider telling The Sun: 'The show will make for particularly uncomfortable viewing for the royals and couldnt have come at a more difficult time for them.'

The royal family has weathered several controversies over the last year, with Prince Andrew facing scrutiny over his part in the Epstein scandal, and Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, stepping back from royal duty and moving to Los Angeles.

A new Channel 4 documentary is set to air Princess Diana's bombshell Panorama interview, with TV insiders saying it will be 'uncomfortable viewing' for the royal family

The four-part programme will be screened this autumn and is set to delve into several problems that have beset the family.

The impact of the infamous interview will be explored in detail, with the insider adding it would look at 'years leading up to the interview' as well as 'the aftermath.'

The airing of the documentary will be timed to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Panorama programme airing, which continues to be one of the most watched shows in BBC's history.

Charles and Diana separated in 1992 after an 11-year marriage and the warring Waleses set up separate households, which often briefed journalists against each other.

In the 1995 interview, Princess Diana candidly discussed her marriage with Prince Charles and his suitability to be king

In the interview, broadcast on November 20, 1995, Diana spoke to reporter Martin Bashir about her husbands relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles  now the Duchess of Cornwall  and her own love for cavalry officer James Hewitt.

Asked about Charless relationship with Camilla, she said: There were three of us in this marriage. So it was a bit crowded.

Diana went on to question her husbands suitability for what she called the top job.

The interview was watched by 21 million people and infuriated Buckingham Palace, which had been unable to control the fallout because it had no idea what the Princess was going to say.

Although the interview won Diana a great deal of public sympathy, it also alienated her from senior figures in the Royal Household and played into the hands of her critics who thought she was unhinged.

A TV insider said the new documentary could prove 'uncomfortable viewing' for the royal family (pictured, the Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Service)

The interview was considered to have caused untold damage to the monarchy and prompted the Queen to demand the couple divorce.

The Royal couple began divorce proceedings within weeks of the interview, and her secretary Patrick Jephson, who resented being kept in the dark about the programme, quit his job.

Dianas sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale said the princess had not consulted her family over her decision to go ahead with the bombshell interview, in which she also admitted her own affair with James Hewitt.

Lady Sarah said: She had run out of options. She didnt know what else to do.

The airing comes after a challenging 12 months for the Queen and the royal family.

During the interview, Princess Diana famously told Martin Bashir that there were 'three people' in her marriage

Some royal commentators suggested that 2019 was the toughest year for the Queen since 1992 , when Charles and Diana announced they were separating and Princess Anne announced she was divorcing her husband Mark Philips.

The royal famously nicknamed the year 'annus horribilis' and 'not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure.'

In November, the Duke of York was forced to step back from his public duties following a disastrous television interview about his friendship with Epstein.

It comes after a challenging 12 months for the royal family, in which the Duke of York stepped back from royal duty after taking part in a disastrous interview about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

The scandal forced the prince to resign from his patronages and royal duties, with reports suggesting he has retired from royal duty for good.

During his disastrous Emily Maitlis interview on Newsnight, the duke denied they had discussed the Epstein scandal or Miss Roberts' claims that she was forced into having sex with Andrew.

Virginia Roberts, now a married mother-of-three, gave an extraordinary interview to the BBC's Panorama in which she said she was 'abused' by Andrew and left feeling 'ashamed and dirty'.

It has also been a challenging period for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who confessed to struggling with the media spotlight in an ITV documentary in October

Meanwhile it has also been a challenging period for Prince Harry and Meghan, who stepped back from duty in March after rumours of a fued between the couple and the rest of the family.

In October, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex opened up about struggling with royal life and public scrutiny in the explosive ITV programme Meghan and Harry: An African Journey, in which Meghan revealed not many people have asked if she's 'okay.'

Harry, meanwhile, refused to deny a rift between himself and Prince William, acknowledging, 'we are on different paths at the moment.'
A woman who is convinced her father killed her missing sister has turned to TikTok to demand justice nearly 20 years after her half-sibling vanished without a trace.

Sarah Turney, who is now in her 30s, was just 12 years old when her 17-year-old sister Alissa Turney went missing on May 17, 2001, the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona.

They were living with Sarah's father, Michael Turney, who had legally adopted her older sister after their mother, Barbara Strahm, died of cancer. Sarah has been working tirelessly to prove that her dad was involved in Alissa's disappearance.

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Viral plea for justice: Sarah Turney, 31, from Phoenix, Arizona, has turned to TikTok to solve her sister Alissa Turney's disappearance nearly 20 years after she vanished

Looking back: Sarah was just 12 years old when her 17-year-old sister Alissa (pictured) vanished on May 17, 2001, the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School

On the day Alissa went missing, Sarah was enjoying her last day of 7th grade on a class field trip to a nearby water park.

Michael had told police that had picked up his stepdaughter early from school, taken her to lunch, and dropped her off at home before he discovered she was gone.

Speaking with NBC News' Dateline, Sarah said that her older sister's bedroom was unusually messy that day. Inside, they found her cellphone and a note in Alissa's handwriting saying she was running away to California.

When Michael reported Alissa missing to the Phoenix Police Department, she was classified as a runaway.

James Turney, one of Michael's three older sons, told Dateline that he didn't like the way his father was raising his younger sisters, saying that 'something was not right with him.'

He recalled that a couple of months before Alissa went missing, she told him that she was afraid of their father and wanted to leave. He initially thought she had run away, but he and his siblings began to question her disappearance over the next year.

Home life: At the time of her disappearance, they were living with Sarah's father, Michael Turney (right), who had legally adopted Alissa (left)

According to Sarah, Alissa had left behind $1,800 in her bank account, all of her makeup, and her cellphone, things she believes her sister would have taken with her if she had run away.

Sarah and James are also both convinced that Alissa would have eventually contacted someone after she left, which she never did.

Seven years after Alissa went missing, allegations of sexual abuse and near-obsessive control of her by Michael led the police to search their home in December 2008.

Police were shocked to find 19 high-caliber assault rifles, two handmade silencers, a van filled with gasoline cans, and 26 handmade explosive devices.

They also discovered a 98-page manifesto, titled 'Diary of a Madman Martyr,' and two decades worth of videotapes, including surveillance footage from inside the house, but nothing from the day Alissa disappeared.

Loss: The sisters' mother, Barbara Strahm, died of cancer when Alissa was eight years old

Close as can be: Sarah said her half-sister was like a mother to her when she was growing up

Mystery: Alissa was classified as a runaway for years after she went missing

In a 2009 interview with ABC News, Michael admitted that he planned on taking his own life to draw attention to Alissa's case, but he claimed the bombs were planted in his home by the police.

He also denied allegations that he had sexually abused his stepdaughter.

Michael pleaded guilty to possessing 26 unregistered pipe bombs in March 2010 and was released in 2017.

That October, Sarah saw her father for the first time in years, hoping to find out what happened to her sister. She claims to have a recording of the conversation, which she has posted on TikTok.

In the clip, the man she insists is her father, tells her he'd give her 'all the honest answers' she wants to hear at his deathbed. He also allegedly agreed to confess to everything if the state would give him a lethal injection within 10 days.

Stunned: Sarah, who is pictured with her father at Disneyland for her 18th birthday, didn't believe he was involved until she heard allegations that he had been sexually abusing Alissa

No leads: When police searched their home in 2008, they found assault rifles, silencers, and handmade explosive devices. Michael has denied sexually abusing and killing Alissa

When she went to the authorities, she was told he couldn't be prosecuted without a body or an official confession to the police. She was advised to take Alissa's case to the media to renew attention to it.

Sarah, who has a full-time marketing job, uses every free moment to investigate and raise awareness for her sister's disappearance.

In addition to reaching out to local and national media outlets, she has a number of social media accounts dedicated to finding justice for Alissa.

She runs a 'Justice for Alissa' Facebook page and blog, covers her sister's case extensively on her Instagram account, and has appeared on true-crime podcasts.

In 2019, she launched her own podcast, 'Voices For Justice,' in which she details her family history and events leading up to Alissa going missing.

Platform: Sarah has been working to prove her dad was involved in Alissa's disappearance and started a TikTok account in late April to draw attention to the case

Viral: Her account has more than 679,000 followers, and footage from a home video of Alissa calling Michael a 'pervert' in 1997 has been viewed 17.9 million times

Clues? Sarah recently shared footage from a home video that was filmed by Michael in March 2000 and shows Alissa in a swimming pool

She is now sharing her story on TikTok as an attempt to reach a younger audience who isn't familiar with her sister's case.

Sarah uploaded her first TikTok video on April 28 with the caption: 'When your Dad killed your sister and your family hates you for fighting for his prosecution.'

'It's not easy being the disappointment in the family, but someone had to do it. So here the f**k I am,' she says in the short clip, which has been viewed more than 1.4 million times.

In another video, which has also been viewed over a million times, she gives an abridged version of what happened after Alissa disappeared in 2001 and encourages people to check out the full story on her podcast.

Sarah has also shared VHS footage from her father's home movies, including a clip that she had filmed in 1997  four years before her sister disappeared.

In the video, they are outside with their father when Alissa yells, 'Sarah, Dad's a pervert.' Michael moves to take the camera from Sarah, and right before he shuts it off, he calls Alissa a 'stupid moron.'

Getting help: Sarah believes TikTok may be the key to solving Alissa's case

Alissa is pictured at age 17 (left) and age progressed to 32 (right). Anyone with information is asked to call the Phoenix Police Department Missing Persons Unit at (602) 262-6141

The clip has been viewed more than 17.9 million times since it was posted.

Sarah has also used the video-sharing platform to crowdsource information. She recently shared footage from a home video that was filmed by Michael in March 2000 and shows Alissa in a swimming pool.

'I need help!' she captioned the clip. 'Someone said Alissa could be using sign language in this video? If you know, please send a message or comment.'

Sarah's TikTok account has more than 679,000 followers and she believes it may be the key to solving Alissa's case.

'Believe it or not, it has become an important outlet for Alissas story. Ive received more interest in this case from that app in the past month than the last 10 years,' she told Dateline.

'This is not going away and Im going to make sure it never does. I still think of her as my tough older sister who taught me to be tough. Now, I need to continue to be tough and use that to fight for the justice she deserves. She deserves her day in court. And Im determined to give her that.'

Anyone with information about Alissa's disappearance is asked to call the Phoenix Police Department Missing Persons Unit at (602) 262-6141, Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS, or email phoenix.tips.ppd@phoenix.gov.
NHS doctors and medical professionals subjected to racist remarks from patients have been sharing their negative experiences on social media.

A thread on Twitter posted this week by London-based paediatrician Dr Zeshan Qureshi saw him recounting the horrible encounters he's had with racist patients, including one who asked: 'Shouldn't you work in a curry house?'.

The string of tweets sparked responses from fellow medical professionals who've experienced similar racist comments while working in a hospital environment.

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NHS medical professionals have been sharing their experiences of racism while at work, including being asked 'where are you really from?' (Stock photo)

Dr Zeshan Qureshi wrote: 'The following are some of my experiences of racism working as a doctor in the NHS. It happens to all of us.'

He details how he was randomly stopped by a police office on his way to work, who told him: 'We use our discretion. We wouldnt have stopped the last car, it was a nice family. What are the chances of them being a terrorist?'

Another incident saw him being attacked on social media after an appearance on Newsnight. He says he was told: 'We need white Caucasians representing us, not bloody foreigners.

Among the most shocking is the mother of a child who had been sexually abused, who told Dr Qureshi: "You cant really trust foreigners" despite him being the doctor treating her daughter.

Another medical professional, @shaziaparv, said she was once told: 'I could write a book on them especially the one "you're wearing that cloth on your head are you forced to wear it".'

And Angela Lam, a doctor from Scotland, said she'd been told: 'You dont look local while treating a patient, and asked 'But where are you really from?'

She adds she's also been told 'You speak very good English'.

A fourth-year medical student, Farhat Bibi, said the fact racism still existed made her feel 'so sad', writing: 'Although the most I have experienced now is "you speak very good English for someone who isnt white", Im expecting a lot more to come. I hope that I am wrong.'

@usamabasit wrote: 'I once had: "You guys have done well haven't you? I used to have Pakistani cleaners in my house. Come a long way from that haven't you?" (Addressed to Pakistani me and my Indian-born British anaesthetic consultant as we entered to do a pre-op assessment).'
Do you know an NHS health hero? The Daily Mail, in partnership with eBay and NHS Charities Together, is asking you to nominate special people in the healthcare sector whove made a real difference to you or to a loved one. Seven finalists will be honoured with an all-expenses-paid trip to London to attend the Health Hero Awards. The winner will also receive a 5,000 holiday. To make a nomination, fill in the coupon below. Here, SHERON BOYLE tells one nominees story. . .

The A&E department at Dewsbury Hospital in West Yorkshire was busy but calm as Sister Sophie Smith clocked on to take charge of the night shift one Sunday in May last year.

But, at 1am, all hell broke loose. A drug addict whod been sitting patiently suddenly flew into a violent rage. For 45 minutes he terrorised the department, leaving a scene of carnage behind him, with smashed glass doors, holes in the walls, and metal curtain rails that he had used as spears littering the floor.

A habitual amphetamine user, hed come to the hospital because hed taken some drugs but was unsure what they were.

Sophie Smith, 27, (pictured) who works in the A&E department at Dewsbury Hospital in West Yorkshire, recalls a violent drug addict causing terror during a night shift

Sophie, 27, who had been promoted just five months earlier from staff nurse to Sister, recalls: The man began making bizarre noises as he lay there  as if he was having a seizure  then he started rocking. As I tried to calm him, he suddenly threw himself off the bed onto the floor.

Sophie and her team of six quickly moved equipment out of his way and he settled down again. She gave him water and talked quietly to him as he said he did not know what was happening.

Then he stood up  he was over 6ft and a well-built man in his 50s. He seemed a giant compared to me; Im only 4ft 11in. With super-strength, he wrenched the metal curtain track from the ceiling.

I quickly moved five patients out of cubicles, and the ward staff shepherded them to the neighbouring childrens A&E where they could lock the door.

Then the man became aggressive and rushed at us with the 6ft curtain rail as if to stab us.

At this point, a nurse had to barricade herself and a dementia patient in an adjoining room, placing mattresses against the door. As she was calling the police, the man let a patient pass to safety, but then began waving the curtain poles at us again, recalls Sophie.

I was nearest, trying to talk calmly to him. But he ran after a security guard and porter and they had to lock themselves in another room.

Dr Sarah Robertshaw (pictured right) who is head of Clinical Service for Emergency Medicine at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, nominated Sophie for the Daily Mail Health Hero Awards

The man was so enraged he smashed his arm through the glass panel in the door  blood streamed everywhere. He pushed over a large water cooler, tore dirty needles and rubbish bins from their wall holders and threw them across cubicles.

While Sophie was still trying to calm him down, she was also engineering the evacuation of the remaining staff and patients. He made a move towards a patient who was so scared she was physically sick. I was petrified, but I got some staff to wheel bed-ridden patients to a secure area.

The man had a glazed expression on his face and, by now, I knew we couldnt reason with him, so we had to deal with him as best we could while protecting everyone. Wherever he went, myself and a doctor followed. We were both scared but tried not to show it.

Finally, after nearly an hour of terror, Sophie managed to manoeuvre the man into a corridor between the adult and childrens A&E departments, then locked the doors. He was contained until the police came 30 minutes later.

Two officers arrived but could not control him. A further eight turned up and only then did they manage to handcuff him. We then sedated him and dressed his wound, explains Sophie.

Sophie recalls eight officers being needed to handcuff the man, before he was transferred to another hospital. Pictured: Dr Sarah Robertshaw and Sophie

After that he was transferred to another hospital where he was kept in overnight.

Meanwhile, Sophie went back to her shift, staying several hours after her 12-hour stint had ended to ensure all of her team were OK. She cared for their wellbeing before her own.

We had a debrief and made ourselves available to talk to the staff, she says. I made cups of tea and, as it was a colleagues birthday, we all had a piece of cake. Working with Sophie that night was senior health care assistant Gilly Seale, 52, who has been with the A&E department for 16 years. As she recalls: The mans strength was incredible  he pulled out a row of five steel-frame linked chairs and hurled them at the police.

It was frightening night. But Sophie stayed calm and made calls for help on her phone while checking on us and keeping tabs on the addict. She didnt panic, so neither did we.

It was a David and Goliath battle, adds Dr Sarah Robertshaw, head of Clinical Service for Emergency Medicine at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, who has nominated Sophie for the Daily Mail Health Hero Awards.

Dr Sarah Robertshaw said Sophie (pictured) showed bravery as a leader and if she had not led from the front with calmness, the outcome may have been different

Sophie showed bravery as a leader at a terrifying time, she says. And, in spite of his violence, she continued with a duty of care to him until the security arrived.

Had Sophie not led from the front with such calmness and quick thinking, the outcome might have been very different.

Gilly adds: Sophie is amazing and will do anything for anyone. On top of her duties, she also designed and runs a scheme teaching new staff good practice in A&E.

Sophie says her mother inspired her to train as a nurse. My mum is a school nurse. I grew up seeing her help people and always felt proud. Ive wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember. Sophie started on the wards aged 21 and, after only six years, was promoted to Sister.

She says: I love my job, and A&E nursing especially. I have never experienced anything like that night. But Im proud to say every one of us who worked then turned up for work the next day. That is the NHS staff at their best.
John Partridge, 48, played Christian Clarke in EastEnders and won Celebrity MasterChef in 2018. John lives with his husband Jon, 38, in Greenwich, South-East London.

Every boy needs a big sister. Fiona is seven years older than me and is my protector. When we were young I wanted to do what she was doing and with dancing, it was a case of Monkey see, monkey do. I tagged along with my mum, Bridie, when she used to pick my sister up from class.

I was only allowed to do tap at first as Dad worried Id be bullied. I come from a working-class background in Radcliffe, Manchester. It was a happy childhood  poor but I wanted for nothing.

John Partridge, 48, (pictured) who lives in Greenwich, South-East London, reflects on how his mother and sister have influenced his life

When I was nine, I won a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in London and it broke Mums heart to let me go.

If I came home from school saying I needed a gladiator costume for the next day, it would be done. But cooking was not her thing. She was a dignified lady who worked in nursing all her life.

I was only 17 when my father passed away and Mum had to take on more work. She left Ireland for Manchester at 15 and I began working in London at 16. I think I got my tenacity from her.

In Mum I had a love that will be unrivalled in my life, so it was so painful to lose her in 2017. She was diagnosed with both Alzheimers and dementia in 2010, and used to joke, What a bargain, Ive got two for the price of one.

The way they rip through a family is awful. Mum was such a gracious, quiet lady who would have hated what she had become.

When I won MasterChef, it was a year to the day I lost her. I definitely had an angel on my shoulder. I could just imagine her with a tea towel at the stove.

Ive been sober since October 2017, six months after Mum died. Her death was so painful but it helped me be brave enough to change. It was her parting gift.

John's cookbook, Theres No Taste Like Home, is available from bookshops and Amazon.
An American woman living in the UK has horrified social media users after sharing her method for making British tea.

Izzy, who lives in Edinburgh, posted a video to her TikTok page explaining how she makes a traditional cuppa, by filling the cup with copious amounts of sugar and milk before topping up with hot water and adding a teabag.

But upon tasting the ultra-weak brew, she was left spluttering and admitted that her concoction 'wasn't worth the joke' because it was so sweet.

It comes after fellow American Michelle went viral with her own dubious take on 'British tea', which she made in the microwave.

Izzy, 22, started off her cuppa by pouring several teaspoons of sugar into a mug.

She then filled a mug 'more than halfway' with milk, before boiling the kettle.

Once the water was boiled, Izzy filled the mug to the top with water and then dropped in a tea bag for a couple of seconds.

She then picked up the 'tea' which is a very pale shade of brown, and took a sip.

Izzy, 22, who is an American living in Edinburgh horrified TikTok users with her method for making TV, starting with spooning copious amounts of sugar into a mug (left). She then advised using a lot of milk, and filled the mug up 'more than halfway' (right)

While many would consider boiling the kettle the first step in making a cuppa, Izzy waited until she'd already put milk and sugar in the mug (left). After adding a splash of hot water, Izzy finally placed the teabag in the mug (right)

'Ugh, ugh, that was so much worse than I thought it was going to be,' she said, grimacing in horror.

'Oh that's pure sugar,that wasn't worth the joke,' she added.

She explained at the start of the video she needed to do something drastic in order to rack up a large number of views, and her ploy worked because the clip was soon watched by more than 20,000 people.

But many TikTok users said in the comments the tea wasn't worth the joke, with many joking they were 'triggered'.

Izzy placed the teabag in the milky water and gave it a quick stir (left). She only left the bag in long enough to add the merest hint of colour to the brew (right)

Izzy took a tentative sip of the warm drink, already seemingly anticipating that it might not taste too good (left). As soon as she had a taste, she grimaced and looked horrified, admitting that it was far too sweet (right)

Even though Izzy admitted that she'd made the revolting version of tea as a joke, TikTok users were still horrified and said they were 'ready to scream' when they saw the footage

'Girl I SCREAMED before I realised this was a joke,' said one.

'That WAS NOT WORTH THE JOKE. The amount of people you will have just triggered,' added another.

'This definitely triggered me in a way I didnt know was possible,' wrote a third.

The clip comes after another American living in the UK angered Britons with her take on British tea.

In early May, Michelle, a mother-of-three, went viral for a TikTok video in which she broke down how she makes 'hot tea' using powdered instant tea mix, Tang orange drink mix, instant lemonade, sugar, and a couple of spices  a recipe that had other social media users expressing disgust and dismay.

Just a month later, she uploaded another tea technique: This time, she and one of her daughters show how they make 'British tea' by microwaving the water, pouring in a third of a cup of milk, dropping in a tea bag, and then drowning it all in sugar.

'So I got a lot of questions after my last video, and everyone wanted to see me make hot tea, or British tea  so today we're gonna make tea,' she said to the camera as she stood side-by-side with one of her teenage daughters.

Uh-oh... American mother Michelle, who went viral last month for her bizarre 'hot tea' recipe, is back showing how she makes 'British tea'

Step by step: She and her daughter demonstrate how they start off by microwaving a mug of water

First, they filled a mug about two thirds of the way with water from the sink. They microwaved the water for a minute, then poured in milk to fill the last third of the cup.

Her daughter then dropped in a tea bag and sprinkled quite a lot of sugar into the already nearly-overflowing mug.

'And that's how you make hot tea,' Michelle said with a smile.

She has since made a recipe for 'British eggs' using whipped cream and sugar, and another making 'beans on toast' by putting untoasted bread topped with beans and a slice of cheese in the microwave.
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Between 40,000 and 50,000 Americans have tested positive for coronavirus on a daily basis since late-June, up from a seven-day rolling average of about 20,000 infections a day at the end of May.

The rises have prompted weeks of escalating worry and anxious anticipation of hospitals becoming overwhelmed all over again and the death toll surging.

But, up until now, they haven't.

Deaths across the country have been trending downwards even as the number of infections surge to levels not seen throughout the pandemic.

Public health experts have continually reminded Americans of the intuitive lag time between case increases and death increases, estimating a span of anywhere from two to seven weeks.

Now, the hotspots states of Texas, Florida and Arizona are seeing an increase in COVID-19 deaths at least two weeks after they first started seeing record spikes in cases.

As trends continue to diverge, Americans eager to return to normality are increasingly frustrated that the crisis appears less deadly, but restrictions like social distancing and mask mandates remain in in place.

DailyMail.com spoke to experts who explained how a reopenings, the rise in young people getting coronavirus and changes in testing criteria in the US may be delaying a death spike on a national scale, and why it may be yet to come.

The diverging directions of trends in daily new cases (red) and deaths (blue) have driven some Americans to question whether the virus is as deadly as it was in March - but experts say that it's who is getting infected and tested, not the deadliness, that has changed - and a death spike may be yet to come in mid-July

The seven-day rolling average of new cases per day has set new records in the US for nearly 30 straight days.

More than three million Americans have now caught COVID-19 with daily infections far surpassing what was thought to be the peak of the pandemic in the US, in April.

The total number of deaths, too, hit a somber milestone this week, surpassing 130,000 lives lost. The number of fatalities per day across the country has continued to dwindle.

The fact that deaths will inevitably lag behind deaths is unsurprising, but the calculus for that lag time is a complicated one.

HOW FAR BEHIND CASE INCREASES WILL RISING DEATH TOLLS LAG?

Early estimates - mostly based on data out of China - suggested that there was about a two-week delay between rises in coronavirus cases and deaths.

Estimates based on US data from the past several months have said that time period could be anywhere from 17 days to six weeks.

In an interview with the medical journal JAMA, top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said: 'We may be seeing a delay. So, be careful. As the weeks go by, we may be seeing the uptick of the deaths.'

That delay depends on a number of factors, many of which have shifted in recent weeks, explained Dr Marm Kilpatrick, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Now that more coronavirus cases are detected earlier, the time between infection and death is estimated to be about four weeks, not two, as suggested earlier on when 'back in March we only tested you if you were about to die and in a hospital,' says Dr Kilpatrick.

Now, more people are getting tested earlier on, but still typically not until they've developed symptoms - which takes an average of 5.5 days to two weeks.

And then there is the delay in getting test results, which currently averages between five and eight days, nationwide.

Early estimates suggested that there would be a 17-day delay between case and death spikes in the US. Only a very slight increase in deaths has been seen in Texas, 17 days after cases spiked there in mid-June

Then there's the aforementioned time between infection and death - between two to four weeks.

'So the delay is almost a month, and cases themselves detected somewhere in that window,' says Dr Kilpatrick.

'If that detection changes due to, lets say, testing of more mild-symptomed people, we get a faster ascertainment of cases, and a shift in that delay.'

MORE TESTING DOES LEAD TO A STEEPER RISE IN CASES AND LONGER DELAY IN DEATH INCREASES

Coronavirus testing took a long time to get up and running in the US, and for the first several months the virus was in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended only those with shortness of breath, fever and a cough get tested.

We now know that as many as half of coronavirus patients may have no symptoms. Many more develop only milder symptoms that are sometimes less obviously linked to the virus, such as upset stomach or loss of smell.

Those patients can now be tested, and are driving up the number of tests performed and coming back positive.

About three-times as many coronavirus tests are now being run a day as were done in June, simply adding more cases among younger people to the calculation of cases versus deaths.

'The average or median age of confirmed cases is shifting from older people to younger and younger people over time,' Dr Kilpatrick says.

'The median age was 60 or 65' - in March - 'now its about in the 30s. Before, it was basically average old people, now a bunch of 30-year-olds, with some old people.

'So you can't expect more deaths per infections and per cases among old people than young people due to the the very clear fact that [the death rate] varies about 1,000-fold range with age, so a bunch of infections now, in young people, is going to reduce the number of deaths per case.'

California's daily new cases have risen somewhat more slowly since June, and deaths there have not yet increased

HOW YOUNG AND OLD PEOPLE BEHAVE NOW AND IN THE COMING WEEKS MAY DETERMINE THE SPIKE IN DEATHS

With most states at least partially reopened, Americans - mostly younger ones - are returning to work, bars, restaurants and stores, and increasing their possible exposures.

Although some young people do get very sick from coronavirus, and even die of the infection, as long as most cases remain in this age group, the number of deaths will remain low compared to the number of cases.

But that could change.

'The big question is what about old people: there is a differential increase in transmission among young people, more than among older people, but will that stay the same over time or change over time?' says Dr Kilpatrick.

'And do we see them transmitting to older people? Are young people going to go to bars then getting together at bars then meeting up with parents or grandparents?'

Young people interacting with their older loved ones could drive cases and, later, deaths up among the more at-risk age group, but older people may bet yet to go otu more often themselves.

'The shift in behavior may be happening for everyone, but happening on different timelines with different age groups,' says Dr Kilpatrick.

A slight uptick in deaths can be seen in hospitalizations and deaths in Florida, just over 17 days after cases spiked there

He says a young person might think: '"The cases are down, should I go out and go to the bar and meet my friends if Im 22?" I'll say, "sure," but if Im 60, I say, "nah."

'Then, one month later, the young person still says says "yes," and the older person says, "maybe."'

In other words, if restrictions aren't tightened, as time goes on, more older people are more likely to venture out, raising their risks of infection and death - but they may not be doing so just yet, so death rates may remain low.

'We believe that there will be a rise in deaths following cases with these delays were talking about, with possible changes of ratios and timing of those,' says Dr Kilpatrick.

'Even if old people are going to be safe initially and young people are being jerks, if young people go on to contact young people households or places of work still have the same consequences.

'The worst version of that which I need to raise because it's so central to this pandemic: let's say a skilful staff person at a nursing facility started doing that [going out] in say, June, that could lead to transmissions and deaths if a younger staff member going out and getting infected and going to work,' where the virus might spread like wildfire from them among the vulnerable elderly population at a care home.

'We hope of course that were wrong,' Dr Kilpatrick says.

Arizona, too, has just begun to see an uptick in daily deaths and hospitalizations, although its cases have been spiking past 3,000 a day for weeks

DEATHS ARE STARTING TO INCREASE IN SOME PLACES - BUT THE US IS TOO LARGE FOR IT TO SHOW UP ON A NATIONAL LEVEL YET

Arizona, Florida and Texas are the states seeing the most alarming, steep increases in case numbers.

It's slight, but deaths have begun to increase in Texas. Larger upticks can be seen on the county level, and Dallas county saw a 16 percent increase in hospitalizations yesterday.

There have been so many new infections in recent weeks that 'we cant help but see an increase in deaths that we're starting to see that in Texas and Arizona,' said Dr Kilpatrick.

'California does not show rise in deaths yet, and thats interesting but one of the states where cases are rising but no quite as fast - they definitely are rising, but in a not unsafe kind of way.'

Getting a handle on coronavirus has always been challenging due to delays of reporting, from hospitals to counties, counties to states, and states to the federal level, adding administrative delays to epidemiological ones.

And that suggests that the rise in deaths, though it may be more modest, is coming.

'I'll be Surprised if we dont see an increase in deaths in a two- to three-week period by end of july in places like California. We're not yet there, but Ill also be very surprised if the ratio [of cases to deaths] isnt lower in July if it is back in March or April,' says Dr Kilpatrick.

Ultimately, he adds, there is no substantial evidence to suggest the virus is getting any weaker and, although dexamethasone and remdesivir may help reduce the risks that some patients will die, neither drug is a 'game-changer.'
The Welsh Government will look to recoup the 4million it has already spent on Ineos' planned 'state-of-the-art' vehicle factory in Bridgend after the car maker announced yesterday that it is considering shifting production to a site in France instead.

Ineos Automotive - owned by petrolchemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe - confirmed on Tuesday that it is considering scrapping plans to build a car plant in South Wales, where production of the new Grenadier 4X4 was due to begin next year and 500 jobs created.

The Welsh Secretary of State told MPs that Ineos' decision was linked the government's 'inability or unwillingness' to upgrade the M4 motorway. However, that claim has been shot down by the minister for economy, transport and North Wales as 'nonsense on stilts', who went on to add that the decision was Brexit related despite Ratcliffe's vocal backing for Britain to leave the EU.

Shelved: The South Wales plant would have created 200 new jobs initially, expanding to 500 once production ramps up. Ford's due-to-close engine plant is the building you can see in the top left of this image

Ineos, which only revealed Grenadier - its first vehicle - a week ago, looks set to shift production of the utilitarian 4X4 across the Channel if it can acquire Damler's Hambach factory in Moselle, France.

The Welsh site, which is close to Ford's engine factory in Bridgend, looked set to provide around 200 jobs initially, increasing to 500 once the 4X4 reached full production volumes of around 25,000 units a year.

With Ford's neighbouring facility, which employs around 1,700 staff, due to shut down this autumn, Ineos' plans to bring vehicle production to the area was seen as a welcome boost for many skilled automotive workers seeking employment.

However, the intention to build the offroader in Britain now looks uncertain, as Ineos bosses consider a ready-made facility on the French and German border that is already setup for assembly of large-sized vehicles - despite it currently being used for the manufacture of the dinky Smart ForTwo city car.

Ineos Automotive commercial director, Mark Tennant, told This is Money that the car maker had spoken to the Welsh government about putting the Bridgend factory decision on hold days before releasing a statement this week.

Proposed UK automotive jobs could be scrapped: Ineos Automotive had previously said it will build its new Grenadier 4X4 at a new 'state-of-the-art' facility in Bridgend, Wales, but this week said it could switch production to France

The factory Ineos favours: German carmaker Daimler said on Friday it wanted to sell its factory in Hambach, France (pictured), near Metz and Saarbrucken, as it tries to cut costs.

He said the decision had been made as the availability of the Hambach factory has only recently come to light.

Welsh Secretary of State, Simon Hart, claimed Ineos' actions were a direct result of limited investment in the M4 motorway, which would have been the main transport link for the facility.

Ken Skates, minster for economy, transport and North Wales, hit back in the Senedd today, stating: 'Any suggestion that the M4 decision influenced Ineos is nothing more than nonsense on stilts.

'The fact of the matter is the M4 decision was made in the summer of 2019 and the Ineos deal was secured in the autumn of 2019.

Ken Skates MSL Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales

'In four years of negotiations with the company, on not one occasion was the M4 raised.

'It is as about credible a claim as the claim the UK Government's failure and refusal to electrify the South Wales mainline may have influenced Ineos's decision.

'The fact of the matter is that a site became available in France very late last week and in a very short space of time the business decided to go to France rather than remain in Wales.'

Mr Skates confirmed that the government will look to recover the costs already paid out for preparing the proposed Bridgend site if Ineos does take up the option of Daimler's French factory that's been put up for sale.

'We will be seeking to recoup the 4million that has been spent to date,' he explained.

'There is the slightest chance it will still come to Wales but it would require the deal in France to fall through.

'We will go on working to ensure that as many job opportunities as possible come to Bridgend's surrounding communities as possible.'

Billionaire owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, could face a public backlash if production of his first car is moved to France. The petrochemicals mogul has been a vehement supporter of Brexit

Sir James Dyson was forced to repay the British government 7.8million for a grant his firm had been provided in 2016 for his electric car project - on the proviso it would be a boost to the UK

Mr Skates said he was 'extremely disappointed' with the Ineos decision as the Welsh Government had invested 'time, energy and money into this business'.

Former first minister Carwyn Jones, who represents Bridgend, suggested Brexit-supporting businesses had an 'extra responsibility' to invest in the UK.

'Do you agree with me that those who are passionate Brexiteers should be angry at what has happened here because this undermines their passionately held belief that the UK will be better outside the EU?,' Mr Jones asked.

The minister replied: 'I agree entirely with Carwyn Jones and say that this decision is somewhat perplexing given the business in question is a supporter of Brexit and there is no doubt whatsoever that Brexit is doing immense damage to the automotive industry and the economy in general.

'This disappointing news should be reflecting the poor performance of the UK Government in terms of negotiations with our European colleagues to date and should send a very real warning for the state of the automotive sector as we reach the transition period.'

The Grenadier offroader was only unveiled in full last week, revealing a shape very similar to that of the previous-generation Land Rover Defender

If Ineos does choose France over Britain, Sir Jim Ratcliffe - a hardened supporter of Brexit - could face a public backlash.

In 2018, Briton's slammed Sir James Dyson - Britain's richest man and another pro-Brexit supporter - when he announced intentions to move production of his ill-fated electric car from the UK to Singapore.

The electric SUV project was eventually shelved late last year after the entrepreneur said it was 'not commercially viable'.

In January, Dyson was forced to repay the British government 7.8million for a grant it had been provided in 2016 for the car project on the proviso it would be a boost to the UK economy.

It was provided as the prospect of developing and building a plug-in passenger car was expected to bring an engineering and employment boom to the firm's home town of Wiltshire.

Ineos said it has suspended the post-lockdown resumption of work at sites in Wales and Portugal pending a decision to take over the Hambach plant being sold by Daimler (pictured)

Ineos bosses said the adaptations already made to the production facility would be 'ideally suited' to build the new Grenadier 4X4

'Decision not Brexit related', says Ineos boss

Ineos bosses said the fall-out from the coronavirus has been a factor for the consideration to switch to the factory in France, but Brexit had not.

Mr Tennant insisted in an interview with This is Money that the opportunity of a ready-made site provided by Hambach was the driving factor in the consideration to move production away from the UK.

'Brexit was not an issue,' he said. 'Brexit has not played a role.

'We are looking to mitigate risk around timescale. There's a lot up in the air about a second wave of Covid.'

Mark Tennant, Ineos Automotive commercial director

Months of inactivity at the Bridgend site had also been the cause of some speculation. The firm said that this has been caused by the lockown, which has delayed ground clearance work there by three months.

However, the choreography of unveiling the good news of the vehicle last week then the blow to South Wales today suggests to some in the industry a longer and more directed strategy.

Mr Tennant said: 'The Grenadier has got to be a strong commercial proposition. We have to look at existing capacity. We're still in negotiations.'

If the Hambach option is concluded, production in South Wales and another factory in Portugal will not go ahead, he confirmed. 'It's a binary decision,' he explained,

It was 'too early' to talk about any compensation or otherwise to the Welsh authorities who were developing the wider site for businesses, he added.

Mr Tenant said he was confident that, despite the delays caused by coronavirus, production at the end of 2021 and first sales in 2022 would remain on schedule.

'Our aspiration is still to start production at the end of 2021 and have the Grenadier on sale early 2022,' he told us.
Boris Johnson's government has been lambasted for merging the Department for International Development into the Foreign Office and for a lack of attention to global co-operation in the pandemic.

Rishi Sunak's 'Plan for Jobs' gives lie to the criticism. Amid all the focus on our own woes, the UK has stepped up to the plate with overseas assistance.

Impressively, it made a 2.2billion loan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to alleviate suffering among the world's poorest countries as they battle Covid-19.

Leading the fight: The UK made a 2.2bn loan to the International Monetary Fund to assist with poverty alleviation among the world's poorest countries as they battle Covid-19

It should be remembered that the UK is the largest per capita contributor to World Bank's concessionary lending arm.

Britain also has provided a further 150million to the IMF's catastrophe relief fund and spent 313million on global efforts to develop Covid-19 vaccines.

Clearly, global co-operation has not been at its most effective in the pandemic.

Inside the EU, it was every country for itself and a battle for fiscal stimulus has been fought between the 'frugal four'  Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden  and the less well-off Mediterranean countries.

The UK is at the forefront of the battle for a vaccine. Astrazeneca and Oxford are on the fast track for the first one and have set up production lines across the world, promising billions of cheap doses.

Similarly, GSK is working on several tracks and making similar humanitarian pledges.

In comparison, the extra 30billion the UK is spending on getting people back to work might seem small beer.

But Britain's long tradition of playing a role on the global stage and reaching out to the poorest nations in Africa is far from over, whatever Harry and Meghan may think.

Fashion victims

Fast fashion can fall out of favour very quickly. Boohoo finds itself in what could become a very tricky position.

It has a brilliant online business model and has been collecting brands such as Karen Millen.

It seems blissfully unaware of the negative feedback loop in an age of ethical investment if supply chain issues are neglected.

Just how out of touch the top brass has become is evident from a tweet from Umar Kamani, founder of Pretty Little Thing.

This firm was bought out by Boohoo in a curious inter-company transaction worth a potential 330million six weeks ago.

Offering commentary from Monaco on events, he stated: 'Don't believe everything you read.'

After days of waffle about being fully compliant with rules on pay and conditions, Boohoo finally has decided to bring in an outsider to probe the Leicester supply chain workshops.

The choice of Alison Levitt QC, a former adviser to the Crown Prosecution Service, should provide reassurance that the probe will be thorough.

However, there is a long history in corporate Britain of quoted firms using bigwig lawyers as a shield against later official probes.

By ploughing the field first, they make it harder for whichever regulator comes along next to gather evidence or take statements.

It should be a matter of pride that Boohoo and others have found there are UK choices for sourcing fashion and textiles as an alternative to Bangladesh and China.

But it is dispiriting if domestic sourcing means unhealthy sweatshops in Leicester paying less than half the minimum wage.

Just as worrying is the fact that many of those exploited in Leicester are drawn from the minority Asian community. In the age of Black Lives Matter, cleaning up conditions looks a much more positive agenda than pulling down statues.

Boohoo's super-rich founders Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane need to put an ethical wrapper around their fast fashion with the same enthusiasm as their recently created 150million bonus plans.

Failure to do so will mean the wipeout of the group's shares will continue.

Special pleading

The list of businesses complaining there is nothing for them in the Chancellor's summer statement is as long as my arm.

Among those neglected are the UK's world-leading events and exhibitions sector, which is a window on British creative services and a big source of income for hospitality venues.

Among the beneficiaries of a loosening of the rules would be FTSE 100 firms Relx and Informa as well as many smaller outfits including Brighton exhibitions group Imex run by a family acquaintance Ray Bloom.

Rishi: please note.
Furlough pledge: Funding Circle has vowed not to take any taxpayer cash to cover the wages of its employees

Online lender Funding Circle has vowed not to take any taxpayer cash to cover the wages of furloughed employees.

The firm, which allows investors to pool their money and lend it to businesses, had furloughed a 'small number' of staff. It said: 'Nearly all have since returned and we will not claim any money for this period from the Government.'

However, it did say it would cut around 85 jobs in the US. Pressure is rising on healthy firms to hand back taxpayer cash they planned to claim. British employers have furloughed 9.4m jobs since April, at a cost of 27.4billion so far to the Treasury.

But campaigners have been urging firms whose finances are strong enough to return the money.

Housebuilders Barratt, Taylor Wimpey and Redrow have committed to give back furlough money, while Persimmon opted not to use the scheme.

Funding Circle has also been lending money under the Government's Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Of the 53,536 loans approved under the scheme, totalling 11.49billion, it was responsible for around 400million.
Vital businesses that require coronavirus bailouts from the Government will be told to slash fat cat pay and cut their carbon emissions, the Chancellor has warned.

As part of Project Birch, officials at the Treasury are in discussions with 'strategically important' firms that are in trouble but do not meet the requirements for other rescue schemes.

Celsa Steel became the first business to win support last week, securing a 30million loan to safeguard some 1,000 jobs in South Wales.

Hands out: Car maker Jaguar Land Rover is reportedly among the firms which are seeking a bailout from the Government

And car maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is reportedly among the other firms which are seeking support.

But Chancellor Rishi Sunak told MPs that firms coming cap in hand to the taxpayer would be made to follow strict conditions on pay and other issues.

He said: 'It is right that we impose conditions on those businesses. Without going into the details, such interventions will come with conditions: around executive pay, protecting employment, climate change, how supply chain and small businesses are treated and obligations around tax.

'Those are all commitments and conditions that the taxpayer would expect us to do in those situations.

'That is what we have done in the one instance where support has been provided thus far and is what we will do for any future support.'

Project Birch  now rechristened the Last Resort Business Interventions Process  was set up to help important UK businesses that do not qualify for other financial support schemes.

The Treasury is said to have held 'advanced' discussions with six companies seeking support, including Celsa Steel and JLR, according to the Financial Times.

However it is understood that businesses that get bailouts will face similar conditions to those imposed on others who have used the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Those firms using that scheme face curbs on paying dividends and share buybacks but can still pay bonuses or increase salaries of executives if they were arranged before taking the loan.

However companies must prove that paying bonuses will not have a material negative impact on their ability to repay the loan.

Celsa Steel bosses are understood to have accepted cuts to pay as part of a bailout.

Rescued firms will also be asked to reduce carbon emissions to 'net zero' by 2050, a policy the Government is signed up to, and must be compliant with tax rules.

The strict measures come after Gordon Brown's Labour government was humiliated in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, when banks such as Royal Bank of Scotland still handed out huge bonuses after receiving taxpayer-funded bailouts.
Boohoo's share price surged by more than 30 per cent today as investors regained some faith in the troubled fast fashion giant.

Some investors have clearly taken the view that Boohoo can recover from its current difficulties despite a big hit to its image, and have jumped on the chance to buy shares for considerably less than a week ago.

This came after the stock fell another 14 per cent yesterday as it struggled to draw a line under the sweatshop slavery scandal.

On the third day of heavy selling on the stock market, the fast fashion giant launched an independent investigation led by a top barrister into its supply chain, and pledged to beef up its board with more directors.

Boohoo shares have surged back from the lows hit yesterday to sit just shy of 300p

Ashlee Simpson performs at a Boohoo event in New York City last year. Shares in the fashion giant plunged 14% yesterday as it struggled to draw a line under the sweatshop slavery scandal

It will invest an initial 10million to stamp out malpractice and said it has ditched two suppliers accused of employing staff on slave wages.

Investors were not convinced by the moves and another 465million was wiped off Boohoo's market cap, leaving it valued at 2.8billion yesterday.

The sell-off took losses to 42 per cent before today's rally.

That wiped more than 2billion off its value in three days. Founders Carol Kane and the Kamani family, saw their fortunes collapse by a total of 433million.

But in a rare sign of optimism, major investor Jupiter Fund Management increased its stake from 9.82 per cent to 10.32 per cent.

In a statement to the stock market, Boohoo said its board was 'shocked and appalled' by the accusation that its clothes were being made by staff working on 3.50 per hour.

Kamani playboys rage: media are making it ALL up Two members of Boohoo's billionaire founding family have accused the media of printing falsehoods about the sweatshop conditions in its supply chain. Umar and Adam Kamani  sons of founder Mahmud Kamani - played down allegations over minimum wage violations and coronavirus. Denial: Umar (pictured) and Adam Kamani  sons of founder Mahmud Kamani - played down allegations over minimum wage and coronavirus violations at Boohoo Two suppliers have been accused of paying 3.50 to 4 per hour to make clothing for Boohoo, while breaking social distancing rules. The board said it was 'shocked and appalled' by the claims. But the Kamani family, who collectively own a 18.6 per cent stake, were putting out an entirely different message on social media. Adam, 30, told his 607,000 fans online: 'The last few days have been so hard reading and listening to the false allegations made by the media.' His brother Umar, 34, said on Twitter: 'Don't believe everything you read.'

Suppliers have also been accused of flouting social distancing measures where staff felt required to come to work when they were sick.

It said: 'We are committed to doing everything in our power to rebuild the reputation of the textile manufacturing industry in Leicester.

'We want to ensure that the actions of a few do not continue to undermine the excellent work of many suppliers in the area.'

It said Alison Levitt QC, a leading business crime barrister, would lead an inquiry into the UK supply chain.

The firm will invest an initial 10million to 'eradicate supply chain malpractice', and it would accelerate a review of the way its supply chain is audited with Verisio and Bureau Veritas.

It claimed it had not found evidence of workers being paid 3.50 but said two companies had broken its 'code of conduct' and it had terminated their contracts.

But analysts said investors were not convinced. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'The tide is turning. This is a clear statement from the company showing it is taking the matter very seriously. Unfortunately, the market doesn't buy it.'

The firm is already fighting off a short-selling attack from UK hedge fund Shadowfall amid widespread concern about governance.

The fund said it was 'scandalous' that Boohoo paid 323million for a 33 per cent stake in Pretty Little Thing to a member of the Boohoo founding family in May.

Crimefighter who will investigate slave wages Alison Levitt QC will lead the independent probe into Boohoo's supply chain The independent probe into Boohoo's supply chain will be led by business crime barrister Alison Levitt QC. The privately educated St Andrew's University graduate headed up the business crime group at law firm Mishcon de Reya and now works at 2 Hare Court chambers. She established its white collar crime and investigations department, specialising in the 'grey area where civil fraud, regulatory procedures and criminal investigations overlap'. Boohoo hopes she has the clout to win back trust in the supply chain from the market. The firm will point to her ability to produce independent reports in big cases. Between 2009 and 2014 she was the top adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who for most of that time was Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, taking calls on high-profile charging decisions. She produced the influential report into Jimmy Savile which led to Starmer apologising on behalf of the Crime Prosecution Service for 'shortcomings' in deciding not to prosecute cases taken to Surrey and Sussex Police in 2007 and 2008. In 2015 she called for a ban on naming sex abuse suspects, such as Lord Brittan, who was accused of being in a VIP sex ring by fantasist Carl Beech, until they are charged. Boohoo has appointed deputy chairman and senior independent director Brian Small to co-lead the inquiry.

It called the transaction an 'extraction of cash from the business to the family'.

Then in June Boohoo's directors announced a 150million bonus plan for its bosses, including up to 50million maximum each for Kane and Kamani senior.

This followed plans to award chief executive John Lyttle with 1million and salary increases of between 18 per cent to 30 per cent for other board members.

Shareholder advisory Pirc said: 'The reality is that the risks from poor labour practices were obvious. One group of employees who are getting paid above the minimum wage are the top brass. The contrast in fortunes could not be more stark'.

The supply chain review will check whether firms follow rules on minimum wage and social distancing, and that employees have the right to work in the UK.

Last week the National Crime Agency confirmed it would investigate Leicester's garment trade after concerns over 'human trafficking and modern slavery'.

But critics questioned why it has taken so long to act as four reports from 2015 to 2019 have exposed the dark side of the city's clothing trade.

Boohoo buys between 75 per cent and 80 per cent of the city industry's output. It uses UK suppliers so it can respond quickly to trends.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to hit the phones to drum up support among businesses for his new Kickstart scheme.

The initiative, designed to prevent huge numbers of young people from becoming stuck in an unemployment rut, is part of a plan for jobs which will see another 30billion ploughed into the economy.

Sunak said: 'I urge every employer, big or small, national or local, to hire as many Kickstarters as possible.'

Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Kickstart scheme is designed to prevent huge numbers of young people from becoming stuck in an unemployment rut

The Chancellor will today start calling the bosses of some of Britain's biggest companies to persuade them to sign up.

It is understood that Barratt, the UK's biggest housebuilder, is considering hiring more young people in addition to its usual trainees, as is Barclays Bank.

And Sainsbury's and BT are among the big-name firms which have expressed an interest. Applications open in August.

Gregg Scott, of contractor Interserve, said: 'We look forward to the details. If employers hire a 16-24-year-old who is also an apprentice, they may be able to get their wages funded as well as receive an apprenticeship bonus  a massive incentive.'

Leisure firm Gravity, which runs trampoline parks in shopping malls and plans to open three sites this year, jumped at the chance, and gaming company Bidstack is hoping the scheme could help it. Cheshire-based McCombie Construction added that it would be looking into the scheme.

Under Kickstart, a 2billion fund will create hundreds of thousands of six-month placements.

Employers will be allowed to claim the minimum wage from the fund. For a 24-year-old, the grant will be around 6,500.

Coronavirus has had a hugely detrimental impact on the prospects of young people.

Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies showed that 22 per cent of people aged 22-25 in their first full-time job were in sectors that shut down during lockdown.

Sunak said: 'We cannot lose this generation, so today, I am announcing a new programme to give hundreds of thousands of young people, in every region and nation of Britain, the best possible chance of getting on and getting a job.'

The first 'Kickstarters' will begin their jobs in the autumn. Sunak said the 2billion fund could be extended, and that there would be 'no cap' on places available.

Kallum Pickering, economist at investment bank Berenberg, said: 'The measures taken can only help to support jobs, demand and growth.

'However, if the UK suffers a major second wave that requires lockdowns or the reclosing of shops, restaurants and the like, the measures will prove futile.'
Whether its a long overdue haircut or a trip to the tailor, were slowly getting back to normal  heres how businesses are keeping us safe.

HAIRCUTS MAKE US FEEL HUMAN AGAIN  THATS WHY WERE HAPPY TO BE BACK

After more than 100 days of leaving our hair to its own devices, people across England are looking forward to getting back to the salon this month.

Sharing that excitement is business owner Joe Mills, whose esteemed grooming brands Joe & Co and The Lounge reopened in Londons Soho on Saturday.

Hair stylist Joe, who opened his first salon in 1998 has spent the past month completely refitting the spaces to create a safe environment for his team of 45 and their loyal clients

Im really happy to welcome everyone back, says Joe. Since the lockdown, weve had customers contacting us regularly, saying, Help  Im on Zoom calls all day, and I look like a woolly mammoth! Haircuts make us feel human again. That has more value than ever right now.

Hair stylist Joe, who opened his first salon in 1998, says he grieved for his business when the doors shut in March. But he has spent the past month completely refitting the spaces to create a safe environment for his team of 45 and their loyal clients.

Were good to go What does the mark mean? The official stamp of a shop, attraction or venue thats back in business, post Covid-19. Its a seal of approval, showing that companies are following clear, industry-standard processes and the UK Governments guidance on cleanliness and social distancing to keep us all safe and well-protected.

The best thing we could do to reassure everyone it was safe was to make the spaces as Covid-secure as possible. To do that, we looked at reopenings in Italy, Spain and France, and then conducted our own thorough risk assessment in line with UK Government guidelines, he says.

Day-to-day changes for staff include staggered start and finish times and bubble systems to limit the spread of the virus. Salons will now operate at around 70 per cent of normal capacity, with cleaning time built into each day, and layout alterations that limit the number of chairs on the premises.

Were in the middle of Soho, so space is at a premium. To help keep clients at a safe distance, new floor markings will guide them, while screens are installed where one metre is not possible, Joe says. To give our clientele that extra confidence to come back, weve kept in constant communication, via newsletters, Instagram and Facebook, so they know how seriously were taking the measures.

Were nearly fully booked for the next three weeks, so we know the demand is there.

ITS TIME TO WELCOME COMMUNITIES BACK TO THEIR FAVOURITE LOCALS

Kathryn Boam owns the Dog & Parrot Real Ale House in Eastwood with husband, David

Now that pubs and bars can reopen across England, customers are rediscovering their favourite watering holes.

For one family-run pub in Nottinghamshire, the focus has been on protecting regular punters who gather at their local to maintain their friendship groups.

We are a community hub, especially for a few older customers, who have come here for years, says Kathryn Boam, who owns the Dog & Parrot Real Ale House in Eastwood with husband, David.

Our priority is safeguarding them, making sure that social-distancing guidelines are in place  and kept to.

Among the measures Kathryn and David have implemented are markers on the floor to maintain distancing and clear signage throughout the pub. Anyone not following the instructions will be asked to leave.

The Dog & Parrot will now operate as table service only, so punters wont need to approach the bar, where only one member of staff is now serving drinks.

Kathryn says: Weve worked closely with other local landlords to make sure were all aligned in our actions.

The Dog & Parrot will now operate as table service only, so punters wont need to approach the bar, where only one member of staff is now serving drinks.

After a full risk assessment of our operations and premises, we decided on the ideas and plans that worked best for us to be Covid-19 secure.

The business owners have five part-time staff, and one full-time, but they will have more staff on duty to maintain their measures effectively, which include regularly deep-cleaning glassware and surfaces, as well as the toilets.

Now, 106 days since the closure, they believe everything is in place. Were keen to keep the Dog & Parrot atmosphere as authentic as possible and for customers to have as much fun as always, says Kathryn. But our main priority is keeping customers and staff safe and well.

Savile Row-trained tailor Kathryn Sargent, whose eponymous Mayfair atelier has reopened for pre-booked appointments

EVERYONES READY TO GET DRESSED UP AGAIN  THATS WHERE WE COME IN

From occasion dressing to office attire, wardrobe essentials have dropped down the priority list since we all stayed at home for lockdown.

But Savile Row-trained tailor Kathryn Sargent, whose eponymous Mayfair atelier has reopened for pre-booked appointments, says excitement is building for getting all dressed-up again.

The feeling I get from my clients  from all over the world, from different cultures and jobs  is that they cant wait to dress up properly again, says Kathryn, who established her bespoke tailoring business in 2012.

Ive been really excited about getting back to business, she adds.

Tailoring is so much more than just walking into a shop and making a purchase  we offer an intimate service that you cant replicate over Zoom.

Kathryn says excitement is building for getting all dressed-up again

Sargent has been adapting her business practices over the past two months to conform with the UK Governments new guidelines. Safety measures in place include regular cleaning of surfaces and door handles, hand-washing stations, plus 72-hour quarantining for clothes.

She continues: All our staff now wear visors during fittings. There are also masks and disposable gloves for clients if they want them. We invite customers to wash their hands when they arrive and leave, and while we do have a kitchen, were no longer offering drinks.

The bespoke service is still every bit as inviting. So, what does a contact-free welcome at Kathryn Sargent Bespoke Tailoring look like now?

Big smiles and lots of eye contact, says Kathryn. When you cant shake someones hand, you have to find other ways to make it warm and welcoming for clients. Its all about providing a lovely environment to regain the confidence of our customers.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO From temporary parking to pre-booked appointments, here are the top tips for planning your day out  Double-check opening times as some hours may be reduced.  Do you need to pre-book online? Its best to check first.  Dont forget your bank card  many outlets prefer cashless payments.  Carry hand sanitiser just in case you cant wash your hands.  Always wear a face mask on public transport.  Temporary changes may affect parking  do your research before you set off.  Even outdoors, keep a one-metre distance from people outside your household.  Toilet access may be limited, so make sure you dont get caught short. What can I do that I couldnt do before? As of this week, the rules in England have been relaxed to allow more businesses to open and help us get outdoors more. Heres what you can and cant do.

I can meet in groups of up to two households in any location (public or private, indoors or outdoors).

I cannot get any closer than one metre, even inside someones home.

I can enjoy certain services, such as hair salons and barbers.

I can visit reopened venues, including restaurants, pubs, cinemas, aquariums, hotels, and campsites.

I cannot gather in groups larger than 30 people.

I can stay overnight away from home with my household or support bubble, or members of one other household.  To find out the latest information and guidance, visit Know Before You Go: visitbritain.com/gb/en/know-before-you-go

This is UK Government information for readers in England only
Michael Lofthouse, the British founder of tech company Solid8, was identified as the man racially attacking the family

A Silicon Valley entrepreneur was kicked out of a California restaurant on July 4 for hurling racist abuse at an Asian family and yelling 'Trump is going to f*** you'.

Michael Lofthouse, the British founder of tech company Solid8, was caught on camera racially attacking Jordan Chan and her family when they were out celebrating a birthday at Bernardus Lodge and Spa's Lucia restaurant in Carmel Valley on Saturday.

Despite his victims living in the US for almost three decades, shocking footage shows Lofthouse, who has lived in the country for ten years, shouting racist abuse at the diners from the table opposite.

He calls the family a 'f***ing Asian piece of s**t' before an outraged restaurant worker steps in and tells him to 'get out'. The video was posted by Ms Chan on social media Sunday and went viral after it was shared by pop star Kelly Clarkson.

Mr Lofthouse's firm Solid8 is based in San Francisco, California, has a low-budget website saying it offers industry-leading cloud storage and online security for companies. It has between two and ten employees, according to LinkedIn.

A Silicon Valley entrepreneur was kicked out of a California restaurant on July 4 for hurling racist abuse at an Asian family and yelling 'Trump is going to f*** you'. He is pictured flipping the bird at the family (above)

Michael Lofthouse was caught on camera racially attacking Jordan Chan and her family when they were out celebrating a birthday at Bernardus Lodge and Spa's Lucia restaurant in Carmel Valley on Saturday

Ms Chan had been at the restaurant with her family to celebrate her aunt Mari Orosa's birthday. Mari was accompanied at the restaurant by her husband, Raymond, a sales rep for a Mercedes car dealership in California.

The footage begins after Lofthouse has already apparently started on his unprovoked, racist tirade, with the person filming him telling him to 'say that again'.

'Oh, now you're shy,' the person behind the camera is heard saying.

'Say it one more time.'

The man responds by flipping them the bird and saying 'that's what I'm saying now'.

'Trump's going to f*** you!' he then yells, as he gets up to leave the restaurant.

Jenny Chan (back left) posted the footage on Instagram. The family were celebrating the birthday of Jenny's aunt Mari Orosa (back right with Mari's husband Raymond front right)

Lofthouse calls the family a 'f***ing Asian piece of s**t' before an outraged restaurant worker steps in and tells him to 'get out'

'Racist' boss's tech firm Lofthouse's Solid8 is a cloud tech services firm launched in 2017. The companys offices are based near the financial district of San Francisco, California. Solid8 aims to improve their clients computer systems and reduce their IT costs by offering network services, infrastructure or business services that store and access data and programs over the Internet rather than a computer hard drive. On its website, the company, which also offers cyber security advice, boasts of having 38 years of collective experience and says: Our team are decisive problem-solvers, our breadth and depth of experience means weve dealt with most situations before  which means we move quickly from analysis to action, working as an agile team for each project, quickly drawing upon talent from across our global network of over 100 leading Cloud Providers. Solid8s CEO is Briton Michael Lofthouse, who according to his now-deleted LinkedIn page, graduated from Newcastle Business School, associated with Northumbria University, in 2005 and emigrated to America in 2010. Advertisement

'You f***ers need to leave.' A waitress is then heard telling him 'to leave now'.

'Get out of here,' she shouts. 'You are not allowed here. You do not talk to our guests like that.'

Lofthouse continues with his vile attack on the family.

'You f***ing Asian piece of s**t,' he shouts at the group, before turning to the waitress and saying: 'Who are these f***ers?'

'They are valued guests,' the waitress responds.

Lofthouse replies: 'Are they? They are valued guests in America?'

The waitress continues to tell him to 'get out' and says: 'You are not allowed here ever again.'

Chan wrote on Instagram that the 'white supremacist' businessman had begun harassing her family soon after they sang happy birthday to her aunt.

Aside from the racist comments caught on camera, she said he also told them to 'go back to whatever f******* Asian country you're from' and that 'you don't belong here'.

She added on the post that he 'had a LOT more to say after I stopped recording'.

Lofthouse later issued a grovelling apology, telling DailyMail.com: 'My behavior in the video is appalling. This was clearly a moment where I lost control and made incredibly hurtful and divisive comments.

'I would like to deeply apologize to the Chan family. I can only imagine the stress and pain they feel. I was taught to respect people of all races, and I will take the time to reflect on my actions and work to better understand the inequality that so many of those around me face every day.'

The Bernardus Lodge said they were sorry about the experience their guests endured at the restaurant but they were 'proud' of how their staff handled it.

'This is an extremely unfortunate situation, however, we are proud of our staff at Lucia in keeping with Bernardus Lodge's core values,' said Sean Damery, the lodge's vice president and general manager, in a statement to KION.

'This incident was handled swiftly and the diner was escorted off property without further escalation.

Jordan Chan (left) posted her thanks to those who have supported the family since the incident. She was celebrating her aunt Mari Orosa's birthday (right with husband Raymond)

The Bernardus Lodge (pictured) said they were sorry about the experience their guests had at the restaurant and they were 'proud' of how their staff handled it

The family had been celebrating a birthday at the restaurant when the horrific abuse occurred

'We provide guests with a safe environment for lodging and dining, and extend our sincere apologies to the guests enjoying a birthday celebration on a holiday weekend.'

Lofthouse appears to have disabled his LinkedIn and Twitter accounts following the incident.
The rarely used leak charge was filed against two protesters, Viet Tran, 21 (pictured)

A Black Lives Matter protester has been accused of stealing a confidential wanted poster and displaying it during a television news broadcast.

The rarely-used leak charge was filed against two protesters, Viet Tran, 21, and Alexandria Dea, 26, after a Des Moines Police Department bulletin was taken from a cop's back pocked and shown on WOI-TV, according to a complaint.

Unauthorized dissemination of intelligence data is a felony that carries up to five years in prison and the Iowa Judicial Branch says it's only the second time the charge has been filed since 2010.

It's intended to punish officers and others who share information that could undermine criminal investigations or violate privacy protections.

Officers and state troopers had the bulletin with them while patrolling a July 1 protest at the Iowa Capitol.

Dea took the intelligence bulletin from an officer's back pocket during a confrontation between officers and protesters, which began after officers arrested three of the suspects inside the Capitol, the criminal complaint against her alleges.

The bulletin included photos of suspects who were wanted in the destruction of a Des Moines police car during a June 20 protest.

Protesters later gathered at the Polk County Jail to demand the release of those arrested during the clash.

Officers and state troopers had the bulletin with them while patrolling a July 1 protest at the Iowa Capitol. Pictured, BLM protesters rally outside Iowa Governor Kim Reynold's office on June 29

While there, Tran discussed and displayed the bulletin during an interview.

The first page of the four-page document has a notice warning that it shouldn't be shared or released publicly, and that doing so would violate Iowa code.

Des Moines police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek said it was difficult to assess whether any harm resulted from its dissemination.

But he said such bulletins contain confidential information such as driver's license numbers that must be protected under the law.

'This is my first experience with it ever being applied to anyone outside law enforcement, but obviously the circumstances were pretty unique,' Parizek said.

'Those documents are not supposed to be shared. It's actually written on them. As soon as they did that, the charge was appropriate.'

Tran remained jailed Tuesday on a complaint alleging he violated the terms of his probation from an assault case when he interfered with officers at the July 1 protest.

The television story didn't show the name or face of the person speaking about the document, but Parizek said police identified the source as Tran.

Protesters march through Glenolden, Delaware County, calling for an end to police brutality and racial injustice Black Lives Matter protest, Philadelphia on June 20

The reporter who included the bulletin in her story and tweeted photos of the document has not been charged.

'It wouldn't be appropriate to hold a reporter accountable for trying to do their job,' Parizek said. 'They get more leeway than the average person would.'

Reporter Eva Andersen and the station declined to comment.

Polk County Attorney John Sarcone, a long-serving Democrat whose office filed the charges, didn't return a phone message.

His office also charged Dea with felony theft for allegedly stealing the bulletin and throwing an officer's radio that had fallen to the ground. That charge carries up to 10 years in prison.

Dea, who was free after posting $15,000 bond, declined to comment. But her friend and fellow protester Jaylen Cavil said the charges were baseless.

'They are attempting to scare and silence us by stacking these fabricated felony charges on young people,' he said. 'They know that this can ruin people's lives, and that's why they're doing it.'

The law defines intelligence data as information 'compiled in an effort to anticipate, prevent, or monitor possible criminal activity.' Anyone who improperly obtains or shares it can be charged.

In the last time the law was used, a Wayne County sheriff's office employee was charged in 2016 with leaking information to suspects in drug and drunk driving cases.

Ultimately, prosecutors dropped two counts and she pleaded guilty to interference with official acts.
The remains of one of the 43 student teachers who disappeared in September 2014 in southern Mexico have been identified.

Christian Alfonso Rodriguez Telumbre was found at Butcher's Ravine in Cocula, Guerrero in November 2019.

The ravine is just half a mile away from a garbage dump where the 43 students' bodies were burned. Their ashes were then dumped into a nearby river. It's not clear how Telumbre's remains ended up at the ravine.

Omar Gomez Trejo, who leads the Attorney General's Office special unit, said his identity was confirmed by the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team on Tuesday.

Authorities arrested a member of the Criminal Investigation Agency who is accused of torturing the students before they were killed, over the weekend. The apprehension came after a district judge issued arrest warrants for the law enforcement agent and another cop, who was arrested two weeks ago.

Two other fugitive police officers are wanted, including one who was reportedly kidnapped earlier this year.

On September 26, 2014, students from the Rural Normal School of Ayotzinapa, a teachers college in the southern state of Guerrero, were abducted by local police in the town of Iguala. They were then allegedly turned over to a local gang.

A special unit for Mexico's Attorney General's Office announced Monday that Christian Alfonso Rodriguez Telumbre was positively identified through DNA analysis of a bone fragment by the University of Innsbruck in Austria in June. Rodriguez Telumbre was one of 43 students kidnapped by alleged members of the Guerreros Unidos cartel in September 2014

Forensic experts have been able to only identify two of the 43 students who were kidnapped and killed by a cartel in Mexico in September 2014

Family members and supporters of 43 missing teachers college students carry pictures of the students as they marched on April 26, 2016 to demand the case not be closed and that experts' recommendations about new leads be followed

Rodriguez, also known as Lolo, was a 19-year-old who grew up in Tixtla, not far from the school's gates. He had wanted to attend a university to study agronomy, but his family did not have the money so he ended up at tuition-free Ayotzinapa.

His mother, Maria Telumbre, sold tortillas she made at home and his father, Clemente Rodriguez, delivered jugs of water from the back of a pickup. Their son had just enrolled at Ayotzinapa that summer and had yet to take a class. Along with other new students he was put to work planting crops and tending the school's animals.

The new students' other responsibility at the school, known for its social activism, was raising funds from highway toll booths and commandeering buses to carry students to events.

That is what the students were doing in Iguala when local police took them off buses that day in September 2014.

Demonstrators march along with relatives of 43 missing student teachers who disappeared in September 2014. Families continue to call for justice almost six years after the Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, student were kidnapped from buses by the police and turned over to members of the Guerreros Unidos cartel

Photos of missing students are seen during a Mexico City march

In January 2015, then-Attorney General Jesus Murrillo Karam said it was the 'historic truth' that the students' bodies had been incinerated in a huge fire at a garbage dump in the town of Cocula and their ashes were tossed into the San Juan River. Experts dismissed various aspects of the government's report and the families never accepted it.

Rodriguez's bone fragment was found in Cocula, but not at the dump or the river. Gomez said it and other fragments were at another site called Butchers Ravine about a half mile from the dump.

'It was not tossed or found in the Cocula dump, nor in the San Juan River like the previous administration held up publicly and legally,' Gomez said. He said they were still investigating how the remains ended up in that location.

In December, Felix Santana, technical secretary of the Truth Commission created in early 2019 to follow the new investigation, told The Associated Press that investigators were led to the site by geospatial data and tips from informants. References to the ravine had appeared in the original investigation as a possible location for some of the students remains.

The area was searched in 2015, but a team of international experts formed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights wrote in their report that they doubted Mexican authorities had taken them to the right location.

Demonstrators march along with relatives of 43 missing student teachers in September 2019

Clemente Rodriguez father one of the missing students from Ayotzinapa, holds his machete as he walks at the outskirt of Iguala, Mexico. The remains of his son Christian Alfonso Rodriguez Telumbre have been identified

On Tuesday, the Argentine forensic team said in a statement that the bone allowing the identification of Rodriguez came from his right foot and was found in late November. It was among more than 100 bone fragments found in an area of approximately 650-foot radius.

Analysis showed fragments belonged to at least two people, it said.

Many of the fragments were so damaged that it was unclear if genetic material could be extracted for testing, the statement said. Three fragments were sent to Austria for testing. Genetic material could not be recovered from one. Another provided only an incomplete genetic profile that did not produce a conclusive result.

It is only the second time remains have been positively identified for one of the missing students. The first was Alexander Mora, whose family was informed that his remains were identified in December 2014.

Gomez, the leader of the new federal investigation team, said he traveled to Rodriguez's home town Sunday to tell the family. He said the Attorney General's Office plans to send more recovered fragments to the University of Innsbruck for testing.

Clemente Rodriguez, the dead youth's father, has been a fixture at the families protest marches demanding justice.

In November 2014, inside the family's home, Christian's mother, Maria Telumbre, insisted she didn't believe the government's version of events.

'How is it possible that in 15 hours they burned so many boys, put them in a bag and threw them into the river?' Telumbre said then. 'This is impossible. As parents, we don't believe it's them.'
Amanda Kloots, the widow of Broadway star Nick Cordero, is continuing to memorialize her husband on social media - this time sharing photos and videos from his phone after unlocking it for the first time since his death on Sunday.

On Tuesday, the fitness instructor uploaded a montage of heart-warming photos and amusing videos to her Instagram story that were captured by Cordero in the final months of his life.

I just looked at Nicks phone today [for the first time] and Ill share some of the gems I found with you, Kloots told her 533,000 followers.

The slideshow of images she shared begins with a selfie of a smiling Cordero and his son, one-year-old Elvis, who is also beaming towards the camera.

Dated March 16, the image was taken just over two weeks before Cordero would be admitted to the intensive care unit at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Hospital amid his battle with coronavirus.

Amanda Kloots (above), the widow of beloved Broadway star Nick Cordero (left), is continuing to memorialize her husband on social media

On Tuesday she began sharing photos and videos from his phone after unlocking it for the first time since his death. Cordero (seen right) died Sunday morning aged 41, following a long and turbulent battle with COVID-19 that left him hospitalized for 94 days

The 41-year-old died Sunday morning following a long and turbulent battle with COVID-19 that left him hospitalized for 94 days.

On Monday, Kloots thanked her followers for helping to make her husbands dream of becoming a rock star a reality after joining her each day at 3pm during Corderos health battle to sing his original song, Live Your Life, in a bid to will him to recovery.

And in her posts Tuesday, Corderos love for song writing is made abundantly clear.

In a succession of videos, the 41-year-old riffs the blues on an orange electric guitar, crooning You only love me when I say goodbye. Only the heavens above me know the reasons why, improvising as he plays.

Cordero, who starred as Sonny in A Bronx Tale, is also seen performing an acapella version of One of the Great Ones from the Broadway smash-hit show in a birthday tribute to one of his friends.

In another musical video, the performer amusingly improvises a song as he stands on a New York sidewalk.

You can make a song about anything, Cordero sings, proceeding to list and rhyme the objects and sights he can see around him.

The actor even makes himself laugh on a number of occasions. In one instance, he attempts to incorporate his dog, Freddie, who he is holding, into the song but the pooch is being camera shy, he chuckles.

The slideshow of images she shared begins with a selfie of a smiling Cordero and his son, one-year-old Elvis, who is also beaming towards the camera. Dated March 16, the image was taken just over two weeks before Cordero would be admitted to the intensive care unit at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Hospital, never to leave

In a succession of videos, the 41-year-old riffs the blues on an orange electric guitar, crooning You only love me when I say goodbye. Only the heavens above me know the reasons why, improvising as he plays.

In one image, Elvis sits atop Corderos shoulders as they both pose joyfully in front of their first car

Intersected with Corderos vlogs, Kloots included a number of family photos. In one image, Elvis sits atop Corderos shoulders as they both pose joyfully in front of their first car.

Another shows a family picnic in a California park from earlier this year, with Cordero sprawled out on a blanket next to Kloots, who has Elvis nestled into her shoulder.

Throughout his battle for life, Kloots maintained a constant presence on social media, updating her followers on his ailing health since his hospitalization in March, until tragically confirming his death Sunday.

And in the days since she has continued to share memories of the Broadway star in celebration of the time they spent together.

Kloots Instagram story was preceded by a video montage she uploaded to her page earlier Tuesday, chronicling her five-year relationship with the Broadway star.

The video, compiled by Kloots sister Anna, features a variety of photos from 2015 to 2020.

Another video from [Anna Kloots] documenting Nick and I from day 1 till now, Kloots wrote on Instagram. Nick always said we were completely different people that normally would never be together. We challenged each other and in doing so caused each other to grow and change.

The montage, focusing on the years before Corderos sickness, is full of videos of the pair dancing together, enjoying date nights, vacations, Broadway shows, and even includes celebrity cameos from the likes of Zach Braff, whom he and Kloots starred alongside in Bullets and Broadway.

In another musical video, the performer amusingly improvises a song as he stands on a New York sidewalk. You can make a song about anything, Cordero sings, proceeding to list and rhyme the things he sees around him

Intersected with Corderos v-logs, Kloots included a number of family photos

Kloots and baby Elvis feature in a number of the photos and videos. In one clip (right), baby Elvis is heard chuckling as his mom sings 'Jump Around' to him, as Nick watches on, just days before being hospitalized

It also includes sweet photos of the couple enjoying their engagement, wedding and caring for Elvis.

Kloots and Cordero began dating shortly after meeting one another while appearing in Bullets on Broadway. They became engaged in March 2017 and married in September the same year.

We pushed each others buttons in the best of ways, Kloots wrote. He would always look at me and say, Im the luckiest. Well darling, I was the luckiest to get to spend five years with you and to share a son that will always remind me of you.

Kloots took to Instagram live Monday to perform a heart-breaking rendition of Corderos original song, Live Your Life, for a final time.

As part of Monday's broadcast, she also thanked her followers for their support during Corderos months-long hospitalization, crediting them for helping to make his ultimate dream of becoming a rock star a reality.

We played this song a lot yesterday in Nick's room with him and we were singing to him and I kept telling him that he had the whole world singing his song and knowing who he was and what kind of an amazing person he was, a tearful Kloots said, wiping away tears beneath her sunglasses.

I just wanted him to know that his dream of becoming a rock star happened. And sometimes your dreams happen and you don't get to fully embrace them, but Nick's dream of becoming a rock star definitely happened and it was because of you guys.

Kloots and Cordero (pictured in 2019) began dating shortly after meeting one another while star in Bullets on Broadway. They became engaged in March 2017 and married in September the same year

Cordero's death was announced by his wife Kloots in a heartbreaking post on Instagram

She added that the daily tradition always provided her with a sense of comfort too, helping her through her darkest of times.

There were days when I did not think I could get on social media and sing but I always felt better after I did.  It always made me feel better. Singing and dancing is an amazing way to have some therapy in your life, she said.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Kloots announced the tragic passing of Cordero on Instagram.

In her emotional statement, she said she was still in a state of disbelief and called Cordero a bright light who she couldnt believe who no longer be in her or Elvis life.

Life throws so many things at you, Kloots reflected Monday. It could be this awful virus like Nick had, you could lose your job, you could fight with a family member  all these things in your life that could give you hell.  Keep fighting, keep singing, keep dancing, keep living.

Thank you so much for all your support. I really, really, really appreciate it, Kloots concluded, struggling to hold back tears.

Nick left this earth with people around him that he loved, listening to music. I dont think he would have wanted anything else, so I think we gave him a good send-off. Ill miss him every day of my life, thats for sure.
A prestige real estate agent has taken a millionaire hotel tycoon to court, claiming he owes her more than $200,000 in commission over the sale of one of Sydney's most expensive homes.

Real estate agent Alison Coopes, who has amassed more than $100million in luxury sales, sold lucrative hotelier Marcus Levy a mansion in Sydney's exclusive Vaucluse for $6.36 million in 2015.

Then in 2018, Mr Levy - the proprietor of Marvan Hotels - sold the renovated property for a staggering $20.8 million to millionaire Jing Wang.

Luxury real estate agent Alison Coopes (left), who has amassed more than $100million in luxury sales, claims she is owed more than $200,000 in commission

Marcus Levy (pictured with his wife Vanessa) - the proprietor of Marvan Hotels - sold his Vaucluse property for a staggering $20.8 million to Jing Wang in 2018

Real estate agent Alison Coopes sold Marcus Levy a mansion (pictured) in Sydney's Vaucluse for $6.36 million in 2015, before he went on to sell it for $20.8million in 2018

The sale went through Danny Doff from Laing & Simmons and Michael Pallier of Sothebys International Realty after Mr Levy had entered into a separate agreement with them.

However Ms Coopes alleges she is entitled to a hefty commission because she had introduced Mr Levy to Mr Wang, the Daily Telegraph reports.

It's estimated the commission on a property of its calibre would be worth between 1 and 1.5 per cent, or $200,000-$300,000.

Ms Coopes' company Eastern Prime Pty Ltd has started legal proceedings against Mr Levy in the New South Wales District Court.

The three-storey mansion at the centre of the court stoush comes with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, home cinema, gym, rooftop terrace and swimming pool.

Following the sale to Jing Wang, My Levy snapped up a $28million home a few doors down, where he lives with his wife Vanessa Sanchez-Levy and their three children.

The palatial home has its own boathouse, infinity pool, gym, spa and 1000-bottle wine cellar.

Mrs Sanchez-Levy, a former Aerobics Oz Style star, is the daughter of Spanish property developer Michael Sanchez.
A private equity firm sunk Seafolly into $7million worth of losses before the iconic Australian swimwear brand fell into voluntary administration, it has been revealed.

The bikini brand announced last week that Scott Langdon and Rahul Goyal from KordaMentha Restructuring were appointed as administrators.

Private equity firm L Catterton Asia bought a 70 per cent stake in the swimwear brand in December 2014 and two years ago acquired the remaining 30 per cent, AFR reported.

Seafolly announced the iconic swimwear brand had fallen into voluntary administration. Pictured: A model promotes a Seafolly bikini on the runway

ASIC filings reveal Seafolly sales rose to $131.5million in 2017 but dropped to $124.3million in 2018 - during the first full year under the firm's ownership.

The pre-tax losses jumped from $3.2million to $7.2million following inventory writedowns and redundancy costs, and L Catterton lent the fashion brand $5million in 2018.

The firm planned to combine Seafolly with South American swimwear brand Maaji to create a 'Sephora of swimwear' and bring sales to $US500 million by 2022.

Seafolly had global sales of $119.7million in 2019 and $112million for the past 12 months, to the end of December, according to an information memorandum given to prospective buyers.

More than 50 potential buyers have expressed interest in the retailer, despite its recent performance. They have until July 12 to lodge indicative bids.

'Due to softening market conditions following COVID-19, Seafolly presents a unique opportunity to buy one of Australia's most iconic brands,' the information memorandum said.

Private equity firm L Catterton Asia planned to combine Seafolly with South American swimwear brand Maaji to create a 'Sephora of swimwear' and bring sales to $US500 million by 2022

Seafolly suffered financially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, their administrators said.

'Seafolly made the appointment because of the crippling financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,' a statement from KordamMentha said.

Mr Langdon said the company will operate as usual while the business is assessed.

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 is one of the most well-known swimwear brands in Australia.

Pictured: Models walk the runway during the Seafolly Australia show in Paris, France

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.
Overseas tourists will be able to visit Bali in just eight weeks after the island shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

International travellers will be able to visit the popular holiday destination from September 11, and domestic tourists from July 31, Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced on Sunday.

The island will undergo three phases to recover its economy that was crippled in the wake of the virus outbreak - with the last stage set to allow international visitors.

But as coronavirus cases continue to climb in Indonesia, experts have warned there are more deaths to come and holidaymakers should move with 'caution'.

International travellers will be able to visit the Indonesian island from September 11, and domestic tourists from July 31, Bali Governor, Wayan Koster announced on Sunday. Pictured: travellers in Seminyak, Bali

Bali will undergo a three phase plan to recover the economy that was crippled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured Potato Head Beach Club in Seminyak, Bali

Governor Koster urged Bali locals to ensure they continue to wear face masks, socially distance and 'diligently wash hands'.

'I must underline that these plans will only come to reality with God's blessing as well as co-operation, collective responsibility and solidarity from all layers of Balinese society,' he said.

'Reopening the tourism industry will help restart the economy in a phased manner.'

The first phase which will come into effect from July 9 will allow businesses to reopen in Bali.

A string of services like markets, restaurants, finance, construction and health will all start operating again.

Tours and tourism attractions across the island will also be reopened as part of the second phase on July 31 as domestic travellers are allowed to visit.

This will include beaches, temples, waterfalls and other popular tourist activities.

The third phase on September 11 is set to allow international visitors.

Tours and tourism attractions across the island will be reopened as part of the second phase on July 31 as domestic travellers are allowed to visit. Pictured tourists at beach bar in Seminyak

Tourists crowd on the beach before the coronavirus lockdown in February in Kuta, Bali

Gusti Ngurah Mahardika, a virologist from Bali's Udayana University, warned Indonesia was only now hitting its peak in COVID-19 cases.

'The number of infections we are seeing in Bali is just the tip of the iceberg; at the same time, the number of COVID-19 deaths is increasing,' Dr Mahardika told The Australian.

'I would suggest the Bali administration sit and discuss with experts, analyse the data and evaluate the situation based on that.'

Despite the warnings surrounding social distancing, more than 100 tourists were photographed last month at an illegal yoga event.

Instructor Wissam Barakeh, 45 was responsible for holding a yoga retreat in Bali's cultural hub Ubud which sparked outrage across the island.

He was previously forced to make an apology after images of the The House of Om event showed tourists crammed into a tiny space with no face masks in sight.

Barakeh has since been arrested, and is being held at an immigration centre until his deportation flights to his home country of Syria are arranged.

More than 100 western foreigners breached social distancing rules at mass gathering held at The House of Om retreat in Bali last month (pictured)

Australians are banned from travelling overseas unless they have an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.

Bali's economy took a devastating blow when the island went into lockdown in April as it relies almost entirely on tourism.

Shocking photos emerged last month showing the streets of the once-thriving Indonesian island empty, with hundreds of stores, hotels and cafes closed.

Poppies Lanes, a famous market street in Kuta which are usually filled with colourful stalls, are now bare. The laneways appear derelict with graffiti covering the grey walls.

Foreign tourist arrivals into Indonesia plunged more than 60 per cent in March, compared to the same month last year, with Chinese arrivals sliding more than 97 per cent.

Hotel occupancy, one of Bali's largest industries, was at just 2 per cent in May.

Bali has had 1,940 cases of COVID-19 and 25 deaths.

Indonesia has had more than 66,000 cases and 3,309 deaths.

Kuta beach in Bali (pictured) is empty as the beaches are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that boasts about a low death rate don't present the full picture of how dangerous COVID-19 can be.

Fauci, speaking at an event hosted by Democratic Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, said 'it's a false narrative to take comfort in the lower death rate,' according to Axios.

'There's so many other things that are dangerous and bad about the virus,' he continued. 'Don't get into false complacency,' the nation's top infectious disease expert warned.

Dr. Anthony Fauci participated in a talk Tuesday with Alabama's Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, saying during the livestreamed event that boasting about a low death rate was a 'false narrative'

Dr. Anthony Fauci talked about the seriousness of the coronavirus in a livestreamed event with Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat whose seat President Trump and Republicans are targeting

President Trump tweeted about the low death rate Tuesday and then repeated it again during an event Tuesday afternoon that revolved around getting schools opened back up in the fall

Also on Tuesday, Fauci had said the U.S. was 'knee-deep' in the first wave of coronavirus cases.

Fauci's warning stands in contrast to the narrative President Trump has tried to push as he continues to push for the American economy to open, despite the rise in COVID-19 cases.

On Tuesday, Trump pointed at the death rate as he encouraged governors to open schools in the fall.

'Again, mortality rate the lowest of anywhere in the world,' Trump reminded the group.

He had tweeted a similar message earlier.

'We have the lowest Mortality Rate in the World. The Fake News should be reporting these most important of facts, but they dont!' the president wrote.

And over the weekend, Trump claimed that '99 per cent' of COVID-19 cases are 'harmless.'

Fauci acknowledged that the death rate was likely lower because the population that's getting the coronavirus is younger, on average, by 15 years, compared to the Americans infected at the beginning of the outbreak.

'The younger you are, the better you do, and the less likely you're gonna get seriously ill and die,' Fauci said.

The Broadway community was rocked on Sunday by news of the death of 41-year-old actor Nick Cordero, who died of COVID-19 complications

But youth was no guarantee of surviving the virus.

Fauci talked of 'multiple examples of young people who are getting sick, getting hospitalized, and some of them even requiring intensive care.'

The Broadway theater community was rocked Sunday with a worst-case scenario, when 41-year-old actor Nick Cordero passed away after fighting complications of COVID-19 for months, including have his leg amputated.

Neera Tanden, who runs the left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress in Washington, described her own battle with COVID-19 on Twitter Monday.

'I am healthy, under 50, exercise regularly, and this virus hit me for 6 weeks. This messaging will kill people,' she said, linking to a clip of White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows saying, 'the vast majority of people are safe from this.'
Police have identified the 82-year-old man who opened fire on a family at their Florida home - killing a father and his 11-year-old daughter - before dying during a gunfight with authorities.

Guy Alexander Hansman, 55, and his daughter, Harper Hansman, were fatally gunned down by their neighbor - identified by investigators as Ronald Delserro - at their Port Lucie home on Monday.

The Port St. Lucie Police Department shared that the killing spawned from a March 4 altercation where Delserro's bull mastiff attacked a woman living inside the victims' home.

Officers said that a judge had determined on Monday that the dog was dangerous, and said Delserro went to confront his neighbors.

It was also revealed that Harper dialed 911 to alert cops that her parents had been attacked before being shot herself.

Guy Alexander Hansman, 55, and his daughter, Harper Hansman, were fatally gunned down by their neighbor at their Port Lucie home on Monday

Harper is believed to have called 911 and told authorities that someone was shooting at her parents

Police arrived to the scene on the block of 2500 block of Southeast Morningside Boulevard on Monday and exchanged fire with Delserro. He was armed with two pistols, WPTV reports.

Delserro was found dead inside the home by a SWAT team. It is unclear how he died.

'I believe this to be an intentional act of violence against these neighbors,' Port St. Lucie Assistant Police Chief Richard DelToro said on Monday. 'It's tragic. You can't rationalize irrational behavior.'

Friends and loved ones shared photos of the two victims in tributes posted on Facebook, with neighbors initially posting photos of Harper.

Investigators were still processing the scene on Tuesday. Port St. Lucie Animal Control arrived at around noon on Tuesday to retrieve the dog.

Police shared that the killing spawned from a March 4 altercation where Ronald Delserro's bull mastiff attacked a woman inside the victim's home

Port St. Lucie Animal Control arrived at around noon on Tuesday to retrieve the dog

Authorities rushed to a home in the 2500 block of of SE Morningside Boulevard in Port St. Lucie shortly at around 12.30pm when Harper called 911 and said someone was shooting at her parents.

'If you heard this 911 call it would make the hairs on your neck stand up. A little girl calls 911 and says there's someone shooting in our house, I think our parents are dead. I think our family is dead,' said St Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara.

He said officers found the adult male victim already dead in the garage, and added the 11-year-old girl was critically wounded and later died at a hospital.

At least two other victims managed to escape the house and were transported to the hospital. Their conditions are unknown.

A contractor said that he saw the gunman's wife just after the gunfire happened.

'She said, I hope he didn't do something stupid,' Ray Layfield said.

A Florida man and a 13-year-old girl were shot dead on Monday after a dispute with a neighbor over his dangerous dog

Police rushed to the scene in the 2500 block of of SE Morningside Boulevard in Port St. Lucie after the girl called 911 and said someone was shooting at her parents

The shooting appeared to stem from a dispute over the dog, Port St. Lucie Police Department Assistant Chief Richard Del Toro said.

'The dog was declared dangerous today in court, and he owned the dog and he went over there to confront his neighbors and this is what happened,' Del Toro said, according to Treasure Coast Newspapers.

Authorities said a Port St. Lucie police officer also suffered a gunshot wound to his arm in the shooting. He is expected to recover.

Port St. Lucie Police Department Assistant Chief Richard Del Toro said the gunman's dog was declared dangerous by a judge in court on Monday morning

'Our officers encountered the suspect inside the victim's home,' Del Toro said. 'Our officers and a deputy, actually, who was working at the school across the street responded to the scene immediately and exchanged gunfire with the suspect.'

According to police, the gunman barricaded himself inside the victims' house for two hours before a SWAT team entered the residence and found him dead in a second-floor bedroom, reported CBS12.

'It's shocking and tragic. It's not characteristic for this neighborhood or the city, but we are going to do everything we can to find all the reasons why,' Del Toro said.
A 15-year-old boy whose dad was shot dead in a random ambush attack while they were offroading managed to escape the gunman and survived alone in the forest for 30 hours before he was rescued.

Jack Gershman had to hike for an hour through a Sierra Nevada forest to get signal on his cellphone and managed to call for help with just one percent battery remaining after a gunman killed his 45-year-old father Dr Ari Gershman.

The father and son had been enjoying a trip off-roading in their brand new Jeep Rubicon in Tahoe National Forest on Friday when they were attacked by a gunman who had already shot two people in a separate attack, authorities said.

The attack happened near Downieville, California - a remote area 80 miles northeast of Sacramento and 55 miles west of Reno, Nevada.

Jack Gershman, 15, was finally able to get through to rescuers with just 1% battery power on his phone before he spent more than 30 hours in a Sierra Nevada forest after a gunman killed his father, Dr Ari Gershman (pictured with family) and wounded two others in separate attacks

Jack (pictured with siblings) fled and called police to say he was lost, according to the Sierra County Sheriff's Office

While it's unclear exactly where Jack was found, this map depicts the whereabouts of Jack and his father before the shooting and where the gunman was arrested

The pair had set out at around 9:30am, and had only read about the trail before leaving.

At around 4.30pm they pulled up to ask for directions from the suspect, who was driving an ATV.

Ari's cousin, Marlo Meyers-Barer, told the San Francisco Chronicle, that the man started shooting 'out of nowhere'.

'Ari stepped on the gas to get out of harms way, but one of the shots ripped through the seat and hit him. He was able to get the Jeep stopped so Jack was able to run into the forest to hide,' Meyers-Barer said.

Meyers-Barer said Gershman collapsed and died from the gunshot wound at the scene.

Just before the shooting, Gershman's wife, Paige, who was diagnosed six weeks ago with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, had sent a text to her husband letting him know that she received promising test results.

She had previously been tracking their progress on the trip using her phone.

Because her husband is a doctor, Paige said she thought it was odd he didn't respond.

Gershman 'was an avid bicyclist, a vegetarian, an outdoorsman, an internal medicine doctor, a devoted and loving father and fantastic friend that was willing to drop anything for his friends and family,' according to the GoFundMe page

Jack then explained that it had taken him an hour to climb to find signal for his cell phone, which was only at 1 per cent battery power when he made the call. Jack was found in good condition on July 4 in Tahoe National Forest (file image)

According to Meyes-Barer, Jack called 911 before calling his mother, around 5.30pm.

During the call, Jack told his mother: 'Dad's been shot and I think he's dead and I'm running away, uphill and I don't know where I am.'

Jack then explained that it had taken him an hour to climb to find signal for his cell phone, which was only at one per cent battery power when he made the call.

Meyes-Barer and Paige drove four hours to Downieville, and on the way received messages Jack had tried to send earlier in the day.

Meyers-Barer said: 'He said he was sorry and to tell his brother and sister he loved them. And he loved his mom. It was gut-wrenching.'

When they arrived, deputies at a sheriff's office broke the news that Gershman had been found dead and Jack was still missing.

Rescuers contacted network provider AT&T to help track pings on Jack's phone despite it being out of battery power.

According to the Chronicle, the satellites still managed to pick up signals to triangulate his location that helped guide a group of about 70 searchers to Jack.

When they were within half a mile of the location given to them by AT&T, rescuers started shouting Jack's name until they heard a reply.

Jack's family spent 24 hours listening to a radio in the basement of the Sierra County Sheriff's Office before rescuers were able to find him in the forest.

The sheriff's office said the boy was found in good condition on July 4. Jack had been alone in the forest for more than 30 hours.

It took about five hours for authorities to extricate Jack from the forest and he was covered in bug bites because he was only wearing shorts and t-shirt.

Jack told authorities that he was able to get water from a stream he came across while walking in the forest.

According to a family member, Jack called 911 before calling his mother, Paige around 5.30pm. During the call, Jack told his mother: 'Dad's been shot and I think he's dead and I'm running away, uphill and I don't know where I am'

In addition to his son, Gershman is survived by two other children, Evan, 16, and Maci, 10, and by his wife, Paige (pictured together), who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, according to the GoFundMe page

Shortly after finding the boy, authorities spotted the suspect in an all-terrain vehicle, and chased him down on Saturday, the sheriff's office said.

The Sierra County District Attorneys Office said no charges had been filed as of Tuesday.

The same man is believed to have shot two other people during a separate attack in the same area on Friday.

According to the Chronicle, the gunman had previously shot a person who found him rummaging through their belongings.

The gunman reportedly fled in an ATV, before shooting a woman nearby who was walking her dog.

Both of the victims were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post.

There was no immediate word on a motive for the shooting of Gershman.

Gershman 'was an avid bicyclist, a vegetarian, an outdoorsman, an internal medicine doctor, a devoted and loving father and fantastic friend that was willing to drop anything for his friends and family,' according to a GoFundMe page which is raising money for the family.

'He was witty and wise. He died doing what he loved with his son in an area he had hoped to retire in one day.'

In addition to his son, Gershman is survived by two other children, Evan, 16, and Maci, 10, and by his wife, Paige.

Paige is currently undergoing chemotherapy for the Hodgkins Lymphoma, according to the GoFundMe page.
A pregnant convicted fraudster who stole thousands from her childcare centre employers to fund a lavish wedding will not have to give birth in prison.

Claudia Gelonese fronted the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday where prosecutors agreed to suspend the remainder of her sentence, according to News Corp.

The 26-year-old, who is now seven months pregnant, was released on bail in February, having served one month, after she lodged an appeal against her 'harsh' seven month fraud sentence.

Prosecutors on Tuesday agreed to suspending her sentence with time already served since her appeal hearing was delayed because of coronavirus.

If she was put back in jail, her September due date would have arrived with her in a cell.

Prosecutors agreed that Gelonese should not have to give birth behind bars after she defrauded a childcare centre

Convicted fraudster Claudia Gelonese on her wedding day

'[The prosecution] has taken what I consider to be an approach that is characterised by its practicality, reasonableness and fairness.' Justice Michael Elkaim said.

He said as a result of COVID-19 delaying cases and 'unsatisfactory' result would have emerged by sending Gelonese back to prison.

Gelonese was accompanied to her court appearance on Tuesday by a throng of supporters including her Instagram influencer sister.

Despite her sentence being changed, she will still be forced to pay back more then $7,000 she stole from her former employer, Bright Bees Early Learning Centre.

She obtained the money by giving parents her personal bank details instead of the centre's.

She used that money to fund her dream wedding on Sydney Harbour complete with Rolls Royces and a reception party at Luna Park.

The court heard she also borrowed $10,000 from Bright Bees Early Learning Centre owner Amresh Kumar after she claimed she 'urgently needed' the cash.

The family owned childcare centre is reportedly now struggling financially after the loan and fraud.

At her previous court appearance she refused to comment to waiting media and tried to shield her face from cameras when confronted by crews outside the court.

'Leave me alone. Goodness,' she was quoted as saying by the Canberra Times.

In January, Gelonese wept in court after she pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one count of breaching a good behaviour order.

Gelonese also used a work credit card to pay for a shopping spree on Etsy and to hire a graphic designer to make her wedding invitations.

A victim impact statement from her former boss Mr Kumar revealed the centre faced scrutiny from regulators under Gelonese's watch.

The centre was warned for breaching industry regulators, and Mr Kumar said Gelonese's record keeping could have had safety implications.

'She was so concerned by taking money  she wasn't focusing on the job and was putting children at risk,' he said.
Refusing to wear a face mask should be as taboo as drink driving, experts believe, amid fears that Britain is lagging behind other countries on use of the coverings.

Professor Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, president of the Royal Society, said: 'It used to be quite normal to have quite a few drinks and drive home, and it also used to be normal to drive without seat belts.

'Today both of those would be considered anti-social, and not wearing face coverings in public should be regarded in the same way.'

Matt Hancock confirmed that he would be reviewing the evidence particularly as the virus is so transmissible in crowded places indoors and acknowledged they are an important part of our armoury.

Professor Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, president of the Royal Society, said: 'It used to be quite normal to have quite a few drinks and drive home, and it also used to be normal to drive without seat belts. Today both of those would be considered anti-social, and not wearing face coverings in public should be regarded in the same way.'

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock is pictured answering a question related to coronavirus in the House of Commons, London yesterday. Hancock confirmed yesterday that he would be reviewing the evidence on whether face masks should be made mandatory indoors

Sir Venki's research found just 25 per cent of Britons had used a face mask as of April compared with 83 per cent in Italy and 66 per cent in the US.

The academic claimed that many remained overly sceptical about the coverings despite solid evidence in their favour, although he conceded there was 'no silver bullet' against this pandemic.

He said he'd like the Government to 'be a bit stronger and clearer about the messaging' and require masks for any crowded public spaces where two metre distancing is impossible.

The professor said: 'The UK is way behind many countries in terms of wearing masks and clear policies and guidelines about mask wearing for the public. The public have taken to handwashing and distancing but remain sceptical about face coverings.

'You only need to go on public transport, where they are supposed to be mandatory, to see how many people are ignoring this new rule based on the growing body of evidence that wearing a mask will help protect others  and might even protect you.'

He argued that it was a 'small price to pay' and that people should learn to pack their mask when they leave the house as if it were another item of clothing.

Sir Venki said it was simply 'the new normal' and one which our European neighbours had taken in their stride.

It comes as Scotland is to make face masks mandatory in shops from Friday although First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged customers to get into the habit of using them sooner.

A Retail worker wearing PPE (personal protective equipment), including a face mask as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, works in the window display of a UNIQLO store on Oxford Street in London on June 12, 2020

In the Commons yesterday Mr Hancock was asked by Labour MP Clive Betts whether he would reconsider the guidance for England.

Mr Betts said: 'Will he look again at the lack of any advice on wearing face masks in supermarkets and other shops, as surely its just as easy to catch the virus in a supermarket queue as in a bus?'

The Health Secretary replied very simply yes he would. He also confirmed he would be looking into whether people who didnt have to wear coverings on public transport for medical reasons, for example, should be forced to display badges.

Later, when discussing the wearing of face masks more generally, he added: 'The use of face coverings that are not formal face masks is valuable especially in some circumstances and therefore its mandated on public transport and it has been long recommended in some shops.

'Face coverings are an incredibly important part of our armoury.'

A Department of Health source said that while Mr Hancock was not planning on issuing any immediate guidelines on wearing face masks in shops, the issue was being kept under constant review.

And a Downing Street spokesman said: 'Face coverings can help us protect others and reduce the spread of the virus if people are infected but not showing symptoms.'
The brutal murder of a young mum and her three kids was so harrowing that Queensland's first female police officer had to go and sit alone in her office, she has admitted.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll had been at the helm for seven months when the horrific deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children in Brisbane shocked the nation.

The violent tragedy rocked the state's top cop to her core, she revealed in an interview to make her first year in the coveted role.

Former rugby league player Rowan Baxter doused his estranged wife and their three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, in petrol and set their car alight in the leafy suburb of Camp Hill in February.

Commissioner Carroll vividly remembers the moment she received the first text about the incident, which she described as the 'worst of the worst'.

Hannah Clarke (pictured, right, with her grandmother, left) and children Trey, Laianah and Aaliyah were doused in petrol and set alight by her estranged husband in February

'I got the first message from my phone while I was in a meeting,' she told the Courier Mail.

'And I walked out and sat in my office over the river and thought to myself, "really, really? Could this actually be happening? Oh my god, could this really be happening in our community?".

As Wednesday marked her first anniversary in the top job, she explained the tragedy is 'by far the hardest case' she had to deal with in her career.

She described her meetings with Ms Clarke's family and the first police officers at the horrific scene in the days that followed as the hardest, most 'heartwrenching and heartbreaking of the last 12 months'.

Commissioner Carroll has vowed to overhaul the system in the hope of stopping the domestic violence scourge so similar tragedies never happen again.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll (right) was seven months into her role at the time. She is pictured at Hannah Clarke's funeral next to Hannah's parents Lloyd and Suzanne

The Commissioner will never forget learning about the horrific deaths of Hannah Clarke and her three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, (pictured)

She added society needs to learn from the deaths of Hannah Clarke, Alison Baden-Clay and other women who have fallen victim to domestic violence.

'It is tragic,' she added, saying domestic violence deaths should not be happening in a 'contemporary and modern society'.

Other defining events for Commissioner Carroll include the recent Black Lives Matter protests and policing the state's pandemic lockdown.

Restrictions will be eased on Friday when Queensland opens up its borders to New South Wales for the first time in three months.

Commissioner Carroll admitted the recent death of US citizen George Floyd at the hands of police that sparked the worldwide movement was avoidable.

She also understands why thousands of Australians have since taken to the streets to voice their anger.

Rowan Baxter (pictured, left) doused his estranged wife and their three children Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, in petrol and set their car alight in a tragedy that shocked the nation

Commissioner Katarina Carroll described February's tragedy as the 'worst of the worst' (pictured is the torched car being towed away)

She hopes to celebrate her first anniversary as commissioner with a post-work glass of wine on Wednesday night.

Commissioner Carroll joined Queensland Police in 1983 after studying criminal justice at Griffith University.

Women made up just four cent cent of the police force at the time.

But it didn't stop Commissioner Carroll from working her way up the ranks to detective in high-profile units such as the drug squad, criminal investigation unit and organised crime taskforce.

She led Queensland's security efforts at the 2014 Brisbane G20 summit and began her four year stint Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner the following year before she took over from retiring Police Commissioner Ian Stewart last July.

She is Queenslands 20th Police Commissioner and the first woman in the top job in the services 159-year history.
Prince Andrew is caught in a dilemma over whether to condemn Ghislaine Maxwell after her arrest for child sex trafficking charges because 'this is not a good time to make enemies', according to insiders.

The Duke of York has so far declined to comment after Maxwell was arrested and charged for grooming underage girls and sex trafficking them for Jeffrey Epstein.

The 58-year-old socialite - who once mixed with celebrities, presidents and royalty at high-class parties - is now bedding in at the Metropolitan Detention Center, once described by a judge as 'like a third-world country'.

Sources have now revealed how Andrew is 'agonising' over whether to condemn Maxwell as he tries to save his own reputation.

Prince Andrew is 'agonising' over whether to condemn Ghislaine Maxwell as he tries to save his own reputation

He is also still facing the prospect of being quizzed by the FBI over his relationship with Maxwell and convicted paedophile Epstein.

A source told the Telegraph: 'Voltaire on his deathbed, who was asked by the priest to renounce the devil, replied: ''This is no time to be making enemies''.

'The same applies to Prince Andrew. He is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. This doesn't seem a good time for him to publicly come out and criticise her. It would seem bad timing to do that now.'

Andrew has previously been criticised for not publicly condemning Epstein and for saying he did not regret their friendship.

Now, eyes are again on the Duke to see how he will react to the imprisonment of Maxwell, a close personal friend of 30 years.

Earlier this week, a photograph of Maxwell and actor Kevin Spacey sitting on the Queen and Prince Philip's Coronation thrones emerged.

Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts, aged 17 at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London

Maxwell had a private tour of Buckingham Palace organised by the Duke of York and sat on a throne, in breach of royal protocol, it has been reported.

She is now due in court on Friday on four counts of grooming and child sex trafficking and two separate charges of perjury.

Maxwell, the daughter of the disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell, is being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, described as a 'hell hole' by a former warden.

Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by the financier, alleges Prince Andrew had sex with her on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
A seven-year-old girl has died after she was swept away by rapid currents which pulled her over waterfalls as she swam with her mother at a popular beauty spot.

Freya Skene and Brooke Reid, 26, were playing at the Hermitage near Dunkeld, Perthshire, on Monday evening when they were swept away by the rapid current and plunged down a series of waterfalls.

The heartbroken mother yesterday described how she tried to cling to her daughter as they bounced off rocks but lost her in the rising waters of the Black Linn Pool.

The pair were pulled from the water at around 7pm on Monday and taken to Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee, where Freya was declared dead.

A seven-year-old girl has died after falling over a waterfall as she swam with her mother at a popular beauty spot

Her mother Brooke Reid (pictured), who was released after treatment, described the tragedy in an emotional social media post

Her mother, who was released after treatment, described the tragedy in an emotional social media post.

Ms Reid described Freya (pictured) as her 'little guardian angel' and said she was 'so kind, caring, bubbly and determined in life'

The charity worker, from Dundee, told how she had managed to grab on to a rock but lost sight of her daughter  who was pulled out of the water by a friend further downstream. The little girl is believed to have died 'instantly'.

Writing on Facebook she said: 'We had to say goodbye to our best friend, our life, our world, our everything. I stayed with Freya the whole night and most of today before she was taken away.

'Everyone tried their best and I couldn't be any more grateful for the emergency teams all out trying to save us.'

Describing the incident she said: 'Me and Freya were in a freak accident that had us pulled down multiple waterfalls.

'We were playing in the fairy pools and next minute out of nowhere a current hit us both and swept us.

'I tried my very best to hold on and grab every rock in the passing but before I knew it we had lost each other.

'I was lucky to survive but sadly our poor baby girl passed away. I believe this was instant for her.

'Emergency teams treated us both as best as they could. My heart and everyone else's within the families are broken.

'We were having such a good day, how could this happen, how could our baby girl be taken away from us so suddenly, how did I survive?

Freya Skene (pictured) and Ms Reid, 26, were playing at the Hermitage near Dunkeld, Perthshire, on Monday evening when they were swept away by the rapid current and plunged down a series of waterfalls

'She was so kind, caring, bubbly and determined in life.'

Miss Reid described her daughter as a 'cheeky little devil', adding: 'I'll miss her so much and I don't know how life will be without her but together as a family we are going to do everything we can to make sure she's always remembered.'

The post added: 'Freya Ava Skene we will always love you and we were so proud to have you in our life for that short time.

'Like I have said from the beginning when you came into my life and saved me. You're my little guardian angel and now you truly are. I love you honey bunch.'

A Gofundme page set up by a friend had last night raised more than 12,000 to help with funeral costs.

Friend Sean McKiddle, who pulled Freya from the water, wrote on Facebook: 'Absolutely devastated. This doesn't feel real. RIP Freya, you will be missed by so many.'

Freya's father, Robert Skene, also posted a tribute to his daughter and said: 'Me and Brooke sadly lost our beautiful baby girl last night.

The heartbroken mother yesterday described how she tried to cling to her daughter as they bounced off rocks but lost her in the rising waters of the Black Linn Pool. Pictured: Part of the Hermitage

'Until we meet again Freya Skene, love you always and forever my baby.'

Loved ones yesterday visited the spot, which is popular with dog walkers and wild swimmers, to leave flowers.

Police said inquiries were on-going but the death was not being treated as suspicious.

It came as three children and an adult were rescued from the water off Dunbar, in East Lothian, after getting into difficulty near Belhaven Bay at around 6.10pm on Monday.

Their condition is not known.
The 24-year-old man who is accused of shooting a police officer dead during a routine traffic stop has denied the charges against him.

New Zealand police officer constable Matthew Hunt, 28, was shot during a traffic stop in Massey, Auckland, on June 19.

A second officer was shot in the leg while a pedestrian was hit by the car, according to Newshub.

The man charged over the shooting denied the three charges of murder, attempted murder and dangerous driving causing injury, in Auckland's High Court on Wednesday.

New Zealand Police officer Constable Matthew Hunt (pictured), 28, was shot during a traffic stop in Massey, Auckland, on June 19

A woman, 30, who is also accused of being an accessory to the murder. She also denied the charge.

Both suspects have their identities suppressed by the court.

The pair have been held in prison since their arrests and neither spoke during the appearance.

Constable Hunt joined the police force in 2017.

Naila Hassan, Waitemata District Commander Superintendent, paid tribute to Constable Hunt last month.

'Matt is an outstanding police officer, he passionately expressed his desire to serve his community,' Hassan said, according to Radio NZ.

'He was killed serving his country, there is no higher price.'

Officers tribute constable Hunt with flowers at the scene of his death on June 21

A minutes silence was held and flags were flown at half-mast in constable Hunt's honour earlier this month.

A private funeral service will take place for constable Hunt on Thursday after it was pushed back so family and friends who needed to travel could complete their isolation.

The trial will begin in July 2021.
A doctor at one of Melbourne's largest hospitals has tested positive for coronavirus as the city prepares to enter its first day of lockdown.

The doctor worked at St Vincents Hospital, in Melbourne's inner-city suburb Fitzroy, before he was swabbed on Monday.

So far, 15 of his colleagues have been forced into isolation.

A spokesman from St Vincent's Hospital told Daily Mail Australia: 'A doctor in one of the acute medical teams at St Vincents Hospital Melbourne has tested positive to COVID-19.'

A doctor in an acute medical team at St Vincent's Hospital (pictured) in Melbourne has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus after attending work on Monday

St Vincent's Hospital confirmed that 15 employees had been placed in a precautionary quarantine because of potential exposure (pictured, health workers in Melbourne on Tuesday)

'There has been no operational impact on our services.

'15 employees are in precautionary quarantine, as a result of potential exposure,' the spokesperson said.

Health authorities have also begun contract tracing to identify anyone who may be infected.

'We are working closely with the Department of Health and Human Services and our Infection Control team is providing support,' the spokesman explained.

The development comes as the greater Melbourne area prepares to enter a six week coronavirus lockdown at midnight on Wednesday.

The news comes as Melbourne prepares to enter a stage 3 lockdown for six weeks after an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases (pictured: a pop up hospital in Melbourne on Tuesday

Victoria recorded an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases with 191 new cases reported on Tuesday and 134 more cases on Wednesday.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced Victoria's move to stage 3 lockdown on Tuesday afternoon.

This means restaurants, cafes and gyms will be forced to close their doors once again.

'The public health team has advised me to reimpose stage three stay-at-home restrictions, staying at home except for the four reasons to leave, effective from midnight tomorrow night for a period of six weeks,' he told reporters.

The New South Wales-Victoria border was shut indefinitely at 12.01am on Wednesday and prompted a mad rush to leave the state (pictured: returned travellers at Sydney Airport _

The stay-at-home order will see residents confined to their homes unless they have an essential reason to leave.

These four reasons include shopping for essential items, exercise, attending work or school and providing care.

The New South Wales-Victoria border has also been closed indefinitely for the first time in a century and was shut at 12.01am on Wednesday.

Road closures are in place across the borders and people travelling from Victoria are now required to have a permit and self isolate upon entering NSW.
A sexual predator who groped a 12-year-old boy at a shopping centre has been jailed for just two years after a judge ruled the man had simply 'misread the situation'.

Fouad 'Fred' Hasna, 50, claimed the boy gave him 'signals' and a 'sexual look' before entering a Bass Hill Plaza public toilet in 2017 - also known as a 'gay cruising' spot.

The married dad also exposed himself to the little boy, forced his hand onto his penis and slapped him - but claimed to not know he was underage.

But despite the disturbing attack, a judge claimed the father-of-two had 'misread the situation' and was not a threat to the community, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Parramatta District Court Judge Robyn Tupman described the prison sentence as 'unfortunate' and an 'undesirable outcome for everyone.'

Married father-of-two Fouad Hasna (pictured) was jailed over indecent assault after forcing a 12-year-old boy into a public toilet and grabbing his genitals before exposing himself

'He believed the victim gave him a sexual look, which he read as the victim being interested in having sexual contact with him,' she said.

'I do not accept the victim did any such thing but I do accept the offender thought this was the case.

'I accept he did not know the victim was as young as 12, almost 13 and under 16.'

The judge told the court the victim appeared to be a 'relatively tall young man' on CCTV footage and did look older than 12.

But Judge Tupman also added: 'He was clearly a young man, at least 30 years younger than the offender.'

Hasna claimed the boy had given him the 'sexual look' prior to entering the public toilet which prompted him to follow the child inside.

He claimed to hear the boy masturbating in the cubicle, which aroused him.

'I was obviously aroused by what he was doing, he was masturbating in the cubicle. I could hear him and see him and hear the breathing,' he said.

When the boy left the cubicle, the court heard Hasna pushed him back in before grabbing the child's genitals and 'playfully slapping him'.

Hasna already had his own genitals in his hand before forcing the protesting child to his knees, telling him 'I know you want my penis' while the boy was asking him to stop.

'I got it all wrong. I misread it,' he told the court. 'By the look of it I thought he was an adult.'

A public toilet at the Bass Hill Plaza (pictured) was known to be a 'gay cruising' spot in 2017

Judge Tupman slammed the Sydney father for 'victim blaming' and asked if he'd gone out that day 'cruising' for other men.

'Did you think he was a rent boy and was playing hard to get? You were cruising and you thought you got yourself something,' she said.

The defendant tried to claim he repeatedly went inside the public toilet prior to the attack due to 'severe diarrhoea'.

But Judge Tupman rejected the claims and said he had been 'cruising' at the well-known gay beat actively seeking out a sexual encounter.

Hasna said he had 'a very happy married life' and claimed his homosexual tendencies were only a result of a mental illness that arose from an accident in 2011.

Hasna pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault on a child under 16 and will serve a non-parole period of two years and three months in prison (stock image)

'I brought so much shame to myself and my family and so much distress onto the young person,' he said.

'I couldn't live with myself knowing this person is close to the age of my youngest son.'

Judge Tupman said she was concerned Hasna related his same-sex interest to a mental illness.

'I found it extremely distressing that this person before me was prepared to be labelled a paedophile rather than accepting what he was, be that homosexual or bisexual,' she said.

Judge Tupman slammed the Sydney father for 'victim blaming' and asked if he'd gone out that day 'cruising' for other men (stock image)

'His homosexual tendencies amount to self-loathing on his part. He was cruising and he could not control himself that night.'

Judge Tupman said he is not a paedophile. He did not target the victim because he was 12, and he did not believe the child was under 16.

'He does not present, in my view, a risk to the community as a paedophile or as a sex offender,' she said.

Hasna pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault on a child under 16 and will serve a non-parole period of two years and three months in prison.

With time served Hasna will be eligible for release in February, 2021.
The number of new COVID-19 cases could significantly spike in Victoria to 3000 per day by the end of the month - if the state's second lockdown is not taken seriously, an expert has warned.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy, of the University of Sydney, said his prediction of Victoria's cases jumping to a new daily high - more than 24 times the 134 new cases reported on Wednesday - would only be plausible if the lockdown was not adhered to.

He urged Australians, particularly those in hotspots in Victoria, to continue social distancing and hygiene practices - even when a vaccine arrives.

Workers in personal protective equipment in Melbourne. Nine public housing estates are in mandatory lockdown and two additional suburbs are under stay-at-home orders as authorities work to stop further COVID-19 outbreaks

Specialist public order police stand guard at the entrance of one of nine public housing high rise towers on COVID-19 lockdown in Victoria

'A vaccine may not be 100 per cent effective, so behavioural routine is incredibly important,' Professor Booy said.

'We need to remind ourselves to do sensible things and not go to coffee shops or other venues if they're crowded.

'Complacency is highly likely the reason why cases have spiked in Victoria.'

Professor Booy encouraged Australia to look at Singapore and how it tackled its second wave of coronavirus.

Professor Robert Booy said Australia needed to look toward Singapore at how they handed its virus. Pictured are essential workers queuing at a regional screening center prior to being tested for COVID-19 at The Float @ Marina Bay in Singapore

Professor Booy encouraged Australians to think twice about going into crowded venues. 'We need to remind ourselves to do sensible things and not go to coffee shops or other venues if they're crowded,' he said

'They're a first world country with a similar standard of living - we've both got multicultural societies and close living circumstances with less crowding on our end, so if they can get on top of it we can too,' he said.

'It will be extremely hard to prevent transmission in neighbouring states if things continue the way they're going. It will be hard for South Australia and New South Wales to maintain low rates with people crossing the border, with and without symptoms.'

Professor Booy's comments come as Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire prepare to return to Stage 3 'Stay at Home' restrictions - effective at 11.59pm on Wednesday.

The areas on lockdown comprise 31 Local Government Areas across Victoria, with Stage 3 running for six weeks, until 11.59pm on August 19.

Residents are only able to leave the area they live in for four reasons: food and supply shopping, healthcare and caregiving, outdoor exercise, and for work or study reasons.

Premier Dan Andrews said at a press conference on Wednesday the state could only reopen in six weeks 'if we all work together'.

Professor Robert Booy (pictured, right) said Australia needed to look to Singapore for how it overcame its second wave as Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured, left) confirmed Wednesday's increase of 134 new COVID-19 cases

'We know that we're asking a lot of Victorians and we know, of course, that we didn't want to be in the position that we are in. But that's the reality that we confront. This is the challenge that we have to meet and I think that if we all work together over these next six weeks, as painful and frustrating and difficult as that will be, we will be able to get to the other side of this stay-at-home period,' he said.

'I think every Victorian knows and understands this is real, serious, it's not over.

A passenger having his temperature checked by health officials as they arrive at Sydney Airport on one of the last flights out of Melbourne

'Pretending that it is will simply make a difficult situation into tragic set of circumstances.'

Professor Booy's comments also echoed Australian National University's Professor Peter Collignon's encouragement of Victorians needing 'to keep going with what we've been doing'.

A woman standing on the street in support of residents inside a public housing commission tower in total lockdown being arrested as police swarm on a small number of people amid the third full day of the total lockdown

'It's really important for people everywhere in Melbourne - not just in the hotspots - to wash their hands, don't go near the sick and stay away from others,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Friday.

'It's not the active cases we should be worried about at the moment - it's the cases popping up overnight. What that says is it's spreading in an area and hasn't been pinned down just yet.'
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he disagrees with the assessment of the country's top immunologist, Anthony Fauci, on the dire situation the United States faces as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to spread.

'The current state is really not good,' the highly respected Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a Facebook and Twitter livestream on Monday.

'We are still knee-deep in the first wave of COVID-19 infections,' he said.

Trump, speaking Tuesday in a TV interview, disagreed with Fauci, a key player on the White House's own Coronavirus Task Force.

'I think we are in a good place,' the president said in an interview on the 'Full Court Press' news show hosted by a former Fox News anchor, adding: 'I disagree with him.'

'Dr. Fauci said don't wear masks, now he says wear them,' he continued, adding that the immunologist has 'said numerous things' that according to Trump was bad advice.

'I think we are in a good place,' the president said in an interview on the 'Full Court Press' news show

'He's said numerous things - don't close off China, don't ban China, and I did it anyway. I didn't listen to my experts and I banned China. We would have been in much worse state,' Trump continued.

'You wouldn't believe. The number of deaths more we would have if we didn't do the ban, and then we banned Europe also when Italy and the various countries were in such trouble.

'So we've done a good job. I think we are going to be in two, three, four weeks, by the time we next speak, I think we are going to be in very good shape,' Trump added.

The United States has fared poorly in its handling of the pandemic, with more than 130,000 people losing their lives, the highest death toll in the world by far. Currently there is a surge of cases in the south and the west after regional officials began to relax restrictions.

Trump has downplayed the ever-rising number of daily cases, blaming them instead on increased testing.

The US is currently testing some 600,000 people a day, according to the COVID Tracking Project, but even this is deemed insufficient by health experts because of the very high rate of positive cases being found.

Trump's comments come after Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, declared that the current state

On Tuesday federal officials said they would offer free COVID-19 testing to people without symptoms to stem a surge of cases in three southern hotspots.

Fourteen states have now hit record-high numbers of new daily infections since the start of July, with hospitals in two Texas counties hitting capacity over the weekend.

The number of people dying from the virus has remained stable or has declined, though deaths tend to lag behind cases because of the time it takes for someone to get sick enough to die.

Florida has now surpassed Arizona with the steepest and most alarming rise in cases in the US.

In just two weeks, the number of total infections there has doubled from 100,000 to more than 200,000 as of Sunday.

President Donald Trump said of Dr. Fauci: 'I disagree with him'

Arizona and Nevada also hit their respective record-high numbers of hospitalized coronavirus patients on Sunday, as the Mayors of both Austin and Houston, Texas, warned that their hospitals are on the brink of being overwhelmed.

Daily new case records were also set with alarmingly steep increases seen in states where the virus has been relatively quiet until recently: West Virginia, Tennessee and Montana.

Last week, national attention turned to Arizona and Texas, which each surpassed their previous record numbers of new cases in a single day over and over again.
Joe Biden slammed President Donald Trump on Tuesday night for questioning potential running mate Tammy Duckworth's patriotism, calling it 'disgusting' and 'sickening.'

The former vice president did not mince words when it came to his rival for the White House, saying Trump was carried 'around like a puppy in one of those little puppy cages' by Russian President Vladimir Putin and calling Trump's attacks on Duckworth a sign of the 'depravity' in the White House.

Duckworth, the Democratic senator from Illinois who lost both legs while serving as a combat pilot in Iraq, is being vetted as Biden's running mate and he offered an impassioned defense of her during a virtual fundraiser.

'Thank you, Tammy. You're the best. I love you,' Biden said after she introduced him.

He praised her moral and physical courage. 'I can't think of anyone who has shown more courage of both kinds. I really mean it Tammy,' he said. 'I'm grateful for you here with me in this fight.'

Joe Biden slammed President Donald Trump on Tuesday night for questioning potential running mate Tammy Duckworth's patriotism

Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois lost both legs while serving as a combat pilot in Iraq in 2004; she's being vetted as Joe Biden's running mate

Joe Biden called President Trump's questioning of Tammy Duckworth's patriotism 'disgusting' and 'sickening' and a sign of the 'depravity' in White House

Biden then went on to slam President Trump, whose targeted her patriotism when he tweeted a video of Fox News host Tucker Carlson questioning just that. Trump's campaign followed up with a statement criticizing Duckworth for using her military service to 'deflect from her support for the left-wing campaign to villainize America's founding.'

'I can't tell you how I felt today when I heard the President of the United States Donald Trump questioning your patriotism,' Biden said. 'I found it virtually disgusting, sickening. I know you can handle yourself. I said, I'm glad I wasn't standing next to him. You said you can handle yourself. You already have. You've done that.'

He called it a reflection of the 'depravity' in the White House.

'I just think it's a reflection of the depravity of what's going on in the White House right now,' he noted.

He also attacked Trump for 'coddling' Russian President Vladimir Putin while criticizing Duckworth.

'While in fact he's coddling Putin - Putin carries him around like a puppy in one of those little puppy cages. While that's going on he attacks  he attacks the Senator from Illinois, who is a literal hero - combat veteran lost both legs fighting for her country and he says she's not a patriot. Folks we cannot let this stand,' Biden said.

During his online event, Biden also attacked President Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and noted how the president's language and word choice resulted in attacks on Asian Pacific Americans. The fundraiser was called the 'American Asian & Pacific Islander Virtual Event' and hosted by prominent Asian Americans Duckworth, actor BD Wong, and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.

Duckworth also attacked Trump during the event, criticizing his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his defending Confederate monuments.

'Instead of trying to bring our country back together, he spent his time defending dead Confederates who took up arms against this nation and engaging in xenophobic and racist language geared towards many Americans, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander community,' she said of the president.

Duckworth has been in the spotlight of late as her stock in the running mate race has risen. Tucker Carlson questioned her patriotism on Monday night when he excoriated her for comments calling for study and dialogue about whether statues of George Washington should be taken down.

'Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?' Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill) asked on Twitter Monday

Tammy Duckworth at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in December 2004 when she was awarded her Purple Heart

Duckworth committed what many analysts consider a political flub when she entertained the idea of taking down statues of the nation's first president, who also owned slaves.

'You're not supposed to criticize Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military,' Carlson said on his show Monday night. 'Most people just ignore her. But when Duckworth does speak in public, you're reminded what a deeply silly and unimpressive person she is,' he continued.

'It's long been considered out of bounds to question a person's patriotism. It's a very strong charge, and we try not ever to make it. But in the face of all of this, the conclusion can't be avoided. These people actually hate America. There's no longer a question about that,' he continued.

But Duckworth fired back after his show aired Monday evening.

'Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?' she asked on Twitter.

'These people actually hate America,' Fox News host Tucker Carlson said in a monologue where he blasted Sen. Duckworth, a double amputee injured in the Iraq War

Then a captain in the Illinois Army National Guard, Tammy Duckworth stands by her UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. Now a U.S. senator, Duckworth would spend 23 years in the Illinois Army National Guard retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Her helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade on Nov. 12, 2004. Duckworth lost both legs and partial use of her right arm in the explosion and received a Purple Heart for her combat injuries

Duckworth hit back at Carlson Monday night for his comments

Duckworth is on a list of potential Joe Biden vice presidential running mates

President Trump tweeted out clips of Carlson's show without adding further comment

Duckworth was a member of Illinois National Guard when she was deployed to Iraq in 2004.

On November 12, 2004, she lost her right leg near the hip and her left leg below the knee from injuries sustained when the Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents.

She was the first American female double amputee from the Iraq War and received the Purple Heart for her service.

On Tuesday morning, President Trump tweeted out an extended clip including Carlson's Monday night monologue about the subject, which followed Trump's speech at Mt. Rushmore, where he inveighed against 'far-left fascism' and 'left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution.'

Appearing on CNN's 'State of the Union' Sunday, Duckworth hedged when asked whether statues from founders like Washington and Jefferson who owned slaves should come down.

She has already called for renaming Army bases that bear the names of confederate generals  a sharp contrast with President Trump, who has called out what he says are attempts destroying the nation's heritage, and who even criticized NASCAR's decision to ban the Confederate flag.

'Well let me just say that we should start off by having a national dialogue on it at some point, but right now we're in the middle of a global pandemic,' Duckworth said, 'and one of our countries who are opposed to us, Russia, has put a bounty on American troops' heads,' she said. 'What really struck me about the speech that the president gave at Mount Rushmore was that he spent more time worried about honoring dead Confederates than he did talking about the lives of 130,000 Americans who lost their lives to COVID-19 or by warning Russia off of the bounty they're putting on Americans' heads.'

'He spent all his time talking about dead traitors,' the Illinois senator said.

Pressed by CNN's Dana Bash on whether taking down statues of Washington was a good idea, she responded: 'I think we should listen to everybody,' she said. 'I think we should listen to the argument there,' before turnign back to Trump's comments at Mt. Rushmore, which she said was on land that was 'stolen from Native Americans.'

Trump did not append any of his own comments to the clip of Carlson.

But his campaign put out a statement later in the day.

'After saying she was open to tearing down statues of George Washington, Tammy Duckworth is now using her military service to deflect from her support for the left-wing campaign to villainize America's founding. If she can't defend George Washington, our first Commander-in-Chief, those of us who still respect our Founding Fathers' immense sacrifice and think America is worth fighting for will hold her accountable for cowering to the far-left fascists in the Democrat Party,' the campaign said.
A school teacher has been fired after using a racial slur to describe Africans and saying people should 'forget' about slavery.

The support staff teacher at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, in Western Australia, was teaching a year 10 arts class on June 23 when he began talking about the Black Lives Matter movement.

The man, of South African heritage, then allegedly said people 'should just forget about slavery' because it was 'in the past'.

The support staff teacher at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, in WA, allegedly said people 'should just forget about slavery' because it is 'in the past'

A 15-year-old indigenous student who was in the class told his grandmother, Reconciliation WA co-chair Carol Innes (pictured), that the teacher 'showed his hate towards black people'

He also described black South Africans as 'kaffirs' - a racist term used to refer to black people in that country.

A 15-year-old indigenous student told the support teacher his remarks were offensive, before leaving the classroom with other students and reporting the incident to staff.

The boy told his grandmother, Reconciliation WA co-chair Carol Innes, that the teacher 'showed his hate towards black people and called them all lazy and showed quite a lot of hate'.

Ms Innes said her grandson will be affected by the teacher's comments for the rest of his life.

'He told me that he stood up and told the person that was making the comments that he should stop and that the comments should never have been made as kids at school do not need to hear opinions of people when we are trying to build a stronger and more important community,' she told ABC radio.

'I wasn't there as co-chair of Reconciliation WA, I was there as a grandmother standing up for and supporting my grandson.'

Head of Bunbury Cathedral Grammar Michael Giles said the support teacher, who had not been named publicly, no longer works at the school.

'The comment that was made is clearly unacceptable and it does not sit with the values and ethos of our school,' he said on ABC radio on Wednesday.

'It has been an extremely different time for our community. I would like to publicly acknowledge the unqualified act of courage of the student in calling out the behaviour and his peers in supporting him.'
A New York federal judge has refused to dismiss Roy Moore's $95million defamation lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen, Showtime and CBS.

Failed U.S. Senate candidate and former Alabama judge Moore claims that Baron Cohen publicly slandered him by suggesting he was a pedophile in a prank on the actor's comedy prank show, Who is America?

Moore and his wife Kayla filed the suit in in September 2018.

Moore was duped into appearing on a five minute portion of the show, with Baron Cohen pretending to be an Israeli counterterrorism instructor called Erran Morad.

In the segment which aired in July 2018, Baron Cohen's character demonstrated a supposed pedophile detecting device that beeped each time it came near Moore.

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Former U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, 73, appeared on Sacha Baron Cohen's show, Who is America?, in July 2018

Sacha Baron Cohen appeared in character as a faux counterterrorism instructor Erran Morad

The suit says the Moores are suing for defamation and emotional distress after being pranked show where he was 'falsely portrayed as a sex offender and pedophile'.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter denied Baron Cohen's request to have the $95 million lawsuit dismissed, AL.com reported.

The Moores are said to have warned Cohen and his production team at the time that if the 'offensive and defamatory interview' was aired, they would sue.

'We are gratified that the Court is allowing the Moores' case to go forward and we look forward to putting Cohen and the other defendants under oath,' said Moore's attorney Larry Klayman, a former federal prosecutor.

Moore sat stone faced throughout the interview and ended the interview early in the clip

Klayman added: 'The alleged defamation of Chief Justice Moore was malicious and despicable and it is time that a jury of the parties' peers allow justice to be done. Great harm has been caused to my clients, which must be addressed and remedied.'

Sacha Baron Cohen asked for the judge to dismiss the lawsuit but its is now going ahead

In a statement in July 2018, Moore said: 'In February 2018, I was invited to Washington D. C. to receive an award for my strong support of Israel in commemoration of her 70th anniversary as a nation.

'Because Alabama has always been at the forefront of support of Israel and because I share a strong belief in God as the Creator and Sustainer of all life, as does Israel, I eventually accepted the invitation. Expenses were paid, and I received no private remuneration for my time or participation. I did not know Sacha Cohen or that a Showtime TV series was being planned to embarrass, humiliate, and mock not only Israel, but also religious conservatives such as Sarah Palin, Joe Walsh, and Dick Cheney.'

'As for Mr. Cohen, whose art is trickery, deception, and dishonesty, Alabama does not respect cowards who exhibit such traits!' Moore wrote.

Sacha Baron Cohen showed a device that 'detected pedophiles' and beeped each time it came near Moore

During his 2017 Senate race, Moore faced accusations that he pursued romantic and sexual relationships with teens as young as 14 when he was a prosecutor in his 30s. He had always denied the misconduct allegations.

'Sacha Baron Cohen, who is not only low class but also a fraudster, will now, along with Showtime and CBS, be held accountable for his outrageous and false, fraudulent and defamatory conduct which callously did great emotional and other damage to his great man and his wife and family,' Klayman said in a statement.

Klayman said Moore thought he was receiving an award for supporting Israel when he agreed to appear on the show. In the segment, Baron Cohen appeared as the bushy eyebrowed faux counterterrorism instructor 'Col. Erran Morad' discussing bogus military technology, including a supposed pedophile detector.

As the device repeatedly beeped when it came near Moore, he sat stone faced and asked to end the interview early.

Baron Cohen's show also pranked several other political figures.

The actor has faced past lawsuits over similar pranks, but those actions faltered because the individuals had signed releases.

A New York judge in 2008 tossed out lawsuits brought by a driving instructor and two etiquette school teachers who said they were duped into appearing in the movie Borat in which Baron Cohen played an awkward foreign journalist traveling the United States.

The judge said they accepted money and signed agreements releasing the filmmakers from liability.

Moore's lawsuit suggests that he too signed a release, but contends it was fraudulently obtained.

Moore is suing for defamation and emotional distress claiming $95m in damages

Moore's lawyer wrote that when they tried to stop the segment from airing, 'defendants CBS, Showtime and thus Baron Cohen were informed that the release that Judge Moore had signed was obtained through fraud, and was therefore void and inoperative.'

'Had Judge Moore and Mrs. Moore known that 'Erran Morad' was Defendant Cohen, Judge Moore would have never agreed to be interviewed,' Moore's lawyer wrote in the lawsuit.

In 2017, Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme court, was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate.

The Washington Post released an investigation that alleged Moore sexually abused young women in the 1970s. Moore has denied the accusations.
George Osborne is the latest political heavyweight to be linked to a pro-China lobbying group accused of grooming Britain's elite.

Mr Osborne, who steered a lucrative 'golden era' of relations with Beijing as chancellor, was a guest of honour alongside a Huawei executive at a dinner hosted by the 48 Group Club, The Times reported.

The club took down its website last week after publication of a book called the Hidden Hand, an expose which paints the 650-strong organisation as a networking hub 'through which Beijing courts Britain's elites.'

At the club's Chinese New Year dinner in 2017, Mr Osborne was introduced as 'the godfather' before he gave an address which lauded Huawei and mentioned their work on Britain's 5G infrastructure.

Huawei's role in the telecoms system today appears to be dead in the water after the release of a damning intelligence report this week which warned of the grave security risks the Chinese company posed.

Chancellor George Osborne, Madame Peng Liyuan, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Duke of York listen to speeches during a visit to Imperial College London, on day two of the state visit by the Chinese President in October 2015

Osborne shaking hands with the Chinese president at Imperial College London in 2015

Mr Osborne was a backbencher at the time of his Chinese New Year speech. He did not provide The Times with any comment.

He told the banquet: 'It's my very strongly held view that the West, hopefully led by the UK, should accept China as a full partner in that endeavour [of free trade].

'If you want to see what China is capable of, go to the Huawei headquarters, as I did, in Shenzhen, talk to Mr Ren [Huawei boss Ren Zhengfei], talk to the teams there developing 5G technology.

'By the way, don't just talk to the teams there in Shenzhen, go to Guildford, talk to the teams in Guildford . . . you'll see the extraordinary development of progress that Chinese companies are making every day in collaboration with British companies.'

On its website, the 48 Group Club lists two KPMG partners on its board, former government ministers Lord Heseltine and Lord Prescott as its patrons and a raft of famous names as 'fellows'.

Former deputy prime ministers Lord Prescott (left) and Lord Heseltine (right) are listed as club patrons

China's President Xi Jinping accompanies the 48 Group Club chairman Stephen Perry (front left) for a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 16, 2018

The London 48 Club claims to have sprung out of the first post-war UK trade delegation to China in 1953 and is named in the book as as a channel for President Xi to exert influence.

What is the 48 club? A group of British elites to foster relations with China The 48 Club is a 650-member strong organisation which helps British companies break into the Chinese market, according to its website. It dates back to the efforts of businessmen to forge greater Sino-Anglo alliances following the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The first trip in 1953 took 16 representatives of British companies, including current chairman Stephen Perry's father Jack, to China to discuss trade. It paved the way for a second visit in 1954 where 48 representatives from British companies embarked on a trade mission to China. Since its inception, the club claims to command gravitas among the Chinese businesses community to the extent that it is 'the most respected name in China-Britain trade'. According to its website, the 48 club's mission statement is to 'have a vital role in unfreezing the cultural deficit between China and the world'. The group was particularly close with former Chinese premier Hu Jintao, who is pictured with several of the 48 club's members, including Perry. The club hosts seminars and dinners for its members, while also offering 'support and consultancy services to British companies entering China's market'. The 48 Club claims to be funded by its members. Mr Perry is managing director of the London Export Corporation, a consultancy firm about the Chinese market. Advertisement

Its current chairman Stephen Perry, a businessman who runs a China-UK import export business, met Xi in 2018 according to an archived version of the group's site.

Mr Perry's father was one of the founders of the 48 Group.

Mr Perry was the only Briton among ten foreigners to be awarded the China Reform and Friendship Medal to mark the 40th anniversary of Bejing's economic reforms - the so-called 'Socialism with Chinese characteristics.'

Hidden Hand's authors cite Mr Perry's blog on the 48 Group Club website which provided details of his meeting with Xi.

The club's website was pulled but an archived version which lists its members can still be viewed.

Archives also show pictures with the China's previous premier, Hu Jinatao, suggesting the 48 Club's affiliation with the government stretches back years.

The 'about us' section of the 48 Group's website says it grew out of the first UK trade delegation to China in 1953,

It took 16 representatives of British companies, including current chairman Stephen Perry's father Jack, to China to discuss trade.

It paved the way for a second visit in 1954 where 48 representatives from British companies embarked on a trade mission to China. The 48 Group takes its name from this from these delegates.

Since its inception, the club has gone by various names including the the China-Britain Trade Group and the China-Britain Business Council.

It says it is now 'the most respected name in China-Britain trade'.

The glittering array of business, political and media figures listed as members by the 48 club is also visible on an archived version of the website from October 2019.

It claims to include former Labour prime minister Tony Blair, Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and TV journalist Angela Rippon.

However sceptiscism has been poured on the accuracy of the list as some of the names approached have denied membership.

Mr Blair's office said they had 'no idea' why the former PM was listed when approached by MailOnline.

Richard Graham, Tory MP for Gloucester, told the Times he was unaware he was a fellow, but added that it was 'very kind' of them to offer him membership.

Former Labour home secretary, Jack Straw, said he'd never heard of the 48 Group Club and told the newspaper, 'so why I'm on their website I've no idea.'

Lord Heseltine acknowledged his affiliation with the group - also known as 'The Icebreakers' - and defended its aims.

'I've spoken at a number of their big dinners, when I have made comments that are frank about Chinese activity,' he told The Times.

China's President Xi Jinping (right) meets with the 48 Group Club chairman Stephen Perry at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 16, 2018

The 48 Group Club board told the paper: 'The 48 Group Club is not in any sense a vehicle for Beijing. It is an independent body promoting understanding of China and positive Sino-British relations, which we believe to be in the UK's national interest. Any suggestion to the contrary is quite false.'

It added that Prof. Clive Hamilton, co-author of Hidden Hand, had not approached them for comment in the course of his research.

The 48 club was founded to shore up Sino-Anglo relations following a period of friction between the two countries after the Korean War, which became a proxy battle between the Western and Communist states.

The name itself is an homage to the 48 British businessmen known as the Icebreakers who embarked on a trade mission to China in 1954.

According to its website, the 48 club's mission statement is to 'have a vital role in unfreezing the cultural deficit between China and the world'.
A new poll suggests New Zealanders could vote to legalise cannabis in a referendum held alongside the national election on September 19.

The poll, commissioned by proponents of the 'Yes' vote, has support at 48 per cent, with 43 per cent against.

The result is at odds with public polling done by Kiwi media.

A 1News Colmar Brunton poll released last week has support for change at just 40 per cent, with the 'No' campaign on 49 per cent support.

A new poll suggests New Zealanders could vote to legalise cannabis in a referendum held alongside the national election on September 19 (pictured: activists take part in a march calling for the legalisation of cannabis in Wellington in 2017)

Jacinda Ardern's government agreed to hold the referendum after the 2017 election, as part of Labour's power-sharing agreement with the Greens.

Since then, the government has worked on a model for legalising, regulating and taxing the drug, as opposed to the current prohibition regime.

The model would only allow Kiwis over 20 years of age to consume the drug at home or at cannabis cafes.

NZ Drug Foundation chief executive Ross Bell said cannabis was 'a reality in New Zealand'.

'Despite almost 55 years of prohibition, it is New Zealand's most widely used illicit drug,' he said.

Hikurangi Cannabis, based near the small North Island town of Ruatoria in New Zealand, was granted a licence by the New Zealand government to cultivate cannabis for research

'Evidence shows that up to 80 per cent of New Zealanders will use cannabis at least once before they turn 21.

'We have an opportunity to vote on a solution that is focused on positive public health outcomes and harm minimisation, so let's do it right.'

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is a leading proponent of the 'Yes' vote, while the think tank in her name, the Helen Clark Foundation, has also thrown its weight behind the legalisation push.

Ms Clark argues the current regime wastes police resources and disproportionately places Maori in the criminal justice system.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark (pictured) is a leading proponent of the 'Yes' vote, while the think tank in her name, the Helen Clark Foundation, has also thrown its weight behind the legalisation push

'The status quo isn't fine ... we need to get a grip on this market,' she said.

'Let's get real here. This is a widely used recreational drug that is less harmful for individual health than tobacco and alcohol.

'It's a no-brainer to stop wasting our taxpayer money.'

Campaigners 'Say Nope to Dope' say legalisation is dangerous due to the high potency of modern-day cannabis, and believe it will lead to a jump in use and addiction rates.
Penfolds' chief winemaker has revealed the secrets behind their popular wine after one bottle of red recently sold for a record $103,555.

A mystery Melbourne buyer bought the ultra-rare 1951 Penfolds Bin 1 Grange, from South Australia, for the princely sum during an online auction on June 29.

The hefty price means a single standard glass of the wine would cost more than $20,500, making it Australia's most expensive ever wine.

Peter Gago, who has been the chief winemaker for 31 years, said several factors including the quality of grapes and the right bottling equipment are all ingredients to Penfolds' 'secret sauce.'

Penfolds' chief winemaker said many technological advances have made producing wine a more streamlined process but what hasn't changed is how their wine (pictured) is created

Penfolds (pictured) is a world-renowned winemaker in South Australia and now boasts the county's most expensive plonk

Mr Gago said while many industry experts talk about the importance of picking grapes at the right time, he believes that is only the first step in making a bottle of delicious wine.

'Well the time of bottling the wine is as important as when to pick the grapes,' Mr Gago told Business Insider.

'There are hundreds of decision making processes along the winemaking track and if you get it right, you can do something quite magical.'

He said many technological advances have made producing wine a more streamlined process but what hasn't changed is how Penfolds' wine is created.

'The basic fermentation process has never changed. It's still a conversion by yeast of grape sugars into a finished wine,' he said.

Peter Gago (pictured) said several factors including the quality of grapes and the right bottling equipment are ingredients to Penfolds' 'secret sauce'

Mr Gago said lots of people in the industry talk about the importance of picking grapes at the right time but it is more complex (pictured, a Penfolds vineyard in South Australia)

Langton's Head of Auctions Tamara Grischy, who carried out the record sale, told Daily Mail Australia the ultra-rare wine was highly sought after by collectors.

'This is a historic vintage, and represents the beginning of modern Australian wine,' he said.

'This is the first vintage of Australia's most renowned wine, and Penfolds Grange was a wine that Penfolds first chief winemaker Max Schubert made 69 years ago as an experiment.'

Penfolds spreads its business across multiple vineyards, allowing it to make a diverse array of wines such as Shiraz, Cabernet and Chardonnay.

A mystery Melbourne buyer bought the ultra-rare 1951 Penfolds Bin 1 Grange (pictured), from South Australia, for the princely sum during an online auction last week

Penfolds (pictured) spreads its business across multiple vineyards, allowing it to make a diverse array of wines such as Shiraz, Cabernet and Chardonnay

Ms Grischy said its Grange range was a constant hit with collectors.

'Another reason the 1951 Penfolds Grange is so coveted is because collectors need it to complete their sets, which means collections with every vintage made of Penfolds Grange, and the sets are very rare,' he explained.

'A set of Penfolds Grange with vintages from 1951 to 2015 was sold for $372,800 in December 2019 in the Langton's Rewards of Patience Auction, a world record amount.

More than 1,000 bottles of Penfolds wines were sold during the latest auction.

A 1952 Grange sold for $46,601 and a 1970 Grange went for $3,501 - records for both sets of wines.

The 1951 Penfolds that sold for $103,555 beat the previous 2018 record when the same wine was sold for $81,550.
A whistleblower who wore a wire to record evidence of doctors taking cash bribes from a Swiss pharmaceutical giant to prescribe their drugs could now be rewarded with $75 million, following the conclusion of a $628 million settlement.

Oswald Bilotta told NBC News how he thought hed landed his dream job when he was employed as a sales representative for Novatis Pharmaceuticals in 1999, but quickly the proverbial rose-tinted lenses lost their gleam.

Just over a decade later, Bilotta would play a central role in a huge federal investigation into kickbacks at Novatis, wearing a wire for prosecutors to prove doctors were accepting cash bribes from the firm.

His years-long effort to lift the lid on the kickback scheme finally paid off on July 1.

The Justice Department announced a $678 million settlement with the pharmaceutical company over improper inducements it made to doctors to prescribe 10 of the company's drugs, including the anti-hypertension drug Lotrel.

The deal, which is the largest whistleblower settlement of its kind, may also make Bilotta a multi-millionaire, as he could be set to land up to $75 million under federal whistleblower laws, his attorneys have said.

I felt like you needed to take drastic action to turn this system upside down and make it more legit, 57-year-old Bilotta told NBC. The whole system needed to be blown up and pieced together in a fair way  fair for taxpayers and good for patients.

Oswald Bilotta told NBC News how he thought hed landed his dream job when he was employed as a sales representative for Novatis Pharmaceuticals in 1999, but quickly the proverbial rose-tinted lenses lost their gleam

The Justice Department announced a $678 million settlement with the company over improper inducements it made to doctors to prescribe 10 of the company's drugs

Novartis was accused by prosecutors of having hosted tens of thousands of speaker programs and events, which the Department of Justice said were used to bribe physicians.

In one example, the company chose doctors who already prescribed high volumes of Novartis drugs to serve as paid speakers, as a means of inducing them to continue writing or write more prescriptions.

Representatives often dropped doctors from the speaker programs if they failed to increase prescriptions, the Department of Justice said.

For more than a decade, Novartis spent hundreds of millions of dollars on so-called speaker programs, including speaking fees, exorbitant meals and top-shelf alcohol that were nothing more than bribes to get doctors across the country to prescribe Novartis' drugs, said acting US Attorney Audrey Strauss for the Southern District of New York.

The Department of Justice said the activity was the result of decisions made by top management at Novartis' North American headquarters in New Jersey.

As part of the settlement, Novartis admitted to certain conduct alleged by the government and agreed to quickly curtail practices exposed by Bilotta

Chief Executive Vas Narasimhan said in a statement that Novartis is committed to resolve and learn from legacy compliance matters. We are a different company today  with new leadership, a stronger culture, and a more comprehensive commitment to ethics embedded at the heart of our company.

The probe was first launched to coincide with a lawsuit filed by Bilotta, in which he detailed the lavish dinners at restaurants, expensive tickets to sporting events, trips to strip club, among other generous gestures all coming as part of a ploy to boost the firms drug sales.

To prove his case, Bilotta secretly recorded himself making cash payments to two doctors and obtained confirmation from four others of having accepted prior remuneration.

Chief Executive Vas Narasimhan (above) said in a statement that Novartis is committed to resolve and learn from legacy compliance matters. We are a different company today  with new leadership, a stronger culture, and a more comprehensive commitment to ethics embedded at the heart of our company'

The government and New York District Attorneys Office took the case up in 2013. It covers activities at Novartis that took place from January 2002 until November 2011.

In addition to the evidence supplied by Bilotta, the government interviewed 350 other witnesses.

The company's doctor speaker programs took place at luxury restaurants in New York City, Miami, Chicago and San Francisco where physicians were supposed to educate other practitioners about Novartis' drugs.

Over the nine-year period, one doctor received over $320,000 in payment and wrote more than 8,000 prescriptions for the company's drugs in return, the government said. None of the doctors were named by the government.

Bilotta said from the minute he arrived at the company in 1999, he suspected misconduct was at play. He recalled one doctor presenting him with a page listing 10 patients' names on his first day visiting doctors' offices.

Confused by why the doctor was showing him the names, he asked the practitioner more and was told, Once we get to 10 patients on this drug, we get a $100 gift certificate to a restaurant, he told NBC.

When he questioned his manager about the apparent incentive scheme, he refused to follow the incident up, Bilotta said - despite the companys ethics code stating it was a criminal offense to offer payments or inducements to prescribe its drugs.

Novartis main priority was the keep high-prescribing doctors happy, Bilotta said. At meetings with superiors, sales representatives would be handed hundreds of dollars in American Express gift cards to give to doctors, he said.

Novartis was accused by prosecutors of having hosted tens of thousands of speaker programs and events which the Department of Justice said were used to bribe physicians. In one example, the company chose doctors who already prescribed high volumes of Novartis drugs (Ritalin and Jakavi shown above) to serve as paid speakers, as a means of inducing them to continue writing or write more prescriptions

By the mid-2000s, the company reportedly began increasing the number of doctor speaker programs it was running.

Many of the drugs at the center of the so-called conferences were about drugs that were well-known and had been around for years, making it clear the events were simply a payment system, Bilotta said.

At the vast majority of the programs, small talk dominated and the drugs were seldom mentioned, he added.

They wanted to have the veneer of conveying medical knowledge, he told NBC. But how much education on these old drugs do you need? I'd be stunned if 10 percent of the programs were legitimate.

Novartis would repeatedly host the same doctors at promotional programs for the same drugs, the government said.

Company records show that more than 19,235 doctors attended programs with the exact same title three or more times in a six-month period.

In Rockford, Illinois, the government determined that Novartis held 124 speaker programs over eight years with the same 10 doctors as the only attendees. Novartis paid one doctor to speak at 102 of those same events.

By the later 2000, Bilotta said the situation had at Novartis had become untenable. By 2008, I saw this was just a bunch of schemes, he told NBC.

Two years later, he complained to his manager that he had found evidence of fraud at the company. Bilotta said his manager responded by saying, I, sure we can find something on you.

Later in 2010, he saw a fraud case against another big pharmaceutical company and decided to contact whistleblower lawyers.

Bilotta said law enforcement were stunned to learn of the scheme. They asked: Can you get this on tape? I paused momentarily  that's when the nature of the case really revealed itself to me, he told NBC.

Under its settlement with the government, Novartis has agreed to make significant changes to its doctor speaker programs.

The programs will now only be held in a virtual capacity and alcohol or dinners will no longer be offered. The company is also limited to paying a total of $100,000 to all speakers for each drug or indication, or $10,000 per physician
A popular rooftop bar has been slapped with a hefty $7,000 fine after breaking coronavirus restrictions.

Moxy's Rooftop Bar in Coolangatta, on the Gold Coast, was hit with a $6,672.50 infringement notice after failing to keep the contact details of its patrons.

The bar owners shared a picture of the fine to social media on Tuesday night which listed their offence as 'fail to comply with public health directions'.

The whopping fines comes as authorities increasingly crack down on bars, restaurants and cafes deemed to flout strict COVID-19 health rules.

Moxy's Rooftop Bar, a popular venue on the Gold Coast, was hit with a $6,672.50 infringement notice (pictured) on Friday night after violating coronavirus restrictions

The Coolangatta bar (pictured) was fined after failing to record patrons' contact details

The Queensland Police notice was issued at 7.20pm on Friday, just hours after the state eased restrictions on venues.

It claimed the Coolangatta bar did not keep a register of its patrons and listed the offence as 'fail to keep patron detail contact register'.

Bosses were also accused of 'failing to comply with public health directions'.

The owners shared the bar's infringement notice with their 2,500 Instagram followers and captioned the post '#nonprofitorganisation' with a laughing Emoji.

'For the people, by the people,' the post continued.

The owners of Moxy's Rooftop Bar (pictured right) shared an image of the fine to their social media accounts and captioned the post 'by the people for the people'

The image was also shared to one of the owners personal Instagram accounts.

Daily Mail Australia contacted the owners of Moxy's Rooftop Bar who declined to comment.

The eased restrictions in Queensland allow venues to permit bar service and an increased number of patrons but require dancefloors to remain closed.

Businesses with an area less than 200 square metres must operate with one person per two-square-metres with a maximum of 50 people.

Owners are required to keep a register of the venue's customers and store their information securely for at least 56 days.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted police for further details on the infringement notice.

Images from inside another Brisbane nightclub, Prohibition, (pictured) on Friday, allegedly showed dancers refusing to socially distance

Royal on Ninety-Nine, in the regional Queensland town of Roma, was fined $6,672 on June 28 after staff didn't ask the plain clothed officers for contact details

A number of licensed venues across Queensland have been hit with eye-watering fines after failing to comply with coronavirus restrictions.

The owner of a struggling pub in Roma, regional Queensland, was slammed with a $6,672 infringement notice on June 28.

Royal on Ninety-Nine owner, Bruce Garvie, said plain clothed officers delivered the fine after staff failed to ask their contact details.

Mr Garvie said the cops also went upstairs and found a couple of men playing a game of pool without practicing social distancing.

'We weren't aware of that. These police reduced the manager to tears. This is not the way you police things,' he told the ABC.

Mr Garvie said local police had visited the venue every week to make sure it was following COVID-19 protocols and would have raised any issue with him directly.

He said the Queensland Police officers should have used their discretion as small businesses are struggling to stay afloat due to the impact of lockdowns.
Healthcare workers in Sydney's southwest have potentially been exposed to COVID-19 after a woman was diagnosed with the deadly respiratory virus on Wednesday.

The woman in her 30s was in close contact with staff at Liverpool Hospital prior to her diagnosis.

Contact tracing is now underway. Eight new cases of COVID-19 were identified in New South Wales overnight.

The woman was the only case not from a returned traveller currently undertaking mandatory hotel quarantine.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said 'further investigations are underway to determine the timing of her infection'.

A Melbourne teenager on holiday with his family in Merimbula, south-east New South Wales has tested positive for coronavirus - as Premier Gladys Berejiklian considers sealing off border towns

The border between Victoria and New South Wales has now closed following three weeks of unacceptably high case numbers in Victoria. Pictured: People from the last flights out of Melbourne

The woman in her 30s was in close contact with staff at Liverpool Hospital (pictured) prior to her diagnosis

Authorities are particularly concerned about whether its a historical infection or a more recent one, Ms Chant explained.

Another case which was identified in New South Wales was a 17-year-old from Victoria.

The teenager and his family were holidaying in the coastal town of Merimbula.

They were not from a hotspot in Victoria, and the boy had returned a negative result prior to travelling.

Once the family arrived in New South Wales, they received a call to say the negative result was false and that he did indeed have the virus.

They are all now in isolation, but had visited the Tathra Hotel prior to the diagnosis.

Ms Chant praised the venue for its hygiene practices and said the risk of infection for the other 80 patrons was 'very low'.

The border between Victoria and New South Wales has now closed following three weeks of unacceptably high case numbers in Victoria.

Residents living in towns near the Victorian border have been warned not to travel to other parts of the state, with the premier flagging further action may be needed to isolate those communities.

The whole of Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire north of the city will be placed back into lock down for six weeks from 11.59pm on Wednesday after Victoria recorded 191 new cases of coronavirus - its worst figure yet. Pictured: A map showing the suburbs in lockdown

The border between Victoria and New South Wales has now closed following three weeks of unacceptably high case numbers in Victoria. Pictured: People from the last flights out of Melbourne

: Medical professionals conduct a nasal swab test at the COVID-19 Bondi Beach drive-through testing center on July 07

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday said more than 60,000 exemption permits were issued overnight for people living in border communities, allowing them to cross the border.

But the premier warned the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in Victoria is a huge risk for NSW and urged residents in Albury and other border towns not to travel to other parts of the state.

'The probability of contagion in NSW given what's happened in Victoria is extremely high,' she told reporters in Sydney.

'The probability that we need to be tougher on broader restrictions is extremely high.

'The government is considering what further action we take to make sure the bubble of these border communities is maintained.'

Ms Berejiklian also flagged some COVID-19 health orders relating to gatherings will be tweaked in the coming days, but that it would be 'nothing major'.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said 'further investigations are underway to determine the timing of her infection'

Another case which was identified in New South Wales was a 17-year-old from Victoria. The teenager and his family were holidaying in the coastal town of Merimbula. They are all now in isolation, but had visited the Tathra Hotel (pictured) prior to the diagnosis

The premier 'absolutely' called on NSW residents still in Victoria to come home immediately or they could be forced to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense.

Such hotels cost about $2,500 in the Northern Territory when they were required for interstate arrivals before the conditions were relaxed late last month. NSW residents returning home right need only to self-isolate.

'I have no tolerance for people who are continuing their lives as normal,' Ms Berejiklian said.

'There is no excuse for people wanting to hang around because they want a few extra days [in Victoria] because they feel like it.'

Ms Berejiklian urged anyone on the NSW-Victoria border to get tested if they had even the mildest symptoms, along with those in tourist areas like Ballina and Byron Bay.

'Sometimes infection can bubble under the surface for a month,' she said.

NSW residents were also instructed not to go anywhere near the Victorian border and not enter communities like Albury, as they are being treated as a 'second border'.
Driving instructors could be forced to install cameras in their cars as part of a government plan to crack down on sleazy instructors acting inappropriately toward young students and the use of bribes to have licenses granted.

The South Australian government said on Wednesday that it was looking to bring in a raft of tough new measures after a sequence of cases in which instructors were accused of corruption, bribery and sexually interfering with minors.

A state government survey that found that an alarming 85 per cent of drivers and students considered the driver learning system was corrupt.

The overhaul comes after driving teachers across South Australia were in accused of corruption, bribery and even inappropriate behaviour with minors

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said the strict new laws were still being developed.

'We are currently considering a range of options as part of our reforms to crack down on corrupt and inappropriate behaviour to keep our kids safe while they learn to drive,' Mr Knoll told The Advertiser.

'The recent alleged incidents that have come to light are absolutely sickening and that's why we are looking at a range of options as part of our reforms to keep our kids safe, including in-car cameras like we have in taxis or on public transport.'

A driving instructor, 68, was charged last month with allegedly indecently assaulting a female teenage student during a lesson.

In another shocking case, a driving teacher sent sexually explicit text messages to learner drivers.

Some students even had to hand back their licences because they were never tested in the first place.

Royal Automobile Association manager Ben Haythorpe said the motorists body backed the government's proposal, with caveats.

'We would welcome the use of cameras, providing all the relevant legislation was developed beforehand around filming of minors and storage of the footage,' Mr Haythorpe said.
Documents reveal how police are investigating a dying man's startling alleged confession about 'picking up' Australia's most famous missing child, William Tyrrell, and driving him north.

The coroner examining the toddler's 2014 abduction from his foster grandma's home on the NSW mid north coast this week released previously unseen evidence files.

The sensitive police documents show for the first time how detectives have worked to corroborate or disprove stunning claims that nursing home patient Ray Porter allegedly made about Tyrrell last year.

Months ago, a court hearing was rocked by testimony from an aged care nurse that Porter had rested his head on her shoulder during a medication run in April 2019 and hinted he knew something.

'I didn't do anything wrong,' he told the nurse, Kirston Okpegbue.

'All I did was give my best mate and the boy a lift.'

Police have worked to corroborate or disprove an extraordinary claim William Tyrrell may have been abducted by an elderly paedophile and driven away by his friend Ray Porter. Above, is a photograph of Porter's white stationwagon from roadside cameras the day before William disappeared

Ray Porter - pictured for the first time - was a close friend of William Tyrrell person-of-interest Frank Abbott. He allegedly made an extraordinary confession to aged care nurse Kirston Okpegbue (right), prior to his death

Another police image showing Ray Porter's stationwagon near Port Macquarie on September 11, 2014, the day before William disappeared

'Who?' Ms Okpegbue asked.

'The boy that went missing down in Kendall?' Porter replied, before confirming he was speaking about Tyrrell, who has not been seen since September 12, 2014.

Porter allegedly claimed he picked up William and his mate from behind the Kendall School and then drove the pair north 300 kilometres.

William Tyrrell vanished from his foster grandmother's home on September 12, 2014. The three-year-old has never been seen since

Porter had only ever spoken of two of his friends, one of them being his 'fishing buddy' Frank Abbott, the court heard.

Abbott is a 79-year-old paedophile prisoner who has attracted increasing attention from Tyrrell investigators in the past year.

Abbott has denied any involvement in Tyrrell's disappearance or death.

The question for police and the coroner is whether Porter's statement s a tantalising clue about what happened to the toddler - or just a nonsense statement.

Porter can no longer explain himself as he has since died from a kidney infection.

The new coronial documents detail how investigators have had to cobble together records of Porter's alleged travels on the mid north coast in September 2014, the month William vanished.

Data and photographs from Roads and Maritime Services cameras indicate that Porter's white stationwagon traveled around the region over several days that month.

A recent document says in the two days after William vanished, Porter's car was recorded passing the Kew southbound camera on the morning of September 13, 2014, and the north- and south-bound cameras at Port Macquarie, the next day.

Significantly, investigators have also obtained evidence placing Porter at Port Macquarie Hospital the day William was last seen in the foster nanna's yard.

Porter was a close friend of paedophile prisoner Frank Abbott who has increasingly found himself the subject of investigators' scrutiny in recent months

A new photograph of William Tyrrell was released to the public following a media application on Tuesday

An undated police note signed by Detective Senior Constable Ari Barr said: 'Hospital records show that on the 12th September 2014, Porter was at dialysis at Port Macquarie Hospital between 9am and 3pm.

MOMENT TYRRELL NEIGHBOUR FINDS HIDDEN CAMERA Pictures show the moment Paul Savage plucked a hidden camera from bushland near his house Police documents also reveal the moment a former person-of-interest in the case, Paul Savage, allegedly removed a police camera tracking his movements in the bush near his house. The camera continued to take photographs of Mr Savage as he plucked the hidden spy device from scrub near his home in Kendall. Mr Savage was once a person-of-interest in the Tyrrell case but has always denied any role in the boy's disappearance. Advertisement

Porter's car wasn't picked up by highway cameras between his Wauchope home and the hospital that critical day.

But detectives suggested Porter had likely just used an alternative route, the Oxley Highway, to attend his clinic.

In his conversation with Ms Okpegbue last year, Porter complained about being hassled by police over the Tyrrell case.

'I don't want to talk anymore,' he allegedly fumed.

'I have had enough of these people coming up to talk to me'.

Ms Okpegbue said his eyes were 'watery' at the time of his alleged hallway confession.

The inquest heard Porter still had his mental faculties at the time of his comments.

Other evidence before the inquest described Porter as an 'unsociable' friend of Abbott's.

A statement described how Porter would sometimes pop by his mate's caravan, which at the time was located near a sawmill at Herons Creek.

Just last month, police dug up bushland near Abbott's home in a four day search to assist the coroner's investigations.

The coroner this week also released detailed transcripts of phone conversations Abbott had with his priest friend Martin Parish while in custody last year.

In the conversations, Abbott claims that investigators last year told him 'garbage' about finding a Spiderman suit in an apparent bid to get him to confess.

Abbott claimed a relative had told him police believed 'I'd borrowed somebody's car and went down and enticed him out of the yard', possibly with 'ice cream and lollies'.

William, who was three when he disappeared, was last heard by his foster mother 'roaring' like a lion around his grandmother's yard on Benaroon Drive.

Abbott denies abducting William, saying in one conversation that he'd never been to the dead-end road where the boy's family lived before.

'I didn't even know there was anybody, like any kid in that street, and I've never been in that street in me life,' he said.

The inquest resumes next month.
Cornell University has decided that the institution will bring students back to campus for in-person instruction in the fall unlike Harvard, which is opting for online classes only at $50,000.

As colleges around the country grapple with how to reopen in the fall, Cornell University's president on Tuesday announced that it will welcome students back to campus - an option she said is best not only for their education, but also public health.

The Ivy League university decided that compared with holding classes only online, residential learning would be safer for students and the wider community because it can ask students to participate in a screening program to detect and contain any spread of the coronavirus, President Martha Pollack said.

'The key consideration in our decision to reopen is public health,' Pollack said in a statement.

The university will also keep its 3.6 per cent tuition increase for the upcoming school year, despite the pandemic.

School administrators estimate that the university will report about a $210million loss due to the pandemic this coming fiscal year.

Cornell University (aerial view pictured) decided that the institution will bring students back to campus for in-person instruction in the fall unlike Harvard

In contrast, many other universities around the country, citing concerns for the health of students and faculty, have developed plans to bring smaller numbers of students to campus or emphasize online instruction.

Dozens of others have announced plans to reopen with modifications to campus life.

Harvard announced on Monday that 'all course instruction (undergraduate and graduate) for the 2020-21 academic year will be delivered online'.

Harvard said it will invite first-year students to live on campus, but classes will stay online.

'Students will learn remotely, whether or not they live on campus,' school administrators said.

Modeling by a Cornell research team determined that two to 10 times more people could be infected with COVID-19 during an online-only semester, with significantly higher numbers becoming seriously ill.

That's because many students planned to return to off-campus housing in Ithaca, New York, where the university is located, and it would have no authority to mandate testing or restrict student behavior if instruction was done remotely.

Some campuses already are seeing flareups of the virus among students living off-campus.

Harvard University (file image) announced Monday that all learning will be done remotely and tuition will remain at nearly $50,000

Officials at the University of Washington said at least 38 students living in 10 fraternity houses had tested positive as of Tuesday.

House residents are being asked to self-quarantine and a testing site was opened nearby.

Officials said the frat house cluster offers a lesson to students preparing to return to campus this fall.

'If everyone does their part to keep each other safe, we can continue to engage with one another and with our studies in the University environment by wearing face coverings and remaining physically distant,' Dr Geoffrey Gottlieb, chair of the UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, said in a statement.

It follows a cluster of cases reported earlier this month among fraternity members at the University of Mississippi.

Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick said most people in town will be relieved because it would be 'catastrophic' for the economy if students did not return.

'Yes, bringing people back into town might increase the spread of the virus,' Myrick said.

'But Cornells methodology, the reasoning it took to make this decision was very sound. The testing regimen theyre proposing is very, very robust.'

As planned, Cornell students will be subject to agreements to follow public health guidelines and comply with a testing program.

Testing will start before or upon students' arrival in Ithaca, followed by frequent screening and a daily online health questionnaire.

Meanwhile, international students have been targeted by new guidelines that were issued on Monday. The guidelines say that international students will be forced to leave the US if their schools decide to only offer instruction online. Students are pictured at Princeton University

President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched an all-out effort pressing state and local officials to reopen schools this fall, arguing that some are keeping schools closed not because of the risks from the coronavirus pandemic but for political reasons

Federal authorities say new visas will not be issued to international students at schools that are entirely online While universities are deciding on whether to bring students back to campus in the fall, international students are being targeted by new federal guidelines that were issued on Monday. Under the requirements, international students will be forced to leave the US if their schools offer classes entirely online. Those attending schools that are staying online must 'depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction,' according to the guidance. The guidelines, issued by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), provide additional pressure for universities to reopen even amid growing concerns about the recent spread of COVID-19 among young adults. Under the updated rules, international students must take at least some of their classes in person. New visas will not be issued to students at schools or programs that are entirely online. And even at colleges offering a mix of in-person and online courses this fall, international students will be barred from taking all their classes online. It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the US last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move online. The American Council on Education, which represents university presidents, said the guidelines are 'horrifying' and will result in confusion as schools look for ways to reopen safely. Of particular concern is a stipulation saying students won't be exempt from the rules even if an outbreak forces their schools online during the fall term. Advertisement

Masks and social distancing will be required in classrooms, large gatherings will be restricted and dining will be takeout or by online reservation at distanced tables.

Fall classes start September 2 as a blend of in-person and online instruction and most students will return home before Thanksgiving and finish the term with online instruction and exams in December.

Remote learning options will be available for students unable to return to Ithaca.

Most of the 24,000 students at Cornell left Ithaca in March when the coronavirus pandemic struck, leaving the small college town's businesses reeling. Cornell students spend an estimated $225million annually, fueling a thriving local economy.

Myrick said Tompkins County, where Ithaca is, has robust virus testing, contact tracing and social distancing compliance. There have been 167 confirmed COVID-19 cases and no deaths in the county.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched an all-out effort pressing state and local officials to reopen schools this fall, arguing that some are keeping schools closed not because of the risks from the coronavirus pandemic but for political reasons.

'They think it's going to be good for them politically, so they keep the schools closed,' Trump said at a White House discussion on school plans for the fall.

'No way. We're very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools.'

The White House's round-table gathered health and education leaders from across the nation who said schools and colleges are ready to open this fall and can do so safely.

They argued that the risks of keeping students at home outweigh any risks tied to the coronavirus, saying students need access to meal programs and mental and behavioral health services.

'We want to reopen the schools,' Trump said. 'Everybody wants it. The moms want it, the dads want it, the kids want it. It's time to do it.'

Guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say colleges should work with state and local officials to decide how to reopen and should follow safety measures such as smaller classes in larger rooms.

The CDC is not recommending entry testing for all returning students, faculty, and staff, according to guidance issued Tuesday.

Agency officials said that kind of testing has not been systematically studied, and it's not clear if it would reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

The CDC is recommending testing for anyone with coronavirus-like symptoms, and for anyone recently exposed to someone who tested positive.
Vice President Mike Pence's spokeswoman Katie Miller was sent to visit a child migrant detention center on the US-Mexico border in order 'to become more compassionate' - but claimed that the visit 'didn't work', a new book reveals.

Miller, who is married to President Donald Trump's senior advisor for policy Steven Miller, was interviewed by NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff, for his book 'Separated'.

The book details the Trump administration's 'zero tolerance' family-separation policy earlier in the administration's term.

Miller previously worked as a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security while the agency that was overseeing the separation of children from their parents after they crossed into the U.S between 2017 and June 2018.

Katie Miller, a former spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security and wife of Trump policy advisor Steven Miller was sent to children detention center on the U.S. border during separation policy

The US began separating children from their parents in May 2018 as part of a 'zero tolerance' policy toward migrants who illegally cross the border

Miller told Soboroff that she was sent to one of the child migrant detention centers for herself in an effort to establish some empathy for the immigrants that were crossing the border.

'My family and colleagues told me that when I have kids I'll think about the separations differently. But I don't think so ... DHS sent me to the border to see the separations for myself  to try to make me more compassionate  but it didn't work,' she is reported to have said.

Soboroff's interaction with Miller was recounted on NBC's Rachel Maddow Show as the host read an except from the book.

Soboroff is said to have responded with incredulity to Miller's statement.

The aim of sending Miller to a center was to generate some compassion for migrants

''It didn't work? I will never forget what I saw. Seriously. Are you a white nationalist?' I asked, exasperated,' Soboroff detailed.

Miller replied: 'No, but I believe if you come to America you should assimilate. Why do we need to have 'Little Havana'?

The family-separation policy which ran between 2017 and June 2018 saw around 4,000 migrant children being separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border.

Many of the detention facilities they were placed in were also deemed to be unsanitary.

Soboroff was among the first journalists to expose the reality after seeing firsthand the living conditions of the children in custody.

'That was Katie Miller in the throes of the national uproar over this government prying kids out of their parents' arms,' Maddow said speaking about Miller's comments.

The DHS separated families who sought asylum in U.S. by crossing border illegally. Pictured, children inside a United States Border Patrol Processing Center, in McAllen, Texas

Migrant teens are pictured held inside the Tornillo, Texas detention camp inside the facility. The temporary shelter was supposed to hold 360 but ended up holding thousands

Katie Miller, is now the vice president Mike Pence's press secretary. She is pictured here attending the president's first re-election campaign rally in several months in the midst of the coronavirus disease outbreak, at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma in June

The images sparked fury over the morality of separating children from their parents, as well as concern from Republicans about the negative impact it had on their party's image.

The photos showed children being held in unhygienic conditions sparking international condemnation.

At the time, Ms Miller defended the separations, insisting 'the welfare of children in our custody is paramount.'

In a book written by NBC journalist Jacob Soboroff, Miller claims that she did not feel compassion and that the trip to the centers 'didn't work'

President Donald Trump eventually signed an executive order in June 2018 ending the process of separating children from families.

The effects may be long-lasting. In September a report by the Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general detailed how children who had been detained were suffering acute psychological trauma.

'According to program directors and mental health clinicians, separated children exhibited more fear, feelings of abandonment, and post-traumatic stress than did children who were not separated,' the report said, adding that some children 'expressed acute grief that caused them to cry inconsolably.'

Katie Miller married Trump aide, Stephen Miller in February and the couple are soon expecting their first child.

Her current role is as Vice President Pence's spokeswoman and is involved in communications regarding the White House's coronavirus task force.
A young couple dived into a rushing river in a desperate attempt to save a teenage girl after her car plunged into deep water.

Logan Bradford, 17, drowned when she was trapped in the silver Mazda 2 that missed a bend and drove into the Richmond River about 11.45am on Tuesday.

Her 17-year-old friend managed to free herself from the sinking car with the help of rescuers near South Ballina on the NSW North Coast.

Passing motorist Luke Hyatt dived into the six-metre-deep river and tried to pull Logan from the submerging car while his wife Katelyn called Triple-0.

Logan Bradford, 17, drowned when she was trapped in her silver Mazda 2 that missed a bend and drove into the Richmond River

Passing motorist Luke Hyatt (right) dived into the six-metre-deep river and tried to pull Logan from the submerging car while his wife Katelyn (left) called Triple-0

The couple were joined by another car they waved down, plus three police officers, but they couldn't get to Logan, who drowned in the driver's seat of her car.

NSW Police said the three civilians and the sergeant and two senior constables would be considered for bravery awards.

Friends mourned Logan as a ray of sunshine, telling Daily Mail Australia of her 'bright personality' and how she had more to give to her loved ones.

'You were such a beautiful soul and I'll forever love you, you helped me through so much and I'll never forget you darling girl,' Alanah Harcourt said.

Domonic Cooper added: 'She is bright bubbly, always has a smile, always ready to give a hand to anyone possible.'

Friends mourned Logan as a ray of sunshine with a 'bright personality' and told of how she had more to give to her loved ones

Aliviaa Ranierii said Logan was a beautiful young women with too much potential in her to die so young.

'She was the kind of girl you'd walk past in school and wouldn't suspect her to do anything, she was the kindest most sweetest girl you'd ever met,' she said.

'She always knew how to make you laugh or smile when you were down. and even if she didn't even know you at all, that would give her more motivation to wanna help you out more.'

Evans Head and Woodburn Preschool posted a tribute to their former student, who still lived in Evans Head with her family.

'Our heart is breaking for Karen and Craig, all the Bradford and Allen families, Logan's friends and her workmates,' it wrote..

'We will always remember Logan with love.'

Logan's body was eventually recovered about 5.30pm on Tuesday. Police said the surviving female passenger was 'shaken' but unharmed.

Richmond Police Acting Inspector Anthony Smith told reporters the local community was in shock.

'It will affect a lot of people including all the emergency services who tried to get the driver out and unfortunately they couldn't,' he said.

Several passersby frantically dived into the Richmond River at South Ballina to rescue the pair, but only the female front-seat passenger could escape

He said it was unclear what caused the accident, and appealed for witnesses to contact police.

'The vehicle was travelling south and has failed to negotiate the right-hand bend and has tragically ended up in the water,' he said.

'We believe there could be another witness to the accident and we encourage that driver to come forward.'

The vehicle was recovered a short time later and towed away for mechanical examination.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.
The organizing board honours the two winners (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

The online contest, which took place from March 18th to May 31st, received 227 entries from 25 countries and territories worldwide.



The organizing board presented medals and the King's prize certificates to Prof. Dr. Ta Ngoc Tan, Vice Chairman of the Theoretical Council under the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and head of the contest organizing board; and journalist Le Quoc Minh, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam News Agency, in recognition of their contributions to holding the contest.

As many as 35 works were honoured at the event, with the two first prizes were awarded to Holi Thang and Nguyet Vu for the works Hao Khi Viet Nam and Ra Ha Noi di anh, respectively.

The contest focused on a status writing competition towards the Vietnam Ancestral Global Day for Vietnamese expatriates and international friends across the world, which shared their feelings about and pride of the homeland and ancestors; touching stories about Vietnamese expatriates abroad, and mutual support among overseas Vietnamese and international friends amid difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the contest, the Vietnam Ancestral Global Day project has contributed to arousing emotions of national pride among most generations of overseas Vietnamese abroad.

The Vietnam Ancestral Global Day project was set up in 2015 to strengthen the great national unity and promote Vietnams intangible cultural heritage of humanity to the globe./.
Chief Justice John Roberts spent a night in a hospital last month after he fell and injured his forehead, a Supreme Court spokeswoman said Tuesday night.

Roberts was walking for exercise near his home June 21 when he fell, court spokeswoman Kathleen L. Arberg said in an emailed statement.

The injury required sutures, she said, and Roberts stayed in the hospital overnight out of an abundance of caution.

Roberts' injury and hospitalization was first reported by The Washington Post, which reported that the fall happened at the Chevy Chase Club in Maryland.

It is the latest health scare for the 65-year-old justice.

In 2007, he suffered a seizure at his summer home in Maine, causing a fall that resulted in minor scrapes. He had a similar episode in 1993.

Arberg said that Roberts doctors 'ruled out a seizure' this time.

'They believe the fall was likely due to light-headedness caused by dehydration,' she said.

Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts spent the night in the hospital after he fell and injured his forehead, a Supreme Court spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday

The Washington Post reported that the fall happened at the Chevy Chase Club in Maryland

The fall took place three days after the court grabbed headlines with a 5-4 decision written by Roberts rejecting President Donald Trumps effort to end legal protections for 650,000 young immigrants.

Supreme Court justices are not required to disclose injuries or health issues.

However, during the coronavirus pandemic, Arberg has confirmed on a regular basis that the justices are in good health.

Other justices, including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, have at times notified the public about hospitalizations.

Supreme Court justices are not required to disclose injuries or health issues.

Most recently, in May, when the justices heard arguments by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 87-year-old Ginsburg made public the fact she was at a Maryland hospital to receive nonsurgical treatment for an infection caused by a gallstone.

She spent one night at the hospital and participated in court arguments by telephone from her hospital room.

The Supreme Court is wrapping up the release of opinions for cases argued in May. Five cases remain before the court is expected to take its summer break.
The Chinese government has warned Australia that its economy would suffer a 'huge impact' if the Morrison government continued its 'provocations' over Hong Kong's sovereignty.

The state-run Global Times took aim at Australia in an editorial on Wednesday after the federal government said it was considering creating a 'safe haven' for Hong Kong residents seeking to flee the former British territory as Beijing asserts its control.

The publication claims such a move could 'escalate tensions between China and Australia even further' which would impact the economy.

'Anyone with knowledge of China-Australia trade could see that political provocations over the Hong Kong issue will only end up being a bitter pill for the country's economy to swallow,' the editorial read.

A Chinese publication has claimed the Australian economy will be under threat if the Federal Government moves ahead with its plan to create a 'safe haven' for Hong Kong residents (Hong Kong protester pictured being arrested)

The Global Times said the Federal Government did not understand the impact offering a 'safe haven' to Hong Kong residents would have on China-Australia relations

The publication claimed welcoming immigrants from Hong Kong into Australia would have an adverse impact on a 'contracting' economy.

'Immigrants from Hong Kong may only bring uncertainty and pressure to the local economy, which is something it cannot afford,' the piece read.

'With China-Australia relations already strained, no one should underestimate the repercussions to the Australian economy from a further deterioration of bilateral ties.'

If China-Australia relations worsen then the damage to businesses and 'investor's confidence' would be 'unprecedented',' the editorial claims.

'The subsequent impacts may involve Australia's tourism, investment, education, and trade sectors, generating immeasurable losses to countless local businesses,' the editorial read.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison had said the government was looking into the possibility of offering refuge to Hong Kong residents seeking to flee the country.

The editorial went on to say if 'penalties' were imposed on Australia by China it would be an 'unprecedented' and 'bitter pill' for the economy and would impact on primary industries like tourism (Chinese tourists pictured in Sydney)

However it was reported Australia could abandon its extradition treaty plan with Hong Kong after new security laws were passed which will allow extradition to mainland China (protester pictured being lead away by police in Hong Kong)

As well as the Hong Kong dispute, the relationship between the countries was further strained this week when Australia issued a warning for its citizens in China that they could be targeted for 'endangering national security'.

The Chinese embassy in Canberra hit back on Wednesday.

'This is completely ridiculous and disinformation,' the embassy said.

'Foreigners in China, including the Australians, as long as they abide by the Chinese laws, have no need to worry at all.'

China said Australia faced the same blowback as the United Kingdom which last week opened a path to citizenship for millions of Hong Kong residents.

'If China won't rule out countermeasures against Britain, it most certainly is a possibility for Australia to face similar penalties as well,' the publication stated.

The Australian government was also reportedly considering scrapping its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, as there was now a risk that anyone sent back to the territory could now be further extradited to mainland China.

Beijing had passed new security laws that criminalise subversion, secession and collusion with foreign forces in Hong Kong.

Pro-democracy protesters have since been charged for holding flags, posters and pamphlets.

Trade between China and Australia was also highlighted as an area which would see a negative impact if the Federal Government went ahead with its Hong Kong treaty plan (Dairy farmer pictured)

China bypassed Hong Kong's Legislative Council to pass the sweeping legislation without public consultation.

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus has called on the government to urgently re-examine Australia's extradition agreement with Hong Kong.

'With residents and visitors to Hong Kong now subject to extradition to mainland China for a wide variety of reasons, extradition from Australia to Hong Kong now carries the real risk of extradition to mainland China,' he said.

'It follows that it may now be untenable for Australia to maintain a separate extradition treaty with Hong Kong and, if so, the government should take immediate steps to withdraw from that treaty.'
Scott Morrison has supported states making returned travellers pay for their own hotel quarantine.

The Prime Minister said state governments were 'within their rights' to send people the bill and that he is making plans to reduce the number of people flying home to ease pressure on the quarantine system.

On Monday Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said he was drafting legislation to make returned travellers pay for two weeks of accommodation to save taxpayer money.

Mr Morrison said: 'I think that would be a completely understandable proposition.

'There have been many opportunities for people to return... if they're choosing to do so now, they have obviously delayed that decision for a period.'

Scott Morrison has supported states making returned travellers pay for their own quarantine

Melbourne was gripped by panic buying on Wednesday as residents prepare for six weeks of lock down from midnight

Left: A woman carries several packets of loo roll out of a Melbourne supermarket. Right: A man carries two crates of beer to his car ahead of lock down

Mr Morrison said he supported Premier Daniel Andrews' decision to lock down Melbourne for six weeks as the city battles a coronavirus outbreak.

In a message of unity, he said: 'We are all Victorians now.'

'We're all Melburnians now when it comes to the challenges we face. We're all Victorians now because we're all Australians and that's where the challenge is right now,' Mr Morrison said.

'It is a very significant Commonwealth effort to support what is happening in Victoria right now and we will prevail and we will get on top of it and we will protect the rest of the country.

'For the people, in particular, of Melbourne - this is hard. This is a hard call on you. It's tough.

'And it will test you and it will strain, but you have done it once before and you will be able to do it again because you have proven that. You have demonstrated your ability to deal with this.'

Victoria reported 134 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday morning.

Stripped: Shelves were left bare as Melbourne residents stocked up on food before lock down starts at midnight

Victoria has recorded 134 new cases of coronavirus as the state battles a huge outbreak and the whole of Melbourne braces for a six-week lockdown from midnight

Premier Daniel Andrews said there are now 75 cases of the deadly disease across nine social housing towers in north Melbourne which have been placed under hard lockdown, confining 3,000 residents to their homes.

Forty-one people are in hospital with seven fighting for their lives as the state's testing total passed 1million with 30,000 swabs on Tuesday.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian today warned the risk of contagion in her state was 'extremely high' after 60,000 exemptions were granted for commuters to enter from Victoria following the first border shut down since Spanish Flu in 1919.

She is considering sealing off border towns from the rest of the state which suffered two cases of local transmission including a Melbourne teenager on holiday in Merimbula and a woman in south-west Sydney whose case remains a mystery.

It comes as Melbourne is gripped by panic buying as residents rush to stock up on food, booze and loo paper before they are ordered to stay at home from tonight until August 19.

A Service NSW spokesperson said the permit application system had experienced high levels of demand, causing it to crash this morning. Pictured: Queues to get in to Albury
The family of a schoolgirl who was bashed unconscious and left to die half-naked in a creek are fearful her killer could be released within months.

The body of 15-year-old Liberty Templeman was found in the Wairoa stream at Kerikeri on New Zealand's North Island on November 1, 2008.

Her killer, now 26-year-old Hermanus Theodorus Kriel, was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murdering and indecently assaulting the schoolgirl, affectionately known as Libby, in a trial by jury in 2010.

But having served more than a decade of his sentence, he could walk free after November if the parole board decides to release him.

The body of 15-year-old Liberty Templeman was found in the Wairoa stream at Kerikeri on New Zealand's North Island on November 1, 2008

The victim's family are hoping to gather evidence that would see him remain behind bars.

Kriel was refused an early release in May after fronting the parole board for the first time since being jailed.

Board Chairperson Sir Ron Young deemed he was still an 'undue risk' after consideration of the facts laid out during the trial and a further conversation with Kriel.

He noted the young offender showed remorse over the event but stated it was impossible to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the crime.

Her killer, now 26-year-old Hermanus Theodorus Kriel, (pictured) was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murder and indecent assault in 2010

'It is not entirely certain what then happened. Mr Kriel provided several different versions at the time of the offending,' Sir Young said.

He also found there were inconsistencies around accusations the crime had been sexually motivated.

While the offender denied having made any sexual remarks to Libby, her family insisted he had asked her out on a date and made overtly sexual comments to her.

The parole board has asked the family to gather any evidence they have that Kriel's sexual interest in their daughter may have played a part in her killing.

Authorities are hoping anyone connected to the events could provide details to clarify the matter ahead of the November hearing.

'The existence or otherwise of that information will to a degree further inform the psychologist's approach to Mr Kriel as well as our approach to his risk,' Sir Young said.

The parole board advised the offender had completed eight sessions with a psychologist and a safety plan has been prepared and approved for his potential release.

Kriel was only 14 years old when he was arrested over the murder.

The family of slain schoolgirl Liberty Templeman (pictured) are hoping to give evidence to the New Zealand Parole board which would keep their daughter's killer behind bars

Despite being found guilty by a jury, the young offender denied killing Libby - telling the court at the time it was a 'terrible accident'.

The two left a friend's house together to head back to the township of Kerikeri after a barbecue.

Kriel told the court Libby had slipped and fallen on wet rocks they were walking on in the river.

He claimed the two then had an argument and began punching each other - resulting in Libby falling again and being rendered unconscious.

Krield claimed he then panicked and dragged her into the stream, tearing off her clothes so it looked like she had been raped.
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A doctor on the frontline of the Houston fight against coronavirus has revealed his struggle after a widow he treated died just weeks after 100 mourners attended her husband's funeral.

Dr Joseph Varon, board chair at United Memorial Medical Center - a small north Houston, Texas, hospital -couldn't save the 66-year-old Latina woman, who has not been named, after at least ten people fell ill following the funeral. According to her daughter most weren't wearing masks.

'We didn't take precautions like we should have,' her daughter said. 'We just got totally caught up in the moment.' The widow was admitted in late June - about a week after the funeral for her husband, who died from liver cancer.

Texas has seen a surge in the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus since it began aggressively loosening restrictions in May.

'People need to see this so they can understand and won't do stupid things,' Dr Varon said, standing in the widow's hospital room. 'Every day, we have stuff like this. Every single day.'

Nearly 80 per cent of the state's hospital beds are in use, and intensive care units are filling up in some of the nation's biggest cities, including San Antonio and Houston, where leaders are warning their health facilities could become overwhelmed in the coming days.

In all, Texas has recorded more than 2,670 deaths and more than 200,000 confirmed cases of the virus.

Dr Varon has worked more than 100 days with barely any rest and normally sleeps just a few hours a night.

At his hospital 88 of 117 beds are devoted to COVID-19 patients - and Varon says the hospital may soon turn over the entire facility to treating those with the virus. Outside, long lines of cars wait hours for tests.

Reporters spent Monday at the hospital capturing the scenes inside.

United Memorial has been rapidly dedicating more and more space to virus care. Now, 88 of 117 beds are devoted to such patients - and Varon says the hospital may soon turn over the entire facility to treating those with the virus. Outside, long lines of cars wait hours for tests. After Varon's team did three rounds of compressions on the widow, he stopped them. 'Thank you, everybody,' he said. The 10 people around the bed filed out of the room, one of them sighing. The machines around her continued to beep. A few people worked to prepare her body for the undertaker and placed a sheet over her

Dr. Joseph Varon walks through the Coronavirus Unit at United Memorial Medical Center, Monday, July 6, 2020, in Houston. Around 10am Monday, the widow's oxygen levels fell dangerously. Varon decided that she needed to be placed on a ventilator

Air is pumped by hand as medical personnel try unsuccessfully to save the life of a patient inside the Coronavirus Unit at United Memorial Medical Center, Monday, July 6, 2020, in Houston. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in the state have more than doubled in the last two weeks, and Texas is reporting, on average, more than four times as many cases each day as it was a month ago. It surpassed 10,000 new confirmed cases in a single day Tuesday

Dr. Joseph Varon, center, reaches for an IV bag inside the Coronavirus Unit at United Memorial Medical Center, Monday, July 6, 2020, in Houston. Varon says he has worked more than 100 days with barely a rest and normally sleeps just a few hours a night. 'We're going to get into situations like Italy did, like Spain did, like New York did just a couple of months ago,' said Varon

Medical student Diego Montelongo closes his eyes briefly as he watches others attempt to save the life of a patient inside the Coronavirus Unit at United Memorial Medical Center, Monday, July 6, 2020, in Houston. Despite all their efforts, the patient died

Medical equipment is rushed to a room as medical personnel try to save the life of a patient. The hospital has taped off three separate wings with a sequence of large tarps and gates. Assisting Varon is a team of nurses and volunteer medical students. Anyone seeing a patient with COVID-19 is required to wear two sets of masks, gowns, gloves, shoe and head coverings, and a face shield

Medical student Diego Montelongo pauses after a patient died. Varon has worked more than 100 days with barely a rest and normally sleeps just a few hours a night. When he isn't seeing patients or trying to obtain more hospital supplies, he does media interviews to encourage people to wear masks and take the virus seriously

LaTanya Robinson, who has COVID-19, talks about her condition. Robinson says she was caring for her son when he got the virus. Both she and her husband eventually caught it. While her son and husband's symptoms were relatively mild, she went from feeling tired and struggling to move to hardly being able to breathe. Robinson's son had recently spent time outside the house and his girlfriend had gone out with friends. She thinks one of them may have originally the virus and infected her

LaTanya Robinson was breathing with a machine providing high-flow oxygen through her nose and could see hospital staff running into the widow's room as they tried to save her. Monday was the first day Robinson felt well enough to have a conversation about her illness. Texas leaders say there are still 12,000 available hospital beds statewide - about 23 per cent of total beds

Dr. Joseph Varon, left, talks with LaTanya Robinson during rounds inside the Coronavirus Unit. Robinson says she was held in an urgent-care center for two days before being moved to United Memorial because the first available hospital beds were in Corpus Christi and Lufkin, cities at least a two-hour drive away. Robinson's case shows that even if the sprawling state still has spare capacity, that may not accommodate people in cities where the virus is surging

Photographs of staff working at the Coronavirus Unit at United Memorial Medical Center hang on the wall Monday, July 6, 2020, in Houston. The photographs help patients know who is behind the mask. Asked what Robinson would tell people outside the hospital about the virus, she said: 'The only thing I can do is to live to be that example for them. You don't take anything for granted'

Dr. Joseph Varon notifies the family of a patient who died inside the Coronavirus Unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston. Varon called the widow's daughter, expressing condolences first in Spanish, then English. He repeated that he had done everything he could and to call if there was anything she needed. When he hung up the phone, his bluish gray eyes were filled with tears

Dr. Joseph Varon, right, leads a team as they try to save the life of a patient unsuccessfully. When the ventilator failed to restore her oxygen levels, medical staff ran to bring a second one just in case there was a problem with the first. Varon also ordered shocks to her chest and injections of epinephrine, a hormone that stimulates the heart. 'Every effort that you can imagine, everything that has been written, we did, and yet we were unsuccessful,' he said later. 'The problem is with COVID, thats what were seeing'

Dr. Joseph Varon, center, visits with Dorothy Webb, left, and her daughter, Tammie, while making his rounds inside the Coronavirus Unit. United Memorial, already near capacity, could soon be filled, Varon says, as he braces to see what Fourth of July celebrations might bring. Some people gathered for the holiday even as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instituted new restrictions on outdoor get-togethers and required mask-wearing indoors

Medical student Engerlina Olivares handles a COVID-19 test from a patient inside the Coronavirus Unit. Texas is seeing a surge in the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus since it loosened restrictions on gatherings in May

Dr. Joseph Varon, right, talks with patient Jose Tellez while making his rounds inside the Coronavirus Unit. While rising case numbers partly reflect more testing, Texas has a positive test rate of 13.5 per cent, more than double the rate from a month ago

Medical student Engerlina Olivares walks through the Coronavirus Unit. Like many doctors, he has tried to use alternatives to ventilators because of the relatively low survival rate of people on the machines

Medical student Bryan Delgado puts on PPE inside the Coronavirus Unit. Nearly 80 per cent of the state's hospital beds are in use, and intensive care units are filling up in some of the nation's biggest cities, including San Antonio and Houston, where leaders are warning their health facilities could become overwhelmed in the coming days
A man who tested positive for COVID-19 snuck out of his hotel quarantine in New Zealand to go to a busy shopping centre for over an hour.

The 32-year-old, who arrived from India on July 3, was staying in mandatory managed isolation at the Stamford Plaza in Auckland when he decided to escape the facility by sneaking through a fence.

He is the country's latest confirmed coronavirus case after testing positive on Wednesday, amid concerns his secret shopping trip could put others at risk.

New Zealand Health Minister Chris Hipkins fielded tough questions about the quarantine blunder on Wednesday but would not apologise for the government's failure.

He called for the man to apologise for putting New Zealanders at risk.

New Zealand has suffered another coronavirus case, a man in hotel quarantine who snuck out to a local shopping centre (Jacinda Ardern is seen on Wednesday at a meeting in Hastings)

The New Zealand military is overseeing mandatory quarantine (pictured, guards outside a quarantine hotel in Auckland on June 18)

'The only thing we are asking them in return is to follow the rules. This person did not follow the rules,' Hipkins said.

'It is completely unacceptable that we have now had two people let everybody else down by breaking the rules, leaving facilities and putting New Zealanders at risk.

'These are acts of selfishness that we intend to use the full weight of the law to stop.'

Travellers who arrive in New Zealand from overseas must go into managed isolation for a period of 14-days where they are guarded and unable to leave the facility.

The Countdown shopping centre on Victoria Street West in Auckland, New Zealand, (pictured) was closed for deep cleaning after a coronavirus-positive man went on a shopping spree

Health Minister Chris Hipkins (pictured) has labelled the man who escaped managed isolation 'selfish' for putting New Zealanders at risk

But on this occasion the man had been in a smoking area where a new 1.82m-high fence was being installed.

Mr Hipkins said the man made a spur of the moment decision to abscond through a gap in the barrier.

Security guards raised the alarm with authorities within minutes but there was no sign of the man.

He had gone to the Countdown shopping centre on Victoria Street West where he shopped for around 20 minutes before returning to the hotel 70 minutes later on his own accord.

Air Commodore Darryn Webb said CCTV footage captured the man's shopping spree and found there was no close contact with any staff or shoppers as he used a sef-checkout.

But despite the 'low risk' the store was shut down for deep cleaning and will reopen at 7am on Thursday.

'We have asked all of our team that were working last night, including the nightfill team, to self-isolate as a precautionary measure,' Countdown's general manager for health and safety, Kiri Hannifin told the NZ Herald.

'They will get tested over the next few days and we are offering them any and all support they need.'

New Zealand police wait to escort new overseas arrivals into managed isolation facilities in Auckland (pictured_

The incident follows the escape of a 43-year-old woman who absconded the Pullman Hotel in Auckland over the weekend.

She was eventually discovered by authorities and returned 80 minutes later.

Commodore Webb said charges will be brought against both individuals.

The maximum penalty for breaking New Zealand's COVID-19 quarantine regulations is a six-month jail sentence or a $4,000 fine.

New Zealand has recorded a total of 1,573 corornvirus infections including 22 death.

Only 23 cases across the national are still active.
A Trump-supporting California couple has been charged with hate crimes after they painted over a sanctioned Black Lives Matter mural with black paint.

Nicole Anderson, 42, and David Nelson, 53, were charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office with three misdemeanor counts, including a hate crime.

They were captured on video on July 4 defacing a Black Lives Matter mural in Martinez by painting over it with black paint.

Anderson is seen in the footage using a large paint roller to paint over the letters 'B' and 'L' in the word Black, which had been painted yellow.

According to the district attorney's office, a Martinez resident applied for a permit to paint the temporary mural in front of the city's Wakefield Taylor Courthouse on July 1. The permit was approved by Martinez city officials and the painting took place on July 4.

Nelson and Anderson arrived at the scene of the mural after it was completed with paint supplies. Video of them has been shared widely on social media.

A telephone number for the couple was disconnected when DailyMail.com tried to contact them Wednesday morning and a Facebook page for Anderson is said to have been deactivated. Nelson told CNN: 'I have no comment  for you anyway.'

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Nicole Anderson (right), 42, and David Nelson (left), 53, were charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office with three misdemeanor counts, including a hate crime

The pair were captured on video on July 4 defacing a Black Lives Matter mural in Martinez by painting over it with black paint

'We must address the root and byproduct of systemic racism in our country. The Black Lives Matter movement is an important civil rights cause that deserves all of our attention,' Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton said.

'The mural completed last weekend was a peaceful and powerful way to communicate the importance of Black lives in Contra Costa County and the country. We must continue to elevate discussions and actually listen to one another in an effort to heal our community and country.'

Both Nelson and Anderson are charged with violation of civil rights, vandalism under $400 and possession of tools to commit vandalism or graffiti.

If convicted, both defendants face up to a year in county jail. The alleged offenses are exempt from a specific bail amount due to the current county bail schedule in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In footage from witnesses, Nelson was seen wearing Trump-supporting attire as he argued with witnesses.

Footage shows the woman pouring a can of black paint over part of the mural and using a paint roller to cover the bright yellow letters.

Records obtained by The Smoking Gun show that in March 2004 Anderson filed for a domestic violence protection order against Nelson and was handed a three-year restraining order.

Anderson is seen painting over the yellow letters with black paint

Nelson (pictured) argued with witnesses that Black Lives Matter is 'racism' and 'no one' wants in it the city

When one witness asks the woman 'what's wrong with you,' her male companion replies 'we're sick of the narrative, that's what is wrong'.

'The narrative of police brutality, the narrative of oppression, the narrative of racism, it's a lie,' the man adds.

The man, who was recording the incident, then points to the Black Lives Matter sign and calls it 'racism'.

An argument is sparked between the man and onlookers while the woman continues to damage the mural.

'There is no oppression. There is no racism,' the man says. 'It's a leftist lie...from the media.'

The woman then becomes enraged at the witnesses and exclaims 'keep that s****' in f****** New York! It's not happening in my town!'

The woman appeared to referencing to a number of Black Lives Matter murals approved across all five boroughs of New York City.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that one would be painted directly in front of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue - a move that angered the president - but it was delayed last week for unspecified reasons.

Several such murals have painted on roadways across the country to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement after the killing of George Floyd and other black Americans at the hands of law enforcement.

The man said the couple defaced the mural because they were 'tired of the narrative...', referring to police brutality and racism

Authorities said the couple fled the scene before police officers arrived

Community members returned to the Martinez courthouse on Sunday to repair the damaged Black Lives Matter mural

At one point, the man chimes in that 'no one wants Black Lives Matter here' and 'all lives matter.'

The Martinez Police Department said that it dispatched to the Black Lives Matter mural after people reported the incident, but the couple had already fled the area.

Community members on Sunday returned to the mural and re-painted it.

'The community spent a considerable amount of time putting the mural together only to have it painted over in a hateful and senseless manner,' the department said.

'The City of Martinez values tolerance and the damage to the mural was divisive and hurtful. Please help us identify those that are responsible for this crime, so they can be held accountable for their actions.'

More than 100 people - all wearing face coverings and adhering to social distancing - gathered to paint the phrase on Saturday for five hours.

The 'public art project,' was organized by a local group named Martizians for Black Lives, which got permission for the mural from the Martinez Recreation Department.

Justin Gomez, a top organizer for Martizians for Black Lives, said the project was inspired after a number of anti-Black Lives Matter fliers were discovered in the city.

The fliers reportedly prompted a community-wide discussion and reflection of how residents should be treated.

'People have now seen racism in their community; now we have to confront it,' said Gomez.

He added that it was not mistake that the mural was placed in front of the Martinez courthouse.

The legal system 'gateway to mass incarceration' that has disproportionately affected Black Americans and minorities, as well as perpetuated institutional racism.

'The system is made up of millions of little systems. We have to look locally first,' said Gomez.

The first Black Lives Matter mural was painted in Washington, DC, near the White House last month. Murals for the movement soon started popping up in major cities like New York City where multiple murals have been painted in Manhattan and Brooklyn (pictured)

A large-scale Breonna Taylor mural was painted at Chambers Park in Annapolis, Maryland, on Sunday. The mural was organized by Future History Now in partnership with Banneker-Douglass Museum and The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture

The painting honors Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by members of the Louisville Metro Police Department in March 2020

One of the mural artists, Tatiana Ray, told ABC 7 that the couple's response to the artwork was indicative of white supremacy permeating through American culture.

'I think that this is an indication of how much power white supremacy actually has,' she said.

'The fact that even having something on the street for one hour, they couldn't even tolerate that. You know, it was such a threat to have anybody else's concerns represented by the city and represented by the community.'

Nationwide protests against white supremacy, racial injustice and police brutality have gripped the United States since George Floyd's death on Memorial Day.

The first Black Lives Matter mural was painted in Washington, DC, near the White House last month.

Murals for the movement soon started popping up in major cities like New York City where multiple murals have been painted in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

In Maryland, artists created a Breonna Taylor mural to call for justice for the 26-year-old EMT who was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department officers on March 13.

As hundreds of thousands of Americans continue to call for action, President Donald Trump has railed against Black Lives Matter protesters and unequivocally sided with law enforcement.

He was condemned over his heavy-handed military response to often peaceful protests, appearing to incite further divide between civilians using prejudice rhetoric and for using the widely contested phrase 'when the looting starts, the shooting starts'.

His apparent distaste for Black Lives Matter protesters seeped into his Fourth of July address at the White House, where he compared them to Nazis and terrorists.

'American heroes defeated the Nazis, dethroned the fascists toppled the communists, saved American values, upheld American principles, and chased down terrorists to the very ends of the earth,' he said.
Scott Morrison has confirmed pay subsidies and more help than usual for the unemployed will continue once coronavirus welfare programs expire in September.

Australia's economy is most likely already in recession, for the first time in almost three decades, and the COVID-19 recovery is set to be delayed as five million Melburnians re-enter lockdown for six weeks.

The Prime Minister has hinted JobKeeper wage subsidies would be extended for struggling businesses as the JobSeeker dole, now temporarily doubled, was permanently increased.

'Where there is the need, there will continue to be the support,' Mr Morrison said.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is expected to unveil a job support plan alongside an economic update on July 23.

He is also considering bringing forward to this year legislated personal income tax cuts, scheduled for July 2022, when he delivers the October budget.

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Scott Morrison has confirmed income support for those impacted by the pandemic will continue after JobKeeper ends in September

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is considering bringing forward to this year legislated personal income tax cuts, scheduled for July 2022, when he delivers the October budget

The next stage of the tax cuts - delivering a 19 per cent rate to everyone earning less than $40,000 - were scheduled to start in July 2022.

The final and most expensive stage, which would lead to everyone earning between $45,000 and $200,000 paying just 30 per cent tax, kicks in from July 2024.

Those earning more than $120,000 were set to receive $2,565 tax cuts in two years' time but Mr Frydenberg said that relief was likely to be brought forward to this year in a bid to stimulate spending.

'We are looking at that issue, and the timing of those tax cuts, because we do want to boost aggregate demand, boost consumption, put more money in people's pockets and that is one way to do it,' he told ABC radio.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was confident JobKeeper and more generous unemployment benefits would be to help his state cope with the new lockdowns.

'I'm confident there will be support there,' he told the Nine Network.

The Melbourne lockdowns will cost the state economy $1billion a week and send shockwaves across the country, with Victoria accounting for a quarter of Australia's economic output.

'This is a serious impediment to the speed and the trajectory of the nation's economic recovery, not just Victoria,' Mr Frydenberg said.

Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said the Victorian lockdowns must be taken into account when the economic update and JobKeeper review are released.

'This outbreak and these necessary new restrictions come with even more uncertainty for businesses and their workers, making the case for clarity on the future of JobKeeper even more urgent,' he told AAP.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is expected to outline a rejigged job support plan alongside an economic update on July 23

'Scott Morrison has only added to the uncertainty by delaying the release of his secret JobKeeper review.

TAX CUTS AT A GLANCE Tax cuts of $255 for those earning between $18,200 and $37,000 were legislated in July 2019. Those earning $48,000 to $90,000 saw their tax cuts double from $530 to $1,080. The government's tax cuts package, announced in the April 2019 pre-election Budget, had three stages. Stage one increased the threshold for the 32.5 per cent personal income tax bracket from $87,000 to $90,000, over four years until 2022. Stage two, from July 1, 2022, would increase the 19 per cent personal income tax bracket from $41,000 to $45,000. It also raises the 32.5 per cent personal income tax bracket from $90,000 to $120,000. Stage three would see the 37 per cent tax bracket abolished from July 1, 2024 and a new 30 per cent tax bracket created for all individuals earning between $45,001 and $200,000. The number of tax brackets would be slashed from five to four for the first time since 1984 Advertisement

'The government should better target and taper support, but shouldn't turn off the tap when businesses are struggling with new restrictions.'

More than 800,000 loans worth $260billion have been deferred throughout the pandemic.

The banks are offering to extend the six-month deferrals for another four months, but only for customers who genuinely need emergency assistance.

Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh, a former Queensland Labor premier, said: 'Banks are pledging to make sure that no customer falls off a cliff at the end of that six months.'

'Where the customer is unable to pay anything because they're still affected there will be an extension of another four months.

'Those that can make repayments at the end of six months, they can start doing so.'

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, which oversees banks, has also provided relief to encourage banks to restructure loans.

These options include extending the term of the loan or temporarily moving to interest-only repayments.

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans is now predicting the federal government will have to spend another $24billion extending JobKeeper wage subsidies until June 2021.

'Those industries that are going to be affected by the extension of social distancing, by the extension of foreign travel restrictions will get an extension in JobKeeper,' he said.

The $70billion JobKeeper program was due to end on September 27, ending the access of 3.3million workers to $1,500 a fortnight until shuttered businesses can reopen.

Mr Evans said one million of those workers would need to continue receiving JobKeeper benefits until Christmas.

Melbourne has been placed in complete lockdown for six-weeks as it battles community transmission. Pictured are police in North Melbourne

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans is now predicting the federal government will have to spend another $24billion extending JobKeeper wage subsidies until June 2021. Pictured is a cafe worker in Sydney on July 1, 2020

In the New Year, 500,000 of them would need to stay on JobKeeper for another six months, including 315,000 in hospitality, 125,000 in the arts and 50,000 in aviation.

Local cases of community transmission have soared in the within Melbourne

Westpac is now forecasting a budget deficit of $240billion for 2020-21, as the government brought forward $15billion worth of tax cuts planned for July 2022.

Australia's net debt will climb to 37 per cent of gross domestic product, up from 19 per cent of GDP in June 2019.

'We are not unique in the way we are dealing with this problem - our numbers are broadly comparable with the rest of the world but nevertheless extraordinarily eye-popping numbers indeed,' Mr Evans said.

Westpac also called for the JobSeeker unemployment benefit - the standard 'dole' - to be permanently raised when the $550 coronavirus supplement, on top of the usual $565.70 fortnightly payment, ends on September 24.

The bank is advocating a $284.30 a fortnight increase that would take JobSeeker to $850, marking the first rise in the dole beyond inflation since 1994.

This would cost $11billion a year to the budget.
A Melbourne Islamic school has become Victoria's second-biggest coronavirus cluster.

The outbreak at Al-Taqwa College in the city's western outskirts continues to rise and has grown to 102 staff, students and close contacts.

The growing figure includes another seven COVID-19 cases confirmed on Wednesday.

It's now just nine short of infections recorded at the Cedar Meats abattoir, which remains the state's biggest cluster.

The seven new cases at the school were among 134 across Victoria recorded on Wednesday.

Al-Taqwa College in Truganina (pictured) recorded its 102nd case of COVID-19 on Wednesday

Of the 2,942 cases recorded in Victoria since January 25, 860 remain active.

VICTORIA'S SECOND WAVE * 134 new cases of coronavirus recorded in Victoria on Wednesday * Seven were linked to Al-Taqwa College, taking the number of cases at the school to 102 * Of the 2,942 cases recorded in Victoria, 860 remain active * Cedar Meats abattoir remains the state's biggest virus cluster with 111 Advertisement

Melbourne returns to stage three lockdown measures for six weeks from midnight Wednesday, where residents can only leave their homes for essential purposes.

Year 11 and 12 pupils and special schools are set to return to class next week.

But school holidays will be extended by a week for students up to year 10, with remote learning a possibility after that.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the new lockdown was essential to avoid 'thousands and thousands' of cases and 'many, many people in hospital.'

'This is a pandemic and it will kill thousands of people if it gets completely away from us,' he said.

All 300 staff and 2,000 students at Al-Taqwa College, Victoria' biggest Islamic school were ordered to quarantine earlier this week.

A teacher at the school was first diagnosed with COVID-19 on June 29.

Victorian Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said it was possible some infections could have occurred before authorities knew of the first case, which spread through older kids at the school.

'They tend to have more transmission thats akin to adults, if theyre not doing physical distancing appropriately, so thats been a big cluster in terms of schools,' he told reporters on Tuesday.

Victoria recorded 134 new cases on Wednesday (pictured, Fire Services Victoria members prepare to enter a virus-stricken public housing tower in Melbourne on Wednesday)

Medical staff conduct tests at the Keilor community hub mobile testing site on Monday (pictured)

Al-Taqwa College principal Omar Hallak posted an update on Facebook on Sunday.

'All staff and students have been asked to get tested immediately and have been placed in quarantine while DHHS continues their tracing and the College undergoes a deep clean,' the post reads.

'We are working closely with DHHS to support their efforts to trace the origin of the virus and to trace all the contacts of the affected people.

'We know this news will add to anxiety in the community. We pray that our state overcomes this pandemic and we wish every affected person a speedy recovery.

Mr Hallak ensured the school had taken ever precaution to protect staff and students with safety measures implemented on site.

'Temperature checks on a daily basis were conducted for all staff, students and anyone needing to visit the school. Any staff or student that presented with even the mildest cold and flu symptoms were sent back home as a safety precaution,' the post continued.

Melbourne will returns to stage three lockdown measures for six weeks from midnight Wednesday. Pictured is a map of affected council areas
The brother of a notorious Australian terrorist has been accused of savagely beating a woman and shaving off her hair.

Arken Sharrouf, the 33-year-old brother of Khaled Sharrouf, allegedly became enraged and attacked the woman for brushing her hair in south Sydney last July.

Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday heard that Sharrouf screamed 'Your hair is all over the floor, it's too long, stop growing it,' The Daily Telegraph reported.

Sharrouf, who claimed he was highly psychotic during the July 1 attack, was accused of then hacking off the crying woman's hair with a pair of small nail scissors.

His brother Khaled travelled to the Middle East in 2013 to fight for Islamic State, and was killed in a US air strike in August 2017.

The brother of notorious terrorist Khaled Sharrouf (pictured) faced court on Wednesday after being accused of savagely beating a woman and cutting off her hair

Downing Centre District Court (pictured) heard Arken Sharrouf, 33, became enraged when the woman was brushing her hair and punched and choked her at a home in south Sydney last July

The court heard Sharrouf believed he was possessed by the devil and that the woman was a police informant.

Sharrouf allegedly attacked her the following night and choked and punched the woman before kicking and stomping on her while she lay on the ground.

A crown prosecutor explained: 'She was dizzy and drifting in and out of consciousness.'

The woman allegedly arrived at a police station wearing a torn Islamic hijab and pleading for help late on July 2 last year.

She was hospitalised for nine nights and suffered from ten broken ribs, two fractured vertebrae and a fractured eye socket.

Sharrouf told arresting police he was at the gym during the time of the brutal attack, the court heard.

The prosecutor said Sharrouf became furious when officers were unable to find his medication and accused them of working for spy agency ASIO.

Psychiatrist Dr Martin Reading said Sharrouf had stopped taking his medication a few weeks before the alleged assault as he had gained over 20 kilograms.

The court heard Sharrouf was suffering from schizophrenia and allegedly left the woman with ten broken ribs and a fractured eye socket (pictured, his terrorist brother Khaled Sharrouf)

The court heard Sharrouf raised concerns about sex drive issues with a GP and was prescribed an anti-obesity amphetamine that worsens schizophrenia symptoms.

Dr Reading said Sharrouf felt like a 'passive rag doll controlled by external forces' like demons and evil spirits.

'He was also experiencing auditory hallucinations, which were quite distressing for him, and may have been commanding him to do things as well,' Dr Reading explained.

Sharrouf appeared in court via video link and pleaded not guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm, choking and intimidation due to mental illness.

He was also hit with over 70 charges for alleged abuse against a former partner between May 2007 and October 2008 in January.

The court also heard that Sharrouf became depressed and binged on alcohol after his brother Khaled died fighting with the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria.

Khaled Sharrouf, who claimed to be schizophrenic, travelled to the Middle East in 2013 and was killed in a US air strike in August 2017.

The trial is ongoing.
A salesman father-of-two who had no criminal record was busted by police with over $4million hidden inside his car, it is alleged.

Brisbane man Simon Andrew Cross, 37, was stopped by police for a license check on the Pacific Motorway near Eight Mile Plains at about 8.30am on Tuesday.

Queensland Police searched Cross' station wagon where they allegedly found a black suitcase and a cardboard box filled with $4,358,707 in cash.

Queensland Police searched the car of Brisbane man Simon Andrew Cross, 37, where they allegedly found a black suitcase and a cardboard box filled with $4,358,707 in cash (pictured)

Police allege $2.61million was inside the box located in the boot of the car and a further $1.75million was inside the suitcase which sat on the passenger seat.

Cross was charged with receiving tainted property and appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

His solicitor, Alex Jones, told the court his client had co-operated with police, had no criminal history and had the right to bail.

The police prosecutor told the court 'normally with no history, it would be a snappy matter,' the ABC reported.

But they said the large amount of money 'does change the flavour of the objection.'

Cross was stopped by police for a license check on the Pacific Motorway near Eight Mile Plains at about 8.30am on Tuesday and they found the suitcase on the passenger seat and the box in the boot (pictured: Stock image of suitcase)

Cross was granted bail on several conditions including he must surrender his passport, must report to police twice a week and he can not go within 100 metres of any international departure point.

He exited the court via the side door in the afternoon and was confronted by reporters outside but he refused to comment.

The salesman will return to court on August 10.

Police said an investigation is ongoing to determine the 'origins' of the money.
A man has been arrested after allegedly attempting to cross the NSW-Victoria border at Corowa with his wife and three children this morning.

The man, whose car had Victorian number plates, tried to drive into NSW on Carlyle Road, one of 55 crossings into the state, just after 11am.

He allegedly told officers at a road block he was trying to cross into NSW without a valid exemption.

The 34-year-old Victorian was arrested and taken to Albury Police Station, where he is being questioned.

He faces a fine of up to $11,000 or six months in jail.

A long wait: Australians braved 40-minute traffic queues to get to work this morning on the first day the New South Wales-Victoria border closed due to a huge coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne

The man's wife and three children were forced to turn around and drive back.

Since midnight, more than 50,000 vehicles have crossed the border from Victoria into NSW with valid exemptions.

Australians braved 90-minute traffic queues to get to work this morning on the first day the border closed since Spanish Flu struck in 1919 due to a huge coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne.

A line of cars snaked for hundreds of metres along the Lincoln Causeway between Wodonga in Victoria and Albury in New South Wales as 600 police braved heavy fog and temperatures of 3C to man the 1,000km border overnight and this morning.

The two towns are only 7km apart and hundreds of residents live in one and work in the other, meaning the border closure which came into effect at midnight has thrown their lives upside-down.

A line of cars snaked for hundreds of metres along the Lincoln Causeway between Wodonga in Victoria and Albury in New South Wales. Pictured: Commuters on the right wait to get to Albury in NSW for work

Workers must apply for a permit from Service New South Wales to cross the border but the website was so overwhelmed that it crashed for about an hour this morning.

Every driver had to show their permit to police before being allowed through, causing delays of up to 90 minutes and making many people late for work.

Albury City Council Mayor Kevin Mack described the situation as a 'disgrace' and said residents would not be able to put up with the checks.

'This is a disgrace. This is not Sydney, this is Albury-Wodonga and people just aren't being treated like they should be treated here,' he told Sydney radio 2GB.

'We're not going to put up with this for a week, this is just horrendous.'
Beijing has inaugurated its national security office in Hong Kong today, where China's intelligence agents will monitor the semi-autonomous territory's internal affairs for 'terrorist activities or foreign intervention'.

The opening came just over a week after China's central government imposed a tough new law on the city that critics view as a further deterioration of freedoms promised to the former British colony.

Today Hong Kong's education bureau announced that schools must not allow students to play, sing or broadcast the protest anthem 'Glory to Hong Kong' because it contains political messages.

Last week, the city criminalized the pro-democracy slogan 'Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time' under the new national security law, which took effect on June 30.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (2nd left), joins Hong Kong executives at China's new Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, Wednesday, July 8, 2020

The national security law prohibits what Beijing views as secessionist, subversive or terrorist activities or as foreign intervention in the semi-autonomous territorys internal affairs.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam joined her predecessors Leung Chun-ying and Tung Chee-hwa in marking the opening of the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong. Chinese Communist Party officials were also present, and security was tight.

Following a flag-raising ceremony, at which the Chinese flag was hoisted outside the office, Lam and the former Hong Kong leaders unveiled a plaque bearing the name of the new agency. Officials present then congratulated one another on the opening.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during an opening ceremony for the China's new Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, Wednesday, July 8, 2020

From left, Director of the Liaison Office and National Security Adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong Luo Huining, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, former Hong Kong Chief Executives Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying and head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong Zheng Yanxiong attend an opening ceremony for the China's new Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Mainland Chinese Communist Party officials and Hong Kong officials attend an opening ceremony for China's new Office for Safeguarding in Hong Kong, Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Under the national security law, police now have sweeping powers to conduct searches without warrants and order internet service providers and platforms to remove messages deemed to be in violation of the legislation.

Critics see the law as Beijings boldest move yet to erase the divide between Hong Kongs Western-style system and mainland Chinas authoritarian way of governing.

The fear is that the law erodes the special freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong, which has operated under a 'one country, two systems' framework since China took control of the city from Britain in 1997. That arrangement has allowed Hong Kongs people freedoms not permitted in mainland China, such as public dissent and unrestricted internet access.

Workers take off a curtain after attend an opening ceremony for China's new Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, Wednesday, July 8, 2020

The new Chinese office in Hong Kong has taken over the Metropark Hotel, owned by the China Travel Service, in the now fashionable neighbourhood of Tai Hang, close to Causeway Bay

China's new national security office in Hong Kong got off to an early start on Wednesday with an official opening amidst heavy police presence

Journalists take picture and video over the water-filled barriers after an opening ceremony for China's new Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Mainland Chinese Communist Party officials and Hong Kong officials attend the opening ceremony, July 8, 2020

Journalists take pictures and video over the water-filled barriers after an opening ceremony for the China's new Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong

After the law was imposed, a slew of tech companies, including Facebook, Google and Twitter, said they would stop processing requests from law enforcement officials for user data in Hong Kong, as they assess the ramifications of the law.

On Wednesday, Microsoft and Zoom said they would take similar action.

TikTok announced Tuesday that it would stop operations of its app in Hong Kong, and by Tuesday the app could not be downloaded from Hong Kongs Apple and Google app stores.

A man is detained by riot police during a demonstration on July 1, 2020 in Hong Kong, China

At a lawmakers panel on Tuesday, pro-democracy lawmakers grilled Hong Kongs secretaries for security and justice over the law and its implementation rules.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Jeremy Tam held up a blank white piece of paper - a move often used by demonstrators to protest against what they call the 'white terror' of silencing political dissidence - and asked if doing do contravened the new security law. Other lawmakers followed suit. Tam did not manage to get an answer to his question before time was up.
The black birdwatcher who had police called on him by a white woman in a viral video clip in New York's Central Park has refused to cooperate with the Manhattan District Attorneys investigation into the incident.

Amy Cooper, 41, was branded 'Central Park Karen' in May after she was caught on cell phone video telling cops that she was being threatened by Christian Cooper, 57, after he asked her to put her dog on a leash.

Ms Cooper was charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree on Monday.

But Christian Cooper (no relation) has not cooperated with the prosecutor's investigation, and says he believes the woman has suffered enough after having her reputation destroyed and being fired from her job.

Christian Cooper, a keen birdwatcher, was verbally attacked by Amy Cooper after he asked her to control her dog. He says that he will not be participating in any prosecution in the case

Amy Cooper engaged in a confrontation with Christian Cooper in Central Park in May

'On the one hand, she's already paid a steep price,' Cooper said to the New York Times. 'That's not enough of a deterrent to others? Bringing her more misery just seems like piling on.

'If the DA feels the need to pursue charges, he should pursue charges. But he can do that without me,' Cooper added.

Announcing charges on Monday, Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan district attorney, said: 'Our office initiated a prosecution of Amy Cooper for falsely reporting an incident in the third degree.

'We are strongly committed to holding perpetrators of this conduct accountable.'

Cooper was issued a desk appearance ticket and will be arraigned on October 14.

If convicted, she could be given a conditional discharge or sentenced to community service or counseling rather than jail time.

Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan DA, announced charges on Monday against Amy Cooper, but Christian Cooper says the district attorney will have to prosecute without his input

During the incident on May 25, Ms Cooper was asked by birdwatcher Christian to put her dog on a leash, as park guidelines dictate.

In a Facebook post, he claimed the dog was 'tearing through the plantings' in the Ramble area of the park, and told her she should go to another part of the park.

When she refused, he pulled out dog treats, causing her to shout at him to not come near her dog.

Amy Cooper then called the police on Christian, adopting a hysterical tone when talking to the operator and demanding that officers respond because she was being threatened.

Christian recorded the interaction on his phone, in video which then went viral.

'I'm in the Ramble, there is a man, African-American, he has a bicycle helmet and he is recording me and threatening me and my dog,' she said hysterically to the 911 operator as she gripped her dog's collar tightly.

'I am being threatened by a man in the Ramble, please send the cops immediately!'

Cooper called the police on Memorial Day after Christian Cooper asked her to put her dog on a leash, as per the Central Park rules. Cooper accused Christian of threatening her life

When she hung up, and put her dog on a leash, Christian replied: 'Thank you'. The video then ends.

In the aftermath of the video Cooper surrendered her dog, Henry, to the cocker spaniel rescue group she had adopted him from two years before. She has since been reunited with the dog.

She has however been fired from her job as a head of insurance portfolio management at Franklin Templeton.

After the backlash, Ms Cooper released an apology through a public relations firm saying she 'reacted emotionally and made false assumptions about his intentions'.

'He had every right to request that I leash my dog in an area where it was required,' she said in a written statement.

'I am well aware of the pain that misassumptions and insensitive statements about race cause and would never have imagined that I would be involved in the type of incident that occurred with Chris.'

Cooper, pictured with Henry, has apologized for her behavior on May 25 in Central Park

Ms Cooper's 911 call was seen by many as a stark example of everyday racism and fueled outrage in the period leading up to the street protests sparked by the police custody death of George Floyd.

And despite Christian Cooper's decision not to cooperate with the investigation, Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, a professor of constitutional law at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice believes he still has a part to play in what follows.

'If the police believed she was really being attacked, they could have come in with guns drawn and she would have been the only witness in this  outside of that video that may or may not have surfaced,' Browne-Marshall said to The Times.

'This isn't just about Christian Cooper. The community has been harmed by the actions of Amy Cooper and, in order to rectify this, then the people of New York need to have their day in court, even if Christian Cooper is a reluctant witness.'

The incident also inspired New York state lawmakers in June to pass a law that makes it easier under civil rights law to sue an individual who calls a police officer on someone 'without reason' because of their background, including race and national origin.

The new law, which was signed last month, holds an individual who makes such 911 calls liable 'for injunctive relief, damages, or any other appropriate relief' in a civil lawsuit.

Ms Cooper was charged under an existing false-report law that has been long on the books and does not reference race.

Christian, a Harvard graduate who works in communications, has long been a prominent birdwatcher in the city and is on the board of the New York City Audubon Society

Christian, a Harvard graduate who works in communications, has long been a prominent birdwatcher in the city and is on the board of the New York City Audubon Society.

Christian told The View that he accepts Cooper's apology, but he believes the incident is part of a much deeper problem of racism in America that must be addressed.

'I do accept her apology,' Christian said.

'I think it's a first step. I think she's gotta do some reflection on what happened because up until the moment when she made that statement it was just a conflict between a birder and a dog walker, and then she took it to a very dark place.

'I think she's gotta sort of examine why and how that happened,' he said.
A former West Australian police officer accused of drugging and raping women he met online is facing further charges after two more alleged victims came forward.

Former senior constable Adrian Trevor Moore, 50, faced Perth Magistrates Court in March charged with 108 offences including 66 counts of rape.

Police said he met at least eight women through well-known online dating apps and stupefied his victims before sexually assaulting them between 2010 and 2018.

He was charged in April with 36 new offences after another five women came forward.

Former senior constable Adrian Trevor Moore, 50, faced Perth Magistrates Court in March charged with 108 offences including 66 counts of rape

WA Police on Wednesday said two more women had since alleged they were sexually assaulted by Moore between 2011 and 2016.

Moore has been charged with five offences against them, including sexual penetration without consent and stupefying in order to commit an indictable offence.

He will face Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

WA Police on Wednesday said two more women had since alleged they were sexually assaulted by Moore (pictured in handcuffs) between 2011 and 2016

Moore resigned from the force in 2018 after a previous investigation by its internal affairs unit.

Acting Inspector Simone Van Der Sluys in March described Moore as a sexual predator, saying she was appalled and distressed at his offending.

She said she firmly believed Moore may have used his position to pressure and intimidate the women, mostly aged in their mid-to-late-40s.

Moore, once a nominee for WA Police Officer of the Year, was granted bail in April this year

'They were embarrassed. There's a lot of dynamics that exist here for victims of a sex crime and also to add to that, him being a police officer,' she said.

Moore, once a nominee for WA Police Officer of the Year, was granted bail in April.

The investigation was ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
A needle has been found inside a mandarin at a Woolworths supermarket as authorities raise the alarm over a rising number of food contamination cases in recent weeks.

The discovery was made after as shopper purchased the fruit from a Woolworths outlet at Findon, in Adelaide's western suburbs on Tuesday.

A Woolworths Spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia they have contacted police and the remaining stock was checked.

A needle has been found inside a mandarin in South Australia as authorities raise the alarm over a rising number of food contamination cases in recent weeks (stock image)

'As a precautionary measure, our store team opened and inspected mandarins last night. We found no further product safety concerns in these checks,' the spokesperson said.

'Weve also commenced our own investigation in line with our established food safety procedures.'

The supermarket giant has handed over CCTV footage to police as part of the investigation into the food tampering scandal.

Meanwhile, South Australia police say they will 'come down hard' on people responsible for contaminating food.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said officers were doing everything they could to identify the culprits.

Woolworths has handed over CCTV footage to police as part of the investigation into food tampering (stock image)

South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens (pictured) said police were doing everything they could to identify the culprits

'These acts are incredibly malicious (and) I'm absolutely amazed this can re-emerge at a time like this where businesses are finding it really challenging to stay afloat.' Commissioner Stevens told ABC Radio.

'I'd certainly be encouraging our bail authorities that if this person presents such a risk that they will be remanded in custody.'

Earlier on Tuesday, there were reports of a thumbtack being found in strawberries purchased from the Foodland outlet in Goolwa, south of Adelaide.

That followed the discovery of needles in strawberries and an avocado, and thumbtacks in a loaf of bread, at a Woolworths outlet in Adelaide's northeast between June 27 and July 1.

The commissioner said there were fears copycats may be responsible for new cases of food contamination and a dedicated team had been established to investigate the incidents.

'We don't want to see this become a trend,' he said on Tuesday.

'The potential for copycat is significant and the impact on industry is significant.'

More than 240 copycat incidents were reported after the initial incident involving the discovery of a needle inside a strawberry in 2018

The Commissioner also warned that if there 'was information about people making false reports ... we will be coming down hard on those people as well'.

The latest incident comes two years after the strawberry contamination scandal across Australia in 2018.

More than 240 copycat incidents were reported after the initial incident involving the discovery of a needle inside a strawberry.

My Ut Trinh, 52, A former supervisor for the Brisbane-based farm Berrylicious has been charged with six counts of contamination over the 2018 incident.
A grandfather who was kidnapped and tied to a chair inside a burning home managed to free himself with a blunt butcher's knife.

The 68-year-old, who remains anonymous, dragged the chair into the kitchen to cut himself free after he was left to die on a farm in Ootha, in the NSW Central West, on October, 9, 2018.

Adam Thomas McKay, one of the three men allegedly responsible, was sentenced to 23 years behind bars in the Bathurst District Court on Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph reported.

His father Jason allegedly recruited then 23-year-old Adam and 29-year-old Samuel Towney for revenge following the breakdown of his marriage.

The trio allegedly broke into the property west of Parkes, on October 9, 2018, and kidnapped the 41-year-old estranged wife - who was staying with her 68-year-old partner, two teenagers and a 71-year-old woman.

A grandfather who was kidnapped and tied to a chair inside a burning home managed to free himself with a blunt butcher's knife. Pictured: The burnt home in Central West NSW

The victims cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Judge Graham Turnbull told the court the 41-year-old woman woke up at about 6am on the day of the alleged kidnapping.

She allegedly found Towney in the home with a shotgun and Jason McKay in the hallway with a tomahawk.

The 68-year-old man came out of the bedroom and was hit on the head with a metal bar by Adam McKay.

The court heard Jason McKay told the alleged victims to hand over their mobile phones.

Over the next three hours, the trio fixed a flat tyre and Jason McKay allegedly told the 71-year-old woman to get the teenagers ready to leave, court documents said.

Jason McKay allegedly got his son Adam to restrain the 68-year-old man with rope.

'Finish this c*** off now,' Jason McKay told Adam McKay, the court heard.

'Make sure it's all down, bring all the drums, don't leave anything behind. We will catch you down the road.'

The court heard Towney allegedly began to pour petrol around the home.

The 68-year-old, who remains anonymous, dragged the chair into the kitchen to cut himself free after he was left to die on a farm in Ootha, in the NSW Central West, on October, 9, 2018

The 68-year-old begged for Adam McKay to shoot him.

'Please shoot me, don't f**king burn me,' he said.

The 68-year-old managed to escape the burning home and fled to a neighbour's house where he asked for help.

He was treated in hospital for serious injuries.

The accused and their alleged victims were eventually found after a 16-hour kidnapping ordeal.

Judge Turnbull said Adam McKay's early guilty plea was tangible proof of 'the cleaving of his destructive and dangerous bond with his father'.

Adam McKay will be eligible for parole in October 2033.

The other two men have pleaded not guilty to a string of offences and will face court next month.
A 14-year-old girl has been charged with murder after her 10-year-old cousin was found with her throat slit and words carved into her body on a remote farm.

The younger girl's aunt returned to the family farmhouse in Gunnedah in north-east NSW at about 7am on Wednesday to find the girl with blood pouring from her body.

By the time police arrived the girl had already died.

By the time police arrived the girl had already died (police pictured at the crime scene)

Emergency services remain at the farmhouse (pictured) as forensic police scoured the scene for evidence

The aunt, who is the teenager's mother, left the house at about 6.30am with another child to complete farm duties, The Daily Telegraph reported.

She returned 30 minutes later to find her niece with her throat slit.

The 14-year-old was found on a neighbouring property at 8.30am.

The 10-year-old had travelled 350km from Orange to stay with her cousin during the school holidays before her death on Wednesday morning.

It is believed the girl's injuries had been inflicted with a knife and words were carved into her skin, but police are not releasing details of the wounds.

The teenager was arrested and taken to Gunnedah Police Station where she spent the day with medical experts and local detectives.

She was charged on Wednesday night.

Forensic police spent much of Wednesday scouring the property for evidence but are believed to remain there over the coming days.

Gunnedah in northern New South Wales is more than 430km from Sydney and has a population of just 13,000

FAMILY FARM HORROR: TIMELINE Wednesday July 8 * 6:30am: Mother leaves home in Gunnedah, north-west NSW, to do farm work. Her daughter, 14, and niece, 10 are asleep inside. * 7am: The woman returns and finds the younger girl bleeding from alleged knife wounds and her daughter missing. * 7:15am: Emergency services arrive at the property but the 10-year-old is already dead. * 8:30am: Police find the 14-year-old on a neighbouring property after a frantic search. She is taken to Gunnedah Police Station. *10pm: The child is charged with her cousin's alleged murder. Advertisement

Gunnedah Mayor Councillor Jamie Chaffery told Daily Mail Australia the community's prayers were with the family.

'They're dealing with this devastation of losing a young member of the family,' he said.

'The community has been through so much through three years of drought and COVID-19 but we are resilient and supportive of each other to get through the tough times.'

Councillor Chaffery said the community will be devastated by the 'tragic event'.

'We will be there to support each other and we will support the family,' he said.

Those members of our community that will need support, we encourage them to reach out to Lifeline or Headspace.'

'We appreciate the thoughts of the people reaching out from the broad areas across NSW that are offering their thoughts and prayers.'

The family of the 14-year-old have lived at the property more than a decade ago and are said to be well-respected in the Gunnedah community.

Senior police have described the death as one of the worst murders in recent history involving young girls.

The 14-year-old has been refused bail to appear before a childrens court on Thursday.
Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro has hit back at critics of the hydroxychloroquine drug he is using to treat his coronavirus infection.

He wrote in a Twitter post that he is 'very well' and 'will live a long time' a day after he shared footage of himself taking a dose of the anti-malaria drug - which is touted by him and Donald Trump but has not been proven effective against Covid-19.

Alongside the post Bolsonaro, 65, shared a picture of himself sitting at a table and holding a cup of coffee out in front of him.

The post followed his announcement on Tuesday that he has coronavirus. He was tested after suffering a fever and muscle aches.

He insisted he was 'perfectly well' and credited the improvement to his doses of the drug.

Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro has hit back at critics of the hydroxychloroquine drug he is using to treat his coronavirus infection. He shared a picture on Twitter of him having breakfast alongside a post in which he said he is 'very well' and 'will live a long time'

In the post on Wednesday he wrote: 'To those who cheer against Hydroxychloroquine, but do not have alternatives, I regret to inform you that I am very well with its use and, with the grace of God, I will live for a long time to come'

In the post on Wednesday he wrote: 'To those who cheer against Hydroxychloroquine, but do not have alternatives, I regret to inform you that I am very well with its use and, with the grace of God, I will live for a long time to come.'

The post was part of a Twitter thread in which the president also defended his government's handling of the pandemic.

He claimed his government provided payouts to informal sector labourers, thereby saving jobs and lives without spreading panic about the pandemic.

The nation's confirmed death toll from COVID-19 is the second highest in the world after the United States.

'No country in the world did it like Brazil,' Bolsonaro said.

The post comes after Bolsonaro was seen in a video on Tuesday taking hydroxychloroquine.

'Today I'm a lot better, so certainly it's working. We know today there are other remedies that can help fight the coronavirus,' Bolsonaro said in the video.

'We know none of them have their efficacy scientifically proven, but I'm one more person for whom this is working. So I trust hydroxychloroquine. And you?'

Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro holds up a dose of hydroxychloroquine last night as he claimed the unproven drug was helping his recovery from a coronavirus infection

Bolsonaro, 65, earlier downed the dose with a glass of water to treat a virus which he has previously downplayed as a 'little flu'

Bolsonaro's downplaying of 'the 'little flu' Jair Bolsonaro, sometimes known as 'the Trump of the Tropics,' has sparked controversy for his brash dismissals of coronavirus. At the end of March he referred to the lockdowns being imposed by regional governors and mayors as a 'scorched earth' policy. 'Our lives have to go on. Jobs must be kept... We must, yes, get back to normal,' he said in a speech which sparked furious protests. At the time Brazil had recorded 2,200 infections and 46 deaths. Today, the country has 1.6million cases and 65,487 deaths. The 60-year-old president - who has called the virus 'the sniffles' - has continued to head out to rallies and greet supporters by shaking their hands. Asked on one occasion about the high death toll, Bolsonaro said: 'So what? I'm sorry, but what do you want me to do?' Over Easter he contradicted his own health ministry's advice by going out to buy doughnuts. 'No one will hinder my right to come and go,' Bolsonaro said. The president has claimed that younger people have nothing to fear from the disease and that even older people - such as himself - have nothing to worry about. 'With my history as an athlete, if I were infected with the virus I would have no reason to worry. I would feel nothing, or it would be at most just a little flu.' Bolsonaro said. Bolsonaro has sacked two health ministers during the pandemic and repeatedly called for the country to reopen despite local administrations committing to keep their lockdowns in place. The president has argued that the economic hardship caused by locking down the country is far graver than the disease itself. 'People are going to die, I'm sorry,' the president said in March. 'But we can't stop a car factory because there are traffic accidents.' In June he announced that he was considering whether to pull Brazil out of the World Health Organisation, calling it a 'partisan political organisation.' Advertisement

Bolsonaro revealed his positive test result on Tuesday, telling reporters his fever had subsided before removing his mask as he stepped away.

The former army captain has come under severe criticism for raging against lockdowns and defying social distancing measures despite the soaring death toll.

Brazil has suffered one of the world's worst outbreaks with more than 1.6million cases and 66,741 deaths, both figures second only to the United States.

'I'm, well, normal. I even want to take a walk around here, but I can't due to medical recommendations,' Bolsonaro said yesterday.

The president had told supporters on Monday that he had been tested at a hospital and that an X-ray showed his lungs were 'clean'.

Yesterday he said he had cancelled a visit to the north-east a trip but will continue working via videoconference and receive visitors to sign official documents.

Bolsonaro's decision to champion the use of hydroxychloroquine had put him at odds with two successive health ministers, who both left their jobs in April and May.

Leandro Consentino, a political scientist at a Sao Paulo university, said Bolsonaro would 'take advantage of the illness to advertise for chloroquine'.

'He's going down a path of trying to indicate to his base of support that Covid-19 is just a little flu', Consentino said.

However, political scientist Mauricio Santoro of the State University of Rio de Janeiro said Bolsonaro's infection was a 'blow to his credibility'.

'It will be seen as another example of the failure of his coronavirus response,' Santoro argued.

Bolsonaro has frequently mingled with crowds of supporters in defiance of social distancing rules and without wearing a mask.

The 65-year-old has said that his history as an athlete would protect him from the virus and that it would be nothing more than a 'little flu' if he were to contract it.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly visited hospital since taking office, requiring several operations to repair his intestines after being stabbed on the campaign trail in 2018.

Bolsonaro supporter Silas Ribeiro said on the streets of Rio that the president is correct in saying the dangers of the virus have been exaggerated.

'Our president is a popular man. He is showing that he isn't afraid to die,' said Ribeiro, 59. 'He is going to have health and get through this sickness.'

Speaking near recently reo-pened shops in Rio, Wesley Morielo said he hoped Bolsonaro's sickness would prompt him to reassess his stance.

'I think everything he said before, of not giving importance to Covid-19, came back against him,' said Morielo, a 24-year-old student.

Over the weekend, the Bolsonaro celebrated America's Independence Day at close quarters with the US ambassador to Brazil and other aides.

The U.S. Embassy said on Twitter that Ambassador Todd Chapman is not showing any symptoms but would be tested.

Bolsonaro tested negative three times in March after meeting Donald Trump in Florida. Members of his delegation to the US later reported becoming infected.

Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro yesterday revealed he has tested positive for coronavirus - but dismissively removed his mask as he told reporters he felt 'perfectly well'

Bolsonaro said he was 'well, normal', adding that he 'even wants to take a walk around here, but can't due to medical recommendations'

Bolsonaro has previously referred to the coronavirus as a 'little flu' and railed against the WHO's advice

Bolsonaro took a few steps back from reporters before removing his mask at the impromptu press conference

Bolsonaro stepped back from the reporters and removed his lapel microphone before taking his mask off

Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has previously said that his history as an athlete would protect him from the virus, and that it would be nothing more than a 'little flu'

Bolsonaro in Brasilia on Tuesday speaking to reporters about testing positive for the virus

Bolsonaro has come under severe criticism after downplaying the virus as a 'little flu' and continuing to ignore social distancing advice even as the crisis escalates.

The president has lambasted regional governors for imposing lockdown measures against his wishes which he says will be more damaging than the virus itself.

Asked on one occasion about the high death toll, Bolsonaro said: 'So what? I'm sorry, but what do you want me to do?'.

In recent days he has watered down a law that would require citizens to wear face masks in public.

On Friday he vetoed several articles of the bill such as those requiring employers to supply masks for their staff and another mandating that authorities should provide masks for 'economically vulnerable people'.

On Monday, Bolsonaro also vetoed sections requiring masks be worn in prisons and another obliging businesses to provide information on how to wear masks properly.

Some states have already made the wearing of face-coverings mandatory, but this was the first such law on a national level.

Since Bolsonaro was in a private residence at the meeting with the US ambassador, he did not break the new law - but that did not spare him from an avalanche of criticism online for not providing a good example.

Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus, he revealed today

Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the virus and ignored social distancing rules - seen here waving to supporters on Sunday

Bolsonaro attending a rally on horseback with his supporters outside the presidential palace in Brasilia at the end of May

Bolsonaro has frequently made light of the virus and ignored social distancing etiquette (pictured: on horseback during a rally on May 31)

Bolsonaro's government also tried to remove the majority of virus statistics from its official website, before a judge ordered him to reinstate them.

The latest figures show 1,668,589 confirmed cases and 66,741 deaths in Brazil, the second-highest tallies in the world.

The last seven days alone have seen more than 250,000 new cases and 7,147 deaths, more than many countries have suffered in total.

It is also feared that the true toll is far higher because of a lack of widespread testing in Latin America's largest country.

Brazil, however, is the sixth most populous country in the world and its per capita deaths are not as high as in seom European countries.

Belgium has the most coronavirus deaths per million people, followed by the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Sweden and France. Brazil is tenth on that list.

Demonstrators take part in a protest against Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro as they hold images of people who died from the coronavirus disease
Under fire fashion retailer Boohoo has launched an independent review of its supply chain after a scandal about working conditions at factories.

The investigation will be led by top lawyer Alison Levitt QC and comes after the company's shares plummeted 1billion amid the claims of poor pay and practices.

Ms Levitt was formerly legal advisor to the director of public prosecutions who led the 2013 internal review which criticised the decision not to prosecute Jimmy Savile for sex offences.

Boohoo said it was going to invest 10million to try and tackle the problem as well as speed up its independent third party supply chain review with ethical audit and compliance specialists.

Factory workers at Faiza Fashion in Leicester - where Boohoo and PLT clothing is allegedly made

Boohoo clothes had been hugely popular, but the scandal saw share prices tumble

A statement from the firm said: 'We take extremely seriously all allegations of malpractice, poor working conditions, and underpayment of workers.

'The group will not tolerate any incidence of non-compliance with its Code of Conduct or any mistreatment of workers, and will not hesitate to terminate relationships with any supplier who does not comply.'

It came after three major online retailers dropped the brand over the claims of low pay and unsafe conditions at a supplier's factories.

Love Islands Steph Lamb and Ellie Brown at The Boo Hoo Man Tracksuit Party at Rosso Restaurant in Manchester last year

Call the fashion police: Probe lawyer is CPS ace Boohoo investigator Alison Levitt QC The lawyer in charge of the Boohoo investigation was once the top legal adviser to current Labour leader Keir Starmer. At one point she was even tipped to succeed him in his former role as Director of Public Prosecutions, but missed out on the job. She married Lord Carlisle in 2007 after he had left his wife for her. Ms Levitt has not been shy about criticising the Crown Prosecution Service and was headhunted to her subsequent role with Mishcon de Reya. She said in 2015 some CPS staff had a problem with making the right charging decisions. Ms Levitt told the BBC: Some of them were just fantastic, and some of them were just wrong - and they were wrong in quite fundamental respects. The lawyers who are making them, plainly either did not understand what they were meant to be doing or were not applying what it was they did understand. Advertisement

Next ditched Boohoo clothes from its websites last week, while Asos and Zalando followed suit on Tuesday.

The fallout came after a Sunday Times report claiming workers at a Leicester factory were paid 3.50 an hour.

Their probe also claimed they were still making clothes while being offered no protection from coronavirus.

A second factory which supplies Boohoo was also uncovered, where workers claimed to be paid less than half the 8.72 minimum wage. One, aged 39, said he was paid just 4 an hour

Home Secretary Priti Patel called the allegations 'truly appalling' and vowed to clamp down on modern slavery.

The National Crime Agency is investigating the city's garment industry and has visited premises to investigate 'concerns of modern slavery and human trafficking'.

The company, which also owns the Nasty Gal and PrettyLittleThing brands, has denied any responsibility but said it would "thoroughly investigate" the claims.

It was already under fire after claims from pressure group Labour Behind the Label, a workers' rights group, that some sick employees at factories were "being forced to come into work while sick with Covid-19".

A spokesman for Next said the fashion giant stopped selling items from Boohoo brands last week after the campaign group first raised their concerns with the production line.

The spokesman said: 'Next concluded there is a case for Boohoo Group to answer.

'Next needs to prove to itself the two Boohoo Group labels that it was stocking are being sourced in a manner that is appropriate and acceptable to Next.

'Next therefore has its own investigation under way to ascertain whether they are being made in a way that Next does not approve of.'

Boohoo sells its products through a variety of third-party sites, although it is understood that wholesale revenues represent a small fraction of sales.

Jayde Pierce at the Boohoo spring collection at Dream Hollywood in March, 2018

An advert for Boohoo who have come under fire over allegations over poor treatment at factories

The Indian-born billionaire and his playboy son who began the Boohoo fast fashion brand from a Manchester market stall Mahmud Kamani, pictured right, alongside his son, didn't want to spoil his children, but helped them set up Pretty Little Thing Mahmud Kamani, 55, started out running a Manchester market stall and launched Boohoo in 2006, now worth 2.6 billion, with his son Adam on board. Mahmud's other son Umar, 32, is CEO of clothes retailer PrettyLittleThing, which his father's Boohoo Group bought a 34 per cent stake in for 269.8 million in May. The billionaire clothes retailer's own father Abdullah Kamani went to school in Gujurat, India. He moved the family to Kenya, where many Indian families had prospered in the British Empire. Mahmud was born there in 1964, but four years later the Kamanis were forced to flee to Britain by increasing unrest and draconian employment laws that favoured native Kenyans. They settled in Manchester, where the entrepreneurial Abdullah sold handbags on a market stall to feed his family, before investing in property and founding the wholesale textile business Pinstripe, where Mahmud worked, using family connections in India to source garments. By the early 2000s, the firm was selling nearly 50 million of clothing a year to High Street names such as New Look, Primark and Philip Green's Topshop. Today it has a workforce of over 1,000, and celebrity advocates including everyone from Little Mix to Tallia Storm. Advertisement

The Manchester-based company's recent strategy focused on acquiring new online brands and platforms.

It said on Monday that it will end relationships with any supplier it finds to have broken its code of conduct.

It is understood that Asos has temporarily suspended its trading relationship with Boohoo brands until the group has completed its investigations and is able to provide assurances over its supply chain.

Berlin-based Zalando said it delisted around 300 products made by Boohoo Group on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for the company said: 'During the coronavirus crisis, the health and safety of our employees has remained of utmost importance to Zalando.

'We adjusted to this 'new normal' with strict preventative measures to keep all employees safe while staying open for business.

'We expect our partners to apply similar fundamental priorities and will distance ourselves from those who don't.'

Yesterday social media influencers also moved to distance themselves from the firm.

Former TOWIE star Vas Morgan said on Instagram: 'Having worked with and supported Boohoo both professionally and personally for so many years, I am sure you can understand my sadness when reading these articles this morning.

'There is no ''modern day'' twist on this; Slavery is slavery and my heart hurts for the families that have suffered at the hands of companies that fail to do due diligence like this.

'Companies that make billions off the back of hard working people trying to feed their family.'

After the scandal broke Boohoo moved quickly to say that they wanted to make sure all its suppliers followed a good standard.

A management statement said: 'As a board, we are shocked and appalled by the recent allegations that have been made and we are committed to doing everything in our power to rebuild the reputation of the textile manufacturing industry in Leicester.

'We want to ensure that the actions of a few do not continue to undermine the excellent work of many suppliers in the area, who succeed in providing good jobs and good working conditions.

'We take extremely seriously all allegations of malpractice, poor working conditions, and underpayment of workers.

'The group will not tolerate any incidence of non-compliance with its code of conduct or any mistreatment of workers, and will not hesitate to terminate relationships with any supplier who does not comply.'

Boohoo owner Umar Kamani posted a long message to his Instagram account this morning giving his response on the growing storm.

He said: 'Its been very difficult and challenging over the last few days to read things that we knew were inaccurate.

Boohoo owner Umar Kamani posted a long response on Instagram on the scandal, spanning seven pages on the social media platform

'Please swipe right to read our statement and thank you for your continued support.'

He added: 'As soon as the Group was made aware of the allegations of mistreatment of garment workers by our third party suppliers, as detailed in the July 6 announcement, an immediate investigation was launched.

'Our findings show some inaccuracies with last Sunday's media report. The garments featured were not actually manufactured in Leicester, but in Morocco. Post production, the garments were shipped back to the UK by the supplier to be repackaged into compliant boxes for delivery to the Group's international distribution centre in Burnley. This was the process that was filmed at a premises formerly operated by Jaswal Fashions Limited.

'Jaswal Fashions Limited, contrary to the media report, is not and has never been a supplier for the Group, and does not operate in the unit stated. Investigations over the last 72 hours have highlighted that the order from Nasty Gal was placed with Revolution Clothing Co Limited, who then instructed Morefray Limited to manufacture in Morocco and repackage the garments on their behalf in Leicester.

'Our investigation to date has not found evidence of suppliers paying workers 3.50 per hour. However we have found other evidence of non-compliance with our Code of Conduct and the Group has taken the decision to immediately terminate its relationship with both suppliers.'
A teenager who was sexually assaulted as a child and accused of lying about it by her own mother has opened up on her traumatic experience.

The young woman was just eight years old when Queensland man Michael David Wockner placed his genitals on the outside of her mouth.

The 42-year-old from Magnetic Island forced the child to watch porn and demanded she touch him inappropriately in 2009.

After pleading guilty to two counts of indecent treatment of a child in the Brisbane District Court, Wockner was sentenced to 18 months behind bars, to be wholly suspended for three years.

The victim told the Townsville Bulletin she would do anything to stop anyone from enduring the trauma she did.

'Ive had nightmares, panic attacks, Ive had sleepless nights. I get sweaty when people get too close,' she said.

The now 18-year-old victim vowed to stop children being traumatised in the criminal justice system and wished to stop anyone from enduring her trauma (stock image)

The victim came forward about her abuse in 2015, before her mother branded her a liar on social media following her confession.

'People say, why didnt you come out about this earlier, at that age, you dont know that (the person) is doing something thats bad,' the victim said.

The now 18-year-old, who is studying a Bachelor of Human Services at university, hopes to use her experience to help other victims.

'They need to reform how they handle victims,' she said. 'I felt like the criminal rather than the victim.'

Speaking outside of court after Wockner's sentence, the victim shared her disappointment.

'If it ever happened to me again after that sentence, I wouldn't report it,' she told Quest Newspapers.

'He's going to go home tonight to have dinner. I'm going to go home tonight knowing he's still out there.

'Girls don't like to come forward because that's the kind of sentence you get.'

Wockner's defence barrister David Crews argued for a lighter sentence as it was an 'isolated incident'.

He told the court these were 'exceptional circumstances' because of the 'low-level' of his offending and his client had no prior convictions for sexual offences.

The victim told the court Wockner had taken her childhood from her.

She said she lives in constant fear she will be abused again.

Judge Orazio Rinaudo agreed that exceptional circumstances did apply.
Ibiza is offering all NHS staff free holiday accommodation as part of efforts to say 'thank you' to workers who have 'risked their lives' to 'look after us'.

The popular island's government is backing an initiative launched by a group of Ibiza-based business owners to thank healthcare staff across Europe for their work in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

Juan Miguel Costa, Ibiza's tourism councillor, said the scheme aims to compensate 'those who have looked after us.'

Ibiza is offering all NHS staff free holiday accommodation as part of efforts to say 'thank you' to workers who have 'risked their lives' to 'look after us'

In comments reported by Ladbible, he told local paper Diario de Ibiza that staff have 'risked their lives in many cases and deserve that we all do our share to make sure they have holidays that meet high expectations.

One week's free accommodation will be offered in April, May and October 2021, outside the holiday island's peak season.

At least 60 private properties have been offered as part of the initiative, named Together for Healthcare Heroes.

Rooms at luxury hotels including Atzaro and Aguas de Ibiza, as well as the OD Hoteles and Concept Hotel Group chains are also being offered.

According to Together for Healthcare Heroes' website, the organisation is trying to find 'at least 1,000 best in class accommodation providers in Europe' to provide free accommodation for healthcare staff, so that they can enjoy a holiday next summer without having to fork out for lodging.'

Their mission statement reads: 'It all started with a simple idea early in March.

The popular island's government is backing an initiative launched by a group of Ibiza-based business owners to thank healthcare staff across Europe for their work in tackling the coronavirus pandemic

Juan Miguel Costa, Ibiza's tourism councillor, said the scheme aims to compensate 'those who have looked after us'. Pictured: The Atzaro hotel in Ibiza, one of those which is being offered as part of the initiative

'How can we say THANK YOU to those fighting for the lives of our families, friends and communities?

'How can we say THANK YOU to those putting their own lives at risk for us?

'Together we are driving change by celebrating and rewarding those who put our community, family and friends first during the COVID-19 outbreak.

'Unprecedented times highlight exceptional people.

'We thank those who we have trusted with our lives, by gifting them our homes and hotels in Ibiza and across Europe.'

Rooms are also being offered at hotel chain OD Hoteles Ibiza

The exclusive Aguas de Ibiza is also offering rooms as part of the initiative to thank healthcare workers

According to The business owners behind the initiative include Brigitte Bardoul, the founder of a luxury Ibiza estate agent; Claudia Zezukiewiets, an Ibiza-based lawyer, and Clive Heathcote, a former banker.

Britons have been able to go on holiday to Spain, which governs Ibiza, since the end of June after the country's government lifted its ban on foreign tourists.

The Ibiza holiday offer comes after Turkish Airlines offered a 40 per cent discount on flight tickets to NHS staff.

The offer lasts until July 18 and can be used for tickets on flights up to May 2021.

Announcing the offer, a spokeswoman said: 'Turkish Airlines started a new campaign for the healthcare workers who are working selflessly to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

'With this campaign, all healthcare workers working around the world will be able to fly at 40 per cent discount with their tickets purchased from Turkish Airlines webpage or mobile application.
Dominic Cummings is touring highly secret military and security service sites amid claims he is determined to 'sort out' hapless procurement and organisation, it was revealed today.

The maverick No10 chief has visited MI5 and MI6 twice, and will be going to a series of other sensitive sites soon.

Mr Cummings, who has been a vicious critic of the Ministry of Defence in particular, has made overhauling the government machine a key priority.

According to a memo leaked to the Sydney Morning Herald, he will tour the Special Boat Service based at Poole in Dorset, the SAS headquarters in Hereford, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, the Rapid Capabilities Office at Farnborough and the defence intelligence unit at Wyton.

Earlier this year, Mr Cummings was seen with government pass suggesting he had mid-level security clearance, but he is now thought to have secured a higher level.

Mr Cummings has been a pivotal figure in pushing through an overhaul of the Whitehall machinery, with claims Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill and other senior mandarins have been forced out to clear the way.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down is among the sites that Dominic Cummings is planning to visit, according to the leaked memo

Chief of the Defence Staff Nick Carter (left) was warned yesterday that Mr Cummings (right) wants to 'sort out' the Ministry of Defence

In blogs before he was recruited by Boris Johnson, Mr Cummings urged the introduction of 'red teams' explicitly tasked with finding reasons why the government should not be following policies.

He has been an advocate of 'Super-Forecasters', individuals who have no specific expertise but are able to predict events because of their mental process.

Mr Cummings has been particularly scathing about the way the Ministry of Defence runs its procurement, branding it a 'farce'.

He claimed the military 'continued to squander billions of pounds, enriching some of the worst corporate looters and corrupting public life via the revolving door of officials/lobbyists'.

'Scrutiny by our MPs has been contemptible. They have built platforms that already cannot be sent to a serious war against a serious enemy,' he wrote in a blog post titled Drones in March.

'A teenager will be able to deploy a drone from their smartphone to sink one of these multibillion-dollar platforms.

'Such a teenager could already take out the stage of a Downing Street photo op with a little imagination and initiative, as I wrote about years ago.'

Tory MP Mark Francois, a former defence minister, delivered a stark message about Mr Cummings' intentions at a committee hearing with Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter yesterday.

He said: 'Can we just make a plea to you? You are the professional head of the armed forces.

'Please nip back to the department and ask them to sort their bloody selves out because if not Cummings is gonna come down and sort you out his own way and you won't like it.'

The statement provoked a laugh from the top general, while committee chair Tobias Elwood added: 'I think that message is passed on.'
Semhar Tesfagiorgis, 40, has filed a claim with the London employment tribunal accusing Crown London Aspinalls of race and sex discrimination

A Mayfair casino allowed some of its members to racially abuse black croupiers and refuse to be dealt by them, according to a legal claim brought at a tribunal.

Semhar Tesfagiorgis, 40, has filed a claim with the London employment tribunal accusing Crown London Aspinalls of race and sex discrimination.

The Eritrean mother-of-two, who has worked as a croupier at the den for 13 years, said club managers allowed guests to use racist language and behave in a racist way.

Her claim includes allegations that punters referred to black gambling tokens as 'n***** chips' and compared black people with gorillas.

Ms Tesfagiorgis said her experiences are 'all too familiar to people of my background' and vowed to quash what she described as the 'industry-wide problem' of racism at high-end London casinos.

Aspinall's in Mayfair, which is owned by Crown Resorts, refused to comment as the matter is now the subject of legal proceedings.

In papers seen by The Times, Ms Tesfagiorgis claimed that a Turkish club member called a black employee a 'n*****' in her presence in 2007.

Two years later, the same gambler is alleged to have shouted at her black colleague 'that f****** n*****; that f****** dirty woman... you better get that n***** girl out of here otherwise I am never coming back to this casino'.

According to the papers filed with the tribunal, managers refused to bar him - and instead removed the black croupier from dealing with him.

Ms Tesfagiorgis has also alleged that members requested 'white, whiter or lighter-skinned' croupiers and referred to 'nice t***' in relation to female staff.

Semhar Tesfagiorgis, 40, has filed a claim with the London employment tribunal accusing Crown London Aspinalls of race and sex discrimination

The Eritrean mother-of-two, who has worked as a croupier at Aspinall's for 13 years, said club managers allowed guests to use racist language and behave in a racist way

Her claim further alleges that she and another black colleague were kept away from a gambler by managers who wanted only white dealers in 2015.

And when an east Asian member allegedly requested only white croupiers last year, Aspinall's chief operating officer Michael Branson is said to have asked Ms Tesfagiorgis 'did she expect him to turn away a million-pound punter?'

Eritrea-born Ms Tesfagiorgis said that she has filed a case with the London employment tribunal because 'over the years I have tried to reason with management on many occasions and have had no success'.

Shazia Khan, a lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, which is representing Ms Tesfagiorgis, said: 'The treatment has directly impacted on my client's health and well-being.'

Aspinall's was founded in the 1960s by John Aspinall, a breeder of wild animals who funded his zoos, to a large extent, from house winnings.

Its early clientele was largely aristocratic in nature, but has since become more reflective of Mayfair's residents as the wealth of the landed gentry declined.

In a statement to The Times, the club said: 'As the matter is the subject of legal proceedings, we will not be commenting.'
Staff at the Royal College of Art have criticised the appointment of Mark Harrison, pictured, as the institution's head of diversity. The position was later withdrawn

The Royal College of Art has withdrawn a job offer to a white, middle-aged man from its new 'Head of Inclusion' diversity role after a rebellion from tutors and staff who said the appointment showed a 'hideous culture of overt and insidious systemic racism'.

VIce-chancellor Paul Thompson handed the position to Mark Harrison, who had previously worked in a similar position at the University of London.

But a letter signed by academic staff claimed the college had fostered a 'hideous culture of overt and insidious systemic racism'.

They also called for a vote of no confidence in Dr Thompson.

After news of the letter emerged the RCA announced it had withdrawn the offer and would change the job specifications and title.

'We will reopen the search for a head of equality and diversity in the new academic year,' a college spokesman told the Times.

The letter has been signed by more than 800 former and current staff at the college .which boasts Henry Moore, Tracey Emin and David Hockney amongst its alumni.

The letter has also been signed by all four winners of this year's Turner prize, Tai Shani, Oscar Murillo, Lawrence Abu Hamdan and Helen Cammock.

It criticised Mr Harrison's appointment at a time of mass protest around the violent marginalisation of black people from society'.

Staff said the role should have gone to someone from a more diverse background.

Some 19 per cent of staff are from ethnic minorities while that figure falls to 13 per cent when it comes to academic jobs.

The college told The TImes: 'Transformational progress on [eradicating racism] is vital to the development of the entire RCA.'

The letter from academics proposed a vote of no confidence in vice-chancellor Dr Paul Thompson, pictured

Some 800 former and current staff members wrote the letter to the college, pictured, to criticise Mr Harrison's appointment

A 13-page letter from the 'RCA Action Group' to the college read: 'We strongly oppose the person newly appointed to 'Head of Inclusion' (Mark Harrison) due to deep failings in the way this role has been framed and the rigour of the recruitment process.

'We know, thanks to the testimonies of staff and students of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Asian, First Nations and Indigenous heritage, that the Royal College of Art has for generations fostered a hideous culture of overt and insidious systemic racism. This systemic racism has been normalised, reproduced and experienced by students and staff at every level of the institution, in a myriad of ways.

'This toxic culture of systemic racism continues and is upheld by the Vice-Chancellor's Office under the leadership of Paul Thompson, through actions such as this latest 'Head of Inclusion' appointment.

'Thus, this toxicity continues to trickle down and be reinforced throughout the institution.'

The protesters complained about the difficulty of people from Black or ethnic minority backgrounds to secure a job at the college.

They said the recruitment process which led to Mr Harrison's appointment was unfair.

And they claim that members of the college's equality and diversity committee were not informed the job was available.

The complainants argue that if African, Caribbean, or Asian members of the equality committee had been notified about the vacancy, they would have been able to make suggestions for the role through their networks which are 'undoubtedly full of qualified candidates.'

In an earlier statemtent, Dr Thompson said: 'At the Royal College of Art we are committed to addressing racism and the systemic barriers which marginalised communities experience.

'Doing nothing is unconscionable; speaking out and doing nothing is "tokenistic". We are already taking steps, but we know that we need to do more. We recognise that our initial small steps must grow into sustained strides forward.

Over the past decade, the RCA has increased the diversity and gender balance of its faculty and staff at senior levels, but I am very mindful of the fact that black academics in particular, are very poorly represented in all British universities, including the RCA.

'All senior appointments (Heads of Programme and above) are conducted using a search consultant. We always stipulate to the search consultant that we must have a shortlist of candidates which are gender balanced and comprise people of colour.

'For all searches and appointments, whether conducted via a search consultant or our own HR processes, we will be strengthening our commitment to diversity and building more inclusive faculty, and professional services.

The RCA has also started a new 10 million endowment fund offering scholarships for BAME students., the statement said

Staff and unions at the college have also criticised senior management's handling of the Covid-19 crisis, with fears about job cuts and a move to online-only lectures.

Students were also angry about plans for a 'virtual' degree show instead of deferring the ceremony until after the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted.
The FTSE 100 has closed down 0.5 per cent after Rishi Sunak's economy-boosting mini-budget failed to excite investors.

London's blue-chip stock market reacted meekly to the Chancellor's spending bonanza, filled with tax cuts and giveaways, while also aiming to create jobs for young people after lockdown.

The index was down 11.50 points to 6,178.40 immediately after the minister finished in the House of Commons then ended the day 29 points down at 6,160.

Ahead of the mini-budget, which was trailed by announcements of a stamp duty holiday and VAT cut, the market initially fell 35 points to 6,154 this morning.

Markets around the globe also fell overnight amid fears the recession caused by the pandemic will be deeper than forecast and the expected rebound could be weaker than expected.

The FTSE 100 creeped back up to 0.1% down after opening 0.5% down but there was no large response to Chancellor Rishi Sunak's budget

As well as the stamp duty announcement, which would save buyers 2,460 on a 248,000 property - the national average - Mr Sunak said today that VAT is to be slashed on food, accommodation and attractions in a major boost for hospitality firms hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Chancellor announced that tourism and hospitality VAT will be cut from 20% to 5% for the next six months.

The move will cut the tax on eat-in and hot takeaway food from restaurants, cafes and pubs, which have started to reopen over the past week.

As well as the stamp duty announcement, Mr Sunak said today that VAT is to be slashed on food, accommodation and attractions in a major boost for hospitality firms hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic

Mr Sunak also said the move will benefit accommodation in hotels, B&Bs, campsites and caravan sites, while attractions such as cinemas, theme parks and zoos will also see the tax cut.

It will be reduced from Wednesday July 15 until January 12, he told MPs.

He added: 'This is a 4 billion catalyst for the hospitality and tourism sectors, benefiting over 150,000 businesses, and consumers everywhere - all helping to protect 2.4 million jobs.'

The Chancellor also announced plans to give people a 50% discount, up to 10 per head, to eat out in restaurants in August.

Russell Nathan, senior partner at accountancy firm HW Fisher, said: 'Our restaurants, pubs, shops and hotels are struggling.

'This is a timely announcement from Government as businesses are in desperate need of a clear action plan.

'It is vital we see the hospitality industry back up and running, and these measures announced today will provide an essential lifeline for many UK businesses.'

The Chancellor announced that tourism and hospitality VAT will be cut from 20% to 5% for the next six months

David Weston, chairman of the Bed & Breakfast Association, said: 'We are delighted by the VAT cut on behalf of our larger members, guesthouses and small hotels who are VAT registered.

'It will help stimulate demand and, once our borders open to incoming tourism, will also help UK tourism overall as Britain's VAT rate has been amongst the highest of our international competitors.'

Joss Croft, chief executive of UKinbound, a trade association representing the inbound tourism industry, said the VAT cut and discount for eating out will 'deliver immediate positive impacts'.

But he warned that many firms involved in inbound tourism are 'on the brink' and will not benefit from those measures.

The Chancellor also announced plans to support businesses bringing staff out of furlough through a new Jobs Retention Bonus Scheme

'Longer-term support will still be required for these businesses,' he added.

The Chancellor also announced plans to support businesses bringing staff out of furlough through a new Jobs Retention Bonus Scheme.

Mr Sunak said the Government could pay up to 9 billion to businesses, as part of the programme which will see firms paid 1,000 per employee brought out of furlough, in a move which will particularly benefit the hospitality sector.

Mr Sunak acted on stamp duty after leaked reports revealed he was considering making a cut in his main Budget this autumn.

Economists and property experts warned the delay could freeze the housing market, with buyers putting off purchases until the autumn to avoid a tax bill running into thousands of pounds.

The revelation about the Chancellor's plans has sparked anger in the Treasury and Downing Street, and a leak inquiry is underway.

The move could save buyers thousands of pounds though exact details of Mr Sunak's plans will be revealed on Wednesday

Mini-budget includes new energy saving improvements Homeowners are set to get 5,000 for insulation and energy saving improvements as part of Rishi Sunak's mini-Budget. Chancellor Sunak will announce a 2billion grant scheme as part of a 3billion green employment package focused on cutting emissions, improving the environment and creating jobs. Under the new scheme the government will pay at least two-thirds of the cost of home improvements that conserve energy. The overall package will include 1billion to improve energy efficiency at public buildings such as schools and hospitals through measures including insulation and the installation of heat pumps in place of conventional boilers. It will also include 40million for a new Green Jobs Challenge Fund to encourage charities and local authorities to create employment in cleaning up the environment. Treasury sources last night said the cash would help fund at least 5,000 jobs in activities such as creating new green spaces, planting trees and cleaning rivers. It will also contribute towards a Government target of planting 75,000 acres of trees a year by 2025. A further 50million will go to pilot innovative schemes to 'retrofit social housing at scale', with measures including insulation, double glazing and heat pumps. Heating buildings accounts for almost 20 per cent of the UK's climate emissions. Treasury analysis suggests that better insulation could cut household energy bills by up to 200 a year. Advertisement

First-time buyers are already exempt on the first 300,000 of a purchase. Raising this to 500,000 would save them up to an additional 10,000.

The Treasury declined to comment on the impact on higher rates of stamp duty, which are currently two per cent on the cost above 125,000, five per cent above 250,000, ten per cent on the value above 925,000 and 12 per cent above 1.5million.

Landlords and those buying second homes pay an additional three per cent. The temporary cut in duty is designed to help revive the market, which remains in a fragile state after being shut down at the height of the lockdown.

Treasury officials believe it could spark a much wider economic recovery, with many expected to use the tax savings to invest in their new home.

Stuart Adam, of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said history showed that temporary cuts in stamp duty could provide an 'effective fiscal stimulus' to the economy.

He added: 'If the holiday is explicitly temporary then it can persuade people to bring forward moves that they might otherwise have delayed. If you get people buying houses again then it can pull a lot of other economic activity with it, such as spending on refurbishment, curtains, carpets, furniture, DIY and so on.

'It doesn't target the sectors hardest hit by the lockdown, such as the hospitality sector. But it might help the wider economy. If you want to do a fiscal stimulus via tax cuts then a temporary cut in stamp duty is fairly effective.'

In 2018-19, properties costing up to 500,000 accounted for 925,000 residential sales, or roughly 90 per cent of all transactions.

Those purchases raised 3.2billion for the Treasury, suggesting a six-month tax break would cost about 1.6billion.

However the timing is likely to spark a debate. Treasury officials acknowledge they have limited data about the state of the housing market, which was only allowed to start trading again in mid-May.

Former chancellor Philip Hammond warned that a temporary cut in stamp duty would only bring forward economic activity, rather than increase it overall.

Rightmove property expert Miles Shipside urged the Chancellor to also act on the mortgage drought hitting first-time buyers.

He said: 'There's currently record housing demand but the market also needs the ability for lenders to extend the availability of low-deposit mortgages, vital to healthy first-time buyer volumes that help drive the rest of the market.

'A stamp duty holiday without better mortgage availability isn't really helpful for potential first-time buyers who are already mainly exempt from it anyway.'

The move is also set to act as a boost for the housing and property market, which has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic

Everything you need to know about stamp duty - What is stamp duty? The Stamp Duty Land Tax was introduced in its current form in December 2013 and applies to people who buy a property or land over a certain price in England and Northern Ireland. The current threshold means property costing over 125,000 is liable for the tax, although the 2017 Budget abolished stamp duty for first-time home buyers in England and Wales purchasing homes up to 300,000. - What is the case elsewhere in the UK? Wales and Scotland have their own arrangements. In Scotland, the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax is applicable when purchasing residential property or land for more than 145,000, while in Wales the Land Transaction Tax starts for transactions over 180,000. - What are the current stamp duty rates? For first-time buyers, there is no tax on places costing up to 300,000 and 5% on the portion from 300,001 to 500,000. For those who have purchased a house before, it is a sliding scale and people pay on the portion of the property price which falls within each band. The bands are: 2% on properties costing 125,001-250,000, 5% on 250,001-925,000, 10% on 925,001-1.5 million, and 12% on any value above 1.5 million. Buyers of second homes - whether buy-to-let or holiday homes - pay a 3% surcharge over the standard rate. - How much does it add to the cost of buying a house? The House Price Index from Halifax suggested the average UK property cost 237,616 in May. A property at this price would lead to a stamp duty obligation of around 2,250. - What could change following the expected announcement? If the Government temporarily increased the threshold to 500,000, that could save people up to 15,000 in stamp duty, while an increase to 300,000 would save 5,000. Analysis by Rightmove suggested that buyers in England's Home Counties areas clustered around London could be particularly likely to make big savings, in the event of an uplift in the stamp duty threshold to 500,000. It also found areas where the average price tag on a home is close to 500,000 include Dorking in Surrey (498,422), Lewes in East Sussex (491,304), Oxford (479,099), Chesham in Buckinghamshire (462,210), Borehamwood in Hertfordshire (476,791) and Bath (464,617). - What could the impact be on the housing market? Richard Donnell, research and insight director at Zoopla, said it would 'provide a further boost to demand for housing'. He said: 'The Government would hope that the savings feed into additional spending in the real economy, with more cash spent on home improvements and white goods rather than enabling buyers to spend that bit more on their next home.' It is hoped the temporary nature of the expected announcement will encourage people thinking about buying a house to enter the market. Advertisement

Government will pay 2bn in wages for 300,000 16-24-year-olds to keep them off the dole as Rishi Sunak puts jobs at the heart of his mini-Budget today

Wednesday's mini-Budget will see the Chancellor put jobs at the heart of his 2billion scheme to prevent a surge in youth unemployment.

Rishi Sunak will unveil a radical plan designed to keep up to 300,000 young people off the dole as the Covid-19 recession bites.

The Kickstart initiative will see the Treasury pay the wages of thousands of youngsters if firms agree to hire them for six months.

The Chancellor is set to announce his mini-budget which is believed to put jobs at the heart of his 2billion scheme to prevent unemployment in young people

Businesses will have to agree to provide an element of training and ministers hope that some of the youngsters will be kept on at the end of their stint.

In return, firms will receive what Treasury sources acknowledged amounts to 'free labour'.

The scheme is the centrepiece in a financial statement that will focus on jobs.

But No 10 moved to allay tax rise fears by saying the Government would stick to its manifesto commitment for a 'triple lock', meaning no increases in the headline rates of income tax, national insurance and VAT before the election.

Ministers fear the lockdown will spark redundancies and last night the Chancellor said: 'Young people bear the brunt of most economic crises but they are at particular risk this time because they work in the sectors disproportionately hit.

'So we've got a bold plan to protect, support and create jobs.'

Today's mini-Budget is designed to steady the economy as it emerges from lockdown. There will be no attempt to balance the books, which have been plunged deep into the red by the pandemic.

Mr Sunak is not even expected to publish a forecast for the public finances, which economists fear could show a budget deficit of more than 300billion  twice the level seen at the height of the 2008 financial crisis.

Instead, the Chancellor will focus on a package of spending measures and tax cuts designed to prop up jobs and spark an economic recovery.

Mr Sunak's mini-budget is set to reveal how Britain will attempt to steady its economy as it comes out of lockdown forced by the pandemic

But yesterday there were signs that Mr Sunak's big-spending instincts are alarming some Tories.

Sir Edward Leigh, a former chairman of the Common public accounts committee, told Mr Sunak he wanted to hear 'less about high-spending lefties like President Roosevelt and more about good Conservatives like Margaret Thatcher'.

In a separate report, six former No 10 advisers called for 'sweeping reform' of the tax system and warned excessive government debt could halt recovery.

The Kickstart scheme, which will run until at least the end of 2021, is to be open to people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit.

They will receive the minimum wage, paid by the state, to work 25 hours a week. Their employers' national insurance and pension contributions will also be paid.

And firms will receive an 'administration fee' of around 1,000 per employee for arranging the placement.

It will start getting under way next month, with the first placements expected to begin in the autumn.

The Treasury announced it has a moral responsibility to do whatever it takes to prevent young people facing unemployment during this crisis

A number of large employers, including BT and Sainsbury's, have already signed up.

A Treasury source said business had a 'moral responsibility' to do what it could to help youngsters avoid unemployment.

The scheme is likely to revive memories of the Youth Opportunities Programme and its successor Youth Training Scheme in the 1980s, which critics said were used as dumping grounds to keep unemployment down.

But Treasury sources last night insisted that businesses would be expected to offer 'good quality' training to those they decide to take on.

Mr Sunak is also expected to expand the apprenticeships programme, where more dedicated training is expected.

The British Chambers of Commerce last night welcomed the Kickstart scheme, saying firms were 'ready to work with government' in order to help youngsters entering the world of work at this 'challenging time'.
Crime victims are receiving a 'limited service, if any service at all' when reporting assaults, burglaries and thefts, the top policing official has warned.

Sir Tom Winsor, Her Majesty's chief inspector of police said the extent of some criminal investigations would be a phone call to the victim, but only to take down facts without any following action.

In a section of his annual policing review titled 'Levels of service dont always meet public expectations', the watchdog says: 'The police are struggling to adapt to the challenges associated with the scale and complexity of modern criminality.

Sir Tom Winsor, Her Majesty's chief inspector of police said the extent of some criminal investigations would be a phone call to the victim, but only to take down facts without any following action

'For the public, this often means lengthy delays in investigations, and therefore delays in justice.'

The amount of cases solved across the UK's 43 police forces fell from 14 per cent in 2015 to 7.3 per cent in 2019.

In cases of of fraud, performance across English and Welsh forces is 'particularly poor', with many of the estimated 3.7 million cases each year left unrecorded or investigated.

There is also worrying data to show a lack of faith in police by the public, as the proportion of crimes closed because the victim did not support a prosecution has risen from 8.7 per cent to 22.6 per cent in the same period.

The amount of cases solved across the UK's 43 police forces fell from 14 per cent in 2015 to 7.3 per cent in 2019 (stock photo)

'The likelihood of the police bringing someone to justice following a criminal investigation is falling. The proportion of crimes closed because the victim doesn't support a prosecution is rising,' wrote Sir Tom.

Even in one of the best forces, Durham, 13 per cent of burglaries and 14 per cent of vehicle crimes in 2018/19 were solved, compared to 23 per cent of violent crimes.

'There is limited understanding as to why so many victims seem to be losing faith in the criminal justice system.'

He added: 'In the words of one chief constable: "Victims of less serious crimes receive a limited service, if any service at all." Some of our inspections bear out this downbeat observation.'

The comments come as Home Office urges police chiefs to prosecute shoplifters who steal less than 200 of goods, in a bid to tackle violence against shopkeepers.

It comes as crime and policing minister Kit Malthouse will write to police and crime commissioners and chief constables urging them to prosecute shoplifters who steal less than 200 of goods, in a bid to tackle violence against shopkeepers

Information provided by nearly 3,500 retailers, trade associations and unions which suggested abuse towards shop staff had increased, with a 'significant number' saying they did not report incidents to the police.

The crime and policing minister Kit Malthouse will write to police and crime commissioners and chief constables 'underscoring the importance of working closely with local businesses to tackle this issue and emphasising that the theft of goods valued up to 200 from a shop should be prosecuted as a criminal offence,' the Home Office said.

The department has also pledged to work with the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) on ways to support staff in reporting crimes.

Mr Malthouse said: 'Shopworkers are the beating hearts of our communities and violence or abuse against them is utterly unacceptable.

'We are determined to drive down these crimes and crucially, ensure that shopworkers are fully supported in reporting incidents to the police.'
Moscow has angrily told the US embassy to 'mind your own business' after Washington's diplomatic mission raised concern about curbs on media freedom in Russia.

Rebecca Ross, the spokeswoman for the US embassy, on Tuesday expressed concern about a clampdown on journalists in Russia.

'Watching arrest after arrest of Russian journalists - it's starting to look like a concerted campaign against #MediaFreedom,' she tweeted.

'Mind your own business,' the Russian foreign ministry tweeted late Tuesday.

Earlier that day the FSB security agency, the successor to the Soviet-era KGB, arrested a respected former journalist, Ivan Safronov, 30, on suspicion of state treason.

His detention sparked an uproar among supporters and journalists who say his arrest is punishment for his coverage of Russia's defence sector.

A member of Safronov's defence team, Yevgeny Smirnov, has said the former journalist, who used to work for Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers, is suspected of cooperating with Czech intelligence since 2012.

The FSB investigators believe that the Czech intelligence acts under the guidance of the United States, Smirnov told AFP.

The FSB says that Safronov has collected confidential data about the Russian military, defence, and security and handed it over to the intelligence of a NATO member country.

Rebecca Ross, the spokeswoman for the US embassy, on Tuesday expressed concern about a clampdown on journalists in Russia. Above, the US Embassy in Russia with an LGBT pride flag hoisted to the front facade

On Monday, a reporter from the northwestern city of Pskov was fined nearly $7,000 for 'justifying terrorism', in a case that sparked an outcry.

Prosecutors had requested that Svetlana Prokopyeva be sentenced to six years in prison for a commentary about a bomb attack.

All major TV stations are under state control in Russia.

Journalists working for print and online outlets have recently complained about increasing curbs on press freedoms and pressure from the Kremlin.
A seal was beaten unconscious by tourists in Kazakhstan so 'children could take pictures with it', just days after another cub was pelted with rocks on a beach.

The shocking incident was filmed in the village of Kuryk, located on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea, and shared online yesterday.

The clip shows a group of men attacking the defenceless animal with sticks and boulders after it came close to the shore.

A crowd of people gather around to watch the brutal assault and appear to do nothing to stop the violence.

A group of men raise stones and sticks above their heads as they prepare to unleash an attack on the seal

The defenceless animal can be seen writhing around as the men continue to rain down a series of blows

A group of people gathered around the scene of the attack, appearing to do nothing to help the animal

The savage attack lasted until the seal lost consciousness, according to news reports.

An unnamed witness said told local media: 'They beat the seal up until it passed out.

'Then they pulled it out of the water so that children could take pictures and have fun.

'After that, they threw the motionless body back into the sea. I dont know if it survived.'

A similar incident was also captured on camera this week in the city of Aktau, around 43 miles from Kuryk.

In the video, a group of tourists can be seen pelting stones and rocks at a baby seal after the animal approached them.

Kazakh model Yevgeniya Mukasheva shared the clip with her followers and captioned it: 'If an animal comes close to you, it means it trusts you.

'How could you throw stones at the defenceless pup and laugh? Have you lost your mind?!'

In the video a playful grey seal pup can be seen swimming near one of the city beaches, coming close to the shore before being showered with boulders and stones

A man can be seen holding a rock before pelting it towards the small seal pup, who has curiously approached the shore

Commenting on the incident, Kazakh authorities expressed their disapproval.

Saken Dildakhmet, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources told: 'The way people acted in the video is outrageous and wild.

'Such an attitude can cause a great damage to the fauna of the Caspian Sea and adversely affect the behaviour of these animals who may become aggressive and attack people.

'We ask you to show respect to nature.'

Caspian seals are at serious risk of extinction, local TV media reported. The attackers beat the seal unconscious so that 'children could take pictures with it', before throwing its lifeless body back into the sea

Seals are curious animals who often approach people, the environment authorities said.

Mr Dildakhmet added: 'The seal in the clip is young and playful. The seals are mostly very friendly and curious marine mammals. We should admire them.'

Police are now hunting the perpetrators involved in both cases, who could face a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Kazakh media say some swimmers were bitten by seals in June and needed hospital to have a rabies shot in the same Mangistau region.

That incident may have sparked the most recent violent attack from those in the videos, reports NURKZ.
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Heartrending images show the items made and found by and given to the survivors of Jewish extermination camps which helped them recover their dignity after the horror of the Nazis's war crimes.

The collection of items include a children's sweater made from wool unravelled from the socks of German soldiers guarding prisoners at the camp Bergen-Belsen, a doll one survivor bought for her daughter after liberation and a birthday card made by inmates at Auschwitz.

After the end of the Second World War, which saw Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany defeated by Russian and Allied forces including Britain, hundreds of thousands of Jews all over Europe who had been liberated from extermination and concentration camps found themselves completely destitute.

Many had nothing except the rags they were wearing. But some either made things which they kept or were given items by people including American and British soldiers.

Others took clothes and sheets from the store cupboards of liberated camps, made things such as a cigarette case or took military equipment including a pair of binoculars and a truncheon left by fleeing German soldiers.

All of the items have been documented and shown online by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center.

Other things on display including a watch given to survivor Sarah Berkman, a wallet presented to a Red Army soldier by three girls he had helped to rescue and a truncheon taken from a German soldier's vehicle by survivor Shlomo Resnik.

Heartrending images show the items made by, used and given to the survivors of Jewish extermination camps which helped them recover their dignity after the horror of the Nazis war crimes. Pictured: Doll that survivor Shoshana Friedman bought for her daughter Yehudit after the war, to replace the doll that she had with her in the Budapest ghetto in occupied Hungary

The collection of items includes this birthday card made by inmates at Auschwitz. The card was found by former prisoner Ben Kolton after it was liberated by the Soviet Union's Red Army. The card opens with a drawing depicting the birth of a baby boy in 1912 and the date at the end of the card is listed as January 8, 1945. It was made to mark the 33rd birthday of one of the camp inmates

After the end of the Second World War, which saw Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany defeated by Russian and Allied forces including Britain, hundreds of thousands of Jews all over Europe who had been liberated from extermination and concentration camps found themselves completely destitute. Pictured: A sweater knitted from wool unravelled from the socks of German soldiers by survivor Gucia Wald at the camp Bergen-Belsen

Many survivors had nothing except the rags they were wearing. But some either made things which they kept or were given items by people including American and British soldiers. Pictured: A watch given to survivor Sarah Berkman by a fellow inmate shortly after liberation at the Bergen-Belsen camp in Germany

Other survivors took clothes and sheets from the store cupboards of liberated camps, made things such as a cigarette case or took military equipment including a pair of binoculars and a truncheon left by fleeing German soldiers. Pictured: The binoculars taken from an abandoned German army cannon by survivor Zoltan Deblinger, then aged 17, after he was liberated from the Dachau-Allach camp in Bavaria, Northern Germany, in April 1945

This wallet was presented to a Red Army soldier by a group of young girls liberated from Auschwitz. The girls embroidered the wallet with the soldier's initials

This bag was found by survivor Berta (Basha) Lebovits after she and her sister were liberated from Bergen-Belsen in 1945. The bag is made from a wool blanket and decorated with a heart, flowers and leaves. Berta recalled: 'I found this bag among all the "schmattes" (rags) at Bergen-Belsen and it really helped me the person who made this bag must be very happy since at Bergen-Belsen it would have been thrown away. I took it and put things inside it that a woman usually has  a mirror, a comb and lipstick. I thought those were things that a woman needed to look good. We already thought like that then and we became human again. I arrived in Sweden with this bag and started my new life'

This truncheon was taken from a German Jeep after a member of the SS - the notorious Nazi paramilitary organisation - was arrested by US forces. The person who took it, Shlomo Resnik, had walked out of Dachau concentration camp the same day after it was abandoned by SS guards

This cigarette box was made by survivor Alexander Ruziak after he was liberated from the Buchenwald camp. He made the box after coming across a carpentry shop near Buchenwald. After finding a rubber stamp, he branded the box with his prisoner number and the Buchenwald name

This shirt was taken from the storehouses at Auschwitz by survivor Daisy (Saltiel) Caraso after the camp's liberation. The left pocket of the shirt was stamped in black with the letters 'K. L. AU.' - the initials for the words 'Auschwitz Concentration Camp' in German

These shorts were made by 24-year-old survivor Zipporah Gross after she and her sister Miriam were liberated from Mauthausen camp. She made the shorts and also a shirt out of a white sheet while she was recovering in hospital

This wash bag, from Auschwitz, was kept by survivor Rivka Mincberg. Inside the big was a sponge, toothbrush, a spoon, a tiny piece of lipstick and some sugar and salt. The items were only found by Ms Mincberg's children after her death

This is a remnant of prisoner clothing and a cigarette coupon which was taken by survivor Leo Goldner when he was liberated from the Allach-Dachau concentration camp

Left: A coat that survivor Chaya Shwarzman Kaplan received in the Stutthof camp which she remade into a dress after the end of the War. Right: A prisoner's coat which survivor Ehud Walter took from the storerooms in the Buchenwald camp after liberation in 1945

A blouse sewn from sheets found by survivor Ahuva (Ostereicher) Sherwood at a labour camp after it was liberated

This blouse was sewn for survivor Janina Praetzel after liberation by a friend. It was made from a scarf and coat given to Ms Praetzel by an acquaintance, named Anna, when the pair were in Auschwitz. Anna died around two months later after being transferred to the Kratzau labour camp.

These leg-warmers were taken from a German soldier's kit bag by survivor Mashiach Cohen after he was liberated from the Bergen-Belsen camp

This towel, along with a plate, was given to survivor Anna Eisdorfer by British soldiers after she was liberated from Bergen-Belsen

This sweater was taken by child survivor Andras Brichta from the clothing storehouse at Auschwitz-Berkenau after German soldiers fled the camp

These shirts, previously worn by members of the Hitler Youth movement - which millions of German children were part of - were given to sisters Martha and Alisa Rosenberg at the Feldafing DP camp

This suitcase was found by prisoner Giuseppe Di Porto. He survived despite being sent on a death march in which members of the SS escaping from the approaching Red Army had decided to execute prisoners. Di Porto managed to escape the execution and instead joined up with the Red Army

These Tefillin - small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah - which would have been worn by Jewish men, were given to survivor Mordechai Moskovits and his sons by a Jewish cemetery guard after their liberation from the Allach-Dachau camp

This shaving brush was given to survivor Yaacov (Jacki) Hendeli by American soldiers after he was liberated from Bergen-Belsen. Jacki wrote on the brush the date he was given it. He said: 'I remained with the American Army and I became human again. They made a human being out of me'

This headscarf was given to survivor Jana (Ilana) Barber for her 14th birthday on May 6 1945, the day after Mauthausen camp was liberated. Jana and her mother Gerta were initially held at Auschwitz. At the selection on arrival at the camp, Jana was directed to the left, where the gas chambers were, but survived thanks to her mother, who pulled her back to her side. Both women were then sent to Mauthausen before it was liberated. Ms Barber, who had been sick for weeks, then received her gift when the camp was finally liberated

A diary written by survivor Alexander Mayer after the liberation of Auschwitz. He used blank forms which he found in the camp. His diary documents period of fighting leading up to the camp's liberation. Part of it reads, 'The air thundered. We could clearly see the rockets passing over the camp; entirely by chance they did not hit us.' Another line documents the moment their rescuers encountered them: 'Our rescuers were quite astonished when they saw these creatures, half naked or dressed in an extremely illogical way, hurrying to greet them and hanging on their necks'

This humorous map shows route taken through Europe by the US Army's Rainbow Division, which was among the forces which liberated camps. A copy of the map was given to survivor Marcel Levi by soldiers from the division after they developed a strong friendship. He had been on a death march from Auschwitz to Dachau when he was rescued. The map is covered in messages from the soldiers to Levi
Met Police chief Cressida Dick today apologised to Team GB sprinter Bianca Williams for the distress her officers caused her in a heavy-handed stop-and-search.

Dame Cressida told the Home Affairs committee she echoed a senior officer who had said 'I'm sorry' to the 26-year-old over the incident, which was heavily criticised and branded 'racial profiling' after video of it went viral.

Williams and her Portuguese sprinter husband Ricardo dos Santos, 25, were hauled from their Mercedes and handcuffed in front of their three-month-old son in Lanhill Road, Maida Vale, on Saturday afternoon.

And as she was questioned by the Home Affairs Committee, Dame Cressida restated the apology made by her colleague and said they were reviewing handcuff policy.

She told MPs: 'Two of my officers spoke on our behalf to Miss Williams and I think all of us watching could empathise with somebody who is stopped in a vehicle, who has a young child in the back, who does not know what is going on and is subsequently found, together with her partner, not to be carrying any illicit goods or weapons

'My senior officer has Im sorry to Miss Williams for the distress we caused her, and I say that too.'

Commonwealth gold medallist Bianca Williams, 26, and her Portuguese sprinter partner Ricardo dos Santos, 25, were stopped and searched near their London home, with their three-month-old baby on board

It came after the black athlete called on the Met Police chief to quit and said she was planning on taking her concerns about the incident 'down the legal route'.

The couple had been urged by police to get in touch 'to discuss what happened and the concerns they have'.

Dame Cressida told MPs: 'Obviously it has raised lots of concern for people, equally obviously when we see something on the internet on video we only see a part of it

'It is true that teams reviewed all the material we have, fortunately in the modern age we have body worn video, we have other video material including from the police vehicle, we have the evidence we have seen the two athletes have given

'That was all reviewed by two separate teams and in terms of whether there was misconduct apparent, the view of my teams was there is no misconduct apparent

'We have voluntarily referred to the IOPC because of the level of public concern

'Handcuffing must always be justified and the justification has to be in the law. I actually having seen a number of issues raised over the last several weeks have said to one of my senior officers can you review our handcuffing practices to make sure that it hasnt become in any way a default in certain situations.'

Team GB sprinter Bianca Williams has called on Met Police chief Cressida Dick (file photo) to quit

Sir Keir Starmer today (pictured) claimed the Met Police should feel 'uncomfortable' after viewing the video of a black Team GB sprinter and her partner being pulled over in their Mercedes for a weapons stop and search

Williams had previously said she was dismayed by the Scotland Yard commissioner's silence since the shocking footage of the incident - which left her shaken and made to feel like they 'were the scum on their (the officers) shoe' - emerged.

Sir Keir Starmer waded into the ensuing race row and said the video should make the Met feel 'uncomfortable'.

But Williams went further and told Sky News that the Met Police commissioner 'does need to think about her position to be honest'.

'It's a never-ending cycle and it's not fair.

'What are we doing so wrong that we're getting stopped all the time and we can't even get a simple apology from the commissioner?'

The Commonwealth Games gold medallist told of the incident: 'To them the UK's not racist, but the UK's very racist. It's heartbreaking to know that if it's not us, it's going to somebody else.'

She told of her heartbreak at being separated from her baby and said the video was still too upsetting to watch back.

This is the moment the Metropolitan Police stopped and handcuffed two of Linford Christie's athletes outside their home in London

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he has spoken to Scotland Yard and will treat the allegations of racial profiling with extreme seriousness.

Scotland Yard insists there is no evidence of misconduct on the part of its officers, and justified the incident saying the car had 'made off at speed' and was 'travelling on the wrong side of the road'.

The Mercedes also had 'blacked out windows', which are only illegal in the UK if they let less than 70 per cent of light through.

But this account was rejected by Ms Williams, who said the car was 'never' on the wrong side of the road.

She told BBC Radio 4: 'That is false, we were never on the wrong side of the road. We were driving down through single-width roads.

'We only found out about us driving on the wrong side of the road once they tweeted in on Saturday afternoon.

'This isn't the first or fourth or fifth time - it must be about the 10th (her partner has been stopped by police), it's getting ridiculous.'

Asked if the police racially profiled 400-metre sprinter dos Santos, Williams replied: 'Yes, 100%', adding: 'It's just horrible, it's an outrageous assumption for them to make.

'We are planning on taking it down the legal route. I feel very hurt by their actions, and to witness my partner being taken away and for me to be taken away from my son, my heart hurts. It's an awful experience.'

Boris Johnson, when asked about the incident and that the UK is a racist nation during a visit to Goole, said: 'I don't think that is true. I think that the UK has made incredible progress just in my lifetime.

'But that doesn't mean we've done enough and we've got to keep doing better and we've got to keep addressing people's feelings that they face discrimination and prejudice.'

A photo shared on Instagram by Ms Williams of the stop and search confrontation. She is to the right of the centre of the photo, with her three-month-old son

Labour leader Sir Keir claimed the Met Police officers were not justified in handcuffing the couple.

He claimed the incident was not handled 'well at all' and should make Scotland Yard 'uncomfortable'.

He told LBC: 'When they got to the car I didn't really think they handled it very well at all. It was clear there was a very young child in the back.

'The use of handcuffs is always controversial. I couldn't actually see what the justification for that was.

'We will wait and see, it will be for the police to justify their actions. But what I do know is if I was a senior officer looking at that video footage, I would feel uncomfortable about the way it was dealt with.'

The clip appeared to show two people - a man and a woman - being pulled out of a car in a London street.

The woman says 'he didn't do anything' and officers can later be heard telling the woman to calm down after she worries about her son remaining in the car.

A male voice can be heard shouting in the background towards the end of the clip.

Ms Williams has slammed the police for 'racial profiling' - though the Met insists there is no evidence of misconduct on the part of its officers

The Olympic champion left a message on Twitter asking for an explanation after the athletes were stopped

Mr Christie questioned the reason behind the stop and suggested the police service were guilty of institutional racism

The Metropolitan Police said the stop was necessary as the car 'drove off at speed on the wrong side of the road' and had 'blacked out windows'

The video of Williams and dos Santos being stopped and handcuffed by police in front of her three-month-old baby was shared on social media by their trainer and Olympic champion Linford Christie.

Mr Christie has demanded an explanation after footage showed how the athletes appeared to be manhandled by members of the Metropolitan Police during the stop, saying it was proof of 'institutional racism' within the force.

In a message addressed to the Met Police, he wrote: 'Two of my athletes were stopped by the police today, both international athletes, both parents of a three-month-old baby who was with them and both handcuffed outside of their home.

'Can Cressida Dick or anyone please explain to me what justification the Met Police officers had in assaulting the driver, taking a mother away from her baby all without one piece of PPE and then calling the sniffer dog unit to check the car over.

'Was it the car that was suspicious or the black family in it which led to such a violent confrontation and finally an accusation of the car smelling of weed but refusing to do a roadside drug test.

'This is not the the first time this has happened. (second time in two months) And I'm sure it won't be the last but this type of abuse of power and institutionalised racism cannot be justified or normalised any longer.'

The text also contained the hashtags BLM and MetPoliceRacist.

Linford Christie, pictured, questioned whether the car was stopped in such a manner because there was a young black family inside the vehicle

Mr Christie asked Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to explain what happened

Linford Christie has accused the Metropolitan Police of 'institutionalised racism' after two of his athletes were stopped and handcuffed

Scotland Yard said officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards have reviewed footage from social media and officers' bodycams and were satisfied there was no concern around the officers' conduct.

The force said in a statement that a car was stopped in Lanhill Road, Maida Vale, west London, on Saturday afternoon after it was seen driving suspiciously, and a 25-year-old man and 26-year-old woman were searched.

Commander Helen Harper said: 'I understand the concern when incidents like this happen and how they can appear when part of it is filmed without context.

'Due to the concern raised, we conducted a review of the stop. This included social media footage and bodyworn camera footage of the officers at the scene. We are satisfied that there are no misconduct issues.'

Police later said they were patrolling due to an increase in violence involving weapons.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said he takes allegations of racial profiling 'extremely seriously' and that he has raised the case with the force.

In a statement responding to the incident, he said: 'It is absolutely vital that our police service retains the trust and confidence of the communities it serves so that every Londoner, regardless of background or postcode can feel safe, protected and served.'
China has told the world not to trust the FBI after the agency's director billed Beijing as 'the greatest long-term threat' to the United States.

'The greatest long-term threat to our nation's information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitality, is the counterintelligence and economic espionage threat from China,' said Christopher Wray, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

'It's a threat to our economic security - and by extension, to our national security,' Mr. Wray said during a speech in Washington D.C. yesterday.

Zhao Lijian (left) from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called Christopher Wray's comments about Beijing's alleged economic espionage 'political lies'. He told reporters today that Washington's foreign policy was 'kidnapped' by 'anti-China' figures like Mr. Wray (right)

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quick to denounce Mr. Wray's remarks, calling them 'political lies'.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson at the Ministry, asked reporters rhetorically on Wednesday: 'Can you really believe what the FBI says?'

At a press briefing in Beijing, Mr. Zhao stated that Washington's foreign policy was 'kidnapped' by 'anti-China' figures like Mr. Wray.

He continued: 'I also noticed that he publicly claimed to deal with one China-related case every 10 hours.

'How [the FBI's officials] dare to think the Chinese security department can be trifled with.'

Mr. Zhao slammed Mr. Wray's comments as 'untruthful.' He also accused the FBI chief of having 'deeply rooted Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice.'

'The Chinese side resolutely opposes it,' the Chinese official decried.

Mr. Wray also claimed that China was pushing its preferences in the U.S. election as part of broad intelligence operations, whose economic impact he called unprecedented. Pictured, China's President Xi (R) shakes hands with U.S. President Trump on June 29, 2019, in Japan

Mr. Wray criticized China in an address to the Hudson Institute think tank.

He stressed that the Communist regime was attempting to become 'the world's only superpower by any means necessary.'

He said: 'We need to be clear-eyed about the scope of the Chinese government's ambition. China - the Chinese Communist Party - believes it is in a generational fight to surpass our country in economic and technological leadership.

'That is sobering enough. But it's waging this fight not through legitimate innovation, not through fair and lawful competition, and not by giving their citizens the freedom of thought and speech and creativity that we treasure here in the United States.

'Instead, China is engaged in a whole-of-state effort to become the world's only superpower by any means necessary.'

The Trump Administration ratchets up political and public pressure on China in an election year. On Tuesday, Pompeo announced new U.S. sanctions on Chinese officials over Tibet

Mr. Wray also claimed that China was pushing its preferences in the U.S. election as part of broad intelligence operations, whose economic impact he called unprecedented.

He did not say whether China supported President Donald Trump or his presumptive Democratic rival Joe Biden, both of whom have harshly criticized Beijing.

'China's malign foreign influence campaign targets our policies, our positions, 24/7, 365 days a year,' Wray said at the Hudson Institute.

'So it's not an election-specific threat; it's really more of an all-year, all-the-time threat. But certainly that has implications for elections and they certainly have preferences that go along with that.'

U.S. intelligence concluded that Russia intervened in the 2016 election, in part by manipulating social media, in an effort to elect Trump.

The Trump administration has taken an increasingly hawkish tone on China, including blaming the communist country for not stopping the coronavirus from spreading to other countries

Mr. Wray's comments come as the Trump Administration ratchets up political and public pressure on China in an election year.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been in a war of words with Beijing, announced new U.S. sanctions on Chinese officials over Tibet.

Mr. Wray's boss, President Donald Trump, called out China in a July 4 speech at the White House filled with scathing comments.

'China's secrecy, deceptions and cover-up allowed it to spread all over the world [in] 189 countries and China must be held fully accountable,' Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the 2016 finding, and his administration has shown irritation over intelligence briefings that Russia is similarly interfering this year.

Mr. Wray was answering questions after a speech focused mostly on China's alleged economic espionage. He said such cases had soared by 1,300 percent over the past decade.

'It's the people of the United States who are the victims of Chinese theft on a scale so massive that it represents one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history,' Wray said.

'If you're an American adult, it is more likely than not that China has stolen your personal data,' he said, pointing to the massive 2017 data breach at credit reporting agency Equifax.

Mr. Wray said that China accounted for nearly half of the 5,000 ongoing counterintelligence cases being pursued by the FBI.

'We've now reached the point where the FBI is opening a new China-related counterintelligence case about every 10 hours,' he said.

He also said that China works 'relentlessly' to identify 'middlemen' to pressure U.S. governors and other officials who take actions it opposes -- notably traveling to Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing.

The Trump administration has taken an increasingly hawkish tone on China, including blaming the communist power for not stopping the coronavirus pandemic -- on which the president's own record has been criticized.

The Trump campaign has rolled out TV ads trying to link rival Joe Biden to China, focusing partly on business Biden's son Hunter did in China. One online ad in May accused Biden of being 'China's puppet.' Some ads made use of a Biden statement during the Obama administration that 'China is not our enemy.'

In turn, Biden has accused Trump of abandoning Hong Kong, where China has clamped down on expression, in his bid to secure a trade deal.
A feminist activist in Russia is facing prison for 'spreading pornography' after sharing cartoon drawings of female bodies and vaginas to promote body positivity.

Yulia Tsvetkova, 27, an artist and activist from the far-eastern city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, could face a jail term of two to six years for distributing the artistic impressions on the VK social media platform in a group called 'Vagina Monologues'.

The group was intended to 'remove the stigma around the vagina and female physiology as a whole' by sharing artwork, including a series of cartoons by Ms Tsvetkova captioned 'Real women have hair on their bodies  and that's normal', 'Real women have body fat and that's normal' and 'Real women have their periods and that's normal'.

Yulia Tsvetkova, 27, an artist and activist from the far-eastern city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, could face a jail term of two to six years for distributing artistic impressions of the female body

Women from around the world have taken a stand to support Ms Tsvetkova by sharing photos of themselves or their own drawings of the female body - many captioning the images 'my body is not pornography'.

Prior to the charges Ms Tsvetkova ran a youth group at a theatre in her remote city, with lectures for the LGBTQ+ community and sex education classes - which are banned in Russian schools, reports DW.

Following a six-month investigation into the social media group Ms Tsvetkova is under strict travel restrictions while awaiting trial in her home city for pornography charges.

Ms Tsvetkova is facing charges for sharing artwork, including a series of cartoons captioned 'Real women have hair on their bodies  and that's normal', 'Real women have body fat and that's normal' and 'Real women have their periods and that's normal'

She also faces charges of spreading 'homosexual propaganda' for her work as an LGBTQ+ activist.

Ms Tsvetkova is being supported by Amnesty International

Ms Tsvetkova is being supported by Amnesty International and the Russian NGO Memorial who have declared her a political prisoner.

Petitions for the charges against her to be dropped have reached 250,000 signatures, with around 40 protesters arrested in Moscow for demonstrating against her case at the end of last month.

Ms Tsvetkova said she was first cautioned by police after running two plays that focused on gender stereotypes and militarism in early 2019, she told DW: 'Our authorities don't like either topic and I think it was the combination of the two [that got me in trouble].'

Speaking about the charge of pornography she added: 'I know what pornography looks like and this isn't it!'

A group of LGBT activists showing posters reading ' Freedom for Yulia Tsvetkova' inside a police bus after being detained in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, June 27, 2020

Ms Tsvetkova also faces charges of spreading 'homosexual propaganda' for her work as an LGBTQ+ activist

Despite stating she will continue to work as an activist Ms Tsvetkova told The Art Newspaper: 'Im trying not to lose hope but in Russia only 1 per cent of cases are acquitted.

'This suggests that I only have a 1 per cent [chance] to get out of this completely free. Such a disappointing forecast.'

Tanya Lokshina, associate director for Human Rights Watch in Europe and Central Asia, told DW: 'What is happening is a witch-hunt against someone who stands out and thinks differently. And that is unacceptable under Russian and international law.'
A cheeky macaque decided to 'monkey around' with a shocked female tourist when she visited its forest sanctuary in Bali, Indonesia.

Jill Porter, 38, sat stock-still as the inquisitive primate clambered onto her lap and started trying to undo her shorts, in footage recorded by one of her friends.

The Balinese long-tailed monkey then plucked up the courage to peer down her top, and even tugged at her hair.

Jill said she was 'terrified' at first, before adding: 'I think the monkeys were possibly hungry and just looking for food.'

Administration officer Jill Porter, 38, got a shock when a macaque decided to peer down her top as she visited the Ubud Monkey Sanctuary in Bali, Indonesia

In the 23-second clip, which has recently gone viral, Jill can be seen sitting on a wooden bench and looking worriedly at the primate nestling on her lap.

A friend in the background can be heard falling about in a fit of giggles and exclaiming: 'I'm dying!'

Jill had gone on holiday with a group of friends to Bali from her home in Castlerock, Northern Ireland, when she had the encounter.

She revealed feeling 'quite scared' about the approach but followed the park's advice.

'You are warned to remain calm if they approach you, but I was quite shocked,' she said.

Since uploading the video to TikTok it has been viewed more than 170,000 times.

Since the 23-second clip was uploaded to TikTok it has been viewed more than 170,000 times

The 12.5-hectare Ubud Monkey Forest is home to around 700 primates, belonging to 186 different species.

However, the coronavirus crisis in Indonesia has forced the site to close for the time being.

The country has so far recorded 68,079 cases of the virus, and 3,359 deaths.

The clip was filmed in November last year.
What are the changes to stamp duty announced by Rishi Sunak? From July 15 until March 31 2021, buyers will pay no stamp duty on the first 500,000 of their purchase when they move home. The measure, which temporarily increases the 'nil rate' band of stamp duty from 125,000 to 500,000, will reduce the average stamp duty bill for a main home from 4,500 to zero. Buyers can potentially save up to 15,000. If you buy a property over 500,000 amount, then you can still save money and can take off 15,000 what you would have paid prior to the announcement. Buy-to let investors and people looking to purchase a second home will also benefit from the changes announced by the Chancellor today. Property experts said the step could encourage some 'missing movers' back to the market. But it was also suggested that some sellers may now be tempted to put their asking prices up due to the tax savings that buyers will be making. Stamp duty applies in England and Northern Ireland and people usually pay the tax on homes priced above 125,000. Advertisement

Home buyers' have reacted with joy at Rishi Sunak's announcement in today's mini-budget that he will freeze stamp duty.

The Chancellor said he would immediately raise the threshold on stamp duty to 500,000 until March 31 2021.

The measure, which temporarily increases the 'nil rate' band of stamp duty from 125,000 to 500,000, will reduce the average stamp duty bill for a main home from 4,500 to zero. Buyers can potentially save up to 15,000.

If you buy a property over 500,000 amount, then you can still save money and can take off 15,000 what you would have paid prior to the announcement.

Property experts said the step could encourage some 'missing movers' back to the market.

On the housing market, Mr Sunak said property transactions fell by 50 per cent in May and house prices have fallen for the first time in eight years.

He announced he has decided to cut stamp duty, telling the Commons: 'Right now, there is no stamp duty on transactions below 125,000.

'Today, I am increasing the threshold to 500,000. This will be a temporary cut running until March 31 2021 - and, as is always the case, these changes to stamp duty will take effect immediately.

'The average stamp duty bill will fall by 4,500. And nearly nine out of 10 people buying a main home this year, will pay no stamp duty at all.'

Buy-to let investors and people looking to purchase a second home will also benefit from the changes announced by the Chancellor today.

Speaking to MailOnline today before the announcement, homeowners said they would use the tax holiday to renovate their homes and use local suppliers to support the economy.

Jenny Stallard, 42, journalist and founder of wellbeing platform Freelance Feels, and Geoff Holliday, 46. are moving from Hornsey, North London, to Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. They are paying 476,000 for the new property.

Ms Stallard said: 'So, we have wanted to move for a while, to get more space (so we can also get dogs!) and for me it's about business, too.

'I want to segue from journalism to other writing offerings and build freelance feels and being out of London feels right for that.

'We found a house and have been waiting to move for a while - lockdown wasn't helpful! But we knew that was the same for many others so we held tight.

'As we're both self employed, securing a mortgage was challenging but we've got there, and we have been excitedly waiting for an exchange date which is any day.

Jenny Stallard, 42, journalist and founder of wellbeing platform Freelance Feels, and Geoff Holliday, 46, Wayfinding masterplanner. are moving from Hornsey, North London, to Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

'So the news that the stamp duty holiday might happen is just wonderful for us. When you buy and sell there is so much to pay for - removals will be 1500, for example (a fair rate, but still extra cost) and things like surveys, new white goods, renovations.

Sunak's 'mini-Budget' package at a glance A radical plan to pay the wages of up to 300,000 young people on Universal Credit if businesses agree to take them on for at least six months; A 2billion scheme to subsidise home insulation and other environmental upgrades that ministers hope will support more than 100,000 jobs; A temporary cut in VAT which is expected to be focused on struggling sectors like hospitality; Schools, hospitals and other public buildings are to get 1billion to make them greener and more energy efficient; Some 50million to fund retrofitting of social housing with insulation, double glazing and heat pumps; Nature conservation schemes given 40million to plant trees, clean up rivers and create new green spaces. Advertisement

'No stamp duty buys us time to renovate and time to settle in, which as a newly engaged couple is also a bonus. we've been working so hard during lockdown to keep our businesses afloat, and this is great news for that reason.

'Anyone who is self employed knows how hard it is right now financially - I didn't get a grant from the government so I feel like this is my alternative, if it happens.

I am checking the news every minute (well it feels like it) to see if it is put in place. And I am glad for our buyer, too, and anyone else this happens for.

'We've all been waiting to move, and balancing our books to make it happen... this will help our dreams come true.'

In the first half hour after the announcement on the budget was made on Wednesday by Mr Sunak traffic to property website Rightmove jumped by 22%.

The previous day, as speculation mounted about the announcement, Rightmove had a record 7.7 million visits.

Rightmove's property expert Miles Shipside said: 'Lockdown prevented 175,000 would-be sellers from coming to market so we hope this stamp duty holiday will provide the spur for those missing movers to come to market.

'They will find there's currently record demand for their properties from prospective buyers, with Rightmove inquiries to agents now double what they were before lockdown.

'Home movers will be grateful that the changes come into effect straight away so they don't have to delay their plans, and what we could see now is people rushing to get a price agreed before some sellers put their prices up in the hope people will be able to pay more because of the tax savings.'

Craig and Charlotte Townsend say they are likely to save around 15,000 if the stamp duty tax is cut, which will allow them to buy their 'dream house'

Craig and Charlotte Townsend are thrilled about the stamp duty cut as it means they will now be able to buy their dream home.

Mr Townsend, 32 and Mrs Townsend, 30, bought a three-bedroom detached house in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, five years ago.

But the couple want to move into Cambridge  to a four-bedroom place, to start a family.

Craig and Charlotte Townsend said they are likely to save 15,000 if the stamp duty tax is cut

However, the city is expensive and most properties they like cost around 500,000.

The couple have found it hard to get a loan with just 10 per cent of the deposit saved.

But without a stamp duty bill, they stand to save around 15,000  and buy their perfect home.

First-time buyer Chelsea Whelan, 28, no longer needs to take out a loan for renovations as she can now use the 5,000 she will save on stamp duty

First-time buyer Chelsea Whelan no longer needs to take out a loan to refurbish her first home thanks to the stamp duty cut.

The 28-year-old is due to complete on a 400,000 one-bedroom ground-floor flat in Queens Park, north-west London, at the end of month.

But she faces a 15,000 bill for essential refurbishment work on the kitchen and bathroom before she can move in.

Chelsea Whenlan who is a partner at Knight Frank in Westbourne Grove and is in the process of buying her first flat

She was going to take out a loan to cover the cost but now she can use the 5,000 she will save on stamp duty.

And as she is weeks away from completing, the news has come just in time. Miss Whelan, who works for estate agent Knight Frank, said: Its such a relief to know that I wont have to saddle myself with even more debt to refurbish my first home.

I just felt absolutely elated when I heard the news and Im so glad hes introduced it with immediate effect.

Charlotte Bristowe, 23, hopes the stamp duty tax will be axed as she will save 1,900 and use the funds to buy new furniture

The technician advisor has sent off a mortgage application for the second property she will be purchasing.

She sold her first property before the coronavirus outbreak.

Ms Bristowe, from Tadcaster, York, said: 'It would be brilliant if the government axe the stamp duty tax as it will save us nearly 2000.

Charlotte Bristowe, 23, (pictured) said he hopes the stamp duty tax is axed as she will save 1,900

Housing industry praises Sunak's plan to 'kick-start Britain's economic recovery' The housing industry has backed Chancellor Rishi Sunak's stamp duty freeze he announced at lunchtime. Mary-Anne Bowring, group managing director at Ringley and creator of automated lettings platform, PlanetRent comments: 'The Chancellor's proposals to exempt most homebuyers from paying any stamp duty under plans to kick-start Britain's economic recovery is welcome news. 'A stamp duty holiday would no doubt cause a rush of transactions and help breathe life into a housing market that has been put into deep freeze in an effort to battle coronavirus. And Jeff Doble, Founder & Chairman of DEXTERS says: 'The Chancellor's Stamp Duty announcement, is to be welcomed as it will help so many people buy a home in London and provides a timely boost to the market. Royston Williams, partner at Davies and Partners estate agents, in Brackley, Northamptonshire, said the announcement was 'very welcome'. He added: 'From our perspective our industry was one of the first out of lockdown and back working. The units of sales have been very similar to the same quarter last year. 'But what has happened during lockdown is the amount of houses coming onto the market is less. 'The announcement to freeze stamp duty will hopefully encourage more people to put their homes on the market and move.' Advertisement

'The money can go towards new furniture!

'I don't think it matters that it will be for six months, as it will help first time buyers save a huge chunk of money.

'It will definitely get the market moving again.

'I do worry about taxes going up but I think that they will have to anyway because of how much money the government have lost during the pandemic.

'They have had to help a lot of people who have faced financial difficulties - including me - I was furloughed for three months.'

Mark Hayward, chief executive, NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents) Propertymark, said: 'These measures will enable people looking to buy a home to have the confidence and stability to be able to move forward with their purchase, which in turn will have a knock on effect on the wider economy as people buy white goods and furniture.'

Nick Leeming, chairman of Jackson-Stops, said: 'There should be a flurry of fresh buyers entering the market imminently, with the hope of completing their transactions before the tax break comes to an end.'

He added: 'Upsizers across the country are set to gain the most from this stamp duty holiday, with savings of nearly 15,000 made available to those purchasing at the top end of this newly-created stamp duty bracket.

'This is additional cash for a deposit, allowing these buyers to own more of their property from the start or indeed make a move sooner than they had originally planned.'

Royston Williams, partner at Davies and Partners estate agents, in Brackley, Northamptonshire, said the announcement was 'very welcome'.

He added: 'From our perspective our industry was one of the first out of lockdown and back working. The units of sales have been very similar to the same quarter last year.

'But what has happened during lockdown is the amount of houses coming onto the market is less.

'The announcement to freeze stamp duty will hopefully encourage more people to put their homes on the market and move.'

Chris Scott, 37, from Hampshire said all parties in his chain are ready to exchange, but will wait for Mr Sunak's lunchtime announcement.

'Well we were due to exchange last Friday but was all delayed... until today!' Mr Scott said.

'Everyone in the chain woke to the potential news today and everyone is ready to now exchange, then move Friday. But we are waiting until after the announcement at lunchtime.

'If the announcement is of an instant freeze we personally will save 7,400, and I know further up the chain will save more.'

Chris Lintetty, 39, is currently in the process of buying a 400,000 property in Gatwick, Surrey but fears for his future, if the stamp duty tax is axed for six months as it is only 'beneficial for a short while'.

The father-of-two who is an online sales man said: 'The house I am looking to buy within the next three weeks is currently at the valuation stage.

'I would prefer it if the stamp duty tax could be paid over a long period of time rather than axed for a few months leaving a huge hole in the Treasury.

'It would be more beneficial for the government and home buyers to pay the stamp duty off without any interest.

'This way home buyers don't have to save so much.

'I worry how the temporary removal of stamp duty will affect my future - I imagine tax will go up!'

Katie Smith, 26, is in the process of buying a second property to rent out to tenants.The railway customer service assistant, from Carlisle, Cumbria, will save 2,370.

She said: 'In my opinion, it is easier to pay the stamp duty upfront so you don't have anything extra to worry about it further down the line.

'I don't want to pay any extra costs after six months when I have the money to hand now.

Katie Smith, 26, is in the process of buying a second property to rent out to tenants. The railway customer service assistant, from Carlisle, Cumbria, will save 2,370

'I feel like it would be beneficial to pay it right away as it will help me personally and benefit the economy right away.

'I think that it could add stress to new home owners as they'll need to remember to save the money to pay it at a later date so therefore will have more money upfront and then may find themselves getting into debt when they get faced with a large bill.

April Wellington, 41, is house hunting whilst waiting for the 'go ahead' from the government to return back to work.

The mother-of-one owns a semi-permanent makeup and aesthetics training academy but is thrilled to discover the stamp duty tax has been axed for six months as she is currently house hunting.

April, from Birmingham, West Mids, said: 'Finally some good news!

'The last few weeks have been super frustrating as everyone but the beauty industry seem to be returning back to work.

April Wellington, 41, is house hunting whilst waiting for the 'go ahead' from the government to return back to work

'However I am glad to see things are slowly becoming 'normal' again.

'I am currently viewing houses so it is encouraging to hear that I can potentially move sooner than I thought as there isn't another upfront bill to pay.

'I feel like it is going to be less stressful as I've now got one less thing to worry about.

'It has definitely taken a weight off my shoulders.

'At least I can now get the ball rolling and save a few grand!

'I think it will help the economy as it will entice first time buyers to get on the ladder!'

Jack Hardie, 23, is an accountant and first-time buyer who is hoping to complete on his one-bedroom flat in Wandsworth costing 371k. The stamp duty would have been 3.5k.

He said: 'It's just really good timing for me, I'm just about to complete hopefully by the end of the week. I had an offer accepted before the coronavirus pandemic but it all stalled because of that.

'Even if there wasn't a stamp duty holiday it would not deter me from buying. But it means I will be able to spend on my property.

Jack Hardie, 23, an accountant, looking to purchase a one-bedroom flat in Wandsworth costing 371k, meaning stamp duty would be 3.5k

'I can update the bathroom and get new furniture. I was originally going to do some work over a few months and then wait.

'But this announcement will bring everything forward, it will be advantageous. Rather than spending the money on stamp duty I'm using it on my flat.'

Mr Hardie added that he would be using local supplies for any home improvements, helping to boost the economy.
Dozens of wild monkeys are terrorising villagers in Indonesia after they were forced from their habitats to make way for a hotel.

The long-tailed macaques have left their woodland homes and started harassing villagers in Lembang on the island of Java.

Locals claim the monkeys are stealing food, clothes and pulling tiles from their roofs. Footage recorded on Tuesday shows the out-of-control monkeys squealing while running across the rooftops.

Another video captured in the same area showed the creatures occupying a rooftop near a balcony after invading one of the homes in in the village.

Invasion: Monkeys race across a rooftop in an Indonesian village where locals say the long-tailed macaques have been harassing them since they were forced from their usual habitat

Local resident Tedi Kurniawan said: 'We have never seen as many monkeys as this come to our village. Sometimes one or two come, but recently they often came in groups.'

Neighbours say the monkeys are unpredictable and swarm the area in large groups, usually late in the afternoon or early in the morning.

Tedi said he was most concerned by the monkeys stealing food from shops and clothes from the washing lines while they are being dried under the sun.

Roof tiles on houses are also often damaged because of the monkeys jumping around on top of them, locals say.

Occupation: Some of the monkeys on a rooftop near a balcony in the village of Lembang, near where a new tourist resort has been built

Danger: Roof tiles on houses are also often damaged because of the monkeys jumping around on top of them, locals say

Residents believe the monkeys are leaving their natural habitat in nearby woodland after they were disturbed by the construction of a tourist resort

Another worried local named Yanti added: 'They come in lots, maybe around 30 to 50 monkeys each time.'

Residents believe the monkeys are leaving their natural habitat in nearby woodland after they were disturbed by the construction of a tourist resort.

Officers from the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) have been mobilised to investigate the unusual behavior of the wild monkeys.

West Java BKSDA officer Taufik Hamzah said: 'It is necessary to coordinate all parties including the community around the forest area to determine what needs to be done so that the monkeys will no longer enter the village.'
Boris Johnson today backed Liam Fox to be the next head of the World Trade Organisation after it was claimed his main rival to be the UK's candidate had his hopes dashed because he is not a Brexiteer.

The Government announced this afternoon it is formally nominating former Cabinet minister Dr Fox as its candidate in the race.

The decision came after it was alleged that Labour veteran Peter Mandelson's own bid had been torpedoed by Downing Street on the grounds he was too pro-EU.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss is said to have told Lord Mandelson that the Government would be unable to support him as Britain's candidate because he is not a Brexiteer.

Liam Fox, pictured in Westminster on June 2, has been formally nominated by the Government to be the next head of the World Trade Organisation

Dr Fox said he was 'honoured' to be nominated by Boris Johnson as he argued the WTO must be reformed if it is to remain relevant

The deadline for nominations to be the next director general of the free trade body was 5pm today.

Writing to the WTO to recommend Dr Fox, Mr Johnson said: 'As the world seeks to recover from the shared challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of free and fair trade has never been more crucial.

'Dr Fox is a passionate advocate of multilateralism, who brings detailed knowledge of the global trading system from his years as a UK Cabinet Minister and Secretary of State for International Trade.

'He has first-hand experience of the political and technical challenges of negotiating trade agreements, and the reforms that are needed to ensure the global trading system truly delivers for all WTO members.'

The current boss of the WTO, Roberto Azevedo, is stepping down early from the role at the end of August.

Dr Fox will now have to win over countries around the world to secure the support he needs to win the contest.

The former international trade secretary said he was 'honoured to have been nominated' by Mr Johnson.

He tweeted: 'I believe that if we want to keep the WTO relevant and vibrant our task is clear: Update. Strengthen and Reform. We must ensure that global trade works for everyone.'

It was unclear at the start of the day whether Downing Street would formally back Dr Fox amid concerns he may struggle to secure the backing he needs on the international stage.

The EU has elected not to nominate its own candidate for the job which means the bloc's support could be key in the forthcoming contest.

Dr Fox's status as a leading Brexiteer could make it difficult for him to secure Brussels' support, Tory insiders believe.

Some believed Lord Mandelson, a former commissioner for trade at the EU, would have been better placed to win the contest.

Peter Mandelson was lobbying to be the UK's candidate but he was apparently told by the Government that he would not have its support because he is not a Brexiteer

Lord Mandelson told the FT: Nominating me would probably annoy some in Tory ranks who are more tribal Britain than global Britain but I hoped my experience and credentials would outweigh political considerations.

I am sure the WTO will find someone else qualified to lead the organisation.

A former Tory minister said in Lord Mandelson the UK had one candidate who might have been acceptable to Europe but was unacceptable to Downing Street and another in Mr Fox who may be acceptable to No10 but likely not to the EU.

Asked whether being a Brexiteer was now a requirement for senior government appointments, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: 'No.'
Taxi hailing app Uber has announced it is launching a boat service in London - despite still not having a licence to operate hire cars in the city.

Branded vessels bearing the company's name will operate on the River Thames between Putney and Woolwich later this summer.

It will be the firm's first permanent commuter boat service and will be bookable via its app.

The move is actually a rebranding deal with the current Thames Clipper service to see Uber's name on its 20-strong fleet of river boats and piers from Putney to Woolwich.

Uber have released mock-ups of what their London boat service will look like on the Thames

The route the Uber boats will run along when they come in later this year

Previously the Thames Clipper boats had sported a white and blue design

The partnership between the two companies is expected to last for at last three years and will see customers able to buy tickets on their app and board after showing a QR code.

Uber's regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe Jamie Heywood said: "Many Londoners are looking for new ways to travel around the city, particularly when they start commuting back to work.

"Later this summer we will launch the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers in London as a means for people to arrange travel on the river and road, all through the Uber app."

Thames Clippers co-founder and chief executive Sean Collins said: "In our 22nd year of operation it is key that we continue to support London and its commuters with the ease of lockdown and return to work.

Uber is famous for taxis but currently does not have licence to operate in London

"The new partnership sees Thames Clippers and Uber, who both pride themselves on safety, reliability and comfort, come together.

"It will allow us to link the two travel modes of river and road, providing Londoners and visitors with even more options to commute, visit, explore and enjoy our city by river."

This is not Ubers first foray into the world of boating.

In June 2017 it launched a sea-faring service in Croatia.

It was a private service for Split, Hvar, and Dubrovnik and let people request two different sized speedboats.

Croatia was the first place in the world that Uber offered a service customers could book

Uber offered two services: one for up to eight people and a larger off for up to 12 people.

The news comes at a strange time for the company, who still does not have a licence to run taxis in the capital.

It had its application rejected in November over safety fears after evidence was discovered that drivers had faked and shared their identities.

The company launched an appeal, which should have been heard by magistrates this week, but was postponed to September because of Coronavirus.

It had been allowed to carry on operating in the meantime and is still being used by thousands of Londoners.

TfL said it granted licences to river operators such as Thames Clippers who comply with our high safety standards but played no role in any partnerships with other businesses and organisations.
TV stars Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright have won a planning battle to build a new mega-mansion.

The celebrity couple applied for planning permission to knock down their 1.3m farmhouse in Essex, and replace it with the five-bedroom home, complete with gym, dressing room, make-up room and bar.

And this week their wishes were granted by planning chiefs at Epping Forest Council - as long as they don't block off a public footpath, which runs along the side of the current property.

Michelle Keegan, pictured with her husband Mark Wright, has been granted permission to demolish their 1,3m home and rebuild a mansion on the same site

The couple purchased the 1.3 million home (above) in Essex last October

The couple have received permission to build this mansion (artist's impression above) on the site after they demolish their existing home

The plans state that the new home - which is double the size of the existing farmhouse - will also need to be fitted with a water meter, restricting water use to 110 litres per person per day.

The couple, Michelle - best known for Coronation Street and Our Girl - and former TOWIE star Mark pocketed nearly 3m between them last year.

Planning chiefs have also said an electric charging point must be installed at the home and that checks for asbestos will have to be made - with any found disposed of safely.

Council chiefs said that the couple - both aged 33 - must not 'interfere' with the public right of way - a footpath which runs between a road next to their home and two outbuildings.

The couple were told they must not interfere with a public right of way which crosses part of their land and they were told the new home must be fitted with a water meter. Above: Plans for the new Georgian-style property

Ms Keegan and her husband are believed to have made an estimated 3 million last year

A spokesman for Epping Forest District Council said this week: 'The public's right and ease of passage over a public footpath shall be maintained free and unobstructed at all times to ensure the safe passage of the public on the definitive right of way.

'The grant of planning permission does not automatically allow development to commence.

'In the event of works affecting the highway, none shall be permitted to commence until such time as they have been fully agreed with this authority.

'All cost associated with this shall be borne by the applicant and any damage caused to the route shall be rectified by the applicant.'
A sacred ancient 'solstice' tree which dates back 500 years and attracts thousands of Druids each year has been destroyed in a suspected arson attack.

Dramatic pictures show the 40ft-high Whiteleaved Oak near Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire engulfed in flames.

Believers say the tree - nominated for UK tree of the year in 2014 - possesses powers which made it 'venerated by spiritual devotees'.

The huge gnarled oak grows on the 52nd latitude, meaning the sun is visible for 16 hours 44 minutes during the summer solstice - the longest day of the year.

Festivities often see the tree adorned with trinkets, prayer flags and brightly decorated ribbon.

But now the ancient oak has been reduced to a charred stump after a huge fire on Sunday night.

Dramatic pictures show the 40ft-high Whiteleaved Oak near Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire engulfed in flames

More than 12 firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before the flames were finally extinguished

But now the ancient oak has been reduced to a charred stump after the fire on Sunday night

More than 12 firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before the flames were finally extinguished.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated but arson has not been ruled out.

Meanwhile firefighters warned people to take care when visiting the countryside.

A Hereford and Worcesters Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'It is with great sadness we report that at approximately 11.30pm on Sunday night, Ledbury Fire Station attended a tree fire in Eastnor near Eastnor Castle.

'The tree was well alight when we attended and unfortunately it was not possible to extinguish quickly.

'Great efforts were made by the crew from Ledbury and also by a crew from Upton Fire station.

'The crews ran out hose approximately 120 metres and used an appliance to shuttle water to and from the incident all through the night.

'Foam was also used to blanket the tree in great efforts to save it.

The huge gnarled oak grows on the 52nd latitude, meaning the sun is visible for 16 hours 44 minutes during the summer solstice

Festivities often see the tree adorned with trinkets, prayer flags and brightly decorated ribbon, as seen in the film 'Welcome Home, a movie about him'

The 500-year-old tree is featured in the documentary film 'Welcome Home, a movie about him'

'This once magnificent tree in question is a very well known and admired tree called The Whiteleaved Oak.

'I am led to believe this tree is visited by people from all over the world and plays a large part in the rituals of Druids.

'The White Leaved Oak is thought to be around 500 years old and is featured on many websites and books.

'The cause of the fire is unknown, however please be careful when visiting the countryside, especially when visiting somewhere that is as sacred or precious to many people.'

Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, tweeted: 'Such a shame the famous Whiteleaved Oak on the southern Malverns is no more.

'Of considerable historic and cultural importance. Can't be replaced.'

The cause of the blaze is being investigated but fire chiefs said they are not ruling out arson

In 2014, Brian Haynes, a resident of the hamlet of Whiteleaved Oak for 30 years, nominated the tree in a Woodland Trust competition to find the 'tree of the year'.

Speaking at the time, Mr Haynes said: 'I nominated the tree because it is very special, but also because of all the people it attracts.

'The tree has been venerated by spiritual devotees over time from all over the world.

'Druids and dowsers, witches, Pagans, Rainbow Warriors, north American Indians, Extra Terrestrial Ambassadors from London hoping to attract flying saucers and Mayan astrologers are just some of the people who have visited the tree over the years.'

Mr Haynes has written a book about the tree and the tales associated with it, and he says it deserves to be crowned Tree of the Year.
A major panda breeding base in China has angered tens of thousands of animal lovers who accused them of covering up the death of two cubs for over two months.

Furious panda fans criticised keepers for allegedly hiding the tragic news from the public to avoid bearing responsibilities.

They demanded the centre investigate into the matter after the seven-month-old twin pandas were said to have died from allergic reactions to 'mysterious sources'.

The incident came to light after the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding released a notice on Monday, announcing that the twin cubs, Shun Shun and Liu Liu, had died in May.

The animal base claimed that the pandas had died after suffering severe allergic reactions to an unknown source.

The panda centre did not explain the reason of delay in their statement. But panda fans said that the keepers were pressured to reveal the death after people kept contacting the centre to enquire about the twin cubs.

Shun Shun and Liu Liu were born in October last year at the panda breeding base in Chinas south-western province Sichuan.

The pair started refusing to eat food and suffering acute diarrhoea on April 26, according to a notice released by the animal centre.

The twin cubs were immediately quarantined while being treated by a team of veterinarians.

But the animals condition continued to worsen during the treatment as they kept developing severe allergic reactions to an unknown source, said the panda base.

A major panda breeding base in China has been accused by animal lovers of cover-up after claiming its two bear cubs died from suffering severe allergic reactions. The file picture released by the panda centre shows the twin pandas playing together before falling ill in April

Shun Shun, the older male cub, died nine days after Liu Liu, the younger female panda, dying on May 11. Both were said to have died from multiple organ failures. The file picture released by the panda centre shows the twin pandas at the panda centre in Chengdu, south-western China

Shun Shun, the older male cub, died nine days after Liu Liu, the younger female panda, dying on May 11. Both were said to have died from multiple organ failures.

A group of researchers are trying to unravel the source of the cubs allergies, the Chengdu centre has claimed in the statement.

It also said that the incident was the first time such severe allergies had ever been observed among captive giant pandas in China.

The breeding centre has come under widespread criticism from outraged animal lovers on Chinese social media following the revelation.

Shun Shun and Liu Liu were born in October last year at the panda breeding base in Chinas south-western province Sichuan. The picture shows the twin pandas, Shun Shun and Liu Liu

Tens of thousands of web users have cast doubt on the heavily-delayed announcement and the cause of the cubs death.

One commenter condemned: The main thing is that they hid it for so long. They passed away in May and they only announced it now. What is the real reason?

Another one replied: Shun Shun and Liu Liu both died in May. When people called the centre to ask about the cubs, the keepers kept making up excuses. They were pressured to release the notice. You are only good at hiding the truth!'

A third panda lover wrote: This is heart-breaking. Can you guys have some humanity? Stop making the pandas to meet visitors. Announce it immediately when a panda is sick. Can't you even do that?'

Panda cub Lu Lu Zai was found dead in April after dangling off a wooden rack for around seven hours, said China's Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Pandas

The news comes after another baby panda, nearly eight months old, had died of suffocation in April after it dangled off a wooden rack with a rope around its neck for some seven hours.

The poor animal was eventually discovered by keepers at the Sheshuping base, part of China's Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Pandas.

Panda lovers were left horrified after allegedly watching the cub die on a live-streamed video.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has warned Melbourne's hard lockdown could extend beyond six weeks if the state's horror second wave of COVID-19 isn't brought under control.

About 5.2million people living in the Melbourne metropolitan area and Mitchell Shire returned to stage three restrictions from 11.59pm on Wednesday, which marked the fourth consecutive day the state recorded over 100 new cases.

Appearing on The Project hours before the lockdown was imposed, Mr Andrews said a longer time frame 'can not be ruled out'.

'The advice from our chief health officer, that six weeks will give us the time we need to get control of this virus again, to see some stability and then to drive down the case numbers,' he said.

People are seen continuing to shop prior to the lockdown in Melbourne on Wednesday. Premier Andrews has warned the new measures may last longer than six weeks

'We cant rule out that it may be longer, but thats the advice of the Chief Health Officer, after a lot of thought, a lot of analysing of that data, we couldnt go on as we were.

'We needed to take this painful and difficult step and six weeks is the time we need.'

Victoria currently has 860 active cases of COVID-19, of which 465 are community transmissions.

The spike in cases has been linked to hotel quarantine breaches, with the Andrews government coming under fire over the bungled program.

The Project's Waleed Aly asked the premier on Wednesday night if it was a mistake not enlisting the army to enforce hotel quarantine.

'Do you accept that it was a mistake not having ADF personnel running or overseeing the hotel quarantine program?' Waleed questioned.

'Well, there are a couple of points to make, Waleed,' Mr Andrews responded.

'ADF personnel are involved in transportation in some states and other states they have no role at all.

The Project host Waleed Aly grilled the Victorian premier (pictured) over the bungled hotel quarantine program that has been linked to the spike in coronavirus cases within the state

As Melbourne shuts down for a second time, empty fruit and vegetable shelves become common in Australian supermarkets

'We have other problems and we've set up a judicial inquiry because you've got to being accountable, yes, but I would put it to you with the greatest respect, it is not appropriate for politicians to sit in judgement of themselves.

'It should be at arm's length, should be done properly.'

Mr Andrews said Corrections Victoria was now 'absolutely in control' of the quarantine facilities.

'They are the people who run our jails, the people who are perfectly skilled and suited to do this,' he said.

'We've also got a freeze on additional flights coming back to Melbourne. That will only resume if we are completely confident, if the corrections commissioner is completely confident that we have all the processes in place.'

Aly asked if the premier's apology to Melburnians earlier in the day was 'admitting fault'.

'The job that I do means that I am the leader of the state, and it is for me to accept responsibility for all of these things  Ive never run away from that,' Mr Andrews responded.

'These are not easy calls, but it is not about being popular. It is about doing what has to be done. I am deeply sorry that we find ourselves here, but words are not the most important thing.

Recently arrived travellers step off a bus and wait to check in at the Crown Promenade Hotel in Melbourne

'It is acknowledging, of course, being accountable, of course, but then taking the tough calls and getting on to get this job done and thats what I intend to do.'

As the lockdown loomed, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Melburnians on Wednesday they would have to 'tough it out'.

'The job if youre a Melburnian is to tough it out  and it will be tough  but know the rest of the country is with you,' he said.

'The rest of the country knows that the sacrifice that youre going through right now is not just for you and your own family, but its for the broader Australian community.'

The prime minister said he was grateful for how they were handling the situation and said residents had the support of the nation during this difficult time.

'I want to thank Melburnians for how theyre dealing with this. I can imagine the frustration,' Mr Morrison said.

'You can imagine a business that had just started opening up again and now they got to close down again. Heartbreaking. Frustrating. Talking to their staff, kids were about to go back to school, the uncertainty that is attached to all of that  we all understand.'
Billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson threatened to stop donating to Manhattan's elite all-girls Spence School because of 'anti-white indoctrination' in the curriculum being taught to his two daughters.

Paulson, who became a celebrity in the banking industry after raking in billions from his bet against the American housing market ahead of the 2008 financial crisis and served as an economic adviser to President Donald Trump, made the claims in a letter to the school in 2017 that was unearthed this week by Page Six.

At the time both of Paulson's daughters, Giselle and Danielle, attended the school on the Upper East Side, which charges nearly $50,000 per year in tuition and boasts many famous alumni including Gwenyth Paltrow, Anna Wintour's daughter Bee Shaffer, and Michael Bloomberg's daughter Georgina Bloomberg.

In the letter, signed by Paulson and his wife Jenny, the couple describe several examples of reading materials their daughters received which they claim include malicious portrayals of white people.

They argued that the curriculum is 'designed' to promote anti-white ideologies by teaching students, of which less than a quarter are minorities, that white people are successful because of their race.

Billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson and his wife Jenny (pictured in 2017) accused Manhattan's elite all-girls Spence School of 'anti-white indoctrination' three years ago

The Spence School is one of New York City's most elite private schools, charging nearly $50,000 per year in tuition. The Upper East Side campus is pictured above

John and Jenny Paulson claimed in a 2017 letter that their daughters Giselle and Danielle had received several class assignments that portrayed white people in a malicious manner. The family is pictured arriving at the US Open in 2014

'In recent years we have reached out on several occasions to discuss a disturbing trend in one area of the curriculum that we believe is having a negative impact on our daughters' education,' the Paulsons wrote in the letter, which was addressed to Spence's Head of School Eleanor 'Bodie' Brizendine and sent to several members of the board of trustees.

'As we've noted before, there appears to be an anti-white indoctrination that permeates many parts of the Spence curriculum.'

John Paulson became a celebrity in the banking industry after raking in billions from his bet against the American housing market ahead of the 2008 financial crisis

The Paulsons went on to cite several examples of 'very troubling' curriculum materials that they had spoken to Spence about in past years.

'Last year, we highlighted sections from assigned passages in 8th grade English. These included: in "Indian Education," the white teacher is a mean, ugly redheaded monster and a white father rapes his daughter,' the letter states.

'We also expressed our deep disappointment last September at the school play when two white girls pushed a black girl because she didn't summer in South or East Hampton.

'In past years, we also contacted you about the story of "When Richer Weds Poorer"  where the protagonist said that it was amazing that rich people could be nice.

'We were left with the impression that it was possible to promote diversity in ways that were neither inflammatory nor discriminatory towards whites.'

A-list actresses Gwyneth Paltrow (left), Kerry Washington (center) and Emmy Rossum (right) are among Spence's many famous alumni

Michael Bloomberg's daughter Georgina Bloomberg (left together in 2019) and Anna Wintour's daughter Bee Shaffer (right together in 2018) also attended Spence

The couple then described the reason for their current letter - an assignment their seventh-grade daughter recently received.

'Now we find ourselves writing to you again to raise yet another example in what has become an alarming pattern  the subject of "Courageous Conversations Conversation Compass" given to the seventh-grade class,' the letter states.

'The student writings provided are designed, we believe, to promote anti-white indoctrination.'

The Paulsons did not go into further detail about what the offending assignment entailed, according to Page Six, but wrote: 'We believe these materials send the wrong message to students about the values they should adopt to lead prosperous lives.

'The advantages enjoyed by most individuals from middle or upper-income backgrounds today are the result of stable family backgrounds, high education levels, hard work, and personal responsibility.

'To attribute them to their race entails a blindness to the values that we rightly want to cultivate in our children. Our daughters are successful in school because they are disciplined and work hard.

'We think it is wrong to imply they are successful because they are white. We also think it is harmful to indoctrinate in whites a sense of guilt and in blacks feelings of resentment and entitlement against whites.

'In fact for children of all races, we strongly believe that schools should value and define success in terms of hard work, earned accomplishment, merit, a commitment to academic rigor, and personal integrity.'

The letter ends with a direct threat to stop financially supporting the school if their concerns were not addressed.

'As you know we have been amongst the largest financial supporters of Spence,' the couple wrote.

'However, we will not continue to make donations to Spence while Spence continues on this path.'

John and Jenny Paulson have donated hundreds of millions to philanthropic causes in the years since the financier's unprecedented bet against the housing market propelled him to a net worth of $4.7billion. They are pictured at the White House in 2018

Spence issued a statement in Page Six's report on the Paulsons' letter, saying: 'Spence has a long-standing commitment to curriculum that promotes diverse perspectives and faces difficult truths. We have never wavered in this commitment, which is even more critical in this national reckoning over race and social justice'

John and Jenny Paulson have donated hundreds of millions to philanthropic causes in the years since the 64-year-old financier's unprecedented bet against the housing market propelled him to a net worth of $4.7billion.

Many of their contributions have gone to educational causes, including $400million to Harvard University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and $10million to Success Academy Charter Schools, which sought to improve the quality of education in poor areas of New York City.

After his letter came to light - amid nationwide anti-racism protests - some critics on social media noted that John Paulson, who is white, made his fortune in a white-dominated financial sector.

The hedge fund manager addressed the three-year-old letter in a statement to Page Six, saying: 'Our family has long supported organizations that work to achieve social justice goals by equipping minority and low-income children with a world-class education that will lead to success in life.

'We believe that respect, inclusion, and tolerance for differing views must guide today's discussions about race and equality.'

Spence also issued a comment to the outlet, saying: 'Spence has a long-standing commitment to curriculum that promotes diverse perspectives and faces difficult truths.

'We have never wavered in this commitment, which is even more critical in this national reckoning over race and social justice.'
A veterinary nurse has avoided jail despite being branded 'every passenger's worst nightmare,' by downing so much vodka she turned abusive and could barely speak on a Thomas Cook flight.

Katherine Heyes, 29, drank an entire bottle of duty free vodka, with the help of two friends, before jetting off on an all-girls holiday to Turkey from Manchester in May last year.

During the Thomas Cook flight from Manchester to the Turkish resort city of Antalya, Heyes became abusive towards crew and passengers and got involved in altercation in which a fellow traveller suffered a scratch to her face.

Katherine Heyes, pictured outside Minshull Street Crown Court today, was handed a 12-month community order after she admitted to being drunk on an aircraft

The pilot considered diverting the plane but it landed at its destination and police were waiting to escort Heyes and her friends away. She later claimed she got drunk as she was nervous about flying.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Heyes, from Tyldesley, Wigan, faced up to two years jail after she admitted being drunk on an aircraft.

But she was given a 12 month community order after her lawyer said she faced being struck off if she went to prison and had been subject to public vilification over her behaviour. She was also ordered to pay 250 costs.

Sentencing Judge John Edwards told Heyes: 'You were every passenger's worst nightmare on that day.

'There has to be a maintenance of good order on an aeroplane where passengers and flight attendants are cocooned in a confined space from which there is no escape.

'Your behaviour was not only deeply unpleasant and distressing for anyone who has to suffer it but also has the potential to cause complete havoc and endanger safety. 'You were in your own words 'out of it' and you should be ashamed.'

The veterinary nurse's defence solicitor warned she faced being struck off if she had been jailed

At an earlier hearing prosecutor Miss Eileen Rogers said: 'Following take-off a member of cabin crew noticed the friends going to the toilet both together and going in there with a large bag with them and it appeared they were drinking their own alcohol aboard the plane.

'They had a large bag with them in such a small space and one of the cabin crew had seen some alcohol. Later the meals were served and the cabin crew found an empty bottle of blue vodka where the group were sitting.

'Details were taken from all the ladies and the alcohol bottle was removed and advice was given not to consume alcohol on board the aircraft. But cabin crew noticed the ladies appeared to be under the influence of alcohol - in particular Miss Heyes.

'She was slurring her words so much it was difficult to understand what she was saying when she was responding to the cabin crew member.

Staff on board the Thomas Cook flight from Manchester to Turkey say bad behaviour lasted 'for most of the flight' after Heyes drunk a bottle of vodka with two other women last May

'Passengers within the area began using their call buttons to get the crews attention at the response to the lady causing a disturbance in the row.

'They all noticed she was intoxicated and all were concerned about her welfare. She seemed to be swearing and pointing her finger in an aggressive way. Many passengers were prompted to use the buttons to voice their concerns about the behaviour.

'A cabin crew member went to approach in relation to that but it caused another altercation with the others with her trying to calm her down and one was left with a scratch to her face. She then started again swearing and shouting again whilst being restrained by her friends and they told her to calm down.

'A senior cabin crew member spoke to her again and were keeping a close eye on her but many passengers wanted the flight to be diverted. But after speaking to the captain and learning they were 40 minutes away from landing, a decision was taken for the aircraft to proceed to the destination. Police met the aircraft and all parties were escorted off. '

Miss Rogers added: 'It was a worrying time for people on the aircraft travelling all looking to see what's going on and there was a considerable amount of disturbance and noise coming from Miss Heyes. They wanted the aircraft to be diverted and Miss Heyes to be removed from the aircraft. The bad behaviour lasted for most of the flight. '

Heyes was escorted away as the plane landed in Antalya, Turkey in May last year

In a statement crew member Donna Smith said: 'I noticed a lady being very drunk on the aircraft and causing a disturbance and swearing. She was obviously drunk and eight of 10 on the intoxication level. I had never had to contemplate diverting an aircraft and restraining somebody this was extreme when all control had been lost.

'I did become chaotic on this flight due to the acts of Katherine and all of her group. There were no thoughts and consideration of the effects they were having to all other passengers on board.

'I am trained to deal with confrontation and difficult passengers but nothing prepares you or is as upsetting to see this. All the cabin members were very disturbed on the flight. They were upset and concerned for the safety of themselves and clearly effected everybody on board.'

A fellow passenger said: 'This was without doubt the worst ever experience I have had on a flight. My eldest child was traumatised by what happened and it affected the holiday as we were worried this woman might be on the return flight home and we wouldn't be able to relax.'

In mitigation for Heyes's counsel Miss Rachel Shenton said: 'She is not a heavy drinker, rarely travels, doesn't fly that often and doesn't consume spirits. This represented something of a perfect storm and it is set against an acceptance that the impact of taking alcohol in the air is very different to that on the ground.

'She doesn't recall being quite as intoxicated as described - although it is not suggested this was anything other than extremely unpleasant for those on that aircraft.

'She has been through the mill due to this case and has lost some of the friendships with those she was on board with that day.

'There could also be an impact on her career. It took her three years to qualify via an apprenticeship and there is some confusion as to where she could be automatically struck off. The nature of the sentence might have an impact on that.'
The Trump administration has reversed a long-time plan to reintroduce grizzly bears into the North Cascades region of Northern Washington State after cattle ranchers and local people said they didn't want them back.

Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt on Tuesday said grizzlies will not be reintroduced into the area as part of the final rule making decision on the North Cascades Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan.

The decision comes after 'reviewing hundreds of local public comments, and hosting a listening session for the public in Okanogan County last year,' said Republican Representative Dan Newhouse of Washington in a statement.

'DOI has concluded that grizzly bears will not be introduced into the North Cascades Ecosystem,' Newhouse said. 'Homeowners, farmers, ranchers, and small business owners in our rural communities were loud and clear: We do not want grizzly bears in North Central Washington.'

The Trump administration reversed a long-time plan to reintroduce grizzly bears (pictured) into the North Cascades region of Northern Washington State after cattle ranchers and other local people worried about the animals and said they didn't want them back

Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt on Tuesday said grizzlies will not be reintroduced into North Cascades, part of the Cascade Range of western North America (pictured), as part of a final rule making decision

The North Cascades, part of the Cascade Range of western North America, is considered a prime habitat for grizzlies, but the animals have not been spotted in the region since the mid-1990s, Huffington Post reports.

It is estimated that only about 10 grizzlies currently inhabit the area. Hunters and land development have been blamed for shrinking the grizzly bear population, which once was in the tens of thousands across the US.

There are about 1,500 of the animals left, mostly in Montana, Idaho, Washington and Wyoming.

A years-long effort started under the Obama administration aimed to reintroduce the animals into the North Cascades region.

The plan had argued that allowing the bear's disappearance from the area would threaten the ecosystem.

Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who brought back the plan in March 2018, at the time said, 'restoring the grizzly bear to the North Cascades ecosystem is the American conservation ethic come to life'.

He added that the losing the animal from the area would 'rob the region of an icon'.

The North Cascades (pictured) is considered a prime habitat for grizzlies, but the animals have not been spotted in the region since the mid-1990s

However, his surprise support for the plan drew complaints from local people in the area, including from cattle ranchers. 'What the hell do we do? We thought we had somebody on our side and now Zinke pulls this on us,' rancher Craig Verasjka, who voted for President Donald Trump, told NPR at the time.

'We're not happy,' added the rancher, who worried his cattle would have been threatened by some 200 grizzlies that the plan was proposing to move into the Cascades.

The rancher said the move would have been 'catastrophic' as the bears, known predators, might have killed his cows or leave them too stressed for breeding, NPR reports.

Supporters of the plan's reversal expressed disappointment over Tuesday's announcement.

Local people attended a public hearing on the plan before its reversal, including cattle ranchers and others who worried reintroducing grizzlies would be a threat to their livelihoods

'Grizzly bears only occupy less than 5 per cent of their historic range, and the North Cascades presents prime habitat for grizzly bears,' Andrea Zaccardi, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, told Huffington Post.

'Their recovery there is critical to the overall recovery of grizzly bears in the US.'

Hunters in Alaska, under an earlier Trump administration decision, were allowed to resort to grizzly baiting techniques that were previously banned.

The administration in June overturned a rule banning the 'inhumane' practices, which include baiting hibernating grizzlies with grease-soaked doughnuts and butchering sleeping wolf pups in their dens.

Under the new National Park Service rule, effective starting Thursday, hunting on natural preserves in Alaska will be controlled by the state.

The new ruling permits the hunting of bears and wolves of any ages, even while in their dens, and during the months the mother weans her young.

Bears can also be dazzled using artificial lights or lured out of hibernation with bacon-glazed doughnuts and chased down by ferocious dogs.

The ruling will also allow hunters to shoot caribou from motorboats as they swim.

The reversal of the Obama-era ban will permit the killing of the previously-protected animals on millions of acres of Alaska's national parks.
Coronavirus health restrictions and stay-at-home orders did not stop revellers from celebrating in Nashville over the holiday weekend, as crowds boarded partybuses and 'hot tubs on wheels' after bars in the city were ordered to shut.

As COVID-19 cases surged across Tennessee ahead of Independence Day weekend, Mayor John Cooper last Friday announced the city would revert to a modified version of its Phase 2 reopening plan, requiring bars to close.

The order, however, did not deter partygoers from having a good time as many were seen on a boozy tour around town on the city's famous partybuses and other forms of 'transportainment', without taking health precautions.

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Party on: Nashville revellers took the party to the streets this weekend after the bars in the city were forced to close ahead of Independence Day

Despite the order, people found alternative ways to celebrate amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Music City Party Tub is one of the city's popular tourist attractions that allows passengers to drink and dance as they cruise around Nashville. In a Facebook post from June 30, the company said it did not 'accept the new normal' as it only takes on private celebrations

Videos and photos taken from the road showed partygoers drinking and dancing aboard the buses, including the Music City Party Tub, which are required to operate at 50 per cent capacity under the phase 2 restrictions.

It is unclear whether passengers were city residents or tourists from out of the state.

The scenes sparked outrage among local business owners who claim the party buses are operating as usual while the rest of the community tries to abide by the rules.

'People were not wearing masks, no social distancing. To the naked eye you can just look at it and as a layman and you can see this is obviously not what the intentions of these orders, it doesn't match the intentions of these orders anyone can look at that and see that, Andrew Mischke, co-owner of Rosemary & Beauty Queen told News2.

Mischke, who was forced to close down his bar under the citywide order, said the flouting of rules was like a 'slap in the face' to those who are complying with guidelines to keep the community safe.

Tennessee has joined a growing list of states that have started seeing spikes in COVID-19 cases after enacting plans to reopen the economy.

Business owners and locals have expressed their frustration over the partybuses, which some say violate social distancing rules and health guidelines

There are currently 53,514 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Tennessee and a total of 665 deaths, according to the department of health.

Davidson County, where the city's capital is located, is among the counties with the most cases in the state.

Mayor Cooper warned residents bars were among the largest sources of infection in Nashville.

Despite the health hazard, four bars flouted the city order and remained opened on Friday night, News Channel 5 reported.

Jason Aldean's Kitchen and Rooftop Bar, FGL House and Luke Bryan's 32 Bridge, stayed opened for business before officials from the health department ordered them to close down.

Nashville Underground also stayed open on Saturday, but was later forced to shut.

Nashville-Davidson County Director of Health Dr Michael Caldwell acknowledged the issue during press conference.

I've noticed that a number of them are not properly social distancing, they're not wearing face masks and it is a concern that I have and we're going to continue to work on trying to find ways to get them more compliant,' he said.
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The National Audubon Society has announced the winners and honorable mentions of its 2020 Photography Awards.

The annual competition invites professional and amateur photographers from across the U.S. and Canada to send in striking snaps of any bird species that they have captured throughout the past year.

Judges from the nonprofit - which is based out of New York City and focused on bird conservation - sifted through more than 6,000 entries to decide on the 10 incredible images below.

The photographs feature a range of rare birds - including the bare-throated tiger heron and the greater-sage grouse, which is currently under threat from widespread drilling and mining across the American Midwest.

Awe-inspiring images of more common birds - such as the American Goldfinch and the Greater Roadrunner - also made the cut.

The photos will be published in upcoming issues of Audubon magazine, and will travel across the country in a special exhibit.

The winner of the Youth category has also been awarded a six-day trip to the Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine to foster their passion for bird-watching to ensure that the practice continues for future generations.

This striking image of a double-crested cormorant is the 2020 Grand Prize Winner. The snap of the seabird was captured by Joanna Lentini in the waters of Los Islotes, Mexico. The double-crested cormorant frequently dives beneath the water to retrieve food, as is the case in the image above. The birds are able to reach a depth of 24 feet, and can stay beneath the surface for up to 70 seconds

This year's Fisher Prize was awarded to Marlee Fuller-Morris for her photo of an American Dipper. As its name suggests, the American Dipper bobs its head back and forth beneath the surface of fast-moving streams in order to retrieve food. The bird, which is also known as a water ouzel, inhabits the mountainous regions of Central America and the western half of North America. This image was captured in California's Yosemite National Park

Gail Bisson was named the 2020 Amateur Winner for this image of a bare-throated tiger heron. While Bisson resides in Canada, she traveled south to Costa Rica to capture this snap of the rare bird, which can only be found in Central America. The bare-throated tiger heron is known for its distinctive yellow face and long feathered neck, and is typically feeds in topical swamp forests or coastal mangroves

The 2020 Audubon Awards has given an Honorable Mention to amateur photographer Bibek Ghosh for this image of an Anna's Hummingbird. The incredible image shows a droplet of water landing on the bird's beak as it flies through the air. Anna's Hummingbirds are native to the western coastal regions of North America

This year's Plants for Birds winner went to Travis Bonovsky for this photograph of an American Goldfinch on a cup plant. The image was snapped last summer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Goldfinches primarily eat seeds, and are attracted to colorful flowers such as marigolds, poppies and sunflowers - as seen above

An Honorable Mention in the Plants for Birds category has gone to Natalie Robertson, who took this striking snap of a Tennessee Warbler on an eastern prickly gooseberry. Robertson is one of the few Canadians to be singled out for her photography skills, with this photo taken in Point Pelee National Park - located in one of the southernmost points of Canada

Judges for the 2020 Audubon Photography Awards have named Sue Dougherty this year's Professional Winner. Dougherty - who travels far and wide to capture images of rare birds in their natural habitats - took this stunning shot of a Magnificent Frigatebird on Genovesa Island in Ecuador. The male Magnificent Frigatebird is known for its red gular sac, which is highlighted in Dougherty's picture against a black backdrop. The bird inflates the sac in order to attract a mate

Professional photographer Gene Putney has been given an Honorable Mention for this image of the Greater Sage-Grouse, captured in Colorado. Numbers of Greater Sage-Grouse are in rapid decline, due to habitat loss. Several organizations have mounted legal battles to try and have to have the bird formally recognized as a threatened species. In 2018, the Trump administration announced a plan to roll back protections for the Greater Sage-Grouse as it opened nine million acres of land to drilling and mining

The National Audubon Society encourages millennials and members of Gen Z to take up bird watching and photography. The organization has set up a Youth Award, with Vayun Tiwari names as this year's winner. The California native captured this amazing image of a Northern Jacana examining a flower in the marshes of the Orange Walk District in Belize

Up and coming photographer Christopher Smith garnered an Honorable Mention in the Youth category for this picture of a Greater Roadrunner with a lizard in its beak. The cuckoo bird - which is found in California - feeds on insects, scorpions, and tarantulas. Greater Roadrunners also trap snakes, mice and small squirrels in their mouths

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It is claimed he then groped her and started 'racing' around house after her

A former Tory MP's alleged sex attack victim called her sister from his home to tearfully tell how he asked her about leather and lace and spanked her bottom, a court heard.

Charlie Elphicke, 49, sat at the back of Southwark Crown Court as he listened to the sister tell the jury how distressed her sibling was.

The alleged victim, now in her thirties, had gone to the politician's London townhouse and fled after he groped her, locking herself into a room.

The Dover MP was banging on the door and calling her name during the phone conversation.

The alleged victim, now in her thirties, called her sister from his home to tearfully tell how he asked her about leather and lace and spanked her bottom, a court heard

'She phoned me and she was quite distressed. She was talking quickly,' the sister said.

I had to ask her to calm down and ask what an earth what was going on. It was very out of character for her to call like that.

'She sounded agitated and upset talking very quickly. She was clearly distressed.

'She was saying he chased me around the kitchen.

'Charlie lunged at her and took hold of her breasts. She told him to stop.

'I only remember certain phrases like leather and lace and a spanking of the bottom.

'He had made a lunge at her and touched her breast or grabbed hold of her breast. I knew from my conversation with her that the hand made contact with her breast and it wasn't a brush past, it was intentional.

Charlie Elphicke, 49, sat biting his nails at the back of Southwark Crown Court as he listened to the sister tell the jury how distressed her sibling was (pictured alongside wife and current Dover MP Natalie Elphicke outside Southwark Crown Court on Monday)

'My advice was for her to get out of there. I didn't want her to stay. He was knocking on the door at the time, obviously she was distressed.

'All I knew was he had chased her around the kitchen trying to grab her bottom and wanting to spank her bottom to smack her.

'She was locked there.

'When I recalled it to my husband it just seemed so bizarre. I said it was like something from a sketch from an old Benny Hill show we watched when we were kids. I just thought it was utterly bizarre.

The former MP's wife Natalie Elphicke (pictured) replaced him as MP for Dover last November

'It was totally out of character for her to behave and react in that way. I could hear she was frightened and upset.

'She was able to recount what had actually happened very well.

'She thought she was a one-off occasion.

'She was a very trusting girl and put herself in a vulnerable position and situation.'

Elphicke, of Dover, denies three charges of sexual assault - one against the woman and two against another woman in her twenties on two occasions in 2016.

The trial continues.
Police are hunting two Jetstar passengers who arrived in Sydney on a flight from Melbourne and weren't screened for coronavirus.

A planeload of Jetstar travellers on flight JQ520 were allowed through Sydney airport without proper COVID-19 checks on Tuesday evening because staff were busy screening passengers from another flight.

Of the 137 passengers, 89 were screened before leaving the airport, leaving authorities to find 48 people in the city.

Police are hunting two Jetstar passengers who arrived in Sydney on a flight from Melbourne and weren't screened for coronavirus (stock)

Two of the passengers are unaccounted for and another has refused to be screened, with all three being referred to NSW Police.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said all passengers are being contacted by authorities.

'We are in the process of tracing them up. If anyone has travelled in breach of any orders, we will report them to police and take the appropriate action depending on whether anyone is symptomatic to ensure the community is protected,' she said.

Dr Chant said Sydney airport have now put in place protocols to ensure no one is able to disembark a flight without proper screening procedures by health teams.

All airline passengers are required to be screened by NSW Health staff on entry into NSW.

After JQ520 passengers entered the state without proper examination, planes entering Sydney airport must now wait until NSW Health staff are set up to screen patients before passengers are able to disembark the aircraft.

A Jetstar spokesman told AAP on Wednesday the airline assisted NSW Health in finding most passengers.

They also said temperature and ID checks were undertaken by Victoria Health at Melbourne airport.

'Together with Sydney Airport, we have refined our disembarkation procedures to prevent this situation occurring again,' the spokesman said.

NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann called on NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard to investigate the incident after he made earlier assurances all passengers arriving from Victoria would be screened at Sydney Airport.

'It's gobsmacking that such an event could occur in NSW after the Ruby Princess debacle,' Ms Faehrmann said in a statement.

The border between New South Wales and Victoria was closed from midnight on Tuesday after a surge in coronavirus cases in Melbourne forced the city into a renewed six week lockdown.

The surge in coronavirus cases in Victoria over the last 10 days

Hundreds of Australians defence force troops were deployed along the 1,000km border stretch to assist police in enforcing the NSW and Victoria border closure.

Meanwhile, Scott Morrison has vowed to throw everything at stopping Melbourne's coronavirus outbreak spreading across Australia.

The Victorian capital will re-enter lockdown for six weeks at midnight on Wednesday, as the state recorded 134 new cases.

The prime minister warned the highly contagious disease could spread without tough measures.

'It's happening in Melbourne now,' Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

'There's always the risk it could happen in other cities and every step is being taken to seek to prevent that.'

The federal government is also looking at slowing down international arrivals to Australia after states called for pressure to be eased on hotel quarantine.
France's new prime minister has sparked anger by promoting a colleague accused of rape as his interior minister, meaning the man will be in charge of enforcing French laws.

Prime minister Jean Castex's vigorous expression of support for the minister, Gerald Darmanin, on Wednesday followed protests against his appointment by women's rights groups near the Elysee Palace in Paris a day earlier.

It also led to questions about whether President Emmanuel Macron is failing in his promises to make equality between men and women a priority.

Castex told broadcaster BFM-TV that he takes total responsibility for Darmanin's appointment. He was promoted from his previous job as budget minister.

'He, like everyone else, has the right to the presumption of innocence,' Castex said.

France's new prime minister, Jean Castex, has sparked anger by promoting a colleague accused of rape, Gerald Darmanin, as his interior minister, meaning the man will be in charge of enforcing French laws

Darmanin is under preliminary investigation over a rape accusation that he firmly denies.

Macron's office has said the probe was 'not an obstacle' to Darmanin's appointment to his new job in charge of police and other law enforcement bodies.

The recently reopened investigation is based on a 2017 legal complaint by a woman who alleged that Darmanin raped her when she sought legal help from him in 2009.

Darmanin, the highest-ranking French official accused of sexual misconduct in the #MeToo era, says the encounter was consensual. He sued the woman for slander.

In another controversial appointment, Macron handed the justice ministry to provocative lawyer Eric Dupond-Moretti, who previously ridiculed the #MeToo movement and defended a top official accused of rape.

On Tuesday, feminist groups staged two protests in Paris over the appointments they see as burying Macron's promises to make equality between women and men the 'Great Cause' of his five-year term.

Castex's vigorous expression of support for the minister, Gerald Darmanin, triggered protests by women's rights groups near the Elysee Palace in Paris on Tuesday

Castex told broadcaster BFM-TV that he takes total responsibility for Darmanin's appointment. He was promoted from his previous job as budget minister. Pictured: Feminist activists demonstrate against Darmanin's appointment

Darmanin is under preliminary investigation over a rape accusation that he firmly denies. Pictured: One protester holds a sign which reads 'Shame of the reshuffle'

'It's a slap in the face,' said Pauline Baron of the feminist group NousToutes, which campaigns against sexual violence.

'We are once again celebrating people who are accused of rape or say things that negate the voice of victims. It stifles victims and feeds sexual violence and rape culture.'

As the #MeToo movement encouraged women around the world to speak out about past acts of sexual misconduct committed by powerful men, Dupond-Moretti criticized the 'crazy' women who 'crucify' men on social media.

He also dismissed the world's first law against catcalls and other street harassment, passed in France in 2018, as a 'joke.'

In a reshuffling of the French government on Monday, Macron replaced the high-profile women's rights minister behind that law, Marlene Schiappa.

'It's a slap in the face,' said Pauline Baron of the feminist group NousToutes, which campaigns against sexual violence. Pictured: Protesters hold up banners criticising the appointment of Darmanin

Activists were also angry that President Emmanuel Macron handed the justice ministry to provocative lawyer Eric Dupond-Moretti (pictured), who previously ridiculed the #MeToo movement and defended a top official accused of rape

Several dozen protesters gathered later in front of the columned Madeleine Church near the Justice Ministry for a symbolic 'burial' of Macron's promises to fight sexism and sexist violence

She will now work under Darmanin in a new role focusing on citizenship.

The #MeToo movement had a mixed reception in France, where many celebrate the art of seduction and resented what they saw as American political correctness encroaching on French society.

French feminists, who have long sought to battle women's oppression in a macho culture, welcomed the movement as a breakthrough that allowed victims to speak out at last - though no powerful French figures lost their jobs as a result.

At Tuesday's first protest, near the president's Elysee Palace and the Interior Ministry, about 20 mostly masked demonstrators waved sparklers, raised their fists and chanted for the resignations of the new interior and justice ministers.

A group of male police officers pushed them back.

Several dozen protesters gathered later in front of the columned Madeleine Church near the Justice Ministry for a symbolic 'burial' of Macron's promises to fight sexism and sexist violence.

After the new Cabinet's first meeting Tuesday, government spokesman Gabriel Attal defended Macron's staffing choices

Responding to the protests over the new ministers, Attal said: 'There are investigations, they are ongoing, and that's normal, we're in a state of law. 'We cannot take it a step farther and say that because there are investigations, it will be impossible to serve in a government'

'No rapist in the Interior Ministry, no accomplice in the Justice Ministry!' the activists shouted.

After the new Cabinet's first meeting Tuesday, government spokesman Gabriel Attal defended Macron's staffing choices.

'We can't on the one side make the presumption of innocence sacred ... and (on the other) consider that there are people who, by the function they occupy, cannot benefit from the presumption of innocence,' Attal said.

Early in his presidency, Macron replaced ministers who were targeted by corruption investigations.

Responding to the protests over the new ministers, Attal said: 'There are investigations, they are ongoing, and that's normal, we're in a state of law.

'We cannot take it a step farther and say that because there are investigations, it will be impossible to serve in a government.'
A Channel Seven morning newsreader has opened on her 'unusual and crazy' love life.

The Morning Show journalist Angela Cox has been in a long distance relationship with her boyfriend of two years Philip Griffiths.

Mr Griffiths lives in London where he works in property and only occasionally visits Australia to see Ms Cox.

The Morning Show journalist Angela Cox has been in a long distance relationship with her boyfriend of two years Philip Griffiths

'I do have a partner, it is a little bit unusual. It is a very crazy lovely romance that is a bit unusual that most people don't understand but he is fabulous,' she told Confidential.

The Channel 7 news reporter was introduced to her now boyfriend through her best friend

Before their relationship flourished, the pair would cross paths while she was doing stories for the now cancelled Channel Seven show, Sunday Night.

She explained the pair met through mutual friends and they soon realised there was something between them.

'He was my best friends best friend and then while I was doing all of these exciting stories around the world, chasing icebergs and all this crazy stuff, he would fly and meet me so weve had quite an adventurous relationship for two years now,' she said.

'He comes out here for six weeks or a couple of months at a time. At the moment he is here for about five months because of (COVID-19) lockdown so he has been out here longer than normal.'

Ms Cox was formally the US correspondent for the network before being given a regular gig on The Morning Show with Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur.

She said after doing so many live-crosses about Kim Kardashian with them she 'already feels part of the family'.
A champion bodybuilder found dead two days after winning the Mr UK title was taking female hormone drugs

An inquest into the death of Sebastian Kakol, 39, heard he was using the fertility drugs to build up muscle for competing in events.

Post mortem tests found the hormones along with a fatal amount of cocaine.

A neighbour heard choking sounds coming from Mr Kakol's flat and police were called when they failed to get an answer.

Sebastian Kakol, 39, pictured here at a body-building event before his tragic death

Coroner Geraint Williams told Pontypridd Coroners Court a pathologist made the 'unusual' find of female hormone drugs in his blood system.

He said: 'One of the drugs is for female fertility and the other a hormone therapy for breasts.

'Both are taken by users of anabolic steroids.'

Clomiphene and Tamoxifen were discovered in blood samples taken from Mr Kakol who was a well respected nightclub doorman in Cardiff.

Mr Kakol had been well known in Cardiff for his job as a doorman at the city's Live Lounge

After his death hundreds of tributes were paid to the him at his workplace Live Lounge.

The inquest in Pontypridd, South Wales, heard the cause of death was cocaine toxicity.

The coroner concluded that Mr Kakol, of Cathays, Cardiff, died as a result of the abuse of drugs.

Popular Cardiff doorman Sebastian Kakol, 39, was found to have breast cancer drug Tamoxifen in his system when he was found dead in his flat after neighbours hear choking sounds

Poland born Mr Kakol died last November after celebrating winning the Mr UK bodybuilder competition in Manchester.

His brother Michal said at the time: 'Sebastian lived in Cardiff for the last 12 years where he found this city to be his second home.

'He developed his passion for bodybuilding and achieved his first successes.

'He was a person of big heart who will be missed and never forgotten by his family and friends.'

David Nelson, who owns the gym where Mr Kakol trained, said: 'It was a huge shock. He was in a bodybuilding show on the weekend and he won.'

Mr Kakol's body was flown home to Poland for a family funeral.
Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Wednesday over a plan to strip international students of visas if all their classes move online.

Leaders of the Cambridge institutions asked a federal court to temporarily block the rule that would bar foreign students from remaining in the United States if their universities are not holding any in-person classes this fall.

They said they believed the order is 'illegal' and will continue to fight against it, pushing for the courts to permanently block the policy from coming into effect.

Harvard's president Lawrence Bacow claimed that with the order, the Trump administration is threatening to force educational institutions to open despite the ongoing dangers of the coronavirus pandemic.

Harvard University and MIT is suing the Trump administration over a ban on visas for foreign students if classes are held online. President Trump pictured at a roundtable on reopening schools Tuesday in which he blasted Harvard as 'ridiculous' for online classes due to COVID-19

Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow, pictured, said in a letter to the university's community that the White House is trying to force universities to reopen despite the danger to students caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the worsening outbreak in the US

Harvard announced Wednesday morning that it had filed the lawsuit

He added that the 'cruelty' of the order was 'surpassed only by its recklessness'.

'Within the last hour, we filed pleadings together with MIT in the US District Court in Boston seeking a temporary restraining order prohibiting enforcement of the order,' Bacow wrote in a letter to the Harvard community on Wednesday morning.

'We will pursue this case vigorously so that our international students - and international students at institutions across the country - can continue their studies without the threat of deportation.'

Bacow added that the order 'was designed purposefully to place pressure on colleges and universities to open their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction this fall' but came at a time of record new coronavirus cases across the county.

'We believe that the ICE order is bad public policy, and we believe that it is illegal,' he wrote.

'We will not stand by to see our international students dreams extinguished by a deeply misguided order. We owe it to them to stand up and to fightand we will.'

MIT joined Harvard in filing the lawsuit to the US District Court in Boston, seeking a 14-day restraining order on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy.

The universities said that they relied on the Department of Homeland Security policy from March which would allow foreign students to remain in the US and for new students to arrive for the academic year beginning in the Fall.

'If allowed to stand, ICEs policy would bar hundreds of thousands of international students at American universities from the United States in the midst of their undergraduate or graduate studies,' the schools wrote in the court papers.

Harvard University announced Monday that while 40 percent of its undergraduates could return to campus, all classes will be online this fall. Pictured, the closed Harvard campus

A letter from Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow in which he claimed that the new ICE policy on foreign student visas is 'illegal' and that Harvard will fight against it

'ICEs decision reflects a naked effort by the federal government to force universities to reopen all in-person classes notwithstanding their informed judgment that it is neither safe nor advisable to do so. The effect  perhaps even the goalis to create chaos for schools and international students alike.'

The Boston Globe reports that the lawsuit notes that some students would not be able to continue their online education with Harvard and MIT if they return to their home countries.

It cited students from countries such as Somalia and Ethiopia where civil unrest makes internet access unlikely.

The suit added that some students would face 'conditions of social unrest, economic instability, or other threats to their continued safety'.

MIT, pictured, has joined with Harvard to file the lawsuit against the Trump administration.

Harvard University pledged to fight the order Wednesday as they announced the lawsuit

'Others might be drafted in their home countries, might face threats or abuse based on their sexual orientation, or might not be able to access mental health treatments,' the universities argued.

According to the Boston Globe, the universities have asked the federal court to schedule a hearing on their request Wednesday.

On Monday, the Trump administration declared that it would not allow foreign students to remain in the country if all of their classes are moved online because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Those attending schools that are staying online must 'depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction,' according to the guidance.

The guidelines, issued by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), provide additional pressure for universities to reopen even amid growing concerns about the recent spread of COVID-19 among young adults.

Under the updated rules, international students must take at least some of their classes in person.

New visas will not be issued to students at schools or programs that are entirely online. And even at colleges offering a mix of in-person and online courses this fall, international students will be barred from taking all their classes online.

It creates an urgent dilemma for thousands of international students who became stranded in the US last spring after the coronavirus forced their schools to move away from in-person classes.

Nearly 400,000 foreigners received student visas in the 12-month period that ended September 30, down more than 40 per cent from four years earlier. School administrations partly blame visa processing delay.

Colleges across the US were already expecting sharp decreases in international enrollment this fall, but losing all international students could be disastrous for some.

Many depend on tuition revenue from international students, who typically pay higher tuition rates. Last year, universities in the US attracted nearly 1.1 million students from abroad.

Among those not affected is Cornell University that on Tuesday announced it will welcome students back to campus.

The Ivy League university decided that compared with holding classes only online, residential learning would be safer for students and the wider community because it can ask students to participate in a screening program to detect and contain any spread of the coronavirus, President Martha Pollack said.

Just hours before the new guidance was issued, Harvard had made the decision to move their classes online this fall, in light of the growing number of coronavirus cases.

The prestigious university announced that 40 percent of undergraduates would be allowed to return to campus but their instruction would be conducted remotely.

On Tuesday, President Trump lashed out at the university, calling the move to online due to the coronavirus pandemic 'ridiculous'.

'I think it's ridiculous. I think it's an easy way out. And I think they ought to be ashamed of themselves,' Trump said at a White House roundtable discussion, during which he called for schools and universities to reopen for the next semester.

Trump, who is campaigning for reelection in November, has taken a bullish approach to reopening the country even as virus infections continue to spike, particularly the south and west.

'Everybody wants it. The moms want it. The dads want it. The kids want it. It's time to do it,' he said.

'We want to get our schools open, we want to get them open quickly, beautifully, in the fall.'

Coronavirus cases in the US hit a grim new record on Tuesday with more than 60,000 new cases reported in a single day.

The number of cases across the US now nears 3 million and more than 131,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic took hold in March.

The U.S. is the hardest-hit country in the global pandemic.
China has ensured the public that it would be safe to visit a region where a case of bubonic plague was recently recorded.

The government of Inner Mongolia encouraged tourists to come for sightseeing 'without worries' because officials had imposed strict disease-control measures.

A local leader assured that the disease, known as the 'Black Death' in the Middle Ages, was 'preventable, controllable and curable'.

The government of Inner Mongolia, where a case of bubonic plague was recorded on Sunday, encouraged tourists to come and visit. The region's main attraction is its grassland (file photo)

Health officials in the city of Bayan Nur issued the third-level alert on Sunday, the second lowest in a four-level system. The picture shows the geographical location of the city

What is the bubonic plague? Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is carried by fleas and transmitted between animals. The bubonic plague - the most common form - is caused by the bite of an infected flea and can spread through contact with infectious bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Patients may show signs of fever and nausea and at an advanced stage may develop open sores filled with pus. It devastated Europe in the Middle Ages, most notably in the Black Death of the 1340s which killed a third or more of the continent's population. After the Black Death plague became a common phenomenon in Europe, with outbreaks recurring regularly until the 18th century. When the Great Plague of 1665 hit, a fifth of people in London died, with victims shut in their homes and red crosses painted on the door. Bubonic plague has almost completely vanished from the rich world, with 90 per cent of all cases now found in Africa. It is now treatable with antibiotics, as long as they are administered quickly. Still, there have been a few non-fatal cases in the U.S., with an average of seven reported a year, according to disease control bosses. From 2010 to 2015 there were 3,248 cases reported worldwide, including 584 deaths, says the World Health Organisation. Some plague vaccines have been developed, but none are available to the general public. The WHO does not recommend vaccination except for high-risk groups such as health care workers. Without antibiotics, the bubonic strain can spread to the lungs  where it becomes the more virulent pneumonic form. Pneumonic plague, which can kill within 24 hours, can then be passed on through coughing, sneezing or spitting. Advertisement

'The epidemic control and prevention measures in Inner Mongolia are in place. Please rest assured that it is safe to travel to the Inner Mongolian grassland,' Wei Zhiguo, Deputy Director of the region's cultural and tourism office, said at a press conference yesterday.

'As long as scientific control and prevention [measures are carried out, people] can come to our grassland to travel with a peace of mind,' echoed Fu Ruifeng, Deputy Director of the Inner Mongolian Health Commission.

The autonomous region in northern China reported on Sunday that a herdsman in Bayan Nur city had been confirmed to have bubonic plague.

Bubonic plague is one of the most devastating diseases in history, having killed around 100million people in the 14th century.

Local authorities have discovered three epidemic spots for the disease and quarantined 15 people who had come into close contact with the herdsman, according to the government.

The patient, who remains unidentified, was said to be in stable condition as of yesterday.

Officials said they had shut the top-level tourist attractions in the epidemic area.

They were also carrying out door-to-door checks, inspecting the people and vehicles leaving the area and disinfecting fields to prevent an outbreak.

The government said no tourist had contracted plague or COVID-19 after visiting the region.

The news comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was 'carefully' monitoring a case of bubonic plague in China after being notified by the authorities in Beijing.

A WHO official claimed on Tuesday that the situation was being 'well managed' by China and not considered to represent a high risk.

The government of Bayan Nur on Sunday issued an early epidemic warning after identifying the herdsman as a suspected patient. The city is also known as Bayannur.

The warning will stay in place until the end of the year, according to the officials.

The individual was confirmed to have the disease on the same day, sparking fears of a new disease outbreak amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Bayan Nur's Party secretary Chang Zhigang on Monday ordered the city's officials to ensure that all plague-prevention measures would be carried out thoroughly.

Officials at China's northern Inner Mongolia confirmed on Sunday that a herdsman had contracted bubonic plague, known as the 'Black Death' in the Middle Ages. The above picture shows people visiting a night market in Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, on June 26

WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris (seen in a news programme in May) commented on the bubonic plague case: 'We are looking at the case numbers in China. It's being well managed'

According to an official notice, Mr Chang demanded officials quarantine the patient's close contacts and set up checkpoints outside their residential compounds.

The local leader also instructed relevant residential compounds to 'closely monitor' visitors to prevent the disease from erupting.

Two other cases were confirmed in Khovd province in neighbouring Mongolia last week involving brothers who had eaten marmot meat, China's state news agency Xinhua said.

'Bubonic plague has been with us and is always with us, for centuries,' WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters at a virtual briefing.

'We are looking at the case numbers in China. It's being well managed.

'At the moment, we are not considering it high-risk but we're watching it, monitoring it carefully.'

She said the WHO was working in partnership with the Chinese and Mongolian authorities.

Two other cases were confirmed in Khovd province in neighbouring Mongolia last week involving brothers who had eaten marmot meat, China's state media said (file photo)

The UN health agency said it was notified by China on July 6 of a case of bubonic plague in Inner Mongolia.

'Plague is rare, typically found in selected geographical areas across the globe where it is still endemic,' the agency said, adding that sporadic cases of plague have been reported in China over the last decade.

'Bubonic plague is the most common form and is transmitted between animals and humans through the bite of infected fleas and direct contact with carcases of infected small animals. It is not easily transmitted between people.'

Though the highly-contagious plague is rare in China and can be treated, at least five people have died from it since 2014, according to China's National Health Commission.
Facebook has made a series of decisions that undermined civil rights, including allowing posts from President Donald Trump that violate the values of the leading social network, an independent audit report said Wednesday.

The audit commissioned by Facebook in 2018 found the California social media giant had taken 'important steps forward in building a long-term civil rights accountability structure' but they 'are not sufficient and should not be the end of Facebook's progress'.

Despite progress, 'the auditors are concerned that those gains could be obscured by the vexing and heartbreaking decisions Facebook has made that represent significant setbacks for civil rights,' the 100-page report said.

The auditors expressed particular alarm at Facebook's reluctance to take action on posts from Trump this year which 'allowed the propagation of hate/violent speech' and 'facilitated voter suppression'.

The posts, on May 20, were about mail-in ballots. Trump had said they were 'fraudulent' or would amount to 'voter fraud', which the auditors say was harmful false information that Facebook should have removed.

To the civil rights community, there was no question that these posts fell squarely within the prohibitions of Facebooks voter interference policy.

Facebooks constrained reading of its policies was both astounding and deeply troubling for the precedents it seemed to set.

These are among the posts the auditors said were harmful. Trump posted them on May 20

Zuckerberg met with boycott leaders on Tuesday but the meeting was 'disappointing' and 'full of spin', they said

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said in a lengthy post Tuesday that 'Facebook has to get better at finding and removing hateful content' ahead of a meeting with civil rights groups

'The civil rights community identified the posts as false for labeling official ballots and voting methods illegal. They explained that for an authoritative figure like a sitting President to label a ballot issued by a state illegal amounted to suppression on a massive scale, as it would reasonably cause recipients of such official ballots to hesitate to use them.

Facebook boycott leaders slam Mark Zuckerberg for doing 'just about nothing' to remove 'hate speech' after 'disappointing' meeting full of 'spin' Organizers of a Facebook boycott campaign that has the support of thousands of major advertisers have slammed Mark Zuckerberg for doing 'just about nothing' to remove hate speech from the site. Leaders of the #StopHateForProfit campaign lashed out after a 'disappointing' meeting with the social media CEO and other top brass which they said showed Facebook 'is not yet ready to address the vitriolic hate on their platform'. Anti-Defamation League CEO Johnathan Greenblatt, who was at the virtual meeting on Tuesday, said 'we saw little and heard just about nothing' about how the social network is planning to remove toxic content. Jessica Gonzalez, from activist group Free Press, added: 'This isn't over. We will continue to expand the boycott until Facebook takes our demands seriously. We won't be distracted by Facebook's spin today or any day.' The hour-long meeting included CEO Zuckerberg, his chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and other Facebook executives in discussion with the Anti-Defamation League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Color of Change and other groups. It was seen by Facebook as an opportunity to hear from boycott organizers and 'reaffirm' a commitment to combating hate on the platform, a spokesperson told AFP. 'They want Facebook to be free of hate speech and so do we,' the spokesperson said, noting steps the social network has taken to ban white supremacist groups and fight interference with voting or the census. 'We know we will be judged by our actions not by our words and are grateful to these groups and many others for their continued engagement.' The activists, who have backing from the likes of Coca-Cola Unilever and Starbucks, are demanding that Facebook implement ten new policies to combat misinformation and hate content on its site. They include submitting to independent audits, refunding advertisers whose products appear alongside extremist content, and to stop recommending hate groups to users via algorithms. Yet campaigners say that Zuckerberg and Sandberg failed to agree to a single demand and instead fired up a 'powerful P.R. machine' in an attempt to placate the other groups. Advertisement

'Persons seeing the Presidents posts would be encouraged to question whether they would be doing something illegal or fraudulent by using the states ballots to exercise their right to vote.

Facebook's inaction 'seems to reflect a statement of values that protecting free expression is more important than other stated company values'.

Facebook allowed the three posts from Trump in May to remain and 'asserted that the posts did not violate its community standards,' the report said.

The auditors 'vigorously made known our disagreement,' and claimed they 'clearly violated Facebook's policies,' it added.

'These decisions exposed a major hole in Facebook's understanding and application of civil rights....We believe civil rights expertise was not sought and applied to the degree it should have been and the resulting decisions were devastating.'

The action could 'establish terrible precedent for others to emulate,' the audit stated.

In recent weeks, Facebook did appear to make some changes, in one case removing a Trump campaign ad using a Nazi symbol. The company also said it would tag posts from world leaders that violate its policies even if they remain accessible because they are 'newsworthy.'

The report detailed steps the social network has taken to fight bigotry, election tampering and more, but contended that the efforts are inadequate.

'Unfortunately, in our view Facebook's approach to civil rights remains too reactive and piecemeal,' the report said.

The report recommends that Facebook build a stronger civil rights infrastructure that includes experts on key topics such as elections and hate speech, with a full-time team working under a 'civil rights vice president' at the California-based company.

The report also calls for an interpretation of Facebook policy against voter suppression that prohibits content such as misleading Trump posts about the integrity of mail-in voting.

'Facebook has made policy and enforcement choices that leave our election exposed to interference by the president and others who seek to use misinformation to sow confusion and suppress voting,' the report said.

The report also advised Facebook to go beyond banning explicit references to white separatism and white nationalism to also prohibit them being praised, supported or represented at the social network.

The audit led by former American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Laura Murphy was launched at the behest of civil rights organizations and members of Congress seeking to ensure that 'civil rights laws and principles are respected, embraced, and robustly incorporated into the work at Facebook,' according to the report.

The review covered a range of Facebook policies including workforce diversity, algorithmic bias, election and census interference and advertising practices.

Facebook said the audit report points out its progress and shortcomings and makes it clear that more needs to be done.

'This two-year journey has had a profound effect on the way we think about our impact on the world,' Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said of working with the auditors.

'We have made real progress over the years, but this work is never finished and we know what a big responsibility Facebook has to get better at finding and removing hateful content,' she said.

Facebook said it is putting some of the audit proposals into practice, and made 'a commitment to hire a civil rights leader who will continue to push us on these issues internally,' according to Sandberg.

The report comes a day after Sandberg and Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg met with organizers of a Facebook ad boycott pressing for more aggressive action on hateful content and disinformation.

The activists said they were disappointed and vowed to press on with their campaign which has grown to nearly 1,000 advertisers.
A group of Indonesian female cyclists have been forced to apologise for violating Islamic sharia laws by wearing 'sexy' clothes in a team photo.

The nine women were summoned by authorities in the conservative province of Banda Aceh after a photo circulated online.

The women were pictured in long-sleeved pink t-shirts and dark trousers, and most were not wearing headscarves under their helmets.

The picture enraged the mayor who ordered officers to track the group down, and made the women undergo religious counselling.

The women were pictured in long-sleeved pink t-shirts and dark trousers, and most were not wearing headscarves under their helmets

'They have violated the Islamic sharia provisions in our province which forbid sexy clothing,' Irwan, a spokesman at the provincial government said.

He said the women, as well as one man, were summoned to the office.

'They have admitted their mistake, publicly apologised and said they would not do it again,' Irwan said.

The mayor ordered officers to track the group down and forced the women to undergo religious counselling

The government spokesman said the cyclists were allowed to go home after they apologised 'voluntarily'

Aceh, on the western tip of Indonesia, is the only province that practises sharia law.

People in the area have been publicly flogged for selling alcohol, adultery and for engaging in gay sex.

An Acehnese law, known as Qanun 11/2002, requires Muslims to 'dress modestly', but does not explicitly require all to wear Muslim-approved attire, Vice reported.

Many Acehnese support canings in public, while local religious police and vigilantes often raid homes and workplaces to detain people on suspicion of criminal behaviour, according to human rights groups.

The government spokesman said the cyclists were allowed to go home after they apologised 'voluntarily'.

He said the women were given counselling that they should dress modestly under Islamic teachings.

Local media showed video clips of the group apologising for their 'regrettable' act.
Monica Lewinsky has been praised for 'winning the internet' after a hilarious reply to a tweet by author Sarah Cooper.

Writer and comedian Cooper imparted some advice to younger generations, saying: 'Make your mistakes now. Because by the time you're 40, you'll barely even remember them!

'And then you get to make the same mistakes all over again it's really fun.'

Monica Lewinsky, 46, picked up on the tweet and gave a hilarious response when she retweeted Cooper's words and commented: 'Uhhhmmmmmm.'

Monica Lewinsky has been praised for 'winning the internet' after a hilarious reply to a tweet by author Sarah Cooper

Monica Lewinsky, 46, picked up on the tweet and gave a hilarious response when she retweeted Cooper's words and commented: 'Uhhhmmmmmm'. Above, Lewinsky pictured last year

Lewinsky was just 22 years old when she entered into an affair with then-president Bill Clinton in 1995, which resulted in scandal when their relationship came to light in 1998.

Twitter users were quick to notice Lewinsky's one-word reply, with many dubbing her 'queen of the internet'.

'Ok this is amazing and should break the internet,' one person wrote.

'Well if this one doesn't go down in the tweet hall of fame, they aren't paying attention,' another penned.

One person said Lewinsky's tweet had made her 'laugh out loud'.

'Lady, you are absolutely hilarious. I adore you for your retweet response here. You made me laugh out loud and I needed that!'

Another simply said: 'We stan a legend.'

Lewinsky's affair with then-president Bill Clinton started in 1995 and continued until 1997.

She was working as an unpaid 22-year-old White House intern at the time.

Lewinsky was just 22 years old when she entered into an affair with then-president Bill Clinton in 1995. Above, Lewinsky pictured in 1997

The affair ended in political scandal when it came to light in 1998. Above, Bill Clinton pictured with Monica Lewinsky while she interned at the White House

One Twitter user pointed out Lewinsky's young age during the affair and mused that it was not her mistake.

'That was not your mistake. That was an inexperienced kid subjected to overwhelming influences. You should have been treated with nothing but kindness,' they wrote.

Some also imaged what the situation would be like if a similar scandal happened today.

'I'm sure Trump would be okay if she made that same mistake again,' one person wrote.

Following the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, Lewinsky went on to work as a television personality before deciding to leave the public spotlight and pursue a master's degree in psychology in London.

In 2014, she returned to public view as a social activist speaking out against cyberbullying.

She has repeatedly expressed regret about her affair with Clinton. In an essay for Vanity Fair, she wrote: 'I, myself, deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton. Let me say it again: I. Myself. Deeply. Regret. What. Happened.'
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is considering drastic measures to stop Victoria's second wave of coronavirus spreading - including reinstating restrictions on weddings and funerals and even adjusting the state border.

Victoria recorded 134 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, its second-highest single-day total since the pandemic began after a record 191 infections on Tuesday.

Fears the horror outbreak could jump state lines have been exacerbated after three people returning from Melbourne tested positive to the virus in NSW this week.

With the borders slammed shut at 11.59pm on Wednesday, Ms Berejiklian could impose radical sanctions to protect her state from plunging back into hard lockdown.

Limiting 'high risk' gatherings and reinstating restrictions on funerals and weddings are all being considered.

Police question drivers at a checkpoint in Albury on Wednesday as the NSW-Victoria border closed due to the second wave spread of coronavirus in Victoria

She is considering establishing a new border to leave Albury as a part of Victoria to prevent the chance of community transmission into NSW

'Everything is on the table,' a government source told The Daily Telegraph.

Ms Berejiklian is also considering shifting the state border to the north and annexing Albury to Victoria until the outbreak is brought under control.

This would allow residents of both towns to cross state lines freely and minimise disruption to the community while also preventing the virus from spreading deeper into NSW.

She has also flagged making exemption permits to cross the border more difficult to obtain.

More than 50,000 exemption permits were issued overnight allowing people living in NSW-Victoria border communities to cross between the two.

She warned the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in Victoria is a threat to NSW and was unapologetic when she suggested tough new restrictions may need to be implemented.

People continue to shop prior to the general lockdown in Melbourne on Wednesday

'The probability of contagion in NSW given what's happened in Victoria is extremely high,' Ms Berejiklian she said.

'I am extremely concerned about what is happening in Victoria, the extent of community contagion is unlike anything we have seen in Australia... do not let your guard down.'

The Berejiklian government is also looking into making hotel quarantine mandatory for NSW residents returning from the southern state.

Currently, NSW residents returning from Victoria must self-isolate at home for 14 days but Ms Berejiklian said forced hotel quarantine - which residents will have to pay for - has not been ruled out.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is desperate to prevent a second wave of coronavirus in NSW

Police examine drivers on the NSW-Victoria border on Wednesday. More than 50,000 exemption permits have been issued for drivers

Ms Berejiklian was nonplussed by naysayers of her hardline stance in dealing with the threat of a renewed outbreak in NSW.

'It doesn't bother me how many people are personally upset with me (about) the decision we have to take to protect the community,' she said.

'Do not let your guard down. I have no tolerance for people who are continuing to live their lives as normal. I have no tolerance for the people who aren't doing the right thing by the vast majority.'

NSW on Wednesday recorded eight new COVID-19 cases including seven in hotel quarantine and a woman in her 30s from south-west Sydney.

Queues on the NSW-Victoria border grew to four kilometres overnight as the coronavirus enforced closure came into play.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said some people travelling from hotspot postcodes in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire were turned back.

The surge in coronavirus cases in Victoria over the last 10 days, which peaked at 191 cases on Tuesday

Residents queue up at an outdoor coronavirus testing facility in Albury on Wednesday

Gladys Berejiklian is considering drastic measures to stop community transmission from Victoria into NSW. Pictured: testing at Bondi Beach on Tuesday

Meanwhile, police are hunting two Jetstar passengers who arrived in Sydney on a flight from Melbourne and weren't screened for coronavirus.

A plane load of Jetstar travellers on flight JQ520 were allowed through Sydney airport without proper COVID-19 checks on Tuesday evening because staff were busy screening passengers from another flight.

Of the 137 passengers, 89 were screened before leaving the airport, leaving authorities to contact trace 48 people in the city.

Police watch on as drivers queue on Wednesday at the border checkpoint at Albury

Two of the passengers are unaccounted for and another has refused to be screened, with all three referred to NSW Police.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said all passengers are being contacted by authorities.

'We are in the process of tracing them up. If anyone has travelled in breach of any orders, we will report them to police and take the appropriate action depending on whether anyone is symptomatic to ensure the community is protected,' she said.

Dr Chant said Sydney airport have now put in place protocols to ensure no one is able to disembark a flight without proper screening procedures by health teams.

All airline passengers are required to be screened by NSW Health staff on entry into NSW.

After JQ520 passengers entered the state without proper examination, planes entering Sydney airport must now wait until NSW Health staff are set up to screen patients before passengers are able to disembark the aircraft.

Police wearing protective face masks at an Albury pop up coronavirus clinic on Tuesday

A queue of medical staff wait to enter the North Melbourne Public Housing tower complex on Wednesday

NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann called on NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard to investigate the incident after he made earlier assurances all passengers arriving from Victoria would be screened at Sydney Airport.

'It's gobsmacking that such an event could occur in NSW after the Ruby Princess debacle,' Ms Faehrmann said in a statement.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to throw everything at stopping Melbourne's coronavirus outbreak spreading across Australia.

The prime minister warned the highly contagious disease could spread without tough measures.

'It's happening in Melbourne now,' Mr Morrison said in Canberra on Wednesday.

'There's always the risk it could happen in other cities and every step is being taken to seek to prevent that.'

VICTORIA'S CORONAVIRUS CASES VICTORIA'S CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS AS OF JULY 8: * 134 new cases * Total number of cases: 2942 * 11 new cases linked to outbreaks * 123 under investigation * No new cases in returned international travellers * 75 infections in total at nine public housing towers in hard lockdown * 29,424 tests done on Tuesday CASES FROM KNOWN OUTBREAKS * 7 cases linked to Al-Taqwa College outbreak, which now totals 102 * 2 linked to locked-down public housing towers, which now totals 75 * 1 linked to the Stamford Plaza outbreak, which now totals 43 * 1 linked to the PM Fresh facility in Broadmeadows, which now totals 2 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews talking about the state's response to the rise in cases OTHER CASES * 4 patients and a staff member at Brunswick Private Hospital. * 3 at Woolworths Customer Fulfilment Centre in Footscray, taking the total to 4 * 5 linked to five aged care services OVERALL NUMBERS: * 860 active cases in the state * 150 active in the Hume local government area * 41 Victorians in hospital including seven in intensive care * 1,000,867 tests done since testing began * 2575 of the total cases from metropolitan Melbourne * 263 from regional Victoria * 456 cases indicate community transmission * 2058 people have recovered from the virus LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS SUPPORT AND PENALTIES * 264 defence personnel providing logistical support to Victoria Police * Increased police presence across all 32 local government areas entering stage three lockdown at midnight * 810 spot checks by Victoria Police in the past 24 hours at homes, businesses and non-essential services across the state * 6314 fines since policing of restrictions under Operation Sentinel began * Breaches of public health orders face on-the-spot fines of $1652 for individuals and $9913 for businesses. Advertisement

Several hundred police and soldiers will enforce a 'hard border' around Melbourne as the city re-enters lockdown for six weeks.

Premier Daniel Andrews said it was imperative no one breaches restrictions and ventures into regional Victoria, which has largely remained free of coronavirus.

'We are doing the hard work to look at options to accelerate opening up in regional Victoria, that comes with significant economic benefit, for them and therefore the whole state,' he said on Wednesday.

'That is only possible if we continue to safeguard the very low COVID or COVID-free status of large parts of regional and country Victoria.'

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton 700 police officers and 264 members of the Australian Defence Force will enforce the lockdown, with booze bus-type checks in place on main roads in and out of the city, and number plate recognition technology used.

A group of police officers question a driver at the Albury checkpoint on Wednesday night

'We're going to be checking people. We're going to be making sure they're adhering to those guidelines,' he said.

'If you don't have a reason to leave, you will be turned back around.'

He said on-the-spot fines of up to $1,652 will be handed out to people caught breaching lockdown rules, while businesses could be fined $9,913.

'We've done this before in restrictions we've been through. People know what to do. They know what to expect,' Mr Patton said.

Police have done 92,215 random checks since March to ensure people were at home and businesses were abiding by the rules.

Residents in the lockdown areas will only be able to leave their homes to get food and supplies, receive or provide care, exercise, and study or work.

Testing has revealed infection protocol breaches by security guards working in hotel quarantine fuelled the second wave of the virus in the state.

Mr Andrews said those to blame are 'no longer playing a part in our hotel quarantine arrangements'.

Healthcare workers walk with testing supplies into Flemington Towers Government Housing complex on Wednesday

Of the state's new cases, just 11 are linked to known outbreaks while 123 remain under investigation.

They include four patients and a worker at Brunswick Private Hospital, which is now closed to new admissions while contact tracing is under way.

Another Ambulance Victoria paramedic has coronavirus, bringing the total number to test positive since the start of the pandemic to five.

The paramedic is a close contact of one of the paramedics who returned a positive result on Tuesday.

Five positive cases have also been linked to aged care services across the state.

Meanwhile, cases linked to the nine public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne in hard lockdown have slowed to two new infections on Wednesday, with the cluster now totalling 75.

Testing of all 3,000 residents is expected to be completed soon.

One million Victorians have been tested for COVID-19 since the start of the year, with a record of 29,424 tests conducted on Tuesday.

To date, 22 Victorians have died from the virus while 41 remain in hospital.
A judge was urged to punish embattled real estate tycoon Mohamed Hadid over his exclusive interview with DailyMail.com in which he branded the court decision to tear down his controversial Los Angeles mega-mansion as 'racist'.

Last week, the Muslim Palestinian-American multi-millionaire told DailyMail.com: 'I've been all over the world and I've never seen such prejudice against my kind, my religion. It's crazy, it's a total abortion of justice.

'In my opinion, and I hate to say it, this whole thing is prejudice against me, who I am and my religion. They're racist. Absolute racist.'

On Wednesday at LA Superior Court in Santa Monica, attorney Gary Lincenberg - representing the neighbors suing Hadid over the half-built 'monstrosity' - lashed out at the developer's explosive comments.

'Mr Hadid called the court racist,' Lincenberg told Judge Craig Karlan, asking him to use his powers to 'sanction' (punish) Hadid. 'It's a very serious matter.'

Mohamed Hadid blasted California's legal system over the decision to demolish his controversial Bel Air mega-mansion, claiming the ruling is a 'total abortion of justice' last week. He told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview: 'I've been all over the world and I've never seen such prejudice against my kind, my religion, it's crazy'

Last month, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed California's Supreme Court had torpedoed Hadid's last ditch bid to save his mansion from the wrecking ball

Lincenberg claimed that Hadid's 'racist' remarks 'seriously undermine' the neighbors' ability to have a fair trial in their upcoming legal action where they hope to win millions in damages.

Judge Karlan refused to issue sanctions against Hadid, however, telling the court: 'Everyone has First Amendment rights to speak.'

Now attorney Gary Lincenberg is calling for Judge Craig Karlan to sanction Hadid over his claims because 'it's a very serious matter'

Because of restrictions on the LA court system imposed during the current coronavirus crisis, Judge Karlan postponed - until another hearing August 4 - setting a date for the start of the trial where the neighbors will argue their case for compensation from Hadid for the eight-year 'nightmare' they claim they've endured thanks to the giant house teetering on a hilltop overlooking their homes.

Judge Karlan - who ordered the building to be torn down after dubbing it 'a clear and present danger' to the upscale Bel Air community where it sits - has already declared that the neighbors are likely to win their case against the 71-year-old father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid.

And if they do, it will rub salt into the financial wounds he's suffering as the massive mansion, which he once hoped to sell for $100 million, is razed to the ground later this month or in early August.

Hadid - who also owes $1.2 million in back property taxes on the building - has tried several legal moves to try to stop or delay the wrecking ball.

First he filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming that he 'couldn't afford' the $5million cost of the demo. That was dismissed.

Then he filed an appeal against Judge Karlan's order to tear down the giant house. That too was denied.

Judge Karlan refused to issue sanctions against Hadid, however, telling the court: 'Everyone has First Amendment rights to speak.' Pictured: Judge Karlan inspecting Hadid's half built mega mansion in Bel Air

Neighbors have been fighting for years for the demolition of the property because of all the alleged unapproved construction. The development of the home has also been an eyesore to nearby residents and now a danger due to heavy Los Angeles rain

After demolishing the original house, Hadid began work on his monster project which, as the pictures show, soon came to dominate the site and surrounding area

Hadid has tried several court strategies to stop or delay the demolition. First he filed chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming that he 'couldn't afford' the $5 million cost of the demo. That was dismissed. Then he filed an appeal against Judge Karlan's order to tear down the mansion. That too was denied

In May he launched a desperate, last ditch bid to save his building project by asking California's Supreme Court to send the case back to Judge Karlan's court.

But last month, the state's highest court torpedoed his efforts, refusing even to hear the case.

In their arguments to the CA Supreme Court, Hadid's lawyers maintained that the mega-mansion is worth $50 million and that the wealthy developer has been denied the 'process of law.'

Judge Karlan's injunction ordering the demolition of the structure 'was done without trialwithout proof of an emergency, and without proof of the existence of a nuisance,' they blasted in documents found by DailyMail.com

The neighbors fiercely fought Hadid's motion, their attorneys filing a response to the Supreme Court saying: 'Hadid and his company, 901 Strada LLC, seek to avoid demolishing a massive hillside structure that they concede is unpermitted and constructed on a foundation that fails to comply with the building code, that they agree must be demolished eventually and which the trial court found constituted a danger to the public

'The trial court's finding was consistent with the fears of an architect who worked on the building that he was 'worried that the building will slide down the hill and kill someone'.

The neighbors' lawyers strongly disputed Hadid's claim that his colossal house - nicknamed the Starship Enterprise because it's so huge - is worth $50 million. Instead, they said in court documents, the property is only worth $8 million.

With his 11th-hour plea to the Supreme Court falling flat, there's little Hadid can do now to stop his beloved mansion from being reduced to rubble and dust.

Tearing down the house is on track to happen by later this month or early in August, after Douglas Wilson - the receiver Judge Karlan appointed to oversee the demolition - submits his final demo plan, and Judge Karlan approves it.

Lawyers for 71-year-old Hadid - father of supermodels Bella and Gigi Hadid - had argued that the giant structure is worth $50 million and that the wealthy developer was denied the 'process of law'

Hadid puts most of the blame for his troubles on 'nightmare neighbor' Joe Horacek (pictured in front of his home with Hadid's home in the background), who he says became 'obsessed' with the case

Last week Hadid told DailyMail.com he wants to write a book about the eight year saga to expose the 'racism' and 'prejudice', which he believes has fueled it.

He Hadid has branded the decision to demolish his house a 'political lynching' because of his high-profile and believes the color of his skin and religious beliefs played a major part.

'I've never seen anything like this in my life and I've been doing this for 40 years,' he said.

Hadid's notorious mansion was originally permitted for 15,000 square feet but the house grew to around 30,000 square feet with much of that additional construction illegal.

He ignored orders from Los Angeles City to stop building and in December 2015, in an almost-unprecedented move, the city decided to prosecute him criminally.

He pleaded no contest to three criminal charges involving illegal construction and in July 2017 he was told he would serve a 180-day jail sentence if he doesn't reduce the size of the house and bring it into compliance with city building codes - or demolish it - within the three years of probation the judge also imposed. In addition, he was fined $3,000, ordered to pay $14,191 in fees to LA city, and serve 200 hours of community service.

Hadid's probation period ends on July 20.
This is the moment a male gorilla rushed to rescue a baby after it fell off its mother's back while she was fighting a rival.

Video shows the young ape flailing desperately on the ground as its parent jostles noisily with her adversary.

But, a fleet-footed young male rushes to rescue her child while the silverback, lead gorilla of the group, tries to break up the argument.

A male gorilla rushed to save a baby after it fell off its mother during a fight at a zoo in the UK

In the video, filmed on July 1 at zoo in the UK, the two females are seen howling at each other next to play equipment inside an enclosure.

The filmer, who did not wish to be identified, said the footage showed the 'human-like behaviour of apes'.

Humans and gorillas are closely related, with their evolutionary paths diverging about eight to nine million years ago.

Genetic studies have, however, suggested humans are more closely related to chimps, which they may not have split from until five million years ago.
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The High Court was today shown photographs of Johnny Depp's drink and drug-filled lifestyle including an image taken by Amber Heard that shows a pint of whisky, four lines of cocaine and his skull and crossbones 'pill box' ready for consumption at 1.37pm.

Heard, 34, took the photo at her LA home in 2013 before the couple had another blazing row about his drug and alcohol use - on the afternoon when he was supposed to be filming a documentary on Rolling Stone Keith Richards.

The court was also shown a picture of Depp passed out beside his bed as the 57-year-old actor was peppered with questions about his extensive drinking and drug use by lawyers acting for The Sun.

Depp took the stand for a second day today as he sues The Sun for libel after it labelled him a 'wife beater' in a trial that is set to take three weeks and feature celebrity witnesses including Vanessa Paradis and Paul Bettany.

In other developments at the trial today:

The court heard that Depp attacked Amber Heard on a private plane while accusing her of having sex with James Franco on the set of movie The Adderall Diaries in 2014;

The attack allegedly happened after Depp took cocaine, half a bottle of whisky, a 'thousand' vodka and Red Bull, and two bottles of champagne according to texts sent by the actor;

The Sun's lawyer has also asked about Heard's claims that he and Marilyn Manson took his daughter to school and then went on a 24-hour cocaine binge;

Court heard how Depp traded 'joke' texts with British actor Paul Bettany about 'f***ing Heard's burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead' and drowning his 'witch' ex-wife;

He admitted that he had joked about putting Heard's dog in a microwave but denied holding tiny Yorkshire terrier Pistol out of a car window and making 'howling noises';

He was accused of slapping Heard while trying to torch a painting by her 'lesbian ex-partner';

Depp denied slapping his ex-wife three times after she laughed at his infamous 'Wino Forever' tattoo;

Actor allegedly went 'berserk' after a woman fondled Heard during an MDMA trip in a trailer park;

Heard wrote unsent email to Depp in which she compared living with him to living with 'Jekyll and Hyde'.

The High Court was shown images of Johnny Depp's drink and drug-filled lifestyle including an image taken by Amber Heard that shows a pint of whisky, four lines of cocaine and his skull and crossbones 'pill box' ready for consumption at 1.37pm

The court was also shown a picture of Depp passed out beside his bed as the 57-year-old Hollywood legend was peppered with questions about his extensive drinking and drug use by lawyers acting for The Sun

Johnny Depp leaves court after day two of his libel trial at the High Court in London. Depp took the stand for a second day today as he sues The Sun for libel after it labelled him a 'wife beater'

One photograph shows a glass table littered with mountains of alcohol and drugs, with four lines of cocaine cut for use next to his driving licence and a tube.

A skull and crossbones 'pill box' with 'Property of JD' written across the top, which Depp said 'probably' contained drugs at the time the photograph was taken, is to one side.

There are also two glasses of whisky - one half drunk, the other pint-sized - a packet of tobacco next to a brown rolled-up cigarette, and a Keith Richards CD to hand.

Another picture shows Depp passed out on the floor beside his bed.

The pictures were taken in 2013, on the day Depp was due to be filming a documentary about Keith Richards - shortly before he and Heard rowed about his drug and alcohol use.

Depp was cross examined by The Sun's lawyer today, who asked Depp if he was carrying cocaine in the 'pill box'. The actor replied: 'I would say I probably was.'

Barrister Sasha Wass QC, representing The Sun, said the photograph showed 'four lines of cocaine next to a credit card with a straw on top of the credit card'.

Ms Wass said that when Heard's sister Whitney Henriquez arrived at the house 'she was confronted by the sight of Heard, who had obviously been crying'.

She then suggested that Heard and Ms Henriquez 'remained with you for about four hours trying to persuade you to go to the film set' for the Keith Richards documentary.

Depp said: 'It was a day where Keith Richards and Tom Waits were performing together in the studio.'

But he added that 'to me, it was more important to try to fix things, patch things up with Ms Heard'.

The court also heard how the Pirates of the Caribbean actor had told screenwriter Stephen Deuters that he thought his 'Peruvian period' had upset his former spouse.

He allegedly messaged Mr Deuters: 'Amber is extremely upset and we're dying... Do you want to speak with her while we're there and give her some perspective on me and what I am and what I'm not? She thinks my Peruvian period has made me a monster and that I am ruining the relationship.'

'So the Peruvian period is a reference to cocaine?' Ms Wass asked, to which Depp replied: 'Yes.'

Ms Wass also suggested that, when Depp's assistant Nathan Holmes arrived, he 'refused to leave' and 'you were snorting more and more lines of cocaine'.

Depp said he was 'definitely partaking of the cocaine' and claimed 'Whitney was partaking of the cocaine as well'.

He also alleged that Heard would 'normally' chop cocaine into lines for him. This was refuted by Ms Wass, who said that had never happened because Heard was 'extremely disapproving' of cocaine.

The actor said in court: 'Well she poured me the whisky and cocaine was visible in front of her, and I have experienced many times with Ms Heard that she would in fact chop the cocaine up for me so that I could do the line and then she would press her finger into it and ingest it orally.

'I'm not suggesting that she did that in this case (on a particular occasion put to him by Ms Wass), but I am suggesting that it was a normal duty that she felt obligated to do.'

Depp 'attacked Heard on private plane as he accused her of having sex with James Franco after consuming "a thousand Red Bull and vodkas, pills and two bottles of champagne"'

The court also heard that Depp attacked ex-wife Heard on a private plane while accusing her of cheating on him with actor James Franco.

He was accused of screaming about how Heard 'liked getting f****d on set' while grilling her about her relationship with The Adderall Diaries co-star Franco in 2014.

Ms Wass said that Depp made 'vulgar references to (Heard's) genitalia' and called her a 'go-getter slut' in front of crew members on a flight from Boston to LA.

The barrister then read out a text sent by Depp to his friend British actor Paul Bettany, which read: 'I'm going to properly stop the booze thing, darling. Drank all night before I picked Amber up to fly to LA this past Sunday. Ugly mate. No food for days. Powders. Half a bottle of whisky.

'A thousand red bull and vodkas, pills, 2 bottles of champers on plane and what do you get?'

Depp denied having launched the attack, commenting 'that's quite a stretch of her imagination' when lurid details of the alleged rampage were recounted by The Sun's lawyer.

He claimed that he had been concerned about Franco because Heard had described him as 'creepy and rapey' when they starred alongside one another in stoner comedy Pineapple Express.

Depp (left, arriving at the High Court; right, leaving the High Court) is suing The Sun for libel after it labelled him a 'wife beater' in a trial that is set to take three weeks and feature celebrity witnesses including Vanessa Paradis and Paul Bettany

Depp appeared to state that Heard had told him she had to 'run from Franco's advances' during filming - claims which Ms Wass branded as 'made up on the spot.'

The Hollywood star was said to have kicked a chair so forcefully that it swivelled and hit Heard before storming into the bathroom and passing out drunk on the floor.

'I suggest Ms Heard moved seats more than once to get away from you and you started by throwing ice cubes at her and you kicked one of the chairs so hard that it swivelled round and hit her,' Ms Wass said.

'I've never seen anyone be able to push an airplane chair so that it could assault someone,' Depp said.

'You were in a blind rage, demanding to know how much she liked getting off with James Franco. You were so angry that she wouldn't engage with you in this discussion that you slapped her.

'You called her a 'Go-getter sl** and a wh***. Do you agree?' the lawyer asked.

'No ma'am I wouldn't,' said Depp. 'Not under those circumstances I would not. There are possibilities where that kind of thing might come out of my mouth depending on what came out of her mouth prior, but I did not go into a rage on the flight in front of all these people.'

'And throughout all this you were demanding more alcohol and oxygen from the flight attendant,' the QC said.

'I had asked for an oxygen tank just for a lark,' Depp said.

'What's so funny about an oxygen tank?' Ms Wass asked.

'When you put the oxygen tank on and you turn the nozzle you are hit with pure oxygen,' Depp replied.

'I wasn't abusing a drug, I was breathing in oxygen and I was showing them, I flew with the crew before and the pilot and I had done that before.'

'You eventually went to the toilet, the bathroom of the plane, and you passed out. Has your assistant Nathan Holmes ever had to wake you up when you've passed out on the toilet?' Ms Wass asked.

'I've never passed out on the toilet, not in the act of let's say relieving oneself, but yes leaning on the toilet or sleeping on the floor,' Depp said.

Describing his suspicions that Heard was having an extra-marital affair, Depp said: 'She told me many things that were very negative about Mr Franco that he had tried to kiss her (after the filming of Pineapple Express) and made sexual advances on her in that film she said he was a creep and a rapist or whatever.'

'A rapist? She didn't use that word surely?' Ms Wass asked. 'You've made an extremely important statement just now. You made that up on the spot didn't you?'

Depp replied: 'No it's just a word that came out to describe what she said to me, him leaning in saying I'm going to kiss you now and she had to run from his advances at one point and he was kind of non-stop and she felt he was creepy and rapey was the word. If I said the word rapist then it's because rapey was the word she used.'

He added: 'I suspected Ms Heard was having an affair with Mr Franco and it's since been confirmed that she was.'

The court heard that Ms Heard had made efforts to prevent Depp watching intimate scenes in her films because he would 'lose it.'

'Your concerns about romantic scenes were quite considerable weren't they?' Ms Wass asked.

'Yes I do have concerns,' Depp said.

'She was worried you were going to lose it. Can you imagine why she thought you might lose it?' the lawyer asked.

'She doesn't want me to lose it meaning doesn't want me to get jealous,' Depp said.

'You were screaming obscenities on the plane,' Ms Wass said.

'I was screaming obscenities at Ms Heard with my security, two pilots... A stewardess? I don't agree with what you're saying,' Depp said.

'You said she liked getting f***ed on set and you were making vulgar references to her genitals,' Ms Wass said.

'That's quite a stretch of her imagination,' came the reply.

Amber Heard (left, arriving at the High Court; right, leaving the High Court) took the photo at her LA home in 2013 before the couple had another blazing row about his drug and alcohol use

Depp 'went on a 24-hour cocaine bender with Marilyn Manson in 2014'

The court also heard that Depp allegedly went on a 24-hour cocaine 'bender' with Marilyn Manson while Heard sent concerned messages about his whereabouts to his sister.

She messaged Christi Dembrowski in February 2014 saying: 'JD is on a bender with Manson' when he stormed out after another bust-up.

The Hollywood legend said today that he had taken cocaine with Manson 'three times' but denied that drugs were involved in his 2014 visit.

He said instead that he and the famous rocker had been taking his daughter Lily-Rose to school and that it was a 'mystery' how Ms Heard had thought that he was abusing substances.

The Pirates of the Carribean star claimed that his former spouse was 'jealous' and suspected that he had been cheating on her when he disappeared after a row.

Ms Wass said the marriage was characterised by a dysfunctional 'pattern' in which Depp would binge and abandon Ms Heard after arguments about drug use.

The lawyer said: 'And when this syndrome arose, that is to say arguments about drug taking followed by you going on a binge, when the whole thing was over, when the whole explosion was over you would just disappear and go away from her.'

Depp replied: 'There was a time when I said I'm going to stay in a hotel room.

'And she became extremely worried as she didn't know where you were and you were in a state of inebriation or drug consumption and she used to get quite frantic with worry,' the lawyer said.

'She would indeed get quite frantic with worry and she would indeed get jealous that I was out cheating on her,' came the reply.

'Just going back to 2014 you said you'd taken drugs with Marilyn Manson twice, but years before you were with Ms Heard,' Ms Wass said.

'Twice or three times maybe, Depp confirmed. 'Doing a line of cocaine with Manson was, I believe it was before Ms Heard and I were fully involved, lets say.'

The court heard that Depp attacked Amber Heard on a private plane while accusing her of having sex with James Franco on the set of movie The Adderall Diaries in 2014

Actor Johnny Depp leaving the High Court in London following a hearing in his blockbuster libel case against The Sun

Depp said: 'She's speculating that I'm on a binge with Manson for more than 24 hours.

'Manson and I did in fact take my daughter to school.'

But reading from a text allegedly sent by Ms Heard to Depp's sister Christi Dembrowski in February 2014, Ms Wass said: 'JD is on a bender with Manson. Once again he believes it's about me and us fighting.

'Once again I don't know what to do. He's gonna hurt himself and take us as a couple down with him.

'I think he's at Marilyn's now continuing the rage and coke booze binge. Can you help* We have no reason to fight. He just aims all his anger at me when he's on it. Don't know what to do.'

'Do you believe that you were on a binge (with Manson)?' the QC asked.

'I would say that's what Ms Heard believed. As to how she had exact information about what i was doing with Manson is a mystery to me,' Depp replied.

Heard's alleged texts went on: 'He went to drop Lily-Rose off this morning and hasn't been back since. I called the guards to make sure at least one of them got here and Sean did.

'Not sure who dropped her off but I think it was JD and Manson with security.

Asked whether his sister had expressed anxiety about his drug intake at the time, Depp replied: 'My sister Christi has over many, many years since my youth had a number of worries about my consumption growing up and yes, she talked to me many times over the course of my life. We did speak about it.

'She and Ms Heard's ability to speak to one another stopped not long after this.'

Heard's sister Whitney allegedly reached out to him later urging him to make amends with her sibling.

Depp allegedly responded: 'I'm good just can't deal anymore, she's crossed the line again. Always too much.

'A person needs to think before they go squirrelly. So f***ing sad. I've never done anything but love her.'

But even his own daughter Lily-Rose begged him not to give up on his relationship with Heard because she was a 'good influence' on his parenting, the court heard.

The then-teenager allegedly praised the 'positive effect' the marriage had on his drinking and said he had been a 'better dad since she's been around.'

'Your daughter recognised that ms heard was a good influence on you?' Ms Wass asked.

'Yes, she believed that at the time,' came the reply.

'Your daughter says to you: 'You've been a better dad to Jack and I since she's been around and she's been helping with the alcohol.

''I just see the positive effect she's had on you. Please don't write her off right now. She may surprise you.''

'You say to her: 'I'm not going back to booze. We'll see what happens with her.''

Depp 'joked' with Paul Bettany about setting Amber Heard on fire and 'f***ing her burnt corpse to make sure she's dead' or drowning her to 'make sure she's not a witch'

The court heard that Depp swapped 'joke' texts with British actor Paul Bettany about setting Amber Heard on fire and 'f***ing her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead' or drowning his 'witch' ex-wife.

The 57-year-old actor was asked by The Sun's lawyer about the series of text messages with Bettany and whether he thought they were a 'respectful' way to talk about his girlfriend.

He admitted it was not as he was peppered with questions in court about his extensive alcohol and cocaine abuse, and alleged complaints about Heard trying to stop him drinking and taking cocaine.

'She didn't like me using alcohol and drugs because she had some delusional idea that they turned me into... this said monster,' he told The Sun's barrister Ms Wass.

Depp said his 'sense of humour is slightly skewed' as texts emerged in which he quipped with actor Bettany about 'shaving Amber Heard's beaver' - a reference to a pet beaver they considered buying her.

In an explosive series of messages the pair appear to joke about setting Heard on fire before Depp said: 'I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead.'

The court heard how Depp told Bettany to buy Heard a pet beaver and record himself shaving the animal so that they could post the clip online titled: 'Johnny Depp shaves Amber Heard's Beaver.'

Reading from the shocking messages exchanged between Depp and Bettany, Ms Wass said: '(Depp says) first of all we buy Amber a pet beaver and then we take pictures of you shaving the pet beaver.

'All this is to create a domain name 'Johnny Depp Shaves Amber Heard's Beaver'.

'Clearly there are many spin-offs. You could poke, joke, punch.

'Do you think that's a respectful way of somebody, here Paul Bettany, talking about your girlfriend?' the lawyer asked, to which Depp replied: 'It is not a respectful way to talk about Ms Heard.'

Later in June Depp allegedly received a text saying: 'I'm not sure we should burn Amber. She is delightful company and pleasing on the eye. We could of course do the English course of action and perform a drowning test. Thoughts? You have a swimming pool.'

He is said to have responded saying: 'Let's drown her before we burn her!!! I will f*** her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead.'

Ms Wass said Bettany replied: 'My thoughts entirely. Let's be certain before we pronounce her a witch.'

The actor branded his ex-wife a 'witch' simply for trying to help him recover from his addiction, the lawyer said. But he claimed she reacted 'aggressively' to his alleged drug abuse and dismissed her claims he became violent while intoxicated as 'delusional.'

The QC added: 'This reference to her being a witch was a reference I say to her trying to stop you taking drink and drugs and you resented her for doing that and (she) was the moral police, that sort of thing.'

Depp replied: '(Bettany) knew of our arguments and fighting. He knew details.

'I was resentful of the fact that Ms Heard was very aggressive and quite insulting about my use of alcohol or, if cocaine came into the picture, she did not like Mr Bettany and I'm afraid she didn't like me very much either and she was constantly harping on things that didn't exist.'

'She didn't like you when you were constantly high on drugs and alcohol did she?' Ms Wass said.

'She didn't like me using alcohol and drugs because she had some delusional idea that they turned me into... this said monster,' came the reply.

In a draft email written by Heard and addressed to Depp but never sent, she allegedly lamented the failing relationship and said: 'I just don't think I can do this anymore. Half of you I love madly. The other half scares me.

'The problem is I never really know which one I'm dealing with until it's too late. The drinking assures me I'm dealing with the abused, scared, insecure, violent little boy...

'I just can't tell where the line starts. Also drugs seem to guarantee that I will have to deal with the monster again. Sometimes the hangover the morning after is just as bad as the full on disco bloodbath I've come to expect.'

The Texan actor allegedly said in the unsent message that Depp's friends were 'embarrassed' about 'picking up a grown man from his own p*** and vomit.'

Johnny Depp swapped 'joke' texts with British actor Paul Bettany (pictured) about setting Amber Heard on fire and 'f***ing her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead' or drowning his 'witch' ex-wife, the court heard today

Depp 'held Heard's tiny Yorkshire terrier out of car window in a fit of rage'

The Sun's lawyer Sasha Wass QC referred to text messages between Depp and his friend Paul Bettany about 'the fact that Ms Heard was trying to wean you off drug taking'.

Depp said: 'She was quite adamant that I not drink anymore and she was quite adamant that I should stop any use of cocaine and recreational drugs.'

Ms Wass asked: 'How does that last statement square with your suggestion that she didn't support your sobriety?'

Depp replied that if someone was helping 'an alcoholic or somebody who is believed to be addicted to drugs... would then themselves stop drinking in front of that person and stop doing drugs around that person'.

He added: 'I would say that is full support.'

Ms Wass said Ms Heard would have two or three glasses of wine, prompting Depp to say: 'Two or three bottles.'

The barrister replied 'that is complete nonsense' and referred to an incident where Depp was travelling in a car with Heard, her sister Whitney, her pet Yorkshire terrier, Pistol, a driver, and the actor's assistant Nathan Holmes.

She said: 'When you were in the car, you were smoking and you opened the window and you were angry and you were aggressive, rather like you were in that clip we saw yesterday - the monster side of your character.'

Depp replied: 'No ma'am, I was not in that mode at all.'

Ms Wass said: 'And you took hold of Pistol and you held her out of the window and started making howling noises.' The actor responded: 'I can say it is a very endearing image, but it is absolute utter falsity, it is fraudulent.'

The barrister then suggested Depp thought this was funny, to which he responded: 'No ma'am, I don't think hanging an animal, a small defenceless dog that weighs three pounds out of a window is fun.'

Ms Wass then asked if Depp had laughed at a suggestion of the dog being put in a microwave, to which he replied that was a 'running joke' between himself, Heard and others.

The Hollywood legend added: 'I wouldn't say that I was the inventor of that particular joke and also I wasn't the only one who brought anything like that up.'

Ms Wass also asked Depp about an incident in which the dog 'had eaten some hash, some cannabis - quite a lot'.

The barrister suggested it was about an ounce of hash, but Depp said: 'I wouldn't say it was an ounce.' He added: 'The puppy got a hold of a little ball of hashish and just scooped it up before I could get to it.'

Who will be called to give evidence? Johnny Depp's exes Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis will make statements at High Court Vanessa Paradis is one of Depp's former partners. She insists he was never abusive towards her Vanessa Paradis Vanessa Paradis is a French singer, actress and model who shot to fame aged just 14 with the song Joe Le Taxi. She has been a spokesmodel for Chanel for many years and appeared in a number of films, alongside continuing her singing career. Ms Paradis, 47, was in a relationship with Depp for around 14 years from around 1998. The couple's daughter, Lily-Rose, is also now pursuing a career as an actress. Ms Paradis is due to give evidence at the trial. Winona Ryder is also due to give evidence at the High Court trial Winona Ryder Winona Ryder is also due to give evidence at the High Court trial as part of his case against News Group Newspapers (NGN). Ms Ryder was in a relationship with Depp during the early 1990s, and the pair appeared together in Edward Scissorhands. Depp famously tattooed Winona Forever on his arm. After the couple split, he reportedly changed it to Wino Forever. Dan Wootton has been The Sun's Executive Editor since March 2018 Dan Wootton New Zealand-born Dan Wootton has been The Sun's Executive Editor since March 2018. The article at the heart of Johnny Depp's libel claim was written by Mr Wootton for his weekly column in the newspaper. Mr Wootton also presents the weekday Drivetime show on talkRadio and has his own podcast - The Dan Wootton Interview. A showbiz reporter for many years, before joining The Sun, Mr Wootton had stints at a number of newspapers and magazines, including the Daily Mail, where he also worked as a columnist, and the now defunct News Of The World, where he was Showbiz Editor. He was also showbiz presenter for ITV's Lorraine show for 10 years. Advertisement

Depp 'went berserk after a woman fondled Heard during MDMA trip'

Depp went berserk and trashed his trailer with Heard inside after a woman touched her sexually, the court heard.

The actor threatened a woman named Kelly-Sue after he suspected she was making sexual advances towards Heard at a party in Hicksville in 2013, it was said.

He said he took her arm and asked her to stop before telling her: 'Don't take MDMA if you can't handle it' but denied being physically aggressive.

Ms Wass said: 'You eventually said to her 'Do you know how much pressure it would take to break your wrist?''

'No,' came the reply. 'It was at nightfall... As the girls were congregating Kelly-Sue began to touch Ms Heard in ways that were beyond what one would accept as normal affection.

'They were quite sexual and they were quite aggressive and she was clearly very high. I remember (Heard) was just sort of looking at her smiling. I thought it was an uncomfortable situation.

'I removed Kelly-Sue's hand from Ms Heard's body and I told her not to do that. First of all that's my girl, second of all it's rude and invasive. She was quite glassy-eyed and she seemed pretty unsure of her surroundings... She seemed very stable on her feet.

'I remember saying to her if you're going to take this drug MDMA you should know if you're able to handle it or not. Don't take it if you can't handle it.'

Heard allegedly blasted Depp over the altercation when they arrived back at his trailer and made him feel like a 'bummer,' he said today.

Giving evidence, Depp said: 'The argument did start because of this incident with Kelly-Sue because when we arrived back to our trailer.

'Ms Heard began to yell and scream at me that I had ruined everyone's weekend and that once again I was the bummer and I had ruined everyone's good time. So I was demeaned for being concerned.

'I did get very, I was very upset at being treated yet again as the, pardon the expression, turd in the punch bowl.

'That was undeserved. I didn't feel I deserved to be screamed at and treated like garbage for doing something I felt was right and correct so during the height of the argument I punched the glass art deco light above the bathroom mirror.'

The court heard the wrecked trailer had been booked by a wedding party the following day and staff told Depp he 'couldn't just pay.'

Ms Wass said: 'Do you remember a wedding party was due to arrive in a couple of hours and the owners were saying you can't just pay for it, we have people coming in two hours?'

'They never said that to me but I spoke to the manager and brought him to the trailer and he saw the damage. He said okay. He replaced it, I apologized and he said 'no problem,'' came the reply.

Ms Wass said that when Depp and Heard returned to their trailer that night they had 'a big argument', which Mr Depp said was correct.

The barrister said the row was prompted by two things: 'The fact that you had consumed a lot of alcohol and drugs that night... and secondly that you were jealous'.

Depp said: 'When we arrived back at the trailer, Ms Heard began to yell and scream at me that I had ruined everyone's weekend and that, you know, once again I was the bummer and that I ruined everyone's good time, so I was demeaned for being concerned.'

Ms Wass suggested that the owners of the trailer park were 'very upset' the following morning because a wedding party was due to arrive in a few hours.

But Mr Depp said: 'I spoke to the manager, brought him to the trailer, showed him the damage and then he went to his office and returned with a replacement bulb.'

Ms Wass referred to Depp referring to Heard as a 'lesbian camp counsellor', which the actor said he had not said. But the barrister took Depp to text messages between him and Heard in which he used the phrase.

The actor replied: 'Yes, I used those words ... in a text. I used that in a text, but the words were never uttered.'

Ms Wass asked if he agreed that it was a 'highly offensive reference to her'.

Mr Depp replied: 'Yes, it is.' He added: 'That was a very ugly thing to do.'

Depp 'slapped Heard while trying to torch painting by her "lesbian lover"'

Depp was also accused of slapping Heard while trying to torch a painting by her ex-partner Tasya van Ree.

Heard claims that the 57-year-old actor hit her several times after an argument about the artwork, which was hanging in her bedroom, and tried to set it on fire.

The fight is said by The Sun to be the first instance of domestic abuse inflicted by Depp during their relationship.

Ms Wass asked if he remembered arriving at Heard's home in Los Angeles 'drunk and having consumed a cocktail of cocaine and cannabis'. Depp replied: 'Not off hand, no.'

The barrister asked: 'Would you describe yourself as jealous?', to which Depp replied: 'I am, yes. I can be jealous.'

She said: 'You were very jealous and accusatory of Ms Heard, suggesting that she was having, or continuing, her affair with Tasya van Ree - it became an obsession of yours that night.'

Depp said: 'I remember we had several arguments about Ms van Ree, I won't elaborate, I will let you...'

The Sun's lawyer then read out part of Depp's witness statement in which he said he had asked Heard to remove the painting 'as a courtesy' to him.

Ms Wass asked: 'When you asked her to remove the painting, according to your recollection, what did she say?'

'Ultimately, no', the actor replied. He then denied allegations put to him by Ms Wass that he tried to remove the painting and to set fire to it, saying each time they were 'not true'.

Barrister Sasha Wass QC asked Depp about a tattoo he had done on his arm during his relationship with actress Winona Ryder, which read 'Winona Forever' and which he had changed to 'Wino Forever' after they split

Depp 'attacked Heard after she laughed at his infamous "Wino Forever" tattoo'

The 57-year-old actor was cross examined on the stand by Ms Wass who alleged that he slapped Heard in 2013 after she laughed at the tattoo during a period where he was drinking heavily.

Depp originally got the tattoo reading 'Winona Forever' in tribute to his then girlfriend Winona Ryder, and changed it after they broke up in 1993.

Today, Depp was asked by Ms Wass QC if he had taken cocaine at the time of the alleged slapping in March 2013. Depp said it was 'difficult to recollect' but it was 'possible'.

Ms Wass put it to Depp that the actor first hit Heard in early 2013 - one of 14 separate allegations of domestic violence, all denied by Depp, relied on by The Sun in their defence.

The barrister asked Depp about a tattoo he had done on his arm during his relationship with actress Winona Ryder, which read 'Winona Forever' and which he had changed to 'Wino Forever' after they split.

Ms Wass asked if he thought it was a joke at the time, to which he replied: 'Yes, it seemed fitting.'

She then probed the actor further about the alleged incident in March 2013, which Depp agreed was at a time when he had 'fallen off the wagon' following about 160 days of sobriety.

The barrister put it to Depp that he had slapped Heard three times after she laughed at the 'Wino Forever' tattoo during a period where he was drinking heavily.

Ms Wass said: 'You have had a tattoo on one of your arms when you were having a relationship with Winona Ryder and after you separated from Winona Ryder and after you separated from Ms Ryder you took the last syllable of her name and it read 'Wino Forever'. That presumably was a joke at the time.'

She asked: 'You don't really like to have your nose rubbed in it that you've failed do you?'

Depp said: 'I suppose the image of having my nose rubbed in something is I would say not a very nice way of dealing with someone who, especially if you think someone has a drink problem, rubbing their nose in it is in my opinion the wrong way to go. That's what people have done to dogs for years.'

Ms Wass continued: 'It was when Ms Heard laughed at the tattoo that read Wino Forever because at that stage you were in fact acting like a Wino, like an alcoholic, and you were acting very sensitive about it. Do you agree?'

'I would say I was initially very disappointed in myself that after 160 days having broken my sobriety,' Depp replied.

She said: 'Do you accept that Ms Heard was making a joke out of your tattoo, 'Wino Forever'?'

Depp replied: 'I don't recall any conversation.'

Ms Wass continued: 'I suggest that that provoked disappointment, firstly, in you, and then anger in you, but you don't remember.' Depp replied: 'I don't recall any argument about any of my tattoos.'

Ms Wass said: 'You then, Mr Depp, slapped Ms Heard across the face.'

The actor responded: 'That is not correct, it's untrue. It didn't happen.'

Ms Wass said: 'You slapped her more than once, because after you slapped her the first time, she didn't react, she just eyeballed you, she just stared at you, and that made you more angry and you slapped her again.'

Depp, who is suing The Sun after it labelled him a 'wife beater', originally got the tattoo reading 'Winona Forever' in tribute to his then girlfriend Winona Ryder (pictured together), and changed it after they broke up in 1993

Depp answered: 'That is patently untrue.'

Ms Wass then put it to the actor that he slapped his former wife three times in total during the incident, to which he replied: 'I'm sorry but that is not true, you are mistaken.'

The barrister said Depp told Heard 'for the first time about the person you have been calling 'the monster', your alter ego, the person who took over when you were under the influence of drink and drugs'.

Depp replied: 'No, ma'am.'

Ms Wass also told the court that Heard had told Depp 'that she knew all about addiction because her father and, indeed, also her mother had also been drug users'.

Depp said that was true and that he became 'very close' with Heard's father and mother. But the actor denied that Heard had said 'she could help him' with his drug use.

The actor was read extracts from an exchange of text messages between him and Heard on March 12, 2013, in which he wrote: 'Just thought you should know, there exists a book entitled Disco Bloodbath. That is all.'

The court heard Heard replied: 'We need that book... is it about last Friday night by any chance?' Depp then said: 'How can you make me smile about such a hideous moment?'

The message ended: 'I f****** love you, you c***.'

In a written statement about the incident, Depp said: 'I understand from my solicitors that the defendants also allege that on 8 March 2013, Ms Heard and I were in her home in Los Angeles.

'They state that I was getting drunk and high on drugs and was angry that Ms Heard had hung up a painting given to her by someone she had formerly dated.

'Allegedly my team and Ms Heard asked her sister to come over to try to intervene with me, which she did.

'After Ms Heard's sister left, they state that I hit Ms Heard so hard that blood from her lip ended on the wall.

'They state that I subsequently sent Ms Heard a text message referring to that evening as a 'disco bloodbath' and a 'hideous moment' and that the morning after this incident I tried to set fire to the painting.

'I cannot remember if I was with Ms Heard at her home on March 8, 2013.

'I know that at some point around this time I did ask Ms Heard to remove a painting that she had received from her former wife from the bedroom, as a courtesy to me.

'I do not recall the exact date I asked Ms Heard to do this. I do not remember Ms Heard's sister being asked to come over either by Ms Heard or by any member of my team when this happened.

'I certainly did not hit Ms Heard at all, then or ever, and her accusation that I hit her so hard that blood from her lip ended up on the wall is precisely the kind of picturesque but absurd lie she often tells.

'Insofar as I exchanged texts with Ms Heard on March 12th, 2013 (and I do not remember whether I did or not), my intention in apologising would have been, as always, to placate Ms Heard.

'The words 'disco blood bath' and a 'hideous moment' would not have referred to any physical abuse. I also did not try to set fire to the painting in question at any point in time.'

Heard wrote Depp an unsent email where she compared living with him to living with 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'

Ms Wass also read aloud an email written by Heard to Depp, which was never sent to him, in which she said the actor lived 'in a world full of enablers'.

The email began: 'I just don't know if I can do this anymore. It is like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Half of you I love madly, and the other half scares me. I can't take him. I wish I could, but I can't. The problem is, I never really know/understand which one I'm dealing with until it's too late.

'The drinking assures me that I am dealing with the monster. The abused, scared, insecure, violent little boy. I just can't tell where the line starts.'

The barrister said: 'Your answer to Ms Heard's allegation that you were a serial domestic abuser was that this is a hoax.'

Depp replied: 'Hoax is probably the best word one could use because the allegations, all of the allegations, are patently untrue.'

He added: 'From hearing you read out this (email), that was not sent to me, and from some of the information I have garnered from my experience yesterday and having studied the case, I will suggest, ma'am, that it appears to me that Ms Heard was building a dossier very early on that appears to be an insurance policy for later.'
Ghislaine Maxwell managed to go undetected by her own neighbors throughout her stay at her New Hampshire hideout, as residents say they can't recall ever seeing her in the neighborhood that has been described as the perfect hiding place for a 'fugitive'.

Maxwell, 58, had recently moved into a $1million estate in the tiny town of Bradford, before she was arrested and charged on a slew of sex trafficking offenses related to Jeffrey Epstein last Thursday, federal prosecutors said.

Authorities revealed they had been 'discreetly keeping tabs' on her for some time, but have not disclosed how they were able to track her down in the remote town of 1,700 people after she disappeared from the public eye last year.

It's a question that has been raised among members of the public, as well as town residents, many of whom did not know anyone was staying in the home called 'Tuckedaway', until learning about it on the news.

Maxwell was picked up by the FBI and NYPD detectives last Thursday morning at the property in Bradford, New Hampshire, she had bought in December 2019 using a limited liability company called Granite Reality LLC to shield her name

The British socialite, pictured with Epstein in 2005, disappeared from the public eye and had been holed up in New England since the disgraced financier's arrest last July

Several locals who spoke to the media in the wake of Maxwell's arrest have described the area as 'the middle of nowhere' and as a place where everyone keeps to themselves and stays out of 'other people's business.'

The remote neighborhood, particularly East Washington Road, where Maxwell's home is located behind a metal gate, has little cellphone reception and is a 25-minute drive from the nearest supermarket.

Neighbor Lisa Morris, who lives across the street from the property, told The Boston Globe she hadn't seen anyone at the house other than a gray-haired 'skinny' man whose car got stuck on the snow-covered driveway late last year.

'I have spent 21 years here and I know about nobody,' Morris said.

Maxwell is reported to have purchased the four-bed, four-bathroom, 4,500 sq ft house in December when she bought the property for $1.07million in cash, using a limited liability company called Granite Reality.

Realtors called it 'a stunning custom designed Tudor Frame home' saying it was 'an amazing retreat for the nature lover who also wants total privacy.'

The remote town, particularly East Washington Road (pictured), where Maxwell's home is located, is completely isolated from neighbors and local businesses

Residents described the area as the 'middle of nowhere' and the perfect hiding spot for a fugitive

Maxwell was arrested at the luxurious mountain top home  dubbed Tuckedaway  outside tiny Bradford, New Hampshire

'If you were a fugitive, even if you didn't have any cash, this would be the place to come,' another local, Larry Sliger told the Globe.

'As long as you hid when the people came to plow, nobody would even know you were there.'

News of Maxwell's arrest sent shockwaves across the community, sparking questions as to whether anyone may have unknowingly come across Jeffrey Epstein's alleged 'madam' at the local supermarket or other businesses in the area.

'I could have seen her at the Market Basket and I wouldn't have known,' resident Vic Morris said.

Morris said he never saw 'anything weird' at the house and only recalled occasionally seeing cars come and go.

The Globe points out New Hampshire's reputation for being a hideout destination in television series, including Breaking Bad, where the main character Walter White goes into hiding in a remote New Hampshire cabin while on the run.

In the Sopranos, Vito Spatafore goes into hiding at a bed-and-breakfast in the fictional town of Dartford.

Local business owner Jessica Michie said it was likely others could be hiding out in the area where it's easy to stay under the radar.

'How many other people are here?' she said. 'I bet you there's a lot of people up here.'

New Hampshire has been depicted as a hideout destination for fugitives in television series like Breaking Bad, where main character Walter White goes into hiding in a remote cabin (pictured) while on the run

The four-bed, four-bath home is set on nearly 4,500 sq. ft. of land, as seen in this aerial view

Last week, a neighbor told DailyMail.com he saw two small planes buzzing the area around 6am Thursday but he had left for work before the FBI arrived.

A man with a British accent came from a second building and asked DailyMail.com to leave, claiming we were trespassing. He described himself as the estate manager.

Realtors called it 'a stunning custom designed Tudor Frame home' saying it was 'an amazing retreat for the nature lover who also wants total privacy.

'From every room there are views or the Sunapee foothills to the west,' the realtor gushed.

'From the covered front porch to ceiling fieldstone fireplace, cathedral ceiling, and a spectacular chandelier, a wall of glass frames a stunning southwestern view beyond the stone patio.'

The house also includes 'a cozy den, large dining area, wonderful laundry room and mudroom, partially finished basement, guest room suite and loft office guest room.'

Federal prosecutors said that Maxwell had been hiding in New England since last July, when Epstein was arrested.

She changed her phone number to one registered under 'G Max,' changed her email address, moved at least twice and when she ordered delivery packages had them delivered to a different name, which they did not specify.

In a court document arguing that she should be refused bail, prosecutors said that she had at least 15 bank accounts which she owned or was associated with in the last four years.

In the wake of her arrest, residents have questioned whether they may have unknowingly crossed paths with Maxwell at the local supermarket, Market Basket (pictured)

The sleepy town of just 1,700 people has been described as an area where most people keep to themselves and 'mind their own business'

At times their maximum total balance had been as high as $20million, they said, and said that her finances were 'opaque and indeterminate.'

It said that she had declared a foreign bank account in 2019 with a balance of more than $1million, and that she has French and British passports as well as an American one, having become a U.S. citizen in 2002.

The document also revealed that between 2007 and 2011  which includes the time he was behind bars - Epstein transferred more than $20million into Maxwell's accounts, which were then returned to his accounts, suggesting some sort of scheme to keep the money undisclosed to authorities.

Public records reveal that Granite Reality LLC was set up on November 18 last year and registered to a waterfront office block in Boston.

Its purpose was 'acquiring, holding for investment, maintaining, preserving, improving, operating, selling, leasing, disposing of and otherwise investing in real and personal property.'

The entity's sole piece of business to date was the purchase of the luxurious Bradford property on December 13.

Authorities revealed they had been 'discreetly keeping tabs' on her for some time but have not revealed how they were able to locate Maxwell months after she disappeared from the public eye

Maxwell is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, (MDC) in Brooklyn, and is due to make her first appearance in a New York court on sex trafficking charges related to Jeffrey Epstein this week

The only individual listed in public documents as having any involvement in Granite Reality is Jeffrey Roberts, an attorney whose firm, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, is based in the same Boston building.

According to the company's website, Roberts specializes in 'estate planning for high net worth individuals; acting as counsel to executors, trustees and conservators; advising on tax planning and charitable giving; and negotiating prenuptial agreements.'

Special Agent William Sweeney said at a press conference Thursday that the FBI swooped in the morning after 'discreetly keeping tabs' on Maxwell for some time and that she recently moved to the property.

A grand jury recently returned a sealed, six-count indictment against her which accuses her of enticing underage girls to travel for sex, actually having sex with them and Epstein and later lying about it under oath in depositions when she was being sued by Virginia Giuffre Roberts, one of Epstein's accusers who says she had sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17.

The charges relate to incidents that happened between 1994 and 1997 and involve three unnamed victims, the youngest of whom was 14. The alleged abuse happened at Epstein's homes in New York, Florida and New Mexico and at Maxwell's home in London.

The charges against Maxwell are: conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, Enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury.

If convicted, she could face life in prison on the most serious charge - transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity - which carries a minimum 10 year sentence.
Seven people who were arrested during riots in Portland made their first court appearance on Monday on a slew of charges.

Police arrested the seven for events that took place between July 2 and the early hours of July 6 for trapping officers inside a courthouse, destroying surveillance cameras, and using a high intensity laser to assault cops.

Four of the arrested - Rowan Olsen, 19; Andrew Steven Faulkner, 24; Christopher Fellini, 31; and Cody Porter, 28 - were all from the Portland.

The others were Shant Singh Ahuja, 28, from Oceanside, California; Gretchen Margaret Blank, 29, from Seattle; and Taimaine Jame Teo, 24, from Eugene, Oregon.

All seven defendants made their first appearances in federal court on Monday and were released pending trial.

Seven people who were arrested during riots in Portland made their first court appearance and were hit with federal charges. Three of them above (left to right): Rowan Olsen, 19; Gretchen Margaret Blank, 29; and Andrew Steven Faulkner, 24

From top left to bottom right: Cody Porter, 28; Taimaine Jame Teo, 24; Christopher Fellini, 31, and Shant Singh Ahuja, 28

Over Fourth of July weekend cops declared that protests in downtown Portland escalated into riots two times as people smashed business windows and started a bonfire in the middle of the street. Cops made more than 12 arrests in the chaos.

Olsen gave cops a false name under Kiefer Alan Moore and a false date of birthday claiming he was 24 when he was arrested. Hes been charged with disorderly conduct, creating a hazard on federal property, and failing to obey a lawful order.

A sworn affidavit included in court filings says that during an interview after his arrest, Olsen said he was not near the courthouse door and said a Federal Protective Service officer smashed the glass with a fist.

On July 2 to 3 Olsen allegedly used his body to push and hold a glass door at the Hatfield Courthouse closed, blocking officers from exiting the building and causing the door to shatter.

When the door was broken a mortar firework entered the courthouse and explanation near the officers.

Ahuja is accused of destroying a closed-circuit video camera mounted on the exterior of the Hatfield Courthouse on July 4.

Blank alleged assaulted a federal officer with a shield while the officer was trying to arrest another protester on July 5.

The court released this photo showing how the glass door to the Hatfield Federal Courthouse was shattered because Rowan Olsen was blocking the door

This is the moment a pyrotechnic mortar exploded in courthouse lobby after itsglass door was broken by Olsen late July 2 into early July 3

Pepper spray, a light, knife, and laser were found in Fellini's possession. From July 5 to 6 Faulkner, Fellini, Porter and Teo allegedly assaulted federal officers with high intensity lasers

The back of a shield used by Blank to assault a federal officer as they were trying to arrest another protester on July 5 pictured above

From July 5 to 6 Faulkner, Fellini, Porter and Teo allegedly assaulted federal officers with high intensity lasers. When he was arrested Faulker had a sheathed machete.

These cases are being investigated jointly by the US Marshals Service, FBI, US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Federal Protective Service, US Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Protests have unfolded across the country denouncing police brutality and systemic racism in the US following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.

A riot was declared twice in less than 24 hours in Portland, Oregon amid escalating Fourth of July protests near the Justice Center and federal court house. A protester wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt above raising her hands as fireworks go off in the background

Portland's police department declared a state of emergency in the early hours of Saturday morning and again later Saturday into early Sunday after protesters threw fireworks and projectiles in the federal court house and threw mortars and M80 fireworks at police officers

Protesters in Portland have demonstrated for 40 consecutive nights following Floyd's death and some of those protests escalated into riots and the destruction of federal buildings.

Over the Fourth of July weekend U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers protecting the courthouse were hit with aerial fireworks including mortars, thrown rocks, bottles, and balloons filled with paint from demonstrators.

'This is the second time in a day a riot was declared in downtown Portland due to the activities of many that put others' lives at risk; this is unacceptable,' Portland police Chief Chuck Lovell said on the July Fourth chaos.

'Our officers are tired, but they are resilient. They will continue to be available every night to protect our community members as they swore an oath to do.'
Protesters have threatened to disrupt peak hour traffic twice a day for six months if asylum seekers are moved from a hotel to Christmas Island.

So far 400 people have signed a 'pledge to resist', vowing to cause commuter chaos in Brisbane to protest the transfer of 120 male asylum seekers who have been living in the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel in the city's south for the past year.

Protests have been held outside the hotel since April.

The organisers said this time the protests will be more consistent and will occur up to twice a day for six months to ensure the refugees are not moved.

Protestors hold up signs outside the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel in Brisbane on June 28

Protesters gather to support asylum seekers detained at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel in Brisbane, Australia, June 28, 2020

Protestors call for asylum seekers to remain in Australia and not be transferred to Christmas Island

'We wouldn't have to protest like this at all if the government just released these men into the community. These people have suffered enough already,' protest spokeswoman Dane de Leon told The Courier Mail.

The pledge has been signed by 400 people including greens Councillor Jonathan Sri, who was arrested at the another protest.

'If it was safe for them to return home, the government would have deported them years ago, so the crucial question now is whether we want to grant them asylum and release them, or keep them locked up forever,' he said.

Those who signed the pledge agree to: 'safely risk arrest to cause as much traffic disruption as possible if the government transfers detainees to higher-security facilities instead of releasing them into the community.'

Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri talks to protesters who have gathered to support asylum seekers detained at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel in Brisbane, Sunday, June 28

Police stand guard at the last protest outside the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel on June 28

Last month, police arrested 37 demonstrators after they staged a sit-in, refusing to move on after a two-hour protest permit expired.

All were issued with fines for refusing to comply with police orders. One person has been charged with assaulting police.

Protesters are demanding community release for the men, brought to Australia from offshore detention, most under orders they receive specialist medical care.

Cr Sri 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 at the time.

A group of protesters blocked traffic outside the Kangaroo Point Hotel in support of the asylum seekers detained

'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.'

Ms De Leon said people were arrested after asking to pass hot food to the men inside.

'We were sitting on this road, right there singing songs, listening to poetry and we were sharing a meal and we thought it would be nice if our friends inside could share a meal with us,' she told the Seven network.

'It wasn't long after that until police started moving everyone off the road and dragging people away.'

She said about 600 protesters were there and it would have been impossible for them to fit on the footpath so they chose a quiet side street to sit down.

'We thought this was just a little bit over the top - over curry.'
The Republican governor of New Hampshire said he won't attend President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Portsmouth on Saturday because of the combination of crowds and danger of exposure to the coronavirus.

But Gov. Chris Sununu said he would greet the president upon his arrival in the state.

'As the governor, I am always going to be there to greet the president and I will be there to do that,' he said during a press briefing on Tuesday.

But, he noted: 'I will not be in the crowd of thousands of people.'

'As the governor, I try to be extra cautious for myself and the family,' he added. He and his wife Valerie have three children.

Republican Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire won't attend President Trump's campaign rally on Saturday because of the coronavirus

Vice President Mike Pence wore a mask at the Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Wednesday and both he and Dr. Deborah Birx encouraged people to wear masks

More Republicans are splitting with President Donald Trump on coronavirus safety measures

New Hampshire has not seen the same spike in coronavirus infections that have plagued states like Florida, Texas and Arizona. Sununu credited the state's tough policy to combat the pandemic.

The Trump campaign will give out hand sanitizer and face masks at the rally, the second one for the president since the pandemic shut down normal life. And, in a marked changed from the president's rally in Tulsa last month, attendees will be encouraged to wear the masks. Many people at the Tulsa rally forewent wearing them.

'There will be ample access to hand sanitizer and all attendees will be provided a face mask that they are strongly encouraged to wear,' the president's campaign said in the rally announcement.

Eight advance staffers at the Tulsa rally tested positive for the coronavirus and most of the campaign staff self-isolated after the event.

Additionally, Trump won't have to obey the 14-day self-quarantine New Hampshire asks for all visitors to its state when he arrives on Saturday.

'If you are just coming in for an event or going shopping here, then the 14-day quarantine doesn't apply,' Sununu said.

His office also noted Sununu will wear a mask when he greets President Trump upon his arrival at the Portsmouth airport - a notable statement that comes as more and more Republicans split with Trump when it comes to coronavirus safety.

Vice President Mike Pence has been seen wearing a mask at public events - although usually ones outside the White House. He wore one at the start of the Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Wednesday, which took place at the Department of Education.

'Wear a mask where you can't engage in social distancing,' Pence said.

'Masks can be a fashion statement,' Dr. Deborah Birx noted during the briefing.

In Texas, which has seen a spike in coronavirus cases, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, a close Trump ally, issued a statewide mandate for people to wear face masks.

The announcement came after he pulled back on the reopening process - shutting bars, limiting restaurants to 50 per cent capacity, and halting elective surgeries in coronavirus hot-spots.

Abbott noted that 'Covid-19 is not going away. In fact, it's getting worse.'

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, a close Trump ally, issued a statewide mandate for people to wear face masks

Texas has seen a spike in coronavirus cases and is pulling back on its reopening measures

Throughout the pandemic, Trump has resisted wearing a face mask, despite CDC recommendations. He was captured wearing one during a Ford factory tour in Michigan in May but that image was taken back stage. Trump had removed the covering when he went out to face the media.

He told Fox Business last week he'd put one back on 'in a tight situation.'

'I'd have no problem,' he said.

'Actually, I had a mask on, I sort of liked the way I looked, I thought it was OK. It was a dark, black mask and I thought it looked OK. It looked like the "Lone Ranger,"' Trump said.

Many congressional Republicans, including top party leaders, are encouraging people to wear a mask.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy posted a photo of himself on Instagram for July Fourth wearing a face mask with a flag motif as he joined public health officials in encouraging Americans to don the coverings.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has been advocating face masks for weeks and regularly wears one in the halls of the Capitol.

'It ain't confusing,' McConnell said during a stop in his home state of Kentucky on Monday. 'The single most important thing that each of us can do, not just to protect ourselves, but our friends and colleagues  the single most important thing we can do is wear a mask.'

He also scolded those who weren't doing so and who were making a mass return to life as normal as coronavirus cases spiked throughout the country.

'Clearly a lot of people thought when we started opening up the economy again, 'Let the good times roll,' McConnell said. 'And we've seen the spiking of cases.'

Fears of the coronavirus are keeping some lawmakers away from the Republican National Convention in Jacksonville, Fla., this August.

Senior Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, 86, announced on Monday he would not attend out of concerns for the coronavirus.

'I'm not going to go. And I'm not going to go because of the virus situation,' he said, according to the Des Moines Register.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has been advocating face masks for weeks and regularly wears one in the halls of the Capito

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy posted a photo of himself on Instagram for July Fourth wearing a face mask with a flag motif as he joined public health officials in encouraging Americans to wear a mask

President Donald Trump has resisted wearing a face mask in public although he was caught wearing one backstage during a Ford factory tour in Michigan in May

It is the first time he has missed the convention since he was elected to the Senate 40 years ago in 1980.

Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, 80, also said he wouldn't be going. His office said on Tuesday he 'believes the delegate spots should be reserved for those who have not had that privilege before as he has had.'

Alexander is retiring from the Senate when his term is up this year. In May, he self quarantined after a staffer tested positive for COVID-19.
A man has been taken into custody for allegedly stabbing to death his 96-year-old relative with a pitchfork in Chicago during a domestic incident on Tuesday.

According to the Chicago Police Department, a 41-year-old man attacked Myrtis Jackson and another woman outside their home in the 7700 block of South Laflin Street at around 11.30am.

The suspect, who has not been named, allegedly used a pitchfork to stab both women multiple times, killing Jackson.

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Myrtis Jackson, 96 (right), was stabbed to death with a pitchfork outside her Chigago home during a domestic incident involving a male relative (not pictured)

Police were called to the 7700 block of South Laflin Street in Chicago on Tuesday morning to find Jackson and another female relative suffering from stab wounds

The surviving victim, 73, was rushed to University of Chicago Medical Center to be treated for serious injuries.

The accused assailant was taken to St Bernard Hospital for minor injuries and cuts sustained during the attack.

A police spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that the agency is not yet releasing the name of the 41-year-old suspect because charges against him are still pending.

Jackson (pictured left in her youth) was pronounced dead at a hospital. The 41-year-old accused attacked was described as a relative with a history of mental health issues

A vigil was held on Tuesday evening outside Jackson's home to pay tribute to her

Family and friends are pictured during Tuesday's vigil honoring the slain grandmother

Sources say the suspect has a history of mental illness.

Meanwhile, family and friends held a prayer vigil for Jackson outside her home where she was struck down, reported CBS Chicago.
Most New York City students will return to school two or three days a week in the fall and learn online the rest of the time, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.

Under the plan parents can opt out of sending their children at any time, he said. 'Most schools will not be able to have all their kids in school at the same time,' de Blasio said.

New York Citys school buildings were closed in March when nonessential businesses were shuttered to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

De Blasio said parents will have the option of online-only instruction for their children, but he said 75 per cent of parents who answered a survey want their children in school in September.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has clashed with de Blasio repeatedly over control of the city's schools and other issues.

He said all school districts statewide must submit plans for reopening by July 31 and state officials will decide in the first week of August whether to accept the plans and whether schools will reopen at all.

Many questions were left unanswered, including what working parents will do on the days when their children are learning at home.

Most New York City students will return to school two or three days a week in the fall and learn online the rest of the time, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday

Students at Stuyvesant High School leave after classes in New York in March. Most New York City students will return to their physical schools two or three days a week and learn online the rest of the time under a plan announced Wednesday

'They can submit a plan, the plan will be reviewed and then we will accept or deny the specific plan or ask for alterations on the specific plan and then make a global decision as to whether or not any school district will reopen and that will be the first week of August,' said Cuomo.

He held a press conference in New York City shortly after de Blasios briefing.

De Blasio said the city would work closely 'every step of the way with the state of New York.'

'When you think about social distancing, you need more space,' de Blasio said. 'You're going to have fewer kids in a classroom, fewer kids in the school building.'

De Blasio said online-only instruction 'has been really fantastic for certain students,' but many others lacked internet access or devices to connect to their online classes.

Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said new protocols for September will include face coverings for students and staff, and nightly deep cleaning of schools.

The citys public school system, with 1.1 million people, is by far the nations largest.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said all school districts statewide must submit plans for reopening by July 31 and state officials will decide in the first week of August whether to accept the plans and whether schools will reopen at all

Under one model outlined by de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza, one group of students at a school would be in their classrooms on Tuesdays and Thursdays, a second group would be in class Wednesdays and Fridays and the two groups would alternate Mondays.

'This is very new and different and I know its no ones first choice, but we need to do it to maintain the health and safety of our school communities,' Carranza said.

He said protocols for reopening in September will include face coverings for students and staff and nightly deep cleaning of schools.

De Blasio said the question of how working parents will cope with the blended learning plan is 'something were going to be building as we go along.'

'Some parents are going to be able to make it work under current conditions. Some are going to need extra help, and were going to work over the coming weeks to find other ways to help them,' he said.

New York Citys school buildings were closed in March when nonessential businesses were shuttered to halt the spread of the coronavirus

The announcement of a reopening plan came the day after President Donald Trump said he would pressure state and local officials nationwide to open schools.

New York, once the epicenter of the coronavirus in the United States, has been reopening in stages as officials seek to keep the rate of new infections low.

Cuomo announced that malls can start to open in certain parts of the state on Friday as long as they have the right air filtration systems. 'There are air filtration systems that can take COVID out of the air,' he said.

The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 peaked at more than 18,000 statewide in mid-April and has plunged since then, but hospitalizations ticked up over the last two days, from around 815 Sunday to more than 840 Tuesday.

Cuomo said 11 coronavirus deaths were reported in the state Tuesday.

'You get a little uptick, a little down, but theyre basically all in good shape,' Cuomo said of the metrics.

Cuomo said all county fairs will be canceled this summer. Earlier this week, he announced the cancellation of the annual state fair in Syracuse.
Brooks Brothers, the 200-year-old New York tailor that boasted of dressing 40 US presidents, has filed for bankruptcy as suit sales are killed off by dress-down Fridays and homeworking amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The iconic menswear brand has become the latest casualty of the global health crisis - as the shift to working from home has led to a fall in demand for smart clothing while stay-at-home orders and dwindling consumer confidence have ravaged retail industry sales on a whole.

Despite its famous past, with President Abraham Lincoln wearing a Brooks Brothers suit when he was assassinated in 1865 and the suitmaker being a firm favorite for JFK, the heritage brand is now struggling to pull in the fans.

The retailer, which has more than 500 stores worldwide and employs 4,025 people, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy early Wednesday in a Delaware court as it seeks a buyer to save the ailing business.

'During this strategic review, Covid-19 became immensely disruptive and took a toll on our business,' the company said in a statement.

'The purpose of this filing is to obtain additional financing and facilitate a sale process in an efficient manner to maximize value for our stakeholders and ensure that our iconic brand is positioned to continue under new ownership.'

Brooks Brothers, the 200-year-old New York tailor that boasted of dressing 40 US presidents, has filed for bankruptcy after the coronavirus pandemic hammered its sales

According to the filing, the brand has secured $75 million in financing to continue operating while it waits for a buyer.

'Over the past year, Brooks Brothers' board, leadership team, and financial and legal advisors have been evaluating various strategic options to position the company for future success, including a potential sale of the business,' a spokesperson for the retailer said Wednesday.

'We are in the process of identifying the right owner, or owners, to lead our iconic Brooks Brothers brand into the future.

'It is critical that any potential buyer aligns with our core values, culture, and ambitions. Further details on the sale process will be made available in the coming days.'

This comes as executives embarked on a strategy back in April to start shrinking its 250-strong North American store count by 20 percent.

A total of 51 stores have already been selected to close and many of these closures have begun, with inventory moved from the sites into distribution centers.

Then in June, the company revealed plans to lay off almost 700 workers across three states.

The iconic menswear brand has become the latest casualty of the global health crisis - as the shift to homeworking has led to a fall in demand for suits while stay-at-home orders and dwindling consumer confidence has ravaged retail industry sales on a whole. Pictured some classic Brooks Brothers suits

Despite its famous past, with President Abraham Lincoln wearing a Brooks Brothers suit when he was assassinated in 1865 (artist's drawing on left) and the suitmaker being a firm favorite for JFK (pictured wearing the brand on right), the heritage brand is now struggling to pull in the fans

Jennifer Aniston appeared on the cover of GQ magazine wearing nothing but a red, white and blue Brooks Brothers tie

MG star Clark Cable regularly wore Brooks Brothers' suits (pictured in one above)

Brooks Brothers has survived two world wars and the Great Depression but the pandemic has pushed it to the brink as a suit has fallen to the very bottom of shopping lists.

Smart office wear has fallen out of favor as offices shuttered and white-collar workers started working remotely and swapping suits for tracksuits - a trend that many feel will last into the future.

This has sent sales of smart clothing tumbling, with year-over-year sales of men's formal clothing plunging by a staggering 74 percent between April and June, according to GlobalData Retail.

However, even before the pandemic took its toll on the business, retail experts said Brooks Brothers has struggled to adapt to changing customer demands and grapple with its huge store portfolio.

'Although the pandemic has severely eroded the outlook for the business, Brooks Brothers has long suffered from a failure to decisively adapt to changing trends,' Neil Saunders, the managing director of GlobalData Retail, told CNN Business.

'When it comes to tastes and style, Brooks Brothers has been swimming against the tide.'

Business wear has become more casual over the years, thanks to Silicon Valley techies popularising the trend to wear jeans and t-shirts to the workplace.

The company's failure to keep up with this trend has been exacerbated further by the shift to homeworking amid the pandemic.

Brooks Brothers has been a stalwart of the smart apparel industry ever since it opened its first store near Wall Street back in 1818, making it the country's oldest clothing retailer. A sketch of a New York store in 1897

Brooks Brothers boarded up in Long Island amid protests across America in June. The retailer, which has more than 500 stores worldwide and employs 4,025 people, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy early Wednesday in a Delaware court as it seeks a buyer to save the ailing business

The business changed hands to its current owner Claudio Del Vecchio in 2001 (left), who bought it from Marks and Spencer for $225 million

The company's commitment to US manufacturing has also come at a cost, with CEO and owner Claudio Del Vecchio admitting last month that its American factories 'never made money' leaving him with no choice but to shift some production to cheaper locations overseas.

'While this deterioration will ease over time, demand will remain suppressed for the rest of 2020 and well into 2021 as office working, business meetings, and socializing are all reduced,' Saunders told CNN Business.

'This leaves Brooks Brothers very exposed to a depressed market.'

Brooks Brothers has been a stalwart of the smart apparel industry ever since it opened its first store near Wall Street back in 1818, making it the country's oldest clothing retailer.

Its influence can be seen across the globe, from its invention of the original button-down polo shirt to it becoming synonymous as the unofficial wardrobe choice of Wall Street bankers.

The company has a storied history, dressing at least 40 American presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, who was wearing a Brooks Brothers coat when he was assassinated in 1865.

Brooks Brothers' two-button suits were a favorite of President John F. Kennedy.

But it's cultural influence has been broad.

Clark Cable wore Brooks Brothers and Jennifer Aniston appeared on the cover of GQ magazine wearing nothing but a red, white and blue Brooks Brothers tie.

The company continues to be one of the last major retailers to manufacture all of its products domestically on US soil - meaning Wednesday's filing marks a dark day for the retail industry.

Brooks Brothers is just the latest in a string of major retailers to go bust as a result of the pandemic.

J.Crew, Neiman Marcus, JCPenney have all filed for bankruptcy in recent months.
The girlfriend of a man who was killed in a Bronx drive-by while holding his daughter's hand believes he saved the girl's life.

Anthony Robinson, 28, was fatally shot in the chest in broad daylight on July 5, with CCTV revealing that he spoke to seven-year-old daughter Khloe at the last moment.

Stephanie Quinonez, who is not Khloe's mother but does have two children with Robinson, says she is certain those words saved the girl's life.

Stephanie Quinonez, the girlfriend of Anthony Robinson (pictured together) who was killed in a drive-by in the Bronx, says she is 'lost' without him

Speaking to the New York Daily News, she said: 'The way he looked down at her, he told her to run.

'He knew something bad was going to happen. He looked at her and told her what to do. I watched it a million times. He told her to run.'

Quinonez said she and Robinson had known each-other growing up and had dated on and off before settling down together in 2016.

Khloe was his daughter from a previous relationship, while Stephanie had her own daughter from another relationship, Maya, who was the same age.

The pair then had two children together, one-year-old son Artemus and three-week-old ALuna, who was born in Florida where Quinonez had moved a short time ago.

She said Robinson was supposed to have left New York already, and that the pair were planning to go to South Carolina to join his parents and start a new life.

But she says he wanted to spend time with Khloe, who was 'crazy' about him, and couldn't tear himself away.

Robinson never met his youngest daughter before he was killed.

Robinson was crossing the street holding seven-year-old daughter Khloe's hand when a car pulled up and a gunman leaned out of the window. He leaned over to talk to the girl at the last moment before being shot (pictured)

Quinonez, who has viewed the video several times, says she is convinced that Robinson knew something was about to happen and told the girl to 'run', saving her life (pictured, she runs away from the scene)

Quinonez also said Robinson was due to leave New York with her and go to South Carolina and start a new life, but couldn't bear to leave his daughter

'I have so many emotions. I dont know how to feel,' Quinonez added. 'Im just lost.'

Robinson, who police say had many prior arrests, was one of 48 people who were shot in New York on Sunday, nine fatally.

Officers are currently investigating whether his death is linked to the fatal shooting of Joel Baba and Eghosa Imafidon in a Bronx apartment just a few hours later.

It is thought the shooting, which also injured a third man, was carried out in retaliation for Robinson's death.

No arrests have been made and police have not named any suspects.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea has used the recent wave of violence to attack Mayor Bill de Blasio over recent police spending cuts.

De Blasio sought to defend his police reforms during a press conference on Monday afternoon where he blamed the surge in violence on the coronavirus pandemic.

Just three weeks ago Quinonez (right) gave birth to a daughter by Robinson (left), and said he never got to meet her before being killed

The mayor acknowledged that the city saw 'too much violence' between Friday and Sunday and said: 'We have a lot of work to do to address it.'

But he argued that 'there is not one cause for something like this', citing failures by the court system, economic uncertainty and the fact that residents are restless after months in coronavirus lockdown.

'This is directly related to coronavirus,' de Blasio said. 'This is a very serious situation. As we're getting into warmer and warmer weather, we're feeling the effects of people being cooped up for months, the economy hasn't restarted  we have a real problem here.'

De Blasio vowed to 'double down' against violence with a multi-pronged response that would include an emphasis on neighborhood policing.

He called for 'all hands on deck' with community leaders and elected officials as the city works to bounce back from being 'dealt a really tough hand'.

'It was the health care crisis in March and April, May we were coming out of it, the warmer months,' he said. 'People are cooped up, they don't have the normal things to engage their lives.

'But we're going to overcome it. It's going to be tough and take hard work. I know it feels very unsettling for people but we're going to fight it back.'
The LAPD is investigating whether hundreds of its officers staged a mass sick-out over the July 4 weekend as retribution for hefty budget cuts.

More than 300 cops were unable to work, with many suspecting the unusually high number was due to a 'blue flu' - a slang term for a deliberate strike held by law enforcement officers. The LAPD currently employs 10,000 officers and 3,000 administrative staff.

The investigation comes less than a week after the Los Angeles City Council voted to cut the LAPD's budget by $150 million. The move - which will affect overtime pay and reduce the number of employees to the lowest level in 12 years - has sparked widespread outrage among rank-and-file members of the department.

According to The Los Angeles Times, an unsigned letter penned by irate cops was circulating prior to the July 4 weekend, which appeared to encourage officers to participate in a sick-out.

'They succeeded in defunding the police; what do you think is next? Our pay? Our benefits? Our pensions? You're God Damn right all those things are in jeopardy now,' the letter states.

'We have to send the city a clear message that we are not expendable and we are not going to take this crap anymore.'

The LAPD is investigating whether hundreds of its officers staged a mass sick-out over the July 4 weekend as retribution for hefty budget cuts. LAPD cops are seen during Black Lives Matter demonstrations back in May

It is illegal under California state law for officers to go on strike because of the danger it poses to public safety.

The Times reports that 'an unusually high number of homicides and shootings' occurred throughout Los Angeles over the July 4 weekend.

The paper also quotes sources who say 'in certain anti-gang units, everyone or nearly everyone called in sick at once'.

However, LAPD Chief Michel Moore says the surging number of coronavirus cases in LA County could account for the large number of sick officers.

323 of the 13,000 LAPD employees have tested positive for COVID-19, with another 231 awaiting results. Another 160 officers are in quarantine.

'We want to find the facts out before we start making sweeping judgments,' Moore told the Times.

Last week, the Los Angeles City Council voted to cut the LAPD's budget by $150 million following larges scale protests calling for police departments to be defunded

Cop cars have been burnt and vandalized during anti-police protests that have taken place in the city across the past six weeks. Demonstrators across the country are calling for police departments to be reformed, defunded or abolished followed the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in Minnesota

Civil rights activist Najee Ali says officer absence has not gone unnoticed in poorer LA communities.

'It highlights the lack of character and integrity of those who are supposed to serve the community. They are the ones jeopardizing public safety,' he stated.

Anti-police sentiment has been growing across the country in the past six weeks, following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd.

Protesters have been calling for police departments to be defunded, with the situation in Los Angeles mirrored in other cities across the county.

New York City's police budget has been slashed by a billion dollars and the police department in Minneapolis has been abolished by its city council.

There were also reports in both the Big Apple and Atlanta that cops were planning a 'blue flu' sick-out on the July 4 weekend - however, those claims were not substantiated.

As anti-police protests continue, violent crime in major cities has exploded - with a particularly deadly July 4 weekend.

65 people were shot in New York, 87 were shot in Chicago and 31 were shot in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles activists were not satisfied with last week's $150 million cut to the LAPD budget - despite the fact it would shrink the number of officers to just 9,757 by next summer - a number unseen since 2008.

'It's a slap in the face. You need to defund the police, take way more money, put way more money into these programs,' Black Lives Matter activist Rebecca Kessler told The Los Angeles Times.
Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly warned that the future for New York City is 'very bleak' as he slammed Mayor Bill de Blasio for cuts to the police department and hit out at bail reform.

Kelly, 78, predicted that crime in the city could increase to levels not seen since the 1970s and 80s, claiming ominously that 'were going to go back in that direction'.

He also warned that the spiking crime and impact of the coronavirus could drive businesses and people from the city, voicing skepticism about whether New York will ever return to the place it was pre-pandemic.

The former commissioner, who served in the 90s under Mayors David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg, was speaking to Fox News Tuesday after a violent weekend in the Big Apple.

At least 41 people were injured and nine killed following a troubling spike of shootings across the holiday weekend. A spokesperson for the NYPD said the majority of the incidents occurred within a 15-hour time period.

Among those injured were two NYPD officers in the Bronx late Saturday after a bullet was fired through the windshield of their marked SUV.

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Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly warned that the future for New York City is 'very bleak' while speaking to Fox New's Sean Hannity Tuesday about recent crime in the Big Apple

Ex-NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly blamed the recent violent chaos on Mayor Bill de Blasio's (pictured) decision to slash $1 billion from the NYPD budget last week

Members of the NYPD investigate after two cops were injured in the Bronx Saturday when a bullet smashed through the windshield of their SUV in a violent July 4 weekend in the city

Shootings in New York City have doubled every week for the last three weeks.

Last week, the city has experienced a 142 percent surge in shootings compared to the same time period last year.

The shocking wave of violence came as the city was still reeling from anti-police brutality protests and weeks of lockdown brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, leading Kelly to voice 'serious concerns' as to how the Big Apple will recover.

'New York was the safest big city in America for several decades, a lot of hard work done by a lot of people,' Kelly told Sean Hannity on Tuesday before hitting out at Mayor de Blasio and claiming his actions were at the root of the surge in crime.

'I lay the problems of New York City solely at the feet of [Mayor] Bill de Blasio,' he fumed.

'He has eviscerated the police department. One of the most important, significant things [de Blasio] did was to eliminate the anti-crime units throughout the city  they are the real crime fighters.

'[They were] the ones who have been able to address the violent crime for several decades in New York City. That unit is gone,' Kelly continued.

'The police are demoralized, retirements are at record levels, and the future is quite frankly very bleak in New York, certainly for the next 18 months under this administration.'

Kelly added that he had been in the city during the 1970s and 80s and that there are 'a lot of indicators that were going to go back in that direction'.

'The future is not good,' he said.

The former NYPD commissioner also took a hit at New York bail reform law introduced this year.

The reform sought to reduce the number of people who were in jail awaiting their trial by abolishing bail for many misdemeanors and nonviolent crimes.

Kelly, pictured, served as NYPD commissioner in the 90s under Mayors David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg. He believes crime in NYC is deteriorating because of Mayor de Blasio

At least 41 people were injured and nine killed following a troubling spike of shootings across the holiday weekend. Among those injured were two NYPD officers in the Bronx late Saturday after a bullet was fired through the windshield of their marked SUV, pictured above

Some critics of bail reform believe it leads to more crime. In January 2020, the NYPD released figures showing a spike in crime and pointed the finger at the new, looser bail rules.

NYC public defenders have argued that it is due to a decrease in the number of criminal cases city prosecutors are pursuing.

'That bail reform act could be changed very easily just by giving judges the discretion to keep people in custody who are a danger to society,' Kelly claimed.

'Virtually every state in the United States has that privilege except for New York and the New York State Legislature will not do it.'

He added that the continued spike in violent crime will lead to 'serious questions about whether businesses will remain or if businesses will return to New York'.



Kelly has placed the blame for the recent chaos in NYC on de Blasio after the mayor's decision to slash $1 billion from the NYPD budget last week.

He called the hefty budget cuts a 'direct signal of surrender'.

It was NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea who previously disbanded an anti-crime plainclothes unit that had focused on stopping people and searching for guns, as referenced by Kelly.

As violence spiked over the holiday weekend, President Donald also criticized de Blasio, in addition to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, warning them that he's 'ready' to intervene if necessary.

'Shootings up significantly in NYC where people are demanding that [Gov. Andrew Cuomo] and [Mayor Bill de Blasio] act now,' Trump continued. 'Federal Government ready, willing and able to help, if asked.'

Trump also referenced the rise in violent gun crime in Chicago, which appeared to experience the worst of the violence this weekend as 77 people were injured in shootings and 14 were killed, including two children.

Memphis, Omaha, Cleveland and several other cities were also rocked by a spate of shootings amid the holiday revelry. In total, 37 have been killed in shootings across the US.

The Police Benevolent Association, the NYPD's largest union, tweeted out against de Blasio Sunday, writing: 'Criminals with guns fear no consequences,' adding that the mayor owes his 'constituents an explanation'.

Hours earlier, two NYPD officers were injured in the Bronx late Saturday after a bullet was fired through the windshield of their marked SUV.

The officers had pulled up to a barricade outside Mott Havens 40th Precinct just before midnight on July 4 when the shot was fired.

Chilling surveillance footage shows two pedestrians crossing the street in front of the idling SUV just moments before the bullet is seen piercing the windshield, sending a puff of debris shooting up from the vehicle's hood.

The round passed between the two officers, who were sat in the front seats, and embedded into a divider between the back seats, authorities said.

One officer was cut in the face from shattered glass while the other suffered ringing ears. Both were treated for their injuries at local hospitals.

It remains unclear whether the vehicle was intentionally targeted or the bullet was a stray round. No arrests were immediately announced.

There were harsh words to be had among members of the NYPD for District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who failed to turn up at any of the city's shooting scenes Sunday.

'Manhattan DA Cy Vance where are you? No show at any shooting scene!!! Our community is being attacked, there have been 24 people shot in the city in the past 24 hours....Where Are You!!! the official account of NYPD Patrol Borough Manhattan South tweeted Sunday evening.

Patrol Borough Manhattan Norths commanding officer, Assistant Chief Kathleen OReilly added: 'Complete No Show in Manhattan North!! Shame!!'

The cops had just pulled up to the intersection on Alexander Ave. at E. 138th St. outside the 40th Precinct station house when the bullet pierced through the windscreen

Chilling surveillance footage shows two pedestrians crossing the street in front of the idling SUV just moments before the bullet is seen piercing the windshield, sending a puff of debris shooting up from the vehicle's hood

In the first shooting of the night, young father Jose Cepeda was shot in the chest shortly after midnight on Sunday in East New York, Brooklyn, New York Daily News reported.

The 20-year-old reportedly had a 'disagreement' with a friend outside of his home on Atkins Avenue before shots rang out.

Cepeda taken to Brookdale University Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

In Harlem Sunday, a 23-year-old was fatally shot on West 116th St. near Morningside Park around 2:40am.

Police were made aware of the shooting after the victim checked himself into a hospital and died minutes later.

A 19-year-old man was fatally shot in the chest and a 27-year-old left injured after being struck by a bullet to his left shoulder at 4:20am, following a dispute on East 39th St. in Flatbush.

While the teen was pronounced dead at King's County Hospital, the older victim was said be in a stable condition.

A 22-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were later shot a short distance away on nearby Euclid Ave earlier the same evening.

The man was shot in the chest and the woman was wounded in the right leg around 2:30. Both victims were taken to Brookdale University Hospital and were expected to survive, police said.

In another chaotic scene, six people were wounded during a shootout that erupted at a party in Harlem, on 131 Street and Lenox Avenue.

All six of the victims were taken to hospital. One of the victims, a 26-year-old male was said to be in a critical condition and likely to die.

A triple shooting also reportedly took place at 306 East 171 Street in the Bronx just before 8:30pm on Sunday.

Two victims of the victims are 'likely to die', law enforcement sources said. The nature of their injuries or the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain unclear.

A 15-year-old boy was also shot in the chest on Madison Avenue, in East Harlem, and was rushed to Mount Sinai-St. Luke's Hospital in a stable condition.

Gunfire broke out in cities across the US during Independence Day celebrations on Saturday, leaving dozens of people injured and at least 27 dead. Police are pictured at the scene of a shooting in Chicago's Austin neighborhood where eight people were struck by gunfire

Seven-year-old Natalie Wallace (pictured) was among the at least 17 people killed in shootings in Chicago on Saturday

In New York City at least four people were killed and 37 were injured in shootings during July 4th revelry. Police are pictured at the scene where a 23-year-old man was killed in Harlem

Meanwhile, one of the children killed in Chicago was identified by her family as seven-year-old Natalie Wallace.

The girl was playing outside her grandmother's house in the city's Austin neighborhood during a Fourth of July party when a vehicle pulled up and three men emerged and began shooting indiscriminately at about 7pm.

Natalie was shot in the head and rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to the Chicago Tribune.

'Chicago's heart is broke,' Chicago police Chief Fred Waller said. 'A 7-year-old girl was taken from us. She was here visiting family. Now she's gone.'

Gun violence unfolds across the US over July 4 weekend New York City: 41 injured, 9 killed Chicago: 77 injured, 14 killed Philadelphia: 14 injured, 5 dead Baltimore: 8 injured, 1 killed Detroit: 5 injured, 2 killed Greenville: 8 injured, 2 killed Memphis: 4 injured, 1 killed Omaha: 8 injured Cleveland: 4 injured St. Louis: 11 injured, 3 killed As of 8pm EST, July 5 Advertisement

Mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted: 'Tonight, a 7-year-old girl in Austin joined a list of teenagers and children whose hopes and dreams were ended by the barrel of a gun.

'We cannot grow numb to this. We are making progress in slowing shootings, but we have to do better, every single one of us.'

Seven other people were wounded in the same Austin attack, including a 32-year-old man who is now in fair condition.

Waller said police are reviewing video of the incident and no arrests have been made.

Another shooting in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood left four people dead, including a 14-year-old boy who has not yet been identified.

Four others were wounded in that shooting, including boys ages 11 and 15.

The Tribune reported that four men stormed a holiday gathering and opened fire before fleeing the scene. They have yet to be arrested.

Three other shootings in Chicago on Saturday killed a 34-year-old woman, a 31-year-old man and a 20-year-old man, per ABC7.

A total of 63 people were injured and 17 killed in the Windy City from Thursday afternoon to Sunday 6am.

In a shooting in Lawndale, on the citys West Side, six people were shot at about 1.15am after someone in a vehicle fired into a group shooting off fireworks.

A 20-year-old woman was killed and three men were left in critical condition. Two other men are in good condition following the shooting.

Last year in Chicago over Fourth of July weekend six people were killed and 63 were wounded by gun violence.

Saturday marked the city's third consecutive weekend where a child under 10 has been fatally shot.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted about Natalie Wallace's tragic death on Saturday night

The Chicago Police Department deployed 1,200 additional officers over the weekend with a goal of reducing violence that accompanies the holiday each year.

'It's not just on the police department. Not just on the fire department. Not just on elected officials,' Mayor Lightfoot said in announcing the increased police presence.

'All of us have to embrace our notion of community and think about what we can do, each of us in our own way, to make our communities safe and healthy and vibrant.'

Many other cities reported an alarming increase in gunfire mixed in with the celebratory fireworks on Saturday.

Fireworks go off near the scene of a shooting in Harlem early Sunday morning

Police officers and witnesses stand near where a 23-year-old man was shot dead in Harlem hours after Independence Day celebrations wound down

Members of the New York Police Department examine a bullet hole in the front windshield of a marked police vehicle outside the 40th Precinct on Sunday in the Bronx

NYPD officers are pictured in Brooklyn after a report of shots fired

In Detroit two people were killed and five were injured in gun violence over the holiday weekend.

A family of five people was driving home from a cook out when they were shot around 1am on Saturday in the 8300 block of Homer Street when someone pulled up beside them and started shooting.

A 39-year-old woman died in the shooting. A 40-year-old man is in critical condition and the three other male victims  aged nine, 12, and 15  are expected to survive, according to ClickOnDetroit.

Also in Detroit a 15-year-old boy was shot early Saturday around 12.10am when a vehicle pulled up and a passenger asked the victim a question then shot the teen, according to Fox2. He is in stable condition but that shooter has not been caught.

On Friday around 7.30pm a 19-year-old woman was shot and killed on the citys west side after someone fired shots into the car she was a passenger in.

Gun violence also rocked Baltimore, leaving one person dead and eight injured.

Baltimore Police said a woman was killed and a man were wounded in a double shooting on Saturday morning.

Hours earlier on Friday night four women were shot in a quadruple shooting in southwest Baltimore.

On Saturday evening a 20-year-old man and a 21-year-old man were injured in a shooting around 7.30pm.

A 28-year-old man was found in the southeast side of the city early Sunday suffering gunshot wounds.

In St. Louis, three people were killed and 11 injured across a 15 hour period. Four of the injured victims were children.

In one of those shootings, a four-year-old has been left in critical condition after being shot in the head by a stray bulletin the Vandeventer neighborhood around 10.45pm Saturday.

Thirty minutes later, a seven-year-old girl, a 45-year-old woman and a 25-year-old were shot on the 1100 block of East Gano.

They had been standing outside when two suspects fired shots at them from an alley, police said. Their conditions weren't given, but police said their vitals were stable.

A family of five people was driving home from a cook out when they were shot around 1am on Saturday in the 8300 block of Homer Street when someone pulled up beside them and started shooting. A 39-year-old woman died in the shooting. A 40-year-old man is in critical condition and the three other male victims  aged nine, 12, and 15  are expected to survive

At least seven shootings were reported in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday, leaving four people wounded. A police officer is pictured at the scene of one of the shooting

At least seven shootings were reported in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday, leaving four people wounded and one dead, according to WREG.

A woman was fatally shot while watching fireworks on Saturday night.

A teenager in the Whitehaven neighborhood was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after neighbors reported hearing an argument at a home before gunfire broke out.

'We were over here,' a witness to that shooting said. 'We were just fixing up our tables, and next thing we know, we see the ambulances come all around, and then the police came. I said: "What's done happened here?"'

'I could just imagine what the other people's family is doing, what they're going through,' the witness added.

About 30 minutes later, a woman was driving on Interstate 240 when a man driving a gold Pontiac began shooting at her vehicle.

Police said that woman is okay but the suspect has not been captured.

Another shooting in South Memphis on Saturday night left two men injured.

One of the men told WREG he was backing out of his driveway on Alcy Road when he was shot at by three men driving by in a Saturn Vue.

'When I backed into the middle of the street, I kind of paused for a little bit because I heard a lot of fireworks, what I thought were fireworks, but they were gunshots,' the man said.

The first victim said the attack appeared to be random.

Two people were fatally shot when gunshots rang out at the Lavish Club in Greenville, South Carolina just before 2am Sunday

A press conference near the Lavish Club pictured on Sunday where local council members condemned the violence that rocked the city over the Fourth of July weekend

An investigation is also underway in North Carolina after a 74-year-old woman was killed by what police described as reckless 'celebratory gunfire'

'They're just shooting,' he said. 'The car was in front of them, and they're just shooting. They don't know those people. They're just shooting at those folks because they were in front of them.'

No arrests have been made in any of the Memphis shootings, police said.

At least five shootings were reported in Cleveland in the first five hours of July Fourth, leaving four people wounded.

And in Omaha, Nebraska, police have asked the public for information on six separate shootings reported between Friday night and early Saturday morning.

Eight people were injured in those shootings and all are expected to recover.

In Philadelphia, five people, including a six-year-old boy, were killed and 14 were hurt in 12 separate shootings across the weekend.

The first shooting was reported around 10.30pm on Saturday where a 37-year-old woman was shot twice in her legs and a 21-year-old male was grazed by a bullet in the head. Both are in stable condition.

A second shooting left two men, 26 and 22, suffering gunshot wounds to the leg. Both are in stable condition.

Then on Sunday, around 1pm, a six-year-old boy was shot in the chest at a home on the 4600 block of Kendrick Street, in the city's Upper Holmesburg neighborhood.

The boy died hours later from his injuries after being rushed to a hospital by a family member.

It was not immediately clear what led to the shooting or if police had identified any suspects.

Just over an hour later, a 37-year-old woman was on the 1900 block of Clarence Street when a gunman opened fire at 2:13pm.

The woman was shot 12 times in the torso. She was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital at 2:38pm.

A weapon was recovered and a person was arrested in connection to the shooting. Police have not yet revealed the suspects identity or revealed any details in the circumstances that led to the shooting.

At least five shootings were reported in Cleveland in the first five hours of July Fourth, leaving four people wounded. Police are pictured at the scene of one of the shootings

An officer investigates the scene of a shooting in Chicago on Sunday, July 5, 2020

Chicago, which appeared to experience the worst of the violence this weekend as 77 people were injured in shootings and 14 were killed, including two children

Chicago police officers investigate the scene of a deadly shooting where a 7-year-old girl and a man were fatally shot in Chicago on Sunday

Authorities in Greenville County, South Carolina, are currently investigating a shooting at a nightclub that left two people dead and eight wounded.

Video footage posted to social media showed people at what appeared to be a rap concert inside the club. The clip shows people inside the club hurrying toward the exit before the screen goes blank and gunshots are heard in the background.

Two Greenville County sheriff's deputies noticed a disturbance at Lavish Lounge just before 2am, and saw a large crowd running out of the building, Sheriff Hobart Lewis said at a press conference.

Lewis told Greenville News the incident was 'probably gang related'. He said authorities are searching for two suspects, though no physical description of the gunmen has been released as of Sunday morning.

An investigation is also underway in North Carolina after a 74-year-old woman was killed by what police described as reckless 'celebratory gunfire'.

Durham police were called at 11pm Saturday to a report of a gunshot wound along the 500 block of Burlington Avenue. The victim, Paulette Thorpe, was taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

Last night as people throughout Durham peacefully celebrated the July Fourth holiday with their friends and family, a small few chose to put our community at risk by carelessly firing guns into the air,' Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said

'This reckless behavior led to the tragic death of Ms. Paulette Thorpe,' she said. 'Ms. Thorpes death reminds us that we as a community must work together to prevent these senseless acts, so that no family suffers such a tragedy ever again.'
A black civil rights activist who says he was the victim of an 'attempted lynching' by a group of white men in Indiana has shared his agony over the filmed attack as the FBI launches an investigation.

Vauhxx Booker shared video of the July 4 altercation at Monroe Lake outside Bloomington on Facebook, sparking a nationwide outcry as the white men were seen pinning him to a tree and shouting racist insults.

In the Facebook post Booker wrote that the men made statements about 'white power', threatened to break his arms and one of them said: 'Get a noose' while telling Booker's friends to leave the area they claimed was private property.

Booker said he called 911 after the altercation, but responding officers from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) refused to make any arrests despite seeing the videos filmed by his friends.

He and his attorney are now calling for the men, who have not been identified, to face charges over the 'racially motivated' attack, which he said left him with a concussion, many cuts and bruises and bald patches where his hair was pulled out.

The FBI on Tuesday announced that it is investigating the incident but did not offer any additional details.

Civil rights activist Vauhxx Booker described how a group of white men allegedly brutally attacked him at an Indiana lake over the weekend in an interview with ABC News (pictured)

Booker posted cellphone video on Facebook that shows part of the altercation at Lake Monroe, including a clip where the white men appear to pin him to a tree

Booker recounted his version of the attack in an interview with ABC News aired Wednesday.

He said he and his friend were on their way to watch the lunar eclipse at an organized event on Saturday when a white man with 'an oversized hat with a confederate flag print on it' began following him in an ATV.

Booker claimed the man informed him and his friend that they were trespassing on private property, so they apologized and continued on their way to the event.

He said they then came across another group that was heading to the event, who claimed that some people were blocking them from accessing the beach.

'As more group members arrived they informed us they had encountered this gentleman and he blocked off the beachway with a boat and several ATVS and he had yelled "White Power" at them, along with some other slurs,' Booker told ABC News.

He said he and the group approached the people blocking the beach and made a 'calm and polite' attempt to diffuse the situation before things escalated.

'Looking back now, it's apparent that these individuals began targeting our group the moment they saw myself, a black man, and were looking to provoke a conflict,' Booker wrote in his Facebook post.

Booker said the attack unfolded after a group of white people confronted him and his friend as they made their way to a Fourth of July event on Saturday afternoon. Three of the people in the group are shown above in a video believed to have been recorded by Booker's friend

Booker said he and his friend were trying to walk away from the aggressors when two of them knocked him to the ground. Video shows at least three men holding him up against a tree

He said he and his friend were turning to leave when several of the aggressors began following them and two men knocked him to the ground from behind.

'I tussled with the two and another one joined in, then two more,' he wrote in his Facebook post. 'The five were able to easily overwhelm me and got me to the ground and dragged me pinning my body against a tree as they began pounding on my head and ripped off some of my hair, with several of them still on top of my body holding me down.'

'They held me pinned and continued beating me for several minutes seemingly become more and more enraged as they kept trying to seriously injure me and failing. At one point during the attack one of the men jumped on my neck. I could feel both his feet and his full bodyweight land hard against my neck.'

Only part of the altercation was captured in videos recorded by Booker's acquaintances that he included in his post.

One clip shows Booker hunched over as at least two men pinned him against a tree and several other people in their group crowded around, while Booker's friends begged for them to let him go.

The commotion drew even more people over to the area, Booker wrote, noting that he didn't know most of them.

'While they were beating me against this tree and people were pleading for them to let me go and struggling to get towards me, one of the gentleman yells to his friend to get a noose,' Booker told ABC News.

'Not a rope, but literally a noose. And I hear a white woman yell: "Don't kill him." And I realize that she's talking about them killing me.'

'They were literally referring to me as a boy,' he continued. 'They didn't even see me as human. They just saw me as something they could abuse and get away with.'

Many of Booker's descriptions, including the lead-up to the confrontation, the call to 'get a noose', the threat to break his arms and a man stomping on his neck, are not visible in the videos.

The videos do, however, show several of the men cursing and using racially-charged language at him after he said onlookers were able to pull him out of harm's way.

In one clip a man is heard repeatedly calling someone off-camera a 'nappy-headed b***h'.

In another the same man yells: 'You invaded us!' and calls someone in Booker's group a 'stupid f**king liberal f**ks.'

As Booker's group walks away, one of the men follows them shouting: 'Those black boys want to start it all.'

Many of Booker's descriptions, including the lead-up to the confrontation, the call to 'get a noose', the threat to break his arms and a man stomping on his neck, are not visible in the videos. The videos do, however, show several of the men cursing and using racially-charged language at him after he said onlookers were able to pull him out of harm's way

In one clip a man (pictured) is heard calling someone off-camera a 'nappy headed b***h'

After the situation diffused Booker called 911 and a few witnesses stayed with him to explain what had happened to responding officers from the IDNR's Law Enforcement Division.

He said the officers decided not to make any arrests despite watching his video and seeing the cuts and bruises on his body.

'They didn't seem overly concerned that I might need medical attention or anything else,' Booker told ABC News. 'I didn't even feel like they were going to do an investigation.'

He said the officers didn't even take down the names of the attackers until one of the white people who intervened demanded that the officers conduct a thorough investigation.

'I was heartbroken when the supervising officer, the major, showed up. I felt re-traumatized as I recounted to him how I was afraid for my life,' Booker said.

He said the supervising officer told him: 'Well I could go arrest these guys but they would tell me: "Hey, what about our property rights. We have a right to defend our property."'

'It was earth shattering,' Booker added.

Booker claimed that police officers responding to reports of the alleged battery showed little interest in investigating until a white witness demanded they do so

After Booker's Facebook post went viral head of IDNR's Law Enforcement Division confirmed that it was investigating the alleged battery at the lake and would be submitting its report to the Monroe County Prosecutor Erika Oliphant's office.

Oliphant issued a statement saying that it expects to receive the report soon.

'As soon as that happens, we will thoroughly review all of it and determine what charges are appropriate,' she said.

The FBI joined the case on Tuesday and is now questioning witnesses to determine whether charges will be brought, according to Booker's attorney, Katherine Liell.

'We want this investigated as a hate crime. It was clearly racially motivated,' Liell told the Associated Press.

'We will continue our quest every day until some justice is served.'

Liell also complained that the IDNR officers 'did not move rapidly enough' in response to reports of the attack.

She said their failure to make arrests at the scene warrants further investigation from other law enforcement agencies.

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton and Bloomington City Clerk Nicole Bolden issued a statement Monday expressing their 'outrage and grief' over what they said was a racially motivated attack.

State Sen Mark Stoops, a Bloomington Democrat, said he was 'horrified by the racist attack' and called on Republican Eric Holcomb to suspend and investigate the Department of Natural Resources officers who responded to the scene for failing to make any arrests.

'This is not just an issue of violence,' Stoops said in a statement Monday. 'This is clearly a hate crime and must be treated as such.'

Hundreds of members of the Bloomington community turned out for a protest demanding arrests in Booker's attack on Monday night

Booker broke down in tears as he addressed the crowd gathered at the protest

Hundreds of members of the Bloomington community turned out for a protest demanding arrests in Booker's attack on Monday night.

As the demonstration began to disperse a confrontation broke out between protesters who had blocked the street in front of the Monroe County Courthouse with a scooter and a couple driving a car trying to pass through.

Viral video showed a man getting out of the passenger seat of the red Toyota and throwing the scooter to the side.

Moments later the car rammed into a 29-year-old female protester who had walked up to the car and placed her hands on the hood to stop it from passing.

Police Capt Ryan Pedigo said the female driver then accelerated into the woman, knocking her onto the hood as another male protester grabbed onto the driver's side mirror.

A second video showed the car racing down the street as the protesters clung on for dear life before it abruptly came to a stop, throwing them to the ground.

The female protester was knocked unconscious and suffered a cut to the head. She was transported to the hospital and officials said her injuries were not life-threatening.

Pedigo said police are still working to identify the man and woman inside the car that fled the scene.

Shocking video shows the moment a woman was struck by a car that then sped off with her on the hood following a protest over the attack on Booker
Footage shows the moment a male police officer appears to touch a woman's breasts as he searches her during an arrest, despite her pleas for a female officer.

Police say Rosalinda Nuno Trevino, 40, was stopped for 'multiple hazardous traffic violations' including 'honking the horn' and 'driving through a red light' near Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, on July 4.

A video taken by a bystander shows an Austin Police Department officer attempt to search Ms Trevino for concealed weapons, running his hand against her chest twice.

After the first pass over her breasts Ms Trevino can be heard repeatedly saying 'I demand a female officer' while the person filming accuses the officer of 'manhandling' her.

Austin Police Department say their officer followed the correct protocol and was unable to get a female officer to attend the arrest as none were available.

They claim the officer conducted the search in front of the police vehicle's camera, with another officer present in accordance with the guidelines.

In the video the man behind the camera can be heard shouting at the officer: 'Don't you f***ing touch her like that. Get your f***ing hands off her. Get a female officer in here now she's f***ing being manhandled.'

After the first pass over her breasts Rosalinda Nuno Trevino, 40, (pictured) can be heard repeatedly saying 'I demand a female officer'

Austin Police claim the officer conducted the search in front of the vehicle's camera, with another officer present in accordance with the guidelines

The woman becomes distressed as she is held with handcuffs and is searched by the officer

The video was shared to Twitter by StanceGrounded, a Pakistani-American human and civil rights activist from Detroit.

Despite Austin Police claiming the officer had stuck to protocol many Twitter users were unwilling to accept the frisk as reasonable treatment.

Greg Gingrich tweeted: 'That was not what I consider the back of the hand.'

While one Twitter user by the name of DNT tweeted: 'I guess they have to figure out a way to search the chest area without "molesting" people.'

Kasy Bee tweeted: 'This could have been avoided. Procedure does not always protect the suspect. Let's talk about how you don't have a Use of Force policy.'

One user by the name of Stillbloom tweeted: What about the part where he grabs her chest without her consent? Wouldn't that be classified as assault?'

Twitter users shared their views on the arrest, with some believing the frisk could have been 'avoided'

Tommy Nelms tweeted: 'Looks like a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. Protect the people walking in traffic by arresting the person trying to drive around Officers to drive through the crowd and get vilified for making the arrest. Just can't please some people.'

Others called for the police to release the officer's name.

The allegations against the officer come amid flurry of videos alleging police misconduct in wake of George Floyd's death.

The full Austin Police Department statement reads: 'APD is aware of a video that is circulating involving the arrest of 40-year-old Rosalinda Nuno Trevino for multiple hazardous traffic violations.

'Regarding Case# 20-1860985, on July 4, 2020, Austin Police Department Motor Unit Officers were riding their motorcycles behind a protest march to keep people safe from vehicular traffic. Ms. Trevino was driving a white SUV behind these motor officers.

'Ms. Trevino began to follow the officers very closely with her vehicle and honk her horn continuously. She drove through empty parking spaces and attempted to move her vehicle around the officers' motorcycles. Officers told Ms. Trevino to stay behind their motorcycles to ensure the safety of the people marching. Ms. Trevino then stopped her vehicle, ran up to an officer and requested his badge number, which the officer provided.

'At the intersection of 2nd Street and Congress Avenue, Ms. Trevino started to honk the vehicle horn a second time and drove through a red light. Ms. Trevino then stopped her vehicle again and approached officers.

'Ms. Trevino was placed under arrest for the multiple hazardous traffic violations to include, running a red light, failure to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, improper use of a horn and failure to maintain an assured clear distance. As a crowd began to form, officers moved Ms. Trevino to the front of an officer's vehicle to conduct a search before transporting her to jail.

'While conducting the search, he advised Ms. Trevino that a female officer was not available. He conducted the search in front of a police vehicle where a vehicle camera could document and at least one other officer was present, as required by APD policy.'

The department also shared a copy of their search policy which reads: 'If a subject requests a search by an officer of the same gender, an attempt should be made to have a same gender officer conduct the search.

'If a same gender officer is unavailable, the search should be conducted in front of a Mobile Audio Video (MAV) recording system, if available, or a second officer should be present.'

Regarding the method of searching females the policy states: 'Officers will use the backside of their hands and fingers to frisk/search sensitive areas of the opposite gender to include the breast, crotch, and buttocks.'
People were left fleeing from a Las Vegas garage after a rogue firework ignited an entire box of them.

A neighborhood's 4th of July celebrations ended in chaos when an entire box of fireworks were set off by accident, according to a witness.

The nail-biting incident took place on Independence Day in a northwestern area of the city not far from Skye Canyon Park.

Pictured: Fireworks being accidentally ignited in a Las Vegas garage during last weekend's Fourth of July celebrations

Pictured: The garage explodes after a rogue rocket set off a pile of fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations in Las Vegas last weekend

Video has been circulating on social media showing an explosion of fireworks coming from the garage as people run from the scene.

According to witness Heidi Wolfe, whose son Alex filmed the video, a rogue firework went flying sideways and entered the garage.

The wayward firework lit another box of fireworks, setting off the explosive chain reaction.

Pictured: A Las Vegas garage explodes after a rogue rocket set off a pile of fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations last weekend

Someone managed to remove the box from the garage, allowing neighbors to douse the flames, Wolfe told Storyful video agency.

'I ran inside to get my fire extinguisher,' she said.

'Through a team effort, our neighbors contained the fire.'

The quick action taken by the neighbors prevented anyone from being harmed in the incident.
A Chinese construction worker has cheated death after a 3-foot-long steel rod speared into his body from his groin during an accident.

The man, known by his surname Zhu, had the metal bar lodged in his torso after falling onto it from a 10ft-high platform at a construction site in China's eastern province Jiangsu.

Mr Zhu survived the horrifying accident after doctors performed a three-hour operation to remove the long pole.

A Chinese construction worker has cheated death after a 3-foot-long steel rod speared into his body from his groin during an accident. The man, known by his surname Zhu, had the metal bar lodged in his torso after falling onto it from a 10ft-high platform at a construction site

The man, known by his surname Zhu, had the metal bar (pictured) lodged in his torso after falling onto it from a 10ft-high platform at a construction site in Nantong, Jiangsu province

The accident occurred in March in the city of Nantong. It was brought to light this week after the patient returned to the hospital on Monday to thank the surgeons for saving his life.

Mr Zhu was working on a construction site on March 27 when he accidentally fell from the height, according to the Nantong Second People's Hospital.

A picture shows Mr Zhu with the blood-stained steel rod sticking out of his body after the man was rushed to the hospital.

The construction worker was immediately scheduled to undergo surgery after doctors saw over two-third of the metal bar had skewered across Mr Zhu's abdomen on an X-ray scan.

Mr Zhu survived the horrifying accident after doctors performed a three-hour operation to remove the long pole. Pictured, the construction worker undergoes the removal operation

After a three-hour operation, the surgeons successfully removed the steel rod from the construction worker's body. The medics are seen holding the metal bar after the operation

The medics said that the patient was in a life-threatening condition as the long pole caused heavy bleeding and could have damaged his organs.

After a three-hour operation, the surgeons successfully removed the steel rod from the construction worker's body.

The metal bar measured 90 centimetres (2ft 5in) long and 2 centimetres (0.79 inch) thick.

The metal bar measured 90 centimetres (2ft 5in) long and 2 centimetres (0.79 inch) thick

The patient was then transferred to intensive care units following the surgery. His condition gradually improved after being treated for nearly a month. Mr Zhu is pictured being treated

Mr Zhu is understood to have been discharged from the Nantong hospital following a full recovery. Mr Zhu is pictured with the doctors after returning to the hospital to thank them

The patient was then transferred to intensive care units following the surgery. His condition gradually improved after being treated for nearly a month.

Mr Zhu also received a series of rehabilitation training to help him recover, the hospital said.

He is understood to have been discharged from the Nantong hospital following a full recovery.
NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

July 8, 2020



NEW YORK, July 8, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on two Supreme Court decisions handed down today:

In the last week of its 2019-2020 term, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered two back-to-back victories for religious liberty; they were both 7-2 decisions. Catholic schools and agencies were the big winners.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that religious schools enjoyed a "ministerial exception" that protected them from lawsuits brought by teachers whom the school said were ministers. Now it has strengthened that decision by holding that lawsuits alleging employment discriminationteachers at two Catholic schools claimed they were terminated for discriminatory reasons (age and disability)are without merit.

"The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools," wrote Justice Samuel Alito for the majority, "and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission."

The other case involved the right of the Trump administration to carve an exception for those with sincerely held moral or religious objections from complying with the Obamacare mandate that abortion-inducing drugs and contraception must be provided in all healthcare plans. The Trump administration and the Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic nonprofit entity, appealed to the high court to reverse an appeals court decision that denied the exemption.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who authored the court's ruling, said the Trump administration "had the authority to provide exemptions from the regulatory contraceptive requirements for employees with religious and conscientious objections."

These two victories, alongside the Supreme Court's decision last week allowing Catholic schools to benefit from tuition-tax credit scholarship programs, will do much to safeguard the religious rights of Catholic institutions, as well as those of other religious organizations.

Contrary to the foes of religious libertyand there are many seated in elite institutionsit is not religious entities that have been encroaching on the state; rather, it is the state that has been encroaching on religion.

It is high time that state operatives with an animus against religion, especially Catholicism, were put in their place. It can't happen too often given their dogmatic zeal to destroy the First Amendment provisions guaranteeing religious liberty.
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Thousands of people who lined up overnight for the reopening New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission were told to go home after the offices hit capacity Tuesday.

The MVC offices had been closed since mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials urged people to wait a week or more before doing their business and to check whether they could conduct their transactions online.

But that didn't stop thousands from lining up in the early hours of Tuesday morning, at locations around the state. Many were told to come back Wednesday after waiting hours and not reaching the front of the line during business hours.

Large crowds outside offices from Toms River to Oakland and Wallington to Eatontown prompted police to send thousands of people home.

Pictures posted on Twitter showed people standing in long lines in the hot sun.

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Newark: People wait in line outside a Motor Vehicle Agency in Newark, N.J., Tuesday

Springfield: New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission branches reopened Tuesday to long lines and a slew of unsatisfied customers

Wallington: The offices have been closed since mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials had urged people to wait a week or more before doing their business and to check whether they could conduct their transactions online

Lodi: Large crowds outside offices prompted police to send thousands of people home

Emily Sheppard arrived at the Springfield office just after 6am Tuesday. She was told to go home at around 3: 30pm. 'We've been standing here for eight hours. I can't do this again, I just can't', she said.

Many returned Wednesday with footage showing the Wallington and Lakewood offices at capacity shortly after 6am. Neither branch opens until 8am.

In Newark, some customers said they had lined up starting at 4am Tuesday. Others remained outside even after the gates to the office were closed around noon.

John Ferri was at the Randolph MVC branch Tuesday. He told nj.com: We got here at 5:45 at least 100 before us over 1,000 people now and now lines are starting to get tangled up - total disaster.

'We were number 100 in line, the earliest person got here at 3 am.

'They should have done it by appointment, they should have gone by a priority list. Its a free-for-all.'

Newark: In Newark, some customers said they'd lined up starting at 4 a.m. Others remained outside even after the gates to the office were closed around noon

Lodi: On the first day of reopening since locations closed due to the coronavirus, a line wrapped three times around the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in Lodi

Lodi: The first person in line arrived before midnight and by 7:42AM, Lodi MVC management in a closed the location to new customers due to the 'overwhelming capacity'

New Jersey residents wait on the sidewalk outside the Jersey City Motor Vehicle Commission after weeks of waiting because of the pandemic

Many are seen carrying folding chairs prepared for yet another wait, the day after they first opened

Springfield: Emily Sheppard arrived at the Springfield office just after 6am Tuesday. She was told to go home at around 3: 30pm. 'We've been standing here for eight hours. I can't do this again, I just can't', she said

Ronny Gonzalez, of Clifton, told CBS he got here to the Lakewood office about 3:30pm on Tuesday to ensure he was front of the line Wednesday.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said: 'Nobody is happy to see that. Nobody wants to be waiting in lines like that, so we have nothing but unending sympathy.'

He said some residents can avoid the lines by visiting NJMVC.gov.

MVC Chief Administrator Sue Fulton told Fox 5: 'While we understand the frustration of our customers in this extremely challenging and difficult time, our employees are doing the best they can to keep everyone safe and work as efficiently as possible.'

But Lorina Long, of Patterson called the organisation a 'disaster'. Jamel Hilaire, of Union, added: 'You could have gotten school kids to run this better.'

Springfield: Lorina Long, of Patterson called the organisation a 'disaster'. Jamel Hilaire, of Union, added: 'You could have gotten school kids to run this better'

Lodi: Pictures showed people standing in long lines in the hot sun on Tuesday

Wallington: Many returned Wednesday with footage showing the Wallington and Lakewood offices at capacity shortly after 6am. Neither branch opens until 8am

The Wallington office is pictured early morning Wednesday after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said: 'Nobody is happy to see that. Nobody wants to be waiting in lines like that, so we have nothing but unending sympathy'

CBS reports some of those in line Tuesday were given priority cards for Wednesday.

New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday face masks will now be required outdoors when social distancing is not possible in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The new order comes as New Jersey's COVID-19 trends head largely in the right direction, while many other states, particularly in the south and west, are seeing spikes.

New Jersey has about 174,000 positive cases, with 13,425 confirmed fatalities. There are an additional 1,854 deaths likely stemming from COVID-19, health officials have said.
A Colorado pharmacist has been arrested for allegedly luring a woman on a dating website to his home promising to help with her medical issues, only to drug and sexually assault her.

Brent Stein is the 46-year-old owner of Mountain Key Pharmacy in Florissant.

He lured a woman he met on dating website eHarmony on June 8 to travel across state lines from Indiana to visit him, according to Teller County Detectives.

Stein told the victim that his wife died of similar health issues that she suffered and he had the ability to 'cure' her, according to the arrest affidavit.

Pharmacist Brent Stein, 46, who is the owner of Mountain Key Pharmacy in Florissant, Colorado has been charged with three counts of sexual assault. The sheriff's office says Steins pharmacy license was suspended on July 2

He told her he wanted to 'court her' and she said she wasn't interested in a sexual relationship at the time. She still booked a flight two days later on June 10 to visit him.

She traveled to his residence in Florissant where he allegedly gave her an un-prescribed medication that left her incapacitated.

The woman claimed Stein gave her multiple medications including large syringes filled with an unknown liquid injected into her nose, which Stein claimed had healing qualities, and tablets and white pills in her mouth that made her extremely lethargic and unable to move her arms and legs.

Stein, though a licensed pharmacist, was not legally authorized to prescribe any medication.

He lured a woman he met on dating website eharmony on June 8 to travel across state lines from Indiana to visit him, according to Teller County Detectives. Stein told the victim that his wife died of similar health issues that she suffered and he had the ability to 'cure' her, according to the arrest affidavit.

The victim believes she was sexually assaulted at least seven times between June 10 and June 16, but told officers she couldn't recall how many times exactly, according to Fox21.

Authorities received information that there was a sexual assault victim at a hospital in Colorado Springs on June 18.

By July 2 Steins pharmacy license was suspended, according to the sheriffs office. However, according to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies database it's still active.

In the investigation the sheriffs office said other victims have come forward to report unwanted sexual conduct by Stein.

A view of the Mountain Key pharmacy above

But detectives believe there may be other vicitims.

He was arrested on June 21 and appeared in court on Monday where he was charged with three counts of sexual assault, the sheriff's office announced Tuesday.

Hes out of the Teller County Detention Facility on $10,000 bond.

At the time of Steins arrest, he was on probation for a 2019 conviction of harassment and domestic violence in Douglas County.

On Tuesday a Teller County investigator said Stein had recently violated his probation, for which he was arrested and required to pay additional bond.

If you know anything about this case or may be an additional victim to come forward. If you or someone you know has any information, please call Detective Bisset at 719-304-5756.
The founder of a Chinese school has been jailed for nearly three years after illegally imprisoning youngsters to curb their internet addiction.

Wu and four partners-in-crime, who ran a so-called 'digital detox camp', locked up underage students in tiny windowless cells on campus with round-the-clock guards.

Those children were kept in isolation for three to 10 days to 'cure' their web obsession, according to a court.

A picture circulating on the internet purports to show Wu, the founder of the Yuzhang Shuyuan Institute in China. The man has been jailed for two years and 10 months for unlawful detention

Underage students were forced to stay in tiny windowless cells on campus, such as the one above, with round-the-clock guards. The school was shut by authorities following complaints

Former students also accused their teachers of handcuffing them, beating them with iron rulers and whipping them with finger-thick steel cables in the rehabilitation institute. However, the court did not confirm those accounts.

Internet addiction is considered a clinical disorder in China, with an increasing number of young people choosing to ignore their studies, social lives and family to surf the web or play online games.

There were 854 million internet users in China as of June last year, with the internet availability rate reaching 61.2 per cent, reported Xinhua.

Many parents use the so-called 'digital detox' rehab camps as a last resort to stem their children's dependence on the virtual world.

A CCTV report shows a finger-thick steel cable, which was said to be used by teachers in the rehabilitation institute to punish 'troublesome' students. The court did not confirm the claims

Teenagers receive 'musicotherapy' at a school in Jinan on August 22, 2010. Chinese authority has vowed to crack down on the physical abuse found at digital rehab camps in the country

Wu and the other criminals operated the Yuzhang Shuyuan Institute in south-east China's Nanchang city.

The facility charged 31,250 yuan (3,546) for a six-month term and targeted at parents who were desperate to put a stop to their child's fixation on the web, reported state broadcaster CCTV.

On the promotional material, the school, a historic brand in China, billed itself as a vocational education centre that used Confucius philosophy to give 'teenagers in crisis' a chance of a better life.

Pictures posted by the school on its social media account showed students dressed in traditional Chinese uniform. They are seen reading classic literature and practising calligraphy.

But in reality, the students were subject to unlawful secret imprisonment.

Yuzhang Shuyuan Institute has been accused of using cruel punishment on students to help them overcome their addiction to the internet. The school in Nanchang, China, is a historic brand. The picture was taken by a People's Daily journalist while visiting the school in 2013

In pictures taken by media, students in the school are seen reading classic literature, practising calligraphy in class and bowing to a Confucius statue. However, a former student who was sent to the school for her web-addiction has revealed shocking details in the school

In an open trial on Tuesday, the Qingshan Lake District People's Court in Nanchang found the gang guilty of conducting unlawful detention, according to a court release.

The judge said the defendants stripped students of their freedom between May 2013 and November 2017 by forcing the youngsters to stay at the school's 'meditation room' days on end.

Twelve students, including 11 minors, were detained in this illegal manner after they had been sent to the school by their parents, the court said.

A self-described former student, who calls herself 'Shan Ni Ma Da Wang' (pictured), described her horrifying experience to a journalist from Beijing Times. She claimed she was beaten and locked up in a small cell for days after being taken to the school by force in 2014

A young Chinese internet addict receives an electroencephalogram check at the Beijing Military Region Central Hospital July 6, 2005, in Beijing. Many parents use the so-called 'digital detox' rehab camps as a last resort to curbing their children's fixation on the digital world

Wu, the school's founder and chairman, was sentenced to two years and 10 months imprisonment.

Ren, the headmaster, was handed a prison sentence of two years and seven months.

Zhang, the security director, and Qu, an instructor, were each jailed for 22 months and 11 months.

All of them said they were considering appealing against the ruling.

Another teacher, Chen, was spared criminal punishment.
Henry Long, 19, lied to police that he was watching Fast and Furious on the night the officer was dragged to his death, court heard

A teenager accused of murdering PC Andrew Harper lied to police that he was watching Fast and Furious on the night the officer was dragged to his death because he was 'scared', a court has been told.

Henry Long, 19, had been attempting to avoid arrest for stealing a quad bike when PC Harper got tangled in a tow rope attached to his Seat Toledo on the night of August 15 last year.

Long drove for more than a mile along country lanes at speeds of some 42mph before PC Harper became dislodged, the Old Bailey has heard.

The 28-year-old Thames Valley police officer died at the scene near the A4 in Berkshire.

Within hours, Long was arrested at Four Houses Corner caravan site, where the Seat was located by a police helicopter.

Giving evidence, Long said he had no idea that PC Harper had been attached to his car and denied constructing a fake alibi around a Fast and Furious movie, knowing 'perfectly well' he had just dragged PC Harper to his death.

He told jurors he felt 'disgraceful', had sleepless nights and thought about the effect on PC Harper's family.

But under cross-examination, Jonathan Laidlaw QC suggested Long knew how PC Harper died and immediately set about making up a false alibi that he had been watching a Fast And Furious film with relatives at the travellers' site.

PC Harper (pictured), 28, had got out of his patrol car to chase after a suspect when his ankles got entangled in a tow strap attached to Long's Seat Toledo

Long insisted he had made the decision to lie during his first police interview because he was 'scared'.

Mr Laidlaw said: 'Can I suggest that does not make any sense at all?

'I'm going to suggest you knew perfectly well the first thing they would do would be to go to Four Corners caravan site and ask your aunt and uncle if it was true.

'Immediately you got back to the site, shortly after Andrew Harper had died, you had begun to prepare a false alibi. Long denied this.

The prosecutor went on: 'Of all things you were going to pretend you had watched, what was it you said? It was Fast And Furious.

'That was involving what? Illegal car chases and racing?'

The defendant replied: 'That's correct.'

Mr Laidlaw continued: 'And you thought that was the appropriate lie to tell police in the circumstances?'

The Seat Toledo with a tow rope and the police car in a similar position at the site of the meeting of the vehicles during the Old Bailey jury site visit in Sulhamstead

Long, accused of murdering PC Harper, giving evidence at the Old Bailey in London yesterday. Today he denied constructing a fake alibi around a Fast and Furious movie (court sketch)

Long repeated that he had been 'scared'.

Mr Laidlaw said: 'You knew perfectly well at the time you said that fake alibi how PC Harper met his death.

'I'm going to suggest you were quickly hard at work on your return to put together the alibi to seek the support of your aunt and your cousin.

'There would not be much point in telling that lie unless they were going to support you.'

The lawyer added: 'The truth is you were not thinking about anybody but yourself. You knew perfectly well you dragged PC Harper to his death. You had set out to tough this out.'

PC Harper had been trying to apprehend teenagers who had stolen a quad bike (pictured) when he became entangled in a tow strap behind their Seat Toledo

Long is on trial for murder, along with Jessie Cole (left) and Albert Bowers (right), both 18, who were his passengers. They admit conspiracy to steal but deny murder

Long replied: 'That's not correct.'

Mr Laidlaw went on: 'The truth, I suggest, Mr Long, is you did not and don't care at all really about PC Harper and what has happened to him. The only person you care about is yourself.'

'Not true,' Long replied.

Long has admitted PC Harper's manslaughter and conspiracy to steal a quad bike, but denies murder.

His passengers Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, from near Reading, admit conspiracy to steal but deny murder.
Two North Carolina families grieving the loss of recently deceased loved ones are demanding answers following a purported mix-up at a Charlotte funeral home that resulted in each family laying to rest the wrong person.

Dr Jerry Bowman told Fox 46 that when he arrived at the funeral service for his mother, Catherine White, he knew at once the woman resting in the casket, dressed in his mother's white suit, was not the 75-year-old.

Bowman, who works as an emergency room doctor, said that he spent the last four months caring for his mother as she was dying from terminal cancer.

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Morbid mix-up: Two families in North Carolina claim that a funeral home switched up the bodies of their loved ones, Elease McInnis, 91 (left), and Catherine White, 75 (right)

When White's family arrived at her funeral last week, they discovered a stranger in her casket, wearing the woman's white suit and her jewelry (pictured)

White succumbed to the illness at Bowman's home in the early hours of June 26. She was 75 years old.

'I knew what she looked like the minute she left my home at 1.11am on June the 26th this year,' her son said.

What Bowman and his family did not know at the time is that a day earlier, Elease McInnis passed away in Charlotte at age 91.

Both women ended up being sent to Alexander Funeral Home on Statesville Avenue to be prepared for burial.

McInnis was then inexplicably dressed in the clothing and jewelry belonging to White, and laid out in her casket.

'She doesnt deserve this. Nobody deserves anything like this, Bowman said.

Meanwhile, McInnis' unsuspecting relatives held a burial service on July 2 and mistakenly laid White to rest.

McInnis' unsuspecting family laid White to rest at York Memorial Park on July 2 (pictured)

The owners of Alexander Funeral Home have refused to comment on the situation

Dr Jerry Bowman, White's son, said he wants his mother's body exhumed from McInnis' grave

One of McInnis relatives told Fox 46 they are embarrassed and heartbroken over the situation.

The family member told the station that some loved ones made note that McInnis looked different during her funeral, but they assumed it was due to the embalming process.

Bowman said White's body will have to be exhumed from York Memorial Park with the permission of McInnis' family.

The owners of Alexander Funeral Home, which has been in operation since 1914, have made no public statements concerning the apparent switch-up.

When DailyMail.com contacted the mortuary by phone on Wednesday, an employee said 'no comment' and hung up.
Chris Packham took his fight against the HS2 high-speed rail scheme to the Court of Appeal today after losing his bid to stop the clearing of ancient woodlands.

The Government gave the green light to the scheme based on a 'complete misapprehension' of the environmental impact, lawyers for the TV presenter argued.

A major review of the HS2 rail scheme gave a 'very incomplete assessment of environmental matters', the Court of Appeal was told.

Mr Packham took his case to the High Court in April seeking an emergency injunction to stop works he claimed would cause destruction or 'irreversible and irreparable loss' to ancient woodland sites.

Chris Packham is taking his fight against the HS2 high-speed rail scheme to the Court of Appeal today after losing his bid to stop the clearing of ancient woodlands. Pictured: Protestors outside the Court of Appeal, London, today

The Government gave the green light to the scheme based on a 'complete misapprehension' of the environmental impact, lawyers for the TV presenter argue

He applied for the order as part of his attempt to bring a legal challenge against the Government over HS2.

But two senior judges refused Mr Packham permission to bring a claim against the Government's decision and did not grant the injunction.

Announcing the court's decision, Lord Justice Coulson said: 'This application has no realistic prospect of success, so we do not grant permission to bring judicial review proceedings.'

Mr Packham was given permission to appeal against the High Court ruling and his case is being heard by three leading judges in a remote hearing today.

Chris Packham took his case to the High Court in April seeking an emergency injunction to stop works he claimed would cause destruction or 'irreversible and irreparable loss' to ancient woodland sites

The well-known environmental campaigner is not repeating his application for an injunction.

Lawyers for Mr Packham argue that there were failings in the way the Government reached its decision to give the HS2 project the go-ahead.

The Government is opposing the challenge.

At the High Court hearing, Government lawyers argued Mr Packham's legal challenge did not have a real prospect of success and should not be allowed to proceed.

In written submissions to the Court of Appeal, David Wolfe QC, for Mr Packham, argued that ministers would have proceeded with making a decision on HS2 on the basis that the report from the Government-commissioned Oakervee Review would have explained what they needed to know about the environmental impacts of the project, when in fact, it did not.

The Oakervee Review was set up to examine whether and how HS2 should proceed. Mr Wolfe said: 'The report gave a very incomplete assessment of environmental matters.

'That mattered, because it meant the decision-maker Secretary of State then proceeded (when balancing its various pros and cons) on a complete misapprehension of the existence and/or scale of the environmental impacts of the scheme.'

He also said Mr Packham's case is that 'the defendants were told (and so would have proceeded from an understanding) that the Oakervee Report in fact set out a sufficient account for their purposes of the environmental impacts, when in fact it had not done so'.

In January, a report by Wildlife Trusts claimed that 'huge swathes' of 'irreplaceable' natural habitats, including 39 nature reserves and 108 ancient woodlands, could be threatened by HS2

Mr Wolfe added: 'This misunderstanding affected the weight they would have given to the report's conclusions in their decision-making.'

He added: 'The simple point is that the Secretary of State proceeded on misunderstanding of (or an error of fact as to) the environmental impacts of HS2 when he came to decide whether it should proceed.'

In papers before the court, Mr Wolfe argued that when making the decision on HS2 the Government 'failed to have regard to the implications' to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The agreement is an environmental accord adopted by many nations, including the UK.

Pictured is the HS2rail route, showing phase one (dark blue line), two A (light blue line) and two B (orange line) as well as existing services that will use the network (yellow line)

He later said: 'The appellant's complaint is not that the Secretary of State was not aware that HS2 would contribute significantly to climate change in the period up to 2050 (he was), but that he was not told of, and did not take into account, the legal implications of that for the UK's international 'Paris' obligations (and indeed some of its domestic obligations).

'He failed to take into account the Paris Agreement when making this decision.'

The appeal is being heard by Lord Justice Lindblom, Lord Justice Haddon-Cave and Lord Justice Green.

HS2 is a new high-speed rail network that, when completed, should connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, along with other points in the country.

The judges reserved their ruling.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the national security aide who played a central role in President Donald Trump's impeachment case, announced his retirement from the Army Wednesday in a scathing statement that accused the president of running a 'campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation.'

The statement from attorney David Pressman said Vindman was leaving the Army after more than 21 years after it had been made clear 'that his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited.'

'Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers,' read the statement, first obtained by CNN.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien did not respond to questions about Vindman when he spoke to reporters at the White House Wednesday morning.

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the national security aide who played a central role in President Donald Trump's impeachment case, announced his retirement from the Army - he is seen above testifying before House lawmakers in November 2019

Alexander Vindman tweeted the news of his retirement

Vindman tweeted the news along with a photo of himself in civilian clothes, typing on a laptop.

'Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army, an organization I love. My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives,' he wrote.

There has been speculation about what Vindman may do next, including signing on as a contributor to a cable network or writing a book. Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who was another key impeachment witness, is working on a memoir and other administration officials have written on their dealings with Trump.

President Trump in February ousted Vindman from his White House job just two days after his acquittal by the Senate. Vindmans lawyer said his client had been told to leave in retaliation for 'telling the truth.'

The president tried to justify Vindman's removal at the time. 'He was very insubordinate, reported contents of my 'perfect' calls incorrectly, & was given a horrendous report by his superior,' Trump tweeted then.

Vindman, who was the National Security Council's Ukraine expert, testified under subpoena last fall about his concerns surrounding a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He said in his testimony that he didnt think it was 'proper' for Trump to 'demand that a foreign government investigate' former Vice President Joe Biden and his sons dealings with the energy company Burisma in Ukraine.

Last month, The Washington Post reported about concerns among government officials that the White House would try to block Vindman's promotion. He, along with hundreds of other officers, had been selected by the Army to be elevated to become a full colonel.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has insisted that Vindman is not being targeted for political reasons but there have been reports the White House has sought involvement in the promotions process.

One senior officer joked about sending Vindman to 'man a radar station in Alaska,' a source told CNN.

After speaking with senior military officials, Vindman decided to retire rather than attend the National War College, which was his next planned assignment.

He was told by senior Army officials he would not be deployable in his area of expertise, CNN reported, and that he needed a rehabilitative assignment.

Last week, Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Army veteran who is Biden's list as a possible running mate, said she would block the promotion of more than 1,000 officers unless the Defense Department ensured that Vindman would not be subjected to retaliation.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy recommended Vindman be promoted to colonel, an official told Politico.

McCarthy included Vindman's name in a list of officers recommended for promotion he sent to Esper's office. It's unclear whether Esper forwarded that recommendation to the White House.

There was concern some White House officials would remove Vindman's name from consideration.

Vindman's attorney accused President Trump of running a 'campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation'

President Trump in February ousted Alexander Vindman from his White House job just two days after his acquittal by the Senate

Testifying in his Army uniform as an active-duty soldier in November of last year, Vindman also spoke of his familys story and his father bringing them to the U.S. when he was a young child.

'Dad, my sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol, talking to our elected officials, is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to United States of America in search of a better life for our family,' he testified. 'Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.'
Tourists travelling to Scotland from Spain will have to continue to quarantine, Nicola Sturgeon said as she rejected some countries on the UK Government's list of air bridges.

Speaking at her daily briefing on the virus, the Scottish First Minister said the 14-day quarantine restriction will be lifted on July 10 for people returning or visiting from 39 countries with a low prevalence of Covid-19, including Germany, Norway and Malta.

Other countries which have a lower or not significantly higher prevalence of the virus than Scotland - including France, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy and Poland - will also be included on the list.

But she said the restriction will not be lifted for Spain or Serbia. She said the 'difficult decision' had been driven by the evidence.

Sturgeon went on to warn tourists that any attempts to 'get around' restrictions by crossing the border after flying into England would be ineffective.

Teeside and Newcastle International Airports are both under 100 miles from the Scottish border.

Nicola Sturgeon speaks during a COVID-19 press conference at St. Andrew's House today. Sturgeon said today that travel restrictions will not be lifted for Spain or Serbia, despite being on the UK's air bridge list

General view of San Lorenzo beach, in Gijon, Asturias, northern Spain, 04 July 2020. The beach is crowded in the first weekend of July, the first one of summer holidays

'I know how many people from Scotland enjoy travelling to Spain and I know how much we love welcoming Spanish tourists,' she said. 'My hope is these restrictions can be relaxed soon, and possibly very soon.'

Ms Sturgeon also emphasised that those who travel to Scotland from countries on the approved list will still have to adhere to the latest social distancing and hygiene measures.

And she warned quarantine measures could be reimposed if virus cases begin to spike again.

She said the prevalence of the virus in the Scottish population is currently 28 in every 100,000 people.

'We're not yet at the stage where we can say we've virtually eliminated the virus in the community, but that prize is clearly attainable and brings with it the prospect of a brighter future and more sustainable recovery,' she said.

But she warned the prevalence of the virus is higher elsewhere, including in the rest of the UK where 180 people per 100,000 have the virus.

She added: 'This is relevant to the decisions that we take in relation to quarantine.'

Ms Sturgeon also gave the latest Covid-19 figures for Scotland.

She said a total of 2,490 patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus, up by one from 2,489 on Tuesday, and 18,309 people have tested positive for the virus, up by seven from 18,302.

Passengers make their way through the main terminal at Edinburgh Airport on July 07, 2020 in Edinburgh, Scotland

The National Records of Scotland earlier revealed 4,173 people have died with Covid-19 under its weekly measure, which records all deaths with a suspected or probable case of the virus involved.

Also speaking during the briefing, Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman announced the easing of restrictions for those advised to shield during the pandemic because of a pre-existing medical condition.

The Scottish Government had initially asked people to shield until July 31 but said there would be periodical easing of restrictions throughout July.

From Friday, those who are shielding will no longer require to distance themselves from those they live with.

Those in single parent households or who live on their own will also be able to form an extended household group in the same way as the rest of the population can, including being able to visit someone in their home or stay overnight without having to socially distance.

Ms Freeman also said those who are in this category will also be able to book holiday accommodation or go to a second home, provided these do not have shared facilities with other households.

However, the Health Secretary 'strongly advised' this is only done with people in the same household or as part of an extended household.
Vice President Mike Pence once again claimed progress against coronavirus and 'flattening the curve' even as U.S. infections topped 3 million and states he singled out suffered record cases.

'We are actually seeing early indications of a percent positive testing flattening in Arizona and Florida and Texas,' Pence said at a White House coronavirus task force briefing at the Department of Education Wednesday.

Pence joined President Trump in his push for reopening schools, saying it was needed not just for educating kids but also to help the work force and to provide essential services.

'We are actually seeing early indications of a percent positive testing flattening in Arizona and Florida and Texas,' said Vice President Mike Pence Wednesday

Pence announced plans for new CDC guidelines shortly after President Donald Trump took to Twitter to criticize the public health agency for asking schools 'to do very impractical things.'

Pence pointed to a slowing coronavirus death rate nationally and early indications of positive tests flattening in Arizona, Florida and Texas. Those three states in recent weeks have seen some of the biggest spikes in coronavirus infections.

Amid wrenching debates nationwide about how and when to reopen schools, Trump warned schools Wednesday that if they do not reopen in the fall due to continuing concerns over coronavirus, he may cut off government funding.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence adjusts his protective face mask as White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Debbie Birx listens during a White House coronavirus disease (COVID-19) task force briefing at the Education Department in Washington, U.S., July 8, 2020

Donald Trump warned Wednesday morning that he would 'cut off funding' to schools if they did not return to in-person classes in the fall

DEATHS: Texas, Florida and Arizona are seeing an increase in COVID-19 deaths, according to data tracking the seven day average of deaths in the three hot spot states. Texas and Arizona both set new highs for deaths in a single day on Tuesday with 60 and 117 new deaths respectively. Florida recorded 63 new deaths on Tuesday

CASES: Deaths in the hot spot states come at least two weeks after they started seeing record spikes in infections last month. Cases in all three states have only increased since last month and continue to hit record highs

Just over 60,000 new cases were reported in 24 hours on Tuesday, up from the previous record of 53,600 infections set last Thursday

More than 131,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic took hold in March. At least 1,100 of those deaths were recorded on Tuesday, which is the highest daily increase this month. The record spike shown on June 25 accounts for New Jersey reporting probable deaths for the first time

The United States has set a grim record of more than 60,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day. The number of cases across the US has now surpassed 3 million and more than 131,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic took hold in March

The president said Democrats are concerned that reopening schools would be a bad political move for presumed Democratic nominee Joe Biden ahead of the November presidential election, and asserted other countries that have begun reopening their schools are having 'no problems.'

'In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS,' Trump asserted in a tweet Wednesday morning.

'The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families,' he wrote, adding: 'May cut off funding if not open!'

Trump added that he disagreed with guidance for reopening schools set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and would be "meeting with them!!!"

When asked about Trump's threat, Pence noted that the federal government only provides about 10 per cent of school funding, which is paid for primarily by states and localities.

Pence said 39 million tests had been performed across the country.

'Among those, more than three million Americans have tested positive and more than 1.3 million Americans have recovered,' he said.

Pence said the nation had produced 59,000 ventilators and said testing 'is scaling all across America.'

Pence also pleaded with nursing staff to reuse protective gear, amid signs of a replay of early days of the pandemic.

Deborah Burger, president of National Nurses United, warned: 'We're five months into this and there are still shortages of gowns, hair covers, shoe covers, masks, N95 masks.'

She cited a union survey and fretted. 'They're being doled out, and we're still being told to reuse them.'

Pence also defended Trump's decision to threaten funding for schools at a time many ares struggling.

He cited 'determination and leadership at the federal level' to 'get our kids back to school.'

'The president's just very serious,' Pence said, calling reopening schools 'absolutely essential.'

'What you're seeing the president provide is leadership,' said Pence.
Donald Trump's brother dissed Melania when he brazenly brought the then 28-year-old model to a family Father's Day meal, his niece claims in her explosive tell-all book.

Trump had brought his girlfriend and future wife to the family gathering at his apartment in Trump Tower in New York City in June of 1998.

At the time, he was still married to his second wife Marla Maples, who he wouldn't divorce for another year.

Donald's niece Mary recalls her uncle Robert Trump noted that Melania barely spoke throughout the entire meal, she writes in her new memoir Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man.

But when Mary speculated that it might be because the Slovenian model's English wasn't very good, Robert scoffed and told her: 'No, she knows what she's here for'.

Donald Trump's brother Robert dissed Melania when he brazenly brought the then 28-year-old model to the family's Father's Day meal, his niece claims in her explosive tell-all book

Trump had brought his girlfriend and future wife to the family gathering at his apartment in Trump Tower in New York City in June 1998. At the time, he was still married to his second wife Marla Maples, who he wouldn't divorce for another year. Pictured: Trump, Maples and their daughter Tiffany in the late 1990s

Donald's niece Mary recalls her uncle Robert Trump noted that Melania barely spoke throughout the entire meal, she writes in her new memoir Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man. But when Mary speculated that it might be because the Slovenian model's English wasn't very good, Robert scoffed and told her: 'No, she knows what she's here for'

Mary writes she had never met Melania before the gathering. She described Donald's home as being 'even colder and less like a home' than the Trump family home in Queens, New York.

Mary, 55, writes: 'Melania was five years younger than I was. She sat slightly sideways next to Donald with her ankles crossed. I was struck by how smooth she looked'.

As they began to talk Donald remarked that Mary 'dropped out of college', which Mary admitted was true.

Donald went on to say that Mary's behavior 'was really bad for a while' and 'she started doing drugs', which was not true, Mary writes.

Still, it piqued Melania's interest and she said 'really?'

Donald added that Mary was a 'total disaster' as he embellished the story further, according to the memoir.

Trump and Melania married in 2005 after Trump and Maples divorced in 1999.

Mary's anecdote is just the tip of the iceberg of the 200 page book, which damns the entire Trump family.

She claims Donald ogled her when she was 29 years old and in a swimsuit at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, with Donald allegedly saying: 'Holy s**t, Mary, you're stacked!'

Mary also describes attending a meal in the Executive Dining room of the White House in April 2017 and claims the President made a crass gag about his son Eric and Lara Trump.

By that point they had been together for eight years, three of which they were married.

But despite her disdain of her uncle, Mary sat at his desk while visiting the White House in April 2017. Mary is seen smiling as she sat at the Resolute Desk in a photo exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com. The image shows a photo of Mary's grandfather on the shelf behind her - a man she professes to despise as well. The picture was taken when Mary visited the White House to celebrate the 80th birthday of her aunt Maryanne, a year after her uncle took office

Mary also describes attending a meal in the Executive Dining room of the White House in April 2017 and claims that the President made a crass gag about his son Eric and Lara Trump. By that point they had been together for eight years, three of which they were married. The President said: 'Lara there, I barely even know who the f*** she was, honestly, but then she gave a great speech during the campaign in Georgia supporting me'. Pictured: Lara and Eric on June 16

The President said: 'Lara there, I barely even know who the f*** she was, honestly, but then she gave a great speech during the campaign in Georgia supporting me'.

But despite her disdain of her uncle, Mary sat at his desk while visiting the White House in April 2017.

Mary is seen smiling as she sat at the Resolute Desk in a photo exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com.

The image shows a photo of Mary's grandfather on the shelf behind her - a man she professes to despise as well.

The picture was taken in April 2017 when Mary visited the White House to celebrate the 80th birthday of her aunt Maryanne, a year after her uncle took office.

It may surprise readers of her book, which paints a dark portrait of the Trump family and says that the President's father Fred Sr neglected him so much it amounted to 'child abuse'.

The psychological damage was such that Donald became a sociopath, a narcissist and a threat to the entire country, according to Mary.

But despite all these misgivings - Mary tweeted in 2016 the election was the 'worst night of my life' - she accepted the invitation to visit her uncle in the White House.

She put aside the 20-year grudge with the Trumps that dates back to 1999 when they stated in court papers that she was already a multi-millionaire thanks to payments from the family's real estate fortune.

The April 2017 trip included a free night at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, where basic rooms cost around $300 a night.

In Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, Mary describes walking past paintings of former First Ladies inside the building on her way to meet the President.

Mary portrays the Trump family as deeply damaged people, starting with Fred Sr and his wife Mary Ann and filtering down to their five children. Pictured from left to right Robert, Elizabeth, Fred Jr, Donald and Maryanne Trump

Mary's book paints a dark portrait of the Trump family and says that the President's father Fred Sr neglected him so much it amounted to 'child abuse'

She stopped at one of Hillary Clinton and silently thought to herself 'how this could have happened?'

The whole Trump family was there including Donald's son Eric, who didn't recognize Mary because they hadn't seen each other since he was in high school.

Mary says they all posed for photos in the Oval Office, including Mary who mugged up for one behind the Resolute Desk.

After looking at the photo of herself later she saw Fred Sr and describes him as 'hovering behind me like a ghost'.

Mary portrays the Trump family as deeply damaged people, starting with Fred Sr and his wife Mary Ann and filtering down to their five children.

Her own father Fred Trump Jr died in 1981 aged 43 after battling alcoholism and the Trumps all but cut her out of the family estate.

Mary writes: 'Donald, following the lead of my grandfather and with the complicity, silence and inaction of his siblings, destroyed my father. I can't let him destroy my country'.

In another section of the book, Mary reveals Donald's eldest sister Maryanne, a now retired federal judge, scoffed at his presidential run, calling him 'a clown' and poked fun at his 'five bankruptcies'.

The Trumps saw 'cheating as a way of life' and empathy was for weaklings.

Mary, a trained psychologist, diagnoses her uncle as a sociopath due to his 'chronic criminality, arrogance, and disregard for others'.

She writes that 'Donald may also meet some of the criteria for dependent personality disorder' as well.

The hallmarks are: inability to take responsibility, discomfort when being alone and going to extreme lengths to obtain support from others.




Workers produce face masks at a factory of a member company of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group - Vinatex (Photo: VNA)

According to Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Israel Le Thai Hoa, bilateral trade stood at 649.4 million USD during the five-month period. Vietnams exports were down 17.9 percent year-on-year while its imports surged 419.3 percent.

He attributed the import growth primarily to Vietnam resuming its import of commodities from Israel with high value, like computers, electronic products, and components.

Apart from textiles, garments, and coffee products, which saw shipments grow, most of Vietnams key exports to Israel were lower year-on-year, including aquatic products, footwear, cashew nuts, and mobile phones.

Such a situation has become common in many countries around the world, Hoa explained, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of note, tuna exports to Israel reached 11.09 million USD during the first five months, accounting for 4.6 percent of Vietnams total tuna exports, Hoa said, adding that Israel is currently one of the ten largest importers of Vietnamese tuna.

In May alone, bilateral trade stood at 136.15 million USD, excluding machinery, vehicles, equipment, and protective gear in the security and defence sectors. Vietnams exports to Israel regained their strong growth while imports rose slightly against the previous month.

He also noted that some Israeli businesses have shown an interest in tra fish fillets, canned food, and apparel from Vietnam, and have been in discussions with Vietnamese partners to boost imports.

Given COVID-19, many Israeli companies have also inked contracts with Vietnamese companies to import medical supplies such as medical gloves and protective gear, Hoa added./.
Big Win for Religious Schools

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Liberty Counsel

July 8, 2020



WASHINGTON, July 8, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that faith-based schools have a First Amendment Free Exercise right to make employment decisions regarding religious teachers without government interference. The principles set forth in the consolidated cases of Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel apply beyond teachers at a religious school.

In both cases, two teachers at Catholic schools were required by their annual agreement and faculty handbook, to adhere to and teach, the doctrine and sacraments of the Catholic Church. In both cases, at their annual review, the teachers were not offered contract renewals. They filed discrimination claims in federal district court against their former employers. The Supreme Court ruled that both schools were protected religious organizations and that the courts could not interfere with their employment decisions under the "ministerial" exception that protects the autonomy of houses of worship and religious employers.

In Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, Agnes Deirdre Morrissey-Berru was a teacher at Our Lady of Guadalupe School, a kindergarten through 8th grade Catholic school, and she brought a claim against the school under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the school on the basis that Morrissey-Berru was a "minister."

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed the lower court and declined to classify Morrissey-Berru as a minister for the purposes of the ministerial exception. She had only taken one course on the history of the Catholic church and did not have any religious credential, training, or ministerial background. As a teacher at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Morrissey-Berru was responsible for providing a Catholic education, while implementing the school's new programs, which were a top priority. However, she proved unwilling to follow the guidelines of any of the programs, and her students' academic performance suffered as a result. Her recurring poor performance prompted complaints from fellow colleagues and parents. The principal moved her to a part-time teaching position, and then chose not to renew her contract.

In St. James School v. Biel, Kristen Biel was a full-time fifth-grade teacher at a Catholic parochial school, St. James School. Her responsibilities included demonstrating her religious beliefs and actively engaging in school events focused on worship. After the school found Biel's classroom performance to be below the school's standards, they worked with her for months to improve. When she did not show signs of improvement, the school decided not to renew her one-year contract.

The majority opinion, authored by Justice Alito, states: "The First Amendment protects the right of religious institutions to decide for themselves, free from state interference, matters of church government as well as those of faith and doctrine."

The Court goes on to say, "Although these teachers were not given the title of 'minister' and have less religious training than the teacher in Hosanna-Tabor, an earlier case involving the ministerial exception, we hold that their cases fall within the same rule that dictated our decision in Hosanna-Tabor. The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission."

The title of "minister" or lack thereof is not dispositive of whether the ministerial exception applies. "What matters, at bottom," Alito writes, "is what an employee does."

Alito also wrote, "Judicial review of the way in which religious schools discharge those responsibilities would undermine the independence of religious institutions in a way that the First Amendment does not tolerate."

Thomas notes that he writes "separately, however, to reiterate my view that the Religion Clauses require civil courts to defer to religious organizations' good-faith claims that a certain employee's position is 'ministerial.'"

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "The First Amendment draws a line in the sand that courts may not cross to protect the autonomy of religious employers respecting certain employment decisions. The 'ministerial' exception applies beyond 'ministers' to anyone that conveys the religious teaching on doctrine of the religious employer. This decision continues to confirm the historical and constitutional protections afforded to religious employers."

Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.

SOURCE Liberty Counsel



CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org



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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is launching a class for private citizens in Chicago on how to arrest undocumented immigrants.

The course, which begins on September 15 and will run one class a week for six weeks, will train non-agents in firearms, defensive training and how to make 'targeted arrests.' ICE plan to roll out the program to cities across the country.

ICE say they are launching the course to 'bring awareness' to the issues their officers face. But critics say it's an insidious attempt to expand the agency's reach and power.

Chicago Rep Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia [D-IL] believes ICE wants to use private citizens as their eyes and ears, to spy on their neighbors.

'Is this a recruitment tool to surveil and have people, neighbors surveil their neighbors to see who might be undocumented in their neighborhood, their community?' Garcia asked in a phone interview with DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

'Is this an effort to expand the reach of ICE? Does this advance the thrust of criminalizing immigrants and is it going to appeal to conservative types or right-wing types to connect with a police enforcement agency here to target immigrants?' asked the Congressman, who is working with the immigrant community and other advocacy groups to address the course.

DailyMail.com obtained a copy of an email which was sent by an ICE community relations official from the Chicago field office during the July 4 weekend that introduced the inaugural Enforcement and Removal Operations [ERO] Chicago Citizens Academy.

Pictured: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers guard a home during a raid in Los Angeles in 2007. The federal immigration agency revealed plans this week to introduce a six-week course to interested residents in Chicago who will gain insight into the many facets and responsibilities of ICE/ERO operations.

Letter sent by the ICE Chicago field office to stakeholders interested in gaining 'insight into the many facets and responsibilities of ICE/ERO operations.' The six-week course starts September 15 and reveal the nuts and bolts of the federal immigration agency's detention and removal process of undocumented immigrants

'During the ECA [ERO Citizens Academy], participants will gain insight into the many facets and responsibilities of ICE/ERO operations, and hopefully an awareness and appreciation of the issues our officers face every day in the performance of their duties,' wrote Robert Guadian, director of the ICE Chicago field office.

Participants will learn about Chicago's Enforcement and Removal Operations unit, how to draw up a subject's background and acquire knowledge about the Office of Principal Legal Advisor, a team of more than 1,000 attorneys that provides legal counsel to ICE.

'Attendees will participate in scenario-based training and exercises conducted in a safe and positive environment, including, but not limited to defensive tactics, firearms familiarization, and targeted arrests,' Guadian wrote.

'After completion of the ECA, a graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, October 23, 2020; graduates will be awarded a certificate and a commemorative coin. Continuing Education Credits [CEUs] may be available upon request.'

The federal immigration agency plans to extend the pilot program to other cities across the nation.

'The intent of the Academy is to foster positive relationships in the communities ICE serves and to build a better understanding of the agency. ICE encourages all, including Rep. Garcia, to apply,' ICE spokeswoman Nicole Alberico wrote in an email to DailyMail.com.

Congressman Jesus 'Chuy' Garcia (D-IL) at first questioned the validity of the course being offered in Chicago to train interested residents on how the Chicago's ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations unit works. He told DailyMail.com on Wednesday: 'Is this a recruitment tool to surveil and have people, neighbors surveil their neighbors to see who might be undocumented in their neighborhood?'

Sara John, the executive director St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee for Latin America, slammed ICE's program and said its intention is to drive white citizens to incite violence against immigrants, during a phone interview with DailyMail.com on Wednesday.

'I think what is most alarming is that we continue to see - and perhaps with the murder of George Floyd - have seen more extensively coverage about what happens when white citizens are emboldened and empowered and permitted let alone encouraged to commit acts of violence against people of color,' John said.

'We know that even though this program is not giving some sort of authorization to individuals outside of the agency to conduct enforcement activity, it is certainly begging and encouraging citizens to carry that idea of taking matters into their own hands and to sort of paint it in this obscure patriotic light of 'this is what good Americans do,' is to target people of color or target people who quote look like an immigrant.'

John was not not taken aback by the Chicago field office's project to kick off the pilot program because it heads the operations in Missouri, Indiana and Wisconsin where President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant sentiment is shared.

John believes that the introduction of ICE's Chicago Citizens Academy comes on the heels of President Donald Trump's administration being dealt a defeat in June when the Supreme Court blocked the White House's attempt to end protections for Dreamer immigrants who unlawfully came to the United States with their undocumented parents.

The 5-4 ruling upheld lower court decisions that found that Trump's 2017 move to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals [DACA] program was unlawful. The Supreme Court's decision also protected more than 649,000 immigrants from being deported.

In an earlier statement, the St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee for Latin America said ICE's Chicago Citizen's Academy course is another example that endorses 'white supremacy.'

National Immigrant Justice Center's executive director, Heidi Altman, DailyMail.com that the training program will generate hatred towards the immigrant community as Trump seeks reelection.

'It's no secret that this administration is interested in ways that they can use their agencies and use their agencies' resources to sow anti-immigrant sentiment and hatred and racism in communities,' said National Immigrant Justice Center's policy director, Heidi Altman in an interview with DailyMail.com. 'That is becoming more and more probable as we get closer to the election.'
John Thomas Conway, 40, of Oroville, California, was identified by Sierra County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday

A gunman who fatally shot a California doctor in front of his 15-year-old son in Sierra Nevada, after opening fire on two other victims in a 'random act of violence' over the weekend, was identified by authorities on Wednesday.

John Thomas Conway, 40, of Oroville, California, was arrested on Independence Day following an hours-long search through the forest that resulted in an officer-involved shooting, the Sierra County Sheriff's Office said.

Officials from at least six different law enforcement agencies embarked on a massive manhunt for the suspect after two people, who were not named, were shot in the Poker Flat area, and another, Dr Ari Gershman, was killed in nearby Downieville, on Friday.

Gershman, a doctor of internal medicine based in Danville, California, had been off-roading in his Jeep with his son Jack, 15, in Tahoe National Forest, when they stopped on a remote road to ask Conway for directions.

The gunman, who was driving an ATV, allegedly open fire 'out of nowhere', hitting Gershman, who immediately collapsed and died at the scene.

Father-of-three Gershman (pictured with his wife and family) was traveling with his son, Jack in Tahoe National Park when he was shot. The 15-year-old fled into the woods and was finally able to get through to rescuers with just 1% battery power on his phone before he spent more than 30 hours in a Sierra Nevada forest

Conway allegedly shot and killed Dr Ari Gershman (pictured) 'an avid bicyclist, a vegetarian, an outdoorsman, an internal medicine doctor,' on a remote road in Sierra Nevada on Friday

The teenage boy then fled into the forest to take shelter and was forced to survive alone 30 hours before he was rescued.

Authorities said they located Jack, who was able to call 911 after hiking to find cellphone reception, despite him traveling a 'considerable distance.'

'Even though the juvenile had fled the shooting and spent the night alone in the forest, he was in good physical condition and did not require medical attention,' officials said in a press release.

'After giving him some food and water, officers transported him to the Sheriff's Office, where he was reunited with his mother.'

Hours later, authorities located Conway after he failed to stop at a checkpoint on Saddleback Road and allegedly tried to run over two wildlife officers.

A third officer, who was down the road, attempted to block his vehicle as he drove away, resulting in a collision.

Officers then opened fire on the gunman and deployed a K-9, before taking Conway into custody, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities said none of Conway's victims were known to him and the Sierra County District Attorney plans to announce charges on the suspect 'soon.'

According to a family member, Jack called 911 before calling his mother, Paige around 5.30pm. During the call, Jack told his mother: 'Dad's been shot and I think he's dead and I'm running away, uphill and I don't know where I am'

In addition to his son, Gershman is survived by two other children, Evan, 16, and Maci, 10, and by his wife, Paige (pictured together), who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, according to the GoFundMe page

Gershman and his son were attacked near Downieville, California - a remote area 80 miles northeast of Sacramento and 55 miles west of Reno, Nevada.

Ari's cousin, Marlo Meyers-Barer, told the San Francisco Chronicle, that the man started shooting 'out of nowhere'.

'Ari stepped on the gas to get out of harms way, but one of the shots ripped through the seat and hit him. He was able to get the Jeep stopped so Jack was able to run into the forest to hide,' Meyers-Barer said.

Meyers-Barer said Gershman collapsed and died from the gunshot wound at the scene.

Just before the shooting, Gershman's wife, Paige, who was diagnosed six weeks ago with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, had sent a text to her husband letting him know that she received promising test results.

She had previously been tracking their progress on the trip using her phone.

Because her husband is a doctor, Paige said she thought it was odd he didn't respond.

According to Meyes-Barer, Jack called 911 before calling his mother, around 5.30pm.

During the call, Jack told his mother: 'Dad's been shot and I think he's dead and I'm running away, uphill and I don't know where I am.'

While it's unclear exactly where Jack was found, this map depicts the whereabouts of Jack and his father before the shooting and where the gunman was arrested

Jack then explained that it had taken him an hour to climb to find signal for his cell phone, which was only at 1 per cent battery power when he made the call. Jack was found in good condition on July 4 in Tahoe National Forest (file image)

Jack then explained that it had taken him an hour to climb to find signal for his cell phone, which was only at one per cent battery power when he made the call.

Meyes-Barer and Paige drove four hours to Downieville, and on the way received messages Jack had tried to send earlier in the day.

Meyers-Barer said: 'He said he was sorry and to tell his brother and sister he loved them. And he loved his mom. It was gut-wrenching.'

When they arrived, deputies at a sheriff's office broke the news that Gershman had been found dead and Jack was still missing.

Rescuers contacted network provider AT&T to help track pings on Jack's phone despite it being out of battery power.

Jack (pictured with siblings) fled and called police to say he was lost, according to the Sierra County Sheriff's Office

It took about five hours for authorities to extricate Jack from the forest and he was covered in bug bites because he was only wearing shorts and t-shirt.

He told authorities that he was able to get water from a stream he came across while walking in the forest.

There was no immediate word on a motive for the shooting of Gershman.

Gershman 'was an avid bicyclist, a vegetarian, an outdoorsman, an internal medicine doctor, a devoted and loving father and fantastic friend that was willing to drop anything for his friends and family,' according to a GoFundMe page which is raising money for the family.

'He was witty and wise. He died doing what he loved with his son in an area he had hoped to retire in one day.'

In addition to his son, Gershman is survived by two other children, Evan, 16, and Maci, 10, and by his wife, Paige.

Paige is currently undergoing chemotherapy for the Hodgkins Lymphoma, according to the GoFundMe page.
A statue of Robert Baden-Powell which was boarded up and put on a 24-hour security watch amid the Black Lives Matter demonstrations has had its protective casing removed.

The famous statue made an appearance once again today after Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council announced in June that the statue of the founder of the Scout Movement in Poole Quay, Dorset, would be temporarily taken down.

The decision to board the statue last month came amid fears the monument would be damaged after campaigners highlighted Baden-Powell's associations with the Nazis and the Hitler Youth programme.

But the removal was delayed after a crowd of people, some wearing Scout uniforms, gathered around the statue and vowed to protect it.

Council workers remove the boards covering the statue of Robert Baden-Powell in Poole Quay, Dorset

Rover Scouts Chris Arthur (left) and Matthew Trott (right) stand next to the statue before it is boarded up

More than 36,000 people also signed a petition calling for the statue to remain in place.

The local authority instead put protective boards around it as it felt that removing the sculpture would damage it but these have now also been removed.

Councillor Vikki Slade, leader of BCP Council, said: 'The initial decision to remove the statue was based upon the risk to public safety, and to the statue itself and was only ever intended as a temporary measure.

'Following the local concerns and an assessment that removal may damage the structure we retained the statue in place on the quay.

'Our advice is that the risk is now minimal and we have decided to remove the protective hoarding.

'We are actively working with the Scout Association to consider how best to reflect the wider aspects of the life of Lord Baden-Powell but do intend to retain it in its place overlooking Brownsea Island to reflect the strong links with Scouting and the positive impact on the lives of children all over the world.'

The World Organisation Of The Scout Movement (WOSM) said Baden-Powell, who was born in 1857, had lived 'in a different era with different realities'.

It said the movement he set up more than 113 years ago now has 54 million scouts in 224 countries and territories.

The statue was boarded up earlier this year and those campaigning for the monument to be removed highlighted Baden-Powell's associations with the Nazis and the Hitler Youth programme

Tourists look at a statue of Baden-Powell on the quay at Poole, Dorset, after the local council removes the protective hoarding around it

Baden-Powell is behind the Scout movement - which now has 54 million members around the world

'Scouting offers an inclusive environment to bring young people of all races, cultures and religions together, and creates opportunities for dialogue about how to promote peace, justice and equality,' the WOSM said.

'The movement that was founded in 1907 on Brownsea Island stands strong in its promotion of diversity and inclusion which are cornerstones of scouting's values, while denouncing all forms of racism, discrimination, inequality and injustice.'

It said scouts across the world attached 'historical value and symbolism' to the birthplace of the movement.

Chief Scout Bear Grylls also said that the Scout movement should acknowledge the founder's failings and added: 'We also recognise that Baden-Powell is part of our history, and history is nothing if we do not learn from it.'

The campaign for the statue's removal has been led by Corrie Drew, who describes herself as a BLM supporter on Twitter but was also Jeremy Corbyn's Labour general election campaign candidate for the area in 2019.

She previously said: 'Our people deserve better than a monument to Baden Powell. His starting of the scouting movement can be no excuse for his documented homophobia, racism and enthusiastic support of Hitler'.
Two San Francisco lawmakers have a proposed a bill which would make it a hate crime to call 911 to file a false report against a person of color.

Shamann Walton and Matt Haney, who both serve on the city's Board of Supervisors, announced their plans to push through the legislation on Tuesday.

The pair have called their proposal the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergences Act, or the CAREN Act.

The acronym is a play on the name Karen - which has recently become used as a slang term for a white woman who is perceived to be entitled, demanding or racist.

While filing a false police report is already a crime, the CAREN Act would add a 'hate crime' extension to the offence, according to The Daily Beast.

The CAREN Act would also make it illegal for people to contact law enforcement solely to discriminate on the basis of a person's religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity', according to a press release.

Matt Haney (left) and Shamann Walton (right) have co-authored the CAREN Act - a bill which make it a hate crime to call 911 to make a false report against a person of color

Announcing the proposal on Twitter, Walton wrote: 'Racist 911 calls are unacceptable that's why I'm introducing the CAREN Act at todays SF Board of Supervisors meeting. This is the CAREN we need.'

Walsh, who represents San Francisco's 6th District, also took to Twitter to declare that he had co-authored the bill.

'The CAREN Act makes it unlawful to fabricate false racially biased emergency reports. Racist false reports put people in danger and waste resources.,'' he wrote.

In the past two months there have been a number of high-profile incidents involving so-called 'Karens' calling the cops on people of color and accuse them of bogus offences.

Back in May, New York investment banker Amy Cooper was branded 'Central Park Karen' after she was caught on cell phone video calling 911 and falsely claiming that she was being threatened by Christian Cooper (no relation)

Back in May, New York investment banker Amy Cooper was branded 'Central Park Karen' after she was caught on cell phone video calling 911 and falsely claiming that she was being threatened by black bird-watcher Christian Cooper (no relation).

Mr Cooper had simply asked Ms Cooper to put her dog on a leash.

While on the phone to the 911 operator, Cooper was seen adopting a hysterical tone, demanding that officers respond immediately.

'I'm in the Ramble, there is a man, African-American, he has a bicycle helmet and he is recording me and threatening me and my dog,' she stated.

'I am being threatened by a man in the Ramble, please send the cops immediately!'

Ms Cooper was charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree on Monday.

If the CAREN Act becomes law in San Francisco, any similar incidents that occurs in the city could lead to the filing of a hate crime charge against the individual who dials 911.

Christian Cooper, a keen birdwatcher, was verbally attacked by Amy Cooper after he asked her to control her dog

However, it is unclear whether the law would extend to people who call to report trivial issues or minor disputes with persons of color to police.

Last month in San Francisco, white businesswoman Lisa Alexander dialed 911 on Fillipino man James Juanillo after she stopped to question him while he was chalking 'Black Lives Matter' onto a fence outside his home.

Juanillo claims that after Alexander called police about his alleged illegal activity, cops came by in a squad car, but never even got out

Alexander was quickly dubbed 'San Francisco Karen' - but its unclear whether she would be charged with a hate crime under the CAREN Act as she did not report a false incident, but rather a trivial one.

The board of supervisors has not yet voted on whether to pass the Act,
Lori Vallow's daughter Tylee Ryan was allegedly molested by her biological father years before the 'cult' mom was implicated in the disappearance of the girl and her brother.

Court documents emerged this week detailing how Tylee told a therapist that her dad, Lori's ex-husband Joseph Ryan, had abused her when she was five years old in 2008.

The documents came to light almost a month after the bodies of Tylee, 17, and her brother Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, seven, were discovered buried in the yard of Lori's current husband Chad Daybell on June 9.

Lori and Chad are both behind bars on charges of destruction of evidence in the case which began when the children were reported missing last November - over two months after they disappeared in September.

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Newly unearthed court documents revealed that Lori Vallow's daughter Tylee Ryan told a therapist that she was sexually abused by her father Joseph Ryan (pictured together) when she was five years old in 2008

The sexual abuse allegations came to light almost a month after Tylee, 17, and her brother Joshua 'JJ' Vallow (pictured) were found buried on the property of Lori's husband Chad Daybell

Lori and Chad are both behind bars on charges of destruction of evidence in the case which began when the children were reported missing last November - over two months after they disappeared in September. The couple are pictured above in their mugshots

The court documents describing the alleged sexual abuse were filed as part of a years-long custody battle between Lori and Joseph Ryan, who were married from 2001 to 2004.

The social worker who penned the documents, first obtained by Law & Crime Network, recounted what the therapist, Leslie Smith, had told them about her sessions with Tylee.

'Ms. Smith informed us that Tylee reported being happy about the visits with her dad and wanting those visits to continue during their last session,' the social worker wrote.

But, she said, Tylee had expressed fear about her and her older brother, Colby, spending the night at their father's house.

Joseph Ryan (pictured) died of an apparent heart attack in 2018

'[The therapist] then reported that Tylee added something along the lines of "I am scared about overnights".

'When [the therapist] questioned her about this, she said something like "because Joe molested me and Colby."'

When Lori joined the session toward the end, Smith said that Tylee looked at her mother and said: 'I told her.'

It is unclear whether authorities investigated Tylee's claim and Joseph Ryan was never formally accused of any misconduct toward his daughter.

The Texas Juvenile Probation Domestic Relations Office in Travis County, which handled the custody battle, did not immediately return DailyMail.com's request for comment.

The court filing describing Tylee's meeting with the therapist is shown above

Joseph Ryan died of an apparent heart attack in 2018, after Lori had gone on to marry her fourth husband Charles Vallow, with whom she adopted JJ.

Tylee's brother Colby, however, appeared to validate the girl's claims in an interview with Dateline in May as the search for the children dragged on.

'He went out of his way to make a point, he would spank me and just did weird things like little hits on the head, thought it was funny,' Colby, who now has a young daughter of his own, said.

Colby then paused to collect himself before stating: 'He was sexually abusive as well.'

Asked if Lori knew about the abuse, Colby said that he had confided in her after the fact.

'I remember how devastated she was,' he said. 'I can't imagine that feeling and that's why I didn't want to tell her in the beginning.'

Tylee's older brother Colby Ryan claimed that Joseph Ryan was 'sexually abusive' during an interview with Dateline in May (pictured)

Lori and Joseph Ryan are pictured at their wedding in 2001. They divorced three years later

In March it was revealed that the FBI was looking into Joseph Ryan's death as part of its sweeping investigation into the disappearance of JJ and Tylee.

Authorities are also investigating the deaths of Lori's fourth husband Charles Vallow and of Chad's previous wife Tammy Daybell, who died weeks before he married Lori in November.

The search for the children came to a devastating end last month as their remains were discovered in Chad's backyard in Salem, Idaho.

Investigators believe Tylee was killed and buried there by Lori's brother, Alex Cox, on the day after she disappeared, September 8.

JJ is believed to have been buried less than two weeks later on September 23, the last day he was seen alive.

Authorities have not yet said how the children died or who is responsible for their deaths as the investigation is ongoing.

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

Court documents stated that Tylee's body had been dismembered and partially burned, while JJ's was wrapped in plastic and duct tape.

Lori was arrested on charges of child abandonment and desertion back in February, months after she and Chad fled Idaho for Hawaii when the search began.

Those charges were dropped last week after prosecutors introduced two new counts of conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence.

Chad was arrested the same day the bodies were found, June 9, and charged with two felony counts of destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors added two new felony counts for conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence last week.

Both Lori and Chad are scheduled to appear in court for preliminary hearings next month.

They have maintained their innocence throughout the course of the case.
Conjoined twins whose skulls were fused back-to-back and who had 'one of the rarest and most complex forms of cranial and cerebral fusion' doctors had seen have successfully been separated.

The two-year-old sisters Ervina and Prefina, were born in 2018 in Mbaiki, Central African Republic, with their heads attached and sharing critical blood vessels around their brains.

However surgeons at the Bambino Gesu (Baby Jesus) Paediatric Hospital in Rome, which is Vatican-owned but operates within the Italian public health system, have now successfully separated them following three risky surgeries.

The hospital said it was the first time in Italy and likely the world that surgeons were able to separate twins with the rare congenital defect in such a way.

Sisters Ervina and Prefina (pictured with their mother Ermine Nzotto before surgery), who were born with a rare condition which saw their skulls fused together, have successfully been separated at the the Bambino Gesu (Baby Jesus) Pediatric Hospital in Rome, Italy

The twins (pictured after surgery) had been joined from the back of the head since birth before doctors at the Vatican-owned hospital were able to separate them

Mother of the twins Ermine Nzotto (pictured with a team of medical staff) has said she never went to school but hopes her daughters would study to become doctors

The two sisters were brought to Italy in September 2018 after the hospital's president met the twins and their mother at a medical centre where they were born.

Tests conducted in Italy showed the twins to be generally in good health but that one sister's heart was working harder to maintain the 'physiological balance of the organs of both, including the brain.'

The greatest challenge facing the team of specialists - including neurosurgeons, anaesthesiologists, neuroradiologists, plastic surgeons, engineers, and physiotherapists - was the shared network of blood vessels bringing blood from the girls' brains to their hearts, the hospital said in a statement.

The procedure required 'three very delicate operations to progressively reconstruct two independent venous systems,' it said.

The final surgery, which took 18 hours and involved 30 doctors and nurses, took place on June 5 when the bones of the shared skull were divided.

Surgeons then reconstructed the membrane covering the two brains and recreated the skin lining over the new skulls.

'A month after the final separation, the twins are fine,' said the hospital.

Dr Carlo Marras, chief of paediatric neurosurgery at Bambino Gesu, who led the team that worked for nearly two years planning and executing the separation, said the sisters would now be able to lead a 'normal life'.

At a press conference to announce the outcome of the sisters' surgery, Dr Marras said the prognosis was 'these girls can have a normal life' after a phase of rehabilitation.

Before the separation surgery, members of the Vatican hospital's staff gave the girls mirrors so they could see one another.

They knew what each other sounded like, but the mirrors helped them associate facial expressions with their personalities and sounds, Dr Marras said.

'It was an experience that wasn't just professional but above all human: to think that you can arrive at something that we had only imagined, with all the possibilities of failure.

'It was a magical moment. Marvellous,' he said.

The hospital has said the girls still face the risk of infection and will need to wear protective helmets for a few months. Pictured: Mother Ermine Nzotto with one of her daughters

Hospital President Mariella Enoc met the mother and her twins twins (pictured together prior to being brought to Italy) during a visit to the Central African Republic

Tests carried out on the twins by doctors at the Italian hospital found that one sister's heart was working harder to maintain the 'physiological balance of the organs of both

Doctors said the greatest challenge for them would be the shared network of blood vessels bringing blood from the girls' brains to their hearts

Pictured: Mother Ermine Nzotto smiles with joy as she walks into a hospital room to see her twin daughters Ervina and Prefina

Following the surgery, video images of a hospital party given for the twins' second birthday with their mother on June 29 showed the girls, their heads wrapped in protective bandages, gesticulating and grabbing at their birthday cake.

The twins' mother, Ermine Nzotto, wiped tears from her eyes as she watched a video prepared by the hospital of the twins' before and after their separation.

Ms Nzotto said she never went to school but hopes her daughters would study to become doctors.

'It's a joy, that I can see my girls run and play like other children.

'May they tomorrow study and learn to become doctors to save the other children of this world,' she said through an interpreter.

The mother thanked Dr Marras, the hospital president and Pope Francis, who visited Central African Republic's capital of Bangui in 2015 and has since strongly supported Bambino Gesu's collaboration with the paediatric hospital there.

Ms Nzotto said she also hopes that Francis will now baptise her girls.

Hospital President Mariella Enoc had met the twins soon after they were born during a visit to the Central African Republic and was the driving force behind bringing them to Rome and seeing if they could be separated.

A display shows a 3D reconstruction of the skulls of twin sisters Ervina and Prefina

The twin girls shared a network of blood vessels bringing blood from their brains to their hearts

She said deciding to do so created ethical and economic questions, since the cost of one million euros (1.1 million US dollars) paid for primarily by the hospital foundation could have been spent on less-risky procedures that might have benefited more children.

But Ms Enoc said: 'When you find a life that can be saved, you have to save it.'

The hospital has cautioned that the risk of infection was still present and the girls would have to wear protective helmets for a few months.

But post-operative controls showed that their brains were 'intact,' adding that they will have the opportunity to grow normally and 'lead a normal life, like all girls of their age.'

It was the fourth time the hospital had operated on conjoined twins in its history.

Twins conjoined by the skull are extremely rare, or approximately one case every 2.5 million live births, the hospital said, adding that in Europe in the past 20 years only two cases of separating twins joined at the top of their skulls had been successful.
The Supreme Court could hand down politically explosive rulings related to Donald Trump's tax returns when it finishes out its term on Thursday  with decisions that could affect Trump's reelection as well as any potential criminal prosecution.

After issuing two rulings on Wednesday, the court announced that its final rulings would come out tomorrow, which means the long-litigated issue of Trump's taxes could get a measure of certainty if the court rules.

Among the major cases left, just three remain, including two cases dealing with Trump's taxes and related issues of balancing executive power and the legislative function, as well as the force of grand jury subpoenas.

The Supreme Court is set to release its final cases for the term Thursday

One of the cases Trump v. Mazars USA, LLP, involves the accounting firm that three House committees slapped with subpoenas soon after Democrats took control. The court must decide whether the subpoenas fall under the broadly defined powers of Congress to legislate.

The other cases are Trump v. Deutsch Bank, AG and Trump v. Vance, named for New York District Attorney Cy Vance, who also hit the institutions with subpoenas for Trump tax information.

In the Mazars case, Trump faces the political risk of having detailed information about his business dealings and personal wealth revealed. In the Vance case, 'there is at least some risk that the information sought might support a criminal indictment,' according to a Brookings Institution analysis of the litigation.

Under Justice Department guidelines Trump is protected from prosecution while in office  but a defeat in November could expose him once he leaves the White House.

The court delivered victories to Trump on Wednesday, but has also gone against the administration on gay rights and immigration

Chief Justice John Roberts is preparing to cap off the court's session

Manhattan DA Cy Vance is investigating 'hush' payments to porn star Stormy Daniels

Only a single Trump tax return  from 1995  has been revealed, through a leak

Trump's lawyers asserted 'absolute immunity' and refused to hand over tax return information and sought to block third parties from doing so.

Vance is exploring, among other things, whether Trump personally directed 'hush' payments totaling $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels after she claimed they had an affair. Longtime former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is serving a prison term on campaign finance charges related to the transaction, which he says was directed by Trump.

Trump said repeatedly during the campaign that he would release his taxes, then said he would so when they were no longer under audit.

There is no law requiring president's to release their returns, although every president prior to Trump going back four decades did so.

Only a single year of Trump's taxes has been made available following a leak to the New York Times.

Three Committees, including the House Intelligence Committee chaired by Rep. Adam Schiff, and Ways & Means chaired by Rep. Richard Neal, sought Trump tax return information

Trump's niece, Mary Trump, describes in her new book how she decided to leak a trove of information to the paper for its in-depth look at how Trump and his siblings inherited wealth from their father, Fred Trump.

The Times concluded he engaged in 'dubious tax schemes during the 1990s, including instances of outright fraud, that greatly increased the fortune he received from his parents.'

She writes that she gave the documents to the paper in 2017. 'It wasn't enough for me to volunteer at an organization helping Syrian refugees. I had to take Donald down,' she wrote.
A high-flying banker who claimed she was forced out of HSBC after having an affair with a married colleague is 'unreliable and self-serving' an employment tribunal ruled as they dismissed her case.

Madeleine Luckham, 38, head of delivery for staff digitisation, said her life became hell when she called time on the fling with 48-year-old father-of-four Robert Clegg.

She accused him of setting out on a 'mission to destroy' her career and referred to him as 'Weinstein' after the jailed movie mogul who preyed on actresses.

She also claimed that Mr Clegg had sex in the work toilet with another employee shortly after their split, then winked at her after emerging 'sweaty' from the loo.

But an employment tribunal accepted his explanation that he was helping the woman clear up after being sick on hearing some distressing news and that the layout of the office meant that Ms Luckham could not have had the view she claimed.

Ms Luckham, whose 550 a day contractor rate would have earned her 185,000 a year, said she was promised a 130,000-a-year staff job that she never got because of sexism at the bank.

But other workers and contractors complained about her.

Madeleine Luckham (left, outside Stratford Employment Tribunal) has accused Robert Clegg (right) of sexually harassing her and refusing to grant her the job he allegedly promised during their fling

In one email sent by superior Lloyd Robson, said: 'The aggressiveness and mannerism of which some of these conversations were held and in front of others won't be tolerated, and not expected by anyone at HSBC or in line with our values.'

Throwing out her claims of sex discrimination, harassment and victimisation, Employment Judge Catrin Lewis said: 'We do not find he (Mr Clegg) abused his power or control over the claimant or acted in the way she described.

'We find he treated her more favourably than he would have done others in the same circumstances.'

And of the allegation that she was forced out, they ruled: 'The reason why the Claimant's contract was not renewed was because of the concerns raised by HR in very strong terms as a result of a number of complaints about her conduct towards colleagues and others she worked with.

'We have been faced with conflicting accounts of numerous events where we have unfortunately been drawn to the conclusion that the Claimant's account of those events is unreliable and self-serving.

'In a large number of instances the allegations were based purely on the interpretation placed by the Claimant on events or action, which was not supported by any cogent evidence. '

Ms Luckham had claimed Mr Clegg flirted with other women in front of her after their split, got 'very handsy' at work with another woman and whispered in the woman's ear 'we'd have great sex', the tribunal was told.

She had also claimed : 'He would leer at my chest, my lips, touch me uninvited in public.'

Mr Clegg, the department's global head, had begun a relationship with Ms Luckham in October 2017 after a drinks party.

They went to the bar in the hotel he was staying at across the road where they kissed, the London hearing was told.

Three days later he invited her to dinner. Mr Clegg said they had sex for the first time that night - and the sessions continued intermittently for 'around three months.'

Employment Judge Lewis said: 'He was married at the time but his marriage had broken down and he described himself as lonely and unhappy.'

Ms Luckham said she decided to end it at Christmas on account of Mr Clegg's family life.

She also described the relationship as being 'back on one minute and over the next'.

They were in bed together the following month - during a work trip to Hong Kong.

Ms Luckham had followed him to his hotel - angry and upset. They ended up having a long conversation and agreed it was not going to work.

Mr Clegg, from Newbury in Berkshire, told her his wife had agreed to go to marriage counselling. The conversation was painful for both, he said.

The judge said: 'However they had sex that night one last time - which he described as 'goodbye sex'.'

But Ms Luckham said it was not over until the following April. The date is significant as she said his attitude towards her changed dramatically, said the judge.

The tribunal found text messages sent on 24 and 27 January 2018 between her and a friend including advice such as 'you'll only be hurting if you go there again' were consistent it already being finished.

The judge said: 'The claimant's friend is apparently encouraging her not to let her feelings get the better of her and not to sleep with him again.

'We are satisfied the relationship ended in December 2017 and was over by January 2018.

'We accept Mr Clegg's account as to what happened in January on the Hong Kong trip, that the relationship was over and did not continue afterwards.

The pair slept together while on a business trip to Hong Kong. Pictured: A file photo of HSBC Bank sign in Hong Kong

'We find this is also consistent with there being no further personal WhatsApp messages between the two of them between 31 January and 9 April, the texts that there are were work-related.'

When Ms Luckham sent Mr Clegg a picture by WhatsApp of Harvey Weinstein he believed it was meant as a joke - but said he did not find it funny.

The judge said: 'He was absolutely mortified and extremely upset, and he also felt there was an implied threat she might make allegations about him. '

Mr Clegg told the tribunal: 'I was petrified of what she might do day-to-day and in the long term. I felt she would fabricate what had or had not happened.

'I made a huge mistake and I was deeply sorry about it.

'I should not have got into a relationship at work and that is something that I have learned and I did not want to hurt her anymore than she had been hurt already.'

Ms Luckham said she confided in fellow team member Kai Kartel and they discussed Clegg's nickname.

She said: 'Kai and I discussed Rob, the way he looked at women like they were prey and the fact he had even earned himself a nickname, 'Weinstein'.'

She added: 'There is a culture of sexism at HSBC in which women are objectified by male colleagues, ignored when complaints are raised and frozen out of the business when they are perceived as 'difficult'.'

Ms Luckham, from Teddington in south west London, sued Mr Clegg and HSBC for sex discrimination after she was let go and a 130,000 a year job said she was promised never materialised.

But the judge said: 'We find the claimant had come to feel more for Mr Clegg than she had anticipated when she entered into the relationship and she was struggling with her feelings for him, and about their relationship and its break up, throughout the period from January 2018 onwards.'

Mr Clegg was fired the following year for gross misconduct Stratford Employment Tribunal heard.

Mr Clegg was found to be in breach of HSBC's policy during his disciplinary investigation and fired for gross misconduct in January 2019.

He admitted at the hearing that he had failed to declare both his relationship with Ms Luckham and subsequently Female 2, another worker at the bank.
The NYPD is investigating whether a double murder in a Bronx apartment building was a revenge attack for the drive-by shooting of a father, 29, killed while crossing the street holding his 4-year-old daughter's hand.

Joel Baba, 22, and Eghosa Imafidon, 23, were shot dead in the hallway of 306 East 171 Street in the Bronx at around 8 p.m. Sunday night after they were ambushed and cornered by two gunmen.

A third man, Mohammed Baba, 29, survived the attack after being shot in the arm.

Police are now investigating whether the homicide was carried out in retaliation for the murder of Anthony Robinson, 29, a senior law enforcement official told NBC New York.

Robinson was gunned down in the street in a drive-by shooting just four blocks away and a little over two hours earlier.

This comes as shooting victims across New York City have skyrocketed a staggering 206 percent compared to the same week last year, and fears mount that the Big Apple could be heading back to the high crime levels seen in the 70s and 80s.

The NYPD is investigating whether a double murder in a Bronx apartment building was a revenge attack for the drive-by shooting of a father, 29, killed while crossing the street holding his 4-year-old daughter's hand just a few blocks away. Surveillance footage above of the double murder

Joel Baba, 22, and Eghosa Imafidon, 23, were shot dead in the hallway of 306 East 171 Street in the Bronx at around 8 p.m. Sunday night after they were ambushed and cornered by two gunmen (pictured)

Shocking surveillance footage released by the NYPD of the double homicide Sunday night shows the two shooters cornering the three men in the hallway of the apartment block

Shocking surveillance footage released by the NYPD of the double homicide Sunday night shows the two shooters cornering the three men in the hallway of the apartment block.

One of the suspects is seen on camera coming up the stairs while the second approaches the group from down the hallway.

The two men open fire on the three victims who are trapped and are seen desperately scrambling to try to get inside an apartment away from the hail of bullets raining down on them.

One of the gunmen is then seen coming forward to fire more bullets at the men at close range, before running off.

Joel Baba and Imafidon were transported to Bronx Care Health System where they were both pronounced dead.

The NYPD has released these images of two individuals wanted for questioning over Sunday night's attack

Mohammed Baba, identified locally as Joel's brother, was taken to Lincoln Hospital in a stable condition.

Law enforcement sources said the NYPD is investigating whether the attack is linked to the murder of Robinson just hours earlier.

Robinson was shot in the chest just before 6pm Sunday as he crossed a street in the Bronx with his daughter.

Police are now investigating whether the homicide was carried out in retaliation for the murder of Anthony Robinson, 29, (pictured)

Video shows the moment a person in a passing car extended a gun and opened fire on 29-year-old Anthony Robinson as he walked down the street with his daughter

The car fled from the scene, leaving Robinson lying in the road as he daughter ran to get help

Horrifying video footage shows the father and child passing in front of 221 East 170 St when a car drives up to them.

An arm is seen extending a gun out of the front passenger window and firing at Robinson.

The father is seen slumping to the ground on the crosswalk as his little girl daughter runs for cover.

Robinson was transported to hospital and pronounced dead while his daughter escaped unharmed.

No arrests have been made and police have not named any suspects.

An NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com they cannot confirm whether the two fatal shootings are connected at this time.

Robinson was gunned down in the street in a drive-by shooting just four blocks away and a little over two hours earlier

Shooting victims across New York City have skyrocketed in recent weeks and fears are mounting that the Big Apple could be heading back to the high crime levels seen in the 70s and 80s

NYC VIOLENCE IN THE LAST WEEK COMPARED TO THE SAME WEEK IN 2019: Shooting victims +206%

Shooting incidents +185%

Murders +50%

Burglary +29%

Grand larceny auto +68%

Rape -15%

Robbery -27%

Felony assault -8% Advertisement

They said the investigations are open and ongoing and they are looking at every possible connection.

Robinson, Baba and Imafidon are just three of nine people shot dead in New York Sunday. A total of 48 were shot across the city that day.

The Big Apple has been rocked by a surge in gun violence in recent weeks, with the number of shooting victims up a staggering 206 percent in the last week, compared to the same week in 2019.

In total, the NYPD recorded 101 people were shot in the week from June 29 to July 5 - up from 33 in the same week last year.

Shooting incidents were also up 185 percent and murders up 50 percent compared to the same time last year, according to the NYPD CompStat 2.0.

Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly told Fox News Tuesday the future for New York City is 'very bleak' and warned that crime could increase to levels not seen since the 1970s and 80s.

The spike in crime comes as the City Council voted to scrap $1billion from the NYPD's budget, after weeks of protests calling for the force to be defunded in the wake of the Memorial Day death of black man George Floyd.
Jonathan Lopez, 29, wrote a racist and homophobic letter to himself and claimed to police that it had been left anonymously

An Oregon politician admitted to writing a racist and homophobic letter to himself after previously claiming it was left anonymously in his mail box.

Jonathan Lopez, 29, alleged he received the letter in late June, warning him that he was not welcome in the area and that people like him are killed in Umatilla County.

It was signed, 'Sincerely, America'.

Hermiston Police revealed Monday that their investigation found Lopez penned the hate-filled rant himself and made false statements to the police and on social media.

Police say the criminal investigation into the intimidation has now been closed but that Lopez may be charged for initiating a false police report.

Lopez, who is Latino, claims he never meant to file a police report and only wanted to use the fake letter as an example but the case 'spiraled out of control'.

'From the onset, this alleged incident has been thoroughly investigated,' Police Chief Jason Edmiston told East Oregonian.

'Our investigation has shown that Mr. Lopez wrote the letter himself and made false statements to the police and on social media.'

The politician claimed to have received the racist letter on June 23 from an anonymous person.

The next day he told police and local media that he did not know who sent it and had found it in is mailbox.

Police revealed Monday that Lopez had written the letter himself a gave false statements to the police. The case has been referred to the Umatilla County District Attorney's Office

He shared the letter publicly to Facebook with certain sections blurred out, claiming he had been told he was 'not welcome here'.

'F**k you and your n****r and queer loving self,' the fake letter read.

'America is only for the great. You and your communist liberal community can go f**k yourselves and rot in hell.

'Umatilla County kills w******s like you and are dumped in the fields and river. That's why our crops are the best! Don't waste your time trying to become anything in this county we will make sure you never win and your family suffers along with all the f*****g Mexicans in the area!' it continued.

'America is for the God-fearing, pro gun, pro life humans who refuse to be controlled by the government. There's no room for people like you here.'

In a post accompanying the letter, Lopez wrote that he had 'no resentment for whomever wrote this'.

'As an American born man who served in the USCG, fire and rescue services, Im also proud of where my parents and grandparents were born and raised, Mexico,' Lopez added.

'I have lived a life full of obstacles and challenges Including racism. There is no room or tolerance of that.'

He had removed his social media profiles as of Wednesday.

Lopez has now made a written and verbal admission that the letter was fake, KOMO News reported.

Edmiston said that he was 'disgusted' to learn that Lopez was responsible for the letter and that his actions 'needlessly' added to racial tension across the country.

'The time spent on this fictitious claim means time lost on other matters, not to mention it needlessly adds to the incredible tension that exists in our nation today,' he said.

'As a lifelong resident of this diverse community, Im disgusted someone would try to carelessly advance their personal ambitions at the risk of others.'

Lopez ran in the May 2020 primary for a seat on the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners and came fourth. Police claim he may have also have broken the law with allegedly false claims that he served in the U.S. Coast Guard supplied to the election's voter guide

Lopez attempted to defend himself, telling the East Oregonian that he 'never meant to mislead' the public or even file a police report.

He claims he only wished to use the letter as a way to talk about racism in the county with the police.

'I never meant to file a report, it just kind of spiraled out,' he said.

Hermiston Police said they are referring the matter to the Umatilla County District Attorneys Office.

Initiation of a false report is a Class A misdemeanor in Oregon.

They are also sending information on possible election fraud amid claims Lopez presented false credentials during his run for county commissioner.

The department says that Lopez made potentially fraudulent statements about his background and education in the May 2020 voters guide when he was running in the primary for a seat on the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners.

Edmiston said police have learned Lopez may not have served in the U.S. Coast Guard as he has claimed. If a lie, it would be in violation of the 2013 Stolen Valor Act.

Lopez placed fourth in the May primary.

East Oregoni reports that he is a member of the city of Hermistons Hispanic Advisory Committee.

It also states that Lopez is an associate pastor at Hermistons Living Springs Apostolic Church and the chief executive officer of the Einstein Learning Center.

He was born in Los Angeles and moved to Virginia when he was ten years old.

Lopez has only lived in Umatilla County since 2017.
A bold statement of support: Tenn. church gives $1,000 each to employees at local police dept.

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A congregation in Tennessee has donated $1,000 to each member of their local police department as a sign of appreciation for the work they do to protect the community.

Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church of Jonesborough raised a total of $23,000 for their local department, presenting the checks in a ceremony held on Saturday morning.

Lighthouse Pastor Perry Cleek told The Christian Post that his church felt obligated to do the charitable act in response to news about the abuse many police have experienced in recent times.

We have heard the news reports of entire police departments suffering from a debilitating lack of morale. In many places in America, local governments are signaling their support for those who are attacking law enforcement by defunding their local police, explained Cleek.

We wanted to make a bold statement in support of law enforcement. Our desire was for our action to send a symbolic message of our support to the Jonesborough Police, but to also show our support in a very practical way by recognizing and supporting each individual employee.

The Saturday event had around a couple hundred attendees, including Jonesborough Chief Ron Street Public Safety Director Craig Ford, with a crowd Cleek described as very supportive.

We recognize that we do not speak for anyone but our local church. We have not issued an appeal for other churches to follow our example, he continued.

However, we believe that millions of Americans feel exactly the same way we do about the treatment of law enforcement in our country, but do not feel they have a voice. The voices of those blaming and condemning law enforcement for much that is wrong in our country are very loud. We wanted our voice in support of law enforcement to be loud and bold.

In recent weeks, the United States has experienced widespread protests and demonstrations, some of which have turned violent, in response to the killing of George Floyd on May 25.

Many have seen the death of Floyd as part of a broader problem of police brutality and systemic racism, and have called for reduced funding or even disbanding certain police departments.

Regarding the death of Floyd, Cleek called it without question an act of evil and called for the ones guilty to face the full justice of the Law.

But much of the response to the killing of Mr. Floyd, the looting and burning and destruction of both public and private property, the disgraceful treatment, dishonoring and demonizing of law enforcement are also acts of evil, said Cleek.

Our response to the evil all around is to do something good, something we feel is very good. Our act of support and encouragement for our local police department will, we believe, result in many more American citizens voicing their support.
A care home worker charged with murdering her newborn baby girl and dumping her body in a park appeared in court today.

Babita Rai, 23, is accused of causing 'substantial fractures' to the head of her child, who was found at Manor Park, Aldershot, Hampshire, two years ago.

The young mother arrived in Britain from Nepal six months pregnant and is alleged to have left the baby under a tree with its umbilical cord still attached.

A ground maintenance worker discovered the girl, named Baby M by police, while clearing shrubbery on the morning of May 19, 2017.

A care home worker charged with murdering her newborn baby girl and dumping her body in Manor Park (pictured), Aldershot, Hampshire, appeared in court today

Babita Rai, 23, is accused of causing 'substantial fractures' to the head of her child after a baby was discovered baby under a tree with its umbilical cord still attached in May 19, 2017

Rai, who came to the UK three years ago, wore a blue denim jacket and jeans and a face mask, when she appeared at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire, today.

Defence lawyer Phillip Rule told the court: 'The child's body had the umbilical cord and placenta on it. There was a large amount of blood at the scene.

'The defendant was the mother who gave birth. The child's body showed signs of blunt trauma and fractures to the skull, multiple fractures.'

Rai, who came to the UK three years ago, wore a blue denim jacket and jeans and a face mask, when she appeared at Winchester Crown Court (pictured), Hampshire, today

Defence lawyer Phillip Rule told the court: 'The child's body had the umbilical cord and placenta on it. There was a large amount of blood at the scene'

Judge Jane Miller QC adjourned the case for a plea hearing on August 19, with a trial date of January 12.

She told Rai through an interpreter: 'We have finished the hearing for today.

'I have not granted you bail but your solicitors, your lawyers, will make the application again when they have more information.'
New Jersey will now require residents to wear masks outside in all public places where social distancing isn't possible, joining a growing list of states that are strengthening face covering rules as coronavirus continue to surge.

Gov Phil Murphy announced the new executive order on Tuesday, just days after calling for a national requirement for masks outside.

The order broadens a previous state mandate which required residents to wear face coverings in public while indoors at stores and other businesses.

Experts say wearing a mask can reduce a person's risk of spreading or contracting coronavirus by 65 percent.

Gov Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Tuesday which will require New Jersey residents to wear face coverings in outdoor public spaces where social distancing is not possible. Murphy explained the move in an interview with MSNBC (pictured)

More than 15,000 people have died from COVID-19 in New Jersey as of Wednesday. The chart above shows the number of new cases per day since the height of the state's outbreak in April

More than 15,000 people have died from COVID-19 in New Jersey, ranking it second after neighboring New York state in the total number of deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

Murphy said his requirement has a three exceptions: for children under two years of age, people eating or drinking at an outdoor dining establishment and individuals for which a mask would inhibit health or safety.

He also said that the requirement does not apply when a person is by themselves or exclusively with family.

The Democrat governor explained the move in an interview with MSNBC, saying that the requirement is critical to controlling the spread of the virus in the state, an early hot spot where rates of the virus have started to creep up again.

'There's no question that face coverings are a game-changer,' he said, acknowledging that it would be hard to enforce the order but saying the state needed to build on the progress made in its battle against the virus.

'We've gone through hell in New Jersey. We've lost over 13,000 people, we've brought our numbers way down. We can't go through that hell again.'

Unmasked diners are seen eating outside a restaurant in Montclair, New Jersey, on July 1

The order is one of the most stringent coronavirus restriction on public activity in the United States.

Many states require use of masks in public indoor areas and recommend they be used outside.

Murphy is taking action as infections skyrocket in many other states, including California, Florida and Texas, and health officials warn of a coming spike in the death toll from the virus, which has killed more than 131,000 Americans.

A recent study from the University of California Davis Children's Hospital has found that covering the nose and mouth decreased the risk of COVID-19 infection by 65 percent.

Previously, researchers believed that mask-wearing was only beneficial to prevent transmission of the virus to others.

But, as more studies have found, the piece of cloth doesn't just stop a sick person from spreading the virus, but also protects healthy people from falling ill.

The US outbreak crossed a grim milestone of over three million confirmed cases on Tuesday, roughly equivalent to one percent of the population, as more states reported record numbers of new infections.

In New Jersey, some people voiced surprise that face coverings were not already mandatory.

'I figured that was already the rule - it's confusing that it's not clear and I try pretty hard to keep up,' said Calia Nochumson, a 42-year-old high school teacher from Maplewood.

She said she was disappointed to see so few people wearing face coverings during a recent trip to the beach.

Ohio is ordering people in seven counties to wear face coverings in public starting on Wednesday evening.
United Airlines could furlough 36,000 employees, or roughly 45 per cent of its workforce, by October 1 amid a drop in air travel resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

The fall deadline marks when a restriction against enacting furloughs and layoffs in a $5 billion payroll bailout of the airline expires.

Officials at United made the announcement Wednesday nearly three months before the deadline to give staff enough time to think about how the possible furloughs will affect their careers with the carrier.

'None of the decisions we've made so far have been more difficult than the decision we are announcing today,' a United official said during a press call.

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United Airlines could furlough 36,000 employees, or roughly 45 per cent of its workforce, by October 1 amid a drop in air travel resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The carrier's jets are seen at Newark Liberty Airport just outside New York City

A masked United worker is pictured behind a plastic barrier at Newark Liberty Airport. The air carrier may have to let workers go by October 1 after a restriction against furloughs and layoffs in a $5 billion payroll bailout of the airline expires

United, according to another official on the call, is 'burning $40 million every day', Fox Business reports.

Shares in the airline ended at $32.53 Wednesday after dropping about 7 per cent on the initial news of the possible furlough a day earlier.

United was among major US carriers, including American, Delta and Southwest, which received $25 billion in payroll bailouts under a $2.2 federal stimulus package deal meant to protect workers during the pandemic.

Airline workers had hailed the federal bailout deal as a way to preserve jobs in the crisis for almost a million impacted employees.

The airlines say they are hopeful that US demand, which initially dropped by 95 per cent due to coronavirus travel restrictions and state mandated lockdowns, will begin to recover by October.

Some, however, have warned that the slowdown in air travel could extend into next year and even longer, requiring another round of government bailouts to survive.

United, in the meantime, has been offering voluntary programs helping employees consider retirement or other jobs outside the industry. Tens of thousands of United workers already have taken voluntary unpaid leave, according to the airline.

The airline already has cut executive salaries, cancelled non-urgent projects, and put non-essential hiring on hold to ensure 'involuntary furloughs would be a last resort.'

Shares in the airline ended at $32.53 Wednesday after dropping about 7 per cent on the initial news of the possible furlough a day earlier

One of the United officials said that the majority of employees who may still get furloughed will be able to return to their jobs as demand returns.

Among the United workers that may be impacted by the start of October are 11,000 employees currently working airport operations and 15,000 flight attendants.

Another 5,500 technical operations workers and 2,000 flight operations staffers also may be affected, in addition to aircraft catering, contact and network operation centers employees.

The airlines say they are hopeful that US demand, which initially dropped by 95 per cent due to coronavirus travel restrictions and state mandated lockdowns, will begin to recover by October. United passengers are pictured at Tampa International Airport last month

A regulatory filing from the airline shows United expects 'reduced demand to destinations experiencing increases in COVID-19 cases and/or new quarantine requirements or other restrictions on travel.'

'We continue to offer voluntary programs and are moving forward with our management and administrative reorganization to align our payroll expenses with overall demand,' a United spokesperson told FOX Business in a statement.

'And we're talking to our union partners to find creative solutions for our frontline employees, but it's possible we may need to use furloughs or other measures' the spokesperson explained.

'We are closer than ever to almost a million airline workers knowing they will receive their paycheck and keep their healthcare and other benefits, at least through September,' said Association of Flight Attendants President Sara Nelson, who is widely credited for the idea of aid specifically for payroll.

'At the same time, we were able to rein in the worst corporate practices by tying this aid to restrictions on stock buybacks, executive compensation and dividends.'
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The former home of novelist Michael Peterson, where his wife was found dead at the bottom of the back staircase, has hit the market in North Carolina for $1.9million.

The lavish 9,429-square-foot home in Durhams Forest Hills has hit the real estate market and it appears that the bloody history behind the home hasn't put a dent in the asking price.

The selling price is in line with the tax value of the home, $1,937,733, as listed by the Durham County Tax Administration.

The sprawling five-bedroom mansion built in 1940 and located on a 3.4-acre lot in Durham gained quite a bit of fame after featured in the Netflix mini docuseries The Staircase in 2018, which is about Michael Peterson and the bizarre murder case of his wife.

The former home of novelist and convicted killer Michael Peterson, where his wife Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of the back staircase, has hit the market in North Carolina for $1.9million

The lavish 9,429-square-foot home in Durhams Forest Hills has hit the real estate market and it appears that the bloody history behind the home hasn't put a dent in the asking price. The selling price is in line with the tax value of the home, $1,937,733, as listed by the Durham County Tax Administration

The sprawling five-bedroom mansion built in 1940 and located on a 3.4-acre lot in Durham gained quite a bit of fame after featured in the Netflix mini docuseries The Staircase in 2018

A view of the lavish living room with a fire place, ornate gold furniture and plenty of natural light above

The home features wrought iron gates, a swimming Pool, brick & stonewall walkways and 19 rooms in total

North Carolina novelist Michael Peterson, 76, called police in December 2001 saying he found his wife Kathleen Peterson (together right) bleeding at the bottom of the back staircase in their home. In 2003 he was convicted of murdering here. After eight years he was granted a retrial and in 2017 he submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter. He was sentenced to time already served and freed from jail

In December 9, 2001 Peterson called the police saying he found his wife Kathleen unconscious at the bottom of the staircase in their mansion.

He said she must have fallen down because she had been consuming alcohol and Valium.

The poster for Netflix' The Staircase above

However, toxicology results shows her blood alcohol content was at 0.07 and she could have passed a Breathalyzer test.

A coroner determined she suffered wounds consistent with blows to the head with a blunt object.

A medical examiner concluded that Kathleen had died from lacerations of the scalp caused by a homicidal assault.

Peterson, the only person home at the time of Kathleens death, was the prime suspect and charged with murder.

He was convicted in 2003 and after eight years was granted a new trial. In 2017 he submitted an Alford plea to the reduced charge of manslaughter.

An Alford plea is a legal device that allows prisoners to plead guilty to a lesser charge while maintaining their innocence.

He was sentenced to time already served and freed from jail.

There were several twists and turns throughout the case.

One of them was resurfaced concerns over the death of Elizabeth Ratliff, a friend of the Petersons who died in Germany in 1965. She had also been found dead at the foot of her staircase with injuries to the head and Peterson was the last person to have seen her alive.

In 2009 one of Petersons attorneys brought up a new theory claiming an owl was to blame for her death. The theory asserts that a Barred Owl, a species common in Durham, got entangled in Kathleens hair causing serious injuries and removing part of her scalp, causing her to fall to her death down the stairs.

The autopsy said she had pine needs stuck to one hand and three small feathers in another.

Today the million dollar home sparkles with new renovations including refinished hardwood floors, an updated kitchen, and a beautiful spiral staircase. A view of the lavish dining room above

The mansion also features an upper and lower gallery to display art, ornate furniture and elegant centerpieces

New renovations to the home include a sparkling, updated kitchen that boasts plenty of space and new appliances

The kitchen is incredibly spacious, making it a great place to host parties and large dinners for family and friends

In total the home as 19 rooms - five of which are bedrooms and six of which are bedrooms. A bedroom with wood furnishings above

A view of a lounge area at the 9,500-square-foot home in Forest Hills above

A view of the main entrance into the home including a breathtaking spiral staircase above

Today the home sparkles with new renovations including refinished hardwood floors, an updated kitchen, and a beautiful spiral staircase.

Photos from inside the home reveal high ceilings, ornate gold furniture, red carpets, a grand staircase near the front door, and a new state of the art kitchen. The home has a courtyard in the back that leads to a pool.

In total the house as 19 rooms, including six bathrooms. Theres also a library, game room, master bedroom wing, and guest family wing.

Though the description for the listing doesnt mention The Staircase, it says, 'This home has been featured in Netflix documentary as well as a major feature film.'

However, the listing doesnt provide photos of the back staircase where Kathleen bled to death.

Though the description for the listing doesnt mention the Netflix docuseries The Staircase, it says, 'This home has been featured in Netflix documentary as well as a major feature film'

Photos from inside the home reveal high ceilings, ornate gold furniture, red carpets, a grand staircase near the front door, and a new state of the art kitchen. The home has a courtyard in the back that leads to a pool

A view of the drained pool and expansive backyard on the historic 3.5 acre property above

According to tax records the current owner is Biond Fury, a clairvoyant and medium from New York, who purchased the home for $1.3million in 2008.

He had purchased it from Jason Balius, the first post-Peterson owner.

He bought the hosue for $640,000 in 2004 after its selling price sunk. He did renovations and placed it back on the market in 2007.

The home has quite a storied history running well before Kathleen's grisly death.

In June 1989 the home was bought by scholar and author Henry Louis 'Skip' Gates Jr who lived there while teaching at Duke.

Peterson's murder trial following her death in 2001 was one of the longest in North Carolina history. Defense attorney David Rudolf pictured with Peterson, right in August 2003

Peterson spent close to eight years in jail. In 2017 he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of his wife Kathleen and was sentenced him to a maximum of 86 months in prison, with credit for time previously served. He was released from jail because he had already served more time than that

The bloody staircase where Kathleen was found above

Before he bought the home it was the shooting location for the 1990 movie The Handmaids Tale, which starred Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway and Natasha Richardson.

The property was used as the Commanders home.

Today Peterson still lives in Durham and wrote a book in January 2019 entitled Behind the Staircase, which chronicles his life since Kathleens death including his time in prison.

Harrison Ford has been tapped to play Peterson in an upcoming project based on The Staircase.
A 17-month-old girl from Illinois was attacked and killed by at least one pit bull mix while in a playpen during a Fourth of July party at a neighbor's house.

The toddler, identified as Marley Grace Wilander, had bite marks 'throughout her body,' Joliet police said.

The childs parents were attending an Independence Day celebration at their neighbor's home party Saturday and had placed her in a playpen in an upstairs bedroom.

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Marley Wilander, aged 17 months, suffered fatal dog bites all over her body in Joliet, Illinois, on Saturday night

Marley was with her parents at a neighbor's house celebrating Independence Day when the dog attack took place

Two pit bull mix dogs were locked in the basement for most of the night, but they eventually got out, police said, according to Fox 2 Now reporting.

'The homeowner went upstairs to investigate a noise and located one of the dogs actively biting the toddler,' police said.

The homeowner managed to pull the dog off of the toddler and called 911.

Officers responded to the scene at around 1.30am Sunday. Marley was rushed to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center, where she died of her injuries two hours later.

The pit bull mix that mauled the child was turned over to animal control, police said.

Marley, pictured as an infant with her parents, was sitting in a playpen upstairs when a pit bull mix attacked and began mauling her

The neighbor heard a noise, went upstairs and found the dog biting the toddler. Marley was rushed to a hospital and died two hours later

The case is still under investigation. As of Wednesday afternoon, no charges have been filed.

According to her obituary, Marley is survived by her parents, Chelsea Cirino and Daniel Wilander.

A GoFundMe campaign that was launched on Tuesday to provide financial assistance to her grieving parents described Marley as 'the most beautiful little girl.'

'From the start this perfect little girl constantly filled the room and hearts of whoever she came into contact with,' read the fundraiser's description. 'Marley loved life and everything she was able to experience. Beyond intelligent, intuitive, and calming, this child has so many traits of a wonderful human being and had a big purpose.

'Marley was not only the whole world and universe of her parents, but a sign that hope, love, innocence, and purity was always more powerful than the negative. I speak for myself as a father of another beautiful girl.'
Facebook on Wednesday removed 50 personal and professional pages connected to U.S. President Donald Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone, who is due to report to prison next week.

The social media platform said Stone and his associates, including a prominent supporter of the right-wing Proud Boys group in Stone's home state of Florida, had used fake accounts and followers to promote Stone's books and posts.

Facebook moved against Stone on the same day it took down accounts tied to employees of the family of Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro and two other networks connected to domestic political operations in Ecuador and Ukraine.

CNN reported that Stone posted on Parler, the 'free speech' alternative to Twitter, to say: 'As they will soon learn, I cannot and will not be silenced.'

Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, said the removals were meant to show that artificially inflating engagement for political impact would be stopped, no matter how well connected the practitioners.

'It doesn't matter what they're saying, and it doesn't matter who they are,' Gleicher told Reuters before the announcement.

The Stone network was uncovered with the help of information unearthed by the Robert Mueller investigation, Gleicher said.

Goodbye to all this: Roger Stone used his platform to push Donald Trump - but was using fake followers, says Facebook, who are removing him from it and Instagram

Canceled: Roger Stone was removed from Facebook and Instagram for breaking rules about using fake followers to boost his pages

Controversial: Stone narrowly avoided being put behind bars for this image of the judge in his trial apparently in the crosshairs as he attacked her for being appointed by Barack Obama

More hate: Roger Stone reacted to the death of Barbara Bush by calling her 'nasty, rude, vindictive, entitled' and claiming she launched a 'drunken tirade' against him

'We expect we're going to see more political actors cross this line and use coordinated inauthentic behavior to try to influence public debate.

'We want to make sure these assets, most of which are dormant, can't be reactivated and used in the upcoming election.'

Facebook officials said they took down Stone's personal Facebook and Instagram pages and his Stone Cold Truth Facebook page, which had 141,000 followers.

A total of 54 Facebook accounts and 50 pages were removed for misbehavior, including the creation of fake accounts.

The accounts spent more than $300,000 on advertisements over the past few years, Facebook said.

While the activity dates back several years, Facebook uncovered the network as a result of the public release of search warrants from special counsel Mueller's investigation.

The fake accounts posted about local politics in Florida; hacked materials released by Wikileaks ahead of the US 2016 election; candidates in the 2016 primaries and general election, as well as Stone himself and his trial, according to Facebook.

Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg was briefed on the actions beforehand, officials said.

The removals risk further angering Trump and other conservatives who accuse Facebook of suppressing right-wing voices. Facebook last month took down a Trump re-election ad that included a Nazi symbol, and it pledged to steer users to facts on voting when Trump, or anyone else, touches on the topic.

Facebook is under pressure from civil rights advocates and allied groups as well, and hundreds of advertisers have joined a boycott demanding the company crack down on hateful and divisive messages.

In search warrant documents released this April, the FBI said a Stone assistant told interviewers in 2018 'that he purchased a couple hundred fake Facebook accounts as part of this work.'

Facebook said its probe was influenced by the April search documents. But the company said that its unit guarding against coordinated inauthentic behavior had already been looking into Stone's pages after a referral from a separate Facebook team monitoring dangerous organizations, which was tracking the Proud Boys.

Support: Facebook said Roger Stone's accounts were being boosted by fake followers including a prominent member of the 'Proud Boys'

Graphika analyst Ben Nimmo, a disinformation specialist, said the Stone network had been most active in 2016 and 2017, among other things promoting stories about the Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks as part of the Russian interference effort.

Many of the accounts were later deleted, and in recent weeks they have mostly reflected Stones quest to receive a pardon from Trump for his crimes, according to Nimmo.

'The inauthentic accounts were amplifying various Stone assets, like his page, or advertising one of his books,' Nimmo said.

Stone has been stepping up his efforts to get a pardon from Trump before he reports to prison, where his family fears the spread of COVID-19. Trump has said that Stone was treated unfairly, and his attorney general intervened to seek a lesser sentence, prompting four career prosecutors to resign from the case.

Facebook also disrupted a deceptive campaign in Brazil that it linked to the Social Liberal Party and employees of the offices Bolsonaro and his allies.

The network in Brazil relied fictitious personae posing as reporters masquerading as news outlets, Facebook determined.

Bogus accounts in Brazil posted about elections; political memes; political opposition, journalists, and most recently they posted about the coronavirus pandemic, according to the leading social network.

Gleicher credited press reports and congressional testimony in Brazil with leading Facebook to uncover the network there.

The Atlantic Council's Digital Forensics Research Lab, working with Facebook, found 'duplicate and fake accounts that promoted Bolsonaro and his allies in various Facebook groups, as well as pages with hundreds of thousand followers that published pro-Bolsonaro memes and other content disparaging his critics,' according to a post by researchers.

'While the pages did not openly state that they were connected to Bolsonaro and his allies, several were linked to staffers of pro-Bolsonaro politicians.'

A separate network originating in Canada and Ecuador was focused on El Salvador, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Chile, according to Facebook.

This network posted about news in the countries it targeted, with topics including politics, activism, praise and criticism of political candidates, Gleicher said.

A Facebook investigation found links to political consultants and former government employees in Ecuador and Estraterra, a Canada-based PR firm.

Estraterra is now banned from Facebook platforms, according to Gleicher.

A network disrupted in the Ukraine was particularly active during the 2019 presidential election in that country, posting political memes, satire and other content including about Crimea, NATO, economic policies in Ukraine, domestic politics, elections, criticism and support of various candidates, Facebook said.

Facebook linked the activity to Postmen DA, an advertising agency in Ukraine.

The rise and fall of the 'trysexual' dirty trickster: How Roger Stone's swaggering love of Richard Nixon, conspiracy theories and swinging took him to the top then foundered when he lied for Donald Trump

A guilty verdict last year brought an abrupt end to the decades-long career of Roger Stone, a smooth-talking agent provocateur and self-proclaimed dirty trickster who thrived in the shadier margins of U.S. politics.

Growing up in Lewisboro, New York, to a blue-collar Catholic family, Roger Jason Stone Jr.'s zeal for the rough and tumble of political life was apparent from a young age.

In elementary school he advocated for John F. Kennedy telling kids in the cafeteria line that Nixon would make them attend extra classes on a Saturday if he won the 1960 election.

When he was a junior and vice president of student government in high school Stone manipulated the ouster of the president so he could take over.

'I built alliances and put all my serious challengers on my ticket,' he would brag to the New York Times decades later.

'I recruited the most unpopular guy in the school to run against me. You think that's mean? No, it's smart.'

Roger Stone was found guilty of obstructing justice, witness tampering and lying to Congress bringing his decades-long career to an end

He worked for Richard Nixon, becoming so enthralled with the president that Stone would later have Nixon's face tattooed on his back

Stone was hired as an adviser when Trump finally launched a bid for the White House nearly two decades later after Stone first suggested he run. Stone was pushed out in a power struggle

Stone entered the political arena for real in 1972 when he ditched his studies at George Washington University, this time to support Nixon in his re-election campaign  not to be the only time he shifted allegiances without a qualm.

In one of his first 'dirty tricks' he contributed $135 to one of Nixon's Republican rivals in the name of the Young Socialist Alliance - then slipped the receipt to a journalist.

When Nixon triumphed the braggadocios young aide was rewarded was a job on the administration. Perhaps unintentionally, his association with student dirty tricks also gained him an association with the 'ratf***ers,' the dirty operative beloved of Nixon.

Stone himself denied being one of them, saying they were from the University of Southern California, but the nickname was attached to him for life.

The 37th President of the United States left a lasting impression on Stone: the longtime GOP operative would later have Nixon's face tattooed on his back.

'Women love it,' he told the New Yorker. 'The reason I'm a Nixonite is because of his indestructibility and resilience.

Nixon left another legacy on Stone: Watergate.

During congressional hearings into the scandal in 1973 it emerged Stone had recruited a spy to infiltrate the campaigns of several of Nixon's Democratic rivals.

He was fired from his job with then-Senator Bob Dole but his reputation for the dark political arts was intact.

Stone reunited with Dole for his 1996 presidential campaign but resigned when The National Enquirer revealed he placed ads on a swingers website seeking sex partners for himself and his second wife Nydia Bertran Stone.

He later referred to himself in an interview with the New Yorker, partly conducted in a swingers club, as 'a libertarian and a libertine'and a 'trysexual  I've tried everything'.

The couple have more recently apparently found religion, bringing a pastor in robes to the trial with them and being seen at Sunday mass.

The former advisor to President Donald Trump has a tattoo with Nixon's face on his upper back, which he showed off for a Netflix special

In 1996 The National Enquirer revealed Stone placed ads on a swingers website seeking sex partners for himself and his second wife Nydia Bertran Stone

Stone adopted President Nixon's iconic V for victory symbol, often posing with it

Stone, pictured at his office in Florida, is a veteran Republican political operative after entering politics in 1972

Stone went on to work for several more presidential campaigns: those of Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush and, eventually, his longtime friend Donald Trump, who had hired Stone to lobby for his casino businesses in the 1990s.

He likewise forged a longtime bond with the disgraced former Trump campaign chairman and now federal prison inmate Paul Manafort after the pair co-founded one of DC earliest 'mega-lobbying' firms, Black, Manafort & Stone, in 1980.

Along the way he picked up a reputation for dark arts and darker acts, a penchant for expensive tailoring and a rolodex of clients from the top of the Republican party and further afield  including Donald Trump's struggling casino business, a connection which was to prove key to his future.

Stone first suggested Trump run for president in early 1998, and even worked out of Trump Tower for a while to help him.

He was hired as an adviser when his old ally finally launched a bid for the White House nearly two decades later.

But he was pushed out in a power struggle which left him on the outside looking in  and phoning Trump with his advice and also apparently bragging of his connections to WikiLeaks.

Outside the campaign he accused Ted Cruz of having had affairs with five women; Cruz shot back that he was a 'ratf***er' and claimed he was 'pulling the strings on Donald Trump.'

But inside Trump Tower, there was a different, and for Stone sadder, picture emerging.

Stone went on to work for several more presidential campaigns including Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush and his longtime friend Donald Trump

Roger Jason Stone Jr grew up in Lewisboro, New York, to a blue-collar Catholic family and where his zeal for politics was apparent from a young age (pictured with Paul Manafort and Lee Atwater)

Senior Campaign figures hinted that the silver-haired Svengali's influence was waning by the time WikiLeaks threw the 2016 Presidential race into turmoil.

Rick Gates said Stone still had access to senior Trump figures despite having left his position but the relationship had become 'tense.'

And Steve Bannon admitted in his testimony that he derived enjoyment from 'heckling' Stone when his big Julian Assange predictions fell flat.

In the past, a Republican presidency had been a sure-fire payday for Stone but this time round his association with Trump was toxic and expensive.

He found work with InfoWars, an apt home for a man who had pushed conspiracy theories for decades, and a regular place on the speaking circuit.

But the Mueller inquiry brought massive legal bills  and even then expensive legal counsel did not stop him committing a massive blunder in 2017: lying to Congress.

Despite that Stone was predicting right up until January of this year that he would evade Robert Mueller's prosecutors, sneering in an exclusive DailyMail.com interview: 'They got nothing.'

Three weeks later he found himself in handcuffs when rifle-wielding FBI agents surrounded his Fort Lauderdale, Florida home in the middle of the night to take him into custody.

In the past, a Republican presidency had been a sure-fire payday for Stone but this time round his association with Trump was toxic and expensive

Stone's home was raided in the early hours of the morning this year and he was taken into custody

Then, on the steps of the federal courthouse in Broward County, Stone enjoyed perhaps his last hurrah, emerging defiant and unbowed to deliver a scathing diatribe about the Mueller 'witch-hunt' while flashing Nixon's trademark victory signs.

When he followed that up by peddling 'Roger Stone did nothing wrong' t-shirts, launching a media tour and posting a mocked-up Instagram image of Judge Amy Berman Jackson in rifle crosshairs, enough was enough.

Berman Jackson responded by slapping Stone with a gag order banning him from speaking about his case in the press or via social media.

When it was their turn to address the trial, defense attorneys chose to play audio of Stone speaking before Congress in 2017 rather than have jurors hear from the man himself.

It was perhaps tacit acceptance that the world had heard quite enough already from Watergate survivor Roger Stone and his vindictive brand of no-holds-barred politics.
A Tennessee lawyer has been formally reprimanded after he allegedly appeared in court drunk while representing a client charged with DUI.

On Monday, Kent Thomas Jones received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court pertaining to the 2017 incident.

According to the censure, Jones showed up late to represent his client at the court appearance in September 2017.

Court employees removed Jones from the courthouse, and he was subsequently charged with public intoxication. Criminal charges against the attorney were later dropped.

Kent Thomas Jones has received a public censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court after he allegedly appeared in court while drunk. The Supreme Court is pictured

Jones had allegedly charged his client a flat fee of $2000, but did not specifically state that the money was nonrefundable.

He later agreed to return the money to his client, but has only made three partial payments in the nearly three years since the incident.

The censure orders Jones to pay the remaining money he owes within the next 60 days or risk being stripped of his law licence.

The Board of Professional Responsibility determined that Jones violated three rules of Professional Conduct: safekeeping funds, criminal conduct and prejudice to the administration of justice.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Jones for comment.
A California mother-of-two is suing her former employer, claiming they fired her because her two children interrupted calls during the coronavirus lockdown.

Drisana Rios, 35, who lives with her daughter Dani, four, and son Dylan, one, in San Diego, says she was let go from Hub International on June 2 after Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered non essential workers to stay home.

She filed a lawsuit last month alleging gender discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination. In it she claims her supervisor was 'motivated by a clear bias against mothers', The New York Times reports.

A spokesman for Hub International said: 'While we can't comment on pending litigation, Hub is proud to have successfully transitioned 90 percent of its 12,000-plus employees to working remotely from home throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.'

Drisana Rios, pictured with her two kids, says she was let go from Hub International on June 2

Rios, who lives with her daughter Dani, four, and son Dylan, one, filed a lawsuit last month alleging gender discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination

Rios, who had worked for the company since August last year, said she had 'continued my normal duties as an account executive but now added two young children to the mix'.

She added: 'It was extremely difficult, but I managed to meet all the deadlines.'

The influencer, who has more than 61,000 Instagram followers, had already shared a candid post about her firing on June 23 along with a picture of herself with her daughter and son.

In the snapshot, her daughter is holding a letter board sign that reads: 'My mommy got fired because her boss didn't want to hear me in the background.'

Rios claims her supervisor was 'motivated by a clear bias against mothers'

Rios says her supervisor, named as Daniel Kabban in the complaint, 'continued scheduling calls during lunch times, when Plaintiff was feeding her children, nursing or putting her child down for a nap.'

She said working with Kabban was 'high energy, intense and stressful', adding: 'During the job interview, Kabban even asked me if me having two young kids would prevent me from doing the job.

'Even then, it was clear to me that he was concerned about me being a mother.'

Rios is seeking unspecified monetary damages.

A spokesman for Hub International said: 'While we can't comment on pending litigation, Hub is proud to have successfully transitioned 90 percent of its 12,000-plus employees to working remotely from home throughout the Covid-19 pandemic'

The influencer, who has more than 61,000 Instagram followers, had already shared this candid post about her firing on June 23 along with a picture of herself with her daughter and son

In an essay published by ScaryMommy.com, Rios had written: 'The first week of working from home started off very stressful with multiple calls, emails and unrealistic expectations.

'The pressure from my boss was creating so much stress. The kids were always interrupting, and the baby wanted to nurse all the time,' she recalled. 'They constantly had to wait for me to finish getting something done so I could tend to their needs. My heart broke.'

'He instructed me that on business calls with clients he did not want to hear the kids in the background,' she said. 'He stated over and over that it was not professional to hear the kids in the background on client calls and that I had to figure out how to keep them quiet.'

After more than two months of working from home, she said his frustration with the distractions started to escalate in May, and he told her she needed to 'take care of [her] kid situation.'

When she asked what he meant, explaining she can't just lock her kids in a room, he told her to 'figure it out.'
John Piper warns Christians against patriotism over Christ

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Popular Reformed theologian John Piper warned Christians about being too patriotic and placing their loyalty to the fatherland over their loyalty to Jesus Christ.

In an episode of the podcast Ask Pastor John posted before Independence Day, a listener named Matt asked Piper about how patriotism fit in the Christian life.

Obviously, as Christians we are to live as strangers, exiles, aliens, and pilgrims on this earth. Is there an appropriate place in the Christian life to be patriotic? If so, what is it? And at what point does our patriotism go too far? inquired Matt.

Piper responded that patriotism, a love for ones country, can be right and good even as Christians should identify as exiles, refugees, sojourners.

He believes that the Bible condones special affections in the life of a Christian, such as for a particular city or tribe or nation, in addition to the general love for humanity.

For example, Paul says in Galatians 6:10, As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith, explained Piper.

So its as though there is this specialness about those who are close to you and like you. There is a kind of affection for them thats different.

However, Piper also said that such affections should only exist up to a point and that Christians should never give them absolute allegiance.

Never feel more attached to your fatherland or your tribe or your family or your ethnicity than you do to the people of Christ, he continued.

Everyone who is in Christ is more closely and permanently united to others in Christ, no matter the other associations, than we are to our nearest fellow citizen or party member or brother or sister or spouse.

Piper bemoaned the many horrible indignities that have occurred because Christians failed to realize that we are more bound together with other believers  no matter their ethnicity or their political alignments or their nationality  than we are to anybody in our own fatherland.

In the end, Christ has relativized all human allegiances, all human loves. Keeping Christ supreme in our affections makes all our lesser loves better, not worse.

The extent to which churches, especially those in the United States, should observe patriotic sentiments has been a source of much debate among clergy and laity alike.

Some, including First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, annually hold a patriotic-themed worship service every Fourth of July weekend.

FBC Dallas Senior Pastor Robert Jeffress has defended the practice, explaining in a 2018 interview with conservative columnist Todd Starnes that it is about worshiping the "God Who has blessed America and not America itself.

I believe there's nothing wrong and everything right, according to the Bible, for expressing gratitude to God for His blessings upon our country, he said at the time.

Also in 2018, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners released a Reclaiming Jesus statement, which denounces concepts like America first as a theological heresy for followers of Christ.

While we share a patriotic love for our country, we reject xenophobic or ethnic nationalism that places one nation over others as a political goal, reads the statement in part.

We reject domination rather than stewardship of the earths resources, toward genuine global development that brings human flourishing for all of Gods children. Serving our own communities is essential, but the global connections between us are undeniable.
Facebook on Wednesday announced the suspension of a social media accounts linked to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's employees and two of his sons.

The company said that despite efforts to disguise who was behind the activity, it had found links to the staff of two Brazilian lawmakers, as well as the president and his sons, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.

Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, said the accounts were removed for using fake personas and other types of 'coordinated inauthentic behavior' which violated the company's rules.

He said there was no evidence the politicians themselves had operated the accounts. 'What we can prove is that employees of those offices are engaged on our platforms in this type of behavior,' he told Reuters ahead of the announcement on the company's blog.

Facebook said it has also suspended three other networks on Wednesday, including one it attributed to Roger Stone, a longtime friend and adviser of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Brazilian president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

SEE VIDEO BELOW

Facebook announced on Wednesday it suspended accounts that are linked to employees and the sons of President Jair Bolsonaro (pictured). Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, said the accounts were removed for using fake personas and other types of 'coordinated inauthentic behavior' which violated the company's rules.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro had a Facebook account linked to him suspended on Wednesday

Brazilian Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (pictured), the son of President Jair Bolsonaro, is being accused of running a coordinated online campaign to smear his father's opponents

The allegations by Facebook add to a burgeoning political crisis in Brazil, where Bolsonaro's sons and supporters have been accused of running a coordinated online campaign to smear the president's opponents.

The accusations have spurred a congressional inquiry and a separate Supreme Court investigation into so-called 'fake news attacks' on the country's judiciary, which led to police raids in May on the homes and offices of Bolsonaro allies.

Bolsonaro, who is also under mounting criticism over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, has said the court's investigation is unconstitutional and risks establishing censorship in Brazil by policing what people can say online.

Facebook has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks to better police how political groups use its platform. Hundreds of advertisers have joined a boycott aimed at forcing the company to block hate speech on its site, and multiple employees walked out last month over CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision not to challenge inflammatory posts Trump.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro adjusts his mask on May 13 outside the presidential palace

Gleicher said his team had identified and suspended more than 80 accounts on Facebook and its photo-sharing site, Instagram, as part of the Brazilian network. The accounts had amassed 1.8 million followers, he said, and some dated back to 2018.

Researchers at the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, who spent a week analyzing the activity identified by Facebook, said they had found five current and former political staffers who registered and operated the accounts.

Some of those accounts posed as fake Brazilians and news outlets to spread 'hyper-partisan views' supporting Bolsonaro and attacking his critics, said researcher Luiza Bandeira. Their targets included opposition lawmakers, former ministers and members of Brazil's Supreme Court.

More recently, the accounts also amplified Bolsonaro's claims that the risks of the coronavirus pandemic are exaggerated. The disease has killed more than 66,000 people in Brazil and Bolsonaro himself tested positive this week.

'We have known for a long time that when people disagree with Bolsonaro they are targeted by this machine that uses online disinformation to mock and discredit them,' said Bandeira.

'So knowing now that part of these attacks are coming from people directly related to the Bolsonaro family, that explains a lot.'

President Bolsonaro announced Tuesday he tested positive for the coronavirus.

He went on Twitter on Wednesday to say he was doing 'very well' and lauded the use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine - which is unproven for treating COVID-19 - for his mild symptoms.

The global pandemic has generated in Brazil 1.6million cases and 66,741 deaths, both second only to the United States.
Ministers will not be forgiven if they fail to act over a series of health scandals, the author of a damning report warned yesterday.

Tens of thousands of women and children suffered catastrophic harm because of an unresponsive and defensive healthcare system, it found.

Baroness Cumberlege, who led the inquiry into pelvic mesh implants, a pregnancy test drug and an epilepsy treatment, said these patients had already waited too long to be heard.

Yesterday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: I want to issue a full apology to those whove suffered and their families, for the frustration, for the time that its taken to get their voices heard.

Baroness Cumberlege, who led the inquiry into pelvic mesh implants, a pregnancy test drug and an epilepsy treatment, said these patients had already waited too long to be heard

'And now their voices have been heard, its very important that we learn from this report.

The report said countless lives had been ruined by the pain and suffering caused by three avoidable health disasters.

Baroness Cumberlege, a former Tory health minister, called for an urgent shake-up to rid the NHS of an arrogant and dismissive culture, which resulted in many doctors writing off patients crippling symptoms as womens problems.

Unveiling the 277-page report yesterday, she warned the Government that these mistakes must not be repeated and urged ministers to establish a task force to implement the radical and wide-ranging recommendations.

I have to say, if this government and the health care system ignores our review and another medication and medical device damages people, to the extent that we have witnessed, they will, and should not be forgiven, she said.

Yesterday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: I want to issue a full apology to those whove suffered and their families, for the frustration, for the time that its taken to get their voices heard'

The review into people harmed by three products  pelvic mesh implants, hormone pregnancy test drug Primodos and epilepsy drug sodium valproate  found mistakes spanning decades.

The NHS, private health providers, manufacturers and Government regulators were all criticised for failing to listen to patients or spot the signs when things went drastically wrong.

The review called for measures including the appointment of an independent safety commissioner, an overhaul of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and compensation for victims.

The expert panel, appointed by the then Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, spent two years listening to the harrowing accounts of more than 700 families across the UK.

Baroness Cumberlege condemned manufacturers, regulators and surgeons for not doing enough to trace those who have been affected by mesh, something the Daily Mails Good Health team has spent almost a decade campaigning for.
Stockpilers have been flaunting their hoards of groceries as desperate shoppers strip supermarket shelves of anything they can get their hands on.

Panic-buying was back in full swing this week ahead of the six-week lockdown in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.

The strict rules come into force as a second outbreak of COVID-19 ravages Victoria.

But a handful of crafty shoppers managed to avoid the madness by stocking up on supplies early.

Stockpilers have been flaunting their hoards of groceries on social media. 'I am not the reason the stores have been emptied during this pandemic,' one woman wrote

Images on social media show rooms filled with tinned goods, packets of chips and pots of noodles

'I realise many think this is greediness. I have been a stockpiler long before COVID-19,' one woman wrote as she flaunted her supplies

Images on social media show rooms filled with tinned goods, packets of chips and pots of noodles.

'Just finished a pantry/stockpile challenge and now we are back in restrictions. So that sucks,' one woman captioned her photo.

Another woman claimed she had been stockpiling for the past 18 months.

She had shelves filled with months worth of food, water and life-long milk.

'It is not my issue you failed to prepare prior to this pandemic.. don't attack me because I happened to start stocking up 18 months ago,' she wrote.

'I am not only a stockpiler but I also am a prepper...no I don't have a tin foil hat but I believe in having emergency supplies in case sh*t hits the fan.

'Case and point being this pandemic but I also prep in case of job loss, economic crisis or good forbid a war.'

Another simply said she liked to be organised.

Australians have been stockpiling ahead of the lockdown in Melbourne despite supermarkets remaining open

Stockpiling has become more popular in Australia since the first lockedown in March

Coles has reintroduced product buying limits in certain stores within locked down communities

'I realise many think this is greediness, I have been a stockpiler long before COVID-19.'

Coles and Woolworths in Melbourne were forced to reinstate purchasing limits this week to avoid customers stripping shelves entirely bare.

Video and pictures taken at stores throughout the state show long queues outside shopping centres to stock up just a day before lockdown.

In one video, customers at a Costco in Melbourne queued in the dark rugged up in beanies and scarves holding trolleys and baskets before the store even opened its doors.

Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will be thrust back into a six week lockdown as a second outbreak of COVID-19 ravages the state

Customers again stripped shelves bare when they learned they would be thrust back into lockdown

Shoppers flocked to Melbourne supermarkets ahead of Wednesday's lockdown

Everybody in locked down suburbs, aside from those living inside 10 housing commission flats, will still be able to do their grocery shopping.

The stay-at-home orders will come with four exemptions, including grocery shopping, exercise, caring for a relative and going to work or school.

Toilet paper is capped at one packet per customer, while restrictions were also imposed on pasta, rice, hand sanitiser and paper towel.

The products impacted by buying limits at Coles include:

Pasta - two packets Flour - two packets

Rice - two packets Sugar - two packets

Fresh White Milk - two packets Chicken breast and thigh - two packet s

Eggs - two packets Mince meat - two packets

Frozen vegetables - two packets Frozen chips - two packets

Tissues - two packets Paper towel - two packets

Hand sanitiser - two packets Liquid soap - two packets

Toilet paper - one packet Frozen desserts - two packets

The limits will be implemented at all Coles supermarkets, Coles Express and Coles Online within the affected local government areas.

Coles chief executive Steven Cain said the new limits were disappointing but a necessary measure to avoid widespread panic buying which was experienced in the early days of the pandemic.

'Our thoughts are with the many Victorians who will now be required to isolate at home, and we will continue to work with the state government to provide whatever assistance they need,' Mr Cain said in a statement.

'To help provide a safer shopping experience in our stores, we would ask that customers continue to treat our team members with respect, observe social distancing in stores, make use of the sanitising stations at the entrance, and plan their visit so they can be 'speedy shoppers'.'

Supermarkets are again assuring customers that there is plenty of supply and no need to attempt to stockpile.

A family of shoppers were spotted buying up essentials at supermarkets in Melbourne's western suburbs

Daily Mail Australia watched the shoppers visit one supermarket, load up, and then do the same at another

A Woolworths spokesman said the restrictions were necessary following the surge in demand overnight.

'All Woolworths supermarkets in Victoria will remain open throughout the next six weeks of stage three restrictions just as they did earlier this year,' he said.

'We have more than enough stock flowing from our distribution centres into stores to support all our customers' food and grocery needs. We encourage our customers to continue shopping as they usually would.'

The hard lockdown comes into effect from 11.59pm on Wednesday.

Residents will still be able to do their grocery shopping during the six week lockdown
Eric Duane Newman, 55, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the January 2018 death of his longtime girlfriend Tamara Tucker

A Kansas man was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in federal prison for killing his girlfriend by strangling her and pushing her over a balcony on a cruise ship off the coast of Florida.

Eric Newman, 55, of Topeka, also was sentenced to five years of supervised release during a hearing in federal court in Kansas, The Kansas City Star reported.

He pleaded guilty in December to second-degree murder in the January 2018 death of 50-year-old Tamara Tucker of Lawson, Missouri.

The couple was on a Carnival cruise from Jacksonville, Florida, to the Bahamas and was staying in a cabin on the 13th deck. Newman admitted during his plea hearing that the couple argued in their cabin. He said he strangled Tucker then pushed her over the cabin room balcony railing to the 11th deck, killing her.

At the time, the cruise ship was about 30 nautical miles from New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Newman and his Tucker were on a Carnival cruise from Jacksonville, Florida, to the Bahamas at the time of her death in January 2018

Newman admitted that the couple started arguing in their 13th deck cabin just before midnight. He said he strangled Tucker then pushed her over the cabin balcony railing to the 11th deck

At a news conference following the sentencing, U.S. District Attorney Stephen McAllister described her death as 'a sad tale of intimate partner violence' and spoke about the need for preventative programs.

He was joined by her family, who also called for better domestic violence policies, including a national registry of offenders.

Her brother, Bo Tucker, said Newman was arrested previously for domestic battery, unknown to the family until after Tamara Tucker's death just days after her 50th birthday. The cruise was a present from her family.

'Tamara was an advocate for everyone else,' he said of his sister, who was a professor of social work at Park University and previously served as a program director of the Child Abuse Prevention Association in the Kansas City area. 'She took care of people.'

His sister also had a son, and he lamented that the justice system 'does not take domestic abuse seriously.'

Newman and his 50-year-old girlfriend were on the four-day Carnival cruise from Florida to the Bahamas at the time

In the months after her death and prior to being charged, Newman wrote on a Facebook group set up in Tucker's memory.

'I miss u more than u will ever know I hope some day soon we can be reunited. Love always and forever,' Newman wrote.

Tucker was a full-time faculty member in the social work department at Park University in Parkville, Missouri, from 2012 to 2017.

She had been an adjunct instructor before that since 2007.
Two dismembered bodies found stuffed inside a suitcase in Seattle by teenagers making a TikTok video have been identified as a mother-of-four and her boyfriend.

Now their families are raising money to offer as a reward for information leading to their killer's arrest.

The bodies of Jessica Lewis, 35, and Austin 'Cash' Wenner, 27, were discovered on Seattle's Alki Beach on June 19.

The TikTok users who found the suitcases containing the victims' dismembered bodies alerted the authorities and posted video online.

**WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT**

The human remains that were found by TikTok users in Seattle last month have been identified as belonging to Jessica Lewis, 35 (left), and her boyfriend, Austin 'Cash' Wenner, 27 (right)

The King County Medical Examiner has since determined that both Lewis and Wenner had been shot several days before their remains were found, reported KIRO7.

'Something traumatic happened that changed my life,' TikTok user UghHenry wrote in the caption of the video.

The social media user used the hashtags 'crime' and 'murder'.

'We found this black suitcase. We were joking that maybe the suitcase would have money[But] the smell was overwhelming,' the video captions explain.

In the clip the amateur videographer is heard tell one girl: 'Open it! It stinks, yo.'

A TikTok video posted last month shows a group of youths opening a suitcase at Duwamish Head in Seattle, Washington. But they had no idea they'd discovered human remains

Lewis' aunt has described the slain woman as a kind-hearted mother-of-four who worked with developmentally disabled adults. She and Wenner had been together for eight years

The discovery was near Luna Park on June 19, according to the Seattle Police Department

They are heard laughing before realizing that a black bag stuffed inside the suitcase may contain something sinister.

The caption states they felt a 'little scared' and 'nervous'.

The clip then cuts to another girl calling 911 and authorities arriving at the scene on the 1100 block of Alki Avenue.

According to the description of a GoFundMe campaign that Lewis' aunt, Gina Jaschke, launched this week, her niece was shot multiple times, while her long-time boyfriend, Wenner, died from a single gunshot wound to the torso on June 16.

'Jessica & Cash were good -hearted people,' Jaschke wrote. 'She leaves behind 4 beautiful children. Their parents and family are heartbroken beyond words. Along with countless friends and loved ones.'

Jaschke started the online fundraiser on Monday in hopes of raising $10,000 for a reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people who killed Lewis and Wenner.

So far, the campaign has drawn just a couple dozen donations totaling $730.

'She was like the most caring person,' Jaschke told the station of her slain niece, who worked with developmentally disabled adults.

Jaschke said that Lewis and Wenner were a fun-loving couple who had been together for eight years. The 35-year-old woman leaves behind four children.

'They were just nice normal people,' she said. 'Nobody deserves what happened to them.'

Seattle police told KING5 the case remains under 'very active investigation,' but no arrests have been announced as of Wednesday afternoon.

TikTok users said they were sent to the area by an app that comes up with random coordinates. Then they spotted the suitcase

The young people were hoping the luggage would contain money. One girl is seen prodding it with sticks (right)

But the group sensed something was wrong after smelling what was inside. They called 911 and felt 'nervous' and 'scared'

According to a caption in the TikTok video documenting the gruesome discovery of the couple's bodies, the amateur videographers were directed to the rocky beach by the Randonautica app.

The app encourages people to explore areas around them by using a random number generator to come up with a set of coordinates, according to Wired.

Users are told to set an intention before embarking on the trip and then report back later on whether they experienced any coincidences that suggest the universe fulfilled the intention.

'There are two main parts to randonauting,' Joshua Lengfelder, who founded the randonauting movement, told Wired. 'Exploring blindspots or places nearby that are outside of your conscious awareness, and experimenting with mind-machine interaction; the hypothesis that consciousness can influence the distribution of random numbers.'
Boris Johnson will today give gyms the go-ahead to reopen within days.

The Prime Minister is expected to unveil details of the latest unlocking of the economy as coronavirus cases continue to decline.

Ministers were last night finalising which sectors will get the go-ahead to restart, but Whitehall sources said health officials were satisfied that indoor gyms were safe to reopen, provided they take stringent measures to slow the spread of the virus.

They will be allowed to reopen by 'mid-July', and possibly as soon as next week. Other sectors being considered for reopening include swimming pools, beauty salons, nail bars, bowling alleys and casinos.

Though outdoor gyms and playgrounds may reopen tomorrow, indoor gyms are remaining closed because of the risk of indoor virus transmission (pictured, people take part in a small exercise class at the Lionheart Fitness gym in Bedlington, Northumberland)

The David Lloyd fitness centre in Chigwell has put various measures in place in the hope of reopening in the near future, such as moving equipment to have two metres distancing. (Pictured on June 23)

Graham Lilley measures out space at the Anytime Fitness gym centre in Leeds as the staff prepare for the eventual green light from the government to say indoor gyms can re-open

However, other sectors, such as theatres and nightclubs, look set to remain closed for the foreseeable future.

Despite crowded scenes in some city centres last weekend, Mr Johnson is ready to move to the next stage of reopening. But he will warn again that restrictions could be brought back if people fail to behave responsibly or cases of the virus start to rise.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak hinted at plans to reopen gyms yesterday during exchanges in the Commons, when he suggested they could be up and running when his new discount meal voucher comes in at the start of August.

The DUP's Sammy Wilson said it was time to reopen gyms, joking: 'I think the clothes shops might welcome it as well, as once we've eaten our way through a month's half-priced meals, we might all be visiting them.'

The Chancellor replied: 'Perhaps alongside 'eat out to help out', we can make progress on reopening our gyms, so at the same time we can deal with that side of the equation.'

Outdoor gyms were permitted to open from July 4, but government scientists were still nervous about lifting the restrictions on indoor facilities, which were seen as a high risk for spreading the virus.

The PM said that his government will get gyms reopened 'as soon as we can do it in a Covid-secure way' (pictured, outdoor spin class at a David Lloyd fitness centre in Chigwell)

The decision infuriated operators, who insist they can run their businesses safely and argue that it sent out a poor public health message to reopen pubs and restaurants while keeping gyms closed.

A Whitehall source said: 'Gyms have posed a particular challenge because of the nature of their business. They basically involve having a large number of people indoors, sharing equipment and getting out of breath. When you are dealing with a respiratory virus that is obviously a challenge.'

Rules on the reopening of gyms will be published in the coming days. But it is likely to lead to a reduction in the number of people who can work out at any one time.

Operators will be required to clean equipment each time it is used, and changing rooms could be closed, with gym-goers encouraged to arrive and leave in their kit.
A New York man who was arrested for repeatedly breaking mandatory self-quarantine orders after testing positive for coronavirus is not being held in prison because of the state's bail reform laws.

The man, who has not been named due to HIPAA laws, was charged with criminal contempt for not self-isolating in Oneida in upstate New York after contracting COVID-19.

Police say the man had been given multiple warnings to self-isolate after testing positive.

The man, who has not been named due to HIPAA laws, was charged with criminal contempt for not self-isolating in Oneida in upstate New York after contracting COVID-19

He failed to follow the mandatory quarantine order, according to authorities.

Due to the state's bail reform laws, police had to issue the man with an appearance ticket because the charge does not allow for bail to be set.

Police said the man had been arrested several times in the previous six weeks for various offenses including theft of a vehicle, criminal mischief, menacing with a weapon and criminal contempt pending two warrants.

He was released back into the community due to the bail reforms after each arrest because, like the charge for breaking quarantine, the charges were not bailable offenses.

In a statement, the Oneida City Police Department slammed the man as 'selfish' for posing a risk to the community given he tested positive.

'We wanted the community to be aware and understand that while we are committed to keeping our community safe and will continue to enforce all laws,' the statement read.

'Our hands have been bound by the bail 'reforms' thus allowing irresponsible and selfish people like this to continue to pose risks and dangers to our communities.

'Please continue to take personal precautions and follow CDC and health department guidelines, such as wearing face masks and washing your hands, as you never know who you will be near and what risks they may pose to you and your loved ones.'

New York state has been among the hardest hit amid the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

As of Tuesday, there were 398,900 coronavirus infections across the state and 24,900 deaths.

Across the country, there are more than 3 million cases and 131,000 deaths.
Struggling care homes were given a 1,000 cash incentive to take in hospital patients in order to free up beds, it has emerged.

To qualify for the payment the home had to admit the patient within 24 hours  regardless if they had coronavirus or not.

Sixteen homes took up the offer from Birmingham City Council.

It comes as Boris Johnson yesterday insisted the last thing he had wanted to do was blame care workers for deaths in homes, as a row over apportioning responsibility for the crisis continued.

Birmingham council said the 1,000 incentive, from a 5million pot, was to help pay for any additional costs including extra personal protective equipment, additional staff and cleaning so Covid-19 patients could be isolated.

Boris Johnson yesterday insisted the last thing he had wanted to do was blame care workers for deaths in homes, as a row over apportioning responsibility for the crisis continued

But one care home manager who rejected the cash said shes certain its one of the reasons none of her residents have been infected.

Jane Farr, who manages Covid-free Digby Manor care home in Erdington, told the Birmingham Mail: Nobody could be certain those people did not have Covid-19. Im certain it was a reason we have not had any cases.

Thousands of care home residents have died during the crisis due to a lack of PPE and the dash to discharge NHS patients without testing them first.

The Prime Minister yesterday again resisted apologising for comments in which he said deaths had been so high because too many care homes didnt follow the proper procedures.

And he attracted further criticism by claiming we just didnt know about asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus, despite warnings stretching back to January.

Boris Johnson told the Commons that the Government took responsibility for its actions during the outbreak  but said understanding of coronavirus had changed dramatically in recent months.

He said the Government now knows aspects about how coronavirus is passed between people without symptoms that we just didnt know before.

But minutes from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) on January 28 clearly referred to asymptomatic transmission, warning that early indications imply some is occurring.

Pictured: A file photo shows an elderly woman walking supported by a frame during the coronavirus outbreak. Birmingham council said the 1,000 incentive, from a 5million pot, was to help pay for any additional costs including extra personal protective equipment, additional staff and cleaning so Covid-19 patients could be isolated

From mid-March hospitals were ordered to urgently discharge patients to free up bed space but were not told to test patients first. Routine testing was not introduced until April 16.

Campaigners blame this policy for causing the catastrophic spread of Covid-19 in care homes. In Birmingham more than 400 people were moved from hospital to care homes  while the newly built Nightingale Hospital did not admit a single patient.

Birmingham council invited care homes to apply for the cash incentive on April 14.

The one-off payment of 1,000 was paid to care homes to recognise the potential additional costs associated with assessing and discharging quickly and to ensure finances are quickly available to support discharge in line with the national guidance.

The council guidance made clear the home has to accept admissions regardless of the citizens Covid-19 testing or diagnosis status at the point of discharge.

Meanwhile the NHS Nightingale overspill hospital at the NEC never saw a patient and is now mothballed.

Dr David Rosser, chief executive of University Hospitals Birmingham, has since expressed how, with hindsight, the city created too much capacity. He also added that the impact on care homes was not fully appreciated.

Birmingham council said: The payment [to care homes] was to allow additional costs to be funded, meaning Covid status should not be a barrier to discharge.
Advertisement

The wings of a Boeing 747 span a greater distance than the Wright Brothers' first flight in 1903.

It's such a colossus that the American factory in Everett, Washington, where the planes have been manufactured since 1969, is the largest building by volume in the world at 13 million cubic metres. Fittingly, clouds have been known to form inside.

A top speed of just over 650mph makes it the fastest commercial plane on the planet  and it once carried 1,088 people on a single flight when evacuating Ethiopian Jews from Addis Ababa in 1991.

But, of course, the superlatives hurtle effortlessly through the air when it comes to this iconic aviation workhorse that has ferried nearly four billion passengers to and from destinations around the globe in expansive (or cramped) style for more than 50 years.

The last Qantas Boeing 747-400 aircraft makes its landing on the ground at Sydney Airport in Australia on March 29 this year

With a top speed of just over 650mph, the Boeing 747 is the fastest commercial plane on the planet. Pictured: A group of passengers sit in a plush lounge while on board an American Airlines Boeing 747 airplane in 1975

Which is why the forced abdication of the Queen of the Skies is causing such turbulence when, finally, we can all start flying again.

Boeing announced this week that it will finish production of any 747s in the factory  but won't be taking new orders. Not a single one. And, so, that's it for the much-loved original jumbo jet that 'shrunk the world' and opened up travel to the masses like no other plane had done before or has done since.

Covid-19 can't be held entirely responsible. The 747's four gas-guzzling engines have long provided more than enough ammo to have the planes decommissioned on environmental grounds  and not even the most creative of accountants could claim that they are cost-effective.

Never mind their fuel consumption  just to land a 747 carrying 400 or so passengers at Heathrow Airport costs more than 13,000, of which nearly 4,000 is in environmental tariffs. That's why British Airways has a greater number of 747s in storage  36  than it does the 31 in service, and plans to withdraw them all by 2024.

United Airlines and Delta flew their last 747s in 2017, while Qantas is offering three, final 'joy flights' around Australia before retiring its fleet later this month.

And what about Virgin Atlantic? It doesn't seem long ago (well, 2009 actually) that Sir Richard Branson scooped up Kate Moss in typical fashion and carried her on to the wing of a 747 for one of his classic publicity stunts. All Virgin's 747s are now grounded.

'Best airliner of all time,' says Martin Bowman, author of Boeing 747  A History: Delivering The Dream. 'They have a mystique all of their own and to climb the steps up to the upper deck is like entering a wonderland.'

It's that sleek but bulging upper deck (which Frank Sinatra used to book in its entirety to accommodate his entourage when on tour), plus its first-of-a-kind twin aisles below with four seats in the middle and three on either side  which make it so distinctive. And its six-storey-tail is some sight, too.

Not bad for a plane that was designed with a raised cockpit so that it could be converted to a freighter plane because Boeing thought it would be replaced by supersonic aircraft within a decade  not least because less than a month after the first 747 test flight, an Anglo-French consortium was testing a new plane called Concorde on March 2, 1969.

Construction of the Boeing took two years, involved six million parts, 170 miles of wiring and saw the finished jumbo weigh in at 160 tons. Pictured: Two people pose next to the jumbo jet as the aircraft launches the London to New York flight in March 1970

In 2009 the founder of Virgin Sir Richard Branson scooped up Kate Moss in typical fashion and carried her on to the wing of a 747 for one of his classic publicity stunts

The Space Shuttle Discovery is lifted into the air while sitting on top of NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in 1995

In the 1960s, Juan Trippe, president and founder of the now-defunct Pan Am airline, asked Boeing to build a plane twice the size of a 707 so that he could cut ticket prices by 30 per cent  an 'aerial ocean liner of the skies', as he put it, a little clumsily.

The contract was signed in 1965 even before the design was agreed, at a time when Boeing was in debt to the tune of around 11 billion in today's money.

It was a gamble for Boeing and high stakes for Trippe. First, Boeing had to find a factory big enough to assemble the liner.

But there wasn't one, so the company had to build from scratch on a 780-acre site, some 30 miles north of Seattle, Washington, at a cost of 160 million.

At first, it the 747 was envisaged as a double-decker aircraft, but that was ruled out when 560 volunteers took part in a cabin mock-up evacuation and needed two-and-a-half minutes to flee the plane, far longer than the Federal Aviation Administration maximum allowed of 90 seconds.

Construction took two years, involved six million parts, 170 miles of wiring and the finished jumbo weighed in at 160 tons, with beer kegs filled with water and stuffed mail sacks adding 54 tons.On September 30, 1968, the first 747 was paraded before the world's Press, accompanied by Elgar's Pomp And Circumstance.

It displayed the logos of the 26 airlines that ordered the plane and female cabin crew from those airlines smashed bottles of champagne against the fuselage.

The test flight four months later was not without problems  the chief pilot, Jack Waddell, realised one of the Pratt & Whitney engines was considerably hotter than the others; then one of the wings suffered from a 'flutter' problem at high speed.

The hearts of Boeing's board of directors must have been in a flutter on hearing that, but Waddell landed the plane safely.

The First Lady, Pat Nixon, wife of President Richard Nixon, officially christened the 747 at Washington Dulles International Airport on January 15, 1970. A week later, with 336 passengers who had paid the equivalent of 4,000 for the trip, Pan Am's New York-London 747 service took off.

It was meant to leave 24 hours earlier but the pilot aborted take-off when an engine overheated. A second 747 was rushed into service, arriving in London less than seven hours later.

But the 747 had some dark moments, too. In December, 1988 263 passengers and 16 crew died when Pan Am's 747 flight 103 was destroyed by a bomb over Lockerbie. And in 1977, two Boeing 747 jets collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, resulting in 583 fatalities, the deadliest crash in aviation history.

The 747 hasn't carried just passengers. Besides all-cargo versions, command-post airplanes for the U.S. Air Force and even a prototype interceptor that would have shot laser beams at incoming missiles, the jumbo carried on its back the Space Shuttle in the 1980s and beyond.

The Shuttle landed like a regular aircraft but could not take off unassisted, so needed to hitch a ride between Nasa facilities.

America might see the 747 as one of its own  but its genius is that all national carriers have regarded it as theirs. If you didn't have a few jumbos waiting to lift into the skies, you weren't really a player.

Now the planes are being ditched or used solely to transport cargo. All reigns come to an end  and history surely will be kind to the unrivalled Queen of the Skies.
A massive coronavirus outbreak at an Islamic school, which resulted in more than 100 cases, was sparked by family gathering in Victoria.

The outbreak at Al-Taqwa College in Melbourne's west is the second largest the state has seen, with 102 cases confirmed on Wednesday.

The cluster was linked to a huge family gathering in the same area, health officials confirmed, with older teenagers responsible for spreading the virus.

Many of the cases were year 11 and 12 students, and several teachers also tested positive for the respiratory infection.

Al-Taqwa College in Truganina (pictured) recorded its 102nd case of COVID-19 on Wednesday

Victoria recorded 134 new cases on Wednesday (pictured, Fire Services Victoria members prepare to enter a virus-stricken public housing tower in Melbourne on Wednesday)

The school, in the western Melbourne suburb of Truganina, was closed on May 29 after a staff member tested positive for the virus.

But the number of cases quickly grew, prompting health authorities to urge all 2,000 students and 300 staff to self-isolate before being tested.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said the transmission rate among students was 'substantial'.

'The great majority of cases that turned up in [other] schools were from kids who acquired it at home or outside of school,' he said.

'Al-Taqwa College is a different example.

'There seems to have been transmission in the school that was quite substantial

A massive coronavirus outbreak at an Islamic school (pictured), which resulted in more than 100 cases, was sparked by a family gathering in Victoria

Police and health workers are seen gathering outside a public housing tower in North Melbourne on Wednesday (pictured) as the crisis rumbled on

'They are older kids. They tend to have more transmission.

'Its  akin to adults if they are not doing the physical distancing appropriately, so thats been a big cluster in terms of schools.'

The school had already closed for the holidays when the outbreak was identified.

The colleges principal, Omar Hallak, told The Guardian they had been vigilant since the outbreak of Covid-19.

Police speak to local outside a north Melbourne tower on Wednesday (pictured) after ten towers were locked down

He said the school had measures in place to try to limit the exposure of staff, students and the wider community.

'Temperature checks on a daily basis were conducted for all staff, students and anyone needing to visit the school. Any staff or student that presented with even the mildest cold and flu symptoms were sent back home as a safety precaution.'

Melbourne returned to stage three lockdown measures for six weeks on Thursday, with residents only permitted to leave their homes for essential purposes.

Year 11 and 12 pupils and special schools are set to return to class next week.

A worker wearing a face mask and protective clothing attends to members of the public at a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic in Melbourne (pictured on Wednesday)

But school holidays will be extended by a week for students up to year 10, with remote learning a possibility after that.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the new lockdown was essential to avoid 'thousands and thousands' of cases and 'many, many people in hospital.'

'This is a pandemic and it will kill thousands of people if it gets completely away from us,' he said.

Of the 2,942 cases recorded in Victoria since January 25, 860 remain active.

The biggest cluster in the state was the Cedar Meats outbreak, which saw 111 cases at the western suburbs abattoir.

Melbourne will returns to stage three lockdown measures for six weeks from midnight Wednesday (pictured is a map of affected council areas)
Pastor Jentezen Franklin urges Christians to vote their faith after Calif. bans singing in church

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Megachurch pastor Jentezen Franklin cried discrimination and urged Christians to vote their faith in November as the California Department of Public Health issued updated guidelines Wednesday, forbidding churches from singing during services to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Californias Governor just banned singing/chanting at church. Catholics can't recite mass; Evangelicals can't worship out loud. The very definition of discrimination is to allow thousands to march and scream without masks while telling churches 100 or less that you cannot sing, Franklin, who is senior pastor of the multi-campus Free Chapel Church in Gainesville, Georgia, tweeted Friday.

Christians must realize the radical left will restrict & control church if we dont vote our faith this November! Are you registered to vote your faith?

A few weeks ago, California began allowing the reopening of churches for in-person services with guidelines after requiring most Californians in March to stay at home to disrupt the spread of COVID-19 among the population. As the number of cases began inching upwards again, public health officials said singing and chanting in houses of worship must not happen.

Even with adherence to physical distancing, convening in a congregational setting of multiple different households to practice a personal faith carries a relatively higher risk for widespread transmission of the COVID-19 virus, and may result in increased rates of infection, hospitalization, and death, especially among more vulnerable populations, health officials noted in the new guidelines document.

In particular, activities such as singing and chanting negate the risk reduction achieved through six feet of physical distancing. *Places of worship must therefore discontinue singing and chanting activities and limit indoor attendance to 25% of building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower, they advised.

Houses of worship, along with other places of work such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, prisons, food production, warehouses, meat processing plants, and grocery stores, were identified as places that had suffered multiple outbreaks of COVID-19.

A report from the Skagit County Public Health Department in Washington State published by the CDC in May showed how quickly the coronavirus spread after a choir practice became a superspreader event for the disease that infected 86% of attending members and killed two of them.

While churches are still allowed to operate with restrictions, California health officials strongly recommended that places of worship continue to facilitate remote services and other related activities for those who are vulnerable to COVID-19, including older adults and those with underlying conditions.

Like Franklin, many other evangelical leaders saw the banning of singing in churches in California as a hypocritical assault on religious freedom.

The science that allows for protests but prohibits singing in church is fake science that must be rejected. If being outside makes protests safe, then why are beaches being shut down? Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas asked on Twitter Friday.

Tony Suarez, chief operating officer of the Sacramento-based National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said he would rather be jailed than stop singing in church.

Ill go to jail before Ill stop singing to my God! This just turned into our Daniel chapter six moment. California has just banned singing/chanting in houses of worship, Suarez said, encouraging civil disobedience.

He also shared a statement from NHCLC President Samuel Rodriguez who noted: You cannot permit tens of thousands to march in protest without masks and demand that 100 worshipers refrain from singing. That my friend is the very definition of discrimination. @GavinNewsom please stop discriminating! #inalienablerights.

Tom Buck, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Lindale, Texas, also encouraged Christians in California to reject the ban on singing.

This is where every church should draw the line & practice civil disobedience. They must choose to obey God rather than man! Of course, part of that involves being willing to suffer the consequences, but the churches must not bow to this totalitarian order, he said.

Some churches, meanwhile, are choosing to abide by the guidelines.

Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa chose to be "flexible" and "safe" and avoid congregational singing. Instead of the typical series of worship songs, the worship team sang from the stage while reading scriptures and encouraging the congregation to meditate and pray.

"Its not the end of the world if the health department says its not the best idea for you to be singing congregationally," Senior Pastor Brian Brodersen said Sunday. "Were mature enough. We have the Lord. We can navigate that. We dont have to get all stressed out about it."

Jason Batt, chief operating officer of Capital Christian Center, one of the Sacramento areas largest congregations, told The Sacramento Bee, We recognize that singing is a challenge." He said the choir has been put on hold for the time being and the church only had limited singing on stage during the recent reopening.
Lockdown restrictions could be reinstated in New South Wales to stop a second wave of coronavirus being spread by travellers from Victoria, experts have warned.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is on high alert after Melbourne entered a six week, stage three lockdown on Thursday following a horror outbreak of new infections.

The drastic measure has seen recently reopened businesses, including restaurants, cafes and gyms, forced to close their doors once again.

The NSW premier warned the possibility of a similar outbreak in her state as 'extremely high.'

Three people returning from Melbourne tested positive to the virus in NSW this week while a Victorian teen tested positive while holidaying in Tathra on the south coast.

Health experts issued a dire warning that more infected Victorians who crossed the NSW border may remain undetected and could spark a rise in community transmissions - leading to a reimposed lockdown.

There are fears of a second coronavirus outbreak heading to NSW being spread by interstate travellers from Victoria (pictured, a Sydneysider being tested in Bondi on Tuesday)

It comes after 48 Jetstar travellers on flight JQ520 from Melbourne disembarked from Sydney airport without proper COVID-19 checks on Tuesday night because staff were busy screening passengers from another flight.

The hunt continues for two passengers who remain unaccounted for while another has refused to be screened, with all three referred to NSW Police.

University of NSW epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws said authorities can no longer do effective contact tracing once active cases hit a 'magic number.'

'If it gets to about 100 cases across two incubation periods  about 14 days each  in very quick succession it doubles and then after that, it can double and triple each period,' she told the ABC.

University of NSW epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws (pictured) fears infected Victorians who crossed the NSW border may remain undetected

Gladys Berejiklian is considering establishing a new border to leave Albury (pictured) as a part of Victoria to prevent the chance of community transmission into NSW

University of Sydney clinical epidemiologist Fiona Stanaway added: 'This shouldn't just be thought of as Melbourne's problem and we really need to realise that this can happen anywhere and can happen again.'

While up to 18 per cent of COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic, Professor McLaws warned those cases can still spread the virus.

Dr Stanaway praised the NSW government's overall response during the pandemic but warned against becoming complacent.

She urged residents to continue to social distance as much as possible.

Cars are seen queuing at a coronavirus testing centre in Bondi on Tuesday (pictured) amid fears the virus has already crossed into NSW

There were long queues for testing in Albury on the NSW/Victorian border on Wednesday (pictured, in Albury)

'This shouldn't just be thought of as Melbourne's problem and we really need to realise that this can happen anywhere and can happen again,' Dr Stanaway said.

NSW on Wednesday recorded eight new COVID-19 cases including seven in hotel quarantine and a woman in her 30s from south-west Sydney.

Victoria recorded 134 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, its second-highest single-day total since the pandemic began after a record 191 infections on Tuesday.

Ms Berejiklian is considering drastic measures including reinstating restrictions on weddings and funerals and even adjusting the state border.

With the borders slammed shut at 11.59pm on Tuesday, Ms Berejiklian could impose radical sanctions to protect her state from plunging back into hard lockdown.

Limiting 'high risk' gatherings and reinstating restrictions on funerals and weddings are all being considered.

Police question drivers at a checkpoint in Albury on Wednesday (pictured) as the NSW-Victoria border closed due to the second wave spread of coronavirus in Victoria

'Everything is on the table,' a government source told The Daily Telegraph.

Ms Berejiklian is also considering shifting the state border to the north and annexing Albury to Victoria until the outbreak is brought under control.

This would allow residents of both towns to cross state lines freely and minimise disruption to the community while also preventing the virus from spreading deeper into NSW.

She has also flagged making exemption permits to cross the border more difficult to obtain.

More than 50,000 exemption permits were issued overnight allowing people living in NSW-Victoria border communities to cross between the two.

She warned the widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in Victoria is a threat to NSW and was unapologetic when she suggested tough new restrictions may need to be implemented.

People continue to shop prior to the general lockdown in Melbourne on Wednesday (pictured)

'The probability of contagion in NSW given what's happened in Victoria is extremely high,' Ms Berejiklian she said.

'I am extremely concerned about what is happening in Victoria, the extent of community contagion is unlike anything we have seen in Australia... do not let your guard down.'

The Berejiklian government is also looking into making hotel quarantine mandatory for NSW residents returning from the southern state.

Currently, NSW residents returning from Victoria must self-isolate at home for 14 days but Ms Berejiklian said forced hotel quarantine - which residents will have to pay for - has not been ruled out.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) is desperate to prevent a second wave of coronavirus in NSW

Police examine drivers on the NSW-Victoria border on Wednesday (pictured). More than 50,000 exemption permits have been issued for drivers

Ms Berejiklian was nonplussed by naysayers of her hardline stance in dealing with the threat of a renewed outbreak in NSW.

'It doesn't bother me how many people are personally upset with me (about) the decision we have to take to protect the community,' she said.

'Do not let your guard down. I have no tolerance for people who are continuing to live their lives as normal. I have no tolerance for the people who aren't doing the right thing by the vast majority.'

Queues on the NSW-Victoria border grew to four kilometres overnight as the coronavirus enforced closure came into play.

The surge in coronavirus cases in Victoria over the last 10 days, which peaked at 191 cases on Tuesday

Gladys Berejiklian is considering drastic measures to stop community transmission from Victoria into NSW (pictured, testing at Bondi Beach on Tuesday)

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said some people travelling from hotspot postcodes in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire were turned back.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said Sydney airport have now put in place protocols to ensure no one is able to disembark a flight without proper screening procedures by health teams.

All airline passengers are required to be screened by NSW Health staff on entry into NSW.

After JQ520 passengers entered the state without proper examination, planes entering Sydney airport must now wait until NSW Health staff are set up to screen patients before passengers are able to disembark the aircraft.

Police wearing protective face masks at an Albury pop up coronavirus clinic on Tuesday (pictured)

A queue of medical staff wait to enter the North Melbourne Public Housing tower complex on Wednesday (pictured)

NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann called on NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard to investigate the incident after he made earlier assurances all passengers arriving from Victoria would be screened at Sydney Airport.

'It's gobsmacking that such an event could occur in NSW after the Ruby Princess debacle,' Ms Faehrmann said in a statement.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to throw everything at stopping Melbourne's coronavirus outbreak spreading across Australia.

The prime minister warned the highly contagious disease could spread without tough measures.

'It's happening in Melbourne now,' Mr Morrison said in Canberra on Wednesday.

'There's always the risk it could happen in other cities and every step is being taken to seek to prevent that.'

VICTORIA'S CORONAVIRUS CASES VICTORIA'S CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS AS OF JULY 8: * 134 new cases * Total number of cases: 2942 * 11 new cases linked to outbreaks * 123 under investigation * No new cases in returned international travellers * 75 infections in total at nine public housing towers in hard lockdown * 29,424 tests done on Tuesday CASES FROM KNOWN OUTBREAKS * 7 cases linked to Al-Taqwa College outbreak, which now totals 102 * 2 linked to locked-down public housing towers, which now totals 75 * 1 linked to the Stamford Plaza outbreak, which now totals 43 * 1 linked to the PM Fresh facility in Broadmeadows, which now totals 2 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews talking about the state's response to the rise in cases OTHER CASES * 4 patients and a staff member at Brunswick Private Hospital. * 3 at Woolworths Customer Fulfilment Centre in Footscray, taking the total to 4 * 5 linked to five aged care services OVERALL NUMBERS: * 860 active cases in the state * 150 active in the Hume local government area * 41 Victorians in hospital including seven in intensive care * 1,000,867 tests done since testing began * 2575 of the total cases from metropolitan Melbourne * 263 from regional Victoria * 456 cases indicate community transmission * 2058 people have recovered from the virus LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS SUPPORT AND PENALTIES * 264 defence personnel providing logistical support to Victoria Police * Increased police presence across all 32 local government areas entering stage three lockdown at midnight * 810 spot checks by Victoria Police in the past 24 hours at homes, businesses and non-essential services across the state * 6314 fines since policing of restrictions under Operation Sentinel began * Breaches of public health orders face on-the-spot fines of $1652 for individuals and $9913 for businesses. Advertisement

Several hundred police and soldiers will enforce a 'hard border' around Melbourne as the city re-enters lockdown for six weeks.

Premier Daniel Andrews said it was imperative no one breaches restrictions and ventures into regional Victoria, which has largely remained free of coronavirus.

'We are doing the hard work to look at options to accelerate opening up in regional Victoria, that comes with significant economic benefit, for them and therefore the whole state,' he said on Wednesday.

'That is only possible if we continue to safeguard the very low COVID or COVID-free status of large parts of regional and country Victoria.'

A group of police officers question a driver at the Albury checkpoint on Wednesday night (pictured)

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton 700 police officers and 264 members of the Australian Defence Force will enforce the lockdown, with booze bus-type checks in place on main roads in and out of the city, and number plate recognition technology used.

'We're going to be checking people. We're going to be making sure they're adhering to those guidelines,' he said.

'If you don't have a reason to leave, you will be turned back around.'

He said on-the-spot fines of up to $1,652 will be handed out to people caught breaching lockdown rules, while businesses could be fined $9,913.

'We've done this before in restrictions we've been through. People know what to do. They know what to expect,' Mr Patton said.

Residents queue up at an outdoor coronavirus testing facility in Albury on Wednesday (pictured)

Police watch on as drivers queue on Wednesday at the border checkpoint at Albury (pictured)

Police have done 92,215 random checks since March to ensure people were at home and businesses were abiding by the rules.

Residents in the lockdown areas will only be able to leave their homes to get food and supplies, receive or provide care, exercise, and study or work.

Testing has revealed infection protocol breaches by security guards working in hotel quarantine fuelled the second wave of the virus in the state.

Mr Andrews said those to blame are 'no longer playing a part in our hotel quarantine arrangements'.

Healthcare workers walk with testing supplies into Flemington Towers Government Housing complex on Wednesday (pictured)

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

Of the state's new cases, just 11 are linked to known outbreaks while 123 remain under investigation.

They include four patients and a worker at Brunswick Private Hospital, which is now closed to new admissions while contact tracing is under way.

Another Ambulance Victoria paramedic has coronavirus, bringing the total number to test positive since the start of the pandemic to five.

The paramedic is a close contact of one of the paramedics who returned a positive result on Tuesday.

Five positive cases have also been linked to aged care services across the state.

Meanwhile, cases linked to the nine public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne in hard lockdown have slowed to two new infections on Wednesday, with the cluster now totalling 75.

Testing of all 3,000 residents is expected to be completed soon.

One million Victorians have been tested for COVID-19 since the start of the year, with a record of 29,424 tests conducted on Tuesday.

To date, 22 Victorians have died from the virus while 41 remain in hospital.
Ministers spent an astonishing 10 billion on the bungled test and trace programme as part of an extra 48 billion of spending on public services during the coronavirus crisis, it has emerged.

The programme was championed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock when introduced at the end of May but, as of last week, it is still failing to track a quarter of patients who test positive for the illness.

Scientists have warned contact tracing programmes need to catch at least 80 per cent of infections to ensure the spread of the virus is contained.

Earlier this week, Baroness Dido Harding, who is charge of the programme, admitted it is still is not hitting government targets - but claimed it is 'not far away'.

She said more work needs to be done to build up public confidence in the tracing system and the expected app, because neither will work without people's co-operation. She said people's trust must be earned rather than expected.

A report has now revealed the full extent of the financial burden of the programme, while also outlining how the government blew 15 billion on personal protective equipment for frontline health staff.

The huge sum  which was spent on gloves, aprons and masks for hospitals and care homes in just over three months  is more than the annual budget of the Home Office.

The government spent an astonishing 10 billion on the bungled test and trace programme, it has been revealed

The programme was championed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock when introduced at the end of May

A report has revealed the full extent of the financial burden of the system, while also outlining how the government blew 15 billion on personal protective equipment

It reflects not only the amount of protective equipment that was required at the last minute, but also the exorbitant cost charged by some suppliers.

The Government was criticised at the start of the coronavirus pandemic when it emerged that despite warnings, it had failed to stock up on PPE.

Now, campaigners have also blasted the 'enormous waste' of public money after PPE and the bungled testing and contact tracing programmes accounted for almost four-fifths of extra health spending.

Think tanks and taxpayer campaign groups also blasted the Government over the spending on testing and tracing programmes.

Matthew Lesh, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute, told the Telegraph that the amount spent on testing and tracing programmes was 'astonishing'.

Documents released yesterday revealed that the Treasury had released 48.5 billion of additional expenditure on public services for the immediate response to the outbreak. Of this, 31.9 billion went to the NHS  including the 15 billion for PPE.

A further 5.5 billion went on the hiring of private sector health facilities, delivering medicines to those who were vulnerable and shielding, and opening GP surgeries and pharmacies during bank holidays.

Ministers spent an astonishing 15 billion on personal protective equipment for frontline health staff during the coronavirus crisis as part of an extra 48 billion on public services. Pictured: Nurse Robyn Wilks wears PPE as she takes a blood sample from Ann Hilldrith, a patient at the Littlefield practice at Freshney Green Primary Care Centre in Grimsby

The Government has also spent 10 billion for the test and trace programme, which has been beset by problems. Pictured: An NHS Test and Trace form is displayed at the entrance of the Regal Moon JD Wetherspoons pub on Saturday

The money also went towards 'enhancing the NHS discharge process so patients who were medically fit to do so can leave hospital quickly and safely', and funding for domestic vaccines, research and development and manufacturing.

Sunak's 'mini-Budget' package at a glance Stamp duty threshold will increase from 125,000 to between 300,000 and 500,000 for six months to boost housing market; A radical plan to pay the wages of up to 300,000 young people on Universal Credit if businesses agree to take them on for at least six months; A 2billion scheme to subsidise home insulation and other environmental upgrades that ministers hope will support more than 100,000 jobs; A temporary cut in VAT which is expected to be focused on struggling sectors like hospitality; Schools, hospitals and other public buildings are to get 1billion to make them greener and more energy efficient; Some 50million to fund retrofitting of social housing with insulation, double glazing and heat pumps; Nature conservation schemes given 40million to plant trees, clean up rivers and create new green spaces. Advertisement

Another 4.7 billion of Treasury funding went straight to local government.

This included 3.7billion for social care and to deliver additional support to vulnerable people.

Schools received 1.2 billion of additional funding. This included support for pupils to catch up on lost learning, and a national voucher scheme to provide free school meals for children while at home.

Support for public transport amounted to 5.3 billion of targeted support for essential services, in addition to the economy-wide schemes.

It included 3.5 billion for rail services, 1 billion for services in London, and support for bus and light rail services across the rest of England.

The Treasury also approved 1.2 billion for other public services, including food packages for the most vulnerable shielders, and repatriation support for UK travellers stranded overseas.

The money also helped fund the Government's coronavirus public information campaign.

Large amounts of extra money went to the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Scottish government got 2.1 billion, the Welsh government received 1.3 billion and the Northern Ireland executive was handed 700 million.

Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said 15 billion on PPE was an 'awful lot' and 'not far off the entire social care budget for a year'.

It comes as Chancellor Rishi Sunak rolled out a huge plan to get the economy going again as the coronavirus pandemic eases.

The UK's coronavirus bailout has soared to 310billion after Mr Sunak pledged to subsidise meals out, hand 9billion in 'bonuses' to firms who bring back furloughed staff and cuts to VAT and stamp duty.

He also revealed that every household can apply for a 5,000 voucher under a 3billion drive announced for 'greener' homes, hospitals and schools to support 140,000 jobs.

The jobs bonus was the biggest ticket item in the 30billion package announced yesterday - which comes on top of the 160billion already pumped into the economy by the government

Chancellor Rishi Sunak insisted he wanted to see a 'green recovery with concern for the environment at its heart' as he confirmed the plans in the Commons.

How will Rishi Sunak's Green Homes Grant work? Chancellor Rishi Sunak insisted he wanted to see a 'green recovery with concern for the environment at its heart' as he rolled out his mini-Budget. As part of this, Mr Sunak confirmed a 2billion Green Homes Grant from September will mean homeowners and landlords can get grants up to 5,000 for insulation and other energy efficiency measures. Some of the lowest income households will get the full costs of energy efficiency refits paid up to 10,000. It is not clear what qualifies as a lower or higher income under Mr Sunak's definition. The types of improvements to be offered include wall-to-wall insulation, energy efficient boilers, double or triple-glazed windows, low-energy lighting and insulated doors. The scheme is to be launched in September when online applications will be accepted for the recommended home improvements, as well as details for accredited local suppliers. Households will then be sent vouchers which can be used at the suppliers. Advertisement

In his mini-Budget, Mr Sunak confirmed a 2billion Green Homes Grant from September will mean homeowners and landlords can get grants up to 5,000 for insulation and other energy efficiency measures.

Some of the lowest income households will get the full costs of energy efficiency refits paid up to 10,000.

The funding also includes 1billion to improve the energy efficiency and low carbon heating for schools, hospitals, prisons, military bases and other public buildings and 50 million to pilot ways to cut carbon from social housing.

At a pivotal moment in the coronavirus crisis, the Chancellor admitted that 'hardship lies ahead' but he was ditching 'dogma' to 'do what is right' with a 30billion package - on top of the staggering 280billion already splashed out - as the country 'opens up' from lockdown.

In an unprecedented move, he said the government will fund up to 50 per cent of people's meals out at struggling restaurants from Monday to Wednesday, to a maximum of 10 per head.

Every business that brings back one of the 9million furloughed employees on a decent wage and keeps them on the books until January will also get 1,000.

VAT is being slashed from 20 per cent to 5 per cent for the hospitality industry until January in another huge intervention - and stamp duty is being axed on all homes worth up to 500,000 until March.

There is also a 2billion 'kickstarter' scheme to pay wages for young people, with Mr Sunak saying one of his main fears is that the meltdown will result in a 'generation left behind'.

Mr Sunak claimed that his eco-boosting measures would make 650,000 homes more energy efficient, save households up to 300 on their annual bills, cut carbon emissions by 500,000 tonnes and support 140,000 jobs.

The extraordinary cash splashing received broad support from the hospitality sector, although there were doubts over how effective the expensive jobs guarantees will prove and whether a stamp duty cut will merely 'front load' activity.

However, Mr Sunak made clear the largesse cannot continue much longer amid growing Tory anxiety about the scale of the debt being racked up by the government. There are warnings that if interest rates rise even modestly servicing the 2trillion-plus debt pile could cost more than the defence and education budgets put together.

How much will the latest rescue measures cost? The Chancellor said direct coronavirus bailouts up to now had cost 160billion. Some 49billion extra has been provided to public services - including an eye-watering 15billion on PPE equipment. Another 140billion has been committed in loans and guarantees - not to mention the Bank of England's 300billion of quantitative easing so far this year.. The package says the 'job retention bonus' will cost up to 9.4billion, while the Kickstart scheme and boosts for job searches and skills will add 3.7billion. The bill for slashing VAT for hospitality will be 4.1billion, raising the Stamp Duty threshold will cost 3.8billion and spending on the eating out scheme will be 500million. The infrastructure moves will cost 5.6billion, environmental improvements in the public sector and social housing 1.1billion, and subsidising insulation upgrades for homes 2billion. Advertisement

Including loans and other guarantees, the government has now committed over 310billion, while the Bank of England has also expanded its quantitative easing programme - effectively printing more money - by 300billion this year.

Pressed by Conservative MPs in the Commons this afternoon, Mr Sunak that while he was acting now to prevent 'scarring' of the economy, 'once we get through this crisis we must retain and sustain public finances'.

Campaigners welcomed the moves to invest in energy efficiency, widely seen as one of the best ways to boost jobs across the UK while cutting emissions.

But they warned that levels of funding were well below what was needed to address the climate and nature crises, and that the 'jury is still very much out' on how green the Government's recovery will be.

Rosie Rogers, from Greenpeace UK, whose activists changed the road signs at Parliament Square so they read 'Green Recovery' in every direction, said: 'All roads must now lead to a green recovery - there is no alternative option.'

She urged: 'An initial 15 billion cash injection in green 'shovel ready' projects would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, almost immediately, right across the country, while making transport greener, homes warmer, energy bills lower and restoring nature.'

Chris Venables, head of politics at Green Alliance, said: 'Today's speech could mark a really positive first step on the green recovery, but only if this ambition is continued throughout the rest of the year, and particularly in the autumn budget.

'We urgently need to see a clear funding strategy for supporting public transport in its time of crisis, a long-term strategy to ensure all buildings are warm and cheap to run, reversing the catastrophic declines in nature, and investing in the technology of the future.

'The jury is still very much out on how green the UK Government's recovery will be, and we'll be watching over the coming weeks and months.'

There have been widespread calls for a green recovery, including calls for the Government to deliver on its 9.2billion manifesto pledge for energy efficiency and investment in schemes to help nature recover, and make sure business bailouts have 'green strings' attached.

Boris Johnson has vowed to bring forward a Roosevelt-style 'New Deal' to help the UK 'bounce forward' after lockdown laid waste to the economy, with huge investment in 'levelling up' infrastructure and skills.

But yesterday's mini-Budget focused on shoring up jobs rather than capital spending, amid warnings that the unemployment rate could be nearly 15 per cent by the end of this year if there is a second spike.

Including loans and other guarantees, the government had committed 280billion before the latest 30billion package

The IMF has warned the UK is on track for a 10.2 per cent recession this year

The IMF estimates that the UK's fiscal response to the crisis is bigger as a percentage of GDP than some other major countries - but not as big as Italy, Germany or Japan

There was no attempt to balance the books, which have been plunged deep into the red by the pandemic. And Mr Sunak has not published a forecast for the public finances, which economists fear will record a deficit of 350billion this year  more than twice the level seen at the height of the 2008 financial crisis.

The Chancellor said bailout up to now amounted to 160billion, with 49billion extra provided to public services - including an eye-watering 15billion on PPE equipment.

Some 50billion of VAT and tax has been deferred, and 73billion has been loaned or guaranteed.

The package says the 'job retention bonus' will cost up to 9.4billion, while the Kickstart scheme and boosts for job searches and skills will add 3.7billion.

The bill for slashing VAT for hospitality will be 4.1billion, raising the Stamp Duty threshold will cost 3.8billion and spending on the eating out scheme will be 500million.

The infrastructure moves will cost 5.6billion, environmental improvements in the public sector and social housing 1.1billion, and subsidising insulation upgrades for homes 2billion.

Mr Sunak said the government's interventions so far had 'significantly protected people's incomes, with the least well off in society supported the most'.

Mr Sunak conceded that the UK faces 'profound economic challenges' that had shrunk the economy by 25 per cent, but told the Commons that mass unemployment was not 'inevitable' and no-one would be left without 'hope'.

'We are not just going to accept this,' he told MPs. 'People need to know we are going to do all we can to give everyone the opportunity of good and secure work.'

ALEX BRUMMER: Enjoy it while you can we cannot live on Rishi Sunaks giveaways forever

No Chancellor in modern times has faced the looming horror of mass unemployment that scarred this country and the world economy in the 1930s.

But this is precisely what Rishi Sunaks unprecedented measures yesterday were designed to stave off.

As what has been called the first phase of the pandemic comes to an end, the Chancellor now faces an enormous challenge  one almost as huge as the eye-watering new sums he found yesterday to lavish on VAT and stamp duty cuts, salary subsidies, and even cut-price meals out.

Few doubt the scale of the calamity he must swerve, knowing his reputation in the history books will depend on it.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak pictured visiting a Wagamama restaurant in central London and helping to serve some customers their food after meeting staff

National output is falling precipitously and this latest package of measures  what Mr Sunak called a Plan For Jobs  will only go so far in arresting that collapse.

The numbers are sobering. Output plummeted 25 per cent during the first month of lockdown. Three million people are expected to be on the dole by the end of the year.

Even more troubling, Britain  as an open economy, highly dependent on the international trade in service  is particularly vulnerable to the worldwide slump.

So we should enjoy the cheap food, discounts on buying and renovating homes thanks to stamp duty cuts and green subsidies  plus 5 per cent VAT on B&Bs and hotel bills  while we can.

The UK cannot live for ever in a magic kingdom where the Government dishes out freebies.

This autumn, Mr Sunaks full Budget (yesterdays Commons speech was merely a Summer Statement) will begin the arduous but much-needed process of putting the public finances back on track. Tax rises and targeted cuts seem likely.

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Sunak speaks during a ministerial statement on the summer economic update, at the House of Commons in London on July 8

But theres no doubt that what we saw yesterday was another enormous splurge of money we simply dont have.

Covid-19 has turned the traditional Tory mantra of responsible public finances and entrepreneurship on its head. Some 157 billion has now been spent on the response to the pandemic and another 30 billion of public funds was yesterday splashed on top of this.

The UK now has a big-spending Government, which has lavished 45 billion on public services alone since lockdown, including on the NHS, social care, charities, the prison service and much else.

In the past, Gradgrind-like chancellors would have sent petitioners packing. The pandemic has changed all of that.

In many ways, however, Mr Sunak has no choice. Authoritative forecasts suggest that unemployment could surge to 10 per cent of the workforce by the end of year.

A receipt signed by Mr Sunak reading 'eat out to help out!' after the Chancellor visited a Wagamama restaurant in London to meet staff and serve some customers their food

That is why so many of the Chancellors measures yesterday, including the life raft to the hospitality industry, were aimed at making sure that the 700,000 young people leaving schools and further education find work, training or apprenticeships. The Chancellor doesnt want his legacy to be a lost generation without jobs and skills.

The case for taking exceptional action to support employment, such as the 1,000 bung to employers for each employee who is retained rather than sacked when furlough ends, is that it is cheaper to keep them in work and paying taxes, rather than reliant on the benefits system.

Yet the overarching question is: How will the Government pay for all this?

Initially, with higher borrowing. The most recent forecast from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility is that the budget deficit this year will be 300 billion. That figure will now be higher following the 30 billion announced yesterday. Current levels of borrowing are more than twice that left behind by Labour after the 2008-09 financial crisis.

That scale of budget deficit pushes the national debt to 2 trillion, which is the same size as all the wealth created in a single year. The Government meets its bills by selling government bonds known as gilt edged stock.

The Chancellor pictured serving food at a Wagamama restaurant in London. The country is standing on a fiscal precipice, writes Alex Brummer

As the global pandemic erupted in late March, the government debt office found itself selling more than 50 billion of bonds  the amount it originally had intended to borrow for a full year  in a single month.

Since the lockdown, the Bank of England has increased its bond-buying or money-printing programme by a hefty 300 billion.

Mr Sunak and the Banks new Governor Andrew Bailey are acutely aware that these eye-popping levels of borrowing leave the UK with very little wriggle room should there be a second wave of the virus, a trade war with China or some other unexpected shock.

The country is standing on a fiscal precipice, which is why Mr Sunaks next task must be to restore stability. Record low interest rates make borrowing cheaper, but eventually what the Government has so generously dished out will be clawed back with tax hikes and a withdrawal of public sector support.

So my advice would be to enjoy these wage subsidies, bargain restaurant meals and cut-price staycations while you can. The purse strings will soon be tightening.
Tech giants, including Google, Amazon and Microsoft, have secured more than 5,000 previously unreported contracts with military and federal law enforcement, data published on Wednesday shows.

According to accountability nonprofit, Tech Inquiry, some of those contracts have been with the Department of Defense, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI.

The research was led by Jack Poulson, a former Google research scientist who quit the company in 2018.

Tech giants, including Google, Amazon and Microsoft, have secured more than 5,000 previously unreported contracts with military and federal law enforcement. Microsoft (file image) has 5,000 subcontracts alone

According to accountability nonprofit, Tech Inquiry , some of those contracts have been with the Department of Defense, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the FBI

According to NBC News, Poulson left the company after months of internal campaigning to get clarity about Google's plans to deploy a censored version of its search engine in China called Project Dragonfly.

He has also stood on the opposing side when it comes down to collaborations between tech companies and the military.

Poulson's research consists of the analysis of more than 30 million government contracts within the past five years.

Of those, Microsoft was found to have more than 5,000 subcontracts with the Department of Defense and various federal law enforcement agencies since 2016.

'Often the high-level contract description between tech companies and the military looks very vanilla and mundane,' Poulson told NBC News.

'But only when you look at the details of the contract, which you can only get through Freedom of Information [Act] requests, do you see the workings of how the customization from a tech company would actually be involved.'

According to Tech Inquiry's analysis, Amazon has agreed to more than 350 subcontracts with the military and federal law enforcement agencies, like ICE and the FBI, since 2016.

Meanwhile, Google has more than 250 previously unreported contracts.

Ted Ladd, a Google Cloud spokesperson, told NBC that the company remains 'committed to partnering with the government on projects that are consistent with our terms of service, acceptable use policies, and AI Principles'.

Employees of tech giants like Google have protested against contracts that bolster military activity.

Employees of tech giants like Google have protested against contracts like Project Maven that bolster military activity. Project Maven seeks to incorporate AI technology on the battlefield. Google backed out of its contract in 2018 after worldwide upheaval from its employees

For example, Project Maven, which seeks to incorporate AI technology on the battlefield, first attracted the attention of Google, but the firm backed out of its contract in 2018 after worldwide upheaval from its employees.

The US military has been looking to incorporate elements of artificial intelligence and machine learning into its drone program.

Project Maven, as the effort is known, aims to provide some relief to military analysts who are part of the war against the Islamic State.

These analysts currently spend long hours staring at big screens reviewing video feeds from drones as part of the hunt for insurgents in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Pentagon is trying to develop algorithms that would sort through the material and alert analysts to important finds, according to Air Force Lieutenant General John N.T. 'Jack' Shanahan, director for defense intelligence for warfighting support.

The hope is that it will not only result in fewer casualties, but also provide some relief to military analysts whose job it is to spend long hours staring at big screens reviewing video feeds from drones.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has blamed protests, hotel quarantine breaches and poor contact tracing for Melbourne's coronavirus outbreak.

Some 10,000 people packed the city for a Black Lives Matter protest on June 6, a day after zero cases were recorded in Victoria for the first time.

Only three protesters tested positive and there is no evidence of transmission at the rally yet Mr Hunt said it helped spread the virus by leading people to believe that social distancing requirements were over.

Some 10,000 people packed the city for a Black Lives Matter protest (pictured) on June 6, a day after zero cases were recorded in Victoria for the first time

Contrast: Melbourne was deserted on Thursday morning on the first day of lockdown

'Once the protests occurred, there were some who saw what appeared to be an understandable view of a double standard, and changed their behaviours,' he told Nine's Today show on Thursday morning.

'Those behaviours - reduce the engagement and the movement with other people, increase the distance - those rules will help us save our lives.'

Mr Hunt also said that contact tracing in Victoria needs to improve.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth on Wednesday said many cases were among 'culturally diverse communities' meaning contact tracing could be more difficult due to language barriers.

Staff undertaking contact tracing in north Melbourne have also reportedly found that some patients are reluctant to share their close contacts.

Melbourne was gripped by panic buying on Wednesday as residents prepare for six weeks of lock down from midnight

Local cases of community transmission have soared in the within Melbourne

The Herald-Sun reported that in some cases residents have been told by officials they are a close contact as long as five days after they met a confirmed patient.

'We need to make sure and we're offering support so as each case every day is contact-traced,' Mr Hunt said.

'That has to happen each day. That's been the overwhelming view of our Chief Medical Officer and our Deputy Chief Medical Officers, that that needs to occur.'

Mr Hunt also said the hotel quarantine breaches contributed to the second wave outbreak.

Dozens of cases have been traced back to private security guards at quarantine hotels who broke social distancing rules, interacted with returned travellers and then carried the virus home to their extended families.

On Wednesday morning Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews refused to answer why he employed private security guards instead of using the police or armed forces to man hotel quarantine, as was done in other states.

In an interview on Nine's Today show, host Karl Stefanovic asked him: 'How could you blame Victorians yesterday for the outbreak when it was your government's decision to employ an incompetent private security force to guard those in quarantine?

The whole of Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire has been placed back into lock down for six weeks from 11.59pm on Wednesday. Pictured: A map showing the suburbs in lockdown

A long wait: Australians braved 40-minute traffic queues to get to work this morning on the first day the New South Wales-Victoria border closed due to a huge coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne

'That's an unbelievably catastrophic bungle right at the front door. Why don't you explain. Why don't you just level with the people about what happened in quarantine? What exactly went wrong there. Why don't you just tell the people?'

Mr Andrews said he 'did not come on the show to argue' and dodged the question by saying an inquiry is underway.

In a press conference afterwards he said he was not considering resigning.

On Thursday, 13 people tested positive for the virus in New South Wales, including two in the border town of Albury as 120,000 border permits were granted to let people cross into NSW.

South Australia said it would require anyone entering the state to get tested when they arrive and wear masks when interacting with locals as it launched a 'testing blitz' starting today.

On Wednesday Victoria recorded 134 new cases of coronavirus and Melbourne was placed under lockdown on Thursday, restricting all residents to their homes for six weeks, and only allowing them to leave for essential purposes.

Premier Andrews said there are now 75 cases of the deadly disease across nine social housing towers in north Melbourne which have been placed under hard lockdown, confining 3,000 tenants to their flats.

Forty-one people are in hospital with seven fighting for their lives as the state's testing total passed 1million with 30,000 swabs on Tuesday.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned on Thursday that the risk of contagion in her state was 'extremely high' after 60,000 exemptions were granted for commuters to enter from Victoria following the first border shutdown since Spanish Flu in 1919.

Queensland has banned Victorians from entering the state after 'too many' were paying $2,800 for their own quarantine to get out of Melbourne.

New lockdown: Victoria on Tuesday 191 new cases of coronavirus - its worst figure yet. Pictured: Police and nurses wearing protective equipment outside tower blocks in north Melbourne
New South Wales Police are investigating the possible links between a Chinese student who was found dead in Sydney apartment and a man who fell from the same building the previous day.

The 19-year-old woman, identified as Liqun Pan, was found in the unit in Sydney's Wolli Creek on June 28, and her death was being treated as suspicious.

The body of Liqun Pan, who was aged 19 at the time of her death, was found by police at a unit on Brodie Sparks Drive on June 28.

Detectives are investigating links between Pan's death and the serious injures a man suffered when he fell from the same unit complex on June 27.

The man was discovered on the footpath, and police believe he fell from the common area on the fourth level of the apartment building.

The man suffered multiple fractures and head injuries.

Police are appealing for anybody who may have seen or heard from Liqun Pan in the days prior to her death to contact crime stoppers

He was taken to St George Hospital, where he remained in a serious but stable condition.

Police had issued an appeal for information from anybody who had spoken or seen Pan in the days prior to her death.

Those who may have heard or noticed anything unusual prior to 3.25pm on June 27 are encouraged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Homebuyers rushed online to look for their next home within half an hour of the Chancellor's immediate stamp duty cut.

Rightmove reported a 22 per cent jump in traffic to its site within 30 minutes of Rishi Sunak confirming the cut in his mini-Budget today. The property search website said the cut would produce savings of up to 15,000 in some regions of the country.

Ahead of the Chancellor being widely tipped to make the stamp duty announcement, Rightmove analysed the places that would see the biggest cuts. These included Dorking in Surrey, Lymington in Hampshire and Sunbury-On-Thames, also in Surrey.

> Stamp duty calculator: How much will the cut save you?

Stamp duty savings in the east of the country: This five-bed detached house in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire is for sale for 475,000 via Urban & Rural estate agents

The biggest savings are in London and the south east, where values tend to be higher

Following the Chancellor's Summer statement today - in which he confirmed the initial threshold for stamp duty would be raised from 125,000 to 500,000 - Rightmove released new analysis showing how much could be saved on the average house price in each region of the country.

For example, anyone buying a typical 363,066 house in the east of England would save 8,153.

Stamp duty savings in West Sussex: This four-bed detached house for sale in Pulborough is for sale for 475,000 via Henry Adams estate agents

The biggest savings are in London and the south east, where values tend to be higher. The average price of a home in the south east is 419,595, which would generate a saving of 10,980 as a result of the eight-month stamp duty 'holiday' announced by the Chancellor.

The biggest saving would be in London at 15,000, based on an average house price of 628,284. By contrast, the region that would see the lowest saving of 646 is the North East, where the average value of a home is 157,291.

The region with the biggest savings is London, where prices tend to be higher: This three-bed flat in Sydenham is for sale for 495,000 via Pedder estate agents

Rightmove's Miles Shipside said: 'This temporary holiday is likely to cause an even bigger surge in activity, at a time when there is already record demand, as people rush to agree deals at current asking prices.

'We could see some upwards price pressure on homes under 500,000, plus some sellers choosing to reduce where they have theirs on the market at just over 500,000 so they can make sure they can say that the buyer will pay no stamp duty.

'Regional savings vary hugely and it will be of most benefit to those in higher priced areas. The good thing is there's no delay so people can continue with their transactions immediately.'

Stamp duty savings in the south west: This four-bed semi-detached house in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, is on the market for 485,000, via Cain & Fuller estate agent

The Chancellor had been widely expected to announce the stamp duty cut today but had not expected not to implement it until the autumn.

This led to criticism that such a delay would see the property market grind to a halt as buyers would put their purchases on hold until they could benefit from the stamp duty cuts later on in the year.

As expected, the Chancellor said the changes would apply with immediate effect to anyone buying their main home. The scheme will also last for more than eight months, with the new thresholds applying until March 31 next year.

Alasdair Dunne, of national property firm Fisher German, said: 'The Chancellor has clearly listened to the industry and decided to bring the Stamp Duty cut in with immediate effect and that is very good news indeed. A delay would have only acted to stall a market which is beginning to show very firm signs of revival.

'Clearly there is a worry that revival will stop in its tracks at the end of March, and by then the full economic impact of Covid-19 will be more apparent, but he can only deal the hand he has and this is a welcome measure.'
Infection with the coronavirus can cause delirium, stroke and nerve damage in 'a higher than expected number of patients', a study has found.

Experts from University College London have reported a 'concerning increase' amid the pandemic of a rare brain inflammation known to be triggered by viral infections.

Typically seen in children, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis  or 'ADEM', for short  affects the both the brain and spinal cord.

The condition  which can follow on from minor infections such as colds  sees immune cells activated to attack the fatty protective coating that covers nerves.

The researchers have warned that clinicians need to be aware of the risk of neurological effects to help early diagnoses and improve patient outcomes.

Infection with the coronavirus can cause delirium, stroke and nerve damage in 'a higher than expected number of patients', a study has found

'We identified a higher than expected number of people with neurological conditions such as brain inflammation,' said paper author and consultant neurologist Michael Zandi of the University College London.

The appearance of these conditions, he added, 'did not always correlate with the severity of respiratory symptoms.'

'We should be vigilant and look out for these complications in people who have had COVID-19.'

'Whether we will see an epidemic on a large scale of brain damage linked to the pandemic  perhaps similar to the encephalitis lethargica outbreak in the 1920s and 1930s after the 1918 influenza pandemic  remains to be seen.'



The researchers also found that other neurobiological complications  including delirium, stroke and nerve damage  appear to be associated with coronavirus.

In their study, Dr Zandi and colleagues studied 43 patients  aged from 16-85  with both neurological symptoms and either confirmed or suspected COVID-19 that were treated at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.

According to the researchers, many of the patients did not experience any of the respiratory symptoms often associated with the coronavirus.

Among the cohort, the team identified 10 cases of temporary brain dysfunction with delirium, eight cases of strokes and eight cases with nerve damage.

There were also 12 cases of brain inflammation  with nine of such patients being diagnosed with ADEM.

Under normal circumstances, the London-based team said that they would only see around one adult patient with ADEM per month, on average  but that this figure has increased to at least one patient per week amid the pandemic.

Experts from University College London have reported a 'concerning increase' amid the pandemic of a rare brain inflammation known to be triggered by viral infections. Typically seen in children, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis affects the both the brain and spinal cord

SARS-CoV-2  the virus which causes COVID-19  was not detected in the brain or spinal fluid of any of the patients tested, however, the researchers said.

This, they explained, suggests that the virus did not directly cause the neurological symptoms and that some complications of COVID-19 'might come from [one's] immune response, rather than the virus itself.'

Further studies are needed to identify exactly why some COVID-19 patients are developing neurological complications, the researchers concluded.

'Given that the disease has only been around for a matter of months, we might not yet know what long-term damage COVID-19 can cause,' said paper author and neurologist Ross Paterson, also of the University College London.

'Doctors needs to be aware of possible neurological effects, as early diagnosis can improve patient outcomes.'

'People recovering from the virus should seek professional health advice if they experience neurological symptoms.'

'Our study advances understanding of the different ways in which COVID-19 can affect the brain,' added paper author and neurologist Rachel Brown, also of the University College London.

Such knowledge, she added, 'will be paramount in the collective effort to support and manage patients in their treatment and recovery.'

'This paper adds to the emerging evidence for a wide range of potentially severe neurological complications of COVID-19 beyond its effects on the respiratory system,' said neuroscientist Timothy Nicholson, who was not involved in the study.

The work, the Kings College London researcher added, highlights the importance of future research to assess how common these neurological and psychiatric complications are [and] what mechanisms are causing them.'

This, he explained, could lead to methods to 'treat them better and improve longer term outcomes.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Brain.
Children who have a harmonious relationship with their parents are better at maths than those with a dysfunctional family life, a new study claims.

UK psychologists found that parent-child cooperation  assessed through a drawing session on the retro Etch-A-Sketch toy  was associated with maths exam results at age 11.

Highly educated parents who had good levels of involvement with the school were also found to have children with good maths skills at that age.

The University of Sussex study found parental education qualifications, a harmonious parent-child relationship, and parental involvement with the school when the child was 11 were good predictors for attaining maths skills (stock)

The advantage of having the best-rated 'harmonious' relationship compared to the worst-rated was equal to a difference of 0.152 national curriculum levels at age 11.

Children usually progress by 0.5 national curriculum levels per year.

'It is apparent that by showing encouragement, listening to each other's ideas and sharing your own, being constructive and not negative or argumentative, and being engaged with the task is associated with positive outcomes,' Dr Danielle Evans, co-author of the study, told MailOnline.

Other factors including greater parental education, greater school involvement and 'feminine gendered play at age 3.5 years' were also found to be associated with higher maths attainment at age 11.

Parental education still had the strongest association with maths attainment in this study  even greater than parent-child harmony.

There are unique ways that parental education contributes to attainment of maths skills  one of which could be genetic, the scientists add.

For example, parents that are more highly educated may pass on traits that are important for educational attainment, such as motivation and good temperament, or could also be more likely to provide an environment that is intellectually stimulating.

Researchers say their findings could help address the 'maths crisis' in the UK that has lasting effects into adulthood.

Around half of adults of working age in the UK have maths skills no better than a six-year-old and only 22 per cent have the skills of an average 16-year-old, they said.

'Adults' low maths skills are associated with high unemployment rates and lower socioeconomic status, which, as found in this study, is linked to their child's maths attainment also,' the researchers write in their study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

'Therefore, further work is needed to eradicate the "maths crisis" in the UK, thus improving several long-term outcomes for individuals and wider society.'

The paper describes an analysis of data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)  a large birth cohort consisting on children born to women in the southwest of England with a due date between April 1, 1991 and December 21, 1992.

The children and their parents have been followed extensively from pregnancy through to the present day for research purposes.

Maths attainment was taken as the children's performance in formal education assessed at the four 'key stages' up until the age of 16.

In the study, parent-child harmony was measured using a play-task where children and one of their parents would play with an Etch-a-Sketch toy together

This was then compared against potential potential predictors of 'maths attainment' throughout childhood and adolescence relating to the home-environment and parenting.

These predictors were: parent-child relationships, parental mental health, parents' involvement with the school and activities, home-teaching, parental education, and 'gendered play'  the types of toys parents provided and the play they participated in at home.

Firstly, parent-child harmony was measured using a play-task where children and one of their parents would play with a computerised Etch-a-Sketch toy together.

WHAT WAS THE FIVE-POINT SCALE? 'Harmony' between them was assessed by observing the interaction and rating the level of conflict on the following five-point scale: - 'Many conflicts'  much discord and conflict. No reciprocity observed, no positive feeling expressed. - 'Some conflicts'  generally negative with some conflict. Reciprocity rarely occurs. Occasionally positive. - 'Neutral'  atmosphere seems neither positive nor negative. Interaction is rather flat. - 'Quite agreeable'  generally positive, friendly interaction. Hardly any instance of conflict or negative feelings expressed. Much reciprocity observed. - 'Very agreeable'  very harmonious, agreeable, reciprocal, very positive and engaging. No negative feelings expressed and no conflicts observed. Advertisement

The mechanical drawing toy, popular since its release in the 1960s, features two knobs on the bottom corners for drawing.

In the study, parents and children were asked to draw a picture of a house where the child was responsible for drawing vertical lines only, and the parent was responsible for drawing only the horizontal lines.

The two family members had to work together to successfully draw the house  especially when drawing the diagonal roof and circle windows for example.

'Harmony' between the parent and child was assessed by observing the interaction and rating the level of conflict on a five-point scale, ranging from 'many conflicts' to 'very agreeable'.

'It is essentially a measure of how well children and their parent cooperated together, how engaged they were with the task and helping each other, how positive their interactions were, and whether any conflicts were present,' Dr Evans said.

They found that the most harmonious relationships during the task significantly correlated with maths skills.

Meanwhile, parental mental health in early childhood was not found to have a long-term impact.

Despite this, 'additional research would be beneficial in assessing any association between the trajectory of parental mental health and child maths attainment,' the study authors say.

As for the link between maths attainment and 'gendered play', pre-schoolers who participated in 'masculine play' were likely to have lower maths attainment by the time they sat their SATS at age 11, but children who participated in 'feminine play' had higher than average grades.

However, the impact was extremely small and there was very little effect of gender-stereotyped play on maths attainment, suggesting that sex differences in maths attainment stem from other factors requiring further study.

Despite the observations occurring in a lab-type setting rather than in more natural environments, greater school involvement and a harmonious relationship with a son or daughter are factors in the parents' control can help their children's maths skills.
The Cerne Abbas Giant is not prehistoric and may have been created in the 17th-century before becoming a propaganda tool for William of Orange, snail shells have revealed.

The origins of the 180ft-tall club-wielding nude figure carved into a Dorset chalk hillside have long been a mystery - with folklore claiming it was an ancient fertility symbol.

However, soil samples taken from the giant's elbows and feet contain microscopic land snails shells that did not appear in England until the 13th and 14th Centuries.

The investigation of the hill figure's history is being undertaken by the National Trust which is celebrating having overseen the site for the last 100 years.

Further tests of the soil samples  which should reveal the chalk giant's exact age  have been delayed by COVID-19, but should be concluded later this year.

However, preliminary findings suggest the real date of the figure's creation could be as early as the Medieval period, but is most likely to be in the early 1600s.

The Cerne Abbas Giant (pictured) is not prehistoric and may have been cut in Medieval times before becoming a propaganda tool for William of Orange, snail shells revealed

According to environmental archaeologist Michael Allen, snails including the tiny vineyard snail  or 'Cernuella virgata'  that were found in the soil samples taken from the giant did not reach England until the late Medieval period.

'They arrived here accidentally, probably in straw and hay used as packing for goods from the continent,' Dr Allen told the BBC.

'Sadly, this shows the giant is unlikely to be prehistoric or Roman  and more likely dates to Medieval times or later.'

In addition, researchers noted that two species of snail that first appeared in Britain in Roman times  and whose presence would have validated the giant's assumed antiquity  were not found in the soil collected from the site.

Further tests on the soil samples  using a technique known as 'optically stimulated luminescence'  are scheduled to be completed this autumn.

Such analysis will provide experts with an absolute date for the age of the Cerne Giant figure, as the method can 'determine when mineral grains in soil were last exposed to sunlight', National Trust archaeologist Martin Papworth added.

The latest findings add to the Cerne Giant's clouded origins  with many theories competing to explain the purpose of the hill figure.

Some experts have asserted that the figure is of Celtic origin  as the giant is stylistically similar to god found on a skillet handle in nearby Hod Hill that has been dated back to around 1051 AD.

The Georgian antiquarian and clergyman William Stukeley, meanwhile, proposed that the giant was a representation of the Roman god Hercules and that the hill was first carved by the Romano-British culture sometime after 43 AD.

A third theory proposes that the giant was carved in the 17th Century by then land-owner Lord Denzil Holles, perhaps as a parody of Oliver Cromwell, with the club a reference to his repressive rule and the phallus to mock his Puritanism.

The origins of the Dorset-based, 180ft-tall hill figure of the club-wielding nude (pictured here being repaired and refreshed by National Trust volunteers in 2019) have long been a mystery  with folklore claiming it was an ancient fertility symbol

Soil samples taken from the giant's elbows and feet contain microscopic land snails shells (including those of the so-called 'vineyard snail', 'Cernuella virgata, pictured) that did not appear in England until the 1314 Centuries

Historian Brian Edwards of the University of the West of England Bristol, meanwhile, credited the carving to Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the future third Earl of Shaftesbury, on land owned at that time by the Whig politician Thomas Freke.

The giant was used as a propaganda tool for William of Orange, he argued, as an illustration of the King's Herculean status  tapping into a myth of the Roman god as as youth on the cusp on manhood, meeting the goddesses, Pleasure and Virtue.

The hero chose 'to put duty first and [chose] the virtuous uphill path', Mr Edwards explained  symbolised in the giant by his location on a hill side.

'The impression made by Pleasure also remains very much in evidence, though, both in his outstretched left arm, signalling his leaving the vale empty-handed and in the largest illustration of an erect penis in the history of British art,' he added.

In fact, the earliest documented repair of the giant was undertaken in 1694, coinciding with a celebration of William III's birthday.

The investigation of the Cerne Giant's history is being undertaken by the National Trust in celebration of their having overseen the site for the last 100 years. Pictured, National Trust volunteers in 2019 working to repair and fresh the markings that make up the hill figure

Historian Brian Edwards of the University of the West of England Bristol credited the carving to Anthony Ashley-Cooper, the future third Earl of Shaftesbury, on land owned at that time by the Whig politician Thomas Freke. The giant was used as a propaganda tool for William of Orange (pictured), he argued, as an illustration of the King's Herculean status

Alongside suggesting that the giant might be considerably younger than thought, the snail shell analysis also revealed that the vegetation on the hillside has changed significantly over time.

'There was a period when the giant was grown over with grass and other vegetation, and disappeared,' Dr Allen explained.

'This suggests some people weren't bothered about the giant  or felt he was too rude, so left him.'

'However, during the Victorian period  a time thought of as the most prim and proper  he was there in all his glory.'

In fact, some experts have argued that the giant's pronounced erection was the consequence of a merging between a smaller phallus and a representation of the giant's navel when the hill figure was re-cut during Victorian times.

Further tests of the soil samples  which should reveal the chalk giant's exact age  have been delayed by COVID-19, but should be concluded later this year. Pictured, the giant's face

According to environmental archaeologist Michael Allen, snails including the tiny vineyard snail  or 'Cernuella virgata'  that were found in the soil samples taken from the giant did not reach England until the late Medieval period
Male horses were preferred over mares as early as 3,900 years ago and sexism could be to blame - as stallions were seen as masculine and strong, a new study reveals.

Researchers from the Paul Sabatier University, studied the DNA of ancient horse skeletons to discover when our preference for male horses first began.

Horses were domesticated by humans about 5,500 years ago, possibly by the Botai civilisation, who study authors say had no gender preference.

There was an even balance of male and female horses throughout the later Stone Age, but 3,900 years ago there was a dramatic shift towards stallions over mares.

The authors say this 'closely mirrors' the change in humans who had no clear binary gender structure during the Neolithic - but it became the norm by the Bronze Age.

Previous studies found there was no meaningful difference in the capability of stallions or mares despite experienced riders preferring male horses.

This is a historical illustration showing Assyrian riders. There was an even balance of male and female horses throughout the later Stone Age, but 3,900 years ago there was a dramatic shift towards stallions over mare

The French experts studied the remains of 268 horses from Europe and Asia dating from 40,000 BC to as recent as 700 AD to better understand the male female split.

These horses were all discovered at dozens of sites across Eurasia by archaeologists - ranging from modern-day Iberia and out as far as Siberia.

The oldest sites had an equal balance of mares and stallions - including in those of the Botai hunter-gatherer people who were among the first to domesticate horses.

Suggesting that the first people to domesticate horses had no gender preference.

By the Bronze Age, 3,900 years ago, researchers found that there were three times as many stallion remains as mares - a 'dramatic shift' from Stone Age behaviour.

Antoine Fages, a paleogenomicist at Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse said at the time men were also being shown in artwork and buried differently to women.

He said this suggests that a new 'vision of gender' started during this period, likely spurred by societal and technological changes.

Researchers say this change in gender vision and a rise in male status came as long-distance trading networks and metal production led to new social hierarchies.

Class divisions began to shine through between the metal workers, warriors and rulers which then led to distinctions between men and women, Fages says.

As society became more male dominated they likely applied this to their animals, including the horses they opted to ride - believing stallions were more powerful.

The authors wrote that the male horses may have had 'symbolic attributes then associated with masculinity, mounted warriors and chariotry, such as power, protection and strength'.

Fages says that if this is true it suggests ideas about gender status may have shaped human and animal worlds for thousands of years and into the modern day.

In this illustration a Carthaginian horseman is seen on his horse. As society became more male dominated they likely applied this to their animals, including the horses they opted to ride - believing stallions were more powerful

He said this preference for male horses continued well beyond the Bronze Age and may have left an enduring genetic legacy.

However, horse geneticist Ernest Bailey from the University of Kentucky told Science that it could just be that earlier groups hadn't perfected horse husbandry.

He said that the equal mix of mares and stallions could be a sign that they hand't begun to control horses' breeding on a large scale.

The team say that this new vision of the world may have extended beyond horses.

'The emergence of a gendered vision of the world in the Bronze Age extended to the domestic animal sphere,' he said.

'Whether this only applies to the horse or extends to other domestic animals, such as dogs remains to be investigated.'

The study has been reported in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
Texas Calvary Chapel pastor accepts responsibility for spread of coronavirus at church

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More than a week after at least 51 members of Calvary Chapel of San Antonio in Texas got infected with COVID-19 since the congregation started meeting in person, the churchs pastor says he takes full responsibility.

I accept full responsibility. Im the leader of the church, said Pastor Ron Arbaugh, according to News 4 San Antonio, while adding, We kept all of the rules to the letter of the law.

Late last month, at least 50 church members, including Pastor Arbaugh and his wife, Paula, tested positive for the novel coronavirus, leading to the church being immediately closed until July 12 and thoroughly cleaned.

CCSA is suspending all other church activities through July 11, the church says in its bulletin.

Arbaugh said if he could have done it all over again, I would have said no hugging.'

Immediately we shut down the church to get everyone through a quarantine period, he said, adding that he and his wife had recovered and that the majority of those tested positive had reported mild symptoms.

Two days after members tested positive, the pastor wrote to the congregation, saying, We will not have worship but I will be here teaching and look forward to joining with you online. There will be only a couple of us here in the building to ensure that everyone is safe.

Please be safe. Keep your focus on Jesus. Read your Bibles and try not being consumed by the news or by the strange times we are living in. We will be fine; Gods grace is more than sufficient. We will return together as a church body to focus on the marvelous mission God has blessed us with. Pray for others and know that they are praying for you. Nothing can stop the work our Jesus has for us!

He also quoted Philippians 4:6-7, which reads: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

On Sunday, the pastor announced that when they reopen the church on July 12, everyone will be required to wear masks, in keeping with Gov. Greg Abbott's order issued Thursday. Arbaugh made it clear that the church has been complying with the governor's orders during the pandemic.

"We are going to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines," he said. "If you dont like wearing a mask, then its just better to stay at home and watch online."

While Calvary Chapel typically holds three services on Sunday, Arbaugh noted that only the first service will be open to the public. That service will then be rebroadcast for the following two worship times.

Texas has been seeing "substantial increases in COVID-19 positive cases" and increased hospitalizations, according to Abbott. In response, the state is requiring the use of face coverings, which Abbott called "the least restrictive means," in order to avoid "more extreme measures."

Exceptions for the mask mandate include: children under 10 years of age, persons exercising outdoors, those dining, and those "actively providing or obtaining access to religious worship" though masks are strongly encouraged.
Dilophosaurus, a dinosaur made famous by Jurassic Park that lived 183 million years ago, was 'bigger and more powerful' than the movie made it appear, study shows.

Researchers from the University of Texas studied Dilophosaurus fossils to better understand this 'pop culture dinosaur' and paint a true picture of its size.

In Jurassic Park the beast was depicted as a small lizard-like, venom-spitting dinosaur with a rattling frill around its neck and two paddle-like crests on its head.

Until now very little was actually known about the actual Dilophosaurus, giving filmmakers and storytellers more licence to 'use their imagination'.

The Texas team discovered that Dilophosaurus was far from the 'small lizard' seen in Jurassic park, it was the largest land animal of its time, reaching up to 20ft.

Hollywood made the Dilophosaurus famous, depicting it as almost adorable little creature with a hidden, deadly twist. But a new study shows that it was a lot bigger and more powerful than scientists, or movie makers, previously thought

This is the depiction of Dilophosaurus as seen in the 1993 Steven Spielberg movie Jurassic Park but it has been proved to be wrong, including the bright thrills around its neck

Dilophosaurus lived 183 million years ago during the Early Jurassic and 'had a lot in common' with modern birds, including air sacks in its bones.

'It's pretty much the best, worst-known dinosaur,' said lead author Adam Marsh. 'Until this study, nobody knew what Dilophosaurus looked like or how it evolved.'

Seeking answers to these questions, Marsh conducted an analysis of the five most-complete Dilophosaurus specimens so far discovered around the world.

The analysis is co-authored by Timothy Rowe from the University of Texas, who discovered two of the five Dilophosaurus specimens that were studied by Marsh.

The study adds clarity to a muddled record dating back to the first Dilophosaurus fossil to be discovered - that specimen set the standard for future discoveries.

That fossil was rebuilt with plaster, but the 1954 paper describing the find isn't clear about what was reconstructed or the decisions made in the reconstruction.

Scientists have found evidence that the Dilophosaurus' skull served as scaffolding for powerful jaw muscles, shattering the image of the dinosaur as more fragile and svelte that has been promoted in scientific literature and popular culture

Peter Makovicky, a palaeontologist from the University of Minnesota not involved in the study, said this made discovering the true nature of the dinosaur difficult.

Early descriptions characterise the dinosaur as having a fragile crest and weak jaws, a description that influenced the depiction of Dilophosaurus in the 'Jurassic Park' book and movie as a svelte dinosaur that subdued its prey with venom.

In the movie the dinosaur is also shown as being able to reveal a rattling neck frill when confronting prey.

Marsh found no evidence for the rattling frill around its neck or signs of venom, adding that they were purely constructs of the Jurassic Park book and movie.

Marsh spent seven years looking at the three most complete Dilophosaurus skeletons and other more recently discovered remains to pain an accurate picture.

His evidence suggests the dinosaur was almost the opposite of what Jurassic Park showed - with jawbones serving as scaffolding for powerful muscles and signs the creature was a giant beast, reaching up to 20ft in length.

It would have been about half the size of a fully grown T. Rex and weighed up to three quarters of a ton - so it could have taken on very large prey.

'Dilophosaurus is clearly built for being a big macropredator,' Marsh told National Geographic. 'It's a large-bodied animal that was built for eating other animals.'

He also found that some bones were mottled with air pockets, which would have helped reinforce the skeleton, including its dual crest.

'They're kind of like bubble wrap - the bone is protected and strengthened,' he said.

These air sacs are not unique to Dilophosaurus, it is something they have in common with modern birds and the world's most massive dinosaurs.

In both cases, the air sacs lighten the load, which helped big dinosaurs manage their bulky bodies and also allow birds take to the skies.

Many birds use the air sacs to perform other functions, from inflating stretchy areas of skin during mating rituals, to creating booming calls and dispersing heat.

The intricate array of air pockets and ducts that extend from Dilophosaurus' sinus cavity into its crests means that the dinosaur may have been able to perform similar feats with its headgear.

That headgear is one feature Jurassic Park did get right, according to Marsh. He said it did have a double crest across the top of its snout that was a 'display feature'.

The right hind leg of Dilophosaurus. The dinosaur lived 183 million years ago during the Early Jurassic and 'had a lot in common' with modern birds, including air sacks in its bones

'It has those two thin bony crests running along the top of its skull, basically from the nostril and back over the eye socket,' Makovicky told National Geographic.

To learn more about how the fossils compared with one another, Marsh recorded hundreds of anatomical characteristics of each fossil.

He then used an algorithm to see how the specimens compared with the first fossil - which confirmed that they were indeed all Dilophosaurus.

The algorithm also revealed that there's a significant evolutionary gap between Dilophosaurus and its closest dinosaur relatives, which indicates there are probably many other relatives yet to be discovered.

The revised Dilophosaurus record will help paleontologists better identify specimens going forward and Marsh said that the research is already being put into action.

In the midst of his analysis, he discovered that a small braincase in the Jackson School's collections belonged to a Dilophosaurus.

'We realized that it wasn't a new type of dinosaur, but a juvenile Dilophosaurus, which is really cool,' Marsh said.

The findings were published in the Journal of Paleontology.
Native Americans reached Polynesia 800 years ago by raft and interbred with local islanders  centuries before European explorers arrived in the Pacific.

Researchers from the US and Mexico used large-scale genetic analyses to show that modern-day Polynesian populations contain traces of Native American DNA.

Statistical analysis revealed that prehistoric Polynesian populations first met and interbred with people from what is today Colombia around the year 1,150 AD.

This event  which took place on the South Marquesas islands  occurred at roughly the same time Polynesians first arrived in the area from the west.

The finding finally confirms a long-running theory that the two groups had met  and explains why sweet potatoes from the Americas can be found in Polynesia.

Native Americas may have sailed on a raft like the Kon-Tiki  the 1947 vessel led by the explorer Thor Heyerdahl which crossed from Peru to the Polynesian Islands.

Native Americans from modern-day Colombia reached Polynesia around 1200 AD on a Kon-Tiki-like voyage, colonising the area before Europeans reached Easter Island, geneticists found. Pictured, an illustration showing the diverse genetic routes of modern Polynesians

Researchers from the US and Mexico used large-scale genetic analyses to show that modern-day Polynesian populations contain traces of Native American DNA. Statistical analysis revealed that prehistoric Polynesian populations first met and interbred with people from what is today Colombia around the year 1,150 AD

The notion that Native American and Polynesian populations underwent prehistoric interactions has long been a subject of debate for archaeologists and historians.

While some experts questioned how the two groups, separated by thousands of miles of open ocean, could have interacted, others pointed to a seemingly unlikely clue for the meeting  the sweet potato.

The starchy root vegetable was originally cultivated in Central and South America but, prior its dispersal by European colonists, could also be found in one other place  the islands of Oceania.

'The sweet potato is native to the Americas, yet it's also found on islands thousands of miles away,' said paper author Alexander Ioannidis of Stanford University.

'On top of that, the word for sweet potato in Polynesian languages appears to be related to the word used in Indigenous American languages in the Andes.'

The connections suggested that either Polynesians once landed in South America (most likely Colombia) and brought the potato home with them  or, alternatively, that some Native Americans and their vegetable once ended up in Polynesia.

Efforts to prove that the tubers were once exported from South America to Oceania by analysing the plant's genome, however, proved fruitless  with experts finding the sweet potato's genetic history too complex to conclusively reveal its origins.

Attempts to compare ancient DNA preserved in the bones of Native Americans and native Polynesians also proved inconclusive, with the genetic material having become too degraded to establish a link between the populations.

Dr Ioannidis and colleagues, however, took a different track  analysing DNA samples from 807 modern-day Polynesians and Colombians sourced from across 17 of the Polynesian islands and 15 Native American groups along the Pacific Coast.

In particular, the team sought out segments of DNA that are characteristic of the different populations, alongside those that are 'identical-by-descent' and could therefore be attributed to the owners having had a shared ancestor in the past.

This interbreeding event  which took place on the South Marquesas islands  occurred at roughly the same time Polynesians first arrived in the area from the west

While some experts questioned how the two groups, separated by thousands of miles of open ocean, could have interacted, others pointed to a seemingly unlikely clue for the meeting  the sweet potato, pictured. The starchy root vegetable was originally cultivated in Central and South America but, prior its dispersal by European colonists, could also be found in one other place  the islands of Oceania

The notion that Native American and Polynesian populations underwent prehistoric interactions has long been a subject of debate for archaeologists and historians. Proponents of the theory suggested that Native Americas may have reached Oceania on a raft like the Kon-Tiki, pictured  the 1947 vessel led by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl which crossed from Peru to the Polynesian Islands to prove that Native Americans could have once done the same

The team's large-scale modern genetic analysis was able to prove what studies of the sweet potato itself and ancient bones were not.

'We found identical-by-descent segments of Native American ancestry across several Polynesian islands,' Dr Ioannidis said.

This, explained, provided 'conclusive evidence' for a 'shared contact event' prehistoric Polynesian and Native American peoples  one in which children with a parent from each group were born.

Further analysis of the genetic signals revealed that the event occurred around 1,150 AD  during Europe's Middle Ages  and, Dr Ioannidis said, 'around the time that these islands were originally being settled by native Polynesians.'

Alongside this, the team were also able to confirm the previous theory that the Native Americans who interacted with the Polynesians came from the region that, today, is Colombia.

Analysis of the genetic signals revealed that the event occurred around 1,150 AD  during Europe's Middle Ages  and, Dr Ioannidis said, 'around the time that these islands were originally being settled by native Polynesians' Pictured, moai on Rapa Nui, or Easter Island. According to the researchers, the mixing of Polynesian and Native American DNA began here somewhat later than on the South Marquesas islands, at roughly 1,380 AD

'If you think about how history is told for this time period, it's almost always a story of European conquest  you never really hear about everybody else,' said Dr Ioannidis.

'This work helps piece together those untold stories  and the fact that it can be brought to light through genetics is very exciting to me,' he added.

'Genomics is at a stage where it can really make useful contributions to answering some of these open questions.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Nature.
A waterways charity has issued concerns that personal protective equipment (PPE) is rapidly becoming a new litter scourge during the coronavirus pandemic.

The huge increase in the use of single-use plastic gloves and masks being used by non-healthcare professionals will negatively impact the environment, Thames21 says.

The public health crisis has already meant dropped and discarded face masks have already become a common sight on pavements throughout the country.

But these widely-available masks feature a layer of non-woven bonded fabric to filter microorganisms from the mouth and nose  commonly made of polypropylene.

Although they keep out pathogens effectively, single-use masks have a long afterlife after they are discarded, ending up in landfill or oceans.

Plastic waste dropped on the street can get washed into drains and enter local rivers, contaminating water with the pathogen.

And apart from the potential risk of spreading disease, experts warn they can pose a choking hazard to wildlife.

A switch to compulsory mask-wearing in the UK throughout the rest of the pandemic, as considered by the government, could exacerbate the problem.

Plastic waste dropped on the street can get washed into drains and enter the local river, contaminating water with pathogens

In London, much of the plastic waste ends up in the Thames, is carried downstream and then washes up on strandlines at high tide.

Key saltmarsh areas accumulate the plastic due to their location and ecology, with reedbeds helping to trap the waste.

These areas are key green spaces for Londoners and important nursery grounds for fish and birds, said Chris Coode, deputy CEO of waterways charity Thames21.

There is now so much plastic in these saltmarsh habitats that you can hear the plastic crunch underfoot as you walk along.

The massive increase in single-use plastic gloves and masks being used by non-healthcare professionals will negatively impact the environment, especially when these items are dumped in the environment rather than in bins, Thames21 says

It's been mandatory to wear face masks on public transport in Britain since last month and from this Friday people in Scotland will also have to wear masks when they enter shops.

The government is also still considering extending mandatory face covers to anyone who is out in public, even if they're just walking the streets.

But should the wearing of face masks become mandatory everywhere, the public should wear reusable masks rather than single-use masks, due to environmental implications such as low biodegradability, scientists at University College London say.

Used PPE such as face masks can pose a risk to wildlife if not disposed of properly. But even if disposed of in household waste, the used masks could potentially by sources of infection for rubbish workers

The university estimates that if every person in the UK used one single-use mask each day for a year, we would create 66,000 tons of contaminated plastic waste.

UCL has already released a policy document that sets out the environmental implications of single-use face masks.

In comparison, evidence suggests that reusable masks, such as those made of fabric, perform most of the tasks of single-use masks without the associated waste stream.

Most face masks available for sale are made from layers of plastics and are designed to be single-use

Reusable masks present a great eco-friendly alternative as long as they are washed after each use, the university stresses.

Some manufacturers of reusable masks, such as Cambridge Mask and Respro, claim that their products are as effective as standard single-use masks if used correctly.

Cambridge Mask produces respirators made with UK military-grade filtration technology and claims their masks are effective for 340 hours.

Should wearing face masks become mandatory for the public, an extensive public health campaign with clear instructions about how to wear, remove, and wash reusable masks will be needed, UCL scientists said.

It also outlined one of the main problems of single-use masks and other PPE, aside from the environmental issues.

In a hospital environment, single-use protective wear are contaminated items and there are systems in place for their safe disposal, including incineration.

But waste PPE in the household is commonly placed in mixed general waste, which may put waste collectors at risk of contracting infections.

Local councils could install special disposal units for contaminated masks in every street, as well as make hand sanitisers readily available, such as in public spaces and on transport network, UCL suggests.

Woman making homemade face mask with a sewing machine in her home while in quarantine. Evidence shows that cloth masks, particularly those with several layers of cotton cloth, block droplets from the wearer's mouth and nose from entering the atmosphere

The UK government appears to be yielding to pressure to bring more thorough mandatory guidelines for the wearing of face masks.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed this week that the government will look again at whether people in England should wear face coverings or masks while out in public.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Health Secretary replied 'yes' when asked whether officials would reconsider the existing advice in England.

Current rules say people must wear a covering over their nose and mouth when they are on public transport  but they aren't mandatory anywhere else.

The president of the Royal Society said this week that everyone should wear a face covering in public to reduce the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections.

Professor Venki Ramakrishnan said people should wear a mask when they leave home  particularly in enclosed indoor spaces  but acknowledged that the public remain 'sceptical' about the benefits.

Not wearing them outside the home should be considered as 'anti-social' as drink-driving, or failing to wear a seat belt, he said this week.

'The virus has not been eliminated, so, as we lift lockdown and people increasingly interact with each other, we need to use every tool we have to reduce the risk of a second wave of infection,' said Professor Ramakrishnan.

The UK government has instructions on its website on how people can make their own face mask from leftover clothing.
Chinese scientists have identified the chemical makeup and likely origin of a mysterious gel-like substance found on the moon in 2019.

The dark green material was first observed by China's Yutu-2 rover while exploring terrain near the Von Karman crater, a famous impact site on the far side of the moon that measures around 110 miles in diameter.

New analysis by a group of researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirms that the substance wasn't actually a gel but a hard and glassy mineral compound that had been melted and reformed at high heat by an ancient asteroid impact.

Chinese scientists studied the makeup of a mysterious gel-like substance found on the moon in 2019 and discovered it was actually a mix of minerals that had melted and reformed in an ancient asteroid impact

The team identified it specifically as a form of breccia, a kind of rock formed by mineral fragments that are 'cemented' together by some external force.

According to the team, the substance was 'formed by impact-generated welding, cementing and agglutinating of lunar regolity and breccia.'

The substance initially caught the eye of scientists controlling the Yutu-2 rover because of how dissimilar it was to the surrounding soil at the Von Karman crater, according to a report in Newsweek.

At the time it was widely described as dark green and 'gel-like' because of how it appeared through the rover camera, with glossy sheen that stood in sharp contrast to the dry lunar soil around it.

It's likely the first wave of reports about the substance were due to a mistranslation from the original documents shared by the Chinese authorities.

The soil samples stood out because of their glossy sheen, but reports that it was actually a gel are now attributed to a mistranslation of the original reports from Chinese

The initial discovery was made by China's Yutu-2 moon rover as it was investigating the Von Karman crater on the far side of the moon

Some had suggested the substance might have come from volcanic activity, but the Chinese researchers later ruled that out as the moon hasn't seen any active volcanos in over three billion years.

Instead, the team determined the substance was a mix of pagioclase, a whitish gray crystal, iron-magnesium silicate, olivine and pyroxene, all of which were melted and mixed together by the heat of an asteroid impact.

Scientists are still puzzled by how the substance ended up in the Von Karman crater given how different it is from the surrounding soil.

The researchers suggest the likeliest explanation is that it was thrown across a significant distance by an especially intense impact, though where and when the impact occurred are still unknown.
Poor weather conditions has postponed spacex's tenth launch of Starlink satellites into orbit for the second time.

The firm aborted the mission about 15 minutes before the Falcon 9 was set to take off from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Wednesday's launch was set to take 57 internet-beaming devices into space, each sporting a new innovation - a VisorSat.

The feature is SpaceX's solution to complaints that Starlinks are flooding the night sky with excessive light and blocking astronomers from making new discoveries.

Along with SpaceXs tenth batch of satellites, the Falon 9 was also set to carry two Earth observation satellites.

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Poor weather conditions has postponed SpaceX's tenth launch of Starlink satellites into orbit for the second time.SpaceX was set to launch its tenth batch on June 26 (pictured), but isolated storms ripped through the area around Kennedy Space Center

SpaceX was set to launch its tenth batch on June 26, but isolated storms ripped through the area around Kennedy Space Center, forcing the Falcon 9 to stay grounded.

And it seems Mother Nature is just not on its side.

The Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron released a forecast prior to launch, showing a 40 percent chance of thick clouds and potential lightning.

'Standing down from todays mission due to weather; proceeding through the countdown until T-1 minute for data collection,' SpaceX shared in a tweet,

'Will announce a new target launch date once confirmed on the Range.'

Wednesday's launch was set to take 57 internet-beaming devices into space, each sporting a new innovate - VisorSat. The feature is SpaceX's solution to complaints that Starlinks are flooding the night sky with excessive light and blocking astronomers from making new discoveries

The launch of these satellites would have brought SpaceX's Starlink constellation to very nearly 600 total spacecraft in low-Earth orbit.

Not only is this mission a milestone for the firm, the tenth batch, but it will be the first time each of the satellites carry VisorSat.

The satellite constellation has received widespread criticism from astronomers for tainting the natural view of the night sky as the satellites are highly reflective.

SpaceX has been experimenting with ways to make the craft less visible from Earth, and the Jun 4 batch included one experimental craft with an inbuilt sun visor

CEO Elon Musk said in April: We have a radio-transparent foam that will deploy nearly upon the satellite being released, and it blocks the sun from reaching the antennas.

The launch of these satellites would have brought SpaceX's Starlink constellation to very nearly 600 total spacecraft in low-Earth orbit

The maverick billionaire added that the reason Starlink is so prominent from Earth with the naked eye is because of the angle of the satellite's solar panels.

As the satellites rise to orbit altitude, they are at the perfect position to bounce light from the sun back to Earth, making the satellites look similar to stars.

SpaceX is working to adjust this angle to avoid the issue going forward, Musk said.

Along with the new batch of Starlink devices will be two other satellites developed by Seattle-based BlackSky, which offers imaging and global monitoring services.

BlackSky has four satellites in orbit from launches in 2018 and 2019 that were built in-house by Spaceflight Industries.

The company hopes to have 16 satellites in low Earth orbit by early 2021.

BlackSky is taking advantage of SpaceX's rideshare program, which acts like Uber but for payloads into space.

Companies reserve a spot on the Falcon 9, which cost as low as $1 million.

SpaceX recently boasted on Twitter that it has more than 100 spacecraft have signed up to fly on the Falcon 9.

SpaceX has been experimenting with ways to make the craft less visible from Earth, and the Jun 4 batch included one experimental craft with an inbuilt sun visor CEO Elon Musk said in April: We have a radio-transparent foam that will deploy nearly upon the satellite being released, and it blocks the sun from reaching the antennas'

SpaceX has accelerated its efforts over the past month, sending dozens of Starlinks to orbit every week to create its global internet network.

The firm says it hopes to be able to start offering a basic internet service when it has a constellation of at least 800 satellites - likely to happen later this year.

The Elon Musk-owned aerospace company is also inviting those interested in the service since up 'to get updates on Starlink news and service availability in your area,' according to SpaceX.

The beta is expected to open up in later this summer or in early fall.

'Private beta testing is expected to begin later this summer, followed by public beta testing, starting with higher latitudes,' SpaceX said in an email sent to those who signed up
A new LinkedIn feature is helping to put an end to mispronounced names.

The professional networking site is now letting users upload short audio clips of up to 10 seconds long in which they can verbally pronounce their own names.

Those clips can then be added to one's profile and played by other users on the site.

'Ever seen someone's name in writing and find yourself not totally sure how to pronounce it correctly?' LinkedIn said in a blog post.

'Correct pronunciation is not just a common courtesy - its an important part of making a good first impression and creating an inclusive workplace.'

LinkedIn is rolling out a new feature that lets users record an audio clip to help others pronounce their name (stock)

For now, the feature can only be used by LinkedIn users on the company's Android or iOS app though playback of pronunciations can be used on mobile and desktop.

To add a pronunciation to your profile, you can navigate to your own page by clicking 'View Profile' in the app, then Edit, and then tapping 'Record name pronunciation.'

While the feature isn't entirely novel - Facebook has offered pronunciations on its platform for many years - it may likely come as a welcome addition to LinkedIn's community of professionals looking to avoid awkward mispronunciations.

'Everyone, including myself, makes mistakes when pronouncing other peoples names,' Joseph Akoni, a product manager at LinkedIn told the Wall Street Journal.

'Ive encountered this personally with my Nigerian middle name  theres a 99 percent chance someone wont pronounce it correctly on the first try.'

LinkedIn said it's currently rolling out the feature to all of its 690 million global users throughout the month.

As noted by The Verge, it's unclear if users will always strictly adhere to the intended purpose of the new feature or whether some may use the audio clip as another chance to pitch their resume.
Direct Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London will be launched later this year following new agreements on border procedures.

The Home Office said UK Border Force officials will be deployed at stations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam to carry out checks before boarding, as already happens in France and Belgium.

This is possible due to existing agreements between the UK, France and Belgium signed in 1993 being modified to include the Netherlands.

Direct Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London will be launched later this year following new agreements on border procedures

Representatives from all four countries signed the treaties at a ceremony in Brussels on Tuesday.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'This important treaty shows that, while we have left the European Union, our links with Europe are stronger than ever.

'It will enable vital security and immigration checks to be carried out in the Netherlands, protecting the UK's border and providing faster and more efficient journeys for passengers.'

Direct trains began operating from London to the Netherlands in April 2018, but passengers travelling in the reverse direction have been forced to change trains in Brussels to complete passport checks and a security screening.

The treaties were due to be signed ahead of direct trains from the Netherlands to London starting in April 2020, but the launch was delayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Outbound services from London will resume on Thursday, with direct trains to London beginning later this year. The journey takes around four hours.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'As we begin to emerge from one of the greatest international challenges of our time, we're working hard to support the recovery of international transport and tourism sectors.

'Investment in modern, convenient and more environmentally friendly high-speed rail links between major European cities will help drive this recovery so these sectors can flourish once again.'

The Home Office said UK Border Force officials will be deployed at stations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam to carry out passport checks before boarding

Last week, Eurostar announced that it would restart direct services from London to Disneyland Paris from August 2.

It also said it is offering more flexibility on all its fares, enabling passengers who book throughout the rest of the year to alter their travel plans up to 14 days before departure without a fee.

The firm added that all travellers must wear a face mask as part of additional hygiene measures.

Passengers will be seated 'at a safe distance apart' and trains will be 'deep-cleaned' before every journey.
Two-time Golden Globe winner Elisabeth Moss will executive produce and star as Candy Montgomery in the Universal Content Productions (UCP) pilot Candy.

The Texan married mother-of-two plead self-defense in her 1980 trial after delivering 41 blows to her church friend Betty Gore by using a 3ft-long ax.

Candy had been engaging in a two-year long affair with Betty's husband Allan Gore, according to Texas Monthly.

'I have been wanting to play an anti-heroine for a while!' Two-time Golden Globe winner Elisabeth Moss will executive produce and star as Candy Montgomery in the Universal Content Productions pilot Candy (pictured February 27)

True crime: The Texan married mother-of-two plead self-defense in her 1980 trial after delivering 41 blows to her church friend Betty Gore by using a 3ft-long ax

'I have been wanting to play an anti-heroine for a while now, and have been trying to work with [producer-writer Robin Veith] again after Mad Men for even longer,' 37-year-old Moss said in a statement - according to Variety.

'So when she asked me if I wanted to play a housewife from Texas who, some would say, got away with murder, I simply said, "Where do I sign?'

Montgomery's story was previously adapted by CBS in Stephen Gyllenhaal's 1990 movie A Killing in a Small Town starring Barbara Hershey and Brian Dennehy.

The Candy limited series will most likely be sold to Hulu considering Elisabeth stars in The Handmaid's Tale and several staffers were behind The Act.

Not the first time! Montgomery's story was previously adapted by CBS in Stephen Gyllenhaal's 1990 movie A Killing in a Small Town starring Barbara Hershey (pictured)

Shopping around: The Candy limited series will most likely be sold to Hulu considering 37-year-old Moss stars in The Handmaid's Tale (pictured) and several staffers were behind The Act

Faking it: The Act centered on the real-life story of Dee Dee Blanchard, a mother who suffered from Munchausen syndrome, and it scored Patricia Arquette (L) an Emmy and Golden Globe

'You're going to find out who I am': UCP also produced Bravo's Dirty John, which centered on real-life Newport Beach businesswoman Debra Newell (Connie Britton) who was seduced by con man John Meehan (Eric Bana)

The Act centered on the real-life story of Dee Dee Blanchard, a mother who suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, and it scored Patricia Arquette an Emmy and Golden Globe.

UCP also produced Bravo's Dirty John, which centered on real-life Newport Beach businesswoman Debra Newell (Connie Britton) who was seduced by con man John Meehan (Eric Bana).

But first audiences can catch the Shirley star as a magazine staffer in Wes Anderson's postponed movie The French Dispatch, which hits US theaters on October 16.
Former WAG Arabella Del Busso certainly knows how to get pulses racing.

In her latest racy shoot, the brunette channels the Kardashians by posing in Calvin Klein underwear.

The 30-year-old flaunts her six-pack abs and collection of tattoos in a tight white crop top from the brand and matching underwear.

Just like the Kardashians! Former NRL WAG Arabella Del Busso channels Kim and Kylie as she titillates in a tight white Calvin Klein crop top and underwear for latest raunchy shoot

The Melbourne-based glamour model looks very glam indeed, made up with a glossy palette and her hair coiffed in tumbling waves.

Arabella posted the images to her Instagram page and offered an inspiring message to her nearly 40,000 followers.

'My soul is fierce... heart is brave and mind is strong,' she wrote.

Ripped: The 30-year-old flaunts her six-pack abs and collection of tattoos in a tight white crop top from the brand and matching underwear

It comes after she set tongues wagging she may have found love again while showing off a stunning diamond ring last week.

But source close to the lingerie model went on to rubbish the claims: 'No, it's her own. She's still single at the moment,' they said.

She used the selfie to hit out at online trolls and threatening behaviour towards her.

Romance rumours! Arabella flaunted a stunning diamond ring on her finger over the weekend in latest glamorous selfie prompting talk she could have found love again

'I'm sorry that another person living their life, speaking their truth and spreading positivity and love, offends you,' she wrote.

She then hit back at vile threats made against her: 'I'm sorry that being a strong, independent driven woman with a voice and mind offended you so much.'

She finished: 'I'm sorry that you rather put your energy into hating and trolling me, and not into loving yourself, being happy and growing.'

Hitting back: Arabella used the opportunity to hit back at trolls, writing: 'I'm sorry that another person living their life, speaking their truth and spreading positivity and love, offends you.'

Arabella has been subject to criticism since her controversial 60 Minutes interview detailing her high-profile split from Josh Reynolds of the Wests Tigers.

The former couple met on Instagram in 2018 and had a one-night stand, after which she claimed she fell pregnant with twins.

It was later alleged that Arabella showed Josh a fraudulent ultrasound scan, which he claims she used to fake a pregnancy.

She has denied faking pregnancies or miscarriages, but admitted on 60 Minutes to passing off another woman's sonogram as her own to 'spite' Josh.
She recently shared her devastation at not knowing when she will be reunited with husband Tim Robards while he remains in Melbourne to film Neighbours.

And on Wednesday, Pregnant Bachelor star Anna Heinrich revealed the sweet gift her hubby sent her to cheer her up.

The lawyer, 33, shared a photo of a gorgeous bouquet of flowers along with a heartfelt note from Tim, 37, to Instagram.

How sweet! On Tuesday, Tim Robards sent pregnant wife Anna Heinrich a bouquet of flowers and a touching note after the pair were forced apart as he goes into lockdown in Melbourne to film Neighbours and she remains in Sydney (both pictured)

'When your hubby lives in Vic and you live in NSW. Love you @mrtimrobards Pregnancy hormones on the rise,' Anna captioned the post.

The bouquet included pink gerberas, white daisies and lilies, which are yet to bloom.

'Keep smiling. I'm never that far away xoxo Love you. Your hubby,' read the touching note from Tim.

Touching: The charming bouquet included pink gerberas, white daisies and lilies, which are yet to bloom. 'Keep smiling. I'm never that far away xoxo Love you. Your hubby,' read the sweer note from Tim

Anna has remained at the couple's home in Sydney, while Tim is based in Melbourne to continue production on Neighbours.

Fremantle Australia, the production company behind the long-running soap, has confirmed that Neighbours will continue filming scenes in Melbourne as the Victorian capital goes into stage three lockdown beginning midnight on Wednesday due to the sudden surge in cases of COVID-19.

On Monday, Anna posted an image of herself to Instagram with an emoji of tears running out of her eyes.

Separated: On Monday, pregnant Bachelor star Anna Heinrich shared her sadness to Instagram over not knowing when she will see husband Tim Robards again after he returned to Melbourne to film Neighbours

'Me right now not knowing when I will see my hubby next,' she captioned the heartfelt post.

Tim also seemed to be suffering from a severe case of the blues, with the chiropractor-turned-actor sharing a similar sentiment.

'Current mood... blaaaa,' he captioned an image on his Instagram of him looking glum, while in a black hoodie.

Glum: Tim also seemed to be suffering from a severe case of the blues, with the chiropractor-turned-actor sharing a similar sentiment

It comes after the Channel 10 star took a break from filming over the weekend to catch up with Anna and her sister Andrea in Sydney, before returning to Melbourne.

Since his return, the health crisis in Melbourne has continued to escalate, with a further surge in cases.

An additional 191 new cases were confirmed in the southern state on Tuesday.

Happier times: It comes after the Channel 10 star took a break from filming over the weekend to catch up with Anna and her sister Andrea in Sydney, before returning to Melbourne

Following the surge, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that the whole of Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will be placed back into lockdown for six weeks from 11:59pm on Wednesday.

Anna and Tim announced their pregnancy last month.

The couple, who got married in 2018, revealed the happy news on their respective Instagram accounts.

Baby joy! Anna and chiropractor Tim, announced their pregnancy in May

'It's been so hard to keep this a secret, over the past few months, but I can now finally shout... I'M PREGNANT!!!' Anna gushed in a post.

'With everything that's going on in the world we feel incredibly lucky and grateful to be starting a family together, and we're so looking forward to this next chapter in our lives.'

Tim echoed a similar sentiment on his own page, writing: 'We've been keeping busy in lockdown ... I can't wait to be a Dad!!!

Starting a family: 'It's been so hard to keep this a secret, over the past few months, but I can now finally shout... I'M PREGNANT!!!' Anna gushed in a post

'The giddy feelings in my stomach show there must be a few nerves, but I know Anna's going to be an absolutely amazing mother and I couldn't be more excited to start a family with her!'

They accompanied the joyous announcement with a cute maternity shoot.

Tim and Anna fell in love on the inaugural season of The Bachelor Australia in 2013.

At the time, Tim was a hunky chiropractor working from his practice located in Bondi, while Anna had not long started her career as a defense attorney having graduated with degrees in law and gender studies.
Federal judge blocks Trump's religious exemption to birth control mandate

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The Trump administration's expansion of the religious exemption in Obama-era birth control mandate in health insurance plans will not be implemented Monday in 13 states and the District of Columbia as was planned, a federal judge ruled Sunday.

In his decision, Judge Haywood Gilliam of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, blocked via an injunction the implementation of the new Trump rules on contraception coverage, which allowed employers to opt out of providing birth control as part of their health insurance plans if doing so violated their religious or moral convictions, according to the Washington Examiner.

The injunction against the new rules came about as a result of a lawsuit from 13 Democrat attorneys general and only extends to the states that filed the suit, although the plaintiffs did ask that it apply nationwide.

The Trump administration criticized the ruling.

No American should be forced to violate his or her own conscience in order to abide by the laws and regulations governing our health care system, Caitlin Oakley, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement Sunday.

The final rules affirm the Trump Administrations commitment to upholding the freedoms afforded all Americans under our Constitution.

Opponents of the Trump rules celebrated the ruling, calling it a victory for women's rights.

The law couldnt be more clear  employers have no business interfering in womens healthcare decisions, said Xavier Becerra, attorney general of California, in a statement Sunday evening.

Todays court ruling stops another attempt by the Trump Administration to trample on womens access to basic reproductive care.

Except for the religious exemptions, under the Affordable Care Act employers must offer health insurance plans with several birth control options, including abortifacient varieties, at no further cost to patients.

Previously, under the Obama rules, only houses of worship were exempt from having to provide contraceptives, but not businesses or nonprofit organizations, even religious nonprofits. Those who refused to comply faced fines.

Yet the Trump administration wrote its own rules that expanded the religious exemptions in Oct., 2017.

The contentious issue has been highlighted in recent years as a result of the Obama administration's actions against the Catholic group the Little Sisters of the Poor, a religious order that cares for the impoverished elderly, and craft retail giant Hobby Lobby's victory at the Supreme Court in 2014. Both groups, one a nonprofit organization and the other a business, argued that the government was forcing them to violate their conscience and religious freedom as guaranteed by the First Amendment.

In Hobby Lobby's case, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the high court ultimately ruled in a 5-4 decision that the government could not force a private company to violate their conscience and that the protections of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) extend to closely held for-profit corporations, exempting them from the contraceptive mandate in the ACA.

The case of the Little Sisters of the Poor was consolidated along with six other related cases under Zubik v. Burwell. In 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Court of Appeals ruling and returned those cases back to their respective courts of appeals for reconsideration.
Bella Hadid has hit out at Instagram for censoring a post that stated her father Mohammed Hadid was born in Palestine, after she shared a photo of his passport.

On Tuesday, Bella - who has 31.4 million followers on the platform - revealed that an Instagram Story she posted was taken down which said 'My baba and his birthplace of Palestine', as it apparently breached Instagram's company guidelines.

Bella explained to her followers: 'Instagram removed my story that only said "My baba And his birthplace of Palestine" with a photograph of his American passport.'

Censored: Bella Hadid has hit out at Instagram for censoring her post stating that her father Mohammed Hadid was born in Palestine, after she shared a photo of his passport

She then challenged the social media site, asking: '@instagram exactly what part of me being proud of my fathers birth place of Palestine is "bullying, harassment , graphic, or sexual nudity" ?'

The supermodel, who has Palestinian & Dutch heritage, added: 'Are we not allowed to be Palestinian on Instagram? This, to me, is bullying. You can't erase history by silencing people. It doesn't work like that.'

Bella shared a snapshot that said Instagram had told her that the post in question went against their community guidelines.

Proud daughter: Bella and her father Mohammed at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.

She shared a generic response from the social media platform that says 'We removed your story because it goes against our Community Guidelines on harassment or bullying. We have these guidelines because we want our community to feel respected and safe.'

A representative for Facebook Company, which owns Instagram, told MailOnline: 'To protect the privacy of our community, we dont allow people to post personal information, such as passport numbers, on Instagram.

'In this case the passport number was blurred out, so this content shouldn't have been removed. We've restored the content and apologize to Bella for the mistake.'

Despite the reasoning, Bella was flooded with support from fans on Twitter.

'We are sick of having Palestinian content censored on social media platforms,' one fan wrote, adding: 'Mohammad Hadid's passport considered hate speech bc it stated he was born in Palestine. Thank you @bellahadid.'

Daughters: Bella poses with sister Gigi Hadid and their father Mohamed Hadid in 2016

'What part of telling people your ethnicity counts as 'hate speech'? You can't say this was a mistake,' another added.

Bella re-posted the passport photo which currently remains on her social media feed, with a message from her saying: 'Everyone should post where their mother and fathers were born today! Remind them how proud you are of where you come from !!!!'
Kylie Minogue is returning to her dance roots on her upcoming fifteenth studio album.

After briefly experimenting with country music on 2018's Golden, the songstress is now back in the studio working on a new record, which she describes as 'grown-up disco'.

According to MuuMuse, the 52-year-old has been working with European DJs and producers like Alex Gaudino and Mousse T.

She's back! Kylie Minogue is returning to her dance roots on her upcoming fifteenth studio album

Gaudino is best known for the 2007 club smash Destination Calabria, while Mousse T's claim to fame is the 1998 single Horny.

Kylie has also worked with frequent Madonna collaborator Mirwais, who contributed to the pop queen's most recent album, Madame X.

In an interview with GQ magazine in May, Kylie called the new record 'grown-up disco.'

'It's difficult even for me to explain. But even grown-ups need some pure pop fun.'

Golden: Although her last album Golden topped the charts, it was criticised by some fans for featuring country music instead of Kylie's usual dance-pop style

The Fever songstress also said that she'll be incorporating early 2000s sounds into the album too.

'Theres a lot of early 2000s love around at the moment,' she added.

'Both feel like good times for me, so Im channelling that into this record.'

Kylie hasn't even let the current global pandemic slow her down in the studio, with the star independently recording music to comply with social distancing rules.

'Even grown-ups need some pure pop fun!' The 52-year-old says that the new album will feature disco production

Alistair Norbury, who is the head of Kylie's record label BMG, explained how the hitmaker has been recording amid the COVID-19 crisis.

'Kylie Minogue is learning to use [music software] Logic. Shes got herself a home studio and decided that, if theres one thing she can do during this time, its to learn to engineer and record her own vocals,' he told Music Week.

'So with some Zoom lessons and plenty of input from [BMG VP, A&R] Jamie Nelson, Kylies learning to get herself to a place where she can be creative during this time.'

Safe and sound: Kylie hasn't even let the current global pandemic slow her down in the studio, with the star independently recording music to comply with social distancing rules

When the new record does arrive, it will be the star's first release since 2018's country-tinged Golden.

While Kylie received praise from critics for the strength of her songwriting on the record, some fans were disappointed in her decision to go in a more organic and mature direction on the album.

Despite the mixed reviews, Golden still reached No. 1 in both Australia and the UK.
Tori Spelling dressed her husband Dean McDermott in drag as her character from Beverly Hills 90210 on Tuesday's episode of Celebrity Show-Off.

The 47-year-old actress famously played Donna Martin for 10 years on the hit show, which aired from 1990 to 2000.

Tori's new YouTube TV series Celebra-TORI, which she created for Celebrity Show-Off, it was Dean, 53, who portrayed the sweet, innocent character.

Pride party: Tori Spelling hosted a Pride party at her home on Tuesday's episode of Celebrity Show-Off on TBS

To fulfill his son Jack's lifelong wish to see him in drag, Dean became Dean-a Martin, donning a blond wig and black tank with sunflowers over each 'breast.'

'Dean-a Martin graduates!' Tori chanted, recalling a famous line from the show, in which Donna's classmates cheered the dyslexic student's graduation from high school.

'I have graduated, b****es!' Dean said, hugging Jack, 21, as Tori and her five children by Dean laughed at the spectacle.

For her weekly episode, Tori had thrown what she called Tori's Surprise Pride Party, 'a one-man show with go-go dancers' dedicated to her stepson.

Drag outfit: Dean McDermott dressed in drag for the Pride party

'He's an amazing gay man,' she said, adding, 'We celebrate Pride in our house all year round.'

Because of the coronavirus epidemic, Tori and Dean hadn't seen Jack in months, and they celebrated his visit to their home with a Pride-themed pool party.

They painted rainbows on their pig and on a Canadian flag, to represent Jack and Dean's heritage, and offered up rainbow candy, with cocktails in every color of the rainbow.

Special guest: The Pride party was held on behalf of Dean's son Jack, 21

TV star: Tori dressed Dean as her character Donna from Beverly Hills 90210

The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley, 43, via video yelled 'Happy Pride Month!' to Jack, while Shea Coulee, from Ru Paul's Drag Race, wished him well.

At the end of the episode, the whole Spelling-McDermott family jumped into their giant pool, echoing similar moves from BH90210.

Jack then surprised Tori by admitting that when he was younger, he didn't realize how much of a gay icon his stepmother was.

Reality star: The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley, 43, via video yelled 'Happy Pride Month!' to Jack

Pool jump: Everyone jumped in the pool except Tori

The host: Mayim Bialik hosted the one-hour show on TBS

He said the first thing that crossed his mind when he saw his dad in drag was, 'Why is he not in heels?'

Diplo, the 41-year-old DJ who just joined the competition, didn't do nearly as well as Tori and was booted off his first night.

The artist, whose real name is Thomas Wesley Pentz, failed to draw viewers to his YouTube series, 'Dip Thoughts,' which got fewer hits than his fellow contestants' shows.

New addition: Diplo was the latest celebrity to join the show

'Please be nice to me, guys,' the Grammy-winning record producer begged when he was introduced, but in the show's final voting, he was forced to leave.

Diplo's first episode of Dip Thoughts provided a wry look inside his brain, and as he introduced the piece, he offered that his thoughts were 'not deep. They're dip.'

He walked around his kitchen, blowing an instrument mournfully.

Wry look: The first episode of Dip Thoughts provided a wry look inside his brain, and as he introduced the piece, he offered that his thoughts were 'not deep. They're dip

'Space is empty, but it's also full,' he said. 'I feel like that sometimes. Not really. But I know being sad is in right now.'

Diplo zipped himself into a sleeping pod in another room and lay down, saying, 'This is where I sleep. Celebrities are weird. They're not just like us.'

His observations became even more random from there.

Sleeping pod: Diplo zipped himself into a sleeping pod in another room and lay down, saying, 'This is where I sleep. Celebrities are weird. They're not just like us'

'Do you guys like my house?' Diplo asked, spreading his arms. 'Let me know in your dreams.'

'Eating an apple is a lot like raising a family,' he considered, as a photo of him pushing a giant cartoon apple in a baby stroller was shown. 'Sometimes you just feel like doing it.'

His head was then pasted onto a sloth.

Dream house: 'Do you guys like my house?' Diplo asked, spreading his arms. 'Let me know in your dreams'

'It's highly likely we're living on the back of a giant sloth, swimming up the river of time,' he noted. 'My proof? Every single piece of music I've ever made.'

'Plants don't reach for the sun,' Diplo mused. 'They're just networking with the sky.'

'When you look up at a plane, you might be watching two people break up from very, very far away,' he added. 'Kathy and Mark, I know you both will find love again one day. Maybe with me, even.'

'What's so good about goodbyes?' Diplo concluded. 'Good? Bye? Says who? Think about it.'

'I should be high watching this,' said Ja Rule, 44, a fellow show contestant.

Good one: 'I should be high watching this,' said Ja Rule, 44, a fellow show contestant

Tori loved seeing a glimpse of Diplo's chicken coop in the video, and showed viewers a baby chick from her own collection, saying she'd named it Diplo, too.

Kevin Smith, 49, continued his series Son-in-Lockdown, a sitcom based on his relationship with Austin Zajur, the boyfriend of his daughter Harley Quinn, 20.

The show had been doing well with viewers online, and Celebrity Show-Off host Mayim Bialik, 44, asked Kevin if his celebrity pals had been watching.

Fun show: Kevin Smith, 49, continued his series Son-in-Lockdown, a sitcom based on his relationship with Austin Zajur, the boyfriend of his daughter Harley Quinn, 20

'The first week, I texted Ben Affleck and said, ''This is how you act,'' and he didn't respond,' Kevin admitted, laughing. 'I haven't heard from the A-list crowd at all.'

His Jay & Silent Bob partner Jason Mewes, 46, guest-starred on the show, and Kevin noted, 'He's the only celeb that wants to give me any feedback and I say ''celeb'' in quotes.'

This week's episode found Kevin's character feeding catnip to Austin's kittens in a bid to win his dog back after Austin co-opted it as an 'emotional support' animal.

Love story: The short videos by Kevin have kept him on the show

Rule then debuted The Rules Of Love, a dating game that matched a woman named Anne Marie, 38, with a marketing executive named Phil, 35.

Jason Mraz's Mragical Mranch show premiered a new episode called 'Waste Mranagement,' which was set as usual at his Oceanside, California avocado ranch.

After realizing that his ranch had overripe avocados, Jason, 43, worked with Vallie Gilley, the executive director of a zero-waste kitchen, to invent avocado recipes.

Dating game: Ja Rule debuted The Rules Of Love, a dating game that matched a woman named Anne Marie, 38, with a marketing executive named Phil, 35

Ranch life: Jason Mraz's Mragical Mranch show premiered a new episode called 'Waste Mranagement,' which was set as usual at his Oceanside, California avocado ranch

As the show ended, it was announced that Diplo and Rule were in last place, and Diplo tried to get his fellow contestants to save him from being kicked off.

'I'll keep it real with you guys,' he offered. 'It maybe wasn't my best work, but after I saw the high-quality production of Jason's show, the acting expertise of Kevin's, Tori  your party, I wanted to be there  I got another good show, I swear to God.'

Diplo's words fell on deaf ears, and he was voted out, though he earned money for the Los Angeles charity Downtown Art Walk.

Next week's new contestant will be The Real Housewives Of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes, 52, who has already told the cast, 'I'm about to jump in the race and snatch it from all of you.'

Celebrity Show-Off will return next week on TBS.
With Melbourne headed back into lockdown at midnight on Wednesday, Melissa Leong has made sure to stock up on the essentials.

The 38-year-old MasterChef judge was spotted running errands in Melbourne on Tuesday, and couldn't resist paying a visit to cosmetics retailer Mecca Cosmetica.

Smiling as she emerged from the beauty store, Melissa carried one of the shop's pale pink paper bags after stocking up on cosmetics.

One last outing: MasterChef judge Melissa Leong, 38, (pictured) was spotted shopping for last-minute items on Wednesday ahead of Melbourne's lockdown

Elsewhere in Melbourne, Melissa's husband Joe Jones was also spotted running errands, as the city prepared to go back into stage three lockdown amid a recent outbreak of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, fashionable food critic Melissa looked chic in a pair of baggy blue patchwork jeans, which she wore cuffed at the ankles.

She paired the quirky trousers with a black top, worn tucked in, and kept warm with a long dark grey shirt jacket and a black faux fur stole over one shoulder.

Locking down in style! Melissa couldn't resist stopping in at cosmetics retailer Mecca Cosmetica

Getting it done: Elsewhere in Melbourne, Melissa's husband Joe Jones (right) was also spotted running errands, as the city prepares to go back into stage three lockdown amid a recent outbreak of coronavirus

Melissa rounded out her quirky ensemble with a grey baker boy cap and gold rimmed sunglasses.

She accessorised with a pair of gold pendant earrings, and wore a series of gold rings on her fingers.

Showing off her expensive taste, Melissa wore a pair of black suede Gucci ankle boots that featured fringing at the front and a block heel.

Hanging loose: The fashionable food critic looked typically chic on the outing, stepping out in a pair of baggy blue patchwork jeans, which she wore cuffed at the ankles

Chic: She paired her trousers with a black top, worn tucked in, and kept warm with a long dark grey shirt jacket and a black faux fur stole over one shoulder

She also carried a Louis Vuitton monogram handbag on one shoulder.

Melissa was accompanied by a female friend for part of her outing.

The two women appeared elated to see each other as they performed dramatic 'air hugs', before chatting and strolling down the street together.

Hug it out: Melissa was accompanied by a female friend (pictured) for part of her outing

Catching up: While the two women didn't appear to hug, they walked alongside each other, chatting as they strolled down the street

Putting her best foot forward: Melissa stepped out in a pair of black suede Gucci ankle boots, which featured fringing at the front and a block heel

At one stage, Melissa stopped off at what appeared to have been a post office, emerging with a stack of envelopes and a box.

She carried her phone and headphones in one hand as she balanced her mail.

Elsewhere in Melbourne, Melissa's husband Joe stopped off at a cafe to pick up a takeaway coffee.

You've got mail: At one stage, Melissa stopped off at what appeared to have been a post office, emerging with a stack of envelopes and a box

Keeping her hands full: She carried her phone and headphones in one hand as she balanced her mail

Getting it to go: Elsewhere in Melbourne, Melissa's husband Joe stopped off at a cafe to pick up a takeaway coffee

Stepping out in style: He looked sharp in a pair of black tapered trousers, which he wore cuffed at the ankles, and his hair was worn slicked over to one side

He looked sharp in a pair of black tapered trousers, which he wore cuffed at the ankles, and his hair was worn slicked over to one side.

The bar owner also wore a black and white patterned button-up shirt under a black blazer, and wore black sunglasses.

Joe rounded out his polished look with a pair of black lace-up brogues, which he teamed with black socks.

Suave: Joe rounded out his polished look with a pair of black lace-up brogues, which he teamed with black socks

Prints charming: The bar owner also wore a black and white patterned button-up shirt under a black blazer

In an interview with TV WEEK last month, Melissa spoke about her whirlwind romance, revealing she met Joe three years ago.

She said they got engaged after just three months of dating, and eloped to Joshua Tree in California two months after that.

'When you know you know,' she laughed.
He was finally spotted in Byron Bay last week, after weeks of speculation he's been living Down Under amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And now American actor Zac Efron has sparked rumours he's making his move to Australia permanent.

The 32-year-old Hollywood heartthrob recently changed his Twitter profile picture to an image of himself in Sydney.

Making the move permanent? Zac Efron has changed his Twitter profile picture to a photo of him in Sydney (pictured) - after fleeing to Byron Bay amid the coronavirus pandemic

In the image, which appears to be an older photo, the High School Musical star is captured sitting on a boat in front of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Zac - who has previously said how much he loves Australia - cuts a casual figure in ripped jeans and a blue T-shirt.

The hint comes after Zac was pictured in Byron Bay last week, finally confirming rumours he had fled Down Under to escape the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.

There he is! He was finally spotted in Byron Bay last week (pictured), after weeks of speculation that he's been living in Down Under amid the coronavirus pandemic

Zac is said to be hanging out with the likes of actor Chris Hemsworth and Australian musician Tim Freedman.

He is also spending time with his manager, Jason Barrett, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Chris and his wife, Spanish actress Elsa Pataky, own a $20million mega-mansion in Broken Head, near Byron Bay.

Tim, the frontman of '90s indie rock band The Whitlams, also owns a beachfront mansion in the area.

Model Elyse Knowles is another famous local, but it's unclear if she and Zac have crossed paths.

Hollywood pals? Zac is said to be hanging out with the likes of actor Chris Hemsworth (pictured with wife Elsa Pataky) and Australian musician Tim Freedman. Chris and Elsa own a $20million mega-mansion in Broken Head, near Byron Bay

Familiar face: Model Elyse Knowles is another famous local, but it's unclear if she and Zac have crossed paths

Following a string of unconfirmed sightings, Zac was pictured getting friendly with local woman Vanessa Valladares at the Byron Bay General Store cafe.

In photos obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, the Baywatch star hugged the brunette and gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek.

There is nothing romantic going on between them, however, because Zac is in a long-term relationship with actress Halston Sage, 26.

Friends with the locals: Following a string of unconfirmed sightings, he was pictured getting friendly with local woman Vanessa Valladares (pictured) at the Byron Bay General Store cafe. There is nothing romantic going on between them, however, because Zac is in a long-term relationship with actress Halston Sage, 26

Zac previously said it was 'easy' keeping a low profile during his visits to Australia because of the sparsely-populated beaches down the coast.

'What I love about Australia, which is what we don't have in California, is there are so many wide-open beaches where no one is at,' he said.

Zac is said to have fallen so deeply in love with the coastal town that he's now considering purchasing the home he has reportedly been renting.

According to The Sunday Telegraph, he has made an inquiry about buying the Byron Beach Retreats property named The Boardwalk.

The beachfront property is located in the coastal suburb Broken Head, a town close to Byron Bay where Chris and Elsa also happen to live.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted one of Zac's representatives for comment, in relation to this article.
Colin Farrell showed off his muscles as he emerged from Petco in Los Feliz in Los Angeles on Tuesday after having multiple tattoos lasered off his arms.

The Irishman, 44, sported a black tank top with Adidas sweats and sneakers, making sure to protect himself and others from COVID-19 with a matching mask.

California Governor Gavin Newsom made cloth masks and face coverings mandatory for all public outings on June 18.

Spot the difference: Colin Farrell showed off his muscles in a tight vest top after having his tattoos lasered off his arms - he was pictured coming out of Petco in LA on Tuesday

Doing his thing: The Irishman, 44, sported a black tank top with Adidas sweats and sneakers, making sure to protect himself and others from COVID-19 with a matching mask

As of Tuesday, there have been over 120K confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, which has led to 3,582 deaths - according to Johns Hopkins University.

For the last several years, Colin has been systematically removing his chest and arm tattoos with laser treatments.

'I'm getting rid of them because I got tired of getting painted in the makeup chair anytime I wear a T-shirt,' Farrell said on The Late Late Show last year.

'It buys me an extra 45 minutes sleep in the morning. Obviously, none of them had that much significance to me that I would choose 45 minutes over my own history!'

Sticks close to Los Angeles for his two children: Farrell has a 16-year-old son James Padraig with ex-flame Kim Bordenave (pictured September 8)

Cali kids: The Artemis Fowl actor is also father to 10-year-old son Henry Tadeusz from his relationship with Alicja Bachleda (pictured in 2017)

The Artemis Fowl actor sticks close to Los Angeles for his two children. Colin has a 16-year-old son James Padraig with ex-flame Kim Bordenave.

Farrell is also father to 10-year-old son Henry Tadeusz from his relationship with Alicja Bachleda.

The perpetual bachelor has also reportedly romanced celebs like Michelle Rodriguez, Angelina Jolie, Britney Spears, and Demi Moore.

Colin next plays the menacing Simon in assassin drama Ava, which starts streaming August 27 in the UK and hits US theaters on September 25.

Bloodied boss: Colin next plays the menacing Simon in assassin drama Ava, which starts streaming August 27 in the UK and hits US theaters on September 25

Worked together in The Help: Producer-star Jessica Chastain (L) replaced writer-director Matthew Newton with Tate Taylor (R) after backlash over Newton's 2006 domestic violence and assault allegations (pictured in 2012)

Producer-star Jessica Chastain replaced writer-director Matthew Newton with Tate Taylor after backlash over Newton's 2006 domestic violence and assault allegations.

The 43-year-old Oscar nominee is one of the many actresses who helped form the anti-sexual harassment movement Time's Up, even donating $50K to the initiative in 2018.

The globe-trotting crime thriller also features John Malkovich, Common, Geena Davis, Joan Chen, and Ioan Gruffudd.
HHS Civil Rights Office head slams Obama's treatment of Christian groups

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WASHINGTON  The Department of Health and Human Services top civil rights official criticized the former Obama administration on Tuesday for the way it treated Christian organizations who objected to Obamacares contraception mandate.

Roger Severino, the director of the HHS Office of Civil Rights, spoke among friends at a lunch event Tuesday hosted by the social conservative-libertarian think tank American Principles Project Foundation in which he declared that the APP mission statement calling for public policy with human dignity at its heart should be the mission statement of his department.

HHS, after all, is dedicated to the health and well-being of every American, Severino explained. We are everywhere. We are the largest federal agency. If we were to separate our budget as a country, we would be among the top-10 biggest countries in the world.

With such incredible power, we can do a lot of good to respect human dignity, he added. You may note that in our recent mission statement for HHS strategic plan, we said that all Americans from conception until natural death deserver our protections. That was a change.

Severino, who previously served as the director of the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at conservative think tank Heritage Foundation and is at the forefront of Trumps attempt to promote religious freedom at HHS, warned that there are times that big federal agencies forget those foundational principles.

The most striking example is with the Little Sisters of the Poor, Severino said, referring to the legal battle the order of Catholic nuns had against the U.S. government beginning under Obama administration as it faced crippling fines for refusing to abide by an Obamacare birth control mandate.

The Little Sisters of the Poor was among many religious organizations, colleges, associations and institutions that sued the HHS over the mandate that they provide health care coverage of contraception to employees.

Although the organizations were provided with an opt-out process that would allow the government to help facilitate birth control coverage to employees, many of the organizations felt that it still made them complicit in violating tenets of their religious beliefs against contraception and abortion. Many sought the same exemption to the mandate that was provided to churches.

The groups faced millions of dollars in fines for not complying with the mandate, which threatened their existence. In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other groups by remanding the cases back to the lower courts and vacating their earlier rulings.

The Trump administration ended the federal governments defense of the Obamacare mandate in court and courts have issued rulings in favor of the religious organizations in the last two years.

[The Little Sisters of the Poor were] dedicated to being there for the elderly in their last days, literally, so they do not die alone so that they know that they are loved, so their life has dignity and worth, Severino explained in his remarks. Instead of supporting this incredible organization, the HHS went after them, threatening to shut them down with millions in fines because they would not assist in the provision of contraceptives to their fellow nuns.

I dont know how we got to this place but it is a very topsy-turvy world where that was the official position of the federal government and the Department of Justice for years until very recently when we undid the contraceptive mandate through regulatory rulemaking, he added.

Last year, the Trump HHS instituted two new rules to allow non-profits and for-profit entities to make a religious or moral objection in order to obtain an exemption to the birth control mandate.

I have learned that sometimes to counteract some of the defects of bureaucracy, you need a bureaucracy, Severino told the crowd. Which is why we have stood up a Conscience and Religious Freedom Division [at HHS] to institutionalize protection of 25 conscience protection statutes that Congress has passed that have either been neglected or have been completely forgotten.

Severino took a minute from his remarks to praise leaders from the HHS Office of Civil Rights and the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division.

They are the foot soldiers of OCR, he asserted. We engaged in rulemaking as one of the first acts of the new division to give the same enforcement tools as with every other civil right so that people are not just discriminated against when they object to abortion, covering or paying for abortion, sterilization, assisted suicide.

Severino pointed out that HHS received over 242,000 public comments to its proposed rules through Regulation.gov.

I wish it were everyone. This is, in fact, democracy 2.0. This is a way you can impact agency rulemaking, Severino said. We are required to read the catalog and respond to every comment submitted to our proposed rules. I encourage you to watch Regulations.gov and when the time comes to make comments on the rules, submit the comments to become part of the official record and part of the litigation. Only good can come from having people from all stripes of society contribute their thoughts on how the government is doing business.

Since taking over as the head of the HHS Office of Civil Rights, Severino has drawn the ire of left-wing activists and liberal media pundits over the fact that he has voiced opposition in the past to the political lefts LGBT agenda and has also advocated for pro-life policies.

Earlier this year, The New York Times reported on the Trump administrations plans to eliminate another Obama-era regulation that critics said required faith-based hospitals, insurance providers and doctors to perform, provide or cover gender-reassignment surgeries even if they have religious convictions against such procedures.

Severino said at the time that the Obama administrations interpretation of civil rights law that extended protections on the basis of sex to include gender identity "was contrary to law and exceeded statutory authority."
She's known for her racy Instagram posts and love of music festivals.

And on Wednesday, Imogen Anthony combined the two as she shared a risque throwback photo from when she attended the Burning Man festival in Nevada, USA.

In the sexy image, the 29-year-old model bared all as she posed topless in green bikini bottoms inside a camper van.

Her raciest photo yet! On Wednesday, Imogen Anthony pushed the boundaries by baring all in a topless throwback picture from Burning Man that she shared to Instagram

'Back at Burning Man where we were dying from heat, exhaustion and dust but at least the world was somewhat free and we could explore,' she captioned the provocative post.

In the image, Imogen flaunted her slender physique and trim pins as she draped her leg provocatively while sitting on the dashboard of the van.

The blonde beauty wore minuscule lime green bikini bottoms and covered her modesty by placing two butterflies across her chest.

Flaunt it: The former partner of radio star Kyle Sandilands isn't afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to exposing her flesh online

Imogen wore natural makeup, with a sparkly blush across her cheeks giving her a fun festival glow and a soft pink lip.

She kept her luscious blonde locks pulled up into a ponytail, letting curly tendrils fall to frame her face.

The former partner of radio star Kyle Sandilands isn't afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to exposing her flesh online.

Va va voom! On Sunday, Imogen Anthony (pictured) didn't disappoint as she uploaded a series of short clips of herself in an extremely skimpy leopard print bikini

On Sunday, Imogen didn't disappoint as she uploaded a series of short clips of herself in an extremely skimpy leopard print bikini.

The stunners head-turning look didn't stop there, as she slipped into a pair of silver tasselled high heels which snaked all the way up her toned legs.

Imogen's incredible figure was on full display in the minuscule get-up as she posed up a storm.

Sizzling: The 29-year-old model's head-turning look didn't stop there, as she slipped into a pair of silver tasselled high heels which snaked all the way up her toned legs

The beauty added to the bombshell look with a perfectly coiffed, teased hairdo, while a pair of encrusted green diamond earrings framed her face.

With a number of candelabras in the background adding to the sultry photo shoot, Imogen looked in her element as she worked her angles while balanced against a wooden table.

Imogen added a dazzling silver filter on top of her short clips, which added a further glamorous feel to her impromptu photoshoot.

'It's dress-up, let's be honest, and it's fun!' Back in 2018, the star defended her bold style choices, telling The Daily Telegraph that she likes to push boundaries

Meanwhile, Imogen is no stranger to attracting attention with her fashion looks.

Back in 2018, the star defended her bold style choices, telling The Daily Telegraph that she likes to push boundaries.

'Everyone takes themselves so seriously. I'm all for people wearing streamlined business shirts and pinstripe suits, but just let me do what I do, too.

'It's dress-up, let's be honest, and it's fun!' she added.
She's the PR dynamo who runs her successful Sweaty Betty empire.

And on Wednesday, Roxy Jacenko teased her new business venture which she is set to launch with her friend and billionaire chicken heiress Jess Ingham.

The 40-year-old entrepreneur shared the logo for her new brand, XRJ Celebrations, to Instagram stories and linked to the company's business handle.

Business empire: Roxy Jacenko (pictured) teased her new business venture with billionaire chicken heiress Jess Ingham on Wednesday

The company's new Instagram page reveals the brand has been created by both Roxy and her friend Jess and says it's 'coming soon'.

Last month, Sydney's PR queen hinted she would be launching her new venture on Instagram.

Roxy posted a picture of herself at a Sydney timber yard, proudly leaning on a piece of pine while standing in the parking lot.

Coming soon: She shared a the logo for her new brand, XRJ Celebrations, to Instagram stories and linked to the company's business handle

'The face of someone who just bought 100 linear metres of pine for an exciting new side hustle. Coming soon,' she wrote in the caption.

Her new direction isn't a surprise as Roxy recently revealed that isolation made her realise she 'hated' her high-stress job in public relations.

'It's been a realisation for me. I hated my job. I didn't like what I was doing,' she said on KIIS FM's The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Exciting! The company's Instagram says it's created by Roxy (left) and her friend billionaire chicken heiress Jess Ingham (centre) and says it's 'coming soon'

'I'm now semi-retired,' she said, explaining how the hectic nature of her job made it impossible for her to enjoy life.

'You don't stop. You're like a mouse on a spinning wheel and it wasn't until we were in forced isolation...[I realised]' she added.

While Roxy may be semi-retired, her flagship business Sweaty Betty PR will continue to be managed by her employees.

Roxy founded the company in 2004 when she was just 24 years old. Sweaty Betty's former clients include Coles, Big W, Peugeot and Puma.
Sofia Richie modeled one of ex-boyfriend Scott Disick's hoodies from his clothing line as she hung out at the beach on Sunday.

And just two days later Khloe Kardashian got in on the act of promoting The Lord's brand.

The 36-year-old reality star took to her Instagram to share a snap of herself donning one of 37-year-old Talentless brand hoodies as she looked nearly unrecognizable.

 Slide me  Wow factor: Khloe Kardashian took to her Instagram to share a snap of herself donning one of 37-year-old Talentless brand hoodies as she looked nearly unrecognizable (as she is seen in November on the right)

Even Khloe herself marveled at how different her appearance looked as she captioned the snap: 'Tie Dye @Talentless. I look so young in this photo [eyes wide open while smiling emoji] I love it! Lol maybe its the hoodie?!'

Along with the chic hoodie with varying shades of grey, she sported a clinging black pleather mini skirt, and white Adidas Yeezy Boost 350v2 sneakers.

This comes after 21-year-old Sofia Richie posed on the sand for the sexy shot wearing a cow print bikini and the same tie-dye hoodie from Scott's clothing range.

Funny: Even the 36-year-old herself marveled at how different her appearance looked as she captioned the snap: 'Tie Dye @Talentless. I look so young in this photo [eyes wide open while smiling emoji] I love it! Lol maybe its the hoodie?!'

It comes just three weeks after Scott's ex Kourtney Kardashian wore his flannel shirt on a family trip to Wyoming with the father of her three children.

'Hoodies at the beach' Sofia captioned the snap which showed her kneeling in the sand, sunglasses on and pulling up her sweater to show of her stomach.

Sofia split with Scott, 37, in May after almost three years together but they were spotted together celebrating Fourth of July on Saturday.

The pair - who first began dating in 2017 - grabbed lunch at Nobu restaurant in Malibu, before heading to a pal's low key July 4th bash on the beach.

Ex-factor: This comes just days after Sofia Richie posed in the same Talentless hoodie in a sexy beach snap from Sunday, just weeks after Kourtney wore her ex's flannel

'They seemed happy together but more friendly than romantic,' a source told People of their get together.

When they first split, a source told the website that Sofia and Scott were taking a break 'so Scott can just focus on the most important things in his life - his health and his kids.

'Scott is working on his issues. Sofia is hanging out with friends,' the source explained. 'It was Sofia's choice to take a break.'

Looks familiar: Kourtney, 41, wore Scott's flannel in this snap from their family trip to Wyoming last month

Flirty: Shortly after Scott, 37, commented on another photo of Kourtney 'cute shirt'

The break-up happened after Scott's brief rehab stint at a Colorado treatment facility in late April.

Last month, a source told People that Sofia was 'still processing the breakup' and having a hard time doing so.

'It was a serious relationship, not some fling, and she was there for Scott through some tough times. It hurts to see all the speculation about Scott and Kourtney, but she is so young and gets so much attention. She'll be totally fine,' the insider explained.

Sofia and Scott started dating in the fall of 2017 about two years after he split with reality star Kourtney, 41.

Recently, Scott, Kourtney, and their three children, sons Reign, five, and Mason, 10, and seven-year-old daughter Penelope, have been spending a lot of quality time together, taking a family trip to Utah for Scott's birthday in May and most recently a trip to Wyoming together.

Reconciliation? Sofia and Scott - pictured in February - started dating in the fall of 2017. They spent Saturday together in Malibu celebrating Fourth of July with friends

Close: Recently, Scott, Kourtney, and their three children have been spending a lot of quality time together, taking a family trip to Utah for Scott's birthday in May and most recently a trip to Wyoming together

Kourtney raised eyebrows when she posed for a snap wearing what appeared to be Scott's flannel shirt and posted it to Instagram during the getaway where she cuddled with a lamb at Kim and Kanye's ranch.

Then in a flirty exchange between the former couple, Kourtney posted a photo of herself wearing a similar yellow plaid shirt and Scott commented 'cute shirt' under the snap.

Scott and Kourtney dated on and off from 2006 to 2015 and according to an Us Weekly source, hell always have feelings for her. 'Scott is always going to be in love with Kourtney,'

'And thats something Sofia has had to face since even before she got serious with him.' they added.
Following Super Saturday, Brits all over the country were getting boozy due to lightened lockdown laws amid the coronavirus pandemic.

And Piers Morgan was joining in the fun on Tuesday evening as he took to Instagram to reveal in a tongue-in-cheek caption that he was enjoying 'just the one glass of wine' - in which he raised a huge vessel filled with booze.

The following morning, the journalist, 55, appeared to enjoy the evening immensely as he took to the microblogging site 11 hours later to share a behind-the-scenes snap from Good Morning Britain, ahead of their final show before summer break.

Cheers! Piers Morgan he took to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal in a tongue-in-cheek caption that he was enjoying 'just the one glass of wine' - in which he raised a huge vessel filled with booze

Piers could not resist sharing the hilarious snap, in which he raised a vast wine glass to the camera and penned his cheeky note alongside.

He penned: 'BREAKING LOCKDOWN NEWS: Im down to only one glass of wine a night!', while one fan warned him to be careful ahead of the final show.

It seems he took heed of the warning as he was up bright and early posing alongside his co-host Susanna Reid, director Erron Gordon and producer Ben Briscoe.

Piers added a playful caption of the beaming selfie reading: 'The final 5.15am GMB pre-show briefing in Imelda Reids dressing room, before we go off for our summer break. Were all as knackered as we look.'

Bright and early! The following morning, the journalist, 55, appeared to enjoy the evening immensely as he took to the microblogging site 11 hours later to share a behind-the-scenes snap from Good Morning Britain, ahead of their final show before summer break

Haha! Piers could not resist sharing the hilarious snap, in which he raised a vast wine glass to the camera and penned his cheeky note alongside

Hilarious: Piers added a playful caption of the beaming selfie reading: 'The final 5.15am GMB pre-show briefing in Imelda Reids dressing room, before we go off for our summer break. Were all as knackered as we look'

His 'Imelda Reid' note, appeared to be a swipe at the clothes in his co-star's dressing room, as he teased her by referencing Filipino politician Imelda Marcos.

Marcos, who was First Lady of the Philippines for 21 years, was branded 'Marie Antoinette, with shoes' due to her love of shopping and excess.

It comes after Piers and Susanna locked horns as they discussed Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's upcoming court battle on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain.

Disagreement: It comes after Piers and Susanna locked horns as they discussed Amber Heard and Johnny Depp 's upcoming court battle on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain

The screen star, 57, and the actress, 34 - who were married from February 2015 until January 2017 - came face-to-face at London's High Court later in the day as he takes libel action against The Sun for referring to him as a 'wife beater'.

Ahead of their showdown, lead anchor Piers clashed with his co-host as he called the couple 'spoilt brats' and claimed their case is a 'waste of everyone's time'.

The presenter raged: 'I assumed this pandemic might crunch a few celebrity heads together and would make them realise that this kind of thing is pointless but no, here we go. But no, a circus will erupt. Johnny hates Amber, Amber hates Johnny.'
She flies across the world to attend top modelling jobs.

And Winnie Harlow was travelling in lavish style on Tuesday, as she kicked back on a private jet while heading to her next location with a male pal.

The model, 25, was showing off her stunning physique in a tiny white crop top, which she teamed with a pair of skintight hot pants.

Luxury travel! Winnie Harlow was travelling in lavish style on Tuesday, as she kicked back on a private jet while heading to her next location with a male pal

Winnie wore her locks loose and accentuated her pretty features with a glamorous slick of make-up, including a grey smokey-eye with lashings of mascara.

The Canadian star accessorised her sexy ensemble with a diamond chain necklace, as she made the most of her lavish plane trip.

Winnie reclined on a cream leather seat, which her tan holdall positioned next to her full of her essentials for her trip.

Wow! The model, 25, was showing off her stunning physique in a tiny white crop top, which she teamed with a pair of skintight hot pants

Winnie passed the time on the flight by colouring in a picture book, as she chose a graphic called 'dream big' to colour in.

She captioned the clip: 'Big kids buy colouring books!'

Last month TMZ reported that Winnie and Kyle Kuzma had been dating since April and had gone into joint lockdown amid the pandemic.

Earlier this week, the model proved they're going from strength to strength as she posed for a racy shot with him, who stared into the camera while embracing Winnie.

Sleek: Winnie wore her locks loose and accentuated her pretty features with a glamorous slick of make-up, including a grey smokey-eye with lashings of mascara

Colouring book: The Canadian star accessorised her sexy ensemble with a diamond chain necklace, as she made the most of her lavish plane trip

The raunchy pose caught the attention of Winnie's celeb pals, including Kylie Jenner who commented 'oh ok!' while Kyle himself posted 'Goals.'

Winnie has previously dated race car driver Lewis Hamilton, as well as rapper Wiz Khalifa, whom she broke up with late last year.

Meanwhile this January before the coronavirus shutdowns began Kyle was seen enjoying a dinner out with Vanessa Hudgens.

Lavish: Winnie reclined on a cream leather seat, which her tan holdall positioned next to her full of her essentials for her trip
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Kate Garraway fought back tears as she told how her children have 'effectively lost their dad' while making an emotional return to Good Morning Britain.

The TV personality, 53, revealed her husband Derek Draper, 52, remains in a 'desperate situation' and has almost died six times when his organs failed during his 100-day battle with coronavirus.

The mother-of-two admitted she was 'absolutely gripped by fear' at times when the former political lobbyist was in a coma, but said he has amazed doctors with his resilience and they have 'fantastic hope'.

Kate explained how Derek has now started to open his eyes as she left the family's 'little bubble of sadness' to return to the Good Morning Britain studio for the first time since her husband contracted the deadly disease.

Devastating: Kate Garraway, 53, fought back tears as she told how her children have 'effectively lost their dad' while making an emotional return to Good Morning Britain

She told Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: 'I'm back. It's really emotional. As soon as I walked in I thought, "I'm going to cry now". It's so lovely to see your faces. I can see your faces anyway [on screen]. It's lovely to be back, it's like coming out of a little bubble of sadness. It's so strange to still be in this situation.

'It's a strange word, coma, he was induced which was what they were doing then because it was a way of resting the lungs, of course they're no longer keeping him in the coma but he's not fully awake.

'There's two types of coma, there's the one we think of as vegetative coma, and the one Derek is in which is a minimum station of consciousness, so wonderfully his eyes are open but we have no real knowledge of what he can see or hear.

'It is a very desperate situation, it's very very difficult, of course there's fantastic hope he's still alive, the doctors do keep saying it's a miracle he's still alive.

'I was speaking to a doctor yesterday who said he's sick as anyone I've ever seen in 35 years of medicine, and some of those people who were as sick as him aren't here.

'Six times they said he's not going to make it, and obviously you couldn't visit. So he's been very very sick, but it's a new disease, there's no data, so what they can say is it's great he's here.

Sad: The TV personality revealed her husband Derek Draper, 52, remains in a 'desperate situation' and has almost died six times during his 100-day battle with coronavirus

Optimistic: The mother-of-two admitted she was 'absolutely gripped by fear' at times when the former political lobbyist was in a coma, but said he has amazed doctors with his resilience and they have 'fantastic hope' (pictured in December 2019)

'There's flickers of hope, his lungs are starting to recover, his kidneys are doing better, his liver, but they don't know how much better he can get.'

Asked whether there had been any explanation for why Derek had been so badly affected by the virus, Kate admitted doctors are still unsure.

She said: 'There isn't, he was a little bit overweight, I'm a bit of a feeder! Zero underlying conditions, he's young comparatively, he's 52, so there is no explanation.

'I think what's happened is at every stage they've been learning. One of the wonderful things is that they've changed medical practices, they've changed pathways because of Derek. I keep telling him on the Facetime he would be very pleased about that.'

Now that Derek has been declared COVID-free, Kate admitted she fears for the long-term damage the virus may have done, and whether that will affect Derek in his recovery.

'When he went into hospital, I got some texts saying ''oh I'm definitely not gonna die, tell the children I'm doing great,'' but there was a feeling of terror because he had COVID and suddenly it escalated.

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 the disease can suffer from long-term complications caused by permanent damage to their lungs and liver, but serious problems can also blight people who only have a minor illness. SCARRING AND LONG-TERM LUNG DAMAGE 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'. A build-up of scar tissue in the lungs can reduce their capacity to absorb air, leaving a patient with breathing difficulties, shortness of breath or a cough. Insufficient oxygen also has knock-on effects on the other vital organs, which rely on the chemical to work. Without it, they cannot work as efficiently and may start to fail or work less efficiently. Failing kidneys may result in a patient needing long-term medication or dialysis, while a severely damaged liver could require a transplant to treat. IMMUNE SYSTEM OVER-REACTION CAN DAMAGE HEART, LIVER & KIDNEYS Evidence is also emerging that the virus may affect the the liver, kidneys, heart and blood vessels because of the way it can force the immune system to attack healthy parts of the body. As well as the potential of immediate death in the case of kidney failure, a heart attack or a stroke, any damage to these vital organs can cause lifelong disability and dramatically increase the risk of dying young. A paper in the journal JAMA Cardiology in March reported a fifth of patients in a group of 416 who were hospitalised in Wuhan, China, had suffered heart damage. Another study in Wuhan found that 16 out of 36 intensive care patients developed irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmia, which can weaken the heart's ability to pump blood. Coronavirus can also cause blood clots, scientists say, which raise the risk of stroke or heart attack. 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. GROWING EVIDENCE OF BRAIN DAMAGE AND NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS Long-term brain damage may also be a consequence of Covid-19 infection, according to emerging research of patients who caught it. Doctors around the world say they are seeing growing numbers of people with neurological symptoms such as headaches, loss of smell and taste, tingling sensations, losing the ability to speak and even seizures and strokes, the BBC reported. Dr Elissa Fory, from the Henry Ford Foundation in Detroit, said: 'We don't know yet if the encephalopathy [brain damage] is more severe with Covid-19 than with other viruses, but I can tell you we've been seeing quite a lot of it.' Symptoms affecting the brain are harder to measure and track - it took months for officials in the UK to admit a lost sense of smell was a symptom of coronavirus - but they can be permanent. HOSPITAL STAYS AND TREATMENT CAN BE DEBILITATING As well as damage caused by the virus itself, patients who are seriously ill with Covid-19 - particularly those in intensive care - will suffer long-term health problems just from being in hospital. Physiotherapists warn patients muscles start to waste away quickly when they are in hospital beds, which can leave them with mobility problems for a long time - especially if they are already elderly, which many coronavirus patients are. People's lungs can also be irreparably damaged by ventilators, the intensive care machines which help people to breathe when they cannot do it alone. The machines work by blowing air into the lungs through a tube inserted directly down the throat and into the airways. The pressure of the air being forced into the lungs can tear and split the delicate tissue inside the lungs and leave them permanently damaged. This is a trade-off: the machines are usually a last resort for people who can't breathe on their own and would die without the ventilator. People who get seriously ill are also at a risk of developing depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of their ordeal after the initial infection has gone. EVEN MILD ILLNESS CAN DRAG ON FOR MONTHS There is growing evidence that even mild Covid-19 can have long-lasting consequences and the UK Government last weekend launched a study into the after-effects of the illness. Experts on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned that Covid-19 patients could be left with 'extreme tiredness and shortness of breath for several months' even if they were not hospitalised. Concerns about the lasting effects of the illness were discussed in a SAGE meeting which took place on May 7. Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, revealed some patients need psychological treatment for 'post-intensive care syndrome'. And another scientific advisor to the Government told The Telegraph that 'a very high proportion' of Covid-19 survivors 'cannot get back to a normal life'. Advertisement

'And then suddenly it became everything, and each stage has been sort of a new terror and just when I thought we were moving forward suddenly it can now affect your body everywhere.

'There's a huge post-viral syndrome, damage done in ways we didn't know. I was sitting with Dr Hilary and he said it's the lungs, it's respiratory you're fearing from COVID.'

Kate also reiterated that doctors had urged her to 'get on with life' while Derek continues to recover, insisting she had to be present for their two children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 10.

'I have had moments, you know when you get abs gripped with fear and everything was going so well, but it's happened to the world it's happened to everybody, in this time you've seen people, I know people, you know people who have been watching this show who have been diagnosed with terrible illnesses,' Kate added.

'The doctors are saying to me now, ''You've got to get on, you've got to get on with life''. For Darcey and Billy effectively right now, they've lost their dad, they haven't, he's there.. he's not a presence as he should be in their lives.'

What happened? Asked whether there had been any explanation for why Derek had been so badly affected by the virus, Kate admitted doctors are still unsure

Kate's husband has been in hospital since March, and while Kate sparked hope over the weekend by revealing he has awoken from a coma, the star has been told his recovery could take years.

'I have had moments, you know when you get abs gripped with fear and everything was going so well, but it's happened to the world it's happened to everybody, in this time you've seen people, I know people, you know people who have been watching this show who have been diagnosed with terrible illnesses. '

Speaking about being back in the GMB studio, Kate said: 'It feels lovely to be back, it feels very strange. The positive is I know, and I can hear Derek, I mucked up this week with the children.

'Billy is in year 6, they'd organised a hoodie and I missed it and everyone got one and he didn't get it, and he was really upset and I was really upset, fortunately one of the mums had ordered two, so he has now got one.

'So I just thought, ''Come on Garraway'' - Derek would be incensed with me  ''this is your priority, you've got to get on, you've got to get back into things, you've got to cope''

'The problem with this pandemic is it's lives, it's livelihoods, it's fear and anxiety. I've got to get on and do the things I'm good at.'

Stylish: Following her GMB appearance, Kate was spotted heading into Global Studios to appear on LBC, donning a protective face mask along with her black and yellow printed midi dress, white ankle boots and a leather jacket

Trying to move forward: Kate also said that her children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 10, would be returning to school in September, as the family try to continue with life during Derek's recovery

Kate then confirmed that she could be returning to GMB on Monday, to present the programme full-time during the summer holidays, as doctors have urged her to 'get on with life' during Derek's recovery.

She added: 'I'm coming back - I'm not sure I've quite for the fight to be Piers Morgan, I'm going to be with Ben Shephard!'

'I've been trying to keep everything going and I'm not especially different, everyone is having to get on with sadness grief and loss, so if I come back we're all in the same boat.

'Derek would not just be saying come back, he'd be saying, why haven't you done it before? As he got into the ambulance he said, ''Go inside and make them feel safe, because they're going to be panicking about this.''

'That would be his priority. My job is to make him feel safe and make them feel that they have a future and a world and whatever happens with Derek  we hope and believe he can come back to us  but whatever happens they have to feel they have a world. To see me getting on, they're going to go back to school in September.'

Following the news of her return, Ben took to Twitter to reveal he'd been watching Kate's interview, writing: 'Don't know about you but there's something very right about seeing @kategarraway on my TV!

Back together: After filming Piers shared a snap of his reunion with Kate backstage, adding it was 'lovely' to see her 'fabulous smile' again

Thrilled: Following Kate's announcement, Ben also took to Twitter to share his reaction, clearly thrilled they would be back behind the GMB desk once again

'After all the darkness there is some light, cant wait to be with her in the studio on @gmb on Monday.'

He later added: 'Really great to see @kategarraway chatting with @susannareid100 @piersmorgan and @DrHilaryJones You can tell it was special Piers even let Kate interrupt @GMB.'

Piers also took to Instagram to share a backstage snap with Kate, writing: 'So lovely to have Kate back in the studio today & to see that fabulous smile again.

Clearly keeping optimistic about Derek's recovery, Kate added; 'I keep saying on FaceTime [to Derek], ''We are going to go to the Maldives!'' They [the doctors] say, ''Maybe don't book a ticket. Positive thinking, but don't hand over the cash just yet' probably can't fly anyway. [But they say] 'Try and look where you've come from and try and look to the future.'

Kate said: 'He's absolutely fighting he has an absolute will and if it's about will to get back to see Darcey and Billy and me I've been visualising sitting here with him. There'd be footage of him coming out of hospital.'

A timeline of Derek's coronavirus battle MARCH Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got 'relatively close' at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11 - Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March. She said: 'Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] 'god you look ill.' 'He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe, 'I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance' Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition. APRIL Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed 'mild symptoms'. Kate said: 'Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I'm afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time. 'I'm afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.' MAY Kate said: 'The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight. 'But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.' That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers She said: 'I'll never give up on that because Derek's the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty' JUNE On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body JULY On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition. On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to 'get on with life' during Derek's recovery. She added that Derek had 'opened his eyes' after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years. Advertisement

Kate also admitted that having the support of her fans - and some of the UK's biggest stars - has been a great comfort during Derek's illness.

She explained: 'Robert Rinder, he just texted me and said, ''I live really near to you, what can I do?'' Darcey was making a photo wall and we didn't have any Blu Tack.. and he was like, ''Ok''. We now have a system, I'll say to him [that we need] butter and milk and he'll send back a rainbow and it's on its way.

'David Beckham sent some video clips for the children, people have been incredibly lovely. Elton John contacted me. He got in touch, he said, 'Hi Kate, It's Elton'. I was like, 'Elton' I think we do have a mutual friend. He was like, 'What can I do to help?' He said, 'I'm on board'.

'He's incredible. I put the phone down, and I'm like, 'That was Elton John' I said, 'I think he's going to help!'

'Amanda Holden, she texted me on Sunday, I felt so low, I read a text and I couldn't even text back, I'm sorry Amanda, she text just saying, 'I'm thinking of you, you're doing amazing', just reading that is incredible.'

As she spoke about the moments leading up to his hospitalisation in March, GMB host Piers read out a loving text from Derek, 52, in which he expressed his wish for his beloved wife to win I'm A Celebrity.

Piers said: 'I text Derek saying 'Kate deserves to win. She should win but either way it's been fantastic because you're coming across as the woman we know. This genuine, warm, funny person.

'He said ' thanks Piers, she's an amazing woman. I so so want her to be the number one for once. She deserves that so much.'

A visibly emotional Kate looked incredibly moved as she heard Derek's touching sentiments.

Following her GMB appearance, Kate spoke to James O'Brien on LBC about how her two children have coped with Derek's health battle, admitting that while she's been 'really open' with them, she didn't share the six times that their dad came close to death.

She said: 'I didn't tell them that, but I have been really honest and said he seems to be doing well but he's really trying. They join in in very different ways, Billy just says hello, while Darcey will take to doing things and just talk to him as if it's normal which I think has got to be a good thing.

'She built this chest of drawers they were going to build together and she was saying ''mum is so useless she doesn't know what a Phillips screwdriver is'' as if he was in the room, that's got to be good for him to hear that familiar sound.

'He and Darcey had a great relationship when they would absolutely butt heads. I'm starting to put things into compartments, but I do get moments of being gripped with fear, because I miss him and you try and stay positive so I think it is... just before all of this I'd started to write a book on mindfulness and goodness me is this not challenging my methods.

'I've been trying some of the things I've been exploring in that. Sometimes when you're gripped with fear it's all you can do to feel the taste of something in your mouth, and that stops the adrenaline for a second, you can't elevate yourself to joy but you can get a little bit of peace.

Long road: Now that Derek has been declared COVID-free, Kate admitted she fears for the long-term damage the virus may have done, and whether that will affect Derek in his recovery (pictured together in December 2019)

Pals: Myleene Klass - who has been filling in for Kate on Smooth Radio - took to Instagram to share a snap of her reunion with the presenter as they chatted on the floor in the LBC studio

Adding she hopes to get back to work on Smooth Radio in the near future, she said: 'There's a terrible feeling of isolation when the person you call first is in trouble, and having messages from people saying they're going through the same thing.

'The doctors are saying now I've got to get on, and provide safe emotionally and practically in the short term, as a bit of a single mum get them back to life.'

Katie also revealed that she struggled with coronavirus when Derek was first admitted to hospital in March saying: 'I've had it! My experience was as Derek was going in hospital, it was a bad case of fly and there was one day when I thought god if this gets worse I'm going to be in trouble, but it was nothing like this. When Derek went into hospital he didn't have a cough he didn't have a temperature.'

Kate previously spoke for the first time about when Derek was admitted, saying: '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''.'

'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''.'

Myleene Klass - who has been filling in for Kate on Smooth Radio - also took to Instagram to share a snap of her reunion with the presenter as they chatted on the floor in the LBC studio, writing: 'Mums always have the most important chats just sitting on the floor.  So good to see you @kategarraway. Me and @ariannemerry have the new whatsapp group ready!'

On Sunday Kate revealed that Derek had awoken from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years.

She told Hello! 'The doctors have been urging me not to put my life on pause. They've told me that I need to go back to work and create a routine in our lives again.

'The children and Derek are all I've thought about and they're the most important people in my life, but I must create structure and normality for the children, to clean the bath, put the plates in the dishwasher and tidy the house.

'I also need to get back to work so that I can provide for the children and we can do things together, to make them feel that the light hasn't gone out of their lives, that there's hope for the future.'

Happy: Kate and Derek have been married since 2005, with the former lobbyist cheering his wife on for the duration of her stint on I'm A Celebrity last year (pictured after she left the jungle in December 2019)

Kate also made a rare appearance on social media on Monday night to share her gratitude for the support she has received, since revealing Derek has awoken from his coma.

She thanked the publication for 'helping me to bring you some of my hopes and plans for the future' and added: 'The future we are really hoping for - Derek recovering & coming home - is not nearly in sight & very uncertain.

'But it feels positive to share how we are trying to keep ourselves going as I know so many are dealing with terrible challenges in all sorts of ways as we all try to emerge from these ghastly times, just as we continue to hope Derek can emerge from his minimum state of consciousness.

'I hope reading this helps in some way. Thank you everyone for your lovely good wishes and for sending me your stories of how you've been coping too. I hope that some of the [article] brings some comfort  we're all in this together. Keep the hope alive and keep moving forwards! [sic]'

On Monday Piers and Susanna announced that Kate would be appearing on the show, before they headed off for a summer break.

Piers said: 'A few papers are doing a lot of coverage today on our colleague and friend Kate Garraway and the situation involving her husband Derek.

'It's probably not quite as positive a story as the papers perhaps believe and we've just got a little clarification from Kate's representative.'

The statement read: 'These headlines give a level of optimism that may not yet be justified, we hope, as does Kate there will be more evidence of a recovery but it will be a very slow and uncertain path.'

Touching: 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 (pictured together in 2006)

During an appearance on GMB last month, Kate spoke about the start of Derek's devastating illness, saying: 'Derek had a painful shoulder for a couple months, and had been taking medication and having scans

'He was due to have a steroid injection, he felt unwell and was home tutoring the kids. I got back and said ''you don't you look right babe, i think it's the painkillers.''

'I just had this weird feeling, asked if he had a cough. He didn't, he said 'I think I've got weird sinusitis.'' I rang the doctor, I said 'you don't look great, no real feeling that it's COVID, he had none of those symptoms.'

'Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said 'god you look ill. He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe,

'I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance. I said 'I can't believe I'm calling an ambulance', I was very scared.'

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.

After moving to Los Angeles for three years and retraining as a therapist, his friend GMTV's political correspondent, Gloria De Piero, offered to set him up with her friend and colleague Kate.

Derek said: 'I haven't been depressed for years, since just before I met Kate, who has changed me for the better anyway.

'I eventually realised I had been masking the depression for years with overwork, drinking or womanising... the drink, drugs and promiscuity, were all toys and inside, unbeknownst to me, the little child part of me was in the driving seat.'

Wedding plans: Following her stint on I'm A Celebrity, the couple were planning to renew their vows in the coming months after Kate revealed Derek had proposed for a second time

Kate and Derek have been married since 2005, with the former lobbyist cheering his wife on for the duration of her stint on I'm A Celebrity last year.

Following her stint on I'm A Celebrity, the couple were planning to renew their vows in the coming months after Kate revealed Derek had proposed for a second time.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday's You magazine, Kate explained that the proposal idea had come about after she had removed her engagement ring while competing in the jungle.

However, the big moment - which happened off-camera - didn't quite go to plan as Derek became too overwhelmed with emotion.

She said: 'You're told you can't take any jewellery into the jungle. I didn't want to take my wedding ring off, as I never have since we got married. But I did take my engagement ring off.

'When Derek came to meet me after I left the jungle, he was planning to propose to me again [with the ring, in front of the TV cameras], but he got overwhelmed and burst into tears.'

Candid: Speaking about being back in the GMB studio, Kate said: 'It feels lovely to be back, it feels very strange.' It marked her first time back on the show since Derek was admitted to hospital

Discussing the heartwarming moment further, she continued: 'The kids leapt out and surprised me and Darcey said, 'Oh Dad  you didn't do it!' So he got down on one knee and proposed and I said yes, obviously.'

Derek is best-known for his career as a former lobbyist who suffered a fall from grace when he was embroiled in two scandals. He was a former adviser to Tony Blair's government and known for his party lifestyle.

During his time as a political adviser he was embroiled in two political scandals - 1998's Lobbygate and in 2009 a scandal surrounding LabourList, the website he edited.

In 1998 he was caught in a sting by an undercover Observer reporter, bragging about his access to goverment ministers.

The Lobbygate scandal led to his Daily Express column being axed, the loss of his lobbying job and his firing from his role as editor of New Labour Magazine Progress.

He previously told The Scotsman: 'Everyone assumes I got depressed because of the scandal. Actually, I had been depressed for two years, from around 1996. I thought I had a physical virus. I'd always been quite arrogant and cocky, but I think I put all my unhappiness into my obsession with the Labour Party.

'The really spectacular breakdown came two years into my depression with the lobbying thing. That was the killer.'
She recently started breastfeeding again 'months' after giving up.

And Amy Willerton looked nothing short of sensational as she soaked up the sun on a Spanish beach with her baby daughter Demelza, six months, on Tuesday.

The former beauty queen, 27, showcased her ample cleavage in a plunging leopard print bikini as the waves lapped at her feet.

Beach beauty: Amy Willerton, 27, showcased her ample cleavage in a plunging leopard print bikini as daughter Demelza perched on her stomach at a Spanish beach on Tuesday

Amy wore her dark blonde locks loose over her shoulders and accessorised her summer look with a pair of oversized black sunglasses.

The model smiled as Demelza perched on her stomach wearing a pink full-body swimsuit and protective sunhat to shield her neck and protect her delicate skin.

Amy showed how she was every inch the doting mother by bringing a pop-up pink tent to the beach, adorned with stars, to keep Demelza cool from the Spanish sun.

Adorable: The model photographed her daughter people-watching from inside the tent while she offered a helping hand to support her back

Baby antics: Amy revealed how Demelza only 'consumed a moderate amount of sand' during their time on the Spanish beach

Amy photographed her daughter people watching from inside the tent while she offered a helping hand to support her back.

Posting to Instagram, she penned: 'A successful day at the beach... our tent didnt blow away and Dem only consumed a moderate amount of sand #beachday #6monthsold.'

It comes after the TV personality - who shares her daughter with fiance Daniel Day - outlined her reasons for her re-lactation, adding that Demelza 'preferred the bottle' and she had felt 'selfish' for breastfeeding as her family wanted to help with feeding.

Posting on Instagram last week, Amy discussed why she felt compelled to return to breastfeeding.

Doting mother: Amy (pictured on the eve of Demelza's half-birthday last Saturday) recently outlined her reasons for her re-lactation

Reasons: Amy opened up on why she felt compelled to switch up her baby's feeding, weeks after she announced plans to stop breastfeeding

She wrote: 'Sooo many of are asking why I would want to #relactate after I mentioned it on my stories the other day....

'The answer is because firstly I genuinely miss #breastfeeding and only stopped because Dem preferred a bottle and my family all wanted to feed her so I felt selfish.'

She continued: 'I will try to document but as always as a #firsttimemum I'm always scared to dish out advice before I've really done it as everything is a first.'

Amy announced she was expecting her first child with fiance Daniel back in October, before welcoming Demelza in January.

The family are currently isolating in the Spanish city of Valencia after the coronavirus pandemic made it 'unsafe' to travel back to the UK.
Kate Garraway broke down as Piers Morgan read a loving text from her critically-ill husband Derek Draper on Wednesday, sent during her I'm A Celebrity stint last year.

The star, 53, fought back tears during her emotional return to Good Morning Britain, as she discussed Derek's 100-day battle with coronavirus and subsequent complications.

As she spoke about the moments leading up to his hospitalisation in March, GMB host Piers Morgan, 55, read out a loving text from Derek, 52, in which he expressed his wish for his beloved wife to win I'm A Celebrity.

Brave: Kate Garraway broke down as Piers Morgan read a loving text from her critically-ill husband Derek Draper on Wednesday, sent during her I'm A Celebrity stint last year

Hope: The star, 53, fought back tears during her emotional return to Good Morning Britain, as she discussed Derek's 100-day battle with coronavirus and subsequent complications (pictured in December 2019)

Piers said: 'I text Derek saying "Kate deserves to win. She should win but either way it's been fantastic because you're coming across as the woman we know. This genuine, warm, funny person.

'He said " thanks Piers, she's an amazing woman. I so so want her to be the number one for once. She deserves that so much.'

A visibly emotional Kate looked incredibly moved as she heard Derek's touching sentiments.

The heartbreaking interview saw Kate tell how her children have 'effectively lost their dad'.

Heartbreak: As she spoke aboiut the moments leading up to his hospitalisation in March, GMB host Piers Morgan, 55, read out a loving text from Derek, 52, in which he expressed his wish for his beloved wife to win I'm A Celebrity

The star revealed her husband Derek remains in a 'desperate situation' and has almost died six times when his organs failed during his 100-day battle with coronavirus.

The mother-of-two admitted she was 'absolutely gripped by fear' at times when the former political lobbyist was in a coma, but said he has amazed doctors with his resilience and they have 'fantastic hope'.

Kate explained how Derek has now started to open his eyes as she left the family's 'little bubble of sadness' to return to the Good Morning Britain studio for the first time since her husband contracted the deadly disease.

She told Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: 'It's a strange word coma, he was induced which was what they were doing then because it was a way of resting the lungs, of course they're no longer keeping him in the coma but he's not fully awake.

Sentiment: 'He said " thanks Piers, she's an amazing woman. I so so want her to be the number one for once. She deserves that so much' (the couple are pictured in December 2019)

Emotion: A visibly emotional Kate looked incredibly moved as she heard Derek's touching sentiments

'There's two types of coma, there's the one we think of as vegetative coma, and the one Derek is in which is a minimum station of consciousness, wonderfully his eyes are open but we have no real knowledge of what he can see or hear.'

Kate said that despite Derek's ill health she remains hopeful that he will recover, as he has already defied expectations with his incredible progress.

She added: 'It is a very desperate situation, it's very very difficult, of course there'sf fantastic hope he's still alive, the doctors do keep saying it's a miracle he's still alive. I was speaking to a doctor yesterdayday who said he's stick as anyone I've ever seen in 35 years of medicine, and some of those people who were as sick of him aren't here. Six times they said he's not going to make it, and obviously you couldn't visit.

Devastating: Kate fought back tears as she told how her children have 'effectively lost their dad' on the show

'So he's been very very sick, but it's a new disease, there's no data, so what they can say is it's great he's here. There's flickers of hope, his lings are starting to recover, his kidneys are doing better, his liver, but they don't know how much better he can get.'

Asked whether there had been any explanation for why Derek had been so badly affected by the virus, Kate admitted doctors are still unsure.

She said: 'There isn't, he was a little bit overweight, I'm a bit of a feeder! Zero underlying conditions, he's young comparatively, he's 52, so there is no explanation.

Trying to move forward: Kate has recently been told to 'get on with her life' by doctors and get back some normality for herself and her two children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11,

Photo: Piers shared a photo with Kate as he marked her return to the show

Missed you: GMB host Ben Shephard paid tribute to Kate on Twitter as he celebrated her return

'I think what's happened is at every stage they've been learning. One of the wonderful things is that they've changed medical practices, they've changed pathways because of Derek. I keep telling him on the Facetime he would be very pleased about that.'

Now that Derek has been declared COVID-free, Kate admitted she fears for the long-term damage the virus may have done, and whether that will affect Derek in his recovery.

'When he went into hospital, I got some texts saying ''oh I'm definitely not gonna die, tell the children I'm doing great,'' but there was a feeling of terror because he had COVID and suddenly it escalated.

Long road: Kate's husband has been in hospital since March, and while Kate sparked hope over the weekend by revealing he has awoken from a coma, the star has been told his recovery could take years

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

'And then suddenly it became everything, and each stage has been sort of a new terror and just when I thought we were moving forward suddenly it can now affect your body everywhere.

'There's a huge post-viral syndrome, damage done in ways we didn't know. I was sitting with Dr Hilary and he said it's the lungs, it's respiratory you're fearing from COVID.'

A timeline of Derek's coronavirus battle MARCH Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got 'relatively close' at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11 - Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March. She said: 'Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] 'god you look ill.' 'He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe, 'I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance' Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition. APRIL Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed 'mild symptoms'. Kate said: 'Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I'm afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time. 'I'm afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.' MAY Kate said: 'The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight. 'But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.' That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers She said: 'I'll never give up on that because Derek's the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty' JUNE On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body JULY On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition. On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to 'get on with life' during Derek's recovery. Advertisement

Kate also reiterated that doctors had urged her to 'get on with life' while Derek continues to recover, insisting she had to be present for their two children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11.

'I have had moments, you know when you get abs gripped with fear and everything was going so well, but it's happened to the world it's happened to everybody, in this time you've seen people, I know people, you know people who have been watching this show who have been diagnosed with terrible illnesses,' Kate added.



'The situation for me now is that doctors are saying to me you've got to get on, for Darcy and Billy, effectively right now, they've lost their dad, he's not a presence in their lives.'

Kate's husband has been in hospital since March, and while Kate sparked hope over the weekend by revealing he has awoken from a coma, the star has been told his recovery could take years.

Kate told Hello!: 'The doctors have been urging me not to put my life on pause. They've told me that I need to go back to work and create a routine in our lives again'

'The children and Derek are all I've thought about and they're the most important people in my life, but I must create structure and normality for the children, to clean the bath, put the plates in the dishwasher and tidy the house.

'I also need to get back to work so that I can provide for the children and we can do things together, to make them feel that the light hasn't gone out of their lives, that there's hope for the future.'

'But the doctors have warned that his condition could persist for years so I have to get on with life whilst we are waiting for him to get better.'

Her son Billy starts secondary school in September and doctors have told Kate Derek will still be in hospital then, with COVID-19 leaving his body with 'damage everywhere' and new health conditions, including severe diabetes.

'My priority is to make the children feel safe, not to let them see me feeling vulnerable in the world where Derek was my rock,' she explained.

Kate made a rare appearance on social media on Monday night to share her gratitude for the support she has received, since revealing Derek has awoken from his coma.

Kate told Hello! Magazine her spouse has finally opened his eyes following his ongoing battle with COVID-19, and posted a message to her Instagram followers to reflect.

She was sure to stress that, although a positive step, things remain critical.

She thanked the publication for 'helping me to bring you some of my hopes and plans for the future' and added: 'The future we are really hoping for - Derek recovering & coming home - is not nearly in sight & very uncertain.

'But it feels positive to share how we are trying to keep ourselves going as I know so many are dealing with terrible challenges in all sorts of ways as we all try to emerge from these ghastly times, just as we continue to hope Derek can emerge from his minimum state of consciousness.
She's officially joined the thousands of Melbourne residents rushing to get their final chores done before lockdown recommences.

And on Wednesday, Nadia Bartel made a pit stop to ensure she stays picture-perfect while staying at home for the next six weeks.

The 35-year-old owner of fashion brand Henne joined her staff for a 'team bonding' eyebrow lamination at a local salon.

Operation beauty duty! On Wednesday, former AFL WAG Nadia Bartel (pictured) joined her staff for a 'team bonding' eyebrow lamination before lockdown began in Melbourne

Brow lamination is a two-step process that allows the technician to reshape the eyebrows, similar to a keratin straightening treatment for hair.

The treatment is also typically followed by a shaping, by wax or threading, and a tint to amplify the look.

Her staff took the plunge first, trying out the chemical lamination treatment before Nadia gave it ago.

'Okay this better be good': Nadia Bartel made the pit stop to ensure she stays picture-perfect while staying at home for the next six weeks

She filmed the entire process, posing for a selfie with the team with blue treatment covering her brows.

'Okay this better be good,' Nadia wrote on Instagram stories.

While in lockdown back in March, Nadia kept her fitness up by doing workouts from various celebrity trainers.

Keeping in shape: While in lockdown back in March, Nadia kept her fitness up by doing workouts from apps such as Keep It Cleaner by Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw, Sweat by Kayla Itsines and CorePlus Studios for online classes

'Just did a 15 min ab workout... I am by no means a fitness expert but seeing as Pilates studios, gyms are closed I needed to improvise,' she wrote in the caption of a photo of herself showing off her slim figure.

The brunette beauty also revealed that she was using $6.50 ankle weights from Kmart as part of her regimen.

She said: 'You can pay a lot more at other places, but these are just as good and at an affordable price... all of their at-home sport equipment is pretty damn good!'
She's been missing her frequent trips to sunny Dubai during the pandemic.

And Laura Anderson shared her excitement at booking a post-lockdown holiday on Tuesday night as she posted a stunning bikini throwback on her Instagram.

The Love Island 2018 star, 31, showed off her lithe legs and toned stomach in a frilled black two-piece in the snap taken at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai.

Life's a beach! Laura Anderson shared her excitement at booking a post-lockdown holiday on Tuesday night as she posted a stunning bikini throwback on her Instagram

Laura posed up a storm in the beach hut as she sported a bronzed glow and wore large black sunglasses on her face.

The TV personality's blonde tresses were styled in soft beach waves while her pretty features were enhanced with a natural palette of make-up.

Alluding to going away with her new boyfriend Tom Brazier, the blonde beauty captioned the stunning snap: 'This is how excited I am to have our first holiday booked.'

In May the pair revealed their romance in a couple's workout video.

Date: The Love Island 2018 star, 31, headed out for a long-awaited date with new beau Tom Brazier in London as lockdown restrictions were eased on Saturday

They performed a series of lunges and planks before hunky personal trainer Tom used his girl as a weight on his shoulders to engage in some squats.

The TV personality's clip ended with the pair sharing a sweet smooch after working up a sweat at her home.

Since then they have been spotted enjoying quality time together as well as having a romantic picnic in a London park and more recently a swanky date night in Mayfair.

After leaving the Mallorcan villa in the summer of 2018, the bombshell dated series one winner Max Morley in October.

The duo were in an on-off relationship, with the stars splitting in December, reuniting in May 2019, and eventually calling it quits for good in July last year.

During her time on ITV2 dating series, she forged failed romances with Wes Nelson, Jack Fowler and Paul Knops.

Her new romance with Tom may come as a shock to fans, as she recently announced she planned to move back to Scotland permanently after lockdown is over, due to feeling lonely in the English capital.

Laura, who lived in the United Arab Emirates for many years as a flight attendant, has previously posted a throwback snap from the country, with the reality star last month joking that 'it's been 84 years' since she's visited the holiday hotspot.
Ninth Circuit upholds block on Trump admin's religious exemption to HHS' contraceptive mandate

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A three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has upheld a block against the Trump administrations religious exemption to the HHSs contraceptive mandate.

In January, Judge Haywood Gilliam of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an injunction against the new rules on contraception coverage, which allowed employers to opt out of providing birth control and abortion-inducing drugs in their health insurance plans if it violated their religious or moral beliefs.

In a 2-1 decision released Tuesday, the majority decided to uphold Gilliams injunction banning enforcement of the religious exemption in several states.

Circuit Judge J. Clifford Wallace wrote the court's opinion and was joined by Circuit Judge Susan P. Graber, with Circuit Judge Andrew J. Kleinfeld authoring a dissent.

Wallace rejected the argument that religious groups such as the Little Sisters of the Poor were unjustly burdened by the current exemption process to the HHS mandate, which requires an objecting organization to submit a form explaining their objections to authorities.

Once the organization has taken the simple step of objecting, all actions taken to pay for or provide the organizations employees with contraceptive care is carried out by a third party, wrote Wallace.

Viewed objectively, completing a form stating that one has a religious objection is not a substantial burden.  The burden is simply a notification, after which the organization is relieved of any role whatsoever in providing objectionable care.

Wallace also concluded that the district court injunction was necessary because the states suing the federal government over the new exemption rules will likely suffer economic harm from the final rules, and such harm is irreparable because the states will not be able to recover monetary damages flowing from the final rules.

We affirm the preliminary injunction, but we emphasize that our review here is limited to abuse of discretion, concluded Wallace.

The injunction only preserves the status quo until the district court renders judgment on the merits based on a fully developed record.

In his dissenting opinion, Kleinfeld argued that the California district court injunction was moot, given that another district court in Pennsylvania already issued an injunction in the case.

We are racing to shut a door that has already been shut, wrote Kleinfeld. Were we to reverse, and direct that the district court injunction be vacated, the rule would still not go into effect, because of the Pennsylvania injunction.

Montse Alvarado, executive director of Becket, the law firm representing the Little Sisters in their ongoing litigation over the new exemption, took to Twitter to denounce the panel's decision.

A 2016 #SCOTUS victory, a 2018 trial court victory, and a 2018 #HHS rule protect the Little Sisters of the Poor from having to provide abortifacients like the week-after pill in their healthcare plans. But CA, PA, and 19 other states sued to take away their religious exemption, tweeted Alvarado on Tuesday.

The Little Sisters never wanted this fight and have spent eight years trying to focus on caring for the elderly poor instead of fighting senseless legal battles. The states in these lawsuits should leave the nuns alone.
After concerns over the certainty of their raucous summers, the Love Island ladies breathed a sigh of relief when they landed in Ibiza earlier this week.

Leading the way was Francesca Allen and Georgia Steel as they hit the beach on Tuesday to help celebrate their pal Elma Pazar's birthday.

The fashionista, 24, looked phenomenal in a sizzling green triangle bikini as she joined Georgia, 22, who was clad in a chic coral number for the jaunt.

Love Island beauty: Francesca Allen and Georgia Steel as they hit the beach in Ibiza on Tuesday to help celebrate their pal Elma Pazar's birthday

Francesa - arguably the most trendy Love Island contestant of all time - looked incredibly chic in a bang on-trend palm print two-piece.

While the pattern was certainly eye-catching, the shape was simple to help showcase her figure - complete with perky cleavage and a peachy posterior.

She wore her raven tresses in a loose bun while going make-up free to help flaunt her stunning complexion and naturally pretty good looks.

Georgia's swimwear featured more detail than Francesca's as she drew the eye to her figure with a bright coral number with stylish ruching.

Here come the girls! The fashionista, 24, looked phenomenal in a sizzling green triangle bikini as she joined Georgia, 22, who was clad in a chic coral number for the jaunt

Wow! Despite being from separate seasons, the girls have formed a close friendship

Wow! Francesa - arguably the most trendy Love Island contestant of all time - looked incredibly chic in a bang on-trend palm print two-piece

Every inch! The sexy look left little to the imagination and highlighted all Francesca's best bits

Making a splash: Georgia proved herself to be every inch the pin-up in her sexy two-piece

Say what!? After concerns over the certainty of their raucous summers, the Love Island ladies breathed a sigh of relief when they landed in Ibiza earlier this week

She wore her honey-hued tresses in a low bun and took advantage of the sea to help cool off in the blistering sunshine.

Birthday girl Elma mirrored Georgia in a coral coloured ensemble as she threw herself into some yoga sessions alongside Francesca.

Ahead of the trip, Francesca revealed she had 'blocked' Elma, who she starred with in the fifth season of Love Island last year, from her Instagram stories for a surprise.

Larking around: Birthday girl Elma mirrored Georgia in a coral coloured ensemble as she threw herself into some yoga sessions alongside Francesca

Surprise! Ahead of the trip, Francesca revealed she had 'blocked' Elma, who she starred with in the fifth season of Love Island last year, from her Instagram stories for a surprise

Keen on green! Shunning a traditional beach bag, Francesca paired her look with an envy-inducing black Chanel handbag

Francesca told how she nearly 'missed' her flight after her suitcase weighed in 3kg over the limit. Speaking on her platform, she said: 'Although, obviously, I only booked my case on for 20kg and I was 23 for five days.'

Elsewhere, Georgia's trip came after she broke her silence on the breakdown of her relationship with Callum Izzard. In a recent interview on FUBAR Radio, she revealed she's in no rush to jump into a new relationship.

The former barmaid said: 'Im a good believer in everything happens for a reason and Im just rolling with it to be fair.'

Wow! Georgia was showcasing every inch of her stunning figure in the chic look

Orange you pleased to see me? Georgia's trip came after she broke her silence on the breakdown of her relationship with Callum Izzard

Bouncing around: It was clear to see the girls were having the time of their lives

Hot stuff: . In a recent interview on FUBAR Radio, she revealed she's in no rush to jump into a new relationship

Callum and Georgia's whirlwind romance began in August 2019 when they met during the filming of Ex on the Beach: Peak Of Love, with the couple becoming engaged just a month later.

But despite her fast-paced courtship, the TV star admitted she's in no hurry to dive headfirst into a new romance.

When asked if she's had many guys sliding into her DMs, she explained: 'I just want some time now to just focus on myself and Im not really wanting to rush into anything. Im just wanting to take every day as it comes!'

All white? She wrapped up in a stylish white kimono as she stole a moment away from the sun

Careful! Francesca told how she nearly 'missed' her flight after her suitcase weighed in 3kg over the limit. Speaking on her platform, she said: 'Although, obviously, I only booked my case on for 20kg and I was 23 for five days'

A vision: Georgia's sunkissed figure was sure to turn heads in her pretty two-piece
Filming for the police drama's hotly anticipated sixth series was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And Line Of Duty stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar donned face masks as they caught up with creator Jed Mercurio on a Zoom call on Monday.

Vicky, 37, who plays DI Kate Fleming, opted for a black face mask as she gave the thumbs up to the camera, while Steve Arnott actor Martin, 36, wore a multicoloured version as he chatted from his Las Vegas home.

Mother of God: Line Of Duty stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar donned face masks as they caught up with creator Jed Mercurio on a Zoom call on Wednesday

Adrian, 61, who plays Superintendent Ted Hastings, donned a blue spotted face mask, while Jed, 53, wore a black mask as he spoke with the actors.

Delighting fans with a dash of humour, Martin wrote: 'Lovely line of duty zoom catch up with @jed_mercurio @Vicky_McClure and #Adriandunbar.

'Bottom two video squares had Adrian at a desk in a shirt and blazer on one side, Vicky lying on her couch in a dressing gown in the other. Says it all really.'

Jed also made a classic show in-joke, as he urged others to wear face masks and protect the vulnerable and NHS amid the crisis.

He wrote: 'If AC-12 caught someone wearing a mask, chances are they'd be part of an Organised Crime Group.

AC-12: Vicky, 37, who plays DI Kate Fleming, opted for a black face mask as she gave the thumbs up to the camera, while Steve Arnott actor Martin, 36, wore a multicoloured version as he chatted from his Las Vegas home

Listen, fella: Adrian, 61, who plays Superintendent Ted Hastings, donned a blue spotted face mask

'Now OCG stands for #ObserveCoViDGuidelines. #LineofDuty says #WearAMask to prevent people around you catching the Coronavirus, helping to shield the vulnerable and protect the NHS.'

Last month Line Of Duty creator and writer Jed teased further news about the sixth series of the show, which was grounded to a halt mid-production due to COVID-19.

Speaking to A Stab In The Dark podcast, the show boss explained that they were four weeks into filming and that the months of delays has pushed the air date back from the intended 2020 to next year.

'We shot for four weeks before we were forced to reach the conclusion that it wasnt safe to carry on. We shut down nine days before the government lockdown,' he explained. 'Were having talks currently with the BBC and the production company to determine when we might be able to resume.

Icon: Jed, 53, wore a black mask as he spoke with the actors ahead of series six

Lol: Martin couldn't resist poking fun at Vicky as he tweeted his thoughts on the Zoom call

PPE essential: Jed urged others to wear a face mask and protect the vulnerable and the NHS

'There are a number of issues still to be resolved on an industry-wide basis, things like insurance and finance and social distancing guidelines that specifically apply to filming.

'So, there are people working on those, some involve the unions, some involve the producers bodies, some involve the broadcasters, some involve the department of culture, media and sport.

'Eventually, there will be a set of guidelines that apply to so-called high end TV. We are hoping that we can get the series shot before the end of this calendar year, if all those measures are reached which allow us to film in the way that we need to be able to do.'

The showrunner spoke about his worries about the global pandemic, and what returning to production too early could do with regards to the virus.

We're sucking diesel now! Last month Line Of Duty creator and writer Jed teased further news about the sixth series of the show, which was grounded to a halt mid-production due to COVID-19

'The thing thats out of our control is whats happening with coronavirus in the community,' Jed explained. 'If the disease is still rampant, theres absolutely no way that we have the money or resources to quarantine hundreds of people for the duration of the shoot.

'So, there is the risk that we import the virus through natural contact between crew members going back into their households at the end of the day or any contact with extras who are on set for a day, or supporting artists who are in for a few days.

'Its really hard to know and like any industry, were kind of hostages to fortune.'

Last month, star of the show Martin Compston shared some throwback snaps, as he revealed they should have completed shooting season six by now.

Earlier this month, Vicky said that she has still had 'no word' on when season six of Line Of Duty will be able to resume filming.

Speaking via FaceTime on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X, she said the cast had begun work on the forthcoming season of the police drama prior to the UK's lockdown during the coronavirus crisis.

Of how far along they were in their shooting schedule, Vicky said: 'We were about four weeks of a sixteen week shoot and you know when youre just getting into the groove and youre like "yeah", and then, that was it.'

Chris then asked her when filming may resume, and she went on: 'There is no word, I dont know.

'You know, Im hearing lots about certain productions - obviously the soaps are being quite vocal about theyre going back I think next week  so you know, theres movement.

'But the thing is Jed Mercurio  who writes, produces and is our showrunner - he was a doctor before he was a writer, so hes not going to cut any corners, do you know what I mean?

'Were going to make sure that when we go back, its safe to do so, so when that day is, I dont know.'
Catherine Zeta-Jones spoke to Lorraines Ross King about lockdown life, her marriage blueprint with Michael Douglas and their new puppy on Wednesday.

Catherine, 50, said: 'Ive been watching as the world goes through this and sending all my best vibes out to everybody.

'What we did do, we abided by the rules. My kids were all back, all of a sudden my kids friends were back. Its hard for us to go, "No, lets not sneak off and have a party with your friends"'

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Life in lockdown: Catherine Zeta Jones, 50, told GMB on Wednesday she's more annoying than husband Michael Douglas, 75, and revealed they've got a new puppy

Happy times: Later this year Catherine and Michael will celebrate their 20 year anniversary. She laughed: 'They said it would never last! (throwback image)

Asked who is more annoying in lockdown, her or her husband Michael Douglas, 75, she said: 'Ive got to be really careful. Im going to say me.

'Were very lucky and we had a new puppy. He always takes the focus off anything thats going a little awry. We go, "Oh, puppy!"'

Talking about her future acting plans, Catherine said: 'Ive had such a fantastic career on stage and on film my husband is 25 years older than me, hes having great success on his Netflix show.

'Im really looking forward to finding the right thing. I feel very blessed that I can wait that out, to find the right thing.'

She added: 'What I found out about myself [in lockdown] is how crucial a structure is in my life. I was watching all these actresses and people in the media who seem to be able to do everything in quarantine, theyre baking and making bread and sourdough

She said of children Dylan, 19, and Carys, 17: 'All of a sudden my kids friends were back. Its hard for us to go, "No, lets not sneak off and have a party with your friends"'

'I did make an English Tea. I made the scones, I had some resemblance of clotted cream, it kind of tasted like it!'

While on the show, Catherine spoke about the Black Lives Matter movement.

She said: 'The analogy being that this is such a humbling time for the world. Whatever nationality you are, whatever colour you are, whatever sex you are, its a very humbling time.

'And if there were a time where its come to this big crescendo, its now. I hope that there is a transition into a much more peaceful, loving, accepting world.'

Later this year Catherine and Michael will celebrate their 20 year anniversary. She laughed: 'They said it would never last!

Details: Catherine told Ross King about life at home: 'I did make an English Tea. I made the scones, I had some resemblance of clotted cream, it kind of tasted like it!'

Familiar faces: Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan have also been co-hosting GMB

'I have a great blueprint of marriage both with my own parents and Michaels father and stepmother and what a good marriage means and how precious that is and how you work at it and sustain it and appreciate it. So yeah, 20 years.'

On the loss of Michaels dad Kirk Douglas in February, aged 103, Catherine said: 'Michael and the family were inundated with such amazing wishes.

'He was a man of such strength and a life that was so amazing. For me as a daughter-in-law to be so loved by him and a wonderful relationship with him hes one of those men... hes everything you expect a movie star to be.'

Catherine added: 'Thats whats been tough for me in lockdown, being away from mum and dad, thank God we have the ability to see each other [on video calls].'

Watch Good Morning Britain with Lorraine Kelly weekdays from 9am on ITV
She made her long-awaited return to the set last month after filming resumed following lockdown.

But EastEnders star Jessie Wallace cut a casual figure as she headed out in an olive green tracksuit on Wednesday.

The actress, 48, who is known for playing Kat Slater on the BBC soap, returned to filming last month after being suspended in January for reportedly 'turning up drunk on set.'

Low-key: EastEnders star Jessie Wallace, 48, cut a casual figure as she headed out in an olive green tracksuit on Wednesday

Jessie teamed the low-key green hoodie with matching bottoms as she jumped into her car with a shopping back in hand.

The soap star wore barely a scrap of makeup with her dark bobbed hair swept away from her face as she carried her purchases into the vehicle.

Jessie's return to EastEnders is expected to air later this summer, after filming finally resumed last month.

Relaxed: The actress teamed the low-key green hoodie with matching bottoms as she jumped into her car with a shopping back in hand

Her return to Walford comes months after she was suspended for reportedly appearing drunk on set during filming, however she has now confirmed her return when she was spotted arriving on set.

The actress, who has played fiery Kat on and off for nearly two decades, was temporarily written out of storylines after her behaviour was 'called into question'.

It was claimed that the soap star was hauled into a crisis meeting with show bosses who were said to have suspended her for two months, ordering her to 'sort herself out' before returning.

Back again: Jessie is known for playing the iconic EastEnders character Kat Slater, but has recently been absent from screens after being suspended in January

Errands: Jessie teamed the low-key green hoodie with matching bottoms as she jumped into her car with a shopping back in hand

A source told The Mirror: 'Bosses were left with no choice but to discipline her. During the meeting she was told to sort herself out before returning to work.'

They added that series chiefs were relieved that Jessie had already filmed her scenes on the River Thames for the soap's 35th Anniversary Special which subsequently aired on February 19.

The source continued: 'Thankfully all of the episodes she appears in on the boat along the Thames have been shot, so her suspension didn't cause any chaos to the soap's big birthday week.'

EastEnders declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline at the time. MailOnline contacted Jessie Wallace's representatives for comment at the time.

Out and about: The soap star wore barely a scrap of makeup with her dark bobbed hair swept away from her face as she carried her purchases into the vehicle

Filming of the beloved TV soap opera resumed on Monday and it is unclear when new episodes will air.

On Monday, show stalwarts including Danny Dyer 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.

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 is keeping 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.

The programme is set to return to the BBC with 20-minute episodes, four days a week.
Last month, she underwent painful laser removal to rid herself of some of tattoo collection.

And Kelly Osbourne made a return to the tattoo parlour on Tuesday as she displayed her new hand tattoos on Instagram.

The social media sensation, 35, added to her extensive body art collection with the words 'Without' and 'You' inked on her hands, joining a heart on her left pinky finger.

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Inked: Kelly Osbourne made a return to the tattoo parlour on Tuesday as she displayed her new hand tattoos on Instagram

The new tattoos appeared slightly inflamed as Kelly posed up in the snap shared to her Story.

The daughter of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne wore a face mask for her trip, and also donned a black leather jacket.

She accessorised with several gold chains as she posed.

In June, the star shared a video to social media of her wincing as she endured laser removal on tattoos on both arms.

Tatted: The social media sensation, 35, added to her extensive body art collection with the words 'Without' and 'You' inked on her hands, joining a heart on her left pinky finger

Painful:In June, the star shared a video to social media of her wincing as she endured laser removal on tattoos on both arms

Here we go: She was heard exclaiming 'oh my god' as the laser removal began on what appeared to be the four-leaf clover on her wrist

She was heard exclaiming 'oh my god' as the laser removal began on what appeared to be the four-leaf clover on her wrist.

The laser then switched to her other arm and aimed at her famous keyboard tattoo.

Kelly is the daughter of Black Sabbath rocker Ozzy Osbourne, 71, and television personality Sharon Osbourne, 67.

For Father's Day last month, Kelly honored her 'Prince of Darkness' father with a vintage photo of the pair.

'I know everyone thinks their dad is the best dad in the world,' she wrote in the caption.

'The only difference is mine really is. Dad you truly are my best friend and I love you more then anything in the world.'

And more recently, on Saturday, Kelly's parents celebrated a huge milestone of their own: their 38th wedding anniversary.

Below a throwback video of the couple's landmark moments posted to her Instagram, Sharon wrote in the caption:

'40 years together, 38 years of marriage, why did it go so quickly? Wasnt it yesterday our kids were babies, we were young and thought we knew everything. Your love makes me feel safe and brave, you are a part of me, youre in my soul forever my darling. Always, your Sharon '
She's been enjoying some downtime with her boyfriend Jamie Laing ever since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the premature end of the recent Made In Chelsea series.

And Sophie Habboo tapped into full relaxation mode as she holidayed in Spain with her partner on Tuesday.

In a sizzling snap shared to Instagram, the reality star, 26, turned heads in a white bikini by Gi swim before uploading clips of her pals on a boat.

Wow-factor! Made In Chelsea's Sophie Habboo turned heads in a white bikini by Gi swim as she holidayed in Spain with her boyfriend Jamie Laing on Tuesday

The media personality teamed her tiny two-piece with a sheer blue shirt as she posed up a storm in the holiday hotspot.

Rounding things off with a pair of shades, Sophie wore her blonde tresses in a loosely-straight fashion.

The Newcastle University alum beamed with delight as she and her shirtless beau, 31, caught up with their friends.

In typical Jamie fashion, the Candy Kittens founder put on a wacky display as he struggled to maintain his balance on a water donut ride.

In their element: The reality star, 26, later uploaded clips of the Candy Kittens founder and their friends on a boat

Having fun: The Newcastle alum beamed with delight as she and her shirtless beau, 31, caught up with their pals

Watch him go! In typical Jamie fashion, the entrepreneur put on a wacky display as he struggled to maintain his balance on a water donut ride

Radiant: The Newcastle University alum stunned in circular-framed shades for a snap taken by her beau

Their holiday fun comes after Jamie revealed that they almost parted ways after an argument over Tupperware, while isolating together amid the coronavirus lockdown.

Speaking on FUBAR Radio's Access All Areas recently, she said: 'My girlfriend and I nearly broke up about 400 times. We nearly broke up over Tupperware. Over Tupperware!

'Stop putting stuff in Tupperware! Eat it. Stop putting it in Tupperware! What are you doing? No, I hate Tupperware! Get it away from me!'

The Tupperware was far from the only thing that caused the pair to almost come to blows during lockdown.

Recalling another squabble, the TV star said: 'Why is there brown marks on the towel? She's told me it's definitely fake tan and I'm like, "well why is it on the towel?" Why is it on the towel?'

'"I don't know. It comes out in the wash." No it doesn't. it doesn't come out in the wash!'

When asked if the solution was just to not speak, Jamie noted: 'Trying not speaking or breaking up. I don't know which one. I think breaking up is harder!'
With Melbourne returning to lockdown at midnight on Wednesday, Melissa Leong is doing her bit to try and stave off the coronavirus.

In a post on Instagram Stories, the 38-year-old MasterChef judge shared a photo of herself wearing a floral face mask over her nose and mouth.

'Stay safe, Melbourne,' she captioned the photo, flashing a peace sign at the camera.

Covered up: With Melbourne returning to lockdown at midnight on Wednesday, Melissa Leong (pictured) is doing her bit to try and stave off the coronavirus

The stylish star also wore a camel-coloured coat, which she teamed with a black baker boy cap.

And on the back of Melbourne's recent spike in coronavirus cases, the food critic urged hospitality workers in other cities to do the right thing.

In a separate post on Instagram Stories on Wednesday, Melissa shared: 'Dear hospitality owners of Sydney. You can see that this s**t isn't over.

Word of warning: In a separate post on Instagram Stories on Wednesday, Melissa shared: 'Dear hospitality owners of Sydney. You can see that this s**t isn't over'

'Even if you've been lax on social distancing, now is the time to enforce it. Let's not go down in flames please.'

On Tuesday, Melissa confessed she was feeling nervous about being forced back into lockdown.

'Here in Victoria, we're back to stage 3 restrictions for 6 weeks,' she wrote on Instagram.

Stressful: On Tuesday, Melissa confessed she was feeling nervous about being forced back into lockdown

'It is safe to say as a community, [we] are all feeling more than a bit on edge at the uncertainty of what this means for ourselves, our jobs, our families and our businesses.' 

Despite the uncertainty of the situation, she urged her followers to 'try and remain calm'. 

'I'm no spokesperson for anyone other than myself, but if I could share anything with you right now, it's this: Try and remain calm,' she continued.

Offering advice: Despite the uncertainty of the situation, she urged her followers to 'try and remain calm'. Pictured on MasterChef with fellow judges Jock Zonfrillo (far left) and Andy Allen (centre)

'Stick to the rules in place, now that we're back in a more structured setting. Remember kindness and generosity to others when you're out in the wild and please keep those mitts clean.' 

On Wednesday, Melbourne recorded another 134 cases of coronavirus as the city prepared to go into a six-week lockdown.

Meanwhile, the borders between New South Wales and Victoria were closed at midnight on Tuesday in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
Sam Frost looked right at home while filming scenes for Home and Away at Palm Beach in Sydney.

The 31-year-old former Bachelorette stunned in a summery denim ensemble, despite the winter chill on Monday.

The blonde beauty paired a dark wash denim jacket with bleached, distressed mum jeans, adding a feminine touch with a floral ruched camisole.

Back at it! Home and Away actress Sam Frost (pictured) stunned in a youthful denim ensemble as she filmed at Palm Beach

She later added a pair of dark sunglasses and a woven bag, seemingly between takes.

Sam, who plays nurse Jasmine Delaney on the long-running drama, chatted away to Summer Bay newcomer Annabelle Stephenson.

The former H2O: Just Add Water actress cut a sporty figure in a magenta zip-up hoodie, black striped leggings and Adidas sneakers.

Relaxed: Sam looked right at home while filming scenes for Home and Away at Palm Beach in Sydney

Not cold? The 31-year-old former Bachelorette stunned in a summery denim ensemble, despite the winter chill on Monday

Her light brown locks were pulled into a stylish high ponytail, appearing as though she was headed to the gym while carting around a large bag on her shoulder.

Sam appeared to be in good spirits after a three month production break, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Last month, Sam shared a photo of herself in character as Jasmine, which appeared to be dated 2018.

Stylish: The blonde beauty paired a dark wash denim jacket with bleached, distressed mum jeans

Put together: Sam added a feminine touch with a floral ruched camisole

She wrote in the caption: 'I'm finally back at work tomorrow.'

'I'm actually not sure if I'll remember how to be a normal human being,' she added, referring to her extended time away from the show.

The actress mused: 'It'll be like when I'm cruising along in my car, and spotting a police driving behind me.

Having fun? Sam appeared to be in good spirits after a three month production break, due to COVID-19 restrictions

Scene partner: Sam, who plays nurse Jasmine Delaney on the long-running soap, chatted away to Summer Bay newcomer Annabelle Stephenson

'I immediately forget how to behave like a normal human, and start panicking about whether or not I paid that speeding fine in 2014.

'Then when I finally turn off, I'm like "phew, that was close" even though I wasn't doing anything wrong,' she concluded.

Sam's excited return to Summer Bay comes as the show resumed filming on May 25, after it was forced to shut down over coronavirus fears.

Bye! Sam later added a pair of dark sunglasses and a woven bag, seemingly between takes

It now has strict measures in place to ensure the safety of their cast and crew.

This includes temperature checks, regular cleaning schedules and social distancing.

A Channel Seven spokesperson revealed: 'A range of measures will be in place to minimise risk for the cast and crew, to be overseen by dedicated safety officers.
Will Smith has been racially abused by police 'on more than 10 occasions'.

The 51-year-old Bad Boys actor admitted he got stopped 'frequently' by officers in Philadelphia, who used derogatory language towards him because of his skin colour.

'I grew up in Philadelphia. I grew up under Mayor Rizzo. He went from the chief of police to becoming the mayor, and he had an iron hand,' the action star said during the podcast On One With Angela Rye. 'I've been called n***** by the cops in Philly on more than 10 occasions.'

Challenging: Will Smith has been racially abused by police 'on more than 10 occasions'. The Bad Boys actor admitted he got stopped 'frequently' by officers in Philadelphia, who used derogatory language towards him because of his skin colour

His story: 'I grew up in Philadelphia. I grew up under Mayor Rizzo. He went from the chief of police to becoming the mayor, and he had an iron hand,' the action star said during the podcast On One With Angela Rye

Smith added, 'I got stopped frequently. So I understand what it's like to be in those circumstances with the police.'

The 51-year-old star thinks the global Black Lives Matter protests are unprecedented and he's pleased so many people have pledged their support to ending racism.

He said: 'We are in a circumstance that we've never been in before. The entire globe has stood up and said to the African American people, "We see you and we hear you. How can we help?" We've never been there before.'

While Will can understand the anger many people feel about racism, he warned about the dangers of being 'consumed' by rage.

Tough upbringing: 'I've been called n***** by the cops in Philly on more than 10 occasions,' added the former rapper

Young Will: Here the actor is seen in his yearbook photo from Overbrook High School

He said: 'Rage is justified under oppression. But it also can be really dangerous.

'You got to be careful not to be consumed by your own rage, and that's something that I've worked really hard on.'

Instead, the Men In Black star thinks peaceful protests are the most powerful demonstration against oppression.

He said: 'Peaceful protests put a mirror to the demonic imagery of your oppressor. And the more still you are in your peaceful protest, the more clear the mirror is for your oppressor -- for the world to see and for them to see themselves.

'I was really encouraged by how powerfully this generation was able to hold that mirror, and then the response of the world seeing and responding. I was deeply encouraged by the innate connectivity of the protesters, globally.'

However, while Will doesn't think racism and prejudice will ever be completely eradicated, he hopes the next generation will use their votes and lead with love as they strive to make changes.

Early fame: In his 20s he became famous as part of the rap duo DJ Jazzy Jeff (aka Jeff Townes) And The Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith); seen in 1989 in New York City

Changing times: The 51-year-old star thinks the global Black Lives Matter protests are unprecedented and he's pleased so many people have pledged their support to ending racism. He said: 'We are in a circumstance that we've never been in before. The entire globe has stood up and said to the African American people, "We see you and we hear you. How can we help?" We've never been there before.' Seen with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith in May 2019

He said: 'Don't succumb to lovelessness no matter how much evil you face, because [then] you poison yourself and you poison your own community.

'I am pledging my unending devotion to the evolution of my community and the evolution of my country, and ultimately the world, towards the greatest harmony that we'll be able to create.

'I am happy to be alive during this time, and to serve.'
She welcomed son Bodhi - which means enlightenment in Sanskrit - in November last year at home in the Dominican Republic.

And Petra Necova showcased her incredible bikini body as she took to Instagram on Wednesday.

The Czech supermodel, 40, slipped into a plunging red two-piece as she soaked up the sun on the beach with her son, seven months.

Sweet: Model Petra Nemcova slipped into a plunging red two-piece as she soaked up the sun on the beach with her son, seven months, on Tuesday

The triangle two-piece highlighted Petra's ample cleavage and svelte waist.

Petra beamed for the camera as she held little Bodhi up in the sand.

She captioned the shot: 'Bodhis first summer.  Hes so excited to finally connect with the grounding sand and the cleansing sea. Nature has the power to heal'.

Happy baby: She captioned the shot: 'Bodhis first summer.  Hes so excited to finally connect with the grounding sand and the cleansing sea. Nature has the power to heal'

Back in February Petra spoke about her labour story with Hello! magazine.

Bodhi, who she shares with her entrepreneur husband Benjamin Larretche, was born six weeks premature and delivered by emergency C-section.

'We had always planned for our baby's arrival to be as natural as possible without drugs, and we ended up relying on modern medicine to save our baby and we could not be more grateful,' she said.

'We had been hoping for everything natural and we had a completely different deck of cards to deal with.

Exciting: Petra announced that she was expecting in August via Instagram, with the announcement following a whirlwind romance with her husband Benjamin Larretche

'They brought him to me so I could see his little cute face and smell him and give him my love but I could not do skin-to-skin as they had to take care of him being so premature.'

Petra announced that she was expecting in August via Instagram, with the announcement following a whirlwind romance for the model and her French-Venezuelan entrepreneur husband.

The following month, they celebrated their son's impending arrival with an eco-friendly baby shower.

'My husband and I share the same purpose of creating a more conscious and sustainable world for future generations, so we, of course, wanted to create a conscious baby shower for our little one,' she told People at the time.
'People are afraid to leave the house': Chicago pastor decries city's gun violence

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A Chicago pastor is decrying the violence in the Midwestern city following the shooting death of a 7-year-old girl and the deaths of 14 others who were killed over the holiday weekend.

Corey Brooks, who founded New Beginnings Church on South King Drive in Chicago, said in a Monday Fox & Friends interview that the violence has to be stopped and something must be done immediately as dozens of people are being shot at every weekend in Chicago.

We cannot continue to go down this road, said Brooks, who also serves as the executive director of Project HOOD (Helping Others Obtain Destiny), a nonprofit that seeks to end violence and build communities.

Brooks explained in the interview that the city is beset by many young men who are illegal gun owners.

Not only are they illegal gun owners, but they are shooting at each other, he continued. Theyre causing havoc in our community and they are causing a lot of destruction. And, unfortunately, as a result of their destruction, children are being shot. Innocent bystanders are being shot.

Seventy-nine people were shot and 15 were killed over the July 4th weekend in the Windy City, according to Chicago Sun-Times Sunday.

Among the 15 killed is 7-year-old Natalia Wallace, who succumbed to her injuries after she was reportedly shot while playing outside her grandmothers home in the South Austin neighborhood on Saturday.

A suspect, 33-year-old Reginald Merrill, was charged late Monday with the one count of first-degree murder and one count of felony aggravated battery involving the discharge of a firearm, according to CBS Chicago.

It hurts me that my youngest daughter is no longer here, that I would not be able to talk to her, hold her, tell her anything, bedtime stories, anything, Nathan Wallace, Natalias father, said during a news conference on Sunday.

Wallace is one of 11 minors who were shot over the weekend in Chicago and one of two who were killed.

Vernado Jones Jr., 14, died on Saturday night after he was among eight people shot in Englewood on Chicagos South Side. In addition to Vernado, three others were killed in the South Side shooting and two other minors were shot but are not in life-threatening conditions, The Sun-Times reports.

Since June 20, at least 10 children under the age of 18 have died as a result of gun violence in Chicago, according to Chicago Sun-Times records.

Brooks started Project HOOD after sleeping on the roof of an abandoned motel for 94 days in order to draw attention to gun violence on the south side of Chicago, the organization's website explains.

People are afraid to leave the house, Brooks told Fox News of the current atmosphere in the third-most-populous U.S. city.

The holiday weekend deaths are being added to an already violent year in Chicago.

According to the local ABC affiliate, 329 people have been killed in the Midwestern city in the first six months of 2020, an approximately 34% uptick from the 246 homicides committed during the first six months of 2019.

I think sometimes we have to get beyond our pride of feeling inadequate and just come to an understanding that [we have to do] whatever it takes to save the lives of individuals in our city, Brooks told Fox News when asked what he thought of President Donald Trump's tweet saying the federal authorities could intervene to lessen crime if asked.

So if bringing in the feds, bringing in the military or whoever to help us to make sure that we can get rid of this violence, Im all for it, whatever it takes.

The pastor believes some families will move out of Chicago because the risk of their children being killed in the streets is too great.

Its just too much to deal with, he said.
Tyler Perry will pay for the funeral of an eight-year-old girl who was fatally shot at the weekend.

The 50-year-old actor, writer, and director has been left 'outraged' by the death of Secoriea Turner, who was fatally hit by gunfire in Atlanta on Saturday and has vowed to continue to help those in need.

Tyler previously paid for the medical expenses of Georgia policeman Matt Cooper after he was shot in the head in September 2018 and for the funeral of Rayshard Brooks, who was shot by cops in Atlanta three weeks ago, not far from where Secoriea later died.

Tyler Perry (seen here in 2019) will pay for the funeral of an eight-year-old girl who was fatally shot at the weekend

He told People magazine: 'Who said that outrage has to choose a side?

'When so many Black people like George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks were killed I was outraged and did what I could to help their families. When a white police officer was shot in the head trying to stop a shoplifter in a suburb outside of Atlanta I was outraged and I did what I could to help him and his family.

'And when we are killing each other, including our innocent children, I am outraged.

'It doesn't matter what color wrong comes in, wrong is wrong.

The 50-year-old actor, writer, and director has been left 'outraged' by the death of Secoriea Turner (pictured), who was fatally hit by gunfire in Atlanta on Saturday

'I'm outraged today because I'd rather be paying for 8-year-old Secoriea Turner's college than her funeral,' continued the Gone Girl star. 'When does this end?'

Secoriea was in her mother's car when shots were fired into the vehicle as the family exited a local highway and tried turning around in a parking lot, only for their exit to be blocked by a 'group of armed individuals'.

Tyler's donation comes after he offered to pay for the funeral of 27-year-old Rayshard, who was shot by police at a Wendy's parking lot and passed away as a result of his injuries after undergoing surgery.

Tyler's donation comes after he offered to pay for the funeral of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks (pictured in 2020), who was shot by police at a Wendy's parking lot

The Madea Family Funeral star also pledged to put money into college funds for each of Rayshard's four children - Mekai, 13, Blessing, eight, Memory, two, and Dream, one.

Police had received a complaint that a man, later identified as Rayshard, was asleep in his car whilst parked in the Wendy's drive-thru, and after he resisted arrest, the police officer deployed a Taser and a struggle ensued, resulting in Rayshard being shot.

Following Rayshard's death, the officer who shot him, Garrett Rolfe, was fired, whilst another officer involved in the incident, Devin Brosnan, was placed on administrative duty, and Atlanta police chief Erika Shields resigned.
The Project's Carrie Bickmore has raised millions for vital brain cancer research over the years through her foundation, Beanies 4 Brain Cancer.

Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer was launched in 2015, after she dedicated her Gold Logie to her first husband Greg Lange, who died of brain cancer in 2010.

On Wednesday, Australian media personalities - including Lisa Wilkinson, Sam Armytage and Amanda Keller - came together on Instagram to support the foundation, ahead of their new beanie line launch on July 14.

Good cause: Australian media personalities support Carrie Bickmore's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer

Lisa, 60, posed with her dog Maggie, who sniffed the pastel pink knitted beanie, while sharing her heartfelt congratulations to her 'beautiful buddy' Carrie.

'Carrie has done so much in this area to raise funds over the last five years ($12M to date), and this is where we all get the chance to do our bit,' Lisa said in her lengthy post.

Amanda, 58, covered her short locks with the warm winter hat, telling fans: 'My mate Carrie is an absolute legend.

'This is where we all get the chance to do our bit': Lisa Wilkinson posed with her dog Maggie, who sniffed the pastel pink knitted beanie, while sharing her heartfelt congratulations to her 'beautiful buddy' Carrie

'We can all share her warm head and big heart with her new beanies! All proceeds go to brain cancer research.'

Studio 10 co-host Angela Bishop, 52, told her followers the beanie was 'perfect for bushwalking' and 'perfect for saving lives'.

'It's a double duty beanie,' Angela wrote, posing in her hat after a hike.

'We can all share her warm head and big heart with her new beanies': Amanda Keller covered her short locks with the warm winter hat

Radio presenter Fifi Box, 43, was part of a matching trio alongside her two daughters Trixie Belle and Daisy Belle, all donning the stylish beanie.

'It's time to put an end to brain cancer! These gorgeous beanies are on sale July 14 online. So proud of @BickmoreCarrie never giving up,' she said.

Fifi also shared an adorable video as she playing peekaboo with the beanie, alongside her her one-year-old daughter Daisy.

'It's a double duty beanie!' Studio 10 co-host Angela Bishop told her followers the beanie was 'perfect for bushwalking' and 'perfect for saving lives'.

Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage, 43, also shared a picture of herself donning the beanie on her Instagram stories.

The foundation is special to Carrie, after her first husband, Greg Lange died of brain cancer in 2010.

In June last year, the 39-year-old told The Australian Women's Weekly that she still feels Greg's presence every day.

Cute! Radio presenter Fifi Box was part of a matching trio alongside her two daughters Trixie Belle and Daisy Belle, all donning the stylish beanie

Support: Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage also shared a picture of herself donning the beanie on her Instagram stories

'Anyone who has ever lost someone will tell you that they may not physically be there but they'll stay in your life forever,' she explained.

'And Ollie [their son Oliver] is so like him in so many ways. I often think, "God, I wish Greg was here so I could ask him how the hell to parent. Surely he'd have some insight".'

Talking to Anh Do on his ABC series Anh's Brush With Fame in 2018, Carrie revealed Greg's diagnosis in 2001 shattered her world.

'It was about a year after we moved to Melbourne. I think I was still 21 or 22 and he was about 25. He had a seizure at home and one thing led to another and they diagnosed him with a brain tumour,' she tearfully explained.

Heartbreaking: The foundation is special to Carrie, whose first husband, Greg Lange (pictured), died of brain cancer in 2010. In June last year, Carrie told The Australian Women's Weekly that she still feels Greg's presence every day

'It was just... in your twenties that is just the last thing that you can ever - I didn't even really know anyone that had cancer, I didn't know anything about brain cancer, neither did he.

'It completely threw everything we knew, everything we had planned, everything we thought... it just threw everything on its head.'

Not knowing what the future would hold for them, the couple had their first child together, Oliver, now 12, in 2005 - with Carrie admitting it was 'probably the greatest thing we ever did together'.

Carrie also shares two children, Evie and Adelaide, with her partner Chris Walker.
She's the younger sister of presenter Rochelle Humes, but has made a name for herself since featuring of Love Island's winter series in January.

And Sophie Piper was at her best on Tuesday as she uploaded a sizzling underwear snap to Instagram.

The Love Island star, 21, caught the eye as she posed with a cold drink in her hand for the image, which she captioned: 'My weekdays consist of iced coffee and hair treatments.'

'My weekdays consist of iced coffee and hair treatments': Sophie Piper was at her best on Tuesday as she uploaded a sizzling underwear snap to Instagram

Showing off her incredible figure, the media personality slipped into a cream bra and matching briefs by Longue Underwear.

The model ensured focus remained on her barely-there ensemble as she opted for minimal accessories.

Her dark locks were pulled back into a ponytail to highlight her naturally glowing complexion.

Wow-factor! The Love Island star, 21, has been uploading sizzling social media posts throughout the coronavirus pandemic

Sophie starred in the last series of ITV2 dating show Love Island earlier this year, where she fell for coffee bean salesman Connor Durman.

It was recently announced that the TV series won't be airing another winter edition in 2021.

The summer 2020 series was cancelled in May due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and a week ago bosses at the channel announced that the next series of the ITV2 dating show won't be for another year.

Rise to fame: The influencer starred in the last series of ITV2 dating show Love Island earlier this year, where she fell for coffee bean salesman Connor Durman (pictured)

'Love Island UK will return bigger and better than ever with an extended run in summer 2021,' ITV announced in a statement to MailOnline.

The axing of both the summer 2020 series and a winter series in early 2021 is in large part down to the coronavirus pandemic, with restrictions on travel and filming causing huge issues for the show.

Pre-production on the winter 2021 series was scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, but with so many quarantine and social distancing measures still in place, it's thought it wouldn't be possible to fly cast and crew to location and work safely.

Instead producers are keen to focus on one bumper season of the show next summer, which will likely return to Mallorca, after the winter 2020 series took place in South Africa.
She has escaped to the countryside with her husband for a scenic break.

And Emily Ratajkowski set pulses racing as she shared some sultry bikini-clad snaps to Instagram on Wednesday.

The newly-blonde model, 29, oozed confidence as she flashed her famous cleavage in a tiny black triangle bikini top worn beneath a sheer pastel pink cover-up.

Wow: Emily Ratajkowski set pulses racing as she shared some sultry bikini-clad snaps to Instagram on Wednesday

The scanty top displayed her perky bust and her taut midriff as she reclined on a pink sofa.

A gauzy pastel pink cover-up cinched in at the star's slender waist as she posed.

The Blurred Lines star wore her caramel hued tresses in a stylish updo with strands framing her face, while metallic shadow and nude lipstick accentuated her features.

Emily and husband Sebastian Bear-McClard have been enjoying the July 4th holiday at a vacation home in an unknown scenic countryside with their beloved dog Colombo.

Wow: The newly-blonde model, 29, oozed confidence as she flashed her famous cleavage in a tiny black triangle bikini top worn beneath a sheer pastel pink cover-up

Sizzling The scanty top displayed her perky bust and her taut midriff as she reclined on a pink sofa

The country getaway comes a couple of weeks after the Gone Girl actress and Bear-McClard, 38, returned to the Big Apple after spending a majority of their quarantine in their Los Angeles home.

They caught a flight out of JFK in April, shortly after the CDC issued an advisory, asking 'residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.'

She previously told British GQ: 'You know, [my husband and I] have been a little bit on the fence. My parents are in California, but as we know the responsible thing is to not travel right now.

'But eventually we would like to make it out there just because, well, New York is the epicenter, although my bodega is still open. I live in Tribeca and it is already very quiet.'

The couple have been married for just over two years.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's frosty relationship has allegedly begun to thaw.

The exes, who endured a shock split in 2016 and an ugly custody battle in the years since, are in a better place now in regards to co-parenting than ever, according to PEOPLE on Wednesday.

'Its taken them a long time, with a lot of family therapy, to get to this point,' said the magazine's source.

Ex appeal: Brad Pitt [R, in February 2020] and Angelina Jolie's [L, in 2019] frosty relationship has allegedly begun to thaw

Part of the reason for the therapy is to help work out how Pitt, 56, 'could be a dad again'.

Making things easier is the fact that the couple's children, Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, and Knox, 11, and daughters Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and Vivienne, 11 'are no longer dealing with separation issues from Angie,' continued the source.

And since Brad and Angelina live close to one another in Los Angeles, 'the younger kids go back and forth between their houses.'

Last last month in a DailyMail.com exclusive, Brad was photographed leaving Angelina's mansion in Los Feliz, an early sign that their equation with each other was improving.

Better all the time: The exes, who endured a shock split in 2016 and an ugly custody battle in the years since, are in a better place now in regards to co-parenting than ever, according to PEOPLE on Wednesday. Seen here with kids [L-R] Pax, Maddox, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox in 2014

Although they got together in 2005 they waited until 2014 to get married, only for Angelina to file for divorce in September 2016.

Since then they have battled legally over custody and finances, with Angelina reportedly demanding more money than Brad wanted to give.

Living arrangements also became a sticking point as Brad was allegedly preventing Angelina from moving out of the country with their children.

'I would love to live abroad and will do so as soon as my children are 18,' she told Harper's Bazaar late last year for their December/January issue. 'Right now Im having to base where their father chooses to live.'

Dark days: 'Its taken them a long time, with a lot of family therapy, to get to this point,' said the magazine's source. Seen here in 2015

Brad has confessed to having been an alcoholic before Angelina left him but he has since gotten sober, and last year a judge granted him more time with the children.

The Maleficent star gave birth to Vivienne and Knox in Nice, less than 200km from her and Brad's Chateau Miraval in the South Of France.

Angelina and Brad went to Namibia for Shiloh's birth and had the government enforce a no-fly zone over the area they were in.

An official at Namibia's Washington embassy dished at that time: 'The government has decided that it will issue visas to journalists to go to Namibia and cover Angelina and Brad if they have consent from the parties.'

Doing it for the kids: Brad has confessed to having been an alcoholic before Angelina left him but he has since gotten sober, and last year a judge granted him more time with the children. Seen here with Pax, Shiloh and Maddox in 2014

Near the start of this year's coronavirus lockdowns Angelina donated $1 million to No Kid Hungry, a organization to feed underprivileged children and their families.

She has worked extensively with the United Nations and co-wrote a Time essay published in March plugging UNESCO's new Global Education Coalition, which was started to facilitate remote education as schools closed around the world.

Angelina has jetted around the world in service of various causes and in 2012 got special envoy status from the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees.
Disney+ is going wild with their new movie, The One And Only Ivan.

The streaming service assembled an all-star voice cast to tell the story of Ivan, a gorilla who lives in captivity and longs for freedom.

Sam Rockwell voices the lead primate and is joined by Angelina Jolie as Stella the elephant as well as Danny DeVito as Bob the dog in the family-friendly animal flick.

Wild: The Disney+ movie The One And Only Ivan is a family-friendly animal story featuring the talents of Brian Cranston, Sam Rockwell, Angelina Jolie and more

Brian Cranston plays their human handler Mack, a well-meaning man who owns the cramped mall where Ivan and Stella live.

While Mack tries to take care of the animals the best he can, they dream of going back into the wild.

Eventually, the sharp Ivan finds out a way to make his voice heard as he learns how to communicate through art.

Caretaker: Brian Cranston plays their human handler Mack, a well-meaning man who owns the cramped mall where Ivan and Stella live

Animal instincts: Rockwell voices the lead primate and is joined by Jolie as Stella the elephant

Roadside attraction: While Mack tries to take care of the animals the best he can, they dream of going back into the wild

And when a traumatized baby elephant named Ruby finds her way to the mall, Ivan decides it is time to fight for change.

Based on Katharine Applegate's Newbery Medal-winning 2013 children's novel, The One And Only Ivan will feature a blend of CGI characters and live-action scenes.

The cast also features The Florida Project standout Brooklynn Prince as Ruby the elephant, Helen Mirren as a poodle named Snickers, Chaka Khan as Henrietta the chicken, Hamilton star Phillipa Soo as a Thelma the parrot and Mike White and Frankie the seal.

Speaking up: The sharp Ivan finds out a way to make his voice heard as he learns how to communicate through art

Ruff: Danny DeVito voices the hilarious Bob the dog

A blend: Based on Katharine Applegate's Newbery Medal-winning 2013 children's novel, The One And Only Ivan will feature a blend of CGI characters and live-action scenes

Human actors include Ramon Rodriguez and The Walking Dead's Eleanor Matsuura.

The One And Only Ivan was originally slated for a theatrical release, until COVID-19 caused Disney to readjust their release schedule.

The One And Only Ivan starts streaming on Disney August 14 2020.
She and husband Sebastian Bear-McClard enjoyed the July 4th holiday at a vacation home in an unknown scenic countryside.

But Emily Ratajkowski was back on home turf on Tuesday, walking her beloved pooch Colombo through the streets of New York City.

The-29-year-old showed off her scintillating figure in a slinky black dress for the stroll.

Back in the Big Apple: Emily Ratajkowski was back on home turf on Tuesday, walking her beloved pooch Colombo through the streets of New York City

The model made the most of her famous physique in the form fitting dress, beneath which she went sans bra.

She paired the statement garment with a simple pair of white sneakers.

The newly-minted blonde wore her wavy tresses loose and with her naturally dark roots poking through.

Adhering to CDC recommendations, the swimwear designer covered her face with a surgical mask.

Back to black: The-29-year-old showed off her scintillating figure in a slinky black dress for the stroll

Later, the Gone Girl actress was spotted out and about in a second outfit, this one no less flashy.

The Insta-famous model slipped into a tiny black triangle bikini top worn beneath a sheer pastel pink cover-up.

She offset the colorful top with black pants and simple white sneakers.

Ratajkowski wisely wore her face covering for this outing, too.

Good hair day: The newly-minted blonde wore her wavy tresses loose and with her naturally dark roots poking through

Switching it up! Later, the Gone Girl actress was spotted out and about in a second outfit, this one no less flashy

Pretty in pink: The Insta-famous model slipped into a tiny black triangle bikini top worn beneath a sheer pastel pink cover-up

The bombshell has just returned from a rural retreat to parts unknown.

The country getaway came a couple of weeks after the Gone Girl actress and Bear-McClard, 38, returned to the Big Apple after spending a majority of their quarantine in their Los Angeles home.

They caught a flight out of JFK in April, shortly after the CDC issued an advisory, asking 'residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.'

She previously told British GQ: 'You know, [my husband and I] have been a little bit on the fence. My parents are in California, but as we know the responsible thing is to not travel right now.

'But eventually we would like to make it out there just because, well, New York is the epicenter, although my bodega is still open. I live in Tribeca and it is already very quiet.'

The couple have been married for just over two years.

Working it: Ever the influencer, Emily made sure to show off her outfit on social media, too
Willie Nelson revealed that his late friend Kenny Rogers initially wanted him to record his Grammy-winning hit song The Gambler from 1978.

While the chart-topping track first ended up on albums by Johnny Cash and Bobby Bare, Rogers was the one to bring the song to mainstream success.

'Through the years, him and I were big pals,' the 87-year-old musician said on the Today show. 'In fact, he tried to get me to record The Gambler.'

Willie Nelson revealed that his late friend Kenny Rogers initially wanted him to record his Grammy-winning hit The Gambler (seen in 2019)

He added: 'We were somewhere, I dont know, and he was like, "Ive got this song, I think you should do it."'

At the time, Nelson recalls saying it was a 'great song,' but declined Rogers' offer because he was already performing a 'long song' called Red Headed Stranger, 'which has 100 verses in it' every night.

The conversation with Nelson prompted the beloved country crooner, who passed away in March, to record the single, himself.

Big hit: While the chart-topping track first ended up on albums by Johnny Cash and Bobby Bare, Rogers brought the song to mainstream success

The track became his signature song and earned him a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, in 1979.

Rogers even ended up starring in a television series based inspired by the hit single, as an old-west gambler.

Despite The Gambler's critical success, Nelson doesn't regret passing on the track, because 'that was Kennys song all the way.'

'Through the years, him and I were big pals,' the 87-year-old musician said on the Today show. 'In fact, he tried to get me to record The Gambler' (seen in 1996)

The country icon passed away of natural causes, at 81, at his home in Sandy Springs, in northern Fulton County, Georgia, in March.

The husky-voiced balladeer retired from touring in 2017 after a 60-year career spanning jazz, folk, country and pop, with hits like Lucille and Lady.

Kenny sold tens of millions of albums, won three Grammys and was the star of several TV movies based on The Gambler and other songs, earning him super stardom in the 70s and 80s.
Justin Timberlake has joined a growing cry for the removal of Confederate statues in the Unites States with a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old Tennessee native said on social media that the monuments 'must be taken down' and that doing so is 'a symbol of respect for Black people in America.'

Just last month, fellow popstar and Tennessean Taylor Swift, also called on lawmakers to remove the 'despicable' Confederate emblems which she said 'celebrate racist historical figures who did evil things.'

Using his platform: Justin Timberlake has joined a growing cry for the removal of Confederate statues in the Unites States with a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday

In his social media essay, Justin pointed out that Tennessee, the state where he was born and raised, is home to 'many many confederate monuments.'

'When we protest racism in America, people think we are protesting America itself,' Justin penned. 'Why is that the reaction? Because America was built by men who believed in and benefitted from racism. Plain and simple.'

'This is when you hear "But that's all in the past",' he continued. 'So let's be clear... those men who proudly owned and abused Black people are STILL celebrated all over the country.'

The popstar went on say that he found it 'unacceptable' that of the approximate 1,850 confederate monuments in the U.S. more that 50% are located in southern states. 

Speaking out: The 39-year-old Tennessee native said on social media that the monuments 'must be taken down' and that doing so is 'a symbol of respect for Black people in America'

Knowledge is power: Along with his post, Justin shared a video created by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) about the history of the emblems that featured the organizations legal director Jeffrey Robinson

'No one should be protecting the legacies of confederate leaders and slave owners,' Justin wrote. Adding that the monuments 'must come down'.

'Removing these statues does not erase our country's vile history of oppression  removing them is a symbol of respect for Black people in America and it's a step towards progress and actual equality for all,' he concluded. 

Along with his post, Justin shared a video created by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) about the history of the emblems that featured the organizations legal director Jeffrey Robinson.

'Removing these statues does not erase our country's vile history of oppression  removing them is a symbol of respect for Black people in America and it's a step towards progress and actual equality for all,' Justin said (Pictured: statue of a Confederate soldier in Georgia)

In the video, Robinson explained that the 10 states with the most confederate monuments accounted for 'over 4,000 lynchings in 73 years.'

In a recent poll by Quinnipiac poll, 52% of those polled were in favor of removing Confederate monuments from public spaces - 44% opposed.

Last month, Taylor Swift, who is also from Tennessee, called for the monuments to be removed, calling them 'despicable.'

'Im asking the Capitol Commission and the Tennessee Historical Commission to please consider the implications of how hurtful it would be to continue fighting for these monuments,' she wrote on Instagram.

Stars speaking out: Last month, fellow popstar and Tennessean Taylor Swift, also called on lawmakers to remove the 'despicable' Confederate emblems which she said 'celebrate racist historical figures who did evil things'

'When you fight to honor racists, you show black Tennesseans and all of their allies where you stand, and you continue this cycle of hurt. You cant change history, but you can change this.'

Meanwhile, country star Faith Hill implored the Mississippi legislature to vote to change that state's flag which contained a Confederate flag in its design, calling it a 'symbol of terror.'

Two days after Faith's message, the legislature passed a bill to removed the emblem from the Mississippi stat flag.
To call her the performer of the Faiers-Shepherd clan would be an understatement.

And Nelly Shepherd has one again proved to be Instagram gold as she took to her mum Billie Faiers' walk-in closet on Wednesday to dance energetically in her school uniform.

Nelly was particularly excited as it was the eve of her 6th birthday, as she bopped along to Fergie and Q. Tip banger A Little Party Never Killed Nobody.

Dancing queen! Nelly Shepherd has one again proved to be Instagram gold as she took to her mum Billie Faiers' walk-in closet on Wednesday to dance energetically in her school uniform

Bille, 30, could be heard chuckling as she filmed her eldest child and captioned the video: 'She just asked me if I could get Simon Cowell to her party so she can show him this dance!'

In a second video, Nelly hadn't let up. Billie wrote: 'Still going!'

Nelly often leaves viewers in stitches with her appearances on The Mummy Diaries.

And a week ago she stole the show once again as she hilariously dressed up as mum, donning a blue fluffy coat, huge rounded sunglasses and a pearl headband.

Into the groove! Nelly was particularly excited as it was the eve of her 6th birthday

Rhythm! She bopped along to Fergie and Q. Tip banger A Little Party Never Killed Nobody

Bille, 30, could be heard chuckling as she filmed her eldest child and captioned the video: 'She just asked me if I could get Simon Cowell to her party so she can show him this dance!'

Little Nelly's hair was swept up into a topknot for the snap and she completed her look with round gold and pearl stud earrings.

Captioning the picture, proud mum Billie commented that people always say that Nelly looked like dad Greg Shepherd, but the tot wanted to dress like her mum in the snap.

She wrote: 'This picture sums you up my beautiful, funny, kind, crazy little lady ... How are you 6 next week (Everyone always says she looks like her daddy and she does but actually in this pic I think shes mumma ... I would so Wear this outfit too ... styled by madam herself.'

Meanwhile, plenty of Billie's showbiz pals were quick to comment on the snap, with Lydia Bright commenting: 'Funniest kid' while Gemma Collins said: 'Shes an ANGEL I love you nelly.'

In a second video, Nelly hadn't let up, with Billie writing: 'Still going!'

Star of the show! Nelly often leaves viewers in stitches with her appearances on The Mummy Diaries

Fabulous: The youngster sported a blue fluffy coat, huge rounded sunglasses and a pearl headband as she dressed up as her mother last week

Nelly's aunt Sam Faiers wrote: 'Absolutely fabulous my darling' while her dad Greg Shepherd penned: 'Yeah im glad you think she looks like you in this pic faux fur is not my thing @billiefaiersofficial sweets.'

Last month, Nelly donned the same outfit to pull off a hilarious impression of Gemma Collins.

With Gemma Collins impressions having become one of TikTok's biggest trends, Billie and Nelly got in on the action as the Mummy Diaries stars filmed a hilarious video for fans.

Mummy's girl: Captioning the picture, proud mum Billie commented that people always say that Nelly looked like dad Greg Shepherd, but the tot wanted to dress like her mum in the snap

The Diva Forever star, 39, gave the video, which featured a row from her 2016 CBB stint, her seal of approval and branded the schoolgirl, five, a 'superstar'.

A host of TikTok users have taken to filming voiceovers of Gemma, while dressed up in her trademark OTT style and pulling off expressive motions.

On Celebrity Big Brother, Gemma was locked in a feud with EastEnders star John Partridge, during which she declared: You should really try and forget about me honey, to which he responded: 'and you, me...'

Big fans: Meanwhile, plenty of Billie's showbiz pals were quick to comment on the snap, with Lydia Bright commenting: 'Funniest kid' while Gemma Collins said: 'Shes an ANGEL I love you nelly'

The reality star, who shot to fame on TOWIE's second season, then hit back: I dont think about you at all. Youre obsessed with me and I love it.

Adding a caption on the video of her daughter, Billie penned: 'This girl... @gemmacollins1 ... I think we may have a new diva in town'.'

Gemma commented underneath the hilarious video: 'You are A SENSATION nelly what I would give to have you as my own child. shes a superstar'.

Meanwhile, Billie and her husband Greg recently gave an insight into their life in lockdown and described the experience as 'testing' however, said they are enjoying more time spent as a family.

Ha! Last month, Nelly donned the same outfit to pull off a hilarious impression of Gemma Collins

Teehee: The Diva Forever star, 39, gave the video, which featured a row from her 2016 CBB stint, her seal of approval and branded the schoolgirl, five, a 'superstar'

The mum-of-two, who also shares son Arthur, three, with Greg, told OK: 'Naturally, weve had our moments. Theres definitely highs and lows being all together with no space but were actually handling it really well.'

Billie shared that her younger son does not know what is going on however, Nelly was well prepared from teachers at school who explained the pandemic to her.

She told the publication that she has new questions her parents every every day.

Greg also shared: 'It is lovely. I am grateful for more time with them, but it has been testing. Its well out of routine for us. Were just constantly trying to find things for them to do.'

Honest: Last month, Billie and Greg Shepherd discussed how their family are finding life in lockdown

'Testing': The former TOWIE star and Greg described the experience as 'testing' however, said they are enjoying more time spent as a family

The couple, who married last year in the Maldives, have spent their evenings watching Netflix and binging on hit show Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.

In the day they split their childcare duties with Billie taking on the role of teacher to homeschool Nelly.

She said: 'Its actually really nice teaching your child and really seeing what theyre like while theyre learning. Obviously we do homework together, but this is totally different. Its really rewarding, and Im so proud of Nelly.'
Abortions in Indiana fell by 5% in 2019: govt report

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A recently released report by the Indiana State Department of Health found that abortions have declined by 5% in the year 2019 compared to the year before.

Released last week, the annual report found that a total of 7,637 abortions were performed in Indiana, including 7,019 for residents and 618 for women from out of state.

This represents a decline from 2018 in which around 8,000 total abortions were performed and about 7,200 procedures were done on state residents.

The report also found that the average age of a woman who had an abortion was 26.8 years, with 85.68% being unmarried and 90.04% having at least a high school diploma or GED.

Indiana Right to Life President and CEO Mike Fichter said in a statement last week that he was encouraged in knowing that 400 fewer children were aborted in Indiana last year.

Yet our hearts are still broken knowing that 7,637 children were denied the right to be born, and an untold number of women now bear the physical, emotional and spiritual burdens of those abortion decisions, he added.

Meanwhile, abortion businesses in Indiana continue to enjoy a multi million-dollar revenue stream at the expense of innocent babies. The lives of all unborn children matter. We will continue to work for the day when not a single abortion is done in our state.

NARAL Pro-Choice America has dubbed the current Indiana governor and legislature anti-choice and labeled abortion access in the state severely restricted.

Last Thursday, the United States Supreme Court issued orders vacating lower court rulings against two pro-life Indiana state laws that had previously been blocked.

The state laws required abortion clinic staff to show mothers an ultrasound image of their baby before undergoing an abortion and another required parental notification for an underage girl.

Known as Box, Kristina, et al. v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana & Kentucky, the case will be sent back to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

The Supreme Court cited its recent decision in June Medical Services L.L.C. v. Russo, which struck down a Louisiana law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at hospitals near their practice so they can assist emergency room doctors when their patient suffers an emergency.
Millie Mackintosh has posed for a refreshingly honest postpartum snap, saying she is 'in awe of what her body has achieved' since she became a mother.

The reality star, 30, gave birth to baby Sienna 10 weeks ago and proclaimed her daughter is worth 'every extra inch, pound and stretch mark' as she posed in underwear in a selfie posted to her Instagram page on Wednesday night.

The TV personality took aim at cruel social media trolls and said although she is not 'totally happy' with her body, she is doing her best to ignore 'hurtful comments' about her appearance.

Honest! on Wednesday, Millie Mackintosh, 30, took to Instagram to share a photograph of her post-pregnancy body while cradling baby Sienna, and to discuss post body confidence

In the Instagram selfie, Millie can be seen wearing just a nude pair of knickers and a white maternity bra while cradling baby Sienna in her arms.

She wrote in a lengthy caption: 'With Sienna nearing 10 weeks old nothing has given me more purpose than knowing that a small life depends entirely on me to feed and nourish her as she grows.

'I try to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle and I count myself lucky that throughout my adult life I've felt and identified as pretty body confident but now all that has changed along with every other aspect of my life, which makes me look at my body in a totally new light and it's been a big adjustment!

'Fitting into my pre pregnancy clothes seems a long way off and I have no intention of rushing into 'getting my body back' but it would be a lie if I said I feel totally happy and at one with my body post pregnancy,' admitted the reality star.

Raw: In a lengthy caption, the MIC star insisted that despite not feeling 'totally happy' with her body, her daughter is worth 'every extra inch, pound and stretch mark'

Sadly, Millie admitted that trolling on social media has been difficult to endure, but that ultimately she is astonished that he body enabled her to become a mother.

She wrote: 'The process has been made a lot harder by some overly strong and hurtful comments online about my appearance (as much as you try and ignore them).

'I'm in awe of what my body has achieved over the last year but I find it hard not seeing the girl I know to be me looking back at me in the mirror.

'I now see photos of myself pre-pregnancy and remember thinking at the time I didn't like my body at certain angle but now I look back and think I looked great!

All worth it: Sadly, Millie admitted that trolling on social media has been difficult to endure, but that ultimately she is astonished that he body enabled her to become a mother

'It's made me realise how critical I am of myself and how it's so crucial, as women, that we learn to let ourselves off the hook.

'My mantra has always been that you exercise because you love your body not because you hate it, so any movement I do now is with the intention to feel good and never to punish myself.

'Sienna is worth every extra inch, pound and stretch mark. My body made me a Mother and for that I'll always be grateful.'

At the end of last month, Millie shared an adorable snap with baby Sienna after the newborn had her first vaccinations.

Sweet: Millie Mackintosh shared an adorable snap with baby Sienna after the newborn had her first vaccinations on Monday

The MIC star revealed on social media that her daughter had her eight week jabs the day before, also known as the 6-in-1 vaccine.

The 6-in-1 vaccine is given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks old and protects against diphtheria, hepatitis B, Hib, polio, tetanus and whooping cough.

Millie looked radiant as she cradled her baby girl in the sweet snap, penning: 'Poor baba had her eight week vaccinations yesterday and needs extra cuddles'.

The new mum also shared a striking picture of herself in a fuchsia dress as she revealed she had given her patio area a mini makeover.

Glowing: The new mum also shared a striking picture of herself in a fuchsia dress as she revealed she had given her patio area a mini makeover

Last month, Millie finally unveiled the name of her baby daughter, five weeks after welcoming her first child with husband Hugo Taylor.

She introduced little Sienna Grace to the world as she cradled her adorable girl in a stunning cover shoot with Hello! magazine.

The blogger gushed she's 'on cloud nine' and praised sunglasses entrepreneur Hugo, 34, for being present during labour amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused most hospitals in the UK to allow only one birthing partner.

Revealing that the couple settled on Sienna Grace's name 'months' before the birth, Millie added of their first few weeks of parenthood: 'We've been on cloud nine; it's gone so quickly.

'We've been in our little love bubble at home, cherishing those newborn moments, whether that's her sleeping on me or just lapping up all the cuteness.'

'Time has gone so quickly. She is so adorable, even down to the little noises she makes.'

Hugo added: 'Sienna has turned our world upside down. It's like first love all over again  that wondrous feeling of excitement, joy and endless possibility for the future. I can't wait to watch her grow.'
Kanye West caused a deafening outcry on Wednesday after making inflammatory comments about Planned Parenthood, saying the organization was placed in the U.S. by 'white supremacists to do the devil's work,' as well revealing himself to be an anti-vaxxer.

Yet, his wife Kim Kardashian West - who is pro-vaccine and has publicly advocated for Planned Parenthood in the past - has remained silent on the controversy.

During his shock interview with Forbes Magazine following his announcement to run for president, Kanye, 43, slammed the organization - that provides abortion services - adding: 'I am pro-life because I'm following the word of the bible.'

Staying silent: Kim Kardashian West (above in 2019) has not yet responded to husband Kanye West's controversial comments on Planned Parenthood and being an anti-vaxxer

However, Kim, 39, has supported Planned Parenthood and been seen to be pro-vaccine in past episodes of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, actions that now stand in direct opposition to Kanye's beliefs.

Back in 2017, Kim met with Sue Dunlap, the president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles in an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, in order for her to form an opinion on the organization and its services.

'The perception of Planned Parenthood is that it is an abortion clinic; that is nothing what it is like,' enthused Kim in the episode, praising the group, while her sister Khloe stated that was pro-choice.

Kim added: 'Hearing that first hand [women's stories] really made it real for me.' She later posted about the experience on Instagram saying she stood with Planned Parenthood.

Advocate: In 2017, Kim and her sisters Khloe and Kourtney visited Planned Parenthood Los Angeles and she later endorsed the organization saying 'I stand with #PP'

'My sisters and I visited Planned Parenthood recently and learned that the House of Representatives forced through a bill that strips health care coverage from millions of people and raises health care costs, including Planned Parenthood patients,' she wrote.

Adding: 'They are such an amazing place that provides so much to so many! #istandwithpp.'

On his anti-vaccination stance, Kanye told Forbes on Tuesday: 'It's so many of our children that are being vaccinated and paralyzed So when they say the way we're going to fix COVID is with a vaccine, I'm extremely cautious.'

The rapper also claimed that he had COVID-19 in February this year and took hot showers and watched instructional videos to treat himself. He then referred to any potential COVID vaccine being a 'mark of the beast.'

But in a 2013 episode of KUWTK, Kim took her whole family to get Tdap vaccines, that are used to protect against whooping cough.

Kim was seen encouraging her sisters to get the vaccination otherwise they wouldn't be allowed her daughter North, who was a baby at the time. The episode was shown before the whooping cough epidemic in California in 2014.

Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood released a statement on Wednesday in direct response to Kanye's claims in his interview.

'Black women are free to make our own decisions about our bodies and pregnancies, and want and deserve to have access to the best medical care available,' Nia Martin-Robinson, Director of Black Leadership and Engagement, Planned Parenthood Federation of America said.

Strong beliefs: Kim and Kourtney (from the episode above in 2017) educated themselves on the important work that Planned Parenthood provides

'Any insinuation that abortion is Black genocide is offensive and infantliziling. The real threat to Black communities' safety, health, and lives stems from lack of access to quality, affordable health care, police violence and the criminalization of reproductive health care by anti-abortion opposition.'

She concluded: 'At Planned Parenthood, we trust and we stand with Black women who have, and continue to lead the charge when it comes to the health, rights, and bodily autonomy of those in their communities.'

In a 2019 profile for New York Magazine's The Cut, Kim spoke about overcoming her differences with Kanye at times in their marriage.

'It's okay to not understand each other. It's okay to not have the same exact feelings all the time,' she said.

Adding: 'It's just about figuring out how do we grow from that? Or what's the lesson from that? And giving each other space and time to figure that out.'

However, there appeared to be strong opinions on Twitter from fans following his latest interview, with one user raging: 'So Kanye, is Anti-abortion and a anti-vaxxer. I mean congrats on being the worse candidate Mr West.'

Another said after his comments: 'Why would anyone still support him or even consider voting for him? Disgusting.'
Even torrential rain couldn't stop Kelly Brook embracing a look better suited to warm summer days as she ventured out on Wednesday.

The TV and radio personality caught the eye in a seasonal floral print dress while leaving Global Radio studios in central London.

With a vibrant multicoloured print the outfit ensured Kelly, 40, brightened up an otherwise miserable mid-week after completing work on her daily drive show.

Hard to miss: Even torrential rain couldn't stop Kelly Brook embracing a look better suited to warm summer days as she ventured out on Wednesday

A cinched waistline served to accentuate the brunette's voluptuous curves, while a thigh-high slash partially exposed her legs as she made her way across Leicester Square.

Strappy black heels rounded off the look, but given the damp conditions proved to be a wholly inappropriate choice of footwear.

Seemingly in a chipper mood, Kelly greeted onlookers with a characteristically warm smile after making her way out of the studio.

Looking good: The TV and radio personality caught the eye in a seasonal floral print dress while leaving Global Radio studios in central London

Looking good: The TV and radio personality caught the eye in a seasonal floral print dress while leaving Global Radio studios in central London

Here she comes: A cinched waistline served to accentuate the brunette's voluptuous curves, while a thigh-high slash partially exposed her legs as she made her way across Leicester Square

Kelly's latest appearance comes after she spoke about her sex life with hunky boyfriend Jeremy Parisi on Vicky Pattison's new Secret To podcast, titled Feeling Fab At 40.

She admitted it helps that she feels more confident in telling him what she likes in bed, and that the hot-blooded Italian likes a 'curvy woman'.

She said: 'My boyfriend is 35 and he is Italian, so, you know, he likes a nice large curvy woman so that's always a good thing! I think your sex life gets better as you get older!

Upbeat: Seemingly in a chipper mood, Kelly greeted onlookers with a characteristically warm smile after making her way out of the studio

'You get confident! You are not so hung up on stuff. You know what you enjoy. You know what you like, so you are not as scared to tell them.

'When you're young you don't tell them. They are like 'is that nice?' or whatever and you're like 'yeah!' When you're older you are gonna make sure you get what you want!'

The pair have been dating for nearly five years after embarking on a relationship in 2015.
She returned to New York City last month after quarantining in Palm Beach, Florida in the early days of coronavirus lockdown.

Kelly Bensimon was in her natural element in the city on Wednesday as she went for a jog.

The 52-year-old Real Housewives Of New York City star showcased her fit figure and age-defying looks in a sporty outfit.

On the move: Kelly Bensimon, 52, was in her natural element on Wednesday as she went for a jog in New York City

Kelly paired a simple white tank top with black Nike shorts reading 'Ole Miss' over one leg for the University of Mississippi.

The 5ft10in reality star showcased her fit, tanned legs in the outfit, which she completed with midnight blue trainers.

Her dirty blonde locks whipped about as she ran, and she had a white mask at ready in case she wasn't able to practice social distancing.

Low key: Kelly paired a simple white tank top with black Nike shorts that showcased her fit, tanned legs

Safety first: Her dirty blonde locks whipped about as she ran, and she had a white mask at ready in case she wasn't able to practice social distancing

In a post on her blog from last month, Kelly opened up about returning to New York on June 14 after spending months in the sun and heat of Florida.

'I thought NYC was going to be a dark and scary place, and it ended up being warm, sunny, and quiet. It felt more like a holiday weekend, then [sic] it did anything else,' she said.

Kelly arrived as the city was in Phase Two of reopening, in which many shops were open and restaurants could offer outdoor dining, according to New York Magazine.

New York City is now in Phase Three of its opening, in which gatherings of 25 are allowed (increased from 10), though restaurants in the city still aren't allowed to offer indoor dining.

Getting comfortable: In a blog post from June, Kelly opened up about returning to NYC after spending months in Florida, saying she expected NYC to be 'dark and scary,' though it was actually 'warm, sunny, and quiet'; shown June 24

Back in April 2019, Page Six had reported that Kelly was moving to Florida permanently to pursue real estate sales.

In August of last year, she announced she was joining the Douglas Elliman real estate group, which has branches in New York, Florida, The Hamptons and California, which may have made it easier to travel between her two homes.

When she's not working, Kelly is often showing off her stunningly fit body and giving her 217K Instagram fans a look into her workout routine.

Last year she revealed on social media that one of her favorite routines involved a 20-minute run, 30 squats with 30lb weights, 10 vinyasas, five back bends and a headstand, though she often changed up the routine to avoid boredom.

Back home: Kelly said in April 2019 that she was moving to Florida permanently for real estate work, though she signed with a real estate company in August 2019 with a New York office

In 2018, Kelly said that she had stopped jogging every day and instead began attending soul cycle classes, after she was encouraged by her daughter, Sea Louise, 22.

'I started going to classes with her and my body started changing,' she told Us Weekly at the time.

'Im 49 years old and by amping up my exercise routine, my body started changing. I think a lot of women exhaust themselves and they age a lot quicker.'
Seven-time Grammy winner John Mayer made sure to protect himself and others from the coronavirus pandemic by rocking a green mask in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.

California Governor Gavin Newsom made cloth masks and face coverings mandatory for all public outings on June 18.

As of Wednesday, there have been over 120K confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, which has led to 3,582 deaths - according to Johns Hopkins University.

Running errands: Seven-time Grammy winner John Mayer made sure to protect himself and others from the coronavirus pandemic by rocking a green mask in Beverly Hills on Wednesday

The 42-year-old musician's sighting came two days before he'll remotely appear on the Grateful Dead series, Shakedown Stream, hosted by David Lemieux and Gary Lambert.

John will discuss his five years touring with the Dead & Company on the chat show, which streams live this Friday at 5pm PST on the Grateful Dead YouTube Channel.

Grateful Dead's original frontman Jerry Garcia passed away, age 53, from a heart attack in 1995 - leaving behind bandmates Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann.

For the past few months, Mayer 'challenged' himself to write new music specifically on his acoustic guitar.

Safety first! California Governor Gavin Newsom made cloth masks and face coverings mandatory for all public outings on June 18

Spike: As of Wednesday, there have been over 120K confirmed COVID-19 cases in LA County, which has led to 3,582 deaths

Hippie at heart: The 42-year-old musician's sighting came two days before he'll appear on the Grateful Dead series, Shakedown Stream, hosted by David Lemieux and Gary Lambert

Replaced original frontman Jerry Garcia: John will discuss his five years touring with the Dead & Company on the chat show, which streams live this Friday at 5pm PST on the Grateful Dead YouTube Channel (pictured in 2017)

'I've tried to stop playing the guitar and start playing music on the guitar, and I know that sounds like a really stupid little semantic,' the Connecticut-born bluesman said on Masterclass with Eric Harland on June 22.

'If you're going to demo it, no tricks; under record everything, don't produce everything...everything has to work on the acoustic guitar. That's the calculator. It has to work on it.'

John continued: 'To me it is time to really be in that moment. I started feeling when I was playing with Dead & Company a couple of years in, the sort of zero gravity of the weightlessness of playing where the instrument goes away and it's just you and the music  that's perfection.'

However, Mayer is probably best known for bedding 'sub-500' women like Jennifer Aniston, Katy Perry, Jessica Simpson, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Minka Kelly.

'That's the calculator. It has to work on it': For the past few months, Mayer 'challenged' himself to write new music specifically on his acoustic guitar (pictured August 21)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - As a once enormously popular governor, scion of a prominent family and ambassador under two presidents to Americas biggest global rivals, Jon Huntsman Jr. should be a political force to be reckoned with. But his comeback attempt fell short in a GOP primary as he contended with a crushing pandemic and a fresh-faced opponent.

Huntsman was narrowly beaten Monday by Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who had heightened visibility as he helped the state response to the coronavirus while also pitching himself as an earnest leader with rural Utah roots.

Huntsman, meanwhile, dealt with his own bout with the virus even as he faced conservative skepticism about his return and tried to capture voter attention during both the pandemic and national protests against racial injustice.

"Voters are upset, theyre looking for change," said Tim Chambless, a political-science professor at the University of Utah. "In a sense, Jon Huntsman Jr. is a symbol of the past."

Coxs conservative brand, bolstered by a quirky-yet-wholesome Twitter feed, helped him capture more Republican voters in deep red parts of the state. His onetime criticism of President Donald Trump and sympathetic stance on LGBTQ rights meant he didnt scare off voters who make Utah a rare conservative bastion ambivalent about the president.

A very early start to his campaign also proved fortuitous in hindsight, allowing Cox, 44, to clock months visiting voters before the coronavirus hit.

FILE - Republican Utah gubernatorial candidate and former ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. looks on during a debate on May 20, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Huntsman was an enormously popular governor, scion of a prominent family and ambassador under two presidents to America's biggest global rivals, so he should be a political force to be reckoned with. But his comeback attempt came fell short in a GOP primary as he contended with a crushing pandemic and a fresh-faced opponent. He was narrowly beaten Monday, July 6, 2020 by Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Huntsman, meanwhile, was serving as U.S. ambassador in Russia under Trump as his main competitor motored into tiny towns in his bright green campaign bus.

Huntsman, 60, had just a few months before the pandemic hit to answer questions about why he was returning and what he would bring to the job after stepping down in 2009 to serve as ambassador to China under Democratic then-President Barack Obama.

"I dont think he was ever able to answer that question," Brigham Young University political science professor Chris Karpowitz said. "I think they had a plan to talk about future growth, managing growth and about international connections for the state ... everything was overtaken by the challenges of the pandemic."

Meanwhile, there were two other candidates in the race, and vocal Trump supporter Greg Hughes likely siphoned off votes from both front-runners by railing against coronavirus-related business shutdowns, said Jason Perry director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.

Cox, for his part, decried negative campaigning during his victory speech Tuesday, though he didn't mention Hughes' criticism specifically.

"We have too much of that in our country today. We are far too negative. We are far too divisive. Politics have become a religion to people. Politics have become so toxic, and we stand against that," he said.

The Huntsman campaign, meanwhile, tackled its challenges in part by encouraging people to register as Republicans so they could vote in the closed primary. The move tapped the wide popularity during his previous time as governor, when he oversaw a loosening of Utah's famously strict liquor laws and expressed early support for same-sex unions. Prominent Democrats encouraged party crossover, helping bolster the GOP rolls by more than 100,000 new members since January.

While Huntsman put in a strong showing, it wasnt quite enough for Republican voters like 45-year-old Trevor Irish, a therapist in rural Vernal, Utah. He felt like Cox had more energy and authenticity, though he acknowledges the pandemic did make the race feel more distant and muted Huntsmans message.

"I looked at him, I read his stuff. I just didnt get the vibe," he said. "I just felt like Spencer Cox had more oopf, saying, 'All right, this is what Id accomplish."

Cox will likely have to answer hard questions about state spending and a recent surge of coronavirus cases during the general election against Democratic law professor Chris Peterson, though Utah has elected Republicans for decades.

The loss is a setback for Huntsman, though he still has plenty of political capital in the state where buildings bear the name he shares with his father, the late billionaire businessman and philanthropist. He hasnt said what hell do next, only that he wants to contribute to the "good of our community."

"I do think his electoral future is cloudier than it was," Karopwitz said. "That doesnt mean he doesnt have an important role to play in thinking about the nations future."

Lt. Gov Spencer Cox, center, joined by his running mate Sen. Deidre Henderson, R-Spanish Fork, arrive for a press conference at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Jon Huntsman Jr. was narrowly beaten Monday, July 6, 2020, by Cox, who had heightened visibility as he helped respond to the coronavirus and managed to pitch himself as an earnest politician with rural Utah roots. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

FILE - Republican Utah gubernatorial candidate and former ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. looks on during a debate on May 20, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Huntsman was an enormously popular governor, scion of a prominent family and ambassador under two presidents to America's biggest global rivals, so he should be a political force to be reckoned with. But his comeback attempt came fell short in a GOP primary as he contended with a crushing pandemic and a fresh-faced opponent. He was narrowly beaten Monday, July 6, 2020 by Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Lt. Gov Spencer Cox adjusts his face mask as he poses for a photograph at the Utah state Capitol Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Jon Huntsman Jr. was narrowly beaten Monday by Cox, who had heightened visibility as he helped respond to the coronavirus and managed to pitch himself as an earnest politician with rural Utah roots. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Lt. Gov Spencer Cox arrives for a press conference at the Utah State Capitol Tuesday, July 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Jon Huntsman Jr. was narrowly beaten Monday, July 6, 2020, by Cox, who had heightened visibility as he helped respond to the coronavirus and managed to pitch himself as an earnest politician with rural Utah roots. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah Republican gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox greets supporters arriving at an election night event in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Cox has won the Republican nomination in the Utah governor's race Monday, July 6, 2020, giving him a heavy advantage in the conservative state's general election. The competitive four-way contest was conducted entirely by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, which also shaped the campaign. (Trent Nelson /The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, File)

FILE- Former Russia ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. speaks during a debate for Utah's 2020 gubernatorial race on Jan. 31, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox has won the Republican nomination in the Utah governor's race Monday, July 6, 2020, giving him a heavy advantage in the conservative state's general election. The race had Huntsman trying for another term as governor against Cox, who was prominent in the state's pandemic response. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Utah gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. speaks during a campaign stop Thursday, June 4, 2020, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/Herald Journal via AP)
In France, attended by several Thousand people on a March for a case of attack, the injured bus driver is a dangerous life. In Bayonne in the southwest of the country, around 6000 participants gathered on Wednesday evening, as media reported.

you have not expected so much support, said the wife of the injured driver, the TV channel BFMTV. You could not say that her husband is better, but there is a little hope. The justice system will help her to avenge her husband, said the woman journalist. In Paris, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, and other cities, buses stopped according to Reports, around 19: 30 for a minute of silence.

Four suspects arrested

The attack on the 59-year-old bus driver had in France for the dismay caused. According to reports, the driver had rejected on Sunday in the close to the border with Spain located in Bayonne several people at a bus stop. They wanted to seem, therefore, despite the mask of duty without the protection of masks and valid driving in the Bus. The rejected, attacked the bus driver; he was severely beaten on the head. He was brain dead, but his heart beat still, said his wife.

Updated Date: 08 July 2020, 19:19
He seemed to be set  and is now again only one candidate out of many: Ben Dolic will represent Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in the next year, in Rotterdam, just maybe. The has announced the for the ESC competent broadcaster NDR. The rules of the European broadcasting Union say that all artists need to compete in the ESC with new songs. Dolic' song "Violent Thing," he in may, when  due to the Corona pandemic fancy  65. Song should sing Contest is successful  in the case of Youtube, it was viewed 3.5 million Times. Because it came out already in February, it is excluded from the competition in 2021. Songs sung at the ESC, must not, before 1.In September of the previous year have been published.

Even if the 23-year-old Dolic is not set for next year, so he wants it a second Time, and again with a song of "Violent Thing"-composer Borislav Milanov try. In 1983, in Sofia, born and living in Austria Milanov has reached for the ESC, a second, a third and a fourth place.

If at the end of his song for Rotterdam will be selected, should a expert and a Eurovision Jury to decide. At the same time, the NDR informed, in the next year from cost reasons on the live broadcast of the Reeperbahn in front of the ESC to the final refrain to a "relevant six-figure sum" to save.

Updated Date: 08 July 2020, 12:19
The head-on collision of two passenger trains on a route through the ore mountains between the Czech Republic and Germany there have been Deaths and injuries. A German and a Czech, were killed, as a spokesperson for the police in Karlovy vary (Karlovy Vary) confirmed. After a final balance sheet of the rescue service 9 people were also heavy and 15 slightly injured.

"It is obvious that there has been human error," said the Czech Minister of transport, Karel Havlicek of the CT transmitter. He was rushed in the evening to the scene of the incident. The police arrested one of the two train drivers. The suspicion loud on reckless endangerment of the General public, said a spokeswoman for the German press Agency.

The man should be left to the first findings early. He was next to the tracks, sat, and said, "What have I done, what have I done," reported an eye-witness of the newspaper "Pravo". Also the railway Inspectorate started an investigation to the cause of the disaster.

The a train was on the single track route from the West Bohemian Baderort Karlovy vary, in Saxony, Johann Georg town, the other in the reverse direction. Many of the travelers wanted to make a trip to the mountains. The winding and hilly path leads over the ore mountain comb. The two trains should cross only at the next station.

large array on-the-spot

The crash site in a forest between the municipalities of Pernink and Nove Hamry was for the rescuers difficult to access. The fire brigade had to carry the injured over the tracks on foot in the next station. Several rescue helicopters were deployed, including one from Saxony, in order to bring the injured in hospitals.

photos was to see that the two Drivers were completely demolished. The operation on the route is carried out in a simplified operation without special technical facilities. The maximum speed is 90 kilometers per hour limited.

the Czech Republic has according to Eurostat, one of the most dense railway networks in Europe. However, large parts of the infrastructure are out of date. Two years ago, the court noted that 35 percent of the rolling stock is older than 30 years.

Updated Date: 08 July 2020, 00:19




Sa Pa terrace rice field. (Photo: TripstoDiscover)



According the site, Sapa is located in the far north, surrounded by dramatic beauty with its world-famous rice paddies.



It sits high up in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains and makes a great base for trekking or mountain biking tours with routes that will bring you past magnificent waterfalls, through rice paddies, and around charming mountain villages home to families known for making fantastic local handicrafts, noted TripstoDiscover.

It suggested that travelers to the villages should see how these items are made and purchase everything from traditional weavings to carvings for gifts or souvenirs.

Meanwhile, Ninh Binh is described as incredibly picturesque. The province has many pagodas, including Bai Dinh and Bich Dong.

It boasts hundreds of limestone monoliths that rise from the ground topped by vibrant greenery, scattered throughout the city with rivers flowing through. In Trang An, you can ask a boat rower to take you through some of the many caves in the limestone mountains.

Other destinations that made the list are Gifu (Japan), Sarawak  Borneo (Malaysia), Bagan (Myanmar), Sumba Island (Indonesia), Ella (Sri Lanka), Nusa Lembongan (Indonesia), Belitung Island (Indonesia), Okinawa Islands (Japan), Hoh Xil (Tibet), Champasak (Laos), Koh Kood (Thailand), and Shodoshima Island (Japan)./.
Black man found hanging from tree was pastors adopted son; probe ongoing

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As activists demand a full investigation into the death of a white New Jersey pastors adopted black son found hanging from a tree and question possible murder motives, authorities say they are still investigating after the medical examiner ruled the death a suicide.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office says Amani Kildea, 20, of Long Valley, was identified after his body was found in the Sugarloaf section of Morris County Park on June 28.

A park visitor who spotted his body called police at about 2:47 p.m. to alert them of the death.

Kildea, who was known as a gifted athlete, was also a member of the anti-pedophile group Pedo Got Caught, which catfishes and exposes child predators similar to the television series To Catch a Predator.

Kildea was also the adopted son of the senior pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Succasunna, Tom Kildea, and his wife, Janice. The couple adopted him from Ethiopia at the age of 5.

Three days after Kildeas body was found, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp released a statement explaining that the Morris County Medical Examiner "determined the manner of death as suicide.

The Morris County Prosecutors Office ordinarily does not issue public statements on active investigations," Knapp said in the statement. "However, given the fact that unsubstantiated statements have circulated on social media, there exists a need to provide more information to the public at this time. There is no cause to believe there is any criminality involved. The Morris County Medical Examiner has determined the manner of death as suicide."

Kildeas family also accepted his death as a suicide and noted in an obituary that he was broken and struggled emotionally.

Amani was sensitive, tender-hearted, gentle and kind. He was a great listener, and he loved to listen to family stories. He felt deeply, observed closely. He was broken in ways that very few could see or would ever know, the family said.

They noted that he had dreams of pursuing a career in the FBI or CIA and had completed basic training as a military police officer in the United States Army Reserves in February.

His parents were so proud of the young man he was becoming, even as that process of his becoming was so difficult for him. He was looking ahead to attending James Madison University in the fall. He often dreamed about a family of his own, the obituary explained.

Even though they loved him dearly, Kildeas family said he also struggled to believe in himself and was often challenging at home.

Amani cherished his time with his friends, who meant the world to him. Everyone who met him, who knew him, young and old, admired him and loved him. He doubted that, but we knew it to be true, added the obituary. Although life with Amani was often challenging at home, we loved him dearly. His departure from us and from this world is an unspeakable tragedy for us all. He will be a part of our family forever, and we trust he is safe in the arms of Jesus. O dear, sweet boy, Amani! We love you!

TAnna Kimbrough, the founder of Black Lives Matter Morristown, said in a statement Friday that while Kildea could have indeed taken his own life, she was concerned about how quickly his death was ruled a suicide without a complete investigation.

She noted that his work exposing pedophiles could have exposed him to retaliation.

Through this work, they have exposed at least 30 pedophiles in Morris County and other surrounding areas," Kimbrough said. "This work has led to multiple arrests, including arrests of the Mayor of Netcongs son and a police officer that was actively serving on a police force, which may demonstrate significant evidence of individuals with motive to harm him."

Kimbrough said that Kildea's work to expose sexual predators was "brave, but dangerous." She contends that it left him "vulnerable to retaliation from those criminals."

"Despite Prosecutor Knapps assertion that there is no cause to believe there is any criminality involved in his death by hanging, Amanis work in the community sheds light on a possible motive to kill and silence him, Kimbrough argued.

A Change.org petition calling for authorities to "reopen" the investigation into Kildea's death has surpassed 169,000 supporters as of Monday afternoon. Responding to the concerns, Knapp said in a statement Friday that the investigation into Kildea's death has not concluded.

Contrary to the statements made in social media and elsewhere, the investigation remains open and has not concluded," he said. "Our initial statement by this office was intended to [be] preliminarily and expeditiously inform the public that we and multiple other law enforcement agencies, including the Morris County Park Police, Morris County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Morris County Medical Examiners Office, have been working with the Morris County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit to investigate the circumstances of Mr. Kildeas death."

Knapp added that as of Friday, "no evidence of criminal act has yet been found" but "efforts to determine what occurred remain very active."

"We have followed and continue to follow all investigative leads and will go where the evidence takes us, Knapp noted.

Kildea leaves behind his parents; his brother, James; and his sister, Jennifer.

His siblings looked up to him, admired him, and loved him deeply. He is also survived by his Pop-pop, James Muller, his birth-mother, Genet, in Ethiopia, and many aunts, uncles and cousins, who delighted in him and loved him, the obituary explained.

A memorial service for Kildea is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, where his father has been a pastor for nearly 20 years.
In Austria, have been killed in a rock fall in a ravine, according to the mountain rescue two people. Seven other hikers were part slightly, some seriously injured, said a member of the salvage team. The incident occurred in the bear-contactor-clammy at Mixnitz in Styria. Apparently, several pieces of Rock were on Wednesday from the steep walls broken out and had taken the Wanderer. The search for possible further Victims was in the afternoon, still in progress. The identity of the dead and the injured was initially unclear.

In the aid mission were employees of the Alpine police, mountain rescue and the Red cross and the fire brigade. The gorge is very popular with tourists. The limestone walls rise up to 300 meters high in the sky. In the past, around 40,000 visitors came according to the Austrian broadcasting Corporation (ORF) a year to tackle the spectacular, multi-hour hike over dozens of bridges and several Hundred meters in altitude.

Updated Date: 08 July 2020, 14:19
Right before the meeting was set to start, Walker responded to Evans and said that it is never OK for you to question the participation of two Black women in a meeting.

Walker said that she and Brackney appeared to answer questions and show that they were willing to work together to create a powerful PCRB. She said her family and friends have been negatively impacted by the criminal justice system in this city forever and Your white gaze doesnt give [you] any authority to question my intention.

Evans responded that his questions were only intended to determine how city officials participated in a meeting and whether their participation was appropriate for an independent board to ensure that a board is not unduly influence[d] by the very apparatus it is supposed to oversee.

I will continue to work on the CRB to attempt to address the very issues you  I believe inaccurately  accuse me of participating in by asking questions of City officials/employees, he wrote. The fact that you view a member of an independent board asking questions about how the board can stay independent (and ensure that it [is] viewed as independent by the public) as problematic is troubling to me. One might say that it even demonstrates the very problem I am worried about.
Nearly half of the parents surveyed rated distance learning during the spring closure as either 1 or 2, with 5 meaning very good for the circumstances.

Teachers have said that online learning could be better for next school year if they have the time to plan and apply lessons learned from the spring.

Part of the reason it was a challenge in the spring was that we went from zero to 60 basically over a weekend, and we were really making changes as we moved along, Tess Krovetz, a second grade teacher at Jackson-Via, said in an interview last week.

The School Board also will hear from officials from the Thomas Jefferson Health District on July 30, when the board meets to further discuss reopening plans.

Among the unresolved issues from Mondays five-hour meeting, board members want more clarity about the spread of COVID-19 in the community; protocols for closing schools if theres a local outbreak or positive case; and which metric they would use to feel comfortable resuming in-person classes.

If our trends are going up, then at what point do we say we can no longer be considering the in-person model, board member Sherry Kraft said.
It was a project for their class, he said. They were getting graded on it. [You PEC representatives] sat over there and told them where you wanted parks.

Even if true, neither of those elements need disqualify the project. As Mayor Bob Coiner noted in a spirit of practicality, not everyone is concerned about the projects start in life if the result ends up being good for the town.

Mr. Bradley also objected to the easement that would be placed on the property upon its donation to Gordonsville. He wanted to know more about the nature of the easement and again accused the PEC of self-interest: Youre doing this so you can get another easement under your belt.

Again, even if true, how would that work against the town of Gordonsville?

Mr. Bradley said hed heard of an easement in Northern Virginia that he said prevented the sale of vegetables grown on the property.

He has a point that easements should be carefully crafted. But easements are typical in this type of land transfer. Donors wont give land for parks unless the use is protected; they want to make sure that a gift for parkland is indeed used for parkland and not, say, as a site for a subdivision.
Herman Cain progressing in COVID-19 recovery; prayers 'making a difference'

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Former Republican presidential candidate and businessman Herman Cain is still hospitalized with COVID-19 but making progress as prayers are making a difference, his team stated in an update Sunday.

Herman wants to thank everyone for praying for him. Its making a difference, a post on Cains official Twitter account reads. Hes still in the hospital but hes making progress and we expect to hear more encouraging news as the week progresses.

Cains staff urged supporters to keep the prayers coming.

God is listening, the tweet explains.

Update: Herman wants to thank everyone for praying for him. It's making a difference. He's still in the hospital but he's making progress and we expect to hear more encouraging news as the week progresses. So thank you, everyone, and keep them coming! God is listening.  Herman Cain (@THEHermanCain) July 5, 2020

Cain is a business executive and Tea Party activist who ran for president of the United States in 2000 and 2012. He also ran for U.S. Senate in Georgia in 2004. He did not win in the primaries of any of those elections.

Last Thursday, it was announced that the 74-year-old Cain tested positive for coronavirus over a week after attending a rally for President Donald Trump. He is receiving treatment in an Atlanta-area hospital.

According to Cains Twitter account, it is unclear where he contracted the virus. Cain was notified last Monday that he tested positive for the virus. Within two days, he had to be admitted to the hospital.

There is no way of knowing for sure how or where Mr. Cain contracted the coronavirus, but we do know he is a fighter who has beaten Stage 4 cancer, a statement shared on Cains Twitter account stated. With Gods help, we are confident he will make a quick and complete recovery.

Dan Calabrese, the editor of HermanCain.com, said the team is thankful because Cains condition did not require him to use a respirator.

That was probably the one detail we were praying about the most, and God was gracious, Calabrese wrote in a blog post published on the website.

While Calabrese remained confident that Cain will recover, he noted how serious the virus is and called for prayers for his recovery.

Lets not sugarcoat it: COVID-19 is a horrible thing to experience, and while we are sure Herman will beat it just like he beats everything, he really needs prayer right now, Calabrese urged. Herman will be fine. Were also confident of that. But please lift him up in your prayers, as well as his wife Gloria and their family for strength and encouragement in getting through this.

Cain recently attended President Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where his team tweeted a photo of him with a group of supporters inside the arena. No one in the photo was wearing a mask.

Just hours before the event, six staff members at the site had tested positive for the virus. Two more staffers tested positive after returning to Washington, The Washington Post reported. Additionally, dozens of Secret Service agents on the trip were ordered to self-quarantine at home because two of the staff members who tested positive in Tulsa were Secret Service employees.

Calabrese noted that even though Cain also attended the rally in Tulsa, he could have gotten the virus from other places.
One of the great sins of historical interpretation has become a popular goal among activists across the nation. Calls, and actions, to remove statues of presidents  including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as notable historical figures such as Christopher Columbus  fall victim to the fallacy of presentism.

Judging the past by present moral standards disregards the culture, customs, and livelihoods of our ancestors. This does not excuse their actions, but keeping their images in prominent parks allows the debate on their legacy to continue. This dialogue is where knowledge of the past, and progress for the future, is acquired. By removing statues of these important figures, activists and legislatures are reducing their legacy to a singular narrative: racist, slave-owning colonizers.

Categorizing Jefferson in only those terms neglects his personal attitudes against the peculiar institution, as well as his immortal words in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal, which countless Americans have fought to make a reality.
SROs made teaching possible

Just another point of view about the letter of June 21 (Schools need more social workers, The Daily Progress):

I, too, was a career high school teacher  for 22 years in Columbia, South Carolina, and at first thought the addition of police officers was a waste of money.

Over the years, I changed my mind as I saw the positive results from having them in my school.

I had a student fight break out in my room, and the only person who came to help was the school resource officer. I got a call one day from a friend who was a chemistry teacher and I could not understand him; he had been punched in the face by a kid who he was not even talking to.

I had $100 calculators regularly disappear and saw teachers threatened, and I contend that some of our students are criminals at a very early age. Note that girl who graduated from a local high school was murdered in New York City by a 13-year-old students.
Banker Phares is a practicing attorney and founding member of the Estate Planning and Probate Law certification by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is the John and Karen Mast Professor at SFA and teaches in the Department of Economics and Finance.
Quadriplegic Texas man dies after hospital stops treatments against wife's wishes

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The wife of a recently passed quadriplegic Texas man with brain damage claims that her husband died after a local hospital and court-appointed guardian agreed to stop life-saving treatment against her wishes. The hospital contends that it was not medically possible to save her husband.

The death of 46-year-old Michael Hickson at St. David's South Austin Medical Center on June 11 has raised questions about what quality of life means and has raised concerns from disability rights activists even though Hicksons family members had differing opinions of their loved ones outlook.

Melissa Hickson, Michaels wife, has turned to the internet and media to raise attention over what she believes to have been an unjust course of action taken by the hospital with approval of a court-appointed legal guardian, Family Eldercare.

Michael Hickson, who became quadriplegic after going into cardiac arrest in 2017 and suffered brain damage, was living in an Austin nursing home when he contracted COVID-19 in May. He was sent to the hospital on June 2 when he developed a fever and breathing troubles.

While at the hospital, Hickson developed other life-threatening complications that ultimately resulted in multi-system organ failure, according to a statement from St. Davids Chief Medical Officer Dr. DeVry Anderson.

Hickson suffered from pneumonia in both lungs, a urinary tract infection and sepsis.

Melissa Hickson recorded a June 5 call with a doctor at the medical center. Hickson said she was told that additional measures to treat her husbands ailments would not help improve his quality of life.

"Will it affect his quality, will it improve his quality of life?" the doctor asked in the recording. "And the answer is no."

She pushed back, asking the doctor why treatment wouldnt improve his quality of life.

"Being able to live isnt improving the quality of life? she asked.

The doctor is heard in the recording telling Hickson that there is no improvement with being intubated, with a bunch of lines and tubes in your body, and being on a ventilator for more than two weeks."

"As of right now, his quality of life  he doesnt have much of one," the doctor is heard saying.

Hickson again pushed back, asking the doctor: What do you mean? She asked if it was because her husband is paralyzed with a brain injury, to which, the doctor responded by saying, Correct.

Hickson posted a video on YouTube, claiming that her husband was murdered. She voiced her outrage that the hospital staff and Family Eldercare employees decided to put her husband in hospice care. She claimed that her pleading with them to change their decision did no good.

The reason that he (the doctor) would not treat my husband any further was because he was disabled, she said. That disability caused him to believe that my husband had poor quality of health.

Reports of the recorded conversation with the doctor have driven much concern from disability rights and pro-life activists who contend that the doctors remarks show a level of disregard for human life.

In a statement, Anderson, the hospitals CMO, shot down the narrative that rose last week, stressing that misinformation has spread regarding Hicksons case.

Anderson said that while he doesnt normally divulge the private details of the hospitals patients, he felt troubled by the untruths surrounding the circumstances of Hicksons death.

Some people want the public to believe that we took the position that Mr. Hicksons life wasnt worth being saved, and that is absolutely wrong. It wasnt medically possible to save him, Anderson stressed. My colleagues and I went into healthcare to preserve human life. When a patient passes, its a loss for everyone involved. We all feel it and mourn that loss, and our hearts always go out to the patients family and loved ones. This situation is no different.

Anderson explained that the decision made in Hicksons case had nothing to do with hospital capacity, his disabilities or the color of his skin, adding that the hospital treats all patients equally.

This was a man who was very, very ill and in multi-system organ failure, Anderson added. His legal guardian and his doctors worked together, consulting pulmonary and critical care specialists, to determine a care plan that was best for him.

When Hickson was transferred to the facility, he had pneumonia in both lungs, a urinary tract infection and sepsis. Other complications also arose near the end of his life, such as aspiration of food.

According to Anderson, aspiration means that Hickson was regurgitating the nutrients going into his body through his feeding tube, and they were going into his airways, causing his respiratory condition to worsen.

Aspiration has the potential to be fatal, especially for a patient in a weakened physical state, like Mr. Hickson, and this was the reason his tube feedings were discontinued, he explained.

To act within the bounds of the law, my staff at the hospital communicated with Mr. Hicksons court-appointed guardian, an organization called Family Eldercare.

Although it is not common for guardianship to be taken away from family members, a court may do so if they think it is in the patients best interest, Anderson explained.

In Hicksons case, a Travis County judge appointed temporary guardian status to Family Eldercare until it can be determined whether Melissa Hickson or Hicksons sister, a physician, would be appointed Hicksons guardian.

The Washington Post reports that court documents filed in February by a county investigator found that during an earlier hospitalization, a hospital manager complained that Melissa Hickson had rejected the facilitys efforts to transfer him out of the hospital, which resulted in Hickson being kept in the hospital for months longer than he should have. The hospital manager also commented that Hickson had unrealistic expectations when it comes to the level of care her husband required.

Michael Hicksons sister, Renee Hickson, a fellow at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., agreed with the doctors assessment of her brothers condition in June.

She told the newspaper that the doctors worked hard to save her brothers life. However, she said her brothers condition worsened suddenly. She disagreed with the notion that the doctors decisions were based on race or disability.

In a statement on Hicksons passing, Family Eldercare stressed that end of life decisions when families are in disagreement can be especially difficult.

As court-appointed Guardian, we consulted with Mr. Hicksons spouse, family, and the medical community on the medical complexity of his case. Mr. Hicksons spouse, family, and the medical community were in agreement with the decision not to intubate Mr. Hickson.



Family Eldercare argued that in consultation with Mr. Hicksons family and medical providers, it agreed with the recommendation for hospice care for Hickson to receive end-of-life comfort, nutrition and medications.

Some activists and medical professionals, however, are not pleased by the reports of Hicksons death.

Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, chair the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, issued a Twitter thread to voice her displeasure.

As a Brain Injury Medicine physician, I have fought for patients like this every day of my career in #Physiatry, Verduzco-Gutierrez wrote. Begging doctors who dont know the outcome data or wouldnt want to live that way to give a chance at treatment, rehab, & life.

She argued that Hickson may of had more quality of life than any of us.

Steven Spohn, a disability rights advocate, award-winning author and COO of AbleGamers Charity, warned on Twitter that Hicksons case shows how much of an an underlying fear this scenario is for much of the disabled community.

We live our entire lives in fear that one day a doctor will decide we just aren't worth it, Spohn wrote.

In the YouTube video, the doctor can be heard saying he will have lines and tubes coming out of his body... That's not a quality-of-life. I have tubes coming out of my body. I happen to like my life. Without those tubes I'd be dead.

Spohn wrote that his definition of quality of life is apparently vastly different than how the doctor defines the term.

Disability rights advocates protested along the street outside St. David's campus on Saturday. Advocates with the Texas Americans with Disabilities Action Planning Team.

Im a quadriplegic just like Michael was, demonstrator Bob Kafka told the Austin American-Statesman. I want to make sure Im treated equally.
Turkey expelling 2 US Christian workers after deporting 16 others this year

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In what appears to be an official campaign to rid Turkey of foreign Christian workers, the countrys authorities have sent deportation orders to two American Christian workers, according to a religious persecution watchdog.

At least 16 foreign Christian workers have been expelled from the overwhelmingly Muslim country this year, and two American Christians  Joy Subasguller, who is married to a Turkish pastor, and Pastor Zach Balon of New Hope Church in Istanbul  are the latest targets of the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkeys Ministry of Interior has told Subasguller that her residency permit has been revoked, and Pastor Balon was told he wouldnt be allowed to return to Turkey as he was about to fly from Istanbul with his family, according to the U.K.-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Balon canceled his flight and filed an appeal but that may not protect the pastor, as such appeals have been unsuccessful in the past, CSW fears.

The groups chief executive, Mervyn Thomas, called the expulsions deeply worrying.

These workers had all the necessary legal documentation to live and work in the country, yet they are being deported by a government that continues to crack down on Christianity in line with a guiding ethos that equates being Turkish with being Muslim, Thomas said. Worse still, in several cases deportation may result in the separation of families.

Thomas called on the Turkish government to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief for all citizens, and to end the deportation of these Christian workers, who are legally resident in the country.

Challenged by the opposition party, which has called for early elections, Erdogan is desperate to gain support among his conservative base, according to reports in local media.

Erdogan is supporting calls for Istanbuls Hagia Sophia museum, which was the seat of Eastern Christianity for 900 years before being converted into an Ottoman mosque, to be turned back into a mosque.

Turkeys highest administrative court, called the Council of State, held a hearing last week and said it would make a ruling within 15 days on the future of Hagia Sophia, according to BBC.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged Turkey to continue to maintain the Hagia Sophia as a museum, as an exemplar of its commitment to respect the faith traditions and diverse history that contributed to the Republic of Turkey, and to ensure it remains accessible to all.

Turkey is considered a Tier 2 Country of Particular Concern by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Persecution watchdog Open Doors USA has earlier noted that missionaries to Turkey were under increasing scrutiny.

North Carolina missionary Andrew Brunson was arrested and detained in Turkey for over two years before his release in 2018 on charges of terror connections, espionage, and Christianization, deemed a hostile act.

Brunson, who spent over 23 years in Turkey before his arrest, told USCIRF in June that he knew of dozens of foreign church leaders and their family members that Turkey had deported in previous months for being a threat to national security.
Theres an old adage, that many of us have heard in one form or another; that whether in business or at the dinner table, one should never talk about religion or politics.

I know that I can remember more than one occasion when discussing one or both topics has produced a myriad of reactions in others. The premise for this saying is the recognition that both religion and politics are subjects that can invoke contrasting emotions and opinions from people. As such, the discussion of religion and/or politics can turn a mealtime chat into in fighting frenzy.

What this year has brought with it

2020 has brought with it circumstances that have greatly impacted and even deeply divided many of us. Wars are being waged in every area of society and culture, leaving some of us caught in the crossfire.

Some are speaking up and speaking out on various issues, while others have remained silent, some of us unsure of where we should stand on certain issues or whether we need to take a stand at all. One thing that is clear is that many of the problems we have faced as the human race so far this year are entwined with politics.

What is politics?

According to the definition given in the Cambridge dictionary, in summary; politics is entirely concerned with government. Where politics is essentially the involvement and activities or study thereof of those who hold a position of power in government and the system and means through which a government operates.

And subsequently; government is a certain group of people who have a degree of authority over a community of people to govern their lives and society through a determined system; a set of rules and laws that result in activities through which this governments authority is exercised over or on behalf of this community.

Does the bible talk about politics?

Before looking at the definition of politics here, some may have first answered that question with a resounding no. But politics is concerned with the governance of people and all that that entails. Reading through the Old Testament, it is clear that God is also greatly concerned about governments and their politics. Whole books of the Old Testament are in fact dedicated to these laws that God laid out for the nation of Israel.

But what about the New Testament?

When we step into the New Testament, we see that Jesus laid out a very clear description of what His kingdom looked like through his life and teaching, chief of which would have to be The Beatitudes recorded in Matthew chapter 5. When we study Jesus teachings we can see that the new covenant is concerned not just with the spiritual but with every area of a persons life and community.

One fact that can easily be missed in reading the New Testament is that the religious leaders of Jesus day were also community, cultural and political leaders. Jesus life, teaching and actions in that regard were said and done in love and were completely countercultural to their system of governance.

Christian civil disobedience

John the Baptist, publicly criticised and rebuked king Herod for his immorality, for which he was arrested and later executed. Another example is in Acts chapter four where the apostles Peter and John were commanded by the Jewish Sanhedrin to no longer speak or teach in the name of Jesus. The Sanhedrin was their court of law, that dealt not only with religious issues but also civil and political ones.

But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge(Acts Chapter 4 verse 19).

So it is clear that although Peter and John respected the positions of authority of those in governance over them, they deemed it more important for them to obey God and do what He commanded them to do, even if it meant blatant civil disobedience to the Sanhedrin.

That doesnt mean they abandoned the fundamental law of love for others but shows us that as Christians we arent required to blindly agree and obey the laws of men if they contradict the teachings of Christ, which some have misconstrued some of Pauls teachings to say.

Some final thoughts

There were some people that Jesus called out of their workplace or community to preach the gospel to others but there were also some that Jesus called to preach the gospel and be a light and influence in their workplace and community.

Among such were men like Nicodemus who was both a believer yet for reasons unclear in scripture remained a leader in the Jewish system and also a member of the Sanhedrin. What we see in the gospels is that his position in Jewish politics gave him a voice and influence to others in power that a fisherman for example did not have.

The bottom line is that Jesus is chiefly concerned about reaching everyone, everywhere. From those who have no house to those in Parliament House. And He has and will continue to position and manoeuver the ambassadors of His kingdom into every sphere of society to reach as many as He can.
Posted Monday, July 6, 2020 3:12 pm

Editors Note: The Chronicle is working to assist local businesses suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 virus spread and associated government orders to close or limit commerce. There will be a feature on a local business in each edition of The Chronicle and at chronline.com moving forward. To be considered, email reporter Eric Trent at etrent@chronline.com. Additionally, The Chronicle will continue to offer its coverage of the coronavirus and its effects across the community, state and nation free outside of our paywall at chronline.com.

PE ELL  Whitney Adolphsen has been hanging out in coffee stands since before she could talk or walk. It runs in the family. So it only made sense that one day shed open her own stand.

She would go to work with her mom as a baby at the now-closed One Moore Cup in Raymond. Now both of Adolphsens parents own coffee stands, her dad in Castle Rock and her mom in Raymond, for the last 19 years. She started working at her moms shop, The Daily Perk, officially when she was 16 years old.

Big coffee family, Adolphsen said. Both of my sisters worked in it at one point or another, too. I was that kid that grew up in the coffee shop, hanging out with my mom down there. Im probably the only 30-year-old with 20-plus years experience working in a coffee shop.

Thats why when she decided to open Jacked Up in 2018 she chose to base it in Pe Ell  the halfway point between her parents.

Adolphsen grew up in Old Willapa and went to Willapa Valley and South Bend high schools, but she did have some history with Pe Ell. A star softball player growing up, she became a Trojan for one year during high school because Valley didnt have a softball program at the time.

That made the transition to the community a little easier. The biggest change was going from longtime employee to business owner. She was commuting from Lebam when she first opened her shop and was late one day rushing down state Route 6 toward the stand in Pe Ell, worried about being late to open.

Then it hit me halfway, Well, Im not going to get in trouble, Adolphsen said. The worst thing thats going to happen is Im going to lose a little bit of money. Its OK.

Now shes been able to relish the independence of being a business owner.

I have a lot more pride in my work now that its my own, Adolphsen said. That, and getting to set up shop in a whole new area and getting to meet everybody here. Thats been cool, too.

Its that community that stood behind her shop once the COVID-19 pandemic hit in mid-March, shutting down non-essential businesses and delivering blows to the economy. The pandemic temporarily dried up her customers and left her wondering the fate of her stand.

Eerie, Adolphsen said. It was really eerie.

There was a two-week standstill where customers trickled in at a snails pace. Adolphsen panicked and laid off all her employees for that first week. She, along with every other human on earth, was unsure what to expect. She wanted to gauge the level of customers coming in and make sure shed be able to pay the bills.

Then, all the sudden, business went back to normal. At the same time, Jacked Up tried to be a beacon of normalcy in its customers lives as the rest of the world was filled with uncertainty.

Its been an interesting thing to live through and work through down here, Adolphsen said. Im just really grateful we didnt get shut down.

Luckily, Jacked Up was already following most of the health department guidelines beforehand. It did step up its cleaning and started sanitizing the clipboard each time it went through the window.

Now, her employees are working more hours than ever before. The Pe Ell community has shown its support more than ever, Adolphsen said. One organization included Jacked Up in a scavenger hunt, people were buying gift cards, others dropped by just to check on Adolphsen and her employees.

Customers who would normally show up once a month were suddenly coming in a couple times a week. Part of it was also people searching for social interaction. There was a month stretch where it was difficult to close at a regular time because customers were dropping by to chat.

Its another reason why Im glad I set up shop in a small town, Adolphsen said. There was a huge outpouring of support and small-town camaraderie.

Jacked Up, which uses Ravens Brew Coffee from Alaska, is located at 404 N. Main St. in Pe Ell. The local favorite is currently open Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 7 a.m to 4 p.m.



Reporter Eric Trent can be reached at etrent@chronline.com. Visit chronline.com/business for more coverage of local businesses.


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Among the many drugs that the Drug Controller General of India has been approving for the treatment of Covid-19, two anti-viral drugs Favipiravir for those with mild to moderate symptoms of coronavirus in Covid-19 patients and Remdesivir for Covid-19 patients on oxygen support have been at the forefront.

Favipiravir was launched recently by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Cipla and Hetero introduced Remdesivir. Many experts, however, have raised concerns on its efficacy. For instance, both these drugs were originally designed to treat other diseases such as any skin disease or arthritis.

Similarly, Remdesivir is an experimental anti-viral drug, which is being studied for Ebola. Now, though, the companies have introduced the drugs generic version to treat coronavirus patients, especially Remdesivir being used on compassionate grounds to counter Covid-19.

Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd. (DRL), a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in India, is scaling up antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, which is now being used as a prophylactic drug for Covid-19.

The company had already launched hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets in the US in 2018. Moreover, FUJIFILM Corporation has partnered with DRL and Global Response Aid for the development, manufacture and sales of Avigan Tablets for Covid-19.

Dr Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, Senior Interventional Pulmonologist & Sleep Medicine Specialist, Yashoda Hospitals

Manufacturers claim that the drug administration in 88% of patients (across age groups 20 to 90 years) with mild to moderate cases resulted in a clinical improvement and that the drug can be used in mild to moderate Covid-19 patients with comorbidities such as diabetes and heart disease.

However, the positive results from the study should be interpreted with caution as other therapies were administered in this non-randomised, open-label study, which could have confused the results. Though a multinational, randomised placebo-controlled trial observed reduced time to recovery from severe Covid-19 with use of Remdesivir, another study conducted in China reported conflicting results. The drug shouldnt be used in patients having hypersensitivity to any ingredients of the formulation, patients with gross liver enzyme and renal function abnormalities.

K.I. Varaprasad Reddy, (founder of vaccine manufacturing company Shantha Biotechnics)

The new norm now is to have drugs repurposed. These drugs were not designed for coronavirus. And they were already in existence for different purposes. Repurposed drugs are those that are not actually meant for a certain disease but might be used to fight it in the absence of anything else.

With this drug-repurposing, we get accustomed to thinking that such drugs are all antiviral, which may not be the case. Favipiravir, for instance, was made in Japan about 13 years ago for influenza. Doctors using Favipiravir in the trials for Covid-19 observed that the drug suppressed the symptoms in people suffering from mild attacks of corona. However, the drug does not offer total safety and the disease may recur in the patient. There can be grave side effects too some people die with these drugs! 

Dr Nageshwar Reddy, MD of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology

There have been no randomised studies in which both the drugs have shown to decrease the number of days of illness. Let us not forget that its use has been recommended only in the case of a mild to moderate attack of the disease in patients, most of whom recover normally. So, to do a randomised control trial (RCT), it would take not only large numbers of patients but also a long time. The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) has granted permissions for using these drugs only in view of the pandemic. Otherwise, the rules are very stringent, and it takes very long to get the permissions. However, these are a part of the armamentarium against Covid-19, but we still dont have a magic bullet like, say, antibiotics against bacterial infections.

G.V. Prasad, co-chairman and managing director of DRL

These drugs have not undergone full controlled trials yet. There are three stages in a Covid-19 attack Asymptomatic is when one needs to merely fortify the patient with vitamins and zinc supplement. The second stage is when a patient exhibits mild symptoms.

In most cases around the world, people are trying various approaches to combat the mild symptoms, and Favipiravir has been approved in China and Russia for this indication. Remdesivir has been showing some benefit for Covid-19 patients on oxygen and ventilator.

All these drugs, however, exist for other problems and indications, and are being repurposed for Covid-19. Many countries have been conducting human trials as we speak.

How close are we to manufacturing the vaccine?

Quite like the opinions by experts all around the world, Varaprasad Reddy shares that we will not come out with a vaccine at least until next year May or June. To escalate the production itself takes three to four months. Some companies in India have already started boasting that they have come up with a vaccine. We do not have the money to develop anything here. Recently, there was news that a vaccine is out and that it is in Phase-One trial, and that it will then have Phases Two and Three after which the company hopes to get a license and start production. Then, they would need to escalate the production of the vaccine. And when a few millions samples of the vaccine are available, only then can people start getting it, he explains.

To illustrate the logistics and money involved in the production and testing of vaccines, Varaprasad shares the example of the Gates Foundation. Gavi and Gates Foundation realised that they require at least 1. 5 billion doses of vaccine a day at six centres across the globe, which would entail untold logistics to be able to manufacture and supply it to all these six centres throughout the globe. It would take billions in, states Varaprasad.

No one has developed any vaccine here. People are only doing clinical trials yet. This is what was done for Remdesivir, too in small trials for 100 or 200 people. When everything seemed okay, these companies were given license to sell Remdesivir for Covid-19, elaborates Varaprasad Reddy.
Bengaluru: The financial stability as a consequence of the coronavirus-induced lockdown has led to more than 40,000 private school teachers losing their jobs across Karnataka.

Among the worst hit are the pre-nursery and primary schools, where no new admission has taken place. In pre-nursery schools, the government has banned online classes as well.

We have budget schools which charge somewhere between Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per year and give quality education. In this lockdown, over 25 per cent of the parents have not cleared the last years fees. Even though the government has asked the schools to collect tuition fees, not even 2-3 per cent parents have come forward to pay the fees, D Shashikumar , general secretary of Karnataka Associated Management of English Medium Schools (KAMS), stated.

While the situation is worse in budget schools, a few premium schools, too, have slashed teacher salaries by 30 to 50 per cent. This, despite these premier schools having already collected the fees.

Both the teaching and non-teaching staff were paid from the schools reserves for the first three months after the lockdown but how long can one continue without the governments aid? We demanded the government to lend a loan Rs 1,000 crore or provide the remuneration for the teachers. All the while the government did not bother to spend much on the noble profession, Shashikumar lamented.

In Karnataka, over 54.5 lakh students are enrolled in private schools while 8 lakh students are with the government schools.

Several teachers have found themselves in an unusual situation after classes went online recently. While many managed to teach, non payment of salary has sullied their efforts.

It is not easy to take classes online. We have not done it before. A lot of effort goes into it and the end of the day we do not get paid. My school is owned by a powerful politician and despite collecting fees from the students our salary was slashed by 30 percent in the month of May. Moreover, we are risking our lives by going to the schools to take classes when there are no students turning up. If nothing we expect dignity from the management, schools and the parents a school teacher on the condition of anonymity told the Deccan Chronicle.

In one instance of schools being reluctant to pay full salaries to teachers, a private school teacher was told by the management that she would have to let go of her increment as her techie husband also earns a salary.

Commenting over the issue, S R Umashankar, principal secretary to the government, primary and secondary education has said that the government is aware of the situation and is trying to find a solution.

The principal of SSMRV PU college, Vasanthalakshmi, said that while her school has done every arrangement of online classes, teachers have been reluctant to come before the camera.

The cameras are placed in the classes and the editing is done by the computer department. The teachers are just asked to take the classes but initially they did face issues, she remarked.
Posted Wednesday, July 8, 2020 10:35 am

There were few ripples Tuesday at businesses around the Seattle area as a new statewide order took effect mandating that businesses refuse service to customers who are not covering their nose and mouth to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Business owners at Crossroads Shopping Center in Bellevue said they didn't anticipate even having to enforce the order. "I haven't seen many people who aren't wearing masks," said Bulent Aki, the owner of Ebru Mediterranean Grill. Still, if an unmasked customer approached, he said he wouldn't hesitate to refuse service. "I'm going to follow the law. And I love it. My strong opinion is everyone should follow the CDC's guidelines. Period."

In pre-pandemic times, the mall would typically have been packed during the weekday lunch rush. Tuesday, only a dozen diners were seated scattershot around the mall's sprawling, but mostly empty, food court.

One of those was Microsoft employee Prem Prakash, who supports the new order and wants more restrictions on where people can be unmasked in public -- including at the food court, where eaters removed masks, as the guidelines allow, to dig in to their dosas and noodles.

"We have two choices. Either a return to total lockdown, which would be catastrophic for the economy, or go harder into reopening, which would stress the health care system," Prakash said from behind a respirator mask. "We will have to find new ways to act. And if businesses help us to follow these strict guidelines, that's a good thing."

But outside the Seattle metro area, where wearing masks has been less common, Tuesday saw a sharper shift.

Andy Thielen, the owner of T Brothers Liquor Lodge in Olympia, said Tuesday afternoon he's had to turn away several customers who weren't wearing face coverings -- something he said should fall to city officials rather than business owners.

"It's putting business owners in a very tough situation now that we're having to police," Thielen said. "We know we're already going to lose customers who have taken the stance that they don't want to wear masks."

The July 2 order, which took effect Tuesday, is the latest in a string of public health proclamations from Gov. Jay Inslee that have paused reopening plans and ratcheted up masking protocols around the state as the daily COVID-19 case count has climbed. Authorities believe the increase isn't wholly attributable to expanded testing, leading some officials to consider reversing steps they've taken to reopen the economy in recent weeks.

Inslee required Washingtonians to mask up in public two weeks ago. The same day, he mandated businesses in Yakima County, one of the places hardest-hit by the virus, to turn away unmasked customers. The latest order expanded that rule to the entire state.

In a news conference Tuesday, Inslee praised residents wearing facial coverings. Community leaders in both Western and Eastern Washington, Inslee said, have been telling him that more people appear to be complying with the requirement.

"This is a key to keep businesses open," said Inslee, later calling it "simply a life-saving step."

In King County, where most customers already wear masks as a matter of course, the order's enactment went virtually unnoticed.

At the downtown Redmond Trader Joe's, which has been limiting access to 40 shoppers at a time since the start of the pandemic, a greeter discouraged unmasked shoppers from entering the store -- but not many people without facial coverings typically try to shop there, an employee said.

Thielen, the Olympia liquor store owner, said he's concerned the order is coming at a time when business is just starting to trickle back

"For the first few weeks of the pandemic, it was very slow, since a large portion of our business is to bars and restaurants," Thielen said. "Then with the protesters coming downtown, people stayed away ... It's been a rough three or four months. For the governor to put it on us now to police this or potentially receive fines or have our license taken away -- I just don't think that's right to put this on business owners."

He continued, "I think there's still the obvious difficulty of being behind a mask since people take cues from facial expressions ... It's been a little awkward at times, but it just is kind of something we're all getting used to."

At McDaniel's Do It Center, a hardware store in Snohomish, only a few customers pushed back when they were asked to wear masks Tuesday, said manager Kevin Vieth.

"It hasn't been very difficult, but there is a lot of generalized grumbling," Vieth said, adding that most comments he's heard were from people who think it's too late to make a difference.

Other Washington employers said they feel Inslee's order makes it easier to ask customers to mask up because businesses, too, now have a stake in avoiding sanctions for allowing customers to shop unmasked.

People can complain anonymously about businesses not complying with the order via an online form on the state's coronavirus website. They can also contact the state Department of Labor and Industries, which will lead enforcement on the requirements, according to Inslee's office.

Tyson Crudup, who runs Sage Brewing Company in Pasco, said he's already been asking people to wear face coverings when they came in, so the new requirement makes enforcement smoother.

"It is an added layer of stress on the business owner," Crudup said. "But it's nice to have a little backing [from elected officials]. It gives us legitimacy."

At Donna's Travel Plaza in Tulalip, shift supervisor Misty Gonzales said the new order won't change how she interacts with customers. Already, when an unmasked customer enters, "We kindly remind them to wear a mask," Gonzales said. "Most go back to their trucks to get one. If not, we have some for sale."

As COVID-19 cases increase across Washington, Inslee said in his Tuesday news conference that more people need to wear masks, keep their distance and stay home and isolated from others if they are feeling ill.

He called the use of masks a new strategy to flatten the curve of new cases a second time after the state tamped down initial outbreaks with the stay-at-home order that shuttered thousands of businesses and barred many social activities.

"We can do this again," said Inslee. "This time we're going to do it use masks and social distancing and contact tracing. Different strategies, different tools. But we want to be able to use these new tools to open up our economy."

If new cases continue to rise, the state might ultimately have to go back to its heavier restrictions, said Inslee, who sported a Seattle Mariners mask during the news conference.

"If these trends were to continue, we would have to be prepared to go back to where we were in March," Inslee said.

State Health Officer Kathy Lofy described the number of new cases as "a dramatic increase" that can only be partly attributed to expanded testing.

The increase is occurring in both new cases and related hospitalizations, Lofy said, and is being seen across both Eastern and Western Washington.

And the rise is not confined to a handful of hot spots, like long-term care facilities or food-processing plants, that featured prominently earlier in the pandemic, she said. New cases are still arising from those spots.

But Lofy also said new cases are being reported from retail stores, restaurants and child care centers, as well as also spreading within households where someone is infected. "If COVID-19 activity continues to increase throughout Washington during the summer months, our hospitals could be full of COVID-19 patients moving into the fall," said Lofy. "Which would position us very poorly for the start of the school year and the anticipated fall wave" of the virus.

King County residents and businesses looking for free face masks should contact their cities or local chambers of commerce, said county spokesperson Chase Gallagher.

The county has distributed roughly 3 million masks so far and plans to hand out 7 million more through libraries and community groups in the coming weeks.
Mysuru: The body of a 22-year-old man who died in Malayasia seven months ago has finally reachced home in Periyapatna town in Mysuru district.

The long delay was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which put a stop to intnernational aviation.

Sumanth V was the eldest son on Shobha, a tailor, and Venktesh, a driver, of Periyapatna. He died in December 2019.

"Sumanth found a job on a ship at Sheeba in Malaysia less than a year ago. On 14 December 2019, he went missing. On 18 December he was found dead, allegedly due to drowning. His mother was asked by the Malaysian embassy to send her DNA report to confirm the identity of the body. After all the formalities, Sumanth's body was supposed to arrive back in India, but the process got delayed due to Covid 19 crisis. Though the Malaysian embassy proposed to finish the cremation there itself, his mother Shobha was persistent to send her son's body," Pavan Kumar told Deccan Chronicle.

Sumanth's body arrived at the Thiruchinapalli airport at 12 midnight and taken to his home in Rudrappa layout in Periyapatna at 9 am on Tuesday. Once his mother confirmed it was her son, the body was cremated at 10 am at Periyapatna on Tuesday.

"Being from a small town, as a few astrologers and temple priests had told Sumanth's mother that her son was still alive, his mother Shobha wanted the body to be brought home, to confirm if it was her son. After all our efforts with the support of Mysuru Kodagu MP Pratap Simha, the body was preserved in cold storage after embalming at a local government hospital at Sheeba in Malaysia. The body was at last supposed to arrive at Bengaluru international airport on 3 July. But further due to cancellation of flight, the body was supposed to arrive at Bengaluru airport by 15 June. So fearing further crisis due to covid 19, we insisted the Malaysian embassy to send the body to the nearest airport in India and we would collect the body from there," Pavan said.

At last the body was transported 6500 kms to Malaysian airport and sent in a flight from there, to Thiruchinapally on 6 July. While the body arrived at 9am on 6 July, it was handed over to family members after the formalities at 12am on 7 July.

Pavan Kumar and his family had taken Ambulance from Periyapatna with the financial support of local leaders and letters from local police and municipality to get necessary clearances (at check posts and airport), to Thiruchinapally airport. And they brought the body at 9am on Tusday.

Once the victim's mother confirmed the identity, the body was cremated within an hour's time on Tuesday.

"While it is being said that it is a suspicious unnatural death, the exact reason for the death is still not known. Though his mother is yet to recover from the pain of losing her son, her ambiguity on her son's death and her long wait to see her son has at last ended. ," Pavan said.
Students appearing for the CBSE board exams from next year will not have to study secularism, nationalism, federalism, demonetisation, GST, citizenship and democratic rights as these chapters, along with others, have been dropped from the syllabus to reduce the students course load amid the coronavirus crisis.

The Central Board of Secondary Education notified the new syllabus for Classes 9 to 12 for the 2020-21 academic session on Wednesday after cutting 30 per cent of the curriculum. A CBSE official said the changes in the syllabus were suggested by a committee of NCERT experts and were discussed by the board and subject experts before being made public. It also asked teachers to continue teaching the deleted topics to students if they felt it necessary.

Under the updated curriculum, the chapters deleted from the Class 10 syllabus deal with democracy and diversity, gender, religion and caste, popular struggles and movements and challenges to democracy.

For Class 11, the deleted portions are chapters on federalism, citizenship, nationalism, secularism and growth of local governments in India. Class 12 students will not have to study chapters on India's relations with its neighbours, the changing nature of India's economic development, social movements in India and demonetisation, among others.

While the news brought respite to students preparing for the exams, it set off a meme fest on the social media. Many academics criticised the move, saying it was ideologically driven and due to political considerations. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor thrashed the move, and Ms Banerjee urged the HRD ministry to ensure these vital lessons arent curtailed at any cost.

Core science subjects were affected too. The revised Class 11 Physics syllabus omits portions from Newtons Laws of Motion, Keplers law of planetary motion and the Doppler effect in waves.
As China pretends to negotiate, it has continued single-mindedly to capture, consolidate and arm the disputed islets. AFP Photo

The Southeast Asian countries have finally realised the futility of expecting that the long-delayed code of conduct would check Chinas predatory designs in the region. As China pretends to negotiate, it has continued single-mindedly to capture, consolidate and arm the disputed islets, trampling on the sovereignty of Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

At Aseans recent Hanoi summit, held virtually, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc warned that the international situation and international law have been seriously challenged during the global crisis. Pointing a finger at China, he said: While the entire world is stretched thin in the fight against the pandemic, irresponsible acts in violation of international law are still taking place, affecting security and stability in certain regions, including our region.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte added: As our region struggles to contain Covid-19, alarming incidents occurred in the South China Sea We call on parties to refrain from escalating tensions and abide by (their) responsibilities under international law.

Both Vietnam and the Philippines had protested in April against Chinas unilateral creation of new administrative districts on islands on which both Vietnam and the Philippines have long-standing rights and claims.

Vietnam was further aggrieved as one of its fishing boats was sunk by a Chinese maritime surveillance vessel in April.

Aseans June 27 statement unambiguously declared the 1982 UNCLOS is the basis for determining maritime entitlements, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests over maritime zones. China and all 10 Asean members are signatories to the UN Convention on Law of the Seas.

The leaders stressed the importance of freedom of overflights over SCS, making their position clear in case of any ill-advised Chinese attempt to declare any Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the area.

In 2013, China declared an ADIZ over vast tracts of the East China Sea, which was contested by several nations, including the United States, Japan and South Korea.

In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian arrogantly declared that every country has the right to establish an ADIZ, and said: In the light of air security threats China faces over SCS waters, China will carefully and prudently study the relevant issues, taking into account all factors.

These statements signal a stiffening of Asean leaders spine in challenging Chinas exaggerated and untenable claims in the SCS.

The Asean leaders also expressed concern over the land reclamations and serious incidents in SCS which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region.

Indonesia is also upset over Chinas increasingly aggressive claims around its Natuna Islands and complained to the UN in May that its economic interests were jeopardised by Chinas claims and 9-dash line.

When China responded by inviting Indonesia to negotiate what it called overlapping claims of maritime rights and interests , Indonesia replied to the UN on June 12, rightly stressing there was no reason to negotiate as Jakarta had no overlapping claims with China in the South China Sea.

Importantly, Philippines President Dutertes policy towards the United States is undergoing a 180-degree turn under the unrelenting cartographic, administrative and physical onslaught of China on Philippines maritime territory and EEZ.

President Duterte was very unhappy with US criticism of his governments human rights record, and last February he had decided to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement with the US, central to US troop deployments in the Philippines. However, in early June, its foreign minister said this move was suspended due to political and other developments in the region. Thus, President Dutertes policy of downgrading US ties has for now been halted.

It should be recalled that in July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration under UNCLOS at The Hague had clearly ruled in the Philippines favour that China had no historical rights based on 9-dash line map and upheld the Philippines claims on Scarborough Shoal. However, China rejected this award even as China is a signatory to UNCLOS.

Strangely, after his election later in the year, President Duterte did not press for the implementation of this award and adopted a course of friendship towards China. President Duterte has now realised the folly of extending an olive branch to China.

The Philippines reconsideration of the merits of its strong defence ties with the US was the result of continued Chinese provocations. A Chinese fishing fleet recently sailed near a Philippines-occupied islet and a Chinese survey vessel also came towards the area. In Chinas book of creeping aggression, its fishing boats and survey vessels form the vanguard.

It is significant that at present three US Navy aircraft-carriers are patrolling the Indo-Pacific region -- USS Ronald Reagan and USS Nimitz conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea on July 4-5 and are deployed in the Western Pacific. Since March, the US Navy had four sailings in the SCS, asserting its right of navigation.

At the virtual Brussels Forum 2020 on June 26, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the US was reviewing its global deployment of forces to ensure that it is postured appropriately to counter the rising Chinese military threat to countries like India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

On June 25, in a rare briefing for the foreign media, Japanese defence minister Tara Kono emphasised the need to watch Chinas military capabilities and intentions across Asia.

Chinas pre-meditated aggression all around its neighbourhood is a matter of deep concern. Its exaggerated unilateral territorial claims based on Orwellian lies need to be robustly contested by its aggrieved neighbours from the Asean members to India, and must be supported by all regional and global powers.
Hyderabad: A new study in Spain, one of the worst COVID-19 hit countries in Europe, has shown that the concept of herd immunity  something the Telangana state government was hoping to achieve by allowing the disease a near free-run with limited testingmight be a mirage to chase. Further, it might cause significant collateral damage to the people.

The study published online on July 6 by the medical journal The Lancet, examined evidence from 61,000 people across Spain and estimated that despite the intense epidemic in that country, just 5 per cent of the people had developed antibodies to the coronavirus.

Raising serious questions on pursing the concept of herd immunity, the study said the relatively low seroprevalence in Spain might serve as a reference to other countries.

At present, herd immunity is difficult to achieve without accepting the collateral damage of many deaths in the susceptible population and overburdening of health systems, the study said.

Deccan Chronicle had first reported in the last week of April that the Telangana state government and its health department had chosen the path towards herd immunity. Though officials spoke in private about this approach and even went to the extent of saying then that everyone would get infected by the coronavirus, herd immunity as a goal has never been announced as official policy.

Typically, herd immunity is considered achieved when 70-90 per cent of the population achieves immunity from a disease to protect the people who are uninfected. To get anywhere close to this status, vaccination is also required, along with allowing the spread of the disease.

Currently there is no vaccine for COVID-19 and the testing too is low in Telangana state which in turns leaves many infected persons from being identified.

More worrisome have been findings of two studies published in the middle of June that that have raised questions on the longevity of immunity among people infected by the SARS CoV2 causing Covid-19. While one study found that there was a serious possibility of infected people not producing long-lasting antibodies to provide immunity and leave them open to repeated infections, the second found that 40 per cent of asymptomatic individuals had undetectable levels of antibodies two to three months after being exposed to the virus.

Telangana state health department and the government, incidentally, have repeatedly asserted that 80 per cent of people who get infected will never show any symptoms and they will have nothing to worry about.

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Intl students in US may be deported if their universities switch to online-only classes due to COVID. (AP Photo)

New York: In a decision that will adversely impact hundreds of thousands of Indian students in the US, the federal immigration authority has announced that foreign students pursuing degrees in America will have to leave the country or risk deportation if their universities switch to online-only classes in this fall semester.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a press release on Monday that for the fall 2020 semester students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the US.

The US Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programmes that are fully online for the fall semester nor will US Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States, the release said referring to the September to December semester.

The agency suggested that students currently enrolled in the US consider other measures, like transferring to schools with in-person instruction.

International students enrolled in academic programmes at US universities and colleges study on an F-1 visa and those enrolled in technical programmes at vocational or other recognised non-academic institutions, other than a language training programme come to the US on an M-1 visa.

India sent the largest number of students (251,290) to the US after China (478,732) in 2017 and 2018, according to the latest Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) 'SEVIS by the Numbers Report' 2018.

The number of students from India increased from 2017 to 2018 by 4,157.

The immigration agency said that the active students currently in the US enrolled in such programmes "must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status or potentially face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.

It further said that students attending schools adopting a hybrid model, which includes a mixture of online and in-person classes, will be allowed to take more than one class or three credit hours online.

These schools must certify to the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme that the course is not entirely online, that the student is not taking an entirely online course load for the fall 2020 semester, and that the student is taking the minimum number of online classes required to make normal progress in their degree programme.

The guidance is certain to cause severe anxiety and uncertainty for the hundreds of thousands of international students who are studying in the country and for those who were preparing to arrive in the US to begin their education when the new academic session begins in September.

International travel restrictions in place due to the pandemic have made it increasingly difficult for foreign students in the US to return to their home countries, while those outside America are uncertain if they will be able to travel to join their courses in American colleges and universities.

The Trump administration has made a number of changes to the US immigration system, citing the coronavirus pandemic.

On June 22, it issued a proclamation, dramatically curtailing legal immigration to the US till December 31. Under this, people with L-1, H-1B, H-2B and J-1 visas were affected.
Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2020 7:48 pm

With ongoing spikes in cases of confirmed COVID-19 across Washington state, Gov. Jay Inslee attempted to assuage the public's fears that things are getting worse.

This is a good news press conference, Inslee said toward the end of what had been a media availability marked with questions on potentialities and worries over the state of Washington amid a resurgence of COVID-19. Maybe that will surprise you, but thats how I look at it.

Inslee spoke on the first day of a new mandate that requires businesses statewide to refuse service to those not wearing a face covering. The mandate, an expansion of an imposition in Yakima County previously in place, follows a similar requirement levied by the governor requiring all people to wear face masks in public, enacted late last month.

Inslee said that face masks are key for reopening businesses, saying research toward their effectiveness in stopping the spread of the disease indicated they are an important tool to stopping its spread.

We can easily put this education to work, if we choose to do so, Inslee said. I want to reopen our economy. I want to reopen our businesses. I want people to be able to go back to work.

Inslee expressed faith that businesses will adhere to the order, pointing back to their compliance with more restrictive orders toward the start of the pandemic. The governor addressed the potential backlash from customers who feel the mask mandate is against their preferences, though he said it should not be an issue that will draw any harm to those working in situations where they will have to withhold service.

Were not asking for people to get in any physical confrontations  just dont ring up the sale, Inslee said.

Inslee said that local leaders across the state are seeing tremendous increases in the number of individuals wearing masks already following the June 26 mask order, pointing to places in Yakima County and the Tri Cities areas which he said are seeing compliance around 90 percent.

People are realizing this is not a partisan issue, it is simply a lifesaving step, Inslee said.

Other than using masks, Inslee said continuing social distancing and washing hands remained measures to help stop COVID-19s spread.

Inslee also spoke about contact tracing efforts, asking citizens to speak with individuals conducting the tracing to help the procedure be effective. Should someone be contacted by a tracer, he asked for 14 days of isolation to prevent potential spread of the disease.

Both Inslee and Washington State Health Officer Kathy Lofy addressed the argument that the proliferation of testing in the past weeks and months had led to more prevalence of COVID-19 cases being recorded.

Inslee mentioned the positivity rate of tests, which he said has been increasing across the state.

In mid-June, it was about 3.8 percent of tests. But in the last week of June its risen to about 5 percent, and even higher in the last week, Inslee said, adding that the state is approaching levels where the World Health Organization deemed countries should not lift restrictions.

Lofy acknowledged that testing was a factor in the sheer number of confirmed cases, though she said other signals in the data showed a genuine increase in infection rates. Apart from recalibration of metrics at the state Department of Health, she acknowledged that the positivity rate also showed that more people were getting sick from COVID-19 in the state.

Lofy said that the worrying signals werent isolated events, but rather a phenomenon across the state. She said amped-up activity of the disease in the summer could exacerbate an anticipated fall wave of spread, potentially impacting the 2020-2021 school year.

Lofy said it was pretty simple to describe why COVID-19 has resurged, given that compared to the start of the outbreak people are gathering more, as restrictions on public interactions have been eased.

Lofy said those in the same household of someone with COVID-19 are at greatest risk to be infected, adding that worrisome outbreaks had also been seen in long-term care facilities, food processing plants, as well as retail, restaurants and child care facilities.

The health officer stressed the need for isolation for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

People are most contagious to others at the start of their illness, Lofy said. If you start to feel just mildly ill and go about your business and then decide to get tested a few days later, theres probably already several people who you have infected.

Inslee referred to data showing that the current number of new cases in the last two weeks have gone beyond the peak in April, now about 95.4 per 100,000 residents of Washington. He called out President Donald Trump, someone who continues to try and deceive Americans about (the COVID-19 pandemic), he said.

Six days ago he said this virus is just going away, Inslee said. This virus is only going to go away when we make it go away, and the tools we have available now are available to all of us.

I do not believe well be successfully controlling spread if only half of our population follows these measures, Lofy said. We really need almost everybody to follow these measures every day if we want to keep our economy open, and to send our kids to school (next year).

I believe we have the tools in our disposal  in our hands, just over the tip of our nose  that can allow us to have these things this summer, and next fall, and next winter, Inslee said.

Adorned with a Seattle Mariners-themed facemask, Inslee said the state was sort of in the bottom of the third inning.

We are not in the ninth inning of a nine-inning game, here. We simply are not done, Inslee said.
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A former pupil of Derry's top grammar school has helped Ireland win a seat on next year's United Nations Security Council.

Katerina Karakatsanis worked on the communications team for Ireland's recent campaign, one of the most sought after jobs in the very competitive world of international affairs.

She grew up in Boston but moved to Derry when she was 14 and completed her GCSEs and A-Levels at Lumen Christi College.

Katarina is the daughter of Derry woman Ann Karakatsanis (nee Mullan) and has a large extended family in the city.

Her father, Pantelis Karakatsanis, is from Kalymnos in Greece.

The UN Security Council is charged with ensuring international peace and recommends the admission of new members to the General Assembly.

This is only the third time in its 75-year history that Ireland has won a seat.

Kateria completed her A-Levels at Lumen Christi in 2010 before going on to study political science at McGill University in Canada.

She went on to obtain her Masters in conflict resolution at Kings College London where her dissertation focussed on the effect the memory of the Troubles had on young people living in Derry.

Before moving to New York, Katerina also lived and worked in London and Kosovo.

Her work for Ireland on communications during the UN Security Council campaign saw her write daily social media posts and create content to show Irelands work at the UN.

According to those involved in it, Ireland's campaign aimed to show the country's values of empathy, independence and partnership with other member state countries.
An SDLP Councillor has announced she is quitting the party as a result of its stance on abortion.

Stephanie Quigley will remain on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council as an independent councillor after she announced her resignation from the party on social media.

"As we journey through life there are always 'crossroads' moments and today I have made a really difficult but important decision to be an Independent Councillor," she said.

"I have had the privilege to work alongside great people and make some lifetime friends in the SDLP and I'll always be grateful for that."

Stephanie's father, Gerry McLaughlin, was an elected councillor for over two decades and she said his philosophy had also shaped her decision.

"The philosophy which my father espoused was based on non-violence and the right to life," she said.

I followed in his footsteps and held the right to life and the life of the unborn child as the cornerstone of my political philosophy.

"I have made friends for life within the party and wish them all the best for the future. I must however place the rights of those without a voice ahead of populism.

An SDLP spokesperson said they had accepted the resignation of Cllr Quigley, who has been a councillor for seven years.

They said: "The SDLP has accepted the resignation of Stephanie Quigley. We wish her well for the future."
When Aishwarya Rai Turned Down A Will Smith Film To Be Home With An Ailing Teji Bachchan: Family Always Comes First

Did you know that Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai and Hollywood actor Will Smith have always wanted to work with each other but things never really worked out. Will had offered her his films Hitch, Seven Pounds and Tonight He Comes but Aishwarya could not agree to any of them due to time constraints.

But for Seven Pounds, the reason was quite different to what was presented in the media. In 2008, Aishwarya told IANS that she did not turn down the film because she wanted to celebrate Karwa Chauth back home. Thats what they wrote in the US press... that I preferred to return to Mumbai to starve myself for a religious occasion than to meet Smith for the film. Thats completely incorrect, she had said.

The script reading for The Seven Pounds was just after Diwali when Dadimaa (Teji Bachchan)s health dipped drastically. So I didnt make that trip out to LA for the reading session with Will. Is that wrong? Not to me. Id any day put family over career.

About turning down Tonight He Comes, she had said, Thats true. I had to say no to Will for Tonight He Comes. I feel awful about it, but Ive my priorities very straight. Yes, family always comes first.

Also read: Kareena Kapoor remembers how Saroj Khan would scold her: If you cant move your feet, at least move your face

I really do want to do the film with Will. When we met we really hit it off. And the subject that he has in mind does sound very interesting for me as an actor and as someone who wants to be part of films that create a global impact, she had said in another interview with IANS in 2006. Unfortunately, Will wants to make the film during the time when Ill be shooting for Ashutosh Gowarikars Jodhaa-Akbar. But I am keen to do Wills film.

Will had reportedly offered the role to Aishwarya in 2005 when he visited India. Talking about her, he had said, I really wanted to work with her... She has this powerful energy where she doesnt have to say anything, do anything, she can just stand there. Anything shes making, Ill be there.
Hrithik Roshan To Discover Time Travel In Krrish 4, Film May Go On Floors In January 2021

Krrish 4, the 4th installment of Hrithik Roshans superhero series, is undoubtedly one of the most awaited films of the actor. Hrithik and his director father Rakesh Roshan are trying their best to make the film a total masterpiece and have been going over different ideas amid the lockdown. Well, latest reports suggest that after discussing several concepts, the makers have finalized the idea of the film and it may include intergalactic travel.

It was earlier reported that makers are planning on bringing back alien Jadoo, who won our hearts in Koi... Mil Gaya, the first film of the series. Well, to do so Krrish would need his late father Rohit Mehras help. As Rohits character was killed in the previous edition, the story will follow Krrishs quest to time travel and bring his father back to life. In a report shared by Mid-Day, a source was quoted saying, Rohit is integral to the story as he is the only person who can contact Jadoo. Rakeshji has designed the script cleverly to incorporate the much loved alien from Koi Mil Gaya.

The source further revealed that the film may go on floors in January next year and while the cast is yet to be determined, Priyanka Chopra will not be reprising her role this time. As Krrish 4 is an extremely ambitious project and fans have a lot of expectations from it, the director has entrusted Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies with the visual effects. The film will also feature an army of super villains, each with a different look, who will battle Krrish. Well we sure are excited to see what they have in store for the audience this time!
Posted Wednesday, July 8, 2020 10:31 am

Washington's weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions rose in June but remain less than half the level of the pandemic's spring peak, according to an analysis of Department of Health data.

Washington health officials are keeping a close eye on hospitalization levels amid a surge in the number of state residents testing positive. So far, there remains ample capacity in hospitals in the Puget Sound region and most other counties.

Statewide, COVID-19 hospitalizations tallied 211 admissions for the week that began June 21. That was 57.5% higher than the last week in May, when 134 patients were admitted with the virus. This trend is driven, in part, by increased hospitalizations in Yakima and some other eastern Washington counties. But it was still far below the 519 admissions of the week that began March 29, when severe outbreaks spread through elderly populations in assisted living facilities and other locations in the region.

The more recent COVID-19 cases have included a lot more younger Washingtonians, who often have milder cases of the coronavirus and are less likely to require inpatient care. And these case counts are increasing at a much faster rate than hospitalizations.

For the week of June 22, state testing detected 3,100 cases of the coronavirus, which was 67% higher than the number for the last week in May and more than double the count for the first week in May.

King County is part of the statewide upswing in positive case counts, jumping from an average of 40 in the beginning of June to an average of 100 by the month's end.

Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, health officer for Public Health -- Seattle & King County, said more than half of the new cases involve young adults between the ages of 20 and 39. And county hospitalization rates during the last two weeks of June were actually lower than they were earlier in the month, which Duchin attributes to the young ages of so many of those testing positive; they are generally healthy and less likely to develop severe disease.

In Snohomish County, Providence Regional Medical Center patient admissions for COVID-19 also have dropped dramatically. That hospital reached a peak count of 59 COVID-19 patients in April to an average census of 15 during the past week, according to Melissa Tizon, a Providence spokesperson in Washington.

Still, the Puget Sound region experiences of the spring, as well as the situations in Florida, Texas and Arizona, where COVID-19 patient admissions have surged, show the power of the virus. And Washington state and county health officials are wary of the future.

Duchin says the King County case surge "seriously threatens" health and the progress made in reopening the community. He notes that if the cases spread widely, even some younger people will be at risk of severe illness or death, and eventually they might pass it on to older adults and others more vulnerable to the disease.

"My opinion is all these factors will result in increasing hospitalizations lagging several weeks behind case counts," said Duchin, who urges people to step up COVID-19 prevention "big time," with more masking and distancing, and fewer gatherings outside the home.

East of the Cascades, some counties have had much later peaks in hospitalizations.

Franklin County, for example, had just two COVID-19 admissions for the week of March 29 as west-side admissions pushed the state to the spring peak. But Franklin County had 25 admissions during the week that began June 14.

COVID-19 patients may require lengthy hospitalizations so that the total patient count at hospitals across the state is significantly higher than the weekly admissions. Those numbers are tracked by the Washington State Hospital Association, which Tuesday reported a statewide total of 330 COVID-19 positive patients admitted to hospitals and another 137 who are suspected of having COVID. That's compared with an April 8 peak of 1,001 hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 and those suspected of being infected with the virus.

Many COVID-19 patients reside in specialized intensive care units with negative air pressure to reduce the infection's spread. Statewide, those rooms are at less than 60% occupancy, as of Tuesday, according to the hospital association.

Beth Zborowski, a hospital association spokesperson, said the most serious challenges often involve finding enough staff trained for the specialized care required for seriously ill COVID-19 patients.

But Zborowski said people with other types of health concerns should not be putting off visits to the doctor.
Firoz Nadiadwala Working On A Web Series And Film On Spymaster RN Kao, The Founder Of India's Intelligence Agency RAW

Film producer Firoz Nadiadwala says he is making a web series as well as a feature film on the life of legendary spymaster Rameshwar Nath Kao, the founder of India's external intelligence agency Research & Analysis Wing (RAW).

Nadiadwala said he has been working on the series for five years and it will be lavishly produced.

"We have been working on this project for five years. It's a story that deserves to be shared and known by everyone, hence we are making it first as a web-series with 20 episodes being planned at the moment. We are in talks with two major streaming platforms for it, Nadiadwala told PTI.

The producer said the film will be made simultaneously with the same cast and crew.

"This is first of its kind of a project and hence it has taken a lot of time not just in research but also on planning and execution," Nadiadwala said.

He said the team is finalising cast and crew for the yet-to-be-titled project.

"We have Nana Patekar playing Mr Kao. We are in talks with other actors. An announcement regarding the cast and crew of the series will be made soon," he added.

Kao, an intensely private man, was one of the founding fathers of the Directorate General of Security (DGS) in the aftermath of the disastrous Sino-Indian conflict in 1962 and brain behind the secretive Aviation Research Centre, India's premier technical intelligence agency.

A deputy director at the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Kao took over as director of RAW in 1968 after former prime minister Indira Gandhi split the former to carve out an intelligence agency focused on international threats. Also, he was a close adviser and security chief to three Indian prime ministers -- Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Nadiadwala said the web series/feature film will draw inspiration from several real-life incidents.

"We will show the history and formation of RAW, like Mr Kao was earlier head of IB and then was appointed as chief of RAW by Indira Gandhi ji and Jawarharlal Nehru ji and the several missions undertaken by him. Our story is inspired from several true covert missions which RAW executed in foreign countries and in India to protect our national security," he added.

The producer said the team is likely to begin the shoot from November.

"We will be shooting with utmost care. Safety and security of our cast and crew is crucial to us. We will have PPE kits and other necessary equipment in place as and when we begin shoot," he said.

Earlier this year, filmmaker Karan Johar had announced that he is set to make a film on Kao and recently producer Sunil Bohra also revealed that he is producing a thriller web series on the spymaster.

Nadiadwala said he is not worried about the comparison and wished the other two producers good luck.

"We started our research work in 2015. If somebody else also wishes to make a web series or movie on the similar subject, we wish them all the best. We are in advance stage of commencing work."
Armenias Ucom has thrown down a legal challenge against Team LLCs proposed merger with Veons Armenian unit Beeline.

Team LLC was founded in April this year by former Ucom executives the Yesayan brothers, after they divested their shares in Ucom due to disagreements over the operators management. In May, Veon abandoned its talks of a potential merger with Ucom, and the following month Team lodged a bid to acquire 100% of Veon Armenia.

After the State Commission of the Protection of Economic Competition of the Republic of Armenia (RA SCPEC) asked Ucom to clarify its position on the proposal, the operator deemed the merger of Team LLC and Veon Armenia to be subject to rejection on several grounds.

Ucom argued that Team had engaged in unfair and unscrupulous competition by using Ucom's undisclosed confidential information while negotiating with Veon. It added that negotiations for equivalent acquisitions typically take months, and the fact that Team had reached a deal within a month was both unfair competition and prohibited.

Having issued its rebuke of the proposal to the regulator, Ucom has demanded that the merger be prevented, instructing its lawyers to undertake all possible legal measures to block the acquisition.
The government of Chad has launched a new initiative aimed at modernising the countrys networks.

Chadian Minister of Posts, New Technologies and ICT Idriss Saleh Bachar was quoted by local news outlet Tchadinfos.com as saying that the ultimate goal was to build a strong and resilient national economy.

As reported by TeleGeography, there are three major steps towards this goal. The first will be to inaugurate a national data centre in Chads capital city of NDjamena, followed by the deployment of 1200km of fibre optic cable in a nationwide network connecting the countrys major cities.

While this deployment will focus on cities other than the capital, connecting the southern city of Doba to the eastern Iriba via Koumra, Sarh, Kyabe, Am-timan, Abeche, Amzoer and Guereda, there are also plans to deploy 50km of cable in NDjamena. Additionally, the government is aiming to build 200 new GSM sites across Chad.

While the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has impacted Chads economy, the minister noted that the new programme represented a new hope for the entire country.
A premium residential internet service has been launched in Brazil, courtesy of global communications company Viasat.

The availability of what the company describes as reliable, high-speed, high-quality internet service for residential customers in Brazil means that, once the rollout is complete, Viasat expects to be the only satellite ISP capable of making high-speed internet available in 100 percent of the country.

Viasats service uses bandwidth from the Telebras SGDC-1 satellite to deliver satellite internet services. The service is launching across eight states including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Parana, Rio Grande do Sul, Federal District and Amazonas. It will then be rolled out across the country, with an expected completion date before the end of 2020.

Brazilian residents across the initial launch states can now subscribe to a home satellite internet service with speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps) and data packages that go up to 80 gigabytes of data per month.

Viasat offers two plans: a basic plan (Viasat 10Mega) and an advanced plan (Viasat 20Mega). Each plan includes download speeds of up to 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps respectively, along with in-home Wi-Fi. The plans include what the company calls unique features, such as unlimited chat and browsing, and also a free zone from 2:00am to 7:00am local time.

Viasat is working with local company Visiontec to provide in-market sales, fulfilment and technical support for the residential internet service. Visiontec has over 27 years experience working in the manufacture and design of analogue and digital receivers for satellite and terrestrial TV and connectivity services.
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States sue US department over virus relief funds for schools

Tens of millions of dollars could be diverted from public schools in the poorest districts to pricey private institutions, the lawsuit says.



By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ and DAVID EGGERT

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO  The U.S. Department of Education is attempting to take pandemic relief funds away from K-12 public schools and divert the money to private schools, California and four other states argued in a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Trump administration. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the lawsuit, which was joined by Maine, New Mexico, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The suit also names Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as a defendant.



. . .

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SEATTLE  Mayor Jenny Durkan has 10 days to either sign or veto the new tax on businesses with highly paid employees passed by the Seattle City Council on Monday.

The JumpStart Seattle tax is designed to raise more than $214 million a year to address the COVID crisis and later to support city services and affordable housing.





. . .
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LAKEWOOD  The Boral Stone property at 10920 Steele St. S. sold for $6.1 million, according to Pierce County records.

The seller was parent company Boral Stone Products LLC of Georgia, which had owned the property for decades.





. . .
Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2020 3:21 pm

Pearl the Peking duck has several things going for her: 1.) shes not for dinner; and 2.) shes a duck, so she neednt worry about COVID-19.

Otherwise, the poor girls a wobbling wreck.

But her future is looking significantly brighter after a veterinarian on Tuesday, June 30, amputated both of her webbed feet and a portion of each leg.

Well get back to that shortly, but first heres a little history: The talkative 4-month-old quacker was born the first week of April with both legs splayed out to the side like malfunctioning landing gear. Pearls owner and rescuer Tamborine Borelli  who has lived in unincorporated Thurston County near Yelm since 2006  taped the legs in place hoping they would develop naturally, but slipped tendons discovered too late to correct sealed Pearls fate.

As Pearl grew older and her weight and size increased, her joints began to twist, eventually causing one foot to atrophy like a crab claw and the other to turn inward. The combination of maladies left her unable to stand or maintain balance  causing her to use her beak like a walking cane to keep from falling and needing help to eat and drink.

Pearl is one of Borellis brood of beloved rescue animals, and the 49-year-old decided recently to take Pearls plight to the public, going so far as to set up a GoFundMe page for the cute, white, waterfowl. To date, she has raised $585 of the $1,000 she seeks.

Borelli wants to replace Pearls mangled legs with prosthetic legs and feet that will presumably allow her to function normally. Pearls new plastic-and-rubber appendages will be made using 3D printing technology.

As of Tuesday, July 7, Pearl had completed about half her expected recuperation and was due to have her stitches removed next week.

Dr. Bridget Ferguson at Pine Tree Veterinary Hospital in Maple Valley, who performed the surgery, noted in an email last week that Pearl did great after her double foot amputation. She is resting peacefully and is on pain medications. She will need frequent bandage changes, medications and lots of TLC.

Ferguson had previously discussed the challenges of Pearls prosthetic journey.

The most difficult aspect of the process, she wrote, is making sure the end of the limbs heal 100 percent and has some toughening to allow for the prosthetic to be on for extended times.

And though just about anything will improve Pearls current painful existence, Ferguson cautions against sky-high expectations.

Sadly, no prosthesis will likely function exactly as the natural one, she wrote. The complexity of simply walking and all the movements that go into that currently cannot be replicated in an artificial limb. What we are looking for is the ability to get around better and have a better quality of life than we currently have.

Borelli, who as an independent candidate lost in the 2018 primary election for the U.S. House 10th Congressional District, has been heavily involved in animal rescue organizations for about 10 years and increased her rescue activities after recently losing her job as a spa director due to the coronavirus recession. In the process, she adopted Pearl and Lucy from someone who had purchased the ducks from a local feed store then decided that caring for them was just too much.

So in stepped Borelli like a sort of guardian in waiting.

When I was 5 years old, I said to myself, Im going to be rich, and Im going to have a mansion and every room will be for a stray dog or cat.

Or duck.

Turns out she never obtained the mansion, but her rural Thurston County three-bedroom home on a lush 5 acres has just about the same number of animals she originally envisioned: nine dogs, four cats, 20 chickens and six ducks  all rescues.

The animals somehow seem to find you one way or the other, Borelli said, alluding to the variety of animal rescue organizations to which she belongs. Its a very intricate network of people who really care about animals and are committed to finding them their forever homes.

Forever for Pearl and Lucy should be from 9 to 12 years if they live out their whole lives. And for Pearl, thats an awful long time to suffer if crippled.

So Borelli decided to take the matter into her own hands  but failed.

After trying to fix her legs and being frustrated about not being successful, I couldnt bear the thought of her going through life in pain and struggling to do the simplest of natural duck behavior, she said. So I asked, How could this be rectified?

That prompted her to begin digging, and sure enough she discovered that in 2013 another duck named Dudley had successfully undergone surgery and that the design for his prosthetic feet still existed. The trick, then, would have been to apply Dudleys existing design to the size and shape of Pearls feet and legs.

But, alas  as of Monday, July 6  it appeared that Dudleys prosthetics would not fit Pearl because her joints were too deformed, Borelli said. So now Borelli must find a new engineer to make Pearls prosthetics based on measurements taken after Pearls stitches come out.

Borelli isnt wasting time: She has already reached out to the University of Washington engineering program to see if it would like to be part of Pearls team.

I am interested in creating legs for Pearl that look and feel more like a real ducks rather than mechanical and robotic, Borelli said. With todays technology, I think we can achieve that.

And thats part of the challenge facing Chris McAloney, engineering operations manager at Proto3000, an engineering company in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. Proto3000 specializes in 3D printing, 3D laser scanning, 3D CAD design and lots of other complicated engineering stuff  and it makes rubber-and-plastic duck feet, as it did for Dudley.

McAloney noted that the prosthetics engineering and fitting process is typically trial and error.

As with any prosthetic, either for an animal or human, there will certainly be an adjustment period as she gets used to this new sensation, he explained. Ducks we have seen in the past seem to go right into normal movements, and adapt well.

Though the situation continues to evolve, McAloney envisions Pearls new feet to be black  which will contrast nicely against her white feathers  and probably weigh from 100 to 200 grams. And based on Pearls measurements obtained following her surgery, the feet should be no more than 1-to-2 inches high, McAloney said.

Borelli had expected the whole process  surgery, engineering and manufacture  to cost from $2,000 to $5,000, but Ferguson performed the surgery for free and charged Borelli just for Pearls initial exam and subsequent medications. So the total price is still up in the air  and could rise if new prosthetic blueprints are required.

Meanwhile, Borellis aware that her GoFundMe contributions will suffer in a pandemic thats caused extensive economic turmoil.

Even $5 from a lot of people would really help, but I know the position people are in today, because I, myself, am unemployed because of COVID-19, she said.

That said, 23 people as of Tuesday, July 7, had contributed to Pearls cause  seven of them for $50 apiece.

But regardless of her fundraising haul and other potential compromises on her total bill, Borelli expects to pay some of Pearls cost out of pocket, though the attitudes of Pearls caregivers have thrilled her.

The cool thing is that these professionals seem very willing to help, she said. Their inspiration seems to be to help Pearl.

Borelli, of course, thoroughly understands that concept. Before Pearls surgery, shed heard her feathered pets plaintive cries throughout the day as Pearl tried in vain to find comfortable resting positions.

Nobody can really know the degree of stress Pearl had  as it was stressful for me, too  because some people who knew about the situation would just say cull her, she said. But Pearl just deserves a chance at life.

To access Pearls GoFundMe page, visit

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-pearl-the-duck-get-new-legs?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&rcid=a182baeb004444f5bb2a680ff94306a6
The first thing many celebrities do when they become rich and famous is splash their cash on expensive motors. Its a self-fulfilling prophecy: celebrity buys flashy, expensive car; the paparazzi and tabloids have a field day taking photos of said flashy car; celebrity becomes even more famous.

But money cant buy taste, and sometimes the paparazzi are laughing at celebrities rather than with them. Some famous people have spent oodles of money on either terrible cars or making cars terrible  think Kanye Wests Lambo Urus, deadmau5s awful Purrari or will.i.ams butchered DeLorean.

Dolph Lundgren might be an exception to that rule, however. The Swedish action movie stars buff exterior belies a man of intelligence and taste (did you know he studied a masters in chemical engineering at the University of Sydney?). Hes also a serious automotive enthusiast.

Lundgren was recently spotted on the streets of LA enjoying his Fourth of July with a quick spin in a fine Italian automobile  one that demonstrates his impeccable taste and constitutes a masterclass in the art of the subtle flex.

Lundgrens Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is a beautiful car. Interestingly, Lundgren opted for a silver model instead of a more eye-catching colour: some people consider it sacrilege to spec a Ferrari in anything other than red, but we reckon the silver looks great on such a beautifully proportioned 00s grand tourer.

The 612 Scaglietti, produced from 2004 to 2010, is the perfect combination of performance, comfort and style: it can fit four people easily, but thanks to its sleek 2+2 profile (and whopping 5.7L V12 with an output of 397kW / 533hp) its got more than enough get-up-and-go to escape any baddies.

Its still a Ferrari but its a more subtle, grown-up model. The silver paint job lets it blend in with the more pedestrian American large sedans on Californias streets, but those in the know will spot that iconic yellow horse and know whats up. Lundgrens not looking to stunt on people: he drives his 612 because he likes it. And its that quiet confidence thats truly cool.

The subtle flex is far cooler than being ostentatious. Take Conan OBriens subtle Panerai watch flex in Japan last year. OBriens not afraid to be goofy and have some fun (hes a comedian, after all) but when push comes to shove, he knows his stuff.

Its also nice to see Lundgren give his old 612 a spin, considering hes got quite the car collection, with beauties like a Ferrari FF (the 612s successor), a Shelby Cobra MkIII and a Corvette C2 in his possession.

Nice job, Dolph.

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South Africa: Motshekga condems rape of KZN learner

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has welcomed the arrest of a 17-year-old minor for allegedly raping a Grade 7 learner in Bulwer, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) said police indicated that the 12-year-old learner was reportedly raped after having left school to go home to fetch her face mask, which she had forgotten.

We commend the swift action by Donnybrook SAPS [South African Police Service] in apprehending the 17-year-old suspect and the seriousness with which they are handling the case. The department will continue to ensure that the leaner, who is a minor, receives the necessary psycho-social support from the District Auxiliary Support Services and her identity is protected as she comes to terms with this painful ordeal.

Rape is a crime, whose perpetrators deserve the stiffest punishment. The rape of this learner once again shines the light on the scourge of gender-based violence ripping our communities apart. We reiterate our profound sadness and anguish over this painful and shameful event. GBV is a profound human rights violation, with major social and developmental impacts for survivors of violence, as well as their families, communities and society more broadly, said Motshekga.

On an individual level, said the department, GBV leads to psychological trauma, and can have psychological, behavioural and physical consequences for survivors.

Many survivors of GBV, and rape in this particular incident, are unable to access the help they need. Families and loved ones of survivors can also experience indirect trauma, and many do not know how to provide effective support, the department said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Ta Dung national park is located in Dak Nong geopark



Located on the MNong plateau at average elevation of 600-700m above sea level (asl), with the highest point being Ta Dung at 1,982m asl, Dak Nong Geopark - the Land of Sounds - covers an area of c.4,760km2 of the northern districts of Dak Nong province in Vietnams Central Highlands.

The Geopark can be reached by several routes by land and air, including 2 international border gates with Cambodia. Characterized by sub-equatorial tropical monsoon and plateau climate, the area features an evenly distributed network of rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs. A population of c.416,000 people of 40 ethnic groups, including three autochthonous, live in the area, occupied mostly in agro-forestry, trade and services, and small industries.

Many archaeological, historical and cultural relics as well as scenic spots are recognized and conserved. Many festivals and traditions celebrated by ethnic cultures, in particular the UNESCO Gong Culture Space intangible heritage (including the mans oldest lithophone) also contribute to the values of the Geopark.

According to the UNESCO, Dak Nong Geopark is distinctive in terms of geological features and geoheritage value. Being a piece of the Gondwana ancient supercontinent, from about 200-165 Ma ago it was deeply submerged into a passive continent marginal sea, very rich in ammonite and bivalve fossils. This continental margin later, during 145-66 Ma ago became active due to plate collision, with red-bed sediments, eruptive andesite-dacite-rhyolite and intrusive gabbro-diorite-granodiorite-granite rocks.

During the last 16.5 Ma, the territory became active again with wide-spread, multi-phase volcanic activities, forming a basalt cover over more than 50% of the Geopark area. These have been the source of some of the worlds largest and top quality bauxite deposits and a number of other minerals (sapphire, semi-precious stones etc.), and especially the fertile soils that have fed generations of local people with many industrial and fruit tree crops.

In particular, young volcanic activities about tens of thousands of years ago (Late Pleistocene-Holocene) have resulted in spectacular craters, majestic waterfalls and Southeast Asias most extensive system of hundreds of magnificent volcanic caves, many of which have been used by prehistoric people as shelter since at least 6,000-10,000 years ago.

Following the UNESCO recognition, relevant agencies including the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Dak Nong Provincial administration, as well as international experts will jointly map out plans on environmental protection, nature conservation, and rational use of resources in the park. They aim to preserve and maximize the value of geology, biodiversity, culture, history, as well as national tradition of Dak Nong Geopark.

Dak Nong Geopark is the third UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark in Vietnam after Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark in Ha Giang province and Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in Cao Bang province, both in northern Vietnam./.
Posted Wednesday, July 8, 2020 10:27 am

Frontier Communications Northwest will pay $900,000 to Washington state -- most of which will then go to customers -- after an investigation by the attorney general's office found the company charged customers undisclosed fees and misled them about the speed of its internet service, according to a legal agreement to be filed in Thurston County Court.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson's office said in a news release that Frontier charged customers monthly internet infrastructure surcharges without adequately disclosing those fees. The legal agreement requires the company to be transparent with customers over fees in the future and stop the internet surcharges.

Most of the $900,000 payment to the state will go toward restitution to Frontier customers, according to the news release. More information will be made available about a claims process in the future, the news release said.

The agreement also requires Frontier Northwest to "be transparent about its available internet speeds," according to the news release.

Frontier Northwest provides internet, cable and telephone services to mostly rural customers in Washington. At its peak, the company served more than 165,000 internet customers, according to Ferguson's office.

Ferguson's office began investigating Frontier Northwest in 2018 after receiving more than 600 complaints about the company, according to the news release.

"Broadband access is integral to our daily lives," Ferguson said in the release. "The current pandemic has only amplified its importance. Knowing the true cost and speed of our internet connection is essential to make an informed decision about a service that connects us to our work and to each other. Companies must be able to deliver what they promise, at the price they advertise."

Northwest Fiber purchased Frontier Northwest earlier this year in a $1.352 billion deal. Approval of the deal by the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission requires Northwest Fiber to invest some $50 million in broadband infrastructure.
Cheap flights were to 2019 what rude sunburn is to Mykonos. As 2020 coughed us into hiding, however, the future of ~travel~ became as uncertain as when youll get your next naughty tan.

Throughout it all though, cheap airfares have remained constant. The trillion-dollar question is how long theyll last.

Theres no Lonely Planet guide to this. However, to get an idea, DMARGE spoke to Rico Merkert, Professor and Chair in Transport and Supply Chain Management at the University of Sydney.

We put to Rico the argument made in a recent ESCAPE article, where Brian Pearce, chief economist at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) was quoted as saying cheap (international) flights will likely last about two years (before debt, subsidies ending and renewed demand see prices get back to normal, possibly higher).

While Rico was quick to point out no one knows what COVID 19 will do next, he backed Pearces take up, telling DMARGE, In principle I agree with that IATA comment.

That said, This is not over yet and at least outside Australia [is] a very fluid situation, Rico told us. Domestically we may see prices going up in the core routes quite quickly (assuming the outbreak in Victoria is brought under control) but internationally no one knows what is going to happen.

For now, cheap domestic flights appear set  for the time being  to continue, with Qantas last week elbowing in on regional carrier Rexs Sydney to Orange route with undercutting fares (Qantas is currently offering round trips in the $360 vicinity while Rex is offering the same for $412).

Qantas also just announced a points partnership with Afterpay.

Both these changes come after Alan Joyce teased (then delivered) $19 Sydney to Melbourne flights with Jetstar, made Qantas much awaited Sydney to Byron Bay flight route a reality, and delivered tantalisingly cheap (sub $100) Jetstar return trips on the same route, all in the last few months.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Qantas (@qantas) on Jun 4, 2020 at 7:08pm PDT

Meanwhile, Rex has been spreading its wings too (see: The Obscure Regional Carrier That Could Replace Virgin Australia) and Virgin Australia has been making moves to become leaner and meaner, focussed on stealing the middle market out from under Qantas on high traffic domestic Australian routes (it still has a hell of a long way to go, but that appears the plan).

All these changes are positive news for Aussies looking to scratch their wanderlust domestically in the next few months.

However, as professor Merkert points out, prices, especially on popular corridors, can jack up quickly (as soon as there is requisite demand). On top of that, as we reported in May, once airlines have coaxed us back into the air, there is going to be a lot of debt to service, so in the immediate years after The Return Of Demand prices could be, if anything, higher.

Not to mention, as Traveller reports, Any fire-sales [pricing] are likely to be shortlived by the new era of COVID-19-impaired aviation because the costs of implementing and maintaining an extensive new regime of health and hygiene measures are certain to be astronomical and passed directly onto the consumer.

Other experts have warned domestic Australian flight prices could rise by 50%, thanks to this years shakeup.

Traveller flagged the situation in the US as a point of comparison: Airlines in the US are already discovering that they cant escape the realities of social distancing in the air.

Not only have many blocked out middle seats but also those on either side of passengers. Inevitably, and in a sign of the COVID-19, vaccine-free air travel landscape set to emerge, one airline has even started charging for the reassurance of a empty seat next to you.

Traveller also pointed out Alexandre de Juniac, director-general and chief executive of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) declared in April that if social distancing on flights remains imposed, cheap travel is over.

So, unless airlines can convince people to go back to the knee-to-knee days (and even then) $19 Sydney to Melbourne flights (say) as a widespread policy will probably never be economical.

In the aviation industrys defence, as Australia recovers from the pandemic, cheap flights will be a crucial economic building block. So while we shouldnt expect them in the long term, we may as well enjoy them while we can.

Byron Bay awaits

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To kick off the start of tax-free weekend next Friday, Downtown will be home to Main Street Enterprises Back to School Bash.

Starting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 17, and ending at 9 p.m., businesses in Downtown Enterprise will stay open later than usual and are set to have special promotions and tax-free shopping on qualifying items. While the event will not close off the downtown area, there will be a DJ for shoppers to enjoy as they walk from store to store.

In addition to promoting local shopping for the weekend, the Back to School Bash will feature a pop-up event at Enterprise Public Library, where parents can receive information on local after-school programs and extracurricular activities. A complete list of organizations will be published at a later date. The library will be open for this event beginning at 4:30 p.m. and will remain open for at least two hours.

Cassidi Kendrick, Main Street Enterprise director, said the main goal of the bash is to encourage residents to shop local for the tax free weekend to support our local businesses and the downtown area.

Alabamas 15th annual sales tax holiday for school-related items begins at 12:01 a.m. July 17 and ends at midnight July 19.

For a comprehensive list of taxable and tax-exempt items, visit https://revenue.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/STHolidayQuickRefSheet20.pdf.
At last weeks work session, the board said safety measures would include random temperature checks, encouraged use of masks/ face shields for both faculty and students and hand-sanitizing stations. A key component in preventing the spread of the virus in schools is having parents/guardians perform daily temperature and wellness checks at home before students leave the house each morning.

For those who do not feel comfortable yet with their child returning to school, the option to learn from home is available. The State of Alabama purchased a curriculum from Florida Virtual School, a leader in distance learning for the last 20 years. While the mode of delivery was not finalized, several ideas were discussed including having children learning from home tune in to classes in real time via Google Classroom or other similar programs. Not only do the children get to stick to a familiar routine, they will also have the opportunity to ask questions the moment they need to and participate in class discussions.
EHS JROTC Rifle Team tryouts set for July 20-23

The Enterprise High School Wildcats Army JROTC Rifle team is looking for new members that are dedicated, hardworking, and self-motivated to fill vacant positions for the upcoming 2020-21 competition season.

Tryouts will be conducted from 8-10 a.m. on July 20-23 at the JROTC rifle range at EHS. Students who are selected for the rifle team will be required to enroll in the Army JROTC Program. Positions are limited.
MONTGOMERY  States like Alabama with soaring coronavirus infection rates have a window of opportunity to bring it under control, the countrys top infectious diseases expert said Tuesday as he spoke in favor of state and local requirements to wear face coverings in public.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Diseases, said the United States is in the midst of a resurgence of new coronavirus cases, sometimes seeing daily cases almost double over the countrys previous baseline high. He said that differs from other countries that saw a decline after a baseline high.

We are facing a serious problem now, Fauci said in a news conference with Alabama Sen. Doug Jones.

Infection rates have been rising particularly in the South and West.

What is alarming is the slope of the curve, Fauci said about the rise in cases in Alabama.

He added that the state isnt yet at the point of exponential growth. You have an opportunity, a window to get your arms around this and to prevent it from getting worse.

Fauci said he supports state and local mandates to wear face coverings in public. He said they are beneficial to avoid sending mixed signals on the helpfulness of masks.

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GENEVA  A Geneva County woman who pleaded guilty to a harassment charge in February is now charged with murder in the shooting death of Danah Hudson Johnson, 40, of the Bellwood community.

Andrea Charlene Wambles, also of the Bellwood community, was arrested June 30 after Geneva County sheriffs deputies found Johnson shot multiple times in the upper torso. She died at the scene.

According to court documents, Wambles pleaded guilty to a harassment charge in February and received a 90-day sentence, which was suspended. She also was placed on unsupervised probation for 24 months.

Geneva County Assistant District Attorney Amanda Smith filed a motion to revoke Wambles suspended sentence after she was charged.

Geneva County District Judge Stephen Smith has set a hearing for July 15 to address the motion to revoke Wambles suspended sentence. Wambles preliminary hearing also is scheduled for July 15.

Wambles remains at the Geneva County Jail on a $200,000 bond.

Law enforcement believes the shooting occurred over an ongoing feud between Wambles and Johnson, believed to be related to a male acquaintance of both women.

During the investigation, officers found Wambles vehicle hidden in the woods near the scene. A pistol investigators believe to be the one used in the shooting also was found.

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Four Wiregrass area inmates classified as violent offenders will seek release before the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles next week.

Raymond Doss of Houston County is serving a life sentence handed down in 2005. According to court documents, he was convicted on a charge of first-degree rape in Houston County and has served 19 years, five months.

According to the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, Doss was previously paroled in his criminal career. He was convicted in 1998 on two counts of third-degree burglary in Houston County. He was sentenced to serve four years, but was paroled after serving nine months.

He was sent back to prison in 2000 on a 15-year sentence for attempt to commit a controlled substance crime in Houston County, but was released from prison after serving less than one-third of his sentence.

Dustin Flowers of Houston County was sentenced to a 17-year sentence for a violent crime of trafficking methamphetamine and for manufacturing a controlled substance in Houston County. Flowers has served nearly six years of his sentence.

According to the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, Flowers was previously convicted of third-degree escape, third-degree burglary and second-degree receiving stolen property in Houston County.
Dothan police and agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration raided a West Main Street pharmacy just before noon Wednesday

Multiple law enforcement agents filled the parking lot of Allens Pharmacy at 1518 W. Main St., Suite 2, as agents searched the business.

Dothan police Chief Steve Parrish said the investigation is a joint effort between his department and the DEA.

Information is limited at this time, Parrish said. I can tell you this investigation has been going on for some time.

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Basis for probe

The investigation revolves around pharmaceutical transactions.

We are currently searching the business and records belonging to the business, Parrish said. Arrests and business closure could be a possibility.

Allens Pharmacy is owned by Allen Strickland.

The US Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Alabama is overseeing the investigation.

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Enterprise Police seek help from area residents in the search for a missing Enterprise woman.

Cynthia Lynn Kunis, 35, was last seen on July 4 when she left her residence. She is 5 feet tall, 120 pounds, with hazel eyes and blonde hair. She was wearing a gray shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes.

Kunis may be travelling in a black 2003 Volkswagen Jetta with Alabama tag 19CR916.

Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of Kunis is asked to call the Enterprise Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division (334) 347-2222.

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In elementary schools, breakfast will be served in the classrooms; at Dothan Preparatory Academy and Dothan High, breakfast will be a grab-and-go option only.

For lunch, roughly half the student body will be able to eat in the cafeteria to adhere to social distancing recommendations while the other half will be served in the classroom.

At Dothan High, a plan is being developed to create an outdoor seating area for meals. Edwards said she is hoping the area will be ready in time for students return to school. Principal Bill Singleton has been charged with making a rotating schedule to allow groups of students to eat in the designated area at one time.

Contingency plans

While menus will remain basically the same. Edwards said some wet foods like grits or soups will be eliminated from the menu to reduce spills.

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Dothan City Schools has been careful to create a plan to reopen schools with an eye toward flexibility, officials said. Our intent is the reopening of school in a traditional fashion. Naturally, any plan is contingent on the track that the coronavirus takes and also on complying with any executive or statewide orders.
Today 48 states award all of their electoral votes to the winner of the statewide popular vote. (Maine and Nebraska award two electors to the winner of the statewide vote and one to the winner of each congressional district.) Many voters likely dont realize that they are actually choosing electors who will gather in their states in December to cast the ballots that decide the race.

Kagan also emphasized that states have taken steps to bind electors to the voters will. Thirty-two states impose such obligations, and 15 of those states impose some sort of sanction on faithless electors, with most of them providing for the replacement of renegade electors.

Mondays decision does justice to the long historical practice of choosing electors through popular elections. But it also is true to the framers overriding purpose: to entrust the selection of electors to the states, which have decided to honor the voters wishes. To further deter faithless electors, states that dont have laws calling for defiant electors to be replaced  California among them  should enact them.
Supporters of two GOP hopefuls vying for Alabamas 2nd Congressional District seat would surely think their chosen candidates did an outstanding job in a televised political forum hosted by WTVY on Tuesday. Each underscored his conservatism, his business acumen and his unwavering support of the Republican incumbent president, Donald Trump, along with nods to the importance of the military and agriculture to the economy of our district.

However, there was a great deal missing: Neither candidate spoke to plans to improve the Wiregrass area by bringing jobs, fostering industrial growth, energizing the creation of infrastructure or addressing social ills that confound our nation. For the most part, the debate included many of the same sound bites from the candidates ad campaigns  there was little substance about the future of the 2nd District woven into the political rhetoric.

That should leave voters, especially those who were hoping for something to separate the two candidates, significantly disappointed.
One would be hard-pressed to find someone in America who isnt familiar with the name George Floyd. It stirs a lot of emotion, as the name stands as shorthand for the issue of Black men and women killed by police, or the larger context of historic, systemic racial oppression in the U.S. There are others who see Floyd as an unworthy martyr whose criminal past would eclipse the horror of his unnecessary death.

George Floyd may well become a catalyst for lasting change in American society. In many ways, change has already begun.

Royta Giles should be a catalyst for change as well. His name is largely unknown, but his unnecessary death should resonate across all racial, class, and socioeconomic barriers.

Royta was an 8-year-old out with his family in a suburban Birmingham shopping mall when he was struck and killed by gunfire from quarrelling youths in the mall. The race of the child and those responsible for his death is irrelevant. No child, no parent, no grandmother should be wary of random gunfire in a mall.

Royta Giles should become a rallying cry for efforts to reduce gun violence. His name should be shorthand. His innocent life, randomly snuffed out by the violence of others, should mean something to us all.
ADA [ndash] Wanda Lee Brewer, 91, of Ada, Oklahoma passed away Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Ada. Services for Wanda will be held Thursday, June 17, 2021, at 10 a.m. at the Estes-Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Roger Arter officiating. Interment will follow at New Bethel Cemetery. For up
A four-year-old girl, who had escaped from a home which was subjected to a fire attack on Sunday morning, has been put into an induced coma as she continues her recovery.

Tennesse Joyce was in the home in Clontygora Court in Dundalk in the early hours of Sunday morning when it was attacked.

According to the Irish Sun today, the four-year-old, who was caught after being thrown from the upstairs window, was, along with her father and grandfather, put into an induced coma after the attack.

The toddler's grandmother, Winnie Joyce, speaking to the Irish Sun, praised neighbour Paddy Boylan for saving their lives by running into the burning home to rescue them.

If it wasnt for Paddy we would all be dead. It would have been mass murder.

I was sleeping and I only woke up when I heard screaming. The screams woke me up.

He is a hero. He ran in and out of the fire, he put himself at risk. He even caught Tennesse.

We owe him our lives.

Giving an update on her pregnant daughter-in-law's conditions, Winnie added: Savannah is seven months pregnant but she had to jump. She needs an operation on her legs and feet and is now in slow labour. The fire was so bad they had jump for their lives.
A new initiative to provide supports to those impacted by domestic violence in Louth has been launched.

CRiTiCALL Louth was launched by Louth Volunteer Centre, who will be working in partnership with Scouting Ireland Louth and local domestic violence support services.

The aim of CRiTiCALL in Louth is to support women and children in the area by facilitating the donation of critical goods to those that need it most.

There are three ways to get involved:

- Donate: Purchase and donate much-needed items for people accessing domestic abuse services

- Volunteer your home: volunteer a holiday or second property as a safe haven

- Write letters of courage and hope to those emerging from domestic abuse.

Grainne Berrill, Manager of Louth Volunteer Centre says: Louth Volunteer Centres role has always been to connect those who want to help with those who need help. During COVID19 we were struck by the upsurge of volunteers wanting to help others but struggling to see how to provide that help. We are delighted to be part of this initiative allowing volunteers to provide practical help to those impacted by or escaping from domestic violence.

The first CRiTiCALL donation day is being held in Drogheda and Dundalk this Saturday 11th July.

Donors will need to register with Louth Volunteer Centre who will give a list of donation items that donors can select from and issue a time slot for making their donation to ensure that all COVID19 social distancing and contact tracing measures are followed. Volunteers from local Scout Troops will then manage the collection centre and distribution of donations to where local charities such as Drogheda Womens and Childrens Refuge and Dundalk Womens Aid feel they are most needed. The team would also be interested in donation/loans of storage crates to help with donation distribution.

Letters of hope are being collected by Kelley Bermingham of St. Patricks Cathedral for distribution to refuges locally and nationally. Letters can include pictures, poems and other creative expressions of support and may be included in a book to be published later this year to raise funds for Safe Ireland. Additional offers of support will be channelled to the appropriate recipients through a partnership of Volunteer Centres, Safe Ireland and St. Patricks Cathedral.

The CRiTiCALL initiative, launched in Dublin in early June, was set up to answer that gap between peoples desire to help and what domestic abuse support services actually need. That first pilot project was a partnership between 5 Volunteer Centres in Dublin, St. Patricks Cathedral and Safe Ireland and has been very successful with 600 support packs distributed to women and families across Dublin and the surrounding counties.

For more information on how you can get involved go to www.volunteerlouth.ie or contact the Louth Volunteer Centre team at 041 9809008, info@volunteerlouth.ie or @volunteerlouth on social media.
A group of scientists have signed their names to a petition to ask the World Health Organisation (WHO) to update its advice on airborne transmission of Covid-19.

The 239 scientists are concerned that Covid-19 could be airborne virus with droplets surviving longer in the air than first thought. The WHO's current advice is that the virus spreads through small droplets from the nose or mouth of an infected person but that these droplets quickly sink into the ground.

However, a Geneva-based agency of scientists from 32 different countries believe otherwise, suggesting the virus can float in the air via small particles than can infect those who inhale them.

UCC Professor John Wenger told RTE Radio on Wednesday morning that WHO needs to recognise the route of aerosols from expelled breaths in the transmission of the disease.

He said this distinction is crucial in managing the potential spread of Covid-19 in crowded or poorly ventilated areas, especially now as more sectors of the economy open up with shops and other businesses welcoming back customers.

This guidance would place further emphasis on the wearing of face masks in certain scenarios and could also lead to a changing of advice on the length of time people are allowed spend in one particular enclosed setting.

The professor stressed the importance of ventilation in the managing of this mode of transmission and suggested something as simple as open windows could reduce the risk.

He said face coverings and cough and sneeze etiquette remain the most important measures an individual can take to protect themselves and others.

WHO maintains that generally you need to be 15 minutes within two metres or close proximity to an infected person to be considered at risk. Over 60% of recent cases in Ireland have been recorded and 'close contact' transmissions suggesting the virus is spreading between family members of close colleagues rather than in the community more generally.
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In this July 1, 2019, photo, Whisky 2 company Cadre Jacob Denns, right, shouts instructions to swab Nicolas Fisher, left, of Pelham, N.H., on the first day of a seven-week indoctrination to military academy life for the Class of 2023 at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. The school, like other service academies and military training centers, has made major changes because of the coronavirus pandemic. That means the eight weeks of boot camp for new cadets, known as Swab Summer, will be much different. There will be no haircuts, no drilling, no running as a group from place to place, no lining up against the wall in the hall of the barracks for pushups.
Claremont, NH (03743)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Cooler. High 71F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
North Andover, MA (01845)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain this afternoon. Thunder possible. High 83F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low 52F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
As questions continue following New Mexicos latest public health order, New Mexico Department of Transportation officials put together this Q&A:

The state of New Mexico is under a mandatory health advisory issued by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

Anyone crossing a border into the state must adhere to the New Mexico public health travel restrictions as outlined in Executive Order 2020-054 until further notice.

Below you will find some frequently asked questions and answers.

Are the borders closed in New Mexico?

No. The surrounding borders are not closed. State roads remain open.

Will travelers with out of state plates be stopped by law enforcement or turned away at the borders?

No. Unless law enforcement has reason to believe you are breaking the law or not adhering to the health advisory, you will not be stopped or forced to leave the state.

Does everyone in New Mexico have to wear a mask?

Yes. Mask-wearing is mandatory in public for all individuals over the age of two, except when eating, drinking or exercising.

Is there a punishment if I choose not to wear a mask?

Yes. If caught without a mask in public, you are subject to a $100 fine.

What if I live in New Mexico and I want to travel out of state? Do I have to self-quarantine when I return?

The mandatory health advisory is very clear. If you cross over the borders of New Mexico, you must self-quarantine for 14 days when you return home.

Are there any exceptions to the quarantine order?

Yes. Persons who are employed or contracted by an essential business traveling into the state to conduct business activities, persons employed by airlines, those performing public safety or public health functions, military personnel, federal employees, those employed by a federal agency or national defense contractor, emergency first responders, health care workers, those arriving in the state pursuant to a court order do not have to quarantine for 14 days or for the duration of their time in the state, whichever is shorter, though all should follow COVID-safe best practices: Wear a face-covering in public and keep physical distance from others and limit travel outside of the home or place of lodging to only the essentials.

What if I take my family camping in a different state and we spend our time outdoors, away from other people, adhering to social distancing? Do we all have to self-quarantine when we return?

Yes. Even if you spend time outdoors, wearing masks and social distancing in another state, you must self-quarantine when you return to New Mexico for 14 days.

Do out of state visitors have to self-quarantine even if they own a home in New Mexico?

Yes. If visitors or part-time residents plan to stay in New Mexico longer than two weeks for any reason, you must self-quarantine for the first 14 days when coming in from another state.

If you are staying in New Mexico for fewer than two weeks, you also must self-quarantine for the duration of your stay or up to 14 days, whichever is shorter. (For example, if you plan to stay at a hotel for two nights before leaving the state, you must self-quarantine for the duration of your stay.)

Does that apply to people in RVs as well?

Yes. Travelers must self-quarantine wherever they are staying.

What if travelers are simply passing through New Mexico to get to another destination in a different state?

This is not a time to shop for souvenirs, visit state parks or sightsee. Please recognize that if you are traveling amid a global pandemic you are bringing the risk of a highly contagious and lethal virus with you and taking it with you as you go. You must wear a face-covering if you are in public while in the state. Please limit your activities to only the essentials.

What if Im a trucker and have to make deliveries in New Mexico?

Most trucking services fall under the logistical transporting functions incorporated in the essential businesses of the states operative emergency public health order and are exempt from the quarantine requirement. But all visitors in the state are still required to wear face-coverings and follow COVID-safe best practices.

The NMDOT sincerely appreciates your cooperation.
Just after his first week of official practice, new transfer Jesse Miritello persuaded sever


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Customer service is more important today than ever before. A company's ability to answer customer questions and resolve problems has become as essential as product, quality, and price.

When customers are ignored, or given the impression they are unimportant by slow response times, the consequences of lost business and a damaged reputation can be irreversible.

A study of 973 leading retailers and consumer goods companies, conducted in April and May, found that most fall short of providing timely customer service. The study was conducted by Netomi, a platform provider for AI customer service.

The study analyzed companies' responsiveness, availability of email support, and attentiveness to special requests.

Only 56 percent, that being 540 firms, have an easy-to-access and readily available email address, and 70 percent of those did not respond to customer emails when approached. As a result, only 162 of the 973 companies responded to customer emails.

"This is the most shocking finding of our study," Can Ozdoruk, VP of marketing at Netomi, told CRM Buyer.

"It not only presents a risk to customer satisfaction, but also the bottom line, as customer experience is what drives loyalty and spend today."

Buried Email Addresses

A few of the remaining 433 companies conceal an email address in privacy policies, terms and conditions, or other pages where a customer is not likely to look when seeking support.

"Hiding email addresses and not answering emails speaks more about the siloed 'ownership' mentality of an organization that thinks of customer journey and engagement as something they create and manage," Liz Miller, a principal analyst at Constellation Research, told CRM Buyer. "Experience is owned by the customer."

Other findings in the July 2020 report show that:

80 percent of the companies do not have autoresponders in place

64 percent offer a Web form

37 percent offer both an email address and a Web form

17 percent have neither an email address nor a Web form

18 percent redirected customers to other channels when they received a query

"The companies that simply redirect customers to another channel are adding friction to the support journey," Ozdoruk said. "User frustration increases when a person needs to contact a company multiple times, through multiple channels, for a single resolution."

SMBs Outdo Fortune 500

The study found home furnishings companies best at responding to customer service queries, with 55 percent responding to queries. That's twice as often as the other retail and consumer goods companies investigated. Consumer electronics and tech companies were the worst, as only 18 percent responded to emailed customer queries.

Netomi captured and analyzed responses in ten unique dimensions:

Email availability

Response rate

Response time

Customer happiness

Personalization

Company size analysis

Industry analysis

Email address analysis

Customer delight

Use of an agent desk platform

The 162 companies that responded to customer emails tended to have slow response times. The study found:

46 percent responded in less than 6 hours

9 percent responded within 6-12 hours

12 percent responded within 12-24 hours

15 percent within 24-48 hours

Nearly 17 percent took more than 48 hours

Somewhat surprisingly to those who suspect that enterprises have more resources available than SMBs, Fortune 500 companies responded 1.4 times slower than smaller firms. The average response time for Fortune 500 companies was nearly 47 hours while smaller firms responded within 34 hours on average.

"According to Forrester Research, 66 percent of online adults in the U.S. said that valuing their time is the most important thing a company can do to provide them with a good online customer experience," Ozdoruk remarked. "Businesses can grow their revenue by as much as eight percent above the competition when they improve the customer service experience."

Eighty-two percent of more than 700 U.S. consumers responding to an earlier Netomi survey said they had stopped doing business with at least one company, or scrapped a planned purchase, because of poor customer service.

Further, 32 percent of those respondents had done so several times; 61 percent want a fast resolution and 44 percent hate waiting for a response.

Personalization

Netomi found that 85 percent of the 162 companies that responded to customer emails utilized personalization by either using the customer's first name in their response or having their agent sign off with their own name.

"We were expecting a higher percentage for the personalization rate, especially as our definition of personalization was the bare minimum in this case," Ozdoruk said. This "could potentially signal that agent desk systems are not widely used."

Companies that use an agent desk, like Zendesk or Salesforce, "did outperform on key customer service metrics like response time and measuring customer satisfaction," he added.

Keeping Tabs on Customer Satisfaction

Only 14 percent of the companies that responded to customer queries sent out a satisfaction survey after a customer interaction, according to Netomi.

"This was another very shocking finding from the study, as measuring customer satisfaction is very easy," Ozdoruk said. "Without hard data and interviewing support managers at these companies, it seems that closing or resolving a ticket is the core focus, with little regard to how satisfied a customer is." This "is detrimental to the long-term output of a support team."

The pandemic has sent online purchases soaring, so having better digital customer experiences "is more important now than ever before," Nicole France, a principal analyst at Constellation Research, told CRM Buyer.

"Building a wider base of satisfied customers today not only builds a solid business in the short term, it also pays long-term dividends."

Online retailers are "vying for customers with their direct competitors and also with all the other digital and in-person experiences those customers have had," France said.

That said, "Customer service teams are being swamped by increases in traffic and demand...and some businesses have cut back on customer service capabilities because of drops in revenue or demand," she pointed out.

Both issues are "exacerbated by the challenges of providing customer service teams with adequate work environments and/or the ability to work remotely, including from home," France noted.

Richard Adhikari has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile technologies, CRM, databases, software development, mainframe and mid-range computing, and application development. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including Information Week and Computerworld. He is the author of two books on client/server technology. Email Richard.




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A new e-commerce partnership could bring 1,200 Shopify small business sellers to the Walmart Marketplace this year, the companies announced Monday.

Walmart's top e-commerce priority for years was to build a marketplace customers would trust. The company has joined forces with Shopify, an all-in-one commerce platform used by more than 1 million businesses, to open the Walmart Marketplace to its sellers, said Jeff Clementz, vice president of Walmart Marketplace.

"This integration will allow approved Shopify sellers to seamlessly list their items on Walmart.com, which gives Walmart customers access to a broader assortment," he said.

Many Shopify sellers already were established on Walmart.com, but Marketplace has not penetrated to the extent possible, making this deal a tremendous opportunity, Clementz added.

"We have been in talks over the years, but discussions quickly came together over the past six months," said Satish Kanwar, vice president of product at Shopify.

Shopify wants to give its merchants the power to choose where they want to sell and to make it as seamless as possible for them, he told the E-Commerce Times.

"With that in mind, we are partnering with Walmart to help our merchants drive sales and grow their businesses. Anything that reduces the barrier to entrepreneurship is good for merchants, good for consumers, and good for Shopify," Kanwar added.

Qualified Merchants Wanted

E-commerce in the United States grew 74 percent last quarter, in part due to a shift in shopping needs caused by the pandemic. Growth in Walmart's Marketplace outpaced the overall business growth, noted Clementz.

The launch of this integration with Shopify is under way, with a focus on U.S.-based small and medium businesses that complement Walmart.com's offerings.

Walmart.com is inviting Shopify sellers to install the Walmart Marketplace app from Shopify's App Store to determine their eligibility. If approved, the sellers can add an unlimited number of products to the Walmart Marketplace.

Approved vendors can make changes to product images and inventory within Shopify. Those changes will be reflected on Walmart's site immediately and automatically.

For more information on qualifications, see Shopify's vendor site.

Business Basics 101

The Walmart Marketplace, which launched in August 2009, experienced slow growth until 2014. That is when Walmart added a massive number of new third-party items from small vendors looking for an alternative to Amazon.

The Walmart Marketplace mimicked Amazon's tactic of offering shipping services for third-party vendors through Walmart's massive logistics network. Two years ago, it announced Walmart Marketplace items would be eligible to participate in its free, 2-day shipping program and in-store returns.

Shopify, founded in 2006, has become a favorite choice for businesses seeking an e-commerce on-ramp that is fast and cost-friendly. Monthly fees start at US$29. That buys an online store with digital tools to manage payments, inventory and shipping.

Both Amazon and eBay already have partnered with Shopify,

"While Amazon clearly dominates the e-commerce channel, the expansion of Walmart's presence with third-party sellers is a step in the right direction," said Frances Bigley, spokesperson for CommerceIQ.

"It does mean that one-party brands must be particularly diligent about managing this channel properly to avoid out-of-stock issues and price gouging for consumers," she told the E-Commerce Times.

Hidden Benefits

E-commerce platforms like BigCommerce and Shopify are employing affordable and easy-to-use integrations to make it as easy as possible for fast-growing merchants to sell across various channels, including Walmart Marketplace and social platforms like Facebook and Instagram, noted Sharon Gee, head of omnichannel partnerships at BigCommerce.

"This approach by Walmart will help retailers to expand their general catalog and expose their customers to new products from up-and-coming digitally native brands, and ultimately, help them be more competitive with Amazon," she told the E-Commerce Times.

The e-commerce space seems to be consolidating pretty quickly, observed Daniel Elman, analyst at Nucleus Research.

Reach is incredibly valuable, he told the E-Commerce Times. "Sellers will put their products on the platforms that give them the potential to reach the most customers and drive the highest sales."

Rocking the Sales Boat

The partnership between Walmart and Shopify should make smaller e-commerce players uneasy, as the copycat effect comes into play, Elman suggested.

"As more sellers go on a platform, others will see their success and attribute it to the platform, pushing them to move onto the platform as well. Smaller e-commerce players without a viable long-term strategy to grow seller numbers may find themselves easy targets for acquisition," he explained.

That could mean trouble for smaller e-commerce companies, Elman warned. It could result in online marketplaces consolidating around key players.

"It seems like the space will likely consolidate around Amazon, Walmart and Alibaba in the long term," he said. "The exception would be niche sellers like Reverb for musical equipment and other specialized platforms that can deal in specific industries or categories of products."

These platforms can offer specialized insurance, shipping and customer networks, along with a more detailed product set, Elman continued. For example, a consumer who simply wants a guitar might go to Amazon or Walmart, but a shopper who wants a 1969 Fender Stratocaster in Sunburst finish likely would go to a more specialized retailer like Reverb.

"Smaller e-commerce players that are generalists now should look to curate a specific customer base or product set and cater exclusively to that niche," he suggested. "That's the only way to differentiate enough to compete with the scale, efficiency and resources of the large platforms like Walmart and Amazon."

The Shopify partnership increases the Walmart Marketplace's appeal. As customers sympathetic to the "quit Amazon" movement leave Amazon Prime, Walmart may become a more viable alternative.

"This, in turn, could sway more customers to leave Amazon as their primary shopping platform in favor of Walmart," said Elman. "Right now, much of Amazon's dominance is the number of sellers and visitors it has on its platform, and the value offered by the Prime program."

Potential Game-Changer

The Walmart-Shopify partnership could be a big game-changer for small and medium-sized businesses, observed Bart Mroz, CEO of Sumo Heavy.

The Walmart-Shopify partnership supports Shopify's strategy to give its sellers the tools they need to compete in today's competitive e-commerce marketplace, he told the E-Commerce Times.

"Last year, Shopify announced it had invested $1 billion in its fulfillment network, which would help its sellers ship items more efficiently and compete with the retail giants -- specifically Amazon, which popularized two-day shipping," Mroz noted.

The partnership comes at an opportune right time, as many consumers want to support smaller e-commerce businesses in the wake of COVID-19, he added.

The typical perks of buying from Amazon -- such as faster shipping and a wide product range -- were not as widely available, because of warehouse shortages and shipping restrictions in some areas. So consumers started looking elsewhere for the products they needed.

"The threat of Amazon and other large online retailers, like Wayfair, will still loom large, but with a new way channel to get in front of tens of millions of consumers, SMBs may actually have a chance to compete with some of the super sellers on Amazon," Mroz said.

Measured Competitive Threats

The new venture between Walmart and Shopify will help small and medium business owners reach millions of customers who shop on Walmart.com every day. It also broadens the assortment of items customers can shop on the Walmart site, said Robb Hecht, adjunct professor of marketing at Baruch College.

This comes during a time period when online shopping is surging due to the coronavirus pandemic and related retail restrictions. The result will increase the value and traffic in the Walmart ecosystem.

This venture likely is not a major threat to large online competitors like Amazon and Wayfair, which already have large audience reaches, he told the E-Commerce Times.

However, it could pose a threat to smaller direct-to-consumer social commerce companies that are selling direct to their customers via Shopify services, Hecht pointed out.

It could be an issue for those new to the Facebook Shop platform and others that hoped to grow their direct audience reach with customers.

"Now D2C Shopify sellers could become very interested in the audience reach and the buyers' intent Walmart gives them and their goods, and bring less business to Facebook Shop," Hecht said.

Vendor Input

"I think this is great for small businesses and Walmart. It will make their marketplace more competitive and open small businesses up to much more exposure than ever before," said Jeff Moriarty, marketing manager at Moriarty's Gem Art which joined the Walmart Marketplace Monday.

The integration will make it much simpler to sync with a Shopify store, he told the E-Commerce Times.

The more competition, the better it will be for small businesses that find it difficult to compete with low-margin sellers on Amazon, Moriarty added. That makes him very optimistic about this new relationship.

"This partnership gives smaller e-commerce companies a leg up against Amazon by distributing directly to Walmart," said Michael Dash, CEO of ChannelReply, which sells to eBay, Amazon, Walmart and Shopify customers.

"They don't have to go through the traditional account setup and upload process, and they can reach a huge audience immediately," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Vendors that are not selling on Walmart already can see upwards of a 20 percent increase in their bottom line, Dash added.

"I don't think it will necessarily take business away from Amazon. I think it gives the sellers access to a new buyer they wouldn't have access to," he said.

Also, a number of brands refuse to sell on Amazon due to bad experiences, noted Dash. Those vendors may take a dip into Walmart waters.

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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In a normal time, Michelle Bartleys daughter Nyanne would be among the 4 million or so kindergarten students going off to school later this year.

But the coronavirus pandemic makes these times far from normal. And Bartley, who lives in Pembroke Pines, Fla., will be keeping her child at home.

Its not her first choice.

As an only child, it would be good [for Nyanne] to have that interaction, said Bartley, a project leader for a bank. Its really sad to hear your child say, After the virus, we can do this. After the virus, we can do that.

For a brief time in the spring, before cases started spiking in Florida, Bartley thought a return to traditional school was an option. But now, cases in Florida are sharply increasing, and the south Florida region where Bartley lives is particularly hard-hit.

Bartley lives with her mother, and frequently visits her father, both of whom are vulnerable to coronavirus complications because of their age. In-person schooling poses too high a risk to her daughters grandparents, she finally decided.

Thats why I have to make sure we stay safe. Because we still want to see them, she said.

Sending a child off to kindergarten has a deep emotional resonance in the lives of many parents. They fill social media with pictures of their children standing with oversized backpacks or holding signs marking the occasions. Schools lean into this, too, soothing worried parents or shy children with orientations and classroom visits.

The pandemic has disrupted all of that. And there are signs that families are holding off on registering their children for kindergarten, perhaps waiting to see what school may look like before committing. Districts around the country have reported that they are seeing enrollment numbers lower than what would be typical for this time of year, including in Fulton County, Ga., Montgomery County, Md., and Longview, Wash., among others.

Kindergarten enrollment is slower than expected in many of the districts served by the Alleghany Intermediate Unit, which provides support to 42 school systems in the Pittsburgh area.

But school districts are stepping up their outreach efforts, and there has been an uptick in kindergarten enrollment recently, said Chris Rodgick, a senior program director for the educational agency. She oversees a kindergarten readiness program for the region called Hi5!, which works to ensure on-time kindergarten registration and smooth transitions for children.

I would just say to parents go ahead and register, and you can make a decision based on what you see later, Rodgick said. I do think its great for kids to be in a group setting with other kids who are their same age.

A Little Scary

Satiria Clayton, who lives in Tempe, Ariz., with her kindergarten-age son Cassius, is also seeing coronavirus cases shoot up in her state.

It is a little scary going into this kindergarten year, Clayton said. Her son loved his preschool program, but it ended abruptly, with only a few emails sent out with suggestions for home activities.

Clayton was also furloughed from her job as a nutritional manager at Arizona State University. She has been able to spend important, quality time with her son, but shes expected to return to work this month.

In an ideal world, I would love to stay at home and teach him. The reality is I have to send him to school, Clayton said. Its so stressful as a parent. But at some point, you have to just let them go.

Kindergarten is more than just a time of high emotion for parents. Kindergarten readiness is an area that has received increased attention from educators and researchers as well. Kindergarten readiness assessments are mandatory in more than half the states, with the idea that they can help teachers better understand their students needs. Other states and communities have programs intended to help children get off to a strong academic start by smoothing the transition between home and formal schooling.

Michelle Springs, a kindergarten teacher in Lancaster, S.C., is in her second year participating in a program called Countdown to Kindergarten. She and other teachers in the program make five home visits over the summer, plus one in-school visit, to help prepare children for kindergarten who have been identified as needing extra support for success.

In her first year, Springs was able to work with eight students. This year, it has only been two. Her only face-to-face visit with students was when she went to their houses to drop off kits of learning materials.

Personally, I would love to be back in the classroom, Springs said. I feel like a duck out of water, doing everything virtually. I dont want any child to have less of a quality education when its done virtually.

But school has to be safe for everyone, she said. And the reopening details, for her school and district, are still up the air. She understands why its tough for parents to know what to do. This is their baby, she said.

Communicating With Parents

First Things First Arizona supports programs that serve children from birth to age 5, and their parents. As part of that, the organizations work typically includes helping families prepare for the transition to school. But Ginger Sandweg, the organizations senior director of early learning, said that schools also need to adapt for the needs of young children, which can be quite different from the needs of older students.

Most pre-K and kindergarten children have not been in structured environments before, so the things we take for granted when planning for older kids (and their families) we cannot take for granted with pre-K or children new to school, Sandweg said. That means that preschool and kindergarten teachers should be at the table when it comes to planning for the upcoming school year, she said.

Another challenge for both districts and parents is that the parents of kindergartners are not yet plugged into the school system. While districts have multiple ways to reach families of children already enrolled in school, parents who are new to the school system arent yet part of that communication chain.

With little direct information to go on, parents are having to rely on bits of information and their guts when it comes to finally making a decision for the new school year.

Whitney Brennan, who lives in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., hasnt yet heard much from her local district about what they are planning for the upcoming school year. But she wants her twins, Jasper and Griffin, to enroll in in-person classes. Trying to juggle child care plus work schedules was overwhelming this spring.

We dont know how were going to handle anything thats not full time, said Brennan, who works for a state environmental agency. Were going to have to send them to some kind of day care anyway. And she believes that children can be taught to adhere to some safety measures, if they see others doing it.

People are being very anti-mask, without looking at the science and finding out what kids can really handle, Brennan said.

Elias Kass, a naturopathic primary care doctor in Seattle, has heard that kindergarten may be available five days a week in the fall, which would be a welcome relief after juggling child care this spring for his older child and his 18-month-old.

I could do the academic pieces of it with him, but I still need child care, Kass said. A fully remote or hybrid schedule would be nearly impossible to accommodate with his work schedule, he said.

Basically parents are being left with three full-time jobsparenting and also teaching while trying to work for pay, Kass said. Its just really difficult trying to do all those things.

Maria Pitale, who lives in Turnersville, N.J., still hasnt quite decided what the new school year will look like for her son Antonio. None of the choicesbringing in babysitters or sending him to a school buildingfeel perfectly safe.

Were just kind of waiting and I just dont know how much choice were going to get, Pitale said. If my kid cries, are they going to hug him, or will they be hands off because we dont touch kids now? Its that kind of tender stuff that Im worried about.
Fewer students will be able to ride the bus to school due to COVID-19 precautions when the 2020-21 school year begins. That has left school systems scrambling to find fair and consistent ways of determining who will receive district transportationand how to meet the needs of students who wont.

While states recommendations on school transportation vary, many follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that calls for disinfecting surfaces, sitting a single student in each seat, and leaving alternating rows empty to avoid crowding, ideally keeping students a recommended 6 feet apart.

There are not enough buses on the assembly lines to meet the CDC guidelines, said Brian Creasman, superintendent of the Fleming County, Ky., school district.

And, even if the districts around the country had the funds to buy enough buses, its unlikely theyd find drivers to run those routes, he said. Driver shortages are a persistent issue for schools, even in years without the complications of a pandemic.

About 33 percent of students ages 5 to 17 traveled to school on school buses in 2017, the most recent federal data show. Reliance on school transportation varies widely between states and districts: In California, about 15 percent of students ride school buses, compared to about 85 percent in some Northeastern states, said Mike Martin, the executive director for the National Association of Pupil Transportation.

District and school leaders are confronting difficult, high-stakes decisions as they plan for how to reopen schools amid a global pandemic. Through eight installments, Education Week journalists explore the big challenges education leaders must address, including running a socially distanced school, rethinking how to get students to and from school, and making up for learning losses. We present a broad spectrum of options endorsed by public health officials, explain strategies that some districts will adopt, and provide estimated costs. Read Part 1: The Socially Distanced School Day

Read Part 2: Scheduling the COVID-19 School Year

Back to Part 3: Tackling the COVID-19 Transportation Problem

About 80 percent of the rural Fleming County districts 2,300 students typically ride the bus. But Creasman made a tough call this summer: The district will offer bus transportation only to special education students with individualized education programs that include it, to homeless students receiving services through a federal program, and to a small number of others.

The district has 30 buses, and it would probably take 22 more and some creative scheduling to transport all of the children who typically ride, Creasman said. That assumes schools open fully in-person on Aug. 24, which is his goal.

The district is still finalizing its transportation plans to determine exactly how many children will ride. When Creasman shared the plans in a weekly web posting for parents, some said they understood, while others worried about juggling rides to school with their work schedules.

Others said they wouldnt let their children use school buses because the district would require masks for riders, which have been mandated by the state. The district doesnt plan to require masks in school buildings, opting instead to seat students far apart and hold some classes outdoors.

Unfortunately, Washington, I think has made [masks] into a political issue, Creasman said.

Administrators of the Poudre School District, which spans 1,800 square miles in northern Colorado, have also concluded that they will have to reduce the number of students who ride buses this year. The Colorado Department of Educations preliminary guidance suggests a bus that typically holds up to 77 students may transport as few as 10 with students spaced 6 feet apart.

An Unsolved Puzzle: Students Who Rely on Public Transportation While federal data show public transportation is the least common way U.S. students get to school, it plays an outsized role in some urban school districts, adding another puzzle piece to their reopening plans. Some large school systemslike New York City and Bostonprovide bus and subway passes to all or a portion of their students as an alternative to school-provided transportation. And, in cities where significant numbers of students attend charter schools and schools of choice that may be far from their homes, access to public transportation can be an equity issue. But, while districts may cooperate with public transportation authorities, they dont have any say over their operations. As more workers have stayed home, many metropolitan agencies have cut back on transit routes and limited capacity to allow for adequate distance between riders. And many public transportation systems have plans to adjust their schedules based on phased reopening plans set by local authorities. That means availability may fluctuate depending on virus rates, making it difficult for education leaders to plan. Several urban districts contacted by Education Week in June said they were still evaluating how these challenges will affect their students, whether their schools will open fully in-person, and how to respond.

Unable to find a workable plan, the district informed most families in June that, under the current guidance, they would need to find alternative forms of transportation. Homeless students, students with disabilities, and children in the foster care system will still receive school transportation, district communications director Madeline Noblett said.

It all adds up to a logistically difficultand emotionally fraughttask for administrators. Here are seven ideas and approaches to help smooth the way.

Identify Opt-Outs Before Making a Bus Plan

Find out which families dont want to use district transportation amid continued concerns about COVID-19 transmission

The Poudre district will survey families of its 30,000 students to see who would want to use buses should more spots become available or if state and local health officials recommend relaxing distancing guidelines. In that event, the district will allow another tier of students to ride, based on priorities like transporting students from low-income homes, Noblett said.

We would always want to be able to transport all of the kids, but in the event these guidelines hold, this is how we move forward, she said.

Before Fleming County announced its decision, some families indicated in surveys that they wouldnt use district transportation because of masks and other precautions.

Whatever their reason, districts should identify families who want to opt out through parental surveys. That can simplify transportation planning by giving a clearer count of potential riders.

Prioritize Special Populations

Give vulnerable students first crack at district-provided transportation, and assure their legal needs are met.

The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, for example, requires schools to transport students experiencing homelessness to their school of origin, even if they move outside of its attendance boundaries. Similarly, the Every Student Succeeds Act requires districts to provide school stability for students if they move to a new household placement.

Many children who receive services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act have transportation requirements included in their IEPs. And most districts are prioritizing transporting students with disabilities regardless to ensure they are given support to recover from lost learning time experienced during sudden school closures in the spring.

Students from low-income households may lack alternatives to school transportation or they may live in neighborhoods without safe walking routes to school. Districts with capacity may prioritize these students in their busing plans.

Washington states Highline district is still finalizing its plans, but Superintendent Susan Enfield is concerned that some children from low-income families will be left behind if she doesnt find a way to safely transport most students on buses. Health officials have told her she can seat more students per bus if she requires masks, she said. (Enfield is on the board of Editorial Projects in Education, the publisher of Education Week.)

Its fundamentally an equity issue, Enfield said. While some families may prefer to transport their own children, others who dont have that option are going to be forced to take the bus or stay home from school.

Alter Transportation Zones

Expand the minimum distance students must live from their schools to qualify for district-provided transportation.

Missouri recommends leaders consider minimizing the districts transportation zone by not busing students who live within three and a half miles from the school building, the maximum zone allowed under state law.

Encourage Walkers

Find ways to support families who choose to have their students walk.

Kentuckys reopening guidance urges districts to develop age-sensitive guidelines about how far students can be expected to walk to school, setting a longer distance for high school students. School administrators also should encourage safe walking practices, including social distancing, state guidance says.

Kentucky is one of a few states that have recommended the use of walking school buses, through which designated adults walk children to school on preplanned routes, picking up additional walkers at stops along the way. Such strategies have been used in districts throughout the country in previous years to help students travel through dangerous or traffic-heavy routes to school. Several Maine districts have created walking school buses in recent years as part of a state effort to tackle chronic absenteeism.

Schools may also encourage biking by placing additional racks in front of their building.

Encourage Car Pools

Use district messaging and direct outreach to families to help jump-start car pools, and support families already coordinating them. This can come with its own complexities. For example, because social distancing is not possible in a car, car pool organizers should strive to limit their rides to a fixed group of children to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, district leaders said.

Reduce the Need for Transportation

Explore altering attendance boundaries and policies to encourage children to attend schools closer to home.

Providence, R.I., schools proposed in June requiring students to attend their neighborhood schools, facing some intense pushback from the public. The district typically allows a portion of its students to select schools outside of their zoned attendance boundaries.

Maximize Bus Capacity

Sit siblings together in the same seat. Colorados guidance says this could double the number of riders in some areas.

Colorados guidance says this could double the number of riders in some areas. Seat children from the same classroom cohorts together. The CDC has recommended schools keep the same groups of students together throughout the day, minimizing their interactions with others to reduce the spread of the virus.

The CDC has recommended schools keep the same groups of students together throughout the day, minimizing their interactions with others to reduce the spread of the virus. Require masks on buses.

Keep windows open for more ventilation.

Get Creative on Scheduling

Stagger start times and bus routes by elementary, middle, and high school grade levels. This could allow buses to make more than one run a day and also give time for drivers and staff to disinfect seats between each use.

But that can be logistically challenging, requiring transportation planners and school administrators to reroute buses, change school start times, and build hours into schedules for additional cleaning.
The video of George Floyd taking his last breath was difficult for me to process. I experienced anger, sadness, fear, frustration, disgust, outrage, and betrayal. I cant express what I felt when Floyd begged the officer to remove his knee from his neck and called out to his deceased mother. Watching him being restrained in that moment, I imagined Floyd as a young childno different from a child I teachcrying out for help.

As a Black male teacher, I ask myself these questions with each new killing of a Black person at the hands of a police officer:

How do I move forward, interact, and answer questions surrounding this killing with white people in my workplace?

How do I explain the injustices in the Black community to my students?

How can I be transparent about the reality of racism without receiving pushback from the school community?

Lets be clear, I do not seek anyones permission or approval to have these questions answered. They can only be answered by me, without apology. The death of George Floydand the subsequent protestshave affected the way I need to communicate with white people. I need white people to understand that George Floyd, Philando Castile, Sandra Bland, Jamar Clark, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, Rayshard Brooks, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and so many others died because of the color of their skin.

As we mark the fourth anniversary of Philando Castiles shooting this month, I think about a question I got from a student that fall.

I vividly recall a 10-year-old white student asking me in class if I were afraid that, as a Black man, I might get shot and killed by a police officer."

I vividly recall a 10-year-old white student asking me in class if I were afraid that, as a Black man, I might get shot and killed by a police officer. I was shocked that such a young person would ask me that question but grateful the student trusted me enough to do so. I felt compelled to speak honestly. My student deserved the truth.

Fighting back my emotions, I managed to explain that my worst fear was not dying at the hands of a police officer, but rather having my mother experience the incredible pain that many mothers have over the deaths of their Black sons. In response, students began to ask more questions; I gave them more answers. I was relieved that students appreciated my honesty about a topic that, as one white student offered, no one wants to talk about, not even parents.

The next day, however, my principal told me that a white parent had complained about our classroom discussion. I explained that it was a spontaneous discussion, initiated by a student who asked me a question and that I saw it as an opportunity to not only answer the question but to discuss racism. The principal said the parents parting comment was, I dont understand why he would be afraid of the police unless he is doing something illegal. I received the principals full support in addressing racism with my students.

It struck me that white people often just dont get it; they will never understand the experiences of a person of color. Their view of our society is transparently different. For me, this only increases the urgency of having all our students understand the struggle that Black communities face each and every day.

School administrators have the weighty responsibility of creating a school climate free of racial biases for teachers and students. The teachers role is to ensure that students and colleagues are demonstrating respect toward all racial groups. I believe the key to building awareness of anti-Black racism is an authentic discussion among administrators, teachers, and staff about their personal experiences with racism. Educating our entire school community about racism in all its forms is vital to the health of our education system.

I believe that all school districts and school employees should be mandated to participate in professional development and training on racial bias and racial inequity. It is imperative to understand how social and systemic racism impact people of color. Understanding the history of civil rights is a prerequisite. A commitment to self-reflection, family involvement, compassion, and empathy toward all racial groups will help educators recognize the role they have played in upholding racism in their own classrooms.

The potential to eradicate social and systemic racism lies with the white people that perpetrate, ignore, participate, teach, and judge Black people. Eradicating this racism is not impossible. I encourage white school administrators and white teachers to pledge that racial discrimination will not be a part of any schools culture.

To the teachers of America, think about how you incorporate lessons on racism for grades K-12. Why are Black people killed by police officers at a higher rate than any other racial group? Before you ask your students to reflect on that question, make sure you have an answer yourself.
June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month and what better way to give your body a health boost than by adding more color to your meals! Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is the best way to get all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients you need.
The European Union's current troubles will not be solved if it tries to "get out of the economic crisis" but at the same time moves into a "crisis of civil rights and freedoms". That was the message which Catalan president in exile Carles Puigdemont gave to the European Parliament today, in the presence of German chancellor Angel Merkel. The MEP said that the rule of law must be respected in all those countries where it is called into question - "as is the case in Spain" - and "the persecution of ideas" and "the imprisonment of political dissidents, artists, or journalists" must be brought to an end.

"This is a moral and legal imperative that the European Union cannot continue to avoid any longer," he warned, in his speech in English.

The German chancellor was present in the European Parliament this Wednesday to present the priorities of the German presidency of the EU which will last for the second half of 2020.

The EU's democratic problems

During his one-minute speech, Puigdemont asserted that Europe is facing an economic crisis that will be severe and that inequality and poverty must be avoided, but warned that "the EU's problems are also democratic".

"Getting out of an economic crisis to enter a crisis of civil rights and freedoms will not solve the problems of Europe," he affirmed, calling for the economic agenda to be linked to democratic consolidation. Thus, he said, all countries where the rule of law is questioned, "as is the case in Spain", must respect democratic norms.

Later, in Angela Merkel's reply to all the European parliamentarians who had spoken today, she mentioned the importance of maintaining democratic principles. "From the comments that speakers have made, it's very clear that defending the rule of law is important and that's what we intend to do." She mentioned the specific case of Hungary, but made no mention of Spain.

Carlos Puigdemont was the president who led Catalonia at the time of the 2017 independence referendum. Many of his government colleagues are now serving long prison sentences for sedition after being convicted in Spain's Supreme Court in relation to the independence process, but the court's attempts to obtain the extradition of Puigdemont failed in 2018 because a German court saw no grounds for deporting the Catalan leader to face the principal offence of which he was accused, rebellion. In 2019, he was elected to the European Parliament by Catalan and Spanish voters.
Passed away Saturday, June 20, at Athens-Limestone Hospital. Visitation will be from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 22, with a chapel service to follow at McConnell Funeral Home. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
In this June 30 file photo, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves delivers a televised address prior to signing a bill retiring the last state flag in the United States with the Confederate battle emblem, during a ceremony at the Governor's Mansion in Jackson, Miss. Reeves tweeted Tuesday, July 7 that he has tested negative for the coronavirus, a day after announcing he was going into isolation after being in contact with a lawmaker who tested positive.
Facebook has taken down a network of more than 100 Facebook accounts and pages tied to Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone for coordinated inauthentic behavior. The company also removed four Instagram accounts, including Stones personal account.

The companys Head of Security Policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said the network used fake accounts to influence public debate and that the accounts and pages promoted stories about Stone, the 2016 elections, and Wikileaks, among other topics.

The accounts spent more than $300,000 in Facebook and Instagram ads and had amassed 260,000 followers on Facebook and 61,500 on Instagram.

The people behind this activity used fake accounts  to pose as residents of Florida, post and comment on their own content to make it appear more popular than it is, evade enforcement, and manage Pages, Gleicher wrote in a statement. The Page admins and account owners posted about local politics in Florida, Roger Stone and his Pages, websites, books, and media appearances, a Florida land and water resources bill, the hacked materials released by Wikileaks ahead of the US 2016 election, candidates in the 2016 primaries and general election, and the Roger Stone trial.

Gleicher said Facebook began looking into the accounts as a result of the companys investigation into the Proud Boys, a far-right group the social network banned in 2018. But much of their Facebook activity took place well before 2018. The accounts in question were most active between 2015 and 2017, according to Gleicher, who says the company wasnt aware of the full scope of their activity until recently.

The takedowns come on the same day that Facebook released the results of a two-year civil flights audit, which sharply criticized the company for prioritizing free expression over enforcement of its policies against hate speech. The report also cautioned that Facebooks unwillingness to act on incendiary posts from politicians could pose a significant risk to the 2020 election.

Misuse of Facebook by the political elite isn't only a U.S. problem, though. Facebook also revealed Wednesday that it removed a network of accounts in Brazil for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior, some of which were linked to employees of the offices of Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his family.
The independent team NASA and Boeing formed to look into Starliners failed flight to the ISS is done with its investigation. And based on NASAs announcement, they have a pretty lengthy list of changes to make before the spacecraft can start ferrying astronauts to space. The joint review team ended their investigation with 80 recommendations for NASA and Boeing to address, with the most notable suggestion being the performance of end-to-end tests using the maximum amount of flight hardware before each flight.

One of the main reasons why the Starliners first flight failed was because Boeing divided its tests in small chunks instead of conducting a longer one that simulates the whole process from launch to docking. As a result, the aerospace company didnt discover that the spacecraft's onboard computer time was miscalibrated by 11 hours, preventing Starliners thrusters from firing and sending it to the correct orbit. In addition, Boeing didn't test the Starliner's software against its service module. The company used an emulator, which ended up being flawed, and didnt discover a critical software defect that could've led to "loss of vehicle."

According to NASA Spaceflight, NASA Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich also determined that the agency wasnt able to provide Boeing with sufficient oversight. That allowed multiple issues, particularly software problems, to remain unnoticed. While NASA didnt list all 80 recommendations, it enumerated some of the more important ones, such as addressing any identified simulation or emulation gaps, increasing the involvement of subject matter experts in safety critical areas and making organizational changes to the safety reporting structure.

NASA and Boeing are hoping to redo Starliners uncrewed test flight to the ISS later this year. While the repeat flight doesnt have an exact date yet, The Washington Post previously reported that theyre aiming for an October or a November launch.
I am a retired Naval Officer and small business owner, outside of my work at the News & Eagle. My wife Tammy and I enjoy serving together at church and attending Gaslight and ESO. We have two daughters, three dogs and little free time.

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Construction is ongoing as of May 1, 2019, for "Under Her Wing was the Universe." The project has met many delays since it was approved by the
The services celebrating and honoring the life of Loretta Ball, 91, of Enid are pending under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family online at WWW.Brown-Cummings.com.
2020-07-08

Maeci

Roots Tourism potentially involves an estimated 60 to 80 million descendants of Italian emigrants worldwide, who reside mainly in the Americas, South Africa, Australia and European countries. They are not simply travellers: the root tourist is above all an investor and an "ambassador" of the territories he keeps in his family history. In 2018, ENIT included 10 million travellers in this category, which generated an economic inflow of about 4 billion euros, 7.5% more than the previous year.

Roots Tourism is therefore a significant part of a strategic sector of the Italian economy, that of tourism, to which MAECI looks with particular interest and commitment in a system operation that aims to strengthen the image of Italy as a tourist destination. The objective is to intercept an increasing share of tourist flows from abroad to be directed towards small and medium cities of art, and towards regional tourist itineraries.

Many are the initiatives of the Foreign Ministry to enhance this trend, starting with the publication of the series Guida alle Radici Italiane. Un viaggio sulle tracce dei tuoi antenati (Guide to Italian roots. A journey in the footsteps of your ancestors), a series of tourist guides (translated into English, Spanish and Portuguese) whose first volume, published in 2019, is dedicated to Puglia, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Emilia-Romagna, Calabria, Sicily, Molise, Lazio and Lombardy, and can be downloaded at this link.

The second volume, in preparation for a second group of regions (Calabria, Sicily, Molise, Lazio and Lombardy), will be released in early 2021.

In addition, a questionnaire, Scoprirsi Italiani: i viaggi delle radici in Italia (Discovering to be Italians: the journeys of the roots in Italy), carried out by the AsSud Association with the support of the General Directorate for Italians Abroad and Migration Policies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has been prepared and can be completed in Italian and five other languages, at this link.

The results of the consultation will be used for the purposes of a study that will provide institutions and professionals with suitable tools for packaging tourism products for roots travellers. An informative video on the valorisation of the villages of Italy will also be available to Roots Tourism.
Durham, NC - Results of a clinical trial released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine indicates that breast augmentation in patients treated with fat grafts enriched with autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) had significantly superior results compared to those treated with non-enriched grafts.

The clinical trial, conducted by a multi-institutional group of researchers led by Stig-Frederik T. Klle, M.D., Ph.D., chief surgeon in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Aleris Hamlet Hospitals in collaboration with the stem cell research and production facility Stemform (Copenhagen), was designed to examine whether ex vivo-expanded ASC-enriched fat grafts for breast augmentation could improve the results of conventional lipofilling while offering a safe procedure. It is the first study to investigate the effect of expanded ASCs on large-volume fat grafting in a clinically relevant setting.

"The repair of disfiguring volume defects of the female breast following cancer resection and congenital anomalies are secondary to the aging process and breast feeding represents a large and growing patient population with an increasing demand for natural solutions to address their surgical needs," Dr. Klle said. "Silicone implants are the gold standard for correcting breasts aesthetically, but they can have significant complications, and some have been associated with lymphoma. With the goal of an aesthetic and natural appearance, patient safety and satisfaction, an alternative strategy for breast augmentation and correction is autologous fat grafting."

Autologous fat is gaining acceptance as an ideal soft tissue filler because it is biocompatible, versatile, non-immunogenic, and readily available. Also, harvesting fat through liposuction involves minimal trauma. However, clinical outcomes have varied extensively, and reported retention rates for transferred fat range from 25 to 80 percent, regularly necessitating repeated procedures.

Methods to increase graft retention are needed to make the procedure a reliable and attractive alternative to implants, especially in slim patients with limited fat resources. In this respect, cell enrichment has been shown to have promise. Animal and human studies have demonstrated that enrichment with ex vivo-expanded ASCs markedly improved the residual volume and histological appearance of fat grafts.

In the study reported here, 12 healthy women with small breasts who had a desire for augmentation were divided into two groups. Six received ASC-enriched fat grafts, while the control group (also six patients) received conventional, non-enriched fat grafts. The patients were followed for a minimum of 18 months and will also be given a five-year follow-up safety evaluation.

Total breast volume was determined by MRI both preoperatively and again after four months. Clinical results were also evaluated by 10 independent board-certified plastic surgeons. Photos of the patients before the operation, at four months and 18 months after the operation, were presented blinded and at an equal profile to each surgeon and assessed by the question: "If you performed one fat transplantation for breast augmentation, how satisfied would you be with the retention/survival and the cosmetic result?"

"Both the MRI and the plastic surgeons' assessments showed significantly better clinical results in the ASC-treated group than in the controls receiving non-enriched fat grafts," Dr. Klle reported. "With a median survival of 80.2 percent of the total injected volume in the ASC group (compared to 45.1 percent in the control group), and a median enlargement of 2.6 times the initial breast volume, no second augmentation procedure was needed.

"This study demonstrates a safe profile for the usage of adipose-derived stromal cells," he added. "The results are likely transferable to most soft tissue augmentations and may, therefore, be beneficial to a broad spectrum of patients."

"The outcomes of this first clinical trial comparing breast augmentation in patients treated with fat grafts enriched with adipose-derived stromal cells to those treated with fat grafts alone are encouraging and indicate this procedure is safe and effective," said Anthony Atala, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. "Such procedures could someday offer a valid alternative for patients who currently are treated with silicone breast implants."

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The full article, "Ex vivo-expanded autologous adipose tissue-derived stromal cells ensure enhanced fat graft retention in breast augmentation: a randomized controlled clinical trial," can be accessed at https:/ / stemcellsjournals. onlinelibrary. wiley. com/ doi/ abs/ 10. 1002/ sctm. 20-0081 .

About STEM CELLS Translational Medicine: STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM), co-published by AlphaMed Press and Wiley, is a monthly peer-reviewed publication dedicated to significantly advancing the clinical utilization of stem cell molecular and cellular biology. By bridging stem cell research and clinical trials, SCTM will help move applications of these critical investigations closer to accepted best practices. SCTM is the official journal partner of Regenerative Medicine Foundation.

About AlphaMed Press: Established in 1983, AlphaMed Press with offices in Durham, NC, San Francisco, CA, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, publishes two other internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals: STEM CELLS, celebrating its 38th year, is the world's first journal devoted to this fast paced field of research. The Oncologist , also a monthly peer-reviewed publication, entering its 25th year, is devoted to community and hospital-based oncologists and physicians entrusted with cancer patient care. All three journals are premier periodicals with globally recognized editorial boards dedicated to advancing knowledge and education in their focused disciplines.

About Wiley: Wiley, a global company, helps people and organizations develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Our online scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journals, combined with our digital learning, assessment and certification solutions, help universities, learned societies, businesses, governments and individuals increase the academic and professional impact of their work. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to our stakeholders. The company's website can be accessed at http://www. wiley. com .

About Regenerative Medicine Foundation (RMF): The non-profit Regenerative Medicine Foundation fosters strategic collaborations to accelerate the development of regenerative medicine to improve health and deliver cures. RMF pursues its mission by producing its flagship World Stem Cell Summit, honouring leaders through the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Action Awards, and promoting educational initiatives.
An engineered bacterial toxin is a key part of a gene editor that can make single-base changes in human mitochondria

The genome in mitochondria -- the cell's energy-producing organelles -- is involved in disease and key biological functions, and the ability to precisely alter this DNA would allow scientists to learn more about the effects of these genes and mutations. But the precision editing technologies that have revolutionized DNA editing in the cell nucleus have been unable to reach the mitochondrial genome.

Now, a team at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and the University of Washington School of Medicine has broken this barrier with a new type of molecular editor that can make precise C* G-to-T* A nucleotide changes in mitochondrial DNA. The editor, engineered from a bacterial toxin, enables modeling of disease-associated mitochondrial DNA mutations, opening the door to a better understanding of genetic changes associated with cancer, aging, and more.

The work is described in Nature, with co-first authors Beverly Mok, a graduate student from the Broad Institute and Harvard University, and Marcos de Moraes, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington (UW).

The work was jointly supervised by Joseph Mougous, UW professor of microbiology and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and David Liu, the Richard Merkin Professor and director of the Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare at the Broad Institute, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard University, and HHMI investigator.

"The team has developed a new way of manipulating DNA and used it to precisely edit the human mitochondrial genome for the first time, to our knowledge -- providing a solution to a long-standing challenge in molecular biology," said Liu. "The work is a testament to collaboration in basic and applied research, and may have further applications beyond mitochondrial biology."

Agent of bacterial warfare

Most current approaches to studying specific variations in mitochondrial DNA involve using patient-derived cells, or a small number of animal models, in which mutations have occurred by chance. "But these methods pose major limitations, and creating new, defined models has been impossible," said co-author Vamsi Mootha, institute member and co-director of the Metabolism Program at Broad. Mootha is also an HHMI investigator and professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

While CRISPR-based technologies can rapidly and precisely edit DNA in the cell nucleus, greatly facilitating model creation for many diseases, these tools haven't been able to edit mitochondrial DNA because they rely on a guide RNA to target a location in the genome. The mitochondrial membrane allows proteins to enter the organelle, but is not known to have accessible pathways for transporting RNA.

One piece of a potential solution arose when the Mougous lab identified a toxic protein made by the pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia. This protein can kill other bacteria by directly changing cytosine (C) to uracil (U) in double-stranded DNA.

"What is special about this protein, and what suggested to us that it might have unique editing applications, is its ability to target double-stranded DNA. All previously described deaminases that target DNA work only on the single-stranded form, which limits how they can be used as genome editors," said Mougous. His team determined the structure and biochemical characteristics of the toxin, called DddA.

"We realized that the properties of this 'bacterial warfare agent' could allow it to be paired with a non-CRISPR-based DNA-targeting system, raising the possibility of making base editors that do not rely on CRISPR or on guide RNAs," explained Liu. "It could enable us to finally perform precision genome editing in one of the last corners of biology that has remained untouchable by such technology -- mitochondrial DNA."

"Taming the beast"

The team's first major challenge was to eliminate the toxicity of the bacterial agent -- what Liu described to Mougous as "taming the beast" -- so that it could edit DNA without damaging the cell. The researchers divided the protein into two inactive halves that could edit DNA only when they combined.

The researchers tethered the two halves of the tamed bacterial toxin to TALE DNA-binding proteins, which can locate and bind a target DNA sequence in both the nucleus and mitochondria without the use of a guide RNA. When these pieces bind DNA next to each other, the complex reassembles into its active form, and converts C to U at that location -- ultimately resulting in a C* G-to-T* A base edit. The researchers called their tool a DddA-derived cytosine base editor (DdCBE).

The team tested DdCBE on five genes in the mitochondrial genome in human cells and found that DdCBE installed precise base edits in up to 50 percent of the mitochondrial DNA. They focused on the gene ND4, which encodes a subunit of the mitochondrial enzyme complex I, for further characterization. Mootha's lab analyzed the mitochondrial physiology and chemistry of the edited cells and showed that the changes affected mitochondria as intended.

"This is the first time in my career that we've been able to engineer a precise edit in mitochondrial DNA," said Mootha. "It's a quantum leap forward -- if we can make targeted mutations, we can develop models to study disease-associated variants, determine what role they actually play in disease, and screen the effects of drugs on the pathways involved."

Future developments

One goal for the field now will be to develop editors that can precisely make other types of genetic changes in mitochondrial DNA.

"A mitochondrial genome editor has the long-term potential to be developed into a therapeutic to treat mitochondrial-derived diseases, and it has more immediate value as a tool that scientists can use to better model mitochondrial diseases and explore fundamental questions pertaining to mitochondrial biology and genetics," Mougous said.

The team added that some features of DdCBE, such as its lack of RNA, may also be attractive for other gene-editing applications beyond the mitochondria.

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This work was supported in part by the Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, NIH (R01AI080609, U01AI142756, RM1HG009490, R35GM122455, R35GM118062, and P30DK089507), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (1-13-1-0014), and University of Washington Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Paper cited

Mok BY, de Moraes MH, et al. A bacterial cytidine deaminase toxin enables CRISPR-free mitochondrial base editing. Nature. Online July 8, 2020. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2477-4

About Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard was founded in 2003 to empower this generation of creative scientists to transform medicine with new genome-based knowledge. The Broad Institute seeks to describe the molecular components of life and their connections; discover the molecular basis of major human diseases; develop effective new approaches to diagnostics and therapeutics; and disseminate discoveries, tools, methods and data openly to the entire scientific community.

Founded by MIT, Harvard and its affiliated hospitals, and the visionary Los Angeles philanthropists Eli and Edythe L. Broad, the Broad Institute includes faculty, professional staff and students from throughout the MIT and Harvard biomedical research communities and beyond, with collaborations spanning over a hundred private and public institutions in more than 40 countries worldwide. For further information about the Broad Institute, go to http://www. broadinstitute. org .

About University of Washington School of Medicine

The University of Washington School of Medicine was ranked No. 2 in the nation in both Primary Care and Family Medicine training by US News & World Report (2020). It also was second in the nation in total federal research grants and contracts, with $923.1 million in total revenue in FY 2018 (the most recent year for which data is available), according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Crop hybrid technologies have contributed to the significant yield improvement worldwide in the past decades. However, designing and maintaining a hybrid production line has always been complex and laborious. Now, researchers in China have developed a new system combining CRISPR-mediated genome editing with other approaches that could produce better seeds compared with conventional hybrid methods and shorten the production timeline by 5 to 10 years. The study appears July 8 in the journal Molecular Plant.

Hybrids are preferred over purebreds in crop production. Crossing two genetically distant plant varieties often gives rise to progeny with superior traits compared with the parents. The offspring tend to have higher yields and better disease tolerance. This phenomenon is called heterosis, or hybrid vigor.

"But current hybrid methods are very time consuming and cumbersome," says senior author Chuanxiao Xie at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

For example, the first step to produce a hybrid is to find or make a type of parent plant carrying a mutation, so that it does not produce viable pollen. This is to avoid self-crossing and ensure most of the parent plants become fertilized by a different variety. But the progeny needs to be fertile in order to self-cross to produce more of itself and plants to be used as the parent. Scientists would cross the sterile plant with another that is genetically fertile to restore the plant's sterility and make hybrid seeds. Constructing a production cycle like this is vital in building an efficient seed production line in the field.

These approaches have very specific requirements of plants' genotypes, and establishing stable infertile and fertile breeds can take years.

"These limitations have restricted them from being applied more widely in commercial agriculture," Xie says. "But our new system using CRISPR/Cas9 can significantly streamline the process. Now, one single transformation is enough."

Xie and his colleagues first constructed a Cas9 vector that targets MS26, a fertility gene in maize. They also prepared a second vector, called MGM. The first vector works by cutting out a segment of the MS26, which would make the plant genetically infertile. The MGM vector carries three functional parts: a working MS26 gene coding sequence to restore fertility, an enzyme to inactive pollen, and a red color marker that would show in seeds.

The team introduced both vectors into an agrobacterium and used it to transform maize embryos. Because maize is diploid--meaning it has two copies of each gene--these edited embryos would carry two copies of mutated MS26, in addition to a single copy of MGM gene that was introduced.

When these plants self-crossed, they produce two types of offspring with a 1 to 1 ratio according to the rule of meiosis: one with a mutated MS26 and MGM, and one with mutated MS26 without MGM.

The MGM-absent progeny is infertile, so it can be used as a parent for hybrid seed production. Because these parents do not have carry the exogenous MGM gene, their offspring--if crossed with a non-genetically engineered variety--are not transgenic.

The other half of the offspring carries the MGM and MGM-present offspring are fertile, and essentially the same as their parents. These plants--called the maintainers--can be self-crossed to make more infertile plants to produce hybrids and more maintainers.

The maintainers also carry a red fluorescent marker expressed from the MGM vector, so they can be easily distinguished and sorted from the sterile seeds.

"Our system significantly reduces the resources needed to construct stable hybrid seed production lines. So the inputs and costs of seeds would be much lower," Xie says.

Besides maize, many other major crops also have MS26, including rice, millet, wheat, and sorghum. Therefore, the new approach can be readily applied to other crops, or even other fertility-determining genes in crops, he adds.

"Technology-wise, we are not far from large-scale applications. But there is a procedure we need to go through before getting approved for commercial production," Xie says.

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This work was supported by grants from Beijing Municipal Science and Technology, National Major Project of Developing New GM Crops, the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the National Science Foundation of China, and the China National Modern Corn Industry Technology System.

Molecular Plant, Qi et al.: "Genome Editing Enables Next-Generation Hybrid Seed Production Technology," https://www.cell.com/molecular-plant/fulltext/S1674-2052(20)30181-7
Kai Ruggeri's research has one overriding objective: to improve the well-being of populations by confronting inequality. He is a behavioral scientist at Columbia who uses data science to design interventions and recommend policies that help the most vulnerable and disadvantaged populations overcome inequalities.

As an assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health, Ruggeri focuses on population level behaviors such as the way people make financial choices and use health care. While his work involves entire populations, much of his focus is on how to address inequalities in access and outcomes, particularly among the most disadvantaged. Such inequities have become even more apparent with the outbreak of Covid-19, as higher rates of infection and death among people of color demonstrate the racial character of inequality in America's health care system.

"You can tie just about every major issue to inequalities," says Ruggeri, who is an affiliate of the Data Science Institute. "Some are flaws or biases in the system; some are unfortunate circumstances; pretty much all are harmful. The aim is to raise the floor, shift the mean up, and eliminate ceilings. If you do this, you see entire populations improving. This starts with those who need it most, but everyone benefits from it."

One of Ruggeri's projects is using data science to eliminate inequality and increase health care access in undeserved communities in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. The project, called Nudging New York, is supported by a Data Science Institute Seed Fund grant. He is collaborating on the project with the Community Healthcare Network (CHN), a federally qualified health clinic that provides care to disadvantaged New Yorkers.

Federally funded health care centers like CHN provide medical care to more than 20 million Americans who live in impoverished areas. Yet in many of those areas, nearly half of the patients who make medical appointments at the centers don't show up--not because they don't want to, but they encounter major barriers. Data show that patient no-show appointments, and the missed opportunities for needed medical care, place an enormous health burden on disadvantaged communities. No-shows, for example, increase the likelihood that patients will visit emergency rooms and be hospitalized for conditions that could have been treated at clinics. As such, even small decreases in no-show rates at clinics would improve the health of vulnerable populations while reducing the nation's medical costs.

Ruggeri recently published a paper about the Nudging New York research in BMC Health Services Research, which is owned by Springer Nature. In the paper, his team details how it is uses big data and Bayesian machine learning techniques to understand what prevents many of the 80,000 CHN patients from making their medical appointments. The team also discusses several system wide and behavioral interventions and policies that would help them keep their appointments. They also explore common barriers to patient care, such as transportation, childcare, translation services, and inconvenient appointment times.

Once the team has evaluated patients' behavioral and environmental data, as well as data from emergency departments at partner hospitals, it will use a technique known as "nudges" to help patients keep appointments. Nudges are behavioral interventions that encourage optimal choices. They can be applied in a variety of ways, such as providing more information to patients, or more emphatically stressing the importance of attending regular checkups. What is most important is that the nudges are personalized, as the most effective interventions are those that address the specific needs of individuals, Ruggeri says.

"By evaluating sources of clinical, behavioral, and environmental data, and then matching the most effective interventions to the right groups of patients, we hope to reduce no-shows and avoidable visits to emergency departments," he says. "In implementing Bayesian machine learning methods to better understand patterns of behavior in these groups, we will design nudges that increase health care access for the most vulnerable New Yorkers. If we do it right, the methods we create can be used at community clinics across the U.S. to radically improve health care while significantly reducing cost. While we focus on New York, this work has the potential to have impact in rural and urban communities around the country."

CHN is also playing a major role in combating Covid-19. It has transitioned to offering telemedicine to its clients, given the lock down, while also serving as a Covid-19 testing site. Ruggeri's team has adapted its research to help the network contend with the coronavirus, which data show disproportionately affects communities of color.

"We are working with the network on a number of initiatives, ranging from optimizing telemedicine arrangements to tracking individuals unable to attend sessions to see if we can formulate interventions to support those who need care but face barriers to getting it," he says. "CHN is contributing in critical ways in this pandemic, and we are grateful for support from the Data Science Institute to allow us to design behavioral interventions and maximize the use of data to help the network deliver care."

Along with being an affiliate of DSI, Ruggeri belongs to two of the institute's centers: Financial and Business Analytics and Health Analytics. Education, financial stability, health, and national security are the fundamental factors that enable populations to flourish, which is why he says he joined both centers. In the past, researchers could focus on one or two of these factors, but with more data and modern technological resources, "we can now see how all these factors interact."

"And knowing this, we can make use of all the data and new technology to drive better outcomes for those who need it most," Ruggeri says. "The Data Science Institute gave me a great opportunity to dive headfirst into this work early in my time at Columbia, and the support they gave to me to move ahead with my research is something I hope will have even greater impact in the near future. My goal is to create better outcomes in well-being across all communities--it's what gets me up in the mornings--and data science is helping me to achieve that goal."

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8 July 2020: A follow-up study of almost 20,000 young women who had a first cycle of IVF in Denmark between 1995 and 2014 indicates that those who responded poorly to treatment, with few eggs collected, are at a significantly increased risk of later age-related diseases. The findings, says investigator Mette Wulf Christensen from Aarhus University in Denmark, suggest an "association with early ovarian ageing and an accelerated ageing process in general".(1)

The results, she explains, are consistent with what we know so far about early menopause, which has been shown in several studies to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and mortality. "Identifying women at risk of early menopause may thus allow early preventive health initiatives in terms of a healthy lifestyle," says Christensen.

This is the first time that the yield of eggs in IVF as a measure of ovarian ageing - and thus as a risk predictor of age-related ill-health and mortality - has been investigated in a large-scale cohort study. The results will be presented online today by Ms Christensen, a PhD student, at the virtual Annual Meeting of ESHRE.

The study was based on the national registries of Denmark in which each individual has their own identifying number, thus allowing cross-linkage between various registries of health outcomes and treatments. In this case women below the age of 37 who had a first cycle of IVF or ICSI in Denmark between 1995 and 2014 were divided into one of two groups according to their response to ovarian stimulation: those who had produced five or fewer eggs for collection, defined as "early ovarian ageing"; and those who responded normally with at least eight eggs. The number of eggs harvested was thus used as a marker of ovarian reserve. There were 1,234 women in the former group, and 18,614 in the latter.

During the six-year average period of follow-up, the incidence of chronic disease in the two groups was analysed from the cross-linked registry data, providing a real-life estimate of risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, cancer, and all-cause mortality. Results showed that women in the early ovarian ageing group had an increased overall risk (by 26%) of all-cause disease when compared to those with a normal ovarian response. This higher risk was statistically significant, and evident in cardiovascular diseases (39% higher) and osteoporosis (more than double). The two groups were also cross-checked with the "early retirement benefit" register, in which the early ovarian ageing group were also more likely to be listed.

The risk of cancer, other age-related diseases and all-cause death was not significantly different.

Commenting on the implications of the results, Ms Christensen said that, although the common biological mechanisms behind ovarian and general ageing are "somewhat obscure", the data from this study demonstrate that young women with early ovarian ageing - defined as low oocyte output after FSH stimulation - have an increased risk of age-related morbidity and possibly mortality, "and strongly support the hypothesis that low ovarian reserve may be a useful marker of later health problems". Counselling this group of patients at fertility clinics, she added, "may therefore be important for introducing preventive measures such as lifestyle changes or the use of HRT to reduce the adverse health risks which follow an earlier menopause".

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Abstract O-238, Wednesday 8 July 2020

Early ovarian ageing and long-term health consequences: Is number of oocytes harvested in ART associated to an earlier and increased risk of age-related diseases?

Ovarian ageing and long-term health risks

1. Ovarian ageing describes the loss of follicles with increasing chronological age, which ultimately ends with the menopause. The speed of this process is individual and the mechanism is partly determined by genetic and environmental factors, but is still basically unknown. An association between early menopause and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease has been evident for several years. A huge pooled-data study reported in 2019 found an association between each lower menopausal age category and increasing cardiovascular disease risk, with the greatest risk (doubled) in those under 40 (Bernhardt L, Lawson CA, Early menopause and risk of cardiovascular disease: an issue for young women. Lancet 2019; doi:.org/10.1016/S2468=2667(19)30184-7)

The study presented today for the first time moves the story on to egg collections in IVF as a marker of ovarian ageing

* When obtaining outside comment, journalists are requested to ensure that their contacts are aware of the embargo on this release.

For further information on the details of this press release, contact:

Christine Bauquis at ESHRE

Mobile: +32 (0)499 25 80 46

Email: christine@eshre.eu
Researchers affiliated with the Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), hosted by the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, have discovered a protein involved in corn's resistance to dry weather, high temperatures, and fungal invasion.

This finding paves the way for the development of more drought-resistant plants and products that reduce losses in production at a time when global climate change threatens crop yields around the world. An article on the study is published in BMC Plant Biology.

The GCCRC is an Engineering Research Center (ERC) established by FAPESP and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA).

The researchers named the new protein drought-responsive inactive kinase 1 (DRIK1). They also found a synthetic molecule that binds to DRIK1 and can be used in the future to breed plants in which the activity of the protein is naturally reduced or to develop products that inhibit the protein. "Under normal conditions, the protein controls the plant's developmental mechanisms and inhibits stress-response genes. In dry weather or when the plant is attacked by pathogens, levels of the protein are reduced, and the necessary response is triggered to control the effects of water stress, thermal stress or pathogen attack," said Paulo Arruda (http://www. fapesp. br/ cpe/ home ), a professor in UNICAMP's Institute of Biology (IB) and GCCRC's project leader.

To identify the molecule that binds to the protein, the researchers used a platform developed by UNICAMP's Center for Medicinal Chemistry (CQMED) to discover molecular targets for drugs. Led by Arruda, CQMED is also one of the National Science and Technology Institutes (INCTs) co-funded in the state of Sao Paulo by Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

"CQMED's platform can search libraries for small molecules that inhibit specific proteins," Arruda explained. "In human health, this is important for the development of a new drug that inhibits a kinase protein involved in a disease, for example. We used the platform to identify a molecule that binds to the plant's protein kinase, and now we can study the function of the water stress response mechanism in which it is involved."

The researchers screened a library of 378 compounds that might bind to DRIK1 and identified a synthetic molecule with this capacity (ENMD-2076). They plan to modify it so that it can regulate DRIK1, increasing or decreasing its expression in plants.

The authors of the article also include Bruno Aquino, who worked as a postdoctoral intern at IB-UNICAMP with a scholarship from FAPESP; Viviane Cristina Heinzen da Silva, currently a postdoctoral intern in UNICAMP's Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG); and Katlin Brauer Massirer, CQMED's coprincipal investigator with Arruda.

Water stress response

To find the protein DRIK1, scientists searched a public database for genes related to the response to water stress in plants. They grew corn from seeds in a plant growth chamber for 15 days, watering some of the plants normally throughout the period. The others were divided into three groups and were not irrigated for nine, 12 or 14 days.

Samples of leaves and roots were RNA-sequenced. The researchers found that the water-stressed plants expressed less DRIK1 but that levels of the protein returned to normal when the plants were watered.

Information mined from the same database showed that DRIK1 probably behaves similarly in response to warmer temperatures and attacks by at least two different fungi.

The researchers also analyzed the protein's three-dimensional structure and mapped potentially important regions for the stress response function. In the future, these regions could serve as targets for compounds that modulate the protein's action mechanism.

Researchers are now working on the production of plants genetically engineered for altered expression of DRIK1 with the aim of obtaining varieties that are more drought-resistant.

"If we succeed in producing a variety that withstands water stress slightly more than others during a drought, it will be like having genetic insurance," Arruda said. "There will always be losses, but tons of food will be saved if these losses can be reduced."

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About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Amsterdam, July 8, 2020 - The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD) is pleased to announce that the joint recipients of the 2020 Alzheimer Award are Christin Nance, BA, and Sarah Banks, PhD.

The 2020 winning paper is Nance C, Ritter A, Miller JB, Lapin B, and Banks SJ (2019) The Pathology of Rapid Cognitive Decline in Clinically Diagnosed Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 70, 983-993. It is freely available to everyone to read, download, and share.

Each year, JAD's Associate Editors select the article published during the previous year that has had the most significant impact on Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. The awardee(s) receives the Alzheimer Medal, a bronze medal with the likeness of Alois Alzheimer.

This year's award-winning article addresses one of the primary challenges in managing AD: the variable rate of cognitive decline among patients. Individuals diagnosed with AD who experience rapid cognitive decline (RCD) are associated with worse functional outcomes and a higher mortality rate than those with normal rates of cognitive decline (NCD). "The fact that there is no current consensus on the baseline risk factors for RCD in AD warranted further exploration," explained Ms. Nance.

In order to investigate the demographic, clinical and pathological differences between RCD and NCD in AD, data on individuals with clinically-diagnosed AD, taken from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) Uniform Data Set, were compared with autopsy data from the NACC Neuropathology Data Set. To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest autopsy sample studied for defining clinical characteristics and variables of cognitive status in RCD.

The central findings of the study suggest that individuals with RCD had a more severe pathological signature than those with NCD: higher prevalence of comorbidities; more severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy; more diffuse neocortical Lewy bodies; and greater gross lobar atrophy. Despite similar baseline Mini-Mental Status Examination scores, individuals with RCD had lower baseline neuropsychology test scores in domains of language and memory (WMS Logical Memory Immediate Recall, Animal Naming, Boston Naming Test) as well as executive functioning (Trails B and WAIS-R Digit Symbol).

In contrast with previous research, none of the demographic factors observed differed significantly between groups in this sample. "The results of our study suggest that further research is necessary to better capture the early profile of patients most likely to experience RCD," commented Dr. Banks.

2020 Alzheimer Award Recipients

Christin Nance, BA, earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2015 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she conducted research on the psychophysiology of emotion and personality. Subsequently, she joined the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health as a research coordinator and Certified Specialist in Psychometry (CSP), working with the neuropsychology team. Most notably, she coordinated novel investigations of the GE-180 PET ligand under a Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). Her efforts were instrumental in obtaining the GE-180 Investigational New Drug (IND) license under Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval, facilitating research on the relationship between neuropsychology test scores and biomarkers of inflammation in patients with AD and Parkinson's disease. In 2019, she joined the technology/health start-up Ready Responders and now provides clinical patient care at a Las Vegas homeless shelter during the SARS CoV-2 pandemic.

Sarah Banks, PhD, is a board-certified neuropsychologist and Associate Professor of Neurosciences and modifiable risk factors in AD. Dr. Banks earned her BSc in Psychology at the University of Edinburgh in her native UK, then her PhD at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine (Chicago), before completing her postdoctoral fellowship at the Montreal Neurological Institute, part of McGill University. She then moved back to the US in 2011 to initiate the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center of Brain Health's Neuropsychology Program in Las Vegas, NV. She led this program through its expansion before joining the team at UC San Diego in 2018 where she continues her research combining imaging, cognition and genetics of AD, in addition to directing the neuropsychology program of a new multidisciplinary memory disorders clinic. Her clinical and research focus is AD and related disorders. She has a particular interest in better understanding how cognitive measures and biomarkers correspond to pathology and how factors including sex impact these relationships, as well how we can adjust lifestyle factors to mitigate risk of cognitive decline.

"We would like to gratefully acknowledge our co-investigators and their essential contributions to our research findings, as well as the NACC team who offer such a rich resource for this kind of research. We would also like to thank the members of the JAD Editorial Board for selecting our paper from among the 800+ excellent articles published by the journal in 2019," stated Ms. Nance and Dr. Banks.

"The Associate Editors and I are delighted to formally recognize Christin Nance and Sarah Banks for this significant work. While the disease profile and definition of RCD are not fully understood, this research, using autopsy confirmation of AD (the 'gold standard') to better elucidate both the underlying pathology and clinical characteristics of RCD, significantly advances our understanding," commented George Perry, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, and Semmes Foundation Distinguished University Chair in Neurobiology at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

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A new analysis led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the number of U.S. prison residents who tested positive for COVID-19 was 5.5 times higher than the general U.S. population, with a prisoner case rate of 3,251 per 100,000 residents as compared to 587 cases per 100,000 in the general population.

The researchers also found the death rate of U.S. prisoners was 39 deaths per 100,000 prison residents, higher than that of the U.S. population at 29 deaths per 100,000 people. After adjusting for age and sex differences between the two groups, the death rate would be three times higher for prisoners compared to the general U.S. population.

The findings were published online in a research letter July 8 in JAMA.

The study, which analyzed cases and deaths from March 31 to June 6, 2020, found that COVID-19 cases in prisons increased by 8.3 percent per day compared to 3.4 percent in the general population. The analysis includes COVID-19 cases among prisoners, including active confirmed cases, recoveries, and decedents, posted on publicly available data sources such as correction departments' websites, news reports, and press releases.

"While these numbers are striking, we actually think the disparities within prisons is much greater," says lead author Brendan Saloner, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Bloomberg School. "Some prisons are not reporting any cases, others are not even testing inmates, so the need for policies to protect incarcerated populations is more important than ever."

For the study, the Bloomberg School researchers collaborated with the UCLA Law COVID-19 Behind Bars Data Project, a new initiative based at the University of California, Los Angeles--led by senior author, Sharon Dolovich, JD, PhD, at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law--that collects data on prisoners in state and federal prisons.

For their analysis of COVID-19 deaths, the researchers drew from information available from departments of corrections and external medical examiner reports. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the researchers were able to gather state-level data about COVID-19 cases, deaths, and demographics for the general U.S. population.

The researchers counted COVID-19 cases and deaths separately for prisoners and the general population. During the study period, there were 42,107 cases of COVID-19 and 510 deaths among 1,295,285 prison residents. Among the U.S. population, there were 1,920,904 infections and 95,608 deaths.

Prison populations are especially vulnerable to the spread of a highly infectious disease like COVID-19. Close confinement, limited access to personal protective equipment, and high rates of preexisting respiratory and cardiac conditions are factors that can exacerbate the spread of COVID-19 among the two-plus million people incarcerated in America's jails, prisons, and correctional facilities. Policies that have potential to curb the spread of disease include the early release of prisoners unlikely to pose a risk of reoffending, implementing strong infection control practices, and using widespread testing.

"Prisoners have a right to adequate protection of their health while incarcerated," says Saloner. "The reality of these findings shows that we aren't coming anywhere close to meeting their basic needs. Ultimately, it creates a dangerous situation for the inmates, prison staff, the communities that prisons are located in, and in our overall effort to contain the crisis."

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"COVID-19 Cases and Deaths In Federal and State Prisons" was written by Brendan Saloner, Kalind Parish, Julie A. Ward, Grace DiLaura, and Sharon Dolovich.
Suitable catalysts are of great importance for efficient power-to-X applications - but the molecular processes occurring during their use have not yet been fully understood. Using X-rays from a synchrotron particle accelerator, scientists of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now been able to observe for the first time a catalyst during the Fischer-Tropsch reaction that facilitates the production of synthetic fuels under industrial conditions. It is intended to use the test results for the development of bespoke power-to-X catalysts. The team has published the results in the scientific journal Reaction & Chemical Engineering. (DOI: 10.1039/c9re00493a)

On the way to a CO2-neutral society, power-to-X processes (P2X), i.e. processes that convert renewable energy into chemical energy sources, support the interlocking of different sectors. For example, synthetic fuels can be produced from wind or solar power, enabling climate-friendly mobility and goods transport without additional greenhouse gas emissions. The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS), which is necessary for this purpose among other things, yielding long-chain hydrocarbons for the production of petrol or diesel from carbon monoxide and hydrogen, is an established process in the chemical industry. However, even though more than one hundred years have passed since the discovery of this technology, the processes involved are still not fully understood scientifically: "This applies in particular to the structural changes in the catalysts required for the process under industrial conditions," says Professor Jan-Dierk Grunwaldt from the Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry (ITCP) of KIT. "During the reaction, undesirable by-products can be formed or disruptive structural changes in the catalyst can occur. So far, it has not been explained sufficiently how this happens exactly during the reaction and what the effects on the overall process are."

In a transdisciplinary project, in cooperation with P2X experts from the Institute for Micro Process Engineering (IMVT) and the Institute of Catalysis Research and Technology (IKFT) of KIT, the team has now achieved a breakthrough in understanding the FTS at the atomic level. "For the analysis, we use methods of synchrotron research, i.e. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction," explains Marc-Andre Serrer (IKFT), one of the authors of the study. "This was the first time that we were able to watch, so to speak, an FTS catalyst at work at the atomic level under real process conditions." While catalytic reactions had already been studied beforehand with a synchrotron, a special particle accelerator for generating particularly intense X-ray radiation, reactions that take place over a long period of time and at high temperatures and pressures, as in real-time operation at a P2X facility, have so far presented an obstacle. For the experiment at KIT, a novel high-pressure infrastructure has now been added to the CAT-ACT measuring line (CATalysis and ACTinide measuring line) designated for catalyst studies at the KIT synchrotron. With this infrastructure - which was built as part of the German Federal government's Kopernikus projects for the energy turnaround - it was possible to determine the function of a commercial cobalt-nickel catalyst operando at 250 C and 30 bar for more than 300 hours during the FTS. This was also the first time that a sufficient quantity of hydrocarbons could be produced in such an experiment that could be analyzed afterwards.

Catalyst development at the computer

The experiment allowed the scientists to identify hydrocarbon deposits that hinder the diffusion of the reactive gases towards the active catalyst particles. "In the next step, these insights can be used to protect the catalyst specifically against these deactivation mechanisms," says Grunwaldt. "This is done, for example, by modifying the catalyst with promoters, i.e. substances that improve the properties of the catalyst." In the future, the novel atomic understanding of catalytic reactions will contribute to computer simulations for a fast, resource-saving and cost-effective development of bespoke catalysts for P2X processes.

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Original publication:

Loewert, M., Serrer, M.-A., Carambia, T., Stehle, M., Zimina, A., Kalz, K. F., Lichtenberg, H., Saraci, E., Pfeifer, P., & Grunwaldt, J.-D. (2020). Bridging the gap between industry and synchrotron: an operando study at 30 bar over 300 h during Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 5(6), 1071-1082. https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1039/ c9re00493a External Link

More about the KIT Energy Center: http://www. energie. kit. edu External Link

Further material:

Link to the publication in Reaction & Chemical Engineering: https:/ / pubs. rsc. org/ en/ content/ articlelanding/ 2020/ re/ c9re00493a#!divAbstract External Link

Press contact:

Martin Heidelberger, Redakteur/Pressereferent, Tel.: +49 721 608-21169, martin.heidelberger@kit.edu

Being "The Research University in the Helmholtz Association", KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,300 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 24,400 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
"If you saw a Chihuahua barking as deep as a Rottweiler, you would definitely be surprised", says Andrea Ravignani, a researcher at the MPI and the Dutch Sealcentre Pieterburen. Body size influences the frequency of the sounds animals produce, but many animals found ways to sound 'smaller' or 'bigger' than expected. "Nature is full of animals like squeaky-Rottweilers and tenor-Chihuahuas", explains Ravignani. Some animals fake their size by developing larger vocal organs that lower their sound, which makes them sound larger than you would expect. Other animals are good at controlling the sounds they produce. Such strategies (called 'dishonest signalling' by biologists) could be driven by sexual selection, as males with larger body size or superior singing skills (hitting very high or low notes) attract more females (or vice versa).

Garcia and Ravignani wondered whether some animals may have learned to make new sounds as a strategy to attract mates. Few animal species are capable of vocal learning, among them mammals such as seals, dolphins, bats and elephants. For instance, seals can imitate sounds, and some seals copy call types of successfully breeding individuals. Would animals who often 'fake' their body size also be the ones capable of learning new sounds?

The researchers analysed the sounds and body size of 164 different mammals, ranging from mice and monkeys to water dwelling mammals such as the subantarctic fur seal and the Amazonian manatee. They combined methods from acoustics, anatomy, and evolutionary biology to compare the different sorts of animals in the dataset.

The scientists found that animals who 'fake' their body size are often skilled sound learners. According to Garcia and Ravignani, their framework provides a new way of investigating the evolution of communication systems. "We want to expand our theory to take into account other evolutionary pressures, not just sexual selection", adds Ravignani. "We also want to replicate our preliminary findings with more mammals and test whether our ideas also apply to birds or other taxonomic groups."

In their position paper, Garcia and Ravignani suggest that there may be a link to human speech evolution. "We believe that a 'dishonest signalling' strategy may be a first evolutionary step towards learning how to make new sounds of any sort", says Garcia. "Speculatively, it brings us closer to understanding human speech evolution: our ancestors may have learnt how to speak after learning how to sound bigger or how to hit high notes".

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Publication

Maxime Garcia & Andrea Ravignani (2020) "Acoustic allometry and vocal learning in mammals." Biology Letters, doi: http://dx. doi. org/ 10. 1098/ rsbl. 2020. 0081

Questions? Contact:

Andrea Ravignani

Phone: +31 650474647

Email: andrea.ravignani@mpi.nl

Marjolein Scherphuis (press officer)

Phone: +31 24 3521947

Email: Marjolein.Scherphuis@mpi.nl
No difference in the level of satisfaction or function between the two methods of delivery

Hamilton, ON (July 8, 2020) - Cognitive behavioural therapy delivered electronically to treat people with depression is more effective than face to face, suggests an evidence review led by McMaster University.

Based on randomized control trials, the systematic review and analysis revealed that cognitive behavioural therapy that connected therapists and patients through such modes as web-based applications, video-conferencing, email and texting, improved patients' symptoms better than face to face when measured using standardized mood symptoms scales. As well, there was no difference in the level of satisfaction or function between the two methods of delivery.

The details were published in EClinicalMedicine, published by The Lancet.

"Although this study started before the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is timely and assuring that treatment delivered electronically works as well if not better than face to face and there is no compromise on the quality of care that patients are receiving during this stressful time," said corresponding author Zena Samaan, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences at McMaster and a psychiatrist at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a type of psychotherapy widely used to treat depression. However, limited resource availability poses several barriers to patients seeking access to care, including lengthy wait times and geographical limitations.

In this evidence review, researchers identified 17 randomized control trials comparing therapist-supported cognitive behavioural therapy delivered electronically to face to face cognitive behavioural therapy. The studies were conducted between 2003 and 2018 in the United States, Australia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Samaan said the findings of the meta-analysis debunk widely-held perceptions about psychotherapy.

"The common understanding was that face to face psychotherapy has the advantage of the connection with the therapist and this connection is in part what makes the difference in treatment," she said.

"However, it is not surprising that electronic interventions are helpful in that they offer flexibility, privacy and no travel time, time off work, transport or parking costs. It makes sense that people access care, especially mental health care, when they need it from their own comfort space."

Samaan noted that the findings support advocacy and widespread implementation of electronic cognitive behavioural therapy.

"Electronic options should be considered to be implemented for delivering therapy to patients," she said. "This can potentially vastly improve access for patients, especially those in rural or underserved areas, and during pandemics."

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This work did not receive any external funding.

Editors:

The full text of the paper may be found here: https:/ / www. thelancet. com/ journals/ eclinm/ article/ PIIS2589-5370 (20)30186-3/fulltext.

For more information:

Veronica McGuire

Media Relations

McMaster University

vmcguir@mcmaster.ca

289-776-6952
More than a decade into the community development initiative called Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families, the 30-block Southern Orchards neighborhood on Columbus, Ohio's South Side had clear, notable improvement. Home vacancy fell from 30% to under 6%. High school graduation rates increased. More than $40 million in investments were generated in the area.

But Nationwide Children's Hospital, a lead partner in the initiative, had a question. Had the neighborhood improvement also improved the health of the children in it?

A new study, published July 7 in Pediatrics, finds that the rate of emergency department visits decreased 20.8% and inpatient admissions decreased 12.7% in the neighborhood from the baseline period of August 2008 - July 2010 to the follow-up period of August 2015 - July 2017. There was also a 28.9% increase in inpatient length of stay. These changes compared favorably to two neighborhoods with similar housing, racial segregation and socioeconomic conditions, where the authors found a 16.1% decrease in ED visit rate; a 12.2% decrease in inpatient admissions; and a 36.6% increase in length of stay.

All three neighborhoods showed changes in use, but Southern Orchards fared slightly better.

"This is not surprising," said Deena Chisolm, PhD, the lead author of the study and director of the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's. "Health care changed broadly over the past decade. More people are insured as a result of the Affordable Care Act. There's a been general focus on improving quality of care to keep people out of emergency departments. Perhaps most importantly in central Ohio, Nationwide Children's has implemented a number of region-wide programs that have affected health and health care."

The Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families initiative was specific to the Southern Orchards neighborhood in that time period (it has since expanded), and its primary intervention was housing improvement. More than 380 homes have been built, renovated or otherwise improved since 2008, with Nationwide Children's and the faith-based organization Community Development for All People as the major partners in the initiative. Workforce training and job placement, community-based mentoring and other programs were implemented as well.

None of those interventions were specifically designed to improve health care utilization, but links between neighborhood exposures and health are well-known, said Dr. Chisolm, who is also an associate professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. A number of other Nationwide Children's-led programs were designed, however, to improve health care utilization - and those programs were active in the Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families district, the two comparison neighborhoods, and throughout the Columbus area.

"Overall, the study is very good news for this area," said Kelly Kelleher, MD, holder the Chlapaty/ADS Endowed Chair for Innovation in Pediatric Practice at Nationwide Children's and senior author of the study. "We're reducing ED use and inpatient admissions across traditionally at-risk areas of Columbus. In one neighborhood, we have the added element of housing, which appears to have an additional benefit, even if it's small. It will be interesting to see what effect Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families in the future, now that the program is fully developed and continues to grow."

Drs. Chisolm and Kelleher point out that Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families started slowly, with 23 homes total improved over the first two years, but the initiative has more recently averaged of 34 homes per year and accelerated its investments in rental units and other areas, such as workforce development. The authors also say that this kind of measurement of neighborhood-level outcomes is difficult and may become clearer over time.

"Going forward, housing and neighborhood improvement interventions may produce even greater in health care utilization," said Dr. Chisolm. "As we address many of the obvious drivers of ED usage, such as asthma, we may now find that these neighborhood-level changes have an increased impact."

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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Findings from an Oregon State University study into the effects of radiofrequency radiation generated by the wireless technology that will soon be the standard for cell phones suggest few health impacts.

Fifth generation or 5G wireless technology, which began being deployed worldwide in 2019, provides faster connectivity and more bandwidth, meaning higher download speeds.

But because 5G technology is so new, little is known about the potential health effects from its radiofrequency radiation, which is higher than the current industry standard 4G. The Oregon State study begins to change that.

"Based on our study, we don't think 5G radiation is that harmful," said Subham Dasgupta, a postdoctoral fellow working in the lab of Robyn Tanguay at Oregon State. "It's predominately benign."

Researchers conducted the research using embryonic zebrafish, a model organism often used to discover interactions between environmental stressors and biological systems. Zebrafish and humans have similar developmental processes and are similar on a genomic level, meaning zebrafish research can easily be applied to humans.

In the study, published July 9 in the journal PLOS ONE, the researchers exposed embryonic zebrafish for two days to 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation, the frequency typically used by 5G-enabled cell phones.

They found no significant impacts on mortality, how the embryos formed or the embryos' behavioral response to light. They did find a modest impact on a test that measures the embryos' response to a sudden sound that they will investigate further.

Future research will look at the 5G radiation effects on the same zebrafish used in the study at a gene level and as they develop from embryos to adults, Dasgupta said. The researchers also would like to study the impacts of higher frequencies and higher exposure levels on zebrafish to keep pace with the changing cell phone industry.

The future research will use the same standardized experimental set up used in this study. It involves a box made of copper. The zebrafish embryos are placed on plates, which are put inside the box. The radiation enters the box through an antennae and the copper keeps it inside the box.

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It was developed in conjunction with Huaping Liu, a professor in Oregon State's College of Engineering, and several members of his lab.

Other authors of the study were Guangxin Wang, Michael Simonich, Tingwei Zhang and Lisa Truong. Tanguay and Dasgupta are in the Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State.
Ancient humans deliberately collected perforated shells in order to string them together as beads, according to a study published July 8, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Daniella Bar-Yosef Mayer (Tel Aviv University, Israel), Iris Groman-Yaroslavski (University of Haifa, Israel), and colleagues.

Shells are one of the oldest ways humans have adorned and expressed themselves, with examples of deliberately-collected shell assemblages at human sites dating as far back as 160,000 years ago found across North Africa, South Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Shells from one Mediterranean Paleolithic site, Qafzeh Cave (dated to 120,000 years ago) are all naturally perforated (in contrast to the unperforated shells found at a nearby older site, Misliya Cave), suggesting that these shells were deliberately collected and strung together as beads.

To investigate the possibility of deliberate suspension to create strings of shell beads, Bar-Yosef Mayer and Groman-Yaroslavski collected the same species of perforated clamshells (Glycymeris) and simulated the potential use and wear present on the original shells: first systematically abrading the shells against different materials like leather, sand, and stone to produce a catalogue of wear patterns, then hanging the shells on strings made from wild flax to to identify wear patterns specific to string suspension. They then compared these wear patterns to those of the original Qafzeh Cave shells.

Microscopic analysis of the five best-preserved Qafzeh Cave shells revealed traces consistent with those created in the simulated shells via contact with a string, as well as traces of shell-to-shell contact (indicating the shells hung closely together). Four of the five original shells also revealed traces of an ochre coloring treatment.

Though it's not possible to determine the precise symbolic meaning of the shell bead strand from Qafzeh Cave, the fact that bivalve shells are a frequent hallmark across Paleolithic sites gives a sense of their importance. Additionally, the presence of a string seems to suggest that not only was shell collection important--the ability to display the shells to others also likely held significance. As one of the earliest instances of perforated objects hung on strings, the Qafzeh Cave shells also bring us closer to understanding the origins of string-making technology probably between 160-120,000 years ago.

Bar-Yosef Mayer adds: "Modern humans collected unperforated cockle shells for symbolic purposes at 160,000 years ago or earlier, and around 120,000 they started collecting perforated shells and wearing them on a string. We conclude that strings, which had many more applications, were invented within this time frame."

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Citation: Bar-Yosef Mayer DE, Groman-Yaroslavski I, Bar-Yosef O, Hershkovitz I, Kampen-Hasday A, Vandermeersch B, et al. (2020) On holes and strings: Earliest displays of human adornment in the Middle Palaeolithic. PLoS ONE 15(7): e0234924. https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1371/ journal. pone. 0234924

Funding: Financial support came from the American School of Prehistoric Research, Harvard University and The Israel Science Foundation grant 1973/16 to DEBYM. The Qafzeh excavations (1965-1979) received support from the CNRS and the Ministere Francais des Affaires Etrangeres, the Centre de Recherche Francais de Jerusalem, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv University and The University of Bordeaux to BV and OBY (no grant numbers available). The Misliya Cave project was supported by the Dan David Foundation, Leakey Foundation, Irene Levi-Sala CARE archaeological foundation, Faculty of Humanities of the University of Haifa (no grant numbers available) and the Israel Science Foundation (grant no. 1104/12) to MWE.

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Milan, 8 July 2020 - Using remotely piloted aircraft is one of the main challenges faced by the aerospace industry in recent decades, with a growing number of applications for both military and civilian use. To guarantee the efficient and safe function of these systems, the development of a reliable structural monitoring system is a mandatory phase. Politecnico di Milano, the leading institution of the European project SAMAS - SHM (Application to Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems- Structural Health Monitoring), has designed, implemented and tested a real-time structural monitoring system that allows to estimate aerodynamic loads and real-time identification of impact on the aircraft in order to instantly estimate any damages.

Unmanned aircraft: opportunities and criticalities

Remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) are used for defence operations in segregated airspaces, and during civilian safety and scientific missions. In the future, the use of these systems will be extended to various application fields, such as agriculture, and to non-segregated spaces, thus increasing the need for efficient platforms that are both reliable and economical. However, the absence of the pilot on-board places some challenges: bird strike or hail impact, high speed impact and accidents during taxing and landing phases are situations that are generally evaluated by the crew. In an unmanned aircraft, they must be identified with an intelligent detection system.

The project

SAMAS - SHM (2017-2020) is a three-year project of the European Defence Agency centred on diagnosis and prognosis of structures made of composite material subjected to aerodynamic loads and overloads caused by low or high speed impact.

The Department of Mechanics of Politecnico di Milano is coordinating the project with its consolidated experience in research on structural monitoring and on estimating damage caused by ballistic impact. The SAMAS consortium also includes the Italian company Leonardo S.p.A. and two Polish entities, the research centre Air Force Institute of Technology and the aeronautical maintenance centre Military Air Works 1.

"The project, launched in 2017, had two main objectives," says the Scientific Manager, Marco Giglio, Full Professor of Mechanical Design and Machine Construction, Politecnico di Milano. "The first was to create a load monitoring system, made up of both real and virtual sensor nodes, capable of combining in a single and consistent statistics picture the knowledge acquired from a numerical simulation of the structure and data obtained online on-board the aircraft. The second focused on developing an impact monitoring system capable of detecting any impact, of locating it and of quantifying its force in order to estimate the onset of damage on any component of the aircraft."

Results

The monitoring system developed and implemented by the research team guided by Professor Giglio met both requirements. "The system was tested a few months ago during test flights for load monitoring. For impact monitoring we performed ground tests, in a laboratory setting, on a real-world scale RPAS component late in June," continues Professor Giglio. "Both technological demonstrators yielded the hoped for results, confirming system reliability. The project reached the end of its research phase with the latter test performed late in June. We have achieved a standard of technological maturity that allows the consortium to dedicate the final semester to industrial applications of the results obtained. The monitoring system we have created will yield safer, more efficient and more effective unmanned vehicles."

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A new study using organ-on-a-chip technology reveals how overactive immune cells aggravate heart valve disease and how this damaging hyperactivity could potentially be controlled.

Aortic valve stenosis is the most common type of heart valve disease in the elderly and affects more than one in eight people aged over 75. Left untreated it has a higher mortality than most cancers.

The condition is typically caused by degeneration and thickening of the aortic valve, which narrows the valve opening and reduces blood flow. Blood cells that have to squeeze through the narrow valve come under intense frictional force, known as shear stress.

A team of Australian researchers and clinicians set out to investigate the effect of this shear stress on white blood cells - key players in our immune system's first line of defence.

They found the constant stress of squeezing through the narrow aortic valve activates these cells, leading to harmful inflammation that accelerates the progression of aortic stenosis.

The team have identified a potential drug target by pinpointing the receptor that controls this white blood cell overactivity.

The study, led by RMIT University and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, is published in the internationally-leading cardiovascular journal Circulation.

Co-chief investigator Dr Sara Baratchi said the research combined clinical work, such as blood samples and valve measurements, with lab experiments using organ-on-a-chip technology that replicated the pathological conditions inside the aortic valve.

"In someone with severe aortic valve stenosis, circulating blood cells come under heavy shear stress about 1500 times a day," said Baratchi, an ARC DECRA Fellow and Senior Lecturer at RMIT.

"We now know this constant frictional force makes the white blood cells hyperactive. If we can stop that inflammatory response, we can hope to slow down the disease.

"The same organ-on-a-chip technology that helped us make these discoveries will also enable us to easily test potential drugs to treat this harmful immune response."

Co-chief investigator Dr Karlheinz Peter, Deputy Director of Basic and Translational Research at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, said the study helped explain why aortic valve stenosis can start to worsen dramatically, often over just a few months.

"The smaller the narrowing, the more the inflammatory cells get activated, and then they accelerate the disease," Peter said.

"Our study also shows that a valve replacement - either through open heart surgery or via a catheter-based percutaneous approach - not only improves blood flow but also acts as an anti-inflammatory measure. The latter is a novel and centrally important discovery."

Under pressure: how the study was done

Replacing the aortic valve is the most effective treatment for severe aortic valve stenosis.

For the study, researchers compared immune cells taken from 24 patients before and after replacement.

They also designed a microfluidic organ-on-a-chip system to replicate the conditions inside the aortic valve, pre- and post-replacement.

This enabled the researchers to precisely assess how the cells responded to changes in shear stress.

The team focused on the largest circulating cells - a type of white blood cell known as a monocyte - as they experience the most shear stress when passing through the narrow aortic valve.

Importantly, these cells are known to be central drivers of the pathology of aortic stenosis, but it has been unclear until now how changes in blood flow dynamics affected the immune response.

The researchers can now confirm that high shear stress activates multiple white blood cell functions.

A membrane protein known as "Piezo-1" was identified as the mechanoreceptor primarily responsible for activating these functions, making it a potentially druggable target.

The research also revealed for the first time that replacing the aortic valve has an anti-inflammatory effect, expanding the known therapeutic benefits of the procedure.

Peter said monocytes were also known to play a role in atherosclerosis, where blood flow is obstructed due to a build-up of cholesterol plaque in the artery wall.

"A drug that targeted Piezo-1 could potentially be applied to slowing the progression of aortic valve stenosis as well as treating atherosclerosis," he said.

Experimental tech: organ-on-a-chip

Organ-on-a-chip technology is based on microfluidic chips. These are transparent devices the size of postage stamps that contain an array of miniature channels, valves and pumps to replicate the biophysical and biochemical properties of a human organ.

For this study, researchers designed a device to mimic the shear stress conditions that immune cells experience while passing through the stenotic aortic valve - effectively creating aortic-stenosis-on-a-chip.

Fabricated at RMIT's state-of-the-art Micro Nano Research Facility, the technology was designed and delivered by the multi-disciplinary Mechanobiology and Microfluidics research group.

The group brings together biomedical engineers from the School of Engineering and mechano-biologists and immunologists in the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences.

"With this technology, we can meticulously mimic both healthy and diseased organs in the body, at very low cost and in a highly controlled experimental environment," Baratchi said.

"We can build models to simulate different flow situations and identify drug targets, which we hope in future may reduce or even replace the need for animal models."

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The research was supported by funding from the Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, National Heart Foundation and the German Research Foundation.

'TAVI represents an anti-inflammatory therapy via reduction of shear stress induced, Piezo-1-mediated monocyte activation' with collaborators from The Alfred Hospital (Melbourne), Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Adelaide), La Trobe University and Monash University, is published in Circulation (DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.045536).
Students at elementary and secondary schools that offer healthier food offerings and more opportunities for physical activities have a healthier body mass index, according to Rutgers researchers.

The study, published in Preventive Medicine Reports, uses professional measures of students' height and weight - the gold standard for studying childhood obesity - in a study on the effects of a school's food offerings and physical activity environment.

Almost one in five children and adolescents in the United States are obese. Since children eat up to two meals per day and can get 40 percent of their daily physical activity at schools, schools play a major role in obesity-related behaviors. Although recent policies and programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, have focused on promoting healthier school environments, there is little evidence of the consequences for children's weight.

The study looked at the healthfulness over the period of one school year of items offered in school lunches, vending machines and other school food offerings, as well as the number of indoor and outdoor physical activity facilities and physical activity opportunities at 90 public schools that serve 19,000 students in Newark, Trenton, Camden and New Brunswick.

Researchers found that healthier food offerings and a greater number of physical activity facilities were associated with lower body mass index, on average, for students. Schools that offered an additional unhealthy item in vending machines were associated with higher student weight and those that had an additional outdoor physical activity facility correlated with lower student weight.

"Evidence of the importance of school meals and of enforcing healthy nutritional standards is particularly timely given current federal proposals to roll back those standards," said Michael Yedidia, who co-directs the New Jersey Child Health Study at the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy. "These meals are critical to the health of low-income students, who are 80 percent of those served by federal school meals programs. They provide up to half of the students' nutritional needs at low or no cost to parents."

The findings will be particularly relevant for discussions on Child Nutrition Reauthorization, the key piece of federal legislation that supports school food programs, said Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, a study co-author at Arizona State University. "Schools play a critical role in providing environments to support healthy habits among children that can influence their short and long term-health," she said.

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The research was conducted as part of the New Jersey Child Health Study, a collaboration among researchers at the Rutgers University Center for State Health Policy at Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research and the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. It is supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health.
Asian longhorned ticks outside the U.S. can carry debilitating diseases. In the United States and elsewhere they can threaten livestock and pets. The new study, published in the journal Zoonoses and Public Health, sheds new light on the origin of these exotic ticks and how they are spreading across the United States.



"While additional samples from the tick's native range are needed to pinpoint more exactly the source of the U.S. introduction, our data suggest that they came from one or more locations in northeastern Asia - either through a single introduction of at least three ticks or as multiple introductions from different populations," said lead author Andrea M. Egizi, a visiting professor in the Department of Entomology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and a research scientist with the Monmouth County Tick-borne Diseases Laboratory hosted by the Rutgers Center for Vector Biology.



In 2017, Rutgers Center for Vector Biology and other researchers detected an infestation of the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis), which is native to East Asia, in New Jersey. It was the first time established populations of this species had been detected in the United States. Subsequent investigations found the tick to be widespread in the eastern U.S. Rutgers researchers discovered it has been present in New Jersey since at least 2013.



Although this species transmits serious illnesses to people and animals in other countries, experts don't know whether the tick populations in the United States will make people sick, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.



The species has two forms: one with males and females, and one with self-cloning females that lay eggs without needing to mate, a process called "parthenogenesis." The self-cloning form, free from the need to look for mates, are especially likely to thrive and spread. A single female can establish a fast-growing population. This type entered Australia and New Zealand in the early 1900s, and now causes significant losses in the cattle industry.



Rutgers Center for Vector Biology researchers enlisted about 25 collaborators at 20 institutions to get samples of Asian longhorned ticks across the United States and internationally, and used gene sequencing to detect genetic similarities and differences between various populations.

Their findings indicate that at least three individual ticks, from self-cloning populations, were brought to the United States, which explains why all adult Asian longhorned ticks found in the U.S. so far have been female. Overall, U.S. ticks are more likely to have come from an East Asian country (or countries) than from Australia and New Zealand.



As part of the study, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services found evidence that these ticks traveled within the United States on wildlife as well as through the transport of pets or livestock.



"One thing we uncovered is the ease with which pets, especially dogs, can accidentally help ticks cross international borders and state lines," said senior author Dina M. Fonseca, a professor and director of the Center for Vector Biology in the Department of Entomology in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. "Many countries require dogs to be treated for ticks and other parasites before entering the country, but the United States does not. We urge greater awareness of this issue to prevent future exotic tick introductions."

Rutgers-affiliated coauthors include Matthew Bickerton and James L. Occi, both entomology doctoral students.
Through deep genetic analyses, Stanford Medicine scientists and their collaborators have found conclusive scientific evidence of contact between ancient Polynesians and Native Americans from the region that is now Colombia -- something that's been hotly contested in the historic and archaeological world for decades.

"Genomics is at a stage where it can really make useful contributions to answering some of these open questions," said Alexander Ioannidis, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford. "I think it's really exciting that we, as data scientists and geneticists, are able to contribute in a meaningful way to our understanding of human history."

Before this study was conducted, proponents of Native American and Polynesian interaction reasoned that some common cultural elements, such as a similar word used for a shared agricultural staple, hinted that the two populations had mingled before Europeans settled in South America. Those who disagreed pointed to studies with contrasting conclusions and the fact that the two groups were separated by thousands of miles of open ocean.

This new study is the first to show, through conclusive genetic analyses, that the two groups indeed encountered one another, and did so before Europeans arrived in South America. To conduct the study, Ioannidis and a team of international researchers collected genetic data from more than 800 living Indigenous inhabitants of several South American countries, Mexico and Polynesia, conducting extensive genetic analyses to find signals of common ancestry. Based on trackable, heritable segments of DNA, the team was able to trace common genetic signatures of Native American and Polynesian DNA back hundreds of years.

"Our laboratory in Mexico has been very interested in understanding the genetic diversity of populations throughout Latin America and, more generally, of underrepresented populations in genomic research," said Andres Moreno-Estrada, PhD, professor and head of genomic services at the National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity in Mexico. "Through this research, we wanted to reconstruct the ancestral roots that have shaped the diversity of these populations and answer deep, long-standing questions about the potential contact between Native Americans and Pacific Islanders, connecting two of the most understudied regions of the world."

A paper detailing the study will be published July 8 in Nature. Ioannidis, who conducted much of this work while a graduate student at Stanford's Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, is the lead author. Moreno-Estrada is the senior author.

The mystery of the sweet potato

Before the study brought scientific evidence to the debate, the idea that Native Americans and Polynesians had crossed paths originated from a complex -- both in its structure and origins -- carbohydrate: the sweet potato. It turns out the sweet potato, which was originally domesticated in South and Central America, has also been known to grow in one other place prior to European contact. That place is known as Oceania, which consists of many islands, including Polynesia.

"The sweet potato is native to the Americas, yet it's also found on islands thousands of miles away," Ioannidis said. "On top of that, the word for sweet potato in Polynesian languages appears to be related to the word used in Indigenous American languages in the Andes."

The overlap in culture made some archaeologists and historians think it was not only feasible, but likely, that the potato's arrival in Polynesia was the result of the two peoples mingling.

The researchers believe that the Polynesians landed in what is now Colombia. It is also possible, though less likely due to their coastal travel norms, that one or two ships carrying Native Americans could have sailed off course and run into Polynesia, Ioannidis said.

Without scientific evidence, the idea of overlap was just conjecture. Earlier, other groups of researchers turned to the genetics of the sweet potato, hoping to show that the domesticated potatoes from South America and Polynesia were genetically one and the same. But their efforts to trace the tubers have been inconclusive, as the sweet potato's genetic origins were too complex to definitively point to human-mediated spread.

Other studies have analyzed ancient DNA from bones belonging to Native Americans and native Polynesians. Ancient DNA samples, however, are often degraded, so these studies were unable to provide sufficient evidence that the two populations shared a moment in history.

Carriers of history

Ioannidis' team took a different, big data approach, analyzing the DNA of hundreds of Indigenous people from Polynesia, Mexico and South America. Before collecting any samples or conducting genetic analyses, the researchers visited the communities to explain the study, gauge interest in participation and ask for consent. The scientists then collected saliva samples from 807 participants on 17 Polynesian islands and 15 Native American groups along the Pacific coast of the Americas from Mexico to Chile, conducting genetic analyses to look for snippets of DNA that are characteristic of each population and for segments that are "identical by descent," meaning they are inherited from the same ancestor many generations ago.

"We found identical-by-descent segments of Native American ancestry across several Polynesian islands," Ioannidis said. "It was conclusive evidence that there was a single shared contact event." In other words, Polynesians and Native Americans met at one point in history, and during that time people from the two cultures produced children with both Native American and Polynesian DNA. Statistical analyses confirmed the event occurred in the Middle Ages, around A.D. 1200, which is "around the time that these islands were originally being settled by native Polynesians," Ioannidis said. Using computational methods developed as part of Ioannidis' graduate work, the team then localized the source of the Native American DNA to modern-day Colombia.

"If you think about how history is told for this time period, it's almost always a story of European conquest, and you never really hear about everybody else," Ioannidis said. "I think this work helps piece together those untold stories -- and the fact that it can be brought to light through genetics is very exciting to me."

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Other Stanford authors of the study are graduate student Alexandra Sockell; former graduate student Julian Homburger, PhD; former postdoctoral scholar Genevieve Wojcik, PhD; and professor of biomedical data science and of genetics Carlos Bustamante, PhD.

In addition to Moreno-Estrada, other researchers from the National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity in Mexico, as well as researchers from the University of Oslo; the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; the National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico; University of Oxford; National Autonomous University of Mexico; University of Colorado, Denver; University of California, San Francisco; and the University of Chile, Santiago, contributed to the work.

The research was supported by the George Rosenkranz Prize for Health Care Research in Developing Countries; Mexico's National Council for Science and Technology; the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Chile; the American Society of Engineering Education; the National Library of Medicine; Chile's Scientific and Technological Development Support Fund, National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development and National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research; the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Center; and the Wellcome Trust.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med. stanford. edu/ school. html . The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med. stanford. edu .

Print media contact: Hanae Armitage at (650) 725-5376 (harmitag@stanford.edu)

Broadcast media contact: Margarita Gallardo at (650) 723-7897 (mjgallardo@stanford.edu)
The first published bird checklist from Jicaron and Jicarita, Panama's southernmost islands and part of Coiba National Park, underscores the importance of sending biologists to explore new territory. Both islands are accessible from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's newest research station on Coibita Island.

In 2015, photographer Christian Ziegler (with the International League of Conservation Photographers) and ecologist Omar Lopez (then at Panama's government research institute, INDICASAT, now at SENACYT) organized biologists from several institutions to join the first Coiba BioBlitz, an effort to document as many species as possible in the park.

"During the BioBlitz we only spent a couple of days on Jicaron Island, " said Claudio Monteza, former STRI fellow, now doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior. "While we were there, we also noticed capuchin monkeys spending more time on the ground."

"Later, Pedro [Castillo] and I went back to study the monkeys. Pedro would go to a stream to wash the breakfast dishes and stay for a half an hour washing, watching birds and adding new species to our bird list for Jicaron. Once, he looked up at the sky and, soaring above the canopy, he observed a Zone-tailed Hawk (a new record for the park). We decided to do a proper checklist."

"As an ornithologist, creating a checklist of birds for Coiba National Park is exciting and intimidating, because you know Alexander Wetmore [sixth Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 1945-1952] visited many islands and islets in the park. In 1957, he published the first checklist of birds for Coiba National Park, registering 133 species. Nevertheless, he was not able to visit Jicaron, the second-largest island," explained Pedro Castillo, a University of Panama student.

Between 2004 and 2019, a total of 115 species were recorded on Jicaron Island and 53 on Jicarita, including 23 bird species never before reported from the park. Ten species are endemic subspecies that are found nowhere else, and 29 are migratory birds--including seven warblers--that depend on the park as they travel through the area during their winter migration.

The most common species recorded were the Gray-headed Dove (Brown-backed), the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird and the Bananaquit.

Scarlet Macaws, probably flying in from Coiba Island, are now nearly extirpated on the mainland. It is relatively easy to see macaws on Jicaron. Coiba is probably the most important refuge for this species in Panama. Three-wattled Bellbirds, which usually live at higher elevations come down to 400 meters on Coiba Island.

Monteza thinks that careful, environmentally conscious birdwatching may be a way to support the park and area residents in the future.

"There are no trails on Jicaron nor on Jicarita and the terrain is steep," Monteza explains, "but it would be a great place for boat tours."

"Hundreds of Brown Boobies, Frigatebirds and other seabirds gather on the cliffs along Jicarita's southern shoreline at sunset, where the continental shelf ends and one can do birdwatching pelagic birds. It's really spectacular." Castillo said.

There are roughly 1500 islands off the coast of Panama. Though fewer bird species live on islands than on the mainland, the fact that very few of these islands have been surveyed means that surprises await birdwatchers and other biologists who find the means visit them.

"Despite rough storms and wobbly landings, one of the motivations to join each field trip was the chance to observe a rare bird species on Jicaron Island. Sometimes we got lucky. There are a few rare species on our checklist, but one of the most unusual is the Western Kingbird, a rare migrant for Panama. Our record is the southernmost for this species," Castillo said.

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The authors of this study are affiliated with STRI, the University of Panama, the University of California, Davis, Estaci?n Cientifica COIBA-AIP, and Louisiana State University.
A new study reports the highest efficiency ever recorded for full roll-to-roll printed perovskite solar cells (PSCs), marking a key step on the way to cheaper and more efficient ways of generating solar energy.

A team at Swansea University's SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre, led by Professor Trystan Watson, has reported using a roll-to-roll fabrication method for four layers of slot-die coated PSCs.

The PSCs gave the stable power output of 12.2% - the highest efficiency recorded for four layers of roll-to-roll printed PSCs to date.

A newcomer to the photovoltaic industry, PSCs have gathered remarkable attention from researchers around the globe. With efficiency reaching similar levels to those of silicon photovoltaics (PV), the current market leader, attention has been diverted towards upscaling PSCs.

In contrast to silicon PV, which requires high temperature and high vacuum depositions, PSCs can be solution-processed at a low temperature, which significantly reduces the manufacturing cost.

Low temperature processing makes it possible to use plastic substrates to create flexible solar cells.

The ability to solution-process provides the opportunity to apply various well-developed printing and coating techniques:

Screen printing

Inkjet printing

Gravure printing

Slot-die coating

Spray coating

These advantages made it possible for Swansea University researchers to use roll-to-roll manufacturing for four layers of PSCs.

Slot-die coating provides several advantages over the alternatives: it is a pre-metred technique, which means the wet film thickness can be controlled before coating. It is also highly efficient in material usage, with minimal loss of material compared with spray coating or screen printing.

Using the necessary toxic solvents at an industrial scale requires a lot of air handling to stay under the safety limits, which can incur significant and unnecessary expenses. For this reason, an acetonitrile-based system was used. This system has a rheological advantage due to low viscosity and low surface tension, which results in better coatings.

Along with this, a ternary blend of high workplace exposure limit solvents was introduced, replacing chlorobenzene for the deposition of hole transport material. In this research, the PSCs gave the stable power output of 12.2%, which is the highest efficiency reported for four layers of roll-to-roll printed PSCs.

A complete solar cell for a chosen architecture requires coating five layers. In this case, four layers were coated using slot-die coating and the top contact was put on using thermal evaporation. Slot-die coating the fifth (top) contact without destroying any layers underneath has not yet been achieved. Solving this would enable the manufacture of a fully roll-to-roll printed PSC.

Rahul Patidar of SPECIFIC, lead researcher on the project, said:

"Perovskite solar cells aim to increase the efficiency and lower the cost of traditional solar energy generation. They have the potential to be highly efficient and relatively cheap to manufacture, so the aim is to improve fabrication methods for upscaling.

This study signifies the next step towards commercialisation."

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The research was published in Sustainable Energy and Fuels.

Notes to editors:

SPECIFIC Innovation & Knowledge Centre aims to reduce carbon emissions from buildings by developing a range of technologies that use solar energy to generate, store and release heat and electricity in buildings. The centre works at all scales from the fundamental lab science to full-scale demonstration on buildings and works with industry partners to bring new technologies to market. SPECIFIC is led by Swansea University and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, Innovate UK and EPSRC.

Website: https:/ / www. specific. eu. com/

Twitter: https:/ / twitter. com/ info_specific

LinkedIn: https:/ / www. linkedin. com/ company/ specific-ikc

Swansea University is a world-class, research-led, dual campus university offering a first-class student experience and has one of the best employability rates of graduates in the UK. The University has the highest possible rating for teaching - the Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2018 and was commended for its high proportions of students achieving consistently outstanding outcomes.

Swansea climbed 14 places to 31st in the Guardian University Guide 2019, making us Wales' top ranked university, with one of the best success rates of graduates gaining employment in the UK and the same overall satisfaction level as the Number 1 ranked university.

The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 results saw Swansea make the 'biggest leap among research-intensive institutions' in the UK (Times Higher Education, December 2014) and achieved its ambition to be a top 30 research University, soaring up the league table to 26th in the UK.

The University is in the top 300 best universities in the world, ranked in the 251-300 group in The Times Higher Education World University rankings 2018. Swansea University now has 23 main partners, awarding joint degrees and post-graduate qualifications.

The University was established in 1920 and was the first campus university in the UK. It currently offers around 350 undergraduate courses and 350 postgraduate courses to circa 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The University has ambitious expansion plans as it moves towards its centenary in 2020 and aims to continue to extend its global reach and realise its domestic and international potential.

Swansea University is a registered charity. No.1138342. Visit http://www. swansea. ac. uk

For more information:

Megan Chick, marketing and communications officer, SPECIFIC project, Swansea University: megan.chick@swansea.ac.uk

Kevin Sullivan, senior press officer, Swansea University k.g.sullivan@swansea.ac.uk

Follow us on Twitter: http://www. twitter. com/ SwanseaUni
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In the race to find new ways to prevent and treat COVID-19, Canadian researchers have launched an innovative clinical trial focussed on strengthening the immune system for one of the most vulnerable populations - cancer patients.

The trial involves IMM-101, a preparation of safe, heat-killed bacteria that broadly stimulates the innate, or "first-response," arm of the immune system. The researchers hope that boosting cancer patients' immune systems with IMM-101 will protect them from developing severe COVID-19 and other dangerous lung infections.

Researchers from The Ottawa Hospital came up with the idea for the trial and worked with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) at Queen's University to design and run it in centres across the country. Funding and in-kind support, valued at $2.8 million, is being provided by the Canadian Cancer Society, BioCanRx, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization, ATGen Canada/NKMax, and Immodulon Therapeutics, the manufacturer of IMM-101.

"An effective vaccine that provides specific protection against COVID-19 could take another year or more to develop, test, and implement," says Dr. Rebecca Auer, study lead, surgical oncologist and Director of Cancer Research at The Ottawa Hospital and associate professor at the University of Ottawa. "In the meantime, there is an urgent need to protect people with cancer from severe COVID-19 infection, and we think this immune stimulator, IMM-101, may be able to do this."

"We know the immune systems of cancer patients are compromised both by their disease and the treatments they receive placing them at much higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19," says Dr. Chris O'Callaghan, CCTG Senior Investigator, who will be overseeing this important national trial. "These patients are unable to practice social isolation due to the need to regularly attend hospital to receive critically important cancer treatment."

The trial, called CCTG IC.8, has been approved by Health Canada and is expected to open at cancer centres across Canada this summer. People who are interested in participating should speak with their cancer specialist.

Additional Quotes

"COVID-19 has led to a quickly changing environment. Just as many businesses and organizations have had to adapt, some cancer researchers are also pivoting their work to address the unique challenges brought on by this pandemic," says Andrea Seale, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society. "Thanks to the quick-thinking and innovation of Drs. Auer and O'Callaghan and with the support of Canadian Cancer Society donors, we are now able to conduct the world's first clinical trial to prevent severe COVID-19 infections in people with cancer and help them live longer, healthier lives."

"This trial could support an important change to the standard of care for cancer patients by administration of IMM-101 prior to starting cancer treatment," says Dr. John Bell, Scientific Director of BioCanRx. "Accelerating to the clinic, biotherapeutics that can enhance the quality of life of those living with cancer, is central to the BioCanRx mission."

"There is a clear and urgent medical need for safe and effective ways to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 disease, especially for cancer patient populations," says Dr. Thomas-Oliver Kleen, Chief Scientific Officer at Immodulon. "Immodulon is excited about this phase III trial and hopes that IMM-101 will provide increased protection against COVID-19 in these vulnerable patients."

"OICR is excited to be collaborating on such a landmark clinical trial supporting cancer patients in this unprecedented time," says Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi, President & Scientific Director of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. "IMM-101 may be an effective approach to protect our vulnerable patients not only against COVID-19, but also to boost their immune system to fight cancer."

"Natural killer (NK) cells are the first line of anti-viral defense and, as such, a robust innate immune system and, in particular NK cell activity, is essential for protection against viruses such as SARS-CoV-2," says Dr. Katia Betito, President of ATGen Canada/NK Max. "The possibility of boosting the immune system in high-risk patients such as those with cancer with a product like IMM-101 would be a major step in protecting this vulnerable population. We are excited to see whether our NK Vue test can provide a much-needed tool for the evaluation and follow-up of these patients."

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Media Contacts

Amelia Buchanan, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 613-297-8315, ambuchanan@ohri.ca

Heather Stanton, Canadian Cancer Trials Group, 613-484-9204, hstanton@ctg.queensu.ca

About the Canadian Cancer Trials Group

Celebrating its 40th year, the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) is a cancer clinical trials research cooperative that runs phase I-III trials to test anti-cancer and supportive therapies in over 80 institutions across Canada and Internationally. From their operations centre at Queen's University, they have led and participated in over 500 trials in over 40 countries aimed at improving survival and quality of life for all people with cancer. CCTG is a national program of the Canadian Cancer Society who provide core funding for the Group.

About The Ottawa Hospital

The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada's top learning and research hospitals, where excellent care is inspired by research and driven by compassion. As the third-largest employer in Ottawa, our support staff, researchers, nurses, physicians, and volunteers never stop seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges. Our multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, attracts some of the most influential scientific minds from around the world. Backed by generous support from the community, we are committed to providing the world-class, compassionate care we would want for our loved ones. http://www. ohri. ca .

About the Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society is the only national charity that supports Canadians with all cancers in communities across the country. No other organization does what we do; we are the voice for Canadians who care about cancer. We fund groundbreaking research, provide a support system for all those affected by cancer and shape health policies to prevent cancer and support those living with the disease. Help us make a difference. Call 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca today.

About BioCanRx

BioCanRx, Canada's Immunotherapy Network, is a network of scientists, clinicians, cancer stakeholders, academic institutions, NGOs and industry partners working together to accelerate the development of leading-edge immune oncology therapies for the benefit of patients. Our vision is to cure patients and enhance the quality of life of those living with cancer. BioCanRx invests in leading edge immune oncology research translating world-class technologies from the lab into early phase clinical trials. BioCanRx provides researchers with access to funding, expertise, training and manufacturing facilities and is a leader in the translation, manufacture and adoption of cancer immunotherapies. The network is committed to training and developing the talent needed for a thriving health biotechnology sector in Canada. BioCanRx receives funding from the federal government's Networks of Centres of Excellence, and support from industry, the provinces and charities.

The network is hosted by the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

About Immodulon Therapeutics

Immodulon Therapeutics Ltd. (London, UK) is a privately-owned clinical-stage immuno-oncology company primarily focused on the development of safe, effective and novel treatments for cancer. Its lead drug candidate, IMM-101, has shown promise in early clinical trials, demonstrating potential for the platform. It contains heat-killed whole cell Mycobacterium obuense which activates dendritic cells and other cells of the innate immune system by several mechanisms, including via Toll-like receptors. Its mechanism of action should not only make this product applicable to a range of cancers but, in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors and other standard-of care treatments, it is expected to enhance their efficacy without increasing the safety burden for the patient. For more information about Immodulon, please visit http://www. immodulon. com .

About the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR)

OICR is a collaborative, not-for-profit research institute funded by the Government of Ontario. We conduct and enable high-impact translational cancer research to accelerate the development of discoveries for patients around the world while maximizing the economic benefit of this research for the people of Ontario. For more information visit http://www. oicr. on. ca .

About ATGen Canada/NKMax

ATGen Canada/NKMax is the Canadian division of NKMax Co Ltd (Korea), a public biotechnology company dedicated to restoring and enhancing overall immune integrity. NK Vue, NKMax's proprietary blood test for the measurement of immune function, is the first commercially available test that quantifies natural killer cell activity in a small volume of stimulated whole blood. NKMax also develops its proprietary natural killer cell expansion and activation technology as a treatment for a number of cancers and other disorders, and is currently conducting clinical trials in the US and Korea.

About The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization

The Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization (TOHAMO) is the governance organization that represents the 825 academic physicians who practice at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. The TOHAMO Board oversees the allocation of $2.270M in innovation funds annually through a competitive grants process, supported by the Innovation Fund of the Alternative Funding Plan for the Academic Health Sciences Centres of Ontario.
Neurological complications of Covid-19 can include delirium, brain inflammation, stroke and nerve damage, finds a new UCL and UCLH-led study.

Published in the journal Brain, the research team identified one rare and sometimes fatal inflammatory condition, known as ADEM, which appears to be increasing in prevalence due to the pandemic.

Some patients in the study did not experience severe respiratory symptoms, and the neurological disorder was the first and main presentation of Covid-19.

Joint senior author Dr Michael Zandi (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) said: "We identified a higher than expected number of people with neurological conditions such as brain inflammation, which did not always correlate with the severity of respiratory symptoms.

"We should be vigilant and look out for these complications in people who have had Covid-19. Whether we will see an epidemic on a large scale of brain damage linked to the pandemic - perhaps similar to the encephalitis lethargica outbreak in the 1920s and 1930s after the 1918 influenza pandemic - remains to be seen."

The study provides a detailed account of neurological symptoms of 43 people (aged 16-85) treated at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH, who had either confirmed or suspected Covid-19.

The researchers identified 10 cases of transient encephalopathies (temporary brain dysfunction) with delirium, which corresponds with other studies finding evidence of delirium with agitation. There were also 12 cases of brain inflammation, eight cases of strokes, and eight others with nerve damage, mainly Guillain-Barre syndrome (which usually occurs after a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection).

Most (nine out of 12 cases) of those with brain inflammation conditions were diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). ADEM is rare and typically seen in children and can be triggered by viral infections: the team in London normally sees about one adult patient with ADEM per month, but that increased to at least one per week during the study period, which the researchers say is a concerning increase.

The virus causing Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, was not detected in the cerebrospinal brain fluid of any of the patients tested, suggesting the virus did not directly attack the brain to cause the neurological illness. Further research is needed to identify why patients were developing these complications.

In some patients, the researchers found evidence that the brain inflammation was likely caused by an immune response to the disease, suggesting that some neurological complications of Covid-19 might come from the immune response rather than the virus itself.

The findings add clinical descriptions and detail to another recent study, which also involved Dr Zandi and co-author Dr Hadi Manji (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) identifying 153 people with neurological complications from Covid-19. This paper also confirms the previously reported findings of a higher than expected number of patients with stroke which results from the excessive stickiness of the blood in COVID-19 patients.

Joint first author Dr Ross Paterson (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology) said: "Given that the disease has only been around for a matter of months, we might not yet know what long-term damage Covid-19 can cause.

"Doctors needs to be aware of possible neurological effects, as early diagnosis can improve patient outcomes. People recovering from the virus should seek professional health advice if they experience neurological symptoms," he added.

Joint first author Dr Rachel Brown (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and UCL Infection & Immunity) said: "Our study advances understanding of the different ways in which Covid-19 can affect the brain, which will be paramount in the collective effort to support and manage patients in their treatment and recovery."

Joint senior author Dr Hadi Manji said: "Our study amalgamates, for the first time, the clinical presentations of patients with Covid-19 neurological disease with MRI and laboratory features including, in one case, a brain biopsy.

"This now sets up a template for other researchers around the world, facilitating coordinated research to optimise the diagnosis and treatments of these complications, which to date, has proved difficult. In addition, patients are going to require long term follow up."

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The researchers were supported by the National Institute for Health Research UCL/UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, Medical Research Council, Alzheimer's Association, and the UK Dementia Research Institute.
New research from the UBC Sauder School of Business shows that people are 30 per cent more likely to donate their assets when faced with their own mortality.

The study examines how people respond to "mortality salience" -- that is, the uniquely human awareness that they're going to die.

Earlier studies have shown that some people console themselves by acquiring more material possessions -- in other words, they subscribe to the notion that "He who dies with the most toys wins."

But the new research shows that people can also express a desire to pass important possessions on to others, because it gives them a kind of immortality the researchers call "transcendence."

"It sounds dramatic, but it's the idea that you can live on longer, symbolically through something else," says study co-author and UBC Sauder Professor Katherine White, who co-authored the study with UBC Sauder Professor Darren Dahl and Lea Dunn, assistant professor of marketing at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. "So, if a product or a possession is somehow linked to your identity and you pass that on to others, it could potentially have this ability to transcend the self."

The researchers first launched the study several years ago, long before the threat of COVID-19 had people more closely considering their mortality, and updating wills and planning estates.

"For many people, that mortality salience is much higher now, for better or for worse. People are just more aware of how fragile life can be," says Dahl. As a result, adds White, more people are likely thinking about the idea of symbolic immortality and where their possessions will go when they pass on.

To conduct the experiment, 512 participants were asked to arrive at the lab with a book they might consider giving away. One group was then given a task that made them contemplate their deaths, while the other considered what their typical day was like.

Later, participants were asked if they wanted to donate their book to charity; some were also offered the chance to write an inscription in the book and sign it, making the offering more personal. No researchers were present when participants made their decision to ensure there was no pressure to donate.

"The people who had contemplated their death were more than 30 per cent more likely to give away the product -- particularly when they had connected it to themselves," says White.

"They're much more likely to donate it after they have somehow connected it to their identity."

However, the effect goes away if the item may be broken up or recycled, thereby losing its perceived potential for transcendence.

"Let's say you're passing on a car or a motorcycle. If it's broken up into pieces and sold off as parts, it's not the same as if your specific car or your specific product was left to endure," says Dahl. "The specialness of it, and the fact that it represents you, is broken up, and you're not a whole entity sticking around."

The effect also didn't work on people who had already satisfied that desire for transcendence through other channels.

White says the findings could be helpful to charitable organizations looking for people to donate a portion of their estates. "Anything they can do to connect the self to something that's more lasting will help," says White. "So, it could be something like a plaque or a mural or a somewhat permanently displayed list of donors -- just a tangible representation of the self that's going to continue to exist."

Companies can also use transcendence as a selling point by marketing products as having high emotional value or being precious and irreplaceable family heirlooms.

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ORLANDO, July 8, 2020 - The National Science Foundation's Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has proven itself instrumental in another major astronomical discovery.

An international team of scientists, led by the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, found an asymmetrical double neutron star system using the facility's powerful radio telescope. This type of star system is believed to be a precursor to merging double neutron star systems like the one that LIGO/Virgo (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory in the United States) discovered in 2017. The LIGO/Virgo observation was important, because it confirmed the gravitational waves associated with merging neutron stars.

The work published by this team today in the journal Nature, indicates these specific kinds of double neutron star systems may be the key to understanding dead star collisions and the expansion of the universe.

"Back in 2017, scientists at LIGO/Virgo first detected the merger of two neutron stars," says physicist Robert Ferdman, who led the team. "The event caused gravitational-wave ripples through the fabric of space time, as predicted by Albert Einstein over a century ago. It confirmed that the phenomenon of short gamma-ray bursts was due to the merger of two neutron stars."

One of the unique aspects of the 2017 discovery and today's is that the double neutron systems observed are composed of stars that have very different masses. Current theories about the 2017 discovery are based on the masses of stars being equal or very close in size.

"The double neutron star system we observed shows the most asymmetric masses amongst the known merging systems within the age of the universe," says Benetge Perera, a UCF scientist at Arecibo who co-authored the paper. "Based on what we know from LIGO/Virgo and our study, understanding and characterizing of the asymmetric mass double neutron star population is vital to gravitational wave astronomy."

Perera, whose research is focused on pulsars and gravitational waves, joined the NSF-funded Arecibo Observatory in June 2019. The facility, which is managed by the University of Central Florida through a cooperative agreement with the NSF, offers scientists around the world a unique look into space because of its specialized instruments and its location near the equator.

The Discovery

The team discovered an unusual pulsar - one of deep space's magnetized spinning neutron-star 'lighthouses' that emits highly focused radio waves from its magnetic poles.

The newly discovered pulsar (known as PSR J1913+1102) is part of a binary system - which means that it is locked in a fiercely tight orbit with another neutron star.

"The Arecibo Observatory has a long legacy of important pulsar discoveries," says NSF Program Officer, Ashley Zauderer. "This exciting result shows how incredibly relevant the facility's unique sensitivity remains for scientific investigations in the new era of multi-messenger astrophysics."

Neutron stars are the dead stellar remnants of a supernova explosion. They are made up of the densest matter known - packing hundreds of thousands of times the Earth's mass into a sphere the size of a city like New York.

In about half a billion years the two neutron stars will collide, releasing astonishing amounts of energy in the form of gravitational waves and light.

That collision is what the LIGO/Virgo team observed in 2017. The event was not surprising, but the enormous amount of matter ejected from the merger and its brightness was unexpected, Ferdman said.

"Most theories about this event assumed that neutron stars locked in binary systems are very similar in mass," Ferdman says. "But this newly discovered binary is unusual because the masses of its two neutron stars are quite different - with one far larger than the other. Our discovery changes these assumptions."

This asymmetric system gives scientists confidence that double neutron star mergers will provide vital clues about unsolved mysteries in astrophysics - including a more accurate determination of the expansion rate of the universe, known as the Hubble constant.

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Other members on the discovery team are: P.C.C. Freire from the Max-Planck Institute fur Radioastronomie in Germany, F. Camilo from the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, J.M. Cordes from Cornell University, F. Crawrod from Franklin and Marshall College, J.W. T. Hessels from the University of Amsterdam and the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, V. M. Kaspi and E. Parent from McGill University, N. Pol from West Virginia University, I. H. Stairs from University of British Columbia. And J. van Leeuwen from the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy.

Perera has multiple degrees including a doctorate in physics from West Virginia University. He's authored or co-authored dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles and presented at conferences around the world. He previously taught at the University of Manchester and was a summer scholar at Purdue University.

CONTACT: Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala, UCF Office of Research, Zenaida.kotala@ucf.edu UEA communications office on +44 (0)1603 593496 or communications@uea.ac.uk.
A newly-identified, fast-growing species of algae poses a major threat to coral reefs and the ocean ecosystem. It was previously discovered in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument by a team of researchers from the University of Hawaii, Western Australian Herbarium, College of Charleston and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Newly-named Chondria tumulosa by UH researchers, the alga has no known origin and has been observed smothering entire reefs and the corals, native algae and other organisms that live in one of the northern atolls. It also has a "tumbleweed-like" growth and appears to easily detach and spread.

"I think this is a warning of the kinds of changes that are to come for the northwestern Hawaiian Islands," said UH Manoa College of Natural Sciences Interim Associate Dean and Professor Alison Sherwood, the lead researcher on the project. "We have, not until now, seen a major issue like this where we have a nuisance species that's come in and made such profound changes over a short period of time to the reefs."

It was not widespread when first detected by NOAA divers in 2016 but a 2019 visit to the same area revealed that it is now covering up to several thousand square meters at the Pearl and Hermes Atoll.

"Until we understand whether it is native or introduced, and until we better understand what is driving this outbreak, it is critically important that research divers and research ships do not inadvertently transport this species to other islands," said Randall Kosaki, NOAA research coordinator at Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. "Thus, all of our dive gear was soaked in bleach, and all of our dive boats were sprayed down with bleach prior to returning to Honolulu."

The findings were featured in a PLOS ONE article, "Taxonomic determination of the cryptogenic red alga, Chondria tumulosa sp. nov., (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) from Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Hawaii, USA: a new species displaying invasive characteristics."

'Nuisance' not 'invasive'

Although Chondria tumulosa displays invasive characteristics, researchers are calling it a "nuisance alga" because they have not identified it as being introduced from another region.

"The main Hawaiian Islands are impacted by several well-known invasive seaweeds, but reports of nuisance algae in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument are far fewer, and none have been present at the level of abundance seen in this new alga," Sherwood said.

Next steps

Researchers will conduct mapping and molecular analyses, and will develop mitigation strategies to assist in the development of appropriate management actions.

"This is a highly destructive seaweed with the potential to overgrow entire reefs," College of Charleston Assistant Professor Heather Spalding said. "We need to figure out where it's currently found, and what we can do to manage it. This type of research needs trained divers in the water as quickly as possible. The sooner we can get back to Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the better."

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Link to video and sound (details below): https:/ / bit. ly/ 31bbwQz

Video and stills courtesy: NOAA/National Marine Sanctuaries
Four-eyed fishes of the genus Anableps and their relatives are a fish family from the Neotropics with a number of bizarre traits that have fascinated naturalists for centuries. These include: (i) a "split" eye that allows them to see both above and under the water surface at the same time; (ii) being live-bearers, meaning that they give birth to fully developed offspring just like mammals; and (iii) conspicuously asymmetric genitalia among the males of all species and among the females of some species.

Asymmetric and polymorphic

The genitalia of the males, so-called gonopodia, are transformed anal fins that can be used as a copulatory organ to inseminate compatible females. Curiously, these penis-like structures are asymmetric and their tip is bent either to the left or to the right. Females in turn have an asymmetric overgrowth of tissue that covers the genital opening laterally. Consequently, only compatible males and females can successfully mate. Within populations, both righties and lefties exist. Strikingly, the question as to whether this asymmetry is heritable or random has remained unresolved for more than a century.

New research carried out by evolutionary biologists from the University of Konstanz in collaboration with the Fundacion Miguel Lillo in Argentina and published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows that the direction of genital asymmetry in anablepid fishes is not inherited but, in fact, determined randomly.

Why side matters

"We started out with a fairly simple question", says Dr Julian Torres-Dowdall, lead author on the study and a researcher in the University of Konstanz?s Zoology and Evolutionary Biology laboratory led by Professor Axel Meyer: "Do left-sided males father mostly left-sided sons? This may appear to be a strange question to ask, but for evolutionary biologists, asymmetry in general, and the issue of heritability in particular, is incredibly interesting due to its potential to drive the emergence of new species".

Anablepid fishes are especially interesting not only because their genitals are asymmetric - an uncommon trait they share with some insects, snakes, most ruminant mammals, waterfowl and certain fish families. Interestingly, individuals with left or right-sided genitalia can be found at similar proportions within populations. "This is rare and useful at the same time as it allows us to address the issue of heritability and, consequently, to understand the evolution and maintenance of both genital forms (lefties and righties) and its potential to differentiate populations and possibly speciation", adds Torres-Dowdall.

Chance, not genetics

To determine whether sidedness of genitalia in anablepid fishes is determined genetically and passed down to the next generation, the researchers studied two genera of the Anablepidae family: Anableps, which comprises three species of four-eyed fish, and Jenynsia, a genus comprised of 15 species of one-sided live-bearers. Combining breeding experiments with genomic analyses, the team established that there is no strong heritability to the direction of genital asymmetry in anablepid fishes.

"Our experiments with both captive and natural populations showed that all offspring were asymmetric - with a near-equal proportion of left and right genitalia in the natural populations and in the breeding experiment", says Torres-Dowdall. In both cases, the sons' genital sidedness was independent from the father's sidedness. "This strongly suggests that the direction of asymmetry is determined by chance rather than heredity and goes some way towards explaining the persistence of this peculiar trait over time".

Incompatibility between morphs not a driver of speciation

The genomic analyses showed no evidence that genetic markers, i.e. specific regions of the genome, are associated with genital asymmetry. Furthermore, there was no evidence of accumulated genomic differences between left- and right-sided individuals. This conforms with the general pattern found in other species with similar asymmetric traits. Also, there is no suggestion that the existence of left and right-sided genitalia should be regarded as potential drivers of speciation: "There is the idea that incompatibility between left and right-sided individuals might potentially result in the evolution of two new asymmetric, yet either left or right-sided, species", explains Torres-Dowdall. "However, for a new species to evolve, variation in the direction of asymmetry would have to have a genetic component. Our study strongly suggests that this is not the case with anablepid fishes".

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Facts:

- New research carried out by evolutionary biologists from the University of Konstanz in collaboration with the Fundacion Miguel Lillo in Argentina resolves century-old research question regarding the polymorphic characteristics of the reproductive organs of internally fertilizing anablepid fishes.

- Combining breeding experiments with genomic analyses, the researchers, including Dr Julian Torres-Dowdall from the Zoology and Evolutionary Biology group at the University of Konstanz led by Professor Axel Meyer, were able to show that the direction of genital asymmetry in anablepid fishes is random rather than heritable.

- Original publication: Torres-Dowdall J, Rometsch SJ, Kautt AF, Aguilera G, Meyer A., The direction of genital asymmetry is expressed stochastically in internally fertilizing anablepid fishes. Proc. R. Soc. B 20200969, 8 July 2020. URL: https:/ / dx. doi. org/ 10. 1098/ rspb. 2020. 0969 (URL will become active on 8 July 2020).

- Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Zukunftskolleg of the University of Konstanz (funding provided to Dr Julian Torres-Dowdall) as well as the Hector Academy and an advanced grant of the European Research Council to Professor Axel Meyer.

Note to editors:

You can download a photo here: https:/ / cms. uni-konstanz. de/ fileadmin/ KuM_Bilder/ IMG_0699. jpg

Caption: A specimen of Anableps, a genus of four-eyed fishes which, alongside their relatives, constitute the Anablepidae family of fishes. Among their peculiar characteristics are a "split" eye for aquatic and aerial vision, being live-bearers that give birth to fully developed offspring, and asymmetric genitalia among the males of all species and the females of some species.

Image: Jan Gerwin and Sina Rometsch

Contact:

University of Konstanz

Communications and Marketing

Phone: +49 7531 88-3603

Email: kum@uni-konstanz.de
LAWRENCE -- A team from the University of Kansas Center for Community Health and Development has partnered with Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health and other community organizations to track and assess the countywide public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The work by CCHD, part of KU's Life Span Institute, is supported by a $40,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.

"The idea of the initiative is to help the local government and public health agency better understand and support their communitywide COVID-19 response efforts -- and ultimately to reduce transmission and promote health in the community," said Christina Holt, assistant director with the CCHD, who is leading the work under the grant.

"Over the years, a focus of our center's research has been to determine what dose of community efforts are needed to change outcomes at the population level," she said. "We've worked over decades helping communities document their public health interventions. So, we're implementing an adaptation of that same systematic methodology for COVID-19 response and recovery efforts and will use that data to better understand and shape the local response efforts and share lessons learned more broadly."

The CCHD team, including senior personnel, a graduate student and several undergraduates, is setting up a customized Community Check Box Evaluation System to gather and interpret COVID-19 data from multiple sources in Douglas County, connecting the information to changing policies and procedures meant to combat the spread of coronavirus in the county.

"The work of the Center for Community Health and Development to document and assess our local COVID-19 response efforts is the latest in a long line of collaborative projects," said Dan Partridge, director of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health. "We are excited to be able to leverage the center's expertise and learn in near real time how we can best help our community stay safe and well."

Factors such as phased business and school re-openings, or efforts to expand testing and contact tracing, will be associated with rising or falling numbers of COVID-19 cases.

"We're helping them track what's changing in the environment in order to help reduce COVID-19 transmissions," Holt said. "There are different types of outcome data that we're tracking -- like new cases from community transmission, or hospitalizations -- and associating trends in that data with the onset of new or modified programs, policies or practices in the community, such as the extension of Phase Three of the reopening. Other examples include local closures of schools, implementation of contact tracing, recommendations for social distancing and prohibitions on mass gatherings of certain sizes."

In addition to the health department, the KU team is collecting information and providing useful data back to a unified command group that includes Douglas County Emergency Management, local government, LMH Health, the USD 497 school district, Heartland Community Health Center and KU's Watkins Health Services.

Collaborating with these partners, the CCHD will:

Design and implement a COVID-19 monitoring and evaluation system to document activities that make up the COVID-19 response in Lawrence-Douglas County Provide training, consultation and technical support use of the COVID-19 monitoring and evaluation system, including capturing and coding activities, characterizing their contribution and using information and graphs to communicate patterns. Provide quality control of data entry in the COVID-19 monitoring and evaluation system. Facilitate regular sessions with stakeholders on what patterns can be seen in accomplishments and implications for quality improvement.

"We're obtaining response data from interviews, meeting notes and news accounts," Holt said. "We will engage local stakeholders in checking completeness of the data and engaging in sensemaking and use of the data to inform local efforts."

The work now being performed under the new KHF grant continues a longstanding partnership between the center and LDCPH. In 2013, the two organizations partnered to establish an academic health department -- the first academic health department in Kansas.

"It's essentially an academic collaboration -- if you think of medical students and the kind of experience they get -- the idea is to pool assets from both institutions," Holt said. "The health department benefits from the knowledge and the expertise of local researchers, and faculty and students are able to put research into practice to improve the public's health, including through supporting local community health assessment and community health improvement planning efforts."

The work now underway with the KHF grant mirrors other efforts at CCHD to combat the spread of COVID-19, including a recently announced partnership with the World Health Organization to monitor and evaluate the response by public health organizations in nations throughout Africa.

Holt said it's a trying time for public health professionals locally and around the world, but one that shows the significance of the field to humanity.

"Historically, public health has been pretty underappreciated," she said. "Because so much of it is prevention, it's often not seen. COVID-19 has changed that -- the pandemic is directly affecting people's quality of life so much, the visibility of public health has been raised. This is a time for public health to be supported more and for public health practitioners to really show why public health is so critical, both during this global pandemic and going into the future."

Along with Holt, CCHD personnel involved in the work include senior adviser Stephen Fawcett, doctoral student and researcher Ruaa Hassaballa and undergraduate student Anagha Anantharaman, a pre-med student. Two other students just came on board and will also help support this project.

"The COVID-19 response impacts the lives of everyone in our community, and I value the opportunity to work at the local level to document real-time progress, facilitate the quality improvement of the COVID-19 response and support data-informed decisions," Hassaballa said. "As a doctoral student in the KU applied behavioral science department, collaborating with partners and colleagues provides me a rich opportunity to view the multifaceted response needed to address this pandemic and prevent future ones."

The CCHD is in preliminary talks with Wyandotte County about a similar monitoring and evaluation project and could expand work to other counties in Kansas.

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Coral death is impacting oceans worldwide as a consequence of climate change. The concern is that corals cannot keep pace with the rate of ocean warming. In particular, because a temperature increase of only one degree Celsius can make the difference between healthy and dying coral reefs. Some corals, however, are more resistant to increasing temperatures. In order to effectively protect coral reef habitats, it is important to identify which corals and reef sites are more resistant and thus have a greater chance of survival.

For this purpose, the research team led by Konstanz biologist Professor Christian Voolstra developed a rapid stress test to assess coral thermotolerance. The "Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System" (CBASS) makes it possible to assess coral thermotolerance on site and within a single day - much faster than current experimental procedures that typically take several weeks to months in a laboratory. A description of the test and a demonstration of its utility to resolve thermotolerance differences between close-by reef sites was published as an online early article on 21 June 2020 in the journal Global Change Biology.

The test system is highly mobile, can be deployed on boats, and is straightforward to use: Corals are placed in test boxes at the location where they were collected and then subjected to thermal exposures at different temperatures - a type of stress test for the corals. Using a standardized procedure, researchers can then record the results and compare how different corals react to the same set of temperature exposures.

"We focused on building the test boxes with materials that are available in almost any hardware store or shop selling aquarium equipment. We want these test boxes to be used widely and this is why we made all instructions for setting up the tests as well as our results and evaluation methods freely available", Professor Christian Voolstra states in reference to the online archive: https:/ / github. com/ reefgenomics/ CBASSvsCLASSIC

Read the full article in campus.kn, the online magazine of the University of Konstanz: https:/ / campus. uni-konstanz. de/ en/ science/ stress-testing-coral-in-a-box

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Key facts:

- Original publication: Voolstra CR, Buitrago-Lopez C, Perna G, et al. Standardized short-term acute heat stress assays resolve historical differences in coral thermotolerance across microhabitat reef sites . Glob Change Biol . 2020 ; 00 :1 - 16 . https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1111/ gcb. 15148

- Rapid test to assess coral thermotolerance - contribution to assessing the chance of survival for coral reefs in response to climate change.

- Developed by Professor Christian Voolstra, Professor of Genetics of Adaptation in Aquatic Systems at the University of Konstanz.

- The rapid test can be completed on site and in one day (test takes 18 hours). Current laboratory tests usually take several weeks.

- Standardized procedure enables global comparison of data.

- Relatively affordable, do-it-yourself construction of test equipment: Relatively affordable, do-it-yourself construction of test equipment: Material for a complete system consisting of four text boxes costs around  4,000 in total.

- Instructions for building the required test boxes, as well as information about the data gathered and evaluation methods used are freely available online in the authors' archive: https:/ / github. com/ reefgenomics/ CBASSvsCLASSIC

- The research was a collaboration between the University of Konstanz and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal (Saudi Arabia) that was supported by the Binational Science Foundation.

- campus.kn is the University of Konstanz's online magazine. We use multimedia approaches to provide insights into our research and science, study and teaching as well as life on campus.
Cases of brain complications linked to COVID-19 are occurring across the globe, a new review by University of Liverpool researchers has shown.

Published in The Lancet Neurology, the study found that strokes, delirium and other neurological complications are reported from most countries where there have been large outbreaks of the disease.

COVID-19 has been associated mostly with problems like difficulty breathing, fever and cough. However, as the pandemic has continued, it has become increasingly clear that other problems can occur in patients. These include confusion, stroke, inflammation of the brain, spinal cord, and other kinds of nerve disease.

A recent Liverpool-led study of COVID-19 patients hospitalised in the UK found a range of neurological and psychiatric complications that may be linked to the disease.

To get a sense of the wider picture, the researchers brought together and analysed findings from COVID-19 studies across the globe that reported on neurological complications. The review, which included studies from China, Italy and the USA among others, found almost 1000 patients with COVID-19-associated brain, spinal cord and nerve disease.

Research Fellow, Dr Suzannah Lant, who was working on the project, said: "Whilst these complications are relatively uncommon, the huge numbers of COVID-19 cases globally mean the overall number of patients with neurological problems is likely to be quite large."

One of the complications found to be linked to COVID-19 is encephalitis, which is inflammation and swelling of the brain.

Dr Ava Easton, CEO of the Encephalitis Society, and co-author on the paper said: "It is really important that doctors around the world recognise that COVID-19 can cause encephalitis and other brain problems, which often have potentially devastating, life-changing consequences for patients."

Professor Tom Solomon, senior author on the paper and Director of the Global COVID-Neuro Network, added: "Although such patients are being seen everywhere the virus occurs, many of the reports are lacking in detail. We are currently pooling data from individual patients all around the world, so that we can get a more complete picture. Doctors who would like to contribute patients to this analysis can contact us via the Global COVID-Neuro Network website."

For more information about the Global COVID-Neuro Network please visit https:/ / braininfectionsglobal. tghn. org/ covid-neuro-network/

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One of the biggest social media sites -- Facebook -- has allowed "anti-vaxxers" to gain a stronger voice against the use of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, vaccine, according to a new study from a media expert at the University of Missouri.

Monique Luisi, an assistant professor in the Missouri School of Journalism, studied more than 6,500 public HPV vaccine-related posts on Facebook over the first 10 years since the vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 80 million Americans are infected with HPV, and 14 million new cases occur annually. HPV is also associated with genital warts and six types of cancer in men and women, including cervical and throat cancer.

Despite the vaccine's reported benefits of preventing multiple cancers and genital warts, Luisi said 45% of the posts she identified displayed a negative tone toward people getting the vaccine. In addition, over the course of a decade, Luisi identified a negative trend occurring on Facebook toward how people perceive the vaccine -- including its safety, effectiveness and whether its use leads to the encouragement of sexual behavior.

"The representation of the HPV vaccine has not only worsened, but negative posts toward the HPV vaccine have received more public engagement, and evidence shows that these negative posts have generated momentum for other related negative posts," Luisi said. "It would be one thing if we only saw just the negative information out there. But there's also negative momentum carried by these posts, and if negative posts are encouraging more people to post other negative content, then we can predict how the conversation is going to go and that people are also being influenced by the messages they see."

Luisi said her next step for this research will be to study the implications this content has on parents and guardians as decision-makers. She said it's important for people to recognize the power of sharing content on social media.

"People talk about a lot of things on social media," she said. "While someone might not be directly involved in a conversation on a particular topic, they still might see that conversation while scrolling through their social media. Therefore, I think it's important to think about intent when sharing content. Even the simple act of sharing -- intentional or unintentional -- can influence others."

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The study, "From bad to worse: The representation of the HPV vaccine Facebook," was published in Vaccine, a journal that publishes content related to the field of vaccinology from various disciplines.
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COLUMBIA, SC - University of South Carolina (UofSC) researchers from its Big Data Health Science Center initiative have received $1.25 million in grant funding from the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to develop a data-driven system to track COVID-19 in South Carolina.

COVID-19, a disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), remains a present threat to millions of Americans including many South Carolinians. The speed of transmission across the United States and its morbidity are particularly alarming. It has become critically important to track transmission data, and to accelerate research.

The NIAID's two-year grant will support efforts to develop a de-identified linked database system via REDCap and a mobile application (app) for collating surveillance, clinical, multi-omics and geospatial data on both COVID-19 patients and health workers treating COVID-19 patients.

The data system will allow investigators to examine COVID's transmission, progression, and geospatial visualization to identify important predictors of short and long-term clinical outcomes using machine learning algorithms.

These aims will lead to the creation of a REDCap database and mobile app that collects relevant coalescing data that leverages with statewide integrated data warehouse capabilities.

"Today, the U.S. health system has an opportunity to leverage and deploy real-time multitudinal and multimodal data currently being collected for precision health. The combination of such data with other data sources - including social media data and geospatial data - holds great promise for accelerating research in understanding the natural history of the COVID-19 disease now and in the future" says Principal Investigator Bankole Olatosi, Arnold School of Public Health.

Principal Investigator Xiaoming Li, Arnold School of Public Health, credited the success of the NIH grant application to the strong support of the UofSC Excellence Initiative for the Big Data Health Science Center.

Li also emphasized that "this project is significant as it will build on a strong partnership between UofSC and DHEC and take advantage of COVID-19 surveillance data, clinical, multi-omics and geospatial data to help us to understand and monitor transmission dynamics, natural history, virology and clinical outcomes. As a result of improved computational architecture and improved capabilities in data management and analytics software, we can now quickly build integrated multitudinal and multimodal datasets to support data annotation, reproducible analytics, and controlled-access archiving and sharing".

Other UofSC team members include faculty from the Arnold School of Public Health (Jiajia Zhang), College of Arts and Science (Zhenlong Li), College of Engineering and Computing (Neset Hikmet and Jianjun Hu), and School of Medicine-Columbia (Sharon Weissman).

Thomas Chandler, dean of the Arnold School of Public Health, praised the team's efforts. "This major grant is a testimony to how public health faculty members can creatively work with faculty from multiple other disciplines across campus as well as with state agencies to produce a rapid research-intensive response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This project will also be a great demonstration of the power of Big Data generation and analytics for addressing significant health problems in the state of South Carolina. It's impact for the state via the unique tools developed will reach well beyond COVID-19 into the future."

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About University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina is a globally recognized, high-impact research university committed to a superior student experience and dedicated to innovation in learning, research and community engagement. Founded in 1801, the university offers more than 350 degree programs and is the state's only top-tier Carnegie Foundation research institution. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of 20 locations throughout the state, including the research campus in Columbia. With 56 nationally ranked academic programs including top-ranked programs in international business, the nation's best honors college and distinguished programs in engineering, law, medicine, public health and the arts, the university is helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and around the world.
Differences in lung physiology and immune function in children could be why they are more often spared from severe illness associated with COVID-19 than adults, according to pediatric and adult physicians at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Baylor College of Medicine, who teamed up to investigate the disparity.

The perspectives paper was recently published in American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.

According to the paper, only about 1.7% of the first 149,082 cases in the U.S. were infants, children, and adolescents younger than 18 years old. Authors noted that children under 18 make up 22% of the U.S. population. Only three pediatric deaths were identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of April 2020.

"These profoundly decreased rates of symptomatic infection, hospitalization, and death are well beyond statistical significance, require further examination, and may hold the key to identifying therapeutic agents," the authors wrote.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2s, called ACE2, are the doors that allow SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, to enter the body's cells. Children naturally have less ACE2 in the lungs than adults.

"ACE2 are important for viral entry and there seems to be less of them in children, because they increase with age," said Matthew Harting, MD, MS, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, pediatric surgeon with UT Physicians, and senior author of the paper. Harting is also director of the pediatric ECMO program providing advanced cardiac and respiratory support at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.

In addition to fewer ACE2 receptors, the authors note the immune system in children responds to viruses differently than that of adults, leaving less opportunity for severe illness in pediatric patients. There are several different mechanisms behind the differences, including the retention of T-cells in children, which are able to fight off or limit inflammation.

"T-cells have a viral response and also an immune modulator response. In severe cases of adult COVID-19 patients, we've seen that those T-cells are reduced, so the ability to fight the virus is also reduced. In kids, those T-cells seem to be maintained, so they are still able to prevent the virus," said Harry Karmouty-Quintana, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at McGovern Medical School, and a co-author of the paper.

Lung tissue in children naturally has a higher concentration of regulator T-cells. Patients with higher levels of T-cells also have higher levels of Interleukin 10 (IL-10), also known as human cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor, an anti-inflammatory cytokine.

"IL-10 inhibits the inflammation of other components like IL-6 that are detrimental. Adults tend to experience hyperinflammatory state, where kids do not," Karmouty-Quintana said. "In preclinical studies in mice, IL-10 has also shown to decrease with age."

The paper's findings were made possible through collaboration in a multidisciplinary group made up of pediatric and adult physicians and scientists in pediatric surgery, adult critical care, neonatology, and molecular biology.

"We, as physicians, have been challenged with the question of how to treat COVID-19 and we're learning in real time," said Bindu Akkanti, MD, associate professor of critical care medicine with McGovern Medical School, attending physician in critical care with Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, and a study co-author. "I knew that to figure out the best way to treat adults, we needed to get a team together to get to the bottom of why children were being spared from severe illness related to the virus. So, I reached out to Dr. Karmouty-Quintana and we teamed up with Dr. Harting and two other physicians in the Texas Medical Center to start investigating." Akkanti also sees pulmonary patients at UT Physicians.

"Collaborations like this between adult and pediatric providers are really important and this disease highlights where we can learn a lot when we compare the way it behaves in younger kids with older people," Harting said. "Even now as we're learning about effective treatments, we're seeing younger people handle this disease better than older people. Moving forward, physicians and scientists need multidisciplinary collaboration to continue learning - this is just another step in the right direction to attack this virus."

Krithika Lingappan, MBBS, was the first author of the paper and Jonathan Davies, MD, was a co-author. Both Lingappan and Davies are assistant professors of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and neonatologists with Texas Children's Hospital.

As a result of the collaboration, the team has begun a new study using blood samples from patients in different stages of COVID-19 to continue to understand how to treat the virus and the disparities in disease progression between children and adults.

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July 8, 2020 - "Nurse-initiated and managed antiretroviral therapy" (NIMART) is an innovative approach to making effective medications more accessible to people living with HIV (PLWH) in low-resource countries. A new study identifies challenges and opportunities to promoting nurse- and midwife-led HIV services in eastern and southern Africa, reports the July/August issue of The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC). The official journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, JANAC is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Improved training, supportive supervision, and formal mentorship programs are key steps toward establishing or strengthening NIMART care, suggests the new research by Rebecca E. MacKay, MPH, of Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, and colleagues. They write, "Health facilities have important opportunities to advance NIMART practice through strengthening these aspects of in-service support."

Nurses/ Midwives Need Support and Education to Meet NIMART Goals

Eastern and southern Africa accounts for more than half of the PLWH globally - however, the region has also shown remarkable progress toward eliminating HIV. From 2010 to 2018, new HIV/AIDS cases declined by 28 percent in eastern and southern Africa, compared to a global decline of 16 percent.

Increasing access to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a major part of the Fast-Track Strategy of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which aims to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Designed to make ART more accessible, NIMART is a "task-sharing" approach that enables nurses, midwives, and nurse-midwives - professionals who are far more available than physicians in sub-Saharan African - to provide advanced clinical services, including HIV testing and prescribing of ART for PLWH.

The study included a questionnaire completed by 200 nurses, midwives, and nurse-midwives at 30 healthcare facilities in 11 eastern and southern African countries. Up to 80 percent of nurses/midwives responded that they had "sufficient authority" to provide NIMART care. Sixty percent or more agreed that their pre-service education and in-service training had effectively prepared them to offer HIV treatment.

However, the nurses/midwives expressed more concerns about their level of supervision and mentorship. More than one-third of respondents felt they did not receive adequate supportive supervision or feedback on care provided. Nurses, midwives, and nurse-midwives providing pediatric HIV care tended to have less-positive responses than those providing prevention of mother-to-child transmission services for pregnant and breastfeeding women or HIV-exposed infants.

Interviews with 62 clinical supervisors at the same facilities identified several barriers to effective NIMART care: deficiencies in training, staff shortages, inadequate supplies or space, high workloads, and challenges in managing children with HIV. But the supervisors interpreted many of these barriers and challenges as potential opportunities for improving NIMART services: strengthening in-service training, increasing staffing, providing adequate supplies and space, and increasing capacity for pediatric services.

In a triangulation step, the issues identified in the nurse/midwife questionnaires and supervisor interviews were consistent with each other. "Although the nurses, midwives, and nurse midwives in the facilities assessed clearly had the authority to provide NIMART services, a substantial proportion did not feel that they were well prepared or well supported to deliver this care," Ms. MacKay and coauthors write.

The researchers believe their findings have implications for efforts to promote effective provision of NIMART care in southern and eastern Africa. Steps facilities can take to improve NIMART services include standardized in-service training, formal clinical mentorship programs in prevention, and specific protocols for ongoing supportive supervision. Ms. MacKay and colleagues conclude: "Taking advantage of these opportunities may be a critically important step toward meeting the Fast Track Strategy to the AIDS epidemic by 2030."

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Click here to read "Nurse- and Midwife-Led HIV Services in Eastern and Southern Africa: Challenges and Opportunities for Health Facilities."

DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000176

The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC) is a peer-reviewed, international nursing journal that covers the full spectrum of the global HIV epidemic, focusing on prevention, evidence-based care management, interprofessional clinical care, research, advocacy, policy, education, social determinants of health, epidemiology, and program development. JANAC functions according to the highest standards of ethical publishing practices and offers innovative publication options, including Open Access and prepublication article posting, where the journal can post articles before they are published with an issue.

About the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care

Since 1987, the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) has been the leading nursing organization responding to HIV/AIDS. The mission of ANAC is to foster the professional development of nurses and others involved in the delivery of healthcare for persons at risk for, living with, and/or affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its co-morbidities. ANAC promotes the health, welfare and rights of people living with HIV around the world.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.
DETROIT - Lauren Hamel, Ph.D., assistant professor and member of the Population Studies and Disparities Research Program at Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Wayne State University School of Medicine, was awarded a Research Scholar Grant by the American Cancer Society. She will use the grant to test the effectiveness of a patient-focused intervention to improve patient-provider treatment cost discussions and other patient outcomes related to the financial consequences of cancer treatment.

Dr. Hamel and her team responded to the growing problem of financial toxicity, or the severe material and psychological burden of the cost of cancer treatment. Financial toxicity affects an estimated 30% to 50% of patients with cancer, especially patients who are racial/ethnic minorities, have lower incomes or are under 65. However, well-timed and effective patient-oncologist treatment cost discussions could help.

Dr. Hamel and her team designed, built and pilot tested the DISCO App (Discussions of Cost), which is presented to patients on an iPad and includes a brief educational video on treatment costs patients may incur and ways to manage costs. The app then advises patients that having a discussion with their oncologist is a good way to start managing costs. Patients respond to questions related to their financial situation (e.g., employment, insurance). Based on their responses, DISCO presents them with an individualized list of cost-related questions to ask their oncologist or other providers.

The five-year grant for $844,000 will fund a randomized controlled trial of the DISCO app's effectiveness using video-recorded interactions between patients and their oncologists, and longitudinal self-report data from patients.

Dr. Hamel's team includes Karmanos and WSU School of Medicine investigators Susan Eggly, Ph.D., professor of Oncology; Elisabeth Heath, M.D., professor of Oncology, and Seongho Kim, Ph.D., associate professor of Oncology; as well as David Dougherty, M.D., M.B.A., of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

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Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research institutions in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit research.wayne.edu.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020

ANALYSIS: It has undoubtedly been a bad couple of weeks for President Donald Trump: the handling of the coronavirus, the economic downturn, the racial unrest and protests, the book by John Bolton and several Supreme Court defeats. A massive rally in Oklahoma, that should have been a turning point, was a disaster and embarrassment. Without doing much, the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is now leading Donald Trump by almost 9% (49.6% to 40.9%). At the moment, he is also raising more money than Trump: 141 vs. 131 million USD during the month of June. This seems to confirm an old fundraising truth: %=$

To begin with, Biden's lead is more than double the lead Hillary Clinton had on Donald Trump. As the prediction website fivethirtyeight pointed out recently, it's actually quite a historic lead. Only Bill Clinton back in 1996 had a bigger lead at this point in time and as we now know, Bill Clinton did go on beating Bob Dole on Election Day. Am I saying that Joe Biden will win? No, an early lead might even be deceptive and a sweet poison putting campaigns to sleep. But this being said, I would much rather be in team Biden than in team Trump at the moment.

Next, let's look at the underlying dynamics. Conventional wisdom has it that an election with an incumbent is foremost a referendum on the incumbent. When voting for a challenger, voters merely express a wish. When voting for an incumbent, they render a verdict. In that respect, the job approval rating of the incumbent is crucially important (and oftentimes a better prediction of the vote than the match-up question). At the time of writing, 42% approve of the job Trump is doing while 56% disapprove. His personal favorability ratings are basically the same: 40% have a favorable opinion about him while 56% have an unfavorable one. So it's not that voters disapprove of the job he is doing but would like him as a person (or vice versa). In addition to job approval and personal favorability, another important indicator is how voters think about the state of the country. At the moment, 24% say that the country goes into the right direction while 68% say it's off the wrong track. Putting this number into perspective, it seems so bad that voters might soon be willing to vote for a change almost no matter what the other option is.

When studying the surveys, it is also important to look at the number of undecided voters and the number of people who vote for a third-party candidate. In that respect, Biden reaching 50% of vote intention in some surveys is an important mark and something that Hillary Clinton never attained four years ago. She was leading, yes, but when one added up the vote for Trump, undecideds, and third-party candidates, there always was a potential anti-Hillary majority out there.

Now, these are all nationwide numbers (which, by the way, I all got from the website realclearpolitics) and one might argue that it's not really a nationwide, but a state-by-state election. While this is true, it wouldn't really matter if Biden were to maintain such a substantial lead. If you're ahead by 10% nationwide, you almost certainly also lead in the swing states. It therefore comes as no surprise that Biden is indeed currently ahead in Florida (+5%), Pennsylvania (+7%), Michigan (+7.5%) and Wisconsin +(6.5%).

Normally, the vote share of challengers is particularly volatile as voters usually have much less information about a challenger than about an incumbent. One might argue that this is different for Joe Biden as he has served as vice president for eight years. The counterargument is that vice presidents mostly play a supporting role. I doubt voters, when asked in focus groups, would be able to say many specifics about what Biden did during his decades in Washington D.C. So while awareness is high, familiarity might be lower than one might think. And herein lies a vulnerability in addition to the lack of enthusiasm about Biden among his own base.

What would I advise if team Trump would be calling me? Well, I wouldn't advise anything without looking at the internal research. But this being said, the most viable option is probably what I call the ruthless counteroffensive. The main point of this strategy is to try and change the dynamics from a referendum to a binary choice and to define Biden negatively before he can further define himself. At the moment, Biden's own favorability rating is 45% favorable vs. 46% unfavorable. A good attack ad could further tip the balance. I would also try to keep Biden from establishing economic competence and credibility, which is actually still a relative strength for Trump. His job approval on the economy specifically is still at almost 50%, and this might well be the crucial issue when voters go to the polls on the first Tuesday in November.

Dr. Louis Perron is an internationally renowned political consultant based in Switzerland. He has won two dozen competitive election and referenda campaigns in various countries. His clients include everything from mayors up to senators, members of cabinet, presidents  and a former miss universe. He is the author of the book "How to Overcome the Power of Incumbency in Election Campaigns."
The American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance announced an effort to assist local reporters and financial bloggers educating consumers about Medicare planning.

"Medicare pricing can differ significantly based on where you live," explains Jesse Slome, director of the organization. "The lowest rate for a Medigap Plan G policy available in Dallas is $104-monthly for a age 65 male. The cheapest plan for a same age man living in Manhattan would cost $260-monthly."

To help educate more consumers regarding the importance of understanding how to look for Medicare insurance, the Association has initiated a new program. "We will reserach and provide local costs for Medigap plans so that reporters and others can provide the most relevant information," Slome shared. "National averages are truly irrelevant when it comes to Medicare insurance pricing."

The Association recently posted rates for the top metro areas across the United States. "If you live in Cincinnati costs for insurance in Houston are interesting but irrelevant to your planning," Slome explains.

Reporters interested in requesting local rates can call the Association offices at 818-597-3205. Consumers seeking local Medicare insurance costs can utilize the Association's online directory of Medicare insurance agents. By entering a Zip Code you will see agents located close to you. No personal information is required to access the directory's listing.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020

George Floyds murder on May 25, 2020, was senseless and sickening. As is the horrifying news from the New York Times that at least 70 people have died in law enforcement custody over the past decade after saying the same words  I cant breathe. More than half were Black. I join with the people of conscience in this world. I condemn police brutality and I say loud and clear Black Lives Matter. This broader awakening of privileged people to see and want to change the ugly and relentless reality of institutionalized racismthat extinguishes hope, breaks spirits, limits potential, and steals futureshas been a long time in coming. And it must not fade from view.

So, whats my role in this transformation? As a consultant, Im a truth-teller. Im retained to push people and organizations past their comfort zones. The purpose of my practice is to help philanthropists use their wealth more purposefully and effectively, identifying all the ways they hold themselves back. I look for root causes and patterns of behavior, like a lack of accountability, the way too much bureaucracy creates barriers and limits potential, or how exclusive and isolating behavior undermines relationships and creates power differentials. Almost always, these behaviors perpetuate privilege and undermine social justice and equity.

When Im in a board room, its my job to ask things others might not like, Have you looked at this through a racial equity lens? Or, if were examining data, Have you desegregated by race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability status? Or, Who else needs to be involved in this decision? Have you engaged with those most impacted by your work? Or, Have you heard of this racial equity consultant who can help your board and staff evolve?

In this work, every person and sector exists on a moving continuum of what they understand and how they act to denounce the status quo and remake the future. In the philanthropy sector, many would say that change isnt happening fast enough. But we can also point to those who have changed the conversation, advanced knowledge, and provided leadership and resources to help funders work differently and do better. Im proud of the collaborative work my firm has done with clients in this area, including:

As a member of the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers DEI Task Force, Im honored to have helped create the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Toolkit for Consultants to Grantmakers, so that all consultants have tools and resources to help their philanthropic clients advance diversity, equity and inclusion.

I also recognize that in the face of hundreds of years of oppression and denial, everything feels grossly inadequate. I acknowledge that Im a white person of significant privilege. Also, although my work involves advancing equity and social justice, Im not an equity expert. That said, Im committed to continuing to learn, grow, change, and advance this work as quickly and effectively as possible. That includes me, in my family, and in my community.

In addition to my commitment to grow and act, I ask my clients to consistently and intentionally move themselves and this work forward. Listen. Learn. Take risks. Speak up. Partner with and fund organizations led by people of color. Take action on anti-Black racism. Sign the Investment Manager Diversity Pledge. Dont just fund racial equity efforts but also commit to operationalizing equity within your organization. In these ways and many, many more well create a new path forward to a place where George Floyd (to name one) would have lived and thrived.
From: Blockchain Wire For Immediate Release: Dateline: New York City , NY Tuesday, July 7, 2020

$17 billion in North America alone. In May 2020, socially responsible Japanese IT firm,



Japan has a long heritage of innovative social development drives, and Spin's creators envisage an international community of ."social parents." and mentors  crowdfunders whose investments help to nurture young talent and eco-oriented organisations across the globe. Any entity or individual in need of financial support can benefit from Spin donations. For example, a school in the developing world, or an organisation that works to restore the ocean's coral reefs. A mentor instigates a project to seek funding and a social parent contributes to a cause  receiving progress updates and direct messages from the initiative's leader.



The platform currently has three live projects. The One Love Project, which aims to protect cultures threatened by COVID-19; a project that supports children living with physical disabilities in Ukraine; and a conservation initiative for Thailand's threatened Asian elephants. Freewill also implements its own vision for a 'Sustainable Eco Society', by raising awareness, taking actions to preserve the environment and resources, and supporting education.



Myroslav Basarab, Spin's project manager at ELEKS commented, ."The world is evolving rapidly, and not always for the better. The modern challenges we face  COVID-19, large-scale ecological destruction and ever more frequent natural disasters  have many people wondering how we can make the world a better place. The problem is getting the urgent messages out there and giving the wider population the tools to act instantaneously. Freewill and? ELEKS will enable society to address the pressing issues, creatively and globally, by combining the seemingly incompatible: Eastern traditionalism and Western entrepreneurship, charity and technology. Spin will get help to those who need it, without the fear of funds being used underhandedly.."



About ELEKS



ELEKS is a Top 100 Global Outsourcing company that provides expert software engineering and consultancy services. For over 29 years, it has worked as a software innovation partner to Fortune 500 companies, big enterprises and technology challengers. Its team of 1,500+ professionals provides a full range of IT services. The software products that it builds help the world's leading brands transform their businesses, increase their revenues and save development time and operational costs.



Japan birthed the crowdfunding phenomenon which, last year, generated funds of overin North America alone. In May 2020, socially responsible Japanese IT firm, Freewill , launched its latest digital offering, Spin  a global funding platform developed by ELEKS ( https://eleks.com/ ). The platform uses cutting-edge blockchain technology ( https://eleks.com/expertise/blockchain-software... ) which offers complete transparency of a project's donation and transaction chain, from anywhere in the world. It's this financial candour that's made blockchain-enabled crowdfunding increasingly successful in recent years.Japan has a long heritage of innovative social development drives, and Spin's creators envisage an international community of ."social parents." and mentors  crowdfunders whose investments help to nurture young talent and eco-oriented organisations across the globe. Any entity or individual in need of financial support can benefit from Spin donations. For example, a school in the developing world, or an organisation that works to restore the ocean's coral reefs. A mentor instigates a project to seek funding and a social parent contributes to a cause  receiving progress updates and direct messages from the initiative's leader.The platform currently has three live projects. The One Love Project, which aims to protect cultures threatened by COVID-19; a project that supports children living with physical disabilities in Ukraine; and a conservation initiative for Thailand's threatened Asian elephants. Freewill also implements its own vision for a 'Sustainable Eco Society', by raising awareness, taking actions to preserve the environment and resources, and supporting education.Myroslav Basarab, Spin's project manager at ELEKS commented, ."The world is evolving rapidly, and not always for the better. The modern challenges we face  COVID-19, large-scale ecological destruction and ever more frequent natural disasters  have many people wondering how we can make the world a better place. The problem is getting the urgent messages out there and giving the wider population the tools to act instantaneously. Freewill and? ELEKS will enable society to address the pressing issues, creatively and globally, by combining the seemingly incompatible: Eastern traditionalism and Western entrepreneurship, charity and technology. Spin will get help to those who need it, without the fear of funds being used underhandedly.."ELEKS is a Top 100 Global Outsourcing company that provides expert software engineering and consultancy services. For over 29 years, it has worked as a software innovation partner to Fortune 500 companies, big enterprises and technology challengers. Its team of 1,500+ professionals provides a full range of IT services. The software products that it builds help the world's leading brands transform their businesses, increase their revenues and save development time and operational costs.


Wednesday, July 8, 2020

James J. Talerico, Jr., a nationally recognized family-owned business expert and the CEO & Founder of Greater Prairie Business Consulting, Inc., who has consulted with literally thousands of family-owned businesses over the last 30 years, utilizes a comprehensive business analysis that checks over 275 different qualitative and quantitative aspects of a business and provides family-owned businesses with an objective, 3rd party review and a detailed findings report of where the family-owned business can improve. Because Mr. Talerico has worked with many of the fastest growing privately held businesses in the U.S., he can share the best practices of the top performers in many different industries.

His company's Performance Potential Indicator (PPI) Scorecard TM, moreover, assesses important areas of a business that most business analysts overlook, and provides a unique look at a family-owned business that most of his competitors cannot match.

Mr. Talerico helps wealth managers with clients whose family-owned businesses are in trouble improve their businesses by identifying the problems these business owners often cannot see and do not know how to fix. "Most family-owned businesses do not operate at their potential. When business owners can see these problems and know the solutions, these family-owned businesses can exceed the business owners' wildest dreams," he says.

Mr. Talerico asks for no money up front and if he cannot find at least 10 times the cost of the business analysis there is no cost. So, business owners really have nothing to lose !

He also has considerable expertise helping family-owned businesses implemented the needed changes.

Wealth managers and their clients with family-owned businesses that are struggling are encouraged to contact James J. Talerico, Jr. about his compendious business analysis process at 1-800-828-7585 for a free consultation.

To learn more about Greater Prairie Business Consulting, Inc., go to: www.greaterprairiebusinessconsulting.com .
A Laredo truck driver who was involved in a scheme to steal nearly $2 million of oil from companies drilling in the Eagle Ford Shale was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison Wednesday.

Ricardo Guevara had pleaded guilty to theft and wire fraud for his role in the theft of about 33,000 barrels of crude oil over a period of more than two years. He received a 33-month sentence on each count, but they will be served concurrently.

Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra, who conducted the sentencing via video teleconference from his San Antonio courtroom, directed Guevara to pay about $1 million in restitution and turn over $414,000 that he earned from the scheme.

On ExpressNews.com: Guilty pleas in Eagle Ford stolen oil case

Guevara also was sentenced to a year in prison for failing to file a 2015 income tax return. That sentence will be served at the same time as the others. Guevara, who is free on a $50,000 unsecured bond, must report by Sept. 9. to begin serving the sentence.

He must serve three years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence.

I take full responsibility for my actions, and I am truly sorry for the damage that I have caused, Guevara told the judge. I have learned that making careless decisions can tear me away from my children that I love with all my heart.

A grand jury indicted Guevara and four others in 2017. They were alleged to have stolen from tank batteries of at least three energy companies from September 2013 through February 2016. The men then sold the stolen oil to unsuspecting third-party companies, prosecutors allege.

This was an opportunity by Mr. Guevara and others to get rich quick, Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Lewis Jr. said during the hearing.

Luis Valencia, accused of being the ringleader, and his nephew Mauricio Valencia were found guilty by a federal jury in January following a three-week trial.

Luis Valencia was convicted of all charges against him  10 counts of theft from interstate shipments, 10 counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of money laundering and four counts of stolen property.

Jurors convicted Mauricio Valencia of 15 counts, but found him not guilty of 19 others. He was convicted of 10 counts of theft from interstate shipments, one count of wire fraud and four other counts of transportation of stolen property.

On ExpressNews.com: Jury convicts 2 San Antonio relatives in oil theft scheme

Last week, however, Ezra granted the San Antonio pair a new trial after finding a pretrial plea deal never was communicated to Luis Valencia by his attorney at the time.

In their motion seeking a new trial, the Valencias say prosecutors informed the attorney that Luis Valencia would be offered a plea deal to serve about five years in prison, while Mauricio Valencia would be offered a plea of 12 months. Each defendant had to agree to plead guilty to get the package deal, Ezra wrote in his ruling.

The Valencias also had asked Ezra to acquit them, but the judge denied that request.

Guevara testified for the government at the pairs trial.

The remaining two defendants  Romeo Garcia Jr. and Ricardo Sanchez Jr.  each pleaded guilty in 2018 to one count of theft from interstate shipment and one count of wire fraud.

Garcia was sentenced to 37 months in prison on each count, to run together and ordered to pay about $1 million in restitution, court records show.

Sanchez received two years of probation on each count and ordered to pay almost $77,700 in restitution.

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
Syrians shop at a store in Damascus, capital of Syria, on June 7, 2020. Syrians have been complaining about the skyrocketing prices amid a tough economic situation. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

"As long as the unilateral coercive measures are not lifted, there will be no fundamental improvement in the humanitarian situation in Syria," a Chinese envoy said.

UNITED NATIONS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday urged the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria.

"As long as the unilateral coercive measures are not lifted, there will be no fundamental improvement in the humanitarian situation in Syria. Some country, while claiming to be concerned about the suffering of Syrian civilians, has imposed additional unilateral coercive measures on Syria, ruthlessly stifling the livelihoods of Syrian people," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said in his remarks in explanation of China's vote for the Security Council draft resolution on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria.

"China once again calls on the Security Council to address this critical issue, and urge the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria," he said.

"We also request a comprehensive assessment by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the overall humanitarian situation in Syria, to be presented by the secretary-general in a focused report to the Security Council," said the envoy.

Members of the Security Council on Tuesday voted on the draft resolution submitted by Germany and Belgium on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria. China and Russia voted against it. The draft resolution was not adopted.

Syrians shop at a store in Damascus, capital of Syria, on June 7, 2020. Syrians have been complaining about the skyrocketing prices amid a tough economic situation. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

Speaking of the effects of unilateral coercive measures, Zhang said that these measures "have further aggravated the economic and humanitarian crisis in Syria."

"Years of illegal sanctions have had immeasurable impact on the economic and social development of Syria, devastated livelihoods, and brought untold sufferings to innocent civilians. The unilateral coercive measures have also severely undermined Syria's capacity to respond to COVID-19," said the envoy.

The ambassador noted that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Special Envoy Geir Pedersen have repeatedly called on the relevant countries to lift unilateral coercive measures.

"To this end, China proposed amendments to the draft resolution. It is disappointing that the draft resolution submitted by copenholders completely ignores China's amendments and does not contain a single word about unilateral coercive measures. China is compelled to vote against such an unobjective and unbalanced draft resolution," Zhang said.

As to the cross-border mechanism, Zhang noted that it is "merely an urgent and temporary arrangement."

A Syrian shops at a store in Damascus, capital of Syria, on June 7, 2020. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

"It is the primary responsibility of the Syrian Government to improve the humanitarian situation in the country. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria must be respected," he added.

"China encourages the relevant parties to step up their efforts to promote cross-line operations and make corresponding adjustments to the cross-border mechanism. Considering the humanitarian needs in Syria, China does not object to retaining the cross-border mechanism at this stage. Meanwhile, cross-border operations should strictly follow the guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance set out in the General Assembly resolution 46/182, ensure impartiality, neutrality and credibility, and enhance coordination with the Syrian Government," the envoy said.

"China notes that there are still fundamental differences among Security Council members on the number of crossing points and extension period. China hopes that members will reach consensus through consultations," said Zhang.

The ambassador emphasized that China has consistently advocated a holistic and comprehensive approach for the Syrian issue.

"The political, counter-terrorism, security and humanitarian aspects must be considered altogether. Ultimately, the differences among parties concerned on the humanitarian issues in Syria must be resolved by advancing the Syrian political process. We urge all parties to strengthen dialogue, increase mutual trust, respond positively to the Secretary-General's global ceasefire appeal, and move towards a political solution to the Syrian issue," he said.

[ Editor: WXY ]
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 6 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Breast Cancer Drug Market is accounted for $14.75 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $43.27 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 12.7% during the forecast period. High prevalence of breast cancer, growing R&D investments and rising healthcare expenditure and awareness are some of the key factors influence market growth. However, stringent regulatory guidelines and expiry of patented drugs is restraining the market growth.



Breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide and also is one of the leading causes of death. Breast cancer is a disease where uncontrolled growth of malignant cells in the breast tissue that is most commonly occurs in female than men. Breast cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell division of breast cells, most commonly cells of breast lobule and ducts.



Based on Drug, Chemotherapy Drugs segment growth is due to development in the fields of drug delivery and oncology, and increased government funding and initiative to create awareness about cancer diagnosis and treatment. By Geography, North America is going to have a lucrative growth due to prevalence of chronic diseases, growing focus of global pharmaceutical companies in this region.

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University Health System will launch a sweeping, $170 million technology upgrade Saturday after delaying its implementation for two months because of the escalating public health crisis.

Officials said theyre confident in the project, and that they have contingency plans in place to deal with problems if they arise during the transition.

About 10,000 employees at University Hospital, UHS clinics and Bexar County Jail will switch to a cloud-based electronic health record, or EHR, system developed by Epic Systems Corp.

Installing a new EHR is a significant undertaking. Its like replacing a health systems central nervous system, said Lee Wasvick, an Epic executive who has worked with UHS on the project.

Thats why a team of IT staff, administrators and clinicians spend months preparing for the launch, he said. This preparation includes testing hundreds of scenarios and training staff on how to use the system.

Normally, the Verona, Wisc.-based health software company would bring in around 200 expert trainers to assist hospital employees with in-person guidance during the transition. But travel restrictions have forced the company to provide a virtual go-live process.

On ExpressNews.com: University Hospital prepares to roll out $170.8M patient information system

Health care workers wont be able to work shoulder-to-shoulder with techs monitoring any glitches in the roll-out. But Wasvick said Epics team will be available around the clock via video conference to provide assistance.

UHS isnt the companys first client to undergo a switchover during the pandemic, and the hospital system already employs some of the information technology specialists needed for the transition.

Work on the project began nearly two years ago, and testing of the new system started 10 months ago.

Over the past couple of months, our staff and physicians have invested many hours to be trained on Epic, UHS spokeswoman Leni Kirkman said. They need to put what theyve learned into practice now while the information is still fresh.

A labor and delivery nurse, for example, underwent 17 hours of training to learn the Epic system. Employees scheduled for training after March had to complete their training hours online because of restrictions on in-person gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

UHS board of managers approved the project in October 2018 to help the public hospital run more efficiently, increase patient safety and improve patients experience.

The Epic platform will be used for everything from billing to ordering lab tests to keeping patient records, and is already in use by UT Health San Antonio, UHS academic medical partner.

The software checks a patients medication list for adverse drug interactions and allows patients to message their doctors with questions on an app from their smartphone.

Hospital administrators told the board last fall it usually takes about six months for staff members  especially those in billing and collections  to become comfortable using the new system.

While we certainly did not plan to launch this new system during a pandemic, there are some key benefits of making the switch now, Kirkman said.

Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

UHS outpatient clinics currently have a lower volume of patients, which will allow staff at those facilities more time to get used to the new system.

Kirkman said Epic is updating its system weekly so its clients can keep up with the latest treatment recommendations for COVID-19 patients.

In Bexar County, more than 15,000 people have been infected with the coronavirus. A spike in hospitalizations over the past two weeks has stretched resources thin at hospital systems throughout San Antonio.

Laura Garcia covers the health care industry in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Laura, become a subscriber. laura.garcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @Reporter_Laura
In the South, mayonnaise could be its own food group.

We may argue over the correct way to pronounce pecan and which barbecue sauce reigns supreme, but theres no argument when it comes to mayonnaise, contends James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and chef Virginia Willis. We take our mayo pretty seriously  and if its not homemade, its got to be Dukes.

Ashley Strickland Freeman would agree. Thats why Freeman included Willis quote in her new cookbook that celebrates the joys of Dukes Mayonnaise. The Dukes Mayonnaise Cookbook, published in late June, champions the brand of mayo, known for its voluptuous texture and distinct tang.

Though the brand has distribution in 41 states, Dukes is better known in the South. The cult of Dukes is strong.

Dukes contains a higher ratio of egg yolks than most other commercial mayos, which makes it rich, creamy and less likely to separate when heated. Theres a wisp of tang from vinegar and a touch of paprika, Southern Living wrote. Its texture is thicker and almost custardlike instead of simply slick or gelatinous. All this makes Dukes look and taste more like homemade mayonnaise, a wonderful thing that is quite tedious to perfect.

A recipe developer, food stylist and cookbook contributor, Freeman grew up in Savannah, Georgia, and lives in Charleston, South Carolina. Dukes was the only mayonnaise she knew because it was the only one her mother used. Her mothers pantry is lined with old glass jars of Dukes mayo with its familiar marigold lids.

More Information 'The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook: 75 Recipes Celebrating the Perfect Condiment' Out June 30 By Ashley Strickland Freeman Grand Central Publishing 256 pages, $28 See More Collapse

In 2017, when Freeman was considering her own cookbook project, she knew she wanted the subject to be something dear to her heart. One day I opened my refrigerator door, and there was a Dukes Mayonnaise jar staring me in the face, she said. A light bulb went off.

A quick internet search later, she discerned that no one had done a Dukes cookbook before. Though the cookbook is not a Dukes product, it has the blessing of the corporate parent. The C.F. Sauer Co., based in Richmond, Virginia, bought the Dukes brand in 1929 from founder Eugenia Thomas Duke, who created the mayonnaise in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1917.

Freeman was already a Dukes loyalist. To me, its the closest thing to homemade. It doesnt have any sugar in it, which is rare for a commercial mayo, she said. I dont know their formula; its top secret. But its super-creamy with the perfect hint of tanginess. It has a luscious mouthfeel.

Freeman sought out recipes drawn from her own background and travels. She already knew of the many spreads, sauces and dressings that can be made with mayonnaise as the foundation, as well as the condiments integral nature to deviled eggs, chicken salad and pimento cheese.

But Freemans digging and recipe testing also yielded mayonnaises star turns in baking (muffins, waffles, biscuits, banana bread, scones, doughnuts), in entrees (kebabs, crab cakes, roasted chicken, chicken Parmesan, cottage pie) and in desserts (cupcakes, brownies, cookies and pound cakes). Then there is mayonnaises adhesive powers in coating chicken tenders, fish filets, pork chops and Mexican street corn.

Surprising applications: as an ingredient for pasta making and in pie crusts. Coating onion rings in mayonnaise and panko bread crumbs creates superlative fried onion rings. And whisking a little mayonnaise into eggs before scrambling results in creamy and fluffy eggs  a trick she learned from television food personality and cookbook author Alton Brown.

Freeman calculated she went through 26 (48-ounce) jars of Dukes to test her recipes. In the end she feels she has created something special that will go a long way to promoting the mayonnaise to the uninitiated, and spreading the Southern food gospel in general.

Southern food appreciation isnt going away any time soon, Freeman said. People are finally catching on that its such a special cuisine, she said.

Made even better with a dollop of mayonnaise. Dukes, of course.

Recipe: Smoked Gouda, Cheddar and Parmesan Mac n Cheese

Recipe: Elote (Grilled Mexican Street Corn)

Recipe: Plum Upside-Down Cake

greg.morago@chron.com
PENDLETON, Ore.  Weeks after President Donald Trump demanded that Americas shuttered houses of worship be allowed to reopen, new outbreaks of the coronavirus are surging through churches across the country where services have resumed.

The virus has infiltrated Sunday sermons, meetings of ministers and Christian youth camps in Colorado and Missouri. It has struck churches that reopened cautiously with face masks and social distancing in the pews, as well as some that defied lockdowns and refused to heed new limits on numbers of worshippers.

Pastors and their families have tested positive, as have church ushers, front-door greeters and hundreds of churchgoers. In Texas, about 50 people contracted the virus after a pastor told congregants they could once again hug one another. In Florida, a teenage girl died last month after attending a youth party at her church.

More than 650 coronavirus cases have been linked to nearly 40 churches and religious events across the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, with many of them erupting over the last month as Americans resumed their pre-pandemic activities, according to a New York Times database.

Theres a very fine line between protecting the health and safety of people, and protecting the right to worship, said George Murdock, a county commissioner in northeastern Oregon, where the largest outbreak in the state has been traced to a Pentecostal church in a neighboring county. Its one weve been walking very nervously all along.

While thousands of churches, synagogues and mosques across the country have been meeting virtually or outside on lawns and in parking lots to protect their members from the virus, the right to hold services within houses of worship became a political battleground as the country crawled out of lockdown this spring. In May, the president declared places of worship part of an essential service and threatened, though it was uncertain he had the power to do so, to override any governors orders keeping them closed.

But now, as the virus rages through Texas, Arizona and other evangelical bastions of the South and West, some churches that fought to reopen are being forced to close again and grapple with whether it is even possible to worship together safely.

Our churches have followed protocols  masks, go in one door and out the other, social distancing, said Cynthia Fierro Harvey, a bishop with the United Methodist Church in Louisiana, where three churches closed again over the last week. And still people have tested positive.

Other congregations have remained defiant in the face of rising infections, saying that state rules limiting service sizes infringe on their constitutional right to worship.

Some Christian groups objected to a new California rule that restricts singing in places of worship. In Nevada, the Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley is challenging state rules that cap religious gatherings at 50 people while allowing casinos and other reopening businesses to operate without similar limits.

Theyre downplaying the role that religion plays in the lives of Americans and suggesting its more important to go to the gym than to go to church, said Kristen K. Waggoner, general counsel of the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative religious-liberty group that brought the Nevada lawsuit and has challenged other state restrictions on religious gatherings. She said that the vast majority of churches meet or exceed federal health guidelines for reopening.

But as new cases and clusters have emerged in recent weeks from Florida to Kansas to Hawaii, public-health experts have emphasized that, even with social distancing, the virus can easily spread through the air when hymns are sung and sermons preached inside closed spaces. One of the worlds first mass coronavirus outbreaks occurred in a secretive South Korean church.

Its an ideal setting for transmission, said Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University, referring to church gatherings. You have a lot of people in a closed space. And theyre speaking loudly, theyre singing. All those things are exactly what you dont want.

The Graystone Baptist Church in Ronceverte, West Virginia, had resumed Sunday services, with masks optional, just 10 days earlier when congregants began to fall ill in early June. There have been at least 51 confirmed cases and three deaths tied to the church, local health officials said.

Charles Hiser, 82, was the first of three churchgoers to die after contracting the virus.

His daughter, Libby Morgan, said her father had lived alone and had spent the last few months cooped up at home to stay safe. She brought him groceries and talked to him regularly on the phone so he was not lonely. But Hiser missed going to Graystone Baptist, where he had attended services for 30 years or so, his daughter said. So as soon as regular services resumed at the end of May, he went right back, eschewing a mask.

Within two weeks, he had tested positive for the virus.

I felt like, gosh, I was thinking hed be safe there, Morgan said. You know, youre in church. Just like a child that goes to school is supposed to feel safe.

The church is now reopened, again, after a two-week closure.

There were just six recorded cases of the coronavirus in Union County, in rural northeastern Oregon, when the Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church announced its reopening on May 22 in an Instagram post that also cited Trumps remarks about reopening churches.

Now, the county has recorded 356 cases, many of them traced to the church.

The outbreak is thought to have been seeded by a wedding there, which drew attendees from out of town, said Dan Satterwhite, a pastor at an affiliated Lighthouse Church in the neighboring town of Pendleton. The pastor of the Island City church contracted the virus, and his wife was hospitalized, Satterwhite said.

In his own church, Satterwhite said, congregants were social distancing and mostly wearing masks. He had initially livestreamed services on Facebook, but some congregants begged to return to church and others did not have reliable internet access.

I am trying to do the right thing. I know a lot of people dont feel this way, but those that do, feel that church is essential, Satterwhite said. Theres more to be considered there than just the physical health, theres also the spiritual health.

The outbreak has stoked resentment against the church from residents who believe its members acted recklessly, but some local officials defended the churchs actions. In a virtual town-hall event, Sheriff Boyd Rasmussen of Union County said the congregation had moved services outside in an effort to socially distance after a complaint was made to the sheriffs office. The church also offered coronavirus tests in its parking lot after cases were reported, said J.B. Brock, the countys emergency manager.

In Texas, Pastor Ron Arbaugh said his church, the Calvary Chapel of San Antonio, had followed the letter of the law and tried to practice social distancing since it was allowed to reopen in May. The ushers, greeters and leaders of the childrens ministry wore face masks. Families sat spaced out in the pews. About half the congregation wore masks.

But now, about 50 congregants and staff members  including the pastor and his wife  have tested positive for the coronavirus. Arbaugh said all the cases had been mild so far.

He said he does not know how the virus spread in the church or who brought it in, but that he now regrets announcing after several weeks of resumed services that congregants could hug one another again.

In retrospect, I would have said: Just maintain that distance, he said. In a spiritual environment we had people who were away from fellowship for so long and in isolation. They were hurting. We just got to a point where we thought, we need to have normal church services.

Over 80 cases have been linked to Kanakuk Kamps, a Christian youth camp in Missouri. Melissa Fisher, a parent whose teenagers attended the facility in early June, said that camp leaders had asked campers to quarantine themselves for two weeks before arriving and to monitor their temperatures. Campers were given masks to wear in group settings, although they were not required to wear them when they were in smaller groups of campers they were rooming with, she said.

I dont think the camp should be penalized or put in a dark light for having camp, she said. They went above and beyond for these kids to have some sort of normal.

While major Christian denominations, synagogues and mosques across the country have taken pains to craft detailed reopening plans and impose strict new rules, some of the recent cases appear to have occurred in churches that did not require masks or keep members apart.

In Fort Myers, Florida, Carsyn L. Davis, a high school orchestra member, attended a youth party at her church on June 10 with 100 other children. She did not wear a mask, and children at the event, billed as a release party of fellowship and games to celebrate the return of church services, did not stay at a distance, according to a Miami-Dade County medical examiners report.

Three days after the party, Carsyn, who had asthma and had overcome a rare neurological disorder as a child, developed a headache, sinus pressure and a mild cough. She died on June 23, two days after her 17th birthday.

The churchs pastor, Dustin Zarick, said in a video posted to Facebook that the church had canceled all youth activities because several families had been affected by COVID-19. He said the church had made the proactive decision in order to keep members safe.

Media reports and postings accusing the church of ignoring protocols or actively engaging in behavior intended to expose our congregation to the virus are absolutely false, the church said in an emailed statement to The Times.

Satterwhite, the pastor in Oregon, said that scrutiny had fallen unfairly on churches, while businesses with outbreaks did not face the same backlash.

I think that there is an effort on the part of some to use things like this to try to shut churches down, he said, adding that he appreciated Trumps supportive remarks about churches being essential.

When weighing his responsibility as a faith leader, Satterwhite said, he returned to his beliefs.

My personal belief is, I have faith in God, he said. If God wants me to get COVID, Ill get COVID. And if God doesnt want me to get COVID, I wont.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
President Donald Trump is tentatively scheduled to make his first public appearance in the Permian Basin as president at the end of the month.

And the invitation says it will take place in Odessa.

A Permian Basin Special Event with Donald J. Trump, president of the United States is scheduled for July 29 in Odessa, according to the invitation from the Trump-Pence Victory Committee.

The event offers three different opportunities for those willing to donate money to be with the president.

The first is a $100,000-per-person roundtable with the president.

The second is a $50,000-per-couple photo opportunity with the president.

The last is a $2,800-per-person luncheon with President Trump.

The invitation doesnt indicate the location for any of the events as additional details will be provided upon RSVP.

Kindly RSVP to events@gop.com or 202-863-8657.  Space is limited and RSVPs will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Anyone wanting to make a contribution can do so at following website: https://secure.winred.com/trumpvictory/odessapotus.

The event would be the first for the 45th president of United State in Midland-Odessa. Vice President Mike Pence came to Midland in April 2019.

The last sitting president to come to Midland was George W. Bush in October 2008. He and first lady Laura Bush visited the George W. Bush Childhood Home, which had been developed a couple of years earlier.

Yes, I understand he is coming to our area and we are very excited, said Sherri Merket, Midland County Republican Party chairman.

Trumps visit to Odessa will come in the midst of an election year, and presidential candidates visits to Midland previously for campaign reasons has been common. In August 2012, then Republican nominee Mitt Romney raised more than $3 million during an event at the Petroleum Club of Midland.

Romney also spoke at a Midland County Republican Womens luncheon in 2008 while running for his partys nomination. Other GOP primary contenders making stops in Midland that year were Rudolph Giuliani and Mike Huckabee.
As the coronavirus pandemic squeezes San Antonio hospitals closer to capacity, Brooke Army Medical Center is sitting out the crisis.

Even as military medical teams have arrived in the Alamo City to help at other facilities, the hospital at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston isnt taking civilians sickened by the virus unless theyre military dependents or retirees.

BAMC has cared for civilian trauma patients, however, since 1995. Its an exception to a Pentagon policy that the state has asked to be extended to COVID-19 cases. Theres been no answer yet.

Billy Calzada /Billy Calzada

We need the Defense Department to do its part, said Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who echoed others in saying BAMC leaders and personnel would like to help but have their hands tied by top Pentagon leaders.

The local brass and troops have always done a stellar job and continue to do so here during this pandemic, but I think we need the folks in DC to understand theres no fence line in San Antonio, Nirenberg said.

A surge in COVID-19 patients has left only 11 percent of all staffed hospital beds available in the city as of Tuesday. Once those hospitals are full, two alternate sites are to open. The first would be the Texas Center for Infectious Disease, where COVID-19 patients were treated in the earliest days of the pandemic after being quarantined at JBSA-Lackland with other Americans evacuated from China and a pair of cruise ships.

On ExpressNews.com: Total coronavirus cases exceed 15,000 in San Antonio; two more deaths reported

If necessary, a temporary hospital set up at Freeman Coliseum would take non-COVID patients who do not have to be isolated.

Eric Epley, the executive director of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, said that if the Pentagon could relax its policy, it would be the simplest and the most effective way to take military teams and other teams that are coming into San Antonio and have them help us staff up BAMC.

Command staff at BAMC would be anxious to help if they could, said Epley, whose council oversees regional health care emergency planning.

Billy Calzada /Billy Calzada

Members of Bexar Countys congressional delegation have raised the issue with the Defense Department, but a more formal appeal was made June 26 by the state on San Antonios behalf.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management asked the Pentagon through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to allow BAMC to temporarily participate in the STRAC regional response effort for COVID-19 patients, division spokesman Seth Christensen said.

That request has been made and my understanding is that that is still with the office of the secretary of defense for the secretary of defenses approval, he said, adding that he didnt know when it might be approved.

Pentagon spokesmen have not responded to questions this week about the policy and the effort to change it.

Now Playing: Animation shows spread of COVID-19 across Texas from March to April. Video: San Antonio Express-News

In San Antonio, a longstanding partnership allows military medical teams in BAMCs emergency room to to provide trauma care to civilians, keeping skills sharp for the kinds of injuries troops in war zones suffer while easing the caseload at University Hospital, the citys only other Level I trauma center.

The medical centers 8,500-strong staff provides inpatient and outpatient services to military members and dependents. Another 240,000 retiree beneficiaries from across the armed services also are eligible for care there. Like any military treatment facility or VA hospital, BAMC cant treat other civilians except for trauma patients under its narrowly-tailored policy and persons granted a waiver by the secretary of defense.

Officials at BAMC declined to say how many COVID-19 patients it had treated, citing operational security.

On ExpressNews.com: At BAMC, trauma team aces states first successful arm replant

The medical center typically can care for about 300 inpatients and currently has about 250, a spokesman there said, but its intensive care unit is nearly full, with 45 out of 50 staffed slots occupied. The ER sees about 4,500 trauma patients a year, whose care provides training for Army and Air Force medical personnel. An adjacent burn treatment center has 40 beds overseen by the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research.

The city and state have worked to bring hundreds of additional nurses and other medical staff to help in hard-pressed hospitals here, including Army teams from Fort Carson, Colo.

Im working on a request right now to ask for additional assistance, and it will include additional military support for all of Texas, but yes, for San Antonio as well, said Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said more involvement by BAMC in helping with the coronavirus surge at other hospitals would be a big help to us if Pentagon officials there approve it, but recalled that no action was taken in Washington when Americans returning from Wuhan, China and two cruise ships turned up positive while in isolation Lackland.

So its not any different than it was back then - not that they didnt want to, it was just that the big dogs in Washington wouldnt let them, Wolff said. This is much more critical than that was.

Nirenberg pointed to the long marriage between San Antonio and the military as one reason for utilizing BAMC for COVID care, arguing that ties between the two are too close for the historic Army hospital to watch from the sidelines as the city fights to save thousands of sick patients, hundreds now in the ICU.

Theres no fence line in San Antonio with regard to our defense installations. We consider our service family San Antonians and we consider our San Antonians part of our service family, so this pandemic is not a question of uniform and non-uniform, the mayor said. Were in this together.

Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Sig, become a subscriber. sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe
A 5-year-old boy died Monday after he was found at the bottom of a pool during a Fourth of July gathering at a North Side home.

Christian Bishop was unconscious when officers arrived at the residence and began CPR on him at about 2:40 p.m. in the 14400 block of Chadbourne, a San Antonio police report states.

The boy's father told police Christian asked to go swimming and that he agreed, as long as his sister joined him.

The siblings were outside for a short time when his sister went back inside to change clothes, the report states.

At some point, Christian sneaked into the pool, family members said in a GoFundMe online fundraiser.

Police said Christians sister saw him at the bottom of the pool when she went back outside. His uncle jumped into the pool, pulled him out and started CPR, a report states.

The boy was not breathing and did not have a pulse when was taken to North Central Baptist Hospital, police said. Once there, he was revived twice, but his pupils were not responsive to light, according to the report.

On Monday, family said he was taken off life support and he died in his mothers arms.

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office said his death was from an apparent drowning.

Family members remembered Christian as an outgoing, sweet and loving boy who always had a smile on his face.

The online fundraiser setup for his funeral expenses raised more than $15,000 as of Tuesday evening.

Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. To read more from Jacob, become a subscriber. jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 6 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Over the years, there has been an increase in the demand for single-use, disposable medical devices in the healthcare industry. Many medical device and equipment manufacturers use sterilization technologies such as gamma, steam, X-ray, and ethylene oxide for designing and manufacturing processes. Validation and quality of packaging are carried out along with further revalidation using these sterilization technologies.

The global sterilization services market was valued at US $ 2.6 Bn in 2018, and is expected to witness a CAGR of over 7% during the forecast period (2019-2029).

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Medistri SA

B. Braun Melsungen

Life Science Outsourcing, Inc.

Get To Know Methodology of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/20770

Key Takeaways of Sterilization Services Market Study

Contract sterilization services contributed more than 2/3 share in the sterilization services market in 2018, owing to rising healthcare-associated infections in various healthcare settings.

Ethylene oxide sterilization accounted for a major market share in terms of technology in the global sterilization services market in 2018, attributed to a variety of economic factors, demographic patterns, healthcare trends, and service affordability.

Rising adoption of sterilization services for infection control and quality packaging during the production process in the medical device industry contributed to the dominance of North America in the global sterilization services market.

Attributed to rising awareness regarding infection prevention and growing medical device industry, East Asia is expected to offer notable growth opportunities for the sterilization services market.

Growing unmet needs for controlling infection and pyrogen-free medical devices have prompted medical manufacturing companies to include routine contract sterilization services as an imperative process, which increased the usage of sterilization services says a PMR analyst.

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Advancements in Sterilization Techniques to Increase Demand for Sterilization Services

Healthcare regulatory bodies across the world are focusing on reducing treatment costs through faster devices and drug approval processes. Speeding up approvals have also increased the demand for new sterility testing methods.

These practices have compelled innovative market players to spend more on advanced solutions. As a result, recent developments in sterilization technologies have focused on improving functionalities, such as shorter sterilization cycles, improved and compatible materials, capacity expansion, environmental worthy, and affordability.

With innovations in mind, low-temperature sterilization systems have been made commercially available with enhanced sterility functions and improved technologies that can monitor biological indicators (BIs) with shorter output results.

More Valuable Insights on Sterilization Services Market

Persistence Market Research offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the sterilization services market in its latest study, presenting historical demand assessment from 20142018 and projections for 20192029, on the basis of service type (contract sterilization services and validation sterilization services), technique (steam sterilization, gamma irradiation, electron beam irradiation, X-ray irradiation, ethylene oxide sterilization, ion beam treatment, and plasma sterilization) and end user (hospitals, ambulatory surgical centres, medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic laboratories, and others), across seven major regions.
A disbarred San Antonio lawyer who along with his ex-wife was convicted of theft in 2007 for using a legal loophole to extort hush money from four men who were having extramarital affairs with his wife, wants a clean slate.

Ted H. Roberts appeared Tuesday via Zoom before Judge Velia Meza in the 226th state District Court, seeking judicial clemency. Representing himself, he asked to have his jury verdict set aside and his indictment dismissed.

No ruling was issued Tuesday.

In his motion, Roberts told Meza he accepts full responsibility for his conduct and sincerely regrets it, but said his actions were lawful and stated that threats to file civil claims, and settlement of those claims, are both common.

He argued that in Texas such threats can be selectively criminalized by a penal theft by coercion statute that is so broad as to allow prosecution of lawful threats to sue.

On ExpressNews.com: Lawyer loses appeal in extortion case

Unlike the clemency granted by a governor that completely clears a persons record, judicial clemency sets aside a conviction and is available to people on community supervision, said Judge Ron Rangel, who is administrative judge for the state district courts. He also presides over the 379th state District Court.

If Meza were to grant the motion, Roberts no longer would be considered a felon.

Its very rare, said Rangel, who is not involved in the Roberts case. I have been asked to do it, but I never thought it was appropriate in any case that Ive dealt with.

Done at the judges discretion, if granted, judicial clemency can set aside a conviction and dismiss the charge.

Prosecutor Matthew Howard, representing the state, urged Meza to deny the motion.

Hes not willing to accept what he did was wrong, he told the court. He argues he was the victim of a legal loophole.

The accusations and subsequent trials of Ted and Mary Schorlemer Roberts captured local and national attention in the mid-2000s.

On ExpressNews.com: Appeal denied for former attorney

According to court documents, Mary Roberts, who also was Ted Roberts law partner, posted profiles on adult Web sites in 2001, seeking sex partners after she found out her husband was having an affair.

Her husband later confronted four men  a lawyer, an accountant and two chief financial officers  and threatened to file embarrassing civil lawsuits for allegedly destroying his marriage.

The men paid a total of $115,000 to the couple, which prosecutors at the time described as a shakedown for hush money, as part of a legal proceeding called Rule 202 petitions, something used mostly in civil lawsuits.

Ted Roberts use of the Rule 202 petitions put the men on notice that Roberts wanted to investigate the affairs and might expose the trysts to the mens spouses and employers, setting the stage to sue them, according to court records.

Bexar County jurors didnt buy Ted Roberts story that he told the men their money would go to the couples childrens charity. Prosecutors said the couple used the funds on their law practice and a new home.

The panel convicted him in March 2007 of theft by deception and coercion, on charges related to two of his wifes four lovers. He was acquitted on two other counts.

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At the time, Ted Roberts argued that he followed Texas law in using the petitions, but in October 2008, the 4th Court of Appeals disagreed and upheld the jurys theft conviction.

The couple have since divorced. Each lost their appeals, and both were disbarred.

In December 2007, Mary Schorlemer Roberts was ordered by a jury to serve 10 years probation for five felony counts of theft by deception and coercion.

After a lengthy appeals process, Ted Roberts was sentenced to five years in prison. But after he served about six months, Judge Sid Harle granted him shock probation in 2009 and he was released.

Rangel said judges have 30 days after a defendants probation has finished to make a decision on judicial clemency. Ted Roberts community supervision expires July 13. Meza is expected to make a decision on his motion by July 17.

Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. To read more from Elizabeth, become a subscriber. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863
National Weather Service

Potentially record-breaking heat is on its way to San Antonio this weekend and early next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists with NWS said residents should be prepared to be "rather uncomfortable" as the heat gradually increases through the rest of the week. On Thursday, temperatures may reach 100 degrees and will likely hit triple digits ever day until Monday.
The federal government still hasnt decided how to meet a federal judges demand to release migrant children from detention.

In late June, Judge Dolly Gee of California ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement to release all of its detained migrant children by July 17. It is up to ICE whether the parents, who are detained with them in family detention centers, will also be released with them.

But in a filing Wednesday, the government didnt say how it would comply with the order, adding it was still reviewing the forms it would present to detainees.

Advocates say releasing the children without their parents is family separation 2.0.

In a Fox News interview earlier this week. Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf appeared to indicate the parents would not be released, saying We're not going to do a jail break.

The families in detention are awaiting civil immigration proceedings and have not been convicted of crimes.

In mid-May, Gee  who oversees the 1997 Flores Settlement that limits detention of migrant children to 20 days  told ICE to begin quickly releasing children, ICE presented parents with a form that advocates called binary choice.

According to the migrants and their lawyers, the detained parents could either release their children, or stay detained indefinitely with them. Indefinite detention would not only keep children longer than 20 days, but it would also put the families at particular risk considering the coronavirus rapid spread at these facilities.

In her order, Gee characterized the detention centers as being on fire with coronavirus.

ICE reports a 25 percent positivity rate in its detention centers, with 2,949 detainees having tested positive for coronavirus out of 11,828 tested since the start of the pandemic. ICE detention populations are lower than usual, at 22,805 detainees, largely due to the Trump administrations border shutdown.

Families make up about 1 percent of all ICE detainees. They are in custody at three ICE detention facilities, two of which are near San Antonio: The South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley and the Karnes County Residential Center. The other is in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

ICE announced last week it offers voluntary testing at all three family detention sites. At the time, there were 13 detainees in custody at the Berks facility, 161 in Dilley and 174 in Karnes.

Karnes currently has 30 detainees with coronavirus, according to ICE data.

Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. To read more from Silvia, become a subscriber. sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF
Re: Time to fix contract for SAPD union, Editorial, June 28:

For many years, I have spent many hours reviewing cases and then, every other Wednesday, sitting with other civilians and officers hearing cases brought against specific police officers by the Internal Affairs Office.

So, when I read the San Antonio Express-News editorial about addressing police contract concerns, I was surprised that one of the recommendations on the failed City Council resolution called for the establishment of an independent citizens review board to monitor Internal Affairs investigations and make disciplinary recommendations. I thought that is exactly what I was doing, along with outstanding members of the community.

However, as I look back over the years on the advisory board, I realize we have had a stealth existence. We exist, but we dont.

I find it incredulous that the City Council is so out of touch with what is happening in this city as it pertains to police misconduct that its members didnt even know this board existed. If they did, why recommend another entity to do the work already being done? And they certainly have no idea of the process.

I have often wondered why those who have served on the board have never been asked to testify before the council as to the effectiveness of the board. Isnt oversight a function of the City Council?

As one of the only Black members, I am especially concerned that if the City Council has no knowledge of our boards existence, neither do members of the community. Therein lies a major problem. They do not know they have recourse to flagrant police behavior on the street.

I am convinced the police officers working Internal Affairs and Chief William McManus are serious about weeding out bad cops. But if a man or woman who has been abused by an officer does not know they can report that flagrant behavior to Internal Affairs, who will pass their findings on to the board to make a judgment on the case? It goes unresolved. That citizen then walks away from the incident with a bad taste in his or her mouth toward the entire police force.

This problem can be rectified through greater exposure of the citizens review board to the public at large. This is something the public affairs office at the San Antonio Police Department and the community organizations concerned with the relationship between the police and the community should make as a high priority.

Give our citizens recourse to their confrontations with the police other than an argument or a fight. That always ends up badly for both sides and does nothing to help resolve the very serious problem that exists in this city between the community and the police.

Frederick Williams is a member of the Complaint and Administrative Review Board.
LOT Polish Airways has pushed back the launch of its planned new seasonal service between Warsaw and Ohrid and the resumption of flights to Skopje. Operations from the Polish capital to Ohrid will now commence on August 2 and run three times per week, while services to Skopje will resume a day later, on August 3, and will be maintained twice per week. Initially, flights were due to launch last week. Details for the new Warsaw - Ohrid flights can be found here
Cargo operator Solinair has outlined its proposal for the creation of a new national carrier in Slovenia at a public consultation attended by both the government and industry stakeholders. According to the "Sierra5" portal, the CEO of the cargo airline, Janez Jelenc, said Solinair is seriously considering establishing the countrys new national carrier under the name Air Slovenia. According to Mr Jelenc, now is the right time to set up a new airline as larger carriers are withdrawing from markets and shrinking their operations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We conducted a study on how much it would cost to set up an airline and we estimate it would be close to five million euros, Mr Jelenc said. He added that aircraft such as the Mitsubishi CRJ900, Dash 8 Q400 and the ATR72 turboprop would be ideal for the Slovenian market. The company would have a four to five member fleet.





Solinair has already held talks with the Slovenian government over the potential creation of a new national carrier and expects some sort of financial assistance from the state, which is still undecided whether it should fund a new airline or provide subsidies to incentivise foreign carriers to fly to Ljubljana. Mr Jelenc noted that Solinair would seek an agreement with the Lufthansa Group for the new airline to take over their routes to Ljubljana, including Lufthansas flights from Frankfurt and Munich, Swiss from Zurich and Brussels Airlines service from the Belgian capital. In addition, Air Slovenia would link Ljubljana with Amsterdam, Skopje, Tirana and Pristina.





Attending the debate, Ljubljana Airport again expressed its support for the government to provide subsidies to airlines rather than invest funds into a new flag carrier. Last November, the Slovenian state-owned Bank Assets Management Company (BAMC) drafted a business plan for the countrys potential new national airline. Under the proposal, the carrier would reportedly operate a fleet of five CRJ aircraft and count some 200 employees. Based on the Assets Management Companys calculations, the airline was estimated to record a twenty million euro loss in its first year of operations. The Slovenian Economy Minister, Zdravko Pocivalsek, said last month, "I'm optimistic that we'll find a solution which will better connect Slovenia with the world by improving its air connectivity, and as part of this, I believe we will find an adequate and EU-compatible solution to encourage airlines. We will opt for a solution that will best connect Ljubljana with destinations that are important to us in terms of business such as Brussels, Frankfurt and Zurich.





Solinair was established in 1991 as a flight training organisation and air taxi operator based in Portoroz. Over time it acquired Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft and partnered up with DHL to provide cargo services. It has since relocated to Ljubljana. It currently operates a fleet of two Airbus A300-600 freighter jets. In 2008 it was acquired by Turkish cargo operator MNG Airlines. Solinair also provides maintenance services, maintenance training and flight planning.
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Recent Developments

In 2020, GE Healthcare has launched the Edison Developer Program to accelerate the adoption and impact of intelligent applications and developer services across health systems. The program is based on Edison, GE Healthcares secure intelligence platform, and helps healthcare providers gain easier access to market-ready algorithms and applications by directly integrating these technologies into existing workflows. It has a crucial role in boosting the technological advancements in brain tumor therapy and diagnosis.

In December 2019, GE Healthcare today launched more than 30 new, imaging intelligent applications and smart devices designed to drive efficiency in radiology departments, aiming to double productivity and cost savings for systems by 2025. For healthcare executives, the new offerings help systems to save costs, improve technology utilization, and increase patient volumes. Clinicians also will benefit from the new technologies through intuitive workflows, improved diagnostic confidence and less rework, allowing them to spend more time with patients. This will be particularly beneficial for patients affected by brain tumors and are going through its treatment.

In 2017, GE Healthcare builds out AI, radiology partnerships with Intel, Nvidia. The new CT system is two times faster in imaging processing than its predecessor, due to its use of Nvidias AI computing platform. The technology, called Revolution Frontier is FDA-cleared and expected to deliver better clinical outcomes in liver lesion detection and kidney lesion characterization because of its speed  potentially reducing the need for unnecessary follow-ups, benefitting patients with compromised renal function and reducing non-interpretable scans with Gemstone Spectral Imaging Metal Artefact Reduction.

GE Healthcare also announced on Sunday a separate partnership with Intel, which is aimed at boosting patient care and reducing costs for hospitals and health systems using digital imaging solutions, deployed via edge and cloud.

Read More@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/brain-tumor-diagnosis-and-therapeutics-market

In February 2019, Hitachi Healthcare presented next levels of diagnostic imaging solutions: the new CT scan, the SCENARIA View, the new high field MRI system, the ECHELON Smart Plus, and SynergyDrive suite at European Society of Radiology (ECR), Vienna, Austria. The SCENARIA View enhances patient comfort with an open design allowing to both accommodating the largest of patients and precise clinical targeting to feature high dose reduction. ECHELON Smart Plus is a next level 1.5T conventional superconductive MRI system, featuring state-of-the-art technology and enhanced productivity with uncompromised diagnostic value. SynergyDrive represents comprehensive hardware and software that is designed to streamline operations for examinations for MRI, and CT modalities.

In February 2020, Hitachi Healthcare Americas has announced that it will create a new dedicated research and development facility within its North American headquarters facility in Twinsburg, Ohio, USA. Set to open this year, the Hitachi Healthcare Innovation Center of Excellence will leverage advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning to bring about a new generation of imaging technology. This center will be of great help for the brain tumor patients and will play a crucial role in their diagnosis.

In April 2019, Royal Philips announced IntelliSpace Radiation Oncology, an intelligent patient management solution to manage complexity, improve efficiency, and enable operational excellence in radiotherapy departments. It provides a harmonized way of working, integrating applications and automating workflow to help reduce the amount of time it takes from receiving a patient referral to the start of their treatment.

In March 2020, Philips Receives Global AI for Enhanced Radiology Interpretation Company of The Year Award from Frost & Sullivan, based on its recent analysis of the global market for Artificial Intelligence (AI) for enhanced radiology interpretation market. This award tells a lot about the credibility and quality of the products from company. Also, the award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies, and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration.

In December 2019, it was announced that FUJIFILM Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) has entered into an agreement with Hitachi, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) to acquire its Diagnostic Imaging-related business to further expand its Healthcare business. By applying its proprietary image processing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to Hitachis extensive product lineup, Fujifilm aims to further expand its Medical Systems business and create new values to contribute to improve the quality of medical care.
BRIDGEPORT  A city man who faced up to 40 years in federal prison in connection with crack and cocaine offenses was given a five-year prison sentence, authorities announced Tuesday.

A judge sentenced Rocky Twin Samas, 48, of Bridgeport, to serve 60 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham.
Farmers have expressed concern over reports that Tesco is demanding price cuts from its suppliers to allow the retailer to compete with discounters.

The UK's biggest supermarket group has reportedly asked its suppliers to agree to cuts as it step-ups its price battle with the likes of Aldi and Lidl.

The move is part of Tesco's shift to 'everyday low pricing (EDLP) strategy', which will see it use fewer promotions.

According to industry publication The Grocer, the retailer has given its suppliers a deadline of Friday 10 July to agree.

A Tesco representative explained that the supermarket had been in discussions with suppliers on how to 'give customers great value'.

"We don't believe that our customers should pay more for a brand in Tesco than anywhere else," the spokesperson told BBC News.

"We are committed to open, fair and transparent partnerships with all of our suppliers, and that collaborative approach will continue as we look for new and innovative ways to bring our customers great value."

But concerns have now been raised by the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), which said that retailers were 'fixated' with driving down prices to 'unsustainable levels'.

TFA chief executive, George Dunn said farmers had 'lulled themselves into a false sense of security' in thinking that the retailer food market had 'changed'.

"British farmers produce food to some of the highest standards internationally, but this cannot be done if they are unable to secure a fair margin on that production.

"Retailers like Tesco should be looking at how they can cut costs in their own businesses, rather than trying to bully suppliers into accepting lower prices for high quality products," he said.

The group said retailers' price battles were a reason why the UK needed 'legislative protection' for the British food and farming industry, particularly post-Brexit.

I fear that some retailers wouldnt hesitate to find ways of offering lower quality food on the shelves, just so that they can trumpet their low-price credentials," Mr Dunn said.

"If the standards to which we produce food at home are at all important, they deserve statutory protection."

The agriculture bill entered its House of Lords committee stage on Tuesday (7 July), and farming groups have urged peers to vote for amendments that protect the UK's high food standards.
Farmers and landowners should be among those at the 'forefront of climate action' so rural communities do not bear the brunt of climate change, campaigners say.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said a 'radical rethink' of the role of the countryside in tackling the climate emergency was needed.

In its new report 'Greener Better Faster', the charity sets out how the countryside can be at the centre of the UK's transformation to net-zero.

To achieve this, it calls for the land use sector to re-wet and restore peatland, expand woodland and agroforestry and drive uptake of agroecological practices.

"Land should be valued in a way that respects the multiple jobs it can do  including and beyond producing food," the report said.

"Policies must support farming that stores carbon, puts back habitats for wildlife, provides fresh air and clean water, and looks after our precious landscapes."

The restoration and planting of England's hedgerows is included in the report, urging a 40 percent increase in their length by 2050.

A new generation of renewables - including solar, wind and hydro - would also benefit the rural economy, forming a 'cornerstone of local enterprise and jobs'.

Crispin Truman, chief executive of CPRE, said investing in nature-based solutions like peatland restoration would help 'tackle the climate emergency head on'.

"Some of the best ways to reduce our emissions also make our countryside more resilient," he said.

"That means properly investing in rural transport, delivering renewables and investing in nature-based solutions like peatland restoration and hedgerows."
A four-tower vertical farm which will produce up to 70 tonnes of produce per annum once fully operational is set to be built in Scotland later this year.

The 245 m2 insulated superstructure will be built in Aberdeenshire in late 2020, indoor agritech firm IGS and vertical farming operator Vertegrow said.

It will accommodate four nine-metre-high towers alongside a 1,600 m2 service area on Vertegrows site at Waterside Farm.

This will provide approximately 1,343 m2 of growing space, producing up to 70 tonnes of produce per annum when fully operational, according to the companies.

The towers, which are expected to be operational in early 2021, will grow a variety of crops intended to service the local food supply chain.

This is the first move into vertical farming for Scottish firm Vertegrow, which currently grows crops including barley and rye in open fields.

It will now work with local customers including retailers, caterers, restaurateurs and other local services, to deliver produce all year round.

Graeme Warren, of Vertegrow said: Growing quality, nutritious food in North East Scotland will allow us to reduce food miles for our customers.

"Combined with our renewable energy sources and rainwater harvesting, the efficiency of the IGS system is a key part of our ambition to grow crops in a carbon neutral way.

IGS CEO David Farquhar added: We are confident that this will bring a new and top-quality offering to the local market.

"Such re-localisation of the food supply chain is a feature of post-coronavirus planning we are seeing all over world.
The NFU has urged the Low Pay Commission to avoid any 'unreasonable increases' to minimum wage rates due to the 'many challenges' farmers are presently facing.

The union has replied to the LPC's consultation on the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) for 2020/2021.

While it 'strongly supported' the principle of NMW and NLW, the NFU stressed that farmers were facing the impacts caused by Covid-19 and Brexit.

A recent report by Andersons demonstrates the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on farmers' input costs.

It shows that the virus has increased seasonal labour costs by 15%, in addition to a 34% rise in labour costs over the past five years.

NFU vice president Tom Bradshaw said farmers 'needed time' for their businesses to recover from the pandemic.

"We need the LPC to reconcile the NMW and NLW with the many challenges that farm businesses are facing," he said.

Whether its because of increased costs caused by coronavirus, uncertainty due to our unknown trading position outside of the EU, our future immigration policy or supply chain pressure on farm gate prices, many British farmers are working to remain viable and competitive.

"We dont want to see an unreasonable increase to the NMW or NLW adding further pressure," Mr Bradshaw said.

What has the NFU asked for?

The NFU has asked the LPC consultation that any recommendations be approached in a manner that:

 Prioritises economic recovery from Covid-19 and the ending of the Brexit transition period.

 Makes increases to rates and changes to age thresholds incrementally, at a rate with which businesses can keep pace.

 Allows more time for businesses to negotiate a fair price within supply contracts

 Is alert to the issue of maintaining pay differentials within businesses.

 Does not jeopardise the viability of domestic agricultural and horticultural production, particularly given its recently demonstrated importance to the nations food security.
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Recent developments

In 2020, International medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra has signed a contract with the Swedish healthcare provider Region Halland to deliver its radiology imaging solution as a cloud service. The new service will provide a unified IT system for radiology where images and information will be accessible across the entire region, with Sectra assuming responsibility for operation of the system. This proves to be an opportunity for generation of demand for dose monitoring devices and software of Sectra, called Sectra DoseTrack.

In 2019, Royal Philips (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) expanded its radiology solutions portfolio with innovative teleradiology services, aimed at addressing the increasing shortage of radiologists, as well as the pressing need to improve access to precision diagnoses. This proves to be beneficial in increasing the reach of the technology to the needy people by creating awareness. It leads to increase in the demand in the market for radiation dosage control.

In 2018, GE announced the results of its strategic review, and plans to separate GE Healthcare into a standalone company and pursue an orderly separation from BHGE over the next two to three years to make its corporate structure leaner and substantially reduce debt. This will provide GE Healthcare Company from financial freedom and will lead to new product launches in radiation dosage monitoring sector.

In 2016, Dosage monitoring products received a new influx of energy from the GE Healthcare with DoseWatch Explore. DoseWatch Explore is Web-based, cloud-deployed, dose management software that tracks, analyzes and reports practice-level radiation dose data for GE computed tomography (CT) systems.

In September 2018, AngioDynamics said that it inked a deal to acquire dose monitoring tech developer RadiaDyne. The deal added RadiaDynes early-stage OARtrac real-time radiation dose monitoring platform and its IsoLoc, ImmobiLoc and Alatus balloon stabilizing technologies to Latham, N.Y.-based AngioDynamics oncology portfolio. This acquisition gives a promise to deliver on AngioDynamics commitment to build a world-class oncology portfolio.

In July 2018, Sectra Wins Memorial Hermann Enterprise Radiation Dose Monitoring Contract. Sectra installed its cloud-based, radiation dose monitoring software, Sectra DoseTrack, throughout Memorial Hermann Health System. The software increased patient safety by detecting patients radiation exposure, ensured compliance with regulatory requirements and standardized all radiation dose data throughout the enterprise.

In 2017, Medic Vision, the pioneer and US market leader in 3rd party XR-29 standard solutions, announced that it was granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office on its XR-29 Dose-Check system (Patent No. 9693747), which is an integral part of the notable market-leading SafeCT-29 product suite. Since being officially launched, SafeCT-29 has been installed in hundreds of medical care centers throughout the US, making Medic Vision the leading NEMA XR-29 third-party compliance solution provider. This proves the reliability of the products in the market and plays an important role in creating demand for it.

In 2017, Royal Philips said that it partnered with West Physics to create a turn-key computed tomography radiation dose management program. The partnership combined dose tracking technology from Philips and medical physics expertise from West Physics into Philips DoseWise portal to help hospitals establish programs for managing CT protocol optimization, optimize CT equipment through protocol management and benchmarking and meet regulatory standards.

Read Complete Details@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/radiation-dose-monitoring-market
A New Zealand farmer has broken the world record for the highest wheat yield with a massive 17.398 tonne per hectare wheat crop.

Eric Watson has achieved the Guinness World Record for the highest wheat yield for the second consecutive time.

The Ashburton-based farmer produced 17.398 tonnes per hectare wheat crop, beating his previous record crop grown in 2017 of 16.791t/ha

On average, irrigated wheat yields in New Zealand produce around 12 tonnes per hectare, demonstrating how remarkable the new record is.

Mr Watson said he was 'very proud' of the result: "The Guinness World Record is a nice recognition of our hard work and new innovations we've put in place.

"While we were thrilled with the record result in 2017, we saw ways in which we could make improvements and achieve an even higher yield.

"By trying new cultivars, switching to liquid nitrogen and monitoring plant health more regularly we were able to achieve another incredible result."

Eric Watson (L) broke the world record with a massive 17.398 tonne per hectare wheat crop

Mr Watson added: "Because of the high wheat yields we can grow on our farm we are pleased if we see yields increase year-on-year by 100-200 kg/ha.

"So to beat my last crop by almost 600 kg/ha exceeded even my hopes, he said.

Planted in April 2019 and harvested on 17 February 2020, the wheat variety is Kerrin, bred by KWS and supplied by Carrfields Grain & Seed.

It will likely be used for feeding New Zealands beef or dairy herd.
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Gov. Jim Justice, somewhat belatedly, has come around to admit that the states vaccination effort has hit a wall and that, at its current pace, we will not reach herd immunity anytime soon.
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A detailed analysis report of the Global Hospital Lighting Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments.

The comprehensive value chain analysis of the market will assist in attaining better product differentiation, along with detailed understanding of the core competency of each activity involved. The market attractiveness analysis provided in the report aptly measures the potential value of the market providing business strategists with the latest growth opportunities.

The report classifies the market into different segments based on product, technology and application. These segments are studied in detail incorporating the market estimates and forecasts at regional and country level. The segment analysis is useful in understanding the growth areas and probable opportunities of the market

Final Report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry.

Browse the complete Global Hospital Lighting Market Research Report  Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/17062-hospital-lighting-market-report

The report also covers the complete competitive landscape of the global Hospital Lighting market with company profiles of key players such as:

Acuity Brands Lighting Inc.

Cree Inc.

Eaton Corporation PLC

GE Lighting

Herbert Waldmann GmbH & Co. Kg

Hubbell Incorporation

KLS Martin Group

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Trilux Lighting Ltd.

Zumtobel Group AG

A detailed description of each has been included, with information in terms of H.Q, future capacities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial overview, partnerships, collaborations, new product launches, new product developments and other latest industrial developments.

SEGMENTATIONS IN THE REPORT:

By Product:

Troffers

Surface-Mounted Lights

Surgical Lamps

Other

By Technology:

Fluorescent Technology

LED Technology

Renewable Energy

Other

By Applications:

Patient Wards & ICUs

Surgical Suites

Examination Rooms

Other

By Geography:

North America (NA)  US, Canada & Rest of North America

Europe (EU)  UK, Germany, France & Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific (APAC)  China, Japan, India & Rest of APAC

Latin America (LA)  Brazil & Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)  Middle East and Africa

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The Global Hospital Lighting Market has been exhibited in detail in the following chapters 

Chapter 1 Hospital Lighting Market Preface

Chapter 2 Executive Summary

Chapter 3 Hospital Lighting Industry Analysis

Chapter 4 Hospital Lighting Market Value Chain Analysis

Chapter 5 Hospital Lighting Market Analysis By Product

Chapter 6 Hospital Lighting Market Analysis By Technology

Chapter 7 Hospital Lighting Market Analysis By Applications

Chapter 8 Hospital Lighting Market Analysis By Geography

Chapter 9 Competitive Landscape Of Hospital Lighting Companies

Chapter 10 Company Profiles Of Hospital Lighting Industry

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People have liked Four More Shots, season 2 very much...

Yes, people liked the first season as well. We have a very big fan following. Girls especially like it as its about four girls. The consumption of OTT content has increased currently. Especially in the lockdown, so the show is getting an added benefit. We are getting lots of compliments.

How was it bonding with your co-actors Manvi Gagroo, Bani J and Sayani Gupta?





We bonded quite well. While the first season gave us ample opportunities to know each other, during the shooting of the second season we connected more. I would say that this time our on-screen chemistry is better than what we had last time.

The series is being compared to Sex and the City

Its good that people are comparing it to Sex and the City. I am okay with the comparison. Sex and the city has been a cult show.

The show has been getting a lot of flak as well...

Yes, but it hasnt disturbed me. While creating the show, we were aware that we will face a backlash as the show talks about several taboo subjects. I think it depends on the mindset of an individual -- how he takes it.











Has playing Anjana Menon changed you personally?

Like I said in the show we are discussing taboo subjects, like body shaming, homosexuality, women drinking alcohol, and making mistakes in their lives. All these things have taught me a lot. Its not just a show where I just do my work and leave. It's personal for me to a large extent. It really taught me a lot. For instance, if you take sex -- it's not easy being comfortable around the subject. You have to be comfortable about your sexuality to be able to portray sex scenes without hiccups. And doing such scenes does affect you. Makes you more aware about yourself.

What does your typical day look like during the lockdown?

I don't get time to think that I have nothing to do. I'm not fighting with what time I have. I get up by 8- 8.30. I have my cup of coffee. Then I do yoga, I meditate then by 11-11.30 I breakfast. After bath I do household chores, then lunch. Afternoon usually interviews are lined up. In the evening 5 PM tea. I eat my dinner by 7-7.30. Then either I watch something or I read something.





What are you reading these days?

I am reading three-four books at once. There is one called A Thousand Seeds of Joy: Teachings of Lakshmi and Saraswati, Close To The Bone, its Lisa Rays biography. Punjab, Punjabis And Punjabiyat by Khushwant Singh and The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak.





How do you keep yourself calm during this scenario?

Yoga and workout really helps. Exercise is known to provide relief to stress. If you are feeling mentally low or having anxiety, over whats happening in the world, some exercise each day is really really good. I think its a good time for anyone who hasnt explored meditation to start investing in it. YouTube has so many channels dedicated to it. You can just put on your phone or speaker and sit down and close your eyes. I know meditation sounds like a big deal to a lot of people. But its a great time to really start practising it. And I think spiritual books are also a good way to keep yourself calm.

Does a change of perspective help?

Definitely. Its also how you look at the situation. Like there are some people who are fearful of corona. Precautions lijiye, par isko lekar darne ki zaroorat nahi hai (take precautions and don't panic). Even if you catch it, its not fatal in most cases. You just have to follow the instructions of the doctors. I know people are getting extremely bored. People are so used to distracting themselves with so many things ki ab jab kuch bhi available nahi hai toh (when nothing is available) people dont know what to do. Its not easy but its really a great time to connect with yourself and surround yourself with good books, good music. And even if you are watching something, it should be something that keeps you in a positive frame of mind rather than adding to the already existing chaos in your head.

How do you keep yourself productive?

I am not trying to be productive. There is no need to be productive. Thats how I look at it. Itna time mujhe bachta hi nahi ki ye sochna pade ki is time ka main kya karun. (I don't get that much free time that I have to think of ways to spend it). The best part about the lockdown is I dont have to be productive. I have to do my job. Jo bhi aap kaam kar rahe ho usko agar aap apna 100% concentration doge toh productivity usme apneaap nikalkar ayegi -- you just need to give your 100 percent to whatever you're doing. That's all.

Did you try your hands at attempting something you had always wanted to try?

I am learning Spanish on an app. I dont cook generally. I dont get time and I am not fond of cooking. But currently I am getting faster and better at it. I like cooking simple food. Like today I just cooked the whole lunch and made some alu baingan , moong ka daal, and rice. Last evening I made some pongal and it was one of the best things I've tasted. I love singing Bollywood songs. So I am trying to sing songs. I read books and have started writing a diary.

Which is the one web series or a film that you would like to recommend to all your fans to watch during the lockdown?

The crown on Netflix, I would highly recommend that. There are two limited series of HBO on Hotstar -- Sharp Objects and Chernobyl. Apart from this Big Little Life is very interesting. Its on Apple TV.










Siddhant Chaturvedi made waves with his debut film Gully Boy last year and also bagged the Filmfare Award for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role for it. Since then, hes signed two big projects. One is YRFs Bunty Aur Babli 2 with Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan and Sharvari Wagh and the other an untitled film with Deepika Padukone and Ananya Panday. A complete fanboy, Siddhant couldnt hold back his excitement when speaking to our host and Digital Editor Rahul Gangwani about Deepika on the latest episode of 10 Minutes of Happiness with Filmfare

Giving us an update on the project, he said, We were ready to go. We had workshops and we were set. I was supposed to complete Bunty Aur Babli and fly the very next day to Sri Lanka for a month with the two beautiful women. I have this great time sharing the screen space with Deepika and its my first collab with Ananya. So Im getting the best of both the worlds.

Further describing Deepika as extremely organised and childlike, Siddhant added, Deepika is the most beautiful and graceful woman I have ever seen, on and off-screen. I always dreamt of it. Giving her cues and shes giving me cue and acting together. Thats always been a dream. That thing happening was surreal. But as actors, when we are performing or reading it out, I kind of forget myself. There was a lot to give and take, lot of improvisation. And she gets those pencils and markers and shes quite organised like a school kid. Shes gets a ruler and underlines in the script. It was fun to see a senior who still has a childlike approach towards something that shes been doing for quite sometime.

Find out more about him and his upcoming films in the episode below.

Read More -


We all know the super-successful journey Shah Rukh Khan has had at the movies. He graduated from TV to films and went on to become the King of Bollywood. Today a throwback interview of his old director has gone viral over the internet. While the filmmakers speak sweetly about the actor, he also points out one flaw which he had to correct in his own way.

A leading daily has posted an interview of Colonel Raj Kapoor who directed the actor in his hit show Fauji. Shah Rukh Khan who was back then a TV actor showed a spark and viewers loved to watch him on television. In this interview while Colonel Raj Kapoor praises him, he even says that the actors punctuality issue was always there. Excerpts from the interview says, Once, I ran behind him (SRK) with a stone and that put an end to his punctuality ills. The actor was known for reaching late on the set.
Salman Khan is one of the most loved stars of Bollywood and it's been the case ever since his debut film in 1989. The actor rates high on social media as well since every post he makes goes viral in no time.

Actors are always on the move thanks to their jam-packed schedules and same is the case with Salman Khan. However, his ultra-luxurious vanity van must be helping him deal with the hectic work life. Recently, we came across pictures of Salmans super vehicle which boasts of a comfortable couch, a cosy bed, bright lights, TV, music system, interiors with a beige-colour contrast and a bathroom. Take a look at the pictures for yourself.









Pretty fancy!

Salman Khan is reportedly planning to shift base back to Mumbai after spending the lockdown at his Panvel farmhouse. Hes reportedly planning to release his action flick Radhe by Diwali this year and has to complete the post-production of the film to meet the deadline.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled the government's 2 billion Green Homes Grant scheme in today's Summer Economic Update.

Under the scheme, homeowners and landlords in England will be able to apply for vouchers from September to pay for green improvements such as loft, wall and floor insulation.

The government will fund two thirds of the cost of green improvements up to 5,000 per household and the full cost up to 10,000 for low income households.

Sunak said the vouchers could save some households hundreds of pounds a year on their energy bills while creating thousands of jobs for tradespeople.

The scheme is part of a 3 billion green investment package that could help support around 140,000 green jobs and upgrade buildings and reduce emissions.

Another 1 billion programme will make public buildings, including schools and hospitals, greener to help the country meet its ambitions of achieving Net Zero by 2050.

During the statement, Sunak also confirmed that the stamp duty threshold will be raised to 500,000 with immediate effect until 31st March 2021.

John Goodall, CEO of Landbay, commented: "The Green Homes Grant for homeowners and landlords as well as the reduction in stamp duty is a really positive move by the Chancellor. While, inevitably, the additional 3% stamp duty will remain in place for those who already have another property, for landlords buying a property of 475,000 for example, this will mean a saving of 13,750 in stamp duty, which is a huge opportunity for those looking to expand their portfolios. It will also give landlords the opportunity to move properties from their own name into limited companies which they may not have done previously due to the stamp duty implications.

"In addition, the incentives to bring back furloughed workers and the investment in hospitality should mean that unemployment may not be as high as some may have expected. With the number of schemes now in place to support jobs this should give landlords some confidence that there will be fewer rental defaults than may have been the case.

"This is clearly a positive way forwards both for homeowners and for landlords and should deliver the kickstart to the property market that the Chancellor wanted to achieve."

Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: Improving the energy efficiency of rental housing is good news for tenants, landlords and local economies. We encourage all landlords to make use of this as it will mean housing standards are improved, tenants will save money and it will reduce carbon emissions across the whole sector.

Kate Davies, executive director of IMLA, added: The Government is absolutely right to direct resources towards making our homes more environmentally friendly. Whether its inefficient heating systems or a lack of insulation, homes are a big contributor to carbon emissions and much of Britains existing housing stock will need significant remedial treatment if the Government is to meet its net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

This new fund certainly has the potential to help a significant number of homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their properties. However, consumers will need to be confident that that they are dealing with properly qualified and reputable contactors, and that all work will be carried out to an acceptable standard. The Government will also want to be sure that public money is not wasted or misappropriated. A system of accreditation for approved contractors could go a long way towards providing the necessary reassurance and prevent consumers from being scammed by unscrupulous cowboys.
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The ride sharing market 2020 is likely to gain much more popularity than past few years. It is expected to continue augmenting in the coming years. An analysis offered by Market Research Future (MRFR), based on ongoing trends and historic data, the global ride sharing market is supposed to mark 10% CAGR across the review period. The valuation of the market is anticipated to touch a considerable mark by the close of the forecast period. It is mainly because of the rising awareness about the benefits of carpooling on the environment.

Ride sharing market is capitalizing on the rising problems of traffic congestions being faced all over the world. It is poised to motivate investments in the market in the foreseeable future. In addition, rising concerns regarding air pollution are also turning heads. Implementation of stricter emission laws is expected to boost the growth rate of the ride sharing market. The governments are supposed to promote ride sharing to curb traffic and pollution. These measures are prognosticated to prompt the growth of the ride sharing market across the prognosis period. It is also anticipated to raise awareness among the users, thus, augmenting the ride sharing industry.

New players are entering the market to offer convenient ride sharing experiences. The availability of a wide range of services as per convenience is poised to have a positive impact on the ride sharing market. Moreover, ride sharing services are way cheaper than driving own vehicles. Cost-benefit of the service is projected to motivate the growth trajectory of the ride sharing market. In addition, rising fuel prices is another major factor anticipated to have a favorable impact on the growth of the ride sharing market. Moreover, the depleting sources of fuel is likely to motivate more inclination towards the adoption of ride sharing services.

Market Segmentation

On the basis of type, the ride sharing market has been segmented into car sharing, car rental, e-hailing, and station-based mobility.

On the basis of vehicle type, the ride sharing market has been segmented into CNG/LPG vehicle, ICE vehicle, and electric vehicle.

On the basis of business model, the ride sharing market has been segmented into B2B, P2P, and B2C.

Regional Analysis

The geographical evaluation of the ride sharing market has been included in the report that covers North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World (RoW). These regions are narrowed down and studied on the basis of countries to provide impactful intelligence. North America is presumed to dominate the market place for ride sharing. Increasing number of key players in the region are supposed to provide impetus to market growth. The USA ride sharing market is anticipated to contribute significant amount of revenue for the development of the global market. Riisng awareness about the benefits of the services is anticipated to drive the growth rate of the ride sharing market in the near future. In addition, technological innovations to support the expansion of the market are further observed to influence the ride sharing market significantly.

Europe is also poised to witness large-scale adoption of the services. Increasing awareness about the effects of carbon emissions is projected to lead the augmentation of the ride sharing market in the coming years. Asia Pacific is also poised to exhibit strong growth opportunities. It can be attributed to the rising implementation of stricter laws.

Competitive Dashboard

Uber Technologies Inc. (U.S.), Didi Chuxing Technology Co. (China), Lyft, Inc. (U.S.), Gett (Israel), GrabTaxi Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (India), Taxify (Estonia), Cabify (Spain), Careem (UAE), and car2go (Germany) are the key players of the ride sharing market.

Note: The COVID-19 pandemic disruption is estimated to transform the XX market in the years to come drastically, and its after-effects will be persistently seen in the years ahead. The MRFR report on the XX market meticulously tracks the COVID-19 pandemic effect for the years ahead. Moreover, the precise analysis of drivers and restraints in a post-COVID-19 market offers a coherent understanding of future growth cues.

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BONN (dpa-AFX) - Deutsche Post AG reported that its second-quarter preliminary group EBIT rose to 890 million euros from last year's 769 million euros.



Operating profit in Post & Parcel Germany was around 260 million euros compared to 177 million euros in the previous year.



The company decided to pay a one-time bonus of 300 euros to each of the more than 500,000 employees in appreciation for their efforts under the pandemic situation.



The one-time bonus payments totaling around 200 million euros will be paid out and accounted for as personnel expenses in the third quarter 2020.



Looking ahead for the full year 2020, the company expects reported group-EBIT to be between 3.5 billion euros and 3.8 billion euros.



The group expects an EBIT of 1.5 billion euros for Post & Parcel Germany. For its DHL divisions Deutsche Post DHL Group forecasts an EBIT between 2.8 billion euros and 3.1 billion euros for 2020.



For 2022, the group expects EBIT of more than 5.3 billion euros, the favorable case of a swift recovery of the global economy without broad setbacks in the pandemic development.



In case of a slower recovery, the group expects EBIT of around 5.1 billion euros for 2022.



The company has proposed to pay a dividend of 1.15 euros per share, unchanged versus last year.



The company will publish its financial results for the first half 2020 on August 5th.



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MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - MAN SE said that Joachim Drees will leave the Board of Management of the company by mutual consent with effect as of 15 July 2020.



Drees will also leave the Boards of Management of Traton SE and MAN Truck & Bus SE, effect on 15 July 2020.



Drees's successor as Chairman of the Boards of Management of MAN SE and MAN Truck & Bus SE and as member of the Board of Management of Traton SE will be Andreas Tostmann.



The company also said that Carsten Intra will leave the Boards of Management of MAN SE, Traton SE and MAN Truck & Bus SE with effect as of 15 July 2020. Intra will be succeeded by Martin Rabe on the Boards of Management of MAN SE and MAN Truck & Bus SE.



Andreas Renschler, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, will resign from his position on the Supervisory Board with effect as of 15 July 2020.



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Cosmo Pharmaceuticals announces granting of Marketing Authorization in Italy to Rifamycin SV MMX (StadmycinTM) by Italian AIFA

Dublin, Ireland - 8 July 2020: Cosmo Pharmaceuticals announced today that the Italian Agenzia del Farmaco (AIFA) has granted Marketing Authorization to StadmycinTM (Rifamycin SV MMX), licensed to E.G. S.p.A. (part of the STADA Group), for the treatment of Travelers' Diarrhea. Rifamycin SV MMX is marketed in the US under the brand name Aemcolo by RedHill Biopharma, in selective European countries under the brand name RelaFalk by Dr. Falk Pharma and now will be marketed in Italy under the brand name StadmycinTM by E.G.

Cosmo will receive a milestone payment of  1.5m from E.G. due on the grant of this Marketing Authorization.

About Aemcolo/RelaFalk/StadmycinTM

Aemcolo/RelaFalk/StadmycinTM is a pharmaceutical drug product containing rifamycin SV formulated with the MMX technology. Aemcolo/RelaFalk/StadmycinTM contains a broad spectrum, semi-synthetic, orally non-absorbable antibiotic, and has been approved in the US and in the EU for the treatment of traveler's diarrhea caused by non-invasive E. coli strains. The application of MMX technology to rifamycin SV allows the antibiotic to be delivered directly into the colon, avoiding unwanted effects on the beneficial bacterial flora living in the upper portions of the gastro-intestinal tract. The specific dissolution profile of Aemcolo/RelaFalk/StadmycinTM tablets is thought to increase the colonic disposition of the antibiotic so that an optimized intestinal concentration is achieved thus avoiding its systemic absorption in the small intestine.

About Cosmo Pharmaceuticals

Cosmo is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising products to treat selected gastrointestinal disorders and improve endoscopy quality measures through aiding the detection of colonic lesions. Cosmo has also developed medical devices for endoscopy and has recently entered into a partnership with Medtronic for the global distribution of GI Genius its artificial intelligence device for use in coloscopies and GI procedures. Cosmo has licensed Aemcolo to Red Hill Biopharma and is the licensee of BYFAVO (Remimazolam) for the U.S. for procedural sedation, which it has sub-licensed to Acacia. For additional information on Cosmo and its products please visit the Company's website: www.cosmopharma.com

Financial calendar

2020 Half-Year Results July 30, 2020 Investora, Zurich September 23/24, 2020

Contact

Niall Donnelly, CFO & Head of Investor Relations

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V.

Tel: +353 1 817 03 70

ndonnelly@cosmopharma.com

Disclaimer

Some of the information contained in this press release contains forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Cosmo undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

This communication is not an offer of securities of any issuer. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirement of the US Securities Act of 1933.

This press release constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities and it does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of article 652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange or any similar document. The offer will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of, a securities prospectus to be published. An investment decision regarding the securities to be publicly offered should only be made on the basis of the securities prospectus.

This press release is made to and directed only at (i) persons outside the United Kingdom, (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), and (iii) high net worth individuals, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this press release or any of its contents.

This press release does not constitute an "offer of securities to the public" within the meaning of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Union (the "Prospectus Directive") of the securities referred to in it (the "Securities") in any member state of the European Economic Area (the "EEA"). Any offers of the Securities to persons in the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in member states of the EEA, from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of the Securities.
Press Release

Opfikon, July 8, 2020; 6:45 a.m. CET

Sunrise announces Giuseppe Bonina as new Chief Consumer Officer (CCO) and Christoph Richartz as new Chief YOL Officer (CYO) and member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT)

Giuseppe Bonina, the current Chief YOL Officer and Member of the Executive Leadership Team , has been appointed as the new Chief Consumer Officer, effective from September 1, 2020. Giuseppe Bonina joined Sunrise in 2013. Under his remit, YOL has become a Swiss digital mobile powerhouse.

Christoph Richartz, currently Director Consumer Sales, has been appointed as the new Chief YOL Officer and Member of the Executive Leadership Team, also effective from September 1, 2020. Christoph Richartz joined Sunrise in 2012 and has managed successfully the expansion and transformation of all of Sunrise's direct and indirect sales channels.

Giuseppe Bonina joined Sunrise in 2013 and is the current Chief YOL Officer and Member of the Executive Leadership Team. In this role he leads Sunrise's YOL Business Unit, which includes the yallo, Lebara, 123mobile and swype brands. He has successfully transformed the YOL Business into a powerful digital mobile brand portfolio focused on e-commerce.

Giuseppe will move from his current position within the ELT to become CCO, effective from September 1, 2020. The CCO role has been covered on an interim basis by Andre Krause, CEO, since January 6, 2020. "I'm pleased that in Giuseppe we have found an excellent internal successor for the CCO position. He will give us continued consistency in our operational and strategic direction." says Andre Krause, CEO of Sunrise.

Christoph Richartz joined Sunrise in 2012 and is currently Director Consumer Sales. He has played a decisive role in the growth and success of Sunrise, for example by leading the targeted expansion of Sunrise Shops. "The YOL brands have made major contributions to our market share for many years and continue to be an important pillar of our growth. I'm also pleased that this appointment is an internal one. Christoph is a thoroughbred Sales professional and an exceptional leader. He is ideal to take the position of CYO and to become a member of the ELT" says Andre Krause, CEO of Sunrise.

With Giuseppe Bonina as CCO and Christoph Richartz as CYO, the Sunrise ELT will again be fully staffed after vacancies arose at the beginning of the year.

Sunrise Communications Group AG

Corporate Communications

media@sunrise.net

www.sunrise.ch

Phone: 0800 333 000

Outside of Switzerland: +41 58 777 76 66

SRCG / Valor 026729122
Financing co-led by Ysios Capital and INKEF Capital, joined by Lundbeckfonden Ventures, LSP, and existing investors BioGeneration Ventures and InnovationQuarter

Proceeds to be used to achieve clinical proof of concept for lead compound, VMX-C001, advance program to registrational studies, accelerate manufacturing trajectory towards commercial scale, and advance the discovery platform program

VarmX, a biotech company focusing on the development of innovative approaches for the reversal of anticoagulation, today announces the completion of a 32 million Series B financing round.

The oversubscribed round was co-led by Ysios Capital and INKEF Capital; Lundbeckfonden Ventures and LSP joined the syndicate. Founding investor, BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) and the regional economic development fund, InnovationQuarter, continued their support and also participated in the round.

Currently, over 10 million patients in the US and Europe are treated with oral factor Xa inhibitors (FXa DOACs) as anticoagulation therapy in large chronic indications such as the avoidance of stroke in atrial fibrillation and the prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Each year, 2-3% of patients taking FXa DOACs experience spontaneous and severe life-threatening bleeding. Furthermore, a significant number of patients taking these anticoagulants have to undergo emergency surgery, with the associated risk of bleeding.

VarmX's lead compound VMX-C001 is a modified recombinant coagulation factor X in development for the treatment of severe spontaneous bleeding in patients taking FXa DOACs. It is also aimed at the prevention of bleeding in patients requiring emergency surgery. VMX-C001 is insensitive to FXa DOACS and is able to restore the coagulation cascade. It is expected to offer a number of clinical advantages, including universal dosing regardless of the FXa DOACs used, ease of administration and absence of pro-thrombotic risk. In addition to VMX-C001, VarmX is also working on other innovative agents that are aimed at the reversal of future classes of anticoagulants, particularly those targeting factor XI(a).

VMX-C001 is based on research conducted by VarmX's founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Pieter Reitsma, Professor Emeritus at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). VarmX has obtained an exclusive license to these inventions.

The proceeds from the Series B financing will enable the Company to obtain clinical proof of concept through a first in human (FIH) study of VMX-C001, and to further progress the program towards the start of registrational studies in both the severe bleeding and emergency surgery indications. The Company will also use the funds to accelerate the manufacturing trajectory for VMX-C001 towards commercial-scale, extend profiling studies for optimal clinical and commercial positioning, and advance its discovery platform program for next generation reversal agents.

In the context of accelerated manufacturing, VarmX recently appointed Dr. Bo Persson as SVP, CMC Development Project Management. Dr. Persson has extensive experience with the production of recombinant blood factors from his tenure at Novo Nordisk, CMC biologics (now AGC) and Zymogenetics. VarmX is planning to further strengthen the team with the recruitment of an experienced Chief Medical Officer.

VarmX is also announcing additions to the Company's Board of Directors. Guillem Laporta of Ysios Capital, Roel Bulthuis of INKEF Capital, Casper Breum of Lundbeckfonden Ventures and John de Koning of LSP will represent the new investors on the Board of VarmX, joining Oskar Slotboom of BGV, CEO, Alexander Vos and Chairman, Jan Ohrstrom.

Commenting on this successful closing of the Series B financing, Alexander Vos, CEO of VarmX, said: "We are delighted to have attracted leading European investors to join the VarmX story. This is great validation of our approach and science. These proceeds will enable us to accelerate the manufacturing trajectory and bring VMX-C001 into clinical trials. We look forward to bringing VMX-C001 to patients who currently have limited options to effective and safe treatments."

Guillem Laporta of Ysios Capital, commented:

"We were attracted to VarmX by the strong scientific basis of the Company's programs. The data generated so far suggests that VMX-C001 can become a differentiated treatment solution in an ever growing market

Roel Bulthuis of INKEF Capital, added:

"VarmX has the potential to provide a paradigm shift for the hundreds of thousands of patients that face the risk of complications of their anticoagulant use. We're proud to back the VarmX team in their quest to bring this program to the market."

Oskar Slotboom of BGV, stated:

"The work of Reitsma led to this scientifically very elegant approach to address the issue of FX DOAC-related bleedings and the risks related to emergency surgeries performed on FX DOAC users. This investment round is the result of bringing together a great team and the excellent pre-clinical results that they have delivered to date."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

About VarmX

VarmX is a pharmaceutical spin-off from the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), founded in 2016 by Professor Pieter Reitsma, a world leading expert in hemostasis and thrombosis. VarmX's lead compound VMX-C001 is a modified recombinant blood factor X based on the venom of the Australian brown snake, Pseudonaja textilis. The compound is being developed for the treatment of severe spontaneous bleeding in patients taking oral factor Xa inhibitors (FXa DOACs) as anticoagulation therapy. The Company is supported by a strong syndicate of investors including Ysios Capital, INKEF Capital, Lundbeckfonden Ventures, LSP, BioGeneration Ventures and the regional economic development fund, InnovationQuarter. For more information: www.varmx.com.

About Ysios Capital

Ysios Capital is a venture capital firm based in Barcelona and San Sebastian.It provides private equity financing to early and mid-stage life science companies that develop disruptive therapeutic products and platform technologies. Founded in 2008, Ysios Capital manages c.a. 350 M through three dedicated funds in life sciences and is led by a team of professionals experienced in building biotech companies. For more information: www.ysioscapital.com.

About INKEF Capital

INKEF Capital is an Amsterdam-based venture capital firm that focuses on long-term collaboration and active support of innovative healthcare and technology companies. INKEF Capital was founded in 2010 by Dutch pension fund ABP and with 500 million under management it is one of the largest venture capital funds in the Netherlands. INKEF focuses on investment opportunities in Healthcare, Technology, IT/New Media FinTech. For more information: www.INKEF.com.

About Lundbeckfonden Ventures

Lundbeckfonden Ventures is a part of the asset management subsidiary of The Lundbeck Foundation which in addition to substantial financial assets has controlling ownerships in H.Lundbeck A/S, ALK-Abello A/S and Falck A/S. Lundbeckfonden Ventures has an evergreen structure and invests around $60 million annually in life science companies. The Lundbeckfonden Ventures team is located in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is active in both Europe and USA. For more information, please refer to: www.lundbeckfondenventures.com.

About LSP

LSP is one of the largest European investment firms providing financing for life sciences and health care companies. LSP's management has raised $2.3 billion and developed over 120 companies since it started to invest in 1988. From its offices in Amsterdam, Munich and Boston, LSP manages three distinct investment activities: LSP 6 (private early-to late stage drug development and medical technology companies), LSP HEF 2 (private late-stage medical technology companies with a health and economic benefit) and LSP Public (public healthcare companies). Among LSP's signature deals are argenx, Crucell, KuDOS, Movetis, Neuravi, Okairos, Prosensa, Qiagen and Zealand Pharma. In addition, LSP is an active contributor to the life sciences industry through roles as founder and board member of the Oncode Institute, initiator of the Dutch Venture Initiative (DVI), as well as board member of European venture capital associations, technology transfer institutes and government bodies. For more information: www.lspvc.com.

About BioGeneration Ventures (BGV)

BGV is a specialized life sciences venture capital firm, with a focus on early stage European biotech companies. BGV has a strong track record of significant financial returns through investing in innovations in healthcare and providing the expertise to build world-class teams. BGV manages funds investing in areas where the science, the unmet medical need, and the potential to rapidly demonstrate a significant proof of concept all come together. Successful investments

include Dezima Pharma, Staten Biotechnology and Acerta Pharma. BGV was founding investor in all three companies. The Acerta Pharma sale is the largest exit to date of a privately held European biotech company. Since inception BGV has made over twenty-five investments. BGV is based in Naarden, The Netherlands, and collaborates with Forbion. For more information: www.biogenerationventures.com.

About InnovationQuarter

InnovationQuarter is the regional development agency for West Holland. InnovationQuarter finances innovative and fast-growing companies, assists international companies in establishing their businesses in West Holland, and facilitates (international) collaboration between innovative entrepreneurs, knowledge institutes and government. In this way, and in cooperation with the business community, InnovationQuarter supports the development of West Holland to become one of the most innovative regions in Europe. For more information: www.innovationquarter.nl.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005762/en/

Contacts:

VarmX B.V.

Alexander Vos, CEO

Tel: +31 6 46 736 915

Instinctif Partners (media enquiries)

Melanie Toyne-Sewell Phil Marriage Kiki Zaccagnini

Tel: +44 20 7457 2020

Leon Melens (Dutch press)

Tel: +31 6 538 16 427

E-mail: VarmX@instinctif.com
Audy Antow will contribute to Cloud4C's efforts to expand the cloud ecosystem in the country, by driving cloud technology adoption, deeper customer engagement and accelerating innovation

JAKARTA, Indonesia, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud4C, World's leading Cloud Managed Services Provider, announces the appointment of Audy Antow as the Country Leader for Indonesia. The appointment forms a part of the company vision to expand its footprint in the ASEAN region.

Demand for cloud services has seen exponential growth in recent times, making Indonesia as one of the key markets in the ASEAN region. Businesses across industry verticals are now keen to adopt cloud services, to better meet the evolving needs of the end users. Recent government regulations have also contributed to the growth of cloud computing market in Indonesia. The cloud computing market in Indonesia is expected to cross $1.2 billion by 2023 from the current size of $400 Million.

Audy Antow, brings in rich experience of over 18 years in enabling digital transformation journey for businesses across verticals, in Indonesia. As the Country Leader, he will focus on leveraging Cloud4C's global standards of cloud managed services in the Indonesian market.

Mr. Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Founder and CEO, Cloud4C, said, "Indonesia is amongst the fastest growing markets in ASEAN, with demand for cloud services increasing rapidly in the last 5 years. It is one of the most strategic markets for us. I extend a warm welcome to Audy as he joins Cloud4C employee family. Audy brings along a deep understanding of Indonesian market. I am confident under his leadership, we will continue to enhance our deep engagements with CIOs and IT Leaders in Indonesia to support them in their digital transformation journey."

"I am delighted to join Cloud4C, an undisputed global leader in cloud managed services market. Indonesia has a great potential for Cloud managed services and my endeavour will be to get the best-in-class cloud solutions and services, especially the Cloud4C industrial solutions banking community cloud, SAP community cloud, disaster recovery services, managed security services, and Intelligent Cloud Managed services for businesses in Indonesia," said Audy Antow on his appointment as Country Leader, Indonesia.

About Cloud4C

Cloud4C is the World's leading Cloud Managed Services Provider serving 4,000 customers in 25 Countries and 50 locations including 60 of the Fortune 500 Global Multinationals. The company provides cloud (public, private, hybrid) and community cloud services (Banking Community Cloud, SAP Community Cloud), cloud migration on hyperscalers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, end to end cloud managed services, disaster recovery services, managed security services and helps businesses comply with stringent data sovereignty laws in respective countries.

The company plans to expand its geographical footprint to 80 countries and 160 locations worldwide in the next 36 to 48 months.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1201158/Audy_Antow.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1198268/Cloud4C_Logo.jpg
European spend management market leader brings card issuance and settlements in-house

LONDON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Spend management platform Soldo today announces that it has extended its partnership with Mastercard, to become a principal member of the global pay-tech giant. The partnership enables Soldo to become more autonomous in innovating payments products and further reduces dependencies on third parties.

This announcement coincides with the successful migration of more than 60,000 Soldo customers to in-house card issuing to ensure operational continuity for Soldo's customers. The migration was originally planned for August 2020, but accelerated due to Wirecard's temporary suspension of service by the FCA.

Mastercard principal membership represents the next step in a successful partnership between the two companies. In addition to the ability to issue cards directly, Soldo will also have access to a wider range of products and services to further improve its customer offering.

Carlo Gualandri, CEO at Soldo says: "Soldo has reached an outstanding milestone with our principal membership and we're incredibly proud of everything that the team has contributed to get here. The extended partnership marks the next stage in Soldo's lifecycle and increases our infrastructure ownership. The team at Mastercard was fantastic to work with during the rapid card-issuing migration process. We look forward to continuing together to reinvent the way that businesses manage their spend, making the process more efficient, less painful, and ultimately saving money.

Edoardo Volta, Head of Fintech at Mastercard continues: "Soldo's elevation to principal member status is a natural development of our long-term partnership. Soldo's rapid growth and consistent commitment to innovation align perfectly with Mastercard's ideals, as we are constantly evolving our offering to support our fintech partners. We can't wait to see what Soldo does next."

Soldo's relationship with Mastercard began five years ago, and now more than 60,000 businesses use Soldo to manage, control and enable company spending. The elevation to principal membership status is recognition of Soldo's considerable growth, revolutionising business spending across Europe.

About Soldo

Founded in 2015 by tech veteran Carlo Gualandri, Soldo is one of Europe's fastest-growing fintech companies. In 2019, the company raised a $61 million Series B round led by Battery Ventures and Dawn Capital with the participation of Accel and other existing investors - the largest round of funding ever secured by a spend management company.

Soldo is a unified solution to manage and control spending, used by over 60,000 businesses, of all sizes. Soldo empowers employees to buy what they need to do their jobs using Soldo Mastercard cards, with the ability to set custom budgets and spending rules for each user. The app captures detailed spending data to simplify reporting and integrate seamlessly with your accounts.

Media contact:

Ben Beckles

+44(0)7808131960

TopLine Comms

soldo@toplinecomms.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Mota Ventures Corp. (CSE:MOTA)(FSE:1WZ1)(OTC PINK:PEMTF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2020. All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. The press release is intended to be read in conjunction with the Company's unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2020, which are filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), and also available on the Company's website.

First Quarter 2020 Key Highlights include:

The Company acquired online cannabidiol (CBD) product distributor Nature's Exclusive from Unified Funding, LLC.

Agreement finalized with Sativida OU (Estonia) and Sativida OU's subsidiary, VIDA BCN LABS S.L (collectively, "Sativida") to acquire Sativida in stages.

The Company acquired the intellectual property and trade names of Sativida in Spain, which will be licensed back in exchange for a royalty associated with gross revenues generated by Sativida.

The Company entered into a Licensing and Royalty Agreement with Phenome One Corporation ("Phenome") for the right to cultivate, harvest, process and sell a selection of cultivars from Phenome's genetic library, and the Company was granted unlimited access to a Phenome's proprietary nutrient intellectual property (IP) and catalogue.

The Company entered into a Joint Venture with BevCanna Enterprises Inc ("BevCanna") to distribute BevCanna branded beverage products infused with hemp-derived CBD in the European market.

Consolidated Q1 2020 gross revenue was $7.65 million, with cost of goods sold of $7.05 million, resulting in gross profits of $605,150. Operating and other operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were $5.24 million.

The Company raised $1.72 million through share subscriptions received for the issuance of units at $0.28 and received $309,000 in proceeds from the exercise of warrants.

The Company ended Q1 2020 with $2.1 million in cash.

Management Commentary

"In the midst of evolving challenges resulting from the global novel coronavirus outbreak, the Company realigned priorities to include focus on the health and safety of our employees, customers and suppliers. The way our team adapted and performed was exceptional. I am also pleased to announce that, despite the unprecedented uncertainties resulting from the coronavirus, our operations and supply chains performed without interruption, and the Company achieved targets in line with expectations. In order to capitalize on the global market, we recognize the need to be flexible and proactive in addressing market trends. For the second quarter our objectives are to yield increased revenues and higher gross margins. Due to the initial cost of customer acquisition, transitioning more customers into our monthly subscription will significantly increase margins." stated Ryan Hoggan CEO of the Company.

About Mota Ventures Corp.

Mota Ventures is an established natural health products and eCommerce technology company focusing on the CBD and psychedelic medicine sectors. The company has a strong presence in both North America and Europe. In the United States, Mota Ventures offers a CBD hemp-oil product line derived from hemp grown and formulated in the US through its Nature's Exclusive brand. Within Europe, the company's Verrian operations is currently conducting clinical studies utilizing proprietary products for the treatment of opiate addiction. The highly skilled Verrian team also manages Mota Ventures' 110,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Radebeul, Germany. In addition, Mota Ventures' Sativida brand of award winning 100% organic CBD oils and cosmetics are sold throughout Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The company is also seeking to acquire additional revenue-producing natural health product brands and operations in both Europe and North America with the goal of establishing an international distribution network utilizing its eCommerce technology platform.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MOTA VENTURES CORP.

Ryan Hoggan

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, readers are encouraged to contact Joel Shacker, President at +604.423.4733 or by email at IR@motaventuresco.com or www.motaventuresco.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement

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, including with respect to the Company's goals of yielding increased revenues and higher gross margins, capitalizing on the global market, and its plans to acquire revenue-producing CBD brands and operations in Europe and North America. 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: Mota Ventures Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596676/Mota-Ventures-Reports-765m-Revenue-in-Q1-2020
PHNOM PENH (dpa-AFX) - Police in Phnom Penh on Wednesday arrested an activist attempting to commemorate the murder of Kem Ley, a political analyst gunned down in the Cambodian capital four years ago this week. Cambodian rights group Licadho said the activist, wearing a T-shirt with Kem Ley's face on it, was seized by officers as he arrived at a memorial at the scene of the murder, a Caltex petrol station. Security personnel and police officers also formed a chain to block monks and activists from praying at the site. The group was forced to move 100 metres to a new location. While the arrested activist was later released, the crackdown continues a trend of suppression of those seeking justice for the murdered analyst. Last year, authorities detained seven people over two days for trying to commemorate the murder, widely seen as a political assassination. Ley, an analyst critical of the government, was shot point blank by a former soldier, Oeuth Ang, who was sentenced to life in prison 2017. Ang claimed the analyst owed him money, however relatives of both the killer and victim said the pair had never met. The investigation and trial were marred by irregularities. Supporters and rights groups are still calling an independent investigation into the murder. Copyright dpa

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.
Bowmans further strengthens its technology toolkit for clients

ContractPodAi, the award-winning provider of AI-powered contract lifecycle management solutions, today announced that it is partnering with Bowmans, one of Africa's leading corporate law firms, to introduce Bowmans' clients to its advanced technology solution. All this allows corporate legal teams to work smarter, faster and with far greater impact during the contracting process.

ContractPodAi is one of the world's most robust contract lifecycle management (CLM) technologies, providing corporate legal counsels with a platform that provides end-to-end contract management capabilities like a smart contract repository, contract automation, document e-signatures, seamless workflows, third party contract review, negotiating and collaboration tools, and AI-based analytics.

As part of its digitisation strategy, Bowmans is strengthening its technology solutions toolkit. The firm is partnering with ContractPodAi because it offers a robust and graphically intuitive contract management system that streamlines document automation processes.

Craig Kennedy, Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications at Bowmans, said: "Part of the value we add to our clients' businesses is the ability to support them in exploring and identifying suitable digital solutions to streamline their legal services.

"With ContractPodAi, we saw an opportunity to help them to focus on strategic initiatives by implementing a technology solution that replaces time-consuming manual efforts."

ContractPodAi offers customers intelligent AI functionality, built on the trusted IBM Watson, and Microsoft Azure AI platforms, right out-of-the box. Its like getting the safety of IBM and Microsoft with the speed of a startup. A big part of whether CLM technology is successful within a company is its adoption with the business users, and legal team. Beyond the intuitive graphical user interface, a client success manager (CSM) supports every customer. Digital transformation is a challenge for any industry, and legal is no exception. As such the CSM facilitates adoption and encourages internal advocacy and education of every rollout.

"We are thrilled to partner with an innovative African law firm like Bowmans to introduce our contract management solution to the African market," said Sarvarth Misra, co-founder and CEO, ContractPodAi. "It is exciting to work with a firm that embraces the use of technology and is dedicated to making their clients' successes a priority."

Learn how ContractPodAi is empowering legal teams across the world at ContractPodAi.com.

About ContractPod Technologies (ContractPodAi)

A pioneer in the legal transformation space, ContractPodAi is now one of the world's fastest growing legal tech companies. Customers include some of the world's largest and highly regarded corporations. ContractPodAi is an award-winning easy to use, intuitive and affordable end-to-end contract lifecycle management solution aimed at corporate legal departments. It enables users to assemble, automate, approve, digitally sign and manage all their contracts and documents from one place.

Our platform is built in partnership with some of the most trusted technologies in the industry including IBM Watson AI, Microsoft Azure, DocuSign and Salesforce. ContractPodAi is headquartered in London and has global offices in San Francisco, New York, Glasgow, Mumbai and Toronto. More information is available at ContractPodAi.com.

About Bowmans

With over 400 specialist lawyers, Bowmans draws on its unique knowledge of the business and socio-political environment in Africa to advise on a wide range of legal issues.

Everywhere it operates, Bowmans offers its clients a service that uniquely blends expertise in the law, knowledge of the local market and an understanding of their businesses. The firm's aim is to assist its clients to achieve their objectives as smoothly and efficiently as possible while minimising the legal and regulatory risks.

Clients include corporates, multinationals and state-owned enterprises across a range of industry sectors as well as financial institutions and governments.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005165/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Patricia MacLean

Director, Global Communications

patricia.maclean@contractpodai.com

+1 (416) 414-7755

Sara Zammit

Communications Specialist

sara.zammit@contractpodai.com

+1 (647) 405-3197
Three Coronado restaurants are temporarily closing their doors after reporting cases of their employees contracting COVID-19. The Henry, High Tide Bottle Shop and Kitchen, and McPs Irish Pub have all had employees test positive, and will close temporarily in order to follow San Diego County Health Department orders.
AI-driven financial crime screening technology from Accuity will help William Hill screen millions of customers each month, while dramatically reducing false positives.

William Hill, one of the world's leading betting and gaming brands, has selected Accuity, the leading global provider of financial crime screening, payment services, and Know Your Customer (KYC) solutions, to establish new efficiency standards for customer screening in the gaming industry. Accuity is helping William Hill transform its customer screening approach with AI techniques to analyse high volumes of customers with speed and accuracy, in support of its UK and international business.

By choosing Firco Insight, the Accuity platform that combines account screening intelligence with high-performance processing and scoring capabilities, William Hill will be able to screen customers rapidly against sanctions and politically exposed persons (PEPs) watchlists, prioritise risk, increase screening accuracy, and streamline the process. Firco Insight flags high risk customers who may otherwise be missed and reduces false positives on lower-risk customers by combining name matching, risk scoring and big data.

Firco Insight will enable William Hill to safely reduce false positive screening matches from a typical industry rate of 10-15% to less than 1% (without creating false negatives), by prioritising alerts according to the severity of the risk they pose. This will enable the firm to avoid missing any truly high-risk accounts and ensure it can meet its financial crime obligations with confidence.

Firco Insight has been used primarily by financial institutions that have high volumes of customer accounts and considerable regulatory responsibilities. William Hill is the first gambling firm to adopt this solution as it seeks to uphold the same standard of financial crime screening as global banks.

Steven Armstrong, Group Director of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) at William Hill, said, "William Hill is always proactively looking for new ways to increase efficiency and enhance the experience of our customers. Following a successful proof of concept, we could see that working with Accuity and investing in this technology would help us achieve greater financial crime screening accuracy, without adding to our manual workload."

Armstrong continued, "AI technology will never replace AML decision making, but it can certainly improve it. By minimising false positives, we will be able to reallocate resources, rather than managing an excess of false-positive flags."

By focusing on the most relevant alerts, William Hill will increase the speed of entity resolution the process of evaluating the validity of screening matches and deciding whether it is safe or ethical to conduct business with those customers. The solution also provides a high degree of traceability and explainability, so the firm will be able to provide auditors and regulators with detailed information on how decisions were made.

David Wilson, CEO at Accuity said, "We are very proud of this new partnership that marks a significant milestone for William Hill, Accuity, and the gaming industry. By utilising entity resolution filtering and AI techniques to form an explainable, safe and high-performance screening program, William Hill will achieve the same exceptionally high standards as the world's largest banks. We look forward to working closely with the team at William Hill to deliver a new benchmark in customer screening for the gaming industry."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

About Accuity

Accuity powers compliant and assured client transactions to help build an interconnected and trusted financial ecosystem. Our financial crime screening, payment services, and benefits compliance solutions help enable financial inclusion while identifying criminal activity and fraudulent players. With deep expertise and industry-leading data and analytics solutions from the Firco and Bankers Almanac brands, Accuity provides unmatched confidence, efficiency and compliance for customers around the world. Part of RELX, a world-leading provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries, Accuity has been delivering solutions to banks and businesses worldwide for 180 years.

About William Hill

William Hill PLC is one of the world's most trusted betting and gaming brands. The firm, founded in 1934, now employs over 12,500 people across eight different countries.

William Hill has licensed operations in the USA, The Bahamas, Italy, Spain, and Sweden and serves online customers in the UK, Ireland, and throughout the world from its digital hubs in Gibraltar and Malta.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005342/en/

Contacts:

For more information, please contact:

Imogen Nash, Accuity (London)

imogen.nash@accuity.com Tel: +44 (0) 7789 924 920



Jon Schubin, Cognito (London)

accuity@cognitomedia.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7426 9400
LONDON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Russia is among the biggest steel exporters in the world, delivering to a wide range of destinations. However, steel demand in all regions diminished as the world was hit by COVID-19 and most steel producers globally have struggled. Unlike steelmakers in other regions, Russian producers did not idle capacity but extended maintenances and lowered capacity utilisation in order to reduce output. Going forward, however, they will have to decide whether to take more decisive measures to keep production restricted, dependant on their ability to leverage their cost competitive advantages and the growth opportunities that export markets present.

Given that domestic steel demand is expected to remain weak in 2020, we believe that Russian mills will increase exports due to their low-cost advantages. There will be stronger exports to the EU, with expanded quota volumes, and to Southeast Asia, where demand is expected to recover faster than in other regions. This will not be enough, however, to sustain 2019 output levels and production in Russia will decline by 8% y/y.

Even during 2021, Russian demand is not expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels and output will be dependent on export demand. There is a risk of lower exports to the EU ultimately, due to the possible introduction of carbon border tariffs that could, feasibly, be introduced during the year. Sales to Southeast Asia, however, will be strong as demand there will be rising fast. As a result, net exports will rise and steel production will return to pre-COVID-19 levels by end-2021.

A strong domestic market premium reduced Russian steel exports in 2019

In 2019, carbon steel exports from Russia reduced by 12% y/y, to 27 Mt, as sales to traditional markets, such as Turkey, North America and the EU, fell sharply. On the other hand, exports to Asia rose by 9%, with Taiwan remaining the main destination and receiving over 3.5 Mt of material.

Total exports were lower for a few reasons. Firstly, domestic demand for finished steel products in Russia increased by almost 10% during the year, while crude steel production remained virtually unchanged due to an already high capacity utilisation. This pulled the domestic market premium higher-for rebar it was $55 /t in 2019 compared with just $5 /t in 2018 and, for HR coil, the premium was $107 /t in 2019 compared with $55 /t a year earlier. With high premiums, producers naturally diverted more material to the domestic market to maximise profits.

Read the full story:

https://www.crugroup.com/knowledge-and-insights/insights/2020/how-russian-steelmakers-could-capitalise-in-a-post-covid-19-world/

Read more about CRU: http://bit.ly/About_CRU

About CRU

CRU offers unrivalled business intelligence on the global metals, mining and fertilizer industries through market analysis, price assessments, consultancy and events.

Since our foundation by Robert Perlman in 1969, we have consistently invested in primary research and robust methodologies, and developed expert teams in key locations worldwide, including in hard-to-reach markets such as China.

CRU employs over 280 experts and has more than 11 offices around the world, in Europe, the Americas, China, Asia and Australia - our office in Beijing opened in 2004 and Singapore in 2018.

When facing critical business decisions, you can rely on our first-hand knowledge to give you a complete view of a commodity market. And you can engage with our experts directly, for the full picture and a personalised response.

CRU - big enough to deliver a high-quality service, small enough to care about all of our customers.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1201254/CRU_Russian_Steelmakers.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/536199/CRU_Logo.jpg
At a Fraction of the Cost of Other Premium Brands, the Dreame V11 is a Reliable and Versatile High-Performing Vacuum Designed to Meet the Needs of Today's Consumers

BERLIN, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dreame, a premium home-tech lifestyle brand that is part of the global Xiaomi ecosystem, announced today the launch of the V11 cordless stick vacuum. With several industry-leading features, including a 125,000 RPM motor and 90-minute runtime, the Dreame V11 is designed to make it easy for consumers to maintain a clean and sanitary home - which has become especially important in the post-COVID-19 "new normal" in which people are spending significantly more time at home. The Dreame V11 will retail for $424.99 (USD), but starting from July 9th at 12:01 a.m. until July 11th at 11:59 p.m. (CEST) the vacuum cleaner will go on pre-launch sale for $293.99 (USD) on AliExpress.

The V11 offers one of the industry's fastest brushless motors with an output of 125,000 RPM, a 12 -cone cyclone filtration system that can remove micro-particles - such as bacteria, dust, pollen and even allergens from pet fur, and price affordability as a result of being up to 33% cheaper than competing premium vacuums. It has also undergone rigorous reliability testing with over 10,000 start/stops and 30,000 minutes of flawless operation.

Improving on the performance, power and filtration of the Dreame V10 stick vacuum, the Dreame V11 has been re-engineered to include a 25% improvement in suction power using a 150AW high-speed motor, a 50% increase in runtime to 90 minutes via a 3000mAh battery, and a 12-cone cyclone filtration system.

"The debut of the Dreame V11 offers consumers a new premium vacuum cleaner to choose from that provides literally the same functionality and power as competing products but with improved reliability and in some cases at a price point of 33% less," said Mr. Roc Woo, a co-founder of Dreame. "Our V11 gives these consumers the versatility, power, and advanced features to better clean their dwellings at a fraction of the cost of other premium brands."

Key features of the Dreame V11 vacuum include:

Dreame's Most Powerful Motor - The Dreame V11 cord-free stick vacuum is powered by the brand's SPACE 4.0 motor, which weighs a mere 185g, a reduction of 24% from the previous motor's weight of 245g.

10 Cleaning Methods - With 10 cleaning modes, the Dreame V11 is designed to operate on virtually any surface, and handle a variety of cleaning scenarios.

7-Stage Noise Reduction - The new V11 comes equipped with a 7-stage whole chain noise reduction system that significantly reduces the sound of the motor. Utilizing a brushless and flexible motor including the use of the GEDEBAO compound foam throughout the vacuum to absorb sound, the V11 further reduces noise created by friction, resonance, and venting.

Long-lasting Battery Power - Utilizing a 3000mAh battery, the V11 can function in three power modes on a single charge: Long-lasting mode - 90 minutes; Powerful mode - 30 minutes; and Ultra-Powerful Mode - 10 minutes.

Advanced Filtration - The V11's 12-Cone Self-cleaning Cyclone filtration system can separate 99.67% of dust, and reduces the filter cartridge's workload by 63%.

OLED Screen Intelligently Reports in Real Time - The intuitive integrated OLED screen presents users with a bevy of information to give them more control over their cleaning - including power modes, battery runtime, filter performance, and more.

About Dreame

Dreame Technology was established in 2015 with the goal of becoming one of the most well known home-tech lifestyle brands in the world by developing reliable, high-performing home cleaning technology at a competitive price point. The company is based in Asia and is part of the Xiaomi ecological chain of cutting-edge consumer technology products. Dreame is led by Mr. Hao Yu, the CEO and founder, who studied computational fluid mechanics at Tsinghua University in China where he previously founded the "Sky Workshop," which was funded by Boeing.

More information about the brand can be found by visiting https://www.dreame-technology.com/ including the following social media channels: Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1201529/Dreame_V11_Vacuum.jpg
GeneX India Biosciences takes over sole distribution activities in India

IT Technologies will operate in Singapore and Malaysia

BIA Separations, a leading bio-chromatography development and manufacturing company, today announced it has signed agreements with Bioscience companies, GeneX India Biosciences Pvt. Ltd. (GeneX India) and IT Technologies Pte. Ltd. (IT Tech). Both Companies will act as sole distributors of BIA Separations' products and services across their respective regions of India, and Singapore and Malaysia.

BIA Separations provides research and method development services for the purification of large and complex biomolecules including those with therapeutic applications. Through the agreements, both distributors will provide academic researchers, CMOs and biopharmaceutical companies access to BIA Separations' proprietary CIMac analytical and CIMmultus preparative purification technologies for cell and gene therapies, including viral vectors, nucleic acids, phages, and exosomes.

Ingo S. Nagler, Business Development Officer, BIA Separations commented: "We are delighted to have GeneX India and IT Tech on board and look forward to jointly providing researchers and process developers across Asia with our state-of-the-art bioprocessing technologies and services, to enable the accelerated development of cell and gene based medicines."

Felix Paul, Managing Director GeneX India Biosciences added: "GeneX is committed to bringing the highest quality products to the market, with dedicated local customer service and support. The agreement with BIA Separations supports this mission, and we are very proud to be working with the team to ensure its leading purification technologies and expertise are available to research and bioproduction customers throughout India."

Danapalan Arumugam, Managing Director at IT Tech said: "IT Tech has been operating in Singapore and Malaysia since 1991, supporting customers in the field of chromatography across pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals, flavours and fragrances, through to petroleum. Cell and gene therapy is still at an early stage here, and therefore this is an exciting time to be signing a partnership with BIA Separations, enabling us to offer the Company's products and services across research in this high-potential field."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005380/en/

Contacts:

Media contact

Sarah Jeffery

E: sarah.jeffery@zymecommunications.com

T: +44 (0)7771 730 919
Innovative screening test has the potential to enable early preventative care for millions of babies worldwide.

LONDON, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SIME, an early stage Clinical AI company specialising in data driven and rapid ICU diagnostics, has completed a breakthrough clinical study validating the world's first predictive test for neonatal Chronic Lung Disease (CLD), a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature babies. The preliminary multicentre study, entitled "Bronchopulmonary dysplasia predicted at birth by artificial intelligence", was published in Acta Paediatrica, a peer-reviewed journal [DOI: 10.1111/apa.15438].

This innovative digital test is set to revolutionise respiratory medicine in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). By screening for CLD at birth, clinicians will be able to deliver early targeted treatment before disease onset; enabling them to improve clinical outcomes, prevent chronic comorbidities and reduce costs.

First described more than 50 years ago, CLD (i.e. Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/BPD) remains one of the most serious challenges in the care of preterm babies. Affecting approximately one-quarter of babies with a birth weight below 1,500 g, CLD is associated with prolonged NICU hospitalisation, greater risk of mortality and lifelong medical and neurodevelopmental disorders. Although there is a large acute unmet need, there is currently no predictive test available for CLD. Today, diagnosis is only confirmed when a baby still requires oxygen and assisted ventilation 28 days after birth.

"CLD has always been one of the most poorly understood and most complex conditions to treat in neonatology. A critical problem made even more challenging by the lack of a diagnostic and, consequently, late and sub-optimal treatment. A rapid screening test at birth will enable doctors to treat early and preventatively, improving outcomes and reducing time in intensive care," explained Prof. Henrik Verder, Department of Paediatrics, Holbaek University Hospital in Denmark and lead author of the paper. "Furthermore, a lack of knowledge about the mechanisms of CLD has historically hindered the development of new therapeutics. We believe that the novel data and insights generated by this study could hold the key to treatment innovation."

SIME's Clinical AI platform was used to analyse proprietary datasets generated during a previous clinical trial of the company's first diagnostic application: a newborn lung maturity test for Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)1. To conduct the analysis, SIME merged 2 unique datasets from premature babies: digitized biological data and clinical data. This innovative combination of multivariate data aggregation and AI analysis, enabled the study partners to rapidly develop a predictive CLD test in less than 2 months. The test was shown to predict CLD with high accuracy (sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 91%) in 61 preterm babies (gestational age 24-31 weeks). Additional clinical studies to further validate the test are currently underway.

The CLD test will be the second application on the company's Clinical AI Platform, offering NICU clinicians a combined rapid screening tool for the two most severe and life-threatening respiratory diseases in neonatology. Predictive diagnosis of both CLD and RDS at birth, has the potential to change the standard of respiratory care for millions of babies worldwide.

About SIME Diagnostics LTD

SIME is a Clinical AI company applying medical excellence, proprietary AI and data ingenuity to deliver rapid respiratory intensive care diagnostics for acute unmet needs. Our clinically proven technology enables early intervention in life-threatening diseases - improving outcomes and reducing costs.

Contact:

Morgaine Matthews,

+44 20 3095 6448

media@simedx.com

Further information can be found at www.simedx.com.

1. Heiring C, Verder H, Schousboe P, et al. Predicting respiratory distress syndrome at birth using a fast test based on spectroscopy of gastric aspirates: 2. Clinical part. Acta Paediatr. 2020;109(2):285-290. doi:10.1111/apa.14831.


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian and NZ dollars depreciated against their major counterparts on Wednesday, as a surge in Covid-19 cases in some parts of the world clouded hopes for economic recovery.



The number of global Covid-19 cases has increased to more than 11.7 million, while the deaths have soared to over 543,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University.



More U.S. states reported record numbers of new infections, with Florida facing an impending shortage of intensive care unit hospital beds. California reported more than 10,000 coronavirus cases on Tuesday, a record rise for a single day.



The Australian state of Victoria saw another record rise in daily coronavirus cases, which led to lockdown measures being reimposed in Melbourne, the country's second-biggest city.



Dr Michael Ryan, emergencies chief of the WHO said the rise in cases was not due to widespread testing, but because the epidemic was 'accelerating.'



Also, the WHO on Tuesday acknowledged the emerging evidence of airborne spread of the novel coronavirus after an open letter by over 200 scientists outlined evidence that showed floating virus particles can infect people who breathe them in.



The kiwi fell to 70.23 versus the yen, 0.6530 against the greenback and 1.7253 against the euro, off its early highs of 70.62, 0.6562 and 1.7190, respectively. The kiwi is seen finding support around 67.00 versus the yen, 0.64 against the greenback and 1.74 against the euro.



The kiwi pulled back to 1.0614 against the aussie, from more than a 3-week high of 1.0589 seen at 8:30 pm ET. Next key support for the kiwi is seen around the 1.09 level.



The aussie weakened to 0.6927 against the greenback, 1.6267 against the euro and 0.9434 against the loonie, from its early highs of 0.6951, 1.6212 and 0.9455, respectively. The aussie is likely to face support around 0.68 against the greenback, 1.65 against the euro and 0.92 against the loonie.



The aussie dropped to a 2-day low of 74.51 against the yen, after rising to 74.82 at 9:30 pm ET. Should the aussie extends decline, 73.00 is possibly seen as its next support level.



Looking ahead, Canada housing starts for June are scheduled for release at 8:15 am ET.



In the New York session, U.S. consumer credit for May is due.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
At a Fraction of the Cost of Other Premium Brands, the Dreame V11 is a Reliable and Versatile High-Performing Vacuum Designed to Meet the Needs of Today's Consumers

WARSAW, Poland, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dreame, a premium home-tech lifestyle brand that is part of the global Xiaomi ecosystem, announced today the launch of the V11 cordless stick vacuum. With several industry-leading features, including a 125,000 RPM motor and 90-minute runtime, the Dreame V11 is designed to make it easy for consumers to maintain a clean and sanitary home. The Dreame V11 will retail for $424.99 (USD), but starting from July 9th at 12:01 a.m. until July 11th at 11:59 p.m. (CEST) the vacuum cleaner will go on pre-launch sale for $293.99 (USD) on AliExpress .

The V11 offers one of the industry's fastest brushless motors with an output of 125,000 RPM, a 12-cone cyclone filtration system that can remove micro-particles - such as bacteria, dust, pollen and even allergens from pet fur, and price affordability as a result of being up to 33% cheaper than competing premium vacuums.

Improving on the performance, power and filtration of the Dreame V10 stick vacuum, the Dreame V11 has been re-engineered to include a 25% improvement in suction power using a 150AW high-speed motor, and a 50% increase in runtime to 90 minutes via a 3000mAh battery.

"The debut of the Dreame V11 offers consumers a new premium vacuum cleaner to choose from that provides literally the same functionality and power as competing products but with improved reliability and in some cases at a price point of 33% less," said Mr. Roc Woo, a co-founder of Dreame.

About Dreame

Dreame Technology was established in 2015 with the goal of becoming one of the most well known home-tech lifestyle brands in the world by developing reliable, high-performing home cleaning technology at a competitive price point. The company is based in Asia and is part of the Xiaomi ecosystem. Dreame is led by Mr. Hao Yu, the CEO and founder, who studied computational fluid mechanics at Tsinghua University in China where he previously founded the "Sky Workshop," which was funded by Boeing.

More information about the brand can be found here , including Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1201870/Dreame_New_Vacuum.jpg
Michael Newton, Head of Institutional Client Operations, will move to Luxembourg to support the growth of the Fund Services team, as the firm cements its position as a global market leader in Private Equity and Real Estate.

As Head of Institutional Client Operations, Michael is part of Crestbridge's senior leadership team. His role has been extended so he is also responsible for growing the fund services offering from Luxembourg, where he will spend four days a week with the remaining time in Jersey, to support the firm's growing, global fund client base. Michael will continue to oversee client facing activities within the Group's fund, real estate and corporate services teams with a view to ensuring clients consistently receive the highest possible levels of service.

Michael's move comes after an incredible year of growth for Crestbridge in Luxembourg, having doubled its team, made three senior hires, and moved to larger premises. This move will strengthen the firm's client focused, multi-jurisdictional capabilities and is part of an ambitious global growth strategy.

Michael Johnson, Group Head of Institutional Services, said: "This move demonstrates the depth of talent we have to draw on from within the Crestbridge Group. Mike's expertise, knowledge and work ethic will be invaluable as we continue to grow and support our global client base generate returns for their investors. I am delighted to have him head up our Client Operations delivery and support the growth of the Luxembourg Fund Services team and look forward to his continued contribution as a leader in the global business."

Crestbridge already represents 90% of the top ten PERE100 and recently supported the close of one of the largest credit deals of the year, with the Bridgepoint and EQT Credit merger.

Michael continued: "Crestbridge's longstanding presence in Luxembourg and the evolution of our service offering over the past decade initiated by Daniela Klasen-Martin generates significant value to the firm's global capabilities. As we continue to grow, we are bolstering our business with client-focused, industry veterans. They are asset class experts who can help managers quickly close on large and complex deals, in particular within our specialisms of private equity and real estate."

Michael Newton has over 20 years' experience in fund services, providing high-quality and efficient administration services to multi-jurisdictional fund investment structures. Since joining Crestbridge in 2017, he has helped both grow the funds business and maintain a focus on the highest levels of client service. Prior to joining Crestbridge, Michael was a Managing Director and Senior Vice President of a global fund administrator and custodian in Jersey, responsible for assets in excess of US$50bn.

Notes to editors

We are a leading global administration, management corporate governance solutions business.

We provide a broad range of outsourced fiduciary, administrative, accounting and compliance services globally our expertise spans services, asset classes and jurisdictions. Since 1998, we have been putting our insight and experience to work for clients who include leading corporations, sovereign wealth funds, investor groups, asset managers and ultra-high net worth families.

Crestbridge employs over 300 people and has six international offices: Bahrain, Cayman Jersey, London, Luxembourg and New York.

For our regulatory information please see here for more details.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005382/en/

Contacts:

Daniel Jason at Peregrine Communications

tel. +44 (0) 20 3040 0890

e-mail daniel.jason@peregrinecommunications.com



Nicola Nicholson, Head of Marketing at Crestbridge

tel. +44 (0) 1534 835014

e-mail nicola.nicholson@crestbridge.com
Innovative MedTech Developer's Headsets Now Provide the Technology Needed by Patients, Physicians and Surgeons for Medical Diagnosis, Treatment and Procedures

IRVINE, Calif., July 08, 2020, a California-based technology company developing state-of-the-art augmented reality (AR) headset devices, today announced plans to deliver the first AR headsets specific for medical applications providing connectivity from AT&T and using 5G products from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.



Ocutrx is building its AR/XR medical device, the first headset, the Oculenz, for patient use and a second headset, the ORLenz, is designed for physicians and surgeons. Both will be built upon the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Platform, which features the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System.

AT&T, a global Internet of Things (IoT) leader, will provide IoT solutions, including AT&T Control Center and cellular connectivity for Ocutrx devices - allowing highly secure, near real-time access to data. The cellular connectivity within the headset also provides the ARWear to function as a smartphone.

About Ocutrx ARwear

Ocutrx makes AR/XR headsets for both the patient and healthcare provider. For patients, the Oculenz AMD provides ground-breaking technology to offer a solution for advanced macular degeneration and other central visual deficits in patients with retinal disease. The Oculenz RMP Remote Medical Presence model is for the remote telemedicine and contains various patient vital sensors including visual-field test, blood pressure, heart rate and blood oxygenation. The Oculenz LVP is for low-vision patients to maneuver around in their environment using SLAM supported by the Snapdragon XR2 Platform. SLAM in the Oculenz headset works much like how autonomous cars drive and can direct someone on a path and audibly advise them when dangers, such as curbs, stop signs or stairs, are near their path. The Oculenz EyAlinz is a device which can help diagnose and treat younger patients with amblyopia (lazy eye) and provide a binocular recovery solution. For the physician, Ocutrx has developed the ORLenz for surgery visualization, providing a surgery video feed with virtual information superimposed in the view of a surgeon, assistant or students/fellows. There is also an ORLenz version for those who practice interactive radiology to see both the body and a probe at the same time in an AR/XR overlay. These surgery AR/XR headsets are also featured in the Ocutrx OR-Bot Surgery Visualization Theatre, which spotlight three fully 4k viewing methods for surgeons to see ophthalmic, spinal, EMT, vascular, neural or coronary surgeries.

Dr. Daniel Ting, M.D., Ph.D., a Chief Medical AI Advisor to Ocutrx and a leading global ophthalmology AI expert is working with Ocutrx to develop an Ophthalmology AI platform for ophthalmic surgeries. The ORLenz AI will access a HIPAA-secured cloud and can analyze thousands of surgeries. It will notify the surgeon of optimal scenarios and times during surgery for where to perform membrane peeling, laser, injections or other actions to prevent injury to the operating tissue and to improve patient outcomes. "The ORLenz AI engine will enhance surgeries with information presented as virtual markers on the ORLenz headset lens," says Dr. Ting, "In addition to the surgery video feed, there will be blinking cursors, menus and text shown during the surgery viewable virtually by the surgeon on the AR headset."

Dr. Linda Lam, M.D., M.B.A. the Ocutrx Chief Medical Officer, highlighted that the results can be accessed remotely for later review and analysis by the healthcare provider, allowing for tele-monitoring and telemedicine capabilities and services.

Ocutrx Vision Technologies may not yet be a household name, but most of the world benefits from the company's founders. Developed by Michael and Mitchael Freeman, these brothers are responsible for developing some of the foundational technology now recognized as IEEE 802.11(n) MIMO standards, which is the same technology used today when we send videos from our cell phones. After the Freeman brothers' father was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), they made it their mission to correct the effects of this devastating disease. The Freemans assembled the team who helped them develop streaming mobile video in the 1990s, and their prototype, the Oculenz AMD, is being touted as the next best thing in Ophthalmology for macular degeneration and low vision. Additional applications include military, drones, gaming, commercial, industrial, and more. Ocutrx Vision Technologies' AR/XR headsets will showcase the newest and greatest abilities of the Snapdragon XR2 Platform and AT&T's network including 5G.

"By merging these communication and virtual technologies, we have the potential to unleash a tidal wave of innovative AR/XR applications that could totally revamp the healthcare industry and promote telemedicine," said Michael Freeman, JD, founder and CEO/CTO of Ocutrx. "Better outcomes mean shorter surgeries, shorter patient downtimes as well as quicker turn-arounds and fewer readmissions for facilities, resulting in increased healthcare efficiencies across the board."

About Ocutrx

With corporate headquarters in Irvine, Calif., and a research and development labs in Colorado Springs, CO and Tulsa, OK, and a new office in London, England, Ocutrx is a new breed of Augmented/Extended Reality manufacturing company focusing on the best-connected, lightest-weight, highest-resolution AR headset, housing the largest field-of-vision in the market. The Ocutrx AR headsets boast 60 pixel-per-degree resolution, which is the highest resolution the human eye can see at 20/20. Ocutrx is focused on AR/XR as a medical device for surgeons and patients alike to deliver an extended reality experience to both. At a time when worldwide applications for easy-to-wear and easy-to-use AR solutions are being touted as the "next big thing after smartphones," Ocutrx is creating impactful, revolutionary ARWear for the medical sector. To learn more about Ocutrx and its ground-breaking technology, please visit the company website at www.oculenz.com.

Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

Ocutrx products mentioned within this press release are offered by Ocutrx Vision Technologies, LLC and/or its subsidiaries.

Media Contact:

Brenlyn D'Amore

Bastion Elevate (for Ocutrx Vision Technologies)

949.899.3135

brenlyn@bastionelevate.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/149f97b3-512d-449c-a032-7362a1fddbf8
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX:GRC)(OTCQB:GRCAF) (the "Company" or "GRC"), in its continuing effort to refine the Company's numerous drill targets, is pleased to report high-grade rock chip sampling results from the historic Pope, Red Light, Charlie Ross, and Tin Can targets located on the Nevada side of the Gold Springs Project (See Map in the Appendix). Vein zones returned grades as high as 20.2 g/t Au and 233.6 g/t Ag from Pope, 33.1 g/t Au and 69.4 g/t Ag from Red Light, 17.16 g/t Au and 45.1 g/t Ag from Charlie Ross, and 5.2 g/t Au and 61.5 g/t Ag from Tin Can.

GRC's ongoing field activities continue to focus on detailed mapping and sampling of priority targets within the large Gold Springs project land package and to prepare these targets for future drill programs. Field work has recently concluded on the Pope, Charlie Ross, Red Light, and Tin Can targets, all of which returned high-grade gold and silver values and are considered priority future drill targets.

These targets are clustered together with a close spatial relationship to both the margin and radial fracturing of the Gold Springs caldera. While the targets are in the same general area, they represent differing styles of mineralization. The area is significant in that it represents the only fully preserved stratigraphic sequence of the Gold Springs caldera system. The Pope is located at the top of this sequence in a welded tuff, followed by the Charlie Ross in a non-welded tuff, then the Red Light where mineralization is at the contact between the Charlie Ross non-welded tuff and the underlying andesite. The andesite unit hosts the mineralization seen at the Tin Can and is also the host of the four current resources in the project. For a conceptual cross section of these targets visit https://goldspringsresource.com/projects/pope-target/ and look under Maps.

Matias Herrero, President and CEO, stated "GRC's ongoing field work continued to produce high-grade gold values from the surface sampling program and to advance the high-priority drill targets. We are demonstrating the potential for the overall project area to host multiple deposits. Our work thus far has developed 4 resource areas open to expansion and with our current field activities we are readying other highly prospective targets for drill programs. The Pope, Charlie Ross, Red Light, and Tin Can targets are unique at Gold Springs in that they have a similar geological setting to the deposit of the Round Mountain gold mine in central Nevada. These targets will be tested by future drilling programs as we work to expand our resource base, and further enhance the value of the Company."

Pope Target

The historic Pope mine is located on the margin of the collapsed Gold Springs caldera and 500 meters northeast of the Charlie Ross Target. Mineralization at the Pope Target is hosted in a welded tuff where radial faulting attributed to caldera collapse has structurally prepared the host rock creating pathways for mineralizing fluids. Veins filling these fractures were historically exploited by a shaft, tunnels, and long slot cuts on surface.

High-grade mineralization is hosted within these thin (<0.5-metre-wide) banded and bladed quartz veins and returned grades as high as 20.2 g/t gold. The host rock is a welded tuff containing irregular and discontinuous quartz stringers. Altered, welded tuff host rock displaying brecciation and stockwork veining are characteristic of a lower grade disseminated target with one sample containing 0.53 g/t gold.

A total of 37 rock chip samples were collected from the Pope Target. Of these samples nine returned results above the resource cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au. Eight of the sample returned multi-gram gold values.

SAMPLE Sample Type Mineralization type Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) 224324 Float Vein 8.9 88.8 224325 Float Vein 3.2 107.0 224326 Dump Vein 20.2 83.2 224333 Dump Vein 6.2 46.6 224334 Dump Vein 14.5 233.6 224336 Dump Vein 6.3 63.9 224341 Dump Vein 6.6 12.2 224342 Dump Vein 2.6 34.6 224365 Grab Breccia/stockwork in tuff 0.53 13.4

A detailed description of the Pope Target, including maps and photos, can be found here: https://goldspringsresource.com/projects/pope-target/

Charlie Ross Target

The historical Charlie Ross shaft is located 500 meters southwest of the historical Pope mine. Mineralization at the Charlie Ross Target is hosted within a non-welded tuff that is stratigraphically below the welded tuff units of the Pope Target. The non-welded tuff is significant in that it is a highly porous unit that would be favorable for migrating gold bearing fluids trapped below the Pope welded tuff. This would create a bulk target which generally does not outcrop. Samples within altered tuff units grade as high as 1.27 g/t gold. One sample of a massive quartz vein boulder returned 17.16 g/t gold in an area of mixed tuff float cover. Sample results have revealed promising mineralization within tuff units and high-grade vein targets. A total of 47 rock-chip samples were collected from the Charlie Ross Target with 6 samples returning values above the resource cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au.

Sample Sample Type Description Target Gold

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) 103884 Dump Oxidized, sericitized tuff

from Charlie Ross shaft

dump Charlie Ross 0.36 43.3 103890 Float Massive quartz vein boulder Charlie Ross 17.16 45.1 103894 Outcrop Strongly oxidized lithic tuff

in large outcrop Charlie Ross 1.27 5.8 224402 Float Hydrothermal breccia in

andesite Charlie Ross 0.55 6.2 224403 Float Silicified lithic tuff Charlie Ross 0.36 <0.5 224411 Outcrop Quartz vein in silicified

andesite Charlie Ross 0.33 7.2

A detailed description of the Charlie Ross Target, including maps and photos, can be found here: https://goldspringsresource.com/projects/the-charlie-ross-target/

Red Light Target

The historical mine workings of the Red Light Target are located 400 meters to the west of the Pope mine. The target area is located along a northeast trending fault valley. The contact between tuff units and the underlying andesite, where the mineralized horizon occurs, is exposed in two of the historical shafts along this fault. Stockwork and silicified breccias are observed in the andesite in several trench cuts and mine dumps. Banded and bladed white quartz veins are found in outcrop within mine trenches and generally strike north-south. Together, mine workings span a distance of 150 meters over a width of 50 meters before being lost under post mineral cover.

A total of 15 samples were collected from the Red Light Target. One sample returned values above the resource cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au and contained 33.1 g/t gold. The sample is a select sample of vein material collected from the edge of one of the shafts exposing the tuff/andesite contact signifying that this contact is a significant pathway for mineralizing fluids.

A detailed description of the Red Light Target, including maps and photos, can be found here: https://goldspringsresource.com/projects/the-red-light-target/

Tin Can Target

The Tin Can Target is hosted within andesite flows similar to the current Gold Springs resources. The gold mineralization at Tin Can is associated with a strong north-south structural zone which also controls the mineralization at the historic Little Buck Mine and is highlighted by both ZTEM and CSAMT geophysical resistivity anomalies. Historic mining in the area was focused on a banded quartz-calcite vein up to 2 meters wide that grade up to 5.20 g/t gold and 61.5 g/t silver. This quartz-calcite vein is margined by zones of silicified breccias and stockwork veining that grade as high as 1.19 g/t gold and 46.2 g/t silver. Numerous pits, shafts and trenches follow the vein north until it disappears under post-mineral cover. Tin Can is unique at Gold Springs in that calcite-dominate sinter terraces are found which are remnants of a paleo surface hot spring environment. A fully preserved epithermal system should be found below these hot spring deposits.

A total of 49 rock-chip samples were collected from the Tin Can Target with 14 samples returning values above the resource cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au.

Sample Sample Type Description Target Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) 224382 Float Brecciated silicified lithic

crystal tuff with stockwork

veining Tin Can 0.28 4.7 224386 Outcrop Brecciated, silicified andesite

with drewsy/chalcedony quartz

cement Tin Can 1.19 46.2 224387 Outcrop Banded/bladed quartz-calcite

vein with green chalcedony

quartz bands Tin Can 5.20 61.5 224388 Dump Banded/bladed quartz-calcite

vein Tin Can 4.10 35.3 224389 Float Banded/bladed, vuggy white

quartz vein Tin Can 0.27 <0.5 224390 Outcrop Banded, vuggy white quartz

vein Tin Can 0.42 26.2 224391 Dump Quartz-calcite vein Tin Can 0.38 16.6 224393 Float Banded/bladed white quartz

vein Tin Can 0.69 <0.5 224437 Outcrop Sericite altered andesite with

quartz stockwork veining Tin Can 0.31 <0.5 224439 Dump Quartz-calcite vein Tin Can 0.60 7.2 224441 Dump Quartz-calcite vein Tin Can 2.74 37.8 224442 Outcrop Bladed quartz-calcite vein Tin Can 0.76 18.4 224448 Dump Hydrothermal Breccia Tin Can 0.46 26.2 224449 Dump Quartz-calcite vein Tin Can 3.27 60.7

A detailed description of the Tin Can Target, including maps and photos, can be found here: https://goldspringsresource.com/projects/the-tin-can-target/

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person on the Gold Springs Project is Randall Moore, Executive Vice President of Exploration for Gold Springs Resource Corp. and he has reviewed and approved the content of this press release. The Qualified Person verified the data disclosed herein for its geological reasonableness, checked all the inputs, reviewed standard and blank lab results, and verified the analytical data.

Assay Method

Assays were performed by Paragon Geochemical, an ISO 9001:2015 & ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Certified and independent laboratory in Sparks, Nevada. Gold was analyzed by fire assay of a 30-gram sample with an AAS finish with samples assaying greater than 5 g/t re-assayed using a 30-gram sample and a gravity finish. All other elements were analyzed by a four-acid leach ICP method.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Approximately 2-3 kg for each rock chip sample was sent to the laboratory. The laboratory includes duplicates of samples, standards and blanks for QA/QC purposes. The results of these check assays are reviewed prior to the release of data. All assays are also reviewed for their geological context and checked against field descriptions.

About Gold Springs Resource Corp. (Formerly TriMetals Mining Inc.)

Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX:GRC) and (OTCQB:GRCAF) is focused on the exploration and expansion of the gold and silver resources of its PEA-stage Gold Springs project located on the border of Nevada and Utah, USA. The project is situated in the prolific Great Basin of Western USA, one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world.

Gold Springs Resource Corp. Contact:

Matias Herrero

Chief Executive Officer

info@goldspringsresource.com

+1 (778) 801-1667

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements look into the future and provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Forward-looking statements may include words such as "creating", "believe", "would", "continue", "will", "promising", "should", and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties. Actual results may materially differ from expectations if known and unknown risks or uncertainties affect our business or if our estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, risks of the mineral exploration industry which may affect the advancement of the Gold Springs project, including possible variations in mineral resources, grade, recovery rates, metal prices, capital and operating costs, and the application of taxes; availability of sufficient financing to fund planned or further required work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; availability of equipment and qualified personnel, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, changes in project parameters, including water requirements for operations, as plans continue to be refined; regulatory, environmental and other risks of the mining industry more fully described in the Company's Annual Information Form and continuous disclosure documents, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The assumptions made in developing the forward-looking statements include: the accuracy of current resource estimates and the interpretation of drill, metallurgical testing and other exploration results; the continuing support for mining by local governments in Nevada and Utah; the availability of equipment and qualified personnel to advance the Gold Springs project; execution of the Company's existing plans and further exploration and development programs for Gold Springs, which may change due to changes in the views of the Company or if new information arises which makes it prudent to change such plans or programs.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Unless otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements in this press release describe the Company's expectations as of the date hereof.

APPENDIX

Geochemistry Map of Red Light, Pope, Tin Can and Charlie Ross Targets

SOURCE: Gold Springs Resource Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596647/Gold-Springs-Resource-Announces-Continued-High-Grade-Sample-Results-from-Priority-Targets-at-Flagship-Project
Author Dick Belkin, who has penned three books set in Coronado, recently released his fourth book entitled Theres Something Fishy in Coronado, a story about the grunion run.
The investment will support the further growth of Project Informatica, a leading firm in the Italian information technology industry

H.I.G. Europe ("H.I.G."), the European affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, a leading global private equity investment firm with more than 34 billion of equity capital under management, announced today the acquisition by an affiliate of a controlling stake in Project Informatica S.r.l. (the "Company"), a leading firm in the Italian information technology industry.

Based in Stezzano (Bergamo), with revenues of more than 130 million and 230 employees, Project Informatica was founded in 1990 and has grown significantly over recent years, becoming the technological partner of choice to a long list of leading private and public companies.

The Company leverages cutting-edge technologies and advanced capabilities to support its customers in the digital transformation of business processes. Its offering ranges from hardware and software solutions, to related IT services. With multiple partnerships with leading global vendors and a technical staff with over 1,750 certifications, the Company is able to provide a tailor-made IT service to customers in a wide range of industries, including banking and financial services, industrial manufacturing and business services.

H.I.G. has extensive experience in the IT industry, with 30 transactions completed globally, and intends to support Project Informatica in the next phase of development, with the aim of capitalizing on both organic and inorganic growth opportunities.

Alberto Ghisleni, founder, CEO, and current shareholder of Project Informatica who will reinvest alongside H.I.G. and will continue to lead the Company, commented: "The investment by H.I.G., a global private equity firm, is a recognition of the impressive work done by the management over the last few years and represents a crucial step to further accelerate the Company's future development".

Raffaele Legnani, Managing Director and head of H.I.G.'s office in Italy, added: "Project Informatica is one of the most recognized technology partners for enterprises in Italy and has gained a leading position in a fast-growing market due to its capabilities, service flexibility and partnerships with major global vendors".

About Project Informatica

Based in Stezzano (Bergamo), Project Informatica has been active in the ICT industry for over 30 years. The Company closely supports its clients in their digital development by offering a wide range of hardware and software technological solutions integrated into the customers' IT infrastructure and related services of configuration, update, assistance and maintenance. Project Informatica supports private and public companies of all sizes in the strategic transformation of their business and operational processes through both on premise or cloud (public, private or hybrid) solutions. The technological skillset acquired in 30 years of activity and the high number of certifications for hardware and software products, enable Project Informatica to design, after a detailed analysis of the specific complexities of each business, customized solutions that generate time and costs savings.

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 European offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, and U.S. and Latin American offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, 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.

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/20200708005446/en/

Contacts:

Raffaele Legnani

Managing Director

rlegnani@higcapital.com

H.I.G. European Capital Partners Italy S.r.l.

P +39 02 45 37 5200

F +39 02 45 37 5250

www.higcapital.com
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Talisker Resources Ltd. ("Talisker" or the "Company") (CSE:TSK)(OTCQB:TSKFF) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement with TDG Gold Corp. ("TDG Gold") for TDG Gold to acquire several of Talisker's mineral resource properties located in the Toodoggone region of the Province of British Columbia (the "Properties"). In connection with the sale, TDG Gold has entered into an asset purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with the Company dated July 7, 2020, to purchase the Properties from Talisker on the terms and conditions outlined below under The Transaction. The Properties being acquired by TDG Gold consist of: the Baker Project, which includes the past producing Baker and Multinational Mines; the Shasta Mine and the Baker mill infrastructure and equipment; the Chappelle property, which covers the ground from the past producing Baker and Multinational Mines; the Mets lease, which is a mining lease located approximately 20 kms north of the historic Baker and Multinational Mines; and the Bot property, which is a mineral tenure located approximately 35 kms north of the Baker milling facilities. The completion of the Transaction is subject to regulatory approval and certain other conditions, including those that are described below.

Terry Harbort, President and CEO of Talisker, stated, "Situated between Centerra's Kemess Mine and Benchmark Metals' exciting new discovery at Lawyers, the Toodoggone properties represent a highly prospective porphyry-epithermal package and when combined with TDG Gold's adjacent Oxide Peak Project will represent a significant land consolidation in the region. With Talisker's strong regional focus on South Central BC, we have focused on exploring our Bralorne and Spences Bridge assets, and have been unable to dedicate the funding or systematic exploration that the Toodoggone properties deserve. The divestiture of these assets is expected to provide Talisker with the potential to unlock shareholder value faster than we would be able to achieve ourselves, while retaining exposure to the significant upside through our expected share ownership and board representation. The strong TDG Gold board and management team brings significant financial, technical and managerial skills to the table."

Andrew French, P.Geo, a Director of TDG Gold commented, "We have assembled a first class team at TDG Gold with experience of grassroots exploration work through to project feasibility. The combination of Talisker's Toodoggone properties with TDG Gold's adjacent Oxide Peak property option creates an enviable land package of equal potential to any of our peers in the region. In parallel with the work TDG Gold is planning to undertake this year, the company also intends to advance to a public listing event in 2020."

The Transaction

In connection with and as conditions to the closing of the Transaction, TDG Gold intends to use its commercially reasonable efforts to: (i) complete a number of financing transactions to raise gross proceeds of at least $5 million; and (ii) apply to the Canadian Securities Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange or another recognized stock exchange as determined by TDG Gold to have the common shares of TDG Gold (the "TDG Gold Shares") listed and posted for trading thereon (the "Listing Event"). TDG Gold is currently a private Canadian issuer registered in the Province of British Columbia. TDG Gold and Talisker are arm's length parties.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, TDG Gold will acquire the Properties by issuing to Talisker the greater of 50,000,000 TDG Gold Shares and that number of TDG Gold Shares that equals 30.12% of the issued and outstanding TDG Gold Shares (calculated on a fully-diluted basis) determined immediately following the completion of the Listing Event. In addition, in the event the Listing Event has not occurred on or prior to: (a) December 31, 2020, TDG Gold shall issue an additional 2,500,000 TDG Gold Shares to Talisker at the time of closing of the Transaction; and (b) June 30, 2021, TDG Gold shall issue an additional 2,500,000 TDG Gold Shares to Talisker at the time of closing of the Transaction.

For so long as Talisker owns not less than 10% of the outstanding TDG Gold Shares, Talisker will have nomination and pre-emptive rights to participate in future equity financings of TDG Gold to maintain its share ownership percentage interest in TDG Gold. Talisker will also have the right to appoint one nominee to the board of directors of TDG Gold during the interim period before closing of the Transaction.

The Purchase Agreement also provides that TDG Gold will assume all of the liabilities related to the Properties and contains customary representations, warranties, covenants, conditions precedent and other terms and conditions. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed, or at all. The closing of the Transaction is subject to receipt of all necessary stock exchange approvals, the completion of the contemplated financings and the Listing Event, and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions for a transaction of this nature.

About TDG Gold Corp.

TDG Gold is a private Canadian mineral exploration company registered in the province of British Columbia focused on the discovery of high-grade gold silver deposits and gold-copper porphyries in the Toodoggone Region of northern British Columbia.

About Talisker Resources Ltd.

Talisker (taliskerresources.com) is a junior resource company involved in the exploration of gold projects in British Columbia, Canada. Talisker's projects include the Bralorne Gold Complex, an advanced stage project with significant exploration potential from a historical high-grade producing gold mine as well as its Spences Bridge Project where the Company holds ~85% of the emerging Spences Bridge Gold Belt and several other early stage Greenfields projects. With its properties comprising 291,339 hectares over 321 claims, six leases and 181 crown grant claims, Talisker is a dominant exploration player in the south-central British Columbia. The Company is well funded to advance its aggressive systematic exploration program at its projects.

For further information please contact:

Terry Harbort, Chief Executive Officer or

terry.harbort@taliskerresources.com

+1 416 361 280

Carrie Howes, Director, Investor Relations

carrie.howes@taliskerresources.com

+1 416 837 0075

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Talisker's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, statements with respect to the potential completion of the Transaction and the terms and conditions of the Transaction and the potential benefits of the Transaction. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Talisker. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Talisker's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the Properties, the contemplated financings of TDG Gold, the Listing Event, and other similar matters. While Talisker considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to them, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, title and environmental risks and risks relating to delay or failure to satisfy the closing conditions to the Transaction.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and Talisker is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

Neither the 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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

SOURCE: Talisker Resources Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596664/Talisker-Announces-Agreement-to-Divest-Non-Core-Toodoggone-Properties
15 organizations recognized for their exemplary performance and valuable contributions in shaping new trends across Asia-Pacific

SINGAPORE, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan honored Asia-Pacific's leading companies at the 18thannual Asia-Pacific Best Practices Awards on 8 July in an inaugural virtual awards ceremony. A total of 15 awards were presented to organizations for elevating performance benchmarks and for their outstanding achievements in the industry.

These awards were segmented across six major sectors:

Automotive

Energy

Building & Environment Industries

Healthcare

Information & Communication Technologies

Logistics

Congratulating the 2020 winners and recognizing their best-in-class performance, Sapan Agarwal, Vice President Asia-Pacific at Frost & Sullivan, said that the best practice awards are aimed at motivating firms to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence year after year. "We applaud companies that have continued to push the boundaries and have demonstrated excellence in their industries. Frost & Sullivan awards are strong accolades to the good work and a reminder to all industry players that business performance benchmarks have now been raised for everyone," he said.

The award recipients were identified using Frost & Sullivan's proprietary, measurement-based methodology derived from extensive primary and secondary research, in-depth interviews, analysis, and industry benchmarking. Numerous award categories were carefully reviewed and evaluated to reflect the current market landscape and highlight emerging trends in Asia. A detailed study was further conducted on each of the nominated companies, focusing on real-time performance indicators like market share, revenue growth, customer acquisitions, product/service value, and technology innovation. The companies that emerged represent outstanding leaders that are driving positive trends in the Asia-Pacific economy.



Recipients of the 2020 Asia-Pacific Best Practices Awards

Award Titles & Category Award Recipients Regional titles 2020 Asia-Pacific CRO Market Leadership Award Avance Clinical Pty Ltd 2020 Asia-Pacific Industrial Process Safety Systems Product Line Strategy Leadership Award HIMA 2020 Asia-Pacific Lithium Titanium Oxide (LTO) Battery Technology Innovation Award LiRON LIB Power Pte Ltd 2020 Asia-Pacific Metal Detectable Nitrile Gloves for the Food Industry New Product Innovation Award Smart Glove National titles 2020 Indonesia Data Center Services Provider of the Year DCI Indonesia 2020 Malaysia Waste Management Company of the Year Alam Flora Sdn Bhd 2020 Malaysia Contact Center Applications Vendor of the Year AVAYA 2020 Malaysia Home Air Purifier Product Line Strategy Leadership Award CUCKOO International (MAL) Sdn Bhd 2020 Malaysia Home Water Filter Customer Value Leadership Award CUCKOO International (MAL) Sdn Bhd 2020 Malaysia Solar Power Company of the Year ERS Energy Sdn Bhd 2020 Malaysia Smart Waste Solutions Company of the Year KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd 2020 Malaysia Energy Management Solutions New Product Innovation Award Maevi Sdn Bhd 2020 Malaysia Facilities Management Company of the Year UEM Edgenta Berhad 2020 Malaysia Property Development Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award UOA Development Bhd 2020 Thailand Data Center Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award Advanced Info Service PLC 2020 Thailand IOT Service Provider of the Year Advanced Info Service PLC 2020 Thailand Outsourced Contact Center Service Provider of the Year One to One Contacts

The 2020 Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific Best Practices Awards virtual banquet is supported by our Media Partners: ACN Newswire, AI Time Journal, CryptoNewsZ, Chief IT, Asia Research News, CEO World Magazine and Developing Telecoms.

To learn more about the awards and partnership opportunities for the 2020 awards, please visit http://www.apacbp-awards.com/. To schedule an interaction with our spokespersons, please email Kala Mani. S. at kala.manis@frost.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion

Media Contact:

Zuzana Zukarnain

Corporate Communications - Asia-Pacific

Phone: +60192657808

Email: zuzana.zukarnain@frost.com
NEW YORK, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "It is hard to imagine the Equiteq team of Adam Tindall, Dan Kim, Ravi Dosanjh, and Tom Tartaglia delivering a deal under more difficult circumstances. The COVID pandemic was breaking out as we signed the LOI - Adam and the team steered us through tremendous uncertainty with dogged persistence, extraordinary effort, real creativity, and integrity." - Geoff Walker, Co-Founder Water Street Partners

Water Street Partners, LLC ("Water Street"), a premier joint venture and alliance advisory firm, announced on July 2, 2020 that it has been acquired by Washington, D.C.-based global business and expert advisory firm, Ankura.

"We are excited to join the Ankura team, and we share a commitment to serving clients and a common culture focused on collaboration and respect," said James Bamford, a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Water Street. David Ernst, also a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Water Street, added, "We look forward to working together with our new colleagues and helping them grow our combined businesses through a continued commitment to exceeding our clients' expectations."

"We continue to grow our business by attracting top talent in defined and attractive market segments and fostering a collaborative environment that encourages these leaders to leverage one another's insights and expertise to deliver high-quality, customized solutions to our clients," said Kevin Lavin, Chief Executive Officer of Ankura. "Water Street is a proven leader in the joint venture and alliance advisory sector. This combination extends our delivery of expert advice to an expanding global client base facing complex and challenging situations."

Regarding Equiteq's role in the transaction, Geoff Walker said, "It was clear to us that Equiteq were deeply experienced in our space. Adam and the team did not disappoint. We are thrilled with the value they helped us capture, and more importantly, the home they found us at Ankura to continue to grow our business, serve our clients, and create opportunities for our team."

Adam Tindall, Managing Director of Equiteq's North America practice, commented, "It has been an honor representing the world's premier joint venture and alliance advisory firm in this transaction. The Water Street team have done a fantastic job at building a highly specialized and successful practice, and Ankura will be a great home to support the company's growth."
Construction chemical manufacturers in India seek contracts with government bodies associated with public infrastructure projects to sustain operations through coronavirus crisis.

DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Future Market Insights: The India construction chemical market is expected to grow at an imposing 17.2% CAGR between 2014 and 2020. According to FMI reports, the temporary suspension of construction activities in the public and private sector are having a negative impact on the Indian construction chemicals market. Disruptions of supply chains and restrictions on trade are also hurting market prospects in the near term.

"Investments in commercial and residential infrastructure in addition to project collaborations with government bodies will aid the India construction chemicals market. Further the repair and maintenance activity for old infrastructure, will be key to the revenue of the Indian construction chemicals industry, once restrictions are lifted," says the FMI analyst.

Request a report sample to gain comprehensive market insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-in-87

India Construction Chemical Market - Important Takeaways

Concrete admixture is highly sought after, supported by favorable government policies towards affordable residential projects.

Repair and rehabilitation applications are gaining traction owing to a large number of aged buildings and infrastructure.

Use of construction chemicals for commercial buildings is key to market revenue, supported by tech industry expansion in the country.

Northern region is witnessing rapid growth owing to investments from manufacturing and service companies.

India Construction Chemical Market - Driving Factors

Easy availability of essential raw materials at low cost is anticipated to increase demand for construction chemicals.

Industrialization and urbanization, including smart city projects are creating lucrative opportunities.

High use of concrete and admixtures for infrastructure projects are crucial to market revenue growth.

India Construction Chemical Market - Leading Constraints

Strict regulations associated with construction chemical product standards hampers market growth.

Cyclical nature of the Indian construction industry limits opportunities for market players.

Expected Impact on Market by Coronavirus Outbreak

The Indian construction industry is gradually on its way to restarting operations, albeit with strict regulations on working conditions, as health risks from the coronavirus are still running high. However, supply chain disruptions and worker shortages in the industry will cause substantial delays in work hurting the demand for construction chemicals in the near future.

Explore the India construction chemical market with 28 figures and the table of contents. You will also find market segmentation on https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-in-87

Competition Landscape

Some of the top players operating in the India construction chemical market are CICO Technologies, BASF India, Chembond Chemicals, Pidilite, Forsoc Chemicals, and Sika India Pvt. Ltd. Market players are pushing for long term contracts and product marketing strategies to sustain sales. For instance, Pidilite has set up an extensive marketing campaign targeting its waterproofing chemical products for preventive maintenance purposes.

More on the Report

FMI's provides in-depth insights on the India construction chemical market. The market is segmented in terms of product type (adhesives and sealants, admixtures, flooring chemicals, waterproofing, repair & rehabilitation, and others), and application (infrastructure and residential & commercial) across four key regions (North, East, South and West).

Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of FMI's Chemicals & Materials Landscape

Europe Advanced Aerospace Coatings Market: Find insights on the European advanced aerospace coatings market with analysis of market statistics, segments, prominent players, major influencers, and business strategies adopted over a 10-year forecast period.

Biophotonics Market: FMI's report on the global biophotonics market provides insights on the market for 2014-2020. The study evaluates restraining forces, revenue sources, and market leaders along with market strategies.

Antimicrobial Additives Market: An analysis on the antimicrobial additives market with data on opportunities, growth levers, regional markets, restraints, regulatory policies, and strengths of market leaders.

About FMI

FMI is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition.

Contact

Mr. Abhishek Budholiya

Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A,

Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai,

United Arab Emirates

MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative

For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com

For Media Enquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com

Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/india-construction-chemical-market

Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/india-construction-chemical-market

SOURCE: Future Market Insights

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596723/Assessment-of-COVID-19-Impact-Sales-of-India-Construction-Chemicals-Fall-with-Stringency-in-Lockdown-Regulations--Future-Market-Insights
Lava Therapeutics B.V., a biotech company pioneering bispecific gamma-delta T cell engagers for cancer, today announced the appointment of Benjamin Winograd, M.D., Ph.D., as the company's chief medical officer. Dr. Winograd is a seasoned drug development expert with significant experience leading oncology and hematology programs within the pharmaceutical industry. In this new role, Dr. Winograd will report to Steve Hurly, chief executive officer, in their U.S. office, and oversee strategic direction of clinical operations, translational medicine and regulatory affairs.

"We are very excited to welcome Benjamin as our CMO, as he brings a wealth of experience leading oncology drug development to the team," said Mr. Hurly. "Benjamin's impressive track record of advancing novel programs from early scientific research through clinical development and regulatory approvals will be instrumental as we approach clinical initiation with our most mature bispecific gamma-delta T cell engager program later this year."

Dr. Winograd brings more than 35 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry to Lava. He joins the company from Celgene, where he most recently served as the clinical research and development therapeutic area head for multiple myeloma and led landmark studies resulting in the registration of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and pomalidamide (Pomalyst/Imnovid). Prior to that, he was instrumental in the early and late development, registration and launching of cancer therapeutics including paclitaxel (Taxol), irinotecan (Camptosar), exemestane (Aromasin), epirubicin (ELLENCE) and temozolomide (Temodar). Dr. Winograd received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and began his career as part of the EORTC Cooperative Group at the VU University in Amsterdam.

"Lava's approach to leveraging bispecific gamma-delta T cell engagers has the potential to treat a broad range of cancer indications, while avoiding unwanted challenges seen with other immunotherapy approaches already in clinical use and in development. I look forward to collaborating with the experienced leadership team and esteemed advisors to advance this exciting science into clinical development and bring new therapeutic options to cancer patients," said Dr. Winograd.

About Lava Therapeutics

Lava Therapeutics, B.V., is developing a proprietary bispecific antibody platform that engages gamma-delta T cells for the treatment of hematological and solid cancers. The company's first-in-class immuno-oncology approach activates V?9Vd2 T cells upon binding to membrane-expressed tumor targets. Lava was founded in 2016 based on intellectual property originating from the Amsterdam University Medical Center, and is backed by Lupus Ventures, Biox Biosciences, Versant Ventures, Gilde Healthcare and MRL Ventures Fund. The company has established a highly experienced antibody research and development team located in Utrecht, the Netherlands (headquarters) and Philadelphia. For more information, please visit www.lavatherapeutics.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005074/en/

Contacts:

Alicia Davis

THRUST Strategic Communications

alicia@thrustsc.com
Geochemical Survey Complete

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Golden Lake Exploration Inc. (CSE:GLM) ("GLM" or the "Company") is pleased to report that Alford Drilling, LLC, of Spring Creek, NV 89815 has been retained to complete a minimum 5,000 foot, RC (reverse circulation) drill program on the company's keystone Jewel Ridge gold property, located near the town of Eureka, Nevada. The drill will be mobilized as soon as possible by the contractor with drilling set to commence this month.

"With gold hitting new highs and the market for juniors responding this is an exciting time for Golden Lake to commence drilling its growing selection of gold targets on Jewel Ridge in Nevada." stated Mike England, CEO and President of Golden Lake.

This is the maiden drill program by the Company on the Jewel Ridge property, with targets located on patented mineral claims on the South Eureka and Hamburg zones, both targeting Carlin-type, oxide gold mineralization. Both the Company field contractors and the drill contractor will exercise COVID-19 operating protocols and safety measures as required.

The Company also wishes to report that the geochemical survey contracted to Rangefront Geological of Elko, Nevada (see press release June 18, 2020) has been completed, on time, and on budget, with all samples submitted to ALS labs in Sparks, Nevada, for multi-element analysis. As previously reported by the Company, two distinct types of mineralization occur on the Property: 1) carbonate replacement deposits of silver-gold- lead-zinc (Ag-Au-Pb-Zn) and 2) Carlin-style disseminated gold deposits. Each type of mineralization has a specific geochemical signature that will be useful to identify new drill targets.

About the Jewel Ridge Property

The Jewel Ridge property is located on the south end of Nevada's prolific Battle Mountain - Eureka trend, along strike and contiguous to Barrick Gold's Archimedes/Ruby Hill gold mine to the north and Timberline Resources' advanced-stage Lookout Mountain project to the south.

The property comprises 96 unpatented lode mining claims and 30 patented claims covering approximately 728 hectares (1,800 acres). The Jewel Ridge property contains several historic small gold mines. The Company's focus is on Carlin-style disseminated gold deposits, the primary focus in the area since the late 1970s.

Nevada Carlin-type gold deposits (CTGD) have a combined endowment of more than 250 million ounces, which are concentrated (85 per cent) in only four trends or camps of deposits: Carlin, Cortez (Battle Mountain-Eureka), Getchell and Jerritt Canyon. The Company cautions that results on adjacent and/or nearby projects are not necessarily indicative of results on the Company's property.

About Golden Lake Exploration Inc.

Golden Lake Exploration is a junior public mining exploration company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to acquire, explore and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to aggressively advance its exploration program on the Jewel Ridge property.

Qualified person

Golden Lake Exploration's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Garry Clark, P.Geo., who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

" M ike England"

Mike England, CEO & DIRECTOR

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Telephone: 1-604-683-3995

TollFree:1-888-945-4770

Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).

SOURCE: Golden Lake Exploration Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596695/Drill-Contractor-Selected-for-the-Jewel-Ridge-Property-NV
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Sky Gold Corp. (TSX-V:SKYG) (OTC PINK:SRKZF)("Sky Gold Corp." or the "Company") announces that field exploration crews have been contracted to commence surface exploration activities on the newly expanded Mustang property and Virginia property, contiguous to the south-western and north-eastern portions respectively of the Queensway Gold Project owned by New Found Gold Corp. The enlarged Mustang Expansion property comprises 1,875 ha and government issued work permits are expected shortly with local Gander-based crews ready to mobilize. Initial work, leading up to an inaugural drill program expected to commence later this summer, will include prospecting, geological mapping, rock outcrop and subcrop sampling, and hand trenching.

The eastern portion of the Mustang property hosts the well-documented Outflow prospect discovered by Noranda Exploration Company Ltd., later drilled by Altius Resources (with Barrick Gold) in the late 1990's and early 2000's, and investigated by a Newfoundland government geologist (C.G. Squires, 2005) and a 2006 Master Thesis (J.M. O'Driscoll). Highest gold values, up to 28 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) over 0.8 metres, occur in dark grey hydrobreccia units associated with elevated arsenopyrite concentrations. Select diamond drill assay results from Noranda's drill program include 1.27 g/t Au over 11.3 m, 0.67 g/t Au over 18.3 m and 0.92 g/t Au over 9.0 m.*

*Gold values on adjacent properties in similar rocks and assays based on historical work are not representative of mineralization on the property, have not been verified and should not be relied upon.

The Outflow prospect comprises the Mustang and Piper mineralized zones. Squires reports: "The silicified zones trend for at least 3 km to the northeast, locally in association with fault zones, and consist of chalcedonic silica in association with comb-textured and crustiform quartz and hydrothermal breccia. Disseminated pyrite is associated with some of the higher-grade samples, and needles of possible stibnite have been noted.the vein textures are reminiscent of low-sulphidation epithermal mineralization." The geologic textures and style of brecciation, and associated minerals including arsenic, antimony, mercury, and barite, are interpreted to be similar to the geologic model proposed for the Keats Zone on the New Found Gold Queensway property.

Other targets on the Mustang property include the Road Breccia, Barite, Jasperoid and Gervase's Lane showings. Discovered by prospecting in 2003, the Jasperoid showing has geological similarities to silicified semi-calcareous rocks from the Carlin district of Nevada. Squires reports: "The Jasperoid showing is exposed as a 1.5 wide by 5 m long, southwest-trending zone of silicification Immediately adjacent to the Jasperoid showing is a set of quartz veins that have east-west trends perpendicular to stratigraphy. These veins have distinctive epithermal textures in the form of banded coliform quartz and bladed quartz pseudomorphs that have likely replaced calcite or barite. Alteration at this latter location was evidently controlled by a discordant fault or joint that strikes toward the Mustang showing."

The Company also wishes to announce that they have recently applied for surface exploration permits on the Virginia property, located contiguous with the north-eastern portion of New Found Gold's Queensway Gold Project and Labrador Gold Corp.'s newly acquired Gander South project. Proposed work includes prospecting, geological mapping, rock outcrop and subcrop sampling, till sampling and soil geochemistry. Crews will investigate the "Virginia Holdings" prospect, comprising quartz veining developed over a 35 m wide zone within sheared gabbro and graphitic shale (main shear). Grab samples collected from the main shear reportedly assayed up to 9.0 g/t gold and up to 109.6 g/t Au from the sheared gabbro (Manor Resources Inc., press release, 1992).*

*Gold values on adjacent properties in similar rocks and assays based on historical work are not representative of mineralization on the property, have not been verified and should not be relied upon.

CEO Mike England states: "We are looking forward to receiving our work permit to commence field work on the Mustang property shortly, with local crews based in Gander. Interest is high in this active, emerging gold district led by New Found Gold - an aggressive surface exploration program on the Mustang property will define priority targets that can be drilled later this summer."

All Company activities are conducted under guidelines and policies compliant with federal and provincial health and safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Qualified Person

Catherine Fitzgerald, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, is the Qualified Person responsible for reviewing and approving the technical contents of this news release as they pertain to the Mustang and Virginia properties.

About Sky Gold Corp.

Sky Gold Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company engaged in acquiring and advancing mineral properties in Canada and the USA. In addition to the Company's Newfoundland properties, the Company also owns the Evening Star property, located 12 km southeast of Hawthorne, NV, which is prospective for gold mineralization and CRD (Carbonate Replacement Deposit) base and precious (silver and gold) mineralization.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Mike England"

Mike England, CEO & DIRECTOR

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Telephone: 1-604-683-3995

Toll Free: 1-888-945-770

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains 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. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM).

SOURCE: Sky Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596696/Sky-Gold-Readies-Field-Crews-for-Exploration-Programs-in-Central-Newfoundland-Contiguous-to-New-Found-Golds-Queensway-Gold-Project
Investment to fuel global growth, further develop its visionary software for Enterprise Architecture, and expand into the Cloud Native category

LeanIX today announced that it has closed $80 million in Series D funding led by new investor Goldman Sachs Growth. Other investors are Insight Partners and DTCP who, along with Capnamic Ventures and Iris Capital, have participated in earlier rounds. The investment strengthens the role of LeanIX as a visionary provider of Software-as-a-Service for Enterprise Architecture (EA). The closing brings LeanIX's total funding to over $120 million an unprecedented record level in the EA field. LeanIX will use the investment to continue its successful international growth and to further develop its complementary solutions for cloud governance.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005301/en/

Andre Christ, Co-founder CEO, LeanIX GmbH (Photo: Business Wire)

LeanIX has experienced impressive growth since its founding in 2012 in Bonn, Germany: The company is currently working with 300 international customers and achieved 100% revenue growth in 2019. 39% of total sales are already generated in the US market; 57% in the European home market. In the last 12 months, the company has opened new offices in Hyderabad (India), Munich (Germany) and Utrecht (Netherlands), and now has over 230 employees worldwide.

Aligning business priorities with technology change

LeanIX was founded because technology change and business alignment are unsolved challenges in many organizations. Complex and outdated IT landscapes often hold enterprises back from becoming fully agile, maximizing their customer experience or accelerating their time to market. Manual data collections in spreadsheets and previous generations of cumbersome EA tools do not satisfy the customers' needs.

Andre Christ, LeanIX CEO Co-Founder, describes the new approach: "LeanIX is like Google Maps for a company's IT landscape: We provide information in the appropriate context to determine the exact location and to plan the future journey in a way the business understands. Looking at future states of your architecture should be as simple as jumping to a point in time in your backup with a time machine." The transparency provided by LeanIX is used by companies of all sizes across industries.

"Many well-known enterprises have successfully restarted their EA initiative with LeanIX," said Christ. "Due to its high usability and seamless integrations with other data sources, fast-growing businesses like Atlassian, Dropbox, and Mimecast have also kick-started their EA practices."

LeanIX has received the Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice Distinction with Highest Overall Rating in the beginning of the year confirming the high value for customers.

Christian Resch, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs Growth, explained why lead investor Goldman Sachs Growth was convinced to invest: "LeanIX is a thought leader in Enterprise Architecture. We were impressed by the company's revenue growth, the positive customer feedback and its visionary concept: LeanIX develops software solutions to reduce complexity in IT application landscapes. Importantly, LeanIX's software helps companies with their transition to, and maintenance of, both the cloud and modern microservices architecture." Alexander Lippert, Vice President at Goldman Sachs Growth, will join the board of directors.

Helping organizations to become cloud native

A secure and well-managed adoption of cloud computing and microservices architectures is an increasing priority for CIOs and CTOs. With the Series D funding, LeanIX will further develop this business segment at an accelerated pace over the next few years.

Andre Christ, LeanIX CEO Co-Founder, says: "Our EA Suite already helps CIOs and their internal IT teams assess IT application portfolios for rationalization opportunities and cloud-readiness. With our Cloud Native Suite, companies can automatically discover used cloud services across major platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud as well as capture data about microservices. Put inside the right business context, these insights can now be leveraged by the CTO, product- and operations teams. Some customers already call us the next generation CMDB for the cloud."

Christ is convinced that LeanIX can become a larger technology company with relevance to even more businesses worldwide. LeanIX has the vision to create better workplaces where employees become more engaged as a result of having information within understandable context and knowing that decisions are being made based on facts. The investment by Goldman Sachs Growth and existing investors is proof of this strategy's value and a major step towards this goal.

About LeanIX

LeanIX is the single source of truth for Corporate IT and Product IT to create transparency of the present and derive actions, to shape the future in an understandable business context. LeanIX provides its Software-as-a-Service to 300 international customers including well-known brands such as Adidas, Atlassian, Dropbox, DHL, Merck, Volkswagen, Vodafone and Zalando. More than 40 certified partners such as Deloitte, Cognizant and PwC rely on the dynamically-growing IT company co-founded in 2012 by LeanIX CEO Andre Christ. With EA Connect Days, LeanIX has been regularly organizing one of the world's most important industry events in the field of Enterprise Architecture since 2014. The company is headquartered in Bonn, Germany with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts, Munich/Germany, Utrecht/Netherlands and Hyderabad/India. It has 230 employees worldwide.

LeanIX picture material and logos: https://www.leanix.net/en/resources/media-kit

About Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division

Founded in 1869, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities, and investment management firm. Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division (MBD) is the primary center for the firm's long-term principal investing activity. MBD is one of the leading private capital investors in the world with investments across growth equity, private equity, infrastructure, private debt, and real estate.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a leading global venture capital and private equity firm investing in high-growth technology and software ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. Founded in 1995, Insight Partners has invested in more than 400 companies worldwide and has raised through a series of funds more than $30 billion in capital commitments. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with practical, hands-on software expertise to foster long-term success. Across its people and its portfolio, Insight encourages a culture around a belief that ScaleUp companies and growth create opportunity for all. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit www.insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.

About DTCP

DTCP is an investment management group with $1.7 billion in 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 dtcp.capital, www.linkedin.com/dtcp-capital, or @dtcp_capital on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005301/en/

Contacts:

For EMEA:

Claudia Gabriel

LeanIX Medienburo

M: +49 176 60 81 01 89

E: mail@claudiagabriel.de



For US:

Rich Mullikin, APR

Rocket Science PR, for LeanIX

rich@rocketscience.com

Telephone: +1 415 464 8110 x216

Mobile: +1 925 354 7444
PARIS, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HSBC (contact: 'synd manager'; telephone: +44 207 992 8066) hereby gives notice, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities



The securities: Issuer: CCR Re Guarantor (if any): na Aggregate nominal amount: EUR 300,000,000 Description: Fixed due 15 July 2040, subject to Conditions to Redemptions and Purchase Offer price: TBC Other offer terms: Stabilisation: Stabilising Manager(s): Credit Agricole CIB, HSBC, Natixis Stabilisation period expected to start on: 8th July 2020 Stabilisation period expected to end no later than: 14th August 2020 Existence, maximum size & conditions of use of over-allotment facility[1]: 5% of the aggregate nominal amount Stabilisation Venue(s) Over the counter (OTC)

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view the associated PDF document.

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4074S_1-2020-7-8.pdf (http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4074S_1-2020-7-8.pdf)
Litchfield (06759)

Today

A few showers early becoming a steady rain for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 69F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 47F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Wolters Kluwer, Health, a leading global provider of trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions, today announced that Denise Basow, MD, CEO for Clinical Effectiveness, has been ranked among the Top 25 Women Leaders in Healthcare Software of 2020, an award given by The Healthcare Technology Report

According to The Healthcare Technology ReporttheTop 25 honor recognizes "womenleaders who exemplify achievement in a hyper-competitive industry that seeks to have profound impact across national and global communities. The importance of their leadership roles is paramount particularly as healthcare providers increasingly rely on data and technology to improve the way care is delivered. By dedicating themselves to their chosen field, through decades of expanding expertise and capabilities, these are the women leaders most respected and admired in healthcare software."

"It is an honor to receive this award and I share this recognition with all the women leaders in our organization," said Dr. Basow. "In these challenging times, we redouble our commitment to the hard-working doctors, nurses, pharmacists and the many clinicians on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure they have the best available evidence to care for their patients."

As President and CEO for Clinical Effectiveness at Wolters Kluwer, Health, Dr. Basow leads a global organization helping hospitals and health systems improve care with acclaimed expert solutions including UpToDate, Lexicomp, Medi-Span and Emmi. Previously, Dr. Basow served as Vice President and General Manager, Clinical Decision Support. As a primary care physician who joined UpToDate in 1996, Dr. Basow has also held the positions of Deputy Editor, Executive Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

Dr. Basow is board-certified in Internal Medicine. She received a BA in Chemistry from Duke University, attended Baylor College of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins.

To learn more about the awards, please visit: https://thehealthcaretechnologyreport.com/the-top-25-women-leaders-in-healthcare-software-of-2020/

Read this story on our website.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005508/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Andre Rebelo

Public Relations Manager

Wolters Kluwer

+1 781.392.2411

andre.rebelo@wolterskluwer.com
Arix Bioscience plc

VelosBio completes $137 million Series B financing

LONDON, 8 July 2020: Arix Bioscience plc ("Arix", LSE: ARIX), a global venture capital company focused on investing in and building breakthrough biotech companies, today notes that its portfolio company, VelosBio Inc. ("VelosBio"), has completed an oversubscribed Series B financing of $137 million, following strong interest from leading global healthcare investors.

Jonathan Tobin, PhD, Arix Managing Director and VelosBio Board Director commented: "Arix invests in world class opportunities by backing outstanding teams and ground breaking science. Our strategy in oncology is to support a diverse portfolio of companies using novel and high potential approaches to treat cancer. We are pleased to be involved in this syndicate of high calibre investors and look forward to continuing to work with the VelosBio leadership team as they further advance the clinical development of their lead compound, VLS-101."

The announcement can be accessed on VelosBio's website at: https://velosbio.com/news-events/press-releases and full text of announcement from VelosBio is contained below.

[ENDS]

Enquiries

For more information on Arix, please contact:

Arix Bioscience plc

Charlotte Parry, Head of Investor Relations

+44 (0)20 7290 1072

charlotte@arixbioscience.com

Optimum Strategic Communications

Mary Clark, Supriya Mathur, Shabnam Bashir

+44 (0)20 3922 0891

optimum.arix@optimumcomms.com

About Arix Bioscience plc

Arix Bioscience plc is a global venture capital company focused on investing in and building breakthrough biotech companies around cutting edge advances in life sciences.

We collaborate with exceptional entrepreneurs and provide the capital, expertise and global networks to help accelerate their ideas into important new treatments for patients. As a listed company, we are able to bring this exciting growth phase of our industry to a broader range of investors.

www.arixbioscience.com

VelosBio Raises $137 Million in Series B Financing to Advance Development of ROR1-Directed Therapeutics in Oncology

Oversubscribed funding round to advance the development of investigational, first-in-class antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies targeting ROR1, a novel oncology target, across multiple cancer types

Lead investors Matrix Capital Management and Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company) are joined by Adage Capital Management LP, Cormorant Asset Management, Farallon, Foresite Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, Logos Capital, OrbiMed, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, Viking Global Investors, Wellington Management Company, and all existing institutional investors

SAN DIEGO - July 8, 2020 - VelosBio Inc. ("VelosBio"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel, first-in-class cancer therapies targeting receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1), today announced the completion of an oversubscribed Series B financing of $137 million led by Matrix Capital Management and Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company). The Company has raised a total of $202 million in gross proceeds from private financings since its founding in 2017.

New investors participating in the Series B financing round include Adage Capital Management LP, Cormorant Asset Management, Farallon, Foresite Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, Logos Capital, OrbiMed, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, Viking Global Investors, and Wellington Management Company, which are joining existing investors Arix Bioscience, Decheng Capital, Pappas Capital, Sofinnova Ventures, and Takeda Ventures.

The proceeds from the Series B financing will be used to further advance the clinical development of the VelosBio lead antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), VLS-101, and support the continued expansion of its pipeline of ROR1-directed next-generation ADCs and bispecific antibodies. ROR1 is a cell surface antigen present on a range of hematologic and solid tumor malignancies. VLS-101 is a ROR1-directed ADC that is currently being studied in a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic cancers. Studies in patients with solid tumors are scheduled to begin later this year.

"We are delighted to welcome a top-tier group of leading healthcare investors to advance development of our pipeline of first-in-class ROR1-directed therapeutics. We have made tremendous progress since founding the Company in 2017, and this financing reflects strong support for our platform, people, and comprehensive development strategy," said Dave Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, VelosBio. "This investment positions us to further the development of our unique pipeline of targeted therapies, and continue the expansion of our world-class team of scientists and researchers who share a passion for developing paradigm-shifting cancer therapeutics to improve patients' lives."

"We were attracted to VelosBio by the excellent science, experienced management team, and broad potential therapeutic applicability of its proprietary ROR1-targeting technology," said Karan Takhar, Managing Director, Matrix Capital Management. "The early clinical data with VLS-101 are very promising and support ROR1's potential as a novel oncology target. We see tremendous opportunity for the VelosBio pipeline to produce novel targeted therapies for use as monotherapy or in combination across a broad range of cancers."

About VelosBio

VelosBio Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel, first-in-class, ROR1-directed therapeutics to transform the lives of patients with cancer. Its lead candidate, VLS-101, is a ROR1-directed ADC being developed for patients with hematologic and solid tumor malignancies. The Company is developing a broad pipeline of ROR1-directed therapeutics in oncologic indications with high unmet medical need. VelosBio is headquartered in San Diego. For more information, please visit www.velosbio.com

Contact

Media

Kimberly Ha

KKH Advisors

917-291-5744

kimberly.ha@kkhadvisors.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / GREAT ATLANTIC RESOURCES CORP. (TSXV:GR) (the "Company" or "Great Atlantic") is pleased to announce it has begun the 2020 exploration program at its Mascarene Property, located in southwest New Brunswick. The Company is currently conducting prospecting and soil / rock geochemical sampling in the east region of the property in an area of reported gold, copper, cobalt and nickel mineralization and historic shafts. This work includes the area of the Oliver - Oliver Cameron historic workings where Great Atlantic 2018 mine dump rock samples returned up to 2.0 g/t gold and 5.0% copper.

Historic pits / shafts are reported in multiple regions of the Mascarene Property dating back to the 1800s (New Brunswick. Dept. of Natural Resources and Energy Development Mineral Assessment Reports and Mineral Occurrence Database files). Sulfide bearing veins are reported at some of these sites. Great Atlantic located historic shallow pits and shafts in the east and west regions of the Mascarene Property during 2018. Historic shafts are located within the east region of the property at the Oliver and Oliver-Cameron workings. Great Atlantic is currently conducting prospecting and rock / soil geochemical sampling in the area of the Oliver and Oliver Cameron workings and the area of a small quarry referred to in historic reports as the North Pit (located approximately 700 - 800 meters northeast of the Oliver Cameron workings). Reported rock sample highlights within this target area include:

Seven rock rubble samples collected by Great Atlantic during 2018 in the area of the Oliver and Oliver Cameron workings returned 1.84 - 5.02% copper and up to 2.01 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, up to 0.22% nickel and up to 0.14% cobalt (Company News Release of October 17, 2018).

Historic 2004 and 2011 rock samples from the area of the North Pit are reported up to 0.45% copper, up to 0.31% cobalt and up to 0.30% nickel.

A 2002 airborne magnetic survey conducted by the New Brunswick government identified magnetic anomalies within the property including a broad magnetic anomaly or anomalies extending through the area of the Oliver and Oliver Cameron workings and North Pit. Great Atlantic management speculate these anomalies to be associated with a buried mafic intrusion(s). David Martin, VP Exploration for Great Atlantic states "the magnetic anomalies are targets for mafic intrusive hosted copper-nickel-cobalt deposits. Reported shallow vein-type mineralization at historic workings over magnetic anomalies may be indicative of deeper mafic intrusive hosted copper-cobalt-nickel mineralized bodies."

Readers are warned that historic data for the North Pit referred to in this News Release have not been verified by a qualified person.

The Mascarene Property covers an area of approximately 2,080 hectares. The property is located approximately 6 kilometers southwest of the town of Saint George. Access is excellent with paved provincial roads transecting the property and within close proximity of the property.

David Martin, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and VP Exploration for Great Atlantic, is responsible for the technical information contained in this News Release.

On Behalf of the board of directors

"Christopher R Anderson"

Mr. Christopher R. Anderson "Always be positive, strive for solutions, and never give up"

President CEO Director

604-488-3900 - Dir

Investor Relations:

Please call 604-488-3900

About Great Atlantic Resources Corp.: Great Atlantic Resources Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on the discovery and development of mineral assets in the resource-rich and sovereign risk-free realm of Atlantic Canada, one of the number one mining regions of the world. Great Atlantic is currently surging forward building the company utilizing a Project Generation model, with a special focus on the most critical elements on the planet that are prominent in Atlantic Canada, Antimony, Tungsten and Gold.

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. 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 or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.

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.

Great Atlantic Resource Corp.

888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4

SOURCE: Great Atlantic Resource Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596628/Great-Atlantic-Begins-2020-Work-Program-at-Mascarene-Property--Southwest-New-Brunswick
SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / iPharma Labs, Inc. ("iPharma"), a privately-held contract development research organization (CDRO) specializing in inhalation pharmaceutical development services, announced today the addition of two new board members, expansion of the senior management/advisory team and the implementation of GMP testing services. These achievements have contributed to the continued successful growth of iPharma.

Inhaled Covid-19 Treatments - Expanding GMP Development Services

The increasing demand for products to treat respiratory and systemic diseases by the inhaled route, in particular the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, has highlighted the need for CDROs with the ability to respond rapidly to provide inhalation delivery development services for companies with innovative new therapies against SARS-CoV2. iPharma is well positioned to meet this need. iPharma is currently helping accelerate development of inhaled aerosol medicines for COVID-19 treatments. iPharma can develop and test formulations with a variety of inhalation devices available off the shelf and available for licensing to our clients from various suppliers.

iPharma is now fulfilling our plan to expand into GLP/GMP capabilities just in time to offer expanded development services during this health crisis.

New Board Appointments

As part of strengthening the business, iPharma has expanded its board and management to provide over 150 years of experience/expertise.

John Pritchard, PH.D. - John is a physicist and experienced aerosol scientist who has led teams at GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, 3M Drug Delivery Systems and Philips Respironics. John's fingerprints are on a significant number of inhaled products - Advair, Flovent, Symbicort, Dulera, Optichamber Diamond and Aeroneb Go to name just a few. He was a member of the UN science team that brought an end to CFCs, he contributed to the development of oropharyngeal models as a part of the GSK-AstraZeneca-Novartis Consortium, and has been an early advocate of digital health and smart devices to improve patient adherence. John was a Founding Member and President of The Aerosol Society and co-founder of the Drug Delivery to the Lungs conference in Great Britain. John was the 2018 recipient of the Charles G. Thiel Award, the 'nobel prize' in the inhalation field, from Virginia Commonwealth University for outstanding research and discovery in respiratory drug delivery.

Samantha Miller - Samantha brings over 25 years of experience in the biopharma industry holding strategic and operational senior management positions with a variety of private and public companies. Currently Samantha is co-founder and chief operating officer of an OTC women's health company, Cadence Health. She is also a strategic advisor (formerly chief business officer) to InCarda Therapeutics, a clinical stage company treating cardiovascular conditions by the inhalation route. Prior to InCarda and Cadence, Samantha was chief business officer for Dance Biopharm, and led corporate and business development for other pharma companies, including Theravance, Inhale/Nektar, and Onyx. She began her pharmaceutical industry training with Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals as a marketing manager.

"We are elated to have John and Samantha on our board. They are both stars of the industry, with deep business and technical experience in our field, each with a brilliant history of helping bring innovative inhalation products to market"

- John Patton, iPharma co-founder and Executive Chairman.

For management:

In addition to new board appointments, iPharma is currently implementing GMP testing and has brought on Truc Le as Chief Compliance Officer to help build the quality compliance arm of iPharma, and has brought back Mei-chang Kuo, a co-founder, as SVP Drug CMC Development.

Truc Le - Truc has a long history of working with the FDA and companies. "He can smell non-compliance within minutes of entering a manufacturing facility", said John Patton. From 2011 to March 2020, Mr. Le was the Chief Technical Operations Officer for Aerami Therapeutics (formerly Dance Biopharm), a leader in aqueous respiratory therapy delivery with Drug and Device combination products. As CTO at Dance, he built the Quality Systems, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, and oversaw IT and Pharmaceutics. From May 2009 to July 2011, Mr. Le was the Chief Operating Officer for Avid Bio services, Inc., a leading CRO. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Le was SVP of Operations and Quality for Nektar Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, where he led the commercial formulation and device manufacturing for Exubera. From 1981 to 1999, Truc was Worldwide Vice-President of Regulatory Compliance and Quality Systems for a division of J&J. Mr. Le has a B.S. in mechanical engineering, an M.B.A. in Management.

Mei-Chang Kuo, PhD.

With a long track record in pharmaceutical R&D, Mei-Chang Kuo has seen several new and life-cycle-management products through different phases of research and development at a several start-up and mid-size life science companies. From 1994 to 2008 at Inhale/Nektar, Dr. Kuo formulated ultra- stable dry powder insulin for Exubera (~10 years at room temp) and was responsible for the second and third generation of insulin formulation development. As a SVP at Dance Biopharm, Kuo formulated ultra-stable liquid inhaled insulin formulations (~5 years at refrigeration) and led API management/Drug Product manufacturing. From 1987 to 1994 as Director of Peptide Chemistry at ImmuLogic Pharm, Kuo led the development of the ALLERVAX drug product programs and CMC drafting in the IND submissions. Kuo earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and completed an Arthritis Postdoctoral Fellowship at National Institute of Health (NIH).

"We have always planned to expand our capabilities, from showing clients the very best inhalation system and formulation for their molecule, to providing them the validation of GMP testing as we grow the business. We could not be more pleased to have Truc and Mei-chang lead this effort" - Dr. Keith Ung - iPharma CEO/CTO, Director and co-founder.

About iPharma

iPharma is an inhalation contract development research organization (CDRO) founded in 2016 by a group of former employees of Inhale/Nektar Therapeutics, where they learned how to formulate a wide variety of therapeutic agents for inhalation delivery with state of the art technologies including hydrophobic and hydrophilic small molecules, peptides, large proteins (i.e. monoclonal antibodies), controlled release particles, RNAi, gene delivery constructs, and live viruses. The company is technology agnostic; the goal is to provide clients with the best product options that fit the proposed therapy. The client's molecule, its chemical and physical properties, along with patient needs and time and cost restraints will dictate the product

Contact: iPharma communications

info@ipharmalimited.com

http://www.ipharmalimited.com

SOURCE: iPharma, Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596470/iPharma-Inhalation-RD-Labs-Provides-Corporate-Update-Highlighting-Expansion-of-Team-and-GMP-Testing-Capabilities
At a Fraction of the Cost of Other Premium Brands, the Dreame V11 is a Reliable and Versatile High-Performing Vacuum Designed to Meet the Needs of Today's Consumers

MOSCOW, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dreame, a premium home-tech lifestyle brand that is part of the global Xiaomi ecosystem, announced today the launch of the V11 cordless stick vacuum. With several industry-leading features, including a 125,000 RPM motor and 90-minute runtime, the Dreame V11 is designed to make it easy for consumers to maintain a clean and sanitary home. The Dreame V11 will retail for $424.99 (USD), but starting from July 9th at 1:01 a.m. until July 12th at 12:59 a.m. (MSK) the vacuum cleaner will go on pre-launch sale for $293.99 (USD) on AliExpress .

The V11 offers one of the industry's fastest brushless motors with an output of 125,000 RPM, a 12-cone cyclone filtration system that can remove micro-particles - such as bacteria, dust, pollen and even allergens from pet fur, and price affordability as a result of being up to 33% cheaper than competing premium vacuums.

Improving on the performance, power and filtration of the Dreame V10 stick vacuum, the Dreame V11 has been re-engineered to include a 25% improvement in suction power using a 150AW high-speed motor, and a 50% increase in runtime to 90 minutes via a 3000mAh battery.

"The debut of the Dreame V11 offers consumers a new premium vacuum cleaner to choose from that provides literally the same functionality and power as competing products but with improved reliability and in some cases at a price point of 33% less," said Mr. Roc Woo, a co-founder of Dreame.

About Dreame

Dreame Technology was established in 2015 with the goal of becoming one of the most well known home-tech lifestyle brands in the world by developing reliable, high-performing home cleaning technology at a competitive price point. The company is based in Asia and is part of the Xiaomi ecosystem. Dreame is led by Mr. Hao Yu, the CEO and founder, who studied computational fluid mechanics at Tsinghua University in China where he previously founded the "Sky Workshop," which was funded by Boeing.

More information about the brand can be found here , including Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1201942/Dreame_PRNewswire_Image.jpg
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BNI (Business Network International) welcomed Scion Social (Scion) to the BNI family of companies on June 30, 2020. This acquisition represents a key step in BNI's global marketing strategy to impact more business owners around the world.

With the addition of its first-ever chief marketing officer in 2019, the launch of a refreshed brand in May 2020, and the build-out of a multi-year marketing plan, BNI has set the bar high for itself and its marketing efforts in 2020 and beyond. Acquiring Scion is another important step toward BNI's ability to reach more businesses and create a greater impact.

Scion, a digital marketing firm based in Bangalore, India, specializes in marketing strategy, social media presence, website development and communications. Scion has a proven track record helping its clients to build a bigger customer base, support a stronger foundation in the digital space and drive results for new customer conversion.

BNI's Chairman & CEO Graham Weihmiller remarks, "2020 is a capstone year for BNI's Global Marketing Team. With a growing team, a refreshed brand relaunch, several digital marketing pilots in progress, new materials and resources coming out weekly, and now the addition of an incredible team like Scion, I'm blown away by what we've been able to accomplish so far - and this is just the beginning. We have exciting work on deck for the balance of 2020 and I can't wait to see what we're able to achieve together."

"Having been a part of the BNI family for more than a decade as a Member, Executive Director and Marketing partner, I am thrilled to see Scion officially become part of the global team. The opportunities for our continued collaboration are endless. Scion is eager to contribute towards the world-class digital transformation that BNI has embarked upon, to enhance the member & franchisee experience in the years ahead," says Meena Srinivasan, president of Scion Social.

"As we strive towards building a world class organization, I am thrilled to have Scion become a part of the BNI Global Marketing Team," shares BNI's Chief Marketing Officer Terry Atkins. "I've had the pleasure of working with Scion as a client, and now through this acquisition we will be able to work closely to build best in class marketing for BNI and our partners."

About BNI

BNI is the world's largest and most successful business networking organization. BNI has nearly 270,000 Members who attend one of almost 9,700 weekly chapters meetings in 70 countries around the globe. BNI's proven business networking platform provides its Members the ideal environment, technology, training, and support to help them build strong businesses. BNI Online is its newest product, an advanced online platform that helps Members connect in structured virtual environment. Since the beginning 2020, BNI Members have generated $7.4 billion in business through their referrals to one another.

To see the new look and learn more about BNI, go to www.bni.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1177046/BNI_Logo.jpg
VANCOUVER, WA / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Adaptive Ad Systems, Inc. (OTC PINK:AATV), today releases initial guidance of the Company's financial performance for Q3 2020. Adaptive provides Dynamic Digital Ad Insertion (DDAI) via its streaming media hardware and proprietary processing software for all U.S. cable TV markets.

The Company reports that, despite the unprecedented nation-wide temporary business closures beginning in March following CDC guidelines to stem the COVID 19 pandemic, Adaptive was able to continue deployment of scheduled ad insertions, as well as continue installations of new network systems. As the pandemic continued in April and May, many advertisers reduced ad spending across nearly all media platforms, including cable television. Those actions, taken by both small and large advertisers, had a short-term, but manageable, effect on the Company's operations. However, sales revenue rebounded strongly at the end of the second quarter and the Company currently anticipates third quarter revenues to exceed the results for the same period in 2019.

CEO J. Michael Heil states: "As the pandemic expanded during the first two months of the second quarter, most advertisers cut back ad spending because they were, understandably, unsure if advertisements would impact consumer confidence during the ongoing pandemic. As we entered May, however, advertisers began to test strategic media buys to evaluate the impact of advertising while "shelter in place" rules and guidelines were active. In June, advertisers regained confidence in regional ad spending as consumers showed resilience and parts of the country began to re-open to one degree or another."

Despite encountering these complicating market conditions that continued in most of the U.S. during April and May, and based on increasing market confidence late in the second quarter, the Company currently anticipates at least a 20 percent increase in third-quarter 2020 revenue over the same period in 2019.

The Company will report the details of Q2 2020 performance next month.

ABOUT ADAPTIVE

Adaptive Ad Systems Inc. is a digital media and video communications company that, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, develops and deploys Dynamic Digital Ad Insertion (DDAI) and video streaming media hardware and proprietary processing software for the Cable TV, Satellite and IPTV markets. The Company targets and serves the often-over-looked 2nd and 3rd tier US markets. Adaptive exclusively sells all available advertising space in each market it has contracted while maintaining complete technology ownership. Currently, the Company's technology and business model allows it to dynamically serve over 75 designated marketing areas in over 40 states. Adaptive also provides broadband and cable TV services in some niche major markets. For additional information, please visit: www.aatv.co.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, financial projections, statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for current and future operations, the development, regulatory approvals and commercialization of the Company's products, or any of the Company's proposed services, systems, services, licensing arrangements, joint ventures, partnerships or acquisitions. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results and performance and actual events or results may differ considerably. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any projections may include, without limitation, delays in the Company's development of its products and services, the inability to obtain additional financing, the impact of significant new or changing government regulation on the industry, existing or increased competition, results of arbitration and litigation, stock volatility and illiquidity, and the Company's general failure to effectively implement the Company's business plans or strategies. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

CONTACT:

Adaptive Ad Systems, Inc.

4400 NE 77th Avenue Suite 275

Vancouver, Washington 98662

310-321-4958

info@aatv.co

www.aatv.co

StockWatchIndex

San Diego, California

442-287-8059

info@stockwatchindex.com

www.stockwatchindex.com

www.swiresearch.com

SOURCE: Adaptive Ad Systems, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596698/Adaptive-Ad-Systems-Provides-Third-Quarter-Revenue-Guidance-Revenue-Exceeds-2019-Q3-Revenue
CANONSBURG (dpa-AFX) - Generic and specialty pharma company Mylan N.V. said its U.S.-based business Mylan Institutional LLC recalled one lot of bacterial infection antibiotic Daptomycin in the form of injection for the potential presence of particulate matter, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA. The particulate matter was found in one single-dose vial manufactured by Mylan Laboratories Limited's Specialty Formulation Facility. Mylan Institutional has recalled lot no. 7605112 of Daptomycin for Injection, 500 mg/vial, with expiry date of October 2021, packaged in 20 mL vial. This lot was distributed across the U.S. directly to wholesalers and retail pharmacies between April 2020 and May 2020. The company is yet to receive any adverse reports after using the recalled product. The company warned that the intravenous administration of a solution containing visible particulates could lead to serious adverse events including, but not limited to, local irritation, vasculitis/phlebitis, antigenic or allergic reactions, and microvascular obstruction, including pulmonary embolism. Daptomycin for injection is an injectable lipopeptide antibiotic used to treat systemic and life-threatening bacterial infections of the skin and underlying tissues, and infections that have entered the bloodstream in adult patients. It is used in cases of complicated infections, including vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or 'super bug' infections. In January, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, another U.S.-based business of Mylan N.V., had recalled three lots of ulcer medication Nizatidine Capsules, USP, of 150mg and 300mg strengths of 30 and 60 count bottles for the potential presence of nitrosamine impurity, N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). 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.
Parent company of the MIAX Exchange Group joins Mubadala Investment Company and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office in MidChains' latest funding round.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates and PRINCETON, New Jersey, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH), the parent holding company of the MIAX Options, MIAX PEARL and MIAX Emerald options exchanges (the MIAX Exchange Group), today announced the completion of a minority equity investment in MEEG Holdings Limited, the parent holding company of MidChains, an upcoming digital asset trading exchange. The parties have also agreed to pursue joint technology licensing and product listing opportunities internationally.

"We are excited by the prospect of MidChains becoming one of the first regulated exchanges for virtual asset trading and investing, as it aligns with our ambitions to scale our business globally in areas including digital assets," said Thomas P. Gallagher, Chairman and CEO of MIH. "We have no doubt that MIH and MidChains will become long-term, value-added partners pursuing technology licensing and product listing opportunities throughout the world."

Based in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), MidChains is seeking to provide one of the world's first fully regulated and supervised ecosystem infrastructures for virtual asset trading and investing under the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) regulatory framework. MidChains is expected to launch trading operations in 2020, subject to FSRA approval.

MidChains has also secured further investments by Mubadala Investment Company, who was the first external investor in the company in 2019, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), and other notable regional investors.

"There has been significant interest in MidChains since we made our initial investment in 2019," said Ibrahim Ajami, Head of Ventures, Mubadala Capital. "We are therefore pleased to increase our commitment ahead of the launch of MidChains' virtual asset trading platform, which is expected later this year. A key tenet of our strategy is to establish strong, enduring partnerships and we look forward to supporting MidChains build global operations from its headquarters in Abu Dhabi."

ADIO has invested through its Ventures Fund, an initiative of the Ghadan 21 accelerator programme created to support innovation-focused startups in Abu Dhabi. H.E. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Director-General of ADIO, said, "Abu Dhabi continues to grow as a FinTech hub, laying the foundation for exciting technology developments in the emirate and across the region. MidChains' mission of becoming one of the first fully regulated exchanges in its field is aligned with ADIO's belief in supporting companies with innovation at their core. We have invested in MidChains as part of our commitment to ensure that promising startups are given the help they need to take off and grow in Abu Dhabi, providing them with capital and support to develop cutting-edge solutions of global and regional significance."

"We are thrilled to welcome MIH as an investor and business partner," said Basil Al Askari, co-founder and CEO of MidChains. "We have always looked at the MIH's business model as a benchmark in the industry and we are grateful for their support and belief in our vision, and we look forward to leveraging MIH's expertise and extensive breadth of resources to help position the MidChains platform for long-term success and shape our future growth. We also welcome ADIO as an investor and trusted partner, whom alongside Mubadala and MIH form a group of world class shareholders with a wealth of experience, further enabling us to build a global business out of Abu Dhabi."

"Our partnership with MidChains will support both parties in introducing innovative and unique products globally. We look forward to working together with MidChains to explore untapped growth opportunities," added John Smollen, Executive Vice President and Head of Exchange Traded Products and Strategic Relations at MIH.

For further information regarding MidChains, please visit www.midchains.com.

For further information regarding MIH and the MIAX Exchange Group, please visit www.MIAXOptions.com or contact MIAX Trading Operations at TradingOperations@MIAXOptions.com.

Corporate Communications Contact:

Natalie Kay, Karma Agency

nkay@karmaagency.com

215-790-7806

About MidChains

MidChains is an upcoming institutional crypto asset trading venue and custodian based in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) seeking to operate under the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) regulatory framework. The exchange seeks to provide one of the world's first fully regulated and supervised ecosystem infrastructures for digital asset trading and investing (crypto assets, security tokens, stable coins) with a membership and direct access public exchange.

About MIH

Miami International Holdings, Inc. (MIH) is the parent holding company of Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX), MIAX PEARL, LLC (MIAX PEARL) and MIAX Emerald, LLC (MIAX Emerald and together with MIAX and MIAX PEARL, the MIAX Exchange Group), three fully electronic options trading exchanges. MIH also owns a controlling interest in the Bermuda Stock Exchange.

MIAX, MIAX PEARL and MIAX Emerald leverage the MIAX Exchange Group's industry-leading technology and infrastructure to provide their member firms with traditional pricing and pro rata allocation (MIAX), maker-taker pricing and price-time allocation (MIAX PEARL) market structures, and a hybrid market structure with maker-taker pricing and pro rata allocation (MIAX Emerald).

MIAX Options serves as the exclusive exchange venue for cash-settled options on the SPIKES Volatility Index (Ticker: SPIKE), a measure of the expected 30-day volatility in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).

The MIAX Exchange Group's executive offices and National Operations Center are located in Princeton, NJ, with additional offices located in Miami, FL.

To learn more about MIH and the MIAX Exchange Group visit www.MIAXOptions.com.

About Mubadala Investment Company

Mubadala Investment Company is a sovereign investor managing a global portfolio, aimed at generating sustainable financial returns for its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi.

Mubadala's US $229 billion portfolio spans five continents with interests in multiple sectors including aerospace, ICT, semiconductors, metals and mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, utilities, healthcare, real estate, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, agribusiness and a global portfolio of financial holdings across all asset classes.

Mubadala Capital was established in 2011 as the asset management arm of Mubadala, operating six integrated businesses focused on various asset classes and geographies that include private equity, public equities, credit, ventures, sovereign investment partnerships and Brazil. The unit invests globally across the capital structure in both public and private securities.

In addition to managing its own balance sheet investments, Mubadala Capital manages third party capital on behalf of institutional investors in four of its businesses, including through three private equity funds, two early stage venture funds and the Brazil special opportunities fund.

In 2017, Mubadala Capital launched a $400mn US-focused venture fund out of San Francisco. In 2019, it launched a 400mn European-focused venture fund based out of London and a $100m MENA-based fund based out of Hub71 in Abu Dhabi. In addition to the direct investment funds, the ventures platform also manages a global fund of funds programs focused in US, Europe and MENA.

About the Abu Dhabi Investment Office

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is the central government hub supporting private sector investment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. ADIO enables opportunities for domestic and foreign investors aligned with Abu Dhabi's economic priorities. ADIO provides Investor Care services to help the establishment and ongoing growth of businesses in Abu Dhabi and offers a range of targeted programmes, including competitive cash and non-cash incentives and public-private partnerships.

To learn more about ADIO visit www.investinabudhabi.ae.

Media Contact: Bonny Lawrie, bllawrie@adio.ae, +971503513880

Disclaimer and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company) or MEEG Holdings Limited (together with MidChains, MEEG), and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer; solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

All third-party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by the Company or MEEG remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, the Company's or MEEG's use of third-party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between the owners of these trademarks and the Company or the MEEG. Any references by the Company or MEEG to third-party trademarks is to identify the corresponding third-party goods and/or services and shall be considered nominative fair use under the trademark law.
Negotiations of the MCH Group Ltd.

As the MCH Group Ltd. has already communicated on several occasions, it is currently considering a capital increase involving new investors. In this connection, MCH has among several interested parties also negotiated with Lupa Systems LLC, the American holding company founded in 2019 by James Murdoch, which is involved inter alia in the event, technology and media sector and in the field of sustainability.

The negotiations have not yet been concluded. The MCH Group will provide information as soon as this is the case. Until then, it will not be providing any further information in this respect.

News releases online

MCH Group Ltd.

Corporate Communications

Christian Jecker

+41 58 206 22 52

christian.jecker@mch-group.com

www.mch-group.com
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Bombora, the leading Intent data provider, today announced an integration with Outreach, the leading sales engagement platform. This integration makes Bombora's B2B Company Surge Intent data available in the Outreach platform so sales teams can use weekly tasks to prioritize and focus activity on accounts interested in hearing from them.

"In today's environment, understanding where your potential customers are is crucial," said Anna Baird, Chief Revenue Officer of Outreach. "We are very excited to bring buyer intent data to our platform. Having access to this data will give sellers the edge they need to connect with buyers at the right time."

Bombora's Company Surge Intent data integrates with Outreach to recommend high priority tasks for accounts showing buyer intent each week.

Bombora identifies specific accounts that are researching products and services by capturing intent signals across a proprietary, consent-based cooperative of thousands of B2B websites. It uses natural language processing to understand meaning, context, and engagement with content, and its patented Company Surge data is a normalized score showing content consumption spikes against a baseline of normal consumption, scored weekly to show trend analysis.

In the Outreach platform, a "task" is a preset, assigned, or recommended action for a salesperson to take. When Bombora's Intent data shows that an account is actively in-market and has buyer intent, Bombora will push a task to the salesperson who owns the account in Outreach. The task also includes a list of the topics that the account is interested in, arming the salesperson with the context to make sales conversations more effective.

"Our BDR team is jazzed by the expanded use of Bombora! Adding Bombora's Intent data insights into Outreach makes them actionable for BDRs," said Jodi Lebow, Vice President of Demand Generation at Digital.ai. "It allows our team to start Monday morning with the confidence that they're interacting with accounts that want to hear from us. This increases the relevant conversations we are involved with and naturally leads to higher conversions."

"Knowing who to call and when to call is a challenge for every sales rep, and Intent data helps bridge this gap," said Mike Burton, Co-Founder and SVP of Data Sales at Bombora. "It empowers sales teams to identify when an account is interested. And the new integration with Outreach puts this information directly into their hands, allowing them to take timely and immediate action."

Bombora's Intent-driven tasks are available for free for Outreach and Bombora customers. For more details please visit bombora.com/outreach.

About Bombora

Bombora is the leading provider of Intent data for B2B marketers. Bombora's data aligns marketing and sales teams, enabling them to base their actions on the knowledge of what companies are in-market for which products.

The source of this data is the first co-operative of premium B2B media companies. Members contribute content consumption and behavioral data about their audiences. In turn, they can better understand their audiences, serve advertisers and monetize their inventory.

Learn more about Bombora at bombora.com.

About Outreach

Outreach is the number one sales engagement platform with the largest customer base and industry-leading usage. Outreach helps companies dramatically increase productivity and drive smarter, more insightful engagement with their customers.

Outreach recently commissioned a Forrester study which highlights how it provides an industry-leading ROI of 387 percent over three years and a payback period of fewer than three months since initial investment.

More than 4,000 companies such as Adobe, Tableau, DoorDash, Splunk, DocuSign, and SAP depend on Outreach's enterprise-scale, unparalleled customer adoption, and robust AI-powered innovation. Outreach is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington. To learn more, please visit www.outreach.io.

PRESS CONTACT:

Bill Brazell

bbrazell@witstrategy.com

917-445-7316 cell

SOURCE: Bombora

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596643/Bombora-Integrates-Intent-Data-With-Outreach-so-Salespeople-can-Prioritize-Activities-Based-on-Buyer-Interest
ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / ISG Enterprise Energy Solutions has joined the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) to support its sustainability advisory services and promote clean energy innovation. As a membership organization of clean energy buyers and suppliers, REBA provides a forum for collaboration and cultivation of new strategies for purchasing renewable energy. REBA members are responsible for roughly 90% of corporate renewables transactions to date, and as purchases continue to scale rapidly, REBA and ISG remain committed to guiding and equipping businesses with the tools needed to meet their sustainability goals.

"REBA is an alliance of large clean energy buyers, energy providers, and service providers that, together with NGO partners, are unlocking the marketplace for all nonresidential energy buyers to lead a rapid transition to a cleaner, prosperous, zero-carbon energy future."

Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance

Source: Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance

Businesses are increasingly driving renewable energy adoption and innovation in the U.S. and will continue to play a crucial role in the transition to a clean energy economy. This trend has been largely influenced by growing pressures from customers and investors, which have propelled a wave of corporate sustainability commitments in a variety of industries.

"We've seen a considerable shift towards renewable energy and sustainability across our clients in recent years. Companies are more commonly considering the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of their operations and are responding to customer demand by setting ambitious sustainability goals. ISG Energy has developed unique buying strategies and management programs to guide clients through these initiatives. REBA provides great opportunities to collaborate with like-minded businesses and a platform to share best practices."

Tommy Greer, Vice President - ISG Enterprise Energy Solutions

Once targets are set, however, businesses generally require external support to properly evaluate the investment options and financial risks of renewable energy projects. ISG's team of energy and sustainability experts work with clients to develop renewable energy purchasing strategies that minimize cost premiums and financial risks, while maximizing the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of their commitments.

ISG Energy is currently coordinating with REBA to introduce a novel approach to purchasing renewable energy, utilizing specialized Opportunity Zone tax incentives. These tax benefits, which incentivize investments in economically distressed communities, can be used to enhance the economics of localized solar VPPA's while driving economic development in rural communities. As companies seek to maximize the total impact of their sustainability commitments, localized solar projects, aided by Opportunity Zone funding, represent a new and exciting opportunity to amplify the socioeconomic impacts of renewable energy purchases without sacrificing financial performance.

About REBA

Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), a membership organization working to establish a resilient, zero-carbon energy system where every organization has a viable, expedient and cost-effective pathway to renewable energy. REBA's mission is to support its membership to catalyze 60 GW of renewable energy by 2025.

Learn more at rebuyers.org

About ISG Enterprise Energy Solutions

Our team of energy experts partner with clients to provide comprehensive supply and demand management solutions in order to reduce energy costs and manage risk. By understanding our clients' cost drivers, consumption profile, and sustainability goals, we help to identify new that meet their financial criteria.

Our energy management process is proactive, market driven, and supported by proprietary market intelligence gathered from years in the industry. Our Insight engine provides our team with benchmarks and industry profiles which expedite the path from identifying opportunities to implementing savings.

Learn more at insightsourcing.com/energy

Energy Contact:

Mike Muoio, Account Manager - Sustainability & Renewables

p: 770-769-5613

e: mmuoio@insightsourcing.com

Media Contact:

Mackenzie Hediger, Marketing Manager

p: 770-769-5611

e: mhediger@insightsourcing.com

SOURCE: Insight Sourcing Group LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/595095/ISG-Energy-Joins-the-Renewable-Energy-Buyers-Alliance
CHICO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / AmeraMex International, Inc. (OTCQB:AMMX), a provider of heavy equipment for logistics companies, infrastructure construction and forestry conservation, announced that it has received equipment orders totaling $106,200.

The first order is for an ASV RT-50 compact tract loader with 1,400-pound rated operating capacity while weighing just 5,450 pounds. Not to mention the industry's lowest ground pressure and the ability to be towed behind a -ton pick-up truck. While the RT-50 is being shipped to a vineyard in Northern Calif, the small machine packs an impressive punch for contractors, homeowners, or rental customers.

The second order is for an ASV RT-40 tract loader also being shipped to a vineyard. The RT-40 is perfect for landscaping, rental and snow removal-a lot of muscle and hustle in a compact package. Additionally, the company shipped a utility trailer (UTR) to another California-based customer.

About AmeraMex International

AmeraMex International sells, leases and rents heavy equipment to companies within multiple industries including construction, logistics, mining, and lumber. AmeraMex, with a US and international customer base, has over 30 years of experience in heavy equipment sales and service. Follow AmeraMex on Twitter @ammx_intl and visit the AmeraMex website, www.AMMX.net or www.hamreequipment.com for additional corporate information, online heavy equipment inventory/ pricing and videos.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "potential," "continue" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are encouraged to review the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. 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.

Investor and Media Relations

McCloud Communications, LLC

Marty Tullio, Managing Member

Office: 949.632.1900 or Marty@McCloudCommunications.com

SOURCE: AmeraMex International, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596627/AmeraMex-International-Receives-Equipment-Orders-Totaling-106200
More than 150 industry and government leaders join visionaries to present keynotes, fireside chats, executive panels and news conferences

MILPITAS, California, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Better readiness for future global disruptions through technology innovation will come into sharp focus at the virtual SEMICON West 2020, July 20-23, as more than 150 semiconductor industry visionaries and government leaders gather for keynotes, fireside chats and executive panels on opportunities for improving responses to worldwide challenges. Registration for the conference is open.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Applied Materials CEO Gary Dickerson and legendary IBM executive John Kelly III will kick off the conference by highlighting the vital importance of AI in a sustainable future.

SEMICON West 2020 speakers will also include:

Bill Davidow , high-tech industry executive, venture investor and author, will speak about The Autonomous Revolution: Reclaiming the Lives We've Sold to Machines.

Gayle Jennings O'Bryne , The WOCstar Fund (Women of Color) co-founder and general partner, and Bob Pearson , chairman of The Next Practices Group and author, will examine How Technology, Innovation and Smart Investing is a Pathway Forward in Times of Racial and Economic Injustice.

Ivy Ross , Google hardware vice president of design, and Dr. Josh Makower , NEA Healthcare general partner and lead for its Medtech/Healthtech practice, will discuss Where the Inspiration for Google's Hardware Design Comes From.

Abby Snay , deputy secretary for the future of work, California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, and Dave Toole , CEO, The Gig Economy Group, will discuss How Tech Talent Will Manage the New Norm.

Gary Bolles , chair for The Future of Work, Singularity University, will lead a panel that lays out disruptive global workplace changes in The Great Work Reset.

SEMICON West 2020 Virtual SMART Pavilions

Smart Manufacturing Pavilion - Featuring livestreamed and on-demand talks with ON Semiconductor, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Lam Research, Applied Materials and other industry leaders, presentations will focus in on integrating cognitive learning technologies into microelectronics manufacturing. Attendees will be able to explore the latest technologies, talk with speakers and network with peers and customers at the pavilion's networking lounge.

Smart Mobility Pavilion - Leading all new application spaces for chip growth, the transportation and mobility markets promise to drive growth in segments such as flexible hybrid electronics (FHE) and MEMS and sensors. The pavilion will showcase robotaxis from Pony.ai and AutoX, and their unique Al technology and hardware/software integrated stack for Level 4 autonomous driving.

Smart MedTech Pavilion - COVID-19 has put a spotlight on the value of enhanced remote connected healthcare applications. Presentations will address how MEMS and sensors are the technology of choice for integration in medical wearables and point-of-care instruments, with forecast growth of 9.2 percent year-over-year over the next five years.

Smart Workforce Pavilion - Sustaining the microelectronics industry's pace of innovation and growth through workforce development programs has become a top priority for many companies. Targeting job seekers, the pavilion will highlight entry-level opportunities, job searching during uncertain times, and why microelectronics is a smart career choice.

Learn more at Virtual SEMICON West 2020. Follow SEMICON West on Twitter: SEMICONWest

About SEMI

SEMI connects more than 2,400 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA) and the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) are SEMI Strategic Association Partners, defined communities within SEMI focused on specific technologies. Visit www.semi.org to learn more, contact one of our worldwide offices, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and Twitter .

Association contact

Scott Stevens, Cardinal Communications for SEMI Americas

Phone: 1.512.288.4050

Email: scottstevens512@gmail.com

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DETROIT, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Microspheres Market By Microsphere Type (Hollow Microspheres and Solid Microspheres), By Material Type (Hollow Glass Microspheres, Foam Glass Granulates, Cenosphere, Perlite Microspheres, Expanded Polymer Microspheres, Ceramic Microspheres, Solid Glass Microspheres, Solid Polymer Microspheres, and Metallic Microspheres,), By Application Type (Paints & Coatings, Plastics & Rubber, Construction Materials, Life Sciences & Pharmaceutical, Agriculture Materials, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2020-2025.

This 294-page strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today's microspheres market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period of 2020 to 2025. The report estimates the short- as well as long-term repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for the microspheres market. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits as well as formulate growth strategies.

Microspheres Market: Highlights from the Report

Microspheres are lightweight fillers that could expand up to 120 times from their original size without significantly gaining weight, which tends to weight reduction without compromising the volume of an end-product. In addition to weight reduction, these microspheres enhance several properties of the end-product such as durability, flexibility, and thermal and dimensional stability. They also save raw material cost by reducing the demand for binders/resins. Ranging from 12 to 300 m in diameter, microspheres consist of a lot of functionality in a very small package.

There are a variety of fillers present in the market. Microspheres are lightweight alternatives of conventional fillers, such as talc, calcium carbonate, and clay. Microspheres are produced from glass, ceramics, polymers, and metals. Thus, we have broadly classified materials into glass microspheres (hollow glass microspheres, foam glass granulates, perlite microspheres, and solid glass microspheres), polymer microspheres (expanded polymer microspheres and solid polymer microspheres), ceramic microspheres (cenosphere and ceramic microspheres), and others (metallic microspheres).

Impact of COVID-19 on the Microspheres Market

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire microsphere market ecosystem and changed the market dynamics. Most of the end-use industries have witnessed a downturn since the lockdown announced by several countries across the world to control the spread of COVID-19. The microsphere market is expected to log a decline in 2020. However, the industry experts are optimistic about a V-shape recovery similar during previous pandemics, such as SARS (2003) and MERS (2015). The long-term outlook still seems positive and it is estimated that the microspheres market would be able to cross the landmark figure of US$ 6.4 billion by 2025, assuming a hefty recovery after a downfall in 2020.

Click Here and Run Through the TOC of the Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/802/microspheres-market.html

Hollow Microspheres are the Most Dominant Microsphere Type

Based on the microsphere type, hollow microsphere is likely to remain the most dominant segment of the market in the coming years. Wide application of hollow microsphere due to its lighter weight (specific density less than 0.6 g/cm3, compared to solid one having specific density 2.5 to 2.8 g/cm3) is the prime reason behind its dominance. Whereas, solid microspheres are used in huge quantities in paints & coatings, plastics & rubber, and life science and pharmaceutical.

Hollow Glass Microspheres are the Most Dominant Material Type.

Based on the material type, the market is segmented as hollow glass microspheres, foam glass granulates, cenosphere, perlite microspheres, expanded polymer microspheres, ceramic microspheres, solid glass microspheres, solid polymer microspheres, and metallic microspheres. Hollow glass microsphere is likely to remain the most dominant material type in the market during the forecast period, in terms of value. Hollow glass microspheres allow high filler loading at lower viscosities, reduce shrinkage, and offer solar reflective properties in paints and specialty coatings. Further, these microspheres reduce the part weight and help improve fuel efficiency in automotive, aircraft, and recreational vehicles without deteriorating their physical properties.

Expanded polymer microsphere, currently holding a small position as compared to hollow glass microspheres, is estimated to capture some shares of hollow glass microspheres in the coming years, since at above 600C temperature, hollow glass microspheres start changing their properties and physical shapes, depending on the temperature range and duration of exposure.

Paint & Coatings are the Most Dominant Applications of Microspheres

Based on the application type, the market is classified as plastics & rubber, paints & coatings, construction materials, agriculture materials, life sciences & pharmaceutical, and others. Paints & coatings are likely to remain the most dominant application type in terms of value, in the microspheres market during the forecast period. The spherical shape of microspheres improves flow, reduces resin demand with minimal impact on viscosity, and reduces VOC compared to conventional fillers. In contrast to white inorganic pigments, such as TiO2, microspheres efficiently reflect UV, Vis, and NIR radiation.

In plastics & rubber, microspheres are replacing traditional fillers, such as talc, calcium carbonate, and clay, especially in the transportation sector with the increasing effort towards the use of lightweight materials to improve fuel efficiency. Microspheres are widely used with injection-molded, extrusion, and compression-molded plastics and rubbers, mostly in the form of SMCs, BMCs, SFTs, LFTs, etc.

Register Here for a Free Sample of the Detailed Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/802/microspheres-market.html

Europe Will Maintain its Leading Position in the Market

In terms of regions, all regions are expected to mark a huge decline in 2020 in the wake of rapid spread of the pandemic across regions. Despite severly hit by COVID-19, Europe will maintain its lead in the years to come. Germany is the growth engine of the European microspheres market. Increased demand for microspheres in fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient building in the region and the presence of several market stakeholders including paint & coating manufacturers, automotive OEMs, as well as microsphere manufacturers (Nouryon, Merck KGaA, Omya AG, Trelleborg AB, and Swarco AG) are behind the dominance of Europe in the world. The short-term market demand is challenging in the European region with Italy, Russia, the UK, and Spain being severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Asia-Pacific, from 2021 onwards, is estimated to heal up with the fastest pace. China, India, and Japan are estimated to remain the major markets for microspheres in the region. The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the regional dynamics of the world. Several companies today are showing interest to move away from China due to several factors including the US-China trade war.

Key Players

The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, microsphere manufacturers, distributors, paint & coating manufacturers, compounders, tier players, OEMs, and end-users. Key players in the market are:

Kureha Corporation

Matsumoto Yushi-Seiyaku Co., Ltd.

Merck KGaA

Nouryon

Omya International AG

PQ Corporation

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

Sinosteel Maanshan New Material Technology Co., Ltd.

Swarco AG

The 3M Company

Some of the Key Strategic Alliances in the market:

In 2019, Omya International AG acquired Termolita S.A.P.I. de C.V., a company specializing in expanded perlite products in Mexico and the USA , to strengthen its R&D capability, global distribution network, and to better serve the customers in North America .

and the , to strengthen its R&D capability, global distribution network, and to better serve the customers in . In 2018, SWARCO acquired the German company: Vialux Glasperlen GmbH. The acquisition of Vialux was a strategic step towards strengthening SWARCO's global glass bead business portfolio.

In 2018, Carlyle Group and GIC acquired AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals and relaunched as Nouryon. The newly formed company is working closely with stakeholders to innovate, make a strategic investment, and developing a sustainable solution.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.

Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.

Market trend and forecast analysis.

Market segment trend and forecast.

Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.

Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.

Emerging trends.

Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.

Key success factors.

This report studies the microspheres market and has segmented the market in four ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the four ways in which the market is segmented:

Microspheres Market, By Microsphere Type

Hollow Microspheres (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Solid Microspheres (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Microspheres Market, By Material Type

Hollow Glass Microspheres

(Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)



(Application Type Analysis: Paints & Coatings, Plastics & Rubber, Construction Materials, Agriculture Materials, and Others)

Foam Glass Granulates

(Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)



(Application Type Analysis: Paints & Coatings, Plastics & Rubber, Construction Materials, Agriculture Materials, and Others)

Cenosphere

(Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)



(Application Type Analysis: Paints & Coatings, Plastics & Rubber, Construction Materials, and Others)

Perlite Microspheres

(Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)



(Application Type Analysis: Paints & Coatings, Plastics & Rubber, Construction Materials, Agriculture Materials, and Others)

Expanded Polymer Microspheres

(Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)



(Application Type Analysis: Paints & Coatings, Construction Materials, and Others)

Solid Glass Microspheres

(Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)



(Application Type Analysis: Paints & Coatings, Plastics & Rubber, Construction Materials, Agriculture Materials, Life Sciences & Pharmaceutical, and Others)

Solid Polymer Microspheres

(Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)



(Application Type Analysis: Life Sciences & Pharmaceutical and Others)

Metallic Microspheres

(Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Microspheres Market, By Application Type

Plastics & Rubber (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Paint & Coatings (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Construction Materials (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Agriculture Materials (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Life Sciences & Pharmaceutical (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Microspheres Market, By Region

North America (Country Analysis: The USA , Canada , and Mexico )

Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , France , the UK, Spain , and Rest of Europe )

Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China , India , Japan , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Rest of the World (Sub-Region Analysis: Latin America , the Middle East , and Others)

Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the advanced materials industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports:

https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/Advanced-Materials.html

About Stratview Research

Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas.

We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies.

Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.

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All Seaborn and Seabras Entities Consolidated Under Partners Group Ownership



Interim CEO and CFO Appointed

BOSTON, July 08, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Emergence from Chapter 11

At a hearing on June 30, 2020, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York confirmed the joint Plan of Reorganization (the " Plan ") of Seabras 1 USA, LLC and Seabras 1 Bermuda Ltd. (the " Companies "). On that same day, the Companies consummated their financial restructuring process and emerged from Chapter 11.

Under the terms of the approved Plan and attendant restructuring, the total outstanding debt of the Companies has been reduced, the debt maturity has been extended by approximately six years to September 2028, the debt amortization has been re-shaped, and the debt covenants have been revised, all in a way that provides a solid basis for the continued growth of the business going forward.

Consolidation

On June 30, 2020, Seabras Group, LLC and investment vehicles advised by Partners Group redeemed and acquired all of the Class A Units of Seabras Group, LLC previously held by a subsidiary of SNH Networks, LLC (" SNH "), resulting in 100% equity ownership of Seabras Group, LLC and its subsidiaries, including the Companies, (the " Seabras Group ") now being held by entities managed by Partners Group on behalf of its clients.

Also on June 30, 2020, Seabras Bermuda acquired from SNH 100% of Seaborn Management, Inc. (" Seaborn "), the third-party services provider that manages the day-to-day operations of the Seabras-1 cable, effectively bringing all support services in-house under the Seabras Group.

Management

Coincident with the consolidation and Chapter 11 emergence, Larry Schwartz, former CEO of Seaborn, and Roger Kuebel, former CFO of Seaborn, have left Seaborn and the Seabras Group.

Pete Hayes and Don Shassian, Partners Group-appointed Board members, will serve as Interim CEO and Interim CFO, respectively, of the Seabras Group. Andy Bax, the Chief Operating Officer ("COO") of Seaborn, will remain in the same role.

About Seabras Group

The Seabras Group is a developer-owner-operator of subsea fiber optic cable systems, including Seabras-1, the lowest latency subsea network between Brazil and the USA providing wavelength, Ethernet private line and IP services. The Seabras Group delivers industry leading SLA's and Seabras-1 provides the fastest direct path between the trading exchanges of Sao Paulo and New York.

About Partners Group

Partners Group is a leading global private markets investment manager. Since 1996, the firm has invested over USD 130 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create broad stakeholder impact through its active ownership and development of growing businesses, attractive real estate and essential infrastructure. With USD 94 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2019, Partners Group serves a broad range of institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,500 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter .

Naaz Bax, Head of Marketing

Seaborn Networks

naaz.bax@seabornnetworks.com
CDMO addressing growing customer demand

Investment in additional clinical filling options in Europe

Planned 'go live' in 2021

With biopharmaceutical development heavily focused on specialized therapeutics, drug sponsors are increasingly turning to expert outsourcing partners to meet growing demand for complex fill and finish solutions. Vetter, a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) is further investing in additional capacity to meet that growing global demand with the purchase of a clinical manufacturing site located in Austria.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005638/en/

With the new Vetter Development Service Rankweil site in Austria, Vetter expands its European footprint. (Photo: Business Wire)

As the healthcare environment continues to evolve, the global shift towards specialized medications, complex molecules, and smaller batch sizes has rapidly expanded the role of the manufacturing partner. "An ever-growing number of pharmaceutical and biotech companies are seeking manufacturing partners who provide comprehensive clinical manufacturing resources as well as customized and product specific support with their development strategy," says Senator h.c. Udo J. Vetter, Chairman of the Advisory Board. "The new site expands our European footprint and can be seen as counterpart to our existing US clinical manufacturing site near Chicago."

The production site was purchased along with its existing inventory including a vial filling line and a freeze dryer for liquid and lyophilized products as well as material preparation and laboratory equipment. Thomas Otto, Managing Director, Vetter explains: "With the additional site we will further support our capability for early clinical development in Phase I and Phase II. Over the coming months the facility will be evaluated and modified to the extensive Vetter quality and process standards in aseptic fill and finish for injection systems. Only an hour's drive from Vetter's headquarters in Ravensburg, Germany, the new site is well-positioned for a successful integration into our existing clinical operations."

Vetter Development Service Rankweil (VDS-R) plans call for the start of operations in the second half of 2021.

Find the Vetter press kit and more background information here

About Vetter

Headquartered in Ravensburg, Germany, Vetter is a global leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with production facilities in Germany and the United States. Currently employing 5,000 individuals worldwide, the company has long-term experience in supporting biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers both large and small. Vetter services range from early stage development support including clinical manufacturing, to commercial supply and numerous packaging solutions for vials, syringes and cartridges. As a leading solution provider, Vetter appreciates its responsibility to support the needs of its customers by developing devices that contribute to increased patient safety, convenience, and enhanced compliance. Great importance is also given to social responsibility including environmental protection and sustainability. Learn more about Vetter at www.vetter-pharma.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005638/en/

Contacts:

Vetter Pharma International GmbH

Markus Kirchner

Corporate Spokesperson Media Relations

Phone: +49 (0)751-3700-3729

E-mail: PRnews@vetter-pharma.com
Thomson Reuters Second-Quarter 2020 Earnings Announcement and Webcast Scheduled for August 5, 2020

Conference call and webcast scheduled for 8:30 a.m. EDT

TORONTO, July 8, 2020 -- Thomson Reuters (NYSE, TSX: TRI) announced today that its second-quarter 2020 earnings will be issued via news release on Wednesday, August 5, 2020.

Steve Hasker, president and chief executive officer, and Mike Eastwood, chief financial officer, will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast that morning at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Discussions may include forward-looking information.

You can access the webcast by visiting the "Investor Relations" section of the Thomson Reuters website. Registration for the webcast is now open. Additionally, an archive of the webcast will be available following the presentation.

Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the world's most global news service - Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com.
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / Kaya Holdings, Inc., ("KAYS" or the "Company") (OTCQB.KAYS), the first U.S. publicly traded company to vertically integrate cannabis retail, cultivation and processing operations, announced today that their majority owned subsidiary Kaya Brands International, Inc. ("KBI") and Greekkannabis ("GKC") KBI's Greek joint venture partners. will be launching the Cannamo brand of CBD Pet Products for immediate distribution throughout Greece and neighboring European countries.

The Cannamo brand was developed in response to market opportunities identified by GKC, who, among other sectors, has operating experience in the Greek pet food and pet supplement industry. Our joint venture partner's industry experience and existing channel relationships are expected to facilitate the brand's introduction and market penetration. Development of the brand has also been facilitated through KAYS' relationship with the Israel/Colorado based Day Three Labs, which aided in product sourcing in Europe.

"This exciting new brand is a perfect example of the broader company KAYS has determined to establish through its planned international expansion," said KAYS CEO Craig Frank. "Our process in developing and commercializing this brand has engaged our partners in Greece and Israel, allowing their respective strengths to be leveraged so as to make implementation simpler and easier. We believe that the Cannamo brand of CBD Pet Products is only one example of the potential for growth under the plan KAYS has put into place."

"While engaging in our rigorous efforts to build an E.U.-oriented market strategy for medical cannabis products, our team recognized that introducing a line of CBD products could serve to initiate the consumer relationship with our Greek joint venture, Kaya Kannabis. We anticipate that our CBD Pet Products line will provide a revenue stream while we construct our planned medical cannabis facility in Greece and familiarize the market with our brands in anticipation of the planned development and launch of our THC products," stated Elias Kammenos, co-founder of GKC and a Kaya Kannabis executive.

"Our ideas, visibility, and approach have accelerated our timelines to bring products to market and introduced to us a number of new and exciting opportunities along the way. The European medical cannabis and CBD markets constitute a very large long-term opportunity and we plan to move promptly with KBI to establish an early advantage through this sophisticated partnership," concluded Panos Kinnis, a GKC co-founder and Kaya Kannabis executive.

The Company files periodic reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") A copy of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, complete with pictures, store information and product testing, as well as our other periodic reports filed with the SEC, is available online at www.sec.gov or at www.otcmarkets.com.

To be advised of all upcoming News Releases and shareholder emails please go to www.kayaholdings.com and add your email to our notification list.

About Kaya Holdings, Inc. (www.kayaholdings.com)

Kaya Holdings, Inc. ("KAYS") is a touch-the-plant vertically integrated legal cannabis company operating a number of majority-owned subsidiaries that retail, cultivate, produce and distribute premium medical and recreational cannabis products, including flower, concentrates, oils and extracts, cannabis-infused foods and beverages, topicals and cannaceuticals. KAYS is a fully reporting, US-based publicly traded company, listed for trading on the OTCQB Tier of the over-the-counter market under the symbol OTCQB:KAYS.

KAYS Cannabis operations are conducted under three main majority-owned subsidiaries as further detailed below:

Marijuana Holdings Americas, Inc. owns the Kaya Shack brand of licensed medical and recreational marijuana stores ( www.kayashack.com ) and the Kaya Farms brand of cannabis production and processing operations that operate in the United States.

Kaya Brands USA, Inc. owns a wide range of proprietary brands of cannabis extracts, oils, pre-rolls, topicals, food and beverages, cannaceuticals and related accessories.

Kaya Brands International, Inc., was founded to serve as the vehicle for the Company's non-U.S. operations including retail franchising in Canada and cultivation activities in Greece and Israel.

Marijuana Holdings Americas, Inc.- U.S. Cannabis Operations

Kaya Shack Retail Cannabis Stores

In 2014, KAYS became the first United States publicly-traded company to own and operate a Medical Marijuana Dispensary. KAYS presently operates two Kaya Shack OLCC licensed marijuana retail stores to service the legal medical and recreational marijuana market in Oregon, and is in the process of relocating a third retail cannabis license to serve as a delivery hub for the Eugene and Southern Oregon Cannabis Market,

Kaya Farms

Eugene, Oregon Indoor Grow, Processing & Cannaceutical Facility: KAYS has developed its own proprietary Kaya Farms strains of cannabis, which it grows and produces (together with edibles and other cannabis derivatives) at its 12,000 square foot indoor grow and cannabis manufacturing facility in Eugene, Oregon, capable of producing approximately 1,500 pounds of premium cannabis annually, with the capacity for expansion. The Company also plans to use the space for production of oils, concentrates, extracts, edibles, and cannaceuticals. KAYS is currently conducting limited operations at the facility pending approval transfer of the production and processing licenses to KAYS by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (the "OLCC"), the Oregon state regulating agency which regulates legal cannabis production, processing and sale.

Lebanon, Oregon Farm & Greenhouse Facility: KAYS owns a 26-acre parcel in Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon which it intends to construct an 85,000-square-foot Kaya Farms greenhouse cultivation and production facility. To date KAYS has received Linn County Zoning approvals and upon issuance of OLCC Licensing it will begin construction. The farm is intended for immediate development and provides the Company with a potential additional capacity of more than 100,000 pounds annually, to be expanded once export from Oregon to other U.S. States and foreign countries where cannabis use is legal is permitted. Kaya Farms operates in accordance with a Grow Operations manual, as well as manuals for compliance, employment matters and safety.

Kaya Brands USA, Inc.- Brand and Product Development

The Company maintains a genetics library of over 30 strains of cannabis and owns a number of proprietary brands in traditional and innovative cannabis categories including Kaya Buddies pre-rolls, Really Happy Glass cannabis accessories, and Kaya Gear, company-related and cannabis-centric fashion. These brands are currently available at Kaya Shack stores.

The Company has made advances in the development of its Kumba Extracts, Syzygy Extracts, Pakalolo Juice Company Soothe Topicals, Tony Giggles Pleasure Foods (frozen infused Italian entrees), Uptown Shaman (cannaceuticals), and Kaya Yums (chocolates, gummies, power bars) brands. Pending approval of our production and processing license, KAYS intends to begin a multi-state rollout planned in 2020 to the extent permitted by U.S. legal infrastructure. These brands are intended for all Kaya Shack stores, both corporate-owned and franchised.

Kaya Brands International, Inc.- Foreign Cannabis Operations

After over six years of conducting "touch the plant" U.S. cannabis operations inside the strict regulatory confines of a public company, KAYS has formed a subsidiary, Kaya Brands International, Inc. ("KBI") to leverage its experience and expand into worldwide cannabis markets. KBI's current operations and initiatives include:

Canadian Franchising: KAYS has targeted Canada for its first international sale and operation of Kaya Shack cannabis store franchises. KAYS has entered into an area representation agreement with The Franchise Academy (a leading Canadian Franchise Development and Sales Group) to implement the Kaya Shack Retail Cannabis Store program in Canada (the only G7 country that has legalized both medical and recreational cannabis production, sale and use on a national level). The agreement targets 75-100 Kaya Shack Cannabis Retail locations throughout Canada through a multi-year structured rollout, subject to licensing and market conditions.

The Franchise Academy ( http://www.franchiseacademy.ca ) and its founder Shawn Saraga, is a member and national sponsor of the Canadian Franchise Association. With over 15 years of industry experience and having successfully closed over 700 franchise agreements and leases across Canada, the Franchise Academy has the knowledge, expertise, network and dedication to assist select franchisors enter the Canadian market.

Additionally, KAYS has retained Toronto, Canada based law firm of Garfinkle Biderman, LLP to prepare the Franchise Disclosure Documents and related items for the sale of Kaya Shack cannabis store franchises in Canada. We expect the franchise sale and placement effort throughout Canada to progress over the next 3-24 months. KAYS plans to ultimately expand its franchise operations to the U.S., as regulations and laws permit.

Kaya Kannabis- Kaya Farms Greece

General: KAYS has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") setting forth an agreement in principle for KBI to acquire a 50% ownership interest in Greekkannabis, PC ("GKC"). GKC is a recently formed Athens, Greece based cannabis company which has applied for and is awaiting issuance of a medical cannabis cultivation, processing and export license from the Greek government.

The MOU sets forth an agreement in principle, pursuant to which in consideration for KBI providing the necessary expertise related to cannabis cultivation, processing, brand development and other matters, KBI will have the right to acquire a 50% ownership interest in GKC by reimbursing GKC for 50% of its license application costs (with allowances for KBI's expenses as well). Consummation of the transaction contemplated by the MOU is subject to, among other customary conditions, satisfactory completion by KBI of its due diligence review of GKC, the drafting, execution and delivery of definitive transaction documentation and final license approval and issuance by the Greek government.

GKC plans to establish its cannabis cultivation and processing facility on land already identified outside of Athens. Project Management envisages a total of 425,000 square feet of light deprivation greenhouses situated on fifteen acres of land and supported by an additional 50,000 sq. feet building for workspace, storage and administrative offices. The Company estimates total farm production, once completely constructed and operating at full capacity, to be at a minimum of approximately 225,000 pounds of premium grade cannabis annually.

Licensing Status: On April 22, 2020 KAYS/KBI received confirmation from their Greek Counsel that the Greek Government had awarded the crucial Installation License for the project.

KAYS and KBI are represented in Greece by the Athens based law firm of Dalakos Fassolis Theofanopoulos ( https://dftlaw.gr/ ). The firm has developed a long-established and well-respected commercial legal practice and has developed a wide international network of correspondent relationships with overseas law offices throughout the world.

Kaya Farms Israel

KAYS, through KBI is seeking to establish a state of-the-art cannabis cultivation facility on approximately 50 acres of prime agricultural land.

Important Disclosure

KAYS is planning execution of its stated business objectives in accordance with current understanding of state and local laws and federal enforcement policies and priorities as it relates to marijuana. Potential investors and shareholders are cautioned that KAYS and MJAI will obtain advice of counsel prior to actualizing any portion of their business plan (including but not limited to license applications for the cultivation, distribution or sale of marijuana products, engaging in said activities or acquiring existing cannabis production/sales operations). Advice of counsel with regard to specific activities of KAYS, federal, state or local legal action or changes in federal government policy and/or state and local laws may adversely affect business operations and shareholder value.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect" or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, acceptance of the Company's current and future products and services in the marketplace, the ability of the Company to develop effective new products and receive regulatory approvals of such products, competitive factors, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.

For more information contact Investor Relations: 561-210-7664

SOURCE: Kaya Holdings, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596744/International-Cannabis-Company-Kaya-Holdings-Inc-and-Greek-Joint-Venture-Partner-to-Launch-CannamoTM-Brand-of-CBD-Pet-Products


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Even as COVID-19 pandemic spreads out of control in the United States, the Trump administration is pressing with the demand to reopening country's school for Fall semester.



In conference calls and public events at the White House Tuesday, President Donald Trump led a campaign to press state authorities to resume classes in person four months after schools across the country shut down over coronavirus concerns.



Speaking at a forum at the White House, Trump said his administration wants to get the schools open 'quickly, beautifully, in the fall.'



Underestimating the risks in reopening schools for the younger generation, the President insisted that out of thousands of people, there was only one person under 18 years died in the state of New Jersey due to COVID-19.



Some leaders want the schools remain closed because they think it's going to be good for them politically, according to him.



'So we're very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools', Trump said, adding that it is very important for the country and for the wellbeing of the students and the parents.



Vice President Mike Pence claimed that in a conference call with the nation's governors, 49 of them announced plans to reopen schools across America.



He said concerns about children falling behind academically, and the fact that there's no substitute for in-classroom learning, was discussed in leangth at the virtual summit Tuesday.



He quoted Dr. McCance-Katz telling the governors that 7 million American children suffer from either mental illness or emotional disturbance, and they principally receive the care from health and mental services at their school.



Pence said next week, the CDC is going to issue five new documents: how to prepare communities to return safely, decision-making tools for parents and caregivers, symptom screening, cloth face-coverings in school settings, and guidance.



The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) President Dr. Sara Goza also spoke at the Forum.



The paediatrician, who earlier warned that kids could have suicidal ideations if schools don't reopen, said, 'The evidence we have so far indicates that children are less likely to have symptoms or severe disease resulting from coronavirus'. Children are less likely to become infected, and they are less likely to spread infection, she added.



Citing evidence, she said it really is time for the kids to get back to school.



For the week ending June 27, school-aged children accounted for only 1.3 percent of COVID-19-related hospitalizations.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
-- The moment of truth has arrived for Chinese authorities, students and parents as the national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, began Tuesday after it had been delayed for one month due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

-- Over 10 million students sit this year's national college entrance exam, deemed the most important event for them as it provides a fair opportunity to set the directions for their future careers.

-- The organization of such a large-scale annual gaokao highlights the country's effective regular epidemic control after it had won strategic achievements in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

BEIJING/WUHAN, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The moment of truth has arrived for Chinese authorities, students and parents as the national college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, began Tuesday after it had been delayed for one month due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Over 10 million students sit this year's national college entrance exam, deemed the most important event for them as it provides a fair opportunity to set the directions for their future careers.

Nationwide, more than 7,000 exam sites have been set up, with around 400,000 examination rooms, while 945,000 people work as invigilators or service providers for the exam.

Examinees enter an exam site in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

The organization of such a large-scale annual gaokao highlights the country's effective regular epidemic control after it had won strategic achievements in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In Beijing, nearly 50,000 students take the exam this year. A total of 132 schools have been arranged as exam sites in the capital city.

At Beijing No. 12 Middle School in Fengtai District, examinees entered the campus on Tuesday morning before passing through a blue tent, where their body temperatures were checked by an automatic electronic thermometer one by one.

A policeman guides the orderly parking of a car sending an examinee to an exam site in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

Fengtai has seen an outbreak of new infections since June 11, and the epidemic control measures are particularly tight. A total of 660 students were scattered in 33 classrooms, with 20 examinees and two invigilators in each room. The space between each desk was expanded to at least one meter.

Li Ke, the mother of a high school graduate in Beijing, said, "It's really not easy for this year's examinees."

"This year is very special. Some excellent students who had intended to apply for overseas universities may choose to sit the exam too, which will make the competition fiercer," she said.

Different from previous years, fewer parents were waiting in front of school gates during the exam this year. In line with epidemic prevention measures, community workers helped to persuade eager parents not to gather outside the exam sites as they normally do the other years.

Since June 11, Beijing has seen a resurgence in locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, prompting the municipal government to tighten containment measures. Thanks to the efforts, the city reported no new confirmed domestically transmitted cases on Monday after it had reported single-digit cases for eight consecutive days.

An examinee claps with a teacher outside an exam site in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Beijing has not mandated that all examinees take a nucleic acid test but has required all invigilators to take the test seven days before the exam. All people at the exam sites must wear face masks throughout the exam, according to Li Yi, spokesperson for the Beijing municipal education commission.

Beijing has also stepped up the monitoring of examinees' health. The health condition of all the high school graduates will be monitored by their schools on a daily basis starting from the 14th day before the examination.

Due to the epidemic situation, Beijing required that each exam site should have no less than three spare rooms in case of emergencies. Sanitizers, napkins and face masks are provided at the door of every classroom.

Spare exam sites have also been arranged in Beijing for students who show abnormal physical conditions, or are under quarantine, authorities said.

No confirmed or suspected cases have been reported among Beijing examinees.

In Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, a series of strict anti-virus measures were also put in place to ensure the safety and health of over 59,000 examinees for the exam, according to the Wuhan Admission and Examination Office.

An examinee has his hands sanitized at an exam site in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

Similar to Beijing, all the staff and candidates in Wuhan, once hit hard by COVID-19, were required to have their temperature taken daily and recorded 14 days in advance. Epidemic prevention staff are responsible for disinfecting the exam sites and related facilities before and after each test.

But, unlike in Beijing, examinees here can decide whether to wear masks during the exam, as the city is now identified as at low risk, according to the Wuhan Admission and Examination Office.

Jiang Xinrun, a graduate of the middle school affiliated to Hubei University, said, "The pandemic did have some influence on our preparation for the gaokao, but the darkest days have passed. I am confident that our efforts won't be in vain."

At No. 15 Middle School of Wuhan, teachers remained in constant contact with the students about their academic progress as well as their psychological well-being before the exam. Meanwhile, the school also provided psychological counseling for the students.

An examinee passes a teacher who encourages examinees outside an exam site in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

The exam began as rainstorms have recently battered some places in south and east China, causing traffic problems for some examinees.

The examination did not proceed as scheduled in Shexian County, east China's Anhui Province, as torrential rain caused severe flooding in the county.

River water overflowed into downtown streets of the county seat, and most of the 2,000-plus examinees were unable to reach their exam sites on time, according to the local authority.

The provincial education authority said the exams on Chinese language and math on Monday will be rescheduled for the affected students.

[ Editor: WXY ]
Litchfield (06759)

Today

A few showers early becoming a steady rain for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 69F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 47F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Lenovo's innovative computer solutions are the perfect fit for Vizetto's Reactiv SUITE, providing an unparalleled remote working experience

TORONTO, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vizetto Inc. , the company that is changing the way the world communicates, announced today that Lenovo, a Fortune Global 500 technology company, has joined Vizetto's rBoard alliance. The rBoard alliance is a group of companies that share a common commitment to bringing the highest standards and user experience to the interactive whiteboard and remote work market. Through the alliance, Lenovo's renowned P-Series tiny workstation and high-end laptops will be certified by Vizetto to ensure the ultimate user experience and will be the preferred computer solution for Reactiv SUITE.

Reactiv SUITE is an eco-system of software products designed to make remote collaboration as intuitive as using one's smartphone today. On this platform, individuals can focus on getting their message across as opposed to presenting static data and images, through the STAGE component. Additionally, all team members using the platform can collaborate during the meeting on an infinity canvas through their SCRIBBLE component.

To enjoy Reactiv SUITE's full potential, users must be able to easily interact with and seamlessly transition between any number of documents, 4K videos, and high-res images. Lenovo's renowned P-Series tiny workstation and high-end laptops, with 8 core CPU and blazing-fast memory with dual M.2 storage support, are perfect solutions that provide the performance and speed needed to power through multiple tasks-. Some of the benefits include:

Intel i7 - 8 Core CPU - For a smooth multitasking experience. Process multiple files simultaneously, get faster thumbnail and files rendering, and an overall smooth experience.





- For a smooth multitasking experience. Process multiple files simultaneously, get faster thumbnail and files rendering, and an overall smooth experience. Nvidia Quadro GPU - For the ultimate user experience, Reactiv SUITE has been designed to leverage this GPU. From enhanced video decode for snappy video playback to full Direct 3D integration that allows users to manipulate and render documents as fast as possible.





- For the ultimate user experience, Reactiv SUITE has been designed to leverage this GPU. From enhanced video decode for snappy video playback to full Direct 3D integration that allows users to manipulate and render documents as fast as possible. Four 4k 60Hz Outputs - Add up to three secondary screens to extend users' workspace - Create multiple 4K pixel surfaces to duplicate massive black boards in classrooms.





- Add up to three secondary screens to extend users' workspace - Create multiple pixel surfaces to duplicate massive black boards in classrooms. Tiny Form Factor - Tiny enough to be integrated to the Interactive White Board (IWB). While being powerful-enough to support any type of workflow, the P-Series is tiny enough to be fully integrated into the rBoard structure so the Interactive White Board can be moved from room to room without having the end user dealing with cables.

"We are thrilled to have Lenovo join our rBoard Alliance, especially since their hardware technology is one of the best in the market and we share their commitment to deliver best-in-class technology to our customers," said Av Utukuri, CEO of Vizetto Inc. "Our vision has always been to bring hardware and software together and Lenovo's combination of features, performance and service is unmatched."

In addition, this partnership will allow both companies to continue to research and innovate solutions that push the boundaries of the technology and expand capabilities in this market space.

"Having the right technology is imperative for collaboration and productivity in a remote work environment, and research shows that more than 70 percent of businesses plan to have some employees work from home permanently, even after the COVID-19 pandemic," said Daniel Olsen, executive director, North America Workstations at Lenovo. "Lenovo's powerful workstations and laptops, coupled with Vizetto's Reactiv SUITE software, are ideal for video-rich, memory-intense applications and allow users to easily toggle between projects when multi-tasking or collaborating with colleagues."

For more information on Lenovo joining Vizetto's rBoard alliance, please visit, https://vizetto.com/partner-lenovo/.

About Vizetto Inc.

Vizetto is a Canadian software company and is the developer of Reactiv SUITE. This software eco-system re-imagines how people will present content, engages with passive audiences in order to convert them into active participants and enables teamwork from anyone, anywhere. Visit, www.vizetto.com .

Vizetto Contact: 905.670.5810, info@vizetto.com
Merger creates the largest global strategy consulting firm focused exclusively on the Telecoms, Media and Technology (TMT) sectors

WARSAW, Poland, July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading strategy consulting groups Altman Vilandrie & Company and Solon Management Consulting have announced their merger to form Altman Solon, the world's largest strategy consulting firm focused exclusively on the Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) sectors. The news solidifies a decade-long partnership between the two firms to increase their global footprint and apply their experience and skills to TMT market leaders, challenger brands and investors around the world.

Altman Solon's team of sector specialists brings together deep market expertise with a shared passion and intellectual curiosity to solve challenging strategy problems and create real-world solutions for TMT players. Altman Solon helps clients identify, develop and implement company strategies, new market entry approaches, digital innovation and global M&A. It helps its investor clients understand markets, conduct due diligence, and make high-stakes investment decisions with confidence.

Prior to the merger, Altman Vilandrie & Company and Solon Management Consulting were sector leaders in their respective markets: Altman Vilandrie & Company focused on the Americas and Solon Management Consulting on Europe and Africa. The teams have shaped strategy and implemented many of the era-defining developments in the TMT sector including deployment of fiber and 5G networks, helping global media companies adapt to the disruption of OTT and streaming services, advising major technology firms on strategies to enter the burgeoning SaaS and cloud computing market, and evaluating deals and creating TMT opportunities for major private equity and infrastructure investors around the globe. By merging, the two businesses bring together their extensive portfolio to make Altman Solon the largest global strategy consulting firm dedicated to the TMT sector, with projects completed in over 100 countries and around 300 employees across offices in Boston, London, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Warsaw.

Rory J. Altman and Patrick Bellenbaum will assume joint roles of Managing Partners at Altman Solon. The merged firm is comprised of all partners from the previous firms.

Rory J. Altman, who founded Altman Vilandrie & Company in 2002 and is Managing Partner at Altman Solon, comments: "We have always strived to give our clients in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors a competitive edge by offering deep sector knowledge from TMT strategy specialists. The merger of our two strongly growing businesses takes this to the next level, by giving Altman Solon the seamless capability to solve global TMT problems with expertise drawn from a much broader pool of markets, situations and clients, combined with the deepest pool of dedicated TMT talent that only we can offer."

Patrick Bellenbaum, Partner and Managing Director at Solon Management Consulting, and Managing Partner at Altman Solon, comments: "We had and always will have a natural thirst to stay at the cutting edge of the TMT industries. Today, even more than before, our clients can benefit from understanding worldwide best practices, business scenarios and technical developments. The merger of our two great firms ensures exactly this. It makes Altman Solon the only strategy consulting firm offering TMT sector specific advice across Europe, the Americas as well as Africa and Asia. I am proud of our team and what it has achieved, and I am excited to bring our specialized consultants from around the world together to deliver the most comprehensive consulting services in TMT."

About Altman Solon:

Altman Solon is a global strategy consulting firm that works across the telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) sectors. Our consultants are united by passion and intellectual curiosity for TMT and work with market leaders, challenger brands and investors in these industries.

Our collaborative team structure brings together industry experts and data analysts to apply their experience and skills to create real-world solutions for global TMT players. We support our corporate clients in identifying, developing and implementing company strategies, new market entry approaches, digital innovation and global M&A. We help our investor clients understand markets, conduct due diligence and make high-stakes decisions with confidence.

Altman Solon is formed following a merger between Altman Vilandrie & Company and Solon Management Consulting in 2020, cementing a decade-long partnership across the Atlantic to form the world's largest global strategy consulting firm with an exclusive focus on the TMT sectors.

Altman Solon has extensive international reach with around 300 employees based in Boston, London, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, San Francisco and Warsaw, with successful projects completed across more than 100 countries.

For further information, please visit www.altmansolon.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1200170/Altman_Solon_Logo.jpg

Media contact: To arrange an interview or for further information, please contact altmansolon@diffusionpr.com
DZ BANK AG Frankfurt am Main - Pre Stabilisation

RNS Number: residue number system

Frankfurt am Main, 8. July 2020



Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

Pre-Stabilisation Notice

ASFING (Autobahnen- und Schnellstraen-Finanzierungs AG

DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised:

Issuer: ASFINAG

Guarantor (if any): Explicit, unconditional & irrevocable guarantee by the Republic of Austria

Aggregate nominal amount: EUR benchmark

Description: 0.00%, due 16. of July 2027

Offer price: tba%

Other offer terms: Payment 8. July 2020, denoms 100k/1k, soft bullet

Stabilisation: DZ BANK AG

Stabilisation Coordinator: DZ BANK AG

Stabilising Managers: Barclays plc, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, RBI

Stabilisation period expected to start on: 08.07.2020

Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities

Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law.

Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Regulated Market)



In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules.

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State.
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.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 8, 2020 / International Montoro Resources Inc. (TSXV:IMT)(Frankfurt:O4T1), (the "Company"). Further to our news releases dated June 19th and 29th, 2020; the Company has closed the private placement and issuing 5,630,000 units at a price of $0.035; for gross proceeds of $197,050. Each unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one warrant. Each whole warrant will permit the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.05 for two years from closing.

The use of proceeds will be for continued exploration on existing properties, outstanding payables including repayment of loans and loan interest, management fees ($25,000), legal, accounting, regulatory fees, and general working capital purposes.

While the Company intends to use the proceeds as stated above, there may be circumstances where, for sound business reasons, funds may be reallocated at the discretion of the Board.

Insider's participated in this private placement offering (600,000 units) constituting a related party transaction pursuant to TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions {"Ml 61-101"). The Company relied on Section 5.S{a) of Ml 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation requirement and Section 5.7{l){a) of Ml 61-101 for an exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirement of Ml 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

All securities issued under this private placement, and the shares that may be issuable on the exercise of the warrants, are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four-months and one day (November 9, 2020) from issuance. The closing of the Private Placement Financing, including the issuance of the securities has received TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") acceptance.

About International Montoro Resources Inc.

Int. Montoro Resources Inc. listed on the TSX Venture Exchange for over 25 years, is a Canadian based emerging resource company. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property positions in:

Red Lake, Ontario (Camping Lake - Au prospect )

) Elliot Lake, Ontario (Serpent River/Pecors - Ni-Cu-PGE discovery ) & ( Uranium- REE's )

) & ( ) Quebec (Duhamel - Ni-Cu-Co prospect & Titanium, Vanadium, and Chromium prospect )

) Prince George, British Columbia (Wicheeda North - Rare Earth Elements prospect)

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Gary Musil"

Gary Musil

President/CEO and Director

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements which reflect the expectations of management. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect.

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: International Montoro Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/596766/Montoro-Closes-197050-Oversubscribed-Financing
Frontline Ltd. (the "Company") advises that the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on August 31, 2020. The record date for voting at the Annual General Meeting is set to July 17, 2020. The notice, agenda and associated material will be distributed prior to the meeting.

Hamilton, Bermuda

July 8, 2020

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Regulatory News:

FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE (Paris:ALFOC) (FR0012419307 ALFOC), a publisher of video games, acknowledged the announcement today by FLCP Associes through its subsidiary Neology Holding, Societe Civile Nabuboto ("Nabuboto") and Innelec Multimedia, of the signing of an agreement for the sale by Nabuboto and Innelec Multimedia of all the 1,883,218 Focus Home Interactive shares they hold, i.e. 35.48% of the share capital, to Neology Holding.

This sale would be made on the basis of a price of 40 euros per Focus Home Interactive share, representing a total amount for the aforementioned block of shares of approximately 75.3 million euros and a total value of approximately 212.3 million euros for all the shares making up the Company's share capital.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nabuboto would reinvest 11.3 million euros in Neology Holding.

Upon completion, which is expected at the end of July, it is planned that Neology Holding will suggest three new members to be appointed to the Supervisory Board of Focus Home Interactive to replace existing members. In addition, Fabrice Larue will become Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Thus, upon completion, four members will remain on the Supervisory Board, three of them appointed according to Neology Holding's suggestion and Denis Thebaud.

Jurgen Goeldner, Chairman of the Management Board, declared: "Focus Home Interactive thanks Mr Denis Thebaud, Nabuboto and Innelec Multimedia for their support in the deployment of the Group's strategy for many years. We are delighted to welcome FLCP Associes via Neology Holding to our capital, given its leading experience in the media sector."

Fabrice Larue, President of FLCP Associes, added: "Our company is pleased to support Focus Home Interactive's development strategy. We support the strategy initiated by the Management Board which aims to develop the AA game publishing activity, share content ownership with partner studios and unite quality independent studios as demonstrated by the recent acquisition of Deck13."

Currently, Neology Holding does not intend to file a voluntary tender offer for the remaining shares of Focus Home Interactive admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth Paris market.

Upcoming events

Events Date 2020-21 1st Quarter Sales Thursday 23 July 2020 2019-20 Annual General Meeting Tuesday 22 September 2020

About FLCP Associes

FLCP Associes is an entrepreneurial investment company chaired by Mr Fabrice Larue. Its aim is to invest and accompany firms in the medium to long term and deploy ambitious plans. FLCP Associes is controlled by FLCP, a company created by Mr Fabrice Larue, Mr Tanguy de Franclieu, Mr Christophe Nobileau and Mrs Tiphanie Lamy. The partners of FLCP have specialist expertise in the field of media, content and brands. They have been managers and shareholders of Newen Studios, one of the leaders in audio-visual production and digital content, sold to the TF1 Group in 2018.

About Focus Home Interactive

FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE is a leading French publisher of video games. Its vocation is to support leading international studios in the development, production monitoring, marketing, sales and financing of their projects. As a publisher of strong brands such as The Surge, Vampyr, Mudrunner, and A Plague Tale: Innocence, the Group generated revenues of 143 million in 2019/20, up 13% compared to the previous comparable period. FOCUS HOME INTERACTIVE generates more than 90% of its sales internationally. For additional information, visit www.focus-home.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005799/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations FTI Consulting

Cosme Julien-Madoni

Arnaud de Cheffontaines

+ 33 (0) 1 47 03 68 10

fhi@fticonsulting.com

FLCP Associes

Sandra Tricot KBZ Corporate

+33 (0) 6 65 85 85 65

stricot@kbzcorporate.com

Press Relations FTI Consulting

Emily Oliver

Remi Salvador

+ 33 (0) 1 47 03 68 10

fhi@fticonsulting.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2020) - StrikePoint Gold Inc. (TSXV: SKP) (OTCQB: STKXF) ("StrikePoint" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing to a single subscriber, Eric Sprott, raising gross proceeds of up to $1,955,000 through the issuance of up to 23,000,000 units at a price of $0.085 per unit. Each unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half share purchase warrant with each whole warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.12 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of closing.

"With this investment by Eric Sprott, StrikePoint is positioned to advance our high-grade gold and silver properties in Golden Triangle. We have the targets, the team and now the capital to unlock value for our shareholders," remarked chief executive officer of StrikePoint, Shawn Khunkhun.

A 6% Unit finder's fee will be payable in connection with this private placement.

Proceeds from the private placement will be used for exploration costs and general working capital.

The non-brokered private placement is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

About StrikePoint

StrikePoint Gold is a gold and silver exploration company focused on building high-grade precious metals resources in Canada. The company controls two advanced stage exploration assets in BC's Golden Triangle: the past-producing high-grade Porter Silver Project and the high-grade Willoughby Gold Project.. The company also owns a portfolio of gold properties in the Yukon and has Eric Sprott, Skeena Resources and Ascot Resources as significant shareholders.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

STRIKEPOINT GOLD INC.

"Shawn Khunkhun"

Shawn Khunkhun

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Statements in this release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

For more information, please contact:

StrikePoint Gold Inc.

Shawn Khunkhun, CEO and Director

T: (604) 602-1440

E: sk@strikepointgold.com

W: www.strikepointgold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/59369
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today released the agenda for the virtual July 16 special meeting of the Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC). AMAC was formed to provide the Commission with a range of perspectives on asset management and related advice and recommendations.

The meeting will feature discussions on improving diversity and inclusion in the asset management industry, including issues relating to diverse asset managers, as well as issues relating to data privacy and the impact of technology on investment advice.

"AMAC set diversity and inclusion as a top priority at its inaugural meeting," said AMAC Chairman Ed Bernard. "The committee will hear from six thought leaders who will provide understanding and insights to serve as the foundation of the committee's work on this important issue. We'll also begin to explore emerging issues relating to data privacy and ownership and the impact of technology on investment advice, guided by four innovation leaders in the industry."

The meeting will be held by remote means and is open to the public. The meeting will be webcast live on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and will be archived on the website for later viewing. Members of the public who wish to provide their views on the matters to be considered by AMAC may submit comments either electronically or on paper, as described below. Please submit comments using one method only. At this time, electronic submissions are preferred. Information that is submitted will become part of the public record of the meeting. All submissions should refer to File Number 265-33, and the file number should be included on the subject line if email is used.

Electronic submissions:

Use the SEC's Internet submission form or send an e-mail to rule-comments@sec.gov.

Paper submissions:

Send paper submissions in triplicate to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549-1090.

* * *

Asset Management Advisory Committee - Agenda for July 16, 2020, Meeting
Regulatory News:

For more than 50 years, the Pierre Vacances Center Parcs Group (Paris:VAC) has strived to develop a tourism offer that respects the environment and biodiversity.

The Center Parcs domains are a good illustration of the Group's commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism. Each development project is the object of a prior environmental study that goes beyond legal obligations, as well as concertation with local operators.

Since 2007, the Group has been working on a project to install a Center Parcs domain in the township of Roybon in the Isere region of France. The project has received constant support from all local authorities for its environmental qualities, its benefits in terms of jobs and revenues, and its ability to revitalise and rebalance the region. For more than 10 years, legal proceedings contesting the administrative authorisations have prevented the project from advancing. With the land clearing permission, vital for the project's materialisation, now void, and access to the site blocked by so-call "zadist" militants (from the French Zone Defendre meaning zone to defend) who have been illegally occupying the land since 2014, Center Parcs has decided to withdraw from this project.

Independently from Roybon, over this period, the development of Center Parcs in France has continued with the opening of the Domaine du Bois aux Daims (Vienne region) in 2015, the extension of the Domaine des Trois Forets (Moselle) in 2017 and 2019, and the future opening of the Center Parcs Landes de Gascogne (Lot-et-Garonne).

Center Parcs confirms its development in France and Northern Europe under the framework of the Group Change Up strategic plan, with innovative concepts that are set to enhance the Center Parcs offer.

In France, the Landes de Gascogne domain in the Lot-et-Garonne region is due to open in spring 2022 (87 hectares, 400 cottages and 12,500 sq.m of leisure facilities). It has received a very warm welcome and is supported from regional authorities as well as local inhabitants and environmental protection groups. The domain is currently being built and is designed to have a limited environmental footprint (wood heating covering 80% of energy needs for the central facilities, bioclimatic construction of accommodation avoiding the use of air conditioning and optimised water management thanks to an innovative marsh treatment system).



In the Saone et Loire region, the feasibility of a development project for a domain with 400 cottages was confirmed by the administrative tribunals at the urban documentation stage. Continuing its dialogue with local authorities and all involved parties in the region, Center Parcs is currently undertaking complementary studies to strengthen its environmental commitments and propose adaptations to the initial project aimed at bolstering its low-carbon approach. A revised project taking into account these objectives will be presented next autumn.



For the project to extend the Bois Francs domain in the Eure region, the Group has reiterated its proposal to start productive discussions with environmental protection organisations, the conclusions of which will be integrated into the definition and design of the project.



The Center Parcs development project in the Jura region has been the object of legal appeals against the Local Urbanism Plan. Further study of the project is dependent on forthcoming decisions from the administrative tribunals.

In Northern Europe, the development strategy primarily concerns Germany, with two new sites currently being instructed in northern Germany and in Bavaria, and the start of negotiations and studies for two other sites in the Berlin region. Elsewhere a first project in Denmark is in the design completion phase and two projects in Scandinavia have been identified.



The development of new domains is going hand-in-hand with the renovation of existing domains with an investment budget of around 400 million financed by the property owner lessors.

In a post-Covid context, the level of reservations to date for the summer period testifies to the resilience and appeal of the Group's offer with increased demand for family-based and local tourism. The Center Parcs domains, accessible within two hours of major cities, embody sustainable tourism and immersion in natural and protected surroundings.

"We will continue these developments by innovating with each project, meeting environmental challenges and changing customer demands and by cooperating closely with the regions" stated Gerard Bremond, President of the Pierre Vacances-Center Parcs Group.

About the Pierre Vacances-Center Parcs Group

The Pierre Vacances-Center Parcs Group is the European leader in local tourism. Created in 1967, it develops and manages innovative and environmentally-friendly holiday and leisure concepts offering the most attractive European seaside, mountain, countryside and city destinations

About Center Parcs

Created in 1967 in the Netherlands, the Center Parcs concepts remains unrivalled in Europe. There are 27 Center Parcs domains at present, 6 of which in France, 9 in the Netherlands, 6 in Belgium and 6 in Germany. Center Parcs is a unique concept that meets the needs of families aiming to find an ideal place to live and share emotions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005751/en/

Contacts:

Press Relations

Valerie Lauthier

+33 (0) 1 58 21 54 61

valerie.lauthier@groupepvcp.com

Investor Relations and Strategic Operations

Emeline Laute

+33 (0) 1 58 21 54 76

info.fin@groupepvcp.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 8, 2020) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (the "Company" or "Aires") has engaged Canadian company Investor Cubed Inc. ("Investor Cubed") to provide on-going investor relations and shareholder communications services pursuant to an agreement dated July 1st, 2020 (the "Agreement"). Pursuant to the Agreement the Company has agreed to pay Investor Cubed a fee of C$7,000 per month for an initial term of twelve months and issue 400,000 options to purchase common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.35 with 200,000 options vesting ninety days from execution of the agreement and 200,000 options vesting one hundred and eighty days from execution of the Agreement. Further the Company has agreed to pay Investor Cubed a one-time fee of $7,500 upon execution of the Agreement. The Agreement replaces the agreement between the Company and Investor Cubed announced on June 15, 2020.

Dimitry Serov, CEO of American Aires commented:

"Aires is now enjoying significant sales growth and is working on several initiatives to continue increasing the Company's global presence and revenue growth. Our experience to date with Investor Cubed has been extremely productive and as such we have revised the agreement to ensure they are properly compensated for their work and ensure we are aligned in working together for the longer term. Investor Cubed, an established Investor Relations and consulting firm will continue to maintain communications with our investors and shareholders and increase our exposure in the Canadian market".

In our press release issued July 7th, 2020, we stated in the second paragraph a comparison of year over year sales yet the 2019 sales comment stated "in March 2020". This should have said "sales of $328,854.07 over the first six months of 2019".

About American Aires Inc. American Aires Inc. ("Aires") is a nanotechnology company which has, developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR).The technology was developed by a team of highly credited scientists and confirmed by independent third-party validation including peer reviewed studies and publications in scientific journals. The technology specifically targets cellphones, computers, baby monitors, Wi-Fi radiation and general EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices. Aires has launched a full suite of consumer products under the brand name "Airestech" for use on almost all consumer electronic devices. The Company has adopted a global ecommerce and distribution platform that scales easily as sales grow. Since launching in 2019, Aires has enjoyed exuberant growth. The company has been aggressively building out their ecommerce platform which is now capable of delivering up to 10,000 shipments a day along with recent customer service center agreements. Strategically placed fulfillment centers have been secured to ensure prompt delivery around the globe (see PR Jan. 31, 2020).With the launch of 5G networks around the world, this year, we are seeing an increase of news, reports and leading health organizations discussing the potential harm of EMR and the importance of identifying solutions to reduce these harmful rays. Aires products are the solution. www.airestech.com

About Investor Cubed: Investor Cubed provides specialized services to small cap & mid cap private & public companies. As a trusted partner to our clients, our objective is to help take them to the next level of development in the capital markets. Through accomplishing this, we help create value for their shareholders. For more information go to www.investor3.ca Investor Cubed can trace its success to our core values: Integrity + Insight + Intelligence = I3

On behalf of the board of directors

Dimitry Serov, President & Chief Executive Officer

Email: dimitry@airestech.com

Phone: (905) 482-4667

Investor Relations:

Neil Simon, Investor Cubed Inc

Email: info@investor3.ca

Phone: (647) 258-3310

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Not intended for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of United States Securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/59367
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: 8 July 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 39,771 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,928 pence 24.29 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,896 pence 23.89 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,908 pence 24.04 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 8 July 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 26,889 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 24.25 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 23.80 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 24.07 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 34.64 USD 27.63 GBP which was calculated as of 7 July 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 195,148,866 Public Shares outstanding, or 201,085,190 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 15,807,884 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.

PSH also announces that it has published to its website, in accordance with the EU Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, details of transactions in its own shares for the past week. Information is available at https://pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/other-materials/.

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/20200708005886/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
'TikTok inspired me to come out to my mother. It was thrilling to see so much talent in one place,' says one queer user

What happens when two countries engage in a military standoff at a shared border?

In the context of the Galwan Valley clash, one of the consequences is a palpable anti-China sentiment in TV news debates, newsrooms, and households, as politicians and public figures urge Indians to boycott Chinese products.

As part of an unconventional move in foreign policy, the IT Ministry announced that 59 Chinese apps would be banned, citing the reason that they are engaged in activities that are "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order".

One of the apps in question is TikTok, owned by ByteDance. The app, which allows users to watch and make short videos of themselves, enthralled Indian audiences in a way that few other apps have  reminiscent of the appeal of Vine, Dubsmash and Instagram. However, this isn't the first time that the app has been banned in the country: In April 2019, it faced similar action because of its 'pornographic' content and exposing children to sexual predators, among other reasons.

It was also derided by many for the 'cringe' content it is supposedly home to  a claim rooted in classist disdain for videos created by the working class, who found a platform in the app. It wasnt long before the app became a safe haven for queer content creators. There was an upsurge of queer creators in drag, whose content included makeup tutorials, lip-syncing, and videos reclaiming their identity and sexuality.

The recent ban has hit queer users in particular: all evidence of the digital empowerment they gained through the app has vanished into thin air.

For Chennai-based Valerie Jay, a transwoman, TikTok meant having a sense of belonging to the trans community. Id spend hours scrolling and basking in queerness, it was liberating in a way. The app was easy to use and I could make videos about pride and politics with great ease. Valerie isnt fully convinced by the governments decision to ban the app. If it really is a national security concern, then I have a feeling the government owes us an explanation. How are teenagers lip-syncing to Meghan Thee Stallion a national security concern?

Valerie doesnt believe that other social media platforms can provide the same space as TikTok did. You didnt have to be tech-savvy to understand and use TikTok. I dont think this ease exists in other platforms.

Siya Mahajan from Satna, Madhya Pradesh says she misses the global audience she once enjoyed  she had close to 90,000 followers on the platform. She used to upload song covers and videos related to pride and politics. It was inspiring to see so many people from across the globe be comfortable in their sexuality and identity, she says. In an IGTV video which she uploaded shortly after the news of the ban, Siya began with Dont call me an anti-national, please. I am not against the governments decision, but they shouldve thought about creators like us.

Siya tried out Indian video-based apps and found that they were riddled with glitches. Apps like Mitron and Chingari are filled with bugs and dont have a nice interface. I dont think anything can replace TikTok, she adds.

Hyderabad-based Mohammed Kaif, who went by the name Candy on the app, terms the ban as being painful. I used to put in a lot of work into my videos and I made friends because of it, too. I was sad to to see TikTok go, he says. Shivani Natholia, a queer content creator based in Surat, remains optimistic. Im okay with the app being banned if it is in national interest. TikTok gave a platform to hidden talent, but we will move past this and find something else. The platform may be gone, but my talent isnt going anywhere, she asserts.

Many aren't convinced that the ban will have its intended effect. If the app had over 120 million users, China has already gained what it wanted. As citizens of India, we must abide by the government rules, but I dont think it was right on its part to simply ban the app. Banning a handful of Chinese apps is futile when big Chinese companies have flourishing businesses in India, says Hashbrownie, a Delhi-based drag queen.

The ripples of the ban are being felt across the border too, since Indians constitute the audience for content creators in neighbouring countries. Lalita Chhetri, who is based in Bhutan, points out the impact that the ban has had on her performance. Most of my audience was from India. My views and reach have been affected since the ban was implemented."

Zora, a Mumbai-based artist and student, would spend a lot of their time on the platform, watching and replaying videos. TikTok meant representation for the queer and working-class communities... All my life I have seen the community only from the lens of the privileged, it was on TikTok that I saw queer folks from less privileged sections of society," they explain.

Queer users and creators have much to say about its positives, but it is not as though they are in denial about the security and censorship concerns that the app has been criticised for. "TikTok had its flaws. Every app out there extracts data from its users and makes money by selling it. TikTok isnt an exception in this regard, Zora says.

Another criticism is that the app had become a platform for violence and its glorification. "There are good and bad people in every community. We cannot direct our hate for one element towards a whole app or community of users, says Delhi-based drag queen Prashant Chauhan.

Prashant had over a hundred thousand followers. He considered the app a hobby. I am not keen on shifting all my TikTok videos to Instagram, since I use Instagram for my professional work, he says. He has been performing as a dancer for the last 12 years, and a drag queen for the last year. The hate on TikTok pushed me to create more content, he says. He also raises questions about what banning the app could achieve. I dont quite understand the reason behind the ban. Banning apps isnt going to win us a war or avenge dead soldiers. Its quite futile, he says.

Viewers and followers of queer creators reminisce about the joy the app brought to them. Siddhant Talwar, an artist and student at Tufts University, misses the sense of validation TikTok gave him. As a student in the US, I would watch plenty of queer creators on the app, but I couldnt relate to them. My identity as a queer Indian man is very different. After I returned to India and stumbled upon desi TikTok stars, I was elated. It meant so much to be able to see my body and identity get representation.

For Varooni Tuteja, a transwoman studying at the University of Delhi, the platform signified comfort. The app was a safe haven for me. It allowed me to relate to other trans women and our issues across the globe... I was waiting for my exams to end so that I could start making videos of my own, but I guess thats not happening anymore, she laments.

TikTok is possibly the first social media platform to be at the receiving end of considerable hate and scrutiny. Transphobic and queerphobic memes and jokes made at the expense of TikTok creators abound. We are a queerphobic country, so an app that highlights queer voices was bound to receive hate of this sort. Haven't celebrities like Karan Johar and Bobby Darling received queerphobic hate too? asks Zora.

In 2018, a Chennai resident died by suicide after their family, friends and followers mocked them for posting TikTok videos where they featured wearing women's clothes. Every TikTok user was labelled as homo. Especially after the whole Carryminati issue. If TikTok-ers move to a new platform, that platform too will be labelled as homo," says Hashbrownie.

In an infamous online brawl which consisted of a series of 'YouTube vs TikTok' videos, YouTube-er Carryminati came under fire for using homophobic and transphobic slurs against TikTok creators. But this hatred, which took the form of queerphobia, existed before the brawl too. One only needs to look at the comments section of queer Indian TikTok users Instagram accounts to know the extent of the hate  remarks like Youre here to pollute this app too? and You should kill yourself" are not uncommon.

The anti-queer hate directed at TikTok and its creators became worse when certain famous influencers started spreading it. It was merely a gimmick to garner more views and followers from homophobic and sexist channels," says Noida-based Yashi Sinha.

Yashi began making TikTok videos in 2018 and gained a decent following in the last year for his videos on makeup and activism. I feel really sad for creators from small towns. They had finally found a platform for themselves, Yashi says.

Hope about the return of the app lingers on in the community. TikTok inspired me to come out to my mother. I miss making content and the comfort the app gave me. It was thrilling to see so much talent in one place. I do hope the app makes a comeback, says Zora.

Jaishree Kumar is a freelance journalist and poet. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
In response, AirAsia said that Malaysias stock exchange had granted it 12 months relief from being classified as a financially distressed firm

Kuala Lumpur/Singapore: Shares in Malaysias AirAsia Group Bhd (AIRA.KL) tumbled more than 17 percent on Wednesday in their biggest daily fall after the auditor cast doubt on the budget carriers ability to continue as a going concern due to the coronavirus travel slump.

Auditors Ernst & Young issued an audit opinion stating the airlines 2019 earnings were prepared on a going concern basis, which is dependent upon a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of fundraising efforts.

AirAsia said in response that Malaysias stock exchange had granted it 12 months relief from being classified as a financially distressed firm, a classification that would require it to submit a business improvement plan.

Other firms hit by the pandemic have received similar relief.

EY is waving a red flag, which signals to investors and creditors serious risks to AirAsia if the current crisis doesnt end soon or if the airline doesnt get a cash injection, said Shukor Yusof, head of aviation consultancy Endau Analytics.

Shares in AirAsia, one of Asias biggest budget carriers, have plunged 58% this year, giving it a market value of about $550 million. Shares in its long-haul arm, AirAsia X Bhd (AIRX.KL), fell 5% on Wednesday.

Like other airlines, AirAsia has been hit hard as the coronavirus hammers travel demand. It posted a first-quarter loss of 803 million ringgit ($188 million), its biggest loss for the quarter since its 2004 listing.

AirAsia said last month it was evaluating capital-raising proposals to strengthen its equity base.

AirAsia management has given guidance that an equity raising via a placement or rights issue looks imminent, Affin Hwang Capital analyst Isaac Chow wrote in a report on Tuesday.

AirAsia did not comment on its fundraising efforts.

The airlines liabilities exceeded its assets by 1.84 billion ringgit at the end of 2019, Ernst & Young said in its unqualified opinion. An unqualified opinion indicates the auditor believes a company has prepared its statements fairly.

AirAsia said on Monday joint ventures and collaborations were being considered that might result in additional third-party investments in specific segments of its business.

It has also sought payment deferrals from suppliers and lenders and halted all deliveries of Airbus SE (AIR.PA) jets this year as it seeks to cut costs.

Theres a question mark over the viability of the low cost carrier business model post-COVID19, said Yusof, adding AirAsia had little choice but to shrink its fleet size and slash staff and saying its efforts to expand in India and Japan had not been successful.

Elsewhere in the region, Thai Airways International (THAI.BK) and Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd (VAH.AX) have entered bankruptcy protection due to their inability to pay creditors.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Daimler will deepen cost cuts because of an expected second-quarter operating loss and despite some signs of a recovery in demand for luxury cars, the chief executive said on Wednesday. Daimler said sales of its Mercedes-Benz brand dropped almost 19% to about 870,000 cars in the first half, although the brand achieved its best second quarter sales so far in China. Despite the rebound in China, the business losses racked up in recent months would not be recovered by the end of the year, demanding more cost cuts, CEO Ola Kaellenius told shareholders

BERLIN (Reuters) - Daimler will deepen cost cuts because of an expected second-quarter operating loss and despite some signs of a recovery in demand for luxury cars, the chief executive said on Wednesday.

Daimler said sales of its Mercedes-Benz brand dropped almost 19% to about 870,000 cars in the first half, although the brand achieved its best second quarter sales so far in China.

Despite the rebound in China, the business losses racked up in recent months would not be recovered by the end of the year, demanding more cost cuts, CEO Ola Kaellenius told shareholders.

"Our previous efficiency goals covered the upcoming transformation, but not a global recession. Thats why we are further sharpening our course," Kaellenius said, adding that the company was in talks with labour representatives about savings.

Daimler, which reports second-quarter results on July 23, said it expected a significant decline in sales for the period, a negative adjusted group operating profit and negative free cash flow in the industrial business.

The company expected a recovery to levels before the coronavirus crisis would take a long time. Kaellenius cited expectations by the International Monetary Fund for 2020 to record the worst worldwide recession in almost a century.

"The group's unit sales, revenue and earnings are likely to be lower this year than in 2019," he said, adding that Daimler could increase production swiftly once demand picked up again.

"Already in June, global retail car deliveries were slightly above the prior-year level again," Kaellenius said.

(Reporting by Emma Thomasson and Edward Taylor; Editing by Michelle Martin and Edmund Blair)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Floridas coronavirus cases have soared in the last month, with the states daily count topping 10,000 three times in the last week

Disney will stick to its plans to reopen its Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando, Florida, to a limited number of guests on Saturday, 11 July, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Floridas coronavirus cases have soared in the last month, with the states daily count topping 10,000 three times in the last week. The death rate from COVID-19 rose nearly 19% in the last week from the week prior, bringing the states death toll to more than 3,800.

Check out the announcement below

Disney World theme parks will still reopen in Florida on Saturday, Disney says, despite a surge of coronavirus cases in the state https://t.co/9YsIG9OYE5 pic.twitter.com/LiizmyBzUe  Reuters (@Reuters) July 7, 2020

(Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak)

Some workers are pressing Disney to delay the 11 July reopening of its Orlando, Florida-based Walt Disney World, citing recent spikes in COVID-19 cases in the state.

The resort, home to the worlds most-visited theme parks, was closed to guests in March.

(Also read on Firstpost  Coronavirus Outbreak: Disney delays reopening of Southern California parks till it receives state guidelines)

In a statement on Tuesday, Disneys Chief Medical Officer, Dr Pamela Hymel, said new requirements from temperature checks, to face coverings and extra sanitation would enable guests to enjoy Disney World responsibly.

While COVID-19 , and the risk of contracting it, is present in public places, there are many important ways that we can all help promote each others safety, Hymel said.

(With inputs from Reuters)
In Away, Hilary Swank plays an American astronaut Emma Green who is preparing to lead an international crew on the first mission to Mars.

Netflix's space drama series Away, starring Oscar winner Hilary Swank, will debut on 4 September, the streamer has announced.

The official log line of the show is: "As American astronaut Emma Green (Swank) prepares to lead an international crew on the first mission to Mars, she must reconcile her decision to leave behind her husband (Josh Charles) and teenage daughter (Talitha Bateman) when they need her the most. As the crew's journey into space intensifies, their personal dynamics and the effects of being away from their loved ones back on Earth become increasingly complex. Away shows that sometimes to reach for the stars, we must leave home behind."

Netflix shared the first look images alongside a brief teaser of Away. The clip shows Swank as a lonely astronaut, floating away in the space station as she longingly looks at a photograph of her family.

"I miss you guys. I love you so much. I wish I could be with you right now. But just remember, the further away I get, Im just getting closer to being back to you," says her voiceover.

Here is the teaser

Hillary Swank takes her self-quarantine up a notch in 'Away' teaser  Coming to Netflix Sept. 4pic.twitter.com/5R7Wu4vI03  Fandom (@getFANDOM) July 7, 2020

Swank serves as executive producer to the show. Away is created by Andrew Hinderaker, who is also attached to executive produce.

Jessica Goldberg is the showrunner for the 10-episode series. Edward Zwick will direct the first episode, penned by Hinderaker. Jason Katims, Matt Reeves, Adam Kassan, and Jeni Mulein are the other executive producers.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)
Kappela is alluring and visually pretty, but progressive it absolutely is not.

Language: Malayalam

Nothing is what it seems in Kappela in which life changes for a young woman in the mountainous Kerala countryside when she dials a wrong number one day.

The fellow at the other end of the line, an autorickshaw driver in another town, keeps calling her back to chat. Despite her initial disapproval of his stalkerish behaviour, she is ultimately drawn to him. And so ensues a romance between the two - Jessy (played by Anna Ben), who is from a lower middle-class family and hanging about at home after flunking her high-school exams; and Vishnu (Roshan Mathew) of whom we are told that he financially supports his dependent sisters and whose many kindnesses to members of the community establish him as a genuine nice guy.

The first half of writer-director Muhammed Musthafa's Kappela (Chapel) is spent conveying Jessy's innocence and immaturity parallel to Vishnu's decency. The story takes a grim turn in the second half when Sreenath Bhasi's character Roy enters the picture.

I spent the pre-interval portion of Kappela battling my irritation at the portrayal of stalking as a benign act and an acceptable form of courtship for the nth time in commercial Indian cinema. Mollywood has had its fair share of normalising dangerous male behaviour over the decades - for a disturbing example from recent years you could check out Annayum Rasoolum starring Andrea Jeremiah and Fahadh Faasil. Kappela, however, is the most insidious instance I have seen in a while, because if you find yourself exasperated by Jessy's naivete and the apparent legitimisation of Vishnu's peskiness, then all I can tell you without giving away spoilers is that your exasperation will be used against you in the second half to drive home the point right in the end that women are best served by following what Daddy and Mummy want for them.

Same old same old.

The message is snuck in quietly though, packaged in remarkably taut direction and a charming lead pair, with editor Noufal Abdullah handling a significant time and place shift so deftly that you won't know what happened until much after it has passed.

The consequence is a gripping narrative that does not let up until the last 15 minutes or so when its understated patriarchal agenda and glaring loopholes become evident.

Those loopholes are the result of too-clever-by-half efforts to mislead the audience and preach Kappela's second message: that appearances are deceptive. Sorry brother, red herrings must make sense in retrospect even if they hold a different meaning with the additional information the audience has by the time we look back on them - writing them any other way is an insult to public intelligence and indicates an assumption that we will not ask questions.

(Spoiler alert for this paragraph) One ploy employed to create a particular impression about Roy is his proprietorial attitude towards a woman called Annie (Tanvi Ram) during his introductory scenes. Much later she reveals that she is his cousin. Clearly Roy's earlier misconduct was being used to suggest that he is a hot-blooded ruffian. The news that Annie is his cousin was clearly being revealed to reassure us that he ain't so bad after all. But...err...a romantic relationship between them was earlier implied. So what are you trying to say, Director Saar? That Roy was flirting with Cousin Annie and this is routine in his circles? Or that it is okay to be territorial about your cousin and rough her up a bit? Or that grabbing her hand when she does not want it does not amount to roughing up at all? No seriously, what on earth are you saying? (Spoiler alert ends)

The unspoken sermon for women in Kappela's climax seems to suggest that the film endorses Jessy's father's aggression with his daughters and sense of ownership of the girls evidenced repeatedly before the interval. Yes yes Kappela fans, I hear your objections, so let me say it in black and white: such men do exist in real life, the issue here is that the team of this film seems to think it is okay for Daddy to be this way.

None of what Kappela wants to convey is spelt out in clear letters though, which is one of the many tricks up its sleeve.

Among the most potent weapons in Kappela's arsenal is Anna Ben who plays Jessy. In an industry notorious for giving women limited choices, this newcomer has managed a substantial role for the third film in a row, her second as the protagonist.

'Her naturally sweet personality has been mined in all three, but the big difference between Babymol from Kumbalangi Nights, Helen from Helen and Jessy is that the first two were self-assured women whereas Jessy is a girl whose spunk is the sort a person usually has when they are on the cusp of adulthood and don't really know that they don't know so much. The young actor has the versatility to convey that characteristic subtly and is helped by Jimshi Khalid's camerawork that distinctly plays up her slight stature, youthful slimness and guileless face in such a manner as to stir up feelings of protectiveness in the viewer.

Roshan Mathew is well cast in Kappela. Mathew has had a decent run in Mollywood so far - my favourites among his performances have been the mute guy in a same-gender romance that formed a beautiful element in the otherwise tepid Moothon, and his small role in Anjali Menon's Koode. Last month he made his Bollywood debut as the leading man in director Anurag Kashyap's Choked. In Kappela he makes smart use of his innate charm.

The usually brilliant Sreenath Bhasi's talent, however, is poorly utilised to further Kappela's game of deception.

Muhammed Musthafa is a fine actor debuting as a director with Kappela. The film became a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic when theatres in Kerala were shut down just days after it came out in early March. The national lockdown that followed in end March robbed Kappela of an all-India theatrical release. Now streaming on Netflix, it has generated considerable buzz especially since Kashyap praised it on Twitter.

With its naturalistic storytelling style, on the face of it Kappela seems to fit well into the Malayalam now-not-so-New Wave that has been earning accolades across India in the past decade. The best films of the Wave, however, have been by and large progressive (despite arguments one might have with certain aspects of them) and when portraying troubling realities in Malayali society, these films have certainly not given them a stamp of approval. Kappela is alluring and visually pretty, but progressive it absolutely is not. Worse, it uses its allure and prettiness to camouflage its patriarchal intent.
With the new storyline Florence Pugh's character Yelena Belova will be ushered in as the new Black Widow in future Marvel films.

Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff will hand over the baton to actor Florence Pugh in the much-anticipated Marvel Studios movie Black Widow.

According to director Cate Shortland, the prequel, set before the events of 2019 tentpole Avengers: Endgame, will drive a new female storyline ahead.

"[Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios] realised that the audience would expect an origin story so, of course, we went in the opposite direction. And we didn't know how great Florence Pugh would be. We knew she would be great, but we didn't know how great," the director told Empire magazine.

"Scarlett is so gracious, like, 'Oh, I'm handing her the baton.' So it's going to propel another female storyline," she added.

With the new storyline, Pugh's character Yelena Belova will be ushered in as a new superhero in future Marvel films. Screen Rant notes that in the comics, Yelena had a similar origin story as Natasha Romanoff, and was recruited to train as a spy and assassin in the Soviet-era agency Red Room. She strived to prove her superiority over Natasha, but eventually switched sides. After Natasha's death, she becomes the next Black Widow.

Shortland said the movie would be a fitting goodbye for Johansson's character, who was killed off in Endgame on planet Vormir, upsetting some fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

"In Endgame, the fans were upset that Natasha did not have a funeral. Whereas Scarlett, when I spoke to her about it, said Natasha wouldn't have wanted a funeral. She's too private, and anyway, people don't really know who she is.

"So what we did in this film was allow the ending to be the grief the individuals felt, rather than a big public outpouring. I think that''s a fitting ending for her," she said.

This will be Johansson's eighth MCU outing after her debut in 2010's Iron Man 2, led by Robert Downey Jr.

Black Widow, originally scheduled for an April release, has been pushed to 6 November because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The film also stars David Harbour and Rachel Weisz.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)
An open letter from more than 200 scientists had accused the WHO of underestimating the possibility of airborne transmission. However, WHO officials have cautioned the evidence required further assessment.

Geneva: The World Health Organization on Tuesday acknowledged "evidence emerging" of the airborne spread of the novel coronavirus , after a group of scientists urged the global body to update its guidance on how the respiratory disease passes between people.

"We have been talking about the possibility of airborne transmission and aerosol transmission as one of the modes of transmission of COVID-19 ," Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead on the COVID-19 pandemic at the WHO, told a news briefing.

The WHO has previously said the virus that causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease spreads primarily through small droplets expelled from the nose and mouth of an infected person that quickly sink to the ground.

But in an open letter to the Geneva-based agency, published on Monday in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, 239 scientists in 32 countries outlined evidence that they say shows floating virus particles can infect people who breathe them in.

Because those smaller exhaled particles can linger in the air, the scientists in the group had been urging WHO to update its guidance.

"We wanted them to acknowledge the evidence," said Jose Jimenez, a chemist at the University of Colorado who signed the paper.

"This is definitely not an attack on the WHO. It's a scientific debate, but we felt we needed to go public because they were refusing to hear the evidence after many conversations with them," he said in a telephone interview.

Speaking at Tuesday's briefing in Geneva, Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHO's technical lead for infection prevention and control, said there was evidence emerging of airborne transmission of the coronavirus , but that it was not definitive.

"The possibility of airborne transmission in public settings - especially in very specific conditions, crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings that have been described, cannot be ruled out," she said.

"However, the evidence needs to be gathered and interpreted, and we continue to support this," added Allegranzi.

Jimenez said historically, there has been a fierce opposition in the medical profession to the notion of aerosol transmission, and the bar for proof has been set very high. A key concern has been a fear of panic.

"If people hear airborne, healthcare workers will refuse to go to the hospital," he said. Or people will buy up all the highly protective N-95 respirator masks, "and there will be none left for developing countries."

Jimenez said the WHO panel assessing the evidence on airborne transmission was not scientifically diverse, and lacked representation from experts in aerosol transmission.

Any change in the WHOs assessment of risk of transmission could affect its current advice on keeping 1-metre (3.3 feet) of physical distancing. Governments, which rely on the agency for guidance policy, may also have to adjust public health measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

Van Kerkhove said the WHO would publish a scientific brief summarising the state of knowledge on modes of transmission of the virus in the coming days.

"A comprehensive package of interventions is required to be able to stop transmission," she said.

"This includes not only physical distancing, it includes the use of masks where appropriate in certain settings, specifically where you can't do physical distancing and especially for healthcare workers."
Thats how we figured out the shirt idea, Johnson said. We were hoping we could make that work and if they werent going to let us wear the masks, we figured we could at least get away with this, but thats obviously not the case. We all thought it was genius. How could we possibly get in trouble for this when its their own words?
The oXiris filter is designed to remove three different things from blood -- cytokines, endotoxins and uremic toxins.

On 7 July 7, Baxter India, a subsidiary of the American Healthcare company Baxter International, announced that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India has given approval to its blood purification filter oXiris for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

CDSCO is the National Regulatory authority for drugs and medical devices in India. As per the authorisation, the filter will only be used for severe COVID-19 patients in the country. It will help to clear out extra inflammatory mediators in their blood. Excess inflammation, and the resulting cytokine storm, is suggested to be one of the reasons for mortality in COVID-19 patients.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had already given emergency use authorization to oXiris in April. As per the FDA, the filter can be used for any patient above the age of 18 who has been admitted in the ICU for COVID-19 , those who are at risk of respiratory failure and those who are in need of blood purification, including those on continuous renal replacement therapy (24-hour dialysis).

Blood purification therapy

Blood purification therapy involves the extracorporeal (out of the body) treatment of blood to remove harmful pathogens and toxins from the blood. In this procedure, blood from a patients body is passed through a biomembrane, which helps remove the harmful substances from it by using various methods. These methods include:

Diffusion: The solutes (substances dissolved in a solution) travel across a semipermeable membrane (a membrane that only allows particles of a certain size to pass) across a concentration gradient as soon as they come in contact with the membrane. So say solute A is present in high amounts in the blood. Once inside the blood filter, it will quickly pass out of the blood and through the semipermeable membrane into the dialysis solution. This process depends on the molecular size of the solutes.

The solutes (substances dissolved in a solution) travel across a semipermeable membrane (a membrane that only allows particles of a certain size to pass) across a concentration gradient as soon as they come in contact with the membrane. So say solute A is present in high amounts in the blood. Once inside the blood filter, it will quickly pass out of the blood and through the semipermeable membrane into the dialysis solution. This process depends on the molecular size of the solutes. Convection: In this process, the solutes travel across a semipermeable membrane along with water (a process called ultrafiltration), as long as they fit in the pore of the membrane. This process depends on the pressure gradient between the two membranes and is less dependent on the molecular size of the solutes.

In this process, the solutes travel across a semipermeable membrane along with water (a process called ultrafiltration), as long as they fit in the pore of the membrane. This process depends on the pressure gradient between the two membranes and is less dependent on the molecular size of the solutes. Adsorption: In this method, the blood or plasma is passed through certain sorbents (activated charcoal for example). These sorbents attract and attach to themselves various solutes present in the blood. The affinity of a solute towards a sorbent would hence be one of the driving factors for this type of blood purification therapy.

Once the blood is cleaned, it is sent back into the patients body. Hemodialysis is one of the most common forms of blood purification therapies that are currently used for the management of kidney failure.

Blood purification therapy in COVID-19

Since we dont have a treatment or vaccine for COVID-19 , experts have been trying almost every possible therapy for the symptomatic management of the condition. Apart from medications like remdesivir, some healthcare providers have suggested the use of blood purification therapy for reducing inflammatory cytokines in the patients body. Removal of excess cytokines is suggested to be one of the ways to reduce the severity of the disease and hospitalisation of COVID-19 patients. It may also help reduce the risk of death in such patients.

However, for the therapy to be effective, the patient should be properly monitored both before and after the therapy -- for their need to get blood filtration therapy and the right time to discontinue the therapy. Proper adjustment of various parameters during the process is also needed.

An article published in the journal Clinical Immunology mentioned three cases of severe COVID-19 patients who got blood filtration therapy in Wuhan, China. Two of them  a 69-year-old man and a 56-year-old man with no past history of health conditions or an underlying disease  benefitted from the therapy. A 65-year-old hypertensive man who got the therapy also showed some improvement but died of complications. The 56-year-old and the hypertensive patients had been treated with Oxiris hemofilter.

oXiris filter

The oXiris filter is designed to remove three different things from the blood -- cytokines, endotoxins (toxins produced by some kinds of bacteria) and uremic toxins (toxins that stay in the body due to improperly functioning kidneys). It is so designed to be able to help both sepsis patients and those in need of continuous renal replacement therapy.

The oXiris filter has a three-layer membrane structure and uses adsorption to filter blood.

One of the membranes in the oXiris filter has a heparin (a blood thinner) graft that reduces the chances of blood clot formation. Blood filtering membranes usually activate clotting when they come in contact with blood. These clots can interrupt the blood filtration process when they form within the filters. Those on hemodialysis are often given heparin to prevent blood clot formation.

Contraindications for oXiris

As per the US FDA, oXiris therapy is not given to:

Patients who are allergic to heparin or any other component of the oXiris set.

Those with low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Platelets are tiny cells that help the blood to clot.

If the patient is on a drug that cannot be used with this filter as per the instructions on the filter.

Additionally, oXiris therapy can only be given after a doctor has recommended it.

For more information, read our article on Cytokine storm.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.
WHO keeps reminding the public that mask needs to be worn correctly and kept clean to ensure that they are effective in stopping the virus.

It has been four long months since the world came to a standstill due to the novel coronavirus , with people locking their doors and staying indoors. This gave governments and medical facilities time to get their house in order and attend to the constant stream of infected patients pouring in day after day.

With viral transmission coming under control and economies buckling under the pressure of industries shutting down, countries are contemplating lifting lockdown restrictions.

But the staggered lift in restrictions has led to a rise in cases. New Zealand, which had successfully eradicated the virus, has seen a spike in new cases, along with China, Iran, and Japan, to name a few.

This means, when the lockdown lifts, your best defence against contracting coronavirus is wearing a mask. But how do you pick the right mask?

Why masks are important

COVID-19 is thought to spread via micro-droplets released when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs, and can enter the body through the eyes, mouth, and nose. In order to stop this spread, health workers wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which includes a gown, helmet, gloves, goggles, a face mask, respirators, shoe covers, and a visor for eye protection.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends washing hands frequently and not touching your face is the best way to avoid infection. A mask may help stop the spread, but hygiene is the key to avoid getting it in the first place.

"While simple medical and cloth masks are not designed to filter out the virus, if two individuals wear masks and maintain physical distancing, the probability of acquiring the infection reduces dramatically, says Dr Lancelot Pinto, a consultant pulmonologist at Hinduja Hospital.

WHO officials are constantly reminding the public that masks need to be worn correctly and kept clean to ensure that they are effective in stopping the spread of the virus.

"People can infect themselves if they use contaminated hands to adjust a mask or repeatedly take it on or off," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom clarified. "I cannot say this clearly enough, masks alone will not protect you from COVID-19 .

For a virus like COVID-19 , where individuals can spread the disease in the pre-symptomatic stage, wearing a mask is the responsible thing to do, even a simple medical mask or cloth mask works well at arresting the droplets and reducing spread," Pinto said.

What should I look for when buying a mask?

The WHO estimates that around 89 million medical masks are needed globally, each month while the pandemic continues to spread. A World Economic Forum report lists three types of mask that are most commonly used  surgical masks, respirators and cloth face coverings.

However, it is necessary to look for a mask that is suitable to you and gives you enough protection against the virus, a Johns Hopkin blog post reads. It should also cover both your nose and mouth.

For my friends that wear glasses, like I do, and struggle with the constant fogging up of our lenses, choose a mask that has a clip-on that can be bent on the bridge of your nose. This will keep your glasses from fogging to a minimum.

Different types of mask

There are a lot of different mask options available to suit everyones needs. They range in sizes, type, prices as well as the amount of protection they offer.

In case youre wondering what the N on some of the masks stand for, they are for respirators if they are not resistant to oil,. They are marked R if a mask is somewhat resistant to oil, and P if strongly resistant or oil-proof.

An N99 particulate filtering mask can trap at least 99 percent of airborne particles. Much like the N99, the N95 respirator filters out 95 percent of airborne particles. Unlike some of the more heavy-duty masks available, the N99 and N95 are not oil-resistant.

Surgical masks are usually worn by doctors or health care workers and prevent bacteria, splashes of droplets, fluids, water, etc from entering the mouth and nose. They are made with three layers of material, one of which is a filter that can catch microbes entering or exiting the body. However, they do not offer any protection to the wearer from airborne bacteria or viruses in the air, which tend to be much smaller in size.

Activated carbon/charcoal masks can act as a powerful primary defence against air pollution and some airborne diseases. They make use of the principle of adsorption, where charged particles in the mask act like tiny magnets for charged chemicals in pollutants and pathogens. While activated carbon/charcoal masks work well in keeping away bacteria and fungi, they are not effective in filtering viruses like COVID-19 .

The WHO says that there has been limited evidence of the effectiveness of non-medical, fabric masks and they do not recommend their usage. However, they can come in handy in situations where masks arent available, or physical distancing and other public control measures cannot be implemented. These masks should cover the person's nose, mouth, and chin, and be secured with elastic loops or ties that keep the edges of the mask in place.

There are more than a few tutorials online that show you how to make your own mask. However, there are some things to keep in mind while using a homemade fabric or cotton mask. It should have an inner layer of absorbent material such as cotton, a middle layer of non-woven material such as polypropylene and an outer layer of a non-absorbent material, such as polyester or polyester blend.

"Homemade masks can also help prevent the spread and keep you safe while strictly following social distancing practices and other preventive measures even after the lockdown is completely lifted," Dr Anand Bhabhor, Additional Director Critical Care medicine, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre said.

Also Read: Another one bites the dust as scientists take aim at new coronavirus study published in a major science journal  PNAS

How to dispose of a used mask

When taking off a mask  any type of mask  make sure to not touch the front of the mask, as it will have the highest dose of contaminants. If you do touch the mask, wash your hands immediately or use a hand sanitizer. Do not let the mask rest on your chin or let your nose peek out, as this defeats the whole purpose of wearing one.

Using a reusable mask is recommended for people who are not infected. You can wash it with soap and water and then set the mask to dry. Alternatively, you can wash it in the washing machine, or by hand using gloves in a solution of bleach and water. Once washed, the Indian Council of Medical Research recommends treating the mask further with heat  by drying it in the sun or ironing it. It is also advised to cut non-reusable masks prior to disposal to prevent their reuse.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released guidelines that states masks used by patients/caregivers/ close contacts during home care should be disinfected using ordinary bleach solution (five percent) or sodium hypochlorite solution (one percent) and then disposed of either by burning or burial in the ground to prevent infection of other people.

Also read:

Coronavirus Outbreak: Don't hold your breath for a COVID-19 vaccine in 2020
Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbagh Singh said that militants opened fire on BJP district president Wasim Ahmad Bari outside his shop at around 9 pm

Srinagar: A BJP leader, his father and brother were shot dead by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district Wednesday night, DGP Dilbagh Singh.

Militants opened fire on Wasim Ahmad Bari, BJP district president, outside his shop near police station Bandipora at around 9 pm, he said.

Singh said Bari''s brother Umar and father Bashir Ahmad were injured in the firing.

They were taken to the Bandipora district hospital where they succumbed to injuries, he said.

Senior police officials of the district have reached the spot, a police official said, adding further details are awaited.
The Delhi University's final year exams and admission calendar were discussed at a meeting convened by HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

The Delhi University (DU) on Wednesday postponed the Open Book Exam (OBE) to August, the university informed via a notification on its official website: www.du.ac.in. The varsity said that a later date for holding of exams will be released on the official website.

The move came even as the Delhi High Court is hearing petitions regarding holding of open book exams and postponement of papers.

DU had earlier in the day, informed the high court that it wants to postpone the online OBE by a month even as advocates representing students highlighted that repeated postponements cause mental trauma to students.

The matter, being heard by a single-judge bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh took note of the objections to Delhi University's stance and noted that a postponement of exams could especially be problematic for final year students who are awaiting results to apply for jobs, competitive exams and higher education abroad. The court also noted that earlier Dean of the Delhi Univeristy had assured the court that they were fully prepared to conduct open book exams online, and had even said that mock tests would be conducted to train students in taking exams the new way.

Bar and Bench quoted advocate Manik Dogra, appearing for one of the students as saying that postponement of exams would hamper the career of those who wish to pursue higher education abroad. "Exam results will only come in November-December now. This is most unfortunate," Dogra said.

"Students are suffering from mental trauma due to repeated postponement," Causa Legal law firm appearing on behalf of students was quoted as saying.

The bench has forwarded the matter to a divisional bench for adjudication and all petitions in this regard will be heard on Thursday, Live Law reported.

As per a report by The Indian Express, DU Open Book Exams 2020 may now be conducted after 15 August.

The DU OBE mode for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes was originally slated to start from 10 July. Although DU did not mention the reason for postponing the exams, The Indian Express quotes sources to report that the university is also looking at extending its admission window to accommodate students appearing for engineering and medical entrance examinations this year.

JEE (Main) is scheduled to be held from 1 to 6 September, while JEE (Advanced) will be conducted on 27 September. The NEET (UG) 2020 is scheduled to be conducted on 13 September. The report says that new academic session of Delhi University for first year students is likely to commence in November.

The Delhi University's final year exams and admission calendar were discussed at a meeting convened by HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. The minister tweeted that MHRD is committed to students' health and quality education.

Held a meeting with officials of @HRDMinistry and Delhi University today to discuss a synchronized calendar for DU admissions & #CBSE board examination results etc.

I would like to assure everyone that we at MHRD are committed to students' health and quality education. pic.twitter.com/wRfDezYFHp  Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) July 7, 2020

The Print reported that senior officials of the university said during the meeting the ministry asked for a detailed report on the challenges in holding the OBE.
Willing and eligible candidates can register themselves by visiting the official website - nbe.edu.in by 22 July.

The online application process for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination, or FMGE, June 2020 edition will start from 3 pm on 8 July. Willing and eligible candidates can register themselves by visiting the official website - nbe.edu.in by 22 July.

The edit window for all applicants will be between 23 to 25 July.

The final edit window to rectify deficient photographs, signatures, and thumb impression will be between 10 to 12 August.

The admit card FMGE 2020 will be issued on 24 August and the examination will be held on 31 August.

The result of FMGE 2020 examination will be announced by 20 September.

According to a report by NDTV, candidates (both citizens of India and overseas Indian citizens) with primary medical qualification from any medical institute outside India and seeking provisional or permanent registration with the Medical Council of India or State Medical councils within India can take the FMGE 2020 examination.

As per a report in Careers 360, the entrance examination for FMGE 2020 will be held to provide eligibility for issuing a provisional or permanent registration from the Medical Council of India or MCI or the State Medical Council.

A report in Jagran Josh mentions that the test will be conducted in the Computer Based Platform at various centres across India.

The report adds that the application process has to be completed in the online mode only and candidates applying for the FMGE Screening test are required to submit an application fee of Rs 6,490.
The US Secretary of State asserted that Beijing has a pattern of 'instigating' territorial disputes and the world shouldn't allow it

Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that Indians have done their best to respond to Chinas incredibly aggressive actions, asserting that Beijing has a pattern of "instigating" territorial disputes and the world shouldn't allow this bullying to take place.

"I've spoken with Foreign (External Affairs) Minister (S) Jaishankar a number of times about this (Chinese aggressive actions). The Chinese took incredibly aggressive actions. The Indians have done their best to respond to that, Pompeo told reporters at a news conference.

Pompeo was responding to questions about the Chinese intrusion into Indian territories in eastern Ladakh.

The troops of India and China are locked in an eight-week standoff in several areas in eastern Ladakh including Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley and Gogra Hot Spring. The situation deteriorated last month following the Galwan Valley clashes that left 20 Indian Army personnel dead as the two sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the LAC.

The Chinese military on Monday began withdrawing troops from the Galwan Valley and Gogra Hot Spring after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held lengthy talks on Sunday. Doval and Wang are also the special representatives on the India-China boundary talks.

"I put this in the context of (Chinese) General Secretary Xi Jinping and his behavior throughout the region and, indeed, throughout the world, Pompeo said.

I don''t think it's possible to look at that particular instance of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aggression in isolation. I think you need to put it in the larger context, he said.

The CCP recently filed a boundary dispute with Bhutan at a meeting of the Global Environmental Facility.

From the mountain ranges of the Himalayas to the waters of Vietnam's exclusive zone to the islands and beyond Beijing has a pattern of instigating territorial disputes, Pompeo said.

The world should not allow this bullying to take place. Nor should it permit it to continue," the top US diplomat asserted.

Reiterating that the CCP has engaged in both maritime and boundary disputes, he said there aren''t many neighbours that can satisfactorily say that they know where their sovereignty ends in that the Chinese Communist Party will respect that sovereignty. That''s certainly true now for the people of Bhutan as well, he said.

"This is what the world must come together to respond to, this increasing revisionist effort that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in. It''s something that President (Donald) Trump has taken incredibly seriously, he said.

China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are vital to global trade.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the area.

"The United States hadn't done that in previous administrations. We'll respond to this in a way that we think is appropriate. We have attempted to communicate to the Chinese leadership that we are serious about this. When I say we, it''s not just the United States. We will start very shortly a dialogue with our friends on how we collectively can respond to this challenge from the Chinese Communist Party, he said.

On the coronavirus epidemic, he said what''s happened with the spread of this virus from Wuhan, China, the world has seen the true colours of the Chinese Communist Party.

I am convinced more than ever that the free peoples of the world will come to understand the threat that's presented not only internally inside of China but, importantly, the impact that General Secretary Xi has on the world is not good for free peoples and democracy-loving peoples, Pompeo said.

"The world will come together to respond to that in a way that is powerful and important and will preserve sovereign nations operating under the rule of law in the way that we have all come accustomed to and benefits people all across the world, he said.

The CCP, he alleged, has an enormous credibility problem. They failed to tell the world the truth about this virus and now hundreds of thousands of people all across the world are dead. We need the truth, we still need the truth, he said.

"We need it to open up, we need to engage in a serious way with scientists around the world. They now say they are going to allow the WHO to come in...We need to make sure the right people are there to engage in this investigation and we need real answers not perfunctory political solutions. This is about science not politics and the Chinese Communist Party needs to come clean with the world about this virus, he said.

According to the Johns Hopkins University, which has been compiling COVID-19 data from all over the world, the US is the worst affected country from the pandemic, with more than 3 million cases and over 131,500 deaths.
The personnel have been asked to remove these applications by 15 July and have been warned of strict action if they don't comply, said reports.

The Indian Army has asked its personnel to delete 89 apps, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter from their phones, said reports.

According to the Times of India, the personnel have been asked to remove these applications by 15 July and have been warned of strict action if they don't comply.

Indian Army has asked its personnel to delete 89 apps from their smartphones including Facebook, TikTok, Truecaller and Instagram to plug leakage of information: Indian Army Sources pic.twitter.com/l23Lu5ndNh  ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2020

According to the report, the Army had till now permitted the use of Facebook with restrictions like not posting pictures so as to not disclose location and other information.

According to a report in India Today, the decision was taken in order to stop the leakage of sensitive information. The Army personnel have also been asked to delete some dating apps but they are allowed to use some social media sites and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, YouTube and Twitter, states the India Today report.

Amid a standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, the government had on 29 June 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.
JAC Jharkhand Class 10th Result 2020 DECLARED | Around 3.85 lakh students had registered for the Jharkhand board matriculation examination, the results for which were declared on Wednesday.

JAC Jharkhand Class 10th Result 2020 DECLARED | The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) announced the Jharkhand Board Class 10 results today (Wednesday, 8 July).

Once uploaded, students will be able to check their scores by visiting the board's official websites jac.jharkhand.gov.in and jacresults.com.

Follow LIVE Updates on JAC Jharkhand Board 10th Result 2020 here

Once the result is available online, students can also check their scores by submitting details in the widget below:

According to reports, around 3.85 lakh students had registered for the Jharkhand board matriculation examination, the results for which were declared on Wednesday.

Steps to download JAC Class 10th result 2020 on official website:

Step 1: Visit the Jharkhand Academic Council's official website jac.jharkhand.gov.in

Step 2: Click on the link for the JAC Class 10 results on the homepage. This will take you to a new window with active link for Jharkhand Class 10 results. Click on the link

Step 3: Enter the required details in the fields provided and hit submit

Step 4: Your results will appear on the screen

Step 5: Download your results and and take a printout for future reference

Grading criteria for JAC Class 10 examination result

As per a 2019 announcement, students who score 60 percent and above marks are awarded a first division, whereas those who score 45 percent and above but below 60 percent are awarded a second division. Students who score 33 percent and above but below 45 percent are awarded a third division.

The JAC usually announces its result by the month of May, however, the JAC Class 2020 Board Result result was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The JAC had recorded 70.77 percent results in the 2019 Board examination. It was a significant improvement from 2018 result when only 59.48 percent students had cleared the 10th board examination.
The CBI re-registered the case under IPC section of custodial death with suspected offences to be 'illegal detention, murder and destruction of evidence'

New Delhi: The CBI has taken over the investigation into the deaths of a father-son duo in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district after alleged torture at the Sathankulam police station, officials said Wednesday.

The alleged beating by the police personnel resulting in the deaths of J Benniks and his father RP Jeyaraj on 20 June and 23 June, respectively, has evoked strong criticism from political parties as well as civil society members who said it was akin to the George Floyd incident in the US.

It also triggered demands for police reforms in the country and prompted the state government to recommend a probe by the CBI.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami had written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a CBI probe into the matter. The CBI after getting a reference from the Centre on July 6 handed over the investigation to its Delhi-based Special Crimes Unit and dispatched a team to conduct the probe, the officials said.

According to laid down procedure, the CBI on Tuesday evening re-registered the case filed at Kovilpatti police station related to the deaths under IPC section of custodial death with suspected offences to be "illegal detention, murder and destruction of evidence".

It is alleged that the two were arrested by Sathankulam police for alleged violation of prohibitory orders in force due to COVID-19 lockdown by keeping their mobile phone shop open in the district beyond the allowed time.

The judicial magistrate probing the incident had informed the Madras High Court that the policemen thrashed the father-son duo the whole night in the police station with batons and a table with bloodstains bears testimony to this.

The findings were based on a statement from a women police personnel attached to the police station where the alleged crime took place.

Mentioning Head Constable Revathy's statement in a four-page report to the Madurai bench of the high court, the magistrate said she feared threats if she revealed the facts.

After the alleged beating, Jeyaraj and Benniks were sent to sub-jail under remand around 2.30 am on 20 June where they were kept as prisoner number 3636 and 3635 respectively.

In the morning around 7.45, Benniks complained of a wheezing problem and was taken to Kovilpatti government hospital in an autorickshaw. The doctors declared at 9 am that he could not survive, the FIR alleged.

Two days later, around 10.20 pm on 22 June, Jeyaraj complained of fever and was taken to government hospital.

In the morning around 5.40 the next day, doctors told the authorities that the treatment failed and Jeyaraj too died, they said.

The magistrate also told the court that the personnel at the police station did not cooperate at first when he sought hand over of the batons but relented only after being 'compelled'.

One of them even fled the place by scaling a wall when sought for his lathi.

The magistrate further stated that the settings of the CCTV hard disk in the police station, despite having sufficient space of one terabyte, were configured in a way that the day's footage will be "automatically deleted".

The high court had earlier said that from the report filed by the judicial magistrate, it was able to discern that the Sathankulam police were taking advantage of the fact the investigation of the case was in limbo and were attempting to cause the disappearance of evidence.

They were emboldened enough to even intimidate the magistrate during the investigation in the station, justices PN Prakash and B Pugalendhi had noted while handing over the probe to CB-CID.

Five police personnel including an inspector have been arrested so far.
It turned out to be a blessing we chose to live on the periphery in such a welcoming neighborhood, says Olsen. Olsen, an expert on housing trends, says the sort of lifestyle her family selected is what an increasing number of current buyers have come to favor during the new work-from-home era, when close-knit communities are highly prized. Social support from neighbors is so much more important now that most of us arent going to an office, a gym or any other places where we could get our social needs met, says Olsen, the senior principal economist for Zillow, which tracks real estate markets throughout the country.
In an effective Atal Tinkering Lab, the traditional rules of classrooms dont apply. The teacher becomes a facilitator gently nudging students while focussing on practical applications

For several years now we've seen the 'Make in India' slogan painted across the country. The recent call for becoming 'atmanirbhar' is also signalling the move towards a self-reliant India. However, the ostensible reason why these have not become a success lies in education: We still teach our children to listen, instead of teaching them to make. We need greater focus on this via policy injections like NITI Aayog's Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) initiative.

In times of a pandemic that is scary and confusing to children, policymakers should shift gears and focus on a hands-on approach to learning.

ATLs are a series of innovation labs or 'maker spaces' placed in over 5,000 schools across the country under NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission with thousands more awaiting their grants. Central and state government schools, corporation schools, affordable private schools and mid to premium private schools  all apply for this grant. They are distributed across the country from sparsely populated rural districts to dense urban centres.

Launched in 2016, the labs focus on fostering a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in middle and high school students. Once selected, schools receive a sum of Rs 20 lakh over a period of five years. Schools can use the first tranche of money to procure equipment that ranges from art and craft supplies and basic electronic supplies, all the way to advanced prototyping tools like 3D printers and laser cutters.

The grant further provides a small monthly stipend for an existing school teacher to take on the role of an ATL in-charge. There is also a network of technical mentors volunteering their time under the Mentors of Change initiative. There are however three primary issues why ATLs have failed us in making kids 'atmanirbhar'.

First, there is a lack of alignment between the academic outcomes prescribed by the NCERT, CBSE, ICSE and state boards and the spirit of tinkering that ATL maker spaces embody. The former is heavily prescriptive with laser sharp outcomes and high level of accountability tied to assessments, testing and scores. The ATLs, on the other hand, allow children to take their time to find problems, use design thinking and create effective solutions. Consider this: A Class 9 student in the regular science class is expected to learn, memorise and reproduce concepts of speed, distance, velocity and acceleration; in social-studies they learn about disaster management. In ATLs though, they are methodically taught the steps in how to build a drone and how to use a microcontroller.

The effectiveness of these are under scrutiny as they are disconnected. In an effective ATL, the traditional rules of classrooms don't apply. The teacher becomes a facilitator gently nudging students while focussing on the practical applications of using drones in disaster management. The specific disaster use  flood relief or fire-fighting  is left to the students to explore, build, break, fail and learn. ATLs foster theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience building technological skills and problem solving for real-world challenges.

Second, there is a mismatch between parental expectations and the positioning of the ATLs. Our unidimensional worldviews persist: That a comfortable and secure future requires a degree from a 'good' college. Since the path to this college degree requires students to write competitive entrance examinations, subjects like Mathematics and Science are seen as essential and crucial things to learn. Everything else thereafter is dispensable.

However, equally important future-ready skills like innovation and problem solving in maker spaces on the other hand are as important. If a child scores 75 in Mathematics and Science and has done no work in the ATL, the parents expect more effort from the child but in general are satisfied with the school. If the child on the other hand has an excellent project in the ATL but has no scores to show in Mathematics and Science, parents will hold the school and the child accountable. This needs to change and policy moves can be pushed in light of the pandemic to push changes albeit on the margin.

Communication of future-ready skills in parent-teacher meetings, school celebrations, websites, social media are important. Bringing in successful innovators to speak to parents about how they've benefited from these skills can be institutionalised as well.

Third, it is common knowledge at this point that the majority of our schools operate with crowded classrooms and limited staff. Recent reports suggest that 14 percent of government secondary schools do not have the prescribed minimum of six teachers. The duty of ATL in-charge, given that schools are understaffed, is usually allocated to a science teacher because the vocabulary of innovation, technology and 3D printing are thought to be best understood by them. These teachers are often in charge of addressing parents' concerns, organising celebrations, competitions, administrative assistance and evaluating exams.

Moreover, in government schools, election duty, census surveys, maintaining records for dozens of government schemes, entertaining guests and observing celebrations of several local, regional, national and internationally important days. The 'in-charge' teacher has the best intentions but often the least time. Two key things need to be done. The first is to hire more teachers: The importance of this cannot be emphasised more. But, a second and more feasible solution is to relieve the ATL teachers from all the other duties and allow them to focus on building innovation and entrepreneurship in the school. This will also feed into the culture of focusing on ATLs versus traditional subjects.

Inspiring citizens to become independent, innovative and entrepreneurial individuals requires urgent, crucial and long-term strategising of education. We must start reforming how we educate our children in the millions of schools around the country. With the foundation to do that being laid in the ATLs  these 5,000 schools can be encouraged to roll up their sleeves, problem-solve, make, build and innovate. In the short term this will inspire thousands of children to be excited to learn and go to school to build something new everyday. In the long term, the act of creating, making and solving local problems will become a crucial centrepiece of an 'atmanirbhar' India.

The author is the India Implementation Lead at the Playful Journey Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Views are personal
Each of the Quad countries have specific security concerns that emanate from a belligerent, expansionist and increasingly provocative China. However, the Quad has so far remained in the realm of strategic dialogues, white papers and occasional drills

Xi Jinping presides over a powerful military-industry complex that is relentlessly expanding its global footprint, albeit, one with telltale signs of nervousness and urgencies of the most insecure regime. Sustaining this Chinese continentalism is the tightly controlled, integrated and multi-dimensional juggernaut that seamlessly deploys economic, military, geopolitical, psychological and political imperatives in a calibrated 'overdrive'.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been in in power ever since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. To operate in this mode of 'overdrive', the Chinese engine needs inner harmony and ruthless incrementalism to overcome any roadblocks to continue the momentum. While Xi has systematically tightened his grip on the monolithic and monopolistic party to ensure that the power "flows from the top", external factors and circumstances warrant careful manipulations and diplomatic opportunism to tilt the scales in its favour. In the Chinese narrative, posturing is more important than substance because the Chinese only ruffle as much as they can handle and dominate.

Seen in the light of Galwan machinations, the brutal efficiency of Chinese incrementalism, was obvious. The standoff entailed a very limited battalion-level operations from both sides  which is not reflective of the nuclear realities of both sides, or the fact that they represent the largest and the second largest standing militaries in the world! Yet, it was a deliberate ploy with a limited mandate, that could be cemented with additional back-up to retain the upper hand in all de-escalation talks. The Chinese regime and its well-oiled machinery latch on to a opening with unmatched speed, be it in international diplomacy, commerce or cartographical adventurism  clinically and deceitfully executed, China remains the high church of unapologetic realpolitik.

To counter the Chinese does not necessarily or practically warrant budgets that can outmatch the Chinese investments in its military  as that is simply not possible.

What is imminently possible and sought-after by multiple stakeholders is a renewed version of the 'coalition of the willing', from a Sino-wariness perspective. America's own longstanding global military advantages are on an unquestionable decline, and it clearly needs to stitch together alliances to mitigate challenges posed by China. This overarching sense germinated the concept of the 'Quad' (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) formation of like-minded democracies ie the US, India, Japan and Australia towards joint-force-projection. Each of the Quad countries have specific security concerns that emanate from a belligerent, expansionist and increasingly provocative China.

However, the Quad has so far remained in the realm of strategic dialogues, white papers and occasional drills  but still does not have the necessary bite of a formal military alliance with a specific purpose eg NATO during the Cold War era. For such a fruition, it even needs a theatre of existence and critical posturing to have the counter-impact on an expansionist China. Such a piece of geography has to be one that is, legitimately owned by a Quad partner, is in the realm of practical patrolling, and yet affords the necessary posturing to potentially choke the interest of China, should it threaten the peace and sovereign interests of the Quad partners.

Such an invaluable piece of geography is Chinas worst nightmare of a doomsday choke point at the Malacca Straits. This ultra-narrow (1.5 kilometres wide at its narrowest point), unavoidable and regime-sustaining straits account for the life-sustaining movement to-and-fro from the Chinese mainland that sustains the Chinese juggernaut and funds its hegemonic instincts.

Unfortunately for China, the Malacca Straits opens at the lower tip of the undisputed Indian waters, afforded by the outpost of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 1,200 kilometres away from the Indian mainland. This is a jugular that has only been partially tapped by India, as it has a limited Tri-Services Command, further up the island chain. While the straits meander the Malaysian and Indonesian waters, the mouth opens up just below the sovereign Indian waters and the landmass of the southern tip of Nicobar Islands.

This historically led to an acute sense of vulnerability in China, owing to its own restive and unpredictable relations with Malaysia and Indonesia, let alone India. This vulnerability is said to borne alternative supply chain hyper-projects like the Belt and Road (or its arterial arm, China Pakistan Economic Corridor), Pearl Ports, debt-trapping Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka, eyeing Coco Islands, Maldives, Bangladesh etc  however, all these efforts have run aground recently, owing to Chinese incorrigibility that barely masks its real intent.

Towards evolving, militarising and basing the Quad sensibilities, this peach of a geographical real-estate does unto China, what China repeatedly does and intimidates its neighbourhood with. Even a notional Quad-Port on call without necessarily blowing it into a Quad Military Base, does the needful. Currently the Chinese Navy still does not have Blue Water capabilities to match the reach of the regional, United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). Recently, the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Groups conducted a dual carrier operation, and it was enough to give the Chinese an adequate warning  whereas, allowing the USINDOPACOM to have a dedicated Quad-Port on call will have untold consequences, without firing a single shot.

As the US seeks to redeploy 25,000 troops from the European theatre towards countering the 21st Century Chinese threat, the question of exact geographical relocation becomes key.

It is not just the numerical presence of additional 25,000 US troops in the Asian theatre that does the necessary, but it is the sharp commitment towards militarising the idea of an encircling Quad, in a carefully selected location, that can send deterring shockwaves to the Chinese regime.

The much-bandied alternatives to the Chinese Malacca Dilemma have not worked as yet, and the post-Covid world will remain wary of the Chinese ways, herein lies the opportunity to muscle Quad with minimal investments, mandate and efficiency. The cost of defensive realism that besets the Quad logic is infinitely more efficient and sustainable than the offensive expansionism that underlies the Chinese impulse. Militarising the Quad in such a geography stops the Chinese in their tracks, without spreading the resources thin or struggling unilaterally  it is a providential opportunity whose time is long overdue.

The author is a retired lieutenant-general and former military secretary to presidents KR Narayanan and APJ Abdul Kalam. Views expressed are personal
The MEA said that Islamabad coerced the former Indian naval officer to forgo his rights to seek implementation of the ICJ judgment

Islamabad: Pakistan said on Wednesday that Indian prisoner on death row Kulbhushan Jadhav has refused to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court against his conviction by a military court despite Pakistani authorities'' offer to do so, a claim dismissed by India as "farce".

Jadhav, the 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of "espionage and terrorism" in April 2017. Weeks later, India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July last year that Pakistan must undertake an "effective review and reconsideration" of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.

On Wednesday, Pakistan''s Additional Attorney General Ahmed Irfan said that on 17 June, 2020, Jadhav was offered to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court for review and reconsideration of his sentence and conviction.

"Exercising his legal right, Commander Jadhav refused to file a petition for the review and reconsideration of his sentence and conviction. He instead preferred to follow up on his pending mercy petition," said Irfan, who was addressing a press conference along with Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry.

He said the Pakistan government promulgated an ordinance on 20 May to let the Indian government, Jadhav or his legal representative to file a review petition in IHC within 60 days. The ordinance would expire on 19 July.

Commenting on Irfan''s remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi dismissed his claim as "continuation of farce that has been in play for the last four years."

Noting that Jadhav was sentenced to execution through a farcical trial, the ministry said that he "was coerced to refuse to file review in his case".

"Despite our repeated requests, Pakistan continues to deny India free and unimpeded access to Jadhav," the MEA said and sought unimpeded access to him to discuss his remedies.

Pakistan coerced Jadhav to forgo his rights to seek implementation of the judgment of International Court of Justice, it said.

"Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with ICJ judgement in Jadhav case," the MEA said, adding that India will do its utmost to protect Jadhav and ensure his safe return.

In Islamabad, Irfan claimed that Pakistan has repeatedly written to the Indian High Commission, inviting it to file a petition at the Islamabad High Court to appeal the judgement against Jadhav before the deadline.

He said Indian authorities had requested to appoint an Indian lawyer to advocate for Jadhav but if an appeal is filed in the IHC, only a lawyer that holds a license of the respective court would be able to represent him. Therefore, an Indian lawyer cannot advocate for Jadhav but they may be allowed to assist his counsel.

The MEA, however, said that Pakistan refused to hand over any relevant document, including FIR, evidence, court order, in Jadhav case to India.

Irfan said Pakistan allowed consular access to Jadhav twice in the past and has offered to do so again. Authorities have also offered to arrange Jadhav's meeting with his father and wife, he said.

Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on 3 March, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran.

India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.

In its 42-page order, the ICJ, while rejecting Pakistan's objection to admissibility of the Indian application in the case, had held that "a continued stay of execution constitutes an indispensable condition for the effective review" of the sentence of Jadhav.

The bench, however, rejected some remedies sought by India, including annulment of the military court''s decision convicting Jadhav, his release and safe passage to India.

The ICJ upheld India''s stand that Pakistan had "breached" the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, which gives countries the right to consular access when their nationals are arrested abroad.
After a video of the retired Army officer abusing another Republic Bharat panellist went viral, Twitter erupted in memes, with #gdbakshi trending on every popular social media platform.

Major General GD Bakshi, a retired army officer has once again stirred controversy after he used profane language on a live show last week. After a video of him abusing another panellist on Republic TV went viral, Twitter erupted in memes, with #gdbakshi trending on every popular social media platform.

In the viral video, Republic TV panellists are seen debating on the Galwan Valley clash and Prime Ministr Narendra Modi's recent visit to the Ladakh region. While trying to make his point against another panellist, Bakshi is seen losing his temper and ending up cursing the latter.

Even as the two anchors of the show tried interrupting the two, it did not help as the duo went on to argue on air.

Although, this was not an unexpected event as Bakshi is known to use profanity while addressing the media. Earlier, Bakshi in an interview had called Pakistan "A rabid dog that goes around biting everybody, while speaking about how to deal with Pakistan Army after Balakot airstrikes.

Netizens took to Twitter to share memes and here's how they reacted.

Warning: Video contains abusive language.

GD Bakshi at it again! Calls a panelist madar**** on national television. What kind of nationalism is this? pic.twitter.com/TC1IPktbZY  Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 4, 2020

Is Republic TV the first channel to officially have a panelist say M****C****? who else but @GeneralBakshi bringing great honour to the army. pic.twitter.com/fRVSuD0T5y  Dushyant (@atti_cus) July 4, 2020

Major General GD Bakhshi (r) goes the full monty. Best part is always the signature vein popping GD Bakshi build up - you can tell whats coming. *Profanity Warning* pic.twitter.com/7UZ1Kk78MB  D (@Le_Sabre54) July 4, 2020

Actually majority of people are happy and have no problems with panelists who come for healthy debate and end up in saying B&D and M***r*hod on National television. :)) #gdbakshi Major. GD Bakshi  ankit (@anksinghonline) July 4, 2020

People after hearing GD Bakshi cuss on national television: pic.twitter.com/sB3yFvFDx1  Sharanya (@sharanya_saha_) July 4, 2020

While some expressed shock over his conduct on national television, others came out in support.

People say " GD Bakshi " abused a penalist in live debate. I support him because " madarc*od" is not a gali but an emotion. Good job sir pic.twitter.com/w9cUdJbjnH  memebandhu (@memebandhu) July 4, 2020

GD Bakshi just called a guy by his name on national television and everyone is angry. Why? Bhai MC ko MC nahi kahenge to kya kahenge.#laddakh #Modi #gdbakshi #GalwanValleyFaceOff pic.twitter.com/wBx36zFpIg  Akash Awasthi (@akashphilosophy) July 4, 2020
The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, or RBSE, declared the Class 12 Science result 2020 today (Wednesday, 8 July) at 4 pm on rajresults.nic.in

RBSE Rajasthan 12th Science Result 2020 Date | The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education, or RBSE, declared the Class 12 Science result 2020 today (Wednesday, 8 July) at 4 pm.

Students can check the Rajasthan Board Class 12 Science 2020 results online at the board's official website rajresults.nic.in.

Often students complain that websites get slow or do not open due to heavy page traffic. In this case, students can check their RBSE Class 12 science result via SMS.

To get Rajasthan board Class 12 science results 2020 on SMS, you will have to go to message/SMS option of your phone and type RESULT<space>RAJ12S<space>ROLL NUMBER. After this send the message to 56263.

Students can also check their Science stream result by going to the message option and typing RJ12S<space>ROLL NUMBER and sending it to 5676750.

According to a report by The Indian Express, more than 9 lakh students appeared for the Class 12 Rajasthan Board exams of which 2,39,800 students appeared for the science stream papers.

As per a report by Times Now, the RBSE Class 12 examinations began on 5 March. The exams were scheduled to end on 3 April but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

The examinations for the pending papers were held from 18 to 30 June.

The Rajasthan Board for the last 3 to 4 years has been declaring the Class 12 science and commerce streams results together. However, this year the board will be announcing the Class 12 science result 2020 first and soon it is expected to declare Class 12 commerce stream result.

Here are steps to check RBSE Class 12 Science result 2020:

Step 1: Go to either of the websites rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in, rajresults.nic.in, bserexam.com, ajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in

Step 2: On the homepage, look for a link that mentions RBSE 12th Result 2020

Step 3: A new page will open where you will have to enter your registration number, roll number, date of birth as mentioned in your RBSE Class 12 hall ticket/admit card

Step 4: The RBSE 12 science result 2020 will be displayed on the screen along with subjects, individual score in each paper and total.
Of the nearly 2.3 lakh students who appeared for the RBSE science stream papers, 1,68,235 cleared the Class 12 board exam in the 1st division, while 44,577 got second division

RBSE Rajasthan 12th Science Result 2020 Passing percentage: Of the nearly 2.3 lakh students, who appeared for the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) Class 12 Science examination 2019-20, 91.96 percent cleared it, the board said.

Girls once again reported better results with 94.60 clearing the Science stream Class 12 examination as against 90.61 boys passing the exam. As per the result statistics, released by the board, a total of 52,536 girls had appeared in the Science stream papers whereas the number of boys students was nearly three times that at 1,54,690.

A total of 2,29,226 students had appeared for the exam.

Of them, 1,68,235 cleared the exam with 1st division, while 44,577 got second division in the Rajasthan Board state examination. While 270 students cleared with third division, 4,396 managed to just pass the examination.

Click here for LATEST UPDATES on Rajasthan Board Class 12 examination results

State education minister Govind Singh Dotasra had announced the Rajasthan board Class 12 Science result at 4 pm today. Students have to get a minimum of 33 percent marks in each subject to clear the exam.

The scores are live, and students can visit the RBSE's official websites rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in and rajresults.nic.in to check their scores. Students can also visit alternative websites or receive their result on their phones via SMS.

Last year, the overall pass percentage for the Science stream board exam stood at 92.88 percent with 2,39,367 students passing the exam. Girls outperformed boys with a pass percentage of 95.86 percent while boys scored a pass percentage of 91.59 percent.

Over the last few years, the Rajasthan Board has released the results of the Science and Commerce board exams together, but this year they will be declared separately. Reports said that this year, the Commerce stream results can be expected next and the Arts' stream after that.

Check RBSE 12th Result 2020 online:

Step 1: Log on to the official website  rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in

Step 2: Select the link for the RBSE 12th result 2020

Step 3: Select the stream and enter the roll number

Step 4: Click the submit button and take a printout of the marks for future reference

Check RBSE 12th Result 2020 via SMS:

Students must use the following format to receive their Class 12 RBSE results by SMS.

For Arts stream, type RJ12A ROLL NUMBER and send to 5676750/56263

For Science stream, type RJ12S ROLL NUMBER and send to 5676750/56263

For Commerce stream, type RJ12C ROLL NUMBER and send to 5676750/56263
RBSE Rajasthan 12th Science Result 2020 DECLARED Updates: State education minister Govind Singh Dotasra announced the Rajasthan board Class 12 Science result at 4 pm today

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The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) will declare the Class 12 science result 2020 at 4 pm today (Wednesday, 8 July), state education minister informed via a tweet.

Once declared, the RBSE Class 12 science result 2020 will be available at the official websites  rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in , rajresults.nic.in and bserexam.com.

Step 4: The RBSE 12 science result 2020 will be displayed on the screen along with subjects, individual score in each paper and total.

Step 3: A new page will open where you will have to enter your registration number, roll number, date of birth as mentioned in your RBSE Class 12 hall ticket/admit card

Step 2: On the homepage, look for a link that mentions RBSE 12th Result 2020

Step 1: Go to either of the websites rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in, rajresults.nic.in, bserexam.com,

Apart from the official websites, students can also check their results on examresults.net and indiaresults.com .

It is possible that the official website will get slow due to increased traffic. Owing to this, some students may have to wait for a few hours to check their result. However, there are other websites on which RBSE Class 12 results will be displayed.

Further, Hindi and Agri chemistry also have almost all students clearing the exam with 99.61 and 99.22 percent as pass percentage.

Last year, in several subjects including, infotech, environmental science, and security  all the students who appeared for the exam had passed it, implying, these subjects had a pass percentage of 100 percent.

Step 1 : Go to the examresults.net website Step 2 : Click on Telangana in the list of the states or access the link directly here . Step 3 : Look for the link that says RBSE 12th Science Results Step 4 : Click on the link and fill in the required details to get your result

However, this time, the board has decided to first announce the result for Science stream first, then for Commerce stream, and finally for Arts stream.

This year, more than 2.39 lakh students appeared for Rajasthan Board Class 12 (Science) exam, reported News18 Hindi. RBSE used to declare Class 12 results for all streams together.

Step 1 : Visit the website indiaresults.com. Step 2 : Click on Rajasthan in the list of states Step 3 : Enter your roll number and other details and click on "Go" Step 4 : Download the result for future reference.

Rajasthan Education minister Govind Singh Dotasra will announce the RBSE science results at a press conference today (Wednesday, 8 July) .

The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) will declare the Class 12 Science result at 4 pm today (Wednesday, 8 July) . This year, 2,39,800 Science students have taken the board exam.

The RBSE has announced the results. Students can check at official website rajresults.nic.in.

Girls have outperformed boys yet again. The overall pass percentage amongst girls is 94.60 percent. According to the Hindustan Times, the overall pass percentage among boys is 90.61 percent.

According to News18, a student named Yash Sharma has secured the top rank by scoring 95.60 percent. Last year, Puneet Maheshwari has topped the board by scoring 495 marks out of 500.

As many as 1,68,235 students have secure marks to obtain first division while 44,577 students have secured the second division. 270 students are in the third division.A total of 2,29,226 students had registered for RSBE Class 12 Science stream examination this year. Of these 1,54,690 had appeared for the exam.

The overall pass percentage has dipped marginally from 92.88 percent last year to 91.96 percent this year.

As many 97.94percent who appeared for the mathematics exam have cleared it while 94.93percent have passed the physics exam. 97.51 percent of the candidates cleared biology while chemistry has the lowest percentage of students passing the exam with 95.43 percent.

Students can also check their Science stream result by going to the message option and typing RJ12S<space>ROLL NUMBER and sending it to 5676750.

To get Rajasthan board Class 12 science results 2020 on SMS, you will have to go to message/SMS option of your phone and type RESULT<space>RAJ12S<space>ROLL NUMBER. After this send the message to 56263.

In case the official website is unresponsive or slow, students can also check results at indiaresults.com. or examresults.net. Scores can also be obtained via SMS

A total of 4,396 will have to appear for the supplementary exam, which are usually held between July to August. However, the dates for these exams have not been announced yet.

Announcing the results on his Twitter handle, Rajasthan Education Minister Govind Dotsara said that pass percentage was 91.96 percent. He congratulated the students and also the Board staff. "Rajasthan is the first state to have held the exams with precautions despite the coronaviurs outbreak and prepared the result in a record 19 days", he said.

RBSE Rajasthan 12th Science Result 2020 DECLARED Updates: A student named Yash Sharma has secured the top rank by scoring 95.60 percent, reports News18.

Of the 2,39,800 students who appeared for the science stream papers, 91.96 percent cleared the Class 12 examination, the board said

The state board has announced the class 12 science stream results on rajresults.nic.in. Students can also check results via SMS.

Education minister Govind Singh Dotasra had said that Rajasthan board chairman DP Jaroli will announce the Class 12 Science result at 4 pm today

The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) will declare the Class 12 Science result 2020 today (Wednesday, 8 July) at 4 pm.

The announcement was made by Rajasthan education minister Govind Singh Dotasra on Twitter.

The education minister said that the result will be announced by DP Jaroli, the chairman of Board of Secondary Education Rajasthan.

Once declared, students can check their RBSE Class 12 science result 2020 on the websites - rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in, rajresults.nic.in and bserexam.com.

Students can also check their result by submitting their details in the widget below:

The Class 12 examination commenced on 5 March, 2020. The exams were scheduled to end on 3 April but were later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The examinations for the pending papers were held from 18 to 30 June.

For the last 3 to 4 years, Rajasthan Board has been declaring the Class 12 science and commerce streams results together.

However, this year the board will be announcing the results of separately. The Class 12 science result 2020 will be announced tomorrow, while the Class 12 commerce stream result will be declared soon.

Here are steps to check RBSE Class 12 Science result 2020:

Step 1: Go to either of the websites rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in, rajresults.nic.in, bserexam.com,

Step 2: On the homepage, look for a link that mentions RBSE 12th Result 2020

Step 3: A new page will open where you will have to enter your registration number, roll number, date of birth as mentioned in your RBSE Class 12 hall ticket/admit card

Step 4: The RBSE 12 science result 2020 will be displayed on the screen along with subjects, individual score in each paper and total.
Prakash Ambedkar, who was in Akola when the attack took place, has appealed for calm and asked supporters to not gather outside the house.

Mumbai: Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons following vandalism at Rajgruh, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's house, an official said on Wednesday.

Two persons threw stones on glass windows and damaged CCTV cameras at Rajgruh in the Dadar area on Tuesday night, the official said. CCTV footage showed a person smashing flower pots in the compound before fleeing, the official said.

Matunga police have registered an FIR in the incident.

Located in Hindu Colony, Dadar, the two-storeyed heritage bungalow houses the Ambedkar Museum where Babasaheb's books, portrait, ashes and vessels are among the artefacts. The current residents of Rajgruh include Babasaheb's daughter-in-law, and his grandsons Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar, Anandrao and Bhimrao.

Prakash Ambedkar, who was in Akola when the attack took place, has appealed for calm and asked his followers to not gather outside the house.

The All India Professional Congress on Wednesday asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to look into the attack on Rajgruh.

This is highly condemnable. @CMOMaharashtra should immediately look into this.

Rajgruh is not just a memorial it is a reminder of the legacy of Dr B. R. Ambedkar! https://t.co/tGh7EjqADx  AIPCMumbaiEast (@AIPCMumbaiEast) July 8, 2020

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has already assured that strict action will be taken against the culprits.
The police has put up posters of Vikas Dubey at Unnao toll plaza and in Lakhimpur district. The bounty on his head has been increased to Rs 2.5 lakh

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday killed an aide of gangster Vikas Dubey who was involved in an ambush in Kanpur last week in which eight policemen died, a senior officer said.

Amar Dubey, who carried a reward of Rs 25,000, was killed in an encounter in Maudaha village in Hamirpur district, STF IG Amitabh Yash told PTI. He is the third member of Vikas Dubey's gang to be killed in an encounter with the police.

Eight policemen were ambushed in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur when they were going to arrest Vikas Dubey and fell to bullets fired from rooftops shortly after midnight on Friday.

Vikas Dubey, the notorious criminal who carries a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh, is still absconding. "We are trying to nab him and our teams are on the job," a police officer said.

According to sources, Amar Dubey was involved in the security of Vikas Dubey and travelled with him wherever he went.

Earlier, police had killed criminals Prem Prakash Pandey and Atul Dubey in an encounter in Kanpur on Friday.

Vikas Dubey's close relative Shama, neighbour Suresh Verma and domestic help Rekha and her husband Dayashankar Agnihotri, a key member of Dubey's gang, have been arrested by police. Agnihotri was arrested on Sunday after an encounter in which police shot him in the leg.

On Tuesday, all 68 personnel of the Chaubeypur Police Station were shunted to the reserve police lines amid doubts over their professional integrity. The announcement was made soon after police transferred Anand Deo, DIG STF, who till recently was the Senior Superintendent of Police in Kanpur. Deo was transferred to the Provincial Armed Police (PAC) unit in Moradabad.

Deo was the Kanpur SSP in March when Deputy Superintendent of Police Devendra Mishra purportedly wrote a damning letter, which surfaced on the social media after he was killed in the Bikru ambush. The unverified letter to the then Kanpur SSP alleged that Chaubeypur station officer Vinay Tiwari had watered down an FIR lodged against the gangster. It suggested that Tiwari and Dubey were close.

However, police said there is no record of the purported letter, which is undated and carries no serial number. Deo also said that the signature on it does not match that of the slain officer. But police said they will still investigate the letter. Lucknow Range IG Lakshmi Singh is probing the matter.

Police have named 21 people in the FIR registered after the attack. The FIR also mentioned 50-60 unidentified people. Earlier, the Kanpur Police had released the photos of 15 criminals, including Amar Dubey, who were said to be close to Vikas Dubey.

Posters carrying the pictures of the alleged criminals, most of them carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 for their arrest, were put up at road toll plazas, including those in Unnao, Kanpur Nagar, Auraiya, Fatehpur and areas near the India-Nepal border.
Women have unique and evolving nutritional requirements, while they may need fewer calories than men to fulfil their daily requirements, their needs for essential vitamins and minerals are much higher.

The COVID-19 pandemic has touched all our lives over the last few months. The unprecedented crisis has led many into long bouts of isolation and at the same time, we have seen communities coming together to keep each other protected.

Though studies have so far indicated that COVID-19 has comparatively low fatality among women, it is important to understand that for many women, the pandemic and consequent lockdown mean several more limitations. Not only are women having to tackle more domestic work with families being indoors but they also have lesser access to finances now. With travel being limited, they might be finding it tougher to visit doctors or hospitals for any health issues. These factors will go on to impact the well-being of women and girls and severely affect their nutritional outcomes in the long-term. Such a wide gap will be tough to bridge if we dont account for these challenges now.

Even in such a situation, we have to remember that women have unique and evolving nutritional requirements - while they may need fewer calories than men to fulfil their daily requirements, their needs for essential vitamins and minerals (micronutrients) are much higher, which go a long way in tackling conditions like anaemia.

Good nutrition becomes all the more important when women are pregnant or have newborns whose health and nutrition are intrinsically connected to theirs. This is why unless we ensure that women receive adequate nutrition and care even during and after pandemics, we will not be able to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.

This is the pathway through which an undernourished woman gives birth to a low-weight baby, who struggles with poor health and nutrition through his/her life and in case of girls, again give birth to another low-weight baby. Experts have time and again highlighted the need to break this vicious cycle that not only leads to an increased risk of diseases and infections, but also low productivity, lack of learning capacity, and poor cognitive skills  all of which impact the community and even the nations economic progress.

On the other hand, well-nourished girls are able to attend school regularly, participate in the economy, take decisions in the family, have stronger immune systems, safer pregnancies and healthier children. This is why the first 1000 days between a womans pregnancy and her childs second birthday are critical. This is the window when poor nutrition can cause irreversible damage to a childs growing brain and also make him/her susceptible to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases through the lifetime, without the right interventions. The lockdown, understandably, can impact all these essential factors in several households.

This is why it is all the more important that essential preventative and curative nutrition interventions  like an infant and young child feeding practices  continue even during such crisis situations. Even short-term disruptions could have irreversible effects on child survival, health and development, affecting the progress we have made so far. In Uttar Pradesh, we have made tremendous gains in the past decade in reducing maternal mortality from 440 in 2004-06 to 201 in 2014-16. This progress must not be lost to the pandemic.

Both Central and state governments have rolled out a slew of measures including cash transfers, additional public distribution of foods, portability of ration cards and doorstep delivery of key nutrition services to women and children.

For instance, the Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that the delivery of essential food supplies through social safety nets like Public Distribution System and Anganwadi centres will continue under lockdown restrictions. The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) will be using stocks lying in about 165 government godowns across the country for distribution of pulses under the direction of Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has sent advisories to states and Union Territories to deliver hot, cooked, mid-day meals and directed security allowances for students during the lockdown. Furthermore, in Uttar Pradesh, we have the smart city Prayagrajs helpline service 1920 from 30 March to ensure home delivery of ration, food packets, and medicines. By making it mandatory for women to share their Aadhaar card number for availing the benefits, the government aims to ensure that the ration is allocated within the family and that children are also prioritised.

Even as Central and state governments continue to streamline and implement these schemes, it is critical that beneficiaries avail of these provisions and focus on building their resilience towards outbreaks and diseases. Women should especially be aware of these measures that are being launched to secure their and their families health and nutrition.

To ensure this, local leaders must actively engage with the community and spread awareness through the channels available at this time. Enlisting the support of local leaders such as Gram Pradhans and the village sarpanch involved in monitoring the delivery of nutritional rations in their area would help transform India's nutritional status.

Further, for initiating behavioural change at the grassroots, political leaders must keep the needs of women and children as a priority agenda while planning the next steps. It will be important to integrate nutrition policies in their COVID-19 response strategies, else women and children will bear an unfair long-term impact of this pandemic and lockdown.

As a nation, we have gone through several crises and have emerged victorious each time. We must ensure the same outcome this time too. Its important for us as leaders across party lines to take a gendered perspective on any new policy that is introduced on nutrition, to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on families, communities and the entire nation. The potential societal and economic gains from such investment are substantial. The onus is on us to ensure that these services and benefits reach those who need them the most.

The author is a BJP leader and Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
Proponents of naming the school after the Beman family asked the board of education to honor the familys important legacy in town and across the nation by naming the new school after them. The Bemans were contemporaries of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass and leaders of free African American communities in Connecticut, but their contributions to Connecticut and national history have largely been forgotten in modern historical consciousness.
P Dhanapal allegedly delayed a decision on the membership of AIADMK MLAs who voted against the E Planiswami govt in 2017

Chennai: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal on a plea against him for allegedly delaying a decision on the anti-defection proceedings against 11 AIADMK MLAs who voted against the Edappadi Palaniswami government in a confidence motion in 2017.

A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde issued notice to the Speaker and posts the matter for hearing after four weeks.

The plea was filed by DMK leader R Sakkrapani, seeking a direction to Dhanapal to decide forthwith upon the disqualification petition pending before him since March 20, 2017 against 11 AIADMK MLAs.

The plea further contended that the inaction of Speaker in not deciding the issue despite an order of the apex court on February 14, 2020, was "arbitrary".
tech2 News Staff

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that the United States is "certainly looking at" banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok, suggesting it shared information with the Chinese government, a charge it denied.

"I don't want to get out in front of the President (Donald Trump), but it's something we're looking at," Pompeo said in an interview with Fox News.

In another interview with the channel, US Vice President Mike Pence also said that the country would "continue to take a strong stand" regarding Chinese entities that threaten US security, including potentially the social media app TikTok.

US lawmakers have raised national security concerns over TikTok's handling of user data, saying they were worried about Chinese laws requiring domestic companies "to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party."

Pompeo said Americans should be cautious in using the short-form video app owned by China-based ByteDance.

"Only if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party," Pompeo remarked when asked if he would recommend people to download TikTok.

In response to his comments, TikTok told Reuters it has never provided user data to China.

"We have no higher priority than promoting a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked", TikTok said in an emailed statement.

The app, which is not available in China, has sought to distance itself from its Chinese roots to appeal to a global audience.

Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission and the US Justice Department are also looking into allegations that popular app TikTok failed to live up to a 2019 agreement aimed at protecting children's privacy, according to two people interviewed by the agencies.

(Also read: Boycotting Chinese products: Brands like Xiaomi, Vivo unaffected, but it will severely hurt employment in India)

A staffer in a Massachusetts tech policy group and another source said they took part in separate conference calls with FTC and Justice Department officials to discuss accusations the China-based short video sharing app had failed to live up to an agreement announced in February 2019.

The Center for Digital Democracy, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and others in May asked the FTC look into their allegations TikTok failed to delete videos and personal information about users age 13 and younger as it had agreed to do, among other violations.

Pompeo's remarks also come amid increasing US-China tensions over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak, China's actions in the former British colony of Hong Kong, and a nearly two-year trade war.

TikTok was recently banned in India along with 58 other Chinese apps after a border clash between India and China.

Reuters reported late on Monday that TikTok would exit the Hong Kong market within days, after China's establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the city.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of freedoms and far-reaching autonomy under a "one country, two systems" formula agreed with Britain.

With inputs from Reuters
Jaishree Kumar

What happens when two countries engage in a military standoff at a shared border?

In the context of the Galwan Valley clash, one of the consequences is a palpable anti-China sentiment in TV news debates, newsrooms, and households, as politicians and public figures urge Indians to boycott Chinese products.

As part of an unconventional move in foreign policy, the IT Ministry announced that 59 Chinese apps would be banned, citing the reason that they are engaged in activities that are "prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order".

One of the apps in question is TikTok, owned by ByteDance. The app, which allows users to watch and make short videos of themselves, enthralled Indian audiences in a way that few other apps have  reminiscent of the appeal of Vine, Dubsmash and Instagram. However, this isn't the first time that the app has been banned in the country: In April 2019, it faced similar action because of its 'pornographic' content and exposing children to sexual predators, among other reasons.

It was also derided by many for the 'cringe' content it is supposedly home to  a claim rooted in classist disdain for videos created by the working class, who found a platform in the app. It wasnt long before the app became a safe haven for queer content creators. There was an upsurge of queer creators in drag, whose content included makeup tutorials, lip-syncing, and videos reclaiming their identity and sexuality.

The recent ban has hit queer users in particular: all evidence of the digital empowerment they gained through the app has vanished into thin air.

For Chennai-based Valerie Jay, a transwoman, TikTok meant having a sense of belonging to the trans community. Id spend hours scrolling and basking in queerness, it was liberating in a way. The app was easy to use and I could make videos about pride and politics with great ease. Valerie isnt fully convinced by the governments decision to ban the app. If it really is a national security concern, then I have a feeling the government owes us an explanation. How are teenagers lip-syncing to Meghan Thee Stallion a national security concern?

Valerie doesnt believe that other social media platforms can provide the same space as TikTok did. You didnt have to be tech-savvy to understand and use TikTok. I dont think this ease exists in other platforms.

Siya Mahajan from Satna, Madhya Pradesh says she misses the global audience she once enjoyed  she had close to 90,000 followers on the platform. She used to upload song covers and videos related to pride and politics. It was inspiring to see so many people from across the globe be comfortable in their sexuality and identity, she says. In an IGTV video which she uploaded shortly after the news of the ban, Siya began with Dont call me an anti-national, please. I am not against the governments decision, but they shouldve thought about creators like us.

Siya tried out Indian video-based apps and found that they were riddled with glitches. Apps like Mitron and Chingari are filled with bugs and dont have a nice interface. I dont think anything can replace TikTok, she adds.

Hyderabad-based Mohammed Kaif, who went by the name Candy on the app, terms the ban as being painful. I used to put in a lot of work into my videos and I made friends because of it, too. I was sad to to see TikTok go, he says. Shivani Natholia, a queer content creator based in Surat, remains optimistic. Im okay with the app being banned if it is in national interest. TikTok gave a platform to hidden talent, but we will move past this and find something else. The platform may be gone, but my talent isnt going anywhere, she asserts.

Many aren't convinced that the ban will have its intended effect. If the app had over 120 million users, China has already gained what it wanted. As citizens of India, we must abide by the government rules, but I dont think it was right on its part to simply ban the app. Banning a handful of Chinese apps is futile when big Chinese companies have flourishing businesses in India, says Hashbrownie, a Delhi-based drag queen.

The ripples of the ban are being felt across the border too, since Indians constitute the audience for content creators in neighbouring countries. Lalita Chhetri, who is based in Bhutan, points out the impact that the ban has had on her performance. Most of my audience was from India. My views and reach have been affected since the ban was implemented."

Zora, a Mumbai-based artist and student, would spend a lot of their time on the platform, watching and replaying videos. TikTok meant representation for the queer and working-class communities... All my life I have seen the community only from the lens of the privileged, it was on TikTok that I saw queer folks from less privileged sections of society," they explain.

Queer users and creators have much to say about its positives, but it is not as though they are in denial about the security and censorship concerns that the app has been criticised for. "TikTok had its flaws. Every app out there extracts data from its users and makes money by selling it. TikTok isnt an exception in this regard, Zora says.

Another criticism is that the app had become a platform for violence and its glorification. "There are good and bad people in every community. We cannot direct our hate for one element towards a whole app or community of users, says Delhi-based drag queen Prashant Chauhan.

Prashant had over a hundred thousand followers. He considered the app a hobby. I am not keen on shifting all my TikTok videos to Instagram, since I use Instagram for my professional work, he says. He has been performing as a dancer for the last 12 years, and a drag queen for the last year. The hate on TikTok pushed me to create more content, he says. He also raises questions about what banning the app could achieve. I dont quite understand the reason behind the ban. Banning apps isnt going to win us a war or avenge dead soldiers. Its quite futile, he says.

Viewers and followers of queer creators reminisce about the joy the app brought to them. Siddhant Talwar, an artist and student at Tufts University, misses the sense of validation TikTok gave him. As a student in the US, I would watch plenty of queer creators on the app, but I couldnt relate to them. My identity as a queer Indian man is very different. After I returned to India and stumbled upon desi TikTok stars, I was elated. It meant so much to be able to see my body and identity get representation.

For Varooni Tuteja, a transwoman studying at the University of Delhi, the platform signified comfort. The app was a safe haven for me. It allowed me to relate to other trans women and our issues across the globe... I was waiting for my exams to end so that I could start making videos of my own, but I guess thats not happening anymore, she laments.

TikTok is possibly the first social media platform to be at the receiving end of considerable hate and scrutiny. Transphobic and queerphobic memes and jokes made at the expense of TikTok creators abound. We are a queerphobic country, so an app that highlights queer voices was bound to receive hate of this sort. Haven't celebrities like Karan Johar and Bobby Darling received queerphobic hate too? asks Zora.

In 2018, a Chennai resident died by suicide after their family, friends and followers mocked them for posting TikTok videos where they featured wearing women's clothes. Every TikTok user was labelled as homo. Especially after the whole Carryminati issue. If TikTok-ers move to a new platform, that platform too will be labelled as homo," says Hashbrownie.

In an infamous online brawl which consisted of a series of 'YouTube vs TikTok' videos, YouTube-er Carryminati came under fire for using homophobic and transphobic slurs against TikTok creators. But this hatred, which took the form of queerphobia, existed before the brawl too. One only needs to look at the comments section of queer Indian TikTok users Instagram accounts to know the extent of the hate  remarks like Youre here to pollute this app too? and You should kill yourself" are not uncommon.

The anti-queer hate directed at TikTok and its creators became worse when certain famous influencers started spreading it. It was merely a gimmick to garner more views and followers from homophobic and sexist channels," says Noida-based Yashi Sinha.

Yashi began making TikTok videos in 2018 and gained a decent following in the last year for his videos on makeup and activism. I feel really sad for creators from small towns. They had finally found a platform for themselves, Yashi says.

Hope about the return of the app lingers on in the community. TikTok inspired me to come out to my mother. I miss making content and the comfort the app gave me. It was thrilling to see so much talent in one place. I do hope the app makes a comeback, says Zora.

Jaishree Kumar is a freelance journalist and poet. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
tech2 News Staff

Samsung has officially announced that it will host its Galaxy Unpacked 2020 event on 5 August. The event is scheduled to take place at 10 am ET, meaning, you will be able to watch the livestream at 7.30 pm in India. Samsung is expected to launch a handful of devices at the event including Galaxy Note 20 series, Galaxy Fold 2, and Galaxy Watch 3.

As usual, the company hasn't revealed much about the upcoming devices but the invitation video shows a splash of copper-like colour, which is in line with the recently leaked Galaxy Note 20 lineup in the purported 'Mystic Bronze', colour option. But again, these are merely speculations.



Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series expected specifications

The smartphone series is likely to come with an S Pen which will also come with the same colour scheme. It is expected that the smartphones of the series are likely to be powered by Snapdragon 865 or rumoured Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset.

As per a recent report, Galaxy Note 20 Ultra might offer up to 12 GB RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The Verge has reported that the entire series is expected to come with 5G and a 120Hz refresh rate display.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 expected specifications

Going by a previous report, Galaxy Fold 2 might offer a larger cover display than the 4.6-inch screen on the original Samsung Galaxy Fold. The size of the foldable display of the second generation phone may be increased to 7.7-inch compared to Galaxy Fold's 7.3-inches.

The report states that the device is likely to feature an Infinity-O panel with a punch hole for the selfie camera. It is also being speculated that Fold 2 will come with S pen support.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 expected specifications

Galaxy Watch 3 will reportedly come in 4 different versions  two in a 41 mm size and the other two in a 45 mm size. The display of the smartwatch is likely to be protected by Gorilla Glass XD and is expected to have 5ATM water-resistance.

Both models of Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 are believed to come with LTE variants and GPS, and be equipped with a heart-rate monitor. The devices are also expected to come with blood pressure monitoring.
A 36-year-old man in Brazil may be the first to experience long-term remission from HIV after treatment with only a specially designed combination of antiviral drugs, researchers said Tuesday.

Just two people have been confirmed cured of HIV so far, both after risky treatments involving bone-marrow transplants for their cancers.

The Brazilian patient, who was not identified, has not shown signs of lingering HIV infection in blood tests that detect the virus, according to investigators at the Federal University of Sao Paulo, a prestigious research institution. He also does not seem to have detectable antibodies to the virus.

Although still an isolated case, this might represent the first long-term HIV remission without a bone-marrow transplant, the scientists said. They presented the results at AIDS 2020, an annual medical conference held virtually this week because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But outside experts greeted the report with skepticism.

The absence of antibodies to HIV is the most interesting thing about the case, said Dr. Steve Deeks, an HIV researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the work.

There will be a lot of buzz, a lot of controversy about this part  everyones going to be skeptical, he said. Am I skeptical? Of course. Am I intrigued? Absolutely.

It is too soon to say whether the Brazilian patient is truly virus-free, Deeks said, until independent labs have confirmed the test results. Even if they do, he added, it is unclear whether the mans status is the result of the treatment he has received.

One in 20 people who start traditional antiretroviral treatment soon after they are infected also suppress the virus to undetectable levels.

The patient was diagnosed with HIV in October 2012 and started taking antiretroviral drugs two months later. In 2016, he was one of five people to join a clinical trial in which, in addition to standard drug combination therapy, they received three antiretroviral drugs for 48 weeks.

Two of the drugs, maraviroc and nicotinamide, are thought to lure HIV out of its hiding spots in the body, allowing the other drugs to kill the virus. HIV lurks in many so-called reservoirs, and previous studies have suggested that any strategy to rid the body of the virus must include a way to flush it out. Nicotinamide may also boost the immune system, said Dr. Ricardo Diaz, a member of the research team.

The patient returned to standard antiretroviral therapy after the trial ended. He stopped taking all antiretroviral drugs in March 2019. His blood has been tested every three weeks since then and has shown no signs of the infection, according to the researchers.

These are exciting findings, but theyre very preliminary, said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an HIV expert at UCSF and one of the conference organizers.

Nicotinamide has been used in many other studies without these results, she noted. And no drug has worked so far in terms of long-term remission, she said. Im not even sure this has worked. Its one patient, so I think we cant say we can achieve remission this way.

The scientists in Brazil have offered to send samples for confirmatory tests to other labs. The researchers should repeat the negative antibody tests, and they plan to do so, Deeks said.

The researchers also must test the patients blood for antiretroviral drugs, he added: The data raises the possibility that the participant continued his antiretroviral drugs without informing the study team. This would not be unprecedented.

People in Brazil receive antiretroviral drugs through the public health system, and the transaction is registered, Diaz said at a news briefing Tuesday.

We dont have a black market, because we dont need this, he said. And there was no registry that this patient got any drugs from the public system.

Still, he said, the team will check the patients blood for antiviral drug use that the researchers did not know about.

Apoorva Mandavilli. c.2020 The New York Times Company
tech2 News Staff

Experts in the hundred have urged the World Health Organization to review mounting evidence that the coronavirus can be transmitted through the air in indoor spaces. An expert committee is now pouring over this evidence, and plans to release an updated list of recommendations in a few days, as per a recent WHO news briefing.

According to Dr Benedetta Allegranzi, head of WHOs committee on infection prevention and control, the possibility of airborne transmission in "crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings, cannot be ruled out."

Coronavirus transmission via aerosols

WHO, the leading health authority issuing guidelines to contain the pandemic, has acknowledged these larger respiratory droplets quickly fall to the floor from very early on in the pandemic.

That said, there has been little support from them to research that the virus is also carried by lighter particles in the air, called aerosols, which stay suspended for much longer periods of time. Aerosols are known to travel farther than droplets, and linger far longer in an area after the infected person has left a room.

The letter quotes multiple studies, which "demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt" that viruses released in microdroplets when an infected person exhales, speaks, or coughs, are small enough to stay airborne and not fall to the ground in minutes. These microdroplets, researchers said, "pose a risk of exposure at distances beyond 1 to 2 m from an infected individual."

Mounting evidence of airborne transmission

A study carried out by the US National Institutes of Health concluded that the coronavirus can linger in the air for up to four hours in aerosol form. The SARS-CoV-2 virus was also found in samples of aerosols collected from two Wuhan hospitals, according to a Nature study in April.

Alarming reports of unexpected superspreading events were included in the body of evidence. For instance, after choir practice involving over 60 people in Washington, one infected individual is thought to have infected 52 of his peers in the span of a 2.5-hour practice session where physical distancing was maintained by the majority.

What the finding implies for daily living

If a virus is airborne, it can be carried through the air in its viable form. In the case of many other infectious viruses, this is a yes or no scenario.

For instance, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is too sensitive to survive outside the body, and is not airborne. Measles morbillivirus, which causes measles, is airborne, and dangerously so  it can survive in the air for up to two hours.

For the coronavirus, the definition has been an evolving one. Experts agree that the virus does not travel long distances or remain viable outdoors. But evidence suggests it can travel from end to end of a room. In one set of experimental conditions, it was found viable for three hours in the environment.

While the news may not come as much of a surprise, the current guidelines being followed to curb the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are based on the notion that COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets expelled from an infected persons nose and mouth.

If the mounting evidence of "transmission by aerosols" is validated by WHO's researchers, the consequences for containing the pandemic will be significant.

"Masks may be needed indoors, even in socially distant settings. Health care workers may need N95 masks that filter out even the smallest respiratory droplets as they care for coronavirus patients," according to an open letter from 239 researchers across 32 countries to WHO.

Scientists have listed a few recommendations in the event that WHO validated the evidence of airborne SARS-CoV-2. Overcrowding, particularly on public transportation and in other confined spaces, should be avoided, they said. This includes public buildings, businesses, schools, hospitals and care homes, which should supply clean air and minimize recirculating air. The scientists have urged that public spaces consider adding suitable air filters and virus-killing ultraviolet lights for good measure.
FP Trending

As scientists attempt to find the exact cause of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the world is still waiting for a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Now, a study has surfaced revealing interesting information about the deadly virus.

The research, which is pre-published in biorXiv and awaiting peer review, divulged that a stretch of DNA linked to COVID-19 was transferred from Neanderthals 60,000 years ago, according to a report in the New York Times.

The study conducted by two Swedish geneticists, Svante Paabo and Hugo Zeberg, also said that the chances of South Asians contracting the disease is higher than that of Europeans, reported Daily Mail.

The reason behind this is that more number of people in South Asia have Neanderthal genes when compared to Europeans.

Ths study's researchers found that the gene in South Asia at a frequency of 30 percent, while only eight percent of Europeans have this variant.

The presence of the gene is highest in Bangladesh as around 63 percent of its population carries at least one copy of the Neanderthal risk variant  called Chromosome 3.

According to Paabo and Zeberg, the genes likely entered humans during cross-breeding with Neanderthals between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago.

This interbreeding effect that happened 60,000 years ago is still having an impact today, the newspaper quoted Joshua Akey, a geneticist at Princeton University, as saying. However, Akey was not a part of this new study.

Neanderthals lived alongside humans and they were very similar in appearance and size but were generally stockier and more muscular.
By Callaghan O'Hare and Rich McKay HOUSTON/MIAMI (Reuters) - The U.S. coronavirus crisis worsened on Tuesday as more states reported record rises in new cases, with Florida fast running out of available hospital intensive care unit (ICU) beds. Florida, Texas and California are among roughly two dozen states that have experienced an alarming rise in infections in the past two weeks, a sign that efforts to control the spread of the novel coronavirus have failed in much of the country

Coronavirus surge puts U.S. on track for deadly summer wave" src="https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/reuters/07-2020/08/2020-07-07T164013Z_1_LYNXMPEG661FE_RTROPTP_2_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-USA-AIRLINES.jpg" alt=" Coronavirus surge puts US on track for deadly summer wave" width="300" height="225" />

By Callaghan O'Hare and Rich McKay

HOUSTON/MIAMI (Reuters) - The U.S. coronavirus crisis worsened on Tuesday as more states reported record rises in new cases, with Florida fast running out of available hospital intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

Florida, Texas and California are among roughly two dozen states that have experienced an alarming rise in infections in the past two weeks, a sign that efforts to control the spread of the novel coronavirus have failed in much of the country.

In Houston, a line of more than 200 cars snaked around the United Memorial Medical Center as people waited for hours in sweltering heat to get tested for COVID-19 . Some had arrived the night before in order to secure a test at the drive-thru site.

"I got tested because my younger brother got positive," said Fred Robles, 32, who spent the night in his car. "There's so many people that need to get tested, there's nothing you can do about it."

Dean Davis, 32, who lost his job due to the pandemic, said he arrived at the testing site at 3 a.m. on Tuesday after he waited for hours on Monday but failed to make the cutoff.

"I was like, let me get here at 3, maybe nobody will be here," Davis said. "I got here, there was a line already."

In Florida, more than four dozen hospitals across 25 of 67 counties reported their ICUs had reached full capacity, data published by the state's Agency for Health Care Administration showed. Only 17% of the total 6,010 adult ICU beds statewide were available on Tuesday, down from 20% three days ago.

Health officials are bracing for a wave of further hospitalizations that could strain healthcare systems in densely populated areas, leading to an uptick in COVID-19 deaths. Increased deaths tend to lag a rise in new cases by a month or more.

More than 130,000 Americans have already died from the illness - about a quarter of the global total.

Florida's coronavirus cases have soared in the last month, with the state's daily count topping 10,000 three times in the last week. COVID-19 fatalities were up nearly 19% in the last week compared with the week prior, bringing the state's death toll to more than 3,800.

"A lot of this is being driven by young people, under 40... They're less at risk," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a news conference in Miami about the spike in new cases.

U.S. President Donald Trump, whose handling of the crisis has been widely criticized, plans to visit Florida later this week. The White House defended his trip to the state, which is seen as critical to his re-election chances on Nov. 3.

"We can't stop what we're doing. He's got to run a nation," White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told reporters at the White House.

Several U.S. Secret Service agents tested positive for the coronavirus or were told to quarantine following Trump's June trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma and Vice President Mike Pence's Arizona trip last week, according to the Washington Post.

'SPIKED OUT OF CONTROL'

Trump has repeatedly pushed for the reopening of the U.S. economy and urged Americans to return to their lives. On Monday, he said that U.S. schools must open in the fall, a decision over which he has little power.

Colleges and universities have been forced to adjust reopening plans, including altering their calendars and holding some courses online. Harvard University said on Monday all of its courses would be online for the upcoming academic year.

Trump is discussing school reopenings at the White House later on Tuesday.

New COVID-19 infections are rising in 42 states, based on a Reuters analysis of the past two weeks compared to the prior two, putting the Unites States close to 3 million total cases. Montana, Oklahoma and Missouri on Tuesday shattered their previous daily record highs for new cases.

In Arizona, another hotspot, the rate of coronavirus tests coming back positive rose to 26% for the week ended July 5. The World Heath Organization considers a rate over 5% to be troubling.

The surge has forced authorities to backpedal on moves to reopen businesses, such as restaurants and bars, after mandatory lockdowns in March and April reduced economic activity to a virtual standstill and put millions of Americans out of work.

Miami has imposed a mask wearing requirement and ordered some businesses to close, with penalties imposed on those who do not comply.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told MSNBC on Tuesday that "extreme measures" were necessary because more COVID-19 patients were on ventilators and the availability of ICU beds was dwindling rapidly.

"We're trying to put in a series of measures to once again flatten the curve, which unfortunately has completely spiked out of control in the city."

(Reporting by Maria Caspani and Gabriella Borter in New York, Susan Heavey in Washington and Callaghan O'Hare in Houston; Writing by Paul Simao; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The United States played a central role in creating the WHO in 1948, and has since been one of its largest sources of financial support. The biennial budget for the WHO is about $6 billion

Washington: The Donald Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations that the United States will withdraw from the World Health Organisation, a move that would cut off one of the largest sources of funding from the premier global health organisation in the middle of a pandemic.

The United States notice of withdrawal, effective 6 July, 2021, has been submitted to the UN secretary-general, who is the depository for the WHO, a senior administration official said Tuesday.

The departure would take effect sometime next year, should the United States meet established conditions of giving a one-year notice and fulfilling its current financial obligations, Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, said Tuesday.

The notification completes a threat that President Donald Trump began making months ago, as the death toll from the coronavirus in the United States mounted and Trump sought to blame the Chinese government for not doing enough to stop the spread of the disease. Trump has accused Beijing of hiding the true scope of infections from the WHO, targeting the agency in the process.

The world is now suffering as a result of the malfeasance of the Chinese government, Trump said in May when he first said the United States would withdraw from the organisation.

There is little evidence to support Trumps belief that the Chinese misinformed the organisation, although scientists and health experts have recently criticised the WHO for being slow to update its guidance and keep step with science as understanding of the virus rapidly evolves.

Trumps decision to leave the WHO is the latest in a series of withdrawals he has made from global pacts, usually after scorning such partnerships as disadvantageous for Americans. But the administrations move to withdraw from the WHO, an organisation the United States had a central role in creating more than a half century ago, during a pandemic that has infected more than 11.6 million people, killed more than a half a million and upended life around the world, drew swift condemnation from public health experts.

Lawrence Gostin, the director of the ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, said that the decision was disastrous for national interests and that the departure would weaken US influence on international health diplomacy.

Trumps official notice of withdrawal from the WHO is among the most ruinous presidential decisions in recent history, Gostin, who is also affiliated with the World Health Organisation, said in a statement. It will make Americans less safe during an unprecedented global health crisis.

Experts acknowledged that the WHO had made some missteps during the pandemic but said that it had largely done well given the constraints under which it operates. The agency is coordinating clinical trials of treatments, as well as efforts to manufacture and equitably distribute the vaccine.

I think its an extraordinarily bad decision that will both harm global public health and harm the health of the American people, said Dr Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. Its unclear to me how the American people benefit by not being at the table and not being able to shape those policies.

For the Trump administration to blame the WHO for not investigating the outbreak in China is deeply disingenuous, Jha added. WHO cant push its way into China, any more than it can investigate why our outbreak is so bad in Arizona or why were botching the response as badly as we are.

And Dr Thomas Frieden, a former director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, underlined the organisations accomplishments. Without WHO, the world would not have eradicated smallpox, multidrug resistant tuberculosis would have spread much more widely, and we would have much weaker systems to track influenza and other deadly infections.

The administrations move also drew criticism from members of Congress, including from Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who wrote on Twitter that Congress had just received notification of the withdrawal. This wont protect American lives or interests  it leaves Americans sick and America alone, Menendez wrote.

Senator Patty Murray, D-Washington, also denounced the move. President Trump needs to realise this crisis doesnt recognise borders and hiding from it or passing the blame wont make it go away or make him any less responsible, she said in a statement.

The United States played a central role in creating the WHO in 1948, and has since been one of its largest sources of financial support. The biennial budget for the WHO is about $6 billion, which comes from member countries around the world. In 2019, the last year for which figures were available, the United States contributed about $553 million.

In the past, the WHO and global health priorities have enjoyed bipartisan support. But in May the Trump administration delivered a four-page letter calling for major, substantive improvements in exchange for continued funding.

The organisations other member nations decided instead to conduct an impartial, independent examination of the WHOs response to the coronavirus pandemic. And it did not satisfy its American critics.

Katie Rogers and Apoorva Mandavilli c.2020 The New York Times Company
Visuals showed swollen rivers, destroyed homes, roads covered in landslides and stranded residents being carried to safety by military helicopters.

Tokyo: Japan on Tuesday warned of more heavy rain on the southwestern island of Kyushu and bolstered rescue operations as the death toll in flood-hit areas rose past 50 with about a dozen people reported missing.

The government said it would double rescue and relief personnel as heavy rain destroyed homes and caused landslides in what is shaping up to be Japans worst natural disaster since Typhoon Hagibis killed 90 people in October.

Rain front was expected to remain over the area until Thursday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news briefing. Rain is expected over a wide front stretching from western to eastern Japan, he said.

Police, Self-Defense Force (SDF) and Coast Guard units were carrying out search and rescue efforts, said Suga, urging people to take necessary precautions to keep safe.

The death toll has risen to 56 with missing, according to public broadcaster NHK. It showed swollen rivers, destroyed homes, roads covered in landslides and stranded residents being plucked to safety by military helicopters.

Kyodo News reported at least 71 landslides across 12 prefectures, citing the land ministry, and said more than 1.3 million people had been ordered to leave their homes.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government would double rescue and relief personnel, from day-earlier levels, to 80,000, including some 20,000 SDF troops.

Some companies in the region have temporarily halted operations but Suga said he did not expect major disruptions to supply chains, as happened two years ago when deadly floods also hit Kyushu.

The government will continue to liaise with local firms, Suga said, adding, We want to quickly take the necessary steps such as support for small and mid-sized firms depending on the situation ahead.

Carmakers Toyota Motor and Mazda Motor, and electronics conglomerate Panasonic Corp all halted operations at certain plants on Monday due to heavy rain.

Mazda cancelled the second shift at its plants in Hiroshima, and Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on Tuesday, with plans to open on Wednesday. Panasonic said its sensor plant in Kagoshima was operating normally on Tuesday.

Toyota said it would keep all three of its Kyushu plants closed on Tuesday after halting production the previous evening for safety reasons, with plans to restart on Wednesday.
It appears that it was designed purposefully to place pressure on colleges and universities to open their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction this fall, without regard to concerns for the health and safety of students, instructors, and others, Bacow said in a statement Wednesday. This comes at a time when the United States has been setting daily records for the number of new infections, with more than 300,000 new cases reported since July 1.
Nepal prime minister's press advisor Surya Thapa announced that the meeting was postponed from Wednesday to Friday. The reason for the postponement for a fourth time was not revealed.

Kathmandu: A crucial meeting of Nepal's ruling communist party to decide the political future of embattled Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was on Wednesday postponed once again for Friday, amidst intra-party rifts and calls for his resignation over his style of functioning and anti-India statements.

The meeting of the Nepal Communist Party's 45-member powerful Standing Committee was scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

Prime Minister's press advisor Surya Thapa announced that the meeting was postponed until Friday. The reason for the deferment for a fourth time was not revealed.

Top NCP leaders, including former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', have demanded Prime Minister Oli's resignation, saying his recent anti-India remarks were "neither politically correct nor diplomatically appropriate."

The differences between the two factions of the NCP  one led by Oli and the other led by party's executive chairman 'Prachanda' on the issue of power-sharing has recently intensified after the prime minister unilaterally decided to prorogue the budget session of Parliament.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S.

coronavirus positive cases flattening in Ariz, Texas, Florida" src="https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/reuters/07-2020/09/2020-07-08T164949Z_1_LYNXMPEG671MJ_RTROPTP_2_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-USA.jpg" alt="Pence says coronavirus positive cases flattening in Ariz Texas Florida" width="300" height="225" />

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday that the percentage of positive coronavirus testing is starting to flatten in the hard-hit states of Florida, Texas and Arizona.

"We are actually seeing early indications of a percent positive testing flattening in Arizona and Florida and Texas," Pence said at a White House coronavirus task force briefing at the Department of Education.

He also said authorities were seeing declining numbers of emergency room visits as well in Arizona and Florida.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration will take steps to ensure the Chinese government does not gain any access to the private information of American citizens through telecommunications and social media, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, when asked if the U.S.

By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration will take steps to ensure the Chinese government does not gain any access to the private information of American citizens through telecommunications and social media, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, when asked if the U.S. was planning to ban Chinese-owned app Tiktok.

Pompeo also praised U.S. technology giants Google , Twitter Inc and Facebook Inc for 'refusing to surrender' user data to the Hong Kong government and urged other companies to follow suit, after China's establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the semi-autonomous city.

Speaking two days after he said Washington was "certainly looking at" banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok, Pompeo said the U.S. evaluation was not focused on a particular company but that it was a matter of national security.

"The comments that I made about a particular company earlier this week fall in the context of us evaluating the threat from the Chinese Communist Party," Pompeo said. He added that Washington was working to ensure that Beijing does not gain access to any private data or health records of Americans.

"So what you'll see the administration do is take actions that preserve and protect that information and deny the Chinese Communist Party access to private information that belongs to Americans," he said.

U.S. lawmakers have raised national security concerns over TikTok's handling of user data, saying they were worried about Chinese laws requiring domestic companies "to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party."

On Monday, Tiktok told Reuters it has never provided user data to China. The app, which is not available in China, has sought to distance itself from its Chinese roots to appeal to a global audience.

Pompeo's remarks also come amid increasing U.S.-China tensions over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak, China's actions in the former British colony of Hong Kong and a nearly two-year trade dispute between the U.S. and China.

Pompeo reiterated the need for allies and the international community to help shape the global telecoms infrastructure free of the Chinese government's influence.

"The infrastructure of this next hundred years must be a communications infrastructure that is based on a Western ideal," he said.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Susan Heavey and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will restrict visas for some Chinese officials because China obstructs travel to the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas by U.S. diplomats, journalists and tourists, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday. 'Today I am announcing visa restrictions on PRC government and Chinese Communist Party officials determined to be 'substantially involved in the formulation or execution of policies related to access for foreigners to Tibetan areas,'' Pompeo said in a statement, referring to the People's Republic of China.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will restrict visas for some Chinese officials because China obstructs travel to the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas by U.S. diplomats, journalists and tourists, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday.

"Today I am announcing visa restrictions on PRC government and Chinese Communist Party officials determined to be 'substantially involved in the formulation or execution of policies related to access for foreigners to Tibetan areas,'" Pompeo said in a statement, referring to the People's Republic of China.

(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Eric Beech)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States will leave the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 6, 2021, the United Nations said on Tuesday, after receiving notification of the decision by President Donald Trump, who has accused the agency of becoming a puppet for China during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump, who announced the decision over a month ago, has to give one-year notice of the U.S. withdrawal from the Geneva-based body and pay all Washington's dues under a 1948 joint resolution of the U.S

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States will leave the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 6, 2021, the United Nations said on Tuesday, after receiving notification of the decision by President Donald Trump, who has accused the agency of becoming a puppet for China during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, who announced the decision over a month ago, has to give one-year notice of the U.S. withdrawal from the Geneva-based body and pay all Washington's dues under a 1948 joint resolution of the U.S. Congress. The United States currently owes the WHO more than $200 million in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website.

After more than 70 years of membership, the United States moved to quit the WHO amid escalating tensions with China over the coronavirus pandemic. The virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

The WHO has denied assertions by Trump that it promoted Chinese "disinformation" about the virus.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi described Trump's official withdrawal as "an act of true senselessness as WHO coordinates the global fight against COVID-19 ."

"With millions of lives at risk, the President is crippling the international effort to defeat the virus," the Democratic leader posted on Twitter.

So far there have been nearly 12 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 540,000 known deaths worldwide, according to a Reuters tally, with about 25% of both cases and deaths in the United States.

Trump's decision could be overturned before it takes effect if he is defeated by his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, in a November election.

Trump had halted funding for the 194-member organization in April, then in a May 18 letter gave the WHO 30 days to commit to reforms. He announced the United States would quit less than two weeks later.

Vice President Mike Pence, asked in a Fox News Channel interview whether it was the right time to break with the WHO, said: "It's absolutely the right time."

"The World Health Organization let the world down ... There have to be consequences to this," Pence said.

The WHO is an independent international body that works with the United Nations. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that the WHO is "absolutely critical to the world's efforts to win the war against COVID-19 ."

"The Secretary-General ... is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Tuesday.

Since taking office, Trump has also quit the U.N. Human Rights Council, the U.N. cultural agency, a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal. He has also cut funding for the U.N. population fund and the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Additional reporting by Mohammad Zargham and Eric Beech; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Bill Berkrot)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will leave the World Health Organization on July 6, 2021, the United Nations said on Tuesday after receiving formal notification of the decision by President Donald Trump more than a month ago. Trump had to give one-year notice of the U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will leave the World Health Organization on July 6, 2021, the United Nations said on Tuesday after receiving formal notification of the decision by President Donald Trump more than a month ago.

Trump had to give one-year notice of the U.S. withdrawal from the Geneva-based U.N. agency under a 1948 joint resolution of the U.S. Congress, which also obliges Washington to pay financial support. The United States currently owes the WHO more than $200 million in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website.

After more than 70 years of membership, the United States moved to quit the WHO after Trump accused it of becoming a puppet of China amid the coronavirus pandemic. The virus first emerged in Chinas Wuhan city late last year.

The Secretary-General ... is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Trump had halted funding for the 194-member organisation in April, then in a May 18 letter gave the WHO 30 days to commit to reforms. He announced the United States would quit less than two weeks later.

The WHO is an independent international body that works with the United Nations. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that the WHO is absolutely critical to the worlds efforts to win the war against COVID-19 .

Trump has long scorned multilateralism as he focuses on an America First agenda. Since taking office, he has quit the U.N. Human Rights Council, the U.N. cultural agency, a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal. He has also cut funding for the U.N. population fund and the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
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These actions played an essential role in why Connecticut is faring better than most states but have resulted in historic financial losses for all hospitals across the state, said Jackson, who projects the industry is facing a $1 billion loss after factoring in federal relief provided to date. We are hopeful that our ongoing discussions with the state regarding the need for state financial relief will be resolved in the near future.
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More and more Cash App users are relying on Square's (NYSE:SQ) app for their banking needs. Direct deposit accounts surged in April after Square made efforts to make the feature more available to users ahead of tax refund season. By mid-April, 14 million Cash App users were eligible to receive direct deposits.

The CARES Act stimulus provided an even bigger boost to Square's latest Cash App focus. Direct deposit volume tripled in April compared to March. Management notes direct deposit customers remain a small portion of the Cash App's overall network, but recent adoption is encouraging.

Direct deposit accounts and volume are key metrics for Square investors to follow, says SunTrust analyst Andrew Jeffrey. He sees Cash App taking a 20% deposit share as it competes with traditional banks.

Growing direct deposit accounts on the Cash App open the door for more services, and the company already sees a positive correlation between users who set up direct deposits and revenue. "Direct deposit customers have generated revenue which is multiples higher compared to customers who only use peer-to-peer," CFO Amrita Ahuja said during Square's first quarter earnings call in May.

Building a bank from an app

In March, Square received federal and state (Utah) conditional approval for an industrial loan bank charter. Square plans to open a bank in Utah next year in order to offer small business loans directly through its Square Capital product as well as deposit products.

It also opens the door for consumer loans, an area Square has explored from its Seller ecosystem, and it'd enable Square to accelerate the availability of direct deposit features in the Cash App.

Square's still in the early days of growing direct deposits in the Cash App. The feature is only available to 14 million users. As of December, Cash App had 24 million monthly active users. That number's likely grown considering Cash App's strong results in the first four months of the year.

Growing direct deposits drive an increase in stored funds in Cash App. Square said it had $1.3 billion on deposit from Cash App users as of the end of April. Ultimately, increasing deposit volume increases volume in Cash App's other services.

A leading indicator of revenue

As mentioned, Square generates far more revenue from Cash App users who use its direct deposit feature than from those who merely use it to send payments to friends. Storing funds in the Cash App can encourage users to use the app's Cash Card or Investing features.

As such, deposit accounts and volume are key indicators of the revenue growth and potential of Cash App services. With the spike in funds stored in Cash App, investors in the fintech company should look for growth in the app's subscription and services revenue in the second quarter.

There may be other revenue-generating features Square has yet to build out in the Cash App, with the company ultimately seeking to replace a traditional bank account entirely. Giving users more ways to use their funds will provide revenue growth and further encourage deposits.

Square's made no commitments to sharing deposit account data with investors. As such, management may only provide updates when it reaches a new milestone or it has good news to share.
Right now, the medical cannabis space is one of the very few markets that has vast opportunities to grow, owing to the numerous health benefits it provides. Global research has shown that medical cannabis can help with chronic pain, various neurological disorders (including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD), and Crohn's disease, among many others.

Medical cannabis also proves to be an alternate option for many wanting to shift from conventional medicines. Florida-based Trulieve Cannabis (OTC:TCNNF) has seen the true potential of this market and has established strong footing in its home state.

A dominant player in its home state

When it comes to cannabis in Florida, Trulieve is the company that comes to mind. There are, of course, other players in the state, but Trulieve has captured a good chunk of the retail space with 51 dispensaries. (The company now operates a total of 53 dispensaries in the U.S., with the other two in California and Connecticut.)

Florida legalized medical cannabis in 2016, and since then the market has been outstanding for medical marijuana. This year, despite the lockdown, cannabis demand has seen an all-time high, hinting at the popularity of the product. The COVID-19 pandemic and the sudden lockdown also increased anxiety and various other mental health issues that cannabis is known to help.

Florida medical cannabis sales surged during the pandemic, with 36,400 ounces of cannabis flower sold during the seven days beginning March 13. That's an increase of 38% over the previous week, and much higher than the average of 22,800 ounces of smokable flower sold per week in the first 10 weeks of 2020.

The company saw dazzling revenue growth of 116% year over year to $96.1 million in the first quarter. It also improved revenue; from fiscal 2019 fourth-quarter revenue of $79.7 million, Trulieve reported positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of $49.4 million. That's a jump of 161% from the year-ago period. Adjusted EBITDA also saw an increase of 10% sequentially. Interestingly, Trulieve has managed to earn this chunk of revenue and profits mostly through business in a single state; imagine the growth if it spread its roots to other states.

The company said COVID-19 didn't have much of an impact on its operations -- an especially positive sign compared with its peer MedMen, which is suffering from a cash crunch this year. In its first quarter, Trulieve opened three new stores in Florida, while MedMen had to temporarily shut down five of its medical cannabis outlets in Florida in May. MedMen didn't specify why, but the reasons are evident from the financial struggles that have been pinning it down for a while now. MedMen now has three stores open in the state.

What will the recreational marijuana market bring?

A campaign in Florida tried to legalize recreational marijuana this year, but the pandemic caused numerous challenges.

The lockdown made it hard for activists to collect enough signatures to make recreational legalization proposals qualify for the state's November 2020 ballot. Hence, the group is now trying for a 2022 legalization. The demand is exceptional in the state, so a recreational market will bring additional revenues for Trulieve. But its dependency on medical marijuana could make it difficult for it to make a sudden jump to the new market.

The only concern

Trulieve's revenue growth is no doubt staggering, and medical cannabis demand is unlikely to plummet anytime soon. Trulieve has also secured its financial position with a strong balance sheet that will help it survive the crisis. The company ended the first quarter with $100.8 million in cash and cash equivalents.

What worries me is Trulieve's dependence on a single market: medical marijuana. It's intriguing to note the rate at which peer companies are expanding in various states. Curaleaf and Green Thumb Industries are expanding at rocket speed despite the pandemic. And they have business in both the medical and recreational arenas.

That said, Trulieve is outperforming its Canadian peers, and it has strong fundamentals and footing in Florida from which to expand into other states. Shares of Trulieve are up 6% year to date, while rivals Aurora Cannabis and Canopy Growth are down 52% and 23.3%, respectively.

Trulieve could turn out to be a strong cannabis player when the marijuana industry blossoms after U.S. federal legalization. In other words, it's worth considering if you're interested in long-term growth.
Paxton, IL (60957)

Today

Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. High 73F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
DAPHNE, Ala. (WALA) -- A law enforcement source confirmed to FOX10 News that Daphne police officers were refused service by several employees at the Five Guys restaurant at Jubilee Square shopping center late Tuesday night.

The officers said the employees turned their backs on them when they entered the restaurant.

The officers said one of the employees was overheard saying, Im not serving them. The officers left and went to another restaurant. The officers claim six or seven employees acted together.

A sign on the door to the establishment states the restaurant is not open to dine-in service and that masks are required for entry. The sign states the establishment offers curbside, carryout and delivery service options.

Daphne Police released a statement about the alleged incident:

"The Daphne Police Department appreciates the outpouring of support from our community and from supporters of Law Enforcement across the country. We also want to thank Five Guys on a corporate and local level. We have been working through this situation and there has been total cooperation. The Daphne Police Department does not think that the actions of a few employees represents Five Guys as a whole. To clarify some misinformation that has been spread on social media, on July, 7th three officers of the Daphne Police Department entered the Five Guys restaurant in Daphne. The three officers became aware of the mask requirement. They returned to their vehicles to obtain masks. All three officers were wearing masks the entire time they were inside of the establishment. The events that occurred while the officers were in the restaurant were unfortunate. We will continue to work with Five Guys on this matter towards resolution once all the facts are known."

A Five Guys corporate spokesperson released the follow statement:

"Five Guys and the Franchisee of the Daphne, AL location were made aware of reports that local Police Officers had been denied service by employees at that location. Five Guys and the franchisee are actively investigating the situation and are committed to getting to the bottom of it. However, no matter what the details are, we do not want these police officers, or any customer, to feel disrespected or slighted in anyway. We apologize to those officers and also want to make it clear that Five Guys and its franchisees are committed to fair, respectful, and equal treatment for all customers." We will continue to investigate the matter.

Daphne Mayor Dane Haygood posted on Facebook Wednesday morning that his office is aware of the story reported by local media.

He wrote:
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) -- A Catholic priest in Baldwin County who tested positive for COVID-19 was taken to the hospital Tuesday evening.

St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Foley said Father Paul Zoghby went to Thomas Hospital for treatment after his oxygen saturation levels dropped. The church asked for prayers as it awaits more information on his condition.

Zoghby was the first of three priests in the Mobile area to test positive for COVID in the past week.

Father Jim Cink of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos in Spanish Fort announced Monday that he tested positive. Cink said he has not had contact with anyone in the community since June 28. According to the church, his symptoms are mild and his prognosis is good.

On Tuesday, Father Norbert Jurek of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Student Center announced that he has COVID-19. Jurek said he has been quarantined since July 2 after experiencing flu-like symptoms. His church is on Old Shell Road near the University of South Alabama and serves students and others in the area who wish to attend.

A spokesperson for the Mobile Archdiocese said, We have no plans to close churches. Any priest who tests positive does not celebrate public Masses until cleared by his doctor.

Catholic churches resumed in-person Mass since May 12th, with social distancing and other guidelines in place.

Mobile Archbishop Thomas Rodi told Bob Grip, We take COVID-19 very seriously To assist in notifying people who may have been in contact with a priest who is COVID-19 positive, any case of COVID-19 of a priest is promptly made public.

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Mobile not knowing Father Zoghby's condition but, Archbishop Rodi also tweeting, "Please pray our three priests who are C-19 positive: Frs. Jim Cink, Norbert Jurek and Paul Zoghby. Pray especially that Fr Zoghby will leave the hospital soon, and that all three will have a quick recovery."
I would even argue that its a great idea to do it this way all the time! It had the communal spirit of watching a movie at a drive-in theater, with the flexibility to sit in or on your car, or arrange chairs next to it, and the convenience of being able to store snacks and coolers right in your vehicle, wrote Karen Muratori Petersen.
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Wednesday sued the Trump administration over its guidance not allowing foreign students to take online-only courses in the US this fall semester.

Harvard announced earlier this week that all course instruction will be delivered online, including for students living on campus. In a statement provided to CNN, the university said the guidance stands to affect approximately 5,000 international students.

"The order came down without noticeits cruelty surpassed only by its recklessness. It appears that it was designed purposefully to place pressure on colleges and universities to open their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction this fall, without regard to concerns for the health and safety of students, instructors, and others," Harvard University President Larry Bacow said.

Visa requirements for students have always been strict and coming to the US to take online-only courses has been prohibited. Immigration and Customs Enforcement maintained that prohibition in its guidance, while providing some flexibility for hybrid models, meaning a mix of online and in-person classes.

The agency suggested that students currently enrolled in the US consider other measures, like transferring to schools with in-person instruction.

In an FAQ published by the agency, the Department of Homeland Security reasoned that "all students scheduled to study at a U.S. institution in the fall will be able to do so, though some will be required to study from abroad if their presence is not required for any in-person classes in the United States."

The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, seeks to block the directive, arguing it violates the Administrative Procedures Act. The universities argue that ICE's decision not to provide an exemption for online-only courses puts them in an "untenable situation" of either proceeding with their plans to operate fully or largely online or attempt to provide in-person learning.

The lawsuit also underscores the challenge posed to students: "Just weeks from the start of the fall semester, these students are largely unable to transfer to universities providing on-campus instruction, notwithstanding ICE's suggestion that they might do so to avoid removal from the country."

It continues: "Moreover, for many students, returning to their home countries to participate in online instruction is impossible, impracticable, prohibitively expensive, and/or dangerous."

Harvard and MIT's lawsuit also received support from Cornell, which is joining as a friend of the court. The university said its international students will largely not be affected due to hybrid teaching, but expressed strong opposition.

"This was wholly unexpected, and it is a senseless and unfair policy that runs counter to all that we stand for as a global academic community," said Martha E. Pollack, president of Cornell University.

There are more than 1 million international students in the US.
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA)  Alabama businesses got billions of dollars from a small business loan program, which the federal government says saved more than 672,000 jobs threatened by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Under pressure for greater transparency, the Small Business Administration this week released information about the Paycheck Protection Program, naming the companies that received at least $150,000 in loans. For businesses that received less than that, the administration provided the ZIP code, size of the loan and how many jobs each company retained  but did not identify the business.

The PPP is providing much-needed relief to millions of American small businesses, supporting more than 51 million jobs and over 80 percent of all small business employees, who are the drivers of economic growth in our country, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The data show businesses in Mobile and Baldwin counties that received loans greater than $150,000 retained nearly 59,000 jobs. Three companies in the two counties got more than $5 million dollars:

Continental Aerospace Technologies in Foley, which retained 264 jobs.

Felder Services, a Mobile-based company that provides janitorial services, which retained 500 jobs.

Norton Lilly International, a company that provides shipping services and has a location in Mobile. It retained 412 local jobs.

Another 27 companies in Coastal Alabama got loans ranging from $2 million to $5 million.

For businesses that got loans of less than $150,000, the ZIP code data show a wide range. For instance, one company in the 36590 ZIP code in Theodore received $11,250 and retained a single employee. Meanwhile, 935 companies in Fairhopes 36532 ZIP code collectively received more than $27.5 million and retained 3,617 jobs.

Large or small, the loans were a life preserver for companies slammed by the pandemic, according Darrell Randle, the vice president of small business development at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.

It was extremely helpful, he said. In some cases, Im not sure some businesses would have been able to survive without it.

Now, Randle said, the goal is making sure all of those loans become grants. That can happen if companies comply with rules on how that money is spent. He told FOX10 News that the chamber worked with small businesses helping them navigate the application process and complying with the rules.

Im hoping of the ones weve counseled, the ones weve talked to (regarding) the PPP, 100 percent of them will turn into grants, because really, the thing that the PPP was designed to do was to bring your employees back to work as soon as the stay-at-home orders were over, he said.

Randle said some small business owners expressed frustration over the rules, which included bringing laid-off workers back within eight weeks of the loan application date. But he noted that Congress later amended the law to provide more flexibility, including extending the time period to 24 weeks.

Congress last week also extended the program for five more weeks while lawmakers negotiate another potential round of wide-ranging assistance. Brian Pifer, vice present of entrepreneurship at the advocacy group Small Business Majority, said he hopes any such legislation will give companies with fewer than 100 employees a second bite at the apple.

Because the first round is almost expired, he said. People who got it at the start of April, if they were still under the original eight-week timeframe, that moneys running out and as were seeing (coronavirus) cases grow and government restrictions coming back, you know, customers are gonna go away again.

Pifer also said he hopes new legislation will include more direct grants and flexibility allowing businesses to use the funds for a wider variety of purposes.

Businesses have other needs besides just payroll, right? he said. They have rent. They have other existing business obligations that they need to retrofit their businesses now to comply with social distancing and other factors. And the PPP was kind of limited in that regard in terms of what they could spend their money on vs. what they couldnt.

Some $130 billion from the program remains unspent. Pifer said that is a sign that the need has been met to some extent. But he added that a survey of his organizations network suggests about 30 percent never got Paycheck Protection Program loans. He attributed that, in part, to rules that were slow to come out and changing all the time about the loan forgiveness program and confusion over the eligibility of the self-employed and sole proprietors.

Even though most states now are re-opening and businesses are adjusting, Pifer said, the crisis is far from over.

Business owners, by their nature, are pretty resourceful and, you know, are accustomed to figuring things out, he said. But they still need more government support to get through this and I think, you know, certain sectors  especially restaurants, which already operate on razor-thin profits  are really gonna have a hard time until things get truly back to normal.

Below is an interactive map showing how much Paycheck Protection Program money went to businesses in each Alabama ZIP code. It does not include loans made to businesses that received loans exceeding $150,000. Hover over each dot to see how much money businesses received and how many jobs they retained.

The map below shows cities in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Hover over a city to discover how many jobs have been saved from loans more than $150,000.
(CNN) -- The US Army said Tuesday that it has quarantined 90 students and personnel with its Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape course at Fort Bragg in North Carolina after an individual in the course tested positive for coronavirus.

The course trains military personnel in survival skills that include evading capture as well as other methods and techniques in order to escape from captivity if captured behind enemy lines.

"The health and wellness of our students and staff is our top priority," said Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, commanding general of the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg and commandant of the school, in a statement Tuesday. "We will do everything we can to protect our students and their families."

As of Monday morning, 11,770 members of the military, including 3,551 members of the Army, had tested positive for coronavirus, according to a Defense Department tally.

The Fort Bragg case comes after the Army has previously struggled to contain the virus within its ranks.

CNN previously reported that, according to an internal directive from March, the Army said mitigation efforts to blunt the spread of the coronavirus had "proven insufficient" within the service and that it was suspending "non-mission essential functions," including some noncritical training of units in the field and physical fitness training involving large numbers of troops.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper had originally indicated he would trust local commanders to make decisions. But as reports grew that bases were still holding large gatherings, he ordered further restrictions across the department on nonessential activities.

The Army is not the only military branch that has faced significant struggles in responding to coronavirus.

The fallout from an outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which spread to more than 1,000 crew members before the Navy ceased publishing data on the number of infected sailors, sparked a major controversy within the Navy, leading to former acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly's resignation in April. Two US defense officials told CNN last month that nearly 100 sailors from the US Navy destroyer USS Kidd had tested positive for coronavirus.

CNN's Ryan Browne and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.
(CNN) -- The Jefferson Memorial is an iconic Washington landmark and the National Park Service calls it a "shrine to freedom," but two of Thomas Jefferson's descendants are calling for it to be replaced.

Lucian Truscott and Shannon LaNier told CNN on Tuesday that the memorial glorifies America's third president and author of the Declaration of Independence -- without including context about him being a slave owner.

Truscott, who is white, is a sixth-generation descendant of Jefferson and LaNier, who's black, is a ninth-generation descendant of Jefferson and Sally Hemings -- one of Jefferson's slaves.

"I think a lot of these public statues were put in place for the wrong reasons and to glorify people who were flawed. We have to start looking at these people as human beings, not gods, not idols," LaNier said.

While Jefferson famously wrote that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," he owned hundreds of slaves over his lifetime.

"He said one thing, but he didn't practice that thing," LaNier said. "People have been giving him a pass for years because he helped found this country, but he also helped do it on the backs of slaves, whether that was their blood sweat and tears that they had to put in to do it."

The suggestion comes as people around the world are debating what to do with statues and monuments honoring historic figures.

Many cities have removed Confederate monuments over the past few months, and protesters have targeted statues of Christopher Columbus because of his horrible treatment of Indigenous people, and the founding fathers for their participation in slavery.

President Trump has vowed to protect these statues and symbols and said that critics are trying to erase American history.

Truscott told CNN that he grew up playing at Monticello, Jefferson's Virginia home, and said it's a much more fitting tribute to his ancestor.

"If you visit Monticello now, you'll take a tour and learn as much about slave life at Monticello as you do about Jefferson himself," Truscott said. "I think that it gives a picture of Jefferson in full with his flaws and his greatness intact."

He suggests that the Jefferson Memorial be replaced with a tribute to Underground Railroad leader Harriet Tubman, who he calls one of of America's "founding mothers."

"I think we've paid enough attention to the founding fathers over the years and it's time to celebrate some of the women that helped found this country," Truscott said. "I describe Harriet Tubman as helping to found the America that came along after slavery."

LaNier said it could also be replaced with a symbol of unity, "which is desperately needed right now." He said that every historical figure has flaws, and that shouldn't be forgotten.

"We're not erasing history, we're teaching the full story of what is and what these people did to and for our country."
(CNN) -- Coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci issued a stark warning on Tuesday to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, telling them he wouldn't be surprised if the US sees new cases of coronavirus rising to a level of 100,000 a day.

"We are now having 40-plus thousand new cases a day. I would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around and so I am very concerned," Fauci told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee during a hearing on the pandemic on Tuesday.

Fauci expressed dismay over people congregating in crowds and not wearing masks and inadequate attention being paid to guidelines on reopening.

"We're going to continue to be in a lot of trouble, and there's going to be a lot of hurt if that does not stop," he said.

The urgent message came during a hearing on the latest efforts by the US government to contain the pandemic, as several states struggle to contain the virus amid rising cases and state reopenings. The US reported more than 40,000 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, its biggest daily jump yet.

Asked if the pandemic is under control, Fauci said, "I am not satisfied with what's going on because we are going in the wrong direction if you look at the curves of the new cases, so we've really got to do something about that and we need to do it quickly," adding, "Clearly we are not in total control right now."

Fauci said that he can't make an accurate prediction of the number of cases and deaths the US will see before the pandemic is over, but said, "It's going to be very disturbing, I will guarantee you that."

Fauci, Redfield urge American public to wear masks

Fauci and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield stressed the importance of wearing masks during testimony before a Senate committee on Tuesday, with Fauci saying "we recommend masks for everyone" and "masks are extremely important."

Redfield singled out younger Americans in particular to deliver a message that they are not exempt from the necessity of wearing a mask.

"It is critical that we all take the personal responsibility to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and embrace the universal use of face coverings," he said. "Specifically, I'm addressing the younger members of our society, the Millennials and the Generation Zs -- I ask those that are listening to spread the word."

Fauci spoke of the across-the-board importance of wearing masks.

"We are all in this together," he said, adding, "We recommend masks for everyone on the outside, anyone who comes into contact in a crowded area. You should avoid crowds where possible and when you're outside and not have the capability of maintaining distance, you should wear a mask at all times."

Fauci indicated that he would support an effort to increase the production of high-quality masks in the US and distribute them free of charge to the American public in response to a question from Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.

"Masks are extremely important," Fauci said, adding, "There's no doubt that wearing masks protects you and gets you to be protected. So it's people protecting each other. Anything that furthers the use of masks, whether it's giving out free masks or any other mechanism, I am thoroughly in favor of."

More than half of all states are seeing a rise in cases, and Florida, Texas and Arizona are getting hit particularly hard. Texas has begun scaling back its reopening, and beaches in Florida have closed for the upcoming holiday weekend.

Experts testify on vaccine development as the FDA gets more involved

Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, said the FDA is taking action to help coronavirus vaccine developers get through the approval process faster.

"I am pleased to announce that today, FDA is taking action to aid the timely development of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent COVID-19 by providing guidance for developers, with recommendations on the data needed to facilitate manufacturing, clinical development, and approval," he said.

Hahn said the FDA is committed to "help expedite this work," but added, "We will not cut corners in our decision making."

Hahn said the guidance will "provide regulatory clarity around what FDA expects with respect to those data. We want to see certain parts of those data so that we can demonstrate to the world, to the nation, to the American people, that we are following our rigorous standards with respect to safety and efficacy."

"This is particularly as important as we know that some people are skeptical of vaccine development efforts," he continued, adding that "public confidence in vaccines is so important."

Separately, Redfield said there was "substantial disappointment with American Airlines" when the airline announced it would stop limiting seat sales on airlines.

"I can tell you that when they announced that the other day, obviously there was substantial disappointment with American Airlines," Redfield said. "I can say this is under critical review right now by us at CDC. We don't think it's the right message."

Last week, American Airlines said it plans to begin selling every seat on flights, something it has not done since the pandemic struck this spring.

The airline responded to criticism of the decision, saying in a statement Tuesday that it is committed to the "safety and well-being of (its) customers and team members." The airline said that it has "multiple layers of protection" for passengers and that it provides flexibility to those who want to change flights.

Experts promise increased testing

Fauci and Redfield testified before lawmakers last week, when Fauci said "we're going to be doing more testing, not less," in response to President Donald Trump's recent claim that he asked his administration to slow down testing during the pandemic.

Senators have been weighing another stimulus package in recent weeks as unemployment numbers remain worrisome and economic hardship stemming from the pandemic persists. Republicans remains divided on the size and scale of the next stimulus bill and while it has been discussed for months, the next phase of economic relief is still weeks away. But there is now broad agreement something has to be done -- something that wasn't always the case.

In Capitol Hill's last round of aid, Congress boosted unemployment checks by $600 a week and added 13 weeks of pay, beyond what states offer. The additional money will expire on July 31 without congressional action, but the 13-week extension will remain in place until the end of the year. A second round of stimulus payments is on the negotiating table in Washington, but some of the 160 million Americans who got money the first time could be left out, according a more targeted approach the administration is pushing for.

Republicans have zeroed in on the last week of July to reach agreement on the next round of stimulus legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been adamant for weeks on that timeline and the administration is on board.

CNN's Amanda Watts, Alison Main, Phil Mattingly and Katie Lobosco contributed to this report.
(CNN) -- The European Union has formally agreed a set of recommendations that will allow travelers from outside the bloc to visit EU countries, months after it shut its external borders in response to the outbreak of COVID-19.

As had been widely expected, the list of 14 countries does not include the United States, whose current Covid infection rate does not meet the criteria set by the EU for it to be considered a "safe country."

The criteria requires that confirmed Covid cases in countries on the list are similar or below that of the EU's per 100,000 citizens over the previous 14 days (starting from June 15).

Countries must also have a "stable or decreasing trend of new cases over this period in comparison to the previous 14 days," while the EU will consider what measures countries are taking, such as contact tracing, and how reliable each nation's data is.

The US has not only the highest number of reported coronavirus infections of any nation, currently 2,590,582, but also the highest number of deaths, at, 126,141, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University.

US infection rates will need to dramatically drop if Americans are to be allowed entry to European countries, just as the European tourism industry enters what are traditionally its peak months.

The recommendations are expected to come into force as early as July 1, however, it remains up to member states to decide exactly how the implement any changes in border policy.

Here are the answers to some key questions about the new rules:

Which countries are on the list?

The list of countries included in the recommendations are: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay.

China, where the virus originated, is not on the initial list of 14, but the EU is willing to place it on that list if the Chinese government reciprocates and allows EU citizens to enter its borders.

If your country isn't on the list, are you officially banned from entering the EU?

Officially, no. The European Union does not have the control of any member state's national borders. However, it is not expected that any country will deviate from the recommendations towards allowing in a larger group of nations and are more likely to restrict travel from countries on the list.

If your country isn't on the list, but you're a resident of a country that is on the list, can you still travel to the EU?

Sadly not. According to the guidance, "residence in a third country for which the restrictions on nonessential travel have been lifted should be the determining factor (and not nationality)."

Can you travel via another country to get around rules?

No, for the same reason as above. You will be judged by your place of residence, rather than where you are traveling from.

Will this be enforced by airlines and airports?

The EU council stressed that "member states remain responsible for implementing the content of the recommendation," meaning this will vary from country to country. The best thing to do hear is contact your national foreign office or embassy in the country you want to travel to.

How flexible are the recommendations?

This really depends on how you read it. The criteria and recommendations for implementation are very clear, but there is an annex in the recommendations which covers travelers with "an essential function or need". These include everything from seasonal agricultural workers to diplomats. If you want to check for yourself, scroll to page 10 of this document

When will the list be updated?

The list expected to be reviewed every two weeks, however EU diplomats stressed to CNN that the criteria and methodology are "extremely unlikely" to change. This means that in order for a country to be deemed safe, its reported Covid figures need to be below that of the EU's for the past 14 days.

How will this affect travelers from the UK?

Travelers from the UK are included in what the EU refers to as its "EU+ area," and will be included if the UK's governments decides it wants to align.

The "EU+ area" includes all member states of its so-called Schengen visa area (including Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania), as well as the four Schengen Associated States. It also includes Ireland and the United Kingdom if they decide to align.

Are there any exemptions?

Travelers in countries that did not make the list can still enter if they fall under the following exemptions: EU citizens or family members of an EU citizen; long-term EU residents or family members; those with an "essential function or need," such as diplomats, healthcare workers or certain agricultural workers.

Are certain countries being excluded for political reasons?

EU officials had previously stressed to CNN that the decisions taken this week are not political, but based on science and aim only to protect citizens from the virus resurging across the continent. However, those same officials await the response from US President Donald Trump, who has previously attacked the EU on other issues such as trade and foreign policy.
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.
Atelier Cologne X Quentin Monge: Clementine California Eau de Parfum Edition Limitee

Fragrance News

The Joie de Vivre line by Atelier Cologne added the aromatic-citrusy fragrance Clementine California in 2016, which celebrated the sparkling, sweet, and refreshing juice of clementines combined with aromatic cypress and juniper berries as the most intense accords.

This year, Atelier Cologne celebrates summer by partnering with artist Quentin Monge for an exclusive creation around Clementine California, one of the iconic Absolute Colognes of the House. It is a pop and colorful artistic collaboration that highlights a promising young French artist while making the sunny California lifestyle shine! As the brand explains: After being spotted in a bar in Los Angeles, Clementine made her first film and was immediately successful. It is from her villa on the heights of the city that she now embraces her destiny as a Hollywood star 

A sun scent that is both fruity, green, and sweet, it magnifies the Italian Clementine. Absolute Cologne Eau de Parfum is composed of 92% natural ingredients, while the three main ingredients of this creation are: Clementine from Italy, Juniper berries from Turkey, and Vetiver from Haiti.

The Clementine California composition remains the same, created from Italian clementine, mandarin orange, and Turkish juniper berries in the opening. The heart of the fragrance brings the herbal and spicy blend of basil, pepper, and star anise, while the base celebrates the woody harmony of sandalwood, cypress, and Haitian vetiver.

TOP NOTES: mandarin orange, Italian clementine, Turkish juniper berries

MIDDLE NOTES: basil, pepper, star anise

BASE NOTES: Haitian vetiver, sandalwood, cypress

Atelier Cologne X Quentin Monge Clementine California Eau de Parfum Edition Limitee is available from July 2020, as a 100ml Eau de Parfum at the price of 120 EUR (Sephora).
Heather Smith, a nurse from Topsail Island, off the coast of North Carolina, who worked at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, struggled to hold back tears when describing how she felt when her brother said he did not believe the virus was real. When Smith started typing a rant on Facebook, she said, I realized how angry I was. She said she could not get out of her mind the images of patients who died alone: No one understands how serious and how traumatizing it is.
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A man who struck at least four vehicles and a building with his car Tuesday afternoon in the area of the Spotsylvania Towne Centre was suffering from a medical condition and will not be charged, police said.

Sheriffs Capt. Liz Scott said the 32-year-old driver suffers from narcolepsy and experienced an episode in the area of Amos Lane. He sideswiped a 2012 Audi while traveling east on State Route 3, Scott said, before veering into the mall entrance and striking a 2005 Lexus.

The driver left the mall roundabout and went west, crossing Bragg Road and a curb. He then hit some bushes, a 2017 Chevrolet SUV and a 2013 Honda before crashing into the Coldwell Banker building at 990 Bragg Road.

He was basically driving in his sleep, said Scott, who added there were no drugs or alcohol in the mans system.

The injured driver ended up at Mary Washington Hospital, where he banged on a city police car before being detained, police said. He was later admitted to the hospital for treatment and a DMV medical review has been ordered.

None of the motorists whose vehicles were struck were injured, Scott said, but their vehicles sustained varying amounts of damage. Scott said the man and his parents were cooperative during interviews with police.

Keith Epps

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After she recovered from the momentary, and uncomfortable, sensation of having a swab stuck up her nose, Felicia Allen started to applaud.

She clapped, not just for the National Guard members who administered the COVID-19 test Tuesday in a parking lot at Stafford Hospital, but for others who made the community event possible.

It is needed in Stafford, and the efficiency of it is outstanding, said Allen, who serves as a chaplain at the hospital. We are so appreciative of it.

Allen was among 341 residents who took part in the fourth free community testing offered by the Rappahannock Area Health District. It was the health districts largest turnout, to date, as people had registered for all 400 test kits that were available by Monday morning.

But a number of them didnt show upwhich often happens at free eventsso organizers offered tests to those who hadnt preregistered during the last hour of the event.

Some of the participants got tested even though they hadnt been feeling sick. Allen had traveled to Georgia and Alabama recently and wanted to be sure she hadnt contracted the respiratory disease.
James Madison University is renaming three buildings that had been named to honor Confederate leaders.

The universitys board of visitors on Tuesday unanimously voted to change the names of Ashby, Jackson and Maury halls, a move students, campus organizations and alumni had called for. JMU immediately removed signs for the buildings on the universitys Quad, and assigned temporary names.

For many people, the memorialization of Confederate leaders on campus was a painful reminder of a history of oppression and racism in our country, JMU Rector Lara Major said in a statement. JMU believes in creating an equitable learning and working environment where all feel welcomed and valued. These building names were incongruent with that vision.

The university said in a news release that the history of the buildings and their names will be displayed inside and online.

Ashby Hall is named for Confederate Gen. Turner Ashby, who was killed less than 2 miles east of the universitys Harrisonburg campus. Jackson Hall, JMUs first residence and dining hall, was built in 1909 and named for Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson.
We will evaluate the best way forward for resolving easement agreements with landowners, Ruby said. They will, of course, keep any compensation theyve received.

FERC said it has no jurisdiction over the easements, but Greg Buppert, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, said, I think its a bad idea to keep a pipeline right of way in that area on the books.

Richard Averitt is one of the Nelson landowners who was still fighting Dominion in court over right of way for the pipeline to cross 100 acres of land along Spruce Creek where he and his wife want to build a boutique resort along state Route 151 near the old village of Wintergreen. The right of way would have taken about 5 acres of the property.

We kept them off our land, Averitt said Tuesday.

His sister, Dawn, had negotiated an easement agreement with the pipeline company to cross 135 acres of property where both families live on the other side of the highway. The pipeline would have passed within 300 feet of her house and directly across from his front door.

The cancellation of the pipeline already has lifted the uncertainty that has hung over the Averitts plans to build Spruce Creek Resort, originally estimated at a cost of $35 million.
Gov. Ralph Northam and Lane released the initial guidance in early June, allowing for a phased reopening of school buildings, which closed for the rest of the academic year in mid-March. The state and its schools are in the third reopening phase, which allows for in-person instruction to be offered to all students.

Reopening schools has become an increasingly divisive topic, with local school boards tasked with deciding how and when to bring students back. Some parents have argued for a full reopening, a position President Donald Trump has also taken, while others have said reopening could lead to the further spread of a virus that has killed nearly 1,900 people in the state, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health.

As Virginia enters Phase 3 [of its reopening plan] and we prepare for the start of the school year, it remains clear that schools, working together with local health departments, have an important role in slowing the spread of diseases and protecting vulnerable students and staff, Lane and Oliver said in the Monday letter.
In Virginia, where not long ago the prospect of just being labeled liberal sent Democrats scurrying to their foxholes, the party now boasts of being progressive. Its new House of Delegates majority includes Del. Lee Carter, a voluble democratic socialist in the mold of Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez.

Carter hails from Manassas and Prince William County, once a Republican Right enclave that elected fiery conservatives, such as former Dels. Bob Marshall and Scott Lingamfelter.

Both parties are migrating toward their fringes to capture a powerful and pervasive sentiment that traditional partisan ideologies cant capture: the fear and resentment of those who feel the establishment has set them adrift.

For the Democrats, its baked into the socialists historic Robin Hood appeal of taking from the haves and redistributing to households who blame crony capitalism, globalization, and automation for lost livelihoods.

For the GOP, President Trump recognized and leveraged that disaffection in 2016 to win working-class Democratic redoubtsWisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvaniaand assemble an Electoral College majority.
File photo taken on Dec. 5, 2019 shows Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (Front) attending a conference in Bento Goncalves, Brazil. (Xinhua/Rahel Patrasso)

Bolsonaro campaigned for continued economic activity and often appeared in public without a face mask and disregarded social distancing.

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced on Tuesday that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Bolsonaro came down with symptoms on Monday, including a fever of 38 degrees Celsius, cough and headache, leading to a test at the Brazilian Armed Forces Hospital.

Bolsonaro canceled planned visits to the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais this week, according to the state news agency Agencia Brasil.

The president is considered to be in the high-risk group for COVID-19 due to his age, 65.

Bolsonaro campaigned for continued economic activity and often appeared in public without a face mask and disregarded social distancing.

The president was tested three times in March, following a trip to the U.S. in which 20 members of his delegation or people he met with later tested positive for COVID-19.

At first he declined to make the test results public, saying only that he had tested negative. Eventually, Brazil's Supreme Court ruled the results were in the public interest and had to be published.

Brazil has suffered the second largest COVID-19 outbreak in the world, just after the United States. The country's death toll has surpassed 65,000 on Monday, with 1,623,284 confirmed cases.

[ Editor: WXY ]
Without forgetting the countless victims of these past few months to whom due tribute shall be paid, the first international festival following the forced interruption dictated by the pandemic becomes the meaningful celebration of the re-opening we all looked forward to, and a message of concrete optimism for the entire world of cinema which has suffered greatly from this crisis, Barbera said.




Have any questions? Please give us a call at 907-352-2250
A celebration of life for Barabra Zackery, 79, of Gainesville, will be held at a later date. A full obituary will be published when service times have been scheduled. Barbara passed away on June 15, 2021 in Gainesville. You may sign the online registry at www.geojcarroll.com.
The Gamasutra Job Board is the most diverse, active and established board of its kind for the video game industry!



Here is just one of the many, many positions being advertised right now.

Location: San Francisco, CA; Mountain View, CA; Tokyo, Japan; Remote

Game Closure is on the hunt for backend / systems engineers to help us build the services and infrastructure that power our social games that are played by millions of people every day on Facebook, Viber, Line and other messaging platforms. We are a growing team with offices in Mountain View and San Francisco, California, Tokyo, Japan and some possibilities for remote work. If you want to join us to make great games on our cutting edge technology and truly make an impact, then we want to talk to you!

As a Systems Engineer at Game Closure, you will play a pivotal role in creating a platform to revolutionize the instant games development industry. Our engineers are generally amazing at something and great at everything else. We write scalable backend systems, cross-compilers, JavaScript / TypeScript game APIs and tools, and whatever else it takes. No matter what you work on each day, you will work with the best engineers in the world; we have top talent in every part of our stack.

The Role:

Be a key member of a high performing software engineering team.

Architect and code sophisticated client/server systems for instant gaming.

Play a critical role in day-to-day coding, performance profiling, optimization, and general troubleshooting.

Collaborate with design, engineering, and production teams to devise optimal engineering solutions to game requirements.

Learn from and mentor other engineers on your team.

Take ownership of your projects to make them the best they can possibly be.

Provide valuable input on the companys long-term engineering roadmap and help identify areas of opportunity for improvement.

Define the cutting edge of social gaming!

Desired Skills:

Bachelors degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience.

3+ years of professional software engineering experience.

Experience writing clean, testable, high-quality code and designing highly scalable systems in production.

Solid familiarity with deployment on cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure, etc.).

Strong Computer Science fundamentals in software systems design, algorithms, and data structures.

Ability to interact with peers in a constructive and productive style.

Familiarity with git, svn, or other VCS.

Good communication skills and the ability to work effectively on shared projects with designers, artists, testers, product managers, and other developers.

Strong team player with a positive attitude.

Bonus:

Expert knowledge of NodeJS and ES6 / TypeScript.

DevOps experience -- setting up CI/CD environments, orchestrating deployments, creating monitoring dashboards, anything that makes the development process easier, more enjoyable and more accountable.

Experience in game development and shipped titles.

GC Perks:

Medical, Dental, & Vision: Top quality insurance options with 100% of premiums covered

Social Events: Weekly team dinners, quarterly team excursions, game nights, karaoke, and more

Commuter Pass + Free Parking: Your commute and parking to the office is on us!

PTO: Unlimited vacation policy

Meals: Free daily lunches, well stocked kitchen, healthy snacks and drinks

Pet-Friendly Office: Bring your pets to work to foster a friendlier and happier workplace

Fitness: Free onsite yoga classes

Interested? Apply now.

About the Gamasutra Job Board

Whether you're just starting out, looking for something new, or just seeing what's out there, the Gamasutra Job Board is the place where game developers move ahead in their careers.



Gamasutra's Job Board is the most diverse, most active, and most established board of its kind in the video game industry, serving companies of all sizes, from indie to triple-A.



Looking for a new job? Get started here. Are you a recruiter looking for talent? Post jobs here.
Othercide: Dive deep on systems and combat in episode two of the webseries - Fighting Shadows





[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.]

July 08, 2020 Othercide debuts on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in just a few short weeks on July 28th, and later this summer on Nintendo Switch. As Humanitys last hope, lead your army of Daughters to combat in an intricate dance of spectacular actions and counters, and face fearsome bosses in epic battles. As we head towards the encounter with Suffering, the webseries continues. Episode two, Fighting Shadows, explains the origins of Othercides unique combat that has morphed the traditional turn-based system into the Dynamic Timeline System. This episode also gives a look at the many abilities of your Daughters - plus how to combo them. Watch it now! The webseries concludes! This marks the end of the two-episode miniseries which began with episode one, Forging Nightmares, which focused on Othercides lore and artistic inspirations. Lightbulb Crew is hard at work putting the finishing touches on their dark masterpiece, but you can expect much more footage and gameplay over the coming month. Othercide comes to PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on July 28, and on Nintendo Switch later this summer. Pre-orders are open on Steam and Xbox One with a 15% discount. Payers can also pre-order the OTHERCIDE + OST + ARTBOOK Bundle on Steam, with an additional special discount. Please fill this form to apply for review code. Developer: Lightbulb Crew Publisher: Focus Home Interactive Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch Genre: Tactical RPG Release date: July 28, 2020 (PC, PS4, XONE) Summer 2020 (Switch) Descend into Humanitys last hope. The Daughters, echoes of the greatest warrior to ever live, are all who stand before Suffering and death. Lead your army of Daughters to battle with all the skill you can muster. Your prowess in combat will decide their fate, shape their abilities and personality. Make the toughest decision and sacrifice one to heal another - survivors will get stronger, ready to fight the next battle. Combat is an intricate dance of spectacular actions and counters: plan ahead of time and set up impressive chains of abilities to outsmart the enemy. Fight in epic boss battles against the sources of Suffering - dread creatures pulled from the worst of Humanitys crimes against itself. You will fight. You will fail. You will rise again. Lead, evolve and sacrifice your army of Daughters Outsmart nightmarish creatures in a spectacular Tactical RPG Endless combat possibilities with the Dynamic Timeline System A deep and complex narrative stretching back eons About Lightbulb Crew Lightbulb Crew is an indie development studio composed of a talented and passionate team based in Paris and Stockholm since 2013. We are committed to innovating and delivering a creative high-quality experience that will make our players eyes shine. Our goal is to create unique indie experiences while sharing our voyage with our community. We are currently working on Othercide, a dark and challenging tactical RPG that will test both your skills and sanity! More information on the website: lightbulbcrew.fr/ About Focus Home Interactive Focus Home Interactive is a French publisher based in Paris, France. Known for the quality, diversity and originality of its catalogue, Focus has published and distributed original titles (A Plague Tale: Innocence, Vampyr, Farming Simulator, Call of Cthulhu, Insurgency: Sandstorm, MudRunner, GreedFall, The Surge 2, SnowRunner) that have become benchmark titles worldwide, available both in store and for download across the world. Focus publishes games on all major platforms, consoles and PC. The publisher's catalogue will get even richer the coming months and years with eagerly awaited games such as Curse of the Dead Gods, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, Othercide and many more. More information on the website: https://www.focus-home.com
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope to launch on October 30th for PlayStationA 4, Xbox One and PC Digital.





[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.]

-- Little Hope, the brand-new game in The Dark Pictures Anthology will release on October 30th. Experience moments of tension and terror alone in single player mode, with your friends through 2 player online shared story or with up to 5 players in the couch-friendly movie night mode. Trapped by a mysterious fog in the abandoned town of Little Hope, four college students and their professor search desperately for a means of escape whilst visions from the towns gruesome and sinister past haunt them from the shadows. In order to stay alive, they must uncover the mysteries behind these dark apparitions before evil forces drag each of their souls to hell! Check out the latest trailer revealing a bit more about the dark story of Little Hope here: https://youtu.be/QjKq16H2jc8 The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope will be available in Standard, Limited and Collectors editions with an early purchase bonus  available to pre-order on digital stores and with participating retailers only. The Limited-Edition Bundle, only available at participating retailers, includes Little Hope & Man of Medan games, a Dark Pictures Cloth Map, two map pins and a Steelcase (with 4 slots) all at a special price The Collectors Edition includes the Little Hope game, a Dark Pictures Cloth Map, two map pins, a Steelcase (with 4 slots) and a replica of Mary's 1692 poppet. This edition is exclusive to the BNEE E-commerce Store Pre-order bonus: Early Access to The Curator's Cut (new scenes in addition to the theatrical cut, different playable characters with choices and outcomes)
Stacy Mungo currently holds the seat, completing her second term in office. Mungo said she will announce next month whether she will seek a third term.
When her uncle Donald announced that he was running for president in June 2015, Mary Trump did not take it seriously, assuming, she wrote, that he simply wanted the free publicity for his brand. Throughout the campaign, which was marked by scandals like the release of the Access Hollywood tape, Mary Trump did not speak out, fearing that her voice would not be heard and that her views would make no difference, she wrote in the book.
The two resisted and what began as an exchange of blows escalated into a running gun battle, prosecutors said. The two rivals were shot in the legs and the man described by prosecutors as Velezs main enforcer  Miguel Mega Claudio  was hit multiple times. Claudio survived after being hospitalized in a coma for months.
West Virginia Woman Admits to Willful Retention of Top Secret National Defense Information and International Parental Kidnapping

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 6, 2020



Elizabeth Jo Shirley, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, has admitted to unlawfully retaining a document containing national defense information and committing international parental kidnapping, the Department of Justice announced.

Shirley, 47, pled guilty to one count of "Willful Retention of National Defense Information" and one count of "International Parental Kidnapping." Shirley admitted to unlawfully retaining a National Security Agency (NSA) document containing information classified at the TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (TS/SCI) level relating to the national defense that outlines intelligence information regarding a foreign government's military and political issues. Shirley also admitted to removing her child, of whom she was the non-custodial parent, to Mexico with the intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of the custodial father's parental rights.

"When Shirley took classified information from her work with the Intelligence Community and later fled to Mexico, she violated the confidence placed in her by the American people," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. "She doubled down on this betrayal when she sought to offer classified information to the Russian government. We are grateful for our law enforcement partners' timely work to locate and arrest the defendant in Mexico. Given Shirley's troubling conduct after fleeing the United States, the damage to national security could have been far greater had law enforcement not acted swiftly. Shirley will now be held accountable for betraying the trust of the American people."

"High level security clearance requires a commensurate level of trust. Shirley breached that trust and attempted to put our country at risk. National security is one of our highest priorities and always will be. Shirley will now face the consequences of her actions," said U.S. Attorney William J. Powell.

"Federal government employees and contractors with high level security clearances pledge to protect classified information from foreign adversaries. It's an essential responsibility in guarding our country's national security," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman. "Ms. Shirley had a duty to safeguard classified information. Instead, she chose to break the law and trust placed in her and made plans to pass national defense information to Russian officials, which could have put our citizens at risk. The FBI does not take these violations lightly and will work to hold wrongdoers accountable to keep our country safe."

Shirley served on active duty with the United States Air Force, and in August 1994, the Air Force granted Shirley her first TS/SCI security clearance. After leaving active duty, Shirley served in the United States Air Force Reserves and later in the United States Navy Reserves. While serving in the Air Force, she worked on assignments with the NSA. From May 2001 to August 2012, Shirley held various positions with the United States Navy's Office of Naval Intelligence, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force, and at least five different cleared defense contractors. In connection with these positions, Shirley held TOP SECRET/SCI security clearances at various times.

In July 2019, Shirley took her six-year-old daughter to Mexico with the intent to make contact with representatives of the Government of Russia to request resettlement in a country that would not extradite her to the United States. Shirley took with her to Mexico national defense information, which she had unlawfully retained. While in Mexico, Shirley prepared a written message to Russian Government officials, referencing "an urgent need" to have "items shipped from the USA related to [her] life's work before they are seized and destroyed."

On Aug. 13, 2019, the United States Marshals Service and Mexican law enforcement located Shirley and her daughter at a hotel in Mexico City. Mexican authorities arrested Shirley pursuant to an arrest warrant the West Virginia State Police (WVSP) had obtained on a charge of concealment of a minor from a custodian.

The FBI subsequently executed search warrants on numerous of Shirley's electronic devices, including devices she took to Mexico in July 2019 and devices the FBI seized from her Martinsburg storage unit in August 2019. Pursuant to the search of the storage unit, the FBI located the NSA document underlying the Willful Retention of National Defense Information offense. In addition, pursuant to searches of the electronic devices, the FBI found an Office of Naval Intelligence PowerPoint presentation containing information classified at the SECRET level and messages Shirley had drafted to Russian Government officials while in Mexico, the latter of which the Central Intelligence Agency has determined to include information classified at the SECRET level.

Shirley faces up to ten years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the national security charge and up to three years of incarceration and fine of up to $250,000 for the kidnapping charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Lara K. Omps-Botteicher and Trial Attorney Evan N. Turgeon with the Department of Justice's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, National Security Division, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI and WVSP investigated. The Webster County Prosecuting Attorney's Office cooperated in the investigation and prosecution of the case.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.

Topic(s):

Counterintelligence and Export Control

National Security

Component(s):

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - West Virginia, Northern

Press Release Number: 20-624
The Threat Posed by the Chinese Government and the Chinese Communist Party to the Economic and National Security of the United States

Christopher Wray

Director

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Hudson Institute, Video Event: China's Attempt to Influence U.S. Institutions

Washington, D.C.

July 7, 2020

Remarks as delivered.

Good morning. I realize it's challenging, particularly under the current circumstances, to put on an event like this, so I'm grateful to the Hudson Institute for hosting us today.

The greatest long-term threat to our nation's information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitality, is the counterintelligence and economic espionage threat from China. It's a threat to our economic securityand by extension, to our national security.

As National Security Advisor O'Brien said in his recent remarks, we cannot close our eyes and ears to what China is doingand today, in light of the importance of this threat, I will provide more detail on the Chinese threat than the FBI has ever presented in an open forum. This threat is so significant that the attorney general and secretary of state will also be addressing a lot of these issues in the next few weeks. But if you think these issues are just an intelligence issue, or a government problem, or a nuisance largely just for big corporations who can take care of themselvesyou could not be more wrong.

It's the people of the United States who are the victims of what amounts to Chinese theft on a scale so massive that it represents one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history.

If you are an American adult, it is more likely than not that China has stolen your personal data.

In 2017, the Chinese military conspired to hack Equifax and made off with the sensitive personal information of 150 million Americanswe're talking nearly half of the American population and most American adultsand as I'll discuss in a few moments, this was hardly a standalone incident.

Our data isn't the only thing at stake hereso are our health, our livelihoods, and our security.

We've now reached the point where the FBI is opening a new China-related counterintelligence case about every 10 hours. Of the nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases currently underway across the country, almost half are related to China. And at this very moment, China is working to compromise American health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions conducting essential COVID-19 research.

But before I go on, let me be clear: This is not about the Chinese people, and it's certainly not about Chinese Americans. Every year, the United States welcomes more than 100,000 Chinese students and researchers into this country. For generations, people have journeyed from China to the United States to secure the blessings of liberty for themselves and their familiesand our society is better for their contributions. So, when I speak of the threat from China, I mean the government of China and the Chinese Communist Party.

The Chinese Regime and the Scope of Its Ambitions

To understand this threat and how we must act to respond to it, the American people should remember three things.

First: We need to be clear-eyed about the scope of the Chinese government's ambition. Chinathe Chinese Communist Partybelieves it is in a generational fight to surpass our country in economic and technological leadership.

That is sobering enough. But it's waging this fight not through legitimate innovation, not through fair and lawful competition, and not by giving their citizens the freedom of thought and speech and creativity that we treasure here in the United States. Instead, China is engaged in a whole-of-state effort to become the world's only superpower by any means necessary.

A Diverse and Multi-Layered Approach

The second thing the American people need to understand is that China uses a diverse range of sophisticated techniqueseverything from cyber intrusions to corrupting trusted insiders. They've even engaged in outright physical theft. And they've pioneered an expansive approach to stealing innovation through a wide range of actorsincluding not just Chinese intelligence services but state-owned enterprises, ostensibly private companies, certain kinds of graduate students and researchers, and a whole variety of other actors working on their behalf.

Economic Espionage

To achieve its goals and surpass America, China recognizes it needs to make leaps in cutting-edge technologies. But the sad fact is that instead of engaging in the hard slog of innovation, China often steals American intellectual property and then uses it to compete against the very American companies it victimizedin effect, cheating twice over. They're targeting research on everything from military equipment to wind turbines to rice and corn seeds.

Through its talent recruitment programs, like the so-called Thousand Talents Program, the Chinese government tries to entice scientists to secretly bring our knowledge and innovation back to Chinaeven if that means stealing proprietary information or violating our export controls and conflict-of-interest rules.

Take the case of scientist Hongjin Tan, for example, a Chinese national and American lawful permanent resident. He applied to China's Thousand Talents Program and stole more than $1 billionthat's with a "b"worth of trade secrets from his former employer, an Oklahoma-based petroleum company, and got caught. A few months ago, he was convicted and sent to prison.

Or there's the case of Shan Shi, a Texas-based scientist, also sentenced to prison earlier this year. Shi stole trade secrets regarding syntactic foam, an important naval technology used in submarines. Shi, too, had applied to China's Thousand Talents Program, and specifically pledged to "digest" and "absorb" the relevant technology in the United States. He did this on behalf of Chinese state-owned enterprises, which ultimately planned to put the American company out of business and take over the market.

In one of the more galling and egregious aspects of the scheme, the conspirators actually patented in China the very manufacturing process they'd stolen, and then offered their victim American company a joint venture using its own stolen technology. We're talking about an American company that spent years and millions of dollars developing that technology, and China couldn't replicate itso, instead, it paid to have it stolen.

And just two weeks ago, Hao Zhang was convicted of economic espionage, theft of trade secrets, and conspiracy for stealing proprietary information about wireless devices from two U.S. companies. One of those companies had spent over 20 years developing the technology Zhang stole.

These cases were among more than a thousand investigations the FBI has into China's actual and attempted theft of American technologywhich is to say nothing of over a thousand more ongoing counterintelligence investigations of other kinds related to China. We're conducting these kinds of investigations in all 56 of our field offices. And over the past decade, we've seen economic espionage cases with a link to China increase by approximately 1,300 percent.

The stakes could not be higher, and the potential economic harm to American businesses and the economy as a whole almost defies calculation.

Clandestine Efforts

As National Security Advisor O'Brien discussed in his June remarks, the Chinese government is also making liberal use of hacking to steal our corporate and personal dataand they're using both military and non-state hackers to do it. The Equifax intrusion I mentioned just a few moments ago, which led to the indictment of Chinese military personnel, was hardly the only time China stole the sensitive personal information of huge numbers of the American public.

For example, did any of you have health insurance through Anthem or one of its associated insurers? In 2015, China's hackers stole the personal data of 80 million of that company's current and former customers.

Or maybe you're a federal employeeor you used to be one, or you applied for a government job once, or a family member or roommate did. Well, in 2014, China's hackers stole more than 21 million records from OPM, the federal government's Office of Personnel Management.

Why are they doing this? First, China has made becoming an artificial intelligence world leader a priority, and these kinds of thefts feed right into China's development of artificial intelligence tools.

Compounding the threat, the data China stole is of obvious value as they attempt to identify people for secret intelligence gathering. On that front, China is using social media platformsthe same ones Americans use to stay connected or find jobsto identify people with access to our government's sensitive information and then target those people to try to steal it.

Just to pick one example, a Chinese intelligence officer posing as a headhunter on a popular social media platform recently offered an American citizen a sizeable sum of money in exchange for so-called "consulting" services. That sounds benign enough until you realize those "consulting" services were related to sensitive information the American target had access to as a U.S. military intelligence specialist.

Now that particular tale has a happy ending: The American citizen did the right thing and reported the suspicious contact, and the FBI, working together with our armed forces, took it from there. I wish I could say that all such incidents ended that way.

Threats to Academia

It's a troublingly similar story in academia.

Through talent recruitment programs like the Thousand Talents Program I mentioned just a few moments ago, China pays scientists at American universities to secretly bring our knowledge and innovation back to Chinaincluding valuable, federally funded research. To put it bluntly, this means American taxpayers are effectively footing the bill for China's own technological development. China then leverages its ill-gotten gains to undercut U.S. research institutions and companies, blunting our nation's advancement and costing American jobs. And we are seeing more and more of these cases.

In May alone, we arrested both Qing Wang, a former researcher with the Cleveland Clinic who worked on molecular medicine and the genetics of cardiovascular disease, and Simon Saw-Teong Ang, a University of Arkansas scientist doing research for NASA. Both of these guys were allegedly committing fraud by concealing their participation in Chinese talent recruitment programs while accepting millions of dollars in American federal grant funding.

That same month, former Emory University professor Xiao-Jiang Li pled guilty to filing a false tax return for failing to report the income he'd received through China's Thousand Talents Program. Our investigation found that while Li was researching Huntington's disease at Emory, he was also pocketing half a million unreported dollars from China.

In a similar vein, Charles Lieber, chair of Harvard's Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, was indicted just last month for making false statements to federal authorities about his Thousand Talents participation. The United States has alleged that Lieber concealed from both Harvard and the NIH his position as a strategic scientist at a Chinese universityand the fact that the Chinese government was paying him, through the Wuhan Institute of Technology, a $50,000 monthly stipend, more than $150,000 in living expenses, and more than $1.5 million to establish a laboratory back in China.

Malign Foreign Influence

There's more. Another tool China and the Chinese Communist Party use to manipulate Americans is what we call malign foreign influence.

Now, traditional foreign influence is a normal, legal diplomatic activity typically conducted through diplomatic channels. But malign foreign influence efforts are subversive, undeclared, criminal, or coercive attempts to sway our government's policies, distort our country's public discourse, and undermine confidence in our democratic processes and values.

China is engaged in a highly sophisticated malign foreign influence campaign, and its methods include bribery, blackmail, and covert deals. Chinese diplomats also use both open, naked economic pressure and seemingly independent middlemen to push China's preferences on American officials.

Just take one all-too-common illustration: Let's say China gets wind that some American official is planning to travel to Taiwanthink a governor, a state senator, a member of Congress. China does not want that to happen, because that travel might appear to legitimize Taiwanese independence from Chinaand legitimizing Taiwan would, of course, be contrary to China's "One China" policy.

So what does China do? Well, China has leverage over the American official's constituentsAmerican companies, academics, and members of the media all have legitimate and understandable reasons to want access to Chinese partners and markets. And because of the authoritarian nature of the Chinese Communist Party, China has immense power over those same partners and markets. So, China will sometimes start by trying to influence the American official overtly and directly. China might openly warn that if the American official goes ahead and takes that trip to Taiwan, China will take it out on a company from that official's home state by withholding the company's license to manufacture in China. That could be economically ruinous for the company, would directly pressure the American official to alter his travel plans, and the official would know that China was trying to influence him.

That would be bad enough. But the Chinese Communist Party often doesn't stop there; it can't stop there if it wants to stay in powerso it uses its leverage even more perniciously. If China's more direct, overt influence campaign doesn't do the trick, they sometimes turn to indirect, covert, deceptive influence efforts.

To continue with the illustration of the American official with travel plans that the Chinese Communist Party doesn't like, China will work relentlessly to identify the people closest to that officialthe people that official trusts most. China will then work to influence those people to act on China's behalf as middlemen to influence the official. The co-opted middlemen may then whisper in the official's ear and try to sway the official's travel plans or public positions on Chinese policy. These intermediaries, of course, aren't telling the American official that they're Chinese Communist Party pawnsand worse still, some of these intermediaries may not even realize they're being used as pawns, because they, too, have been deceived.

Ultimately, China doesn't hesitate to use smoke, mirrors, and misdirection to influence Americans.

Similarly, China often pushes academics and journalists to self-censor if they want to travel into China. And we've seen the Chinese Communist Party pressure American media and sporting giants to ignore or suppress criticism of China's ambitions regarding Hong Kong or Taiwan. This kind of thing is happening over and over, across the United States.

And I will note that the pandemic has unfortunately not stopped any of thisin fact, we have heard from federal, state, and even local officials that Chinese diplomats are aggressively urging support for China's handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Yes, this is happening at both the federal and state levels. Not that long ago, we had a state senator who was recently even asked to introduce a resolution supporting China's response to the pandemic.

The punchline is this: All of these seemingly inconsequential pressures add up to a policymaking environment in which Americans find themselves held over a barrel by the Chinese Communist Party.

Threats to the Rule of Law

All the while, China's government and Communist Party have brazenly violated well-settled norms and the rule of law.

Since 2014, Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping has spearheaded a program known as "Fox Hunt." Now, China describes Fox Hunt as some kind of international anti-corruption campaignit is not. Instead, Fox Hunt is a sweeping bid by General Secretary Xi to target Chinese nationals whom he sees as threats and who live outside China, across the world. We're talking about political rivals, dissidents, and critics seeking to expose China's extensive human rights violations.

Hundreds of the Fox Hunt victims that they target live right here in the United States, and many are American citizens or green card holders. The Chinese government wants to force them to return to China, and China's tactics to accomplish that are shocking. For example, when it couldn't locate one Fox Hunt target, the Chinese government sent an emissary to visit the target's family here in the United States. The message they said to pass on? The target had two options: return to China promptly, or commit suicide. And what happens when Fox Hunt targets refuse to return to China? In the past, their family members both here in the United States and in China have been threatened and coerced, and those back in China have even been arrested for leverage.

I'll take this opportunity to note that if you believe the Chinese government is targeting youthat you're a potential Fox Hunt victimplease reach out to your local FBI field office.

Exploiting Our Openness

Understanding how a nation could engage in these tactics brings me to the third thing the American people need to remember: that China has a fundamentally different system than oursand it's doing all it can to exploit the openness of ours while taking advantage of its own closed system.

Many of the distinctions that mean a lot here in the United States are blurry or almost nonexistent in ChinaI'm talking about distinctions between the government and the Chinese Communist Party, between the civilian and military sectors, and between the state and the "private" sector.

For one thing, an awful lot of large Chinese businesses are state-owned enterprisesliterally owned by the government, and thus the Party. And even if they aren't, China's laws allow its government to compel any Chinese company to provide any information it requestsincluding American citizens' data.

On top of that, Chinese companies of any real size are legally required to have Communist Party "cells" inside them to keep them in line. Even more alarmingly, Communist Party cells have reportedly been established in some American companies operating in China as a cost of doing business there.

These kinds of features should give U.S. companies pause when they consider working with Chinese corporations like Huaweiand should give all Americans pause, too, when relying on such a company's devices and networks. As the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, Huawei has broad access to much that American companies do in China. It's also been charged in the United States with racketeering conspiracy and has, as alleged in the indictment, repeatedly stolen intellectual property from U.S. companies, obstructed justice, and lied to the U.S. government and its commercial partners, including banks.

The allegations are clear: Huawei is a serial intellectual property thief, with a pattern and practice of disregarding both the rule of law and the rights of its victims. I have to tell you, it certainly caught my attention to read a recent article describing the words of Huawei's founder, Ren Zhengfei, about the company's mindset. At a Huawei research and development center, he reportedly told employees that to ensure the company's survival, they need toand I quote"surge forward, killing as you go, to blaze us a trail of blood." He's also reportedly told employees that Huawei has entered, to quote, "a state of war." I certainly hope he couldn't have meant that literally, but it's hardly an encouraging tone, given the company's repeated criminal behavior.

In our modern world, there is perhaps no more ominous prospect than a hostile foreign government's ability to compromise our country's infrastructure and devices. If Chinese companies like Huawei are given unfettered access to our telecommunications infrastructure, they could collect any of your information that traverses their devices or networks. Worse still: They'd have no choice but to hand it over to the Chinese government if askedthe privacy and due process protections that are sacrosanct in the United States are simply non-existent in China.

Responding Effectively to the Threat

The Chinese government is engaged in a broad, diverse campaign of theft and malign influence, and it can execute that campaign with authoritarian efficiency. They're calculating. They're persistent. They're patient. And they're not subject to the righteous constraints of an open, democratic society or the rule of law.

China, as led by the Chinese Communist Party, is going to continue to try to misappropriate our ideas, influence our policymakers, manipulate our public opinion, and steal our data. They will use an all-tools and all-sectors approachand that demands our own all-tools and all-sectors approach in response.

Our folks at the FBI are working their tails off every day to protect our nation's companies, our universities, our computer networks, and our ideas and innovation. To do that, we're using a broad set of techniquesfrom our traditional law enforcement authorities to our intelligence capabilities.

And I will briefly note that we're having real success. With the help of our many foreign partners, we've arrested targets all over the globe. Our investigations and the resulting prosecutions have exposed the tradecraft and techniques the Chinese use, raising awareness of the threat and our industries' defenses. They also show our resolve and our ability to attribute these crimes to those responsible. It's one thing to make assertionsbut in our justice system, when a person, or a corporation, is investigated and then charged with a crime, we have to prove the truth of the allegation beyond a reasonable doubt. The truth mattersand so, these criminal indictments matter. And we've seen how our criminal indictments have rallied other nations to our causewhich is crucial to persuading the Chinese government to change its behavior.

We're also working more closely than ever with partner agencies here in the U.S. and our partners abroad. We can't do it on our own; we need a whole-of-society response. That's why we in the intelligence and law enforcement communities are working harder than ever to give companies, universities, and the American people themselves the information they need to make their own informed decisions and protect their most valuable assets.

Confronting this threat effectively does not mean we shouldn't do business with the Chinese. It does not mean we shouldn't host Chinese visitors. It does not mean we shouldn't welcome Chinese students or coexist with China on the world stage. But it does mean that when China violates our criminal laws and international norms, we are not going to tolerate it, much less enable it. The FBI and our partners throughout the U.S. government will hold China accountable and protect our nation's innovation, ideas, and way of lifewith the help and vigilance of the American people.

Thank you for having me here today.
Russia arrests aide to space agency chief on charges of treason

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 10:21 AM

Russia has arrested an aide to the head of the country's space agency Roscosmos on charges of state treason.

Ivan Safronov, who is also a former journalist, was detained on Tuesday.

Roscosmos said the arrest was not linked to his work with the agency.

Safronov, who worked as a journalist for Russian daily newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti, joined Roscosmos as a media advisor to General Director Dmitry Rogozin in May.

The RIA news agency quoted the FSB Security Service as saying that Safronov worked for the foreign intelligence service of an unnamed NATO country and had been leaking classified military information.

Safronov is expected to appear in court later on Tuesday.

If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 20 years in jail.

The Kremlin dismissed reports that Safronov might have been detained for his work as a journalist with Kommersant.

Last year, TASS quoted a legal source as saying that prosecutors wanted to bring a civil case against Kommersant for revealing an unspecified state secret.

Back then, the Bell online news portal claimed that an article that Safronov had worked on  which said Egypt had signed an agreement with Russia to purchase over 20 Sukhoi SU-35 multi-role fighter jets  had subsequently disappeared from Kommersant's site.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later threatened Egypt with sanctions if it proceeded with the purchase.

Safronov himself claimed he was forced to quit Kommersant last year over an article he worked on that suggested that Valentina Matviyenko, the chairwoman of the upper house of the Russian parliament, might be replaced, a claim dismissed by Matviyenko's spokesman.
Russian Space Agency Aide, Former Journalist Pleads Not Guilty To High Treason

By Current Time, RFE/RL's Russian Service July 07, 2020

MOSCOW -- Ivan Safronov Jr., an adviser to the chief of Russia's Roskosmos state space agency and a former journalist, has pleaded not guilty after being detained on a charge of high treason for allegedly passing military secrets to a NATO government.

Safronov was arrested and searched by armed officers of the FSB security service outside his apartment on July 7 before being taken to court, where he entered his plea.

Roskosmos's press service said that the high treason charge that Safronov faces is not related to his position at the space agency.

The TASS news agency reported that because of the classified nature of some materials involved in the case, the court will hold proceedings behind closed doors. It added that sources said Safronov denied the charges during his interrogation.

Safronov could face up to 20 years in prison, if convicted.

Several of his colleagues, who protested outside the FSB headquarters in Moscow, dismissed the charges as absurd. Some said that the move is a sign of the further erosion of free speech and freedom of the press in Russia, which is already facing heavy criticism for backtracking on democracy after a package of constitutional reforms was adopted last week that, among other things, paves the way for President Vladimir Putin to possibly extend his hold on power until 2036.

The RIA news agency quoted the FSB Security Service as saying that Safronov worked for the foreign intelligence service of an unspecified NATO country and had been handing over classified military information.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on July 7 that Safronov's detainment "is not linked to his journalistic activities."

"He is accused of high treason, of passing secret data to foreign intelligence. As far as we are informed, the detainment has nothing to do with the journalistic activities Safronov was involved with in the past," Peskov said.

Pavel Chikov, a top human rights lawyer whose organization, Agora, provides legal support to Russians detained in politically motivated cases, wrote on Telegram that police also searched the apartment of journalist Taisia Bekbulatova, who is known as being a close associate of Safronov.

According to Chikov, after the search, Bekbulatova was brought to police for questioning as a witness in an unspecified case along with her lawyer Nikolai Vasilyev.

TASS and Interfax both quoted unidentified sources as saying that Bekbulatova is being questioned as a witness in the Safronov case.

Safronov, who started his current job in May, used to work for leading Russian newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti.

As a journalist, Safronov mainly covered issues related to the activities of Russia's military industrial sector. His father, Ivan Safronov Sr., also worked for Kommersant and focused mainly on the operations of the military industrial complex.

Safronov Sr. died at the age of 51 after he mysteriously fell out of a window in his apartment block in Moscow in 2007. Police concluded the death was a suicide, though relatives and friends say they suspect foul play.

Safronov Jr. was fired from Kommersant last year after writing an article about the possible resignation of Valentina Matviyenko, the chairwoman of the Russian parliament's upper chamber.

His firing led to a crisis at the paper after all of the journalists at Kommersant's politics department resigned in protest.

In June 2019, media reports surfaced saying that Kommersant might face administrative lawsuits for making state secrets public.

It was not clear which state secrets had been made public, but one of Safronov's articles about Russia's plans to deliver Su-35 military planes to Egypt was removed from the newspaper's website.

At the time, U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo warned of possible sanctions against Egypt if Cairo were to purchase the planes from Moscow, The Bell website said at the time.

Kommersant Director-General Vladimir Zhelonkin told the Open Media group on July 7 that there were no issues with authorities related to Safronov's article published in his newspaper last year, adding that the article in question did not contain any data that might be classified as a state secret.

Following Safronov's detention on July 7, at least seven journalists were held by police as they staged single-picket protests in front of the Federal Security Service's headquarters in Moscow. They were demanding "transparency, openness, and detailed information" on Safronov's case.

Other journalists continued the single-picket protests, which do not require pre-approval from the authorities.

With reporting by MBKh Media, RIA Novosti, Open Media, TASS, and Interfax

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-holds- safranov-space-agency-aide-ex-journalist-on- high-treason-charge/30711721.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.
U.S. Citizen Pleads Guilty To Fleeing Country With Classified Data, Seeking Russian Help

By RFE/RL's Russian Service July 07, 2020

A 46-year-old U.S. citizen has pleaded guilty after fleeing the country with her daughter and national-security materials that she hoped to offer Russia in exchange for Moscow's assistance.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of West Virginia said in a statement on July 6 that Elizabeth Shirley, who once served at the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserves, and Navy Reserves, had admitted to unlawfully retaining a document containing national-defense information and to international parental kidnapping.

The statement said that, in July 2019, Shirley took her six-year-old daughter to Mexico with the intent of making contact with representatives of the government of Russia to request help in resettling in a country that would not extradite her to the United States.

While in Mexico, the statement said Shirley prepared a written message to Russian government officials, referencing "an urgent need" to have "items shipped from the USA related to [her] life's work before they are seized and destroyed."

"When Shirley took classified information from her work with the Intelligence Community and later fled to Mexico, she violated the confidence placed in her by the American people," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said.

"She doubled down on this betrayal when she sought to offer classified information to the Russian government," he added in the statement.

Shirley had held TOP SECRET/SCI security clearances at various times since 1994.

Mexican police arrested Shirley at the request of the United States in August last year.

She faces up to 10 years in prison for illegally holding classified information and up to three years for illegally taking her child, of whom she was the noncustodial parent, to Mexico with the intent to interfere with the custodial father's parental rights.

"Given Shirley's troubling conduct after fleeing the United States, the damage to national security could have been far greater had law enforcement not acted swiftly. Shirley will now be held accountable for betraying the trust of the American people," Demers added.

Russia has not commented on the situation.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-citizen- shirleyguilty-fleeing-country-classified-data- seeking-russian-help/30711899.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.
Roscosmos Chief's Adviser Safronov Placed in Custody for Two Months Over Treason Charges, Court Says

Sputnik News

18:51 GMT 07.07.2020(updated 20:38 GMT 07.07.2020)

Safronov, serving as an adviser to the chief of the Russian space agency Roscosmos since May, was detained earlier in the day. The ex-defence reporter denies the treason charges.

A district court in Moscow on Tuesday ordered two months of detention for former journalist Ivan Safronov, suspected of handing classified defence information to a NATO country, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the courtroom.

"The court rules to grant the motion of the investigation and place Safronov in custody as a pre-trial restriction for one month and 30 days, until 6 September", judge Sergey Ryabtsev, known for handling Paul Whelan's case, said.

An expert examination, conducted as part of the criminal case against Safronov, confirmed investigators' conclusions that he leaked state secrets, an informed source told Sputnik later in the day.

Safronov is suspected of working for Czech special services, his lawyer Ivan Pavlov said, and his case is related to passing defence information about Russian weapons deliveries to the Middle East and Africa.

Russian investigators believe that the United States was the end recipient of classified information from Safronov.

"The US is mentioned in the criminal case as the country that received the information from Safronov through the Czech special services", Pavlov said.

According to the attorney, security services have long held Safronov under surveillance before confronting him with charges.

"He was under surveillance for a long time, they collected information on him. The amount of collected information ended up being one single episode, which they failed to explain, so this all is unfounded. The case files also contain his emails and scripts of calls over a long period of time", Pavlov said.

The defence of Safronov will contest the court's decision. "Yes, we will lodge an appeal", Pavlov said.

Safronov was detained earlier on Tuesday. Before joining Roscosmos, Safronov worked for Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers, where he covered defence and space industry topics. The Kommersant publishing house described Ivan as a "true patriot", adding that the high treason accusations against him are absurd.

After the court's ruling, the press service for Roscosmos said that it will not comment on Safronov's arrest. Earlier in the day, the agency said that Safronov's detention was not related to his work for Roscosmos.

A Sputnik
Roscosmos Chief's Adviser Safronov Denies Treason Charges

Sputnik News

16:19 GMT 07.07.2020(updated 16:21 GMT 07.07.2020)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ivan Safronov, an adviser to the head of Russian space corporation Roscosmos, denied on Tuesday his guilt in handing classified defence information to NATO, a Sputnik correspondent reported from a district court in Moscow.

"I do not admit guilt," Safronov said, as he entered the courtroom.

The court is now to decide on pre-trial restrictions.

Meanwhile, more than 10 people demonstrating in support of Safronov have been detained near the Federal Security Service's (FSB) headquarters in Moscow, according to a Sputnik correspondent.

Previous reports indicated that eight journalists, including those working for the Kommersant newspaper, Reuters news agency and Proekt media outlet, were detained there. However, after that, four more people have been detained and taken to a police van after they suddenly raised hand-made banners in support of Safronov.

Police officers dispatched to the scene say that the demonstration had not been authorised.

Safronov was detained earlier on Tuesday. Roscosmos said that the detention was not related to his work for the space agency. Before Roscosmos, Safronov for 10 years worked for Kommersant and Vedomosti newspapers, where he was covering topics related to defence and space industries. According to the Kommersant publishing house, the high treason accusations against Safronov are absurd, as he is a "true patriot."

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in turn, said that the detention of Safronov did not appear to be connected to his work as a journalist.



A Sputnik
I have already heard from Connecticut students who are in danger of being kicked out of the country because of this rule change, Tong said Wednesday. This is a direct attack on not just international students and immigrants but it is an attack on higher education.
FBI Opens a New China-Related Counterintelligence Case Almost Every 10 Hours, Director Wray Says

Sputnik News

15:10 GMT 07.07.2020(updated 16:12 GMT 07.07.2020)

Last month, the US domestic intelligence agency added to its laundry list of allegations against Beijing, accusing the Chinese ambassador and another diplomat of working to recruit American scientists in an effort to get access to advanced US research and technology.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is opening a new China-related counterintelligence investigation approximately once every 10 hours, with nearly half of the agency's roughly 5,000 active counterintelligence cases related to the Asian nation, FBI Director Christopher Wray has said.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank, on Tuesday, Wray made a number of China-related allegations, accusing Beijing of spying on "huge numbers" of Americans via hack attacks and listing off a series of alleged economic espionage cases by Chinese interests against the US.

"These cases were among more than a thousand investigations the FBI into China's actual and attempted theft of American technology, and that's not even talking about the more than a thousand other ongoing counterintelligence investigations of other kinds related to China," he said. "We're conducting these kinds of investigations in all 56 of our field offices, and over the past decade we've seen economic espionage cases with a link to China increase by approximately 1300 percent," he added.

"At this very moment, China is working to compromise American health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions conducting essential COVID-19 research," Wray alleged.

"China is engaged in a whole of state effort to become the world's only superpower by any means necessary," the director suggested, accusing Beijing of a range of crimes from cyber intrusions and the corruption of US officials to "outright physical theft" of everything from "military equipment to wind turbines, to rice and corn seeds."

Wray also charged China with engaging in a "highly sophisticated malign foreign influence campaign" against US officials and journalists whose methods "include bribery, blackmail, and covert deals," as well as economic pressures.

"I will note that the pandemic has unfortunately not stopped any of this. In fact, we've heard from federal, state and even local officials that Chinese diplomats are aggressively urging support for China's handling of the COVID-19 crisis," the FBI director said.

Wray also went after Chinese tech giant Huawei, claiming that the company would provide Americans' data to Chinese Communist Party officials if it were allowed to establish its internet infrastructure on US soil.

Claims Part of a Broader US-China Spat

The FBI chief's comments follow the US Federal Communications Commission's designation of Huawei and ZTE as national security threats to the United States last week, despite the companies' repeated denial of any wrongdoing.

The tech dispute is part of a much broader conflict between the US and China on issues ranging from trade to geopolitical and military tensions over the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, as well as back-and-forth allegations by both sides regarding the nature and origins of the coronavirus pandemic and how to handle it. In mid-May, President Trump indicated that the US could cut off diplomatic relations with China entirely over the coronavirus crisis and shave half a trillion dollars of the US's trade deficit.

China has long dismissed claims made by US officials about its economic, research and business practices, and accused Washington of seeking to restrict fair competition against Chinese companies. In late June, The Wall Street Journal reported that Beijing had "quietly" warned Washington that its purchases under the phase one trade agreement would stop if the Trump administration crossed "red lines" and meddled in areas that the Chinese government considers "off limits."

A Sputnik
BDS promotes China-Arab cooperation to higher level

PLA Daily

Source: China Military Online

Editor: Chen Zhuo

2020-07-07 16:54:01



By Li Guoli and Yang Xin

BEIJING, July 7 -- On July 6, the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was held via video-link.

"The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is China's first space infrastructure to provide public services for the world. During the development of the BeiDou-3 system, we have always kept our Arab friends in mind," Wang Zhaoyao, Chairman of the China Satellite Navigation Committee, told reporters. "Today, a China-Arab "Space Silk Road" is in the making. The BDS is bound to promote the cooperation between China and Arab states to a higher level."

In January 2016, China signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in terms of BDS development with Saudi Arabia, the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization (AICTO), and the Arab Academy for Science Technology & Maritime Transport(AASTMT) to establish a formal cooperation mechanism; in May 2017, the first China-Arab States BDS Cooperation Forum was held to build a High-end China-Arab states cooperation forum in satellite navigation; in April 2018, the first China-Arab States BDS/GNSS Center was inaugurated in Tunisia, serving as a open platform for the China-Arab cooperation in satellite navigation; in December 2018, China optimized its satellite launch plan to provide privileged services to BRI countries including the Arab states two years ahead of schedule; in April 2019, the second China-Arab States BDS Cooperation Forum was held, marking a long-term mechanism for the forum developed; in September 2019, China and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on Beidou expansion, clearly reflecting an all-round cooperation in BDS application.

Wang Zhaoyao said that cooperation between China and Arab states should not remain in the economic and trade field. China is willing to share technological achievements with Arab countries in the high-tech field and is ready to strengthen its technical cooperation and exchange in the field of satellite navigation with Arab countries through multiple ways of joint R&D, industrial collaboration, education, and training, to achieve collective progress.

Over the past 20 years, from the successful launch of the first experimental satellite BeiDou-1A in October 2000 to the deployment of the last global networking satellite of the BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System in June 2020, China has successively launched four BeiDou experimental satellites and 55 BeiDou-2 and BeiDou-3 networking satellites into orbit.

At present, the BDS has been applied in more than half of the countries and regions across the world. Solutions based on the system for confirmation of land rights, precise agriculture, digital construction, timing service at airports, monitoring and management on vehicles and ships, and intelligent port management have been successfully applied in countries in the ASEAN, South Asia, East Europe, West Asia, Africa, etc.

It is learned that the current BDS's global positioning accuracy is better than 5m, and it can also provide high-precision and high-integrity services to users with meter, decimeter, and centimeter-level real-time positioning. In addition to the basic navigation and timing services, the BDS can also provide diverse services, including satellite-based augmentation, ground-based augmentation, short message communication, international search and rescue, and precise point positioning.

"The three different orbit mixed constellations, unique of BDS, have integrated the Medium Earth orbit (MEO), the inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) and the geostationary orbit (GEO) with higher accuracy of service signals and stronger anti-shielding capabilities," Wang Zhaoyao said, adding that the BDS is a Chinese approach contributing to the world.
US Army Begins Testing for New Missile Defense System That May Enter Service by 2022

Sputnik News

20:39 GMT 07.07.2020

The US Army has begun a key test of a new integrated air defense system that was delayed due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. If successful, it could mean the introduction of a new, advanced generation of expanded anti-missile defenses.

A limited user test (LUT) of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) is now underway at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Breaking Defense reported on Monday.

Involving more than 700 people, the test could not proceed until major challenges involving social distancing were addressed, the outlet noted. While many folks can do their data analysis remotely, the key purpose of the test is to see how the system functions under realistic battle conditions when handled by real people - the soldiers who will man it on the battlefield - and not test engineers.

In response, the Army has set up a series of safeguards, such as constant testing and careful monitoring of travel between otherwise-separated working groups, to make sure the test can go on until September as required without getting people sick.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies' (CSIS) "Missile Threat" project, the IBCS is "intended is to integrate the communications between weapon launchers, radars, and the operators, allowing an air defense unit, such as a Patriot battery, to fire its interceptors using information provided by the radar of another."

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman is heading the IBCS project, receiving a $60 million contract to continue the work last October. According to the firm, previous tests have demonstrated that multiple radar systems from different air defense networks can be linked together to provide anti-air missiles with better targeting information, enabling them to engage beyond the horizon.

The Army has said the IBCS will benefit tools such as Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, as well as Patriot missile batteries. Gen. John M. Murray, the commanding general of Army Futures Command, has also said the system will integrate Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.

A previous test of the IBCS in 2016 went so badly that the system was postponed for at least four years. However, the Army has restructured its testing bureaucracy and compatibility requirements since then. If the test is successful, the IBCS could enter service by the end of 2022.

A Sputnik
Advanced weapons deployed at China's plateau regions

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/7/7 21:21:34

China had deployed a variety of advanced weapons fit for high-altitude combat to the country's western plateau regions as India continued to move forces and hold drills amid border tensions between the two countries, media reported.

The Chinese deployment came before the latest consensus reached by both countries on de-escalating border tensions, as the two sides have now agreed on the disengagement of frontline soldiers.

The weapons, including the PHL-03 and PHL-11 self-propelled multiple rocket launcher systems, PCL-181 vehicle-mounted howitzers, HJ-10 anti-tank missiles, towed 35mm anti-aircraft guns, Type 15 light tanks and Z-10 attack helicopters were deployed to Northwest China's high-altitude desert regions and Southwest China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, according to several reports by China Central Television (CCTV) over the past week.

These weapons are very useful at high altitudes as many are specially designed for plateau operations with the lack of oxygen in such regions taken into account, the reports said.

An Indian report on Tuesday said that India recently held drills featuring aircraft including Apache attack helicopters at a forward base near the Line of Actual Control. India has also deployed T-90 tanks to the Galwan Valley, a separate Indian report said in late June.

A Chinese military expert told the Global Times on Tuesday under condition of anonymity that the Chinese weapons were carefully selected to best suit high-altitude warfare and combat potential enemies' weapons of choice.

China's rockets and artillery can target hostile fortifications and other ground targets, anti-aircraft guns can clear the sky, anti-tank missiles and attack helicopters can wipe out enemy tanks, and friendly tanks can take the ground, the expert said.

Despite these military deployments and mobilizations from both sides, the border situation is on the right path to ease following a consensus reached by the Chinese Special Representative of the China-India Boundary Question, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Sunday.

Both sides welcomed the progress achieved in the recent military and diplomatic meetings, agreed to stay in dialogue and consultation, and stressed the importance to act on the consensus reached in the commander-level talks between bilateral border troops, to complete disengagement of the frontline troops as soon as possible, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

China and India have held three rounds of commander-level talks since early June, with the latest one on June 30 making progress on disengaging troops.

Chinese analysts said that China would welcome talks and de-escalation, but the Chinese military will remain prepared if the Indians again make any provocative moves.
Chinese envoy deposits instrument of accession to arms trade treaty to UN chief

PLA Daily

Source: CGTN.COM

Editor: Chen Zhuo

2020-07-07 14:45:57

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on Monday deposited the instrument of accession to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) of the People's Republic of China to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

After depositing the instrument of accession, Zhang said that the Chinese government "attaches high importance to the problems caused by illicit transfer and abuse of conventional arms. China supports the purposes and goals of the treaty and agrees on taking necessary measures to regulate international arms trade and combat illicit arms transfer."

Meanwhile, China always strictly regulates export of military articles, "with policies and management measures meeting or in some areas even exceeding ATT requirements." It is worth pointing out that China only allows export to sovereign states, not non-state actors. This fully demonstrates its high sense of responsibility. China calls on all parties to strictly regulate export of military items, disallow export to non-state actors and stop interfering in sovereign states' internal affairs through arms export, he said.

The envoy noted that accession to the ATT is another important step in China's active participation in global arms trade governance to safeguard international and regional peace and stability. "It demonstrates China's resolve and sincerity in maintaining international arms control regime, supporting multilateralism, and forging a community with a shared future for mankind. It will further enhance the treaty's universality and contribute to global security governance and international arms control process."

U.S. refuses to ratify ATT

The Arms Trade Treaty, which aims at regulating the trade of conventional arms and cracking down on illicit arms transfers, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on April 2, 2013, and entered into force on December 24, 2014. It now has 107 states parties with China's accession.

At the 74th UN General Assembly held in September 2019, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the start of China's domestic legal procedures for joining the treaty.

Last month China's top legislature voted to adopt a decision on joining the ATT.

Depositing the instrument of accession marks the conclusion of the domestic legal procedures for China's accession to the treaty. As per the provision of the treaty, the treaty will enter into force for China 90 days after the deposit of the instrument of accession.

Then U.S. President Barack Obama's administration signed the treaty in 2013, but it was opposed by the National Rifle Association and never ratified by the U.S. Senate.

President Donald Trump said in April last year that he intended to revoke the status of the United States as a signatory.

In July 2019, the U.S. told Guterres that Washington did not intend to become a party to the treaty and that it had no legal obligations from its 2013 signature.

'Major powers need to honor commitment'

The world is facing many challenges, and unilateralism has become the source of trouble. A certain country has quit multilateral arms control agreements and international treaties and organizations in succession, walked away from international commitments, and launched acts of unilateralism and bullying, said Zhang.

"This has brought huge uncertainties to the global strategic balance and stability, and seriously undermined the joint efforts of all countries to tackle global challenges. At this critical moment, major powers need to honor commitment, shoulder responsibilities, and set an example by contributing to safeguarding the international order, the rule of law, the role of the UN and multilateralism," said the envoy.

Zhang said that China will continue to "take the side of multilateralism and fairness and justice, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold international arms control treaties and regimes, and make greater contribution to shaping a well-regulated and sound order for arms trade, maintaining international peace and stability, and promoting common development of the world."
Director General of Department of U.S. Affairs of DPRK Foreign Ministry Issues Statement

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, July 7 (KCNA) -- Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the Department of U.S. Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK, issued the following statement on Tuesday:

Our first vice-foreign minister recently made clear her stand in a statement over untimely "rumor about a DPRK-U.S. summit".

The statement also mentioned the meddlesome man who had again indicated his intention to arbitrate between the DPRK and the U.S. regardless of time.

Our stand was as clear as day to be easily understood by the south using the same language as us.

Nevertheless, such nonsensical talks that there was no change in their efforts to mediate a DPRK-U.S. summit are ceaselessly heard from the south. They seem to have a bad ear or are guided by the habit of always talking in their own favor.

To top it all, some people make self-centered interpretation of our first vice-foreign minister's statement that it is "a message urging the U.S. to act" and "a kind of asking for more concession".

Irony is that the south, which fails to manage its own business, came out to offer "a helping hand" allegedly to solve the DPRK-U.S. relations which are getting more and more complicated.

It is just the time for it to stop meddling in other's affairs but it seems there is no cure or prescription for its bad habit.

The inter-Korean relations are bound to go further bankrupt as they only talk nonsense, unaware of the time.

We feel sorry to see it trying so hard to become the "mediator" but it may try as much as it wants if it cherishes so strong wish to try it to the end.

Time will show whether its efforts will succeed or it will only suffer a loss and ridicule.

Explicitly speaking once again, we have no intention to sit face to face with U.S. -0-
North Korea says won't hold new talks as US envoy arrives in Seoul

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 8:32 AM

North Korea has stressed that it has no intention of holding new negotiations with the United States, following a call by South Korea for Pyongyang and Washington to hold a new summit.

Kwon Jong-gun, the director general for US affairs at the North Korean Foreign Ministry, said in a statement on Tuesday that South Korea's call for a revival of talks was "nonsensical" and urged Seoul to stop meddling.

Last Tuesday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to meet once again before the presidential election in the United States. He said another summit between Trump and Kim would help resume stalled negotiations over demilitarization on the Korean Peninsula.

The South's president has been trying to mediate between the North and the United States. Trump and Kim have already met three times, mainly on his auspices.

But Kwon, the North Korean official, made clear that President Moon's good offices were no more needed.

"It is just the time for (South Korea) to stop meddling in others' affairs, but it seems there is no cure or prescription for its bad habit," Kwon said.

"Explicitly speaking once again, we have no intention to sit face to face with the United States," the senior North Korean diplomat said.

North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui had on Saturday dismissed the possibility of new talks with the US.

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who led the Trump administration's previous talks with North Korea, arrived in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss with South Korean officials the potential resumption of the talks with the North.

North Korea has been under harsh US sanctions for years over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Although Trump and Kim have met three times, the US president has refused to relieve any of the sanctions on the North. Talks have gradually stopped as a result.
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, July 8 (KCNA) -- All the people and service personnel across the country pay the noblest respect and wishes for eternal life towards the sacred temple of Juche with ardent yearnings and in boundless reverence for the father of the nation on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of demise of President Kim Il Sung.

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

Accompanying the Supreme Leader were Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, first vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and Pak Pong Ju, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and vice-chairman of the WPK Central Committee.

Also accompanying him were Kim Jae Ryong, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK, member of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, and members of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and members of the Central Military Commission of the WPK.

The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il, great sages and eternal sun of Juche acclaimed by the Korean people for the first time in the 5 000-year-long history of the Korean nation, lie in state was wrapped in solemn atmosphere.

Placed at the statues of the President and the Chairman was a floral basket in the name of the Supreme Leader.

Also laid were floral baskets in the names of the C.C., WPK, the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and the Cabinet of the DPRK.

The Supreme Leader, together with the participants, paid high tribute to the statues of the President and the Chairman.

At the immortality halls where the President and the Chairman lie as in their lifetime he paid the highest tribute to them who had ushered in the new history of an independent and powerful country and performed unparalleled gigantic feats before the country, people, era and revolution, in the greatest reverence.

The participants hardened their iron will to uphold the revolutionary idea and feats of the President and the Chairman and fully demonstrate to the whole world the might of the powerful and dignified socialist Korea where the dream and ideal of the people come true under the leadership of the Supreme Leader. -0-

(2020.07.08)
The Reinvention of Emmanuel Macron

By Jamie Dettmer July 07, 2020

Buffeted by social unrest, economic woes and the coronavirus pandemic, French President Emmanuel Macron is in the process of rebooting his government two years out from a reelection bid, hoping to go one better than immediate predecessors who served just one term.

Among his worries, aides say, is the possible emergence of an unconventional or populist candidate. But his biggest threat may rest with the prime minister he just fired, Edouard Philippe, a center-right politician who was replaced last week with a technocrat of limited political ambitions  55-year-old Jean Castex.

Philippe's departure did not come as a surprise to France's political classes. His likely dismissal had been gossiped about for weeks in the national press. Conventional wisdom had it that Macron, who won as a center-left candidate but has been tacking right for much of his presidency, would shift leftward in preparation for his reelection bid. Philippe would therefore have to be replaced by a center-left figure.

But Castex, the father of four from a small town in the southwest Gers region in the Pyrenees, and a high-level backroom functionary who has been overseeing the easing of France's coronavirus lockdown, is a Gaullist, which he underscored in his first television interview in the new role.

"I am a social Gaullist," said Castex, who served as a deputy chief of staff for former President Nicolas Sarkozy. "My values are responsibility. That is to say that we cannot expect everything from the state."

What went wrong?

French newspaper Le Monde suggested Macron dismissed Philippe because he feared his prime minister was starting to eclipse him, and a further two years in the post would possibly boost him more.

"Macron has decided to combine the two posts  he will be president and prime minister at the same time," one of the French leader's supporters told the paper.

Philippe had become a popular figure, widely credited with being responsible for the things that went well with France's handling of the pandemic but not being blamed for what went badly. The coronavirus death tally in France stands at around 30,000.

Philippe, also mayor of the port city of Le Havre, had increasingly shown signs of independence, refusing to accept a Macron loyalist, Nicolas Revel, as director of the cabinet.

"What Philippe never fully appreciated was that as prime minister, he was there to get the blame for trouble, but for the president to take the credit when things go right," said a former Macron aide, who asked not to be identified.

Sagging polls

Macron is struggling in the opinion polls and is facing rising discontent in the political party he created, La Republique en Marche. Last month a left-wing faction of 17 of his lawmakers broke away to form a new parliamentary group, Ecology, Democracy, Solidarity. Across all factions, there is mounting alarm at the party's future electoral prospects.

That worry was compounded last month when Macron's party suffered badly at municipal elections, failing to win even one big French city, with many cities traditionally held by the Socialists or the center-right falling into the hands of the Greens.

In the race for the mayor's job in Paris, his candidate came in a poor third. That all stands in contrast to the support Macron garnered in the big cities in 2017, when at the age of 39, he pulled off a surprise presidential win and outmaneuvered the established parties.

Some observers suspect that Castex's appointment signals Macron's belief that his electoral fortunes may depend on small-town and rural France and that his new prime minister's main role is to connect the metropolitan Macron and his government better with La France peripherique (peripheral France) to compensate for diminished urban backing.

Whether he can pull that off is another question, analysts say. The turbulence last year caused by nationwide "yellow vest" protests was spawned in small-town France  an agitation triggered by the imposition of "green taxes" on fuel and anger at what many in La France peripherique saw as an elite-minded government.

'New road'

Macron has said he plans this month to map out a "new road" for France. Two weeks ago, he told the French in a television address that a change of direction for the country was necessary after the pandemic.

"Each of us must reinvent ourselves ... and collectively, we must do things differently. I apply this first and foremost to myself," he said.

The French president has gone through several reinventions during his time in office and another one may be hard to pull off, commentators say.

Some argue that there is an incoherence in his various machinations recently. His dismissal of Philippe is a case in point, they say. If he plans to continue to govern from the right of the political spectrum, why sack his popular prime minister?

The conservative Le Figaro newspaper warned ahead of the unfolding cabinet reshuffle that getting rid of Philippe would go down badly with center-right voters, Macron's core group of supporters  now the left  is abandoning him, angry with his efforts at pension reform.

"This would be perceived as a political punishment that would not be understood," cautioned Guillaume Tabard, an editorial writer at the paper.

Some commentators say there is an element of desperation to Macron's recent political moves  or at least an opportunistic casting around to find the best route to secure reelection. Last month, media reports claimed he had considered resigning and forcing a snap election, calculating that his prospects for reelection would be better.

He has prompted surprise in the French capital, Paris, by reaching out for phone conversations to anti-establishment figures, including Eric Zemmour, a political essayist favored by the far-right, and Jean-Marie Bigard, a controversial French comic who might be tempted to consider mounting his own presidential run.
India's Top Court Orders Army to Give Permanent Commissions to Female Officers Within a Month

Sputnik News

11:21 GMT 07.07.2020

New Delhi (Sputnik): On 17 February, India's top court delivered a landmark judgement which ruled that women officers are entitled to permanent commissions on a par with their male counterparts. The Chief of Army Staff said that the military does not discriminate against any soldier based on gender, caste or creed.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted a one month extension to the Indian government to implement its earlier order to provide permanent commissions to female officers in the Indian Army.

The Modi government had been seeking a six month extension to implement the judgement, which was initially delivered on 17 February.

The court passed the order after the Central Government, through the Ministry of Defence, said the decision-making process in this matter is at the final stage and only formal orders remain to be issued.

In the 17 February ruling, the court judged that permanent commissions should be granted to all women in the army, regardless of their service, and that denying women command assignments was a violation of equality under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.

The decision was welcomed by the Chief of the Indian Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund Naravane who said that everyone in the army, including women officers, will be given equal opportunity to contribute to the nation as well as to progress in their careers.

The Indian Armed forces started inducting women officers in 1992, however, they were not allowed to take on fighting roles until 2016 when some were inducted as fighter pilots. Women have been fighting to gain equal status in the Indian Armed forces, which has long been resistant to change, often citing operational reasons for not allowing women equal opportunities.

A Sputnik
We had a good conversation, Lamont said. I just said, Look, the state police are leading by example.' Thats what theyve always done. When it came to chokeholds, they never instructed in chokeholds. We just reinforced that. When it comes to community policing, theyre going to take the lead on what weve got to do for community policing. What I told Mr. Matthews and what I say to the state police is theyre leading by example, and now well see what the legislature does in regards to municipal police.
Iran parliament discusses Natanz incident with intelligence minister in attendance

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, July 7, IRNA -- The National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian parliament in the presence of Iranian Intelligence Minister and representative of security bodies reviewed Natanz nuclear site accident today.

Spokesman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian parliament Abolfazl Amouie said today Majlis hosted Intelligence Minister and representatives of other security bodies.

Earlier on Sunday, Amouei said that the dimensions of the Natanz incident and the report of the IAEA Board of Governors were discussed in the meeting in the presence of Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi.

Meanwhile, Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) spokesman Keyvan Khosravi stated that the cause of the incident at the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan Natanz Nuclear Complex has been identified following the technical and security investigations and will be declared in due course for security reasons.

Meanwhile, Spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said that reconstruction of the damaged building will get underway at Shahid Ahmadi Roshan Natanz Complex with the bigger plot of land for advanced equipment are supposed to be built there.

Kamalvandi said after the accident happened, our priority was to ensure that there are no casualties, to find the cause of the accident and the way to reconstruct the complex and compensate for the losses.

In the first step, we found out that there was no casualty but the financial losses were significant.

As the secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council announced, the security bodies now are aware of the cause of accident, but, due to security considerations, they do not tend to comment on it.

9376**2050
Iran dismisses rumors on explosion in Yazd nuclear complex

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, July 7, IRNA -- The public relations office of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEoI) in a statement dismissed the false news and rumors concerning an alleged explosion taking place in Shahid Rezaei Nejad nuclear complex in Yazd.

In the wake of releasing fake news on an explosion in Shahid Rezaei Nejad nuclear complex by some anti-Revolution media, AEOI announced that no accident has happened on this site.

He said the media claims were aimed at accompanying the terrorist and warmonger regime of Israel to promote propaganda campaigns, disappointment, and following US pressures on Iranians.

AEOI added that the satellite images were not also related to this site.

9376**2050
Spox: China ready to work with Iran to advance practical ties

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Beijing, July 7, IRNA -- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian hailed traditional relations between Iran and China, saying his country is ready to advance practical cooperation with Iran.

"China and Iran enjoy traditional friendship and the two sides have been in communication on the development of bilateral relations," Lijian said addressing the Monday press conference.

"We stand ready to work with Iran to steadily advance practical cooperation," he added.

Commenting on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's letter to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on Europeans' lack of commitment, he said: "JCPOA is an important outcome of multilateral diplomacy endorsed by the UN Security Council resolution."

"It is an important pillar for the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East, and an important part of the international order based on international law," he noted.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Chinese diplomat said: "The US withdrawal from the JCPOA and its maximum pressure on Iran is the root cause for the tension in the current Iranian nuclear situation."

"China hopes that all parties concerned can adopt an overall and long-term perspective, make efforts to meet each other halfway, resolve differences on the implementation of the JCPOA through dialogue and consultation within the framework of the JCPOA Joint Commission, restore the balance of rights and obligations under the JCPOA, and do their best to safeguard and implement the JCPOA," Lijian stated.

"China will maintain close communication with relevant parties, facilitate peace, promote talks and continue working for the political and diplomatic resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue," he reiterated.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a letter to the High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell once again referred the cases of European countries' non-compliance to the Joint Commission for settlement in accordance with Article 36 of the JCPOA.

Foreign Minister's letter warned that any interference in the ongoing cooperation between Iran and the IAEA would be contrary to the provisions of the JCPOA and could have negative impacts on the existing cooperation under the safeguards agreement, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi earlier said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed the need to maintain and fully implement the provisions of the JCPOA by all parties, especially the need for Iran to fully benefit from the economic effects of the sanctions lifting system as envisaged in the deal, saying that Iran will take appropriate and proportionate action against any excessive and irresponsible behavior.

9376**2050
South Korea releases parts of frozen Iranian funds: Businessman

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 4:48 PM

South Korea has agreed to release a part of funds belonging to Iran and frozen in the country's banks under pressure from the United States, says a businessman leading trade between the two countries.

Hossein Tanhayi, who chairs Iran-South Korea Joint Chamber of Commerce, said on Tuesday that the two countries had agreed to use a first installment of the funds for Iran's purchase of drugs and medical equipment.

"It was agreed that part of Iran's money in South Korea be returned to the country in the form of medical items and drugs," Tanhayi said in an interview with the semi-official ILNA news agency.

The announcement comes two days after Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati said he had obtained some positive news about the return of funds blocked in a foreign country amid a shortage of hard currency in Iran that has pushed exchange prices to historic highs.

There were speculations in the Iranian media on Monday that the country in question could be South Korea.

Iranian authorities said in March that South Korean banks had imposed fresh restrictions on Iran's access to billions of dollars in funds that had been frozen since 2018 when the United states imposed its unilateral sanctions on Iran.

They said the banks had begun to block Iran's requests for using the funds for purchase of medicine and medical equipment despite the facts that Tehran needed the items to fight the new corornavirus pandemic.

However, Tanhayi said it was now up to the CBI and the Iranian health ministry to take maximum benefit of the funds for such purchases in South Korea.

"We hope we could bring a sizable amount of this money back to the country," said Tanhayi about the funds which are estimated to be between $6.5 billion and $9 billion and are related to past sales of oil to South Korea.

The businessman added that Iran would seek to expand the use of the funds in future to cover purchases of food and animal feed.
AEOI says no explosion hit Yazd nuclear site in central Iran

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 2:51 PM

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has dismissed rumors about an explosion at a nuclear facility in the central province of Yazd, saying such claims are in line with an anti-Iran propaganda campaign serving Israeli and American goals.

The AEOI issued a statement on Tuesday in response to the reports that circulated mostly on social media on Tuesday morning, claiming that a blast had hit the Shahid Rezaeinejad yellowcake factory in the city of Ardakan, Yazd Province.

The rumors were accompanied with a satellite image claiming to show damage at the site of the alleged incident.

The AEOI, however, said no incident had happened at the site, and that such "bogus claims" had been spread in media by "counter-revolutionary elements abroad" with an aim to further the goals of the "terrorist and warmongering Zionist regime."

The rumors, it added, are also in line with a propaganda campaign underway against Iran and the US's so-called maximum pressure policy targeting the Iranian nation.

The Iranian nuclear body emphasized that the alleged satellite images released to back up the claims had nothing to do with the Natanz site.

The media claims came few days after the AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi reported an incident at the Natanz nuclear complex but emphasized that there has been no damage to the main uranium enrichment facility.

Later on Friday, spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council Keyvan Khosravi said that the "main cause" of the incident had been determined and would be announced at an appropriate time.
Israel's Lieberman urges PM to 'shut up' official claiming Natanz 'bomb attack'

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 9:16 AM

Israel's former minister of military affairs, who has now turned into an opposition figure, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should gag an unnamed official leaking to the press Tel Aviv's alleged role in a recent incident at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility.

In an interview with the Israeli Army Radio on Monday, Avigdor Lieberman reacted to remarks by an unnamed "Middle Eastern intelligence officer," who claimed in an interview with The New York Times that Israel had planted a powerful bomb at the Natanz complex in central Iran last week.

Without calling out Mossad chief Yossi Cohen by name, Lieberman blamed the leakage on the intelligence official who is seeking to succeed Netanyahu as the head of the right-wing Likud party.

"An intelligence official says that Israel is responsible for an explosion in Iran on Thursday. The country's entire security echelon knows who it is," Lieberman said.

"I would expect the prime minister to keep that senior intelligence official's mouth shut, particularly as he has started his Likud primary election campaign It just cannot be that that official not only explains what we did, but also what we didn't do," he added.

On Thursday, Iran said an incident affected a shed under construction at the Natanz complex, but it caused no casualties and failed to stop enrichment work at the facility.

Iran has not officially declared whether it was an accident or an act of sabotage, but the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said the main cause has been determined and will be announced at an appropriate time.

Some Israeli officials were asked about the possibility of the regime's involvement in the attack on Natanz facility, but they have neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

The regime often practices a policy of deliberate ambiguity when it is involved in acts of sabotage in sovereign lands.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said, "Iran cannot be allowed to have nuclear capabilities." To that end, he added, "we take actions that are better left unsaid."

"Not every event that happens in Iran is necessarily related to us," Israeli minister of military affairs Benny Gantz said, without denying involvement in the Natanz incident.

Commenting on the extent of the damage days later, Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said "there were advanced equipment and precision measurement devices at this site that were either destroyed or damaged."

He said the incident had caused "significant financial damage," adding it could "slow down the development and expansion of advanced centrifuges."

The Iranian official added that a new and more advanced shed would be built at Natanz nuclear facility to replace the one damaged in the incident.

Israel has in the past worked to disrupt Iran's peaceful nuclear program through the assassination of several Iranian nuclear scientists.

It has also conduced cyber attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. In 2010, Stuxnet, a cyber weapon widely believed to be made by the US and Israel, hit Natanz plant, in the first publicly known example of a virus being used to attack industrial machinery.

Tehran later developed an indigenous firewall securing its sensitive industrial facilities against Stuxnet.
Security Website Says Incident At Iran's Nuclear Plant Was 'Deliberate Attack'

Radio Farda July 07, 2020

A website close to Iran's Supreme Council of National Security (SCNS) has published a commentary on the blast at Iran's "centrifuge assembly line" in Natanz which says the incident was "a deliberate attack".

However, Nour News added, "an air strike on the Natanz plant is almost impossible", due to strong air defences.

The is the first time a source close to the Iranian government acknowledges there has been an "attack" on the nuclear establishment.

The website said the publication of the commentary on Tuesday July 7 was aimed at shedding light on the ambiguities concerning the incident.

In recent days there have been explosions at two of Iran's top security nuclear and military facilities  Khojir east of Tehran and Natanz in Isfahan province.

Iranian authorities said the incident at the first site was caused by the explosion of a gas storage tank but have delayed thee announcement of the cause for the Natanz incident "for security reasons".

It's been widely suggested that Israeli drone or missile attacks were responsible for the explosions. Israel has not commented on the issue but in similar cases, they have neither confirmed nor denied reports of their involvement.

Nour News said that the Natanz plant is being constantly protected by "defensive anti-aircraft guns," adding that Iran's powerful air defense equipment including the S-300 missile system are stationed at other parts of the country, "near the borders and sensitive areas."

The website noted that the Iranian government has built the Fordu site underground in a mountainous region to reduce its vulnerability in case there is an air strike.

Nour News also claimed that "there are a lot of similarities between the incident in Natanz and the assassination of General Soleimani" but did not elaborate further except saying, "the combination of intelligence, logistics, action and the volume of destruction" as part of those similarities. It added these factors strengthen the possibility of "a deliberate attack."

Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike just outside Baghdad Airport in January.

Meanwhile, on June 5, the New York Times quoted an unnamed IRGC commander as having said that the blast was caused by a powerful explosion inside the building which heavily damaged the Natanz nuclear establishments.

Nour News also offered some information about the building where the centrifuge assembly line was located. The site said its construction started in 2013 but work was suspended following the 2015 nuclear agreement with the world powers, adding that the site was finally completed in July 2018.

This comes while Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization said on July 5 that the site was under construction when the blast happened.

Nour News explained that the building served as home to Iran's modern centrifuges of IR-4, IR-4 and IR-6 generations, adding that another building was also built for taller centrifuges.

The commentary on Nour News added that the space was capable of hosting 60 centrifuges. The most important test that took place there was the speed test using modern equipment, the commentary added.

Earlier, Channel 13 of Israeli television quoted officials as saying that the blast delays Iran's plans to boost uranium enrichment for two months, as the laboratory that developed high speed centrifuges was demolished in the blast.

Noor News added that "The attack was launched 2 AM to make sure that there were reduced security arrangements in place and in order to prevent casualties. On the other hand, an attack on the underground enrichment site would have entailed danger of radioactive leak and international consequences. So, the attack was carried out in the [above ground] building where there were no nuclear material."

The new information about the attack on the nuclear site in Natanz followed last week's announcement by the SCNS which said, "the cause of the blast will not be announced for the time being due to security concerns."

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/security- website-says-incident-at-iran-s-nuclear-plant- was-deliberate-attack-/30712034.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.
Middle East Countries Want Iran's Arms Embargo Extended, Pompeo Says

Radio Farda July 07, 2020

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday, July 6, that Middle Eastern countries demand to extend Iran's arms embargo, and the United Nations Security Council should listen to them.

Citing a remark by Pompeo, the State Department said, "from Israel to the [Persian] Gulf, countries in the Middle East - who are most exposed to Iran's predations  are speaking with one voice: Extend the arms embargo. UNSC has a responsibility to listen to them."

Based on the Security Council Resolution 2231 of 2015, Iran's international arms embargo expires on October 18, in less than four months. The resolution was adopted at the conclusion of negotiations between Iran and world powers to limit its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, the United States has presented the draft of a resolution, calling the international body to extend the embargo.

In recent weeks, U.S. officials have been in extensive talks with European partners to secure their support for their proposed resolution to extend the arms embargo indefinitely.

However, both China and Russia have veto power in the UN Security Council and have already stated their opposition to the extension of Iran's arms embargo.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/middle -east-countries-want-iran-s-arms-embargo- extended-pompeo-says/30710525.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.
Iran Exiled Crown Prince Calls Proposed Iran-China Accord 'Despicable

Radio Farda July 07, 2020

In a statement on Tuesday, Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi condemned a planned 25-year agreement Iran is seeking to sign with China.

"The regime dominating our country is seeking to sign a despicable 25-year agreement with China to plunder Iran's natural resources and accepting a foreign army in our homeland, " Prince Reza Pahlavi said in the statement which was published on his official Telegram Channel. He added that the agreement "planned with the direct approval and support of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic is an undeniable betrayal of Iran's national interests".

On June 23 Tabnak, a conservative website, revealed that the government of President Hassan Rouhani had ratified the draft of a 25-year agreement with China in a cabinet meeting and tasked Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif to follow up with the Chinese side to sign the agreement.

Zarif told reporters June 24 he was going to follow up on a 2016 agreement with China called "The Cino-Iranian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" that was a $400 billion project.

Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri on Tuesday, July 7 said development of strategic partnership with China should be "bravely defended".

The Petroleum Economist, however, has claimed that the partnership with China "could mark seismic shift in the global hydrocarbons sector". According to the monthly journal, the central pillar of the new deal is that China will invest $280bn developing Iran's oil, gas and petrochemicals sectors.

Prince Reza Pahlavi has also maintained that the Iranian nation must be informed of all the conditions and details of any agreement which will then be put to the vote of the "real representatives of the nation who have been elected through a fully democratic process".

Iran's hardliners have strongly supported the planned agreement. The Revolutionary Guard-linked newspaper Javan called the agreement "a pact between the lion and the dragon".

There has been no reaction from China to Iran's statements about a long-term partnership.

The pro-Ahmadinejad Telegram channel @Dolatebahar has alleged that "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. "

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran- exiled-crown-prince-calls-proposed-iran-china- accord-despicable-/30712348.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.
Ukraine Set To Sue Iran In International Courts Over Downed Airliner

Radio Farda July 07, 2020

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Yevhen Yenin says Kyiv is preparing to file a lawsuit against the Islamic Republic in international courts over Tehran's lack of cooperation after the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane in January.

Speaking to Radio Farda on Tuesday, July 7, Yenin asserted that since the tragedy occurred 180 days ago, Iran's cooperation in investigating the case has not been" satisfactory."

While insisting on his country's commitment to resolving the issue through "negotiations" with Iran, Yenin asserted: "If our efforts fail, we will be left with no option other than turning to international institutions."

As Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 took off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini international airport on January 8, heading for Kyiv, two missiles were fired at the plane, which crashed near the capital city, killing all 167 people aboard.

The crash victims included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, eleven Ukrainians, ten Sweden, four Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons. Only after three days did the Guard take responsibility for the tragedy.

It took Iran three days to admit that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps was responsible for the deadly attack.

Tehran has repeatedly blamed "human mistake" for the deadly incident but recently referred to an error in its air defense system.

Ukraine and other countries whose citizens were killed in the downing of the airliner are still waiting for Iran to keep its promise and send the black boxes of flight 752 to France by July 20.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Baharvand told Mizan News Agency last Tuesday that the doomed plane's black boxes would be transported to France on July 20.

However, Baharvand accused Ukraine of "wasting" time, adding: "We were going to send the flight recorders to Ukraine, which they claimed could be deciphered there, but they wasted our time and did not enter into negotiations."

Firing back, the Ukrainian deputy foreign minister said, "It is unfortunate that the Iranian authorities are announcing their readiness to cooperate, but they do not take any steps through the official channels."

At the same time, Yenin, told reporters that Ukraine welcomes deciphering the black boxes in France to ensure the independence of technical investigation into the case.

Stressing that the heat and crash have damaged both black boxes, Yenin noted that French experts could also determine whether the flight recorders were deliberately damaged or not.

In another part of his interview with Radio Farda, Yenin disclosed that Ukrainian experts were set to go to France and investigate the case there.

Furthermore, Yenin expressed his dissatisfaction with keeping the flight recorders in Iran, noting that Ukraine is demanding Iran to respect its legal responsibility, ensure that similar accidents do not recur, and pay compensation to the victims' relatives and Ukrainian airlines."

He also expressed hope that Iran would take a "constructive position" in the case and stressed that Kyiv preferred not to go to the international courts.

Elaborating on the issue, the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister reminded, "Precedents show that negotiations between countries last an average of two years, but going to court and the International Court of Justice may take up to ten years."

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/ukraine-set -to-sue-iran-in-international-courts- over-downed-airliner/30712297.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Iran's Judiciary Says Many Licensed Exporters Were 'Fake Entities'

Radio Farda July 07, 2020

Judicial Deputy of Tehran Prosecutor on Monday said many of the exporters flagged by the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) for not transferring currency earnings to the government FOREX system cannot be identified or are "fake entities".

Speaking on a state-run television program on Monday, Mohammad-Reza Sahebi said some of the people whose names are seen on government foreign trade authorization cards on the 150 person list submitted to the judiciary for prosecution "had no inkling about the exports made in their names".

Getting a government foreign trade authorization card only requires being named as an owner/shareholder of a registered company, the usual identity checks with the police, company address and bank account as well as ownership of a property as a safeguard. Anyone above the age of 23 who meets these criteria can apply for one. Some people sign up for the card and then allow importer-exporters to use it in return for a fee.

Iranian exporters are under pressure to transfer the hard currencies they earn back to Iran due to the shortage of U.S. dollars and other major currencies. The currencies earned from exports must be offered for exchange on the government's Unified FOREX Transactions System (NIMA) where it is used to meet the foreign currency needs of importers.

Some exporters, however, have kept their money in foreign banks due to the huge devaluation of the national currency. The CBI deadline for declaring the export currencies has ended and will not be extended according to the CBI governor. Abdolnaser Hemmati has said that those who failed to repatriate their currency earnings will be required to offer explanations to the Judiciary.

On Sunday Mohsen Zanganeh, a lawmaker and member of parliament's Planning and Budget Committee, said exporters have kept $20 billion abroad and asking the government for certain guarantees before they transfer the currencies back to Iran.

The rate of exchange for the U.S. dollar has been growing alarmingly since mid-June and left the 220,000 rials landmark behind. The devaluation of the national currency is attributed to U.S. sanctions, corruption, and grim economic forecasts for the future in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-s- judiciary-says-many-licensed-exporters-were -fake-entities-/30711888.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.
Incident At Iran Nuclear Site Discussed In Parliament Commission Meeting

Radio Farda July 07, 2020

Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission spokesman Abolfazl Amouei says his committee held a meeting Tuesday evening to investigate the recent "accident" at the uranium enrichment facility in the city of Natanz.

The meeting was attended by top officials, including the Minister of Intelligence Mahmoud Alavi, his deputies, senior members of the Army Air Defense Command, and high-ranking officers of the police force.

Based on the briefings at the session, Abolfaz Amouei disclosed, "significant conclusions" were reached.

Speaking to the state-run Iran Students News Agency (ISNA), Amouei briefly said, "The authorities delivered a report on their responsibilities related to the case, explaining the security aspects of the Natanz incident, and responded to questions raised by the members of the commission."

Officials in the Islamic Republic have so far referred to a fire that broke out on July 2 at the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz as an "accident" and first tried to play down the significance of damages.

Nevertheless, aerial images from the scene, which is said to be "Iran's centrifuge hub" show that much of the building was destroyed.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) later said the blast occurred at the workshop for a new generation of centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear site.

Still, without elaboration, Amouei told ISNA, "significant results concerning the Natanz incident were achieved, and further investigation into various aspects of the explosion at the nuclear facility is underwaay. He also promised that "after a thorough and technical investigation, the results will be made public through the relevant agencies."

Earlier, the Islamic Republic's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) had announced that the cause of the accident had been determined, but it would not immediately be revealed for "security considerations."

Nonetheless, some Iranian media outlets close to the SNSC have described the fire and explosion at the Natanz nuclear facility as an "deliberate attack."

Since senior officials of the Army Air Defense Command and law enforcement forces were present at Tuesday meeting in parliament, it is highly probable that planted bombs, or an airstrike caused the devastating fire and explosion at the Islamic Republic's centrifuge center.

The New York Times reporting has emphasized the possibility of a bomb and according to a source, Israel was involved.

Earlier, Channel 13 of Israeli television quoted experts as saying that the blast delays Iran's plans to boost uranium enrichment for two months, as the laboratory that developed high-speed centrifuges was demolished in the blast.

The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi, later admitted that "the incident may slow down the development and production of advanced centrifuges in the medium term."

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/incident-at- iran-nuclear-site-discussed-in-parliament- commission-meeting/30712935.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.
UN Rights Rapporteur Calls U.S. Killing Of Top Iranian General 'Unlawful'

By RFE/RL July 07, 2020

A UN expert has concluded that a U.S drone strike that killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Iraq early this year constituted an "arbitrary killing" that was "unlawful."

"Major General Soleimani was in charge of Iran military strategy, and actions, in Syria and Iraq. But absent an actual imminent threat to life, the course of action taken by the U.S. was unlawful," Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions wrote in the report released on July 7.

The assassination of Soleimani, who headed the Quds force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad's airport in the early hours of January 3 brought the United States and Iran close to a military conflict. Several others died in the attack as well.

In retaliation for the killing, an Iranian ballistic-missile strike on January 8 targeted U.S. bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces, leaving some 110 U.S. troops suffering from traumatic brain injuries.

In her report, Callamard said the targeted killing is "the first known incident in which a state invoked self-defense as a justification for an attack against a state-actor, in the territory of another state."

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump justified the killing by saying that Soleimani was in the process of orchestrating attacks on Americans and others in the region.

In a tweet, Trump said that Soleimani had "killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more...but got caught!"

"No evidence has been provided that General Soleimani specifically was planning an imminent attack against U.S. interests, particularly in Iraq, for which immediate action was necessary and would have been justified," the independent rights expert said.

She added that the United States also provided no evidence that the harm caused to the country was "proportionate to the harm allegedly averted."

The report on targeted killings through armed drones, around half of which deals with the Soleimani case, is to be presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on July 9.

Callamard called for accountability for targeted killings by armed drones and for greater regulation of the weapons.

The United States is not a member of the council, having withdrawn in 2018.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/un-expert-deems -u-s-killing-of-iranian-top- general-unlawful-/30712070.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.
UN Investigator Rules US Killing of Soleimani 'Unlawful', Implies That It Constitutes 'Act of War'

Sputnik News

13:57 GMT 07.07.2020(updated 14:18 GMT 07.07.2020)

Last week, Iranian authorities issued an arrest warrant against US President Donald Trump and 35 other persons over the drone strike assassination of Revolutionary Guards Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad on January 3. Interpol indicated that it would not honour any Iranian extradition request over the Soleimani case.

The January killing of Qasem Soleimani was illegal, and the US has failed to provide the international community with sufficient evidence regarding any imminent threat to its security supposedly posed by the Iranian commander, Agnes Callamard, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions has concluded.

In a report, Callamard found that Soleimani's killing was "the first known incident in which a State invoked self-defence as a justification for an attack against the State-actor, in the territory of another state, thus implicating the prohibition on the use of force in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter."

The rapporteur determined that Soleimani's assassination was "directed not only at Iran but also Iraq," and by killing him on the country's soil without first receiving Baghdad's consent meant that the US had "violated" the nation's territorial integrity.

Furthermore, suggesting that the justifications presented by the US for the general's killing, and those presented by Iran in its retaliatory missile strikes on US bases in Iraq, were unlawful, Callamard warned that these actions weakened the legal justifications for military action.

"Were the blurring of these lines to be allowed, States could support the legality of their acts by cherry-picking justifications from different legal spheresThe application of a 'first shot' theory to the targeted killing of a State actor translates into the real legal possibility that ALL soldiers, anywhere in the world, could constitute a legal target," she warned.

According to Callamard, the technological capabilities of modern drones, combined with the logic used by the United States with its 'war on terror' approach to conflict over the past two decades, highlight "the real risks that the expansion of the 'war on terror' doctrine poses to international peace."

"In other words, the targeted killing of General Soleimani, coming in the wake of 20 years of distortions of international law, and repeated massive violations of humanitarian law, is not just a slippery slope. It is a cliff," she wrote.

The rapporteur stressed that Soleimani and the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces commander killed with him had a military status, were not killed in a setting of an armed conflict, and were thus "unlawful" targets. "It is hard to imagine that a similar strike against a Western military leader would not be considered as an act of war, potentially leading to intense action, political, military and otherwise, against the State launching the strike," she noted.

Ultimately, Callamard argues that Soleimani's assassination raises at least three issues "which are difficult if not impossible to reconcile with the aforementioned standards guiding the use of force," including "i) the planning inherent to a drone strike indicating premeditation and the absence of considering alternative options (except calling off the strike); ii) the absence of evidence that the target presented an imminent or even actual threat to lifeiii) the killing of 9 other persons in addition to that of General Soleimani, who individually have not been identified and assessed as presenting imminent threats. Five of these were civilians of Iraq, a US partner."

In the rapporteur's determination, Soleimani's assassination is thus considered an "arbitrary killing" by the US.

Callamard is expected to present her findings to the Human Rights Council on Thursday, with the body then expected to debate what action to pursue in light of the information. The United States quit the UN body in 2018, citing the agency's "chronic bias against Israel." Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lashed out at the HRC as a "haven for dictators and the democracies that indulge them" after the body moved to investigate allegations of systemic racism and discrimination against black people around the world, including the United States, in the wake of the George Floyd protests.

Iranian authorities approved a measure to ask Interpol to put US President Donald Trump on its international red notice of wanted persons over Soleimani's killing. However, an Interpol spokesperson said the agency would not agree to any Iranian request if one was made, citing a prohibition for undertaking "any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character."

Soleimani was killed at Baghdad's international airport on January 3 by a missile launched by a US drone, with senior Iraqi Shia militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis killed alongside him. The assassination led to a serious escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran, and on January 8 Iran rained missiles down on two US bases in Iraq, causing traumatic brain injuries to more than 100 US troops.

A Sputnik
Mossad Thwarted 'Iranian Plot' to Target Israeli Embassies Around the World, Report Claims

Sputnik News

12:25 GMT 07.07.2020(updated 12:44 GMT 07.07.2020)

The report comes amid media speculation that Israel may have been involved in the 2 July blast at Iran's Natanz nuclear power plant. Defence Minister Benny Gantz appeared to deny the claims on Sunday, saying "not every event that happens in Iran is connected to us".

Israel's Mossad intelligence agency has thwarted a plot to attack multiple Israeli embassies, Israel's Channel 12, a Hebrew-language broadcaster, has reported.

The plot, said to have been masterminded by Iran, was said to have involved embassies in Europe and around the world, although the list of specific countries where the attacks were meant to take place was censored by Israeli authorities.

The news channel did not elaborate on the details of the plot, and no attributable sources for the information were provided.

Iran has yet to comment on the alleged plot. However, in 2012, Israel accused the Islamic Republic of a similar scheme involving the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and attacks against Israeli diplomats in India and Georgia. At that time, Iran categorically rejected the accusations, stressing that it "condemns all acts of terrorism," and accusing "the Zionist regime" of waging "a propaganda war." Four people were injured in the New Delhi attack. Georgian police foiled an attempted car bomb attack in Tbilisi. The 2012 attacks took place against the background of Mossad assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists, with five scientists killed and one surviving in a string of attacks between 2010 and 2012.

Natanz Nuclear Tensions

Channel 12's report comes amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel in the wake of the 2 July 2020 fire and explosion at a centrifuge production plant at the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran. A previously unknown group calling itself 'Cheetahs of the Homeland' reportedly claimed responsibility for the act of sabotage.

After the attack, US media reported that "an explosive device planted inside the facility" was used in the attack. Later, Kuwaiti media accused Israel directly of involvement in the blast, claiming Israeli intelligence had carried out a cyberattack against the facility. On Sunday, the New York Times reported, citing an intelligence source, that Israel was responsible for the blast, and had planted a "powerful bomb" at the facility.

Israel's Channels 12 and 13 provided varying estimates on how far the Natanz attack set back Iran's uranium enrichment efforts, suggesting the country may have been set back between one and two years.

On Saturday, Iran's Supreme National Security Council promised to reveal the "cause and nature" of the incident in due course, saying it was holding off from doing so "due to some security considerations".

On Sunday, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz hinted that Israel was not involved in the explosion, insisting that "not every event that happens in Iran is connected to us." The same day however, Foreign Affairs Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said that Israel would continue to work to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb, and said Tel Aviv takes "actions that are better left unsaid". The top diplomat did not refer specifically to the Natanz incident directly.

Iran has promised to build a bigger and more advanced plant to replace the damaged enrichment facility.

Israeli officials have repeatedly warned the international community about Iran's alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah successfully lobbying the Trump administration to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and stressing that Tel Aviv would not allow the Islamic Republic to build a nuclear bomb. Iranian officials have dismissed Israeli allegations, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif repeatedly pointing out that Israel is the only nuclear weapons state in the region. Tehran maintains that it has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons. According to the latest International Atomic Energy Agency data, the country's uranium enrichment levels are at 4.5 percent, well below the estimated 80-90 percent purity required to build a nuclear weapon.

A Sputnik
Factory Blast Latest in Spate of Incidents Targeting Iran Infrastructure, Fueling Media Speculation

Sputnik News

10:31 GMT 07.07.2020

Amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran over the latter's nuclear program, a series of blasts have occurred in Iran near Tehran's Parchin military complex, at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) and a power plant in Ahvaz, with reports claiming that Iranian officials regard the incidents as "sabotage".

A large explosion at the Sepahan Boresh factory in the city of Baqershahr near Tehran on Monday night left at least two people dead and three injured, according to Iranian and foreign reports cited by The Jerusalem Post. The blast was reportedly heard by residents of areas south of Tehran and in the Kahrizak area.

The incident was caused by "negligence in filling oxygen tanks," according to the Kahrizak district governor, cited by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Tuesday.

Saipa Press company, situated nearby, suffered damage to its walls in the blast state media reports.

According to the IntelliTimes intelligence blog, the Sepahan Boresh factory belongs to the Iranian automotive manufacturer SAIPA, which reportedly has links with the Iranian Ministry of Defense and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The site of the blast is claimed by The Jerusalem Post to be not far from the warehouse in the Shurabad commercial area where Israel's intelligence agency had ostensibly found Iran's nuclear archive in 2018.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had insisted at the time that nuclear equipment and material was stored there, with the International Atomic Energy Agency subsequently discovering traces of uranium at the warehouse in 2019 and launching an investigation into their origin, according to Reuters.

The current blast is the latest in a spate of explosions and fires reported at infrastructure sites across Iran.

On 26 June an explosion was reported at a gas storage facility located about 30 kilometres (18 miles) from Tehran, with Iranian authorities saying the incident was a result of "leaking gas tanks" amid reports of satellite photographs suggesting the blast occurred at a nearby missile production facility.

Iranian media refuted the speculations, saying the incident happened in a "public area" in Parchin.

A few days later, on 30 June, 19 people were killed in another explosion, which occurred at a medical facility in Tehran.

Initial reports also attributed the blast to an issue with the oxygen tanks.

A 2 July blast at the Natanz nuclear power plant, which remains Iran's primary uranium processing facility, located 270 kilometres (155 miles) south of Tehran, significantly damaged the above-ground part of the building.

The incident sparked reports citing unnamed Iranian officials suggesting that Israel was behind the blast.

The New York Times reported, citing an unnamed source described as a Middle East intelligence official, that Israel was responsible for the explosion at Iran's Natanz nuclear site, by means of a "powerful bomb", adding, however, that the incident was not connected with other explosions that took place in Iran earlier, in particular a blast near Tehran's Parchin military complex.

The developments come against the backdrop of simmering Iran-US tensions ever since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal on 8 May 2018, claiming Tehran was in violation of its commitments.

The US subsequently reimposed tough sanctions against Iran's banking and energy sectors.

A year later, Tehran announced that it had suspended some of its obligations under the JCPOA.

Iran has consistently stated that it does not aim to develop a nuclear weapon, outlining that the goals of the country's nuclear program are exclusively peaceful.

A Sputnik
UN Drone Strike Report Calls US Attack on Iranian General 'Arbitrary Killing'

By VOA News July 07, 2020

As part of a new report on targeted killings using drones, a U.N. human rights investigator says a January U.S. strike that killed top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was an "arbitrary killing," and that Iran's retaliatory missile attack was not justified.

"No evidence has been provided that General Soleimani specifically was planning an imminent attack against U.S. interests, particularly in Iraq, for which immediate action was necessary and would have been justified," said Agnes Callamard, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, in her report to the U.N. Human Rights Council.

The strike took place as Soleimani's convoy was leaving the airport in Baghdad, and it also killed a senior Iraqi military official and four members of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces.

The United States said in a report to the U.N. Security Council that its forces carried out the strike in self-defense "in response to an escalating series of armed attacks in recent months" by Iran.

But Callamard said the U.S. explanation "fails to describe even one ongoing attack" and that U.S. officials were "remarkably vague and inconsequential as far as a possible imminent threat is concerned."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said days after the strike that Soleimani had planned a "broad, large-scale attack against American interests, and those attacks were imminent."

Callamard said because the attack was carried out without Iraq's consent, it amounted to a violation of the country's sovereignty.

"What is most telling is the failure of the U.S. to even address the rights of Iraq and explain, and provide evidence for, its use of force against the country and its citizens," she wrote. "Until such an explanation is made, the conclusion must be that the strike is an act of aggression against Iraq, and the killing of its citizens and of non-citizens on its territory was unlawful and arbitrary under international law."

Callamard is due to go before the Human Rights Council to present her findings on Thursday. The United States withdrew from the council in 2018.

Iran responded to Soleimani's killing by launching missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. service members. That attack injured more than 100 U.S. military personnel.

As with the U.S. strike, Callamard cited Iran's filing to the Security Council in which it claimed to have acted in self-defense.

She said Iran "made no reference to an imminent or ongoing armed attack by the U.S." and that the strike against Soleimani "did not justify Iran's subsequent actions."

Callamard expressed concerns more broadly about the use of drones possessed by dozens of countries and that "the vast majority of targeted killings by drones are subjected to little public scrutiny at either national or international levels."

She said "mistakes are inevitable" in identifying and accurately striking intended targets, and that even when missiles hit their target, "the evidence shows that frequently many more people die." Callamard writes that those casualties may amount to violations of international humanitarian law.

She calls for the United Nations and member countries to develop strong standards for transparency, oversight and accountability, to use arms control measures to control the proliferation of drones around the world, and to investigate allegations of unlawful deaths in drone strikes.

Callamard also suggested the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights produce a yearly report that tracks drone strikes and casualties for members to debate at the Human Rights Council.
Iran condemns assassination of Iraqi researcher in security, strategic affairs

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Tue / 7 July 2020 / 14:27

Tehran (ISNA) - Iran's embassy in Baghdad in a statement condemned assassination of Hisham al-Hashemi, an Iraqi researcher in security and strategic affairs.

"There is no doubt that supporters of such terrorist operations aim to undermine security and stability of Iraq in order to sow discord among the Iraqi people and bring back violence, the statement said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran always supports stability and security of Iraq," the embassy reiterated.

Al-Hashemi was a leading expert whose opinions were at the center of attention in the Iraqi political and media community.

According to the reports, Hisham al-Hashemi, 47, was shot near his home in the Zeyouneh area of Baghdad and pronounced dead at a hospital.

End Item
US plotting soft coup against Hashd al-Sha'abi forces in Iraq: Lawmaker

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 3:05 PM

An Iraqi legislator warns that the United States is fomenting a soft coup against Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, stating Washington is trying to constrain the role of the anti-terror forces.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Arabic-language al-Maalomah news agency on Tuesday, Muhammad al-Baldawi, a lawmaker from the Fatah (Conquest) Alliance, said the US had hatched plots to limit the role of Hashd Sha'abi forces and stir up internal strife in Iraq.

"America supports and sponsors terrorism in Iraq, elsewhere in the world and even on its soil in a bid to oppress its own nation. The US seeks to dissolve the PMU, constrain its role and pressure it as if a soft coup is underway in Iraq," Baldawi pointed out.

The Iraqi lawmaker added, "There are signs of a coup in Iraq. Pieces of information were obtained prior to last year's [anti-government] demonstrations about the US sponsorship, bids against security authorities as well as attempts to bring former officials wanted for corruption back to power."

On June 26, a high-ranking official from the Hashd al-Sha'abi slammed a recent unprecedented raid by Iraqi forces on a PMU base in southern Baghdad, stating the operation had been dictated by the US, and that there are foreign attempts to undermine the PMU.

On March 27, the New York Times newspaper reported that the Pentagon had ordered a secret directive, which called on US military commanders to prepare a campaign against Kata'ib Hezbollah, which is part of Hashd al-Sha'abi.

But the United States' top commander in Iraq had warned that such a campaign could be bloody and counterproductive.

Lieutenant General Robert P. White wrote in a blunt memo that a new military campaign would also require that thousands more American troops be sent to Iraq.

Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters have played a major role in the liberation of areas held by Daesh terrorists ever since the Takfiri group launched an offensive in the country, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks.

In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament voted to integrate the PMU, which was formed shortly after the emergence of Daesh in Iraq in 2014, into the military.

The popular group, however, is a thorn in the side of the United States which is widely believed to be managing an array of militant groups, including Daesh, to advance its Israel-centric agenda in the region.

Iraqi lawmakers unanimously approved a bill on January 5, demanding the withdrawal of all foreign troops following the US assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of Iraq's PMU, and their companions.

There have been growing calls for the Baghdad government to pave the way for the implementation of the parliamentary order.
Leading Iraqi security expert shot dead in Baghdad

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 6:22 AM

A leading Iraqi security analyst and government advisor has been shot dead outside his home in the capital Baghdad, sparking public anger and a wave of condemnations from the country's senior officials.

Three gunmen on two motorcycles fired at Hisham al-Hashemi, 47, from meters away on Monday, near his home in the Zayouna district, east of Baghdad, according to the investigator assigned to the killing.

A gunman then approached and shot him four times in the head at close range, he said.

Saad Maan, head of the Iraqi Interior Ministry's media relations department, said the analyst was later confirmed dead at Baghdad's Ibn al-Nafees Hospital.

A medical source at the hospital also confirmed that Hashemi had suffered "a hail of bullet wounds in several body parts."

Some Iraqi media reports said Daesh had claimed responsibility for the act of terror via Twitter accounts affiliated with the Takfiri outfit.

The expert's brother also said Hisham had received death threats from Daesh just few days before his assassination, the Shafaaq news agency reported.

Hashemi was known for his views and writings about politics, Daesh and the role of popular forces in Iraq. He was a respected security analyst who appeared regularly on state television and whose expertise was sought out by government officials, journalists and researchers.

According to an Iraqi government official, Hashemi worked as an advisor to former premier Haider al-Abadi and informally with the government of current Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

Condemnations pour in

The assassination has triggered outrage among Iraqi elite, people, journalists and politicians.

Several Iraqi officials and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known as Hashd al-Sha'abi, have condemned the assassination.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry have called for the formation of an investigative committee into the incident.

It said in a statement that Interior Minister Othman al-Ghanmi had ordered the establishment of the committee under the chairmanship of the deputy director of the Iraqi Intelligence Service, adding that all checkpoints have been instructed to inspect certain types of motorcycles and arrest the drivers who carry weapons.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi said Hashemi was "a voice in support of our heroic forces in the fight against Daesh, and played a pivotal role in enriching the important political and security dialog in the country."

He vowed that Baghdad would pursue the perpetrators of the crime and justly punish them.

"We will not allow assassinations to return to Iraq" under any circumstances, he noted in a statement.

Similarly, President Barham Salih took to Twitter to remind the country's security services of their "duty is to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice."

Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi also urged "relevant government departments to arrest the perpetrators of the cowardly act as soon as possible" to prevent further kidnappings and assassinations of national figures.

Hashd al-Sha'abi also released a statement mourning Hashemi's death.

"We demand that security forces follow up on this crime and detain the terrorists that assassinated Hashemi, who was considered one of the most prominent writers and experts on IS (Daesh) groups, and who had a huge role in exposing their secrets," it said.

Iran, UN censure the crime

Additionally, the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad has condemned the "criminal act."

"Undoubtedly, the goal of the supporters and perpetrators of such operations is to undermine stability and security in Iraq, create sedition and rift among the nation's sons, and restore violence to Iraq," it emphasized.

The statement also reaffirmed Iran's support for stability and security in neighboring Iraq.

Moreover, the UN's top official in Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert slammed the killing as a "despicable act of cowardice."

"Our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. I call on the government to quickly identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice," she tweeted.
Rod Christiaens, back right, and his hard working staff are catching their breath after a busy COVID-19-induced surge in business. Now they are gearing up for the processing of the Charging Home 4-H Livestock steers and pigs in the coming weeks.
Iran Condemns Assassination Of Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Expert In Baghdad

Radio Farda July 07, 2020

In a statement on Monday evening, the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad condemned the assassination of Iraqi historian and researcher of jihadi groups, Hisham al-Hashimi in Baghdad.

"We condemn the criminal action of the assassination of Hisham al-Hashimi, expert of Iraqi security issues, and other elite of the country," the statement of the embassy said.

Hashimi had recently received threats from Iran-backed armed militias in Iraq and had criticized their conduct. He also backed Iraqi protesters who since last October have been demanding an end to mismanagement by consecutive governments backed by Iran and its influence in Iraq.

"Undoubtedly, the aim of the supporters and perpetrators of such operations is to undermine stability and security in Iraq, incite sedition and rift among the nation's sons, and restore violence in the country," the statement said and underlined that Iran supported stability and security in Iraq.

Hisham al-Hashemi, 47, was an internationally recognized expert on ISIS and other jihadi groups in Iraq. He was shot dead in front of his house in Zeyouneh district of Baghdad on Monday by three gunmen on motorcycles after reportedly having received threats.

Al-Hashemi served as an advisor to the former Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi.

The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known as Hashd al-Sha'abi, have also condemned the assassination of Al-Hashimi.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi blamed Hashimi's killing on "illegal" armed groups and vowed to "hunt" the perpetrators of the crime and prosecute them.

In a twitter post, President Barham Salih said Al-Hashimi's assassination was a despicable crime committed by "outlaws" that targeted the Iraqi people and their right to a free and dignified life. He demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice to ensure security and peace for the country.

Jeanine Hennis, the head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq which advises and supports the Iraqi government on elections and human rights also has condemned the assassination.

In a Twitter post on Monday she said she was shocked by the assassination. "We strongly condemn this despicable act of cowardice. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. I call on the government to quickly identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice," she tweeted.

Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-condemns -assassination-of-iraqi-counter-terrorism -expert-in-baghdad/30711451.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.
Prominent Iraqi Analyst Shot Dead After Pro-Iran Militia Threats

By RFE/RL July 07, 2020

A leading Iraqi political analyst was assassinated on July 6 outside his home in Baghdad after receiving threats from Iran-backed militias.

Gunmen on a motorcycle fired shots at Hisham al-Hashimi, 47, in the Iraqi capital's Zeyouneh area and fled the scene.

Hashimi was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

He was one of the world's most prominent analysts of the Islamic State extremist group, Al-Qaeda, and militia groups in Iraq.

Hashimi appeared regularly on television and his expertise was sought after by government officials, journalists, and researchers.

Recently he had spoken out against the power of Iran-backed militias and corruption among Iraq's political elite.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the killing, but friends and family say he had recently faced threats from Iran-backed militias.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said in a statement that security forces would "spare no effort" in pursuing the killers of the political analyst.

"We will work with all our efforts to confine arms to the state, so that no force will rise above the rule of law," the statement said.

Iraq's state paramilitary organization, which is dominated by Iran-backed groups, also demanded an investigation into Hashimi's death.

Since taking up office in May, Kadhimi has vowed to rein in Iran-backed militias, which are accused of carrying out rocket attacks on U.S. military and diplomatic facilities.

Last week, security forces detained 14 members of the Iran-aligned Kataib Hezbollah group during a raid in Baghdad, saying that they were planning attacks on U.S. interests.

Under pressure, the government released all but one of the militia members days later, in a sign of how difficult it will be for the state to control paramilitary groups.

With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iraqi- analyst-hashimi-shot-dead-pro-iran- militia-threats/30711162.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.
Landmines planted by Libya rebels kill, injure nearly 140 in Tripoli: UN

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 2:47 PM

Landmines planted by rebels in Libya have killed and wounded nearly 140 people in the south of the capital, Tripoli, over the past two months, a United Nations (UN) official says.

Stephanie Williams, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said in a statement on Tuesday that mines planted by the Libyan rebels "in civilian neighborhoods" had since late May "reportedly killed and injured 81 civilians and 57 non-civilians, including mine clearance workers."

"This is a potential violation of international law," Williams added, underlining that 57 explosions had so far occurred in the region due to landmines and other explosives planted by the rebels, who are under the command of a military strongman named Khalifa Haftar.

The UN official also expressed regret about the death of two humanitarian mine clearance workers on Monday in the south of the Libyan capital.

The UN, which recognizes the Libyan government based in Tripoli, and international rights groups have already voiced concern about possible war crimes after the discovery of mass graves in areas left behind by retreating militias under Haftar's command.

Libya has been in chaos since 2011, when a popular uprising and a NATO intervention led to the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Since 2014, two rival seats of power have emerged, namely the internationally-recognized Libyan government, headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli, and another group, based in the eastern city of Tobruk, supported militarily by rebels under the command of Haftar.

Haftar's rebel forces  who are backed by the UAE, France, Russia, and Egypt  launched an offensive to seize the capital and unseat Sarraj's government in April 2019, triggering some of the most intense fighting in the country.

The Libyan government forces have recently managed to gain the upper hand, with crucial help from Turkey.

The Libyan forces are also preparing to retake the strategic city of Sirte, which lies in an oil-rich region on the Mediterranean coastline.
Russia to slap counter-sanctions on UK: Kremlin

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 2:10 PM

Russia says it will introduce sanctions against the United Kingdom in retaliation for British bans targeting more than two dozen Russian officials.

"We can only regret such unfriendly measures," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a press conference on Tuesday, stressing that, "obviously, the principle of reciprocity will be applied."

His remarks came after the British government introduced a new UK-only sanctions list targeting key individuals and institutions from four countries, including 25 Russian nationals, for their alleged involvement in the death of lawyer and auditor Sergei Magnitsky.

Magnitsky, a tax consultant for British financier William Browder, died in Moscow's Butyrka prison in November 2009, less than a year after he was detained on tax evasion charges. Magnitsky had exposed an alleged tax fraud scheme, and his death became a cause celebre for Western governments.

The new British sanctions will target, among others, Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the Investigative Committee.

On Monday, the Russian Embassy in London also regretted the sanctions. It said Moscow reserved the right to retaliate against the new sanctions.

The new sanctions regime was announced on Monday.

In 2018, the alleged poisoning in the UK of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy, and his daughter triggered a major dispute between Moscow and London.

The British government claimed that Russian officials from the GRU military intelligence agency used a powerful nerve agent to kill the ex-spy for his work with British and other Western intelligence services.

The victims were purportedly exposed to Novichok, a highly lethal chemical weapon developed under a secret Soviet program.

Russia vehemently rejected any involvement, saying the substance could have originated from the countries studying Novichok, including the UK itself, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden.
Russia 'reserves right to retaliate' UK sanctions

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 6:25 AM

Russia says it reserves the right to retaliate against the United Kingdom for imposing sanctions on 25 Russian officials over alleged human rights violations.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Russian Embassy in London said, "The Russian side reserves the right to take retaliatory measures in connection with Britain's hostile decision."

The remarks came after the British government introduced a new UK-only sanctions list targeting key individuals and institutions from four countries, including 25 Russian nationals allegedly involved in the death of lawyer and auditor Sergei Magnitsky.

Magnitsky died while he was in prison in 2009. He had exposed an alleged tax fraud scheme.

The Russian Embassy said Moscow was particularly outraged by the sanctioning of judges, as well as Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia's Investigative Committee and General Prosecutor's Office.

"In Russia, investigators, prosecutors and judges carry out their responsibilities independently of executive authorities and are guided by law alone," it said.

The new sanctions regime  the first of its kind in the UK  was announced to British MPs at the House of Commons by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Monday.

Also included in the British sanctions list are 20 Saudi nationals for their alleged involvement in the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as two high-ranking Myanmarese generals for their alleged implication in violence against the Muslim Rohingya minority.

In 2018, the death in the UK of a former Russian spy triggered a major dispute between London and Moscow.

The British government accused Moscow of ordering the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. The victims were exposed to Novichok, a highly lethal chemical weapon purportedly developed under a secret Soviet program.

Russia vehemently rejected any involvement, saying the substance could have originated from the countries studying Novichok, including the UK itself, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden.
'Everyone's Asking Who's Next': Chechens In Europe Warn Of More Killings

By Anna Peisakhova, Robert Coalson July 07, 2020

Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov says no one was surprised to hear that Mamikhan Umarov had been killed. "All the world knew [he was in danger]," Abdurakhmanov told Current Time. "Umarov himself knew it very well."

Another member of the Chechen diaspora in Europe, who asked not to be identified out of concerns for his own safety, agreed. "This murder, unfortunately, was predictable," the source said, describing Umarov as Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan's Kadyrov's "personal enemy No. 1."

"I heard that the 'Kadyrovtsy' were looking for a way to get him," the source said, using the term for security forces controlled by Kadyrov. "Now we are all asking ourselves who is next."

Law enforcement officials in Austria have not identified the 43-year-old asylum seeker from Russia who was shot dead outside Vienna on July 4, but word spread quickly among Chechens living in Europe that it was Umarov, a vlogger who was intensely critical of Kadyrov, the strongman who has headed Russia's Chechnya region for about 15 years.

If confirmed, Umarov's killing will add another name to a growing list of Kadyrov critics who have been killed or attacked in Europe within the last nine months.

In February, Abdurakhmanov himself was attacked by a hammer-wielding assailant as he slept in his apartment in Sweden. Abdurakhmanov was able to overpower his assailant and hand him over to the authorities.

Another Kadyrov critic  44-year-old blogger Imran Aliyev  was found dead in a hotel room in Lille, France, in January. He had been stabbed more than 130 times.

In August 2019, an ethnic Chechen who was a Georgian national, 40-year-old Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, was shot dead in Berlin.

Representatives of the Chechen diaspora in Europe told RFE/RL that authorities in Europe had been unresponsive to their warnings and appeals for help.

"We have the impression that the authorities think: the Chechens are killing other Chechens and working things out among themselves and it isn't a danger to our citizens," said Mansur Sadulayev, director of the Sweden-based human rights foundation Vayfond. "Although shootings in public places are definitely a danger. The assailant who killed Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin last year and the one who shot [Umarov] did so in public places.

"You can't expect security from the police when migrations services are presenting residency, visas, and passports to pro-Kadyrov Chechens," Sadulayev added. "When they allow such people to live in Europe and don't react to warnings about threats."

At the same time, many genuinely persecuted Chechens "wait for asylum for years and live every day under the threat of being deported [back to Russia]," he noted.

What Is To Be Done?

"This is the third scandalous murder of a Chechen refugee in the last year," said Dzhambulat Suleimanov, head of the Chechen diaspora organization Bart Marsho. "There must be some reaction from this side. This chain of murders is itself a call for reaction."

Musa Lomayev, a Chechen refugee who lives in Finland, said there was only so much that law enforcement can do. "The European [security and intelligence] services know perfectly well that Kadyrov's critics are being targeted by his killers," he said. "But they can't do anything about the overall problem. The most they can do is put a target in a safe apartment and give him a couple of guards. That means the target gives up his freedom and lives in isolation."

Blogger Abdurakhmanov said Kadyrov and his agents had created a network in Europe for carrying out such attacks. "Of course, Kadyrov doesn't call someone up and offer them money," he told Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. "There is a whole chain of intermediaries. The information is passed from person to person. There will be someone from Kadyrov's circle who will contact an intermediary and that intermediary will start looking for someone to actually carry the assignment out."

"As we can see from the recent killings and attacks, this network is operating and having successes," he concluded.

"In recent years, beginning in the late 2000s and the early 2010s, Kadyrov and the Russian secret services have rather successfully built a system of control over the diaspora both through criminal networks and through pressure on relatives [in Chechnya]," said Denis Sokolov, a Moscow-based specialist on the North Caucasus. "It would be a mistake to think there isn't a good number of agents in Austria, France, Belgium, and Germany. There is a fair number of people there who are willing to carry out practically any assignment -- either out of fear or for money."

The member of the Chechen diaspora who is cited above and asked not to be identified told RFE/RL that the risk of being caught and imprisoned in Europe was not enough to deter many of Kadyrov's potential agents.

"They understand that if they are sent to a European prison, it will be like a resort compared to Russian prisons," he said. "And in the meantime, a grateful [Kadyrov] will be taking care of their families."

'No One Is Safe'

In addition to critics and foes of Kadyrov, who was first appointed to head Chechnya in 2007 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, perceived enemies of Putin and his government have been attacked or died in circumstances that have led to charges of involvement by the Russian state.

"What happened in Vienna shows that no one [in Europe] is safe, unfortunately," Abdurakhmanov said. "The measures European countries have taken so far in response to these crimes are having no effect on Russia. Russia continues to eliminate its enemies in Europe and in other countries."

"It is clear that expelling a couple of diplomats in response to a political killing is not working," he added, apparently referring to measures taken in response to incidents such as the 2018 nerve-agent poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England.

"It is an ineffective measure that does not stop Russia. That means some more convincing actions must be taken."

Written by Robert Coalson based on reporting by Anna Peisakhova of RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service. Alina Pinchuk of RFE/RL's Russian Service and Irina Romaliiskaya of Current Time contributed to this report

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/everyones-asking -whos-next-chechens-in-europe-warn-of- more-killings/30712239.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.
Austria Probes Checkered History Of Chechen Asylum Seeker For Clues Into Possible Political Murder

By RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service, RFE/RL's Russian Service July 07, 2020

Austrian police are investigating whether the murder of a Chechen asylum seeker outside the capital, Vienna, over the weekend was a political assassination or related to organized crime.

Police have arrested two Russians from Chechnya as part of a widening probe into the July 4 murder of the victim, only identified by investigators as a 43-year-old Russian man.

Local media reported he was fatally shot five times outside an automobile-repair shop next to a shopping center in the Vienna suburb of Gerasdorf.

Though Austrian police have not named the victim, sources in the Chechen diaspora have told RFE/RL that the victim was Mamikhan Umarov. He settled in Austria in 2005 and received asylum two years later.

Umarov, who was also known as Anzor of Vienna and had taken up the alias Martin Beck, was a former Chechen separatist and critic of Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Austrian police said they had offered Umarov protection, which he declined.

The main suspect, identified by RFE/RL as 47-year-old Sarali Akhtaev, was captured by police several hours after the crime about 200 kilometers west of the capital in Linz following a large-scale police manhunt.

Police have also arrested a second man, identified by RFE/RL as 37-year-old Salman Magamadov, whom they initially considered a witness.

Both men are Russian citizens of Chechen origin who received asylum after they came to Austria in the early 2000s.

Political Motive Or Argument?

An Austrian regional intelligence and anti-terrorism body is investigating the high-profile case. Roland Scherscher, the counterterrorism agency's head, said a political motive or an argument could be behind the killing.

In interviews and social-media posts, Umarov has said he was a former mercenary, who served in the security service under the separatist government that controlled Chechnya in the late 1990s between two devastating wars against federal forces.

Umarov frequently accused the Russian security forces of carrying out the assassinations of former Chechen separatists in European countries, and, in some cases, posted what he said were audio recordings of officials discussing such plots.

In February, he created his own YouTube channel, posting 30 video addresses to his subscribers over that time period, with the last one uploaded on July 2.

Most of his videos, which are conducted in the Chechen language, end with insulting remarks about Kadyrov as well as his family and associates. A majority of the videos received in excess of 250,000 views.

Umarov was expected to be a key witness in a Ukrainian probe into an October 2017 assassination attempt against Adam Osmayev, a Chechen commander who fought against pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine, but he was not allowed entry into Ukraine to testify. Osmayev's wife, Amina Okuyeva, was killed in that attack in Kyiv.

Around the same time of that assassination attempt, Ukrainian lawmaker Ihor Mosiychuk of the nationalist opposition Radical Party, who had ties to Osmayev and Okuyeva, was targeted in a bombing that killed two people and left him wounded in Kyiv.

Umarov is known to have been in touch with Mosiychuk and had warned about the 2017 attack beforehand.

Rights Abuses

Rights groups have accused Kadyrov, who has ruled Chechnya since 2007, of numerous human rights abuses, including kidnappings, tortures, extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and the targeted killings of political and personal rivals both in Russia and abroad.

In February, Chechen blogger Tumso Abdurakhmanov was attacked in Sweden. He was able to overpower his alleged attacker and hand him over to the authorities.

In March 2019, the head of the Chechen parliament, Magomed Daudov, declared a blood feud against Abdurakhmanov.

On January 30, Chechen blogger Imran Aliyev, also a critic of Kadyrov, was found dead in the French city of Lille. He had been stabbed 135 times. Prosecutors say they have identified a Russian-born man who returned to Chechnya immediately following the killing as the prime suspect in the case.

In August 2019, Georgian native Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen separatist fighter, was shot dead in Berlin. Prosecutors in Germany have filed murder charges against a Russian national in that case and accused the Russian government of ordering the killing.

Austria's Kurier newspaper reported that police are also considering the Umarov case as possibly linked to organized crime or revenge by Chechen clans.

Umarov has a criminal history in Austria and became a police informant, the Kurier said. In 2017, he was among 22 Chechens who were arrested on weapons charges in Vienna.

He was also tied to extortion and insurance fraud in a case involving a blown-up pizzeria. He was in prison until late summer 2019, when he was conditionally released.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/austria-probes- checkered-history-of-chechen-asylum-seeker-for-clues-in -possible-political-murder/30711139.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.
Kremlin Vows Reciprocal Measures Over U.K. Sanctions Against Russians

By RFE/RL July 07, 2020

Russia has threatened to respond with reciprocal measures to British sanctions against more than two dozen Russian citizens in connection with the mistreatment and death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in 2009.

"We can only regret such unfriendly measures," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 7, adding that "obviously the principle of reciprocity will be applied."

Peskov did not elaborate on what retaliatory measures could be taken.

His comments come a day after London said it was imposing sanctions on dozens of people and organizations behind the most "notorious" human rights abuses of recent years  the first such move taken independently by Britain outside the auspices of the UN and European Union, which the country left earlier this year.

Twenty-five Russians implicated in the death of Magnitsky, who died in Russian custody after uncovering widespread tax fraud by a group of Russian officials, will have their British assets frozen and banned from entering the country.

'Thugs Of Despots'

The sanctions list includes top officials from Russia's Prosecutor General's Office and Investigative Committee, as well as judges.

Those targeted also included Saudi nationals involved in the death of a journalist in Istanbul, Burmese military generals implicated in violence against ethnic minorities, and North Korean organizations involved in forced labor, torture, and killings.

Addressing parliament, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Britain was taking action against the "thugs of despots and henchmen of dictators" as the laundering of "blood money."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo backed Britain's new sanctions regime, saying in a statement that it "marks the beginning of a new era for U.K. sanctions policy and cooperation between our two democracies."

The United States passed the Magnitsky Act in 2012, imposing sanctions on many Russian officials, and widened it in 2016 to include individuals from other nations.

With reporting by the BBC, AFP, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-vows -reciprocal-measures-over-u-k- sanctions-against-russians/30711839.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.
UK to resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia despite Yemen concerns

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 3:14 PM

As the war in Yemen rages on, with mounting evidence of Saudi war crimes, the UK government has seen fit to resume arms sales to the Kingdom.

Announcing the controversial decision in a written statement, the international trade secretary, Liz Truss, justified the restart of arms sales to the Saudi regime on the grounds that there had only been "isolated incidents" of airstrikes in Yemen that have breached humanitarian law.

Truss's statement effectively nullifies a ruling by the British judiciary which only last year prohibited the sale of arms that could be used in the conflict in Yemen.

In a landmark ruling in June 2019, the Court of Appeal ruled that the government had acted unlawfully when it licensed the sale of UK-produced arms and weapons systems to Saudi-led forces in Yemen without undertaking a risk assessment of whether past incidents amounted to breaches of international humanitarian law.

Government U-turn

Following the Court of Appeal's decisive intervention, the government promised not to grant any new licenses to export arms or military equipment to Saudi Arabia for possible use in the Yemen conflict.

But Truss is now claiming the government's pledge after last year's significant court defeat simply "falls away".

"The government will now begin the process of clearing the backlog of license applications for Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners that has built up since 20 June last year", Truss writes.

Mounting concerns

The government's apparent hurry to resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia has been roundly condemned by anti-war and arms trade campaigners.

In a statement, the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) condemned the decision as "morally bankrupt".

"The Saudi-led bombardment of Yemen has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis, and the government itself admits that UK-made arms may have played a central role on the bombing", said CAAT's media coordinator Andrew Smith.

The Yemen Conflict, which began in earnest in March 2015, has devastated large swathes of the country and triggered multiple humanitarian disasters, including famine and the internal displacement of millions of people into disease-infested camps and areas.
UK to Resume Arms Exports to Saudi Arabia Despite 'Isolated' Breaches of International Law in Yemen

Sputnik News

14:50 GMT 07.07.2020(updated 14:52 GMT 07.07.2020)

In June 2019, London's court of appeal forced the UK government to suspend new licences for the export of arms to Saudi Arabia and to review existing ones over possible breaches of international law by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. UK officials now say that there is no risk of breaches and arms exports can restart.

The British government will resume weapons exports to Saudi Arabia despite identifying some "possible" breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

Secretary of Trade Liz Truss said in a statement on Tuesday that the government estimates that there is no "clear risk" of breaches of IHL by Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

A London court last year banned the UK from approving new military export licences to Saudi Arabia and forced it to reassess decisions on existing ones.

Liz Truss said that an analysis of reports of incidents where Saudi Arabia may have broken IHL has revealed no determination by Riyadh to disobey the law nor "systemic weaknesses" which may lead to new breaches.

According to the cabinet minister, some "credible incidents of concern" related to Saudi military actions in Yemen have been classified as "possible" violations of the law, but the UK government views them as "isolated incidents".

"In the light of all that information and analysis, I have concluded that, notwithstanding the isolated incidents which have been factored into the analysis as historic violations of IHL, Saudi Arabia has a genuine intent and the capacity to comply with IHL," Truss noted.

"On that basis, I have assessed that there is not a clear risk that the export of arms and military equipment to Saudi Arabia might be used in the commission of a serious violation of IHL."

In a follow-up notice to exporters, ministers said they would now begin to clear the backlog of licence applications for Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners that has formed over the year since the 2019 court order.

The announcement came just a day after the Foreign Secretary promised that the UK would introduce sanctions against "people who have committed the gravest human rights violations".

Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a military coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen on behalf of the local internationally-recognised government. According to independent estimates by human rights groups, at least 8,600 civilians have been killed in the country since the war started, including in Saudi-led airstrikes.

UN experts have suggested that all sides in the conflict, which has killed over 100,000 people, may have committed war crimes. The Saudi-led coalition denies the allegations.

The 2019 judgement concluded that the UK government had not determined whether the Saudi coalition had violated humanitarian law and "made no attempt to do so". Meanwhile, the UK has licenced 5.3 billion ($7.5 billion) worth of arms for export to Saudi Arabia since the war started. These include $3.1 billion worth of licences relating to grenades, bombs, missiles and other ordinance. Truss admitted last September that the government had twice breached the court ban on new licences.

Campaigners have blasted the government's decision to continue issuing licences. Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade described it as "disgraceful and morally bankrupt", adding that it exposed the "rank hypocrisy at the heart of UK foreign policy".

"Even before the coronavirus hit, Yemen was already facing the world's biggest humanitarian crisis and had seen its hospitals and clinics decimated in the conflict," he added. "It's nothing short of cruel that the government should take the decision to restart sales to Saudi Arabia at such a time."

A Sputnik
US Smuggles 27 Truckloads of Military Equipment, Supplies Into Syria Through Iraq, Report Says

Sputnik News

18:44 GMT 07.07.2020(updated 18:47 GMT 07.07.2020)

The US beefed up its presence in oil and gas-rich northeastern Syria in October 2019, after Turkey launched an abortive invasion of the Arab Republic's Kurdish-controlled northern territories. After that, the US moved troops away from the border toward the region's oil infrastructure to prevent the Damascus government from restoring control.

The US has delivered another 27 truckloads worth of military equipment via the illegal al-Walid border crossing between Syria and Iraq, the Syrian Arab News Agency has reported, citing local sources in the al-Hasakah countryside.

According to the sources, the delivery took place on Monday evening, with the convoy said to be carrying military vehicles as well as closed refrigerator containers.

The trucks were said to have been headed for a local base the US recently established in the province.

The US continues to maintain hundreds of troops in Syria despite President Trump's promises to pull out of the country in late 2018. In recent months, the US has brought in thousands of truckloads' worth of military equipment and supplies northeastern Syria to shore up their presence and cement their control of the region's oil and natural gas resources to prevent them from falling into the control of Syria's internationally recognized government.

Russia's military revealed the extent of the US-led operation's plundering of Syria's natural resources in late October 2019 in an intelligence presentation on an enterprise involving the US military, the CIA, and local Kurdish forces to smuggle tens of millions of dollars in crude oil out of the country to sell on the black market.

In addition to plundering the region's resources, US forces and their Kurdish allies have been accused of mistreating the local population. On Sunday, local residents in Qamishli, al-Hasakah complained that the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces militia had impeded the delivery of flour to a local bread factory, sparking bread shortages.

Before that, SANA reported that SDF forced had dismantled railway tracks in adjacent Deir ez-Zor province and sold them as scrap metal.

Along with US and SDF forces, part of northeastern Syria remains occupied by pro-Turkish militants. In recent months, Damascus has accused these groups of deliberately burning wheat crops in Jazeera and al-Hasakah to cause food shortages.

The Damascus government has previously vowed to expel all occupying forces from its territory one way or another, and has accused the US, Turkey, Israel and other nations of violating Syria's territorial integrity and international law.

A Sputnik
Fresh evidence of war crimes committed by all sides in Syrian conflict, probe finds

7 July 2020 - Hospitals, schools and homes have all been targeted during Syria's brutal and long-running conflict, said UN-appointed investigators, who on Tuesday condemned likely fresh war crimes committed by all parties.

In its latest report, the Commission of Inquiry on Syria highlighted the military campaign launched late last year in Idlib Governorate by pro-Government forces, to retake the last remaining areas under armed groups' control.

'Spreading terror'

The Commissioners also maintained that UN-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) indiscriminately shelled densely populated civilian areas, "spreading terror" in Government-held areas.

"It is completely abhorrent that, after more than nine years, civilians continue to be indiscriminately attacked, or even targeted, while going about their daily lives", said Commission Chair Paulo Pinheiro.

Bombarded while fleeing

"Children were shelled at school, parents were shelled at the market, patients were shelled at the hospitalentire families were bombarded even while fleeing", he continued. "What is clear from the military campaign is that pro-government forces and UN-designated terrorists flagrantly violated the laws of war and the rights of Syrian civilians."

Alongside the Russian air force, Syrian Government troops "carried out air and ground attacks which decimated civilian infrastructure, depopulated towns and villages", killing hundreds of women, men and children, said the commissioners, who report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

International law flouted

Numerous locations protected by international law in the country's northwest were destroyed in aerial and ground attacks, some involving cluster munitions, according to their report.

It details how from November 2019 to June this year, 52 attacks by all parties included 17 on hospitals and medical facilities; 14 on schools, 12 on homes and nine on markets.

If proven in court, such acts would amount to the war crimes of launching indiscriminate attacks, and deliberate attacks on protected objects, the investigators maintained.

Mass displacement

Beginning in the second half of December and mid-February, "widespread and indiscriminate" bombardment carried out by pro-government forces on Ma'arrat al-Nu'man and Ariha in Idlib governorate, as well as Atarib and Darat Azza in western Aleppo, led to mass displacement, according to the report.

Civilians had no choice but to flee, the Commissioners said, adding that this may amount to the crimes against humanity of forcible transfer, murder and other inhumane acts.

Detained, tortured, executed

When people fled, HTS terrorists pillaged their homes, the investigators continued, and "as battles waged, they detained, tortured, and executed civilians expressing dissenting opinions, including journalists".

Female media workers were doubly victimized, as the terrorist group continued to discriminate against women and girls, including by denying their freedom of movement.

"Women, men and children that we interviewed faced the ghastly choice of being bombarded or fleeing deeper into HTS-controlled areas where there are rampant abuses of human rights and extremely limited humanitarian assistance", said Commissioner Karen Koning AbuZayd. "The acts by HTS members amount to war crimes."

In an appeal for the nearly one million highly vulnerable civilians displaced by the conflict in Idlib governorate who now face added threat of COVID-19, Commissioner Hanny Megally urged all parties to the conflict to cease attacks on civilians and civilian objects.

"Now more than ever, civilians need sustained and unfettered access to humanitarian assistance which must neither be politicised by Member States nor instrumentalised by parties to the conflict. Pandemics know no borders, neither should life-saving aid," Mr. Megally said, while also urging Member States to pursue accountability for crimes outlined in the report.

The Commission's report is scheduled to be presented on 14 July to the Human Rights Council during its current 44th session.
Pro-Syrian, Terrorist Forces Accused of War Crimes in Battle for Idlib

By Lisa Schlein July 07, 2020

The three-member U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria is accusing pro-government Syrian forces and terrorist groups of widespread human rights violations and war crimes in their battle to control Idlib in northwest Syria. The report will be submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council later this month.

Syrian and Russian forces launched a military offensive late last year to re-take Idlib province and surrounding areas, the last remaining territory under the control of armed groups in Syria.

In its report, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry describes the suffering endured by Syrian children, women and men during the military campaign as unfathomable. The report documents 52 attacks by all parties to the conflict between November and June.

Commissioner Hanny Megally says hospitals and medical facilities, schools, marketplaces and residential homes have been attacked. He says civilians have been killed and injured, infrastructure damaged and destroyed. He speaks by video link from New York.

"Within that we found that war crimes were committed, were likely to have been committed by both the Syrian air force and by the Russian air force," he said. "We document two incidents in the report, where we think it was Russian airplanes that conducted those attacks. And, we explain why we think it was the Russians, rather than the Syrians."

Megally says the report lists other types of war crimes committed by both pro-government forces and by the armed groups and terrorist organizations. He says they include indiscriminate attacks against civilian populations, the use of cluster munitions, and deliberate attacks on protected objects.

"We have come to the conclusion that the attacks by the pro-government forces were so systematic and designed to force the population to move and the forcible transfer of populations is a crime against humanity. So, we think that again may have happened. And, both by pro-government forces and by armed groups and terrorist organizations, we have seen pillaging and looting happening, which again are war crimes," he said.

U.N. investigators report more than one million people, 80 % of them women and children, are displaced and living under dire conditions near the Turkish border. They say they face an uncertain, grim future, further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They say those Syrian civilians need sustained and unfettered life-saving humanitarian aid, as well as assistance in tackling the looming threat of the pandemic.

There has been no official response to the report from the Syrian government.
Taiwan Would Welcome Visit by Tibet's Dalai Lama, Foreign Ministry Says

2020-07-06 -- Taiwan would welcome a visit by exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that any invitation would be handled under "relevant rules" if a request to visit is received.

The Dalai Lama is "welcome to come to Taiwan again to propagate the Buddhist teachings," spokeswoman Joanne Ou said, adding that an application by the Dalai Lama to visit would be handled "in accordance with the principle of mutual respect and at a time of convenience for both sides."

A visit to Taiwan by the Dalai Lama would be his first since 2009 and would certainly anger Beijing, which claims self-governing Taiwan as a renegade province and regards the Tibetan spiritual leader as a dangerous separatist intent on splitting Tibet from Chinese rule.

"As the political scenario changes, it may be that I'll be able to visit you in Taiwan again soon. I hope so," the Dalai Lama said In a video message sent to supporters in Taiwan on July 6, his birthday, and referring apparently to recent moves by Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen to further distance Taiwan from China.

"Whatever happens, I'll remain with you in spirit," the Dalai Lama said.

Greetings and well wishes poured in from around the world on Sunday, the Dalai Lama's 85th birthday, with Tibetans in Tibet defying Chinese prohibitions on celebrations by offering prayers and posting images of the revered spiritual leader online.

"Many devotees in different parts of Tibet have made ritual offerings of juniper smoke to celebrate the birthday of the Dalai Lama," a source in Tibet told RFA's Tibet Service, adding that other Tibetans have gone online to post images of the Buddhist deity of compassion, Chenresig, with whom the Dalai Lama is identified.



Western politicians and foreign dignitaries including former U.S. President George Bush, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Nobel laureates, and European politicians meanwhile sent video messages voicing admiration and support.

"The esteem in which you are held by the people of the United States is a demonstration of the deep and enduring affinity between Americans and Tibetans," said U.S. Ambassador to India Kenneth Ian Juster in a statement at celebrations held in Dharamsala, India, by Tibet's government-in-exile, the Central Tibetan Administration.

"I believe the warm feelings between Americans and Tibetans spring in part from the recognition that yours is a just and noble strugglea struggle to secure for your people the same self-evident and unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that our Founding Fathers enshrined in the Declaration of Independence," Juster said.

Regarded by Chinese leaders as a dangerous separatist, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet into exile in India in the midst of a failed 1959 Tibetan national uprising against rule by China, which marched into the formerly independent Himalayan country in 1950.

Displays by Tibetans of the Dalai Lama's photo, public celebrations of his birthday, and the sharing of his teachings on mobile phones or other social medial are often harshly punished.

Chinese authorities meanwhile maintain a tight grip on Tibet and on Tibetan-populated regions of western China, restricting Tibetans' political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identities, and subjecting Tibetans to imprisonment, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

Reported by RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.
Taiwan will counter new rule in HK security law if necessary: Tsai

ROC Central News Agency

07/07/2020 09:21 PM

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen () said Tuesday that if necessary, her administration will consider countermeasures to the newly implemented rules under Hong Kong's national security law, which state that authorities there can ask Taiwanese "political groups" to provide evidence in the investigation of potential violators.

The law on "safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administration Region" was passed by China's national legislature in June and took effect on the last day of the month, prohibiting acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and conspiring with foreign influences in the region.

The law is widely seen as an effort by the Chinese government to take full control of Hong Kong after a year of pro-democracy protests in the special administrative region.

On Monday, Hong Kong authorities made public the implementation of a rule under Article 43 of the national security law, which authorizes the territory's police force to take measures if necessary when handling cases related to endangering national security.

Under the rules that took effect Tuesday, Hong Kong police can require "political organizations" and "agents" of foreign countries, including those in Taiwan, to provide information on activities concerning Hong Kong, in order to facilitate investigation into potential violations of the law.

Asked to comment on the issue, President Tsai said her administration is closely monitoring the latest developments pertaining to the law, which has many "unacceptable contents."

"Should we find that the rules are having a negative impact on Taiwan and its people, the government will consider launching response measures," Tsai said, without elaborating.

The president also said all political parties in Taiwan should be on high alert over the latest rules.

A senior government official, who asked not to be named, told CNA that the Taiwan government is in close contact with like-minded countries over the issues concerning the Hong Kong national security law and its implementation.

Taiwan will study the response of other countries before deciding what counter measures it needs to take to protect its national security, the official said.

Meanwhile, Taiwan will consider issuing a travel warning for Hong Kong, if necessary, the official said.

Also commenting on the issue, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Tuesday condemned the new rules under the national security law as censorship being expanded boundlessly by a totalitarian power.

In a statement, MAC said the rules were "vague," in terms of definition, and "excessive" and "extremely unfriendly" toward Taiwan's political parties, its civil groups, and its organizations and citizens based in Hong Kong.

The new rules will "kill normal exchanges and interactions between Taiwan and Hong Kong, while causing panic among Taiwanese living in Hong Kong," said MAC, the government agency that makes and implements Taiwan's policy on China.

It also said the government will do its best to protect the operations of Taiwanese organizations in Hong Kong and the rights and safety of Taiwanese citizens currently living there.

(By Wu Po-wei, Yen Su-ping, Lai Yen-hsi, Elizabeth Hsu and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/pc
Taiwan slams Chinese criticism of Somaliland ties

ROC Central News Agency

07/07/2020 08:20 PM

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday reemphasized that Taiwan is not part of China and has every right to pursue relations with other countries, following Beijing's criticism of the nation's establishment of ties with Somaliland.

"Taiwan is willing to develop cooperation with any democratic and peace-loving countries under the spirit of mutual benefit and reciprocity. China's criticism of Taiwan is not needed," MOFA spokeswoman Joanne Ou () said during a regular press briefing.

Ou was responding to media questions following criticism by the government of Somalia, which considers Somaliland part of its territory, and by China, which views Taiwan in the same way.

Somalia's presidential office, in a statement issued on July 4, said President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo denounced "Taiwan's violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia."

Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian () said Monday during a press briefing in Beijing that China objects to the exchange of representative offices between Taiwan and Somaliland, and described Taiwan's move as an attempt to promote secessionism.

"MOFA condemns the Chinese government's disparagement of the sovereignty of Republic of China (Taiwan)," Ou said, reiterating that Taiwan is not part of China.

Taiwan will continue to further conduct "pragmatic diplomacy" and welcome any development of substantive relationships with like-minded countries, she added.

However, Ou did not directly respond to the accusations made by the Somalia government in her statement.

Somaliland, situated in East Africa, declared independence in 1991 after a civil war in Somalia. Although it is not recognized as a country by the international community, several countries and international organizations, including the United Nations, maintain offices there.

On July 1, Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu () announced that Taiwan and Somaliland reached agreement in February to exchange representative offices.

Both sides recently named officials to head those offices, although the date of their official opening has not yet been announced.

(By Emerson Lim)

Enditem/AW
UK announces first sanctions under new global human rights regime

The new 'Magnitsky'-style sanctions regime will target those who have been involved in some of the gravest human rights violations and abuses around the world.

6 July 2020

Last updated 7 July 2020

Forty-nine individuals and organisations involved in some of the most notorious human rights violations and abuses in recent years have been designated for sanctions under a powerful new regime established today by the UK, the Foreign Secretary has announced.

The individuals and organisations are the first wave of designations under the new regime, with further sanctions expected in the coming months.

From today, the ground-breaking global regime means the UK has new powers to stop those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering the country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy.

The measures will target individuals and organisations, rather than nations.

It is the first time that the UK has sanctioned people or entities for human rights violations and abuses under a UK-only regime, and will allow the UK to work independently with allies such as the US, Canada, Australia and the European Union.

The UK's first wave of sanctions under this new regime targeted:

25 Russian nationals involved in the mistreatment and death of auditor Sergei Magnitsky, who uncovered widespread Russian corruption by a group of Russian tax and police officials

20 Saudi nationals involved in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

2 high-ranking Myanmar military generals involved in the systematic and brutal violence against the Rohingya people and other ethnic minorities

2 organisations involved in the forced labour, torture and murder that takes place in North Korea's gulags

Underlining the UK's position as a global force for good, this new regime showcases our commitment to the rules-based international system and to standing up for victims of human rights violations and abuses around the world.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, said:

Today we're designating 49 people and organisations for responsibility in some the worst human rights abuses in recent memory. This is a demonstration of Global Britain's commitment to acting as a force for good in the world.

Following his announcement in Parliament, the Foreign Secretary will meet with Sergei Magnitsky's widow and son Natalia and Nikita, along with his friend and colleague Bill Browder, at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

The regime will allow the UK to target individuals and organisations around the world unlike conventional geographic sanctions regime, which only target a country.

It could also include those who commit unlawful killings perpetrated against journalists and media workers, or violations and abuses motivated on the grounds of religion or belief.

A special unit will consider the use of future sanctions, with teams across the department monitoring human rights issues.

They will ensure targets under the landmark regime will have to meet stringent legal tests before the UK decides to designate, ensuring the sanctions are robust and powerful.

The suite of measures can also apply to those who facilitate, incite, promote, or support these violations/abuses, as well as those who financially profit from human rights violations and abuses.

The UK will continue to utilise a range of tools to tackle serious human rights violations and abuses around the world, including the UN and EU multilateral sanctions regimes.
Russian Authorities In Occupied Crimea Detain Tatar Activists, Search Their Homes

By Crimea Desk, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service July 07, 2020

SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine -- Russian authorities have detained seven Crimean Tatar activists after searching their homes in different parts of Ukraine's Moscow-controlled Crimea region.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that it had detained "three leaders and four members of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic group" in Crimea on July 7.

Since Russia forcibly annexed Crimea in March 2014, Russian authorities have prosecuted dozens of Crimean Tatars for allegedly belonging to the Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic group, which is banned in Russia but not in Ukraine.

The Crimean Solidarity rights group that has members in Crimea and other parts of Ukraine said on July 7 that FSB officers had detained Seyran Hayretdinov, Emil Ziyadinov, Ismet Ibragimov, Alim Sufyanov, Vadim Bektemirov, and a legally blind activist, Aleksandr Sizikov, after their homes were searched.

Ukrainian Ombudswoman Lyudmila Densyova said that the seventh man detained by the FSB in Crimea was Zekirya Muratov.

The house belonging to another Crimean Tatar activist, Dilyaver Memetov, was searched without his presence and Russia-controlled authorities are looking for him, the Crimean Solidarity said.

The authorities of the exiled Ukrainian regional authorities of Crimea condemned the searches and detainments and launched a probe into them.

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine also voiced concern over the searches and detainments.

"Russia has no right to harass and detain Ukrainians on Ukrainian soil. Russia must free all Ukrainian political prisoners," the embassy wrote on Facebook.

Moscow's takeover of the peninsula was vocally opposed by many Crimean Tatars, who are a sizable minority in the region.

Exiled from their homeland to Central Asia by the Soviet authorities under dictator Josef Stalin during World War II, many Crimean Tatars are very wary of Russia and Moscow's rule.

Rights groups and Western governments have denounced what they describe as a campaign of repression by the Moscow-imposed authorities in Crimea who are targeting members of the Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatar community and others who have spoken out against Moscow's takeover of the peninsula.

In its annual report on religious freedom worldwide, released in April 2019, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said that "[in] Russian-occupied Crimea, the Russian authorities continued to kidnap, torture, and imprison Crimean Tatar Muslims at will."

Russia took control of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 after sending in troops, seizing key facilities, and staging a referendum dismissed as illegal by at least 100 countries. Moscow also backs separatists in a war against government forces that has killed some 13,200 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

With reporting by TASS and Interfax

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-authorities -in-occupied-crimea-detain-tatar- activists-search-their-homes/30712127.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.
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain this afternoon. Thunder possible. High 79F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain ending early. Remaining cloudy. Low 54F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
TOPEKA [mdash] Edna E. Yoder, 75, of Topeka, died at 1 a.m. Saturday, June 19, 2021, at her residence. She was born Oct. 3, 1945, in LaGrange, to Emmery and Mary (Chupp) Miller. On Oct. 15, 1964, in Topeka, she married Raymond M. Yoder. He survives. Survivors in addition to her husband are t
Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2020 shows the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

The UN secretary-general is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for the withdrawal of the United States are met, a spokesman said.

UNITED NATIONS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that the United States notified on Monday the UN secretary-general of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization.

"In answer to questions received just now, I can say that on July 6, 2020, the United States of America notified the secretary-general, in his capacity as depositary of the 1946 Constitution of the World Health Organization, of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, effective on July 6, 2021," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said in an email sent to UN resident correspondents.

"The United States is a party to the World Health Organization Constitution since June 21, 1948. The United States' participation in the World Health Organization was accepted by the World Health Assembly with certain conditions set out by the U.S. for its eventual withdrawal from the World Health Organization. The said conditions include giving a one-year notice and fully meeting the payment of assessed financial obligations," said the spokesman.

"The secretary-general, in his capacity as depositary, is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met," Dujarric added.

[ Editor: WXY ]
And dont say its because the Electoral College protects us from being dominated by the big cities like New York and Los Angeles. That argument, the most popular anti-popular-vote one currently in circulation, relies on distortions of both history and statistics. There were no big cities as we think of them when the Constitution was adopted. Its true that some framers were concerned about protecting the power of small states in the presidential election, but their solution was not the Electoral College as most of us think of it today; it was an obscure provision for a backup election that hasnt been triggered in almost two centuries. (Specifically, it sends a deadlocked election to the House of Representatives, where each state, big or small, gets a single vote. This is a terrible idea, as the framers quickly came to see and as virtually everyone today agrees.)
Aimee Ambrose can be reached at aimee.ambrose@goshennews.com or 574-533-2151, ext. 240316. Follow her on Twitter at @aambrose_TGN .

Aimee Ambrose can be reached at aimee.ambrose@goshennews.com or 574-533-2151, ext. 240316. Follow her on Twitter at @aambrose_TGN .
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Establish crisis intervention teams of social workers and mental health specialists to answer certain distress calls, instead of police.

Provide incentives for police officers to live in the communities they serve.

Expand the definition of hate crimes to include people who make false 911 calls based on race, color, nationality and sexual orientation, and provide for survivors of such incidents to seek civil damages.

Provide for the establishment of police citizen review boards in each community.

Require that all disciplinary records remain in police personnel files and make those records public.

Establish standardized use of force guidelines and consequences for violations.

Expand the definition of excessive force to include verbal, psychological and physical force and threats.

Prohibit chokeholds or any restraint that puts pressure on someone's neck.

Prohibit no-knock warrants.

Create an independent entity to investigate and prosecute excessive force cases.

Eliminate qualified immunity from civil liability when officers use unreasonable force.

(TNS)  Black Democrats in the Michigan House called Wednesday for a ban on the use of facial recognition technology, saying it tends to misidentify people of color. The proposed ban is part of a package of police reform bills proposed by Detroit Democrats and the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus.It goes beyond police reform measures recently called for by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Democrats, and flies in the face of a recent pledge by another prominent Democrat, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, to continue using the technology as a crime-fighting tool.The state representatives called for the ban following a recent incident in which a Black Farmington Hills man was arrested by Detroit Police and held for about 30 hours after he was falsely identified in a retail theft case by facial recognition technology.Studies have shown the technology is more prone to misidentify people of color than white people. "The bias of facial recognition is evident and documented," state Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, D-Detroit, said at a news conference. "This is a perfect example of why I call for defunding the police as we know it," Gay-Dagnogo said. "I call for the abolishment of it as it unfairly targets and allows African Americans to be profiled," and "it's a waste of money."Other measures in the package would:Many of the measures mirror those called for recently by Whitmer and Nessel, but the ban on using facial recognition technology goes further.State Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, who served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and retired with the rank of executive lieutenant, said he does not think facial recognition technology should necessarily be scrapped entirely, but he said it should not be used in its present form."Put this tool back in the tool box, until you work out the bugs," Carter said.Gay-Dagnogo said she and other House Democrats have had conversations with House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, and the Republican caucus, about the package of bills, where they were "well received."Getting legislation passed "will take compromise and more conversations," and Chatfield has committed to that, she said.
(TNS)  Nearly 2 million unemployment claims filed in the state over the first three months of the government-ordered business lockdowns have yet to be paid, an analysis of federal government statistics shows.The brutal backlog is further evidence of the troubles plaguing the embattled state Employment Development Department (EDD), prompting the newly jobless to complain of an overwhelmed phone system and antiquated technology. The first-time claims have gone unfilled even as Gov. Gavin Newsom has promised reforms and increased staffing for the EDD.I have done just about everything I know how to do as a public official to make things work, but my colleagues, my staff, my constituents and I are at our wits end, Assemblymember David Chiu, D-San Francisco, said in a tweet.The backlog of unpaid jobless claims has infuriated a growing number of jobless workers starting in March. I know people who are on hold every day and cant get a response, said Armand Domalewski, a San Francisco resident and workforce development expert who has set up an employment-oriented Facebook page that also helps people find solutions to EDD woes.The mounting claims arrive at a time when some county and state government agencies are again moving to shut down an array of business activities as fears escalate that the coronavirus outbreak might intensify  a collective decision that could cause additional workers to lose their jobs.Im terribly disappointed. The EDD has let us down terribly, said Rhonda Dias, a San Jose resident and a daycare teacher. Dias was temporarily laid off and later returned to her job, but at reduced hours. The website doesnt work and you cant get through on the phone. People have to pay their taxes. Then they cant help us.Over the three months of March, April, and May, 5.01 million California workers filed initial claims for unemployment benefits and the EDD completed first-time payments to just 3.13 million workers, statistics compiled by the U.S. Labor Department show.That points to a grim gap between the initial claims and the first-time payments, leaving1.88 million claims unfilled and suggesting a mammoth backlog of workers who have yet to receive any benefits despite being out of work for weeks or months.You cant get a clear answer from anybody with the EDD, said Laurie Nelson, a Union City resident who lost her job in March as a fundraiser for a foundation. You go week after week trying to certify your claim and get some sort of unemployment payment. If I hadnt gotten loans from family members, I would be out on the street. I wouldnt be able to pay my rent. Nelson hopes an EDD judge will force the agency to issue her benefits.And the backlog has grown steadily since the business shutdowns began and more workers have filed for benefits.After the first month of government-ordered closures, the backlog of unpaid workers was already huge: 1.44 million in March. For March and April combined, the backlog totaled 1.75 million. And now, after the first three months shutdowns, the backlog of unpaid workers is approaching 2 million. During the one-month period that ended on June 27, 1.06 million California workers filed initial unemployment claims.These numbers show what we have suspected all along: EDD is utterly failing millions of Californians, Chiu said. EDDs failure has real human consequences. Californians have depleted their life savings, gone into severe debt, and been unable to feed their families because of bureaucratic incompetence.To be sure, the labor agency has steadily increased the percentage of first-time payments to people who have filed unemployment claims over the first three months of coronavirus-linked business shutdowns, the federal Labor Department figures show.We continue to work around the clock, seven days a week to expand our capacity for processing this unprecedented demand for unemployment benefits as quickly as possible, EDD spokesperson Barry White said.EDD officials said steps are being taken swiftly.We are enhancing our technology systems to increase efficiencies, and have already hired or have offers extended to more than 4,000 new staff needed as part of an expedited mass hiring effort with the increased federal funding weve received, White said.The EDD also promised to move older claims from March and April to the top of the priority list, based on information provided by state lawmakers, according to Chiu and other state legislators. But the timetable for processing that part of the backlog wasnt clear.During March, April, and May, the EDDs first-time benefit payments to unemployed workers amounted to 62.4 percent of the jobless claims filed in the first three months of business shutdowns. But that also means about 38 percent of those workers didnt receive their first payments.Unemployed workers continue to encounter phone loops that lead to recorded messages but no live attendants, an EDD computer site thats hobbled by glitches, and a lack of information about the status of their jobless claims.Chiu said that he has provided the EDD with extensive feedback, sent suggestions to the EDD director regarding solutions to systemic problems, addressed the EDDs benefit payment woes in a public hearing, met with the EDDs contractor, and lambasted the EDD in a television appearance.We have all had to adapt our lives to COVID-19, Chiu said. While I recognize EDD is dealing with a large number of claims, its long past time for EDD to adapt to this new reality. We must see improvement, and this agency needs to see transformative change in the coming months.EDD improvement, at least in the near term, might arrive primarily in the form of the agency responding to intervention from state lawmakers such as Assemblymember Chiu.Mark Gustavson, an Aptos resident who lost his job as a charter pilot, was getting nowhere with the EDD until he was surprised to get a phone call at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, July 5 from an EDD representative who promised that Gustavsons unemployment benefits card would soon be mailed out with payments to follow soon thereafter.What changed? Gustavson had just gotten in touch with state Assemblymember Mark Stone, whose district includes parts of Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, and Santa Clara County. Stone discussed the situation with the EDD.Im a strong believer in the squeaky wheel theory, Gustavson said. It takes a lot to move a bureaucrat. What can you do? They know theyre going to keep their jobs no matter what they do. I thought Gavin Newsom was going to light a fire under the EDD. It hasnt happened.
(TNS)  Ashtabula County, Ohio, Auditor David Thomas will be hosting a virtual education session on the Auditors Geographic Information System mapping platform for interested residents.The lunch-and-learn opportunity will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. July 15 on Zoom. The session will consist of a presentation on Ashtabula Countys GIS and how residents can utilize this tool.GIS is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data rooted in the science of geography. Maps of data are stored by the Auditors Office, including a host of information for Ashtabula County, such as location of oil wells, wetlands, roads, waterways, topography, homes and much more.Our GIS team is exception in their application of data and focus on making the tool more user friendly, Thomas said. Were excited to be teaching the public best practices and how they can get the most out of the software.Uses for the online software including measuring property, finding ownership of lots, investigating changes to property over the years, and much more. Residents can contact Caroline Petersen, Auditors GIS Specialist, at anytime for questions at capetersen@ashtabulacounty.us or 440-576-1434.The Auditors Office will present an overview of how to use Ashtabula Countys state of the art GIS live and will share a recording on their website and social media. To receive the link for the session, please email Thomas at djthomas@ashtabulacounty.us , visit www.auditor.ashtabulacounty.us , or call 440-576-3783 to learn more.
(TNS) - Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday that his office would be sending more than 2 million cloth face masks to K-12 public, private and charter schools statewide. Another 4,200 infrared thermometers would be sent to schools as well.According to state numbers, there are approximately 2,240 schools statewide with more than 850,000 students in total.The masks and thermometers "will be distributed over the coming weeks," Evers said during a briefing with reporters Tuesday.This announcement comes as school districts try to plan what their educational strategies will be in fall, when schooling is expected to return. Racine Unified has a trio of plans which range from having no in-person schooling to having in-person teaching five days a week like normal, albeit with added cleaning practices as COVID-19 remains a threat nationwide.A state survey in June showed that nearly 400 out of the state's 464 school districts want to receive PPE (personal protective equipment) if available, according to the Office of the Governor.A release from the governor's office said that this new distribution of masks comes at no cost to the state, as they were purchased via a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).We are doing everything we can to ensure that everyone has access to the essential resources and PPE they need to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Evers said.The governor's planned distribution of PPE also includes providing 60,000 masks to businesses and food processing plants, where COVID-19 has been shown to spread more easily.At least one worker at Echo Lake Foods near Burlington has died from the virus, sparking protests that the business and the state did not do enough to protect workers."Wisconsins agricultural and food businesses have faced many challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Acquiring sufficient PPE has been a significant hurdle, especially for small, local businesses, stated Randy Romanski, secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.Those 60,000 masks will be distributed as follows:22,500 masks to be distributed by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association22,500 masks for small grocers to be distributed by Wisconsin Grocers Association8,000 masks for small food processors to be distributed by the Midwest Food Products Association2,500 masks for small cheese plants to be distributed by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association,2,000 masks for small meat processors2,000 masks for public-facing workers with the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store AssociationOn Tuesday, Dane County became the first community in Wisconsin to issue a requirement for people to wear masks. The order from Public Health Madison and Dane County takes effect Monday and requires the wearing of a mask in all indoor places, except a person's own home. The order is in response to a recent increase in reported COVID-19 virus cases, particularly among young adults.Milwaukee was also moving forward with plans to issue its own mask requirement.Public health research now shows that face coverings are critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19, Janel Heinrich, director of Public Health Madison and Dane County, said in a statement. Given the current number of COVID-19 infections in our county, we need to all be wearing face coverings every time we leave the house.2020 The Journal Times, Racine, Wisc.Visit The Journal Times, Racine, Wisc. at www.journaltimes.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(TNS)  New York City is reallocating millions of dollars in NYPD funding to low-cost internet service for public housing residents and other low-income New Yorkers, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday.The project will utilize $87 million that was previously allocated to the NYPD and $70 million in other city funding to provide broadband internet for 200,000 NYCHA residents and 400,000 other people, according to the mayor.For so many New Yorkers, there just isnt access. That digital divide is very, very intense, de Blasio said at a press conference.Service will cost $15 per month and will be offered to the communities that were hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak, he added.Earlier this month, the mayor said he would reallocate $500 million in NYPD capital funding to youth and public housing projects. The $86 million announced today is part of that sum, according to his office.During the announcement, de Blasio returned to some of the anti-big-business themes of his administration.The internet companies have not attended to lower-income communities, he said. Its unfair. Its not respectful of communities that have such great need, and we have to do something about that.
With the staff of many government agencies forced to work from home because of COVID-19, government CIOs have had to move quickly to adapt. While the initial focus has been on ensuring workers have the basic tools they need to do their jobs  fast and secure Internet, laptops and mobile devices, and access to essential online systems  as weeks turn into months, more government agencies must start exploring opportunities for better remote collaboration, communication and training. One opportunity on the horizon is expanding the use of immersive computing technologies, like augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR), that create new modes for users to experience digital content through computers, mobile devices and headsets.There are some immediate ways that government can use AR/VR, such as to improve training for workers. AR/VR lets agencies simulate real-world situations, giving workers the opportunity to gain experience in a controlled environment. This type of training is particularly useful for law enforcement and other first responders who encounter situations where there can be severe consequences from mistakes made during on-the-job training. Learning in an AR/VR environment has been found to not only increase recall , but also allow trainees to develop muscle memory for specific tasks. And perhaps most importantly, AR/VR may also be the most feasible option for remote training for workers at home or who cannot travel and would otherwise be unable to attend onsite training.AR/VR can also be useful for recruiting prospective employees. For example, the Indiana Department of Child Services reduced its 50 percent annual turnover in case workers to 17 percent by implementing a VR simulation that gives job applicants better insight into what their daily job duties would entail. At the federal level, the Marine Corps began exploring earlier this year how the use of head-mounted VR simulators might improve recruiting, particularly among college students, after its past successes using flight simulators.Immersive computing may also help government agencies better engage with the public. Cities like Boston and Seattle have already piloted using various forms of AR/VR to help city planners, elected officials, citizens and others better engage in community planning. Instead of just looking at basic 2-D design plans, AR/VR can enable individuals to interact with 3-D models or virtual video simulations, thereby allowing them to better understand what a new development might look like or the impact it would have on traffic patterns. As more communities invest in smart city technology and generate significantly more data, AR/VR applications may become one of the primary ways of visualizing this information.Finally, cities can also produce AR/VR content for the public, which may prove especially useful in a post-COVID-19 world. Museums have been early adopters of this technology as they let visitors experience virtual exhibits even when museum facilities are closed. And cities, such as New Orleans , have also created virtual tours, allowing would-be tourists to, for example, experience the French Quarter and learn more about the citys history and culture. And AR mobile apps not only provide enhanced navigation, such as showing pedestrians walking routes, but they can also layer on additional content such as information about points of interest. Such apps can not only deliver more information, but also create more touchless encounters, like replacing shared paper menus at restaurants with virtual ones.The eventual goal of many AR/VR developers is to allow for virtual meetings. While many more people are now using video conferencing, complaints are already stacking up about how it fails to sufficiently replicate the in-person experience. AR/VR technology is not yet ready or widely adopted enough for this type of collaboration to be mainstream, such as for VR town hall meetings, but the ability to have small teams collaborate in a virtual environment is starting to be deployed Some cities are seizing this opportunity. In 2018, New York City established RLab , the first publicly funded AR/VR facility to support economic development, academic research and entrepreneurship. Not every city can or should follow in its footsteps, but there are a number of potential applications of AR/VR in government, and the timeline to adopt these technologies has likely been accelerated by the pandemic. Agencies should use this opportunity to begin planning for, and piloting, this new technology.
(TNS)  Black Democrats in the Michigan House called Wednesday for a ban on the use of facial recognition technology, saying it tends to misidentify people of color.The proposed ban is part of a package of police reform bills proposed by Detroit Democrats and the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus.It goes beyond police reform measures recently called for by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel , both Democrats, and flies in the face of a recent pledge by another prominent Democrat, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, to continue using the technology as a crime-fighting tool.The state representatives called for the ban following a recent incident in which a Black Farmington Hills man was arrested by Detroit Police and held for about 30 hours after he was falsely identified in a retail theft case by facial recognition technology.Studies have shown the technology is more prone to misidentify people of color than white people."The bias of facial recognition is evident and documented," state Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, D-Detroit, said at a news conference."This is a perfect example of why I call for defunding the police as we know it," Gay-Dagnogo said. "I call for the abolishment of it as it unfairly targets and allows African Americans to be profiled," and "it's a waste of money."Other measures in the package would:Establish crisis intervention teams of social workers and mental health specialists to answer certain distress calls, instead of police. Provide incentives for police officers to live in the communities they serve. Expand the definition of hate crimes to include people who make false 911 calls based on race, color, nationality and sexual orientation, and provide for survivors of such incidents to seek civil damages. Provide for the establishment of police citizen review boards in each community. Require that all disciplinary records remain in police personnel files and make those records public Establish standardized use of force guidelines and consequences for violations. Expand the definition of excessive force to include verbal, psychological and physical force and threats. Prohibit chokeholds or any restraint that puts pressure on someone's neck. Prohibit no-knock warrants. Create an independent entity to investigate and prosecute excessive force cases. Eliminate qualified immunity from civil liability when officers use unreasonable force.Many of the measures mirror those called for recently by Whitmer and Nessel, but the ban on using facial recognition technology goes further.State Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, who served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and retired with the rank of executive lieutenant, said he does not think facial recognition technology should necessarily be scrapped entirely, but he said it should not be used in its present form."Put this tool back in the tool box, until you work out the bugs," Carter said.Gay-Dagnogo said she and other House Democrats have had conversations with House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, and the Republican caucus, about the package of bills, where they were "well received."Getting legislation passed "will take compromise and more conversations," and Chatfield has committed to that, she said.
Overview

July 20

11AM PT, 2PM ET



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To deliver the services and experiences your constituents expect, you need expert technology partnerships that provide agile and flexible network solutions. The CARES Act provides $150 billion in federal funding for state, local and tribal governments. Because theres latitude in how these funds can be utilized, you have an opportunity to address some of your biggest challenges and set your jurisdiction up for a brighter future.



Join us July 20 at 11:00am PT/2:00pm ET for a special 30-minute Lunch and Learn webinar where our experts will discuss how IT leaders can leverage their networks to:



 Securely extend the network to work-from-home employees

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 Address changes in security and privacy needs
Grand Haven, MI (49417)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 68F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low near 55F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
An inmate work crew and jail staff came to clean up, and two inmates were removed from their cells so the crew could clean and get the water out. The two people became non-compliant and had to be taken away, Walz said.
Red Bull has now entered the world of Formula 1 broadcasting.

Already an owner of two teams and the promoter of the Austrian GP, it has now been confirmed that Red Bull-owned Servus TV will keep Formula 1 on free-to-air television in Austria.

The broadcaster will share the coverage with existing F1 broadcaster ORF, with each covering half of the grands prix and both showing the annual race at the Red Bull Ring.

The deal runs from 2021 to 2023.

"We are proud of this Formula 1 agreement and we will do everything we can to write another success story in Austrian motorsport," said Servus TV director Dr Ferdinand Wegscheider.

"The cooperation with ORF makes economic sense and guarantees that Formula 1 fans can see all races live on free television."

ORF's Dr Alexander Wrabetz added: "It is an economically challenging time for ORF, so this shared agreement guarantees that Formula 1 will remain an integral part of our offering while also complying with the economic requirements."

(GMM)
Red Bull is looking into designing a "more extreme solution" now that the FIA has declared Mercedes' innovative DAS steering system fully legal.

In Austria, the energy drink owned team lodged an official protest against the technology, which allows Mercedes' drivers to adjust the 'toe' of the front wheels by pulling and pushing on the steering.

The protest failed, even though team boss Christian Horner told Servus TV that he believes the system is effectively "part of the suspension".

"Ultimately, it serves to warm up the tyres," he said.

"The technical delegate was at the hearing in Spielberg," Horner continued. "Now we have clarification."

Indeed, he said Red Bull's designers have been put to work on investigating a similar system for the cars raced by Max Verstappen and Alex Albon this year.

"We are putting a lot of resources into it," said Horner. "Maybe we are looking for a more extreme solution now that we know what is allowed."

Meanwhile, Horner said he is confident the type of failure that caused Verstappen to retire in Austria last weekend will not recur at the Red Bull Ring's second race on Sunday.

"We have looked at all the parts and understand the problem," he said. "Now we need to work it out with Honda but I am confident we will find a solution for all four cars."

(GMM)
The sheriffs office said it is looking to speak with the womans husband, 60-year-old Dennis Chambers. Authorities did not say why they were looking for him.
Maury is sometimes referred to as The Pathfinder of the Seas for his contributions to oceanography as an officer in the U.S. Navy before the Civil War, including one of the first modern oceanography textbooks. The museums first board of trustees voted to name the lake in his honor because of those contributions.
You cant write a whole symphony with just repetition of 64 notes, Bukvic said. So the idea is that there is this intentional scarcity of how many notes you can provide, and its inspired by the scarcity thats also inherent to the social media Twitter.
Chevron is partnering with California natural gas retailer Clean Energy Fuels Corp. on Adopt-a-Port, an initiative that provides truck operators serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with cleaner, carbon-negative renewable natural gas (RNG) to reduce emissions.

For its part, Chevron will provide funding for Adopt-a-Port and supply RNG to Clean Energy stations near the ports. Chevrons funding will allow truck operators to subsidize the cost of buying new RNG-powered trucks. Clean Energy, meanwhile, will manage the program, including offering fueling services for qualified truck operators.

Truck operators participating in the program, which supports the ports Clean Trucks Program and Clean Air Action Plan, agree to fuel up at the Clean Energy stations supplied with Chevron RNG. Truck operators and their import and export customers will help local communities by reducing smog-forming NO x emissions by 98% compared to diesel trucks while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2019, Chevron USA and California Bioenergy LLC announced a joint investment in a holding company with California dairy farmers to produce and market dairy biomethane as a vehicle fuel in the state.
The Environment Committee of the European Parliament voted to include CO 2 emissions from the maritime sector in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

The European Commission had put forward a proposal to revise the EU system for monitoring, reporting and verifying CO 2 emissions from maritime transport (the EU MRV Regulation) and to bring it in line with new obligations under International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to monitor emissions from 2019 and report in 2020.

In the legislative report approved (62 votes to 3 and 13 abstentions), the EP Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee welcomed the proposal but wanted to see more ambition and voted to include ships of 5000 gross tonnage and above in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).

In addition, MEPs say that market-based emissions reduction policies are not enough, so they also introduced binding requirements for shipping companies to reduce their annual average CO2 emissions per transport work, for all their ships, by at least 40% by 2030.

The committee calls for an Ocean Fund for the period from 2023 to 2030, financed by revenues from auctioning allowances under the ETS, to make ships more energy-efficient and to support investment in innovative technologies and infrastructure, such as alternative fuel and green ports, to decarbonize the maritime transport sector. 20% of the revenues under the Fund shall be used to contribute to protecting, restoring and efficiently managing marine ecosystems impacted by global warming.

MEPs agree that it is important to align the EU and International Maritime Organization (IMO) reporting obligations, as proposed by the Commission. However, they believe there is insufficient progress in the IMO and ask the Commission to examine the overall environmental integrity of the measures decided upon by the IMO, including the targets under the Paris Agreement. A global ambitious agreement on GHG emissions from shipping is urgently needed, they add.

Next steps. When adopted by the Plenary, which should happen during 14 - 17 September session in Strasbourg, Parliament will be ready to start negotiations with member states on the final shape of the legislation.

Background. Maritime transport remains the only sector with no specific EU commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Global shipping activity emits significant amounts of GHG emissions, estimated to be around 2-3% of total global GHG emissions. This is more than the emissions of any EU member state. In 2015 in the EU, 13% of the overall EU greenhouse gas emissions came from the transport sector.
Researchers at the US Department of Energys (DOEs) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a novel machine learning approach quickly to enhance the resolution of wind velocity data by 50 times and solar irradiance data by 25 timesan enhancement that had yet to be achieved with climate data.

The researchers took an alternative approach by using adversarial training, in which the model produces physically realistic details by observing entire fields at a time, providing high-resolution climate data at a much faster rate. This approach will enable scientists to complete renewable energy studies in future climate scenarios faster and with more accuracy.

To be able to enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of climate forecasts hugely impacts not only energy planning, but agriculture, transportation, and so much more. Ryan King, a senior computational scientist at NREL who specializes in physics-informed deep learning

King and NREL colleagues Karen Stengel, Andrew Glaws, and Dylan Hettinger authored a paper detailing their approach, which appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciencesof the United States of America.

Global climate simulations are typically unable to resolve wind and solar data at a resolution sufficient for renewable energy resource assessment in different climate scenarios. We intro- duce an adversarial deep learning approach to super resolve wind and solar outputs from global climate models by up to 50X. The inferred high-resolution fields are robust, physically consistent with the properties of atmospheric turbulence and solar irradiation, and can be adapted to domains from regional to global scales. This resolution enhancement enables critical localized assessments of the potential long-term economic viability of renewable energy resources. Stengel et al.

Accurate, high-resolution climate forecasts are important for predicting variations in wind, clouds, rain, and sea currents that fuel renewable energies. Short-term forecasts drive operational decision-making; medium-term weather forecasts guide scheduling and resource allocations; and long-term climate forecasts inform infrastructure planning and policymaking.

However, it is very difficult to preserve temporal and spatial quality in climate forecasts, according to King. The lack of high-resolution data for different scenarios has been a major challenge in energy resilience planning. Various machine learning techniques have emerged to enhance the coarse data through super resolutionthe classic imaging process of sharpening a fuzzy image by adding pixels. But until now, no one had used adversarial training to super-resolve climate data.

Adversarial training is a way of improving the performance of neural networks by having them compete with one another to generate new, more realistic data. The NREL researchers trained two types of neural networks in the model:

One to recognize physical characteristics of high-resolution solar irradiance and wind velocity data; and

The other to insert those characteristics into the coarse data.

Over time, the networks produce more realistic data and improve at distinguishing between real and fake inputs. The NREL researchers were able to add 2,500 pixels for every original pixel.

By using adversarial trainingas opposed to the traditional numerical approach to climate forecasts, which can involve solving many physics equationsit saves computing time, data storage costs, and makes high-resolution climate data more accessible. Karen Stengel

This approach can be applied to a wide range of climate scenarios from regional to global scales, changing the paradigm for climate model forecasting.

Resources
Cameron Judd is a lifelong Tennessean born and raised in Cookeville and a Greene County resident since 1982, when he first joined The Greeneville Sun staff. He also is an extensively published author of western and frontier fiction, having worked with several major publishing houses. In 2019 he won a first-place Tennessee Press Association award for his personal column, Clips To Keep.
GREENSBORO  Officers are investigating after three people were injured by gunfire Tuesday night, according to police.

Officers were in the 200 block of Revere Drive about 8 p.m. investigating an aggravated assault, police said in a news release.

Police found three victims with injuries from apparent gunfire.

The investigation is ongoing. Police did not identify the victims or provide any suspect information.

Anyone with information can contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. People can also download the mobile P3tips app to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.org to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.

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RALEIGH  Flags at state facilities are to be lowered to half-staff through sunset on Friday to honor Katie Dorsett, a former state sentaor from Greensboro who died on Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper ordered today.

Dorsett, the first Black woman elected to the Greensboro City Council in 1981, also became the first Black woman to hold a cabinet post after being appointed by former Gov. Jim Hunt to serve as secretary of the N.C. Department of Administration.

Dorsett was a Guilford County commissioner from 1990-92 and then served as senator for N.C. District 28 from 2003 to 2010

She was inducted into the N.C. Women's Hall of Fame in 2010.

"Katie Dorsett was a dedicated public servant and inspiration as the first African American woman to hold a cabinet position in North Carolina," Cooper said today in a statement. "Her work in the state Senate and Department of Administration paved the way for future leaders, and shell be deeply missed."

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 336-373-7064.
Only a limited number of visitors are allowed inside the library buildings at any given time, and all visitors and staff are required to wear masks and observe social distancing of at least 6 feet, in accordance with Gov. Ralph Northams Executive Order No. 63. Library visitors are asked to not gather in groups with anyone outside of their household, and to limit their visits to one hour or less, so that others may use the library.
This is the first time that doctors in Italy have successfully separated conjoined twins in total posterior craniopagus, which means they shared a skull and a majority of blood vessels. The operation lasted 18 hours.
Houston pointed to two parts of the law the governor has cited as the justification for some of the orders not requiring concurrence. Under the heading of Additional powers of the Governor during state of emergency, the law says some things that require concurrence include the power to order evacuations and regulate and control the flow of traffic and the congregation of people in public places or buildings; as well as waive a provision of any regulation or ordinance of a state agency or a political subdivision which restricts the immediate relief of human suffering.

Coopers office sought and received concurrence on specific parts of his executive orders this spring that were covered under the law. In March, one of the concurrence requests was for loosening unemployment benefit requirements along with the restrictions on restaurants and bars.

Among the responses, both Folwell and Forest wrote back that the restaurant restrictions should be encouraged but not mandated. Forest, Johnson and Troxler wrote back that they concurred on unemployment but not on restaurants. Causey wrote that he thought it needed further discussion and said no about restaurants. But Causey wrote back later that after talking with Cohen, he concurred with both requests.
He said deputies are provided with and encouraged to wear masks, and that they do so when social distancing is not possible to maintain. He added that inmates are given masks when going to court.

In a bid to lower the risk of an outbreak, many jails around the state have also moved to reduce their populations and take on fewer new inmates.

The Onslow County jail population has gone down to around 300 inmates, from its usual total in the mid-400s, according to Chief Deputy Col. Christopher Thomas. The jail is built to hold more than 500 inmates, Thomas said.

Tripp said he has set a cap of 65 inmates for the Halifax County jail, down from its ordinary 85-person capacity.

Still, in many jails inmates are housed with two, or sometimes more, people to a cell.

Its not the ideal situation for social distancing, thats just being honest with you, Tripp said of the jails two-bed-per-cell layout.

While jails and prisons have received criticism for their responses to the virus, Brinkley-Rubinstein said she hoped they would not be left on their own to find solutions.
Search below to see businesses in your community that received money from the Paycheck Protection Program meant to keep Americans employed during the pandemic. The program has been popular but also controversial.

The Paycheck Protection Program is the centerpiece of the federal governments plan to rescue an economy devastated by shutdowns and uncertainty. The program, which helps smaller businesses stay open and keep Americans employed during the pandemic, has been both popular and controversial.

Demand was so great that a first infusion of $349 billion ran out in just two weeks. Many businesses couldnt navigate the application process rapidly enough to get one of those first loans before funding dried up. Meanwhile, several hundred companies traded on stock exchanges  hardly the image of a small business  received loans maxing out at $10 million each, causing a public backlash and leading dozens to return the money.

And the public may never know the identity of more than 85% of the nearly 5 million beneficiaries to date because the administration has refused to release details on loans under $150,000 -- the vast majority of borrowers. That secrecy spurred an open-records lawsuit by a group of news organizations, including The Associated Press.
Its a job Campt has committed himself to for more than 25 years. Along the way, he served on President Clintons Initiative on Race and as a team member on Congressman John Lewis treks to Selma, Alabama to solemn commemorative events at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where in 1963 Lewis and fellow civil rights activists were brutally attacked.

Campt doesnt mind poking fun at himself. At one point during a recent interview he quipped, Im not as well-known as I should be.

That light-hearted spirit was showcased when Campt appeared on a segment of Comedy Centrals The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in a skit where makes points about race through humor (Google: The White Whisperer for a look).

Born and raised in Detroit, Campts ties to North Carolina and Rockingham County run deep.

His mother, Geraldine, was from Asheboro, while his father, James, is from Madison. The couple moved to Detroit not long after college and marriage as part of a migration by Black Southerners to the north in search of better jobs.

Campts mother taught school in Detroit while his father worked for Ford Motor Co.

Summer vacation trips to North Carolina during childhood kept Campt in touch with his large Tarheel state family.
To those not masked: You put me at risk

I am at high risk for COVID-19.

Every time I have to leave my home, I see many people not wearing masks.

I feel as if they are saying directly to me, My comfort is more important than your life.

On the up side, it used to be impossible to tell just by looking whether someone was a selfish jerk.

But now I know: They are all unmasked.

E.T. Edwards

Greensboro

Chronic stupidity is spreading the virus

When I was growing up, my father all too often would counsel me with these words: Listen, son, if youre going to do something stupid, at least be smart about it.

In the absence of a proven vaccine or advanced therapeutics, the only available COVID-19 containment measure is to be smart about social distancing, wearing masks and sanitizing.
Saleen Martin Staff writer

Saleen Martin, a Norfolk native, is a reporter on The Virginian-Pilots features team. She joined The Pilot in 2018 after getting her master's degree from the University of Georgia. She also has a bachelor's degree from Virginia Wesleyan University. She has a weakness for horror movies, witchy Netflix shows, reality TV, and sushi.
Pauls Fine Italian Dining, a fixture on Winston-Salems restaurant scene for 32 years, has closed for good. An auction of the restaurants equipment is planned for Friday.

The restaurant, at 3443 Robinhood Road, was open for takeout and delivery during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic but shut its doors May 5.

Takeout did well, but without the dining room and alcohol sales, it just wasnt enough to support us, said Marcello Perello, son of the late Paul Perello, who founded the restaurant in 1988.

Back in May, Marcello Perello hoped he eventually would reopen, but those plans didnt work out.

The restaurants fate had been in limbo for several years. It hadnt been making money, and we knew why. Everything need to be updated. The whole place needed to be renovated, Perello said.

Thirty years ago, Pauls was one of Winston-Salems few fine-dining restaurants. Paul Perello, a native of Italy, moved here after years of working in New York restaurants, giving many Winston-Salem residents their first taste of authentic Italian food. And Paul Perello himself was known as the consummate restaurant host, greeting diners nightly in his classic tuxedo.
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DANBURY  A local 10-year-old was featured on Good Morning America for her charity that has sent art kits to children across the country.

Chelsea Phaire started Chelseas Charity after asking people to donate art supplies in lieu of gifts for her 10th birthday. Since then, she has created more than 2,500 kits for kids in schools, foster care and homeless shelters, Good Morning America reports.
Neel Bhatt, a UW assistant professor of otolaryngology, specializes in treating patients with voice problems. Through his work, he began to realize people did not like the sound of their own voices. With the transition to school over Zoom, many students can relate to the discomfort of hearin
HARTFORD  State officials stood on the steps of the state Supreme Court building on Wednesday to condemn the U.S. Supreme Courts 7-2 decision that restricts access to contraception.

The court Wednesday upheld a Trump administration rule that allows employers with sincere moral or religious objections to deny their employees access to free contraceptive coverage.

An employers personal beliefs and opinions should never interfere with a womans own personal health care decisions, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said.

The decision will deny no-cost contraceptive services for between 70,500 and 126,400 women, according to court documents.

The ruling was the result of President Donald Trumps decision shortly after taking office to narrow the so-called contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act. The ACA exempted only religious organizations like churches from the no-cost contraception requirement. The exemption was extended in 2014 in the Hobby Lobby lawsuit to include employers with moral objections.

The decision in that case triggered lawsuits in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The government then stood in for the Little Sisters of the Poor and took an appellate court decision against the religious order to the Supreme Court.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said theres no state that can protect women from this decision.

No state, not even Connecticut , can protect itself from this decision because its effect is on the availability of vital medical health care for women. This medical care is time-sensitive, it is critical to women having control over their bodies, their futures and their families, he said.However, this is not the end of the story and you can be assured that legally we will fight this battle, Blumenthal said.

While the courtroom battle might be over for now, the ultimate impact of the decision could be shaped by the outcome of Novembers presidential contest.

Blumenthal said elections matter and they have consequences.

A president of the United States. A new president. Could pull this rule. Rescind it, Blumenthal said.

Gov. Ned Lamont, who is not a lawyer, said, I thought this was settled law. You know, the right to contraception. The right to choose. You know, Im old. I thought this went back to when I was a kid. I thought this was established law.
Republican leader in the Connecticut state senate Len Fasano claimed in his recent op-ed (June 26, Fight racism, dont destroy a country) that he and his party are dedicated to ending educational inequality.

Nothing could be further from the truth. When Fasano and his party took operational control of the legislature in 2017, far from trying to end educational inequality, Fasano passed a budget that launched an all-out attack on educational equality and public education. That Republican budget eliminated the $37 million Roberta Willis Scholarship that helps 15,000 of Connecticuts low-income and minority youth attend college; cut $23 million from grants for the states poorest school districts, while redirecting millions to schools in the wealthiest communities; and eliminated $150 million in dedicated funding designed to close achievement gaps in poor school districts, substituting block grants instead.

Fasanos budget increased educational inequality by slashing half a billion dollars from Connecticuts public colleges and universities, including cuts to the University of Connecticut system that UConn Board of Trustees Chairman Larry McHugh called the worst attack on public education I have seen in 34 years.

Then-UConn President Susan Herbst warned that Fasanos cuts would decimate the university for years to come. Instead of supporting public education, Fasanos budget attacked our public school teachers by slamming them with a $95 million Teacher Tax, equivalent to a $1,500 tax increase on every Connecticut teacher. And he did so without offering even the pretense of negotiating with the teachers union, an unprecedented attack on teachers right to bargain collectively.

In an incredible act of hypocrisy, Fasano claims he wants to address health equity and make health care affordable. Yet on the very day that his op-ed appeared, his party was demanding the U.S. Supreme Court rule the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, an action that. if successful, would result in more than 20 million Americans losing their health insurance in the midst of a pandemic that is sickening more than 40,000 every day. Sen. Fasano needs to be reminded that here in Connecticut, the ACA, which he wants to eliminate, prevents for-profit health insurance companies from discriminating against, or denying health coverage, to more than half a million non-elderly residents. According to a study by the Urban Institute, the ACA reduced Connecticuts uninsured rate by nearly half, created new consumer protections benefiting nearly 1.9 million residents with employer-sponsored coverage, and nearly 600,000 on Medicare. It also achieved a 61 percent reduction in uncompensated care delivered to uninsured patients, and provided millions of dollars to Connecticut to foster public and private-sector innovation in health care financing and delivery.

In 2011 when legislation (HB 921) was introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly to establish the state health insurance exchange, Access HealthCT, as part of the ACA, Len Fasano voted no, as did the majority of his fellow Republicans. Thankfully, they failed to block that crucial innovation, which today provides health insurance to more than 100,000 Connecticut residents, and has proved one of the best-run state exchanges in the nation. The truth is that Fasano and his Republican buddies have done everything they could to prevent Connecticut citizens from achieving health equity and receiving affordable health care.

Fasano claims a set of policies that truly sets out to fight racism or injustice would not include the removal of American history as a serious solution. What hes saying is that he opposes the removal of statues glorifying the Confederate traitors who fought to preserve slavery and destroy the United States of America. In this, Fasano stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Donald Trump, who called the marauding Neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville protesting the removal of the statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee very fine people.

In my town of Greenwich, there is a plaque honoring the 69 men, including six African-American soldiers, who gave their lives in the Civil War to defeat the traitors and cleanse slavery from our land. Plaques such as the one in Greenwich can be found in virtually every town in the state, commemorating the sacrifices of more than 5,000 men who gave their lives in that great cause. But Len Fasano wants to honor the enemies of freedom whom our soldiers fought against.

Fasano has announced he is leaving the General Assembly. He will not be missed.

Sean Goldrick is a Greenwich resident.
Apple may not be the only one considering removing the charger from the retail box  Samsung is thinking the same thing, reports ETNews. The company will start next year and only some models will be affected. But which ones?

Removing the charger from the affordable segment will have a bigger relative impact on the price (this is a move to save on manufacturing costs). Also, entry-level phones are less likely to require a special high power charger so the ones you already have at home will likely do the job.

On the other hand, dropping the bundled charger from premium Galaxy phones also makes sense as some models support 45W charging but come bundled with only a 25W power brick. So, if you want 45 W youll have to buy a charger separately anyway, plus you wont have much use for the one you got with the phone.



Samsung's 45 W charger is sold separately

The looming question is how consumers will react to this move  will it lead to a drop in sales. It depends on what other changes will be made alongside removing the charger (e.g. lowering the price).

Samsung ships around 400 million smartphones a year, which means it pays for 400 million chargers as well. This move can see this number drastically reduced, which may be bad news for the companies making the chargers. Theyll lose the guaranteed business and may need to start marketing to consumers to make up the difference.

Source (in Korean) | Via
Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi got another jolt after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized assets to the tune of Rs 329.66 crore in connection with the ongoing investigation in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case, also involving his uncle and fugitive accused Mehul Choksi. The fresh action was taken as per the provisions of the fugitive economic offenders law.

Attached properties of fugitive Nirav Modi consisting of flats, farm house, wind mill, shares and bank deposits totalling to Rs 329.66 crore stands confiscated to the Central government under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, ED tweeted.

The seized property includes four flats at Samudra Mahal in Worli, a sea-side farm house and land in Alibaug, a windmill in Jaisalmer, a flat in London and residential flats in UAE along with shares and bank deposits.

The action came after clearance from a special court in Mumbai for the confiscation. With the current action, the agency has in all attached Modis assets worth Rs 2,348 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Modi (49) is currently lodged in a UK jail after being arrested in London in March, 2019 and is currently fighting extradition to India. The ED is following up with his extradition which is a crucial step in the scam probe.
In what is an unfortunate news item, Sheng-Chang Chiang, also named Charles Chiang general manager and CEO of MSI fell off a building today, and passed away. The news reported by Taiwanese media moments ago, also is confirmed through our MSI backchannel.

The 56-year-old Sheng-Chang Chiang had just taken over as CEO of MSI in January 2019. He fell from the seven-floor building for unknown. Security of MSI went out on patrol and at 2 pm local time heard a loud noise. Chiang was found lying on the ground in the company's car lane. The police hurried to the scene and rushed him to the hospital for treatment, but unfortunately, he passed away. Authorities are investigating the incident. Chiang graduated from the Institute of Electronics, Jiaotong University. He previously served as Yangzhi Technology Associate and General Manager of MSI Desktop Platform Business Division and took over as MSI General Manager and CEO in January 2019. A company where he has had a role in for 20 years.

We wish the family, friends, staff at MSI and everyone involved or acquainted to Mr Chiang our sincere condolences and profound respect.






WASHINGTON, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday officially submitted its notification of withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) to the United Nations secretary-general, setting in motion the country's exit from the global body in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration repeatedly assailed the WHO for months and threatened to cut ties with the organization. Trump also announced in mid-April that his administration would halt U.S. funding to the WHO.

Experts and Democrats criticized that the Trump administration was trying to shift the blame of its mishandling of COVID-19 response and would be counterproductive to addressing the public health crisis.

"To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic &incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interests - it leaves Americans sick &America alone," Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, tweeted on Tuesday.

The United States will leave the WHO on July 6, 2021, and currently it owes the organization more than 200 million U.S. dollars in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website.

The country has reported more than 2.99 million COVID-19 cases with over 131,000 deaths, according to the latest Johns Hopkins University tally. Both figures are far higher than those in any other country or region.

After lockdown measures were eased in some states, the United States is struggling to respond to the devastation inflicted by COVID-19 even harder.

"We had been in a situation (where) we were averaging about 20,000 new cases a day," Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a livestream with Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health on Monday.

A series of circumstances associated with various states and cities trying to open up in a bid to get back to some form of normality, has led to a situation where the country now has "record-breaking cases," Fauci said.

California, Hawaii, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas on Tuesday shattered their previous daily record highs for new cases, according to the latest tally.

Texas reported over 10,000 new confirmed cases, the biggest one-day increase in the state, said the Texas Health and Human Services.

During a daily news conference on Monday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said hospitals are seeing a continuous increase of coronavirus-related hospitalizations.

He also warned that Houston hospitals could be overwhelmed if the rapid spread of the virus is not under control.

"If we don't get our hands around this virus quickly, in about two weeks, our hospital system could be in serious, serious trouble," Turner said.

Florida has seen its caseload soar past 10,000 per day and 200,000 overall. More than four dozen hospitals in Florida reported that their intensive care units (ICUs) have reached full capacity on Tuesday as COVID-19 cases surge in the state and throughout the country, said the state health department.

The ICUs were full at 54 hospitals across 25 of Florida's 67 counties, according to data published on Tuesday morning by the state's Agency for Health Care Administration. More than 300 hospitals were included in the report, but not all had adult ICUs.

Local authorities reversed course on a reopening plan, issuing an emergency order to shut down gyms, party venues and restaurants, with exceptions for takeout and delivery, which will go into effect on Wednesday.

A widely cited mortality model from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) projected on Tuesday that U.S. deaths would reach 208,000 by Nov. 1, with the outbreak expected to gain new momentum heading into the fall.

"The U.S. didn't experience a true end of the first wave of the pandemic," IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray said in a statement. "This will not spare us from a second surge in the fall, which will hit particularly hard in states currently seeing high levels of infections." Enditem

[ Editor: SRQ ]
SRINAGAR: An open letter attributed to Kashmirs separatist patriarch Syed Ali Shah Geelani, calling for a shutdown in the Valley on Burhan's death anniversary on Wednesday and again on Kashmir 'martyrs' day' on July 13, went viral on Tuesday.

However, the Jammu and Kashmir police was quick to step in, informing the people that it was a fake letter. The police also said that it has filed a case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and for public mischief under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The letter is fake as the same was not issued by the nonagenarian separatist leader, the police said.

As per the family sources of SAS Geelani the letter is fake and not issued by him. This is published from Pakistan. Police are taking action against those who are circulating it through different social media platforms to instigate violence and create law and order problems (sic), the J-K police tweeted.

A police spokesman said that a case (FIR No 265/2020) under section 13 ULA(P) Act, 505 IPC (public mischief) has been registered in police station Budgam and that further investigation is in progress.

A tweet from @hurriyet_news handle said As informed earlier that Twitter handle @GeelaniOfficial has been compromised and is now being controlled by Md Hussain Khateeb instead of Geelani Sahabs representative Abdullah Geelani. A fake letter has been issued by @GeelaniOfficial on 6 July to misguide us.(sic)

Geelani had last week announced his decision to quit his faction of Hurriyat Conference, an amalgam of separatist parties.




Haiti - NOTICE : Contest for micro enterprises, registrations opened





The Haitian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIHC) with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) announces that it is organizing a competition, honoring innovations and good practices related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).



This competition, called "CSR Booster", is exclusively aimed at micro enterprises operating in the production / processing sector, value chains and the service sector. It aims to showcase micro and small businesses operating in various sectors in addition to promoting sustainable economic models, it supports this category of often neglected businesses in order to improve their way of producing, consuming, selling, all in accordance with the principles of the SDGs despite the context of Covid-19.



Entrepreneurs can submit their application online until July 31, 2020.



The bearers of the 4 best projects will be selected by a jury of 7 members composed of entrepreneurs, bankers, financial and management consultants.



The bonus per winner consists of technical support in the form of a "webinar" on the economy, key management functions, CSR... and 600,000 Gourdes for the financing of a specific need determined by the candidate at the time of registration, will be handed on October 15, 2020.



Download the terms and conditions for applying (PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/termes_de_reference_concours_booster_rse_juin_2020_2.pdf



For all information : boosterRSE@gmail.com



CCIHC website : www.ccihc.net



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - GrandAnse : Departmental Director of the OPC facing death threats





Renan Hedouville Citizen Protector, Director of the Office for the Protection of the Citizen (OPC), informs the national and international opinion, in particular his partner institutions, that Me Arold Nicolas, the Departmental Director of the OPC in Grand-Anse, has been the subject of serious threats since the announcement of the administrative sanction taken against the Government Commissioner of Jeremie, Me Bergemane Sylvain https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31187-haiti-justice-minisitre-delille-freezes-the-release-of-the-pardoned-prisoners-and-takes-sanctions.html



These threats have intensified following the decision of the Head of Government, Joseph Jouthe, ordering to postpone provisionally on the release of the 415 prisoners who benefited from the presidential pardon. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31187-haiti-justice-minisitre-delille-freezes-the-release-of-the-pardoned-prisoners-and-takes-sanctions.html



In the morning of Saturday July 4, Director Nicolas received a text message from a number from the Digicel company 13949-9388 in which the sender told him that "his body will soon be devoured by dogs".



A few hours later, four individuals in hoods on two motorcycles spent more than two hours going back and forth in front of Me Nicolas' home.



Renan Hedouville wishes to clarify that the verbal attacks followed by death threats against Me Arold Nicolas began after the release in July 2019 of Pastor Onold Petit, the man implicated in a rape case of a 14-year-old girl in Jeremie https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28272-haiti-flash-amazing-release-of-a-haitian-pastor-accused-of-rape.html . Recall that the OPC office in this department was the first to denounce this travesty of justice presided over by Judge Jean Baptiste Louis Jean, sanctioned a few weeks later by the Superior Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28404-haiti-flash-release-of-a-pastor-guilty-of-rape-the-judge-suspended.html



Today, threats are multiplying and complicating the work of the representative of the OPC in Grand-Anse.



The OPC expresses its worrying and its deepest concern regarding the security situation of its staff in Jeremie and intends to address the Prime Minister, Joseph Jouthe, for the purpose of instructing the State authorities in Grand-Anse (Delegate, Commissioner of Government, Departmental Director of the PNH) to adopt special measures aimed at the safety of OPC staff in this department.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31187-haiti-justice-minisitre-delille-freezes-the-release-of-the-pardoned-prisoners-and-takes-sanctions.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28404-haiti-flash-release-of-a-pastor-guilty-of-rape-the-judge-suspended.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28272-haiti-flash-amazing-release-of-a-haitian-pastor-accused-of-rape.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Published on 2010/06/29 | Source

Interview with actor Yoo Yeon-seok

Korean actor Yoo Yeon-seok [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

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My name is Yoo Yeon-seok. My real name is Ahn Yeon-seok but my agency suggested I go with another name because it sounds a bit weird. My mother's last name is Cho so I was going to go with Cho Yeon-seok but I felt that if I changed it I would only get supporting roles. And it would be weird if I called myself Joo Yeon-seok. (laugh) After thinking about it I changed it to Yoo Yeon-seok and plus it sounds good too.

I was born on April 11, 1984.

My father is a professor of selenodesy. I lived in Seoul until I was six years old and we moved to the South Gyeongsang Province because my dad was posted at a national university there. I spent most of my school years there and when I was a junior in high school I wanted to take up acting so I followed my brother who was studying another year to enter university to Seoul and the two of us lived near Sejong University. We still live together, near the district of Samseong. Sometimes our mom comes to cook for us.

I can speak with a Gyeonsang Province accent as well as the standard Seoul dialect. My parents used the standard dialect when I was younger but I spoke with an accent because of my friends. I fixed the accent after coming to Seoul but whenever I go back to Jinju to meet my friends the dialect comes out naturally. I feel that as an actor, being able to speak in both the standard dialect and with an accent is an advantage.

I don't gain weight easily. I began to work out doing muscle exercises because I didn't want to look small since when I was younger I was skinny. I have quite a complex about my physique of not gaining weight but I feel more relieved nowadays because it's popular to have smaller yet defined muscles.

I was able to have a role in the movie "Old Boy" because of this older sister I met at an acting school when I was in high school. She was the same person who told me that I looked like actor Yoo Ji-tae and later on, she became part of the wardrobe team. I was able to get the role because she gave me a call about the child actor audition. I never had to pass out my resume.

In order to shoot the scenes where we are running and gasping hard in MBC's "Running, Goo", we purposely put on glycerin and ran ahead of going into shoot. But we didn't have to do any of that once we actually went into shoot because we would naturally sweat and be gasping for air from running a lot.

I did a movie when I was serving my mandatory military service. It was when I was a sergeant and each unit had to come up wtih ways to prevent accidents. We pestered the management saying we were going to create a movie because one of my successors was studying cinema directory at Dongguk University. We told them we would borrow the equipment from the school. We won an award from our unit for our video, which we made with a 6mm digital camera, on preventing suicide, and we were given a four day vacation.

Actor Kim Kap-soo, who played the role of my father in MBC's "HON - Soul" is very considerate. There are other actors who at that age and experience would blow up at the director if they are frustrated. There was a lot of shoots done at night since "HON - Soul" a horror thriller. The crew wasn't given any specific time to sleep the shoots would just continue on after they would be gone for a week to 15 days but Kim Kap-soo never complained.

I myself picked out the half-rimmed glasses for my role as Baek Jong-chan. I told my stylist to prepare several pairs and after looking them over I picked the one that made me look the most obnoxious (laugh). I think one's looks changes depending on the glasses. In MBC's "General Hospital 2" I wore these round horn-rimmed glasses which made me look like Brainy Smurf.

I like film cameras. While I was in the military, my father gave me a Leica M3 camera because he has a lot of interest in cameras since he works in surveying. When I was in the military and studying the books in original text, I realized that I liked taking pictures as much as I liked being in them. I also have a DLSR but it isn't that great so when I'm shooting I use it as a monitor. I have eight polaroid and film cameras. What I like about polaroids is that the staff likes to receive the photograph after taking a picture together. Nowadays you dont have the hard copy of photos because everyone is posting up the pictures that they take with a digital camera. Also if you have the pictures you don't have to worry about the pictures leaking out.

Yoo Yeon-seok [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

Actor Yoo Yeon-seok poses during an interview with 10Asia.

Yoo Yeon-seok [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

Actor Yoo Yeon-seok poses during an interview with 10Asia.

Reporter : Wee Geun-woo eight@

Photographer : Chae ki-won ten@

Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@, Jang Kyung-Jin three@

<10Asia All rights reserved>
Chennai: Amidst all the hurly burly of coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, has anybody thought about the struggle of young research students in various institutions in the country?

Highlighting the plight of research scholars, Rohit Jhunjhunwala, a scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), has started an online campaign that has struck a chord with over 2000 research scholars across the country.

The petition asks the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to extend the research period as well as fellowship to all scholars as their work has been affected by the pandemic and the lockdowns.

Due to the lockdown, all institutes were shut down and scholars were asked to vacate campus in March 2020. Due to the urgency and short notice period given by institute authorities, manny scholars left their valuables, laptops and research notes behind in the hope that they would be able to return soon and restart their research. However, that was not to be, says Jhunjhunwala.

"Educational institutes remained shut, leaving scholars with no access to research infrastructure. This has resulted in a lot of anxiety among scholars about the expiry of their fellowship.

"All experimental setups have already either degraded or unusable due to a long delay. Scholars now have their fellowships expiring in the middle of the nationwide lockdown leaving them without any means to survive. The financial pressure is a huge mental stress for us along with their health and future uncertainty, the petition says.

As per the procedure, it takes five years to finish a PhD degree in institutions. During the research period, a doctoral fellow in a national institution gets a fellowship of Rs.31,000 per month for the first two years and Rs. 35,000 per month for the remaining three years or till they submit their theses, whichever is earlier.

T. Pradeep, a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at IITM, told Deccan Chronicle that MHRD has to extend the tenure of research by at least 6 months along with the fellowship.

The pandemic has created an unprecedented situation in the education sector especially among the research community. Many who had been pursuing research programmes abroad have now returned without completing their work. They do not have new assignments, and even if they do, there is no way to proceed with them. They too remain unpaid.

Research fellows after completing the PhD programme often go for post-doctoral fellowships (PDF) for higher studies and independent research. Many of them are now stuck even if they have postdoctoral offers. They have no support from parent laboratories as well as institutional resources are limited.

In order to deal with the situation, the government must announce a package of Rs.200 crores to help the young scientific community. In addition to this, the MHRD must fast-track the filling up of scientist posts vacant in various institutions. The government has also to come up with the decision to create favourable atmosphere in research institutes lifting the restriction imposed due to the pandemic, said Prof. Pradeep
Michigan City, IN (46360)

Today

Lots of sunshine. High 71F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 57F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Will Arizonas growth force it to become a big government state? We hope not but
A decision by the United States Supreme Court last week could put Montanas quality public schools at risk.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, holding that states must offer taxpayer dollars to private religious schools if they provide tax money to secular private schools.

Though the program at issue was small, it could have major effects if future political leaders in Montana dont maintain our commitment to fully funding public schools. In short, with the Supreme Court case over, the future of our public schools is in the voters hands this November.

Public education is one of Montanas core values. Its a guaranteed right in our groundbreaking 1972 Montana Constitution. The framers of our Constitution believed that providing a free, quality public education to all was the highest and most noble calling of our state. It is a Montana value worth protecting.

But an out-of-state group called the Institute for Justice sought to challenge the protections our framers wrote into the Montana Constitution that defend Montanas public schools. After the Supreme Courts decision last week, school privatization activists and candidates in Montana celebrated and are emboldened to make bigger attacks on our public schools.

Last weeks developments are the latest in an alarming trend to undermine public schools and funnel our tax dollars to private institutions. The decision could give a green light to politicians who want to send our taxpayer dollars to private schools. These are the same schools that have a history of discriminating against low-income children, turning away disabled students and children who require special education programs, and typically operate under limited to no oversight.

When we start discriminating against our children based on which family has money, which family won the scholarship, or which family was granted a tax credit, we fail our kids and we betray the values enshrined in our Constitution. An education that is left up to chance will never benefit all children, and the promise of a quality education ensured by our state Constitution is compromised.

Montanans are lucky to live in a state governed by a Constitution that was drafted by citizens, not politicians, lobbyists or other special interests. But our constitutional right to a quality public education is only as strong as the leaders we elect to defend it.

Unfortunately, these same special interests who brought this case to the Supreme Court are working to elect their own school privatization candidates in our next attorney general and superintendent of public instruction. These elected offices have the power to further undermine our Constitution  allowing resources to be diverted from public schools and put into private schools. We cannot let this happen to our schools and Montana families.

Education remains our great equalizer. The only way we can ensure our children are given the chance to succeed to their full potential is to protect a public school system that uplifts, encourages, and loves every child equally.

The courts decision poses real risks to public education, but its just one of several battles in a longer war to defend public education in Montana. Attacks on our schools will not stop until we elect public school advocates at every level of government who arent afraid to stand up for all children.

Make your voice heard in November and vote for leaders who will defend our Constitution and advocate for all Montanans  advocacy that starts by standing up for our schools.



Attorney general candidate Raph Graybill, Gov. Steve Bullocks chief legal counsel, was a lawyer for the State of Montana in the Espinoza v. Montana case.

Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Melissa Romana has taught math in public schools for 16 years and is Montanas 2018 Teacher of the Year.
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Divided City Council struggles with mask enforcement

A sharply divided Hendersonville City Council has directed the city police department to issue citations to business owners who are repeatedly and flagrantly flouting face mask and social distancing rules, though just how that will work is unclear.

In a discussion that grew heated last Thursday night, council members Lyndsey Simpson and Jerry Smith argued most strongly for law enforcements role in forcing compliance with Gov. Roy Cooper statewide face mask order while council member Jennifer Hensley pushed back.

This is a really heavy-handed overreach for the City Council to try to enact something like this, Hensley said. This mask order is an executive order, its not a law. Theres actually a provision in the executive order making this unenforceable as a criminal violation. In this political climate, I think its really crazy that we would put added stress on our officers to even engage in that kind of dialog with our business owners in addition to the fact that our business owners have suffered enough and several of them are hanging on by a thread and to put this added stress on the business owners  Im just disgusted that were even having this discussion.

When she spoke to District Attorney Greg Newman, he pointed out that courts are already extremely backed up because of the coronavirus social distancing and indoor assembly restrictions. He also expressed concern that the executive order would be enforced inconsistently within the countys boundaries, she said.

So were going to start putting a business owner ahead of a child rape case or a domestic violence case and back the court system up even more, especially for something thats not even enforceable in the first place, she said.

Simpson defended the governors order as a necessary tool to curb the spread of the coronavirus and save lives.

Thats my No. 1 goal, is to protect the health and safety of our community, she said. Id be curious to know how its not enforceable. I understand that businesses are under a lot of stress right now and some of them are hanging on by a thread but you also have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for your customers.

She had heard from business owners who are hoping that we will enforce this, she said. I dont think the idea of us having this conversation is at all crazy. I think the community and the residents and the business owners are looking to us as city officials to lead them and lead by example.

Jerry Smith said he had had numerous conversations to try to learn how the city could enforce the order.

There does seem to be a difference of opinion as to what we can do, he said. Im not talking about people walking down the street or individual customers. Im talking about business owners openly ignoring the order.

City Attorney Sam Fritschner described what cities can do.

The executive order permits local government to enforce the executive order with criminal citations only against business owners that do not comply with the executive order and there are exceptions so in certain circumstances they can and in certain circumstances they cant, he said. The order makes it easier to compel employees to comply than customers, he added. Police could issue a class II misdemeanor charge for a violation, punishable by a $1,000 fine, 30 days in jail or both.

Council member Jeff Miller, owner of Millers Fine Dry Cleaning in Hendersonville and Laurel Park plus a laundromat, brought his own experience to the discussion.

As a business owner that has a lot of people coming in and out, right now Ill do anything I can that has a little bit of a chance to help, and I do believe wearing a mask will help lessen the spread, keep our emergency rooms and our doctors from being stretched and keep folks from dying. However, I never did understand why this was directed to the business owner to enforce this.

I do think people should wear masks, he said. When we wait on customers, we have masks. When I go in any store, I have a mask. So its not that I disagree with wearing masks. I encourage everybody to do it because I dont want to shut down again, be it from the governors order or from fear, because my business will not survive anything like that again. But I dont like this approach. I dont want our police officers having to go and judge on these things, whose doing it and what were the circumstances around it. I, too, am not for this even though Im totally for wearing masks.

Mayor Barbara Volk said to ignore business owners who flout the order is unfair to those who obey the rules.

My concern, she said, is those businesses that are hanging by a thread next door to a business whose owner says, Dont worry about it, you work for me, you dont have to wear a mask. Those are the types of businesses that I think deserve to be more than just reminded. Thats a slap in the face to the people who are doing what has been requested of them. After multiple complaints from the public and a warning, Those are the people that deserve to get a citation.

Council members again turned to Fritschner to explain the business owners authority.

The executive order requires the business to require both (employees and customers) to wear masks, he said. However, if the customer says I cant wear a mask because of any large number of reasons (spelled out in the order) the owner does not look past that statement. That statement is sufficient to say, I accept that at face value and thats pretty much an immunity from prosecution. That is not true with respect to employees.

Jerry Smith said: I recognize that asking business owners to be the police is very unfair. With regard to whether or not the D.A. decides to prosecute, that is the case with anything we decide to charge now. Thats on the D.A. All we can do is issue the citation and let the judicial system run its course.

As for rather City Hall is receiving complaints, Volk said, Every few days Ill get a complaint. There are a few businesses that I get regular complaints about.

City Manager John Connet said, Ive had one direct conversation with the health director and in one particular instance, yes, he has gotten complaints and tried to approach the business owner about that.

The back-and-forth sputtered to a somewhat squishy resolution after Miller urged the council to move on rather than discuss it to death. Although the council took no vote, Connet did his best to articulate the consensus of a council majority  Volk, Simpson and Smith.

I think I understand the consensus is that a majority of the council would like for the police department to enforce executive order 147 when businesses are blatantly and aggressively avoiding enforcing executive order 147, he said. When there have been complaints and the business has been appropriately warned and they have basically made it known that theyre not going to follow the executive order, you would like the police department to issue a citation under the executive order, which would then be prosecuted or not prosecuted by the district attorney.

Kick em while theyre down, Hensley said.
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Chennai: Southern Tamil Nadu saw a spike in COVID-19 infections on Tuesday even as the spread of the virus seemingly came under control in Chennai city, where 1203 cases were detected on the day the State total stood at 3616 new cases and 65 deaths.

Besides Madurai, which has been showing a rise in coronavirus infection for quite some time prompting the government to continue the total lockdown, the districts below it in the map suddenly saw a surge in infections.

On Tuesday, Virudhunagar had 253 new cases, Tirunelveli 181 cases, Thoothukudi 144 cases and Kanyakumari 119 cases, causing concern since the districts have lesser medical facilities when compared to the cities like Chennai and Madurai.

In Chennai the rapid spread of the virus was brought under control because of the total lockdown since June 19, said a Corporation official. During the total lockdown movement of people came to a bare minimum and that helped prevent the spread, he said, adding that even after the relaxation if the people could minimize their outings the pandemic could be brought under control.

He said that even in slums the infections came down. In April most slum areas had 30 per cent infection, which had come down to 7 to 10 per cent now, the official said. Giving a specific example, he said in Tondaiarpet the infection was 31 per cent in May and now it was just 10 per cent. So is the case with Royapuram where it came down from 17 per cent to 5.3 per cent, he said.

Increased awareness by the Corporation authorities was one reason that people started taking precautions and started behaving responsibly, he felt.

State Food and Civil Supplies Minister R Kamaraj, too, expressed the same sentiments on the spread of coronavirus coming under control in Chennai.

After inspecting a medical camp at Dharmapuram Street in Teynampet, the division that had the highest number of Covid-19 cases initially, the Minister said, We are making progress in our efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

In Teynampet area, at one point, if 100 persons were tested, 35 would have symptoms like fever and cold but now the number has gone down to 16.52, Kamaraj said. This was an indication that the virus would be brought under control in Chennai, he said.
Do you agree with the Marshall University Board of Governors decision to remove the name of Albert Gallatin Jenkins, a slaveholder, from Jenkins Hall, which houses the College of Education and Professional Development?
We accept obituaries only from the funeral home in charge. For information on submitting an obituary, please contact The Herald-Dispatch by phone at 304-526-2793 or email at obits@herald-dispatch.com. Obituaries for The Herald-Dispatch must be received by 2 p.m. to appear in the next days publication. Obituaries for the Wayne County News, which publishes on Wednesday, must be received by noon Tuesday.
Barry McArdle was arrested on foot of a warrant in Galway

A convicted killer sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in his absence in the Netherlands was refused bail yesterday by the High Court pending an extradition hearing.

Barry McArdle (34), from Drimnagh, was arrested on foot of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) in Galway on July 1, having been released from custody last year after an earlier warrant seeking his extradition to the Netherlands was found to be invalid.

McArdle was originally sentenced to two years' imprisonment for disposing of the body of Dubliner Keith Ennis (29), following a trial in the Netherlands in 2017.

Acquitted

As McArdle had effectively served all of that sentence while on remand at various times, he was immediately released and returned to Ireland.

In the same trial, he was acquitted of stabbing Mr Ennis in Rotterdam in 2009.

However, Dutch authorities successfully appealed McArdle's acquittal on the charge of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to 12 years and three months in prison in his absence by the Amsterdam Court of Appeal on May 17, 2018.

An EAW now deemed to be invalid was issued in respect of McArdle in January last year.

However, last July, the High Court refused to surrender him on the basis that the warrant was invalid and he was immediately released.

The court heard the warrant had been issued by the Dutch public prosecutor, who was not a sufficiently independent authority in accordance with EU law.

Ms Justice Tara Burns said she would refuse the surrender of McArdle and directed his release before he walked free from court.

On July 1, McArdle was arr- ested on foot of an EAW at his home in Galway and sought bail yesterday at the High Court.

At yesterday's hearing, Det Gda Eoin Kane, of the Garda Extradition Unit, told counsel for the State, Caroline Cummings, that McArdle was a flight risk.

Det Gda Kane gave evidence that McArdle had 19 previous convictions, including possession of 1m of diamorphine for the purpose of sale or supply.

He said McArdle had failed to answer bail previously and had "gone to ground" to avoid arrest in relation to a previous case.

He had also failed to attend appointments at the Department of Social Protection and had only re-engaged with it at the beginning of the year.

Under cross-examination, Det Gda Kane agreed with Brian Gageby, for McArdle, that his solicitor had written to him on January 30 to make himself available and had since handed over his passport.

Mr Gageby said his client had had a section of his bowel removed and now carries around a colostomy bag.

He cannot lift anything heavier than a kettle and is more grounded because of his health difficulties, he said.

Returning judgment, Mr Justice Paul Burns said McArdle was sought by the Netherlands to serve a "substantial sentence" of 12 years and three months.

The defendant was a convicted person who did not enjoy the presumption of innocence and he had previously engaged in "evasion techniques".

Concerns

Referring to McArdle, the judge said he had emphasised in his affidavit that there had been a change of circumstances - that he was recently married, had a medical condition and co-operated with gardai.

However, Mr Justice Burns said his family circumstances were not that different from before and he had failed in the past to attend court.

Taking into account all the evidence, the judge said the State had satisfied the court on the balance of probabilities that McArdle was a flight risk.

Furthermore, Mr Justice Burns said he was not satisfied that terms and conditions could be set for bail, which would allay the court's concerns.

Rejecting McArdle's bail application, Mr Justice Burns remanded him in custody to July 20, when the full hearing of his extradition to the Netherlands will take place.
A brave child sex abuse survivor faced down her attacker in court yesterday and told him: "You took my childhood away from me."

Pamela McLoughlin made the comments at Wicklow Circuit Court at the sentencing hearing of sex offender Kenneth Tracey from Blessington.

Speaking to the Herald after the hearing, Ms McLoughlin said: "It is a relief to finally have my voice heard", revealing that Tracey will be sentenced at the court next Thursday on the day of her birthday.

Father-of-two Tracey (48) was granted bail pending his sentence finalisation next week after pleading guilty to seven sample charges of indecent assault against Ms McLoughlin (37) between July 1987 and July 1991, when she was aged between four and eight.

He was aged 15 when the abuse started and this continued until after his 19th birthday.

The facts of the case were outlined by Detective Garda Patrick Twomey, of Blessington Garda Station, who explained that the sexual abuse happened at Tracey's family home in Rockypool Crescent in the Co Wicklow town.

Tracey and Ms McLoughlin's mothers were almost next-door neighbours and on friendly terms, which meant the victim's mother visited the property with her daughter a number of times every week.

The detective estimated that there were at least 100 incidents of sexual abuse which happened on an almost weekly basis every time she visited the house.

The sexual abuse began in July 1987 when Ms McLoughlin was aged just four and continued until around the time that she made her first Holy Communion.

Det Gda Twomey explained that it was around this time that the child had heard a radio advertisement about sexual abuse and then realised that she had been the victim of this crime.

She went to her mother and talked about what had happened to her and from that time on she did not visit Tracey's home or have any more contact with him. However, no complaint was made to gardai at that stage in 1991.

The garda pointed out that the sexual abuse had two main forms - one was the then teenage Tracey placing the child's hands on his erect penis, while the other most common form of abuse she suffered was when he placed his hands inside her underwear and fondled her.

Harrowing evidence of a number of specific incidents were outlined, including an occasion when he spread the child's legs and then pretended to take a photograph of her.

On another occasion, the victim had been playing with her cousin when Tracey called her into a bedroom and then grabbed her arm but she screamed and he allowed her to leave.

Counselling

Det Gda Twomey explained that Ms McLoughlin grew up and went to Australia in 2009 with her then husband and while there she attended counselling.

Ms McLoughlin then made a complaint about the childhood sexual abuse to police in Sydney, who passed the information to gardai.

She came back home in August 2015 and made a complaint to gardai at this stage.

In December 2015, Tracey was first interviewed by appointment at Blessington Garda Station, stating that he had "no knowledge of the accusations".

Tracey was charged with multiple counts of indecent assault in July 2016, but did not plead guilty to the offences until last November at Wicklow Circuit Court when he was placed on the sex offenders register.

His defending barrister pleaded for leniency for his client, stating that he had no previous criminal convictions and had a history of depression and anxiety and two suicide attempts since being charged with the offences.

A number of specialist medical reports were offered to the court outlining his low-level IQ, one of which stated that the sex offender has "difficulty answering complex questions" which could lead to difficulties if he has to interact with other prisoners in a jail environment.

His lawyer told the court that Tracey felt shame, regret and remorse about his actions.

A letter from his brother was also read to the court, which outlined Tracey's paranoid behaviour and "lonely existence".

After hearing all the evidence, Judge Patrick Quinn said he would not make a decision on the case yesterday and adjourned it to next Thursday.

Speaking after the hearing, Ms McLoughlin told the Herald that she did not accept that Tracey had remorse, pointing out that he did not plead guilty for well over three years after being first charged with the indecent assault offences.

Earlier, in a moving victim impact statement in court, she spoke about the childhood impact of the abuse, the anger and isolation she felt, the depression and anxiety it caused her, the paranoia she feels about her own son's safety and her severe difficulties with the Irish justice and criminal process.

She outlined the breach of trust she had suffered from Tracey, who was more than 11 years older than her, and spoke about the horrific impact the abuse had had on her family, as well as her hopes for moving forward with her life.

"I am a victim but I am no longer Kenneth Tracey's victim. He can never hurt me again and I hope he never has the opportunity to hurt anyone else again either," she said.

"When it comes to the sexual abuse and molestation of children, we all need to step up to the plate and make a difference," she wrote in the impact statement which she read to the court.

"I hope that by coming forward and speaking out, I can encourage others who may be suffering in silence to come forward too, and in doing so take a stand against childhood sexual abuse.

"It is not easy but if speaking out prevents even one person from going through what I did then it will have been worth it."

Addressing Tracey directly, she said: "You took my childhood away from me. Some of my first memories are of you and what you did to me. I can't get that time back.

"I want you to know the severity of the impact the experience of sexual abuse has had on my life. I will be paying for your behaviour for the rest of my life. I am never going to fully get over it."

Predator

She also told the court that she believed Tracey still poses a danger to children.

"He was a predator and I am not convinced that he no longer is. His late guilty plea has not shown me any empathy," she said, pointing out how difficult it was to live in the same community as him and the devastation that he had caused her family, whom she paid tribute to for their support.

Ms McLoughlin also hit out at the justice system.

"I feel like I have been re-victimised. The case is before the courts since June 2016. The accused pleaded guilty in November 2019. That is a period of three years and five months.

"During this period I have felt isolated as a victim. I have not been offered access to any of the free services that the accused has been given access to," she said before paying tribute to investigating detective Patrick Twomey.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday made some significant gains in the ongoing hunt for dreaded gangster Vikas Dubey, the prime accused in last week's Bikru ambush wherein eight policemen died.

It killed an aide of Dubey in an encounter in Hamirpur district and arrested another following an encounter in Kanpur for their alleged role in the killings. Two policemen were also injured in the encounter in Hamirpur.

Amar Dubey, who carried a reward of Rs 25,000, was killed in an encounter in Maudaha village in Hamirpur district, Special Task Force IG Amitabh Yash said.

Superintendent of Police, Hamirpur Shlok Kumar said, "Acting on a tip off, a team of STF and local police surrounded Amar and he was injured in the firing and died during treatment in the hospital."

Two policemen including an Inspector from Maudaha and an STF constable were injured in the encounter. An automatic weapon used to fire at police and a bag was recovered from the spot, the SP said.

In a separate encounter, hours after Amar was gunned down in Hamirpur, another associate of the gangster was arrested in an encounter in Chaubeypur area in Kanpur, police said.

"Vikas Dubey's aide Shyamu Bajpai was arrested after an encounter with police in Chaubeypur area. Bajpai, carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 sustained bullet injury on his leg," SHO Chaubeypur KM Rai said.

According to sources, Amar was involved in the security of Vikas Dubey and travelled with him wherever he went while Bajpai too was close to the gangster.

Another two associates of Vikay Dubey -- Prem Prakash Pandey and Atul Dubey were killed by police in an encounter in Kanpur on Friday.

IG STF, said, "STF was tracking all those named in the FIR and wherever we get information we are taking help of local police. We are also trying to trace weapons of policemen taken away from the spot and also weapons used by the criminals to attack the police force."

About the delay in the arrest of Vikas Dubey, the IG said, "He is a hardened criminal and was used to hiding so it is taking time but we will surely nab him. We have started getting success."

Eight policemen were ambushed in Chaubeypur police station area when they were going to arrest Vikas Dubey and fell to bullets fired from rooftops shortly after midnight on Friday.

Vikas Dubey, the notorious criminal who carries a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh, is still absconding.
A son of the late one-time billionaire Jim Mansfield Snr has sued garda authorities and the DPP, claiming he was the subject of a "malicious prosecution".

Jim Mansfield Jnr (53) was accused of unlawfully possessing 180 rounds of .22 Walther ammunition without a firearms licence following a search of his home in Saggart, Co Dublin, in January 2015.

However, the case never went to trial and the charge, which he denied, was withdrawn three years later.

Now Mr Mansfield is seeking damages over the prosecution that he alleges was taken without reasonable and probable cause.

Abuse

In High Court proceedings initiated on Monday, he alleges malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office and abuse of statutory powers.

The action, being taken against the Garda Commissioner, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the DPP, the Justice Minister and the Attorney General, is expected to be hotly contested.

In a plenary summons, Mr Mansfield claims the defendants "conspired to manufacture a public perception" that he was involved in criminality.

He claims this involved the unlawful disclosure of sensi- tive personal data, in breach of the Data Protection Acts and his constitutional rights.

Mr Mansfield's solicitor Kevin Winters confirmed the proceedings had been issued and said he had also been engaged with the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and the Garda Commissioner "on some of the matters arising out of this".

Barrister Barra McGrory, the former DPP for Northern Ireland, has been instructed in the case on behalf of Mr Mansfield.

A similar charge was brought against Mr Mansfield's brother PJ (43), who was accused of possessing 1,252 rounds of .22- calibre ammunition without the relevant firearms licence.

However, a judge directed a jury to find him not guilty as the prosecution had not proved how many rounds of ammunition he was entitled to possess.

The brothers are sons of Jim Mansfield Snr, who died in January, 2014. He was the prominent businessman behind the Citywest Hotel, Weston Aerodrome and several other businesses and properties.

His empire collapsed during the recession in the late 2000s and most of his assets were seized by Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and the National Asset Management Agency.

The filing of the civil action by Mr Mansfield Jnr comes as he awaits trial at the Special Criminal Court in connection with the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne in 2015.

Conspiring

Last December, he was granted legal aid after the court heard he had a 6m judgment against him. It relates to a failed property venture.

Mr Mansfield Jnr denies charges of conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Mr Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing the destruction of CCTV footage.

Two figures associated with the INLA, Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy, were jailed after admitting the false imprisonment of Mr Byrne and other charges.
There has been local opposition to the proposed plant

A proposed 500m waste water treatment plant at Clonshaugh received planning approval "without any meaningful assessment of what comes out at the end of the pipe", the High Court has heard.

Oisin Collins SC made the claim yesterday when opening proceedings by customs and taxation consultant Sabrina Joyce-Kemper, one of a number of local residents objecting to the development intended by Irish Water to supplement the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Ms Joyce-Kemper, of Portmarnock Crescent, Portmarnock, is objecting to An Bord Pleanala's November 2019 permission for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project.

It comprises a wastewater treatment plant, sludge hub centre, orbital sewer, outfall pipeline and regional biosolids storage facility on a site of around 30 hectares in the townlands of Clonshaugh, Dubber and Newtown.

The "telescoped" hearing, which takes place via video link before Mr Justice Senan Allen, involves an application for permission for judicial review and the review itself.

Listed for 10 days, the case is against the board and the State, with Irish Water a notice party.

Fair

Among various claims, it is contended that the planning approval was given contrary to the requirements of two European Directives, the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and Habitats Directive, lacked sufficient reasons and was contrary to fair procedures.

The board denies the claims, and it and Irish Water argue that Ms Joyce-Kemper has limited legal standing, confining her to raising issues which she had raised during the public consultation process concerning the development.

Irish Water sought the development to cater for future population growth and because the Ringsend plant is operating at over-capacity, resulting in discharges of partially-treated sewage into Dublin Bay.

The plan involves 13km of underground orbital sewer from Blanchardstown to the Clonshaugh plant and a 12km outfall pipeline to bring the treated wastewater to Baldoyle and out to sea.

Ms Joyce-Kemper and other objectors are concerned the outfall pipeline discharges into the Rockabill to Dalkey Island Special Area of Conservation, within 1km of the Ireland's Eye Special Area of Conservation.

The planning application was preceded by a pre-application consultation process that began in October 2012 and continued for five years.

Ms Joyce-Kemper said that, for much of the process, Irish Water proposed to construct a larger plant in two consecutive planning application processes.

Towards the later stages of the consultation, Irish Water said it would build the treatment plant in a single phase to treat a population equivalent to 500,000 people rather than the 800,000 originally envisaged, she said.

A daily sea swimmer, Ms Joyce-Kemper's particular concern was about the impact on water quality in Portmarnock.
Gardai have uncovered a massive criminal operation led by an arms dealer based in Co Laois who has close links to the deadly McCarthy-Dundon gang.

The mob is suspected of providing a loaded Glock handgun to a 39-year-old man who had travelled from a location in Co Cork to collect the deadly weapon on Monday afternoon.

Detectives suspect that the gun was used as part of a simmering Traveller feud in Cork but an intelligence-led operation was put in place which led to the man's arrest on Monday.

The man, who is considered a "nobody" in terms of organised crime is suspected as acting as a "gopher" for the violent gang.

The arrested man, who is from the Charleville area, was still being questioned at Portlaoise Garda Station last night and gardai are hopeful of securing charges.

Gardai announced details of the bust on Monday night.

"As part of an intelligence-led operation conducted by gardai in Portlaoise attached to the District Detective Unit and District Drugs Unit, a car was stopped early this afternoon Monday, July 6, 2020, on the M7 at Clonkeen, Portlaoise, Co Laois," a garda spokeswoman said.

"Gardai carried out a search of the car and a Glock 17 handgun with ammunition was found and seized."

The gang which is suspected of supplying the handgun is also believed to have major involvement in drug trafficking, as well as organised burglaries.

Headquarters

Originally from Limerick, the gang is understood to use its location in the midlands beside a major motorway network to traffic guns and drugs across the country to multiple gangs - not just Traveller mobs.

The McCarthy-Dundon gang still has a serious presence in Ireland despite many of its main leaders being locked up.

Brothers Wayne, Dessie and John Dundon are all serving life sentences for murder.

Younger close associates of the brothers were arrested in April by the PSNI before being released without charge when they were questioned about the murder of their associate, hitman Robbie Lawlor, in Belfast.

Two women with close links to the gang were arrested days after Lawlor's murder on the M7 after being caught with 50,000 cash that was part payment for the brutal gun killing in Belfast.

They were released and a file will be prepared for the DPP.

Last month, a man previously described as the leader of the McCarthy-Dundon gang appeared in court charged in relation to the attempted murder of a rival.

Larry McCarthy, of Tower Lodge, Old Cork Road, Limerick city, was one of two men who were brought before the Special Criminal Court.

A source said: "This criminal organisation has been seriously weakened... but it is still a major force."

"The arms and drug dealers operating from Co Laois are a sub-cell of the criminal leaders who are now locked up in jail," the source added.
Parents tempted by a foreign holiday may be putting their child's chances of going back to school in late August or early September at risk.

Families planning a late break in the sun after months of lockdown will have to think of how it may jeopardise children's return to the classroom, principals have warned.

The current public health guidance is to avoid non-essential international travel and anyone arriving in Ireland, including residents, must self-isolate for 14 days.

The Cabinet is working on a "green list" of countries that may open for non-essential travel, but it has delayed publishing that until July 20 at the earliest after a surge in Covid-19 cases linked to international travel.

If restrictions are eased after July 20, it could trigger an exodus of sun-seeking holidaymakers. While returning travellers from "green list" countries may not have to quarantine for 14 days, foreign travel may still be deemed to be riskier than staying at home

The trade-off was spelled out by post-primary principals' leader Alan Mongey, who told the Oireachtas Coivd-19 Committee that reopening schools will "take a community effort".

"If parents want students returning to school in September, then heading off on a foreign holiday to Portugal or Spain will present significant challenges to schools accepting those students in September," he added.

Logistical

Mr Mongey, president of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), said they were aiming for a "full return" of schools in late August or early September.

The NAPD president and Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) chief executive Pairic Clerkin outlined to the committee the enormous logistical and public health challenges they face in reopening schools safely.

It includes extra funding for cleaning and health and safety supplies, as well as additional staffing support to oversee the implementation of health rules, and substitute teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to cover absences.

Mr Clerkin said the reopening of schools was "doable" provided they received the necessary resources.

Among the key issues for the IPPN is a national panel of substitute teachers.

"We can't have a classroom without a teacher. At the moment we have a situation were the first day of absence is not covered. We must have a panel that we can call on," he said.

Mr Clerkin said schools also needed a panel of substitute SNAs. It would avoid a situation where schools had to seek individual vetting of each SNA.

Mr Clerkin said the interim reopening guidelines were a work in progress and there were many issues on which they needed further clarity.
A crack team from the US investigating the mystery disappearance of American woman Annie McCarrick has received a "promising" new lead that could help solve the case.

Michael Griffith, a New York-based lawyer who was hired by Ms McCarrick's family in the 1990s to help with the missing persons investigation, was contacted following an article that appeared in Monday's Herald.

The article revealed that Mr Griffith and ex-FBI agent Kenneth Strange were planning to travel to Ireland later this year to try and find out what happened to the 26-year-old.

"I received an email from a person who had read the article," said Mr Griffith.

"It was a lengthy and detailed email and it has presented us with a new lead that is very promising.

"I can't go into the details at this stage but a member of our team in Ireland is following up and will meet the person who wrote it to establish the credibility of the lead.

"The information that was disclosed is new to us and is of a very sensitive nature."

Ms McCarrick was last seen taking a bus to Enniskerry on the afternoon of Friday, March 26, 1993.

The last confirmed sighting of the tall, striking 26-year-old was made by a former work colleague on the No 44 bus to Enniskerry at around 3.30pm.

Her father John, who spent years trying to find out what happened to her, died in 2009 with no answers.

Mr Griffith and Mr Strange have joined forces with Annie's uncle John Covell to try and finally solve the mystery.

The men have identified a prime suspect in the case and are hoping to get access to the cold case file on the initial investigation.

Files

The US-based team is being assisted by Brian McCarthy, an Irish private investigator who was initially hired by the McCarricks when their daughter went missing almost 30 years ago.

"We are also getting help from Joe Barnes, a criminal lawyer based in Dublin," said Mr Griffith.

"I will travel to Ireland in August and we are hoping we can get access to the garda files on this case. This is a cold case and we don't see why not."

At the time, gardai investigating her disappearance collected information to say that Annie visited Johnnie Fox's Pub, in the village of Glencullen, high in the Dublin Mountains.

Mr Griffith and the US-based team do not believe that information to be true.

"She didn't go there. Our own investigations have established that the sighting of her in the pub was a case of mistaken identity," he said.

"This new information would tally with our belief that she didn't go to the pub."

In an interview with the Herald, Ms McCarrick's aunt Maureen appealed to anyone who has information to share it with the private investigation team or gardai.

"Annie will never be forgotten by us," she said.

"I would ask anyone with information to put themselves in my family's position and try and imagine what the last 27 years without her and not knowing what has happened to her has been like.

"I would ask that they try and find it within themselves to come forward and disclose whatever they know."
An urban-rural divide is opening up in the debate over the reopening of pubs from coronavirus restrictions as TDs say businesses in the countryside should not suffer due to the behaviour of revellers in the capital.

Pubs in rural Ireland and tourist destinations should not be punished and prevented from reopening due to the behaviour of a small number of people, Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has said.

Kerry Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae said rural publicans are "genuinely afraid" they'll pay a "high price" due to people gathering outside pubs in Dublin who were "nearly up on top of each other's backs".

Pubs that sell food were allowed to reopen last week but the remainder of licensed premises cannot reopen until phase four of the Government's "roadmap" begins on July 20.

The wider reopening of pubs from coronavirus restrictions is at risk over concerns about social distancing outside bars.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said the Government was unhappy about incidents at some locations over the weekend and warned plans for the next phase of reopening remain "under review".

Major concern has been sparked by videos that emerged on social media over the weekend showing hundreds of young people congregating to drink on Dame Lane in Dublin city centre.

Mr Kelly was asked if the wider reopening of pubs should take place on July 20 given the scenes at the weekend.

He said there are communities and tourist areas that are "very much dependent on public houses opening on July 20".

He pointed to the Wild Atlantic Way and Hidden Heartlands tourist areas and how there had been campaigns to encourage people to holiday at home in Ireland.

"I think it would be wrong for those areas to be treated like that with a further closure because of the behaviour of a small number of people," he said.

Mr Kelly suggested that the Government look at ways to deal with the kinds of incidents seen at the weekend and that it's "more an enforcement issue rather than changing the July 20 date".

Takeaway

"I don't think it would be correct to punish those who are trying to make a living and people who are trying to get back into employment in tourist areas all over the country because of the behaviour of a small few," he added.

Some of the crowding has been blamed on pubs selling takeaway pints.

Mr Kelly said he did not think a ban on this practice would be enforceable as people could just go to an off licence.

Mr Healy-Rae told Newstalk Radio that he had visited pubs and restaurants in the "tourism capital of the world", Killarney, and they were all "operating 100pc in compliance" with public health rules. He said he wasn't blaming publicans.
The new Covid-19 tracker app will be able to alert people who were close contacts of a person who tested positive for the virus within hours, as opposed to the days it currently takes in some cases, HSE chief Paul Reid said.

Contact tracing is seen as a key part of the health service's ability to respond to new outbreaks following the easing of restrictions.

As of 9pm yesterday, the free app had been downloaded 730,000 times.

Mr Reid said 43,000 people were tested last week.

The average time from when a person gets a referral for a test to when their contacts have been traced is now running at less than two days.

Significant

The target was to complete this process within three days in 90pc of cases.

"The app fits in as part of that process. It is not a silver bullet but a significant element in contact and tracing," Mr Reid said.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly appealed to people to download the app.

It involves four separate strands - automated contact tracing, symptom tracking, daily information updates and the submission of anonymised data on user behaviours to the HSE.

"Together we have made a huge collective effort in recent months to limit the spread of Covid-19," Mr Donnelly said.

"As we ease restrictions, many important aspects of Irish life are returning and we are able to access more services and to meet more people.

"The introduction of the Covid tracker app will allow us to speed up reporting and tracing from the first onset of the symptoms of Covid-19, making the app's role in testing and contact tracing vital to the continued momentum of the reopening of Irish society and business."

He said that if every one of us asked everybody in our network to download, "we would be where we need to be".

The app, which is available from the Apple and Android app stores, works at its core by using Bluetooth technology to exchange 'handshakes' between different users.

There are anonymous keys to alert a user to being a close contact of someone who has tested positive.

A close contact is someone who was within two metres of a person who has tested positive for 15 minutes or more.

The close contact will be asked if they want to undergo a test for the virus.

Health officials are hoping for a 60pc uptake of the app, but any uptake would help.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said people are being asked to download the app and "until we have a vaccine or an effective treatment, testing and contact tracing are vital to our ongoing collective efforts to minimise the spread of Covid-19".

He added: "The app is integral to contact tracing, working in tandem with the key public health measures of social-distancing, hand washing, covering our coughs and wearing face coverings, helping us to stay safe and to protect each other."

One of the hurdles faced may be persuading people to go for a test if they are found to be a close contact. Between mid-May and the end of last month, 35pc of those identified as a close contact of a confirmed case did not take up the offer of a test.

Cluster

Dr Glynn said every case has the potential to turn into a cluster, which in turn has the potential to spread through a community.

"If you are identified as a close contact, please take up the offer of a test without delay," he added.

Commenting on the 730,000 downloads, he said it is one more example of the solidarity and collective spirit that has characterised the Irish public's response to Covid-19 to date.

"The app has the potential to reduce the time people are active in the community with infection, which will have a significant impact on the transmission of the disease," he said.

"The more people who download and use this app, the more effective it will be.

"It is a further opportunity for us to play our part in the response to Covid-19."
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New Delhi: Pakistan on Wednesday said former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, sentenced to death for alleged espionage, has refused to file a review and reconsideration petition and has instead preferred to follow up on his mercy petition.

Pakistan said that India has been invited to file review and reconsideration petition on his behalf. Pakistan Foreign office spokesperson said that the mercy petition is a separate process that has nothing to do with the review and reconsideration plea. Pakistan has also said that it is ready to give India second consular access to Jadhav and allow him to meet his wife and father.

The review and reconsideration petition can be filed by (a) Commander Jadhav himself, (b) legally authorized representative, or (c) a consular officer of the Indian High Commission. While Commander Jadhavs mercy petition is still pending, India is invited to file review and reconsideration petition to give effect to the Judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The foregoing has been conveyed to India through diplomatic channels as well, a Pakistani official said.

Rejecting Pakistani claims, India said that Jadhav has been coerced by the Pakistan military not to file a review petition. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Pakistan is trying to create a mirage of compliance with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order which has already held that Pakistan is in egregious violation of international law. The official said the Government of India will do its utmost to protect Jadhav and ensure his safe return to India.

To that end, it would consider all appropriate options, the official said. It is expected India may take Jadhavs case to the ICJ again.

Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a farcical trial. He remains under custody of Pakistans military. He has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case. India sought unimpeded access to Jadhav to discuss his remedies under the Ordinance. In a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy under the Ordinance, Pakistan has obviously coerced Jadhav to forego his rights to seek an implementation of the judgment of the ICJ, the MEA spokesperson said.

It is learnt that in June, India and Pakistan had remained engaged on Jadhavs matter but India did not get much help on its four main requests. India has sought a copy of the `unedited video and raw of the consular access provided to Jadhav in 2019, and all documents pertaining to his trial  copy of FIR, chargesheet, witness statements etc  which Pakistan has refused to give. While saying no video of the consular access will be given, Pakistan has told India that the copy of FIR, chargesheet etc it will be handed over only to the lawyer of Jadhav.

Pakistan has only accepted Indias request to provide it a copy of the newly enacted `International Court of Justice Review and Reconsideration Ordinance, 2020 which allows review petitions within a certain period of time.

India has also sought permission from Islamabad to hire a legal counsel for Jadhav from outside the country, even Indian lawyers, but this request has been turned down. India was told that only a Pakistani lawyer can take up this case and no one outside the country will be allowed.

Despite our repeated requests, Pakistan continues to deny India free and unimpeded access to Jadhav. Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with the ICJ judgment, the MEA spokesperson said.
Shane Ragsdale, formerly of Greenville, beloved son of Sheila June Winters and father Sariah Vanderwal-Ragsdale, passed away May 31, 2021 in the ICU of Hilo Hawaii hospital of pneumonia. Hi memorial service was held June 12, in Makapala, Hawaii. His fellowship on Earth will be missed; antici
(BPT) - This summer, as more Americans become vaccinated and temperatures rise, you may be ready to break quarantine and head outside. But this year, its more important than ever to remember to prioritize your skins health.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  After two years serving as the figurehead of Bristol, Tennessee, Margaret Feierabend handed over her seat and gavel to the citys new mayor, Mahlon Luttrell.

At its general business meeting on Tuesday evening, Bristol Tennessee City Council reorganized and voted to appoint Luttrell as mayor and Vince Turner as vice mayor.

My promise is that I will continue to do my best to serve all the citizens, employees and businesses of our wonderful city, Luttrell said. And we all know that our community, state and country has experienced difficult times and will probably see some more, but Bristol, Tennessee is a strong community, and I know that all of us working together will make it even stronger.

Both Luttrell and Turner were elected to their first terms on City Council in May 2019.

City Council also voted in favor of a resolution that authorizes the sale of nearly an entire block along Shelby Street to local development group A.G. Commercial. This resolution also claws back the original terms of a development plan City Council approved in October for a project that would replace the former Bristol Products and Coyne Textile buildings with a three-floor mixed-use building.
I would anticipate we will have a group of students who arent with us in person because of the health conditions of the student or a family member. I think well have some families who make the choice to attend school remotely, Perrigan said. In that situation, we will develop some type of unofficial contract with those families who are not with us in person that theyre following along and staying up to date.

Board member Tyrone Foster expressed concern that forcing teachers to work with students both in the classroom and remotely would put unnecessary pressure on them and concern about the academic welfare of students.

I just want to make sure ever how we start that our educators are aware and understand theyll have to do more, Foster said. There are probably some of our students that have fallen through the cracks from the spring.

Teachers provided online instruction in April and May while schools were closed, but student work wasnt graded and not all students participated and that could impact learning and, ultimately, test scores.
Deputies involved in a late-night shooting Tuesday on Whippoorwill Road describe a harrowing scene of an ambush along a dark and woodsy driveway. So dark was the night deputies had to look for the light of gunfire to identify where the suspect was hiding.

Two deputies, along with the suspect, were shot. One deputy was released. The other is in serious condition at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where the suspect is also listed in serious condition.

Wythe County Sheriff deputies were called to the home at 586 Whippoorwill Road shortly before 10 p.m. According to county records, the property is owned by Ricky Delk. Major Anthony Cline said that the suspects wife called 911 to report that during an argument her husband had fired a gun in the house. She took her daughter and ran from the home, a log house at the end of a winding asphalt driveway.

According to Cline, officers, believing the suspect was still in the home, gathered at the top of the driveway. He and a VSP officer hopped in a VSP armored Bearcat and started down the driveway. A group of law enforcement officers followed the armored vehicle.

We were going to negotiate, tell him to come out with your hands up, that kind of thing, Cline said.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  A bear attack was reported last weekend at a South Holston Lake campsite in Sullivan County, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Abingdon resident Matt Marvin told authorities he was sleeping in a hammock at an undeveloped campsite across the lake from the U.S. Highway 421 access area when he awoke early Sunday to a bear biting his foot, a TWRA release states. Marvin reportedly shot at the bear in self-defense.

The incident was first reported Sunday to the Washington County, Virginia, dispatch, and Marvin also contacted the TWRA on Monday, according to the release.

TWRA said the man provided a picture showing a small wound to his heel.

Marvin told investigators that he did not seek medical attention but will get the injury examined, according to the agency.

Wildlife officers have not been able to locate a dead or injured bear but did find human food left at the campsite, the release states.

Officials will post warnings about bear activity in the area.
The recovery rate in India is fast picking up as on Wednesday it reached 61.53 per cent, and the gap between the infected and recovered too widened.

During the last 24 hours, 16,883 patients of novel coronavirus were discharged taking the cumulative figure of recovered cases to 4,56,830 so far while 2, 64, 944 are still under medical supervision.

With more COVID-19 patients recovering, the gap between the number of recovered cases and active cases has increased by 1,91,886 as on date.

India on Wednesday recorded a total 7,21, 417 COVID-19 cases overall out of which 22,752 were fresh cases.

The deaths so far in the country is 20, 642 out of which 482 fatalities occurred in the last 24 hours. Cases are picking up in southern states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh while the situation in Maharashtra and Delhi is slowly improving.

Maharashtra reported just 6,603 fresh cases as COVID-19 cases in Mumbais Dharavi come under control. However, Maharashtra still has the highest number of total cases  2, 23, 724  and highest numbers of deaths  9448 out of which 198 were on Wednesday.

Delhi registered 2033 new cases and 48 deaths taking its total number of infected to 1, 04, 864 and 3218 deaths.

However, as cases pick up in Bihar, the state government has decided to put Patna, Bhagalpur and some other places under lockdown from July 9 to 16 during which only essential services shops will be allowed to remain open.

Economist Prof Steve Hanke of Johns Hopkins University has pointed out that higher cases in India are due to lack of medical infrastructure and under testing.

Even with its hard #Lockdown, #India now has the 3rd highest number of #COVID19 cases. No surprise. Just as I predicted: A #Modi #LockdownFailure. A lockdown does not make more #Hospital beds or #Tests, he tweeted.

However, the union health ministry officials said that higher testing has led to more detection of cases which is helping in containing the situation.

The number of samples tested for detection of COVID-19 is substantially growing every day. During the last 24 hours, 2,62,679 samples have been tested. The cumulative number of samples tested, as of now is 1,04,73,771. As a result, the tests per million today stand at 7180, said health ministry officials.

The World Health Organisation has acknowledged emerging evidence of airborne spread of the COVID-19. The WHO said it would put out a new scientific brief within days.

To strengthen the Central governments efforts to reduce COVID-19 mortality, AIIMS Delhi has started tele-consultation guidance to state doctors on COVID Clinical Management.

CIPLA has launched 'CIPREMI' the generic version of Remdesivir. The company CEO Nikhil Chopra said that the drug is amongst the lowest priced globally, and CIPLA aims to supply over 80,000 vials within the first month itself.

To further ensure equitable distribution, CIPREMI will be available via Government and Hospital channels only. Cipla will also be donating some amount of the drug as part of its efforts to support the community in this time of need, Mr Chopra said.
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. --- All of the school systems in Sullivan County are planning to start the 2020-2021 school year in the first week of August, with options for students to attend in person or do so digitally.

Leaders from Bristol Tennessee City Schools, Kingsport City Schools and Sullivan County Schools and the Sullivan County Regional Health Department announced a back-to-school operations plan for the 2020-21 school year at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Bristol, Tennessee and Kingsport will start school on August 3. Sullivan County Schools does not have an exact date set yet but will start its year sometime between August 3 and August 5.

The plan the districts unveiled was created through collaboration among the three school systems and the county health department. The plan includes separate guidelines for situations where there is little or no community spread, when there is moderate community spread and when there is substantial spread.

Though the framework was created collaboratively, each school system is working to set in place their own district-specific procedures for the 2020-21 academic year.

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BRISTOL, Va.  In response to hardships many are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, The United Co. Foundation Ministrys soup kitchen is providing its clients with food boxes instead of soup.

The soup kitchen, which is on the campus of the former Sullins College in Bristol, Virginia, started the food box program in June, and it continues through July. One box provides enough food for each recipient to have a lunch every day for a month, said Peggy Littleton of The United Co. Foundation.

Michelle Booher, executive director of the Soup Kitchen, said that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic deepened the need for the pantrys service in the community. She added that the pandemic also made the staff more aware of food preparation practices.

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Fortunately, the way the food is packaged, its like getting takeout, and since some of our recipients are older and challenged in their mobility, having these meals brought to them during this time is an increasingly essential service, Booher said.

For more than two decades, the soup kitchen has prepared and delivered soup, crackers and milk five days a week to Bristol, Virginia residents in need. It is one of the largest free kitchen programs in the region, according to a news release from The United Co. Foundation.
For the first time, fresh Corona positive cases in Karnataka crossed the 2,000 mark and stood at 2062 while the deaths recorded touched 54.

While all the ministers and MLAs have placed their bets on chief minister Mr BS Yediyurappa to decide on complete lockdown, the onus is now on the CM to control the rising cases.

Mr Yediyurappa also held a meeting with health experts on Wednesday, who is believed to have raised concerns over the death numbers. The total deaths in the state is nearing 500 and till Wednesday it stood at 470. Bengaluru alone has been the major contributor of the death toll in the state.

Wednesday's health bulletin came as a shocker to the government as it had denied any community outbreak to the centre and the source of infection wa yet to be traced in more than 1300 cases.

Bengaluru again topped the list with 1148 cases. The containment zones in the city have doubled up in the recent days.

Till May 31, Bengaluru had 63 zones and jumped to 487 by June 30. Till July 7, the city had 3276 containment zones and with the fresh 1148 cases, it is expected to go up further.

Sources from the health department revealed that the chief minister is being apprised about the developments and has been informed that July will be very crucial and only a strict complete lockdown will be able to bring the swelling numbers under control.

The source also revealed that it has asked the team working on plasma treatment to speed up plasma collection and help treat virus positive patients, piling up which has led to a panic situation among city residents who are shifting to their rural natives across the state to prevent infection.
Jenni Vincent

jvincent@herald-mail.com

MARTINSBURG, W.Va.  Berkeley County Board of Education members are joining with other school district officials in the effort to bring students back into classrooms in August.

Superintendent of Schools Patrick Murphy said during Monday nights board meeting that the planning process isnt yet finished, but it has been deliberate and included input from students families parents as well as staff members.

A special board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday to further discuss plans, and will be streamed online for public viewing.

We very much would like to have students physically return to school at the beginning of the school year, so we are looking at a host of different ways we can accomplish that, he said.

Right now we are preparing to open up and have students return to school five days a week when we are ready to go. But there is still more planning and decision-making that needs to happen, he said.

Gov. Jim Justice closed school buildings statewide in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first day of school for students had originally been set for Aug. 18, and that is still the goal, Murphy said.

A new normal is to be expected, he said.

It may look different, and it may be initially that we only go to school for part of the day five days a week, he said.

Were going to have to change our behavior as far as how we interact, how long things are going to take in terms of practicing social distancing and what that will actually look like, he said.

Families may choose not to send their children back to school, and a remote education option also will be available, he said.

We are going to be coming back to you with a little more definition as we move forward with it, he said.

Two surveys were distributed recently to seek input during the planning process, to get an idea about what people may want and their concerns about schools reopening, he said.

In looking at our priorities, I think the safety and well-being of students are at the forefront, he said.

Other priorities include providing a safe environment, bridging the learning gap that has occurred since students left the classroom and giving students socialization opportunities, he said.

The majority of family members who responded to the survey preferred face-to-face classroom teaching done in compliance with federal health guidelines, he said.

They want their students to return to school five days a week, he said.

They also favored temperature checks and enhanced facilities cleaning but were split on wearing face coverings, he said.

Staffers who responded to the survey do have some reservations about returning and also felt face coverings were very important, he said.
Alexis Fitzpatrick

afitzpatrick@herald-mail.com

Several local agencies will have to wait to learn how much, if any, funding from the city of Hagerstown they will receive for the new fiscal year.

The Hagerstown mayor and council decided Tuesday to hold off on the city's annual funding of eight agencies pending an evaluation of the city finances following the first quarter of the fiscal year which began July 1.

Finance Director Michelle Hepburn said those numbers won't be known until August or September. She said the city should not have a deficit for the fiscal year that just ended, but the estimated deficit for the current fiscal year is already at $1.5 million.

Hepburn said the agencies that annually receive various amounts of funding from the city are also currently working on their budgets and have inquired about what to expect. She said the agencies typically receive 25% of the money from the city during the fiscal year's first quarter.

A majority of agencies have also received some sort of COVID-19 assistance, such as through the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, she said. Hepburn addedshe did not want to wait too longto give the agencies an answer on what funding they could expect to receive from the city.

Here's a list of what the agencies have requested from the city, and what they have received or is pending from noted outside sources for fiscal year 2021:

 Museum of Fine Arts-Washington County  $40,500 in proposed city funding along with $10,000 for last year's obligation; received $160,600 from PPP,Maryland State Arts Council and state funds, and $216,597 pending from a source not named in council documents.

 Community Rescue Service  $25,100 in proposed city funding; received $664,610 from PPP.

 Hagerstown Municipal Band  Canceled request for $18,000.

 Hagerstown Neighborhood Development Partnership  $28,450in proposed city funding; received $20,400 PPP.

 Maryland Symphony Orchestra  $16,550in proposed city funding; received $291,350 from PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan and $10,000 pending from Washington County's Rise Up program.

 The Maryland Theatre  $9,000in proposed annual city funding plus additional $100,000 promised; received $63,274 from PPP, Community Foundation of Washington County, Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, and pending unknown amount from Rise Up.

 Washington County Free Library  $30,500in proposed city funding; received $795,892 from PPP and grants.

 Washington County Historical Society  $4,000in proposed city funding; received $63,255 from PPP, Maryland COVID-19 grant and Maryland Humanities, and unknown amount pending from Rise Up.

The city is also obligated to pay a final $2,500 installment to Discovery Station.

Councilman Austin Heffernan said the council should look at every item in the budget, and decreases should be done "across the board."

Councilwoman Emily Keller agreed, saying the city should pay its obligations while also looking at everything else.

Some organizations, such as the Community Rescue Service, have already received far more money from outside sources than they get from the city annually and that should be considered, according to Councilman Lew Metzner.He said he expects the city to be "cutting substantially" across its budget, not just for the agencies.

Keller said the Community Rescue Service's revenue has been down due to fewer 911 callsas people have been trying to avoid going to the hospital.

Councilwoman Shelley McIntire suggested cutting 25% of each agency's contribution as some are still not open.

Mayor Bob Bruchey said he didn't think 25% was enough and the agencies should be told everything is pending the outcome of the city's first quarter.

The work session marked the first time the group met in person since mid-March. The room was set up to accommodate social distancing, and masks and hand sanitizer were provided.
Jenni Vincent

jvincent@herald-mail.com

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va.  Plans are being finalized for Jefferson County Schools' students to return to classrooms five days a week, Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson said Monday.

Months of collaboration and work have gone into the draft reentry plan tentatively scheduled to be released Monday at the board of education meeting, Gibson said in a news release.

Everything from the delivery of instruction to transportation has been redesigned since school buildings were closed statewide in mid-March because of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

Returning students to classrooms is vital, she said.

Our children are suffering significantly every day we do not serve them, she said. Childrens educational, physical, and mental health needs are best met on site, in school, by certified service and professional staff rather than virtually.

Reentry plan components include:

 Students will be in school Monday through Friday, and bus transportation will be provided within the limitations issued by the state Department of Education.

The school day will be shortened to provide for additional deep cleaning as required by state education officials and the Jefferson County Health Department.

All students and staff will be issued personal protection equipment appropriate for their developmental level, with guidelines on when and where they may be required.

A modified schedule is possible for the first week back as students train in small groups on safety protocol and address fears or anxieties. School district officials anticipate that week two will be a full, regular schedule.

 Each teacher will begin the new school year with a Google Classroom account. Students will be taught how to use school-district-issued devices so they can be used if schools are shut down again.

The first day for students had been set for Aug. 17 in the previously approved school calendar, and that will still be the beginning of the first week of school, said Hans Fogle, school district spokesman.

But we do anticipate a staggered start. That means not all students will start that day, Fogle said in an email.

We anticipate welcoming all students back safely five days a week in the second week of school that begins Monday, Aug. 24, he said.

Additional information on the plan is available online at boe.jeff.k12.wv.us.

Community input is also being sought, and comments can be made online at https://my.thoughtexchange.com/#216749403/leader.
Mike Lewis

mlewis@herald-mail.com

On June 22, the first day the Valley Mall reopened, Julie Rohm stopped a shopper and offered her a free face mask.

The customer, who had dropped by the mall on a trip from Ohio, was surprised to learn that she had to wear a mask in Maryland retail establishments.

"It didn't dawn on her at all," Rohm said.

Rohm described the exchange as "very cordial." But she said it was an early sign of how the coronavirus, and efforts to stop it, have put new requirements on shoppers and sellers. She also said it was an early sign that different rules in different states have led to confusion.

In Maryland, for example, Gov. Larry Hogan has issued an executive order requiring people older than age 9 to wear masks or face coverings on public transportation and inside stores and restaurants (except when eating). Adult customers with children ages 2 through 9 are to use "reasonable efforts to cause those children to wear face coverings" while in stores andrestaurants.

A person who does not comply can face a criminal charge that includes a penalty of up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $5,000, according to the order. Businesses can face civil penalties.

To the north, Pennsylvania has no penalty for people who refuse to wear a mask.

"Businesses are supposed to be enforcing the masking order in Pennsylvania that requires all individuals who are inside any building to wear a mask," Nate Wardle, a spokesman for the state Department of Health, wrote in an email Tuesday.

"We want Pennsylvanians to show kindness and compassion for one another, and consider the potential health effects for other people by masking up each time they go inside a building, and all times outdoors in which they cannot social distance," he wrote.

In West Virginia, with the number of COVID-19 cases rising, Gov. Jim Justice on Monday issued an executive order that requires face coverings in all indoor places where 6 feet of social distancing cant be maintained. The order applies to anyone age 9 or older. But it does not apply to anyone who has trouble breathing. People with medical issues are asked to instead wear a face shield.

'They're not bouncers'

Hogan's order was issued on April 15.

"As time has gone on, the more people have kind of become frustrated" with the requirements, Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Association, said on Tuesday.

She said the association's members are reporting more confrontations over the mask requirements, and they put businesspeople in an uncomfortable position.

"Retail employees are not security. They're not bouncers," she said.

Locklair said the group has received specific directions from state agencies, such as the Maryland State Police.

If a shopper is not wearing a mask, the business must ask the person to don one.

If the customer does not listen to those requests, the business is to contact police, she said. An officer must ask the customer three times to put on a mask if the person wants to remain in the store.

If the person still does not comply, she said, the officer is to remove the person from the store.

In general, businesses are trying to be empathetic with customers, knowing that people might be under more stress than usual.

"The majority of people are doing their best to be respectful," Locklair said.

"We don't want to go back to where we came from. ... We want everything to stay open."

'A tough position'

At the Valley Mall, Rohm echoed those sentiments.

"We're doing everything we can to be compliant. It is a state mandate," she said. "We want to be compliant so we can remain open."

Rohm said she and other staff members are offering free masks to shoppers, like the woman from Ohio, who do not have them.

"It's awkward for the business owner" who is accustomed to serving customers, not confronting them, she said.

Retailers also can find themselves caught between customers. Rohm said some shoppers have complained about others who are not wearing masks, even though those people were eating at the time.

Rohm also said some people might have health issues that preclude them from wearing a mask.

"It's a learning curve. This is new to all of us," Rohm said. "It's temporary, but we need to adjust."
Shawn Hardy

Greencastle Echo-Pilot

GREENCASTLE, Pa.  Greencastle-Antrim High School students were able to resume their regular studies online after schools were closed due to COVID-19 thanks to the iPads they each received in January under the first part of the districts Equal Technology Opportunities initiative.

District officials are hoping a coronavirus-related grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will put the same technology in the hands of middle school students.

Members of the school board supported including iPads for middle-schoolers in the application for a School Health and Safety Grant through the commission at last weeks meeting.

Purchasing educational technology for distance learning to ensure the continuity of education is one way the grant money can be spent, according to the website of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The federal CARES Act funding also covers expenses associated with cleaning, training, equipment and other health and safety needs related to COVID-19.

The district is applying for $236,000.

Caroline Royer, chief financial officer, said the district will need $55,000 to $56,000 for things like masks, hand sanitizer and cleaning. The remainder would be available for online learning.

A four-year lease program for middle school iPads would cost $178,000 in the first year and $57,462 in each of the three remaining years, Dwight Bard, director of technology, explained. If the grant is received, it will cover the first year. The district will be responsible for the ensuing three years.

No official vote was taken, but school board members supported including the middle school technology in the grant application, which had to be submitted by June 30.

The middle school iPad rollout was scheduled for this fall, but funding was not included in the 2020-21 budget.

Dr. Carter Davidson said the grant could provide free money for something we cant afford.

Schools closed in March, and Greencastle-Antrim High School studentsresumed coursework in regular classes online on April 6. Teachers were only able to provide guidance in several subject areas for younger students, who do not all have the same access to technology.

Davidson, who has five children, said, It was a much bigger struggle for the younger kids than the older kids.

Its not the device ... it's the technology and actions that go with it, said Scott Hart, who has four children in the district. He added that this gives our kids a better shotif schools have to be closed again.

Shannon Blanchard, with two children in the school system, said individual iPads provide consistent curriculum across grade levels.

We dont know what the fall will look like, said Dr. Kendra Trail, superintendent. Will there be another round of COVID?

Its an absolute need, said board member Mark Chimel. Were not going to be able to use paper forever.
Amber South

Chambersburg Public Opinion

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.  WellSpan Health is consolidating its birthing services in Franklin County by moving the labor, delivery and inpatient pediatric services at Waynesboro Hospital to Chambersburg Hospital.

The transition will take effect on Sept. 18.

The health system stated the move will give delivering mothers and newborns better access to specialized care, including the Level 2 neonatal intensive care unit at Chambersburg Hospital. The unit, which opened in 2016, treats babies born at at least 32 weeks gestation and those with unexpected medical complications.

Patient trends show more newborns in the county need specialized care, according to Sherri Stahl, senior vice president of WellSpan Health, in a news release announcing the change. In such cases, having the birthing services in a location where comprehensive specialty care is available eliminates the need to transport a baby to another hospital.

The consolidation will affect 23 positions in Waynesboro Hospital's birthing unit. WellSpan Health officials said they are working with these employees to identify other job opportunities in the health system.

We certainly recognize the talent and skills of that team, Stahl said. We value them and will work to keep them here at WellSpan so that patients in Franklin County will continue to be touched by their caring hands and hearts.

Pediatric services for testing, imaging, outpatient surgery and emergency services will continue to be offered at WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital following the move.

Our focus is on meeting the needs of delivering mothers and newborns in Franklin County, said Dr. Angelique Ridore, WellSpan obstetrician-gynecologist, in the release. "Were carefully planning the transition to ensure it will be smooth for our patients and honor their birth plans. Expectant mothers will continue to receive care from many of the same providers they know and trust from our WellSpan OB/GYN practice locations.

In the release, WellSpan encouraged expectant mothers with questions to call 800-713-7720 or their health care providers office.
Matthew Umstead

mumstead@herald-mail.com

MARTINSBURG, W.Va.  A circuit judge appointed a new defense attorney on Tuesday for one of four people charged in connection with the August 2019 shooting death of 40-year-old Thomas P. Dove Jr.

Christian Riddell was appointed by 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge Laura Faircloth to represent Brooklyn Z. Johnson after the judge confirmed with the defendant that an "irreparable breakdown" of the attorney-client relationship had occurred with his previous attorney, Stephanie Scales-Sherrin.

Johnson, along with Nashaun M. Howard, Jennifer N. Thomas and Deana Albrecht, aka Deana Abrecht, have been charged with single counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with Dove's death on Aug. 23, 2019, according to court records.

The defendants' trial is set to begin on Sept. 14. The trial had been scheduled for June 8, but it was continued due to coronavirus-related concerns.

In her motion to withdraw from the case, Scales-Sherrin also cited a possible conflict of interest with a witness for the state in the case and noted that Johnson had indicated he was searching for new legal counsel, records said.

The judge appointed Riddell in the interim as Johnson potentially retains another attorney.

In other matters, the judge deemed as moot attorney Matthew Yanni's motion for a speedy trial on behalf of Thomas, because the trial is scheduled within the current May term of court.

The current term ends in October.

Thomas previously waived her right to a speedy trial at the beginning of the February term of court, when she and the co-defendants were indicted on the charges in Berkeley County Circuit Court.

Yanni advised the court that Thomas, who was being held in Eastern Regional Jail on Tuesday night, has been unable to post bail, records said.

Dove was found on the front steps of a home in the 2300 block of Paynes Ford Road south of Martinsburg with multiple gunshot wounds, according to court records and police. He was later pronounced dead at Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg.

Thomas told police she was looking to get high before the incident and knew Howard and Johnson were dealers of what is known as Molly, or Boot, court records said.

Police have said that Dove apparently was shot while running away from the shooters, police have said.
In a major development that is bound to create more tensions between the Congress and the ruling BJP, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday set up an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into violation of various legal provisions of PMLA, Income Tax Act, FCRA etc by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

As per the ministry's notification, a Special Director of the ED will head the committee.The committee will also investigate two other organisations: The Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

The latest development amid allegations by BJP chief JP Nadda that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, which is headed by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, had received funds from the Chinese government.

On June 29, Nadda had 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.

Nadda had also asked the Congress to come clean on its "links" with China, and the details of its MoU with the Communist Party of China.

The BJP chief had also attacked 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.

The Congress, however, dismissed Nadda's attack on the RGF over alleged donations to it from the Chinese embassy as a "diabolical game of deception" by the ruling party to divert attention from the alleged Chinese occupation of Indian territory.
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Delhi riots 2020 investigation, as it is unfolding is becoming more interesting than a thriller. If in February anyone asked what is common between Zakir Naik, Umar Khaled, Khaled Saifi, Ishrat Jahan and Tahir Hussain, the answer might have been NONE. For the record, Zakir Naik is the so-called renowned comparative religion scholar who shared the stage with luminaries and even went to Lal Bahadur Academy at the invitation of the academy and addressed 160 IPS trainee officers (plus 10 officers from Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives). Umar Khalid is a JNU scholar, Khalid Saifi is associated with India against hate, Ishrat Jahan is a former Congress municipal councillor and Tahir Hussain is a sitting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from a North East Delhi constituency. However as the events are unfolding, the nexus is becoming clear.

As the background unfolds, Khalid Saifi went to Malaysia to meet with wanted radical Islamist preacher Zakir Naik as the CAA protests on the Shaheen Bagh model were being set up all over India. An investigation of Saifi shows that he met various individuals including Zakir Naik to raise funds for the riots. According to a status report filed by Delhi Polices Special Cell, Saifi received funds for the riots through an NRI account from Singapore. These funds were reportedly transferred to an NGO co-run by Umar Khalid our scholar from JNU who had made his inciting speech at Amravati. Saifi also allegedly received funds from Saudi Arabia and radical Islamist organization, Peoples Front of India (PFI).

Then Ishrat Jahan makes her entry in the scene and becomes another conduit for receiving foreign funds. The money was transferred to her via a suspicious route in Ghaziabad and her relatives in Maharashtra. Ishrat Jahan was also arrested by Delhi Police in March for her involvement in the Delhi riots case. Last but perhaps the most important link in the chain is Tahir Hussain who stepped in now. Umar Khalid, suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and Saifi are told to be close friends. Tahir Hussain was the one to put the money to sinister use by mobilizing Delhi Riots in February 2020.

The most enduring images of Delhi Riots were of Tahir Hussain on his terrace walking around as if supervising the riot, prepared to hurl stones, at innocent people. The burnt clothes, the acid bottles, and the burnt vehicles in the parking lot bear witness to it all. All these littered around his infamous building lead to Tahir Hussain. Who can forget the innocent smiling face of 26-year-old Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma, whose body was retrieved from a drain near Delhis Chand Bagh on February 26, 2020? The autopsy report stated, Multiple abrasion.. deep cut.. by sharp edge objects. The panel of doctors, who carried out post mortem, clearly stated that he was brutally and repeatedly stabbed, leading to his death.

The charge sheet in Ankit Sharma case explicitly mentions that Tahir Hussain hatched the plans for riots in January when Hussain met Umar Khalid and Khalid Saifi at Shaheen Bagh. Delhi police filed two more charge sheets in cases related to the February riots in northeast Delhi. In both, the police charged suspended AAP councillor, Tahir Hussain. According to eyewitness accounts, AAP councillor was seen leading forty to fifty rioters inciting them on religious lines. The two charge sheets relate to two separate incidents of violence during the riots  the first, related to arson and rioting at a parking lot in Chand Bagh.

Tahir Hussain along with his accomplice broken shutter and went ahead ransacking the place. Their food was being prepared for a wedding. The food was thrown and the people were terrorized later the parking lot was set afire by a local bombing which at least a hundred vehicles were gutted. In the second FIR Tahir Hussain has been charged with arson and robbery at a godown of essential goods in Karawal Nagar. Both cases have been filed based on eyewitness accounts, CCTV footage, and Tahir Hussains WhatsApp conversations.

The unfolding denouement is like a painting of a sinister design that slowly comes into vision as the fogs and layers of conspiracy get lifted. The involvement of people from diverse backgrounds, wide geographic division, acting in unison over a period of time can not be anything but the unfolding of a strategic design masterminded and perpetrated by tukde tukde gang, intellectuals, corrupt politicians, who seek culmination of their designs by shattering religious amity, spreading hate and engineering violence. If the collateral costs are over 50 innocents dead, thousands homeless, hundreds critically injured, property worth thousands of crores gutted and a sense of perpetual sense of fear in the airso what.

(This article has been written by Prof. Vijita. S. Aggarwal who teaches in GGSIPU)

Source : OpIndia
Actor Neetu Kapoor turns 62 on Wednesday, weeks after the death of her husband, Rishi Kapoor. Neetu stood by his side like a rock, Rishi had said, as he underwent treatment for cancer over the last couple of years.

She was with him in New York City, where the couple was stationed for a year. And it was with Neetu by his side that Rishi returned to his home, in Mumbai. Talking about caring for Rishi during his cancer treatment, Neetu had told Times Now in an interview, My first reaction was, obviously very bad, I was devastated, my kids were devastated. We didnt know what to do. But then we thought to ourselves that this is it, we have to deal with it. Where he (Rishi) is concerned, he was in denial. For 4-5 months, he was not himself. I think when you start accepting that this is your issue, then you are stronger. I feel he is much stronger for the past, maybe 5-6 months.

Also read: Neetu Kapoor, daughter Riddhima share pictures from Thursday night dinner

The couple tied the knot in 1980, and has two children: actor Ranbir Kapoor and jewellery designer Riddhima Kapoor Sahni. Rishi and Neetu worked together in 12 films over the course of their careers. On her birthday, here are some of their best pictures together, and with the Kapoor family.

Her most recent picture with Rishi was posted on June 28. She captioned it, Big or small We all have a battle to fight in our heads you may have a huge house with all the luxuries and still be unhappy whereas have nothing n be the happiest its all a state of mind !! All one needs is a strong mind n hope for a better tmrw !!! Live with gratitude ,hope ,work hard !!!! Value your loved ones as thats your biggest wealth.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Late actor Rishi Kapoors daughter Riddhima hosted a family dinner for mom Neetu Kapoor on the eve of her birthday with brother Ranbir Kapoor joining in to be by their side. She shared a few photos from the quiet celebration on Instagram late Tuesday.

After sharing glimpses how she was prepping for her Neetus birthday on her Instagram stories, Riddhima finally shared a family picture to wish her mother at midnight. Sharing a picture with her and Ranbir from the dinner, she wrote, Happiest bday my Iron Lady I love you so much Ma. It shows Neetu in black and Riddhima in white while Ranbir is in a floral green tee.

Ahead of the dinner, Riddhima shared a selfie with Neetu and captioned it, Dinner ready - Moms bday eve!. She went on to share another solo picture of Neetu posing in front of the balloons and wrote in caption, My birthday girl. During the day, she had shared a few pictures about how she was decorating their Mumbai home and getting ready for the dinner. She shared a picture of the many balloons that adorned a corner and had birthday messages for Neetu printed on them.

Riddhima Kapoor shares a glimpse of Neetus birthday celebration.

Riddhima Kapoor shared quite a few throwback pictures of mother Neetu ahead of her birthday.

Riddhima also shared a few throwback pictures with Neetu as a build-up. She captioned one of the pictures, which showed Neetu posing with granddaughter Samara, My mommys birthday eve. While many of her followers wished Neetu in the comments section of their dinner ready picture, Riddhima went on to disable the comments section while posting the birthday wish post.

Also read: Happy birthday Neetu Kapoor: Her best pics from family album with Rishi, Ranbir, Riddhima

The Kapoors have been coping with the death of Rishi together as a family. Riddhima, who couldnt attend the last rites of her father and travelled by road to reach from Delhi to Mumbai amid lockdown, hasnt left Neetus side ever since. Her daughter Samara has also been staying with her in Mumbai.

The family recently welcomed a Shih tzu pup and named him Doodle Kapoor. She regularly posts adorable pictures of how the little ball of fur has been bonding well with his senior, Dudley.s

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Actor Shahid Kapoor and wife Mira Rajput celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on Tuesday. After Mira shared a few throwback pictures during the day, Shahid shares a picture from the celebrations at home, on Instagram.

Sharing a fresh couple picture on Instagram, the Kabir Singh actor wrote, 5 years. Gone by in a flash. Found beauty in the smaller things. Found happiness within not without. Found meaning to together we can. Found myself a little more walking by your side my love. Thank you for being you. And thank you for helping me be a better me. Happy anniversary my love. Both of them can be seen twining in indigo as they smile for the camera.

Mira, had however, shared an anniversary post with a quirky message for husband Shahid. Sharing a picture from their sangeet ceremony, shed wrote, 5 years, 4 souls, 3 homes, 2 babies and 1 beautiful family. Theres nobody Id rather be on this journey called life than you my love. I fall in love with you more every day. And Im the luckiest girl in the world to have the love of my life be my best friend. Thank you for everything, for being my strength and for walking through everything together, hand in hand. I love you.

Giving Shahid the success mantra for a happy marriage, she wrote, You make me laugh like no one else. And more often than not Im laughing at you. Please dont forget. Wife is always right. And the three golden words will always be I am sorry. To many more years of us.

Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput on their wedding day and during their sangeet ceremony.

Also read: Happy birthday Neetu Kapoor: Her best pics from family album with Rishi, Ranbir, Riddhima

She had also shared a picture from their wedding day and captioned it, Gratitude. It showed them bowing their heads in a gurudwara to seek blessings of the almighty.

Shahid and Mira had an arranged marriage in 2015. The two are parents to three-year-old daughter Misha and one-year-old son Zain.

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Actor Soni Razdan has defended her husband, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, from allegations of nepotism. Soni was involved in an exchange about depression with screenwriter Apurva Asrani on Twitter, when a person called Mahesh the flagbearer of nepotism.

Soni wrote back, Youre so ill informed. My husband has given more breaks to new comers than any one else in this industry. There was a whole long period of time where he refused to work with stars. Then he was accused of not working with stars ! Do ur homework and then talk please.

Youre so ill informed. My husband has given more breaks to new comers than any one else in this industry. There was a whole long period of time where he refused to work with stars. Then he was accused of not working with stars ! Do ur homework and then talk please.  Soni Razdan (@Soni_Razdan) July 7, 2020

Soni had previously addressed the topic in a Twitter response to filmmaker Hansal Mehta. She had written, The expectation that people have because of whose son or daughter you are is much more. Also those who r ranting about nepotism today and who have made it on their own will also have kids one day. And what if they want to join the industry? Will they stop them from doing so?

The debate around nepotism has been reignited after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, whom many have claimed was marked as an outsider in the film industry, because of which he suffered professionally. Following a barrage of criticism, Soni disabled comments on her Instagram account. She wrote in a post, Love it. Used to also love all your feedback and comments on my Instagram posts. Sadly I had to turn that off as I was getting the filthiest abusive muck on it for absolutely no good reason.

Also read: Pooja Bhatt can only laugh at accusations of nepotism, reminds Kangana Ranaut was launched in a Bhatt production

Mahesh Bhatts elder daughter, filmmaker Pooja Bhatt, also offered her take on the matter in a series of tweets. Have been asked to comment on the hot topic Nepotism that people are raging about. As someone who hails from a family that has launched more new talent-actors,musicians & technicians,than the entire film industry combined I can only laugh.Facts dont find takers. Fiction does, she said.

She added how the Bhatt camp was earlier notorious for not working with established stars and was deemed arrogant for it. There was a time when the Bhatts were accused of having something against established actors & made to feel inferior for only working with/launching newcomers & not chasing stars. And now the same people play the nepotism card? Google & tweet guys & wont even say think & speak. she said.

Mahesh Bhatt will direct both Pooja and his younger daughter Alia in the upcoming Sadak 2, which will be released on Disney+Hotstar soon.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Veteran Bollywood actor Jagdeep, known for his work in films such as Sholay, Andaz Apna Apna and Purana Mandir, has died. He was 81. Father of actor Javed Jafferi and television host Naved, the actor worked in over 400 films. Bollywood fraternity mourned his death on social media.

A close friend of the family said the actor, real name Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jafri, was not keeping well. "He passed away at 8.30 pm at his residence in Bandra. He was not keeping well due to age related issues," producer Mehmood Ali, a close family friend, told PTI.

Jagdeep, famous for his expression khambha ukhadke, started his career as a child actor at the age of nine to support his family. In his first film, BR Chopras Afsana, he was a face in the crowd who later got a speaking part because he could say the dialogues in chaste Urdu.

I joined the industry, because I needed money. I never had any ambitions of playing the lead role or anything, Jagdeep had said in an interview. Afsana opened the doors for him, and he went on to work in Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke -- for which he was felicitated by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Raj Kapoors Ab Dilli Door Nahin, K A Abbas Munna and Bimal Roys Do Bigha Zameen.

Jagdeep played hero in five films, opposite heroines like Nanda (Bhabhi), Azra, Amita and Naaz. It was with Bhabhi that he gravitated towards comic roles. It was the character of Soorma Bhopali from Sholay which would become his most memorable. The actor would go on to direct the film Soorma Bhopali in 1988, in which Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Rekha had cameos. He also acted in a number of horror films made by the Ramsay Brothers. IIFA honoured him with Lifetime Achievement Award.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, Jagdeep ji was a great actor and a noble soul. His passing away is a great loss. God bless his soul. Heartfelt condolences @jaavedjaaferi.



Actor Ajay Devgn mourned his demise and tweeted, Heard the sad news of Jagdeep Saabs demise. Always enjoyed watching him on screen. He brought so much joy to the audience. My deepest condolences to Jaaved and all members of the family. Prayers for Jagdeep Saabs soul.

Hansal Mehta wrote, Condolences @jaavedjaaferi and to the entire family. He will always be cherished and remembered with a broad smile. I hope people get to see a film called Muskurahat by Priyadarshan sir to witness his brilliance. It is one of my favorite Jagdeep saahab performances.

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In the seven decades since Independence, there has been a large body of work produced by Indian historians and social scientists. Taken singly, many of these studies are impressive; viewed cumulatively, they add up to less than what one might expect. The New India Foundation seeks to address this gap by sponsoring work of quality on the history of India since Independence.

The foundation strives to foster interest in documenting the dynamic and rich landscape of post-Independence India and to encourage high-quality research.

In founding trustee Ramachandra Guhas words: The New India Foundation has published more than twenty outstanding works of history and non-fiction, many by younger writers, that have won a sheaf of prestigious awards. Our ongoing Fellowship programme aims to catalyze and produce many more such books, that will illuminate in different ways the history and politics of India since Independence.

Ayesha Kidwais In Freedoms Shade (Penguin India, 2011), a translation of a classic Partition memoir by Anis Kidwai, is among the works of non-fiction that have been supported by the New India Foundation fellowships. This first English translation was published with a substantial biographical sketch of the author by the translator. (Courtesy the New India Foundation)

Open only to Indian nationals, these Fellowships will be awarded for one year and will carry a stipend of Rs 150,000 a month. Fellowship holders shall be expected to write original books. Proposals should be oriented towards publication, and outline a road map towards that destination. The Foundation is agnostic as regards genre, theme, and ideology: the only requirement is that the proposed works contribute to the fuller understanding of independent India. Thus Fellowship holders may choose to write a memoir, or a work of reportage, or a thickly footnoted academic study. Their books could be oriented towards economics, or politics, or culture. They could be highly specific  an account of a single decade or a single region  or wide-ranging, such as a countrywide overview.

About five to 10 fellowships are awarded every two years.

The books that result from the New India Fellowship are accessible and convey original research. Some of the works of non-fiction published in recent years that have been supported by the New India Foundation fellowships include Rahul Panditas Our Moon Has Blood Clots, Akshaya Mukuls Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India, Kartik Shankers From Soup to Superstar: The Story of Sea Turtle Conservation, Saba Dewans Tawaifnama, and Neyaz Farooquees An Ordinary Mans Guide to Radicalism: Growing up Muslim in India.

Akshaya Mukuls (Courtesy the New India Foundation)

31st August 2020 is the deadline for applications to the Fellowship programme. Applicants for the New India Fellowships are invited to submit their book proposal and a writing sample of at least 5000 words (published or unpublished) either online (www.newindiafoundation.org/fellowships) or by couriering a physical copy to the Managing Trustee, The New India Foundation, Neev Schools, Sy No.16, Yemalur- Kempapura Main Road, Yemalur Bangalore 560037, Phone 080-71101774 (the phone number is provided for courier purposes only) before August 31st, 2020.

Ramachandra Guha, Nandan Nilekani, Manish Sabharwal, Sriram Raghavan and Niraja Gopal Jayal are the Trustees of the New India Foundation. Further details about the Foundation may be found at www.newindiafoundation.org.
Imagine you run a small local business. Your turnover rate is insanely high, and you cant seem to find the right applicant for the job. Now imagine youre trying to enter the workforce or learn more about basic skills applicable to any position.

A new county-wide program could help you out in either of these scenarios.

The ACT work ready program is a national one that helps employers identify the strengths and weaknesses of potential applicants. The program has over 26,000 businesses across the nation on board, and the number is Converse County is picking up as both employers and employees begin to focus on a new normal in a post-pandemic world.

When applicants go through the program, they take a three-part test that gauges their proficiency in applied math, graphic literacy, and finding and analyzing information presented in the work place. Participants are then given a bronze, silver, gold or platinum score in each category.

Then they receive a ACT work keys national career certificate, which displays their score.

When a business decides to sign on to the program, it means that theyll accept a copy of applicants certificates along with their resume.

Officials of Converse County, Glenrock, and Douglas have agreed to become a ACT work ready community. This means that theyve set goals for boosting employment rates and reducing turnover rates. The goals are set by the national ACT program based on a communitys population and size.

They also offer scholarships to help people pay for their first test.

Converse County School District Superintendent and The Enterprise board member Paige Fenton-Hughes suggested the program to county officials after she was appointed to a committee designed to explore different work force development option.

After local government gave Fenton-Hughes the green light on the program, she and the committee worked with the county and took the next steps, contracting Yellow Horse Consulting owner Hannah Swanbom to oversee the program and work with the county to help reach the national program goals.

Were fortunate to get somebody with her background and skillset and education, Fenton-Hughes said.

Swanbom said shes excited for the program to go public.

And were really excited to offer this service and work with employers as well as with folks looking to get back into the workforce or change careers.

According to Swanbom, several businesses in the county have agreed to be apart of the program. These include Memorial Hospital of Converse County (MHCC), Glenrock Health Center, the Glenrock and Douglas school districts, Advanced Animal Care (AAC), Dave Johnson Power Plant, The LaBonte, The Enterprise, the KKTY radio station and the Douglas Budget.

MHCC Chief Operating Officer Karl Hertz mentioned he hopes being a part of the program can help them attract applicants to entry-level positions.

Areas where they dont need special clinical training or areas where we can train them on the job, he explained.

He also anticipates the program could help high school graduates get ready for the work force.

Not to sound like an old man, he chuckled, but things that wouldve been naturally expected in my generation arent necessarily what the younger work group is bringing into the workforce.

So having them been exposed to some of those expectations before they apply for the job helps us know that theyll be a good fit.

AAC Office Manager Kim Smylie mentioned they havent had any applicants thatve gone through the program yet, but that they anticipate success with it.

We hope to bring in employees with skills and motivation and are eager to learn, Smylie said.

Douglas City Administrator Jonathan Teichert explained the city was on board with the program from the beginning, and they hope it increases the workforce in the county.

We do a good job here, and Wyoming in particular, of training Colorados and Utahs work force, he said. Im hoping this (program) would allow our workforce to stay here, and fill the jobs that we have locally.

Glenrock Town Clerk Tammy Taylor, who also has a seat on The Enterprise board, also praised the program.

It just seemed like a year ago that everybody was sitting on the enterprise board thinking can we really do this? And now, its really moving, she exclaimed with excitement shining through her voice.

According to Swanbom, the program can also benefit current employees.

Employers dont have to go re-hire as often because they can keep skilled employees, she said. It also gives employers an idea of where to deploy existing employees.

According to Hannah, a website for the program that will be linked on the Converse County website is being built now. This will give people clear steps to take to join the program.

Certificates from the program that are acquired in Wyoming will be accepted at any employer in the nation thats a part of the program, according to Swanbom.
Indias largest lender State Bank of India on Wednesday said its board has approved an investment of up to Rs 1,760 crore in the follow-on public offering (FPO) of YES Bank.

Pursuant to the intimation given by YES Bank Ltd to the stock exchanges on July 7, 2020 on the issue of raising capital, the executive committee of central board (ECCB) of State Bank of India at its meeting held today, July 8, 2020, has accorded approval for a maximum investment of up to Rs 1,760 crore in the further public offering of YES Bank Ltd, SBI told the stock exchanges. Banks and financial institutions held a 66.94% stake in YES Bank as on March 31, according to the latest shareholding data available on BSE.

SBI is the largest holder in YES Bank with a 48.21% stake, followed by ICICI Bank at 7.95% and Axis Bank at 4.78%.

On March 13, the government had approved an SBI-backed rescue plan for Yes Bank. Under the plan, domestic investors, including SBI, Housing Development Finance Corp, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bandhan Bank, Federal Bank, and IDFC First Bank had invested Rs 10,000 crore in the private lender. As part of the rescue process, YES Banks AT1 bonds worth Rs 8,415 crore were written down in March.

On July 7, YES Banks board approved raising of capital through an FPO. Yes Bank also said that a meeting of the capital raising committee (CRC) will be held on or after July 10 to consider and approve, among other things, the price band and discount, if any.

The bank has an enabling resolution to raise up to Rs 15,000 crore this year. Mint reported on July 1 that the bank is preparing for an FPO. The fund raising is critical for YES Bank despite an equity infusion worth Rs 10,000 crore by financial institutions, and gains worth Rs 6,300 crore from the write down of additional tier I bonds.

Last month, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had turned down the lenders request to pay interest on its Tier II bonds due on June 29.
Punjab industries and commerce minister Sunder Sham Arora on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the infrastructure development project at the industrial focal point in Dera Bassi, with the assistance of Punjab Small Industries Export Corporation (PSIEC).

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said industrial sector is the backbone of Punjabs economy and only a robust infrastructure can ensure ample jobs for the youth of the state.

He added that the infrastructure at the focal point, which comprises 201 plots and is spread over 136 acre, will see overall development at a cost of approximately 16 crore.

This includes various aspects including land filling/levelling including boundary walls, fencing, construction of concrete roads, water supply, rain water harvesting, storm drainage, street lights with LED and the upgradation of the sewage treatment plant (STP), Arora said.

He further divulged that it is Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singhs vision that the state should be known as an industrial hub and to achieve this, a policy will be unveiled soon which will focus on micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

He added that 17 focal points in the state will be developed at a cost of 200 crore and an additional sum of 200 crore has been given for developing cycle valley in Ludhiana.

Meanwhile, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the minister exhorted people to stay safe from by following the health department protocols.
Amritsar: As many as 114 Indians and 82 Pakistani nationals, who have been stranded in Pakistan and India, respectively, will return to their native countries via the Attari-Wagah border, 32 km from here, on Thursday.

On July 2, Pakistans interior ministry wrote to the director general (DG) of Pakistan Rangers informing him about the repatriation of 114 stranded Indians on July 9. On July 6, Indias ministry of external affairs facilitated the movement of 82 Pakistani nationals through Wagah border on July 9 on the request of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi.

The 144 Indian nationals are a part of a group of 748 stranded Indians in Pakistan that was allowed to return in three batches last month. However, of the total 748 people, only 634 could return in the three batches.

Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM-2) Shiv Raj Singh Bal said, Of the 114 Indians, 35 are from Jammu and Kashmir, while the rest are from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Besides students from J&K, the returnees include those who had gone to the neighbouring country to meet their relatives or pay obeisance at religious shrines.

SOCIAL DISTANCING TO BE MAINTAINED

Earlier, India had facilitated the movement of more than 500 Pakistani nationals through the land border. A Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) official at the integrated check post (ICP) in Attari, which facilitates Indias trade with Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the movement of passengers from India to Pakistan and vice-versa, said, A special team of doctors will conduct thermal screening of all those going back to Pakistan, and returning to India, as per guidelines of the health department to contain the spread of coronavirus. Special arrangements have been made to follow the social distancing norms.

On March 14, India had suspended cross-border movement of passengers through the Attari-Wagah border as a precautionary measure to check the spread of Covid-19. But diplomats, officials of the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations, and employment and project visa-holders were excluded from the ban. On March 19, Pakistan too closed its borders. Since then, hundreds of Pakistani nationals have been stranded in India and Indians in Pakistan.
Of 1,572 complaints to the Punjab Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera), since its inception in September 2017, 65% have been from buyers in Mohali district.

In the past one decade, Mohali, particularly the peripheral towns of Zirakpur, Kharar and New Chandigarh (Mullanpur), has emerged as the tricitys development hub with around 500 residential and commercial projects. Since last year, with Greater Mohali Area Development Authority coming up with IT City and Aero City projects, Airport Road has also become a prominent realty destination.

Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, was passed by the Parliament in 2016 to address grievances of homebuyers. It has provisions to penalise builders for malicious acts. In Punjab, Rera came into force in September 2017.

A senior Rera officer, not wishing to be named, said most complaints received pertain to delay in possession of property, non-payment of interest and penalty, sale of a flat to multiple buyers, unnecessary demands by builders and construction left midway.

He said the number of complaints has gone up during the lockdown period, with Mohali accounting for the bulk  100 of the 179 received since March 25 this year.

Alka Kapoor, an allottee at Chandigarh Citi Center, Zirakpur, said: I have recently lodged a complaint with Rera after waiting for possession for nearly two years. As per the agreement, possession was to be given in December 2018, but work has still not been completed.

Harish Gupta, president of the builders association in Zirakpur, said: Due to the nationwide lockdown, we have already got a six-month extension for delivery of projects. Builders are also facing financial issues for the past few months.
A 25-year-old factory worker strangled his colleague to death after he reprimanded him for coming to work drunk at Guru Gobind Singh Nagar near Sherpur Chowk on Tuesday night.

Police said after the crime, the accused, Ajay Kumar Paswan, called the police and concocted a story that his co-worker, Devendra Singh, alias Bachan, 47, was murdered by two unidentified men.

However, he cracked during questioning and confessed to the crime.

Police both Ajay and Devender hailed from Uttar Pradesh and lived on the premises of the sewing machine factory.

Ajay called the police control room at 12.30am. When a police team reached the spot, Ajay said two men had come to meet Devendra on Tuesday night. They were talking to Devendra in his room, while he was playing games on his mobile phone in his room. After sometime, when he came out of the room, he found Devendra lying dead on the floor, said inspector Amarjeet Singh, SHO at Division Number 6 police station.

However, the SHO said, the CCTV footage did not reflect any visitors, leading them to suspect Ajays claims.

When police grilled him, Ajay confessed to have murdered Devendra, as he scolded him for coming to work in an inebriated condition.

On Tuesday night, Ajay started arguing with Devendra over the issue. In a fit of rage, he hit Devendra with a blunt object on his face. When he fell down, he strangled him to death, said the SHO.

After he realised he will be arrested for murder, he concocted a story and called the police.

Ajay has been booked under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

The deceased is survived by his wife and three daughters. They have been informed.
Pune A 40-year-old woman died after she and her husband consumed pesticides after police denied them entry into a containment zone in Junnar. The 50-year-old man, a vegetable vendor, is undergoing treatment in hospital.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening when the couple got into an argument with on-duty police personnel who suggested them to take an alternative route to reach their home in village Umbraj under Junnar taluka, according to the police. The restriction was imposed after four positive cases were reported from the village.

According to superintendent of police (Pune rural) Sandip Patil, the couple was involved in a squabble with police in the past also, but this time they threatened to commit suicide when stopped from removing barrier and asked to take an alternate route. The couple was carrying pesticides with them in the tempo with vegetables.

The deceased and her husband, according to police, were on their way to Umbraj when they were stopped by the police patrol during nakabandi on Tuesday. A war of words broke out between the police and the couple who were returning home after selling vegetables in other villages. The deceased drank poison from a bottle while her 50-year-old husband immediately spat it. The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital but was proclaimed dead on arrival.

The quarrel between the couple and police was captured on video by locals in which the husband is seen demanding entry to the village saying that others were allowed. I am merely asking for entry as others were allowed. I was asked about documents while denying entry, the man was heard telling grampanchayat member.

Junnar sarpanch Sapna Dangat said nakabandi was in place as a precautionary move to check virus spread.

According to Patil, the policemen had suggested them to avoid the containment route as it was closed with a barricade. The police requested them to take an alternate route but they did not listen. Even the gram samiti members tried to convince them. The husband pulled out a pesticide bottle, took a sip and then vomited it, but his wife gulped it. We did not wait for ambulance and took her to the hospital, but unfortunately she died, he said.

The police have lodged a case against the couple under IPC 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and IPC 309 (attempt to commit suicide). The SP said that the family had alleged that the police beat them up, but police personnel did not use any force.
Six villages, including Hinjewadi, Mangaon, Marunji, Nerhe, Jambhe and Kasarsai, have voluntarily decided to shut down for a week starting Thursday. The respective grampanchayats took the decision after rise in Covid-19 cases was reported in the last few days.

Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram has made it clear that the decision to announce lockdown lies only with the district authorities.

They have not announced lockdown, but have appealed to people to follow guidelines strictly. I have already said that villages with more than five cases will be treated as a containment zone, which will anyway bring curbs on non-essential activities, said Ram.

The restrictions by villages like Hinjewadi where over 350 IT firms are located will not impact businesses. Yesterday (Tuesday) five positive cases were reported, so we have decided to close down the village. Test on seven patients is going on. IT companies and manufacturing industries will remain open, said Tulshiram Raykar, village development officer, Hinjewadi.

As the news on shutdown spread, several techies posed questions on social media about whether they will be allowed entry into campuses. The local authorities made it clear that IT companies will continue to function.

Grampanchayats have called for restrictions. There is no stopping of industries from functioning, said Vishal Kolekar, manager and HR administration, NORD Drivesystems. Most IT firms in Hinjewadi are operating with around 30 per cent staff in offices while rest are working from home.

A member of Hinjewadi Industrial Association who did not wish to be named said, IT companies are following all the guidelines.

According to civic health department, there are seven active cases in Mangaon. With cases rising above five, grampanchayats have decided to close down villages for a week, said Bharat Patil, village development officer, Mangaon.

Milk centres will be open for 6pm to 9 pm. Medical shops and clinics will remain open for the whole day. IT companies and construction work will continue as it is. Grocery shops have also supported our decision, said Samir Buchade, Marunji sarpanch.
Former Punjab director general of police (DGP) Paramdeep Singh Gill and 44 other farmers of Saini Majra, who were recently booked for allowing illegal mining on their land, were fined Rs 11 crore in October last year for the offence.

On July 6, police had booked the 45 landowners under Section 21 of the Mine and Minerals (Regulations and Development) Act.

In October last year, we had received complaints of illegal mining in Saini Majra village of Majri block. An inquiry committee had reported that around 9 lakh metric tones of sand and earth were dug out from the fields of 51 farmers. Therefore, a fine of Rs 11 crore was imposed on all of them, said Gurpreet Pal Singh Sandhu, district mining officer, adding that they had also notified the police to register a case, which has finally been lodged.

If the fine is not paid within the stipulated period, the case will be dealt by the deputy commissioner, who can even confiscate the land or add the fine to their land arrears, said the officer.

Majri Block station house officer (SHO) Himmat Singh said they registered a case against 45 farmers, including former DGP PS Gill, on July 6.

Despite repeated attempts, Gill could not be contacted as his mobile phone was switched off.

Deputy commissioner (DC) Girish Dayalan said the administration was committed to reining in illegal sand mining and providing sand to people at reasonable prices. Officials are empowered to take strict action against illegal miners, he said.

Earlier in July last year, the mining department had imposed a penalty of Rs 52 crore on 193 land owners in three villages of Mohali - Mianpur Changar, Kubaheri and Abhipur for illegal sand mining activities. These cases are lying pending with the DC.

The district police had registered 24 cases of illegal mining in 2016, followed by 67 in 2017 and 79 in 2018.

There were 25 cases in 2019 and two so far this year.
Chandigarh: To further boost the states economy and industrial infrastructure, the Punjab cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of a modern industrial park and integrated manufacturing cluster over 2,000 acres on government and panchayat land near Mattewara in Ludhiana and Rajpura in Patiala district, respectively, at a total cost of Rs 3,200 crore.

The two projects would be instrumental in accelerating the pace of industrialisation and creating job opportunities, an official spokesperson said, after a meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, through video conferencing.

To be set up at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore each, in an area of 1,000 acres each, the projects will cater to the needs of prospective entrepreneurs/industrialists for setting up their ventures expeditiously, in line with the need to develop such industrial/economic hubs in the state.

The panchayat land for the projects will be purchased by the housing and urban development department, for development as mixed land use/industrial park/IMC.

According to the spokesperson, the Mattewara project had been envisioned and pursued by the industries department, and land of government departments would be taken over by the housing and urban development department under the optimum utilisation of vacant government land (OUVGL) scheme. The project site had been under active consideration of the state government for several years, and it was originally conceived and pursued by the industries department. Considering the capacity of housing and urban development to raise finance and execute the project of such scale, the same was transferred to it.

Giving the break-up of the available land for establishment of modern industrial park/mix land use development at Mattewara, the spokesperson said that of 955.6 acres, 207.07 acres belonged to the animal husbandry department, 285.1 acres of rehabilitation department (potato seed farm), 416.1 acres of Sekhowal panchayat, 27.1 acres of Salempur panchayat (potato seed farm) and 20.3 acres of Sailklan panchayat.

The integrated manufacturing cluster (IMC) near Rajpura will be developed with the help of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation on 1,000 acres of government and panchayat land. Of 1,102 acres of panchayat land, 492 acres belonged to Sehra village, 202 to Sehri, 183 to Aakri, 177 to Pabra and 48 acres to Takhtu Majra.
Chinas territorial revisionism has been unrelenting. Under Mao Zedong, China more than doubled its size by annexing Tibet and Xinjiang, making it the worlds fourth- largest country in area. Under Xi Jinping, Chinas expansionism increasingly threatens its neighbours, big and small. Xis regime has just opened a new territorial front against one of the worlds smallest countries, Bhutan, by disputing its eastern borders.

In this light, the outcome of Chinas aggression against India will have an important bearing on Asian security. If the current India-China military disengagement ends up like the 2017 Doklam disengagement in making China the clear winner, an emboldened Xi regime will likely become a greater threat to neighbours.

Chinas strategy after its disastrous 1979 invasion of Vietnam has been to win without fighting. Deception, concealment and surprise have driven Chinas repeated use of force  from seizing the Johnson Reef in 1988 and the Mischief Reef in 1995 to occupying the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and now vantage locations in Ladakh. It has changed the South China Seas geopolitical map without firing a shot or incurring any international costs.

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China has displayed its art of deception even in its disengagement process with India. The first accord of June 6 to disengage collapsed after the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) erected structures on Indian territory and then ambushed and killed Indian Army men on verification patrol. The disengagement process restarted after Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi seemed to let China off the hook with his June 19 speech at the all-party meeting. But the fresh process became a ruse for PLA to encroach on two new Indian areas  the Depsang Y-Junction; and the Galwan Valley site of the ambush killings.

India and China are now in their third disengagement series. But while the previous two abortive rounds followed military-level talks, the latest cycle is being driven politically. We now know that Modis July 3 Ladakh visit, and his tough words there, were essentially designed to create domestic political space for his government to seek de-escalation with China. Barely 48 hours after his visit, India and China hammered out a disengagement deal.

Will the latest deal stick? Having encroached on key areas that overlook Indias defences, PLA is sitting pretty. A full return to status quo ante as sought by India seems remote, thanks to Indias own mixed signals. Moreover, by encroaching on additional areas behind the previous disengagement facade, China has armed itself with greater leverage to impose a revised status quo, including by applying the precept that possession is nine-tenths of the law.

Disengagement (pullback of rival forces from close proximity), if not de-escalation (ending hostilities through demobilisation of forces), meshes well with Chinas interest in presenting India a fait accompli. Removing the threat of an Indian counteroffensive or Indian tit-for-tat land grab will help China win without fighting.

This explains why China has accepted disengagement  but on its terms. This is illustrated in the Galwan Valley, where India has pulled back from its own territory and created a buffer zone on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). These steps, though temporary, create a new, China-advantageous status quo that PLA could seek to enforce because it keeps India out of Chinas newly-claimed zone  the Galwan Valley.

The risk that, like at Doklam, the current disengagement may not end well for India is high. Instead of demonstrating strength and resolve, India has displayed zeal to end the stand-off, despite its armed forces being mobilised for possible war.

At a time when the international environment is beginning to turn against China, India could have prolonged the stand-off until winter to compel restoration of status quo ante. But, instead, it has kicked status quo ante down the road and settled merely for disengagement. This allows China to hold on its core territorial gains and trade the marginal occupied territories for Indian concessions, as part of its well-known advance 10 miles and retreat six miles strategy.

Far from imposing military costs, India has shied away even from trade actions against the aggressor, as if to preserve the option of another Modi-Xi summit. Indias steps so far (banning Chinese mobile apps and announcing an intent to restrict Chinese investment in some areas) have been designed to assuage public anger at home, but without imposing substantive costs on Beijing or damaging bilateral relations.

In 1967, a weak India, while recovering from the 1962 and 1965 wars, gave China a bloody nose. But in 2017 and again now, after its soldiers displayed extraordinary bravery in tackling Chinas aggression, a nuclear-armed India hastily sought disengagement. Its decision-makers remain loath to fundamentally change the China policy even when faced with aggression.

Bite by bite, China has been nibbling away at Indias borderlands, even as successive Indian PMs have sought to appease it. When political calculations trump military factors and a nation lives by empty rhetoric, it can win neither war nor peace.

The present path risks locking India in a no war, no peace situation with China and imposing mounting security costs. This path aids Chinas time-tested strategy of attrition, friction and containment to harass, encumber, encircle, deceive and weigh India down.

If India wants Himalayan peace, it must make China pay for its aggression to help create a deterrent effect. The present aggression  the most serious since the 1960s  resulted from India letting China off the hook too easily in 2017, allowing it to capture Doklam. And if China emerges the winner from the current crisis, its next aggression could be worse. Only a chastened China saddled with high costs and loss of face will rein in its aggressive expansionism.

Brahma Chellaney is a geostrategist.

The views expressed are personal
ROME, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte unveiled a simplification plan on Tuesday aimed at bringing the country quickly out of the coronavirus emergency through massive infrastructure spending, among other measures.

In a televised press conference, Conte promised the new Simplification and Digital Innovation Decree will streamline Italy's notoriously bloated, slow and inefficient bureaucratic apparatus in order to jumpstart his Recovery Plan, which include 120 billion euros (136 billion U.S. dollars) worth of public works, a high-speed train network in the country's chronically impoverished south, and a national fiber-optics network.

"Cabinet has approved a decree which finally simplifies, speeds up, and digitalizes administrative procedures, unblocks all public works and public contracts procedures, once and for all," Conte said.

"This measure represents the basis for our Recovery Plan, which contains reforms and measures for which we will request financing in Europe," the prime minister explained.

He also announced that he will depart later in the day for "a tour of various European capitals" to explain Italy's strategy ahead of the next European Council meeting to be held in Brussels on July 17-18, when EU leaders will discuss the recovery plan to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and a new long-term EU budget.

"This reform is the springboard Italy needs right now," Conte said. "We are in an emergency, and this decree will make our country more agile, modern and competitive."

The prime minister went on to assure the public that cutting red tape and speeding up administrative procedures do not mean the government is letting its guard down against organized crime, which operates by bribing its way into lucrative public contracts through networks of complicit public officials.

"We absolutely do not want to offer space to criminal appetites, which distort (market) competition and accumulate illicit earnings," Conte said.

A key part of the decree is streamlining procedures for awarding public works contracts to companies, Conte explained.

The measures include eliminating competitive open tenders for projects worth up to 150,000 euros (up from the previous threshold of 40,000 euros).

For public works contracts worth 150,000 euros to 5 million euros, there will be negotiated procedures without competitive open tenders, while for projects worth 5 million euros and up, there will be a shortened competitive bidding process, Conte said.

Conte also said that his government's decree will "revolutionize" the current situation by rewarding public officials who take responsibility and sign off on public works, instead of rewarding those who keep them tied up.

"Currently we are in a perverse situation," said Conte. "The official whose career advances is the one who remains inert. The one who takes on responsibilities, paradoxically, risks (legal) exposure."

"Public officials must be put in the condition to greenlight public works," he said. "From now on, whoever authorizes a public work will only be liable for financial damages to the Treasury in cases where there is ... intentional malicious behavior."

"However, omissions and therefore delays and inertia will become punishable," Conte explained. "We will strike at the public official who slows down or impedes procedures, and no longer at the one who takes on the responsibility of signing off on a project."

Another "revolutionary" reform, Conte said, is that "from now on, any red tape that imposes additional financial burdens on citizens must be compensated for by an equal cut in bureaucratic costs."

The new decree also cuts red tape for renewable energy projects, including the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles, contains incentives for towns of under 20,000 residents to use electricity from renewable sources, and fields an extraordinary maintenance plan for forests and mountains. Enditem

[ Editor: SRQ ]
Leonardo Urena and his 1, 938-pound pumpkin won last years giant pumpkin weigh-off contest at the Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival.
At least 70 families in two lanes of Chandni Mahal have been stayed in containment for the past 88 days -- the longest duration for which restrictions were imposed in any part of the city to curtail the spread of the coronavirus disease.

The residents are now clamouring for easing of restrictions but the district officials asserted that till cases are emerging from the area, there cannot be any let up in the containment measures. On April 10, Chandni Mahal was sealed with only one entry and exit remaining open.Before the area was unsealed on June 6, 89 cases had been reported from there. However, the two lanes -- Gali Chhatta Lal Miyan and Gali Dakotan -- remained closed.

Though officials said cases were still surfacing in the two lanes, local residents said the last known case was reported on June 1 and the infected woman has fully recovered. As per the protocol, the administration waits for at least 28 days since the last case before unsealing a containment zone.

The residents also complained that their life has come to a halt as they have been marooned in their locality and facing difficulty in managing essential items and daily chores. After June first week, the main road outside was opened. Police barricades were removed. Chandni Mahal residents were allowed to move out but for us, it has been like a prisoners life. Even the building (Markaz) at Nizamuddin was removed from the list of containment in lesser time compared to us, said Shoaib, 45, a resident.

Mohammed Malik, 33, a resident of Chhatta Lal Miyan, said, We give the address of our friends (living outside contained lanes) to get online deliveries. Our friends collect those items and hand it to us over the police barricades. From cell phone battery chargers to gas cylinders, this is how we have been managing. We dont know how long our troubles are going to continue, Malik said.

Till Tuesday, Delhi had 454 containment zones.

Junaid, 24, another resident of the Chatta Lal Miyan, said his brother had written to the sub-divisional magistrate office last Friday, urging lifting of containment measures. He said his aunt had tested positive following which the lane was sealed. My aunt had tested positive on June 1 at the Lok Nayak hospital where she regularly went for dialysis. She was admitted at the hospital and returned on June 12. She has completed her home quarantine too. My aunt is fully recovered but the government is yet to remove containment measures, he said.

Nidhi Srivastava, district magistrate (central), said regular door-to-door surveys are being conducted in the area. Our teams are collecting samples from the restricted area. We are also ensuring that home delivery of essential items is maintained. For this purpose, we have deployed civil defence volunteers and also distributed contact numbers of designated vendors and traders to the residents, she said.

Nearly 6,000 cases were reported from the central district and most of them are from Old Delhi areas. Some fresh cases were reported last month (from the two lanes) so they could not be unsealed. We are closely monitoring the situation, the DM said.

The area councillor , Ale Mohammad, said though the locality is congested and there were chances of virus spreading rapidly but no fresh cases were reported from the two lanes in the last 15-20 days.

There is no need to keep the lanes under containment. For over three months, residents of these localities are facing trouble in procuring necessary items as they are unable to move out, he said.

District officials, however, said two new cases were reported from Gali Dakotan on June 22 and therefore, it cannot be unsealed.

Officials said, as per guidelines, any area is declared containment zone when three or more cluster cases appear from there but it also depends on the demographics of the area. If an area is densely populated and is congested like localities in old city, it can be made containment zone even when the number of cases is less than three and the risk factor is high. Any area is declared containment zones only after due survey and risk assessment in the region.

Besides the two Chandni Mahal lanes, other areas which have been remained in containment for at least 50 days include Pratap Khand in east Delhi, Block B and C in Jahangirpuri and Zakir Nagar in Jamia Nagar.
The national capital on Wednesday recorded 2,033 new coronavirus cases, pushing the cumulative tally to 1,04,864. With 48 new deaths, Delhis total casualties due to the infection rose to 3,213.

However, despite being the third worst-affected state in the country, Delhi is nearing a positive statistic of a promising recovery rate of 75 per cent. As of Wednesday, out of the total affected, 78,199 people have recovered from the infection which marks Delhis recovery rate at 74.5 per cent.

At present, out of 23,452 active cases, over 14,000 cases continue to be under home isolation.

In the last 24 hours, Delhi has tested 22,028 people -- out of which 9,461 have been tested through RTPCR. 12,567 rapid antigens were also conducted on Wednesday.

Indicating reduced strain on medical infrastructure in the national capital, the bulletin released by the government stated that 16,751 beds are vacant and available for treating the virus-infected.

With an increased focus on donation of plasma for those still fighting the disease, Delhi government passed two orders on Wednesday for amping up treatment through the plasma route. In the first order, Delhi government has asked all COVID hospitals to obtain feedback of patients and their willingness to donate plasma at the time of discharge from the hospital.

In the second order, all hospitals have been asked to display a Flex board at the entry gate with information related to plasma donation, encouraging people who have recovered from Covid-19 to donate their plasma and help other patients fight the virus.

Containment zones in Delhi rose to 458 on Wednesday.
The obvious and subtle ways in which the pandemic has affected a landmark store

It ought to be a truth universally acknowledged that dal-chawal-subzi remains an incomplete meal without being accompanied by aam ka achar. Or, for that matter, by any pickle.

The humble pickle has even been recognized as an essential commodity by the authorities, and so we were permitted to open our pickle shop before the complete lockdown was lifted, says Rohit Dhingra, 38. Along with two of his brothers, he run the landmark Shri Sai Pickle Store in Gurugrams Old Subzi Mandi in Sadar Bazar. He is chatting this morning on WhatsApp from his home on Gali Number 1, Madan Puri and is just preparing to leave for the shop.

Obviously, the pickle shop took its toll in the going coronavirus pandemic too. Heres a non-exhaustive list of them.

Toll no. 1

The two employees who had been serving as store assistants for a long time left for home before the lockdown began, Mr Dhingra says. Aakash went back to his village in UP, and Sanjay returned to his parents in Bihar. The last time I talked to Aakash, he said he was busy looking after his mango orchard and would get back only after the (mango) season gets over, while Sanjay is more vague about his return. Sanjay actually says he will consider coming back only after the virus has disappeared.

For now, Mr Dhingra is running the shop with his two brothers daily from 7 am to 7 pm.

Toll no. 2

It was a difficult time for the eleven women who make the pickles in the shops factory, in nearby Rewari town. They all have been working with us for a long time, so we had to look after them even when the business was closed, notes Mr Dhingra. Now about seven women have started reporting to workRavi, Bhagwati, Angoorie, Jyoti, Seems, Mahindra, and Madhu. The rest of the staff will also come hopeful soon. Being women, Mr Dhingra observes, they have additional responsibilities at home too.

Toll no. 3

Mr Dhingras wife, Kirti, remains suspended in a state of anxiety. She was greatly alarmed when the shop reopened. But she understood that we had to restart the business, and I assured her that we all would wear masks and gloves in the shop at all times, and would exercise physical distancing from customers.

Nevertheless, Kirti isnt taking any chances. Every morning she keeps some additional two masks in her husbands bag because its hot and humid now, and one sweats a lot, making it tempting to change the sweaty mask for a fresh one. Kirti also serves Mr Dhingra an extra-fortified breakfast with two pieces of their shops very own aamla ka murabba-an immunity booster, and currently our best seller. She also arms him with a large bottle of freshly squeezed musambi juice.

Toll no. 4

Mr Dhingras 9-year-old son, Priyansh, also had to change his ways. In the BC (before corona) era, he would run out to welcome his father and two uncles as they would return from the shop in the evening. He would first join his palm in a respectful namaste, and then would reverently touch the feet of each of the three men. But now we would immediately tell him Nahin nahin beta abhi door rahon! (No son, stay away!) The men first head straight to the bathroom, thoroughly wash themselves with soap and change into clean, sanitized, clothes before entering the rooms and letting Priyansh follow his daily ritual.

Despite these professional and personal tolls, however, Mr Dhingra isnt perturbed too much. This situation is beyond ones control, its happening to everyone... so we need to bear it and carry on with caution. He later Whatsapps a joint portrait of the achar shop-owning family.
The number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the city to treat coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients have more than tripled in a month  from 582 on June 8 to 1,995 on Wednesday, government data showed.

The 115 private hospitals in the city that had Covid-19 wards accounted for 1,325 ICU beds, almost double the number in the 11 public hospitals. The public hospitals include five each under the Delhi government and central government and one under a municipal corporation. The numbers include ICU beds with and without ventilators.

As of Wednesday, there were 23,452 active cases of Covid-19 in the national capital, and 4,859 are in hospital.

Private Covid hospitals in the city also have a higher occupancy rate of ICU beds. As on Thursday, government data showed around 66% of such beds in private hospitals were occupied, as against 40% in public hospitals.

ICU beds with ventilators too have increased during the same period  from 507 to 955  with almost 54% of them in public hospitals.

ICU AUGMENTATION

Senior Delhi government officials said ICU beds were ramped up after roping in more hospitals, as part of a health care infrastructure augmentation plan put in place after a spike in Covid-19 cases.

On June 19, Delhi deputy chief minister health minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds temporary charge of the health ministry, asked an advisory committee set up by the Delhi government to focus on ICU beds as the number of cases continued to grow. Since then, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has on multiple occasions stressed that Delhi needed more such beds. Covid-19 treatment rates in the citys private hospitals were capped last month as well.

On Wednesday, Sisodia told HT, Delhi has set an example in the fight against Covid-19. When the number of Covid cases was increasing in June, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal left no stone unturned to bring the Centre, municipal corporations, NGOs, volunteer doctors and all resources together to enhance the health infrastructure in Delhi. He directed the health department to immediately ramp up the number of ICU beds in government hospitals.

As a result, the ICUs at three main Delhi government hospitals Lok Nayak Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital were not only scaled up to almost triple their capacity, but the services in terms of patient care provided in the government hospitals is also at par with the private hospitals. Today we are in a comfortable position to tackle any emergency situation, he said.

Dr Jugal Kishore, head of the community medicines department in Safdarjung Hospital, said: There was a shortage of ICU beds in Delhi before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the city. Now that the ICU capacity has been augmented, it should be permanent. They are needed to tackle day-to-day medical emergencies in Delhi other than potential waves of the pandemic in future.

The occupancy rate of ICU beds in private Covid hospitals is higher because of two reasons  first, they offer more beds in general and, second, there is a perception about quality of service among people. In terms of patient care, government hospitals in Delhi have witnessed significant changes in the last few years, but there is still large room for improvement, he added.

The Delhi chief ministers office on Wednesday also said the government planned to add 500 more ICU beds in Covid hospitals by the end of July.

Gagan D Bharti, manager of Charity Beds, a non-profit organisation that has been helping people in Delhi avail beds during the pandemic, said: In the last one month, Delhi has seen some stability in terms of demand for hospitals beds for two reasons. First, the number of total beds and ICU beds have increased. Second, people have also become more aware that not all Covid cases need hospitalisation.

Delhi, however, needs a proportionately higher number of ICUs. It is because only severe Covid cases are landing in the hospitals and a large number of them would potentially need ICU. General beds availability would remain static even if there is a spike in cases again because most mild and moderate cases are isolated at home. In the last one month, 9 out of 10 people we helped with a hospital bed ultimately required ICU, said Bharti.
The Delhi governments Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) is facing a major hurdle while trying to get homeless people with mental health issues tested for Covid-19their lack of identity proof.

According to a June 22 Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) order based on Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, proof of identity and a contact number are mandatory for a Covid-19 test to be administeredboth by the RT-PCR and rapid antigen methodsto a patient.

IHBAS has requested both the Centre and Delhi government to modify the testing guidelines.

Dr Nimesh Desai, the director of IHBAS, said that the present norms of Covid-19 testing are not only depriving homeless people with mental health issues of timely and proper medical care, they are also posing a risk to health care workers at the institute.

Of the 25 homeless people with mental health illnesses brought to the institute in the past three months, we could get just four tested for Covid-19 because we found their relatives who then furnished the requisite papers. Of the four, three tested positive. We cant get the others testedthese people dont even remember their names, Dr Desai said.

The institute has created an isolation ward where such persons are kept under observation for 14 days or until they can be tested. It is creating a difficult situation for us. Without a test, we cant get them admitted to a Covid-19 hospital. Nearly 40 members of my staff (doctors, nurses and attendants) and 10 patients have tested positive for Covid-19 so far, he said.

In an order dated June 22, chief secretary Vijay Dev, who is also the chairperson of the state executive committee of DDMA, had directed all testing labs and authorities to ensure that a person has a government-issued identity card and functional mobile number before a test could be conducted for Covid-19.

The mobile number furnished (by the person who is getting the test done) is tested to be functional and correct through a missed callThe testing labs/authorities concerned shall be held responsible if the person tested is untraceable, the order read.

Dr Desai said that he had raised the matter with the Centre, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Delhi government, as well as requested it to take it up with the Centre. There should be clear guidelines about Covid-19 tests for homeless people who dont have valid identity proofs and contact numbers. We do understand that the directions issued by the chief secretary are in accordance with ICMR guidelines. We have requested the government to take up the matter with the Centre, as the issue needs to be reviewed and sorted out by ICMR and the central government.

Indu Prakash, a member of the Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee for homeless shelters in Delhi, said that the concern raised by IHBAS is valid. Though we have tried to get Aadhaar cards and voter IDs made for a lot of homeless people, those who dont have them shouldnt be deprived of medical treatment for the contagious disease. They have a right to proper medical care during this pandemic, even if they dont have an identity card.

An ICMR official said, The ICMR form doesnt mandatorily require an individuals phone number or address at the time of sample collection; they are required for the RT-PCR app for the state to conduct surveillance.

However, a senior Delhi government official with the health department put the onus of responsibility back on ICMRs shoulders and said, We have received the letter from the IHBAS director regarding the problem theyve been facing while getting the test administered to homeless persons with mental health issues. We are writing to ICMR in this regard. It is ICMR which has made the RT-PCR app mandatory so we have no option but to ask for the contact numbers and identity proofs before testing for Covid-19.

The Delhi government spokesperson didnt not comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Delhi High Court by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal on June 22 seeking directions to the Centre and the Delhi government to issue guidelines for the Covid-19 testing of homeless people with mental health issues in the Capital. The court had directed the Centre and the state government to file their reply in the matter, which is listed for a hearing on July 9.
The Delhi Police has arrested a 28-year-old man from southwest Delhis Najafgarh who was allegedly evading arrest since December 2018, after jumping parole in a murder case, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused has been identified as Om, a resident of Bahadurgarh in Haryanas Jhajjar. He was accused of killing another man -- Abhinav Verma -- inside his shop in 2014, they said. The murder case was registered against him at Palam police station. He was evading arrest since December 2018 after jumping parole and was carrying a reward of Rs 25,000, police said.

Since then, he was involved in three cases of car-jacking in Delhi and Haryana. He was arrested on Tuesday night by a Crime branch team lead by Inspector Yashpal Singh after receiving a tip-off that he would come to the Najafgarh area to kill another person. A country-made pistol along with two live rounds were found in his possession, a senior police officer said.

During interrogation, Om told the police that he wanted to take revenge from a person named Monu, who had hired him in 2014 to kill Abhinav Verma. Monu had promised to pay Rs 20 lakhs for killing Verma but did not pay Om nor did he help in getting him out on parole. The accused told the police that Monu had also assured him that he would hire a lawyer for him and get his parole extended. But Monu, who was also arrested in connection with Vermas killing, managed to get bail but did not help Om. Om felt cheated and to take revenge, he had decided to kill Monu, police said. A case under Arms Act has been registered against him, the police, said adding further investigation is underway.
With nearly 14,651 Covid-19 patients being placed in home isolation in the national capital, the major challenge facing the administration is on how to deal with the numerous violations of home isolation guidelines.

District officials say the violations are plentiful and range from offences such as tearing off stickers denoting the isolation term, stepping out of homes during the quarantine period, and not answering calls from officials calling to check on patients daily health status. Instead of penalising such patients and their family members, which seems harsh given that they are already battling a dreadful virus, the district administrations are now trying to counsel them.

Health officials managing Covid care helplines across seven districts of Delhi said since the number of patients being placed in home isolation is increasing, violations of guidelines are also being reported.

Data procured by districts shows that every day, at least 20-25 calls are received on their local helpline numbers reporting such violations.

We have given out helpline numbers on which any resident can call and report a violation. If they see a patient or a family member outside the house, they can report the incident. When we get such complaints, we get in touch with the patient or their caretaker. This is also followed by a detailed session of counselling of family members -- we inform them how their actions can affect the health of their neighbours, said a helpline operator.

The operator also said the counselling sessions are either conducted by health department officials or civil defence volunteers.

Shashi Kaushal, district magistrate (northeast), said since most of the asymptotic patients are kept in home isolation, the violations, too, are numerous. The administration, she says, prefers to handle them tactically instead of penalising patients or initiating legal action against them.

There have been instances of either the patient or a family member tearing off the home isolation sticker or stepping out of the house. We send our volunteers to counsel them and make them understand the importance of home isolation and the seriousness of the pandemic. The Covid-19 patient and his/her family members are already going through a lot and subjecting them to harsh punishments is not right, Kaushal said.

Nitin Shakya, Covid-19 nodal officer in the New Delhi district, said though there are provisions to take legal action against violators, in most cases, counselling works. The Epidemic Act allows the administration to lodge an FIR against repeat offenders and/or a fine of 500 for offences such as not wearing masks, but this step is hardly considered against patients in home isolation. We have seen that counselling works well to make patients and their families understand what they should not do, he said.

Tanima Sarkar, a resident of south Delhis Kalkaji, who completed her home isolation along with two others of her family on Friday, said they were reported by a neighbour after her brother stepped outside to dispose of trash.

While our waste was collected as biomedical waste, the garbage from the rest of the house was accumulating. My brother had tested negative for Covid-19 and we had zero interactions with him. After the complaint, we had a session with officials and we explained the reason for him stepping out, and the administration arranged for sanitation workers to pick up our garbage. This 14-day isolation is not easy for anyone but the health teams were cooperative, she said.

A senior official of the central district also said any penal or legal action is generally avoided. Patients are already going through a lot of pain and social stigma and booking them for violations will only make things worse. We stick to counselling and persuade them to follow rules for the greater good of society, the official, on condition of anonymity, said.

Two health officials from east and south districts, who have been handling such complaints, said apart from talking to patients in case the violations continue, patients are referred to get professional help.

Many patients are emotionally affected on testing positive for the virus. There is a sense of shame, guilt and also frustration. Many tear off the posters and stickers only because they do not want neighbours to know that they have contracted the infection, fearing the stigma. When we speak to patients, some have also shown violent tendencies and in such cases, we have to involve a professional psychiatrist, who then conducts sessions simultaneously during the course of the Covid-19 treatment, an east Delhi health official, on condition of anonymity, said.
The Delhi High Court Tuesday asked the Delhi University to make its stand clear that the date sheet for Open Book Examinations (OBE) for final year under-graduate courses, which are scheduled to commence from July 10, will not be changed.

The high court was informed by the Dean of Examinations, DU, that he will apprise it on Wednesday after holding discussions with the higher authorities.

Justice Prathiba Singh, who was conducting the hearing through video conferencing, listed the matter for July 8.

The high court was hearing a petition by several students of the final year of Delhi University (DU) seeking quashing and withdrawal of the notifications of May 14, May 30 and June 27 in respect of conduction of online exams for undergraduate and postgraduate students, including students of the School of Open Learning and Non-Collegiate Women Education Board.

As an alternative prayer, it also sought to direct DU to evaluate the final year students based on the previous years or semesters results in the same manner as the university has planned to promote the first and second year students.

During the hearing, Dean of Examinations, Professor Vinay Gupta said the date sheets have already been uploaded on the website and in the online exams, in case the varsitys portal is not accessible, question papers will be emailed to the students.

If the students are unable to upload the answer sheets due to technical snag, they can also email it to the university and the window will be open for 30 minutes after the exams time is over, he said.

After 30 minutes, a committee will examine the technical glitch and decide whether to accept the answer sheets or not, he added.

In pursuance to the courts direction, Gupta informed that there are around 2.45 lakh students who are studying in the final year of the varsity, out of which 1.86 lakh belongs to Delhi and 59,000 students are from outside the national capital. He said 1.58 lakh students have till now registered for OBE. Meanwhile, University Grants Commission (UGC) submitted that it was concerned about the physical and mental health of the students while balancing them with their academic careers.

The counsel for UGC said a meeting was conducted on Monday and revised guidelines have been published in which it was clarified that final term examinations are to be compulsorily conducted by all the universities.

It has said guidelines are advisory in nature and varsities may chalk out own plan taking into consideration issues pertaining to COVID-19 pandemic.

Delhi University also told the court that since the current situation is extraordinary, they can give a tentative schedule, according to which exams will be completed by August 4 and thereafter evaluation of papers would begin and be continued till mid of September and results are likely to be declared before the first week of October.

The petitioners counsel highlighted technical issues and chances of impersonations during the online exams.

The counsel for DU said the students are responsible to maintain confidentiality on the login id and password. In case, some issues occur due to technical reasons, the varsity has allowed the student to mail the answer paper.

The high court on Monday had directed the UGC and Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) to clarify their stand as to whether they recommend cancellation of final year examinations in all the universities across the country due to COVID-19 pandemic situation.

The high court had noted that several students may have already obtained employment and may be compelled to report to their jobs and others may be scheduled to pursue post graduate studies in India and abroad.

It had said administrative authorities who are in-charge of conducting examinations in universities, including the UGC and the Central Government, ought to also bear in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in enormous mental distress and agony to students.
The Delhi University on Wednesday postponed Open Book Examinations (OBE) for final year undergraduate and postgraduate students of all streams, including SOL and NCWEB scheduled to begin on July 10. A notice regarding this decision has been uploaded on the varsitys official website.

A fresh notification for the examination along with the revised date sheet and other information will be provided on the official website of the University in due course of time.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi University informed the Delhi High Court that this year the varsity will postpone its Open Book Examinations (OBE) for final-year undergraduate courses scheduled to begin on July 10. The counsel appearing for Delhi University told a single-judge bench of Justice Prathiba Singh that he has received a verbal communication that DU will postpone its OBE examination and written instructions are expected by today.
Jharkhand JAC 10th results 2020: Jharkhands 75.01% students passed in the matriculation (Class-10) examinations, results of which declared by the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) on Wednesday. The boys performed marginally better than the girls this year.

States human resource development (HRD) Jagarnath Mahto declared the results at JAC office while maintaining social distancing and hygiene in wake of Covid spread in the state.

Check JAC 10th results live updates here

The minister expressed happiness over improvement in the results. This was one of the best results in past five years. After 2014 when Jharkhand recorded 75.30% results, pass percentage started declining and it went to mere 59.56% in 2018. However, it started improving from 2019 when pass percentage reached 70.81%.

Also Read: JAC 10th Result 2020: How to check Jharkhand class 10 results on HT Portal, result link activated

Results have improved by 4.29% this year compared to the previous year. We have to make more efforts to improve the results further. The state government is trying to revamp the government schools to improve students learning, the minister said.

As many as 3,87,695 students were enrolled for the Class-10 board exams, while 3,85,144 appeared for the examinations. A total of 2,88,928 passed the examination.

Also Read: JAC 10th Result 2020: Jharkhand matric exam results declared at jac.nic.in

The boys pass percentage is 75.88%, while 74.25% girls passed in the examination. As per JAC report, a total of 1,80,532 boys took the examination, of which 1,37,003 cleared it. Similarly, of 2,04,612 girls, who appeared for the board exams, 1,51,925 came out with flying colours.

Manish Kumar Katiyar from residential high school, Neterhat emerged state topper with 98%marks in aggregate. Kundan Kumar, Ayush Kumar Hind and Sidhartha Kumar from the same school jointly shared states second top position with 97.60% marks in aggregate, while Jatin Raj bagged third position with 97.40% marks.

Also Read: JAC Jharkhand 10th Result 2020 declared at jacresults.com, 75.01% students pass

This year, 1,48,051 students passed with first division marks, while altogether 1,24,036 students passed with second division marks. The number of students passed with third division marks was 16, 841.

This reflects the qualitative change in the education system here, said JAC chairman Arvind Prasad Singh.

He said results got detailed due to effect of Corona virus and consecutive lockdown. We conducted the examinations between February 10 and February 28. We had planned to declare the results by April last or mid May. But, we have to postpone evaluation of papers due to consecutive lockdown, he said.

He said after getting permission from state education and literacy and disaster management department, the evaluation of papers were started from May 28 and it concluded on June 25.

Among the districts, Koderma topped the chart with 83.06% overall pass percentage. Ranchi and Hazaribag grabbed second and third position with 80.05% and 80.03% respectively.

Results at a glance

Total number of students appeared for the exam: 3,85,144

Total number of students passed the exam: 2,88,928

Total pass percentage: 75.01

Number of boys: 1,80,532

Pass %age: 75.88

Number of girls: 2,04,612

Pass %age: 74.25
The state government has directed private schools to postpone fee collection till schools reopen. However, both parents and teachers expressed dissatisfaction with the government order on Wednesday.

The parents forum has expressed dissatisfaction with the government order saying the fees should be waived and not merely deferred.

Meanwhile, scores of teachers got together at Central Park with their call for justice for teachers.

In an order on Tuesday, the school education department said that school management cannot charge fees till all the schools reopen. Moreover, private schools will not be able to remove names of students who have not paid fees.

Education minister Govind Singh Dotasara said that the earlier order which had postponed fee collection by private schools till June 30 has been extended. All schools in the state have been ordered to remain shut till July 31.

He said schools will not be able to charge fees till they dont reopen and orders in this regard have been issued.

The ministers orders came after widespread protests by parents against private schools charging full fees even though schools are shut. Parents had held protests at several private schools in the city.

Parents have come together under the All Rajasthan Private Schools Parents Forum and have launched a no school, no fee campaign.

Around half a dozen schools in Jaipur have announced fee relaxation of up to 20-25 percent after the protest by parents.

Sunil Yadav, president of the forum said, We are not happy with the order. We dont want deferment of fee but fee waiver, he said.

If schools reopen in the next two or three months and then demand fees from parents in bulk, how will we pay that all in one go? he asked.

He said schools charging full fee was unjustified. No classes are being held. The operational costs of schools have reduced in the lockdown period. There are no costs being incurred on transportation, electricity library, playground, labs or maintenance, he said.

He said private schools were putting forward the argument that they have to pay salaries to teachers.

The salary component of teachers will amount to just 25-35 percent of the total school expenses. Then why are they charging full fee, said Yadav.

He said the government should direct the school managements to meet with parents and work out a solution that is acceptable to both. Schools should talk to parents decide on an amount that is to be paid as fees and is acceptable to both, he said.

A school teacher, Sanjeev Vaid, said the teachers had come together on the issue of salary. Private schools are only giving us 50 percent salaries. Some have not paid teachers since the past two months, he said.

Vaid said their request is to parents to continue to pay fees so that teachers get paid on time. Our workload has increased due to online classes and we are trying our best to teach students and complete the syllabus.

He said some 500 teachers from 20-25 private schools had gathered at the park and wanted to take out a procession till Statue Circle but were disbanded by police.
Steps to check RBSE 12th Science Result 2020

Step: 1- Visit the official website of Hindustan Times at hindustantimes.com

Step: 2- On the home page, go to the Education section and click on the Exam Results section

Step: 3 -- Go to the Rajasthan Board tab

Step: 4-- Click on the link that reads RBSE 12th science result 2020

Step: 5-- Key in your roll number in the rectangular box provided and submit

Step 6 --Your RBSE Class 12th Science Result will be displayed on the screen

Direct Link

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: Pass percent dips this year

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020 has been declared. This year a total of 91.96% students have passed the exam. In the year, the pass percent was 92.88%.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: Direct link to check score

RBSE 12th Science result 2020 can be checked online at hindustantimes.com. Heres the direct link to check RBSE 12th Science Result 2020.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: Girls outscore boys

Girls have outperformed boys in RBSE 12th Science stream exam. The pass percentage of girls is 94.90% while that of boys is 90.61%.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020 declared, 91.96% students pass

This year a total of 91.96% students have passed the RBSE 12th Science exam. Read full details here

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020 declared

Rajasthan Board has declared the class 12th science exam results 2020. Read full details here

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: 2.3 lakh students appeared

This year, a total of 237305 students including 162424 boys and 74881 girls took the RBSE 12th Science exam.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: 92.8% students passed in 2019

In 2019, a total 92.88% students passed the class 12 Rajasthan Board exam in science stream.

2.3 lakh students to get RBSE 12th science result 2020

This year, a total of 239,800 students took the Rajasthan board class 12th Science stream exam.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: Press conference to begin shortly

Education minister of Rajasthan Govind Singh Dotasra will release the science results at 4 pm in the RBSE conference hall

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: Rajasthan board result on HT portal

The students can check the Rajasthan board Class 12 science results on HT portal also. They need to click on this link to check their results on the HT website.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: 30 minutes left for the declaration of results

The Rajasthan Board will declare the Class 12 science exam results in the next 30 minutes at around 4pm.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: Rajasthan Education Minister to release result

Rajasthan Education minister Govind Singh Dotasra will release the RBSE science results at RBSE conference hall.

RBSE Rajasthan 12th Science result 2020 at 4 pm today

The Rajasthan board class 12th science result will be declared at 4 pm today. Stay tuned.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: Over 2 lakh students took exam in 2019

Last year, a total of 2,60,617 students appeared from the science stream, in the Rajasthan Board Class 12 examination.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: Direct link to check scores

Students of Rajasthan Board can check their 12th science result at hindustantimes.com in four simple steps. Heres the direct link to check RBSE 12th Science Result 2020.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020: How to check marks

1) Visit the official website for the Rajasthan board at rajresults.nic.in or www.rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in

2) On the homepage, click on the link for RBSE 10th Results

3) Click on the link for Class 12 science results as required

4) Key in your credentials and login

5) Check your result, download it, and take a print out.

RBSE 12th Science result 2020: 2.3 lakh students to get result

This year, 239,800 students have taken the Rajasthan Board 12th Science stream exams. They will get their results today at 4 pm.

RBSE 12th Science Result 2020 to be declared today

Rajasthan Board will announce the RBSE 12th Science Result 2020 today at 4 pm.
If Kylie Jenner can eradicate more than $1 billion from Snap Inc.s market value in one tweet about her lack of interest in the platform, then surely the mega-celebritys promotion of a Black-owned fashion label over multiple social media posts can have the opposite effect.

Such was the experience of Jedidiah Duyile, a London-born designer of Nigerian and Ghanaian descent, who saw her collection at LoudBrand Studios sell out after two posts from Jenner racked up more than 13 million likes on Instagram.

Its great when you already believe in what you do, but its really nice for the world to see it, Duyile said in a Zoom interview with Bloomberg News.

Kylie took to her Instagram on Monday and posted photos of herself from her Utah trip, with her friends and daughter Stormi,in the form-fitting orange minidress with a plunging asymmetrical neckline and drawstring ruching. The dress, designed by Jedidiahs LoudBrand Studios, was accessorised with Yeezy slides, gold jewellery, a pair of sunglasses, and Jenner wore a long, snake-like braid that went below her waist. Basking in the sun, the make-up mogul posted photos of the beautiful desert landscape and captioned a post, I love it here.

While possibly a string of casual posts for Jenner, the tout to her nearly 200 million followers nonetheless supports trends associated with calls to Buy Black following global protests against police brutality and racism toward Black people. The notion is seen as a remedy to systemic and economic inequalities faced by Black entrepreneurs and business owners.

However, several social media users were quite angry when they noticed that Kylie had not tagged Duyiles brand in her post and one Twitter used lashed out, Kylie Jenner is refusing to tag the designer of the dress she just posted, which is a black owned brand, and now limiting her comments. @LoudBrndStudios is the designer!

While another said, This is nothing new. She wore clothes by The K Label and Twiley some time ago and didnt tag them but made sure to tag Gucci and other top designers. I could understand if she has people to purchase clothes for her, but they always make sure she tags Dior of Givenchy.

However, Kylie finally responded to the baseless accusations, writing, Ok this is just a reach. why would I ever REFUSE to tag a brand and block comments. this is completely false. i think this brand is amazing and i wanted to show support and will continue to do so. everyone go check out. @LoudBrndStudios

ok this is just a reach. why would i ever REFUSE to tag a brand and block comments. this is completely false. i think this brand is amazing and i wanted to show support and will continue to do so. everyone go check out @LoudBrndStudios https://t.co/r7oWRMNwoK  Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) July 7, 2020

That outpouring of support and massive sense of community, Duyile says, its so amazing. And though Jenner may be relegated as being removed from social issues, Duyile believes her even posting it was her way of showing support for Black-owned businesses, particularly for someone who presumably gets tons of requests to wear designs for free.

Loudbrands raw edge vashtie dress retails at approximately $145 and is currently sold out along with the brands entire collection after catching Jenners attention. According to a survey of 2,200 U.S. adults conducted June 26-28 by Bloomberg News and Morning Consult, 61% of Americans said they never buy based on influencers. But with a social media star as big as Jenner among generation Z and millennials, odds can change.

Duyile, an unexpected recipient of support to purchase Black-owned brands, is postponing a release of new designs and now planning for a small restock with hopes of continuing to push the standard of beauty for consumers who resemble her, she said. Particularly because as a young Black girl, weve all gone through our chain of insecurities about what the standard of beauty is, she added.

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Sex and the City fame actor and style icon, Sarah Jessica Parker recently isnt letting coronavirus pandemic cramp up her style. The actor, who also owns a shoe brand SJP Collection, recently celebrated the opening of her New York City flagship store, and graced all her loyal patrons and shoe-lovers with a personal appearance and a glimpse of her mask-covered face at the store, helping them pick out the perfect heel.

For those uninitiated with Sex and the City, Sarahs character, Carrie Bradshaw is also a shoe-loving fashionista, much like her real self, and in one episode on the series her character cant even afford to keep her NYC apartment, but spends over $40,000 on designer shoes, including Manolo Blahniks and Christian Louboutins. In the episode she says, I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes. But thats not the only connection that the flagship store has to SJPs onscreen character, the store was previously a boutique for Spanish shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, one of Carries favourite shoe designers on the show.

The 55-year-old diva arrived at her store wearing shiny, holographic, strappy silver sandals from her own collection that screamed Carrie, while her huge sunglasses, scarf fashioned into a mask and gray maxi dress, channelled her inner laid-back New Yorker.

Announcing the opening of her store, SJP took to her Instagram and posted a picture of the colourful interiors of her store, captioned, Tomorrow, July 7th, 2020. The paper and tape are coming down and our doors officially open at 11 am..

Sharing the location, she continued, While we wish we could fill every inch of our sparkling new @sjpcollection boutique with each and every one of you, well be taking every necessary safety precaution to keep our customers safe ... We look forward to seeing some of you tomorrow, from a safe social distance of course.

One shopper posted photos with Parker and from inside the store, writing, Today I was Sarah Jessica Parker s 1st customer at her new flagship store @sjpcollection in midtown Manhattan. She was the sweetest & most sincere and helped me pick out a pair of cute shoes. What an intimate shopping experience with her. I love her & her new collection!

As per reports, on account of the coronavirus pandemic, the SJP flagship store will only allow three customers at a time inside the store, wearing masks at all times. The store is also offering curbside pick-up for orders.

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Hollywood star Johnny Depp accused his ex-wife Amber Heard of lying about him beating her up, and told Londons High Court on Tuesday that she had actually struck him.

Depp, the 57-year-old star of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, is suing The Suns publisher, News Group Newspapers, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, for libel over an article Wootton wrote in April 2018 calling him a wife beater.

Picture of Johnny Depp presented to the court. He is seen at a hospital with a wounded finger.

The papers lawyers said they would show the claim was true and that he had beaten actor Heard, causing her to fear for her life, during violent rages brought on by alcohol or drugs, sometimes when he had falsely accused her of infidelity.

Actor Amber Heard leaves the High Court in London. (REUTERS)

For the avoidance of any doubt, I have never abused Ms Heard, or, indeed, any other woman, in my life, Depp said in a witness statement in which he characterised his ex-wife as a calculating, emotionally dishonest narcissist.

Wearing a dark suit and glasses and speaking in a deep clear tone, Depp gave evidence at the beginning of the case at Londons High Court. Heard, who arrived wearing a red scarf tied around her face, is also due to give evidence.

In a written statement outlining Depps case, his lawyer David Sherborne said Heard had first aired the abuse allegations in May 2016, saying it was hard to think of more extreme or violent claims of abuse than she would make during the trial.

Actor Johnny Depp leaves the High Court. (REUTERS)

The Claimants position is clear; Ms Heards allegations are complete lies, Sherborne said. The Claimant was not violent towards Ms Heard, it was she who was violent to him.

In papers submitted to the court, Depps team also said Heard had begun an affair with Tesla chief executive Elon Musk in early 2015 shortly after they had got married and had engaged in at least one extramarital relationship with her co-stars, with actor James Franco named.

Appearing in the witness box, Depp said he was the victim of attacks from his ex-wife and had himself sought to avoid confrontation. I would try to go to my own corner as it were, he said. Asked about one argument, Depp said: It escalated and it got physical ... Miss Heard struck me.

His defence cited incidents where he was allegedly attacked by Heard, including claims she threw a vodka bottle at him, severing his finger, in Australia in 2015.

THREE-WEEK CASE

The couple met on the set of the 2011 film The Rum Diary and married in February 2015. Heard filed for divorce after 15 months, and days later obtained a restraining order against Depp. Their divorce was finalised in 2017 when the restraining order was dismissed.

Cross-examined by lawyer Sasha Wass, Depp agreed he had taken every drug known to man by the age of 14 and said he had a difficult childhood and struggled to come to terms with his fame and success.

Even when I speak my own name it sounds foreign to me, he said. The court was shown mobile phone footage taken by Heard which showed an angry Depp slamming kitchen cupboard doors and pouring himself a mega glass of wine.

I can only say I was upset, very upset, he said, adding it was not a pleasant video to watch.Wass said he would turn into an alternate persona which he himself described as the monster, which was brought on by anger, jealousy or drugs.

He said the monster Heard referred to was when he yelled back at her in arguments. It would become a screaming match and that was the monster, he said. Its not Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Depp denied Wasss suggestion that he had a nasty, angry side. Depp is also being sued by a crew member from one of his films in 2018 who accused him of punching him twice in the ribs, the court heard.

Wass recounted a statement from actor Ellen Barkin, who said Depp had thrown a bottle of wine across a hotel room on one occasion and had got jealous and angry.

Also read: Happy birthday Neetu Kapoor: Her best pics from family album with Rishi, Ranbir, Riddhima

Untrue, Depp replied, saying Barkin held a grudge. I do not have an anger management problem.

In his witness statement, Depp said Heard had thrown a vodka bottle at him, severing his finger off, and that his ex-wife or one of her friends had defecated in their bed.

The case is set to last for three weeks, the judge, Andrew Nicol, said. Also due to give evidence via videolink are Vanessa Paradis, Depps former partner, and actor Winona Ryder.

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Police in Kanpur arrested Station Officer of Chaubeypur police station Vinay Tiwari and sub inspector K K Sharma on Wednesday for their alleged nexus with gangster Vikas Dubey who is accused of masterminding the massacre of eight policemen last week.

Both Tiwari and Sharma had already been suspended shortly after the incident as the Uttar Pradesh police launched a massive manhunt for Dubey.

Tiwari and Sharma allegedly tipped off Dubey about the midnight raid by the police on Friday that turned into a tragedy.

Kanpurs senior superintendent of police (SSP) Dinesh Kumar P said both the officers were charged under Section 120 B of the IPC for conspiring to kill the policemen

Late Tuesday night, Dinesh Kumar P had removed the entire staff of Chaubeypur police station comprising 68 police personnel and sent them to the police lines.

The UP police have raised the bounty on Dubeys head to Rs 5 lakh.

On Wednesday, police shot dead Amar Dubey, a close aide of the gangster in Hamirpur and arrested another gang member Shyamu Bajpai in Chaubeypur after he was injured in an encounter.

Three persons close to the gangster were also arrested from Haryanas Faridabad in a joint operation by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh police and the local crime branch team.

Dubey was in Faridabad and had tried to take a room in a hotel, whose CCTV footage went viral, a police official said.
Chennai: Two of the Sathankulam station policemen arrested for the murder of father and son P Jayaraj (59) and J Bennicks (31) have been implicated in another case of alleged custodial torture that led to the eventual death of a 28-year-old man in June.

The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Wednesday issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government, the state director general of police (DGP), home secretary and the superintendent of police of Thoothukudi, Jayakumar, to respond to the case filed by S Vadivu, the mother of S Mahendran, who died on June 13 reportedly due to injuries sustained while he was kept for a night at the Sathankulam police station in May.

Jayakumar told Hindustan Times that a response will be filed after the inquiry into Mahendrans death by additional superintendent of police, Selvam, is complete.

Bennicks and Jayaraj died after they were reportedly beaten with lathis through the night of their arrest on June 19.

Mahendrans mother Vadivu (65) claimed in her affidavit that her son was picked up by sub inspector Raghu Ganesh of the Sathankulam police station on May 23 and tortured in connection with a murder case in which Mahendrans brother, Durai, was a suspect. Her affidavit also names inspector Sridhar.

Mahendran, a construction worker, was not an accused in the case, she added.

Sridhar and Raghu Ganesh along with three other policemen are charged with the murder of the father and son duo and are currently lodged in the Madurai central prison.

According to an affidavit filed by Vadivu, sub inspector Raghu Ganesh along with few other cops visited her house on May 22, searching for Durai as they suspected his involvement in the murder of a certain Jeyakumar on May 18 in Peikulam.

On May 23 at 2 am, the police landed up at Mahendrans aunts house. They dragged my younger son Mahendran out and started to beat him brutally all over the body, including his private parts, the affidavit said. The policemen attacked him in his head also and he sustained head injury. Raghu Ganesh dragged him to the police station (Sathankulam) saying that he will not release him unless Durai surrenders and kept my son illegally.

Depending on his work Mahendran would stay in Peikulam (in Sathankulam) with his mother, or at his aunts home in Papanakulam, Thoothukudi. His father died in 2009 while his brother Durai, 35, and sister Santhanam, 30, are married and live in neighbouring villages.

Mahendran was let off after a day in police custody and his mother took him to the Thoothukudi government hospital on June 11 after he couldnt move his right hand and complained of headaches. A scan revealed that he had suffered brain injury, and he died two days later.

They are a very poor family and were too scared to go to the police to file an FIR or even ask for a post-mortem report, Mahendran's paternal uncle M Perumal told HT.

As per medical reports the death of my son was due to a blood clot in his brain which happened only due to the brutal attack by Raghu Ganesh and Inspector Sridhar (who is also arrested for Bennicks murder), Vadivus affidavit stated.

The Crime Branch, Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) charged five policemen with the murder of Bennicks and Jayaraj, who died on June 22 and 23 respectively. Five more policemen were arrested on Wednesday for wrongful confinement, among other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The father and son were arrested for keeping their mobile repair shop open beyond the curfew imposed due to the lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

On Wednesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation sent a team to the state to take over the investigation.
The Indian Army has begun a rigourous verification process to monitor the withdrawal of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) from friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh even as a complicated disengagement plan moved forward in Hot Springs and Gogra, where the two armies are working to create a 4km buffer zone between troops within a 24-hour time frame, four officials familiar with the developments said on Tuesday evening.

The PLA has withdrawn up to 2km from Patrolling Point 15 (Hot Springs) and a similar retreat is expected to be completed at PP-17 (Gogra) by Wednesday evening, with the Indian Army pulling back proportionately. This is based on an understanding reached last week by top Indian and Chinese military commanders on a phased de-escalation of the ongoing border conflict in the Ladakh theatre, said one of the officials cited above, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The two armies have already created a 4km buffer zone in Galwan Valley, the site of a deadly clash which left 20 Indian and an unconfirmed number of Chinese soldiers dead on June 15, said a second official.

The creation of buffer zones will temporarily restrict the patrolling activities of both armies in the region. While some experts saw this as a necessary step, others cautioned that the temporary curtailing of patrolling rights should not become a long-term feature undermining Indian presence and control.

Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday that the PLA had withdrawn up to 1.5 km from friction areas in Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra, and the Indian Army also pulled back proportionately. A minor thinning of PLA soldiers has been noticed at the sensitive Finger Area near Pangong Tso.

Satellite images on Tuesday appeared to confirm the PLA pullback from Galwan Valley. The images clearly indicate that the PLA has moved back in Galwan Valley. Its a positive step but constant verification and strict vigil are a must, said Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd), a former director general of military operations. Bhatia reviewed the images for HT.

Satellite images from June 28 and July 6 released on Tuesday by Maxar, a US-based satellite imagery company, show the Chinese expansion at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh has been removed as part of the disengagement procedure. (Maxar/AP Photo )

The disengagement effort involves rival troops pulling back a specified distance from face-off sites, with further retreat taking place in phases as the complex plan progresses on a verifiable basis on the ground every 72 hours by both sides. It also entails the phased withdrawal of weapons and equipment to a mutually agreed distance, and finally the restoration of status quo ante (the situation as it existed in early April).

The army is keeping a close watch on the ongoing pull back by the PLA. Its extremely critical to verify and reverify every stage of the disengagement process to avoid surprises, said the second official, who asked not to be identified.

The verification process launched by the army involves unmanned aerial vehicles, other aerial means of surveillance and satellite imagery of the areas, said a third official.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is already projecting its capabilities of carrying out day-and-night, all-weather combat missions in Ladakh, with front-line fighter jets, attack helicopters, and multi-mission choppers getting airborne for demanding night-time missions from a forward airbase in the area, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

On the creation of buffer zones, and the curtailment of patrolling, experts had a mixed response.

The zones of separation will eliminate the possibility of violent face-offs. Its best to avoid any form of contact between rival troops. A moratorium on patrolling the areas by both sides till things stabilise should help, said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda (retd).

Disengagement during a 2014 border standoff at Chumar in Ladakh involved a temporary ban on Indian and Chinese soldiers patrolling disputed areas.

Satisfactory progress of disengagement in Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra could set the stage for reducing tensions in the Finger Area and also turn the focus on the Depsang plains where the PLAs forward presence is hindering the Indian Armys patrolling patterns, said Hooda.

But others sounded a more cautionary note, emphasising that India must be able to  after the agreed period  exercise its patrolling rights again. A senior official said India must never lose track of Chinas salami slicing tactics to slowly grab territory. Salami slicing refers to a string of small, clandestine operations meant to achieve a larger goal that would be difficult to accomplish in one go. He said, We have to ensure that the buffer zones do not become a new status quo. These can only be a temporary measure to facilitate the disengagement process to restore status quo ante. The army will fully exercise patrolling rights in the area once that happens.

Before the PLA occupied vantage positions on Finger Four in early May, Indian Army soldiers would patrol right up to Finger Eight, which New Delhi considers to be its territory. The new Chinese positions have restricted the scope of Indian patrols. Fingers Four and Eight are 8km apart.

The army is also keeping a strict vigil along the contested border in the Depsang sector where a 2013 Chinese intrusion blocked the access of Indian soldiers to several patrolling routes, including the ones leading to Patrol Points 10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13, a fourth official said.

The military buildup in Indian and Chinese depth areas, however, hasnt thinned, with both sides keeping their guard up. The deployment of thousands of soldiers, fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, artillery guns, missile systems and air defence weapons continues in the region.

The disengagement process, a precursor to any kind of de-escalation of the border conflict, has started under the terms mutually agreed to at the June 30 meeting between delegations led by Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region. This understanding, in turn, was the result of earlier efforts not paying dividends.
A 60-year-old woman was killed and another injured as Pakistan rained mortars on Indian posts and forward villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Poonch district police chief SSP Ramesh Kumar Angral said, there was ceasefire violation by Pakistan and at around 0235 hrs (2.35 AM) in which an old woman was killed and another injured in Lanjote area of Mendhar. They were hit by Pakistani mortar fire.

Pakistan violated ceasefire along the LoC in Balakote and Mendhar sectors of the district, he said. The stretch is manned by 12 Madras Battalion.

The deceased was identified as Reshma Bi and the injured as Hakam Bi, 58, both belonging to Lanjote in Mendhar.

No army personnel were injured in the exchange of fire.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said, around 0200 hours, (2 AM) Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and then resorted to intense shelling along the LoC in Balakote and Mendhar sectors. Indian Army retaliated befittingly. The firing stopped at about 0245 hours. (2.45 AM).

Last month India lost five soldiers along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri sectors in Pakistani shelling.
As part of stepping up testing for Covid-19 in the wake of fast spreading of the virus, the Andhra Pradesh government has introduced mobile sample collection centres to collect the samples of people suffering from symptoms of the disease.

State nodal officer for Covid-19 Dr Arja Sreekanth said the state medical and health department has acquired 20 mobile sample collection centres, which would be increased by another 50 shortly to meet the growing demand for testing as the situation gets grimmer with the rising number of Covid-19 cases.

He said each mobile centre would have 10 counters, so that samples of 10 persons could be collected at a time. Those undergoing tests would have to furnish all their particulars, including mobile numbers, Aadhar numbers, addresses and their present health conditions.

The sample collection will be done within 10 minutes and sent to the laboratories for testing. The test results would be sent to the people on their respective mobiles in the shortest possible time, Sreekanth said.

Once the details of the person who gives his sample are uploaded in the system, they would be forwarded to the local Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), a health department worker, who would not only keep a surveillance on the movement of the person but also monitor his health status from time to time.

The mobile sample collection vans would be sent to various places like bus stands, railway stations, airports and inter-state borders so that samples from people coming from other states and countries would be collected.

This will also help the authorities do contact tracing and prevent community spread of the virus, the nodal officer said.

What is more, these mobile vans would be sent to all the containment zones to collect samples from people in the area.

They dont have to go to the laboratories for testing, since the sample collection is done within their colony, he said.

Once the test results were declared, the health department authorities would monitor the people who test positive.

Depending on the intensity of the disease and the co-morbid conditions, the authorities would decide on whether such patients should be sent to the hospital or the government quarantine centres or allow them to be home quarantined. If they want to be self-quarantined, the local ANM would regularly monitor their health status, Sreekanth said.

Andhra Pradesh was among the top three states in the country in conducting the highest number of tests per million population.

As of Wednesday, the state has tested 10,77,733 samples, at the rate of 20,182 tests per million population.

In all, the state reported 22,259 positive cases for Covid-19 with a positivity rate of 2.07 per cent and 263 deaths with a mortality rate of 1.19 per cent. The national average for testing is 7551 per million, while the average positivity rate is 7.09 per cent and mortality rate is 2.78 per cent.
The Indian Army has asked soldiers to delete 89 apps from their smart phones including Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat and several apps already banned by the government, people familiar with the developments said on Wednesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The apps, including dating apps such as Tinder, OkCupid and Couch Surfing, have been banned for security reasons, they said. The social media apps that are a no-go area for soldiers include messaging platforms, video-hosting sites, gaming and dating apps, and also some e-commerce options, the people said.

The apps that are of bounds for the India Army now include WeChat, Viber, Zoom, Vigo Video, Cam Scanner and gaming app PUBG. Such guidelines are issued periodically. These are more significant now in the context of the current border tensions and the need to secure information, the officials said.

The apps banned by the army are not limited to the 59 Chinese mobile applications banned by the government. The Chinese apps earlier banned are Club Factory, SHAREit, Likee, Mi Video Call (Xiaomi), Weibo, Baidu and Bigo Live. They have been removed from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for India. China has strongly reacted to Indias move to ban 59 mobile applications last month, most of which are linked to China. The Indian governments decision was based on security concerns.
A man, accused in a series of murders and sexual assaults on women, was sentenced to death by a court here for the rape and killing of a schoolgirl in West Bengals Purba Bardhaman district.

Kamaruzzaman Sarkar, who gained notoriety as a serial chain killer for strangling his victims with bicycle chains, was sentenced to be hanged to death by the additional district and sessions judge Tapan Kumar Mondal of Kalna court after being found guilty of the rape and murder of the girl.

Sarkar, a small-time trader of discarded materials, is being tried in other courts for alleged sexual assault and murder of at least five other women and murderous attacks on at least three other women in Purba Bardhaman and neighbouring Hooghly districts.

Following the order on Monday, Sarkars lawyer said that an appeal will be filed before the Calcutta High Court, challenging the conviction and sentence.

The alleged serial killer who targeted women when they were alone at home, was arrested in the town of Kalna in Purba Bardhaman district in June last year.

The 42-year-old, attired in trendy clothes, would allegedly enter homes during afternoon hours on the pretext of taking electricity meter readings and then pounce upon the women with a cycle chain and an iron rod, according to the prosecution.

Some women had managed to escape attacks by the diminutive man, whose modus operandi was to strangulate them with a chain and then hit them on the head to ensure death.

Though he would escape with some valuables from the houses of his victims, theft does not seem to be the motive.

Murdering the women seemed to be his main target, according to district police sources.

Police said that Sarkar, married with three children, had even allegedly inserted sharp materials into the genitals of some of his victims following their deaths.

Following the murder of a middle-aged woman, the district police had circulated CCTV footage of a suspect wearing a red helmet and riding a red motorbike to all police stations, following which he was apprehended at a check-point.

Sarkar is suspected to have killed a woman of Anukhal area on January 27 last year, police said.

On April 4, 2019, two women were killed within a few hours of each other in the Memari police station area of Purba Bardhaman.

Another woman of Memari was also killed in the same manner, the police said.

Swarupa Bibi of Rongpara here was one of the lucky few to have escaped a similar attack. She was allegedly attacked from behind with a cycle chain, but she managed to shrug off the attacker and raise an alarm.
Unidentified men shot dead Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shiekh Waseem Bari, his father Bashir Ahmad and brother Umar in Jammu and Kashmirs Bandipore town on Wednesday evening.

Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar, said the terrorists attacked Bari, a 28-year-old former party district president, at his shop at Muslimabad neighbourhood in Bandipore, killing him on the spot and injuring his relatives. All three were taken to district hospital where they were declared brought dead. All three succumbed to their injuries, Kumar said.

Police and the army said they launched search operations to track down the attackers. Kumar said the family was provided security by eight personnel but none of them were present at the time of incident. The PSOs [protective service officer] are being arrested.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killing of the BJP leader.

Sorry to hear about the murderous terror attack on the BJP functionaries and their father in Bandipore earlier this evening. I condemn the attack. My condolences to their families in this time of grief. Sadly the violent targeting of mainstream political workers continues unabated, he tweeted.

Bari was known as the face of the BJP in the district and contested the 2014 assembly election as an independent candidate.

We strongly condemn the dastardly killing of young BJP leader Wasim Bari and his family members by terrorists in Bandipora,Jammu-Kashmir! Bari was a young,dedicated and sincere functionary of @BJP4India. Homage to the assassinated leader.We share the grief of the family members! tweeted senior party leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.
Sheikh Waseem Bari, a local BJP leader and two members of his family were shot dead by suspected terrorists in Kashmirs Bandipora district late on Wednesday evening. Sheikh Waseem Bari was a former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bandipora district, 60 km north of Srinagar.

Sheikh Waseem Baris father Basheer Ahmad and brother Umar were also killed in the attack that took place at his shop in Bandipore, said police.

Eight Personal Security Officers assigned to the BJP leader have been arrested.

News agency PTI quoted Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbag Sing saying that terrorists opened fire at the young politician outside his shop near Bandipora police station. The attack took place at about 9 pm.

The three were taken to Bandipora district hospital but did not survive.

Senior police officials of the district have reached the spot, a police official said, adding further details are awaited.

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Sheikh Waseem Bari, a local BJP leader and two members of his family were shot dead by suspected terrorists in Kashmirs Bandipore district late on Wednesday evening. Sheikh Waseem Bari was a former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bandipora district, 60 km north of Srinagar.

Sheikh Waseem Baris father Basheer Ahmad and brother Umar were also killed in the attack that took place at his shop in Bandipore, said police.

Inspector general of police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that Bari,his father and brother received critical injuries in the gunfire opened by terrorists at his shop. All three were rushed to the hospital but were declared brought dead, Kumar said.

The incident took place despite Bari having ten personal security officers to guard him. None of them were present when the militants attacked, said Kumar. At the time of the incident, they were sitting on the first floor of Baris house, which is adjacent to the shop. All ten of his PSOs have been arrested, he added.

A combined team of state police and army personnel have launched a man hunt to nab the terrorists.

Baris death has been condoled by former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, who expressed concern at the continuing attacks on mainstream politicians.

Sorry to hear about the murderous terror attack on the BJP functionaries and their father in Bandipore earlier this evening. I condemn the attack. My condolences to their families in this time of grief. Sadly the violent targeting of mainstream political workers continues unabated, tweeted Omar soon after the attack.

Bari was a young BJP leader, who was a well known figure in Bandipore district.

The development comes a day after NIA arrested a local youth for providing logistical support to Jaish-e-Mohammed (Jem) terrorists who carried out Pulwama terror attack in February 2019 by ramming an explosive laden car into a CRPF convoy killing 40 troopers.

Bilal Ahmed Kuchey, a resident of Kakpora of Pulwama district, was the seventh person to be arrested in connection with the case. He is supposed to have given shelter to the JeM terrorists and provided them with high end phones for communication with their handlers in Pakistan and also among themselves while planning the execution of the attack.

One of the mobile phones he arranged was used by Pulwama bomber Adil Ahmed Dar for recording his last video, said NIA.

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The bounty on notorious criminal Vikas Dubey, who has been missing since Friday after allegedly killing eight policemen in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur, has been increased to Rs 5 lakh. It is the fourth time the reward has been increased for giving information about Dubey in the past six days.

At first, IG Kanpur Mohit Agarwal announced a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, which was gradually increased to Rs 1 lakh by ADG Kanpur Zone JN Singh on Sunday and Rs 2.5 lakh by UP DGP HC Awasthy on Tuesday. The UP home department further recommended increasing the reward to Rs 5 lakh.

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday killed an aide of Dubey in Hamirpur and arrested another following an encounter in Kanpur for their alleged role in last weeks Bikru ambush that led to killing of eight policemen, who had gone to arrest the gangster.

Amar Dubey, who carried a reward of Rs 25,000, was killed in an encounter in Maudaha village in Hamirpur district, STF IG Amitabh Yash told PTI.

In a separate encounter, hours after Amar Dubey was gunned down, Shyamu Bajpai, another associate of Vikas Dubey, was arrested in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur.

According to sources, Amar Dubey was involved in the security of Vikas Dubey and travelled with him wherever he went while Bajpai too was close to the gangster.

About the delay in the arrest of Vikas Dubey, the IG said, He is a hardened criminal and was used to hiding so it is taking time but we will surely nab him. We have started getting success.

Vikas Dubeys close relative Shama, neighbour Suresh Verma and domestic help Rekha and her husband Dayashankar Agnihotri, a key member of Dubeys gang, were arrested by police.

On Tuesday, all 68 personnel of the Chaubeypur Police Station were shunted to the reserve police lines amid doubts over their professional integrity. The announcement was made soon after police transferred Anand Deo, DIG STF, who till recently was the Senior Superintendent of Police in Kanpur. Deo was the Kanpur SSP in March when Deputy Superintendent of Police Devendra Mishra purportedly wrote a damning letter, which surfaced on the social media after he was killed in the Bikru ambush.

The unverified letter to the then Kanpur SSP alleged that Chaubeypur station officer Vinay Tiwari had watered down an FIR lodged against the gangster. It suggested that Tiwari and Dubey were close. However, police said there is no record of the purported letter, which is undated and carries no serial number. Deo also said that the signature on it does not match that of the slain officer. But police said they will still investigate the letter. Lucknow Range IG Lakshmi Singh is probing the matter.

(With PTI inputs)
The United Kingdoms new high commissioner to India, Philip Barton, on Wednesday gave us a glimpse into how he prepared before presenting his credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind during a virtual ceremony.

In a short video which he posted on his Twitter handle, Barton begins speaking with a Namaste and goes on to explain that it is an exciting day for him as he takes up his new assignment. Introducing himself as the new British high commissioner designate to India, he goes on to describe the process of presenting his credentials to the head of state and what it literally translates into.

Letters of credentials are the letters signed by the Queen of England  the head of state of the United Kingdom addressed to the President of India asking him and the state of India to give credence (comes from a French word) to what the new designate says while discharging his official duties. The letters also urge the President to believe that the diplomat speaks on behalf of the United Kingdom during his stay in the country.

Barton gives us a peep at the original copies of the letter duly signed by Queen Elizabeth-II and addressed to President Kovind. The ceremony, which had to be carried out virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was nevertheless an important one for Indo-British relations.

WATCH | Before presenting credentials to President Kovind , UK envoy records a video explainer

Earlier today, I recorded this video to share a sneak peek into how I was getting ready to present my credentials to the President of India. pic.twitter.com/oJ9OSNLXSM  Philip Barton (@PhilipRBarton) July 8, 2020

Bartons connections with India go back a long way. His new assignment is definitely not his first brush with the country. We often speak of the living bridge of people, ideas and institutions that tie the UK and India together. I, too, am a part of that bridge, he says.

He goes on to elaborate that his mother happened to be born in Shimla and Barton was posted in national capital Delhi in the 1990s. He met his wife, Amanda, when both of them lived and worked in the country. They named their daughter India  not knowing I would return one day as high commissioner.

Bartons arrival in the country and the presentation of his credentials was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which broke out earlier this year. He succeeded Dominic Asquith, who served as high commissioner from April 2016 to January this year.

The UK-India relationship is remarkable and we share an unparalleled breadth and depth of connection. There is a deep commitment across the British government, industry and civil society to develop that relationship even further, Barton said in a statement.

He identified several key areas  developing the trade and economic partnership following the Britains exit from the European Union, tackling global challenges of climate change and green recovery, acting together as a force for good in the world, and working closely to keep both countries safe and secure.

Earlier, Barton also served as the UKs high commissioner to Pakistan during 2014-16 and as acting chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee during 2016-17, acknowledged he had arrived in India at an extraordinarily difficult time.

Barton joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1986 and has previously served as the Director General (consular and security) in London and as deputy ambassador in Washington. Before arriving in New Delhi last month, he helped the UK government adapt its long-term planning to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With Bartons arrival, Jan Thompson, who served as acting high commissioner from February to June, has returned to her role as deputy high commissioner.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday recalled its earlier order in which it allowed the sale of BS-IV vehicles for 10 days across India, except in Delhi-NCR, after lifting of a national lockdown, warning automobile dealers of not taking advantage of the apex court by playing fraud.

A bench headed by justice Arun Mishra observed that its earlier directive from March 27 was violated and BS-IV vehicles were sold during the lockdown in the last week of March and even in the next month.

When the bench was informed about the sale of such vehicles during the lockdown, it recalled the order by which it permitted automobile dealers to sell 10% of their BS-IV stock for further 10 days after the lockdown. The order was passed after dealers complained that they lost seven days from March 25 to March 31 due to the lockdown.

You cannot befool us. You cannot take advantage of this courts order by playing fraud. How could you have opened for sale during lockdown? This is not just violation of the lockdown but violation of our order too, said the three-judge bench of justices Mishra, S Abdul Nazeer and Indira Banerjee.

The bench said BS-IV vehicles sold after March 31 this year and those whose details have not been uploaded on the e-vahan portal of the government will not be registered. In October 2018, the court said no BS-IV vehicle would be sold or registered in India from April 1, 2020. During the hearing on Wednesday, the bench observed that sale of BS-IV vehicles had increased in the last week of March, when the nationwide lockdown was in force, and there were online transactions also.

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) submitted a tabular chart to the court giving date-wise sales of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger cars and commercial vehicles made by FADA members and non-members during March 12-31.

The court was surprised to note that the bulk of sales took place during the lockdown. FADA members sold 61,861 BS-IV vehicles in the period March 12-31, of which sale of 33,328 vehicles pertained to the lockdown period. Similarly, non-member dealers sold 72,532 vehicles during the period of March 12-31, out of which the sale of 40,184 vehicles occurred during the lockdown week.

Senior advocate KV Vishwanathan, who appeared for FADA, informed the court that most sales took place online during the lockdown.

With inputs from PTI
In what could be next big bank fraud, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in last eight days, has registered four cases against Ahmedabad-based group, Ardor Global Pvt Ltd (AGPL), and its promoters for allegedly cheating Bank of India (BoI) and Central Bank of India in different loans totaling around Rs 300 crore.

However, a forensic audit conducted by consortium of banks revealed in 2018 that there were suspicious routing of funds worth Rs 10,303 crore between 2014 and 2016 in various companies by AGPL, which was earlier known as Chem-Edge International Private Ltd (CEIPL).

In its four FIRs, the agency has listed four loans in which Central Bank had to face losses of Rs 47 crore and Rs 39 crore while BoI faced losses of Rs 98 crore and Rs 112 crore.

The agency has named AGPL, CEIPL and their promoters Bharatbhai Ratanshi Shah and Fenil Shah among others as accused in its cases. Interestingly, CBI had registered two case against the group companies in 2019 as well for cheating Bank of Baroda (BoB) of Rs 39 crore and Rs 68 crore respectively. Another FIR was registered against the group in June 2018 for cheating Central Bank of India of Rs 82 crore.

According to a forensic audit carried out by M/s Ravi Ranjan & Co appointed by the banks, which is now part of CBI latest FIRs, several banking transactions have been found between the entities linked directly or indirectly to Ardor Group. The forensic report said there has been rotation of Rs 10,303 crore collectively from AGPL, M/s Ardor International Pvt Ltd (AIPL - another group company) where these two companies had transferred payments to few entities aggregating around Rs 12,178 crore between April 2014 and December 2016.

The audit, submitted in January 2018, says that the companies which received this money further transferred the money to the debtors of AGPL as per receivable audits and in turn these parties against transferred funds to AGPL/AIPL aggregating Rs 10,303 crore.

There were substantial banking transactions between a few known entities within a small group companies creating doubt about the authenticity f the transactions, the forensic audit says.

It further added that the debtors of AGPL are not realizable and also there are no stocks. Bankers have sent letters to debtors and no funds have been realized, thereby, creating a doubt on the genuineness of the debtors, it says.

The company representatives or its lawyer could not be located by HT.

The agency is already probing some big ticket frauds involving businessmen - including Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi and Sandesara brothers - Chetan and Nitin Sandesara of Sterling Biotech.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the alleged torture and custodial killings of a 59-year-old man and his son at a police station in Tamil Nadus Thoothukudi district late last month.

P Jayaraj and J Bennicks, 31, were arrested on June 19 and allegedly tortured for keeping their shop open in violation of restrictions imposed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. They were admitted to the Kovilpatti government hospital on June 22 after being allegedly tortured through the night in custody. Bennicks died on the same night, while Jayaraj passed away on June 23. The alleged custodial killings triggered outrage across the country.

CBI registered two cases on Tuesday based on Tamil Nadu polices First Information Reports in the case. CBI has taken over the investigation of these cases... and constituted a team. The team is being proceeded to the said place [Tamil Nadu] for investigation, said CBI spokesperson RK Gaur.

The special team from Delhi will question the five police personnel arrested for the alleged murders and take them into custody. The five include an inspector. On Wednesday, five more police officials were arrested. They have been charged with wrongful confinement and disappearing of evidence, among other sections.

CBI officials said that they will first collect forensic evidence from the police station with the help of experts and then collect the case documents.

The federal agency took over the case days after Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah and sought a CBI probe into the deaths amid the outrage.

A policewoman is the only eyewitness in the case. She told judicial magistrate M S Barathidasan, who investigated the incident, that the two were beaten through the night on June 19.

The Madras high court on June 30 said there are prima-facie grounds to book the policemen at the Sathankulam police station for Jayaraj and Bennickss murder. It made the observation after going through preliminary post-mortem reports as well as the judicial magistrates report. The magistrates report said the two were thrashed through the night with sticks.
With disengagement between the Indian and Chinese armies making measurable progress in Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra, the focus of reducing tensions in eastern Ladakh has shifted to the sensitive Finger Area near Pangong Tso, where the Indian Army has observed a marginal thinning of troops, vehicles and removal of structures from a key spur over the last 24 hours, people familiar with the developments said on Wednesday, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Some Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) elements have retreated from Finger 4 but it cant by any stretch be seen as disengagement, said one of the officials cited above. The Finger Area refers to a set of eight cliffs jutting out of the Sirijap range overlooking Pangong lake.

Before the PLA grabbed positions on Finger Four overlooking Indian deployments, the army would patrol right up to Finger Eight that New Delhi considers within Indian territory. The new positions held by the PLA have curtailed the scope of Indian patrols. Fingers Four and Eight are 8 km apart.

The Finger Area will now be at the centre of the step-wise disengagement process, which is underway at friction points in Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra. Temporary buffer zones between rival troops have been created there. The Finger Area will be the hardest part of disengagement, said a second official.

The Indian claim line in this sector extends to Finger Eight, while the Chinese claim is up to Finger Four where the PLA has set up permanent bunkers, pillboxes, observation posts and tented camps over the last two months.

The army has begun a rigorous verification process to monitor the withdrawal of the PLA from Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra, where 4 km buffer zones between troops have come up, as reported by Hindustan Times on Wednesday.

While the PLA has withdrawn up to 2 km from Patrolling Point 14 (Galwan Valley) and PP-15 (Hot Springs) over the last three days, a similar retreat is expected to be completed at PP-17 (Gogra) within a 24-hour time frame (Thursday), said a third official. The Indian Army is pulling back proportionately in these areas. This is based on an understanding on June 30 by top Indian and Chinese commanders on a phased de-escalation of the ongoing border conflict.

Military experts said the Finger Area will test the disengagement process.

Disengagement appears to be making reasonable progress in Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra. The Finger Area will now be the focal point of the disengagement process and will be a true test of Chinas commitment and sincerity to resolve the situation, said former army vice chief Lieutenant General AS Lamba (retd).

The disengagement effort involves rival troops pulling back a specified distance from face-off sites, with further retreat taking place in phases as the complex plan progresses on a verifiable basis on the ground every 72 hours by both sides. It also entails the phased withdrawal of weapons and equipment to a mutually agreed distance, and finally the restoration of status quo ante (the situation as it existed in early April).

The army is keeping a close watch on the ongoing pull back by the PLA. The creation of buffer zones will temporarily restrict the patrolling activities of both armies in the region. While some experts saw this as a necessary step, others cautioned that the temporary curtailing of patrolling rights should not become a long-term feature undermining Indian presence and control, as reported by HT on Wednesday.

Disengagement during a 2014 border standoff at Chumar in Ladakh involved a temporary ban on Indian and Chinese soldiers patrolling disputed areas.

The army is keeping a strict vigil along the contested border in the Depsang sector where a 2013 Chinese intrusion blocked the access of Indian soldiers to several patrolling routes, including the ones leading to PPs-10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13.

The military buildup in Indian and Chinese depth areas hasnt thinned, with both sides keeping their guard up. The deployment of thousands of soldiers, fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, artillery guns, missile systems and air defence weapons continues in the region.

The disengagement process, a precursor to any kind of de-escalation of the border conflict, started under the terms mutually agreed to at the June 30 meeting between delegations led by Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region.

This understanding, in turn, was the result of earlier efforts not paying dividends.

It also followed a two-hour video conference between Indias National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinas foreign minister Wang Yi, according to official statements by both countries on Monday.

A limited military disengagement in the same friction areas  Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra  was initiated last month after the commanders reached an understanding on reducing tensions during their first meeting on June 6. But the Galwan Valley skirmish on June 15 dashed disengagement hopes. The clash left 20 Indian and an unconfirmed number of Chinese soldiers dead.

The corps commander-ranked officers then met on June 22 when they hammered out a consensus on disengaging from friction points. However, it neither enabled any disengagement on the ground nor led to the thinning of the military build-up, leading to their third meeting on June 30.

At the June 30 meeting, the Indian side reiterated its demand for the pullback of Chinese troops from friction points along the LAC and sought the restoration of status quo ante in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang plains, apart from emphasising the need for thinning the military buildup in the region.

The first part of this process is underway at the moment.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction with the South 24 Parganas district administration for marking containment zones in the district, according to the new guidelines the state had announced. The chief minister said the zones had been marked indiscriminately and scrapped the list.

Lockdown will be announced in these containment zones from 5 pm on Thursday.

South 24 Parganas is located right next to Kolkata and many parts of the district are considered almost a part of the capital city.

What is this? They seem to have added one community ward after another without doing any survey. Who has done this? This will not do. Prepare a fresh list, Banerjee said at a press conference at Nabanna, the state secretariat. The press conference was aired live on several television channels and Facebook.

Though Banerjee is known for pulling up officials in public, this is the first time she expressed her dissatisfaction with a Covid-19 related decision taken by the police and bureaucrats.

Chief secretary Rajiva Sinha who was present at the news briefing was asked by Banerjee to redraw the list.

I did not say anything about containment zones in Kolkata. But in South 24 Parganas it seems they did nothing but copy the addresses from the voters list. You go through the list right now. I want it changed immediately, Banerjee said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has warned of stern action after two unidentified persons made an unsuccessful bid to vandalise Rajgruha, the house of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar that has been converted into a memorial at Dadars Hindu Colony in central Mumbai, on Tuesday evening.

Thackeray called the attack on the revered place as shocking.

Rajgruha is revered not just for followers of Dr. Ambedkar, but also cutting across community lines, said the CM.

We wont tolerate anyone insulting Rajgruha. I have ordered the police to take strict action against the offenders, he added

Rajgruha has a private library, which has a collection of over 50,000 books that belonged to Dr. Ambedkar, and many other artefacts.

Earlier, on Tuesday evening, two unidentified troublemakers vandalised a few flower pots and also tried to destroy the closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras installed outside Rajgruha.

Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh has ordered an inquiry and said the guilty would not be spared.

State housing Minister Jitendra Awhad rushed to the spot on Wednesday morning on the instructions of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and met Dr. Ambedkars family members.

Former CM and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis spoke to Bhimrao Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr. Ambedkar, and also demanded an immediate arrest of the accused.

Bhimrao Ambedkar expressed hope that the police would nab the culprits soon and appealed to the public to exercise restraint.

He also requested the deployment of police personnel at Rajgruha to guard the books in the library. The incident evoked anger among Dr. Ambedkars followers.

Around 200 of them reached Rajgruha at night on Tuesday, but were dispersed by the police.

Dr. Amedkars family members have appealed for peace and said that they would react only after a police investigation.

Police have intensified vigil at Rajgruha and senior officials are monitoring the situation round-the-clock.

Rajgruha is revered by lakhs of Dr. Ambedkars followers along with Chaityabhoomi, where he was cremated in December 1956.

Dr. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, also championed the countrys Dalit Buddhist movement and campaigned against social discrimination towards untouchability in the rigid four-fold Hindu caste system.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday slammed the Congress and its former president Rahul Gandhi, for doing disservice to the nation by asking questions irresponsibly on the border stand-off with China, instead of joining forces with the government.

A day after the Congress demanded to know why status quo ante was not insisted upon and the lack of mention about the territorial sovereignty of eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley in the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement; the BJP hit back at its rival.

The saffron party said that the Congress should learn from it how to be a responsible opposition.

The opposition is only an example of how irresponsible it (Congress) is. They should learn from Bhartiya Jan Sangh and the BJP, who during the successive wars that the country had fought in 1948, 1962, 1965, and 1971 and how we had behaved as opposition and not the enemy of the government. We, in no way, gave direct or indirect strength to enemy countries. Today, when the [Narendra] Modi has given the world a model in leadership, instead of participating, they are doing a disservice to the nation, said Murlidhar Rao, general secretary, BJP.

The BJP and the Congress have been sparring over the governments response to the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic as well as the stand-off with China along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

The Congress has been asking the government to be transparent on the territorial transgressions by China and the violent face-off between Indian and Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) troops at Galwan Valley on June 15 that had left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

The BJP has accused the Congress of lowering the morale of the soldiers by their comments.

To a separate question on Gandhis comment about the state of the economy and how MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) are struggling in the aftermath of an economic slowdown, Rao said the government has been proactive in identifying the challenges and addressing those.

On Wednesday, Gandhi had tweeted: Small & medium enterprises stand destroyed. Large companies are under severe stress. Banks are in distress. I had stated months ago that an economic tsunami was coming and was ridiculed by the BJP and the media for warning the country about the truth.

Retorting to Wayanad Member of Parliaments (MP) tweet, Rao said, The blind cannot be shown the light... During and after the Covid-19 crisis, the government has been doing its bit. Congress leaders, especially Rahul Gandhi, should look into their history, and learn what was their (partys) role during a crisis. He (Gandhi) is trying to present himself as a wise man, but people have refused to accept him. If we accept his arguments, we will also be rejected. By accepting him as a leader, the Congress is decimated.

Rao said because of the pandemic, supply chains have been disrupted and this has led to problems in every sector. The PM is motivating people to become the market for the manufacturing sector. He (Gandhi) cannot understand the science and subtlety (of it).

He also denied that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) probe into the financial dealings of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) is politically motivated.

RGF is in the public domain. It has various aspects related to FCRA, 2010, (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act), income-tax audit, etc. The Modi government believes in transparency, we are committed to it. So its natural to initiate a probe into it. No foundations are private, and the investigations are in the public interest. If it was political, would we have waited six years? he asked.

The MHA had set up an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into allegations against the foundation and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust of violating the legal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the Income-Tax (I-T) Act, 1961, and the FCRA, 2010.
With an aim to boost health infrastructure in the state, the Uttarakhand government will soon be appointing 763 doctors to fill vacant posts.

Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Tuesday instructed officials to start the appointment process of ordinary grade medical officers in the state.

States health system will be strengthened by the recruitment of 763 doctors. Health infrastructure has been greatly improved in the state. Now every district in the state has ICU facilities. The number of physicians has been doubled compared to earlier. Tele-radiology and telemedicine services were also introduced. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, 400 new doctors were recruited, 273 ICU beds installed and 165 ventilators procured, said Rawat.

Meanwhile, a 75-year-old male Covid-19 positive patient died in Dehradun district on Tuesday.

The health bulletin mentioned, One death of 75-year-old of a male is reported from Doon Medical College Dehradun. The deceased was referred from Max hospital Dehradun on June 24, as a case of fracture, neck & femur, CAD & COVID-19 positive. During treatment, he developed sepsis, bilateral pneumonia and expired.

On Tuesday, 69 fresh Covid-19 cases were reported in the state, taking its tally to 3,230. The cases were reported from districts like Almora (2), Champawat (2), Dehradun (18), Haridwar (7), Nainital (5), Pauri Garhwal (3), Pithoragarh (3), Tehri Garhwal (1), Udham Singh Nagar (25) and Uttarkashi (3).

Of the 69 patients, 20 cases were of people who were found to be contacts of earlier Covid-19 positive patients and nine patients tested positive at a hospitals OPD in US Nagar district.

The others had returned to the state from places like Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Srinagar and Kazakhstan.

A total of 35 patients were discharged from hospitals on Tuesday after recovering from the coronavirus disease. These patients belonged to districts like Almora (10), Bageshwar (2), Chamoli (1), Dehradun (5), Haridwar (7), Nainital (3), Pauri Garhwal (1), Udham Singh Nagar (3) and Uttarkashi (3).

The rate of doubling of cases based on the last seven days stands at 53.17 days in the state, with a recovery rate of 81.15%. Uttarakhand has so far tested over 81,000 samples of which results of over 5,600 are awaited.
Moments before the body of 35-year-old Anjum was to be buried, Sharif Khan decided to have one last look at his sister who succumbed to the novel coronavirus. However, he received a rude shock when the corpse lying in a body bag beside the freshly dug grave turned out to be someone elses.

Khan later found out that his deceased sister was cremated by the family of Kusumlata, another Covid-19 victim whose body had been accidentally swapped with Anjums by staff at the AIIMS here where both women had been admitted and subsequently died.

A doctor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said there has been a lapse on the part of the staff as they did not carry out the proper process of establishing the identity before handing over the bodies to the families. On the basis of the initial report, administrative action has been taken against two staff members from the mortuary. One has been terminated while another was suspended. Further, a committee has been set up for carrying out a detailed probe into the incident, a senior doctor at AIIMS said.

Khan said his sister, a resident of Bareilly, was suffering from jaundice and he brought her to the AIIMS on July 4. Anjum was admitted at the emergency ward of the hospital and within two hours, the doctors declared her Covid-19 positive. They admitted her to the Covid-19 ward at the Trauma Centre, he said. Anjums husband had died seven months ago. She is survived by her three children. Late on Monday night, I received a call that my sister had died. The next day, at around 8 am, we reached the hospital and asked the doctors if we could take the body back to Bareilly, but they refused. They gave us four PPE kits and asked to go to ITO graveyard to book a place, Khan said. Accordingly, the body was taken to the cemetery at ITO, a dedicated graveyard for burying those who die due to Covid-19. Before the body was lowered in the grave, he opened the body bag to see his sisters face one last time. When I saw the face, I realised it was not my sister. It was one Kusumlata from Ghaziabad. Her name was mentioned on the body, he said. The AIIMS staff was also present during the burial. When Khan told them that the body was not his sisters, the hospital staff left with Kusumlatas body and said they would be back. We kept waiting at the graveyard till 4 p.m., but nobody turned up. We called them several times, but they kept giving us excuses. Finally, we reached the Trauma Centre and called police, Khan said. The doctors informed us that the family members of Kusumlata had cremated my sisters body at the Punjabi Bagh crematorium, he said, adding that he had called his niece and nephew from Bareilly so that they could see their mothers face one last time. Khan said he has lodged a complaint at Safdarjung Enclave police station regarding the incident.

A senior police officer said, We have received the complaint and are looking into the matter. Despite repeated attempts, Kusumlatas family could not be reached. A senior doctor at the AIIMS said the hospital has ordered an enquiry into the matter. One staff member has been terminated from service while another has been suspended. Both the bodies along with two other bodies were transported together for cremation and burial. There has been a lapse on the part of the staff as they did not carry out the proper process of establishing the identity before handing over the bodies, the doctor added.

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International travellers are quarantined in a hotel. Security is tight; there are guards around. The guards smoke; they share a cigarette lighter. And a city and a state in Australia, a country that has done pretty well in managing the coronavirus disease, shut down again as cases spike, catching health officials by surprise.

The city is, of course, Melbourne, and the state, Victoria, and this is a true story thats playing out right now.

By the third week of April, Australia seemed to have things under control. According to data on worldometers.info, the country saw 13 new Covid-19 cases on April 20. Like its neighbour New Zealand, it seemed to have crushed the pandemic. It stayed that way for almost two months, enough time for people to start believing that it was over. On June 5, Australia registered just five new cases of the disease.

Then the numbers started rising again.

On July 3, the country saw 254 new cases. On July 6, it saw 137. And most of the cases were from Victoria (on July 3, for instance, the state accounted for 191 of the 254 new cases). In contrast to Indian policymakers who remain averse to the term community transmission despite the thousands of new cases every day in some states, Victoria has suggested that there could well be community transmission in what can only be termed a second wave  not just in the state, but in the country. Australia had kicked Covid-19, till, one day, it hadnt. In this case, it is suspected that the cigarette lighter was responsible for the flare-up of infections, but this is what makes the coronavirus disease so dangerous. It is almost as if it were alive (the jury is still out on that one when it comes to viruses, actually) and thinking, lulling people and countries into a false sense of security, and then striking. The fact that it is highly infective means that a strike immediately results in a cluster, like it has in Melbourne. And thats in a city that saw off the first wave.

India never did.

For those of us in India, the words said by Anthony Fauci, NIAID director and the man shaping the USs health policy response to the pandemic, in a widely aired interview with National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins on Monday, are apt, although they were in reference to the resurgence of cases in the US: We are still knee-deep in the first wave.

Fauci went on to explain how the US almost doubled the number of daily new cases in a week-and-a-half by opening up again too fast. Last week, Fauci told senators that the US could see 100,000 new cases a day if it did not clamp down on flare-ups and fresh outbreaks. The US saw around 47,000 new cases on July 6.

India had 22,310 new Covid-19 cases on July 6. The number of cases has continued to rise  the five-day average has not shown a dip so far  with new infection hot spots emerging to offset improvements shown by older hot spots. If the US is any indication  it is larger than India in geographical area and is therefore a good benchmark on how the disease will travel  this is how the pandemic will play out in India. For instance, Telangana, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are all states we should be worrying about right now (see page 5).

Here again, India could learn from the US example when it comes to the response. The New York Times reports that there is a new testing crisis in states and cities that have seen a spike in cases. Testing in the United States has not kept pace with other countries...., NYT said on July 7. This, in a country that has tested 11.5% of its population. India has tested less than 1%. But experts are of the view that India can raise testing manifold (see page 4).

This column suggested a target of 50 million tests by August 15. Thats achievable.
In a country riven by fractures, the coronavirus disease has introduced a new one. In the absence of a cure or a vaccine, masks and social distancing (even isolation) are the only ways to stay safe. And four months and a bit into the pandemic in India, it is clear that there are people who can afford this  they work remotely; their children learn remotely; they even socialise remotely  and those who cant. I say they and their but it should be we and our  if you are reading this column, chances are you probably belong to the minority that has seamlessly (but perhaps not entirely painlessly) been pulled a decade or two into the future. This is the how-will-life-be-in-2030 school assignment (due in December 2019) in all its masked reality.

In the first phase of their response to the virus, everyone rushed to lock down. This was the right decision, and backed by science. Countries that didnt do this  Sweden is an example  have paid the price. In Swedens case, for instance, its number of deaths per million of population is much higher than that in many other countries (including the US), and the latest numbers suggest that its economy will contract significantly, indicating that its approach, once touted around the world, was flawed.

In the second phase, as the infection curves began to flatten, or as countries became confident that their health care systems were primed to handle the pandemic (despite the number of cases continuing to rise), everyone rushed to open up. India is one example of the second  a country that opened up despite the number of cases continuing to rise (and quite sharply at that); in the first seven days of July, the country added 157,122 cases, 21.2% of its total case tally.

This, too, was necessary. The economic costs of lockdowns were beginning to hurt. It was also clear that countries could open up, provided they ensured everyone wore masks, practised social distancing and hand-hygiene  and if they continued to test aggressively. India has continued to open up without doing enough tests (although it has increased testing significantly), and this column has repeatedly called for it to test more, something that experts say is possible. Many of them who spoke to Hindustan Times said that India could conduct a million tests a day if it put its mind to it.

Science and data, this column has repeatedly pointed out, should drive our response to the coronavirus disease. If this isnt always the case, blame it on the uncomfortable relationship between the two on one side, and politicians on the other. The President of the United States appears in public without a mask, and many of his followers, who know no better, emulate his example.

Science now tells us that the Sars-CoV-2 virus which causes the coronavirus disease can be airborne, especially in closed spaces. The World Health Organization finally accepted earlier this week that the virus may be transmitted over air; the New York Times quoted Dr Benedetto Allegranzi, the head of WHOs committee on infection prevention and control, as saying that this was a possibility in crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings.

This is very different from what we knew previously  that the virus was largely transmitted by coughing or sneezing, exhalations and expectorations. It means the virus can stay for hours in the air in closed environments.

This knowledge (which perhaps explains why the virus is highly infective) should form the basis of the third phase of our response to the coronavirus disease  yes its that significant. It calls for a review of what can be allowed to open, and what cant (schools, for instance). It means offices that have just reopened, or are considering reopening, should have the right kind of air filtration and circulation systems, and also ensure that workers are socially distanced and masked. Yes, masked. Wearing them in the workplace may be the safest and surest way of getting back to work.
New Delhi: A 20-year-old rail line project in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, which was rejected by several statutory bodies in the past and remained shelved amid fears the extent of irreparable damage it could cause to primary forests and unique biodiversity, has got the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) authorities nod March 20, reversing its rejection move 11 days earlier.

The SBWL approval was granted after the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), started reviewing the rail project and asked about the reasons behind the inordinate delay in implementing it, documents suggest.

However, the SBWLs approval has raised several serious environmental concerns that had held up the project for the past two decades.

At least 101 scientists have endorsed a letter written by 11 ecologists and wildlife biologists to the NBWL member-secretary and Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar on July 2, raising several concerns about the Hubballi Ankola Railway Line Project (HARP) in Karnataka, including irreversibly damaging forests, fragmenting wildlife habitats in the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot and a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site.

The project is likely to cone for NBWLs nod before other requisite clearances are sought.

The proposed rail track will pass through a wildlife corridor between Bedthi Conservation Reserve (BCR) and Kali Tiger Reserve (KTR), a natural habitat for many species, including tigers and elephants. The project involves deforestation of around 1.9 lakh trees.

The habitat of Great Pied and Malabar Pied Hornbills, both keystone species -- species critical for the survival of other species in the region -- are likely to have a major impact due to the project.

It also passes through habitats that host many endemic and endangered species such as the Malabar Tree Toad, cited the letter that has quoted from various peer-review papers in a bid to bolster their argument.

The letter and details of the project are also published on Conservation India website that is spearheading a campaign to protect ecology.

No amount of mitigation will compensate for the damage to the ecosystem that will be lost for good. Ultimately, the well-being of local communities will be jeopardised, the letter said.

The Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot has already lost 33,000 square kilometres (km), or up to 40% of its forest cover, in the last 100 years, according to scientists.

A significant proportion of this forest loss is attributed to linear projects such as power transmission lines, highways, and construction of dams.

The existing railway line (Tinai Ghat-Castlerock), located around 50 km north of the proposed site, along with several state roads and power lines have significantly contributed to fragmenting forests of the region and creating edges. Implementing HARP will create many more edges by splitting 10 large forest patches of conservation significance into 15 smaller patches, said the letter, endorsed by over a hundred scientists from various research organisations.

They have argued that mitigation measures would not be able to counter the ecological impacts.

Earlier, this project was rejected by the Supreme Court (SC)-constituted Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in 2015 and by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2018, according to documents seen by HT.

The MoEFCCs Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) had also raised several issues regarding the project.

The CEC is of the considered view that the project would cause huge and irreparable damage to forests, wildlife and biodiversity of the Western Ghats, which would far outweigh the actual tangible benefits of the project. The CEC report was based on a number of hearings, documents, and meetings with various senior Karnataka government officials, the CEC had said while rejecting HARP.

A MoEFCC letter to principal secretary (forests) Karnataka dated September 29, 2018, had stated that a site inspection committee of NTCA has rejected the project because out of the six tiger occupied landscapes in India, Western Ghats tops on habitat connectivity and contiguity counts.

The project has come up, pending NBWL and other national-level approvals, despite a spate of rejections in the past.

HT has seen the minutes of Karnataka SBWL meeting, which suggests that the project was rejected unanimously by board members and special invitees on March 9.

The minutes suggest that a majority of SBWL members had opposed the project.

The additional chief secretary (ACS), forests, Karnataka had said since the rail network is already strengthened between Tinnaighat-Castlerock-Caranzol, HARP is redundant.

Karnataka chief secretary (CS), who was the special invitee in the SBWL meeting, cited the Centres enquiry regarding the delay in the projects implementation.

In the March 20 meeting, the Board contradicted its own decision.

The minutes show that a number of special invitees attended the meeting, including the state minister of industries and the CS along with chief minister BS Yediyurappa.

The Board recommended the project in view of development in north Karnataka region.

Environmentalists have found holes in SBWLs nod to the project.

The decision taken on March 9 to reject the proposal was in conformity with legal and statutory procedures. However, hand-picked Special Invitees with no expertise in wildlife were allowed to deliberate at a hurriedly convened meeting on March 20 violating all procedural norms. This smacks of arbitrariness. There is no legal provision under the Wildlife Act, 1972, that empowers the State Board to review its own decision taken after completion of a statutory process, said Praveen Bhargav of the Bengaluru-based Wildlife First, a conservation advocacy group.

Supreme Court-appointed expert committees, senior government officials, ecologists and conservationists have repeatedly recommended against approving this project. They have questioned the very necessity of the project and raised serious reservations on impacts on tribal and other forest-dependent communities. Serious impacts on important wildlife habitats, tree and fragmentation of important corridors have also been raised. The state governments decision to approve this project against such advice undermines the purpose of legally mandated expert appraisals. Mitigation measures are a feeble justification for a project of severe consequences and which has been in a regulatory tug of war for several years, said Kanchi Kohli, legal researcher, Centre for Policy Research.

HT had sent queries on whether Javadekar had received the scientists representation on Monday but did not get a response till Tuesday evening.

Another NBWL, member, however, said on condition of anonymity that all members had received the representation and it would be deliberated upon.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated assets worth 329 crore of jeweller Nirav Modi under the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.

Nirav Modi, who was arrested in Britain last year, is wanted in India for allegedly defrauding Punjab National Bank.

The confiscated properties are in the form of four flats at the iconic Samudra Mahal in Worli , Mumbai, a sea-side farmhouse and land in Alibaug, a windmill in Jaisalmer, a flat in London, residential flats in UAE, shares and bank deposits, the statement said.

A special court in Mumbai on June 8 authorised the agency to confiscate the assets.

Modi, whose extradition is being pursued legally by India, is currently lodged in Londons Wandsworth jail since his arrest in March 2019.

The agency has to date attached assets worth 2,348 crore of Nirav Modi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Last month, the agency brought back 108 consignments of polished diamonds, silver jewellery and pearls worth 1,350 crore belonging to Nirav Modi and his uncle, Mehul Choksi, from Hong Kong.

The consignments weighing 2,340 kg were seized in July 2018 with the help of Hong Kong authorities.

Nirav Modi and Choksi are wanted in the 13,578 crore Punjab National Bank fraud unearthed in early 2018.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and ED have filed charge sheets against the two for laundering money to at least 15 countries after taking loans from banks.

Choksi is currently in Antigua and Barbuda. His extradition proceedings are pending.
The Congress Wednesday urged the government to step up international pressure on Pakistan and move the International Court of Justice to enable Indian death-row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav to file a review petition against his death sentence. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said one cannot expect anything from Pakistan. We have to put our faith in the Indian government. It must go flat out to ensure legal rights are granted to Kulbhushan Jadhav, he said.

They (Government of India) should move heaven and earth, they should make applications in the ICJ, the matter has not ended. They should create an adverse public opinion globally that how can a man who is defenceless not be allowed to exercise these rights, he added.

Singhvi hoped that the government will take steps in the next few weeks rather than waiting for Pakistan to make amends. He was asked about Pakistani media reports that Jadhav refused to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court against his death sentence.

India on Wednesday called as farce Pakistans claim that Kulbhushan Jadhav, on a death row in an alleged espionage case, has refused to file an appeal against his sentence. Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said Jadhav has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case, and termed it as a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy available to him.

Pakistans claim that Jadhav, who is incarcerated in Pakistans custody, has refused to initiate review petition is a continuation of the farce that has been in play for the last four years, Srivastava said.
Fake babas and their illegal activities are spoiling the reputation of even genuine spiritual leaders, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday, asking the central government to suggest measures to tackle phony religious gurus.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde was hearing a plea seeking action against ashrams (religious retreats) run by fake spiritual gurus, which have allegedly confined inmates, particularly women, in unhygienic conditions, risking the spread of the coronavirus disease.

There is a lot of money involved and criminal activities are happening. See what can be done? This kind of practice gives a bad name to everyone, CJI Bobde told the central governments second senior-most law officer, solicitor general Tushar Mehta.

The petitioner, Dumpala Ramreddy, was asked by the apex court to provide Mehta with a copy of the petition so that he can suggest solutions to deal with the problem.

Reddy approached the top court in April alleging that his daughter was confined in the Adhyatmika Vidyalaya Ashram at Rohini in Delhi founded by Veerendra Dev Dixit, who has been absconding since 2017 after being charged for raping a minor girl in 1999.

Reddy submitted that central and state governments were not taking action against fake babas and were allowing such illegal ashrams to function, often from unauthorized premises.

Considering the urgent prevailing situation due to spreading of Corona virus in the country particularly in places where social distance is not maintained.the petitioner prays for the intervention of this Honble Court for the rescue of the women/persons in the ashrams, the petition stated.

The petitioner also sought guidelines to be laid down to govern the establishment and functioning of such ashrams and to close down those run by people with criminal records.

He also cited a list released by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, a body of Hindu religious ascetics, declaring 17 babas including Veerendra Dev Dixit, Asaram bapu, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and Radhe Maa as fake religious gurus.

Even so, ashrams run by the 17 people, Reddy contended, are continuing to function with thousands of disciples residing on their premises.

If this man (Reddy) says the Akhara has declared that there are 17 ashrams that are fake, it raises serious questions, the bench remarked.

Reddy sought the evacuation of inmates from the ashrams in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The authorities are not verifying the facilities available in the ashrams and the ashrams are in very poor condition. They do not have basic amenities and conditions are very unhygienic, the petition said.
With the disengagement process between the Indian and Chinese armies making measurable progress in Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra, the focus of reducing tensions in eastern Ladakh has shifted to the sensitive Finger Area near Pangong Tso, which remains the biggest test and hardest part of the disengagement process, two officials familiar with the developments on the ground said on Wednesday.

The Indian Army has observed a marginal thinning of troops, vehicles and removal of structures from a key spur there over the last 24 hours, said an official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Some Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) elements have retreated from Finger 4 but it cant, by any stretch, be seen as disengagement, he added.

The Finger Area will now be at the centre of the stepwise disengagement process, which is underway at friction points in Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra. Temporary buffer zones between rival troops have been created there. The Finger Area will be the hardest part of disengagement, said a second official who asked not to be named.

The Finger Area refers to a set of eight cliffs jutting out of the Sirijap range overlooking the Pangong lake.

The disengagement process began after military-level talks on June 30, and a subsequent conversation on July 6 between national security adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. There is no clarity on the nature of discussions that took place on the Chinese presence in Pangong Tso  whether any decision was taken to disengage now, or to leave it for subsequent discussions after making progress in other areas. The army did not officially comment on the matter.

Before the PLA grabbed positions on Finger 4 overlooking Indian deployments, the army would patrol right up to Finger 8 that New Delhi considers within Indian territory. The new positions held by the PLA have curtailed the scope of Indian patrols. Fingers 4 and 8 are 8km apart.

The Indian claim line in this sector extends to Finger 8, while the Chinese claim is up to Finger 4 where the PLA has set up permanent bunkers, pillboxes, observation posts and tented camps over the last two months.

Military experts, too, said the Finger Area will test the disengagement process.

Disengagement appears to be making reasonable progress in Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra. The Finger Area will now be the focal point of the disengagement process and will be a true test of Chinas commitment and sincerity to resolve the situation, said former army vice chief Lieutenant General AS Lamba (retd).

But even as uncertainty persists on Pangong Tso, the army has begun a rigourous verification process to monitor the withdrawal of the PLA from Galwan Valley, Hot Springs and Gogra, where 4-km buffer zones between troops have come up, as reported by HT on Wednesday.

While the PLA has withdrawn up to 2km from Patrolling Point 14 (Galwan Valley) and PP-15 (Hot Springs) over the last three days, a similar retreat is expected to be completed at PP-17 (Gogra) within a 24-hour time frame (by Thursday evening), said a third official. The Indian Army, too, is pulling back proportionately in these areas.

The disengagement effort involves rival troops pulling back a specified distance from face-off sites, with further retreat taking place in phases as the complex plan progresses on a verifiable basis on the ground every 72 hours by both sides. It also entails the phased withdrawal of weapons and equipment to a mutually agreed distance, and finally the restoration of status quo ante (the situation as it existed in early April).

The creation of buffer zones will temporarily restrict the patrolling activities of both armies in the region. While some experts saw this as a necessary step, others cautioned that the temporary curtailing of patrolling rights should not become a long-term feature undermining Indian presence and control.

The army is also keeping a strict vigil along the contested border in the Depsang sector, where a 2013 Chinese intrusion blocked the access of Indian soldiers to several patrolling routes, including the ones leading to PPs-10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13.

The military buildup in Indian and Chinese depth areas hasnt thinned, with both sides keeping their guard up. The deployment of thousands of soldiers, fighter jets, helicopters, tanks, artillery guns, missile systems and air defence weapons continues in the region.

At the June 30 meeting between delegations led by Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, and Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region, the Indian side reiterated its demand for the pullback of Chinese troops from friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and sought the restoration of status quo ante in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang plains, apart from emphasising the need for thinning the military buildup in the region. The first part of this process is underway at the moment.
The governments high-powered China Study Group (CSG) on Wednesday reviewed details of the disengagement of Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) forces from Galwan, Gogra, Hot Springs and Pangong Tso after the July 6 agreement on this by the Special Representatives of the two countries, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

The Wednesday meeting of the CSG, which is apex policy advisor to the government on China, was attended by a few special invitees including senior ministers, HT learns.

It was discussed at the meeting that the PLA needs to withdraw from all areas along the 1,597km LAC in Ladakh as well as along the 1,126km LAC in Arunachal Pradesh.

According to government and military officials familiar with the matter, the Chinese PLA has withdrawn around 1.5km in the Galwan sector with its tents dismantled and armoured personnel carrier pushed back, and the withdrawal process has also started at Patrolling Point 15 (Gogra), Patrolling Point 17 (hot springs), and there has been a thinning of forces from Finger Four and the ridge above it on the Pangong Tso.

However, the officials added, it continues to remain in aggressive posture in Depsang Plains or the Raki nullah area; and while the activity of the Chinese PLA Air Force has gone down considerably in Ladkah sector, its forces are fully deployed and on high alert in the depth areas of both Tibet and Xinjiang region.

There is also a build-up across the Arunachal Pradesh LAC.

The group, which comprises some of the senior-most bureaucrats in the government, the armed forces, and the intelligence agencies, also discussed the next steps for de-escalataion along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The lowering of Chinese PLA posture came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 3 said, without naming the country, that the days of expansionism were over.

With two US super carriers exercising in South China Sea  which along with Tibet, Xinjiang and Taiwan are part of One China Policy  in an attempt to back up ASEAN and Japanese concerns in the region, it is believed that Beijing may not have wanted a second front opened up simultaneously in Ladakh with India.

The impasse-breaking July 6 meeting between Special Representatives Doval and Wang was fixed a day after PM Modis visit to Nimu near Leh, when he made the comment cited above. Both Doval and Wang will review the border situation before the next step of de-escalation is ordered around three weeks from now.

While a section of Indian military establishment believes that the Chinese PLA will calibrate the withdrawal from Ladakh with the movement of the US super carriers in South China Sea, intelligence reports indicate that the US Navy is in no hurry to go away. US aircraft carriers Ronald Reagan and Nimitz are exercising in South China Sea, clearly laying down the line for China on Taiwan. Of particular interest are the Bashi Channel, from where internet cables run down to South East Asia, and Taiwan, the experts said.
Uttar Pradesh police is conducting an intense checking drive at Noida film city in the national capital region, where most of the countrys national television news channels are based, in anticipation that Kanpur-based dreaded gangster Vikas Dubey may attempt to surrender before TV cameras to ensure he is not killed in an encounter with the state police force that has been on his hot pursuit since early Friday morning, when he and his accomplices killed eight policemen in an ambush near his house in Kanpur.

The Uttar Pradesh police have since announced a big reward on Dubeys headRs 5 lakhand deployed 40 teams along with a special task force to nab him at the earliest. A couple of his accomplices have been shot down while a few others have been arrested over the last few days. Vikas himself is said to have given the police a slip in the nearby district of Faridabad, where he was hiding with some associates. Ankur, Shravan and Kartikey alias Prabhat were arrested in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh STF and a local crime branch team. The arrests were made by the team after a brief exchange of fire while raiding a house around Tuesday midnight in Faridabads Kheli Pul area, where the gangster is reported to have stayed for a while, said Haryana police.

Later, CCTV footage showed a man resembling Dubey near a Faridabad hotel. He did not check in when a staff member insisted on an identity card with a clear photograph.

In another operation on Wednesday, a team of UP special task force picked up the wanted gangsters brother-in-law Gyanendra Nigam and his son from Madhya Pradeshs Shahdol district. Nigam claims to have snapped ties with Dubey 15-years ago after he entered the world of crime, however, a police official said that he used to look after accounts and properties of Vikas Dubey.

Hunt for gangster Vikas Dubey intensifies: All the latest updates

Talking to local media persons before being taken to Kanpur by the UP STF, Nigam said he had no connection with his sister Richa and brother-in-law Vikas.

In other related operations, a close aide of Dubey named Amar Dubey was shot dead by the police in UPs Hamirpur after he failed to cross over to Madhya Pradesh. Another of Dubeys gang members, Shyamu Bajpai was shot in the leg and then arrested by the police.
The Union government on Wednesday highlighted that Indias rate of recovery of Covid-19 patients continues to increase amid a recent trend of record rise in daily cases of fresh coronavirus infections. The recovery rate on Wednesday has touched 61.53% with a total of 4,56,830 patients having been cured of the disease leaving 2,64,944 active cases under medical supervision.

22,752 fresh cases of Covid-19 were reported over the last 24 hours on Wednesday, taking the national virus caseload to 7,42,417, including 20,642 casualties recorded so far due to the disease. 482 of these coronavirus patients had died over the last 24 hours, according to the health ministry data released earlier today.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan had on Tuesday pointed out that the success of governments containment strategy was evidenced in the low mortality per million and low number of infections per million.

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Indias mortality rate is 15 per million of its population compared to 405 deaths per million for the US, 315 per million for Brazil, 73 per million for Russia and 332 per million for Peru, among the five worst affected countries by coronavirus according to current data published on Worldometers.com.

The health minister had credited countrys relative success on these parameters to pro-active, pre-emptive and graded approach, which he said had helped in slowing the growth of the disease and left a significant number of unoccupied beds in the Covid health infrastructure.

The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19

The government further elaborated on the strategy on Wednesday and said the territories in India with high case load were turning their focus on early identification and effective clinical management of positive cases to ensure that recovery/million is more than active cases/million.

This shows that while the total number of positive cases might be high, the recoveries are fast catching up, thereby keeping the active cases low. This has also ensured that Covid healthcare facilities are not under pressure and are not stretched. India has 315.8 recovered cases per million while the active cases per million in the country are at a low level of 186.3, a government statement said on Wednesday.

The government added that substantial increase in testing with the deployment of RT-PCR tests, Rapid Antigen Tests have helped in early identification of the cases along with deployment of several mobile apps to keep track of high risk population and the involvement of the community and health volunteers on the ground enabling effective surveillance.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 1,04,73,771 samples have been tested up to July 7 with 2,62,679 samples being tested on Tuesday.

In measures taken to further reduce Covid mortality, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, Indias premier medical hospital, has started a tele-consultation guidance facility for State doctors on clinical management of coronavirus patients.

The initiative by the ministry of health has roped in specialist doctors from AIIMS to provide expert guidance and knowledge support to doctors manning ICUs in State hospitals through tele/video consultation.

In the first session of this routine exercise to be conducted twice every week on Tuesdays and Fridays, ten hospitals have been selected, including nine from Mumbai (Maharashtra) and one from Goa.
The Union home ministry has set up an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into allegations against Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust of violating the legal provisions of money laundering act, Income Tax Act and foreign contribution act.

Confirming it, a home ministry spokesperson said that Special Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will head the committee. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will also be part of the committee.

While former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and P Chidambaram are trustees of RGF, which was set up in June 1991. Sonia Gandhi is the chairperson of RGF and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust. She has also been overseeing the work of Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

The allegations against RGF were levelled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda last month amid the ongoing war of words with the Opposition over the Ladakh face-off.

In a series of tweets, Nadda said that the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) donated money to RGF. He said one familys hunger for wealth hurt the nation, and also accused the Congress of committing a brazen fraud by diverting public money into a family-run foundation.

Nadda also posted images of lists of donors to RGF for the years 2007-2008 and 2005-2006 to back his claim. The list included several state-owned companies, including the State Bank of India and GAIL, and ministries including the ministry of home affairs and the ministry of health.

PMNRF, meant to help people in distress, was donating money to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in UPA years. Who sat on the PMNRF board? Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Who chairs RGF? Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Totally reprehensible, disregarding ethics, processes and not bothering about transparency, Nadda tweeted.

Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had alleged that RGF pushed for a free trade agreement between India and China, leading to a huge trade deficit skewed in favour of Beijing.

In its response, the Congress said the BJP was engaging in diversionary tactics, questioned it on visits and exchanges between the BJP and the Communist Party of China (CPC) over the past decade, and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a strange bonhomie with China even as the borders were insecure.

PMNRF was set up in 1948 by Indias first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, entirely with public contributions. It does not get any budgetary support. PMNRF resources are utilised primarily to give relief to families of those killed in natural calamities, and to victims of major accidents and riots, according to its website.
After frequent raids in search of Vikas Dubey and his aides, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday morning gunned down one of his closest accomplices Amar Dubey on deserted stretch under Modaha police station limits of Hamirpur district, said UP Additional Director General (ADG), Law and Order, Prashant Kumar.

Kumar said Amar Dubey was co-accused in sensational shootout in which eight policemen, including deputy SP Devendra Mishra, was shot dead when a police team raided Vikas Dubeys house in Bikru village in Kanpur in the wee hours of Friday. He said Amar Dubey along with Vikas Dubey was on run after the shootout and the state police were making efforts to arrest him.

Amar was hiding in Artara village.

According to the police, Amar was the brother of Atul Dubey who was killed in the July 3 gun fight. He got married on June 29, just four days before the shootout in Bikru village in rural Kanpur. He was among the group of people who fired at the police team from the house of Vikas Dubey.

Incidentally, the STF sleuths gunned down Amar only few hours after Vikas Dubey gave them a slip when they raided a hotel near Badarpur border in Haryanas Faridabad on Tuesday night.

A senior police official privy of the development said the CCTV footage suggested that a man resembling Vikas Dubey along with two men had stayed in the hotel and left few hours before the STF, with help of Faridabad crime branch, raided there.

He said three suspects were later picked up from Faridabad whose identity cards were used to book the hotel room. He said the details extracted from the three suspects suggested that Vikas Dubey was one among the three men who stayed in hotel on forged identities. He said further raids were carried out at different locations in Faridabad and Delhi on the basis of information extracted from them.
Three persons close to gangster Vikas Dubey, who was involved in the ambush of policemen in Kanpur, have been arrested from Haryanas Faridabad in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh STF and local crime branch team, a senior official said here on Wednesday.

Dubey was in Faridabad and had tried to take a room in a hotel, whose CCTV footage went viral, the official said. Three persons close to Vikas Dubey arrested from Faridabad. They were identified as Ankur, Shravan and Kartikey alias Prabhat, a senior official told PTI. Eight policemen were ambushed in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur when they were going to arrest Dubey and fell to bullets fired from rooftops shortly after midnight on Friday.
India has acknowledged the urgency on the issue of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and backed efforts for their early, safe and sustainable repatriation to Rakhine state in Myanmar.

Indias position was conveyed in a letter written by external affairs minister S Jaishankar to his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen on July 2. Jaishankar expressed Indias appreciation for the humanistic spirit of the government and the people of Bangladesh in hosting displaced people from the Rakhine state of Myanmar.

As a neighbour of both Bangladesh and Myanmar, we fully understand the urgency of this issue and an early, safe (and) sustainable repatriation of displaced persons from Rakhine is in the collective interest of all, said the letter which was accessed by HT.

India has maintained a cautious position on the Rohingya refugees in view of its good relations with both Bangladesh and Myanmar.

In recent years, India has strengthened connectivity and trade with Bangladesh and also stepped up security cooperation. Bangladesh, on its part, has urged India to impress on Myanmar the need to begin the process of repatriating nearly one million Rohingya refugees living in massive camps at places such as Coxs Bazar.

India, which depends on security cooperation with Myanmar to curb the activities of militant groups in its northeastern states, has so far been reluctant to push the issue of the Rohingya refugees.

Jaishankar wrote the letter in response to the congratulations offered by Momen for Indias recent election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2021-22 term. He also thanked Bangladesh for its support for Indias candidature.

He also reassured Momen of Indias steadfast and continued support to the government and people of Bangladesh in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
by Joseph Schany

As of today we have 31 positive cases of COVID-19 in Palo Alto County, began Sarah Strohman, Palo Alto County Community Health, providing an update to the Board of Supervisors during a regular session meeting held via conference call on Tuesday morning.

According to Strohman, none of the cases have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths in the county due to the virus. Strohman also indicated that all confirmed individuals have been extremely cooperative.

Everybody that has been contacted has been great about staying home and following our directions, she said.

As COVID cases in Palo Alto County continue to rise, more and more in the community have begun to experience the pandemic firsthand. The courthouse is no exception, and recent exposure has prompted workers to take extra precautions, including the Board.

Do you recommend us doing anything differently moving forward? asked Board of Supervisors Chair Roger Faulstick.

Meeting by phone would be a better option if thats at all possible, answered Strohman, and making sure to check everyones temperatures before they come in. I would also mandate that everybody has to wear a mask in the building.

Continued Strohman, I spoke to the women at the courthouse about that yesterday. I really think that there should be a thermometer at the door to check everybodys temperature. I definitely think monitoring for symptoms, wearing a mask, and checking temperatures should be a requirement. I think we are seeing an increase in activity so I think that wearing a mask all of the time should really be a general practice.

Robin Jamison, County Treasurer, inquired as to what precautionary measures can be taken when working at the counter to keep both employees and customers safe. Jamison pointed out that the courthouse currently has plexiglass shields set up, but wondered if other steps would need to be taken.

That plexiglass is great but customers are still handing things back and forth, said Strohman. There still is potential so I still would recommend wearing a mask. I think that, being in the courthouse, you are setting a great example for our community by wearing a mask.

Jamison asked if gloves should be worn to protect employees.

I would not worry about wearing gloves, answered Strohman. I would sanitize hands before the transaction and right away after. Even just the hand sanitizing and wearing a mask is going to cut down the risk for exposure considerably.

Added Strohman, The reality of this is we can put our best foot forward and try to prevent this, but you can still walk into a store and touch a shelf that somebody else has touched. You just do the best you possibly can.

With the courtroom scheduled to open on Wednesday, Palo Alto County Attorney Peter Hart voiced his concern.

We really need somebody at the back door with plexiglass, a thermometer, and a clipboard with a chart that says whos coming in and whos going out. The courtroom is opening up tomorrow and we need that person at the door to screen people as they come in.

A discussion was had regarding the countys ability to hire someone to take that post at this time, and the training that may be needed.

I certainly would be happy to share what we use at the hospital for a sign-in log and the list of questions that we ask before anyone is allowed to come in, said Strohman.

It was determined that employees of the courthouse will get together and decide the best way to move forward.

June 25 Mass Testing

A mass COVID-19 testing was held on Thursday, June 25, at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg.

We held the testing for all health care workers, said Strohman. We also tested a few other essential workers as well  the police department, sheriffs department, fire department, and first responders.

Throat swabs to test for active coronavirus were on offer, as well as blood draw tests to see if that individual has had COVID or if their body has built up antibodies against the virus.

Four different stations were set up for people to drive into and get tested. Each individual would pull into a station as a spot opened up and receive a swab test and/or blood draw.

According to Strohman, most of the roughly 420 in attendance received both of the tests.

So far we are waiting on the results back on some of those, said Strohman. Overall it was a great success.

DD57/DD48 Lat 1

Completion Hearing

In other business, Rick Hopper, Jacobson-Westergard, met with the Board of Supervisors via conference call for the completion hearing on Drainage District 57 and Drainage District 48 Lat 1 Tile.

The Board reviewed claims for damages filed by St. Marys Catholic Church and the Leslie Banwart Trust, approving damages at an estimation of 225 bushels/acre at $3.50/bushel.

DD 162 Bid Letting

Hopper and the Board held a bid letting for Drainage District 162, reviewing the nine bids submitted. The contract will be awarded at a later date after further review.
India saw its Covid-19 tally jump by another 22,752 in the last 24 hours to reach 7,42,417. According to the Union health ministry data at 8 am, the number of active cases in the country are 2,64,994 and 4,56,830 patients have been cured or discharged.

The total number of fatalities has now reached 20,642 after 482 people died in the last 24 hours, the health ministry data showed.

The government, however, said on Tuesday that the total number of coronavirus infections and fatalities per million population in the country are among the lowest in the world.

The health ministry said that Indias recovered cases per million population is more than active Covid-19 cases per million. It credited the states and Union Territories for early identification and effective management of the coronavirus cases.

Among the worst-affected states, Delhi accounts for the highest 3497.1 recovered cases per million as against 1242.9 active cases per million, followed by Maharashtra having 869.5 recovered cases per million as against 661.6 active cases per million, according to health ministry. Tamil Nadu has 753.0 recovered cases per million as against 529.8 active cases per million, while the respective numbers for Haryana are 480.9 and 140.4.

Telangana and Karnataka have contributed majorly to the alarming rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, according to HTs analysis of 20 worst-hit states in India. HTs analysis focused on three parametres - high growth rate, high positivity rate, and at least one large urban centre which sees a significant concentration of cases - to identify regions that are exhibiting signs that they may become the next hotspots.

Both the states have highest growth rate of cases and high positivity rates.

With 25,733 Covid-19 cases as of Tuesday, Telangana has reported 1,219 new cases every day on average over the last two weeks. Karnataka, with 25,317 cases, has reported the fastest growth of cases in the country. In the last two weeks, it reported 1,137 new cases every day against 260 in the two weeks before that.

The Centre, meanwhile, removed masks and sanitisers from the purview of the Essential Commodities Act on Tuesday, citing the absence of reports of shortages of such items from anywhere in the country.

The items were brought under the purview of this law in March when demand for them outstripped supply, with an eye on capping prices.

Since late March, companies have significantly increased production of sanitisers. The emergence of two- and three-ply cloth masks as adequate protection has also played a role in ensuing adequate supply.
The Congress has hit out at the Centre claiming the part and its leadership will not be intimidated by the cowardly acts and a blind witch-hunt by a panicked Modi government while responding to Centres decision to set up an inter-ministerial panel to probe funding of three entities linked to the Gandhi family, including the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. The party statement was an echo of Rahul Gandhis tweet, posted around the same time.

Mr Modi believes the world is like him. He thinks every one has a price or can be intimidated. He will never understand that those who fight for the truth have no price and cannot be intimidated, the tweet read.

Though Gandhi didnt mention it, the timing of his tweet, which came within hours of the announcement of the probe, indicated he might be referring to the same development.

The government had earlier in the day constituted a team to coordinate a probe into the alleged violation of various laws including the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by three trusts associated with the Nehru-Gandhi family -- the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

Home Ministry sets up panel to coordinate probe into 3 Gandhi family trusts

The RGF had come in sharp focus in the past few days owing to allegations by the ruling party that the foundation had received funds from the Chinese embassy in what it claimed could possibly be a quid-pro-quo for the Congress taking care of Beijings interests including in trade with India.

The BJP had also claimed that the RGF, which is chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, had received public funds from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) during the UPA-1s regime, between 2004 and 2009, apart from several other state owned entities.

The Congress party reacted to the probe through a counter attack on the Central government alleging its decision was driven by an insidious hate of the Congress leadership and a need to distract from the alleged failures on the front of Indias security, territorial integrity, the handling of Covid 19 crisis and the economy.

The wild and insidious hatred of the BJP of Congress leadership unfolds every day in an embarrassing and uglier fashion. Facing a barrage of questions on (i) blatant compromise of Indias security interests and territorial integrity, (ii) a shocking mishandling of the Covid-19 crisis which continues to devour lives and livelihood on a daily basis and (iii) unable to arrest the economic recession wreaking havoc on the life of every Indian citizen; a desperate Modi-Shah Government has fallen back on a devious hounding of those exposing its ineptitude by ordering a wholly vicious and vengeful investigation of the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust,  said an official statement signed by AICC spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Earlier, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had accused the Centre of being biased against some institutions while protecting others associated with the BJP, like the RSS.

The statement released by Surjewala said that the entities to be probed had always stood out for their humanitarian work and distinguished services.

The humanitarian work and distinguished service provided by these charitable organisations has always stood out and will withstand any vengeful and roving enquiry. Every day, a new conspiracy is crafted by the delusional BJP leadership so as to spread disinformation, distraction and diversion to bury the apparent incompetence and complete failure of the Modi Government, the statement said.

The probe under the PMLA is likely to deal with aspects related to money laundering while the investigation under the FCRA will likely look at acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions.

Congress also reiterated its allegations that the BJP leadership had deep-rooted connections with the Communist Party of China and that Chinese firms had made large donations to the PM CARES fund, set up recently to accept donations to fight unforeseen crises like the Coronavirus pandemic.

Will the Modi Government hold an enquiry into the donations worth hundreds of crores received from Chinese entities into the PM-Cares fund? the Congress asked.

The party also wanted to know if the Narendra Modi led government was willing to probe funding of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Vivekananda Foundation, The India Foundation and the Overseas Friends of BJP.
Stung by the opposition complaints of nepotism and corruption over distribution of money in Amphan relief, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the issue was being blown out of proportion, alleging that the rate of corruption in other states was at 90 percent. The chief minister gave no statistic or proof for the charge made against other states.

In other states, the rate of corruption is at 90 per cent. It is 10 per cent here. Our administration is taking strict action, Banerjee said at Wednesdays press conference at Nabanna, the state secretariat.

It is alleged that the compensation of Rs 20,000 went to numerous people who suffered no loss during the Cyclone. It is also alleged that multiple members from the same families got Rs 20,000 each. CM Banerjee has asked district administrations to review the payments and take back the money. As a cautionary measure, some bank accounts are also being frozen.

The opposition is blowing it [issue] up and staging agitation every day. The irregularities took place only in a small fraction of places. Good work was done in the rest of the areas. Corruption is rampant in other parties. When the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was in power every panchayat in Bengal was involved in corruption, Banerjee said.

According to official estimates, 28.6 lakh houses were damaged by the Cyclone and the state suffered a loss of Rs 28,560 crore. The chief minister announced an initial relief fund of Rs 6,250 crore. Part of this money is being given to villagers to repair homes. On June 2, Banerjee said the government had transferred funds to the bank accounts of nearly five lakh people.

The CPI(M) reacted sharply, saying corruption has been institutionalised by the TMC.

The government is submerged in corruption. We saw looting in the name of distribution of free ration during the lockdown. The same goes for compensation for repairing houses. Banerjee is in no position to talk about fighting corruption. If the CPI(M) was so corrupt then how come the inquiry commissions she ordered after coming to power couldnt find anything, said Sujan Chakraborty, CPI(M) legislator from Jadavpur and leader of the Left parties in the Assembly.

The BJP was quick to jump into the fray and accused the chief minister of lying over the issue.

Relief for Amphan-affected people was looted in Bengal. Free ration sent by the Centre never reached the people. The chief minister is lying, said BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha.

The BJP has turned the alleged relief corruption into a raging issue prior to the 2021 assembly polls.

The partys state president Dilip Ghosh on Sunday launched a website where people who have been deprived can lodge complaints.

Countering it, the TMC accused the BJP of indulging in the same nepotism in several parts in North 24 Parganas district.

The TMC on Sunday issued show-cause notice to more than 200 panchayat-level workers and leaders in the Nandigram area of East Midnapore district and suspended 25 of them. More than 50 of these people have returned the compensation. Similar actions are being taken by the party in other districts but the opposition has called it an eyewash.

If the chief minister is so brave why isnt she filing FIRs against those involved in this corruption. Let police complaints be lodged against our party workers too if they are involved, said the BJP state president.

Ghosh alleged that the suspensions are an eyewash and the people will be taken back into the party fold after some time.

The CPI (M) questioned why the state government was not acting against those involved in corruption.

Why is the party and not the administration taking action? This is public money, said CPI(M) politburo member Md Salim.
India on Wednesday said Pakistans claim that Indian death-row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav refused to file a review petition against his sentence is a continuation of the farce that has been in play for the last four years and that Islamabad is only seeking to create an illusion of remedy in the case. Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said Jadhav has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review petition, and termed Pakistans claim a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy available to him.

He said India will do its utmost to protect Jadhav and ensure his safe return to India, asserting that it would consider all appropriate options.

Earlier, Pakistan said Jadhav refused to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court against his conviction by a military court despite being offered the option.

Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017. Weeks later, India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

In July last year, the Hague-based ICJ ruled that Pakistan must undertake an effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.

The MEA spokesperson said Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with the ICJ judgment, adding the country has refused to hand over any relevant document, including the FIR (first information report), evidence and the court order in the case to India. Pakistans claim that Jadhav, who is incarcerated in Pakistans custody, has refused to initiate review petition is a continuation of the farce that has been in play for the last four years, Srivastava said, responding to media queries on the issue. Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a farcical trial. He remains under custody of Pakistans military. He has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case, the MEA spokesperson said. He said India sought unimpeded access to Jadhav to discuss the remedies available to him under an ordinance, adding Pakistan is only seeking to create an illusion of remedy.

In a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy under the ordinance, Pakistan has obviously coerced Jadhav to forego his rights to seek an implementation of the judgment of the International Court of Justice, he said.

On May 20, Pakistan passed an ordinance to allow for the high court to review the sentence awarded by their military courts. The ICJ has already held that Pakistan is in egregious violation of international law. Government will do its utmost to protect Jadhav and ensure his safe return to India. To that end, it would consider all appropriate options, Srivastava said. He said India has repeatedly asked to allow a lawyer from outside Pakistan to appear for Jadhav in any review and reconsideration proceedings, but Pakistan denied it. Since 2017, when Military Court carried out a farcical trial, Pakistan has refused to hand over any relevant document, including FIR, evidence, court order, etc in the case to India. Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with the ICJ judgment, the MEA spokesperson said.

He said Pakistan has maintained that its laws allowed for effective review and reconsideration.

Now, after almost a year, they have made a U-turn and issued an ordinance to ostensibly provide for some sort of review. We have already expressed our serious concerns at the content of the ordinance and how it violates the ICJ judgment, he said.
At least 75 police personnel, including officers-in-charge of two police stations, have been quarantined in Jharkhands Hazaribagh district after a thief, who was arrested on Sunday and now in police custody, tested coronavirus disease (Covid-19) positive.

Korra and Sadar police stations in the district have been sealed and declared as contained zones. The public has been barred from entering these infected police stations.

Police said on Sunday a youth was caught snatching money from the cash counter of a shop under Korra police station in Hazaribagh. However, locals caught and handed him over to the police after thrashing him.

The accused was shifted to Sadar police station because of a lack of space at Korra police stations lock-up.

Rules stipulate that all inmates need to compulsorily undergo the Covid-19 test. The accused was found to have contracted SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease, on Tuesday.

Kamal Kishore, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Hazaribagh, said all 75 personnel, including officers-in-charge of Korra and Sadar police stations and the personnel in PCR (police control room) van, who had brought the accused to Sadar police station, have been quarantined.

All 75 will undergo the Covid-19 test on Friday. At present, 15 are under institutional quarantine and the rest (60) are isolated at their respective homes, the SDPO said.

He said the two police stations have been sealed and declared containment zones until further orders.

Arrangements have been made to submit complaints at drop boxes outside the sealed police stations. PCR authorities will monitor the activities of these two police stations, he added.

The SDPO said the owner and the staff of the shop, from where the accused was caught, would also undergo the Covid-19 test along with those living in and around the shop.

Hazaribagh district has reported 207 Covid-19 positive cases, including 35 active ones and three deaths, to date.

While in Jharkhands Koderma district, 42 police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and officers-in-charge of two police stations, who had raided on an illicit liqour den last Saturday, have been quarantined after an arrested accused tested Covid-19 positive.
Militants on Wednesday killed former district president of BJP Bandipore, Shiekh Waseem Bari along with his father and brother in the main town of Bandipore.

Police said that militants attacked Shiekh Waseem Bari at his shop at Muslimabad Bandipore in the evening. In the attack, Baris father Bashir Ahmad and younger brother Umar were also injured. All three were taken to district hospital where they were declared brought dead. The attack took place close to the police station where Bari had a house and a shop.

Soon after the attack, police and army launched a search operation in the area to track down the terrorists.

Inspector general of police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said that Bari was at their shop along with his father and brother, when some unidentified terrorists shot them resulting in critical injuries to all of them. All three later succumbed to their injuries, Kumar said.

Kumar said the family had ten security personnel but unfortunately, none of them were present at the time of the incident since they were sitting on the first floor of Baris house, which is adjacent to the shop. He said, The PSOs are being arrested.

Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah condemned the killing of the BJP leader.

Sorry to hear about the murderous terror attack on the BJP functionaries and their father in Bandipore earlier this evening. I condemn the attack. My condolences to their families in this time of grief. Sadly the violent targeting of mainstream political workers continues unabated, tweeted Omar soon after the attack.

Bari, 28, was the known face of BJP in Bandipore district and had contested 2014 assembly election as an independent candidate. He is the senior most BJP leader killed in Kashmir since revocation of article 370 by the centre last August.

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With 301 fresh coronavirus patients, the Covid-19 curve peaked in Kerala on Wednesday and the situation turned serious in some areas of state capital Thiruvananthapuram and port city Kochi.

In the coastal hamlet of Poonthura on the outskirts of the capital, 119 people were found positive after 600 people were tested for the disease. After the situation turned really grim, police commandos were deployed in the area to ensure a complete lockdown. Though the latest incident gave ample indication of community spread, health officials put up a brave front saying the situation was under control.

With 301 new cases, the Covid-19 tally went up to 6,195out of this 2,605 are under treatment and 3,561 patients have recovered. The state has reported 29 deaths so far. Out of the 301 new cases, 99 are expatriates, 95 came from other states and 90 people contracted the virus from primary contacts, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans office.

After a big spurt in cases, the government had imposed a triple lockdown in Thiruvananthapuram to avert possible community spread. The situation turned serious in the state capital after the source of infection in many cases could not be traced. In the first week of May, the state was on the verge of flattening the coronavirus curve but positive cases increased after the return of expatriates and those stranded in other states. Despite criticism that it lags behind other states in tests, Kerala has got the least mortality and among the highest recovery rates in the country.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday seeking an investigation by central agencies on the large quantity of gold that was seized by Customs officials on July 5, even as the Union minister of state for external affairs urged the Kerala state government to clarify its role.

The fact that the attempt to smuggle huge quantity of gold was concealed in diplomatic baggage makes the matter extremely seriousThe case has serious implications as this undermines the economy of the Nation. In fact, it has more than one angle warranting a thorough investigation. It is requested that an effective and coordinated investigation into this incident by all central agencies concerned is the need of the hour, Vijayan wrote.

On July 5, the customs department had seized the gold from an air cargo consignment from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the countrys consulate in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram. The action came after a green light from the ministry of external affairs.

The Kerala government on Tuesday transferred its information technology secretary, M Sivasankar, a day after the dismissal of IT consultant Swapna Suresh, whom Sivasankar knew, amid allegations of her links to a gold smuggling racket.

Swapna Suresh, who was working as the operational manager of the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited under the state IT ministry, is said to be on the run after the seizure even as the Customs department has intensified its search for her.

The transfer of M Sivasankar, a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who is also a secretary to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, came after opposition parties in the state stepped up pressure.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Wednesday said there was a serious lapse on the part of the state government.

Our investigation is on. We will also bring to light those who helped smugglers. The main accused [Swapna Suresh] was given a plum posting when she was mired in another cheating case. Often she was treated more than a high-ranking diplomat and after her role came to light now the CM says he has no idea how she got the job, he said.

As the opposition BJP and Congress stepped up pressure seeking the resignation of the CM, state industry minister E P Jayarajan said this was a move to discredit the popularity of the CM and the states fight against the pandemic. Opposition parties are worried over the popularity of the state. That is why they are raking issues to target the government, Jayarajan said.

Sarith Kumar, an accused in the case who had previously worked as a public relations officer (PRO) in UAE Consulate-Generals office in Thiruvananthapuram was arrested on Monday and remanded to 14 days.

Earlier this week, Sivasankar had said that he was ready for any investigation and would share all information with the customs department.

A petition was filed on Wednesday before Kerala High Court seeking a probe by central agencies into the case of gold smuggling through a diplomatic channel.
Maharashtras Covid-19 case count reached 2,23,724 after 6,603 new cases were reported on Wednesday even as hotels and lodges resumed business.

Wednesdays number of new Covid-19 cases is the second highest single-day spike recorded so far that has pushed the number of active cases to 91,065, according to the state health department.

Out of the news cases, 1,347 were from Mumbai that took its tally to 87,856. The number of active cases in Mumbai is 23,543. On Tuesday, the city recorded 785 cases, the lowest in the last 56 days.

Maharashtra recorded the highest single day spike on Saturday with 7,074 cases. The highest death toll in a day was also reported on Saturday with 295 casualties.

Maharashtra crossed the two lakh mark in 17 weeks since the first Covid-19 case was reported on March 9.

There were 198 casualties on Wednesday taking the death toll in the state to 9,448, the health department said. Sixty-two of the deaths were in Mumbai where the death toll has gone up to 5,064.

Click here for full Covid-19 coverage.

After the high of 7,074 cases on Saturday, the state reported relatively lower numbers of new cases in the last three days. On July 5, July 6 and July 7, it reported 6,555, 5,368 and 5,134 cases respectively. However, the number of fresh cases is still high.

Health experts said that decline in new cases will have significance only if it sustains for 10-14 days. Though, it is a good sign, but three day period actually has no significance. In case of such a pandemic, we will have to monitor the trend for over a period of seven to ten days and if it continues to reduce for 14 days then we will be in a position to say that it is a very good sign, said Dr Subhash Salunkhe, public health expert, who is also heading communicable diseases prevention control and technical committee of the state.

In the last eight days (since July 1), the state recorded 48,965 as against 302 cases in March, 10,196 cases in April, 57,157 cases in May and 1,02,172 cases in June.

On an average, Maharashtra is adding 6,120 new cases of Covid-19 every day.

The state has recently decided to form a task force of expert doctors in all the districts, to control the situation.

With 9,448 deaths, the case fatality rate (CFR) of the state was recorded 4.22%. It is the second highest in the country after Gujarat where CFR is 5.26% with 1977 deaths (37,550 cases) till Tuesday, according to the statistics shared by the state medical education department.

Maharashtra still has the highest number of deaths across states in the country.

State health minister Rajesh Tope said that they are focusing on reducing CFR and for this they have decided to increase daily number of tests in the state. We have decided to conduct more testing so that more people can be traced and CFR as well as positive rate against total testing can be reduced and be brought under 10%, Tope said.

Currently, the positive rate against total tests is 18.77% as 2,23,724 tests were found positive out of total 11,91,549 sample tested so far.

He said that the state is doing more test than the target of 140 per day against per million of population in each district set by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Currently, 47,072 people have been kept in institutional quarantine and 6,38,762 people have been put under home quarantine across the state. The health minister said the existing institutional quarantine facilities in metro cities need to be augmented considering aggressive tracing slum areas.

On Monday, the state government issued a notification allowing hotels, lodges and guest houses to operate from Wednesday, but at 33% of their capacity. It has also issued guidelines for strict compliance with measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Dine-in restaurants, however, will remain to be shut and operate only for takeaways as the government has not taken any decision yet. Restaurants at hotels and guest houses will be available only for the resident guests, although the government has pressed for room services and takeaways. Swimming pools, gymnasiums, playing areas, gaming arcades and gatherings of more than 15 people at these hotels will not be allowed, the notification issued by chief secretary Sanjay Kumar stated.

On Tuesday, the state government also extended the timings of shops and markets by two hours across the state. The earlier order issued on June 29 had restricted shops to remain open till 5pm from 9 am to avoid crowding at market places in cities and rural areas.
No migrant labour left West Bengal because the state government cares for its people, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said during an event on Wednesday.

Show me any state that gives 100% free ration for a year, she said. The chief minister took a dig at the ruling party at the Centre and said that it didnt come to any aid when its South Kolkata president and his mother tested positive for coronavirus recently.

The BJP office didnt help even when he asked. I took the initiative and got them admitted to the hospital, the chief minister said.

No migrant labour left West Bengal. Why? Because we care for people. Show me any state that gives 100% free ration for a year...BJP South Kolkata president & his mother were affected by COVID. BJP office didnt help even when he asked. I took initiative & got them admitted: WB CM https://t.co/3nPYcoYgc9 pic.twitter.com/1bmfMZMncl  ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2020

Banerjee drew a comparison between Prime Ministers flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme and state government-led Swasthya Sathi scheme.

In Ayushman Bharat, they (Centre) will give only 40 percent, and take the whole credit. Swasthya Sathi is giving 100 percent help to people, she said.

On Saturday, Banerjee tweeted saying the state government has implemented a robust economic strategy to tackle the Covid-19 crisis and the devastation caused by super cyclone Amphan.

Proof lies in West Bengals unemployment rate for the month of June 2020 which stands at 6.5%, far better than that of India at 11%, UP at 9.6% & Haryana at 33.6%, as per CMIE, her tweet read.

West Bengal is among the top ten states in the country affected by coronavirus. As of June 8, the state has reported a total of 23,837 coronavirus cases of which 15,790 patients have recovered. The number of Covid-19 fatalities i West Bengal stand at 804.
The Auxiliary to the VFW Post 2295 met Tuesday, June 16. President LouAnn opened the meeting with the pledge to the American Flag.

The charter was draped for Marian Evans. There will be a memorial service for Marian on Saturday, July 18, at Bethany Luth-eran Church, Emmetsburg.

General orders were read. The Treasurers report and minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

Ellen Picray commented on what the Auxiliary has given to the Post for the past couple of years. Members discussed the fish fries and other events that have been cancelled.

There will be no events at Soper Park on July 4th. Fireworks will be held.

A grant through the Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporaiton was received to update the computerized Bingo Board.

Bingo will start on July 6. A small lunch will be available from 5:30 to 6:20 p.m.

Fireworks will be sold at VFW June 21 to July 8, from Noon to 9 p.m. daily. A sign-up sheet was sent around indicating who would be willing to help.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, July 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Post Home.
A youth was arrested from a village in Chandauli district on Tuesday evening for allegedly posting comments in favour of Uttar Pradeshs most wanted criminal Vikas Dubey and indecent comment against chief minister Yogi Adityanath in his Facebook post, police said. The person also posted objectionable comments against the police personnel who were killed in Kanpur raid.

A senior police officer said that accused Prashant Pandey, in his early twenties, completed his graduation from Sakaldiha Post Graduate College.

When superintendent of police, Chandauli, Hemant Kutiyal came to know about it, he immediately instructed Station officer Vandana Singh to take action against Prashant Pandey.

Station officer Sakaldiha, Inspector Vandana Singh arrested Prashant on Tuesday evening. A case was registered against him under relevant sections of the IPC. He is currently in jail.

The SP said that Prashant belongs to Bajaura village in the district. Further investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, a CCTV footage from Faridabad showed gangster Dubey, who is on the run and has a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head, trying to take a room in a hotel.

Three persons close to Vikas Dubey were arrested from Faridabad. They were identified as Ankur, Shravan and Kartikey alias Prabhat, a senior official told PTI.

Eight policemen were ambushed in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur when they went to arrest Dubey and fell to bullets fired from rooftops shortly after midnight on Friday.
The Nepal authorities have raised the border issue with Bihar again. This time, they have forced the state road construction department (RCD) to stall repair and strengthening of the northernmost stretch of Sitamarhi-Bhittamore Road near the border in Sursand block of Sitmarhi district, officials said on Wednesday.

A senior officer of the department, who was not willing to be named, said that the work has been stopped a few days ago after Nepal officials objected to the widening of road in its 1.10km stretch, close to the border, which is about 125 km north from the state capital, Patna. He said the matter has been referred to the state home department for resolution.

The RCD official said the objection from Nepal came as a shock and surprise as there was a clearly demarcated border between the two countries at the spot and check posts of both the countries had been working on either side of the no-mans land for decades.

We were carrying out repair and strengthening down south of the international pillars and beyond the no-mans land. The state government never faced any objection for any construction work earlier, said the official, who rushed to the spot immediately after Nepal officials objected to the work, claiming that the area fell under territorial command as per survey records.

Rajnath Singh reviews ongoing infra projects along border regions

Confirming the development, additional chief secretary, home, Amir Subhani said the state government was closely watching the developments on the border with Nepal. We are trying to find out the solution at the earliest. We are in touch with the Central government also, said Subhani.

This is the second instance of Nepali authorities raising their objections to construction work being done by the Bihar government near the border.

A fortnight ago, Nepal government officials had stalled the fortification work on an embankment of Lal Bakeya river in Dhaka block of East Champaran district in the Indian territory near the no-mans land. They are now threatening to pull down a part of the embankment.

Subhani said the border issue with Nepal relating to East Champaran was yet to be resolved.

Sharad Pawar recalls visits by Nehru, Chavan to border post-1962 war

The Sitamarhi-Bhittamore road is important for religious reasons as it connects Janakpur, which houses a 200-year-old Janki Temple with Sithamarhiconsidered to be the birth place of Goddess Sita.

Earlier in June, Nepal Armed Police had shot dead a Bihari youth and injured three others following an altercation.

PM Oli doesnt budge an inch in Nepal standoff, party stares at a possible split

The relationship between India and Nepal has come under strain after Nepals Parliament approved a new political map, claiming its territorial command over key areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura of Uttarakhand in May.
Philip Barton, the UKs new high commissioner to India, presented his credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind during a virtual ceremony on Wednesday.

Bartons arrival in India and the presentation of his credentials was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. He succeeded Dominic Asquith, who served as high commissioner from April 2016 to January this year.

The UK-India relationship is remarkable and we share an unparalleled breadth and depth of connection. There is a deep commitment across the British government, industry and civil society to grow that relationship even further, Barton said in a statement.

He identified several focus areas  developing the trade and economic partnership following the UKs exit from the European Union, tackling the global challenges of climate change and green recovery, acting together as a force for good in the world, and working closely to keep both countries safe and secure.

Barton, who also served as the UKs high commissioner to Pakistan during 2014-16 and as acting chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee during 2016-17, acknowledged he had arrived in India at an extraordinarily difficult time.

Coronavirus is without precedent in modern times, but it has also brought out the importance of the modern partnership between the UK and India: from our excellent collaboration in developing and manufacturing a vaccine for global distribution, to securing essential medical supplies for health workers, to our joint determination to build back better from this crisis, he said.

Barton also pointed to his familys roots in India. We often speak of the living bridge of people, ideas and institutions that tie the UK and India together. I, too, am part of that bridge. My mother was born in Shimla and I was posted here in Delhi in the 1990s. I met my wife, Amanda, when we both lived and worked here and we named our daughter India  not knowing I would return one day as high commissioner, he said.

Barton joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1986 and has previously served as the Director General (consular and security) in London and as deputy ambassador in Washington. Before arriving in New Delhi last month, he helped the UK government adapt its long-term planning to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jan Thompson, who served as acting high commissioner from February to June, has returned to her role as deputy high commissioner.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Bounty on criminal wanted in killing of 8 cops in UP raised to Rs 5 lakh

The bounty on notorious criminal Vikas Dubey, who has been missing since Friday after allegedly killing eight policemen in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur, has been increased to Rs 5 lakh. Read more

PM Oli doesnt budge an inch in Nepal standoff, party stares at a possible split

A meeting of the Nepal Communist Partys standing committee scheduled to meet on Wednesday was deferred at the last minute, dimming hopes that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his rival faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal might be able to reconcile their differences soon. Read more

Terrified driver finds snake in vehicle, incident shocks netizens. Watch

The stories of encounters with snakes shared on the Internet generally send a shiver down ones spine. And this story of a man in Australia proves the case and it is nothing short of a nightmare. Read more

Why didnt Sachin Tendulkar prefer facing the first ball? These numbers provide insight

Sourav Ganguly on Monday shared an interesting nugget regarding his long-time opening partner Sachin Tendulkar, mentioning how the star batsman never wanted to take first strike. Read more

Instagram Reels rolls out to users in India after TikTok gets banned

Instagram has started testing its TikTok-like feature Reels in India. Instagram Reels will officially start rolling out to users in India from 7:30 pm tonight. Read more

Covid-19: Karnataka, Telangana emerging as fresh hot spots

Hindustan Times National Political Editor, Sunetra Choudhury brings you the top stories you need to know. Sunetra talks about the number of covid-19 cases in India, how Karnataka and Telangana are emerging as fresh hot spots, masks & sanitisers removed from essentials list, Brazil President Bolsonaro gets covid-19. Watch to know more

Sorry but you shouldnt ban dog meat

At the end of June I began noticing a slew of tweets about dog-eating on my Twitter timeline. The ones that made the most impact came from my friend Pritish Nandy, an animal lover and a vegetarian. Read more
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said it has confiscated assets worth Rs 329.66 crore of diamond merchant Nirav Modi under the fugitive economic offenders law.

The businessman and his uncle Mehul Choksi among others are being probed by the ED on money laundering charges in connection with an over USD 2 billion alleged bank fraud at a PNB branch in Mumbai.

The confiscated properties are in the form of four flats at the iconic building Samudra Mahal in Worli Mumbai, a sea-side farm house and land in Alibaug, a wind mill in Jaisalmer, a flat in London and residential flats in UAE, shares and bank deposits, the central probe agency said in a statement.

A special court in Mumbai had on June 8 authorised the ED to confiscate the assets.

Nirav Modi was declared a fugitive economic offenders by the same court on December 5 last year.

The ED has attached the properties worth Rs. 329.66 crore under the FEO Act, 2018 which now stands confiscated to central government, it said.

The agency till now has attached assets worth Rs 2,348 crore of Nirav Modi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Nirav Modi (49) is currently lodged in a UK jail after being arrested in London in March, 2019 and is currently fighting extradition to India.
Odisha on Wednesday recorded the maximum number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) related deaths on a single day at 6, while the state capital, Bhubaneswar, reported the highest single-day spike at 46 cases.

The coastal Ganjam district, the epicentre of the viral outbreak in the state because of its high migrant population, who have largely returned from Surat following the easing of lockdown restrictions, has sealed its border with adjoining Khurda and Nayagarh districts and a 24-hour travel restriction has been enforced by the district authorities.

Ganjam reported three deaths, and one each was recorded from Kendrapara, Khurda and Rayagada districts, as the overall toll rose to 48 in the state.

In Ganjam district, which has reported over 2,800 Covid-19 positive cases so far, a man (56), a senior citizen (64), and a woman (50) died of the viral outbreak. Both the senior citizen and the women had a comorbid condition such as diabetes.

In Rayagada district, a Covid-19 patient (50) suffering from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), died. While in Kendrapara district, a diabetic Covid-19 patient (55) has died.

In Bhubaneswar, a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patient, who had tested Covid-19, however, succumbed to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), doctors said.

So far, 13 such deaths  Covid-19 positive patients succumbing to comorbid conditions -- have been reported in Odisha.

Of the 48 deaths recorded in the state, a 27-year-old youth from Ganjam district is the youngest to date. He worked as a science teacher, but volunteered as a frontline worker battling the pandemic at a quarantine centre in the districts Kabisuryanagar block.

He showed Covid-19 symptoms and was admitted to a Covid-19 care centre at Aska before he was shifted to SUM Hospital in Bhubaneswar, where he died on July 3, even before his test result was made available.

However, the hospital authorities did not hand over his body to his family members since they suspected him of being infected by SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19.

His parents couldnt bear the tragic death of their son and died by suicide at his native village.

While an 80-year-old man, who was suffering from COPD, is the oldest person in Odisha to die of Covid-19 so far.

Most of the Covid-19 victims in the state are in the age group between 35 and 73 years.

Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Satpathy, joint director of public health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Odisha, at least 1.4 million people in the state are at risk because of their comorbid conditions.

So far about 60 lakh people above the age of 30 have been screened for NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer of whom 10-15% of them have been found to be suffering from these diseases. Odishas 1.4 million population is in the high-risk category, he said.

In July, Odisha has been reporting a spike in both Covid-19 positive cases and deaths.

Of the total 10,624 cases recorded so far, 31% of them have been reported in July alone.

Similarly, of the 48 deaths, 45% have been recorded in July.

Bhubaneswar, which recorded its single-day highest spike of 46 Covid-19 positive cases, has sealed its two Regional Transport Offices (RTO), an information technology (IT) majors business process outsourcing (BPO) unit, a godown of a courier company and two branches of a private bank.

Saptagiri Ulaka, the Congress member of Parliament (MP) from Koraput, said the bid to ban on the Ganjam-Khurda inter-district movement for 24 hours on Wednesday is a thoughtless knee-jerk reaction. If the situation demands, the state government should declare complete shutdown of Odisha rather than changing rules every now and then, which is aggravating peoples problems, the MP tweeted.
India on Wednesday dubbed Pakistans claim that Kulbhushan Jadhav, on a death row in an alleged espionage case, has refused to file an appeal against his sentence as farce.

In a statement issued by ministry of external affairs on Wednesday evening, India has stated that Jadhav has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case, and termed it as a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy available to him.

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017 following which India had moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking a stay on his death sentence.

Also read: Pakistan coerced Kulbushan Jadhav to refuse case review, says India

Here is the full statement issued by MEA on the issue:

We have been pursuing through diplomatic channels full and effective implementation of the ICJ judgment in the case of Shri Kulbushan Jadhav. The media statement made by Pakistan today in the case seeks to mask its continuing reticence to implement ICJ judgment in letter and spirit.

Pakistans claim that Shri Jadhav, who is incarcerated in Pakistans custody, has refused to initiate review petition is a continuation of the farce that has been in play for the last four years. Shri Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a farcical trial. He remains under custody of Pakistans military. He has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case. India sought unimpeded access to Shri Jadhav to discuss his remedies under the Ordinance. In a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy under the Ordinance, Pakistan has obviously coerced Shri Jadhav to forego his rights to seek an implementation of the judgment of the ICJ.

Pakistan has on 20 May 2020 passed an Ordinance to allow for the High Court to review the sentence awarded by their military court. They have all along maintained that their laws allowed for effective review and reconsideration while we have protested it all along. Now, after almost a year, they have made a u-turn and issued an Ordinance to ostensibly provide for some sort of review. We have already expressed our serious concerns at the content of the Ordinance and how it violates the ICJ judgment. Pakistan is only seeking to create an illusion of remedy.

Despite our repeated requests, Pakistan continues to deny India free and unimpeded access to Shri Jadhav. India has repeatedly asked to allow a lawyer from outside Pakistan to appear for Shri Jadhav in any review and reconsideration proceedings. Pakistan has denied it. Since 2017, when Military Court carried out a farcical trial, Pakistan has refused to hand over any relevant document, including FIR, evidence, court order, etc in the case to India. Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with the ICJ judgment.

ICJ has already held that Pakistan is in egregious violation of international law. Government will do its utmost to protect Shri Jadhav and ensure his safe return to India. To that end, it would consider all appropriate options.
India on Wednesday accused Pakistan of coercing Kulbushan Jadhav, a former naval officer sentenced to death on charges of spying, not to file a petition seeking a review of his case and of not complying with the International Court of Justices (ICJ) verdict to review his conviction.

New Delhis response came hours after senior officials in the Pakistani capital claimed Jadhav had refused to file an appeal in the Islamabad high court against the death sentence given by a military court despite an offer to do so.

Pakistan also offered consular access to Jadhav and to arrange a meeting between him and his father and wife, though there was no immediate response from the Indian side.

Jadhav was arrested by Pakistani security agencies in Balochistan in March 2016 and charged with involvement in spying. In April 2017, Pakistan announced he had been sentenced to death by a military court.

The ICJ ruled in July 2019 that Pakistan had violated Jadhavs rights under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and stayed his execution while calling on Islamabad to take all steps for an effective review and reconsideration of his sentence, including enacting appropriate legislation.

The Pakistan government promulgated an ordinance on May 20 allowing Jadhav, his legal representative or the Indian government to file a review petition in the Islamabad high court within 60 days, which will end on July 19, additional attorney general Ahmed Irfan and Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry, director general (South Asia) in the Foreign Office, told a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.

Exercising his legal right...Jadav refused to file a petition for the review and reconsideration of his sentence and conviction. He instead preferred to follow up his pending mercy petition, said Irfan, adding Pakistan has written to the Indian mission to file a petition in the high court before the deadline.

In New Delhi, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava described Pakistans position as an attempt to mask its continuing reticence to implement the ICJ judgment in letter and spirit.

Pakistans claim that Jadhav...has refused to initiate a review petition is a continuation of the farce that has been in play for the last four years. Jadhav has been sentenced to execution through a farcical trial. He remains under custody of Pakistans military. He has clearly been coerced to refuse to file a review in his case, he said.

Srivastava noted that Pakistan passed the ordinance in May to allow the high court to review the sentence after maintaining for long that its laws allowed for effective reconsideration.

Now, after almost a year, they have made a U-turn and issued an ordinance to ostensibly provide for some sort of review. We have already expressed our serious concerns at the content of the ordinance and how it violates the ICJ judgment. Pakistan is only seeking to create an illusion of remedy, he added.

India has pushed for the full implementation of ICJs judgment and sought unimpeded access to Jadhav to discuss his remedies under the ordinance, he said.

Srivastava described the latest turn of events as a brazen attempt to scuttle even the inadequate remedy under the ordinance since Pakistan has obviously coerced Jadhav to forego his rights to seek implementation of the ICJ judgment.

Despite Indias repeated requests, Pakistan has denied free and unimpeded access to Jadhav, he said. India has repeatedly asked for a lawyer from outside Pakistan to be allowed to appear for Jadhav in any review proceedings but Pakistan has denied this, he added.

Since 2017, when the military court carried out its trial, Pakistan has refused to hand over any documents, including the FIR, evidence or court order. Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with the ICJ judgment, Srivastava said.

Noting that ICJ has already said Pakistan is in egregious violation of international law, Srivastava said the Indian government will do its utmost to protect Jadhav and ensure his safe return home. To that end, it would consider all appropriate options, he said.

The Pakistani officials referred to Indias request to allow an Indian lawyer to represent Jadhav and said only a lawyer holding a licence of the Islamabad high court can appear in the proceedings. An Indian lawyer cannot appear for Jadhav but may be allowed to assist his counsel, they said.

The officials said Pakistan had allowed consular access to Jadhav twice and offered to do so again. It has also offered to arrange a meeting between Jadhav and his father and wife, they said, adding Jadhavs mother and wife were earlier allowed to meet him in December 2017.

Pakistans Foreign Office spokesperson also said late on Wednesday that Jadhavs mercy petition is a separate matter that isnt connected to the review process. While Jadhavs mercy petition is pending, India is invited to file review and reconsideration petition to give effect to the judgement of ICJ, the spokesperson said.

After the Pakistan Army chief endorsed the death penalty for Jadhav in April 2017, he filed a mercy petition in June the same year. The current status of this petition is not known.

India has rejected the allegations against Jadhav and said he was kidnapped by Pakistani operatives from the Iranian port of Chabahar, where he was running a business.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver on Thursday the inaugural address at the India Global Week 2020, a virtual conference being organised in the UK, which will also feature a never-seen-before performance on the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat campaign, the Prime Ministers Office said.

Themed Be The Revival: India and a Better New World, the event will have 5,000 global participants from 30 nations and it will be addressed by 250 global speakers in 75 sessions.

Will be addressing the India Global Week, organised by @IndiaIncorp at 1:30 pm tomorrow. This forum brings together global thought leaders and captains of industry, who will discuss aspects relating to opportunities in India as well as the global economic revival post-COVID, PM Modi tweeted.

Those participating in the event include External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor G C Murmu, Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the PMO statement said.

The UKs Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Home Secretary Priti Patel, and US Ambassador to India Ken Juster are some of the other participants to the event, it said.

The event will also feature a never-seen-before performance on Aatma Nirbhar Bharat by Madhu Nataraj and a special 100th birth anniversary concert in tribute to sitar maestro Ravi Shankar by three of his most eminent students.

The three-day summit is being held on a virtual platform given restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A report from London on Tuesday stated that the organisers expect an estimated 250 senior business and strategic expert speakers to attract 5,000 audience worldwide over the course of the summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tweeted best wishes for Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro, who has tested positive for coronavirus disease Covid-19.

My friend President @jairbolsonaro, my prayers and best wishes for your speedy recovery, PM Modi said in his tweet. He has posted the same message in Portuguese, the official language of Brazil.

My friend President @jairbolsonaro, my prayers and best wishes for your speedy recovery.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2020

Bolsonaro said he tested positive for the new coronavirus on Tuesday after months of downplaying its severity while deaths mounted rapidly inside the country.

The Brazilian President said he is confident that he will swiftly recover from the new coronavirus thanks to treatment with hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that has not been proven effective against Covid-19.

Bolsonaro told reporters that he underwent a lung X-ray on Monday after experiencing fever, muscle aches and malaise. As of Tuesday, his fever had subsided, he said, and he attributed the improvement to hydroxychloroquine.

In April, he had thanked PM Modi for easing restrictions on export of hydroxychloroquine. Bolsonaro compared the move to Lord Hanuman and Sanjeevani booti (herb) in the epic Ramayana.

Just as Lord Hanuman brought the holy medicine from the Himalayas to save the life of Lord Ramas brother Laksmana, and Jesus healed those who were sick and restored the sight of Bartimeu, India and Brazil will overcome this global crisis, President Bolronaro had said in a letter to Prime Minister Modi.

India is the largest manufacturer and exporter of hydroxychloroquine in the world.

Bolsonaro was in the country this January to be chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations.

Brazil, the worlds sixth-biggest nation, with more than 210 million people, is one of the outbreaks most lethal hot spots. More than 65,000 Brazilians have died from Covid-19, and over 1.5 million have been infected.

Both numbers are the worlds second-highest totals, behind those of the United States.
A meeting of the Nepal Communist Partys standing committee scheduled to meet on Wednesday was deferred at the last minute, dimming hopes that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his rival faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal might be able to reconcile their differences soon. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former prime minister better known by his nom de guerre Prachanda, wants PM Oli to step down, insisting that his continuation is detrimental to Nepals interests.

PM Oli and Prachanda, who are co-chairs of the communist party, met on Tuesday afternoon to find some meeting ground. PM Oli, who has dug in his heels, refused to give up either his party post or the PM office.

The only forward movement at the end of the two-hour-long meeting was that the two leaders agreed to go ahead with the standing committee meeting on Wednesday. This was interpreted to imply that PM Oli was ready to face the 44-member standing committee, possibly with a resolution. Nearly 30 of them want him to go.

People familiar with the developments, however, told Hindustan Times that PM Oli is determined to hold on to power and has warned that if he is pushed to the wall, he could split the Nepal Communist Party formed in 2018 by unifying Nepals two leftist parties, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre).

That is one eventuality China, which has backed PM Oli, wants to avoid. Over the last week or so, Chinese ambassador Hou Yanqi has held one-on-one meetings with NCP leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal - two former prime ministers who are backing Prachanda - apart from President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to figure a way out to keep PM Oli in the saddle, and the party united.

The meetings have sparked a huge row in Nepal seen as interference by China in its internal affairs. The Chinese embassy was upfront about its interest in the political standoff in Nepal. This week, the embassy confirmed envoy Hou Yanqis meetings with political leaders and said China wanted the Nepal Communist Party leaders to resolve their differences and stay united.

The buzz in Nepals political circles is that Beijing might not be averse to letting PM Oli go if it does not end up splitting the countrys communist party.

But the wily Oli, a Kathmandu watcher said, is determined to brazen it out. Oli, who started his second term as prime minister in February 2018, has managed to stay in power for over 850 days, a record of sorts in a country that has been politically unstable for years. The last prime minister to have had a longer tenure was 25 years ago; Girija Prasad Koirala of the Nepali Congress who was PM from May 1991 to November 1994.

NCP leaders who back PM Oli despite the criticism about his governance record, said his rivals were making too much of the standing committee meetings. Any adverse resolution of the standing committee would have to be vetted by the 400-member central committee of the party. But PM Oli (who is the co-chairman) would need to sign off on the resolution. If he doesnt, it doesnt really matter what the numbers in the standing committee are, he said.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the incredibly aggressive Chinese actions along the border with India were a reflection of the behavior of President Xi Jinping in the region and the world, holding the Chinese leader more directly accountable for it than before.

I put this in the context of general secretary Xi Jinping and his behavior throughout the region (and) the world, Pompeo said, referring to Xi by his Communist Party title, and not as president, in response to a question about the ongoing India-China border tensions at a news conference.

I dont think it is possible to look at that particular instance  the Chinese Communist Party aggression (the border conflict with India)  in isolation; you need to be put it in the larger context. he added.

The secretary of state pointed to the number of both maritime boundary disputes the Chinese Communist Party has engaged in is unequal to any place in the world.

Pompeo said there is hardly any neighbor of China that can say with satisfaction where their sovereignty end, which will be respected by the Chinese.

That is certainly true now for the people of Bhutan as well, the secretary of state said, bringing up the newest of Chinas border disputes. Beijing announced last week the boundary with Bhutan has never been delimited and that there have been disputes over the eastern, central and western sectors for a long time.

This was in addition to all the other continuing 14 territorial disputes, with India, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and others.

The United States has been unequivocal in its support of India in this round of border of tensions with China and has squarely blamed Beijing for it. But it had until now put it mostly on the Chinese Communist Party and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA, the Chinese military).

Pompeo has led the Trump administrations increasing attacks on China over a growing range of issues from the Covid-19 epidemic to the suppression of Uighur minorities, the new national security law for Hong Kong and the border conflict with India.

Two US aircraft carriers began the largest naval exercises in recent years in the South China Sea last Saturday in a move to send an unambiguous signal to our partners and allies that we are committed to regional security and stability, Rear Adm. George M. Wikoff, commander of the strike group, told The Wall Street Journal in an interview.

Trump administration officials have signalled a more direct link to the India-China border conflict. The message is clear, Mark Meadows, President Donald Trumps chief of staff, told Fox News on Monday. Our military might stands strong and will continue to stand strong, whether its in relationship to a conflict between India and China or anywhere else.
Mumbai Police has detained a person on Wednesday afternoon in connection with the unsuccessful bid to vandalise Rajgruha, the house of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar that has been converted into a memorial at Dadars Hindu Colony in central Mumbai, the previous evening.

The detained suspect looks similar to the one that was captured on the footage of CCTV (closed-circuit TV) installed at Rajgruha. The suspect is seen damaging potted plants inside the compounds of the house. He is being questioned. He will be arrested, if he is found to be involved in the vandalism bid, said Viresh Prabhu, additional commissioner of police (ACP), (central region), Mumbai Police.

Mumbai Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against an unidentified person under Section 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs 50) and Section 447 (criminal trespass) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a complaint lodged by Bhimrao Ambedkar, one of the three grandsons of Dr. Ambedkar.

The accused had entered Rajgruha from a three-feet high gate, which was open on Tuesday evening. He came bare feet and damaged potted plants and also shattered Rajgruhas windowpanes with stones. However, CCTV cameras were not damaged, a police official said.

The complainant, Bhimrao, had told the police that on Tuesday an unidentified person was spotted loitering around the house. When he was confronted, he ran away. Bhimrao had told the police that the person, who is captured on the CCTV footage, looked similar to the one, who had run away on Tuesday night, ACP Prabhu said.

Rajgruha has a private library of Dr. Ambedkars collection of over 50,000 books, his portrait, and ashes, among other artefacts.

Dr. Ambedkars daughter-in-law, her three sons Prakash, Bhimrao, and Anadrao live in Rajgruha. However, none of them was present in the house, when the incident occurred on Tuesday evening.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has tweeted that strict action would be taken against the culprits.

Prakash, one of the grandsons of Dr. Ambedkar and the founder of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, in a video message, has appealed to Dr. Ambedkars legions of followers to maintain calm and urged them not to gather outside Rajgruha.
There is a shortage of the experimental antiviral drug Remdesivir across India, but especially in Delhi, with many scrambling to source it from other cities or buying it at exorbitant prices.

Doctors blame increased demand and limited supply of the medicine for its shortage since the Union health ministry on June 13 allowed its emergency use for treating Covid-19 patients with moderate symptoms. An increase in cases around the country has seen more doctors prescribing the drug , but supply hasnt increased proportionately. Patients prescribed the drug are typically given six doses (each is an injection).

The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) on June 1 allowed Gilead Sciences, which holds the patent for Remdesivir, to start importing the medicine. Three Indian manufacturers  Hetero, Cipla, and Mylan-- have since been allowed to manufacture the drug in India. Several other companies, including Jubilant and Zydus are awaiting approvals from the regulator. All of them have signed agreements with patent holder Gilead.

The medicine was earlier available at only a few hospitals across the country as part of the World Health Organisations solidarity trial to study the efficacy of various therapies for Covid-19.

Currently, the generic (off patent) drug manufactured by Hetero is available in Delhi. The company has priced the product at Rs 5,400 a vial. Media reports say it has thus far manufactured and supplied 20,000 vials.

The generics manufactured by two other companies are likely to enter the market over the next couple of days and resolve the shortages. For now, we have been asked to monitor the situation. There is a Bangladeshi variant of the drug available in India that is being sold to desperate patients, said an official from Delhis drug control department who asked not to be named.

Cipla is expected to launch its product before the end of the week. Several state governments are also in line to buy the drug; some have already placed orders with Hetero.

DCGI wrote to drug controllers of the states on Monday asking them to keep a check on black marketeering.

The medicine is unavailable at pharmacies for personal use and is sold for institutional use to hospitals treating Covid-19 patients directly.

Abhay Shrivastav, a Delhi resident, said he has been looking for six vials of the Remdesivir injection prescribed to the 84-year-old mother of a family friend. Our patient is admitted to one of the biggest hospitals in the city. The doctor there prescribed the medicine and said that there was a shortage in the hospital and the family would have to arrange for it. If the drug is not supposed to be sold in the pharmacies, where can we get it from? Shrivastav has been assured the medicine for Rs 65,000 a vial after he posted a message on social media . His brother has been able to find four vials of the medicine in Mumbai and is sending them via a courier.

Journalist Samarth Bansal said he received quotations of Rs 30,000 per vial when he started looking for the medicine for his grandmother. The hospital prescribed the medicine to her on Sunday but did not have it available in their pharmacy. They asked us to wait till Tuesday as an order had been placed. We tried to get in touch with the company and bulk drug dealers. Someone I knew got me in touch with a person at Bhagirath Palace [Delhis largest wholesale medicine market] who quoted the price, he said. He is getting the medicine from Kolkata.

After receiving several complaints of drug shortage, Indias drugs controller on Tuesday directed state authorities to ensure there is no black marketing or over pricing of Remdesivir that it has allowed under emergency use authorisation for severely ill patients of Covid-19. The states have been directed to take strict action against the defaulters said a senior official in the drugs controllers office.

Both private and government hospitals in Delhi have reported depleting stock of the medicine. There is a shortage of Remdesivir to some extent since the drug is now approved as a first-line treatment for moderate to severe [patients]... and demand has increased. We are currently managing through the inter-unit transfer of available stocks within the hospitals based on requirements. We have received support and assurance of fresh supplies from the manufacturer. We understand that other manufacturers are also entering the market shortly, and hopefully, that will ease out the supply shortage to some extent, said Fortis Healthcare in a statement.

Max Hospital, Saket, one of the first private hospitals in Delhi to start treating Covid-19 patients, also reported a shortage of the drug over the last three days.

We have not received any fresh stocks of this important drug since the beginning of this month. This could be because of having only one manufacturer across the country as of now. We are hopeful that the scenario may change by the end of this week with some more drug manufacturers joining in, the hospital said in a statement.
The Congress party has alleged that the Centres decision to set up an inter-ministerial panel to coordinate a probe into three foundations linked to the Gandhi family was biased and that the government treated several entities such as the Vivekananda Foundation and the RSS as holy cows. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi added that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation-- one of the three foundations to be probed for alleged financial misconducthad nothing to add or fear.

The Congress response on Wednesday afternoon was preceded in the day by the Union home ministrys decision to set up an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into allegations of illegality against Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. All three entities have been accused of violating money laundering act, Income Tax Act and foreign contribution act.

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has nothing to add, nothing to fear because you have all the yantra and tantra at your disposal and you can ask every question in every inquiry and we are here to answer as law abiding persons, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on Wednesday.

Home Ministry sets up panel to coordinate probe into 3 Gandhi family trusts

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the chairperson of RGF, which is also co-managed by former Prime Minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and senior party leader P Chidambaramall trustees of RGF.

Sonia Gandhi is also the chairperson of Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust while overseeing the work of Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

RGF was recently in the line of fire by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while it traded barbs with the Congress on the issue of recent Chinese incursions in the Ladakh sector and face off with Indian Army that led to deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an unspecified number of casualties in the Chinese army.

BJP president JP Nadda had alleged that the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF) had donated money to the RGF in the past and accused Congress of diverting public money into a family-run foundation. He had also alleged that several state owned firms had donated money to RGF during the UPA rule between 2005-2006 and 2007-2008.

The Congress had then questioned funding of several organizations it claimed were either linked to the BJP or patronized by the party. Singhvi reiterated that allegation on Wednesday while claiming that there were two laws in the country; one for the opposition and the other for those associated with the ruling party.

But you (the government) need to be exposed fully because you dont even ask these questions of many holy cows. You are harassing each opposition segment individual and institutional. But your blue-eyed sanctified holy cows Vivekananda Foundation, India Foundation, Friends of BJP and the RSS dont get to be asked such questions. Whose favourite blue eyed boys and girls are these? Whose special arc of protection they have? Please dare to ask them also and share those with the country, Singhvi asked.

The inquiry into the three funds mentioned above will be led by the special director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and will also include officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)s announcement a day earlier that it has dropped topics like citizenship, secularism, federalism, and partition to rationalise syllabuses to make up for the academic loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a political storm with Congress and other opposition parties condemning the move.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she was shocked to know that these topics have been dropped in the name of course reduction. We strongly object to this & appeal @HRDMinistry [Union human resource development ministry], GoI [the government of India] to ensure these vital lessons arent curtailed at any cost, she tweeted.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi condemned the move saying secularism and federalism are pillars of Indian democracy. What message are you trying to send? Singhvi said. He added he was planning to move court.

The Left parties accused the government of using the pandemic as an excuse to advance its agenda. Atrocious. Using the pandemic, Modi government is deleting sections dealing with Indias diversity, plurality, democracy etc that uphold our Constitutional values from the Higher Secondary syllabus, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted.

All to advance the RSS [Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh] vision of an exclusivist, theocratic, intolerant, fascistic nation. This is nothing but the destruction of our Constitution. Unacceptable.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) condemned the syllabus reduction and called it a nefarious attempt to implement the Hindutva agenda of RSS.

The CPI strongly objects to the move to remove chapters on human rights, social movements, citizenship rights, etc. The party condemns the move to condition the minds of our youth so that fascist poison can be easily injected into them, CPI said in a statement.

Ever since the RSS-BJP government came to power, they have been trying to communalise and commercialise education. The present move is part of their hidden agenda towards that purpose. There is already an attempt to centralise education in the name of New Education Policy.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said the BJP wants to do away with democracy and secularism. The BJPs agenda is very clear. They want to do away with democracy and secularism. Hence the best way is not to teach it to the young. In the days to come, the BJP may even rewrite history in a different way and add it to the syllabus, said NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.

CBSE secretary Anurag Tripathi issued a clarification, saying the issue had been interpreted differently and the syllabus reduction was only a one-time measure due to Covid-19 to reduce stress on students.

The rationalization of syllabus up to 30% has been undertaken by the board for nearly 190 subjects of class IX to XII for the academic session 2020-21 as a one-time measure only, he said. Tripathi added the board has clarified that no question should be asked from the syllabus which has been removed.

Each of the topics that have been wrongly mentioned in the media as deleted has been covered under Alternative Academic Calendar of NCERT [National Council of Educational Research and Training] which is already in force for all the affiliated schools, said Tripathi

But many of the dropped topics have not been included in the calendar put out on NCERTs website. But they soon may be part of it, as the council revises the calendar, CBSE and HRD officials said.

NCERT website showed a four-week academic calendar. Secularism, nationalism, and citizenship do not feature in it.

A CBSE official, who sought anonymity, said NCERT would come up with another alternative academic calendar for more months and more topics will be included. Another government official said NCERT was expected to soon release an eight-week calendar.

The NCERT is likely to include them [topics like citizenship, nationalism or secularism] as it expands this calendar. This is purely based on learning outcomes.
The central government on Wednesday approved continuance of key welfare schemes launched earlier to safeguard the vulnerable sections from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. It includes a five month extension to the free food grain programme for 81 crore people and three month extension to free LPG gas cylinders for 7 crore 40 lakh beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar said that in view of the need for continuous support to the poor and needy, the central Cabinet had approved extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, ensuring additional allocation of foodgrain for further five months from July to November 2020.

Javadekar said that about 74.3 crore beneficiaries were covered in April, 74.75 crore in May and about 64.72 crore in June under the scheme that was launched to help the poorest segments of the society after the cessations of all economic activities during the lockdown clamped nationally to contain the spread of the disease in March this year.

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In effect, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana has been stretched to eight months in total from April to November 2020. A total of 81 crore people are entitled under the scheme to receive 5 kg of food grain per person and one kg of lintels and 1 kg of gram per family every month.

Two crore 3 lakh tonne of food grain will be given to 81 crore people. One kg of gram per family per month will amount to 9 lakh 70 thousand tonnes. The total cost of this scheme is 1 lakh 49 thousand crore, Javadekar said.

He added that this was the first time since independence that free ration was being provided for eight continuous months to 81 crore people through a programme unique to the entire world.

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He added that this scheme has been hugely popular for helping poor across sections including migrant workers without ration cards.

Cabinet also approved the extension of time limit for Ujjwala beneficiaries to avail the benefits of three free LPG cylinders by another three months with effect from 1st July 2020.

In another important decision taken by the government to help the beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana, the 7 crore 40 lakh beneficiaries can avail of their unused LPG cylinders from the quota of allotted three free cylinders till the month of September now, Javadekar said

He said this will lead to an additional expenditure of 13,500 crore for the central government.

In the third big measure, he announced Cabinets approval to extend by three months the governments contribution of 24% employees provident fund (EPF) for small companies from June to August 2020.

Under this scheme the government has paid the 24% EPF amount on the behalf of the employees and the employers of small firms that have less than 100 workers with 90% of its workforce earning less than 15,000 rupees a month.

The extension of this scheme from June to August 2020 under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan will result in an additional expenditure of Rs 4,860 crore and benefit over 72 lakh employees, Prakash Javadekar said.

The government has also cleared a scheme under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana to provide cheap accommodation to migrant labourers on rent in 107 cities. Javadekar said that one lakh eight thousand such one bed room flats are ready to be rented out to migrant workers.

He added that on an average, a thousand flats are currently available in each city and an additional 1 lakh 15 thousand flats will be made in the first phase along with dormitories to accommodate additional 1 lakh 33 thousand people. This scheme is continuous and will continue to be expanded and will help around 3.5 lakh migrants in the first phase, he claimed.

In another significant decision, Javadekar said that three government owned insurance companies will receive investment of Rs 12,450 crore by the government in a plan to recapitalize the companies.
The Gau Gram Swavlamban Abhiyan Chhattisgarh, an RSS backed campaign, has welcomed the decision of the ruling Congress government in Chhattisgarh to procure cow dung from cattle owners and farmers under states Gaudhan Nyay Yojna and has demanded that the government also procures cow urine and convert it into bio-fertilizer.

On Tuesday, the convener of the campaign, Bhuneshwar Sahu, along with other officer bearers, met chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and submitted a memorandum welcoming the step to procure cow-dung.

The leaders of the campaign demanded that cow urine is procured from cattle owners and cow shelters (Kotha) are constructed in every household. Besides, they also asked the government to set up an organic market for purchasing cow-based organic farm produce at a reasonable price.

The memorandum stated that in November 2019, more than 26,000 framers of the state had demanded that the government purchased cow dung and urine and also encouraged the production of organic fertilizers.

The CM has accepted the demand to purchase cow dung and we are thanking him for this programme, the memorandum stated, adding that the CM has now been asked to fulfill the other demand for the purchase of Gaumutra through cooperative societies.

55-year-old man held for allegedly raping cow in Bhopal: Police

Some RSS workers have started a campaign Gau Gram Swavlamban Abhiyan and they have made me the patron of the campaign. The office bearers of the campaign thanked the government for cow-dung procurementIf anyone is doing good things RSS will support it, said Bisraram Yadav, Prant Sanchalak of RSS.

The Chhattisgarh government decided last week to procure cow-dung at Rs 1.5 per kilogram from July 20 onwards under the Gaudhan Nyay Yojana scheme.

The cow dung will be collected door-to door by Gauthan Samiti and fortnightly payments will be made to cattle owners and farmers.

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On June 25, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel launched Gaudhan Nyay Yojana claiming that the tradition of open grazing in Chhattisgarh leads to loss of crops and the stray cattle cause road accidents in the city, leading to loss of life and property. The government noted that cows are abandoned once they stop giving milk and hence to make cow rearing a profitable business, it was decided to procure cow dung from farmers and cattle owners.

The government also directed the urban administration department to make arrangements to prevent stray animals from roaming in the cities. The department will be responsible for purchasing cow dung and production of vermicompost.

Baghel had said at the launch that the purpose of the scheme was to promote cattle rearing in the state and to support cattle owners, mostly farmers.

The government tried to strengthen the rural economy of the state through the Narva, Garuva, Ghuruwa, Badi scheme in which we have developed cowsheds in 2,200 villages of the state. In the next two-three months, about 5,000 more cowsheds will be developed in the state. This scheme is an incremental step forward, he had said.
Congress lawmaker Jairam Ramesh, who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests, on Wednesday expressed displeasure over Rajya Sabha secretariats decision disallowing online participation of some of the panels members for a meeting to discuss Covid-19 pandemic.

He called Rajya Sabha officials arguments against his proposal for the virtual participation silly and bogus and complained about the disinformation virus.

Ramesh wrote to Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu saying some panel members be allowed to participate virtually as he feared a lack of quorum for the meeting.

At a meeting under Naidus chairmanship on Wednesday, Rajya Sabha officials pointed out that quorum is necessary only for taking decisions and adopting reports and not for discussion.

Officials maintained that 22% of the meetings of science and technology committee had no quorum in last 3 years or during the tenure of the current chairman, Naidu, said a functionary of the Rajya Sabha.

Details of meetings of committees without quorum were referred to only to bring out that committees used to meet without quorum even in normal times and it has been the case with all 8 committees of Rajya Sabha. This information has been widely shared so that MPs willing to attend the meetings convened in the next few days should not be in any doubt whether such meetings will be held or not, on account of quorum requirement, added one official.

Many opposition lawmakers have been demanding online meetings of Parliamentary panels due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Naidu and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla have held meetings and asked officials to find out a solution, but permissions for digital discussions have not been forthcoming.

Parliamentary panel meetings have always happened inside the House complex amid much secrecy.

In a tweet, Ramesh said, Since I took over as Chairman of the Committee on Science & Technology, Environment, Forests & Climate Change, we have held 11 meetings from September 2019 to March 2020 with quorum in all meetings.

He said the point was not about quorum alone. It is about facilitating those MPs [members of Parliament] who want to attend & are unable to because of containment zone & quarantine restrictions in their home states. Very different from not attending due to other commitments in normal times... He referred to the lack of quorum in earlier meetings. On those occasions we did not have advance information always on who will attend and who will not. This time around MPs have informed before the meeting. Some have even requested for virtual meeting, said Ramesh.
An eight-year-old boy was abducted and killed in Bhopals Bhind district by a man who used to stalk his mother, said police.

The accused Man Singh Baghel, 31, a resident of Lahar of Bhind district was arrested by police on Tuesday.

Lahar, Sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP), DS Bais said, Baghel committed the crime when the boys mother, a resident of Lahar, scolded the man for making sexual advances.

Bais said, Sumit Dohre, 8, went missing on Sunday when he was returning from his fathers shop. Sumits mother told police that she had a doubt on Man Singh, who lives in her neighbourhood in Lahar. When police arrested Man Singh, he confessed to have committed the crime.

Man Singh said he proposed to Sumits mother last week but she not only refused but also insulted him. To take revenge on the woman, Man Singh abducted Sumit and strangulated him to death. Man Singh threw the body in a well, said Bais.

The police were later able to recover the childs body from the well.

The accused was produced before the court on Wednesday and sent to police custody on remand.

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Mumbai: The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court (HC) has taken the negligent and errant government officials to task for shirking their duties amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak and warned of initiating criminal proceedings against them in a bid to cleanse the administrative system.

It also cautioned private hospital authorities and directed them to make adequate beds available for Covid-19 patients amid an imminent spike in the viral outbreak in Aurangabad.

The court made the observation while hearing a suo motu (on its own motion) public interest litigation (PIL) on Tuesday.

The court took a strong exception and cited that its July 3 order is being flouted by public servants, who are callous in discharging their duties amid the pandemic.

A two-member division bench, comprising Justices TV Nalawade and SD Kulkarni, while hearing the report of advocate Rajendra Deshmukh, a senior counsel appointed as the amicus curiae, was informed that despite the courts order in the June 3 hearing, many public servants are still playing truant for their Covid-19 duties.

Earlier, the court had demanded the details of the action taken against errant officials by the Aurangabad administration. Public prosecutor DR Kale submitted the action taken report before the court on Tuesday.

The PIL was filed after concerns were raised about the spike of Covid-19 positive cases and a lack of coordination between various authorities in the Aurangabad region.

Kale submitted before the court that Aurangabad civic areas would enforce nine-day lockdown restrictions from Friday (July 10) and all necessary steps would be taken to contain the spread of the viral outbreak.

The court observed that though show-cause notices were sent to private hospitals, their replies are still awaited.

It warned that Covid-19 positive cases would spike during the lockdown restrictions because of aggressive contact tracing and more hospital beds would be required to treat the fresh cases.

The court directed the Aurangabad administration to take criminal action against those private hospitals that are not complying with its orders to make beds available for Covid-19 patients.

It also cautioned errant public servants and warned of criminal proceedings against those, who remain recalcitrant, in a bid to clean up the administrative machinery.

The court will hear the PIL next on July 21.
The absence of Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Hyderabad for the last 10 days as the Covid-19 situation gets grimmer in the state has triggered a political row.

While the Telangana Congress leaders wondered whether the chief minister had fallen sick, an independent political activist Ch Naveen Kumar alias Teen Mar Mallanna filed a writ petition in the state high court on Wednesday seeking a direction to the government to disclose the whereabouts of KCR.

Mallanna, who is also popular for anchoring a political show in a Telugu television channel, brought to the notice of the high court that the chief minister had not been seen in public for the last 10 days and there had been no official communication from the authorities concerned about his whereabouts and also his health conditions.

The last occasion where the chief minister had appeared in public was the birth centenary celebrations of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao on June 28. In that event, there was a gathering of more than 100 people and the chief minister had participated in the programme without a mask, which made people worry about his health condition in the present Covid-19 pandemic, Mallanna said.

He reminded that even at the previous event of Haritha Haram (the tree plantation programme) on June 25 in which more than 100 people took part, KCR had participated without wearing a face mask.

This has caused a lot of concern, as the number of Covid-19 cases has been increasing exponentially. Adding to this, the news reports that more than 30 persons at Pragati Bhavan (KCRs official bungalow) have contracted the virus, have aggravated our concern, he said.

Stating that as a citizen of the state he was worried about the health condition of KCR, Mallanna said the state administration had miserably failed to provide information to the people about the health status and the whereabouts of the chief minister. He appealed to the high court to issue an appropriate writ or direction to the government to disclose the details about the chief minister.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president and Malkajgiri MP A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday tweeted that the state government should issue a health bulletin to allay the apprehensions of the people about the chief minister.

Reddy said there was an administrative crisis as the head of the state himself was missing in action amid a raging pandemic. The chief minister has been confined to his farmhouse for the last 10 days and there are apprehensions about his health in the wake of growing intensity of Covid-19. It is a crime to keep his health condition a secret, he said.

The PCC working president said there was none to take care of the state in the absence of the chief minister. If KCR is not in a position to administer the state, he should entrust his responsibilities to any other leader  it could be his son K T Rama Rao or senior ministers T Harish Rao or Eatala Rajender, he suggested.

Reddy demanded that Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan should intervene in the administration and review its functioning.

The ruling TRS leaders have not yet responded to the Congress leaders demand.
After the ambush in which eight police personnel were killed early on July 3, gangster Vikas Dubey used different modes of transport, including motorcycles, an SUV, sand-laden trucks and taxis, to escape from his house in Kanpurs Bikru village to Faridabad, Haryana, where he was reportedly spotted last on Tuesday, said police officials privy to the investigation.

Officials said Dubey was in Faridabad till Tuesday afternoon and had left a hotel, the CCTV footage of which went viral on the social media on Wednesday.

Police officials said the initial investigation hinted that Dubey and his close accomplices used motorcycles to escape from Bikru as they opted to travel on the narrow, interior village to reach their next destination: an accomplices residence in Kanpurs Shivli area. From here, they arranged for an SUV to leave Kanpur two days later. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Auraiya on Sunday.

Had they escaped in the high-end SUVs that were found parked at his village house, they would have had to take the main route. Instead, they opted for interior roads as they knew that the police force would retaliate with more firepower after coming to know their men were killed in the ambush, a senior official said.

Those in the know of things in the police department said initial findings suggested that Dubey and the others travelled on motorcycles for around five kilometres before hopping into an SUV arranged by their aides to escape from Kanpur. They said the assailants travelled in the SUV from Kanpur to Auraiya before abandoning it.

They said the killers changed their blood stained clothes and boarded red sand-laden trucks that are often spotted moving on roads from Hamirpur towards Delhi in the early hours. They said Dubey reached Faridabad on Friday after boarding one of such trucks coming from Hamirpur and going to Delhi via Agra, Mathura through Palwal.

He knew that no policemen would intercept sand-laden trucks and this mode of transport is the safest to travel from Auraiya to Delhi, a source said.

He said the truck was later traced to a roadside eatery on an expressway in Faridabad on Monday. The driver was questioned about Dubeys whereabouts.

They said Dubey stayed for around two days at his relatives place in Faridabad before moving to a hotel room at Badkhal Chowk.

He reportedly stayed in a hotel room for two days before leaving it a few hours before the police team conducted a raid there, they added.

A Faridabad police official said Dubey was reportedly spotted in CCTV footage outside the hotel at Badkhal Chowk from where he boarded an auto to move ahead. He said Dubey travelled in autos and taxis during his stay in Faridabad and left the hotel after boarding a tempo. He said the accused was seen carrying two bags while boarding the tempo from outside the hotel.
Uttarakhand forest department officials have rescued a spectacled cobra with a rare genetic disorder from Dehradun this week, officials said.

The snake was rescued from a local residents scooter where it was hiding.

Ravi Joshi, a member of the quick response team of the forest department which rescued the snake, said that they got a call regarding the rescue around 11:30 pm on Sunday night from a house in Dehradun.

When we went there to rescue, we did not realise initially that this could be a snake with some rare features. After rescuing it from the storage space of a scooter, where locals saw it hiding during the night walk, we started clicking pictures of the snake and to our surprise, we saw that it had two different colours bilaterally on its body. We then realised something is different about this snake and informed senior officials, said Joshi.

Also read: Uttarakhand govt to appoint over 700 doctors to boost health infrastructure

When contacted, experts from Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) said it was a spectacled cobra with a rare genetic disorder called partial leucism.

Abhijit Das, scientist and herpetologist at Wildlife Institute of India said even though the snake is widely distributed in this region, it is rare to find a snake with such a genetic disorder.

The phenomenon that was recorded is called partial leucism, that is kind of an aberration or congenital defect. There are various kinds of colouration, like albinism, where the snake is completely white including the eyes, but in this case, it is partial leucism. Only half the body of the snake is leucistic, said Das.

He further informed that leucistic snakes have a body completely white in colour or there are patches of white and black.

Spectacled cobras usually found in Uttarakhand are jet black in colour, but in this case, there is a symmetry with half the body being black and white. This is a rare genetic deformity, added Das.

Spectacled cobras, part of the big four venomous snakes of the country, have a widespread distribution across the country except in north-eastern parts, informed experts.

Moving towards the eastern landscapes of the country from the northern region, the colour of spectacled cobra changes from black to brown (found in Odisha, Southern India) to yellowish brown (in parts of West Bengal).

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Two days after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted that sub-standard ventilators were being procured from a private supplier under the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund distributed to hospitals, the company rebutted the allegation on Tuesday, saying it was an attempt to sabotage indigenous efforts in the battle against Covid-19.

Professor Diwakar Vaish, the owner of AgVa Healthcare, which has manufactured the ventilators, told news agency ANI, We have not made the ventilator overnight. We have been in the market for three years. We have developed this step by step. This ventilator has all parameters that a normal ventilator has...Our ventilators are five to ten times cheaper than normal ventilators. A normal ventilator costs 10-20 lakh. Our ventilator is just 1.5 lakh. In this, international vendor nexus is very strong.

Just like when Indian military equipment was indigenised, there was a lot of negative reviews. The same thing is happening here. What a 10 lakh ventilator does, ours is doing for 1.5 lakh. Will international associations, international vendors accept this? That is why they are trying to sabotage, he added.

Gandhi, in a tweet on July 5, accused the Narendra Modi government of putting Indian lives at risk and ensuring that public money is used to buy sub-standard products.

PMCares opacity is: 1. Putting Indian lives at risk. 2. Ensuring public money is used to buy sub-standard products, he had tweeted based on a news article that alleged AgVa ventilators fudged software in their product and hide poor performance.

Vaish said, Rahul Gandhi is not a doctor. He is an intelligent man. He should have done due diligence before making such allegations. He should have consulted doctors. I am ready to give a detailed demonstration in the hospital on any patient.

He said that doctors need to be given a demonstration of the ventilators following which the devices could be used properly. He also said that if third party installations were faulty and were done without keeping AgVa in the loop, it could result in faulty readings, which he suspected was the case in some hospitals.

The central government ordered 10,000 of the firms Covid-19 model ventilators from AgVa Healthcare as part of Indias response to the pandemic.

The company used to make about 50-100 ventilators a month, but with support from Maruti Suzuki India, Invest India, the national investment facilitation agency, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited, it now has a production capacity of between 5,000 and 10,000 ventilators.

The Union health ministry said in a statement that the Make in India ventilators supplied to states and union territories by the ministry of health and family welfare were meant for intensive care units.

Dr Ranjit Mankeshwar, dean of JJ Hospital, said ventilators manufactured by Delhi-based AgVa healthcare, are still lying unused at the hospital. We have no role to play as those machines were donated by a local politician. When we observed that the machines werent functioning properly, we informed them to take it away, he said.

The hospital has decided not to accept any ventilator from the manufacturer without testing. The company wants to exchange and provide better machines but we will not accept it without testing on patients, he added.

The machines that were provided to us had the mode for non invasive ventilation. We did not face any problems, except for in a few machines  maybe 10  that had some defects and were sent back to the manufacturer, said a doctor from Rajiv Gandhi Superspeciality hospital, on condition of anonymity. The hospital on Monday had increased its ventilator beds using several of the ventilators provided by the central government
The gold smuggling racket busted in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday has ranged the Kerala government against the Centre with Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Wednesday describing the incident as a serious lapse and that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan cannot wash his hands off easily.

He says he has no idea what his secretary did. How can he lob the ball into the Centres court saying airports come under the Union Government? Our investigation is on and we will bring out the truth, said the minister in Delhi. The Centre has definite information that it was not a one- off incident.

The Customs department had seized 30 kg gold from an air cargo consignment from the United Arab Emirates to the countrys consulate in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Swapna Suresh, who was working as the operational manager of the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited under the state IT Ministry, who is now alleged to be a key player in the racket had gone underground after the seizure. Later the CM had transferred his principal secretary M Sivasankar who was close to Suresh and declared that he was ready for any probe into the smuggling

Our investigation is on. We will also bring to light those who helped smugglers. We will get into the bottom of the racket. The main accused was given a plum posting when she was mired in another cheating case. Often she was treated more than a high-ranking diplomat and after her role came to light now the CM says he has no idea how she got the job, said Muraleedharan.

The junior minister in the MEA who also hails from Kerala has often clashed with chief minister Vijayan over a range of issues, most recently over the evacuation of expatriates from west Asian countries.

When asked about a CBI probe, Muraleedharan said the request will have to come from either the state government or the court. He said the consignment came to the airport on Friday and it was opened on Sunday in the presence of consulate officials. He said it was wrong to call it a diplomatic baggage because it came in the name of a person, not an official consignment. He also said customs has sought the MEA permission to quiz some officials of the consulate and the government will decide after talking to competent authority in the UAE.

Vijayan who has also come under fire from the opposition wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday seeking a coordinated investigation by central agencies into the case because of its serious implication of undermining the countrys economy.

It is requested that an effective and coordinated investigation into this incident by all central agencies concerned is the need of the hour. The scope of the probe should cover all aspects from the source to the end utilization , teh letter said.

Meanwhile, amid a clamour by the opposition for Vijayans resignation, Keralas industry minister E P Jayarajan hurriedly called a press briefing and said there was a move to discredit the popularity of the CM and the states ongoing fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kerala is on top of the world. Opposition parties are worried over the popularity of the state government. That is why they are raking up issues to target the government, said Jayarajan.

He said the CM has made it clear the state was ready for any probe. He said such incidents will not affect the all-out war against the virus and people will see through the designs of opposition parties.
At the end of June, I began noticing a slew of tweets about dog-eating on my Twitter timeline. The ones that made the most impact came from my friend Pritish Nandy, an animal lover and a vegetarian.

The tweets had a single theme. Nagas ate dog. This was terrible. We should all the petition the government of Nagaland to ban the slaughter of dogs for food.

When I saw that the social media campaign was gathering steam, I knew that three things would happen.

One: the government of Nagaland would react. There is a sub-text to so much of the commentary about the people of North Eastern India. It is sometimes suggested (even if it is not explicitly stated) that North Eastern tribes are essentially less civilised and not really like the rest of us.

This is nonsense, of course. I will happily take the North East over much of the Indian heartland. In my experience, North Easterners tend to be more literate, more considerate, better educated and more culturally sophisticated than many people in other parts of India.

But so deep is the prejudice against the North Eastern states in some quarters that many politicians from that region are over-eager to prove that they are just like their counterparts from the rest of India. And any suggestion that their tribal traditions are less civilised than say the Bihari way of life cuts them to the quick.

So, I was sure that the campaign would have an impact. And I was almost as certain that the eating of dogs would be banned in Nagaland.

Two: I knew that there would be widespread horror among people on Twitter at the thought that dogs  who we think of as pets who are virtually family members of middle class households --- were being eaten in India.

Dogs have a special place in the hearts of many people (especially in the West but also in such countries as India). We treat them almost as honorary humans. And for people who have pets, the consumption of dog-meat is like cannibalism.

At an emotional level, I too am disturbed by the thought that people can eat dogs. I became a dog lover relatively late in life but I am now smitten. My favourite way of relaxing these days is to watch dog videos on Instagram and it is hard for me to pass a pet dog without wanting to reach down and pat it.

Besides, we have seen the horror that dog-eating has provoked in the West. Most people there are horrified that dog eating is relatively common in parts of East Asia. In Thailand, the trade in dog meat is banned because of pressure from dog-lovers, leading to a growth in the dog-smuggling market. (It is not a crime to eat dog in nearby Laos or Vietnam.)

So, I was pretty sure that middle class Indians who had no idea that dog meat was eaten in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram would be shocked and appalled that this was going on in Our Country.

Three: It was clear what would come next. The Nagaland government would ban the sale of dog meat --- which it did on July 3 --- and this ban would delight dog lovers in the rest of India even as they suppressed their horror that this had been Going On For So Long!

Then, the Hindutva supporters and the vegetarianism advocates would react. They would make two different but related points: if it is so wrong to slaughter dogs for food, then why is it okay to kill chickens, goats and other living beings for food? What makes dogs so special? Cuteness cannot be the basis of an ethical distinction.

Inevitably, the discussion would drift to beef. If it is wrong to eat dogs because so many people love them, then how can you oppose a ban on the consumption of beef? Not only do people love the cow, many Indians actually worship her.

In fact, you could plausibly argue that millions more Indians care about the cow than care about dogs. You could claim that keeping dogs as pets is mostly a middle class activity while worshipping the cow is a mass activity.

Every argument that has been used to oppose the beef ban can be demolished if beef-eaters (or at least those who believe that eating beef should not be illegal) simultaneously support a ban of dog-eating.

One argument used to oppose the beef ban is: if you dont want to eat beef, dont eat it. But dont force your view on others.

Substitute dog for beef in that sentence. You will see the problem.

Another argument is: you can oppose the eating of beef but you cant use the law to impose your beliefs.

But that is exactly what the dog lovers have done.

Some of those who oppose the beef ban say: there are communities in India that have always eaten beef. If you stop them from eating it now only because it is part of your religion, then you act against the pluralistic nature of India.

Ditto for the dog-meat ban. The Nagas have eaten dog for generations. Who are we to interfere with their eating habits? Doesnt it show a lack of respect for the pluralistic character of India? Isnt there at least a trace of colonial superiority in our certainty that we are morally in the right and that they are in the wrong?

You see the problem?

And it gets worse when the vegetarians get involved. There really is no logically consistent, intellectual argument for a dog-meat ban unless you argue for a ban on all meat and the killing of all animals/birds/fish for the purpose of food.

In fact, the intellectual argument for vegetarianism is strong and the argument for veganism is even stronger.

But there is no argument for selective non-vegetarianism. Argue for one particular animal and you have lost the argument. Argue for your beliefs about food to be imposed by law and you have lost the plot.

So, do I support the eating of dog meat?

No. I dont.

Do I believe that dogs are very cute and especially dear to human beings?

Yes. I do. But I also recognize that there are cultures where people do not share my view.

So, was the government of Nagaland wrong to ban dog-meat?

Yes, of course it was. It acted against the tribal traditions of its own people, caring more for the approval of social media than it should and less for the culture of Nagaland.

What should dog lovers have done? Well, we should have campaigned against the eating of dogs. It was up to the Nagas to agree with us or to ignore us.

But once you trample over peoples cultures, impose your own belief systems on them, get the law to dictate what they should eat --- all in the name of cuteness --- you violate the basic principles of a pluralistic liberal democracy.

As a dog lover it gives me no pleasure to say this. But lose sight of your basic principles and you lose sight of the plurality of India.

To read more on The Taste With Vir, click here

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In the second meeting of autorickshaw and taxi unions with the transport task force via video-conferencing on Wednesday, unions urged the state government to allow autorickshaws and taxis to carry regular passengers.

AL Quadros, leader of the citys largest taximens union  Mumbai Taximens Union, represented other taxi and autorickshaw unions. Quadros asked the state government to provide financial relief to taxi and autorickshaw drivers along with allowing additional passengers.

It has been an extremely difficult time for taxi and autorickshaw drivers in the state. Business has been completely down, and allowing only essential passengers has made it even more difficult for us. We have asked the government to allow us to carry normal passengers. We have also sought financial aid of 10,000 per month to the drivers during the lockdown, he said.

Autorickshaw and taxi unions have also asked for an increase in fare. Taxi unions have asked to increase minimum fare from 22 to 25 and the same for autorickshaws from 18 to 22.

Auto unions also urged the state to release seized autos and to cancel e-challans during lockdown along with waiver of the interest of loans taken by autorickshaw drivers in Maharashtra.

A 13-member transport task force, headed by transport minister Anil Parab, was formed on June 25 to address transportation issues in the state and to suggest measures on effective operations during the outbreak.
After the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) announced reduction in syllabus owing to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Maharashtra education department on Wednesday said that it is also working to reduce the syllabus of the state board.

Dinkar Patil, director, Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (MSCERT), said, A decision with the details will come in the next few days. A senior official from the education department said, We have been working on syllabus reduction since the past two months, way before the CBSE and CISCE announced their decisions. A final outline of the reduced syllabus will be out soon.

On Wednesday, fake messages claiming to have details of the revised syllabus were doing the rounds on social messaging applications.

CISCE, which governs the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and Indian School Certificate (ISC) exam, on July 2 announced a reduction in syllabus for Class 10 and 12 by up to 25% for the academic year 2020-21. Five days later, on July 7, CBSE announced up to 30% reduction in the syllabus for Classes 9 to 12 for the current academic year. Some of the chapters removed from the syllabus include secularism, nationalism, federalism, demonetisation, GST, Indias foreign relations with neighbouring countries and citizenship.

Experts said the state board needs to announce a reduction in syllabus soon to ease the stress on students. We demand an immediate reduction in the syllabus for Classes 9 to 12 because a lot of teaching hours are lost due to the prevailing situation, said Anil Bornare, coordinator of the BJP teachers cell.

Vaishali Bafna, from Pune-based think-tank SYSCOM, said the department should ensure that the syllabus is not reduced too much for Class 11. Class 11 is a preparatory class for Class 12, and omitting key concepts would affect students next year, she added.
Two men have been arrested for allegedly posing as Covid officers and duping a man of Rs 54,000 in Chembur area of Mumbai, informed the police on Tuesday.

A case has been lodged against them under Section 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

The victim Abdul Sheikh was on his way to Chembur railway station on June 30 when the two accused accosted him and introduced themselves as Covid officers. On pretending to inspect, the accused searched Sheikhs bag, took out an ATM card and withdrew Rs 54,000 after obtaining a PIN number from him.

A case has been filed under Section 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at Chembur police station. Two people have been arrested for posing as Covid officers and extorting Rs 54,000 from a man with his ATM card. A Honda City car and an ATM card have been seized from the possession of the accused during the time of arrest, said Hemant Gurav, Crime Police Inspector, Chembur Police Station.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.
Mumbai police have registered an FIR against unknown persons following vandalism at Rajgruh, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkars house, an official said on Wednesday.

Two persons threw stones on glass windows, and damaged CCTV cameras and potted plants at Rajgruh in Dadar area here on Tuesday night, the official said.

CCTV footage from the erstwhile home the Constitution architect shows a person smashing flower pots in the compound before fleeing, the official said.

Matunga police have registered an FIR in the incident.

Located in Hindu Colony, Dadar, the two-storeyed heritage bungalow houses the Ambedkar Museum where Babasahebs books, portrait, ashes and vessels are among the artefacts.

The current residents of Rajgruh include Babasahebs daughter-in-law, and his grandsons Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar, Anandrao and Bhimrao.

Prakash Ambedkar, who was in Akola when the attack took place, has appealed for calm and asked his followers to not gather outside the house.

The All India Professional Congress on Wednesday asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to look into the attack on Rajgruh.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has already assured that strict action will be taken against the culprits.

This is highly condemnable. @CMOMaharashtra should immediately look into this. Rajgruh is not just a memorial, it is a reminder of the legacy of Dr B R Ambedkar, AIPCMumbaiEast tweeted.

The minister said police are probing the matter and assured that strict action will be taken against the guilty.
A courageous act of two police personnel, who had rushed five Covid-19 patients injured in a road accident near Pune in Maharashtra on Monday to hospitals, has earned them accolades from Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

At least 12 Covid-19 patients were injured when their ambulance overturned while on its way to a Covid care facility near Bavdhan on Mumbai-Pune highway.

ASI Abdul Sheikh and Police shipai Akshay Ingwale of @PuneCityPolice rushed five #covid19 patients, who were injured in an accident to the hospital without worrying about their lives. Their resilience and presence of mind is commendable, Deshmukh tweeted.
Multiple city hospitals are reporting shortage of crucial drugs used for the treatment of critical Covid-19 patients.

Nikhil Kumbhar, a resident of Pune was about to leave for Mumbai to get remdesivir vials for his uncle, undergoing treatment for Covid-19 at a private hospitals. The patient had been admitted to Noble Hospital on June 30 and on July 4, doctors informed the family that there is a shortage of remdesivir.

Before leaving for Mumbai, I tried to reach out to multiple hospitals in the city, but none of them responded positively. Finally, when I got in touch with a few retailers in Mumbai who had the vials. I got permission for an e-pass from the Pune police, however, fortunately, the hospital got its vials which they had ordered before and resumed the treatment, said Kumbhar.

Dr HK Sale, executive director of Noble hospital, said, Despite making a full advance payment to the dealer for about 96 vials of remdesivir, we received only 56 of them. Each patient requires nine doses of the vials which means, I can treat only nine patients. There is surely a shortage of the drugs and the supply is also irrational. Another important drug for Covid-19 treatment, tocilizumab is in shortage.

As of Tuesday, PMC reported 385 critical patients of the 7,859 active cases in the city. Of the 385 critical patients, 63 are on ventilator while 322 are serious in the ICU with comorbidities and undergoing oxygen treatment. Remdesivir and tocilizumab, are two drugs, used for the treatment of Covid-19 patients who require oxygen supply in the city. Only two companies as of now produce the drug in India, namely, Hyderabad-based Hetero and Cipla.

Dr Ashok Nandapurkar, civil surgeon and nodal officer for Covid-19 in Pune, said, The approval to use remdesivir for Covid-19 patients came only a few days ago and we are now placing orders for the same, but we are yet to get the supply. There is a delay in the supply and we require it for government hospitals.

Dr Parikshit Prayag, consultant at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, said, We are facing a shortage of remdesivir and it has shown some promising results in patients who require oxygen treatment. It shortens the duration of the illness. However, no significant benefit has been found in mechanically-ventilated patients. We have so far used it for 15 patients and its too early to comment on its efficacy. But the supply has been inconsistent. Tocilizumab supply has been much better , and now we are also using subcutaneous tocilizumab which requires a smaller dose and has been shown to be comparable to intravenous tocilizumab.

Nikhil Chopra, executive vice-president and CEO-India Business, Cipla, said, We are proud to commercially launch CIPREMI on Tuesday; amongst the lowest priced globally, we aim to supply over 80,000 vials within the first month itself. To further ensure equitable distribution, CIPREMI will be available via government and hospital channels only. Cipla will also be donating some amount of the drug as part of its efforts to support the community in this time of need.

Dr Sunil Rao, group medical director, Sahyadri hospitals, said, Earlier, we were not getting the dose of remdesivir, but now the supply has somewhat stabilised. In fact, we have been told by chemists and traders that in a few days there will be an overflooding of remdesivir as more pharma companies are racing in to produce the drug. However, now we are facing a shortage of tociluzumab. It has shown some promise in the treatment of patients. It prevents patients from becoming critical moderately ill to critically ill. Each vials costs around Rs 40,000 and we currently have vials remaining for only one or two patients in all our hospitals. We are hoping to get the supply consistently, but the timing of providing the drug for treatment is essential and we cannot afford to lose those precious hours or days.

One dose of remdesivir costs around Rs 5,400 plus GST, according to doctors.

The Pune division health department has sent a demand to the state government on July 3 for a total of 1,850 vials of injection tocilizumab (400 mg) and 7,100 injections of remdesivir (100 mg) for government hospitals in Pune and hospitals in Satara and Solapur, which are yet to be supplied. Of this stock, 500 vials of injection tocilizumab (400 mg) and 2,000 vials of injections of remdesivir (100 mg) has been reserved for PMC.
Actor Ramya Krishnan, who was recently seen in the web series Queen  based on the life of J Jayalalithaa, asked her fans to guess her from school days in a throwback picture. As the bespectacled girl, she looks adorable in the picture.

She shared the photo on her Twitter page and asked her fans to spot her. A few hours later, she wrote that many spotted her right and identified herself in the picture.

On the career front, Ramya is excited for the second season of Queen. In a recent media interaction, she said theyre yet to begin shooting the second season. I am just waiting to get there and be a part of it. People can expect more action, more interesting content, thrilling and exciting content, she said.

We dont have clarity on when shooting will start. With the quarantine right now, we are yet to know, she said, adding: Last when I spoke to (writer) Reshma, she was done with the script. Its all ready to go on floors but it all depends on the quarantine phase, she added.

Also read: Pooja Bhatt can only laugh at accusations of nepotism, reminds Kangana Ranaut was launched in a Bhatt production

Queen, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prasath Murugesan, saw Ramya Krishnan as Sakthi Seshadri  a character inspired from former Tamil Nadu chief minister and veteran actor Jayalalithaa.

The show categorizes Jayalalithaas life into three segments. It will focus on her life as a school-going girl, a teenager and the phase when she joined politics, taking over MG Ramachandrans place after his demise.

Meanwhile, Ramya is most likely to reprise Tabus character in yet-untitled Telugu remake of Andhadhun. Nithiin is all set to star in the remake, which will be directed by Merlapaka Gandhi. As per reports, the Telugu remake rights were acquired for Rs 3.5 crore by Nithiins home banner Shresth Movies, which is managed by his father.

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Super hit Tamil films Viswasam and Comali, which released in cinemas last year and had a successful run, are all set to be re-released in Malaysia on Thursday. Interestingly, these films will be screened for free for audiences, as per Lotus Five Star, one of the biggest cinema chains in Malaysia.

The official Twitter handle of Lotus Five Star wrote, Heres #LotusFiveStar reopening movies with FREE screening as we welcome you all back to our #LFSCinemas. Once again, Thala #Ajiths Viswasam and #JayamRavis Comali going to entertain all of us again (sic).

Viswasam, directed by Siva, featured Ajith in the role of a village ruffian with serious anger issues. The film went on to strike gold at the box-office with gross earnings of Rs 125 crore from Tamil Nadu alone. It emerged as the biggest grosser and successful film in Ajiths career.

Viswasam also starred Nayanthara, who was paired with Ajith for the first time. The film released during the Pongal festival last year and went on to work very well with the masses.

Also read: Pooja Bhatt can only laugh at accusations of nepotism, reminds Kangana Ranaut was launched in a Bhatt production

Viswasam, which was produced by Sathya Jyothi Films, featured Ajith in dual avatars - in salt-and-pepper and fully dyed black look.

Comali, on the other hand, was directed by debutant Pradeep Ranganathan. The film was centered on Jayam Ravis character called Ravi, who wakes up 16 years after being in a coma. The rest of the story is about how Ravi comes to terms with his life and adapts to the evolved lifestyle.

The film, produced by Vels Films International, also starred Kajal Aggarwal, Samyuktha Hegde and Yogi Babu in crucial roles.

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The members of Tamil Film Producers Council have apparently decided to slash salaries of top Tamil stars and technicians via a video conference on Wednesday. As per a report by The News Minute, producers have decided to cut salaries of popular stars and technicians by half.

This is not just about top stars. We are looking at ways on how to tackle this loss of 40-50% faced by producers in this scenario. For some 50% may be reduced, but for others, 20% may be sufficient. We are trying to bring in a basic guideline of what can be reduced. This is our first agenda. We will discuss other production costs as well, producer SR Prabhu was quoted in the report.

Prabhu further added that the decision was taken unanimously. However, he also said such decisions have been taken in the past but to no avail. This is a unanimous decision but this is not the first time producers have decided to reduce salaries. Such meetings have been held in the past too where producers have decided to cut down salaries of big stars. However, it has not worked out as intended always, Prabhu added.

Also read: Pooja Bhatt can only laugh at accusations of nepotism, reminds Kangana Ranaut was launched in a Bhatt production

A few actors and filmmakers from Tamil film fraternity have already voluntarily announced pay cuts. Actor Vijay Antony announced a pay cut of 25 percent for his next three projects. The 25 percent pay cut can be estimated to Rs 1 crore per project. At present, Vijay Antony has three Tamil projects Tamizharasan, Agni Siragugal and Khaki - at various stages of production in his kitty.

Filmmaker Hari, recently, announced a pay cut of 25 percent to compensate for the loss incurred to the Tamil industry due to the coronavirus pandemic. For his upcoming project Aruvaa with Suriya, he has agreed to take the pay cut. As an industry, we can only flourish when the producers are doing well. Keeping in mind the current damages caused by the coronavirus pandemic, I have decided to reduce 25% of my salary for Aruvaa, Hari said in a statement.

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Fishermans Wharf is the first place many tourists go when they visit San Francisco. The northern waterfront is home to arcades, souvenir stores and seafood restaurants offering Dungeness crab. Its a reminder of the old San Francisco, one that was here long before Big Tech.

Built from the rubble of the 1906 earthquake and fire, the Wharf is now facing a different sort of rebuild after Covid-19 economically flattened it. The latest challenge to its recovery: San Francisco authorities on Tuesday said they would delay the reopening of indoor dining for fear it would fuel renewed spread of the virus.

A city-wide lockdown on March 17 turned Fishermans Wharf into a ghost town. Boarded up, boats docked, visitors gone. The sea lions of Pier 39 continued to yelp at all hours but it was only two weeks ago that their human audience returned, with a limited reopening allowed.

The damage has rippled far beyond the boarded up businesses. Look toward Alcatraz island and tucked behind neat boardwalks and fish shacks are 100 boats ranging from 26 to 60 feet. San Franciscos commercial fishing fleet has been a fixture on the Wharf since the Gold Rush era.

Fishing was labelled an essential business from the start of the lockdown, which arrived in the middle of the industrys most lucrative salmon and crab seasons. But that didnt help much when most of the restaurants went dark.

The price of crab dropped almost 70% overnight, said Sarah Bates, a board member on the local fishing association. The buyers were telling us, Dont even bring me the crab, leave it in the ocean.

As distributors shifted more business to markets, delis and grocers, orders gradually began to recover. Online sales for home delivery helped, too, said Bates, a 15-year veteran of commercial fishing in the area who captains her own boat.

Just as things were looking up, disaster struck again. On May 23, an early-morning warehouse fire destroyed 8,000 crab, shrimp, and black cod traps. Everything we use to catch fish and maintain boats, Bates said. If it wasnt on the boat, it was in the shed.

The City of San Francisco and its Port Authority are working on grants and loans to help the fleet get back to sea. But after some green shoots emerged, virus cases began accelerating and San Francisco officials pushed back the next phase of reopening  no indoor dining or outdoor bars starting July 13, as planned.

Of the Wharfs more than 366 consumer-facing businesses, 204 have been allowed to open with restrictions, according to the Fishermans Wharf Community Benefit District. Critically, though, hotels are still closed and not due to reopen until August.

More than 18 million people visited Fishermans Wharf last year, with as many as 100,000 a day in peak months, according to the community district. The Wharfs outsized dependency on tourism threatens to leave it behind other San Francisco neighbourhoods. With travel down more than 80% from a year ago, nobody expects a bumper summer. But even if throngs arrived, where would they stay?

A better solution to the current phased strategy would be fully reopening neighbourhood by neighbourhood, said Randall Scott, the districts executive director.

For now, business people like Scott are putting a lot of hope in local residents rediscovering the iconic landmark. If you live near the pier, you can still hear the sea lions when you open your windows.

(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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TV actors Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya are celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary on Wednesday. They have posted pictures and videos of their celebration.

Divyanka shared a picture of the little things the couple could do, which fall within the norms of social distancing. Small big things one does to express love. #DivekAnniversary #8July #AllWeCanDoInCorona #Doodling on board this time, she wrote. It shows a cute doodle of love birds sitting on a branch, made, perhaps, on the back rest of their bed. It also has a message that says Love you to the moon and back. The foreground of the picture has a jar and a miniature tree. Vivek was quick to respond with, This is big big thang!

Divyankas post got much love from her industry colleagues and friends. Ankita Bhargava wrote, How lovely!!!! Happy anniversary guys!!! Godbless. Vahbiz Dorabjee also wrote, Awww Happpy Anniversary lovelies God Bless. Harshdeep Kaur commented Cutie while Raj Singh Arora dropped a heart emoji.

Vivek posted a video pouring himself a glass of champagne and wrote, I only drink champagne when I get married... or when I celebrate it #8July #DivekAnniversary.

Both Vivek and Divyanka thanked fans and friends for their wishes on Instagram Stories. Among the gifts, one was quite remarkable. Divyanka posted an image on her Instagram Stories thanking the organisation Sankalp Taru for planting a tree in the name of Divek - the joint name given to the couple by their fans.

Vivek and Divyanka worked together on the show Yeh hai Mohabbatein and got married in 2016 after being set up by their friend and co-star Pankaj Bhatia. The two have earlier said that there was no courtship period because they both had marriage on their minds.After being engaged for a little over five months, Vivek and Divyanka got married in a private ceremony in Bhopal on July 8, 2016.

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AirAsia Group Bhd.s ability to continue as a going concern may be in significant doubt because of the impact the coronavirus is having on the indebted carrier, auditor Ernst & Young said.

The airlines current liabilities already exceeded its current assets by 1.84 billion ringgit ($430 million) at the end of 2019, a year when it posted a 283 million ringgit net loss, Ernst & Young said in a statement to the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange Wednesday. The financial performance and cash flow have now been further hit by virus-related travel restrictions.

The slump in air travel and the carriers financial performance indicate existence of material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt on the Groups and the Companys ability to continue as a going concern, Ernst & Young said in its unqualified audit opinion statement.

Covid-19 plunged the aviation industry globally into crisis as border controls and health concerns vaporized demand for air travel. AirAsia on Monday reported a record quarterly loss of 803.8 million ringgit. It wasnt until late March and the end of the quarter that the budget airline suspended flights.

This is by far the biggest challenge we have faced since we began in 2001, AirAsias Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes said in a statement Monday.

He said the carrier is in talks for joint-ventures and collaborations that may result in additional investment, and it has also applied for bank loans and is weighing proposals to raise capital.

Last month, South Korean conglomerate SK Group said it was reviewing a proposal to buy a small stake in the airline. In May, AirAsia sent a memo to Malaysian banks seeking to borrow 1 billion ringgit, people familiar with the matter said at the time.

AirAsia said in an exchange filing Wednesday that Ernst & Youngs statement and a decline in shareholder equity triggered the criteria for a so-called Practice Note 17, which applies to financially distressed companies. However, the airline wont be classified as PN17 as the Malaysian exchange suspended application of the status from April through June next year as part of relief measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

AirAsias shares were suspended from trading in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. They will resume trading at 2:30 p.m. local time.

AirAsia needs at least 2 billion ringgit this year to stay afloat, according to K. Ajith, an aviation analyst at UOB Kay Hian Pte in Singapore.

Theres not a lot of options, and the best one could be the government stepping in but seeking a rights offering by the company in exchange, he said.

Despite the warnings, there are signs of improvement with the gradual lifting of restrictions on interstate travel and domestic tourism activities in the countries where AirAsia and its units operate, Ernst & Young said.

The airlines recovery depends on government policies on travel, discussions with financial institutions and investors and its ability to address concerns of its liabilities, the auditor said.

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Amazon.com Inc has invested 23.10 billion rupees ($308.02 million) in Amazon Seller Services, an Indian unit, strengthening the business at a time when more people shop online in a bid to avoid crowded public places.

Amazon Singapore made a significant portion of financing, data from business intelligence firm Tofler showed.

The companys Indian arm in May said it would hire 50,000 temporary workers to meet a surge in online shopping in the country.

The company, which competes with Walmart Incs Flipkart in India, has also been expanding its seller network in the country.

Indian laws allow foreign e-commerce companies to operate as market places, connecting buyers with sellers online.

As India went into lockdown, Amazon encouraged small shops to join as sellers on its platform in a bid to boost local businesses and expand its reach.

Jeff Bezos-led Amazon.com in January announced a $1 billion investment to bring more than 10 million small businesses online in India by 2025.

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A group of refugee minors board an airplane for Portugal in Athens, Greece, on July 7, 2020. A total of 25 minors departed from Athens international airport for Portugal on Tuesday. The relocation program of unaccompanied refugee minors from Greece to other EU member states continues despite the COVID-19 challenge, after it was launched a few months ago by the Greek government and the European Commission, Greek officials said Tuesday. (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)

ATHENS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The relocation program of unaccompanied refugee minors from Greece to other EU member states continues despite the COVID-19 challenge, after it was launched a few months ago by the Greek government and the European Commission, Greek officials said here Tuesday.

Greece's Alternate Minister for Immigration and Asylum Giorgos Koumoutsakos wished a better future to 25 minors who departed from Athens international airport for Portugal, repeating Athens' plea for more European solidarity on this matter.

The 19 minors were the first group to depart for Portugal, the official told Xinhua and other media. Until recently they were living in overcrowded reception facilities on the Aegean Sea islands of Lesvos, Chios and Samos.

Portugal has pledged to receive 500 unaccompanied minors under the program which is run in cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO).

The program foresees the relocation of 1,600 such cases from Greece to other European Union countries out of the 5,000 unaccompanied minors currently hosted in Greece, according to official data.

Another group of 25 minors will depart from Athens for Finland on Wednesday.

During the spring, despite the COVID-19 challenge, groups of unaccompanied minors departed from the same airport for Luxembourg and Germany.

"I would like to thank Portugal very much for this support, for offering solidarity with actions, as part of the program we have created with the European Commission's aid to relocate 1,600 unaccompanied minors from Greece to other member states," Koumoutsakos said.

"The program continues. The minor delay for a few weeks was the result of the pandemic repercussions," the minister explained, adding that more than a dozen countries have promised to welcome unaccompanied minors under this program.

Since 2015, over a million refugees and migrants crossed the Aegean Sea and reached the Greek islands, fleeing wars and extreme poverty.

Most continued their journey to other EU countries until the winter of 2016, when the borders along the Balkan route to central Europe were closed and an EU-Turkey agreement aimed to stem the influx was launched.

Currently, about 90,000 asylum seekers are stranded in Greece, according to Greek government figures. Enditem

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The June 15 violent clash in eastern Ladakhs Galwan Valley could be linked to the 2017 Doklam standoff, which was resolved through talks despite Indian troops remaining in territory claimed by China for 73 days, experts and local state media In China said.

The experts suggest that China lost face in Doklam and was waiting for an opportunity to get back.

In 2017, Indian troops had crossed over to Doklam (Donglang in Chinese) - a territory disputed between Bhutan and China - to prevent the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) from building a road in the area as it could impact Indias strategic interests. New Delhi has historically supported Thimphus claim and said it was interceding on the latters behalf.

Linking it to the 2017 Doklam standoff, Beijing-controlled state media has said the current tension in eastern Ladakh was triggered after the Indian Army crossed over to Chinese side to illegally build structures.

India insists that the Chinese were the transgressors in Galwan in Eastern Ladakh.

There is no official acknowledgment of it but the possibility of a link between the two standoffs has been making the rounds of state media, military websites and among Chinese analysts.

Not said in as many words but the message from Chinese analysts is this: The PLA would not allow a new serious standoff, like in Doklam, in eastern Ladakh where it has better infrastructure, to end without a fight even if it sustained casualties in the process.

China has admitted but is yet to reveal the PLAs casualty figures but India lost 20 soldiers in the violent brawl between border troops on the night of June 15.

After all, China is stronger than India, with advantages in all aspects and a higher GDP than India. Last time (Doklam), we had already put up with one step and lost face. China has blood in its veins and is definitely going to do something, Shanghai-based military expert Ni Lexiong told HT.

A television programme broadcast on national broadcaster CCTV on July 6, and then published on its English channel CGTNs YouTube handle directly, links the two recent most crises between India and China.

With undated photographs and satellite imagery, it claimed that Indian border troops crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to the Chinese side.

The host of the programme asks the two Chinese analysts about the ...timing of this incident coincides with the third anniversary of the Donglang incident, on June 18, 2017, when it was also the time when the Indian border troops unilaterally crossed the China-India border to obstruct our personnel who were working within our Line of Control, operating normally. From Donglang to the Galwan Valley, in your analysis, what does India want?

To be sure, this line of argument is also contrary to international perception, where Beijing is clearly viewed as the aggressor.

One of the guest analysts at the programme, Ruan Zongze from the China Institute of International Studies, had this to say: First of all, from Donglang to the Galwan Valley to todays (current) developments, it shows that Indian sides illegal cross-border violations were not an isolated incident. Three years ago, and precisely in June, border troops on the Indian side also illegally crossed into the Chinese side of the border, Ruan said.

The boundary of the Donglang incident was clearly demarcated in 1890 and has since been confirmed by successive Indian governments, without any issue, no controversy, but India still took the provocative action of crossing the border. So this time, I think its a repeat of the same old trick, Ruan said.

This again seems to be an overstatement if not an outright lie - India hasnt accepted that Doklam is part of China.

However, the prevailing view in Beijing seems to be to paint India as the aggressor.

Beijing-based military expert Song Zhongping said: This time, like the Donglang crisis, India provoked China on the western border in an attempt to change the status quo and create trouble. This time Indias intentions are too obvious, the means are too extreme.

Talking to the nationalistic tabloid Global Times, Hu Zhiyong from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences had spoken on similar lines as early as May 18.

...that the Galwan Valley is not like Doklam because it is in the Aksai Chin region in southern Xinjiang of China, where the Chinese military has an advantage and mature infrastructure. So, if India escalates the friction, the Indian military force could pay a heavy price.

Ni, the Shanghai-based military expert quoted earlier, said the perception about the 2017 standoff in China is that Beijing backed down.

Ni said: There is not a lot of coverage in the country on the Doklam incident because we were the ones who backed down, I was thinking if that is the case, we are pretty furious, if we cannot build roads, then why India can build roads over there (Galwan Valley) now?

Then when the officers and soldiers on our side saw it, they thought we were building the road (in Doklam) and you would not let us, so how can you build it? It is not equal, it is not fair, so people just go over there and stir up things, Ni said.

Not everyone, however, agrees to the Doklam link.

Ketian Vivian Zhang, a China expert, who has written on how China uses coercion in face of national security issues, at George Mason University said if the core reason was about teaching India a lesson it would have made more sense for China to do it earlier.

I personally do not think the recent events date back to Doklam or took place because of Doklam. As I said before, the trend of increased Chinese militarised patrol and presence along the border has started since 2006, way before Doklam, she said.

An article in the Communist Party-run current affairs website Utopia in June, however, clearly indicated retaliation.

Quoted by Hemant Adlakha, a professor of Chinese at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in the Indian Defence Review, the article ...blamed Indian arrogance for its continuously provocative behaviour along the LAC. Irked and annoyed by Indias unrelenting belligerence in recent years, in particular in what happened in Doklam three years ago, the Chinese or the PLA it seems were waiting for an opportunity to outpunch and humiliate India.

To permanently resolve Indian belligerent attitude against China and ensure security along Chinas western border, the time has now come for China to go for a decisive offensive against India and recover all Chinese territory under the Indian occupation, including southern Tibet, the article added.
China on Wednesday criticised the Trump administration-led US move of withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO), while agreeing to allow a team from the top health agency to visit the country to trace the origins of the coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

The US move will have grave implications for developing countries, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, and added that the Trump administrations move undermines the international anti-epidemic efforts. He also urged the international community to step up support for the WHO.

WHO, Zhao said, is the most authoritative and professional international institution in the field of global public health security.

Also read | India may see 2.87 lakh Covid-19 cases a day by winter 2021: MIT study

The UN formally announced Tuesday the exit of US from WHO on July 6, 2021 after receiving notification of the decision by President Donald Trump. However, the pullout wont take effect until next year. That means it could be reversed by a new administration or if circumstances change.

In a series of allegations, Trump has repeatedly accused the agency of becoming a puppet for China during the emergence of the coronavirus, which was first detected in China and spread to trigger a global pandemic.

The US is WHOs largest donor, responsible for providing it with more than $450 million per year, but owes about $200 million in current and past dues. The financial obligations must be met by the US before a withdrawal can be finalised, news agency Associated Press reported.

On the visit of the WHO team to China, Zhao said the decision was taken after consulting officials from the agency.

The WHO DG, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Tuesday that a team of WHO experts will visit China this weekend and work with Chinese counterparts to identify the zoonotic (animal to human) source of the pandemic.

Also read: Over 6 months into Covid-19 crisis, 5 mysteries that still shroud coronavirus

We came to the basic consensus with the WHO that virus tracing is a scientific issue, which should be carried out under international research and cooperation by scientists, Zhao said.

Experts from China and the WHO will draw up the working scope and tasks of an international expert group led by the WHO, Zhao said.

The WHO, according to Zhao, believes virus tracing is an ongoing process that may involve many countries and regions, and the organisation will conduct similar visits to other countries and regions as necessary.

The WHO believed that virus tracing is an ongoing process that may involve many countries and regions, and the organisation will conduct similar visits to other countries and regions as necessary, Zhao said.
A senior Chinese arms control official called US pressure to join nuclear arms talks with Russia an American ploy to avoid signing a new deal, and said China would gladly participate if the US would agree to parity among all three nations.

I can assure you that if the US says that they are ready to come down to the Chinese level, China will be happy to participate the next day, Fu Cong, the director general of the Foreign Ministrys arms control department, said Wednesday. But actually, we know that thats not going to happen.

Fu spoke to journalists in Beijing after the US pointedly noted the Chinese absence at talks with Russia in Vienna two weeks ago on extending or replacing NEW Start, a 2010 arms reduction treaty that expires in Feburary.

The pact is between the US and Russia, long the worlds major nuclear powers. The Trump administration wants China, as a rising military power, to join.

Fu called that demand unrealistic because China has a much smaller nuclear arsenal than the other two. By inviting China to join, the US is creating a pretext to walk away from the talks without replacing the treaty, he said.

The real purpose is to get rid of all the restrictions and have a free hand in seeking military superiority over any adversary, real or imagined, he said of US intentions.

US negotiator Marshall Billingslea told reporters after the talks in Vienna that any new agreement must subject China to restrictions. He expressed hopes that others in the international community would pressure China to join the talks in the future.

A three-way nuclear arms control deal, in our view, has the best chance of avoiding an incredibly destabilizing three-way nuclear arms race, he said.

Fu said the US and Russia should agree to reduce their arsenals first, and then China and others can join nuclear arms reduction efforts.

New START imposes limits on the number of US and Russian long-range nuclear warheads and launchers. It can be extended by five years by mutual consent, which is what Russia is proposing to do.

The treaty is the last nuclear arms agreement between the two nations, after the Trump administration scrapped an intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty last year. That pact was also criticized because it did not cover China.

Fu said that US missile defense systems in Asia, and its talk of deploying medium-range missiles in the region too, pose a strategic threat to China.

He wouldnt comment on Chinas nuclear weapons plans, but said it should not come as a surprise to anyone that China feels a need to improve its military capabilities.

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Several Congressman and top educational institutions decried the policy change that will require international students who are in the United States with an F-1 visa to take at least one in-person course or else face the prospect of being deported.

The Trump administration has yet again announced a new policy that will damage the economy, harm US institutions, and do nothing to improve Americas safety or security, said Congressman Bennie Thompson, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, chairwoman of the Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Subcommittee in a joint statement.

There is no apparent legitimate reason for the administrations inflexibility toward international students attending colleges and universities that adopt online-only policies  the Administration seems to just want them to leave, the two lawmakers said.

International students contribute billions of dollars to the US economy and barring them from our country will deprive Americans of badly needed income. We cannot allow President Trump to continue destroying jobs and cause needless suffering just to satisfy his anti-immigrant base. We oppose this reckless policy and the lasting harm it will cause to universities and communities across the country, they said.

Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne expressed his concern that the decision will create more uncertainty and complexity for international students.

Our international students must be able to continue making progress toward completing their degrees, and as a university we intend to support them in doing so. We will be working with our peers and national associations to understand how best to accomplish that in the context of these new rules, as well as to urge the Administration to rethink its position, he said.

Congresswoman Debbie Dengell urged the Department of Homeland Security to review its decision.

Removing these students due to circumstances beyond their control is senseless and concerning. There does not appear to be any public benefit to the US, it will harm the quality of education students receive because of the many logistical challenges, while not in the classroom many remain on campus and in the community contributing to educations and cultural experiences in many other ways, and many have already signed leases and paid tuition as well, she said.

Among all the uncertainty, its disturbing that the federal government would initiate removal proceedings for international students especially given it is a reversal of an earlier decision taken by the agency at the on-set of the pandemic, she said.

Online courses are safe and sensible ways for universities to protect their students while continuing to provide a quality education while scientists study the best way to ensure students can learn in a safe environment, the Congresswoman said.

With the high probability that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to make distance learning the predominant mode of instruction at colleges across the country, the rule change means that most of the estimated 1.1 million international students will be forced out of the country in September, Chancellor Felix V Matis Rodriguez of the City University of New York said.

In a statement, he said that this misguided policy change also threatens to hurt higher education at a time when the nations universities are working hard to adjust to the dual health and economic crises caused by the pandemic.

We are once again disappointed that our countrys leadership continues to restrict and reduce opportunities for those who seek them in the United States, he said adding that he has instructed his administration to explore and pursue measures that would help these students remain in the country and continue their education at CUNY.
US President Donald Trump said he is considering a ban on the video-sharing app TikTok as a way to punish China over the coronavirus pandemic.

Its something were looking at, Trump said on Tuesday when asked about a possible ban. Its a big business. Look, what happened with China with this virus, what theyve done to this country and to the entire world is disgraceful.

Trump said the banning of the app was one of many options he was considering against China.

Separately, vice-president Mike Pence said on Tuesday that the United States would continue to take a strong stand regarding Chinese entities that threaten its security, including potentially TikTok.

The federal trade commission and the US justice department are also looking into allegations TikTok failed to live up to an agreement on protecting childrens privacy.
Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera on Tuesday hit out at President Donald Trump over his administrations decision to withdraw US from World Health Organisation (WHO) and termed it a disastrous decision.

Another disastrous decision by the President that will leave American lives at risk. We lost our best chance at defeating this virus once the President began to minimize the pandemic and shift blame onto others, instead of assuming responsibility and actually leading, he said in a tweet responding to the report of Trump administration formally withdrawing US from WHO.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

In a series of tweets, Bera hit out at President Trump accusing him of trying to shift the blame even as Covid-19 cases in US are surging.

#COVID19 cases are surging across the U.S. Instead of funding a national testing strategy and ramping up testing and contact tracing, the President has chosen to cut testing and to shift the blame by withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization, he said.

He also noted that by withdrawing from WHO, President Trump has further abdicated US global leadership.

His go-it-alone approach puts Americas health and security at risk, and allows other countries (China) to step in and write the rules, he said.

Meanwhile former Vice President and Democratic hopeful Joe Biden promised to rejoin WHO on first day if elected as President.

Click here for complete coronavirus coverage

Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage, he said.

The Donald Trump administration has formally withdrawn the United States from the World Health Organisation (WHO), US media reported.

US President Donald Trump has been critical of the UN health body over its handling of coronavirus pandemic.

The Hill reported that a senior administration official confirmed on Tuesday (local time) that White House has officially withdrawn US from WHO.

According to Sputnik, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said earlier in the day that Washington had officially notified UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about its withdrawal from the organization effective July 6, 2021.
New French Prime Minister Jean Castex said on Wednesday that any new lockdown will be targeted, and not imposed nationwide, if there is a major new coronavirus outbreak.

The previous French government enforced a strict nationwide lockdown from mid-March to May 11 to try to curb the spread of COVID-19, and some restrictions on public gatherings are still in place.

We must be ready for a second wave, but we would not proceed to a general lockdown like in March, as that has terrible economic and human consequences. Any new lockdown would be targeted, Castex told BFM television.

Castex, who was a civil servant and used to be an adviser to former President Nicolas Sarkozy, was appointed prime minister on Friday. He has put together a new team for the remaining two years of centrist President Emmanuel Macrons mandate.

Castex appointed some ministers on Monday. He said he would complete the formation of his government with the nomination of junior ministers next week.

He also said that talks with unions and employers about Macrons wide-ranging pension reforms - which were halted during the lockdown - would resume before July 20.

He said the delay was not necessarily a bad thing.

Sometimes, when you lose two or three months, that is actually time won ... we need to reopen the dialogue, he said.

Castex confirmed his government would commit 7.5 billion euros to raise the wages of hospital workers but said he would resist union calls to boost that to 9 billion, saying that state finances are under stress because of the coronavirus crisis.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq and Richard Lough; Editing by Alison Williams and Timothy Heritage)
Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, will be arraigned on July 14 on charges of luring underage girls so that the financier, now dead, could abuse them, according to a court order issued Tuesday evening.

Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan federal court said a bail hearing would be held at 1 pm EST that day via video conference.

Maxwell, 58, arrived at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn on Monday. She was arrested on July 2 at a mansion in New Hampshire, where investigators said she had been lying low.

Prosecutors said Maxwell groomed girls so Epstein abuse them at lavish homes in Palm Beach, Florida; New Mexico and Manhattan.

Epstein was awaiting trial on federal charges of trafficking minors between 2002 and 2005 when he was found hanged in a federal facility in Manhattan in August. Medical examiners concluded his death was a suicide.

Nathan said on Tuesday that to optimize video quality, only the judge, Maxwell, her lawyer and a prosecutor would appear on video at the hearing. The judge said others could access audio of the hearing by telephone.

Maxwell faces up to 35 years in prison.

(Reporting By Mark Hosenball; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Gerry Doyle)
Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the proposed new rules for international students as the Trump administration sought to soften the impact of its controversial order arguing, one, it was only a temporary measure and, two, it was meant to force these institutions to reopen fully.

In the lawsuit filed in a Boston court, the two top universities sought a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction to bar the Department of Homeland Security and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from implementing the proposed order that will force foreign students of universities and colleges offering online-only classes for the upcoming fall semester to leave the country.

The order came down without noticeits cruelty surpassed only by its recklessness, Harvard University president Lawrence S Bacow wrote in an email to affiliates. as reported by the campus news publication The Harvard Crimson. We believe that the ICE order is bad public policy, and we believe that it is illegal.

Harvard is among the institutions directly impact by the order as it had announced plans to hold online classes only for the fall semester just hours before ICE issued the guidelines on Monday, which had come completely without warning as many colleges and universities were still planning their fall reopening after a long break forced by the Covid-19 epidemic.

The push back to the new guideline came swiftly at home from US institutions, with echoes around the world. India, which is the second largest source of international students to the US with an estimated 200,000, brought up the issue at the foreign office consultations between Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla and US under-secretary of state for political affairs David Hale on Tuesday. Other countries are reported to have reached out as well.

Hours later, state department said in a statement that the intended measure was a temporary accommodation meant only for the fall semester, and that it will allow international students to, in fact, continue their education through a mixture of online and in-person teaching while ensuring adherence to social distancing norms still required to battle the Covid-19 epidemic. There was no mention of students being forced to leave.

Ken Cuccinelli, the acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, also emphasized the temporary nature of the new rule in an interview on CNN and went to say it will encourage schools to reopen.

The Trump administration has been pushing for reopening the country after the Covid-19 lockdowns wreaked havoc on the US economy, leaving a trail of shuttered businesses and lay-offs, that have left the president without his best pitch for a second-term, a booming economy.

On Tuesday, Trump said he will force schools to reopen as well.

Foreign students enrolled in US institutions offering online-only classes for their fall semester will be not allowed to come to the US and if they are already here they may be forced to leave, unless a majority of their coursework was taught in-person, according to a proposed rule the Trump administration announced Monday. It is expected to be notified later this month.

But foreign students of colleges and universities that were shifting to a hybrid model of mixed online and in-person classes will be allowed opt for more online classes than previously allowed. But these institutions had show to authorities that hey had indeed shifted to this model, also called blended.

The Unites States has admitted an estimated 1 million international students every year, who generated around $41 billion worth of economic activity and supported 450,000 jobs, according to the American Council on Education, which represents US colleges and universities. Incomes generated from foreign students are critical to the financial health of many US colleges.

China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada are the top-five sources of international students, in that order.

Indian students have said their first reactions were panic and confusion. The words removal proceedings in the order set us off really, said a graduate student who wished not to be identified. The student was referring to the new guideline issued Monday by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency for international students.

US universities are still trying to sift through the implications of the proposed guideline, and the confusion. We highly value our international community, the University of Maryland in Maryland state, which has a large number of Indian students, said in a statement. We are urgently considering alternative options, as this newly announced rule has caused great concern.
Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have sued the Department of Homeland Security and the federal immigration agency over new guidelines barring foreign students from remaining in America if their universities switched to online-only classes in the Fall.

A report in The Harvard Crimson said the two pre-eminent educational institutions filed a lawsuit in District Court in Boston Wednesday morning against the two federal agencies.

The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to bar the US Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement from the enforcing federal guidelines that will force international students to leave the US.

Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow said in an email to affiliates that the order came down without noticeits cruelty surpassed only by its recklessness. We believe that the ICE order is bad public policy, and we believe that it is illegal. We will pursue this case vigorously so that our international studentsand international students at institutions across the countrycan continue their studies without the threat of deportation, Bacow said, according to the Crimson report.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a press release issued Monday that for the fall 2020 semester students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States.

The U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States, the release said.

In what could cause increased anxiety for the international students already present in the US, the agency said, active students currently in the United States enrolled in such programmes must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in lawful status or potentially face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.

The Crimson report said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Tuesday that her office will sue over the guidelines, which she called cruel and illegal. The Harvard lawsuit argues that the guidelines violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to consider important aspects of the problem in advance of its release, failing to provide a reasonable basis for the policy, and failing to adequately notify the public.

Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda J. Claybaugh said in a panel Monday that Vice Provost for International Affairs Mark C. Elliot is also contacting ambassadors on behalf of international students.

As a university with a profound commitment to residential education, we hope and intend to resume full in-person instruction as soon as it is safe and responsible to do so, Bacow said. But, until that time comes, we will not stand by to see our international students dreams extinguished by a deeply misguided order. We owe it to them to stand up and to fightand we will. The federal agency has said that students attending schools adopting a hybrid model, which includes a mixture of online and in-person classes, will be allowed to take more than one class or three credit hours online.

These schools must certify to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program that the program is not entirely online, that the student is not taking an entirely online course load for the fall 2020 semester, and that the student is taking the minimum number of online classes required to make normal progress in their degree program. The guidance is certain to cause severe anxiety and uncertainty for the hundreds of thousands of international students who are studying in the country and for those who were preparing to arrive in the US to begin their education when the new academic session begins in September.

International travel restrictions in place due to the pandemic have made it increasingly difficult for international students in the US to return to their home countries, while those outside the US are uncertain if they will be able to travel to join their courses in American colleges and universities.

Before the ICE guidance was issued, Harvards Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) had said that it will bring up to 40 per cent of undergraduates to campus for the fall semester, including all first-year students.

Bacow, FAS Edgerley Family Dean Claudine Gay, and Danoff Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana co-authored a message to the FAS community that described the path forward, allowing first-years the opportunity to adjust to college academics and to begin creating connections with faculty and other classmates, while learning on campus in September.

It said the College will address gaps in students home learning environments and identify those who need to return to campus to continue to progress academically. Students on campus will move out before Thanksgiving in November and complete reading and exams periods from home.

MIT has said that many graduate students and research staff will be allowed on campus for the fall. But to limit the density of the campus population, most administrative staff who can work remotely will continue to do so.
Chinas incredibly aggressive action along the border with India should not be seen in isolation but in a larger context where Xi Jinpings Chinese communist party is engaging in an increasing revisionist effort with its neighbours, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday. Pompeo added he was confident that the world will come to understand the threat that is presented by Xi Jinpings party and will come together to respond in a way that is powerful and important.

I have spoken with (foreign) minister S Jaishankar a number of times about this. The Chinese took incredibly aggressive action and the Indians have done their best to respond to that, Pompeo said in response to the question on the Chinese efforts to expand its territory that led to the two-month-long stand-off between soldiers of India and China.

Chinas Peoples Liberation Army has started scaling down its presence along the Line of Actual Control as part of a de-escalation process agreed between the two countries but insisted that it was India that had crossed the line.

There arent many neighbours that can satisfactorily say that they know where their sovereignty ends and the Chinese community party will respect that sovereignty. That is certainly true now for the people of Bhutan as well

I put this in the context of general secretary Xi Jinping and his behaviour throughout the region and indeed, throughout the world. I dont think it is possible to look at that particular instance, Chinese Communist Partys aggression in isolation. I think you need to put it in the larger context, Pompeo said.

The US secretary of state referred to the large number of boundary and maritime disputes that China had opened with its neighbours. I think it is unequaled any place in the world, he said.

There arent many neighbours that can satisfactorily say that they know where their sovereignty ends and the Chinese community party will respect that sovereignty. That is certainly true now for the people of Bhutan as well, he said.

China stunned Thimphu last month when it objected to a grant request for the 650-sq km Sakteng wildlife sanctuary in eastern Bhutans Trashigang district at a meeting of the Washington-based Global Environment Facility. Beijing reasoned that the sanctuary, which Bhutan always considered as its easternmost part, was Chinese territory.

When Hindustan Times reached out to the Chinese foreign ministry for a clarification, Beijing said the China-Bhutan boundary had never been delimited and there were disputes over the eastern, central and western sections for a long time.

This is what the world must come together to respond to. This increasing revisionist effort that the Chinese communist party is engaged in, something that President Trump has taken incredibly seriously, Pompeo said.

Pompeo said the United States had attempted to communicate to the Chinese leadership that we are serious about this. When I say we, it is not just the United States but we will shortly start a dialogue with the EU (European Union) friends on how we collectively can respond to this challenge from the Chinese communist party, he said.

I think what has happened with this spread of virus from Wuhan China, I think the world has seen the true colours of the Chinese communist party and I am convinced now than ever before that the free peoples of the world will come to understand the threat that is presented, not only internally, inside of China, but the impact that general secretary Xi has on the world is not good and the world will come together to respond in a way that is powerful and important and will preserve sovereign nations operating under the rule of law and the way we have all become accustomed to, and benefits people all across the world, he said.
The Indian high commission on Wednesday described as mockery a protest outside India House organised by some anti-India groups to mark the death anniversary of Burhan Wani of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen, who was killed in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8, 2016.

Celebrating a terrorist commanders death anniversary is a mockery, which exposes those who believe in propagating a selective version of human rights, a statement from the mission said, adding that the protest included a very small gathering that was peaceful.

The security cooperation provided by the Metropolitan Police, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office is much appreciated by the High Commission of India, the statement added.

Scotland Yard officials set up a buffer zone between India House and protestors. The protest was reportedly organised by groups such as Overseas Pakistan Welfare Council, Global Pakistan and Kashmir Supreme.

The area in The Strand in central London had witnessed major protests and violence on the Kashmir issue on August 15 and September 3 last year, when several people were injured and projectiles hurled at the building as the police struggled to deal with the situation.

According to the high commission, the protest was essentially organised to glorify the death of slain terrorist Burhan Wani, noting that Hizbul Mujahideen is proscribed by the European Union, besides India.

The mission said: Before he was killed during a counter insurgency operation on July 2016, Burhan Wani and his group carried out multiple attacks in J & K, causing deaths of security personnel and civilians.

During 2017-18, he was single-handedly responsible for recruitment of innocent Kashmiri youth into Jihadi campaign through religious bigotry and hate. Some of them such as Adil Khandey, Asad dam Padder, Riaz Naikoo became well known terror operatives, who carried out suicide attacks and killed innocent civilians and security personnel, it added.
A 32-year-old man, who recently returned from India and tested positive for the deadly coronavirus on Wednesday, will be charged with absconding from a managed isolation facility in Auckland to go to a supermarket, according to media reports.

The man, New Zealands latest new case of Covid-19 announced on Wednesday, escaped through a fenced area from an isolation facility about 6.50pm on Tuesday, the New Zealand Herald reported.

He has been sent to a quarantine facility after he was confirmed to have the coronavirus on Wednesday. However, the man was asymptomatic and did not appear to have come into close or casual contact with anyone, the report said.

The man, whose identity was not immediately known, came from New Delhi on July 3, it added.

Health Minister Chris Hipkins has slammed the mans actions as selfish and says he will face charges, the report said.

But he wouldnt describe the episode as a failure of the governments processes, and even though those processes will now be reviewed, he said if anyone should apologise it was the man who broke the law.

Hipkins said the man appeared to have made a spur of the moment decision and dashed through a gap where fencing was being replaced.

A security guard was observing the area but confused the man with contractors working on the fencing. The alarm was raised within minutes but security were unable to find the man.

Hipkins said the man may have spent 20 minutes in the supermarket on Victoria St West, and he returned of his own volition 70 minutes after leaving, the report added.

He will be charged and now face up to a six-month jail sentence or a $4000 fine, the report added.

After the mans positive test result came on Wednesday, the supermarket staff are now self-isolating and will also be tested for the virus, the Stuff reported.

CCTV footage from within the supermarket has confirmed there was no close contact between the man and any staff or customers during his time there, head of managed isolation and quarantine Air Commodore Darryn Webb said.

There are now 23 active Covid-19 cases in New Zealand, all in managed isolation or quarantine, and 1187 confirmed cases.
Pakistan has offered India a second consular access to Kulbushan Jadhav, the former Indian Navy officer who is on a death row. He was arrested on charges of espionage in Balochistan in March 2016 and sentenced to death by a military court a year later.

In the first round, he met his mother and wife and now we have offered to let him meet his father and wife, Additional Attorney General Ahmed Irfan said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Irfan jointly held the press conference with Director-General of South Asia and SAARC at the Pakistan Foreign Office, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri. They told the media that Pakistan enacted the International Court of Justice Review and Reconsideration Ordinance, 2020 in May this year which allows review petitions within a certain period of time.

But the officials said that Jadhav has refused to file a review petition against the death sentence awarded to him. Last July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Pakistan to provide consular access to Jadhav and review his death sentence.

The petitions can be filed before the Islamabad High Court, explained Irfan, adding that in this case, it can be filed by Jadhav himself, an appointed representative or a consular official of the Indian high commission.

On June 17 we invited Jadhav to file a petition for the reconsideration of his conviction and offered him legal representation but he refused to file the petition and instead preferred to follow up on his pending mercy petition, said Irfan.

He said the government had also repeatedly written to the Indian high commission to file the petition and initiate the process for a review before the deadline.

Pakistan is fully cognizant of its international obligations and committed to implementing the ICJ judgment in letter and spirit, he said expressing hope that India will follow due legal course and cooperate with courts in Pakistan to give effect to the ICJ judgement.

India has rejected the allegations against Jadhav and said he was kidnapped by Pakistani operatives from the Iranian port of Chabahar, where he was running a business. In May 2017, New Delhi petitioned the ICJ, which stayed Jadhavs execution. In its ruling on July 17, the ICJ said its stay of the death sentence should continue.
For his first foreign trip as president, Mexicos Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador travels to Washington Tuesday to meet with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly taken shots at Mexico and Mexican migrants to rally his base.

The visit, coming just four months before US elections, has many Mexicans cringing. Trump has insulted them, threatened crippling tariffs to strongarm Mexico into playing an uncomfortable role in US immigration policy and insisted they will pay for a border wall meant to keep migrants out of the US

But Lopez Obrador has had a surprisingly warm relationship with Trump. He likes to point out that more recently Trump helped Mexico reach a deal with other oil-producing nations to cut production and aided Mexico in obtaining more ventilators to face the coronavirus pandemic. Both presidents talk about a blossoming friendship that seems to stem from their pursuit of unapologetically nationalist agendas.

Lopez Obrador hints at the real reason for the trip when he reels off US economic statistics  the size of the US pandemic stimulus package, the number of jobs the US got back in June. Mexicos economy was in recession before the pandemic, has shed about 1 million jobs since and is forecast to contract this year by as much as 10%.

This helps us by being neighbors, Lopez Obrador said Tuesday, before departing. This is about the economy, its about jobs, its about well-being.

By late Tuesday his flight had arrived in Dulles International Airport after a layover in Atlanta.

There is no doubt Trump will try to use the visit to his advantage. The encounter will draw attention to a trade accord replacing one Trump said was a bad deal and will allow the president to bash former Vice President Joe Biden for voting in favor of the old North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump could stir his base with sharp words for Mexico or simply play up Lopez Obradors desire to express his gratitude.

In 2016, Trump, then a candidate for the presidency, visited Lopez Obradors predecessor, an invitation for which President Enrique Pena Nieto was harshly criticized, inlcuding by Lopez Obrador. Trump left that visit and flew to Arizona where he railed against immigrants.

Lopez Obrador, a pragmatist and nationalist above all, knows there is no more important ally than the behemoth to the north, especially as Mexicos economy plunges deeper into recession. If Trump wins a second term, Lopez Obrador could be calculating hell have a friend for the remaining four years of his administration. If the Democrats take office, he trusts they will respect the importance of the bilateral relationship and not hold a grudge.

Maybe hes making the right bet and we dont know it, said Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, associate professor at George Mason Universitys Schar School of Policy and Government. She expects Trump to use the visit to rally his base, perhaps even reviving the claim that Mexico will pay for the border wall, a topic Lopez Obrador repeatedly dodged Tuesday.

Hes conscious of what can happen, she said. It happened to Pena Nieto. It can easily happen to him.

Lopez Obrador insists that he has no desire to be drawn into US domestic politics. He says hes going to mark the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which took effect July 1.

There is no way (Lopez Obrador) can spin this visit in his favor, said Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Payan said the trade accord doesnt merit wading into US political waters. The (trade) agreement is done, finished and in force, he said. There is no need to thank anyone. There is no need to express any kind of gratitude. There is no need for a pilgrimage.

Thats a decision Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apparently reached in deciding not to attend the meeting.

On Monday, Lopez Obrador added another reason.

If we have a good relationship with the United States government, we are going to avoid mistreatment of Mexicans living in the US, Lopez Obrador said. Lopez Obrador has repeatedly raised the importance of the remittances sent home by migrants and praised them as heroes.

Payan said immigration is always on the bilateral agenda, but he sees little chance for Mexico winning any concessions from Trump, whose administration continues to curtail legal and illegal immigration.

I think Trump is more interested in restricting access to the American labor market today more than ever, Payan said.

Mexicos worrisome level of violence  2019 saw the highest number of murders on record  could be an opening. Lopez Obrador could ask for more US assistance in intelligence or tracking drug traffickers financial transactions. He says he wont undermine Mexicos sovereignty and has been a harsh critic of the Merida Initiative that brought US financial and material support to Mexico as his predecessors battled the cartels.

For Trump, the visit is an opportunity to criticize his opponent for supporting NAFTA more than two decades ago, possibling helping garner votes in the Midwest states where workers blamed the old trade deal for prompting US companies to shift manufacturing to Mexico, where labor costs were lower.

Trump said replacing the disastrous NAFTA trade deal was one of the biggest promises he made to his supporters in 2016. Trade was perhaps the single biggest reason he ran for president in the first place, Trump says.

He is fond of saying that after NAFTA was created, the US lost one in four manufacturing jobs while asserting that the new deal will create nearly 100,000 new, high-paying American auto jobs, boost exports for US farmers and ranchers and increase trade with Mexico and Canada.

Trump is correct that the United States has lost nearly 4 million factory jobs since that pact took effect in January 1994. But most economists attribute the losses more to the recessions of 2001 and 2007-2009, automation and low-cost competition from China.

Biden has said he didnt regret voting for NAFTA during his time in the Senate. Fair trade is important, Biden has said. Not free trade. Fair trade. And I think that back in the time during the Clinton administration, it made sense at the moment.

From Lopez Obradors perspective, a good relationship with whoever occupies the White House is Mexicos best policy.

Were going to offer our opinion, but were not planning for confrontation, Lopez Obrador said Tuesday. Were going to look to convince, were going to seek understanding.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the incredibly aggressive Chinese actions along the border with China were a reflection of the behaviour of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in the region and the world, holding the Chinese leader more directly accountable for it than before.

I put this in the context of General Secretary Xi Jinping and his behaviour throughout the region (and) the world, Pompeo said referring to Xi by his party title, and not as president, in response to a question about the ongoing India-China border tensions at a news conference.

I dont think it is possible to look at that particular instance  the Chinese Communist Party aggression (the border conflict with India)  in isolation; you need to be put it in the larger context. he added.

The secretary of state pointed to the number of both maritime band boundary disputes the Chinese Communist Party has engaged in is unequal to any place in the world.

Pompeo said there is hardly any neighbour of China that can say with satisfaction where their sovereignty end, which will be respected by the Chinese.

That is certainly true now for the people of Bhutan as well, the secretary of state said, bringing up the newest of Chinas border disputes. Beijing announced last week the boundary with Bhutan have never been delimited and that there have been disputes over the eastern, central and western sectors for a long time.

This was in addition to all the other continuing 14 territorial disputes, with India, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and others.

The United States has been unequivocal in its support of India in this round of border of tensions with China and has squarely blamed Beijing for it. But it had until now put it mostly on the Chinese Communist Party and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA, the Chinese military).

Pompeo has led the Trump administrations increasing attacks on China over a growing range of issues from the Covid-19 epidemic to the suppression of Uighur minorities, the new national security law for Hong Kong and the border conflict with India.

Two US aircraft carriers began the largest naval exercises in recent years in the South China Sea last Saturday in a move to send an unambiguous signal to our partners and allies that we are committed to regional security and stability, as Rear Adm. George M. Wikoff, commander of the strike group, told The Wall Street Journal in an interview.

Trump administration officials have signaled a more direct link to the India-China border conflict. The message is clear, Mark Meadows, President Donald Trumps chief of staff, told Fox News Monday. Our military might stands strong and will continue to stand strong, whether its in relationship to a conflict between India and China or anywhere else.
Several Congressman and top educational institutions decried the policy change that will require international students who are in the United States with an F-1 visa to take at least one in-person course or else face the prospect of being deported.

But the the State Department asserted that many international students who had planned to study this fall in the US may still have the opportunity to do so.

The State Departments statement comes a day after the new guideline created panic among international students, the largest number of whom come from China and India.

Congressman Bennie Thompson, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Congresswoman Kathleen Rice, chairwoman of the Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Subcommittee, said in a joint statement that the new policy will damage the economy, harm US institutions, and do nothing to improve Americas safety or security.

Also read: Donald Trump is wrong, yet again | HT Editorial

There is no apparent legitimate reason for the (Trump) administrations inflexibility toward international students attending colleges and universities that adopt online-only policies  the Administration seems to just want them to leave, the two lawmakers said.

International students contribute billions of dollars to the US economy and barring them from our country will deprive Americans of badly needed income. We cannot allow President Trump to continue destroying jobs and cause needless suffering just to satisfy his anti-immigrant base. We oppose this reckless policy and the lasting harm it will cause to universities and communities across the country, they said.

Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne expressed concern that the decision will create more uncertainty and complexity for international students.

Our international students must be able to continue making progress toward completing their degrees, and as a university we intend to support them in doing so. We will be working with our peers and national associations to understand how best to accomplish that in the context of these new rules, as well as to urge the Administration to rethink its position, he said.

The State Department, which issues visas to international students, however said the decision is temporary. This will allow a mixture of both in-person and some online coursework to meet the requirements for nonimmigrant student status, it said.

This temporary accommodation provides greater flexibility for nonimmigrant students to continue their education in the United States, while also allowing for proper social distancing on open and operating campuses across America, the State Department said.

International students will still have to obtain the appropriate visa and may still be subject to other visa processing or travel restrictions due to COVID-19. Students should check with the local US embassy or consulate for information specific to their country, it said.

In a statement, the Embassy of India Student Hub encouraged students to monitor their universitys official channels for university/program specific information and to remain in contact with their university DSOs for additional questions.

We will issue updates in the coming days as we receive more clarity on this broadcast message, it said.

Congresswoman Debbie Dengell urged the Department of Homeland Security to review its decision.

Removing these students due to circumstances beyond their control is senseless and concerning. There does not appear to be any public benefit to the US, it will harm the quality of education students receive because of the many logistical challenges, while not in the classroom many remain on campus and in the community contributing to educations and cultural experiences in many other ways, and many have already signed leases and paid tuition as well, she said.

Among all the uncertainty, its disturbing that the federal government would initiate removal proceedings for international students especially given it is a reversal of an earlier decision taken by the agency at the on-set of the pandemic, she said.

Online courses are safe and sensible ways for universities to protect their students while continuing to provide a quality education while scientists study the best way to ensure students can learn in a safe environment, the Congresswoman said.

With the high probability that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to make distance learning the predominant mode of instruction at colleges across the country, the rule change means that most of the estimated 1.1 million international students will be forced out of the country in September, Chancellor Felix V Matis Rodriguez of the City University of New York said.

In a statement, he said that this misguided policy change also threatens to hurt higher education at a time when the nations universities are working hard to adjust to the dual health and economic crises caused by the pandemic.

We are once again disappointed that our countrys leadership continues to restrict and reduce opportunities for those who seek them in the United States, he said adding that he has instructed his administration to explore and pursue measures that would help these students remain in the country and continue their education at CUNY. PTI LKJ ABH ABH
Nepals Prime Minister KP Oli could be forced out of office within weeks amid an internal tussle for power within his governing party following his sharp rhetoric on India and as Chinese influence grows in the country.

Oli was set to meet Wednesday with his Nepal Communist Party rival, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who argues it is his turn to rule, ahead of a series of party meetings in coming days and weeks that will decide whether Oli is removed from his post.

Olis troubles within the party also come as he deals with blowback from India over a new map that includes a disputed area claimed by both India and Nepal.

Kathmandus relations with New Delhi only worsened after Oli said last week that India was attempting to oust him from office with help from some of the members of his own party. India has denied all allegations.

India had been a dominant force in Nepal until recently, when Chinas involvement began to grow. Besides Chinas investment in the building of airports, highways and hydro-power projects in Nepal, Chinese diplomats have worked to increase ties with Nepali political leaders.

Just this week, Chinas ambassador to Nepal held meetings with some top Nepal Communist Party leaders.

China views Nepal as key to its massive transcontinental infrastructure Belt and Road Initiative that builds on old Silk Road routes that once connected China to the West, analysts say.

Because Nepal remains in a strategic geographic location, both of these countries think they have to have importance in Nepals politics, said Guranaj Luitel, editor of Nepals popular Nagarik newspaper. The present government looks more inclined toward China, and because of that Indias role looks like its gradually declining.

Oli was elected PM in 2017 after the Nepal Communist Party won a majority of the seats in parliament. Just before the general election, two Communist parties led by Oli and Dahal had merged to become a stronger political force. It was widely believed that Oli and Dahal would split the five-year term, with each taking turns in office. But 2 1/2 years after taking power, Oli has shown no signs of stepping down. Having differences and feuds is nothing new in our political party, but this time it has turned into a national crisis because we are the largest party and we are in the government, said Khatiwada
Spanish Police have apprehended two persons on charges of smuggling dual-use equipment and technology to Pakistani military companies, sources reported.

According to sources, the technology being smuggled could be used for Missile Guidance systems.

The Spanish Police has apprehended two unidentified persons on July 1 from Alicante, South East of Spain. The two were convicted of smuggling dual-use equipment and technology to the Pakistani military companies, the sources said.

The individuals were operating a company from three industrial warehouses in Alicante which specialised in the export of autonomous navigation technologies for UAVs. Much of their business dealings could be traced back to Pakistan.

The police said that the technologies could be extensively used for Missile Tech Development Programs and was being exported without requisite export licenses from the Spanish authorities.

The company has received an estimated sum of Euro 4 million for the export.

According to sources, the Spanish authorities have taken serious note of the issue as export of dual-use items that have both civil and military use to sensitive countries go through a strict export control regulation.

The European Legislation also follows a strict export control to prevent the acquisition of such material by countries like Pakistan.

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China on Wednesday said it will impose visa restrictions on US citizens for what it called egregious behaviour over Tibet soon after Washington announced that it had imposed restrictions on Chinese officials for violating human rights in the frontier province.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian made the announcement at Wednesdays ministry briefing, adding that Beijing would not allow any foreign interference in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

We urge the US to immediately stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs through Tibet-related issues and not to go further and further on the wrong path, so as not to cause further damage to Sino-US relations and exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, Zhao said.

The province, which borders India, is one of the most heavily restricted and censored regions in the world

China already restricts foreigners, and not just from the US, especially diplomats and journalists from visiting TAR, allowing only a restricted number of foreign tourists in the province; invited guests are almost always with handlers.

Citing human rights abuses by the Chinese government in Tibetan areas, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said the US would restrict visas for some Chinese officials  under the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act -- because Beijing obstructs travel to the region by US diplomats, journalists and tourists. The Trump administrations move announcing its new travel ban targets an unspecified number of Chinese officials with visa restrictions, limiting or entirely eliminating their ability to travel to the United States.

Zhao said that China strongly opposes the relevant US measures.

In response to the wrong actions of the US, China decided to impose visa restrictions on US personnel who behaved badly on Tibet-related issues, he said.

Though China does not allow diplomats and journalists inside TAR without the government inviting  and escorting  them, Zhao said: Tibet is an open Tibet and has never made any regulations restricting foreigners from entering Tibet.

Zhao defended that by saying that taking into account the special geographical and climatic conditions of Tibet, the Chinese government has taken certain management and protection measures against foreigners entering Tibet in accordance with law and regulations, which are absolutely necessary and beyond reproach.

Quoting incomplete statistics from 2015 to 2018, Zhao said between the three years TAR had received nearly 176,000 foreigners for official, tourism, business and other activities.

Ties between the US and China are going through some of the worst times with the two countries quarrelling on trade, Taiwan, the South China Sea  where Washington has dispatched two of its super aircraft carriers, the origin of the Coronavirus, Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
The Federal Trade Commission and the US Justice Department are looking into allegations that popular app TikTok failed to live up to a 2019 agreement aimed at protecting childrens privacy, according to two people interviewed by the agencies.

The development is the latest bump in the road for the short video company, which is popular with teens. TikTok has seen scrutiny, including from the national security-focused Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, rise sharply because of its Chinese parent corporation.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that the United States is certainly looking at banning TikTok, suggesting it shared information with the Chinese government, a charge it denied.

A staffer in a Massachusetts tech policy group and another source said they took part in separate conference calls with FTC and Justice Department officials to discuss accusations that TikTok had failed to live up to an agreement announced in February 2019.

The Center for Digital Democracy, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and others in May asked the FTC look into their allegations TikTok failed to delete videos and personal information about users age 13 and younger as it had agreed to do, among other violations.

A TikTok spokesman said they take safety seriously for all our users, adding that in the United States they accommodate users under 13 in a limited app experience that introduces additional safety and privacy protections designed specifically for a younger audience.

Officials from both the FTC, which reached the original consent agreement with TikTok, and Justice Department, which often files court documents for the FTC, met via video with representatives of the groups to discuss the matter, said David Monahan, a campaign manager with the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.

I got the sense from our conversation that they are looking into the assertions that we raised in our complaint, Monahan said.

A second person, speaking privately, confirmed that advocates had met with officials from the two agencies to discuss concerns TikTok violated the consent decree.

The FTC declined to comment. The Justice Department had no immediate comment.

TikTok has grown increasing popular among US teenagers and allows users to create short videos. About 60% of TikToks 26.5 million monthly active users in the United States are aged 16 to 24, the company said last year.

US lawmakers have also raised national security concerns over TikToks handling of user data, saying they were worried about Chinese laws requiring domestic companies support and cooperate with the Chinese Communist Party.

TikTok, owned by parent company ByteDance, is one of several China-based firms that have had to navigate heightened US-China tensions over trade, technology and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under intense US regulatory scrutiny, it has poached Disneys Kevin Mayer to be its chief executive and is trying to project a more global image, with offices in California, Singapore and elsewhere. (Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Greg Roumeliotis and Echo Wang in New York; Editing by Chris Sanders and Tom Brown)
The US point man for North Korea met with South Korean officials in Seoul on Wednesday for talks, overshadowed by Pyongyangs insistence that it has no intention of returning to denuclearisation negotiations any time soon.

Stephen Biegun, who led working-level negotiations with the North Koreans and now has broader responsibility as US Deputy Secretary of State, met briefly with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha before holding longer meetings with Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young and chief nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon.

Talks covered a range of issues, including coronavirus responses and ongoing negotiations over military cost-sharing, but North Korea dominated the agenda, Seoul officials said.

In a brief conversation, Kang told Biegun he had come at an important time for political developments and also after South Korean President Moon Jae-in recently reshuffled some of his senior North Korea policy aides.

After meeting with Cho, Biegun said the United States is fully engaged in seeking peace on the Korean peninsula, would continue to cooperate closely with South Korea, and is looking forward to making progress on the issue this year.

Biegun is likely to meet with Suh Hoon, Moons new national security advisor who, as spy chief, was instrumental in facilitating summits between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a Seoul official said.

Talks with Pyongyang have since stalled, and North Korean officials say the country has no intention to sit down with the United States.

Trump said on Tuesday he is open to another meeting with Kim and thinks it might be helpful, Voice of America reported, citing a transcript of an interview Trump gave to Atlanta, Georgia-based Gray Television, due to be aired on Sunday.

Kim has been maintaining a low profile in recent months, making far fewer public appearances than usual, according to analysts who monitor his movements.

On Wednesday, North Korean state media reported Kim had marked the anniversary of the death of his grandfather, North Koreas founding leader Kim Il Sung, by visiting his mausoleum at Pyongyangs Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

NORTH KOREA NOT ENGAGING

Moons call for a new Trump-Kim summit and Bieguns visit had sparked speculation of a last-ditch effort to try to revive North Korea talks ahead of the US presidential election in November.

But Biegun has previously played down the likelihood of another in-person summit between Trump and Kim, saying the coronavirus pandemic made arranging such an event unlikely before the election.

Upon arrival in South Korea on Tuesday, Biegun and the entire US delegation, as well as the American military air crew who piloted their aircraft, underwent tests for Covid-19 at the US military base in South Korea where they landed.

After the tests came back negative, the delegation continued on to Seoul.

Besides the coronavirus challenges, North Koreas strident rejections of new talks also means Bieguns visit is more likely to focus on coordination between the two allies, rather than seizing some opening for diplomacy, said John Delury, a North Korea expert at Yonsei University in Seoul.

I dont see signals from North Korea that they are looking for engagement, he said.

Coordination between the two long-time allies is critical now, said Duyeon Kim, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, a Belgium-based independent non-profit organisation.

The allies should get on the same page about upcoming defence drills, how their working group can support inter-Korean projects while enforcing existing sanctions, and how to jointly respond if Pyongyang escalates or tests more weapons, she said.
The United States will leave the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 6, 2021, the United Nations said on Tuesday, after receiving notification of the decision by President Donald Trump, who has accused the agency of becoming a puppet for China during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, who announced the decision over a month ago, has to give one-year notice of the US withdrawal from the Geneva-based body and pay all Washingtons dues under a 1948 joint resolution of the US Congress. The United States currently owes the WHO more than $200 million in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website.

After more than 70 years of membership, the United States moved to quit the WHO amid escalating tensions with China over the coronavirus pandemic. The virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

The WHO has denied assertions by Trump that it promoted Chinese disinformation about the virus.

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi described Trumps official withdrawal as an act of true senselessness as WHO coordinates the global fight against COVID-19.

With millions of lives at risk, the President is crippling the international effort to defeat the virus, the Democratic leader posted on Twitter.

So far there have been nearly 12 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 540,000 known deaths worldwide, according to a Reuters tally, with about 25% of both cases and deaths in the United States.

Trumps decision could be overturned before it takes effect if he is defeated by his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, in a November election.

Trump had halted funding for the 194-member organization in April, then in a May 18 letter gave the WHO 30 days to commit to reforms. He announced the United States would quit less than two weeks later.

Vice President Mike Pence, asked in a Fox News Channel interview whether it was the right time to break with the WHO, said: Its absolutely the right time.

The World Health Organization let the world down ... There have to be consequences to this, Pence said.

The WHO is an independent international body that works with the United Nations. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that the WHO is absolutely critical to the worlds efforts to win the war against COVID-19.

The Secretary-General ... is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Tuesday.

Since taking office, Trump has also quit the U.N. Human Rights Council, the U.N. cultural agency, a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal. He has also cut funding for the U.N. population fund and the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Additional reporting by Mohammad Zargham and Eric Beech; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Bill Berkrot)
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Emporia, VA (23847)

Today

Thunderstorms this morning, then cloudy with rain likely during the afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 80F. SW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry spoke up about Black Lives Matter movement and called out the wrongs that the Commonwealth committed in the past. However, one editor claims that they could not be more wrong. He critiicized the audacity of the two for saying what they did on that virtual conference.

Apparently, they have no right to call for past mistakes to be acknowledged by the Commonwealth, because their understanding of history is half-baked.

Daily Mail journalist Andrew Pierce has shut down the arguments made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, especially when the two were criticizing the Queen-led Commonwealth.

Pierce said, "Can I just say they should just do a bit of history before lecturing the world about the Commonwealth." He explained that the two cannot just bash the Commonwealth as if it is one entity that faces no issues in making decisions. It's certainly not comprising only of one Britain.

Instead, the Commonwealth is about 54 countries, half only of whom were part of the British Empire.

Moreover, the two cannot get the purposes and actions of the Commonwealth, more wrong. "It was set up in about 1932 to atone for the sins of the British Empire," Pierce explained. Therefore, contrary to what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are saying, the Commonwealth is in reality all about spreading equality.

He also implied that the Commonwealth could not racist, since "there's a queue of Black African nations who want to join the Commonwealth," even. The recent one to join was Rwanda.

This is not the first time Andrew Pierce slammed the royals who decided to left their senior positions at the palace.

Of course, it's not only Andrew Pierce who got so miffed and felt compelled to lecture the two. Piers Morgan, the ITV host who never minced words when it comes to expressing how lowly he perceives Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, slammed the two once more. According to him, the two has no right to lecture the world from their "freebie Hollywood mansion," implying the two are tone-deaf.

He called the two hypocritical after the Sussexes said "it's to be uncomfortable," when they are living the most comfortable of lives today.

Morgan accuses the two of playing a game. He said that they are deliberately picking a political fight with the Queen because they knew people will react. If people react, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry can cry foul, and said they are just being criticized for who they are and not for what they are saying. Morgan believes that they are intentionally creating a ruckus so that they can put themselves back in the news agenda. If they receive backlash in the process, then they will play the victim. It's a circular circus, Morgan asserted.

It can be remembered that Prince Harry said that injustices will not stop if people do not acknowledge the past. He said that across the Commonwealth, there were mistakes committed. He said that so many people already tried to acknowledge the errors of the past and worked hard to right the wrongs, but it is not yet enough.

Meghan Markle then supplemented this by saying that everyone have to be uncomfortable right now because it is this discomfort that will push people to get into the right place where there is no injustices and equality exists.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle Defensive? She Shuts Down Prince Harry on This!

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Anchor/Multimedia Journalist

Hello! I am the weekend anchor as well as a reporter for Your News Now! You can reach me with news tips (or just to say hello!) at khonigford@wlio.com.
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
Pipeline

8 July 2020

Slated to open in fall 2020 and being developed by Todd Interests, the 219-room Thompson Dallas will be located downtown in a re-development of the iconic 52-story First National Bank Towera recognizable fixture of the Dallas skyline. Billed as The National, the architectural design for the project is being led by award-winning Dallas firm, Merriman Anderson Architects, who are restoring many of the 1961 building's original elements, including historic marble from the Parthenon quarry. Contemporary furniture and works of art by local, national and international artists will complement the building's historic touches.

Highlights of the hotel will include a signature restaurant on the 49th floor from a yet-to-be-announced two Michelin-starred chef, a 50th-floor observation deck, two rooftop restaurant and bar concepts, and an urban oasis on the ninth floor with an infinity-edge pool, six-treatment-room spa, state-of-the-art fitness center, and yoga and pet parks. The two penthouse-level Thompson Suites will measure more than 2,200 square feet each and offer sweeping city views from the 49th floor. Thompson Dallas will also offer 22,000 square feet of meeting and function space, including a 14,000-square-foot ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows, ideal for hosting weddings, corporate events, and concerts.
Appointment

8 July 2020

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has today announced the appointment of Wayne Hoare as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).

Wayne will join the business on 14 September and will become a member of IHG's Executive Committee, replacing Ranjay Radhakrishnan who stepped down from the role in February this year. Wayne will also join IHG's Global Diversity & Inclusion Board.

Wayne has more than 30 years of experience in HR, and joins IHG from RCL FOODS , the second largest foods business in South Africa, where he has spent the last eight years as the company's CHRO, leading RCL FOODS' culture building and talent strategy for 25,000 employees. Prior to joining RCL FOODS, Wayne spent 26 years at Unilever, where he worked across a broad range of HR roles in both mature and developing markets in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Opinion Article

8 July 2020

Acknowledged as one of the African continent's leading hospitality investment experts, Wayne Troughton of HTI Consulting shared unique insights in the first 'Virtual Hotel Club' held in early July, a dynamic and informal Pan-African platform for hospitality industry stakeholders the way forward within the industry at this time of crisis.

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Data from the presentation was gathered from a survey that covered 14 regional and international operators active in the African hotel space (41 hotel brands and 219 projects currently under development). These included the likes of Hilton Worldwide, Marriot International, Radisson Hotel Group and Accor Hotels, amongst others.

Development sentiment largely positive

According to Troughton, whilst the African hospitality industry is facing extraordinary and unprecedented challenges and obstacles in light of the global pandemic, he noted that development sentiment remains optimistic amongst the majority (57%) of hotel owners as reported by operators on the continent.

"Despite closures and significant performance declines, long-term investment fundamentals for the Sub-Saharan region remain positive despite significant short to mid-term challenges currently impacting the sector," he said.

"Of a total 219 hotel projects currently In Sub Saharan African pipeline a large proportion (68%) of these projects are proceeding as planned, with only 18% currently on hold for a limited period, and 13% on hold indefinitely." he stated. "Concerns amongst hotel owners are, of course, still apparent and, for several, a 'wait and see' approach relates to factors such as uncertainty around travel ban lifts in various markets, how to restore guest confidence, and the impact of COVID-19 on hotel valuations. However, the optimism displayed by many owners generally relates to understanding of the sector and adoption of a longer-term outlook," he explained.

Outlook geared to opening doors

Despite the current environment, construction related businesses in several countries resumed activity as early as possible after lockdowns eased, commented Troughton.

"Encouragingly, this has resulted in 21 projects (representing 2946 hotel rooms in 15 African countries) still expected to open in 2020, with 52% of projects expecting short-term delays of 3 - 6 months," he said. "Longer term delays (9 - 12mths or 12mth+) are typically being seen on those projects that were in earlier (or planning) phases of deve lopment," he stated.

"These delays can generally be attributed to uncertainty around how long travel lockdowns will continue. However, around 30% of projects under construction don't expect COVID-19 to cause any delays to their ongoing development," he said.

Hotel owners are clearly taking a long-term investment outlook and are expecting COVID-19 to be largely neutralised prior to their hotels opening. This relates particularly to those in the early stages of planning.

Development pipeline remains healthy

Of the overall Sub Saharan Africa Development pipeline there are 219 branded hotels (representing 33 698 hotel rooms) across 38 markets.

"East Africa remains the region with the strongest hotel pipeline, followed by West and then Southern Africa. East Africa has 88 branded hotels currently in the pipeline, West Africa sees 84 branded hotels in its pipeline with Southern Africa sitting on 47 hotels," stated Trough ton.

Of the 21 hotels total projects expected to open doors in 2020, East Africa (40% of total supply), will see 1,134 rooms come on board, with the top cities being Antananarivo (22%), Dar es Salaam (20%) and Addis Ababa (20%).

West Africa (47% of total supply) sees 719 rooms planned to enter in 2020 across major cities including Accra (28%), Bamako (28%) and Cape Verde (24%).

Southern Africa (23% of total development pipeline) sees 963 rooms planned to enter in 2020, with South Africa - Johannesburg (71%) and Durban (21%) - seeing the predominance of activity, followed by Zambia.

Over the past three months HTI Consulting has engaged in numerous discussions with hotel owners who, Troughton states, have navigated different cycles during COVID-19 from survival (as hotels closed) to cost containment, defining hygiene safety protocols, staffing plans and ultimately, reopening strategies.

As several economies slowly start to open, so too have many hospitality businesses who are remaining positive and committed to the industry and demonstrating the determination necessary to overcoming current adversities.

Doing the deals

"Despite pressured economic environments and tough decisions, many hotel operators have, been able to successfully conclude and sign deals with owners during the lockdown period. A total of 15 new hotel deals were concluded by 7 operators in 8 countries, from the period March - June," stated Troughton.

Feedback indicates these deals were close to fruition prior to the COVID crisis, with owners showing strong sentiment to continue with the projects. Further feedback from operators indicates these deals were also typically signed in primary African cities such as Abidjan, Accra, Lagos and Durban that boasted strong and diverse hospitality markets prior to the crisis. These locations are also likely to recover at a quicker rate than secondary node s, believes Troughton.

"Select operators who indicated that no deals were signed during this period pointed out that opportunities remain rife and that new enquiries are continuing to come through," he said,

"It is anticipated that a lag will occur, with new owners typically being more cautious and awaiting to see how recovery unfolds," he said. "Concerns have also been raised by owners around access to finance going forward as well as the willingness of the banks and financial institutions to fund hospitality projects at this point in time," he continued.

"Whilst we haven't seen any distressed sales at this point, with banks largely keeping hotels afloat, this may well change depending on the timeframes we're looking at to a return to 'new normal' as well as the potential resurgence of the virus in certain areas. The next 2 - 3 months will prove to be crucial, as many hospitality businesses do not have plans in place to e nsure sustainability post this period."

Opportunity sees operators doing it differently

"In several instances, feedback from large operators indicates a distinct shift towards conversions over greenfield development going forward, with a more flexible approach to the renovations and PIP costs."

"Some operators are viewing this time as an opportunity to finalise forward planning during lockdown," said Troughton "In several instances they have been able to take advantage of government support during this period in order to ensure they are able to streamline and accelerate internal approval processes, create more flexibility around brand stance, enhance their ability to pitch their products correctly to the local market and offer greater value and affordable experiences along with analysing fee structures over a select period."

"Whilst lockdowns have placed many hospitality businesses and investors in a stalemate position ov er the past few months, we've noticed a positive change over the past few weeks as more as more hospitality businesses resume activities and we see a significant uptick in the commissioning of hospitality advisory assignments," noted Troughton.

Future Outlook

"It is reasonable to assume that a more cautious approach will be taken by hotel owners and investors in evaluating their investment strategy," he said.

"Independent hotel owners may indeed find it more difficult than the larger international brands to weather this current scenario. This too because branded hotels, and their new highly publicised hygiene protocols, may make for a more secure market and therefore allow them to see a more effective bounce-back and recovery."

"Additionally those markets that are strongest in the area of domestic business travel (and then domestic leisure) should be amongst the first to recover. Indeed, focusing on the local market is wha t helped Asia recover from the SARS epidemic in the early 2000s."

"For those owners and operators taking the the time to understand the changing markets we are facing, and willing to adapt to drive new demand, the medium to long-term outlook remains good," stressed Troughton. "At HTI Consulting we continue to believe in the tourism potential in the region and strongly encourage further support from governments and brand managers to allow owners to minimise further losses and support recovery,"

"Despite current challenges and the overall uncertainty that trouble us all, there will be better times ahead and the travel market will eventually emerge stronger and more resilient. As governments slowly roll back travel restrictions and prepare to reopen society, the future winners are those that build a future based on a strong risk mitigation approach and display flexibility and innovation," he concluded.
The most controversial death hoax this year has occurred, and Ellen DeGeneres became the victim of it.

Amid all the controversies surrounding DeGeneres' name, the television host somehow sparked a major concern after #RIPEllen trended worldwide within an hour.

On Monday night, Twitter users got shocked after seeing the hashtag on the platform's top trending topics.

"Is Ellen dead or not?! Y'all confusing tf out of me #ripellen," one Twitter user wrote after she read the false reports on how the 62-year-old talk show host had reportedly jumped off the roof of a house.

However, upon clicking on the hashtag, netizens saw a bunch of fake obituaries featuring pictures of Ellen's celebrity doppelgangers.

"#ripellen fly high, angle," one netizen said along with a picture of Jane Lynch's character from "Glee."

Another social media comedian posted a photo of actress Kathy Bates alongside the caption, "the last picture of her #ripellen."

Despite all the reactions, DeGeneres is still alive and kicking. The tweets under the #RIPEllen are reportedly in reference to the rumors about how her show might be canceled.

The producers of the show has confirmed that the program will continue to air even though DeGeneres is caught in the middle of a massive controversy.

Ellen DeGeneres Canceled?

The netizens' rage toward DeGeneres started when multiple claims about her alleged "mean" attitude started to emerge.

In January, Dutch beauty YouTuber Nikkie de Jager, also known as NikkieTutorials, visited the show and reportedly did not have the best experience as a transgender woman.

Nikkie revealed on the Dutch talk show "De Wereld Draait Door" that her time in Ellen's show was really awful.

"Let me say that there's a big difference between this show and Ellen DeGeneres, and I'm saying that in favor of this show," she told the host Matthijs van Nieuwkerk. "It's nice that you say 'hi' before the show. She didn't."

Meanwhile, Kevin T. Porter crowdsourced on Twitter in March 2020 and asked for stories that would reveal DeGeneres' real attitude.

Television writer Benjamin Siemon joined the "Twitter Party" and shared his own experience with DeGeneres. He wrote, "She has a "sensitive nose" so everyone must chew gum from a bowl outside her office before talking to her and if she thinks you smell that day you have to go home and shower."

"She shamed my entire culture for our staple food source (seal meat). We are Inuit and live in the arctic where barely any edible plants grow," another critic added.

Since Porter pledged to donate $2 per tweet to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the comedian ended up cashing out $600 for the foundation after getting hundreds of horrible stories about DeGeneres.

As of now, DeGeneres is no longer getting the same amount of love and support she used to receive from his followers and viewers. Instead of supporting her, people are now slamming the host for trying so hard to stay relevant.

READ MORE: Ellen DeGeneres Desperate! TV Host Accused Of Imitating Oprah

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No one should force people to do the right thing in a free society, but the Trump administration is taking the extraordinary step of discouraging workers from investing their retirement savings ethically.

Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia is pushing a new rule that would ban firms that manage retirement accounts from automatically enrolling workers in funds that promote environmental safety, social responsibility or good governance, ESG for short. He also wants to discourage companies from offering workers the opportunity to invest their 401(k) plans into ESG funds.

Apparently, so many Americans want to pull their money out of companies that destroy the environment, disregard community values and operate ruthlessly that Scalia feels the need to intervene. His rule is designed to drive more funds into some of Texas most prominent corporations.

Americans invested nearly four times more money with ESG funds in 2019 than in 2018, according to Morningstar, the mutual fund analysis firm. Investors concerned about global challenges such as climate change want to ensure their money is not invested in enterprises such as coal companies.

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To satisfy these customers, money managers such as Vanguard, Fidelity and Prudential have developed funds that invest only in companies that meet specific ESG criteria. Morningstar reports that investment firms offered 303 open-end and exchange-traded ESG funds in 2019.

Some funds focus only on environmental sustainability, while others only invest in companies that have women or people of color in leadership positions. There is an ESG fund to fit almost any social, religious or environmental profile.

Scalia is worried, though, that some investors are getting lower returns because some ESG funds generate less profit than the typical fund tied to a stock market index.

The departments proposed rule reminds plan providers that it is unlawful to sacrifice returns, or accept additional risk, through investments intended to promote a social or political end, Scalia explained in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal.

Most ESG funds, though, outperform the rest of the market. Individual companies that rank highly on ESG standards consistently generate higher revenues, according to MSCI, an international investment advisory firm.

The higher performance makes sense. Companies that do not pollute incur fewer legal problems. Companies that prioritize people inspire loyalty. Good governance leads to high performance.

ESG factors should be part of everyones investment decisions, but most people put their money in funds that track stock market indexes such as the S&P 500. Companies that fall short on ESG standards benefit tremendously when index funds buy their stock automatically.

If the trend toward ESG funds continues, though, less money will go to corporations involved in fossil fuels and mining.

Investors who care about the environment, humanity or corruption definitely want to stay away from fossil fuels. Extracting coal, oil or natural gas is a dirty, destructive business, and all three products contribute to climate change.

International fossil fuel companies also cooperate with oppressive regimes that disregard human rights, exploit workers and engage in corruption. Many of these corporations routinely reject shareholder requests to consider climate change and social factors when making strategic decisions.

Chief executives at fossil fuel companies argue that instituting ESG standards would hurt profits and lower asset values. That is undoubtedly true, but that doesnt mean a money manager should automatically invest someones retirement in an oil company just because it is part of the S&P 500.

While it is true that a plan provider should not sacrifice an investors returns without their knowledge, Scalia violates the principles of personal liberty that conservatives hold so dear by trying to deny us the option. We should be able to put our money into any legal asset we want.

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Cancer survivors who do not want to invest in tobacco companies should have the option. So should pacifists who do not want to invest in defense companies. Scalia has no business telling brokers not to offer the products we desire.

Hes doing this because President Donald Trump promised to help fossil fuel companies, and his administration wants to keep capital flowing into the industry.

When big banks said they would no longer invest in Arctic drilling, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette called it illegal discrimination and promised to investigate.

When electric utilities started shuttering coal-fired power plants, Trump appointees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission tried to require companies to use coal even when it is more costly for customers.

The Trump administration is not just defending fossil fuel companies; it is stacking the deck in their favor. Instead, it should allow markets to decide which form of energy will win out and let investors decide what to do with their money.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com
Energy Transfer LP said its not making any moves to empty its Dakota Access oil pipeline after a judge on Monday ordered the conduit shut while a more robust environmental review is conducted.

The Dallas-based company run by billionaire Kelcy Warren said its also accepting requests for space on the pipeline in August. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia had ordered the pipeline to be drained by Aug. 5.

We are not shutting in the line, Energy Transfer spokeswoman Vicki Granado said in an email when asked if the company had begun emptying the pipeline. Judge James E. Boasberg we believe exceeded his authority and does not have the jurisdiction to shut down the pipeline or stop the flow of crude oil.

Its the latest sign that Energy Transfer is preparing for yet another battle over the Dakota Access crude pipeline, which four years ago drew months of on-the-ground protests from environmental groups and tribes opposed to the projects route across Lake Oahe, a dammed section of the Missouri River just a half-mile from the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in the Dakotas.

Energy Transfer is playing a very dangerous game, said Earthjustice lawyer Jan Hasselman, who represents the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against Dakota Access. They dont get to ignore a federal court order just because they disagree with it.

Energy Transfers strategy could reflect optimism the ruling will be reversed on appeal or at least temporarily blocked by a higher court.

In Washington, energy lobbyists have mused that the shutdown order would be difficult to enforce, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

SHOT THROUGH THE HEART: Shale may never boom again with Dakota access shut

Height Securities LLC also predicts the unprecedented ruling to shut down Dakota Access because of a violation of the National Environmental Policy Act is unlikely to withstand review by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to a research note for clients.

The D.C. Circuit case law appears weighted in favor of ET, especially since cases Boasberg used to justify the decision to shut down Dakota Access did not involve active, operating pipelines, Height analyst Josh Price said in the note.

When asked whether Energy Transfer plans to defy Boasbergs decision if it remains in effect Aug. 5, Granado reiterated that the company doesnt think he has the authority to shut the line. She later said Energy Transfers decision to refrain from emptying the pipeline isnt meant as an act of defiance, rather a statement to say we are not in the process of shutting in the line and do not believe he has the authority to order this.

Prices for Bakken crude, produced in North Dakota, rose after the news that Energy Transfer planned to keep the line in service. The discount for Bakken at Clearbrook, Minnesota, narrowed 60 cents to $2.15 a barrel against benchmark oil futures in New York, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Energy Transfer has multiple routine options for fighting the order in court. Its asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to suspend the decision, and its pursuing an appeal. If those efforts fail, it can ask the U.S. Supreme Court to step in.

If Energy Transfer opts to bypass those traditional routes and instead simply refuses to shut down the pipeline, the district court could hold the company in contempt. An outright violation of a court order could result in fines or jail time.
Under any circumstances, 2020 was going to be memorable for Maggie Kruse. At Jordan Winery, both the winemaking and wine-growing buck now stops with her after Rob Davis long tenure at the iconic Alexander Valley winery ended with his retirement last summer after 43 growing seasons.

. Because Davis had been a friend and mentor to Kruse ever since she arrived at Jordan as an enologist in 2006, she knows her way around the place. But dont confuse Kruse control with cruise control. The 36-year-old Milwaukee native confronts a challenge unlike any Davis had to deal with in his lengthy run.

Hello, novel coronavirus.

An early issue was disruption in the supply chain. Most capsules, corks and barrels come from Europe, which got knocked reeling first by COVID-19. There were some tense interludes, but ultimately Jordan received everything it needed without costly delays, although bottling the 2019 Chardonnay, the Kruse eras debut release, had to be pushed back about 10 days.

All in all, from a winerys perspective, COVID-19 hit at the best possible juncture. Spring is pretty quiet. But things figure to get more interesting over the next few months. With the bug certain to still be lurking come the harvest in the fall, shell be required to worry about more than just the health of the grapes. Falling ill isnt an option, for her or anyone on the Jordan team.

More Information Drink Pink 2019 Minuty Prestige Rose Overall score: 18.6 (9.1 for quality, 9.5 for value) Taster's notes: "Despite the muted hue, it offers a quintessential range of expressive Provencal flavors with lemon-lime, strawberry and peach notes. The tart minerality pulls everything together for a taste of liquid sunshine." Winemaking: The grenache, cinsault, tibouren and syrah fruit is sourced from Minuty's best Cotes de Provence vineyards. After destemming, the grapes undergo low-pressure pressing for a free run juice selection, followed by low-temperature fermentation. Alcohol: 12.5 percent Price: $24.99 at Spec's See More Collapse

How could I self-quarantine for two weeks in the middle of harvest? Kruse said, pondering a worst-case scenario.

Though the grape-picking and the subsequent crush are relatively easy to safely navigate because theyre done outdoors, social distancing in the cellar during that hectic, all-hands-on-deck period would prove problematic. One particularly bedeviling issue is cleaning the tanks because digging out the skins is a two-person job that takes place in a fairly toxic  lots of lingering carbon dioxide  one-person space. Sending workers in separately is the obvious solution, but that would double the scrub-down time required. And time, at that juncture in the winemaking process, is of the essence.

Thats the only (solution) I havent come up with yet, Kruse said.

For the moment, though, life seems good at Jordan, which was the first California winery to reopen (May 23) to visitors with reservations. Even though COVID-19 didnt wreak urban-area-sized havoc in Sonoma County, every vintner remains wary. An influx of tourist tasters, particularly from places such as Texas, where case counts have spiked of late, could change the dynamic dramatically.

The hospitality side of Jordans business has undergone a dramatic transformation. Marketing director Lisa Mattson said straight away that what we were doing in the past cant be done anymore. Weve had to change.

For example, the Jordan chateaus gorgeous library is off limits for the foreseeable future. And, in place of winery tours, Mattson has her people leading visitors through the vines.

We used to do four vineyard tours a year, she said. Now were doing four almost every week.

Also, Jordan began a major, and overdue, renovation that would have been difficult to manage with tasters traipsing through. No matter what the new normal becomes, the place figures to be a new kind of beautiful, which is saying something.

The expansive patio area has been fully reconfigured for Jordans relaxing new Paris on the Terrace lunches. Tables are 8 to 10 feet apart, Mattson notes, and birdsong provides the perfect ambience for chef Todd Knolls French-inflected fare. Truth to tell, theres lots of elbow room to be had on Jordans 1,200 acres.

Yes, Texans are still welcome despite our recent COVID-19 reversals. Mattson made it a point to mention a new Houston-to-Santa Rosa connection through Denver that avoids Bay Area congestion.

Speaking of Texas, Kruse and Mattson had hoped to be in Houston this summer to make up for a canceled visit in late March. Ours is one of Jordans most important markets. More than a hundred folks had reserved spots at Brenners on the Bayou for an unveiling of Jordans 40th anniversary 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, which will now be released here later this month. The event was also intended to let Kruse personally present her 2019 Chardonnay while mingling with local customers/collectors.

Traveling for marketing purposes is out of the question for the near term. But Kruse figures to profit from being grounded. Although shes hardly a rookie, theres much on her plate. At the family home in Windsor, shes got a 6-year-old to keep an eye on. At work, theres plenty of contingency planning to be done, and shell continue managing the bottling-line operations, one of her previous major responsibilities, even as the head winemaker.

Shes tweaking the Jordan style, with the plan being to make the wines more French. The chardonnay, for example, will undergo less malolactic fermentation while utilizing more cooler-climate fruit from Sonomas coastal vineyards to the west. Because of the latter, Kruse will be visiting a number of them with Dana Grande, who has returned to Jordan in the newly created role of grower-relations manager, a title she recently held at Ferrari-Carano.

As for the 2020 vintages prospects, there are positive precedents. Champagne proved remarkably resilient in 1917-18 despite the carnage wrought by some of the most horrific battles of World War I being fought in its backyard and the Spanish flu pandemic. Bordeauxs 1945 vintage, in turn, would be judged among the greatest of the 20th century, never mind the disruptions and privations caused by World War II.

So maybe history repeats?

Our cabernet this year, Kruse said, looks amazing.

sportywineguy@outlook.com
As tinny string chords echo through the rooms, an instructor starts her count: Five, six, seven, to the left! Dancers move their arms and legs fluidly to the beat, swaying as some whip long hair behind their shoulders.

Although the dancers arent all in one studio, they move together on different screens through a Zoom call, during one of the free Bollywood dance classes Anisha Gupta and Sonali Patel have offered since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Initially, the intent was to reach out to the Houston community and local Houston people. But I think the amazing thing is that weve been able to reach out to people, actually, internationally, Patel said. We loved it. I think everyones been able to take advantage of it and make this a good outlet for them to just stay active and healthy and happy.

Gupta and Patel are both in the medical field, specializing in endocrinology and emergency medicine, respectively. The duo started the T2 Dance classes in January after meeting through a physicians group. They talked about how theyd performed Bollywood dance their whole lives and wanted to get back into it. But after a few live classes in February, the pandemic pushed their dancing to a virtual format.

We have kids as young as 4 coming to our classes and then adults over the age of 65  we have people of all different races, ethnicities, nationalities, Gupta said. Its been really great to just be able to get people involved with something that theyve done before, or that theyve never done before and are wanting to learn. Its been great to be able to give that back because Sonali and I had so much of that in our childhood.

Each dance they teach has original choreography, Gupta said, so after treating patients and coming home to take care of their families, theyre learning the new dances themselves.

I started (dancing) probably since I was on my feet; I mean Ive been dancing since I can remember, Patel said. A big part of Indian culture is having dances and performances at special occasions, receptions, anniversary parties, all kinds of things. Ive been choreographing dances and being a part of those type of dances throughout my whole life.

Patels sister, Monali Patel, has also participated in the classes, even though she practices medicine more than 1,400 miles away in San Diego. She dances in adult classes every other week, and her two daughters  ages 7 and 11  dance in the childrens classes. On Fathers Day, they booked a special class where her whole family danced together.

Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

(My sister and I) dont get to connect as much because were both busy. Shes a doctor, Im a doctor and, like, we dont get to connect, but I feel like this has been able to help us connect as well, Monali said. Theyve really been just extremely welcoming, which is nice to see because everyones struggling right now. And to see somebody encouraging you, and taking their time out to just do this out of their passion and their love is kind of endearing to me.

Patel and Gupta also offer private lessons; they choreographed a first dance for a friends wedding in February. The dance was simple, Patel said, with a combination of slow-dance elements and Bollywood moves.

Indian culture is all about dancing, brightness and movement. And so, if youve ever been to an Indian wedding or an event, theres all these choreographed dances, and I think thats something were really excited to do for all of our friends when they get married, Gupta said. We could choreograph a flash mob, or we could choreograph a bridesmaids dance and stuff like that.  Whenever people start getting married in real life again  that is something that were excited to get involved with.

Though the classes are currently free, the two instructors have directed donations theyve received toward philanthropy.

T2 Dances May fundraiser donated $881 to Save the Children, an organization that provides support for vulnerable regions affected by COVID-19. The June fundraiser will support the Tyrone Gayle Scholars Program at Clemson University, which funds two students from underrepresented communities to pursue mentorship and opportunities in politics.

Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The scholarships namesake, Gayle, who passed away at age 30, was the brother of one of Guptas friends. She said he was a huge advocate in politics and a really great role model for Black students in the realm of politics.

This month, especially with everything thats going on, we really wanted to highlight the Black Lives Matter movement, Gupta said in late June. The goal is to continue to spread it to other schools so that we can get those opportunities to the next generation, because the only way were going to make change in politics is looking at the long game. I think thats the most important thing that Tyrone taught us, and were trying to continue his legacy in our small way.

Monali donated to both of these causes and said T2 Dances pledge to these efforts during the pandemic pushes her to continue to support the studio.

I think theyre just doing this out of the love of doing something they have a passion for and bringing together people that have a passion for it, and doing something good for the world in terms of the times that are going on, Monali said. Its not just the typical business endeavor. Its people with good hearts that are taking it to the next level and putting in all their hard work, in addition to what they do on a daily basis.

Jordan R. Miller is a Houston-based freelance writer.
Although Archway Gallery considered canceling its 12th Annual Juried Art Exhibition earlier this year because of the pandemic, the show had to continue.

On Sunday, July 5, the gallery, located at 2305 Dunlavy in Houston, held a Facebook Live watch party that revealed 39 selected pieces from 243 submissions. Of those 39, three winners and five honorable mentions were chosen. The show that includes all 39 selections is going on both virtually and in person by appointment only through July 30.

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Its just a really gratifying and satisfying way to sort of share our space for a short time with artists who might not have that opportunity otherwise, said the exhibitions co-chair, Liz Conces Spencer.

Archway Gallery is owned and operated by 33 artists. Spencer said they typically like to have the wheels on the bus by January, with a prospectus sent out to bring in different artists from the outside; a juror chosen and lined up; and a charity partner ready to work together. But as the COVID-19 pandemic began to take shape, Spencer and her co-chair Becky Soria decided they would need to make alternative plans.

In the past, artists would pay to enter the contest and then drop up to two pieces by the museum. Later, they would either receive a call telling them they had been selected for the exhibition or know they hadnt and pick up their works. This year, artists brought their pieces during appointments scheduled half an hour apart.

There was never a line at the door. There was never more than one person, Spencer said. And they didnt even come in the gallery, with the exception of one difficult piece, which needed a couple of people to carry it in. And so that worked out well and was a nod to the times that we live in.

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Artist Ziping Wang took home first place for her oil painting, Staring at Night Sky. She also received a $500 cash prize and guest privileges at the gallery for a month. Wang said she has been making art as far back as she can recall, learning from her father who taught art at a local university.

I have grown up running around his solvent-scented studio filled with skylight, knocking over paint buckets and snacking on apples and bananas from his classroom still-life setups, Wang said. As a kid, I always feel like there are so many things I want to express through paint, but I dont have the proper technical skills to do it.

Later, she studied art at Rhode Island School of Design. She painted the winning piece from one night outside her boyfriends parents home in Sugar Land, where she has been riding out the pandemic. Wang said the works inspiration came from a mixture of emotions inside her.

The image is quite fragmented and overloaded because it comes from a combination of insecurity, anxiety, but also faith and optimism, she said.

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For her, finding out she had won meant being welcomed into the Houston art scene, and she hopes to plant roots here soon. She also appreciated that 50 percent of the sale of the painting will go to the Houston Junior Forum, a nonprofit that helps area children, youth, women and senior adults.

Richmond artist Cecilia Campos won second place for her acrylic on canvas, Womb. The work is part of her Ephemeral series, and she said the glass containers refer to Earth. I reflect in my paintings the time that we live in and my greatest concern; the fragility and ephemerality of life on our planet. Although my art will not change the way people act, I can bring to light the life on our planet that we must look after, Campos said.

Southwest Houston artist Jo Zider won third place for her etched glass and mixed media piece, Where I Am. A member of Archway Gallery until 1986, Zider said she supports its premise and wanted to take part in the show.

Her inspiration for the work came from seeds of social justice, she said. Using mirrored glass with etched images of barbed wire and stone fences and victims of abuse, allows the viewer to question Where I Am.

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The honorable mentions include: Laura Spector, oil painting, Artist in his Studio; Margaret Howell, photography, Hall of Mirrors, Versailles; Gary Watson, photography, Double Anxiety; Richard Stewart, sculpture, Initiator; and Michael Abraham, archival print, The Night She Decided to Leave.

Juror Wayne Gilbert studied all 243 submissions for the show, ultimately choosing a collection of both 2D and 3D pieces. He said in a press release that his advice for artists was, When you stop loving it, stop making it. But he added, When things are dark in life, art makes it light up a little.

Spencer called Houston a hotbed of creative talent in performing, literary and visual arts and said she is glad to see Archway Gallery helping rising artists grow and be seen in the community.

The show is viewable at www.archwaygallery.com. The entire exhibition is also in the gallery on view by appointment only through July 30, along with another exhibition, BlackLivesMatter: Time for Change. To make an appointment, email info@archwaygallery.com. Fifty percent of the proceeds from each piece sold goes to the Houston Junior Forum, and 50 percent goes to the artist.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
The Nov. 3 township election was expected to be the most important in the communitys history, with voters possibly faced with the question of incorporation of The Woodlands on the ballot. Those expectations were quashed in mid-March when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the board to table the issue to a future election.

Despite not having to decide whether or not to incorporate into a city, township residents will vote on four seats on the township board as long-time incumbents Gordy Bunch, Bruce Rieser and John Anthony Brown are up for re-election and newcomer Jason J. Nelson seeks his first official elected term in office. Only two candidates have announced their intention to seek office, Nelson and Brown.

The candidate filing period opens July 18, and ends Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. Candidates can file applications with apporpriate paperwork at the township offices, located at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands.

Related: Villager Q&A: Jason Nelson, The Woodlands new board member

Nelson, who was appointed on April 16 to fill the remaining months of Brian Bonifaces term, quickly announced he was seeking to be elected to the Position 2 seat in the Nov. 3 election. His eagerness to seek office when his appointment ended was one element that several directors considered when appointing him over two other candidates  Walter Lisiewski and Peggy Hausman. Hausman had told directors if appointed she would only serve the final eight months of Bonifaces term.

Related: John Anthony Brown to seek 3rd term on Woodlands board

Brown, a popular figure on the board who originally hails from Philadelphia, announced he was seeking his third term in office in May. Brown defeated several opponents in 2016 when first elected, however he ran unopposed in 2018 and won his second term with 100 percent of the vote.

Board Vice Chairman Bruce Rieser has yet announce any decision on a possible third term in office. He, like Brown, was first elected in 2016.

I have yet to decide on a third run, Rieser said in an email to The Villager on July 7.

Bunch, who is the board chairman, was first elected in 2012. After challenges in 2014 and 2016, Bunch also ran unopposed in 2018, winning with 100 percent of the votes. He has not announced whether or not he is seeking a fifth term in office as of July 7.

Former director Brian Boniface, who would have been up for re-election in November, resigned from the board on April 9 with eight months left in his term. A captain in the U.S. Army Reserves, Boniface was called to active duty for a six-month humanitarian relief mission as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened in early April. His resignation led to the appointment of Nelson on April 16.

Related: Boniface resigns from Woodlands board due to Army Reserves call-up

The township board is composed of seven members, all of whom serve two-year terms. They are not paid for their services and are required to attend two meetings per month as well as take part in various other subcommittees and attend regional governmental meetings. The township is a special purpose district created by the Texas Legislature with similarities to municipal utility districts.

A new political action committee in The Woodlands  The Township Future PAC  hosted a Zoom video conference on July 1 to help educate residents who may be interested in running for the board. Amy Lecocq, spokesperson for the PAC, said more than 60 people participated in the event, which was designed to recruit candidates as well as to introduce politically active locals to the townships elections process and explain how campaigns work.

Of course we dont know how many candidates will file. During the last election, two out of three of the directors were elected with less than the majority of voters, Lecocq said. Since there is no runoff, it would be better to have no more than two candidates to assure that the next four directors are elected by a majority. We are looking for one strong candidate per position.

Residents, board unable to remove a director

After a recent controversy centered around the LGBTQ wording in a board-issued diversity proclamation, many residents called for the resignation of first-term director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs.

Related: Woodlands board member faces calls for resignation

Township attorney Robin Cross verified that the enabling legislation that sets the guidelines for the townships elections did not grant power or authority to remove a director in any manner aside from resignation.

Sekula-Gibbs contested a brief section of the diversity and inclusion proclamation that addressed and recognized sexual and gender identity as one of many groups that should be accepted and respected by all. The proclamation was requested by fellow director Ann Snyder in the wake of the national social justice movements that emerged in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis.

During a lengthy public comment session on June 24,some residents demanded Sekula-Gibbs resign while others posted onto social media questions about recalling her or possibly having board of directors remove her. Sekula-Gibbs rejected calls she step down, stating she has no intention of leaving the seat she won in November 2019.

The townships Enabling Legislation makes no provision for either the township board to remove a board member elected by the majority of residents within an election, nor does it contain a process for township voters to follow to recall a board member they have elected to office, Cross said in an email to The Villager.

jeff.forward@chron.com
One day after American Airlines resumed booking flights to capacity, ending its effort to cap the number of passengers on board in response to the pandemic, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., experienced the policy change firsthand.

Instead of finding his connecting flight to Texas mostly empty, as he had flying American recently, Merkley saw passengers shoulder to shoulder.

"They're breathing inches from your own nose and mouth, they're taking off their mask to eat or to drink," Merkley told The Washington Post. "It feels like a pretty high-risk situation."

Merkley, wary of contracting the coronavirus en route to his Oregon home where his mother lives in hospice, tweeted a selfie showing the lack of social distancing on his flight and called the airline "incredibly irresponsible."

Many Twitter users replied with outrage against American Airlines, and some questioned why members of the government like Merkley couldn't do something about the issue. A day later, the senator announced on Twitter that he would introduce a bill to ban the sale of middle seats through the coronavirus pandemic.

"These airlines are only flying because we're subsidizing them, because we think they're essential," Merkley said. "If they're essential, then we should do everything we can to make them safe for the people who are using them."

In response to Merkley's tweet, American Airlines shared a statement with The Post last week that said: "We have multiple layers of protection in place for those who fly with us, including required face coverings, enhanced cleaning procedures, and a preflight COVID-19 symptom checklist - and we're providing additional flexibility for customers to change their travel plans, as well." On the topic of the middle seat bill specifically, they referred questions to Airlines for America, a trade association representing most of the country's major airlines, including American. Katherine Estep, the group's communications director, said in an emailed statement to The Post that U.S. airlines are notifying passengers if social distancing won't be feasible on their flight.

With the Senate currently out of session, Merkley says his team is trying to understand what leverage they have on the airlines as it crafts the bill.

"The money that's already been lent out to airlines may be under a contractual form that is hard to modify, but I'm sure there are other strategies, other incentives or penalties that might be possible if the airlines choose to [book full flights]," Merkley said.

As far as his confidence in turning the bill into law, Merkley says he'll need outside voices and pressure to help the process.

"It is going to be public attention and outcry that is going to have a huge factor, both on members of Congress ... and upon the companies thinking about their reputation and their customer relationships," Merkley said.

Merkley joins other government officials in expressing concern over American Airlines ending their in-flight social distancing efforts.

At a Senate panel last week, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, called the decision "something that is of concern," while Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said American Airlines' decision is under critical review by the CDC.

In-flight physical distancing is clearly recommended in the Transportation Department's Runway for Recovery plan, which states that "airlines should consider the feasibility of limiting seat availability to enable passengers to maintain social distance from each other during the flight," because "maximum risk reduction results from maintaining a social distance of six feet between passengers."

The passing of a bill like Merkley's could bring more consistency in airlines' coronavirus-focused health and safety precautions, as U.S. airlines have approached the issue differently throughout the pandemic.

Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines plan to continue limiting passengers on board "in some cases, through September." United Airlines and Spirit Airlines have not attempted socially distanced seating.
Over the weekend, Kanye West rocked the internet to its core after announcing his plans to run for the presidency this coming November 2020 elections.

In a Twitter post on the 4th of July, the 43-year-old rapper said that the people of America must unite to build the future and allow America to live up to its promise. That is why he is running for President to make that #2020VISION happen.

Kanye's presidential bid will challenge the campaign of incumbent President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival and former Vice President Joe Bidden.

But even before officially filing his candidacy, all eyes immediately pan all over Kanye's wife, Kim Kardashian, who could become the next first lady of America if the rapper wins.

Just like the rest of the internet, it looks like the "Keeping Up With The Kardashian" star was also left speechless with her husband's announcement as she just reposted Kanye's tweet with an American flag emoji.

While the 39-year-old beauty mogul chose to stay quiet and go back to promoting her products on social media, people could not help but drag her to the conversation and express their emotions about how Kim could be the future first lady, next to Melania Trump.

The idea of having a model/socialite/reality TV personality/former sex tape star as the next first lady drew mixed reactions from the internet and tons of memes that could make your jaw lock from laughing.

Goodbye, America!

Thinking about having the mother-of-four as the next first lady got other Twitter users "nauseated," while others say that America's future is over and the country is so f*cked up under the Wests' administration.

Some people swore to leave the United States if the "KKW Beauty" mogul became the first lady.

"Kanye West is running for President....which could make Kim Kardashian the first lady... I want OUT of this country no joke," one Twitter user wrote.

"If you guys let KIM KARDASHIAN become the first lady im leaving America #Kanye2020," another one added.

Team Kim K

Meanwhile, others came to Kim's defense and accused those who oppose the idea as misogynistic, as they are more concerned with the image of the first lady rather than focus on the candidate's credentials for the job.

"Stop slut-shaming Kim Kardashian as your excuse not to want her to be the first lady. It's misogynistic," one fan wrote.

"I don't think that would be so bad. Kim has been studying for a law degree and has helped a number of people to receive justice and get out of prison, a lot more than Melania has done, as far as I am aware," another one added.

White House Looks

While Kim is known for her incredibly curvy body and that unfortunate sex scandal in the past, the Instagram queen has been leveling up her style game as if she is ready to rock the White House.

Aside from her signature skimpy dresses, Kim can also rock a tailored suit, which gives her an ultimate boss babe/ first lady vibes. See some of Kim's White House looks below:

READ MORE: JK Rowling Canceled Forever? Author Unloads New Offensive, Insensitive Tweets!

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
A turtle that had been injured and had a customized wheelchair built for it from Legos has been released into the wild.

Dubbed "Lego turtle," the male Eastern box turtle had been in the care of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. It was released Wednesday morning in the city's Druid Hill Park, and with a transmitter on its back officials said they'll be able to keep tabs on it in its native habitat.

The turtle's tale started two years ago, when it was found by a zoo employee in the park and brought to the facility. The turtle had a broken shell and underwent surgery that involved placing metal bone plates, sewing clasps and surgical wire to keep its shell held together.

Ellen Bronson, senior director of animal health, conservation and research at the zoo, said the turtle had fractures on the bottom of its shell. Because of where the fractures were located, "we faced a difficult challenge with maintaining the turtle's mobility while allowing him to heal properly," Bronson said.

Garrett Fraess, who was a veterinary student and in a clinical rotation at the zoo, said at the time that it was key to "keep the bottom of the shell off the ground so it could heal properly." The turtle's injury was unusual because they often don't get injuries on the top of their shells, so experts had said that there weren't repair kits to help it.

"They don't make turtle wheelchairs," Fraess said, so he and a team sketched a customized wheelchair. He sent the sketches to a friend in Denmark who is a huge Lego fan, and she made a wheelchair for the turtle.

The wheelchair worked because the Lego frame surrounded the turtle's roughly grapefruit-size shell, and with plumber's putty it attached to the edges of the upper shell, which got it off the ground and allowed it to move its legs, according to Fraess.

The Lego wheelchair even allowed it to fully close its shell when he felt threatened.

Turtles, experts said, heal much slower than birds and mammals because their metabolism is slower. The turtle used its Lego wheelchair through the winter and spring of 2019 until "all of the fragments were fused together and the shell was almost completely healed," according to Bronson. Then they took off the wheelchair and the turtle underwent "exercise time" to build up strength in its legs before its release, Bronson said in a statement.

Bronson called the turtle, which is 18 years old, a "unique" patient at the zoo and said it was a "joy" to work with and to see it return to its native habitat.

The zoo has done a project to monitor Eastern box turtles at the park since 1996. They've recorded, tagged and released more than 130 wild turtles. The work is used to help conservationists see how the turtles, which are native to Maryland, are doing in an urban setting.
The Jacksonville area will be down an ambulance at the start of August and some worry it will delay ambulance response times.

The South Jacksonville Village Board of Trustees voted Thursday to defund the villages ambulance service, voting 4-to-1 against actions items that would have fully or partially funded the ambulance.

The ambulance service will continue through July and operations will cease on Aug. 1

The decision to stop funding the service was, simply economics, village Trustee Dick Samples said.

South Jacksonville Fire Chief Rich Evans Jr. said defunding the service will be a loss for South Jacksonville and for nearby communities to which the South Jacksonville ambulance service provides backup.

There will be times where someone needing an ambulance will not get one right away, Evans said.

The ambulance service was developed in 2008 as a way to add a fourth ambulance for the Jacksonville area  along with LifeStar Ambulance Services three ambulances, Evans said. While South Jacksonville Fire Department will continue to respond to medical calls, it could take between 20 and 30 minutes for a LifeStar ambulance or an ambulance from another nearby community to arrive during busy periods, Evans said.

We cant really predict calls, Evans said. Sometimes its quiet and then it is bam, bam bam all at once.

The ambulance service was never designed as a money-maker, Evans said, adding that there were signs the service was improving at making a profit. Service rates had been raised and a collection agency was hired to collect ambulance service fees.

Tom Jordan, the sole trustee to vote against defunding the ambulance service, said he felt the need as chair of the villages Public Protection Committee to advocate for emergency services.

Village residents have told Jordan they believe the ambulance service is accessible and has been helpful in critical situations, he said.

People are going to suffer out there, Jordan said. It could be a life-or-death situation in some instances.

While his fellow trustees were concerned that the service was not generating revenue, Jordan said, he considers the ambulance a vital service for the village.

Evans said he is continuing to talk to trustees to try to come to an arrangement over the ambulance service.

Jordan would like to see an arrangement made yet this month to keep the ambulance service, he said, noting that trustees have been hearing negative feedback about the decision from residents.

Village President Harry Jennings and other members of the South Jacksonville Board of Trustees did not return calls for comment.
If all goes according to plan, thousands of Republicans from all corners of Texas will gather next week at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston for their partys biennial convention.

That seems like a terrible idea, doesnt it?

The country is in the midst of a pandemic that has already claimed more than 130,000 lives nationwide. In recent weeks, Houston has emerged as one of the nations coronavirus hotspots. As of Monday, some 206,000 COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the state, with 53,000 of those in the Houston region. Public health experts have warned that we are facing what one called nightmarish catastrophe.

And, if the Texas GOP convention proceeds as scheduled, it will count as one of the nations largest in-person indoor gatherings since the spring.

But Walter West, a member of the Texas GOPs governing board, thinks people who find that worrisome are overreacting.

You had 60,000 protesters that were there, what, a month ago? West said Monday, referring to the Black Lives Matter protests in Houston following George Floyds killing in the custody of Minneapolis police.

The opposition has been outside demonstrating and protesting, arm-in-arm, he continued. Were going to be six feet apart.

West is one of the 40 State Republican Executive Committee members who voted at a special virtual meeting last week in favor of proceeding with an in-person convention last week. Twenty members voted against the motion.

The vote came shortly after Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide mask order, a belated move that nevertheless elicited the anger of many conservative activists  some of whom have even called for his censure at the convention.

But the news that the Texas GOP plans to proceed with an indoors, in-person gathering nonetheless caught many Texans off-guard.

Mayor Sylvester Turner is urging Republican leaders to hold a virtual convention this year, as the Texas Democratic Party did last month.

I will continue to believe that wiser heads will prevail and that people will recognize that this is a pandemic and people are dying and people are getting infected and that the numbers in this state are going up and not down, Turner told CNN late Tuesday.

The Texas Medical Association, which had previously called on GOP leaders to cancel the convention, withdrew its sponsorship of the event after the executive committee vote.

With or without masks, an indoor gathering of thousands of people from all around the state in a city with tens of thousands of active COVID-19 cases poses a significant health risk to convention-goers, convention workers, health care workers, and the residents of Houston, TMA President Diana Fite said in a statement.

Association members are also concerned about the possibility that the coronavirus might hitch a ride from Houston back to parts of the state that have thus far been spared the worst of the pandemic, she said.

Bo Delp, the senior political organizer for Local 23 of Unite Here, said the union is focused on making sure everyone summoned to work at the convention center and adjacent hotels has health insurance.

Our members are really nervous, Delp said.

Understandably so. If youre wondering if the Texas GOP is going to go through with this, though, the answer is apparently yes.

The governor was seemingly reluctant to antagonize right-wing voters any further by criticizing the executive committees decision.

Were at a time with an outbreak of the coronavirus where public safety needs to be a paramount concern and make sure that whoever does anything and wherever, whatever they do, they need to do it in ways that reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Abbott told Dallas-based KDFW on Monday.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a fellow Republican, also issued a statement accepting the executive committees decision.

I agree with the twenty people who believe it is not a good idea to hold an in-person state convention in Houston because so many of our party activists will be unable to attend, said Patrick. It also risks the exposure of those who do attend. But I respect the will of the forty people who voted and I will be there.

The rest of us will probably just have to hope for the best.

West, the executive committee member, is overseeing the conventions health and safety precautions  which are, he told me, more stringent than the city requires.

Attendees will be required to wear masks, in accordance with Abbotts order, and to maintain social distancing. Theyll also be subject to temperature screening, and can be denied entry to the convention center if theyre running a fever.

Further, as West explained, this years convention will lack the glitz and glamour of past gatherings. Most of the Republican elected officials who attend will do so briefly, possibly via video.

Theres also unlikely to be much after-hours socializing among the delegates, if only because the resurgence of the coronavirus prompted Abbott to close the states bars again and limit restaurants to 50 percent of capacity. Public health experts are skeptical of whether these precautions will be sufficient.

Still, West stands by the decision to hold an in-person convention.

Did you see our last two Zoom meetings? They have been disastrous, West said.

Most recently, he explained, the 64 members of the executive committee spent four hours debating two pieces of business.

Imagine 6,000 to 9,000 delegates on a Zoom meeting trying to do much more, he said.

That does sound painful. But it wouldnt be the worst outcome imaginable, under the circumstances. A super-spreader event, in which one person infects a disproportionate number of others, would be far worse.

erica.grieder@chron.com
Its a nerve-wracking time for families of schoolchildren across Texas wrestling with a difficult decision: should I send my child back to campus in August?

Texas Education Agency officials offered families more clarity Tuesday on how school will look next month, though many questions and some confusion remains. Here are answers to common questions about the reopening of public school campuses (with the full state guidance available here):

Will campuses be open for in-person classes throughout the 2020-21 school year?

Barring an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott or a temporary shutdown of a building due to a confirmed COVID-19 case, schools are expected to be open. State officials did not specify Tuesday whether local health departments could order the closure of schools, but for now, it does not appear likely.

Abbott has not outlined the conditions under which he would order campus closures, though he has not ruled out that possibility in recent days when interviewed by local television stations in Dallas and San Antonio.

Can I be forced to send my child to in-person classes at a school as a condition of remaining enrolled at that school?

No. State officials are mandating that schools must offer virtual-only instruction to any family that chooses to keep their child at home.

Can a school district tell me that my child cannot come to in-person classes five days per week?

No, though there is one brief exception.

For the first three weeks of their school year, districts can force students with computers and/or Internet access at home to stay there. This is designed to give districts some time to adjust to in-person classes amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Ive heard about my school districts considering a hybrid model, where children would come to school for part of the week and learn from home the rest of the week. Can school districts force my child to follow that model?

No. State rules mandate that any student who wants to attend in-person classes five days a week must have that option.

Will my child be required to wear a mask when returning to a campus? What about my childs teachers and other on-campus staff?

If school were to start today, everybody in a school would be required to follow Gov. Greg Abbotts executive order, which requires people over the age of 9 to wear a mask while in public buildings (with a few exceptions).

If that order expires, however, local school districts will have discretion over whether to require the use of masks. Few districts have announced their decision on mandating masks, though announcements generally are expected sometime later this month.

What about social distancing protocols? Hand sanitizer requirements? Daily temperature checks?

Each school district will decide many of those protocols  though state officials have some recommendations.

State guidance encourages social distancing, including the placement of desks six feet apart in classrooms when possible. The state also recommends putting hand sanitizer or washing equipment in each classroom, with at least two daily sessions of supervised handwashing. State officials do not recommend daily forehead temperature checks, questioning their reliability and feasability, though the practice is not banned.

Again, districts generally are expected to establish their protocols for safety and hygiene later this month.

What will be required academically if my child chooses to remain in a virtual-only setting?

Students learning from home can engage in synchronous instruction, which involves a teacher providing live lessons through video streaming, or aysnchronous instruction, which involves completing classwork on their own time with occasional check-ins from teachers.

If a student goes the synchronous route, third through fifth graders must spend at least three hours engaged in classwork, while sixth through 12th graders must spend at least four hours online. Districts will not receive funding for providing synchronous lessons to students in prekindergarten through second grade, so that option likely will not exist for the states youngest students.

If a student chooses asynchronous instruction, he or she must be engaged during each day, which could include showing progress in an online learning platform, keeping in touch with teachers or turning in assignments. Each district will be required to submit plans for how asynchronous instruction will occur in their schools.

Notably, districts must continue to assign grades to students learning from home. In addition, students still must attend classes for 90 percent of days each course is offered to receive credit for the class. Engaging in synchronous or asynchronous instruction counts as attending a course.

When do I have to decide whether to send my child back for in-person classes or remain virtual-only?

The deadline will vary by school district, but state regulations specify that families cannot be asked to commit to a choice any earlier than two weeks before the start of the districts school year. Some districts plan to ask families about their plans earlier than that, but parents and guardians can change their mind at least until the two-week window.

What if I choose to start my child online-only, but later want to switch to in-person classes after school starts?

Families can make that change, though school districts can force students to wait until the end of the six-week grading period to return to campus.

What happens if I send my child back to campus, and a student or adult who has been in the building tests positive for COVID-19?

Your school district must notify you if an individual who has been present at your childs school tests positive. If the individual was on-campus in the prior three days, the district must close off areas heavily used by that person and disinfect the area, per state guidance. There are no state guidelines mandating testing for contact tracing purposes.

The district can choose to temporarily close the campus for up to five days, but not longer than it takes to disinfect the space.

Will my childrens teachers be required to come back to campuses for in-person instruction?

School districts will have discretion over mandating who must return to campuses. Many districts have said that employees at higher risk of COVID-19 complications due to pre-existing medical conditions likely will not have to return for in-person instruction.

However, there might be cases in which younger and healthier staff members want to continue working from home due to fear of the coronavirus. Some districts might make accommodations for those employees, particularly if enough families choose to keep their children in virtual-only classes. Other districts might not be as accommodating, which could lead to discipline or firing. The exact outcomes in those cases could depend on terms outlined in employee contracts, which vary by district.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
An east Harris County nursing home is under investigation following a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility, Harris County Public Health announced Tuesday.

Four deaths at the Jacinto Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Holland Avenue are currently pending review to determine if COVID-19 related, according to a news release. Another 57 residents and staff members have tested positive and are actively being monitored by public health officials, according to Harris County Public Health spokeswoman Martha Marquez. The facility has 148 total beds, records show.

Calls to the facility and its listed owner Tuesday night were not returned by press time.

The countys public health department initiated the investigation June 10 after the home reported 12 positive tests and one person who died from the virus. Harris County Public Health on July 3 ordered the facility to ensure compliance with infection control measures and track the transmission of the virus.

As part of the order, Marquez said no visitors are allowed inside the facility, and the residents have been quarantined in their rooms

Texas Health and Human Services, which regulates state healthcare facilities, is also involved in the investigation. The state agencys online records show the home was last inspected in May 2019. It was cited for nine violations  all of which were corrected that month including failing to make sure the home was free of dangers that cause accidents and not storing, cooking or giving out food in a safe and clean way.

In its release, Harris County Public Health urged all residents to limit visits to long-term care facilities.

We can all contribute to stopping the spread of COVID-19 by wearing face-coverings, practicing social distancing (6ft/2m or greater), washing hands often and following everyday COVID-19 prevention measures, the release said.

The outbreak was reported amid discrepancies in COVID-19 data among nursing homes nationwide.

The Trump administration previously required nursing homes to report their COVID-19 cases and promised to make the data available to residents, families and the public in a user-friendly way, the Associated Press reported.

However, some facilities that have had coronavirus cases and deaths turn up as having none on Medicares COVID-19 nursing home website, according to AP. The data for Jacinto Nursing & Rehabilitation Center only goes up to the week of June 21, showing 44 positive tests among residents and six among staff. That dataset only included one COVID-19 related death of a resident.

In Harris County, 39,311 people have tested positive for COVID-19, and 407 people have died.

julian.gill@chron.com
The royal family has been wrapping their heads around two major controversies involving some of the British monarchy's key members. There is Prince Andrew's association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the sudden decision of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to step down as senior royals.

Even before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bombshell announcement on Instagram, Prince Andrew is already on the hot seat for allegedly participating in Epstein's decade-long sex trafficking scheme. The Duke of York was accused of forcing one of Epstein's sex slaves to have sex with him three times between 1999 to 2001.

Although the 60-year-old royal tried to clear his name through a BBC interview, the backlash only intensified, leading him to stay away from the spotlight and quit his royal duties.

All of a sudden, everything revolves around Prince Harry and Meghan's royal exit and how ungrateful they are to the royal family. The Sussexes have been attacked on tabloids as if it is a cardinal sin to seek for a private and independent life.

This led people wondering why the press is not giving Prince Andrew the same treatment as Prince Harry and Meghan, considering that the accusations thrown at him are a much bigger scandal to the British monarchy.

Is the Royal Family Censoring the Jeffrey Epstein Case?

In the wake of the sensational arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell -- Epstein's former associate who helped him execute his sexual abuse -- several journalists are coming forward to reveal an order they receive when it comes to covering Prince Andrew's association with the case.

It turns out that media members are allegedly being told to refrain from talking about Prince Andrew's relationship with Epstein and the case.

In a Twitter post on Monday, investigative journalist Tara Palmeri revealed that she was requested not to talk about Prince Andrew and Epstein in a radio show.

"Was on a British radio show today to talk about Ghislaine Maxwell. I was asked not to mention Prince Andrew because it was "legally hot." #JeffreyEpstein" Palmeri wrote.

Was on a British radio show today to talk about Ghislaine Maxwell. I was asked not to mention Prince Andrew because it was "legally hot." #JeffreyEpstein  Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) July 6, 2020

New York-based multimedia journalist Stephanie Guerillas echoed Palmeri's statement and said: "Yup. They have repeatedly invited me to discuss the most mundane matters but never Prince Andrew and the allegations against him."

Yup. They have repeatedly invited me to discuss the most mundane matters but never Prince Andrew and the allegations against him.  Stephanie. (@qsteph) July 6, 2020

Politico senior editor Ryan Heath backed up Palmeri's claims and revealed that it was BBC who is silencing the press about Prince Andrew's Epstein scandal.

"This is #BBC Radio 4 "World at One," asking journalists not to mention Prince Andrew when discussing the Epstein/Maxwell case. This seems like an artificial limit to place on reporting this case," Heath wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, more journalists have come to light and revealed that they are being offered an interview or article spot to say something negative against Prince Harry and Meghan.

This is #BBC Radio 4 World at One asking journalists not to mention Prince Andrew when discussing the Epstein/Maxwell case. This seems like an artificial limit to place on reporting this case. https://t.co/JLej0tze3W  Ryan Heath (@PoliticoRyan) July 6, 2020

Could the Buckingham Palace or the Queen be behind this "media junta" prohibiting the press from talking more about Prince Andrew's sexual assault accusation? Or does the media just dwell on criticizing Harry and Meghan as it gives them more traffic, viewers, and readers wise?

READ MORE: Queen's Disaster: Queen Elizabeth II Slapped With Heartbreaking News Amid Meghan Markle Scandal

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
A Missouri man is accused of punching a Houston police dog Monday during a wild takedown caught on camera.

Officers were investigating an auto theft in the 2200 block of Airline Drive around noon when they spotted the suspect near a washateria, police said. As they tried to detain the man for questioning, he ran behind the building and jumped a fence into a small residential development.

Police surrounding the soon-to-be gated community and called for a special police K9 trained to sniff out and latch onto suspects. The dog sniffed the perimeter and found the man hiding in tall grass near a manufactured home inside the property.

DEADLY SHOOTING: Rookie deputy shot, gunman dead in north Harris County

Thats when he allegedly punched the dog, which then bit the man on his arm. Officers surrounded the man as the K9s handler worked to release the mans arm from the dogs grip, an effort which appeared to last about a minute, according to Chron.com footage.

Paramedics took the man to a nearby hospital. He was seen with a bloodied bandage on his arm as they loaded him into an ambulance.

Police identified the suspect as a 30-year-old Missouri man, Shannon Washington, who was charged with evading and attack on an assist animal. The K9, named 'Moxie,' is doing fine. Further details of the alleged attack were not made available.

The latter charge is rarely used in Harris County, according to the Harris County District Clerks Office. Washington is the sixth person to be charged with that crime here since 2005, which was the earliest record available.

Police tout their canine partners as effective tools in taking suspects into custody while keeping officers safe, although critics say police dogs can cause undue harm to suspects and innocent bystanders.

Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news for Chron.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com
A Texas Southern University-based center has put together a group of experts to inform conversations and help with the development of police reforms following George Floyds death and the protests nationwide about the treatment of Black people by law enforcement.

In addition to having deep resumes and decades of research experience, all eight members of the National Police Reform Advisory Group have one crucial expertise  the lived experience of being Black in America, according to Howard Henderson, founder of the Center for Justice Research.

When it comes to improving police-community experiences, theres no way theyre going to be able to do that without having African Americans at the table, said Henderson, who is also a professor of administration of justice at TSU.

According to a 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center, 84 percent of Black adults and 63 percent of white adults believe African Americans are generally treated less fairly by police than whites. Large majorities of both groups also believe Black people are treated less fairly by the criminal justice system as a whole.

We have the experts.  We share the experience of people who voice their discontent with the system, but we also have practical experience, Henderson said. We represent all sides.

The announcement follows the killing of Floyd, a longtime Third Ward resident, on May 25 in the custody of Minneapolis police. An officer knelt on Floyds neck for nearly nine minutes despite his pleas that he couldnt breathe. The officer was charged with murder, and three other officers at the scene also face charges in connection with Floyds death. The killing, captured on video, spawned protests nationwide and calls for police reform.

Interest in reform

In June, the Center for Justice Research announced the launch of the advisory group, which is composed of eight Black experts and researchers who are available to assist policymakers improve police-community relations, law enforcement training, public safety and understanding the disenfranchised.

The groups work, which helps TSUs justice research center remain laser-focused on identifying the best research and translating it into effective policy and program implementation, generally comes at no cost unless specific agencies or organizations are looking for technical or specific assistance, Henderson said.

Group members include Paul Elam, chief strategy officer with Michigan Public Health Institute; Lorenzo M. Boyd, director of the Center for Advanced Policing at the University of New Haven; Ronald Craig, assistant professor of criminal justice and criminology at Tennessee State University; David Baker, interim chair of TSUs administration of justice department; K.B. Turner, chair of the criminology and criminal justice department at the University of Memphis; and Bahiyyah M. Muhammad, assistant professor of sociology and criminology at Howard University.

Since its launch, the group has reviewed the Congressional Black Caucus recommendations, President Donald Trumps executive order on police reform, and the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which House Democrats passed in June but remains stalled in the Senate. The measure would ban no-knock warrants in drug-related cases and the use of chokeholds, make it easier to pursue legal action regarding police misconduct, and authorize the U.S. Department of Justice to create a registry of police misconduct incidents and issue subpoenas in investigations of such cases.

Connecting with lawmakers

TSUs police reform group is now working on its own corresponding recommendations.

Its first report  to be released later this year  will provide research on choke-holds. The group is also connecting with policymakers, lawmakers, district attorneys and other government officials to provide evidence-based and data-driven research to assist in police- and justice-reform efforts. It plans to host meetings twice a year to review additional policies, issue reports and strategize on how TSUs Center for Justice Research will move forward.

Launched in 2018, the center has worked to reduce mass incarceration and make the criminal justice system more equitable by training minority researchers, hiring seasoned experts and working with a network of academics to help create culturally sensitive and responsive approaches to police reform, Henderson said.

The center, which has also carried out studies and research analyzing everything from criminal justice students thoughts about racism to prosecutor workloads, has faced some scrutiny. A report released by the center and co-authored by Henderson asserting that the Harris County District Attorneys Office was short more than 100 lawyers drew criticism from more than two dozen academics and legal scholars last year for being littered with fatal flaws. Henderson defended the report in a rejoinder, stating that the report never recommended the need to hire that number of additional attorneys.

Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who is also a TSU alumnus, said hes aware of Hendersons previous report and is hopeful that he learned valuable lessons for the future.

Its important that people focus on credible reforms and not simply develop something that helps to placate a few people who raise issues and really protect the status quo, said Ellis.

However, Ellis emphasized that now is a unique time.

This is a pivotal moment in American and in world history with people zeroing in on equality and racist practices that have lasted for centuries, Ellis said. It really is a moment where people are opening their minds and hearts.

Henderson said the centers work has been in high demand.

News outlets across the country  such as CNN, Vice and Politico  have interviewed Henderson about his views on police reform and misconduct.

These are all signs, Henderson said, that the time has come to make important decisions on reform  particularly when 70 percent of the country is saying they want reform  even though politics often gets in the way.

He emphasized the need for reviews of police hiring practices, vetting of training, and input from human resource officers and psychologists at police departments to define underlying problems within law enforcement. And if were going to reform the system and do it meaningfully, he said, youre going to need Black researchers.

Other people might not see the world through that crucial lens, Henderson said, but we need to be at the table to raise those points of view.

brittany.britto@chron.com
Texas reported its deadliest day from the coronavirus on Tuesday, with 75 deaths and a record-shattering 10,400 new infections statewide, according to a data analysis and reporting by Hearst Newspapers.

Also, Texas set a new record for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with 9,286. The state now has more than twice as many people hospitalized for the virus as two weeks ago. Some hospitals are quickly running out of space for new patients.

This should be an alarm bell for everybody watching this show right now who has been a disbeliever about whether or not COVID-19 is really a threat, Gov. Greg Abbott said on Tuesday during an interview on KENS in San Antonio about the increasing numbers.

Later in an interview on Houstons KPRC2, Abbott warned that COVID-19 is spreading more dangerously and more rapidly across the state of Texas than it ever has.

TEXAS TIMELINE: How coronavirus took over Texas

Health officials had predicted higher daily new case counts coming off of low reporting over the holiday weekend.

New York and Florida are the only other states to record more than 10,000 new cases in a single day. New York hit that total back in April, when New York City hospitals were overwhelmed and hundreds of people were dying every day. Florida topped 10,000 confirmed cases last week.

Overall Texas has had 2,758 people die from COVID-19, according to the Hearst Newspapers data; Florida has reported 3,841 deaths.

In the past week, the average number of deaths per day in Texas has climbed to 43  the worst such stretch since the pandemic began. The week before, the average was 31, the data shows.

Tuesdays record counts were reported as the State Fair of Texas was canceled for the first time since World War II. Fair organizers said the event, which draws more than a million visitors to Dallas each fall, was not feasible during the pandemic.

My concern is that we may see greater fatalities going forward as we go into the middle part of July, Abbott warned Monday night in an interview with FOX4 in Dallas.

Abbott has barred elective surgeries in eight counties in Texas in an attempt to free up more hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. And he is sending more health care workers and equipment into hard-hit areas such as the Rio Grande Valley, Corpus Christi and Midland-Odessa.

What we are doing is, we are surging people  medical staff  into those regions to assist, to make sure those regions will have all the medical resources they need to be able to respond to the growing hospitalizations, Abbott said.

Since Memorial Day, Texas has seen a 515-percent increase in hospitalizations for the disease.

In a 12-county area around Corpus Christi, state officials reported there were just four available ICU beds on Tuesday. In the three-county area around Laredo, six ICU beds were available.

The Department of State Health Services has deployed 800 nurses and other medical professionals into hot spots over the past several days, including workers from out of state. It plans to send out another 600 soon, and has about 600 more providers in the state on standby in case hospitals become overrun.

The agency has also distributed extra ventilators and oxygen concentrators to struggling hospitals.

Many of us are running at capacity and have created new wards, said Michael Mann, the chief executive officer at McAllen Medical Center, which on Tuesday had more than 130 coronavirus patients taking up more than half of the facility's beds. The physical space is obviously limited, and most of the hospitals are running out of that pretty quickly.

Earlier Tuesday, Abbott and the federal government announced that a new surge testing site is being opened in Edinburg in the Rio Grande Valley in response to the outbreak there.

About 5,000 tests a day can be administered at the site, one of three in the nation being established in an experiment to try to tamp down rising numbers of cases and hospitalizations. The others are in Jacksonville, Fla. and Baton Rouge, La.

The Edinburg site opens Wednesday and will remain open through July 14.

Jeremy Blackman and Stephanie Lamm contributed to this report, which contains material from the Associated Press.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
Finally. Responsible officials have pulled the plug on the in-person state Republican convention scheduled for next week in Houston.

Wednesday morning, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced he was reviewing legal options for canceling the convention, after efforts to convince state Republican officials to do so on their own had come to naught. Hours later, Houston First Corporation sent a letter to GOP leaders saying it was invoking the force majeure clause in its agreement with the state party and canceling the event at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Its about time a responsible leader stepped up.

We wholly support the mayors decision to save the GOP from itself, which regardless of the danger, has remained adamant in bringing together 6,000 attendees from across Texas inside the downtown convention center.

This determination  ratified last week by party leadership and reinforced again Wednesday afternoon after the mayors announcement  is especially reckless considering the record-setting number of COVID-19 cases in the state and the alarming pace of hospitalizations and deaths caused by the novel coronavirus. The Houston region is now among the most heavily-hit hot spots in America, with 2,147 new cases Tuesday alone and nine new deaths.

As expected, the Republican Party of Texas immediately challenged the mayors Wednesday announcement, when it should have done the right thing and heeded the rising chorus of voices, including the Greater Houston Partnership, urging it to hold its convention online.

After allowing tens of thousands of protesters to peaceably assemble in the same city, in the same area, without any of the safety precautions and measures we have taken, he is seeking to deny a political partys critical electoral function that should be equally protected under the constitution, state chairman James Dickey said in a statement.

This is a false equivalence. A remote convention can be effective in dealing with party business, and is hardly comparable to an outdoor protest.

Turner had been reluctant to cancel the in-person convention, no doubt because of the political fallout from the move. After all, he is a Democrat whose aggressive stance will be interpreted by some as a partisan act against the opposing party. But the GOPs intransigence, and Gov. Greg Abbotts maddening silence on the issue  which continued Wednesday, despite this editorial boards repeated reaching out for comment  left Turner no choice in advance of the looming July 16 start date.

As reported in the Chronicle, Turner was extremely reticent. An update to his COVID-19 executive order last week removed his explicit authority to cancel the convention and he told Houston City Council he would leave it up to the political personalities to make wise decisions. But his repeated pleas for Republican officials to exercise common sense went unheeded.

A final formal request by Turner asking that the convention be moved online was rebuffed Tuesday.

At Wednesday mornings city council meeting the mayor read a letter by the citys top health official, which called the convention a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of convention attendees and all Houstonians.

My number one priority is the health and safety of the people in this city, Turner said, adding that he simply could not ignore the strong warning in the letter by Dr. David Persse.

In response to the decision, Dickey noted the party had already instituted numerous precautions, including thermal scanning of attendees, revised floor plans to accommodate social distancing and would abide by Abbotts recent order that Texans should wear face masks in public.

Thats disingenuous.

Having thousands of people at a multi-day indoor gathering with a highly contagious virus on the guest list is a bad idea  period. And even with proper safety protocols in place, the risk of contagion would be high. Moreover, given the poor example set by President Trump and the rising disdain among some GOP members for Abbotts mandate on face coverings, there was a high likelihood that at least some of the party faithful would balk.

Dickey said the party is consulting with its lawyers, and promised to take all necessary steps to keep the in-person convention on track. Given the action late Wednesday by Houston First, which manages the convention center, it will likely have no choice but to move the convention online.

Dickey and his party would be both safer and smarter to drop this fight and get busy making the online convention as successful as it can. Thats what the state Democratic Party did in early June. In fact, the Republicans have already planned for this contingency, amending a rule on Sunday that would allow the party to move forward with an online convention.

The Texas GOP was playing a game of chicken with the coronavirus and putting its own members and all of Houston in the middle.

Were glad Turner and Houston First have finally moved to call this game over.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said Wednesday that city council members have a loss of common sense in questioning a $166,000 contract for helmets, provoking a sharp rebuke from two members.

The public spat came after Mayor Sylvester Turners administration tabled a vote on the contract with GT Distributors for 454 ballistic helmets, face shields and other tactical equipment.

The administration did not explain why it pulled the vote, but council members Jerry Davis and Tiffany Thomas said they were asking questions about the contract and seeking to get police to commit to demilitarizing during public protests.

The thought that in 2020 elected members of city council dont understand that a protective helmet is needed by police officers is a testament to the loss of common sense in our nation. We ask children and motorcycle riders to wear helmets; but we question the need for police  access to life saving equipment, Acevedo tweeted as council met Wednesday. He also shared the photo a sergeants bloodied face.

It is a shame that @houstonpolice is one of the few big city departments in the nation without this protective gear issued department-wide. The sgt. pictured above was recently injured when he was assaulted with a rock, he tweeted.

Acevedo didnt respond to a request for further comment.

At the end of the meeting, Davis lambasted the chief for declining to meet with him and for sending out a tweet instead of speaking with him directly.

What I really hate is when people go on Twitter and just start blabbing different things, Davis told the mayor.

He said it is council members job to ask questions about votes, and he said he easily could say the chief has lost common sense in refusing to release footage from body cameras in police shootings.

Maybe he doesn't have time to talk to me because he's so busy out on TV, Davis said. I'm going to ask you (Turner) to ask your chief ... to shut his mouth and get in these streets and do his job.

Thomas said she was shocked to see the tweet. She said council members made every effort to reach out to Acevedo, adding that police are not entitled to a just because approval.

I am offended because I believe that none of my colleagues are against protective helmets and shields for police, for there are other things that they must do with that equipment, Thomas said.

However, he's not listening. It's a bargaining tool to demilitarize the police during public protests. Thats been the ask, and thats been the recommendation. So, I am concerned that he would get on Twitter and not have a conversation with council members before he would publicly post that. But I can get on Twitter, too.

Turner said he had not seen the tweet but that council members had every right to ask questions about votes and proceed accordingly. He said Twitter is not the best forum for such disputes.

Its not, but we can play, Thomas replied. I got time today.

The mayor, who hired Acevedo, responded: Let me deal with my people.

Another council member, Greg Travis, said he was concerned the vote on the helmets was tabled.

These are defensive in nature, he said. I don't know why it was pulled, I tried to find out why it was pulled. It concerned me that it was, and I'm hoping there's no issue with it.

dylan.mcguinness@chron.com
The Harris County state district judge who handed Attorney General Ken Paxton a big win by moving his criminal case back to Collin County two weeks ago is now recusing himself because Paxtons office is representing him in a separate suit.

Now Judge Robert Johnsons quick exit is leading the attorneys prosecuting Paxton to question the decision to move the case back to Paxtons home county.

Johnson, who did not respond to requests for comment, made the venue change decision on June 25. A day later, he and all 22 other Harris County felony judges were added as defendants in a lawsuit alleging that the regions bail practices discriminate against poor defendants.

The Attorney Generals Office represents state agencies and individual employees of the state and officially became counsel to Johnson and 19 other judges on July 1.

BAIL CASE BACKGROUND: 23 Harris County judges sued over discriminatory bail practices

Paxton, a former Texas state lawmaker who was indicted on felony securities fraud charges five years ago, has influential friends and allies in Collin County, including District Attorney Greg Willis and members of the commissioners court  part of a network of associations that prompted a different judge to move the trial to Houston in the first place. Paxton has maintained his innocence.

Prosecutors in the case have appealed the move to Collin County, and the First Court of Appeals on Tuesday granted a motion for a stay of the proceedings during the appeal.

One of the prosecutors, Kent Schaffer, says the recusal raises questions about when Johnson knew he had a potential conflict of interest. He said he plans to look into the issue and will continue to push for the venue change to be voided.

If we can show that he was already in conversations with the AG about representation, he should have recused himself at that point, Schaffer said. If he had a conflict, he shouldnt have ruled on it to begin with.

Johnson said in court documents on Monday that he was recusing himself out of a concern that his impartiality might reasonably be questioned, citing from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Philip Hilder, an attorney for Paxton, said Tuesday that he has no doubt that Johnsons decision to move the case should stand.

The judges ruling was completely based in following the law and facts and (he) made the right decision by sending the case back to Collin County, Hilder said. He did not need to recuse himself on the matter since it had been ordered back to Collin County and the allegations against Mr. Paxton do not involve his official capacity but rather his individual capacity that predates his election to that office.

Johnson had agreed with Paxton that the judge who moved the case to Harris County in 2017 did so after his term had expired and the decision therefore invalid.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Judge orders Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons criminal case back to Collin County

The case is out of Johnson's hands for now until the appellate court rules  either upholding the move to Collin County or sending it back to his courtroom.

Schaffer said Johnson and other judges likely knew their involvement in the bail lawsuit was impending after two judges  Brian Warren and Chuck Silverman  intervened in the suit even before being named as defendants. Silverman intervened June 24, the day before Johnson made the venue change, and Warren intervened on June 26, the day after.

Neal Manne, one of the plaintiffs attorneys in the bail case, told Hearst Newspapers on Tuesday that he had let the judge in the case know during a weekly call that he planned to amend his complaint to add all the felony judges. That was a week or two before the plantiffs moved to add the judges, Manne said.

Brian Wice, special prosecutor in Paxtons criminal case, said Tuesday he was glad that the appellate court stayed proceedings.

We're gratified but not surprised the Court of Appeals took the first step towards setting aside Judge Johnson's ruling, Wice said.
FACT CHECK See inaccurate information in this story? Tell us here.

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Meghan Markle's life came full circle after she said "I do" and married Prince Harry in 2018.

From being a Hollywood B-lister, whose breakthrough role came when she joined the American legal drama television series "Suits," she is now known as the Duchess of Sussex who represented the British Crown in various public duties and organizations.

Unfortunately, things turned out unexpectedly after Meghan and her husband Prince Harry dropped their bombshell news of stepping down from their roles as senior members of the Firm.

This has been a massive reputational hit against the royal family, especially given that Prince Andrew's resignation from public duties came a couple of months prior to Megxit.

To recall, the Duke of York sensationally quit public life "for the foreseeable future" due to his friendship with the deceased American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Charles Planning To Create A Modernized Institution

With three senior royals withdrawing their position in the Firm, this has forced Prince Charles to plan about reshaping the monarchy into a modernized institution once he becomes the King of England.

This bold plan from the Prince of Wales is one step to avoid future "major disruption" to the monarchy by diminishing "the sense of entitlement among royals."

According to Express.co.uk, one royal expert claimed that the heir to the throne wants to emphasize that being a royal has its privileges and responsibilities to accomplish.

"Like the Windsors' relatives who reign in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and Spain, he prefers to dampen a sense of entitlement among royals," royal author Nigel Cawthorned explained. "Being born as a Windsor is a privilege, but it doesn't mean that being a certain number in line to the throne means an entitlement to housing and other perks of The Firm."

Avoiding Controversies By Cutting Down Members Of The Monarchy

With the Prince of Wale's new vision for the future sovereign, this also means slimming down the monarchy and having fewer working royals.

"Prince Charles is believed to have been planning to reduce the number of full-time working royals and possibly strip those who don't represent the Crown of their HRH styles for years," the outlet cited.

Having this said, Prince Andrew and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might be affected by this massive transformation and could no longer return to the Firm even if they want to.

Prince Harry and Meghan are in a 12-month transition period, but even if they decide to go back to the royal family within this time frame, Prince Charles could well prevent them from doing so if he highlights to the Queen her plans.

Moreover, even if they return, their royal life could not last, especially with Prince Charles likely to take over sooner rather than later. Prince Harry and his wife could be removed from their positions should the future king really slim down the monarchy.

Slimmed Down Monarchy Means More Workload To The Remaining Royals

However, one royal expert opposed this possible move of Prince Charles and claimed that this will bring an "undesirable" image to the royal family.

Royal commentator Brittani Barger pointed out that fewer working royals means carrying out huge workload from hundreds and thousands of organizations supported by the monarchy.

"This would, however, mean that the royals, who currently are attached to some 3000 organizations and undertake some 3500 engagements annually, do much less for charity. It is therefore questionable whether this is desirable,"Barger shared.

READ MORE: Queen Heartbreak: Queen Elizabeth II Delivers Devastating News Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 74F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. High 74F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 61F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Cooler. High near 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 48F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
U.S. Eyes TikTok Ban, But Can It Legally Do It?

[UPDATED] The U.S. is very seriously considering joining India in banning TikTok, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

With respect to Chinese apps on peoples cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right too, Pompeo said in an interview. I dont want to get out in front of the President, but its something were looking at.

TikTok, owned by China-based tech giant ByteDance  is one of 59 apps banned in India to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace. The ban followed increased military tensions between the two countries.

TikTok has come under increased scrutiny over the data it collects on users including IP addresses and location information.

TikTok says that it stores American data in the U.S. with backups in Singapore. But critics point out that as a Chinese-owned company, TikTok is still subject to Chinese law.

Would A TikTok Ban Be Legal?

While the administration may want to band TikTok, can it do so without running afoul of U.S. freedom of speech laws.

There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about TikTok, its connections to China, and the security of the app, writes TechDirts Mike Masnick. But none of that means that the US government has the right to just ban it. While Trump may want to pretend hes a dictator, and Pompeo may want to pretend he works for a dictator, thats not how any of this works.



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After announcing that he was running for president, Kanye West expressed what kind of government the US will be, once he wins the position.

The rapper revealed he wanted to shape the government, similar to the "Black Panther's" country of Wakanda.

Speaking to Forbes, the Yeezy creator talked about his plans and suggested that the movie's fictional Marvel location was full of innovation and holistic approaches.

"Many Africans do not like the movie and representation of themselves in Wakanda," the 43-year-old revealed. "But I'm gonna use Wakanda's framework right now because it's the best explanation of what our design group is going to feel like in the White House."

Though he will become one of the most powerful humans in the world, Kanye West knows that he will not get "a lot of alien level superpowers" similar to characters in the movie.

Forbes noted that the dad of four was rambling in the interview as he shared his idea of working with Wakanda's scientist, just like T'Challa does in the movie.

"Let's get back to Wakanda like in the movie in Wakanda when the king went to visit that lead scientist to have the shoes wrap around her shoes," he added.

"Black Panther" was released in 2018, and it starred Chadwick Boseman as the king of the futuristic African country, Wakanda, who had superpowers.

West went on to express his hopes of working with big pharma, should he sit in the office.

"Just the amount of innovation that can happen, the amount of innovation in medicine, like big pharma, we are going to work, innovate together."

In his lengthy four-hour interview with Forbes, West also spoke about his relationship with God and even claimed that he had had the coronavirus in February.

His most controversial comment was off the COVID-19. West said he is suspicious of vaccines calling them "the mark of the beast."

The "Jesus is King" rapper also added that he hadn't developed a foreign policy, but would become "America, first, with our great military."

Kanye West also spoke about being pro-life, saying because he's following the word of the bible.

The "Jesus Walks" artist also retracted his support for current US President Donald Trump.

"I am taking the red hat off, with this interview," he told Forbes.

Kanye West publicly endorsed Donald Trump on several occasions and even sported the "Make America Great Again" caps from Trump's election bid in 2016.

"Trump is the closest president we've had in years to allow God to be part of the conversation."

The recent photo of Kanye West and Tesla CEO Elon Musk might also mean that they talked about politics.

He revealed that they have been talking about West running for the presidency for years.

The "All of the Lights" hitmaker even said he has already found a job for the SpaceX billionaire if he winds up in the Oval Office.

Running for the 2020 presidency, Kanye West revealed that his running mate is Michelle Tidball, a preacher from Wyoming under a new banner - the Birthday Party - because when they win, "it's everybody's birthday."

READ MORE: Halle Berry Backlash: Actress Accused of Queer Erasure Over Transgender Role

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North Adams Committee Tweaking Solicitor Ordinance

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The General Government Committee is considering side-stepping a thorny problem about access to the city solicitor by rewriting an ordinance to more clearly spell out lines of communication.

Chairwoman Lisa Blackmer said the wording in the ordinance had raised questions as to whether any single councilor has "unfettered access to the city solicitor."

"I think, we thought that was not particularly good," she said. "So I'd like to take a shot at rewriting that ordinance."

The council had objected back in 2018 when the city switched over to KP Law as city solicitor, limiting council members' access to the Boston law firm. The council members had been used to contacting former City Solicitor John B. DeRosa, who'd been kept on retainer for 35 years before stepping down in March 2018.

The administration had argued that it was in part a matter of funding  since KP billed more directly than did the former solicitor  and that much of the information the council needed could be provided in house. Councilors, however, were not sanguine with leaving the administration in control of what access was appropriate.

Last year, the council had $5,000 put in its budget to cover legal costs but has been stymied in its attempts to find a process for contacting the solicitor that they all can agree on. Most councilors were opposed to the idea of any one of them requesting a legal opinion on their own  and spending taxpayer dollars in the process. There was some discussion over the past year of giving committee chairs or the council president authority, or having the entire council vote on any request.

No solution had been found at the end of the term when the new City Council was inaugurated in January and the discussion was put aside when the pandemic arrived in March.

Tuesday night's General Government meeting was the first since February, when the committee had broached the subject of changing the ordinance and decided to send it back to council. Since then, the council has postponed a number of subjects until later this summer when it could begin meeting in person.

This time, the committee decided to let Blackmer make some changes to the ordinance and review it next week.

At issue is the wording within one paragraph and how it may pertain to councilor access.

"The City Solicitor shall, whenever so required by the mayor, the City Council or any officer of the City government who may need the same in the discharge of official duty, furnish them or any of them with his legal opinion, upon any subject touching the duties of their respective offices," the ordinance reads.

At the time, Councilor Jason LaForest had pointed to paragraph and believed that councilors would fall under "any officer" or "any of them."

"I know that there are the people that are believing this gives them the right that any of them, meaning that any city councilor, not the City Council as a whole," Blackmer said.

Committee member Jessica Sweeney, however, said on Monday that she didn't read it that way.

"After rehearing the ordinance, it doesn't seem to me that that is giving any individual counselor a power to do that," she said. "Our job is also to do our own due diligence and to be using the city solicitor as a last resort."

One example, Sweeney said, is the Visual Artists Rights Act that the committee has been waiting to hear on it before it takes up the so-called pillar art again. The art, done by a school program and a local arts group under Veterans Memorial Bridge, was painted over a few years ago by Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art to restore a sound installation under the bridge.

The committee had the pillar art on the agenda but had not yet received a legal opinion on whether VARA came into play. Blackmer was not sure why it had been delayed but suspected the law firm had been busy with its clients municipal concerns from the pandemic.

"This is a tricky area that none of us have enough expertise in," Sweeney said. "This is a good opportunity to go to the city solicitor for an opinion, with approval from City Council. I don't necessarily see the ordinance as giving that power to us individually so I don't even know if we have to

change anything."

Blackmer thought it was worth clarifying the wording as it related to the council.

"I do think that that would be the best. Because then we've also kind of answered the question and, hopefully, we will keep revisiting it," she said. "Because I think what's going to happen is people are going to come back and say no, any one of them."

Committee member Wayne Wilkinson was in support as long as it provides that the City Council as a whole makes the decision to expend its legal budget. There had been talk of a form or some written process but he didn't think that necessary if the majority council was making the decision.

"Obviously the ordinance needs to be updated," he said "I particularly like the road of being able to bring something to council where the whole council agrees on it and then it goes to the city solicitor because I don't think the mayor shouldn't be in that line of action."

Councilor Marie T. Harpin, who was listening in on the Zoom meeting, asked what would happen if the solicitor was needed quickly and how a format of going through the council would work in that case. She referred to Monday's meeting of the Public Safety Committee , which an attorney from KP Law attended, as something that seemed to happen fast.

Blackmer didn't think that was necessarily a council request since there were other aspects of the city administration involved in the dangerous dog public hearing, particularly the animal control officer and building inspector.

"There's a certain amount of liability to the city with a dangerous dog. I think that's pretty common that you would have ... the city solicitor there," she said. "They were there representing the city, and explaining the liability and the legal issues."

Harpin, however, thought special circumstances should be considered.

The committee voted to have Blackmer "tweak" the ordinance language and set another meeting for Tuesday, July 14, at 6 p.m. to review it.
Williamstown Planning Board to Look at Impact of Land Regulations on Equity

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Planning Board wants to make a concerted effort to assess potential bylaw changes with an eye toward increasing equity.

Picking up on a conversation that has dominated discussions in the town's Select Board in recent weeks, the Planning Board last Thursday began talking about how it can advance social justice through its work.

"I think this is really essential work for us to be doing," said Peter Beck, who participated in his first meeting since his election to the board in June. "Issues of racial equity are not tangential to planning and land use but deeply wrapped up in it."

Chair Stephanie Boyd raised the issue toward the end of a meeting dominated by discussion about bylaw amendments the board plans to bring to next month's annual town meeting.

Boyd assigned her colleagues of doing the "homework" of familiarizing themselves with materials from the Boston-based Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the American Planning Association. The latter last year published a 27-page policy guide titled "Planning for Equity" that challenges planners nationwide to, " explicitly remove barriers in policies and regulations that perpetuate inequity."

"I think the more we work to continue to educate ourselves and share with the community, about the ways in which zoning, land use and planning have created so much of the segregation and inequality that we see  the more we can do that, the better, and do our jobs in a much better way and help our town be a much more equitable place," Beck said. "I think it's helpful for us to have these resources and share them concerning national patterns of inequality in land use.

"But I also think it's important for us to do, as much as possible, our own digging into the local history of land use and its effects so that we don't get into a position where we think this is 'somewhere else's problem' and not something deeply local here as much as anywhere else. I think that will be an important way for us to stay in this conversation and make progress."

Boyd noted that one of the board's priorities for 2020 is to get the ball rolling on a revision to the town's 18-year-old master plan and the principles of equity expressed in documents like the APA's policy guide could be a "guiding principle" for developing that document.

"I think it would be important to discuss something like that amongst ourselves and maybe do a little bit of learning," Susan Puddester said. "In the past, we have tried to open up housing options through Planning Board zoning changes. They haven't been successful. I'm all for trying to see if there's a different opinion on that at this point.

"I think it's really important to make it so that anybody who wants to live in our community can live in our community and that there are housing options for those individuals."

Another goal for the Planning Board in the year ahead will be to complete work on a lighting bylaw that aims to cut down on light pollution. On Thursday, Boyd read into the record a letter from Anne Jaskot, an assistant professor of astronomy at Williams College.

"Light pollution in Massachusetts has been increasing by 4 to 6 percent per year according to an MIT researcher" Jaskot wrote. "Part of the rise is due to the growing adoption nationwide of bluer, brighter LED lighting. Scientists are increasingly learning that light pollution comes with a cost. It harms wildlife, pollinators and human health, while also erasing the beauty of a dark night sky."

Boyd said lighting remains a priority for the board and that a joint project of the town, fire district and environmental activists to address the town's street lighting needs continues.

"Last week, [Town Manager] Jason Hoch, Nancy Nylen and I met with the lighting designers that we have hired to do a lighting design for the street lights," Boyd said. "We are now in the process of planning to get some sample street lights up that we would invite the community to come and take a look at and decide which street lights they prefer.

"[The project] is still several months from being completed, I'm guessing, but progress is being made."

Chris Winters said that he hopes that choosing the correct type of light is just part of the equation.

"I hope that as the town and fire district move forward on evaluating the character of new street lights  LED, frequency, wave length, all these things that define the character  I hope they also tackle the issue of quantity," Winters said. "That is another input into light pollution. It's not only the character of the lighting, but it's the issue of the sheer number of lights.

"I've always felt we're living with a street lighting template that was designed probably in the [19]30s, when modes of travel and technology were very different. Just look at headlights. The quality of headlights is so much better than it was when the street lighting layout was made. Perhaps we don't need as many street lights as we used to."

In other action on Thursday, the Planning Board elected Boyd to chair the panel for another year. As part of its annual reorganization, Winters was elected vice chair, Puddester was returned to the Planning Board's seat on the Community Preservation Committee and Dante Birch was named the town's representative to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.
The playground at Williamstown Elementary School, like the school itself, remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baker Pushes Back on Federal Pressure to Open Schools

BOSTON -- Gov. Charlie Baker Wednesday said he does not think it makes sense for a one-size-fits-all approach to reopening the nations public schools but stopped short of directly criticizing a presidential tweet pressuring states to open the schoolhouse doors in the middle of a global pandemic.

Baker was asked in his daily press availability about President Trumps Tuesday Twitter statement that indicated his administration May cut off funding if [schools] not open!

The Republican governor, not for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic, found himself having to argue against his partys leader while trying to not get into a feud with the leader of the free world.

The first question from the press at Wednesdays briefing was about Trumps Tuesday statements.

I dont think a one-size-fits-all policy on any of these issues makes a lot of sense, Baker said. What weve done here in Massachusetts is work closely with our colleagues in the health care community, the pediatric community and the education community to put together a program thats based on this idea that wed like to see kids returning to school.

But, as part of that, [the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education] is expecting schools to develop programs that would work on either a hybrid basis or a remote basis depending on what happens.

Baker said that his administration attempted to provide frameworks for school districts to think about the issue and that it was inappropriate for the federal government to mandate solutions for all 50 states where the conditions may be very different in two months.

When we announced our proposal -- two weeks ago? -- we talked about the fact that we had over $900 million in resources, most of which was federal, that was available to support communities and school districts as they went through the process of figuring out how to develop these plans, Baker said. I think thats a much more effective way for the feds to play in this space than to put a one-size-fits-all or ultimatum in place because facts on the ground are going to be different.

Baker stopped short of going as far as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, who on Wednesday said the federal government has no authority to decide if and when schools open.

The president does not have any authority to open schools, Cuomo said in his daily press briefing as reported by CNBC.com. We will open the schools if it is safe to open the schools. Everybody wants the schools open.

The last statement may have been in response to another part of Trumps Tuesday tweet, where he alleged, Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election.

Baker was asked later in Wednesdays press briefing what he thought was motivating the pressure from Washington, D.C. He declined to take the bait and tiptoed around the national political debate.

I try not to speak to the intent of other peoples motivations when they make proposals and issue statements and policies, Baker said.
Drug trafficking could be putting fragile fisheries at risk, study says

by Elizabeth Claire Alberts

July 08,2020 | Source: Mongabay

The fishing boat flew a Singaporean flag as it sailed toward Batam Island in Indonesia. But when Indonesian Navy officers intercepted the vessel and boarded it in February 2018, they discovered that the boat, and its four-person crew, were actually from Taiwan. Flying a false flag wasnt the only offense  customs officials also found 41 rice sacks packed with a ton of methamphetamine, or crystal meth, hidden beneath food supplies in the vessels hold.



The use of fishing vessels to transport drugs is a fairly common occurrence, according to a new study published in Fish and Fisheries. In fact, the study found that drug trafficking on fishing vessels has actually tripled over the last eight years, accounting for about 15% of the global retail value of illicit drugs.



Dyhia Belhabib, the papers lead author as well as the principal fisheries investigator at Ecotrust Canada and founder of Spyglass, an online tool that maps out vessels involved in maritime crimes, said theres actually a distinct lack of data on drug trafficking in the fisheries sector. This study aimed to bridge that gap.



To investigate the relationship between the drug trade and global fisheries, Belhabib and her co-researchers gathered all of the available data on 292 reported global cases between 2010 and 2017, and used estimation techniques to fill in any missing information. For instance, when they had the amount of drugs, but not the price, they calculated prices based on data on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) database.



The second step was to use what we call a Monte Carlo approach, Belhabib told Mongabay. We simulate how much of that is caught versus how much it has never been caught  because there was no monitoring or because monitored has failed in catching them and with that, the amount, and the price, we actually infer the maximum value of drugs that could be in circulation to the seafood sector, and  the average between that maximum value and minimum value gives you an estimated 15%.



When Belhabib began her research, she said she expected to find vessels trafficking drugs to also be involved in other maritime crimes like illegal fishing, but this didnt turn out to be the case. One possible explanation is that drug traffickers may want clean vessels that have not been involved in anything before, so they dont raise suspicion with coast guard or navy officials when entering territorial waters, Belhabib said.



Belhabib and her co-investigators also found that drug trafficking tended to involve small vessels, such as dhows, pangas, pirogues and artisanal boats, rather than larger, industrial fishing vessels. While the study says more research needs to be done to understand the reasons for why small-scale fishermen get involved in the drug trade, it surmises that collapsing fish stocks and marine conservation measures like fishing restrictions could be pushing them in this direction. In other instances, drug traffickers will threaten fishermen to cooperate or even hijack their vessels. With this in mind, Belhabib said its important not to implicate the fishermen who may have unwillingly gotten involved in the trade.



While fishermen themselves may not be involved in illegal fishing, drug money may be reinvested into large-scale illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, which may lead to unsustainable fishing and entire fisheries collapse, the study suggests.

 2020 Copyright Conservation news

Theme(s): Others.
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Issues for local artisanal communities in a potential future EU-Guinea Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement

by Beatrice Gorez

CFFA comments on the European Commission roadmap on a possible negotiation for a new fisheries agreement between the EU and the Republic of Guinea, which would grant access to European vessels in the Guinean EEZ, and underscores the key challenges local artisanal fisheries are facing:



The European Commission has launched a roadmap inviting stakeholders to provide their views on a possible negotiation for a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the EU and the Republic of Guinea. The roadmap does not prejudge whether the initiative will be pursued or on its final content and establishes five goals for a new SFPA and protocol: environmental sustainability, access to the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) for the EU fleet, support to the local fisheries sector, the fight against IUU and improving scientific and technical knowledge.



For CFFA, in a potential future negotiation for an SFPA with Guinea, the EU should make sure it contributes towards resource and environmental sustainability, and that it supports the development of the local fisheries sector. In the current climate of political tension in this West African country, it is essential that local fisheries stakeholders voices are unimpeded so they can address some sensitive issues, such as transparency and the fight against IUU fishing. The EU should ensure that artisanal fisheries activities are not encroached on, particularly by coastal trawlers, so that both coastal communities livelihoods and food security for the population are guaranteed. For this reason, and also because of lack of reliable scientific data on coastal fisheries, let alone the existence of a surplus, the EU fleets should access tuna species only.



On 22 March 2020, in the middle of Coronavirus pandemic, Guinean citizens went to vote in a climate of violence and tension and under the critical look of the international community. The International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), ECOWAS and the African Union had repeatedly insisted on the need for free, transparent and inclusive elections, and the latter cancelled its observation mission at the end of February 2020. Several human rights NGOs, including Amnesty International, denounced the repression against opposition leaders, and criticized the cost in terms of human rights of a constitutional reform that could allow the President to stay in power. The European Union condemned the violence and disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officials on election day and stated that the non-inclusive and non-consensual nature of the ballots and of the electoral register undermines the credibility of the elections.



Taking into account the tense political situation in Guinea, in the event of the start of negotiations for an SFPA, it is imperative that the EU, in cooperation with Guinea, ensures the terms and conditions for good governance and sustainability set out in the Cotonou Agreement and in the future EU-Africa Strategy. In this regard, the EU should consider having a stronger human rights clause, allowing the Agreement to be denounced in case of a breach of universal rights, including the right to food.



A future SFPA between the EU and Guinea should be in line with and contribute to the goals that Guinea has for the sustainable development of its local fisheries sector. These goals can be found in Guinea 2020 fisheries management plan:



-- To preserve fisheries resources on the long term



-- Improve the fish contribution to food security



-- Improve fisheries contribution to employment



-- Increase the economic benefits from fisheries



Guinea has signed the Convention on Minimal Access Conditions (CMA) of the SRFC, which insists on the precautionary approach in the management of resources. In the context of potential future negotiations, this precautionary approach needs to be followed, especially bearing in mind the lack of scientific data on the state of the fish stocks, data which is either non-existing or obsolete, and considering that several aspects in the 2020 fisheries management plan which remain unclear.

Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture.
A member of Blue Sky Rescue team disinfects exam site at Suining High School in Suining County, Xuzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 7, 2020. After the first day of college entrance examination, eight members of the Suining County Blue Sky Rescue team helped disinfect the exam sites. (Photo by Hong Xing/Guangming Picture)

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[ Editor: SRQ ]
It's the second day of the hearing of Hollywood A-list actor Johnny Depp versus the News Group Newspapers over a story published in 2018 that branded him a "wife beater," a claim he vehemently denies.

In the trial, it was also discovered what ended his marriage to actress Amber Heard.

According to the court, Depp ended his marriage to the blonde beauty after finding poo in his bed.

The libel trial kicked off at London's High Court with both Depp and Heard in attendance when the subject of the 2016 poo incident was opened in court documents.

According to Depp's legal team, "Depp, who in the end was forced to finally call time on this relationship, largely after behavior by her and her friends following her birthday party in their flat on April 16... Including one of them defecating on his bed, something which Ms. Heard blames on their tiny dog."

In a witness statement presented in court, Depp addressed the incident in his own words, where he claimed that Heard told their building manager that the poo incident was a "harmless prank."

"I understand that the following morning after the party, Ms. Heard or possibly one of her friends defecated in our shared bed."

Depp added that with Heard saying that the feces was "a harmless prank," she acknowledged that "she had been responsible, whereas she had previously sought to blame our dogs."

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star also insisted that their Yorkshire Teacup Terriers were too small to jump on their beds or even leave a large deposit in there.

At that moment, Johnny Depp revealed that "I resolved to divorce Ms. Heard on that day."

In other documents presented to the court, the "Aquaman" actress claimed that her ex-husband arrived at the end of the party drunk and high and even attacked her after her guests left their home.

Amber Heard alleged that the 57-year-old actor threw a Champagne bottle at her, and the two had a physical altercation.

Depp denied all her claims and revealed that Heard had struck him in the face twice while he was reading in their bed, which resulted in him restraining her in self-defense.

The actor also described a period in March 2015 when he claims that Heard had severed his finger, an injury she said happened after smashing a telephone into a wall.

Depp claimed that he severed his finger with the second of the two thrown vodka bottles at him in the early afternoon and that his former wife was on the second day of a "three-day hostage situation."

A secret recording was also played in court, which showed Depp violently slamming cupboards and swearing at his then-wife.

Barrister for NGN asked Depp if he would agree that he was violent in that clip, to which he answered, "I was violent with some cupboards. I wasn't in a good state of mind."

"We saw you pour a mega pint of red wine, which is not everybody's choice of breakfast, is it?" The barrister asked, to which Depp replied with, "No."

In the span of their relationship, Johnny Depp believes that we do not have an "overbearing, manipulative or controlling personality," but believes that Amber Heard "had an obsessive need to control me and all situations in our relationship."

Johnny Depp's explosive testimonies will continue as the case continues.

READ MORE:Johnny Depp Brutality: Amber Heard Raises HORRIFYING New Allegations Against Ex

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
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Police opened an investigation into a documentary produced by Al Jazeera, broadcasted on July 3, which focused on how Malaysian authorities treat undocumented migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expresses its dismay regarding the continuous attacks on media freedom and calls on authorities to stop the investigation against the global broadcast network immediately.

101 East, Al Jazeeras in-depth program focusing on stories across Asia Pacific, investigated why the coronavirus outbreak is forcing migrant workers into hiding. The 26-minute program, entitled Locked Up in Malaysias Lockdown, shows authorities putting up barbed wire in some of the poorest areas of Kuala Lumpur and arresting migrant workers who do not possess valid documents.

Police started the investigation under Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 following a report made by the Immigration Department of Malaysia in Putrajaya. The police had also received a report on the same issue from a woman in Putrajaya after she watched the documentary on YouTube.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has claimed that the documentary was produced with malicious intent and the detainment of undocumented migrant workers were false. He also demanded Al Jazeera to apologise to the people of Malaysia. The pressure against Al Jazeera also came from the Director General of Immigration Khairul Dzaimee Daud who warned that foreign nationals who made allegedly "inaccurate statements" with intention to damage Malaysia's image could risk immediate deportation.

Senior producer and correspondent for 101 East, as well as one interviewee, were trolled and doxed. The Immigration Department even circulated a wanted notice to look for one of the sources featured in Al Jazeeras documentary. Covid-19 has seen rising anger towards foreigners and migrant workers, who have been accused of spreading the virus and burdening state resources.

This investigation comes amid concerns over crackdowns on press freedoms under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassins government, which came to power in March this year. Malaysias Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has issued a joint statement calling on authorities to refrain from the continued use of intimidating measures to threaten and punish the media and silence critical voices.

The IFJ said: The probe launched by police is a clear violation press freedom. Journalism is not a crime and producing a documentary on the plight of migrant workers should not warrant an investigation. IFJ urges authorities to end the investigation immediately and ensure safety of journalists as well as their sources."
South China Morning Post correspondent Tashny Sukumaran, who was questioned in May 2020 over her social media posts, has been summoned again for her contribution to the recently banned book, Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance and Hope in New Malaysia. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the continued crackdown on journalists and calls on authorities to stop the harassment of journalists and publishers for journalistic work in the public interest.

Although police dropped the initial case against Sukumaran for her social media posts on the arrest of migrant workers during Covid-19 testing, on July 1 she was summoned again for her part in the banned book. Sukumaran is one of the contributors of the book that features articles from political analysts and journalists on the 2018 general election and new chapters on life in the 'new' Malaysia. The collection of articles was compiled by Malaysian journalist and academic, Kean Wong, for the Australian National Universitys New Mandala Malaysia series.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin issued an order of banning the book on July 1 under the Printing Presses and Publications (Control of Undesirable Publications) Order 2020. The sudden banning, the first book banning under the Order, relates to the books cover that is alleged to resemble the national coat of arms.

The police raidedRebirths publishing company, Gerak Budaya. Gerak Budayas director and founder Chong Ton Sin apologised for the cover and said that there was no intention to insult the state crest. The graphic artist behind the books cover has also been questioned. The East Malaysian artist created the design in 2014, with her vision to depict a more equal Malaysia.

Several politicians, including Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, have urged the Home Ministry to punish anyone involved in books publication. The IFJ understands that authorities have summoned a number of other contributors including Malaysiakini journalists.

Civil rights group Lawyers for Liberty has issued a statement decrying the controversy as a manufactured attempt to deter citizens from exercising their freedom of speech.

The IFJ said: While Tashnys initial case was rightly dropped, the IFJ is concerned by new moves to stifle the voice of journalists and media experts. The archaic act of banning books and summoning contributors is a deeply worrying development in a democratic country. The IFJ urges Malaysian authorities to stop intimidating and harassing journalists, artists and publishers.
The Lahore High Court directed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to restore license of private TV channel 24NewsHD on July 7. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Pakistan affiliate the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) urge PEMRA to allow the Channel 24 News HD to broadcast freely and not to repeat restrictive actions in the future.

Justice Sajid Mehmood Sethi of the Lahore High Court (LHC) passed on the interim stay order in a petition filed by Central Media Network (Pvt) Limited to undo the suspension of the licence. The court also issued notices to the PEMRA, the channels management and the PFUJ representatives to appear in court on July 8 for a hearing to decide on the petition. The stay order came amid protests by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and 24NewsHD staff. PFUJ announced the protest program against the PEMRAs decision.

Pakistan-based news channel 24 News HDs license was cancelled by PEMRA on July 3 for illegal transmission of news and current affairs content. The press release issued by PEMRA states the licence was operating illegally under the name 24NewsHD as the network was registered under Central Media Network Pvt. The regulatory bodys notice has directed the channel to revert to its approved programming content".

In response to the suspension, PFUJ, employees of 24News in Lahore and Islamabad staged protests against the suspension of channels licence on June 6 which would result in the loss of over 600 jobs. 24NewsHDs management has termed PEMRAs actions as an attack on freedom of the press and accused the regulator of unilaterally initiating the action without taking the channels position into account. According to PFUJ, the channel has recently criticized the Pakistans governments policies.

The PFUJ said: "The government manhandled the protesting journalists. We strongly condemn it. PFUJ will continue its country-wide protest against the PEMRAs move. We hope courts order comes in favour of the 24News HD. We will be continuing our advocacy against such the illegal steps from PEMRA and encouraging our global partners like the IFJ to take an action.

The IFJ said: The actions of PEMRA in suspending the 24 News channel is an attack on press freedom. Any shutdown will result in the lay-off hundreds of media workers that will not only negatively impact the livelihoods of media workers but also limit the publics right to information during a health crisis. The IFJ urge authorities to avoid any future interference in the free and independent media.
Ivan Safronov was one of the most prominent and respected journalists reporting on defence issues in Russia. He worked until May 2020 for two major Russian newspapers before becoming an adviser for the Russian space agency Roscosmos.

Safronov is now accused of passing state secrets related to arms sales and security to an unnamed NATO country, the Russian Federal Intelligence Service said.

According to Safronov's lawyer, Ivan Pavlov, these accusations are related to his work as a journalist. Pavlov claimed that this is "the first time in nearly 20 years that a reporter had been accused of state treason in Russia".

This version was supported by Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin, who said the arrest is not related to his current job because Safronov "does not have access to secret information".

The prominent journalist pleaded not guilty and may face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of high treason.

The arrest sparked outrage in Moscow, where dozens of protesters took to the streets to protest. According to media reports, twenty people were detained in the protests.

"The RUJ is extremely concerned about the situation with the arrest of Safronov and the detention of journalists protesting over his arrest. Detentions of journalists during solo protests are against the law. The legal service of the Union will monitor the progress of the process and is ready to assist our colleagues", the RUJ said.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: "This is a hazardous development in Russia. We urge the Russian authorities to drop all charges against him and stop the crackdown on media".
Imperial Valley News Center

White House Visit of His Excellency Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, President of the United Mexican States

Washington, DC - President Donald J. Trump will welcome President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the United Mexican States to the White House on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, as part of their continued partnership on trade, health, and other issues central to regional prosperity and security. The two leaders will recognize the historic United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that entered into force on July 1, 2020, and their shared effort to ensure North America continues strengthening its economic ties while working to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The USMCA is the largest, fairest, and most balanced trade agreement ever negotiated and contains innovative provisions to help increase global economic competitiveness as a region, grow the economy, and support American jobs, including those in manufacturing and agriculture. Additionally, the USMCA includes groundbreaking provisions to address digital trade, services, small business, and more, which will protect Americas competitive edge in technology and innovation.
Bone tissue is a highly specialized tissue, with a structure tailored to the specific functions of the body. A healthy bone is both strong, with great bearing capacity, and tough, with great breaking strength. An increased understanding of the basic structure of bones could lead to the prevention of various bone diseases and the development of completely new materials with unprecedented properties.

An international team of scientists from Aarhus University (Denmark), the European Synchrotron, Chalmers University (Sweden) and the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland) has found a new substructure in the bone tissue using the new method of x-ray tensor tomography on beamline ID13 at the ESRF. The findings open up new approaches to study the underlying architecture of bone tissue and create a better understanding of biological materials.

The healthy architecture of bone tissue is made up of basically two types of building blocks: the so-called collagen fibrils, which primarily consist of the protein collagen, and the calcium phosphate nanocrystals, which weave the fibrils together.

Jointly, the two types of tissue form a coherent hierarchical structure that combines the ability of the fibrils to bend with the toughness, hardness and resistance of the nanocrystals. It is this twisted structure that gives the bones their mechanical properties, but researchers still do not fully understand it. The challenge during all these years was that there was no method to detect the orientation of nanocrystals in the bone tissue, explains Henrik Birkedal, scientist at Aarhus University and corresponding author of the publication.

The team at the ESRFs ID13 beamline joined forces with the Birkedal group from Aarhus University and Marianne Liebi from Chalmers University to improve significantly the technique of X-ray tensor tomography, which until now could only allow the study of the nanostructure. Thanks to their efforts, they can now map crystals and nanostructures: it makes it possible to see the way the nanocrystals actually lie in the structure. With the new technique, the researchers have discovered that the lime crystals may not only be homogeneously oriented relative to the fibrils, as previously thought. According to Manfred Burghammer, scientist in charge of ID13: "Our new approach is made possible by the great progress currently being made in the international X-ray synchrotrons, whose power is drastically increasing in these years".

"We were honestly a little bit shocked to find the deviation from the models in what we could see with this new method," says Birkedal. "An interdisciplinary international collaboration has been crucial to our success in making this breakthrough that combines knowledge from different fields, ranging from physics and chemistry to medicine."

Tilman Grunewald, first author of the paper, mounts the sample on the beamline ID13 at the ESRF.

The new 3D images surprised the research leaders because it shakes up fundamental theories that state that bones are built in a predominantly uniform hierarchical structure. The finding now raises fundamental questions about some models that have been used to describe, among other things, the bone formation process. Admittedly, it is premature to give a clear explanation of what lies behind the deviation that has now been detected, but it has given science a new method of looking into the underlying structure of bones, and it shows that important puzzle pieces need to be added to our understanding of bone, says Tillman Grunewald, former ESRF scientist and currently at the Institut Fresnel, Marseille (France).

Bones, and other biological materials such as seashells, have mechanical properties that are closely linked to their structure. The better we understand it, the closer we get to being able to emulate nature's construction methods. Our study here has given us a new tool to unveil a few more of natures secrets, concludes Birkedal.

Reference:

Grunewald, T., et al, Science Advances, 12 June 2020. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aba4171
Imperial Valley News Center

President Donald J. Trump Is Supporting the Safe Reopening of Americas Schools

Washington, DC - "Our country has got to get back, and its got to get back as soon as possible. And I dont consider our country coming back if the schools are closed." ~ President Donald J. Trump

SAFELY REOPENING SCHOOLS: President Donald J. Trump and his Administration are working to support the safe reopening of schools for the fall.

Today, President Trump is hosting a national dialogue with State, local, and tribal leaders, educators, and families to discuss the importance of reopening all of Americas schools in a safe way, starting from the premise of what is best for the children of America.

President Trump knows that, for the wellbeing of our children and country, students must begin safely learning again and receiving supportive services from schools.

As the American Academy of Pediatrics has said, all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.

PROMOTING SAFE AND EFFECTIVE LEARNING: The importance of in-person learning is well documented, and continued closures stand to negatively impact the welfare of Americas youth.

Through educational advancement and the many supportive services they provide, our Nations schools are fundamental to child and adolescent development.

Continued school closures could have serious consequences for the holistic health of children and communities, especially those who are most underserved, for generations. Research has shown that school closures disproportionately affect the most vulnerable students, widening disparities in achievement and harming economic potential.

Lengthy time away from schools  and associated interruptions in supportive services  make it difficult for schools to best serve their students wellbeing. While children are away from schools, educators are unable to effectively address important learning deficits, child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation.

School closures also limit the availability of reliable, healthy meals for some students and take away physical activity options for children and families.

SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS: The Trump Administration is providing strong support to ensure K-12 students continue to learn while mitigating the spread of the virus.
While the Paycheck Protection Program was extended through August 8, a slew of data released by the U.S. Small Business Administration and Treasury Department on Monday offers new details on the reach of the landmark business stimulus program, as well as the industries that received the biggest boost.

The agencies also noted, by name, the hundreds of thousands of individual businesses that received north of $150,000 in funds through the program. In addition to fast-food eateries and religious institutions, dining chains like Legal Sea Foods and P.F. Chang's got millions from the forgivable loan program aimed at supporting beleaguered small businesses.

In total, the agencies say the program dispatched more than $521 billion to nearly 4.9 million businesses since early April, with industries including health care and IT services among the biggest recipients. The average loan size was $107,000.

"The PPP is providing much-needed relief to millions of American small businesses...who are the drivers of economic growth in our country," noted Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a release touting the program. He said that the PPP helped support more than 51 million jobs and more than 80 percent of all small-business employees.

But when you look at the full spectrum of U.S. small businesses, which numbered 30.2 million prior to the pandemic, the program falls short. Just 16 percent of America's small businesses managed to tap into the PPP. What's more, companies in some states seemingly less affected by the pandemic often had proportionally higher PPP approvals of small companies than those in states that were more affected.

While not every business needed emergency relief during this crisis, it seemed somewhat inexplicable that companies in North Dakota and Nebraska had a better track record of landing federal funds than those in harder-hit states, including New York and California. PPP loan approvals relative to the number of small businesses in North Dakota and Nebraska reached 27 percent and 24 percent, respectively, while companies in both New York and California had an approval rate of around 14 percent.

But a joint study by the University of Chicago and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology of the first wave of PPP disbursement found that regional and community banks in less-populated areas were just better at dispersing PPP loans than large national banks with a dominant presence in cities.

A look at the latest figures--showing total loan volume by state, relative to the number of small businesses in each state--indicates that the trend continued through Round Two. In other words, companies in states that made early gains maintained that momentum for the entirety of the program. And the institutions that successfully managed to help small businesses tap the program continued to be successful.

See below for a look at where the PPP money went relative to the number of small businesses in each state for each funding round and overall:
Here are three companies whose products have become even more useful during the Covid-19 era.

1. Surfacide

In late January, entrepreneur Gunner Lyslo got word from an infectious disease expert that the Chinese government would not be able to contain the coronavirus. That's when Lyslo mobilized his company, Surfacide, which makes an automated surface disinfection system, to brace for a surge in orders.

Surfacide's Helios System looks like a standing fan and uses UV-C radiation to kill germs on surfaces. Launched in 2010, Surfacide's products were primarily used by hospitals before the pandemic to prevent health care-associated infections. Now customers include restaurants, hotels, and tourist attractions, such as Seattle's Space Needle, according to Lyslo, founder and CEO of the Waukesha, Wisconsin-based company. A three-tower set costs about $100,000.

In early February, Lyslo ramped up production of Surfacide's technology, anticipating increased demand from hospitals that would require better disinfecting tools once the coronavirus reached the U.S. His bet paid off: Surfacide's revenue between January and July grew more than 350 percent year-over-year, thanks primarily to a large increase in international sales, according to Lyslo. He declined to disclose the company's revenue.

"We really didn't get any engagement or traction outside of health care until the pandemic," says Lyslo. "Now we're seeing a tremendous inflow from businesses that have numerous employees or where social distancing becomes a challenge."

2. Sanigirl

When Susan Thompson launched her portable female urinal Sanigirl in 2019, she marketed it as a sanitary tool for campers and hikers. Her customers were primarily outdoor enthusiasts and musical festival attendees. After the pandemic forced event organizers to postpone festivities, Sanigirl's sales dropped by about 60 percent year-over-year between January and April. To keep her Pompano Beach, Florida-based company afloat, Thompson began focusing on women who didn't want to use or who couldn't use public restrooms, modifying its marketing on social media, Amazon, and its own website, where a package of 10 costs $8.99.

"I reset everything to catch this woman who's coming back to a new normal after Covid-19," says Thompson. "They're looking for a solution to avoid germs and protect themselves when they go back out."

So far, her strategy has worked: Sanigirl booked about $40,000 in sales between May and June, equal to Thompson's full-year sales in 2019, she says. Her bootstrapped business is having trouble meeting demand, however, due to shipping delays from international manufacturers.

3. Proxy

Proxy is a touchless technology that lets users open doors, unlock offices, and call elevators with a digital "identity" signal sent from a smartphone. Denis Mars and Simon Ratner launched Proxy in 2016, selling to commercial real estate companies setting up large offices for employee access. Sales are rising in the pandemic, as businesses look for ways to reduce the spread of Covid-19, according to Mars.

"It feels like the future got pulled in three or four years sooner," he says.

Now the company sees opportunities in smaller workforces. What's more, Proxy's staff is coming up with ways to add contract tracing and health monitoring to its technology. For example, if an employee in one of Proxy's workplaces reports he isn't feeling well, Proxy's system can identify that person's close colleagues and encourage them to stay home and monitor their symptoms. Mars expects to roll out the service later this year.
Will Smith has said he remembers being called [the n-word]" by police in Philadelphia on "more than 10 occasions.

The actor spoke with political commentator and activist Angela Rye about the Black Lives Matter movement and the state of policing in the United States on Ryes podcast, On One with Angela Rye, which aired on Tuesday 6 June.

I got stopped frequently so I understand what its like to be in those circumstances with the police," Smith recalled.

He recalled witnessing the disparities in the relationship that white citizens had with police compared to people of colour.

I grew up under Mayor Rizzo, he pointed out. He went from the chief of police to becoming the mayor, and he had an iron hand.

Frank Rizzos time as police commissioner and mayor was documented in a Pulitzer Prize-winning series in The Philadelphia Inquirer, about the marked rise in racially motivated police brutality that occurred during his tenure.

Addressing the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, Smith encouraged protestors to be peaceful.

Powerful protests put a mirror to the demonic imagery of your oppressor. And the more still you are in your peaceful protests, the more the mirror is for your oppressor  for the world to see and for them to see themselves, he said.

Smith said that the anger of protestors was justified under oppression but warned, You got to be careful not to be consumed by your own rage.

The video of Smith and Ryes conversation is available to watch now on Smiths Youtube channel.
Brixton Academy, one of Londons most iconic music venues, is set to host a series of live virtual concerts.

Fans will be able to choose their spot from which to watch the shows, to mimic the real-life experience of going to an event, which has become impossible during the coronavirus lockdown.

It has not yet been announced which artists will participate in the series, that will be available to watch via the MelodyVR app.

MelodyVR and Live Nation  the team behind last weekends virtual alternative to Wireless Festival, Wireless Connect  are putting on the events.

Live Nation UK chairman Denis Desmond said he looks forward to connecting artists with fans globally through the latest and exciting 360 VR technology, direct from a purpose-built studio set within this iconic and world-famous venue.

The live music industry has been hit hard by coronavirus. Last month, industry leaders predicted that half of all music venues and 70% of theatres across the UK face permanent closure as a result of the crisis.

The Independent spoke to artists such Elvis Costello and Rufus Wainwright about their favourite music venues and why its important to continue supporting them.
The Chicks  formerly known as the Dixie Chicks  wanted to change their stupid band name for years before finally taking that step last month.

Members Natalie Maines and Martie Maguire commented on the name change in a new interview with The New York Times, published on Wednesday.

We were literally teenagers when we picked that stupid name, Maguire told the newspaper.

We wanted to change it years and years and years ago, Maines said, adding: I just wanted to separate myself from people that wave that Dixie flag.

The trio changed their nickname to The Chicks last month, dropping the Dixie part.

The original band name was a nod to the song Dixie Chicken by the rock band Little Feat.

In the US, Dixie is used to refer to Southern states  especially those that used to be part of the Confederacy.

According to The New York Times interview, the trio were already regretting the name by 2003, which is when they faced major backlash due to comments made by Maines about then-President George W Bush and the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Back in June, Lady Antebellum also changed their band name, choosing to go as Lady A instead.
Even in Cate Blanchetts bad films, and there are a few Charlotte Greys and Monuments Men stirred in with all the Carols and Blue Jasmines and Ragnaroks, she is rarely less than compelling. No star of her calibre is as versatile, except possibly Tilda Swinton, and none can make vulnerability so commanding. Even as she steals The Aviator from under Leo Dios nose as Katherine Hepburn, she seems like she could crumple at any moment. She only appears in Talented Mr Ripley for a few minutes, but its enough to lend the film new layers of intelligence. Theres a reason she makes such a good queen.

Mrs America (BBC Two), a new nine-part drama based on real events, presents a double challenge even to her lavish gifts. First she must make us sympathetic to Phyllis Schlafly, the 1970s anti-feminist campaigner whose views were considered spicy even then, let alone to an audience of angry Twitter users. She also has to rouse our interest in a piece of American legislation, the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA, opposition to which became Schlaflys principal cause.

If anyone can breathe life into an acronym, Blanchett can. Her Schlafly is a kind of Stepford Margaret Thatcher, shrewd, frustrated and charming, alternating stares that could melt steel with a smile visible from space. The institution of marriage, she says, is the best deal for women yet devised. Looking after men, whether they are presidential candidates, babies or some combination of the two, is womens lot.

The series creator is Dahvi Waller, who wrote for Mad Men, and Mrs America shares that programmes attention to detail in setting and costume. Schlafly is nobodys fool, a published author with a degree in political science, six children and an excellent proto-Hillary wardrobe, but she must still battle a phalanx of dull men in suits for the privilege of waging her anti-feminist campaign. This includes her husband Fred (John Slattery, another nod to Mad Men), a patronising lawyer who treats her campaigning ambitions like a harmless hobby, at least to begin with. He also insists on sex even when she doesnt feel like it, which, as far as she is concerned, is a husbands right.

Phyllis and her band of fellow homemakers worry that the ERA is the thin end of a wedge that will ultimately see alimony abolished and their daughters drafted to fight in Vietnam. They believe they speak for the silent majority, the 40 million women who feel alienated by the feminist movement. Schlafly proves a formidable campaigner, even as we wince as she decries unmarried women in front of her unhappily single sister-in-law, Eleanor (Jeanne Tripplehorn). As they start to succeed in fighting the legislation, and Schlafly becomes a media star, the Republicans realise they could have a vote-winner.

Across the hall, the feminists, played by an unassailable ensemble, realise they have a problem. They are led by Representative Bella Abzug (Margo Martindale, fresh from playing Esteemed Character Actress Margo Martindale on BoJack Horseman), Gloria Steinem (Rose Byrne), Betty Friedan (Tracey Ullman) and Shirley Chisholm (Uzo Aduba). Each of the nine episodes tells a different womans story. The second focuses on Steinem, played with sensitivity by Byrne, who became the public face of the movement, mainly because she had the kind of face the public likes to look at. The script revels in these ironies, and they pile up to form a picture of a messy, conflicted battlefield, where interests and ideology are rarely in perfect alignment.

Its testament to Blanchetts performance that although shes firmly an anti-hero, with views on abortion and gay marriage and ethnic minorities that will appal many viewers, she never feels like the villain. The all-round intelligence and wattage of this series means that a back-and-forth over legislation never feels dull. Schlafly lived until 2016, long enough to see many of her nightmares come true. Her vision of American life, however, a Cold War in which the nuclear family is under constant existential threat from the forces of social liberalism, remains as powerful a force in Trumps America as it was in 1971. Being persuasive has never been the same as being right.
The climate crisis may lead to the spread of the mosquito-borne Zika virus as cooler regions experience increasingly hotter temperatures in the coming decades, a new study has found.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool used the most severe climate modelling from the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to look at how increasing temperatures relate to Zika virus transmission risk between 2050 and 2080.

They linked rising temperatures with an increased threat of Zika transmission in Europes southern and eastern regions, along with the northern US, northern China and southern Japan by 2080.

The research team studied two species of mosquito, Aedes albopictus and Ochlerotatus detritus, which are known to spread the Zika virus in warmer climates.

Mosquitoes do not have the ability to regulate body heat, so their temperatures fluctuate with the environment.

The mosquitoes were exposed to temperatures ranging from 17C (63F) to 31C (88F) to see what affect it had on their lifespans and infection levels. The insects were found to be infectious at 19C (66F) as the Zika virus was present in their salivary glands.

Dr Marcus Blagrove, who led the study, told New Scientist: The warmer the environment is, the warmer the mosquito, which allows the virus to replicate faster.

That tends to be why mosquito-borne viruses have major outbreaks in hot countries, particularly at hot times of year.

Zika transmission by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes could also increase over high-altitude regions, the study found, similar to how climate impacts are expected to affect the spread of malaria.

Even under the most ambitious IPCC scenario - which sees carbon emissions beginning to decline this year and and go to zero by 2100 - the risk of Zika transmission is still likely to spread into the southern US states, as well as further into China and Europe.

However a vaccine or sudden reduction of mosquitoes through control measures could have an affect on limiting the spread, Dr Blagrove told The Independent.

Outbreaks of Zika virus have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, according to the World Health Organisation. The virus is transmitted mainly by Aedes mosquitoes which bite during the day.

Most people who are infected with the Zika virus do not develop symptoms, according to WHO. Mild symptoms that can develop include fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle pain and headaches.

In October 2015, Brazil reported a link between Zika virus infection and infants born with the rare neurological condition, microcephaly. It is also associated with pregnancy complications including preterm birth and miscarriage.

The study was published on Wednesday in Proceedings of the Royal Society B journal.
McDonald's is bringing back a number of popular food items to its menus, including breakfast.

Since it began reopening for delivery, drive-thru and takeaway in May, the fast-food chain has been offering a limited menu to its customers as part of a phased reopening of branches and services amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The restricted offering has meant that a host of much-loved items have not been available but now McDonald's has confirmed it is putting some favourites back on the menu.

From Wednesday 8 July, all McDonalds restaurants will be adding six items to the existing menu including milkshakes, Mayo chicken, Bacon mayo chicken, Hot chocolate, Bacon double cheeseburger and organic milk as part of Happy Meals.

The fast food chain said it is continuing to adapt its kitchens to social distancing and safety measures and will be constantly reviewing what it is able to sell, adding that it hopes to reintroduce more items later in the summer.

From 11 am, on Wednesday 8 July, we will reintroduce some of the main menu items youve told us youre missing, as we slowly seek to return to our full menu, said Paul Pomroy, McDonalds UK & Ireland CEO.

The first limited menu included the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken Sandwich, Vegetable Deluxe, hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, chicken McNuggets, chicken selects, Filet-o-Fish, fries, mozzarella dippers, veggie dippers, fruit bag, McFlurries and a selection of drinks.

In his statement, Pomroy added that following a successful trial, all but 28 of the 1329 restaurants now open across the UK and Ireland will be reopening for breakfast hours. However, the chain will be serving a limited menu including hash browns, McMuffins and pancakes.

Following a successful first week of the pilot, I am delighted to announce that also on Wednesday 8 July we will extend breakfast service to over 1,000 restaurants, Pomroy said.

This will still be a limited menu, for now  no bagels, wraps or porridge, but as with the main menu, were working on returning popular missing items later in the year.

McDonalds also provided customers with an updated on its popular Monopoly promotion, which has run since 2005 in the UK, revealing that it has been postponed until next year.

To enable safe working and social distancing inside our restaurants and to minimise the pressure on our employees, we have decided to cancel this years Monopoly VIP campaign, Pomroy explained.

It creates a great deal of excitement inside our restaurants and relies heavily upon menu items we cannot safely reintroduce yet. Rest assured, we are already planning for Monopoly 2021 and hope to be able to bring this popular promotion back next Spring.

Starting next week, some restaurants will also be changing their opening times, with many returning to 24-hour service.
As technology companies pull out or consider their presence in Hong Kong due to new legislation from the Chinese government, Apple has said it is assessing the impact of the new law.

However, unlike other companies, it has not yet suspended data requests from Chinese authorities.

The new law, officially called the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, criminalises any act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces.

The law has been criticised for being a euphemism for anything, or anyone, that the ruling Communist Party of China (CCP) disapproves of.

This is because of its powers to curtail free speech, such as the protest slogan Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times.

China claims the law returns stability to the region.

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Apple has always required that all content requests from local law enforcement authorities be submitted through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in place between the United States and Hong Kong [...] the US Department of Justice reviews Hong Kong authorities' requests for legal conformance, a spokesperson told Bloomberg.

A Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty allows countries outside of the United States to request data from the technology companies by law enforcement.

According to the companys website, between January and June 2019 Apple responded to 358 requests for device data from Hong Kong, 155 requests for financial data, and two requests for access to accounts data.

The technology giant approved most device data requests (91 per cent), 68 per cent of the financial requests, and both of the requests to access account data.

Since 2013, the company has complied with the majority of requests.

Google, Microsoft, Twitter, and Zoom have all said they would not comply with data requests from the Chinese government until they have reviewed the law.

It follows Facebook and its subsidiaries, WhatsApp and Instagram, taking a similar decision, as has messaging service Telegram.

TikTok has said that it is pulling the viral video app from stores in Hong Kong.

While many technology companies are banned in China, such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter, Apple has a strong presence in the country due to its manufacturing needs.

The company has been criticised for apparently caving to pressure from the Chinese government before, when it removed the Hkmap.live application from its App Store last year. The app was used by both protestors and other Hong Kong citizens for real-time updates on police locations.

In response, Apple CEO Tim Cook said there was credible information from Hong Kong police that the app was used maliciously to target individual officers for violence and to victimize individuals and property where no police are present."
A flight to and from Mars should stop off at Venus first, scientists have suggested.

A group of researchers have drafted a white paper, to be submitted for peer review at Acta Astronautica, a journal for the exploration of space, that suggests using Venus as a flyby opportunity is essential in getting to Mars.

A dedicated year-long Venus flyby mission could serve as a valuable shakedown cruise for the deep-space transport systems needed for the first human mission to Mars, the paper suggests.

Getting humans to Mars can be done in two ways: the first is flying a spacecraft between the two planets when their orbits align.

The downside of such a plan is that astronauts would need to wait up to a year and a half before returning to Earth.

Recommended Nasa delays trip to Mars after rocket problem

The second notion is slingshotting past Venus, using the planets gravity to alter the crafts course.

Such an option would reduce the amount of energy needed on the trip, saving fuel and, by extension, cost.

Space agencies could also perform the trip more often. Mars and Earths orbits only align for a mission every 26 months, in comparison to every 19 months for a mission using Venus.

These flybys provide opportunities to practice deep space human operations, and offer numerous safe-return-to-Earth options, before committing to longer and lower-cadence Mars-only flights the researchers suggest.

Venus flybys, as part of dedicated missions to Mars, also enable human in the loop scientific study of the second planet.

It is also the case that, should the mission go wrong, that going to Venus first would allow astronauts to quickly change course and return to Earth sooner  something which could be essential on a dangerous mission.

You  greatly simplify the logistics of going to Mars, especially from the perspective of crew health, Kirby Runyon a planetary geomorphologist at Johns Hopkins University who is part of the team that developed the white paper, told Space.

There's science at two planets for much less than the price of two separate crewed missions, Paul Byrne, a planetary geologist at North Carolina State University, also said.

Missions to Mars are already in development. Nasa has announced that it plans to fly a helicopter on Mars to show that powered-flight would be possible on the planet.

However such a mission, which was expected to land on Mars in February 2021, has been pushed back to 30 July at the very earliest.

If the mission is delayed past 15 August, the engineers will need to wait until 2022 when the planets orbits are aligned again.

Getting the Perseverance rover to Mars is expected to cost about $3 billion, as it looks for signs of past alien life and collect specimens for study on Earth.

Should humans desire to build a self-sustaining civilisation on the red planet, it is suggested that at least 110 people will need to travel there.
SpaceX has been forced to cancel its latest launch due to adverse weather conditions.

The private space firm scrubbed the lift off of its Falcon 9 rocket just minutes before its scheduled launch time, as rain clouds passed over the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The launch was already delayed, having previously been scheduled for 26 June. A new launch time is yet to be confirmed.

"Standing down from todays mission due to weather; proceeding through the countdown until T-1 minute for data collection," the firm tweeted. "Will announce a new target launch date once confirmed on the Range."

The mission was set to deliver a batch of 57 Starlink satellites into orbit as part of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's plan to beam high-speed internet down to Earth.

More than 500 Starlink satellites are already in orbit, with hopes that they will eventually form part of a 12,000-strong constellation.

SpaceX is yet to announce a precise date for when the service will go live but it is already requesting beta testers in Canada and northern parts of the US.

The space-based internet service has already been successfully used by Mr Musk, who used it to send out a tweet in late 2019.
Boohoo has announced it is launching an independent review into its supply chain after it was alleged staff are earning less than the minimum wage amid unsafe working conditions.

The online fashion retailer has committed 10m towards eradicating malpractice among its suppliers after an investigation by The Sunday Times found that workers in a Leicester-based factory were making clothes destined for Boohoo for as little as 3.50 pounds an hour.

The report also claimed that few measures had been put in place to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus among workers.

Boohoo, which owns brands including PrettyLittleThing and Nasty Gal, said the review will be led by Alison Levitt QC.

In a statement released on Wednesday, management said the board was shocked and appalled by the recent allegations, adding that it was committed to doing everything in our power to rebuild the reputation of the textile manufacturing industry in Leicester.

Recommended Asos and Next remove Boohoo amid claims of exploitation by supplier

We take extremely seriously all allegations of malpractice, poor working conditions, and underpayment of workers, the statement read.

The group will not tolerate any incidence of non-compliance with its code of conduct or any mistreatment of workers, and will not hesitate to terminate relationships with any supplier who does not comply.

Boohoo said it would also welcome the opportunity to work with home secretary Priti Patel and local officials on any future investigations to help tackle labour malpractice in Leicester.

Next and Asos have removed all Boohoo clothing from sale following the allegations of exploitation, while the companys shares fell a further 12 per cent on Tuesday after a 16 per cent slump the day before.

The independent review comes as the National Crime Agency confirmed it was investigating Leicesters textiles industry, although it did not comment on Boohoo specifically.

An NCA spokesperson said: Within the last few days NCA officers, along with Leicestershire Police and other partner agencies, attended a number of business premises in the Leicester area to assess concerns of modern slavery and human trafficking.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 17 June 2021 Members of the Tootsie Rollers jazz band pose on the third day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meet AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 16 June 2021 A woman and child examine life-size sculptures of a herd of Asian elephants set up by the Elephant Family and The Real Elephant Collective to help educate the public on the elephants and the ways in which humans can better protect the planets biodiversity, in Green Park, central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 June 2021 Hydrotherapists with Dixie, a seven-year-old Dachshund who is being treated for back problems common with the breed, in the hydrotherapy pool during a facility at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home's in Battersea, London, to view their new hydrotherapy centre PA UK news in pictures 14 June 2021 Scotland's David Marshall in the net after Czech Republic's Patrik Schick scored their second goal at Hampden Park Reuters UK news in pictures 13 June 2021 Raheem Sterling celebrates with Harry Kane after scoring Englands first goal of the Euro 2021 tournament in a match against Croatia at Wembley Reuters UK news in pictures 12 June 2021 Oxfam campaigners wearing costumes depicting G7 leaders pose for photographers on Swanpool Beach near Falmouth, Cornwall EPA UK news in pictures 11 June 2021 Members of the Vaxinol team, who are commercial, industrial and residential cleaners specialising in disinfection and decontamination, use electrostatic spray systems to deep clean the Only Fools Bar in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 10 June 2021 A woman walks her dogs as the incoming tide begins to wash away the heads of G7 leaders drawn in the sand by activists on the beach at Newquay, Cornwall AP UK news in pictures 9 June 2021 Adam Chamberlain, 45, general manager of Big Tree pub in Sheffield, has put up over 500 flags, taking 36 hours, in preparation for Euro 2020, which kicks off this weekend Tom Maddick / SWNS UK news in pictures 8 June 2021 REUTERS UK news in pictures 7 June 2021 A pedestrian wearing a face covering walks over Westminster Bridge near the Houses of Parliament in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 6 June 2021 Isobel Salamon, founder of the Edinburgh Cinema Club, poses alongside the Leith Trainspotting murals in Quality Yard, Leith, Edinburgh, for the programme launch of the Cinescapes Festival which starts on July 4 with a Trainspotting 1 and 2 double bill PA UK news in pictures 5 June 2021 A long exposure photograph captures the rotation of the earth as the stars blur into circles over Knowlton church ruins in Dorset Nick Lucas/SWNS UK news in pictures 4 June 2021 Balloonists take flight during the opening of the Midlands Air Festival in Alcester, Warwickshire PA UK news in pictures 3 June 2021 Members of the Household Cavalry during the Major General's annual inspection of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in Hyde Park, London PA UK news in pictures 2 June 2021 Hannah Vitos of the Blenheim Art Foundation, poses for a photograph next to artist Ai Weiwei's Gilded Cage (2017) sculpture in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 1 June 2021 People swim in the Sky Pool, a transparent swimming pool bridge across two exclusive residential blocks standing next to the US Embassy in Nine Elms, in London, Tuesday, June 1, 2021 AP UK news in pictures 31 May 2021 People enjoy the hot weather at Brighton beach Reuters UK news in pictures 30 May 2021 People venture into the sea as they enjoy themselves during a hot day on Brighton Beach AP UK news in pictures 29 May 2021 Swimmers at the Stonehaven Open Air Pool in Aberdeenshire, which reopens after lockdown restrictions were eased PA UK news in pictures 28 May 2021 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he meets Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at Downing Street in London REUTERS UK news in pictures 27 May 2021 White Pelicans in the sunshine in St James's Park, London PA UK news in pictures 26 May 2021 Boats are seen at Southsea Moorings in Portsmouth Reuters UK news in pictures 25 May 2021 York Glaziers Trust employees Kieran Muir (left) and Emily Price (right) remove a stained glass window panel at the start of a new five year, 5m project to conserve York Minsters South East Transept and its medieval St Cuthbert Window PA UK news in pictures 24 May 2021 Dark rain clouds above an oast house at Bewl Water reservoir near Lamberhurst in Kent during one of the rainiest Mays on record, with the UK seeing 131 per cent of the usual months rainfall already PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA

Earlier this year, Boohoo said it had begun a review of its garment-makers, including a full audit of all of our suppliers manufacturing facilities.

But former MP Mary Creagh, who investigated the UKs fast-fashion garment industry as chairwoman of the Commons Environmental Audit Committee, said monitoring the sector was difficult.

When you think there are 10,000 workers, there are hundreds of factories and the tendency is when one factory is shut down it just springs up again in a sort of phoenix factory approach, she told the BBC.

They are shut down by authorities on Friday and they start up in a different building with a different name on Monday morning and this is the problem. It is a really difficult issue to tackle, the problem is the system, not just the enforcement.

Over the weekend, health secretary Matt Hancock said he was very worried about the employment practices in some factories in the city.

There are clearly some problems that have been under the radar in Leicester that need action, he added.
Teachers need urgent clarification over a range of issues for schools to safely reopen in September, a leading union has said.

The NASUWT teachers' union has asked the government for more information, including over how classroom teaching will carry on in the event of staff absences and what extra support will be available to help schools establish a safe return.

Their general secretary said a significant number of measures laid out in the guidance for a full reopening in September require additional resources in a letter to the education secretary, which urged the government to address the concerns of teachers and school leaders before all students are welcomed back in two months time.

How schools will be able to fund these additional expectations is a key question we are being asked, Dr Patrick Roach said in the letter to Gavin Williamson.

As well as mentioning extra funding, NASUWT said teachers and headteachers have also raised questions around protections for clinically vulnerable staff and extra cleaning provisions.

Dr Roach also urged Mr Williamson to address concerns over the logistical challenge of getting enough school transport so children from different year groups and schools would not have to mix.

He asked the education secretary to design a coordinated national plan for the safe and full reopening of schools in September that addresses the many practical and logistical issues teachers and headteachers have raised.

The Department for Education (DfE) said last week detailed plans have been released for schools and colleges in England to welcome back all students from September following disruption due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Certain year groups, including Year 1 and Year 6, were allowed back from the start of June.

Mr Williamson has said it will be compulsory for all pupils to go back to school in September.

The NASUWT recognises the importance of schools reopening to all children as soon as it is safe to do so, Dr Roach, the general secretary, said.

Schools have only a few weeks before they close for the summer break, he added. Teachers and headteachers need urgent clarification from the DfE if they are to be able to meet the guidance on September reopening consistently and safely.

Dr Roachs letter to the education secretary also called for clarity in the event of a confirmed case of Covid-19 in a school and to ensure the priority for coronavirus testing includes teachers.

DfE said last week guidance published provides schools, colleges and nurseries with the details needed to plan for a full return, as well as reassuring parents about what to expect for their children.

The education secretary said: The very best place for children to be is in the classroom, which is why we have set out our plans for all young people to return to education full-time from September.

Mr Williamson added: I want to reassure parents and families that we are doing everything we can to make sure schools are as safe as possible for children and staff, and will continue to work closely with the countrys best scientific and medical experts to ensure that is the case.
The horseshoe crab is a strange creature. It is not actually a crab, lacking pincers, and is considered a living fossil due to its origin 450 million years ago. Whats more, this unlikely animal has now become highly prized by the pharmaceutical industry due to the peculiar properties of its blood.

Horseshoe crab blood is used to test the sterility of vaccines. This is because components of the animals blood react particularly strongly if they come into contact with any endotoxins  the materials from pathogenic bacteria. The result is a clot. If scientists add horseshoe crab blood to their vaccines and see a clot, it means the vaccine is not safe to be tested.

In Europe, a new synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood was recognised as being safe in 2016, but in America, it is yet to gain approval from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).

As a result, US pharmaceutical firms  some of the biggest in the world  remain dependent on horseshoe crabs.

Every year around half a million horseshoe crabs are rounded up during the spring when they come ashore to lay their eggs.

The crabs are taken to labs where they are milked  a process in which around a third of their blood is removed, before they are then returned to the water.

This time-consuming procedure makes the crabs blood expensive  worth around 48,000 per gallon (180,000 a litre).

Environmentalists say the impact of the bleeding of crabs has not been well-researched enough to know the exact impact.

However, the numbers of horseshoe crabs are falling in some of their key habitats.

According to the National Geographic, in 1990, biologists estimated 1.2 million crabs spawned in Delaware Bay, which is both a prime egg-laying spot and one of the main collection points for the drug companies.

By 2002, that number had dropped to 333,500.

And it is not only the drug companies which are dependent on the crabs.

Seabirds such as the red knot and the semipalmated plover both rely on the crabs eggs to provide sustenance for their migratory flights to the Arctic where they breed.

As a result, environmentalists are calling for the synthetic alternative to horseshoe crabs blood to be made available to US drug companies.

Due to the rush to create vaccines to fight the coronavirus pandemic, the calls for action have become increasingly urgent.

Dr Barbara Brummer, state director for nature conservancy in New Jersey told BBC Radio 4: When theyre put back [in the sea] theyre alive, but nobody really knows the impact that withdrawal of blood has on the life of that crab.

There are at least 30 companies working on a vaccine and every one of them has to go through a lot of sterility testing  so my concern is about the population of the horseshoe crabs, because theyre such a key part of the ecosystem.

She said environmentalists are now pushing to have the synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood to be recognised so we can move away from relying on this natural source of endotoxin test.

Itd be good news for crabs, good news for birds. The nature conservancy that Im a part of believes in protecting the lands and waters which we all depend on.
Johnny Depp has alleged his ex-wife Amber Heards domestic abuse allegations are a hoax built up over years as an insurance policy.

On the second day of Depps libel action against The Sun, the High Court heard details of an email written by Heard to the star in 2013, but which was never sent, in which she said he had hurt her many times both physically and emotionally.

The Hollywood actor, 57, is suing The Suns publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over a 2018 article which labelled him a wife beater and referred to overwhelming evidence that he attacked Heard, 34, during their relationship  which he strenuously denies.

In response to the email, Depp, giving evidence, said it appeared Ms Heard was building a dossier very early on that appears to be an insurance policy for later.

Heards email, read by NGNs lawyer Sasha Wass QC, began: I just dont know if I can do this anymore. It is like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Half of you I love madly, and the other half scares me. I cant take him. I wish I could, but I cant.

The problem is, I never really know/understand which one Im dealing with until its too late.

The drinking assures me that I am dealing with the monster. The abused, scared, insecure, violent little boy. I just cant tell where the line starts.

Ms Wass put to Depp: Your answer to Ms Heards allegation that you were a serial domestic abuser was that this is a hoax.

The actor replied: Hoax is probably the best word one could use because the allegations, all of the allegations, are patently untrue.

From hearing you read out this (email), that was not sent to me, and from some of the information I have garnered from my experience yesterday and having studied the case, I will suggest, maam, that it appears to me that Ms Heard was building a dossier very early on that appears to be an insurance policy for later.

During his second day on the witness stand, Depp faced further questioning on his drug use, allegations of violence, his relationship with Heard and accusations of jealousy.

Undated picture shown in court of lines of cocaine on a table that were allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp, which has been referred as an exhibit in the hearing of his libel case at the High Court in London. (PA)

Undated handout photo of lines of cocaine on a table allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp, which has been referred to to in court during the hearing of his libel case. (Simons Muirhead Burton/PA)

The actor rejected suggestions he slapped Heard three times during a time when he had fallen off the wagon after she laughed at his Wino Forever tattoo, saying that is not true, you are mistaken.

The court also heard details of an alleged incident at a trailer park in Hicksville, California, in June 2013  one of 14 allegations of domestic violence NGN relies on as part of its defence to Mr Depps claim, all of which the star denies.

Heard claims he became enraged and jealous when one of her friends, referred to as Kelly Sue and described as having been very close to Ms Heard, touched her.

Ms Wass said to Depp: You started to get angry, the monster joined the party and you took exception to a woman who was in your group called Kelly Sue.

Depp said he did take exception, saying: She was putting her hands on Amber and I thought it was an uncomfortable position to put her in.

He denied becoming extremely angry and shouting at her, saying: I removed Miss Kelly Sues hand from Ms Heards body and told her not to do that.

Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London for the second day of the libel case (PA)

Depp was asked about another alleged incident in March 2013, when Heard claims he hit her several times after an argument about a painting by her ex-partner, Tasya van Ree, which was hanging in her bedroom.

Ms Wass asked: Would you describe yourself as jealous?, to which he replied: I am, yes. I can be jealous.

The barrister said: You were very jealous and accusatory of Ms Heard, suggesting that she was having, or continuing, her affair with Tasya van Ree  it became an obsession of yours that night.

Depp said: I remember we had several arguments about Ms van Ree, I wont elaborate.

He later denied allegations put to him by Ms Wass that he tried to remove the painting and to set fire to it, saying each time they were not true.

Asked about an incident in which he allegedly dangled Heards Yorkshire terrier, Pistol, out of the window of a moving car, Depp said it is absolute, utter falsity.

That is not my idea of fun, although my sense of humour is rather skewed, he said.

NGN is defending its article as true and alleges Depp was controlling and verbally and physically abusive towards Ms Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs between early 2013 and May 2016, when the couple split.

US actor Johnny Depp pictured with ex-wife US actress Amber Heard, September 2015. (AFP via Getty Images)

In a written outline of the actors case, his barrister, David Sherborne, said the article made defamatory allegations of the utmost seriousness against Depp, accusing him of committing serious assaults on Heard and inflicting such serious injuries that she feared for her life.

Mr Sherborne said: The articles amount to a full-scale attack on the claimant as a wife beater, guilty of the most horrendous physical abuse.

The claimants position is clear  Ms Heards allegations are complete lies.

The claimant was not violent towards Ms Heard; it was she who was violent to him.

He added: The marriage was at times physical, at her instigation, and on occasions he found it necessary to defend himself from her violence. He is not a wife beater and never has been.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

Additional reporting by PA
Uber has announced it is to launch a boat service in London this summer in partnership with Thames Clippers.

The collaboration will see branded vessels operate between Putney and Woolwich, with passengers able to book tickets using the US-based companys popular app.

It will be Ubers first permanent commuter boat service. However, the service will still be run by Thames Clippers.

The move comes as passengers numbers on trains and buses remain low due to fears over catching Covid-19.

Recommended Uber makes face coverings mandatory for passengers and drivers

Many Londoners are looking for new ways to travel around the city, particularly when they start commuting back to work, said Jamie Heywood, Ubers regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe.

Later this summer we will launch the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers in London as a means for people to arrange travel on the river and road, all through the Uber app.

Thames Clippers co-founder and chief executive Sean Collins said: In our 22nd year of operation it is key that we continue to support London and its commuters with the ease of lockdown and return to work.

The new partnership sees Thames Clippers and Uber, who both pride themselves on safety, reliability and comfort, come together.

Service will begin this summer (Uber)

It will allow us to link the two travel modes of river and road, providing Londoners and visitors with even more options to commute, visit, explore and enjoy our city by river.

Last month, the taxi hailing service made face coverings mandatory for all passengers. Uber also require drivers to wear face masks.

In London, drivers will have to share a selfie showing they are wearing a face covering before they start a shift, a measure that the company is considering rolling out across the UK.

Drivers are now able to cancel a trip without a penalty if a rider isnt wearing a face covering, and vice versa.
Boris Johnson has refused to apologise for his claim that some care homes didnt really follow the procedures to protect residents and staff from the coronavirus.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer challenged the prime minister on his wide-criticised remarks at PMQs in the House of Commons and asked him to say sorry to Britains care workers.

The last thing I wanted to do was blame care workers for what has happened or for any of them to think I was blaming, said Mr Johnson. When it comes to taking blame [for deaths], I take full responsibility for what has happened.

Sir Keir said the prime ministers remarks were not an apology and it just wont wash, before inviting him again to say sorry. By refusing to apologise the prime minister rubs salt into the wounds of the very people he stood at his front door and clapped.

Mr Johnson replied: He keeps saying I tried to blame care workers, and that is simply not the case. The reality is we now know things about the way coronavirus is passed from person to person without symptoms that we just didnt know.

The prime minister also claimed the one thing that nobody knew early on during this pandemic was that the virus was being passed asymptomatically from person to person ... thats why the guidance and procedures [at care homes] changed.

Health secretary Matt Hancock used the same argument on Tuesday, when he claimed Mr Johnson had only been trying to explain that because asymptomatic transmission was not known about, the correct procedures were therefore not known [by care homes].

However, minutes from a meeting of the governments SAGE group of scientific advisers from 28 January show officials were aware asymptomatic transmission. The minutes state: There is limited evidence of asymptomatic transmission, but early indications imply some is occurring.

Boris Johnson at PMQs in the Commons (Reuters TV)

During another feisty encounter in the Commons on Wednesday, the Labour leader pointed out that more than 19,000 care home residents have died from Covid-19.

These are extraordinary numbers but the Prime Minister has consistently ducked responsibility for this, Sir Keir said, before adding huge mistakes have been made.

He went on: The decision to discharge 25,000 people to care homes without tests was clearly a mistake. Will the prime minister simply accept his government was just too slow to act on care homes?

Mr Johnson again said the understanding of the disease changed dramatically over recent months. Ive made it clear this government takes responsibility for everything that weve done throughout this crisis.

It was during a visit to Yorkshire on Monday that Mr Johnson said: We discovered too many care homes didnt really follow the procedures in the way that they could have.

The National Care Forum has described the prime ministers remarks as hugely insulting to care workers, while the chief executive officer of Community Integrated Care accused Mr Johnson of attempting to re-write history in cowardly fashion.
Boris Johnson is under pressure to explain whether Dominic Cummings has demanded access to top-secret military sites, sparking a turf war with defence chiefs.

The controversial chief aide plans to tour Britains most highly classified bases as he seeks to radically shake up the military, according to documents seen by an Australian newspaper.

The sites include the Special Boat Service in Dorset, the SAS headquarters in Hereford and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down, which researches chemical weapons and pathogens.

Mr Cummings also wants to visit the Rapid Capabilities Office at Farnborough and the defence intelligence unit at Wyton  having already toured MI5 and MI6 twice, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, said he feared that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) would be a bystander in what was meant to be the biggest defence review since the Cold War.

Plans for Britains future defence and security should not be in the hands of a political adviser, he warned.

And Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat leadership candidate, said: Britains defence should not be the political plaything of Dominic Cummings. Boris Johnson needs to bench his adviser, for all our sakes.

According to the documents, the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, has forbidden officials from talking to Downing Street or Mr Cummings about the itinerary for his planned trip.

The secretary of state explicitly does not wish anyone to engage Number 10 or Dominic Cummings on this, officials were told, the Herald reported.

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It is for the [ministers special adviser] and the secretary of state to engage in the first instance before delegating to officials.

The apparent row comes after fierce criticism of the ousting of Mark Sedwill, the national security adviser  whose replacement, David Frost, a key Johnson ally, lacks experience in intelligence.

Meanwhile, a bitter internal struggle is under way about the UKs future defence and security capabilities, with suggestions that No 10 will demand big cuts to military personnel.

But Mr Johnsons political spokesperson defended Mr Cummings tour, saying: He is the prime ministers senior adviser and so, as you would expect, he regularly visits government sites.

Similar visits have taken place involving senior advisers under previous governments.

The tensions were laid bare when Nick Carter, the chief of the defence staff, appeared before the Commons Defence Committee on Tuesday.

Mark Francois, a hard Brexit-backing Tory MP, warned him that Cummings would sort out the department in his own way if it did not tackle its huge black holes in spending.

Mr Cummings has previously been targeted by Labour over his security clearance, after a whistleblower revealed the time he spent in Russia in his 20s.

Recent photographs  showing his security pass has a green band  suggest that he has now been granted developed vetting (DV) clearance, allowing him to view top-secret files without supervision.
Sterling, VA (20165)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Thunder possible. High 71F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The British government could get itself locked out of the EU's coronavirus vaccine programme by refusing to contribute financially, MPs have warned.

The House of Commons European scrutiny committee sounded the alarm on Wednesday over the UK's insistence that it will not pay increased EU budget contributions for 2020.

The extra payments are directly tied to the vaccine programme, which aims to get EU members priority access to a treatment for Covid-19. The UK can still in theory participate as it is in the Brexit transition period.

Downing Street has said the UK is interested in taking part in a European Union programme and says "work is ongoing" to determine how it would participate.

Since Britain left the EU, Brussels has increased its 2020 budget by more than 4 billion to fund a variety of coronavirus related schemes, of which 2.7 billion is to be used to fund an Emergency Support Instrument, "intended primarily as a down payment on any future coronavirus vaccine for the EUs member states, using the EUs collective buying power," the committee of MPs said in a report.

The European Commission says the UK has to pay for the emergency support instrument, but could also benefit from it. Under the terms of the Brexit transition period negotiated by Boris Johnson, the UK has to follow EU rules and policies without any say.



But the British government is arguing that because the Covid-19 spending required a legal change to the EUs spending limits for 2020 agreed only after the UK had left the EU, "it is not obliged to pay towards it under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement". Ministers say they are in "discussions" with the EU over the issue.



"It is not clear what the outcome of these 'discussions' with the EU is to date, nor how it will affect any potential UK participation in the EUs scheme for collective Advance Purchase Agreements for a future coronavirus vaccine, on which part of 2 billion at issue  and therefore the UKs putative share  is due to be spent," the European scrutiny committee says.

"The Government apparently disputes whether it has a legal obligation under that Agreement to contribute towards a 2 billion (1.8 billion) increase in EU spending on the 'Emergency Support Instrument', which could affect the UKs ability to participate in an EU-led initiative to use part of this money to secure a supply of any future coronavirus vaccine."

Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66 Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover Sky News/AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners take part in a 'Missing EU Already' rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters display a banner ' Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out' from Westminster bridge EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a 'Brexit Day' t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU activists protest Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man carries an EU themed wreath Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU French newspapers PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31 Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man walks with a St. George's flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament EPA

The government was accused of being "ideological" earlier this year after it declined to take part in an EU procurement scheme to buy personal protective equipment, of which the UK had a major shortage at the time.

After that criticism, Downing Street said it would consider taking part in future Covid-19 procurement schemes organised by the EU. While defending their actions, government ministers had argued variously that the schemes provided no advantage, that it had missed the deadlines to participate due to a communications error, and that they had in fact joined the scheme.

Asked about the situation with the vaccine procurement programme and the budget contribution increase, a government spokesperson was vague and said only: Work is ongoing to determine whether and how the UK participates in the EU Vaccines Strategy.
An immunocompromised teenager in Florida died from Covid-19 after attending a church party and being given hydroxychloroquine.

Carsyn Leigh Davis, 17, died in June after contracting coronavirus. The Fort Myers teens death shocked the community and prompted thousands of dollars worth of donations towards GoFundMe campaigns to honour her memory.

The Washington Post reported that Ms Davis had battled health issues her entire life, including cancer and a rare autoimmune disorder.

Ms Daviss death re-entered the spotlight after the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiners report was made public and revealed details of the teens last weeks. Rebekah Jones, a data scientist in Florida, shared Ms Daviss story in a Twitter thread that subsequently went viral.

Prior to her death, Ms Davis apparently attended a church party that was attended by approximately 100 students. Mask usage and social distancing was not enforced at the party, and Ms Davis reportedly attended without wearing a face covering.

After she contracted the virus, Ms Daviss parents gave her hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug pushed by president Donald Trump as an effective coronavirus treatment but has been labelled dangerous by the US Food and Drug Administration for causing heart rhythm problems that could lead to death.

Ms Daviss mother wrote a Facebook post describing her daughters hospitalisation and complained that the doctors would not give her the drug.

I am quarantined in her room with her and assisting in her care. The doctors are refusing to give her Hydroxychloroquine, citing new studies that it does not work and can be harmful. Using it is against their policy, she wrote. This is very upsetting to me, as many of you know how I feel about that.

An advocacy site dedicated to Covid-19 victims in Florida accused Ms Daviss mother of taking her to a Covid Party to intentionally expose her immuno-comrpromised daughter to this virus.

Ms Daviss mother  who works as a nurse  previously wrote Facebook posts decrying mandatory mask usage and encouraged readers to send letters to elected officials opposing the mandates.

Ms Davis was an active member of her community, regularly attending church functions and spending her time volunteering and participating in her schools varsity bowling team.

The party Ms Davis attended was advertised as a Release Party and a Facebook post from the church said the party would include free food, a DJ and music and the start of our new sermon series.

The churchs Facebook page has since been taken down.

The medical examiners report said that Ms Davis reported feeling ill after she began taking the drugs her parents gave her, and at one point her mother observed that she looked grey while she was sleeping. Her mother gave her oxygen that her grandfather used to fight COPD.

It is currently unclear whether Ms Davis had a prescription for hydroxychloroquine.

After the oxygen incident, Ms Davis was taken to a nearby medical centre and it was confirmed that she had contracted the coronavirus. The girls parents decided against having her intubated and opted instead for her to receive plasma therapy, according to the medical examiners report.

Unfortunately none of the hospitals attempts to save Ms Davis were effective and the girl died two days after her 17th birthday.

Ms Jones  who maintains the Florida Covid-19 victims website and was fired by the Florida Department of Health for refusing to change how the state publicized its public data  said Ms Daviss story was especially saddening to her.

Every death on this website is heartbreaking. Every minute lost in someones life is a tragedy, Ms Jones wrote on her site. But this one will stick with me long after this virus has torn through our communities.

The GoFundMe for Ms Davis has raised $13,990 as of Tuesday.

Her mother posted a statement on the GoFundMe page.

We are incredibly saddened by her passing at this young age, but are comforted that she is pain free, she wrote. Heaven gained an angel.
At least 10 people were killed among 64 shootings reported in New York City over the Fourth of July weekend, which saw a violent spree in several major cities still reeling from coronavirus infections and widespread protests against police violence.

For the first time since 2016, the city surpassed 400 shootings by mid-year. The New York Police Department reported that the city saw 528 shootings by the end of June, one of the most violent halves of the year in more than 20 years.

Last week, 18 people were murdered in New York.

At a Monday briefing, Mayor Bill De Blasio pointed to several factors for the weekend's sharp spike in violence, including the "dislocation that has happened over these last four months with the coronavirus".

Covid-19-related deaths have recently plummeted in the state, which emerged as an epicentre at the onset of the outbreak, leading to the deaths of more than 32,000 New Yorkers.

Hospitalisations from coronavirus also have dropped to their lowest point since 18 March, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this week.

But officials are pointing to a beleaguered justice system, a looming recession and mass unemployment as cities brace for more summer violence.

"This is something that we have to double down on," Mayor De Blasio said of recent violence. "The fact that the court system is not working, the economy is not working, people have been penned up for months and months  so many issues underlying this challenge."

He has also called for increased support from church groups and nonprofit organisations.

Last month, the mayor and city officials ultimately agreed to cut $1 billion from the city's police department following demands from New Yorkers to end disproportionate spending among law enforcement, though a compromised budget didn't go far enough for many activists as urgent calls for police reform continue amid Black Lives Matter protests.

But police top brass have criticised the cuts, along with reform measures passed by state lawmakers and the city council to hold officers accountable for violence they commit.

Mayor De Blasio has not yet signed a package of police reform legislation, which includes a measure that would criminalise the use of chokeholds, following an outcry from police department bosses objecting to language that holds officers accountable for "sitting, kneeling or standing on the chest or back in a manner that compresses the diaphragm".

On Monday, police commissioner Dermot Shea called the measures "insane", claiming that "police officers should not have to worry more about getting arrested than the person with the gun that they're rolling around on the street with".

Chief of Crime Control Strategies Michael LiPetri told reporters on Monday that police "don't have the power" but did not elaborate on what police have lost with recent reforms.

The mayor has resisted calls from city officials and residents to oust the commissioner after he appeared to blame recent violence on bail reform efforts that he claimed had emptied "half the population of Rikers Island and put it onto the streets" during a recent radio interview.

"This leadership group has achieved so much for this city," Mayor De Blasio on Tuesday. "I chose Commissioner Shea, having known him and worked closely with him for six years. He is an extraordinary public servant."

Violence over Independence Day weekend prompted Georgia's governor to declare a state of emergency on Monday after 30 people were injured and five people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed in Atlanta.

In Chicago, 87 people were shot between Thursday and Sunday night. Seventeen people were killed.
A Republican lawmaker has urged people in Ohio to stop getting tested for coronavirus, despite the state seeing a surge in infections.

GOP House of Representatives member Nino Vitale asked constituents if they were tired of living in a dictatorship in a Facebook post on Tuesday and advised that they STOP GETTING TESTED!

It is giving the government an excuse to claim something is happening that is not happening at the magnitude they say it is happening, the lawmaker claimed.

The republicans demand comes as Ohio governor Mike DeWine announced that masks will be made mandatory in seven counties where the novel coronavirus is spreading rapidly.

We are seeing a serious situation, Gov DeWine said. We have to take action.

Rep Vitale attached a photo laying out the details of the order to the post, and pushed residents to stop listening to these frauds.

Almost 59,000 people have contracted the novel coronavirus in the state, with a death toll of 2,970 as of Wednesday.

Rep Vitale insisted that the government keep adding to numbers they have been feeding us from over 3 months ago and claimed that officials had refrained from discussing the death rate in the area.

Have you noticed they never talk about deaths anymore, just cases? And they never talk about recoveries, he said.

On Tuesday the state rose above the 21-day average for both coronavirus infections and deaths after reporting 948 new cases of the disease, 144 infections above the 21 day average of 804, WEWS-TV reported

The state also reported more than double the 21-day average for deaths, recording 43 fatalities from the disease on Tuesday.

In April, Rep Vitale made his personal views on masks clear after citing religious beliefs as his reason to refuse to wear one in line with recommendations.

This is not the entire world, Rep Vitale wrote in another lengthy Facebook post, The Hill reported. This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo-Christian Principles.

One of those principles is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. That image is seen the most by our face. I will not wear a mask, he continued.

Across the US infections continue to grow with 2.9 million people having tested positive for the novel coronavirus, with a death toll of over 130,000.
The director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, has warned that China poses a greater threat to the future of the US than any other external force and that it is prepared to do anything to achieve global supremacy.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute, a conservative-leaning foreign policy think tank, Mr Wray on Tuesday warned that Americans need to understand both the scale and the complexity of the Chinese Communist Partys ambitions, as well as the dangers posed by their tactics.

China, the Chinese Communist Party, believes it is in a generational fight to surpass our country in economic and technological leadership.

That is sobering enough, but it is waging that fight not through legitimate innovation, not through fair and lawful competition, and not by giving their citizens the freedom of thought and speech and creativity that we treasure here in the United States.

Instead, China is engaged in an effort to become the worlds only superpower by any means necessary.

Those means include outright theft of intellectual property  both physical and digital  as well as efforts to corrupt and spy on insiders at US institutions, both commercial and governmental, said Mr Wray.

Name-checking Huawei in particular, the director stressed that ostensibly private Chinese companies are not private in the sense Americans would usually use the term. They can be called upon to turn over any data at any time the government requests it, and to incorporate communist party cells. Mr Wray suggested that such cells have been installed in US companies as a condition of doing business in China.

And while Huawei and other companies operating in the US and elsewhere have attracted concerns over privacy and access to government and private sector data, Mr Wray warned that the threat is much greater than that.

Our data is not the only thing at stake here, he said. So is our health, our livelihoods, and our security. We have now reached the point where the FBI is opening a new China-related counterintelligence case about every 10 hours. Of the nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases currently underway across the country, almost half are related to China.

Concern about China at the top of the US government is far from uniform or consistent, but it has grown overall in recent years as the USs military, intelligence and economic dominance face these new challenges. Donald Trump, for his part, has ostensibly been a China hawk since he came to power, though his animosity towards the Chinese has mainly been focused on trade.

He has lately turned his fire on Chinas early handling of the coronavirus pandemic, boasting frequently of his decision to close the US border to arrivals from China  though that claim is in fact notably overstated  and nicknaming the disease the China virus and kung flu.

Critics have complained that his repeatedly using such terms is fuelling bigotry and even violence against Chinese Americans, which has surged since the pandemic began.

In this charged atmosphere, Mr Wray was careful to stress that these people were not his target.

Let me be clear: this is not about the Chinese people, and certainly not about Chinese Americans.

Every year, the United States welcomes more than 100,000 Chinese students and teachers into this country. For generations, people have journeyed from China to the United States to secure the blessings of liberty for themselves and their families, and our society is better for their contributions.
Sandwich chain Jimmy John's announced that four of its workers have been fired after a video showing them making a noose out of bread dough began circulating on social media.

A male employee at a Jimmy John's store in Woodstock, Georgia slipped the dough noose around his neck while another male worker held the "rope" above him to give the appearance that the noose was tight. A third worker stood off to the side laughing while a fourth filmed the video.

The clip was shared widely on social media over the weekend.

On Sunday, Jimmy John's issued a statement announcing the workers had been fired.

"We have zero tolerance for racism or discrimination in any form. The franchisee has taken immediate action and the employees have been terminated. The actions seen in this video are completely unacceptable and do not represent the Jimmy John's brand," the statement said.

The statement was made in reply to a Twitter user who posted the video and suggested the boys had previously made nooses.

"In Woodstock GA at a Jimmy Johns, some white employees made a noose, look at the DETAILS in the damn noose dough that's used for sandwiches. Crazy. They done this before...," the user wrote.

As of this publication, there is no evidence to suggest the workers in the video were involved in any previous noose making.

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Nooses have been historically associated with executions, and in modern history the lynchings of black Americans by gangs of racist white people, especially in the American south.

In the weeks following the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests against police brutality and systemic racism, a string of individuals were found hanging from trees across the country. Though police ruled them all suicides, sceptics argued it was more than coincidence that six people of colour were found hanging from trees in the midst of one of the largest racial justice upheavals in US history.

More recently, Nascar driver Bubba Wallace reported that he found what appeared to be a noose hanging in his assigned garage at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. The FBI eventually determined the rope - which was tied using the same loops used in preparing a noose - was simply a garage pull-down rope and not meant as a racial threat.
A Muslim woman has filed a discrimination charge against Target after she received a Starbucks beverage with Isis written on the cup.

On 1 June, Aishah, who has asked only to be identified by her first name, was at the St Paul-Midway Target in Minnesota when she ordered a drink from the Starbucks inside.

According to the 19-year-old, who wears a hijab, she gave her name to the barista, only to have her cup returned with Isis written on the side - an incident she said made her feel "humiliated".

"The moment I saw it, I was overwhelmed with a lot of emotions," Aishah told CNN. "I felt belittled and so humiliated. This is a word that shatters the Muslim reputation all over the world. I cannot believe that in this day and age, something like this can be considered acceptable. It isn't okay."

After receiving the drink, Aishah said she questioned the barista - who claimed that she hadnt heard Aishah correctly when the teen had given her name.

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According to Aishah, there was absolutely no way that the barista could have misheard her.

There is absolutely no way she could have heard it as Isis. Aishah is not an unknown name and I repeated it multiple times," she said.

The 19-year-old then requested to speak with the baristas supervisor, who also maintained that the name written on the cup was an accident. Aishah told CNN she was given a new drink and a $25 Starbucks gift card before she was escorted off the premises by a security officer.

On Monday, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), which is representing Aishah, filed a charge to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, CNN reported.

The CAIR-MN is calling for the two Target Starbucks employees involved in the incident to be fired, as well as for other employees at the Target Starbucks location to receive additional training.

In a statement to WCCO, a Target spokesperson said the company had investigated the incident and concluded it was an unfortunate mistake.

We have investigated the matter and believe that it was not a deliberate act but an unfortunate mistake that could have been avoided with more clarification. Were taking appropriate actions with the team member, including additional training, to ensure this does not occur again, the company said.

The Independent has contacted Target for comment.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has claimed that Canada handled the initial outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic better than the US.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, the prime minister said that Canada has managed to control the virus better than other countries and is in a good position to successfully restart the economy.

We were able to control the virus better than many of our allies, particularly including our neighbour, he told reporters.

Canada is a tenth of the size of the US. It has so far recorded at least 106,167 Covid-19 cases and 8,711 deaths, while its neighbour has announced more than three 3 million cases and 131,336 fatalities, according to Reuters.

The US has seen a dramatic rise in coronavirus cases in the past month, following a period where they fell, and has recorded more than 50,000 positive results over multiple single days in the last week.

Mr Trudeau added that coronavirus outbreaks are stabilising in Canada because Canadians did their part and followed public health instructions, according to CNN.

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But we still have to be very careful, he added. Things can change quickly ... we still have some hot spots in some parts of the country, including in long-term care facilities and agricultural work settings.

So as we continue to gradually reopen the economy, we have to remain vigilant.

Speaking at a separate briefing, Canadas deputy chief public health officer Howard Njoo echoed Mr Trudeaus comments and warned that social distancing measures will need to continue.

If we relax too much or too soon, the epidemic will most likely rebound, with explosive growth as a distinct possibility, he told reporters on Wednesday.

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Later in his press briefing, the prime minister said that he speaks to president Donald Trump reasonably regularly and said he will congratulate him on an updated trade deal agreed between the two countries and Mexico.

The free trade agreement came into effect on 1 July, and President Trump welcomed Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to the White House on Wednesday to commemorate it.

The Associated Press reported that Mr Trudeau declined an opportunity to join the two presidents, as Canadas coronavirus rules would have forced him to quarantine for 14 days once he returned.
The task forces created by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders earlier this year to help unify the party against Donald Trump have unveiled their policy recommendations for the official party platform.

The Democratic National Committee will release that platform later this year.

The 110-page document uploaded to Mr Bidens campaign website on Wednesday is his latest attempt to reach out to progressive voters who propelled Mr Sanders into frontrunner status for a brief period during the Democratic primary season and who have been reluctant to fully back the former vice president heading into the home stretch before Election Day.

The six task forces  on the economy, climate change, health care, education, immigration, and criminal justice reform  included several members of Congress aligned with either Mr Biden or Mr Sanders as well as campaign surrogates, activists, and state and local politicians.

Mr Sanders, a Vermont Independent who has finished second in both the 2016 and 2020 Democratic primaries, admitted on Wednesday that the end result [of the task forces] is not what I or my supporters would have written alone and that he and Mr Biden still have strong disagreements on various policies.

But the task forces have created a good policy blueprint that will move this country in a much-needed progressive direction and substantially improve the lives of working families, he said.

We must come together in order to defeat Donald Trump, the most dangerous president in modern American history, Mr Sanders said.

The document touches on virtually every hot button element of domestic policy, including policing and criminal justice reform as the US continues to reel from the deaths in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, and others.

The Biden-Sanders task force on criminal justice reform recommended diverting some federal funding from police departments in order to create a civilian corps of unarmed first responders such as social workers, EMTs, and trained mental health professionals who would handle nonviolent emergencies such as mental health emergencies or low-level conflicts.

Such a corps of first responders would [free] police officers to concentrate on the most serious crimes, the task force states.

Bidens mandate

While the recommendations, which will now head to the DNC, lay out a more liberal agenda than the one Mr Biden frequently espoused during his primary battle against Mr Sanders, they certainly do not represent Sandersian progressivism.

After all, Mr Biden won the primaries, giving him something of a mandate to keep campaigning on largely the same platform.

The task forces 110-page document, for instance, doesnt mention Mr Sanders signature health care policy, Medicare For All, which aims to replace the current for-profit health insurance market with a universal public plan.

But the plan proposes achieving universal healthcare through a high-quality, affordable public option through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

The marketplace would provide at least one plan choice without deductibles, would be administered by the traditional Medicare program, not private companies, and would cover all primary care without any co-payments and control costs for other treatments by negotiating prices with doctors and hospitals, just like Medicare does on behalf of older people, according to the task forces.

Lower-income Americans not eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled in the public option at no cost to them, although they may choose to opt out at any time, the proposal states.

The task force has also recommended lowering the age for Medicare eligibility from 65 to 60.

In 2016, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton proposed allowing Americans to buy into Medicare beginning at 55.

Green New Deal?

The task force on climate change, however, has recommended more ambitious timelines for achieving net-zero carbon emissions than Mr Bidens campaign has previously laid out.

Co-chaired by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the task force has called for policies that would eliminate carbon pollution from power plants by 2035 and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for all new buildings by 2030, among several other policies contained in the freshman New York congresswomans so-called Green New Deal.

On immigration, Mr Bidens platform shines through with regard to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

While Mr Sanders presidential campaign sought to break up those agencies and reallocate their resources and personnel within the Department of Homeland Security, the Biden-Sanders unity task force on immigration has recommended improving transparency and accountability within the existing organisational framework.

Lingering disunity

Mr Biden said in a statement on Wednesday he was deeply grateful to Mr Sanders for working with him to unite our party.

Its unclear whether the document will have that effect, though.

Several of Mr Sanders former campaign staffers have not followed their bosss lead in endorsing Mr Biden.

Mr Sanders former national press secretary, Briahna Joy Gray, has previously said her vote for Mr Biden hinges on whether he supports Medicare for All, canceling student-loan debt, canceling medical debt, [and] having a wealth tax.

While the recommendations released by the task forces on Wednesday contain several proposals to address those underlying concerns, they are not in lockstep with Mr Sanders campaign platform.

Alex Woodward and John T Bennett contributed to this report.
A key witness in the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump is retiring from the US army after 21 years of service, citing a campaign of bullying from the White House.

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman earned the ire of his former boss after he testified about a phone call between the president and his Ukrainian counterpart, during which Mr Trump pushed the country to investigate his political opponent, former vice president Joe Biden.

Mr Trump later fired Lt Col Vindman, a top expert on Ukraine, from his position on the National Security Council. His twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman, was also fired from his position at the NSC.

"Today I officially requested retirement from the US Army, an organization I love. My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives," the former advisor wrote on Twitter.

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A statement from his attorney, David Pressman, said Lt Col Vindman had been the victim of a "campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation" following his impeachment testimony, led by Mr Trump.

"The President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers," Mr Pressman said in a statement to CNN.

It added that the former White House adviser "did what the law compelled him to do; and for that he was bullied by the President and his proxies".

Lt Col Vindman's testimony to the US House of Representatives' impeachment inquiry was among the most damning. In November last year, he explained that he believed Mr Trump's request for an investigation into Mr Biden and his son Hunter during a July phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was improper.

It was inappropriate for the president to request  to demand  an investigation into a political opponent, especially [from] a foreign power where there is at best dubious belief that this would be a completely impartial investigation and that this would have significant implications if it became public knowledge, he said in his testimony.

Lt Col Vindman was escorted from the White House in February after Mr Trump ordered his sacking. Explaining his motivation for the firing on Twitter, Mr Trump wrote: Fake News @CNN & MSDNC keep talking about Lt. Col. Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was."

Actually, I dont know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I dont believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my perfect calls incorrectly, & was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information. In other words, OUT."

Mr Trump was impeached by the Democrat-controlled House but acquitted by Republican allies in the Senate, even though some admitted they did not dispute the allegations against him.
Nauta Capital, a pan-European venture capital firm investing in capital-efficient B2B software companies, launched its fifth fund, with a 120M first close.

Nauta Tech Invest Vs first close is joined by both existing and new investors from continental Europe, UK and the Americas including fund of funds, financial institutions, insurance companies, and large family offices that lead large corporates with strong synergies with Nautas portfolio.

The new vehicle is expected to exceed the 2016 fund, which amounted to 155M, taking the firms total assets under management to over half a billion.

The firm also announced the funds first investment participating in NumberEights $2.3M seed round. NumberEight is a UK-based contextual intelligence platform for mobile devices that predicts consumer context to enable the delivery of the right content at the right time while preserving user privacy by not sending or storing sensor data beyond their device. The startup leverages advanced context recognition and on-device AI techniques to predict over 100 contextual signals such as travelling to work on a bicycle, thus providing mobile apps with real-time behavioural and situational consumer insights.

Led by Carles Ferrer, Nauta focuses on investing in capital-efficient B2B software companies from Seed and Series A. Main areas of interests include B2B SaaS solutions with strong network effects, vertically focused enterprise tech transforming large industries as well as those leveraging deep-tech applications to solve challenges faced by large enterprises.

The firm operates from London, Barcelona and Munich with a team of 24 people and invests in companies mainly based in the UK, Spain, Germany as well as those based in other continental European countries with plans to increase their presence in one of Nautas key geographical hubs.

An active early-stage investor for nearly two decades, the firm has invested in over 50 companies including Brandwatch, a UK digital consumer intelligence company with $100M ARR; Onna, a knowledge integration platform that unifies workplace knowledge platforms for the likes of Facebook and Dropbox; PromoteIQ, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2019; zenloop, a Berlin-based experience management platform as well as MishiPay, a mobile self-checkout technology.

FinSMEs

08/07/2020
The US Supreme Court has sided with a policy under Donald Trump's administration that allows employers with religious or moral objections to limit access to birth control, a blow to an Affordable Care Act mandate to expand women's access to preventative healthcare.

Rule changes could impact as many as 126,000 people, according to government estimates.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonya Sotomayor dissented in the high court's 7-2 decision.

In her dissent, Justice Ginsburg wrote: "In accommodating claims of religious freedom, this Court has taken a balanced approach, one that does not allow the religious beliefs of some to overwhelm the rights and interests of others who do not share those beliefs. Today, for the first time, the Court casts totally aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree."

Brigitte Amiri, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Reproductive Freedom Project, called the ruling "shameful".

"Religious liberty is a fundamental right, but it does not grant a licence to discriminate," she said in a statement. "Denying employees and students coverage for birth control will limit their ability to decide whether and when to have a family and make other decisions about their futures. And it will exacerbate existing inequalities, falling hardest on people with the fewest resources and people of colour."

Opponents have argued that appropriate care and screenings should be left to the discretion of the employees, not employers, who establish insurance policies.

The decision in Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home vs Pennsylvania follows another 7-2 ruling on Wednesday that exempts teachers at private schools from anti-discrimination rules if the case involves religious instruction.

That ruling effectively expands the definition of "ministerial exception", a legal principle based on First Amendment protections that bars ministers at religious organisations from suing their employers.

Following its passage by former president Barack Obama in 2010, the Affordable Care Act required preventive healthcare and screenings for women, followed by requirements that employers and insurers allow no-cost coverage for contraceptive care approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

While houses of worship were exempt, nonprofit organisations like schools, charities and hospitals that are affiliated with religious groups were not. A work-around policy would also allow employers with religious objections to allow the government to work with insurers to cover those costs directly.

Multiple lawsuits were filed, citing violations of religious freedom. A Supreme Court challenge to the rule was deferred in 2016. But following Mr Trump's election, the administration broadened the policy, changing the rule to allow those organisations to opt out from coverage.

March for Women's Lives: History in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 March for Women's Lives: History in pictures March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights Getty Images March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Thousands rally in Washington DC on 25 April for the March for Women's Lives in favour of abortion rights AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Demonstrators participating in the March for Women's Lives make their way over the Brooklyn Bridge to a rally at New York City Hall on 28 August 2004 AP March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 A demonstrator punches an effigy of President Bush as thousands take part in the March For Women's Lives Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Anti-abortion counter-protesters oppose the March For Women's Lives in Washington DC Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 A police officer stands between two priests outside the US Supreme Court during the March for Women's Lives in Washington DC AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 Pro-choice activists shout slogans during the March For Women's Lives Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2004 The 2004 March for Women's Lives on the National Mall in Washington DC Jfruh March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2017 Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2017 Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2017 Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington on 21 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 A woman shouts as she attends the Womens March on New York on 20 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 Protesters hold up placards during the Women's March in London on 21 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 Protesters hold signs as they attend the Womens March on New York on 20 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 Protesters hold signs near the White House following the Women's March on Washington on 20 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2018 A young protester hold up placards during the Women's March in London on 21 January Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2019 Protesters rally at the Womens March on Washington on 19 January AFP/Getty March for Women's Lives: History in pictures 2019 Protesters rally at the Womens March on Washington on 19 January AFP/Getty

Wednesday's ruling on birth control follows a protracted legal battle among healthcare providers, the federal government and religious groups as well as private companies objecting to the Obama-era policy.

Last year, a three-judge appeals court panel unanimously ruled against the administration's birth control policy and issued an injunction against it. Judge Patty Schwartz argued that the ACA policy would remove significant cost barriers for women's health, and its removal would disproportionately impact poor women from receiving necessary care.

But in the Supreme Court ruling that reverses the lower court's decision, Justice Clarence Thomas, on behalf of the court's majority, wrote that the Sisters in the case's namesake "have had to fight for the ability to continue in their noble work without violating their sincerely held religious beliefs" because of the ACA rule.

"After two decisions from this Court and multiple failed regulatory attempts, the Federal Government has arrived at a solution that exempts the Little Sisters from the source of their complicity-based concerns  the administratively imposed contraceptive mandate," he said. "We hold today that the Departments had the statutory authority to craft that exemption, as well as the contemporaneously issued moral exemption. ... Therefore, we reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand the cases for further proceedings consistent with this opinion."
President Donald Trump has claimed that the decision to fly the Confederate flag is covered by freedom of speech, a day after he criticised it being banned at Nascar events.

Speaking to NexStarDCs Jessi Turnure on Tuesday the president said that he views flying the Confederate flag as freedom of speech. You do what you do. Its freedom of speech.

He added: Nascar can do whatever they want and theyve chosen to go a certain way and other people chose to go a different route. But its freedom of speech.

On Monday, the US president criticised Nascars decision to ban the Confederate flag at their events, after the competitions only black driver, Bubba Wallace, called for such a move.

Wallace has been a prominent supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and last month thought he had been the victim of a hate crime, after a noose was found in his drivers stall before a race.

After it was discovered that the noose had been in the stall since 2019, the president asked the driver to apologise, despite Wallace not being aware of this until it was announced during the investigation.

Has BubbaWallace apologised to all of those great Nascar drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX? the president tweeted.

He added That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER  in reference to the organisation banning the Confederate symbol.

Speaking about his tweet on Tuesday, Mr Trump said: I was just talking about the fact that Nascar chose to go a certain way and thats going to be up to them.

That is up to them. Im very friendly with Nascar. I know the people there. I know drivers. I know a lot of them.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany attempted to explain the presidents post on Monday, and told reporters: The whole point of the tweet was to note the incident, the alleged hate crime that, in fact, was not a hate crime.

At the very end, the ban on the flag was mentioned the broader context of the fact that he rejects this notion that somehow Nascar men and women who go to the sporting events are racist.

Over the last month there has been a growing conversation in the US about the place of symbols of the Confederacy, following Black Lives Matter protests.

Monuments to Confederate leaders have been taken down in states across the US, and the Marine Corps, who previously announced their intent to ban all images of the Confederate flag from their bases, officially ordered the removal of them last month.

The Confederate battle flag has all too often been co-opted by violent extremist and racist groups whose divisive beliefs have no place in our Corps, the service said in a statement.

Recommended White House refuses to say why Trump wants a Bubba Wallace apology

On Tuesday, in reaction to Mr Trumps comments, Nascar released a statement to USA Today where it said: We are proud to have Bubba Wallace in the Nascar family and we commend his courage and leadership.

Nascar continues to stand tall with Bubba, our competitors and everyone who makes our sport welcoming and inclusive for all racing fans.
Facebook has removed more than 100 accounts linked to Roger Stone on its social media platforms, after they were linked to fake personas and a far right group that was banned from the site in 2018.

The social media company took down accounts linked to the disgraced former adviser to President Donald Trump, and the far right group, the Proud Boys, on both Facebook and Instagram.

Stone, a veteran Republican operative who has a tattoo of Richard Nixon on his back, served as an adviser to Trump during the 2016 campaign. He has been accused of collaborating with Wikileaks to discredit Hilary Clinton in the build up to that election.

The network of social media accounts and pages spent more than $300,000 (237,816) between them on ads to promote posts, according to CNN.

Some of the pages posted about materials released by Wikileaks in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election, while others posted about Stone or regional politics.

Multiple accounts commented on posts from others in the network to make it appear more popular than it is, Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebooks head of security policy said on Wednesday.

Mr Gleicher published a blog post that explained the work that went into discovering the network.

We first started looking into this network as part of our investigation into the Proud Boys attempts to return to Facebook after we had designated and banned them from the platform, he wrote on Wednesday.

Our investigation linked this network to Roger Stone and his associates, Mr Gleicher added.

He said that several of the Facebook pages were linked to the Proud Boys, who were banned from the social media platform in 2018. The far right group only admits men as members and encourages political violence.

Members of the group have attended Stones recent court hearings, where he was convicted of lying to Congress, and have acted as a support group for him and his family over the last couple of years, according to CNN.

During his court proceedings last year, Stone was banned from posting on social media by a judge, after he posted inflammatory comments about the case.

Stone is scheduled to surrender at a federal prison in Georgia next week, for a 40 month prison sentence, after he was found guilty of seven charges last year.

He was convicted of threatening a witness and lying to and obstructing Congress, alongside five other charges relating to him attempting to contact Wikileaks in the build up to the 2016 presidential election, reportedly to help the president.

It has been widely reported in the last few days that Mr Trump is considering pardoning him and Stone pleaded with the president to do it on Tuesday.

In a statement sent by text, he said: I want the president to know that I have exhausted all my legal remedies and that only an act of clemency will provide justice in my case and save my life!
Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador inherited a toxic relationship with Donald Trump when he took office in December 2018. Eighteen months later, he is headed to the White House for a Wednesday summit with the US president.

Tomorrow, Im meeting with the president of Mexico, the US president said on Tuesday in a striking change from his candidacy and the early years of his presidency. I say that to the media because its going to be quite a meeting. Hes a good man. Hes a friend of mine. And we have a great relationship with Mexico.

Mr Lopez Obrador had little interest in continuing the cross-border feud with his countrys northern neighbour. Major parts of how he warmed US-Mexico relations were vintage Trump: a trade pact and tens of thousands of Mexican troops deployed to the two countries border.

The former handed Mr Trump a replacement to the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) he promised as a candidate in 2016 to get rid of. The latter made Mr Lopez Obrador at least seem like a tough leader in the eyes of the US president who appears drawn to hardline world figures like Russias Vladimir Putin, Chinas Xi Jinping, Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan and others.

Mr Trump railed against Mexico in 2015 and 2016 when he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination. He accused Mexico of allowing rapists and killers to move through its territory from points south and enter the United States. He promised that the Mexican government would pay for his proposed southern border wall. And he said Mexico City was taking advantage of the United States via Nafta.

I love the Mexican people, but Mexico is not our friend. Theyre killing us at the border and theyre killing us on jobs and trade. FIGHT! Mr Trump tweeted on 30 June 2015, two weeks after declaring himself a presidential candidate.

During a March 2016 press conference, a few months before he accepted the Republican nomination, Mr Trump declared that Mexico is going to pay for the wall.

We have a trade deficit with Mexico of $58bn a year  $58bn. The wall is going to cost $10bn. Its so easy, he told reporters then. Ive had these guys that Im on the stage with go, You dont really mean Mexico is going to pay for the wall. One, as sure as youre standing there, 100 per cent, Mexicos going to pay, 100 per cent.

Three and a half years later, Mexico has not written a check to pay for the sections of barrier  mostly replacing existing structures  that the Trump administration has installed. The US president insists the trade deal he and his Mexican counterpart will celebrate this week as it goes into effect includes provisions that will bring funds into American coffers that essentially are border barrier payments; experts and Democratic lawmakers, however, sharply dismiss that thinking.

Wall payments or no wall payments, the contrast between candidate Trumps statements and those of President Trump in 2020 are staggering.

Really great guy

During the past two months, weve seen the lowest number of illegal border crossings in many years. Illegal immigration is down 84 per cent from this time last year. Illegal crossings from Central America are down 97 per cent, Mr Trump said on 23 June in Yuma, Arizona.

If you look at so many of the different crimes that come through the border, theyre stopped. Weve implemented groundbreaking agreements with Mexico. I want to thank the president of Mexico. Hes really a great guy, the American president said. I think hell be coming into Washington pretty soon, to the White House.

Moments later, Mr Trump signalled his counterparts decision to fortify the US-Mexico border scored him plenty of points.

So weve had 27,000, 28,000, 25,000 Mexican soldiers are on our border making sure people arent coming across, he said at an event near the border during which his acting homeland security secretary, Chad Wolf, praised him for having demanded Mexico step up their efforts.

And were seeing more and more migrants being turned around at Mexicos southern border before they reach our own, Mr Wolf said as his boss nodded.

A few months earlier, during a 20 March coronavirus task force briefing at the White House, Mr Trump referred to Mexico as an American partner  a stunning description for those who closely followed his anti-immigration campaign and the first two years of his term.

And so we are working very closely with Mexico, very, very closely with Canada, he said of efforts to combat the Covid-19 outbreak. The relationship has never been better.

One thing any world leader can do to receive admiration from the 45th American president is implement a policy he has, or endorse an idea he has floated. Mr Lopez Obrador found that out again earlier this year. Mr Trump in March praised him for taking action to secure our own southern border and suspend air travel from Europe. So were coordinating very closely the air travel going to Mexico and then trying to come into the United States.

Mr Trump said the actions his government and that of Mr Lopez Obrador had taken would save countless lives.

Tariffs still on the menu?

Carin Zissis of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas says a flashpoint for the warmer relationship came in January, when the man known by an acronym built by the first letters of his four names, Amlo, deployed his troops to Mexicos border with Guatemala to confront another migrant group trying reach the United States, something Mr Trump used unsuccessfully during the 2018 congressional midterm elections to try driving up the conservative turnout.

Amlo promised on the campaign trail that Mexico wouldnt be anybodys pinata, but hes sought to avoid direct conflict with the White House since taking office. That said, it can be difficult to anticipate when Trump will seek to apply pressure, given that criticism of Mexico helped him win the presidency in 2016, according to Ms Zissis. As the United States gets deeper into whats certain to be a contentious electoral season, Trump could sell the immigration commitments hes gained from Mexico as a win, or he could keep pushing for more.

While the two leaders will no doubt tout the trade deal between them and also with Canada  but without Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, who declined a White House invitation  experts say Washington and Mexico City could still clash on trade matters this year.

Even without the USMCA in place, US-Mexico trade increased 0.5 per cent last year, which, when coupled with the large decrease in US-China trade, positioned Mexico as the top trading partner of the United States for 2019, according to Michael Camunez of the Pacific Council on International Policy. And even once the USMCA is in place, it seems unlikely that US threats to impose tariffs on Mexican exports will disappear. With Florida tomato growers pressing for protection in an election year, tariffs are already on the menu for 2020.
Vice President Mike Pence's spokeswoman Katie Miller said the US Department of Homeland Security sent her to a child migrant detention centre so she would build empathy for the children who had been separated from their parents housed there.

"But it didn't work," she said, according to the author of a new book on the Trump administration's 'zero tolerance' family separation policy.

Ms Miller reportedly made the comments during an interview with Jacob Soboroff, who was conducting research for his book Separated. Mr Soboroff read the excerpt from his book containing the anecdote on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show.

Ms Miller is married to Stephen Miller, Donald Trump's senior policy adviser and the architect of the president's immigration agenda. Before joining Mr Pence's team, Ms Miller worked as a spokeswoman for the DHS. During that time, the DHS was overseeing the separation of children from their parents when immigrants were attempting to cross the border.

"My family and colleagues told me that when I have kids I'll think about the separations differently. But I don't think so ... DHS sent me to the border to see the separations for myself  to try to make me more compassionate  but it didn't work," she reportedly said.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Wednesday that Ms Miller denied making the remarks.

She said those quotes are not true, as described in the book," Ms McEnany told reporters. "There's no greater ally of the Cuban community than President Trump. He loves the Cuban community."

Mr Soboroff, who visited the detention centres as well, said he was shocked by Ms Miller's comments.

"It didn't work? I will never forget what I saw. Seriously. Are you a white nationalist? I asked, exasperated," Mr Sobroff said, reading from his book.

"No, but I believe if you come to America you should assimilate," Ms Miller replied. "Why do we need to have a 'Little Havana?'"

Ms Miller's husband was shown to have connections to white nationalist publications when the Southern Poverty Law Center uncovered hundreds of emails from Miller to a reporter at Breitbart News recommending articles from sites like American Renaissance magazine and VDARE.

American Renaissance features the writing of Jared Taylor, who calls himself a "race realist" and argues that the races are not identical or equal. The website is popular exclusively amongst white nationalists. VDARE  an SPLC designated hate group  is run by Peter Brimelow and includes original and archived work from white nationalist writers.

Mr Miller has also referenced the 1973 book The Camp of the Saints, a French novel portraying the overthrow of France by a flotilla of South Asian immigrants. The immigrants are portrayed as an invading horde intent on overwhelming and destroying Western civilization.

Recommended Stephen Miller once said fighting immigration was all he cared about

Mr Trump eventually ended the family separation policy in June 2018.

The US Department of Health and Human Services' inspector general issued a report that claimed children who were detained in the camps under Mr Trump's separation policy were suffering from acute psychological trauma.

"According to program directors and mental health clinicians, separated children exhibited more fear, feelings of abandonment, and post-traumatic stress than did children who were not separated," the report said.
Republican operative Roger Stone made a naked appeal to Donald Trump to grant him a pardon or commute his sentence before he starts a 40-month prison term on 14 July.

I want the president to know that I have exhausted all my legal remedies and that only an act of clemency will provide justice in my case and save my life! Stone said in a statement sent by text on Tuesday.

Stone's statement came after the US government was ordered by a federal appeals court to respond to his request to delay the start of his 40-month prison term as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The US Court of Appeals in Washington on Tuesday ordered the government to file its response by 9 July. Stone, who is due to report to prison on 14 July, filed an emergency appeal on Monday after US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson denied his motion to set a 3 September surrender date.

The Justice Department did not oppose Stone's request to Jackson.

Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress during the Russia investigation, claims in his appeals court filing that his age and an underlying health condition made him particularly vulnerable to Covid-19.

Current conditions inside federal prisons would render Stone at grave risk of serious complications if infected with Covid-19, his lawyer, Seth Ginsberg, said in his filing with the appeals court on Monday

Jackson denied Stone's request but extended his surrender date by two weeks, ordering him to remain confined to his home during that time. She noted in her ruling that in similar cases the US had opposed so-called compassionate release from jails where there is not yet an outbreak, even when an inmate older than Stone had the same condition.

Stone said Tuesday he did not think the Justice Department would support his bid for further delay and a presidential act was the only thing that could keep from prison.

I want to live long enough for my appeal to be heard because my appeal will expose the misconduct of the judge, the misconduct of the jury forewoman, the misconduct of at least one other juror and the criminal misconduct of the prosecutors; therefore I am highly confident of exoneration on appeal, Stone said.

The Washington Post
A senator who lost both her legs in Iraq has hit back at Fox News host Tucker Carlson after he claimed she and other Democratic officials hate America.

Senator Tammy Duckworth, who became a recipient of the Purple Heart after she lost both her legs in a helicopter crash while serving in Iraq, was criticised by Carlson for comments she made on CNN on Sunday.

Ms Duckworth said that there should be a national dialogue around monuments that honour George Washington, because he owned slaves.

During Tucker Carlson Tonight on Monday evening, the host said that most people ignore the senator, but added: When Duckworth does speak in public, youre reminded what a deeply silly and unimpressive person she is.

After playing a portion of the CNN clip, Carlson said: Youre not supposed to criticise Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military.

Its long been considered out of bounds to question a persons patriotism, Carlson said. Its a very strong charge and we try not to ever to make it.

However, the host went on to criticise the senator and said: But in the face of all this, the conclusion cant be avoided: These people actually hate America, and added: Theres no longer a question about that.

Later on during the segment, Carlson claimed that the Democratic party despise this country, and wondered: Can you really lead a country that you hate?

Ms Duckworth hit back at the Fox News host on Tuesday, and tweeted: Does @TuckerCarlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?

President Donald Trump also waded into the debate, after he retweeted a clip of Carlsons monologue to his Twitter feed, according to USA Today.

His campaign later released a statement saying the senator was using her military service to deflect from her support for the left-wing campaign to villainise Americas founding.

Ms Duckworths comments on CNN came amid a growing conversation in the US about the place of monuments that honour figures who were involved in slavery, following Black Lives Matter protests.

Recommended Trump threatens anyone who destroys monuments with 10 years in prison

Over the past month, monuments to officials in the Confederacy  as well as statues of figures including Christopher Columbus  have been taken down across the US.

During the show on Monday, Carlson only showed a small clip of the interview, and did not include the senators full answer about George Washington monuments.

Ms Duckworth said that we should listen to everybody about the monuments, but referenced the coronavirus pandemic, and added: Im more worried about the 130,000 who have lost their lives recently ... than I am about our historical past.
The Trump administration has unveiled a plan that would disqualify migrants from seeking refuge in the US if it determines they could spread contagious diseases in the country.

The proposed measure, revealed on Wednesday by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, would also give the federal government the power to deny other humanitarian protections to refugees, such as relief from deportation.

While current US laws allow government officials to prevent certain individuals from requesting asylum on the grounds of being a "danger to national security," this new measure would extend the definition of "danger" to include those who could spread infectious diseases such as coronavirus.

According to the document, migrants "whose entry would pose a risk of further spreading infectious or highly contagious illnesses or diseases, because of declared public health emergencies in the United States or because of conditions in their country of origin or point of embarkation to the United States, pose a significant danger to the security of the United States."

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Under the proposal, those who exhibit "any contagious or infectious disease" of "public health significance," would automatically be ineligible for asylum.

This would mean that anyone who comes from a country with an outbreak could be denied asylum simply on those bases, violating the United Nation's protocol on refugees that dictates each case must be analysed individually. Border agents would be allowed to make this decision during the screening process, disqualifying migrants for asylum before they get to see a judge and present their case.

Those denied protection could still request their deportation be delayed under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. However, the qualifications needed for a migrant to qualify for this protection are stricter, and even if they fullfil them, the rule's draft leaves the door open for the federal government to deport these migrants to third countries instead of allowing them to stay in the US. The draft also does not limit this measure to the coronavirus pandemic, meaning the restrictions could remain even if or when the crisis passes.

Amnesty's America's Advocacy Director Charanya Krishnaswami said on Wednesday the proposal was "rooted in the xenophobic, counterfactual narrative that immigrants are vectors of disease."

The proposed regulation is just the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration citing the coronavirus pandemic to curve both illegal and legal immigration. Earlier this week DHS also announced that foreign students on student visas will not be able to stay in the country if their universities move their classes exclusively online, which many schools, including Harvard, have already announced they will do for the upcoming Fall semester.

Additionally, since March the Trump administration has been citing orders by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to quickly expel both undocumented migrants and those seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border.

It's unclear when the measure would come into effect, but the public has 30 days to comment on it, and, like most of the Trump administration's recent moves on immigration, it is likely to be challenged in court.
The White House on Wednesday denied pressuring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention into scrapping and revising guidelines for reopening schools in the fall even after Donald Trump made clear his opposition to the suggested rules in a morning tweet.

No, not at all, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told a reporter when asked if pressure to change them was applied. Were all on the same page.

The president appeared to throw down the gauntlet on his own hand-picked CDC leaders about a set of guidelines it had crafted to help local and tribal school systems get children back in the classroom.

Mr Trump apparently believes the centres guidelines for re-opening schools are too rigorous and could lead some officials to decide to keep their students on an online-only curriculum come the fall term.

I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!! he tweeted Wednesday morning.

But his top spokeswoman later described the tweet as more of a policy move than him clashing with his own CDC leaders.

The CDC is very much on the same page as the president, she said, noting CDC chief Robert Redfield has said his agencys guidelines are not prescriptive and not requirements.

The president and White House are pushing hard to reopen schools despite an ongoing second surge in coronavirus cases, especially in Sun Belt and Southern states.

There are now over 3m confirmed cases and more than 131,000 deaths in the country from the respiratory disease.

Meantime, Ms McEnany tried to defend another morning tweet from her boss  this time, one that threatened to deny federal assistance monies to school systems that opt against opening in the fall.

Senior administration officials on Tuesday notably opted against threatening school systems with possibly withholding $13bn recently allocated by Congress to help them deal with the coronavirus outbreak. But the president did just that the next morning.

In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS, he tweeted. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!

That was a warning shot across the bow of any local and tribal school system officials who are hesitant about opening schools in just a few months  as Covid-19 cases spike in the Sun Belt, with states like Arizona, Florida and South Carolina outpacing entire countries in terms of new cases in the last several weeks.

So, as part of the CARES Act, schools received more than $13 billion ... to help them respond to the COVID-19 situation. That funding was very flexible in its uses, whether it was allowed to support their, the provision of distance education and remote learning services, or whether it was allowed to use ... to support activities or activities that will actually maintain the continuity of services in the physical building itself, a senior administration said in a heavily veiled threat on a call with reporters.

But the White House press secretary said the president wants more funding for schools in the next coronavirus economic recovery measure. That is, if lawmakers in both parties and the White House can reach a deal when they return to Washington later this month.
By the end of May, the Palestinian Authority appeared to have quashed a coronavirus outbreak in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with only around 400 confirmed cases and just two fatalities in the territory, following a nearly three-month lockdown.

Then the wedding invitations went out.

Over the last few weeks, infections have skyrocketed across the West Bank, with more than 4,000 new cases and an additional 15 deaths. Authorities blame the surge on widespread neglect of social distancing and mask-wearing  and on the summer wedding season.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh told a cabinet meeting on Monday that 82 per cent of cases in the West Bank were linked to weddings and funerals, saying that such large public gatherings must stop immediately or security forces would start breaking them up.

The Palestinian Authority imposed a strict five-day lockdown on Friday, forcing nearly all businesses to close and heavily restricting travel between towns and cities. The stay-at-home orders were renewed for another five days on Tuesday.

The epicentre of the renewed outbreak is in Hebron, the largest Palestinian city and a commercial hub of the territory. It accounts for around 75 per cent of all active cases and more than two-thirds of all deaths, according to Ali Abed Rabu, a Palestinian health ministry official.

Palestinian weddings, usually held in the summer months, are major community events in which large families typically invite hundreds of guests. They feature lavish meals, often served buffet-style, as well as dancing and music late into the night.

Hebronites are proud of their traditions and maintain them even at risky times like these, Mr Abed Rabu said. They brag about how many people attend and how many sheep they slaughter to feed them.

The virus causes mild to moderate flu-like symptoms in most patients, who recover within a few weeks. But it can cause severe illness or death, particularly among the old or infirm. The virus is highly contagious and can be spread by those showing no symptoms.

That makes weddings and other large public gatherings particularly risky. A major outbreak could overwhelm the Palestinian health sector, which has just 350 ventilators for a population of more than 2.5 million people.

Hebron's mayor, Tayseer Abu Snaineh, points to other potential vectors, including the fact that large numbers of workers and merchants in Hebron travel back and forth from Israel, which is battling a much larger outbreak that has also surged in recent weeks.

Mr Abu Snaineh said the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has tried to prevent large gatherings. But Palestinian security forces are not allowed to operate in a large part of downtown Hebron known as H2, which under past agreements is under complete Israeli military control.

Several hundred hard-line Jewish settlers live in H2, protected by Israeli troops. The area is also home to more than 30,000 Palestinians.

With the Palestinian Authority barred from the area and the Israeli military focused on securing the settlements, Mr Abu Snaineh said there is no authority to impose virus restrictions. As a result, residents have held large weddings and other gatherings in recent weeks that appear to have accelerated the outbreak.

People celebrate, hug each other and eat together in this area with no restrictions, he said.

Odeh al-Rajabi, the head of an informal local committee that administers H2, says it has been reaching out to people and has convinced many to hold small family weddings rather than the usual massive feasts.

Some people feel it is embarrassing to not hold a feast and invite people, but we tell them not to feel embarrassed, that we all understand, it's an emergency situation, he said.

The committee hopes to convince most large families to sign a code of conduct in the coming days that would prohibit such gatherings.

Mr Abu Snaineh, the mayor, said ultra-conservative Muslims have also defied restrictions in order to pray in mosques. One group, known as Hezb al-Tahrir, has openly called on people to defy restrictions on group prayers, accusing the Palestinian Authority of using coronavirus as a pretext to fight Islam. The group is particularly influential in Hebron, where the population is more conservative than in other parts of the West Bank.

Alaa Abu Diab, a popular Palestinian comedian, posted a video this week in which he criticised people for holding weddings during the pandemic.

I've just seen a video of a wedding party in which people are dancing and hugging as if there is no coronavirus, he said. Why are you hugging and kissing each other in these sweaty, crowded gatherings?

He also mocked those trafficking in conspiracy theories about the restrictions. Who in the hell is conspiring against who? The whole world is collapsing, and you say it's a conspiracy.

Associated Press
Navegar, a Manila, Philippines-based private equity firm, held the final close of Navegar II, L.P., at US$197m.

Monument Group, one of the industrys leading placement agents, advised Navegar on raising the fund, which closed above its US$150m target. Investors include development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, endowments, family offices and high net worth individuals in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Consistent with its predecessor fund, Fund II will focus on investments in established companies in the consumer and business services sectors in the Philippines.

Led by Honorio Poblador, Managing Partner, and Javier Infante, Managing Partner, Navega is a Philippines-focused, Manila-based private equity firm that provides growth capital to established companies. The firm invests in both primary and secondary share offerings, and actively seeks to maximize the value of its portfolio companies by providing financial, operational and strategic guidance. Established in 2012, Navegar manages Navegar Fund I and Navegar Fund II, with total assets under management of over US$300 million.

FinSMEs

08/07/2020
By now, I am up to seven flights, in and out of nine airports on four different airlines. So I hope I can help you understand the new age of the plane.

My flying career resumed on 15 June at the same moment as easyJets, with a flight from Gatwick to Glasgow. I followed that up with a Ryanair hop from Edinburgh to Dublin, and another from the Irish capital to Bristol.

It made a welcome change to reach Northern Ireland by train and ferry, but I flew back from George Best Belfast City on Aer Lingus to Heathrow.

Next up: Ryanair from Gatwick to Dublin, and easyJet from Belfast International back to the Sussex airport.

Finally, British Airways from Heathrow to Nice  and my first continental adventure since leaving Luxembourg in the last few hours of February.

Two common themes became clear. First, the meticulous professionalism of the flight crew and ground staff, which is all the more commendable given the future uncertainties for anyone working in aviation. Second, the sheer incompatibility of flying on scheduled airlines with social distancing; anyone who has concerns about close contact with strangers should avoid flying, even though everyone wears masks.

Beyond those broad brushstrokes, the detail may intrigue you.

First, on schedules and fares. The industry has moved backwards to a time where the passenger is expected to fit in with the airline. The days of departures to Dublin every half-hour are over for now, and the breadth of choice from Northern Irelands two main airports, Belfast International and the City airport has vanished  partly because of the sad demise of Flybe and the inability to fill the vacuum during lockdown.

Likewise, when planning my return from Nice on Wednesday, I am faced with a choice of just two non-stop flights: British Airways at lunchtime to Heathrow, Ryanair late at night to Stansted.

That is also a good illustration of the ways that fares are behaving: oddly. British Airways wants 247 from Nice to London, compared with just 39 on Ryanair.

Flying out on Sunday, when BA was the only game in town, the carrier wanted 634 for the two-hour hop; I bought four hours in advance with Avios, paying about 110 based on my valuation of the airlines frequent-flyer points.

Airlines are caught between doing all they can to recoup the catastrophic losses they have endured since March, and wanting to stimulate travel. Add to this the rational travel decision to book everything as late as possible, and you can anticipate paying either far more than you would like or far less than you might expect this summer.

The days of filling planes to 90 per cent or beyond are gone for now. The first easyJet flight would have had just a handful of passengers were it not for the journalists and several dozen off-duty airline staff on board. As time has gone on, loads have steadily increased, with Heathrow-Nice the fullest at about two-thirds of capacity.

In the circumstances, everyone could have enjoyed an empty middle seat  but the seat-allocation process didnt quite achieve that. I was placed in 20A, with B and C already filled, so I continued to 29C  with the adjacent seat empty.

The inflight offer is really important, with between zero and a few airport catering outlets open. Each airline has its own style. Aer Lingus and easyJet offer a glass of water if you ask. British Airways gives everyone a bag containing a bottle of water, a packet of crisps and a biscuit.

Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Show all 11 1 /11 Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Ben Gurion International airport, Israel Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Changsha Huanghua International Airport, China Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty

Ryanair will sell you a hot lasagne at 7am if you so desire. And not even a global pandemic has put paid to the scratch-card ritual on Europes biggest budget airline. No hot drinks, mind.

With friendly, helpful crew, and early arrivals the norm due to the absence of other traffic, I have found flying an entirely positive experience  with a lack of airport facilities and the obligation to wear a mask the only concerns.

But the arrival experience could be improved. At Bristol airport, the quarantine check from Ireland (in case anyone was performing the Dublin Dodge to avoid 14 days of self-isolation) requiring everyone to stand cheek-by-jowl on the transfer bus while social distancing was solemnly observed within the terminal, ensures that the risk of cross-infection was vastly increased because of trying to reduce an already very small risk.

If, as it appears, quarantine is dissolving into derision, flying should be safer  though never completely safe.
If Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth eventually becomes Joe Bidens vice presidential nominee, pundits and historians will look back to Independence Day weekend for the moment when her campaign jumped from insider gossip to mainstream appeal.

Duckworth has long been considered an outside contender for the vice presidency. Her resume is a Democratic dream: a combat veteran of the Iraq War, Duckworth sacrificed her legs in service to her country. After entering the House of Representatives in 2012  flipping a Republican district held by the abhorrent Tea Party activist Joe Walsh, no less  Duckworth established herself as a progressive legislator and an expert on military affairs. As a Senator, she enjoys a rare Exceeds Expectations rating from the Center for Effective Lawmaking.

Theres just one problem: before July, not that many people knew Tammy Duckworth existed. That changed on July 6, when Fox News host Tucker Carlson inexplicably launched into a tirade about her fitness for the vice presidency.

Youre not supposed to criticize Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military, Carlson, Americas top-rated cable pundit, told his viewers. He pushed forward, calling Duckworth an unimpressive person and openly questioning her patriotism.

Its a very strong charge and we try not to ever make it, Carlson then said, before accusing Duckworth of hating America. What had Duckworth done to get Tucker so riled up? She suggested having a national dialogue about removing controversial statues from public spaces.

Thats it. Tammy Duckworth dared to suggest we talk to each other.

On the list of stupid things a media figure can say on live television, questioning the patriotism of the Iraq Wars first female double-amputee defies ranking. Carlson has never made a secret of the fact that he considers female legislators silly or unserious. His fixation on Nancy Pelosi and freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hardly allows him to go a day without bringing it up. But there was something noticeably different about the national response to Carlsons snide smearing of an American patriot.

Duckworth hit back later that evening, tweeting: Does Tucker Carlson want to walk a mile in my legs and then tell me whether or not I love America?

I would forgive Duckworth for wanting to take a swing at Carlson, or at least lobbing a few four-letter words his way. But her response showcases the yawning maturity gap separating people like Duckworth from Carlson. Thats understandable: in November 2004, while Duckworth was undergoing emergency surgery to amputate her legs after a horrific rocket attack on her Black Hawk helicopter, Tucker was offering Americans advice on how to loop and tug the perfect bow tie.

Carlsons reprehensible attacks on Duckworth mark a growing realization among Republicans that a Duckworth vice presidency would be devastating to the GOP. Revelations that President Donald Trump knew about a Russian plan to offer bounties for the murders of American soldiers abroad have shaken voters who long considered Republicans reliable protectors of American military exceptionalism.

Even a skilled president would struggle to explain why he did nothing to protect the lives of our soldiers. For a politician as ham-fisted as Trump, the only answer is to ignore the controversy and hope voters forget. That becomes impossible with Tammy Duckworth on the national stage, constantly reminding voters not only of Republicans foreign policy failings, but of the terrible human cost of thoughtless conflict. It is, as the TikTok generation says, a bad look for Trump.

The Tucker Carlson controversy is already making a difference in betting markets, where Duckworth has moved into a near-tie for second place behind frontrunner Senator Kamala Harris. The spat certainly caught Joe Bidens eye: the presumptive nominee was quick to slam Fox News for delivering hate speech masquerading as journalism. On Tuesday, Duckworth joined Biden for a fundraising event.

Joe Biden enjoys the luxury of choosing his running mate from one of the most competitive, accomplished fields of vice presidential contenders in modern political history. In Duckworth, Biden also finds something unique: a legitimizing voice for Democrats among voters finally willing to reconsider the Republican Partys monopoly on military and foreign policy issues.

The 2020 campaign cycle is unlike anything Americans have ever seen before. Voters across the country are searching for a candidate unafraid to lead with big, bold ideas that reshape the American political landscape. Vice President Tammy Duckworth would be a great start.

Max Burns is a veteran Democratic strategist and senior contributor at Millennial Politics. He regularly appears on NBC News Now, Fox News, and Bloomberg Radio. Follow him on Twitter @TheMaxBurns
The EU General Court will making a ruling next week on Irelands 13 billion euro Apple tax case.

The European Unions second highest court will deliver its verdict next Wednesday.

The European Commission ruled in 2016 that the Irish state had given undue tax benefits worth 13 billion euro to Apple, which is illegal under EU state aid rules, and said it allowed the tech giant to pay substantially less tax than other businesses.

Ireland was ordered to recover the illegal aid, plus interest.

The commission found that Ireland gave Apple illegal state aid by allowing it to pay an effective 1% corporation tax.

The company and the Irish Government appealed against the commissions ruling on the grounds that the tax treatment did not break Irish or EU law.

The money has been held in an escrow account meaning the proceeds cannot be released until there has been a final determination in the European courts over the validity of the commissions decision.

Irelands open economy is based on low corporate taxation among other incentives to attract multinationals. In Apples case it was significantly below the standard 12.5% imposed on income.

The Irish Government opposes any effort to force it to change its taxation practices, which have tempted some of the worlds leading financial and technology firms to set up base in Dublin.

In April, RISE TD Paul Murphy called for the money to go towards the nations response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said at the time: Its a very disingenuous question and solution.

The truth is whether the state withdraws its appeal or not is irrelevant. Apple is appealing this judgment as well. So this will continue to be a matter for courts no matter what the Government does.

The judgment has been listed for 11am on Wednesday July 15.
The supermarket chain vowed not to sell such products regardless of any future trade deal (Nick Ansell/PA)

Supermarket chain Aldi has vowed to never sell chlorinated chicken or hormone-injected beef amid fears they could be imported under a potential UK-US trade agreement.

The food retailer, which describes itself as the UKs fifth largest supermarket, has ruled out selling the products regardless of any future trade deal.

CEO Giles Hurley said the company would always be one of the biggest supporters of British food suppliers.

He added: We are a signatory to the NFU (National Farmers Union) Back British Farming Charter and our entire core range of fresh meat and milk is from Red Tractor-approved farms in the UK.

We will never compromise on the standards or specifications of our products, and that includes a commitment to never selling chlorinated chicken or hormone-injected beef.

Britain has some of the highest food quality standards in the world, and our commitment to only source chicken and beef from this country means our customers know they are always buying high quality Aldi products at unbeatable value.

We will never compromise on the standards or specifications of our products, and that includes a commitment to never selling chlorinated chicken or hormone-injected beef Giles Hurley - CEO, Aldi

His comments follow Waitrose throwing its weight behind calls for legal protections for food standards last month as negotiations over a UK-US trade deal continue.

Executive director James Bailey told customers that any regression from the standards we have pioneered for the last 30 years, both as a business and as a country, would be an unacceptable backwards step.

He added: It would be simply wrong to maintain high standards at home yet import food from overseas that has been produced to lower standards.

We would be closing our eyes to a problem that exists in another part of the world and to animals who are out of our sight and our minds.

Which? has argued that legal commitments over maintaining food standards could be made through the Agriculture or Trade Bills currently before Parliament.

The consumer group has said it is concerned by a push from the US agriculture lobby to weaken UK labelling regulations as part of a trade deal, claiming US farming processes contribute to high levels of food-borne illness among Americans.

Chlorinated chicken and hormone-injected beef are banned for import into the UK, with the Government saying these rules will be retained post-Brexit through the EU Withdrawal Act.

It has also said that it would not sign a trade deal that would compromise the UKs environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety standards.

The Co-op supermarket chain says it was the first retailer to switch all of its fresh meat products to 100% British produced in 2017, with the policy now extending over frozen meat and products with meat ingredients.

Morrisons has also committed to sell 100% fresh British own-brand meat, milk and eggs in its stores.

A spokesman for Tesco said its position over the issue had not changed since last September when CEO Dave Lewis ruled out the supermarket giant selling chlorine-washed chicken.

Mr Lewis told the Financial Times Future of Retail conference: When people talk about lets go back to genetically modified foods or chlorinated chicken, if you have that conversation with UK customers, then they reject it. As a retailer we will have to respect what people want.

He added: There is no US sourcing of chicken on my mind.

We should export higher welfare standards, not import barren battery-cage eggs, pork from pigs kept in sow stalls, hormone-fed beef or chlorinated chicken Chris Sherwood - chief executive, RSPCA

A spokesperson for Asda said: We have no intentions of changing our current approach to welfare and safety standards in our fresh meat and poultry categories and will always be guided by our customers when it comes to the products we put on our shelves.

A Sainsburys spokeswoman said: We remain committed to offering our customers the best possible choice, quality and value while continuing to uphold our high standards and there are no plans to change this.

Iceland is committed to ensuring suppliers follow standards of animal welfare endorsed by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.

A spokesman said: We have no plans to stock chicken that has been treated with chlorine or beef that has been treated with hormones.

According to the results of a Which? survey published last month, some 86% of consumers feared that a post-Brexit free trade agreement could lead to currently banned products appearing in the UK.

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection at Which? said: Its encouraging to see another supermarket recognising that customers really value food produced to our high domestic standards.

She reiterated calls for legislation to protect food standards, arguing that the Government should be acting decisively on this issue rather than leaving it to individual businesses to take the lead.

Her comments were echoed by the RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood, who said: We should export higher welfare standards, not import barren battery-cage eggs, pork from pigs kept in sow stalls, hormone-fed beef or chlorinated chicken which will undercut British farming standards and start a race to the bottom in animal welfare standards.
Challenging: Avolon CEO Domhnal Slattery said the pace and timing of a recovery remains uncertain

DUBLIN-BASED aircraft lessor Avolon has cancelled more commitments to buy Boeing's troubled 737 Max but said it continues to have strong liquidity, with $5.5bn (4.87bn) available to support the company as airlines struggle to return to profitable flight schedules.

It said it has cancelled orders for an additional 27 Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

The company has also reduced its near-term debt commitments by buying back $639m of its unsecured bonds at a discount to their par value.

The lessor - one of the world's biggest - said that as of the end of June, many of its customers had entered short-term rental deferral arrangements or were in arrears on their rental obligations.

Its lease revenue collection rate during the first half of the year was 68pc, with two-thirds of the collection shortfall related to deferral arrangements.

Avolon chief executive Domhnal Slattery said the second quarter of the year was a "challenging period" for the aviation industry as it was battered by the Covid pandemic. He said the pace and timing of recovery remains uncertain.

"The months ahead will be difficult, but we have the experience and balance sheet to manage through these headwinds," he insisted.

Avolon's owners include Orix and Bohai Leasing. Bohai is majority-owned by China's HNA conglomerate.

"Decisive measures to strengthen our capital position included the opportunistic buy back of $639m of our unsecured bonds at a discount to par, in so doing reducing our near-term debt maturities," said Mr Slattery.

"More significantly, we have reduced our near-term commitments by over 140 aircraft since the start of the year."

Avolon has cancelled commitments to buy the 27 737s between 2020 and 2022, and in the first quarter cancelled an order for 75 Max jets. It has also cancelled or deferred orders for four Airbus jets.

At the end of June, Avolon owned and managed 547 aircraft and had total orders and commitments to buy 277.

It noted that during the second quarter, 12 of its customers were due to start repayments at the scheduled expiry of their deferral arrangements.

Seven of those customers made payments in full. Five had fallen into arrears or sought an extension to their short-term rental deferral arrangement for some or all of their rental obligations.

Avolon executed 16 lease transactions in the second quarter, comprising new aircraft leases, follow-on leases and lease extensions.

Meanwhile, rival aircraft lessor Aercap, which is also based in Dublin and is the world's largest in the sector, said yesterday that it raised $3bn of funding during the second quarter of this year. That included $2.5bn of unsecured bonds, it said.

Revenues

During the quarter the lessor, whose chief executive is Gus Kelly, said it had bought two new aircraft and sold nine. It also signed lease agreements for 10 aircraft, including one wide-body jet and nine narrow bodies.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicted last month that the world's airlines will lose $84.3bn (74.6bn) in 2020. It expects total airline revenues to slump 50pc to $419bn (371bn).

By next year, IATA expects losses to have narrowed to $15.8bn as revenue rises to $598bn.

IATA reckons there will be 2.2 billion airline passengers this year - the same number as in 2006.
Joe Media UK has been bought out of administration by investment fund Greencastle Capital.

Going forward both the Irish and UK arms of Joe will be run by the London-based media group Iconic Labs.

Joe Media, which was previously majority owned by entrepreneur Niall McGarry, generates in excess of 10m of revenue per year, a statement from Iconic Labs said.

The acquisition brings some certainty to the business after a difficult year for the company.

Under the terms of the management contract between Iconic Labs and Greencastle, Iconic will be paid a monthly management fee of 50,000 plus external costs, and in addition it will receive 25pc of all profits generated by Joe Media if certain revenue and profit targets are met.

Iconic Labs will immediately manage all operational and commercial aspects of the Joe media businesses in the UK and will do so in Ireland following regulatory clearance.

Along with Joe.ie and Joe.uk, the media company also owns a number of other brands including Her.ie and SportsJoe.

Iconic Labs said it expects Joe Media to return to profitability by next year. It added that it believes Her and Her family brands have got significant potential after previously being underutilised.

John Quinlan, CEO of Iconic Labs, said: The acquisition of the Joe media UK businesses by Greencastle Capital is by far the biggest deal we have been involved with as a company so far.

Both the Joe media business and the management contract structure fit our strategy of leveraging scarce capital while operating the best brands in digital media.

Greencastle Capital is managed jointly by David Sefton and Paul O'Donohoe.

Mr Sefton will be chairman of JOE media and Mr O'Donohoe will be executive vice chairman of the company. Going forward they intend to appoint representatives from Iconic Labs to the board of JOE media.
The head of the banking lobby group has denied that banks were caught spoofing the Government on the charging of interest on mortgage payment breaks.

It comes as Minister for Finance is to call in the banks to discuss the issue, which has ignited in the past few days.

Chief executive of the Banking and Payments Federation Brian Hayes has defended the sector from accusations that it misled then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in a meeting in May.

Read More

Bank chief executives and the banking federation had insisted in that meeting that they were required by banking regulators to impose interest charges on those availing of a payment break.

A family with a 300,000 mortgage that takes a six-month payment break will end up a 4,300 interest bill.

Almost 80,000 have availed of the breaks, a move that will mean total interest charges of 150m accrue, and will have to be paid after the break by the mortgage holders.

Banks insist they have no choice but to charge interest while people take a break from paying off their mortgages. A failure to charge interest will trip the mortgage account into arrears, banks argue.

However both the Central Bank and the European Banking Authority (EBA) confirmed on Tuesday that banks are not required to charge interest.

Not charging interest will not trigger a default event, the regulators stated.

The EBA is the EU agency tasked with implementing a standard set of rules to regulate and supervise banking across all EU countries.

Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty accused the banks of misleading the then Taoiseach and finance minister at the May meeting.

He said the confirmations from the Central Bank and the EBA show the banks were spoofing at the Government meeting.

You tried to spoof the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance and you were caught out. You were caught out spoofing and ripping off customers, he said on RTE Radio.

But head of the banking federation Brian Hayes denied misleading the politicians.

Absolutely not. And the deputy knows he is being totally disingenuous.

The pretence that we are doing something different [to what regulators recommend] is a lie.

He insisted it was costing banks heavily to offer payment breaks.

Banks will have to put aside up to 1bn to cover mortgage losses, Mr Hayes said.

Any move to forgive interest charges for those getting payment breaks would be paid for by the 90pc who are meeting their full payments, he added.
Both funds will close to applicants on August 18. Stock image

ENTERPRISE Ireland's Competitive Start Fund (CSF) has opened to applications for two competitions.

Each of the two 1m funding competitions being launched will provide a successful business applicant up to 50,000 in equity funding.

The two CSFs will approve up to 40 business investments.

The 'All Sector' CSF and 'Women Entrepreneurs' CFS competitions are part of Enterprise Ireland's strategy for increasing the number of diverse high potential start-up companies (HPSUs) that have the qualities to achieve several commercial and technical milestones.

These milestones including evaluating overseas market opportunities, building prototypes, developing market entry plans and securing third party investment, according to a statement from the State body.

Those applying for funding must be active in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors.

In addition, applications are invited from eligible companies that offer services or solutions to address the challenges and opportunities presented by climate action.

Manager of Enterprise Ireland's HPSU division, Jennifer Melia said: "In an increasingly difficult business environment, the provision of Enterprise Ireland's funding and advisory supports for manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors has never been more important to enable companies to innovate and pivot, in order to survive and progress as we navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic."

Under the 'Women Entrepreneurs' call for applications, as well as securing up to 50,000 in funding the successful businesswomen will be offered the opportunity to participate in Dublin BIC's 'Innovate Accelerator programme'.

Delivered over a 12-week period, the programme is designed to support and mentor participants in the development of their business.

It also helps businesswomen in developing a peer network.

Both funds will close to applicants on August 18.
As the state reported the highest single-day increase of positive COVID-19 patients on Saturday, local health care officials spoke just 24 hours earlier of the worrisome number of COVID-19 patients in their care and urged the public to take proper precautions when in public areas.

We are seeing a trend in our hospitals that has me very concerned, said President and CEO of Lee Health Dr. Larry Antonucci, Friday afternoon. Between our hospitals and skilled nursing units we are treating 327 COVID-19 patients. Just a month ago we were treating around 100 COVID patients each day. In one month we went from 100 to over 300, triple the number of hospitalizations.

I am here to tell you today that we are at risk of hitting critical mass, and if, as a community, we do not take action we will run out of room in our hospitals. And that could happen as soon as the end of this month.

Antonucci said actions taken by residents in the early stages of the pandemic were successful in mitigating the virus, but that since the state reopened, many residents are taking a relaxed stance on the virus and disregarding guidelines. Cases are rising and hospitals in the area are in danger of not meeting the needs of the community.

We know how to stop this spread, we have done it before, and I am asking for our community to help us do it again, Antonucci said. At our current rate, Lee Health hospitals will be completely full by the end of the month. We must act now to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Three months ago, everyone joined in a shared goal of flattening the curve, which was temporarily accomplished. We stayed at home, we practiced hand hygiene and we began wearing masks. The curve is no longer flat. Instead we have a spike in cases and the spike is growing fast.

Antonucci said the time for action is now  that wearing a mask is scientifically proven to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Now is the time to take action. No one person, law or mandate can stop the spread of the virus, he said. The actions of each and every one of us can ensure the safety of our families, our neighbors and strangers alike. Limit leaving your home unless necessary, and when you do leave, wear a mask, keep a safe physical distance from others and make sure you wash your hands or use sanitizing gel.

Wearing a mask and distancing can be inconvenient and at times uncomfortable, but the science is clear, these actions help save lives by slowing the spread of the virus.

Antonucci said while currently they have the means to meet the needs of the community, things could change drastically if residents are not vigilant in their efforts to protect themselves and others.

I can tell you today that we still have the necessary capacity to meet every need of our community, but I cant promise that will still be true a month from now if we dont take action now, he said. Every one single person in Southwest Florida has the ability to help reverse this surge and ensure every patient needing health care has access to it.

I love Southwest Florida, and I believe in Southwest Florida. We will get through this together and we will grow stronger as a community together, but it is not possible without our entire region buying-in for the benefit of the friends and neighbors.

I wish everyone a happy Fourth of July, and ask you to please take action this holiday weekend and beyond to protect yourselves and your neighbors from this devastating virus so that Lee Health may continue to provide our community with the same exceptional care they have become accustomed to over the last 100 years.

By the Numbers

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, there are 213,794 cases of the new coronavirus confirmed in Florida, an increase of 7,347 since FDOHs last update Sunday morning.

Over the weekend, more than 21,000 positive cases were reported by the state, including Saturdays caseload that saw the state report the highest single-day increase in positive cases with 11,458.

More than 48,500 test results were reported to the Department of Health on Monday, July 6. Of those reported tests, 16.27 percent tested positive. The percentage of positive tests is the highest percent positivity in a single day. The number of tests reported on July 6 is below the average number of tests results processed by the state per day over the last two weeks, which is 59,363.

Since June 25, positivity rates have steadily remained between 12 and 15 percent despite the amount of tests reported.

On July 3, 85,080 tests were processed by the state  the highest since the beginning of the pandemic. On that day, 14.11 percent of those tested received positive results.

The death toll increased by 63 from 11 a.m. Monday to 11 a.m. Tuesday, reported among Lee, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Columbia, Dade, Duval, Escambia, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Madison, Manatee, Martin, Nassau, Okaloosa, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Lucie and Volusia counties.

A total of 2,271,267 individuals have been tested: 2,055,400 have tested negative, 2,073 tests were inconclusive and 1,604 tests are pending results. Of those testing positive, 16,425 Florida residents have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. There have been 3,943 deaths.

The age groups of Florida residents that have yielded the most positive test results are 25-34 years old (21%), followed by 35-44 (16%), 15-24 (16%) and 45-54 (15%).

The highest hospitalization rate is found in patients 65-74 (19%), 75-84 (18%) and 55-64 (17%) years old.

In Lee County, 7,859 (+361) individuals have tested positive as of 11 a.m. Tuesday; 3,381 in Fort Myers (+71), 1,605 in Cape Coral (+56), 1,578 in Lehigh Acres (+32), 506 in Bonita Springs (+20), 250 in North Fort Myers (+3), 171 in Estero (+7), 40 on Fort Myers Beach (+2), 33 in Alva (+3), 20 in Sanibel (+1), 14 in Bokeelia (+2), six on Matlacha (+0), six in Saint James City (+0), three on Captiva (+0), three in Tice (+0), two in Miromar Lakes (+0), two in Boca Grande (+0), two in San Carlos Park (+0) and one in Buckingham (+0).

Ninety cases were not identified by community.

Positive COVID-19 cases in the county have ranged from infants to a 101-year-old. Lee County saw its first two cases on March 7, when a man and a woman, each 77, tested positive. They had traveled to the Dominican Republic.

There have been 172(+5) deaths in Lee County; 121 deaths were reported in residents or staff of long-term care facilities.

As of Tuesday, Lee Health had 301 COVID-19 patients isolated in system inpatient hospitals. A total of 1,108 patients who had tested positive have been discharged, including 28 on Monday. Lee Health had 286 patients isolated in hospitals on Monday.

The system has submitted a total of 32,081 specimens for testing, with 1,072 results currently pending.

Lee Healths mobile collection sites on Monday collected 228 specimens.

Bed capacity as of Tuesday is at 87 percent, with 22.4 percent of those being COVID-19 patients.

As of Tuesday, 61 percent of ventilators and 10 percent of ICU rooms are available for use across Lee Health facilities.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral disease. For most individuals, symptoms are mild. For a minority, the disease becomes a type of viral pneumonia with severe complications. Especially at risk are those who are older, those with underlying health conditions and the immune-compromised.

Officials strongly urge all members of the public who are at risk to remain at home so as to limit exposure. All others are urged to observe social distancing and to wear a mask for all public interactions.

For more detail on Florida resident cases, visit the live DOH Dashboard.

To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, visit the Department of Healths dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control, visit the CDC COVID-19 website. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, visit the travel advisory website.

For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, contact the Departments dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
CHINESE-OWNED social media platform TikTok has said it will pull out of Hong Kong within days, as tech giants struggle to figure out how to operate in the city under sweeping new security rules imposed by Beijing.

Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Twitter and Zoom have all announced they have suspended the processing of requests for user data from the Hong Kong authorities while they study the new law.

The US companies' social media platforms are generally banned in China, where access is blocked by Beijing's "great firewall". Most have operated freely in Hong Kong, but will now have to determine how to comply with new rules for the city, which rights groups say threaten freedoms.

Facebook, which also owns WhatsApp and Instagram, said on Monday it was pausing reviews of user data requests for all of its services "pending further assessment of the National Security Law".

Google and Twitter said they had suspended their reviews of data requests from Hong Kong authorities immediately after the law went into effect last week. Zoom and Microsoft's LinkedIn issued similar statements yesterday.

Apple said it does not receive requests for user content directly from Hong Kong, but requires authorities there to submit requests through the US department of justice under a legal assistance treaty.

"We're assessing the new law, which went into effect less than a week ago, and we have not received any content requests since the law went into effect," Apple said.

Yesterday's announcement by TikTok of its plan to quit Hong Kong is notable because the short-form video app is owned by a Chinese company but operates only outside of mainland China. Parent company ByteDance runs a separate, similar service inside China, while saying TikTok is intended to appeal to users worldwide. Hong Kong users, like those in mainland China, will now be cut off from the global version.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that Washington was considering banning TikTok. Asked if Americans should download it, he told Fox News: "Only if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party."

A source familiar with TikTok's decision to exit Hong Kong said the city was a small, loss-making market for the platform.

Reuters
Mistake: Deutsche Bank did business with Jeffrey Epstein despite knowing of his past

Deutsche Bank has admitted it made a "critical mistake" by taking on the registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as a client, and agreed to pay a $150m (132.7m) fine to settle New York charges over its dealings with the late financier and two other banks.

Yesterday's settlement with the New York State Department of Financial Services is the first regulatory enforcement action against a bank related to Mr Epstein who committed suicide last August in a Manhattan jail, a month after his arrest for allegedly sexually exploiting dozens of girls and women.

"For years, Mr Epstein's criminal, abusive behaviour was widely known, yet big institutions continued to excuse that history and lend their credibility or services for financial gain," the governor of New York Andrew Cuomo said.

New York faulted Deutsche Bank's "significant compliance failures" in its dealings with Mr Epstein, as well as with Danske Bank's Estonia branch, which is embroiled in a money laundering scandal, and the Federal Bank of the Middle East (FBME).

It said Deutsche Bank considered Epstein "high-risk" and knew of his history of sex trafficking and abuse, including his 2007 guilty plea to state prostitution charges, yet still processed hundreds of transactions "obviously implicated" by his past.

These included payments to alleged accomplices, lawyers, victims, Russian models and women with Eastern European surnames. Also noted were Epstein's "periodic suspicious cash withdrawals - in total, more than $800,000 over approximately four years".

Epstein was a Deutsche Bank client from August 2013 to December 2018, when the relationship ended following additional negative press about his misconduct.

The New York settlement reflected Deutsche Bank's cooperation over several years.

"Onboarding [Mr Epstein] as a client in 2013 was a critical mistake and should never have happened," Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing told staff in a memo yesterday.

The bank also acknowledged deficiencies in its monitoring of Danske Estonia and FBME.

"We all have to help ensure that this kind of thing does not happen again," Mr Sewing said.

Reuters
The largest US air carriers have all signed letters of intent on federal loans to help them weather the novel coronavirus, with United Airlines warning employees that a surge in outbreaks was hitting bookings, threatening a travel rebound.

US airline shares lost 3.8pc in midday trade.

Airlines have already received $25bn (22bn) in payroll aid under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed by Congress in March, and are eligible for another $25bn loan programme.

United was among five carriers - along with Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines - that the US Treasury Department said yesterday had signed letters regarding the loan terms, which would include the issue of warrants and restrictions on executive compensation and share buybacks.

"We look forward to working with the airlines to finalise agreements and provide the airlines the ability to access these loans if they so choose," treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

Last week, the department said it had agreed on the terms for government loans with five other airlines including American Airlines.

US carriers, suffering the industry's worst crisis as the coronavirus pandemic crushes demand, have until September 30 to decide whether to take the loan. They can furlough or eliminate jobs starting on the first of October.

Travel has picked up in some areas over the past two months as economies open up and travel restrictions loosen, though a recent spike in Covid-19 cases in some US states has triggered more restrictions and started to weigh on bookings again.

In an internal presentation on Monday, United said reservations for travel within the coming month quickly began to slide after New York, New Jersey and Connecticut said they would require people arriving from hot-spot states to quarantine for 14 days, a source told Reuters.

The slump was most pronounced at United's Newark hub, where near-term net bookings were just about 16pc of last year's levels as of July 1.

United told employees to prepare to receive notifications of potential furloughs under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act - known as the WARN Act - as soon as this week, the source said.

Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth said in an investor note that the bookings trend was likely much broader than the New York area, noting that at least 14 states are requiring out-of-state visitors to undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Delta, which kicks off second-quarter airline results on July 14, said last week that it may scale back the number of flights it had planned to add in August due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

US airlines have already drastically reduced their flight capacity and rushed to shore up capital while warning that tens of thousands of jobs could be at risk in the autumn as the industry braces for a slow recovery.

In an effort to avoid forced job reductions, they are encouraging employees to accept early departure packages.

Reuters
Britain And The Caribbean will go on show at Tate Britain (Aaron Chown/PA)

An exhibition exploring Britains relationship with the Caribbean, and a new commission depicting key workers will go on show at Tate galleries.

Britain And The Caribbean will span Windrush to the present day and open at Tate Britain next year.

It has been in the planning over recent years and will celebrate artists from the Caribbean who made Britain their home and later British artists whose work addresses Caribbean themes and heritage.

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Tate plans to reopen all four of its galleries  Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives  later in the month, on July 27.

Tate Liverpools highlights include a new commission depicting key workers from the city.

It was commissioned because of the pandemic and will go on show as part of its Aliza Nisenbaum exhibition.

The venue will also open a year-long free display of Lucian Freuds paintings and prints.

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Highlights of Tate Moderns programme for 2021 include solo exhibitions of US painter Philip Guston, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and sculptor Rodin.

A theatrical exhibition by the Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid will also go on show.

At Tate Britain, Hogarth And Europe will show how 18th century urban life was captured by William Hogarth in London.

Portuguese-British artist Paula Rego will be the subject of a retrospective in the summer next year.

Hope. Struggle. Change: Photographing Britain And The World 1945-79, will feature 300 powerful documentary photographs that tell

the story of modern Britain.

Highlights at Tate St Ives include a new exhibition by artist Petrit Halilaj, whose installations explore cultural heritage and memory.
TV presenter Chris Packham has taken his fight over HS2 to the Court of Appeal (Giles Anderson/PA)

A major review of the HS2 rail scheme gave a very incomplete assessment of environmental matters, the Court of Appeal has been told.

This meant that the Government gave the green light to the scheme based on a complete misapprehension of the environmental impact, lawyers for Chris Packham argue.

The TV presenter is pursuing a legal challenge at the Court of Appeal against the Government over its decision to give the go-ahead to HS2.

Mr Packham took his case to the High Court in April, seeking an emergency injunction to stop works he claimed would cause destruction or irreversible and irreparable loss to ancient woodland sites.

He applied for the order as part of his attempt to bring a legal challenge against the Government over HS2.

But two senior judges refused Mr Packham permission to bring a claim against the Governments decision and did not grant the injunction.

Announcing the courts decision, Lord Justice Coulson said: This application has no realistic prospect of success, so we do not grant permission to bring judicial review proceedings.

Mr Packham was given permission to appeal against the High Court ruling and his case is being heard by three leading judges in a remote hearing on Wednesday.

The well-known environmental campaigner is not repeating his application for an injunction.

Lawyers for Mr Packham argue that there were failings in the way the Government reached its decision to give the HS2 project the go-ahead.

Today I am fighting again to #StopHS2 in the Court of Appeal a this vanity project is appalling , unnecessary and frankly , now redundant.



Here's 10 (ish) reasons why HS2 must be stopped immediately: pic.twitter.com/v9NwXhPH4Q  Chris Packham (@ChrisGPackham) July 8, 2020

The Government is opposing the challenge.

In written submissions to the Court of Appeal, David Wolfe QC, for Mr Packham, argued that ministers would have proceeded with making a decision on HS2 on the basis that the report from the Government-commissioned Oakervee Review would have explained what they needed to know about the environmental impacts of the project, when in fact, it did not.

The Oakervee Review was set up to examine whether and how HS2 should proceed.

Mr Wolfe said: The report gave a very incomplete assessment of environmental matters. That mattered, because it meant the decision-maker Secretary of State then proceeded (when balancing its various pros and cons) on a complete misapprehension of the existence and/or scale of the environmental impacts of the scheme.

He also said Mr Packhams case is that the defendants were told (and so would have proceeded from an understanding) that the Oakervee Report in fact set out a sufficient account for their purposes of the environmental impacts, when in fact it had not done so.

Mr Wolfe added: This misunderstanding affected the weight they would have given to the reports conclusions in their decision-making.

He added: The simple point is that the Secretary of State proceeded on misunderstanding of (or an error of fact as to) the environmental impacts of HS2 when he came to decide whether it should proceed.

In papers before the court, Mr Wolfe argued that when making the decision on HS2 the Government failed to have regard to the implications to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change  an environmental accord adopted by many nations, including the UK.

He later said: The appellants complaint is not that the Secretary of State was not aware that HS2 would contribute significantly to climate change in the period up to 2050 (he was), but that he was not told of, and did not take into account, the legal implications of that for the UKs international Paris obligations (and indeed some of its domestic obligations).

He failed to take into account the Paris Agreement when making this decision.

Timothy Mould QC, barrister for the Government, argued that Mr Packhams claim should be dismissed.

In written submissions to the Court of Appeal, he said the High Court judges were right to dismiss the claim and argued that it has no realistic prospect of success.

Mr Mould also said: It is simply fanciful for the appellant to assume that the first respondent (the Secretary of State for Transport) knew nothing about the public legislative and procedural history of HS2, including the comprehensive assessment of environmental impacts undertaken in accordance with parliamentary procedures, beyond that which was drawn to his attention by the report itself.

The appeal is being heard by Lord Justice Lindblom, Lord Justice Haddon-Cave and Lord Justice Green.

HS2 is a new high-speed rail network that, when completed, should connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, along with other points in the country.

The judges reserved their ruling.
Actor Johnny Depp is at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London for the second day of his high-profile libel case against The Sun newspaper (Victoria Jones/PA)

Johnny Depp has denied slapping his ex-wife Amber Heard after she laughed at his Wino Forever tattoo, as he faced further questioning on the second day of high-profile libel action against The Sun newspaper.

The Hollywood actor rejected suggestions he slapped Ms Heard three times during a time when he had fallen off the wagon after she made a joke of the etching on his arm  saying that is not true, you are mistaken.

The 57-year-old was probed about the alleged incident as he re-entered the witness box to give evidence in his claim.

Mr Depp is suing the tabloids publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over the 2018 article, which labelled him a wife beater and referred to overwhelming evidence that he attacked Ms Heard, 34, during their relationship  which he strenuously denies.

Sasha Wass QC, for NGN, asked Mr Depp about the alleged incident in March 2013, which Mr Depp agreed was at a time when he had fallen off the wagon following about 160 days of sobriety.

It involved a tattoo the actor had done on his arm during his relationship with actress Winona Ryder, which read Winona Forever and which he had changed to Wino Forever after they split.

Ms Wass put it to Mr Depp that he had slapped Ms Heard three times after she laughed at the tattoo during a period where he was drinking heavily.

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She said: Do you accept that Ms Heard was making a joke out of your tattoo, Wino Forever?

Mr Depp replied: I dont recall any conversation.

Sasha Wass QC continued: I suggest that that provoked disappointment, firstly, in you, and then anger in you, but you dont remember.

Mr Depp replied: I dont recall any argument about any of my tattoos.

Ms Wass said: You then, Mr Depp, slapped Ms Heard across the face.

The actor responded: That is not correct, its untrue. It didnt happen.

Ms Wass said: You slapped her more than once, because after you slapped her the first time, she didnt react, she just eyeballed you, she just stared at you, and that made you more angry and you slapped her again.

Mr Depp answered: That is patently untrue.

Ms Wass then put it to the actor that he slapped his former wife three times in total during the incident, to which he replied: Im sorry but that is not true, you are mistaken.

The barrister then put it to Mr Depp that he broke down after coming to his senses and realising what he had done, to which he said: I didnt hit Ms Heard.

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Ms Heard claims that Mr Depp first hit her in early 2013  one of 14 separate allegations of domestic violence, all denied by Mr Depp, relied on by NGN in their defence.

Ms Wass had opened the second day of Mr Depps cross-examination by asking the actor about his drug use, saying: Were you taking cocaine in March 2013?

Mr Depp replied that it was difficult to recollect if I was taking cocaine in March 2013 its possible.

The barrister later told the court that Ms Heard had told Mr Depp that she knew all about addiction because her father and, indeed, also her mother had also been drug users.

Mr Depp said that was true and that he became very close with Ms Heards father and mother.

But the actor denied that Ms Heard had said she could help him with his drug use.

The actors case against NGN and Mr Wootton arises out of the publication of an article on The Suns website on April 27 2018 with the headline Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be genuinely happy casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?

NGN is defending the article as true and says Mr Depp was controlling and verbally and physically abusive towards Ms Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs between early 2013 and May 2016, when the couple split.

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In a written outline of the actors case, his barrister, David Sherborne, said the article made defamatory allegations of the utmost seriousness against Mr Depp, accusing him of committing serious assaults on Ms Heard and inflicting such serious injuries that she feared for her life.

Mr Sherborne said: The articles amount to a full-scale attack on the claimant as a wife beater, guilty of the most horrendous physical abuse.

The claimants position is clear  Ms Heards allegations are complete lies.

The claimant was not violent towards Ms Heard, it was she who was violent to him.

He added: The marriage was at times physical, at her instigation, and on occasions he found it necessary to defend himself from her violence.

He is not a wife beater and never has been.

A separate libel claim brought by Mr Depp against Ms Heard in the US, over a December 2018 column in the Washington Post  which said the actress received the full force of our cultures wrath for women who speak out but did not mention Mr Depp by name, is due to begin next January.

The pair met in 2011 and began living together in 2012 before marrying in Los Angeles in February 2015.
Actor Johnny Depp faces further questioning on the second day of his high-profile libel claim against The Sun newspaper (Aaron Chown/PA)

Johnny Depp faces further questioning on the second day of his high-profile libel claim against The Sun over an article which labelled the Hollywood star a wife beater.

The 57-year-old is suing the tabloids publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, over the 2018 article, which referred to overwhelming evidence that he attacked ex-wife Amber Heard, 34, during their relationship  which he strenuously denies.

During the first day of a three-week trial on Tuesday, the High Court in London was given a glimpse of Hollywood as a string of celebrities including the Rolling Stones Keith Richards, Sir Elton John, Marilyn Manson and Hunter S Thompson were mentioned.

Mr Depp was quizzed on his drinking and drug abuse, his alleged violent outbursts and his attitudes towards women.

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The actor will enter the witness box again on Wednesday, when NGNs legal team will continue with their cross-examination.

In a written outline of the actors case, his barrister, David Sherborne, said the article made defamatory allegations of the utmost seriousness against Mr Depp, accusing him of committing serious assaults on Ms Heard and inflicting such serious injuries that she feared for her life.

Mr Sherborne said: The articles amount to a full-scale attack on the claimant as a wife beater, guilty of the most horrendous physical abuse.

The claimants position is clear  Ms Heards allegations are complete lies.

The claimant was not violent towards Ms Heard, it was she who was violent to him.

He added: The marriage was at times physical, at her instigation, and on occasions he found it necessary to defend himself from her violence.

He is not a wife beater and never has been.

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Throughout cross-examination on Tuesday from NGNs lead counsel, Sasha Wass QC, which covered a wide-ranging series of topics, the star appeared calm and collected, occasionally injecting his answers with humour.

At one point Ms Wass said: We see you now, very charming and polite and very softly spoken, but there is another side of you, isnt there, that is less charming?

Mr Depp said: Im afraid that would not be for me to judge.

He added: Your statement is quite blanket and it would apply to every single human being.

Ms Wass suggested that there was a nasty side to Mr Depps character

She later suggested Mr Depp regularly engaged in destructive and violent behaviour, which he denied.

Depp and Ms Heard both arrived on Tuesday at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where more than 30 photographers were waiting outside the entrance, wearing face coverings.

The actors case against NGN and Mr Wootton arises out of the publication of an article on The Suns website on April 27 2018 with the headline Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be genuinely happy casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?

NGN is defending the article as true and says Mr Depp was controlling and verbally and physically abusive towards Ms Heard, particularly when he was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs between early 2013 and May 2016, when the couple split.

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A separate libel claim brought by Mr Depp against Ms Heard in the US, over a December 2018 column in the Washington Post, which said the actress received the full force of our cultures wrath for women who speak out but did not mention Mr Depp by name, is due to begin next January.

The pair met in 2011 and began living together in 2012 before marrying in Los Angeles in February 2015.

Ms Heard obtained a restraining order against Mr Depp in LA shortly after the couple split in 2016 and donated her seven million US dollars (5.5 million) divorce settlement to charity.
Olivia Colman has thrown her support behind a Unicef UK campaign aimed at supporting children through the coronavirus pandemic.

The Oscar-winning actress will read a story for a summer fiction issue of British Esquire magazine, which is raising money for Unicef UKs Save Generation Covid appeal.

Actress Claire Foy, actor David Harewood and writer Will Self are also supporting the campaign.

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Colman, who will read Thats Where Ill Find You by Andrew OHagan, said: After five years of working with Unicef UK, I have seen how small donations can make a really big difference for children.

The coronavirus pandemic has upended the lives of children in the UK and abroad, and threatens children already weakened by war, disease, hunger and poverty, whose very survival depends on health care, life-saving food, clean water and medical supplies.

Now more than ever, they need our support.

This crisis is the biggest issue for children since World War Two, and I am proud to be supporting Save Generation Covid, to ensure children can thrive beyond the crisis.

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The Save Generation Covid appeal is supporting children and their families who have been affected by coronavirus around the world.

Andrew OHagan, Unicef UK ambassador and Esquire editor-at-large, said: Where there is no clean water, and no soap, a vulnerable child is more likely to be infected with coronavirus.

In all my years of working with Unicef UK, this has been our single biggest appeal.

Children need you right now. I am proud to be backing this simple message.
Irish novelist John Banville has joined JK Rowling and other high-profile figures in penning a letter voicing fears for free speech.

The open letter, which was published in New York Magazine Harpers, said that recent protests for racial and social justice are a needed reckoning but decried what they describe as the weakening of open debate in favour of ideological conformity.

Mr Banville and JK Rowling, along with the likes of Canadian poet and novelist, Margaret Atwood and British-Indian novelist Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie, and were among around 150 high-profile writers, journalists and professors to sign the letter.

The letter has arisen after Ms Rowling was among many celebrities to fall victim of the cancel culture.

This is where public figures face criticism for perceived acts of offence, and an attempt is made by those in protest to remove them of their platform and so cancel them.

The letter read: The free exchange of information and ideas, the lifeblood of a liberal society, is daily becoming more constricted.

While we have come to expect this on the radical right, censoriousness is also spreading more widely in our culture: an intolerance of opposing views, a vogue for public shaming and ostracism, and the tendency to dissolve complex policy issues in a blinding moral certainty.

Ms Rowling came under public scrutiny after sharing her opinion on transgender issues.

While likening hormone therapy and surgery for transgender people to a new kind of conversion therapy, she said that she is in no way transphobic, however, many online called for her to be cancelled.

The Harry Potter author tweeted yesterday saying that she was proud of the letter she co-signed with Mr Banville.

I was very proud to sign this letter in defence of a foundational principle of a liberal society: open debate and freedom of thought and speech, she wrote.

Mr Banville, the multi award winning Irish author, has previously spoken about the integrity involved with writing.

In the open letter he signed, the value of free speech was emphasised.

We uphold the value of robust and even caustic counter-speech from all quarters, it said.

But it is now all too common to hear calls for swift and severe retribution in response to perceived transgressions of speech and thought.

The letter sparked debate online with many social media users.
A brave child sex abuse survivor faced down her attacker in court yesterday and told him: "You took my childhood away from me."

Pamela McLoughlin, who waived her right to anonymity, made the comments at Wicklow Circuit Court at the sentencing hearing of sex offender Kenneth Tracey from Blessington.

Speaking to the Herald after the hearing, Ms McLoughlin said: It is a relief to finally have my voice heard, revealing that Tracey will be sentenced at the court next Thursday on the day of her birthday.

Father-of-two Tracey (48) was granted bail pending his sentence finalisation next week after pleading guilty to seven sample charges of indecent assault against Ms McLoughlin (37) between July 1987 and July 1991, when she was aged between four and eight.

He was aged 15 when the abuse started and this continued until after his 19th birthday.

The facts of the case were outlined by Detective Garda Patrick Twomey, of Blessington Garda Station, who explained that the sexual abuse happened at Traceys family home in Rockypool Crescent in the Co Wicklow town.

Tracey and Ms McLoughlins mothers were almost nextdoor neighbours and on friendly terms, which meant the victims mother visited the property with her daughter a number of times every week.

The detective estimated that there were at least 100 incidents of sexual abuse which happened on an almost weekly basis every time she visited the house.

The sexual abuse began in July 1987 when Ms McLoughlin was aged just four and continued until around the time that she made her first Holy Communion.

Det Gda Twomey explained that it was around this time that the child had heard a radio advertisement about sexual abuse and then realised that she had been the victim of this crime.

She went to her mother and talked about what had happened to her and from that time on she did not visit Traceys home or have any more contact with him. However, no complaint was made to gardai at that stage in 1991.

The garda pointed out that the sexual abuse had two main forms  one was the then teenage Tracey placing the childs hands on his erect penis, while the other most common form of abuse she suffered was when he placed his hands inside her underwear and fondled her.

Harrowing evidence of a number of specific incidents were outlined, including an occasion when he spread the childs legs and then pretended to take a photograph of her.

On another occasion, the victim had been playing with her cousin when Tracey called her into a bedroom and then grabbed her arm but she screamed and he allowed her to leave.

Det Gda Twomey explained that Ms McLoughlin grew up and went to Australia in 2009 with her then husband and while there she attended counselling.

Ms McLoughlin then made a complaint about the childhood sexual abuse to police in Sydney, who passed the information to gardai.

She came back home in August 2015 and made a complaint to gardai at this stage.

In December 2015, Tracey was first interviewed by appointment at Blessington Garda Station, stating that he had no knowledge of the accusations.

Tracey was charged with multiple counts of indecent assault in July 2016, but did not plead guilty to the offences until last November at Wicklow Circuit Court when he was placed on the sex offenders register.

His defending barrister pleaded for leniency for his client, stating that he had no previous criminal convictions and had a history of depression and anxiety and two suicide attempts since being charged with the offences.

A number of specialist medical reports were offered to the court outlining his low-level IQ, one of which stated that the sex offender has difficulty answering complex questions which could lead to difficulties if he has to interact with other prisoners in a jail environment.

His lawyer told the court that Tracey felt shame, regret and remorse about his actions.

A letter from his brother was also read to the court, which outlined Traceys paranoid behaviour and lonely existence.

After hearing all the evidence, Judge Patrick Quinn said he would not make a decision on the case yesterday and adjourned it to next Thursday.

Speaking after the hearing, Ms McLoughlin told the Herald that she did not accept that Tracey had remorse, pointing out that he did not plead guilty for well over three years after being first charged with the indecent assault offences.

Earlier, in a moving victim impact statement in court, she spoke about the childhood impact of the abuse, the anger and isolation she felt, the depression and anxiety it caused her, the paranoia she feels about her own sons safety and her severe difficulties with the Irish justice and criminal process.

She outlined the breach of trust she had suffered from Tracey, who was more than 11 years older than her, and spoke about the horrific impact the abuse had had on her family, as well as her hopes for moving forward with her life.

I am a victim but I am no longer Kenneth Traceys victim. He can never hurt me again and I hope he never has the opportunity to hurt anyone else again either, she said.

When it comes to the sexual abuse and molestation of children, we all need to step up to the plate and make a difference, she wrote in the impact statement which she read to the court.

I hope that by coming forward and speaking out, I can encourage others who may be suffering in silence to come forward too, and in doing so take a stand against childhood sexual abuse.

It is not easy but if speaking out prevents even one person from going through what I did then it will have been worth it.

Addressing Tracey directly, she said: You took my childhood away from me. Some of my first memories are of you and what you did to me. I cant get that time back.

I want you to know the severity of the impact the experience of sexual abuse has had on my life. I will be paying for your behaviour for the rest of my life. I am never going to fully get over it.

She also told the court that she believed Tracey still poses a danger to children.

He was a predator and I am not convinced that he no longer is. His late guilty plea has not shown me any empathy, she said, pointing out how difficult it was to live in the same community as him and the devastation that he had caused her family, whom she paid tribute to for their support.

Ms McLoughlin also hit out at the justice system.

I feel like I have been re-victimised. The case is before the courts since June 2016. The accused pleaded guilty in November 2019. That is a period of three years and five months.

During this period I have felt isolated as a victim. I have not been offered access to any of the free services that the accused has been given access to, she said before paying tribute to investigating detective Patrick Twomey.
Fort Hood, TX (76544)

Today

Generally cloudy. High around 85F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 74F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
THE garda investigation into the alleged knife murder of father-of-seven Garreth Kelly is a complex one involving 140 witness statements and electronic evidence, a court has heard.

Prosecutors were granted another adjournment in the case against mother-of-three Christina Anderson (38), who is charged with killing Mr Kelly on a street outside her home more than four months ago.

Mr Kelly died after he was stabbed while trying to start his car at Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood on February 25 last.

Judge Bryan Smyth remanded Ms Anderson further in custody in her absence at Dublin District Court today, for the directions of the DPP.

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She has been too unwell to attend court since she first appeared on the charge in February.

Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy sought another two-week adjournment.

Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said he appreciated it was a most serious charge, but the case was going into its fifth month without directions and no file had been sent to the DPP yet.

Any charge of this nature was complex but he did not think his clients case was particularly complicated for this type of offence.

We have somebody in custody who is not terribly well, there should be some level of priority, Mr Kelleher said.

He asked if the court could exercise any influence on this.

Judge Smyth said he did not know if the Covid-19 situation might be contributing to any delay.

Mr Kelleher said the defence had not been given any reason and he was obliged to ask why the case kept being put back.

There may be valid reasons, he said, but he believed it was at the point where he needed to know what they were.

Sgt Murphy said it was quite a large and complex investigation with 140 witness statements and analysis of electronic evidence.

He said the prosecuting sergeant would say there was no undue delay.

Judge Smyth said there was a significant number of statements as well as analysis of electronic data and these things take time.

Mr Kelleher said that at some point it becomes too long.

Judge Smyth said he could not see that it had become too long at this stage. He remanded the accused in custody in her absence to July 22.

Mr Kelleher applied for legal aid, saying the accuseds husband was working and they had three children. There was no garda objection and Mr Kelleher asked the judge to back date the legal aid.

The court had earlier ordered the accused to be medically and psychiatrically assessed.

Det Sgt Dara Kenny previously said Ms Anderson made no reply when charged.

Mr Kelly, from Tallaght, had been living in Clondalkin and was believed to have been staying over at a house in the Brownsbarn estate at the time of the incident.
A son of the late one-time billionaire Jim Mansfield Sr has sued Garda authorities and the DPP, claiming he was the subject of a "malicious prosecution".

Jim Mansfield Jr (53) was accused of unlawfully possessing 180 rounds of .22 Walther ammunition without a firearms licence following a search of his home in Saggart, Co Dublin, in January 2015.

However, the case never went to trial and the charge, which he denied, was withdrawn three years later.

Now Mr Mansfield is seeking damages over the prosecution, which he alleges was taken without reasonable and probable cause.

In High Court proceedings initiated on Monday, he alleges malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office and abuse of statutory powers.

The action, against the Garda Commissioner, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the DPP, the Justice Minister and the Attorney General, is expected to be hotly contested.

In a plenary summons, Mr Mansfield claims the defendants "conspired to manufacture a public perception" he was involved in criminality.

He claims this involved the unlawful disclosure of sensitive personal data, in breach of the Data Protection Acts and his constitutional rights.

Mr Mansfield's solicitor, Kevin Winters, of KRW Law, confirmed the proceedings had been issued and said he had also been engaged with the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Commissioner "on some of the matters arising out of this".

Barrister Barra McGrory QC, the former DPP for Northern Ireland, has been instructed in the case on behalf of Mr Mansfield.

A similar charge was brought against Mr Mansfield's brother PJ (43), who was accused of possessing 1,252 rounds of .22-calibre ammunition without the relevant firearms licence.

But a judge directed a jury to find him not guilty as the prosecution had not proved how many rounds of ammunition he was entitled to possess.

The brothers are sons of Jim Mansfield Sr, who died in 2014. He was the businessman behind the Citywest Hotel, Weston Aerodrome and other businesses and properties.

But his empire collapsed during the recession in the late 2000s and most of his assets were seized by Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and the National Asset Management Agency.

The filing of the civil action by Jim Mansfield Jr comes as he awaits trial at the Special Criminal Court later this year in connection with the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne in 2015.

Last December, he was granted legal aid after the court heard he had a 6m judgment against him. The judgment relates to a failed property venture in Co Meath.

Mr Mansfield denies charges of conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Mr Byrne and of attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing the destruction of CCTV footage.

Two figures associated with the INLA, Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy, were jailed after admitting the false imprisonment of Mr Byrne and other charges.
CAO applications have held up this year, with a big rise in interest in medicine and other health-related professions, in what may be a direct effect of the coronavirus.

Demand for medicine is up 6pc, while other health-related professions have seen double digit percentage increases compared to this time last year.

Other professions that have seen a surge in applications include law and architecture.

Final figures for college entry in September show a total of 77,831 applications, up from 77,415 this time last year.

The increase overall is 0.5pc but for honours degree (Level 8) courses the rise is higher than average at 1.1pc, while the Level 7/6 courses (ordinary degree /higher certificate) are down 2pc

Despite all the uncertainty wrought by the pandemic, students also displayed a hearty appetite for using the Change of Mind process to refine their course choices.

The latest data is based on the final course choices, following the Change of Mind period that ended on July 1 with 44,347 applicants varying their lists.

A rise for medicine and other traditionally high points courses may also reflect optimism on the part of Leaving Cert students and a belief that the calculated grades process will favour them.

Because of coronavirus, traditional exams were replaced by a system where teachers provided an estimated grade and all the results are now going through a national standardisation process in the Department of Education.

One of the biggest increases in interest this year was for law, up 16pc on July 2019 with 18,884 first preferences, from 16,187 last year.

While demand for nursing is flat it is up 1pc this year, in line with the general increase in applications for honours degree courses but other health-related disciplines have shown a steep rise. Physiotherapy is up 25pc, veterinary medicine is up 16pc and dentistry is up 17pc.

Biological and related sciences courses are up 5pc and courses grouped under the heading environment are up 8pc

Demand for primary teaching is static, reflecting students awareness that pupils numbers have peaked in that sector, while courses leading to jobs in second-level schools are up 7pc.

With CAO applicants showing a significant attachment to traditional professions, arts is one of the casualties with a 7pc fall off in interest.

Overall applications for business are unchanged, but some colleges have seen a huge surge, including Maynooth University where demand is up 21pc.

Maynooth has recorded its higher ever number of CAO applications year and other noteworthy upwards trends include Psychology (20pc), Law (9pc) and Biological & Biomedical Sciences (5pc).

Maynooth University President Professor Philip Nolan said they planned to admit in excess of 3,000 students in the coming year.

UCD said its first preferences broke through the 9,000 mark with an increase of almost 600 (7.9%) from this time last year.

Student interest in the healthcare professions is up year-on-year across each of the disciplines, medicine, nursing, radiography and physiotherapy.

UCD Deputy President and Registrar Professor Mark Rogers said undoubtedly, the focus on these professions in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis is a significant contributory factor.

UCD has also seen an upsurge in first preferences in Commerce, Law, Psychology, Veterinary Medicine and Computer Science.

Professor Rogers said 2020 would be recorded as a remarkable year as school leavers grappled with the disruption to their studies, the cancellation of the Leaving Certificate here in Ireland and of final State examinations in many countries, the adjustment of university application processes to take account of calculated grades and the uncertainty around how college life will be structured under prevailing public health restrictions dealing with COVID-19.
An Irishman will miss the birth of his first child because of the US Covid-19 travel ban.

Sean Donovan (29) has appealed to the US Embassy for permission to travel to see his heavily pregnant partner, Corsi Crumpler, in Texas before she is due to give birth in two weeks' time.

Ms Crumpler is based in the US but, because the couple are not married, Mr Donovan is not allowed to travel there, despite being the father of the child.

"It's really frustrating. If I think about it too much it just angers me, because I struggle to put into words how wrong the system feels," Mr Donovan, from Malahide, Co Dublin, said.

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"You have no power, you have no control over it, so you just feel helpless."

The couple met in a pub in Swords in November 2018 when Ms Crumpler was working as a flight attendant. They have been together ever since, sometimes having a long-distance relationship between Ireland and the US.

The couple found out they were expecting a baby in November 2019.

Since then, Ms Crumpler has been based in Texas, with Mr Donovan travelling over and back.

"I travelled back over at the start of December for the first baby scan, and then I stayed with her for about a week and then we both flew back to Ireland and stayed here for Christmas," Mr Donovan said.

Ms Crumpler returned to Texas in January, and Mr Donovan flew over for the 20-week scan at the start of March. He returned just before Ireland went into lockdown.

In March, the US imposed a travel ban but made an exception for passengers from Ireland and the UK. Days later, it was announced that Ireland would be included in the ban.

"When the lockdown started, I was constantly trying to reassure her that it would be over in time for the birth, but then it just kept going on and on and on.

"It was at the end of May when we got more panicked and it seems a reality now that I won't make the birth, which is very disappointing," Mr Donovan added.

He said he has been in "constant contact" with the US Embassy to try to get permission to travel on compassionate grounds. However, even after testing negative for Covid-19 and providing paperwork he was refused. It was suggested to Mr Donovan that he could travel to a country like Mexico, isolate for 14 days and then try to cross the border into the US.

"It doesn't make sense, I'd have a higher chance of contracting Covid-19 that way. Plus, after isolating for two weeks I would probably miss the birth anyway," he said.

Mr Donovan said he has been in touch online with "loads" of couples who are in similar situations all across Europe, where one person is in the US and the other is unable to travel to see them.

Once their baby is born, Mr Donovan will be allowed to travel to see the child, but he is disappointed to have missed the end of the pregnancy and the birth.
Willie Maughan and his Latvian girlfriend Ana Varslavane were reported missing on April 14, 2015 in Gormanston, Co Meath

Detectives investigating the disappearance and double murder of a couple over five years ago have made a number of arrests.

William Maughan (34) and his girlfriend Ana Varslavanne (20) were reported missing in April 2015 and are believed to have been abducted by a major drugs gang.

Their disappearance was later reclassified as a murder investigation in September 2016.

This morning gardai arrested two men and a female as part of the double murder inquiry.

The men, aged in their 50s and 60s, and the woman, aged in her 40s, were detained and are currently being held at garda stations in Meath and Dublin.

They are being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and can be questioned for up to three days.

A Garda spokesman said that searches are also being carried out at a location in Meath.

The first arrest as part of the major inquiry came in May when a UK national in his 50s was detained and interviewed.

Gardai believe that the couple were murdered by a criminal gang with links to Meath-based mobster Cornelius Price.

The 38-year-old has also been linked to the Drogheda feud which has claimed up to four lives and led to a significant policing operation in the Louth town.

Gardai are continuing to appeal to anyone with information relating to the double murder investigation to contact them at Ashbourne Garda Station on 01 801 0600 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
A cancer patient suffering the side effects of chemotherapy was placed in a Covid-19 ward at Mayo University Hospital, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act.

In details of a complaint lodged by a relative of the patient, it is claimed that the man, who is an oncology patient, arrived at A&E on May 1 and was admitted to a Covid-19 ward where there were five Covid-19 patients.

He had "arrived at the hospital as a very vulnerable patient with a very serious underlying illness and a compromised immune system". He was not displaying any Covid-19 symptoms.

The complainant alleges that the man was moved into an isolation ward later that evening. However, by that time he had already been "exposed to the coronavirus, unprotected, for an extended period of time".

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On May 4, when the complaint was made, the man was in self-isolation back at home. His daughter, who accompanied him to the hospital and entered the Covid-19 ward, was also self-isolating. It is claimed that both the cancer patient and his daughter were not given any protective equipment for hours. Later they were given "basic masks".

The complaint states that the man's "safety, health and life is now at serious risk" due to a failure by the hospital to implement "the most basic safety protocols".

The complaint was sent to Mayo University Hospital (MUH) manager Catherine Donohoe as well as to the Department of Health, for the attention of chief medical officer Tony Holohan.

"It is important that he knows what is actually happening on the ground which is very distressing for the people concerned," wrote the complainant.

Correspondence shows that on May 5, Declan Whelan, from the Cancer Policy Unit in the Department of Health, asked the hospital for an update on the complaint as a "matter of urgency".

Concerns about segregation procedures at the hospital have been raised by local councillors and TDs in the Mayo area.

Previously, the Irish Independent reported that Jackie Carolan (79), of Ballymunnely, Bellacorick, Ballina, died in a "Covid bay" on the elderly care medicine ward at MUH on April 1.

He had been moved into the bay, where there were three other suspected Covid cases, from a stroke bay on the same ward the day before he died.

The issue of patient crossover between wards was also raised by a woman claiming to be a journalist during a Department of Health briefing on Covid-19 in May.

Last month, then health minister Simon Harris requested a report from HSE chief executive Paul Reid on the Covid-19 measures taken at MUH from the outset of the pandemic.

The details of the cancer patient complaint were outlined in a Freedom of Information request submitted by Aontu.

Aontu leader Peadar Toibin told the Irish Independent that staff and former patients at MUH have been raising concerns and relaying their experiences for a number of months.

"The documents released to us under the Freedom of Information Act show that these concerns went all the way up the chain of command, through Mayo University Hospital, the HSE and all the way to the Department of Health," he said. "We now know that the department was aware of the situation the day before it was raised at a press briefing by a woman posing as a journalist".

Mr Toibin called for an update on the progress of the report commissioned by Mr Harris.

The Saolta Hospitals Group said it cannot comment on individual cases when questioned about the details in the complaint.
The heartbroken father of a teenage boy who died after ingesting nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, has urged teenagers to stay away from the lethal drug.

Mick Morrissey, of Cushlawn Park in Tallaght, took to the airwaves this afternoon to urge children to say no to experimenting with the so-called hippy crack that is widely available on the internet.



His 15-year-old son Alex Ryan Morrissey was found slumped over in an unresponsive state in the Ballycullen area on May 20.



He was rushed to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin but died about two hours later.



In an emotional plea on RTE Radio Ones Liveline programme today, Mr Morrissey fought back tears as he urged other youngsters to avoid the potentially deadly drug at any cost.



If you see them on the street, tell them no, he said of people selling the cheap drug locally.

These things are lethal.

The drug is commonly used by dentists as an anesthetic. However due to its euphoric quality and relatively cheap cost  as little as 1 or 2 per canister  it is being used by teenagers and even children to get a cheap high.



But Mr Morrissey said his son, who was preparing for his Leaving Cert during the lockdown, tragically paid for it with his life.



He has set up a foundation named after his son  Alex Ryan Morrissey  or ARM  in his sons memory and plans to visit community clubs and other local organisations to educate children and their parents over the dangers of the drug.



He said spreading the word about the dangers of the drug would be well worth the effort if it saves one childs life to educate people about this.



Emma Mooney, Alexs former teacher at Kilmartin Community School, rang the programme to offer her condolences to Mr Morrissey and his heartbroken family.



She said: Every teacher said he was an absolutely gorgeous child whose smile would light up every room.
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A blame game has kicked off in Fianna Fail. TDs are turning on each other over the controversy surrounding Barry Cowen's drink-driving ban and his failure to acquire a full licence until he was 49.

Details of Mr Cowen's ban came at a time when there is a lot bitterness swirling around Taoiseach Micheal Martin's party, after TDs were left disappointed by his ministerial appointments.

Accusations are flying around about how details of a four-year-old traffic incident became public.

In most circumstances, Opposition politicians are blamed for circulating potentially damaging information about their rivals.

But, in this instance, Fianna Fail figures have turned on each other. Names are being passed around among TDs, senators, councillors and members about who they believe is responsible for Mr Cowen ending up in the headlines. The wolf is among the sheep, they believe.

There is talk of a disappointed party member seeking to damage the leadership after being sidelined when Mr Martin was elected Taoiseach. One rumour involves a loose-lipped party member spilling the beans after drowning their sorrows with a few beers.

Fine Gael will be somewhat surprised it is not getting the blame but perhaps the two parties have bedded in more quickly than either would have thought. Fine Gael TDs have been quick out of the traps to defend Mr Cowen, as was Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, although Mr Ryan did raise questions about the Agriculture Minister's failure to procure a full licence until he was nearly 50.

Yesterday, Fine Gael and the Green Party even weighed in behind Fianna Fail to block an attempt to allow TDs to question Mr Cowen following his personal statement in the Dail last night.

Rise TD Paul Murphy asked that the Dail's schedule be changed to permit questions, but the governing deputies voted down the proposal. This meant Mr Cowen was free to walk into the Dail, say his piece and leave.

The minister has had a difficult week but he will surely be buoyed by the cross-party support he has received from his new government partners. He is perhaps lucky the controversy was sparked in the Government's first week.

If the revelations emerged a week earlier Mr Cowen may never have crossed the threshold of the minister's office in Agriculture House on Kildare Street. And had the traffic offence emerged down the road, when things aren't as cosy in the fledgling coalition, the situation could have been far more awkward for him.

For now, it looks like he is safe in his new role and will be able to get stuck into his brief over the coming months.

In the Dail, Micheal Martin insisted his focus is on the "fundamentals that face the Irish people" rather than the controversy surrounding Mr Cowen. The country's leader will face more problems with his own party members during the Dail term, and Fine Gael and the Green Party will expect Fianna Fail to repay the favour if their TDs get in trouble.

However, given the rumblings in Fianna Fail, Mr Martin might find it more difficult to convince his TDs to support the old enemy if they are faced with difficulties.
A new Fianna Fail TD wrote a letter to a court on behalf of three men whose homes were this week raided as part of a major Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) investigation.

Longford-Westmeath TD Joe Flaherty described the three brothers as "extremely capable, very sharp and more than familiar with hard work" in a letter submitted during a trial for violent disorder.

Thomas (40), Denis (39), and Willie Hannafin (35), were given suspended sentences for the attack on a teenager.

The young man's back was sliced with a knife during the attack.

On Monday, the homes of all three men were among 12 residential properties, three commercial premises and one business raided by gardai. CAB seized 110,000 and 14,000 (15,570) in cash along with three caravans and 11 vehicles including a Mercedes, Skoda Kodiaq, Isuzu D-Max, Ford Ranger and a Toyota Land Cruiser.

Two Rolex watches were seized, as were designer handbags and shoes.

In June, it emerged Mr Flaherty submitted a letter to Longford Circuit Court during a trial involving the three Hannafins.

In the letter, the Fianna Fail TD said he was "deeply disappointed" by the actions of the three brothers and said local feuds were having a negative impact on Longford.

Mr Flaherty said he knew the men before the court and "many members of their family".

"Ordinarily, they are likeable men, very committed to family, and I am aware that a shadow of tragedy has hung over them in recent years,' he said.

"All three men are extremely capable, very sharp and more than familiar with hard work. I would like to think and hope that the actions before the court are not likely to happen again but, unfortunately, feuding has been a huge problem and stigma for Longford town," he added.

Mr Flaherty said it will take men like the three brothers to be "strong enough to stand out amongst their community, acknowledge the damage" and "assure the wide public that these actions are now in the past".

"This letter is by no means an attempt to sway the court as I know that all three are fully aware of the severity of the charges that they face and must atone for the consequences of their actions," he added.

Yesterday, Mr Flaherty initially said he would comment on the letter but did not respond to questions about the letter and the CAB raid.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin's spokesperson also did not respond to requests for comment.

During an interview on Shannonside Radio when the letter first emerged, he insisted it was "not a character reference" for the three brothers.

"At no stage did I attempt to say their behaviour was acceptable," he said.

"They know my position on feuding, they know I'm repulsed by it and I also stated in the letter that it needs strong people from their community to stand forward, acknowledge the damage done to the wider community and assure the wider public these actions are in the past," he added.

He said the letter was not an "attempt to encourage to take one route or another".

Mr Flaherty is a first-time TD who was elected to the Dail in the January General Election.

On Monday, several Garda units including the Emergency Response Unit were involved in the early morning CAB raids on more than a dozen properties in Longford.

The operation was part of a long-running investigation into criminal activity in the Midlands. Financial accounts holding 80,000 were frozen by gardai.
COVID-19 may not pose a deadly threat to children's health, but the lives of the most vulnerable children may yet be permanently blighted by the virus.

Yesterday, the ESRI published an alarming new study. It found that without an economic recovery this year, nearly one-in-four children could be left living in poverty. Even a partial economic recovery this year would still see a big increase in child poverty rates, to nearly 20pc.

We know the threat of recession to children's wellbeing is acute as we've been here before - quite recently. After the financial crash a decade ago, the proportion of children living in deprived households reached a staggering 32pc. It has taken the intervening 10 years for child poverty rates to return to pre-recession levels, with much of that progress now at risk of being rapidly undone in a few short months.

Childhood poverty is insidious. It is not merely a temporary hardship that children must endure in their early life, before they can pull themselves up by the bootstraps once they reach adulthood. Exposure to poverty, for prolonged periods in childhood, has been found to have a strong and irreversible impact on the physical, cognitive and social health of children. It casts a long shadow, one that is very difficult to escape.

A forecasted increase in child poverty rates is not the only canary in the coal mine when it comes to the malign influence of coronavirus on children. According to Child and Family Agency Tusla, there was a 39pc drop in the number of suspected child abuse cases referred to it in the first four months of this year compared with the same period in 2019.

The closure of schools since early March was said to be the likely reason for the precipitous decline in referrals. Teachers, who see children every day and who are alert to changes in their behaviour, are often the ones who make these referrals.

Given that last month gardai were reporting a 25pc increase in domestic violence calls, the huge decline in referrals to Tusla is extremely ominous. It suggests that thousands of children may now be living in unsafe conditions, at risk of abuse and neglect - with little prospect of that abuse coming to the attention of social workers in the immediate future.

The impact of Covid-19 on children's mental health is also an area of deep concern. Research by the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland (CPI) has found a "worrying increase" in mental health referrals during the pandemic. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are especially ill-equipped to deal with any surge in referrals.

In a letter sent to political parties in May, CPI president Dr William Flannery noted that "CAMHS currently operates with just 65pc of the teams required in Ireland - and those teams operate at only circa 55pc of the staffing complement required by the multidisciplinary teams nationwide".

"CAMHS consultants are already experiencing significant levels of burnout and stress  The after effects of Covid-19 are likely to see levels further exacerbated. An urgent focus on fulfilling the needs of this service to ensure our future generation are given the best possible support and treatment to enable them to lead full lives will be essential," he wrote.

Given coronavirus disproportionately targets the elderly, coupled with the unprecedented economic impact of the virus, it is understandable that, in the early stages of the pandemic, there was little focus on children.

However, we are now more than four months into this crisis and it is time that the voices of children featured much more prominently in public debate. This is especially true given the Government is on the cusp of announcing a multi-billion euro stimulus package for business - with little indication, to date, that children's services stand to benefit from any imminent emergency investment.

Unless the correct policy decisions are taken now, to insulate children from the worst effects of coronavirus, another generation will be doomed to endure the same deprivation and social problems as children who fell victim to the last great recession.

A 2014 Unicef report, which examined the impact of the previous recession on the median income of households with children, found that Ireland lost a full decade of progress between 2008 and 2012 and concluded "financial adjustment measures left children behind precisely when their poverty indicators began to soar".

With the ESRI now sending out a very public warning that child poverty rates are in danger of exponentially increasing, the Government must ensure that the measures it implements in the coming weeks and months prevent this from occurring.

Of utmost importance is that the Department of Education works with schools and teaching unions to ensure that children can return to education in September. This is vital, not only so that parents can return to work; it is also essential as a child welfare measure, so that children suffering abuse or neglect do not fall through the cracks.

Services, such as Tusla and CAMHS, which have suffered chronic underinvestment for years, must also not be starved of cash or subject to any cutbacks. Instead, these services will need increased resources to cope with the inevitable surge when referrals begin to increase.

Throughout this crisis, lobby groups for businesses have been vocal advocates for their members, applying relentless pressure to government for financial aid and emergency support. Conversely, children do not have any powerful lobby groups agitating on their behalf. As Ireland continues to emerge from lockdown, the plight of children must not be forgotten. If the Government doesn't act now, the disastrous consequences for thousands of children could be life-altering. They can't say they were not warned.
Leader of the Opposition Mary Lou McDonald said last week that, if she were Taoiseach, she would still have attended the paramilitary-style funeral of Bobby Storey in Belfast.

This statement needs to be analysed, because it reveals Deputy McDonald's understanding of the obligations that go with holding the office of Taoiseach.

The thing that distinguishes a republican form of government from a monarchy is that in a republic one's loyalty is to the words of the constitution, whereas in a monarchy, one's loyalty is to the person of the sovereign.

Unbound by a written constitution, UK governments can thus do things, and meet people, that would be impossible for the government of this State, bound as it is by the very precise language of its written Constitution.

Bobby Storey was a key figure in the Provisional IRA throughout his life. In reference to the IRA and echoing the words of Gerry Adams, he said in 2014: "We have a message for the British government, for the Irish Government, for the cabal that is out there; we ain't gone away, you know."

The prospect that Mary Lou McDonald might actually become Taoiseach has become real since the general election in February.

So it is important that she be seen to be fully cognisant of the requirements of the Constitution of the state she aspires to govern.

We must always remember that the best guarantee of democracy in this, or any other state, is scrupulous respect for the provisions of the constitution by all citizens, but more especially by those who aspire to high office.

The relevant articles of the Constitution are Article 9 and Article 15.

Article 9 states: "Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State are fundamental political duties of all citizens."

A Taoiseach, more than any other citizen, must demonstrate loyalty to the State. By definition, loyalty to the State entails loyalty to the Constitution.

Article 15 of the constitution spells this out in a manner that is directly relevant to the potential attendance of a Taoiseach at a funeral ceremony celebrating the life of a senior figure of the IRA.

Article 15 states: "The right to raise and maintain military or armed forces is vested exclusively in the Oireachtas."

The Oireachtas has never authorised the Provisional IRA to come into being, or to conduct the killings and other activities it has undertaken, in this jurisdiction or elsewhere.

When I was Taoiseach, I recognised that the search for peace had to be pursued in total respect for this provision of our constitution. My respect as Taoiseach for Article 15 explains why, to the impatience of some, I took the attitude I did to the decommissioning of IRA weaponry.

Article 15 spells this out further, in terms that Mary Lou McDonald should be able to understand, if she reads and respects our Constitution.

It states: "No military or armed force, other than a military or armed force raised and maintained by the Oireachtas, shall be raised or maintained for any purpose whatsoever."

The words could not be clearer. This Constitution was democratically adopted by the Irish people in a referendum, and every deputy takes his or her seat in the Dail under that Constitution, including Articles 9 and 15.

Sinn Fein needs to conduct a serious internal discussion of its present and past attitudes to this State and to the Constitution by which it is established.

While some might argue that, from 1923 to 1937, the then constitution of this state derived in part at least from the provisions of the Treaty of 1921 with Britain, the adoption of the new Constitution on July 1, 1937, was a sovereign act of the Irish people, completely untrammelled by any external interference.

There is no excuse for anyone seeking high office in this State, under this Constitution, not to give unambiguous loyalty to the State, particularly in regard to its exclusive right to raise a military force. Indeed the exclusive right to use force, within its territory, is the mark of sovereignty of any state.

It is a serious matter if a candidate for the highest political office in Ireland, and leader of one of the State's largest political parties, legitimates by attendance at events or commemorations the raising of an armed force that did not have, and does not have, the sanction of the Oireachtas.

This issue must be faced. Fianna Fail was obliged to face up to it in 1927, and it did so.

Notwithstanding the endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement by the Irish people in both parts of the island in 1998, Sinn Fein has yet to make a definitive move to become a properly constitutional party, as was demonstrated by the top-level Sinn Fein representation at an IRA funeral last week.

It is long past time for Sinn Fein to declare its clear loyalty to the Irish Constitution, including to Article 15.
Oifigeach Pleanala Teanga Chiarrai Thiar John Prendergast with Orla Ni Shithigh, Sinead Ni hUallachain, Eibhlin Ui Iarlaithe and Nellie OSullivan and her son Sebastian after the launch of the Plean Teanga for Corca Dhuibhne. Photo by Declan Malone

As a county with not one but two Gaeltacht regions - in both west and south Kerry - Kerry was keeping a keener eye than most on how the Gaeltachtai would fare in the recent Ministerial appointments.

The assessment since has been withering.

There's a sense the right people have been selected: both Catherine Martin (Green Party) and Dara Calleary (Fianna Fail) are fluent Irish speakers and are genuinely passionate about the language. But the structures in which they'll function may not lend themselves to solving problems as complex as those facing the Gaeltachtai.

That unwieldy structure began to take 'shape' two weeks ago when Martin TD was named as Minister for just about everything: Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport - and the Gaeltacht. Then Government Chief Whip and Fianna Fail Deputy Leader Calleary TD was named as Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht and Sport - stoking fears that responsibility for the language and the Gaeltachtai will be delegated.

"I wasn't very surprised," Oifigeach Pleanala Teanga (Language Planning Officer) for Uibh Rathach Victor Bayda told The Kerryman. "There's no change of attitude amongst the establishment about Irish. They don't understand its value to this country.

"It's nothing new. You stay positive and say 'Oh, maybe things will change next time' - and then it doesn't.

"The responsibility for all those matters was given to one person [Catherine Martin]she's a great person, she has wonderful Irish, and when this Dail came together for the first time, she spoke Irish and spoke very well about it. But one person can't be dealing with all those things at once.

"The Government has given the relevant stakeholders the deaf ear, and instead of a Senior Ministry, we got a Junior Ministry. Again, Dara Calleary is a great person and his heart is in the right place for Irish... They've put the right people in place, you could say - but they've not been given enough power to do something meaningful."

John Prendergast has been an Oifigeach Pleanala Teanga in Corca Dhuibhne, West Kerry, for nearly a year and a half, with a view to implementing almost 60 actions to help the language flourish - particularly in its spoken form - across a wide range of fields, such as in schools; amongst family and the youth; and within clubs, for example.

He's also a Coiste Gno member of Conradh na Gaeilge, an organisation that campaigned for Gaeltacht responsibility to remain with a Senior Minister only.

"I was keeping a close eye on it," he told The Kerryman. "I was very disappointed, and I'd be concerned that it will fall back on a Junior Minister. Catherine Martin is a very capable woman, and we're looking forward to working with Dara Calleary - but I'd be worried it's a drop in status for Irish.

"It would be taken more seriously [if given a Senior Ministry]... it would be hugely beneficial to have someone pushing Irish to the forefront at Government table and emphasising that this question is very important. Language matters wouldn't be left at the bottom of the list or left unanswered."

But why are the Gaeltachtai - home to roughly 100,000 people and a mere two per cent of the Republic's population - worthy of their own Senior Ministry? And why do so many people ask questions like that to begin with?

"It doesn't just apply to the Government," said Mr Bayda, a Moscovian who lectured on the language at Moscow State University before applying for the Uibh Rathach role.

"It's the attitude in this country. It's why people don't learn or show interest in the language; they don't understand why it's needed. They think it's an historic thing. They don't understand why everyone in Ireland needs it. There's not much effort at a higher level to change that attitude.

"We need a Senior Ministry because of the wide range of different matters involved. You have native speakers who, in their own country, have to work extra hard to live in Irish and raise their children with Irish. I've been living in Ireland for over a year, and I'm always trying to do everything in Irish, and the amount of frustration that goes with that, let me tell youyou're raising your family in Irish, and you might think to yourself, 'What am I letting them in for here? The same problems and frustrations I go through?' It's demotivating.

"These people have a human right to use their native language in their native country. They didn't move over here. They're Irish, Irish is their language, it's the official language of the State. This is ridiculous.

"More generally, it's the foundation of this country. Without it, what sets Ireland apart? For example, in terms of tourism, the English most frequently visit here, but research shows that they've little interest in returning after being here once because they don't see enough of a difference. Without Irish, that individuality is gone.

"Economically, bilingual status has been shown to bring a lot of money into Galway city, for example. In Kerry, we don't even have an Oifigeach Forbartha Gaelainn now. They don't understand the economic value of the language to the county."

Mr Bayda pointed out also that language planning is one matter - but what happens when other bodies are not pulling in the same direction, and what's to stop that happening without meaningful Ministerial clout? He pointed towards Baile 'n Sceilg, where a hotel with strong local backing was refused planning by An Bord Pleanala - the same board that granted planning for a large housing development and guest-house in the tiny Gaeltacht region of Rath Cairn, County Meath, again against that community's wishes.

"We need co-operation at every level between state, council, and every public organisation," Mr Prendergast agreed. "If we're serious about Irish and the Gaeltachtai, now is the time to act. It will be too late to leave it to one side for another generation. It's important that people understand that.

"We have a moral obligation as a country to not only protect our Gaeltachtai but push them forward because it's so valuable to the whole country. It gives so much to this country and always has. If the Gaeltachtai die away, it'll leave a vacuum that'll never again be filled."
Anthropologist and filmmaker Ciaran Walsh, newly-conferred with a Phd for his study on the Victorian anthropologist and ethnologist Alfred Cort Haddon

If you thought head-hunting the sole preserve of the tribal warriors of Borneo and New Guinea of old you might be taken aback by some of the practices of anthropologists of the Victorian era on their travels in the west of Ireland.

Former Siamsa Tire Visual Arts Director Ciaran Walsh was certainly astonished to behold the trove of human material contained within the vaults of Trinity College Dublin in his research over the last decade towards the PhD in Anthropology he was recently awarded from NUI, Maynooth.

Ranging from sources in the west of Ireland to the Tropics, these skulls and human bones were the fruit of the 'head-hunting' academics of the Victorian era - not least Cambridge's Alfred Cort Haddon.

Their practice of collecting differed significantly from that of the tribal traditions once observed on Borneo, of course, in so far as they didn't kill their subjects prior to bagging the skulls and bones. Rather, they pilfered them from graveyards from Inishbofin right down to St Finian's Bay in the Kingdom.

"They learned nothing from the skulls they were so keen to measure and study of course," Ciaran told The Kerryman.

And in the case of Alfred Cort Haddon, they ring an enigmatic alarm bell in a career otherwise defined by a remarkably modern and progressive approach towards the evils of colonialism.

Ciaran's dissertation on Haddon and the phenomenon of the academic head-hunting of the era has reignited interest in the life of the Cambridge scholar; a man who railed against the worst excesses of colonialism so far as to describe the holocaust of the native Tasmanians in the early 1800s under the auspices of his own countrymen as 'legalised murder'.

At a time when most honorable sons of Empire were happy to engage unquestioningly in the systematic destruction of native cultures across the globe Haddon and like-minded fellows would have seemed major party-poopers.

But as the response to a recent overview of his career Ciaran wrote in the Irish Independent suggests, his record resonates deeply in the Black Lives Matter era.

"The material Haddon wrote is not what you would call highly regarded, but he really brought a brilliant eye to the work of zoology and anthropology using the latest in filming techniques of the time. In fact he was the first to film the traditional dances of the Torres Strait Islanders between Australia and New Guinea, whom he studied at length before his studies took him to the Aran Islands," Ciaran explained.

Haddon eschewed to a degree an individualistic interpretation of Darwin's 'survival of the fittest'; becoming increasingly of the view that co-operation between humans played as much of a role in the evolution of the species as brute force; that the tight-knit nature of early communities was the primary key to the survival of the gene-pool. He witnessed it first hand in the native communities of the Torres Straits to the Aran Islands, Ciaran explained.

The proto-socialist saw Aran society as a form of what he termed 'natural communism'.

"He was totally taken by the culture and the people of the Aran Islanders. He thought it the most remarkable place he had ever been and the people there equally so. The big difference with Haddon and other academics of the time is that he took a camera with him, one that was portable and quick and he spent weeks taking photographs of seemingly everything that moved on the island."

Which brings us to another part of the treasure trove unearthed by Ciaran in a dusty space under the old anatomy theatre in Trinity, accessed as an associate on his study in Maynooth. Portraits of islanders and west of Ireland people abounded in a collection of photographs, taken by Haddon and others in the period, that Ciaran uncovered. Among the collection, incidentally, was a never-before-seen photo of the Blasket's most famous son, An tOileanach author Tomas O Criomthain.

Although fascinated with the ways of the western peoples, Haddon was just as taken with their physical dimensions striving to measure skulls alive and dead in his travels.

"My dissertation was focused on the practice of head-hunting and skull measuring as well as on the figure of Haddon. What was such a radical doing measuring skulls in the Aran Islands, and even stealing them? The two aspects seemed to be contradictory."

"The museum is still there in Trinity, choc-a-bloc with human remains. While a lot of them were from donors, some were from an expedition Haddon was on in 1890 with a young medical student. They stole 13 skulls from a graveyard in Inisbofin on that occasion. Less well known is the fact that he stole another cache of skulls from St Finian's Church in Ballinskelligs. They are stored to this day on a shelf underneath the Inishbofin skulls."

Along with Inishbofin genealogist Marie Coyne, Ciaran is now arguing for the skulls to be returned to their rightful resting places to honour the dignity in life of the dead.

"Ethically, these skulls, along with those from Inishbofin should be returned to their original graves.

"That's something we are keen to see happening. There's a big controversy in anthropology at the moment after the American Journal of Anthropology had to remove a cover photo they used of an image of shrunken skulls over an outcry from the Black Lives Matter movement."

Many of the skulls in the collection were bought directly from headhunters or received from donors posthumously. "The Inishbofin skulls are different. They were stolen from a graveyard. Haddon describes going ashore and hiding behind a ditch evading a group of locals before stealing the 13 skulls from the graveyard. An attempt was made again three years later but the locals were alert to it and prevented it from happening which means the original incident upset them a great deal."

The reaction to Ciaran's recent article in the Independent showed the Ballyheigue resident the degree to which the figure of Haddon resonates in the Black Lives Matter era; as people quicken the dismantling of the colonial legacy of the US and Britain - toppling statues and questioning certain myths that might have survived the best efforts of post colonial revisionism.

Not even the semi-religious figure of US founding father George Washington has escaped as statues to the man get daubed in red paint to remind all of his slave-owning past; juxtaposed with the contradictory fact of his emancipation of his slaves against the prevailing mores of the time.

As with Washington, we might do well to unpack Haddon's past similarly today, Ciaran believes. Credit his advcocay and progressiveness and right his wrong-doing by bringing the the skulls home to the west.

It was all part of Victorian science's attempt to write the history of humankind, Ciaran explained. "They learned nothing of use from measuring the skulls, but they regarded them as like the genetic markers we have today as they sought to trace the evolution and spread of mankind across the globe."

Despite his penchant for a theft of the kind utterly in keeping with British-style colonialism, Haddon was, in fact, a champion of the colonised - even drawing the ire of the British authorities in campaigning for the welfare of the Aran Islanders at a time when they faced recurring famine.

"The greatest lesson from his example is the absolute moral obligation to stand with the victims of genocide, land-grabs and colonialism.

"He had this horror of what white people did in the colonies and it is amazing that Celia Xakriaba has called out President Jair Bolsonaro's treatment of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon in Brazil using almost the exact same phrase as Haddon used to describe the horror in Tasmania.

"'We are living in a moment of legislated genocide,' Xakriaba said of what's going on there at the moment."
Chinese public health authorities are taking precautions to prevent a bubonic plague outbreak in a remote northern region after a herder contracted the disease, although experts say the risk is low given the limited number of cases so far and the availability of modern medicine

Chinese public health authorities are taking precautions to prevent a bubonic plague outbreak in a remote northern region after a herder contracted the disease, although experts say the risk is low given the limited number of cases so far and the availability of modern medicine.

The health commission in Bayannur in Inner Mongolia raised its public health warning to its third-highest of four alert levels on Sunday and banned the hunting, skinning and transportation of rodents that might carry the bacteria, known as Yersinia pestis. The municipal government raised its alert level by one notch to "standard plague outbreak alert", which means humans have been infected.

"There is a risk of a human plague epidemic spreading in this city," Bayannur's health commission said in a statement.

Over the past year, China has reported five cases of the disease associated with some of the deadliest pandemics in human history. The plague caused the Black Death that devastated the population of medieval Europe and repeatedly afflicted Asia and more recently Africa, but it has largely been controlled since the mid-20th century.

World Health Organisation spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters in Geneva yesterday that the plague case count in China was low and the agency did not consider it high risk, but it was monitoring the situation with partners in China and Mongolia.

Officials at Inner Mongolia's regional centre for disease control have warned that the plague may have long been circulating locally and that there is risk of human-to-human transmission, according to a statement posted online by the regional government.

Under the new measures announced in Bayannur, which will remain in effect until 2021, suspected cases of plague among human patients or sick and dead marmots must be reported immediately. The city of Beijing also urged residents on Monday not to go camping in Inner Mongolia, a vast strip of scenic grassland and desert that urban dwellers often visit.

The plague, which researchers generally believe originated from the Asian steppes, killed tens or hundreds of millions of people in several deadly waves throughout history. One particularly deadly wave in the 14th century traveled along the Mongol Empire's flourishing trading routes and killed one-third of the population in Europe.

Today, the disease continues to circulate regularly in many parts of the world but usually does not spark major epidemics or public health crises. Madagascar suffered several notable outbreaks in recent years that killed hundreds.

The United States averages about seven cases a year, according to the Centre for Disease Control. Officials in China say they had about 30 cases in the last decade.

 Washington Post
Hit by fever: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he began feeling ill on Sunday

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said yesterday he had tested positive for coronavirus, adding in a television interview that he was in good health despite running a fever.

The right-wing populist, who has played down the severity of the virus which he has called a "little flu", took the test on Monday after developing symptoms.

In the interview broadcast on state-run TV Brasil, Mr Bolsonaro said he began feeling ill on Sunday and had been taking hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug with unproven effectiveness against Covid-19.

Brazil has the world's second-largest outbreak behind the United States. Latin America's largest country has more than 1.6 million confirmed cases and 65,000 Covid-19 deaths.

Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly defied local guidelines to wear a face mask in public, even after a judge ordered him to do so in late June. Mr Bolsonaro has also railed against social-distancing rules supported by the World Health Organisation.

Meanwhile, people who test positive for coronavirus but refuse hospital treatment could face a prison sentence under a new regulation introduced in Italy's north-eastern region of Veneto.

The order by Governor Luca Zaia says that until the end of July hospitals must tell the public prosecutor's office of anyone refusing admission after testing positive.

Anyone returning to Veneto, which includes Venice, must also be given two compulsory swab tests, the regional order says if they are returning from a business trip outside the European Union or a non-Schengen country.

Under Italian law, anyone who negligently spreads an epidemic risks a prison sentence up to 12 years, while anyone who does so wilfully may face up to life imprisonment.

In the US, President Donald Trump is pushing for schools to reopen in the autumn and hosted White House events on the topic yesterday, despite a steady increase in coronavirus infections across the country led by younger Americans and rising hospitalisations in many states.

Mr Trump, who is seeking re-election in November, tweeted "SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!" as local officials across the country began pausing or scaling back their reopenings due to the surge in infections.
China saw its economy continue to recover and its key economic indicators continue to move in a positive direction in May, which is a hard-won result considering the rampant COVID-19 worldwide and the shrinking international economy and trade.

According to statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Transport, the total profits made by industrial enterprises above the designated size, the index of services production, and China's fixed-asset investment in transportation began to increase. Besides, power consumption of the service sector and rail-cargo volume were also on a rise.

The strong performance of Chinas economy has frustrated those who talk down Chinas economy, according to Tom Orlik, chief economist for Bloomberg Economics. Such a view reflects the international optimism about Chinas economy.

The COVID-19 crisis is not only a test of the performance, ability and level of Chinas development, but also reveals the stable momentum and deep-seated advantages of Chinas economy.

The stable growth of Chinas economy and the sound development in the long term remain unchanged, and so do the country's huge potential, strong resilience, ample room for maneuver and a host of policy tools. China's strong confidence and strength to maintain economic growth shine through the twists and turns.

The confidence and strength come from stable economic fundamentals. As the world's second largest economy, Chinas economy is not only large in size, but also immune to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The advantages of such a huge economy lie in Chinas huge number of population, the vast territory, the colossal size of the economy, an independent and complete industrial system and national economic system, as well as graded regional economic development.

Domestic demand has become the main driving force for Chinas economy. In May, the consumption of daily necessities continued to grow and the consumption of upgrading products remained active. Steady progress has been made in creating a new development pattern where domestic and foreign markets boost each other with domestic market as the mainstay, thus making the fundamentals of Chinas economy stable enough to withstand impacts.

The confidence and strength come from the burgeoning new growth drivers. China has embarked on a journey of high-quality economic development in recent years. The added value of high-tech manufacturing grew 8.9 percent year on year in May, 4.5 percentages higher than that of enterprises above the designated size.

Digital economy keeps progressing, as the online sales of national entity went up by 11.5 percent in the first five months this year. Live-streaming e-commerce and other new business models are gaining increasing popularity.

New products and new industries grow vigorously with the output of 3D printing equipment, smart watches, integrated circuit wafers, and charging piles in May increasing by more than 70 percent from the same period in 2019.

Despite the short-term fluctuations in economic performance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the country remains resolute in applying the new development philosophy, and continues to work for high-quality development.

The drivers for high-quality growth will guarantee more sustainable, effective and better development of Chinas economy.

The confidence and strength come from Chinas institutional advantages, and the most notable one is the centralized and unified leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) over economic work. Thanks to the strong leadership of the CPC, the country pursues the long-term and fundamental interests of economic development and maintains strategic resolve in the face of the epidemic. Besides, the country takes targeted measures, instead of a deluge of strong stimulus policies, and has realized transformation and upgrading while achieving steady economic growth.

It is expected that this year will see additional tax cutting of more than 2.5 trillion yuan ($356.5 billion) for enterprises throughout the year, and see financial sector make interest concessions of 1.5 trillion yuan to all kinds of enterprises. This all comes down to the huge capacity of macro-control.

More importantly, China is one of the few major economies in the world to "normalize" monetary policy and is equipped with a package of policy instruments, which gives the country abundant policy space if a crisis arises again.

The approach of strengthening countercyclical macro policy regulation while leaving some leeway could help ensure the stable development of Chinas economy.

Chinas economy develops through a testing time and thrives amid challenges. At present, the country must analyze the current situation from a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective, strive to find new opportunities in the crisis, create new prospects in a changing world, and fully unlock the huge potential and the strong development momentum. In this way, the country will be sure to achieve the economic and social development goals for the year, and enable Chinas economy to forge ahead steadily.
Scientists have raised the prospect of a brain damage "epidemic" after detecting an increase in life-threatening inflammation linked to coronavirus.

Experts have described a fourfold increase since the start of the crisis in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) - a rare and sometimes fatal complication normally found in children.

Some of the patients, all of whom had confirmed or suspected Covid-19, were not otherwise suffering serious respiratory symptoms.

Writing in the journal 'Brain', the scientists at University College London's Institute of Neurology called for systematic surveillance of complications as a result of the virus.

They highlighted the outbreak of encephalitis lethargica in the years after the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic. The so-called "sleepy sickness", which left some victims in a statue-like condition, motionless and speechless, was thought to affect several million.

The new study identified 43 suspected or confirmed coronavirus sufferers aged between 16 and 85 who were treated at the specialist unit in University College Hospital in London. Researchers identified 10 cases of transient encephalopathies - a temporary brain dysfunction - with delirium, which corresponds with other studies finding evidence of delirium with agitation.

There were also 12 cases of brain-inflammation, eight cases of strokes, and eight others with nerve damage, mainly Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Nine of the 12 cases of those with brain inflammation conditions were diagnosed with ADEM, which is known to be triggered by viral infections.

The team in London normally sees about one adult patient with ADEM per month, but that increased to at least one per week.

Dr Ross Paterson, joint first author of the paper, said: "Given that the disease has only been around for a matter of months, we might not yet know what long-term damage Covid-19 can cause.

"Doctors need to be aware of possible neurological effects, as early diagnosis can improve patient outcomes. People recovering from the virus should seek professional health advice if they experience neurological symptoms," he added.

The virus causing Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, was not detected in the cerebrospinal brain fluid of any of the patients tested, suggesting the virus did not directly attack the brain to cause the neurological illness.

In some patients, the researchers found evidence the brain inflammation was likely caused by an immune response to the disease.
Welcome back: A notice for arriving passengers regarding the Covid-19 passenger locator form at Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport. Picture: PA

Stormont ministers are to consider a report warning that travellers from the rest of the UK present the greatest risk of bringing Covid-19 into Northern Ireland.

Their meeting on Thursday is expected to review international travel regulations.

At present travellers arriving in Northern Ireland from outside the UK and Republic of Ireland have to quarantine for 14 days.

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Health restrictions such as quarantine details are set by each part of the UK separately.

From Friday passengers entering England from many countries will not have to self-isolate following the establishment of air bridges with areas with an acceptable level of risk.

Northern Irelands rate of infection has been running at less than one person infected by each new case.

A Department of Health statement said: The Health Minister said that decisions around travel restrictions is a matter for the Executive and he wants to see this resolved at the next meeting on Thursday.

The department would have no comment to make on the content of Executive papers.

In a joint statement, Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, and Simon Hamilton, chief executive of Belfast Chamber of Commerce, said connectivity was vital to economic success and will be intrinsic to the post-coronavirus recovery in the weeks and months ahead.

As other countries begin to open up again in a safe and controlled way, we need our ministers to open up these crucial travel links which will give business a fighting chance, the statement read.

The past few months have been challenging for everyone but as restrictions are eased it is time now to get back to some sense of normality  allowing our airports to operate fuller services, with more airplanes in the sky, will go some way in this regard.

EasyJet have already started opening up a number of flights to and from mainland Europe from Belfast International Airport, with further routes expected next month.

The business organisations added: Our airports are the lifeblood of industry. Regional connectivity is crucial, and it is important that these routes are restored to full capacity also.

Great Britain is our largest tourism market and without that regional connectivity, our sectors will take a real hammering.

No further deaths have been recorded with Covid-19, the Department of Health said, leaving the total number of people who have died at 554.

Another four positive cases have been notified since Tuesday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the region to 5,765, according to the department.
Prince Andrew is agonising over whether to condemn Ghislaine Maxwell after insiders admitted "this is not a good time to make enemies".

The duke of York has declined to comment in the days since Ms Maxwell was arrested and charged with grooming underage girls and sex trafficking them for her former boyfriend, paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

According to reportage by Britain's 'Daily Telegraph', the duke is caught in a dilemma over how to proceed, as he tries to save his own reputation while facing the prospect of FBI questioning.

In an infamous BBC Newsnight interview at the end of last year, the prince was roundly criticised for failing to denounce his friend Epstein, who died in a jail in New York last August, while awaiting trial on further charges.

The British royal said he did not regret their friendship because he had met "useful" people through him, but a few days later admitted the association with Epstein was "ill judged" and apologised for it.

But Ms Maxwell has not yet been convicted and crucially could further drag the peer and others into the ongoing FBI investigation.

A source said: "Like Voltaire on his deathbed, who was asked by the priest to renounce the devil, he replied: 'This is no time to be making enemies'.

"The same applies to Prince Andrew. He is damned if he does [condemn Ms Maxwell] and damned if he doesn't.

"This doesn't seem a good time for him to publicly come out and criticise her."

Ms Maxwell (58) has been a close friend of Prince Andrew for about 30 years. 'The Telegraph' obtained and published a photograph at the weekend showing Ms Maxwell seated on the Queen's throne at Buckingham Palace in 2002, after being taken on a private tour by Andrew.

Kevin Spacey, the actor, sat next to her on the duke of Edinburgh's chair in the throne room.

Ms Maxwell is due in court Friday for her arraignment on four counts of grooming and child sex trafficking and two separate charges of perjury.

The FBI wants to interview Prince Andrew as a witness in the case and has requested assistance from the UK Home Office to facilitate this.

US prosecutors have accused the duke of refusing to help their inquiries, but his legal team say they have written five times offering to co-operate.
Protest: Women protest in Paris over Emmanuel Macrons appointment of a minister who has been accused of rape. PHOTO: THIBAULT CAMUS/AP

French President Emmanuel Macron's reshuffled government took office yesterday, with conservatives given prominent roles in efforts to rescue France's coronavirus-ravaged economy from the worst depression in decades.

Reappointed as finance minister, Bruno Le Maire promised a company-focused recovery plan to revive growth, but said he would not lose control over spending.

Le Maire said he faced a "crushing task" confronted by the severest economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. "My road map is clear and simple: it will be recovery - morning, noon and night."

The coronavirus crisis has unravelled the hard-fought gains of a liberal economic reform agenda that provoked waves of protests during Macron's first three years in office.

Before the pandemic hit, French growth was among the highest in the eurozone, unemployment was falling and foreign investors were rewarding Macron for deregulating parts of the economy.

But now the jobless rate is rising, the government forecasts the economy will shrink by 11pc and debt is spiralling higher.

"It is out of the question that economic stimulus gets done at the expense of well-managed public accounts over the long term," Le Maire continued.

The reshuffle saw former conservatives, including Le Maire, in control of the most influential ministries - a sign Macron will seek to consolidate support among centre-right voters ahead of a possible re-election bid.

An Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting poll showed eight in 10 people believed the reshuffle would not lead to a policy shift.

At least two small groups of feminist protesters targeted the new government.

Three topless women protested in front of the Elysee Palace, one of them bearing the slogan "RIP The Promises", as Macron prepared to convene the cabinet for the first time.

In a second action, protesters took aim at new Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, against whom an investigation into a rape allegation was reopened last month.

Darmanin, who was previously Macron's budget minister, denies rape.

Macron redrew the political landscape when he swept to power three years ago, carving out a niche in the centre ground and poaching ministers from the left and right.

On Monday, he let go of several former Socialist ministers, while promoting others from conservative ranks.
Accountancy giant Grant Thornton has been fined nearly 2 million by the industry watchdog for firm-wide audit failures and a breach in its work for collapsed Bargain Booze owner Conviviality. (PA)

Accountancy giant Grant Thornton UK has been fined 1.95 million by the industry watchdog for firm-wide failures in its auditing of collapsed Bargain Booze owner Conviviality.

The UK's Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said Grant Thornton had admitted breaching very important ethical standards and requirements between 2014 and 2017 to ensure the independence of its audit.

The FRC said the failures were repeated and prolonged and saw numerous breaches.

The watchdog has also reprimanded former Grant Thornton senior manager Natasha Toy and the firms former audit engagement partner Kevin Engel.

It comes after the FRC said earlier this week that Grant Thornton and other accounting giants must build a Chinese wall between their audit arm and the rest of the consulting business after a series of accountancy scandals.

A raft of high-profile company administrations in recent years have exposed audit failures across the industry.

Conviviality went bust in 2018 after a string of profit warnings and the discovery of a 30 million tax bill.

The FRC said Grant Thornton was initially slapped with a 3 million fine, but that this was discounted to 1.95 million for admissions and early settlement.

It added that Grant Thornton acknowledged its failings and had co-operated with the probe.

Claudia Mortimore, deputy executive counsel at the FRC, said: In this case, there were firm-wide failures over a number of years which not only led to numerous breaches of such requirements on individual audits, but also the real risk of more such breaches which have not been, and will never be, reported or identified.

The sanctions in this matter not only send a clear message as to how seriously the FRC views such failures but are also focused on ensuring that there is no repetition and the causes of the failures are effectively addressed at their roots.

The FRC said Grant Thorntons policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance were defective and were not properly carried our or monitored, while it also failed to adequately resource its ethics team.

Grant Thornton seconded Ms Toy  who was initially part of the audit team assigned to the audit  to the company to assist with the preparation of its year-end financial statements.

This was contrary to requirements of standards designed to preserve the independence and objectivity of audit, given the threats to the firms independence such circumstances posed, the FRC said.

Ms Toy then sought to remove a four-and-a-half hour time entry she had originally recorded on the audit file to conceal evidence of her involvement in both the audit and the preparation of the companys accounts, the FRC said.
Hollywood star Johnny Depp told London's High Court on Wednesday that allegations he had physically abused his ex-wife Amber Heard were a hoax built up over years during their relationship as an 'insurance policy'.

Giving evidence on the second day of his libel trial against Britain's Sun newspaper, which described him as a "wife beater", Depp was quizzed about an unsent email composed by Heard in June 2013, three years before she publicly accused him of abuse.

In the email, read to the court by Sasha Wass, the Sun's lawyer, Heard said Depp had hurt her physically and emotionally and that she did not know if she was dealing with him or "the monster" - his alter ego brought on by anger, jealousy and fuelled by alcohol and drugs.

"It's like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde," the email said, adding how friends and assistants had to deal with the actor after he passed out in his own vomit and soiled himself with no recollection later of his actions.

"Friends keep smiling at your face and then rolling their eyes," the email added, saying assistants had been forced to break down doors to rescue the actor asleep on a toilet.

Expand Close Amber Heard arrives at the High Court (Victoria Jones/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Amber Heard arrives at the High Court (Victoria Jones/PA)

Depp characterised the allegations as a hoax.

"It appears to me that Miss Heard was building a dossier that appears to be an insurance policy for later," he said of the email.

Asked if the allegations were something she had plotted for three years, he said: "By the evidence that I have seen."

The first alleged incident of violence took place at Heard's home in March 2013 when he had "fallen off the wagon" and started drinking again after months of sobriety, and it was alleged he had struck her.

Wass said Depp had become angry when Heard mocked one of his tattoos which he had changed from "Winona forever" - a reference to his former girlfriend Winona Ryder - to "Wino forever".

He had then slapped her three times because she had initially not reacted, Wass said.

"That's not the case, that's untrue. It didn't happen," Depp said. "I don't recall any argument about any of my tattoos."

Wass also said he had struck Heard, 34, when he tried to remove a painting from her bedroom given to her by her former partner Tasya Van Ree and tried to set it alight, one of 14 episodes of violence of which he is accused in the case.

"I did not hit Miss Heard and furthermore I have never hit Miss Heard," Depp said.

Expand Close Actor Johnny Depp is giving evidence on the second day of his high-profile libel action against The Sun newspaper (Victoria Jones/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Actor Johnny Depp is giving evidence on the second day of his high-profile libel action against The Sun newspaper (Victoria Jones/PA)

Text message exchanges between Depp and British actor Paul Bettany in which they described Heard as a witch were read to the court, while Wass also asked if he had held Heard's small Yorkshire Terrier Pistol out of a car window.

"I can say it is a very enduring image but its an utter falsity," he said, while agreeing that there was a running joke with Heard and her family about putting Pistol in the microwave as he was "ludicrously tiny".

In evidence and in his witness statement to the court on Tuesday, Depp, 57, accused Heard, who is also attending the trial, of lying, saying she had attacked him, severing his finger off during one encounter.

The court also heard a detailed account of Depp's heavy drinking and drug-taking, with the actor saying he had tried "every drug known to man" and spent $30,000 a month on wine.

The couple met on the set of the 2011 film "The Rum Diary" and married in February 2015. Heard filed for divorce after 15 months and their divorce was finalised in 2017. The case is set to last three weeks.
War games: Donald Trump speaks to attendees as he hosts a July 4 2020 Salute to America to celebrate the US Independence Day holiday

One Friday afternoon last month, a group of politicos logged on to Zoom to war-game what could happen after the US election. Among them were senior figures once in the White House, Pentagon, Homeland Security and Congress.

They were split into teams. Some acted as if they were in Donald Trump or Joe Biden's camp, making arguments accordingly. Others played Republicans or Democrats in Congress, or represented the media or the courts.

The given scenario - a technique commonly used in government and business to plan for crises - was simple: what if the morning after the vote it still was not clear who won?

Over the next four hours, the teams played out what could happen next. Within two days, the president halted the delivery of remaining mail-in ballots. Within a week, troops were called out to guard counting stations.

Read More

By inauguration day, after weeks of legal challenges and street protests, neither side had backed down. "We were all sort of sitting there, looking at each other, staring at the screen saying 'holy s***'," recalled one participant. There was a constitutional crisis.

Such sessions, known as "table tops" or "war-games", involve imagination.

Yet the issues grappled with that afternoon are being discussed with increasing volume in Washington DC.

With just four months until voting day, a question once considered unthinkable is now being asked: what if the US president does not accept an election defeat?

'The Daily Telegraph' talked to close to 20 well-placed individuals, including many Republicans. Among them were current and former US congressmen, former senior figures in the Pentagon, intelligence agencies and past US administrations as well as academics mapping out worst-case scenarios.

What emerged was a deeply held worry that the US president could pull legal, governmental and political levers to remain in power if Mr Biden, his Democratic rival, fell short of a blowout victory.

Some predicted lawsuits over the increased use of mail-in ballots amid coronavirus. Others thought Mr Trump could misuse executive powers. Many feared a tweet for his supporters to take to the streets.

"If the result is close, he is going to fight like a steer", said Christie Whitman, the former Republican governor of New Jersey. Academics warned of a "doomsday scenario" or a "perfect storm of bad things happening".

Tom Coleman, former Republican congressman from Missouri, said: "One must assume he is capable of doing anything to stay in office."

The war-game session was run by the Transition Integrity Project. The identities of those who take part is closely guarded. But it is understood members include two former governors, a former US cabinet minister, ex-chiefs of staff to a US president and vice president as well as retired members of the Pentagon and Congress.

Mr Trump has waved away suggestions he would not accept a defeat. "Certainly, if I don't win, I don't win," the US president told Fox News.

Yet Mr Biden has predicted the army may need to step in.

Some Republicans and figures in the US military have a deep disquiet about how Mr Trump could act if the election does not go his way.

Lawrence Wilkerson, a retired army colonel who was chief of staff to secretary of state Colin Powell, recalled a meeting with a Republican senator last autumn. The topic for discussion was the Yemen civil war but at one point it unexpectedly changed.

"He asked me to dismiss [send away] all of my colleagues and he dismissed his legislative affairs guy and his chief of staff," Mr Wilkerson said of the senator. "We were alone in his office and he prefaced it with 'I just want to talk to you for a moment as a military professional'."

"He said, 'I want to ask you a question. If things were really to go sour and the president loses and refuses to leave, or leaves and in either case calls a lot of his base to the streets and they come armed, what will the US military do?"

The question was stark. A senator from Mr Trump's own party was asking: what would the army do if their own commander-in-chief refuses to accept election defeat?

Mr Wilkerson said he once thought it impossible that Mr Trump could call his supporters onto the streets with guns but now is not so sure. "I don't think it's probable, but just the fact that it's possible scares me," he said.

Guy Snodgrass served in the Trump administration until two years ago, when he stepped down as communications director to Jim Mattis, then US defence secretary. But he remains in touch with old colleagues.

He said that in recent months three different senior figures all expressed fears that Mr Trump could ask the military to do things after the election that would be unpalatable.

"President Trump has been willing, as we've seen consistently, to put people in very precarious positions, making them choose between personal loyalty to him and professional loyalty to the country. That is what everyone is terrified of."

There are fears in intelligence circles, too.

General Mike Hayden was director of the National Security Agency under presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush and was CIA director.

"I am worried this president will say the result is impossible and the election was rigged," General Hayden said, adding: "I think the Democrats will win and this president will say it is not right. And then I don't know what is going to happen."

He said similar concerns about Mr Trump's behaviour were voiced at a gathering he attended recently with 10 other former CIA, NSA and defence department figures.

None of this may come to pass. But the fears reveal the mood among the Washington establishment towards the election and this president to be one of uncertainty and trepidation.

Read More

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
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After it extended the lockdown till July 31, West Bengal government on Tuesday decided to impose stricter norms on containment and buffer zones from 5 pm from 9 July, in order to curb the rising COVID-19 cases in the state.

It has been reported that the buffer and containment zones around them will be clubbed together and and constitute a "broad-based" containment zone where total lockdown will be imposed from 5 pm on Thursday.

PTI

The development comes after the state reported more than 800 cases for three successive days.



West Bengal has reported a total of 23,837 cases till Tuesday and the contagion has claimed the lives of 804 people, including those who had other concurrent illnesses called comorbidities in medical parlance.

What it means

"These broader containment zones may be subjected to strict lockdown and all offices, government and private, all non-essential activities, congregations, transportations and all marketing, industrial and trading activities be closed," the order said.

Local authorities will try and arrange home delivery of essential commodities for the residents of these areas, it said.

"Residents of the containment zones may be exempted and prohibited from attending government and private offices: in fact, their ingress and egress may be strictly regulated," the order stated.

It, however, did not mention how long the fresh spell of the shutdown will last.

PTI

A lockdown is currently in force essentially in the containment zones in the state and will last till July 31, if not extended further.



In the state capital, the Kolkata Municipal corporation and the city police will decide on the broad-based containment zones, while in districts the district magistrate and police superintendent will determine the areas.

PTI

In Kolkata alone, there are 33 containment zones, whereas in the neighbouring South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts there are 155 and 219 such zones.



The West Bengal government had allowed relaxations in the lockdown norms in May for which it had divided containment zones into three zones - affected zone, buffer zone and clean zone.
North Macedonia police found 211 migrants, with 63 minors included, crammed in a truck near the Greece border, as per a report in AP. This was while they were performing a routine check on a regional road.

A border patrol halted the truck near Gevgelija. Of the migrants, 144 are from Bangladesh and 67 belong to Pakistan, according to police.



AP

The driver, 27-year-old EP, was taken into custody.

The migrants have been transferred to a shelter transit center and will soon be deported back to Greece.



AP

The Greek border with North Macedonia had been shut due to coronavirus, but that has not stopped trafficking networks from operating. They take migrants from Turkey to Greece and from there towards more prosperous countries in Europe.



Illegal ferrying of people across international borders are nothing new. In fact it is one of the oldest trades and extremely lucrative. The conditions are often shabby to travel and if caught one can be deported or even jailed.

AP

Border patrols are always on watch to prevent anyone from entering illegally. They keep their eye out for suspicious behaviour in such areas as not all is what it seems.



The migrants are the ones who lose the most because they literally have no place to go when caught.

It's a bad situation indeed.
Recently over 200 scientists made an appeal to the World Health Organisation claiming that theres evidence of COVID-19 when in smaller particles in the air can infect people.

They asked the World Health Organisation to revise the laid out COVID-19 recommendations in the pandemic.

Reuters

And now, WHO has stated that it has acknowledged the evidence emerging of the airborne nature of the novel coronavirus.

Reported first by Reuters, Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHOs technical lead for infection prevention and control said in the news briefing, The possibility of airborne transmission in public settings - especially in very specific conditions, crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings that have been described, cannot be ruled out. However, the evidence needs to be gathered and interpreted, and we continue to support this.

Jose Jimenez, a chemist at the University of Colorado who signed the paper said in a conversation with Reuters, We wanted them to acknowledge the evidence. This is definitely not an attack on the WHO. Its a scientific debate, but we felt we needed to go public because they were refusing to hear the evidence after many conversations with them.

Jiminez also highlighted the fact that fierce opposition has been experienced in the medical profession from the idea of aerosol transmission. They fear a state of panic and thats why the bar for the evidence has been set really high to come to that outcome.

Reuters

He added, If people hear airborne, healthcare workers will refuse to go to the hospital, he said. Or people will buy up all the highly protective N95 respirator masks, and there will be none left for developing countries.

He did highlight the fact that the WHO panel who are looking for evidence for airborne transmission arent diverse scientifically while also lacking representation from experts in aerosol transmission.

Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead on the COVID-19 pandemic stated, A comprehensive package of interventions is required to be able to stop transmission. This includes not only physical distancing, it includes the use of masks where appropriate in certain settings, specifically where you cant do physical distancing and especially for healthcare workers.
The German government has approved a set of bills to phase out coal as an energy source and make a transition towards renewable sources. The country intends to close its last coal power plant in 2038.

The bills were approved by both houses of parliament and the country will be spending $45 billion to help affected regions cope with the transition.

AFP

This is a step towards Angela Markels goal of making Germany Europes first country to stop emitting greenhouse gases; the current target is 2050. The energy transition is an effort to get Germany off planet warming fuels and switch to renewable sources for countrys energy needs.

"The days of coal are numbered in Germany. Germany is the first industrialized country that leaves behind both nuclear energy and coal, Environment Minister, Svenja Schulze, reportedly said.

Germany has an existing commitment of phasing out nuclear power by the end of 2022.

Greenpeace and some other environmental groups have staged protests against the plan. Their argument is that the governments plan wont reduce Germany's greenhouse gas emissions fast enough to meet the targets set out in the Paris climate accord.

Also Read: Renewable Sources Of Energy Are The Way Forward To Fight Climate Change

AFP

"Germany, the country that burns the greatest amount of lignite coal worldwide, will burden the next generation with 18 more years of carbon dioxide," Greenpeace Germany's executive director, Martin Kaiser, told The Associated Press.

Kaiser believes that Chancellor Angela Merkel is making a historic mistake. According to him an end date of 2030 for coal would have sent a strong signal for European and global climate policy. Merkel wishes Europe to be the first continent to end its greenhouse gas emissions, by 2050.

In 2018, Germany closed its last black coal mine but it still imports fuels and extracts its own reserves of lignite. Officials are concerned that the loss of mining jobs could affect economically-fragile regions from where lignite is extracted, though efforts are already underway to turn the vast lignite mines into nature reserves and lakeside resorts.

Also Read: World Is Increasingly Shifting To Renewable Energy Production, Including The US

Representative Image/Unsplash

Schulze, the environment minister, said there would be regular reviews to examine whether the end date for coal can be brought forward. According to her, by the end of 2022, eight of the country's most polluting coal-fired plants will have been closed.

The head of German Industrial Union for Mining, Chemicals and Energy, the country's largest miner's union, Michael Vassiliadis, has welcomed the new bill, describing it as a 'historic milestone.

The execution of the bills is something to look forward to.

Also Read: World Will Produce More Renewable Energy In 2020, And It's Good News For Earth
Back in 2015, Rajveer Upadhyay from Ahmedabad, a non-believer who didn't want his name to draw attention to any religion or faith, started a crusade against his own name. He had asked the government to change it to RV155677820, an amalgamation of his name Rajveer and the enrollment number on his school-leaving certificate.

TOI

In 2017, he requested state authorities to recognise him as an atheist and allow him to change his name to 'RV155677820' saying, I am a rationalist and secular person and this is a secular country. The law of the country should give me the right to be known as an atheist. If I write my name and surname, people will know my religion and caste but I do not want my identity to be shrunk to the narrow confines of religion and caste." The government may have rejected his plea for a name change but he remained unfazed.

Also Read: How The Seeds Of Secularism Were Sown In Colonial India In 1833, By The East India Company



This year, he succeeded in adding that 'secular' colour to his daughter's school-leaving certificate.

According to the Times of India, he ensured that his daughter Akankshas certificate does not mention caste, religion or sect. This is perhaps the first-of-its-kind school-leaving certificate that does not mention caste or race.



TOI





For this to happen, Upadhyay had to yet again run from pillar to post but was determined to see this through. In his plea to the Ahmedabad district collector and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, he quoted the example of a Tamil Nadu lawyer named Sneha who managed to convince authorities to remove all religious tags from her official documents.

TOI

After relentless persuasion with the government officials, Rajveer managed to leave the religion and caste column blank in his daughter's school leaving certificate. Greatness was never achieved in a day.

Also Read: Muslim Couple Organises Foster Daughter's Wedding In Temple With Hindu Rituals
A total of six authors have now canceled virtual events at the Free Library of Philadelphia after Black employees signed an open letter to administrators detailing complaints of being underpaid, facing routine racism, and lacking adequate protection from the coronavirus.

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Colson Whitehead was the first to cancel, last week, in solidarity with Black employees. Now others have followed suit.

On Monday, Princeton University professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr. tweeted that he would not participate in a July 16 virtual event for his new book, Begin Again: James Baldwins America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own.

I was excited about discussing my new book, Begin Again, at the Free Library in Philadelphia, Glaudes tweet read. But I read the open letter from concerned Black workers at the library and concluded that I cannot, in good conscience, participate. I have canceled the event.

On Tuesday, British author and broadcaster Adam Rutherford also took to Twitter to announce the cancellation of his Free Library event, slated for Aug. 13.

US friends: I cherish speaking at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Rutherford tweeted. However, given the ongoing prejudicial treatment of Black employees there, I am withdrawing from my event (8/13) on racism and science.

Both Rutherford and Glaude sent additional tweets pointing to the open letter sent by Black employees.

Disability rights activist Alice Wong and comedian/actress Maysoon Zayid had a joint event scheduled for July 15. The virtual discussion has been canceled.

This was an easy decision, Wong tweeted. Solidarity isnt transactional. Its just the right thing to do. Period.

Our July 15 event with Alice Wong and Maysoon Zayid has been canceled by the author in solidarity with the Concerned Black Workers at the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Free Library noted on the web page for the virtual event.

Emory professor Carol Andersons Aug. 4 event has also been canceled, according to the Free Librarys website, which did not cite a reason but offered a link to the Black employees open letter.

I feel really supported, said Jamie Bowers, an electric resources coordinator who is one of the librarys Black employees. Libraries are not immune to the systematic racism that you see across nonprofits and cultural institutions. ... We are not represented in any kind of large way on the board or on the executive staff.

Kalela Williams, a Black employee who works as the director of neighborhood enrichment programming at the library, said that the library has not addressed the cancellations publicly with employees, who have found out by routinely checking the librarys events page.

The librarys Black employees wrote their open letter June 25. Then, when they returned to work last week, they found expired hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes.

During a virtual town-hall meeting last Tuesday, city officials apologized and said they would replace the outdated supplies. At the same meeting, Siobhan A. Reardon, the head of the Free Library, said she was working with the librarys board of trustees to respond to the letter after the Black employees who signed it declined to meet with her.

Weve had enough meetings, Williams said this Tuesday. Weve talked about this for years.

Free Library administrators declined to comment on the cancellations, and the librarys website now lists all summer author events as canceled. Whiteheads scheduled appearance was a ticketed event, and the library has said all ticket-holders will get refunds in the coming week.
Law firms are the Philadelphia regions biggest recipients of cash from the Paycheck Protection Program, which is aimed at helping small businesses through the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 2,100 of the loans in the region went to law offices in Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylvania and South Jersey counties, comprising at least $228 million, according to an Inquirer analysis of data released this week by the Trump administration. Of the total, 426 law firms borrowed more than $150,000 each.

Among business sectors, the legal profession was followed by about 2,600 restaurant firms that borrowed $220 million across the eight-county region .

The gap between the legal business and others was most pronounced in Philadelphia, where law firms took in $110 million, compared with $75 million for the restaurant sector.

Although there is some dispute about the accuracy of the job-retention figures, the numbers released by the Trump administration for the $660 billion national program suggest that taxpayer funding saved far more jobs in the Philadelphia area by helping restaurants than law firms.

In the region, the program kept about 46,400 workers on the job in restaurants, but only 16,500 in law firms. The story was similar in Philadelphia. The money subsidized about 14,800 restaurant jobs in the city, vs. 8,000 law firm positions.

Marcus Stanley, policy director for Americans for Financial Reform, a left-leaning nonprofit based in Washington, said he was not surprised to see restaurants as big recipients because of how badly they were affected by the pandemic.

Unlike cooks and waiters, however, many employees at law offices can work remotely, so those businesses wouldnt seem to have needed as much public support to stay afloat, said Stanley, whose group advocates for tighter financial regulations.

This money is intended for businesses to maintain the wages of their workers, so we need oversight and information from the people handing out that money, he said.

Paycheck Protection Program loans can be forgiven if at least 60% of the money is used on payroll. Even if a firm chooses to spend the money on other than job retention, the loans remain a very good deal: Interest was set at only 1 percent.

Under the rules, only businesses with as many as 500 employees could apply. Moreover, the rules specified that a maximum of $100,000 of program money could be used to pay any one employee.

 READ MORE: Philly-area companies reap millions from Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses

Two firms applied for the maximum amount, between $5 million and $10 million. (The Treasury Department provided only ranges, and not specific amounts for recipients it named). They were White and Williams, based in Philadelphia; and Archer, headquartered in Haddonfield.

The White and Williams firm said the loan money helped it retain more than 400 jobs, while Archer said it kept 330 jobs.

Andrea Malone, chief marketing officer at White and Williams, said in an e-mail that the money permitted the firm to work seamlessly and without interruption in the service of our clients.

White and Williams, like many businesses across the country, has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. In the face of such economic uncertainty, the PPP loan enabled us to retain and pay employees as well as rent and utilities, she said.

Community Legal Services, the nonprofit that helps those too poor to afford a lawyer, received a loan, borrowing an amount between $1 million and $2 million.

Another nonprofit recipient was the Law School Admission Council, which received a loan of between $5 million and $10 million. The company administers the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT, for admission to law school. The Newtown company left blank the number of jobs retained.

Stradley Ronon chairman William Sasso said the firm is using its loan money on exactly what its meant for, to keep our employees employed. We used it mostly for payroll, and thats all I can say right now. Were pretty good about keeping all our people.

The Center City law firm listed itself as retaining 268 jobs after applying for a loan of between $2 million and $5 million.

Among other law firms that received loans of between $2 million and $5 million were Bennett Bricklin & Saltzburg; Chartwell Law Offices; Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall; Dilworth Paxson; Flaster Greenberg; Klehr Harrison; and Kline & Specter.

Also, KML Law Group; Marks ONeill; Margolis Edelstein; Mid-Atlantic Solutions; Mintzer Sarowitz; Obermayer Rebmann; Post and Schell; Rawle & Henderson; Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis; and Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby.

 READ MORE: Philly judge creates program to help small businesses reopen and negotiate with creditors

Philadelphia follows the national trend of law firms applying for PPP money. A Wall Street Journal analysis found that 45 top law firms in the United States got at least $210 million in PPP loans, including the firms of David Boies; Marc Kasowitz, a longtime Trump lawyer; class-action firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein; and securities law firm Labaton Sucharow.

The data werent perfect, and some lawyers disputed the figures.

At least one Philadelphia law firm, Zarwin Baum, said the government shared inaccurate data about its loan. Zarwin Baum was listed as receiving between $1 million to $2 million while retaining no jobs. In fact, the firm kept nearly all of its employees through the crisis, Zarwin Baum marketing director Valerie Burns said.

The data, released on Monday, provided the most detailed picture to date on the businesses and industries that received funding from the program, which lawmakers passed in haste this spring to help companies survive the pandemic.

Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin had for months resisted identifying recipients of the loans, but reversed course after weeks of negotiations with congressional leaders. Members of both parties pushed for some kind of disclosure.

 READ MORE: Philly-area charter, private schools receive millions in federal PPP loans

In an interview, A. Michael Snyder, a retired judge and chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, said the prominence of law firms in the data breakdown made sense, saying the legal field is a key driver of the local economy.

Were no longer a manufacturing center. Law, medicine, education are the professions that are the largest employers in the region, he said. Its to all our benefit to make sure the entities that employ them stay healthy.

For every lawyer at a firm, theres probably four or more support staff, so when we talk about large firms with hundreds of lawyers, those become even more significant.

Across the eight-county region and in the city, law and the restaurant trade occupied the top two tiers in terms of sectors helped by the program.

For the region, the next three top sectors, in descending order by amount borrowed, were doctors (1,500 loans for at least $200 million); plumbing and HVAC contractors (about 1,100 loan for at least $145 million); and home health care (about 575 loans for $145 million).

The PPP data identified only the almost 660,000 grantees that received more than $150,000, accounting for fewer than 14% of all entities awarded money through the program.

However, that fraction of grantees borrowed three-quarters of the money lent.

A separate set of data released Monday disclosed specific loan amounts for awards that are less than $150,000, but did not identify recipients.

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Philadelphia), said he had advocated for this [PPP loan data] so we could see the distribution of loans and grants.

Evans said he would like to see considerably more money provided to smaller businesses. Theres more work to do, he said.

In addition, he said he and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) are proposing a new program to provide loans to small businesses destroyed or damaged in the protests and looting that took place in late May. As much as three-quarters of each loan would be forgivable.
Rivers Casino Philadelphia, the only Pennsylvania casino that did not reopen after the three-month coronavirus lock down, is hopeful of reopening next week, a state regulator said Wednesday.

But smoking? Thats no longer permitted indoors at any casino.

Rivers Casino Philadelphia, along with the 11 other casinos in Pennsylvania, will limit customers to 50% of capacity, impose face mask and hygiene requirements, and limit the number of slot machines in operation and of players at table games, Kevin OToole, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, told board members on Wednesday. The reopening day was not known.

Thomas Farley, the city health commissioner, had announced that the casino could reopen July 3 if staff and patrons wore masks, social distancing measures were enforced, and no eating, drinking, or smoking were permitted.

 READ MORE: Atlantic Citys casinos  all but one  reopen with no smoking, drinking, or eating inside

Despite the measures, untamed COVID-19 continues to imperil an industry whose central attraction is social interaction. The American Gaming Association announced Wednesday that it is canceling its Global Gaming Expo in October, which draws about 30,000 attendees and exhibitors to Las Vegas.

Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, the sister casino to the Philadelphia property formerly called SugarHouse, was among the first in the state to reopen last month, but it was forced to shut its doors again on July 2 after the Allegheny County Department of Health ordered bars, restaurants, and the casino to halt in response to a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in Pittsburgh.

OToole said the Pittsburgh casino was temporarily closed for a one-week period. A casino spokesman said the reopening date was not announced. More than half of the casinos 1,700 employees who returned to work last month have been affected by the closure, he said. The Rivers casinos are owned by Rush Street Gaming.

Pennsylvania casinos, which shut down poker rooms and buffets when they reopened after the lock down, last week also implemented one of the more dramatic COVID-19 countermeasures: a temporary halt to all smoking indoors. New Jersey had enacted a similar ban as a condition to reopening Atlantic City casinos on July 2.

OToole said some casinos are offering an open-air area outside the casino for smokers, as long as they also practice social distancing.

The Clean Indoor Air Act of 2008 prohibits smoking in public places except for casinos, drinking establishments, cigar bars, and private clubs. The law requires at least half of the space in a casino be designated nonsmoking. The industry fought to allow smoking in casinos because of its strong association with gambling; previous efforts to ban smoking in casinos in other states led to a dramatic decline in wagering and tax revenue.

 READ MORE: Harrahs Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack bets on reopening to the public amid the pandemic
Dozens of private and charter schools across the region received millions of dollars in emergency federal loans in the pandemic, amid wider questions nationally about who received the money and why.

The recipients of the Paycheck Protection Program loans range from exclusive private schools on the Main Line like the all-girls Agnes Irwin and Baldwin schools, and the George School in Newtown, where tuition for boarding students tops $63,000, to the Independence Mission Schools, a network of Catholic schools in Philadelphia that laid off 180 teachers and staff this spring.

The list also includes charters like Chester Community Charter, Franklin Towne Charter High School, and Mastery Charters, whose funding streams from home school districts have not been disrupted by the coronavirus.

The loans to charters drew immediate criticism, based on the schools status as publicly funded but independently run organizations. Despite the financial pressures brought on by the pandemic, Pennsylvania school districts are obligated to keep paying charters.

Donna Cooper, director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth, an education advocacy group, questioned how the schools had justified the loans  which required applicants to certify that the money was necessary to support their operations  since they have not seen public funding cuts.

The recipients were disclosed Monday by the federal government. The disclosures, however, did not offer exact amounts of the loans given. Instead, the government gave ranges of the loans: $150,000 to $350,000; $350,000 to $1 million; $1 million to $2 million; $2 million to $5 million; $5 million to $10 million. The government also gave out loans of less than $150,000, but did not name the entities receiving

The loans are forgivable if recipients use the money to maintain or rehire employees at the same salaries.

 READ MORE: Philly-area companies reap millions from Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses

Area charter schools granted loans between $5 million and $10 million included Collegium Charter School in Exton and Chester Community Charter, the states largest brick-and-mortar charter.

Max Tribble, spokesperson for CSMI  a company that manages Chester Community Charter and also received a federal loan  said the school had a very real concern as to whether it would receive payment from the Chester Upland School District during the pandemic. He said the district recently failed to make a payment on time, and later did so only in the face of threatened litigation.

The district has been controlled for years by a court-appointed receiver.

The loan data released Monday indicate that Chester Community Charter  listed in documents as Archway Charter School of Chester  retained 479 jobs through the loan. Pennsylvania barred public schools from laying off employees in the 2019-20 school year as a result of the pandemic.

While Tribble voiced concern about the Chester Upland district, Chester Community Charter draws a significant number of students from Philadelphia.

Uri Monson, the Philadelphia districts chief financial officer, commented on Twitter Tuesday that Philadelphia charter schools receiving the loans were also receiving every payment owed to them by the School District, even as district revenues fell by over $50 million. A new approach to double dipping, Monson said.

 READ MORE: Schools brace for budget cuts as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the economy

Other charters granted loans included the Mastery Charter network, which received $5.2 million for its Camden schools. Kerry Woodward, deputy chief of institutional advancement for the network  which also runs schools in Philadelphia  said it sought the loan on the cusp of a new school budget year at which time Gov. Phil Murphy has projected possible Armageddon budget cuts.

This loan has allowed us to protect jobs today and in the future as we prepare for the possibility of additional school funding cuts, Woodward said. With any financial decision we make, our first priority is to continue providing a high-quality public school option to students in our community.

In Philadelphia, Franklin Towne Charter High School in Bridesburg received a loan between $2 million and $5 million, as did Esperanza Academy Charter in North Philadelphia. Two cyber charters  Pennsylvania Leadership Charter and Pennsylvania Virtual Charter  also received loans in that range.

Many area private schools also received loans, varying from boarding and day schools to diocesan and parochial schools. Nationally, some private schools with hefty price tags have taken heat for seeking federal assistance.

Gary Niels, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, said the schools want to pay their teachers competitive wages and benefits, and dont know what enrollment will be for the 2020-21 school year.

Schools that applied for a PPP loan were looking to the government to help to offset any potential losses of enrollment which would result in cuts to teachers and support staff, Niels said.

Private schools receiving between $2 million and $5 million included schools like Friends Select, Germantown Friends, and Agnes Irwin  which head of school Sally Keidel said has not been immune to the tremendous amount of uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought to communities across the U.S.

In addition to our role as an educational institution, we are a small business in the region, Keidel said. We have a responsibility to take every action available to financially navigate this uncertain future and protect our teachers and staff and their invaluable contribution to our community.

The Independence Mission Schools in Philadelphia also received between $2 million and $5 million. Bruce Robinson, CEO of the network, which operates 15 Catholic elementaries, said in May that the network had sought a federal loan and planned to rehire laid-off employees.

Private schools receiving loans totaling $1 million to $2 million included Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Radnor, Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr, St. Josephs Preparatory School, and The Philadelphia School.

And dozens more schools received lesser loans, between $150,000 and $1 million. Among them are schools operated by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia  like Archbishop John Carroll High in Radnor, Bishop Shanahan High in Downingtown and Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti High in South Philadelphia  which said it had applied for the loans along with related parishes, schools, and social services agencies.

Spokesperson Ken Gavin declined Tuesday to provide specifics about the loans, but said the money was being used for ongoing employment of individuals, ensuring that schools operate without cessation, and continuing to provide vital human services to some of the most vulnerable, at-risk, and in-need segments of the population in the five-county Philadelphia metropolitan area.
More than 500 faculty and staff members at the University of Pennsylvania have signed a petition calling on the school to make payments in lieu of taxes supporting the Philadelphia public schools  a campaign that has escalated in light of national protests demanding attention to racism and inequality.

Every institution in our society must address the root causes of racial inequality, which include systems of public finance that enrich wealthy, private, majority-white institutions while underfunding public institutions and public services, reads the petition, which professors said was delivered Wednesday to the universitys board of trustees.

The petition said the issue was not a matter of charity but of justice.

Like other nonprofit institutions in the city, Penn is exempt from paying property taxes. But the university has for years faced calls to voluntarily make payments in lieu of taxes.

Proponents of a PILOT agreement cite resource gaps in the citys public schools, which enroll primarily low-income students. With school funding in Pennsylvania tied heavily to local property taxes, activists say nonprofits like Penn should be contributing.

 READ MORE: $29.6 billion of Philly real estate is exempt from property taxes. Should nonprofits be asked to pay up?

Those involved with the petition say the effort has gained steam in light of the protest movement sparked by George Floyds death.

With calls in Philadelphia and nationally to address racial disparities, we recognize that Penn has to rise to the occasion, said Amy C. Offner, an associate professor in the universitys history department. Unfortunately, Penn is contributing to racial and economic inequality in the city.

A university spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

David L. Cohen, president of the universitys board of trustees, said in an email Wednesday that Penns position against PILOTs, based on the unique characteristics of Philadelphias tax structure and Penns enormous contributions to the city and to education, has been made clear over the years. The petition only rehashes prior arguments and Penns position has not changed.

Penn officials have previously noted that cities like Boston  where nearby Harvard University makes PILOT payments  do not have a wage or business tax, as Philadelphia does.

Along with other universities, colleges, and nonprofits in the city, Penn made PILOT payments during Ed Rendells tenure as Philadelphia mayor in the 1990s. But the citys program expired after a court ruling that made it easier for nonprofits to gain exemptions.

The faculty and staff petition began circulating in mid-June. Some who signed want to return to a tradition thats been lost at Penn, Offner said, referring to the universitys history of making PILOTs.

While demands for Penn to make the payments arent new, faculty and staff have largely been absent from past calls, Offner said. Whats clear right now is theres more support than ever before, and its coming from all quarters.

The petition notes that nearly every other Ivy League university already makes PILOTs, and contrasts Penns wealth  the seventh richest university in the country  with Philadelphias status as the poorest of the 10 largest U.S. cities.

Penn has a duty to contribute to the city that sustains it, the petition says  one that it argues goes beyond targeted programs, like the universitys support of the Penn Alexander School or investments in University City.

Offner said petitioners support a proposal by the Philadelphia Jobs with Justice advocacy group for Penn to pay 40% of what it would owe in property taxes, if it were not tax-exempt. They estimate that would have meant $36.4 million in 2016-17. The Philadelphia School Districts budget for next year is about $3.5 billion.

Given district estimates that it could cost $125 million to remove environmental hazards from school buildings, this very modest expense for Penn would make a significant difference to the students, teachers, and staff in our public schools, a website supporting the petition reads.

It calls for Penn to spend a greater share of its endowment  raising the rate from 5% to 7%, the maximum allowed by Pennsylvania law  as well as reducing salaries for highly paid administrators, and considering borrowing to generate more money.

Like other institutions, Penn has been facing scrutiny in light of the recent protest movement. The university last month said it would commission a study of its police force and withdraw funding to the city police foundation after a petition calling for an end to a campus police state drew thousands of signatures.
Phillys barbecue scene  particularly its Texas-style brisket  just got a boost from Zig Zag BBQ, which opened last week in a low-slung building next to Martha at 2111 E. York St. in Kensington.

Owner Matt Langs career path has zig-zagged along the East Coast: He was born in Baltimore and raised in Howard County, Md., and started cooking at Pearl Oyster Bar in the West Village in Manhattan.

His life-changing Q moment was meeting Joe Carroll, who was opening Fette Sau in Brooklyn in 2007. He was opening chef, picking up accolades, and spent six years there on and off. Then he headed to Hill Country in Washington, D.C., followed by the opening of Texas Jacks in Arlington, Va.

From there, he headed to Philadelphia. He had worked at Marthas in Kensington for three years before joining Marthas partners Cary Borish and Mike and Lena Parsell on Zig Zag, designed as a complement to the neighborhood bar. (Borish and the Parsells, doing business as A Frame Constructs, right now are deep into development for their next project: Sally, a natural-wine bar on Fitler Square.)

 READ MORE: Craig LaBan's favorite barbecue spots in the Philly area

At Zig Zag, Lang smokes on a gas-fired Ole Hickory, turning out brisket, pork, turkey, and pork spare ribs, which he sells by the pound and in sandwiches with a rotating assortment of sides such as queso mac, esquites, and vegan potato salad and coleslaw.

He expects to expand the menu to include a vegan tempeh sloppy Joe.

For now, you must order in advance (same-day or one day in advance) at zigzagbbq.com at do pickup. Its open Wednesday to Sunday, with hours posted on Instagram. He expects to offer walk-in ordering soon.
WASHINGTON - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will issue new guidance on school openings, Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump criticized earlier recommendations as "very impractical" and vowed to meet with the agency himself.

Citing Trump's concern that the guidance might be "too tough," Pence said the CDC would issue additional recommendations starting next week that would provide "more clarity" and stressed that the guidelines should not supplant judgments by local officials.

"We don't want the guidance from CDC to be a reason why schools don't open," Pence said. "I think that every American, every American knows that we can safely reopen our schools. . . . We want, as the president said this morning, to make sure that what we're doing doesn't stand in the way of doing that."

His comments, at a White House coronavirus task force briefing, came about two hours after Trump undercut the recommendations of administration health experts as he continued to ramp up pressure on state and local officials to reopen schools this fall.

"I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools," Trump wrote. "While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!!"

In May, the CDC recommended social distancing policies for schools: desks at least six feet apart and facing the same direction, lunch in classrooms, staggered arrival times, cloth masks for staff members and daily temperature screenings for everyone.

Appearing alongside Pence at Wednesday's briefing, CDC Director Robert Redfield said the additional guidance would reflect the fact that "there is a variety of unique circumstances for different schools."

"It would be personally very disappointing to me and I know my agency if we saw that individuals were using these guidelines as a rationale for not reopening our schools," he added.

The announcement about additional CDC guidance came as Trump and other officials made a concerted effort Wednesday to portray reopening schools as key to the nation's recovery from the pandemic.

"It's absolutely essential that we get our kids back into the classroom for in-person learning," Pence said at the outset of the task force briefing at which a parade of other officials argued that the health risks to children were outweighed by the downsides of keeping them at home, including stunted academic growth.

During the briefing, Pence, who leads the task force, struggled at times to explain what the president meant by his tweets, including another one Wednesday morning in which he threatened to withhold federal funding to schools that refuse to open.

About 90% of school funding comes from states and localities, and Trump has limited ability to curtail appropriations approved by Congress.

As Trump threatened federal intervention, Pence stressed the importance of local decision-making - even allowing that in coronavirus hot spots, officials could decide to curtail school openings in limited cases.

The far more dominant message was that the cost of keeping schools closed is greater than allowing them to open.

"We can't let our kids fall behind academically," Pence said.

Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said reopening schools was important so parents can schedule their work days "in a predictable manner," while Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said "reopening schools safely may be the single most important thing that we can do to support healthy families during this pandemic."

"Reopening schools comes with some risk, but there are risks to keeping kids at home too," he said. "At home, kids aren't benefiting from social stimulation. They may be falling behind and learning. They may be more vulnerable to abuse that goes unreported by the mandatory reporters in our school system. They may not be getting special services."

Redfield, meanwhile, sought to downplay the risks of a virus that has had a disproportionate impact on older Americans.

"Clearly, the ability of this virus to cause significant illness in children is very, very, very, very limited," he said.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos offered a concise message.

Ultimately its not a matter of if schools should reopen, its simply a matter of how, she said during a briefing staged at the Department of Education.
The personal protective gear that was in dangerously short supply during the early weeks of the coronavirus crisis in the U.S. is running low again as the virus resumes its rapid spread and the number of hospitalized patients climbs.

A national nursing union is concerned that gear has to be reused. A doctors association warns that physicians offices are closed because they cannot get masks and other supplies. And Democratic members of Congress are pushing the Trump administration to devise a national strategy to acquire and distribute gear in anticipation of the crisis worsening into the fall.

Were five months into this and there are still shortages of gowns, hair covers, shoe covers, masks, N95 masks, said Deborah Burger, president of National Nurses United, who cited results from a survey of the union's members. "Theyre being doled out, and were still being told to reuse them.

When the crisis first exploded in March and April in hot spots such as New York City, the situation was so desperate that nurses turned plastic garbage bags into protective gowns. The lack of equipment forced states and hospitals to compete against each other, the federal government and other countries in desperate, expensive bidding wars.

In general, supplies of protective gear are more robust now, and many states and major hospital chains say they are in better shape. But medical professionals and some lawmakers have cast doubt on those improvements as shortages begin to reappear.

In other virus-related developments Tuesday:

 Brazils president, Jair Bolsonaro, said he has tested positive for COVID-19 after months of downplaying the virus severity. The 65-year-old populist confirmed the test results while speaking to reporters in the capital of Brasilia. Bolsonaro has often appeared in public to shake hands with supporters and mingle with crowds, at times without a mask.

 The Trump administration formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization. The move makes good on President Donald Trumps vow to terminate U.S. participation in the WHO, which he has criticized for its response to the pandemic and accused of bowing to Chinese influence. The pullout will not take effect until next year, meaning it could be rescinded under a new administration or if circumstances change.

 Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the nations schools must reopen this fall and be fully operational even as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge around the country. She said anything short of a full reopening would fail students and taxpayers. DeVos made the comments during a call with governors. Audio of the call was obtained by The Associated Press.

Speaking about protective equipment on the call, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday that its important for gear to be reused and repurposed as a way to stretch the stocks and avoid shortages.

Dr. Aisha Terry said that she has good access to PPE as an associate professor of emergency medicine at George Washington University in Washington, but some non-academic and rural health facilities have much less.

I think overall, production, distribution and access has improved, Terry said. But the fear is that we will become complacent" and allow supplies to dwindle in some places.

The American Medical Association wrote to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress calling for a coordinated national strategy to buy and allocate gear.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a New York Democrat, released a memo last week ahead of a congressional committee hearing that raised concerns about looming problems in the supply chain. Her report was based on interviews with unnamed employees at medical supply companies, one of whom warned that raw material for gowns is not available at any price in the amounts needed, leading to an unsustainable situation.

Rear Adm. John Polowczyk, who is in charge of coronavirus-related supplies for the White House, told Congress last week that more than than one-fourth of the states have less than a 30-day supply.

It would seem like in less than 30 days, were going to have a real crisis, said Rep. Bill Foster, an Illinois Democrat.

FEMA, one of the main federal agencies in charge of the coronavirus response, would not break down which states have enough gear to last beyond 30 days and which do not. It referred those questions to individual states. In June, the government started replenishing its once-depleted stockpile with the goal of building up a two-month supply.

As of June 10, FEMA had distributed or directed private companies to distribute more than 74 million N95 masks and 66 million pairs of gloves, along with other gear. The agency said it changed its distribution method to send more equipment to hot spots.

Although all U.S. states and territories have received some protective gear from FEMA, an Associated Press analysis of the agency's own data found that the amounts varied widely when measured by population and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The AP analysis found that low-population, mostly rural states received the largest FEMA allocations per confirmed case. As of mid-June, for example, Montana had received 1,125 items of protective gear per case, compared with 32 items per case in Massachusetts, an early hot spot. States including California, Iowa and Nebraska, all of which have seen a surge in confirmed infections, received among the lowest amounts of protective gear from FEMA per case, according to the AP analysis.

Many states say the federal supplies make up a small part of their stockpiles after they spent millions of dollars to acquire equipment on their own. FEMA told the AP that its initial distributions were made on a per-capita basis, but also said the agency has tried to accommodate individual requests from the states.

Concerns extend beyond the amount of gear. In New Hampshire, an association representing nursing homes said most items sent by FEMA in early June were unusable, including child-size gloves, surgical masks with ear loops that broke when stretched and isolation gowns with no arm openings.

A nonprofit group called #GetUsPPE was established in March by physicians to help distribute donated protective gear.

The group had a 200% increase in requests during the last two weeks of June from medical providers in Texas, a state with a big surge in confirmed virus cases. State officials there have said their supplies are adequate.

We anticipated that we would need to be around for a few weeks until someone else stepped in and solved this problem, said Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at Rhode Island Hospital who was among the groups founders. Here we are, still getting hundreds of thousands of requests a week.
Half a year into the pandemic, its well-accepted that coronavirus can be spread when an infected person expels respiratory droplets by coughing or sneezing.

But can the virus be transmitted in microscopically small droplets that are released into the air by talking or just breathing? And if so, could you contract the virus from across a room, or after the infected person leaves the room?

As with so many aspects of the coronavirus, the answer is unclear, debated, and under study.

Still, evidence that these invisible aerosols can spread infection indoors more stealthily than thought prompted 239 scientists, including engineers and ventilation experts, to urge the World Health Organization to address the risk. We are advocating for the use of preventive measures to mitigate this route of airborne transmission, said a letter published this week in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Charles Haas, a professor of environmental engineering at Drexel University and an endorser of the letter, ticked off those measures: Universal masking. Avoid crowds. Avoid confined spaces. Keep a physical distance. And for indoor spaces, improve ventilation.

In other words, we should do all the difficult, sometimes impractical things we are doing now  and more.

Here are some things to consider.

Droplets vs. microdroplets

Some experts dismiss this distinction as a matter of semantics because the only difference between droplets and microscopic droplets is size. But size matters for several reasons.

Virus-laden droplets from a cough or sneeze are comparatively large and heavy, and quickly fall to the ground or a surface such as a table. It is possible  though not conclusively shown  that you can be infected by touching a contaminated surface, then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes. Thats why public health experts urge frequent hand washing.

In contrast, microdroplets, also called aerosols, are so tiny (an average human hair is 10 times wider) that they can float in the air. The measles virus is highly contagious because it can survive in the air for a couple of hours, infecting people who walk by and inhale it. Before vaccination, each person with measles spread it to 12 to 18 others on average.

 READ MORE: Hydroxychloroquine is the most disappointing, disavowed drug that researchers keep studying for COVID-19

Coronavirus seems to be far less contagious; on average, an infected person infects two to three others. But there have been notable superspreader events in which large numbers of infections were connected to one initial case.

Airborne transmission appears to be the only plausible explanation for several superspreading events, says the letter to the WHO.

Until now, WHOs position has been that airborne coronavirus has been confirmed only as a result of aerosol-generating medical procedures performed in health-care settings, such as intubation. Health professionals should wear protective gear during such procedures.

Incomplete evidence

The evidence for indoor airborne transmission is admittedly incomplete, the scientists say in their letter.

Among the unknowns: How long the virus can survive in the air? How many particles need to be inhaled to cause infection? How long do you have to be indoors to inhale that many particles?

And while RNA from the coronavirus has been detected in air samples, it is not clear that the genetic material could generate an actual infection.

Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley on Tuesday expressed skepticism about airborne spread. If it plays a significant role in transmission, he believes there would be reports of people getting infected by walking into an empty room used by an infected person.

 READ MORE: Is your COVID-19 mask working? If its a bandanna, maybe not much.

Still, case reports, data analysis, and simulations point to airborne spread. In March, for example, a single member of a choir in Skagit Valley, Wash., infected 53 of the 61 people who rehearsed in a large room; two eventually died.

A centrally important point for interpreting the cause of transmission is that the cases were broadly distributed throughout the room with no clear spatial pattern, researchers wrote in a paper submitted to the journal Indoor Air.

Airborne transmission also seemed be the culprit in a poorly ventilated restaurant in China, researchers concluded.

Airborne spread is a frightening idea, because it would add to the challenges of curbing COVID-19. But just as expert opinion has shifted to accept the disturbing reality of asymptomatic spread, it seems to be shifting on airborne transmission.

Many of us have claimed its relevance from very early in this pandemic. It was real then. It is real now. Period. We all benefit if we acknowledge this and act accordingly, tweeted Richard Corsi, an indoor air quality researcher and engineer at Portland State University who endorsed the WHO letter.

No body snatchers

 Airborne does not mean clouds of virus roaming the streets, coming for you like the body snatchers, tweeted Linsey Marr, a civil and environmental engineer at Virginia Tech who endorsed the letter to the WHO. There are simple things we can do to lower the risk of transmission by aerosols.

Among those things: Whenever possible, be outdoors for gatherings or events because studies show transmission outdoors is uncommon. Wear a mask when you leave home or have visitors. Open windows to improve ventilation.

Of course, some risk-reducing measures are anything but simple. Schools, dorms, office buildings, churches, nursing homes  anywhere that large numbers of people live or meet indoors  are already struggling with the standard precautions of social distancing and masking.

 FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered.

Now, the airborne transmission experts say, other measures should be considered, such as upgrading heating and cooling systems, installing powerful air filters and germicidal ultraviolet lights.

WHOs infectious-disease epidemiologist, Maria Van Kerkhove, said on Tuesday that the organization is reviewing the possibility of airborne spread and will publish a brief on the issue in the coming days.

Staff writers Sean Collins Walsh and Kasra Zarei contributed to this article.
Three Tuesdays each month, Katherine OBrien straps on her face mask and journeys about half an hour by Metra rail to Northwestern Universitys Lurie Cancer Center.

What were once packed train cars rolling into Chicago are now eerily empty, as those usually commuting to towering skyscrapers weather the pandemic from home. But for OBrien, the excursion is mandatory. Shes one of millions of Americans battling cancer and depends on chemotherapy to treat the breast cancer that has spread to her bones and liver.

I was nervous at first about having to go downtown for my treatment, said OBrien, who lives in a suburb, La Grange, Ill., and worries about contracting the coronavirus. Family and friends have offered to drive me, but I want to minimize everyones exposure.

While her treatment hasnt changed since the coronavirus spread across the United States, the 54-year-old is at high risk of severe complications should she become infected. Those risks havent declined significantly for her despite the Illinois governors loosening of COVID-related restrictions.

Shes not alone in fearing the deadly combination of COVID-19 and cancer. One study, which reviewed records of more than 1,000 adult cancer patients who had tested positive for COVID-19, found that 13% had died. Thats compared with the overall U.S. mortality rate of 5.9%, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Beyond the concern of cancer patients  with their already depleted immune systems  catching the virus, many doctors worry about people delaying their scans and checkups and missing time-sensitive diagnoses. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that nearly half of Americans had skipped or postponed medical care because of the outbreak. Cancer patients seeking care face an array of obstacles as states reopen, such as heavily restricted in-hospital appointments and new clinical trials on hold. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of KFF.)

 READ MORE: Coronavirus threat spurs movement of cancer care into homes

Cancer doesnt care that theres a coronavirus pandemic taking place, said Robert Figlin, chair in hematology-oncology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. We dont want people who have abnormalities to delay having them evaluated.

In late March, Megan-Claire Chase, 43, of Dunwoody, Ga., got laid off from her job as a project manager for a staffing company, losing the health-care benefits that came with it. Her chief concern was paying for a diagnostic mammogram and MRI, still on the calendar for two days before her benefits were to end. Currently in remission from stage 2A breast cancer, Chase schedules scans for every six months well in advance at Breast Care Specialists in Atlanta.

When I got there, it was really unsettling. You almost feel like a leper, said Chase, noting the socially distanced waiting room and heavily sanitized clipboards. Already hyper-careful since her days of chemotherapy, Chase carries her own pens in her purse, along with gloves and extra masks.

Cancer centers across the country are taking extra precautions. At Northwestern, patients are funneled through a single entryway, where masks are required, and are met by a security guard and a temperature check before signing in with receptionists seated behind plastic shields, OBrien said. No visitors or accompanying family members are allowed inside the building, and the cafeteria and waiting rooms are devoid of unnecessary germ-spreading agents  no magazines or coffee machine in sight. The cubicle where she receives infusions of Abraxane used to seat four patients; now, only two sit in the space.

 READ MORE: When isolation is worse than death: a Philly oncologist on cancer patients and COVID-19 l Opinion

Where they can, many doctors are turning to telemedicine to limit cancer patients trips to the hospital. In Salt Lake City, Mark Lewis, director of gastrointestinal oncology for Intermountain Healthcare, a 23-hospital system serving Utah and surrounding states, says about half his patient visits are now virtual. Hes also making some patients treatments less intense and less frequent. As at Northwestern, patients must arrive at the hospital solo for appointments unless assistance is physically necessary. Its a significant shift for Lewis, whos had up to 30 family members in his office for appointments alongside his patients for emotional support.

We are writing the rules as we go, trying to keep patients immune systems up and the cancer at bay, Lewis said. Still, hes concerned about a later spike in cancer mortality due to the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus aside, the National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 600,000 Americans will die of cancer this year.

New clinical trials have also largely ground to a halt in this new era, when traveling long distances for treatment is less of an option. Linnea Olson, who lives in Amesbury, Mass., and has stage 4 lung cancer, worries that there may be far fewer treatment options for her, as trials have been her lifeline.

About four months ago, Olson, 60, enrolled in her fourth phase 1 clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospitals Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies. The treatment has been accompanied by intense side effects, such as a sore mouth and throat from mucositis, also a sign of COVID-19. Before a recent infusion, nurses with plastic shields ferried Olson up a back entryway for a COVID test. It was negative.

The intensity of her treatment, coupled with the extreme social distancing measures, has left Olson, who lives alone, feeling depressed and unsure whether she should continue the trial.

Its too much all at once  the isolation and the difficult side effects, Olson said.

Rudy Fischmann, a brain cancer patient and former true-crime TV producer, battles balance issues that started after his first set of surgeries two years ago. Daily walks and physical therapy are part of his treatment regimen. Yet strolls around his Knoxville, Tenn., neighborhood are already becoming more stressful as the state begins to open up.

Its getting harder and harder, with more and more people outside every day, said Fischmann, 48. I dont enjoy walking laps around my kitchen, so Im finding myself having to change my routes almost daily.

A father of two young children who are now home round-the-clock, Fischmann finds all the family time draining his limited energy. He also fears what germs they will bring back from school come fall.

The thought of, if I were to contract the virus, would I get a different standard of care? he said. Im used to staying home and not doing that much, but its more nerve-wracking now.

Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he will sign an executive order Wednesday that mandates masks be worn outdoors in settings where social distancing isnt possible, mirroring policies currently in place in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Theres no question that face coverings are game-changers, Murphy said Wednesday morning during an interview on MSNBCs Morning Joe.

New Jersey residents have been required since April to wear masks indoors in businesses and on public transportation, but Murphy said he has been forced to turn it up a notch and expand the mandate to outdoor settings  such as the boardwalk or the beach  where large groups of people make social distancing difficult.

If youre congregating with a lot of other folks, and theres no social distancing, youll at least get a warning, if not something stronger, Murphy said of those caught not wearing a mask, though he admitted enforcement of such a mandate is difficult.

The details of the executive order were not immediately available, though Murphy is expected to outline the requirements during a coronavirus briefing at 1 p.m. The new order comes as the New Jerseys rate of transmission  the rate at which the virus spreads from one person to another  surpassed 1.0 for the first time in 10 weeks.

Weve gone through hell in New Jersey. Weve lost over 13,000 people. Weve brought our numbers way down, Murphy said. We cant go through that hell again.
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Update, July 9: Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday announced eviction and foreclosure protections will be in place until Aug. 31.

HARRISBURG  With the end of the states moratorium on evictions looming large, a state-run relief effort to help renters pay their bills has gotten off to a rocky start, as many applications were incomplete and the forms were not available in Spanish.

The problems added to mounting pressure on Gov. Tom Wolf to extend the moratorium, which was instituted by the state Supreme Court in March and then extended by Wolf to protect those who could not make rent during the coronavirus shutdown.

In the two days since the $150 million rental assistance program began, some local organizations administering it have been flooded with applications. But most were incomplete, they said, delaying their ability to get money out the door.

Some tenants struggled to gather all the necessary paperwork, which includes several months of pay stubs, the organizations said. Other applicants didnt realize their landlord needed to fill out two of the three required forms.

Whats more, a version of the application form in Spanish will not be available until the end of the week. The program, however, is doling out assistance on a first-come, first-served basis, which could put Spanish-speaking applicants at a disadvantage.

The moratorium expires Saturday, and there is increasing concern that little or no money will be available to tenants in time to guarantee that the eviction process  which typically takes several weeks  will not begin.

Many tenants dont know about this program and if they know, they wont be able to apply, because they dont have access in their language, said Patty Torres, organizing director at Make the Road Pennsylvania, a Latinx advocacy group that is pushing for an extension of the eviction moratorium.

We cannot expect that the governor makes an announcement and every renter hears about it, she said. We need more time.

The program could be a lifeline for the thousands of tenants who have struggled to pay their rent as the coronavirus outbreak has shuttered businesses and caused record job losses. But advocates and Democratic lawmakers said it needs more time to get up and running to avoid a surge of eviction filings that could force people out of their homes.

Approximately 1.5 million people in Pennsylvania rent their homes, accounting for about 30% of all households. With each county receiving a limited amount of funding through the new program, some involved already expect there will not be enough to meet the anticipated demand.

Scott Elliott, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which is overseeing the program, said the department updated its website Monday to clarify that applicants must submit three separate forms and has moved as quickly as we could to provide Spanish applications that are complete and accurate.

The agency delayed posting the Spanish version of the application form to avoid paying for multiple translations as changes were made to the English version, Elliott said  a decision he emphasized was his alone.

I dont think anyone has been disadvantaged with this slight delay in producing translations for a program that runs six months, he said.

Local organizations administering the program in each county said they would work with renters who submitted incomplete applications to help them gather the correct paperwork. The assistance payments, which go directly to landlords, can cover up to six months rent, with a monthly maximum of $750 per tenant.

To qualify, renters must show that since March 1, they either filed for unemployment or lost at least 30% of their annual income, which must not exceed the median in their county.

Its not yet clear how long it will take each local organization to process applications and send out payments. Elliott said the timing could vary a lot from county to county.

In Chester County, only one of the 45 applications received so far has been complete, said Krystal Bentz, who is overseeing the rental assistance program for the county housing authority. People just want to get the application in, she said.

In York County, roughly 25 applications were submitted on Monday alone, but less than a handful were complete, said Carl Whitehill, director of marketing and communications at the Community Progress Council, which is administering the program locally. Most were missing the two forms that must be completed by landlords, he said.

Once the Spanish language form is available, that will bring in a lot more applications, Whitehill said.

By Tuesday afternoon, Philadelphia had already received more than 600 completed applications, even though renters there have more time to seek assistance than in most of the state. City lawmakers voted to extend the eviction ban through the end of August, and passed legislation creating an eviction mediation program, forgiving late fees, and requiring landlords to offer payment plans to struggling tenants.

Those changes are now the subject of a federal lawsuit filed by the Homeowners Association of Philadelphia, which argues that the new measures are unconstitutional and shift the financial burdens created by the coronavirus onto landlords, who are still required to make mortgage payments and pay property taxes.

The statewide rental assistance program is part of a $2.6 billion spending plan lawmakers passed at the end of May, funded by Pennsylvanias share of the federal stimulus package. An additional $25 million is available for homeowners who need help making their mortgage payments.

The programs early stumbles underscore the need to extend the eviction moratorium, housing advocates said. Last week, Senate Democrats wrote to Wolf seeking an extension through at least the end of August. On Tuesday, House Democrats urged an extension of the statewide moratorium through Dec. 31, giving renters the time to apply for financial relief programs.

And Wednesday morning, 50 community groups and housing advocacy organizations across the state wrote to Wolf, calling for an indefinite extension of the eviction moratorium for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath, as well as a rent freeze and deferrals of mortgage payments.

As the statewide eviction moratorium is set to expire, thousands of poor and working class families are at risk of being unhoused, especially Black and brown families who already face much higher mortality rates from COVID-19, they wrote.

Given the time crunch, they argue, the new rental assistance program launched far too late to help many of the people who need it. Among the elected officials signing in support was Eddie Moran, the mayor of Reading, which has one of the highest eviction rates in the state, according to data from the Eviction Lab at Princeton University.

Asked at a news conference Monday whether he would extend the eviction moratorium, Wolf said he was not ready to say anything.

Torres, of Make the Road Pennsylvania, said waiting until the last minute would be a mistake.

I think he should already have been doing this last week, she said. Tenants need to feel safe right now.

If you need rental or mortgage assistance, visit phfa.org/pacares to learn more about the application process.

100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate.
A driver fatally struck an 18-year-old bicyclist Tuesday night along Kelly Drive, police said Wednesday.

Officials responded to the 700 block of Kelly Drive shortly after 9 p.m. where Nadir Nafis Holloman of West Philadelphia was riding his bicycle across the road when he was struck by a motorist driving a white Acura traveling eastbound. Holloman was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and pronounced dead at 9:38. The driver stayed on the scene, according to police.

The city has a goal of zero traffic deaths by 2030 through Vision Zero, its safe streets initiative.

Vision Zero recognizes that humans will always make mistakes, including while using our streets, and not every crash can be prevented, the plans year two update states. Instead of focusing on preventing all crashes, Vision Zero focuses on reducing the severity of crashes to save lives.

Injury crashes involving bicyclists between May and June are up this year compared with 2019, according to data from the Philadelphia Police Department.

A silent bike ride was recently held for Sam Ozer, 17, killed by a driver while riding his bike in Roxborough in June.
A federal judge in Philadelphia on Monday barred the Trump administration from implementing new rules that would let almost any employer deny female employees coverage for birth control by citing religious or moral objections.

U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone found that the regulations could result in unplanned pregnancies and as many as 127,000 women losing access to no-cost contraception, which is mandated under the Affordable Care Act. She also concluded that the impact would inflict an undue financial burden on states that moved to pick up the tab.

In a 65-page opinion, the judge granted the nationwide temporary injunction sought by the attorneys general of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The negative effects of even a short period of decreased access to no-cost contraceptive services is irreversible, she wrote.

Beetlestones ruling came on the same day the regulations took effect, carving out religious and moral exemptions to the Obamacare contraception mandate.

It followed a similar order issued late Sunday by a federal judge in California. But unlike Judge Haywood S. Gilliams decision in that case  which only applied to the 13 states and the District of Columbia, who filed suit in his court  Beetlestone expanded the scope of her decision to cover the country.

Reproductive rights advocates and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro were quick to declare victory.

Women need contraception for their health because contraception is medicine, pure and simple, Shapiro said in a statement. Congress hasnt changed that law, and the president cant simply ignore it with an illegal rule.

But their win Monday is likely to be only the start of a drawn-out legal battle.

Trump administration lawyers officials are almost certain to appeal. They argued in court that the agencies involved in crafting the regulations had reasonably exercised their rule-making authority to protect sincere religious and moral objectors.

No American should be forced to violate his or her own conscience in order to abide by the laws and regulations governing our health-care system," said Caitlin Oakley, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in a statement Monday.

Other groups vowed to join the fight, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, an order of Roman Catholic nuns. The sisters intervened in the case last year, arguing that the mandate made them complicit in breaking religious rules against birth control.

We never wanted this fight, and we regret that after a long legal battle, it is still not over," said Sister Loraine Marie Maguire, mother provincial of the order in the United States. We pray we can once again devote our lives to the ministry ... without being forced to violate our faith.

If Beetlestones rulings withstand appellate scrutiny, the attorney generals will have to return to court to persuade her to make Mondays temporary injunction permanent. In her decision, the judge indicated that the states' lawyers were likely to prevail. She concluded that the administrations regulations run counter both to government rule-making procedures and the intent of Congress in crafting the Obama administrations signature healthcare law.

The breadth of the exemptions set out in the [regulations] is remarkable," she wrote. "The ... religious exemption allows all nonprofit and for-profit entities, whether closely held or publicly traded, to deny contraceptive coverage based on sincerely held religious beliefs.

The birth control mandate has been one of the most fiercely litigated aspects of Obamacare.

Since it was enacted in 2010, the Affordable Care Act has generally required employers and insurers to provide preventative health services to women at no charge. Houses of worship that claimed religious objection were provided an avenue to opt out soon after the laws passage.

In the eight years since, and after a number of court battles, the swath of employers eligible for exemptions has gradually expanded to include religiously affiliated hospitals, universities, and nonprofits, and certain privately held businesses owned by a small group of owners whose religious beliefs run counter to the laws contraception provisions.

Some of those exempted entities are still required to provide employees with health plans that offer birth control coverage paid by the insurance provider.

But since taking office, President Donald Trump has sought to eliminate that requirement and broadly expand the number and types of entities that could claim exemptions, fulfilling a campaign pledge he made to protect employers from being bullied by the federal government because of their religious beliefs.

In 2017, administration officials proposed rules that would allow almost any business to claim a religious exemption and drop contraceptive coverage from employees health plans. They also proposed regulations that would permit all but publicly traded companies, including private colleges and universities that issue student health plans, on moral grounds.

Beetlestone blocked that effort in a case brought by Shapiros office, saying that the Affordable Care Act did not authorize such sweeping exemptions.

The administration submitted a revised set of rules in November, prompting the challenge from Shapiro and New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal that led to Mondays ruling.
After years of dodging allegations of abusing children, a former Catholic priest pleaded guilty Wednesday to molesting two altar boys in Bucks County decades ago.

Francis Trauger, 74, admitted his guilt to two counts of indecent assault of a minor, and Bucks County Judge Jeffrey L. Finley sentenced him to 18 to 36 months in a state prison and seven years probation.

Despite being named in multiple grand jury reports on the sexual abuse of children by priests in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Trauger had not been prosecuted until the case that led to Wednesdays guilty plea.

Trauger did not speak during the hour-long hearing, which played out in a mostly empty courtroom, with only a few onlookers and a huddle of journalists.

His attorney, Brian McVann, said that the defrocked priests conduct cannot be defended and that Trauger felt compelled to admit his guilt and take responsibility for his actions.

He has done great good in his life, McVann said. Unfortunately, it has been lost in this case.

Finley, in handing down the sentence, told Trauger that any good he had done during his decades-long tenure with the church had been torn down and destroyed by these actions.

I dont know that you truly understood that, the judge said. Or at least that you truly didnt understand that until you were arrested.

Two men, now in their 30s, told investigators Trauger groped them as they changed into their altar boy vestments before Mass at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Tullytown. The small community church was Traugers final assignment before he was named as an abuser in a sweeping grand jury report detailing decades of child abuse by priests in the archdiocese and a massive cover-up by church officials.

The Tullytown assaults took place in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when both victims were 12, prosecutors said. The case was referred to Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub in 2018, after one of the men filed a complaint with the archdioceses victim compensation fund. The second victim came forward in March 2019.

Despite being nearly 20 years old, the cases were eligible for prosecution under a 2005 change in the states criminal statute of limitations for sex abuse.

I want to make sure the message to other potential victims is clear, Weintraub said Wednesday. It is never too late to come forward to speak your truth.

The first of those victims, who was assaulted starting in 1996, recorded a victim-impact statement that was played at the sentencing hearing. Choked with emotion, the man detailed how the abuse had left enduring scars, both mentally and physically, causing anxiety that led to failed suicide attempts and financial ruin.

I dont trust the church anymore, the man said. They couldve helped me, but they continued to hurt me by shielding him.

The other victim, in a written statement obtained by The Inquirer, called Trauger a sick and vile deviant and a predator that deserves to be put in with those of like mind.

Frank used the ultimate authority to commit the most heinous and systemic abuse of boundaries that one can possibly conceive: raping little boys, he wrote. Let that sink in. For 30 years, this man has systemically cornered boys who no one will believe and rapes them.

Trauger, who now lives in Brooklyn, was defrocked in 2005, amid the grand jury investigation overseen by then-District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham.

His conduct factored into the prosecution of former Msgr. William J. Lynn. In building their case against Lynn, assistant district attorneys cited years of clergy sex-abuse complaints on which the archdiocese failed to act, including credible claims that Trauger had abused teenage boys.

During the 2012 trial, one accuser testified that Trauger had locked him in a conference room at his Catholic high school in South Philadelphia for more than an hour to discuss homosexuality, touched him inappropriately, and made passing threats against his family.

Lynn was found guilty of child endangerment, but his conviction was vacated and a second trial is pending.
WASHINGTON  Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a national security aide who played a central role in President Donald Trumps impeachment case, announced his retirement from the Army on Wednesday in a scathing statement that accused the president of running a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation.

The statement from attorney David Pressman said Vindman was leaving the Army after more than 21 years after it had been made clear that his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited.

Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers, read the statement, first obtained by CNN.

Vindmans name was on a promotion list sent to Defense Secretary Mark Esper earlier this year, according to one U.S. official familiar with the matter. But that list was delayed for weeks because the White House asked for an investigation of Vindman. The Pentagon did a review and found that any suggestion of misconduct was unfounded.

The official said the list was resent to Esper about a month ago, but again was delayed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Another official said Esper signed the promotion list this week, with Vindmans name included. That list was expected to be sent to the White House by the end of the week, according to the defense official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal personnel matter.

It's not clear whether Esper already knew of Vindman's plan to retire before he signed the list. The U.S. official said there was talk more than a week ago that he was planning to put in his retirement papers.

Pressman said Vindman did what the law compelled him to do; and for that he was bullied by the President and his proxies.

LTC Vindmans patriotism, he said, has cost him his career. Today our country loses a devoted soldier, but it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure it does not lose the values he represents.

The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump in February ousted Vindman from his job on the National Security Council, where he served as an expert on Ukraine, just two days after the presidents acquittal by the Senate. Vindmans lawyer said then that his client had been told to leave in retaliation for telling the truth.

Vindman's twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, was also asked to leave his job as a White House lawyer. Both men were reassigned to the Army.

Vindman had testified that he didnt think it was proper for Trump to demand that a foreign government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his sons work for the energy company Burisma in Ukraine. And he told impeachment investigators that he twice raised concerns over the administrations push to have Ukraine investigate the Bidens.

In the aftermath, senior Pentagon leaders insisted that Vindman would not see any retaliation as a result of the testimony. Talking to reporters in November, Esper said the department has protections for whistleblowers.

Vindman shouldnt have any fear of retaliation. Thats DODs position, Esper said, adding that he flatly rejected suggestions that the soldiers career was over. He said he had spoken with Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy about the matter.

McCarthy said in February that Vindman was not under investigation, and that he was serving in a Army headquarters job and would go on to senior service college in the summer.

In gripping testimony, Vindman also spoke of his familys story and his father bringing them to the U.S. from the Soviet Union when he was a young child.

Dad, my sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol, talking to our elected officials, is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to United States of America in search of a better life for our family, he testified. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.

The lieutenant colonel, who served in Iraq and later as a diplomat, wore his uniform full of medals, including a Purple Heart.

When a soldier requests retirement, it must be approved by the Armys Human Resources Command, and normally can take months to process before the person actually leaves the military.
A lawsuit filed Wednesday against the Pennsylvania Parole Board contends that the states ban on parole eligibility for inmates serving life sentences for second-degree or felony-murder convictions is cruel punishment and should be struck down.

The complaint, filed in Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg by the Abolitionist Law Center, the Amistad Law Project, and the Center for Constitutional Rights, contends that under the felony-murder rule, inmates are denied the chance to seek redemption and are forced to live under the nightmarish specter of dying in prison regardless of whether theyve redeemed themselves in prison, whether their harsh sentence is warranted, and whether their sentences could be served under conditions of parole.

The suit challenges the constitutionality of the states prohibition on parole for inmates serving life sentences for second-degree or felony-murder convictions, contending that such a prohibition violates the ban on cruel punishments. It also seeks an evidentiary hearing.

It was filed on behalf of six inmates, including one woman and three men serving life sentences in Philadelphia murders.

In Pennsylvania, a second-degree murder is a homicide committed during the commission of another felony, such as a robbery, and carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. First-degree murder, or an intentional killing, carries a mandatory life term or the death penalty.

Bret Grote, legal director of the Pittsburgh-based Abolitionist Law Center, said in a phone interview that felony murders committed in Pennsylvania before 1974 were wrapped into the first-degree murder statute along with intentional killings. Marie Mechie Scott, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, was thus convicted by a jury in 1974 of first-degree murder in a fatal 1973 shooting in which her codefendant, Leroy Saxton, pulled the trigger, Grote said. He said Scott, then 19, was a lookout during the robbery and did not know that Saxton was going to shoot the victim.

According to a Philadelphia Daily News article, the victim, Michael Kerrigan, was an off-duty firefighter who was working in a North Philadelphia gas station office at the time. Prosecutors had argued that Saxton and Scott threatened Kerrigan with a knife and that Scott spotted a gun in the victims back pocket, then gave it to Saxton.

During a virtual news conference Wednesday, reporters heard a recording by Scott, 67, who is serving a life sentence at the State Correctional Institution Muncy.

How could such a draconian penalty be handed down to those of us  who have neither killed anyone nor intended to kill? she said she has wondered. Clearly, in my mind there had to be some room for a chance of redemption.

As of June 30, Pennsylvania had 5,386 inmates serving life sentences, with 1,148 of them convicted of second-degree murder, according to the state Department of Corrections. An additional 128 inmates are on death row.

Grote, during the news conference, called the felony-murder statute a prosecutors net that allows prosecutors to engage in overcharging and in linking people to unintended consequences of their actions, in particular young people. Louisiana is the only other state besides Pennsylvania that imposes life imprisonment as a mandatory minimum punishment for felony murder, he said.

Lorraine Dee Dee Haw, a member of the Coalition to Abolish Death by Incarceration, whose son is serving a life sentence in prison after being convicted of a felony murder, and whose brother was killed by gun violence, said mostly Black, brown, and poor people are disproportionately affected by life sentences. As a victim, she said she supports the lawsuit a thousand, a million percent.

Nearly 70% of people serving life sentences for second-degree murder are Black, statistics show.

The other named plaintiffs in the case are Reid Evans, 59, his brother Wyatt Evans, 57, and Tyreem Rivers, 42, all of Philadelphia, and Marsha Scaggs, 56, who was convicted in Lawrence County, and Normita Jackson, 43, convicted in Allegheny County.

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Parole Board said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.
Gettysburg, PA (17325)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. Thunder possible. High 71F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Seven men were wounded in five separate shootings in the city Tuesday afternoon and evening, police said.

Around 8:40 p.m., a 25-year-old man was shot three times while outside in the 1600 block of North Sixth Street in North Philadelphia. He was taken by police to Temple University Hospital and placed in stable condition. No arrests were immediately reported.

Just after 7:45 p.m., a 57-year-old man in the 5900 block of Spring Street in West Philadelphia was shot in the left arm. He was taken to Lankenau Medical Center and was listed in stable condition. No arrests were reported.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., a 51-year-old man was shot once in the left arm in the area of the 2400 block of North Park Avenue in North Philadelphia. He was taken by police to Temple University Hospital and listed in stable condition.

A 31-year-old man was shot in the right leg at the same location. He reportedly walked into Temple's emergency room and also was listed in stable condition.

Police reported they had suspects in custody and guns were taken into evidence in connection with the shooting. No further information was provided in that case.

Around 6:20 p.m. in the 5100 block of North Eighth Street in Olney, a 22-year-old man was shot in the head and thigh. He was taken by private vehicle to Einstein Medical Center and placed in critical condition.

An 18-year-old man who was shot twice in the back at the same location drove himself to Einstein and was listed in stable condition. No arrests were reported in that shooting as well.

Just before 4:20 p.m., a 21-year-old man was shot repeatedly in the 3800 block of Folsom Street in the Mantua section of West Philadelphia. He was taken by private vehicle to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and listed in critical condition. There were no arrests in that shooting.
Need an effective cultural campaign slogan? Try some grammatical trickery. Change a part of speech, and youll be surprised how quickly your choice of words can catch on.

Witness the recent adoption of decrying cancel culture as a rallying point. One of [the lefts] political weapons is cancel culture  driving people from their jobs, shaming dissenters, and demanding total submission from anyone who disagrees, Donald Trump said in last weeks campaign event at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. This is the very definition of totalitarianism.

I hope you like the phrase, because were about to hear a lot more of it over the coming months. In the few days since Trumps speech, publicly lamenting cancel culture has become the favored talking point among right-wing politicians, media figures, and acolytes including Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, former Florida Congressman Allen West, Fox News analyst Howard Kurtz, conservative podcast hosts Allie Beth Stuckey and Ben Shapiro, and South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.

Vox writer Aja Romano traces whats possibly the first usage of cancel in this context to the 1991 film New Jack City, when Wesley Snipes Nino Brown dumps his girlfriend by saying, Cancel that b----. Ill buy another one. Almost 30 years later, the phrase cancel culture is comprehensible for thousands of Trump supporters in South Dakota.

What makes a phrase like cancel culture stick? In short, messing with parts of speech, turning cancel into an adjective.

The word cancel has verb and noun definitions in the dictionary, but nothing as an adjective. In this sense cancel culture is something of a neologism, creating new meaning  one thats easily understandable  out of older words. Its a nifty trick that makes our brains sit up and take notice  and while were paused on the phrase, it lodges itself in our minds. The words get stickier, which is exactly what a good slogan or rallying cry should be.

Some of the most famous marketing slogans in history played the same cards. Remember Apples famous Think different campaign: Your brain is expecting Think differently, but when you encounter an adjective instead of an adverb, you pause, dwell and then buy an iMac. Same story with IBXs Live fearless, which is equally wrong. (For those craving the grammatical deep cuts: No, neither of these is an example of a linking verb, which would make kosher the adjectives fearless and different. In this context they are action verbs, and theyre wrong.) Or the famous Got milk? campaign: You probably never considered that it should have asked, Have milk? But if it had, your bones might be brittler today.

The subliminal grammatical sleight of hand is also an effective distraction when youre guilty of doing the same thing you accuse others of. Theres plenty of irony in Trump calling out cancel culture when, for 14 seasons as host of The Apprentice, he swiftly canceled hundreds of contestants with his most famous catchphrase, Youre fired. And in separate articles this week, the Washington Posts Catherine Rampell and CNNs Daniel Dale chronicled the many times that Donald Trump has recommended cancellation of everything from NBC to Joe Scarborough to Karl Rove to Apple.

Hows that for thinking different?

The Angry Grammarian, otherwise known as Jeffrey Barg, looks at how language, grammar, and punctuation shape our world, and appears biweekly. Send comments, questions, and predicate adjectives to jeff@theangrygrammarian.com.
On July 3, Disney gave America a big-ticket birthday gift: the musical Hamilton. After handing over a head-turning $75 million, the company began streaming a filmed version of the Lin-Manuel Miranda Broadway megahit on its Disney+ channel. It could be just what the doctor ordered as an antidote to the nations gloomy mood, or it could be the opposite  another cultural touchstone swept up and spit out by the vortex of the Great Awokening.

That second scenario may sound absurd. After all, Hamilton is the beloved masterpiece of the diversity revolution, an ode to the countrys multiracial future and to immigrants [who] get the job done! Its cast was almost entirely nonwhite, with one notable exception: a campy, mincing King George III. Miranda himself, son of Puerto Rican parents, played the musicals namesake hero, Alexander Hamilton.

Audiences were swept up in the mischievous chutzpah of casting black actors as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and the clever rap couplets evoking the thrill of youthful revolution. Rap is the voice of the people of our generation, and of people of color, Miranda, winner of a MacArthur genius grant, has proclaimed. Hamilton won a Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy, and 16 Tony Awards. The show has grossed well over $500 million. Beyonce, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Stephen Sondheim, Jay-Z, and a long list of other luminaries number among his fans. On social media, followers were counting the days and minutes until the television event. What could go wrong?

Such is the madness of this Jacobin moment that a 2015 progressive musical now looks quaint  even problematic. Hamilton is a rousingly, unabashedly patriotic work -- American exceptionalism [set to] hip-hop, as Terry Teachout put it in his Wall Street Journal review.

Since audiences first jumped to their feet to applaud the show, the history Miranda relied on has been toppled like so many statues. The New York Times has endorsed the view that the nations birth celebrated in the play occurred not in 1776 but in 1619, with the arrival of the first enslaved Africans on American shores. Following the curriculum now endorsed by the paper of record, educators are preparing to teach the young that the American Revolution was fought, in part, to protect slavery, and that the revolutionaries Miranda celebrates eventually signed the Constitution, whose main purpose was to codify black peoples enslavement. Can millions of teenagers and their parents continue happily to sing the name of one of the Founding Fathers in good conscience?

Equally problematic for the current moment is Mirandas embrace of the American dream. [T]he ten-dollar Founding Father without a father / Got a lot farther by working a lot harder / By being a lot smarter / By being a self-starter, the cast raps in the opening scene. But every red-blooded progressive knows that the American dream of upward mobility is a myth, designed to blame the poor for their own sorry condition. [A]nother immigrant, comin up from the bottom? Sounds like fake news  or false consciousness.

Thats the way a number of Black scholars viewed the show from the beginning. Soon after the musical opened, Harvard historian Annette Gordon-Reed listed its sins. Hamilton was no man of the people, she argued; he was an elitist and crypto-monarchist. Nor was he innocent of racism; he bought and sold the enslaved for his in-laws and, though a founder of the Manumission Society, had, at best, a tepid interest in abolition. Moreover, the musical is silent about the fact that George Washington owned enslaved people, an omission that even third graders will have no trouble spotting these days.

The playwright and fellow MacArthur Grant recipient Ishmael Reed has dedicated the last few years to de-platforming the musical, which he compares to the Confederate-nostalgic Gone With the Wind (which has also received calls for cancellation in recent weeks). He believes that the shows multiracial cast is a con to distract audiences from the brutal reality of American racism. Last year, he staged a play called The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda, in which the ghosts of the enslaved and Native Americans come back to correct the lies of the bewildered Hamilton creator. I think the corrective would be to close the show, he has concluded.

Hamilton critics are not limited to old-timers. #CancelHamilton has become a Twitter meme. When Miranda took his musical to Puerto Rico to raise money for the stricken country after Hurricane Maria, students and employees at the University of Puerto Rico, where the production was to be staged, rebelled. He wants to help the community of Puerto Rico as a whole? He needs to sit down and talk to us and stop coming across as a white savior, one activist scoffed. And so it is that an ur-progressive, Hispanic rap artist can  and will  be accused of white privilege.

Should Hamilton attract the social-justice mobs now that it is being streamed on cable, skeptics of the woke will be tempted to take pleasure in yet another example of the revolution eating its own. That would be a mistake. Miranda is facing the tragic dilemma familiar to the intuitively moderate man caught in an extreme moment. Recently a group in favor of change for BIPOC [Black, indigenous, and people of color] theatermakers has circulated a petition demanding more diversity on Broadway. It has already amassed 80,000 signatures. We have watched you [the white powers-that-be of Broadway] pretend not to see us, they write. We have watched you amplify our voices when we are heralded by the press, but refuse to defend our aesthetic when we are not, allowing our livelihoods to be destroyed by a monolithic and racist critical culture. Miranda has yet to sign. But the progressive who has spun his considerable talents into capitalist gold faces the choice of signing or losing his Black Lives Matter cred.

Miranda is a unique cultural figure, a magician who made diversity palatable to New Jersey matinee clubs and Midwestern tourists while also enlivening American history for high school kids from the Bronx. His friendly, open demeanor and mild nerdiness  he adores American musical theater  has undoubtedly added to his crossover appeal. For years now, the auteur has been posting gmorning and gnight tweets, little pep talks for me and you, as he puts it, adored by fans for their sweet quirkiness. Last year, he played Bert the Cockney chimney sweep, a role that previously belonged to the old-school actor Dick Van Dyke, in Mary Poppins Returns. Somehow, he manages to be both mensch and resolute progressive. In the days of corporate wokeness, Disney and Miranda seem made for each other.

Unless he gets canceled.

Kay S. Hymowitz is a City Journal contributing editor, the William E. Simon Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and the author of Manning Up: How the Rise of Women Has Turned Men Into Boys.
Philadelphia, and the nation, is facing three deadly epidemics: the opioid overdose crisis, COVID-19, and the systemic assault on Black lives. And as we collectively seek to envision a more humane and equitable response to substance use, overdose prevention sites (OPS) are an important place to start.

Reform-minded prosecutors and law enforcement leaders agree.

On Monday, 85 criminal justice leaders joined in an amicus brief filed in the Third Circuit arguing that Safehouse, a Philadelphia nonprofit organization seeking to open our nations first overdose prevention site, doesnt violate the Controlled Substance Act, and provides a lifesaving service critical to public safety.

As the brief notes, the need for OPS is especially important in the context of COVID-19. Medical experts caution that these epidemics are intersecting in ways that are additively deadly and predict an overdose surge will compound the COVID-19 pandemic if urgent action is not taken. The brief comes after a federal judge put Safehouses plans on hold on June 24, citing the pandemic and ongoing protests surrounding the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police as evidence that Philly was too frayed for an overdose prevention site.

Overdose prevention sites, also called supervised injection sites, provide a location to use drugs under the supervision of people trained to immediately reverse overdoses. They are also harm reduction outreach centers where people can receive medical care and access social services, including recovery services.

In the context of the pandemic, harm reduction strategies  including OPS and needle exchanges  are even more important. They can provide access to COVID-19 testing for the most marginalized people who otherwise have little interaction with the health-care system. Further, they can provide a conduit to opioid substitution therapies like buprenorphine and methadone, which are essential for ensuring those who use drugs and test COVID positive can successfully quarantine. But most importantly, they save lives. In Canada, where OPS is legal, harm reduction workers reported seeing an immediate spike in overdoses when some OPS were temporarily closed in the name of social distancing.

Now with the increasing public support for a reimagining of our public safety systems, OPS also offers a way to reduce police contact with the community. Too often, police officers are the first to respond to overdoses, creating the potential for escalation and incarceration. OPS offers a path where people can access care rather than risk incarceration and police violence.

Addressing opioid use disorder is more important than ever, given that people who use opioids are at greater risk of incarceration and homelessness  conditions that inherently preclude proper social distancing measures and frequent handwashing. The criminalization, rather than treatment, of substance use disorder continues to contribute to massive COVID-19 outbreaks in overcrowded prisons and jails.

Addressing the overdose crisis is also a racial justice issue. Despite the perception of the overdose epidemic as a white rural crisis, overdose rates have skyrocketed in the Black community, which has been left behind and historically criminalized by national efforts to reduce opioid use and fatalities. From 2016-2017, the mortality rate among Black people rose by 25%, compared with the 11% increase among white individuals. And by 2017 in several states, opioid overdose death rates were already higher among Black communities  including in West Virginia, the so-called epicenter of the crisis. Those disparities play out in cities as well. In Chicago, Black individuals make up a third of the population, but almost half of opioid-related deaths.

It is time to leave the War on Drugs in the past. Lets seize the opportunity to provide public health responses that reduce harm and save lives, rather than criminal justice responses that punish. Failure to do so will put even more lives needlessly at risk.

Larry Krasner is Philadelphias district attorney. Miriam Krinsky is the executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution.
Schools, like every other major institution, are facing a major question for the foreseeable future: What is the relationship with law enforcement, and do educators need cops by their side to operate effectively?

William R. Hite Jr., Phillys superintendent of schools, has come up with a cute response: rename Phillys unarmed school resource officers school security guards and give them less imposing uniforms. Councilmember Kendra Brooks has said that she would like to see all police out of Philly schools, and a substantial and well-organized band of students is pushing for the abolition of school police.

I understand the spirit of the argument for getting rid of school police, but as a teacher, I think the current debate is emblematic of an issue that people who arent part of the educational community dont understand: It is unfair  and unsafe  to add the responsibility (and legal liability) of policing to the already too long list of responsibilities we expect from our teachers.

I doubt that there's a single teacher in Philly who wouldn't love to see their school free of police.

Resource officers around the country are guilty of some astonishing abuses, and recent events give plenty of reasons to doubt their utility. In December 2019, a school resource officer was seen, on video, using a body slam on an 11-year-old boy, and multiple school resource officers were arrested in 2019 for sexual misconduct. Whats more: the original impetus for having officers be part and parcel of the educational atmosphere was to avert school shootings, and, in one of the deadliest school shootings in American history at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., officers not only were unable to stop the violence  they faced public scrutiny for failing to act appropriately, including one officer who hid in his car.

It is clear that resource officers, like all police in this country, are in need of a complete cultural and political overhaul, with stricter, more immediate consequences for misbehavior, a better reporting system for officers who cross the mind, and, more basically, constant training in anti-racism and socio-emotional wellness.

But as a teacher, I am not prepared, emotionally, legally, or in terms of training, to fulfill the role of safety officer. School staff, teachers included, are not always equipped to de-escalate high-risk situations, like brawls, potentially race- or sexuality-based violence, or use of weapons. These situations cant  and shouldnt  be handled by educators alone. Having safety officers in schools is about trying to ensure student safety. Its also about making it so teachers dont have to be first responders in dangerous situations, or assume legal responsibilities for developments far outside of the scope of their training.

Similarly, replacing police officers with community members or more social workers in guidance counselors does nothing to address that problem. As vital as community members and guidance counselors are in making a school work, there is no way that they can assume the job of a police officer without both committing to burdensome, physically demanding training, or taking away from their normal responsibilities.

Additionally, to ask school teachers to assume the responsibilities of a law officer is shifting a remarkable amount of labor onto teachers, who are already at the center of an overstressed, undersupported system.

Think of your neighborhood school. What entity operates more in the interest of your neighborhood? It provides parental services, mental and social welfare services, meals, and a community center. A neighborhood school is often the center of a neighborhoods moral universe. In removing police from schools wholesale, you are asking schools, on top of everything else, to do the labor of police work.

At its core, thats an admirable impulse. People trust schools, and they trust teachers to protect children. Theres nothing wrong with that.

But putting the responsibilities of police onto teachers is not only kicking the can down the road, its purposefully placing the final straw on the camels back. Schools need more, not to be responsible for more. Schools need more built up around them to be successful, not just more work and a couple more dollars.

If you want schools to operate more safely and with greater equity, support every extant measure to build strong, cohesive community supports around them. More diversion programs. More rec centers. More after school options, more community investment, more job opportunities, more and better welfare.

Someday, hopefully, police wont need to be part of schools. But until then, until we are sure that we are not simply shifting the responsibility of law enforcement, please dont place the burden of police work onto teachers.

Quinn OCallaghan is a writer and teacher in Philadelphia.
After weeks of protest against police brutality and racism in policing, Philadelphia City Council unveiled its radical new idea: a Citizens Police Oversight Commission.

How radical? It was first tried in Philadelphia more than half a century ago.

The new oversight body would presumably be different than the existing Police Advisory Commission it would replace. Voters in November will need to approve a charter amendment establishing the commission, though specifics on its structure, powers, or funding wont be fleshed out until after the vote.

The current commission, established in 1994, has a long legacy of being ineffectual at oversight, primarily due to its small budge and lack of authority -- making it easy for police commissioners, and the department as a whole, to sideline and ignore.

In recent years, the police response to the PACs recommendations can be summarized as thanks but no thanks. Commissioner Ross rejected PACs recommendations and at times didnt even bother to respond in writing to the substance of reports -- even though commissioners are required to. In addition, according to the PAC, information request are routinely denied by the police.

 READ MORE: Starbucks report says racism affects policing. Police disagree. | Editorial

For the new oversight commission to be effective, Philadelphia needs to learn from its past.

In 1958, following uproar against police brutality, Mayor Richardson Dilworth appointed a five member Police Review Board to investigate -- the first of its kind in the nation. The Fraternal Order of the Police challenged the move, arguing that the oversight entity violated the charter. It was soon after rebranded as the Police Advisory Board. Despite the states Supreme Court approval of the oversight board, Mayor James Tate dissolved it -- an act then-Commissioner Frank Rizzo would call a Christmas present. The then-head of the board predicted: We will come to regret this action in the years to come.

Sixty-plus years later, thats an understatement. What the recent protests made clear is that police practices and budgets are not in line with what the public wants -- or deserves -- out of policing. Private arbitrators and FOP bosses have more power over the police department than Philadelphia residents.

This time, if the newly proposed Citizens Police Oversight Commission must be appropriately funded and structured differently. That means full independence -- the current PAC reports to the Managing Directors office, just like the police -- and with full access to information.

The Kenney administration said the Commission will have subpoena powers. But issuing a subpoena isnt a magic wand. It requires filing legal actions that can be challenged and get stuck in the courts -- with Philadelphia taxpayers paying for both sides of the dispute.

For a commission to be effective, it cant be at the mercy of police benevolence or chasing information with subpoena threats. The Commission should have access to all the information that polices internal affairs investigators have, and police must accept recommendations unless it can articulate a specific reason not to.

City Council must also be willing to reject police budgets if the new Citizens Police Oversight Commission gets sidelined. Philadelphia doesnt need another tired rebrand of an oversight board. It needs a police department that is accountable to the people of Philadelphia.
Pa. Voter Voices: The Inquirers Election 2020 Roundtable

The 2020 election is like no other. The coronavirus has altered the very way elections operate. The pandemic, the accompanying economic crisis, and a nationwide reckoning over systemic racism have helped create the most volatile and unpredictable political environment the United States has seen in decades.

Pennsylvania is a critical swing state in the presidential election again, after being decided by less than 1% of the total votes cast in 2016. Pennsylvania is also a sprawling, politically complex state. It encompasses so much of America in one place, reflecting the varied  and often divided  facets of the countrys culture, workplaces, lived experiences, needs, and political views. From big cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to small ones like Wilkes-Barre and Johnstown. From suburban cul-de-sacs to rural areas across the state. From the Center City skyline to the manufacturing row in Erie. And from the urban landscape of West Philly to the country roads in Westmoreland County.

The Roundtable brings together 24 voters from all over Pennsylvania for a series of open, virtual conversations about what matters most to them. Well talk about the issues. Well talk about the candidates. Well ask them what they want to talk about. Well endeavor to answer their questions  and share those answers with you.

Read more about how we built the roundtable

Meet Our Roundtable Meet Our Roundtable Adele Barone  39 years old  Falls (Wyoming County)  Libertarian Adele Barone owns a consulting firm that provides human resources, marketing, and other services for small businesses and nonprofits. She has lived most of her adult life in Pennsylvania. Albert Tanjaya  22 years old  Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)  Democrat Albert Tanjaya is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He immigrated to the United States when he was three years old and lived in Lansdale briefly before growing up in Philadelphia. Ani Hatza  34 years old  Merion Station (Montgomery County)  Democrat Ani Hatza graduated from law school at Temple University in May. Before changing careers, she was a forensic anthropologist and adjunct lecturer at Rutgers University-Camden and Rosemont College. Ani is a lifelong Pennsylvania resident. Bill Criley  68 years old  Butler (Butler County)  Independent Bill Criley is a retired bricklayer and masonry project manager. He has run for Butler city council in the past. A lifelong Pennsylvania resident, he also served in the US Army Reserve. Caitlin Cunningham  29 years old  Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)  Democrat Caitlin Cunningham is a nanny and newborn care specialist. She moved to Pittsburgh a few years ago after growing up in San Diego and Nashville. Cody Hoover  30 years old  Williamsport (Lycoming County)  Republican Cody Hoover is Eldred Township Supervisor and Assistant Borough Manager of Jersey Shore, about 15 miles west of Williamsport. A lifelong Pennsylvania resident, he is also on the Lycoming County Republican Committee. David Graham  66 years old  Johnstown  Republican David Graham is retired and used to work in the steel industry and as a disc jockey. A Johnstown native, he has lived in Pennsylvania almost his entire life. Drew Jennings  47 years old  West Bradford (Chester County)  Republican Drew Jennings is an insurance underwriter. He has lived in the Philadelphia suburbs since 1998 after first coming to Pennsylvania from New Jersey in 1991. Ezelle Sanford III  30 years old  Philadelphia  Democrat Ezelle Sanford III is a postdoctoral research associate focused on race, science, and society at the University of Pennsylvania. He got his Ph.D from Princeton University and has lived in Pennsylvania for about a year. Gabriela Femenia  48 years old  Philadelphia  Democrat Gabriela Femenia is a law librarian at the University of Pennsylvania. She has lived in Pennsylvania for 17 years and previously practiced law in Northern California, where she spent much of her childhood. Glen Beiler  61 years old  Akron (Lancaster County)  Republican Glen Beiler has worked as a courier for FedEx for the last 28 years. Born and raised in Lancaster County, he is a longtime committeeman in both the county and state Republican Party. Jennifer Austin  44 years old  Springfield (Delaware County)  Democrat Jennifer Austin is a school administrator who worked as admissions director at a for-profit post-secondary education institution until the pandemic. She has lived in the Philadelphia region her whole life. Jeremy Jacobs  37 years old  Bloomsburg (Columbia County)  Democrat Jeremy Jacobs is a clinical pharmacist and pastor. He was born in Bucks County and grew up in Schuylkill County before attending Temple University in Philadelphia. He has lived in Bloomsburg since 2008. Jonathan Taylor  62 years old  Gettysburg (Adams County)  Republican Jonathan Taylor works in customer service for a state agency. He has lived in Pennsylvania for 11 years. Kaitlin Ahern  20 years old  Scranton (Lackawanna County)  Democrat Kaitlin Ahern currently attends Lafayette College, where she is studying International Affairs and Comparative Politics. She was born and raised in a union family in Scranton. Lauren Jessop  62 years old  Easton (Northampton County)  Republican Lauren Jessop has worked at the Sussex County Community College library for 26 years. A native of Hawthorne, N.J., she moved to Pennsylvania in 2008 and to Easton in 2015. Lena Surzhko-Harned  37 years old  Erie (Erie County)  Democrat Lena Surzhko Harned is an assistant teaching professor of political science at Penn State. She came to the U.S. as a student and obtained her education in Pennsylvania, including a PhD from University of Pittsburgh. She became an American citizen this year. She has lived in Erie county for 11 years. Lisa Walton  55 years old  Allentown (Lehigh County)  Republican Lisa Walton is newly retired after a career in industrial sales. She has lived in Allentown since 1996. She returned to Pennsylvania in 1988 after previously living in the state as a child. Mary DeBeer  66 years old  Apollo (Armstrong County)  Independent Mary DeBeer is retired after spending most of her adult life working for nonprofits. She grew up in the Pittsburgh region and lived overseas for more than 20 years, including in the U.K. and in Russia. Melissa Robbins  47 years old  Philadelphia  Democrat Melissa Robbins is a social and economic justice activist and a former radio host. A Temple University graduate, she is also an Army veteran, was a delegate at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, and ran for Philadelphia City Council in 2018. Scott Young  51 years old  Newtown (Bucks County)  Republican Scott Young works in technology sales. A Pennsylvania native, he lived on the West Coast for years before returning to the state 23 years ago. He has spent the last 18 years in Newtown. Shawn Berhel  26 years old  Easton (Northampton County)  Democrat Shawn Berhel works in retail after graduating from Arcadia University at the onset of the pandemic. He has lived his entire life in the Lehigh Valley. Soneyet Muhammad  39 years old  Philadelphia  Democrat Soneyet Muhammad works in community and workforce development. She moved to Philadelphia in 2011. Vanessa Benton  54 years old  Philadelphia  Democrat Vanessa Benton a school district administrator. A Philadelphia native, she returned to the city in 2018 after living for 25 years in North Carolina.

What Well Accomplish Examine Issues What issues matter most to Pennsylvanians? Roundtable members will help us determine that. We will also use our discussions to better understand the nuance behind particular issues and political views. Inform Voters We want to provide people with the information they need and want ahead of the election. Roundtable members will be encouraged to ask questions and raise topics for us to dig into. Refine Our Coverage Roundtable members will inform how we report on the 2020 election. We want them to feel a sense of agency in shaping our coverage. Foster Discussion Deep divisions exist in American politics  between political parties and between voters and the media. This group will serve as a place of openness and will thrive when conversations are civil and respectful.

Read the Roundtable Community Guidelines Roundtable Community Guidelines The Inquirers Election Roundtable serves as a space for civil, respectful, and open conversations about the issues that matter most to Pennsylvania voters. As we have these discussions leading up to the general election, it will be vitally important for all of us to interact with one another in a polite manner. In this group, we will embrace diverse viewpoints and foster thought-provoking conversations. We deeply believe that doing so will enhance our journalism and will help us tell stories that are of service to voters across the state. But in that mission, we must insist that Roundtable members interact courteously with one another. We reserve the right to make changes to the Roundtable membership if we deem it is necessary.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court sided with two Catholic schools in a ruling Wednesday underscoring that certain employees of religious schools, hospitals and social service centers cant sue for employment discrimination.

The high court's ruling was 7-2, with two liberal justices joining the conservative majority for the schools. The justices had previously said in a unanimous 2012 decision that the Constitution prevents ministers from suing their churches for employment discrimination. The court said then that the required separation of church and state means that religious groups must be allowed to hire and fire individuals who serve as teachers or messengers of their faith, without court interference. But the court didnt rigidly define who counts as a minister.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion Tuesday that allowing courts to consider workplace discrimination claims against the schools would interfere with the schools' constitutionally guaranteed religious independence.

The religious education and formation of students is the very reason for the existence of most private religious schools, and therefore the selection and supervision of the teachers upon whom the schools rely to do this work lie at the core of their mission," Alito wrote.

In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that as many as 100,000 employees could lose the right to contest job discrimination as a result of the ruling.

The Court reaches this result even though the teachers taught primarily secular subjects, lacked substantial religious titles and training, and were not even required to be Catholic, Sotomayor wrote in an opinion that was joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In a statement, Eric Rassbach, the lawyer at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty who argued the case for the schools, called the decision a huge win for religious schools of all faith traditions.

The last thing government officials should do is decide who is authorized to teach Catholicism to Catholics or Judaism to Jews. We are glad the Court has resoundingly reaffirmed that churches and synagogues, not government, control who teaches kids about God, he said.

The case was one of 10 the high court heard arguments in by telephone in May because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It involved two schools in Southern California that were sued by former teachers. In one case, Kristen Biel sued St. James Catholic School in Torrance for disability discrimination after she disclosed she had breast cancer and her teaching contract wasnt renewed.

In the other case, Agnes Morrissey-Berru sued Our Lady of Guadalupe school in Hermosa Beach for age discrimination after her teaching contract wasnt renewed when she was in her 60s. The lawsuits were both initially dismissed, but an appeals court revived them. The Trump administration had backed the schools.

Biel died last year at age 54 after a five-year battle with breast cancer. Her husband has represented her side in her place.

Lawyers for Biel and Morrissey-Berru did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The cases are St. James School v. Biel, 19-348, and Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, 19-267.

_____

Associated Press reporter Mark Sherman contributed to this report.
Amy Kennedy, a South Jersey school teacher who married into a storied American political family, toppled the regions most powerful political machine Tuesday to claim an unlikely victory in the Democratic primary for New Jerseys 2nd Congressional District.

Kennedy, the wife of former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, will now bring the Democratic bona fides of her own family  her father was an Atlantic County freeholder  and that of her in-laws to bear against freshman U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a former longtime Democrat who switched parties last year and memorably pledged his undying support to President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

My message to Jeff Van Drew tonight is: We have had enough and we demand better, Kennedy told supporters gathered in the parking lot of her campaign headquarters on in Northfield, not far from the Northfield Community School, where she was once a history teacher. We have had enough of you and Donald Trump.

The understated Kennedy, 41, her five children eating cupcakes nearby, smiled broadly after taking off her cloth face mask to cheers and a rousing introduction by Gov. Phil Murphy, who introduced her by saying Democrats had won the lottery in Kennedy.

Murphy had endorsed Kennedy, who handed the governor a victory in his long-running battle to disarm the power of South Jersey insurance executive and Democratic power broker George E. Norcross III, who backed Kennedys opponent, Brigid Callahan Harrison. The Norcross-affiliated General Majority PAC spent almost a half-million dollars advertising on behalf of Harrison, who was also endorsed by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker.

We know Jeff Van Drew, what stripes he showed, Murphy said. This is now a contrast unlike any I can remember in my political life. You got that guy, who cut and run. and you got Amy Kennedy, who is the real deal.

Despite the uncertainty of the mostly vote-by-mail election, Kennedy appeared to easily defeat Harrison, a political science professor at Montclair State University, and Will Cunningham, an attorney and former congressional oversight investigator whose progressive views and emotional appearances at Black Lives Matter protests won him a late surge of endorsements and attention.

While this is a tough moment for me, tonight was a great moment for the Democratic Party, she said in a YouTube video. Because tonight, after a primary that has been tough for all of us, we stand together. South Jersey stands united that Jeff Van Drew must go.

Kennedy, of Brigantine, managed to win the backing of the powerful Atlantic City Democratic Committee and rode a surge of vote-by-mail turnout in Atlantic County. She drew the support of progressives, many still upset that the party machine had chosen Van Drew in 2018. She is now one step closer to an elected position once held by her husband, a former congressman from Rhode Island and the son of former Sen. Edward Ted Kennedy.

Patrick Kennedy, who stood off to the side with their children, said after his wifes victory speech that the resounding win should worry Van Drew. And he chided a state ballot system in which candidates get favorable ballot position according to county parties endorsements.

The people of the 2nd District chose and voted for her even though they had to go all the way over to column F to find her name, Patrick Kennedy said. It just is a validation for democracy.

Harrison, 55, of Longport, a Montclair State University political science professor, had the backing of six of eight county Democratic chairs in the district. It was Harrison who vowed to run against Van Drew in a Democratic primary if he did not vote to impeach Trump.

Van Drew, a former state senator from Dennis Township in Cape May County, switched parties late last year after his opposition to Trumps impeachment enraged Democrats. Trump traveled to Wildwood for a raucous rally in January to cement their political embrace.

Tuesday night, via Twitter, Van Drew thanked Trump for his unwavering support, and declared Our Republican Party in South Jersey to be united. Over the weekend, Van Drew was in the middle of an hours-long Trump boat parade around Absecon Island.

The district, the largest by geography in the state, includes Atlantic City and County, Vineland and Bridgeton, much of the Jersey Shore communities, all of Cumberland and Salem counties, and parts of Camden, Gloucester, Ocean, and Burlington counties.

It was represented by Republican Frank LoBiondo for two decades before Van Drew, who long built a reputation as a conservative Democrat, captured it in 2018. The district voted for Barack Obama twice before swinging to Trump.

The mission of unseating Van Drewquickly reunited Democrats in the district Tuesday. Even Norcross was quickly on board, issuing his own statement about the results.

Congratulations to Amy Kennedy, who has won a strong victory in todays primary, Norcross said. As I said months ago, I look forward to supporting the Democratic nominee in the general election.

Late Tuesday, after Patrick Kennedy had left with their children, Kennedy lingered in the parking lot on Route 9. The National Republican Congressional Committee had already issued a statement saying the only thing she is running on is her last name.

Kennedy said the attacks aimed at her, and her husband, during the primary campaign were good preparation for what comes next.

I dont know if youre ever ready to be attacked, she said. I think Im fortunate to have my family around me. That gives you a kind of stability that all of these things cant shake you too much from.
There was nothing ordinary about New Jerseys primary on Tuesday.

For one thing, the election was conducted largely by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps just as unusual: A candidate backed by the South Jersey Democratic machine lost a Democratic primary in South Jersey.

The question consuming New Jersey politicos Wednesday was whether Amy Kennedys win in the 2nd Congressional District over Brigid Callahan Harrison was an aberration or a sign of things to come for the powerful Democratic machine. Kennedy will face freshman Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the former longtime Democrat who broke with his party over the impeachment of President Donald Trump last year and became a Republican.

The race was the latest clash between Gov. Phil Murphy, who backed Kennedy, and the South Jersey Democratic establishment led by insurance executive George E. Norcross III and Senate President Steve Sweeney, who supported Harrison. That feud came to a head last year when Norcross sued Murphy over a task force the governor established to investigate the states economic development programs. Norcross claimed the task force was illegally targeting him and his business partners. A judge ruled in Murphys favor, and an appeals court affirmed that decision this week.

Murphy allies and some anti-Norcross progressives see other cracks in the machine, which controls local and county governments  and therefore public jobs and contracts  across the region, and was built by Norcross over more than two decades from his power base in Camden County. For years, machine-backed lawmakers have made South Jersey a force in Trenton by voting as a bloc whose support is crucial to any big legislation.

A slate of anti-machine challengers swept party committee races in Collingswood last year, and Norcross didnt have a seat at the table when other Democratic leaders resolved a fight over the state party chairmanship in December.

Kennedy, a former teacher who is the wife of former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy of the storied political family, was no upstart challenger: Her campaign spent at least $1.2 million, with the help of a $500,000 personal loan. And she had the coveted first ballot position in voter-rich Atlantic County.

I do think this is a little bit of a unique circumstance, said Mike DuHaime, a GOP strategist and longtime adviser to former Gov. Chris Christie. This is a Kennedy  a Kennedy with serious financial backing and the governors backing, winning against what was frankly a weak candidate.

I do not think this signals somehow the end of the strength of the South Jersey Democratic political machine, DuHaime said, noting its dominance in state and local races. But what it does mean is that certainly the progressives see an opportunity next year. There will be a bunch of primaries next year in the county and state level. That will be the fight.

For his part, Norcross issued a statement late Tuesday congratulating Kennedy and calling it important that we retake the Second Congressional seat and continue to advance a pro-worker, pro-reform, and pro-civil justice agenda in Washington, DC.

A Norcross spokesperson declined to comment for this article Wednesday.

Its not the first time a Norcross-backed candidate has lost an election. In statewide primaries, in which Democratic votes are concentrated in the northern part of the state, South Jersey Democrats have a particularly poor track record. Most recently, Sweeney fell short in a shadow primary campaign against Murphy, who was elected in 2017.

But DuHaime couldnt recall the last time the machine lost a primary in its own backyard.

And it wasnt close: Partial returns showed Kennedy leading with 59% of the vote, while Harrison trailed with 26%, and lawyer Will Cunningham had 12%. Barely 90 minutes after the polls closed, Harrison conceded the race.

A political science professor at Montclair State University, she had been endorsed by six of the eight county parties in the district  a day before Van Drew met with Trump in the Oval Office to officially announce his party switch and declare his undying support for the president.

The endorsements gave Harrison favorable ballot positions across much of the district and a strong network of support. In previous elections, that might have effectively ended the race.

Seems pretty clear to us: Steve Sweeney and George Norcross are weaker than theyve been since some of us were in middle school, Sue Altman, head of New Jerseys Working Families Alliance and a fierce Norcross critic, wrote in an email to supporters Wednesday.

In an interview, Altman said her progressive allies will feel emboldened by the victory to put forth more candidates for future races, targeting people such as Norcross brother, U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, and Sweeney himself.

And one Murphy ally said the results showed the governor, along with a progressive coalition that includes public-sector labor unions, is the driving force in the states Democratic Party right now.

But even some progressives acknowledge that the South Jersey machine remains powerful  and that congressional races generally arent whats most important to Norcross and his allies.

State and local government  whose jobs, contracts, and influence are the lifeblood of a party machine  are the big prize in New Jersey. And across South Jersey, Norcross is still king on this front.

Republican Dennis Levinson, the Atlantic County executive, questioned how committed to Harrison the Norcross forces really were, especially after Kennedy entered the race. He said her campaign did not have the typical power of a Norcross-fueled candidate.

It was too little, too late, he said of a pro-Harrison TV ad blitz by a Norcorss-aligned political group. It didnt seem like there was too much involvement by Norcross. There was not a whole lot of enthusiasm.

In the end, they did spend money because it was their person, Levinson said. But thats a drop in the bucket.

Some insiders noted that South Jersey Democrats have often directed their strongest efforts toward state legislative races and at challengers of Donald Norcross  even in safe races, such as the 2016 primary, when a 25-year-old progressive mounted a grassroots campaign against him.

Alex Law, then a former IBM consultant from Voorhees, had no political experience or fund-raising muscle. But by election day, Norcross, then seeking a second term in Congress, had spent close to $1 million on his reelection, despite being heavily favored.

Laws campaign remained a long shot, but local party leaders left nothing to chance: Days before the election, Norcross touted an endorsement from President Barack Obama himself. He crushed Law at the polls, drawing more than twice as many votes.

Other top national Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have thrown their support behind Donald Norcross over the years. In February, Pelosi and Sen. Cory Booker held a fund-raiser and rally for his reelection.

And despite suggestions that an anti-machine candidate might challenge Donald Norcross in this years primary, he ran uncontested Tuesday. Even Murphy endorsed him.

Sweeneys 2017 reelection, meanwhile, is believed to have been the costliest state legislative election in U.S. history. Sweeney was backed by multiple outside political groups and won by 18 percentage points.

When it comes down to it, they would probably rather protect their home turf, Altman said. That said, I dont think theyre happy about this. I think a congressional seat is a crown jewel, and they definitely dont want to lose them.

Kate Delany, president of South Jersey Progressive Democrats, said the machine should get used to the idea of primaries.

Primary campaigns illuminate the direction of the party, she said, and progressives are forcing that conversation to happen.

Staff writer Amy S. Rosenberg contributed to this article.
David Richter, the former CEO of a construction company, emerged Wednesday as the presumptive winner of a closely watched Republican primary in a South Jersey congressional district and will face freshman Democratic Rep. Andy Kim.

The Associated Press had yet to project a winner Wednesday morning and elections officials still have to count thousands of ballots in an election that was mostly conducted by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. But early returns showed a wide enough margin for Richter that his opponent, Kate Gibbs, conceded the race around midnight. Richter led with 67% of the vote to Gibbs 33% in early returns.

Im not a politician, this is my first election, Richter said in a statement Wednesday. But I already know that running for Congress is tough, and it is only going to get tougher from here as we move on to challenge Andy Kim in the general election. ... We are building a grassroots campaign like this district has never seen before and I have no doubt that we will defeat Andy Kim.

Gibbs, a former Burlington County freeholder, was the early Republican favorite in the 3rd Congressional District. But the race was upended when Richter abandoned his earlier bid to challenge first-term Rep. Jeff Van Drew in the 2nd District. Van Drew, a longtime Democrat, broke with his party over the impeachment of President Donald Trump and became a Republican. Trump allies then largely cleared the GOP primary field for Van Drew  pushing Richter to run in another district.

Kim, who defeated a Republican incumbent in 2018 by less than two percentage points and is expected to face a close race again, has built a formidable war chest with $3.5 million in his campaign account.

Im running for reelection to continue serving my hometown community, Kim said Tuesday night. My parents taught me that service isnt just a job, its a way of life.

Richter, the former chief executive of Hill International, lent his campaign $600,000 and spent most of it. Gibbs campaign spent about $200,000 and was backed by an outside group that spent $225,000 on anti-Richter ads, according to Federal Election Commission records.

His victory was powered by huge margins in Ocean County, where he had the support of the local GOP. He had 79% of the vote there. Gibbs had a narrower lead in her home county of Burlington.

The district spans Burlington and Ocean Counties. Burlington County, which provided close to 60% of the districts voters in 2018, has skewed liberal of late, while Ocean remains solidly conservative. Forty percent of voters in the district are registered without a party affiliation.

Rep. Tom Emmer (R., Minn.), chairman of the House Republicans campaign arm, said Richter will be a breath of fresh air by giving voters a representative who actually follows through on his campaign promises to put them first.

Andy Kim sold voters a false bill of goods when he promised hed be a pragmatic problem solver and instead went to Washington and became a rubber stamp for the extreme socialist agenda of House Democrats, Emmer said in a statement.
A member of the storied Kennedy political family emerged as the Democratic nominee in a South Jersey congressional district late Tuesday, defying expectations that it would take days before results were clear in the states primary election while officials count hundreds of thousands of mail ballots.

Amy Kennedy, a former teacher and the wife of ex-U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, was leading in the 2nd Congressional District primary with about 58% of the vote, according to early Associated Press returns, compared with about 28% for Brigid Callahan Harrison, a college professor. A large number of mail ballots remain to be counted. But the margin and trends in the mail ballots returned so far were large enough that the AP projected Kennedy as the winner, Harrison conceded, and Kennedy declared victory shortly after.

Kennedy will face first-term Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the longtime Democrat who drew national attention when he broke with his party over the impeachment of President Donald Trump and became a Republican. Van Drew easily won his primary after Trump allies largely cleared the GOP field for him.

My message to Jeff Van Drew tonight is: We have had enough and we demand better, Kennedy said Tuesday night outside her campaign headquarters in Northfield, flanked by her husband and five children on one side, and Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy Murphy, on the other. We have had enough of you and Donald Trump.

Like in Pennsylvania and other states that expanded the use of mail ballots amid the coronavirus pandemic, many votes were cast well before election day, which was originally scheduled for June 2. With the Democratic presidential nominating contest effectively decided months ago, the races that attracted the most attention Tuesday were in two South Jersey congressional districts expected to be battlegrounds in Novembers general election.

The 2nd District primary became a proxy fight in an intraparty feud between the pro-Harrison South Jersey Democratic machine led by power broker George E. Norcross III, and Murphy, who backed Kennedy and introduced her before her victory speech Tuesday night. Though Kennedy appeared to outspend Harrison in the race, the win was still an upset. Harrison had favorable ballot position in most parts of the district thanks to county parties endorsements.

Kennedy lent her campaign $500,000 and spent about $1.2 million. Harrisons campaign spent more than $400,000, with a boost from a $160,000 personal loan. General Majority PAC, an outside group airing TV commercials backing Harrison, spent $490,000 since June 24, records show, and Kennedy was supported by groups that spent at least $135,000.

Will Cunningham, a lawyer running in the primary, sought to energize progressive grassroots support, but failed to pick up the favorable ballot position associated with county parties endorsements. He had garnered about 10% of the vote in early returns.

In the 3rd Congressional District, former construction executive David Richter and former Burlington County Freeholder Kate Gibbs were running for the GOP nomination to take on freshman Democratic Rep. Andy Kim. Richter lent his campaign $600,000 and spent most of it, while Gibbs campaign spent about $200,000 and was backed by an outside group that spent $225,000 on anti-Richter ads, according to Federal Election Commission records. Richter had previously planned to challenge Van Drew.

In Atlantic City, Democrats were also choosing among incumbent Mayor Marty Small Sr., Pamela Thomas-Fields, a planning and economic development specialist, and Jimmy Whitehead, a 63-year-old Navy veteran and energy expert who served under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Small took office after the previous mayor, Frank Gilliam, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and resigned.

Campaigns were anticipating relatively high voter participation, in part because most registered Democratic and Republican voters were automatically sent mail ballots under Murphys order to conduct the election primarily by mail  without needing to apply. Independent and inactive voters were sent mail ballot applications.

Stephanie Salvatore, superintendent of elections for Gloucester County, said turnout was much higher than usual for a primary election. Her office received 40,000 ballots before the polls opened Tuesday, she said, adding, We could easily hit 50,000.

That would exceed the 49,321 Gloucester County votes cast in the 2016 primary, when Bernie Sanders was still battling Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. Part of Gloucester County is included in the 2nd District, which stretches from Burlington County to Cape May County.

It just shows, if you make it convenient, people will do it, Salvatore said.

The state kept about half of its polling places open, primarily for voters with disabilities, people without permanent addresses, and others who couldnt or preferred not to vote by mail. But foot traffic appeared light Tuesday.

Instead, most votes were continuing to stream in Tuesday by mail, at drop boxes across the state, and by hand delivery to county elections offices.

Today, the folks who have been reaching out to me have been asking about the ballot drop box locations, said Jesse Burns, head of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. I havent received a lot of polling place inquiries, but I have received a lot of ballot box location inquiries.

It remained to be seen if Republicans would vote by mail at a lower rate than Democrats as they did in Pennsylvania, given that Trump has repeatedly and falsely declared that voting by mail is rife with widespread fraud.

Elections administrators reported low in-person turnout. The bigger headache Tuesday appeared to be long lines outside Motor Vehicle Commission locations  which had previously been closed because of the coronavirus  as people tried to renew licenses.

Murphys order to run the election primarily by mail included a number of one-time changes, such as allowing mail ballots to be counted if they are postmarked by election day and received up to a week later. That was a key change, Burns said, along with the installation of drop boxes, in smoothing the vote-by-mail process.

The state also agreed last month  settling a federal lawsuit brought by the League and others  to notify all voters whose mail ballots are missing signatures or whose signatures do not match state records. Any voter whose ballot has a signature issue will be mailed a form allowing the ballot to be approved. (Almost 10% of mail ballots in New Jerseys May 12 municipal election were rejected, mostly because of signature problems.)

This is a state that endeavored to provide fairly open access to vote by mail this season, said Kristen Clarke, head of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which runs the national Election Protection program.

Most of the calls received Tuesday, Clarke told reporters, came from voters who had a mail ballot problem of some kind, including not having received theirs on time. Clarke said some voters were also confused about which polling places were open.

Still, voting appeared to proceed fairly smoothly Tuesday. Burns said she hoped the experience of running a large-scale vote-by-mail election will lead to changes in the future. For example, she said, the high usage of ballot drop boxes suggests more locations should be added.

She also warned that results will take longer than normal to count, and that people must be patient. The days-long process of counting mail ballots did not begin until Tuesday morning, and those ballots will continue to be accepted by mail for another week.

Gloucester County workers had been counting ballots since 7 a.m. Tuesday at a warehouse in West Deptford, with two seated at each of the eight-foot tables spaced six feet apart, said Salvatore, the countys election superintendent.

She said the municipalities that held in-person voting Tuesday reported low but steady attendance, and that all seemed to be operating without problems.

I hope the next week goes as smoothly as this, with counting the provisional ballots, Salvatore said. Maybe well leave the excitement for the November election.
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter.

HARRISBURG  For a moment, anti-gerrymandering advocates in Pennsylvania had a victory in sight.

Fed up with political districts that experts said were drawn to benefit one party over another, grassroots groups launched a campaign to take lawmakers out of the process and create a commission of everyday voters to do the work, instead.

They held rallies, demanded public hearings, and even showed up on the doorstep of one top lawmakers home, all with the goal of getting a constitutional amendment to voters before maps are drawn again in 2021.

The stakes are significant: Independent research shows gerrymandering protects incumbents and strips communities of political power by heavily concentrating one partys voters into a single district or spreading them out unnaturally.

But with the General Assembly on summer break, time has officially run out, said Fair Districts PA cofounder Carol Kuniholm: The bills that were constitutional amendments are dead.

Advocates are now turning their attention to Plan B, a bill that would keep lawmakers at the helm of the process but check them through new transparency requirements. It would also institute new rules that would prohibit the most egregious practices, such as disregarding county and city boundaries to pack voters into a single district.

That was one of the problems the Pennsylvania Supreme Court identified in 2018, when it overturned and later redrew the states congressional map.

It was a map that was drawn entirely behind closed doors, said Benjamin Geffen, a lawyer at the Public Interest Law Center, which led the lawsuit on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and individual state residents. It was voted on the very same day they released the map.  Then it passed in the Senate two weeks later.

Every 10 years, lawmakers use new census information to draw a congressional map that must garner the approval of the governor.

The state House and Senate maps, however, are a different story. They are drawn by a five-member commission made up of Democratic and Republican leaders from the legislature as well as a chair picked by those lawmakers or, if they cant agree, the state Supreme Court. That process is enshrined in the state constitution, making it a lot tougher to change than a simple law.

Critics of Pennsylvanias redistricting system have long focused on who draws the maps as the most important area in need of change. But experts from the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School have argued that just as important are the rules for how its done.

A bill introduced in June by Rep. Wendi Thomas (R., Bucks) targets those rules and has the backing of good-government advocates including the Committee of Seventy and Fair Districts PA.

When lawmakers draw both the legislative and congressional maps, they must ensure that districts have equal population. Thomas measure would put in place even more criteria, including a cap on how many times legislators can split a county. Geffen said this would provide a check on doing the most outrageous of gerrymanders.

The measure would also codify into law years-long efforts by grassroots groups such as Fair Districts PA to make the redistricting process more transparent. Videos of meetings and the underlying data used to create or evaluate maps would be made available on a website, and public hearings would be held several times before and after lawmakers finalize the plans.

I really believe that at all times, that its humanly possible, the government needs to be completely transparent, Thomas said. Transparency for me is critically important. We need to be as crystal clear as we possibly can, in all acts of government.

If the legislature acts before the end of January, and Gov. Tom Wolf signs off, the new rules would be in place when lawmakers begin drawing the legislative and congressional maps next year. Geffen said the bill would not be the gold standard, as it wouldnt empower an independent commission to draw maps in a fully public process.

But recognizing that we dont have time before the next redistricting cycle to get a constitutional amendment, a bill like this would certainly be an improvement over the status quo, he said.

Whether the House and Senate will agree to rules that limit their ability to draw districts  and pick voters  remains to be seen, though in the past theyve been slow to pass legislation that reduces their influence or power. When lawmakers return in the fall, theyll also have to grapple with the ever-present threat of the coronavirus and an incomplete state budget.

Thomas bill was recently sent to the House State Government Committee, chaired by Rep. Garth Everett (R., Lycoming), who did not respond to a request for comment.

Sen. John Disanto (R., Dauphin), who chairs the State Government Committee in the upper chamber, said his panel has been focused on COVID-19 legislation and immediate election code changes for this years primary and general elections.

Good-government advocates are also still pushing for a vote on a bill from Rep. Jim Gregory (R., Blair) that would create an independent commission to draw the congressional map  a measure that doesnt require a constitutional amendment and could, in theory, be in place by 2021.

Sen. Lisa Boscola (D., Lehigh), the prime sponsor of an independent commission bill that moved out of committee but stalled on the Senate floor, said the GOP has used the pandemic as an excuse to not advance redistricting measures.

I dont buy it. I get that they said we had to do other things in the past couple of months, but I dont know, she said. I just dont think there was the will.

A spokesperson for Senate Republicans said the caucus has long supported changing the process by which districts are drawn for both state government and members of Congress.

We remain open to passing similar legislation this year, but also recognize that nothing will become law without finding common ground with the House, the spokesperson, Jennifer Kocher, said. We continue to work to find that ground.

Even if lawmakers fail to embrace any reforms, the 2021 redistricting process will look different than it did in 2011, as power in two key posts has shifted to Democrats.

Wolf, the states Democratic governor, will have to sign off on the congressional map put forth by GOP leaders in the legislature. And the state Supreme Court, now controlled by Democrats, will likely get to appoint a fifth member to the panel that draws the House and Senate maps.

But ideally, good-government advocates said, people in power from either party should not decide how the maps are drawn.

It should not be about helping one party or incumbents for one party  making a mutual, back-scratching agreement, Geffen said. What they should be doing is drawing a map designed to make it possible for voters to have ... competitive races all across the commonwealth.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Health is hosting a virtual community meeting Thursday night to discuss progress of a five-year national study on PFAS contamination in Horsham, Warminster, and Warrington Townships.

Residents in those communities who were exposed to drinking water tainted by PFAS will receive in-depth medical testing as part of the PFAS National Multi-Site Health Study announced last year on the impact that the chemicals can have on human health. The water was contaminated by firefighting foams containing PFAS that were used at military bases.

During the 7-9 p.m. meeting on the Zoom platform, officials from the Health Department will update the communities on the progress made toward the study, and introduce partners, including RTI International, Temple University, ATSDR, and Buxmont Coalition.

The study is being conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to examine possible connections between PFAS exposure in drinking water and certain human health conditions.

Anyone wishing to attend should register at https://rtiorg.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ihPuREPlSZ6fqZeofXHo4Q.
In Jim Carreys new semiautobiographical novel, Memoirs and Misinformation (Knopf, $27.95), there are flying saucers and a firebombing on Rodeo Drive, apocalyptic fires devouring Malibu, and a mega-budget Hungry Hungry Hippos movie written by Kenneth Lonergan. One moment, Carrey dreams of strangling his late mother; the next, he pines for Renee Zellweger (his last great love) and challenges Nicolas Cage, a man whose artistic bravery had always given him courage, to a jujitsu duel. (Warning: Cage fights dirty.)

Cowritten with novelist Dana Vachon in the third person to capture what Carrey calls the wholeness that has an infinite knowledge of all of its parts, Memoirs and Misinformation is, like the twisted political drawings Carrey posts on Twitter, entirely its own thing. A satire of Hollywoods self-absorption coinciding with the end of the planet, none of it is real  except when it is. And given the extreme circumstances that have marked Carreys life, its sometimes difficult to sort out fact from fiction.

When Sonny Mehta, Alfred A. Knopfs late publisher, bought the book several years ago, he wrote Carrey a note, congratulating him for steering clear of There is a town in North Ontario bull, referencing the opening line from Neil Youngs autobiographical song Helpless. Memoirs and Misinformation is a deconstruction of the standard-issue show biz chronicle. There arent any fun anecdotes about the making of Dumb and Dumber or Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Instead, there is a wholly strange work of autofiction, laden with symbolism and metaphor, sometimes beautiful, sometimes tragic, often inscrutable.

In a recent FaceTime call  with Vachon first joining, followed by another good hour one-on-one  Carrey, 58, says he didnt want to write a memoir that dryly cataloged his life. You can tell a lot about somebody through their fictional choices, he says, with Vachon adding that they wanted to use heightened reality to create a superposition of truth.

That reality, as you might expect from Carreys career of infiltrating fiends, clowns, and sad men trying to stave off loneliness, naturally tilts toward the surreal  a tone consistent with the experience of speaking with Carrey himself. For instance, when the conversation turns to Las Vegas, a place the books Jim Carrey fears hell wind up when hes old, jowly with bleached teeth and hair plugs, whoring for the bingo crowds, Carrey describes his own visits to Sin City in feverish prose that surpasses the book.

Whenever I go to Vegas, I go crazy, Carrey says. The only way I can live there is if I put all the faucets on scalding hot so the room becomes some sort of terrarium for tropical plants where literally you cant see out the windows after awhile. Theyre just bleeding with sweat. Its what I imagine living on Mars is going to be like. I dont give a damn how you think youre controlling my environment! Im going tropical! I might have to break a window at some point to stick my head out.

Memoirs and Misinformation, which Carrey describes as burning myself to the ground and telling you thats not who I was anyway, began its life eight years ago when Vachon walked into Carreys West Village artist workspace, checked out his paintings and thought, Theres a story here. In one corner, there was a depiction of Malibu engulfed in flames. In another, a self-portrait had been slashed. Vachon told Carrey that the scene reminded him of Aeneas standing in Junos temple, lamenting the hardships of his life.

Instantly, a friendship was born.

Early in the collaboration, Carrey spilled his life story  his familys financial struggles, his mothers pain-medication addiction, his eight-hour shifts at a tire factory, his fathers sweet, incredible soul, his stand-up days in Toronto, and his meteoric rise to fame  so that Vachon could upload those memories before composing the fictionalized Carrey. They Skyped constantly, Carrey spewing ideas, Vachon struggling to turn them into cohesive prose. That process continued regularly for nearly a decade, ending only in February with a final draft.

Were still not sure its done, Carrey says, only half-joking of the book, published July 7. Adds Vachon: The book is the product of an epic, open conversation. Who spends eight years on a project? To me, that was a gift.

Writing, Carrey says, felt like somebody opened the doors of an ancient temple for me. What he saw inside  and what he wished to convey  can be glimpsed in the image on the books cover. The painting, by Carrey, incorporates a photo accidentally taken of him in Maui in 2018 when an early-morning emergency alert warned, by mistake, of an incoming ballistic missile attack.

My assistant, Linda, called me and said, Chief, we have 10 minutes, and I said, What do you mean? And she said, The missiles are coming. And she was squeezing the phone and accidentally took a screen shot, Carrey says. Thats the cover of the book, my actual face after being told I had 10 minutes to live.

After initially trying to reach his daughter from Maui, Carrey walked outside, sat on the lanai and spent eight minutes going through a gratitude list. Staggered by the bounty of his life, he reached a state of grace, closed his eyes and waited for the missiles.

Now, I walk around the world knowing what that is for me, and if that should happen, where my heads going to be, Carrey says haltingly, wiping away tears. Ill sit and thank God for the blessings in my life. If I was anybody, who was I? And I dont really believe that Im anybody. I believe theres nothing that isnt you.

Memoirs and Misinformation features a comparable apocalyptic accounting, with similar results. Yet the real Carrey has been anticipating oblivion for most of his life. In the books sixth chapter, our hero goes to the Saharan Motor Hotel to meet screenwriter Charlie Kaufman to discuss playing Mao Zedong in a biopic that Carrey believes will be his Raging Bull. Its the same seedy Sunset Boulevard lodge Carrey checked into in 1982, freshly arrived from Toronto with just a suitcase of clothes and a secondhand copy of Hal Lindseys doomsday bestseller, The Late Great Planet Earth.

I walked through a parade of hookers and took my little green ass to some motel room that would make Baretta jealous, Carrey says. And Im reading this book saying the world is going to end soon and Im like, But I just got here. I gotta make it before I die. So, literally, Ive been making it before I die for almost 40 years. But we all have the sword of Damocles over our heads. That mushroom cloud is a character in our lives. And we have to learn how to dance and smile and do all the proper and appropriate things.

Dave Holstein, creator of the Showtime series Kidding, starring Carrey as a childrens television personality coping with tragedy, believes his star has reached a tenuous peace with a life of peaks and valleys we can only begin to understand.

When you go to enough therapy your whole life, you eventually become your own therapist  and I think Jim has mastered the art of self-study, Holstein adds. Hes so unsatisfied, in a way that most incredibly ambitious people are, that theres always something they feel they can accomplish that they havent yet done.

The two seasons of Kidding survey similar ground as Memoirs and Misinformation, picking at family wounds, excoriating celebrity, and mulling mortality, engaging in what Holstein calls a full-throttled emotionality.

He is sensitive, Holstein says, and not afraid to really tap into the raw, honest feelings that we go through in the dark.
The Barchart Chart of the Day belongs to the plastic products company Deswell (NASDAQ: DSWL ). Readers are always asking me how to find stocks that are just beginning to trend before everyone else discovers them. One of the best ways is to look at Barchart's Strong Volume Gains preformatted screener. It identifies stocks...

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Woodbridge, VA (22192)

Today

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 72F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 53F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Local Twin Cities artists Enzyrose, Eyenga Bokamba, Noah Lawrence-Holder, LeShon Lee, and Meadow Gillispie, talk about their reaction to the murder of George Floyd, the trial of Derek Chauvin, and life as a black artist during this time.
Kishan Mangat of the Insurance Cultural Awareness Network

We all know diversity is an issue in the insurance sector, but why is it important and should companies consider positive discrimination? We talk to the Insurance Cultural Awareness Network's Kishan Mangat
The agency and brokerage space is often lacking in equal representation. While there are few statistics that focus exclusively on pinpointing the racial make-up of agency and brokerage workforces, many organisations have revealed that theres a lack of diversity across the insurance industry broadly, particularly in leadership roles. That continues through to agencies and brokerages, where leadership teams are still dominated by white men.

The importance of expanding diversity at agencies and brokerages is why groups like the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) have focused some of their efforts on making Black professionals aware of the opportunities at the insurance agency and brokerage level. In fact, a study conducted by Marsh and NAAIA noted, With changing minority demographics and an increase in the number of smaller agencies servicing them, there is an opportunity to provide African Americans interested in insurance careers with unique hands-on opportunities to grow, and grow with, the business.

The agency and brokerage world is a great place to start an insurance career. After all, many of the top leaders at national and global insurance organisations got their start in the insurance business by working at an independent insurance agency or brokerage where they learned the ropes of insurance and made connections with vital leaders who would help them along their journey in this sector. One example would be Worldwide Facilities CEO Davis Moore, who early on in his career moved to London to work in the Lloyds marketplace as a broker, and then returned to the US to start at Worldwide Facilities as a wholesaler broker.

Meanwhile, Swiss Res reinsurance CEO Moses Ojeisekhoba was a few years out of school when he took a job as a life insurance agent, and Simon Gosnell, a 50-year veteran of the industry and one of the founding directors of leading specialist insurance broker AlphaXO Risk Partners, transitioned to broking from underwriting within a few years of starting in insurance.

Another example is Maureen Gallagher, today Michigan agency president and national real estate and workers compensation practice leader at AssuredPartners, though her story had a few notable challenges. When she was interviewing for producer positions after several years in the industry, she interviewed at many agencies and none would offer her a salary, which meant she would have to work solely on commission.

It was not so long ago, in the 1970s, when female producers were almost non-existent. Yet the same challenges persist today, with unconscious and conscious bias limiting opportunities for racially diverse talent to get their foot in the door. After all, many hiring decisions are based partly on determining if a candidate would be a cultural fit  a largely subjective notion that can easily feed into the hiring of people who already look like and have similar experience to those working at the organisation.

Read more: More work to do in the insurance industry on diversity and inclusion  Inga Beale

A few broker and agent associations already have committees dedicated to bringing in young people or those new to insurance into this sector. What these, as well as individual companies, should also consider  and what they often lack  is how to reach potential future insurance professionals who dont have the same experiences and dont look like them, yet can bring new perspectives into agencies and brokerages. This can be executed by internal groups dedicated to diversity issues at the agency and brokerage level as well as individual company efforts to recruit, mentor, and advance diverse individuals, such as [email protected]s, which dont seem to be as common as the D&I efforts of larger insurance organisations.

Agencies and brokerages are proven launch pads for the insurance industry  someone who starts at this level can build out a significant business and even progress to the most senior ranks of insurance. As a result, they are critical insurance workplaces that need to step up in the fight for racial equality in insurance.
The non-profit organization explained in a statement that the proposed insurance bill it is most worried about is AB 2167. The bill would allow homeowners insurance companies to increase their rates as high as they choose, by exempting them from the protections of Californias rate regulation law, Proposition 103. In addition, there is nothing in AB 2167 that requires insurers to sell or renew insurance in communities the companies claim are wildfire risks at a fair price, Consumer Watchdog said.

California homeowners have been ravaged by wildfires, insurance claims abuses and outright refusals to sell them insurance. Now the insurance industry is throwing its weight around to win the right to raise rates at will, said Consumer Watchdog executive director Carmen Balber. Will the Senate reject the insurance industrys influence peddling to stop this power grab that will gut consumer protections and cost homeowners billions?

Citing data from the Secretary of State, Consumer Watchdog added that P&C insurers have given $32.5 million to candidates for the Legislature and statewide office, and have spent another $34 million on ballot measures.
Although cities still have to purchase basic insurance, the bill would hold officers accountable for their actions by forcing them to pay any increase in premiums on their insurance for any misconduct they have been sued for, Biaggi explained.

Officers who have misconduct claims brought against them may see their premium go up and will be required to pay those costs. The purpose of this bill is to establish a financial disincentive for police misconduct and create accountability for abhorrent behavior, the senator said.

Under NYs current law, cops facing civil lawsuits are represented by the city law department, while taxpayers pay for the verdict or settlement.

New York Post reported that the bill is one of the latest in a series of police accountability measures passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month.

University of California law school professor Joanna Schwartz had a similar idea to use insurance as a means to control police conduct. But instead of requiring police officers to purchase personal liability insurance, Schwartz believes municipality liability insurance can be used in the same way.

Read more: Want to stop the violence? Get cities to buy insurance

The professor explained that while larger municipalities can easily pay for civil lawsuits against their own police, smaller cities will have to rely on liability insurance. If there are too many civil lawsuits filed against the police of a small city, the municipalitys liability insurance premiums will increase, leaving the city on the hook for the costs. This would force cities to rein in their police force for any misconduct.
We are very excited to expand our presence in Florida, especially with someone of Jims caliber, who we liked from the first time we spoke, said LCIB CEO Jerry Pickett.

This partnership brings expanded markets and strong backroom support for our clients and staff, added The Browning Agency founder and president Jim Browning. I see this as a long-term relationship with great services to fuel our growth.

Read more: Liberty Company Insurance Brokers appoints new senior vice-president

In June, LCIB appointed Sanjay Mehta as senior vice-president of the companys Irvine, CA office.
Nonetheless, even for those that have seen more activity during this time, there have been added stresses. For one, the lack of daycare options has put a burden on some volunteers shoulders. With staff not being able to get childcare, many were not able to come in to do their work, especially concerning at organizations that work with vulnerable populations, such as the Ronald McDonald Houses or group homes. In response, the Nationwide team provided materials to help these organizations set up pop-up or temporary daycare centers.

Alongside these adjustments, non-profit organizations have needed to take further steps to adapt their operations to the new coronavirus-ridden world.

Read more: Non-profit insurance sector outlook as COVID-19 lingers

The pandemic has forced non-profit organizations to make adjustments necessary to continue their mission-critical activities, explained William Henry, consultant at Volunteers Insurance Service Association (VIS) in Alexandria, Virginia. In some cases, its a matter of adjusting operations to take best advantage of paid staff and volunteer resources. In some cases, they have had to suspend activities entirely. But there are many examples of organizations redirecting some of their normal volunteer activity into new channels.

In one instance, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh developed a list of virtual/at-home and non-local opportunities for interested volunteers. VIS created guides for organizations wanting to follow in similar footsteps, titled How to Make Remote Work Work, as well as a guide on returning to the workspace titled Back to Work: Creating a Safe Environment for Employees.

As expected, insurance coverage questions have also arisen during this time, especially considering the struggles that some non-profits have faced in securing affordable and appropriate coverage before the pandemic even hit. Doman said that a common question from non-profits has concerned temporary employees, which some brought on in bigger numbers because they needed more staff. Sometimes, one type of facility loaned employees who are idle to another type of facility, introducing potentially new exposures.

In the meantime, to help mitigate against risks related to the pandemic and particularly around the threat of the virus spreading in a workplace, Weve been advising our customers to, at a minimum, follow the CDC guidelines for protective equipment, and OSHA also has guidelines from a workers comp standpoint for how to protect employees, explained Doman. We would see that as the starting point for protecting employees because most of these non-profits will have services where theyre meeting one-on-one with clients.

Read more: Non-profits facing hoard of new challenges amid COVID-19 pandemic

The business interruption coverage debate has likewise reached the non-profit world, though like in other sectors, it has so far brought little success for insureds.

As enormous as the COVID-19 disruption has been, most business interruption and extra expense policies exclude losses caused by pandemics, said Henry. There are exceptions, but thats the rule.

He pointed to legislation in some states that would force insurers to pay claims despite the exclusions, and the ongoing discussions around implementing a federal backstop program for COVID-19 losses, which would also impact the non-profit sector.

However, the status of these developments is To Be Determined.

Well see how that plays out, noted Henry.
A worker injured at a Massachusetts construction site can sue under the states three-year statute of limitations despite being a resident of Connecticut, a Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled. The decision reverses a lower courts ruling that Connecticuts two-year statute of limitations for negligence actions instead applies to the situation.

The case arose after defendant Dimeo Construction Company, a Rhode Island corporation, was contracted to perform construction work at Grafton High School in Grafton, Mass. Dimeo then contracted with defendant Shepard Steel Co. Inc., a Connecticut construction company, to perform decking work on the project.

Shepard contracted with defendant Champion Steel LLC, also a Connecticut company, for steel construction work on the decking, and plaintiff and Connecticut resident Stanford Dulaire, doing business as Connecticut Reliable Welding LLC, entered into a contract with Champion to perform metal work on the project. Dulaire employed Connecticut resident James Doughty to perform decking work at the construction site as well.

On May 17, 2011, Doughty was wearing a retractable life line manufactured by German company IKAR GmbH and marketed by defendant Ultra-Safe Inc., an Arizona corporation, while working on a platform at the construction site. The life line, provided to Doughty by Champion, Shepard and Dimeo, failed and caused Doughty to fall 18 feet to the ground, sustaining serious injuries.

Plaintiff Pacific Insurance Company Ltd., the workers compensation insurer for Doughtys employer Dulaire, had paid out workers compensation to Doughty under Connecticuts workers compensation statute pursuant to its policy.

Under Connecticut law, an employee who receives workers compensation payments can bring a suit if any injury for which compensation is payablehas been sustained under circumstances creating in a person other than [the] employera legal liability to pay damages for the injury, according to the Massachusetts Appeals Court opinion document.

Connecticuts statute also creates a right of action so that employers obligated to pay workers compensation, like Dulaire, can sue third parties for recovery of any amounts paid or for which they are obligated to pay, the opinion document added.

In the lawsuit, plaintiffs Pacific and Dulaire contended that Doughtys injuries were caused by the negligence of defendants Champion, Shepard and Dimeo in supplying, inspecting, maintaining and using the life line. With this in mind, the plaintiffs contended the defendants were liable for all payments Pacific had made and would be obligated to make to Doughty.

The defendants argued, however, that the plaintiffs rights were created by Connecticut statute so the Connecticut statute of limitations for negligence should apply. Connecticuts two-year statute of limitations for negligence actions had expired in 2013 before the plaintiffs filed the claims on May 16, 2014.

The defendants further contended that Massachusetts should have no substantial interest in the suit because the only connection that Massachusetts has to this case is that the incident happened to occur there, according to the opinion document.

The Massachusetts Appeals Court disagreed with this argument, however, reasoning that it was enforcing the norms of Massachusetts tort law regarding conduct at a worksite in the state.

Here, the issue that the plaintiffs seek to litigate in order to hold the defendants liable is precisely the tort liability of the defendants for their alleged negligence in Massachusetts, Massachusetts Associate Justice Peter J. Rubin wrote in his opinion. Massachusetts has a substantial interest in seeing this claim litigated for the full period allowed by our statute of limitations.

The Massachusetts Appeals Court found that because the injury was caused by the alleged negligence of the defendants in performing work and providing equipment and safety planning at the construction site in Massachusetts, the states three-year statute of limitations applies despite the Connecticut residency of the injured worker.

The parties were not visitors passing through our state, Rubin wrote in his opinion. Rather, this case involves allegedly tortious conduct doing injury to a worker at a worksite at a Massachusetts high school by defendants contracted to do work there over the course of months. Although the plaintiffs and the injured party reside in Connecticut, and the defendants are out-of-state companies, their contacts with the commonwealth were not transitory.

The case is Pacific Insurance Company Ltd. & another vs. Champion Steel LLC & others.

Topics Lawsuits Workers' Compensation Training Development Massachusetts Construction Connecticut
Indias financial technology platform Paytm is set to acquire Mumbai-based private sector general insurer Raheja QBE General Insurance Co. Ltd.

The acquisition is subject to customary conditions, including approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Financial details of the purchase were not disclosed.

After enabling millions of Indians with the services of its homegrown Paytm Payments Bank, Paytm said it is now setting its sights on democratizing general insurance services.

Raheja QBE, which started operating in 2009, is a joint venture between Prism Johnson Ltd. (owner of 51% of the company) and Australias QBE Insurance Group.

The company said that all employees of Raheja QBE would continue working at Mumbai and other locations.

This strategic acquisition is being made through technology company QorQl Pvt. Ltd, which is owned by Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma (as majority shareholder) and Paytm (as a minority shareholder).

Paytm has a large consumer base and merchant ecosystem with extensive knowledge of consumer behavior. The company would leverage this reach to innovate insurance products and services to accelerate its reach & adoption. It is in furtherance of Paytms mission of driving financial inclusion for over half a billion Indians.

Amit Nayyar, president of Paytm said, It is an important milestone in Paytms financial services journey, and we are very excited to welcome Raheja QBE General Insurance into the Paytm family. Its strong management team will help us accelerate our journey of taking insurance to the large population of India with the aim to create a tech-driven, multi-channel general insurance company with innovative and affordable insurance products.

QBE Australia Pacific Chief Executive Officer Vivek Bhatia said the agreed sale marks both a continuation of QBEs strategy to simplify our business and the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for our strong team at Raheja QBE.

Source: Paytm

Topics Mergers InsurTech
Minnesota public safety officials updated the states drivers manual to give motorists who are legally carrying firearms some guidance on what to do if they are stopped by police, including instructions to keep both hands on the steering wheel while telling the officer of the guns location.

The change was announced on July 6, four years after Philando Castile was fatally shot during a traffic stop after he told an officer he had a gun. His mother, Valerie Castile, pushed for the change two years ago when she saw Arizona had updated its drivers manual to include the additional information.

After phone calls to other states and discussion with both community members and law enforcement, she called Mondays announcement bittersweet.

Were talking about 1,461 days that I have not seen my son, have not touched my son, have not kissed my son, and it brings delight that the Department of Public Safety has re-updated the drivers manual because this little tidbit is very, very important, she said. That bit of information can save lots of lives.

Minnesotas drivers manual had already provided direction for motorists stopped by law enforcement, but the new language details what someone should or should not do when informing an officer they are legally carrying a firearm.

The manual now instructs drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel during a traffic stop as the officer approaches. Drivers should tell the officer they have a gun, its location within the car while keeping their hands on the steering wheel, and refrain from reaching around the car without telling the officer first, the updated manual says.

The change also describes what motorists should expect from police. Drivers should expect officers to identify themselves as law enforcement and give the reason for the stop. In addition to asking for a drivers license and registration, officers may ask to take possession of the gun for the duration of the traffic stop, according to the manual.

If we all know what to expect during a traffic stop thats going to be a lot better for all of us, but we should all expect respect, said Booker Hodges, DPS assistant commissioner of law enforcement. The officer has to respect a citizens right to legally carry a firearm (and) the citizen has to respect the officers right to perform his or her job when conducting a traffic stop.

Philando Castile, a 32-year-old elementary school cafeteria worker, was shot on July 6, 2016, after he told then-St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez that he had a gun. Authorities later discovered Castile had a permit for the firearm. Castiles girlfriend, who was in the car with her then-4-year-old daughter, livestreamed the immediate aftermath of the shooting on Facebook.

Yanez was charged with manslaughter and other counts but was acquitted in 2017, sparking days of protests. Valerie Castile reached a nearly $3 million settlement with the city of St. Anthony less than two weeks later.

The working group on deadly police encounters, co-chaired by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and state DPS commissioner John Harrington, released the 28 recommendations in February. The recommendations include increasing community engagement by law enforcement, expanding state funding for law enforcement training, and creating an independent unit within the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate cases of severe or deadly use of force, among others.

I pray that Minnesota can be a model for other states  and do these things. We all can do better, Valerie Castile said. Weve had these wonderful working groups with all these great recommendations, now its time to implement them.

Mohamed Ibrahim is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Personal Auto Law Enforcement Minnesota
The board of data analytics firm CoreLogic yesterday unanimously rejected an acquisition offer from an investment firm and hedge fund, calling the unsolicited bid undervalued. CoreLogic added that it would be willing to meet with the two firms behind the offer.

The action was a response to a June 26 cash offer from Cannae Holdings and Senator Investment Group to acquire the company for $65 per share, or about $7 billion.

Cannae and Senator, which jointly control 15% of the company, said the CoreLogic board rejected their proposal without any sign of seriously considering it and without any response to their multiple requests for a meeting. Claiming shareholder support, they vowed to call a special shareholders meeting to replace the board.

CoreLogic Chairman Paul Folino said that the company is still keeping its options open, even as it rejected the unsolicited bid from Cannae, an investment firm, and Senator, a hedge fund.

Our Board is open to all viable paths to increasing shareholder value, and we are willing to meet with Senator and Cannae, Folino said in prepared remarks. But given CoreLogics strong momentum, increasing margins, accelerating growth, and multi-faceted value-creation model, we are unanimous in our belief that CoreLogic will be able to deliver significantly more value to shareholders than this opportunistic proposal.

Irvine, Calif.-based CoreLogics stock price was up 3.29% to $68.67 at close on July 7.

CoreLogic  a data analytics firm for the real estate, mortgage and insurance industries  also took steps to shore up its independence by boosting a share buyback plan and adopting a short-term shareholder rights plan.

Folino further claimed that the Senator/Cannae offer also fails to address the serious regulatory concerns raised by significant overlaps between CoreLogic and the network of companies associated with Cannaes Chairman, including Black Knight and Fidelity National.

Cannae and its affiliates are led by William P. Foley. Among Foleys companies are Fidelity National Financial, a provider of title insurance and transaction services to the real estate and mortgage industries; Fidelity National Information Services, a financial technology processing company; and Black Knight, which sells software, data, and analytics on homeownership. In February 2019, Cannae acquired Dun & Bradstreet, a commercial data and analytics company,

Folino said CoreLogic has benefited from an ongoing strategic realignment with new customers and ongoing growth in revenues and market share.

CoreLogic hiked its revenue guidance to between $1.84 and $1.88 billion for 2020, up from previous guidance of $1.69 billion to $1.7 billion. The increase would translate to estimated earnings per share for the year between $3.40 and $3.60, up from between $2.80 and $3.00.

The company said confidence in its business outlook led the board to increase CoreLogics share buyback to $1 billion, above and beyond the companys recent quarterly dividend.

The new short-term shareholder rights plan calls for CoreLogic to distribute to its stockholders a dividend of one right for each share of its common stock held as of the close of business on July 17, 2020. Each right is attached to and trades with the associated share of common stock. The rights will generally be exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 10 percent or more of CoreLogics common stock (or 20 percent in the case of certain passive investors).

Cannae and Senator said they enjoy widespread support from shareholders. They said their offer represents a compelling 37% premium above the unaffected price and it has helped boost trading in the shares.

The two investment firms said that if CoreLogic elects to ignore its shareholders and instead continues with its current course of action, they will call a special meeting to replace the board as early as July 28.

Cannae and Senator accused CoreLogics board of hiring defense advisory firms weeks ago and taking other defensive steps despite public statements that they had no knowledge of their interest,

They called the companys newly issued multi-year guidance wildly optimistic after years of poor organic growth and said CoreLogics references to regulatory concerns and business overlaps were nothing more than misdirection They said that they reviewed potential regulatory and antitrust matters prior to making their proposal and do not believe there are material hurdles to consummating a transaction but they are willing to sign an acquisition agreement to address those concerns.

For the first quarter of this year, CoreLogic reported revenues of $444 million, up $26 million or 6%, and operating income from continuing operations of $67 million, up 216%. Net income from continuing operations came in at $34 million, up $32 million.

Topics Mergers Legislation
The civil disturbance that started in Minneapolis after the killing by police of George Floyd spread to 20 other states, leading to an unprecedented property insurance catastrophe. The experience will likely impact policy renewals and could even persuade some insurers to exclude coverage for damage caused by riots, according to industry claims executives.

In the U.S., there has been no precedent for a riot catastrophe like this, Tom Johansmeyer, head of Verisks Property Claim Services (PCS), said during a telephone interview with the Claims Journal last week.

Johansmeyer offered no prediction about total damages, other than to repeat a previous report that losses will exceed the $25 million catastrophe level. But he did say that this years civil disturbance was the first ever to cause substantial property losses in more than one state. That breadth of damage is bound to affect the thinking of property underwriters, especially those who insure large national retailers. He said up to now, insurers have thought of rioting as a local risk that can be controlled by building a geographically diverse book of business.

PCS drew up a graphic that shows 21 metropolitan areas that were impacted.

It will certainly be on the minds of property underwriters, Johansmeyer said. You do not talk about losses from big riots and not talk about them when it comes to renewal.

Historically U.S. riot catastrophes have caused relatively low insured losses, PCS said in a previous report. The 2015 rioting in Baltimore was the last civil disorder event that PCS designated as a catastrophe, meaning it resulted in damages of more than $25 million.

The highest losses from any civil disorder in the United States were associated with riots that took place after a jury acquitted police officers who were videotaped while beating Rodney King in 1992. PCS said insured losses from that event reached $775 million, or about $1.4 billion in 2020 dollars, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

PCS said shortly after rioting erupted in Minneapolis that damages there could reach $25 million in Minnesota alone. The company has yet updated the total amount of estimated insured losses. Johansmeyer noted that his company sells information to subscribers  besides, PCS isnt in the forecasting business.

There is a fair amount of loss to be had here, he offered, when asked what the total insured loss might be.

Johansmeyer said the total amount of the loss isnt the real story anyway.

Its the large retailer losses in particular that could change the character of this, he said. The dynamics of the retailer space are just profoundly different than what you had seen in the 1992 riots.

Riots in Wake of Floyds Death Could Become Most Costly Civil Disorder for Insurers Rioting that erupted in cities across the country after peaceful protests mourning the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis may rival the 1992 Los Angeles riots to become the most costly civil disorder for insurers in United States history.

Johansmeyer said national retailers were not truly national 30 years ago. He said he never saw a Target store or WalMart when he was growing up in Boston. Now those stores are ubiquitous.

He said CVS, Target, Walgreens, Walmart and Whole Foods reportedly suffered property damage during protests in Seattle, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Boston and other large U.S. cities.

He said one has to look back to the 2019 civil unrest that spread throughout the South American nation of Chile late last year to find property damages of similar scope. Rioting set off during protests over the cost of living and income inequality caused $2 billion in damages, and 40 percent of that was incurred by large, multinational retailers. In fact, PCS said 20 percent of the loss came from a single retailer, he said.

Johansmeyer said said one of those retailers in Chile was not able to find coverage for damage caused by strikes, riots and civil unrest when it renewed its property policy. He said it had to go the political violence market for coverage.

He said its too soon to know if that will be the result of the U.S. civil unrest.

We are aware that a couple of large retailers have put in large-loss advisories, Johansmeyer said.

Ted Gregory, PCS director of operations, added numerous small claims suffered by a single policyholder make up a good part of the reported losses.

Not every loss was a large loss or total loss of a building, Gregory said. There are a lot of smaller losses out there as well.

About the photo: Ferguson resident Andrew Davis gathers his tools as he volunteers boarding up broken windows Sunday, May 31, 2020, at Beauty World beauty supply in Ferguson, Mo. The store was one of several damaged during protests over the death of George Floyd on May 25 after he was pinned at the neck by a Minneapolis police officer. Several buildings in the area of the Ferguson police department were vandalized. (Christian Gooden/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Topics Carriers USA Profit Loss Property Protests Riots
Arkansas health officials have shut down a Little Rock bar after tracing it to a cluster of coronavirus cases and finding the business wasnt complying with virus safety measures.

The Department of Health on Saturday ordered Brewskis Pub and Grub to cease operations until it appears before a state panel. According to the order, state Alcohol Beverage Control officials inspected the bar last week after cases were traced back to it.

It is the first bar Arkansas has closed for not complying with coronavirus safety rules. Gov. Asa Hutchinson has opposed closing down bars again as the state grapples with a surge of cases and has instead said the state can target ones that arent following the safety rules.

We expect compliance with our public health guidelines, and if someone is not complying with those, then if they are not willing to enforce it they cannot stay in operation, Hutchinson said Monday.

Inspectors found the bar exceeded a two-thirds capacity limit and wasnt ensuring patrons were social distancing or wearing masks. The Health Department is aware of at least seven people who went to the bar within 14 days before being diagnosed with the virus, a spokeswoman said.

Under the health department rules, bar patrons must wear masks when social distancing isnt possible until their food or drink is served. According to the order, a manager told an ABC agent: We cant make them wear masks. We wish they would, but we cant do much.

There was no answer at the bar on July 6, but is said in a Facebook post that three of its employees tested positive.

The Health Department on Monday said at least 24,253 people have tested positive for the virus, an increase of 439 new confirmed cases since Sunday. The department said 6,127 of those cases are considered active, meaning they dont include people who have died or recovered.

Five more people have died from COVID-19, bringing the states fatalities to 292. The states hospitalizations rose by 12 to 337.

The true number of cases in Arkansas is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Arkansas
The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) has named Russell Luttrell of Benton-Luttrell Insurance in Van Alstyne as the Andre P. Juneau ELITExan of the Year.

Luttrell was presented with the award during IIATs annual business meeting on June 10, which was held virtually.

The Andre P. Juneau ELITExan of the Year award is given annually to a young insurance professional in Texas who has achieved success through hard work, community engagement and industry participation in a manner that is considered exceptional for a person of his or her age.

Luttrell is a risk advisor at Benton-Luttell Insurance in Van Alstyne. His primary focus is on commercial lines production. Luttrell came to Benton-Luttrell with 10 years of experience on the carrier side selecting and pricing risks. He spent five years with Central Insurance Companies as a commercial lines underwriter in its Irving office and then moved to FCCI Insurance Group in 2012 to help them enter the Texas market. Luttrell spent 5 years in both marketing and underwriting, helping FCCI grow from no Texas presence to over $50 million in written premium by the time he left in 2017.

Luttrell has his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and Associate in Underwriting (AU) designations.

Source: IIAT

Topics Agencies Texas
The TrueNorth Companies Nashville branch will adopt the name of its affiliate, First MainStreet Insurance (FMSI), as part of its efforts to further its presence in the Nashville market.

According to TrueNorth Nashville Partner & Benefits Advisor Lou Hoop, the switch from TrueNorth to FMSI will allow the company to focus on its employee benefits specialty through the FMSI platform.

Hoop and team recently moving into a new building in the Brentwood, Tenn., area, and will further its growth with the acquisition of the Nashville employee benefit practice of Hylant. The Hylant team of benefit specialists will be joining forces with the previous TrueNorth branch to expand the employee benefit practice footprint in the Nashville market.

First MainStreet Insurance is an affiliated business unit of TrueNorth Companies focused on smaller agencies. FMSI currently has 14 locations spread out across the state of Iowa and one in Tennessee.

Topics Mergers
Overcrowded cells, a lack of personal protective equipment and limited access to cleaning and sanitation supplies are putting people in a Georgia jail at risk of exposure to the coronavirus outbreak, a federal lawsuit says.

Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill and several of his high-ranking subordinates are ignoring the known risks of the virus, exposing people in their custody to a highly infectious disease that can be fatal, the lawsuit says. Lawyers with the Southern Center for Human Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia say they filed the lawsuit July 1 on behalf of four people held in the Clayton County jail.

Hill did not respond Thursday to phone messages seeking comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit accuses the jail administrators of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure effective social distancing and failing to provide sufficient sanitation or adequate protective equipment. They also havent adequately identified and responded to positive cases or provided inmates with information on how to avoid infection, it says.

The conditions violate the inmates constitutional protection against cruel and unusual punishment and rights to due process, the lawsuit says.

The jail, which is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Atlanta, was 96% full, with 1,847 inmates as of June 4, and cells meant to house two people often housed three or four, the lawsuit says. There isnt enough space for social distancing in the cells or common areas.

Forty-five people at the jail  32 inmates and 13 employees  had tested positive for the coronavirus by June 11, with 16 new positive tests in the first eight days of June alone, the lawsuit says.

People experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, often remain in overcrowded cells for days, the lawsuit says. When they are moved out, the cells arent cleaned before new inmates are moved in.

Because they dont have enough cleaning supplies, some inmates use bits of toilet paper and the 4 fluid ounces (12 centiliters) of liquid soap they are allotted each week for personal hygiene to wipe down their cells, the lawsuit says.

The frequent turnover in the jail population and the rotation of officers makes it easier for the virus to travel into and out of the jail, the lawsuit says.

Due to the constant churn of people in and out of local jails, the health of a community during a pandemic is only as strong as the health of those detained in its jail, Cody Cutting, a fellow at the Southern Center, said in a news release.

Two of the people who filed the lawsuit are serving 12-month sentences, one for a misdemeanor and the other for a probation violation. The other two are awaiting trial and cant afford to pay their bail amounts. They range in age from 58 to 72, and all four have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to the coronavirus, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit seeks class-action status. It asks a judge to order the release or transfer of some inmates, including those who are medically vulnerable. It also seeks improved jail conditions through social distancing measures and the provision of personal protective equipment.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Lawsuits Georgia
The parents of a man who died after being shot by a Juneau police officer in December sued the officer, city and others, alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations.

Kevin and Virginia Stephens, parents of Kelly Michael Stephens, want to know what happened, attorneys said, adding they so far have been unable to get copies of video and audio recordings surrounding the shooting.

Attorney Ben Crittenden said it would be simple and reasonable for the Juneau Police Department to release the recordings. The video does not lie, he said. It would tell us exactly what happened.

The Office of Special Prosecutions, within the state Department of Law, declined to bring criminal charges against the officer involved in the Dec. 29 shooting, James Esbenshade. The offices report, from Chief Assistant Attorney General Jack McKenna, cited audio and video recordings and witness interviews among the materials included in the investigation.

McKenna concluded Esbenshade was legally justified in his use of deadly force in order to defend himself from the threat of serious physical injury posed by Mr. Stephens.

Attorney John E. Sweeney, also representing Stephens parents, said a decision by authorities not to prosecute does not shield an officer from civil liability.

The lawsuit names as defendants Esbenshade; Juneau Police Chief Ed Mercer; the city; and others who were not identified. It seeks unspecified damages.

Messages requesting comment were sent to police spokespeople and left for an attorney who represented Esbenshade during the shooting investigation. The city had no comment, public information officer Lisa Phu said.

McKennas report said police were called to a supermarket late on Dec. 28 for a report of a man threatening a patron. The man was later identified as Stephens, the report said. Responding officers did not find him, and Esbenshade interviewed a man who said he was threatened, the report states.

After midnight, police received a call of a shot fired, with the caller saying there was yelling and someone attempting to get into her apartment, the report says. Esbenshade responded.

The report says a man identified as Stephens yelled expletives at Esbenshade and said to the officer, I will kill you, as Esbenshade backed up. The report said Esbenshade had ordered Stephens to stop and said Esbenshade was retreating when he raised his gun.

McKennas report cited footage he said showed Stephens walking toward where Esbenshade was and swinging a leash and chain.

The report said Esbenshade declined to be interviewed about the shooting.

Sweeney said people who were with Stephens that night paint a different picture. He said Stephens was not a threat to Esbenshade.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement Alaska
Just over 81,000 Arizona small businesses were approved for loans worth $8.6 billion under a government program meant to keep people employed during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released Monday by the federal government.

The Arizona companies reported saving more than 1 million jobs as a result of the government program, which set off a frenzy among small businesses scrambling to qualify for limited funds during the economic shutdown in the spring.

Among the 11,000 firms approved for at least $150,000 in loans, several sectors dominated, restaurants, medical, dental and law offices and construction contractors. More than 150 religious organizations, mainly churches, and nearly as many schools also were approved for loans.

The list also includes nonprofit and cultural organizations, newspapers, tribal casinos and hotels.

For the larger $150,00-plus loans, the government reported the names and addresses of companies receiving them, but loan values were reported only as a wide range; exact figures werent disclosed. Little was disclosed about smaller loans.

Unsurprisingly, Phoenix led Arizona cities for large loans, with 3,338 businesses receiving them. Arizonas largest city was followed by Scottsdale, Tucson, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Glendale.

North Scottsdales 85260 led the zip codes, with 464 businesses getting big loans worth between $175 million and $416 million. Tempes 85281, home to Arizona State University, was second, with 308 businesses approved for between $107 million and $258 million.

Fifty-eight businesses received the largest loans of $5 million to $10 million.

The loans can be forgiven if businesses mostly use the money to continue paying workers. The program initially was set to expire June 30 but was extended last week to Aug. 8, with $132 billion still available.

The Paycheck Protection Program helps smaller businesses stay open and keep people employed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Under the PPP, the government is backing $659 billion in low-interest business loans that will be forgiven if employers use the money on payroll, rent and similar expenses. Companies typically must have fewer than 500 workers to qualify.

About $130 billion was unclaimed as the application deadline closed June 30. With money still available, Congress voted to extend the program just as it was expiring, setting a new date of Aug. 8.

The public may never know the identity of more than 80% of the nearly 5 million beneficiaries to date because the administration has refused to release details on loans under $150,000 _ the vast majority of borrowers. That secrecy spurred an open-records lawsuit by a group of news organizations, including The Associated Press.

Still, the release of the data is the most complete look at the programs recipients so far.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Arizona
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Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
Burma Myanmar Prison Staffer Caught Smuggling Meth in His Velvet Flip-Flops

The prison staff member who attempted to smuggle drugs into Myaungmya Prison. / Bo Bo / Myaungmya

PATHEIN, Ayeyarwady RegionPolice have arrested a staff member at a prison in Ayeyarwady Region who attempted to smuggle drugs into the prison inside his velvet flip-flops on Monday evening.

Aung Paing Phyo, 20, who worked as a lower-ranking custodial staff member at Myaungmya Prison, was arrested after 244 methamphetamine tablets and 0.1 gram of crystal methamphetamine, known as ice, were found hidden in his velvet flip-flops.

As Aung Paing Phyo came for the night shift, prison authorities inspected him at the prison entrance and found drugs hidden in a plastic pipe taped to the flip-flops he was wearing, Police Lieutenant Colonel Tun Shwe, spokesman for the regional police, told The Irrawaddy. Prison authorities informed the police and we arrested him.

Aung Paing Phyo said that he was paid 100,000 kyats (US$73.19) by former prison staff member Thant Zin Aung, who also lives in Myaungmya Township, to smuggle drugs for inmate Tin Ko Ko, age 35. Police have arrested Thant Zin Aung and seized 190 yaba tablets from his house.

Normally prisons have tight security, said Myaungmya resident U Shwe Hmaing. Prison is the place where offenders are punished, it should not be a place where offenders can use drugs safely. The government urgently needs to address this problem.

Police have opened cases against the two prison staff members and the inmate under Sections 19 (a) and 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law. If convicted, the three face 10 years to life in prison.

In November 2018, an assistant prison supervisor at Myaungmya Prison attempted to smuggle over 2,200 yaba tablets for an inmate. Authorities took legal action against the two under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.

Between November 2018 and June 2020, there were four cases of attempted drug smuggling at Myaungmya, according to Ayeyarwady Region police. In these cases, drugs have been hidden in food and other things sent to inmates by their relatives. In one case, drugs passed through security checks undetected and were only seized from an inmate after they were inside the prison.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Election 2020 For Myanmar's Former Ruling Party, Hopes Run High as General Election Nears

Senior USDP leaders campaign ahead of the 2015 general election in Yangon. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONThe ex-generals who founded Myanmars former ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), are confident of winning enough seats in this years general election to secure the presidency and form a government. And if that happens, the partys current chairman, ex-general U Than Htay, would become the countrys next President.

We want to win. We will try our best to win votes from the public fairly, party spokesperson Dr. Nanda Hla Myint said in an exclusive interview with The Irrawaddy.

Asked to assess the partys chances in the upcoming election, he said, We believe we will win a majority of seats and form the government. And the presidency will be claimed by the partys leader, U Than Htay, he added.

The USDP was formed in 2010 as a political vehicle for many of the leaders of the countrys former military regime to contest the general election that year. The party won more than 75 percent of the seats in a vote that was widely viewed as flawed. The current ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and many ethnic parties boycotted the vote.

In the last general election in 2015, the USDP was defeated by the NLD and only managed to win a humiliating 10 percent of seats nationwide. The NLD won 77 percent of the parliamentary seats. Current USDP chairman U Than Htay, who served as minister of rail transport and minister of energy in the USDP government, contested a seat in the 2015 general election but lost to an NLD candidate.

Dr. Nanda Hla Myint said on Tuesday that after more than four years of NLD-led government, voters have seen enough to be able to compare the leadership of the USDP and the NLD.

He said that if the public gave the USDP a mandate to return to power, the party would be ready to serve the nation, including improving the economy, increasing peoples incomes, achieving peace and stability and establishing a federal democratic union.

The partys top leaders and some ex-ministers who served in the USDP government are also planning to contest seats in the upcoming poll.

Among the USDP leaders planning to run in the election are U Than Htay; party vice chair and ex-general U Khin Yi, a former immigration and population minister; and Central Executive Committee member U Maung Myint, who formerly served as industry minister.

Renowned human rights lawyer U Thein Than Oo, however, said the USDP had no hope of winning enough seats to secure the presidency and form a government.

With 25 percent of seats in Parliament allocated to the unelected bloc of military-appointed lawmakers, the military proxy USDP would only need to win 26 percent of seats in the bicameral Union Parliament to be able to elect the President and form a government.

Yet, for lawyer U Thein Than Oo, thats still too tall an order for the USDP.

He said that despite adopting new leadership following its electoral defeat in 2015, the USDP is still widely seen as the face of the former military regime. He added that the party had failed to boost its image among the public over the past four years.

He expected the USDP would lose by an even greater margin this year than in 2015. I actually think they might face an even worse loss, winning fewer than 10 percent [of seats, as it did in 2015] in the upcoming poll, he said.

However, political analyst Dr. Yan Myo Thein was more upbeat about the USDPs chances, saying the party could achieve a slightly better result in the upcoming poll than in 2015though it still wouldnt win enough seats to be able to form the government.

Lawyer U Thein Than Oo said that while the public was disappointed and frustrated by some of the NLDs choices of cabinet members, the party is still likely to win a majority of the seats in the election.

In the election, the publics overwhelming support for [NLD chairwoman] Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will outweigh the dissatisfaction over the NLDs underperforming cabinet members over the years, the lawyer said.
On Friday, officials with the Walker County Hospital District board announced that they have finalized a $7.8 million purchase of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. Do you feel like this is a good use of tax dollars, and is this the right direction for the struggling health care facility?

You voted:
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.
Kerry Drake pens The Drakes Take column for WyoFile.com, an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. The views expressed here are solely his own.
Emily Mieure covers criminal justice and emergency news. She also leads the News&Guides investigative efforts. She has reported for WDRB TV in Louisville, Ky., WFIE TV in Evansville, Ind., and WEIU TV in Charleston, Ill.
South Africa: Contingency plans in place ahead of truck shutdown

The National Joint Operational Structure (NatJoints), consisting of various government departments has issued directives to law enforcement agencies to activate contingency plans ahead of a national truck shutdown.

Directives have been issued to law enforcement role players, including the South African Police Service (SAPS) to activate contingency plans across all provinces to ensure that the planned shutdown is policed efficiently.

The planned shutdown was preceded by sporadic attacks on trucks on various national roads across provinces. There has also been social media messages calling for the disruption of traffic and attacks on local trucks driven by foreign nationals at a time when there is high unemployment in the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, NatJoints said the SAPS and all law enforcement agencies will continue to apply fundamental policing principles guided by the Constitution, the Gatherings Act 1993 (Act 205 of 1993) as well as the current State of Disaster Regulations.

There will be zero tolerance to any intimidation against truck drivers as well as other road users. Law enforcement will ensure that there are no criminal activities and that the lives of law-abiding citizens are not put in danger, said NatJoints.

It said a Task Team established by the President consisting of the Ministers of Home Affairs, Employment and Labour, South African Police and Transport were fully briefed on the outcomes of the Road Freight and Logistics Task Team virtual meeting convened by the KwaZulu Natal Premiers office.

Other participants included the Independent Trucking Business representatives and the National Truck Drivers Foundation (NTDF).

The All Truck Drivers Foundation (ATDF) did not attend the meeting despite being invited.

NatJoints said it has noted the progress detailed in the Action Plans of both the National and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Task Teams that we set-up last year. It urged officials to continue to resolve all outstanding matters and to process these reports within the NatJoints structures.

It also noted concerns of the independent trucking industry representatives and urged them to work closely with the law enforcement agencies.

We appreciate the NTDFs continued participation in the Task Team and denouncing the violence and distancing themselves from the planned shutdown, NatJoints said.

Splinter groups

NatJoints also expressed dismay at the actions of splinter groupings that continue to involve themselves in sporadic violence against trucks on national roads, as well as threats made on social media coupled with calls for a shutdown.

We have instructed the police to deal decisively with those involved as we cannot tolerate further disruptions to the economy after the lockdown we had. We are restating our call upon the independent trucking employer representatives and former workers representatives to form legitimate organisations that are accountable, register accordingly and join formal structures such as the Road freight Bargaining Council.

Engagements with bargaining council

NatJoints is also encouraged by Tuesdays virtual meeting with the Road Freight Bargaining Council together with employer organisations and union representatives.

The meeting sought to address concerns following the shutdown call.

We acknowledge the growing public concerns around the continued presence of foreign nationals in the trucking, security, agriculture, construction, hospitality and domestic sectors amongst others in the mist of high unemployment rate in the country, it said.

Key to the outcomes of the meeting:

Is the total condemnation of violence by all stakeholders

The task teams to continuously meet under the leadership of the Ministry of Employment and Labour and the Bargaining Council

The fast tracking of all labour and emigration policies

The meeting noted with concern steps being initiated by some Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to reserve low skilled sectors for their nationals.

The Employment and Labour and Home Affairs departments were urged to fast track the international immigration and labour migration management policy and legal matters to escalate these matters to Cabinet.

We will also address some of these matters with our counterparts within the SADC and the African Union. We call on Road Freight Industry workers to air their grievances and to stage protests within the confines of the law as it is within their right to do so.

Protesters are also reminded that the country is still under the State of Disaster and the public has to abide by the Disaster Management Regulations which are governing the State of Disaster, one of which prohibits gatherings other than a funeral, church service and gathering for work-related purposes, NatJoints said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Last August, Yang Guangzhao and his family were relocated to a resettlement area, which finally swept his worries over population relocation.

My family was assigned with two apartments facing each other and totaling 140 square meters, one for my parents and the other for my nuclear family of five. They are so light and spacious, said Yang, after moving to a new community in the Baiyanglin neighborhood, Qixingguan district, Bijie, southwest Chinas Guizhou province.

Before the relocation, Yang and his family lived in Datian, a remote mountainous village in Yanzikou township of Qixingguan district. The village is three hours' walk away from the market in the township, so food supply was a headache for the villagers. Besides, it took 50 minutes for his children to go to school, and his wife had to stay at home to take care of the preschool one.

The family of seven made a meager living by planting corn and potatoes, with an annual income of less than 10,000 yuan ($1,425). The falling stones near the village caused by frequent rains made their life even harder.

Thanks to the governments relocation program, we are offered with new apartments and recommended to new jobs, Yang said, who earns about 40,000 yuan each year together with his wife.

My parents can also receive the basic old-age pension, which further relieved our economic burden, he told Peoples Daily.

Baiyanglin neighborhood is the largest relocation site for poverty alleviation in Guizhou, covering a total area of 1.13 square kilometers. A total of 29,001 people were relocated there, including 25,443 registered impoverished people.

While the task of relocating those living in inhospitable areas was completed, local authorities have managed to enable them to lead a decent life.

When we go out to work, our parents and children at home are our largest worries, Yang told Peoples Daily. What he said indicated a common concern of many residents in the neighborhood where there are 3,437 seniors over 60 years old, 10,953 children, and 1,128 people with disability certificates. Care services in the neighborhood is in urgent demand.

A nursing center was established in the neighborhood this year under a two-million-yuan fund raised by Guangzhou government and society. It offers day-care services for seniors and children, and has a cafeteria tailored for the aged.

Following a mature operational mode of Guangzhou s Liwan district, the center is operated by professional social service companies, and supervised and funded by social organizations and institutions.

The center is not far from Yangs apartments, and his septuagenarian parents visit the center every day where they sing, dance and chat. They can also have lunch at the cafeteria. It only costs three yuan to have three dishes and a soup.

With the nursing center, residents never have to worry about the care for their parents and children when they are at work. They have a stronger sense of belonging after the opening of the center, as employment, elderly care, childcare, education and medical services have all been brought to their doorsteps.

Yangs family now leads a happier life. The couple can feel at ease to work without worrying about their parents and children as before.

My parents are healthy and in a good mood, and my kids are taken good care of at the center, so we must work harder when we are still young, Yang said.

Looking at the slogan on a wall of the resettlement house reading Live in a new house at once and live a better life step by step, Yang laughed, saying that its a vivid description of his familys new life.
Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado.
Tom Hallberg covers a little bit of everything, from skiing to long-form feature stories. A Teton Valley, Idaho, transplant by way of Portland and Bend, Oregon, he spends his time outside work writing fiction, splitboarding and climbing.
Mark Huffman edits copy and occasionally writes some, too. He's been a journalist since newspapers had typewriters and darkrooms.
Paul W. Hansens Common Ground column appears about twice a month. Columns a re solely the opinion of their authors. Contact him via columnists@jhnewsandguide.com.
This editorial represents the opinion of the News&Guides editorial board: Johanna Love, Rebecca Huntington, Kevin Olson and Adam Meyer.
Another prominent Winston-Salem corporate employer  National General Holdings Corp.  is on the verge of being sold to a larger competitor.

The Allstate Corp. said late Tuesday it has reached an agreement to buy National General for $4 billion in cash. Allstate said the combined company would be a top-5 independent agent carrier in the United States.

The megadeal, which is projected to close in early 2021, requires regulatory and shareholder approval. National General, based in New York, specializes in underwriting auto insurance.

It is not clear how the deal would affect National Generals operations in Winston-Salem, where it expanded operations in fall 2018 at the Madison Park office campus in the northwest part of the city.

Naturally, you are always concerned when one of your local companies change ownership, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said.

However, this local office has been rated as one of their most efficient operations, so I hope that bodes well for the job retention.

In fall 2018, National General said it would add 626 full-time jobs over five years, as well as keep 1,245 jobs. It also pledged to make a $12.3 million capital investment at its 5630 University Parkway operational hub.
Under Phase Two of Coopers three-part plan to reopen the state, which began May 22, he chose to keep several businesses closed that had been projected to reopen with similar 50% capacity limits that restaurants and personal-care services must observe.

Those businesses include bars, nightclubs, public playgrounds, gyms and fitness centers, movie theaters, bowling alleys, bingo parlors, and museums.

Cooper has extended the Phase Two restrictions, in what he called a pause, until at least July 17.

House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said in a statement the bowing alley court ruling reflects the difficult reality that the governor has chosen winners and losers in North Carolinas economy without any justification or consistency, devastating some family businesses while helping others.

Override vote could come today

SB599 is one of six vetoed bills  four in the House and two in the Senate  that may be subject to an override vote today.

The House and Senate are set to begin their sessions at 11 a.m., although the Senate may postpone votes until 1:30 p.m.
Novant Health Inc.s bid to take over operations of New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington advanced Tuesday when that hospitals board of trustees approved recommending the offer.

The next step is the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners addressing Novants $5.3 billion offer at its meeting Monday.

Novant is attempting to establish a third flagship hospital in North Carolina. Novant operates Brunswick Medical Center in the nearby town of Bolivia, where it opened a $100 million, 78-bed community hospital in July 2011.

As part of its bid to manage or own the Wilmington hospital, Novant has agreed to form its first-ever medical-education partnership with UNC Health and its medical school. UNC Health already provides educational and clinical services to the New Hanover system, which is made up of 855 licensed beds at three hospital campuses.

On July 2, the Novant offer was recommended to the trustees by a 21-member group made up of trustees, hospital physicians and local community advocates.
Here in the South, when cooks talk about pimento cheese and macaroni salad and similar mayonnaise-based foods, the discussion invariably comes around to everyones favorite brand of mayonnaise.

And the chances are good that the answer will be Dukes, created in South Carolina by Eugenia Thomas Duke in 1917.

Well, now a cookbook celebrates that favorite Southern creation and the many ways it can be used in dishes from breakfast through dinner and dessert.

The Dukes Mayonnaise Cookbook: 75 Recipes Celebrating the Perfect Condiment (Grand Central Publishing, $28) is by Ashley Strickland Freeman, a food writer and recipe developer based in Charleston who has contributed to more than 45 cookbooks as well as such magazines as Southern Living and Cooking Light.

In the books foreword, cookbook author Nathalie Dupree says, Of course, Im a Dukes lover, too, like anyone who grew up in the South. In fact  most of us dont think of Dukes as just mayonnaise; we think of it as a unique spread that can enhance any sandwich.

In fact, if youre a Southerner and not a Dukes fan, you may just want to keep that to yourself.
Mother just really enjoyed converting these recipes and trying them out, Chris Hendricks said. He has fond memories of eat one of Randolphs cabbage recipes many times as a child. It was cabbage a la creme  creamed cabbage  and Mother developed a way to do this on the grill. Daddy would grill some kind of meat and she would put these foil packages of cabbage a la creme on the grill.

He also vividly remembers when his mother made Randolphs trifle for Christmas one year. As a kid, I was fascinated by the layers  it was such a colorful thing.

In 2013, Sue and Ed Hendricks moved out of their home and into Salemtowne retirement community. That was when Chris Hendricks discovered the forgotten collection of recipes while clearing out his parents attic.

First, he assembled the reworked recipes  310 of about 500 in Randolphs original book  and gave them to his mother for a surprise Christmas present.

Later, during a conversation with Jamie Credle of the Davenport House Museum in Savannah, Hendricks learned what an important tool Randolphs book was to those in the museum world, and thats when the idea to publish the translated recipes began to take shape.
GREENSBORO  Five people were charged after the word divest was painted on the sidewalk in front of the Guilford County jail over the weekend, police say.

The word, painted in thick black letters just beside the entrance leading to the jail in Greensboro, means to deprive of power. It aligns with the call to defund the police heard in protests locally and across the country since the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day.

Since Floyds death, communities have demanded a systemic review of police policy. Many of those asking for change wish to see police departments defunded and their budgets reallocated to other services that could help to reduce crime in communities.

Greensboro Police Department spokesman Ron Glenn said the following people were charged with injury to real property after painting the sidewalk in front of the jail:

John Wesley Hemmingway-Hunter, 28, of Greensboro.

Samantha Rose Naber, 23, of Kernersville.

Joshua David Hoffman, 34, of Greensboro.

Ellis Morgan Faith, 25, of Greensboro.

Katherine Victoria Webb, 23, of Greensboro.

Glenn said they were all arrested at the location of the incident.
Out of all the officers charged, Williams has worked at the sheriff's office the longest, for 20 years. Williams and Woodley are Black. The rest of the officers are white.

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and the jail's medical provider, Correct Care Solutions, have been sued several times over inmates who have died at the jail. Currently, two lawsuits, one in federal court and one in Forsyth Superior Court, are pending in the case of two Winston-Salem men who died in May 2017.

Neville, 56, of Greensboro, died Dec. 4, four days after Kernersville Police arrested him on a misdemeanor charge of assault on a female.

O'Neill said that on Dec. 2, 2019, Neville suffered an "unknown medical condition" as he slept in his cell. He fell from the top bunk to the concrete floor. Jail detention officers and the on-call nurse went to Neville's cell.

"Upon arrival, the detention officers, as well as the on-call nurse, found a disoriented and confused John Neville," O'Neill said at a news conference held in Courtroom 5A in the Forsyth County Hall of Justice on Wednesday. "The decision was made to move Mr. Neville to an observation cell to try to determine what was causing his distress. It was over the next approximately 45 minutes that Mr. Neville would sustain injuries that would cause him to lose his life."
According to arrest warrants, Giles was accused of using a butcher knife to stab a woman he was either living with or had lived with. The arrest warrants alleged that Giles stabbed the woman in the head and also choked her from behind and in the front with his hands and arms. The incidents are alleged to have happened May 1.

According to court records, Giles was scheduled to appear Aug. 17 in Forsyth District Court on the charges.

Giless death is the second reported in recent weeks related to the jail.

The SBI is also is investigating last years death of John Neville, 57, who also was an inmate in the Forsyth County jail and died Dec. 4 after being taken to the hospital from the jail.

The jail released no information about Nevilles death until last week, after receiving questions from the Winston-Salem Journal.

Neville was wanted on a charge of assaulting a female in Guilford County, authorities said. Kernersville police officers arrested him Dec. 1 during a traffic stop. No force was used, and Neville was cooperative, Kernersville police said. The arresting officer took Neville to the Forsyth County jail, where he was booked into custody.
CHARLOTTE  A Facebook post by a North Carolina Republican lawmaker not only made headlines across the country and overseas last month but resulted in a windfall for his Democratic opponent.

Democrat Gail Young said the attention to Rep. Larry Pittmans post brought her campaign at least $20,000. Theyre running in House District 83, which includes a large portion of Cabarrus County from Concord to the Mecklenburg County line.

Pittmans Facebook post came in response to protests that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He called protesters ignorant thugs, criminals, domestic terrorists and vermin. If they resist and attack police, he said, police should shoot them.

This is war, he wrote. Our people have a right to expect our leaders to be on our side, not surrender to the lawless, godless mob.

Young said contributions poured in after the story was picked up on social media.

It came from all over the country, she told the Observer Wednesday. People were appalled by his words.

With campaign reports due Friday, Young expects to report raising a total of around $173,000 for the campaign, with $155,000 cash on hand.
The former home of novelist Michael Peterson  the home where Kathleen Peterson died in 2001 and the home featured in the Netflix documentary series The Staircase  is once again up for sale.

The 9,372-square-foot house on a sprawling 3.4-acre lot in the heart of Durham is listed for sale at $1.9 million. Thats in line with the tax value of the home, listed by the Durham County Tax Administration at $1,937,733. Tax records show that the current owner is Biond Fury, a clairvoyant and medium from New York.

The five-bedroom mansion, built in 1940, has become a point of interest for true-crime devotees and viewers of the popular Netflix documentary series The Staircase. A large portion of the first eight episodes of The Staircase were set at the Peterson home.

Michael Peterson told police he was sitting by the pool at 1810 Cedar St. on the night of Dec. 9, 2001, and when he went inside around 2:30 a.m., he found his wife at the bottom of a back staircase, where she bled to death.
Some Republicans, including Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who called the program wasteful, also have criticized the relief act.

Even Tillis, a champion of the loan program, has expressed concerns about whether the money is going to companies that need it.

A part of the problem is some smaller businesses dont have the resources to necessarily to .... even get the baseline documents to apply for the loan, he told Fox News in April. We have to make sure ... were casting a wide net with the smaller businesses. In North Carolina, 80% of all the jobs are small businesses. We have to make sure that were getting this money into these small businesses so that they can make payroll and pay their monthly bills.

In October, Cunningham filed a financial disclosure report that showed him with up to $50,000 in WasteZero stock options.

The Cunningham campaign said the stock options ended when the candidate left the company in March. It said he has received no compensation or other financial benefit from the program. That could not be independently verified Tuesday.

Another loan flap

Meanwhile the former law firm of a North Carolina Republican congressman also got money under the loan program.
Classes in the Wilkes County Schools will start on Aug. 23 and end on May 25 in 2021-22 as a result of a calendar approved by the Wilkes Board of Education on Feb. 1.
Today

Thunderstorms during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 79F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy skies. High 78F. Winds light and variable.
Syrias last major anti-government bastion, centred on the northwestern province of Idlib, was targeted by a deadly offensive by President Bashar al-Assads forces late last year.

Here is some background about the hold-out area, where according to a UN investigation war crimes and possible crimes against humanity were committed.

 Bordering Turkey 

Idlib has a strategic location, sitting on the border with Turkey  which has backed the rebel uprising  and Latakia province, a regime stronghold on the Mediterranean coast and the heartland of Assads clan.

Before war erupted in 2011, most of its population worked in agriculture, mainly growing cotton and cereals, or commuted to Aleppo, the countrys second-largest city 60 kilometres (37 miles) away.

In March 2015 a coalition of Islamist fighters, including some linked to Al-Qaeda, seized the provincial capital Idlib, other key towns and government military installations.

 Jihadist government 

In January 2018 fighting broke out in the area between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist group dominated by Syrias former Al-Qaeda affiliate, and more moderate rebels in the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front (NLF).

After making gains through combat or negotiated deals, HTS in January 2019 proclaimed administrative control of the area under a Salvation Government.

The jihadist bastion now covers more than half of Idlib as well as adjacent parts of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia provinces.

 Idlib our goal 

In 2017 Idlib was declared one of four de-escalation zones established by the three main foreign powerbrokers in Syrias conflict  Turkey, Russia, and fellow regime ally Iran  in a bid to reduce violence.

But late that year government forces backed by Russian air power launched an offensive on southeastern Idlib, which ended weeks later with their recapture of dozens of villages and towns there, as well as the military airport of Abu Duhur.

The government then retook the other three de-escalation areas  Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, towns in Homs province, and Syrias south  in military assaults culminating in surrender deals.

In July 2018 Assad said: Now Idlib is our goal.

 Buffer zone and offensives 

In September 2018 Russia and Turkey announced a deal to create a 15- to 20-kilometre buffer zone separating rebel and regime fighters.

The accord held off any major regime assault but was only partially respected: the army maintained bombing raids and jihadist groups did not withdraw as required.

Between April and August 2019, Russian-backed offensives against Idlib by the Syrian army killed around 1,000 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

More than 400,000 people were displaced, the UN said.

From December, despite a ceasefire announced at the end of August by Moscow, Russian-backed regime forces intensified their bombing raids. Violent fighting on the ground pitted them against rebels and jihadists.

Almost one million people fled the fighting between December and early March 2020, of whom around 780,000 are still displaced, according to the UN.

Nearly 500 civilians have been killed since December, according to the Observatory.

 Chemical attacks 

The government has been accused of staging several chemical attacks in Idlib, which it denies.

A UN commission found that helicopters from a pair of regime-controlled air bases dropped chlorine-filled barrel bombs on two Idlib villages in 2014 and 2015.

The commission later concluded the army also carried out a chemical attack, probably with chlorine, on a third village in 2015.

A sarin gas attack in April 2017 hit the town of Khan Sheikhun, killing more than 80 people, according to the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria.

The UN and the worlds chemical weapons watchdog also said that sarin gas was used and that the regime, which denies the accusations, was responsible.

In April 2020, the watchdog published an official report in which it accused the Syrian army of chemical attacks in the northern area of Latamneh in 2017.
Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Russia has protected its allies in Damascus from Western pressure, using its veto power 15 times at the United Nations Security Council.

Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States are permanent Security Council members with veto powers. The other 10 members are elected for two-year terms on a rotating basis.

Security Council resolutions require nine positive votes and no veto to be adopted.

 Condemning Syria 

On October 4, 2011, six months after the conflict began, Russia and China block a proposed UN resolution condemning grave human rights violations in Syria and threatening measures against President Bashar al-Assads government.

On February 4, 2012, Russia and China again veto a draft resolution that condemns a Syrian government crackdown on the opposition, while the Security Councils other members vote in favor.

The veto sparks an international outcry.

 Sanctions threat 

On July 19, 2012, Beijing and Moscow again veto a Western-backed resolution that threatens Damascus with sanctions if it does not stop using heavy weapons.

 War crimes 

On May 22, 2014, Beijing and Moscow block a French-drafted proposal for the Security Council to refer Syrian crimes to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

 Aleppo truce 

On October 8, 2016, Russia alone vetoes a text proposed by France to halt the bombing of Aleppo. China abstains, the first time it does not veto a Syria draft resolution alongside Russia.

On December 5, a resolution calling for a truce in Aleppo is vetoed by China and Russia.

 Chemical weapons 

On February 28, 2017, Russia and China again veto a resolution  drafted by Britain, France and the United States  that would have imposed sanctions on Syria over chemical weapons use in the conflict.

On April 12, Russia vetoes a draft resolution demanding that Assads government cooperate with an investigation into the deadly suspected chemical attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhun on April 4. China abstains.

On October 24 and November 16-17, Russia uses its veto three times in less than a month to block draft resolutions on renewing a UN-led probe of chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

On April 10, 2018, Russia vetoes a US-drafted resolution to investigate chemical weapons use in Syria aimed at identifying the perpetrators.

 Idlib 

On September 19, 2019, Russia and China veto a resolution drafted by Belgium, Germany and Kuwait that calls for a ceasefire in Syrias war-torn Idlib province.

 Humanitarian aid 

On December 20, 2019, Russia and China use their veto power to block another resolution drafted by Belgium, Germany and Kuwait that would have extended cross-border humanitarian aid to four million Syrians for a year.

Under Russian pressure, the UN on January 10, 2020 scales back the aid program, agreeing to prolong the assistance for only six months, and through two crossing points along the Turkish border instead of four.

Russia and China again veto a resolution on July 7 that would have extended authorization for the cross-border aid for a year and through two points of entry.
Hundreds of Sudanese protesters have kept up a demonstration in Central Darfur for more than a week, calling on the government to beef up security in the long-marginalised region.

The angry demonstrators have camped outside a government building in the town of Nertiti since late June following multiple recent killings and looting incidents on farmland and properties.

One of the protesters, Samya Adam, said her familys farming business is under continuous threat of attack by armed groups.

We, the women of Nertiti, have no business other than farming, she told AFP. And when we go to work in the fields, we often get beaten and sometimes even raped.

Darfur has long been plagued by poor security and armed groups.

In 2003, a deadly conflict erupted in Darfur between African minority rebels and forces backed by the government of ex-president Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in April 2019.

Bashir is wanted by The Hague-based International Criminal Court over charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Osama Abdalla, another protester, likened the situation for residents in Central Darfur to being held captive by armed groups.

If men go to work in the fields, they get killed and if women go, they get raped. Livestock gets stolen, he added.

This week, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok sent a delegation to address the protesters demands.

The delegation sacked several local security officials and ordered a security force be formed to defend the region, according to government spokesman Faisal Saleh.

But protesters insist on staying put until their demands are met.

We will keep our sit-in going until we see all our demands implemented on the ground, said protester Modather Eissa.
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Wednesday he would be interviewed next week in The Hague by prosecutors who have accused him of war crimes in the 1990s conflict with Serbia.

Thaci, a former political leader of an ethnic Albanian guerrilla group, was charged in late June by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the 1998-99 conflict.

The war claimed about 13,000 lives, overwhelmingly Kosovo Albanians.

Thacis Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) rebelled against Belgrade when Kosovo was a Serbian province.

The president said on Facebook prosecutors had already interviewed many of his former KLA colleagues.

On Monday I will also travel to The Hague, invited by the Specialist Prosecutors Office, to be interviewed, he said, promising to face international justice with dignity and integrity.

Thaci, Kosovos most powerful politician, insists he is not guilty and has said he would quit if the accusations were confirmed.

The indictment still needs approval from a pre-trial judge, which could take months.

Prosecutors said they rushed the announcement because Thaci and other suspects had been trying to obstruct the work of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, the hybrid court that operates under Kosovo law but has international judges.

Thaci, his closest political ally Kadri Veseli and others are charged with being criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders in addition to other crimes against Serb, Roma and Kosovo Albanian victims.

President since 2016 and prime minister before that, in recent years Thaci has taken part in talks aimed at normalising ties with Serbia.

Belgrade still rejects the independence of its former province, declared in 2008.

After the 1990s war, several Serbian military and police officials were convicted of war crimes.

But KLA rebels have also been accused of coordinating a campaign of revenge attacks on Serbs, Roma and ethnic Albanian rivals during and after the war.

The charges were announced as Thaci was preparing to fly to the United States for a meeting with Serbian representatives.

The meeting was postponed and the two sides will come together on Sunday in Brussels, hoping to relaunch a European Union-brokered dialogue that started a decade ago but has been frozen for over a year
In What To Read This Week, arts contributor Taylor Worden suggests novels, poetry, articles and other forms of writing, often centering around a timely topic or theme. This week, Worden suggests works to ease into reading for fun.

Without the pressure of assigned textbooks and chapters, summer is the perfect time to pick up the hobby of reading for pleasure again  especially if you have a lot of time on your hands. Now is a great time to put down TikTok, at least for a couple hours, and pick up a good book to read. Here are a few book suggestions to ease into reading for fun.

"Normal People" by Sally Rooney

For fans of contemporary romance

Odds are youve probably seen plenty about this novel on social media already with its widespread popularity. Normal People follows two widely different characters, Connell and Marianne, as they grow up and move on from their small town in Ireland. The novel examines how their relationship transforms over time as they seem unable to completely let each other go.

With witty dialogue and continuous mounting tension, its almost impossible to put this story down once you begin.

What to Read this Week: The immigrant narrative In this edition of "What to Read This Week," arts contributor Aroog Khaliq suggests different stories about immigrants ahead of the Fourth of July.

"The Convenience Store Woman" by Sayaka Murata

For a quick read

If youre looking for a very quick read, you cant find one much shorter than The Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. The little novel centers on Keiko Furukura, a Japanese woman who finds her purpose in life as a worker at a local convenience store while facing mounting outside pressure to fulfill a more traditional role for a woman of her age.

Although short, this Japanese novel uses the pages it has to present a unique story with plenty of critique on societal roles and what is deemed "normal" in modern day society.

"The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" by Haruki Murakami

For fans of magical realism

Although not a quick read, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle pulls you into its bizarre and complex plot so quickly its difficult to escape until you uncover the mystery along with the narrator. The novel follows Toru Okada as he attempts to find his wifes missing cat. Along the way he is subsequently drawn into a much deeper and darker world than he ever expected.

Reading Between the Lines: RIP Vine, Long Live TikTok Hosts Nicole Dolan and Wyatt Hall talk to their guests about TikTok and whether it will outlive Vine.

Blending magic, romance, mystery and historical fiction, this novel is so vast and elaborate it becomes easy to fall into Murakamis world and get lost. With constant twists and turns, the novel will keep you guessing until the very end.

Little Weirds by Jenny Slate

For a mix of everything

Little Weirds seems to fit in a category all its own, blending genres of biography, creative non-fiction and humor. Jenny Slate, an actress, comedian and writer, uses Little Weirds to let the reader inside her imaginative mind and see the world through her eyes. The essays in this book span from Slates healing after her divorce to the haunted house she grew up in to making sardine sandwiches.

Hilarious, touching, and insightful, Slates novel provides a welcome break from reality by viewing the world through her dreamlike perspective for a little while.
In a statement Wednesday, University of Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod said the new federal guidelines for international students would "further damage our nations universities."
Congressman John Lewis, who passed away Friday evening, is most closely associated with the voting rights march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge on whats been called Bloody Sunday. He helped lead 600 peaceful protesters over that bridge in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965, and defied an order from state and local law enforcement officers to disperse. His belief in the right to vote was strong enough to risk his life and face a charging, well-armed, and riot equipped force of state troopers, local police, and mounted posse men - deputized civilians.







This courageous stand and horrific scene moved President Lyndon B. Johnson to get the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 passed and signed into law. Though many more people were brutally beaten before and during the march, and too many had to die, John Lewis is recognized as the lasting embodiment of the meaning of fighting for the right to vote.







John Lewis became executive director of the Voter Education Project (VEP), based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Southern Regional Council created the nonpartisan nonprofit organization after the passage of the VRA, to register African Americans across the South to vote. In 1971, three Mexican American leaders from Texas (Gutierrez, Pena, and Bernal) asked John to expand VEP to Texas, to register Blacks and Mexican Americans.







John named me his Texas State Coordinator and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. What better job could a 25 year-old Mexican kid have in Texas, than having to spend much of the next three years on the road identifying local leaders and organizing campaigns to register voters? He expected me to go into communities all over Texas, without knowing a soul, locate the right persons willing to organize a campaign, submit a proposal, and report the results.







Later, in 1974, Willie Velasquez founded the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP), and I moved to Columbus, OH and founded the Midwest Voter Registration Education Project, now the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. John helped Willie get SVREP off the ground, and I worked with former VEP colleagues to help get USHLI off the ground. VEP served as the prototype model for both organizations.







SVREP and USHLI have been politically empowering the Latino community for five and four decades, respectively, longer than any other organization in the nation.







In addition to registering 2.7 million new voters, SVREP has filed and won over 200 redistricting lawsuits against states and local jurisdictions throughout the country. In addition to registering 2.1 million new voters, including many newly naturalized citizens, USHLI has trained over one million present and future leaders, published the Almanac of Latino Politics every two years since 2000, and for 38 years has hosted the largest Latino leadership conference in the nation.







Its humbling to note that John Lewis, Willie Velasquez, and I served as executive director of our three organizations, and we are the only three voter registration leaders to have received Presidential medals (Clinton and Obama) for our service to the nation. SVREP and USHLI are an enduring part of Johns legacy.







Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. is President United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, Inc.


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GIS  8 July 2020: The first potato harvest in Glen Park was launched, this morning, by the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin, in the presence of potato planters who are regrouped under the Agricultural Development and marketing Association (ADMA). The Minister thereafter effected a field visit in Glen Park and proceeded to Bigara and Plaine Sophie to take stock of the cultivation of potatoes in these regions.

In a statement following the launching event, Minister Gobin said that the Covid-19 pandemic has made people aware of the importance of food security and food self-sufficiency. Now is the time for Mauritians to become planters and to consume what we have planted and plant what we consume, he highlighted.

The Minister also recalled that there are more and more young qualified people who are joining the agro-business despite the various difficulties faced by planters such as fierce competition, lack of labour, and rising importation costs. Government, he further pointed out, is encouraging the mechanisation of agriculture. A Harvestor machine to the tune of Rs 15 million has been acquired for the cooperative sector for the cutting of sugar cane, he added.

In addition, Mr Gobin stated that an increase of land under potato cultivation and other vegetables has been registered, thus resulting in more harvest and less importation of these crops. He also encouraged more people to process agricultural plant-based products into valuable marketing products such as converting potatoes into chips.

Furthermore, the Minister spoke about a new variety of potatoes Vigora developed by the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute which, he said, is more adapted to the climate in Mauritius and resistant to several diseases.

For his part, the President of the ADMA, Mr Kaviraj Santchurn highlighted that the association regroups some 30 young planters. Speaking about the difficulties these planters faced during the lockdown period, he pointed out that the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security had nevertheless provided them with numerous facilities such as subsidies to face the challenges during these difficult times.

Potato cultivation in Mauritius

In Mauritius, potato is cultivated during two seasons, from 15 April to 30 June, and from July to end of August. Harvest is carried out from mid-June to mid-December. Some 200 tonnes of potato seeds are cultivated on a total acreage of 700 hectares. Production ranges generally from 17 000 to 19 000 tonnes.

The regions of La Marie and Glen Park have been involved in the production of potato crops since several years and have contributed significantly to the overall national production. On average, 60 growers undertake potato cultivation, covering a total acreage of 64 hectares with an annual production of 1 340 tonnes .
Lawyers for the man accused of killing two women nearly ten years apart, are trying to convince a judge he is mentally unfit to stand trial. Families and friends of Kara Kopetsky and Jessica Runions were in court Tuesday to see what the judge will do.
WASHINGTON, (KCTV)  The White House announced Wednesday a plan to send federal agents in to Kansas City in an attempt to address growing levels of violence in the city.

Operation: Legend is being touted by the Department of Justice as a response to the surge in violent crime in Kansas City. The focus of the new initiative is to increase the federal law enforcement present in the city.

Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the new plan was inspired by Mayor Quinton Lucas letter to Missouri Governor Mike Parson where Lucas wrote that Kansas City was "at a crisis point.

NEW: Mayor Lucas calls on Governor Parson to convene a special session of the Missouri General Assembly to address violent crime."We are at a crisis point in Kansas City and we need state legislative action." Full letter: pic.twitter.com/PAaHLqas1B  Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) July 3, 2020

The letter, originally sent July 3, was looking for Parson to convene a special session of the Missouri legislature focused on growing crime in Missouri cities.

McEnany cited the latest crime statistics from Kansas City, noting that the 100 homicides so far in 2020 is a 40 percent increase from this point in 2019. She said agents from the DoJ, FBI, U.S. Marshals, DEA and ATF will be on the ground in the metro within the next 10 days.

The initiative is named after 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who died after being shot while he was in his bed asleep on the morning of Monday, June 29.

We at the federal government want to make sure that that never happens, McEnany said, and use our resources to the fullest extent of the law to ensure that individuals and young children like LeGend and able to live their lives, and live so peacefully.

A release from the Justice Department Wednesday evening described the new program as "a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative across all federal law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight the sudden surge of violent crime" that would start in Kansas City.

The DoJ said the plan is part of a promise by the president to "assist Americas cities that are plagued by recent violence."

President Trump has made clear: the federal government stands ready and willing to assist any of our state and local law enforcement partners across the nation responding to violent crime. Operation Legend will combine federal and local resources to combat the disturbing uptick in violence by surging federal agents and other federal assets into cities like Kansas City, a city currently experiencing its worst homicide rate in its history."



The Departments Operation Legend is named in honor of one of Kansas Citys youngest victims, four-year old LeGend Taliferro who was shot in the face while sleeping in his bed. LeGends death is a horrifying reminder that violent crime left unchecked is a threat to us all and cannot be allowed to continue.

At the time of Taliferro's killing, police reported that they did not believe the shooting was random in nature.

Taliferro had already overcome health issues, including having heart surgery.

The child is being laid to rest in a ceremony schedule for Friday morning.

Around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Lucas issued a statement on the new effort, saying in part that these outside resources "will not be used for regular policing or patrol activities" but rather for investigating "unsolved murders and shootings."

I learned on Twitter this afternoon that the Department of Justice plans to send federal investigators to Kansas City as support for unsolved homicide and non-fatal shooting investigations. As I understand the Departments plan, any outside help will not be used for regular policing or patrol activitiesand solely to clear unsolved murders and shootings.



I also understand the United States Attorney in Kansas City has been in contact with the family of LeGend Taliferro who support the investigation effort to help find the murderer of four-year-old LeGend and many other victims tragically killed this year in Kansas City.

I plan and hope to learn more about this effort over the days ahead. The investigative support effort announced this afternoon can be only one tool out of many, such as mental health treatment and restorative justice, in addressing violent crime.

As I said in my letter sent last week to Governor Parson that was cited by the White House this afternoon, [W]e will continue to pursue a broad set of social services and other tools to address violent crime now and in the future. As mayor, I remain committed to working on all solutions to making our city safer and finding peace for all those impacted by violent crime.

Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver also sent KCTV5 News statement.

The sending of Federal law enforcement was not made with the knowledge of or partnership with local officials. Making this extemporized and explosive call is not a sign of being strong, however, it does raise a question about the right use of strength.

This is a developing story. Please stay with KCTV5 News and KCTV5.com for updates.
The Trump administration has notified Congress and the United Nations that the United States is formally withdrawing from the World Health Organization, multiple officials tell CNN, a move that comes amid a rising number of coronavirus cases throughout the Americas over the past week.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court gave a green light to the Trump administration's rules allowing employers to deny their employees insurance coverage for birth control on moral or religious grounds. Unfortunately, that's no surprise. The Republican Party has long opposed the birth control benefit in the Affordable Care Act, requiring coverage for birth control, and Republican leaders including President Trump have made it a priority to stack federal courts with judges hostile to social progress and ready to assert control over the bodies of women.

Governor Kate Brown's statement on the Supreme Court decision: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court took a step backward, upholding a Trump Administration rule that allows employers to deny contraceptive coverage to employees. This decision will have dangerous consequences for workers across the U.S. and their families who have enjoyed the full complement of health services for reproductive health care for years, thanks in large part because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Today's decision further limits a persons ability to make their own decisions. American families will face additional burdens and costs that were once covered as part of a range of reproductive health care services. The Trump Administration continues to undermine the health, safety, and economic security of Americans by eroding the pillars of the ACA. Just weeks ago, in another case, this administration filed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the ACA during a pandemic, with no plan to replace it. Health care reduces human suffering. To rip away protections in the middle of a public health crisisis extraordinarily cruel. Thanks in part to the ACA, 94% of Oregonians have health care. If the President gets his way 546,000+ Oregonians could lose coverage. The Trump administration rule is a significant blow for Americans' access to birth control, and will have rippling consequences for many who rely on these essential health services. We must remain vigilant to uphold the existing pillars of the ACA and ensure families all across the country have the opportunity to access vital health care. The consequences of not upholding the ACA in this case and others have grave consequences for millions who rely on it for necessary preventive and non-preventive health care and coverage. We cannot afford to go backward.

But what many found shocking is that this latest attack on Americans' fundamental freedom to decide whether and when we bear children -- a freedom that enjoys immense popular support -- included liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer, who joined in the 7-2 decision in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania.

This follows on the heels of last week's decision in which Chief Justice John Roberts defected to side with the liberals on the first abortion case before the Court since Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed.

But in reality, there's no need to question everything you thought you knew about Supreme Court battles over women's rights. These decisions seem surprising on the surface, but the fundamental battles over women's control of their bodies are still right there underneath. If anything, it seems the right wing's deeply unpopular project to restrict women's freedoms has just been paused while dozens of cases await a hearing after the November election.

As I relate in my forthcoming book, America is now approaching the culmination of the radical right's decades-long quest to dominate the judicial branch of government. Packing our courts with judges willing to disregard settled precedent to push their agenda has always been critical to their strategy. Since most Americans don't support that agenda, it doesn't play well in the more democratic legislative and electoral spheres. But if they can change our laws under the cover of fancy-sounding legal doctrines, the reasoning goes, they just might get away with it.

They have painstakingly pursued this goal for decades, fostering a pipeline of young conservative lawyers through well-funded organizations like the Federalist Society. In President Barack Obama's second term, they shifted into overdrive, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's months-long refusal to give Judge Merrick Garland a hearing for his Supreme Court nomination made headlines around the world. But that was only the most conspicuous piece of the obstruction. Under McConnell's leadership, the GOP slowed down the process of confirming Obama's nominees enough to leave vacancies throughout the federal courts, vacancies that Trump and McConnell wasted no time filling with right-wing ideologues, some of whom didn't even have the basic professional qualifications for the job.

The recent case on abortion restrictions, June Medical Services v. Russo, presented the same legal issue as a case decided just four years ago, Whole Woman's Health, in which the Court struck down onerous regulations that pretended to promote public health but were actually designed just to shut abortion clinics down. In that case, Chief Justice Roberts sided with the right-wing justices on the losing side of the case. But in June, Roberts chose to side with the liberal justices, knowing that defying such a recent precedent would be seen as a frontal assault on women's reproductive rights, undermining his Supreme Court's legitimacy and putting it front and center in this fall's elections.

Similarly, a close reading of Kagan and Breyer's opinion in this case reveals they have not changed their positions on the fundamental underlying issues, they were just responding to the particulars of this case. Even as Kagan affirmed the Trump administration's right to change the policy as a matter of administrative law, she also wrote, 'I question whether the exemptions can survive administrative law's demand for reasoned decision-making. That issue remains open for the lower courts to address.' Their votes in this case don't signal a lack of support for reproductive freedom. Justices Breyer and Kagan were, for example, in the minority on the other side of the 5-4 Hobby Lobby v. Burwell decision about the birth control benefit back in 2014.

The bottom line here remains that the Court has given Donald Trump the ability to allow employers who wish to deny their employees access to no co-pay birth control -- to, as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg put it in her dissent (joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor), 'leave women workers to fend for themselves,' thereby gutting a hallmark of the Affordable Care Act. This decision flew in the face of a majority of Americans' values: birth control is not only medically and economically necessary, but is also popular. This fight will continue, as the states that challenged Trump's rules have vowed to keep up the fight in the lower courts.

But in the meantime, it's imperative to understand that the right-wing mission to reassert control over people's bodies remains a central goal of the Trump administration. It's a particularly cruel agenda for those who already have the hardest time accessing medical care -- including Black, Latinx, and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and undocumented Americans. They are those who will be impacted the most by Wednesday's ruling, and they will be forced to pay the price for it.

Like so many Trump administration policies, this is very intentional discrimination -- a deliberate ripping away of rights and freedoms from those who have been most oppressed throughout our nation's too-often-checkered history, reversing our country's progress under the Supreme Court's banner of 'Equal Justice Under Law.'

That's exactly their end goal -- rip away rights and freedoms, targeting those who have been most vilified and attacked the most throughout our nation's checkered history, and preserve a regressive status quo.

Thankfully, an election is coming and a resounding defeat for Trump and his cronies in the Senate can finally put a halt to their campaign of control and stop their relentless takeover of America's courts.
PORTLAND, Ore.  Following pre-announced enforcement of coronavirus-related rules over the Fourth of July weekend, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission said that most bars and restaurants were operating under state rules. However, the agency said that it encountered "problem locations" along the central Oregon coast, areas of southern Oregon, and in the city of Bend.

Governor Kate Brown heralded spot checks by state regulators last week, just a few days after a statewide mandate for use of face coverings went into effect.

The OLCC said that it had inspectors visit 800 businesses across the state between July 3 and 5, with more than a dozen staff members out each day. Usually, the agency said that it has an average of eight inspectors out on the weekends.

According to the agency, inspectors found "significant compliance" with the social distancing and face covering requirements at bars and restaurants around Portland, Salem, Coos County, along the north Oregon Coast, and in most of eastern Oregon.

"In some instances, inspectors provided licensees with on-the-site verbal instructions to improve compliance with the social distancing guidelines," the OLCC said.

In other areas of the state, the inspectors found licensees and customers showing "clear disregard" for the social distancing requirements. The OLCC highlighted trends in downtown Bend, in parts of Josephine County, and in the Newport area.

"In those locations, inspectors also found licensees violating state statutes or OLCC rules, and the OLCC will be issuing administrative violations to those businesses," the agency said.

Inspectors recorded visits to 48 establishments in the Medford region  which includes Coos, Curry, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lake counties. Ten businesses in the region received verbal warnings, and the agency indicated at least some OLCC violations, along with an assessment of "scattered non-compliance" in Jackson and Josephine counties for social distancing and face coverings.

Despite visiting a great many more establishments in the Portland and Salem areas, the OLCC recorded no violations to state statutes or agency rules, and noted "general compliance" for both regions.

"The OLCC is continuing its investigations of licensees found to be out-of-compliance and will take administrative action against licensees alleged to have violated state law or OLCC rules," the agency said. "After investigators complete their reports about observed violations regarding social distancing requirements, the cases will be forwarded to Oregon OSHA for action."
PORTLAND, Ore.  Governor Kate Brown on Wednesday named her picks for the newly-formed "Public Safety Training and Standards Task Force," a group charged with examining how Oregon trains and certifies law enforcement officers, with a focus on racial bias and use of force training.

Brown's public safety policy advisor, Constantin Severe, will chair the task force. Other members include lawmakers, current and former law enforcement officials, and leaders from communities of color.

The Governor's Public Safety Training and Standards Task Force: Constantin Severe, Governors Public Safety Policy Advisor

Janelle Bynum, State Representative

Ron Noble, State Representative

John Haroldson, Benton County District Attorney

Jo Ann Hardesty, Portland City Commissioner

Travis Hampton, Superintendent, Oregon State Police

Jason Myers, Marion County Sheriff, Retired

Aaron Knott, Oregon Department of Justice

Kevin Modica, Portland Police Bureau, Retired

Ricardo Lujan-Valerio, Latino Network

Candace Avalos, Citizen Review Committee

P.K. Runkles-Pearson, Attorney, Miller Nash

Matt Carmichael, Chief, University of Oregon Police Department

Carol Johnson, Civil Rights Director, Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries

Bold action on racial justice and criminal justice reform is long overdue, said Governor Brown. But words from leaders arent enough. We need action. That is why I called lawmakers into a special session to take action on police reform and the People of Color Caucus agenda. This was an important step forward."

The whirlwind three-day special session last month ended after six police accountability bills passed both chambers. Brown said at the time that a task force would review methods and practices at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST).

I am forming a Public Safety Training and Standards Task Force to complete a full review of law enforcement training, certification, and decertification practices," Brown said. "I would like to thank the Task Force members for stepping up to this call, and I look forward to reviewing the recommendations they put forward.

The task force is supposed to provide a list of recommendations on how to improve Oregon's law enforcement training and certification process to the Governor by November of this year. Members have been asked to complete the following items:
NEWBERG, Ore.  The lives of two suspected car thieves came crashing together on Sunday morning in the Oregon city of Newberg, according to the local police department.

Officers from the Newberg-Dundee Police Department responded on the morning of July 5 to the reported theft of a Toyota Land Cruiser. The agency said that officers spotted the stolen vehicle just minutes later as the suspect drove through town.

The suspect reportedly tried to get away from police by speeding through downtown Newberg, but crashed the Land Cruiser into the driver of a Buick Regal near E Franklin and College streets.

While officers arrested the suspected Land Cruiser thief, 27-year-old Randy Lee Cooper of Portland, they found out that the Buick had also been reported stolen in a "completely unrelated crime" about three weeks earlier.

Police said that the Buick driver, 25-year-old Kristin Nicole Begue of Newberg, had been driving under the influence of intoxicants at the time of the crash.

Cooper was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Attempting to Elude Police, Assault-3, Reckless Driving and other related crimes. Begue was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

Newberg-Dundee Police said that the two were cited and released because "neither suspect met the lodging criteria for the Yamhill County Jail."
Then nine inches of rain fell the night of July 8 and early morning of July 9. It caused the Wood River and Turkey Creek in southern Buffalo County to spill over their banks.

Maul said an additional 16 road sites, mostly approachways to bridges over the Wood River, were damaged in the July flood.

... the majority of the issues were not being able to cross the Wood River because of the water over the bridges, he said.

Because of an exceptionally wet spring and summer last year, Maul said it was difficult to keep up with road repair and maintenance.

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The roads were soft. Then the traffic just basically pounded it (the gravel) in there. With a lot of roads, we basically just had to gravel again a second time where normally they dont need it that often, he said.

Access to gravel also was challenging because other county roads across Nebraska needed to be repaired. About two-thirds of the state still was recovering from the March 2019 floods, according to a Hub report.

The gravel contractors, they needed to be in all the surrounding counties the same time we needed them, Maul said Tuesday. Everybody was just in the same situation at the same time, far behind.
Man-made development also played a role.

Theres a lot of development in the lower portions of the Turkey Creek Watershed, Vogt said, and most of the floodwater couldnt fit under Second Avenue.

I dont think anybody can manage for a 500-year event, he added.

The WFPO grant will pay the full cost of the flood prevention study for 106,185 acres  52,340 in the Elm Creek Watershed and 53,845 in the Turkey Creek Watershed  from northwest of Elm Creek, through south Kearney, to the Platte River east of Kearney.

The study will help to identify measures or structures to reduce flooding.

Structures arent the only things to be looked at, Vogt said, explaining that practices such as no-till farming and terraces could play a role. All the water has to come through the system. Its a matter of slowing it down.

Steps ahead

CPNRD already has WFPO grants for studies in two other flood-prone watersheds  the Lower Wood River and Spring-Buffalo creeks. Study consultants for both were approved in April.
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GENEVA  Former York County Public Defender Nancy Waldron was sentenced to probation for felony theft in Fillmore County.

Tuesday, Judge Rick Schreiner sentenced Waldron to five years of probation Tuesday afternoon. There was a sentencing order that included restitution but the amount was not yet made available to the public. It will be made available at a later time, according to the District Court office there.

This case began in the fall of 2018, when Waldron was charged with theft having a value of more than $5,000, which is a Class 2A felony that carries a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In October, 2018, her license to practice law was suspended and her work as public defender for York County ended.

The county, however, had to continue paying Waldron her salary through the end of her term because she was an elected official and had not been recalled. She was unopposed on the General Election ballot that November and ultimately was reelected to her position, but because of her suspended license she was unable to take the oath of office in January, 2019.

According to court documents, Waldron was charged with taking tens of thousands of dollars while managing and performing legal services for a client.
Gov. Tony Evers today announced that Advent Tool & Manufacturing, Inc. is relocating its headquarters and production operation from Antioch, Ill., to the new Salem Industrial Park.

This is great news for the village of Salem Lakes and the southeast region of Wisconsin, bringing new opportunities to folks and communities in our state, Evers said in Madison.

I want to thank Advent, the WEDC, the Milwaukee 7 and all the local officials for their critically important work in making this happen. The partnerships and relationships these folks have been able to build truly exemplify why Wisconsin is such a great place to live and work.

Advent engineers and manufactures high-precision tooling products sold to customers worldwide. Founded in 1974, it supplies to companies in a wide variety of industrial verticals, including transportation, electrical components and systems, defense, energy and telecommunications.

The company will occupy 25,000 feet of space in a new building under construction in the Salem Industrial Park. Advent expects to employ 23 workers there by 2022. The companys workforce is comprised primarily of skilled machinists.
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I have been an academic surgeon in a large medical center in New York City for the past 20 years. The current climate of scrutiny to systemic racism and bias (including prejudice against all different populations) coupled with our own struggles with growth and equitable distribution of resources has highlighted a disturbing trend.

It is and has been customary for as long as Ive been practicing medicine to relegate patients with poor insurances (such as Medicaid products) to less-experienced doctors. Patients with poor insurance are likely economically disadvantaged themselves. (In our catchment area, this also often correlates with non-white race.) In the world of surgical practice, the less-experienced doctors, for the most part, scramble for OR time and position, often starting cases late in the day, which means the patients with poor insurances are left to languish anxiously and NPO for hours. Once they get into the OR, they may have an assortment of nursing and anesthesia hand-offs, as well as a frustrated and inexperienced surgeon operating in the late hours of the day with no support. In contrast, VIP patients, i.e., patients that are approachable for philanthropic gain, are shepherded with kid gloves through the system, enjoying early starts in the OR, with fresh surgeons, anesthesiologists, and staff virtually guaranteed.

Another common scenario is for patients with poor insurance to be shifted to an attending-supervised but resident-run service. Here the attendings have little ownership of patients, handing them off to each other not infrequently on a daily basis. Important trends in vital signs, laboratory data, and physical examination, often too subtle for less-experienced trainees, are left unnoticed, with consequences. For operative cases, it is not uncommon for two or more residents to work with each other, with only perfunctory supervision by an attending. This is in contrast to private patients where one attending takes full and daily responsibility of their patients and ensures continuity of care.

To phrase it another way, it is common for more senior doctors to release themselves from inferior insurance products so they can: 1. Earn more money for themselves, and 2. Give the junior doctors a cache of patients that seemingly have no choice in the matter. To many, earning more money seemingly (and often falsely) proves that you are a superior doctor. But, for the patients under this system, the truth is simple: Poor people get poor doctors, poor positions on the OR schedule, and poor continuity of care.

Health care for all is a lofty, worthy goal. But what health care leaders really want is more complex than that. They want to display that all should have some kind of health care; what they do not want to reveal is that the ability to pay premiums and copays (and make philanthropic donations) greatly influences the quality of health care available.

Although this tale may be familiar to many, I believe we should reconsider this and discard it along with many of the old-boy behaviors we have become comfortable with in the past many years. Practicing medicine is a privilege, not a means for financial comfort and ego-enhancement.

Beth A. Schrope is a surgeon.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
US airlines are canceling flights to and from Hong Kong after the city said it would require all crew members to be tested for Covid-19 upon arrival.

American Airlines, which had been scheduled to resume flights from Dallas to Hong Kong on Thursday, will now restart on August 5.

'We've been making regular adjustments to our schedule to match demand, and we consider a range of factors including travel restrictions or entry requirements in making network decisions,' the airline said in a statement.

United Airlines said it would suspend flights scheduled through Friday while it assesses how the new tests will affect its operations.

The changes follow the announcement earlier this week that crew members would be required to submit deep throat saliva samples at Hong Kong International Airport. Crew members are currently exempt from a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

The cancellations are another knock to efforts to get the world economy up and running again, restricting travel to a key financial hub. And they come as airlines express concerns about the future. United has warned nearly half of its frontline workforce that they could be furloughed this fall due to the slump in demand.

Hong Kong, which has been praised for its quick and effective response to the pandemic, is now racing to keep a lid on infections amid a surge in local transmission. Health officials reported 42 new cases on Thursday.

Starting at midnight Friday, restaurants won't be allowed to operate at more than 60% capacity, and no more than eight people will be allowed per table. At clubs and bars, people will not be allowed to gather in groups of more than four.

 Michelle Toh and Eric Cheung contributed reporting.
EUGENE, Ore. -- Behind every protest is a message. For Black Unity member Maisie Davis, behind that message is some much-needed food and water. She feeds hundreds of protesters at every demonstration.

Feeding people says we love you and we see you out here doing the work and this is hard work, said Davis. This is not easy. I want people to be out there working their butts off but still getting what they need.

KEZI 9 News talked to Black Unity event coordinator Claire Reyna.

"She always says food is her love language, said Reyna. I can definitely vouch for that. She really does make sure people are fed and happy."

It all started when Davis got tired from marching in the streets of South Eugene, so she jumped into her friends van. That van can now be seen at the front of every protest, passing out supplies. Protesters have even given her a nickname: Mom.

Davis goes through nearly 300 bottles of water a week plus dozens of boxes of on-the-go snacks. Thats not where the work stops, however. She also connects with local businesses to get them involved with the movement.

"It feels like the only thing we can do right now. We want to assist and nourish the people that are doing important things, said Party Downtown chef and co-owner Tiffany Norton.

Party Downtown has been a huge contributor to larger events.

During Eugenes first-ever Juneteenth celebration, Davis also got Sizzle Pie to donate 40 large pizzas.

Tomorrow night will feature the latest chapter of the fight for racial equality. Protesters will gather at the Springfield Public Library at 7 p.m. Courtesy of Maisie Davis, theyll be provided with food and water.

"We are just trying to be prepared by getting any donations we can so we are able to keep marching, Davis said.
(CNBC) Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing conceded his firm should never have taken accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein as a client in 2013, but said that it has since learned its lesson. While Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell last year, the German bank has had to deal with the aftermath of its failure to monitor millions of dollars in suspicious payments made by the registered sex offender. New York financial regulators said earlier Tuesday that the bank agreed to pay a $150 million fine for its shortcomings.

To read this article:
LEBANON, Ore.  A shooting is under investigation in Lebanon Wednesday.

The Linn County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call at about 4:20 a.m. reporting a man had been shot.

It happened in the area of Fuller Lane and Russell Drive.

Deputies and Lebanon police responded to the area and found the victim, who had non-life-threatening injuries. The victim was taken to Corvallis Good Samaritan Hospital.

The shooter left the area prior to their arrival, deputies said.

The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information, contact detectives at 541-967-3950.

The Lebanon Fire Department assisted.
PORTLAND, Ore.-- The Oregon Liquor Control Commission released its findings of compliance with social distancing and masks after the Fourth of July Weekend.

Tuesday, the agency said most of the state is following Gov. Kate Brown's requirements to wear a mask indoors and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Officials from OLCC visited over 800 businesses from July 3 through July 6. The agency said they did not find any violations and general compliance in the Portland Metro Area and the Salem Region.

However, when officials visited 38 businesses in the Eugene Region, which consists of Lane, Linn, Lincoln, Douglas, and Benton County, officials found violations and widespread non-compliance. Most of the businesses that were not complying were in the Newport area.

Other regions of the state got high marks from OLCC except for the downtown district in Bend. Officials from the OLCC found violations throughout the area.

After OLCC finishes their investigation, officials from the agency said they will hand over their reporters to OSHA and disciplinary action. OSHA will take any disciplinary action against those businesses in violation.
In the last year we've lost thousands of family members, friends and co-workers to COVID-19. We'd like to give you a chance to honor their memory.

Share a Memory
In case health officials havent been convincing when suggesting you wear a mask or face covering in public, perhaps a certain beloved science
After making a big deal of a black man's request to put her dog on a leash whole strolling in Central Park by calling the cops on the birdwatcher, a white woman is now facing criminal charges.

The woman, who was identified as Amy Cooper is now being charged for falsely reporting an incident to the police. Ms. Cooper was taped calling 911 and reporting that she was being threatened by a black man.

According to BBC, the Manhattan district attorney has announced that Ms. Cooper will be facing consequences for her misdemeanor during the encounter, Monday.

Moreover, District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. stated that more information will be provided by the DA as the case progresses. He also added that the DA's office is encouraging everyone who has been victims of false reporting to come forward and contact the office. He also emphasized that perpetrators of such false accusations and misdemeanors should be held accountable.

The DA's office has already issued an appearance ticker for Ms. Cooper. Her arraignment is set to be held on the 14th of October, and if convicted she may be facing at most a year of jail time.

Read also: Vanessa Guillen Video Footage Under Review By Army Investigators After Finding Remain

Footage of the incident sparked social media outrage

The video of Ms. Cooper with the said Black birdwatcher, identified as Christian Cooper, a prominent figure in the bird-watching community of New York has circulated in social media since the end of May.

The recording was taped by Christian himself during the encounter. After he posted it on Twitter, the video has been viewed and shared more than 44 million times.

Several social media users called out Ms. Cooper's actions. She was even labeled as another "Karen," a nickname which has become an internet jargon used to describe entitled white women, after it was pointed out that signs in Central Park clearly stated that dogs must be leashed at all times.

Oh, when Karens take a walk with their dogs off leash in the famous Bramble in NYs Central Park, where it is clearly posted on signs that dogs MUST be leashed at all times, and someone like my brother (an avid birder) politely asks her to put her dog on the leash. pic.twitter.com/3YnzuATsDm  Melody Cooper (@melodyMcooper) May 25, 2020

After the video went viral, Ms. Cooper was quickly identified by netizens. The incident has also prompted Franklin Templeton, the company where she works to fire her from the job.

Aside from this, her rescue dog was also forfeited by the organization where she adopted it from after people raised concerns about the animal's well-being. However, after the dog was found healthy, the animal was immediately returned to her.

According to NBC News, at the time, Ms. Cooper issued a public apology for the encounter and admitted that she overreacted. However, she also indicated that she was concerned after since Christian Cooper was yelling during the said altercation and has offered a treat to her dog which she was unsure of the contents. In her statement, Ms. Cooper said that she has come to realize that while she was blessed enough that when she thinks of the police, she feels safe it isn't the same for everyone in the community.

Meanwhile, she is yet to give a comment on the charges that were filed against her.

Related article: Starbucks Barista Receives More Than $100,00 in Tips After Encounter With 'Starbucks Karen'

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Researchers from Teagasc and University College Dublin (UCD) are working with sensory scientists from research institutions across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to understand how Covid-19 has affected peoples ability to smell and taste.

The Smell and Taste Evaluation in Ireland (STEVIE) survey was launched this Tuesday in response to reports that Covid-19 can impact smell and taste function. The survey is open to anyone living in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland who has either experienced a change in their sense of smell or taste during the Covid-19 pandemic or who has been tested for Covid-19 (either positive or negative).

Coordinator of the study Dr Emily Crofton, who is research officer in the Department of Food Quality and Sensory Science at Teagasc, says: A change or loss to our senses of smell or taste has been officially recognised as a common symptom of Covid-19 infection in Ireland. Emerging evidence suggests that Covid-19 may have a different effect on our senses of smell and taste when compared to other viruses, such as influenza or the common cold. At the moment, very little information is available about whether changes in smell or taste perception is impacting on daily life and personal well-being in Ireland. By participating in this survey, we aim to capture the changes in smell and taste that may have come about as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic."

Dr Emma Feeney, assistant professor at the Institute of Food and Health at UCD, explains: Reports suggest that Covid-19 may be associated with longer-term taste and smell loss in some individuals. Since taste and smell loss can affect our ability to perceive flavour from foods, this may impact appetite in some people. This is particularly concerning in older people, who appear to be more impacted by Covid-19, and may have an increased risk of malnutrition compared to younger groups."

The STEVIE survey is being organised through Sensory Food Network Ireland, which brings together researchers from research institutions across the island of Ireland. As coordinators of Sensory Food Network Ireland, doctors Eimear Gallagher and Sinead McCarthy from Teagasc add: We are delighted to use this all-Island initiative to investigate the impact of Covid-19 on our smell/taste perception, the results of which will be of relevance to public health and the food industry."

To complete the survey, please click here.
It has been a whirlwind half a year for Malcolm Noonan and his family, with the Kilkenny mans election to the Dail for the first time in February, followed by his appointment last week as Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform in the Department of Housing.

While there are many considerations factored in to such appointments, you could not deny that Malcolm Noonan is a good fit for the brief. Both heritage and electoral reform are topics on which he has expounded at length in the council chamber during his time as a councillor, as well as in his personal life. He chaired the Kilkenny Heritage Forum for many years and was a member of it before ever he was an elected representative.

I had a huge interest in it not just from a policy side, but practical hands-on work around building conservation, managing invasive species, bat surveys. I really had a huge interest both in built, cultural and the natural side of it. So I was just thrilled when Eamon offered it to me, absolutely delighted, he says.

Last weekend was spent getting up to speed with the new brief, reading through documents, with a huge amount to get through.

I have had a really good meeting with Darragh O'Brien who is the senior minister in the Department of Housing, says the Green Party TD. We had a really constructive meeting and there is very much a partnership approach to all the work we are going to do. There are two junior ministers in there.

The other facet, electoral reform, will likely see a reasonable amount of crossover there with the Local Government portfolio, in directly-elected mayors (the vote is coming up for Limerick in 2022), and other larger cities. Reducing the voting age for local elections and looking at some electoral boundaries may also arise.

There is a certain amount of crossover there from John Paul [Phelan]s work that he had been doing, he says.

By all accounts, he had done some really good work in that regard.

I ask him if there is any particular goal to realise within his ministerial office.

I suppose from the natural heritage side of it, we have a commitment in the programme for government around a review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, he says.

Thats going to be a big piece of work. There is a big, serious resourcing issue there. Certainly not enough park rangers, there is a lot of cases against Ireland over the Special Areas of Conservation. We really need to significantly improve the support for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

All of that will be connected in with the other work that, through other portfolios under the Green Party remit, in both Pippa Hackett in biodiversity and Eamon Ryans portfolio with Environment. We are conscious that there is a biodiversity crisis and that can only be addressed by rigorous policy and ensuring that we have better supports for the services.

In the built heritage, Ive included a very big piece of work around town centres, around urban regeneration. A lot of that was informed by Scottish policy.

There is a commitment in the programme for government on this issue.

I really want to advance a very big piece of work to support smaller town centres to try and regenerate after what was already a crisis pre-Covid, but now is a deep, deep challenge for our town centres, he says.

The Heritage Council has publicly welcomed the appointment of the new minister of state with a responsibility for heritage. Of course, the Green Party TD is very familiar with the Heritage Council, based here in the former bishops palace. He met its CEO Virginia Teehan on Monday.

GEOGRAPHY

Political pundits and politicians made much of the geographical spread of ministers. While there is no senior minister located in the South-east, Minister of State Noonan is joined by Waterfords Mary Butler of Fianna Fail as junior ministers in the region.

After his meeting with Ms Teehan on Monday, he met with Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council Colette Byrne to get an update on local issues.

There are projects, heritage-related projects that are on hold or could be jeopardised because of funding, he said.

I think we are looking particularly at shovel-ready projects that could be moved forward under the July stimulus package.

Added to that, I think its important that the Technological University for the South-east is advanced. All of the Oireachtas members in the South-east region have met on a number of occasions now, and met with both the presidents of Carlow IT and WIT to try and move that along. It has been on a backburner for too long.

Deputy Noonan also has a longstanding ambition around incentivising the development of traditional building skills. His goal is for it to be a national initiative but he spots potential to advance it in Kilkenny.

All of that is around job activation as well, he says.

There is high youth unemployment in particular. Again, looking back to the programme for government, there is a strong commitment around apprenticeships, and not just for traditional building skills, but also deep retrofit as well .

Finally, have the Green Partys internal disputes been somewhat put to bed for the moment, with the resounding endorsement of going into government? A leadership contest will take place in the coming months.

I certainly think Eamon and Catherines working relationship has been extremely good, says Minister of State Noonan.

Regardless of the outcome, I will work with whoever party leader is after that election. I committed my support to Eamon because of the track record he has and what he has done in bringing the party back  I know it wasnt just him, it was collective, including Catherine, but I just think he has done a huge job in taking the party back, literally off the floor to where it is now. So I would like to see that consistency continue.

In terms of the party itself, I would say weve never been stronger. I would no longer consider us to be a small political party. I dont know if theres a medium size political party category, but weve four senators, three mayors in Dublin including the Lord Mayor of Dublin City, 49 councillors, 12 TDs, two MEPs.

I think because of that  that success  there are always going to be challenges and perhaps conflict, different opinions. Its around trying to manage that and make sure everybodys voice is heard in a much bigger structure.
The North Kilkenny community of Muckalee has received a welcome boost, with plans for a new community centre that will transform the area.

Planning permission has been granted for the extension of the building, which will incorporate a shop and cafe and also includes major internal refurbishment to upgrade the building to current health and safety standards with easy access for all ages.

Chairperson Ger Murphy says he is delighted to be part of the project, having been on board the original committee, the community centre. The idea of the community centre was originally put into action by the late Father Martin Ryan, who brought together a large group of local volunteers to fundraise and build,

Local Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick says the shop and cafe will enhance greatly the existing amenities in Muckalee, in particular the thriving national school, creche and GAA Club.

"The project is clear evidence that our community continues to grow and expand on the solid foundations that were laid by past generations," he said.

"I very much look forward to seeing the project come to fruition. Community was never more important in our society as the last three months have shown. This development will further harness the great local community spirit in our locality."

The site was very kindly donated to the community by Gerald Comerford. Fr Martin would constantly recall that at the time, there was economic recession across Ireland, with no work available.

This led to a doom and gloom in the hearts and minds of people. At the opening of the community centre there were happy faces. There was a wonderful positive attitude in the community.

The building was officially opened in 1987 by RTEs Mick Dunne, and blessed by the late Canon Loughrey.



Theres no doubt that the community centre has been a great asset to the people of Muckalee and the surrounding area for the past three decades. Its central location puts it at the heart of daily activities for people of all ages, and the aim now is to secure its future and build on its value for now and for generations to come.

It has played a key role in combating social isolation  an increasing problem in rural communities today.

It has also been a significant advantage to have had many of the original committee still involved, including Billy Murphy, Ger Murphy, Mary Kelly and Maura Tynan.

Now, more than ever, in this current climate, we as a community realise the importance and need for a local shop and community hub as a centre point to the village, says Ms Tynan.

This extension will bring a new lease of life to the local community providing essential daily groceries, accompanied by a cafe and much-needed social function to the village. It will provide an essential village hub with wifi facilities, where all ages of our community can meet and benefit from the social aspect. I look forward to the b buzz and excitement of working with this committee so together we can all make this happen.

There has also been great buy-in from the local community so far. Principal of Muckalee National School Kevin Cummins is delighted. The school is directly across from the proposed site, and will be an asset for the parents, pupils and staff. Likewise for the local creche.

Father Larry Wallace PP has also expressed his support, saying it will give a tremendous boost to the locality and lauding the committee for their hard work to bring the community together and enhance the parish.

A drawing of the proposed project

Conor Cleere of Kilkenny LEADER said the dramatic weakening and predicted demise of the traditional soci0-economic model of rural Ireland society was starkly illustrated by the closure of local shops.

These shops were once central to the vibrancy of villages and their hinterlands, he said.This is evident throughout the country. The closure of most of these local shops are as a direct result of consumer demand for cheaper, more convenient goods being met by larger retail bodies in towns and cities, thereby reducing the viability and necessity for the local shop.

Mr Cleere said this was resulting in the loss of the vibrancy of these villages.

It also removes the availability of basic goods from some of societys most vulnerable groups, often older people living in isolated rural areas, that were largely dependent on these small shops to provide the very basic of daily needs, he said.

In addition to the lack of choice, convenience and extra cost, the loss of the local shop also leads to social exclusion. For many living alone these shops provided a valuable point of social interaction.

It provided human contact without the need to travel to busier large towns, and also mean that local knowledge could identify when something was wrong. For example, when an older person wasnt seen, concerned neighbours could be alerted to check in.

Mr Cleere acknowledged that some larger retailers provide a delivery service, but this does not suit everyone. It may depend on access and familiarity with the internet, or minimum spending requirements.

In order to combat some of the issues highlighted above, some rural communities that have decided there is aplace for community-run shops that can provide the basic necessities as well as the provision of a social hub where rural isolation can be addressed, said Mr Cleere.

Through rural regeneration funding and other initiatives, Kilkenny Leader Partnership (KLP) has under taken a role in assisting these communities nourish and develop these ideas into vibrant establishments where social inclusion is at the forefront and can be enjoyed and utilised by all age groups. Several of these facilities have gained national recognition for their endeavours combating rural decline, while others work quietly to achieve a similar gain. Examples of such community initiatives in Kilkenny include Billys Tearooms in Ballyhale and Lakeside in Windgap. Other communities are currently in the early stages of developing similar facilities.

The project has the backing of Kilkenny Leader Parternship and the council, but the local community will need to row in behind it if it is to be realised. The plan is to extend the community centre building to provide a shop and cafe. The plans also include an internal refurbishment and upgrading of the existing building to bring it up to the current health and safety standards, with access for all ages and abilities.

A substantial contribution towards the cost of the building has already been provisionally approved by KLP. However, there will be a significant shortfall which will be made up from local contributions.

As part of fundraising efforts, the committee is reaching out to the local community. All households are being asked to help, and the committee is reaching out to hopefully secure a contribution  not only for now, but for the grandchildren of the community.

Members of the committee will visit households in the coming days and weeks, with an envelope which will be collected a week later and opened at a committe meeting. The hope is that this will provide an essential village hub with wifi facilities where all ages of the community can meet and benefit from the social aspect.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Tuesday marked Blackout Day 2020, a day when Black Americans refuse to spend any money as a way to showcase their combined economic might.

A small group in Rochester participated, calling themselves the "African Descent Initiative Committee."

They held a demonstration outside the Law Enforcement Center in Rochester. The group also protested at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Faribault.

By boycotting purchases, they're showing people their demand for equality and representation.

"They need to hear us," Crystal Smith, of Rochester, said. "We're not spending no money in Rochester, and I'm quite sure the world ain't spending no money unless they have to."

Those who had to buy something were encouraged to spend their money at Black-owned businesses.
The accelerated construction of "Internet+" logistics is tremendously facilitating Chinese enterprises and people, opening up infinite possibilities for the future.

When a trucker surnamed Zhang was driving toward an unmanned warehouse at a logistics base of leading Chinese retailer Suning in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, his vehicle was sensed by the warehouse 20 kilometers away with the assistance of the positioning system and electric fences, after which relevant programs of the warehouse were activated, starting to pick, pack and sort the cargos that Zhang needed.

Every cargo had a QR code, and after scanning, those needed by Zhang were automatically conveyed to the shipping area of the warehouse and then loaded to Zhang's vehicle by an unmanned forklift. All Zhang had to do was to click on his phone to confirm his reception of the cargos.

"Warehousing is getting smarter, evolving from 'people finding cargos' to the other way around, and developing from radio-frequency technology to artificial intelligence," said Chen Jian, general manager of Suning Technology's logistics R&D department.

Smart warehousing today is more about algorithm optimization, such as the placing of cargos coming from different parts of the country, the selecting of the most efficient picking method, and maximizing the occupancy of packaging boxes of different sizes, Chen explained, adding that all these are realized through algorithm optimization.

Outside the warehouse, smart logistics is also developing fast.

Suning has launched unmanned delivery vehicles that are able to avoid barriers, drive automatically and be handled by human drivers when emergency happens. The vehicles have an average operational speed of 8 kilometers per hour, and can run at 15 kilometers per hour at most.

China's service-focused e-commerce giant Meituan is also delivering orders to customers by autopilot vehicles. The vehicles can pick the commodities and then head for designated destinations.

When strict COVID-19 quarantine measures were imposed across China, smart robots equipped with the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System employed by Chinas e-commerce platform JD.com were sending medical materials to the quarantine sections of hospitals in Wuhan, former epicenter.

In recent years, the logistics services witnessed continuous innovation, and unmanned delivery has become one of the biggest trends. All logistics enterprises are making efforts to advance the development of unmanned delivery.

Apart from that, self-service parcel pickup machines are also contributing to the customer end of the logistics business. According to statistics, 134,000 sets of such machines had been newly deployed in major Chinese cities last year, making the total number 406,000. It registered a growth of nearly 50 percent, and over 10 percent of the parcels were delivered to these machines.

Rural areas benefit from smart logistics, too. In Xintang village, Huazhou of South China's Guangdong Province, express parcels are automatically rolling off a machine and delivered to villagers after recorded by staff workers, and the machine is also "taking in" fresh farm produce such as litchi, longan, guava and vegetables, to send them outside the village.

"Since 'Kuaixian' was launched, I can pick the fruits in the field immediately after receiving an order and hand them to 'Kuaixian', which largely saves the time and transport cost," said Zheng Yueming, an orchardist in the village.

"Kuaixian" is a smart logistics line newly established by Xintang village which includes a base station, a low cableway, smart delivery robots, container boxes, a cloud management system, as well as reception and shipment devices.

The maximum loading capacity of each delivery is 100 kilograms, and the speed is 60 kilometers per hour. It only needs an electricity fee of three to five yuan ($0.4-0.7) to deliver 100 kilograms of cargos to places 100 kilometers away, and plus, the service runs 24 hours a day.

Thanks to the central warehouse in suburban areas, the logistics base station in township, and the reception and shipment station in the village, most cargos can be circulated between Xintang and the township at low cost within an hour.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director stated China is considered to be the United States' long-time threat with its espionage and theft activities that alarm the official's vision of the country's future.

International disruption campaign

According to BBC, the intelligence agency's Director Christopher Wray told the Hudson Institute in Washington about a multi-pronged disruption campaign that was in the works.

The official claimed China was targeting Chinese nationals who were living in different countries to urge them to come back to the mainland while conspiring with parties to allegedly sabotage coronavirus research in the US.

Wray said that the risks were at an all-time high as he alleged China is working towards becoming the only superpower at all costs.

On Tuesday in a nearly hour-long speech, Wray described the way that China conducts interference which he claims has been conducting a campaign that has extended its reach to include economic espionage, data and financial theft, and illegal political actions by utilizing bribery and blackmail.

The FBI director said the agency is currently opening a counterintelligence case related to China every ten hours. He added that nearly half of the 5,000 active counterintelligence cases they are conducting are related to China.

Also Read: China Retreats from Border Front to Ease Tensions Against India, But Claims Another Territory

Allegedly, Chinese President Xi Jinping had initiated and monitored a program named "Fox Hunt" which Wray said aims to focus down on Chinese officials who are living abroad that Beijing sees as a threat to the nation's government.

The list includes political rivals that oppose the Community Party, opposition, and critics who are working to reveal the Chinese government's extensive violations of human rights. Wray added that China is taking terrifying measures to ensure that the nationals return to the mainland.

Frightening political measures

The director continued to explain that if the program were unable to locate one of its targets, the Chinese government would send a messenger to the United States and visit the target's family. The emissary would then have the family pass on a message that gave them two options; surrender themselves and return to China, or commit suicide.

Wray said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Attorney General William Barr have begun preparing to reveal new proposals that would address the Chinese threat in the following weeks, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Appealing to anyone in the United States who believed Beijing was targeting them, Wray urged the individuals to reach out to the local FBI office nearest to them to seek help and protection.

Beyond just espionage and theft, Wray claims China also interfered with political matters in the US by either directly or indirectly pressuring local officials to discourage them from travelling to Taiwan.

China would not allow the travel to Taiwan, said Wray, and stated the action would be seen internationally as an affirmation of Taiwan's independence from the mainland. The director, however, did not specify details of the accusation and the FBI declined to comment further on the case.

Related Article: Chinese Official Warns UK of Interference Over Providing British Citizenship to Nearly 3 Million Residents

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Rochester Chamber of Commerce is hoping to get more customers to shop locally but to do so safely, of course.

The "Shop Local Safely" effort comes as the Rochester City Council passed an amendment that requires everyone to wear a face covering while in any indoor public space beginning on July 8th.

The chamber says they're been providing masks to businesses to pass out to customers.

President Kathleen Harrington explained, "More costs on small businesses today is burdensome for sure. They're still struggling, so we want to help provide masks, if possible, if they need it and do all that we can to support them during this time."

Currently the chamber is promoting its Shop Local Safely series in the hopes of keeping everyone safe while still keeping businesses open.

Harrington added, "The real hope is we get through his period quickly and we don't have to shut down the economy and that more people don't contract the virus. That is the goal here is to keep the dial moving in the right direction, not going backwards and shutting down, as we're seeing in other parts of the country."

If you're interested in checking out the Shop Local Safely series you can click here.
WATERLOO, Iowa  Police are asking for the publics help in locating a man gone missing in Black Hawk County.

Michael Jensen, 46, was last seen Monday walking away from Ravenwood Health Care in Waterloo at 11:20 pm. Police say Jensen is considered endangered.

Hes described as 5 foot 10 and 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a plaid button up shirt, a black helmet, and black framed glasses. Police say Jensen may be barefoot.

If you have any information regarding Jensen, please contact the Waterloo Police Department at 319-291-2515.
ROCHESTER, Minn. -

As of now, schools in Rochester like the University of Minnesota Rochester is planning to welcome students back for the fall. But more and more universities like Harvard and Princeton are transitioning to more online learning because of coronavirus concerns.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement - or ICE - students who have F-1 or M-1 visas cannot remain in the country for school if they take a full course load online. They must take an in-person class to stay in the U.S. One incoming sophomore at the University of Minnesota is outraged.

"Sending them back home and having them online only doesn't take into effect the negative impacts it can have on them and their studies such as time zones, financial aid, electricity, internet, all of these different variables that will impact these students," Muntaas Farah said.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, the United States is the first choice country for international students to study in.
MASON CITY, Iowa - In light of a recent spike in coronavirus cases in Cerro Gordo County that officials say are being linked to a long-term care facility, we're looking at how similar facilities are stepping up to protect residents and employees.

Like many such facilities, the IOOF Home in Mason City has been on lockdown since March. Unlike some facilities across the country that have dealt with large outbreak, the IOOF Home has been spared from such an outbreak. Administrator Michael Davis credits the consistent, hard work employees have implemented to avoid such a scenario, and notes that there are steps employees need to take, both on and off the clock. For example, for employees that travel out of state, Davis says that employees are asked to self-isolate and quarantine for at least 2 weeks before returning to work.

"It's been a total team effort, from adminstration, director of nursing, the nursing staff in every other department...it's been a combined effort to try to protect the residents, as well as each other."

"We've reiterated to the staff that, 'hey, when you're out in public, you need to wear that mask. Always your PPE properly while in the facility. Practice your standard precautions, including handwashing,' things like that. Just to protect each other and our very, very vulnerable population that we serve."

With case numbers ramping up, how long will the home be shut down? Davis says they'll continue to monitor the numbers.

"That's something that we're going to have to play week to week, month to month, and who knows? Our ultimate goal is that we protect the residents as well as the staff and the family members."

For residents who are wanting to stay in touch with loved ones, Davis says the home's board of directors recently approved the purchase of several tablets for residents to use.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department is plowing ahead with its plan to resume federal executions next week for the first time in more than 15 years, despite the coronavirus pandemic raging both inside and outside prisons and stagnating national support for the death penalty.

Three people, including north Iowa mass murderer Dustin Honken, are scheduled to die by lethal injection in one week at an Indiana prison, beginning Monday. Bureau of Prisons officials insist they will be able to conduct the executions safely and have been holding practice drills for months.

Honken was involved in one of North Iowas most well-publicized murder cases and was found guilty of five counts of murder in 2004.

Family members of the victims and the inmates will be able to attend but will be required to wear face masks. Prison officials will take temperature checks. The agency will also make personal protective equipment, including masks, gloves, gowns and face shields, available for witnesses, but there are no plans to test anyone attending the executions for COVID-19, officials said.

The decision to go ahead with the executions has been criticized as a dangerous and political move by an administration that at times seems disinterested in addressing racial disparities in the death penalty and larger criminal justice system. Critics argue the government is instead creating an unnecessary and manufactured urgency around a topic that isn't high on the list of American concerns right now, when more than 130,000 people have died of the coronavirus in the United States and the unemployment rate is 11%.

Why would anybody who is concerned about public health and safety want to bring in people from all over the country for three separate execution in the span of five days to a virus hot spot? questioned Robert Dunham of the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonpartisan organization that collects information on capital punishment.

The original execution plan last year appeared to be political. And the current plan eliminates any doubt about that," he said.

Attorney General William Barr has denied that politics played a role in the decision last year to resume executions, which ended an informal freeze on imposition of federal capital punishment. Barr has said the government has an obligation to carry out the sentences, including the death penalty, that are imposed by courts, and that the Justice Department owes it to the families of the victims and others in their communities to do so.

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.

But before the pandemic, the economy and health care were Americans top priorities for the government to work on in 2020, with 59% and 50% naming the two, respectively, in an open-ended question in an Associated Press-NORC poll from December. Some 35% said immigration was one of the most important issues the government should work on in 2020, and about as many referenced politics or partisan gridlock.

The percentage of Americans in favor of the death penalty stood at 60% in the 2018 General Social Survey, a long-running trends survey. Thats about where it was in the 1970s. Support has steadily ticked back down after peaking at 75% in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Most Democrats oppose it. By contrast, President Donald Trump has spoken often about capital punishment and his belief that executions serve as an effective deterrent and an appropriate punishment for some crimes, including mass shootings and the killings of police officers.

He has pushed for new death penalty legislation, even though it's questionable whether that would deter assailants, especially because most dont live to face trial.

This appears to be a distraction, said Samuel Spital, the litigation director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. There are several things that should be at the top of the agenda for the Justice Department right now, he said, including the coronavirus. Another "should be an effort to address the widespread problem of police violence against Black and brown communities in this country which has finally captured the publics attention, he said.

The majority of people on death row are Black and Hispanic, and the number of cases authorized by the attorney general seeking death since the late 1980s are mostly nonwhite people.

But the three men chosen to die next week are all white:

Danny Lee, who was convicted in Arkansas of killing a family of three, including an 8-year-old. Family members of Lee's victims have asked a federal judge to delay his execution, saying the coronavirus puts them at risk if they travel to attend the execution. They have asked that the execution be put off until a treatment or a vaccine is available for the virus.

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.

Keith Dwayne Nelson, scheduled to be executed in August, was convicted of kidnapping a 10-year-old girl while she was rollerblading in front of her Kansas home and raping her in a forest behind a church, then strangling her.

Three of the men had been set to be put to death last year, when Barr first announced that the federal government would resume executions.

The effort was put on hold by a trial judge. 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 trial judges order. The Supreme Court then refused to halt the process, A lower court could still stop them from happening.

The executions will take place at the federal correctional institution in Terre Haute, Indiana. One inmate there has died from COVID-19, but the federal prison system has struggled to combat the coronavirus. There have been no coronavirus cases in the special unit where the four men are being held, officials said.

In 2014, following a botched state execution in Oklahoma, President Barack Obama directed the Justice Department to conduct a broad review of capital punishment and issues surrounding lethal injection drugs. Last July, Barr said said the Obama-era review had been completed, clearing the way for executions to resume.

Barr approved a new procedure for lethal injections that replaces the three-drug combination previously used in federal executions with one drug, pentobarbital. This is similar to the procedure used in several states, including Georgia, Missouri and Texas, but not all.
NORTHWOOD, Iowa - Over $76 million will be going to help keep Iowa families fed.

The money came from the Families First Coronavirus Act. The act gave states a chunk of federal funds to go to SNAP recipients.

Families with children from Pre-K to 12th Grade who weren't able to get school meals during the pandemic can qualify.

In Northwood this evening, the Northwood Community Center was doing their best to help families in need, with curbside distribution of food boxes.

Angela Wright, Director of the Northwood Community Center says the additional funding for SNAP will help out those in need.

"Somebody can come to the food pantry and get some meat, some dairy, some produce, which is what we really strive to give out and then can go to the store and buy their canned meals and their canned items that you need to finish a meal. I think that's really important," Wright said.

Each child will receive an extra $300 in SNAP benefits. The money should start showing up in about a week or two.
ROCHESTER, Minn. -

In Minnesota - many families have to rely on childcare providers that run out of family homes.

Lieutenant Gov. Peggy Flanagan visited Ariane Bromberg who takes care of children out of her house. Bromberg cares for children whose parents work on the frontlines at Mayo Clinic. Flanagan tells KIMT News 3 childcare is the foundation of family economic security - that's why she is prioritizing it.

"Too often we don't talk about the value of childcare to the economy," Flanagan said. "On top of that, we know birth to age 5 is when the bulk of brain development is happening. Having high-quality safe childcare is a really great way for us to make sure kids are entering school."

Flanagan says the Legislative Advisory Commission has 10 days to approve the funding. Once it's complete - they'll work to get that money out to daycare providers. That money will go to supplies to protect children during the pandemic like hand sanitizer and face masks.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - A Rochester elementary school is gearing up to welcome kids back into the classroom.

Longfellow Elementary School has released plans for the upcoming academic years. In just a matter of weeks students can expect a mix of in-class and distance learning.

Longfellow follows a different schedule than other Rochester Public Schools and will begin the new year on July 27th following the 45-15 learning program.

That means nine weeks of school followed by three weeks of break.

Students will only attend class twice a week and the capacity will be restricted to no more than 50-percent.

They will then participated in distance learning for the other two day. On Fridays teachers and staff will work without students in the classroom.

School boar vice chair Jean Marvin says staff plan to assess how reopening goes and will make adjustments as needed.

Marvin explained, They'll continue to assess, to make changes as needed but we know all the students and staff in Rochester are anxious to get back to school. Our number one priority though is to ensure that the education for these kids and those that teach them is safe.

The school plans to transition to the Minnesota Department of Educations state-wide educational delivery model. That plan should be released on July 27th.

You can find more information about Longfellow's back to school plan by clicking here.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  A prison sentence is handed out for a shooting in a KFC parking lot.

George Earl Oliver, 29 of Rochester, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm after being convicted of a crime of violence. Rochester police said Oliver shot at a vehicle in the fast food restaurants parking lot in the 700 block of 12th Street SE on October 23, 2019. A bullet hit a 16-year-old male in the leg and another teen was grazed by gunfire.

Oliver was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison, with credit for 247 days already served.

Two counts of 2nd degree assault were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
QUITO, July 7 (Reuters) - Canadian miner Lundin Gold Inc expects to produce between 200,000 and 220,000 ounces of gold this year at its Fruta del Norte gold mine in the Ecuadorean Amazon, its head told Reuters, after restarting operations last weekend.

Lundin halted production in March when Ecuador's government declared a health emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic and the firm cut staffing at the site to the mininum required.

Ron Hochstein, Lundin's chairman and director, said in an interview on Monday that despite the pandemic's impact this year, the company expects average annual production of 325,000 ounces of gold over the mine's 14-year life span.

Lundin inaugurated the mine last November as Ecuador's market-friendly president, Lenin Moreno, sought to attract investment to diversify the stagnant oil-dependent economy. Fruta del Norte, Ecuador's first large-scale gold mine, contains some 4.8 million ounces of gold in proven reserves.

Ecuador's mining activity plunged about 60% as authorities imposed harsh quarantine measures to limit the new coronavirus' spread, but the government in May approved security protocols to allow operations to resume.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated on Monday that the United States is making considerations over the removal of TikTok and other Chinese social media platforms due to national security concerns.

Pompeo said he does not wish to preempt the president, but it is a matter they are looking at.

He stated that people should refrain from downloading the prevalent app due to the fact that their private information will be in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party, reported KWCH 12.

Pompeo remarked to Fox News host Laura Ingraham, "With respect to Chinese apps on people's cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right too, Laura. I don't want to get out in front of the President (Donald Trump), but it's something we're looking at," according to Syracuse.

The company that owned TikTok denied allegations that it shared private information with the Chinese government.

American lawmakers have underscored national security concerns over the social media platform's user data handling. Such concerns were Chinese laws imposing domestic companies to participate in intelligence work oversaw by the Chinese Communist Party, reported CBC.

Pompeo has asserted that they are taking the issue very seriously.

According to a TikTok spokesman in response to Pompeo's comments, the app is spearheaded by an American CEO "with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product, and public policy here in the US."

Owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, the video platform has a surmised 65-80 million active monthly users in America. The videos posted are 15-second videos with music, quick edits, and filters.

Also Read: Hong Kong's Security Law Implemented, First Arrest Initiated With Anti-CCP Artist

TikTok became prevalent in the past year, acquiring over 175 million downloads in America and over 1 billion users globally.

The app has earlier stated that they operate independently from the Beijing-based startup ByteDance.

Also, they claim that their information centers are located outside China's borders. Thus, Chinese law is not imposed on their operation.

ByteDance spearheads a separate app in China named Douyin.

The startup hired Kevin Mayer, a former Disney executive, for the position of TikTok's CEO in early 2020 to regain trust with regulators and to be a separate entity from China for more appeal across the globe.

TikTok issued a statement that it is their utmost priority to promoting a user experience bounded with security. "We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked."

The Secretary of State's remarks coincide with building tension between the US and China concerning national security, technology, and trade.

While TikTok's US user information is stored in the US, they have a backup in Singapore.

US politicians have suggested probing into TikTok's relationship with its parent company and China's government. They also proposed to investigate such association mark a counterintelligence threat in the US.

ByteDance is a Chinese tech company that also established real estate search and travel search websites. It is one of the globe's most prominent firms.

Related Article: Teenagers Share TikTok Video As They Find Suitcase Stuffed With Human Remains

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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(Kitco News) - First Quantum Minerals (TSX:FM) said yesterday that Cobre Panama can resume full production.

The Panamanian government gave the company permission to start up after the copper mine suspended operation due to COVID-19 health restrictions.

The mine has 800 workers. Full ramp-up is expected by mid-August. The company said no cases of COVID-19 have been detected on the Cobre Panama site since April 30, 2020.

"The lifting of the suspension order is testament to the hard work from each and every person on the site, working away from their families over the past weeks," said Gordon White, General Manager of the mine in a news release. "Cobre Panama has received support from the employee union UTRAMIPA, the local business community, and from the Government of Panama to reach this milestone. We are especially grateful to the dedicated health professionals in the country who have been working to resolve the wider pandemic in Panama, whose efforts we will continue to support."

In 2019 First Quantum's Cobre Panama produced 147,480 tonnes of copper and 60,074 ounces of gold.
Rajendra Jadhav

* Travel curbs cripple gold smugglers network

* Reduced smuggling allows dealers to charge premium

* Around 115-120 T gold smuggled into India in 2019 -WGC

By Rajendra Jadhav

MUMBAI, July 8 (Reuters) - Gold smuggling in India has declined as a lack of international flights thwarts grey market operators and serves to boost the premium legal importers can charge, industry officials said on Wednesday.

Dealers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the reduced supply of smuggled gold had driven Indian spot prices to a premium this week for the first time this year, adding to bullish sentiment on the gold market.

Indian gold futures hit an all-time high of 49,045 rupees per 10 grams on Wednesday, taking gains to 25% in 2020 so far after they rallied by a quarter in the whole of 2019.

Gold smuggling into India, the biggest gold consumer apart from China, had been increasing since 2013 when New Delhi raised the import tax to 10%, followed by a rise to 12.5% in 2019.

In 2017, a 3% sales tax further increased the margin for grey market operators that smuggle gold from overseas and sell it for cash to avoid duties.

Smuggling can be expected to go down substantially in the current scenario. Smuggling logistics were also severely affected during lockdown, Somasundaram P.R., head of the World Gold Councils (WGC) Indian operations, told Reuters.

He said he could not give figures, but expected smuggled volumes this year would be significantly below the 115-120 tonnes of gold the WGC said was smuggled into India in 2019.

India suspended long-distance trains and international flights in March as part of the lockdown of its 1.3 billion population to contain the novel coronavirus. Some domestic flights have resumed, but uncertainty around travel is high as the number of coronavirus infections has surged.

Surendra Mehta, secretary at the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), also said smugglers were unable to operate as they had previously.

Because they evade duties, the grey market operators usually sell gold at discounts to market prices, which in turn forces competing dealers to lower prices.

As they have almost disappeared from the market, legal Indian dealers were charging a premium of up to $3 an ounce over official domestic prices this week, compared with a discount of $22 an ounce last week.

In theory, the price rise can in turn boost smugglers margins and allow them to offer increased discounts.

For now, however, they cannot offer meaningful discounts because of limited supplies, a bullion dealer based at Kochi in southern state of Kerala, said. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Barbara Lewis)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World Bank President David Malpass on Wednesday called for the Group of 20 major economies to extend a freeze on official bilateral debt payments by the worlds poorest countries through 2021, and said some very heavily indebted countries will need permanent debt service reductions. Malpass said all official bilateral creditors, including policy banks such as Chinas Development Bank, should participate in the G20 debt relief initiative. Reporting by Andrea Shalal

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
While many people come across strange things during their morning runs, it will never be the same again for a Florida woman who found a severed human head which seemed to be in the middle of decomposition on the side of the road at St. Petersburg.

According to CNN, after authorities received a report from the woman who found the human head, homicide detectives were immediately deployed in the scene. Some of them are also currently sweeping a wooded area within the proximity including one near the intersection of 31st Street South and 38th Avenue South.

Moreover, the detectives stated that the woman who found the severed body part told the authorities that the area was part of her usual jogging route. The woman also said that during her jogs over the weekend she has not seen or noticed anything suspicious happening in the area.

Read also: New York Man Shot Dead While Walking With 6-Year-Old Daughter

Meanwhile, Yolanda Fernandez, Public Information Officer of the St. Petersburg Police stated that they are currently asking for the help of the public to come forward if they have witnessed anything suspicious. She also said that the department has already received several tips regarding the incident and they are currently working on following up on those.

ABC Action News also stated in a report that the police were not able to identify the remains much less assess the possible age, ethnicity, or gender of the individual due to the decomposing state of the severed head.

However, the police stated that the possible time frame for the death of the individual could be narrowed down in the last 48 hours. This is because the jogger who found the head stated that she ran in the area over the weekend and did not see anything. The jogger found the head under an overpass in a grassy area nearby. The absence of a surveillance camera in the are proved as another challenge in solving the case.

On top of this, a medical examiner has been brought in to try and give a time frame for the death of the individual. But the police believe that the person did not die at the location rather was possibly disposed of there.

In an attempt to possibly identify the remains, the St. Petersburg PD is currently checking their missing person cases, however, this has still proved as a challenge since the age and gender has not been specified.

Furthermore, people in the neighborhood have expressed their concern about finding the severed head in their community. According to Ernest Lee, a resident in the neighborhood he still cannot believe the incident. He also said that he has walked in the path several times and has never imagined it turning into a crime scene.

At the moment, the investigations still continue while people in the neighborhood have been very concerned of their safety and of the possibility that the head could have belonged to someone they know.



Related article: NY Woman Faces False Report Charge After Calling Police on a Black Birdwatcher

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
President Donald Trump approved plans to significantly reduce the number of US troops in Germany after being briefed by top Pentagon officials. The move some say, would weaken the US military's ability to deter Russia.
In this June 24 photo, Joe Lupo, president of the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City N.J. examines the installation of protective barriers being installed at a card table on the casino floor. Smoking, drinking and eating will all be prohibited when Atlantic Citys casinos reopen after being shut for three months due to the coronavirus outbreak under rules imposed by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on June 29, 2020.
Tyler Juranovich can be reached at 765-454-8577, by email at tyler.juranovich@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @tylerjuranovich

Tyler Juranovich can be reached at 765-454-8577, by email at tyler.juranovich@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @tylerjuranovich

Tyler Juranovich can be reached at 765-454-8577, by email at tyler.juranovich@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @tylerjuranovich
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, left, talks with South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha during their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul, Wednesday, July 8, 2020. AP



U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said Wednesday that Washington "strongly" supports inter-Korean cooperation, calling it an "important component" in creating a more stable environment on the Korean Peninsula.



Biegun, who doubles as Washington's top nuclear envoy, made the remarks as South Korea has been seeking U.S. cooperation in its push for cross-border cooperation projects stalled by international sanctions.



"The United States strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation, and we believe this plays an important component in creating a more stable environment on the Korean Peninsula," he told reporters soon after talks with Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, Lee Do-hoon.



"We look forward to fully supporting the government of Korea as it advances its goals with North Korea in inter-Korean cooperation," he added.



Biegun's remarks came amid speculation that Washington may be uneasy about Seoul's eagerness for inter-Korean cooperation amid the absence of substantive progress in the efforts to denuclearize the North.



Apparently referring to North Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui's reported statements, including one that rejected possibilities of talks with the U.S. as politically driven, Biegun said he does not take "directions" from Choe.



"I take my guidance from conclusions of several meetings that President Trump and Chairman Kim had over the last two years," Biegun said, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by his title of chairman of the State Affairs Commission.



"Their vision is what guides our team: a focus on creating a more durable peace on the Korean Peninsula, transforming relations on the Korean Peninsula, elimination of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and a brighter future for the Korean people," he said.



Biegun also said the U.S. is ready to resume negotiations with the North at any time.



"When Chairman Kim appoints a counterpart to me who is prepared and empowered to negotiate on these issues, they will find us ready at that very moment. We look forward to continuing our work for a peaceful outcome on Korean Peninsula," Biegun said.



"I believe this is very much possible. President Trump has given us his full support to continue this effort," he said.

The U.S. diplomat also pointed out that he did not request a visit with North Korea during his trip here this time, stressing the purpose of his visit was to "meet with our close friends and allies."



Before his talks with Lee, Biegun paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and held the "strategic dialogue" with First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young.



Biegun arrived here on Tuesday for a three-day visit on an apparent mission to highlight the U.S. commitment to diplomacy with Pyongyang and forestall the escalation of tensions caused by Pyongyang's recent blowing up of an inter-Korean liaison office and warnings of now suspended military plans. (Yonhap)
By JeongWon Bourdais Park





Recent aggression from North Korea, the June 2020 demolition of the joint liaison office, has largely evoked public bewilderment rather than fear. This is due to Pyongyang's somewhat deviated communication style, the so-called "good cop, bad cop strategy" towards the South. Prominent commentators, experts and policy makers worldwide have sufficiently exchanged their insights and analyses regarding what North Korea really wants and what reactions to such an act of renewed threat should look like. Here, I instead turn my attention to one micro-aspect of recent events  "North Korea's prima facie changing communication tactics."



The demolition of the Gaeseong joint liaison office  a symbol of renewed inter-Korean collaboration  was a provocative and fiendish incident. There are multitudinous complications underneath it: prolonged punitive sanctions, a fatal drop in trade with China due to COVID-19 and its consequent economic hardship, and the tottering Trump administration resulting in the loss of a negotiation partner.



Above all, what could fundamentally and briskly convulse the fragile regime is a large-scale social disturbance due to accumulated discontent from the grassroots. Then the influx of unfiltered information through the balloon campaign (scattering propaganda leaflets) from South to North could be "crucial" (in conveying the organization's view) but "fatal" for regime stability.



Moreover, North Korea has faced another disturbing situation: influential North Korean defectors have been elected as lawmakers in the South. In response, the North's regime began indirectly harassing the North Korean diaspora community. Allegedly, one of the purposes of Kim Jong-un's surprise disappearance from the public eye for 20 days in April was to crack down on the inter-Korean informant network by leaking some misinformation to diverse suspects.



Intentionally or unintentionally, this could also preview the world's reaction to the post-Kim Jong-un era. Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Workers' Party, was brought up in discussions of successors, providing North Korea with detailed evaluations on her qualification as a leader. Prior to the demolition event, Kim Yo-jong bombarded Seoul with threats to nullify the 4.27 Panmunjeom Declaration along with the 9.19 Military Agreement and implement a series of planned military aggressions unless the leaflet scattering was stopped. Afterwards, tensions escalated to the point of blowing up the liaison office, warning that this was only the first step of the planned military actions to come.





Interestingly, a few days later, on June 23, Kim Jong-un appeared in public rather abruptly. At the preliminary meeting for the Fifth Meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission (CMC), he "gratefully" announced that all escalatory plans would be temporarily deferred. In this scene, he strategically portrayed himself as the capable leader who reigns peace or conflict on the peninsula.





The North's dual strategy resembles Kim Jong-un's remarks earlier this year, addressing President Trump's dual play tactic to "keep expressing friendship between leaders while dubiously holding back any negotiations and keeping hostile policy toward North Korea." In a similar vein, in her rude message to Cheong Wa Dae, Kim Yo-jong asserted that "the real bad guys are those who overlook and encourage bad things." It is apparent that North Korea does not understand the enormous structural constraints on leaders in a liberal democracy and simply considers it as an excuse to avoid dealing with imminent foreign affairs.



In international affairs, the border between diplomacy and deception can sometimes blur. Even in a liberal democracy, the connotation of "being diplomatic" may imply a strategic, rhetoric, evasive, and devious disposition, which could be associated with words like "dishonest" and even "deceptive." To the public, the gap in the dual strategy is often unacceptable.



This is one reason why whistle-blowers' disclosures in politics are easily scandalised. Bolton's "The Room Where It Happened" is only one such illustration. But in a totalitarian setting, what a dictator suggests in their speech in a coarse manner vis-a-vis the liberal world may not be the real message. The constraints as to what liberal democracies need to consider  such as domestic foes, national solidarity, social stability or more gains in inter-state relations  can be similar in any society.



One good reference in the Russian context, "Putin's Propaganda Machine" (2016) demonstrates the distinguishable components of non-liberal adaptation of soft power tools as mimesis (mimicking Western public diplomacy), rollback (attacking Western public diplomacy) and invention (new methods of information warfare). Such features help to explain North Korea's tactical alteration. The "good cop, bad cop" tactic is highly risky for those on the bad-cop side in any society, especially in a totalitarian regime, but not in a nepotism-based society resting on strict blood ties, such as North Korea. Therefore, the altered tactic is likely fake power-sharing, confirming that North Korea's strategy and attitudes toward inter-Korean relations have not changed.



Whatever psychological changes occur in the Supreme Leader's mind, if North Korea expands more non-military options in inter-state communication, it will be a positive sign.





JeongWon Bourdais Park is currently serving as associate professor at the department of international relations and regional studies at KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan.


Hollywood actor Johnny Depp revealed pictures of his severed finger after actress Amber Heard allegedly threw a vodka bottle at him. This is one of the many pieces of evidence that Depp showed during a court hearing, backing up his claim that the actress has been abusive throughout their marriage.

Court hearing

The 57-year-old "Pirates of the Caribbean" star is suing the news site The Sun for publishing an article that labeled him as a "wife beater" and said that the accusations of the tabloid are sick and untrue. Depp when to the High Court in London for the libel trial against the tabloid.

Depp opened up about the series of incidents in which Heard had allegedly attacked him. One of which was the time when they were in Australia in 2015 and that she threw a vodka bottle at him, severing his finger. Depp's lawyers released a picture of Depp lying on a hospital bed after the incident.

The actor's lawyers also showed a picture of his severed finger, as published by The DailyMail. Heard then claimed that the injury was caused by the actor smashing a telephone into a wall. Depp when to court on July 8 and told the court that Heard severed his finger with the second bottle that she threw at him on March 8.

The actor also added that Amber claims that during the alleged three-day hostage situation, he subjected the actress to a variety of torture and other abuse, which are not true, as reported by BBC.

Also Read: Ellen DeGeneres, Portia De Rossi at Breaking Point? Couple Reportedly Getting $500 Million Divorce

Depp also said that the actress did not sustain any injuries at all during the weekend that they were in Australia, while he sustained injuries including the severed finger and a cigarette that was stubbed out on his cheek.

Depp said that his injuries made him realize that he was being verbally and physically abused by the actress and that the severity of the abuse that was inflicted upon him for years had already sunk in. He could not believe that they had come to this and he wondered what more the actress could do to him.

The "Edward Scissorhands" actor denied ever hitting Heard and said that it was inconceivable that he would ever hit a woman. He stated that it is a strong part of his moral code that he would never hit a woman under any circumstances.

While he was denying all the allegations that he harmed Heard, he launched a blistering attack on her, accusing her of being a calculating, narcissistic sociopath who only married him to further her acting career.

Verbal abuse

According to the actor's statement, Heard belittled him and called him a fat old man. He said that he found it heartbreaking and devastating to hear the actress call him a horrible father.

The actor also addressed the libel case against The Sun who published an article stating that Depp had rage-filled violent incidents on planes with Amber. What Depp said is that they were on a private jet in 2014 when Heard become verbally aggressive and started hitting him.

Depp also explained that both he and the actress recorded conversations during their marriage. In Heard's statement that was published in The Guardian, she said that she recorded their conversations to remind Depp of what he would do when using alcohol and drugs because he would not remember once he is sober.

Related Article: Amber Heard Defecating on Their Marital Bed Was Last Straw for Johnny Depp, Lawyers Claim

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"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
(PLATTE CITY. Mo.) A violent crime bill signed into law by Missouri Governor Mike Parson Monday.

Prosecutors and law enforcement gathered in Platte County to show their support and explained how it will help them do their jobs better.

The scratch of a pen and a bill that's been sitting on the governor's desk for weeks will be law in Missouri.

It answers a question given to prosecutors and law enforcement everyday.

The question that I get more than any other question is what are we doing about violent crime, what are we doing about gun-related violence in the community? Buchanan County Prosecutor Ron Holliday said.

Senate bill 600 stiffens penalties for repeat violent offenders, crimes involving guns, and gang-related crime.

That's what this is about is being able to protect our citizens to keep violent criminals off the street, Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett said.

A serious sentence, for serious crimes.

This gives us the tools to ensure that truly dangerous violent criminals, the worst of the worst, will not merely receive a slap on the wrist when they prey on their victims, Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said.

The bill was sponsored by Parkville republican senator Tony Luetkemeyer.

So what Senate Bill 600 does at its core is ends the catch and release practice that allows violent felons to re-offend, Luetkemeyer said.

Just before the governor committed his signature, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies and city officials expressed their support for the bill at a news conference in Platte County.

If youre the mayor of a city where a 4-year-old is shot in their sleep, if youre the mayor of a city where two officers are shot in one day, if youre the mayor of a city where everyone everyday is saying what can we do to make some level of difference? Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said. You cant turn a blind eye to how important it is that we make sure that the prosecutors, the police officers have the tools that they need.

Saying the bill gives them better tools to combat guns and gangs.

Anything that we can do that gives law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to keep our communities safe and protect our victims is a win for all of us, Puett said.

However, not everyone supports it. Last month at least 13 groups wrote a letter to the governor asking him to veto it, writing the bill does nothing to address underlying issues that lead to violent crime. Instead they say it doubles down on failed strategies of past decades.

Luetkemeyer says prevention and rehabilitation have been the focus of legislative sessions in the past. Now its time to focus on the individuals that have been given too many chances.

We should be putting them in prison so they can't re-offend and hurt more people, Luetkemeyer said.

In the press conference Monday, Parson also indicated he wants a special session to focus on violent crime in the state.
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Missouri Secretary of state John Ashcroft stopped by Rosecrans Memorial Airport Tuesday morning to discuss the safety of voting in the upcoming August and November elections.

Since senate bill 631 expanded voting options for the next two elections, Ashcroft said it allows voters with Covid-19 or those at risk to cast an absentee ballot without notarization.It also allows all registered voters to mail-in their notarized ballots.

Because Missourians have more than one way to cast their vote this year, the secretary of state anticipates a higher number of casted ballots.

"I think we're actually going to see an increase in participation which is good, but we cannot let ourselves say, 'oh, we have this dramatic increase in people who do not want to vote in person, therefore we don't need as many polling places.' I think that's a fallacy." Ashcroft said. "The gold standard is for people to go to their assigned polling place on election day and vote in person. That's also the best way to guarantee that their vote will count and it's the best way to get quick results."

July 22 is the deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail for the August 4th election.

Ashcroft also says curbside voting is available, where residents pull up to their polling place, stay inside their car and a bipartisan team will come out to cast your vote.
Marion Countys new rent assistance program could help 7,000 to 11,000 households for up to three months, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced at a press conference July 8.

The program includes $25 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and a grant from the Lilly Endowment. Some of those funds will go toward neighborhood centers to provide other services.

Tenants can begin applying for relief funds at 9 a.m. on July 13 at indyrent.org.

Hogsett said the program is a short-term solution, and is just one aspect of the citys plan to help Marion County residents recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.

Last month, the city-county council approved $15 million for rental assistance for Marion County residents. According to Hogsett, along with a $10 million addition from Lilly Endowment, this is one of the largest city-focused rental assistance programs in the country.

My colleagues and I took quick and decisive action to allocate CARES Act funding, Vop Osili, president of the city-county council, said. Our unanimous vote underscores our hope that by working together, we can help some of the burden our citizens are facing.

With assistance from the Indianapolis Urban League, Indianapolis Public Library and various neighborhood organizations  the latter will be distributing the funds  Marion County residents looking for renters assistance will have to complete a two-part application. The second part of the application must be completed by the tenants landlord or property owner.

Jeff Bennett, deputy mayor of community development, said landlords are not required to take money from the program, but it is in their best interest due to the economic impact of the pandemic. However, if a landlord refuses to participate in the program, Bennett said there are several funding programs available to help tenants who are forced to relocate.

Indianapolis Public Library CEO Jackie Nytes said those in need of internet access or a computer can go to their closet library branch, regardless of whether or not they have a library card, to get access to the application. Further, staff members at most branches are fluent in Spanish and other languages to assist with language barriers. Masks are required upon entry at any branch.

Tony Mason, president of the Indianapolis Urban League, said after the application is done, the partnering neighborhood center closest to the applicant will review the application, and if permitted by the applicant, can also search for other assistance programs tenants are eligible for.

This is a crucial time for our city, Mason said. I hope every citizen in Indianapolis takes advantage of this opportunity to get assistance.

Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick. Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.

For more information on the renters assistance program, visit indyrent.org.
Philadelphia, PA - July 8, 2020 (Investorideas.com Newswire) VSBLTY Groupe Technologies Corp. (CSE: VSBY) (Frankfurt: 5VS) (OTC: VSBGF) ("VSBLTY"), a leading provider of security and retail marketing technology, announced today the signing of an agreement with Synect, a digital strategy and content creation agency that enables video displays of unlimited size and scale in airports throughout the country.

The announcement was made by VSBLTY Co-founder and CEO Jay Hutton, who said the contract is valued at up to $1,360,000 USD over the next three years. That projection is based on Synect's current book of business and does not include additional clients that Synect may add in the future. "We are delighted to partner with Synect that has earned an outstanding reputation for its content and creative capabilities and that has mastered the art and science of airport communications," Hutton said.

The Synect digital signage program is called "ReadySeeGo." ReadySeeGo is a turnkey digital signage solution that combines visual communications content, hardware and software in a streamlined mobile display that is plug-and-play using a standard power outlet. VSBLTY DataCaptor is expected to be added to approximately 2,200 airport ReadySeeGo units. DataCaptor leverages camera and sensor technology with artificial intelligence (machine learning and computer vision) to provide real-time analytics. These real-time analytics will allow the ReadySeeGo units to display responsive, relevant content to passengers as they navigate the airport environment.

"The collaboration between VSBLTY and Synect is exciting and offers our clients new AI-powered innovation and insight," Synect founder and CEO Yahav Ran said. "With VSBLITY DataCaptor, ReadySeeGo can deliver impactful, responsive content based on user behavior, demographics and more. This allows for experiences that are even more engaging and provides new ways for our clients to take visual communications to the next level," Ran said.

Investor Relations

MarketSmart Communications Inc.

+1-877-261-4466

info@marketsmart.ca

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

+1-416-868-1079, x231

cathy@chfir.com

CONTACT:

Linda Rosanio, 609-472-0877

lrosanio@vsblty.net

About VSBLTY (www.vsblty.net)

Headquartered in Philadelphia, VSBLTY (CSE: VSBY) (Frankfurt:5VS) (OTC: VSBGF) ("VSBLTY") is the world leader in Proactive Digital Display, which transforms retail and public spaces as well as place-based media networks with SaaS-based audience measurement and security software that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning.

About Synect (www.synectmedia.com)

Synect creates next-generation content and systems for video walls and digital signage. Equal parts creative studio and solution provider, Synect is a driving force behind visual communications innovation at airports, retail stores and other complex facilities. Synect's key capabilities are the creation of engaging cinematic-quality content and the development of powerful, scalable visual communication ecosystems. These two elements work together to enhance on-premise customer experience and operations. Synect is headquartered in Redmond, Wash., and has an office in Orlando, Fla.

CONTACT:

Alison Weber, 313-350-0195

alison.w@synectmedia.com

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding anticipated revenue to VSBLTY from its agreement with Synect, and other statements that are not historical facts. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, and which are described in the Company's Annual Information Form and other public filings available under its profile at www.sedar.com. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not intend to update any of the included forward-looking statements except as required by Canadian securities laws.

FINANCIAL OUTLOOK INFORMATION

This news release contains "financial outlook information" regarding future revenue expectations, which is subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as set forth in the above. Revenue and other estimates contained in this news release were made by VSBLTY management as of the date of this news release and are provided for the purpose of informing readers of the anticipated size of VSBLTY's agreement with Synect, and are not an estimate of profitability or any other measure of financial performance. Investors are cautioned that the financial outlook information contained in this news release should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein.

LINDA ROSANIO

VSBLTY, INC

609-472-0877

LROSANIO@VSBLTY.NET

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Disclosure: VSBLTY is a paid PR, news and social media client on Investorideas.com as of March 1, 2019 https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.

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VSBLTY Groupe Technologies Corp. (CSE: VSBY) is a featured Tech / AI stock on Investorideas.com Visit profile page
Code found in iOS 14 beta 2 points to Apple working on bringing QR code support for payments using Apple Pay. This will allow Apple Pay users to simply scan a QR code to trigger a transaction.

The company did not talk about this change in Apple Pay at WWDC 2020 so it is likely we will hear more about it later in the year when it announces the iPhone 12. The feature also seems to be in an unfinished state in iOS 14 beta 2. The QR code-based payment system will also be available to third-party apps.

It is possible that Apple could use this QR code-based payment method to bring Apple Pay to more countries. Right now, Apple Pay is only available in countries where NFC is prevalent. In India, for example, Google Pay uses a QR code-based approach thereby allowing users to easily make payments for their transactions at retail stores by scanning a QR code. The Cupertino company could also be looking to do the same to expand the availability of Apple Pay to more countries.

Apple released the second beta of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 to developers earlier today. Apart from references to the QR Code Payment feature, it also comes with plenty of other changes and improvements. Make sure to read about everything thats new in iOS 14 beta 2 here.

[Via 9to5Mac
Now that things have loosened up with regard to the pandemic, are there precautions you are still practicing? Which have you relaxed?
Couple arrested for beach s.e.x act in front of children

An amorous couple were arrested for a performing a s.e.x act on a beach promenade in Malaga in full view of children and holidaymakers.

Moments earlier beach workers  hired to enforce strict new social distancing rules  had thrown the couple off the beach after catching them romping on the sand.

But the pair moved to the showers on the promenade where the 44-year-old woman was seen to perform a s.e.x act on the 40-year-old man.

The incident occurred on Antonio Machado promenade, by Huelin beach, just after 4pm on Saturday.



Several shocked witnesses called the police on the couple.

And some locals even approached the pair, who were allegedly drunk, and begged them to stop, reports local paper Andalucia Informacion.

But they reportedly replied: Whats wrong? Its not that serious, nothing is happening.

The lewd act could be seen by any sun worshippers, as well as diners, including kids, at a nearby beach bar.

Police swooped in and arrested the pair and the couple now both face criminal charges of exhibitionism in the presence of minors and s.e.xual provocation.
Senator Dino Melaye has released a new track to mock suspended EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu.

He said he had warned the President about him and many Magu in his Government, but now the President can see for himself.

Watch the video below


Female American Air Force officer is slammed for saying s.e.x.u.a.l harassment is...

A female Air Force Lt. Col. has been slammed for suggesting murdered soldier Vanessa Guillen deserved to be s3xually harassed because its the price of admission for women in the army and if youre gonna cry like a snowflake about it, youre gonna pay the price.

Air Force Lt. Col. Betsy Schoeller made the shocking comments on a Facebook thread where another person had shared an article about the missing soldier being bludgeoned to death shortly after telling family and friends she was being sexually harassed by a superior.

Schoeller, who is now a senior lecturer at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, hit out at other social media users who expressed sympathy for Guillen.



You guys are kidding, right? Sexual harassment is the price of admission for women into the good ole boy club, the military veteran wrote.

If youre gonna cry like a snowflake about it, youre gonna pay the price.

Schoellers comments came just hours after the attorney for Guillens devastated family released information that the 20-year-old Fort Hood soldier had been bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the armory room where she worked.

Her post, which has since been deleted, sparked outrage from other social media users and a Change.org petition is demanding she be fired from her position at the University of Wisconsin.

Incredible  I cant believe what Im reading. Where does she get off saying something like that?! This woman was bludgeoned, hacked up and buried in a shallow grave! wrote one outraged social media user.

Others blasted her for being part of the problem with entrenched sexual harassment of women in the armed forces.

This is like the whole girls cant wear revealing clothing because men cant control their urges on a whole other level, another person wrote on Facebook.

Gahhhh so many swear words are flying around my head.

A fellow veteran agreed that Schoellers response encourages harassment taking place.

I spent literally half my career handling sexual assault/harassment charges for sailors, they said.

Leaders like her not only encourage harassment, they protect predators. This is not a mentality she left with her uniform. She brought it with her.

Several people pointed out her high rank, saying she had a responsibility to tackle issues of harassment within the Air Force.

In one image from 2012, the lieutenant colonel is pictured meeting Michelle Obama during a visit from the then-First Lady to meet with family members of the victims of a Sikh temple shooting.

Guillen was last seen alive at the Fort Hood Army Base in Killeen, Texas, on April 22 after telling her family she was being harassed by a sergeant.

Her partial remains were finally found Tuesday near the Leon River in Bell County  more than two months after her disappearance.

An FBI criminal complaint released Thursday identified 20-year-old US Army Specialist Aaron Robinson murdered her by striking her in the head with a hammer on Fort Hood on April 22.

Robinson committed suicide Wednesday, just hours after Guillens body was discovered.

He fled Fort Hood Tuesday night before he could be arrested by Army criminal investigators and shot himself when officials caught up with him a few miles from the base early Wednesday morning.

As authorities tried to confront him, he killed himself.

As officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect displayed a weapon and discharged it toward himself. The suspect succumbed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Killeen Police Department said.

Cecily Aguilar, 22, the estranged wife of a Fort Hood soldier, has been arrested and charged with helping Robinson dismember and dispose of Guillens body.

She has been charged with one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence and could face 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

According to the FBI complaint, Robinson told Aguilar he killed Guillen and moved her body off to a remote site in Bell County.

Robinson and Aguilar then disposed of her body.
There was low turnout of passengers today as domestic flights began operations again in Nigeria. Photos shared online shows the very low turnout at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.

Recall Nigeria shot its Airspace in March as part of measures to contain the spread of covid-19 in the country.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, last week announced the resumption of domestic flights in the country saying Abuja and Lagos airports will resume domestic operations on July 8, while Kano, Port Harcourt, Owerri, and Maiduguri airports would resume on the 11th. Other airports will resume operations on the 15th.



The five airlines who have also been given approval to operate said there have only been little bookings.
Passenger train maintainer is a special type of work in the railway vehicle sector.

Working in the open air 24 hours a day (shift work) with a hammer and a lamp, a passenger train maintainer is titled as "train doctor," vividly due to their hard work and job responsibilities-inspecting visible or invisible problems and breakdowns of the train.

After each train arrives at the inspection and repair depot, 33-year-old passenger train maintainer Zhou Tao and his colleagues have to uncouple, test the wind, inspect the train and maintain it.

Zhou Tao said that this is just like the traditional Chinese medicine diagnosisobserving, listening, interrogating and pulse-taking, they need to check the train through observing, knocking, listening and touching to evaluate whether there is a fault or not.

Zhou said: "Our job may be as important as doctors, we should and must be much careful, otherwise any fault we miss could cause great incident."
Photos: Newborn baby holds mums contraceptive coil that failed to stop her...

These incredible images show a newborn holding his mums contraceptive coil that failed to stop her falling pregnant.

The baby boy clasps his mothers intrauterine device in his hand at Hai Phong International Hospital in the city of Hai Phong in northern Vietnam.

In the photos, the baby boy can be seen with his eyes closed holding the yellow and (IUD).

Obstetrician Tran Viet Phuong said the device had come out when the baby was born.



The infant had it held firmly in his hands when the picture was taken.

It was previously reported the tot has been delivered with it in his hand.

Phuong told local media: After delivery, I thought him holding the device was interesting, so I took a picture. I never thought it would receive so much attention.

The tots 34-year-old mother had reportedly had the IUD inserted two years earlier.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Uyo Zonal Office have arrested the operator of a grand Ponzi Scheme: No Burn Global Limited, Umanah Umanah.

He was arrested in a hotel located at the Osongoma area of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, following a petition sent to the Commission by one Joseph E. Uko.

Uko alleged that Umanah swindled him of over N2.9million and subsequently issued him a cheque for N500,000 that was never honoured as the account in question was not funded to cover the sum for which the cheque was issued.

According to the petitioner, after several months of expecting to receive his 50% returns on investment, without any success, he decided to get back his invested funds.



But all efforts made by him to get back his money proved abortive as Umanah deserted his office located at Plot 110-Unit D, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, and went into hiding until operatives of the Commission fished him out.

Before his arrest, Umanah, 62, allegedly lured people to invest in his company, by assuring them of a bogus 50% interest within one week.

He allegedly operated smoothly in a number of states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but denied any knowledge of the petitioner and the evidence of his allegations against him.

While being interrogated, Umanah said: I am the Chief Executive Officer of No Burn Global Limited. The company is a consultancy and entrepreneurship service provider. It provides information and stimulates ideas. I was shocked to see the cheque as a source of a petition against me. It is my handwriting on the cheque. But I have never met Joseph Ukoh Eboh before in my life.

However, investigation into the matter revealed that Umanah is the leader of a syndicate of advance fee fraudsters, who had operated in various states like Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and Abuja amongst others.

He was also reported to be operating along the West Coast, especially Ghana and Togo.

The commission has vowed to charge the suspect to court after investigation.
Protests surrounding the death of George Floyd may be the largest in...

Black Lives Matter protests that have erupted across the United States may be the largest demonstrations in the countrys history, with upwards of 26million people participating.

The figures come from four recent polls  including one released by Civis Analytics  that found that 15 million people to 26 million people have been a part of demonstrations that spawned following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.

Ive never seen self-reports of protest participation that high for a specific issue over such a short period, Neal Caren, associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, explained to the New York Times.

The surveys suggest that at the minimum, seven million people participated in demonstrations over the last several weeks.



In comparison, roughly three million to five million people came out for the Womans March of 2017 on a single day. That event was highly organized in contrast with BLM demonstrations, which have been much more organic.

Really, its hard to overstate the scale of this movement, said Deva Woodly, an associate professor of politics at the New School.

Civil rights marches in the 1960s were not nearly as big, the professor added.

If we added up all those protests during that period, were talking about hundreds of thousands of people, but not millions, she said.

A review of international protests for independence by Erica Chenoweth, a professor at Harvard Kennedy School, found that roughly 3.5 per cent of a countrys population protest to unseat government leadership.

More than 4,700 demonstrations have happened in the United States since May 26, averaging out to roughly 140 per day.

The geographic spread of protest is a really important characteristic and helps signal the depth and breadth of a movements support, said Kenneth Andrews, a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Professor Woodly explained that the protests are taking place in such vast numbers because activists are gaining guidance and framework for their demonstrations from Black Lives Matter.
An explosion on Oil Mining Lease 40 operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company has killed seven workers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation announced today.

NPDC is the flagship subsidiary of NNPC.

The explosion occurred on Tuesday at the petroleum companys Benin River Valve Station.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Kennie Obateru, said the BRVS explosion happened at Gbetiokun, OML 40, operated by NPDC.



He disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja entitled NNPC Reports Explosion at NPDCs Benin River Valve Station.

Obateru said, The incident, which occurred on Tuesday during the installation of a ladder on a platform (Benin River Valve Station) for access during discharging of Gbetiokun production, unfortunately caused seven fatalities.

The national oil firm said a detailed investigation of the cause of the explosion had commenced.

It said the Department of Petroleum Resources had been duly notified and Form 41 was being prepared for the industry regulator as required in circumstances of this nature.

The bodies of casualties have been deposited in a morgue in Sapele, while families of the personnel involved are being contacted by their employers, NNPC stated in its statement.
Ladysmith, WI (54848)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.
ELKHORN  It appears as if the good food, good music and good times will still happen this year.

The annual Elkhorn Ribfest is set for Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 13 to 16, at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St.

Usually occurring in July, organizers pushed the event back due to safety concerns after the coronavirus outbreak.

Dubbed Wisconsins largest BBQ festival, this years Ribfest promises to live up to its enduring slogan, Good food, good music, good times!

Expected are carnival rides, an artisan village, childrens activities as well as two stages for musical acts.

There is also, of course, the ribs. Champion BBQ teams compete for awards during the event, with the community division scheduled for Aug. 16.

In a Facebook post July 1, Ribfest announced it is switching to gift card wristband system this year, avoiding cash and card transactions.

Patrons will load the wristbands with their money, then it will be swiped by vendors and at carnival rides and beer stands.

The balance of the gift card wristbands can be retrieved before the guest leaves or for up to one week after the event online.
TWIN LAKES  The community is rallying behind local police officer Joe Patla after village officials voted to send his partner Rex for retraining rather than allow Patla to purchase the dog when he leaves the department to take a position elsewhere.

An online petition to keep the pair together has collected more than 2,000 signatures. Some of those who have signed the petition contend it was community donations that covered the cost of starting the K9 program, not taxpayer dollars, so it is the community that should decide.

The Twin Lakes Police Department released a statement on the decision.

We understand this is an emotional event for everyone involved in our community, the statement reads. Nobody in the village of Twin Lakes wanted to see K9 Officer Rex separated from Officer Patla.

However, according to the release, the decision to keep Rex on as a sworn officer of the department with a new handler was bound by an agreement reached with the Police Officers Union. According to that agreement, the K9 handler must agree to serve a six-year term. If the handler chooses to leave prior to the retirement of the K9, it remains the property of the village.
OAK CREEK  With more than 100,000 Wisconsinites left without income while waiting to find out if they will receive unemployment checks, Republican legislators from southeastern Wisconsin have come forward a plan to provide loans to help make ends meet for those still on the wait list.

Republicans are calling on Gov. Tony Evers, who has discretion over how the $2.2 billion Wisconsin received through the federal CARES Act is used in the state, to use $40 million to fund the loan program. Anyone who has been stuck in the adjudication process for four weeks or more waiting to hear back on their unemployment claim could then receive a loan to help them pay rent, for food or whatever else they need. Once their claim is approved and they start receiving unemployment checks with back pay, the loan would then be paid back by withholding money from the checks.

If someone receives a loan but their unemployment claim is eventually denied, then they would have to pay back the loan in full with no interest under the Republican plan.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, for every $40 million in loan funding made available to the program, it is estimated that 30,581 individuals could receive a loan of $1,308, which is equal to four weekly benefit payments of $327.
U.S. President Donald Trump has formally notified the United Nations (UN) and Congress of his intentions to pull the United States out from the World Health Organization (WHO) amid the co ronavirus pandemic.

The entire process could last at least a year before the withdrawal takes effect.

Trump made this announcement in late May. He accused the WHO of being under China's influence during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Trump said he would withdraw out of the health organization and realign funds elsewhere.

UN secretary-general spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the U.S. notification withdrawal. The withdrawal is valid on 6 July 2021.

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said he would reverse the decision once he is elected President.

"Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage," Biden announced on Twitter.

BBC News reported that a senior U.S. administration official had said the reforms that it wanted WHO to make. The health organization refused.

"Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship," the official was quoted in a report.

U.S. Withdrawal Implications

WHO has been in charge of some of the public health changes in the 20th Century. The U.S. has all been the organization's biggest sponsor.

Around 15-percent of the WHO's latest funding cycle was from the U.S. contributions, which cost $893 million.

The withdrawal of the U.S. from the health organization would create questions about economic efficiency.

Trump's announcement affected the WHO's operation.

WHO director of planning resource coordination and performance monitoring Imre Hollo said the negotiations for new funding are currently on hold.

The WHO also expects to feel the funding gap "more completely in 2021."

If the situation between the U.S. and the WHO does not change soon, WHO's funding would be into two types. These are "assessed" and "voluntary" contributions.

Assessed contributions are the fees the country pays to be a member of the WHO, as determined by each country's gross national income, population, and debt.

The U.S. has got the world's most substantial invoice at about $237 million during the WHO's 2018-2019-funding cycle.

On the other hand, voluntary contributions can be set aside by the giver for specific uses. An example of this was when the U.S. has set aside $166 million for polio eradication during 2018-19.

According to a Time report, the U.S. also makes up for over 40-percent of the WHO's budget to "increase access to essential health and nutrition service,"

The U.S. scientists and public health officials would off from funding some of the most critical global health communication channels.

"Not all of the data from China was public. It was shared among the WHO member states initially before it was put out in public bulletins," Center for Global Development executive vice president Amanda Glassman stated in a report.

Glassman added that the U.S. must cooperate with other nations to maintain Americans' safety from global health threats.

Coronavirus Cases in the U.S.

The current number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. is around 3 million. Out of this, approximately 908,00 have recovered.

The number of deaths is around 133,000.

More than 40 states are experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases. Governors of several states have stopped opening their economies.

The states with the most number of confirmed cases are New York, California, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey.

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Florida bars and restaurant owners are not sure if it would survive after the state banned the sale of alcoholic drinks inside the establishments.

This was after it was found out many of the businesses have been ignoring the state's reopening rules.

Governor Ron DeSantis ordered a statewide shut down in March and let businesses operate at 50 -percent inside capacity in June as part of a three-part reopening plan.

On June 26, a new ban was released in the state.

Bars and restaurants are blamed for the increase in new coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Boston University School of Medicine Study said that heavy breathing in close presence in bars presents a perfect way to spread the coronavirus.

"Can you do social distancing at a bar? Can you wear a mask while drinking? Bars are the perfect place to break all those rules," Member of BU School of Medicine Dr. David Hamer was quoted in a Washington Examiner report.

It would be better for those places to open while following the rules, DeSantis said.

"I think that's probably less risky than what a lot of the young people end up doing. They're still going to do things, most likely. And you may end up doing things in ways that are even riskier," DeSantis was quoted.

Alcohol drinking inside bars and restaurants is not allowed, according to The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

DBPR said it set up a web page. Citizens can anonymously send worries about businesses that may be ignoring the rules of the reopening plan through a web page DBPR has set up.

Alleged Noncompliance of Establishments

A restaurant in Daytona Beach, accused of seating patrons at full capacity, is one of the complaints.

Also, a restaurant in Oviedo may be allowing employees to work despite being tested positive for COVID-19.

In Titusville, a restaurant was reportedly running at almost full capacity and made patrons wait for tables inside.

DBPR inspected the said Titusville restaurant and confirmed the allegations. A follow-up visit was done two days later, and the claim was not seen.

DBPR has yet to issue sanctions to any of the said establishments.

DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears was sorry for the shutdown.

"Nothing I say or do will stop the pain small business owners are feeling. I empathize & understand, I've been there. It's more than u: it's your employees & the families they support. I'll keep taking the hate if it makes any of you feel better," Beshears tweeted.

Beshears said that the ban is being re-evaluated daily.

Business Owners on the Shutdown

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association CEO Carol Dover told Fox News that she has seen many bars and restaurants ignore the state's safety rules.

But Dover said the majority have been following the rules. He thinks it is unfortunate that only a few people obey the rules making it hard for everybody.

Dover said the business would be much affected. Businesses will have to depend on selling alcohol-to-go.

Orlando bar owner Matty Bullitt said it is wrong to include those who followed the rules.

"You would think that the proper steps would be to find the culprits, find who's breaking the guidelines, and shut them down individually. But to paint that broad stroke among everybody just isn't fair," Bullitt was quoted in a report.

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The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) investigates if a spike in officers calling in sick over the July 4th-holiday was part of a protest against the agency's budget slashing.

Los Angeles Times obtained an unsigned letter that reportedly went around the LAPD rank and filed last week, telling officers to call in sick to protect their interests.

"They succeeded in defunding the police; what do you think is next?" the letter read. It went on listing other possible things slashed from officers such as pay, benefits, and pensions.

The letter said the police have to send a message to the city that they are not "expendable," reported CBS Los Angeles.

Last week, the LAPD's budget was cut by $150 million, reducing the number of officers to a level that has never happened for more than a decade, reported Associated Press.

This budget slashing is amid demands nationwide for reforms in the police because of police brutality.

Officers might get charged with misconduct.

Now, LAPD heads are investigating if the unusual spike in officers who called in sick over the holiday weekend resulted from a planned protest, which would be illegal.

Up to 300 officers called in sick during the holiday. Many in the department think it was "Blue Flu."

It came on a weekend with a high number of homicides and shootings. There were also complaints of illegal fireworks all over the city on July 4.

Sources also told Times that everyone or nearly everyone in some anti-gang units called in sick at once.

Police chief Michel Moore said there might be other reasons officers called in sick for the holiday weekend like the rising COVID-19 cases in the force and the county. But he also said there are signs that some officers and police units called in sick as part of the alleged protest.

If it can be proven that some officers took part in such an effort, they will be guilty of misconduct, Moore said.

Chief Moore considers health concerns.

Tuesday, Moore is still talking to front-line supervisors like sergeants and lieutenants about what they know, including COVID-19 concerns of some officers.

Moore airs on the side of caution and asking to explore the possibility of health concerns instead of jumping to conclusions about the officers.

"We want to find the facts out before we start making sweeping judgments," he said.

Moore temporarily froze overtime pay, and since then, LAPD officers have called in absent for about 700 shifts in the transit system.

Major organized sick calls are not standard in the LAPD. The more common action is one where officers report for duty but are less proactive on purpose.

Activity Najee Ali said the effort might be a push on activists for the asking to defund the police. Ali said it should be a massive concern for top officials.

The LAPD has protocols for officers who report COVID-19 symptoms or exposure. Moore said this would help them find out how the virus affected reduced weekend staffing.

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At 56 years old, Charles Chiang, CEO and president of Taiwanese components manufacturer Micro-Star International (MSI) has died after falling from a building.

According to an article from FPS Review, an employee found multiple bruises and fractures and cerebral plasmosis spillover on Chiang's body.

"The status of taking the drug and the reason for the suicide are still under investigation, but the family members have no objection to the cause of death and immediately handle the matter," added the article which was machine-translated from ETtoday.

The report also added that there were heart-related drugs in his office. CCTV footage showed that Chang walked alone to the 7th floor before the accident happened.

Taiwanese media reported that Chiang died after falling out of the 7th floor of a building. The CEO was found unconscious in the company's car park and was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead.

His death is still being investigated by the police. As of this writing, no statements have been made by either the police or his family.

What can be confirmed is that he was having family problems because of the relocation, but the 56-year-old CEO did not express any thoughts about dying or suicide.

Read Also: [Digital Nomad Essentials] How to Choose the Right Slim Laptop: ASUS, Acer, MSI





Sheng-Chang Chiang's Journey in MSI

Not much is noted about Chiang's life other than the fact he took his Master's Degree in National Chiao Tung University, and had previously served as an associate for Yangzhi Technology.

Founded in 1986, PC Gamer noted that he first joined in 1999 as Vice President of Engineering. In 2010 he became general manager of the company's Desktop Platform Business Division, before moving up to his latest position in January 2019.

Dr. Ian Cuttress, a writer for AnandTech elaborated in his article on how insightful and patient he was when listening to the ramblings of the industry and how he perceived the industry with his wisdom.

"I have had the pleasure of meeting with him quite frequently in my trips to Taiwan and Computex, as well as an extensive HQ tour when MSI's gaming brand was first starting - we discussed the upcoming emergence of virtual reality and how MSI wanted to create the world's first VR-ready notebook," wrote Cuttress.

"Having been a part of the company for more than 20 years, he made outstanding contributions and was admired by his colleagues," MSI's statement said as noted by Kotaku.au.

MSI has been a major sponsor in the esports space having signed deals with the likes of ESL and BlizzCon.

The press release further added that he was a respected leader in the company that helped paved the way for the success of the brand and will be missed by his team.

Read Also: MSI's New RTX 2080 Ti is Here and Trying to Claim the Championship Title: Should Nvidia's Titan RTX be worried?
A politician and some educators have criticized the new rules released by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that may deport foreign students in the United States if they do not comply with the regulations.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday told BBC that the rules issued by ICE were "senseless, cruel, and xenophobic."

Based on the new regulatons, ICE said international students with fully online classes will not be allowed to stay in the U.S. unless they move to a course with in-person tuition. Students may face deportation if they do not comply.

According to ICE, visas will not be issued to foreign students enrolled in schools and programs that will go fully online for the fall semester. It will affect students, who are in the U.S. on F-1 and M-1 visas.

The coronavirus pandemic is pushing many universities and colleges to do online classes.

Universities on Losing End

The Chronicle of Higher Education said nine percent of universities in the U.S. are planning to do online classes. This included the Harvard University.

Harvard University President Larry Bacow has also expressed concern over the ICE rules, the BBC news reported. Bacow said these rules give international students few options, aside from leaving the country or transferring schools.

Bacow further noted that the decision weakens many colleges and universities' efforts to continue academic programs amid the coronavirus pandemic. He said Harvard will work with other colleges and universities to "chart a path forward."

New York University lecturer and journalist Elizabeth Spiers tweeted on Wednesday that many of her students depend on their visas. "Online classes will be a challenge with the time difference between the U.S. and the students' home countries," Spiers added.

For her part, Immigration lawyer Fiona McEntee said the loss of international students would mainly affect university budgets.

International students make up five percent of college enrollment in the U.S., according to a Brooking Institution report. The total revenues from their tuition and fees amount to $2.5 billion.

International students also pay non-resident tuition rates. They also receive less aid than domestic students.

A National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) survey said a decrease in international student enrollments due to the pandemic might cost the U.S. some $3 billion. Schools may face a revenue loss of $23 billion.

Students Affected

More than one million of the country's college students are international students. Harvard University student Noah Furlonge-Walker was looking forward to his second year in the university when he heard the announcement.

Furlonge-Walker moved back to Trinidad in March, when Harvard said it would do online classes for the rest of the academic year. He said everyone was trying to get back to normal so "why they would do something that jeopardizes everyone?"

Meanwhile, Bowdoin College student Nirhan Nurjadin wanted to stay in Maine for his senior year. But ICE's new rule changed his plans.

Nurjadin, from Indonesia, said the 12-hour time difference would be a challenge catching up on online classes.

Catch up on the latest news in the U.S.:
Bad Bunny, Romeo Santos and Daddy Yankee are among the many winners of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Awards of Latin Music 2020 as announced on Tuesday.

Bad Bunny was named Songwriter of the Year, Romeo Santos won Songwriter/Artist of the Year, and Daddy Yankee's song "Con Calma," featuring Canadian rapper Snow, won the Song of the Year award.

Universal Music Publishing also won the award for Publisher of the Year and Kobalt Songs Music Publishing was hailed Independent Publisher of the Year, an article from Milenio said.

The winners of the 2020 ASCAP Latin Awards have been announced online without an in-person event, according to Billboard.

From Tuesday until Thursday, exclusive photos and videos from the top Latin music stars, songwriters, producers, and publishers will be rolled out to the public through Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, the Variety reported.

The three-day event will be hosted by Greeicy Rendon. Performances and appearances from artists will also be held for the virtual events.

ASCAP will also have virtual chats with Alexandra Lioutikoff, head of Universal Group for Latin America and the United States. Billboard's Leila Cobo will also be there.

Grammy winner and two-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Claudie Brant will also be part of the event, joined by Loren Media, owner of Guerrera Marketing & PR. They will talk about Brant's life and career in music.

The virtual events can be streamed on ASCAP's website. The full list of winners can be found on the site too.

The Rise of Latin Music

In the mid-2000s, the rise of Puerto Rican artists likes Daddy Yankee was a sign that Latin music can succeed without the need to translate into English, the Consequence of Sound reported.

The music genre made future stars, thanks to Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's worldwide No. 1 "Despacito."

Latinx artists are getting known all over the globe, led by Puerto Rican Bad Bunny and his new version of "I Like It Like That" that topped the Hot 100 chart.

Latin music keeps on catching the notice of many as its artists are getting known all over Latin America and the U.S. with different types of music.

Getting Heard All Over the World

ASCAP President Paul Williams spoke in a kick off video to thank the artists for their work in music.

"Latin music - your music - is one of the most popular in the world. This is because their rhythms, their passion, honesty, and deep love for their traditions and the gift of breaking barriers speak to all of us equally - no matter what language we speak," Williams said.

He sent his best wishes to the winners and wished for their safety during the pandemic.

In May, ASCAP said it will honor the artists of the most famous music last year by doing four online events for the first time.

The ASCAP Pop Music Awards was held then from June 17 to 19 and the Screen Awards from June 23 to 25. The Rhythm & Soul Awards will be held on July 15 to 17.

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Colombian-born actress Sofia Vergara got emotional during last week's episode of "America's Got Talent" after a contestant revealed that his sister died around the same time Vergara's brother was murdered.

AGT contestant Brandon Leaked performed a spoken word about his younger sister, who died in 1997 at eight months old.

The spoken word had a line that said, "If this pain and these memories are all that I got left of you, I won't never regret these scars from just trying to hold onto you."

Sofia said it was a beautiful poem and told Leaked that she can feel his pain.

"I know what this is. I know what it is to have somebody taken from you without you knowing," she was quoted in a report. But what exactly happened to the "Modern Family" star's brother?

Rafael Vergara's Death

Rafael Vergara was gunned down in 1996 during an attempted kidnapping. His killers were never brought to justice. He was killed in his family's hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia.

Sofia once said in an interview that they come from a successful family and her brother was a target for kidnapping. That's why his brother always went out with bodyguards. She said her brother went out alone one day and was shot dead. For this, she was devastated.

Private investigator Marcos Rubio visited Vergara's hometown with an Enquirer reporter. Rubio told the Enquirer that there were witnesses, who were afraid to talk back then or they may have been blackmailed.

Rubio said the police should re-open the case get her brother's murder. On the other hand, there were rumors that Rafael was having an affair with the girlfriend of a local crime boss. The source said all of Rafael's friends told him to break it off.

"A lot of people believe that the mobster found out about Rafael and his girl and ordered the hit." Rubio said police never checked out these rumors. He said evidence should be looked at for possible connection to the murder.

Sofia Vergara Now

Vergara is known for her Emmy-nominated role as Gloria on the popular sitcom "Modern Family." She was also in "Meet the Browns," "Happy Feet Two," "Hot Pursuit," and "Smurfs."

Vergara started her first on-screen through a Pepsi commercial for the Latin American markets. She then began her work as a model and actress in a Mexican telenovela.

She has a net worth of $180 million and was the top-earning actress in American television in 2012, 2013, and 2016. Vergara is the highest-paid TV actress in the world as of 2019.

Aside from being the highest-paid TV actress in the world, she also received a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 7, 2015.

She won People's Choice Awards for Favorite TV Comedy Actress and the Screen Actor Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

She won the Best Actress category in ALMA Awards, Image Foundation Awards, and NAACP Image Awards. She started as a judge on AGT's 15th season last February.

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Finding the best hot sauce isn't an easy feat. When you're looking for the one bottle that could give you the oomph you are craving for, the familiar brands sold at the corner store may not be enough.

At some point, you'll find yourself branching out in search for the most tongue-burning, lip-tingling hot sauce. Luckily, the online market has made it easier for you to explore a variety of options.

Below, we offer a mini-collection of some of the best pepper sauces from Barbados. Every bottle is known to add a gourmet kick to all dishes, including pizza and take-outs. We also selected products that cover everyone's hot sauce preferences.

This thick and fiery pepper sauce oozes with the heat and smoky flavor all hot sauce fans know and love. The Bajan pepper sauce goes perfectly well with appetizers, sandwiches, and just about everything you can put hot sauce on.

Aunt May's sauce gives your dishes a zesty punch and a unique, tropical flavor that could easily make your cooking the star of the night.

One bottle can be used to season and marinate your meat. It can also be used as a dip. Its fantastic, fruity flavor will surely have you scrambling to make this brand a staple in your pantry.

Fans of hot sauce would adore this sauce. Its blend of Scotch Bonnet and mustard seed gives this traditional favorite a fruity taste with a burst of the mellow tang of mustard.

The habanero-pepper heat initially burns the tongue, but the kick subsides quickly. This sauce goes well with hotdogs, sandwiches, and even in soup stocks.

A bottle of this product gives you a chance to re-experience the goodness of Barbados food the Bajan way.

Ramp up the heat with High River Sauces' Cheeba Gold Pepper Sauce. Every bottle comes with a fiery mustard-based sauce. Combined with curry sweet peach and scotch bonnets, each drop gives your dish an unexpected tropical kick.

Try it over chicken, rice, soup, and sandwiches for a golden dining experience that you'll always treasure. Turn your take-outs into a gourmet meal with this pepper sauce that even hot sauce non-believers will love.

This all-natural hot pepper sauce from Torchbearer Sauces uses real California reapers in every bottle. This sauce is reserved for those who can handle extreme heat that has a slow burn.

The first few bites may taste of garlic, citrus, and a creamy sauce, but the spice is bound to pack a punch.

The Reaper sauce, which has been featured on Hot Ones, goes great with grilled or roasted proteins, tofu, and in sandwiches. It could also be used as pasta sauce, dip, and the flavoring for chicken wings.

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Theres been great national debate weighing the need for people to attend church services versus the risk of mass gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

One local church is trying to strike a balance by innovating and relocating its services outdoors. Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church in the Stewartsville section of Greenwich Township is offering outdoor services each Sunday morning at 10 a.m.

In order to make the outdoor services possible, the church, which has roots in the area dating back to 1740, uses a newly designed pulpit that is set atop a repurposed hay wagon.

We saw the drive-in movie concept first, Old Greenwich Presbyterian church organist Thomas DiGiovanni said. We thought, you know what, we have the parking spots, we can pull this off. One of our members who works at Alpha Vet, Dr. Bruce Frey, had this idea, I have this hay wagon, we could make that the stage. He really brought it to life and built everything for us.

After a month of work went into building the altar outside, Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church had its first outdoor service on June 21. That was also the first service churchgoers could attend in person since the quarantine began several months ago.

Theyre just happy to see each other again, DiGiovanni said. They just missed going to church. Weve been doing it on Facebook Live every week, but its just not the same as seeing the people that you care about every week that youre used to seeing. It was great for everyone to see each other again, kind of a reunion of sorts.

Attendees can sit along the grassy area in front of the custom-built pulpit or stay in their cars and listen to the service by tuning into 88.3 FM on the radio from the parking lot. For those sitting on the grass, masks are required while chairs and sunscreen are recommended.

Church goers attend a service at Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church.Photo Courtesy of Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church

DiGiovanni said the turnout thus far has been about 70% of the churchs usual level but hopes that offering the unique service throughout these uncertain times will boost attendance.

Were open to anyone, regardless of religion or denomination. Come out and see what were up to. The services are a little shorter outside, theyre well under an hour. Like 40 minutes or so. Its a nice way to dip your toe in the water, DiGiovanni said. Were going to keep doing it until it gets too cold to do it. Until everybody is really comfortable inside, or it gets too cold. This is going to be our way until things get better.

For those who prefer to stay at home, or in the event of extreme weather, services will also still be streamed via Facebook Live on @OldGreenwichPC.

For more information visit http://www.ogpc.org/ or call 908-479-4449.

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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Desmond Boyle may be reached at dboyle@lehighvalleylive.com.
Resident after resident told Bethlehem City Council Tuesday that its effort to launch an ongoing public space for the community to tackle race, social justice and policing reforms falls quite short of the bold action they seek.

Some came to Bethlehems Town Hall for the meeting while other chimed in virtually. They urged the city to defund its police department, mandate deescalation training and create a police misconduct registry amongst other reforms.

(The resolution) doesnt look like a real response to the young people marching down Broad Street, said Al Wurth, a resident and Lehigh University professor.

Cities across the nation are examining their policing policies in the wake of the death of George Floyd, who died May 25 in Minneapolis after then-police officer Derek Chauvin allegedly pressed a knee on his neck until he stopped breathing. Floyds death sparked nationwide protests, including thousands who have marched peacefully across the Lehigh Valley in recent weeks.

The idea of reallocating money away from police departments -- dubbed defunding -- to other social service agencies to tackle the root causes of crime has been gaining momentum and prominence in the wake of Floyds death.

Members of council joined local protests, leading Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith and Councilman J. William Reynolds to push the police department to commit to the 8 Cant Wait policing reforms and suggest this ongoing public forum. The department has committed to the reforms; many were already in place.

Council hoped to launch the effort with a public meeting at Liberty High School, but COVID-19 restrictions on large public gatherings paired with virus safety concerns have complicated plans. Much of Tuesday nights council debate centered on how safely to hold such a meeting.

Most of the speakers demanded action on progressive reforms, not meetings.

Matty Fall, of Bethlehem, addresses hundreds gathered in Easton's Centre Square on Sunday, June 7, 2020, for a Black Lives Matter Circle of Peace, protest in the wake of George Floyd's death.Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com

Liberty High School grad Matty Fall, 20, who organized early protests in Bethlehem, said it seems as if the entire message of the protests were lost on council. She questioned if any Black people were consulted in the creation of the resolution. She noted the resolution thanks police, but not the protest organizers.

We are actually protesting the very existence of the police, Fall said, urging council to read the 8 to Abolition platform.

Protesters want the current police state to be dismantled, defunded and that money invested into the community, she said, adding the resolution feels like an attempt to silence protesters.

Council on Tuesday night passed a tweaked resolution aimed at starting the community conversation. The new version passed removed references praising the department for its role in peaceful protests following Floyds death and vowed to rely on local policing experts and data.

People have been speaking up and were not listening, Councilwoman Olga Negron, who pushed for the changes to the resolution, said. ... We dont need another resolution. We need action. People are telling us what they need.

Smith and Reynolds said the resolution is intentionally vague to allow the community to shape the effort.

I will be the first person to say this piece of paper doesnt mean anything, Reynolds said of the resolution. It only means something if we make progress.

Mayor Bob Donchez also announced on Monday the formation of a 21-member Bethlehem NAACP community advisory board spearheaded by chapter President Esther Lee. The national NAACP urged local chapters to form advisory boards and Donchez was happy to join, he said.

The board will meet monthly to review the citys policing policies as well as the intersection of race with issues like housing, education, health care and employment.

On Tuesday, elected officials spent a long time listening to residents and activists, who told them the conversation is already happening in the community.

They urged officials to join existing talks, not force people to jump into new ones. And they critiqued government efforts that they said often brought the same people from the same backgrounds to the table.

The biggest part of this is creating the public pressure on the city to change, Reynolds said. Those public conversations have been going on, but they need to continue and intersect with city government.

Reynolds wants to funnel the energy in the city now into an organic coalition that tackles systemic racism and power structures in ways that enact change. He hopes it can give those whove in the past not had the ear of the mayor or police department or council a permanent place at the table.

Its about transparency and its about accountability, he said.

Resident Anna Smith urged the city to go further and dedicate one paid person, who speaks Spanish, to spearhead the racial justice initiatives in the city into cohesive action. She urged council to reach out so they hear directly from people who have had negative police interactions in order to build diverse coalitions that truly represent the residents of Bethlehem.

The citys annual police report, released this week, notes that 28.5% of city residents are Latino; 12 of the citys 154 police officers, or approximately 8%, are Latino.

Yes, this is hard, Smith said, calling into the meeting. It requires a lot more time and effort than reaching out to the director of a nonprofit and asking them to attend a meeting.

Liberty High grad Julie Bradley said the movement is not asking for a stronger relationship between community and police. They want police defunded, transformative justice workers hired and programs to address mental and physical health issues in schools, she said.

Were asking for a stronger community, Bradley said.

Councilman Michael Colon said this is meant to get things started.

Change is incremental, he said. Change takes time, change takes effort.

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Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
With incomplete, unofficial results, The Associated Press has called the Republican primary election in New Jerseys 7th Congressional District, nj.com reports.

New Jersey Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. beat two GOP challengers in Tuesdays primary election to take on U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski, the results show. Malinowski did not face a challenger in his bid for a second two-year term.

New Jersey election officials were continuing to count ballots. In Warren County, Clerk Holly Mackey said she could not say when all ballots would be counted, but that updated results would be posted at 4 p.m. each day at warrencountyvotes.com.

Mail-in ballots postmarked by Tuesday will be accepted until July 14.

The 7th District in New Jersey covers Alpha, Phillipsburg and the townships of Franklin, Greenwich, Harmony, Lopatcong and Pohatcong in Warren County; all of Hunterdon County; and communities in Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties.

The rest of Warren County is in New Jerseys 5th Congressional District, where incumbent U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer faced a challenger in the Democratic primary. Four Republicans were on the ballot, with candidate Frank Pallotta and Gottheimer both leading in the vote count as of Tuesday, AP results carried by nj.com show. A winner had not been declared in either race.

The primary winners will face off in the general election Nov. 3.

Malinowski upset incumbent five-term U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance in 2018. Born in Communist Poland, Malinowski immigrated to the United States at age 6 and served as assistant secretary of state under former President Barack Obama. He has one daughter, Emily, and lives in the Ringoes section of East Amwell Township in southern Hunterdon.

Kean joined the New Jersey Senate in 2003 and serves the 21st Legislative District. He and his wife, Rhonda, have two daughters and live in Westfield, Union County. Kean is the grandson of former U.S. Rep. Robert Kean and son of former Gov. Thomas Kean Sr.

New Jersey also had contested Republican and Democratic primaries for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democratic incumbent Cory Booker.

Booker bested community activist Lawrence Hamm, nj.com reports, citing unofficial, incomplete results from the AP.

In the GOP primary, five Republicans sought their partys nomination, the report says. They are Rik Mehta, a pharmacist and lawyer; Hirsh Singh, an engineer who lost primaries for governor in 2017 and U.S. House in 2018; Natalie Rivera and Tricia Flanagan, both of whom ran and lost as independent candidates against Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez in 2018; and teacher Eugene Anagnos. Singh was ahead as of Wednesday, the results showed.

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Former Vice President Joe Biden will campaign in Pennsylvania on Thursday, the same day as his successor, Mike Pence, makes several stops in the premier presidential battleground state.

The men are working the campaign trail in Pennsylvania with fewer than four months until the election, with recent polls showing Biden leading in Pennsylvania.

Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, on Thursday plans to tour a metal works plant in Dunmore in northeastern Pennsylvania and speak about his economic recovery plan, the campaign said in an advisory.

Biden, who grew up in nearby Scranton, is targeting a region where President Donald Trump showed unexpected strength in the 2016 election, when he narrowly won Pennsylvania and shifted the state's electoral votes to the Republican column for the first time since 1988.

Pence, meanwhile, is mixing official and campaign business. He will attend a fundraiser at Kreider Farms in Lancaster County and discuss the economy at Rajant Corp., a suburban Philadelphia maker of wireless communication technology.

In Philadelphia, he will meet with six officers injured in a standoff last August and families of officers killed in the line of duty, a Fraternal Order of Police spokesman said. The union is holding a "Back the Blue" rally afterward.

Pence was last in Pennsylvania last month. Biden, whose campaign headquarters are in Philadelphia, has already made several campaign appearances in Pennsylvania in recent weeks.

Pence was last in the state in June when he was in the Pittsburgh area talking to faith leaders and touring a manufacturing plant, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. The vice president has visited Pennsylvania repeatedly. He appeared in Camp Hill at a Women for Trump event in February.

Less than two weeks ago, Biden visited Lancaster and spoke with families about the Affordable Care Act. He delivered a speech vowing to provide quality health care for all.

Pennlive.com contributed to this report.

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New Jersey residents will now be required to wear a face mask outside when social distancing is difficult or impossible.

Gov. Phil Murphy said during an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe Wednesday morning that he is signing an executive order later in the day mandating the practice to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading.

Children are included in the bunch. Add in the fact that schools will be open in the fall, and now might be a good time to start looking for face masks for kids.

Here are several options of where to buy face masks for kids online:

RELATED RETAIL AND SHOPPING COVERAGE:

Adidas popular face mask sold out quickly in May. Heres how to buy a 3-pack for $16.

Miss out on Fourth of July sales? Here are some deals you can still find online

Hamilton on Disney Plus: How to watch, cost, release time, Broadway cast, photos

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Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
A 22-year-old Allentown man is charged with killing city resident Jose Melendez on Saturday afternoon in Allentowns Trout Creek Park West, city police report.

Kenith Yadiel Otero-Ruiz, of the 1100 block of West Union Street, was not immediately in custody, records show.

He is accused of shooting Melendez, 27, about 2:36 p.m. on the Fourth of July during an argument in the area of the park near the 1200 block of South Eighth Street, police said.

Melendez was pronounced dead at 3:16 p.m. at St. Lukes University Hospital, Fountain Hill. The manner of death was ruled homicide, the Lehigh County Coroners Office said. Melendez had several gunshot wounds, according to police.

Investigators recovered spent .357-caliber shell casings near Melendezs body, police said.

The men had arrived at the park in two cars, Melendez in a white car and Otero-Ruiz in a burgundy/maroon Toyota with significant front-end damage, police said after interviewing witnesses.

The men got out and were arguing in Spanish before the shooting, one witness told police, according to court papers. A second witness said the words were exchanged as Melendez told Otero-Ruiz that Otero-Ruiz he needed to fix the car, investigators wrote in court records.

The first witness filmed part of the dispute on a cellphone, police said, declining to comment on whether the video captured the gunfire.

The second witness said Melendez called Otero-Ruiz a derogatory word in Spanish and then the first witness saw Otero-Ruiz shoot Melendez several times, police said.

Otero-Ruiz and a pregnant woman, who was wearing a bright green outfit, then left in the burgundy Toyota in which they arrived, police said they were told by the witness.

Soon after, a burgundy Toyota coming off Park Road onto Public Road cut off a LANTA bus that was on South Eighth Street near Public Road, and investigators were able to get the cars plate number from the bus video system, police said. Investigators learned that Otero-Ruiz recently bought the car and would later confirm that purchase with paperwork, police said.

A warranted search of Otero-Ruizs rear apartment off Union Street turned up Sig ammunition that matched the shell casings, police said. The Toyota, leaking fluids, could be seen in an attached garage, which was searched after a second warrant was received, police said.

Police said they also reviewed a text from Otero-Ruizs pregnant girlfriends phone that was sent to Ortiz-Ruizs mother, who lives in the home in front of her sons apartment. The text asked for money that was in his room to be sent to them, police said.

Neighborhood video obtained on Tuesday showed the damaged Toyota arriving soon after the shooting on Saturday and a man who looked like Otero-Ruiz and a woman dressed in bright green getting out, police said.

Otero-Ruiz does not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, police said.

The Lehigh County District Attorneys Office is also involved in the investigation.

Allentown police detectives can be reached at 610-437-7721 if anyone has information on Otero-Ruizs whereabouts.

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Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
Authorities on Wednesday identified a 40-year-old Carbon County resident as the man shot by Pennsylvania State Police on Monday in Monroe County.

Joey Hoffman, 40, of Jim Thorpe, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to information from Monroe County Coroner Tom Yanac and state police.

The incident occurred as troopers were responding for a welfare check about 10 a.m. along Mosiers Knob Road in Smithfield Township, north of Stroudsburg near Shawnee Mountain Ski Area.

Police had said troopers fired at the man after he repeatedly refused commands and pointed a laser-sighted handgun at them, and that he was subsequently found dead in a garage on the property.

The official cause and manner of death, however, were pending further investigation, Yanac said.

The Morning Call reports Hoffman was a father of two who worked in home improvement, and who battled mental illness.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
These are the days public pools were made for: 90-degree heat, high humidity and a strong probability of sweat.

But most public pools in the Lehigh Valley remain closed due to the threat of COVID-19.

Nazareth, Easton, Bethlehem and Allentown all agreed months ago that the challenges of social distancing outweighed the need to open pools. Its an excruciating decision not to use an asset taxpayers spent millions of dollars to fund.

It was a very difficult decision, said Nazareth Borough Council President Dan Chivaroli. A lot of time went into it.

Unfortunately, the Nazareth Borough Pool will not be opening this summer. This is obviously not the outcome we wanted.... Posted by Nazareth Borough Pool on Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Bethlehem discussed the possibility Tuesday of opening pools but went with Mayor Robert Donchezs recommendation to keep them closed.

I think people realize how complicated it is to open a pool, Donchez said.

He was willing to reopen parks and to hold the municipal fireworks display, but there were too many hurdles to overcome to open the pool. It would take two weeks to prepare some pools. Lifeguards would need to get certified and many of them are heading back to college in a few weeks.

Donchez hasnt heard any complaints from anyone about the pools remaining closed.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said hes heard a few complaints, but most residents understand the need to limit crowds. The city has laid off employees and would have to find funding to pay workers to keep the pool open, Panto said.

He also discussed the possibility of reopening Eastons pools at a staff meeting Tuesday. The consensus was to open some fire hydrants for children to play in but to keep the pools closed.

In Bethlehem Township, one man protested with a sign about the decision to close the community center outdoor pool, according to township manager Doug Bruce. There were about 100 comments on the community center Facebook page, many of them in favor of opening the outdoor pool.

We are extremely excited to announce that BTCC will reopen our doors on Tuesday, July 7th!! Please take a look at the... Posted by Bethlehem Township Community Center on Monday, June 29, 2020

The decision was made to protect the safety of both public and staff, Bruce said.

The township opened the indoor pool on July 7 in a limited capacity. Community center members need to reserve a lane in advance. One person can swim in a lane for 50 minutes. When they leave the pool area will be disinfected for 10 minutes before the next group uses it. Patrons must wear masks when entering and exiting the pool area.

Palmer Township decided to roll the dice, implement Centers for Disease Control guidelines and open the pool. So far there havent been any problems, according to supervisors Chairman Dave Colver.

We felt it is a township asset and its a public asset. Its something all the board members were in favor of opening if we could do it safely, he said.

The maximum pool capacity is 800. To implement social distancing, the capacity this summer was reduced to 585. Only township residents with season passes can swim.

Colver said about 400 people go to the pool on a typical day. That means as swimmers come and go during the day about 100 to 200 people are at the pool at any given time. When the pool opened Tuesday only a handful of people showed up.

Employees keep track of the number of people in the pool with a counter at the entrance. Theres only one way in and one way out of the pool complex. There are social distancing stickers on the ground and touch-free hand sanitizer dispensers in the bathroom.

We have had no issues at the pool, Colver said. Families dont have to social distance, but they are supposed to spread out towels at least six feet from other families.

Employees wear masks except for lifeguards. State health department spokesman Nate Wardle said lifeguards are required to wear masks, must keep their masks dry and must remove them during a water rescue.

Colver said state authorities assured Palmer that lifeguards dont need to wear masks. The pool passed an early season state health inspection and a surprise health inspection later.

Colver said its tough to keep up with the ever-changing COVID aquatic rules, but Palmer takes hygiene seriously.

Ken Katz, president of the Frank Banko Southern Lehigh Community Pool, said its impractical to expect lifeguards to wear masks, especially in 90-degree heat.

He said his pool also has strict guidelines to stop the spread of COVID. Attendance has hovered around the reduced-capacity maximum most days. He said his pool passed a state health inspection.

Hes stunned at how smoothly the summer has gone so far at the pool.

The outpouring has been nothing short of amazing. Its nice. I think people are really enjoying it, Katz said.

In the meantime, the communities with closed pools hope for an abrupt end to COVID-19.

We are praying and hoping that this thing is over for next year, Chivaroli said.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Bethlehem could get its first Lidl supermarket -- the regions second -- if developer Abe Atiyeh gets the zoning change hes seeking for a site where hes pitched a controversial psychiatric hospital.

Atiyehs morphing plans for the property at the corner of Dewberry Avenue and Center Street have long put him at odds with neighbors, Bethlehem Catholic High School officials and the city.

His pitches have included an assisted living facility, psychiatric hospital, a drug treatment center and a 125-unit apartment complex for the property at 1838 Center St.

But the 5-acre propertys institutional zoning does not allow any of the plans, including the proposal for the German supermarket chain to build a store.

Lidl is asking Bethlehem City Council to change the zoning to allow a grocery store via a text amendment. Council Tuesday evening voted to schedule a September public hearing on the matter and sent the request to the citys planning commission and Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for review.

Reached Tuesday before the meeting, Atiyeh said the store would bring Center City Bethlehem its first grocery store. The closest supermarket to the site would be the Weis Market at the Westgate Mall, on the border of the city and Hanover Township, Northampton County.

We think a local grocery store is actually needed, Atiyeh said.

The Bethlehem Food Co-op has been working for years to bring a member-supported grocery store to the downtown, which is a food desert.

Lidl opened its first Lehigh Valley store in Wilson Borough in May of 2019. A Lidl spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment, but the plans Atiyeh filed with the city include a Lidl logo.

The German grocer approached Atiyeh a few months ago about the property after a market analysis of several potential sites, the developer said.

They came to me interested in the property. They shop these sites, Atiyeh said. They said your site is the best site. It is the most suitable for their use for the grocery store.

Center Street is a busy road, more akin to a highway these days, and a grocery store would be an appropriate use, he said.

While Atiyeh is pushing ahead with new plans for the property, he still is fighting in court to build an 80-bed psychiatric hospital. The plan drew opposition from neighbors and the city on grounds it was a treatment center, which is not allowed. Atiyehs appeal was shot down by the Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board.

He appealed, but a Northampton County judge upheld the ruling. Atiyeh is now appealing the judges ruling.

He still has a buyer in mind for the psychiatric hospital plan, but would sell to Lidl if the zoning amendment is approved.

We finally found a use thats compatible with the neighborhood, Atiyeh said. You actually serve the neighborhood.

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Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
A trio of Ministers who represent voters in Laois and Offaly, including under fire senior Barry Cowen, sat down 'virtually' with one of the most powerful figures in the European Union this week.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Barry Cowen met via video conference with European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan, a former Kilkenny TD, and his Northern Ireland counterpart Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Edwin Poots this Tuesday.

The discussions took place as part of a range of engagements by Minister Cowen. The minister was joined by his colleagues, Ministers of State Senator Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon.

Minister Cowen and junior minister Hackett are both based in Laois Offaly while Mr Heydon is a TD for South Kildare which includes a population of 12,000 around Portarlington.

The Department of Agriculture said Minister Cowen was glad to have the opportunity today to establish contact with Commissioner Hogan and with Minister Poots.

"Brexit was, of course, a common theme of both discussions. I had a very useful exchange with Commissioner Hogan on the current state of play in the EU-UK negotiations, and took the opportunity to reiterate Irelands agri-food and fisheries concerns, including in relation to the potential economic impact post-December 2020, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.

"Similarly, my conversation with Minister Poots was very constructive, and covered North-South trading arrangements post-Brexit, implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol and the prospects for the wider EU-UK discussions on the future relationship, said a statement.

A press release said the minister also had a 'useful exchange' with Commissioner Hogan on the wider international trading environment, including on the need to be ready to respond to any market disturbance arising from the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, as well as to exploit opportunities created by market access developments in other FTAs.

On EU matters more generally, the statement said the minister took the opportunity to reiterate Irelands position that the achievement of increased environmental and climate ambition through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must be matched by an adequate CAP budget.

I found todays discussions extremely productive, and it was also useful to have my colleagues Ministers Hackett and Heydon involved. We intend to continue this process of engagement over the coming days. Today (Wednesday) we will meet with my UK counterpart Secretary of State George Eustice, and on Thursday we will have separate discussions with EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski and with Irish farming and industry representatives, he said.
Covid-19 has reduced discrimination and racism against Muslim women who wear face coverings for religous reasons according to a community representative on the Laois Joint Policing Committee.

Ms Sara Geraldine Rasool spoke at a meeting of the committee in Portlaoise this week.

A lot of rules and regulations that have come with Covid were based on social distancing. The way that Muslim women dressed was condemned or we were even fined for covering our faces and hands. During Covid and the social distancing we did not have such problems.

There was of Muslim ladies who would have their faces covered who would have been harassed. But with the Covid they have been more relaxed and comfortable because it is normal and ok to cover your face and hands.

This has made it a lot easier for Muslims in Ireland. It is not shunned upon anymore.

We feel less harassment we feel less racial abuse and that is positive, said Ms Rasool.
The death has occurred of Patrick Clowry

Castledermot, Kildare / Dublin



Clowry, Patrick, Belvedere Rd., Dublin and formerly Castledermot, Co.Kildare. Passed away peacefully on 7th July 2020 in the exceptional care of St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. Predeceased by his parents, Michael and Brighid and brothers Vincent, John and Michael. Loved, fondly remembered and sadly missed by his sister Kathleen and bothers Thomas and Joseph, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, uncle, aunt, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and his dear friends.

Rest in Peace

Due to COVID-19, a private family funeral will take place for Patrick.

Requiem Mass: Friday 10th July at 12:00, Church of the Assumption, Castledermot, Co.Kildate followed by burial in Coltstown Cemetery, Castledermot.

The family wish to thank The Medical Staff and Carers at the Mater Hospital, Dublin and St. Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown who cared for Patrick so well throughout his illness.

Those who would have liked to have attended please leave a message of condolence by selecting CONDOLENCES in the section below.

Donations please in lieu of flowers St.Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown.

Thank you.

The death has occurred of Michael Joseph Farrington

Kilcock Rd., Maynooth, Kildare



Farrington, Michael Joseph, Kilcock Rd., Maynooth & late of Rathcoffey and Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, July 6th 2020, peacefully at home, beloved brother of the late Tom & John, deeply regretted by his loving wife Maeve, son Richard, daughter-in-law Jean, grandchildren Freddie, Charlie & Flora, brother Fr. Ambrose, sister Theresa, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Rest In Peace

Due to current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a Family Funeral will take place. Those who would have liked to attend the Funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below.

Michael's funeral will be leaving Reilly's Funeral Home, Leinster St., Maynooth on Thursday at 10.30am to arrive at St. Mary's Church, Maynooth, for 11am funeral Mass, followed by burial in Laraghbryan cemetery. the funeral mass can be viewed at www.maynoothparish.org. In accordance with HSE Guidelines, we ask you to please keep to social distancing throughout the funeral.

The death has occurred of Anne Foley

Leinster St., Athy, Kildare







Funeral Arrangements Later

The death has occurred of Michael Foley

Elphin, Roscommon / Kildare



Suddenly at his home. Beloved brother of the late Betty Keating. Michael will be dearly missed by his loving wife Betty (nee Barrett; late of Richardstown, Clane), nieces Julie, Jacqueline, Deirdre and Aisling, grandnieces, grandnephews, brothers-in-law Pat and Billy, sister-in-law Myra, extended family, good neighbours and his many friends.

Rest in Peace.

Due to Covid-19 guidelines Micheal's Funeral is private to family and friends. Those who would have liked to attend the Funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the Condolence Book at the bottom of this page. The family are extremely grateful for your sympathy, support and understanding at this difficult time.

Vigil Prayers in Brady's Funeral Home, Elphin on Wednesday (8th July) at 8pm. Removal on Thursday at 9am to the Church of St. Patrick and St. Brigid, Clane arriving for Funeral Mass at 12noon. Burial afterwards in Mainham Cemetery, (Clane).

Michael's Funeral Mass can be viewed live at claneparish.com/webcam

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam

The death has occurred of Rosamond (Roz) SCOTT (nee Cumnock)

Brannockstown, Naas, Kildare



Scott (nee Cumnock) (Brannockstown, Naas and formerly of Scotland) - July 6, 2020, (peacefully), at Dunlavin Nursing Home, Rosamond (Roz), beloved wife of the late Iain; Sadly missed by her loving brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nephew, nieces, relatives and friends.

Due to current Government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a Private Funeral will take place. Those who would have liked to attend the Funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the Condolence Book below.

May She Rest In Peace
An amended European directive gives the new Government power to apply and extend a lower hospitality VAT rate to on-trade alcohol sales in pubs, restaurants and hotel bars), according to the Licenced Vintners Association (LVA), Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and Ibec representative group Drinks Ireland.

The group is calling for a temporary reduction in the hospitality VAT rate, and extending it to apply to alcohol sales in the on-trade (pubs, restaurants and hotel bars) until December 31 as part of the July stimulus package currently being negotiated by Government.

The measure is being sought to support pubs  7,000 businesses nationwide  and particularly rural pubs, as they begin their long and slow road to recovery after lockdown in what will be a difficult trading period in the months ahead.

The group said the sector could, with the right support, help drive Irelands economic recovery after the Covid-19 lockdown. Despite pubs being one of the hardest and longest hit sectors during the lockdown, and one of the highest taxed, they are working hard to get back up and running as soon as possible.

Unsustainable tax wedge

A report commissioned by the group and authored by DCU economist Anthony Foley states that over one quarter of alcohol revenues generated by the on-licence sector are taken by the Government in the form of expenditure tax each year.

Personal expenditure on on-licence alcohol was 5.677 billion in 2019. Of this, over 1.6 billion, or 28 per cent, was taken by the Government in expenditure tax. This tax bill is in addition to other businesses taxes such as income tax, Universal Social Charge (USC), PRSI, profits tax and state determined fees such as licences and commercial rates.

This huge tax burden is now "unsustainable" and "unjustifiable" and must be reviewed to reflect the current Covid-19 trading conditions, said VFI chief executive Padraig Cribben.

"Rural pubs, which represent many small businesses, will be under severe pressure as the new trading conditions and Government guidelines on social distancing and reduced capacity make meeting business costs an impossible challenge," said Mr Cribben.

"These are businesses which employ significant numbers and add to the vibrancy and life to our cities, towns and villages  something that has been deeply missed during lockdown. They need a short-term stimulus to get through the next few months until trade picks up. Our ask for a reduced VAT rate on on-trade alcohol is one that can be done with relative ease and will provide an immediate impact."

The report also found that on-trade pub alcohol sales will decline by 50% or more for the second half of 2020 and that this was the most optimistic market expectation.

EC VAT directive

Reduced rates of VAT for hospitality activities and other labour-intensive activities are long-established policy instruments in both Ireland and internationally to support economic activity. An amended European Commission Directive makes it possible to extend and apply a lower VAT rate on on-trade alcohol in Ireland. Some EU member states including Italy, Spain and Cyprus have implemented reduced VAT rates for on-licence consumption to support businesses as a Covid measure.

The UK has also announced a package of measures to support the hospitality industry, acknowledging the enormous contribution it makes to the UK economy. "Ireland needs to follow suit with the UK in terms of bringing forward creative and proactive proposals that are tangible to protect our drinks and hospitality industry. A temporary reduction in the hospitality VAT rate, extending it to on-trade alcohol sales is such a proposal and were calling on the Minister for Finance [Paschal Donohoe] to deliver," Mr Cribben said.

LVA CEO Donall OKeeffe added:"We are seeking a temporary reduction in the on-trade VAT rate on alcohol as a support measure to help businesses meet the 50% shortfall in trading due to Covid. This is for businesses and is not intended as a demand stimulus, which VAT rate changes tend to be. This is a new ask which has never been considered in Ireland and is achievable and easy to implement quickly at a time when this industry is under pressure to operate with reduced demand and increased costs. Irelands VAT rate on alcohol is already significantly higher than EU averages."
LifeStyle

The best Lifestyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel Lifestyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Shaynna Blaze and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand.
A SERIAL offender who was storing a large quantity of prescription drugs in a caravan has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Noel Price, 42, of Kileely Road, Limerick had pleaded guilty to possession of nearly 2,000 sticks of Alprazolam (Xanax) tablets for the purpose of sale or supply.

During a sentencing hearing, Garda Noel Nash said the tablets were seized during a search of the defendants home on July 31, 2018.

A total of 1,991 tablets, with a street value of 7,964, were found in plastic shopping bags in a caravan on the curtilage of the property.

Garda Nash said Mr Price, who has a large number of previous convictions initially denied all knowledge of the tablets but subsequently made admissions  claiming they were for his own personal use.

However, John OSullivan BL, instructed by state solicitor Padriag Mawe, said the State regards this assertion as highly improbable.

Barrister Antoinette Simon said her client had a difficult upbringing and has a long-standing history of drugs use.

Seeking leniency, she asked the court to note his admissions, his guilty plea and the time he has already served in custody.

Judge Tom ODonnell said the quantity of drugs seized was an aggravating factor as was Mr Prices previous history. The 18-month sentence was backdated to reflect the time the defendant has served on remand.
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PARENTS of students at the University of Limerick have expressed outrage over plans for the new academic semester.

Students were informed this Wednesday of the details of the universitys Academic Calendar Model for Autumn 2020 which is based on a blended learning approach in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

First year undergraduate students will spend four of the 12 weeks of the coming semester on campus. All other students on taught programmes will spend three weeks on campus.

I am furious, we already have booked accommodation for my daughter who will only be in the college for one week out of four, said one parent who contacted the Leader this Wednesday afternoon to voice their anger.

She will spend three weeks out of four studying in the bedroom of her apartment. She got 600 points in her Leaving Cert and could have chosen any college in Ireland. We are really disappointed, they are treating the students like an inconvenience.

Also the weeks she is off, she is not even allowed go and study in the library, it is an absolute disgrace, the mother continued.

The email which was sent to students by Prof Kerstin Mey, Vice President Academic Affairs & Student Engagement, says the blended approach of on-campus and online learning, minimises the risk of a Covid-19 outbreak by using social bubbles (keeping year groups together) and a circuit breaker (periods off campus) based on scientific insight into the spread of the virus.

The autumn semester will commence on September 28 for the majority of students.

The email states that in order to minimise the risk of virus transmission, "priority will be given to students accessing educational facilities during their scheduled on-campus weeks including the library and other study areas".

Access to buildings and sport facilities for extra-curricular activities will be managed by the respective clubs and societies. "This will likely be on a pre-booked basis and further information will be published closer to the start of the new semester."

All Erasmus programmes are cancelled for the coming semester (Autumn 2020). An alternative Erasmus programme has been developed for students who had arranged Erasmus placement in Autumn 2020.

Students meanwhile, have been tweeting their reaction to the details of the plan for the new term.

"Can fully become a part-time farmer now since Ill be at home for majority of the semester," said one.

"Tell ye what @UL best not even attempt to charge full tuition fees for this semester. 3 weeks on campus and you can't even use the facilities outside of that," tweeted another.

When contacted this Wednesday afternoon a spokesperson for the university said: "All decisions have been taken in line with the governments public health guidelines and the requirement for social distancing to prevent the spread of infection and to keep our campus community safe."
Several Limerick based AIB customers have this week seen their mortgages reduced as AIB begin their balance adjustments under the FSPO review process.

AIB have set aside 300m to help compensate some 5,900 tracker mortgage customers after individual customers had taken cases with the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.

A ruling confirmed that, under the terms of their loans, customers should have been offered a tracker mortgage rate, following the end of their initial fixed rate agreement.

A statement from AIB, to the Limerick Leader, confirmed that AIB has previously communicated that customers who are in the FSPO grouping will receive a balance adjustment, a cheque for the interest refund and a letter in July or August. This follows work on a case by case basis by the bank. The bank has begun applying the balance adjustments, and they will continue to be applied across this month and next."

In more good news for affected customers, aside from the reduction in mortgage, "Once these actions are completed these customers will receive written confirmation of the balance adjustment made on their account and a cheque for the interest refund due. If customers have any queries they can call our FSPO Mortgage Review helpline on 0818 300 070. - AIB confirmed.

So check those accounts....
Facebook Inc., Google and Twitter Inc. -- all of which are blocked in the mainland -- are now headed toward a showdown with China that could end up making Hong Kong feel more like Beijing.

Hours after Hong Kong announced sweeping new powers to police the internet on Monday night, those companies plus the likes of Microsoft Corp. and Zoom Video Communications Inc. all suspended requests for data from the Hong Kong government. ByteDance Ltd.s TikTok, which has Chinese owners, announced it would pull its viral video app from the territorys mobile stores in the coming days even as President Donald Trump threatened to ban it in the U.S.

Their dilemma is stark: Bend to the law and infuriate Western nations increasingly at odds with China over political freedoms, or simply refuse and depart like Google did in China a decade ago over some of the very same issues. Much like that seismic event shook the mainland in 2010, Big Techs reaction now could have a much wider impact on Hong Kongs future as a financial hub.

Google is pretty important to people here, and if thats cut off then its really extremely serious," said Richard Harris, a former director at Citi Private Bank who now runs Port Shelter Investment Management in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong we dont know where the boundaries are, and thats threatening to a lot of business people."

Over the past week, Hong Kong authorities have begun explaining how theyll enforce a law that officials in Beijing called a sword of Damocles" hanging over Chinas most strident critics. The legislation, which sparked the threat of sanctions from the Trump administration and outrage elsewhere, has had a chilling effect on pro-democracy protesters who demonstrated for months last year while also raising fresh questions for businesses.

On Monday night, the Hong Kong government announced sweeping new police powers, including warrant-less searches, property seizures and online surveillance. If a publisher fails to immediately comply with a request to remove content deemed in breach of the law, police can seek a warrant to take any action" to remove it while also demanding the identification record or decryption assistance."

We are absolutely headed for a showdown, and there are no indications that the Hong Kong government is particularly prepared if Facebook or another company refuses a removal request," said James Griffiths, a journalist and author of The Great Firewall: How to Build and Control an Alternative Version of the Internet." These companies appear to have realized that there is no compromise they could make that would truly satisfy Beijing or make them seem trustworthy. This could make them more willing to stand up against Chinese censorship in Hong Kong."

American internet giants have made overtures toward Beijing in recent years as the market exploded, but few have so far actually acceded to Chinas censorship framework.

Of the rare examples, Microsofts LinkedIn censors content to allow it to operate a Chinese version, while Apple Inc. complies with local regulations in policing its app store and other services. Reports that Google entertained the notion of returning -- via potentially a censored version of search called Project Dragonfly -- enraged lawmakers and its own employees torpedoed the idea.

Worldwide Censorship

Twitter and Facebook have never been consistently available in China, but Mark Zuckerberg also flirted with Beijing before abandoning the notion as regulatory scrutiny and a user backlash grew at home. In both instances, external factors helped scupper the feasibility of operating in the worlds No. 2 economy.

I worked hard to make this happen. But we could never come to agreement on what it would take for us to operate there, and they never let us in," he said last year in a speech at Georgetown University. And now we have more freedom to speak out and stand up for the values we believe in and fight for free expression around the world."

Still, the internet heavyweights are already censoring content across the world for both authoritarian regimes and western democracies, according to Ben Bland, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Australia. After a mass shooting last March in Christchurch, New Zealand, top social media companies joined with more than 40 countries in a concerted call to end the spread of extremist messaging online.

Germany has banned online Nazi and right-wing extremist content, and most countries have blocks in place against online pornography and criminal activity. In Thailand, strict lese majeste laws lead to censorship of content deemed offensive to the royal family, while Communist-run Vietnam expunges anything deemed anti-state."

Reputational Damage

Big tech companies must gauge the importance of the markets in China and Hong Kong with possible reputational damage in other places they operate, according to Stuart Hargreaves, a law professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong who researches surveillance and privacy issues.

I do not expect to see the Great Firewall extended from mainland China to Hong Kong, at least in the medium term," he said. It is not necessary for Beijings goal of tamping down certain sentiments and would be the obvious end of Hong Kong as a global city and its particular role as an Asian finance hub."

The exit of TikTok, the viral video app that has insisted it operates independently of Beijing, could actually benefit the Communist Party by removing a forum pro-democracy protesters have used to post videos calling for an independent Hong Kong. Last year, demonstrators used the Reddit-like forum LIHKG as well as Telegram to organize leaderless protests.

TikTok on Tuesday played up its U.S. ties while pushing back against comments by U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, who said the government is considering a ban of the short video app. Trump later said the move may be one possible way to retaliate against China over its handling of the coronavirus.

We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked," a TikTok spokesperson said, adding that its led by an American CEO.

Platforms like Telegram that provide end-to-end encryption could become increasingly popular, said Joyce Nip, senior lecturer in Chinese Media Studies at the University of Sydney. Telegram said it has never shared data with Hong Kong authorities, adding that it doesnt have servers in the territory and doesnt store data there.

Knife Edge

Hong Kongs leader, Carrie Lam, didnt answer a question Tuesday on her response to tech companies that stopped processing data requests from her government. Still, she played down any long-term impact on the citys position as a financial hub around the same time that Pompeo released a statement blasting the Communist Partys Orwellian censorship" in Hong Kong.

There has been an increasing appreciation of the positive effect of this national security legislation, particularly in restoring stability in Hong Kong as reflected by some of the market sentiments in recent days," Lam said a day after local stocks entered a bull market. Surely this is not doom and gloom for Hong Kong."

The regulations stemmed from a new national security committee created by the law that includes Lam and Luo Huining, Beijings top official in the city. While Chinas leaders know Hong Kong needs a free flow of information to function as a world-class financial center, much seems to rest in the hands of the few newly empowered bureaucrats who will police the new laws," according to Steve Vickers, chief executive officer of Steve Vickers and Associates, a political and corporate risk consultancy.

Foreign firms are on something of a knife edge here, caught between their natural affinity with freedom of information and their commercial desire to operate in the huge Chinese market," said Vickers, a former head of the Royal Hong Kong Police Criminal Intelligence Bureau. It is now more a matter of what is actually done, as opposed to what is being said -- by either China or the foreign IT companies -- that will be the key."

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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Microsoft and Zoom on Tuesday joined other major internet firms that have stopped considering requests by Hong Kong 's government for information on users in the wake of China's imposition of a sweeping new security law.

Microsoft and Zoom said they are pausing consideration of data requests by officials or police in Hong Kong, a precaution also taken by Facebook, Google and Twitter.

"As we would with any new legislation, we are reviewing the new law to understand its implications," Microsoft said in response to an AFP inquiry.

"In the past, we've typically received only a relatively small number of requests from Hong Kong authorities, but we are pausing our responses to these requests as we conduct our review."

Zoom a video-conferencing platform that has boom during the pandemic, said it is monitoring developments in Hong Kong and looking for guidance from the US government.

"Zoom supports the free and open exchange of thoughts and ideas," the company said.

"We have paused processing any data requests from, and related to, Hong Kong SAR."

The pause at leading online social network Facebook and its popular messaging service WhatsApp will remain in place "pending further assessment" of the new national security law, and include "formal human rights due diligence and consultations with human rights experts," according to the Silicon Valley giant.

"We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and support the right of people to express themselves without fear for their safety or other repercussions," the spokesman said.

Twitter and Google told AFP that they too would not comply with information requests by Hong Kong authorities in the immediate future.

China last week imposed the security law on the city of around 7.5 million people, banning acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

The law stipulates that trials can be held behind closed doors without juries, with offenders subject to a maximum of a life sentence.

The legislation, which has sent a wave of fear through the territory, has criminalized dissenting opinions such as calls for independence or autonomy.

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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Readymade garment exports of Bangladesh fell 18.1% to $27.95 billion in FY20 because of the negative impact of covid-19. Yet, it continues to export more readymade garments than India. What can India learn from Bangladesh on this front? Mint takes a look.

When did Bangladeshs exports overtake India?

This happened in 2006-07, when Bangladesh exported readymade garments worth $9.21 billion and Indian exports stood at $8.89 billion. In 2019-20, readymade garment exports of Bangladesh fell 18.1% to $27.95 billion, while that of India fell by 4% to $15.48 billion. As per a paper titled What explains Indias poor performance in garments exports? by Saon Ray of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER): Bangladesh produces simple apparel such as t-shirts, shirts in bulk... While India manufactures superior quality woven and knitted products." Covid has hit low-end exports more.

How did Bangladesh become competitive?

One of the major reasons for Bangladeshs competitiveness is that it is cheaper to produce goods in Bangladesh than in India. According to a working paper titled Automation and Future of Garment Sector Jobs: A Case Study of India written by Pankaj Vashisht and Nisha Rani of ICRIER: The unit labour cost of producing a cotton shirt in the United States is around $7, while the unit labour cost of producing the same shirt in India comes at around 50 cents, whereas in Bangladesh the unit labour cost is only 22 cents." This gives Bangladesh a competitive advantage over the rest of the nations, including India.

View Full Image Sustained growth

What helps Bangladesh in producing cheap goods?

According to the Economic Survey of 2019-20: Bangladesh [has] more than 80% of market value of exports by large enterprises, India has 80% by small enterprises." Readymade garment exporters in Bangladesh, therefore, have economies of scale. Also, Bangladeshs exports to the European Union and Canada are largely duty-free.

Why do Indian garment exporters lack scale?

As T.N.Ninan writes in The Turn of the Turtoise: Rigid laws prevent flexibility in manning for a seasonal industry India has only three or four garment makers with turnover in excess of $100 million." Hence, the turnaround time of Indian firms from order to delivery is 63 days. In Bangladesh, this turnaround time is far less at 50 days. Also, it takes only one day for a consignment to reach a port in Bangladesh. In India, it can take as many as 10 days for a consignment to reach a port. All such factors are barriers to creating scale.

What can India learn from Bangladesh?

In order to increase exports of readymade garments, Indian firms will have to grow bigger. It is also worth noting that if there are more jobs in the garments sector, it will provide a working opportunity for women. Increasing employment for women leads to several benefits. As the Economic Survey of 2016-17 points out: In Bangladesh, female education, total fertility rate, and womens labour force participation moved positively due to expansion of the apparel sector."

Vivek Kaul is the author of Bad Money.

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According to the researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is far from over and India might witness a huge surge in Covid-19 cases in coming months unless a vaccine or drug is found to control the disease. According to the study, India could be the worst-affected country in the world with 2.87 lakh cases every day by the end of winter 2021.

The MIT study conducted by Hazhir Rahmandad, TY Lim and John Sterman of MIT's Sloan School of Management adds that, the US will witness 95,400 cases per day, South Africa at 20,600, Iran at 17,000, Indonesia 13,200, UK with 4,200, Nigeria with 4,000, Turkey with 4,000, France at 3,300, and Germany at 3,000 cases.

The world may witness 249 million (24.9 crore) cases and 1.75 million (17.5 lakh) deaths by spring 2021 in the 84 countries basis absence of breakthroughs in treatment or vaccination, according to the study.

The study reiterates the importance of social distancing, "future outcomes are less dependent on testing and more contingent on the willingness of communities and governments to reduce transmission," it says.

The MIT researchers used the SEIR (Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious, Recovered) model to predict the numbers. The SEIR is a standard mathematical model used by epidemiologists for analysis. The study looks into three factors: a. Current testing rates and response b. If testing increases 0.1 per cent on a day-to-day basis from July 1 c. if testing remains at current levels but contact rate or how many people are infected by one person, is estimated to be eight.

The research is based on a study of 84 countries that comprise 60 per cent of the world population (4.75 billion people).

According to Johns Hopkins University, the overall number of global COVID-19 cases has increased to more than 11.7 million, while the deaths stand at 543,000.

The MIT research paper has not been peer reviewed.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said that jeweller Nirav Modi's assets worth 330 crore stand confiscated under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act 2018.

"ED has attached the properties worth 329.66 Crore under FEO Act, 2018, which now stands confiscated to Central Government," said the investigative agency in a press statement.

Nirav Modi is wanted in the 13,570 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, he left the country in early 2018 ahead of the scam becoming public. He was declared a fugitive economic offender under the new law on 5 December 2019.

The court had ruled 'Nirav Modi had left the country under the suspicious circumstances in order to dodge the severe consequences of the act'.

He is the second business men to be declared a fugitive economic offender after Vijay Mallya. Both these business men are in United Kingdom and fighting extradition to India. Nirav Modi is currently lodged in a UK jail after being arrested in London in March, 2019. Mallya's options to avoid extraction have almost run out as he was refused leave to appeal further to the UK Supreme Court in May this year.

Under the new law a fugitive economic offender is a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued for his or her involvement in economic offences involving at least Rs. 100 crore or more and has left India to avoid prosecution. To deter accused from fleeing the country to avoid prosecution courts can order confiscation of attached properties in India or abroad.

"These confiscated properties are in the form of four flats at the iconic building Samudra Mahal in Worli Mumbai, one Seaside Farm House and land in Alibaug, Wind Mill in Jaisalmer, flat in London and Residential Flats in UAE, shares and bank deposits," said ED.

ED through the December order by special prevention of money laundering (PMLA) court had got authorisation to attach and confiscate 1396 crore worth of properties. But bulk of these properties were mortgaged to PNB led consortium.

"On examination of properties attached, it was found that properties worth 1000 Crore are prima facie covered under mortgage etc," said ED.

The investigative agency has further initiated the process to confiscate remaining attached properties. The value of these properties have been assessed at 2348 Crore.

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All 68 police personnel at Chaubeypur police station near here were shunted to the reserve police lines on Tuesday with the top brass saying they suspected their integrity after last weeks ambush which killed eight policemen.

A spokesperson said an inquiry is already on and action will be taken against the guilty based on its findings.

The drastic move Tuesday night followed soon after police announced the transfer of a DIG, who till recently was the Senior Superintendent of Police in Kanpur.

He was transferred from the states Special task Force (STF) to the Provincial Armed Police (PAC) unit in Moradabad.

Police also arrested three more people in connection with the killing of the eight police personnel, ambushed early Friday when they were out on a raid to arrest gangster Vikas Dubey in his Bikru village near Kanpur.

Dubeys relative Shama, neighbour Suresh Verma and domestic help Rekha were arrested earlier in the day.

Rekhas husband Dayashankar Agnihotri, a key member of Dubeys gang, is already behind bars, arrested Sunday after an encounter in which police shot him in the leg. Two other alleged members of the gang were killed in an encounter last Friday.

Police believe that the gangster was tipped off by someone from Chaubeypur police station, giving him time to lay an ambush. Station Officer Vinay Tiwari and three other policemen are already under suspension.

No reasons were given for shifting DIG Anant Deo, whose transfer was part of a shuffle which included three other officers.

But only hours earlier, Inspector General (Civil Defence) Amitabh Thakur made it known that he has written to state police chief H C Awasthy seeking an inquiry against Deo and his transfer while the probe is on.

Thakur alleged that as SSP, Deo was close to an associate of gangster Vikas Dubey.

Deo was the Kanpur SSP in March when Deputy Superintendent of Police Devendra Mishra purportedly wrote a damning letter, which surfaced on social media after he was killed in the Bikru ambush.

The unverified letter to the then Kanpur SSP alleged that Chaubeypur station officer Vinay Tiwari had watered down an FIR lodged against the gangster. It suggested that Tiwari and Dubey were close.

Police said there is no record of the purported letter, which is undated and carries no serial number. Anant Deo also said that the signature on it does not match that of the slain officer.

But police said they will still investigate into the letter seen on social media.

Lucknow Range IG Lakshmi Singh on Tuesday began a probe into it, visiting the office of Circle Officer (Bilhaur), the post held by the killed DSP. The IG questioned the staff, checked records and computer data, said an official.

She also seized a computer hard disk, pen drives and some documents, the official said.

Police have named 21 people in the FIR registered after the attack. The FIR also mentioned 50-60 unidentified people.

The Kanpur police released the photos of 15 criminals said to be close to Dubey. They are putting up posters carrying the pictures of these alleged criminals, most of them carrying a reward of 25,000 for their arrest.

Vikas Dubey, with a reward of 2.50 lakh on him, remained elusive.

His posters too have been plastered at road toll plazas, including those in Unnao, Kanpur Nagar, Auraiya, Fatehpur and areas near the India-Nepal border.

Police issued alerts in Lakhimpur Kheri, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Bahraich and Gorakhpur to stop Vikas Dubey from escaping across the border intro Nepal.

IG Amitabh Thakur had sought an inquiry into the alleged closeness between Deo and Jai Bajpai, a frontman" of gangster Dubey.

A video clip from 2017, apparently shot while Dubey was being interrogated by the STF after his arrest in Lucknow, has also appeared on social media.

In the clip, the alleged gangster suggests he has links with two local BJP MLAs, Bhagwati Sagar and Abhijeet Sanga, and the district panchayat chief.

He is heard claiming that Sagar and Sanga had helped him in the past when he faced police action.

Both leaders denied this.

"My constituency is Bithoor in Kanpur and people from the adjoining village come to me for help," said Sanga. He added that on several occasions he had recommended action in support of people who were against Dubey.

Bilhaur MLA Sagar said the clip was being circulated to malign his image.

The two MLAs said Dubey usually associated himself with leaders belonging to the ruling party in the state. They demanded an inquiry into the matter.

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With the world grappling with coronavirus and the United States president out playing golf, China has sensed an opportunity. It has passed a sweeping law that undermines Hong Kongs civil liberties and restricts fundamental rights. Many in Hong Kong do not want independence; they want to be left alone; they want to protect the freedoms they have, and China is taking away those freedoms.

Books critical of the Chinese government are reportedly being removed from public libraries. Companies like Facebook, Twitter, Google and Microsoft have said they wont comply with government orders seeking user data until they have familiarized themselves with the new law. Inscrutably, TikTok, a Chinese company, is pulling out of Hong Kong. Human rights groups based in Hong Kong may have to reassess their presence and staffing. The city that once boasted of Asias freest media is closer to a future that was always possible and dreaded. The aftermath of the Asian economic crisis of 1997-98 had led to the closure of some publications based thereFar Eastern Economic Review (where I was correspondent), Asiaweek, and the Wall Street Journal in Asia (for both of which I wrote), all folded over time.

History is speeding up; what was feared in 2047 is happening now. Hong Kong was promised 50 years of autonomy under a Sino-British Accord of 1984, but China is in a hurry. It has pressed the fast forward key. The world watches a disaster in slow motion.

Thats not mixing metaphors. China had always wanted to turn Hong Kong into a Chinese city; the world is watching what was predictable but avoidable. It may seem as if nothing has changed. The Hong Kong skyline looks the same; the Hong Kong dollar is still pegged to the greenback; the odd sampan turns up in the harbour; and the MTR stations are still called Admiralty and Centralsurely it cant be so bad? The form remains, the substance changes.

When the Sino-British Accord was signed, creating the so-called Basic Law and the one-country-two-systems" model, it was based on an assumption that in 50 years, China would become more democratic and Hong Kongs freedoms would infect China. Hong Kong offered values, like the rule of law if not democracy, and the protection of rights if not full representation. It could only have worked if China played by the rules under the worlds vigilance.

At first, China was patient. It imitated Hong Kong by building shiny glass towers, attracting foreign capital, investing in infrastructure, luring companies to employ Chinese workers who couldnt form real trade unions, and gave foreign investors what they loved: an ability to make profits, an uncomplaining, pliant workforce, and world-class infrastructure. True, investors remained concerned about transparency, corruption and the rule of law, but for that, there was Hong Kong with its intellectual property lawyers, tax experts, and private bankers. As time passed and Shanghai and other cities prospered, Hong Kongs singular importance began to diminish. And what it had and China didnt (some political freedom) was not a priority for most investors, nor for many governments.

To be sure, the Basic Law ensured the rule of law and restrained state power. In the years before 1997, governor Chris Patten tried to ensure some rights for Hong Kongs voters, for which he received abuse from the Chinese. Each year on 4 June, thousands of people come to Victoria Park in Hong Kong with candles, holding a vigil for Tiananmen Square martyrs, infuriating China. But clever dictators can play the long game, and this is Xi Jinpings moment.

One by one, Hong Kongs freedoms have begun to vanishdeath by a thousand cuts. The elite dont want to upset the dragon, but the protestors had adopted water" as their metaphor, spreading across the city in unpredictable ways; water seeking its own level, finding its pathways. They had risen in 2014 with the umbrella revolution; they rose again last year, opposing a dangerous extradition law.

I was in Hong Kong last year, and with a friend who lives there, I had walked among demonstrators near Causeway Bay. There were thousands of people, many of them wearing masks to conceal their identity. They were peaceful and spirited; they sang the rousing anthem of the movement, Glory to Hong Kong; they boycotted shops owned by pro-Beijing businesses; students painted campus walls with graffiti of slogans from the French and American revolutions and other liberation movements; and they cleaned up the litter after the demonstrations so that the city could resume business. The students and people I spoke to wanted to preserve what they had; they did not want more, and now they will get less.

Hong Kong is culturally Chinese, but its people speak Cantonese, not Mandarin; they use an older script, not the simplified modern text. China fears what might happen if it becomes Hong Kong. Were that to happen, it would be good for Chinas people. What Hong Kongs brave people deserve is global solidarity, but what theyre getting is apathy, as world leaders go about learning the correct angle at which etiquette would have them bend while bowing to the emperor in Beijing.

Salil Tripathi is a writer based in New York. Read Salils previous Mint columns at www.livemint.com/saliltripathi

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South Korean tech giant, Samsung is adapting to the growing needs of hygiene. The company has globally announced its new UV Sterilizer. This product, according to Samsung, "effectively kills" up to 99% of bacteria and germs. At the same time the product can wirelessly charging a device.

In a report by ANI, Samsung stated, "In today's world, personal hygiene is more important than ever, and to help combat the spread of bacteria and germs, we're introducing a new UV Sterilizer with Wireless Charging."

"The UV Sterilizer was manufactured by Samsung C&T, a partner of the Samsung Mobile Accessory Partnership Program(SMAPP), and is available via select online and retail stores from June. Now, you'll be able to quickly disinfect your smartphone, earbuds, and glasses, in just 10 minutes, wherever you are," it added.

Samsung further stated that "The UV Sterilizer effectively kills up to 99% of bacteria and germs, including E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, according to tests done by two independent test and certification institutes, Intertek and SGS." The Verge first reported this Wireless charger that comes fitted with a UV sterilizer.

The 10W wireless charger uses dual UV lights within the box in order to throughly cleanse the device. The UV lights turns off by itself in ten minutes. However, the charging of the device continues. The case can hold modern smartphones with screens up to 7 inches.

The company has claimed that the UV light kills 99% of germs but does not specifically mention if it is effective against the novel coronavirus or Covid-19. With the pandemic in place, most smartphone users struggle with disinfecting their devices. Samsung seems to have provided a solution but the results are not guaranteed yet.

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When the COVID-19 outbreak began, a Texas City couple worried their new business, Bear Fruit Bakery might not take off amid the pandemic. But what happened truly surprised business owners Kaitlin and Ryan Stafford.

"At the beginning of everything, we saw all these businesses close down, but our business tripled," Kaitlin Stafford said. "When I saw our neighbors struggle, I went to my husband and said, 'let's give 25 percent away.'"

HOUSTON COVID-19 STRAIN: Doctor weighs in on Houston's more contagious COVID-19 strain

After Stafford gave back to the Texas City community with that generous act of service, she ended up getting even more business.

"When people caught wind of that, we started to give 50 percent away," Stafford said. "We realized we can be the link to helping other people, and we started doing that."

Stafford said Bear Fruit Bakery ended up giving away $30,000 to other struggling businesses in the last few weeks. After such a significant commitment, the couple has decided to stem the cash donations, but give back in other ways, through different platforms to help their neighbors.

"We got to the point where we we just get emails upon emails from people who needed help," Stafford said. "It would just break our hearts."

Stafford said that the idea to give generously comes directly from a strong faith. The name of the bakery, Bear Fruit, comes from the John 15:4 Bible verse.

"You will bear fruit when you stay connected to God, when you do things for him and others, not for yourself," Stafford said. "Trust in God. Don't fear what's going on. Focus on your purpose. Find ways to help others. People are hungry for community right now. We need to stay positive."

In fact, it is that principle of helping others that defines her store's motto.

"We always say, 'Choose joy. Be kind,' at the bakery," Stafford says. "There's joy in knowing what you did is good for others."

REOPENING SCHOOLS: We answer your top questions about Texas schools reopening

On an average day, Stafford and her husband bake about 200 cinnamon rolls a day--one of the shop's top seller, along with their signature blueberry-lavender cookies and red velvet treats.

"They're gone within an hour," Stafford said.

The Texas City couple have also taken this opportunity to teach their kids about giving back.

"It's hard when you have kids. They're 9 and 13," Stafford said. "I think what we're getting from this is a stronger family unit. We're teaching them that it's ok to give back, and teaching them to trust God. It's also about being content with what we have and having wisdom in that contentment. It's been our saving grace."

As the pandemic wears on, this couple are still trying to come up with new ideas to help out their community.

"We need to find creative ways to give back through marketing and supporting our neighbors' businesses," Stafford said. "It's been a blessing for us to think outside the box."

alison.medley@chron.com
Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has instructed the Houston First Corporation to cancel the Texas Republican Party's convention slated to be held in person in Houston next week, the mayor announced on Twitter and in an afternoon press conference.

Asked why he waited so long to request the event be cancelled, Turner said he hoped the Republican Party would call off the convention first.
The question hangs in the virtual air of "And So We Come Forth," Richard Nelson's wistfully stirring new Apple Family play. "What have we done to ourselves?" asks Jane Apple, as her siblings and boyfriend-partner, Tim, peer out of their Zoom cubes. In this time of existential threat and social upheaval, they're as ill-equipped to come up with an answer as she is.

This second Zoom play - and sixth in the Apple Family series by its author-director - finds the Apples in early July 2020, in fragile states. The isolation created by the pandemic and introspection prompted by the Black Lives Matter movement have rattled Jane (Sally Murphy) and sisters Marian (Laila Robins) and Barbara (Maryann Plunkett) and brother Richard (Jay O. Sanders). A certain vague dread now dominates their dinnertime musings-by-laptop in their Rhinebeck, N.Y., homes. Despite the mutual family support, everything feels as if it is unraveling.

"I have never felt more lost," Marian reads from a friend's email to the others, who also include Tim (Stephen Kunken), logging on from Brooklyn, where he is visiting his daughter. All thinking people like the Apples are at this moment adrift, it seems, even as they are anchored in place. This fugue state is a function of the eddy of anxieties and terrors and injustices aswirl in our consciousness day after day now - and all with an election on the horizon whose outcome feels wrenchingly pivotal to the country's survival.

The hour-long "And So We Come Forth," available free this month and next at theapplefamilyplays.com, is an excellent example of the nourishment cooked up by theater minds while theater spaces remain shuttered. The first four Apple plays premiered at the Public Theater, and, unlike some stories, moving theirs online proves to be seamless. The characters, professionals with complicated histories, expounding on politics and art, have always been there for one another; separating them via digital quarantine in no way loosens that bond. Watching them all in close-up, you get a potent sense of the ineluctable effect they have on one another.

The impact, and the perspective, are strikingly different with another production being streamed free: the National Theatre in London, offering on NT Live a film of its 2016 revival of Lorraine Hansberry's "Les Blancs." The author of "A Raisin in the Sun" did not live to see her epic portrait of the ravages of white hegemony in an African colony; it ran for a month on Broadway in 1970 - five years after her death at age 34 - with a cast headed by James Earl Jones.

Hansberry and her slightly older contemporary, Alice Childress, are getting a bit more of the attention equal to their achievements: Childress's 1955 "Trouble in Mind," about the casual racism backstage in a cast of white and black actors, is slated for a long overdue Broadway debut, at Roundabout Theatre Company, after theaters reopen. "Les Blancs" was on the agenda of Shakespeare Theatre Company for the 2020-2021 season before covid-19 made a shambles of theater calendars. Its director was to be Yael Farber, who directed "Mies Julie" and the world premiere of "Salome" for the Washington company.

Farber also staged the National Theatre's version of "Les Blancs," creating a galvanizing platform for dissecting white paternalism in the fade-out of 20th-century colonialism. The gallery of African, American and European characters, converging at a missionary hospital in the outback of the unnamed African colony, gives Hansberry a broad canvas to lay out a multiplicity of viewpoints. Central among them: a black African (Danny Sapani) returning home from Europe, where he has a white wife and mixed-race child, and a white journalist (Elliot Cowan) seeking a story about the reality on the ground at this remote outpost.

"Les Blancs" somewhat languidly embraces the task of balancing a spectrum of outlooks, from a virulently racist British army major (Clive Francis) to a conflicted young African (Tunji Kasim) being recruited for an uprising. (On hand, too, is the splendid Sian Phillips, as the Norwegian wife of the mission patriarch.) But once the volatile dynamics are set in motion, in this adaptation by Robert Nemiroff, the clarity of Hansberry's perceptions take passionate hold. The degree to which the events correspond to racial conflicts occurring in this country now will deepen your appreciation of this dramatist's visionary art.

"Les Blancs" is as lavish a spectacle as "And So We Come Forth" is devoid of it. I've had my quarrels with plays on film. But the manner in which Farber's visual inspirations are ably recorded - depicting some hallucinogenic sequences of chanting African women and a haunting solitary figure (Sheila Atim) betokening silent suffering - redeems the static results of other such endeavors.

Nelson's efforts, though, succeed by eschewing theatricality, perhaps because the difficult moment in which his play is set requires no imaginative filter. At the end of "And So We Come Forth," the great Plunkett declares - and, heck, her castmates are all great - that she has never felt so old. We instantly understand the subtext, without any directorial intervention at all.
ARCADIA -- If you're looking for a trail that anyone can manage and that provides great views of a unique and rare habitat, then you need look no further than the Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve and its universally accessible walkway

The boardwalk, which opened in 2019, offers rare access to a valuable natural habitat found only in the Great Lakes.

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) estimates that 80% of the Great Lakes coastal marshland has been lost. Arcadia Marsh is one of only 15 or so coastal marshes remaining along Lake Michigan's shoreline.

Many native plants and animals call the wetland habitat home, including 18 which are endangered or threatened and over 230 species of bird.

According to GTRLC executive director Glen Chown, marshes like those in Arcadia are among the most productive and vital ecosystems in the world.

"Our coastal marshes are the biological engines of the Great Lake's ecosystems," Chown said. "They are tremendously productive ecosystems that provide critical habitat for hundreds of birds, plants, fish and other animals and they protect Lake Michigan's treasured water quality by filtering pollutants and contaminants from the watershed."

The decline in coastal marshland can be attributed to development, pollution and, more recently, the introduction of exotic invasive species.

Restoring the marshlands of Arcadia is a significant victory in the effort to conserve these valuable habitats.

"This marsh was on the path to destruction, from invasive species and channel habitat alterations," said Chown.

The roughly -mile trail extends from the existing parking lot along M-22 to a newly constructed parking area off St. Pierre Road, allowing easy access from both sides of the preserve.

Aside from a clear path designed for hiking and bird watching, the trail features several bump-outs with benches, two observation platforms and a small fishing pier along Bowens Creek.

Universal access (UA) is an important feature of the new Arcadia Marsh trail; the boardwalks were carefully designed to grant full access to those of limited mobility.

"Our organization believes strongly that nature's wonders should be available to everyone, and as such we're thrilled to open our latest universal access opportunity at such a tremendously important and beloved location," Chown said in a press release. "We believe that life-long access to nature shouldn't be a luxury."

Preservation of the marshlands began with Brad Hopwood, who took out a second mortgage to purchase 130 acres of the Arcadia Marsh in the mid-1990s. Hopwood, along with his wife Jan wishing to preserve the land, reached out to the GTRLC.

"At the time, we didn't really know how it was going to work, but we knew what we needed to accomplish," Brad Hopwood recalled in a GTRLC publication. "I always just thought that, at a minimum, I could break even if I needed to."

Among the most important restoration efforts was re-routing Bowens Creek from an old ditch back to its original, meandering channel. This added more than 3,700 feet of riverine habitat and dropped the temperature of the creek by 10 degrees, improving conditions for trout, sculpins and other cold-water species.

In addition to restoring Bowens Creek and installing nearly a mile of boardwalk, the GTRLC prescribed a controlled burn in 2010 to remove exotic invasive plants while encouraging the repopulation of native species including endangered wild rice.

The total cost of the project was about $1.5 million which was raised by individual donors and foundations including the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Manistee County Community Foundation. MCCF's grant was made possible through the Minger Family Endowment Fund.

"We are immensely proud to be included among the supporters of this incredible new trailway, and we know Mr. Minger would be delighted to see the outcome of this first major grant from the Minger Family Endowment Fund that his legacy gift made possible," said Laura Heintzelman, Manistee County Community Foundation president and CEO. "When opportunities arise like this to make our most unique and protected lands available of people of all ages and abilities to enjoy - we all applaud them."

GTRLC partnered with several groups to realize this project, including Ducks Unlimited, the Conservation Resource Alliance, the Manistee County Road Commission and the Little River Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

Since 1991, the Conservancy has protected nearly 42,000 acres of land while maintaining 35 nature preserves which are open to the public.

GTRLC previously opened the universally accessible Overlook Trail at Arcadia Dunes and The C.S. Mott Nature Preserve along M-22 near the Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve.

For more information on the Arcadia Marsh Nature Preserve or the GTRLC, visit www.gtrlc.org.
For the first time since the coronavirus crisis began, Laredoans on Tuesday organized an in-person protest against the border wall, a project that endures in spite of pandemic.

READ MORE: Tourism ban at US-Mexico border extended another month

To avoid crowds, a parade of cars donning signs that read no border wall drove slowly around the federal courthouse in downtown Laredo, drivers honking and with raised fists sticking outside their windows.

And the No Border Wall Coalition, which hosted the event, collected the shoes of supporters who could not attend, arranging them in long rows outside the steps of the courthouse to show their solidarity.

This was all to mark the filing of a lawsuit on Monday against President Donald Trump and his administration. The plaintiffs are Zapata County and landowners Melisa Cigarroa and George C. Rincon.

The plans for the construction of a border wall through Webb and Zapata counties have yielded innovative legal arguments from landowners who oppose the concept. So is the case here, where attorney Carlos Evaristo Flores alleged that the governments actions violate the Fifth Amendment, where no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

Flores noted that the Fifth Amendment has been invoked in other cases against the border wall. But in this case, the Fifth Amendment is the primary argument. If they can prove that the government holds animus toward a specific minority group, in this case Latinos and Mexicans, the only way the actions of the government can stand is if there is a legitimate and narrow interest, Flores explained to the small crowd outside the courthouse.

And we believe that that is not the case, the attorney said. ... What Donald Trump has made clear is that the only reason he needs this wall is that he ran on the wall, and if he doesnt deliver the wall hes going to lose (the election).

That cannot be a narrowly tailored, governmental purpose.

The complaint is over 50 pages long, seven of those pages consisting of a log of disparaging comments from President Trump about the border, Mexicans and Latinos. Flores argues that in the case of the border wall project, Zapata and Webb County residents are the target of a racist policy and are treated differently from U.S. citizens who do not live along the U.S.-Mexico border.

We are not doing this as a delay tactic. We legitimately believe this is unconstitutional, and we legitimately believe that this needs to be stopped  the way its been done is unconstitutional, its wrong, Flores said.

Melissa Cigarroa, an affected Zapata County landowner and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said this issue also stems from the way Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf issued waivers for dozens of federal laws in order to expedite the walls construction. This kind of mass waiver is allowed only on the U.S.-Mexico border.

They do that in preparation for taking of the land. Because they know, especially with our river, if we had the Safe Drinking Water Act, if we had the Clean Water Act, if we had the Clean Air Act, if we had the National Environmental Policy Act, that those environmental impact studies would show  we know that flooding is going to occur more frequently here! People die in the kind of floods that we have here, and this wall will dramatically increase those risks, she said.

Cigarroa and her family are currently negotiating with the U.S. Attorneys Office regarding the governments right of entry to their 173-acre ranch that abuts the Rio Grande. They are requesting the government show concern to the environment in the surveying process, which the government has not agreed to, she said. They are also asking that the surveying process begin only after the COVID-19 crisis has passes, considering there is no emergency room in Zapata or San Ygnacio, and surveyors would be coming into the community from other areas of the country.

The plaintiffs lawsuit begins with a quote from Gus Garcia, an attorney and native Laredoan who argued the Hernandez v. Texas civil rights case before the Supreme Court in 1954: Throughout our history differences in race and color have defined easily identifiable groups which have at times required that aid of the courts in securing equal treatment under the laws.

READ MORE: Laredo to allow U.S. Government access for border wall surveys

This is proceeded with a quote from Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz regarding President Trumps first visit to Laredo in 2015: When he landed, he asked, Is it safe for me to get down (off the plane)? In his mind, in his own consciousness, he perceived danger[.]

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
With a record 117 people hospitalized with COVID-19, Laredos two hospitals are quickly hitting maximum capacity, the citys interim health director noted Wednesday.

READ MORE: Laredo confirms four coronavirus-related deaths, quarantine at third nursing home

And while the city has begun the planning process for surge hospital space, such as the arena, the Haynes Recreation Center and vacant commercial buildings, they are focusing first on getting more health care staff into the existing hospitals.

You augment those current facilities with all that infrastructure, and you maximize that to the greatest extent possible, so you put human resources into those hospitals, City Manager Robert Eads said. When that gets entirely maxed out, thats when you pull the lever on field hospitals.

Interim Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Ramiro Elizondo recently made a request for more health care personnel through the State of Texas Assistance Request, or STAR system, that was just approved.

They have not yet been deployed, but 12 intensive care unit nurses and 14 medical surgical nurses are bound for Laredo Medical Center; and four medical surgical nurses and two pharmacy technicians are bound for Doctors Hospital.

Elizondo said this additional staff will help with the hospitals capacity. Several registered nurses and respiratory technicians were deployed to Laredo through the state system in late June, but three could not work because they ended up testing positive for the virus, and a few others were not qualified, according to Health Authority Victor Trevino.

As of Wednesday, Trevino reported that LMCs covid ICU was at 100% capacity with 20 people, 19 of whom are on ventilators. Their non-ICU covid units are likewise at 100% capacity with a combined 45 beds. Seven patients are in the emergency room waiting to be admitted, Trevino said, and two of them need to go to the ICU.

At Doctors Hospital, the covid ICU is at 87% capacity with 14 of their 16 beds occupied. Their non-ICU unit is 100% occupied with 30 beds, Trevino reported.

And I hear that two patients are in one room, doubled up, as a measure to try to accommodate patients that dont have any rooms to be paced in, he said.

READ MORE: Positive coronavirus residents in Laredo who leave their homes can be charged with felony

Elizondo also noted that the Disaster Medical Assistance Team, a national group of medical professionals, are working with both hospitals to assess how much additional personnel is needed here. They will then assist state personnel to further increase capacity, he said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
For Houston doctors and nurses, it has become a daunting, hourly challenge to serve on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle, especially after Texas reported more than 10,000 new cases on Tuesday.

"It's organized chaos, " Memorial Hermann ICU nurse Jesse Cannizzo said. "I'm a trauma nurse. That's my background. We're seeing rapid changes day-to-day."

What's most disquieting for Cannizzo is that the intense influx of patients doesn't stop at the Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital.

Cannizzo added that once one patient leaves the hospital, "you get another patient within the hour." It's basically a constant revolving door. "I can just point to this past Sunday, where we had multiple ICU patients in the emergency room. This past week, we had so many that were waiting for beds."

Cannizzo maintains the face of calm in a dire public health emergency situation.

"The uncertainty is the worry. Knowing how long we can sustain, praying for the flattening of the curve," Cannizo said. "You're never disconnected. You're worried about your team and you're worried about your family at home."

Cannizzo also worries about the safety of his 6-year-old young daughter, so special protocols are in place.

"I literally will come to my house, strip down and change into extra change of clothes in the garage, then go straight to the shower," Cannizzo said. "I want to make sure I'm not bringing anything home to the family. She doesn't hug me when I get home now. As soon as I walk in, there's a heightened sense of awareness."

When Cannizzo suffered a bad headache last week, his daughter's first question was, "Dad, do you have COVID-19?"

"I had to tell her 'No babe, dad just has a headache,' but that was her first reaction," Cannizo said. "The time I've had with her has been limited, because I'm being called at all hours of the night."

The issue now is that Cannizo doesn't see a palpable end in sight to the current trajectory of cases.

"We're seeing the worst of the worst. The disease doesn't have a preference," Cannizo said. "Younger adults, even 30s and 40s are coming in. Sometimes you help individuals without comorbidities, and they're being put on a ventilator. We're reaching capacity every day."

Cannizzo also worries about the future of the patients after they survive treatment in an ICU.

"Their lives are changed forever," Cannizzo said. "We don't know what their lives will be like and what the after-effects of the virus will be. It's weighted upon you."

Cannizzo worked in trauma care during Hurricane Harvey, but said this pandemic is unlike any other disaster.

"I was there through Harvey. Personally with Harvey, we had an end date," Cannizo added. "We just don't have that end date in site. What we battle is what is our new normal. "

Cannizzo wants to urge Houstonians to keep practicing social distancing and wearing masks.

"It's the masks that are so vital to reduce transmission," Cannizzo said. "At this point, you're not just doing it for you but you're also doing for your fellow Houstonians."
U.S. Border Patrol agents had a busy holiday weekend locating and rendering aid to lost individuals in Webb County.

READ MORE: Nuevo Laredo attack leaves 3 soldiers injured

The first case occurred on Friday morning, agents from the Laredo South Station responded to a report of an individual lost east of the city. Agents learned that the group he was traveling with abandoned him.

Department of Defense air support, agents from the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) and Border Patrol Mobile Response Teams responded to the area and located the man. Agents administered intravenous fluids since he displayed dehydration symptoms.

Authorities said the man, a Mexican citizen, was in the country illegally and processed accordingly.

A second incident occurred on Fourth of July. Agents from the Laredo West Station detained several individuals on a ranch northwest of Laredo. Agents learned that a man had been left behind. With air support, agents and Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technicians responded and located the man, who was a citizen of Mexico.

Agents administered intravenous fluids. After responding favorably to medical aid, he was taken into custody and processed accordingly, authorities said.

The last incident occurred early Monday, when agents responded to a report of an individual who was last in the brush, east of Laredo near U.S. 59. The caller stated he was without food or water, authorities said. He further stated that a travel companion of his had passed away the previous evening. Authorities responded to the area and located the two individuals.

The caller, a Mexican citizen in the country illegally, was in good health. A Webb County Medical Examiners Office investigator arrived and declared the other individual dead.

The Laredo Sector Border Patrol cannot stress enough the dangers and risks posed by illegal entry and the traveling through remote areas during the high temperatures of summer. Despite the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Laredo Sector agents will continue to render aid to those exploited and abandoned by human smugglers, Border Patrol said.

READ MORE: Laredo PD investigating body found at local car wash

To report suspicious activity such as human or drug smuggling, download the USBP Laredo Sector App or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994.
Three Mexican soldiers were injured in an attack reported early Tuesday in Nuevo Laredo, authorities said.

READ MORE: Tamaulipas announces statewide curfew due to coronavirus

This ambush came days after soldiers killed 13 suspected members of the Tropa Del Infierno on Friday in Colonia Los Fresnos. Social media reports later mentioned that 16 suspects died in that shootout.

Regarding the attack on the soldiers, suspected gunmen shot at military personnel. Then, troops sought shelter near the hotel where Tamaulipas state police officers are quartered.

Three soldiers were injured in the gun battle. The suspects got away, authorities said.

On Monday, a two-minute video showing soldiers shooting at gunmen during a vehicle pursuit went viral. The video was supposed to be from the shootout that occurred Friday in Colonia Los Fresnos.

READ MORE: Tamaulipas governor tests positive for COVID-19

In that incident, Mexican troops also seized eight AR-15s, one AK-47, two .50 caliber Barretts, magazines and ammo. Authorities also confiscated two vehicles that were reported stolen in the United States.
Conservative members of Congress and advocacy groups that ardently criticize excessive government spending were among those accepting small business pandemic relief funds from the treasury this year, according to data released Monday.

Americans for Tax Reform Foundation, led by firebrand anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist, took a loan between $150,000 and $350,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program. The Ayn Rand Institute and Citizens against Gorvernment Waste likewise accepted loans funded by the program. .

Groups on the left also received these government funds. But applying was an especially tough decision for many longtime critics of big government, who suddenly found themselves in need of federal support.

"The CARES Act has created a moral dilemma for those Americans who value freedom," reads an explanatory essay posted by organization leaders on the website of the Ayn Rand Institute. "The pandemic has cost them their jobs, their savings, their businesses. And they blame a significant part of this loss on the government. But because they oppose government handouts, they worry that accepting CARES money would be a breach of integrity."

The Ayn Rand organization, named for the mid-20th century author who influenced libertarian and conservative thought, said that it chose to take government funds unapologetically. "For advocates of freedom, individual rights, and limited government to turn down these relief funds means choosing to play only the victim's role in the government's bizarre game of 'loot and be looted."'

The Americans for Tax Reform Foundation is one of two related tax reform groups led by Norquist, who famously said: "I don't want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub."

In a statement, the foundation said it applied for the funds after being badly hurt by the government response to the pandemic. It did not oppose the program when it passed, received the loan "and has as a consequence been able to maintain its employees without laying anyone off," the statement said.

At Citizens Against Government Waste, communications director Alexandra Schatz Abrams made a similar argument to justify accepting a loan between $150,000 and $350,000.

"In our 36-year history, we have never sought or accepted taxpayer money," she said. "But the unprecedented closing down of the U.S. economy to fight against the spread of COVID-19 had a significant impact on our funding sources and threatened our ability to provide continued employment to our staff. Had we laid off our staff they would have qualified for unemployment benefits at a significant cost to the taxpayers. We determined the better path was to apply for the federal funds and provide employment continuity to our employees."

Another government watchdog, Taxpayers for Common Sense, applied the same logic.

Steve Ellis, the president of the widely cited nonprofit advocacy group, said he wrestled with whether to accept government help. The organization's $178,500 loan is the first government funding the nonprofit has accepted in its 25-year history, he said.

It is necessary to continue the organization's work, which includes advocating in favor of Cares Act spending transparency.

"I didn't take the decision to apply [for a PPP loan] lightly. . . . If I was sitting on a pile of cash, I wouldn't have applied," Ellis said in an email. "But we're not, and I need staff to work with me to hold policymakers accountable for how our tax dollars are being spent in the future."

It wasn't just the spending hawks who received these funds. A loan of $432,000 was provided to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a reform group co-founded by Norm Eisen, who worked in senior positions in the Obama administration.

A number of capital-area consulting firms received loans including Fusion GPS a firm that in 2016 investigated Donald Trump's Russia ties for Republican and Democratic clients, including Hillary Clinton's campaign. The company declined comment. A leading conservative fundraising firm, FLS Connect, received a loan up to $2 million, according to government records. The firm, which has worked for the Trump campaign, did not respond to requests for comment.

Full House Resorts, a Casino company headed by the husband of Democratic Rep. Susie Lee of Nevada, was among several gambling organizations that received PPP funding.

At least five other members of Congress benefited from PPP loans given to businesses owned by themselves or their spouses. The list includes Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas; Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo.; Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla.; Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.; and Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fl.

Williams, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, said in a May 5 blog post that his auto dealerships had received PPP loans. Although Williams has been supportive of the Cares Act spending, he has traditionally advocated for a sharply limited role of government in American society.

"I'd like to see us get to where government does three things: collect my taxes, defend my borders, help [with] infrastructure and get the heck out of everybody's life," Williams said in an interview with Epoch Times in March.

"A socialist wants you to get a check from the government . . . a capitalist wants you to get a check from the place that you work," he later continued.

The R Street Institute, a think tank that supports free market economic policies, was among several libertarian-leaning advocacy groups that received PPP loans.

R Street Institute president Eli Lehrer said his organization supports the Cares Act and also supports making PPP loan applicants public, adding that he would prefer to see even more transparency with respect to loan recipients.

"Our position has never been that the government had no role in the economy," Lehrer said, adding that the Cares Act "is exactly the sort of situation where we do support government intervention."

Among the loan recipients revealed Monday is a company owned by Hern, KTAK Corporation of Tulsa, Okla., which owns fast food franchises. It received between $1 million and $2 million that it said would support 220 jobs.

Hern, an outspoken advocate of balanced budgets, urged the Senate to increase the size of PPP loans available to franchises, according to a March 24 letter to Senate leaders Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

"In the last 10 years our country's national debt has grown from $10 trillion to nearly $22 trillion . . . this trajectory is not sustainable," he said in 2018. "While there is no easy fix to this, the first step is clear; stop adding to it."

But in 2020, as the economic crisis set in, Hern voted in favor of the Cares Act despite its contribution to the national debt, saying in a release: "This isn't a bailout. It's a repayment of what the government has taken away from American workers and businesses."

Miranda Dabney, a spokeswoman for Hern, said the letter was "a bipartisan idea meant to simplify the way loans were calculated," and said the franchise rule that Hern advocated for did not benefit KTAK because it employs fewer than 500 people.

She said the program has achieved its intended objectives.

"These PPP loans are all about paying employees so any expansion or increased funding measures were aimed at helping employees of franchisees stay employed," Dabney said. "The whole program was designed to keep people off of unemployment."

Three businesses owned by Buchanan match the names and locations of businesses that received PPP loans. Car dealership Sarasota 500 received between $2 million and $5 million; another auto dealer registered as "600, L C" received between $350,000 and $1 million; and Nissan of Elizabeth City received between $350,000 and $1 million. Buchanan's office did not return a request for comment.

Several businesses affiliated with Mullin match the names and locations of entities that received PPP funds.

They include Mullin Plumbing Inc., which received between $350,000 and $1 million, and Mullin Plumbing West Division, which received between $150,000 and $350,000. Meredith Blanford, a spokeswoman, said Mullin is not involved in the day-to-day operation of his business and referred specific questions to his companies.
Protesters spent the afternoon airing a long list of racial and economic grievances near the molten hunk of bronze outside a high school in Portland, Ore. As chilly darkness descended, a small group that remained banded together and - using bungee cords, stray wires and their own strength - rocked the statue of Thomas Jefferson off its pedestal and onto to the ground.

The metal figure landed with a clang and such force that it cracked the concrete, said protester Triston Crowl, 26.

"When it came down, we could tell something had happened. This was a moment in history, at least in the city," he said, explaining his belief that statues of U.S. leaders who served during chattel slavery should not stand. "There should be a line at the Civil War. Every forefather prior to that should be considered a Confederate."

A review of news reports found at least 150 statues and memorials nationwide have been torn down by protesters or removed for safekeeping by local authorities in the aftermath of the May 25 death of George Floyd, which has sparked a historic reckoning on race and justice and has reignited debate about cultural iconography in the country.

The vast majority of the removed monuments memorialized Confederate soldiers or long-debated historical figures such as Christopher Columbus, whose statue in Baltimore protesters dumped into the Inner Harbor on July 4. In three cases, protesters targeted figures of U.S. presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Ulysses S. Grant - prompting a Twitter storm from President Donald Trump and outrage from those who see the felling of the statues as an attack on American history.

The monuments have also ignited debate among the protesters themselves over where to draw the line on historical figures that some say are too morally compromised to be venerated.

President Trump and his supporters have painted the statue-topplers as a mobocracy that must be reined in. The president has vowed stiffer penalties for such protesters, doubling down on his call for law and order during weekend speeches at Mount Rushmore and in Washington, casting the protesters as vandals, thieves and left-wing Marxists bent on erasing American history.

"Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our Founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities," Trump warned Friday at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, speaking of a "new far-left fascism that demands absolute allegiance."

The demonstrators' views range from support for removal of all monuments to an embrace slow-paced community discussion and historical review. Democrats including former vice president Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have tried to draw a distinction between tributes to the Confederacy and protection of memorials to Founding Fathers.

For some demonstrators, it's not the image of a particular president that is important, but how the leader is portrayed. Last month, for instance, the American Museum of Natural History in New York said it would remove a statue of President Theodore Roosevelt riding a horse and flanked by Native American and African men on foot, an image long criticized as a representation of colonialism and racial supremacy.

But a few have had their sights trained on the slaveholding Founders, attacking statues of Jefferson and Washington in Portland, a bust of Grant in San Francisco and a figure of Francis Scott Key, author of the national anthem, which includes lyrics that support slavery.

"There is no point in having these statues. All they do is remind everybody of the history of the United States and its role in perpetuating white supremacy and the institutionalization of anti-blackness," said Rosario Navalta, 21, a senior at Hofstra University in New York and the daughter of Filipino immigrants.

Navalta is leading a campaign called "Jefferson's Gotta Go!" to remove a statue of Jefferson at the school. The United States's third president enslaved more than 600 people in his lifetime and fathered four children with Sally Hemings, a slave who was a teenager when she first bore his children, Navalta noted.

"Jefferson is not 'the' father of this nation," she said. "We cannot sit there pandering to the past."

Manisha Sinha, a Civil War historian at the University of Connecticut and the author of "The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition," said that the removal of the statues should be done after "thoughtful discussion," rather than by "indiscriminate" action. Sinha said that by targeting Founding Fathers such as Washington and Jefferson, activists risk playing into the conservative narrative that removal of statues is a "slippery slope" toward an erasure of the country's history.

"I don't think we should feed into that narrative," she said. "We should all be careful and deliberate about which ones should go and which should stay with historical contextualization."

Confederate statues are in a separate category from others, because they commemorate men who committed treason against the United States to defend human bondage, she said.

For others, such as Jefferson and Washington, who each owned slaves who worked their large plantations, "we should be able to judge them precisely for their shortcomings as well as their achievement," Sinha said. "We can commemorate certain people for their achievements at the same time being critical of certain actions they took we don't approve of today."

Protesters targeted Grant, who led the Union Army during the Civil War and later became the country's 18th president, she noted. Grant's in-laws had given him a slave, Sinha said, but Grant eventually freed the man.

"That's not enough to say, 'Oh, he was a slaveholder,' " Sinha said. "In the end, he did the right thing."

Oregon activist Lyfe Taverres, 26, was nearby when protesters pulled down the statue of Washington in Northeast Portland on June 18, wrapping the statue in the American flag, setting it on fire and spray painting "Genocidal Colonialist" on it.

"Obviously, there are people who are part of the resistance who don't understand too much about the history, and some people are taking it out as rage," he said. The protesters don't want any representations of anyone who has a "nasty narrative around them as far as racial justice goes or how they treat minorities."

But, he said, "at the end of the day, there must be a more honorable way to take down these statues than by burning their heads," Taverres said.

On June 23, Hofstra University announced it was moving a statue of Thomas Jefferson from the prominent campus thoroughfare at the entrance of its student center to the outside of a museum close by. The new location will allow the work of "contextualizing" history to continue while the statue is "out of the way of the community that wishes to avoid it."

University President Stuart Rabinowitz said in a statement that the school's "Committee on Representations in Public Spaces" decided to move the statue to a less-prominent spot.

"Over the past few years, the placement of the Jefferson statue, and the history it represents, has been a reminder and consistent source of pain for many of our Black students and allies," Rabinowitz wrote. "Institutions, like people, evolve, and come to new understandings based on the work and words of activists and leaders."

Students have been agitating for the statue to be removed since 2018, when activists created a Change.org petition that asserted that the statue should be taken down because Jefferson enslaved 600 people during his life and that his values "aided in the construction of institutionalized racism and justified the subjugation of black people in the United States."

They now argue that just moving the statue to another, less-prominent, outdoor locale is not enough and say it should be tucked away permanently in a museum. "We want it removed, full stop," Navalta said.
HONG KONG - When China's state security officials came to town, they needed a home - and fast.

So they did what any newcomer would do: They sequestered a 33-story hotel with a rooftop pool and panoramic harbor views, then erected 7-foot-high barriers to limit public access to their new digs.

Early Wednesday, under a heavy police presence and before any public announcement about the matter, officials inaugurated the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at a ceremony that took place behind water-filled barricades. They played the Chinese national anthem and raised the Chinese flag, though local media weren't invited. When the ceremony was over, reporters were finally able to photograph the building's front door.

The Metropark Hotel on the edge of the city's Causeway Bay district will be the initial base for the new agency, tasked with collecting intelligence and implementing a new law that sharply curtails political freedoms as Beijing takes fuller control of the territory after anti-government protests last year.

It's the first time the Chinese government's state security apparatus has been permitted to operate in Hong Kong, marking a milestone in officials' efforts to dismantle the firewall that separated the city from the authoritarian mainland.

The security law, which took effect July 1, specifies four broadly defined crimes against national security that can invite punishment of up to life imprisonment: subversion, secession, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. In practice, lawyers and other experts say, it effectively extends mainland legal provisions to Hong Kong, ending the autonomy that China promised the financial center would enjoy until 2047.

The new office is headed by Zheng Yanxiong, a senior Communist Party official known for quashing popular unrest on the Chinese mainland. Luo Huining, Beijing's top official in Hong Kong, has been appointed as an adviser to the agency.

Addressing delegates at the opening ceremony Wednesday, Luo rejected criticism of Beijing's moves. The United States and its allies have condemned the crackdown as a breach of the Sino-British handover agreement and a serious blow to Hong Kong's autonomy and political rights.

"While people who love China and [Hong Kong] are welcoming the establishment of the office, those with ulterior motives and who are anti-China and seek to destabilize Hong Kong have not only stigmatized the office, but also smeared the legal system and rule of law in the Chinese mainland in an attempt to stir up unnecessary worries and fears among the Hong Kong residents," Luo said. "The Chinese mainland has a healthy legal system and a sound environment for the rule of law."

Zheng told the few dozen attendees that his agents would abide by the law and would not infringe on "the legitimate rights and interests of any individual or organization."

Workers overnight installed China's national emblem on the hotel, a four-star brand by HK CTS Hotels, a wholly owned subsidiary of the state-owned China National Travel Service Group.

"Regardless of whether you are here for business or leisure, we would offer a helping hand to make your stay a memorable one," the company's website says of the Metropark, which has 266 guest rooms.

The hotel overlooks Victoria Park, a key protest zone and the starting point for many of the huge rallies last year calling for greater political freedoms and police accountability, among other demands.

For decades, tens of thousands of Hong Kongers have assembled in the park every June 4 to commemorate the anniversary of Beijing's 1989 crackdown on democracy activists in Tiananmen Square. Officials tried to ban the vigil this year, citing social-distancing measures, but activists gathered in defiance for what many worry could be the last time.

"It used to be a tranquil neighborhood with many small businesses. It'd be hard to imagine what will it become of after today," tweeted Rachel Wong, an academic researcher and local news reporter, as the security cordon went up around the security agency's new headquarters.

Hotel reservation websites showed the Metropark no longer had availability through the end of the year.

The hotel had mostly positive ratings online, with reviewers praising its location and spectacular views over Hong Kong. Some reviewers noted, though, that it appeared to have a problem with dampness.

"Service was excellent but the hotel room had an unpleasant smell," remarked one reviewer.

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The Washington Post's Shibani Mahtani contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - Civil rights groups on Wednesday accused District of Columbia police of assisting federal authorities who forcibly cleared Lafayette Square on June 1 before President Donald Trump's visit to a nearby church for a photo op.

In a federal lawsuit that added the D.C. government and officers as defendants, the groups suing on behalf of protesters accuse the Trump administration of violating demonstrators' constitutional rights in an "unprovoked and frankly criminal attack."

The groups and Black Lives Matter of D.C. sued last month, and their new allegations challenge Police Chief Peter Newsham's statements that D.C. police were not involved in clearing protesters from the park before Trump was photographed holding a Bible in front of the historic St. John's Episcopal Church.

The groups have said U.S. police and military troops deployed horses, batons, shields and riot control agents - including pepper spray, smoke canisters and rubber or plastic projectiles - against largely peaceful protesters without justification.

Newsham has said that D.C. police did not take part in the operation to clear the square, and that officers on the scene learned only a few minutes beforehand that force and chemical munitions would be used against demonstrators earlier than a planned 7 p.m. citywide curfew.

Shortly before the U.S. Park Police initiated the operation, D.C. police instructed officers to hold their positions on streets around the square, officials said.

"We were not involved in the movement of the president - the unplanned movement of the president," Newsham said the following day.

Court filings Wednesday accuse D.C. police of deploying tear gas at demonstrators escaping the square and forcing them to turn back. They cited the experiences of a Virginia man, Dustin Foley and his 15-year-old daughter, who joined the case.

The lawsuit said Foley and his daughter came downtown to protest and deliver water and peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches to peaceful demonstrators gathered after the death of George Floyd, who was killed in police custody in Minneapolis.

When the Foleys fled Lafayette Square, they were confronted by D.C. police with chemical agents one block west and were forced to turn back, the suit asserted.

"The video footage we obtained and the experience of Mr. Foley and his daughter directly contradict Chief Newsham's assertions that D.C. police officers were not involved in the brutal assault on protesters the evening June 1," said Scott Michelman, legal director for the ACLU of the District of Columbia. Other entities representing the protesters include the The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the Arnold & Porter law firm.

Michelman said D.C. officials have tried to distance themselves from the "brazen assault." But, he said, "MPD engaged in the same type of wanton violence as the federal forces."

In a statement Wednesday, D.C. police reiterated that the agency "was not involved in the unscheduled movement of the President from Lafayette Square to St. John's church," but did not address the allegation that its officers deployed tear gas.

D.C. police have said they were not in Lafayette Square, which is federal property, but did have officers on nearby city streets who confronted protesters fleeing federal officers. That included a D.C. police line where arrests were made.

The White House, the Defense Department and U.S. Park Police said tear gas was not used but acknowledged the deployment of pepper spray - a similar agent with the same chemical effect of incapacitating people through extreme irritation of the eyes, mouth, nose, lungs and skin, and temporary blindness.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a court order declaring that Trump, Attorney General William Barr and other administration officials conspired to and did violate protesters' First and Fourth amendment rights. It also seeks a court order barring officials from repeating what the plaintiffs say are unlawful activities.
Record-breaking downpours in the Kyushu region have caused factories and shops to shut down across the region. The impact has spread to agriculture and tourism - and it is feared to become a second blow to the regional economy, on top of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Safety given priority

Production at plants was suspended not only in Kumamoto Prefecture, where the Kuma River was flooded, but also in northern Kyushu. Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. has suspended operations at its plant in Omuta, Fukuoka Prefecture, since Monday evening. The plant was mainly manufacturing materials for eyeglass lenses. There is no prospect of immediate resumption of operations because of the power outages in the area.

Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co.'s ceramic products plant was also flooded and suspended operations.

A number of factories have voluntarily suspended operations to ensure the safety of their employees, even though their facilities were not damaged. Toyota Motor Kyushu, Inc. on Tuesday suspended production of its Lexus luxury car brand at its plant in Miyawaka, Fukuoka Prefecture, as well as two other parts factories in the prefecture.

Sapporo Breweries Ltd.'s plant in Hita, Oita Prefecture, and the Nagasaki Canon Inc. plant in Hasami, Nagasaki Prefecture, also suspended operations and product shipments.

Infrastructure hit

Logistics and communications have also been affected. Yamato Transport Co. suspended its pickup and delivery services for some areas in Kumamoto and Fukuoka prefectures. The company said that in Saga, Nagasaki and Oita prefectures, pickup and delivery services have been delayed.

Sagawa Express Co. said that it has suspended deliveries in some areas of the Kyushu, Shikoku and Chugoku regions. There have also been delays in delivery in those areas.

Power outages and damaged communication lines have made it difficult to get phone and internet connections, and telecommunications companies are scrambling to restore them. They are also hurrying the deployment of mobile base stations.

Kyushu Electric Power Co. said on Tuesday that its Onagohata hydroelectric power plant in Hita, Oita Prefecture, was flooded.

Many supermarkets and other retail stores were closed due to flooding of roads and their shops.

'No time for tourism'

There are fears that the impact of the heavy rain will be prolonged. Tourist areas have also suffered damage from the heavy rain, and accommodations in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures have received a number of cancellation requests.

To support the tourism industry in the wake of the pandemic, the Kumamoto prefectural government started a promotion campaign on Monday in which the prefectural government subsidizes part of the accommodations fees in the prefecture. But then the rains came. "This is no longer the time to talk about tourism," a source close to the prefectural government said.

Damage to agriculture is also serious. According to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, mud and rocks have flowed into greenhouses and rice paddies in southern Kumamoto Prefecture, where the Kuma River flooded. In some cases, cattle and pig barns and meat processing facilities have been flooded, and some meat has been disposed of.
WASHINGTON - An Army officer who played a high-profile role in President Donald Trump's impeachment proceedings is retiring from the military over alleged "bullying" and "retaliation" by the president, his attorney said Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who served as a national security aide at the White House until earlier this year and was up for promotion to colonel, will leave the military instead, his attorney, David Pressman, said in a statement.

"Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the president of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers," Pressman said. "LTC Vindman's patriotism has cost him his career."

In a message posted on Twitter, Vindman said he had requested retirement from the Army, "an organization I love."

"My family and I look forward to the next chapter of our lives," he said about his decision, which was first reported by CNN.

Vindman, who was the National Security Council's Ukraine expert, testified under subpoena last fall about his concerns surrounding a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In that call, Vindman told House investigators, the president appeared to link military aid to Ukrainian moves to open an investigation into former vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

The Washington Post last month reported that government officials have been concerned that the White House would try to prevent the promotion of Vindman, who along with hundreds of other officers had been selected by the Army to be elevated to become a full colonel.

While the White House had not taken any action to strike his name, officials have said that Trump strongly disliked Vindman and might move to block him.

A senior defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel decisions, said that Defense Secretary Mark Esper had officially signed off Monday on the list of officers slated to be promoted to colonel, with Vindman's name on it, and that it was expected to be relayed to the White House by the end of the week. The White House would then be responsible for reviewing the list and transmitting it to the Senate for approval.

The official declined to say whether the White House had communicated its intentions surrounding Vindman's potential promotion.

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democratic member on the Armed Services Committee, which approves promotions of senior officers, said he had not seen the officer list.

"But we need answers directly from Secretary Esper about what role, if any, the Trump Administration played in this process," Reed, a former Army officer, said in a statement. "Because failing to protect the military promotion process from partisanship sends a terrible signal to all our troops."

Vindman was removed from his position at the White House following the impeachment proceedings, in which Trump was acquitted. On Twitter the president has repeatedly assailed Vindman, who received a Purple Heart for his actions in Iraq.

His fate has presented a potential dilemma for Esper, who recently clashed with the president over the possible use of the military in the government response to civil unrest related to racism and police brutality.

The episode generated a crisis for Pentagon leaders, who scrambled to distance themselves from the president and the perception they were allowing the military to be employed against protesters or used for political ends.

Last week, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said she would block the promotion of more than 1,000 officers unless Esper ensured that Vindman would not be subjected to retaliation.

On Wednesday, after Vindman's plans to retire became known, Duckworth said she would keep her hold on promotions in place until Esper verified to her in writing that he did not act to stymie Vindman moving up in rank.

If Vindman hadn't retired, he would either have been promoted or, if not promoted, would have been eligible again for potential promotion in a year.

In a statement, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he believed Trump and his allies would "privately cheer" Vindman's retirement and cited alleged retaliation against the former White House aide.

"That's how the President and his enablers regard public servants - in uniform or otherwise - who uphold their oaths to the constitution, rather than giving into the cult of personal loyalty that has rotted our government from the inside for the last three and a half years," he said.

John Gans, a former Pentagon speechwriter who wrote a book about the National Security Council, said that some military officers who have served at the NSC in past years have been punished by the military for appearing to be too close to the president, a situation he characterized as very different from that of Vindman.

"The 30,000-foot view of Vindman's punishment is desperately worrying: The Army appears willing to lose an officer long seen as a credit to the service by those in and out of uniform," he said.

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The Washington Post's Tom Hamburger contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - Republicans' determination to press ahead with a convention next month despite escalating covid-19 cases in the host city of Jacksonville, Fla., is prompting a growing split in the party, with some GOP leaders saying they'll stay home and others stressing the importance of attending to show support for President Donald Trump.

Politicians, donors and party officials, especially seniors at higher risk of complications from the disease, now face a difficult choice between a personal risk to their health and a potential backlash from the president and his supporters. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., 78, indicated Tuesday he will attend the convention, but two other top Senate Republicans, Iowa's Charles Grassley, 86, and Tennessee's Lamar Alexander, 80, are taking a pass.

They are joined by two of the most senior Republican women in the Senate. Maine's Susan Collins, 67, said though a spokesman that she avoids attending the party convention in years when she is facing reelection. Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, 63, also has no plans to attend, according to a spokesperson, nor does Utah's Mitt Romney, 73.

Collins, Murkowski and Romney have criticized Trump on occasion, making their presence potentially uncomfortable at an event that will largely be a tribute to the president. But Grassley made it clear his decision is motivated solely by fear of contracting covid-19.

"I'm not going to go because of the virus situation," Grassley said Monday on a conference call with reporters.

Trump himself signaled Tuesday some flexibility regarding the convention. "When we signed a few weeks ago, it looked good. And now all of a sudden it's spiking up a little bit and that's going to go down," the president told television host Greta Van Susteren. "It really depends on the timing. . . . We can do a lot of things, but we're very flexible."

Unlike the Democrats, who have settled on a virtual convention for Aug. 17-20, the GOP is pressing ahead with plans for a three-night mass gathering the following week that will put up to 15,000 people in one venue in a city wracked by increasing viral infection.

For some, going is a way to show their support for Trump. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., 64, avoided the nominating convention in 2016 as part of his public rejection of Trump's candidacy, saying at the time, "I can watch it on TV." But the senator's spokesman T.W. Arrighi said Graham, who is facing a contested election in a Trump-friendly state, would be there this time.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, 50, who is also looking to win another term in November, has signaled she plans to be in Jacksonville, as has Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., 66, who credits Trump with helping him win election in 2018.

"We will kick off the 2020 campaign to #KeepAmericaGreat!" Braun tweeted Tuesday.

The emerging split comes as the party is moving to quell concerns about the health risks.

Convention planners have announced the goal of conducting daily coronavirus testing for anyone who enters the secure perimeter at the event, though they have not yet made clear how testing more than 10,000 people would be accomplished or how long it would take to get results.

Also unclear is what action would be taken if any delegates test positive for the virus. Convention organizers are working with a private medical firm to provide the testing.

The gathering was originally set to take place in Charlotte, N.C., but GOP leaders decided to move its marquee events to Jacksonville after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, declined to commit to lifting certain public health restrictions, given the ongoing threat of the pandemic.

While planning for Jacksonville is still underway, party officials have said they will abide by whatever local health restrictions are in place from Aug. 24 to 27, when official events are expected to be held.

The Centers for Disease Control considers large in-person gatherings where it is difficult to maintain social distancing, and where attendees must travel from outside a local area, to be the "highest risk" for spreading covid-19. The agency strongly recommends the use of face coverings at large events and encourages those over the age of 65 or with certain medical conditions to "limit your interactions with other people as much as possible."

"The higher the level of community transmission in the area that the gathering is being held, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spreading during the gathering," reads a CDC fact sheet.

Jacksonville has emerged in recent weeks as one of the country's coronavirus hot spots.

The weekly count of admissions for coronavirus-like symptoms to health facilities in Duval County, where Jacksonville is located, has spiked to more than 700 from about 100 in early June, according to state health records. The county has registered an average of 472 positive tests a day over the last nine days, compared with 23 a day for the first nine days of June.

As a result, Jacksonville is one of three cities that the Department of Health and Human Services designated Tuesday for a testing "surge," aiming to make more tests available in hard-hit areas.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a former state Republican Party chairman who courted the convention, has recently mandated the wearing of masks while indoors and in public spaces where people cannot be socially distant. Curry himself has self-quarantined after coming into contact with someone who tested positive, though he said he tested negative after the exposure.

The state of Florida has also shut down the consumption of alcohol at bars statewide, a development certain to transform the tenor of any political event if it remains in effect next month.

A Republican familiar with the convention planning said organizers are well aware of the uptick in cases and there is growing concern that the situation may get worse, but GOP leaders are determined to hold the convention and have visited the city over the past week to solidify the plans.

There will likely be far fewer journalists, the Republican said, and far fewer parties. But Republicans are still planning a VIP area across from the arena where members of Congress, senators and governors can decompress.

In contrast with Democrats, who have encouraged delegates to participate virtually in former vice president Joe Biden's convention in Milwaukee, Trump has made clear that he wants a large spectacle and has previously suggested that he wants a filled arena. But those plans have been complicated by the infection spreading through his own advance team, which traveled to Oklahoma and Florida to set up events for him and Vice President Pence.

Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has been hospitalized with covid-19 complications after he attended the Oklahoma rally for Trump, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, a top Trump campaign fundraiser and the girlfriend of Trump's eldest son, tested positive for the virus after traveling to South Dakota for another Trump event, forcing several Republican officials she met into self-quarantine.

One longtime Republican operative, who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations, said there was far less enthusiasm for this year's event as a result of the grim news about the virus.

"As far as the donors go, I don't have a lot of them that are interested in going because of the health reasons," said the person, who has attended GOP conventions for decades. "Why take the chance? You have made it this far."

Local officials have said they still have several weeks to determine what preventive health measures will be in place when Republicans gather in the city. In the meantime, Curry and more than 200 of the city's firefighters have been self-quarantining after being exposed to people who tested positive for the virus.

The Jacksonville events will follow meetings between Aug. 21 and 24 in Charlotte, where the official business of the convention will still be conducted, albeit in a pared-down manner. The national party has decided not to approve a new platform for 2020, though the Trump campaign is expected to release a separate statement of purpose.

After the Charlotte events, the Republican National Committee plans to fly 336 members and delegates down to Jacksonville, while others in attendance will have to arrange their own transportation, according to GOP planning documents distributed to party officials.

The shift to a much smaller arena in Jacksonville has forced the party to narrow the list of invitees who will be offered entrance into the hall. A fact sheet distributed by the party in late June said that "due to space constraints," new RNC members and alternate delegates will not be permitted a guest in Jacksonville.

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The Washington Post's Paul Kane and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration may allow employers and universities to opt out of the Affordable Care Act requirement to provide contraceptive care because of religious or moral objections.

The issue has been at the heart of an intense legal battle for nine years - first with the Obama administration sparring with religious organizations who said offering contraceptive care to their employees violated their beliefs, and then with the Trump administration broadening an exemption, angering women's groups, health organizations and Democratic-led states.

Wednesday's decision greatly expands the ability of employers to claim the exception, and the government estimates that between 70,000 and 126,000 women could lose access to cost-free birth control as a result.

The decision was one of several that has made the Supreme Court's term strikingly successful for religious interests. By the same 7 to 2 vote as in the contraceptive cases, the court on Wednesday also ruled for the ability of religious organizations to hire and fire without offending some anti-discrimination laws.

And last week they achieved a longtime goal, when the court ruled that states that provide support to private education must allow religious schools to participate.

"It's a big term," said Mark Rienzi, president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. And Wednesday's decisions showed that "broad agreement for religious interests and religious diversity."

The Supreme Court's decisions will conclude Thursday with what could be a blockbuster decision about whether President Donald Trump may shield his private financial records and tax returns from congressional committees and a New York prosecutor.

It will be a fitting finale to a term in which the court has left few politically controversial topics untouched: it said federal law protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination, disappointed antiabortion activists and gun rights supporters and stopped the Trump administration from ending the program that protects undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.

The contraceptive case involves a long-running dispute over Obamacare, as the ACA is known, and a requirement that employers provide cost-free birth control for female employees. The law itself doesn't specify the rules, leaving it to federal agencies to determine how contraceptives fit into the mandate for cost-free "preventive care and screenings."

The Obama administration required contraceptives and had narrower exceptions for churches and other houses of worship. It created a system of "accommodations," or workarounds, for religiously affiliated organizations such as hospitals and universities. Those accommodations would provide the contraceptive care but avoid having the objecting organizations directly cover the cost.

The Trump administration moved in 2018 to expand the types of organizations that could opt out to include religious groups and nonreligious employers with moral and religious objections.

Under the rules, the employers able to opt out include essentially all nongovernmental workplaces, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. And the employer has the choice of whether to permit the workaround. (Most companies are happy to provide birth control.)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit had put the Trump administration exemptions on hold, and said the agencies didn't have the broad authority to grant them.

Justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote the majority opinion, said that was wrong.

"We hold that the [administration] had the authority to provide exemptions from the regulatory contraceptive requirements for employers with religious and conscientious objections," wrote Thomas, who was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., and Justices Samuel Alito Jr., Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Thomas reasoned that if an administration's agencies have "virtually unbridled discretion to decide what counts as preventive care and screenings, he said, they must also have "the ability to identify and create exemptions" from those guidelines.

Liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Stephen Breyer agreed with the court's conservatives that the administration had the right to create an exemption, but they said lower courts should examine whether the administration's rules were "consistent with reasoned judgment."

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg issued a blistering dissent, in which she said her colleagues had gone too far to appease religious conservatives.

Until now, "this Court has taken a balanced approach, one that does not allow the religious beliefs of some to overwhelm the rights and interests of others who do not share those beliefs," Ginsburg wrote in a brief joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

"Today, for the first time, the Court casts totally aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree."

Ginsburg said Congress meant to provide "gainfully employed women comprehensive, seamless, no-cost insurance coverage for preventive care protective of their health and well-being."

The court's action, she wrote, "leaves women workers to fend for themselves, to seek contraceptive coverage from sources other than their employer's insurer, and, absent another available source of funding, to pay for contraceptive services out of their own pockets."

Thomas countered that it was Congress that left the decisions up to federal agencies. "Contrary to the dissent's protestations, it was Congress, not the departments, that declined to expressly require contraceptive coverage in the ACA itself."

Reproductive rights groups were alarmed by the decision.

"The Supreme Court's decision to allow the Trump administration to put control over people's birth control in the hands of the whims of their bosses and employers is deplorable," NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue said in a statement. "This decision just further exposes that ultimately, the Radical Right is really about controlling women and our lives with no eye towards equality or public health and well being."

Religious groups said the legal battles should stop.

In addition to the Trump administration, the Little Sisters of the Poor defended the rules. The order of nuns, which runs homes for the elderly and employs about 2,700 people, points out that the government provided exemptions from the beginning for religious organizations such as churches. They say the accommodation provision violates the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the law that says the government must have a compelling reason for programs that substantially burden religious beliefs.

"We are overjoyed that, once again, the Supreme Court has protected our right to serve the elderly without violating our faith," said Mother Loraine Marie Maguire of the Little Sisters of the Poor, whose employees work in the group's facilities. "Our life's work and great joy is serving the elderly poor and we are so grateful that the contraceptive mandate will no longer steal our attention from our calling."

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement that the decision was "a big win for religious freedom and freedom of conscience."

"Since Day One, the Trump Administration has sought to lift burdens on religious exercise for people of all faiths," she said, adding the administration would work to allow "women who lack access to contraceptive coverage because of their employer's religious beliefs or moral convictions to more easily access such care" through federal programs.

The states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey initially challenged the rules, noting that when women lose coverage from their employers, they seek state-funded programs and services.

While Thomas's opinion leaned more heavily on administrative law than religious liberty, he praised the nuns who have been involved in challenging the mandate from the beginning.

"For over 150 years, the Little Sisters have engaged in faithful service and sacrifice, motivated by a religious calling to surrender all for the sake of their brother," he wrote.

"After two decisions from this court and multiple failed regulatory attempts, the federal government has arrived at a solution that exempts the Little Sisters from the source of their complicity-based concerns - the administratively imposed contraceptive mandate. "

But the legal fight might not be over.

In a concurring opinion, Alito and Gorsuch said the court had not gone far enough to settle the issue for good.

"We now send these cases back to the lower courts, where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey are all but certain to pursue their argument that the current rule is flawed on yet another ground,"Alito wrote.

He would have found that the religious exemption was not just authorized, but required under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

"I would bring the Little Sisters' legal odyssey to an end,"Alito wrote.

The cases are Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania and Trump v. Pennsylvania.

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The Washington Post's Ann E. Marimow contributed to this report.
This fall at Texas A&M International University will indeed be different, TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz stated, but it will be a fall that calls all to the shared challenge of higher education in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have no doubt that this fall will bring challenges, but we also know that we are dedicating all available resources to rise to these challenges together, Arenaz said. Throughout our COVID-19 response, we have called on our university community and the community at large to be TAMIU Together/Laredo Together. That call continues, and this shared resolve is unwavering.

While the university is continuing to develop its fully detailed fall plan, it remains focused on joining the other 10 campuses of the Texas A&M University System in preparing for an in-person fall, for those wanting that experience, consistent with the guidance of the Board of Regents and local health authorities, he said.

Most of our classes will be offered in our TAMIUFlex format, with students having the option of attending class online or in-person, Arenaz said. Classes will be structured and scheduled respective of distancing and gathering restrictions. A limited number of classes in subjects that cannot be taught online will remain face-to-face. We are fortunate to have a robust technology backbone on campus that will support this dynamic course offering flexibility. TAMIU also has the highest number of Quality Matters (QM)-certified online courses in the A&M System. QM is the academic gold standard for online learning, and it benchmarks quality with robust assessments.

TAMIUs on-campus experience will be delivered with all applicable restrictions and regard for both health and safety of the entire TAMIU community, he said.

On-campus offerings will be conducted following all applicable guidance, including mandatory face coverings, social distancing and gathering restrictions and proper hand-washing recommendations, Arenaz said. Campus signage will guide on-campus interactions and movement with distancing and protective barriers in place across campus. Before students return, theyll need to complete an online certification that attests to their awareness of the cautions and expectations in place. Staff have already completed protocol training on our work environment and expectations. We will also continue to appeal to personal responsibility from all members of the Dustdevil community.

To further minimize additional community spread, the semester will be structured to end in-class instruction to coincide with the Thanksgiving break. Students will not return to campus thereafter, and final exams will be delivered online beginning the week after Thanksgiving.

Further planning is being guided by five campus tactical teams charged with identifying specific recommendations for fall reopening. The teams represent all facets of the broad university community: faculty, staff and students, he said.

Arenaz noted that assistance programs continue to be available to provide financial help to students.

The TAMIU CARES program, which provides grants to students for expenses related to COVID-19, continues, Arenaz said. TAMIU will award $5.1 million in emergency grants to assist students as part of its TAMIU CARES Program. Of this, 92%, or $4,750,878, are federal funds while the remaining 8%, or $394,000, is from non-governmental sources. To date, weve awarded approximately $2 million. Additional CARES funding is helping to undergird the response resources we are utilizing.

New funding support for first-time and transferring students has also come from our System Board of Regents who provided $528,000 for student scholarships.

Arenaz also noted that prospective TAMIU students applying and enrolling this Fall 2020 or next Fall 2021 will have scores for both SAT and ACT exams waived.

The president said the universitys first priority remains the health and safety of all members of the university community: students, faculty and staff, but the reality of the pandemic response is pervasive.

While we are taking all due precautions to provide an environment that works to limit exposure, this remains a pervasive disease, and we are all called to take personal responsibility and respect the guidance and restrictions that now frame our shared daily life, Arenaz said. The university is no different from any other campus or community entity, and we know that COVID-19 cases will no doubt occur  but we must be resolved to help and protect each other.

Arenaz is confident that students, faculty and staff will continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience and resolve as they have this spring and now summer.

This past semester, our students, faculty and staff showed that they can not only meet the challenges of today but far exceed them, Arenaz said. We look at the example of our senior students, all candidates for spring graduation, who saw their last semester expectations and traditions turned completely upside-down. They persevered through course changes, online delivery, virtual meetings with faculty and advisers, and stresses that no student could have anticipated. And they persevered and completed their degrees. That commitment and spirit will drive our future and our recovery as we all move forward.

Additional information on the universitys ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic is available on its online COVID-19 Response Center, located at tamiu.edu/coronavirus/index.
The U.S. Supreme Court struck two blows for religious rights, including a decision that upholds Trump administration rules giving employers a broad right to refuse to offer birth control through their health plans.

The justices separately gave religious organizations a bigger exemption from discrimination suits, throwing out bias claims filed by two teachers who were fired from their jobs at Roman Catholic grade schools in California. Both decisions Wednesday were 7-2 as Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan joined the court's five conservatives in the majority.

The decisions came as the court said it will issue the last opinions of its term on Thursday. Those will include rulings on subpoenas for President Donald Trump's financial records from Congress and a New York grand jury.

The contraceptive ruling, which stems from an Obamacare requirement that health plans include free coverage, focused more on federal administrative law than religion. The decision lets the administration expand a narrower religious exemption offered by President Barack Obama's administration.

Critics say the exemption, issued by three federal departments, could leave possibly tens of thousands of women without ready access to birth control. The exemption also allows opt-outs on moral grounds.

Justice Clarence Thomas said the Affordable Care Act "clearly allows the departments to create the preventive care standards as well as the religious and moral exemptions."

In a concurring opinion, Kagan said lower courts could still consider arguments that the administration didn't engage in "reasoned decisionmaking," as required under federal law. She pointed to a "mismatch between the scope of the religious exemption and the problem the agencies set out to address."

The Trump administration issued its rules in November 2018. The new policy expands the types of employers who can claim religious exemptions to include publicly traded companies for the first time, and also applies it to universities in their student health plans.

Dissenting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg pointed to a government estimate that between 70,500 and 126,400 women would immediately lose access to free contraception.

"This court leaves women workers to fend for themselves, to seek contraceptive coverage from sources other than their employer's insurer, and, absent another available source of funding, to pay for contraceptive services out of their own pockets," she wrote.

The Little Sisters of the Poor, an order of Catholic nuns, helped defend the Trump policy. The Little Sisters took part even though a separate court ruling means the contraceptive mandate couldn't be enforced against the group no matter how the justices ruled.

The Supreme Court's conservative wing has been broadly supportive of religious rights in recent years. Last week a divided court bolstered the school-choice movement by ruling that states must include religious schools in programs that offer taxpayer subsidies for private education.

In the employment case, the court said the Constitution gives schools broad power to hire and fire employees who teach religion. The decision extends earlier Supreme Court rulings that shielded religious organizations from employment-discrimination claims by ministers.

The ruling comes weeks after the court ruled that gay and transgender workers can sue for job discrimination under federal law. The latest decision underscores an important qualification to that ruling, giving faith-based groups a broader license to ignore civil rights laws of all types, including LGBT protections.

Agnes Morrissey-Berru was seeking to sue Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Los Angeles for age discrimination. The other suit accused St. James School in Torrance, California, of discriminating on the basis of disability when it fired Kristen Biel after she had undergone chemotherapy. Biel died of breast cancer in June, but her husband continued to press the case.

The schools said both women had important religious duties, including teaching classes about Catholicism, leading prayers and participating in mass with the students.

"There is abundant record evidence that they both performed vital religious duties," Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the court. "As elementary school teachers responsible for providing instruction in all subjects, including religion, they were the members of the school staff who were entrusted most directly with the responsibility of educating their students in the faith."In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the two teachers "taught primarily secular subjects, lacked substantial religious titles and training, and were not even required to be Catholic."She added, "The court is not only wrong on the facts, but its error also risks upending antidiscrimination protections for many employees of religious entities."

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had let the employment suits go forward.

Six justices -- the five conservatives, plus Sotomayor -- are either practicing Catholics or were educated in Catholic schools.

The birth-control cases are Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, 19-431, and Trump v. Pennsylvania, 19-454. The employment cases are Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, 19-267, and St. James School v. Biel, 19-348.
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration has awarded a major border security contract to a California technology start-up that will use artificial intelligence on an unprecedented scale, pairing the president's giant steel barrier with the kind of "virtual wall" long favored by Democrats to prevent illegal crossings from Mexico.

The five-year agreement between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Anduril Industries calls for the company to deploy hundreds of solar-powered mobile surveillance towers designed to operate in rugged locations. With cameras and thermal imaging, they detect moving objects and feed an artificial intelligence system capable of distinguishing among animals, humans and vehicles, sending location and mapping information right to the cellphones of U.S. patrol agents.

The effectiveness of the Anduril system in pilot programs so far, and the administration's deepening commitment to the technology, raises an obvious - if awkward - question for Homeland Security officials as President Donald Trump spends billions of taxpayer dollars to speed up his border wall project. If the Anduril system can spot migrants and smugglers from miles away and guide U.S. agents right to them, what is the point of building a costly physical barrier in isolated border areas where there are few crossings?

In their opposition to Trump's physical border barrier, many Democrats have promoted "smart" border technology as a more effective and cheaper alternative to the $15 billion concrete-and-steel version Trump is racing to install and which he is promoting on the campaign trail.

The CBP contract announced Thursday designates the Anduril system as a "program of record," meaning a technology so essential it will be a dedicated item in the Homeland Security budget. While it does not specify a dollar amount, Anduril executives said the agreement is worth several hundred million dollars.

CBP said in a statement Thursday morning that it plans to deploy 200 "Autonomous Surveillance Towers" by 2022. It says agents can set up the systems at a location along the border in just two hours.

"These towers give agents in the field a significant leg up against the criminal networks that facilitate illegal cross-border activity," Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott said in the statement, which does not mention Anduril by name. "The more our agents know about what they encounter in the field, the more safely and effectively they can respond," Scott said.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has criticized Trump's border wall plans and said he will not spend money on physical barriers. If elected, he will face intense pressure to repudiate Trump's signature project and bring the bulldozers and excavators to a halt.

Anduril's contract leaves the company in a position to benefit regardless of the outcome in November, with an artificial intelligence system that could reinforce the president's physical wall or develop into the kind of virtual wall Democrats have said they prefer.

"No matter where we go as a country, we're going to need to have situational awareness on the border," Matthew Steckman, Anduril's chief revenue officer, said in an interview. "No matter if talking to a Democrat or a Republican, they agree that this type of system is needed."

Anduril's founder, 27-year-old Palmer Luckey, sold his previous company, Oculus, to Facebook for $3 billion in 2014. He was forced out at Facebook in 2017 after a donation to a pro-Trump group angered co-workers, but he denied that politics got him fired.

Luckey, who grew up in southern California's Orange County, cultivates a nerd-warrior image, dressing in flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts while running the company he named after a sword in "Lord of the Rings." Venture capital firms recently poured another $200 million into Anduril, which is now valued at nearly $2 billion, the company said Wednesday.

Steckman, who previously worked for Pentagon contractor Palantir, said Anduril's broader goal is to compete in the larger, more lucrative defense contracting market. The deal with CBP allows Anduril to showcase its artificial intelligence system, Lattice, as an all-seeing shield that can protect U.S. military bases and other strategic sites.

Anduril also has developed aerial drones that can be deployed to feed the Lattice system, but the company said it is not planning to use that equipment for its contract with CBP, and will rely instead on the tower-mounted mobile cameras.

Border security experts and Anduril executives say the Lattice system is a breakthrough in border technology, because the company claims the artificial intelligence software is capable of distinguishing between an animal and a human with 97% accuracy, reducing the number of times agents respond to sensors triggered by cattle, deer, peccary and other large mammals wandering the borderlands.

The system does not use facial recognition or other personal identification technology, minimizing the privacy concerns typically associated with the deployment of powerful government surveillance equipment across large open spaces. It is designed primarily for use in remote border regions with few people, not urban areas with more crossings, to provide agents with what the company calls "wide area understanding."

From the beginning of Trump's presidency, CBP officials embraced, and modified, his original vision for a Great Wall-style edification along the border, resulting in the see-through steel bollard design now under construction. CBP officials say the barrier is the physical anchor of a broader "wall system" that includes layers of surveillance technology, including cameras and sensors.

The Anduril system can be deployed in steep, mountainous areas where barrier construction is not feasible, or as a secondary layer with a panoramic view of new border fence.

CBP's previous, billion-dollar attempt to build a virtual wall ended in failure a decade ago, and in recent years Trump has often mocked Democrats' preference for such systems while touting his version.

"They'd say, 'No, no, we don't need a wall. We can have airplanes flying above. We can have pic- - people taking pictures. We can have drones,' " Trump said last month during a trip to the border in Arizona to commemorate the completion of 200 linear miles of new steel barriers. "I say, 'What are you going to do? Take pictures of everyone flowing across?'

"Walls are the greatest technology," the president said. "They work."

An irony of CBP's contract with Anduril is that during the past three years that the Trump administration has spent billions of dollars to put up a physical barrier, technological advances have finally made a virtual wall system feasible. The Lattice system relies on some of the same chip technology developed by Tesla and other companies for driverless cars, Steckman said.

CBP officials for years have been eager to develop more advanced surveillance systems, and they credit higher interdiction rates in recent years with improvements in their detection abilities, or "situational awareness."

"The desire of the Border Patrol for quite some time has been complete situational awareness for all the territory between ports of entry, but it's never been achieved because it was never invested in," said Ronald Vitiello, a 30-year Border Patrol veteran who served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement until Trump abruptly removed him last year.

Vitiello said he is skeptical a Biden administration will be willing to invest in Anduril because the Democratic Party's base is so intensely opposed to Trump's immigration policies. "I don't think the political winds will allow him to advocate for stronger border security or even smarter investments," Vitiello said. "I just don't see it, because the conversation around border security right now is so skewed."

Adam Isacson, a security analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), said the Anduril system"fits right into Democratic Party rhetoric about having smart border technology instead of a fifth-century wall."

But he cautioned it could clash with "post-George Floyd era concerns about law enforcement having too much power."

"It's hard to gauge where the Democratic Party is," Isacson said. "And some of the folks who were for border technology in the past may be less trusting, if given this new ability, of a law enforcement agency like the Border Patrol that has aligned itself so much with Trump."

Luckey's reputation as a Trump supporter could also hurt the company, Isacson added.

Department of Homeland Security officials say they remain on track to complete 450 miles of new barriers by the end of 2020. To add miles as quickly as possible, the Trump administration has been digging, blasting and bulldozing through national forests, wildlife preserves and other protected areas in western states where the federal government already controls the land.

Environmental groups and traditional ranching families along the border have watched with alarm as Trump's barrier bisects desert ecosystems, erases archaeological sites and cuts across stream channels and rivers. The Anduril system offers a low-impact, impermanent, greener alternative that appeals to landowners along the border.

William McDonald, a fifth-generation rancher in southern Arizona and lifelong Republican who has denounced the wall as destructive and wasteful, said "smart" border technology is unintrusive and effective. "It's already working where it's in place," he said. "It has a low impact on the environment and wildlife movement. It targets illegal crossers, period."

Large physical barriers are considered most effective in more urban areas of the border, where agents have less time to interdict someone and prevent them from getting into a vehicle. In more remote areas where agents are sparse, smugglers and border-crossers can breach or climb over barriers to advance northward, but the nearest road may be several miles away, giving Border Patrol a time advantage. Their biggest challenge is detection.

In 2010, then-DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano ended a CBP contract with Boeing to build a virtual wall system, SBInet, that was gathered information from electronic sensors along U.S. borders.

CBP officials say the government pulled the plug amid frustrations that agents were flooded with raw data and sensor input that didn't mesh with their existing enforcement tools and techniques.

Since then, Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems has deployed sophisticated cameras in towers along the border, but its equipment is more expensive and less mobile than Anduril's, current and former CBP officials say. The Anduril towers have a smaller footprint and can be moved around easily, so they also help CBP avoid some of the land-use conflict issues that arise when the company requests access to tribal land, private property and environmentally sensitive areas.

Former CBP commissioner Kevin McAleenan, who resigned as acting DHS secretary last fall, established a "DHS Silicon Valley Initiative" in 2016 to pair experienced CBP officials with software engineers. The agency began working with Anduril when the company was being formed.

McAleenan said he is not aware of any other security firm developing a federal program of record so quickly.

"We took a company and technology solution from initial concept, to pilot, to widespread deployment in less than four years," McAleenan said in an interview. "That's unprecedented. That's how it should work."

The system Anduril has developed in concert with CBP is worth installing regardless of whether border wall construction goes forward, Steckman said, because U.S. agents need surveillance capabilities with or without a physical barrier.

"You can get those eyeballs through people or with an autonomous system," he said. "I would argue that because of the massive labor and cost reduction in not using people, this is a pretty good way to put eyes on whatever you need to put eyes on."

Steckman said the Lattice system is not built to capture personal information, only categories of moving objects.

"We know at a distance whether it's a person, it's a cow, it's a vehicle, it's an aircraft, it's a ship," Steckman said. "We don't know anything below that level, but for border security, especially in rural locations, that's enough to make a decision."

"Instead of a having a person's brain be the sensor fusion engine," he said, "the software surfaces information up to the point that a decision can be made, so the user can then go and do something about it."

---

The Washington Post's Aaron Gregg contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - The head of the Transportation Security Administration ordered new coronavirus safety precautions last week after meeting with a whistleblower who said the agency wasn't doing enough to protect employees and travelers, according to the whistleblower's attorney.

The new measures require officers to wear eye protection when they are in close contact with travelers and aren't protected by a plastic screen, the attorney said. Officers must also change their gloves or sanitize them after patting down passengers, handling identification documents or checking in luggage.

The Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal watchdog, had ordered the Department of Homeland Security last month to conduct an investigation into the whistleblower's allegations. The complaint was filed by Jay Brainard, the TSA's director in Kansas.

Brainard said in a statement that the new measures mean the agency "has taken necessary steps to make air travel safer for the public and enhance protective measures in the workplace for our front line employees."

Carter Langston, a TSA spokesman, confirmed that Brainard had spoken with TSA Administrator David Pekoske. He did not respond to a question asking him to confirm the changes in procedures.

He said the agency appreciates feedback from whistleblowers as one internal source among many.

"Most importantly, we take the responsibility to protect both passengers and our employees from COVID-19 very seriously," Langston said in an email. "TSA has adopted a continuous improvement approach throughout the pandemic, and with each health and security enhancement, we have made announcements."

Such investigations can take months, but Tom Devine, Brainard's attorney and the legal director at the Government Accountability Project, said both the special counsel's office and the TSA moved quickly, culminating in a meeting last week between Brainard and Pekoske and the new safety measures.

The pace stunned Devine, who has been working with whistleblowers for four decades.

"The system responded with lightning speed to the truth about a significant threat," he said. "I've never seen the truth make a difference so quickly."

A spokesman for the Office of Special Counsel declined to comment.

Air travel dropped dramatically in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, from a typical 2 million passengers a day to fewer than 100,000 on some days. But the number of travelers has been steadily increasing, a trend that has shown no signs of reversing, even as the virus appears to be taking hold again in many states.

Pekoske met with Brainard on June 29, according to Devine, and the agency imposed the new measures before the July 4 holiday weekend. Nearly 2.7 million people were screened by the TSA between Thursday and Sunday, according to the agency.

Brainard alleged in a June 3 complaint that the TSA had fumbled its initial response to the crisis, refusing to let state-level leaders hand out protective masks to front-line workers, even as the virus quickly sickened officers across the country; 997 TSA employees have fallen ill, and six employees and a contractor have died.

The special counsel's office ordered the investigation June 18, determining that Brainard's allegations had a "substantial likelihood" of being true. The office doesn't have the power to conduct its own reviews and relies on government agency leaders to investigate and report their findings.

The TSA said then that it was following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in handling the virus.

In the letter to the Office of Special Counsel, Devine wrote Brainard wouldn't have been able to succeed in getting change without its help.

"America's flying public owes your agency a debt of gratitude," he wrote.

The TSA had previously revamped its security screening process in an attempt to reduce the chance of spreading the virus. Officers were ordered to wear masks and the agency sought to install clear plastic barriers at checkpoints to separate officers from travelers.

But Brainard said those procedures contained gaps.

The agency's new actions don't resolve all of his concerns. Brainard also said officers hadn't received specific training on responding to the outbreak and did not have guidance on how to handle passengers who appear to be sick.

Union leaders representing aviation workers, with the backing of Democrats in Congress, have clashed with airlines and the Trump administration over safety at airports and on planes. With limited direction from the federal government, airlines and airports have been adopting their own approaches, leading to a patchwork of a different approaches.

While the government has declined to impose new rules on the industry, it last week issued guidelines that recommend limiting the number of passengers on flights and changes to check-in procedures to encourage social distancing.
ST. LOUIS  Wildlife officials have relocated a black bear that had wandered into a St. Louis suburb and drew a crowd of hundreds curious to see the out-of-place animal.

The bear has been popular on social media pages for weeks as it plodded hundreds of miles from Wisconsin, through Illinois and briefly into Iowa before wandering back into Illinois and down into Missouri. Wildlife officials said they were spurred to take action during the weekend when the bear  dubbed Bruno on social media  found itself in the Wentzville city limits and cornered between Interstate 70 and Interstate 40. Word of the bear in the suburb spread, and a crowd of about 400 people gathered to see it.
Numerous foreign-funded enterprises in industries from catering and home appliances, to retail and beauty have ramped up efforts to launch new products and open new stores in China.

A Pizza Hut restaurant on Barkhor Street, Lhasa, capital of southwest Chinas Tibet autonomous region. (Photo/Courtesy of Yum China)

Starbucks has planned to invest $129 million in building a coffee roasting facility in Kunshan, east Chinas Jiangsu province.

Lawson, a Japanese convenience store franchise chain, announced that it will add another 200 million yuan ($28.5 million) to its investment in the Chinese market.

U.S. retail giant Costco confirmed last February a plan to open its second store on the Chinese mainland.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a short-term impact on their business, but it wont influence their confidence in seeking long-term development in China, foreign enterprises said.

Facing the impact the pandemic is having on catering businesses, Pizza Hut restaurants run by Chinas largest restaurant company, Yum China Holdings, Inc., have witnessed a new momentum of development since their efforts to innovate products and services.

These restaurants launched set meals for one, started to sell take-out raw steak for people to cook at home, added popular crayfish dishes to the menu, all while making constant efforts to innovate flavors of their food.

As of the end of April, 99 percent of our restaurants in China had resumed part or all of their business, said Qu Cuirong, CEO of Yum China.

Pizza Hut restaurants have seen rapid growth of the sales volume of takeout food and food sold via delivery services since the outbreak of the COVID-19, Qu said, adding that the increase in online orders has effectively curbed the overall decline of sales.

Although our business has been affected by the COVID-19, Yum China is still optimistic about Chinas long-term development and wont change our goal of opening 800 to 850 new outlets in China this year, Qu said.

During this years Dragon Boat Festival holiday, Sephora, a French multinational cosmetics chain, opened three new stores at the same time in Nanchang, capital of east Chinas Jiangxi province, Changsha, capital of central Chinas Hunan province, and Linyi, in east Chinas Shandong province.

As the pandemic situation improves and consumption is returning to normal, the overall performance of the high-end beauty products market is showing a positive trend, an executive of Sephora pointed out.

It can be seen that the consumer needs are always there, and Sephora is planning to keep investing in China, the executive shared.

Che Wenhuan, deputy manager of Beijing Lawson Co., Ltd., disclosed, By June 29, we had opened 11 new stores in Tianjin municipality. Our first store in Hebei province will also open in early July.

Although Lawsons business in certain outlets located near office buildings and schools has been obviously affected by the COVID-19, the company isnt suspending its plan to continue to open new stores in China.

Urban residents have strong consumption ability against the background of consumption upgrading, so we will not change our idea of continuing to open new stores and will not stop expanding our business in China, Che said.

Lawson has announced earlier that it will increase its number of chain stores in China to 3,000 this year, and is projected to exceed 10,000 by 2025.

We have confidence in achieving this years goal, Che said.

German manufacturer of household appliances, Vorwerk Group, has not seen a decline in its sales since the outbreak of COVID-19. Instead, the company has recorded a slight increase in sales volume.

The pandemic has very little influence on home appliance enterprises, which have long before started to use smart new retail platforms or adopted omni-channel operation, said Zha Sheng, Vorwerks general manager for China.

Many of Vorwerks small home appliances even became a hot sale since the pandemic, for they meet consumers needs while they stay at home to avoid cross-infection, Zha disclosed.

We have seen that the Chinese government has shown powerful capacity to curb the spread of the pandemic during the fight against the COVID-19. This is the fundamental reason why we have confidence in the Chinese market, Zha noted.

From January to March, over 200,000 new products have been released on Alibabas shopping platform Tmall Global, while the growth rate of newly opened stores of foreign brands rose to 327 percent year-on-year, according to statistics from Tmall Global.

The pandemic has blocked foreign brands offline channels and made online platforms a popular choice for expanding sales. Many new foreign brands have sped up efforts to expand its market and seek new growth in China, said Liu Peng, general manager of Tmalls import and export business unit.
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The Ector County Health Department reported that the county has 1,105 confirmed cases and 497 probable cases on Wednesday. The county has 982 active cases as of Wednesday, with a total case count of 1,602 since March. The health department reported that 3,445 people have been contact traced and 662 people have recovered. There have been 10,406 total tests taken, with 7,866 negative results and 938 pending results.

Medical Center Health System CEO and President Russell Tippin said MCH is treating 48 patients, the most so far. The hospital is treating 19 patients on the seventh floor; one patient is from Focused Care in Odessa and two patients are from Sienna Nursing Home. Thirteen patients are being treated on the eighth floor; one patient is from Reeves County, two are from Focused Care in Odessa, one is from Winkler County (Kermit), one is from Sienna Nursing Home and one is from Permian Basin Community Center Group Home. Sixteen patients are being treated in the critical care unit, with nine patients on ventilators. He said that is the most patients they have had on ventilators.
The University of Texas at San Antonio is looking into an incident that played out over social media involving popular right-wing personality Ashley StClair.

StClair, who calls herself a "Freedom Fighter," said a man who identifies himself as a teaching assistant at UTSA threatened her "over politics" in a private message on Twitter from an account that has since been deleted.

"I'm gonna find where you live and I promise I'm going to f****** murder you with my bare hands and rape your corpse after setting in on fire. Stupid c***," reads a message that StClair said was sent to her by the man, which she made public.

StClair has amassed notoriety  and backlash  on all social media platforms for her political views and has more then 250,00o followers on Twitter. On Tuesday, her account included a bevy of messages calling on UTSA to address the alleged threats.

RELATED: Nirenberg says Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick telling people not to listen to Dr. Fauci is 'ridiculous'

StClair said a tweet about the parenting of transgender children sparked the alleged threat sent to her.

Once StClaire's followers tied the man to the university, a wave of tweets including the UTSA Twitter handle became a part of the conversation. She suggested universities should be defunded and blamed the aggression on "radical" Democrats.

"Maybe @UTSA should focus less on offering woke (Social Justice Warrior) classes and more on teaching their students/staff to not threaten to murder people over politics," she posted.

UTSA responded to StClair just before 9 p.m. Tuesday.

"Wanted you know we have been made aware of this situation based on the Twitter posts tonight. The UTSA police has been alerted and is looking into this as we speak," a tweet from the school's account reads.

UTSA confirmed an inquiry is underway and the individual in question is a former teaching assistant who is no longer in his role.

A spokesperson for the university said UTSA is taking the allegation "very seriously."

"I'm very impressed with their response to the threats & hope that the proper actions are taken against him. I also hope that this man never works around students again  especially women," she tweeted.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
For the past week, Mark Luft has not had to get up at 5:30 a.m. to start his day as Cibolos Economic Development Corporation executive director. Hes been sleeping in  as late as 8 a.m.

After almost two decades as an EDC chief and a career in urban and municipal development, Luft has retired. June 30 was his last day in the post he has held in Cibolo for the last 10 years.

Maybe its time to just enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning, putting bird seed in the bird feeder, and reading a good book that youve picked up 5 or 10 times over a year and never got to finish, Luft said during the final weekend of his career in Cibolo.

I am going to miss the interaction with the professional group of people that Ive worked with. I dont what that answer is yet, but I know I want to sleep late. For a day or two. Probably til 8 oclock, he added.

Lufts crowning achievement in a career sprinkled with successful ventures was Cibolos July 2019 ground-breaking of AW Texas, owned by Aisin, a Japanese transmission maker that is building a $400-million plant in Cibolo that will bring 900 jobs to town.

Luft is quick to divert credit to those around him. Luft and the EDC spent two years working behind the scenes to draw Aisin to a 160-acre plot of land on the citys south side, adjacent to Interstate 10.

Its all about trust and ethics. You lose the trust if you dont have the ethics to protect that person, Luft said. Youre telling them youre going to do all of these things, and you have to deliver.

One of them is confidentiality. One of them is having the knowledge. If either of those two pieces is missing, a company will not locate here, he added.

Dave Peterson was appointed to the EDC in 2017 and served as its board chairman. He spoke of Lufts abilities as both a businessman and as the EDC chair.

I first met Mark back in 2014 as we were exploring starting our restaurant, Makos on the Creek, in Cibolo, Peterson said. From those early days of planning through the current COVID restrictions on an operational restaurant, Mark has supported and advised us. He was there for us as we went from a concept on a piece of paper to an operating restaurant.

Peterson was on board with the EDC for most, if not all, of the development with Aisin for AW Texas.

The phenomenal work he accomplished was largely unseen, often due to non-disclosure agreements and other arrangements that keep the hard work of Economic Development out of the public eye, Peterson said.

He said the EDC made a commitment to change the way the EDC deals with business and how it sets it goals for growth.

We set about changing the previous practice of creating lists of businesses to pursue, he said. We were shifting the narrative from one of us pursuing individual businesses to one where we would be sought by businesses.

A key component of this process was to shift from a largely retail only business pursuit to demonstrating Cibolos attractiveness to a diverse set of businesses. This was at least partially helpful in the huge victory of landing AW Texas led by Mark, he added.

Robert Theis, current EDC board president, said Luft helped him to develop the ability to see growth and economic diversity in the businesses and opportunities for business around the city.

He brought to the table outstanding connections with federal, state, and local officials, Theis said. Working with all the different departments, he was able to bring them all together on one mission, which was to bring this corporation to Cibolo.

Theis said early in his EDC board career, he joined Luft for a guided tour of Cibolo, highlighting the business community.

He showed me everything that he was working on, that the EDC was working on, and that the city was trying to bring in, Theis said  including land the city had procured for a business park along I-10.

At that time, it was a business park they were trying to do, where Aisin is today. (Then), it was just tall grass and a sign that said, Cibolo Business Park, and I was like, Yeah, I dont see it, Theis said. And now, here it is. Its reality.

Theis said Lufts work at the EDC is visible all across the city.

The corporations, the businesses and the different entities that hes (brought to the city) has just been outstanding. Between the I-35 Cibolo Crossing to now Aisin on I-10, from one end of the city to the other, you can just see his work, he added.

At the June 23 Cibolo City Council meeting, Lufts final meeting as EDC director, The Chamber President Maggie Titterington praised Luft for his years of service to the city.

Mark has been a wonderful partner and representative for the city of Cibolo, Titterington said. To know Mark is to know about how much not only does he care about businesses but about people.

She told of Luft finding out that a Cibolo business owner was going to have to close his business. When Mark found out, the first thing he thought of and said to him was, What can I do for you, what can I do to help the situation? she said.

She said Luft not only connected him with people that could help him, but he was able to land a job with one of these recommended contacts. Now, hes really successful in his new job, and its all thanks to Mark taking just that moment, to sit and talk with him and see how he could help.

Luft points to a couple factors that helped make him a success in his 10 years in Cibolo and his prior seven years as EDC chair in Converse.

Its the whole foundation. Understanding community development, and sitting down with constituents and finding out what their needs area and what their purposes are, is essential, he said.

Anybody that knows Luft knows of his admiration for Henry Cisneros, one of his first bosses in urban development with the city of San Antonio. Luft credits Cisneros for all of his success and his own ability to lead.

When you look at the leadership that exists, they were huge mentors  in the Ray Ellison days, and the Henry (Cisneros) days, Luft said. But leadership is everything. Leadership is not actually supervising; its encouraging to go beyond and investing 10 percent of your time on a dream.

jflinn@express-news.net
In November 2015 as the heavy rain is falling, a man dumped a young female body in the river. The murderer then left his watch at the scene.

A few weeks later, Lee Dae Chul was arrested and sentenced to death for two murders of a college student and a detective, who is involved in solving the case. Detective Kang Do Chang handled the case and was relieved when the court finally resolved the crime.

Five years later, Ji Hyeok attended an auction and bid the highest price for a rare watch. Later that night, he traveled to Incheon Soebu police station and slept on the couch.

Minister of Justice, Lee Gyu Jo signed the execution order for the list of legal procedures. Lee Dae Chul is included on the list. The list will be sent to the President's office for the final decision. It seems the higher officials wanted to open the death penalty of the country.

Chief Woo introduced detective Ji Heyok to the new team at the Violent Crime Unit Two. After a year of break, he returned to service. Detective Do Chang is his new partner, who is not happy to have him around.

Yoo Jung Seok works at the Junghan Daily news. He is working closely with the minister's office for any high case that is sensitive to the media. He asked reporter Jin Seo Kyung to cover Lee Dae Chul's case and the other 12 prisoners on the case. He requested Seo Kyung to interview the victim's families and required the report on his table the next day.

Ji Hyeok handled a missing person case which is Lee Dae Chul's daughter Eun Hye. He went to see the young girl who reported to the police. The department received a second call for a murder, which links to Lee Dae Chul's case where dead bodies were found five years ago.

Reporter Seo Kyung interviewed the victim's relatives for the result of the death of their family member. She also visited the murdered detective wife but she chose not to give more information and left the cafe.

Both detectives visited the reported location for the crime scene but there has been no evidence found. Ji Hyeok saw a wildlife camera installed in the area, he went to get a record of the past days.

That evening, Chief Woo met the whole team for a meeting and at the same time to welcome Ji Hyeok. They were about to wrap up the night when Ji Hyeok received the access of the video. He saw Eun Hye walking at the place with a man. Ji Hyeok advised Do Chang and took the whole team's attention towards the video.

Lee Dae Chul's complicated case might be in the hot seat. Though he is on the death row case, his daughter's reported missing might affect the closed case.

While the team watched the video, a man approached the unit and submitted himself responsible for killing Eun Hye and buried her body after the incident.

Do Chang and the rest of the team got shocked and put the man in the interrogation room. His name is Park Gun-Ho, a missionary and works as an officer at the prison where Lee Dae Chul is in custody.

The following morning, the two detectives went out to the field to check where the body was buried. But Gun-Ho always states that he never remember anything. They returned to the station empty-handed. This frustrates Do Chang knowing that the old Lee Dae Chul's case might be reopened.

He admitted the crime and gave no other information to Do Chang and Ji Hyeok.
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The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Barry Cowen met via video conference with European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan and spoke via telephone conference call with his Northern Ireland counterpart Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Edwin Poots this Tuesday.

The discussions took place as part of a range of engagements by Minister Cowen with key interlocutors since taking office. The minister was joined by his colleagues, Ministers of State Senator Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon.

Speaking after the conclusion of these engagements, Minister Cowen said: I was very glad to have the opportunity today to establish contact with Commissioner Hogan and with Minister Poots. Brexit was, of course, a common theme of both discussions. I had a very useful exchange with Commissioner Hogan on the current state of play in the EU-UK negotiations, and took the opportunity to reiterate Irelands agri-food and fisheries concerns, including in relation to the potential economic impact post-December 2020, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.

"Similarly, my conversation with Minister Poots was very constructive, and covered North-South trading arrangements post-Brexit, implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol and the prospects for the wider EU-UK discussions on the future relationship.

The minister also had a useful exchange with Commissioner Hogan on the wider international trading environment, including on the need to be ready to respond to any market disturbance arising from the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, as well as to exploit opportunities created by market access developments in other FTAs.

On EU matters more generally, the minister took the opportunity to reiterate Irelands position that the achievement of increased environmental and climate ambition through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must be matched by an adequate CAP budget.

Concluding, the minister said: I found todays discussions extremely productive, and it was also useful to have my colleagues Ministers Hackett and Heydon involved. We intend to continue this process of engagement over the coming days. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will meet with my UK counterpart Secretary of State George Eustice, and on Thursday we will have separate discussions with EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski and with Irish farming and industry representatives.
A husband and wife who were allegedly involved in a confrontation which resulted in a garda sergeant discharging his firearm have been sent forward for trial.

Sharon (32) and Edward Stokes (30), both of Ferriskill, Granard, were served with books of evidence at a recent sitting of Longford District Court following an incident at the aforementioned address on December 3, 2018.

Mr Stokes was charged with three offences including criminal damage, possession of a slashook and failing to control a German shepherd dog during the course of an encounter involving a garda sergeant.

It is alleged Mr Stokes commanded a German shepherd type dog, that he was in control of, to attack the Sergeant allowing the dog to grab hold of the Sergeant's necktie by its teeth.

And that he failed to call off the dog despite the warnings of the Sergeant which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another.

The incident, which made national headlines, coincided with the release of video footage online which appeared to show the garda being grabbed by his neck tie.

It was previously reported a dog was shot and Mr Stokes was shot in the foot during the incident which occurred near his home.

The garda sergeant involved, who has since been promoted, was cleared last year of any wrongdoing after a lengthy investigation by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman (GSOC).

Ms Stokes was charged with one count of possessing a slashook on the same date contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

Judge Seamus Hughes gave the pair the alibi warning, telling both they must provide to the state within 14 days details of any alibi they intend to rely on in the course of their trial.

Mr Stokes, who sat beside his wife in the public gallery, stayed silent throughout the course of the short hearing.

Counsel for the defence, Pat OSullivan BL, applied for a senior counsel in respect of both his clients due to the nature of the charges involved.

This is a very serious incident and relates to the discharge of a firearm by a garda, said Mr OSullivan.

State Solicitor Mark Connellan made no objection to the request with the couple being remanded on continuing bail to a sitting of Longford District Court on October 6.
A Longford man has been sentenced to four months in prison, and his wife given a four month suspended sentence, for being in possession of a stolen caravan.

Bernie McDonagh and Teresa Doyle, 1 Richmond Street, Longford, appeared before Judge Seamus Hughes on June 19 where Mr McDonagh pleaded not guilty and Ms Doyle pleaded guilty.

Sgt Paddy McGirl, for the state, explained that gardai received a call from a representative of an insurance company to report that a caravan stolen from the UK a number of months ago was parked outside a Richmond Street home.

Ms Doyle had previously told the court shed bought the caravan from DoneDeal for 7,500 but, when asked by Judge Hughes to produce the ad or phone number of the person she bought it from, Ms Doyle explained that all the information was in a phone which had been broken.

The vehicle was examined by the stolen vehicle unit and the chassis number was not interfered with, said Sgt McGirl.

But on every window, the chassis number is printed and one digit was changed from a 9 to an 8 to give a false ID on the vehicle.

Judge Hughes insisted that its very easy to ring up DoneDeal and that they have all the archives.

If she bought something for 7,500, she should not be pleading guilty, he insisted.

But its as obvious as the nose on my face that shes taking the rap, with four children between the ages of one and nine and daring me not to send her to prison, while the husband is pleading not guilty.

He advised the couple to discuss the situation with their solicitors and, at a second calling, Mr McDonagh had agreed to plead guilty.

This is a common enterprise. If you had purchased the caravan and youd had proof that you paid 7,500 for it, Id have said that was great value.

Judge Hughes proceeded to hand down a four month sentence to both Mr McDonagh and Ms Doyle, suspending Ms Doyles sentence for a total of three years.

He then made an order that the stolen caravan be returned to its owners in the UK as soon as possible.
It is quite difficult to emphasize the importance of Korean drama's supporting cast, most especially when they are the ones that usually enliven a drama and makes a difference from a good drama and an extraordinary one. And it takes an extra special talent to be able to bring their characters to life.

The question now is, why do the leads actors get all the glory? Of course, they're all good looking, and yes they do a great job as leads. But we often take for granted the unnoticed heroes of Korean dramas, the coworkers, secretaries, and evil ministers who make the story go round and round. And without them, you would only witness two hot, good looking leads staring at each other for 16 episodes or more.

If you're a Korean drama expert, you'll instantly realize that it's a good one, once you recognize the same actors popping up again and again to play these vital roles. You may even say "Oh look! It's him again!"

Here are the lists of those actors who play a vital role in Korean dramas that you're always familiar with:

1. Sung Dong-Il

Sung Dong-Il is a highly acclaimed actor who has starred in plenty of popular Korean dramas as well as films. With his amazing and natural acting skills, he can pull off a character without a sweat, regardless of what character he is assigned to portray. You will see him frequently play a character of a grumpy, loud dad or father-figure who is also a great big softie underneath all that strong personality. And when he starts to cry, we too become cry-babies!

2. Chun Ho Jin

Chun Ho Jin is a well-known veteran actor that debuted way back in 1986 through the film "Street of Desire". He became famous after he won Best New Actor at the 28th Baeksang Arts Awards for his role in the 1990 television drama "Love on a Jujube Tree." He also did a lot of good projects for the years he has spent in the industry. He is usually seen portraying roles of an evil politician who's really hard to dispose of even harder to kill than a cockroach. He's so good at being a villain that its extra special when he portrays a good guy role.

3. Kim Won Hae

Kim Won Hae is indeed famous in portraying the supporting role in most known Korean movies and dramas. He may not be the lead character, but for sure he's going to take the spotlight with his amazing acting skills. Most of us are familiar with Kim Won Hae as the supporting actor that we couldn't resist but love. His acting ability made us laugh and cry at the same time!

3. Kang Ki Young

Yes, that's him! Even if you aren't familiar with his name, you are still familiar with his face. He's truly one of the most famous supporting actors of all time. You would even see him appear in dramas namely, While You Were Sleeping, I'm Not A Robot, Weighlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, W, Oh My Ghost, and more recently in What's Wrong With Secretary Kim and My Secret Terrius. And the list just goes on!

5. Kim Sang Ho

Kim Sang Ho is easily recognized with his signature bald head and side curls. He was born on July 24, 1970, and started his career in the industry through theater in 1996 before he started starring in films and dramas. He usually plays the underdog character in dramas and here are his most recent projects "Wonderful Days" (2014), "Doctor Stranger" (2014) and "D-Day" (2015), as well as the film "Proof of Innocence" (2016).
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(Alliance News) - Liontrust Asset Management PLC on Wednesday reported a rise in assets over financial 2020 following its acquisition of Neptune Investment Management.

Liontrust ended the year to March 31 with GBP16.08 billion in assets under management & advice versus GBP12.67 billion at the same point the year before.

The asset manager recorded GBP2.67 billion inflows over financial 2020, which was offset by a GBP2.01 billion in market & investment losses.

Liontrust, however, was able to add GBP2.73 billion in assets from its Neptune Investment Management acquisition during the period.

The company's UK Retail funds rose to GBP13.28 billion from GBP10.32 billion, with acquisitions contributing GBP2.39 billion.

Chief Executive John Ions said: "This has been another very positive year for Liontrust with record sales and strong fund performance.

"It has also been a year in which we have all been challenged above and beyond our normal experiences. Covid-19 and the near shut down of the UK has brought many external influences in to play. We are not alone in this and in some ways very fortunate that our business has been able to adapt more easily than others to quarantine and remote working."

Liontrust's pretax profit for financial 2020 fell to GBP13.0 million from GBP20.1 million. The profit drop was attributed to rising costs from the Neptune deal.

Revenue, however, improved to GBP124.0 million from GBP97.6 million.

The fund manager upped its dividend by 22% to 33.0 pence from 27.0p.

Looking ahead, Ions believes Liontrust is "well positioned to navigate and recover from the pandemic".

"We have assembled a strong range of funds and portfolios across equities, fixed income, multi-asset and sustainable, and we focus on robust and repeatable investment processes to enable us to meet investor expectations. Performance is never predictable, but process should always be," he added.

At June 30, Liontrust's AuMA stood at GBP19.3 billion and recorded GBP971 million in net inflows during the quarter.

Shares in Liontrust Asset Management were down 0.7% in London on Wednesday morning at 1,400.00 pence each.

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - JD Wetherspoon PLC on Wednesday said it will open a new pub and hotel in Dublin this October, creating 200 jobs in the process.

The pub operator said it will invest EUR21 million at the Keaven's Port asset located in the Irish capital.

Wetherspoons added: "Up to 200 full and part-time jobs will be created at the pub and hotel. Additionally Wetherspoon is investing more than GBP12 million to open two new pubs and refurbish a further eight pubs in the coming months.

"These include new pubs in Crossgates, Leeds and Kingswinford in the West Midlands, as well as major refurbishments at its pubs, including those in Salisbury, Peterborough, Stafford and South Shields."

On Tuesday, the company denied a news report stating that the company was selling 15 pubs.

The Watford-based pub operator said the Daily Mail article "Wetherspoons Is Getting Rid Of 15 Pubs When The Chain Reopens For Business On Super Saturday" contained incorrect information.

The news article was published on Thursday last week but has now been removed.

The company clarified that the 15 pubs in question were put on the market in April 2019, of which five were sold and eight were withdrawn from the market. Two of the pubs are still on the market.

Shares in the FTSE 250 company were 1.5% lower at 992.21 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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.

More News:

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.


Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. High 86F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.

Tomorrow

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 91F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
"Backstreet Rookie" has been embroiled in yet another controversy.

Earlier, Ji Chang Wook and Kim Yoo Jung's drama was criticized for scenes that allegedly involved "sexualizing minors," which made viewers raise their concerns. According to the Korea Communication Standards Commission (the nation's internet censorship body), it has reportedly received over 6,000 complaints regarding those particular scenes.

Before the premiere, the show was promoted to be family-friendly with humorous and over-the-top comedy. But after it kicked off, and aired episodes each week, netizens alleged that some scenes were inappropriate. Collective, it depicts "sexualizing high school girls," and "using prostitution as a point of humor."

In addition, it allegedly plagiarized a "manga illustration" scene from the Japanese film "Bakuman."

To name a few of this condemnation, mostly comes from local Korean viewers. And it didn't stop there.

The latest episode of "Backstreet Rookie" showed a Nigerian man dancing with Dal-Shik, which gained another wave of criticisms. Not only the local audience, but the international viewers also found it absurd to show the dance moves, as Dal-Shik is hooked by Bob Marley and other Jamaican moves.

Um Moon Suk, in the role of Han Dal-Shik, is a webtoon artist, and in character, he loves Jamaican style. He wears a dreadlocks wig and tie-dye shirts in loud Jamaican colors. This portrayal was censured by netizens for cultural appropriation because he is a Korean man.

What added to the concern is when an actual Nigerian guest character, with dreadlocks and wearing a Rastafarian T-shirt, entered the store. As he approached the counter where Dal-Shik stood, his reaction was overly surprised to see a man that has the same style as his. They randomly danced in Bob Marley "A lalala long" around the store.

Tell me why this is on a popular kdrama in this day and age As much as I love Ji Changwook, this drama has got to go pic.twitter.com/1ZUjLmJ6RT  Cadz (@Caddz_) July 3, 2020



As of today, international fans took their sentiments and disgraced the show via social media platforms. Online users also directed their anger and frustrations towards the procedure. And no censorship block from the writer of "Backstreet Rookie" instead.

Meanwhile, Ji Chang Wook, together with Um Moon Sul (still in his dreads), shared a video on his Instagram account, having fun in their acrobatic moves. Ji Chang Wook even wears a wig and gives off a happy aura as they laugh and goof around.

Korean drama series are becoming more mainstream across borders, not just in Asia. Stereotypes among local South Koreans are concerned if the show may damage the perception of African descent. Questions also arise why the management allows the show to air in a free-to-air television nationwide.

SBS network and lead actors have not released any details or explanations regarding the controversy mentioned.

In the drama, Saet Byul (Kim Yoo Jung) received an award as the employee of the month as the store reaches high sales among other branches. On the other hand, Dae Hyun (Ji Chang Wook) has issues with his rich girlfriend and her family.
Spain will lease public land to private companies and waive royalty fees on the condition of a commitment to build and manage social housing during the lease, Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos said on Tuesday.

"The state will offer public land up for concessions of up to 75 years, and private companies can opt to build and rent social housing", said Abalos, who also has responsibility for urban planning.

"This would allow the usual royalty fees to reach zero."

Spain has been looking for ways to resolve its housing crisis in the face of a steep recession due to the coronavirus and an already low supply of affordable public housing - just 2.5% according to official estimates, against a European average of more than 5%.

The government had initially considered leases of 30 to 50 years under the new programme, but discussions with real estate firms led it to increase the maximum lease duration to 75 years.

"We need to build between 1 million and 1.5 million council homes," a source at the transport and urban planning ministry told Reuters. "To build such housing, you need private initiative. We want to incentivise private promoters to enter a sector which currently doesn't exist in Spain."

The royalty fees for each public-private concession will not be waived by default, but will depend on how much social housing is being built, and in which region.

Neither Abalos or the ministry could specify how much public land would be leased under these conditions, and where in Spain.

The hope, however, is that such concessions will trigger further public-private collaborations, the ministry source added, such as reconditioning urban areas to make them more environmentally sustainable.
Manchester, IA (52057)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Low around 60F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
TERRY LEE LUNDGREN, age 59 of Janesville, passed away following a three year battle with cancer at his home on Saturday, June 19, 2021, surrounded by his family. Per Terry's wishes, a private family service and a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Dennis Funeral & Crematio
Milan come from behind to shock Juventus Milan vs Juventus Visitors had two-goal lead

Milan completed a sensational comeback as they beat Serie A leaders Juventus 4-2 at the San Siro on Tuesday night.

The visitors had stormed into a two-goal lead at the start of the second half thanks to Adrien Rabiot's stunning solo effort and Cristiano Ronaldo's cool finish.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's penalty and a second goal from Frank Kessie saw Milan haul themselves back on terms with 25 minutes to go.

Rafael Leao caught Wojciech Szczesny out at his near post to give the hosts an unlikely lead a minute later before Ante Rebic rounded off the scoring later in the half.

The result keeps the Serie A title race alive a touch as Juve stay seven points clear of second-place Lazio, who were beaten by Lecce earlier on Tuesday.

Milan, meanwhile, move above Roma and Napoli into fifth place in the table.
Marysville, KS (66508)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
Harvard and MIT on Wednesday announced they have filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement over a directive from the Trump administration that prevents international students from remaining in the country.

The White House on Monday announced that international students would be stripped of their visas if they enrolled in online classes at colleges and universities in the United States even amid the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, the two universities, which were recently ranked as the top two in the world, filed pleadings in U.S. District Court in Boston seeking a temporary restraining order prohibiting enforcement of the July 6 directive.

The order came down without notice - its cruelty surpassed only by its recklessness, Harvard President Lawrence S. Bacow said in a statement. It appears that it was designed purposefully to place pressure on colleges and universities to open their on-campus classrooms for in-person instruction this fall, without regard to concerns for the health and safety of students, instructors, and others.

(6/6) Read President Bacows message to the community: https://t.co/TgvvqOgFrs  Harvard University (@Harvard) July 8, 2020

Under the Trump administrations guidance, students attending schools operating entirely online may will not be allowed to take a full online course load and remain in the country. Students with F-1 or M-1 visas who were outside of the U.S. will not be allowed to enter the country.

Its a reversal of an order issued by ICE on March 13, the same day that President Donald Trump declared a national emergency. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program, a division of ICE, issued guidance that relaxed the cap on online coursework so that international students could continue pursuing an education at American colleges and universities. On Monday, ICE rescinded the order even as cases of coronavirus continue to increase across the United States, which prompted Harvard and MIT to sue.

If students cannot maintain their full-time student status, they will lose their ability to access work allowances in the summer and fall 2021 because they are required to maintain their F-1 status for the full academic year preceding their access to practical training, Harvard said in a statement.

Both universities claim the directive violates the Administrative Procedures Act in three ways. It first failed to consider important aspects of the problem before the agency acted, the schools said. It also didnt provide any reasonable basis that could justify the policy and failed to provide the public with notice and the opportunity to comment.

Our international students now have many questions  about their visas, their health, their families and their ability to continue working toward an MIT degree. Unspoken, but unmistakable, is one more question: Am I welcome? MIT President L. Rafael Reif said in a statement. At MIT, the answer, unequivocally, is yes.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey called the directive cruel and illegal. Healey said in a tweet she plans on suing the federal government as well.

Our state is home to thousands of international students who shouldnt fear deportation or health risks in order to get an education, Healey said. We will sue.

Not on my watch. This is just another cruel (& illegal) attempt by the Trump Admin & ICE to stir up uncertainty & punish immigrants. Our state is home to thousands of international students who shouldnt fear deportation or health risks in order to get an education. We will sue. https://t.co/1PQz86ZckV  Maura Healey (@MassAGO) July 7, 2020

According to a statement from Harvard, the directives purpose is to force schools to welcome students back on campus. The order only applies to students who are attending colleges that are operating through online learning or a hybrid model.

ICEs decision reflects an effort by the federal government to force universities to reopen in-person classes, which would require housing students in densely packed residential halls, Harvard said in a statement. Notwithstanding the universities judgment that it is neither safe nor educationally advisable to do so, and to force such a reopening when neither the students nor the universities have sufficient time to react to or address the additional risks to the health and safety of their communities.

On Tuesday, MIT announced plans to only welcome back seniors to campus, while other students would continue learning online. The school anticipates bringing back all students in the spring.

Students at MIT with questions may contact the university at iso-help@mit.edu. Updates will also be provided on the schools International Students Offices website.

MITs strength is its people  no matter where they come from, Reif said in a statement. I know firsthand the anxiety of arriving in this country as a student, excited to advance my education, but separated from my family by thousands of miles. I also know that welcoming the worlds brightest, most talented and motivated students is an essential American strength.

MIT announces plans for fall 2020 semester: Extensive safety protocols will undergird the return of additional students and staff to campus. https://t.co/Kq9fJ0ojNx pic.twitter.com/gxSCYYIz46  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (@MIT) July 7, 2020

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Steven A. Florio, the commissioner of the states Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, allegedly told staff members that he wore robes similar to those of the Ku Klux Klan and made Nazi salutes while he was a member of a college fraternity three decades ago, according to the Boston Globe.

The report says Florio told colleagues last month about the racist acts he participated in while he was a member of the Kappa Gamma Fraternity at Gallaudet University, a school in Washington D.C. for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The university suspended the fraternity last month after members were identified wearing blue robes with pointed hoods that resembled the Ku Klu Klan, according to the Washington Post.

The history of racist symbols extends back to the time when Florio was at the school, according to the Post. A photo from 1988, a year that coincides with Florios time at Gallaudet, shows members performing an apparent Nazi salute.

According to the Globe, Florio said in an e-mail to staff he is not pictured in any of the photos that have circulated.

However, in a meeting last month with employees, the Globe said, Florio admitted to dressing as a Nazi and saluting while wearing garb resembling the uniforms of the Ku Klux Klan.

The information was obtained by the newspaper through a letter from officials from SEIU Local 509, which represents employees at the commission.

A spokesperson for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services told the Globe the agency is conducting a thorough internal investigation.

Following the meeting, Florio e-mailed the commission staff, saying he disavows his past affiliation with the fraternity and that he remains totally committed to working with you to carry out our mission, according to the report by the Boston Globe.

The allegations against this fraternity are deeply troubling, and in no way a reflection of who I am or of my character, Florio wrote in the e-mail, according to the Globe. My community work at the local, state, national, and international levels are the accurate reflections of my character and who I am.

In the email, Florio did not admit to wearing the robes or engaging in salutes, but he acknowledged doing so in virtual meetings, Peter MacKinnon, the president of SEIU 509, told the Globe.

The overwhelming consensus among employees is they have lost confidence that Florio can continue to lead the commission, MacKinnon told the newspaper.

Im enraged. It is completely disrespectful, a staff member told the Globe. Im afraid to go to work.

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Desperate to solve the deadly conundrum of COVID-19, the world is clamoring for fast answers and solutions from a research system not built for haste.

The ironic, and perhaps tragic, result: Scientific shortcuts have slowed understanding of the disease and delayed the ability to find out which drugs help, hurt or have no effect at all.

As deaths from the coronavirus relentlessly mounted into the hundreds of thousands, tens of thousands of doctors and patients rushed to use drugs before they could be proved safe or effective. A slew of low-quality studies clouded the picture even more.

People had an epidemic in front of them and were not prepared to wait, said Dr. Derek Angus, critical care chief at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. We made traditional clinical research look so slow and cumbersome.

It wasnt until mid-June  nearly six months in  when the first evidence came that a drug could improve survival. Researchers in the United Kingdom managed to enroll one of every six hospitalized COVID-19 patients into a large study that found a cheap steroid called dexamethasone helps and that a widely used malaria drug does not. The study changed practice overnight, even though results had not been published or reviewed by other scientists.

In the United States, one smaller but rigorous study found a different drug can shorten recovery time for seriously ill patients, but many questions remain about its best use.

Doctors are still frantically reaching for anything else that might fight the many ways the virus can do harm, experimenting with medicines for stroke, heartburn, blood clots, gout, depression, inflammation, AIDS, hepatitis, cancer, arthritis and even stem cells and radiation.

Everyone has been kind of grasping for anything that might work. And thats not how you develop sound medical practice, said Dr. Steven Nissen, a Cleveland Clinic researcher and frequent adviser to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Desperation is not a strategy. Good clinical trials represent a solid strategy.

Few definitive studies have been done in the U.S., with some undermined by people getting drugs on their own or lax methods from drug companies sponsoring the work.

And politics magnified the problem. Tens of thousands of people tried a malaria medicine after President Donald Trump relentlessly promoted it, saying, What have you got to lose? Meanwhile, the nations top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned I like to prove things first. For three months, weak studies polarized views of hydroxychloroquine until several more reliable ones found it ineffective.

The problem with gunslinger medicine, or medicine that is practiced where there is a hunch ... is that its caused society as a whole to be late in learning things, said Johns Hopkins Universitys Dr. Otis Brawley. We dont have good evidence because we dont appreciate and respect science.

He noted that if studies had been conducted correctly in January and February, scientists would have known by March if many of these drugs worked.

Even researchers who value science are taking shortcuts and bending rules to try to get answers more rapidly. And journals are rushing to publish results, sometimes paying a price for their haste with retractions.

Research is still chaotic  more than 2,000 studies are testing COVID-19 treatments from azithromycin to zinc. The volume might not be surprising in the face of a pandemic and a novel virus, but some experts say it is troubling that many studies are duplicative and lack the scientific rigor to result in clear answers.

Everything about this feels very strange, said Angus, who is leading an innovative study using artificial intelligence to help pick treatments. Its all being done on COVID time. Its like this new weird clock were running on.

Here is a look at some of the major examples of desperation science underway.

A MALARIA DRUG GOES VIRAL

To scientists, it was a recipe for disaster: In a medical crisis with no known treatment and a panicked population, an influential public figure pushes a drug with potentially serious side effects, citing testimonials and a quickly discredited report of its use in 20 patients.

Trump touted hydroxychloroquine in dozens of appearances starting in mid-March. The Food and Drug Administration allowed its emergency use even though studies had not shown it safe or effective for coronavirus patients, and the government acquired tens of millions of doses.

Trump first urged taking it with azithromycin, an antibiotic that, like hydroxychloroquine, can cause heart rhythm problems. After criticism, he doubled down on giving medical advice, urging You should add zinc now ... I want to throw that out there. In May, he said he was taking the drugs himself to prevent infection after an aide tested positive.

Many people followed his advice.

Dr. Rais Vohra, medical director of a California poison control center, told of a 52-year-old COVID-19 patient who developed an irregular heartbeat after three days on hydroxychloroquine  from the drug, not the virus.

It seems like the cure was more dangerous than the effects of the disease, Vohra said.

Studies suggested the drug wasnt helping, but they were weak. And the most influential one, published in the journal Lancet, was retracted after major concerns arose about the data.

Craving better information, a University of Minnesota doctor who had been turned down for federal funding spent $5,000 of his own money to buy hydroxychloroquine for a rigorous test using placebo pills as a comparison. In early June, Dr. David Boulwares results showed hydroxychloroquine did not prevent COVID-19 in people closely exposed to someone with it.

A UK study found the drug ineffective for treatment, as did other studies by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization.

Boulwares colleague, Dr. Rahda Rajasingham, aimed to enroll 3,000 health workers in a study to see if hydroxychloroquine could prevent infection, but recently decided to stop at 1,500.

When the study started, there was this belief that hydroxychloroquine was this wonder drug, Rajasingham said. More than 1,200 people signed up in just two weeks, but that slowed to a trickle after some negative reports.

The national conversation about this drug has changed from everyone wants this drug ... to nobody wants anything to do with it, she said. It sort of has become political where people who support the president are pro-hydroxychloroquine.

Researchers just want to know if it works.

LEARN AS YOU GO

In Pittsburgh, Angus is aiming for something between Trumps just try it and Faucis do the ideal study approach.

In a pandemic, there has to be a middle road, another way, Angus said. We do not have the luxury of time. We must try to learn while doing.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Centers 40 hospitals in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Ohio joined a study underway in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand that randomly assigns patients to one of dozens of possible treatments and uses artificial intelligence to adapt treatments, based on the results. If a drug looks like a winner, the computer assigns more people to get it. Losers are quickly abandoned.

The system learns on the fly, so our physicians are always betting on the winning horse, Angus said.

A small number of patients given usual care serve as a comparison group for all of the treatments being tested, so more participants wind up getting a shot at trying something.

Mark Shannon, a 61-year-old retired bank teller from Pittsburgh, was the first to join.

I knew that there was no known cure. I knew that they were learning as they went along in many cases. I just put my trust in them, he said.

Shannon, who spent 11 days on a breathing machine, received the steroid hydrocortisone and recovered.

Doris Kelley, a 57-year-old preschool teacher in Ruffs Dale, southeast of Pittsburgh, joined the study in April.

It felt like someone was sitting on my chest and I couldnt get any air, Kelley said of COVID-19.

She has asthma and other health problems and was glad to let the computer choose among the many possible treatments. It assigned her to get hydroxychloroquine and she went home a couple days later.

Its too soon to know if either patients drug helped or if they would have recovered on their own.

THE BUMPY ROAD TO REMDESIVIR

When the new coronavirus was identified, attention swiftly turned to remdesivir, an experimental medicine administered through an IV that showed promise against other coronaviruses in the past by curbing their ability to copy their genetic material.

Doctors in China launched two studies comparing remdesivir to the usual care of severely and moderately ill hospitalized patients. The drugs maker, Gilead Sciences, also started its own studies, but they were weak -- one had no comparison group and, in the other, patients and doctors knew who was getting the drug, which compromises any judgments about whether it works.

The NIH launched the most rigorous test, comparing remdesivir to placebo IV treatments. While these studies were underway, Gilead also gave away the drug on a case-by-case basis to thousands of patients.

In April, Chinese researchers ended their studies early, saying they could no longer enroll enough patients as the outbreak ebbed there. In a podcast with a journal editor, Fauci gave another possible explanation: Many patients already believed remdesivir worked and were not willing to join a study where they might end up in a comparison group. That may have been especially true if they could get the drug directly from Gilead.

In late April, Fauci revealed preliminary results from the NIH trial showing remdesivir shortened the time to recovery by 31%  11 days on average versus 15 days for those just given usual care.

Some criticized releasing those results rather than continuing the study to see if the drug could improve survival and to learn more about when and how to use it, but independent monitors had advised that it was no longer ethical to continue with a placebo group as soon as a benefit was apparent.

Until that study, the only other big, rigorous test of a coronavirus treatment was from China. As that country rushed to build field hospitals to deal with the medical crisis, doctors randomly assigned COVID-19 patients to get either two HIV antiviral drugs or the usual care and quickly published results in the New England Journal of Medicine.

These investigators were able to do it under unbelievable circumstances, the journals top editor, Dr. Eric Rubin, said on a podcast. Its been disappointing that the pace of research has been quite slow since that time.

WHY SCIENCE MATTERS

By not properly testing drugs before allowing wide use, time and time again in medical history, people have been hurt more often than helped, Brawley said.

For decades, lidocaine was routinely used to prevent heart rhythm problems in people suspected of having heart attacks until a study in the mid-1980s showed the drug actually caused the problem it was meant to prevent, he said.

Alta Charo, a University of Wisconsin lawyer and bioethicist, recalled the clamor in the 1990s to get insurers to cover bone marrow transplants for breast cancer until a solid study showed they simply made people more miserable and sicker without improving survival.

Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, former FDA scientists Drs. Jesse Goodman and Luciana Borio criticized the push to use hydroxychloroquine during this pandemic and cited similar pressure to use an antibody combo called ZMapp during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which waned before that drugs effectiveness could be determined. It took four years and another outbreak to learn that ZMapp helped less than two similar treatments.

During the 2009-2010 swine flu outbreak, the experimental drug peramivir was widely used without formal study, Drs. Benjamin Rome and Jerry Avorn of Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston noted in the New England Journal. The drug later gave disappointing results in a rigorous study and ultimately was approved merely for less serious cases of flu and not severely ill hospitalized patients.

Patients are best served when we stick to science rather than cutting corners and resorting to appealing yet risky quick fixes, they wrote. The pandemic will do enough harm, and damage to the system for testing and approving drugs should not be part of its legacy.

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A health equity task force charged with addressing racial, geographic and other disparities during the coronavirus pandemic is off to a slower start than anticipated, missing its June 30 interim filing deadline.

The COVID-19 data collection bill Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law in early June created a COVID-19 health equity task force to examine racial, ethnic, disability, regional and cultural disparities affecting peoples ability to avoid COVID-19 and obtain testing, treatment and other resources. Their interim filing deadline was set for June 30, weeks away, and the final deadline was set for Aug. 1.

The Senate version of the governors $1.1 billion supplemental budget includes provisions to extend the interim and final deadlines for the task force, but the differences between that bill and the House version must be reconciled before it goes to a final vote and, if approved, gets sent to the governor.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how racial, geographic and other disparities can exacerbate outcomes in a global public health crisis. Chelsea, a densely populated, majority Latino city, developed the highest rate of coronavirus infection as Massachusetts saw a surge of COVID-19 cases in April. Public health experts attributed the high incidence rate to the high density housing and number of essential workers in the Eastern Massachusetts community.

Dr. Frank Robinson, a Baystate Health executive who was appointed by the Senate to serve on the task force, shared data from the hospital in a Senate listening session in late June suggesting parts of Springfield with higher-density housing and more essential workers, often in more diverse neighborhoods, were similarly at risk of COVID-19.

When Robinson presented the geographic data, he pointed out the disparities are not the fault of the residents or the neighborhoods but rather the product of generations of systemic racism, leading to disparities in education, income level, health care access and other areas.

These are communities of divestment, communities that have been subjugated historically for 50 to 60 years. There are clear patterns of racial discrimination, said Robinson, the vice president of public health and community relations at Baystate Health. Its hard to have that conversation just looking at that map, so thats the caution I like to offer to folks as we step into this mapping discussion.

Trouble accessing health services without relying on public transportation  if a resident has access to public transit  may pose another barrier when it comes to treating infectious diseases, Robinson added.

Troubles accessing health services through public transportation, at least in some pockets of Springfield and in other communities, may pose another barrier, Robinson said.

Social and economic factors account for 40% of ones health, according to a report filed last month by the state Department of Public Healths health equity advisory group. Healthy behaviors account for 30%, health care access accounts for 10% and genes account for 10%.

The report also found that Blacks and Hispanics had COVID-19 case rates that were three times higher than that of whites in Massachusetts, as well as higher hospitalization rates. The disparities widened for older COVID-19 patients.

The data collection provisions in the new law is supposed to generate more details about COVID-19 cases, including demographics that may highlight potential disparities. The 16-member task force born out of the law is supposed to explore why those disparities exist and how to reduce them.

The task force, a group of lawmakers and health experts, is expected to make recommendations to improve safety for populations at higher risk for COVID-19, remove barriers to health care services and treatment, improve quality of services and treatment, increase access to medical supplies and address other disparities.

Senate President Karen Spilka announced on June 23 that Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, a Boston Democrat, and Sen. Julian Cyr, a Truro Democrat, would serve on the task force. She also appointed Dr. Milagros Abreu, founder and executive director of the Latino Health Insurance Program; Dr. Cassandra Pierre, an infectious diseases physician at Boston Medical Center; Michael Curry, deputy CEO and general counsel at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and Robinson, the Baystate Health official.

The formation of this task force and its recommendations will help provide a road map for improving health care services across the Commonwealth, particularly in our communities of color who were disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus, Spilka said at the time.

Spilkas office said in a news release at the time the task force would convene once the appointments were made.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo has not announced his appointments. A source said on June 23 he was appointing Rep. Jose Tosado, a Springfield Democrat, and Rep. Chynah Tayler, a Boston Democrat, to serve on the task force. Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, a Springfield Democrat and chair of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus planned to serve as the caucus designee.

DeLeos office has since told MassLive of four more appointees: Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, who leads the DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement and Catalyst Institute; Jeffrey Sanchez, a senior advisor at Rasky Partners and lecturer at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, CEO of Lynn Community Health Services; and Dr. Assaad Sayah, CEO of Cambridge Health Alliance.

The Senate version of the $1.1 billion supplemental budget passed Thursday, which covers costs related to COVID-19, includes a provision extending the June 30 deadline and the final Aug. 1 final reporting deadlines for the 16-member task force. The differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill must be reconciled in conference committee before it can move forward.

The timeline for what comes next is unclear. The Legislature is approaching the end of its two-year legislative session, which typically ends on July 31.

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As local health officials raise the alarm about pockets of the state with higher coronavirus infection rates and lower testing levels, the Baker administration announced an initiative to provide free COVID-19 testing in eight communities in Massachusetts.

Gov. Charlie Baker said the Stop the Spread initiative will offer free tests starting Friday in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough and New Bedford to ensure those residents can get testing without concern about possible costs associated with testing. Baker also encouraged asymptomatic people to take advantage of the free testing.

The programs will run until Aug. 14.

While the statewide positive test rate remains at roughly 2%, these communities have seen positive test rates of 8%.

And they are also making up a significant portion of the states COVID-19 cases: These eight municipalities account for 27% of the states current positive tests, according to the governors office.

Part of the goal here is to put additional testing capacity with as few barriers as possible in place where we still see, relative to that 2% number, a much higher positive test rate, and a decline in the number of people that are actually showing up to get tested, Baker said during a news briefing Tuesday at the Massachusetts State House.

Seven of the eight communities have among the lowest per-capita incomes in the state, according to U.S. census figures. While Marlborough does not fit that distinction, the Middlesex County city has a working class population and a growing community of Brazilian immigrants.

Testing rates are even higher among minorities in those communities. New Bedford Health Director Damon Chaplin told lawmakers last week that the city of 95,000 had reported 2,162 COVID-19 cases and 111 deaths. Latinos make up one-quarter of the population yet accounted for roughly 49% of COVID-19 cases at the time. Black residents, who make up 6% of the population, accounted for 9% of COVID-19 cases.

Chaplin said he feared the disparities among Latino and Black residents was even higher but that people needed more access to testing and low-cost or free options.

A lot of folks are afraid of receiving the bill in the mail for a test that they went and received, Chaplin said at the time. Free testing for anyone who needs it and wants it, in my opinion, is the one thing that I would want to see happen.

When asked about calls for free, universal testing, Baker said last week that universal testing was the wrong approach to contain the spread. Instead, he called for universal commitment to doing things that stop the spread, such as social distancing, wearing a mask and getting tested if needed.

The state appears to have no plans to launch a site in Western Massachusetts in the short term. Asked on Wednesday whether a site would be set up in the region, Baker said the number of tests taken in Western Massachusetts communities tend to be higher and the COVID-19 rates tend to be lower.

If the folks in Western Massachusetts start to have issues, absolutely, he said. Remember, Western Mass. was sort of one of the first parts of Massachusetts that showed significant outbreaks and then Western Mass. actually got very low.

If we start to see movement in any of these places, he said, well make adjustments.

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President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos each said the federal government is considering withholding funding to schools that remain closed in the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump on Wednesday tweeted that funding may be cut after Devos appeared in an interview with Fox News Tucker Carlson on Tuesday night. DeVos said adults need to stop fear mongering and develop methods for students to return to schools in the fall. If schools remained closed because of the virus, one option DeVos expressed was to withhold federal funding in order to pressure the schools to return to in-person learning.

We are looking at this very seriously, DeVos said. This is a very serious issue across the country. Kids have got to continue learning. Schools have got to open up. There has got to be a concerted effort to address all the needs of kids.

DeVos said about 90% of government funding for schools comes at the state level. However, that leaves a small percentage that the federal government can withhold.

This is more an issue of adults who are more interested in their own issues than they are about serving their students, DeVos said. Its very clear the kids have got to go back to school.

Trump on Wednesday tweeted "In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!"

In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2020

Of the countries Trump named in his tweet, Germany has the highest number of coronavirus cases at 198,504, according to Johns Hopkins University. Sweeden has fewer than 75,000 and Norway and Denmark have fewer than 15,000 cases.

By comparison the United States has the highest number of cases in the world at 2.99 million. While cases of coronavirus have declined in Massachusetts, states like Arizona and California have experienced spikes in confirmed cases.

Colleges across Massachusetts have started to announce plans for the fall. Some include students on campus, while others presented hybrid models of in-person learning combined with online classes.

Gov. Charlie Baker closed schools in April for the remainder of the school year. However, most schools in the state have been closed since March.

The Massachusetts Department ofElementary and Secondary Education released preliminary guidance on reopening schools on June 25.

Schools in Massachusetts are eligible to receive up to $225 per student for eligible costs incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as training for school staff, supplemental social and academic services, reconfiguration of school spaces, leasing of temporary facilities, and acquisition of health and hygiene supplies.

The reopening approach is built on a thorough review of current medical and scientific literature and was developed after extensive consultation with medical professionals from Massachusetts General Hospital, the Massachusetts COVID-19 Command Centers Medical Advisory Board, and others.

The guidance includes in-person, remote and hybrid learning models.

This plan will allow schools to responsibly do what is best for students  bring them back to school to learn, Gov. Charlie Baker said. COVID-19 has presented numerous challenges for our schools, educators and students, but through collaboration with school officials and the medical community, we have developed both a comprehensive plan endorsed by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a financial package to support schools throughout the Commonwealth.

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More than 200 scientists wrote a letter to the World Health Organization stating that the coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale. However, Sarah Haessler, lead epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist for Baystate Health feels that this is theoretically true but there isnt enough supporting evidence outside of a controlled environment.

The open letter by 239 scientists from 32 countries states that there is significant potential for exposure to COVID-19 in microscopic respiratory droplets up to several meters and theyre advocating for the use of more preventive measures in the letter to WHO.

Benedetta Allegranzi, an epidemiologist and global vaccine safety specialist with the WHO, said the evidence for the virus spreading by air was unconvincing, according to the New York Times.

Just because you can generate aerosols within a laboratory environment, in a controlled environment doesnt mean, epidemiologically, that this is the way that this disease is transmitted, said Haessler.

Haessler described the way that there are different modes of transmission. She used influenza as an example of droplet transmission which is the way coronavirus is believed to be spread.

Droplet transmission occurs when a person is within 1 meter of someone who is coughing or sneezing and is at risk of having their mouth and nose exposed to potentially infective respiratory droplets which are then breathed into the lungs.

When [people] cough, sneeze or sing loudly, that kind of stuff, these respiratory droplets that are microscopic, but theyre wet and heavy relatively speaking, and they disperse 3 to 6 feet from the person said Haessler. The majority of [the droplets] land 3 to 6 feet away and so susceptible people that are within 3 to 6 feet, if theyre not protected, they dont have eye protection or mask on, can get those droplets in their [mouth and nose] and thats how they get infected.

This is different from an airborne disease or Aerosolized Droplets like tuberculosis, chickenpox or measles where there are microscopic particles called droplet nuclei which are much smaller and can stay suspended in the air for up to 2 hours.

So, we know that tuberculosis, measles, SARS were actually airborne, said Haessler. The majority of the evidence is still supporting the fact that COVID-19 is spread through the droplet route.

Haessler told MassLive that the scientists that wrote the letter, while their research is important and has its place, they are mostly engineers and particle scientists that conducted their study in a laboratory.

When we do procedures on patients in their Airway, these are called aerosol-generating procedures. You insert a tube in their airway in order to put them on a ventilator, said Haessler. Those are things that generate aerosols just like these particle scientists are talking about. We know that it can be aerosolized. We already know that and thats why healthcare workers who are doing aerosol-generating procedures wear very specialized protective equipment around patients.

WHO supports Baystate Healths lead epidemiologist and even released an update on June 29, saying airborne transmission of the virus is possible only after medical procedures that produce aerosols, or droplets smaller than 5 microns. A micron is equal to one-millionth of a meter.

To date the best way to avoid infection is wearing masks correctly, covering the nose and mouth and keeping the 6 feet social distancing guidelines that the state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise. The importance of wearing a mask in the correct way is still important, said Haessler.

She spoke of alarm fatigue that healthcare workers would suffer from if they were listening to alarms constantly in the wards of hospitals. If alarms were sounding for their entire shift, then they would be desensitized when it really was an emergency. The same can be said for the public. For months people have been hearing alarming news about the pandemic and its important to highlight the risks without scaremongering.

What we dont want is for [people to forget] the fact that were in the midst of a pandemic and people need public health hygiene. We dont want them to forget that, but we also dont want them to get alarm fatigue from it, Haessler said.

The major concern Haessler said was that people are tired of social distancing, wearing masks and the guidelines that have been put in place to protect the public and the vulnerable.

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U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III on Wednesday proposed a coronavirus economic recovery plan including an expansive public works and federal hiring program focused on combating longstanding systemic inequality and discrimination.

Building a just, equal, and resilient post-COVID economy will be the work of a generation.



Today I released the Kennedy Jobs & Justice Initiative.



Now I'll be crossing the state to get feedback from the people of MA.



As your Senator I won't legislate without you at the table. pic.twitter.com/EgqnuekjD0  Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) July 8, 2020

The four-term congressman, running a close primary race against Sen. Ed Markey, announced the Kennedy Jobs and Justice Initiative outside the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103 headquarters in Dorchester, which houses the Boston Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, on Wednesday morning.

The initiative would provide federal funding to states, municipalities and tribal communities in need of jobs critical to our reemergence from this pandemic, Kennedy said in a statement. The initiative would also back municipal governments efforts to retain public employees, with a focus on teachers, firefighters, community development and public servants.

A second phase of Kennedys plan calls for a large-scale public works program, and federal hiring and training programs, with the goal of boosting rates of minority and women workers in underrepresented fields. The initiative would create training programs in partnership with community colleges, labor unions, workforce development groups and re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated people.

This crisis has highlighted the myriad cracks in our system, the injustices and inadequacies of the modern American economy, Kennedy said. Because for decades, we have failed to center justice and equality in federal policy-making  and failed to center working men and women as corporate profits climbed. Now, as we undertake the difficult work of recovering and rebuilding, we have not only the obligation to provide immediate relief to American workers  but the responsibility to rethink, refashion and rebuild our economy into something better.

In a statement, Kennedys campaign said the initiatives hiring practices will be designed to intentionally rectify racial disparities in unemployment and wages. It will have rigorous evaluation metrics and regular public reporting requirements to Congress. The JJIs success will be continually evaluated across a number of employment and wage metrics, and including rates by race and gender.

Kennedy didnt announce an official cost estimate for the proposal, but told MassLive that by any metric, our COVID-19 response is a trillion-dollar effort.

Recovering and rebuilding from this moment will take an historic federal investment, he said. Because the cost of inaction will be far, far worse.

Kennedy noted he plans to discuss the initiative in a host of cities and towns across the state over the next few weeks to gather feedback from workers, business owners, minority and labor groups, and community leaders.

Were here today because, as always, Joe Kennedy shows up for the working families of Massachusetts, Local 103 business manager Lou Antonellis said. Joe understands that unions are the backbone of our workforce, here in the Commonwealth and across the country. He understands the issues and fights to ensure us a seat at the table.

Markey and Kennedy have both touted their responses to the coronavirus pandemic, with both pushing the Trump administration early on to ramp up testing and the production and distribution of crucial medial gear and personal protective equipment.

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The White House coronavirus task force on Wednesday said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will issue new reopening guidelines to schools after President Donald Trump branded previous guidance tough and expensive.

I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2020

The president said today we just dont want the guidance to be too tough, Vice President Mike Pence said in a news conference flanked by Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who like Trump has threatened to withhold federal funding to schools that remain closed and continue online learning in the fall. Thats the reason why, next week, CDC is going to be issuing a new set of tools, five different documents that will be giving even more clarity on the guidance going forward.

Pressed on why the administration is threatening to withhold funds at a time when many states and school districts say they need more funds  and as many districts and schools want to implement hybrid solutions of in-person and online learning to meet CDC safety standards  Pence noted that more coronavirus relief funds to states were expected after negotiations with Congress.

He added that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided $13.3 billion in education funds, and states had thus far tapped into less than $2 billion of the funds.

Pence also said the federal government would provide support and resources  including testing and personal protective equipment  to states and communities where COVID-19 cases were climbing.

But Pence, DeVos and other members of Trumps cabinet hammered home the message that the administration wants schools to reopen in the fall.

They argued that doing so not only maintained childrens educational, mental, nutritional, social and emotional wellbeing, but also helped continue the reopening of the American economy as more parents return to work.

The presidents morning tweet, Pence said, showed his determination to say, Were going to get kids back to school because thats where they belong.

Were here to help, to work with their governors and local education officials, to get their kids back to school, Pence added. As we reopen America, weve got to reopen our schools.

We are looking at this very seriously, DeVos said in a Fox News interview Tuesday, referencing withholding funds to schools that remain shuttered. This is a very serious issue across the country. Kids have got to continue learning. Schools have got to open up. There has got to be a concerted effort to address all the needs of kids.

DeVos said about 90% of government funding for schools comes at the state level. However, that leaves a small percentage that the federal government can withhold.

This is more an issue of adults who are more interested in their own issues than they are about serving their students, DeVos said. Its very clear the kids have got to go back to school.

In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2020

Nearly 3 million Americans have contracted coronavirus, more than any country in the world. Former hotspots like Massachusetts, New York and Michigan have seen declines in cases but states throughout the South and West have seen spikes in recent weeks.

Colleges across Massachusetts have started to announce plans for the fall. Some include students on campus, while others presented hybrid models of in-person learning combined with online classes.

Gov. Charlie Baker has not issued guidance on the reopening of public schools after he closed them in April for the remainder of the school year. But most schools in the state have been closed since March. Cities and towns have also not issued any recommendations for the upcoming school year.

States and local governments, and Democratic lawmakers in Congress, have been pushing the U.S. Senate and the Trump administration to provide an infusion of flexible funds to states, cities and towns, all of which are seeing sharp revenue declines in the wake of layoffs and business closings due to the pandemic.

MassLive reporter Michael Bonner contributed to this report.

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As founder and CEO of Minorities for Medical Marijuana, Roz McCarthy has spoken to hundreds of state and federal lawmakers, C-suite executives, mom-and-pop operators as well as advocacy groups eager to help shape the multi-billion dollar cannabis industry.

M4MM, as her Orlando-based nonprofit is known online, has been on the frontlines of advancing economic opportunity for people of color  especially for African Americans, who have been disproportionately affected by the so-called War on Drugs.

When we talk about legalization, it revolves around decriminalization of the plant, as well as economic opportunities that each state can look at as they are rolling out new medical programs and an adult-use program, said McCarthy, who will be a speaker for a special July 13 national webinar Cannabis Reform 2020: Americas Growing Pains & Possibilities. Register for tickets here.

At the end of the day, were talking about the bottomline, she said. If you want me to spend money with you, if you want to do business with me, you need to show me that the inside of your organization looks like the world that we live in.

Joining McCarthy on July 13 will be several industry power players, including Leo Bridgewater, national director at Reine Media, known primarily for his advocacy for veterans and cannabis reform including his work to pass legislation for additional recognition and coverage of medical treatment options; Karen OKeefe, director of state policies for Marijuana Policy Project; former Illinois state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, who is now senior advisor to the governor of Illinois for Cannabis Control; and, David Clapper, Ethos CFO and president of operations in Pennsylvania.

Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, chair of the influential House Committee on Rules, will join us as the keynote speaker for this special virtual event.

McCarthy spoke to Enrique Lavin, NJ Cannabis Insider publisher and editor, ahead of next weeks event. The Q&A was edited for space and clarity. The full conversation first appeared in NJ Cannabis Insider.

Q: With America facing another reckoning on race, what are you telling corporate cannabis companies they need to do right now to make a real impact?

A: I tell large cannabis companies that this is a reset button. You have individuals, activists, consumers, business owners, advocacy groups, Black, white, purple doesnt matter, who are really holding the industry to task. If we think about how this industry was built, it was really built on the backs of Black and brown people who were incarcerated. And were seeing the proliferation of new millionaires in this industry. Now people are holding these new organizations and these corporations accountable to the people who have been most harmed.

The George Floyd tragedy really amplified the systemic racism that is pervasive throughout the country. But even more so were going to be focused on cannabis. And there are some systemic, implicit bias things happening within our industry that we have to do away with to make a difference. We have to identify it, we have to root it out and then we have to do some type of action to make sure it doesnt happen again.

Q: What does accountability in the industry look like?

A: My question to the industry, to those corporations is, How do you take your intentions and put them into action? And what can we do to help you? I would say this: do what you do. If you make good weed, then make good weed. If you want to do social programs, come to the organizations who do social programs. Lend your support, your resources, your privilege, your relationship to help us do the work. Let us do the work and show a public-private partnership together.

Q: This industry has seen plenty of white-owned businesses buying the majority of licenses effectively shutting out Black and brown people. Here in New Jersey, theres been a concerted effort through legislation to set aside licenses to operate for minority owned businesses. Is regulation the answer?

A: Policy is a way to help to balance out the playing field. But its not only policy, there also has to be some type of systemic change within the industry. It really can start with our large corporations who spend millions of dollars lobbying. If they were to lobby for interest that support Black and brown businesses, not only do the Black and brown businesses win, they win.

Q: What are your thoughts on the New Jersey State Legislature possibly voting to decriminalize weed  bills that were reintroduced in direct response to the social unrest sparked by George Floyds killing?

A: For me, decriminalization should be a starting point and not the end point. If youre going to be looking at bringing on an adult-use bill, there should be social justice bills that are attached. And those consists of two things: decriminalization  you cant create an adult-use program for a state and not have the accompanying decriminalization bill. Take out the rehab stuff, it doesnt make any sense. If youre going to decriminalize, that means you should not be criminalized for possessing the plant. Period.

The second piece is on the expungement and clearing up records. If youve been pinched before for a personal use amount of the plant, you should have your record automatically cleared. We should not start talking about adult-use bills or expanding the medical program until we deal the social issues and the social harms of legalization. Lets work together through policy and through legislative language to make sense out of this. It should be pretty black and white in my opinion.

***

For the July 13 event, audience members will be able to post questions in advance of the webinar, which starts 1 p.m. EST (10 a.m. PST). After the live event, attendees will have an opportunity to continue the discussion and network in a closed forum, moderated by journalists covering marijuana and hemp industries.

To reserve tickets, go to advance360.com/cannabis-insider-live.

NJ Cannabis Insider, a local sponsor, is a weekly subscriber-based trade journal produced by NJ Advance Media, which has also produced several live events.

As with its May event, featuring Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Cannabis Insider has has partnered with Advance Local sister media groups across the country, including Staten Island Advance, Advance Media New York, PennLive, LehighValleyLive, MassLive, MLive, Advance Ohio and Oregonian Media Group.

For more information, you may reach us via email here.
Zebra mussels are shown in this photo from the U.S. Geological Survey. Despite pleas for more funding of boat inspection stations, the B.C. government says the detection program will operate this summer as it has in past years.
Jonathan Sackler, one of the owners of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, has died, the company confirmed.

Sackler died June 30, according to a court filing. He was 65, and the cause of death was cancer.

He was the son of Raymond Sackler, one the brothers who bought drug company Purdue Frederick in 1952, and served as an executive and board member for the company that was later renamed Purdue Pharma. Like other members of the Sackler family, he has stepped off the board of the company in recent years, though family members retain ownership.

The company is seeking bankruptcy protection as part of an effort to settle nearly 3,000 lawsuits brought against it by state and local governments that blame the company for sparking the opioid crisis that has killed more than 400,000 Americans since 2000. Hundreds of the lawsuits also name family members.

The companys settlement plan calls for the family, which has been listed among Americas wealthiest, to pay at least $3 billion and give up ownership of Purdue.
Voters in Western Massachusetts are for the first time in a generation getting to vote in two contested democratic primaries for their House and Senate seats as Rep. Joe Kennedy III challenges Senator Ed Markey, and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse challenges Rep. Richard Neal. In both races, an elder statesman of the party is being challenged by a younger opponent. But there the similarities in these races end, because what is motivating the respective challenges are entirely different for Morse and Kennedy.

Alex Morse has launched his effort to unseat Richard Neal because Neal has failed to stand for progressive change. Richard Neal is currently the top recipient of corporate PAC money in Congress - and it shows. Take climate change, unlike Mayor Morse, Neal continues to take money from the fossil fuel industry polluters, refusing to sign the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge. That might explain why Neal is the only one of Massachusetts 11 elected federal legislators not to support the bold, ambitious vision of the Green New Deal (authored by Senator Ed Markey and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez).

This is also true on healthcare, where again, Morse supports visionary policies like Medicare For All, while Neal -- deep in campaign contributions from the healthcare industry -- instead proposes moderate tweaks to a clearly failing healthcare system. Similarly, Morse is an unabashed champion of progressive ideals like equal rights for LGBTQ Americans and a womans right to choose, while Neal is a reluctant and late supporter of these same values.

In short, Morse is running because he has a different vision for governing than Neal, and thinks the people of Western Massachusetts deserve a candidate who will fight for them - not lobbyists.

In contrast, Congressman Joe Kennedy, some nine months in to his campaign, still cannot offer a compelling rationale for why he is launching a primary challenge against Ed Markey. Indeed, in 2018, Kennedy said that Senator Markey does an incredible job representing our Commonwealth and in a debate this year acknowledged that Markey has absolutely been a good Senator for Massachusetts.

Joe Kennedy says he is for the Green New Deal. But Ed Markey was the Senator sponsor and co-author of the Green New Deal, alongside Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It is a strange way to show your support for a progressive policy by running against and trying to defeat one of its two most prominent advocates. And while both Kennedy and Markey have signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge, Kennedy has refused to divest millions of dollars of his own investments from the same industry that the Green New Deal would seek to eliminate.

Joe Kennedy says he is for Medicare For All, which he demonstrates by running against a Senator who is...also for Medicare For All. The awkward truth is that Joe Kennedy is running against Ed Markey because Joe Kennedy wants to be a United States Senator, as his grandfather and great uncles were before him. And he thinks he has a better chance of leveraging his family name for victory now rather than waiting until Senator Markey or Senator Warren retire and he is forced to run against younger, more dynamic and diverse candidates like Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Attorney General Maura Healey, or former Governor Deval Patrick.

But as Kennedys Great Uncle once said, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. What the United States needed Joseph Kennedy III to do in 2020 was to leverage his charisma, name recognition, and fundraising prowess to help Democratic candidates around the nation flip Senate seats and help the Democratic nominee defeat Donald Trump. Instead, he chose to primary a sitting Senator of his own party who he is largely in alignment with to advance his own short-term self-interests. That is not the kind of leadership Massachusetts needs or deserves right now. Western Massachusetts voters have two clear choices. In each race, they should elect the candidate with the independence from corporate lobbyists, vision, and character to drive our nation forward into its next chapter. Those candidates are Mayor Alex Morse and Senator Ed Markey.

Craig S. Altemose is the Executive Director of 350 Mass Action, which has endorsed Mayor Alex Morse for Congress and Senator Ed Markey for re-election to the United States Senate.
A fire broke out at an office building in Hanover early Wednesday morning, gutting the structure, news outlets reported.

Firefighters from the Plymouth County town and multiple mutual aid departments responded to the three-alarm fire that started at 193 Columbia Rd. around 2 a.m., according to a Facebook post from the Hanover Fire Department.

When first responders arrived at the scene of the blaze, there was heavy smoke coming from the back of the building, WCVB reported.

First arriving firefighters encountered conditions that didnt permit them to enter the structure. We had to do an exterior attack, because the fire had complete control of the building, Hanover Fire Chief Jeffrey Blanchard told WCVB.

No injuries were reported, according to the news outlet.

Blanchard noted the building is owned by a real estate company, though it is unclear whether the business occupies the space or rents it out to tenants, WCVB reported.

The fire forced the roadway to be closed, and people were urged to avoid the area, officials said.

Firefighters were still at the scene of the blaze around 7:30 a.m., authorities told MassLive.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to WCVBs report.

BREAKING: Crews battling massive fire on Columbia Road in Hanover. Live reports from the scene starting at 5 a.m. on @boston25 pic.twitter.com/2j3BgKSA94  Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) July 8, 2020
Authorities on Wednesday identified a 43-year-old woman who was killed after she was ejected from a car and struck by another driver on Interstate 93 in Wilmington.

Kristina Lee was driving on the highway when, for reasons still under investigation, she lost control of her Ford Escape, exited the travel lane, hit a guard rail and was redirected back onto the interstate, according to a statement from Massachusetts State Police.

During that sequence of events, evidence suggests the victim was ejected onto the roadway, while the vehicle continued northbound, unoccupied, and exited the roadway to the right and came to rest in the [woods], the statement said.

Lee was then struck by a Honda CRV as she lay in the right travel lane of the highway, state police said. The crash was reported around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the highway between Exits 38 and 39.

The driver of the Honda, a 24-year-old Methuen man, stayed at the scene, according to authorities.

It was later reported after Lees Ford Escape was towed that her car had been fully engulfed in flames, state police said.

Related Content: 43-year-old Tewksbury woman struck by car, killed on Interstate 93
A 43-year-old woman was struck by a car and killed Tuesday night on Interstate 93 in Wilmington, Massachusetts.

The fatal crash was reported around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the highway between Exits 38 and 39, according to a statement from Massachusetts State Police.

The woman, a Tewksbury resident, was on foot in the right travel lane when she was hit by a 2004 Honda CRV, the statement said.

She had previously crashed her car, a 2002 Ford Escape, into the woods on the right side of the highway and then walked away from the vehicle, according to authorities.

The driver of the Honda, a 24-year-old Methuen man, stayed at the scene, state police said.

Why the victim initially went off the road and crashed in the woods remain under investigation, state police said.

The left lane at the crash site has been reopened at this time, state police said shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Other lanes remain closed to facilitate the ongoing crash reconstruction.

Police did not disclose any further information, including the womans name.
Congressional candidate and Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse called Wednesday for Springfield to reinstate fired police detective Florissa Fuentes.

Morse is running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D- Springfield, in the upcoming Sept. 1 Democratic primary.

Fuentes, 30, was fired on June 19 after posting a pro-Black Lives Matter image to her personal Instagram account while off duty. The case, first reported in The Republican, was covered this week in The New York Times.

Where is Western Masss representation on this? Mayor Sarno makes a very Trumpian, very good people on both sides suggestion as he equates supporting Black Lives Matter to supporting a neo-Nazi murdering a woman protesting white supremacy, and Representative Neal has yet to utter the words Black Lives Matter but proudly touts Sarno as his top surrogate, Morse wrote in a campaign news release.

Neal stayed silent throughout Sarnos campaign to shut down a church providing sanctuary to an undocumented immigrant and further demonize refugees, and he remains complicit on issues of racial justice. But I know theres no space for complicity, especially at a time like this. In 2014, I made Holyoke one of the first Sanctuary Cities in the country and as a congressman I will continue to fight for whats right alongside local organizers.

Sarno, through spokesman William Baker, had no comment Wednesday on Morses jabs.

In response to the Fuentes case, Sarno has said that diversity one of Springfields greatest strengths.

Holyoke police have had their own issues under Morse leadership. Three Holyoke police officers were accused of beating an unarmed 12-year-old boy unconscious during a shots fired call in 2014. The Holyoke City Council this year approved a $65,000 payment to settle a federal lawsuit stemming from that incident.

In Springfield, police and Sarno are still dealing with the fallout of the incident near Nathan Bills bar in East Forest Park. Five officers accused of covering up the incident were returned to the police force a few months ago even though their trials are still pending. The officers were suspended again last month after Sarno said he was mistaken in reinstating them.

Neals campaign said Wednesday that he has used the phrase Black Lives Matter and that he spoke at a Springfield City Hall prayer service in the wake of George Floyds killing and the growing public outcry.

The House Ways and Mean chairman also supports new federal police reform bill, called the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, that would enhance training and ban choke holds and no-knock warrants across the county.

Alex Morse is throwing stones from inside his glass house -- he has yet to address a horrific incident of police brutality in his own City with a 12-year-old victim, which led to a settlement with taxpayer money, said Neal campaign spokeswoman Kate Norton in a written statement. He refused to comment and conveniently left out the fact that there were previous accusations of police brutality against this same officer, and other incidents against people of color that he refused to disclose to the public. So much for transparency and racial justice.

Civil Rights hero John Lewis, a U.S. House member from Georgia, has also endorsed Neal, according to a letter from Lewis released by the Neal campaign.

Over the years, I have gotten to know Richie quite well, sitting next to him on the Ways and Means Committee. I know firsthand his steadfast commitment to fighting on behalf of working families and giving a voice to the voiceless. I have come to admire Richie for his deep devotion to civil rights, commitment to equality, and desire to protect the most vulnerable in our society, Lewis wrote. Richie joined me as we marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama to commemorate the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when in 1965 my fellow civil rights marchers and I were beaten for peacefully protesting racial discrimination. Today we are once again fighting forces of discrimination and injustice, and Richie is on the front lines with me, standing up to Donald Trump and those working against progress in America.
Charlie Baker said Wednesday his administration has no tolerance for intolerance, but said it was too soon to decide whether Steven Florio, the commissioner of the states Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, should lose his job over a report that he dressed in Ku Klux Klan robes and made Nazi salutes while a member of fraternity in college.

The Boston Globe reported this week that Florio informed his staff of his racially insensitive behavior last month following Gallaudet Universitys suspension of the Kappa Gamma fraternity after photos surfaced of members wearing robes with pointed hoods that resembled those worn by the Ku Klux Klan and performing Nazi salutes. At least one photo overlapped with Florios time at the university for the deaf and hard of hearing, and the Globe reported that Florio told his staff he was not depicted in the photo, but had engaged in offensive behavior.

Asked if Florio should be allowed to retain his job, Baker said he first became aware of the situation about a week ago.

Theres an active investigation going on. Obviously, theres no tolerance for intolerance, and Ill leave it at that. But I think its important that this be investigated and that investigation is going on right now, Baker said.

Given the reported existence of emails in which Florio admits to dressing up and saluting, Baker was pressed on what more he needed to know to make a decision. It was 30 years ago. Theres a lot of work that needs to be done to follow up, Baker said.
International students who may be forced to leave the United States due to a regulation implemented by Immigration and Customs Enforcement regulating online learning may be able to remain in the country with the help of Hampshire College.

The college in Amherst, Massachusetts said it is actively seeking international students who may be affected by the directive announced by ICEs Student and Exchange Visitor Program on Monday. The order, advised by the Trump administration, would be strip international students of their visas if they enrolled in online classes at colleges and universities in the United States even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Hampshire College plans to invite students back to campus in the fall so the order doesnt affect the school. The college, though, has the capacity to add students.

Because Hampshire has capacity to safely add students this fall, we can offer sanctuary for at least some international students who might otherwise have to leave the United States, President Ed Wingenbach said in a statement. We will continue to search for additional ways to counter the destructiveness of this decision.

On Wednesday, Harvard and MIT filed pleadings in U.S. District Court in Boston seeking a temporary restraining order prohibiting enforcement of the July 6 directive. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey also planned to file a suit against the order.

Not on my watch. This is just another cruel (& illegal) attempt by the Trump Admin & ICE to stir up uncertainty & punish immigrants. Our state is home to thousands of international students who shouldnt fear deportation or health risks in order to get an education. We will sue. https://t.co/1PQz86ZckV  Maura Healey (@MassAGO) July 7, 2020

Under the Trump administrations guidance, students attending schools operating entirely online may will not be allowed to take a full online course load and remain in the country. Students with F-1 or M-1 visas who were outside of the U.S. will not be allowed to enter the country.

Its a reversal of an order issued by ICE on March 13, the same day that President Donald Trump declared a national emergency. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program, a division of ICE, issued guidance that relaxed the cap on online coursework so that international students could continue pursuing an education at American colleges and universities. On Monday, ICE rescinded the order even as cases of coronavirus continue to increase across the United States, which prompted Harvard and MIT to sue.

On Monday, ICE announced that international students will not be allowed to stay in the country if they attend institutions, like Harvard, that are holding courses online this fall. (1/6)  Harvard University (@Harvard) July 8, 2020

Students who cannot maintain their full-time student status will lose their ability to access work allowances in the summer and fall 2021 because they are required to maintain their F-1 status for the full academic year preceding their access to practical training.

Finding a place to study at Hampshire College would appear to allow students to retain their visa for the following semesters.

The new ICE Student Exchange Visitor Program rule runs counter to Hampshire Colleges deeply held commitments to inclusion and equity, Wingenbach said. It fails to appreciate the significant contributions made by international students, staff, and faculty to our communities and pedagogy. As a community we reaffirm our support for our international students, staff, and faculty. We remain committed to supporting international students as they enroll or continue their studies at Hampshire.

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Joshua Lopez was known for his infectious smile, his welcoming personality and for his commitment to giving back.

The 24-year-old would volunteer at the Christian Community Church, playing games with children and donating his time.

In his last act, Lopez is continuing to give back. Slain over the July 4th weekend in a shooting in Worcester, Lopez has donated his organs. For his family, it represents everything Lopez stood for.

This is what he wanted, his mother, Zorana Lopez, told MassLive in an interview Tuesday evening. He wanted to be a donor. This was the last thing we could do to honor him, and we know he wanted to help others.

A single gunshot fired in the late hours of July 4 on Almont Avenue took Lopezs life.

Authorities say there was an argument between people and another man, 25-year-old Leroy Thompson, over a restaurant bill. Lopez, according to his family, was willing to give Thompson money as the disagreement erupted into a fight.

According to police, Lopez got into a car with friends and tried to leave. Thompson grabbed a gun from his car outside his 26 Almont Ave. apartment, court records said.

Thompson approached the car where Lopez sat in the back seat. One shot was fired, and Lopez was struck in the head, police said.

The injury proved fatal. He was one of three people killed in separate, unrelated incidents in Worcester over just a few days. Thompson is now facing a murder charge in the killing.

Lopez was on life-support at UMass Memorial Medical Center  University Campus until Monday. His heart, liver, kidney, lungs, tissue and skin are all being donated.

Hes just helping so many people. This is perfect, Zorana said. It represents everything about my son.

Working as a barber at City View in the city, Lopez took his passion for talking with others to grow relationships with clients. But tucked within the designs of several haircuts was his other passion.

Jazlynn Lopez, the young mans 21-year-old sister, said her older brother could draw, wrote poetry and painted. He sometimes used the clients hair as his canvass to show his skills.

He had so many hidden talents, Jazlynn told MassLive.

One painting by Lopez was special. It was a picture of a mountain and a river set amongst the trees and a sunset. The painting was given to Jazlynn.

The picture Joshua Lopez painted for his sister.

As family surrounded Lopez at the hospital, hugging him and preparing for his organ donation, Jazlynn brought the painting into the room. She wanted it there with her brother.

I also told him the sky outside is pretty because he is there now, Jazlynn said.

As family still tries to understand the senseless violence that took Lopezs life, they recalled the little things they will now miss. For his mother, who lives in Bronx, New York, it is her sons hugs every time she saw him.

Jazlynn longs for another moment when her brother asks for her cook rice and beans with chicken cutlets.

Girl, I want your cooking, Lopez would tell his sister.

Sadly, Jazlynn will never cook for her brother again. She wont hear him say, I love you Jazlynn. He refused to call her by her nickname Jaz when he said it.

He was the happiest, Jazlynn said. He loved everyone he was very protective. He cared about family, especially close friends. He was perfect.

In his younger years at the Christian Community Church on Beacon Street, Lopez would volunteer and spent time playing games with children at the kids club there, his friend Caleb Encarnacion said.

That time spent with children translated over to Lopezs time with his younger brother, 14-year-old Jacob who lives in the Bronx with Zorana. Jacobs birthday is Saturday.

They have an amazing bond. He was obsessed with Joshs haircut, Zorana said. Hes destroyed by this.

Lopez grew up in Worcester, where his father Gilbert also lives. He attended The University Park Campus School. More recently Lopez was living with his girlfriend.

The couple was planning to welcome their first baby together in September. The child is a boy. The couple chose the name Jayce since all of the children in Lopezs family have names starting with J.

Jayces middle name will be Anthony, the same middle name as Lopez.

Joshua Lopez, 24, was slain in Worcester over July 4th.

When he comes into this world, he is just going to hear good things about his dad, Lopezs mother said. I really just want to make sure we keep his memory alive. He impacted so many. He had such a good heart. Thats what I want his baby to know.

As the family prepares funeral arrangements for Lopez, a fund has been started to help pay for services.

Zorana fought back tears as she remembered when Lopez would bop-around the house as a baby when he heard music. During the interview Tuesday night, she laughed a few times too as she recalled his personality.

In pictures shared by the family, Lopezs wide grin was bookmarked by two diamond earrings, one in each ear.

I am wearing them now, Zorana said. I feel like I have a piece of him with me now. Its not him, but it is something from him.
A sign advertises suites for rent in front of an apartment building on Pandosy Street in this file picture from 2016. Details of a new 'rent bank' for Kelowna, to help people keep their home, could be announced within weeks.
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Marietta, GA (30060)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 79F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 58F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
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For anyone who requires immediate emotional assistance related to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, call 1-844-413-6649, a national toll-free 24/7 crisis call line.

Canada

, TRADITIONAL ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, ON,/CNW/ - The Government ofrecognizes the lasting impact of colonial policies and persistent discrimination on the lives of many First Nations, Inuit and Metis individuals, their families and communities. Many have to carry the burden of trauma through their lives, and access to community-based, culturally-safe mental health services is essential in supporting and providing a path towards healing for those who had their lives forever changed.It is important to ensure there is ongoing, immediate support for community-based cultural and emotional support services as well as access to mental health counselling. This is especially critical for those impacted by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and the Federal Indian Day Schools Settlement Agreement and their families; the Government ofis announcing an immediate total investment offor access to important mental wellness counselling.In response to the MMIWG Interim Report, sinceIndigenous Services Canada has supported access to cultural, emotional, and mental health support services. Today's announcement includesto ensure that access to these important mental wellness services continue.Overall, these supports will help reduce and address the mental and emotional stress associated with recounting experiences of trauma or other triggering experiences. It also acknowledges and supports the MMIWG Final Report and its Calls to Justice.Today's announcement also includesto expand access for the first time to cultural, emotional, and mental health support services for those affected by the trauma associated with their attendance at any historic Federal Indian Day School including their families. This investment responds to what we've been hearing from Leadership, communities and other Indigenous partners on the need for these services. The Government ofwill work with existing Indigenous partners and community-based mental wellness service providers to support access to these services immediately.This support is in addition to theprovided into the McLean Day Schools Settlement Corporation for legacy projects to support commemoration projects, health and wellness programs, truth-telling events and the restoration and preservation of Indigenous languages and culture.It is also in addition to other mental wellness services funded by the Government of, including the Mental Health Counselling Benefit under the Non Insured Health Benefits Program, and crisis intervention services as part of the Hope for Wellness Help Line, 1-855-242-3310 a toll-free line for those experiencing emotional distress.Today's interim mental wellness investment supports the ongoing work with Indigenous partners and communities towards a longer-term and more holistic approach to mental wellness services. It also represents an important step towards healing for those affected by discrimination.To find out more about or to access health supports for those impacted by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls as well the Federal Indian Day Schools, please call the number in your province or territory:"First Nations, Inuit and Metis continue to be affected by the trauma that stems from historic colonial policies such as federally-operated day schools and the disproportionately high levels of violence and loss of Indigenous women, girls and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) and Two-Spirit people. It is essential to provide continued community-based cultural mental health services for healing of all unresolved trauma."The Honourable Marc MillerMinister of Indigenous Services"Culturally appropriate and trauma-informed health and mental health supports are essential for families and survivors as they go forward on their healing journey. We recognize the harm done to them under historic, federally operated day schools and from the national tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and LGBTQ and Two-Spirit people. These supports will be available to families, survivors during our work together to develop the National Action Plan."The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.Minister of Crown-Indigenous RelationsMMIWG Health Supports Federal Indian Day Schools Health Supports Approved settlement to provide compensation, fund for healing and commemoration Hope for Wellness Help LineStay connectedJoin the conversation about Indigenous peoples inTwitter: @GCIndigenous Facebook: @GCIndigenous Instagram: @gcindigenous Facebook: @GCIndigenousHealthSOURCE Indigenous Services Canada
Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs untimely demise has shaken not just his friends and family, but also the Bollywood industry as a whole. He died by suicide on June 14 at his Mumbai residence for reasons unknown. Although the news reports suggest that he was suffering from depression.

His untimely demise has led to several changes in the glitz town including the unending furore over the existing nepotism in the industry. Here we have listed out some of the changes that have happened in the Bollywood industry post Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

1. His death has fuelled mental health debate

 Twitter/@itsSSR

The sudden and tragic demise of the 34-year-old actor was met with an outpouring of grief by fans and other Bollywood actors with the conversation soon turning to mental health and depression. Several stars spoke on this sensitive issue. Actor Deepika Padukone, who has always spoken openly about battling depression, said it was important to reach out. "Talk. Communicate. Express. Seek help," she wrote on her Instagram account. "Remember, you are not alone. We are in this together. And most importantly, there is hope."



Sushants PK co-actor Anushka Sharma wrote on her social media, "I'm so sad and upset knowing that we lived in an environment that could not help you through any troubles you may have had."

Theres no denying the fact that it is extremely difficult to freely talk about mental health issues in India, due to a sheer lack of understanding about it and the taboos surrounding the topic. It is high time we change that.

2. The word nepotism has come into everyday conversation

 MAMI 2019

The searing anger among fans over the young talented actors tragic death is basically the result of the desire to know why he killed himself. What compelled him to take that drastic action? Many believe that it is because of B-towns callous ways that pushed the Kai Po Che actor to depression and led to his death. In this entire feud, producer-director Karan Johar continues to be the centre of attraction for his preference for only star kids over the people from non-film backgrounds. Even though it is true that people coming from film backgrounds have an edge over the outsiders in Bollywood, it isnt appropriate to term them all under one category - villains! Nepotism sure does exist but if you look at it the other way, people sure have the freedom to cast whomsoever they deem fit for a particular role; however, whats more problematic is the group lobby in the industry.



People create groups and cliques that don't allow outsiders to be part of them. This in turn creates a huge gap between actors in the industry, where people who are left out try so hard to be part of that clique. This leads to disappointments when they fail and the results are for you all to see. Such lobbies should cease to exist and people should be offered roles purely based on their merits and not based on whose friends with whom!

3. Celebrities have quit social media over toxicity

 Yahoo

Post Sushants demise, people on social media didnt spare any celebrity and trolled them severely for the callous ways of the Hindi film industry and even many of them cited nepotism as one of the prime reasons for why Sushant killed himself. Actors like Sonakshi Sinha, Aayush Sharma, Zaheer Iqbal, and director Shashank Khaitan among others have bid adieu to Twitter.



Sonakshi Sinha led the pack when she wrote, The first step to protecting your sanity is to stay away from negativity. And no where more of that than twitter these days! Saqib Saleem wrote, Im Breaking Up with you Twitter.

These celebs cited toxicity and negativity as reasons for quitting from their social media accounts. Even Karan Johar, who was immensely trolled, after Sushants death, for promoting nepotistic culture in Bollywood, unfollowed everyone on Twitter, except eight handles (four of which are of his production house).

Besides, due to constant flak on social media, Karan, Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor Khan have not only lost lakhs of Instagram followers but they have also limited the comments on their Instagram accounts, which means only select people can comment on their posts now.

4. The launch of Nepometer?

 nepometer

Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs brother-in-law Vishal Kirti recently announced the launch of the Nepometer, a website or platform that focuses on the issue of nepotism in Bollywood. It will apparently give a rating to a movie based on its stars and other aspects like if it is backed by those with industry connections. If a movie has a star kid in the lead, it will get a high rating. The rating, however, is expected to be on the lower side if it features outsiders.



Created by my brother @mayureshkrishna in the memory of my brother in law @itsSSR https://t.co/sNSSJfQjy5  vishal kirti (@vikirti) June 25, 2020

Recently, responding to the reaction their app Nepometer has been receiving on social media Vishal wrote, Were still grieving. Our focus now is to take care of each other. I shared my brothers idea of Nepometer because it enables people to make informed choices. Its a small tribute to Sushant. Its a not for profit voluntary effort. Please stay patient since it isnt our 1st priority.

Were still grieving.Our focus now is to take care of each other.I shared my brothers idea of Nepometer because it enables people to make informed choices. Its a small tribute to Sushant. Its a not for profit voluntary effort.Please stay patient since it isnt our 1st priority  vishal kirti (@vikirti) July 3, 2020

The first film to be rated by the Nepometer is Mahesh Bhatts Sadak 2, starring Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanjay Dutt and Pooja Bhatt. The app rated it as 98% nepotistic. A tweet on the Nepometer Twitter page read, #Sadak2 is 98% Nepotistic. We rated it based on 5 categories, Producer, Lead Artists, Supporting Artists, Director & Writer. 4 out of 5 categories have Bollywood Family members. When #nepometer is high its time to #boycottbollywood. Will you watch this movie? Tell us in the comments.

#Sadak2 is 98% Nepotistic. We rated it based on 5 categories, Producer, Lead Artists, Supporting Artists, Director & Writer. 4 out of 5 categories have Bollywood Family members. When #nepometer is high its time to #boycottbollywood

Will you watch this movie? Tell us in comments pic.twitter.com/LqZFhE6bk8  nepometer (@nepometer) July 2, 2020

5. Koffee With Karan might go off air

Karan Johars most popular celebrity talk show has always been in the limelight for promoting controversial content and most importantly, giving importance to the star kids over outsiders. Recently the speculations were rife in the media that the upcoming season of this famous chat show will be cancelled owing to the constant flak the 48-year-old host has been receiving for promoting nepotism. Although, there is no official announcement on this yet.

Sushant Singh Rajput, Sanjana Sanghi starrer Dil Bechara is scheduled to be released on Disney Plus Hotstar on July 24. Unfortunately, this will be the last time we will get to see the actor on screen. You will be missed Sushant!
Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to the UK. (File photo/China News)

Should the UK choose to completely ban Huawei from its 5G network, as media reports have suggested, the decision will have "many consequences," according to China's ambassador to the UK.

Liu Xiaoming said a decision to continue to work with the Chinese tech giant would be a "win-win" for Sino-British cooperation. The company has demonstrated that it is not a security threat, he added.

However, newspaper reports over the weekend suggest UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, under pressure from Washington, will backtrack over a decision to allow Huawei to supply up to 35 percent of the kit for Britain's 5G telecommunications network.

Johnson has declined to confirm or deny the reports, noting only that he was determined both to get broadband into every part of the country and ensure that the UK was not "vulnerable to a high-risk state vendor."

Speaking to British media, Liu listed a series of possible consequences should the UK change its mind and ban Huawei:

- It will damage Britain's image as an open, business-friendly, free, transparent environment.

- It will undermine the perception that the UK can conduct independent policy, instead suggesting it is "dancing to the tune" of others.

- It will send out a very bad message to the Chinese business community in Britain.

- It will undermine trust in the UK government more broadly.

Liu cited a Chinese saying: "You can't make your policy in the morning and change it in the evening." And warned that other Chinese companies would be closely watching as they think about their own investment strategies.

Nevertheless, "if the UK chooses to pay a higher price for poor quality  or less quality ... It's up to you," he observed.

British mobile providers including Vodafone have lobbied for Huawei to remain part of the 5G rollout plan on the basis that banning the provider will increase costs and slow the introduction of the new technology.

As for Huawei itself, Liu said he was confident that even if it was blocked in the UK, the company would continue and had plenty of other markets in which to expand.

"Once you have a good product, you should not worry about it. I think the world is big enough to accommodate Huawei."
A worker passes by the headquarters of Korea Development Bank on Yeouido, Seoul on June 10. Yonhap



By Lee Min-hyung





KDB Chairman Lee Dong-gull

Korea Development Bank (KDB) is under fire for failing to take moral responsibility for compensation on currency derivatives sales.



The issue centers on the currency-linked financial derivatives options  called knock-in-knock-out (KIKO)  that commercial and state-run lenders sold to about 700 export-driven small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here mostly in 2007. The banks promoted the sales, saying the derivatives would help buyers hedge their foreign exchange risks.



But with the 2008 global financial crisis erupting, the investors suffered losses worth more than 3 trillion won ($2.51 billion) after purchasing the KIKO options. But the dispute surrounding the options has not been completely resolved even more than a decade later.



To put an end to the unceasing controversy, a consultative body  led by 10 banks involved in the dispute  is expected to be established no later than the end of this week. The banks will discuss how to compensate the 145 companies that have not been properly compensated by the banks.



KDB was also mired in the controversy by selling KIKO options worth 12.3 billion won to Ilsung Hisco, a manufacturer of oil and gas processing equipment. But as the Supreme Court ruled the KIKO option sales were not financial fraud, the lender is in a position to not join the consultation group, and not take any actions to compensate for any losses incurred from its KIKO sales.






From calling a rescue operator a pedo guy on Twitter, to smoking weed during one of the most-watched podcasts, and naming his child a seemingly random combination of characters, Elon Musk surely knows how to stay in the news. However, if there is one celebrity billionaire who is actually, at the face of it, seemingly working for the betterment of human lives, it is Elon Musk.

 Reuters

We have come to recognise him as that eccentric billionaire who has successfully privatised space travel and is making us rethink cars and personal automobiles, thanks to Tesla. Some of us, who have followed the man know him since his days at X.com or what came to be known as PayPal. What most of us don't know, is how he came to be the billionaire that he is.

 Reuters

Well, technically, we know how he earned his billions; what most of us don't know, is how exactly he earned his first billion dollars, the milestone that is the hardest to crack into. The thing is, once you have your first billion, it becomes relatively easy to expand your fortune - most billionaires have said so in a number of interviews. What one really needs to be careful about, is how they invest their money, and that they do not squander it away on pointless things. So how did Elon Musk manage to do it? Making the first billion for him was indeed difficult, as compared to the rest of his $54 Billion.

 Reuters

1. Starting Out With Odd Jobs

 Reddit/r/muskclan

Musk got his first paycheck for $500 when at the age of 10, he developed a computer game. When as a teen, he moved to Canada from South Africa, is where he really started working.

Before enrolling in college education, he worked as a lumberjack and would cut trees for a lumber company. During this time, he would also work a number of odd and hazardous jobs that would be paying high, like cleaning out the rooms where the logs were disinfected and cleaned, just because no one was willing to do it. Imagine a guy with degrees in Economics and Physics doing such odd jobs, today.

2. Establishing His First Company

 Reddit/r/muskclan

Borrowing some money from his dad, Elon and his brother Kimbal, during the Dot Com boom, started a company called Zip2, a company that provided real-time maps to media outlets. This was one of the first rudimentary GPS systems that was easily accessible for the common public.

This company was bought by Compaq for about $310 Million, of which, musk got about $22 Million. The brothers went on to open up X.com the world's first digital payment and online bank that allowed international transactions. X.com bought a software security company called Confinity, the real founders of PayPal. Soon, the venture was renamed as PayPal.

3. Selling PayPal

 Reddit/r/muskclan

Contrary to popular belief, Elon Musk did not become a billionaire when e-Bay bought PayPal. All Musk earned from that venture was $180 Million. E-Bay made that acquisition for $1.5 Billion, but because there were a lot of investors, and partners in X.com, Elon got just over 10-12 per cent of the deal.

4. Establishing SpaceX

 Reuters

With the proceeds he got from the sale of PayPal, Musk started his 3rd company, SpaceX or Space Exploration Technologies. Within 6 years, it was regularly getting contracts from NASA to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. During this time, NASA also outsourced the development of some major projects to SpaceX. This is the business venture that vastly contributed to Musk's personal wealth.

5. Establishing Tesla Incorporated

 Reuters

Musk was always interested in the physics of energy, and had even gotten into Stanford University's doctoral program before he started his first company. After establishing SpaceX, Musk founded Tesla. Although we know Tesla today as one of the most valuable automobile companies in the world, automotive is just one of the many aspects of the company.

There was a time when a majority of the company's cash flow came from providing plans and components for solar power plants and high volume electricity storages that were sustainable in nature. It was Tesla's energy division, which was earlier called SolarCity before it was acquired by him, that really earned Musk his first Billion.

 Reuters

Tesla won a number of government contracts, especially outside the USA regarding his energy storage solutions. We're talking about massive storage systems, ones that could power entire cities for days without end.

From here on out, Musk went completely bonkers - he founded The Boring Company, which shares, invested more into his Hyperloop project, and invested in his AI company.
The financial center on Yeouido, Seoul / gettyimagesbank



By Kim Bo-eun



Attention is growing over Hong Kong's possible replacement as a financial hub of Asia, after the city has become increasingly unstable following China's implementation of the national security law and the U.S. revoking of Hong Kong's special trading status.



Singapore is rising as an attractive alternative, with financial firms and capital already flocking to the city, but Japan has been eager to promote Tokyo. Korea, meanwhile, has mostly remained idle. Busan has been seeking to attract financial firms from Hong Kong, but foreign firms in Korea state that neither Busan nor Seoul has what it takes to become a financial hub.



The government began a drive to foster a financial hub here in the early 2000s, but both Seoul and Busan's competitiveness as financial centers have remained lackluster for clear reasons. In this year's Global Financial Centers Index published by the London-based think tank Z/Yen in March, Seoul ranked 33th out of 108 cities and Busan 51th.



The index assesses the cities based on business environment, human capital, infrastructure, financial sector development and reputation through surveys.



Foreign firms point out first that Korea offers no tax incentives. The corporate tax rate stands at 25 percent, which is higher than Japan's 23 percent or Singapore's 17 percent. The Moon Jae-in administration in 2018 raised the maximum corporate tax rate to 25 percent from 22 percent, at a time other economies lowered their rates.



The tax issue has been brought up countless times over the years, but the government's response has always been that it cannot discriminate against local businesses by providing preferential treatment to foreign entities present in the financial hub.



Foreign companies here also complain about the inaccessibility of clear information on regulations which is crucial to conducting operations here.



"The government offers no comprehensive set of translated regulations, which makes it difficult for foreign firms to learn about the rules that need to be followed," an official of a foreign financial firm said.



This issue is related to another element needed for attracting foreign firms  an English-speaking environment, which Hong Kong and Singapore have, but Korea does not.



Labor market rigidity and militant unions here are also a deterrent for foreign firms. One of the reasons Singapore is favored is based on its flexible labor market.



Foreign firms also face a certain level of anti-foreign sentiment, as they are annually criticized for "excessive" dividend payments. Korea has been referred to as "unwelcoming" and giving "unequal treatment" to foreign entities.



Finally, there is the North Korea risk. As long as South and North Korea remain divided, relations are unpredictable, which exposes Seoul to possible conflict with Pyongyang.



A high level of caution prevails in events such as missile launches by Pyongyang or even in cases such as the North's demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office in the city of Gaeseong last month.



"At the time North Korea made an artillery attack on the South's Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, foreign entities here were handing out emergency packages to employees and people were getting ready to leave," an official of a foreign bank said.



"While Koreans do not react to every move by the North, many foreigners here take such events extremely seriously."



The number of foreign firms here has remained more or less the same over the years, despite government efforts to attract more entities. Many have pulled out their operations due to regulatory barriers and the lack of incentives.


Miami, FL (33127)

Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 89F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 79F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Two International Finance Center, where Mirae Asset Daewoo operates its Hong Kong subsidiary, is seen in this file photo. / Courtesy of Mirae Asset Daewoo



By Park Jae-hyuk



The deepening political crisis in Hong Kong, following Beijing's passage of the national security law and Washington's elimination of the financial hub's special status, is raising concerns for Mirae Asset, which has used its affiliate in the city as a foothold for its global expansion since 2003.



Amid fears of a possible exodus of businesses and capital from the city, some market observers thought Mirae Asset may focus more on Singapore, another highly desirable market where the asset manager established a subsidiary back in 2012.



Sources close to the company, however, ruled out the possibility of a relocation scenario by stressing Mirae Asset will keep an eye on both Hong Kong and mainland China in terms of seeking investment opportunities.



A Mirae Asset official indicated his company will keep its operation in Hong Kong, saying, "We have a subsidiary in London, and we've maintained its operation despite Brexit."



Mirae Asset founder Park Hyeon-joo, whose official title is the chairman of Mirae Asset Daewoo Hong Kong, emphasized the importance of investments in mainland China, the world's most populous country, in a recent meeting with his company's former and incumbent PR executives.



Although investors worldwide have shifted their focus to the United States from China amid a deepening trade rivalry between the world's two biggest economies, some thought Park would be looking for more opportunities in China, which decided recently to spend $1.4 trillion over the next five years on technologies related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.



China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced in June it will spend more in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), telecommunications and big data. Beijing, Shanghai and more than a dozen municipal governments promised to spend a collective $93.5 billion in accordance with the central government's policy initiative with Premier Li Keqiang taking a greater role in the campaign.



"Given this project could be a great opportunity for Korean businesses, they should be prepared for it," Federation of Korean Industries Vice Chairman Kwon Tae-shin said in a recent seminar.



According to the Korea CXO Research Center, Mirae Asset has four subsidiaries in Hong Kong, including second-tier ones. They are Mirae Asset Global ETFs Holdings, Mirae Asset Global Investment, MAPS Capital Management and Mirae Asset Securities.



If Mirae Asset downsizes its Hong Kong operation following the Chinese government's move to tighten its grip over the city, Mirae's investments in China could become difficult, or impossible in the worst-case scenario.



After the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in Korea's southern county of Sangju in 2017, Lotte and other South Korean companies having larger operations in mainland China saw huge drops both in profits and sales due to Chinese economic retaliation. Major Korean exporters, such as Samsung, CJ and Hyosung, have remained cautious about exiting Hong Kong, saying they have yet to come up with specific plans for their operations there.



Concerns are still persisting over China's possible retaliation against Mirae Asset. The asset manager is involved in a costly legal feud with Dajia Insurance Group, formerly Anbang Insurance Group, regarding a disrupted $5.8 billion deal for 15 luxury hotels in the U.S.



But sources downplayed the significance of the concerns, saying the litigation would not affect Mirae Asset's business in China, because the key figures in this dispute, including the jailed Anbang founder Wu Xiaohui, are rivals of Chinese President Xi Jinping.


MIDDLETOWN  A 35-year-old city man has been arrested for his alleged part in a disputed bank account withdrawal last year.

Ramon Apellaniz of Scenic Drive is charged with felony first-degree larceny, first-degree attempt to commit larceny and two counts of second-degree forgery June 24.

According to the arrest warrant, an individual contacted police Oct. 18, 2019, saying Apellaniz had stolen $25,000 from her credit union account three days prior. The woman said Apellaniz gave her two checks July 24, 2019, totaling $50,000, for various expenses, which she deposited into two bank accounts, including her checking account, court documents show.

The woman said approximately $22,300 had been withdrawn from her account Oct. 16, leaving a negative balance in that amount, and four of her checks were missing, the warrant said.

The bank provided documentation of two checks used to withdraw money from the account, one of which was returned for insufficient funds, the report said. Police determined the womans signature was not the same as the one on the checks, they said.

They were made out to a Newington-based mental and behavioral health agency with which Apellaniz is associated, the warrant said.

Security camera footage from the bank showed a person matching Apellanizs description making a deposit Oct. 15, documents said. The woman identified the suspect from a photograph, according to authorities.

He is free on a $25,000 bond and is to appear in Superior Court Sept. 11.
A scene from "Kingdom" is shown in "Explore Korea," a video clip created jointly by the Korea Tourism Organization and Netflix to promote Korea. / Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization



By Jun Ji-hye



People around the world who have been going through a hard time due to the COVID-19 pandemic are invited to take a journey to explore the tradition and beauty of Korea through Netflix's offerings.



The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said it has joined hands with the U.S.-based online streaming service provider to create a promotional video, dubbed "Explore Korea," so people can experience Korea's charm at anytime and anywhere simply with devices connected to internet.



The state-run tourism agency hopes that the special content will give people a little pleasure at a time when a large portion of the global population have been unable to travel abroad due to lockdowns imposed to battle the novel coronavirus.



The approximately 90-second video clip, which was released through KTO's YouTube channel (youtube.com/visitkorea), Tuesday, is a collection of scenes from a variety of Netflix's original content including the zombie-thriller "Kingdom."



The KTO said the promotional video clip contains scenes featuring Korea's traditional costumes and palaces of the Joseon Kingdom, which were featured in "Kingdom."



Other content including the variety show "Busted!" that stars comedian Yoo Jae-suk, and "Love Alarm" based on the webtoon by Chon Kye-young feature the different sides of Korea to show the attractiveness of the country as a travel destination.



Viewers can also experience the culinary culture of Korea through scenes from "Chef's Table," "Street Food: Asia" and "Somebody Feed Phil."





A scene from "Chef's Table" is shown in "Explore Korea," a video clip created jointly by the Korea Tourism Organization and Netflix to promote Korea. / Courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization
MIDDLETOWN  A Rocky Hill resident faces charges in connection with a home invasion during which the victim allegedly was chased around her apartment by a suspect wielding a knife, according to police.

Euris Tejada, 27, of Courtney Drive, Rocky Hill, was arrested June 24 and charged with home invasion, risk of injury, first-degree burglary, second-degree threatening, disorderly conduct and second-degree criminal mischief.

Police were called to a home on Forest Glen Circle at 7:30 a.m. March 11 and were told by the victim that Tejada, who is known to her, had broken into the house, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. She said Tejada had a butcher knife, the warrant affidavit says.

At the house, police allegedly found the front door smashed in, debris nearby and a knife fitting the description the victim gave on the floor. A second knife was located on a kitchen table, the warrant affidavit says.

The victim told authorities Tajada knocked on the door, but she did not let him in because he was not expected, the affidavit says. She told police Tejada kicked down the front door, walked into the kitchen and grabbed a knife, then chased her into her bedroom, affidavit says.

The warrant says she told police she managed to escape after he threw the knife at her while she was running down the stairs.

The damage caused was estimated at between $500 and $1,000, according to the building manager, the warrant affidavit says.

Since there was a child in the house at the time, a report was made to the state Department of Children and Families, police said.

Hours later, Tejada talked to authorities on the phone, saying was trying to obtain an item he had left inside the apartment, according to the warrant. Tejada reported he heard people talking inside, and forced the door open thinking it was an intruder inside, the warrant says.

Tejada told police he ran from the house because the victim had gestured the knife toward him and told him to leave, the warrant says. .

Tejada is free on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 25, state online records show.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, right, talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Wednesday. / Joint press corps



US envoy has no intention to contact NK side during Seoul visit



By Kang Seung-woo



U.S. special representative to North Korea Stephen Biegun said Wednesday that the Trump administration "strongly" stands behind the government's efforts to promote inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation.



His remarks came amid lingering speculation that Washington is uncomfortable with Seoul's independent push for inter-Korean ties, as the U.S. government has repeatedly insisted that such cooperation proceed in lockstep with progress in denuclearizing North Korea.



Biegun, who doubles as the deputy secretary of state, also said contacting North Korean officials was not the purpose of his Seoul visit this time, brushing away speculations of any possible contact.



"The United States strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation and we believe this plays an important component in creating a more stable environment on the Korean peninsula," Biegun told reporters following a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon, the special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, at the foreign ministry in Seoul, where he also sat down with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Vice Minister Cho Sei-young earlier in the day.



"We look forward to fully supporting the government of Korea as it advances its goals with North Korea in inter-Korean cooperation," he added.



His remarks come as the Moon Jae-in administration is set to adopt a harder drive for independent inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation with the North, as evidenced by Friday's reshuffle of his diplomacy and national security teams, which he filled with so-called pro-North Korea figures including National Intelligence Service (NIS) director nominee Park Jie-won, a key figure in arranging the first inter-Korean summit in 2000.



Along with Park, Im Jong-seok, a former presidential chief of staff who has called for independent yet aggressive actions to improve stalled inter-Korean relations, and Suh Hoon, Moon's first NIS chief who was also involved in the 2000 inter-Korean summit, have also joined the teams as a special adviser for diplomatic and security affairs and director of the National Security Office, respectively.



Despite the U.S.' supportive stance toward inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, Biegun failed to go into details as he parried question about the South Korea-U.S. working group. The group, set up in November 2018 to coordinate issues regarding the North, has been under siege recently for allegedly hindering progress in inter-Korean ties due to its "excessively harsh" standards adopted on the North.



Going tit-for-tat



On Biegun's visit to Seoul, North Korea said it would not meet him during his three-day stay here  a stance announced twice, first by North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui last Saturday and then again by North Korean Foreign Ministry North America Department head Kwon Jong-gun, Tuesday, hours before the American envoy's arrival in Seoul.



Their statements came amid growing speculation that Biegun could have been carrying a message from U.S. President Donald Trump for the North, which may have included an offer to hold another summit ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.



In response, Biegun paid them back.



"Let me clarify one thing. I've seen some press comments of late that North Koreans are not prepared to meet with me on this visit. It's somewhat strange because we did not request a visit with North Koreans. Let me be absolutely clear. We did not request a visit. This visit is to meet with our close allies. With South Koreans we had excellent discussions," he told reporters.



"I also want to be very clear on one point. I do not take my direction from Vice Minister Choe Son-hui nor for that matter do I take it from Ambassador (John) Bolton. I take my guidance from the conclusion of several meetings that President Trump and Chairman Kim (Jong-un) had over the last two years."



However, Biegun left room for negotiations with the North, saying the U.S. looks forward to continuing its work for a peaceful outcome on the Korean Peninsula.



"When Chairman Kim appoints a counterpart to me, who is prepared and empowered to negotiate on these issues, they will find us ready at that very moment," he said.



"I believe this is very much possible."


The exterior of a building is illuminated showing messages to support the country, as measures to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue, in Seoul, July 7, 2020. Reuters



South Korea's daily new virus cases bounced back to above 60 on Wednesday as cluster infections in major cities and imported cases do not show signs of letting up.



The country added 63 cases, including 30 local infections, raising the total caseload to 13,244, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).



The latest tally marked a sharp rise from the 44 cases reported Tuesday. South Korea had reported more than 60 cases for three consecutive days through Sunday, before falling to 48 on Monday.



Imported cases have emerged as yet another stumbling block in the country's virus fight. The country has posted a double-digit number of imported cases for 13 consecutive days. The newly identified cases coming in from overseas mark the highest since April 5, when the reading was 40.



Of the new local infections, seven were reported in the southwestern city of Gwangju, with most traced to a Buddhist temple in the city.






Alexey Tsoi / Korea Times file

By Do Je-hae



An ethnic Korean was named the top health policymaker in Kazakhstan last month, according to the latest media reports.



Alexey Tsoi was appointed health minister on June 25 amid a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Central Asian nation. Some of the country's officials have been treated for the coronavirus, including Tsoi's predecessor Elzhan Birtanov. Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has also tested positive for the COVID-19.



The new health minister's immediate priority is to tackle the COVID-19 spread in the latter half of the year. As of Wednesday, 264 people have died from the coronavirus in Kazakhstan. "Our task is to stop the spread so as to see a reduction in the number of active cases," he said at a briefing earlier this month.



Tsoi has taken a number of roles related to health and medicine in Kazakhstan.



Before being appointed the health minister, he served in a number of important posts, including the first vice minister of health and social development and chief of the Medical Center of the Office of the President's Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.



He also served as the head physician of a municipal hospital in Astana and secretary general of the Eurasian Respiratory Society.



Born in 1977, he graduated with honors from the faculty of general medicine of the South Kazakhstan State Medical Academy. He studied in the graduate school of the Kazakh State Medical Academy from 2002 to 2004, and graduated from the law department of the Daneker Institute of International Law and International Business with a degree in law in 2007.



He is also known to be interested in health-related cooperation between Kazakhstan and Korea.


BUENA VISTA TWP, MI  A Saginaw man faces several charges, including two counts of gang member-felonies, after he was accused of pulling a gun on a teen for wearing the wrong color.

Prosecutors say that on June 15, 28-year-old Clarence D. Thomas was at a house on South 26th Street in Buena Vista Township. Also present was a 15-year-old wearing a certain color.

Thomas pulled a gun on the teen, though no shots were fired, prosecutors allege.

The teens mother was present and contacted police.

Prosecutors declined to say why Thomas is accused of being a gang member. Previous MLive articles, however, indicate Thomas has been associated with the East Side Gang in Saginaw.

Michigan Department of Corrections records indicate one of Thomas aliases is Eastside.

Authorities on July 2 issued a warrant for Thomas. The next day, Michigan State Police troopers arrested him.

Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens on Monday, July 6, arraigned Thomas on single counts of assault with intent to murder, felonious assault, and felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of gang member-felonies, and three counts of second-offense felony firearm.

Gang member-felonies is rarely charged and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Michigan law states a person is guilty of the felony if he or she is an associate or a member of a gang [and] commits a felony or attempts to commit a felony and the persons association or membership in the gang provides the motive, means, or opportunity to commit the felony.

Jurrens set Thomas bond at $500,000 cash-surety.

Thomas in July 2015 was charged with assault with intent to murder and firearm offenses after a 20-year-old man was shot in his thigh. At that time, Thomas had been on parole for about six months.

Thomas pleaded guilty to one felony firearm count and in May 2016 was sentenced to two years in prison, though he first had to finish serving time on his prior prison term. The MDOC paroled Thomas on May 8, 2019. A condition of his parole was that he not be a gang member or associate with gang members.

Thomas, also known as "Stank," is the older brother of Carl "Lil Carl" Howard, a 15-year-old serving at least 16 years in prison for 19 felonies, and Karon "Do Man" Thomas, who is one of three men serving prison time for the May 2013, pre-prom party quadruple shooting in which 17-year-old Tonquinisha "NeNe" McKinley was killed.

Prosecutors previously described all three brothers as affiliated with the East Side Gang.

Clarence Thomas next court date is pending.

Related:

Recent parolee charged in weekend East Side Saginaw shooting
SAGINAW, MI  The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with a fatal shooting five years ago in Saginaw.

The court on March 16 issued a 5-2 decision to overturn the conspiracy to commit murder conviction of Travis T. Sammons, now 30, and remanded the case to Saginaw County Circuit Court for a new trial. The ruling overturns a prior Michigan Court of Appeals decision that upheld Sammons conviction.

Sammons is serving a life term. On July 2, he was transferred from a Michigan Department of Corrections prison to the Saginaw County Jail to await future court proceedings.

Read the Supreme Courts complete opinion here.

Sammons case stems from the killing of 43-year-old Humberto Casas Jr. on the afternoon of June 21, 2015, at 1401 Cumberland St. on Saginaws southeast side. Casas suffered seven bullet wounds, including one to his head and three to his back.

A jury in January 2016 found Sammons and codefendant Dominique A. Ramsey Jr. guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The jury found both men not guilty of first-degree murder and various firearms offenses.

Testimony in the trial included that of a 17-year-old who denied he identified Sammons to police as Casas killer and of Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. David Rivard, who told the jury the teen did identify Sammons at the Saginaw Police Department about four hours after Casas death.

The teen provided descriptions of the shooter and the driver of a silver Jeep that was involved in the homicide, police said. Police about 10 minutes after the homicide stopped a silver Jeep on Dixie Highway in Bridgeport Township, and Ramsey was driving the vehicle with Sammons as a passenger. Surveillance footage from numerous cameras showed a Jeep stop at a house on Baldwin in Buena Vista Township before the traffic stop and showed people getting in and out of the vehicle.

After the jurys verdicts came down, both defendants filed motions for Saginaw County Circuit Judge Darnell Jackson to issue directed not-guilty verdicts. Jackson in March 2016 granted the request in Ramseys case, but denied it in Sammons'. Jackson that same month sentenced Sammons to life in prison.

Sammons appealed this and a Court of Appeals upheld his conviction, prompting him to appeal it further to the state Supreme Court.

The Supreme Courts ruling states, in part, that police had arrested Sammons and Ramsey minutes after the shooting. Several hours later, the teen witness was present at police headquarters and was shown the two suspects in whats described as a showup identification organized by Rivard.

According to (the teen), he could identify neither man as having been involved in the shooting, while Rivard claimed that (he) identified defendant as the shooter but did not identify Ramsey, the order states. No one witnessed the conversation between (the teen) and Rivard, the conversation was not recorded in any way, and (the teen) did not sign any kind of statement or report indicating that he had made an identification. At the preliminary examination, (the teen) repeatedly denied having identified the shooter.

The Supreme Court found this showup method was unnecessary, unreliable, and suggestive, as it indicated to the teen witness that police already suspected Sammons.

The suggestiveness was unnecessary because there was no reason, except perhaps police convenience, to use a suggestive procedure, and the showup was not reliable, the order continues. This error was not harmless because the prosecutions case was significantly less persuasive without the showup.

The Supreme Court further ordered any evidence gleaned from the showup is not admissible in Sammons new trial.

In a dissenting opinion, two justices stated the teens identification of Sammons retained strong reliability rather than a substantial likelihood of misidentification. The two justices also said Judge Jackson had properly admitted Rivards testimony regarding the identification.

Regarding Ramsey, a state Court of Appeals in April 2018 overturned Jacksons directed not-guilty verdict and reinstated Ramseys conviction. This was also subsequently appealed and Ramsey, now 30, remains in custody at the Saginaw County Jail, with his next court date pending.

Related:

Court of Appeals reinstates man's 2016 murder conviction

Jury: Men not guilty of murder but guilty of conspiracy in Casas homicide

Teen again denies identification of shooter in Humberto Casas homicide
MADISON HEIGHTS, MI  Groundwater cleanup will begin next month at a former plating company where the remains of a hazardous industrial chemical hoard oozed through a highway embankment last year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) announced plans last week to inject a chemical barrier into the groundwater at the former Electro-Plating Services building in the metro Detroit suburb of Madison Heights.

The treatment chemicals, called reagents, are expected to degrade a toxic mixture of hexavalent chromium, trichloroethylene, cyanide and per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) that are polluting groundwater under the notorious industrial site.

The treatment is not a final remedy and is only expected to last a few years. It replaces sump pumps that began drawing polluted groundwater from under the property after the toxic ooze began disrupting I-696 highway traffic in December.

The EPA estimates the groundwater cleanup to cost about $1.8 million.

This is not removal. This is treating underground, said Jill Greenberg, spokesperson for EGLE. This is taking us to the next phase where we begin to look at the final cleanup process.

Greenberg said the building at 945 East 10 Mile Road must be demolished before major soil removal and long-term cleanup can begin. Owner Gary Sayers is fighting that in Oakland County Circuit Court, although his property has been condemned and declared a public nuisance.

The state legislature approved $600,000 this spring to help cover demolition costs.

Sayers, of Bloomfield Hills, was sentenced to a year in federal prison last fall after pleading guilty to illegal storage of hazardous waste. He was released to home confinement in June amid efforts to reduce the federal prison population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sayers is also fighting a $1.4 million restitution order for clean up at the site, which began drawing attention from regulators years before ooze reached the highway.

Michigan regulators shut down Electro-Plating Services in 2016 after two decades of compliance issues. In 2017, the EPA removed large volumes of chemical waste from the ramshackle building that was stored in leaky barrels and pooling in an open basement pit. The site was reviewed for potential listing on EPAs Superfund list but was not included at the time because the underlying groundwater is not used for drinking.

Leftover pollutants prompted a partial highway closure and new scrutiny last December, when green slime began oozing from the shoulder of I-696 near the factory.

Greenberg said an exit ramp remains closed by site work.

Groundwater testing in some spots has found hexavalent chromium at more than 39,000 times the states allowable level for contaminated groundwater that enters a surface water body, according to EPA summaries.

More than 262,830 gallons of polluted groundwater have been removed by sump pumps, but Greenberg said those are expensive and labor-intensive to operate.

The EPA also plans to re-line corroded wastewater and stormwater pipes around the facility. The agency plans to return site control back to the state this winter.

Related: EGLE vows to be more aggressive with polluters after green ooze spill

EGLE is also investigating contamination at two other properties owned by Sayers.

Groundwater monitoring wells have been installed around a house in the Sanilac County village of Deckerville which Greenberg described as another environmental hoarding situation. Thus far, test results havent found major issues there, she said.

Greenberg said Sayers is not cooperating with EGLEs attempts to investigate contamination at a Detroit property at 5900 Commonwealth Street, where Sayers stored vehicles, machinery and other hazardous materials.

His attorney has not returned phone calls for months, she said. We cant get onto that property without permission.

A message left with Sayers attorney, James Sullivan, was not immediately returned on Tuesday.
Michigan Treasurer Rachael Eubanks on Wednesday announced two new grant programs offering a total of $300 million in hazard pay to first responders for working during the coronavirus pandemic.

The First Responder Hazard Pay Premiums and the Public Safety and Public Health Pay Roll Reimbursement programs are aimed at helping first responders receive premium hazard pay and reimbursing local governments for payroll costs incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a July 8 state news release.

The money comes from federal coronavirus relief funds appropriated by the state July 1.

Our first responders and those public employees on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic are performing a critical public service for all Michiganders, Eubanks said. Supporting our first responders with funding is vital to keep Michigan safe. These dollars will also help our communities receive some budget relief.

Local units of government can now apply for funding from either program.

The First Responders Hazard Pay Premiums Program has $100 million to help fund any additional compensation to first responders. Eligible employees must have done work involving physical hardship during the pandemic.

No single applicant can receive more than $5 million in funding, the state says. Cities, villages, townships, counties, public airport operators and certain ambulance operators can be given $1,000 per eligible employee. Applicants are funded on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the press release.

The Public Safety and Public Health Payroll Reimbursement Program makes available $200 million to reimburse cities, villages, townships and counties for eligible public safety and public health payroll expenditures incurred from April 2020 to July 2020.

Cities, villages, townships, and counties can participate in the program if they have eligible public safety and public health payroll expenditures. This program could have two application rounds.

The first application round will be available for reimbursement of April and May 2020 eligible payroll expenditures. If funding is available after the first application round is completed, a second application round will be available for reimbursement of the June and July 2020 eligible payroll expenditures.

Applications and more information on both programs can be found here.

COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while inside enclosed, public spaces.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

Read more on MLive:

Michigan sees largest one-day coronavirus case increase in 7 weeks

Michigans crackdown on bars has a major flaw that makes it nearly impossible to enforce

Free COVID-19 testing available at Flint church
Members of Michigans Legislative Black Caucus called to ban law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition technology to identify suspects as part of wide-ranging recommendations to reform police operations.

The use of facial recognition technology in law enforcement cases recently resulted in the erroneous arrest of a Farmington Hills man, and critics say the technology misidentifies people of color and impedes on privacy rights. The technology is still used in the city of Detroit, where Police Chief James Craig has defended its use.

This is a perfect example of what we mean by defunding the police, in its current form, Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, D-Detroit, said during a virtual press conference Wednesday. Its a waste of money...Rates of incarceration are already disproportionate. Lets abolish it.

The suggestion was made as part of a series of recommendations to reform police operations in Michigan led by state Reps. Tenisha Yancey, D-Harper Woods, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, D-Detroit, Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, and Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing.

Carter, a former law enforcement officer, said he considers facial recognition a tool for law enforcement, but not one that should be used until we clear all the bugs out of this system.

Especially in this climate right now, I think that the appetite for facial recognition in the city of Detroit is not that great, he said.

Related: Police killing of teen 40 years ago was Flints own George Floyd moment

Throughout Michigan and across the U.S., protests against police brutality and how law enforcement interacts with people of color have continued since late May, sparked by the death of George Floyd - who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes.

Many of the proposals put forward by Michigan lawmakers Wednesday are comparable to ideas endorsed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmers administration and Attorney General Dana Nessel, including requiring independent investigations where use of force by a police officer results in injury or death.

Other concepts included in the plan include creating a public registry for police misconduct, eliminating immunity for officers who use excessive force, creating public databases of police stops by race, sending crisis intervention teams to the scene for people in need of additional assistance and classifying false 911 calls as a hate crime.

We are tired of being tired - tired of pointlessly losing the lives of our brothers and sisters, Yancey said.

Carter also said hes pushing for more guidelines around what constitutes acceptable use of force and supports banning chokeholds, prohibiting no-knock warrants and preventing law enforcement agencies from using pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protests.

Its unclear where the proposals will land in the Republican-led Michigan Legislature. In the Senate, a bill requiring mandatory bias training for police passed unanimously and is now before the House for further consideration.

In a June 23 interview with MLive, House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, said his current priority is to listen and to find ways that we can ensure the laws of our state are being followed and enforced equally.

Im always open to the conversation on additional education and ensuring that our police officers have the tools and the education they need to be successful, he said. I think we should be rewarding the good police officers in our community while also ensuring that were rooting out the bad actors.

Gay-Dagnogo said Chatfield has met with members of the Legislative Black Caucus and committed to finding some common ground on police reform, adding, were looking forward to keeping him at his word.

Related coverage:

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel wants to take retirement benefits from bad cops, other possible reforms

Whitmer supports banning chokeholds, wants more accountability for Michigan law enforcement

Michigan police brutality protests have cooled, but Detroits recent flare-up points to fragile calm
The company behind Michigans liquor shortage last year will pay a $3 million fine and be subject to an audit under a settlement reached with state regulators, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Wednesday.

Michigan liquor stores and restaurants had trouble securing liquor last year when the states largest distributor, Republic National Distributing Company, ran into issues with a new warehouse. The result was products showing up as being out of stock and deliveries being delayed during the holiday season, when demand for liquor increases.

I appreciate the work of my assistant attorneys general and the Michigan Liquor Control Commission in reaching this significant settlement, which should serve as a strong reminder of accountability in the states liquor inventory and delivery system, Nessel said. The State will not tolerate vendor mismanagement that results in financial hardship which impacts the livelihood of liquor retailers across Michigan.

Nessels office initially issued an 88-count complaint with fines totaling $26,000 but said at the time there would be other fines and fees as well.

In a settlement a press release from the Attorney Generals office called historic and unprecedented, RNDC acknowledged all 88 violations of the Michigan Liquor Control Code. The violations included failing to deliver liquor orders, failing to maintain an adequate physical plant, and failure to provide records to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

RNDC is also placed on probation for a year, must submit monthly reports to the commission and is subject to an independent audit.

Distributors must abide by the rules or be subject to a fine, said Michigan Liquor Control Commission Chair Pat Gagliardi.

Michigan has a three-tier liquor system: manufacturers are the first tier. They produce liquor and send it to the second tier, which is the state of Michigan acting as a wholesaler. The state has privatized part of its wholesaler duties to authorized distribution agents, which deliver liquor to the bars and liquor stores, retailers that comprise the third tier.

Declines in liquor sales also decrease state revenue generated from the states role as a wholesaler.

RNDC is the largest authorized distribution agent in the state and distributes close to two-thirds of the states spirits. In a statement, Joe Gigliotti, RNDCs Regional President of Control States, said the company had remedied issues at its new warehouse and accepted the fines.

We are glad to have this matter behind us, Gigliotti said. We have apologized for the short-term difficulties that startup problems caused our customers and the state. But we also know RNDC is providing even better service today thanks to our investment in Michigan, and we plan to be an exemplary partner with the state for years to come.

Note: This story has been updated with comment from RNDC.

Related stories:

Inside the key decision that helped end Michigans liquor shortage

How problems at just one company can cause a liquor shortage in all of Michigan

Michigan liquor shortage blamed on distributor issues

Distributor behind Michigans liquor shortage could face over $26k in fines
Police officers wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus stand guard in downtown Seoul, July 7, 2020. AP



A Japanese national visiting South Korea's southern port city of Busan is facing a police investigation for failing to comply with the government's mandatory self-isolation rules aimed at containing the new coronavirus, authorities here said Wednesday.



Busan's health authorities said they have reported the Japanese, identified only as a man in his 50s, to the local police for leaving his designated self-isolation accommodation three times without permission after entering South Korea on Friday.



The man arrived in Busan by train on the afternoon of Friday from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, before being tested for the coronavirus at Busan Station. The test produced a negative result on Sunday, but he was ordered to self-isolate at his place of accommodation for two weeks under Seoul's anti-COVID-19 quarantine rules.



The Japanese national is accused of making his first unauthorized departure from his accommodation in Dongnae Ward in Busan to withdraw cash from an ATM on the very first day of his self-isolation.






The chair of the states Republican-led COVID-19 Oversight Committee on Wednesday questioned how state employees were able to collect full unemployment benefits, despite working just one fewer day each week.

A Democratic senator and a member of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers cabinet both fired back that state employees were just following the same procedure as every Michigan worker.

Rep. Matt Hall, R-Marshall, led the committee hearing the morning of July 8, bringing in Office of the State Employer Director Liza Estlund Olson for clarification on her departments handling of furloughs and layoffs during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hall asked Olson if it looked bad that state employees were able to make more money despite working one less day a week. Her office develops labor relations policy for state workers, which includes health care workers, corrections officers and administrative staff for the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA).

Olson responded that her office was aware state workers could make $600 a week in unemployment benefits with only one less day of work a week, but that the extra federal check was something any worker or business could take advantage of.

We did something a lot of other businesses are doing and workers are now taking those high-velocity dollars and pumping that back into the economy, she said.

Michigans Work Share program ensures that until the end of July 2020, workers with reduced hours and pay are eligible for the weekly $600 payments from the federal government, on top of their employer compensation and a percentage of state unemployment benefits.

Read more: State employees, others who are partially unemployed in Michigan can still collect extra $600 per week from feds

Olson pointed out that April layoffs of about 2,900 state employees saved the state $90 million. Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, argued that workers had no other choice but to get qualified for unemployment insurance.

(State employees) had to take action to save money, which was (allowed) by the CARES Act and President Trump, Hertel said, addressing Olson and her office. Its not that you decided to do this to grab money, but you decided to do it to save money.

Read more: Michigan to lay off 2,900 state employees amid budget woes caused by coronavirus outbreak

The $600 weekly federal unemployment payments come from the $2.2 trillion stimulus known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which President Donald Trump signed on March 27 after it passed the House and Senate.

In the wake of the UIA freezing unemployment claims while investigating for potential fraudulence, Hall asked Olson if state employees were able to cut to the front of the line in getting their claims resolved sooner.

We didnt do anything differently, she responded. People got their money when it was certified and went through the process.

More than 82% of Michigan workers who had their unemployment claims flagged as potentially fraudulent have had their account issues resolved, the state said July 6.

About 540,000 accounts were flagged in May and June, causing delays in payments, the UIA said. About 445,000 of those claimants have had the issue resolved. That leaves about 95,000 accounts in limbo  although some of them could be actually fraudulent.

Read more: More than 2 million Michigan workers have received unemployment benefits since pandemic began

Olson clarified that her office handles policy for those employed by UIA, but does not run the program. As a former director of the agency, she expressed confidence in current UIA Director Steve Grays handling of recent issues.

My role (right now) is to determine that those employees are safe when they go back to their offices, she said in response to offices reopening safely with regard to COVID-19.

Regarding health standards, Hall asked Olson if her office took guidance from the National Institute of Health, which she said it did not, though Whitmers office works closely with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Olson finished by classifying the hearing as a series of picking nits.

I know you guys want to pick nits, but I think we have done an admirable job at providing services to the people of Michigan, she said.

Read more from MLive:

An attack on working people: State rep rips proposal to require union workers to sign up annually to pay dues
Michigans most-traveled roadways currently dont require tolls - but the state now has the go-ahead to find out if adding toll roads might make sense in the state.

Legislation sponsored by Republican Sen. John Bizon of Battle Creek and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Wednesday afternoon tasks the Michigan Department of Transportation with hiring an outside firm to conduct a tolling feasibility study and strategic implementation plan.

The study would analyze how much money tolls could bring in on major roadways, incorporating factors like possible traffic diversions, how many people are using the roads and whos using them the most.

The legislation gives the department 18 months to compile and present the studys findings, and lawmakers wouldnt be obligated to act on the studys findings.

Currently, 34 states implement some form of tolling on roads, bridges or tunnels.

One big hurdle for toll roads in Michigan is the federal government generally prohibits states from tolling existing lanes of the interstate highway system, although there are some exceptions to that rule.

If Michigan were to seriously pursue tolling, potential options include seeking federal approval to add new lanes on existing roads funded by tolls or participating in a federal tolling pilot program.

Lawmakers who supported the study say it doesnt require any commitment from the state to go through with tolling, but rather shows whether its possible.

To me, this is a question not about if we should, but if we can, state Sen. Tom Barrett, chair of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, previously told MLive. It would simply allow us to explore the option of if we can, so that we can have the policy discussion about if we should, and if we should what that should look like.

Critics have said a tolling study could be merely the first step towards implementing tolls in Michigan, and question whether a study could overproject possible revenues and underestimate the impacts traffic diversion could have on local communities if people go out of their way to avoid toll routes.

The idea was originally introduced as part of a menu of policy proposals lawmakers suggest could make a dent in Michigans road funding needs, pegged by experts at billions of dollars per year. Last year, Whitmer recommended a 45-cent gas tax hike implemented over time as a means to boost funding for roads, although that idea was soundly rejected by Republicans.

Related:

Would toll roads work in Michigan? State Senate approves study to find out

Proposed study would look at whether toll roads make sense in Michigan

Should Michigan have toll roads? Some senators want study on whether they would work

8 ideas being floated to fix Michigan roads

Michigan counties could have local fuel taxes, registration fees under House bills
LANSING, MI  Fire departments would have 48 hours to tell state regulators about the use of a chemical-based firefighting foam type thats caused drinking water contamination around Michigan under legislation signed into law.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bills 4389 and 4390 on Wednesday, July 8. The bills regulate the use and reporting of aqueous film forming foam, or AFFF, made with forever chemicals known as PFAS.

Firefighters would also get more training for handling PFAS-based foams under the bills, which were sponsored by Reps. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, and Jeff Yaroch, R-Richmond.

The bills, introduced last March, are the first substantial state legislation passed to address PFAS contamination beyond funding for emergency response and cleanup.

By signing the bills, we ensure any time a fire department uses firefighting foam that contains PFAS, the state is notified and the foam can be disposed of, so these forever chemicals dont seep into our drinking water and needlessly harm Michiganders, Whitmer said.

Yaroch, a former firefighter from Macomb County, said the health risks of PFAS exposure werent previously well understood within the fire service.

The chemicals are considered harmful at the low parts-per-trillion (ppt) level in the bodies of people exposed and can increase the risk of kidney and testicular cancer, suppress the bodys immune system response and cause pregnancy complications and low birth weight.

The training in the past was more on the mechanism for delivering the foam and not as much on the health risks, Yaroch said. When I was in the fire department, PFAS was not known to have all these health risks.

Bill 4389 requires municipal or airport fire chiefs to file a written report about a foam-use incident to the Michigan pollution emergency alert system within 48 hours. It also formalizes a state program started last year to collect Class B AFFF foam, which has resulted in more than 30,000 gallons being shipped to a hazardous waste landfill for disposal.

Bill 4390 amends the Firefighters Training Council Act to prohibit most PFAS-based foam in training and require that firefighters become certified before using the foam.

A third bill, 4391, was not signed Wednesday because an amendment added during Senate passage wasnt approved by the House before summer session ended last month.

That bill would amend the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act and require the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to promulgate state rules regarding a firefighters use of foam concentrate.

Yaroch is hopeful the House will adopt the amendment and send the bill on to Whitmer.

I dont think there are major changes that would cause a legislator to change their mind from what they voted the first time, he said.

Michigan environmental groups have urged Whitmer to sign the foam bills, but did not issue typical laudatory statements in response to her doing on Wednesday.

The new laws do not address PFAS pollution caused by industrial or commercial sources, which account for a majority of the contamination sites in Michigan.

Nonetheless, foam used for training and emergency response has resulted in many examples of ground and surface water pollution in Michigan and elsewhere; particularly at military bases and airports where federal rules have required AFFF use.

The resulting chemical contamination has poisoned drinking water supplies and caused fish consumption advisories. Research has found elevated fluorochemical levels in the blood of firefighters who have used foams or personal protection gear coated in PFAS chemicals.

Much foam-based contamination is from legacy releases, but recent incident have caused problems. A 2016 tanker truck fire response near Niles resulted in a groundwater plume. In 2014, a Battle Creek firefighter accidentally released more than 1,500 gallons of foam and water mixture at the Michigan National Guard base at W.K. Kellogg Airport.

Some fire departments have switched to fluorine-free foams. The Ann Arbor fire department switched last year and said the new foam works well, but more must be used.

Related: Semi crash over Huron River prompts call for new, PFAS-free foam

At the national level, a defense bill passed in December requires the military to phase out PFAS-laden foam use starting in 2024 and stop most training with it.

The chemicals can travel long distances once they enter the groundwater. PFAS are nicknamed forever chemicals for their ability to resist degradation over time. In addition to foam, the chemicals are used globally in thousands of ways to make products resistant to grease, moisture and heat.

Michigan is also in the final stages of establishing enforceable standards for PFAS chemicals in public drinking water supplies. New limits are awaiting review by the legislatures Joint Committee on Legislative Rules, which received drafts in February from an oversight board. The committee has 15 quorum session days to act, a time window thats expected to end this month.

The standards would also establish lower toxic site cleanup standards for two individual PFAS compounds, PFOS and PFOA, that would apply to locations where foam use has contaminated groundwater supplies. There are now 94 sites around Michigan where one of those compounds exceeds the current state standard of 70-ppt in groundwater.

Related stories:

Michigan collects 30k gallons of toxic PFAS firefighting foam

Air Force plans new cleanup at Wurtsmith base

3M to pay $55M in Michigan PFAS settlement

Advocates petition EPA to regulate PFAS as hazardous waste
This article has been updated with comments from Rep. James Lower.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed a handful of bills Wednesday afternoon, including unanimously-supported legislation prohibiting disciplinary action against non-criminal whistleblowers within state government.

Senate Bill 686, sponsored by Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, would have banned a state department, senate or house supervisor from punishing state employees for communicating with certain individuals in the legislative branch.

In a statement defending her decision, Whitmer said the bill aimed to score political points and violates the Michigan Constitution.

Whether and how to discipline employees is a core executive power entrusted in part to the Governor and in part to the Michigan Civil Service Commission, she said. Because this legislation violates the constitutional separation of powers... I am vetoing it.

Barrett pointed out that the bill was unanimously approved in the legislature June 24.

Its highly disappointing, he said. The legislature passed unanimously. We really worked in a bipartisan fashion to furnish this bill and to protect state employees that bring forth credible information for us to review in the legislature... We have to be willing to protect people that come forward to their legislature.

Whitmer pointed out that she signed an executive order in January 2019 that offered whistleblower protections to state employees reporting health, safety, or welfare issues within their agencies. While protections for reporting criminal behavior within agencies are already on the books, Barrett argued the legislation would have protected other concerns brought forward.

This would have protected state employees bringing forward any other concerns to the legislature to consider, he said.

Whitmer also vetoed Senate bills that called for delays in collections of municipal taxes, including from business sales and individual income. The COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts were commendable, Whitmer said, but would hit local governments too hard.

Local governments share in sales, incomes and use taxes, and allowing for a broad deferment of tax remittances would push many local budgets over the precipice into fiscal crisis, she said.

A message was left with Sen. Kevin Daley, R-Lum, co-sponsor of Senate Bill 935, which would have delayed use tax collection.

Whitmer touted programs that offered in excess of $120 million in emergency funding for small businesses in her statement. For more information on those programs, visit michiganbusiness.org.

Communities including Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids and Muskegon, which collect local income taxes, are projecting reductions in the tens of millions of dollars in that category, local government leaders said in April. Meanwhile, Michigan had a 21.2% unemployment rate in May, according to the most recently available data from the state. The nationwide unemployment rate dropped from 13.3% in May to 11.1% in June.

Read more: Michigan cities face big financial losses due to coronavirus

Whitmer also vetoed two House bills delaying property taxes from the summer of 2020 to May 2021. House Bills 5761 and 5810, sponsored by Rep. James Lower, R-Cedar Lake, would have deferred property taxes and created a property tax advance payment program for each county in the state that levied summer 2020 property taxes on property within the county.

The legislation wouldve created more problems that it solved, particularly by straining the credit of local governments, Whitmer said.

By piling hundreds of millions in uncollected taxes onto county budgets, this legislation would jeopardize county treasure borrowing, she said. Even if investors could tolerate the additional risk, the cost of borrowing would rise, leaving counties with unfunded liabilities and potential layoffs.

Lower blasted Whitmer for not working with the legislative branch, including Democrats who supported his bills.

The governor shut down businesses, caused many people to be laid off, and still has not fixed her broken unemployment system  but she wont help those struggling to pay their property taxes, Lower said in a statement. It doesnt make sense, especially as shes threatening to shut down our economy again. Its completely unfair to struggling Michigan residents and job providers.

Whitmer also approved legislation that included an endorsement for the Michigan Department of Transportation to study toll roads for statewide use and initiatives for the state to ensure cleanup of PFAS in firefighting foam.

Read more: MDOT to study toll roads for Michigan
Ghanas fast-rising and top-notch highlife band, Santrofi, makes history as the first Ghanaian band/artist to have a debut album topping the World Music Charts Europe for the month of July 2020.

This brand highlife widget is definitely going places soon  You all should watch out.

The World Music Charts Europe (WMCE) is a platform that tabulates a once-a-month chart compiled from the reports of world music radio specialists and DJs from twenty plus European countries. It was founded in May 1991 by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

WMCE is undoubtedly the most comprehensive and reliable way of discovering what is new and exciting in the world music scene. As one of the worlds distinguished music grading charts, World Music Charts Europe only features high-quality album by a band or an artiste.

Since the announcement on July 1, the new super-band has taken to social media to celebrate the achievement to the joy of their growing fans.

Santrofi is a new highlife powerhouse encompassing outstanding young musicians based in Accra. As one of Ghanas standout bands in recent years, Santrofis international reputation has phenomenally been growing across the globe.

The bands exploits have seen them playing at many of Europes leading music festivals including Roskilde Festival in Denmark, WOMAD Festival in the United Kingdom, Fusion Festival in Germany, Roots in Amsterdam, just to mention a few. The energetic young musicians have played with Ghanaian music heavyweights such as Osibisa, Pat Thomas, Ebo Taylor, Gyedu Blay Ambolley; and equally shared international stages with Ziggy Marley, Cardi B, Travis Scot, Chance the Rapper, Macy Gray, among other worlds great acts.

Their debut album, Alewa released in April 2020 through German label Outhere Records is an excellent freshener with a mission to revive Ghanas golden era of highlife music. Alewa album serves a sumptuous music with a culturally rich content, beautiful up-tempo, rippling guitars, and groovy percussions skilfully executed with the requisite Ghanaian traditional rhythms, driving tight horns and gifted silky vocals.

Alewa is street slang for a popularly known local black-and-white striped sweet  a metaphorical weapon for the band as symbol of unity in diversity. And that trackas exemplified by the beautiful instrumentationweaves in racism. Alewa advises us to recognize, accept, tolerate and embrace racial diversity to build a world with love and unity. Other standout tracks are Africa which starts with a snatch of a speech by Kwame Nkrumah, Ghanas first President, publicising his United States of Africa ideology. The song promotes his pan-Africanism. The screeches of market traders kick off Adwuma, which celebrates hard work and enterprise and discourages envy. Kwabena Amoah admonishes jealousy; Konongo Kaya advises us to avoid the company of the greedy and conniving. The jaunty Odo Maba, sees its narrator trying to win back the affections of a lover he has spurned; Cocoase is a song from under the cocoa tree begging a paramour to return, opening with more call-and-response singing and then sweeping up into energetic Sikyi Highlife. The last track, Mobo with a successful fusion of folk and blues encourages us to give praise and thanks to God.

The writer is with the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi.

He is a Creative Arts Director, Playwright & Critic.

Email: [email protected]

Source: Emmanuel Jewel Peprah Mensah
Kenya on Tuesday declared that its school year was considered lost because of the coronavirus pandemic, and primary and secondary pupils would return to class next January.

The school year in the East African country runs from January to November, when it climaxes with end-of-term exams.

But Education Minister George Magoha said in a statement that the curve of COVID-19 infections was expected to flatten only by December.

As a result, no primary and secondary school examinations will be held and "the 2020 school calendar year will be considered lost due to COVID-19 restrictions", he said.

Kenya closed schools on March 15 when it had only three confirmed cases, among a raft of measures taken that month including a nighttime curfew to combat the spread of the virus.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday announced a "phased reopening" of the country, with international flights resuming on August 1 and the lifting of internal travel restrictions that had cordoned off the capital for four months. The 9pm to 4am curfew will remain in place.

However cases are surging, with over 8,000 reported infections and 164 deaths.

"Faced with this uncertain environment, the stakeholders have resolved to reopen all basic education learning institutions in January 2021," said Magoha.

"This is based on the assumption that the infection curve will have flattened by December, 2020."

The decisions "will apply to all children," the statement said, specifying that this included schools offering international curriculum.

Initially Kenya had planned to reopen schools in September for those in their final years of primary and secondary school to allow them to take their exams, however the mounting infection rate resulted in the shelving of this plan, the statement said.

The re-opening of universities will take place on a "case-by-case" basis, and the institutions were encouraged to consider phased re-opening and continue holding virtual classes and graduation ceremonies.
A flaw in the internal management system of Mauritania's central bank enabled the embezzlement of 935,000 which continued for more than a month, according to the country's monetary authorities. The matter has been brought to the justice department and the suspects have been arrested.

The central bank's management filed a complaint about embezzlement, breach of trust and falsification of bank documents, according to Salem Mejbour, RFI's correspondent in Nouakchott.

Mauritania's authorities are pursuing an investigation led by the service responsible for economic and financial crimes.

Arrests have already taken place with several employees of the bank as well as those outside the bank having been implicated in the fraud.

MP Boidiel Ould Houmeid is urging the creation of a parliamentary inquiry to determine exactly who is responsible for the lack in oversight, describing it as a scandal.

Ould Houmeid, a former finance minister, said the embezzlement discredits Mauritania's central bank, an institution that had previously been lauded for its exemplary practices.

Mauritania's central bank was created in 1973 when the country left the CFA franc zone.
Under new regulations, police in Hong Kong have been granted unprecedented powers. Officers will be allowed to conduct warrantless searches at private properties, restrict the movement of suspects, freeze their assets, intercept communications and require internet service providers to remove information.

Hong Kong authorities have moved swiftly after Beijing issued the Hong Kong National Security Law in 1 July.

On Monday night, the government published details of Article 43 of the law in its official gazette after the first meeting of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, chaired by Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

The committee is attended by Beijing's top representative, Luo Huining, who was appointed as Hong Kong's National Security Advisor last week.

The seven elements of Article 43 tell Hong Kong people in clear terms how their freedoms are now restricted. Based on regulations reminiscent of China's own national security laws, they are now official policy. The wording is slightly different from the original mainland text, and existing Hong Kong regulations have been included.

1. Search of places of evidence: police can be authorised to enter premises without a warrant under urgent (and non-specified) situations to search for evidence.

2. Restriction of movement of people under investigation: police can apply for a warrant to demand suspects to surrender their travel documents, preventing them from leaving Hong Kong.

3. Freezing of property: the secretary for security can authorise the freezing of assets of people suspected of endangering national security if they have reasonable grounds.

4. Removal of Messages endangering national security: police will be able to act on online content when they have reasonable grounds to suspect information endangers national security. In practice, this may mean that a publisher or network service provider could be forced to remove the information.

Failure to do so could lead to a fine of HK$100,000 and one year in jail. In reaction, Facebook and its WhatsApp messenger service, as well as Twitter, video-conferencing app Zoom and the Russian-based chat-facility Telegram said they will temporarily refuse requests by Hong Kong authorities to hand over user information. Popular video app TikTok  a Chinese company  have said they will leave Hong Kong.

5. Requiring NGO's to provide data: police can now require international political organisations and entities based in Taiwan to hand over data on their activities in Hong Kong, along with personal data, sources of income and expenditure.

Failure to comply could result in a fine of HK$100,000 and six months in jail. Earlier on, Beijing sanctioned NGOs with US headquarters, such as Human Rights Watch, in retaliation for the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, sponsored by the US Congress in December 2019.

6. Eavesdropping: police may monitor phone or internet exchanges and carry out less intrusive covert surveillance. The authorities must ensure that any secret operations meet the criteria of proportionality and necessity, but the document does not give any specifications.

7. Demand random information: police can demand that those suspected of endangering national security should hand over any material that is found to be relevant to the investigation.

The law will have direct implications on how lawmakers, journalists and NGOs operate in Hong Kong.

Late Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke out against "Orwellian" moves to censor activists, schools and libraries since the law was enacted.

Until now, Hong Kong flourished because it allowed free thinking and free speech, under an independent rule of law. No more," Pompeo said.




The value of Japan's exports to South Korea sank to a near 11-year low in May due to the coronavirus pandemic and Tokyo's export controls, data showed Wednesday.







Japan shipped 329.3 billion yen (US$3 billion) worth of goods to its neighboring country in May, down 18 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and the Japan Tariff Association.







The value of Japan's exports to Seoul rose to 415 billion yen in February from 371.6 billion yen in January before remaining in the 400 billion-yen level in March and April.







Japan's food exports plunged 41.6 percent on-year in May, with shipments of raw materials and minerals also sinking about 49 percent and 70 percent, respectively.







"The May drop resulted from slacking South Korean demand for Japanese goods due to the coronavirus pandemic, Japan's export controls on key industrial parts and a subsequent boycott of Japanese goods here," a KITA researcher said.







In July last year, Tokyo slapped export controls on three chemicals vital to the South Korean chip industry in apparent retaliation against a Seoul court's ruling that ordered Japanese firms to compensate victims of their wartime forced labor.







Angered by Japan's move, South Korean consumers kicked off a boycott campaign against Japanese products, which dealt a harsh blow to cars and beer brands.







In May, Japan's exports to South Korea accounted for 7.9 percent of its overall overseas shipments, unchanged from the previous month.







The ratio sank as low as 5.8 percent in October following the export restrictions before recovering to 6.8 percent in January and 7 percent in March.







The data also showed the value of Japan's imports from South Korea tanked 27.3 percent on-year to 200.9 billion yen in May, the lowest level since April 2010. (Yonhap)


In the last few days, tens of thousands of people have, once again, taken to the streets of Sudan's major cities to demand freedom, peace and justice, the rallying cry for the protesters who ousted Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

The big difference is that this time they are marching against the civilian-military Sovereign Council , demanding a greater role for civilians in the country's transition towards democracy and faster reform.

A year ago the people of Sudan were heralding the fall of Bashir, the country's long-serving strongman. A mass uprising led by the Sudan Professional Association and Resistance Committees had eventually managed to precipitate the deposing of the president. A host of grievances fanned the protests. Among them were endemic corruption, a struggling economy, human rights violations, and a failed health system.

Why then have the protests returned to the street so soon after they vacated them in triumphant euphoria?

The answer lies in the fact that the balance of power in the transition period that follows the fall of a despot is always tricky. This was evident in Tunisia , Algeria and Egypt . When reformers are relatively weak and those determined to protect the status quo are strong, substantive change will be demonstrably lethargic and long-winded. It will sometimes be stalled, and even reversed in certain instances.

Entrenched status quo elites will be reluctant to change because this poses a threat to their interests.

Events in Sudan point to this tension.

What's been done

Following Bashir's ouster, a civilian-military sovereign council

headed by a civilian prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok , and made up of six civilians and five military officers, was instituted. Its immediate challenge was ensuring security and stability, negotiating peace with Darfur rebels, and repairing Sudan's battered economy.

So what is on its report card a year on?

For starters, the systematic jailing of opponents has stopped, and arbitrary arrests from the security bureau have largely ceased. Censorship and the muzzling of the press has all but stopped. And the public order law has been repealed . This law was notorious for giving police disproportionate powers of arrest and punishment including for moral and religious infractions.

In rebuilding institutional trust, the police chief and his deputy have also been fired , after protesters demanded more measures against officials linked to Bashir.

In addition, serious effort have been made to meet another core protest demand  the end to incessant conflicts in Sudan. Peace efforts have been pursued with the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front. These efforts produced a preliminary peace accord, including the drawing down of the UN peace keeping mission in Darfur.

Most recently, an anti-corruption body to trace ill-gotten wealth and provide accountability has been set up. The confiscation of almost $4 billion of assets from Bashir, his family and associates signals a move in the right direction.

In addition, the transitional government has actively sought to change Sudan's standing in the world by shedding its image as a pariah state. This was not of primary concern to the protest movement, which was focused more on issues of bread and butter. But the transitional government nevertheless has acted to mend fences in the hope that it will deliver dividends for the country.

To this end, it has actively lobbied the US government to remove it from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Washington is still considering this request. In the meantime it has removed the country from a black list of states endangering religious freedom. It has also lifted sanctions on 157 Sudanese firms.

And, for the first time in 23 years, the two countries have exchanged ambassadors.

For its part, Sudan has reduced the number of troops it has in Yemen by two thirds.

What's missing

But the expectations of last year's popular uprising have not been met. The reason for this is that substantive reforms have been slow.

One area of clear frustration has been the snail's pace at which civilian control is taking place. The civilian governance footprint on the country's body politic is not yet evident. Instead, the military elite continues to have de facto control and influence, sidelining the civilians and often pushing for greater compromises from civilian partners.

Examples of this include the fact that a legislative transitional council has yet to be installed. This would have provided a degree of counterweight to the military dominated sovereign council. Legislation is thus being done in an ad hoc manner.

In addition, civilian governors haven't been appointed to replace military ones in the various provinces, which would signal another move away from military governance.

The lack of urgency in bringing Bashir and his henchmen to trial is also frustrating people. It appears to be a marginal priority, and in some instances deliberately frustrating.

Nor have the country's economic woes been addressed. People still queue for three to six hours to buy bread, or fill their tanks at petrol stations. Electricity reliability is still sketchy, with power cuts the norm. Accessing domestic gas is also a problem.

The economy has been contracting and oil revenues have slumped due to falling oil prices and low production capacity. This has affected public expenditure and the investment needed to jumpstart the economic recovery.

COVID-19 has done even more damage.

What's holding back reforms

Sudan has competing power structures that are inhibiting coherent and far reaching reforms. In the one camp are the reformers, in the other those who wish to defend the status quo. Reformers are constantly having to negotiate and make strategic calculations about what changes can be made and how fast.

This game of political brinkmanship is beginning to take its toll.

Clearly the civilian half of the transitional government has struggled to assert or leverage its moral authority or popular legitimacy in the face of military intransigence.

But the prime minister Abdalla Hamdor remains popular . In seeking to placate the demonstrators, he recently admitted that the transitional authority had to correct the revolution's track. This was tacit acknowledgement that on his watch things have gone off the desired path.

But does he have the leverage to correct this diversion from the expectations of the street?

That answer might sadly be, not to a great extent.

For now, the reality that the protesters and civilian elite have to contend with is that after a long and destructive authoritarian legacy, change will not come easily. Nor can it be fast-tracked. Rather it is a product of patience, compromise  and above all perseverance.

David E Kiwuwa 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 David E Kiwuwa, Associate Professor of International Studies, University of Nottingham
Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe - Source: UI Directorate of Public Communication

Listen to article

Nigeria's medical world stood still for a moment when news of the death of Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe was received on June 15, 2020. He was only one month short of his 87th birthday.

One year ago we celebrated his 86th birthday. It was a special ceremony that was tagged hanging the stethoscope  the formal announcement of his retirement from clinical practice. This was the first such event in Nigeria. The occasion also marked 60 years of his qualification as a doctor and 50 years of his professorship.

Emeritus Professor Akinkugbe had a daunting resume . He was a distinguished and quintessential clinician. I was fascinated by his towering intellect and resounding achievements in various spheres of life as university administrator, teacher, researcher, public orator and mentor.

Professor Akinkugbe combined self-discipline, integrity, honesty, contentment and diligence with passion for excellence in his professional activities. He could be likened to a man with the Midas touch, and he undertook nothing without adorning it. He was very articulate and was aptly described by Dr Christopher Kolade, formerly Nigeria's High Commissioner to the UK and his former classmate, as an adroit communicator of ideas in English language.

He was a role model par excellence and was simple and approachable. He had an uncanny ability for selecting the best brains for training and for administrative positions.

I knew him as a guru in the field of hypertension and tertiary education reforms. He fervently believed that a combination of present and past experiences would make for a better future in health and education, as echoed in his famous saying:

The present should not be the enemy of the past, otherwise the future will suffer.

Contributions to medicine

Professor Akinkugbe made significant contributions in hypertension and renal medicine research. He led a landmark survey on the burden and risk factors of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. He was widely acclaimed as the authority on hypertension in African people.

He documented the rarer causes of hypertension in Ibadan and was the first to report the rarity of hypertensive retinopathy in Africans. His findings have stood the test of time.

He also carried out pioneering work on renal replacement therapy in Nigeria using peritoneal dialysis.

In a seminal article in the British Medical Journal in 1978, he defined the role of teaching hospitals in a developing country. He went on to make significant contributions to the revitalisation of the health sector through an initiative that equipped teaching hospitals.

His international recognition included serving on many World Health Organisation expert committees. These ranged from cardiovascular diseases and the development of health professions to the Global Advisory Committee on health research. He was a member of the advisory panel of the CIBA foundation in London and the University Grants Commission in Uganda.

He held positions on the councils of the International Society of Hypertension and World Heart Foundation . He held visiting professorial positions at prestigious universities such as Harvard (1974-1975), Oxford (1981-1982) and Cape Town (1997). In 1989, he received the Searle Distinguished Research Award for his contributions to hypertension in black populations. Earlier this year he received the Pioneer Award of the International Society of Nephrology.

How Professor Akinkugbe inspired me personally

I joined the academic staff in the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan in 1987 and got to know him well. Professor Akinkugbe was at that time the most senior academic staff member in the department. We all looked up to him and my mentor, Professor Benjamin Oluwakayode Osuntokun (1935-1995), for guidance and mentoring.

My calling is neurology. But I attended many continuing professional development programmes organised by Professor Akinkugbe in the department, and later at the Ibadan Hypertension Clinic as a resource person. He taught me discipline, simplicity and professionalism.

I emulated his lecturing style and always read through his published lectures before delivering any public lecture for historical content, ideas and anecdotes. Lastly, I was touched by his wise counsel whenever thorny issues arose. He was always at hand to proffer solutions that always worked.

His legacy

Professor Akinkugbe will be remembered as the doyen of medicine in Ibadan, eloquent teacher, clinician, and a great motivator who lived a fulfilled life. He also served humanity to the best of his ability and accomplished a lot.

His generosity is legendary. He bequeathed the textbook A Compendium of Clinical Medicine that he co-authored with Professor Ayodele Falase, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. And he donated books, journals, theses, research documents and memorabilia to the Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan.

Professor Akinkugbe will be missed as an excellent scholar who touched many lives positively, an illustrious teacher, clinician, university administrator, mentor and family man. And a man who toiled for reforms in Nigeria's health and tertiary education sectors.

Adesola Ogunniyi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Adesola Ogunniyi, Professor of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan , University of Ibadan
Feminists in France have expressed outrage over the appointment of a man accused of rape as Interior Minister, and a vocal opponent of a law against street harassment as Justice Minister. Senator Laurence Rossignol called the appointments a formidable slap at women.

Feminist militants protested outside the Ministry of the Interior on Tuesday as Gerald Darmanin officially took up his post as Interior Minister.

With raised fists they chanted "Darmanin resign" and held banners reading "you don't care about our complaints" in reference to the ongoing investigation into accusations of rape against him.

Videos on social media show the police moving in quickly to disperse the protestors.

Darmanin, 37, is accused by a woman of having raped her after she sought his help in having a criminal record expunged.

Last month, appeals judges in Paris ordered the reopening of an investigation into the claims which date from 2009.

As interior minister, Darmanin would, technically-speaking, now be in charge of his own investigation.

An Elysee source told AFP that the rape complaint made against him did not "pose an obstacle" to his nomination and that the case appeared to be "going in the right direction" for him.

Two ministers in the firing line

Many feminists took to social media to denounce Darminin's appointment using the hashtag #DarmaninDemission (Darmanin resign).

How can you imagine for a moment that the fight against gender-based and sexual violence advances with an interior rapist and a masculinist at justice? This government is a shame", tweeted Osez feminism!

Leading feminist activist Caroline de Haas ironised on how Emmanuel Macron had made gender equality a "grand cause" of his presidency.

"Darmanin in the Interior. Dupond-Moretti in Justice. Not really feeling the Grand Cause of this five-year term," she tweeted.

The appointment of Dupond-Moretti as Justice Minister also raised many an eyebrow among defenders of women's rights.

The maverick and controversial lawyer opposed the new law on street harassment and has been dismissive of the #MeToo movement.

He successfully defended George Tron, a former secretary of state and mayor, who was accused of rape and sexual assault.

Renowned for his skills in the courtroom, his sexist declarations are also legion: It is all well and good that women's voices are free, but you are preparing a curious way of life for future generations, he told the European Association against violence against women in the workplace (AVFT).

Some women regret no longer being cat-called, he announced in his critique of the new law against harassment in the street.

A slap in the face

Several MPs also voiced concerns about the two appointments.

It's a formidable slap in the face, from Macron, for all those who have mobilised against sexual and sexist violence, Socialist senator and former family minister Laurence Rossignol told France Info on Tuesday.

It's a huge problem," she added, "because at the very least these two men are not remotely committed to these subjects."

"At one time, when you were accused [] you left the government to defend yourself, David Cormand, Green MEP told CNews.

In this case, you get a promotion. It's a deplorable message to send out to all the victims [of sexual violence] who've filed complaints.
Kenyan police on Tuesday fired tear gas at protesters marching against police brutality in the capital Nairobi, arresting dozens for defying a ban on large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

The march took place to commemorate "Saba Saba" day, which means the seventh day of the seventh month.

It marks the day in 1990 that violent protests broke out in Kenya to demand free elections under the iron-fisted president Daniel arap Moi.

This year the march was aimed at denouncing police brutality, which has seen at least 15 people killed by police enforcing an evening curfew put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus, according to a toll compiled by the police oversight agency IPOA.

Activists had planned demonstrations in downtown Nairobi, as well as several informal settlements, however some were broken up with tear gas, while protest organisers were arrested in several locations.

Contingents of heavily-armed police officers were deployed to protest areas to disperse demonstrators.

"We have 57 in custody and I know the security operation is going on because these people have been retreating and coming back," a police officer involved in the operation told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Nairobi Police Chief Philip Ndolo said the protests were illegal.

"It is outlawed, it is not legal, and no permit has been given. As you are aware, no public gatherings are allowed at this time due to COVID-19 and we will not allow anyone to hold any meeting or march of any kind," he said.

"Those arrested will be charged for contravening the ministry of health regulations on COVID-19 by congregating."

People charged with flouting coronavirus restrictions in Kenya have in recent weeks been fined 5,000 shillings ($47, 41 euros) or given community service.

Protesters waved placards reading "Stop the Killings" and "Respect the Constitution" while singing freedom songs and waving the national flag.

The protests take place every July 7 -- this year's demonstrations targeted police brutality. By TONY KARUMBA (AFP)

"I am yet to know my offence after I was arrested," said Wilfred Olal who was coordinating the protests in the eastern suburb of Dandora.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused police officers of murder and using excess force, whippings and tear gas to violently force Kenyans indoors during the early days of the curfew.

In June, the police oversight agency IPOA said at least 15 deaths had been "directly linked" to curfew enforcement.

In a separate incident, three people were shot dead on June 25 when police fired on a crowd of motorcycle taxi drivers protesting the arrest of a colleague for flouting coronavirus restrictions.
South Sudanese model Adut Akech was the star of Chanel's teeny-weeny Paris haute couture show Tuesday which featured two "punk princesses".

Designer Virginie Viard said she drew inspiration from her predecessor Karl Lagerfeld for the one-minute 22-second film, no more than a teaser for its autumn-winter collection.

The French designer, who was Lagerfeld's right-hand woman until his death last year, has already signalled that the days of his "pharaonic" extravaganzas are over at the label.

But even for her, this was minimalist.

Paris fashion week has been forced online for the first time in its history by the coronavirus, with labels showing short films of their clothes instead.

While Viard's collections so far for the iconic French house have been marked by soberness and simplicity, this time she channelled the decadence and "shimmering opulence and jewellery" of the Paris nightclub scene over which Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent presided in the late 1970s.

"I was thinking about a punk princess coming out of Le Palace at dawn," she said, referring to a legendary club in the French capital.

"With a taffeta dress, big hair, feathers and lots of jewellery. This collection is more inspired by Karl Lagerfeld than Gabrielle Chanel. Karl would go to Le Palace, he would accompany these very sophisticated and very dressed up women, who were very eccentric too," Viard added.

Tears of joy

French designers Alexis Mabille and Stephane Rolland presented the nearest thing to real fashion shows so far, both using one model to show all their looks, while fellow Parisian label Aganovich created a stop motion film with its garments with artist Erik Madigan.

Rolland used the Spanish model Nieves Alvarez, one of Saint Laurent's final muses, to show his black and white collection inspired by pop art.

Full of long and languorous looks, he told AFP he wanted to create "cocoon forms that were protective and generous" as well as glamorous.

But perhaps the day's most poetic offering was from the Japanese designer Yuima Nakazato who instead of teasing a collection, asked people from around the world to send him old white shirts they had been attached to which he then recut and transformed.

One Japanese woman gave him her dead mother's shirt, which like a kimono she wanted to hand down to future generations of her family.

Nakazato talked to each of his clients by video link about the history of their shirt before reimagining it, and then sending it off to them in a box.

The designer, who wears his studio white coat throughout the film, said the idea of the charity project, called "Face to Face", was to give people "courage and hope... at a time when our ability to meet people physically is limited".

Having drawn out his clients' stories, some were brought to tears by his creations and others were so awed by the "work of art" that they screamed with joy when they opened their box.
Ghana's main opposition party on Tuesday chose a woman as vice presidential candidate for the first time, ahead of the country's December elections.

Naana Opoku Agyemang was chosen as running mate for former president John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress party.

Opoku Agyeman said her nomination as vice presidential candidate recognises the towering role woman have played over the ages to achieve the progress we have made.

This historic nomination is not a personal achievement but a victory for an inclusive and participatory democracy, Opoku Agyeman said in a statement of acceptance.

She has a PhD in English literature from York University, Toronto, Canada, and spent 30 years teaching at Ghana's University of Cape Coast, where she became vice chancellor, according to Mahama's campaign website.

Opoku Agyeman has edited a collection of essays exploring the connection between the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the literary imagination. She has also delivered lectures on increasing female representation and participation in academia.

Mahama described her as God-fearing, a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant and a role model, in a tweet shortly after her endorsement.

She previously served as an education minister during Mahama's last administration.

Ghana's polls on 7 December are widely expected to be a hotly fought contest with incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo vying for a second term in office, and Mahama hoping to make a return to Flagstaff House.

Ten women were part of Ghana's first national assembly when the country became a republic, elected to fill specially created seats.
A Political Scientist has predicted a major upset in the upcoming general elections in Ghana as voters will most likely ditch the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a new political party.

Rev LKB Trotsky, who predicted this in a statement, further tipped the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) to be the most favoured alternative party for voters due to its robust policies and incisive electioneering message to transform the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.

Both the NPP and the NDC had been accused of ruling the nation with deception, failing to solve Ghana's chronic unemployment issues, wrecking the economy, relying heavily on foreign loans, especially from the IMF and abandoning state enterprises to rot.

If the electoral process of Ghana's presidential and parliamentary polls is going to be free and fair, then, NPP and NDC will be kicked out in the 2020 December polls, Rev Trotsky said.

According to him accumulated failures of governance under NPP's Nana Akufo-Addo and NDC's John Mahama had largely proved to Ghanaians that both domineering political parties had been deceptive and corrupt.

The duo had also been severally indicted for failing to fight corruption, unemployment and stabilising the country's fragile economy over the years.

While media reports in September 2018 claimed that over 60 scandals had rocked the Akufo-Addo's government, the Sun newspaper in the UK indicted the John Mahama-led administration in a 5 million Airbus corruption scandal in 2016.

These scandals are too many to publish here, I urge readers to check it out, Rev Trotsky said.

The ruling party is doomed to loose power and I tell you, the opposition NDC also has no chance of winning this 2020 election, " he said.

He, therefore, called on all eligible Ghanaian voters to register for their new biometric voter card in the ongoing registration exercise by the Electoral Commission to enable them express their will and wish come December 7.

In the Ghana Union Movement 28-page mini-manifesto titled: "A new Ghana," Founder and Flagbearer of GUM, Rev Christian Kwabena Andrews (Osofo Kiriabosom), said a GUM government would totally betray nepotism and impunity.

It would also run an administration that would be transparent, accountable, responsible and all-inclusive, actively involving religious leaders in the governance process.

The party had promised to cut down salaries, exgratia, allowances and other incentives of ministers, Members of Parliaments, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and other government appointees, including executive officers and peg the number of ministers at not more than 60.

The government of Ghana Union Movement shall consist of 20 per cent appointment of Kings and Queens and not less than 30 per cent of our government appointment shall be made up of women, he added.

Rev Andrews also promised to have a representation of the drivers' union, Clergy, Chiefs, Market women, Business owners, in his government.

Some political analysts have described Rev Andrews as a powerful man of God, a heavyweight healer whom God had used to perform miracles, signs and wonders, saving lives here in Ghana and overseas.

Others also see him as the incarnate of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, with outstanding achievements in the Ghanaian social life, and could, therefore, cause a bombshell in Ghana's crucial presidential and parliamentary elections in December.

The policies of GUM largely dwell on stemming corruption, unemployment and establishing a disciplined Ghanaian society and rejuvenating collapsed and abandoned state enterprises since 1966.

GNA
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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia's readiness to provide COVID-19 aid to the Republic of the Congo during his phone call with the Republic's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso July 6.

"Vladimir Putin noted Russia's readiness to provide aid to the Republic of the Congo to counter the coronavirus infection spread," the Kremlin announced.

During the first week of July, Russia itself was battling more than half a million coronavirus cases, the fourth global spot after the United States, Brazil and India. The Republic of the Congo recorded 1557 coronavirus cases since the epidemic began, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, it reported 44 deaths and 501 recoveries.

Russia is very vociferous in tackling the political conflict in Libya. It has been mapping out possibilities of South Africa (as the chair of the African Union), Egypt being a close neighboring state that could be involved in finding a solution to the Libyan crisis. Now Congo is the chair of the African Union's High-Level Committee on Libya.

"Considering the Congo's presidency in the African Union's High-Level Committee on Libya, the sides exchanged opinions on the situation in the country. The sides underscored the necessity of peaceful resolution of the conflict through political dialogue involving all Libyan sides."

The president of the Republic of the Congo congratulated Vladimir Putin on the outcome of the nationwide vote on the amendments to the Russian Constitution.

"The sides discussed the pressing issues of bilateral cooperation in the context of the implementation of agreements, achieved during the highest-level talks in Moscow in May 2019," the Kremlin said, adding that the two leaders agreed to continue their contacts.

Last year May 23, the business talks between Putin and Sassou-Nguesso took place in the Kremlin. According to the Kremlin report, the package of documents signed following the talks included intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and mass communications.

The documents also concern the settlement of the Republic of the Congo's debt to the Russian Federation under previously issued loans, cooperation between the Russian Interior Ministry and the Congolese Ministry of the Interior and Decentralization, cooperation in agriculture, and sending Russian military experts to the Republic of the Congo.

In addition, documents on the relations between LUKOIL and the State Oil Company of the Republic of the Congo as well as between TMK (Pipe Metallurgical Company) and the National Petroleum Company of the Congo were signed.

The Pipe Metallurgical Company (TMK) is Russia's leading pipe manufacturer. The project is to build a major oil pipeline, running more than 1,300 km from the port city of Pointe-Noire in the Republic of the Congo to the border with Cameroon.

Congo, with an estimated 5.3 million population, is located in the central-western part of sub-Saharan Africa, along the Equator. It has become the fourth-largest oil producer in the Gulf of Guinea, providing the country with a degree of prosperity despite economic instability in some areas and unequal distribution of oil revenue nationwide.

The country has large untapped mineral wealth, large untapped metal, gold, iron, and phosphate deposits. In 2018, the Republic of the Congo joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
The Electoral Commission has appealed to political parties to help in the education of the electorate for them to understand the process of the new voters register compilation to allay their fears of not being registered.

Mr Daniels Ankamah Ofosu Kyeremeh, an Assistant Administrator at the Bono Regional Office of the EC who made the appeal, noted many applicants did not understand the registration process and were mad-rushing to the registration centres to be captured.

They also fear the time is limited and the exercise would not capture them.

Mr Kyeremeh was addressing members and supporters of the Bono Regional branch of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), at a meeting organised to elect its new regional executives in Sunyani.

The party elected 15-member executives by popular acclamation to steer its affairs for the next four years.

Mr Kyeremeh explained the period set for the compilation of the new voters' registration was enough to register all eligible voters and advised Ghanaians to be patient with the EC.

They will ensure that all the electorate are registered to enable them to exercise their franchise in the Election 2020.

Mr Kyeremeh explained the EC had clustered the various registration centres and its officials were moving from one clustered centre to the other to register all eligible voters within the period stipulated for the exercise.

On behalf of the newly-elected executives, Mr Lucious Sanfaa, the Bono Regional Chairman of the PPP, thanked the Party delegates for the confidence reposed in them and promised to work hard to enhance its fortunes in the Election 2020.

He said the membership of the PPP in the region had increased and called on the party supporters to intensify the campaign to woo particularly floating voters for the Party to make a significant impact in the Election 2020.

Mr Sanfaa called on other political parties to develop interest, and monitor the on-going new voters' registration exercise to help the EC to obtain credible voters' register for the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

---GNA
An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced Pascal Isaac Agbeti to three years imprisonment for stealing GH56,600.00 from his employer's bank account.

Agbeti was exposed by the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) camera at the bank where he withdrew the money from his employer's account who is physically challenged.

Agbeti pleaded guilty to stealing the money and was accordingly sentenced, but the Court considered the fact that the convict pleaded guilty and did not waste the Court's time.

The court also considered the fact that Agbeti is young and first time offender, and also the fact that the police retrieved a Kia Picanto with a registration number GT-3644-16, from the convict.

The Court presided over by Mrs Ellen Offei Ayeh also odered Agbeti to refund the money.

Police Inspector Maxwell Ayim told the Court that Agbeti was the driver to Mr Richard Maximillian Akwei, a diplomat and the complainant.

He said Agbeti lives with Mr Akwei who now uses a wheel chair at Spintex in the Greater Accra Region.

Prosecution said Mr Akwei from time to time visits his bank with Agbeti, his driver to transact business.

Inspector Ayim said unknown to the diplomat, Agbeti had memorized his pin code and managed to steal his Automated Teller's Machine (ATM) card whenever he was asleep to withdraw cash totaling GH56,600.00 within two months.

He said the complainant discovered the act when he was informed by his bank that he could not withdraw a certain amount, so he became alarmed and reported the matter to the police which led to Agbeti's arrest.

He said during investigation Agbeti earlier denied the offence but police discovered his involvement when they went through the bank's CCTV camera footage for that period.

---GNA
BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese law experts said the smearing of a national security law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other like-minded people exposed their "double standards."

Pompeo particularly attacked Article 38 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, which says "this Law shall apply to offences under this Law committed against the HKSAR from outside the Region by a person who is not a permanent resident of the Region."

Han Dayuan, a law professor at the Renmin University of China, said the article embodies the principle of protective jurisdiction on national security, which is an international common practice.

Han, who also sits on the HKSAR Basic Law Committee of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said people should comprehend Article 38 under the legal framework of the HKSAR national security law.

"Article 38 only targets four categories of crimes that seriously undermine national security," he said.

According to the Law, the four categories are secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.

Li Xiaobing, a law expert at Nankai University, said the United States, as a major country of the common law system, has long practiced nationality-based jurisdiction and protective jurisdiction in safeguarding national security and combating terrorism.

Li said the accusations from the U.S. side are completely groundless.

Chan Wai-keung, a lecturer at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, also agreed that the United States apparently applied double standards by criticizing Article 38, citing its bid to extradite Julian Assange from Britain even though he is not an American citizen.

Chu Kar-kin, a commentator in Hong Kong, said in many countries, unlawful elements are not allowed to plot activities of sabotage against the country in or outside its territory.

The state will thus take legal measures to restrain such activities to protect its residents from such threats, Chu said.
Korea Immigration Service Commissioner Cha Gyu-geun speaks during an interview at his office in the Government Complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, June 29. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-min



By Jung Min-ho



GWACHEON  Without the inflow of foreign workers, Korea is already shrinking.



After deaths outnumbered births for the first time in November 2019, the gap has widened since. A chronically low birthrate, which hit an all-time low of 0.92 that year, suggests that the trend is only going to accelerate and that the country will face massive labor shortages in the decades to come if nothing changes.



Years of government efforts to reverse the trend have been futile, leaving the country with the difficult choice of enduring the shock of a rapid decrease in the population or turning to immigration.



Without immigration, the risk is that the population will continue to decrease and fail to provide enough taxpayers to fund social welfare and medical costs that will grow as the country ages.



Cha Gyu-geun, commissioner of the Korea Immigration Service (KIS), says the time has come to face that reality and the country, at the very least, should start discussing the issue openly before it is too late.



"It is time for us to discuss and prepare for this inevitable issue," Cha said in an interview at his office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, June 29. "Compared with people in countries that have a long history of accepting immigrants, Koreans tend to be more cautious."



Immigration is a politically unpopular issue in Korea. While conservatives worry "too many immigrants" may change their old way of life here, liberals feel that immigrants have caused a depression in wages and more competition for jobs. Such resistance has grown stronger in certain industries, such as construction, with unions demanding more jobs for Koreans.



If Korea is to be successful in embracing more immigrants, it is critical to convince its citizens that they are their partners  not rivals  who are contributing to the success of Korea alongside them, Cha said.



"In the case of Taiwan, employers in certain industries have to pay more for hiring foreigners. The amount is determined by how much competition there is with locals," he said. "With all the money, the government has set up a fund to help the administrative work for foreigners and local people who are visually impaired. Such a system can create a sense of unity, something Korea can take lessons from."



In a survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in 2019, 46 percent of Koreans said the country should be proud of maintaining a "homogeneous bloodline," and 35 percent said accepting people of different races undermined national unity.



Expats in Korea are no longer 'aliens'



As part of its effort to create a more inclusive environment for everyone, the KIS has recently decided to drop the term "alien" from the ID cards for foreign residents and replace it with a more neutral term.



The decision will change the name of the Alien Registration Card after 54 years.



"I thought it would be meaningful to give a message of unity by changing the term," Cha said.



It was one of many petitions that could have been left unnoticed if he had not paid attention to the "routinely ignored" ones.



"The idea of changing the term had already been reviewed in the past and the KIS concluded at one point that change was unnecessary because many countries still used the same term for their ID cards for foreigners. But I felt something in the term was not right," he noted.



"I asked our expat advisory group to review that idea. Most of them said they felt excluded or discriminated against every time they see their ID cards. So I pushed for the change."



Since last year, the KIS has run an advisory group of expats who share opinions about its policies and offer new ideas. Cha said he will continue to listen to their voices in the process of making polices that affect them the most.




Mr Ras Mubarak, MP for Kumbungu, on Tuesday described the intellect, humility in public serve as the unique selling points of Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) running mate.

Mr Mubarak said the NDC running mate should not be seen as just a mere 'woman' nominee, but one with competence and candour.

The immediate past Minister of Education is an accomplished personality, young enough, old enough, and smart enough to be not just a Vice Presidential nominee but the Vice President of our great country and to step-in the absence of the President, he said.

The MP, who made these remarks in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, said the overwhelming endorsement of the former First Female Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast was a testament that the NDC gave equal opportunities to all, regardless of one's gender or ethnicity.

Her nomination offered an opportunity for the resuscitation of women's movement in the country, he said.

Mr Mubarak, however, called on all NDC party supporters to rally behind the flagbearer and his running mate to make a difference in the governance of the country.

---GNA
A hospital in Rome said on Tuesday it had successfully separated two-year-old twins joined above the nape of their necks, after three risky surgeries.

Joined skull to skull, sisters Ervina and Prefina were born with a condition the Bambino Gesu (Baby Jesus) Pediatric Hospital in Rome called "one of the rarest and most complex forms of cranial and cerebral fusion."

The hospital said it was the first time in Italy and likely the world -- as such a case had never been cited in medical literature -- that surgeons were able to separate twins joined in such a way, sharing the back of their skull and its venous system.

The two sisters from Bangui, Central African Republic, were brought to Italy in September 2018 after the hospital's president met the twins and their mother at a medical centre where they were born.

Tests conducted in Italy showed the twins to be generally in good health but that one sister's heart was working harder to maintain the "physiological balance of the organs of both, including the brain."

The girls had "distinct" personalities, the hospital said, Prefina being vivacious and playful with her sister Ervina more serious and quietly observing.

The greatest challenge facing the team of specialists -- including neurosurgeons, anaesthesiologists, neuroradiologists, plastic surgeons, engineers, and physiotherapists -- was the shared network of blood vessels bringing blood from the girls' brains to their hearts, the hospital said in a statement.

That required "three very delicate operations to progressively reconstruct two independent venous systems," it said.

'Lead a normal life'

The final surgery, which took 18 hours and involved 30 doctors and nurses, took place on June 5 when the bones of the shared skull were divided.

Surgeons then reconstructed the membrane covering the two brains and recreated the skin lining over the new skulls.

"A month after the final separation, the twins are fine," said the hospital.

Video images of a hospital party given for the twins' second birthday with their mother on June 29 showed the girls, their heads wrapped in protective bandages, gesticulating and grabbing at their birthday cake.

The hospital cautioned that the risk of infection was still present and the girls would have to wear protective helmets for a few months.

But post-operative controls showed that their brains were "intact," adding that they will have the opportunity to grow normally and "lead a normal life, like all girls of their age."

It was the fourth time the hospital had operated on conjoined twins in its history.

Twins conjoined by the skull are extremely rare, or approximately one case every 2.5 million live births, the hospital said, adding that in Europe in the past 20 years only two cases of separating twins joined at the top of their skulls had been successful.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has consistently downplayed the risks of coronavirus, announced Tuesday he has tested positive, as the United States -- the nation hardest hit by the pandemic -- formally launched its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The UN health agency meanwhile acknowledged that there was "emerging evidence" of airborne transmission of COVID-19, which has infected nearly 11.7 million people around the globe and caused more than 539,000 deaths.

Bolsonaro, who said he had experienced only mild symptoms, has ignored containment measures such as social distancing, despite Brazil being the second-worst hit country, with more than 66,000 dead.

The far-right leader, who at 65 is in the highest-risk age category, insisted he was feeling "perfectly well" and took off his face mask during a TV interview announcing his test results.

World toll of coronavirus infections and deaths, as of July 7, 2020 at 1900 GMT. By Jonathan WALTER (AFP)

He repeated his mantra that the "collateral effects" of the virus should not be worse than the illness itself.

Since the beginning of the virus outbreak, Bolsonaro has minimized the risks of what he initially called "a little flu" while resisting wearing a mask in public.

Brazil is a large reason why Latin America and the Caribbean has now surpassed three million cases, according to an AFP tally.

The region has seen nearly 140,000 deaths, nearly half of them in Brazil.

'Chaotic and incoherent'

The US has submitted its notice of withdrawal to the the World Health Organization. By Fabrice COFFRINI (AFP/File)

In Washington, a senior US official said the United States had informed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres of its intention to leave the WHO, effective July 6, 2021.

President Donald Trump has been critical of the WHO's pandemic response, accusing it of bias toward China and ignoring early signs of human-to-human transmission of the deadly virus.

The United States is the largest financial contributor to the WHO -- which leads the fight on global maladies from polio and measles to mental health -- providing $400 million annually.

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said Tuesday he would immediately reverse the decision and keep the US in the WHO if he defeats Trump in November.

Senator Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the Trump administration's move.

"To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic and incoherent doesn't do it justice," Menendez said.

"This won't protect American lives or interests -- it leaves Americans sick & America alone."

'Unsustainably high numbers'

A health care worker administers a COVID-19 test at United Memorial Medical Center testing site in Houston, Texas -- now only the third state to register more than 10,000 virus cases in a 24-hour period. By Mark Felix (AFP/File)

Critics say Trump is seeking to deflect criticism from his own handling of the pandemic, which has killed nearly 131,000 people in the United States, by far the highest death toll of any nation.

Officials have said hospitals in some parts of the country are in danger of being overwhelmed, with many states hit particularly hard after they eased virus restrictions.

Texas -- one of the new US hotspots -- on Tuesday registered a new daily case total of 10,028, making it the third state after New York and Florida to hit the grim milestone.

Top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has warned the country is still "knee-deep" in the first coronavirus wave.

But Trump pounced on that comment Tuesday, saying the United States was "in a good place" and adding: "I disagree with him."

Experts are still struggling to understand COVID-19, and the WHO said it was open to new research after scientists lobbied for it to stress that the virus can spread through the air farther and for longer than initially believed.

There have been explosions of infections across the world, including Iran, which announced 200 new deaths on Tuesday.

Australia on Tuesday ordered five million people locked down in Melbourne, its second-biggest city, to combat a surge in cases.

"We can't pretend" the crisis is over, said Daniel Andrews, premier of Victoria state.

Australia will effectively seal off the state of Victoria from the rest of the country. By William WEST (AFP)

The restrictions in the Melbourne area will last at least six weeks, while Victoria state will be effectively sealed off from the rest of the country.

Cases are also surging in India and four new coronavirus field hospitals were opened on Tuesday in the financial capital Mumbai as the nationwide death toll jumped past 20,000.

'Viral bomb'

Police in the southern New South Wales border city of Albury check cars crossing the state border from Victoria. By William WEST (AFP)

Italy's health minister ordered a one-week suspension of flights to Rome from Bangladesh on Tuesday, after 21 passengers arriving from Dhaka tested positive, adding to the number of cases within the Bangladeshi community in the Lazio region surrounding Rome.

Lazio's top health official Alessio D'Amato called it a "veritable viral 'bomb' that we've defused."

Meanwhile, the head of the prestigious Royal Society science journal said Tuesday that people who refuse to wear face masks during the pandemic should be stigmatized in the same manner as drink-drivers.

"If all of us wear one, we protect each other and thereby ourselves, reducing transmission," wrote Venki Ramakrishnan.

burs-cl/sst/st
The Federation of the Somali Journalists (FESOJ) upholds the legal decision by defending lawyers of journalist Abdiziz Ahmed Gurbiye, the editor of the Goobjoog Media Group who appeared in Benadir Regional court on Tuesday July 7, 2020 after the Attorney General's office started press charges under Somalias archaic criminal law despite the recent declaration by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajos recent affirmations of reforms in provisions in the countrys penal code to ensure it is not used against journalists .

The opening speech of the trial by the ruling judge handling the journalists case Tuesday have met with protests by the defending lawyers of the journalist who challenged the judges attempts to proceed the trial under the controversial law insisting that the court had no legal jurisdiction to proceed with the case under the outdated law hence filing for an objection.

The legal defense team of Abdiaziz Gurbiye also filed an application seeking the court to drop the case against the journalist altogether as the alleged articles to be evoked for the case violate the article 18 of the Somali constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and the media.

During the brief trial, the lawyers also contested that Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye is a professional journalist who was carrying out his press duties and that his conviction could not totally be referred on criminal law under Somalias Penal Code.

The state prosecutor Yahye Mohamed Said who filed the charges against the journalist at the court also insisted the presiding judge that the journalist violated articles of 269 and 328 of the Somali Penal Code with charges of insult of judicial body and publication of false news, therefore challenging the court it had full jurisdiction to proceed with the case and prosecute journalist Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye and demanded the trail be finalized.

The judge has adjourned the case, saying that the magistrate court would advise about the way forward for the journalists case.

Fellow journalists, the Secretary General of FESOJ ,Goobjoog Director and members from the civil society organized were among the people allowed to hear the case of Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye who is a member of FESOJ.

We urge the court to dismiss these charges against Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye because, from the legal viewpoint, the case is completely inadmissible," Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu the Secretary General of FESOJ told journalists at a press release after the adjournment of the trial was announced.

It is unfortunate that journalists are still being prosecuted under the draconian Somali Penal Code which is outdated and contradicts the Provisional Somali Constitution -- therefore, we call on the Attorney Generals office and the country's authorities to abandon it and to decriminalize journalists under the Penal Code. We also the court to drop the baseless charges against the journalist.  Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu added.

Defending lawyers of the journalists Dahir Mohamed Ali and Ahmed Abdirahman Diriye said they are committed to defending the journalist in front of the law until they ensure his freedom and that all allegations against journalists are unfounded and put forward an objection.

On April 14, Abdiaziz was summoned to his local police station and detained for four days after making two Facebook posts criticizing the Somali governments response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The journalist's trail was criticized by international media organizations and human rights groups such as CPJ, RSF, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Somali Media Association (SOMA) and Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) jointly call for the Office of the Attorney General (AG) of the Federal Government of Somalia to drop charges against Goobjoog Editor, Abdiaziz Ahmed Gurbiye who appeared today before the Banadir Regional Court after he was pressed with unlawful criminal charges issued on 23 June by the Office of the Attorney General through the Banadir Regional Court.

SJS and SOMA secured lawyers to defend Mr. Gurbiye before the court of law as the first hearing of the case took place today on 7 July, where representatives from SJS, SOMA, Goobjoog Media Group and journalists attended. The court was adjourned after the defending lawyers opposed the criminal charges brought by the Attorney Generals office and also questioned the courts jurisdiction to handle, as there were no victims to be mentioned in the case.

Mr. Gurbiye was first arrested and charged with Article 220 of the Penal Code on 14 April a day after he wrote a Facebook post alleging, the Somali president had taken away a donated ventilator from a local hospital which treats Covid-19 patients. He was released on bail on 18 April. But the Attorney General changed the charges, according to a document seen by SJS and SOMA.

In the new charge sheet dated on 23 June, the court summoned Mr. Gurbiye on articles of 328; publishing false news and 269; offending the prestige of public and political administration. These vague offenses are found in the outdated Somali Penal Code to restrict the freedom of speech and the media.

We opposed the criminalisation of journalism because our client, Mr. Gurbiye has been exercising journalism which is not a crime and the criminal code can not be used for cases related to journalism, Dahir Mohamed Ali, the lead lawyer of the defence team said We have also challenged the courts jurisdiction and the validity of the charges as we have not been informed who is pressing the charges against our client.

During a press conference at the courthouse, SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, SOMA Secretary General, Mohamed Abduwahab Abdullahi reinforced the defense lawyers argument and also called the Federal Governments Attorney General to stop the charges against Mr. Gurbiye. Both Mumin and Abdullahi also expressed their concern the several changes made in the previous charge sheet when the journalist was first arrested in April.

While we emphasise the defence lawyers point of argument, we are, however, extremely concerned by the fact that the articles mentioned in the previous charge sheet in April were changed. We also condemn the attempts of intimidations and threats involving in this case, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary General of SJS said.

We strongly oppose any criminal charges against journalist Gurbiye and therefore we call for the Attorney General to immediately drop these charges against Gurbiye and stop the judicial harassment aimed to intimidate and silence the independent media and the journalists, Mohamed Abduwahab Abdullahi, the Secretary General of SOMA said.

The Director of Goobjoog Media, Hassan Mohamed Mohamud thanked SJS and SOMA for the legal defence support and solidarity to their journalist Gurbiye amid in this critical time of Covid-19.

I thank SJS and SOMA for the outstanding support- not only the legal defence support but also their solidarity and commitment to defend the endangered journalists such as Gurbiye, the Director of Goobjoog Media, Hassan Mohamed Mohamud said.
The curiosity to delve into the established benchmarks with regard to the choice of a running mate is deep. It is a novelty in the NDC party to name a female running mate as others have been selected before in Ghana. A precedence has been set in the history of the party, a political invention has been made in the biggest opposition party in Ghana.

The Vice-President is usually the chair of the Economic Management Team of a government. This is a common practice in the politics of Ghana. The Vice usually heads the Economic Management Team put together by the government and this is expected to happen if the NDC wins power this year.

Over the years, the Vice and the President do not possess the same professional and academic competencies. In the Fourth Republic, the analysis reveals that different competencies are possessed by the individuals who hold the highest offices of the Land. The norm has been a blend of backgrounds ranging from Economics, History and Communications to Politics.

The first Vice-President of the NDC was a Marketing Executive and Civil Servant. The idea to have the Economic Management Team had not been birthed. The background of the President of Ghana in 1992 and 1996 needs no mention. The second Vice-President of the NDC was an Economist. He partnered former President Rawlings. Then, Economic Management Teams were not popular in Ghana as the establishment of such units within a government started during the era of President Kuffour.

In 2000, the NPP had a Vice-President who had background in Quantity Surveying and Civil Engineering but possibly had support in Economics from the President from time to time. The then President has background in this subject area. It can be seen clearly that the Vice and the President from the beginning of the Fourth Republic to this era have had different backgrounds.

In 2009, the Vice-President, the Presidential candidate of the NDC, and the President, the late Mills had different backgrounds; an Economist and a Communications expert. As a Vice-President, Mr. Mahama was highly praised as one of the best in the history of the country. The reason was that, the economic fundamentals were genuinely fine. So, the Vice-President then was seen as a great performer between 2009 and 2011. But he might have drawn his acclaims from the economic expertise of the President, an Economist.

The Current President, a candidate in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 elections chose an Economist to partner him. In the era of the use of Economic Management Teams, chaired by the Vice, an Economist was preferred. In the 2012 and 2016 elections, the NDC equally selected an Economist to run with the former President. The need to have an Economist as the running mate is demanding due to the use of a body to manage the economy.

Currently, the NPPs running mate, an Economist, has not been changed. He will be in charge of the Economic Management Team if the Party wins the 2020 Presidential elections. The NDC on the other hand has an English scholar, with several achievements in various capacities in her field. The various Vice-Presidents of Ghana with some exceptions to the immediate late Vice-President, have had little political experience before their selections.

With the use of Economic Management Teams in vogue, the Vice should have appropriate shrewdness in economic issues, at least that is the most modern practice in Ghana. The NDCs running mate has no such records or sets of expertise and the main candidate too is a Communications expert. There is the need for tutorials from other members picked from their backyard to form the Economic Management Team.

If the NDC is voted into power, the function of the Vice to properly oversee the unit that manages the economy will be limited to some extent. In fact, issues about the economy cannot be joked with. The performance of the immediate late Vice-President of Ghana can be assessed by everyone. A new practice may be set by appointing a different person other than the Vice to Chair the Team.

The argument that the World Bank have had leaders who have no degrees in Economics but the institution does rigorous analyses is weak. Those leaders are not in charge of the analyses. The Economic Management Team is different from the World Bank. Should the Vice-President be the Communications Officer of the Economic Management Team? One of the critical functions of the Vice is leading the Economic Management Team. It is a standard that is firmly-established.

I do not intend to wade wildly into the suitability and the achievements of the two academics who have now assumed political roles. Each of them has achieved in their best capacities. The benchmarks that are needed for proper functioning in the Office of the Vice-President have consequences for the attainment of the goals and visions of a party and the country as a whole. Establishing an Economic Management Team is a necessity and a tradition that cannot be warped. There is a serious demand to have people with economic prowess in that team, as the people in it, play critical political and economic roles that ensure the survival of the economic life of the country. The benchmarks have been set for the office of the Veep and so they must be protected.

BY Emmanuel Kwabena Wucharey

Economics Tutor - Kintampo SHS.
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Pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) radio station, Power FM, is the worst perpetrator of ethical violations among 26 media organisations that were monitored for ethical infractions in the period of June 1-14, 2020.

Power FM, which recorded 48 violations, is immediately followed by pro-New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Oman FM with 46 violations. The news website, Ghanaweb.com, follows with nine violations.

The findings are contained in the maiden report of the Media Foundation for West Africas (MFWA) media ethics monitoring project. The project monitored 917 media content from 10 Akan language radio stations, 10 newspapers and six news websites. A total of 141 ethical violations were recorded, with radio stations perpetrating most of the infractions (88%).

The report also revealed that Inside Politics, an afternoon political talk show, on Power FM hosted by Mugabe Maase is the programme that recorded the highest number of ethical violations (31) during the period of monitoring. This was closely followed by Oman FMs morning show, National Agenda, with 29 violations. National Agenda is hosted by Yaw Amofa. Oman FMs Boiling Point, an evening political talk show, which is hosted by Kwabena Kwakye also followed as the programme with the third-highest recorded violations (10).

The report further indicates that many programme hosts and presenters of news bulletins on the pro-partisan radio stations often made no attempts to call to order, panelists and interviewees who made unethical statements on air. In some cases, they were actively engaged in insulting and making offensive statements against personalities who do not belong to the political party of their radio owners.

The monitoring of media ethics is part of a project titled: Enhancing media professionalism to inspire public confidence and support for press freedom in Ghana. The objective of the project is to identify and highlight incidents of ethical infractions and drawing attention to such breaches as a way of fostering adherence to ethical principles by media organisations.

The full report contains the specific ethical principles violated, the names of the media outlets that violated among other findings. Kindly click here to access it.

The instrument being used for the monitoring, which contains the category definitions for tracking and reporting of ethical principles is also available here . For further clarifications and media interviews, contact Programme Manager, Vivian Affoah (0244896588), or Programme Officer, Kwaku Krobea Asante (0249484528).
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Africa has been designated as a deeply religious society. An African scholar, John Mbiti described Africans as notoriously religious. He stated that religion permeated all aspects of African life, thought, and culture. Indeed. polls after polls have pointed to the African continent as the global headquarters of religion and epicenter of global religiosity. The region has more people who profess Christianity and Islam than some traditional Christian and Muslim societies. But African religiosity is predicated on some factors. And one of them is a lack of criticism of religious icons, personalities, and propositions. To be more specific, pervasive religiosity in Africa is due to limited interrogation of Christian and Islamic positions and dogmas.

Look, religious criticism takes place in Africa. Incidentally, critics of religion have mainly been Christian and Islamic preachers. These missionizers mainly target traditional religious beliefs. They use their criticism to dissuade Africans and pressure them to discard their traditional beliefs and embrace foreign faith notions and impressions. This process has been going on for centuries. Over the years, these western and Arab religions have succeeded in replacing and substituting African religions. Western Christianity and Arab Islam have eventually become the dominant faiths in Africa. They have driven traditional religious beliefs underground. Christian and Islamic establishments in Africa have succeeded in brainwashing Africans and getting them to internalize the inferiority of African religion, African Gods, and African prophets to western/Arab religions, Gods, and prophets.

Look the tragedy is not that religious imperialists have managed to replace Africans Gods with the western Jesus God and the Mohammadan Allah God. The tragedy is that these foreign religions and their African recruits executed a coup, a bloody cultural coup d'etat. They challenged, demonized, and fetishized African Gods. They got rid of the African deities and sometimes, violently killed African God believers. Western Christian and Arab Muslim soldiers took over power and control of the religious field. They enthroned Christian and Islamic kingdoms and made a law that prohibited questioning western Jesus God or Arab Allah. They made it an offense to say anything disrespectful of religion, which meant Christianity and Islam. In the Islamic part of the kingdom, they made it a capital offense to say anything critical or disrespectful of Islam, the Qur'an, and the prophet. It was a capital offense to renounce Islam. With the crimes of apostasy and blasphemy, Islam has held Africa captive. Christianity and Islam have held African minds hostage. Africans have embraced this treachery and have been the executors of this mischief. Christian and Muslim clerics have eventually become the gatekeepers of social norms and morality, justice, law and human rights, education, and information. Christian and Muslim clerics and their theocratic allies have turned to the region's moral and thought police.

As the attached photo shows, religion, in this case, Christianity has been a device for the exploitation of Africans. Religion creates narratives of fear and anxiety. And clerics turn around to mine these fears for their self-enrichment. The outbreak of COVID19 has led to restrictions in public gatherings including religious meetings. It has seriously impacted the religious business because it has been difficult for many clerics to sustain their ministries and keep the cash flowing into the coffers. Some clerics have been creative and have initiated COVID19 compatible programs. They try to collect their tithes and offerings online. Others have come up with narratives to persuade their members to pay. Religious propositions must be critically examined to understand the underlying intent and motivations. For instance, in this poster, Apostle Suleman said, "If your life is tight, check your tithe". So, paying tithe would loosen a tight life? How did he know? What is the link between the payment of tithe and life's challenges? Again he said: "If you are sick, check your seed". Definitely, this comes across as very shrewd of this pastor because he seems to be implying that those who are sick may not be sowing seeds or enough seeds. He is trying to compel sick people who need money to pay their medical bills to donate money to churches. And then he stated: "If you are suffering, check your offering" Now think about it. Many people are suffering because they are poor and cannot afford the necessities of life. It is callous to nudge such people to offer money to churches. In fact that lines on this poster should read: "If your life is tight, keep your tithe". "If you are sick, withhold your seed", "If you are suffering, keep your offering".

Africans should begin to question aloud religious narratives and the propositions of clerics. In many cases, religious narratives are informed by mischief and the intent to exploit and manipulate gullible folks. Wake up Nigerians wake up. Wake up Africans wake up from your religious notoriety and superstitious slumber.
Fellow Ghanaians, Victor Hugo may have had Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang in mind when he said that, "nothing can stop an idea whose time has come." Indeed, "he who is destined for power and authority, does not have to fight for them."

Prof. Naana Jane Agyemangs partnership with the former President is a union that can best be described as a merger politically solemnized by God almighty Himself in heaven. Victory undoubtedly awaits the two.

So far her appointment has been good news and hope to the NDC as an alternative government but remains a very bad news to the ruling party.

And even as a large collection of intelligent and hardworking stalwarts of the NDC, at an intellectual engagement, unanimously endorsed the consummated and celebrated Professor, Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, there have been attempts by the NPP to impeach the credibility of the professor.

Political gladiators and green-eyed monsters of the governing party have begun excavating into the life, public and private, of Professor Jane but they are not finding any skeleton in her cupboard.

Consequently, the NPP has resorted to unsavory, unwarranted, and very misogynistic comments as a way of ventilating their frustration and panic that have reached a frightening crescendo!

For instance, the Communication Director of the NPP, Hon. Buabeng Assamoah, has been reported to have questioned the seriousness of former President John Mahama for appointing a woman as a running mate. For him, the former President does not take the Ghanaian electorates seriously for settling upon a woman as a potential president, suggesting that a woman is not qualified to lead Ghana!

Ghanaian women must rise to this challenge in the 21st century politics and leadership.

Again, the Majority leader, Kyei Mensah Bonsu is also said to have made such chauvinistic remarks to the effect that, stepping in the shoe of the president in his absence is a huge task Prof. Naana Jane Agyemand is not fit to do.

X-raying their verdicts on the accomplished professor depicts one reality they seem to be drumming home as a point: a woman cannot be a president in Ghana despite her experience and qualifications! Ghanaians definitely least expected that from the NPP.

Nonetheless, being a "woman of substance" as a former Vice Chancellor, former Education minister, UNESCO Board Member, and the Chancellor of a University in Nairobi, Kenya, the Professor is eminently qualified for the vice presidency of the Republic.

At her appointment as the running mate and by God's grace, an incoming first female Vice President of Ghana, even the blind could feel the sincerity of purpose and the revivalist impulses of hope. And without a scintilla of hyperbole, she surely would tower above her counterpart, Dr. Bawumia who has over the years exchanged his technocracy for propaganda.

Fellow Ghanaians, ideally, this year's political experimentation and exhibition of the efficacy and maturation of our democracy, beckon not only a political battle of wits fighter as a running mate, but it calls for a serious spiritual neutralizer. Professor Nana Jane Opoku Agyemang being a woman, the "womb", is more than qualified (spiritually) to democratically partner the former President, come December 7th, 2020, to recapture political power for the NDC and Ghanaians at large.

At this juncture, it behooves me to allay the worries and fears of Ghanaians, particularly, some ill-informed members of the Umbrella Family, the National Democratic Congress NDC party.

Please, with your indulgence permit me to use a philosophical, "political", and perhaps, spiritual approaches to proof why Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang is the most suitable running mate for the epic political tussle of supremacy ahead for the NDC.

For those of us who like "Malamic" interpretation of issues, here you go: why this great Academic giant, Prof. Naana Jane is the best choice to help bring back the political trophy and rescue Ghanaians from a savaging and ravaging foe (NPP).

Theres only a syllogism in this year's election. And it is that, if we are not in normal times due to corona virus that has left hell loose on the surface of the earth never before in the history of the planet in recent centuries, it means that 2020 is a year of abnormalities!

You see, it is President Akufo Addo who always reminds us that we are not in normal times, and for which reason abnormal or unusual things must be observed. How factually accurate the outgoing President Akufo Addo has been with that insightful statement! And let me explain.

Now, just like the alien pandemic, historically, Ghana never has a female vice president. Also, no President has ever left political power and who seeks to democratically recapture it within a term of office. Both phenomena are happening today unambiguously resonating with the current situation of abnormality of the reality of Covid-19.

The premises are thus as follow:

i. Ghana is beset with an unprecedented plague that never happened before at least in recent history.

ii. Ghana has an ex-President who unprecedentedly wants to recapture power and is being partnered with a first female running mate (in the major political parties) which never happened before.

Conclusion;

If we are not in normal times, it means that the abnormal candidate with an abnormal running mate, would carry the day! Which means, President Mahama, by the leave of Allah, is the winner of this year's general elections!

Now, politically, Prof. Jane Agyemang is certainly taller as a Professor and former Vice Chancellor and Minister of State, than a PhD holder in Propaganda of Economics who doubles as a former DEPUTY Governor and now Vice President.

If you analyze, both running mates or to a larger extent, camps of the presidential candidates (former President John Mahama and President Akufo Addo) have few things in common, but the "presidential camp" of former John Dramani Mahama, stands tallest.

Both running mates have been "Vices". Prof Naana Jane as a former Vice Chancellor of University of Cape Coast, and Dr. Bawumia as the current Vice President. Whilst Dr. Bawumia reduces his vice presidency to be a propaganda machinery, Prof. Jane used her vice chancellorship to manage the minds of young Ghanaians, including the Zongo Minister, Dr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid.

Hence, president Mahama's camp, even though in opposition, is more promising to be the winner in the forthcoming elections, philosophically, spiritually, and politically.

Fast forward, there are few myopic minds who have begun the usual smear campaign, mudslinging, and vilification politics, to tarnish the image of the country's incoming first female Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Agyemang.

They seek to exhume and dissect history of the noble madam, and even as they desperately not finding any skeleton in Prof. Jane's cupboard, they have begun to rehash the very decision of cancellation of allowances of nursing and teacher trainees.

For these political vampires and "attack dogs" of the governing New Patriotic Party, it is the former ebullient Educationist Education Minister who presided over the cancellation of the allowances which partly contributed to the lost of the NDC in 2016 election.

So, according to this myopic view, she is therefore not qualified for the job of a running mate as a result and incoming vice president. What a bundle of ignorance!?

Please, I beg to differ, fellow Ghanaians. The cancellation of the allowances, was never the decision of a single minister nor the president, it was the decision of the IMF who prescribed an economic policy known as Contractionary fiscal policy which operation advocated contracting, muzzling, and squeezing the economy of cash. And to do that, anything that could lead to financial abundance in the economy had to be curtailed!

As a result, employment had to be halted and so allowances must be retrieved and not paid! Generally, with that policy government had to tone down expenditure in order to save. And it was the policy of the IMF prescribed for Ghana government under President John Mahama in its economic wisdom, which the government accepted for several reasons.

One reason was actually to clamp down reckless borrowing which has become a pastime under President Akufo Addo in order to pay allowances. President Mahama simply didnt see it wise to burden the next generation with gigantic debts because of our illegitimate comfort as forefathers.

Also, in the educational sector, it was a simple logic to increase the number of nursing and teacher trainees in the training colleges by withdrawing the allowance. So that, many trainees could enroll, and could get posting and jobs after graduation.

The meagre amount of allowances being paid to them by government made the government to undertake preemptive measures to cut down the number of entrants so as to reduce government expenditure on the nurses and teacher trainees.

As a technocrat and golden in the academia, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang saw the need to have many Ghanaians educated as nurses and teachers rather than the other way round merely due to meager allowances! That was one reason she allowed that in her sector, after all government was undertaking reforms due to the IMF directive.

President Mahama's choice is the soundest, and all doubting Thomases must shelve their disbeliefs about the enigmatic Professor. She is a symbol of hope for all aspiring female young leaders in this country. She is a cementer and solidifier of our democracy

That's why all women in Ghana, especially, female students in this country, must rise to support one of their own to actualize her vice presidential bid.

Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang is a symbol of women empowerment and hope.

Abdul Hakeem Iddrisu,

(Young Prof.)

0557762967
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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Ejura Sekyedumase Constituency of the Ashanti region has condemned and further warned the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) after their Member of Parliament Hon. Muhammed Bawa Braimah, was attacked by some thugs believed to be NPP loyalists in Ejura Nkwanta.

The MP was attacked and beaten on Monday by these thugs when he was distributing food to NDC agents at voter registration centres.

The incident has been formally reported to the police.

Below is the full statement by the MP's team.

EJURA SEKYEDUMASE NDC ABHORS INHUMANE ATTACK BY NPP THUGS ON MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR EJURA SEKYEDUMASE CONSTITUENCY HON. MUHAMMED BAWA BRAIMAH

The National Democratic Congress Ejura Sekyedumase Constituency has taken keen notice of the attack on the Member of Parliament for the constituency on Monday, 6th July 2020 at Ejura Nkwanta by NPP thugs when he was visiting the ongoing voter registration exercise, distributing food to the agents at the registration center.

Hon. Bawa Braimah on the said day went to Hiawoawu before proceeding to Nkwanta where the brutal attack on him took place. The NPP thugs met him at Hiawoawu and when he saw them, he decided to leave and proceeded to Nkwanta.

The Member of Parliament in Nkwanta decided to have a conservation with a prison guard and at that moment he was attacked by the NPP thugs - Afoko and Bala - descended on him while still lying on the ground and gave him slaps on his face.

While these barbaric acts were going on, the MCE and Parliamentary Candidate for NPP, Hon. Salisu Bamba was in his vehicle vividly watching what was going on.

Bawa Braimah, being a peace-loving person, never went out with his security guard. The NDC Ejura Sekyedumase trust the security in the Municipality that the needful action would be taken within the next 24 hours.

If the youth and members of the NDC in the Ejura Sekyedumase constituency do not see any action from the security within the given period, we will

organize a peaceful demonstration to show our grievances on the intimidations meted out to our MP.

We will organize the youth to provide security to our MP wherever he goes.

We will as a party retaliate the violence that was given to our MP.

The NDC Ejura Sekyedumase is calling on the youth to remain calm and wait for the action that will be taken by the security personnel in the Municipality.

We count on the traditional councils in Ejura Sekyedumase and Anyinasu to take note of these happenings and act for peace to prevail in the municipality.

Long live Ejura Sekyedumase NDC.

Sign

Okai Attakorah Gibson

Constituency Secretary-NDC EJURA SEKYEDUMASE.

0249388866/0209078056

Cc:1. Municipal Police Commander

Ejura Sekyedumase

2. Ejura Traditional council

3. Sekyedumase traditional council

4. Anyinasau traditional council

5. All Media Houses
Son Jong-woo, the operator of "Welcome to Video," one of the world's biggest child porn sites, leaves the Seoul Detention Center at Uiwang in Gyeonggi Province, Monday, after the Seoul High Court rejected the extradition request for him. Yonhap



The U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday it is disappointed by a South Korean court's denial of an extradition request for the operator of one of the world's biggest child porn sites.



The department provided a statement by acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin of Washington, D.C., in response to a Yonhap query about the Seoul High Court's decision on Monday.



"We are disappointed by the court's denial of extradition in this case against one of the most dangerous child sexual exploitation offenders in the world, whose actions deeply impacted citizens of the United States," Sherwin was quoted as saying.



"Despite the court's decision, we appreciate the efforts of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea in this matter, and we will continue to work together with the Ministry of Justice and our other international partners to combat online transnational crime that harms children, who are among the most vulnerable members of our population," he said.



The court denied the extradition request for Son Jong-woo, the operator of Welcome to Video, which ran on the darknet and was inaccessible by regular web browsers, on the grounds that having him in South Korea would be more helpful for the country's fight against child pornography.



U.S. authorities had filed the request after a federal grand jury in D.C. indicted Son in August 2018 on nine counts related to his operation of the massive child sexual exploitation site.



Son operated the site from June 2015 until March 2018, when it was taken down by law enforcement.



Officials around the world worked together to chase down the site's users and arrested 337 people, including 223 Koreans. At least 23 underage victims abused by the site's users were rescued.



Son finished serving an 18-month prison term in April, but was taken back into custody pending a decision on the extradition request.



He was released again on Monday and is expected to face further investigation in connection with other charges, including international money laundering. (Yonhap)


A former Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwaa-Doe is confident of a resounding victory for the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 general elections.

Ama Benyiwa-Doe on Face to Face on Citi TV said Mr. Mahama has a higher chance of winning the election due to President Akufo-Addos failure to deliver on his promises.

I want you to tell me what Akufo-Addo has done right. The man is always promising. He promised to build schools and none has been built. We are not the type of people you will want to make a mockery of. You said one constituency, one dam, but all these did not materialise. Do you know how much parents are paying for extra tuition? It is not feasible. Just proclaiming is not anything, action counts and John Mahama is an action man. He will say it and he will do it. John is the candidate that no one can beat as far as we are concerned. He will beat Akufo-Addo, he told Face to Face host, Umaru Amadu Sanda.

Re-election prospects

Ama Benyiwaa-Does prediction contradicts that of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The EIU had earlier predicted victory for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the December 2020 general elections.

Findings by the business intelligence unit showed that the NPP will retain power as the party is seen as a better custodian of the economy than the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The EIU maintained that despite the challenges brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic, it is almost impossible for the NDC to recapture power from the ruling party.

It, however, indicated that, if the NDC can present a coherent opposition and hold the NPP to account for unfulfilled campaign promises such as faster progress on infrastructure development, the election could be 'closely contested'.

In the upcoming presidential poll, the incumbent, Nana Akufo-Addo, will face a challenge from John Mahama who was elected leader of the NDC in February 2019. The campaign for the 2016 election was dominated by public concerns over a faltering economy, which many Ghanaians still associate with Mr. Mahama. Ahead of this election, the NPP has focused on infrastructure development (such as improving internet and electricity access, as well as roads, in rural areas) and outlined ambitious growth plans for cash-crop yields, which would bolster rural incomes.

Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2016 elections, beat then-President John Mahama by polling 5,716,026 million votes, representing 53.85%, while John Mahama polled 4,713,277 million votes representing 44.40%, the worse so far for an incumbent President.

---citinewsroom
A former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur has lambasted the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for what she describes as their unnecessary attack on the newly-elected running mate for the National Democratic Congress Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama.

Mr. Mahamas announcement of a former Education Minister, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the 2020 general elections has been met with strong criticisms from the NPP who have raised doubt over her credibility and integrity.

Officials of the NPP had argued that John Mahama's decision to settle on Madam Opoku-Agyemang is enough proof that he does not take the ordinary Ghanaian seriously because she poses a serious danger to the country's progress.

The NPP, among other things, cited the cancellation of the teacher trainee allowance, freeze on education sector employment and her signing of the petition to have the Montie trio released as some of the decisions that ultimately make her unfit for the new role.

But Nana Oye Lithur who served under the Mahama-government has hit hard at the critics describing their commentary as one that lacks substance given Naana Opoku-Agyemangs enviable past records as an educationist and Minister.

In terms of spurious, unwarranted, indefensible comments that the NPP has made, I am quite disappointed that they couldnt have come up with anything better. The NPP government is seeking to reduce governance and quality of education to the absence of chalk in a single school out of the tens of thousands of schools in Ghana. So we say this is just deflating. If you read in between the lines, there is not much in terms of substance. They had to object so they are objecting, she said.

She continued by touting some of the achievements of the newly elected running mate insisting that If you look at the facts and figures and the record on the ground, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang distributed thousands of boxes of chalk. And in this age where we are talking about IT, where many schools have even done away with chalk, should this be one of the major points of the ruling party? Prof. Opoku-Agyemang increased teacher trainee enrolment and even added eight new colleges of education to the Republic of Ghana.

Response to Majority Leader

The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu had raised concerns over what value the Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang brings to the NDC ticket.

According to him, although the running mate has a good character, she lacks the required qualities to improve the chances for candidate John Dramani Mahama in the 2020 election.

The Suame lawmaker while sharing his view on the issue to the media in Parliament on July 7, 2020, said if former John Mahama wanted a woman, Hanna Tetteh or former Attorney General, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong could have been a better option because both have demonstrated some level of competence.

But responding to these claims, Nana Oye Lithur said the Majority Leaders concerns are misplaced.

The Majority Leader of Parliament, unfortunately, has to spew out a few words so he is saying something. The evidence is there for us in terms of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemangs achievement as Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Education. We have looked and assessed her achievement and she is running mate and Vice-Presidential candidate who is a safe pair of hand, committed, results-oriented team leader, humble, God-fearing and resonate with rank and file of the NDC, neutrals, moderates and even the NPP. This tells you what sort of woman we have that John Mahama has selected as his running mate.

----citinewsroom
French President Emmanuel Macron's green ambitions are a somewhat grey area after the government reoriented to the right following a ministerial reshuffle that saw little-known conservative Jean Castex appointed to the top job.

After the ruling LReM party was routed in local elections last month  with the Greens sweeping control of the major cities  many had predicted Macron would choose a prime minister from the more eco-friendly political left.

But Castex, a one-time advisor to former president Nicolas Sarkozy, hails from the ranks of the right-wing Les Republicains party  just like his predecessor Edouard Philippe.

Commentators say the appointment falls short of the reinvention Macron promised, and is evidence of a power grab by a president looking to behave as prime minister himself, while galvanising support from the centre-right ahead of his re-election tilt in 2022.

New poster-woman for environment

Among a slew of changes that see eight new ministers enter government for the first time, Barbara Pompili, a 45-year-old reformist, has landed the role of Minister for Ecological Transition. She replaces Elisabeth Borne, who's been reassigned as Labour Minister.

The environment ministry is now listed as one of France's senior portfolios and Pompili, a former member of France's EELV greens party, faces the uphill battle of convincing voters that Macron is sincere about putting the environment at the heart of his presidency over the next two years.

Pompili is the fourth minister to take on the Ecological Transition portfolio since Macron won power in 2017  with Macron's first pick, Nicolas Hulot, having resigned in dramatic fashion amid disagreements with colleagues that left him feeling "all alone" in government.

Pompili has a tough challenge ahead, with one EELV former colleague, Karima Delli, telling FranceInfo radio that she would not be able to succeed where Hulot  a well-known French environmentalist  had failed.

Sturdy credentials

Pompili comes from a mining family and growing up under such circumstances, she has said, opened her eyes to the need to plan for a sustainable future.

Her ministry will oversee energy and housing, with Macron looking for greener policies in these domains to drive France's post-coronavirus economic recovery and to build a lasting future for French manufacturers.

The new poster-woman for the government's green strategy has plenty of experience to qualify her for the job. In 2018, she chaired a parliamentary commission on nuclear safety and security that was highly critical of France's nuclear power industry.

An advocate for slashing France's nuclear output to less than half of its energy production by 2035, Pompili has been disastrous for the sector, a source inside the state-owned utility EDF told Reuters.

Even before she put France's nuclear plants on notice, though, Pompili was earning a name for herself in government as secretary of state for biodiversity under former Socialist president Francois Hollande.

Along with former environment minister Francois de Rugy  who resigned amid a spending scandal  she co-chaired the National Assembly's green grouping, and was at one point approached to take on the assembly's presidency.

An MP for the Somme, Pompili then took a gamble, making the switch from EELV to Macron's fledgling Le Republique en Marche party  under whose banner she won her constituency for a second time.

Now, with a seat at the decision-makers' table, Pompili will be looking to get her voice heard within a government that's increasingly veering to the right, while at the same time outwardly portraying Macron as an eco-friendly leader despite his failures of the past.

Citizens climate experiment

A day after the Greens seized cities including Lyon, Bordeaux and Strasbourg from LReM control in June elections, Macron vowed to speed up France's environmental policies  promising an extra 15 billion to fight climate change over the next two years.

He also threw his support behind two referendums on major climate policy put forward by the Citizens Climate Convention, a lottery of 150 French people chosen to debate and respond to the climate challenges facing society.

It now falls to Pompili to set in motion the 146 proposals of the citizens' convention that have been accepted by Macron. She's already made clear that the success of the convention  hailed an unprecedented exercise in participatory democracy  will be a matter of political will.
About 435 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have described President Akufo-Addo's decision to ask the Auditor-General to proceed on his accumulated leave as improper and a dent on the President's image as a corruption fighter.

They are therefore urging the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to reconsider the decision.

Dr Kojo Asante, the Director for Advocacy and Policy at the Center for Democratic Development, one of the CSOs who have expressed their regret about the situation said President Akufo-Addos decision is unlawful and may set a bad example.

To them, this will mar the relationship between the Executive and independent institutions such as the Office of the Auditor-General.

Independent governance institutions have a special place in the architecture of our governance system particularly when it comes to horizontal accountability and once the president is making a decision where we feel that it opens up the Pandora box with respect of these independent governance institutions, we feel it is really important for us to step in and draw the Presidents attention to the problems he is creating by making this decision, he said.

Dr. Asante in justifying the position of the CSOs said on Eyewitness News on Tuesday that the decision of President Akufo-Addo did not have legal basis because they believe that leave cannot be accumulated.

The President erred on the issue of accumulated leave Accumulated leave , from everything that we have gathered, there is no [legal] grounding for that.

He noted that President Akufo-Addo could have opted for directing the Auditor-General to take some of his 2020 leave especially if he recognizes the importance of the office.

He said the CSOs are hopeful that President Akufo-Addo will reconsider his decision.

If the President is minded to consider our position, that will be good.

Support call

Mr. Asante at an earlier press conference called on the public to join the call on the President to reverse his decision on Mr. Domelevo.

We as citizens have to fight for public officers like Mr. Domelevo not because they are saints, not because they are infallible, but because they show us that the governance and society we dream to have is possible, he said.

---citinewsroom
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The Ho West Youth Congress (HoYCo), a development and youth empowerment and advocacy group has followed religiously the debate leading to the selection of the Running Mate of the NDC yesterday, Monday, July 6th, 2020. The Presidential ticket of the ruling NPP had long been logically presumed.

The fallouts from the debate had created an intense anxiety among political watchers about the calibre of person that may be nominated by H.E. John Mahama to partner him in this December's elections. Our group, HoYCo, was equally, and justifiably anxious too about what was coming.

Eventually, Mr John Mahama, yesterday nominated Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang as his running mate to complete NDC's presidential ticket for the upcoming elections. We have noted with joy, the spontaneous applause and delight that greeted the nomination, and as congratulatory and goodwill messages continue to pour in, we feel that we must not be left out, but must also indicate our solidarity with the nomination.

It is noteworthy that this particular nomination is a shift from the conventional practice of looking mainly at regional balance in seeking a running mate, to the selection rather of the first female candidate by any of our major political parties with a realistic chance of winning general elections in Ghana since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1992.

This historic nomination is none other than the nomination of *Prof Jane Naana Opoku- Agyemang,* who has been widely acclaimed as highly competent for the position, having held very important public offices from being a chief administrator of a public university (Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast) to being the Minister for Education between 2012 and 2017.

As a youth empowerment and development advocacy group, we cannot be more excited by this nomination, and we accordingly wish to congratulate the good Professor for having been accorded this honour and responsibility to assist H.E. John Mahama to manage the affairs of our nation if they shall be elected in December this year. We have no doubt at all that Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang shall be an excellent Vice President for our nation.

While our membership is in the process of determining which presidential ticket to endorse and work assiduously for in this year's elections, we wish to unreservedly congratulate H.E. John Mahama, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, and the NDC for also completing its presidential ticket and thereby making it easier for us to do our assessment as quickly as possible.

It is our hope that the rest of the political process shall proceed smoothly, devoid of turmoil, and the elections shall be free and fair, and free of violence. The youth of Ho West and for that matter the entire nation deserve a peaceful and congenial environment to thrive and develop their careers. We shall expect nothing short of the political leadership of the country.

In conclusion, HoYCo wishes to reiterate the good feeling of its general membership of the nomination of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang as the running mate of H.E. John Mahama, and we wish them the very best of luck and God's guidance and blessing in their rescue Ghana mission campaign. Congratulations, Prof.

Signed

utifafa Kristo Kofi

Convenor

0244723987/0200789611

Horlali Yaw Haligah

Secretary

0249307716
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Introduction

The potentials of big data and artificial intelligence are already being discovered and explored by many industries, including the oil and gas sector. Many countries across the globe are investing heavily in data technologies for offshore oil and gas intending to secure the forthcoming competitiveness in a rapid-changing environment. As oil and gas are considered precious commodities in the energy sector, organizations involved in this sector are utilizing modern technologies to maximize and optimize efficiency as well as revenues.

Artificial intelligence is perceived as a diverse scientific field, but the primary application within the oil and gas sector is machine learning and data science. Within the offshore oil and gas industry, machine learning quickly monitors complex internal processes and operations that human operators may find it very difficult to detect.

Furthermore, machine learning can help run simulations in an attempt to discover patterns based on input data. In running simulations, the oil and gas industry will be able to gauge the environmental risk associated with upcoming projects before decisions are made. With the help of artificial intelligence, data science that hinges on neural networks can link related pieces of data together by mimicking trends, seasonality, and events (data variations that may occur on an irregular schedule or time) in a dataset. In the offshore oil and gas industry, data science makes complex data used for oil and gas production and exploration more accessible.

From a theoretical perspective, the aforementioned benefit of big data and artificial intelligence appears to be an important and intriguing tool needed in Ghana's offshore oil and gas. Giving the benefit of the doubt that big data and artificial intelligence may have just gained widespread media attention and adoption in organizations and industries, big data and artificial intelligence, on a practical perspective is more intriguing as it seems. For instance, in 2019, British Petroleum (BP) invested in Belmont Technology to develop a cloud-based geoscience platform.

The cloud-based geoscience platform links information, and identify new connections and workflows to create a more robust image of BP's subsurface assets. BP then consults the data by utilizing the neural network to perform simulations and interpret results. This innovative tool bolstered BP's revenues and operational performance. Also, in 2018, Shell partnered with Microsoft to incorporate the Azure C3 Internet of Things software platform into its offshore operations to drive efficiency across all sections of Shells offshore infrastructure (from drilling and extraction to employee empowerment and safety). Likewise, Shell reported high efficiency in daily operations.

As part of global efforts to digitally transform exploration and production operations in the oil and gas industry, what are the future of big data and artificial intelligence in Ghana's offshore oil and gas? The team of experts at the Center for International Maritime Affairs, Ghana (CIMAG) has outlined five major benefits why big data and artificial intelligence systems are needed in Ghanas offshore oil and gas.

1. Offshore data analysis catalog

The use of big data and artificial intelligence enables the oil and gas companies to build clusters of data for simulation and prediction purposes. The oil and gas industry needs frequent and detailed compliance, audit checks, and enhanced operations. Ignoring artificial intelligence and big data creates huge volumes of paperwork, which is complex to track and practically impossible to measure with any degree of accuracy or value. Utilizing artificial intelligence and big data allows auditing checks to be monitored in real-time for decision-making purposes.

2. Big data fuels productivity

With offshore manual platforms running at minimal production potential, most businesses and organizations are looking to big data and analytics as a way to enhance process and productivity. For example, with the integration of the Internet of Things into daily production processes, large volumes of data generated from oil and gas upstream, midstream, and downstream processes can be swiftly analyzed to provide new insights to halt equipment malfunctioning. This helps employees to maintain offshore platforms through predicting maintenance and detecting equipment breakdown.

3. Automation saves time

Most often, the inspection of offshore assets is undertaken manually by an inspector, which is translated into a static report stuck on someones shelf. With automation, the same inspector with a hand-held device can log-on location, measurement, conditions assessment, and photo into the device platform to generate results that can be easily transmitted to the onshore facilities manager for assessment. The transmitted data can be stored in an active database platform for easy accessibility. The database system can evaluate the results against pre-set limits and trending analysis. Such automation shortens the offshore time for inspection, reduce operational cost, and improves feedback effects.

4. Balances safety with efficiency by following a data-led approach to operations

Although the oil and gas industry is awash with several opportunities that attempt to maximize efficiency, companies should be wary of rolling-out initiatives that save time and money without improving safety measures. Frequent monitoring of subsea pipeline flow with advanced analytics software tools can highlight potential problems that require solutions. The use of advanced analytic software can simulate production assets to depict real-time monitoring of good abnormalities to optimize performance and safety.

5. Real-time alerting with video analytics

To protect critical infrastructures in the oil and gas sector, a large number of video surveillance cameras should be ready to be deployed. Video analytics helps provide real-time alerting for maintenance purposes. Furthermore, the perimeter of the oil and gas industry can be protected with video analytics for security reasons. For operational efficiency, video analytics can monitor the feeds of all cameras to check if some cameras have been tampered with, thereby increasing the quality and uptime of the system.

is the Executive Director at the Centre for International Maritime Affairs (CIMAG). He holds a bachelor degree in Integrated Development Studies from the University of Development Studies. He holds an LLB (Law) from the Mountcrest University College and a postgraduate certificate in Health Safety & Environment.

He holds a certificate of proficiency in customs procedures & port operations. Currently, Albert is a Director in charge of Business Development at the Logical Maritime Services Limited, a privately held global logistics company. With extensive research, policy and advocacy backgrounds, Albert serves on numerous boards within the maritime industry. E-mail: [email protected] .

BISMARK AMEYAW (Ph.D.) is the director of research and advocacy at the Centre for International Maritime Affairs (CIMAG). He is a director of international relations and research development at the African Center for Strategic Business and Entrepreneurship Development (ACSBED).
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Leverage Microfinance Company (LMC), Mr. Gilbert K. N. Adamtey is calling on the government to consider collaborating with the various telecommunication companies in the country to infuse digital addresses of people in their sim cards so that it will help financial institutions in their loan recovery process.

He said many financial institutions, including microfinance companies, oftentimes struggled to recover loans from their clients because of the poor addressing system in the country.

He explained that some customers after taking loans change their locations and such practice makes it difficult for lending institutions such as microfinance companies to trace or locate such customers.

Mr Adamtey in an interview with Graphic Online said when peoples digital address were infused in their sim cards, would enable the financial institutions to know the exact locations of their clients even when they changed their residence.

He was of the view that although the GhanaPostGPS digital property addressing system had enhanced the countrys addressing system, infusing the digital address in sim cards would further enhance addressing system in the country.

Loan recovery

Mr Adamtey also called on the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah to set up a special financial court to help financial institutions in their loan recovery process.

According to him, setting up a special financial court would help fast-track courts processes in loan recovery, explaining that using the same commercial courts for loan recovery delay the process, which in turn, affect the value of the money involved.

He said a dedicated court for loan recovery would go a long way to help financial institutions in the country.

Financial sector clean-up

Commenting on the financial sector clean-up, Mr Adamtey said although the exercise had helped cleared some lapses in the financial sector, it had affected deposits since it partly affected the confidence of some customers.

It will take some time to build the confidence of people, he said, adding that Leverage Microfinance had also seen a drop in its deposits but had increased its shares.

He noted that building the confidence of people in the countrys financial sector would require financial institutions putting right structures in place; being accountable, and also respecting their staff and customers.

That, Mr Adamtey, encouraged the public to have confidence in the remaining financial institutions since the underperforming ones had been cleared from the system.

Focus

He explained that Leverage Microfinance Company had remained liquid because of its decision to remain focus on its core business areas without venturing into areas it had little expertise there.

The most important thing is to do what you know best to do, he said, pointing out that many financial institutions that were affected in the financial sector clean-up ventured into other areas outside their core business.

We want to remain focus so that we can serve the interest of local businesses, Mr Adamtey said, adding that the company was ready to give loans to local suppliers that were unable to do business because of lack of capital.

Corporate governance

He said the company had been liquid due to its corporate governance enhancement, noting that the company had also enhanced its board.

That, he explained, for instance, that out of the seven board members of the company, five of the members were non-executives, meaning they did not have any shares in the company and therefore were independent in their views about the operations of the company.

According to Mr Adamtey, enhanced corporate governance "is key in the survival of every corporate business", particularly a financial institution.

He said the enhanced corporate governance as well as diversification of its board members has helped the company to meet the capital requirement of the Bank of Ghana in excess of about two million Ghana Cedis.

COVID-19 loans

Mr Adamtey said due to the impact of COVID-19 which had affected many businesses, particularly small and medium scale businesses, the company had increased its capital to enable it offer loans to small and medium scale companies in the country.

Similarly, he said, the company was in the position to offer loans to individuals on governments payroll to enable them survive the hardships that COVID-19 had brought.

We have increased our capital to help revive businesses, he said, calling on small and medium scale businesses to access their loans.

Mr Adamtey indicated that the company was also ready to help clearing agents clear their goods at the ports, saying We do this with speed.

All our activities are underpinned by speed, he said, pointing out that the company could be located in Accra as well as on the internet.

LMC

Leverage Microfinance, headquartered at Dansoman  Sakaman road, is a limited liability company registered under the Companies Act 1963 (Act 179) of Ghana as a non  bank financial institution.

The company offered investment products, personal loans, business loans, susu loans, as well as import and export financing.

---GraphicOnline
A challenging counsel and admonition have been given to the ruling Akufo-Addo-led NPP government to, as a matter of urgency, close down all schools again in order to contain the further spread of the coronavirus.

This advice is coming from the President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) Angel Carbonu.

According to him, there have been COVID-19 infections in schools which have now vindicated their earlier caution to the government not to reopen schools in the country.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, President of NAGRAT, Angel Carbonu said the current development at the Accra Girls Senior High School raises fears of what might be going on in other schools as well.

It sounds like what we foresaw is, unfortunately, coming to bear. The fact of the matter is that Accra Girls is not the only Senior High School in this country, they do not operate in isolation and the students do not come from isolated geographical entities so only God knows what the situation may be in other Senior High Schools.

He also called on the government to close down schools again before the situation gets out of control.

From where I sit now, before we get to a point where we cannot control, I think we should bite the bullet and close down the schools. That is my personal opinion. The way things are going, I can assure you the story is not looking too pleasant, he added.

Final year SHS and Form Two Gold Track students returned to school following the directive of President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo that schools should reopen to final year students to enable them write their exit exams.

Eight COVID-19 cases have been recorded at the Accra Girls Senior High School (AGISS).

On Monday, July 06, 2020, parents stormed the Accra Girls Senior High School to pick up their wards following the development.

But the government has called for calm.

The Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service have deployed a joint team to assess COVID-19 situations in the various Senior High Schools.

---CitinewsRoom
The police and the security agencies have been called upon to deal ruthlessly with troublemakers who are going around voter registration centres harassing potential voters and causing chaos.

This latest call is coming from the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) who want immediate prosecution of such characters and all election-related offenders.

CODEO believes that when this is administered, it will go a long way to deter others from engaging in such acts that undermine laws governing the conduct of elections in the country.

A preliminary observation report issued by CODEO today, Wednesday, July 8, 2020, on the first phase of the exercise revealed instances of violence recorded at registration centres in some parts of the country.

Some reported incidents included suspected foreigners trying to register, attempted registration by people suspected to be from outside an electoral area, and political party leaders or executives trooping into registration centres.

But the civil society organization has urged authorities of the Ghana Police Service to make violators face the full rigours of the law.

While the security personnel have been able to bring a number of violent and chaotic situations under control, CODEO entreats the Police Service to swiftly prosecute any persons who violate the electoral laws to serve as an early deterrent to others Details of reported cases highlighted below:

1. In the afternoon of July 4, 2020, there was a confrontation at a registration center at the Sakasaka Polling Station in Tamale when a political party activist allegedly attempted to get some people from outside the electoral area to register. In the process, the alleged party activist smashed the phones of the Registration Officer and that of a party agent from a different political party. The timely intervention by police officers and local party

leaders brought the situation under control as tempers had flared up.

2. Observers reported a number of instances where political party executives/leaders kept trooping in and out of registration centers. In one instance on June 30, 2020, at a registration center at the R/C JHS School A, Elubo in the Jomoro Constituency of the Western Region, the situation nearly resulted in a physical fight when some registration applicants challenged the unauthorized presence of party leaders. The intervention of security personnel brought the situation under control.

3. Observers report that at some registration centers, political party agents have been taking down the registration details of registration applicants and the situation resulted in some confrontations at one center in the Akatsi North constituency (EP JHS, Dzalele registration center). At this center, a registered voter and a party agent got into a nearly physical confrontation on July 1, 2020, when the former challenged the collection of his voter ID card information by political party agents. The situation resulted in the halting of the registration process for some minutes. In another instance at the same center on June 30, 2020, there was a near brawl between NDC and NPP party agents when the MP for the area urged registration applicants not to give out information on their voter ID cards to political party agents.

4. At the registration center at the District Magistrate Court in Pokuase in the Amasaman constituency, a suspected foreigner was arrested by security officers for attempting to register after interrogation by the registration officer. One person who tried to guarantee for the alleged foreigner was also arrested.

Meanwhile, CODEO has urged the general public to exercise optimum responsibility in ensuring that human lives are not endangered unnecessarily.

CODEO has deployed 100 observers for the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration Exercise being carried out by the EC across the country.

The group has an observer each in 100 randomly and purposively selected constituencies spread across the 16 regions of the country.

At the end of phase one of the registration exercise, the CODEO Secretariat received a total of 575 daily observation reports from 100 constituencies from the 30th of June to July 5, 2020.

---Citinewsroom
Supreme Prosecutions Office/ Yonhap



By Kim Se-jeong



Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae rejected Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's proposal made Wednesday to create an "independent" investigation team to handle a case involving one of Yoon's key aides and a now fired TV reporter, adding another layer of tension to their already rocky relationship.



"I don't consider his proposal as him implementing my order," Choo said in a statement, adding, "His proposal suggests either changing or replacing investigators," something she apparently doesn't want to happen.



Breaking almost six days of silence, Yoon, proposed recusing himself from the ongoing investigation until its end, and to appoint a senior prosecutor to oversee the probe in order to guarantee the freedom of the investigating team.



"The decision was made to respect the justice minister's command and the opinions of those inside and outside the prosecution," the Supreme Prosecutors' Office said. Observers watching the recent clash viewed Yoon's move as a diplomatic gesture to avoid a head-on clash with the minister.



On Wednesday morning, Choo sent an ultimatum to Yoon, ordering him to provide an answer to her by Thursday morning.



"I will wait for an answer from the prosecutor general until 10 a.m. Thursday," she wrote in a statement released Wednesday during her summer vacation.



The spotlight is once again on Yoon and how he will react to the overt pressure from the minister.



The latest development is part of the ongoing clash between the two. At the heart of the latest round of tension was the case involving the senior prosecutor who is a close aide of Yoon.



The prosecutor general viewed the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's investigation into the case as a deliberate, politically-motivated one with the goal of damaging him. He pushed to stop it by asking the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to convene an expert panel to review the validity of the probe.



Choo, conversely, saw Yoon as attempting to stop the investigation as a favor to his aide. On July 2, Choo ordered Yoon to stop seeking the review, which he did immediately, and to give the investigators full freedom.



The prosecutor general called a meeting with senior prosecutors from across the country Friday, during which the majority voiced opposition to Choo's moves.



On Monday, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office released an official statement containing the conclusions drawn at the meeting.



Choo and Yoon have not been on good terms from the minister's first day in office.



Yoon, who was inaugurated last year, was President Moon's pick for the role of prosecutor general, however, he quickly became a headache for Moon as he ordered investigations into the President's close aides.



He ordered an investigation into Cho Kuk, the former justice minister and a confidante of Moon, who spearheaded prosecutorial reform, over corruption allegations involving his family members. Cho resigned from the post late last year and he and his wife are currently on trial.



Choo who was also appointed by President Moon came into office in January and started to pressure Yoon. The minister, against Yoon's wishes, restructured the prosecutor's office and reassigned people  putting prosecutors who supported her in higher positions.



The ongoing tension poses a challenge to Moon's long drive for prosecutorial reform. For a long time in Korea, prosecutors were privileged and frequently embroiled in claims of corruption that also involved politicians.


Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the coronavirus after months of downplaying the dangers of the disease, as the United States begins its withdrawal from the World Health Organization despite logging a record number of new infections.

The American pull-out from the WHO comes as the UN agency conceded there was "emerging evidence" coronavirus is transmitted through particles in the air, heightening fears over an illness that has already infected nearly 11.8 million people worldwide and caused more than 540,000 deaths.

Countries are struggling to keep a lid on new cases as they attempt to restart economies, with Australia's second-biggest city becoming the latest victim of a second surge after recently lifting virus restrictions.

World toll of coronavirus infections and deaths, as of July 7, 2020 at 1900 GMT. By Jonathan WALTER (AFP)

Millions in Melbourne prepared for a return to lockdown Wednesday that was forecast to run six weeks, as soaring community transmission brings more than 100 new cases daily in the city.

Bolsonaro, who said he had experienced only mild symptoms so far, said he was feeling "perfectly well" as he removed his mask in a TV interview Tuesday to announce his diagnosis.

The far-right leader has consistently ignored virus containment measures such as social distancing despite Brazil being the world's second-worst hit country with more than 66,000 dead.

Brazil accounts for the lion's share of infections in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the caseload has now surpassed three million, according to an AFP tally.

Record rise

In Washington, a senior US official said the United States had informed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of its intention to leave the WHO, effective July 6, 2021.

The US has submitted its notice of withdrawal to the the World Health Organization. By Fabrice COFFRINI (AFP/File)

President Donald Trump has been critical of the WHO's pandemic response, accusing it of bias toward China and ignoring early signs of human-to-human transmission.

The US is the largest financial contributor to the agency, providing $400 million annually.

Joe Biden, Trump's main challenger in November's presidential election, said he would immediately reverse the decision if he wins.

The pandemic has killed more than 131,000 people in the US, by far the highest death toll of any nation, and on Tuesday the country logged a record number of new daily cases at more than 60,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

A health care worker administers a COVID-19 test at United Memorial Medical Center testing site in Houston, Texas -- now only the third state to register more than 10,000 virus cases in a 24-hour period. By Mark Felix (AFP/File)

Officials have said hospitals in some parts of the country are in danger of being overwhelmed.

Top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci has warned the US is still "knee-deep" in only its first coronavirus wave.

But Trump pounced on that comment Tuesday, saying America was "in a good place" and adding: "I disagree with him."

Experts are still struggling to understand COVID-19, and the WHO said it was open to new research suggesting the virus can spread through the air farther and for longer than initially believed. Scientists had lobbied for the agency to recognize the possibility.

Confront reality

Panic-buying gripped Melbourne on Wednesday as shoppers snapped up items in preparation for the new lockdown, which also includes sealing the state of Victoria off from the rest of the country.

Australia's largest supermarket chain said it had reimposed buying limits on goods including pasta, vegetables and sugar after shoppers rushed to stores across the region.

"This is not the situation that anybody wanted to be in, but it is the reality that we must confront," said Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews.

In many nations, adjusting to the new normal of social distancing, masks and fluctuating restrictions is meeting resistance, with health authorities often struggling to win hearts and minds.

The head of the prestigious Royal Society science journal said Tuesday that people who refuse to wear masks should even be stigmatized in the same way as drink-drivers.

"If all of us wear one, we protect each other and thereby ourselves, reducing transmission," wrote president Venki Ramakrishnan.

burs-axn/fox
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The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in the latest report has cited Power FM, Oman FM, and popular news portal GhanaWeb for violating several media ethics.

In a statement from MFWA, pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) radio station, Power FM, is the worst perpetrator of ethical violations among 26 media organizations that were monitored for ethical infractions in the period of June 1-14, 2020.

According to the report by MFWA, Power FM committed the highest number of violations [48] followed by the pro-New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Oman FM with 46 violations.

Ghanaweb.com is cited on the lists of ethical violations with a total of 9 violations.

The findings are contained in the maiden report of the Media Foundation for West Africas media ethics monitoring project.

The project monitored 917 media content from 10 Akan language radio stations, 10 newspapers, and six news websites. A total of 141 ethical violations were recorded, with radio stations perpetrating most of the infractions (88%).

The monitoring of media ethics is part of a project titled: Enhancing media professionalism to inspire public confidence and support for press freedom in Ghana.

The objective of the project is to identify and highlight incidents of ethical infractions and drawing attention to such breaches as a way of fostering adherence to ethical principles by media organizations.

Read a press statement from the MFWA for more information on the report on infractions from the media outlets below:

PRESS RELEASE

Media Ethics: Pro-partisan Power FM, Oman FM Top Violations

Pro-National Democratic Congress (NDC) radio station, Power FM, is the worst perpetrator of ethical violations among 26 media organisations that were monitored for ethical infractions in the period of June 1-14, 2020.

Power FM, which recorded 48 violations, is immediately followed by pro-New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Oman FM with 46 violations. The news website, Ghanaweb.com, follows with nine violations.

The findings are contained in the maiden report of the Media Foundation for West Africas (MFWA) media ethics monitoring project. The project monitored 917 media content from 10 Akan language radio stations, 10 newspapers and six news websites. A total of 141 ethical violations were recorded, with radio stations perpetrating most of the infractions (88%).

The report also revealed that Inside Politics, an afternoon political talk show, on Power FM hosted by Mugabe Maase is the programme that recorded the highest number of ethical violations (31) during the period of monitoring. This was closely followed by Oman FMs morning show, National Agenda, with 29 violations. National Agenda is hosted by Yaw Amofa. Oman FMs Boiling Point, an evening political talk show, which is hosted by Kwabena Kwakye also followed as the programme with the third-highest recorded violations (10).

The report further indicates that many programme hosts and presenters of news bulletins on the pro-partisan radio stations often made no attempts to call to order, panelists and interviewees who made unethical statements on air. In some cases, they were actively engaged in insulting and making offensive statements against personalities who do not belong to the political party of their radio owners.

The monitoring of media ethics is part of a project titled: Enhancing media professionalism to inspire public confidence and support for press freedom in Ghana. The objective of the project is to identify and highlight incidents of ethical infractions and drawing attention to such breaches as a way of fostering adherence to ethical principles by media organisations.

The full report contains the specific ethical principles violated, the names of the media outlets that violated among other findings. Kindly click here to access it.

The instrument being used for the monitoring, which contains the category definitions for tracking and reporting of ethical principles is also available here. For further clarifications and media interviews, contact Programme Manager, Vivian Affoah (0244896588), or Programme Officer, Kwaku Krobea Asante (0249484528).

MFWA Press Release, 2020
A steaming dish of milk and maize porridge interrupts an early-morning mathematics class in Sitoromo Junior Secondary School in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.

A dozen hungry pupils dig their spoons into the brimming bowls as the sun slowly thaws the frosty meadows surrounding their town, Sterkspruit, tucked in the Maluti mountains across the border from Lesotho.

"There are children who are schooling here who rely mostly on the meals they get from school," said their principal, Thabang Letsoso.

Before the pandemic, around nine million children in South Africa's state-run schools received a meal per day as part of a government-led nutrition programme.

In impoverished rural communities, that meal often provides the bulk of a child's nutritional intake.

Schools that shut at the start of South Africa's coronavirus outbreak in March started gradually welcoming pupils back to class last month, with three more year groups allowed back from Monday.

Time for food: Pupils tuck into milk and maize porridge -- for some, this may be their only substantial meal of the day. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP)

But over the weekend, provincial authorities postponed the return date due to an "increase in the number of infections" across the Eastern Cape -- the country's third-worst-affected province.

The long disruption has not just affected the children's education in a poor rural area. It has also stoked concern about youngsters missing out on a crucial daily plate of hot food.

"Since March they have been staying at home, (where) nothing has been happening," Letsoso worried.

"Sometimes I think some of them (now) sleep without anything in their stomachs."

Worried parents

At least one fifth of about 12 million learners have now been allowed to return to school across South Africa.

In the Eastern Cape this only applies to grade seven -- children aged around 13 -- and grade 12 students, aged around 17 or 18, who are working for their high-school diploma.

The next batch of grades are expected to resume class only later this month.

For Sitoromo that means 368 children will have been out of school for at least four months by the time they return to class.

Clad in a dark green uniform and face mask, grade seven student Yongama Rhini said she was relieved to be back.

"When I am at home I'm cleaning, after cleaning I'm cooking (and) after cooking we go to play and there is no social distancing there," the 13-year old told AFP during her lunch break.

Concerns about safety have grown, however, as over 150 Eastern Cape schools have reported coronavirus cases over the past month.

At least 270 learners and 271 staff have tested positive across the coastal province -- the highest in the country -- according to government figures.

Fifteen staffers and three pupils were reported dead over the weekend.

Sitoromo itself had just reopened from a two-week closure after a teacher caught coronavirus, stoking further distress among alarmed parents.

'She can have breakfast'

"How must my child go back?" asked Lidya Radigeje, whose son was meant to resume class this week.

"What we have heard about this disease is that it is here and it kills."

Nondabezitha Sikunya admitted she was still looking forward to her 12-year-old grand-daughter's return to school.

"She is not hungry when she comes home from school," said Sikunya, 55, who makes a meagre living as a communal farm labourer.

"That money is too small to support her," she added. "At least she can have breakfast here."

Break time at the Sitoromo Junior Secondary School. Hundreds of children remain out of class under a phased return to school. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP)

Rights groups have criticised the government for failing to continue distributing food to learners outside class.

In a recent survey of its 400 members, South African youth group Equal Education found that 37 percent had not been able to get enough food since schools closed -- prompting the organisation to take legal action.

Education Minister Angie Motshekga has since announced plans to feed "learners not yet in school" through staggered meal times and food parcel collections.

Schools not 'ready'

Several doctors in South Africa believe the detrimental effects of keeping children away from school could outweigh the risk of catching coronavirus.

"School is a better environment for poorer parents who have to go back to work and are not sure what is happening to their kids," South African Paediatric Association President Mignon McCulloch told AFP, noting that children were unlikely to develop COVID-19.

A Grade Seven student gets back to work after months out of school. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP)

"If you have got an orderly school where kids are wearing masks in class and keeping their hands clean... and the desks are put slightly apart... the kids are at least getting some education and nutrition."

Easier said than done in this largely rural and poor province, where 60 percent of schools told local officials they were not "ready" to received more pupils this week.

Sitoromo was particularly ill-equiped.

A building was destroyed in a suspected arson attack last year, leaving just seven classrooms for 400 pupils.

"COVID-19 has added to that tragedy," said economics teacher Letlotlo Motsoeneng, pointing to chronic water shortages and lack of space.

"We don't know where we will put them," he sighed. "We are really stressed about our health."
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The African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) wishes to congratulate Professor Naana Jane Opoku  Agyemang on her nomination and acceptance as the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress.

Indeed, this news comes as warming to an association that has always stood for the inclusion of women at the highest level of decision-making, especially in politics. Womens participation in politics helps advance gender equality and impacts positively on the development and implementation of a range of policy prescriptions.

It is in this light that AWLA welcomes this nomination and also sends its best wishes to Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang. It is the hope of AWLA that, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang will embrace this opportunity and deliver on her roles and responsibilities as Vice-Presidential Candidate as she has shown in other areas of her professional and political life.

This will indeed set the pace for a monumental increase in the rate of women representation in Politics in Ghana, Africa, and Beyond.

SIGNED

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EDNA KUMA
The new Running Mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has showered praises on the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2020 elections, John Dramani Mahama, describing him as a man of vision.

The flagbearer the NDC, John Dramani Mahama named the former Minister of Education as his running mate on Monday, July 6, 2020, in Accra.

In a Facebook post, Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang described her new boss as a public servant of integrity.

John Dramani Mahama is a man of vision, a leader you can trust, a public servant of integrity and a courageous leader who makes the right decisions in the national interest at all times.

In an acceptance statement following her appointment, the former education Minister promised to channel her energies into supporting her party to win the 2020 general elections.

I pledge to diligently apply myself and dedicate all the energy and intellect I can muster to ensure a resounding victory for the NDC and for our country, Ghana. So help me God.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said she was delighted with the nomination and the overwhelming endorsement by the rank and file of the party.

It is with deep honour and a high sense of gratitude that I convey my acceptance of the nomination by H.E. John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer and Leader of the great National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be his Running Mate for the December 7, 2020 election. I am humbled by the overwhelming endorsement my nomination has received from the Founder of the NDC, H.E. Jerry John Rawlings, the Council of Elders, the National Executive Committee and the rank and file of our party, as well as the general public, she added in the statement.

She further noted that she considers her nomination as a big win for all women in the country.

This historic nomination is not a personal achievement, but victory for inclusive and participatory democracy, which enhances the credentials of our country and recognizes the towering role women have played over the ages to achieve the progress we have made.

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The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) in collaboration with Zoomlion Company Ghana Limited is piloting community mass spraying exercise in eight malaria-prone districts in the Bono East, Bono and Ahafo regions as part of measures to deal with diseases caused by mosquito, especially malaria.

The exercise code-named Larviciding is primarily targeted at mosquito larvae, thus preventing it from maturing to become full-grown mosquito capable of infecting people with malaria in the selected communities.

The beneficiary districts are Sunyani West, Berekum Municipal, Techiman Municipal, Atebubu-Amantin, Kintampo Municipal, Nkoranza Municipal, Asunafo North and Asutifi North.

The successful implementation of this exercise will lead to the possible up-scaling nationwide to effectively and possibly wipe out malaria infection in the country.

Under the arrangement, the NMCP will provide technical support while Zoomlion will be responsible for the provision of personnel and logistics for the exercise.

The Bono Regional Malaria Control Co-ordinator, Akwasi Appiah Donkor, disclosed this to the media in Sunyani.

Mr. Donkor was hopeful that the exercise will, in the long-term, lead to a considerable drop in malaria cases in the country.

For his part, the Bono Regional Vector Control Officer of Zoomlion, Ernest Osei Benya said the designated areas in the selected districts will be sprayed weekly with vectobac 12AS chemical which is specifically targeted at mosquito-larvae without causing any harm to other micro-organisms.

Every week a team of ten sprayers in the selected districts will visit the mapped-up mosquito breeding sites to spray there for four weeks until the larvae are totally eliminated, he emphasised.
A women group calling itself Gratia Women of Substance Network, has given the NPP Communications Director, Yaw Buaben Asamoa a 48-hour ultimatum to retract his comments against Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang or face their wrath.

The group vowed that it would rally against him in the upcoming December polls if he does not take his comments back.

The women group alleged that the NPP chastises women who are appointed to high positions, tagging them as prostitutes.

The Adenta MP at a press conference on Monday after the announcement of the NDC running mate said former President John Mahama does not take Ghanaians serious with his selection of the p rofessor.

We can only conclude that the choice of Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman by Mr John Dramani Mahama is a clear indication that he does not take the Ghanaian electorate seriously, the MP said among other things.

The group says his attack was an attack on all women in the country and he must apologize.

An executive of the group Hetty Ken said I dont know whether its a track record of the NPP, anytime a woman is appointed, they have a name to call that woman. Either she is a prostitute, she has used her womanhood to get the position, and this is so absurd, its becoming unbecoming. We want to put an end to it.

This woman is a very intelligent woman and who would say she has used her womanhood for this position; nobody. So we are telling him, within 48-hours he must come out and apologize to Professor or else what will happen on December 7th he will see it.

When quizzed about what the repercussion would be if the Adenta MP did not meet their ultimatum, she said oh he will lose his seat. I am throwing a challenge to the NPP that for Adenta seat he will lose it and that is minus one from their members of parliament.

The group congratulated Mr Mahama, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang and the NDC for their choice of running mate.

Meanwhile, Former Attorney General Betty Mould Iddrisu says the Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party must apologise for his attacks on the NDC running mate.

She stated that the attack on the academician is an insult to all women and must be retracted.

Im sorry for NPP but they cant say what they said about her. And for Yaw Buaben Asamoa to have said picking her means John Mahama is not serious, I didnt think Buaben to be not engendered so Im astonished by what he said.

"He needs to retract that statement and apologise to Ghanaian women. For suggesting Mahama is not serious for taking Naana as running mate. That comment is not just insulting but disrespectful to all Ghanaian women.

Former Central Regional Minister Ama Benyiwaa Doe has expressed her support for the Prof. Naana slamming critics including the NPP who have immediately launched attacks on the track-record of the educationist saying they simply do not have a reply for her.
The Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, on Tuesday July 7 toured some registration centres in his constituency.

He was accompanied by Isaac Agyapong, DCE for the Kwahu East District, Isaac Kwaku Addo, NPPs Abetifi Constituency Chairman and the entire Constituency Executives.

He interacted with registration officers and advised them to adhere to all the laid down protocols on COVID-19 to keep them and the citizenry safe.

He used the opportunity to donate 10,000 hand sanitizers and 10,000 face masks for onward distribution to the registrants.

Ghana started the voter registration for this years presidential and parliamentary elections on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, with strict COVID-19 prevention measures in force.

The nationwide registration for the second phase of the exercise will last between July 6 and 11, 2020.

Over six hundred delegates, 5 executives and 17 constituency officers in the Abetifi constituency of the Eastern Region in unison acclaimed incumbent Member of Parliament, Mr Bryan Acheampong as the Parliamentary candidate for the 2020 general elections on June 20, 2020.

Mr Acheampong who doubles as Minister of State in-charge of the Interior was acclaimed at a colourful ceremony at Nkwatia in the Abetifi constituency.

He received overwhelming support from all NPP faithful and qualified delegates and constituency executives.

NPP executives who spoke to the media praised the MP for his good works in the constituency.

Bryan's proven track record in spearheading development in the Kwahu East Constituency tilt the scale in his favour. And so we don't have a choice than to give him a 100% endorsement. We can't substitute him for any other person. We sincerely believe he'll widen the party's vote margin in the December polls.

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About 8,000 thousands protesters scream, "Hire Koreans," at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul last year. / Korea Times photo by Jung Min-ho



Unlike their Western counterparts, liberals in Korea tend to oppose immigration



By Jung Min-ho






More key political actors continue to visit the various registration centres in the on-going voters registration exercise being carried out by the Electoral Commission of Ghana to assess how the exercise is progressing and obtain first-hand information on challenges being encountered.

In the light of this, the Bono Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe Abronye DC together with some other regional officers of the party have been touring some registration centres in the region.

Chairman Abronye D.C is accompanied by his Second Vice-Chairperson, Madam Doris Asoma who is also the Regional Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme; Regional Secretary Kofi Ofosu Boateng; Kofi Darko, Deputy Regional Organizer; Shadrach Abrefa Mensa, Deputy Youth Organizer and the Director of Communications Asare Bediako Seth.

No incident of violence or confusion had been recorded at any of the centres visited so far by Chairman Abronye and his team.

The regional NPP Chairman expressed satisfaction about the progress of the exercise so far and hoped that it would continue running smoothly till 6th August when the registration exercise is expected to end.

He was particularly happy about the peaceful atmosphere under which people were going through the process to get registered.

While appealing to Ghanaians to adhere strictly to coronavirus preventive measures, he urged all those who qualify but have still not registered to come out in their numbers to register and obtain their Voters ID card.
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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has disputed claims that the running mate to the partys flagbearer, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang poorly managed the educational sector while serving as Minister under John Dramani Mahamas administration.

John Mahama's announcement of Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was intensely critiqued by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who had raised doubt over her credibility and integrity.

Officials of the NPP had argued that John Mahama's decision to settle on Madam Opoku-Agyemang shows his poor level of commitment to Ghanaians.

The NPP cited the cancellation of the teacher trainee allowance, freeze on education sector employment and her signing of the petition to have the Montie trio released as some of the decisions that ultimately make her unfit for the new role .

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, the NDCs National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi said these claims were false.

The NDC has noted the desperate fabrications being peddled by the NPP about the sterling record of Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as Minister for Education.

Firstly, the claim that Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang cancelled Teacher Trainee Allowance is false. The decision to replace Teacher Trainee allowance with student loan was a cabinet decision and not a ministerial decision.

On the Montie three saga, Sammy Gyamfi explained that Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang signed the petition to mitigate the harsh sentences of the three.

Her decision to sign the petition to request for a reduced prison term for the convicts doesn't in any way mean that she endorsed their unfortunate comments as the NPP would have us believe.

It must be noted that the woman we are talking about is a responsible and caring mother of three and a loving grandmother. Good mothers are known to forgive their children when they go wrong, and after they are disciplined.

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A former Minister of State, Ama Benyiwa-Doe has accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of resorting to unhealthy politicking after the death of former President, John Evans Atta Mills.

Madam Benyiwa-Doe described the NPPs handling of the late Presidents death as unfortunate.

The Minister also rebuked the NPP for insinuating that the NDC Government at the time had a hand in the death of the former President.

The former Gomoa West MP also accused the NPP of plotting the downfall of the late President from the time he was sworn in until his demise.

What interests me and intrigues me is when the NPP keeps asking who killed Mills? They were the people saying Atta Mills was sick, now when his maker called him peacefully, they turned into family members asking how he died.

The opponents, who wanted to bring him down, were saying that Atta Mills was sickand finally, when his maker called him, they said why is he dead and that somebody might have killed him Can you imagine? She queried.

Former President Atta Mills death

Ghanas then sitting President John Evans Atta Mills died on July 24, 2012, at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, three days after his 68th birthday.

Though the cause of death was not immediately released, it later emerged that he was suffering from throat cancer.

President Mills was only months away from completing his first term in office.

Members of Parliament at the time were summoned to swear in John Dramani Mahama, the then Vice President, John Mahama as President according to the dictates of the Constitution.

President Mills was the first President to die in office in the history of Ghana, which gained independence from Britain in 1957.

A state burial was held in his honour on August 10th 2012.

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Education Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has been discharged from the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) after being admitted at the facility following fears he has COVID-19.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh was detained at UGMC on June 24, 2020, after he reported being unwell.

On Tuesday, 16th June 2020, he underwent various tests, including COVID-19, after feeling unwell for a couple of days. He tested negative for the virus, and this informed his decision to travel to his constituency for his acclamation on Saturday, 20th June 2020. Following his return to Accra, he still felt unwell, and decided to check himself for further tests, including the second test for COVID-19, an earlier statement from the Education Minister announced.

But a new statement signed by the Press Secretary to the Minister, Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng said Dr Opoku-Prempeh has been discharged with a positive rapid antibody test.

The Minister for Education, Hon. Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, announces that he has been discharged from the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Accra with a positive rapid antibody test result and will be further monitored.

According to amayoclinic.org, antibody testing determines whether you had COVID-19 in the past and now have antibodies against the virus.

Read the press release from the Ministers Press Secretary below:

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The Electoral Commission has launched an initiative called Let the Citizen Know to provide regular updates on the electoral processes leading into the December Presidential and Parliamentary polls.

Addressing the media at the launch of the initiative on Wednesday morning, the EC chairperson, Jean Mensa, said this will help the commission open up processes and promote transparency around our work.

We believe that this platform will afford us an opportunity to provide timely information on a regular base to the citizenry.

She noted that outfit is keen to ensure that citizens are provided with the truth and facts as they unfold.

These, we hope, will help erase the tension and suspicion that characterize our work and elections generally, Mrs Mensa added.

The commission intends to engage the press on Wednesdays and Fridays each week.

The EC is currently engaged in the voter registration exercise and it will be providing updates on persons who have registered, gender breakdowns and other data points of the registration exercises.

The commission has said it has exceeded its target for the first phase of the ongoing mass voter registration exercise.

The first phase of the exercises ran between June 30 and July 5, 2020, and recorded over 2 million registrations.

Despite logistical concerns, it said the speed of the machines and the efficiency of its personnel is nothing but commendable.

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The headmistress of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Senior High School (KNUST SHS) has been interdicted after the death of a student at the school.

The headmistress, Felicia Asamoah Dankwaa, was accused of negligence by her students who went on to demonstrate and vandalise her car.

A statement from the GES said Regional Director of Education in the Ashanti Region will take over her duties.

Meanwhile, Academic activities are expected to resume at the KNUST Senior Senior School after the student protests.

Officials from the Ashanti Regional Directorate of the GES have been in the school to ensure calm is restored.

Speaking to journalists after meeting Management of the school, Ashanti Regional Director of the GES, Mary Owusu Achiaw, says investigations have begun into the matter.

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Kate Quartey-Papafio, CEO of Reroy Group of Companies, has laid bare her vision of growing the indigenous business venture into a global iconic brand.

The entrepreneur, described in a CNN interview last year, as the Queen of cables in Ghana, was speaking during a meeting with Prof. Alex Dodoo, Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, at the Group's head office at the Heavy Industrial Area in Tema, last Tuesday.

We aspire to be a market leader in the provision of quality products and services that consistently beat the expectations of clients and meet the highest standards of the industry.

The manufacture of high-quality aluminum and aluminum alloy rods used in cable making and other allied industries is the main focus of Reroy Metals an engineering entity within the Reroy Group.

For this reason, the company has developed a strategic business development plan and are investing adequately in manpower and equipment capacity. The plan spells out the company's strategy of entering markets outside the sub-region.

Our mission is to become a Global leader in the provision of integrated systems and solutions for power generation, transmission and distribution; and to achieve this through and intimate understanding of the needs and requirements of our clients, she stressed.

She, however, adds: this will only be realized if and when statutory bodies such as the Ghana Standards Authority, readily provide the industry with the needed guidance and timely advice.

Using standards will help businesses to comply with regulations and requirements, thus avoiding failure and loss of investment.

Prof. Alex Dodoo, Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, on his part, assured the CEO, of the Authoritys support, adding We are positioned to provide business improvement solutions to industry, so please see us as partners in development; it is our responsibility to support business and industry to grow.

As the National Standards Body as well as Conformity Assessments body, it is our role to facilitate the development of standards needed by businesses operating in the country he noted.

Our doors are always open and so we encourage all of you to engage with us on a regular business."

The meeting was attended by George Kojo Anti, GSA Business Development Manager and Peter Martey Agbeko, GSA Head of Public Relations, as well as staff of the Reroy Group.

As part of the meeting, Seth Offei, the Reroy Cables Limited, Plant Manager did a brief presentation on the Group and its operations.

The Group, is made up of four (4) engineering entities i.e. Reroy Cables, Reroy Energy, Reroy Metals and Reroy Power, began operations in 2003.

It currently has a staff strength of over 80, and provides products and services to the private sector, general consumers and utilities throughout the region.

It exports mostly to countries in the ECOWAS sub-region. Reroy Power Limited is an integrated power systems company specialising in the provision of electrical power distribution equipment and contracting services.

Reroy Metals - Products and Services

Reroy Metals plant produces continuously cast electrical and mechanical aluminum alloy redraw rod. We are the leading producers of EC grade Aluminium Rod conforming to ASTM B233 and BS EN 1715-2 standards.

It offers high-grade Aluminium Wire Rods. Our Company has installed state-of-the-art (properzi) continuous casting and rolling mill at Tema, Ghana with a capacity to produce 18,000 MT wire rods annually of 13mm diameter (CG Grade) and 9.5 mm diameter (EC grade/alloy rods), conforming to ASTM B233 and BS EN 1715-2 standards, to cater to the needs of conductor (AAAC, AAC, and ACSR) and cable industry.

The company's rods could be used for screen wire, co-axial cable, shielding wire, cold heading applications, flexible conduit, and armor for electrical cable.

Reroy is a Private Limited Liability Company incorporated in 1992 and registered under the Ghana Companies Code.
What does it mean to be human today? It is an excellent starting point for thinking about human inequality.

To be human, in an elementary sense, means three things.

First, you are a sexed living organism, capable of feeling pain and pleasure and of reproduction, with a delimited lifespan of development and decay, subject to vicissitudes of health and illness.

Secondly, you are a person, with a self and a reflexive capacity, flourishing or suffering in social environments.

Thirdly, you are a creative, goal-oriented actor, collective as well as individual, endowed with resources of varying size and kind.

The possibilities of flourishing as a human are shaped by processes of (in)equality. Differences are either given  by God or by Nature  or chosen as lifestyles.

Unlike difference, inequality is a historical social construction .

The three-dimensionality of humanity gives us three kinds of human inequality. These are vital, existential and resource.

The three kinds of human inequality

Vital inequality refers to socially determined distributions of health and ill health and of your lifespan. It can be measured in life expectancy and in health expectancy or your years without serious illness. Where demographic life tables are missing, infant and child mortality are more accessible indicators.

Existential inequality sums up the unequal social treatment of persons. On one end of the spectrum resides denial of recognition, autonomy, existential security, dignity and respect. These can be achieved through acts of neglect, bullying, degradation and humiliation. The ultimate result is a denial of their humanness. At the opposite end are selective attention, freedom, emotional security, encouragement, respect and admiration.

Existential inequality is structured and processed by categories and lenses of othering  such as sex, race, ethnicity, caste or religion. It is arguably the most hurtful and wounding of inequalities. It has given rise to a range of egalitarian movements  feminist, anti-racist, nationalist, anti-caste, anti-bigotry. It has been an important driver of workers' movements, in which the demand for recognition of workers' human dignity has been central.

So far, however, existential inequality has received little systematic analysis and study .

It is hardly quantifiable and is difficult to compare. Legal practices and public norms, recurrent demographic and health surveys, opinion surveys, anthropological studies, autobiographies and media reporting provide qualitative evidence.

Resource inequality expresses the unequal allocation of resources to act among human actors. It is most frequently gauged through distributions of income and wealth and of so-called human capital. Less studied in this context, although highly relevant, are distributions of power and rights.

The three dimensions of inequality are interconnected and interact or  intersect , but each has its own dynamic and trajectory, globally and nationally.

What othering does

Othering means seeing and treating a set of people as being of a different kind than you and your type of people, as strange, peculiar and (usually) inferior. Viewing race as a category of existential othering means highlighting its character as a socio-cultural construction that is subject to change. This occurs alongside many other constructs such as gender, ethnicity, caste and religion.

In early 20th century Europe, race was often synonymous with ethnicity. For example, the British race or references to geo-ethnic groups, such as the Alpine or Mediterranean race. In continental Europe today, race is hardly used at all.

This does not mean that discriminatory and hateful othering has disappeared. It means it is now operating with other labels like Arabs, Muslims, immigrants, Africans

The existential perspective leads us to human self-formation and its connection with capability formation. The very meaning of racism and of patriarchy is to deny self-esteem and self-confidence  indeed any self at all  especially to black (or any other racial target) and girl children. It installs shame, self-contempt and fear instead.

Read more: Why does racism prevail? Leading scholars apply their minds

Such punitive processes are, of course, not always successful. But they often inflict lasting wounds. Prejudice and stigma act as stressors on the victims and have both somatic (bodily) and psychological effects . They also, by themselves, cause under-performance by the targets. Psychology experiments have shown that when marginalised groups are told they are inferior, they perform badly on given tasks. Conversely, when told they are expected to be superior, their performance improves.

Two sets of burdens

Children of poor, oppressed and/or discriminated populations are loaded with two sets of heavy burdens. These cause many or most of them to under perform. One is the burden of social determinants, of ill-health and stunted development, which goes along with not enough emotional security and positive social stimulation. In other words, vital inequality, which bears upon capability formation. The other operates through the negative impacts on self-development of esteem, confidence and ambition by existential processes of stigmatisation, humiliation and fear.

Both these childhood experiences tend to have lifelong effects, beginning life-curves of cumulated disadvantages. Furthermore, they provide reinforcing and reproducing confirmatory evidence of inferiority of the race, gender or caste.

And when some individuals of the put-down race, gender or caste manage to break through their discrimination and oppression, this is often used as further evidence of the inferiority of the category in question. The losers are regarded as deficient persons, of low-life existence. To hardcore racists, this is inherent and inherited. But after the liberation of Auschwitz, existential inequality is more effective when leaving its genetic background unnamed.

Why racism prevails

Unequal personal selves are produced by existential inequality. And they are fortified by early cognitive and social capability formation. This can explain much of the enduring longevity of racism, patriarchy, caste and religious disadvantage, even after their formative institutions are abolished.

Such institutions of inferiority-cum-superiority have no internal dialectic of change. Change comes exogenously, from the outside, from contingent cracks of the pillars sustaining the institutions.

Sub-institutional change, of everyday existential inequality, will require broader social and cultural transformations . It will require equalising processes of self and capability formation. The current hardening of nationalism in power  the existing nation-states nationalism  and fundamentalist religious revival tend rather in the opposite direction.

This article is part of a series of six. Other authors include Nina Jablonski, Barney Pityana, George Chaplin, Kira Erwin, Kathryn Pillay and Njabulo Ndebele.

The three edited volumes of essays published by African Sun Media in 2018 ( The Effects of Race , edited by Nina G. Jablonski and Gerhard Mare), 2019 ( Race in Education , edited by Gerhard Mare), and 2020 ( Persistence of Race , edited by Nina G. Jablonski) contain the complete representation of the project's scholarship.

Nina G. Jablonski receives funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

Goran Therborn 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 Goran Therborn, Professor emeritus of Sociology, University of Cambridge And

Nina G. Jablonski, Evan Pugh University Professor of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University
On 15 July, mayors representing the Global Mayors COVID-19 Recovery Task Force will hold an embargoed press conference to release a detailed agenda outlining specific measures and principles necessary for a sustainable, resilient, equitable recovery - that not only addresses the immediate COVID-19 pandemic but also ensures that we are prepared for future shocks.

The agenda is led by mayors and supported by business leaders, youth climate activists, trade unions, and economists. It includes both specific actions, already being delivered in many cities around the world, and strong calls for national governments, central banks, and international financial institutions to deliver a green and just recovery.

Launched in April 2020, the Global Mayors COVID-19 Recovery Task Force - created at the direction of C40 Chair and Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, and chaired by Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala - was convened to establish a joint recovery strategy to rebuild cities and economies in a way that improves public health, reduces inequality and addresses the climate crisis. The Task Forces work has been guided by a statement of Principles, already endorsed by more than 40 city leaders from around the world, and the upcoming announcement represents a central deliverable of their work.

The press conference will include remarks from Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan and Chair of the Task Force, along with mayors from Lisbon and Seoul.

Note: All materials and remarks from the press conference are embargoed until 15:30 BST/ 10:30 EST/ 07:30 PST on 15 July.

WHEN: 15 July 2020

08:00 GMT / 09:00 WEST / 10:00 CEST / 16:00 HKT / 17:00 KST / 18:00 AEST

WHERE: In order to attend the teleconference, media must RSVP to [email protected]

Phone dial-in available upon request.

SPEAKERS:

Giuseppe Sala , Mayor of Milan & Chair of the Global Mayors COVID-19 Recovery Task Force

, Mayor of Milan & Chair of the Global Mayors COVID-19 Recovery Task Force Fernando Medina , Mayor of Lisbon

, Mayor of Lisbon Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul

Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn

Event hashtag: #TheFutureWeWant

About the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group

Around the world, C40 Cities connects 96 of the worlds greatest cities to take bold climate action, leading the way towards a healthier and more sustainable future. Representing 700+ million citizens and one quarter of the global economy, mayors of the C40 cities are committed to delivering on the most ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement at the local level, as well as to cleaning the air we breathe. The current chair of C40 is Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti; and three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board. C40s work is made possible by our three strategic funders: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Childrens Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and Realdania.
President Moon Jae-in's chief of staff Noh Young-min, center, and Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee, left, are seated side by side during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Both figures, who are known to be the President's close confidants, have become symbols of the Moon administration's failing housing policy. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



President Moon Jae-in and the ruling bloc have come under mounting criticism after one of his trusted aides invited public indignation over the government's real estate policy.



The aide, presidential chief of staff Noh Young-min, is being pressured to step down over his poor handling of his ownership of multiple homes, which is seen as going against the government's real estate policy to prevent speculation and housing prices from rising further.



At a time when many Koreans are struggling to find jobs and buy their own homes, Noh had previously recommended high-ranking officials with multiple homes to sell off their extra properties that are not for primary residential purposes. But he has come under fire for delaying the sale of his own extra home  he owns an apartment in the affluent southern Seoul area of Banpo, where his son now lives, and another in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, a city he represented as a lawmaker in the 19th National Assembly.



Last week, Cheong Wa Dae announced that he had put the Cheongju home up for sale, but public sentiment grew even worse because of his choice to retain the property in the affluent Seoul district.



Public criticism soared over the ranking official's "two-faced" real estate policy. Ultimately, Noh announced on Facebook, Wednesday, that he decided to sell his apartment in Banpo and offered a public apology for causing a stir.



"I tried to sell the Cheongju home to follow my own recommendation to senior Cheong Wa Dae aides to follow the one-house policy," he wrote. He explained that he initially decided to sell the Cheongju home because it had been vacant for many years while he served as Korean ambassador to China and as presidential chief of staff, while his son resides in the Seoul apartment. "But regardless of my intentions, the sale of the Cheongju apartment was seen by the people as a move to protect the Seoul apartment."



Noh said he will put the Seoul apartment up for sale within this month. "I will have to reflect on my actions after this incident," Noh added.



His decision to sell the Seoul home came after the public sentiment over the housing controversy has turned increasingly negative, criticizing the whole ruling bloc. Even within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), some hinted that it is time for Noh to resign so as to protect President Moon from further damage.



Despite Noh's decision to sell one of his homes, many Koreans believe this may not be enough  even if he steps down  to make up for the damage he has incurred on Moon's policy credibility, because many more public officials and ruling DPK members own multiple homes, going against the policy directive.





Members of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy stage a protest at the National Assembly, Wednesday, urging high-ranking government officials and lawmakers dealing with real estate policy, who own multiple homes, to sell their properties except for their main residence. Yonhap
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The impact of Covid-19 across the globe, and especially in Africa, is felt more by the vulnerable in society. In many African countries, womens opportunities and access to opportunities are limited, and the economic and social impact of Covid-19 is, in many cases, impacting women harder and in different ways than their male counterparts.

The Ladima Foundation, in partnership with DW Akademie, invited African women to share their stories about the personal, economic, and social impact of Covid-19 in Africa. The brave and powerful films that were submitted sadly have reflected the extremely difficult circumstances that many African women are facing. The stories have shown how in too many cases that the pandemic has indeed impacted women harder and in different ways than on their male counterparts.

An overwhelming response saw just under 200 women from 18 African countries sharing their moving and honest stories on a diversity of topics with dominant themes of domestic violence, altered access to opportunities, increased burden of care, although also of resilience and hope.

The ten films will be premiered on the Ladima Foundation Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LadimaFoundation/ at 15:00 CAT on FRIDAY JULY 10th 2020.

Being Malak El Araby (Egypt)

Malak is a 21 year old film major graduating senior at The American University in Cairo. Malak is passionate about filmmaking and photography, winning third place UIFF in South Korea and working on multiple movies in Egyptian cinema. Malaks short films are always inspired by women empowerment, portraying their struggles and stories.

Synopsis: The film is about how everyone took everything for granted before the pandemic. How the little things in life is what matters most. How we never realize what we have until it is lost. What we miss and what we should appreciate in life after all of this is over.

Blunder Fezeka Tholakele (South Africa)

Fezeka Shandu is a 26 year old aspiring filmmaker who grew up in the dusty streets of Umlazi, KZN South Africa. Growing up she always had a love for films and theatre. She has always wanted to tell stories in a simple way, but meaningfully and realistically.

Synopsis: Blunder is about a couple who planned to get married before lockdown was introduced, with all the rules and regulations everything has paused, however the girlfriend's (Naledi) uncles decided to show up for lobola negotiations because they believe that culturally such things can't be postponed as it will upset the ancestors.

Moyo Hellen Samina Ochieng (Kenya)

Hellen Samina Ochieng is a 22 year old creative based in Nairobi Kenya and an undergraduate student at the Taita University. She has always had a strong passion for the feminist cause as she has seen first -hand how the inherently patriarchal Kenyan society affects women and young girls.

Synopsis: Moyo tells the story of Achieng, a young single mother working as an underpaid nurse in Mbagathi Hospital, Nairobi. She struggles with the grim financial, mental and physical realities of being a single mother, and the pressures of being a front-line, essential worker in a country crippled by a pandemic. When Achieng is called into the hospital at midnight to attend to a Covid-19 emergency, she must turn to Mike, her abusive ex-boyfriend, to take care of her daughter Waridi.

My Sunshine Chioma Divine Favour Mathias (Nigeria)

Chioma Divine Favour Mathias is a writer, cinematographer/filmmaker, and actor. She is graduate of statistics and the last of four kids.

Synopsis: This short story is about the struggle of a single mother with a disabled child, trying to fend for herself and her baby at the same time surviving the effect of the pandemic. She did all she can to stay strong and sharp even in the face of tribulations. This story depict the true strength of an African woman.

Ill Call You Later Aurelie Stratton (South Africa)

Aurelie Stratton is an actress, writer, director and producer who graduated from WITS Drama School and moved to the United Kingdom shortly after graduation to further her study, career and experiences. After her return, she then co-founded production company, You Kicked My Dog Productions with Emmanuel Castis and they produced the acclaimed Short Film Sides of a Horn which qualified for the 2020 Oscars.

Synopsis: Jo and Bec are sisters and can only communicate through video calls during lockdown. Jo has not been taking Bec's calls because she is hiding something. Lockdown has been more dangerous for Jo than Bec realises

Love, Zawadi Wambui Gathee (Kenya)

Wambui Gathee is an emerging Director/ Producer rising steadily in the African film scene. She is a firm believer of artistic visual storytelling and her work voices and represents the true African narrator.

Synopsis: With the lockdown measures being enforced, vulnerable women and young girls are put in a position where the life-threatening outside is safer than their own homes and at times forced to make difficult choices.

Worlds Apart Yehoda Hammond (Ghana)

Yehoda Adukwei Hammond is a 19 years and third year film directing student at the National Film and Television Institute in Ghana. She is currently interning as a Second Assistant director with Esse Productions. Growing up in Ghana and Accra, she gained a keen interest in social issues occurring in her country, with a soft spot for girl child education.

Synopsis: Rhema and Erica are Junior high school students whose education has been interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The differences in their economic situations have directly altered the course of their education and how they cope with the current times.

The Tempest Skinnor Davillah Agello (Kenya)

Davillah is a professional dancer and choreographer and a film maker based in Nairobi Kenya. Born in Kogello Siaya country an area rich in culture and dance which played a major part in her love for dance and storytelling. She has taken part in numerous dance performances i.e. One Africa Music Fest in Dubai, Dance for Sale in Germany, I Can Dance finalist aired on KTN. She was nominated at the Sondeka Awards 2018 in story through dance category. Safaricom Twaweza, Chapa Dimba.

Synopsis: The Tempest is a short film about a dancer Davillah_S expressing how Covid -19 has changed her family and personal life, as well as millions of other lives across the globe. The dance performance is devised to reflect Davillah's own personal challenges and solutions for coping with the pandemic, while encouraging those who view the piece to stay positive and safe.

Face Mask for Sale Neha Manoj Shah (Kenya)

Neha is from Nairobi and has worked in film and advertising since 2006. She is a skilled communicator who specializes in production design and has written and directed 7 short films. Nehas stories revolve around challenging social constructs and bringing awareness to the audience through film. Neha has won two awards in media (Kalasha International Film & TV and Oshwal Award) and three of her short films have been showcased in film festivals in Kenya and the UK.

Synopsis: They say this is the new norm, that things will be okay. At first, it's all fun and games, but time has a way of draining you. This is the story of a single mother in the time of Corona, stuck, with no choice but to survive.

Loop: Every End Has a Beginning Faith Ilevbare (Nigeria)

Faith is a visual artist, using film as her medium of expression, and is passionate about creating films for social justice, especially telling stories of social issues affecting women globally. She wants to use film to start a narrative that will bring about change and conversations surrounding those issues. Born in and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Faiths first degree is in a medical related field, but her passion for storytelling couldn't be held back: she graduated top in her class in Digital Film Production SAE Institute, Cape Town and currently works in Lagos, Nigeria, as a video journalist with the BBC.

Synopsis: Loop is a short film highlighting the negative effect of domestic violence on children exposed to such violence during the lock down.

For more information on the films, filmmakers and viewing opportunities visit www.ladima.africa .

From July 11th films will then also be available to watch and stream on The Ladima Foundation website, www.ladima.africa , MyMoviesAfrica, a proudly Kenyan, mobile-first digital cinema platform, offering movies on smart devices, including phones, tablets, laptops and televisions, via the internet.

MyMoviesAfrica can be accessed via https://mymovies.africa/ on the web, and the Android App can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/yy78zadc .

The films will also be broadcast on the True African channel on Premium.Free. True African is a TV channel that embodies being the contemporary African. The channel delivers the best series and movies from across the continent. True African introduces rising talent and presents established stars as the channel captures the spirit of Africa today  the prefect channel for these 10 short films, showcasing developing new talent across the continent.

Premium.Free is a free bouquet of channels available across Sub Saharan Africa via satellite in West Africa, East and Southern Africa as well as Francophone Africa. Broadcast schedule and details can be found on http://premiumfree.tv/
A demonstration by drivers at Kpone, near Tema in the Greater Accra Region, over poor roads turned chaotic on Monday when the demonstrators clashed with the police.

Some of the demonstrators sustained injuries in the clash, suspected to be coming from rubber bullets fired as a result of their refusal to comply with the police directives.

The Commander of the Kpone District Police headquarters, Superintendent Seth Tay, said the demonstrators breached the public order law.

According to him, the police stepped in to enforce the law because the drivers did not seek the necessary permission before embarking on the protest.

Some of the protesting drivers expressed their concerns over poor road network in the area, which they said have become unmotorable.

They disclosed that they are unhappy with the deplorable nature of the roads in the municipality.

They said it was as a result of failed promises by successive governments to fix the roads which compelled them to express their displeasure.

Daily Guide
The World Health Organization has acknowledged the possibility of airborne transmission of Covid-19.

This was after a group of scientists urged the global body to update its guidance on how the respiratory disease is spread between people as evidence show that smaller exhaled particles can linger in the air and infect people who breathe them in.

The possibility of airborne transmission in public settings cannot be ruled out, technical lead on the Covid-19 pandemic at the WHO, Maria Van Kerkhove, said. We have been talking about the possibility of airborne transmission and aerosol transmission as one of the modes of transmission of Covid-19.

The WHO has previously said the virus that causes the Covid-19 respiratory disease spreads primarily through small droplets expelled from the nose and mouth of an infected person that quickly sink to the ground.

But, in an open letter to the Organization, published in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, 239 scientists in 32 countries outlined evidence that they say shows floating virus particles can infect people who breathe them in.

Speaking at a briefing in Geneva, Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHOs technical lead for infection prevention and control, said there was evidence emerging of airborne transmission of the Covid-19, but that it was not definitive.

The possibility of airborne transmission in public settings  especially in very specific conditions, crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings that have been described, cannot be ruled out, she said. However, the evidence needs to be gathered and interpreted, and we continue to support this.

Van Kerkhove said the WHO would publish a scientific brief summarizing the state of knowledge on modes of transmission of the virus in the coming days.

A comprehensive package of interventions is required to be able to stop transmission, she said. This includes not only physical distancing, it includes the use of masks where appropriate in certain settings, specifically where you cant do physical distancing and especially for healthcare workers.

Any change in the WHOs assessment of the risk of transmission could affect its current advice on keeping 1-metre (3.3 feet) of physical distancing.

Governments, which rely on the agency for guidance policy, may also have to adjust public health measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

Daily Guide
Mr. Hamza Swallah, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Manhyia North constituency, says he is poised to win the seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the first time.

He said he is convinced of causing a major political upset in a constituency, which has been loyal to the ruling NPP since the Manhyia Constituency was split into North and South in 2012.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi, Mr Swallah said the forthcoming election would not be business as usual in the constituency as all indications pointed to a win for him and the NDC.

He said the performance of the NPP and the current Member of Parliament, Mr. Collins Owusu Amankwah left many constituents disgruntled and yearning for change.

As a grassroot person who has been with the people and served their interest over the years, I represent the hope they have been looking for, he said.

He said the people in the constituency were willing to give him the opportunity to bring the needed development to the constituency, having exhibited his leadership potentials as an ordinary citizen.

The aspiring MP said he facilitated the admission of many constituents into various tertiary institutions and was at the forefront of social issues affecting the lives of the people.

According to him, the chances of winning the seat were boosted by the election of a new Parliamentary candidate by the NPP, which had left many supporters of the incumbent aggrieved.

He said he was sure of overturning the more than 25,000 vote difference between the NPP and the NDC in the 2016 election to emerge winner on December 7.

Mr. Swallah said he was not perturbed by the huge gap between the two parties in the last election and was working hard to win the seat for the NDC.

GNA
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned that there could be far-reaching consequences if the Electoral Commission (EC) does not enforce COVID-19 safety protocols at centres in the ongoing mass voter registration exercise.

The partys director of elections, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah who was speaking at the NDCs press briefing on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, said their observations indicate a violation of all COVID-19 safety protocols despite assurances by the EC to ensure compliance.

According to him, the chaos and the laxity in the social distancing rule is indicative that the electoral management body has lost control over the situation.

There has been total chaos. Ghanaians will recall that one of the major concerns of the NDC, CSOs and medical superintendents, and health workers, lecturers and ordinary Ghanaians raised about the compilation of the new voters register was the risk of exposing Ghanaians to the further spread of the novel coronavirus. Our predictions were right. The EC despite the assurances by the Electoral Commission that they will ensure the observance of COVID-19 safety protocols, they have lost total control over the process. From the beginning of the exercise, we have witnessed complete disregard for COVID-19 protocols. While we observe that the wearing of face mask is being strictly enforced, upon entry at the registration center, social distancing and washing of hands are not been observed.

Since the beginning of the voter registration exercise, one of the assessments that have heavily featured is the concerns over the lack of social distancing at the centres.

As a result, the EC has introduced what it calls the queue management system at all of its registration centres to tackle issues with overcrowding.

The queue management system will ensure that the first 150 applicants who arrive at the registration centres will be provided with numbered chits, according to the EC.

The first half of this number will be served from morning to early afternoon, while the second half will be asked to leave the centres and return in the afternoon when the registration process for the first batch has been completed. Halt voter registration exercise  Health professionals

Some health professionals in the country have written to the Electoral Commission asking the electoral management body to pause the ongoing voter registration exercise until safer ways of conducting the exercise are identified to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

According to them, suspending the exercise will help prevent needless Coronavirus deaths in the country .

Pause the mass registration, figure out safer ways of carrying it out and prevent Ghana from suffering potentially thousands of deaths or continue with the exercise in this form and be remembered by posterity as a leader who supervised an exercise that allowed for the loss of multiple lives, the group said in its letter to the commission.

The health professional comprising doctors, nurses, lab technicians among others, and numbering 221, had earlier petitioned the EC cautioning against the rollout of the mass registration for Voter ID cards over fears of COVID-19 death hikes.

According to them, the blatant disregard for the Coronavirus safety protocols in the exercise is inimical to the current public health crisis in the country.

In their second open letter to the EC, the health professionals say the Commission must rethink the compilation of the new register for the 2020 polls.

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Some concerned workers of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, staged a demonstration to kick against the alleged privatization of the company.

The agitated staff who were clad in red amidst police presence say they will resist any attempts by the government to cede the management of the Kotoka International Airport to any foreign company.

General Secretary of the Public Service Workers Union, Trades Union Congress, Bernard Adjei who led the workers to protest gave reasons for their action saying they will not relent on their efforts until management provide them with better and further particulars to prove that such an agreement has not been reached.

We have been confronted with such a situation. So, as responsible citizens of this country and a responsible union, we are using the structures and all the avenues and resources available to us to deal with this matter. There will be an engagement with the union for us to state our position on the matter. What we want to assure you is that we will not sit down and allow anything to be done at the detriment of workers.

Meanwhile, he wants the workers to be assured of the unions commitment to ensuring that their concerns are addressed.

We know how you have toiled to bring the airport to the status at which it is. We know you are doing your possible best under the circumstances you find yourself. When we go to the negotiating table, we will advance your position that the airport can be and will be run by Ghanaians, Mr. Adjei added.

According to the Ministry, no such plan has been mooted by the government of Ghana.

In a statement to clarify the issue, the sector Minister, Joseph Kofi Adda, urged the public to disregard such claims.

He, however, explained that Government is engaging stakeholders including the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), to consider a projected Strategic Partnership Arrangement between GACL and TAV-SUMMA Consortium to improve service delivery and expansion of infrastructure at the KIA.

Indeed, what is being considered for deliberation by the Ministry and its stakeholders including the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and the TAV-SUMMA Consortium is to improve service delivery and expansion of infrastructure at the Kotoka International Airport to achieve the Government's vision of making Ghana the Aviation Hub within the sub-region.

In this regard, an Executive Approval was signed by the President for the Ministry to facilitate the engagement of the Strategic Partners, the statement noted.

He further noted that the processes for the start of engagement have not begun.

To this end, we hereby state categorically that neither the Ministry nor the GACL has yet formally started any process of engagement on the subject matter with any stakeholder or partner.

We, therefore, wish to note that the false information on the sale of the Kotoka International Airport being circulated in the media/social media is the work of mischievous and malicious elements to pitch the staff of GACL and the general public against Government to achieve their diabolical agenda and erode the successes chalked in the Aviation Sector for the last three years, he added.

Ghana Airports Company Limited's agreement with McDan Shipping

Already, Terminal One of the Kotoka International Airport has been rented out to McDan Aviation for a period of fifteen years following the relocation of domestic flights to Terminal Two.

According to the Aviation Ministry, the rent from the operations of McDan Aviation should boost revenue generation for the Ghana Airports Company Limited.

 citinewsroom
Shares in Malaysia's AirAsia Group Bhd tumbled 11 percent on Wednesday after its auditor said there were material uncertainties that cast doubt on the budget carrier's ability to continue as a going concern.

Ernst & Young issued an audit opinion stating that the airline's 2019 earnings were prepared on a going concern basis, which is dependent upon a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of fundraising efforts.

In response, the airline said in a statement that Malaysia's stock exchange had granted it 12 months relief from being classified as a financially distressed firm - a classification that would require it to submit a business improvement plan.

Malaysia has also extended the relief to other companies which have been hit by the pandemic.

"EY is waving a red flag, which signals to investors and creditors serious risks to AirAsia if the current crisis doesn't end soon or if the airline doesn't get a cash injection," said Shukor Yusof, head of aviation consultancy Endau Analytics.

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

Like airlines around the world, AirAsia has been hit hard as the coronavirus hammers travel demand. It posted a first-quarter loss of 803 million ringgit ($188 million), its biggest loss for the quarter since its 2004 listing.

The company said last month it was evaluating capital-raising proposals to strengthen its equity base and liquidity.

AirAsia management has given guidance that an equity raising via a placement or rights issue looks imminent, Affin Hwang Capital analyst Isaac Chow wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday.

AirAsia did not comment on its fundraising efforts.

The airline's liabilities exceeded its assets by 1.84 billion ringgit at the end of 2019, Ernst & Young said in its unqualified opinion. An unqualified opinion indicates the auditor believes a company has prepared its statements fairly.

AirAsia said on Monday that joint ventures and collaborations were being deliberated which might result in additional third-party investments in specific segments of the group's business.

It has also sought payment deferrals from suppliers and lenders and halted all deliveries of Airbus SE jets this year as it seeks to cut costs.

"There's a question mark over the viability of the low cost carrier business model post-COVID19," said Yusof, adding that AirAsia had little choice but to shrink its fleet size and slash staff and noting that its efforts to expand in India and Japan had not been successful.

AirAsia's shares are down 55 percent this year, giving it a market capitalisation of around $594 million. Shares in its long-haul arm, AirAsia X Bhd were also hit on Wednesday, falling 5 percent.

Elsewhere in the region, Thai Airways International and Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd have entered bankruptcy protection due to their inability to pay creditors.
CPO

Ravindra Rao

After posting more than 7 percent losses in the last week of June, palm oil's third month futures at Kuala Lumpur surged by more than 5 percent in the last four sessions to settle a tad lower than 2,400 Malaysian ringgit (MYR) per tonne mark on July 6. Optimism over recovering global edible oil demand and lower stock prospects in Malaysia lifted palm oil considerably.

Traders expect Malaysian palm oil exports in June to have increased by around 25 percent from the previous month. As a result, country's stock by the end of June is estimated to have declined by around 5 percent from the previous month at near 19.4 lakh tonnes.

In addition, a good run in CBOT soy oil, which settled above 29 cents/pound levels after nearly four-months, has also added to the positive sentiments in edible oil. The lower-than-market expectation in soybean sowing area in US and stark reduction in US Soybean stock estimates by USDA have lifted soy oil prices in Chicago futures.

Gapki (the Indonesian Palm oil Association) has pegged country's palm oil stock at the end of May at 6.5 percent lower than the previous month.

All these looks too prominent to support palm oil prices in the coming weeks. However, falling dependence of India on palm oil is drawing a different picture for crude palm oil (CPO) in the long term.

As per SEA data, the share of palm oil in Indias edible oil import in the first six months of 2020 season (November- April) has reduced to 53 percent compared to 64 percent in 2019 season.

The share of sunflower oil has increased to 24 percent against 19 percent last year and soy oil share increased to 22 percent from last years 17 percent.

Indias total ban on refined palm oil imports since January was the primary reason behind lower Indian palm oil imports.

However, at a recent webinar, a spokesperson of the ministry of agriculture (as per commoditiescontrol.com)) hinted that to avoid edible oil dumping in India by neighbouring countries, the government is mulling to restrict imports on refined edible oils, while it may also consider to cap imports of crude soy oil.

Ahead of new soybean crop arrivals, in the second half of September, the government may implement the decision to avoid price crash in oilseeds, which could turn out to be prejudicial for edible oil prices in international market.

Besides, the increase in COVID-19 cases in the home country and subsequent demand destruction of edible oil demand in India might cap global edible oil prices in long run. To conclude, we may see some more price rise in BMD CPO on anticipation of lower stocks in Malaysia in June but long term outlook still remains cautious due to worries over global edible oil demand.

(The author is VP - Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities.)

The views and investment tips expressed by investment 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.
Korean President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday his country will continue efforts to improve the rights of workers, pointing to his liberal administration's push for the parliamentary ratification of more International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions.





President Moon Jae-in /Yonhap
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When Indian Hotels Company Ltd acquired the Sea Rock Hotel in suburban Mumbais Bandra area in mid-2009, it had a grand vision: to create a property as iconic as the Taj Mahal Palace, Colaba, the flagship property of the oldest hotel company.

IHCL sealed the deal for Rs 680 crore, three years before the retirement of Tata Group patriarch Ratan Tata. However, even a decade after razing the Sea Rock to the ground, it is now reassuring shareholders that a wait for another two years will be worth it.

Before explaining the reasons for the delay, a little bit of history is called for.

Making of the first five-star deluxe hotel

Standing proud on the extreme tip of lands end with a breath-taking view of the Arabian Sea, SeaRock was the first five-star deluxe hotel in a suburban area. The ownership of the hotel had changed many hands.

It original owners were the Luthria brothers  Girdharilal, Udharam, Shyam and Manohar. Refugees from Karachi, the four set up ELEL Hotels and Investment Limited (EHIL), which built Sea Rock.

Sea Rock opened in 1978 in collaboration with the Welcomegroup of the ITC chain. In the 1980s, it tied up with the prestigious Sheraton and was known as the Welcomegroup SeaRock Sheraton.

The Sea Rock glory started there, with its banquet hall, business centre and executive lounge giving it a tag of a business hotel. It was the favourite haunt of many film stars and airline crew, and then Bombays pride, and all was well.

On March 12, 1993, its destiny changed. In a serial bomb blast that ripped apart Mumbai, parts of the hotel were damaged. Talks about its renovation plans led to a 14-year-old legal battle between EHIL and ITC Welcomgroup. The dispute was finally settled out of court.

In 2005, Suresh Nanda of Claridges Hotels and Resorts bought the property for Rs 300 crore. Finally, the Taj Group, owned by the Tatas, entered the scene. The Taj Group already had the Taj Lands End, across the road.

Hurdles are many

In April 2019, the Taj Groups plans hit a hurdle with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) staying all clearances, saying it violated Coastal Zone Regulations (CRZ).

The company is now trying to convince the state government for a direct access from below the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to the doorstep of the Taj Lands End to avoid a traffic bottleneck.

The combined inventory strength (Taj Lands End + new hotel on Sea Rock land) would be at least 1,000 rooms, multiple ballrooms, event spaces and convention centres.

If company officials are to be believed, the iconic Sea Rock will again rise against the Mumbai skyline soon.

Last month, speaking to analysts over a call, Giridhar Sanjeevi, Executive Vice President & CFO, IHCL, had said: We believe that we will make significant headway in the next couple of months. Intrinsically, the government is supportive. Over the next couple of years, we do hope to make significant progress on these approvals. It has been a long and hard journey on this actually.

Besides the environmental clearance certificate, IHCL is fighting a seven-year-old public interest litigation (PIL).

Recently, the IHCL board approved a management proposal to buy the remaining 14.28 percent stake in ELEL Hotels and Investments for Rs 250 crore.

It has to be paid in two years but not later than December 2021. This values the property at over Rs 1,666 crore, which is more than double the Rs 800-crore valuation it got in 2009.

On the same analyst call, Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & CEO, IHCL, had said: Were very close to finding a solution, but the transaction value is so high that we have to be prudent in doing the right thing. And we have a lot of history on this one.

The redevelopment could likely see the addition of more floors to the Taj Lands End itself as the Floor Space Index (FSI) granted to the property is not fully utilised by IHCL. Upon completion, the property could very likely become the single-biggest in India.

Chhatwal exudes hope: We are almost coming to the end of it in terms of solving it.
Delays in customs approvals at Indian ports have disrupted the manufacturing and sales plans of Chinese smartphone makers such as Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme and OnePlus.

Companies were forced to reduce bulk import orders of phones and parts from China, The Economic times reported.

Shipments from other countries are also going through extra scrutiny, which has impacted companies, the report added.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Electronics and appliance maker told the paper that since imports were stalled, it hurt production last week for three to four days. The backlog due to the delay at customs caused shortages and disrupted production, the report said.

The delays in approvals has also impacted Indian companies such as Bajaj Electricals, which imports 15 percent of its components from China. "At a time when appliances are showing positive growth in June, the sudden blockage of materials from China has disrupted plans," Bajaj Electricals Chairman Shekhar Bajaj told the paper.

Customs officers at Kolkata port are still examining Chinese consignments manually, though the time taken has reduced to two days, the report said.

"Certain bills filed after June 30 are still going through 100 percent checks, but that selection is at random," Chennai Customs Brokers Association Vice President Zahir Hussain told the publication.
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India's second largest IT services provider -- Infosys -- will release its June quarter earnings scorecard next week. This will be the first quarter wherein the full impact of the lockdown will get reflected.

"....will announce result for the first quarter ended June 30 on July 15 around 3:45 pm," the IT company said in a BSE filing. The common press conference, which will be hosted virtually, will be held at 4:30 pm IST.

"Following the release, the leadership team will be part of a common press conference," it said.

The company said it would also conduct a single 60-minute conference call at 6:00 pm IST, which is open to investors/analysts across all regions, where the senior management will discuss the company's performance and answer questions from participants.

Brokerages expect Infosys to report around 5 percent sequential decline in constant currency revenue with a cross-currency headwind of around 20 bps in Q1 FY21, while EBIT margin could decline 30-80 bps QoQ impacted by the COVID-19-led lockdown.
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State-owned Bank of Maharashtra on July 8 said it has sanctioned Rs 2,779 crore to its micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under various schemes since March. Of this, the lender has sanctioned Rs 2,327 crore to MSME players, according to a release.

The loans to MSMEs were offered majorly under the government's Rs 3-lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) and the lender's emergency credit line for COVID-19.

Since the declaration of lockdown, the bank has sanctioned additional loans to its customers, including MSMEs, agriculture and personal borrowers, over their regular limits, to overcome their liquidity mismatches.

Under its emergency line for COVID-19, the bank sanctioned Rs 1,653.16 crore to 1,08,419 borrowers. It sanctioned Rs 1,724.98 crore to 84,151 borrowers under ECLGS, the release said.

The bank also sanctioned an amount of Rs 11.28 crore to 30 borrowers under the standby line of credit (SLC).

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 lender said it has implemented various measures to increase awareness about different schemes among customers through webinars, SMS, e-mail and telecalling, among others.
The Union Cabinet on July 8 approved, among many other things, the proposal to extend the scheme for payment of the employer and employee's provident fund (PF) contribution for three months until August. Under this, the government will make the entire 24 percent contribution towards Employees' Provident Fund (EPF).

The move will offer huge relief to around 3.67 lakh employers and 72.22 lakh employees.

The proposal for extension of this scheme had been announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in May. She had, at the time, announced that the scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMKGY) would be extended for another three months till August.

Addressing media persons following a Cabinet meeting earlier on July 8, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the decision has been taken in order to facilitate a higher take-home salary for employees and to provide them a breather in payment of PF dues.

Also Read: Cabinet approves Rs 12,450 crore capital infusion in three public sector general insurance companies

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package, the payment of 12 percent of employer and 12 percent employee contribution was made into EPF accounts by the Centre. The benefit was earlier available for the months of March, April and May.

For the salary months of June, July and August, the scheme will cover all the establishments having up to 100 employees, with 90 percent of such employees earning a monthly wage less than Rs 15,000.

The idea behind the move, according to the government, is to offer support to workers and businesses who continue to face financial hardships in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown that followed.
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A calibrated call rather than "sudden stops" is required to lower India's import dependence on China, the country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has said in a research report.

In terms of numbers, India's dependence on China is the heaviest in low-value imports, said the report that comes at a time when India is looking to address the trade imbalance with its biggest trading partner amid a prolonged and bloody border standoff.

Clearly, China has slowly and steadily built a solid base in both high and low-value imports into India. We thus have to clearly take a calibrated call in reducing our import dependence from China and not through sudden stops, said the report.

In the last few weeks, FDI norms for investors from China have been tightened, 59 Chinese apps banned, contracts put on hold and tenders scrapped.

The ties between the two countries are in a free-fall after a clash along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakhs Galwan Valley on June 15 killed 20 Indian and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers.

China accounts for 18 percent of Indias imports and only 9 percent exports. The bilateral trade amounted to $103.5 billion in the April 2019-February 2020 period.

"At an 8-digit level, there were humongous 6,844 products imported by India from China. The good thing is that for FY20 compared to FY19, there is a drastic reduction in the value of products in which India's import dependence on China was between 50-60 percent," the report said.

Over 800 products (worth $3,944 million) from China with an import value of less than $100 million each account for more than 90 percent of India's imports, the report said.

Also read: Exclusive | India likely to announce hike in duty on imports from China in next two-three months







"Although the ban on 59 Chinese apps, which are quite popular in India, is based on security concerns, it does provide the local tech companies the space to develop apps which can compete with them. India ,with its huge IT base can thus focus more on services while building capabilities in goods exports will take more me to improve its overall trade balance," the SBI report said.







Such products include organic chemicals, machinery and mechanical appliances and electrical machinery, textiles and textile articles, products made of iron and steel, toys, and furniture.

The ban, it said, gave domestic firms an opportunity to develop apps that can compete with the banned Chinese ones.

The Centre on June 29 banned 59 Chinese apps, including popular video sharing platform TikTok, citing threats to national security.

Citing anecdotal evidence, the report said local business players find it less difficult to conduct business in China. Data also suggests that while it is cheaper to export from India rather import to India, the time required to meet border and regulatory compliance requirements is one reason why business players prefer China.

"We do have a cost advantage in exports but we need to increase the efficiency to successfully overtake China," the report said, highlighting one of the reasons why the country is the world's manufacturing hub.
Global tax and transaction advisory firm EY has announced that all its employees across the globe can pursue an EY Tech MBA free of cost. This degree is being offered in collaboration with Hult International Business School in the United States and will be virtual.

This is the first such initiative across any company in the world wherein all employees are being offered a chance to pursue an MBA degree for free. Typically, companies either partially/fully fund educational programmes pursued by their employees. But this is based on the skillsets of the employees and what value the particular degree will add to the organisation.

Across companies in India and abroad, company-sponsored MBA programmes are a flexibility offered to select employees depending on their seniority in the company and number of years of work experience.

As per its 2019 Global Review, EY employs 284,018 people across 150 countries. The company said in a statement that this MBA is being offered free of cost to build technology skills in the employees.

Through an innovative virtual learning model, the new MBA allows EY people to develop the skills and capabilities they need from anywhere in the world, on a schedule that suits them, said the company.

An MBA programme costs between Rs 8 lakh-25 lakh per annum in India depending on the nature of the programme, institute and course structure. An international MBA costs upwards of Rs 30 lakh per annum.

Sandeep Kohli, Partner and Talent Leader at EY, said, The EY Tech MBA with Hult, is more future-focused than most MBAs with a flexible curriculum, from leadership skills to the latest emerging and disruptive technologies.

Delivered entirely online, EY people studying for this MBA will be able to build their own personal curriculum from a broad range of subject areas, from artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and robotic process automation (RPA) to employee wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and sustainable business practices.

EY said that candidates will earn their degree based on a combination of 16 EY Badges spanning three pillars, technology, leadership and business. This will be followed by the completion of three pillar insight papers and a final project.

Hult International Business School is a private business school with campuses in Dubai, Cambridge, New York, San Francisco, London and Shanghai. As per the institute website, one-year MBA in London would cost 54,600 pounds (Rs 51.2 lakh approximately) and USD 76,200 (Rs 57.1 lakh) for 2020-21.
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on Wednesday announced a 'mini-budget' that includes a bonus scheme for employers who bring furloughed or forced leave staff back to work as part of a major drive to save jobs hit by the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.

As part of his Summer Economic Update in Parliament, dubbed a mini-Budget, the Indian-origin finance minister also unveiled a new 2 billion pound Kickstart Scheme to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the UK, with the overall package of measures estimated at around 30 billion pounds.

Our plan has a clear goal: to protect, support and create jobs. It will give businesses the confidence to retain and hire; to create jobs in every part of our country; to give young people a better start; to give people everywhere the opportunity of a fresh start, said Sunak.

Throughout this crisis, I have never been the prisoner of ideology. For me, this has never just been a question of economics, but of values. We believe in the nobility of work. We believe in the inspiring power of opportunity. We believe in the British people's fortitude and endurance, he said.

As the UK enters what it categorises as the second phase in its COVID-19 recovery with the lockdown measures being eased up, Sunak's new so-called plan for jobs is designed to support jobs by focussing on skills; create jobs with investment in shovel-ready projects; and protect jobs through a VAT cut for the hospitality sector.

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 rate on most tourism and hospitality-related activities will be cut from 20 per cent to 5 per cent, which is expected to save households around 160 pounds per year on average.

For the sector, he has also unveiled a landmark Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme to encourage diners to go back into restaurants and hotels.

It will provide a 50 per cent reduction for sit-down meals in cafes, restaurants and pubs across the UK from Monday to Wednesday every week throughout August 2020.

Together with the VAT cut and this scheme, he hopes to support over 2.4 million staff at over 150,000 businesses, helping them recover and reopen after the COVID-19 lockdown.

This will give these businesses the confidence to maintain their staff, as more people get through the door and business activity kick-starts again, he said.

The minister said that following this second phase focusing on jobs, there will be a third phase focusing on rebuilding, with a Budget and Spending Review in the autumn  in a few months' time.

The Job Retention Bonus, or a kind of reverse furlough, will be introduced to help firms keep workers who had been put on forced leave under the government-backed Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which is to be wound down in the coming weeks.

Under the new scheme, UK employers will receive a one-off bonus of 1,000 pounds for each furloughed employee who is still employed as of 31 January 2021.

The new Kickstart Scheme will be aimed at those aged 16-24, claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. Funding available for each six-month job placement will cover 100 per cent of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week  and employers will be able to top this wage up.

The UK Treasury department said a total of 1.6 billion pounds will be invested in scaling up employment support schemes, training and apprenticeships to help people looking for a job to benefit young people.

The new plan will also create jobs through bringing forward work on 8.8-billion pound of new infrastructure, decarbonisation and maintenance projects.

As part of this package homeowners and landlords in England will be able to apply for vouchers from a 2 billion pound Green Homes Grant scheme this year to pay for green improvements such as loft, wall and floor insulation that could save some households hundreds of pounds a year on their energy bills while creating thousands of jobs for tradespeople.

Besides, a 1-billion pound programme will make public buildings, including schools and hospitals, greener, helping the country meet its ambitions of achieving Net Zero by 2050, whilst investing in our future prosperity.

In a stamp duty holiday to boost the housing sector, there will be a temporary hike in the exemption band from 125,000 pounds to 500,000 pounds until 31 March 2021, aimed at boosting the housing market and helping people getting on or moving up the property ladder.
By Gwynne Dyer





"We will grant British National Overseas (BNOs) five years' limited leave to remain (in the United Kingdom), with the right to work or study," British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the U.K. parliament on July 1. "After five years, they will be able to apply for settled status. After a further twelve months with settled status, they will be able to apply for citizenship."



The stunning thing about this promise is that it applies to all three million people in Hong Kong  almost half the population  who have British National (Overseas) status, by virtue of having been born there before the former British colony was handed back to the People's Republic of China in 1997.



They don't even need to have an actual BNO passport (as 300,000 of them do). All three million of them qualify: "All those with BNO status will be eligible, as will their family dependants who are ordinarily resident in Hong Kong. The Home Office will put in place a simple, streamlined application process. There will be no quota on numbers."



This is an unprecedented commitment, and it's not even a legal requirement. Britain voluntarily gave asylum to 30,000 Ugandan Asians in 1972 when the bloody dictator Idi Amin confiscated their property and expelled them from the country, but we're talking about potentially a hundred times as many people in Hong Kong.



It is a debt of honor, however, as Britain negotiated an agreement with China that Hong Kong would keep the rule of law, free speech, and freedom of the press for 50 years after the hand-over in 1997. China has broken that 'one country, two systems' deal, and Hong Kongers can only expect a thinly disguised Communist dictatorship from now on.

***

It's right there in the new "security" laws imposed illegally last month by the regime's rubber-stamp National People's Congress in Beijing. New crimes include separatism, subversion, terrorism and 'collusion with foreign forces', the same vague catch-all charges that the Communist regime uses to suppress dissent in the People's Republic. The maximum sentence is ten years in prison.



These laws will be enforced by China's "security" (i.e. political) police, who will now operate in Hong Kong. The charges they bring may be tried in Hong Kong's courts, but if there are "certain circumstances" or "special situations" the accused can be extradited to mainland courts, entirely under the regime's thumb, where the conviction rate is well above 99 percent. In other words, it's over.

***

It's not just freedom that's over. As Chris Patten, Hong Kong's last British governor, wrote recently: "If China destroys the rule of law in Hong Kong, it will ruin the city's chances of continuing to be a great international financial hub that mediates about two-thirds of the direct investment in and out of China."



The decision has been taken, and Hong Kong's residents have two good reasons to leave: their freedoms are gone, and the economic future is grim. Many will decide to leave, but where can they go?



For the 300,000 Canadian citizens in Hong Kong, the 100,000 Australian citizens, the 100,000 British citizens and the 85,000 Americans, it's easy. Most are ethnic Chinese from Hong Kong who understood that you could never trust the Communists and took out an insurance policy long ago by emigrating to another country and acquiring citizenship.



Most of them even bought houses, but then they moved back to Hong Kong to be with the wider family and make better money. Many will go soon, because the Chinese regime may start forbidding people to leave (it doesn't recognize dual citizenship). Others will gamble on staying for the time being, in the hope that if it gets very bad they will still be able to get out later.



For those who have BNO status, it's a harder choice. They have much less money, and no houses, no contacts, no jobs waiting for them in Britain. But they're ambitious, they're well educated, and a lot of them are young. It would be surprising if at least half a million of them didn't take up the British offer.



Just one little problem: the children of people with BNO status who were born after 1997 but are too old to qualify as dependents  the 18 to 23-year olds  are not currently eligible for BNO status. That includes a majority of the young adults who were active in the protests and have the most to fear. But the British government says it is considering their case.



And one little doubt. It is still hard to believe that an ultra-nationalist British government that won the Brexit referendum with a wave of anti-foreign rhetoric, and a Home Office that still stubbornly maintains a 'hostile environment' for immigrants, will really keep these promises.



It would be nice if they kept their word, but it would also be quite surprising.





Gwynne Dyer (gwynne763121476@aol.com) has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years. He is the author of "Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work)."


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Budget carrier IndiGo is expected to report a loss of Rs 2,670 crore for the June 2020 quarter, while its rival SpiceJet's losses during the quarter are likely to be at around Rs 1,000 crore, owing to operational disruptions and low fixed cost coverage, a report said on Wednesday.

Regular operations of the domestic airlines remained shut between March 25 and May 24 on account of a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The government allowed partial (one-third capacity) resumption of domestic commercial passenger flight services from May 25. The international operations, which were suspended from March 22, will however, remain grounded till at least July 31.

However, both IndiGo and SpiceJet along with some other carriers, including state-owned Air India, continued with cargo operations under the government's LifeLine Udan scheme.

"We expect a net loss of Rs 26.7 billion for IndiGo and Rs 10.1 billion for SpiceJet in Q1FY21 driven by low traffic volume, low fleet utilisation and poor coverage of fixed costs," brokerage firm Centrum Broking said in the report.

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

"Our estimates factor anticipated rationalisation in employee costs (factor 30-35 per cent down year-on-year) and other overheads," it added.

An airline's fixed costs comprise maintenance cost of grounded fleet, repayment of bank loans, aircraft lease rentals and staff wages, among others. The fixed costs account for 35-40 per cent of the total cost.

Immediately after suspension of airlines operations in March, most of the carriers announced cost-cutting measures, including salary cuts and leave without pay to employees.

According to the Centrum report, with closing US dollar-rupee exchange rates in the June 2020 quarter remaining almost flat against the March quarter of the financial year 2019-20, it expects a relatively small MTM (mark-to-market) foreign exchange loss of Rs 53.80 crore and Rs33 crore for IndiGo and SpiceJet, respectively.

Noting that the airlines are in liquidity conservation mode and slashing costs aggressively, the report said IndiGo is working on several cost reduction initiatives to improve liquidity. The measures include 5-25 per cent pay cuts for employees, deferment of salary increments and leave without pay for May-July, it said.

Reduction in discretionary expenses and capital expenditure (capex) deferral along with negotiation with suppliers and lessors for better terms including freezing of supplementary rentals, prioritising flying Neos to lower operating costs and suspending dividends to conserve liquidity, among others, Centrum Broking said in the report.

IndiGo estimates that these measures would help it generate additional liquidity of Rs 3,000-4,000 crore by December, it said.

Both IndiGo and SpiceJet are looking to accelerate retirement of their older narrow body fleet in order to rationalise their capacity in the wake of demand disruption as well as to lower fuel burn and maintenance costs, the report stated.

IndiGo targets to retire its CEO (current engine option) fleet of 120 aircrafts over next two years with flexibility of early retirements in mutual agreement with lessors, the report said, adding that IndiGo will also continue taking deliveries of Neos in the first half of the current financial year (it took delivery of nine A320/A321 Neos in April and May).

IndiGo's robust balance sheet and competitive cost structure is best placed among Indian carriers to withstand the current disruption and also be in a position to capitalise on growth recovery, the report noted.

SpiceJet is also looking to retire its fleet of NG aircraft (especially 30 aircrafts taken from Jet Airways), according to the report.

The capacity caps are driven largely by constraints imposed by states on flight movements, the report said, adding that the average daily departures have grown from 478 in the first week (of resumption of services) to 759 in the sixth week (ending July 4). In terms of pre-COVID-19 domestic departures of around 3,000 per day, this implies about 25 per cent capacity deployment so far.

Also, the average daily pax has risen from 36,600 in the first week to 67,600 in the sixth week, as compared to about 4,10,000 passengers per day before the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, it said.

The implied load factor stood at 49.5 per cent in the sixth week of resumption of services from 43 per cent in the first week, it added. Currently, there is no clarity on restart of international flight operation.

Centrum Broking, however, said weak loads and ancillary incomes are expected to impact yield even as lower aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices will provide some relief, stating that "while we build in 5 per cent y-o-y expansion in ticket yields for IndiGo and SpiceJet in Q1FY21, rask (revenue per available seat kilometre) however should remain severely impacted (down 12-18 per cent Y-o-Y) due to lower load factors and near absence of ancillary incomes".

SpiceJet's cargo business should remain relatively robust due to freighter operations and on-seat cargo operations during lockdown (20,200 million tonnes of cargo in freighter operations), it said.
Investing in US markets to diversify as a concept is spreading fast and experts feel that the trend is likely to grow stronger in the near future.

More than Rs 6,000 crore of investors money is riding in the US markets according to data collated by Morningstar India. The preferred choice of Indian investors are not the FAANG stocks but FAAMNG.

FAANG is an acronym that refers to the stocks of five prominent American technology companies: Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Alphabet (GOOG) (formerly known as Google). Investors have now started adding Microsoft, as well as Tesla and Zoom, to their portfolio.

Most prominent technology companies, especially in the US, have witnessed a tremendous recovery after the sharp crash in March. Valuations of companies such as Zoom have skyrocketed as remote working became the norm in the times of COVID-19. Microsoft's Microsoft Teams has witnessed a similar upsurge in usage as most schools and organisation have recently started using its services to organise meetings as well as impart knowledge.

Over the last few years technology companies have been performing phenomenally well and there is very limited exposure available for that sector in India and if we all believe that technology is the future, Viram Shah, CEO, and Co-Founder, Vested Finance told Moneycontrol.

In terms of top stocks definitely FAANG has been dominating. There is another acronym called FAAMNG which includes Mircosoft as well so those are the most popular on our platform as well along with Tesla and Zoom, he said.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of Indian investors investing in the US market. The main reasons for Indian approaching US markets include factors like - (1) Diversification (2) Access to fast-growing tech companies (3) Indians are now customers of global brands like FB, Starbucks etc. - now they want to invest in these companies.

A lot more Indians are spending a lot more money in US (globally) for Travel, Education, etc. We see these Indians building portfolios towards achieving these goals. In the last 10 months over 10,000 customers have started investing on such platforms - with a cumulative investment amount of over US$30 million, Ankit Agarwal, Managing Director at Alankit Ltd told Moneycontrol.

FAANG has been the favourite. In addition, there is a lot of interest in (1) Stocks - Tesla, Microsoft (2) ETFs - Index ETFs like QQQ, SPY, and DIA (3) Gold & Oil ETFs, he said.

In the last 10 years or so, the developed markets (especially the US) has outperformed emerging markets (including India) by a wide margin, and this could be one of the reasons why investors are flocking towards US markets.

A rally in the US market has been driven by a handful of leading tech stocks and consequently, it is not surprising that most asset managers have reasonably high exposure to them, suggest experts.

FAANG stocks have led the recovery in the US market specifically. Our dependence on technology has gone up a lot during the COVID crisis. Apart from the FAANG stocks - a faster than expected recovery in the US market is currently being priced in the stock market, Pratik Oswal, Head of Passive fund Business, Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company told Moneycontrol.

Which is a better medium of investing  MF or direct equity?

Investing in US markets is easy. Investors have two options to invest in US markets. One is the mutual fund route, which is more straightforward and is the same as buying any other mutual fund. The other way is by remitting money abroad via the LRS (Liberalised Remittance Scheme).

In terms of investing many options are available for investors. They could look at Mutual funds, or via direct equity, but the choice really depends on end investor`s goal, suggest experts.

Mutual funds are simple, and index funds are even simpler. Lack of under-performance in index funds makes it easier for investors to hold on for long periods. The S&P500 index has lasted close to half a century and is now the most popular globally, says Oswal of Motilal Oswal AMC.

According to Shah of Vested Finance, if somebody is looking to invest a smaller amount of money and just dip their toes into international investing then definitely a mutual fund or an ETF is a better option.

However, the downside is that you dont get the flexibility to buy some of the companies or brands that you might want to buy, for example, you want to invest more in Zoom or you want to invest in certain healthcare companies so then direct equity investment is a preferred option where it gives you the flexibility, he said.

Agarwal of Alankit Ltd recommends direct equity and ETFs which carry the benefit of providing the customer with more choice, lower costs, and higher liquidity than MFs.

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
A year-on-year contraction of around 10 percent is expected in Nifty EPS in FY21. In absolute terms, FY21 Nifty EPS is expected to be only slightly better than FY17/18 EPS, R Venkataraman, MD, IIFL Securities Ltd, says in an interview to Moneycontrols Kshitij Anand. Edited excerpts:

Q) What according to you will weigh on Indian markets?

A) We do not think that the investors are worried due to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts. The consensus forecast of GDP already points to 5 percent YoY contraction in FY21 and hence IMF outlook shouldnt have been a negative surprise.

That said, expensive valuations (due to recent rally and depressed earnings estimate) and an uncertain recovery path (of the economy) is likely to weigh on equity markets.

A) The one word that best describes the last six months would be unprecedented, in our view. The pandemic has led to a collapse of economies across the world.

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 health infrastructure in several countries is struggling to cope with the rising caseload and the progress made by developing economies on poverty is expected to reverse.

However, equity markets have seen a sharp recovery over the last couple of months, partly because the crisis doesnt hurt all sectors, uniformly.

A) We are estimating a ~10 percent YoY contraction of Nifty EPS in FY21. In absolute terms, FY21 Nifty EPS is expected to be only slightly higher than FY17/18 EPS.

However, the number of infections continues to rise and hence states have been forced to maintain some degree of restrictions on economic activity.

While a deep contraction in earnings and economy in FY21 is widely expected, the recent rally suggests investors expect a sharp reversal in momentum after FY21.

While the low base of FY21 could optically lead to a higher growth in FY22, a sustained recovery could take longer, in our view.

Currently, the COVID-19 storm is still blowing, and it may be too early to assess the lasting impact of the damage that the virus will have on the economy, various industries, the banking sector, and eventually medium-term growth.

A V-shaped recovery will come, but from a trough, any recovery would look like V-shaped. Markets are on the optimistic side, fuelled by extremely easy liquidity conditions.

Over the rest of FY21, the pain in the global and the Indian economies will become more apparent and will cap market upsides from here.

A) Several companies were attractively valued after the sharp correction in 1QCY20 and this could have encouraged buybacks. Also, some corporates may have announced buybacks for supporting stock prices.

The buyback momentum could slow a bit because the equity markets have rallied and the valuations have become expensive. Also, corporates may want to preserve balance sheet strength until the visibility on the economy and demand improves.

A) Sectors like Pharma, telecom, and insurance have done well in the last few months, partly because these sectors are less vulnerable to the current crisis. We think these sectors will continue to lead the rally in the near term.

It would also be expected to hold up, being more dependent on the US economy, and hence indirectly likely to benefit from the significant stimulus to the economy that the administration in the US is implementing.

Consumer names like HUL, Pidilite, Asian Paints, and Berger will do well as unorganized competition weakens.

We are worried about NBFCs, which were leading rural lending and lending to small businesses and borrowing wholesale. SME pain will be felt by NBFCs and only the largest and best ones will weather the storm.

In general, from these levels, financials will underperform (even in the rally from March 23 they have underperformed). Select auto names like Maruti and Hero will also do well, being debt-free, and as the risks of public transport translate in the short term to a preference to private vehicles.

A) The economy has faced several challenges in the last few years and the corporate earnings growth momentum has also been weak. The outlook on both earnings and the economy has only worsened in the last few months due to the pandemic.

We have been recommending investors to stick to companies with visibility of strong earnings growth and healthy balance sheets due to weak macro and this strategy should continue to outperform.

A) Gold has outperformed other asset classes over the last year, partly reflecting the heightened uncertainty. The worries on the economy could keep the yellow metal prices at elevated levels in the near term.

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.
Even as the number of new systematic investment plans (SIP) registrations increased, the net inflows into equity mutual funds stood at a modest Rs 240.55 crore for June 2020, as per the data released by Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). The figure in May 2020 was Rs 5,265 crore.

Investors may have taken the profits off the table and may want to invest again at lower levels, says N S Venkatesh, Chief Executive Officer, AMFI. However, mutual funds are meant for long-term investing and investors should avoid attempting to time the market, he added.

Broad-based rally

The Nifty 50 TRI gained 7.58 per cent in June. This rally in stocks was not limited to a small set of frontline stocks, as even mid and small-sized companies participated in the surge. The Nifty 500 gained 8.39 per cent.

G Pradeep Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Union AMC says, The drop in net flows into equity funds could be attributed partly to profit booking on the back of the rally in equity markets witnessed in June 2020.

Contrary to the earlier perception that the COVID-19 pandemic may peak in July, the lockdowns to curb the spread are getting extended in many parts of the country. This has resulted in loss of income and economic stress for many individuals. No wonder then that some of them opted for profit booking at the first available opportunity, says Ravindra Deshmukh, certified financial planner and founder of Arthmitra Wealth Creators.

While investors chose to redeem their existing holdings in equity mutual funds, they have consciously sought relatively safer investment options in debt schemes. Attractive returns given by debt funds in the recent past and the low-risk appetite of investors have made many individuals shift to debt funds, says Gautam Kalia, head- investment products, Sharekhan.

Shunning risk

Outflows from credit risk funds continued. For June 2020, the outflows stood at Rs 1,493 crore. Investors instead opted for corporate bond and banking & PSU debt funds. Inflows in these categories stood at Rs 10,737 crore and Rs 5,477 crore, respectively. Short duration and low duration funds saw inflows of Rs 8,323 crore and Rs 12,235 crore, respectively.

For steady returns and tax efficiency, you should stick to schemes with a good track record and large size. Kalia advises investing in debt funds focusing on the short end of the yield curve for fixed income allocation. These include short duration and ultra short duration funds. Stay away from long-term gilt funds, as the market risk is high, he added.

Though bond funds can protect downside in volatile times, investors cannot ignore their long-term financial goals altogether. Deshmukh says, Systematic investments in equity funds with a long-term view should be done only based on ones asset allocation and after providing for contingency and insurance needs.
The General Insurance Council (GI Council), the non-life insurance industry association, has come out with an indicative rate chart for COVID-19 hospitalisation claims. The tariff has been devised after discussion with the medical professionals employed with insurance companies, the council said. The rates will be applicable to both cashless and reimbursement claims. However, in case a government authority has prescribed treatment charges in a state or city, those charges will apply. The Council-devised charge structure will be reviewed every month. Here is what the development means for policyholders (who may be patients).

What is the rationale behind devising this rate chart?

Since the beginning of the COVID outbreak, insurers and hospitals have often been locked in disputes over expenses payable. The objective is to bring about some clarity on what is payable, and the expenses that will not be reimbursed. COVID-19 is a new illness with no established protocols and standardised treatment costs. This may, at times, result in an insurance company raising questions on the amounts spent, the industry bodys statement noted. Due to such disputes, patients suffer a loss. As per the GI Council, the rate chart is an attempt at allaying policyholders fears and bringing clarity to the treatment of COVID-19 claims.

For insurers, this will act as a reference guide for approving treatment expenses. Earlier, hospitals were charging rates with wide variations. Insurers were confused as to what is payable and what is not. As per policy terms, personal protection equipment (PPE) kits are actually not payable. However, we later took a call to pay for these expenses. However, there was no uniformity across insurers, says Bhaskar Nerukar, Head, Health Claims, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance. Now, a consensus has emerged that PPE expenses should be settled, given how critical they are to the treatment procedures.

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

How does the chart deal with various charge heads related to COVID-19 treatment?

The rate chart categorises patients ailment condition into three segments: moderate sickness, severe sickness and very severe sickness. The admissible cost in case of moderately sick patients being treated at National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers-accredited (NABH) hospitals will be Rs 10,000 per day, including PPE cost of Rs 1,200. In the case of non-NABH hospitals, this will be Rs 8,000 per day. For severely sick patients, who need intensive care unit (ICU) with ventilator care, hospital rates per day will be Rs 18,000 (Rs 15,000 at non-NABH hospitals), including PPE cost of Rs 2,000. In metros, while 100 per cent of this rate structure will be paid out, the settlement will be lower, at 90 per cent in state capitals and 75 per cent in the rest of the country. Likewise, the proportion will vary as per the type of healthcare facility too: tertiary hospitals (100 per cent of the rate ceiling), nursing homes (80 per cent) and standalone hospitals (65 per cent).

What are the other associated expenses that will be covered or excluded?

The document mentions consultation, nursing charges, room stay, meals, COVID-19 testing, drugs and medical consumables, urinary tract catherisation, biochemical waste management and other protective gear as inclusions. Most importantly, PPE will be covered, though sub-limits (Rs 1,200-2,000 per day) are specified. If the hospital bills a higher amount, the policyholder will have to pay it from her pocket.

Certain charges related to interventional procedures such as bronchoscopic procedures, biopsies, ascitic or pleural tapping and so on will be reimbursed as per the hospitals rack rates as on December 31, 2019. Likewise, high-end investigation expenses including MRI and PET scan will be settled at the rack rates as on December 31, 2019.

Do insurers have to mandatorily adhere to this structure?

Not necessarily. In cases where insurers have negotiated tariffs and agreements with their network hospitals in place already, they could stick to those too. But it is unlikely that the payable charges will now exceed the caps mentioned in the GI Councils rate chart.

These are indicative rates, not binding on insurers. However, it is in the interest of insurers to follow the tariff chart, so that hospitals bring about some standardisation in their charges, says Nikhil Apte, Chief Product Officer, Royal Sundaram General Insurance.

How will it help policyholders?

Policyholders will have a better idea of hospitalisation expenses that their insurer will pay for. Now, there is some standardardisation across the industry available transparently for the hospitals and customers. Policyholders will know the expenses their insurers will bear, beyond which, they will go from their pockets. They can ask questions to hospitals as well as their insurers, as rate chart is transparently available. So, it is in everybodys interests, says Nerurkar. Greater transparency will also reduce customer complaints, most of which pertained to non-payment of PPE kit and other consumables expenses that constituted up to 55-60 per cent of the hospital bill. This was being disallowed by some insurers. Now, insurers will pay for these expenses if managed within the limits specified.
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Revenue per employee (RPE), an indicator of employee productivity, continues to remain stagnant for IT services despite the increase in digital revenue over the last three years.

According to industry watchers, inconsistency in what amounts to digital and pricing pressure are a few reasons why RPE continues to grow at a much slower pace.

Take for instance the revenue per employee growth in the top four Indian IT services firms over the last three years.

Infosys RPE saw marginal growth and now stands at $54,000 on average between FY18 and FY20 after a 6 percent increase in FY18. TCS and Wipros RPE metric stood at $49,000 and $48,000 on average, respectively. HCL Techs RPE stood on average $65,000 after an 8 percent increase compared to FY17. (RPE is calculated by dividing revenue by the total number of employees in each firm.)

With digital growing over 20 percent year-on-year for these firms, RPE should have increased ideally. However, it did not.

Why hasnt the digital growth helped improve RPE?

Phil Ferst, CEO, HFS Research, an analyst firm, told Moneycontrol recently that, Digital revenues are meaningless since each provider is simply lumping all sorts of stuff in there.

Digital broadly denotes revenue from new-age businesses such as cloud, products and platform services that leverage these technologies. However, this definition differs from one company to another.

For TCS and Infosys, consulting, cloud, platforms and new age technologies are considered part of digital revenue, whereas Wipro does not count business from consulting as part of digital. For HCL Tech, products, platforms, IP and new-age services account for digital revenues.

That is why digital revenues, according to Ferst, has not really made an impact nor are they able to scale to a point where they make an impact. Take for instance robotic process automation (RPA), which companies have bet on.

Ferst pointed out that IT firms have not been able to scale up automation, which in turn, means firms are unable to cut down employees needed on tasks that could be automated.

RPA has had little impact on provider operating margins to date, where everyone is really struggling to scale these solutions outside of tasks and project-based initiatives, he added.

Another issue is that organisations continue to be top-heavy impacting margins and productivity. This is also one of the reasons for the recent layoffs the IT industry has witnessed.

Pricing pressure

The second issue is pricing. Are you setting a higher rate for digital compared to legacy, asked a Mumbai-based analyst, who did not want to be named.

According to him, pricing for digital projects are only slightly more than that of legacy and that is why there is not much margin difference between the legacy and digital projects.

Sangeeta Gupta, senior VP and chief strategy officer, NASSCOM, told Moneycontrol at sidelines of an event recently, that currently there is not much of a difference in terms of margins between traditional and digital businesses. However as digital businesses scale, the margin difference will increase as well, she added.

In digital, consulting is a high margin business and it will have operations, which is the implementation. This (implementation of digital) may not be significantly high margin but will be over a period of time as today the digital business is not very high compared to the traditional IT services.


By Dick Polman





Can we finally nix the myth that what this nation needs is a businessman who will "run America like a business"? If mining magnate Herbert Hoover wasn't sufficient evidence, bankrupt casino hack Donald Trump should be the clincher.



In Florida the other day, a retired banker named John Dudley told CNN why he, like so many other seniors, will not vote for Trump a second time. In his words, Trump "blew it. We were so excited in the beginning. A businessman to run our country like a business, and it hasn't happened."



Enough, already, with the nonsensical business-porn! Hoover was the only previous president who'd made his entire living by meeting a business payroll, but he had no leadership instincts and his one-term tenure during the Great Depression was so disastrous that the Republicans got exiled from the White House for the ensuing 20 years.



Here's a modest insight that should be self-evident: Running a business is very different from running a country  especially when the businessman in question is a well-documented grifter with no social skills.



A lot of people have a knee-jerk antipathy toward "politicians." In truth, politicians cajole and persuade and make the sausage that grinds governance.



The smart ones intuit the national mood and move accordingly. The smart ones know that government, at its best, acts in the public interest, and that people pine for it in times of crisis.



Four years too late, people like that retired Florida banker have woken up. There was scads of evidence in 2016 that if Trump were to run America the way he'd been running his business, he'd run us into the ground.



But people didn't bother to pay attention. They ignored what was patently obvious  that this so-called business "closer" couldn't close a window if someone showed him the latch.



How could Trump "run America like a business" if he couldn't even make money running casinos? It was a matter of public record that he'd filed for bankruptcy six times  in 1991, 1992, 2004, and 2009  a fact that was well aired during the 2016 presidential debates.



The Wall Street Journal had reported in detail that none of the U.S. banks would loan him a dime. And it was also well known that, in Atlantic City, Trump had fled his serial failures by stiffing contractors, creditors, and his partners.



It was also common knowledge  or should have been  that Trump the businessman was tight with the mob. He was caught on video partying with mobster Robert LiButti, and in 1991 New Jersey regulators fined a Trump casino $200,000 for indulging LiButti's demand that all African-Americans and women be removed from his gaming tables.



But, alas, too many voters paid no attention, bedazzled as they were by his smoke and mirrors. Granted, there was no pandemic on the horizon (although the Obama administration, mindful of the possibility, had assembled a team that Trump subsequently fired).



But there was not a scintilla of evidence prior to the election that Trump, having spent zero minutes in public service, knew or cared about government rules, norms, or constitutional restraints  or understood anything about the difficult but imperative art of governance.



And now we're sowing the whirlwind, with more than 130,000 dead. He's fleeing the pandemic the way he fled his business wreckage in Atlantic City, leaving others holding the bag.



A few points of contrast: Franklin D. Roosevelt pulled us out of the Great Depression and won a world war  and he was never a businessman.



Twenty three million new jobs were created during Bill Clinton's tenure  and he was never a businessman. Barack Obama pulled us out of the Great Recession, with a jobless rate as low as 4.7 percent  and he was never a businessman. If you catch my drift.



So let's bid goodbye, once and for all, to the deified businessman model. Indeed, the warning signs about Trump were evident 33 years ago, in this burst of prose: "You can't con people, at least not for long. You can create excitement, you can do wonderful promotion and get all kinds of press, and you can throw in a little hyperbole. But if you don't deliver the goods, people will eventually catch on."



So said Trump, in "The Art of the Deal."





Dick Polman (dickpolman7@gmail.com), a veteran national political columnist based in Philadelphia and a writer in residence at the University of Pennsylvania, writes at DickPolman.net. His commentary was distributed by Cagle Cartoons Inc.




Toughen sentencing guidelines for digital sex crimes quickly



The Seoul High Court rejected an extradition request from the United States, Monday, for Son Jong-woo, the convicted operator of the world's largest child porn site. Son, 24, was released after the decision that generated intense public outrage. He had served his entire 18-month sentence as of April but remained in custody pending a decision on the extradition request.



The court said it had rejected the extradition request because sending him to the U.S. could "hamper" the country's investigations into the users of the site, Welcome to Video. "If Son is extradited, investigations here could hit a snag," the court said. Considering that out of 346 members of the porn site arrested around the world, Koreans numbered 223, the judge may have had a point.



A U.S. federal grand jury indicted Son in 2018 on nine charges, including producing and distributing child pornography. His 18-month sentence contrasted with several 15-year sentences handed out to people convicted in the U.S. in this case.



In May, Son's father sued his son, accusing him of concealing the proceeds from his crimes, a charge he had not faced in his trial here. The move was widely seen as an attempt to open a new legal case against Son in Korea and prevent him from being sent to the U.S. This reflects the shameful behavior of Korea's prosecution and courts that have dealt with sexual offenses leniently.



Monday's ruling reignited debate over the slap-on-the-wrist punishment of our judicial system against child pornography. Many people let out their pent-up anger over the court's decision, arguing that Son should have been extradited to the U.S. as it would be impossible to punish him severely here.



The judiciary has been tepid in amending sentencing guidelines. What is needed first therefore is to speed up the pace of toughening sentencing guidelines for digital sex crimes, considering that these are grave offenses that destroy the victim's character.


Former POWs win damage compensation suit



A local court made a landmark ruling Tuesday that North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un should pay 21 million won ($17,500) each in compensation to two former South Korean prisoners of war (POWs) for forced labor they endured while in captivity there. The ruling carries significant implications because it is the first time that a South Korean court has exercised its jurisdiction over North Korea and its people.



The decision is also meaningful as it marked the first time for a local court to issue a compensation order against the North and its leader. It had been impossible to see such an order because of national division. So the court action has set a new precedent.



More importantly, the ruling is in line with Article 3 of the Constitution that stipulates: "The territory of the Republic of Korea shall consist of the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands." This literally means that South Korea's territory encompasses the Northern part of the peninsula. Yet, in reality, the South has so far been unable to exercise its jurisdiction over the North since the national division after Korea's 1945 liberation from Japanese colonial rule.



In this sense, the court's exercising of its jurisdiction is unprecedented. Of course, it is still uncertain if the South can effectively achieve anything by doing this. But as far as the court ruling is concerned, it is possible to execute the compensation order by allowing the plaintiffs to seize North Korean assets in the South.



The former POWs, identified as Han and Roh, plan to take legal procedures to seize copyright fees worth about 2 billion won that were collected from local media outlets, mainly broadcasters, for their use of television footages and pictures released by the North Korean press. The payment of the money has been suspended since 2008 when a North Korean soldier killed a South Korean female tourist at the Mount Geumgang tourism resort.



If they secure the money, the forced labor victims will become the first South Koreans to get financial compensation for their damage they suffered in the North. The court and the Seoul government need to cooperate in ensuring the smooth seizure of the North Korean assets.



However, Pyongyang is unlikely to accept the ruling. The Seoul court's hearings on the case have been held without the presence of the defendants since the civil suit was filed in October 2016. The surviving victims said that they were captured by North Korean forces during the Korean War. They were not repatriated to the South at the end of the war and forced into labor from September 1953 and June 1956. They fled from the North and returned home in 2000 and 2001.



Hopefully, the case should serve as a milestone in enabling South Koreans to get paid for the damage the North inflicted on them in the past. Seoul should make efforts to hold the North responsible for its atrocities against South Koreans.








GABORONE, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Botswana Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Gaborone Overseas Chinese Service Center on Tuesday donated 3,135,000 Pula (about 279,910 U.S. dollars) to Botswana COVID-19 Relief Fund in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.

"We collected more than 5 million Pula to fight COVID-19 pandemic, today we donate cash amounting to 3.1 million Pula, while the balance will go towards supporting the communities, the poor and the needy," said Hu Zhongwen, chairman of the Botswana Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Gaborone Overseas Chinese Service Center, representing 431 donors from the Chinese community.

"We have donated 100,000 Pula to the University of Botswana to support the student study online, we also paid for the food of more than 100,000 Pula for the Free Environment for Street Kids Trust, we will continue to try our best to support the government to fight COVID-19 pandemic. Botswana government did very well so far and we stand with the government to fight the battle and win the war." said Hu.

In his appreciation speech after receiving the donation, Vice President of Botswana Slumber Tsogwane said the war is still on and he is thankful to the stakeholders in the fight against COVID-19 and their hard work.

"We have eased our lockdown to allow the economy to recover and enable the transition into the new normal. The challenges still lay ahead and we promise all citizens that we will never take our eye off the ball in our endeavour to fight COVID-19. We must continue to hold each other by hands in our fight against COVID- 19." Said Tsogwane.
By Kim Hyun-bin



The country's top telecom regulator slapped 51.2 billion won ($42.8 million) in total fines on SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus for engaging in illegal marketing for providing unauthorized subsidies to lure prospective customers into utilizing their fifth-generation (5G) services.



This marks the largest fine imposed for unauthorized subsidies to date, surpassing the previous 50.6 billion won record in 2018. However, the amount falls way short of industry expectations, which many experts predicted to exceed 70 billion won.





People walk past a mobile retail store in Seoul in this file photo. The Korea Communications Commission fined SKT, KT and LGUplus a total 51.2 billion won for providing illegal subsidies to consumers. Yonhap
Samsung Electronics sends out an invitation for the next unpacked event for its upcoming smartphone, Wednesday. The event will be held online Aug. 5. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



By Baek Byung-yeul



After about 40 percent of Samsung Electronics' offline channels were closed at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the second quarter of this year, the world's largest smartphone vendor decided to release its new Note variant in August, Samsung said Wednesday.



The planned unveiling event will happen online and the Note 20 will make its debut "earlier than expected," in what Samsung watchers say was a decision made to ease investors' concerns around the mobile division's profits in the second half of this year after the mobile unit had a difficult first half.



According to Samsung, it sent out invitations for the new Note unpacked event, which has been set for Aug. 5. Samsung has long been using large stadiums in major U.S. cities for the annual showcase of its new devices. However, this year's unveiling event will be livestreamed across the world starting at 11 p.m. (KST), on that day. Samsung usually holds two unpacked events a year  one in March and another in August.



With the unveiling of the Note 20, Samsung is also expected to reveal the new Galaxy Fold and fifth-generation (5G) network-powered Galaxy Z Flip, a clamshell-style device with a folding screen, at the virtual event, reports said.



Regarding the official release of the new phones, Samsung said it can't comment but industry officials expect the company's new phones will be commercially available on Aug. 21, a bit earlier than usual, as it is urgent for the company to boost its falling phone sales volume.



During the second quarter of this year, Samsung's mobile unit fared well, analysts said, despite the pandemic crippling offline channels. The company is estimated to have sold a maximum of 54 million smartphones in the last quarter.



To contain the virus spread, major markets for Samsung such as the United States, Europe and India imposed strict lockdowns during this period which consequently led to the closure of offline stores and halted the operations of phone-manufacturing factories.



Lee Seung-woo at Eugene Securities claimed Samsung's mobile division generated an operating profit of 1.8 trillion won ($1.5 billion) in the second quarter.



Counting on foldable phones



Since Samsung issued invitations for the Aug. 5 unpacked event, focus is on the next-generation Galaxy Fold, which could be called the Galaxy Fold 2 or the Galaxy Z Fold 2, because Samsung wants to distinguish it from Apple's upcoming iPhone 12, which is expected to come with a refreshed design and several special features such as a LiDAR sensor to help deliver an enhanced augmented reality experience.



With the Galaxy Fold, which was launched in September 2019, Samsung succeeded to create products that are drastically different from Apple's iPhone and consumers expect the second-generation foldable phone will a major improvement over the first edition.



"By launching the Galaxy Fold 2, Samsung is expected to increase its presence in the foldable smartphone sector, which the company has kept a firm grip on," said No Geung-chang, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities. "By adopting ultra-thin glass and expanding the size of its external screen, Samsung is expected to upgrade features from the first version that needed to be improved. Chances are good that the Galaxy Fold 2 will be a game changer in the smartphone ecosystem."


A SsangYong Motor plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of SsangYong Motor



By Nam Hyun-woo





Korea Development Bank Chairman Lee Dong-gull / Yonhap

Korea Development Bank (KDB) Chairman Lee Dong-gull criticized SsangYong Motor's efforts to address its liquidity crunch, saying the carmaker should convince the market first before asking for government support.



The rhetoric is interpreted that the state-run lender will not involve itself in SsangYong's self-salvaging plan, unless the company comes up with new vehicles that can attract buyers and secure sustainability.



"KDB retained its 700 billion won to 800 billion won support in GM Korea because its U.S. headquarters at the time provided a guarantee on GM Korea's production volume for the next 10 years," Lee said during an interview with the Hankyoreh newspaper published Wednesday. "However, SsangYong does not have a plan for securing production volume for the future, and is trying to salvage itself by just infusing capital. To run a plant, there should be plans on production and sales."



KDB provided financial support worth approximately 800 billion won ($669.4 million) to GM Korea in 2018, when the carmaker closed its plant in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, due to continued financial problems.



In return for the bailout, General Motors pledged to produce two of the Chevrolet brand's new models in Korea, one of which is the Trailblazer compact SUV that debuted here in January.






Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Park Yong-maan, second from left, speaks during the Korea-Spain Economic Cooperation Committee webinar held at KCCI headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of KCCI



By Nam Hyun-woo



Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Park Yong-maan pledged to enhance the ties between Korean and Spanish businesses, and the Moon Jae-in government's massive investment plan for a green and digital economy will be a launch pad for this.



Park made those remarks during the 21st Korea-Spain Economic Cooperation Committee meeting on Tuesday.



The webinar meeting, jointly hosted by the KCCI and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, was attended by Park, Korean Ambassador to Spain Chung Hong-jo, Spanish Chamber of Commerce General Director Inmaculada Riera, Korea-Spain Economic Cooperation Committee Chairman Kim Faura and Spanish Ambassador to Korea Juan Ignacio Morro.



During his opening remarks, Park said the bilateral ties between the two countries have become stronger despite the coronavirus outbreak, and the Moon government's "Korean New Deal" plan will provide "a broader and more diverse partnership between Korea and Spain."



"In that respect, biotech, digital, and other non-face-to-face industries have opened up many new possibilities," Park said. "And it is time to explore new technologies and create ideas to secure sustainability in the cooperation between the two countries' businesses."



Park added Korean and Spanish businesses need to exchange information more frequently through video conferences and other online tools, and this will give "renewed vitality" not only to the Economic Cooperation Committee but also to individual businesses.



During the webinar, GS Engineering & Construction showcased its irrigation and desalination business in Spain as a model case, saying similar businesses will gain momentum in the wake of the European Green Deal and the Korean New Deal. GS E&C acquired Spanish builder Obrascon Huarte Lain's environmental unit Inima in 2012.



This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Spain. President Moon had calls with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and King Felipe in March and June, respectively, and they agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and to make joint efforts to battle COVID-19.



"The Korea-Spain Economic Cooperation Committee meeting took place for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak and successfully provided an opportunity for discussion about bilateral economic ties after the pandemic," a KCCI official said. "The KCCI and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce promised to stay committed to achieving the points discussed during the meeting."


Korea Franchisee Union Secretary General Kim Jong-min, center, speaks during a press conference held at the head office of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap



By Kim Jae-heun



There never seems to be a peaceful day for the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) since it began reviewing the $4 billion deal of Delivery Hero's acquisition of Woowa Brothers.



Labor civic groups including the Korea Franchisee Union (KFU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a press conference urging the government to cancel the acquisition.



"Delivery Hero and Woowa Brothers already own a combined 99 percent of the market share with their three delivery service players, which is already an unfair business practice," the civic groups said. "We warn that the two firms will monopolize the market once they merge together and therefore we submitted a written opinion to the KFTC urging a thorough review and cancellation of their deal."



This is not the first time the unions have come out against mergers and acquisitions (M&A) between the German and Korean companies.



In January, the KFU and the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises held a joint press conference at the National Assembly with Rep. Choo Hye-sun of the minor Justice Party, accusing Delivery Hero of undermining its smaller rivals.



The labor civic groups' main argument has been concern over a potential monopoly, claiming that once Delivery Hero acquires Woowa Brothers, they could create business conditions that are unfair for both franchise owners and consumers.



People will be left with no alternatives if there is no competition in the market.



Currently, Baedal Minjok (Baemin), operated by Woowa Brothers, owns a market share of 55 percent to 60 percent, followed by Yogiyo and Baedaltong, both operated by Delivery Hero Korea, with a combined market share of 40 percent to 45 percent.



Delivery Hero Korea said it cannot make any specific comments on the issue as the antitrust watchdog is still reviewing the deal but it promised the whole contactless industry will benefit from the M&A.



"The combination of Delivery Hero and Woowa Brothers will bring positive effects to all small business owners, delivery drivers and consumers. Delivery Hero is making its best efforts to promote mutual growth between relevant players in the market amid the difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic," Delivery Hero wrote in a statement released to the press.



The German firm official added the company is open to making any change the KFTC advises.



The KFTC said the labor civic union's written opinion won't affect its review and it will focus on making a decision that will bring the most benefit to the people.



Woowa Brothers also said it cannot comment specifically about the deal but it said the 99 percent market share that the labor civic groups allege the combined firm will possess is not true.



"The research was conducted by an untrustworthy data measurement firm called Korean Click and it is already two years old. Now that several e-commerce giants like Coupang and Naver have started their delivery services, we do not hold a 99 percent market share when combined with Delivery Hero," a Woowa Brothers official said. "Though it doesn't mean we hold a low market share."



Currently, Coupang Eats and Naver's delivery service hold a combined market share no larger than 3 percent.



The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Gyeonggi Province revealed their position that they will not intervene in the private sector business. But both are preparing to offer their own public alternative food delivery services.



"It is a merger between two private firms. However, to increase the satisfaction of the people and small business owners, we launched a consortium with NHN PAYCO to create a public food delivery service application," a Gyeonggi Province official said.



The food delivery service application will go through a testing period in September before being officially introduced to the public.



Seoul City will also launch a public food delivery service application in two months that will compete against Baemin, Yogiyo and Baedaltong.



Industry insiders predicted that the launch of the public delivery services will not create much difference in the local market as people are already comfortable making orders with the existing three players.


A worker moves an empty meal cart at an in-flight meal production facility operated by Korean Air in Incheon, April 2. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Jun Ji-hye



Korean Air and other local airlines are struggling to come up with additional rescue measures that will ensure their survival in the airline industry crisis amid ongoing restrictions on overseas travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, industry officials said Wednesday.



The country's flag carrier has decided to sell its in-flight catering and duty free units to Hahn & Company, a local private equity fund (PEF), as part of efforts to overcome its liquidity crisis.



After a board of directors meeting, Tuesday, the airline said it had decided to give the company the exclusive rights to negotiate for the sales of the two units.



"Korean Air will continue to consult with Hahn & Company regarding follow-up steps, such as due diligence," a Korean Air official said.



Industry officials estimate the sale price of Korean Air's in-flight catering unit at about 1 trillion won ($836 million).



Following the announcement, the Korean Air union issued a statement, calling on the company to immediately stop its attempt to sell off the in-flight catering and duty free businesses as "such a plan is causing job instability among employees."



Regarding the union backlash, the company said it will try its hardest to guarantee job security for employees of the two units, and will continue to communicate with the union.



The sales plan comes as the nation's top air carrier has faced a setback in its attempt to sell its vacant property in Songhyeon-dong, central Seoul, for about 500 billion won due to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's plan to build a park there.



The company said it is working to sell off the property as planned.



In April, Korean Air also received 1.2 trillion won in loans from the Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank).



Other airlines including Asiana Airlines have been grappling with difficulties as well amid the growing impact of the coronavirus on the industry.



Asiana Airlines has been expanding its operation of chartered flights and cargo services in a desperate attempt to cover the losses caused by the fall in passenger flights.



In April, the nation's second-biggest carrier also advised all of its employees to take at least 15 days of unpaid leave each month until business returns to normal.



Budget carriers have been expanding their irregular domestic flights to Jeju, Busan, Yeosu and Yangyang, seeking a breakthrough.


Protesters hold signs while marching through the streets of Downtown on June 5.
Cai Qi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC, presides over a ceremony held to mark the 83rd anniversary of China's whole-of-nation resistance war against Japanese aggression at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony was held Tuesday in Beijing to mark the 83rd anniversary of China's whole-of-nation resistance war against Japanese aggression.

The Lugou Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937, is recognized as the start of Japan's full-scale invasion of China, and China's whole-of-nation resistance against it.

Tuesday's event was held near the bridge, at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

It was presided over by Cai Qi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC.

More than 200 people, including family members of military leaders and martyrs of the war, attended the ceremony.

People offered floral tributes and bowed to pay respects to those who died in fighting the Japanese aggression more than eight decades ago.
BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) -- China and Arab states have called for awareness raising of the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and reached consensus on forging a China-Arab community with a shared future and a community of common health between them in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a joint declaration on fighting COVID-19 with solidarity, released at the 9th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum held on Monday via video link, China lauded the measures taken by the Arab states to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the achievements accomplished, and appreciated their efforts, jointly with the World Health Organization (WHO), in implementing prevention measures and following the WHO guidance in accordance with international health regulations.

Arab states affirmed China's achievement in handling the epidemic, appreciated its open and transparent cooperative stance and the measures it took in accordance with the guidance of the WHO and international health regulations.

The Arab side thanked China for providing medical supplies to the Arab states, helping coordinate procurement of epidemic prevention supplies in China, dispatching medical expert teams, sharing experience via video conferences of epidemic prevention and control as well as disease diagnosis and treatment, and actively advancing anti-epidemic cooperation.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Arab states have worked together, helped each other, shared information in a timely manner, taken decisive measures and conducted close cooperation, and the China-Arab traditional friendship and the China-Arab strategic partnership have been continuously deepened and lifted to a new level.

The two sides reached consensus on six fields as follows:

First, both attach great importance to solidarity and cooperation, calling for awareness raising of the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Second, they stress the importance of multilateralism, saying the global governance with the United Nations as its core should be enhanced and improved. They also voice support for the WHO's leading role in the global public health governance.

Third, the two sides agree to strengthen communication and coordination, and carry out exchanges and cooperation in pandemic prevention and control.

Fourth, they oppose discriminatory words and deeds against any country, region, nation and individual.

Fifth, the two sides agree to carry out cooperation against the pandemic within the health cooperation mechanism under the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

Sixth, they encourage continuous cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road while preventing and controlling the pandemic.


GPU Performance Testbench Engineer Austin , Texas , United States Hardware Summary

Posted: Jul 7, 2020 Role Number: 200178975 Do you love creating elegant solutions to highly complex challenges? Do you intrinsically see the importance in every detail? As part of our Silicon Technologies group, you'll help design and manufacture our next-generation, high-performance, power-efficient processor, system-on-chip (SoC). You'll ensure Apple products and services can seamlessly and efficiently handle the tasks that make them beloved by millions. Joining this group means you'll be responsible for crafting and building the technology that fuels Apple's devices. Together, you and your team will enable our customers to do all the things they love with their devices. In this role, you will be responsible for the development of Apple's GPU performance testbench. As a member of our Hardware design team, you will collaborate closely with other GPU Design and Architecture engineers to analyze and improve the performance of Apple's GPUs. Key Qualifications Strong hardware and software debug skills

Thorough understanding of memory cache architecture, microarchitecture and performance tradeoffs

Experience in performance analysis

Familiar with RTL logic design and Verilog/ SystemVerilog coding

You will have strong communication skills Description The GPU performance testbench engineer will own definition of the requirements and delivery of the testbench used to measure performance of the Apple GPU. You will work with architects, designers and performance engineers to establish the requirements to measure pre-silicon performance. You will develop performance models of SoC components, like memory caches, and work with DV engineers to integrate them into the performance testbench. You will be responsible for analyzing performance issues in the memory system. This role requires a self driven and highly motivated engineer who can communicate across teams. Education & Experience BS or MS in EE/CS/ECS


The Shiv Sena on Wednesday asserted there are no differences among the ruling MVA allies in Maharashtra, and said if coalition governments fall over controversies on some transfers and promotions, it would imply that the national politics is on a weak foundation.

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said politics over issues of a few transfers and promotionsis "low

level" and "petty".

It said there is "no truth" in speculations about lack of co-ordination among the ruling coalition partners and that they can't see eye to eye over several important issues. The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprises the Shiv

Sena, NCP and Congress, which came together to form government in the state last year after the Uddhav Thackeray-led party fell out with long-term ally BJP over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post.

Some media reports claimed there were tensions between the Sena and NCP over the recent transfer of 10 police

officials in Mumbai, and five Sena councillors at Parner in Ahmednagar district joining the Sharad Pawar-led party last week.

The Sena on Wednesday said, "What isso special if Sharad Pawar meets Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray frequently.

The Thackeray sarkar has been formed because of his efforts. Pawar keeps meeting the chief minister over issues of farmers, cooperative sector."

"If coalition governments fall over the controversy on two-three transfers and promotions, it would imply that the national politics is on a weak foundation. There are no differences among the MVA allies," the Marathi daily said.

To say that state Home Minister AnilDeshmukh and Pawar met Thackeray to pacify him over the transfers controversy is a "sign of mental confusion of those who say and write this", the Sena claimed, while targeting Leader of

Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis.

It said even though Maharashtra's political reality maybe "unsettling" for Fadnavis and the BJP, it is better

they accept the reality. The Sena criticised Fadnavis over his comments that the BJP is not interested in pulling down the MVA government, which would fall "because of its own internal contradictions".

"Even though (state Congress chief) Balasaheb Thorat and Sharad Pawar have been saying the government will last its full term, the opposition continues to speak of internal contradictions," the Thackeray-led party said.

The chaos or internal contradictions seen by the opposition party could be a sign of the government's

"liveliness", it said. The Sena said the BJP in Delhi has been accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of hurting the morale of Indian soldiers (over some of his comments on the border standoff with China).

"The BJP in Maharashtra shouldn't do the same to health workers and coronavirus warriors in the state," it

added.
The Odisha government has decided not to take up new schemes except those of the health department and banned renovation of offices as part of its austerity measures in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, officials said on Wednesday.

The government has also put a ban on creation of new posts in all departments except health, and purchase of new vehicles for two years, they said.

The authorities stopped journey of officials outside the country and asked them to rationalise travel expenses.

"No new state schemes or projects will be taken up except those of the health and family welfare department.

Expenditure on existing state schemes will be capped for the current financial year, though the programmes relating to livelihoods in the agriculture and its allied sector and spending on combating the COVID-19 outbreak will be excluded from the austerity measures," the officials said.

In a letter to all departments, Finance Secretary Ashok Meena said the state is going through an unprecedented crisis due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has posed challenges in every sphere of life.

The state government has been fighting the pandemic but the nationwide lockdown has interrupted the economic activities which resulted in a shortfall in the realisation of resources, the letter said.

On the other hand, the management for the COVID-19 crisis would require higher expenditure. There would also be higher spending needs for generating employments for the most affected sections of the society, it said.

"Therefore, all administrative departments are required to prioritise their expenditure needs to limit the expenses within the resources available," the letter read.

The government has decided that there will be a complete ban on the purchase of new vehicles for the next two years, the officials said, adding that the officers were asked to avoid air travel, and meetings through video conferences may be preferred.

The government officers were also instructed to avoid 1st class AC compartments in trains for official trips, while new hiring of vehicles would require approval of the finance department.

"No officer, while on tour, will be allowed for reimbursement for occupancy in any hotel in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, except when the home department will not be able to provide accommodation in the government's establishments," they said.

Purchase of new equipment except items for medical and internal security purposes has been prohibited.

"There will be a complete ban on expenditure on the renovation, remodelling and furnishing in the government offices. Meetings, seminars, workshops and hosting of official lunch and dinner in hotels using government funds will also be banned," the officials said.

The sanction of new long-term advances for house building, car, computer and other purposes will not be given, they said.

The austerity measures will also be followed in recruitment and manpower engagement.

"New engagement of consultants and retired government employees will be restricted and prior concurrence of the finance department would be required for the purpose," they added.
A band of anonymous Ute people are pictured in an 1878 photograph over 200 years after the first official agreement was signed between Ute people and Spanish colonizers in 1670.
Facebook has confirmed that Instagram Reels is coming to India. This short form video format platform comes at a time when there is a massive space vacated by the ban on TikTok, a social network that was part of the 59 apps Chinese owned apps banned by the Government of India, a few days ago. Instagram Reels is also all about users sharing quirky, funny and exciting 15-second videos to their followers. Instagram Reels, mind you, is currently also on test in India, which means that it will be rolled out to users in India in a phased manner, and not everyone will get the Reels add-on immediately on their Instagram app. India is joining Brazil, Germany and France where Instagram Reels was already live for testing.

Reels gives a voice to individual creators, says Vishal Shah, VP of Product, Facebook. Instagram says that of all videos shared on the platform last month, more than 45% of the videos were actually of 15 seconds or lesser duration . Reels can also be accessed via the Camera link in the Instagram app on your phone, much in the same way you currently post Stories right now on Instagram.

Instagram Reels is also all about users sharing quirky, funny and exciting 15-second videos

Facebook is offering a lot of customization options with Instagram Reels. These 15-second short format videos can be dressed up with a variety of music tracks, filters and editing tools. Instagram confirms that the Spark AR effects will also be available for Instagram Reels, much in the same way Instagram Stories. Content creators will be able to also change video speed and add music, depending on the library of tracks available in this region.

Instagram says Reels content will get wider sharing options. Users will also be able to post the short format videos to the Explore tab, as well as to Stories and the Instagram Feed. The search options now include Reels creators as well as by music tracks used by creators in the short format videos.

Facebook is offering a lot of customization options with Instagram Reels. These 15-second short format videos can be dressed up with a variety of music tracks, filters and editing tools

On the issue of the timing of the launch of Instagram Reels coinciding with the ban on TikTok, Facebook says the plan was always in place to bring Reels to India. This has been in the making for a while. We have seen interest in short form videos for a while now, says Ajit Mohan, on the timing of the Instagram Reels launch in India, while mentioning India has a young population looking for platform to express on. India was always on the radar, he added. Till now, Instagram Reels was available in Brazil, Germany and France as part of a larger test.

"We have seen interest in short form videos for a while now, says Ajit Mohan, on the timing of the Instagram Reels launch in India

Late last month, the Government of India issued an order banning as many as 59 Chinese owned smartphone apps in the country. The notification issued by The Ministry of Information Technology of the Government of India derived 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 all platforms now include TikTok, Shareit, WeChat, Helo, Likee, UC News, Bigo Live, UC Browser, ES File Explorer and Mi Community.

That was a huge hit for TikTok, a popular social media platform focused on short format videos and owned by Chinese tech company Bytedance. According to data analytics firm App Annie, India accounted for 323 million, which is 44%, of the total 740 million TikTok app downloads in 2019 across all platforms. They also suggest that Indians spent 5.5 billion hours on the TikTok app last year. In fact, at the beginning of this year, it was reported that ByteDance was targeting Rs 100 crore in revenue in India, banking on new quick advert formats for brands as well.
A landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar killed at least 126 people, with more feared dead, authorities said on Thursday, after a heap of mining waste collapsed into a lake and buried many workers under mud and water.

The miners were collecting stones in the jade-rich Hpakant area of Kachin state  the centre of Myanmar's secretive jade industry  when the "muddy wave" crashed onto them, after heavy rain, the fire service department said in a Facebook post.

By late afternoon rescue workers had recovered 126 bodies, the department said, but more were missing.

"Other bodies are in the mud," Tar Lin Maung, a local official with the information ministry, told Reuters by phone. The numbers are going to rise.

Deadly landslides and other accidents are common in the poorly regulated mines of Hpakant, which draw impoverished workers from across Myanmar in search of gems mostly for export to China. But Thursday's accident was the worst in over five years.

About 100 people were killed in a 2015 collapse which strengthened calls to regulate the industry. Another 50 died in 2019.

Many of those killed are freelance "jade pickers" who scour tailings - the residue from mining - for gemstones overlooked by larger operators. One good piece of jade, worth tens of thousands of dollars, could transform their lives.

Video footage on social media showed frantic miners racing uphill to escape as a towering pile of black waste cascaded into a turquoise lake, churning up a tsunami-like wave of mud.

Photos showed rows of dead bodies laid out on a hill, covered by tarpaulin.

In a statement posted online on Thursday evening, the armed forces commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, said military officers would continue the rescue efforts.

'Run, Run'

Maung Khaing, a 38-year-old miner from the area who witnessed the accident, said he was about to take a picture of the precarious waste mound he felt looked set to collapse when people began shouting "run, run!"

Within a minute, all the people at the bottom (of the hill) just disappeared, he told Reuters by phone. I feel empty in my heart. I still have goose bumps...There were people stuck in the mud shouting for help but no one could help them.

Than Hlaing, a member of a local civil society group helping in the aftermath of the disaster, said those killed were freelancers scavenging the waste left by a larger mining firm.

She said about 100 people were still missing and 30 had been hospitalized.

A local official had warned people not to go to the mine on Thursday because of the bad weather, she said. Theres no hope for the families to get compensation as they were freelance miners.

The government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi pledged to clean up the industry when it took power in 2016, but activists say little has changed.

Official sales of jade in Myanmar were worth 671 million euros ($750 million) in 2016-17, according to data published by the government as part of an Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

But rights group Global Witness says the trade is worth billions of dollars a year, funds it says fuel armed conflict between government troops and ethnic Kachin rebels fighting for greater autonomy for the region.

In a statement, the group called Thursday's accident a "preventable tragedy" and said the Suu Kyi's administration had failed to implement promised reforms to curb "illicit and rapacious mining practices". A government spokesman did not answer phone calls by Reuters seeking comment.
SEOUL, July 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said here on Wednesday that his country strongly supports cooperation between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"The United States strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation, and we believe this plays an important component in creating a more stable environment on the Korean Peninsula," Biegun told reporters in Seoul after talks with Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, according to Yonhap news agency.

"We look forward to fully supporting the government of (South) Korea as it advances its goals with North Korea (DPRK) in inter-Korean cooperation," the U.S. top nuclear envoy said.

His comment came as South Korea is seeking a U.S. support for the resumption of inter-Korean cooperation projects that have been suspended under international sanctions toward Pyongyang.

Biegun arrived here Tuesday for a three-day visit. Before the talks, he paid a courtesy call to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and held a strategic dialogue with Cho Sei-young, South Korea's first vice foreign minister of South Korea.
The State of Florida Division of Administrative Hearings administrative law judge has found in favor of Lee Countys approval process for lime rock mining, including its deletion of Map 14.

The judicial finding helps to solidify the county staffs 2019 amendments to its Lee Plan

Lee County is one step further toward resolving regulatory ambiguity on the mining issue, Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass said is a prepared statement released last week. After two years of not being able to talk about this pending case, Im happy that residents and businesses now are informed of the true facts. Some individuals and groups tried to make this issue a political platform and provided false information to the public. The courts have ruled that Lee County staffs work and commissioners actions were consistent with land-use laws, and the community and environment have been protected.

The countys decision had drawn opposition from nearby businesses and residents.

Map 14, a plan originally created by Lee County in 2010, was meant to condense the mining activity along the Alico Road corridor, as well as determine the location of existing and future lime rock mining activities.

Administrative Law Judge Francine M. Ffolkes found that the countys 2019 Mining Lee Plan Amendments were in compliance with state law and ruled against challengers Sakata America Inc. and Linda S. Nelson.

In her June 16 decision, Ffolkes found in favor of the county and recommended that the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity confirm Lee Countys 2019 Plan amendments on mining.

Sakata Seed America Inc., an agricultural business situated along SR82 within the DRGR, was one of two parties named in the case. According to Randy Johnson, Branch Manager from Sakata Seed America Inc., the courts decision is disheartening.

We are very disappointed that Lee County has decided to deregulate lime rock mining while there is still plenty of supply available to meet regional demands for decades. Map 14 was created by Lee County to conserve natural resources in the DR/GR, which includes groundwater, lime rock, wildlife, and farmland. Previous court cases have supported the validity of Map 14, but this illustrates how policies and judicial rulings ebb and flow over time. We will continue to operate our research facility while monitoring possible incompatibilities of the mine with our activities. We have a right to continue operations without interferences, Johnson said.

During the public hearings for adoption of the 2019 Plan Amendments, those opposed to the plan amendments including Sakata Seed America Inc., local representatives, environmental groups and members of the public stated that:

n The 2019 Plan Amendments were inconsistent with State Law;

n The removal of Map 14 would lead to deregulation of mining in Lee County; and

n The existing Lee Plan provisions were clear and should be maintained.

According to a Lee County media release, the ALJ rejected the above arguments made by the petitioners and found that neither of petitioners consultants were able to demonstrate that the 2019 Mining Comp Plan Amendments created any actual internal inconsistencies with any provision of the Lee Plan.

The ALJ found that under the 2019 Plan Amendments lime rock mining continued to be regulated by the Lee Plan and that Chapter 12 of the Lee County Land Development Code extensively regulated lime rock mining even after the 2019 Plan Amendments.

Based on these findings, the ALJ recommended that the Department of Economic Opportunity issue a final order determining that the 2019 Plan Amendments adopted by the County on June 19, 2019, are in compliance with State law.

A final order from the DEO related to Map 14, State Road 82 is expected later this month. For more information, visit www.leegov.com/mining.
Registration is now open for the annual Back 2 School backpack and school supply event, which is scheduled to take place later this month at New Life Assembly.

Registration can be done by calling Lehigh Community Services at 239-369-5818 through Friday, July 17, or until registration is full.

We are registering people every day, Lehigh Community Services Executive Director Carolyn Peplow said.

The drive-thru pick up event will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at New Life Assembly, 5146 Leonard Blvd. S. The Back 2 School event is open for students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade, who are Lehigh Acres residents.

The sponsors of the event include New Life Assembly, Lehigh Community Service, Christ United Methodist Church, Mothers Empowering Women, Inc., First Christian Church, as well as many individuals and businesses of the community who help assist a minimum of 700 students.

Peplow said the backpacks will be prepacked using school lists, according to grade level. She said there will be such supplies as pencils, paper, notebooks, composition books, scissors, crayons, markers, erasers, pencil sharpeners and pencil bags or boxes.

Peplow said between Lehigh Community Services and their partners they are planning on providing at least 700 backpacks.

Lehigh Community Services is currently offering all of its services by appointment in the office. Services include financial and food stamp appointments in the parking lot through car windows, all by appointment.

For those who must enter the office, a thorough cleaning is done of the space, and sneeze guards have been installed.

The food pantry is by appointment as well. The client provides their make, model and color of their car and Lehigh Community Services volunteers place the food in the clients trunk to have contactless services at the time provided.

We put it in their trunk and let them leave. It seems to work out pretty well, Peplow said, adding that they provide the same numbers of food as before the COVID-19 pandemic because they have limited space and time. We can only do pantry so many days without running out of food.

Approximately 60 percent of the clients are returning clients and 40 percent are new to Lehigh Community Services.

Peplow said for the most part all of the food pantries are open again in Lehigh and there are still mobile food pantries coming to the area.
Five Reasons Covid Will Change SEO

The COVID situation has necessarily affected our lives and has changed the way we do or perceive a lot of things. What seemed normal then, seems absurd now. Of all the things that have changed, what changed the most is the way people do business. Today we are speaking to Graham Grieve at A1 SEO Glasgow, whos website ranks well for competitive terms such as SEO Glasgow, SEO agencies Glasgow and other super competitive terms.

While offline businesses have taken a hit due to lockdown and other restrictions, online businesses are booming. E-commerce is on the rise since everyone is trying to shift their business online. More and more new online stores are opening up each passing day. And as actions have consequences, this will to.

While on one hand, the scope of SEO is increasing, on the other hand, there is going to be fierce competition between businesses in terms of SERP rankings.

So the thing is, SEO will change, and in not one, but multiple ways. Now, let us take a look at the reasons why Covid-19 will change SEO.

#1 Small business will start spending more on SEO

We have established previously that the COVID and lockdown condition has led offline businesses to shift online. As a direct result of this, the competition will increase because now the business owner will not compete with other local business owners, but with other businesses all over the country.

And since SEO is the way to achieve results in the e-commerce and other types of online businesses, the business owners will not hesitate to shell out more money for search engine optimization.

Since companies will be willing to increase their marketing budgets(to cope with the increased competition) and to allocate a huge portion of it to SEO, it is pretty clear that the scope of SEO will increase.

This will also allow digital marketers to close more clients, and take on more SEO projects.

#2 More LSI keywords in almost every niche

Due to the existence of COVID 19, it adds a whole new avenue for Keyword Research since for almost every niche, prefixing or suffixing COVID 19 would create a new LSI Keyword.

For what it is worth, LSI stands for Latent Semantic Indexing. In layman terms, LSI keywords are just long-tail keywords, which do not have much search traffic but are comparatively easier to rank.

People are concerned with the Coronavirus for almost everything they do or think. You want to order groceries, you think of safe delivery. You want to book a hotel, you want it to be safe and sanitized. Due to this very reason, people are searching for keywords related to COVID like

Best grocery delivery service after COVID Best place to travel after COVID Hotels in Delhi with the best sanitization

etc. You get the picture, right?

#3 Not just SEO

Wondering what is that supposed to mean? Well, lets just get to it. Conquering the digital market after COVID will not just be SEO. Why? Because there would be many businesses in the same niche as yours, who would be willing to go for paid traffic instead of organic. While paid traffic requires a lot more money than organic traffic, it brings results almost instantaneously while SEO can take a lot more time as compared to PPC.

Now, we would not suggest completely organic or completely paid traffic, because both of them have their drawbacks.

In my opinion, a good blend of both would be perfect because initially, you wont lose out sales

#4 Chance for better conversions

Now that the COVID situation exists, people are concerned about certain things more than ever. For example safety, cleanliness, sanitization, etc. This concern could be used by you to your advantage. Let me explain how.

Whatever service or product people are looking for, you could increase your chances of converting them into customers by showing them that you are safe for them. You can show them the different security measures you take, to make sure that it is safe for your customers to use your product/service.

A lot of companies are doing the same, and are getting better conversions. For example, Dominos Pizza websites show what steps they take to ensure the safety of their customers which includes thermal screening of their delivery boys, regular sanitization, keeping kitchens clean, etc. Other companies are also doing the same, and you can also follow the same method to boost conversions. All you need to do is add solutions to some COVID related problems on your landing page.

#5 Greater growth aspects in the health niche and medical industry

The existence of coronavirus opens up a whole new avenue in the health niche and the searches are growing ever since. A lot of keywords are getting much more searches than before which even includes those which are not directly related to COVID 19. For example, people are searching more than ever for ways to improve immunity, recipes for different products which improve immunity, how to make masks in home, etc (I will leave the research up to you)

Also, since the COVID threat, various pharma companies have joined the race for creating medicines and other products for the coronavirus. So all these companies would be spending a lot of money in SEO and Digital Marketing and that opens a lot more doors for you.

Conclusion

This was all about how COVID the SEO techniques and industry. To sum it all up, there will be many more opportunities than before. Some niches may see a rise, while some may boom, but one thing is clear, the industry is not going down. With that being said, we would strongly recommend you to do your research in the niche you work on, find out how COVID created more opportunities in that niche, and then wipe the floor with your competitors.

If you are someone who is into client business, then also you are in luck because a lot of new businesses are looking to get online, and it will be easier than ever to capture clients.

If you want to discuss something related, the comment section is open and we are all ears.

By Sumeet Manhas

 2020 Copyright Sumeet Manhas - All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) recently held its virtual 52nd Plenary Session with the official opening and keynote by Hon. Betty C. Maina (Cabinet Secretary  Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development, Kenya).

Themed  Business Environment, Competitiveness and Economic Growth in Africa , the plenary was held over two days with a special session titled: African Economies Amid COVID 19  Impacts & The Road Ahead.

 Competitive economies are most likely able to provide an environment conducive to business, market development, policy clarity, strong institutions that define the rules/incentives mechanism and effective coordination; and hence will grow more sustainably and inclusively. This means that there is a likelihood that everyone in that particular society, market segment or physical location will benefit from the fruits of economic growth,  said Professor Njuguna Ndungu, AERCs Executive Director.

In her official opening speech, Honourable. Betty C. Maina highlighted that Africa must reimagine business beyond COVID-19, and that there is an opportunity to reshape Africas manufacturing if it focuses on self-reliance. She noted that African manufacturers are stepping up to produce essential medical supplies which could contribute 1.5 Billion dollars to the continent and, in the long run, African manufacturers can take advantage of opportunities that lead to African trade and global supply chain realignment.

The importance of strengthening Inter-African trade and supply chains could create a springboard for export-orientated growth. The opportunity to catalyze the formalisation of Africa economies, improve productivity and access to finance will create additional protection and opportunity for employees and SMEs.

 Targeted campaigns need to be launched for SMEs so that they can familiarize themselves with access to finance and labour. It is important to leverage the informal employment sector as it has 70% of the working population and cuts across manufacturing and trade that leads growth to GDP. It is important to create the shift of competitiveness for economies in Africa , Honourable Betty Maina concluded.

 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 Ndungu, executive director of, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC).

The forum had a diversity of presentations by various economists and was attended by senior government officials and scholars virtually, who discussed policy options to boost economic recovery after months of lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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South Africa: Protests hinder water delivery services

The Department of Water and Sanitation has called for a speedy resolution to protest action at the King Cetshwayo District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

The protests have resulted in water disruptions in many local municipalities.

The call follows community protests on Monday due to disagreements between the King Cetshwayo District Municipality and some community members.

The department said that it understands that the community members had their employment terminated when the municipality ended its relationship with a contractor that was rendering water support services to the municipality.

Head of the department in KwaZulu-Natal, Ashley Starkey said the disruptions happened at a time when COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing. Starkey said communities should not be left without water.

This is a time when people should constantly wash their hands with water and soap to minimise the spread of Coronavirus, Starkey said.

The protests have already resulted in the closure of roads and destruction of property in many local municipalities under the King Cetshwayo District.

If allowed to continue, Starkey warned that the protests will also pose a threat to the availability of water to strategic industries and communities in Richards Bay.

He also noted that the departments strategic infrastructure in the area has been affected, which will result in the disruptions of water supply to the communities.

The Department of Water and Sanitation is concerned that the strategic infrastructure, particularly of the Madungela and Mkhalazi pump stations are affected. These pumps are operated by Mhlathuze Water to supply water to the Goedetrouw Dam and have also been affected by the protests as employees are being blocked from accessing these sites.

The Department of Water and Sanitation therefore calls for a speedy resolution to the disagreements so that the supply of water is not hindered any longer than it already has, Starkey said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Viet Capital Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Viet Capital Bank), a major commercial bank in Vietnam, Seven System Viet Nam Jsc (7-Eleven Viet Nam), a worldwide convenient supermarket, and JCB International Co. Ltd. (JCBI), the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co.,Ltd., today announced the launch of Viet Capital Bank JCB 7-Eleven Credit Card.

A great population of more than 90 million people, Vietnam is considered an attractive market for consumer goods. Vietnamese people likely change the habit in purchasing consumer goods, need to be convinced and purchase all the time 24/7. That's causing the rapidly opening of convenience store.

7-Eleven Vietnam is evaluated as a reputation convenience store, in which developing utilities especially in diversifying the payment, and increasing the loyalty of customer, the co-branded card is launched.

As Viet Capital Bank and 7-Eleven Vietnam exploring,

- 7-Eleven Vietnam expect to operate 1000 stores by 2027.

- This is the first co-branded card of convenience store in Viet Nam.

- With the first step of the campaign, Viet Capital Bank and 7-Eleven Vietnam will prioritize and specifically focus on those group customers are currently member of 7-Eleven Vietnam.

The cardholders can access the JCB acceptance network with about 34 million merchants around the world, special privileges at selected merchants, and customer service at JCB Plaza, an overseas service counter.

In addition, Viet Capital Bank and 7-Eleven offers a lot of benefits with cardholders.

1) Free lifetime annual fee for cardholder, grace period up to 55 days.

2) Loyalty program from 7-Eleven: 1 point for each 1,000 VND transaction amount in App 7REWARDS.

3) Loyalty program from Viet Capital Bank: 5 point for each 1,000 VND transaction amount.

About Viet Capital Bank

Viet Capital Commercial Joint Stock Bank was established in 1992. Over 27 years of operation, with many changes, up to now with the right business vision and strategy, Ban Viet Bank is gradually asserting its position on financial and banking market with the ability to flexibly meet the diverse needs of customers' products and services. The Bank has planned and implemented the Development Strategy for the period of 2016-2020 with the message "We started from YOU" to aim to become a modern, versatile, customer-oriented retail bank. especially individual customers and small and medium business customers.

About 7-Eleven Viet Nam

The first 7-Eleven store in Viet Nam opens in 2017, making Viet Nam the 19th country to host the world's largest convenience store chain.

Seven System Viet Nam (SSV) is the Master Franchisee of the 7-Eleven convenience store system in Viet Nam, based in Ho Chi Minh City. SSV is a group of dynamic professionals who relentlessly make great efforts every day to continue the success story of this iconic brand.

Our mission is to always put our customers first - bringing them fresh food, convenient products and essential services compatible with the culture and lifestyle of a modern and dynamic Viet Nam.

About JCB

JCB is a global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 34 million merchants as well as cash advance locations around the world. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/
Le ministre des Services Financiers et de la Bonne Gouvernance a donne une reponse au depute du MMM concernant les consultants dont les services ont ete retenus pour aider le pays a appliquer les recommandations de la Financial Action Task Force.

The Honourable Second Member for Port Louis South and Port Louis Central (Mr Uteem)

To ask the Honourable Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance 

Whether, in regard to the consultants whose services have been retained to assist Mauritius comply with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force and get out of the European Commissions list of high risk third countries with strategic deficiencies in their regime regarding anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing, since 2014 to date, he will state the (a) names thereof (b) quantum of fees paid thereto and (c) criteria used for the selection thereof?

Mr Speaker Sir,

In my reply to a Private Notice Question on 13 May 2020, I informed the House that Mauritius has undergone two mutual evaluations, under the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) mutual evaluation procedures. The second exercise started with a desk review in October 2016 which subsequently led to the publication of its Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) in September 2018.

Mr Speaker Sir, the mutual evaluation is conducted in accordance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) methodology, which is endorsed by the ESAAMLG Council of Ministers.

Mr Speaker Sir,

One of the overarching principles of the revised FATF methodology 2012, concerns the assessment of money laundering and financing of terrorism risks at national level for which a National Risk Assessment (NRA) has to be undertaken. In this respect, Mauritius enlisted the technical support of the World Bank for the exercise, under a Reimbursable Advisory Services Agreement. The exercise started in January 2017 and was completed in June 2019. The fees paid to the World Bank for this exercise amounts to USD 205,463.

The services of Mrs Kelly Culver were thereafter retained to review and edit the draft National Risk Assessment Report. Mrs Culver is a consultant of wide experience in management and leadership position in Government and has carried out a few assignments in Mauritius regarding the Voluntary Review Report on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Public Sector Business Transformation Strategy. She is also conversant, with the National Risk Assessment. She was paid an amount of USD 5,000/- for her services.

Subsequently the National Risk Assessment Report was published in August 2019.

Mr Speaker Sir,

I am informed that the Financial Services Commission (FSC), resorted to the services of a consultancy firm namely, McDonell-Nadeau Consultants Inc to assist in the implementation of the recommended actions of the ESAAMLG Mutual Evaluation Report. I am advised that the firm was selected on the basis that the founders are experts in the field of Anti Money Laundering /Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), having wide experience working with the FATF. One of them was the Executive Secretary of the FATF from 2007 to 2016. As regards the fees payable to them, I am advised that the FSC is bound by the statutory duty of confidentiality under section 83 (2) of the FSC Act and as such, this information cannot be disclosed.

Mr Speaker Sir,

The ESAAMLG Secretariat also provided the services of its officers to assist Mauritius in complying with the implementation of the recommended actions in the Mutual Evaluation Report. In this respect, Mr Dubale Muluken, Mr Phineas Moloto, Mr Tom Malikebu and Mr Joseph Jagada travelled to Mauritius to provide the required assistance. No consultancy fee was payable. However, the cost of air tickets and board and lodging of the ESAAMLG officers were met by my Ministry.

Mr Speaker Sir,

It is worth to note that under technical assistance programme, Mauritius is benefitting from the services of Consultants under the EU AML/CFT Global Facility and the German Development Agency (GIZ) to assist in the implementation of the FATF recommendations. Currently, the services of 10 Consultants have been provided and the Consultants are working closely with the relevant institutions involved in the implementation of the FATF Action Plan.

Mr Speaker Sir,

I wish to inform the House that Government is working together with the private sector and has enlisted the services of a Lobby Firm and a Law Firm namely, AVISA Partners and Bredin Prat respectively to assist us in getting out of the European Union list of High Risk Third Countries.

The services of these firms have been retained based on their set of qualities and experience and in particular their close network with the European Commission and the European Union.

Mr Speaker Sir,

In view of the engagement of the private sector in this joint endeavour, I consider it would not be appropriate to disclose the fees paid to them.
Mahen Seeruttun a resume les debats sur lAnti-Money Laundering And Combatting The Financing Of Terrorism (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill pendant le seance parlementaire du 7 juillet 2020 au Parlement.

At the very outset, Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me to thank all Hon Members from both sides of the House who have intervened on this very important Bill before us today.

The importance of this Bill which aims at strengthening our AML/CFT framework has been well understood and acknowledged by the Honorable members from both side of the House.

However, some members of the House have raised certain points which I would clarify in my summing up.

This Bill, Mr Speaker Sir, is a demonstration of the commitment of this Government to relentlessly fight money laundering and terrorism financing.

It is one among the many actions that this Government is implementing to continuously reinforce the AML-CFT regime of Mauritius and comply with international standards including FATF recommendations.

Mr. Speaker Sir, the Honorable Leader of the Opposition and the Honorable Reza Uteem highlighted that Mauritius has been adopting a laid back approach regarding our inclusion in the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring since February 2020 and further sought clarification as to why the changes were not brought before to these legislations inspite of the fact that we knew there were these deficiencies.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

Without repeating myself, such comment is what I refer to as being unpatriotic.

Since our inclusion in the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring and even before, we have been updating this August assembly of the work being done by my Ministry to accelerate the implementation of the FATF action plan and get out of the list at the earliest.

From a technical perspective, since February 2020, Mauritius has set up a governance structure with a committee at the highest level chaired by the Honorable Prime Minister to monitor the implementation of the action plan.

In fact, Mr Speaker Sir, prior to that, it is important to highlight that the National Committee was ensuring the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of policies and activities regarding AML-CFT.

Since publication of the Mutual Evaluation Report in September 2018, the National Committee has set up 11 subcommittees for each of the FATF Immediate Outcomes which are used to measure the level of effectiveness of a countrys AML/CFT regime.

The members of the Immediate Outcome Sub-Committees remain in constant communication and meet virtually or physically on a weekly basis to report on progress.

Even during the sanitary curfew, the members of the sub-committees continued their collaboration and weekly progress reports were being and are still being submitted to my Ministry. And I must take this opportunity to commend the dedication of all these officers.

Mr Speaker Sir,

I would like here for the benefit of Hon. Ramphul who queried on the frequency of the meetings of the National Committee on AML/CFT to inform the House that from 2017 to date, it met more than 40 times.

Since, then, an interim report has been submitted in March 2020, which could unfortunately not be considered by the FATF due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Mr Speaker Sir,

We have now been informed by FATF Secretariat that a first progress report on FATF action plan be submitted by July 2020.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

The Hon. Leader of the Opposition, has also highlighted that we need to change the business model of the financial services sector.

I would like to bring to the attention of the House that in September 2018, a Blueprint for the financial services sector of Mauritius was devised, which was a roadmap for the development of the financial services sector over the next 10 years.

In his intervention the Honorable Leader of the Opposition also stated that through a Communique of Stock Exchange Bureau of India, Mauritius was categorized as Category 2 Foreign Portfolio investors. I would like to clarify for the benefit of the House that this is utterly wrong.

On 7th April 2020, the Government of India has officially ratified and recognized Mauritius as an eligible jurisdiction for the purposes of Regulations 5 (a) (iv) of SEBI FPI regulations 2019 which enabled Mauritius to be in the Category 1 Foreign Portfolio Investor.

I would wish to inform the House that the Government of India had issued this order even after Mauritius was included in the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring as it had clearly understood the implications of being in that list which did not entail any enhanced due diligence.

This also shows the effort and commitment of this Government to address emerging challenges in our financial services sector at diplomatic level.

Mr Speaker Sir,

The Honorable Leader of the Opposition also mentioned that the Enforcement Manual which was issued by the Financial Services Commission is a good document but is not being applied.

I would wish to highlight that a risk based supervision plan has been rolled out at the level of the FSC to meet the FATF requirement.

On 12 June 2020 the Enforcement Manual of the FSC was published. It sets out the Commissions approach to enforcement and the exercise of its enforcement process and the general policies and procedures which the FSC uses as guidance in detecting, investigating and taking actions in cases where the relevant laws or any other relevant guidelines have been breached.

The manual is issued with the intent of increasing transparency and consistency to promote the rule of law principle that underpins all of the Commissions enforcement actions.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

The Hon. Leader of the Opposition further commented on the time for the reporting of the Suspicious Transactions has been reduced from 15 days to 5 days as from the time the suspicion has arisen and that this may adversely affect the work of the FIU.

Allow me to assure the House, Mr Speaker Sir, that this reduction in the time frame for reporting will not impact the FIU.

In fact, the FIU will still receive STRs in the same manner it always did.

This provision will on the other hand affect reporting persons as they will have to report a suspicious transaction in a shorter timeframe after the nature of the transaction is established.

This change is necessary to ensure greater effectiveness.

For example, the law currently provides for a maximum of 15 working days (i.e. 3 weeks) to report a STR from the moment a suspicion is established.

Mauritius has recently experienced a number of cases of electronic fraud, such as business email compromise fraud, where large sums were defrauded from local companies and transferred overseas.

If the reporting entity reports the STR after three weeks, as the law currently allows, the likelihood of recovering stolen funds is almost non-existent.

Additionally, in extremely serious cases such as terrorism financing, receiving a STR three weeks after the transaction can severely impact the response of competent authorities in preventing a disaster

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker Sir, in the same wave, Honorable Duval stated: I quote there is news at the FIU that there are dozens and dozens, if not hundreds of suspicious transaction reports, STRs which have been filed and for which there is no action taken. I cannot see anything here in the laws to deal with this and this is something, obviously, very serious. End of quote.

It appears, Mr Speaker Sir, that there is a misconception as to what a Suspicious Transaction Report is and the role of the FIU in producing financial intelligence reports.

For the benefit of the House, allow me to confirm that a suspicious Transaction Report is a piece of information relating to a transaction which gives rise to a suspicion of possible money laundering and terrorism financing. STRs are filed by reporting entities with the FIU through a software developed by the UNODC, called goAML.

All the information received through STRs are compiled on the goAML system, given a prioritization rating and are then enriched and analysed.

The FIU then disseminates intelligence reports to investigatory and supervisory authorities and overseas FIUs based on the results of the analysis Accordingly, action is taken on all STRs but not all STRs will lead to a dissemination to competent authorities.

I cannot but thank the Honorable Uteem and Honorable Duval who made fruitful contributions to the discussions with respect to the provisions contained of this new Bill to the House. Indeed, they raised 3 important issues which I will now enumerate:

Firstly, Hon. Uteem highlighted a strategic deficiency in the Bill regarding the Trust Act whereby it is difficult to access the beneficial ownership information.

I would like to remind the Honorable member who I understand that he is well versed with this piece of legislation, that as per Section 33(3) of the Trust Act 2001, it is clearly mentioned that notwithstanding any another enactment, the Court or the judge in Chambers shall not make an order for disclosure or production of any confidential information referred to in subsection (2) except on an application by an investigatory authority and on being satisfied that the confidential information is bona fide required for the purpose of an enquiry relating to, or a trial regarding a financial crime.

Consequently, an investigatory authority which wishes to have access to any information pertaining trust can access same through an order of the Court or Judge in Chambers.

Secondly, it has also been highlighted that charitable foundations are not required to file returns.

It is worth drawing the attention of the Hon. member that foundations which are residents in Mauritius are required to submit returns including a summary of their Financial Statements to the Mauritius Revenue Authority, in the same manner as a company resident in Mauritius. Such returns are subject to an audit by the MRA on a risk based approach.

Thirdly, Hon. Duval who highlighted that the Bill did not foresee the impact of cryptocurrency on the issues of AML-CFT.

Allow me to inform the House that the definition of property in the FIAMLA is defined as a property of any kind, nature or description, whether moveable or immovable, tangible or intangible and includes, amongst others (i) any currency, whether or not the currency is legal tender in Mauritius and any bill, security bond, negotiable instrument or any instrument capable of being negotiated which is payable to bearer or endorsed payable to bearer, whether expressed in Mauritius currency or otherwise, and (ii) includes any right of interest in property. Consequently, the above definition is wide enough to include cryptocurrency.

Mr Speaker Sir,

With regards to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements, Hon. Uteem underscored that these are being regularly revoked and renegotiated on worse off terms since 2016 which is detrimental to our sector.

It is very paradoxical that Hon. Member is highlighting that we are downplaying threats being faced by Mauritius and at the same time criticizing the fact that we have had to renegotiate our DTAAs.

I would like to inform the House that Mauritius is renegotiating most of its DTAAs as we have had to adhere to Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) standards as well as the Multilateral Instrument (MLI) since July 2017.

Had we not complied with these standards Mauritius would have been signaled as being a non-cooperative jurisdiction from a tax perspective and this is one of the reasons for which Mauritius has been whitelisted by OECD.

I am of the view that the members on the other side of the House believe that the grass is greener elsewhere.

I have heard several members, including the Hon. Uteem mentioning about the development Kigali Financial Centre.

It is true that Rwanda is making strides in developing its financial services sector.

However, it is important to note Mr Speaker Sir that we need to compare like with likes.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

Hon. Ramphul stated that there is a failure to demonstrate that LEAs have the capacity to conduct money laundering investigations and in particular parallel financial investigations.

I would wish therefore to clarify that the ICAC has already reviewed its investigation strategy in line with the risks identified in the National Risk Assessment.

Additionally, mechanisms have been put in place, among Law Enforcement Agencies, with a view to ensuring better cooperation and timely sharing of information and undertaking parallel financial investigation.

This will lead to increased effectiveness in the fight against money laundering and other complex financial crimes.

Mr Speaker Sir,

In this context, I wish to highlight that the different stakeholders such as the Police has conducted Capacity Building on complex financial crimes and money laundering.

It is worth mentioning that more than 460 police officers have been trained on money laundering investigation. Furthermore, specialized training on financial investigation has been provided to police officers.

I would also seize the opportunity, Mr Speaker Sir, to draw the attention of the Hon. Ramphul that he hastily came forward to justify that during 2008 to 2016, there have been many amendments to the FIAMLA.

However, it is important to note that most of the changes pertained to minor issues such as the issue of guidelines or the administration of the Board.

It is only in 2015, when this Government was elected that we brought major changes with the introduction of the Asset Recovery Investigative Department under the Asset Recovery Act.

Thereafter, in May 2019, a major piece of legislation that is the Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the financing of terrorism and proliferations (miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2019 was enacted. And today, another major legislation on AML-CFT is being discussed in this August assembly.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

The Hon. Shakeel Mohamed highlighted that institutions should not be at loggerheads. I would like to remind the honorable member that the whole implementation of the FATF plan is possible because of the close collaboration between the several institutions.

There is regular exchange of information/intelligence between the FIU and Police. On the basis of intelligence shared by the FIU, following receipt of STRs) police has been able to investigate and detect crimes where accused have been charged with both predicate and money laundering offences.

Moreover, during proactive investigations the police constantly resort to the FIU for the provision of information or intelligence.

Similarly, there is regular sharing of information among the other LEAs and regulatory bodies.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

Much have been said on the EU List. Allow me to highlight that the EU listing is a separate process and additional measures have been put into place to facilitate our expeditious exit from the list.

However, before delving further into the EU list issue, I would like to clarify for the benefit of the House that Hon. Uteem mentioned that there are only 12 countries which have been identified for the EU black list.

However, I wish to correct this statement made by the Honorable member as the Delegated Act issued by the EU does not mention this information. It is wrong to aver that there are only 12 countries which are on the EU blacklist as there are in fact a total 22 countries which have been blacklisted.

The contention of Mauritius regarding the EU blacklist is that there has been no prior consultation before including Mauritius in the list.

In fact, the EU has amalgamated the countries which are on the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring and the FATF list of high risk jurisdictions and established a unique blacklist without applying the same measures which the FATF are calling for.

Mr. Speaker,

I wish to shed some light on a comment from the Hon. Ramphul who advised that the Directive 2015/849 should have already informed us of the possibility of being blacklisted by the EU. I would like to inform the House that little knowledge is always dangerous.

As per the EU Directive 2015/849, only the methodology was published for EU to identify high risk third countries.

At that time, Mauritius was not even subjected to its Mutual Evaluation exercise.

Furthermore, I wish to inform the House, that 2 lists were drawn on this methodology which were eventually rejected by the EU Parliament on the basis of lack of independent assessment by the EU.

It is only in May 2020, that the EU Commission, through a Delegated Act, amended the methodology such that countries in the FATF lists could be automatically transposed into the EU black list.

Mr Speaker Sir,

I would also wish to inform Hon. Duval here as to the actions taken by Government not to be included in the EU black list after it was placed in the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring

I would like to clarify firstly that at all times in view of the long standing relationship between the EU and Mauritius, there was always prior consultation before any major decision was taken by the EU with respect to Mauritius.

In fact, since Mauritius was included in the FATF list I engaged with the EU Ambassador in Mauritius who comforted me that should Mauritius be considered for the black list; we would be consulted beforehand.

However, whilst on the 05 May 2020, we took cognizance of the inclusion of Mauritius on the list, a series of actions have been triggered as I mentioned in my intervention on the Budget Speech.

Mr Speaker Sir,

Given that now the European Parliament has already adopted the Delegated Act, we are engaging with the relevant authorities for the possibility of an autonomous assessment by the European Commission.

At our request, the European Union has also agreed to set up a Committee comprising the technical team of the European Commission based in Brussels which is involved in drawing the list of High Risk Third Countries and a Technical Team from Mauritius to carry out an ongoing assessment of the progress being made on the implementation of the FATF action plan.

The Committee will hold its first meeting this week itself.

Mr. Speaker Sir,

Government, through this Bill is sending a strong signal not only to the business and investors community but also to the international organizations such as the FATF and EU to reassure them regarding our political commitment to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing.

This Government is determined to continue in its unflinching effort to comply with all international standards.

It is worth highlighting that the financial services sector is an important pillar of the economy which we are committed to protect and develop.

And with these words, Mr. Speaker Sir, I commend the Bill to the House
Murphy said during a news conference in Trenton that admittedly it would be hard to enforce, but pointed to the rate of transmission of the virus creeping higher. The rate, which represents how many people one infected person spreads the virus to, has climbed from about 0.7 to 1.1 on Wednesday, the governor reported.
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New York Attorney General Letitia James proposed sweeping changes Wednesday to boost oversight of the New York City Police Department, including forming an independent commission that would approve the departments budget and have the final say on officer discipline.

The police should not police themselves  period, James, a Democrat, told reporters. Its really important that we think of major reforms and not tinkering around the edges.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked James to investigate whether NYPD officers used excessive force to quell unrest and enforce a citywide curfew in the wake of George Floyds death in Minneapolis. Floyds death led to weeks of demonstrations in the city that became violent at times and prompted widespread allegations of police misconduct.

James did not rule out criminal charges as her investigation continues. In the meantime, she outlined several reforms intended to restore New Yorkers faith in law enforcement.

She made clear that none of her recommendations are binding upon city leaders but portrayed her report as a blueprint for transforming accountability in the nations largest police department.

Mayor Bill de Blasio quickly shot down the prospect of an independent police commission, with a City Hall spokeswoman saying change comes from accountability, something a commission lacks.

If we want to continue moving forward, more bureaucracy is not the answer, de Blasio spokeswoman Freddi Goldstein said in a statement.

In addition to a new oversight committee, James called for decriminalizing quality of life offences like jaywalking and a statewide certification process that would prevent bad officers from simply being passed from one agency to another.

Everything should be on the table, the attorney general said. The ultimate goal must be democratizing policing to create trust and systems worthy of that trust.

A message was sent to the NYPD seeking comment.

Pat Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said James report tells only one side of the story and delivers reheated proposals that have been part of the anti-police agenda for decades.

If the goal is to heal the rift between police officers and the public, that wont be achieved without giving meaningful consideration to the perspective of police officers on the street, he said in a statement.

James report followed harrowing testimony about New York City police officers slamming peaceful protesters to the ground, kicking a woman in the face and beating people with batons.

The attorney general said she had received more than 1,300 submissions over the past month, and that most of the complaints involved NYPD officers using excessive force, indiscriminate use of pepper spray, brandishing firearms at protesters, and pushing vehicles or bikes into protesters.

Other complaints concerned troubling arrest-related practices, including the use of extremely tight zip ties misgendering detainees and holding protesters in cramped cells.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told James last month that fewer than 10 officers were being disciplined for alleged misconduct toward protesters, including one suspended without pay and later charged with assault after he was caught on camera shoving a woman to the ground. Shea said he was very disturbed by the incident.

The police oversight commission James proposed would redirect power from the departments commissioner to a new board with representatives appointed by the City Council, public advocate, comptroller and mayor.

The commission should also hire and, if necessary, terminate the NYPD Commissioner as well as approve all promotions above the rank of captain, the report says.

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James also recommended NYPD officers be required to live within the five boroughs so that they better reflect the communities they are required to serve and protect.

De Blasio has said the city complied with James investigation and pointed to recent steps to reform the police department, including disbanding the plainclothes anti-crime unit.

The city recently approved a budget that will shift $1 billion from policing to education and social services in the coming year following protesters demands to cut police spending.
WASHINGTON - Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a national security aide who played a central role in President Donald Trumps impeachment case, announced his retirement from the Army on Wednesday in a scathing statement that accused the president of running a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation.

The statement from attorney David Pressman said Vindman, 45, was leaving the Army after more than 21 years after it had been made clear that his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited.

Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honouring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers, read the statement, first obtained by CNN.

Vindmans name was on a promotion list sent to Defence Secretary Mark Esper earlier this year, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter. But that list was delayed for weeks because the White House asked for an investigation of Vindman, one of the officials said. The Pentagon did a review and found that any suggestion of misconduct was unfounded. One official said the list was resent to Esper about a month ago, but again was delayed.

A senior defence official said the list was held up by a routine personnel review, not related to Vindman. Esper received the final promotion list Monday and approved it, with Vindmans name included, and it was expected to be sent to the White House in the next day or two, the defence official said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal personnel matter.

Its not clear whether Esper already knew of Vindmans plan to retire before he signed the list, or whether the White House would have approved the promotion list. The White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Pressman said Vindman did what the law compelled him to do; and for that he was bullied by the President and his proxies.

LTC Vindmans patriotism, he said, has cost him his career. Today our country loses a devoted soldier, but it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure it does not lose the values he represents.

Trump in February ousted Vindman from his job on the National Security Council, where he served as an expert on Ukraine, just two days after the presidents acquittal by the Senate. Vindmans lawyer said then that his client had been told to leave in retaliation for telling the truth.

Vindmans twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, was also asked to leave his job as a White House lawyer. Both men were reassigned to the Army.

Vindman had testified that he didnt think it was proper for Trump to demand that a foreign government investigate former Vice-President Joe Biden and his sons work for the energy company Burisma in Ukraine. And he told impeachment investigators that he twice raised concerns over the administrations push to have Ukraine investigate the Bidens.

In the aftermath, senior Pentagon leaders insisted that Vindman would not see any retaliation as a result of the testimony. Talking to reporters in November, Esper said the department has protections for whistleblowers.

Vindman shouldnt have any fear of retaliation. Thats DODs position, Esper said, adding that he flatly rejected suggestions that the soldiers career was over. He said he had spoken with Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy about the matter.

McCarthy said in February that Vindman was not under investigation, and that he was serving in an Army headquarters job and would go on to senior service college in the summer.

In gripping testimony, Vindman also spoke of his familys story and his father bringing them to the U.S. from the Soviet Union when he was a young child.

Dad, my sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol, talking to our elected officials, is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to United States of America in search of a better life for our family, he testified. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement Wednesday, History will remember Lieutenant Colonel Vindman as an American patriot. She said his firing from the White House was a clear and brazen act of retaliation that showcases the Presidents fear of the truth, which continues to this day.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the Intelligence Committee chairman who led the impeachment probe, penned a letter to Vindman saying, I hope that you are able to reflect on these events, unprecedented as they are, and find solace in knowing that you did the right thing.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill, blamed Esper for his failure to protect a decorated combat veteran against a vindictive Commander in Chief. Duckworth, a a former Army helicopter pilot who lost both legs during a 2004 attack in Iraq, said last week that she was blocking Senate confirmation of 1,123 senior military promotions until Esper confirmed whether or not he was approving Vindmans promotion.

Secretary Espers failure to protect his troops sets a new, dark precedent that any Commander in Chief can interfere with routine merit-based military promotions to carry out personal vendettas and retaliation against military officers who follow duly-authorized subpoenas while upholding their oath of office and core principles of service, Duckworth said in a statement Wednesday.

Vindman, who served in Iraq and later was assigned to the National Security Council as the director for European affairs, appeared at the congressional hearing wearing his uniform full of medals, including the Purple Heart he earned for wounds suffered in a roadside bomb attack.

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When a soldier requests retirement, it must be approved by the Armys Human Resources Command, and normally it can take months to process before the person actually leaves the military. It was also not clear Wednesday if Vindmans brother was on the promotion list.

____

AP National Security Writer Robert Burns contributed to this report.
Theres something I suspect Canadians fear far more than COVID-19 and its not climate change, economic collapse, or recent reports about a potential case of bubonic plague in China.

Its our neighbours: specifically, the prospect that they will regain the right to visit us. In late May, a poll conducted by the Association for Canadian Studies indicated that 47 per cent of Canadians wanted the U.S.-Canada border to remain closed until the end of the year. On Tuesday, according to a new Nanos Research survey, that number had grown significantly, to 81 per cent.

In other words, we may have reached the point in the coronavirus epic where Canadians fear incoming Americans more than they fear the virus itself. Theres good reason for this. At a press conference on Monday, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the following: I think the world is looking at us as a leader in COVID-19. She said this in reference to Americas low case mortality rate and the extraordinary work weve done on therapeutics and getting PPE (personal protective equipment).

But many interpreted McEnanys statement another way: the United States is indeed a world leader  in rising infection and inadequate government response. Contrary to the press secretarys confident remarks, according to a report from Johns Hopkins University, the United States has the 9th highest COVID-19 mortality rate worldwide per 100,000 residents  just two places behind Sweden, a country that forewent lockdown measures to notoriously poor results.

More than 2.5 million people have tested positive for the virus in the U.S. and 130,000 have perished. According to data from last week, cases are rising in a total of 40 U.S. states. You may have seen a pretty alarming map of North America recently  also from Johns Hopkins University  showing the stark contrast between case numbers in the United States and Canada.

Whereas the map of Canada is lightly decorated in small red circles  a visual representation of cases  the map of the United States is a sea of red. Add to this already dire situation, a sizable backlash movement to wearing masks in the United States, a president more interested in spewing racism on Twitter than fighting the virus, and its no wonder Canadians are overwhelmingly opposed to opening the U.S.-Canada border to non-essential travel.

The question is how and when will we warm up to the idea? If a humane, fact-subscribing, reasonable person was leading the United States, the answer might be sooner than later. But in light of the U.S. administrations abysmal pandemic response and mixed messaging, the answer isnt even conceivable.

There are calls in Canada and the U.S. to gradually reopen the border or at the very least, to craft a plan for reopening. But based on every bit of evidence at our disposal, we shouldnt be entering any phase in the reopening process but the watching and waiting patiently phase  and we should stay there until the map mentioned above looks drastically different.

Even if youre of the mind that we must reopen sooner than later for economic reasons, what, honestly, is the point of this approach if we have to close back up again due to an outbreak? Though it may be painful, why not take an extra cautious, long-view method so that when we do reopen we can actually stay that way?

For now, all we can do is hope our government prevents our neighbours from flocking to our borders. Unfortunately, our being boring wont cut it anymore. It doesnt matter how many internal debates we have about our national character (for example, our tendency to highlight Americas ills instead of looking inward at our own), nor how many anti-mask yahoos exist within our own borders (more than a few, we learned this month). In the minds of many Americans, we live in an eternally polite, enlightened, sparsely populated, conflict free paradise. All the myths about our country that made it uncool in pre-pandemic times are what make it more attractive than ever today. Its ironic: for once we are the place to be and we cant even enjoy it.

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Emma Teitel is a columnist based in Toronto covering current affairs for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @emmaroseteitel

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Some federal lawmakers who voted on the PPP legislation have ties to organizations that received money through the program. Rep. Mike Kelly, a Republican from Butler County, owns several car dealerships that received separate loans. A law firm where Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Democrat from Scranton, worked before running for Congress and where his wife is a partner, also received loans. Both said they did not assist the companies in seeking federal assistance.
The federal government is placing its bets on a beefed-up wage subsidy to take the Canadian economy out of crisis and set it on a steadier footing  even though the program is likely to add $82 billion to the already-giant deficit.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau has just released his first full accounting of the pandemic relief, and so far, the direct aid he has rolled out since March totals about $228 billion, driving the deficit for this fiscal year up to an enormous $343.2 billion and counting.

The money appears to have formed a floor under the collapsing economy.

As companies and workplaces everywhere shut down and moved their operations into peoples homes, putting a third of the labour force out of work, the federal government moved in with massive support in the hopes of staving off widespread bankruptcy and permanent economic damage.

The fiscal snapshot lays it out, arguing that the federal money did indeed prevent a worst-case scenario. Without the federal spending, the Canadian economy would have contracted by about 11 per cent in 2020. With support, its expected to shrink by be 6.8 (in real terms) this year, according to private sector estimates.

Similarly, unemployment will hover just under 10 per cent on average this year; but without support measures, it would have averaged about 12 per cent.

Those who would have us do less ignore that without government action, millions of jobs would have been lost, putting the burden of debt onto families and jeopardizing Canadas resilience, Morneau said.

Its important to remember that the downturn, by many economic indicators, has been just as bad as the Great Depression. But back then, Canadians had to boil their shoes to make soup. This time, while the job loss has been horrific, most people in need were able to claim the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

But it comes at an enormous cost that will affect the countrys fiscal status for many, many years. The CERB alone is budgeted to cost $73.1 billion this year, and Morneau made it clear on Wednesday that he hadnt yet factored in the full cost of stimulating the economy back to health once we start to turn the corner.

If there is a resurgence, we are ready to do more, the finance minister told the House of Commons.

The CERB was the aid instrument of choice during the emergency phase of the crisis, and the finance documents suggest it will wind down soon, and unemployed people will be moved over to a revamped Employment Insurance system.

Instead, the government will lean heavily on the wage subsidy to pick up the slack, and make sure the floor they placed under the economy remains intact and serves as a basis for recovery. The subsidy has been going to companies that have lost at least 30 per cent of their revenues compared to last year and pays for 75 per cent of their payrolls.

It had slow liftoff when it was first announced but has become more and more central to how firms in Canada are getting back to work at half-speed, while dealing with the impediments of the pandemic.

Ottawa is budgeting for an additional $52 billion into the wage subsidy for a total of $82 billion this year, the documents suggest. While Morneau has already announced an extension of the program until the end of August, he is still negotiating the terms of the extension. And its clear he is considering loosening the requirements, expanding the programs reach and perhaps lengthening its availability.

The subsidy is helpful because it allows companies to hire back employees even if business is a far cry from being back to normal.

But if theres a second wave, all bets are off. A second-wave scenario put together by finance officials suggests an 11.2 per cent contraction of the economy this year and a recovery that takes much longer.

The pain and cost implied in those numbers are deep indeed.

Heres a look at some of the numbers from the fiscal snapshot:

<bullet>$343.2 billion  The size of the deficit projected for 2020-21 so far.

<bullet>14 per cent of GDP  the value of the emergency response to date.

<bullet>$228.9 billion  The amount of direct support to Canadian businesses and individuals.

<bullet>$85 billion  The worth of tax and customs duty payment deferrals meant to enhance liquidity.

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<bullet>$53.53 billion  The amount paid out in Canadian Emergency Response Benefits as of the end of June.

<bullet> 6.8 per cent  The contraction of the Canadian economy in 2020 (in real terms) as projected by private sector economists, followed by a 5.5 per cent rebound next year.

<bullet>49.1 per cent  Federal debt compared to the size of the Canadian economy. The debt-to-GDP ratio is the main number the federal government uses to showcase whether its fiscal policy is reasonable.

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Bob Rae isnt the first former NDP leader to become UN ambassador  Stephen Lewis paved the way in 1984.

Nor is he the first premier to become a Canadian envoy  Manitobas Gary Doer, New Brunswicks Frank McKenna and B.C.s Gordon Campbell led the way.

But unlike any who came before him, it can truly be said that Rae has spent a lifetime preparing for his new assignment.

Son of the fabled Saul Rae, who served as our UN envoy when another Trudeau was PM in the 1970s, he is now, at age 71, following in his footsteps. Rae fils learned the art of diplomacy at his fathers knee.

But he also mastered the political science of power relationships while heading Canadas second-biggest government from his perch in the premiers office. There is no better preparation for the pinstripes brigade in the puffed up diplomatic corps than to run a province.

It has the effect of grinding you down daily, but also grounding you in the day-to-day domestic realities that underpin foreign affairs. It is the best training ground for the ephemeral playground of international relations, thanks to Canadas eternal minefield of federal-provincial relations.

Ive long believed that another former Ontario premier, Dalton McGuinty  notwithstanding his fall from popularity at home  would have made a superb ambassador to China given his affection for and connection to that country. McGuintys late father hosted Chinese students in their basement for months at a time in the 1970s, and with bilateral relations now at their lowest point the ex-premier would have been well placed to deliver pointed messages that penetrate.

The pantheon of retired premiers represents a talent pool that shouldnt be relegated to corporate directorships or partisan purgatory when a post-political afterlife beckons. Why not a role for Ontarios most recent ex-premier, Kathleen Wynne, who once lived abroad and proved her mettle in overseas and American trade missions?

I say that as someone who, like Rae, has spent time at Queens Park, on Parliament Hill, and overseas, only to conclude that there is no level of government controlling more levers of power more relevant to voters than a province  even if few realize it. From local policing to public health, global warming, international trade and investment, provinces reign supreme even if they command little respect.

Which is why Rae felt emboldened to roam the world, from Sri Lanka to Myanmar, without forgetting his roots in Ontario.

Decades ago, I travelled with the future premier on a chartered DC-3 to some of Ontarios most remote and impoverished northern Indigenous communities. Just a few years ago, I interviewed him again when he represented Indigenous bands negotiating with the Liberal government of the day about access to the Ring of Fire in the far north.

Weeks ago, he wrote to me about the plight of older Ontarians dying in nursing homes across the province. Rae had first addressed the issue in the early 1980s while in opposition, and again in the 1990s as premier, which is why I wrote he would have been an inspired choice to head the independent commission on long-term care planned by Ontarios Progressive Conservative government.

Career diplomats dont typically get that kind of on-the-job training in the gritty reality of daily life  and death. Which is precisely what made Rae so effective overseas.

His previous prime ministerial assignment  investigating the plight of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar  gets most of the attention, but it is Raes immersion in federalism that is instructive. Among his past roles  looking into the Air India bombing and suggesting reforms to post-secondary education in Ontario  his leadership of the fledgling Forum of Federations showed him how easily countries can unravel.

In Sri Lanka, riven by civil war between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamils, pitting the armed forces against the now-defeated Tamil Tigers, Rae tried without success to introduce the power of compromise. But federalism is deemed the F-word in Sri Lanka, just as it remains a hard sell in other conflict-afflicted countries like Iraq and Afghanistan where minorities have long been given short shrift.

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On a return visit to Sri Lanka a decade ago, Rae was detained at the airport by security officials and put on the next plane to London, despite  or perhaps because of  having been so even-handed in his criticism of both sides. One imagines the Sri Lankans will deal with him more diplomatically in his new role.

All of which makes Rae eminently qualified to represent Canada at the UN, just as other provincial leaders were before him. Theres room for more.

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School reopening plans dont work for working parents  and its time the province embraced creative and ambitious alternatives for this fall so families arent left in the lurch as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, and two Toronto school trustees are determined to make that happen.

Other jurisdictions are thinking outside the box so students arent simply divvied into groups and told to attend classes half-days or every other day  and Ontario should be too, say Toronto trustees Jennifer Story and Rachel Chernos Lin, who are to bring forward an emergency resolution Thursday night, calling on the province to craft a school year that works better for families.

I live on a street full of kids, and I see around me every day parents who are struggling in every context to juggle working from home and taking care of kids. And as we roll toward September, that challenge is going to become greater and greater, Story told the Star.

Right now, we cant possibly accommodate all kids full-time and comply with public health guidelines around distancing, and on top of that, child-care needs, she said. It seems the provincial government is not up for thinking of funding much beyond a hybrid model  which is essentially a part-time model  (and) the impact on kids is negative. They need to be safe, and social, and learning, and this doesnt do that.

Some U.S. states are looking at expanding school and daycares into unused public or commercial spaces to allow for more, smaller classes, or maybe changing the length of the school day. Anythings possible and all levels of government must be involved, the two trustees say.

We need a creative and ambitious response to COVID in education, said Chernos Lin. Otherwise, both she and Story warn, working moms are going to suffer the brunt of this.

Last month, Education Minister Stephen Lecce told school boards to prepare for three scenarios this September: online only, in-class only with strict hygiene or a mix of the two and said he expects the hybrid model will be in place this fall.

In the legislature Tuesday, he said, What this government is going to do is ensure that we are ready for all scenarios for September. The focus of the government is to ensure that safety remains our paramount priority. What weve asked school boards to do is to be ready for three scenarios as other provincial governments have done.

That is prudent, given what we have learned from COVID-19. We must be ready for the challenges on the horizon.

He said, Our priority is to get kids back into class in a conventional model, day to day. That is the aspiration, but it has to be safe.

Its another example of the uncertainty around how to deal with the ongoing pandemic and how to plan when no one knows what the situation will be in the fall.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Premier Doug Ford expects parents and educators to juggle a pretty much impossible schedule coming September.

Instead of keeping class cohorts small by keeping half the kids at home, she asked the government to commit to hiring more teachers, educational assistants and educational workers  like cleaners, for example  so that we can have more, smaller classrooms to protect our children from COVID-19.

The hybrid model of in-class and online learning leaves working parents with young children, single-parent households and low-income families in the precarious position of having to choose between educating their children and their own employment, says the emergency resolution from Story and Chernos Lin.

And given the concerns raised by experts that childrens mental health and well-being has been negatively impacted by the extended school shutdown, all efforts must be made to get them back to school, the resolution says.

The Toronto District School Board, Canadas largest school board, has consulted with families and, like other boards, is now looking at options for the fall, with a draft report to go to public health next week.

The Ottawa-Carleton board is looking at having half the students in school Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday closed for thorough cleaning, and the remainder of students attend Thursday and Friday.

For high school students, a number of boards are considering offering one class at a time, for several hours a day for about five weeks, much like summer school. The Toronto public board also asked parents how they would feel about a quadmester, two classes at a time, though that raises concern because teens will have contact with more students in classrooms and the hallway.

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Story and Chernos Lin said, The health and safety of students and staff needs to be prioritized  yet balanced with the needs of families.

Their motion will include a letter to Lecce and Ford about the need for creative thinking and extra funding for busing, PPE for staff and repair/maintenance including, but not limited to, ventilation issues, touch-free sinks and soap dispensers for handwashing and water bottle refill stations.

Lecce has said the government added funds for staffing during the last round of negotiations with teacher and support staff unions  although unions have said that money would only cover the costs of replacing staff who were let go when contracts expired.
Q. Can funeral expenses for my mother, who was 96 years young and on Medicare and Medicaid, such as pre-plan funeral costs and a monument be deducted on my 2020 taxes? I paid about $14,000 for everything and I have all receipts. She died in January 2020 and did not have any valuables. She didnt have a will but I went to surrogate court and was appointed her voluntary administrator.

 Daughter

A. Unfortunately, no. You cant take the deductions.

The cost of a funeral and burial can be deducted on a Form 1041, which is the final income tax return filed for a decedent's estate, or on the Form 706, which is the federal estate tax return filed for the estate, said Lauren Mechaly, an attorney with Schenck Price Smith & King in Paramus.

Note that the deduction cant be taken on both.

In the context of an individual's income tax returns  Form 1040  funeral and burial expenses are not treated as qualified expenses in the same way as business and medical expenses, Mechaly said.

In New Jersey, Medicaid may assist in the cost of a funeral and burial for an individual who is a Medicaid recipient, she said. In addition, an individual seeking to establish eligibility for Medicaid can spend down his or her resources by entering into an irrevocable pre-need funeral contract.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
As New Jersey schools forge plans to return students to classrooms in the fall, Bergen Community College announced it will move most of its fall classes online and freeze its tuition rates to keep students safe amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Come Sept. 2, when classes at the college are set to resume, most of Bergen Community Colleges classes will be held online, the college announced in a statement. Only practice-based classes, such as those in the health track, will be held in person, according to the statement. Only paramedic science program practicals will be held at the colleges Lyndhurst campus. There will be no classes at the colleges Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack.

Additionally, the colleges tuition rates will be frozen to make the school more affordable for those hoping to attend.

In working with a task force of two dozen faculty, staff and students, we reviewed the latest guidelines from public health agencies, the state and county before finalizing our plans for safety, instruction and support, Tony Ross, the colleges interim president, said in the statement. This preparation has positioned the college to offer the same renowned Bergen quality students would receive in a traditional campus environment.

The colleges announcement comes as schools across the country grapple with how to return students to classrooms safely, as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Rutgers University announced on Monday that the majority of its classes will be online and on-campus housing will be limited. Princeton University also plans to put restrictions in place by having students alternate when they can take classes in person, based on their academic year.

At Bergen Community College, like many other schools, classes that will still be held in person will abide by strict safety measures, including reduced class sizes, enhanced cleaning protocols and spaced seating, the statement said.

The college is also looking into how to help those affected by the Monday announcement from the federal government that international students whose classes are entirely online will not be able to stay in the country. On Monday, U.S. Immigrations and Custom Enforcement announced the changes to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program that would bar nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online from staying in the United States.

The Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester, the announcement said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will not allow these students to enter the country.

In response, Bergen Community College is discussing providing in-person or hybrid-model classes for these students, according to the statement.

The announcement comes as New Jerseys 2,500 public schools ready plans to reopen for the fall semester as the pandemic rages on, abiding by a list of sweeping guidelines released by Gov. Phil Murphy. Students returning to schools will stay six feet apart in classrooms and on buses, lunch times will be staggered and teachers will be required to wear masks, according to the guidelines.

New Jerseys first major coronavirus testing site is located on Bergen Community Colleges main campus in Paramus, where thousands of people have been tested for the virus since it opened March 20. Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, who continues to oversee mobile testing sites across the county, applauded the colleges decision, saying it was the safe call.

The colleges transition to online courses for the fall semester reflects the difficult reality of COVID-19, Tedesco said in a statement. An ever-changing situation, the uncertainty of COVID-19 demands proactive responses. This decision is one that places the health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and community members at the forefront.

A full list of available classes can be seen at bergen.edu/register. The college will provide a guide for the fall semester that will have information on all safety procedures and protocols.

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

Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com.
Forget leg day: The Linden gym that defied Gov. Murphys orders and opened at the end of June has officially been shut down.

On Tuesday night, Linden officials served Powerhouse Gym on South Park Avenue with an executive order signed by state Health Commissioner Judith M. Persichilli.

A message on the Powerhouses Instagram account assures we are prepared to fight and appeal.

The gyms owner, Anthony Rottino of Franklin Lakes, has been charged with six counts of maintaining a nuisance and seven counts of violating the executive order. He ran as a Republican candidate for Bergen County freeholder in 2012.

Rottino declined to comment when reached by NJ Advance Media on Wednesday.

The shutdown order states that although Powerhouse Gym is purporting to take its own measures to address COVID-19 transmission, these particular measures do not sufficiently address the risks of COVID-19 in an indoor gym because the community presence of the virus is still too great to allow for relaxation of the current mitigation measures that are in place and necessary to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 that commonly occurs in such congregate indoor settings.

The gym, on South Park Avenue in Linden, was busy on Monday with a full parking lot and a steady stream of people in and out around 1 p.m., despite signs on the door stating it was open by appointment only.

After the first round of summonses, the gym closed for three days, but reopened again on July 2.

On Monday, a man leaving the gym wearing a mask confirmed the gym has been open for the last two weeks.

As long as I have a mask on Im good, he said, when asked if he feels safe working out inside during the pandemic. He declined to give his name.

The governor has mandated that gym and fitness centers remain closed except for one-on-one personal training in separate rooms or rooms with a floor to ceiling barrier. Powerhouse can continue to offer individualized training, the shutdown order says.

Gym-goers have posted videos of their workouts on Instagram, showing many people inside the space and very few, if any, wearing masks.

At the other end of the state, the South Jersey gym that made headlines for attempting to reopen in May is continuing its fight. On June 20, U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler denied the request of the owners of Atilis Gym of Bellmawr to open. The gym owners attorney told Law360 he plans to appeal.

Rebecca Panico contributed to this story.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com.
After months of wondering if they will return to college campuses this fall, international students face a new uncertainty: whether or not they will sent away from the U.S. based on their colleges reopening plan.

Under guidelines announced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday, international students must take at least some in-person classes to remain in the country legally. Its a change to the spring semester policy that has left schools already weighing imperfect reopening scenarios with another obstacle  particularly those like Rutgers and Princeton, both of which announced plans on Monday to only partially reopen.

For now, theres no clear path forward, and thousands of students appear to be in the lurch.

Dory Devlin, spokeswoman for Rutgers, said Tuesday the university did not yet know how the policy would impact the schools more than 9,000 international students.

We are still reviewing the proposed new policy to understand what effect it will have on our international students and to determine if our hybrid model for the fall semester will need to be modified in any way to accommodate our international students, she said in a statement.

According to the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program, the U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students in online-only classes, and border agents will not allow them back into the country.

And for the students, the choice is now stark: Apply to transfer in the next few weeks to one of the few university offering in-person instruction and still accepting applications, or leave the country and attempt to take classes from overseas, a feat that involves not only juggling timezones and isolation from peers, but also navigating varying travel restrictions that may limit their ability to fly home.

If the students stay in the U.S. and continue remote learning and violate their visas, ultimately risking deportation.

Without an easy answer, the rule puts additional pressure on campuses to reopen, something President Donald Trump has called for in his efforts to restart the nation and the economy.

Corrupt Joe Biden and the Democrats dont want to open schools in the Fall for political reasons, not for health reasons! They think it will help them in November. Wrong, the people get it!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 6, 2020

But it also creates safety risks, and leaves students at universities with hybrid reopening plans  those which involve limited in-person instruction in conjunction with online classes  confused about their status.

And should the number of cases grow significantly in New Jersey this fall, universities could have to move all students to remote learning again.

Some schools, like Rowan University and The College of New Jersey, have already said they will reopen their campuses, with some online options. But the immigration announcement came on the heels of more limited policies at Rutgers University and Princeton University that do not fall neatly into the guidelines: Princeton said students can return for one of the semesters in the 2020-2021 school year, while Rutgers announced that only certain classes, like performing arts and lab and clinical work, will be held in-person.

Just hours before the announcement, Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway said the school would remain largely online, but would have limited on-campus housing prioritized for those who need it most, particularly international students.

While young people typically experience less severe cases of the coronavirus, transmission rates have increased among those under the age of 30, something that could make campuses and their close quarters hotbeds for viral spread. And as students return to New Jersey from summers spent around the globe or nation, they could bring the virus from other hotspots.

Many schools seek to attract international students, who not only bring diverse perspectives to the institutions, but often also pay full tuition. As the state pulls back funding for colleges and many New Jersey families have lost income due to shutdowns brought on by the coronavirus outbreak, losing international students could bring yet another blow to the tightened budgets.

An international student group at Rutgers said in a statement that some foreign students had already begun to reconsider their next year of school before the announcement, feeling it was unfair to pay full price for tuition and fees for online classes.

Many of them are now uncertain about their future in America even in terms of jobs with the H1-B visa process also becoming more difficult to pass, the statement said.

Montclair State University, which is still working through its reopening plans, is also evaluating the ICE policies and how they could impact students under reopening plans. Fewer than 1% of the schools 21,000 students come from other countries.

The University is currently developing plans for reopening safely in the fall. We intend to offer a mix of in-person, hybrid, and fully online courses, said Andrew Mees, a spokesman for the school. The University will review all international students schedules to assess if they are in compliance and develop a plan that meets the needs of individual students.

At Princeton, nearly 24% of the schools graduate and undergraduate students were international during the 2018-2019 school year, according to the universitys data.

Graduate students face specific uncertainty surrounding their research and post-coursework, wondering if they will receive stipends.

This most recent order only exacerbates the hostile environment international students can experience in the United States, particularly under the ambit of the current administration, Princeton International and Immigrant Student Working Group and Princeton Graduate Students United said in a statement. It further serves to put sick and disabled international students and university employees at risk, and forces a drastic global reconsideration of COVID-19 reopening plans with no mind to physical, financial, and emotional safety.

The group also called on Princeton to interpret the ICE rule and provide guidance for students.

Michael Hotchkiss, a spokesman for Princeton, said Wednesday morning the university is reviewing the guidance and its impact on the community, but will stand with an advocate for our international students, faculty and staff.

We believe firmly that Princetons excellence relies on our ability to attract and support the best talent from around the world, he said. That remains true even as work to address responsibly the constraints we face during the current pandemic. As we stated in our announcement on Monday regarding the upcoming academic year, our goal is for all our students to have access to a Princeton education, either in person or remotely.

This report includes information from the Associated Press. It has been updated to include a statement from Princeton University.

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Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj.
While he said the Y is confident the vast majority of the PPP loan will be forgiven, the organization had to turn to layoffs once the money ran out. The Y notified the state that it would lay off about 300 part- and full-time employees at the end of June, but Fagerstrom said the organization ended up laying off just under 200 , who he hopes to bring back later this year.
People in New Jersey will now be required to wear masks outside in public when social distancing isnt possible to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday morning.

This story was originally published June 25, but weve decided to repost it since these situations are even more likely to occur with the new requirement.

---

Youve no doubt encountered it by now: Youre out shopping, youre wearing your mask, and then you see someone else with either no mask or one thats dangling from an ear, hanging beneath the nose or sitting around the neck.

So heres the question: Do you say something?

We asked experts in health, psychology and etiquette to give us the dos and donts of trying to persuade the maskless among us.

Do we avoid them? Tell a manager? Just get the heck out of there? (Surprise: Taking a photo and publicly shaming someone on social media is not recommended.)

Heres what they had to say.

Soooo, its probably not a good idea to confront them directly.

No matter how tempting it might be to walk up to an unmasked person and say, What in the Phil Murphy are you doing without a mask? the message from our experts was clear: Be very cautious about engaging on the matter.

Theres got to be clear messages that, at this point in time, the threat and the risk remains very real, says Anthony Tasso, a clinical psychologist and chair of the department of psychology and counseling at Fairleigh Dickinson University. But still, he advises against being the person that tries to relay that message to a maskless stranger, no matter how much youd like to.

If someone is brazenly flouting the social norm, its likely theyve got some deep-set beliefs about not wearing a mask, he says, adding he just heard a story about a brawl in a Stop & Shop over the issue.

One thing we are clearly running into now is coronavirus fatigue, Tasso says. Some people who were diligent in March and April are exasperated by this time. Youre hearing them say, Im not at risk or Youve got to live your life, you cant live in fear. For many people those rationalizations are very powerful, so youre not likely to have any impact on the fly as youre walking through a supermarket.

Roslyn Rolan, founder of the Image and Etiquette Institute of N.J. agrees, and notes that these are already tense times.

First of all, we are all on edge, so lets come from that position, says Rolan. Even though the stores are opening, we cannot eradicate the fact that we are still coming from fear, so we do not want to agitate the situation with a confrontation. Why do it? If the person doesnt have any common sense to know better, youre not going to change them.

When you see someone in a store without a face mask, what do you do?  njdotcom (@njdotcom) June 24, 2020

Besides, confronting the maskless directly risks your health and safety.

As tempting as saying something to someone without a mask might be, you also have to, well, get close enough to the person to do it, which puts yourself at risk  never mind if you get someone whos ready to throw a punch in return.

Especially if you have to cross a street or an aisle to say something, just stay away! says etiquette and manners expert Diane Gottsman. Steer clear. Otherwise youre now in their way, within their distance. Dont take it into your own hands. This is a very anxious time, and we do not know what somebody else is going to do. It is much more important to take your health and safety into consideration.

Also, some people do have medical exemptions from the rules around masks. If a person declines to wear a mask for medical reasons, the business staff also cant ask the person to show medical documentation.

Take your business elsewhere, tell a manager or both.

If its an employee whos not wearing a mask, just leave the establishment if you can, Tasso says. Its both protecting yourself and sending a message thats not confrontational: If youre not going to take my safety and the safety of your customers into consideration, Im not going to patronize this place.

Tasso advices to then call a manager from outside the business and explain why you left.

No one wants to lose business especially in this time, he says. That gives leverage for a supervisor or boss to talk to the employee.

Carolyn Cannuscio, an associate professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Pennsylvania agrees  and says we need to be somewhat forgiving.

People tend to adopt new behaviors at different rates, so it makes sense that the early days of universal masking are bumpy, Cannuscio says. Rather than confront a stranger, I would recommend leaving, to protect yourself. Then you can follow up with a call, or write to the business or organization and ask about their mask policies.

And its also nice to express appreciation for the businesses that are doing it right, says Rolan.

I have gone out of my way to thank the employees for being there and wearing masks, she says. I really do think that we have to acknowledge each other.

Saw one today and thought to myself how selfish the person is. Its a simple request that doesnt take much to comply with.  Scott Landing (@ScottLanding) June 24, 2020

If you must say something, delivery is everything.

If youre in a situation where you cant move away and really dont want to leave, approach with a light tone, says Gottsman.

If someone is standing too close just inadvertently, you can say, Listen, Im going to back up, and if you could just back up, or Oh, would you mind putting your mask on? Gottsman says. Its all your tone of voice, your facial expressions, the delivery of your message.

And if you can see they at least have a mask, confronting them is less risky, says Tasso.

You can kindly say, Hey, I see you have a mask, would you mind wearing it? in a non-hostile and direct way. This person clearly sees the value of a mask, but maybe just didnt realize they didnt have it on.

Set an example.

Wearing a mask yourself is the easiest contribution, says Penn professor Lyle Ungar, who co-wrote an opinion piece on how to get people to wear masks in the New York Times. Set an example.

Its hard to criticize strangers, he adds. I think the best I could manage if someone without a mask came too close to me in a store, would be to say It makes me uncomfortable and a little frightened to have someone without a mask so close to me.

And organizations should set an example, too, Ungar says.

Its easier if youre a manager and can set expectations for employees, he says. ... And Id love to see all buildings have a mask dispenser by the door, with either free or paid masks.

What if youre at work and someone isnt wearing a mask?

Think its a bad idea to confront a stranger about masks? How about trying to scold a coworker...

In that case, we also have a responsibility to protect ourselves and our family, Gottsman says. You can go to your supervisors, but you do need to speak up and say, Im uncomfortable because we are supposed to be wearing masks, but there are multiple people here who are taking it off. So how are we going to deal with it?

if I had to fight every jackass without a mask I'd never get anything done. Stores should ban entry, and public spaces should be patrolled.  Charlie Whisky (@BrightApollo) June 24, 2020

Be extra careful if youre somewhere where people are drinking.

This should be a no-brainer.

Especially around outdoor bars and restaurants, its just human nature that once someone has a few drinks in them they become more disinhibited and their guard is less shored up, says Tasso. Theyre going to be more sloppy or prone to risk taking.

Dont jump into the fray on social media either.

Oh, it can be so tempting to leave a comment on Joe Masks Are For Wimpss Facebook page, but dont.

Some people are making a stand and saying masks are ridiculous, and then people start fighting back and forth, Gottsman says. When its on social media, delete, unfriend, go away. Youre not going to change that person.

Want to go above and beyond? Carry masks with you for the maskless.

Keys, wallet, cell phone, mask... Were moving from a society that never had to think about masks to one where we were told to save them for healthcare workers, to one where we need it whenever we leave the house. People are bound to screw up.

Another option would be to carry a few single-use disposable masks with you, so you can offer one to a friend or neighbor who may have simply forgotten theirs, says Cannuscio. It takes some time to cement new habits, so dont be surprised if you find yourself maskless and flummoxed at some point in the coming months!

Her colleague, Penn psychology professor Angela Duckworth, agrees: How about carrying extra masks with you and wearing a t-shirt or button that says, Need a mask? Ask me! Im not kidding!

I didn't spend my childhood in barbed wire enclosed internment camps so I could listen to grown adults today cry oppression because they have to wear a mask at Costco.  George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) May 9, 2020

How do we convince more people that mask wearing should be a social norm right now?

Science is evolving every day, so its very easy for people who want to tune it out to say, Well, this is what theyre saying last month and now theyre saying this, Tasso says. But on the macro level the message needs to be clear: This is real. This is not it joke. It remains a question of life or death, and the more we adhere to this today, the more we can get back to some sense of normalcy later.

The upside of all of this? Its making us more aware of each other, says Rolan.

We are testing each other in this pandemic, she says. We have been very preoccupied with the slogan, Whats in it for me and now with the pandemic and with our fear about getting this virus and with the fear of what it could mean to our families, not only ourselves, and with the necessity of having to develop a social awareness, its changed. Were all trying to learn how to cope and learn how to really respect each other. Finally.

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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Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com.
A Vineland man claims in a lawsuit that he was beaten by officers at Cumberland County Jail last year.

Lourenzo E. Witt, 32, was arrested and taken to the jail by Vineland police on March 6, 2019, where he alleges he was severely beaten by at least one corrections officer and possibly others.

Witt was due to be sentenced on charges related to that arrest, which included spitting on a police officer, but he missed his January court appearance and a warrant was issued, according to court records.

The incident began in a Vineland Wawa when a police officer getting coffee tried to strike up a conversation with Witt, who began recording with his cellphone camera. The officer then turned on his body camera as a suspicious Witt demanded to know why the cop was speaking to him.

I dont like you, Witt tells the officer in the body camera video released by Vineland police.

How do you know you dont like me? the officer responds.

The officer tries to deescalate the situation and end the conversation, then calls for backup as Witt continues to confront him.

Additional officers arrive and its learned that Witt is wanted on a warrant. Hes taken into custody in a lengthy process during which he curses, screams and complains repeatedly that his handcuffs and leg shackles are too tight.

That behavior allegedly continued at the jail.

The Superior Court lawsuit filed last month only names one corrections officer, Michael Russell, but says others involved could be identified via jail video surveillance footage thats in the countys possession.

In addition to Russell, the suit names Vineland Officer Christian Morales as a defendant, though it doesnt claim that he was involved in an assault. The suit also names Cumberland County, jail Warden Richard Smith and Vineland as defendants, along with as-yet unidentified officers.

Witt was handcuffed and defenseless at the time of the jail assault, did not pose a threat to the officers, was not resisting arrest, and was doing nothing to justify their use of force, the suit states.

The assault caused significant permanent injuries and emotional distress, Witt claims.

His attorney has not responded to calls seeking information about the allegations.

Russell noted in his use of force report that he received a call from Vineland police indicating they would need help with the man because he was causing problems for officers transporting him.

When he arrived at the jail, Witt was verbally abusive to jail staff and refused to follow directions once his handcuffs were removed, according to Russells report. Witt was pepper sprayed by Officer Matthew Terres and then Russell, Officer Sherman Jones and others took him to the ground.

Witt continued to resist efforts to re-cuff him, so Russell struck Witt with one slap to the face. He stopped resisting at that time and was handcuffed.

Witt was taken to the jail medical unit, but refused treatment, according to the six use of force reports, which all describe a similar series of events. He was also placed on suicide watch.

The corrections officers use of force was referred to the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office for review and that agency found no basis for criminal charges against the officers, County Solicitor Ted Baker said. An internal affairs investigation also found no apparent issues.

Force was applied, Baker said. I cant conclude from what Ive seen that it was inappropriate. But I would like to see the testimony and hear what people say when theyre examined under oath before we make any conclusions.

Witt challenged officers at both the jail and Vineland Police Department to hit him, Baker confirmed.

While in custody at the Vineland police station, body camera footage provided to New Jersey Advance Media in response to an Open Public Records Act request shows Witt encouraging officers to assault him.

F- me up. I dont care, he declares. I know you want to. Please.

The officers decline his invitation.

He challenged everybody, Baker said.

Witt allegedly spit in Officer Morales face and refused efforts to get him in and out of vehicles as he was taken to jail. He was charged with aggravated assault and obstruction.

Police reports indicate Witt was under the influence, though details are not provided.

He pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree charge for the spitting incident last November and was due to be sentenced in January on that case and a probation violation stemming from a drug charge. He appeared in court for sentencing, but left before his case was heard. A bench warrant was issued and remains active, court officials confirmed.

While the plea deal for spitting on the officer included a recommended one-year probationary sentence and a requirement that he seek anger management treatment, he faced potential prison time for the probation violation, according to court records.

Witts attitude changed drastically during his interactions with police the night of his arrest.

After he was processed at the police station, he was taken to an SUV for transport to jail.

Officers struggle to get him into the vehicle, the videos show. Once inside, Witt screams that his arm is been broken. An ambulance arrives and hes whisked off to a hospital for evaluation before hes taken to jail. The lawsuit makes no mention of a broken arm.

As hes being loaded onto a stretcher, his tone turns more friendly.

Lourenzo, youre going to the hospital, an officer says.

Im sorry, Nick, Witt replies with a smile. You know I love you, though.

He asks to shake hands with the officer before departing for the hospital and the officer responds with a gentle handshake.

Three Vineland officers filed use of force reports from the encounter, indicating they used compliance holds to counter Witts resistance.

Witts lawsuit alleges violations of the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, use of excessive force, failure to train, supervise and prevent officers from using excessive force, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

He seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Princeton University will support a lawsuit brought against federal agencies by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as the schools seek to block a rule that allows international students to study only at reopened universities with in-person classes.

The two Cambridge, Massachusetts schools filed a lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in U.S. District Court in Boston Wednesday. It seeks a temporary restraining order that would halt the policy for two weeks.

Princeton announced a hybrid plan for the 2020-21 school year that would see half of the student population coming to campus in the fall and the other half in the spring. On Wednesday, the universitys president Christopher Eisgruber said the school will file an amicus brief  a court document voicing its concerns with the policy  to the lawsuit.

The announcement, which came Monday from ICE, mandates international students take at least some of their classes in-person or risk losing their visas and ultimately face deportation proceedings.

While we are already examining multiple possible responses to ICEs announcement, its sudden and incomplete character makes our task even more difficult, Eisgruber wrote in an announcement. Understanding the details will be crucial as we develop ongoing responses.

Rutgers University, too, said it will explore legal action and workarounds for its policy, but did not specifically give its support to the Harvard and MIT lawsuit.

After colleges around the country shuttered in the spring to slow the spread of the coronavirus, they have varied in their approaches to beginning an untraditional fall semester. Some schools plan to reopen close to normal function, while others want to offer a mix of in-person and remote instruction.

And some hope to stay almost entirely online, seeing no feasible way to bring students, faculty and staff back to campus safely.

The new guidance provides foreign students another obstacle as they plan their studies amid a pandemic. They have just weeks to transfer to a limited number of schools that will offer in-person instruction and still have open applications. If they do not, they could be barred from entering the country to study, or deported if they tried to remain in the U.S.

The guidance has confused schools like Rutgers, which fall somewhere in the middle after announcing nearly all classes would remain remote.

Rutgers president Jonathan Holloway said Wednesday the school has advocated for a congressional solution to the issue, and that it is committed to participating in any appropriate legal action to suspend the new guidance.

Holloways announcement called the policy deeply troubling. But he also said Rutgers will continue to evaluate its own offerings, trying to find a balance between the in-person requirements for international students and safety for students and staff, should the rule stand.

At Princeton, where some 24% of undergrad and graduate students come from other countries, the policy has troubled student groups and administrators.

This most recent order only exacerbates the hostile environment international students can experience in the United States, particularly under the ambit of the current administration, Princeton International and Immigrant Student Working Group and Princeton Graduate Students United said in a statement. It further serves to put sick and disabled international students and university employees at risk, and forces a drastic global reconsideration of COVID-19 reopening plans with no mind to physical, financial, and emotional safety.

In addition to the amicus brief, Princeton will look into its own policies and the ways they might work around the announcement to keep international students in the U.S., Eisgruber said.

ICEs announcement is policymaking at its worst: cruel, opaque, and arbitrary, Eisgruber said. Princeton will fight vigorously and work relentlessly to support our international students and to defeat this unjust and ill-considered policy.

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Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj.
In Jersey City Heights Tuesday afternoon, people trickled into Charles E. Trefurt School 8 to make their choices for the countrys next leaders.

I voted for Biden, said Mack Pittman, who recently moved to the Heights. If its going to be Biden, we need him to come out strong.

I am a registered Democrat, but I very much want to see Bernie continue on, said Jessica McCabe, who has lived in Jersey City for five years. Im going to vote for Bernie as long as Im able to.

But both said they voted for Hector Oseguera, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Albio Sires in the 8th Congressional Democratic primary.

I love younger local people running for office, McCabe said. Its just so nice to see it.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, New Jerseys historic primary election will be decided for the first time by mail-in ballots. Every registered Democrat and Republican in the state received a mail-in ballot. But Pittman and McCabe were among those ventured out to vote the old fashioned way  in person  at one of the 82 polling places across the county.

At the Hudson County Clerks Office in Jersey City around midday, Board of Elections Clerk Michael Harper watched masked elections workers open and count mail-in ballots.

Theres just so many ballots, Harper said. Its just so frustrating not seeing the dent in them. But I know its moving along.

Boxes stuffed with mail-in ballots were strewn across multiple rooms. Masked elections workers scanned ballots barcodes, then checked to make sure the ballot envelopes included all the right forms and folded the documents so that the signatures could be checked.

My people call it the origami section, Harper said.

In another room at the Board of Elections, voting machines stood in silent lines. Fearing that the devices could spread COVID-19 officials decided against using the machines. Instead, Hudson County residents like Pittman and McCabe filled in their choices on paper ballots.

When polling stations close at 8 p.m., those paper ballots will be ferried to the clerks office where they are fed through scanners to record their votes. Workers collect ballots that the machines cant read; later they will record them manually. The whole computer system is completely disconnected from the internet for security reasons, Harper said.

But he said he didnt expect any malfeasance or voter fraud.

In Hudson County, the closer you get to the ground  a mayors election, a council election  those are the fighting in the street elections, Harper said. Lets face it, its such an overwhelmingly Democratic county. You get to November, were overwhelmed in numbers, but nobodys fighting about who theyre voting for.

The full results wont be available for weeks, especially because the Board of Elections is accepting ballots postmarked by Tuesday. But Harper expected to have roughly 50,000 or 60,000 votes counted by 8 p.m., enough, maybe, to give a picture of where local races stand.

In a normal primary year, Harper hires around 10 people to work in the clerks office for the elections. This year, there were about 100 workers. But the number of poll workers dropped: the office had set up 82 polling places throughout the county, instead of 210 that were open in 2016. Around 800 poll workers were in the field, Harper said; in a normal primary year, roughly 2,400 people man the polls.

At Charles E. Trefurt School 8, poll worker Mandy Decker said the site had seen a stream of people throughout the day. Inside the school, masked voters sat at desks spaced 6 feet apart, heads bent over their ballots, looking like schoolchildren taking a test.

Its been steady, Decker said. Personally, I was a little surprised because I thought it would be lighter, people mailing in or whatever."

In 2016, the county saw 85,000 voters cast ballots in the primary. Officials expected a higher turnout this year, Harper said, but with the delay in the elections and the coronavirus, he expects to see roughly the same number as in 2016.

Given the peculiarities, the singularity of this situation, I think its impressive, he said. Itll be a good turnout.
Christopher Columbus will no longer look north from Hamilton Avenue in the city of Trenton.

The city on Wednesday morning started dismantling the statue of the explorer at the north end of Columbus Park, in the Chambersburg neighborhood. It has stood at the location for over 60 years.

Christopher Columbus was a controversial figure and is not representative of the ideals our nation was founded on, Mayor Reed Gusciora said Tuesday night, as the city put final plans together on taking down the city landmark.

The statue is not being removed to be discarded, the mayor said. It will be placed in storage to find a more fitting home. The park will also be renamed eventually.

The move comes amid a national discussion, an outcry in some places, on whether statues to Columbus and Confederate Civil War leaders should still stand. The movement to topple or remove the figures grew out of the protests and racial reckoning in the country following the May killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

Statues of Columbus have come down in Newark and Camden, as other towns across New Jersey discuss removing homages to the Italian that some critics say left not a legacy of discovery, but one slavery, sexual abuse and violence toward indigenous people.

Trentons statue was recently vandalized, was the subject of a protest and on Monday, Gusciora and city officials met with number of concerned city residents and groups, including members of the Italian community.

As the country examines Columbus real history, the mayor said, Hes become more controversial and flawed, as someone who is representing immigrants of our country.

He did not even step foot in North America, Gusciora said.

Gusciora said he understands the feeling that local residents of Italian heritage feel about Columbus, and the statute, a gift to the city from the Italian community in 1959.

Im half Italian, the mayor said.

John Scarpati, president of the Mercer County Italian American Festival Association and lifelong Trenton native, decried what he described as a political decision.

Why didnt you just cover it, let things calm down, and then come up with a right solution?... Scarpati said. He still was honored by the community, so youre saying the community dont count no more.

However, in 1959, the Chambersburg neighborhood was a bastion of Italian life, whose immigrants started bakeries and restaurants that were, for decades, regionally famous and drew foodies into the capital city.

Now Chambersburg is mainly home to Hispanic immigrants, and the markets and bakeries reflect that.

The neighborhood has since changed, and there are questions of if (the statue) represents this community, Gusciora said.

To that end, the mayor said the city does not want it damaged anymore, and while they look for a new home, Gusciora said he does not want a Baltimore situation: on the Fourth of July, protesters toppled a Columbus statue in the citys Little Italy and dragged it to the citys harbor and rolled it into the water as fireworks exploded in the sky.

I dont think we can afford to let that happen, the mayor said. Its still a work of art, a gift to the city by immigrants.

The mayor said hed like to see Columbus somewhere on the Delaware River, or in a museum.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com.
One New Jersey town is looking to provide free swimming lessons to any residents who need them, after four people died in two separate backyard pool drowning incidents this summer.

(The deaths) puts a spotlight on drowning and the ability to be able to swim. So many people today dont know how to swim, whether its children or adults, Mayor Brad Cohen told NJ Advance Media.

Three members of the same family died at the end of June, and a young child died on the Fourth of July after drowning in backyard pools in East Brunswick. Although Cohen did not have specific data, he said the recent number of drownings appeared higher than usual.

Nothing happened in East Brunswick or the water in East Brunswick that made us more susceptible to drowning, it could happen anywhere, Cohen said.

The township is still in the early stages of planning its swimming lesson program and is hoping to form a partnership with some type of charity to fund and run it.

The town is looking to include lessons for adults in the program. A mother and grandfather both drowned while trying to save an 8-year-old girl after she fell into the familys backyard pool. Police said the pool was deeper than the family realized, and none of the three could swim.

About half of all adults cant swim, or lack basic swimming skills, a 2014 American Red Cross study found.

Its tragic but to me, that points to, lets get people lessons on how to survive and be able to swim. You cant let something like that happen again because they didnt have the training, Cohen said.

Children between 1 and 4 years old are at the highest risk of drowning, and are most likely to drown in home swimming pools, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control said. Drowning is the second-highest cause of accidental death in children under 14, behind car crashes.

On the Fourth of July, a 4-year-old drowned when he fell into an in-ground swimming pool during a backyard party, police said.

Cohen is hoping other towns follow East Brunswicks lead and also look into implementing swimming programs before tragedy strikes.

It happened in East Brunswick, but it could have happened in any town, Cohen said. I hope other towns look at what were doing and think, that could have happened to us too.

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Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
As police officers wrestled Gustavo Martinez Contreras to the ground while clearing out protesters in Asbury Park last month, newly released video shows he repeatedly tried to tell them Im a reporter through his face mask.

Martinez Contreras, a reporter for the Asbury Park Press, was charged with failure to disperse  accusations that were later dropped.

But a report released Wednesday by the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office found the officers who arrested him had no knowledge they were apprehending a reporter, clearing them of wrongdoing.

Videos released Wednesday provide new details of the incident, which drew national attention at a time when members of the news media were being arrested and injured covering the protests over police violence that have sprung up through the spring and summer.

Warning: This video contains graphic language and some violence.

Martinez Contreras was filming with a cellphone police officers attempts to disperse a small crowd after the mainly peaceful protest on June 1. The protesters were being dispersed due to the 8 p.m. curfew, from which members of the media and other essential workers were exempt.

As Martinez Contreras was live-streaming a clash between protesters and police, an officer can be seen approaching him just after a woman was thrown to the ground by an officer. The camera then went black.

Martinez Contreras was handcuffed and loaded into a police van, and then taken to police headquarters in Belmar. His failure to disperse complaint was dismissed the following day by the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office.

Though the charge was dropped, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni conducted an internal investigation to see if any of the officers involved in the arrest acted inappropriately. Those findings were released in a five-page report that encompassed interviews with 21 people, including 14 law enforcement officers, Martinez and a fellow APP reporter working alongside Martinez.

It also included a review of body-worn camera footage, some of which was released Wednesday.

We fully support and embrace the First Amendment protections that journalists have to report the news. Our investigative findings are in no way inconsistent with those important constitutional safeguards, Gramiccioni said in a statement.

In a first-person account written by Martinez Contreras, he said the officer who arrested him yelled, F--- him. Hes the problem, as another officer who aided in the arrest smacked the phone out of his hands and said, take down his f---ing phone.

As he was being arrested, Martinez Contreras said, he told them, Im a reporter. He said he repeated that phrase to other officers during the arrest.

Body-camera footage released by the prosecutors office shows Martinez Contreras walking backward from several officers before an officer rushes over to him and says, He want to be caught. F--- him, he the problem. Martinez Contreras appears to say, Im a reporter, bro, and then repeats it several more times. Another officer can be heard ordering the reporter to, shut your mouth. The officer who arrested him then helps him up and hands him his cell phone.

There is no audible audio of an officer saying, take down his f------ phone.

The report, however, says that Martinez Contreras could be heard saying, Im a (inaudible).

Martinez is wearing a mask, is positioned face down, and there is a lot of commotion making hearing his exact words difficult for both the arresting officers and detectives who reviewed the clip multiple times, the report said.

It states that the officers say the phone fell during the arrest and that Martinez Contreras never indicates to either officer he is a member of the press.

According to the report, Martinez had contact with three officers in the course of being transported to Belmar, but did not indicate to any of them he was a reporter. While being processed in Belmar, Martinez indicated he was a reporter only after an officer took possession of his property, saw his lanyard, and specifically asked Martinez if he worked for the APP.

There is no body-worn camera footage of Martinez Contreras further interaction with the police after he was initially handcuffed.

Contreras was wearing his state-issued press credentials, the report noted, but his outfit  a heavy coat, helmet and goggles  made it hard for the officers to decipher he was a reporter.

While the report clears the officers involved in the arrest, it notes that in two instances, the officers body-worn cameras were not activated  a violation of operating procedure for police. This will be reviewed by the Asbury Park Police Department, the report said.

Monmouth Countys investigation has confirmed that Mr. Martinezs First Amendment rights were violated when he was tackled, arrested, detained and jailed while reporting the news at Asbury Parks Black Lives Matter protest, Martinez Contreras attorney, Shireen Barday, said in a statement. While Monmouth County self-servingly concludes the actions of police were not an intentional infringement of Mr. Martinezs constitutional rights, Mr. Martinez was wearing a law enforcement-issued press badge when he was tackled, repeatedly identified himself to police as a reporter, was recording an incident of police violence against two teenagers when police targeted him and, remarkably, two of the officers happened to have their body cams turned off the whole time.

Following the arrest, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said his office would figure out why this happened and make sure it doesnt happen again.

Because in America, he said, we dont lock up reporters for doing their job.

The Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) reviewed the prosecutors findings and agreed with its conclusions, the report said.

Typically, files associated with internal affairs investigations are kept secret under exemptions to New Jerseys records law. The report clearing the officers was issued to media outlets by the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office.

The protest was among dozens held around New Jersey following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Just prior to the Asbury Park gathering outside the municipal complex on Main Street, Mayor John Moor imposed an 8 p.m. curfew. The peaceful protest was winding down shortly before 8 p.m. when a group of approximately 100-200 people splintered off, organizers said.

Police allowed people to linger until about 9:30 p.m. before attempting to clear the streets.

Officers, clad in riot gear, continued to push the crowd away from Main Street. Thats when protesters started clashing with the police. Twelve people were arrested, including two juveniles, on charges ranging from aggravated assault, resisting arrest and obstruction. Three police officers were injured  one suffered a fractured skull after being hit with a rock, a second was bitten on the leg and third needed stitches to the chin.

In an op-ed published by NJ.com and The Star-Ledger, the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists condemned the arrest of Martinez Contreras.

When reporters are silenced, or even detained, the public is denied an accurate picture, which creates space for rumors and resentment to grow, the op-ed said.

There have been at least 41 journalists arrested during protests around the country, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.

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Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Call it car-mageddon, chaos or just another day at the DMV, Tuesdays reopening of state Motor vehicle Commission agencies after being closed for almost four months was a worse ordeal than even the most jaded Jersey driver could have imagined.

Problems were evident before the doors opened at 8 a.m., as hundreds of drivers lined up to do a four-month back log of business that could only be done in person. That pain played out on social media in videos and photos of the mess.
Here are the early, unofficial results of New Jersey primary elections held on Tuesday, July 7, including the Democratic and Republican contests for U.S. Senate bids and battles for nominations in several congressional districts that are being closely watched during this presidential election year.

The results below, compiled by the Associated Press, will be updated throughout the night, so please check back later or refresh the page to see the latest tallies.

Note: Because most ballots are being cast by mail instead of in person at polling sites in this coronavirus-impacted election, it will take days  and maybe weeks  for county officials to count and confirm all the ballots. The results below will be based on partial returns, but they will be updated overnight and during the upcoming days as new numbers are confirmed.

(i) denotes incumbents

PRESIDENT

In the Democratic primary, both former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders were on the ballot. Although Biden has already locked up his partys nomination, Sanders would be entitled to a share of the delegates if he receives at least 15% of the vote, giving up more support at the Democratic National Convention.

On the Republican side, President Donald Trump ran unopposed in his partys primary election.

U.S. SENATE

New Jersey had both Republican and Democratic primaries for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Cory Booker.

Booker was challenged by community activist Lawrence Hamm, who ran Sanders New Jersey presidential campaign and has led demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

In the GOP primary, five Republicans are seeking their partys nod. They are Rik Mehta, a pharmacist and lawyer; Hirsh Singh, an engineer who lost primaries for governor in 2017 and U.S. House in 2018; Natalie Rivera and Tricia Flanagan, both of whom ran and lost as independent candidates against Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez in 2018; and teacher Eugene Anagnos.

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

There were uncontested races for the Democratic nominations in congressional districts 1, 3, 7 and 11 and for the Republican nominations in districts 8, 10, 11 and 12. So those numbers will not be tabulated in the charts below.

The most closely watched primary race is the Democratic battle in the 2nd congressional district, which features Brigid Callahan Harrison, a Montclair State University political science professor; educator Amy Kennedy, wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.; veteran congressional aide Will Cunningham; former FBI agent Robert Turkavage, who ran as a Republican for the seat two years ago; and John Francis, an environmentalist and professor.

Thats the seat that Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., won two years ago as a Democrat before opposing Trumps impeachment and then switching parties. Van Drew faces a primary of his own against Bob Patterson, former acting associate commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

MORE ELECTION COVERAGE

Local and county election results in New Jersey

Booker wins Democratic nomination in N.J. Senate primary

Murphy-backed Amy Kennedy wins hard-fought N.J. Democratic House primary

Trump, Biden (no surprise) prevail in N.J.s presidential primary

N.J. primary election 2020: Here are all your questions answered.

See if your county leans GOP or Dem as coronavirus clobbers push to register voters

Bernie Sanders Movement lives in N.J. as allies challenge veteran Dems

The Associated Press and NJ Advance Media staff writer Jonathan D. Salant contributed to this report.

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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
[Collins] will sell take-out as well as the ingredients to make a full meal, LaBonge said. You might pick up a couple of spices, some produce and a few other items. So, shes trying to help you with the in-home dining experience as well.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is riding a wave of popularity after effectively containing the virus by carefully building a national consensus based on the best expert advice. Imagine that.

These are humbling days for America. The rest of the developed world is passing this test, and we are failing by every objective measure. Americans are much more likely to catch the virus and die from it, and still, the threat grows as the virus rages across the country, setting new records nearly every day, and making it impossible to revive the economy and return to normal lives. Thats the price were paying for President Trumps failed leadership.

Granted, Germany started with huge advantages, like the rest of Europe. All Germans have health insurance, and no one has lost coverage during the crisis. For some bizarre reason, Americans have convinced themselves that building a system like that is beyond our capacity as a country. So, we limp along with this crazy patchwork, which left out 28 million people before the crisis, a number that experts believe has roughly doubled in the last few months.

Yes, Trump is eager to make that problem much worse by killing Obamacare, an effort he is pressing in the courts even now. But he inherited this mess, and Merkel didnt, so give him that much.

Merkel had another advantage: She didnt have to contend with quite so many deluded fanatics on the right who see wearing a mask as a step towards tyranny, and who responded to reasonable public health restrictions by protesting with assault weapons, shoulder to shoulder with no masks.

Still, when you compare the responses to this crisis from these two leaders, you have to cringe. Merkel got it right every time. Trump got it right once  when he banned the early flights from China. Lets take a look.

When the virus appeared in Germany, Merkel called together the leaders of the 16 German states, which had the authority to impose restrictions and take counter-measures, just as in the United States. But Merkel has a plan for the entire country, devised by her team of experts weeks before the virus arrived in force, and she convinced all 16 state leaders to sign up.

By mid-March, Germany had clamped down ferociously on its social and economic life, closing businesses, schools, and borders with neighboring countries that were experiencing outbreaks. Curfews were imposed in six German states, while others barred physical contact with more than one person outside ones household. They quickly built a robust testing and contract tracing program on the foundations of a well-supplied and staffed public health system.

The curve is now flat in Germany, and the economy is starting to reopen. They have had outbreaks since loosening restrictions, but theyve been quickly contained, thanks to the testing and contact tracing program. The German public, meanwhile, is united behind Merkel, with 82 percent supporting her approach to the virus.

Now look at Trump. He has no national plan, even on the basics like testing and contact tracing. He had the power to force private firms to produce desperately needed hospital supplies and testing equipment but chose not to use it. Instead of working with the governors, he has declared partisan warfare on several of them, even encouraging the armed protests against reasonable restrictions in Michigan. His refusal to wear a mask is criminal, his crowded rallies are obscene, and his preaching on quack remedies is downright scary.

In Germany, just over 9,000 people have died of the virus. In America, with four times Germanys population, the number is now 133,000 and climbing fast.

Trumps response to this failure is telling. When confronted with facts like this, he attacks the media, or Democrats, or the deep state. And when things get really bad, he tries to distract his followers with racist appeals that sound more and more like the desperate rantings of a bitter old man.

Merkel has announced that she will step down next year. Perhaps when November comes, we can help Trump keep up with her this time.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
Gallegos provision is the only cannabis-related rider on the House bill, but a bipartisan group led by Sen. Diane Feinstein have their own proposal theyd like to attach to the Senates defense policy legislation. The amendment would institute requirements into CBD research and provide protections for doctors who discuss cannabis treatment with their patients. It is unclear whether the amendment will make it onto the Senate floor for further discussion or not.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy skies. Cooler. High 62F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Ana Anita Moreno

Age: 59

Place of residence: Nogales

Education: Nogales High School graduate; attended Pima Community College; completed national and corporate title insurance and escrow courses throughout 20 years; licensed to sell real estate in Arizona.

Experience: Worked for the sales tax department and attorneys office at the City of Nogales; served as accounting assistant at the law office of Larson, Soto and Machado; senior/commercial escrow officer for the Lawyers Title of Arizona.

Community organizations: Member of Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital governing board, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and former president of the United Way of Santa Cruz County; volunteered with the Alex Bermudez Annual Golf Tournament, Board of Realtors Golf Tournament, Nogales Education Foundation, and scholarship recruitment for the NHS Hall of Fame.

Learn more at: www.anita4countyrecorder.com, or contact her at anitamoreno4recorder@gmail.com.
Mr. Abel strongly suggests that any medical professional exploring the treatments needed by medical marijuana should first research the law as administered by both their employers and the states in which they reside and operate, to understand the risks thoroughly. There have been some good case precedents, including some change in the wording of administrative law, that supports the use, and the prescription of medical marijuana. But the rules and regulations vary so much from state to state, that doing your due diligence is essential.
David Alvarez

Age: 55

Place of residence: Rio Rico

Education: DeVry Institute, electronics diploma (two-year program; multiple MFD (multi-function device) service certifications.

Experience: Service manager, Sharp Business Systems Tucson; former Santa Cruz County deputy recorder; former owner, CopyLaser Print and Design; former owner, Copy Digital de Sonora; account executive, Danka Business Solutions; field engineer/account executive, AB Dick Products.

Community organizations/activities: Knights of Columbus: former grand knight, current deputy grand knight, state knight of the year; president, RRHS Band Boosters; member, Residents of Rio Rico; scout master, Boy Scouts of America; member, SCVUSD political action committee; past president, Rio Rico Little League.

Learn more at: Facebook, alvarez4SantaCruzCounty; alvarez4sccounty@gmail.com
Even while museums are closed due to the coronavirus, art matters in our lives. In this series, Lagniappe presents a different work each week from the collection of the New Orleans Museum of Art, with commentary from a curator.

Carved by a Songye artist and fortified by an nganga (herbal practitioner), nkishi are power figures used by their community, a Bantu ethnic group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for ritual fortification and as ancestral figures.

Placed at the heart of the community or beside the home of the diviner, the objects are believed to intercede on behalf of the community in the realm of the ancestors and the spirits.

The well-adorned chiefly figure is sharply contrasted by an animal attribute in the form of a horn, which is believed to contain strong medicine, and embedded on the head.

This dual characteristic led Dunja Hersak, a specialist in the art of the Songye culture, to stress the idea of dualism in meaning of the nkishi.

According to her, duality and opposition is the core of an nkishis physical representation and function.

The nkishi's human appearance and visible attributes of chieftaincy are juxtaposed with animal characteristics that emphasize their non-human otherness.

It is through such dualism that the object operates: by placating unforeseen dangers and providing positive goods to the community.

For the Songye, the intercession of the ancestors in the affairs of the living cannot be overemphasized. Displayed permanently in the African gallery at NOMA, this object reminds us of the importance of ancestral veneration in Songye culture.
Following repeated flooding that has put water in numerous homes -- some on multiple occasions -- the St. Charles Parish Council has given the green light to more than $1.2 million in new drainage and sewerage master plans.

But the council wouldn't support the moratorium on new subdivisions Parish President Matthew Jewell had sought, voting Monday night to table the proposal and send it to another board for study.

It was tabled, and thats unfortunate, Jewell said Tuesday. Thats not going to deter my administration from pushing forward and solving these drainage issues.

+9 Frustrated and fed up, St. Charles Parish residents demand action after rains again flood homes Seven weeks after heavy rains pushed more than a foot of water inside Ken Broussards Destrehan home, the 70-year-old and his wife got to spen

The moratorium proposal came before the council one day after heavy rains flooded 14 homes on Sunday, most in the same areas that flooded two months ago during a historic downpour that swamped 400 houses across the parish.

About 75 frustrated residents gathered at the council chambers in Hahnville to demand answers. But most werent allowed to enter the council chambers because of social distancing mandates, and instead watched from monitors in the lobby.

Jewell asked the council to hold off on approving new major developments for 18 months until his administration could complete the parish-wide drainage and sewerage studies.

That would give the parish time to come up with a comprehensive plan to solve flooding issues and avoid putting new stress and an already over-stressed drainage system, he said.

Destrehan resident Karen Nagele urged the council to pass the moratorium, identifying her Ducayet Drive neighborhood as the parishs unofficial retention pond.

Were holding the water for you until you can figure out how to pump it out, she said.

Jewell briefly sparred with Council Chairman Dick Gibbs and at-large Councilwoman Wendy Benedetto, who both opposed the moratorium and called it unnecessary. Benedetto accused Jewell of not providing information to council members, while Jewell accused Gibbs and Benedetto of grandstanding.

The council ultimately voted to send the moratorium to the St. Charles Planning Commission for a recommendation.

+24 216 homes flood in St. Charles Parish after storm drops 12 inches of rain in 2 hours The thunderstorms that moved through the New Orleans area Thursday night spent a little extra time churning over St. Charles Parish, dropping 

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The council also initially seemed poised to jettison the five ordinances requesting east and west bank drainage and sewerage master plans. The first ordinance for the west bank drainage master plan initially failed by a vote of 5-4.

But Jewell implored the council to adopt the east bank version of the drainage study and reconsider the west bank ordinance.

I want to get the parish away from a mentality of piecing the system together as a puzzle, Jewell said, pointing out that the last drainage study for the parish was done more than 20 years ago.

Destrehan resident Nick Cammarata, a supporter of the master plans, asked the council to pretend they were in need of medical care and had to consider whether to use X-rays and tests done 10 years earlier to determine a course of treatment.

I dont think you would accept that, he said.

The council gave the go-ahead to proceed with the east bank drainage master plan, with Gibbs and Councilwoman Marilyn Bellock voting against the measure. When the council agreed to reconsider the west bank version of the drainage study that had been earlier rejected, the ordinance passed 7-2, with Gibbs and Bellock voting no.

The east and west bank sewerage master plan ordinances unanimously passed.

Under the contracts, the parish will pay the following engineering firms:

T. Baker Smith LLC., of Prairieville, $218,493 for the first phase of the west bank drainage study.

Principal Engineering Inc., of Metairie, $707,510 for the first phase of the east bank drainage study.

Meyer Engineering Ltd., of Metairie, $96,000 for the west bank sewer plan, Hahnville plant.

Linfield, Hunter & Junius Inc., of Metairie, $84,300 for the west bank sewer plan, Luling oxidation plant.

Kyle Associates LLC., of Mandeville, $115,719 for the east bank sewer plan.

In the meantime, Jewell said his administration has either started or will soon start work on several projects that will relieve drainage problems in the neighborhood along Ormond Boulevard, just south of the railroad tracks near Destrehan High School. The area has flooded three times since December 2018.

Jewell is expected to soon send out to bid a project to upgrade Destrehan pump station No. 2 at the end of Dunleith Drive. There are also plans to enlarge the steel culverts that run under the railroad tracks, which many residents in the area say act as a dam to trap water in the neighborhood.

The parish is also clearing brush and preparing to widen two drainage ditches near the Hill Heights Country Club, according to Jewell.

Were pushing forward on these projects while the master plans are going on, he said.
Spaying and neutering pets is important for a variety of reasons. As the only permanent, 100% effective method of birth control for dogs and cats, it prevents unwanted litters and also reduces the risk for many health conditions and behavioral issues.

The Louisiana SPCA Community Clinic has reopened its public spay/neuter program following the coronavirus shutdown and is offering all pet owners free spay/neuter thanks to a $90,000 grant from Petsmart Charities.

One of the most common reasons pets are surrendered to local shelters is the lack of affordable veterinary care. Each year, more than 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters.

It's a good time for puppy love. Here's how to raise your pup the right way The coronavirus pandemic has had one positive side: Lots of dogs and cats are being adopted from shelters. The past few months have been a gre

Because spay/neuter can provide medical as well as behavioral benefits, it can mean the difference between a family having to surrender a pet or keeping him. These challenges have been amplified with the coronavirus as families have had to make tough financial decisions.

Making the decision to spay/neuter not only helps control the pet population but also provides benefits including:

Preventing uterine infections

Preventing breast cancer

Preventing testicular cancer

Reducing the desire to roam looking for a mate

Reducing marking

Reducing aggression

Reducing excessive barking

Over the last five years, the Community Clinic has completed nearly 50,000 spay/neuter surgeries for pets and other shelters and rescues around the state.

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To make an appointment at the Louisiana SPCA Community Clinic for free spay/neuter, visit www.la-spca.org/appointments.

Hot weather can be dangerous for pets; watch for these signs that your pet is in distress We have officially reached the beginning of summer, and before we know it, temperatures will be topping 90 daily. It's crucial to keep pets co

Some parishes also offer parish-specific programs for residents.

Jefferson Parish offers its Fix-A-Canine low-cost spay/neuter program for $60. It is funded by the parish annual rabies license fees. The ultimate goal is to reduce the numbers of dogs and puppies that enter the two Jefferson Parish Animal Shelters.

They also offer free spay/neuter surgeries for pit bulls and other bully breeds and low- and no-cost options for cats with their Fix-A-Feline program. For more information, on all of these services, visit www.jeffersonspca.org/jeffersonspcaservices.

Check with your local parish shelter to see what programs may be offered.
Following a pair of postponements, voters across St. Tammany Parish will head to the polls Saturday to cast ballots in several races, including municipal elections, a contest for an open seat on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal, as well as spots on Democratic and Republican committees.

Polls open at 7 a.m. Saturday and close at 8 p.m.

Democrats and Republicans will cast votes in Presidential Preference Primaries, as well. President Donald Trump is considered a lock to win the vote among Louisiana Republicans and former Vice President Joe Biden is labeled a sure thing on the Democratic ballot.

Races for local offices are thought to be much tighter, however, and voters have had more than three additional months to make their choices following two coronavirus-related delays.

In Mandeville, voters will select a new mayor from a pool of five candidates  businessmen Michael Blache and Chad Bordelon, disability rights advocate Brian Henly and council at-large members Clay Madden and Laure Sica. That race is expected to go into a runoff, with Saturday's two leading vote-getters meeting again on Aug. 15 to see who will be Mandeville's next mayor.

Four of the five members of the next city council, however, will be determined shortly after polls close Saturday. Three men are running for the council's two at-large seats, including Ernest Burguieres, Rick Danielson and Jason Zuckerman. In District II, Skelly Kreller faces incumbent Michael Pulaski, while political first-timers Scott Discon and Jill McGuire make their appeal to District III voters.

The council term began July 1, though delays on April 4 and again on June 20 will cut into that time. The four victories candidates are expected to be sworn in on July 22.

Local attorney Rebecca Bush, who ran unopposed for the District I seat, took her oath on July 1 and will sit with four remaining members (Madden, Pulaski, Sica and current District III member John Keller) when the council meets Thursday.

St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

In Madisonville, first-term mayor Jean Pelloat faces a challenge from Charles Tucker and eight candidates are actively running for the five at-large seats on the Madisonville Town Council. They include incumbents Jim Bouey, Tim Bounds, Kevin Doran, Brad Haddox and Chris Hitzman, as well as challengers Keith Dennis, Robin Eckert and Steven Marcus.

Madisonville residents can vote for as many as five of the council candidates. A runoff would be necessary in case of a tie between the fifth- and sixth-place vote-getters or if any of the top five candidates do not receive a majority of the vote. In Madisonville's case, a majority is determined by taking the total number of votes cast in the election, dividing by five (the number of available seats) and dividing by two.

Four candidates are vying for an at-large seat on the Covington City Council, including Jerry Coner, Rick Smith, Steve Stokes and Grant Waters. This is the third time in four years that Covington voters face a special election to replace a council member.

Judge Richard Swartz, of the 22nd Judicial District bench, and Judge Elizabeth Wolfe, of the 21st Judicial District, are vying to replace Judge Will Crain on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. Crain was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court last year.

There are various spots on the Democratic State Central Committee up for grabs, as well as on the Democratic and Republican parish executive committees. Only members of those political parties can vote in those elections.

Candidates in Saturday's elections qualified all the way back on Jan. 8-10. Early voting, which concluded on July 4, was extended by one week, in accordance with the state's Emergency Election Plan.

For more information, go online to www.sos.la.gov, www.stprov.org or www.sttammanyclerk.org.
One of the free coronavirus testing sites in New Orleans hit capacity Wednesday before it even opened, city officials said.

It is the third day in a row that the site has quickly reached its capacity, which has been lower this week because of supply shortages.

The testing site at Dillard University in Gentilly opens at 8 a.m. and is able to test 150 people. At 7:33 a.m., the city tweeted it had identified the last person in line.

New Orleans East Hospital was also offering community testing Wednesday at the YMCA at 2220 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, but that site ran out of tests 18 minutes after its 9 a.m. opening.

See the schedule this week for free coronavirus testing sites in New Orleans.

New Orleans coronavirus testing site hits capacity in 2 minutes; Jennifer Avegno explains why Shortly after a New Orleans coronavirus testing center ran out of its allotted 150 tests within minutes of opening, local health officials add

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

On Monday, the Gentilly site hit capacity at 8:02 a.m., the city said. On Tuesday, it hit capacity at 8:17 a.m.

Monday was the first day of testing after New Orleans officials lowered daily capacity from 250 tests per day, a move aimed at helping the city's testing providers preserve test trays, droppers and the chemicals used in test processing.

With cases soaring in Texas, Florida and other states, public-health officials are scrambling to ramp up test programs. That has left many of the required testing materials in short supply. The supply shortage has also created longer turnaround times for many residents awaiting their results.

"This is obviously something thats incredibly concerning to us," New Orleans Health Department Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno said Monday. "One of the reasons New Orleans was able to flatten the curve so quickly and so well is because we were always testing at a high level."
Rallies across the country and calls for police reform were sparked by the May 25 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and the deaths in recent years of other unarmed Black men across the country at the hands of police. While there havent been such occurrences in Bethlehem, Lee said members of the local NAACP felt they should come forward to discuss issues of social justice reform with leaders in the community.
On July 02, 2020, the Department of Planning and Investment of Ha Noi City issued a document allowing Japan Vietnam Medical Instrument Joint Stock Company (JVC) to extend the time to hold the Annual General Meeting 2020. Accordingly, the company will take place the Annual General Meeting before September 30, 2020.
Wild did not have an opponent in the June 2 primary, and she faces Republican Lisa Scheller in the November general election. Scheller, a former Lehigh County commissioner and head of a Schuylkill County manufacturing company, has not yet announced fundraising totals for last quarter, when she ran in the GOP primary against Dean Browning, another former Lehigh County commissioner.
Whether the House and Senate will agree to rules that limit their ability to draw districts  and pick voters  remains to be seen, though in the past theyve been slow to pass legislation that reduces their influence or power. When lawmakers return in the fall, theyll also have to grapple with the ever-present threat of the coronavirus and an incomplete state budget.
For the Hoffmans  who had lost touch with Joey but kept up with him through his younger brother and sister  it was a tragic end to the life of a man they said had finally found happiness.
Metter, GA (30439)

Today

Showers and thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 69F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Fort Madison, IA (52627)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 78F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 64F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Armin Strom had the desire to transmit equal force to the balance, thereby increasing the consistency of rate. The brand developed an ingenious stop-works declutch system that operates inside the mainspring barrel to limit the torque delivered to the balance, providing smooth power delivery. Utilizing a Geneva wheel mounted to the barrel housing cover, the rotation of the mainspring barrel is limited to just 9 full turns. This represents the central 72% of the mainsprings potential torque curve, the flattest and most consistent portion.

As the barrel housing unwinds around the arbor, a pin counts off the rotations on the Geneva wheel until it reaches the locked position and prevents further unwinding. This limit keeps the power delivery to the balance as consistent as possible and the amplitude in optimal range. Once it reaches the upper limit, the declutch mechanism guarantees the slip of the mainspring and allows the micro rotor to turn evenly when fully wound.

This innovative solution can be found in the Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force model from the System 78 collection.
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One hilarious joke once circulating in Iraq referred to an imaginary anti-concern medicine named after former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, known as much for his diplomatic cliches voicing concern over the tragic events in the country while lacking in action to stop them.

The fictional drug came in 200 mg tablets in blister packs advertised mockingly on social media as being a way to calm and pacify people in a state of trauma in the dystopian world of conflict-torn Iraq that many Iraqis blamed on UN failures in their country.

Soon the fictional drug became a political metaphor for UN dysfunction in ending the civil wars in Libya, Syria and Yemen and its critical failures in addressing the Arab-Israeli conflict and the crises in Sudan, Lebanon and the Western Sahara.

Since 2003 when the United States invaded Iraq and triggered a geopolitical earthquake in the Middle East, more than a dozen UN envoys have tried to play the role of healer in the regions civil wars, with none of them having any luck.

Whereas the Iraqis hoped the UN would stand by its mission of helping to turn Iraq into a functioning state following the US-led invasion in 2003, the organisation did little to create the conditions for that to happen.

Instead of taking radical action to turn Iraqs fortunes around, UN leaders said much but did little to bring about much-needed change in Iraq.

The UN has been blamed for much of the impasse in Iraq over the last 17 years, primarily for its failure in state-rebuilding efforts and the rehabilitation of an Iraqi society wrecked by the US occupation, prolonged civil conflict and governmental dysfunction.

The UN Security Council authorised the creation of a UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in 2003 that was expected to anchor support for the countrys political transition with the strategic objective of creating genuine democracy in Iraq.

But instead of seeing the peaceful and prosperous future the UN was tasked to help the Iraqis to achieve, Iraq today is one of the most miserable countries in the world to live in. Eight UN diplomats have headed UNAMI since its inception, but Iraqis remember nothing tangible of what they have delivered apart from empty rhetoric.

In the case of Syria, the UN has unequivocally failed in handling the conflict in which over half a million Syrians have been killed and over 11 million have been made either refugees or been internally displaced.

Over nearly ten years, the organisation has failed to take any meaningful action to prevent the conflict in the country spiralling into a full-scale civil war, with atrocities including murder, torture, rape and enforced disappearances becoming all too common.

Several UN special envoys to Syria have failed to put forward workable plans to stop the bloodshed in Syria and find a political solution that could end the conflict through a nationally accepted transition.

As the UN has remained largely on the sidelines, foreign players have stepped in to fill the vacuum, establishing cozy relations with various Syrian parties through supplies of money, food, weapons and personnel.

Nearly 10 years since its formation after the outbreak of civil war in Yemen, the UN mission to this country is also still an enigma, and the UN has been impotent as Yemen has slipped into a bloody civil war.

Around 10,000 civilians have been killed in the war and hundreds of thousands more have suffered from famine or poor health conditions, turning the country into the worlds largest humanitarian disaster.

In 2012, the UN secretary-general established the Office of the Special Envoy to the Secretary-General on Yemen to facilitate the countrys transition and provide support for national reconciliation.

But the three diplomats, Jamal Benomar, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and Martin Griffiths, who have since worked as UN special envoy to Yemen have simply demonstrated the UNs failure to fulfil its obligations to end the quagmire in the country.

In Libya, the UN has failed every step of the way since 2011 to broker a reconciliation agreement and end the civil war between rival factions in the countrys east and in the capital Tripoli.

In recent months, Libya has been plunged further into chaos, with the UN failing to name a new special envoy to replace Ghassan Salame, a French-Lebanese diplomat who resigned in March after admitting he had made little progress in ending the hostilities.

Elsewhere in the Arab world, the UN has had a dangerous history of failing to uphold its responsibility in line with its Charter, whether in lending impetus to the search for political solutions or maintaining regional peace and stability.

More than 73 years after the UN Security Council Resolution to partition Palestine, the UN is still failing to uphold the inalienable rights of the Palestinians to self-determination and to have a homeland of their own.

To no ones surprise, the UN has had no effect in deterring Israel from annexing the Palestinian land it occupied in wars, and it has failed to make sure that Israel faces the consequences.

At a time when the Middle East is threatened with the grave impacts of Israels plans to fully colonise Palestine, the UN has been failing to act collectively to stop the annexation, which is a flagrant violation of its Charter, dozens of UN Resolutions and international law.

Like his predecessor, current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern about Israels plans to impose its sovereignty over territories it has annexed in the West Bank, but he has stopped short of taking meaningful action to make Israel abandon its plans.

In Lebanon, where the UN has a resident coordinator designated to lead UN agencies in helping the beleaguered country solve its multiple crises, the UN has again failed its most important tests.

The UN cannot excuse itself for the decades of political turmoil, communal discord, foreign intervention, poor governance and chronic corruption that have led Lebanon to the verge of collapse.

Under various resolutions, the UN was committed to help Lebanon withstand regional challenges and ensure its ability to address the growing security, economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing the country.

Yet, as Lebanon faces the prospects of bankruptcy, famine and political chaos as never before, the UN seems to care less about helping Lebanon through such crises than about policing the border with Israel.

In Sudan, the UN has undertaken to assist the political transition worked out between Sudans military and civilian opposition alliance through the 2019 landmark power-sharing deal.

But it remains to be seen how the UN will help Sudan to make progress towards democratic governance, sustainable peace and the protection and promotion of human rights.

The more than half-century-old dispute that pits Morocco against the Algeria-backed insurgent group the Polisario Front in the Western Sahara has also eluded attempts by the UN at conflict-resolution.

The UN has foundered in its efforts to reach a lasting deal over a territory that Morocco has declared to be historically part of the North African kingdom, risking pushing the region into more prolonged conflict.

The UN has stalled in many other parts of the world with catastrophic consequences in such places as Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and Myanmar, but its failings in the Arab world have been even wider.

As the turmoil in many Arab countries goes from bad to worse with more negative outcomes certainly to come, nothing can symbolise the failure of the UN system to achieve its goal of maintaining international peace and security more than its failures in the Arab world.

Across the region, countries that emerged from two devastating world wars, colonial scheming and fierce struggles for independence are unravelling while the region as a whole is facing Balkanisation.

While failures of state and nation-building, along with policy choices in many Arab countries and regional dynamics, may be blamed for much of the impasse, the situation can also be attributed to the paralysis of the UN system and the organisations lack of resolve in protecting the regional order and standing up to the political agendas of the great powers.

Today, in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen, UN missions are mostly guided or influenced by the policy directions of the veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council, impacting their effectiveness.

Supporters of the UN have long argued that the organisation is no more than the sum of its parts and that it can do no more than what its most powerful members allow it to do.

What these advocates of the UN role fail to admit is that by being subservient to its most powerful members, the organisation is becoming a club of the few, with their decisions likely to determine the UN agenda.

The UNs operations in the four Arab countries reviewed above have often been disastrous, and the organisation has failed to stand up for its duties and prevent local crises turning into an international match manipulated by the geopolitical ambitions of members of the UN Security Council.

But turning a blind eye to the heavy involvement of the major powers in the conflicts in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen will not only render UN missions ineffective, but could also make the UN itself complicit in the evil schemes to remake the region.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 9 July, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Study Shows Low Housing Supply Leads to Gentrification

A study by the Urban Institute (UI) has found a strong correlation between the home price to income ratio in an area and its rate of gentrification. The results are published on UI's Urban Wire blog in a post written by analysts Ellen Seidman, Jun Zhu, and Laurie Goodman. The authors say it is important to understand what increases the pace of gentrification, which they define as how fast high-income homebuyers move into low-income neighborhoods.

Using data from the 2018 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and 2018 American Community Survey data, the researchers examined the movement of high-income borrowers into low-income areas and the varying pace of this movement across different metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). The focus was on income rather than homebuyers' race or ethnicity as that data was not available with sufficient granularity.

The authors first determined the prevalence of high-income homebuyers in LMI areas, then examined the price-to-income ratios (using area median incomes, or AMIs) in the 20 largest MSAs to get a sense of housing supply challenges. Using new mortgages as a measure, they found that nationally, high-income buyers (those earning above 120 percent of the AMI) buy homes in LMI neighborhoods at a slightly higher rate (29 percent) than their current ownership rate (26 percent) in those neighborhoods.

They also found that low-income buyers, those earning up to 50 percent of the areas' medians, buy in those neighborhoods at a much lower rate than their current homeownership rates, 14 percent versus 31 percent. Moderate income households, those earning 50 to 80 percent of the median buy at higher rates (27 percent) than the current ownership rate of 21 percent.

The biggest difference nationally between new mortgages and current ownership rates is in the share of mortgage borrowers in the low-income group. There are comparatively few new mortgage borrowers with low incomes relative to the share of current homeowners with those incomes. The authors attribute this in part to the lack of supply of available homes and of mortgages at the low end of the housing price spectrum.

They also found that the income distribution of all homeowners and rents did not vary much across the MSAs in their study, but the distribution of new mortgage borrowers in 2018 did. They looked at the number of high-income borrowers in LMI neighborhoods in a few MSAs, including Los Angeles and Chicago and found that, in cities with limited housing supply, high-income homebuyers disproportionately seek out LMI areas.

Nationally, high-income households represent 45 percent of homeowners, 48 percent of all 2018 borrowers, and 28 percent of 2018 borrowers in LMI areas. But in Los Angeles, the MSA with the highest price-to-income ratio, 53 percent of current homeowners and 78 percent of 2018 borrowers have high incomes.

And in LMI neighborhoods there was a 60 percent purchase rate by high-income borrowers, 7 points higher than the city-wide rate, while current ownership was 38 percent. This could lead to rapid gentrification in those areas.

Conversely, in Chicago, a city with a price-to-income ratio in the bottom quartile nationally, the share of high-income 2018 buyers in LMI areas is barely half the share of current high-income owners in the city. In fact, the share of high-income borrowers in LMI areas is slightly lower than the share of current high-income homeowners in LMI areas.

The figure above shows the relationship between the price-to-income ratio and the share of recent purchases by high-income borrowers in low-income neighborhoods for the 75 largest MSAs; a correlation the authors say, while not perfect, is high.

They also found the price-to-income ratio is a more important determinant than is home price regarding the propensity of high-income people to buy in LMI areas. The $909,000 median home price in San Francisco far exceeds Los Angeles's $699,000, but the latter's 9.14 price-to-income ratio exceeds San Francisco's 8.33 ratio, and a substantially greater share of high-income households buy in LMI neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

The authors say that in those areas with high ratios even those with high income are stretching to buy a home and are increasingly venturing into low-and median income neighborhoods, making it difficult for those lower incomes to buy there, especially as prices for low-price tier homes have increased faster than more expensive ones. The high ratio areas also tend to have lower homeownership rates than the national average, especially in California, but New York and Miami also show signs of high-income movement into LMI neighborhoods and somewhat depressed overall homeownership rates.

The authors conclude that encouraging growth in the housing supply by easing restrictions on building and boosting alternatives such as manufactured housing and accessory dwelling units, the pace of gentrification could be slowed.
As a company operating in several sectors including agriculture, construction, mining and natural gas and manufacturing, across the globe, Kusto Group offers a unique perspective on the strengths and shortcomings exposed by the outbreak of Covid-19. The company believes that the spread of the coronavirus has demonstrated Kazakhstan's capacity to become an agricultural leader across the region and globally.

Kusto Group has spent a good part of the last decade working to modernize Kazakhstan's agricultural industry. From its activities in cattle rearing and beef processing to its farming operations, Kusto Group, under the leadership of Yerkin Tatishev, has sought to elevate Kazakhstan's local agricultural market with ambitions to turn the sector into a strategic export hub of ag-products.

"As our agriculture efforts demonstrate, the signs are positive that international investors are placing their trust in the country," says Daniel Kunin, a Managing Director of Kusto Group. "In my experience, emerging economies discover there is a threshold they need to cross before investors will place their capital in the country long-term. This requires institutional maturity in the country's governance structures and a predictability around the rule of law that comes after long periods of stability. Kazakhstan has reached that stage. It is now the stand-out leader in this neighbourhood."

Covid-19 threatens food security

For many nations, food security has become a critical issue in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Early in the outbreak, when restrictions on travel, movement and businesses were introduced, many grocery stores found their shelves wiped clean of food essentials and staples in a wave of panic buying.

"Supply disruption made clear the importance of a diversity of markets to ensure food security," argued Kusto Group's Alex Donov in a recent commentary published in the Singapore Business Review.

Disease outbreaks among workers at meat and food processing plants across the United States have called into question the stability of the current food system and supply lines.

The spread of the novel coronavirus posed a unique challenge to countries like Singapore, where 90% of food is imported and where Kusto Group's international operations are headquartered. He believes the Singaporean government's swift and decisive action on food supplies prevented an economic and humanitarian disaster.

"In the case of vegetables from Malaysia, for example, the government swiftly ensured new supply lines from markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, China and Taiwan," says Donov.

"In another example in late March, Singapore joined Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Myanmar, and New Zealand in a joint affirmation of their commitment to ensuring supply chain connectivity; and in early April the Singapore Food Agency announced a new "30X30 Express" fund - providing a $30m grant to boost the agrifood industry and setting the goal of domestically sourcing 30% of Singapore's food by 2030."

"And the simple fact is that we now must accept that new challenges and potential pandemics are probably a very real part of our global future."

Establishing trade partnership to ensure future food security

Singapore, which relies heavily on imports and is a highly developed trading hub, is particularly well placed to look further beyond its regional neighbors to establish strong, stable food supply lines. Special consideration should be given to emerging growth markets in addition to established markets.

"Indeed, its established source markets are all in high demand from multiple partners," says Donov, "so there is a strong argument for breaking new ground with countries such as Kazakhstan - a market admittedly close to us at Kusto Group - but which is already the world's six-largest exporters of wheat, as well as a significant producer of barley, cotton, sugar, flax, rice and beef."

Kusto-led investments and the work of KazBeef, the company's beef-producing subsidiary, in the country's fast-growing protein industry have demonstrated that there is great potential for Kazakhstan produce to feed hungry Asian markets with top quality meat products.

Kusto Group's vision for Kazakhstan

The Covid-19 pandemic shows that these efforts are more important than ever. Kazakhstan has a valuable role to play in guaranteeing the world's food security.

Kazakhstan has a wealth of agricultural potential that remains largely untapped. The evolution from Soviet pastoral agriculture to a modernized system is currently underway with companies like Kusto Group leading several private-public initiatives to bolster growth in the sector.

According to Donov, in order for Kazakhstan and other similar emerging Central Asian markets to fully unlock their ability to export to countries such as Singapore requires international expertise, investment in technology, and integration into complex international supply chains - as well as an intimate understanding of the local trading environment and risks on the ground.

"In responding to the current crisis, private sector companies including us at Kusto are working hard to further develop Kazakhstan's export capacity," says Donov.

By integrating countries like Kazakhstan into their future food security strategy, Singapore could offer these emerging markets the trading infrastructure and networks essential to their ability to thrive as an agricultural exporter.

COVID-19 has exposed vulnerabilities in the world's food supply chains and how quickly they can come under threat as a result of external shocks. When looking beyond enduring the current storm, Singapore and other countries with similar import conditions, need to consider spreading their risks to better position themselves.

Seeking out new partnerships will help Singapore ensure its food security remains resilient in the long-term. Increasing cooperation with emerging economies such as Kazakhstan is a win-win scenario for both parties. Forging these ties will help both countries to emerge from a time of tragic loss on a global scale much stronger and better prepared to face the challenges of the future.
The sensational wanderlust Bruno the bear that has garnered followers online was tranquilized in Missouri and relocated to a safer location for animal and the publics security reason. (Photo : Pixabay)

The sensational wanderlust Bruno the bear that has garnered followers online, was tranquilized in Missouri and relocated to a safer location for animals and the public's security reason.

On June 10, the bear left Wisconsin then got into Illinois. He spent some brief time in Iowa, then headed back to Illinois and spent the month there wandering.

The black bear has garnered fans online as he trekked through west-central Illinois in June, and swan across Mississippi River and passed through Missouri last week.

He gathered fans along the way, occasionally checking on Bruno. The bear was focused on his travel, however, in what appears to be a quest for his mate. Wildlife experts believe that Bruno is headed for Missouri, where a population of black bears is located.

When Bruno arrived in Illinois, traffic was blocked off on interstates to allow Bruno's safe passage. A Facebook page, Keeping Bruno Safe has been documenting the bear's journey.

In Illinois Henderson County last month, more than 300 people gathered to watch, follow, and in some instances, heckle, posing concerns from wildlife officials.

Capt. Laura Petreikis of the Illinois Conservation Police said that they wanted to ensure the safety of both the bear and the people. Still, if they continue to see harassment situations like what they saw over that weekend, they might issue tickets and make arrests to ensure the safety of everyone, including the bear.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has been coordinating with various agencies to help Bruno cross busy roads, and at the same time, ensure the safety of the people.

Over the weekend, however, Bruno "cornered himself just north of I-70 and near I-40/61," the Missouri conservation agents said as they tracked the bear.

The bear was trekking near the roadway, and the roads were so busy that the bear had difficulty leaving the area by himself that he got stuck where he was.

"In the interest of public safety and the bear's safety, MDC staff decided to immobilize the bear and transport it to a nearby area of suitable bear habitat outside this urban corridor."

MDC staff had to sedate the bear but assured the public that Bruno was handled by those who are trained in wildlife handling, while State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Sherri Russel tracked the bear's condition.

The department assured the public that they only immobilize dispersing bears as a last resort. The staff on the scene decided that it was necessary to do so, given the bear's location and safety considerations.

Experts believe that black bears are headed to Missouri, where black bears are abundant. Missouri now houses 840 as of 2019 report, and most of them are in Ozarks south of Highway 60.

Hunting in 1800 has diminished Missouri's bear population tremendously, almost wiping the population out. The successful reintroduction efforts in neighboring states have contributed significantly to the dramatic increase of the bear population in Missouri. The black bears of Arkansas, which are estimated to be more than 3,000, moved to Missouri. The Missouri Department of Conservation is planning to open a limited bear-hunting season to control the black bear population but has not yet announced when this will start.
An image of a bike route in Houston, Texas. In this COVID-19 pandemic, people living in cities found that their usual transportation has been drastically reduced or disappeared, thus, an increasing number became cyclists. (Photo : Pixabay)

In this COVID-19 pandemic, people living in cities found that their usual transportation has been drastically reduced or disappeared; thus, an increasing number became cyclists.

US bike users rose by 28%, according to EcoCounter. Last May, a survey by PeopleForBikes Foundation found 55.8% changed primary transportation or stopped commuting, and almost 50% used bikes. Meanwhile, 40.5% will walk or bike more even after the pandemic. Velocipede sales increased massively in May.

Experts on transportation agree that cities are still not adequately equipped to deal with the sudden surge of massive numbers of bikers in the streets.

PeopleForBikes ranks cities in the US according to how friendly they are to bikers. The ranking considers criteria such as safety, total ridership; road-trail network strength; capacity of municipalities to effect change quickly; and capacity of systems to reach various communities. San Louis Obispo in California, which tops the list, only had a score of 3.5 out of 5 for biker-friendliness.

PeopleForBikes local innovation head Kyle Wagenschutz says that to improve a city's score, it must invest in more extensive and better networks, such as greenways, shared streets, secure parking, and protected lanes.

If the infrastructure is improved, "bike-ability" metrics will significantly increase, particularly in terms of safety, reach, and ridership. Wagenschutz says that most cities in the US have a low score for a network, and will continue to have low scores for the other criteria if there will not be an investment in infrastructure.

According to Transportation Alternatives executive director Danny Harris, in towns with notable infrastructure for biking, particularly Copenhagen, Denmark, and Bogota, Columbia, biking is a whole way of thinking and mindset. The residents, particularly the vulnerable sectors, are prioritized.

In contrast, despite the significant increase in infrastructure, the US Department of Transportation's 2018 data shows it is the year with the most fatalities for bikers and pedestrians.

The pandemic forced cities to implement programs for cleared roadways for pedestrians and bikers quickly. An Oakland Slow Streets program involved clearing 74 miles of city roads, while New York has a program that shut down roads for around 30 miles.

According to critics, these measures are temporary, which involves no careful planning or community engagement necessary in effecting a long term and large scale solution. There is a need for a broader network that enables bikers to get to areas with even the heaviest traffic, such as business districts.

According to an urban planner and Thrivance Group founder and CEO Destiny Thomas, repurposing spaces points to our laziness in identifying the sectors targeted for the restoration of these places. He says Georgia and Atlanta prioritized equity in network planning. They also asked residents to vote on and propose how transportation funds are spent.

Wagenschutz shares plan by Austin in Texas to reserve two of South Congress Avenue's lanes for bikers. Broad and aggressive conversion of streets has been seen in London and Paris, as well.

Simple and short-term tweaks involve installing tall poles that divide vehicles from bikes and placing modular barriers. In the long term, planners believe diligence and thought are needed when investing in infrastructure. Solving storage, space, and safety issues are paramount to encourage more bicycle riders.

As for carbon emissions, it has been estimated that if by the year 2050 e-bikes and bicycles compose 14% of all traveling in the world's cities, an overall reduction of carbon emissions of 11% will be seen.

There are 271 grams, and 101 grams of CO2 are released when operating a car and bus, respectively, while only 16 grams are released from bicycle riding. Meanwhile, producing one car releases 313 grams of carbon, while only 16 grams are released in producing one bicycle.

In addition, pedestrians and cyclists have been found to have the lowest amount of inhaled pollution compared to drivers. So aside from having fewer emissions in using a bike and in walking, these people actually are freer from pollution than car drivers.
Opponents of the Dakota Access oil pipeline march out of their main camp near Cannon Ball (Reuters Connect) (Photo : Reuters Connect )

A judge suspended production from the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline oil link over concerns of its environmental impact, which is a major victory for Native American Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, who fought against the operation of the pipeline.

Current ruling demands that the pipeline must be emptied in 30 days, after which a new environmental review will be done.

On a separate matter, the US Supreme Court also halted another pipeline from continued construction. The Keystone XL Pipeline was stopped by judges in alignment with the petition of environmental groups. This pipeline, once finished, will encompass the length from Alberta, Canada to Texas, USA. Judges said a comprehensive review must be conducted before the construction can be continued.

The two projects were supported by President Donald Trump in his 2016 presidential campaign and were notably blocked by Barack Obama, his predecessor.

The Dakota Access Pipeline is a 3.7 billion-dollar pipeline with a length of 1,900 kilometers or 1,200 miles, which was finished in 2017. It can transport around 570,000 crude oil barrels per day traversing four states, starting in North Dakota to an Illinois terminal, from where the oil may be transported to oil refineries.

Energy Transfer owns the pipeline, and the pipeline's supporters say that the project is more efficient and cost-effective, compared to shipping the barrels via train.

According to members of Standing Rock Sioux, as well as others opposed to the project, it will contaminate the drinking water and will damage their sacred burial areas. The pipeline passes north of Standing Rock Sioux's reservation.

According to the ruling by James Boasberg, District Court federal judge, District of Columbia, the pipeline's construction did not meet environmental standards. Thus, it has to have another in-depth environmental review that is more thorough than the one made by the Corps of Engineers of the US Army, before continued work is allowed. According to the Financial Times, this will take 13 months.

The ruling said that it was forced to close down Dakota Access due to several reasons: the severe error of the National Environmental Policy Act of the Corps; the need for more than a simple rectification; the potential damage caused by operating the pipeline; and the continued operation despite the awareness by Dakota Access of the economic risk.

The court said that inadequate consideration was made regarding the impact of oil spills on hunting and fishing rights as well as environmental justice.

Transfer Energy is now forced to comply with an expensive shutdown for more than a year, during which a comprehensive environmental impact assessment will be made.

The court's decision came only days after a similar project was also canceled, namely the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which will run between North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. Its developers concluded that ongoing litigation and legal delays caused it to be uneconomical. Both projects are the so-called new frontline in the USA between economics and the environment.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Mike Faith said the pipeline should never have been built, saying that the tribe was already opposing it since the beginning. Meanwhile, Energy Transfer spokeswoman Lisa Coleman said the ruling was not supported by law. She added that the pipeline has been operating safely for over three years.
The Ministry of Water Resources elevated its emergency response for flood control from Level Four to Level 3 on July 4, Monday as what is now dubbed as the heaviest rains in decades continues. Level One is considered the highest level of response. (Photo : Reuters Connect )

The Ministry of Water Resources elevated its emergency response for flood control from Level Four to Level 3 on July 4, Monday as what is now dubbed as the heaviest rains in decades continues. Level One is considered the highest level of response.

An estimated 20 million people are now affected by the heavy rains and severe flooding, and direct economic losses now amount to at least 4.7bn.

The torrential rains, which have been going on for more than 31 consecutive days, have caused severe flooding and mudslide in every province claiming at least 121 lives and the evacuation of more than 875,000 people, the China's ministry of emergency management said.

Several areas of Hubei, where the capital city of Wuhan is located is heavily flooded. Helen Hai, a resident of Changyang county in Wuhan, Hubei said that because of the heavy and fast downpour, using windshield wipers is futile. Adding to her difficulty is driving past landslides and rocks falling from the mountainside.

Meanwhile, in Tongren, Guizhou province, a giant waterfall formed in the city center.

More than 100,000 peoples were evacuated in Chongqing, in Sichuan province as heavy floods ravaged homes

In the meantime, experts have consistently raised concerns on the integrity of the Three Gorges Dam to withstand this extreme weather event.

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze Rivers, including the Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake are flooded while 16 rives in Jianxi and Anhui are on above-warning-level floods. Operations to reduce the amount of water in Three Gorges Dam and the Yangtze were undertaken. The said operations are also meant to relieve flood control pressure in the middle and upper reaches of the river.

On July 2, three flood discharging outlets were opened to alleviate the effect on the lower reach of the Yangtze River. The outflow of Three Gorges Dam has been limited to 35,000 cubic meters per second, minimizing the peak discharge of the Yangtze River at 30 percent.

Meanwhile, netizens are curious that despite the devastating damage of the heavy rains and flooding, the recent extreme weather event in the country is given very little attention.

According to Chinese hydrologist Wang Weiluo, the danger of the dams in rivers across southern and southwestern China where flooding is worst is being concealed by the Chinese officials. He said officials never disclose how a disaster is made and how it happens.

"Most people think floods are caused by extreme weather but it is mainly caused by the discharge of reservoirs and the result of flood control works," he said.

Hai said that the government downplaying the crisis does not come as a surprise for her. She said it has happened before, not just with this flooding crisis. She admits it is hard to judge the government data but she has come to expect that the real situation is much worst.

The Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, issued his first public statement on the crisis on June 29, several weeks after the heavy rains started. He called on the public to" put people first and value people's lives most in the fight against the floods."
We are aware of the lockdown restrictions and appreciate we have a balancing act to play, but we also realise that we cannot be afraid of Covid that has only killed nine people so far, compared to millions whose lives have been destroyed by corruption.
Egypt's transport minister Kamel El-Wazir discussed during a meeting with transport officials on Wednesday means to implement a smart system for roads nationwide, a statement by the transport ministry said.

The move is part of a government plan aimed at improving road safety in the country.

The project's first phase includes six highways: the Cairo-Suez road, Cairo-Ismailia-Port Said road, the Regional Ring Road, Katameya-Ain Sokhna road, Shubra-Benha freeway and Cairo-Alexandria desert road, the ministry said.

The number of roads where the new system will be applied will rise to 20 in the project's second phase.

During Wednesday's meeting, transport officials, including head of the National Road Company Magdy Anwar, discussed the project's financing plan and the suitable timeframe for its implementation, the statement added without providing further details.

"All roads joining the smart system will be monitored by a network of cameras that monitors traffic 24/7... and registers any violations," the minister said.

The new system will help regulate drivers' behaviour, improve road safety, reduce traffic accidents and tighten control on roads, the minister added.

Last month, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged officials to adopt modern technology to monitor roads, including the use of monitoring cameras to curb violations, ensure smooth traffic and improve road safety.

He said a new system for recording driving violations will be adopted, whereby short messages will be instantly sent to drivers on their mobile phones to notify them about their violations.

Egypt has allocated billions of pounds to developing and expanding road networks in recent years after a national project for road development was launched by El-Sisi in 2014, with the goal of building and upgrading 7,000km of highways costing EGP 175 billion ($10.9 billion). Almost 4,500km are now complete, according to figures provided by the transport ministry.

Deadly road crashes take place near daily in Egypt, but efforts to upgrade roads have been ongoing in recent years.

The number of road accidents fell by around 30 percent in 2019 to 9,992, down from 14,403, according to data from the country's official statistics agency CAPMAS.

In 2019, Egypt was ranked 28th in terms of the quality of road infrastructure in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitive Report, up from the 118th place in 2014. The government had attributed the improved ranking to mega road projects implemented in the country in recent years.

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BULAWAYO is now leading in terms of Covid-19 deaths after a 54-year-old Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) manager succumbed to the virus at a private hospital on Sunday, forcing the closure of its Mhlahlandlela Government Complex offices yesterday.





The city has so far recorded four deaths followed by Harare where three people have died of Covid-19.





Mashonaland East and Midlands provinces recorded one death each bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths in Zimbabwe to nine.





Following the death of the Zimra manager Mr Thabani Sibanda on Sunday, the Mhlahlandlela offices have been closed for disinfection and will reopen on Monday.





When Chronicle visited the offices yesterday, the main entrance at the reception area was under lock and key and on the notice board there was a notice notifying clients of the temporary closure.





The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) hereby wishes to advise its valued clients that the offices will be closed from July 7, 2020 to July 11, 2020. Staff will be working from home and during this period there will be limited services, read part of the notice.





In an internal circular, Zimra Commissioner-General Ms Faith Mazani said the Ministry of Health and Child Care has started testing their staff at Mhlahlandlela Building for Covid-19. She said all the tested staff members will be required to go on a mandatory quarantine for 14 days.





We encourage all staff members to remain vigilant and consistent in practising safety and health measures as prescribed by the WHO guidelines and as advised through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, she wrote.

Zimra spokesperson Mr Francis Chimanda declined to comment on the cause of Mr Sibandas death.





Zimra cannot provide comment on an individuals health issues. All I can say is that we have temporarily closed offices at Mhlahlandlela Complex in Bulawayo from Tuesday, 7 July 2020 and will reopen on Monday, 13 July 2020 to allow full disinfection of the premises, he said.





A family spokesperson said Mr Sibanda was buried yesterday, but could not give further details.





Sources at Zimra and health officials who declined to be named said Mr Sibanda had succumbed to Covid-19.





In its update on Covid-19, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said: As at 06 July 2020, Zimbabwe had 734 confirmed cases, including 197 recoveries and nine deaths. We regret to report the death of a male aged 54 from Bulawayo province who tested positive on Sunday and had no travel history.





Bulawayo provincial medical director Dr Welcome Mlilo said Bulawayo now has four Covid-19 deaths.





I can confirm that we have recorded a fourth Covid-19 death in Bulawayo metropolitan province after a 54-year-old man with comorbidity succumbed at a health facility over the weekend, he said.





The Covid-19 prevention measures remain unchanged. We continue to encourage good hygiene especially hand washing as well as observing social distancing and wearing of face masks in public space.





In May, Zimra closed its city centre offices in Bulawayo after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19.





The employee was one of three employees who served an infected client at the Zimras Bulawayo port offices on March 18.





Having received the information that the client had tested positive for Covid-19, the three officers then proceeded to self- quarantine from March 27 to April 26.




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.
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Japanese officials warned of more heavy rain on the southwestern island of Kyushu and bolstered search and rescue operations, as the death toll in flood-hit areas reached at least 50 with about a dozen people reported missing.

The government said it would double rescue and relief personnel as heavy rain destroyed homes and caused landslides in what is shaping up to be Japan's worst natural disaster since Typhoon Hagibis killed 90 people in October.

Police, Self Defense Force and Coast Guard units were deployed and are conducting search and rescue effort.
The federal government has reversed its earlier decision to reopen schools, withdrawing students of Unity Schools from the West African ...

The federal government has reversed its earlier decision to reopen schools, withdrawing students of Unity Schools from the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) scheduled for August 5 and September 5.





The examination was initially postponed indefinitely to check the spread of COVID-19.





But Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, minister of state for education, had announced on Monday that the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has fixed the commencement of the examination for August 5.





But speaking with state house correspondents at the end of the virtual federal executive council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, Adamu Adamu, minister of education, said schools under the control of the federal government will not participate in the examination.





He also appealed to state governments who have agreed to reopen schools to reconsider the action due to the COVID-19 situation.





I appeal to state governments that have announced schools resumption to reconsider it. I think its not safe. Lets protect our children, he said.





Adamu also appealed to WAEC to reschedule the examination because of the pandemic.





Nigeria had a total of 29,879 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday evening.




He resigned his membership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and has indicated interest to run against Akeredolu in October.
U.S President Donald Trump has reacted to the presidential bid of American rapper cum entrepreneur, Kanye West. Trump told reporters...

U.S President Donald Trump has reacted to the presidential bid of American rapper cum entrepreneur, Kanye West.





very interesting. Trump told reporters during his interview with RealClearPolitics at the White House, that Wests presidential bid isvery interesting.





When quizzed on Wests claim to run against him in the 2020 presidential election, Trump told reporters He may.





He, however, stated that the declaration came a little late as it would be difficult for him to secure ballot in many states.

If he did it, he would have to view this as a trial run for whats going to happen in four years.





Kanye West announced his presidential bid on Saturday, July 4 via Twitter.





The rapper wrote: We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States! #2020VISION.





His announcement was endorsed by Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk who tweeted at him: You have my full support!
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Wednesday cooperation between Russia and African countries during an online meeting between a number of African foreign ministers and their Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

The meeting, which involved the African Unions troika countries, tackled the outcomes of the first Africa-Russia summit held in the Russian city of Sochi in October 2019, which the minister said serves as the cornerstone of cooperation between the two sides.

The AU's troika comprises the outgoing, current, and incoming AU chairs: Egypt, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Shoukry, who represented Egypt in the talks, called for laying out a detailed plan for cooperation between the AU and Russia, including the major programs and projects that would serve priorities in the African continent under Agenda 2063 for African development.

He also underlined the importance of taking into account the adverse economic and social impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Egyptian minister expressed Egypt's full support of African-Russian cooperation and called for working on the preparation of the second African-Russian summit slated for 2022, the ministry added.

During the meeting, Lavrov said that the next Africa-Russia summit will be held in Africa, according to Egypt's state news agency MENA.

He noted that the meeting on Wednesday touched upon security issues in the energy field, saying, "We discussed the energy needs in African countries, which are rapidly growing in tandem with the development rate on the continent."

The meeting also discussed the possibility of strengthening the energy security situation in Africa via cooperation with Russia in the fields of hydrocarbons and nuclear energy.

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Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says in 2017, he gave several warnings that Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Econ...

Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says in 2017, he gave several warnings that Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was looting the countrys treasury.





Magu was arrested and detained by security operatives in Abuja on Monday.





He is being interrogated by a panel President Muhamadu Buhari set up to probe the anti-graft agency.





The panel began sitting three weeks ago, but was only able to compel Magu to appear before it on Monday.





Magus travails followed a memo by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), in which the suspended anti-graft czar was accused of grave malfeasance.





He was alleged to have mishandled the recovered loot and was selling seized assets to associates.





In a statement on Tuesday, Ozekhome said he wrote Yemi Osinbajo, the then acting president, to complain about Magu whom he alleged was not being sincere with the handling of recovered loot.





I challenged him and his impunity severally in courts across Nigeria. I won virtually all the cases. I called for a change of the way and manner the anti- corruption war was being selectively and opaqualey fought, he said.





I wrote a public letter in 2017, to the then acting president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) at a time his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, was sick on a London hospital bed. I complained bitterly, with facts, figures and data, that recovered looted funds and property, were being re-looted by the Magu-led team, who were supposed to keep the gate of our commonwealth.





They looted our treasury in collaboration with their cronies, friends and acolytes. Magu was the new sheriff in town. I got no reply to my letter to Osinbajo. I wrote a reminder. No dice. I later challenged Magu publicly, face-to-face, on at least three occasions, one of which was at a ceremony at the federal high court in Abuja. Another was at a capacity-building workshop organised by the EFCC at its training academy in Karu, Abuja, which he graciously personally invited me to.





He refused to change his ugly ways. It was clear to me and discerning Nigerians that power had gotten into his bald head. Power is an aphrodisiac, an intoxicating liquor. It bemuses. It gives delusional Dutch courage. It forces reason to vacate its seat.





The senior lawyer said for five years, Magu continued to work as acting chairman of the EFCC, as against the provisions of section 2(3) of the EFCC act, 2004 which provides that the senate must confirm him before he could continue in his office.





Ozekhome said Magu recruited expert constitutional lawyers  who argued that he could continue to stay in office.





He also accused Magu of subjecting those accused to media trial and humiliation.





He described Magus arrest as a tragic reminder of the urgent need for temporary power wielders to act with moderation, modesty, circumspection and humility.




The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has charged the federal government to prosecute suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial...

The party said Magus indictment reinforces its position that the much-hyped war against corruption by the EFCC, under his watch, has been a huge scam by corrupt individuals to cover the plundering of public resources, harass political opponents, intimidate and extort money from innocent Nigerians.In a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, its spokesman, the PDP alleged that the revelations of diversion of recovered funds and fraudulent sale of assets seized by the EFCC among other sleazes, as detailed in the memo by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, as well as the report of the Department of State Services, DSS, on Magus activities, have further exposed the racket that the fight against corruption had become under the All Progressives Congress, APC, government.It added that the development has also exposed why corruption has worsened under the Buhari administration, as documented by the credible international organization, including Transparency International, TI.It is a big embarrassment to our nation, that the head of the anti-corruption agency in an administration led by the African Union, AU, anti-corruption champion and which prides itself on zero tolerance for corruption, is being dragged in allegation of looting recovered fund and other barefaced frauds.Now that the racket has been exposed, the onus lies on President Muhammadu Buhari to clean his Augean stable by not sweeping the matter under the carpet or seeking to provide a soft landing for the indicted EFCC boss and shield him from prosecution.What Nigerians expect at this moment is for President Buhari to enforce the law by directing relevant agencies to commence actions that would lead to Magus prosecution in the court.Anything short of this will not be acceptable to Nigerians.
Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been sent back to area 10 force crim...

Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been sent back to area 10 force criminal investigation department (FCID) of the police in Abuja where he spent the night on Monday.





A source disclosed this, saying he was moved to detention at the end of questioning by the panel on Tuesday.





He was arrested on Monday and whisked to the presidential villa in Abuja where the panel set up to probe the commission has been sitting.





Abuja. Some of the aides of the anti-graft czar had earlier moved his personal belongings out of his official residence in the Maitama area of the nations capital while security operatives raided his residence at Karu, still inAbuja.





A family source said the security operatives who carried out the operation found nothing incriminating in the house.





They were said to have left with some documents.





Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Magu over some weighty allegations.





The AGF had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Magu over some weighty allegations, including the diversion of recovered loot.





In addition to allegedly re-looting the recovered loot, Malami accused the acting EFCC chairman of insubordination and misconduct.





An EFCC source said Magu went to the panel with documents to prove that Malamis allegations were false but surprisingly he has not been asked any question on that.





He went to the panel with many documents. He has a lot of files on him to respond to the allegations. Surprisingly, the panel has not asked him any question on the issues raised against him, the source said.




Mohammed Umar, director of operations at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been named acting chairman of the agen...

Mohammed Umar, director of operations at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been named acting chairman of the agency.





According to NAN, a top official of the commission confirmed that Umar has taken charge of the agency in the absence of Ibrahim Magu.





Magu was arrested on Monday and whisked to the presidential villa in Abuja where he was grilled by a panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the EFCC.





The panel is led by Ayo Salami, retired president of the appeal court.

Umars emergence confirms the suspension of Magu as earlier reported.





Suspensions are usually imposed on chief executives under probe to avoid interference with investigations.





Magus travails followed a memo by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), in which the suspended anti-graft czar was accused of grave malfeasance.





He was alleged to have mishandled the recovered loot and selling seized assets to associates.





He was also alleged to have refused to subject himself to the supervision of the office of the attorney-general.





Security operatives searched the residence of Magu in Karu, federal capital territory (FCT) late Tuesday while his personal belongings were moved out of his official residence in the Maitama area of the nations capital.





A family source said the security operatives who carried out the operation found nothing incriminating in the house but they left with some documents.





has spent the nights at area 10 force criminal investigation department (FCID) of the police in Abuja. Since his arrest, Maguhas spent the nights at area 10 force criminal investigation department (FCID) of the police in Abuja.




Following the notice of impeachment signed by 14 members of the Ondo State of House Assembly on Tuesday against the embattled Deputy G...





Following the notice of impeachment signed by 14 members of the Ondo State of House Assembly on Tuesday against the embattled Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, he has said that he was yet to be served with the impeachment notice.





According to Ajayi, who spoke in Akure, the Ondo State capital, he is unruffled with the political situation surrounding his office as well as the current development in the state.





Agboola noted that with what he had so far read on social media and heard from the news so far today that nine lawmakers had dissociated themselves from what he described as kangaroo impeachment process, the move is dead on arrival.





He maintained that he had already approached the court for necessary action.





Earlier, the 14 out of 26 lawmakers had signed impeachment notice against the deputy governor with nine of the states legislators distancing themselves from the move.





During the plenary, Ajayi was alleged of gross misconduct, financial recklessness, abandonment of office among other allegations.
The Ogun state police has arrested Oluwafemi Oyebola, a pastor of Christ Apostolic Church, Ogo-Oluwa parish, for allegedly raping and im...

The Ogun state police has arrested Oluwafemi Oyebola, a pastor of Christ Apostolic Church, Ogo-Oluwa parish, for allegedly raping and impregnating his daughter.





The 44-year-old pastor was also said to have had abortions done on his daughter three times.





Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state police public relations officer, said the suspect was arrested after his daughter lodged a complaint against him at Owode-Egbado divisional police headquarters.





He said the victim alleged that her father had been raping her since 2015 when she turned 19  shortly after the demise of her mother.





The victim further reported that she got pregnant for her father three times after which her father took her to a nurse where those pregnancies were aborted, Oyeyemi said.





After the third abortion, the suspect did family planning for her so she would not get pregnant again.





Oyeyemi said the victim later ran away from home and narrated her ordeal to Advocacy for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network, a non-governmental organisation, who brought her to the station to report her father.





Consequent upon which she was taken to the Owode-Egbado Police Station to complain, he said.





After the report, the DPO Owode-Egbado division, SP Olabisi Elebute, led her detectives to the pastors house where he was promptly arrested.





During interrogation, the suspect made confessional statements that all his daughter said was nothing but the whole truth.





The police spokesperson said Kenneth Ebrimson, the state commissioner of police, ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for further investigation and prosecution.
Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of service of the federation (HoS), says the current consolidated salary structure (CONLESS) of civil servant...





Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of service of the federation (HoS), says the current consolidated salary structure (CONLESS) of civil servants at the national assembly is illegal.





Yemi-Esan said this at a meeting with Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives.





The head of service asked the leadership of the national assembly to revert the CONLESS to the way it was.





Overtime, civil servants at the national assembly have protested poor remuneration and non-payment of allowances.





This led to some adjustments by the eighth national assembly overseen by Bukola Saraki, former senate president.





She told the senate president and the speaker that the way the leadership of the eighth assembly arrived at the current salary structure was faulty.





The head of service said the civil servants at the national assembly are not different from the core civil service to warrant a consolidated salary structure.





She said due process must be followed in effecting any change to the salary structure of the civil servants in the legislative arm of government.
Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has fired Sunny Okere, permanent secretary, establishment, for flouting COVID-19 guidelines. ...

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has fired Sunny Okere, permanent secretary, establishment, for flouting COVID-19 guidelines.





The governor announced this in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, saying the sack of the permanent secretary would serve as a lesson to others.





Okere was accused of chasing enforcement officers away at a burial where more than the regulated number of persons were in attendance.





Burial ceremonies are also reportedly being conducted in clear breach of the 50 persons maximum attendance limit, such that a serving permanent secretary had the temerity to chase away officials of the state ministry of health who went to enforce the established guidelines on public burials at Oyigbo, the governor said.

As a Government, we are serious with our own responsibilities and those who take our resolve for granted and think that they can undermine our efforts at will without suffering consequences are gravely mistaken.





Consequently, the permanent secretary, establishment, Mr. Sunny Okere has been relieved of his appointment with immediate effect for flouting and obstructing the enforcement of the guidelines on public burials. This should serve as a lesson to all other public officers who may wish to be irresponsible.





Appealing to residents of the state, the governor said his government will not relent in its commitment to save lives. He urged the residents to abide by the measures and protocols put in place to fight the spread of the virus in the state.





The governor also announced that bars, cinemas, viewing centres and related business remain closed until further notice.





We are closely monitoring compliance with the wearing of face masks in public places, including transport vehicles, and urge residents to strictly comply or risk arrest and prosecution, he said.





All supermarkets and related stores and businesses must continue to enforce social distancing and the compulsory wearing of face masks or risk being sealed off.





A state joint task force made up of security and civilian personnel has been set up to enforce the wearing of face masks in the state.





We are appraising the prospect of opening our markets to public trading and would do so once we are satisfied that it is safe and proper with appropriate guidelines to enforce social distancing, hand washing, basic hygiene practices, and the wearing of face masks.





We are taking necessary measures to decontaminate our public schools, protect our children and ensure the safe resumption of schools for terminal classes in line with the federal governments guidelines on a date to be announced by the commissioner of education.




A media aide to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Salihu Tanko Yakasai has mocked Dino Melaye, former Kogi West Senator. Yak...

A media aide to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Salihu Tanko Yakasai has mocked Dino Melaye, former Kogi West Senator.





Yakasai said the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has relegated Melaye from a Senator to a cheap clown.





He noted that governor Bello has relegated the former Senator into making videos from his home.





In a tweet, Yakasai wrote: Governor Yahaya Bello did Dino dirty aswear. He has relegated that guy from a Senator to a cheap clown making stupid videos in his parlour. SMH.





Melaye is known for making short videos mocking those in the opposition parties and government.





The latest was a short video mocking the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.




As the state reported the highest single-day increase of positive COVID-19 patients in the state on Saturday, local health care officials spoke just 24 hours earlier of the worrisome number of COVID-19 patients in their care and urged the public to take proper precautions when in public areas.

We are seeing a trend in our hospitals that has me very concerned, said President and CEO of Lee Health, Dr. Larry Antonucci, Friday afternoon. Between our hospitals and skilled nursing units we are treating 327 COVID-19 patients. Just a month ago we were treating around 100 COVID patients each day. In one month we went from 100 to over 300, triple the number of hospitalizations.

I am here to tell you today that we are at risk of hitting critical mass, and if, as a community, we do not take action we will run out of room in our hospitals. And that could happen as soon as the end of this month.

Antonucci said actions taken by residents in the early stages of the pandemic were successful in mitigating the virus, but that since the state reopened many residents are taking a relaxed stance on the virus and disregarding guidelines. Cases are rising and hospitals in the area are in danger of not meeting the needs of the community.

We know how to stop this spread, we have done it before, and I am asking for our community to help us do it again, Antonucci said. At our current rate, Lee Health hospitals will be completely full by the end of the month. We must act now to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Three months ago, everyone joined in a shared goal of flattening the curve, which was temporarily accomplished. We stayed at home, we practiced hand hygiene and we began wearing masks. The curve is no longer flat. Instead we have a spike in cases and the spike is growing fast.

Antonucci said the time for action is now  that wearing a mask is scientifically proven to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Now is the time to take action. No one person, law or mandate can stop the spread of the virus, he said. The actions of each and every one of us can ensure the safety of our families, our neighbors and strangers alike. Limit leaving your home unless necessary, and when you do leave, wear a mask, keep a safe physical distance from others and make sure you wash your hands or use sanitizing gel.

Wearing a mask and distancing can be inconvenient and at times uncomfortable, but the science is clear, these actions help save lives by slowing the spread of the virus.

Antonucci said while currently they have the means to meet the needs of the community, things could change drastically if residents are not vigilant in their efforts to protect themselves and others.

I can tell you today that we still have the necessary capacity to meet every need of our community, but I cant promise that will still be true a month from now if we dont take action now, he said Every one single person in Southwest Florida has the ability to help reverse this surge and ensure every patient needing health care has access to it.

I love Southwest Florida, and I believe in Southwest Florida. We will get through this together and we will grow stronger as a community together, but it is not possible without our entire region buying-in for the benefit of the friends and neighbors.

I wish everyone a happy Fourth of July, and ask you to please take action this holiday weekend and beyond to protect yourselves and your neighbors from this devastating virus so that Lee Health may continue to provide our community with the same exceptional care they have become accustomed to over the last 100 years.

By the Numbers

As of 11 a.m. Monday, there are 206,447 cases of the new coronavirus confirmed in Florida, an increase of 6,336 since FDOHs last update Sunday morning.

Over the weekend, more than 21,000 positive cases were reported by the state, including Saturdays caseload that saw the state report the highest single-day increase in positive cases with 11,458.

More than 44,600 test results were reported to the Department of Health on Sunday, July 5. Of those reported tests, 14.97 percent tested positive. This is the fewest number of tests processed by the state since June 29.

Since June 25, positivity rates have steadily remained between 12 and 15 percent despite the amount of tests reported.

On July 3, 85,080 tests were processed by the state  the highest since the beginning of the pandemic. On that day, 14.11 percent of those tested received positive results.

The death toll increased by 47 from 11 a.m. Sunday to 11 a.m. Monday, reported among Broward, Dade, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and St. Lucie counties.

A total of 2,235,937 individuals have been tested: 2,027,493 have tested negative, 1,997 tests were inconclusive and 1,516 tests are pending results. Of those testing positive, 16,045 have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. There have been 3,880 deaths.

The age groups of Florida residents that have yielded the most positive test results are 25-34 years old (21%), followed by 35-44(16%), 15-24(16%) and 45-54 (15%).

The highest hospitalization rate is found in patients 65-74 (19%), 75-84 (17%) and 55-64 (17%) years old.

In Lee County, 7,498 (+287) individuals have tested positive as of 11 a.m. Monday; 3,310 in Fort Myers (+71), 1,549 in Cape Coral (+41), 1,546 in Lehigh Acres (+25), 486 in Bonita Springs (+11), 247 in North Fort Myers (+4), 164 in Estero (+5), 38 on Fort Myers Beach (+1), 30 in Alva (+2), 19 in Sanibel (+0), 12 in Bokeelia (+0), six on Matlacha (+0), six in Saint James City (+0), three on Captiva (+0), three in Tice (+0), two in Miromar Lakes (+0), two in Boca Grande (+0), two in San Carlos Park (+0) and one in Buckingham (+0).

Eighty-nine cases were not identified by community.

Positive COVID-19 cases in the county have ranged from infants to a 101-year-old. Lee County saw its first two cases on March 7, when a man and a woman, each 77, tested positive. They had traveled to the Dominican Republic.

There have been 167 deaths in Lee County; 119 deaths were reported in residents or staff of long-term care facilities.

As of Friday, Lee Health had 285 COVID-19 patients isolated in system inpatient hospitals. A total of 927 patients who had tested positive have been discharged, including 84 on Thursday. Lee Health had 258 patients isolated in hospitals on Thursday.

The system has submitted a total of 29,989 specimens for testing, with 1,110 results currently pending.

Lee Healths mobile collection sites on Thursday collected 499 specimens.

Bed capacity as of Friday is at 83 percent, with 22.2 percent of those being COVID-19 patients.

As of Friday, 70 percent of ventilators and 11 percent of ICU rooms are available for use across Lee Health facilities.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious viral disease. For most individuals, symptoms are mild. For a minority, the disease becomes a type of viral pneumonia with severe complications. Especially at risk are those who are older, those with underlying health conditions and the immune-compromised.

Officials strongly urge all members of the public who are at risk to remain at home so as to limit exposure. All others are urged to observe social distancing and to wear a mask for all public interactions.

For more detail on Florida resident cases, visit the live DOH Dashboard.

To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, visit the Department of Healths dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control, visit the CDC COVID-19 website. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, visit the travel advisory website.

For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, contact the Departments dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

-Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj
The Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement (EAUP), the country's drug supply body, intends to set up a number of new warehouses for storing medical supplies that would give Egypt the world's fifth largest storage capacity for medicines and vaccines, according to EAUP head Bahaa Zidan.

He added that the project, which supports the national strategy to bolster local pharmaceutical industry, aims to turn the country into a regional hub for supplying medicines and vaccines to those who need them.

Ziadan's remarks were made during a meeting with Prime Minister Mosatafa Madbouly on Wednesday, which was attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang, the vice president of the Chinese Family Planning Association (CFPA), and others.

The meeting came on the back of the donation of $100,000 worth of medical supplies the CFPA made to Egypt to help fight the coronavirus, a cabinet statement said.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Egypt has sent several shipments of supplies and medical aid to some of the worlds worst-stricken countries, including China, the UK and Italy.

"Egypt's support is appreciated by the Chinese leadership and people," the statement quoted Liqiang as saying during the meeting.

Zidan also discussed with the Chinese ambassador and Minister Counselor of Commercial Affairs at the Chinese embassy Hang Bing the latest developments in Chinas work to produce a vaccine and rapid detection kits, in addition to the possibility of Egypt's participation in the Chinese project given the Egyptian manufacturing and logistical capabilities.

The Egypain and Chinese parties have agreed to hold a meeting soon to activate cooperation plans in this respect, the statement added.

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Preliminary property tax valuations within North Fort Myerss two fire taxing districts are significantly higher than the early estimates of a month ago.

Preliminary property valuation in the North Fort Myers Fire District increased 5.61 percent, which is higher than the estimated 4.20 percent last month.

The total overall valuation is $3.08 billion, an increase from the $2.92 billion from last year.

Within the Bayshore Fire District, overall taxable valuation is up 7.14 percent, a big bump from the estimated 4.94 percent of last month.

Total taxable valuation is $461.7 million, an increase from the $430.9 million in 2019.

Bayshore Fire Chief Larry Nisbet said this years projected increase could mean another $72,000 for the district, good for one full-time firefighter. The new figures could send that number around six figures.

Throughout Lee County, total taxable valuation increased 6.96 percent from last year to $96.59 billion, an increase of $5.87 billion. The taxable valuation of new construction was up $1.91 billion.

An increase in overall property valuation can generate additional revenue to a taxing entity if the current property rate is maintained and no cuts are made to other tax revenue sources. Taxing bodies can opt to adjust the property tax rate to a rollback rate, which would leave revenue at its current level despite the increase in overall valuation.

Kenneth Wilkinson, Lee County Property Appraiser, said that preliminary valuations tend to be higher than the estimated ones, since the roll is still a work in progress. The only time the numbers tend to decrease is due to error, which has happened very rarely in his 40 years at the position.

If the past teaches us, values tend to go up. Where that might not be the circumstance is if theres an error, Wilkinson said. Kenneth Wilkinson, Lee County Property Appraiser, said that preliminary valuations tend to be higher than the estimated ones, since work is still being done. The only time they tend to decrease is because of error, which has happened very rarely in his 40 years at the position.

If the past teaches us, values tend to go up. Where that might not be the circumstance is if theres an error, Wilkinson said.

One year, he discovered a $50 million error and that made a difference in one of the fire districts. Another year in the 80s a $92 million error was corrected due to overvaluations.

The final figures of all taxing districts will now be sent to Tallahassee for final approval. Wilkinson has never had a transmittal rejected by the state.

TRIM notices are mailed to property owners in August. Property owners will then have 25 days to resolve any disagreement in value with the property appraiser.
NPA may sound like it could be an alien from another planet, or maybe a government agency, but it actually stands for No Party Affiliation, a term for those voters who choose not to register with a major political party. (Note: Florida has an Independent Party, so the term independent is not used here as it is in other states  although NPAs are actually, yes, independent.) In Lee County, voters registering as neither Republican nor Democrat number almost 140,000, second to the 198,000 registered as Republicans and ahead of 128,000 Democrats. Many NPAs choose not to register with a party either because they do not like what the political parties represent, or they vote based entirely on certain issues, or because they are not into politics; as a result, many sit out the primaries and vote in the general election for candidates selected by others.

Because Florida is a closed primary state, meaning you can vote only in a primary held by your party, many registered NPAs think they cannot vote at all in the upcoming Aug. 18 primary. In fact, if you are an NPA, there are two ways you can: You can vote in nonpartisan elections (if you reside in Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers), or temporarily change your registration to a party holding a partisan primary, (such as the countywide race for the Board of County Commissioners).

This election season, four of the eight seats on the Cape Coral City Council are up for a vote. With Jessica Cosden, the only incumbent, running for reelection, voters will have to carefully evaluate and compare the candidates for their experience and decision-making capability. Running the eighth largest city in Florida is a big job and takes vision, commitment and a passion to do right for its citizens, so getting good, qualified and experienced people in office is crucial.

That they can vote in the upcoming primary is certainly good news for NPA voters in Cape Coral and Women For a Better Lee encourages everyone to cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary, either by mail or in person  no matter their political leaning.

On the county level, however, its a different story and not very good news. NPAs cannot vote in critically important primaries to nominate candidates for the County Commission, the state legislature, or our Congressional seat in the U.S. Congress because these are partisan contests. Voting in these primaries is restricted to those who are registered in the Democrat or Republican Party by July 19, 2020, 29 days before the Aug. 18 primary.

Fortunately, you still have time to change your registration to vote in a partisan primary: with a couple of clicks on the website of the Supervisor of Elections (www.lee.vote; click on voter resources) or by calling the County Elections office (239-533-8683), you can change your registration to the party in whose primary you wish to vote. Then, following the primaries, you can switch your party affiliation back by taking the same easy steps and be an NPA again  and, of course, vote in the November election for candidates of your choice.

Is this not crazy? Confusing? Indeed, but it is what it is. Voting is the most important and solemn duty of a citizen and making it difficult or complicated flies in the face of the very premise of our Constitution. In Lee County, voting may take more time, require more action, and demand more commitment than elsewhere  but since our choices for political office have such an incredible impact on our daily lives, isnt the extra effort worth it?

 Charlotte Newton, Steering Committee, Women For a Better Lee
To the editor:

An open letter to President Trump

Without a vibrant middle class this republic will not survive. Votes by people who feel they have a stake in America help keep social, political and economic influence peddlers in check. Without flourishing middle class stakeholders the tilt of the playing field will become too steep and politically impossible to sustain. For decades the middle class in America has been exported, and the consequences have been uplifting abroad but stark at home. Most service jobs do not support an American middle-class lifestyle. Relegating what used to be the middle class to lower wage jobs, tossing off such one-liners as learn to code, then gut punching them with the brunt of the COVID-19 lock downs invites social disaster and its coming like a fast freight.

This time put $20K cash in the pocket of every tax-paying American. Its a start, and along with fairer trade agreements and regulatory relief will help tilt the balance more toward a rejuvenated and stabilizing middle class.

Hugh Myers

Cape Coral
With more than a third of countries in Africa doubling their cases over the past month, the threat of COVID-19 overwhelming fragile health systems on the continent is escalating, the WHOs Africa chief, Matshidiso Moeti said Wednesday, noting, So far the continent has avoided disaster.
We identified a higher than expected number of people with neurological conditions such as brain inflammation, which did not always correlate with the severity of respiratory symptoms, said study lead author Dr. Michael Zandi of University College Londons Queen Square Institute of Neurology and the NHS Foundation Trust, in a statement. We should be vigilant and look out for these complications in people who have had Covid-19. Whether we will see an epidemic on a large scale of brain damage linked to the pandemic  perhaps similar to the encephalitis lethargica outbreak in the 1920s and 1930s after the 1918 influenza pandemic  remains to be seen.
A link to Maples biography on the Ted Todd website had been removed by Tuesday. The writeup claimed that he was hired in 2016 and one of his responsibilities as a Senior Insurance Agent was to advise prospects on their everyday risk and how insurance can protect them.
But Rabin broke out the hazmat suit, which he got from a pal, according to Law.com. Miami-Dade County has required people to wear masks in public for the past two weeks, but does not require hazmat suits.
About half a year since the virus first emerged in China and began spreading into the world, the U.S. faces a grim reality that no other developed country in the world has seen. On Tuesday, for instance, the U.S. recorded an additional 60,021 confirmed infections, marking at least the third time in a week that the country set a new single-day record in new cases.
Even when our city was plagued by riots that grew from our calls for justice. When the riots caused many Bronx businesses to be raided and broken into, we were scared. Seeing stores boarded up here is frightening. On the block where I live there were a couple of boarded-up buildings due to the fear of the aggressive rioting. Later we saw communities come together to clean up. These aggressive acts were born of fear and rage for our loved ones who were seen as targets by the police. Having such violent and shocking events happen so close to home, it affects us all, all the way to the point where we are afraid to leave our homes even more than ever during this time.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that his country has offered to help resolve outstanding points of dispute in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) talks between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia , Russian News Agency TASS reported on Wednesday.

The Russian FM said that his country is offering its "technical assistance," without giving further detail.

Lavrov made the announcement following a videoconference held on Wednesday with his counterparts from the African Union's troika countries, which comprises the outgoing, current and incoming AU chairs: Egypt, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

During the open session the UN Security Council held last week on the GERD, Russia's permanent delegate to the international body Vasily Nebenzya urged Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to reach consensus that is in line with international law.

Nebenzya emphasised the importance of resolving the GERD dispute, and said that his country supports all efforts to reach a deal that is satisfying to all parties.

Nebenzya also stressed the importance of adhering to the declaration of principles signed by the three countries' leaders in 2015.

On the sidelines of the Sochi summit in October, Russia's President Vladimir Putin had expressed his country's readiness to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia on the dam issue given its excellent relationship with Cairo and Addis Ababa.

The previous Russian offer had come a few days after the three African countries accepted an invitation from the US to host the GERD negotiations. The US initiative later stalled after Ethiopia pulled out of its last round, which was planned to result in a final accord.

Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have been engaged in a decade-long dispute over the hydropower project Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile.

Egypt, which is almost entirely reliant on the Nile for agriculture and drinking water, fears the filling of the dam's reservoir will significantly affect its share of Nile water, while Ethiopia says the project is key to its development efforts.

The three countries have recently resumed talks under the aegis of the African Union, after the recent breakdown of US-mediated talks.

Prior to the latest resumption of talks, Egypt had appealed to the UN Security Council to intervene to resolve the dam's stalemate to preserve international peace and stability.

The Security Council urged the three countries to refrain from taking any unilateral action and to conduct talks on the basis of mutual understanding.

Cairo, Addis Ababa and Khartoum are scheduled to hold on Wednesday meetings with observers who are participating in the ongoing AU-brokered talks.

Observers representing the EU, the US, the AU Commission, South Africa and the AU's legal and technical experts are attending the talks.

The AU-brokered talks, which set off last Friday, are due to end on Friday or Saturday, according to Egypt's irrigation ministry spokesman Mohamed El-Sebaei.

Egypt's irrigation ministry said on Tuesday, the fifth day of the talks, that legal and technical differences still persist between the three countries despite the flexibility displayed by Egypt.

Short link:


The bust came nearly two weeks after Espinal was brushed off trying to convince a precinct lieutenant that her 76-year-old dad became a homicide victim on a Queens street corner. By Espinals recounting, the lieutenant claimed her dad died in an accident, and he wouldnt file a crime report unless she got more evidence.
Bhubaneswar, July 8 : As many as seven more Covid-19 patients died in Odisha, informed the health department on Wednesday.

Out of the seven deaths, six died of Covid-19 while one patient succumbed to HIV-AIDS.

Three of the deceased are from Ganjam, while two are from Khordha and one each from Kendrapara and Rayagada.

With this, the number of corona related deaths in the state climbed to 48 while 13 patients have died due to other health complications, said the department.

Odisha also reported 527 fresh Covid-19 positive cases in last 24 hours. This is the second consecutive day that the state recorded Covid-19 cases over 500-mark.

Out of the fresh cases, 338 were reported from quarantine centres and 189 are local contacts. Ganjam, which is the worst affected district in the state, has reported the highest 215 cases.

The total positive tally in Odisha increased to 10,624 including 3,860 active cases and 6,703 recoveries.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Nangarhar, July 7, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security force members inspect the site of a car bomb blast in Khewa district bazaar in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2020. At least three Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel were killed and five Image Source: IANS News

Nangarhar, July 7, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security force members inspect the site of a car bomb blast in Khewa district bazaar in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2020. At least three Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel were killed and five Image Source: IANS News

Kabul, July 8 : At least three policemen were killed and 18 others wounded in a suicide attack on Police HQ in Kandahar province on Wednesday morning, a security source said.

The incident took place at 4:00 am (local time) in Shah Wali Kot district, as a suicide car bomber detonated his explosives near the Police HQ, Tolo news reported.

The District Governor's compound is also close to the Police HQ, according to the source.

Bahir Ahmad, spokesman for the provincial Governor, said: "We had information about a possible attack on Police HQ and the forces were prepared. The suicide bomber was shot before he reached his target, but his explosives detonated." However, nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack.
New Delhi, July 8 : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has set up an inter-ministerial committee to probe alleged violations of legal provisions by three Gandhi family trusts, namely Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust, and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

The committee led by a Special Director of the Enforcement Directorate will coordinate investigations into alleged violation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Income Tax Act, and Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by these foundations, a Ministry spokesperson tweeted on Wednesday.

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation was established on June 21, 1991, to work on a range of issues, including literacy, health, disability, empowerment of the underprivileged, livelihood, and natural resources management. Its current focus areas are education, disability, and natural resources management.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is the present Chairperson of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation while former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and senior party leader P. Chidambaram are members of the board.

The Centre's move followed recent allegations levelled by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party against the Congress and the Gandhi family, claiming that China had funded the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Last month, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, citing 'documentary proof', sought an explanation from the Congress as to why the Chinese Embassy had donated about Rs 90 lakh to the Foundation.

The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India and the government of the People's Republic of China are alleged donors to the Foundation.

A petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court to seek a probe into the memorandum of understanding between the Congress and the Communist Party of China in 2008.

On June 27, BJP President J.P. Nadda had alleged that the money received in the PM National Relief Fund (PMNRF) between 2005-2008 was diverted to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF).

The Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust is a registered not-for-profit organization set up in 2002 to address the developmental needs of the underprivileged in the country, especially the rural poor. On its board are Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, businessman Ashok Ganguly, and Chartered Accountant Bansi Mehta.

The Trust's name is mentioned in an alleged land grab case in Haryana by the CBI, in which the agency has made Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the main accused.

The then Haryana government had allegedly handed over panchayat land to the Charitable Trust during 2004-14 in the name of public interest.

Hitting back, the Congress on Wednesday said that if the BJP uses its energy and time to resolve the issues of national interest instead of making false and unsuccessful attacks on Rahul Gandhi, it will be good for the country.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, July 8 : Uttar Pradesh's most wanted gangster Vikas Dubey, the main accused in the killing of eight policemen last week in Kanpur district, was reportedly seen in a hotel in Haryana's Faridabad adjoining the national capital on Tuesday, sources said.

However, he managed to give the slip to the police, who only managed to arrest three of his associates.

On Tuesday afternoon, police conducted a raid at the Faridabad hotel. Dubey had left the hotel by then. Later, three men were arrested from different locations in the city. They have been identified as Shrawan, Ankur and Prabhat.

A CCTV footage recovered by the police shows the wanted gangster in a mask wearing a blue T-shirt. The police have seized the register and DVR from the hotel. According to sources, the hotel turned back the man after his identity card was not having a clear photograph.

The Uttar Pradesh STF was also conducting raids at various locations in the search of the absconding criminal, including in Greater Noida.

Faridabad, Gurgaon and Delhi are also on a high alert and the Delhi Police's Special Cell has also been alerted amid speculation that Dubey may surrender in the National Capital Region. All hotels in the NCR have also been alerted.

Earlier, the police gunned down Vikas Dubey's close aide Amar Dubey in Maudaha, Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh. He was involved in the July 3 ambush and killing, as per the police information.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, July 8 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday took over the investigation into the Tuticorin custodial deaths case and registered two FIRs after the Centre gave nod to the agency.

The CBI has also constituted a team to visit Tamil Nadu to probe the death of a father-son duo after alleged police torture in Tuticorin district.

The agency filed the case a day after the Centre issued a notification to accept Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's request to transfer the probe to the CBI.

"The CBI has registered two cases on the allegations of custodial death of two traders in Kovilpatti district on the request of the Tamil Nadu government and further notification from the government of India," CBI Spokesperson R.K. Gaur said.

The agency, the official said, has taken over investigation into the case earlier registered at Police Station Kovilpatti East in Tuticorin district.

The Tamil Nadu government had last month favoured transfer of the investigation to the CBI following which the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had directed the CB-CID to handle the case till such time the central agency stepped in.

The CB-CID has so far arrested five policemen, including an Inspector, in connection with the alleged custodial torture of P. Jeyaraj and his son Bennicks at Sathankulam police station.

The duo, who ran a cellphone shop, were arrested on June 19 for alleged violation of prohibitory orders. Bennicks died on June 22 and Jeyaraj the next day at a hospital due to alleged police brutality, leading to a nationwide outrage.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Thiruvananthapuram, July 8 : Swapna Suresh, the high-profile lady who moved in the corridors of power, rubbing shoulders with the high and mighty in Kerala, was reportedly not in talking terms with her elder brother.

Swapna Suresh, a consultant with the Kerala IT department, is reportedly on the run after her name came up in the investigation into the gold smuggling scandal, which links her with top smugglers operating from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Speaking to a Malayalam TV channel from the US on Wednesday, her brother Bright Suresh said that was not in talking terms with Swapna.

"We are three siblings, and I am the eldest one. We were all in the UAE and when I turned 17, I left for the the US from where I graduated. Now I am settled in the US and work with a telecom company. Swapna is the second sibbling while our youngest brother is settled in India," said Suresh.

Their parents are settled in the suburbs of the state capital.

"When I went home a few years back, she had threatened me and warned me that if I didn't return to the US, my hands and legs will be chopped. She was upset because she felt that I would get a share of the property, which she didn't want. Me and my brother occasionally speak, and that's it. I interact with my mother. My parents will decide on the property. I earn my own living," said Suresh.

On Sunday, the Air Customs attached to the Thiruvananthapuram airport had seized 30 kg gold that arrived on a cargo flight and was kept in a warehouse for release. The baggage had arrived from Dubai and is understood to have been marked to the UAE Consulate which has its office in the heart of the state capital.

The Consulate's PRO, Sarith, has been arrested, while the prime suspect in the smuggling racket, Swapna, a woman who wears many hats, is on the run. She also happens to be close to the ruling Left Democratic Front government in the state.

She had worked in the Consulate office here for a while and was in good terms with Sarith.

It was only after the arrest of Sarith that the revelations turned murky as Swapna, who is presently a consultant with the Kerala IT department, was very close to senior IAS officer and Secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, M. Sivasankar, who was also the IT Secretary.

With both the Congress and the BJP demanding that Vijayan should come clean, Sivasankar was on Tuesday removed from his office as well as from the post of IT Secretary.

Sivasankar later applied for a year's leave, which has been sanctioned.

With the case getting huge media attention, the Union government has taken it up at the highest level, even as Vijayan on Tuesday night said that he was ready to face any probe.

"We have no say in the matter. We are ready to face any probe and the Centre can decide which agency should probe the matter," said Vijayan.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, July 8 : Four prominent Good Samaritans from Maharashtra who rendered yeoman services during lockdown to lakhs of stranded migrants, were felicitated and honoured with Certificates of Appreciation by a Mumbai NGO, an official said here on Wednesday.

They are: Bollywood actor Sonu Sood of Mumbai, Yavatmal's famous 81-year old Baba Karnail Singh Khaira, a Central Railway (CR) official Khushroo Poacha of Nagpur and state Director-General of Police (DGP-Home Guards) Sanjay Pandey.

"Like many others, these heroes stand out for their outstanding efforts to help the suffering masses and the lesser fortunate during the long lockdown. It's our very small appreciation for their great service to humanity," Harmony Foundation Chairman Abraham Mathai told IANS.

Image Source: IANS News

Sood shot into limelight for helping hundreds of migrants by arranging buses and charter flights to help them return home to their families in different parts of India, besides donating PPE kits and other requirements to Punjab doctors.

On a remote highway in Yavatmal, Baba Karnail Singh Khaira and his team of 17, fed over two million hungry hordes of migrants at his small Dera Kar Seva Gurdwara's Guru ka Langar, absolutely free of cost, and catapulted to global fame.

Besides, Khaira Babaji (as he is revered by all) also fed hundreds of hungry animals left in the lurch due to lockdown - and his feat was first highlighted by IANS on March 31. He was presented the certificate at the hands of Yavatmal Superintendent of Police Raj Kumar.

Nagpur-based unassuming CR Superintendent Khushroo Poacha won hearts by feeding lakhs of people during lockdown but without collecting one rupee, by arranging donations from people around the world.

Image Source: IANS News

When his achievement was first highlighted by IANS (April 6), an impressed Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray called Poacha and appreciated his efforts, and the certificate was handed over by Nagpur Police Commissioner B.K. Upadhyay.

Low-profile DGP Sanjay Pandey earned laurels after he constructed the first shelter for homeless and stranded migrants at Andheri west to accommodate 300, along with food, medicines and other amenities.

This proved to be a trendsetter and later many such voluntary shelters came up all over the state helping the displaced migrants, ensuring their safety and welfare before they could reach home.

The Certificates of Appreciation are signed by Baroness Caroline Cox, former Member & Deputy Chairperson of the House of Lords, United Kingdom, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar Gandhi and Mathai.

"Owing to the lockdown, it was a challenge to present the certificates to these dignitaries in person or at public functions due to the crowd restrictions. The Maharashtra Police officers helped us in Nagpur and Yavatmal, and all the others we are felicitating online," Mathai said.

In the past, Harmony Foundation - which gives the sole officially-mandated 'Mother Teresa Memorial Award' since 2005 - has felicitated global personalities like Dalai Lama, Malala Yousafzai, Kailash Satyarthi, Laila Talo Khudher Alali, Laxmi Agarwal and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw for achievements in various fields.

He added that there are many other such individuals who have drawn the attention of society and inspired the country at large by their compassionate and selfless services, who are also being similarly honoured.

-- Syndicated from IANS
He accelerated completely through the crowd, said Luis Gallilei, 26, of Harlem, one of the anti-white supremacy marchers. My bike got in under the wheels of his car. He almost ran down a whole crowd of people.
Dubai, July 8 : An Abu Dhabi-based Indian woman, stranded at Frankfurt International Airport for close to four days, has appealed to authorities to let her back into the UAE.

Priya Mehta, an advertising professional, travelled from San Francisco International Airport (US) to Frankfurt (Germany) to catch a connecting flight to Dubai on July 4.

However, she was not allowed to board her flight from Frankfurt as she did not have the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) approvals.

"I was led to believe by the airlines - Lufthansa and United Airlines - that I do not need the ICA approvals anymore, especially since I have a residence visa," Priya told Khaleej Times over the phone from Frankfurt.

She said she got the boarding passes for both destinations - Dubai and Frankfurt - from San Francisco.

"If I had known, I would have stayed back in the US. Both airlines gave me the assurance that I can fly. When I reached Frankfurt, I was I told I cannot go ahead. I asked so many people...everyone said it was okay and Dubai was allowing residents back into the country," she added.

Stuck in the airport, she has been sleeping on seats and the floor of waiting lounge, while making repeated attempts to get the ICA approvals.

"I have changed the dates of my tickets at least 13 times," she said.

Priya, who is a single woman and the sole breadwinner of her family, travelled to California to take care of her ailing uncle and aunt. "I have no relatives in the UAE and my dad lives in India. I need to get back to work," she added. The company Priya works for has also sent a letter to authorities in Frankfurt explaining her situation, and stating that she needs to resume work.
Ranchi, July 8 : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has home quarantined himself after a Minister and legislator were tested positive for coronavirus.

Jharkhand Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Mithilesh Thakur, Jharkahnd Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator Mathura Mahto, and 20 journalists of Dhanbad districts have tested positive for the Coronavirus.

The Minister and legislator had met the Chief Minister before admitting to the hospital. Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister Rajiv Arun Ekka has also gone into home quarantine.

Thakur was admitted at Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIM), Ranchi and the Mahto in a Dhanbad hospital. The Minister had also inspected Hatia Dam on Monday.

Jharkhand reported 141 cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday from 12 districts. The total tally has crossed 3,000 in the state.

In Dhanbad 25 people, including 20 journalists have been tested positive for the virus.

As per the data provided by the health department, of the 3,018 total cases, 892 are active cases 2,104 people have been discharged from the hospital after recovery. The death toll due to coronavirus in the state is 22 so far.

Out of the total coronavirus case, 2,142 are migrant workers who from the various parts of the country including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and Tamil Nadu.

On Tuesday, 36 people were cured and discharged from various dedicated Covid-19 facilities in the state including 13 from Gumla and 7 from Ramgarh district. Five patients from Giridih, 3 each in Chatra, Deoghar and Koderma and 2 in Saraikela also defeated Coronavirus and returned back to their homes. The recovery rate is 69.71 per cent.

So far in the state, 1,66,317 samples have been collected out of which 1,61,564 have been tested and 1,58,546 have turned out to be negative.
New Delhi, July 8 : The Jammat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has urged Muslims to take precautions during Eid ul-Adha (Bakrid), to be celebrated in the last week of July, and has issued guidelines on offering prayers and sacrifices.

"The namaz should be offered by adhering to the social distancing norms at eidgahs and mosques. Muslims should offer the Eid prayer at home in the same manner as they had done during Eid ul-Fitr in areas where restrictions have been imposed due to Covid-19," it said.

For the sacrifice of animals, a part of the festival, the JIH said "precautionary" measures should be taken due to the pandemic.

"Don't offer qurbani on roads, footpaths and pathways. Ensure the highest level of cleanliness and hygiene. Ensure that you bury the blood and entrails of the animal after qurbani or deliver it at the designated spot of garbage collection," the JIH said in a statement.

The JIH said it would be appropriate to form a committee few days before the Eid ul-Adha, which would keep an eye on the situation, remain in touch with the local administration and offer cooperation towards maintaining the law and order in the area.
Chennai, July 8 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Wednesday told the central government that allowing private franchisees in power sector will lead to cherry-picking.

He also said that the free power supplied to agriculture sector and households should not be brought under the direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme.

In a letter to R.K. Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power and New and Reweable Energy, Palaniswami said some of the provisions mentioned in the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 are detrimental to the state government/state utilities.

"Provisions in the draft Amendment Bill to allow private franchisee/sub-licencee will only lead to cherry-picking of remunerative areas by the franchisee/sub-distribution licencee, affecting the DISCOMs directly and thereby the public interest. The state discoms will be left with serving social sector obligations and rural areas which will result in massive losses to the discoms," Palaniswami said.

Palaniswami also said it is unacceptable to fix hydroelectricity purchase obligations separately to a state like Tamil Nadu as it is seasonal and monsoon-dependent, which is not in the control of power distribution companies.

"To avoid disparity among the States with different sources of renewable energy available, it is suggested that Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) can be fixed for total renewable energy rather than independently fixing for solar, non-solar, hydro etc," the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister wrote to Singh.

Welcoming the central government's liquidity infusion package of Rs 90,000 crore to power distribution companies for clearing their dues, Palaniswami said the central government should relax the norms for working capital under the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY).

He also said the state's power utility Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd has already applied for the financial assistance of Rs 20,622 crore to Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC).
New Delhi, July 8 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the Modi government over economic distress, saying that small and medium enterprises were "destroyed" and even large companies and banks were in "distress".

Rahul Gandhi in a tweet said, "Small and medium enterprises stand destroyed. Large companies are under severe stress. Banks are in distress." He shared his past video about warning the government over the economic problems impending the country.

He said in the tweet, "I stated months ago that an economic tsunami was coming and was ridiculed by BJP and the Media for warning the country about the truth." On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, while reacting to reports that Indians were the worst hit on the economic front, and eight out of 10 households lost income during the pandemic, had said that the economic mismanagement was a "tragedy" out to destroy millions.

"India's economic mismanagement is a tragedy that is going to destroy millions of families," Rahul Gandhi had said.

He said that it will no longer be accepted silently.

Rahul Gandhi was quoting research from the University of Chicago and the Centre For Monitoring Indian Economy, which in the report cited by Rahul Gandhi said that 80 per cent of rural and 75 per cent of urban households have suffered a loss in income.

Rahul Gandhi has been consistently demanding that the government implement the Nyay Scheme in the country, which ensures a transfer of Rs 7,500 in cash to each household.

The Congress in a statement on Tuesday said that the country lost nearly 13 crore domestic jobs with many states reaching an unemployment figures of 40 per cent.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, July 8 : With coronavirus cases spiking, the Karnataka government is adding more beds in Covid Care Centres (CCC) and hospitals in this tech city for treating the infected, said state Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar on Wednesday.

"A mega Covid Care Centre (CCC) is being set up with about 10,000 beds at the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in the city's northwest suburb to shelter asymptomatic patients," Sudhakar told reporters after Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa held an emergent meeting with a few cabinet ministers and officials at his residence here.

The city civic body (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) is also adding 100 more ambulances to rush patients with virus symptoms to CCCs or state-run or private hospitals across the city for admission and treatment.

"The Chief Minister will visit the mega CCC at BIEC on Thursday for a spot assessment of the facilities being set up for Covid-19 patients care," said Sudhakar.

"About 2,000 beds have already been arranged at the BIEC CCC and the remaining 8,000 will be added soon. About 100 more ambulances will soon join the 400-strong fleet of the city civic body," asserted Sudhakar.

"Doctors and medical staff will be deployed at the mega CCC for admitting Covid-19 patients from Thursday. Food and security are also being arranged for the patients," reiterated Sudhakar.

The Covid-19 war room will display in real time availability of beds, ambulances, doctors, medical staff, drugs, personal protection equipment (PPE) and other requirements on an electronic dashboard for quick response by the civic body.

"Even asymptomatic patients are calling for ambulance to ferry them to the care centres though they can be shifted in any other vehicle. Ambulances are needed for patients with severe Covid-19 symptoms and pregnant women," said Sudhakar.

The city reported 800 positive cases on Tuesday, taking its tally to 11,361, including 9,395 active cases after 1,810 people were discharged so far, while 155 died of the infection since March 9.

With a record 1,498 fresh cases across the state in a single day, the state's tally rose to 26,815, including 15,297 active, after 11,098 were discharged.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Islamabad, July 8 : Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday slammed Minister for Shipping and Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi for "acting irresponsibly" by releasing what the Minister claimed was the "original" joint investigation team (JIT) report on infamous Lyari gangster Uzair Jan Baloch.

Speaking to reporters outside the National Accountability Bureau office here after being questioned by the anti-graft watchdog, Shah asked how the PTI Minister had obtained the alleged 'original' JIT report.

"I think he revealed someone came to his house on a motorcycle and gave him that report. If he had said that some responsible man gave it to him and now he was revealing it, it might have made sense. But this was not appropriate for a man who is a member of the National Assembly and a sensible person." A day earlier, Zaidi had said that the JIT comprised six members - one person each from the Special Branch and the Crime Investigation Department, from the Sindh government, as well as officials from the Intelligence Bureau, Rangers, Inter-Services Intelligence and MI, from the federal government, Dawn reported.

He claimed, however, that the two members from Sindh had not signed what he called was the original report, which he said included findings that Uzair Baloch was working at the behest of senior PPP leaders including co-chair Asif Ali Zardari.

Responding to the claim, Shah clarified that the JIT had seven members and not six, adding that the report submitted to the Sindh home department had all seven signatures.

He added that this was the same JIT report that was submitted to the Sindh High Court in a sealed envelope, was read by the honourable judges and then returned to the provincial government.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, July 8 : Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has admitted that she has been "dealing with some major anxiety" lately.

Even though, the actress did not disclose the reason, she did confess that regularly performing yoga has helped her combat the stress.

"I have been dealing with some major anxiety these past few weeks.. however being consistent with yoga has taught me the valuable lesson of being in the moment and what's even more important.. gratitude.. for life and being alive.. have a great day everyone!" Jacqueline shared on Instagram on Wednesday.

The actress also shared a video where she can be seen performing a few asanas.

Jacqueline is a yoga enthusiast and keeps sharing her videos for fans on social media. In the past, she has shared videos of her performing asanas like Surya Namaskar, stretching of the spine and deep breathing.

On the work front, Jacqueline recently made her digital debut with the web series "Mrs Serial Killer" and launched an online dance competition titled "Home Dancer".

She also featured in the video of Salman Khan's song "Tere bina", shot in the actor's Panvel farmhouse where she has spent the lockdown.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Bengaluru, July 8 : An expert committee constituted by the Karnataka government on online classes has recommended live and pre-recorded classes for children aged three and above, an official said on Wednesday.

"The panel recommended that parents must accompany children in online classes up to second standard," said the official.

Screen time for children in the 3-6 age group should be restricted to half an hour and three days a week.

However, in the case of students above sixth standard, the panel recommended 15 minutes more of online classes.

Two days in a week should be devoted to online classes without any screen time.

Recommendations for students in high school between 6-8 classes include 30-45 minute online class per session and three sessions a day and five days a week.

Presence of parents is optional but the panel advised interactive classes.

Similarly, for children in 9th and 10th standards, four sessions of 30-45 minute classes are recommended per day and five days a week.

For the 2020-21 academic year, the expert committee has recommended an open book type assessment by allowing students to sit in the examinations from their comfort zones.

Meanwhile, Primary and Secondary Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar said the government will evaluate the expert panel report and prepare guidelines for online education accordingly.

Amulya, a fifth standard student of Harvest International School at Kodathi in Bengaluru, told IANS that she is attending two online classes on alternate days.

"I attend the first online class from 9 am till 9.45 am and second from 10 am to 10.45 am," said Amulya.

She said the assignments given by her school are done on a sheet of paper and its pictures transmitted on Google Classroom app to her teacher.

Like many others, the student's parents had asked for online classes when the state government did a survey for their feedback some weeks ago.

However, Amulya said she enjoyed real-world classroom lessons more than the online classes.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
London, July 8 : Banks face a growing risk of cyber-attacks as the coronavirus crisis accelerates the shift to digital banking and remote working, Moody's Investors Service said in a report on Wednesday.

"Social distancing has created a surge in demand for contactless payments, digital cash transfers and online banking, as well as remote working by bank employees," said Alessandro Roccati, Senior Vice President at Moody's.

Banks' digital customers are a natural target for fraudsters via phishing emails or social engineering scams. And if bank employees use devices at home to access office networks, they are more likely to be or become infected with malware or spyware; unsecure home Wi-Fi networks may use routers with weaker security.

Cyber-attacks are mostly financially motivated and seek easily monetised data stored by the victim organisations. Attacks have various, and sometimes multiple, goals but the vast majority target personal data, with a minority focused on credentials and bank data, the report said.

Cyber-attacks in the financial sector are mostly perpetrated by external actors (64 per cent of data breaches), mostly through web applications and errors made by company employees, according to a recent report by Verizon. The major motivation is to get easily monetised data (77 per cent of data breaches) The report added that banks mitigate cyber risk in three ways. The first is strong corporate governance, including cyber-security frameworks, policy enforcement and reporting. The second is risk prevention and response, and recovery readiness. And the third is information-sharing with other banks, and adoption of international standards and regulatory oversight.

These measures combined mean banks' cyber-readiness exceeds that of most other sectors, Moody's said.

Corporate managers are well aware of the cyber threat. According to a recent report from the World Economic Forum, the fourth most worrisome fallout for companies from the spread of coronavirus is an increase in cyber-attacks and data fraud.
The thief forced open a plywood wall on the J train platform of the Chambers St. station around 7:20 a.m. on the July 4 holiday, authorities said Wednesday. He then climb up a ladder to the mezzanine level, where he used a crowbar to break into two locked rooms.
Mumbai July 8 : Rajkummar Rao recalls how Hansal Mehtas 2017 release "Omerta" allowed him to push his boundary as an actor.

"Omar in Omerta is certainly one of the most challenging characters I have ever played on screen. It drained me completely emotionally and physically. I could never have imagined that playing this part would mentally take me to such dark places. It's a journey of one of the most deadly terrorists of our times and Hansal sir pushed me out of my boundaries to explore," said Rajkummar, about the film that saw him essay Omar Saeed Sheikh, British terrorist of Pakistani descent.

"This wasn't an easy film to make, with multiple locations, adverse weather conditions and often limited resources. What we had in ample measure was heart. The entire team has put their heart and soul into every minute of the process throughout the way," the actor added.

Rajkummar has done some of his best work in Hansal Mehta films. In fact, his performance in Mehta's 2013 release "Shahid" won him Best Actor at the National Awards.

Mehta opened up about his association with the actor. "This ('Omerta') was my fifth collaboration with Rajkummar Rao, and perhaps one of his biggest challenges as an actor. After having made films like 'Shahid', 'Citylights' and 'Aligarh' together, we were exploring a character's inner darkness through this film's protagonist Omar Sheikh. This is a film I'm very proud of. 'Omerta' is an important document of our times," he said of the film, which streams on the Zee5 July 25 onwards.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Panaji, July 8 : Days after a party organised for political workers by a ruling MLA caused embarrassment for the BJP-led coalition government, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that police had been orderd to crackdown even on house parties henceforth.

"Parties will have to stop, whether it is at homes and outdoors. Police inspectors have been instructed," Sawant told reporters in Panaji.

On Monday, Sawant had assured to probe party events, one organised by BJP MLA Glenn Ticlo for his political workers at a beach house and another music event in the beach village of Morjim, at which dozens of patrons, including foreigners, were in attendance.

Ticlo subsequently had said that he barely attended the event organised for BJP workers for a few minutes.

The state vigil against public gatherings comes at time when Goa has seen a spurt in cases related to Covid-19. The state currently has 759 active Covid-19 cases.
New Delhi, July 8 : The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Wednesday said that it will spearhead a movement to boycott goods imported from China during the upcoming festive season in India.

It said that it has made an elaborate strategy to ensure 'Made in India' goods are available across the country in a substantial quantity.

The CAIT, in a message, advised traders to ensure that Indian goods related to each festival be made available in abundance during forthcoming season which begins from Rakhi on August 3 and goes up to November 25.

During this season, several festivals including Rakhi, Janmashtami, Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Durga Puja, Dhanteras, Diwali, Bhaiya Dooj, Chhath and Tulsi Vivah among others will be celebrated.

CAIT is said to be preparing an exhaustive list of the items used in each of these festival, that are to be made available in large quantities.

As per CAIT, last year during the festival season, Chinese goods worth Rs 20,000 crore were sold in India.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, July 8 : Actor Tiger Shroff shared a throwback picture of himself from the times he did not have facial hair.

The young action star took to Instagram, where he shared a shirtless picture of himself. In the image, he is seen lying down, flaunting his well-chiselled built and sporting maroon shorts.

"Jab daadi nahi aati thi (When I didn't have facial hair)... #bachpana," he wrote.

Recently, Tiger paid a heartfelt tribute to late king of pop Michael Jackson in a throwback post he has shared on social media.

He shared a clip dancing on his "Munna Micheal" numbers such as "Feel the rhythm" and "Beparwah".

Tiger was last seen on screen in "Baaghi 3" directed by Ahmed Khan. The third installment of the "Baaghi" franchise opened to good collections before being discontinued owing to the lockdown.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, July 8 : Consensus is building within the government that e-commerce players like Flipkart, Amazon will have to indicate the country of origin of the product on their merchandise.

DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is likely to tell e-commerce companies that it would be mandatory to provide information about the product on their platform, where the product came from or where it was made, or the country of origin. DPPIT held a meeting today with the e-commerce players on this issue.

According to sources, DPIIT has suggested the deadline of August 1 to e-commerce companies to kick off this exercise.

That is, all the products will be sold / listed on the e-commerce platform from August 1, where information of the country of origin will have to be given.

However, e-commerce companies have asked the government for a little more time for this implementation.

According to the sources, e-commerce companies have talked about accepting the government's move but have asked for some time to implement.

The move comes in the backdrop of a huge movement in the country to ban Chinese goods which is seeing a groundswell.

Accepting an earlier demand of the CAIT, the Union Government has declared to have mandatory inscription of all goods that are to be sold on Government e Market portal and in furtherance of the same, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

Earlier, intensifying its national movement for boycott of Chinese goods, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had asked Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal that all products sold in India through e commerce or offline shops or by any other method should mandatory having the mention of Country of Origin and content of valued addition in the said item.

CAIT said that in the wake of several goods import from China and other Countries are reported to be sold in India after pasting Made in India has prompted the CAIT to demand the Commerce Minister not to limit this provision only for e-commerce but make it a mandatory provision for all the products that are sold in India either by e-commerce, offline shops, corporate showroom, direct selling or by any other method.

The CAIT further demanded that products not carrying the above description should not be sold in the Country and in the event of violation of this provision, the manufacturer, producer, importer or marketer as declared on the packing of such product should be held responsible and action must be taken against them.

"We are of the considered opinion that provision of mentioning Country of Origin and Value addition will make the customers fully understand as to what they are purchasng and will obliviate all confusions. Such a provision will also strengthen the 'Make in India' concept of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and will also demolish the unethical designs of certain sections to sell imported goods by wrongly labelling 'Made in India' on such goods", said CAIT.

It said that since the Union Government has begun the process of mentioning both above provisions on products sold on GeM from the date of the declaration then there should be no reason for delay from other e-commerce companies and they must implement the same with immediate effect.
Amaravati, July 8 : Andhra Pradesh reported 1,062 fresh novel coronavirus cases on Wednesday, slightly lower than the 1,178 reported during the preceding 24 hours. The Wednesday tally includes 11 returnees from outside the state. The Covid-19 tally has now touched 22,259 in Andhra Pradesh.

On Wednesday, new cases were detected in all 13 districts of the state. The highest single day tally of 255 cases was recorded from Chittoor district, followed by Guntur with 173 cases, East Godavari with 125 cases, and Anantapur with 87 cases. Kadapa with 71 cases and Krishna with 70 cases, were the other districts that had high number of new cases during the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. on Wednesday, state health officials said.

The testing was ramped up with 27,643 tests were conducted in comparison to the 16,213 samples tested during the preceding 24 hour cycle.

As many as 1,332 were discharged from hospitals and treatment centres in the state.

As on Wednesday, 10,894 affected persons are receiving treatment at hospitals and designated Covid treatment centres in the state.

The cumulative tally of cured persons now stands at 11,101.

Meanwhile, 12 deaths were reported from different parts of the state. Kurnool reported the highest number of 3 deaths, followed by 2 deaths each in Krishna, Anantapur and West Godavari districts. Similarly, one death each was reported from Chittoor, Guntur and Visakhapatnam districts. The overall death toll in Andhra Pradesh due to Covid, stands at 264.

The number of positive cases detected in returnees from outside the state also showed a downturn on Wednesday. Telangana however continues to contribute to the highest numbers in this category. Of the 9 new cases that were reported in this category, the high of 6 positive cases were returnees from neighbouring Telangana. Of the remainder, 2 positive samples belonged to returnees from Tamil Nadu, and there was also one case from Kerala. Till date, 2,266 persons have tested positive for Covid among persons who returned from other states. The active cases tally in this category is 779, while 1,487 persons have been discharged till date.

On Wednesday, only two new cases were reported from persons with a travel history to foreign countries. While one of the positive cases was a person returning from Kuwait, the second person had a travel history to the USA. The cumulative tally of Covid patients in this category stands at 422, while 268 persons have been discharged after getting cured. As of Wednesday, 154 persons in this category are undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Srinagar, July 8 : Hours after a 63-year-old woman was killed and two civilians were injured in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Mendhar sector near the Line of Control in Poonch, two civilians were injured in Pakistani firing in the Tangdhar sector in Kashmir on Wednesday.

According to details, the two civilians were injured after firing started from the Pakistan side just when work was going on for the construction of a community bunker in the area. The injured civilians have been moved to the hospital.

Earlier, Pakistani forces resorted to ceasefire violation in the Mendhar and Balakote sectors on Tuesday night in which Rasham Bi (63) was killed and two other civilians were injured.

There has been a spike in ceasefire violations with Pakistani forces targeting defence positions and civilian areas along the LoC in Kashmir Valley and to the south of Pir Panjal in the Rajouri-Poonch areas of Jammu.
New Delhi, July 8 : Health and safety is a crucial aspect when it comes to travel in times of Coronavirus. Guests seek information in order to make informed travel and accommodation decisions.

To cater to this need, travel website Booking.com now makes it simple for accommodation partners to share with travellers information about their own initiatives , providing greater consumer transparency in order to boost the confidence as well as setting the right expectations for when guests arrive.

The platform has introduced the health and safety measures feature which allows accommodation partners to select the different measures they are taking in areas such as hygiene, sanitization, social distancing and food safety amongst others. Partners can immediately make a selection from the list of measures they are taking. Their selection will be displayed on the Booking.com website on their property page in a specially designed 'health and safety box' to equip travellers with transparency while making a travel decision.

This feature will provide multi-fold benefits to travellers, accommodation partners and the travel community. Commenting on the initiative, Ritu Mehrotra, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives at Booking.com said, "At Booking.com, our utmost concern is for the safety and security of our customers, partners and colleagues. As the situation evolves, we continue to update the support we provide, including enhanced transparency to consumers around health & safety information when booking on our platform. By introducing these safety measures we will help set accurate expectations and bring additional peace of mind for travellers when the time is right and they are ready to experience the world again." (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New York, July 8 : Amid news that the US has bought up virtually the entire global supply of remdesivir, a new study outlines how the drug could save lives in countries with a lower hospital capacity, such as South Africa, where Covid-19 is beginning to overwhelm intensive care units (ICUs).

The study, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, estimated that remdesivir's ability to shorten ICU stays could increase the number of patients treated in South Africa's ICUs by more than 50 per cent.

"There are many countries with limited ICU capacity that could benefit from this double impact on mortality," says study lead author Dr Brooke Nichols, Assistant Professor at the Boston University.

For the remdesivir study, the research team used their South African National Covid-19 Epidemiology model to look at the estimated three to six months when severe cases will exceed the country's 3,450 available ICU beds. If every one of South Africa's ICU patients with Covid-19 received remdesivir, reducing the average ICU stay, the researchers estimated that the number of patients treated in ICUs from June to December would increase from between 23,443 and 32,284 patients to between 36,383 and 47,820.

The findings showed that the increased capacity of remdesivir could save as many as 6,862 lives per month as the country's cases peak and the drug could prevent the deaths of as many as 13,647 South Africans by December.

The mortality rate for Covid-19 in ICUs varies from country to country and hospital to hospital, so the number of lives saved from increased ICU capacity would also vary, the study said.

The research team has been modelling South Africa's Covid epidemic to help the country's government make informed decisions, and previously predicted that the country's ICU capacity could be overwhelmed as early as this month. "The hardest-hit province, the Western Cape, exceeded ICU capacity in June," the study authors informed.

Earlier this month, the European Commission had authorised anti-viral drug remdesivir for the treatment against coronavirus, making it the first drug authorised at the European Union level for the treatment of Covid-19.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chandigarh, July 8 : To boost the economy, the Punjab cabinet here on Wednesday approved development of a modern industrial park and integrated manufacturing cluster (IMC) near Ludhiana and Rajpura, respectively, at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore each.

The two projects would help accelerate industrialisation and create jobs, said an official spokesperson after the cabinet meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh through video link.

To be set up in 1,000 acres each, the projects will help prospective entrepreneurs and industrialists set up ventures. The land for the projects will be purchased by the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD) from panchayats.

The spokesperson said the Mattewara project near Ludhiana was being pursued by the Industries Department. The project site had been under consideration for the past several years.

However, considering the HUDD's capacity to raise finance and execute the project, the land was transferred to it.

The IMC near Rajpura in the Patiala district will be developed with the help of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corp.

To mobilise additional revenue, the cabinet gave the go-ahead to raise the mutation fee from Rs 300 to Rs 600. It will accrue nearly Rs 10 crore to the state exchequer.

The Chief Minister asked the Revenue Department to launch a campaign for clearing all pending mutations in the interest of landowners.
Police said the bike was thrown under the Durango to prevent the driver from leaving and that there was nothing to indicate he was trying to hurt anyone. Police said it appears the driver was just trying to avoid the crowd.
Chandigarh, July 8 : The Punjab government will file a letters patent appeal (LPA) in the high court this week against the decision of a single-judge Bench on school fees for lockdown.

The issue came up for discussion informally during the Wednesday's cabinet meeting. After this, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the LPA should be filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court within this week, Advocate General Atul Nanda said.

In the June 30 order, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur said all schools, whether they offered online classes during the lockdown or not, were entitled to collect the tuition fee.

The judge also said schools should continue to endeavour and impart online and distance learning so that education was not impacted due to present or future lockdowns because of the pandemic.

While the court is set to hear appeals against the ruling on July 13, the Punjab government has decided to move the court for hearing by a Division Bench in the interest of all the parties, including parents, teachers, staff as well as the schools.

The Chief Minister has made it clear that he was not in favour of schools charging fees from parents if no classes, either offline or online, were held during the lockdown.
Mumbai, July 8 : Actress Alaya F has posted a stunning photograph on Instagram but it is the caption that grabs your attention.

In the image, she is seen sitting on a chair and slouching for a pose. The daughter of actress Pooja Bedi is seen dressed in a grey tube top and black faux leather pants.

"It looks cool as a pose in a photo but I really do need to stop slouching," she wrote alongside the image, which currently has 36.3K likes on the photo-sharing website.

Alaya recently took up the 50 push-up challenge.

"#ChallengingAF - 50 Push Up Challenge. There was a time in my life when I could do 46 push ups in one minute.. but these days my arms want to die after doing just 10. But since you guys chose the 50 push up challenge, I did my best," she had captioned the video.

On the work front, Alaya made her Bollywood debut this year with the film "Jawaani Jaaneman". Also, she had already signed a three-film deal with producer Jay Shewakramani.
Mumbai, July 8 : On Wednesday morning, Pooja Bhatt tweeted to remind how the Bhatts had launched Kangana Ranaut in their 2006 production "Gangster". Reacting to the tweet Kanganas team has now launched a tirade on social media saying Poojas father, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, threw chappals at Kangana, called her "mad" and humiliated her. They also alleged that Poojas uncle, producer Mukesh Bhatt, is not very keen to pay artistes.

"Dear @PoojaB1972, #AnuragBasu had keen eyes to spot Kangana's talent, everyone knows Mukesh Bhatt does not like to pay artists, to get talented people for free is a favour many studios do on themselves but that doesn't give your father a license to throw chappals at her......call her mad and humiliate her. He also announced her 'tragic end', Also why was he so invested in Sushant Singh Rajpoot's and Rhea's relationship? Why did he announce his end too, some of the questions you must ask him," tweeted Team Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday afternoon.

Kangana's social media team also informed that the actress was selected for starring in Puri Jagannadh's movie "Pokiri" alongside Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu at the time she auditioned for "Gangster".

"For your info @PoojaB1972 Kangana had also auditioned for 'Pokiri' alongside 'Gangster' and got selected for that as well. 'Pokiri' went on to become an all time blockbuster, so your thinking that because of 'Gangster' she is who she is, is totally not working. Water finds it's level," wrote Team Kangana Ranaut in a separate tweet.

Team Kangana's tweet comes as a response to Pooja's tweet earlier in the day where she wrote: "As for Kangana Ranaut -- She is a great talent, if not she wouldn't have been launched by Vishesh films in "Gangster". Yes Anurag Basu discovered her, but Vishesh Films backed his vision and invested in the film. No small feat. Here's wishing her the very best in all her endeavours." Pooja's tweet came at a time when the Bhatt family is continuously getting trolled on social media for allegedly practicing nepotism ever since the demise of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput last month. Netizens have also threatened to boycott their forthcoming movie "Sadak 2" which is directed by Mahesh Bhatt, produced by Mukesh Bhatt and stars Pooja and Alia Bhatt in key roles.
New Delhi, July 8 : With the number of coronavirus cases zooming past the 7-lakh mark in India, the Group of Ministers (GoM) will hold a meeting to take stock of the Covid-19 situation in the country at the Nirman Bhawan here on Thursday.

The last high-level meeting was held on June 27 to review, monitor and evaluate the evolving situation. The meeting was chaired by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan through video conferencing.

During the meeting, it was stated that 85.5 per cent of active cases and 87 per cent of total deaths were reported from eight states -- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 8 : For the first time, Kerala on Wednesday registered 301 new Covid positive cases, the highest number so far on a single day.

State Health Minister K.K. Shailaja informed that, of the new cases, 99 came from abroad, 95 were those who came from within the country, 90 were local infections, 3 health professionals and 14 defence personnel.

"At present there are 2,605 positive cases, while 3,561 have been cured. Today 107 people were cured of the disease. There are 1,85,546 people now in isolation at homes, corona care centres and includes 3,137 people in various hospitals," said Shailaja.

Of the 90 local infectees in the state capital city, 60 were from the district and the fishing hamlet of Poonthura had a good number of cases.

This resulted in the state government conducting a route march by a Commando unit to warn the local residents that if they come outdoors, they will be arrested.
Chennai, July 8 : As many as 3,756 persons tested positive for coronavirus infection in Tamil Nadu over the past 24 hours, the state health department officials said.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the health department said the state recorded new coronavirus infections for 3,756 persons, taking the total tally to 122,350.

The total number of Covid-19 patients who died over the past 24-hours was 64 taking the death tollin the state to 1,700.

On the positive side, 3,051 Covid-19 patients were cured and discharged from various hospitals in the state. The total number of cured persons goes up to 74,167.

The number of active Covid-19 cases in the state after taking into account the cured and dead stands at 46,480.

The number of infected children in the state in the age group 0-12 went up to 6,063.

The state capital Chennai continues to lead the Covid-19 infection chart with 1,261 persons testing positive for the virus and the total tally stands at 72,500. The active cases in the city stands at 21,766 while the total number of Covid-19 patients discharged in Chennai stood at 1,852.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, July 8 : A day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the state government has nothing to do with the gold smuggling case and any action has to be taken by the Centre, Union Minister V. Muraleedharan, also from Kerala, said that the Vijayan cannot wash his hands off.

On Sunday, the Air Customs attached to the Thiruvananthapuram airport had seized 30 kg gold that arrived on a cargo flight and was kept in a warehouse for release. The baggage had arrived from Dubai and is understood to have been marked to the UAE consulate which has its office in the heart of the state capital.

The consulate's former PRO, Sarith, has been arrested, while the prime suspect in the smuggling racket, Swapna Suresh, a woman who wears many hats, is on the run. She also happens to be close to the ruling Left Democratic Front government in the state and despite dubious qualifications, she was holding a high paying job and was very close to senior IAS official M. Sivasankar, secretary to Vijayan and also the state IT secretary.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Muraleedharan told the media in Delhi that the Centre views this gold smuggling case very seriously.

"All those involved in this smuggling will be brought to book. Various central agencies are seized of this case and are doing their work. I will not be in a position to say if this agency or that agency is looking into it. What's most surprising is that Vijayan says the state government has nothing to do with it. He just cannot wash his hands off," said Muraleedharan.

"It's most surprising that his own confidant and high ranking IAS official holding the post of his secretary and also heading the IT department had close links with an accused in the case. Yet he says they have no role. You (Vijayan) and your agencies have a very crucial role in probing this and yet you say since the airport comes under the Centre, the state government has no role. Your right hand man is in trouble," added Muraleedharan.

Swapna had worked in the consulate office here for a while and was on good terms with Sarith.

"This case is just not a mere smuggling case and there is more to it. And this case is not just a one off issue and the authorities did not just open a baggage. They opened the baggage after following the rules. The various agencies are now looking into this case and depending on the circumstances, the concerned agency or agencies will do the needful," added Muraleedharan.

The Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA on Wednesday demanded Vijayan's resignation and a probe into the gold smuggling case. The Congress said a CBI investigation was needed in the case.

Defending Vijayan, was his number two in the Cabinet and State Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan who blamed the Congress and the BJP for trying to help the smugglers.

"These parties are trying to divert issues by emphasising on Swapna, when the real issue is the smugglers. They are going berserk seeing the popularity of the Vijayan government and are saying baseless things and want to help the smugglers," said Jayarajan.
Dhaka, July 8 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday told Parliament that her government has taken multi-layered initiatives to bring back Bangladeshi workers from the Middle East and various initiatives have been taken for the returning migrants.

She also assured action against an Independent lawmaker arrested in Kuwait on charges of human trafficking and visa trading.

Later, addressing an ILO conference, she stressed that jobs of migrant workers at overseas markets must be retained during Covid-19 crisis.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday morning, she noted that Bangladesh is facing pressure to bring back expatriate workers.

Replying to a question from ruling Awami League lawmaker Benjir Ahmed, Sheikh Hasina said: "Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, diplomatic pressure continues from the Middle East countries for bringing back expatriate workers. But our government has taken multi-faceted diplomatic initiatives to reduce this pressure." As part of the diplomatic efforts, she said she sent letters to some heads of state or government.

"Only 22,000 expatriate workers have returned home so far. The number of returnees is still low due to timely diplomatic initiatives taken by the present Awami League government," she said.

"We are talking with every country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on this. We have special incentives for the migrants, they can start work with loan from government organisations.

"They will get loan at only 4 per cent interest. I have reserved 2,000 crore takas for the Prabasi Kalyan Bank, the Palli Sanchay Bank, the Karma Sansthan Bank and the Probashi Kalyan Foundation.

"Bangladesh government is continued the diplomatic efforts to ensure the workers, who lost their jobs abroad due to the Covid-19 pandemic, can get back their jobs." Sheikh Hasina also urged manpower recruiting agencies to send workers abroad only after proper authentication of jobs and employers.

She also asked the people to follow the legal process, which is very easy, apply at the digital centres at the grass roots level to go abroad and to remain aware of the traffickers.

"However, although it is very easy to apply... I am surprised, they pay huge amounts to the recruiting agents and die on the way while going abroad illegally.

"They spend millions of takas to go abroad illegally and fall into the clutches of the traffickers and become destitute. People should be aware of this," she said.

On the recent killing of Bangladeshi migrants in Libya, Hasina said the government is taking proper action against the recruiting agencies that had sent the migrants illegally.

Police and RAB arrested all of them and the legal process is on, she said.

Sheikh Hasina also announced that if Mohammad Shahid Islam Papul - the lawmaker arrested in Kuwait - turns out to be a Kuwaiti citizen, "his parliamentary seat will be declared vacant as per law".

Participating in an unscheduled debate initiated by BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid, she said: "We're in talks with Kuwait government. We've launched an investigation against him in our country, too." Rashid cited media reports of Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen had said that Kuwaiti authorities detained a Bangladeshi MP to face money laundering and human trafficking charges as a "local resident" of the Gulf country.

As Rashid also raised the issue of Regent Hospital providing fake coronavirus test results, Sheikh Hasina said the government will find out all irregularities and that seven people had already been arrested in the connection.

She also said she would have been happy had the BNP MP divulged the matter earlier.

Later, at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Global Summit on 'Covid-19 and the world of work', Sheikh Hasina said: "World Bank had predicted, Bangladesh will lose 20 per cent of our earnings from remittances due to the Covid-19 pandemic." "Demographically, the virus does not discriminate between climate change and globalisation, but its adverse effects can impact workers, especially vulnerable migrant and women workers," she added.

"In this regard my suggestions are - No 1, the jobs of migrant workers at overseas markets must be retained during this crisis. No 2, in case of lay offs, compensation and other benefits must be given to them including their own safety. No 3, after the pandemic, these workers have to be recruited to reactivate the economy.

About the allegations corruption and irregularities in distribution of government relief materials during this Covid-19 period, the Prime Minister said the government is giving assistance to 5 million families through a list prepared after three steps of scrutiny. Also, the assistance is being sent through their mobile phones or bank accounts.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has sent medical equipment and pharmaceutical items to different countries as part of the government's "food and medical diplomacy", she added.
New Delhi, July 8 : The Congress may be upset with the UP government after the Kanpur shootout in which 8 police personnel were killed, with party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi alleging that the state government was indulging in "jugglery" of figures on crime, but Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seems to have the backing of the top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership, as of now.

On Wednesday, top BJP sources said the Kanpur shootout should not be the single yardstick to judge the state government's handling of law and order situation. "Yogi Adityanath has a long track record of being a tough administrator. This one case should not be a reason to cast doubt on his or his government's intention," said a source.

The backing comes amid the Congress decision to carry sustained campaign in the state over the law and order.

Last week, eight cops were killed when a police panty went to Chaubeypur of Kanpur to arrest gangster Vikas Dubey. Dubey has been on the run since then. After the ambush, the Chief Minister had said perpetrators of crime would not be spared.

During the day, his closest aide Amar Dubey was gunned down.

Meanwhile, the senior BJP source also said the party's new organizational team at the national level would be created "very soon". The delay was not due to any speculated cabinet reshuffle, but the ongoing pandemic, he said.
New Delhi, July 8 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will play the role of a Member of Parliament, come Thursday. He will interact with select individuals from Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, at 11 a.m.

"During the Covid epidemic, citizens and people associated with social organisations in Varanasi, not only helped the needy with full dedication, but also provided all kinds of assistance to the local administration," tweeted the Prime Minister. He added, "I am very keen on the dialogue with these people of my parliamentary constituency to be held at 11 am tomorrow." The interaction will be conducted through a video conference. Sources say it is likely to be a two way communication.

Last month, Prime Minister Modi had reviewed various developmental projects in his constituency and the efforts of the local administration in battling Covid-19 in his constituency.
When we were kids, we would throw parties to raise money to go to the movies, stuff like that. He would loan us DJ equipment then stand by the door to make sure everyone was safe.
New Delhi, July 8 : Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday expressed reservations over the content of the syllabus reduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and emphasised on the need for children to learn them from authentic sources rather than from "WhatsApp University".

The Central Board of Secondary Education has reduced up to 30 per cent of the syllabus for the 2020-21 academic session for classes 9 to 12 in a bid to decrease the course load for students during the pandemic.

The education board, however, faced criticism for its decision to drop key chapters like Democratic Rights, Federalism, Citizenship and Secularism from school courses.

Sisodia said that the education board did not give any reason as to why particular topics or chapters were removed, nor did it explain the process by which the course committee, curriculum committee or its governing body arrived at the decision to remove or include them.

The Education Minister sought to know why chapters on understanding the Partition, democratic rights, food security, gender, religion and caste, popular struggles and movement, federalism, citizenship, nationalism and secularism, social movements and regional aspirations, mass media and communication were removed from the social science syllabus.

"Social Science is one discipline where there is maximum scope of controversy and agree that no matter which topics are chosen or left out, the questions are bound to be raised. Hence the board should have been careful and explained its rationale for dropping certain topics," he added.

The topics of social science which are dropped are so relevant in contemporary context that it is important that children learn about it through authentic sources rather than through "Whatsapp University", he scoffed.

Alluding to other subjects, Sisodia asked why a topic on the human eye and the colourful world, sources of energy were removed. In English, a letter on a situation and descriptive paragraph on a place and event was removed.

"Similarly, in classes 11 and 12 different genres of writing like Article and report writing, letter to the editor, application for job, note making and summarising which are so critical for developing expression have been removed from English Core subject," the Education Minister added.

In Mathematics, Sisodia asked why the principle of mathematical induction and mathematical reasoning was deleted. "I am hopeful that CBSE must have very good reasons for dropping those topics other than saying that "reduction in classroom teaching due to closure of schools" requires reduction and hence randomly some topics have been dropped."
London, July 8 : UK's 30 billion pound Covid-19 response plan, announced on Wednesday by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, includes an additional three billion pound investments in energy efficiency schemes in 2020-21, taking the overall low carbon investments to about 20 billion pounds.

The new funding means the UK is now planning one of the largest climate-friendly stimulus packages by a single country, with Germany leading on $42 billion.

"Our plan for jobs will not be the last action; it is merely the next in our fight to recover and rebuild after coronavirus. We want to create green jobs. This is going to be a green recovery, with environment at its heart," Sunak said.

The UK's flagship green investment is directed towards energy efficiency measures, with 2 billion pounds for private properties, including a 500 million pound grant focused on fuel for homes, and 1 billion pounds for public buildings.

UK properties are among the least-well insulated in Europe, accounting for almost a fifth (19 per cent) of total emissions.

The new measures are intended to support the shift away from coal towards a cleaner energy system, making 650,000 homes more energy efficient and creating 140,000 new green jobs.

According to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), an uptick in global energy efficiency investments could contribute to nine million jobs every year by 2023.

The UK has already set a coal phase-out target for 2025 and this year, its power grid was coal-free for 67 days, 22 hours and 55 minutes.

Mateo Salazar, Senior Economist, Vivid Economics said: "The announced measures are a positive step by the government, but much more is required to deliver a green recovery.

"Funding for green initiatives makes up only a small proportion of the UK government's stimulus in response to Covid-19, falling well short of the green stimulus measures announced in Germany and the large package proposed by the EU." Martha McPherson, Head of Green Economy and Sustainable Growth, IIPP, Mariana Mazzucato's institution, which has been advising the UK government, said: "A well-targeted green investment plan can offer a greater multiplier effect than conventional stimulus.

"There are good things in this package - housing insulation and retrofit are badly needed. But Covid-reactive spending promises need to be embedded in a longer-term mission-oriented green transition plan - and this should be a 'just transition' that invests in green skills in the workforce, and in new green jobs which are high-quality, additional, and geographically well-distributed across the UK." Added Luke Murphy, Head of the Environmental Justice Commission, IPPR: "We know that buildings make up a significant contribution to our carbon emissions and this investment to upgrade public buildings, provide vouchers to homeowners to retrofit their homes and the small pot for social housing is really welcome.

"However, if this is the sum total of the government's ambition then it is short of what is needed to reduce emissions from buildings as well as more broadly for job creation and to get the UK on track for net zero.

"The government should build on this announcement and commit to a multi-year programme of energy efficiency and low-carbon heat that covers all tenures, extending the current scheme to cover rented housing as well."
Mandya: Kannada actor Susheel Gowda has allegedly committed suicide at his residence in Mandya district, police sources said on July 8, 2020. The exact reason for the 30-year-old''s alleged suicide yesterday is still not known, and police are investi Image Source: IANS News

Mandya: Kannada actor Susheel Gowda has allegedly committed suicide at his residence in Mandya district, police sources said on July 8, 2020. The exact reason for the 30-year-old''s alleged suicide yesterday is still not known, and police are investi Image Source: IANS News

Mandya: Kannada actor Susheel Gowda has allegedly committed suicide at his residence in Mandya district, police sources said on July 8, 2020. The exact reason for the 30-year-old''s alleged suicide yesterday is still not known, and police are investi Image Source: IANS News

Mandya : , July 8 (IANS) Kannada television serial actor Susheel Gowda was found dead by hanging in a friend's house at a village near Karnataka's Mandya town, police said on Wednesday. He was 32.

"Though Gowda's body was found hanging in the day in his friend's house at Kiragandur village near Mandya, his death might have occurred on Monday. The body has been sent for autopsy to ascertain the cause of his death," Mandya Deputy Superintendent of Police L. Navin Kumar told IANS on phone.

Mandya is 100 km southwest of Bengaluru on way to Mysuru.

When Gowda's parents lodged a missing complaint of their son on Monday, the district police launched a search for him and alerted all police stations across the southern state to trace him as his mobile handset was switched off.

"When Gowda's photo in the complaint matched with his face, we have asked his parents to identify and confirm that he was their son," Kumar said.

A case of homicide was registered under section 174 of the CrPC.

Gowda was the only son to his parents and was a bachelor.

"Gowda joined the Kannada television serials in 2015 and acted in one or two Kannada films also. As he did not get many opportunities, we are told, of late he was under depression," said Kumar.

Gowda shot to fame for his role in Kannada soap opera "Anthapura".

He also acted as a young police officer in under production Kannada film "Salaga", which is directed by Kannada cine star Duniya Vijay.

"I have known Susheel during the shooting for my film. People are losing hope and livelihood due to Covid pandemic and the lockdown that disrupted normal life over the last 3 months," Vijay told reporters in Bengaluru.
Two of the six critical bridges, built by the BRO in Jammu region, that will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday.. Image Source: IANS News

Two of the six critical bridges, built by the BRO in Jammu region, that will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday.. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, July 8 : Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will unveil six critical bridges constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday, sources said.

The Defence Minister will unveil four bridges in Akhnoor sector and two in Jammu-Rajpura area constructed at a cost of Rs 45 crore. "All bridges are around 300 to 100 metres approximately," said a senior Defence Ministry officer.

On Tuesday, Singh held a review meeting with Border Roads Origination (BRO) officials to discuss the improvement of infrastructure near Line of Actual Control with China and Line of Control with Pakistan. The review meeting took place amid the ongoing border tension with China.

"Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the ongoing projects with DG BRO (Border Roads Organisation) and other senior officials at a meeting in South Block today," the Ministry of Defence said.

During the meeting, Singh had directed that all border infrastructure to be fast tracked so that movement of forces should not be affected.

BRO Director General Lieutenant General Harpal Singh briefed the minister that since inception the organisation has been a leading road construction agency involved in construction of roads, bridges, tunnels and airfields in remote border areas and have also undertaken construction in friendly foreign countries like Bhutan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan in line with our overall strategic objectives.

The officer also briefed the minister that there has been a major surge in outcomes in BRO in the last few years.

BRO has executed about 30 per cent more works in 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19. The officer said BRO have executed 1,273 kilometres formation cutting, 2,214 kilometres of surfacing, Rs 1,715 crore of permanent works, 2,979 kilometres of major bridges, Rs 689 crore in tunnel works and 2,498 kilometres of re-surfacing in 2019-20.

In the last two years since 2017-18 there has been a surge of 44 per cent in formation cutting, 15 per cent in surfacing, 55 per cent in permanent works, 17 per cent in major bridges and 49 per cent in resurfacing works.

The overall expenditure for 2019-20 was Rs 7,867 crore as compared to Rs 5,458 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 6,859 crores in 2018- 19, the officer explained.

Last month, the government has approved an additional Rs 1,691 crore for highway works by the Border Roads Organisation in Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

Further, amid escalated tension between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Lt Gen Harpal Singh had made a visit to the under-construction 8.8-km-long Atal Rohtang Tunnel that is set for a September opening.
Kashmir BJP leader Wasim Bari who was shot dead by terrorists in Bandipora on Wednesday evening. Image Source: IANS News

Kashmir BJP leader Wasim Bari who was shot dead by terrorists in Bandipora on Wednesday evening. Image Source: IANS News

Srinagar, July 8 : A BJP leader and an ex-district president of the party for North Kashmir's Bandipore was killed by suspected terrorists on Wednesday evening.

According to sources, the former BJP president of Bandipora district Wasim Bari was at his shop with his father and brother when some unidentified terrorists struck and shot at them injuring them critically. All three succumbed to the injuries.

The family had component of 8 security people but unfortunately none of them was there at the time of the incident.

DGP, J&K Dilbag Singh told IANS that a probe has been ordered and all the eight men who were assigned on BJP leader's security are being arrested.

Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav condoled with the family and tweeted: "Shocked and saddened by d killing of young BJP leader Wasim Bari and his brother by terrorists in Bandipora. Bari's father who is also a senior leader was injured. This despite 8 security commandos. Condolences to d family."
Mumbai, July 8 : After two days of relief, Maharashtra on Wednesday again shot to the the 6,000-plus range of new daily Covid-19 cases though deaths fell below the 200 mark.

The new Covid cases in the state increased from Tuesday's 5,134 to 6,603 now.

With Tuesday's 198 fatalities, the state death toll climbed to 9,448 and the total cases zoomed to 223,724 till date, both being the highest in the country.

The day's figures indicate a death recorded roughly every 7 minutes and a whopping 275 new cases notched every hour in the state.

The state's recovery rate improved marginally to 55.06 per cent, while the mortality rate remained unchanged at 4.22 per cent.

The Health Department said of the total number of cases declared till date, 91,065 are active cases.

On the positive side, 4,634 fully cured patients returned home on Wednesday - taking the number of those discharged today to 123,192 Of the latest fatalities, Mumbai alone accounted for 62 deaths, pulling up the city toll to 5,064 now, while the number of Covid-19 positive patients shot up by 1,347 cases to touch 87,856.

There were 36 fatalities each in Thane and Pune, 10 in Jalgaon, eight each in Satara, Aurangabad and Solapur, six in Raigad, five in Nashik, three each in Palghar, Kolhapur and Jalna, two each in Sangli, Nanded and Akola, and one each in Ahmednagar, Nagpur, Yavatmal and Beed.

After touring Thane for two days, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis launched a tour of a few districts in northern Maharashtra where he again called for more tests, ventilators, ICU beds, and other facilities to curb the Covid cases in the mofussil areas of the state.

The MMR (Thane division) continues to see deaths and cases pile up, with a total of 6,759 Covid-19 fatalities and a staggering 3,808 new patients, pushing up the number of positive cases to 155,578.

Thane's cases have shot past the 50K mark to touch 52,733 with 1,417 fatalities - to emerge as the second worst-hit district after Mumbai in the state.

Pune district raced past the 30,000 mark by notching 31,704 patients and 962 deaths till now.

However, the Pune division (comprising Pune, Solapur and Satara districts) - which has recorded 36,656 patients and 1,344 fatalities - remains behind MMR and Thane district.

Nashik division has 668 fatalities and 13,091 positive cases, followed by Aurangabad division with 353 deaths and 8,485 cases, and Akola division with 152 fatalities and 3,366 cases.

Kolhapur division has notched 62 deaths and 2,573 patients, Latur 63 fatalities and 1,464 cases, and finally, Nagpur division recorded 21 deaths and 2,358 cases.

While all the eight divisions in the state reported deaths and new cases, Chandrapur and Bhandara remain only two districts with zero Covid deaths so far.

Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home quarantine increased to 638,762, while those in institutional quarantine went up to 47,072.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi/Noida, July 8 : Amid speculation that wanted gangster Vikas Dubey might surrender either in a court or a news channel office, police presence has been increased outside such premises in Noida.

The Film City in Noida's Sector 16, where many national news channels' offices are located, saw heightened police presence on Wednesday. It was apprehended that the gangster might sneak into any news channel office to evade the UP Police, which is trying to arrest the absconding accused in the killing of eight policeman as early as possible.

"We have increased the presence of the police teams at various strategic locations in Noida. Strategic routes are also checked. We are searching for the gangster and have deployed our men at all possible places where there is a slightest possibility of him being seen," DCP, Noida, Sankalp Sharma said.

Checking of vehicles was conducted at various points in Noida and Greater Noida.

Heavy security was deployed outside the Noida court on Wednesday after speculation of Dubey attempting to surrender before the court made rounds.

Also in Delhi, police presence was heightened at strategic locations and men in plain clothes were deployed outside various courts to check the possibility of Dubey's surrender.

The UP gangster has kept the police teams of not just UP but all the adjoining states on high alert after he went underground following the killing of eight policemen approaching his home in Kanpur.

Earlier on Wednesday, Haryana Police arrested three close associates of Dubey from Faridabad after a glimpse of the gangster was caught in a hotel CCTV on Tuesday afternoon. The gangster, however, gave the police a slip.

Earlier the UP Police gunned down Dubey's close aide Amar Dubey in Maudaha, Hamirpur in UP. He was involved in the July 3 shootout. Crackdown by UP Police has also started in Greater Noida and Bulandshahr, while the bounty on Dubey was doubled to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 2.5 lakh.
Guwahati, July 8 : Assam reported eight more Covid-19 deaths, highest so far in 24 hours, taking the death toll to 22 in the state, while the number of positive cases sharply rose to 13,336, health officials said here on Wednesday.

Of the eight fresh deaths, including two women, five people died at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital while another 30-year-old patient died at Tezpur Medical College and a 19-year-old girl succumbed to the disease in Jorhat Medical College. A middle aged woman died at a hospital in Basistha, on the outskirts of Guwahati city.

The health officials said that the deceased patients have been suffering from severe anemia, septicaemia, severe pneumonia, diabetes and hypertension.

After sudden surge in coronavirus infections, the health department has started a door-to-door Covid-19 testing programme in Guwahati from Tuesday. Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is personally monitoring the programme in the Pandu area of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), and is asking people to cooperate, not panic.

The health department, which aimed to conduct 3,000 tests in the Ward No 2 (Pandu area), a Covid-19 hotspot, in two days, has already procured 200,000 rapid antigen testing kits for quick testing. "Among the 33,000 population in Pandu area, majority have no travel history. It caused concern to the authorities," said the officials.

"With a big rise in Covid-19 cases, Guwahati, is Assam and northeast India's main commercial city, has entered 'real pandemic phase' with community transmission being witnessed," the Health Minister had said. In just 11 days, the coronavirus cases in the Kamrup (Metro) district jumped to around 3,000 from 63.

Guwahati, headquarters of the Kamrup (Metro) district, is home to 11.20 lakh people. The state government announced a 14-day "complete lockdown" in the district from June 28 midnight to check the virus spread.

According to the officials, the number of Covid-19 cases in Assam climbed to 13,336. Of this, 4,585 are active as 8,726 people have been discharged, three migrated to other states and 22 people died.

Several districts have imposed bans on to and from journeys to Guwahati to prevent possible outbreak of community transmission.

Meanwhile, the Assam unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has found deficiencies and impracticality with the way the state government has been handling the Covid-19 management. The IMA in a letter to the Health Minister said that increasing hospital beds without manpower planning would be a futile exercise as the state has very limited human resources in terms of doctors and health workers.

"IMA strongly protests the government's order of engaging health workers and doctors in 11 days continuous service in the Covid wards and thereafter, only three days of quarantine before re-engaging them in Covid-19 duties subject to testing negative for the disease," the IMA letter said.

Fearing that the government's decision would demoralise the frontline workers, the IMA opposed the decision to switch over to antigen tests for checking health workers engaged in COVID-19 duty. "The Indian Council for Medical Research had already mentioned this test was less sensitive and a negative test did not rule out COVID-19. Already a large number of doctors and health workers has fallen victim to COVID-19 and such unplanned and insensitive steps would further endanger the health workers. The time is not far away when doctors and health workers would have to serve the people with Covid-19 in their persons," the letter said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bengaluru, July 8 : Active Covid containment zones in the city have shot up to 3,181 as cases continue to spike, an official said on Wednesday.

"Total active containment zones in Bengaluru are 3,181," said a health official.

The highest number of active containment zones are concentrated in South and West Bengaluru.

Active containment zones doubled in the last eight days while the city has seen a total of 3,276 containment zones.

From 358 active cases at the end of May, the number rose up to 4,555 by June 30 and 12,509 by Wednesday.

Overall, the city accounts for 10,103 or 61 per cent of all the active cases in the state.

On Wednesday, 1,148 cases emerged from the city, more than half of all the 2,062 cases.

In the last 10 days alone, Bengaluru saw 9,189 positive cases.

Compared to Covid cases in other metropolitan cities such as Delhi (1.02 lakh), Mumbai (86,509) and Chennai (71,230), Bengaluru accounts for 12,509 cases but higher than Kolkata with 7,680.

However, on a positive note, the city saw 418 of the total 778 discharges in the past 24 but recorded 23 of the 54 deaths.

The health department has tested 1.53 lakh people in the city with a positivity rate of 8.17 per cent and the rate of active containment zones is 80 per cent compared to the total containment zones of 3,276.

On Wednesday, a central government health team reviewed the tele-ICU programme of the state and also visited the K G General Hospital.

Earlier, it visited the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) war room and held a review meeting with Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.
New York, July 8 : India has done its best to respond to China's confrontation and the world must unite to act on Beijing's pattern of aggressive behaviour seen in Ladakh, Bhutan and around Asia, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.

"The Indians have done their best to respond" to China's "incredibly aggressive action," which fits a pattern, Pompeo said at a news conference in Washington.

He said that he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar several times about the Chinese aggression in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control last month.

He said that Beijing's attack on India has to be put in the context of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) "General Secretary Xi Jinping and his behaviour throughout the region, and indeed, throughout the world. I don't think it's possible to look at that particular instance of Chinese Communist Party aggression in isolation. I think you need to put it in the larger context".

After a Foreign Office Consultation between India and the US on Monday, the State Department said Jaishankar and Under Secretary of State David Hale discussed "ongoing threats" to the international order and agreed to "endeavour to support each other's objectives".

Pompeo referred to the boundary and maritime disputes launched by China from the Himalayas "to the waters of Vietnam's Exclusive Zone, to the Senkaku Islands, and beyond, calling them "unequalled anyplace else in the world." "There aren't many neighbours that could satisfactorily say that they know where their sovereignty ends and that the Chinese Communist Party will respect that sovereignty. That's certainly true now for the people of Bhutan as well." "The CCP recently filed a boundary dispute with Bhutan at a meeting of the Global Environment Facility," he said. "The world should not allow this bullying to take place, nor should it permit it to continue." He that the US will soon start a dialogue with the European Union "on how we collectively can respond to this challenge from the Chinese Communist Party." Pompeo said that President Donald Trump has taken the global threats from China "incredibly seriously," which he said previous US administrations had not.

"We will respond to this in a way that we think is appropriate, and we have attempted to communicate to the Chinese leadership that we are serious about this," he added.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The mural completed last weekend was a peaceful and powerful way to communicate the importance of black lives in Contra Costa County and the country. We must continue to elevate discussions and actually listen to one another in an effort to heal our community and country.
London, July 9 : Canada has decided to keep two Khalistani extremists on no-fly list. One of them, Bhaghat Singh Brar, is accused of working with Pakistans ISI intelligence service to plan an attack in India that was disrupted in 2017, the Global News reported.

Brar was stopped from boarding a flight at Vancouver International Airport on April 24, 2018, when he was told that he was on Canada's no-fly list. Parvkar Singh Dulai, his business partner, was also stopped from boarding a Toronto bound flight on May 17, 2018, when WestJet refused to let him board for the same reason.

Two years later, both Brar and Dulai are still fighting to get off the no-fly list, but documents obtained by Global News show why they were put there: The government alleges they are terrorism "facilitators." Jessica Davis, former analyst at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, said, "I was quite surprised by the level of detail in some of those files." According to a secret case brief report, the Canadian Intelligence Service believe that Brar is a Canada-based Khalistani extremist who has been engaged in terrorist related activities, particularly in fundraising in support of terrorist attacks overseas.

The documents suggest that Brar was also involved in "promoting extremism, including the radicalisation of the youth, with the aim of achieving Khalistan independence; and attack planning and facilitation, including weapons procurement, to conduct attacks in India".

Brar travelled to Pakistan in 2018, and while returning to Canada, he tried to board a flight in Vancouver but was denied boarding.

The Indian government has long complained that Canada is a base for Khalistani extremists. On February 23, 2018, the national security advisers of Canada and India had signed a cooperation framework.

Canadian intelligence reports suggest that Brar visited Pakistan in 2015 and allegedly worked with a man named Gurjeet Singh Cheema to plan an attack across the Indian border. Brar's role was "to make available arms and ammunitions in India".

The plot failed when the recruits were arrested near the India-Pakistan border while retrieving weapons and ammunition from a cache.

"Dulai has been described by Brar as a very vocal supporter of Khalistan," intelligence reports suggest. He was associated with the Sikh Vision Foundation (SVF), which endorses Talwinder Singh Parmar, the alleged mastermind of the Air India bombings that killed 331 people, most of them were Canadians.

The SVF gave a $175,000 mortgage to Ajaib Singh Bagri a year after he was arrested in 2000 for his alleged role in the Air India bombings. Dulai also worked on the Air India defence team, the documents allege.

The documents also suggest that Dulai is suspected to be a facilitator of terrorist-related activities, and has shown an ongoing pattern of involvement within the Khalistani extremists in Canada.

Both Brar and Dulai asked to be taken off the no-fly list, and internal reviews were conducted. But after weighing their cases, officials decided to keep them on the list.

Both declined to comment on the allegations, as the matter remains before the court. The office of Public Safety Minister Bill Blair declined to comment for the same reason.

Brar said that he was an upstanding citizen with no criminal record, and there was no evidence that he was ever a member of a terrorist organisation and that he "adamantly denies all of these suggestions." Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO), said there was reason for skepticism of such allegations in the wake of a counter-terrorism co-operation agreement between Canada and India.
Combined with Absolute Antibodys unique antibody engineering approach, we can harness even more potential from the nanobodies and help scientists worldwide fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Absolute Antibody Ltd., an industry-leading provider of recombinant antibody products and services, today announced a partnership with University of Zurich to offer synthetic nanobodies against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Under the partnership, the original nanobodies and newly engineered formats are now available to the global research community for use as serological controls and in COVID-19 therapeutic development. The synthetic nanobodies possess particular promise for the development of inhalable drugs, which could offer a convenient treatment option for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nanobodies are small antibody fragments that can reach previously inaccessible parts of the body due to their compact size. Researchers are exploring their potential as inhalable COVID-19 drugs, which would be easier to administer and reach patients lungs faster than other treatment formulations. The laboratory of Markus Seeger at University of Zurich developed a rapid in vitro selection platform to generate synthetic nanobodies, known as sybodies, against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. Within a two-week timeframe, the lab had identified more than 60 unique anti-RBD sybodies from combinatorial display libraries.

Further research showed that six of the sybodies bound SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with very high affinity, while five of those also inhibited ACE2, the host cell receptor to which SARS-CoV-2 binds to initiate the COVID-19 infection. Moreover, two of the sybodies can simultaneously bind the RBD, which could enable the construction of a polyvalent antiviral drug. The SARS-CoV-2 sybodies are therefore valuable tools for coronavirus research, diagnostics and therapeutic development, and the panel is now available to researchers worldwide via Absolute Antibodys online catalog.

Absolute Antibody recombinantly produces the SARS-CoV-2 synthetic nanobodies for ensured batch-to-batch reproducibility, high purity and low endotoxin levels. In addition, Absolute Antibody has used antibody engineering to fuse the nanobodies to Fc domains in different species, isotypes and subtypes. For example, the anti-RBD binders are now available with human IgG1, IgG3, IgM and IgA domains for use as serological controls. These recombinant engineered antibodies extend the applications of the sybodies by varying effector function and permitting increased half-life in in vivo studies.

We are excited to partner with the Seeger lab to make their novel synthetic nanobodies more widely available to the research community, said Dr. Michael Fiebig, Vice President Product Portfolio & Innovation at Absolute Antibody. Combined with Absolute Antibodys unique antibody engineering approach, we can harness even more potential from the nanobodies and help scientists worldwide fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global research community has been working at unprecedented speeds to fight COVID-19, said Dr. Markus Seeger, Professor at the Institute of Medical Microbiology of the University of Zurich. By partnering with Absolute Antibody, we have extended the reach and applications of our new synthetic nanobodies, furthering their potential in the race to develop urgently required therapeutics.

In addition to the new synthetic antibodies, Absolute Antibody offers a variety of other engineered reagents for coronavirus research, including SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and nucleoprotein antibodies, ACE2 Fc fusion proteins, and anti-human immunoglobulin antibodies for use in diagnostic tests. Absolute Antibody is also supporting coronavirus research by providing antibody engineering and manufacturing services, such as the production of gram quantities of human antibodies sequenced from recovering COVID-19 patients.

For more information, and a full list of available synthetic nanobodies and engineered antibodies, please visit our website here.

About Absolute Antibody, Ltd.

Absolute Antibody is a rapidly growing company with a vision to make recombinant antibody technology accessible to all. We offer antibody sequencing, engineering and recombinant production as custom services, as well as a unique catalog of recombinant antibodies, engineered into new and useful formats. Learn more here.

About University of Zurich

The University of Zurich (UZH) is a member of the League of European Research Universities and numbers among Europes most prestigious research institutions. UZHs international standing is reflected in the many renowned academic distinctions conferred upon its members, including twelve Nobel Prizes. As Switzerlands largest university, UZH has a current enrollment of over 26,000 students and offers the most comprehensive academic program in the country. Over 5,000 excellent members of staff teach and perform research at one of the Universitys 150 departments, including over 675 professors. UZH also looks back on a rich history, having been founded in 1833 as Europes first university to be established by a democratic political System. The research group of Markus Seeger is located at the Institute of Medical Microbiology. For more information please visit http://www.uzh.ch and http://www.imm.uzh.ch/de/research/experimental/teamseeger.html.

Contact:

Lisa Merolla

Director of Marketing

+1 617-377-4057 (extension 610)

l.merolla@absoluteantibody.com

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ARCTOS reflects the strength of a complete life cycle solution provider with the agility of motivated and integrated teams adopting and achieving the missions of our customers.

Advanced Core Concepts, a leading provider of full life cycle system support to defense, space, and intelligence markets, has announced a major rebranding as ARCTOS. ACC combined with premier firms ARMA and UTC in 2019 to create a unique enterprise capable of providing a wide range of technical solutions to help its diverse client base achieve mission success. The combined company is now ARCTOS.

Trase Travers, ARCTOS CEO, comments: The adoption of the ARCTOS name is an important step in the integration of the overall enterprise and provides a rallying point for the development of a unified culture of excellence. ARCTOS reflects the strength of a complete life cycle solution provider with the agility of motivated and integrated teams adopting and achieving the missions of our customers. We are proud of the contributions we are making to our nations most significant challenges and are excited for the future as we embark on ever-greater missions under the ARCTOS banner.

The rebranding includes a new ARCTOS website, logos, graphics, and color scheme to represent the companys all-in approach to providing technical solutions to customers. The new brand also symbolizes the companys full life cycle service offerings as the result of combining uniquely talented firms into a single company last year. ARCTOS has capabilities ranging from engineering and design, to cybersecurity and software development, to sustainment and logistics. ARCTOS is headquartered in Tampa, Florida with additional major operating locations in Albuquerque (NM), Colorado Springs (CO), Dayton (OH), Huntsville (AL), Los Angeles (CA), and Warner Robins (GA). ARCTOS employees are also stationed at other strategic locations across the United States and OCONUS.

About ARCTOS

ARCTOS is a new name, but the enterprise is not new to the industry with business segments possessing over 58 years of continuous support to the defense industry. ARCTOS provides a wide range of technical solutions for the defense, space, and intelligence markets. If it has anything to do with aerospace, cyberspace, or space systems, we design it and keep it going. This means everything from fighter jets and rockets to simulations and cybersecurity software. When it comes to complex, high-stakes missions, our all-in approach makes all the difference. It means our customers get more breadth, more know-how, and more accountability on every project. Thats why the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, NASA, and other government entities, all turn to us. Its also why private sector companies choose to partner with us. ARCTOS. All In.

For more information, please visit http://www.arctos-us.com.

Please direct company-related inquiries to Bill Gow, chief of staff of ARCTOS, at bill.gow@arctos-us.com.
Aiven, a leading technology company combining the best open source technologies with cloud infrastructure, announced today the launch of Karapace, the only open-source tool that serves as a drop-in replacement for Confluents Kafka REST and Schema Registry.

Were proud to announce the release of Karapace, which demonstrates our continued commitment to the Apache Kafka open-source community, said Hannu Valtonen, Chief Product Officer at Aiven. Karapace provides an additional tool that makes it easier to manage Kafka clusters at scale and further unlocks the full functionality of the Kafka ecosystem, whether users want to utilize Aiven services or not.

With the addition of Karapace, customers can use the tool to store Kafka schemas in a central repository and access their version history, serialize and deserialize messages, interface RESTfully with Kafka clusters, and perform administrative tasks on their cluster, such as produce and consume messages.

This is not the first of Aivens contributions to open-source projects. Theyve contributed a number of fixes and feature releases, such as PGHoard, a popular PostgreSQL backup daemon and restore tooling for cloud object storage. As the Aiven team continues to grow and specialize, they plan on making more significant core and feature contributions to the open-source technologies they provide service for.

The other founders and I have been ardent supporters of open source for the length of our careers, both philosophically and practically. When we started Aiven, we wanted to continue that support by baking it right into the DNA of the company while also committing resources to furthering the projects we benefit from and believe in.

Aiven licensed Karapace under Apache 2.0 and included a number of enhancements to make it lighter on resource usage. Aiven also plans to add features over time and assist in increasing the open access to Apache Kafka, whether implemented independently or as a service.

To learn more about Karapace, visit https://karapace.io/.

About Aiven

Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland and with offices in Berlin, Germany and Sydney, Australia and Boston, MA, Aiven is an ISO 27001 certified cloud data platform provider, operating managed open-source database, event streaming, cache, search, and graphing solutions for customers worldwide.

You can visit https://aiven.io for more information or follow Aiven on Twitter: @aiven_io.
TV data and measurement company, Alphonso, today announced it has renewed and expanded its agreement with TEGNA (NYSE: TGNA) to enable local advertisers to better understand the value and effectiveness of their local TV and OTT ad campaigns. The companies have renewed their multi-year partnership to include all of Premion, TEGNAs OTT and CTV advertising platforms. The new agreement enables TEGNAs local ad sellers to provide clients with digital-like measurement and attribution for linear TV and OTT campaigns.

With 62 television stations in 51 markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNAs Premion is the industry-leading CTV/OTT platform for local and regional advertisers. With directly-sourced inventory from more than 125 branded networks, Premion delivers brand-safe premium CTV and OTT impressions for local and regional advertisers at scale.

Local measurement and attribution across linear TV and OTT is top of mind for advertisers looking to maximize ROI in their media campaigns, said Tim Fagan, senior vice president and chief revenue officer, TEGNA. As audience behavior continues to evolve, Alphonsos technology provides critical measurement metrics to help us clearly demonstrate the efficacy of local TV and provide better solutions for our advertising partners.

Alphonso Local provides real-time audience measurement and rapid attribution reporting that connects linear and streaming audiences to online and offline business results, such as website visits and conversions, and visits to a specific brick-and-mortar location. Alphonso Locals suite of TV ad analytics, attribution and audience extension software and services for local broadcasters and station groups consists of three core offerings: closed-loop attribution, for rapid reporting on online and offline sales and visitation lift resulting from local TV ads; local TV-to-digital retargeting, so brands can amplify and optimize their TV spend across the web and mobile devices; and local TV ad insights for data-driven media planning and competitive analysis. Powered by highly scalable Video AI deployed across markets, Alphonso Local performs each of these functions with granular detail at the local-market-level, due to the massive scale of Alphonso TV viewership data.

Ashish Chordia, chief executive officer of Alphonso, said, TEGNA has been at the forefront of local TV measurement with Alphonso. As different markets in various states now begin to re-open their local economies, local TV and OTT measurement becomes increasingly important. As more brands increase their investment in TV in the coming months, TEGNA can help them make data-driven decisions to optimize ROI from every TV ad dollar. Were excited to extend our partnership into the future, while we add even more markets and capabilities that enable their sellers to grow revenue.

With 15 million opted-in households nationwide reporting viewership data to Alphonso via multiple major brands of smart TVs and other connected devices in the living room, Alphonso provides deterministic local-market TV viewership data at an unprecedented scale, to help local stations pinpoint and measure their TV audiences, so they can help local advertisers understand the journey from ad exposures to business results. Alphonsos patented video artificial intelligence (AI) completely automates the process of indexing and fingerprinting TV content both at a national and local level, creating metadata on the fly as ads and programs are played out over linear and OTT services. This automation enables the company to scale Alphonso Local in new markets quickly.

For more information on Alphonso Local, visit alphonso.tv.

About Alphonso

Alphonso is a TV data and measurement company, and the market leader in providing brands and agencies with real-time TV ad campaign measurement, closed-loop attribution for TV ads, and TV audience extension across digital devices. Alphonso TV Data Cloud services are used by hundreds of the Fortune 500 brands and agencies in the U.S.

With video AI technology embedded in tens of millions of smart TVs, TV chipsets, set-top boxes, and other connected devices, Alphonso understands what programming and advertising people watch on TV. Its SaaS offering, Alphonso Insights, delivers actionable TV measurement and closed-loop attribution with offline data in real time, to help brands understand the true impact of TV advertising. To learn more, visit http://www.alphonso.tv.

We are funded by luminaries in the media business and growing rapidly. We are hiring globally across all of our offices in the US, Europe and Asia.

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 62 television stations in 51 markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks Justice Network and Quest. TEGNA Marketing Solutions (TMS) offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, email, social and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNAs OTT advertising service. For more information, visit http://www.TEGNA.com.

For media inquiries, contact:

Alphonso

Bill Daddi

President, Daddi Brand Communications

(646) 370-1341

bill@daddibrand.com

TEGNA

Anne Bentley

Vice President, Corporate Communications

703-873-6366

abentley@TEGNA.com
With our daily log and event volume exceeding tens of terabytes a day and growing, it became clear that Armor needed to find a new log analysis solution which could scale. ChaosSearch could deliver the reliability, scale and expanded retention we needed.

ChaosSearch today announced that it is teaming with Armor, a leading global cybersecurity software company that protects workloads in public, hybrid and private cloud environments, to deliver an integrated log analysis solution. ChaosSearchs Data Lake Analytic Engine, running on Amazon S3, will be integrated into Armors flagship product, Armor Anywhere, to enable a new class of log search and data visualization. Using the combined solution, Armor customers will be able to analyze weeks and months of log and security event data, collected from across their environment, and create visual dashboards and custom reporting to meet their business needs.

With our daily log and event volume exceeding tens of terabytes a day and growing, it became clear that we needed to find a new log analysis solution which could scale with Armors growing business. We explored several options, and found that ChaosSearch could deliver the reliability, scale and expanded retention we needed. Their solution is helping ease our teams workload, while providing Armor a notable cost savings. ChaosSearchs expertise and white-glove treatment make them a pleasure to work with, said Josh Bosquez, Chief Technology Officer, Armor.

The fact that Armor, a company whose security software is trusted by enterprises around the world, chose ChaosSearch is extremely gratifying, said Les Yetton, CEO of ChaosSearch. We are super excited about teaming with Armor on such an important aspect of their product.

ChaosSearch provides the capabilities operational professionals need to store and analyze data at a scale, simplicity and cost thats disruptive. The solutions distributed architecture and proprietary indexing and compression technologies enable businesses to gain new and better insights quickly and at a fraction of the cost. ChaosSearchs fully managed service helps businesses be much more agile and efficient, and more easily meet changing market demands.

About Armor

Armor is a global cybersecurity software company that simplifies protecting data and applications in private, public or hybrid cloud environments. Armor Anywhere provides technology to detect and respond to threats and can be activated in minutes. Armor also helps organizations comply to major regulatory frameworks and controls. Armor combines workload protection, analytics from cloud-native sources, and other security data to provide unparalleled insight into threats facing organizations. Armors cybersecurity experts monitor customer environments 24/7/365 and if an attack takes place, helps customers respond quickly and effectively. Armor protects over 1000 customers in over 40 countries. To learn more, visit http://www.armor.com or follow @armor on Twitter.

About ChaosSearch

ChaosSearch delivers on the true promise of data lakes, instantly turning a companys own cloud object storage into a hot, robust, streamlined data analytics engine, where it is as simple to generate insights from the lake as it is to push data into it. Implemented today as a data lake engine for scalable log analysis on Amazon S3, ChaosSearch is an ELK-compatible, highly secure, fully managed service that scales to petabytes of data, quickly, and at disruptively low cost. The privately held company is based in Boston, MA. For more information, visit ChaosSearch.io or follow on Twitter @ChaosSearch.
"Our team has been supporting complex USDA missions for over a decade and we are proud to bring forward technology solutions that allow improved delivery of services to farmers and rural communities."

The ASRC Federal team supporting the United States Department of Agriculture in St. Louis, Missouri, has delivered a new, Salesforce platform-based application in support of USDAs Rural Development Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP).

HBIIP aims to increase the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by expanding the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products. The program will help rural communities build robust and sustainable economies.

The application, launched in late May, allows rural businesses to quickly and easily apply for federal grants set asides as part of the HBIIP. The application also serves as means for USDA leadership to track grant data and other program requirements and streamlines previous, paper-based management of HBIPP grants supporting the agencys digital modernization efforts.

ASRC Federals team of software and application developers performed full life cycle development and deployment, from gathering business requirements to final production in just under three months.

Our team has been supporting complex USDA missions for over a decade and we are proud to bring forward technology solutions that allow improved delivery of services to farmers and rural communities, said Jennifer Felix, ASRC Federal president and CEO. Through collaborative efforts with Rural Development stakeholders and our Salesforce implementation experts - we delivered a technology solution that will help farmers and rural communities while strengthening our countrys energy independence.

USDAs Rural Development programs offer loans, grants and loan guarantees to help create jobs and support economic development and essential services such as housing, health care, first responder services and equipment, water, electric and communications infrastructure.

About ASRC Federal

ASRC Federal comprises a family of companies that deliver software and application development, advanced analytics, digital operations and IT modernization, engineering solutions, professional services, and facilities and base operations to U.S. civil, defense and intelligence agencies. Our employees are committed to achieving successful mission outcomes and providing enduring value. ASRC Federal is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. For more information, please visit: http://www.asrcfederal.com
I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute, one minute, and is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs so itd be interesting to check that, Trump said.
Lisa M. Nyuli I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues in the months ahead to continue serving the legal community and enhancing access to justice for the public, Nyuli commented.

The Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) was founded more than 50 years ago to provide assistance to members of the Illinois Bar who, because of age or infirmity, could no longer provide for their own care or support. Since then, the Foundation has expanded its scope to ensure meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those with limited means, and to assist lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity.

A partner at AHR since 2000, Lisa focuses her practice primarily in family law. Prior to joining AHR, she worked as an attorney in Aurora and Geneva, IL for 10 years. In 2008, she became a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and currently serves on its board. She is active in the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) as a member of various committees and sections and has served on the Board of Governors.

A frequent speaker for the ISBA and the Kane County Bar Association (KCBA) seminars, Lisa presents on various topics, including family law, bankruptcy, practice management, GAL training and ethics/civility. She is a past President of the KCBA and the Kane County Bar Foundation. She received the Family Law Achievement Award from the KCBA in 2003 for her work in establishing a Childrens Waiting Room at the Kane County Judicial Center. She also received the pro bono award from the Kane County Bar Foundation in 2006.

Lisa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her Juris Doctorate degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law, where she was honored with the Alumnus of the Year Award in 2005. She has been selected by her peers in the legal community as a Leading Lawyer every year since 2010, and as a Super Lawyer every year since 2012 for her outstanding work in family law.

Lisa is active in the local community as well, volunteering her time for Administer Justice and Prairie State Legal Services, to name a few. She also has numerous published works in the field of law.

I consider it an honor to be President of the Illinois Bar Foundation. During these unprecedented times, the IBF is firmly committed to assisting our members who may be experiencing unique challenges. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues in the months ahead to continue serving the legal community and enhancing access to justice for the public, Nyuli commented.

About Ariano, Hardy, Ritt, Nyuli, Richmond, Lytle & Goettel, P.C.

Ariano, Hardy, Ritt, Nyuli, Richmond, Lytle & Goettel, P.C. (AHR) has provided trusted legal services to clients in the Kane County area for almost 40 years. The accomplished law firm of AHR offers personalized legal service in the practice areas of commercial litigation, business law, estate planning, real estate, family law, personal injury, and more.

To learn more about AHR, visit https://attorneys-illinois.com/ or call 847-695-2400 for a consultation.

About the Illinois Bar Foundation

The mission of the Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) is to enhance the availability of legal aid to those with limited means; encourage pro-bono legal work; educate Illinois residents regarding their rights and responsibilities under the law; and extend assistance to colleagues in need of support.

To learn more about IBF, visit https://www.illinoisbarfoundation.org/


Bode-CARES COVID-19 Testing Program Bode-CARES provides a turnkey solution that includes a comprehensive collection and virus-management program for our clients.

Bode Technology, a leading provider of laboratory testing services and products, announces a significant expansion of laboratory operations through its COVID-19 testing service, Bode-CARES. Bode-CARES combines high-volume clinical testing with robust collection for agencies implementing testing programs.

Bode-CARES provides a turnkey solution that includes a comprehensive collection and virus-management program for our clients. Bode can offer deployed services to our clients locations including oversight, documentation, specimen collection, transport, testing and reporting. The program includes partnerships with a national network of service providers and Bodes core laboratory expertise.

Bode has been involved in deploying laboratory operations across the world in challenging environments for many years, said Mike Cariola, President and CEO. Our team of more than 150 scientists are thankful to be able to offer this expertise to support our mission of public safety during this global pandemic.

Bode began offering COVID-19 testing to agencies concerned with the safety and welfare of their population, including law enforcement, crime laboratories, nursing homes, and universities. As many of these organizations seek solutions to safely operate, a partnership with Bode can offer a testing solution that meets their needs.

Quality testing and improving public safety are at our core. For 25 years now, we have used our technology to adapt to almost any situation, said Erin Sweeney, Vice President of Operations. Flexibility in the current environment is critical, and Bodes expertise enables us to quickly react to the needs of our clients.

Bode-CARES provides diagnostic tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The test will indicate whether SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected in a specimen, was not detected, or was inconclusive for detection. The Bode-CARES program provides fast testing in support of our clients to ensure safer environments for the organizations and communities we serve. Through Bodes COVID-19 testing, agencies will quickly know if an exposure, or potential exposure, to coronavirus has resulted in the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

About Bode Technology

Bode operates one of the most internationally respected private DNA laboratories and provides a comprehensive set of state-of-the-art forensic DNA collection products, DNA analysis services, and research services around the world. Bodes laboratory is CLIA certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the purpose of providing diagnostic testing. Bode is also accredited by ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for Forensic Testing and Calibration Laboratories as well as the FBI Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories and DNA Databasing Laboratories. In addition, Bode is AABB certified for relationship testing and has been certified by many states that required individual certifications including Texas, New York and Maryland.
There are an additional 3.4 million children under the age of 18 years who are assisting with care, standing in the adults caregivers shadow.

A new study from the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP finds that among the 48 million adult family caregivers of recipients aged 18 and over in the U.S., there are an additional 3.4 million children under the age of 18 years who are assisting with care, standing in the adults caregivers shadow. It is past time that public recognition and support is afforded to these children so they can achieve academic and personal success. The report is available here.

Managing the care recipients disease or condition has a ripple effect on the caregivers family unit, and children in the home may be called upon to carry out care tasks especially in the absence of resources. Among those who report the presence of other unpaid help (53 percent), 14 percent report at least one of those unpaid caregivers is a child under age 18. This data indicates that of the 48 million caregivers of adults, 7 percent report the presence of a child caregiver. The study also finds that financial impacts tend to be greater among young caregivers, with 39 percent of caregivers aged 18-49 facing impacts on their savings, and 37 percent experiencing impacts related to financial debt.

Caregiving impacts families, communities, and children, who tend to be disproportionately affected. This research reveals the acute challenges that young caregivers face, and the need to support this growing population, said C. Grace Whiting, J.D., President and CEO the National Alliance for Caregiving. Other research also points to the impact of caregiving on multiple people in the family, and relationships between family members.

Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 is not inclusive of single parent or grandparent households in which the child or grandchild are the sole providers of care. However, there is other recent data that points to the prevalence and challenges of youth caregiving. The spring 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sanctioned Youth Risk Behavior Survey, administered by the Department of Health in Florida public schools, included a question about caregiving. The survey found that 23.6% of middle school students and 16.4% of high school students in Florida public schools are participating in some type of care for a family member with a health condition.

Through its Caregiving Youth Project, The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY), based in Florida, has found that the trickle-down impact relative to health disparities is evident among the more than 1,700 youth who have been receiving free academic and youth development services in and out of school and at home. Among the identified risk factors within these ages include poverty, prenatal care, premature births, inability to achieve third grade level reading, teen births, child abuse, and high school graduation. With support the AACY has transformed lives resulting in a 98.3% average high school graduation rate with more than 90% going on to post-secondary education, including many entering healthcare.

These children, whose education is an adult responsibility, must become recognized as providers of health care at home, said Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD, President and Founder of AACY. They must be included in public health policy for family caregiving, support, and solutions. That they are in this role is through no fault of their own; no child in our country should have to drop out of school to provide care for family members. With state and federal recognition and support, together we can help break the cycle of health disparities.

One student recently wrote, My mom didn't have a car or her driver's license, which meant that we had to catch a bus to get to the doctors office. When we were there I would be so scared when it came to translating for my mom, or explaining to her what her medication was and when she had to take them, scared to say the wrong things, but I had to explain the best way I could. At times my mom would be embarrassed that her daughter had to translate for her, but I felt as if it was my duty to care for her. I was all the help she really could get at that time As the years went by, my mom's sickness just kept getting worse and life was repeating itself. I wake up, clean, cook, help my mom with her medication, take her blood pressure, measure her blood sugar, and help my sister. I felt as if I never had time to enjoy my childhood.

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About the National Alliance for Caregiving

Established in 1996, the National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on advancing family caregiving through research, innovation, and advocacy. NAC conducts research, does policy analysis, develops national best-practice programs, and works to increase public awareness of family caregiving issues. Recognizing that family caregivers provide significant societal and financial contributions toward maintaining the well-being of those in their care, NAC supports a network of more than 80 state and local caregiving coalitions and serves as Secretariat for the International Alliance of Carer Organizations (IACO). Learn more at http://www.caregiving.org.

About the American Association of Caregiving Youth

The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is the only organization solely dedicated to the academic and personal success of children caregivers. Working within systems of healthcare, education and the community, AACY has been providing prioritized and needs-driven support services for caregiving youth and their families in Palm Beach County, Florida since 2006 through its Caregiving Youth Project (CYP). It has also established the Caregiving Youth Institute, an Affiliate Network and a growing number of national partnerships.

For more information, press only:

Charlotte Davidson, National Alliance for Caregiving

781-913-4288

media@caregiving.org

Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD President and Founder, AACY

connie@aacy.org

For more information on the research:

http://www.caregiving.org/caregiving-in-the-us-2020/

http://www.aacy.org/
"Buffalo Creek Brewing stands in solidarity with organizations such as YouthBuild who support peaceful opposition to discrimination and injustice."

Buffalo Creek Brewing is releasing a new specialty beer called North Star with proceeds benefiting YouthBuild Lake County. The German-style Altbier will be available on draft at the brewery in historic downtown Long Grove beginning July 24th. $1 from every pint sold will go to YouthBuild Lake County, a local non-profit organization, in support of their vision to see self-sufficient young adults thriving and improving their communities.

Buffalo Creek Brewing stands in solidarity with organizations such as YouthBuild who support peaceful opposition to discrimination and injustice, said Buffalo Creek Brewing owner/brewmaster Mike Marr, who in response to the Black Lives Matter movement felt it was important to do something rather than simply stating something. As such, we identified YouthBuild Lake County as an organization we are proud to collaborate with as their objective of rooting out the inequalities caused by racism and discrimination by empowering the young leaders of tomorrow is truly inspirational.

Mike, a homebrewer who turned his professional beer-making dreams into a reality three years ago with the launch of Buffalo Creek Brewing, hopes the money he raises for YouthBuild Lake County programming will help other young dreamers transform their lives too. YouthBuilds mission is to provide underserved young adults with the education, training and life skills necessary to become gainfully employed and build a better future. The YBLC programs provide opportunities for young people to obtain their high school diploma, receive industry recognized credentials, develop career readiness skills, gain hands-on work experience, and move into careers or college and vocational schools.

The Buffalo Creek Brewing team named their new product North Star after the book, YouthBuilds North Star by co-founder John Bell, who wrote At its core, YouthBuilds founding and guiding North Star is to be a part of a broad social justice movement aimed at eliminating poverty and creating a beloved community. The German Altbier style is described by Mike as being malt forward with a long but smooth, bitter finish. It has a balanced copper color that is translucent when held up to light. Customers of Buffalo Creek Brewing can enjoy North Star any day of the week inside the authentic German-themed taproom or outside on its expansive grounds newly remodeled to provide for better social distancing and guest comforts. Buffalo Creek Brewing proudly welcomes some of the areas most popular food truck kitchens and musicians outside weekly (schedule posted at http://buffalocreekbrewing.com/events)  perfect opportunities to pair up a cold North Star or two and give a little to a good cause.

Where: Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, IL 60047

Contact: http://www.buffalocreekbrewing.com / phone (847) 821-6140 / email: info@buffalocreekbrewing.com

About Buffalo Creek Brewing:

Buffalo Creek Brewing is Lake Countys only destination brewery located in the heart of downtown Long Grove (about 30 miles NW of Chicago). What makes the brewery a destination? Its not in a warehouse or an old rundown building, but instead settled in a transformed art studio in the middle of a historic village. The state-of-the-art brewing facility features Bavarian-style beer and themed taproom, biergarten patio, private event room, brew masters lounge and scenic lawns spacious enough for gaming and social distancing.

About YouthBuild Lake County:

YouthBuild Lake County (YBLC) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization located in North Chicago, IL. YBLC operates under YouthBuild USA, which has been established for over 40 years and constitutes over 230 programs nationwide. Since 2004, YBLC has served over 800 youth in the Lake County area. Today, YBLC serves over 75 young people each year, and provides follow up assistance to hundreds of alumni. If you would like to support their mission in serving underprivileged young adults in the community, please visit yblc.org to make a donation or volunteer your time.


We are immensely grateful to all of our lecturers and mentors who are so dedicated to the success of our startups." - Kathie Callahan Brady, FITCI CEO

The Community Growth Accelerator Program, The Edge, welcomed its 2020 Cohort of 14 new startup companies. Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc (FITCI) leadership and mentors of The Edges program decided to transition this years courses and activities to an online delivery for the first time. These steps were taken, rather than postponement, to provide local entrepreneurs with much needed help during these challenging times.

The program launched its Introduction Week on June 30th and commenced with Week 1 classes on July 6th. Over the next 12 weeks, the selected entrepreneurs will receive in-depth, customized mentorship, guidance and resources, as a part of this intensive, boot-camp style course aimed at revving the start-up learning curve. Local mentors and lecturers will be aiding participants as they dive deep into topics including building a better business model, doing market research, concise communications, and capital considerations. The program will have more than 40 local entrepreneurs, CEOs and business leaders who volunteer on a weekly basis as mentors and lecturers.

Cooperative support is the strength of this program, said FITCI CEO Kathie Callahan Brady. We are immensely grateful to all of our lecturers and mentors who are so dedicated to the success of our startups. Its the right environment and the right time for shaping dedicated, well-informed business leaders who will augment the rich diversity of opportunity in this community as they go out and change the world.

The 12-week accelerator will culminate with the Demo Day, a pitch competition in front of a panel of investors and judges, where all participants will have an opportunity to test their pitch decks, win prizes, and gain access to valuable partnerships.

We are proud to announce these fourteen startups that have been selected to join our industry-agnostic 2020 Cohort:

Allow Me! New Market, MD, CEO: Sharry Vail

Brokkr Technologies, Middletown, MD, CEO: Andy Hessler

Cornerstone Genomics, CEO: Jill Pecon-Slattery

David Weigelt, Frederick MD

Finply Analytics, Potomac, MD, CEO: Luis Aguilar Levy

Frederick Cat Cafe, Frederick MD, CEO: Cynthia Richards

Incremental Health Care, Gaithersburg, MD, CEO: Nick van Terheyden

Jennifer Storm, Frederick, MD

Kayvo, Frederick, MD, CEO: Ayodeji Abraham

RebuImmunity, Frederick MD, CEO: Yunbiao Lu

Revolution Modern Dance, Frederick, MD, CEO: Amanda Comi

StepFusion Solutions, Frederick, MD, CEO: Bruce DeShong

Samantha Berenschot-Bucciero, Frederick, MD

Tumy Tech, Adamstown, MD, CEO: Brad Tumy

We would like to thank our gracious and talented instructors for helping teach this amazing group of entrepreneurs. FITCI is blessed to have such a wide range of talent and skills from so many different companies. Instructors for 2020 cohort are: Jonathan Boehman  HOME INSTEAD Inc, Vladimir Popov  FREDERICK NATIONAL LAB, Ray Crowell  HUMBLE VC, Darryl Glick  DALE CARNEGIE, John Hickman  SALISBURY UNIVERSITY, Diane McFarland - SBDC, Danny Farrar  CEO SOLDERFIT, Whitney Hahn  CEO DIGITAL BARD, Mary Jo Anderson  HOOD COLLEGE, Michael Unruh  Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship - MOUNT ST. MARYS UNIVERSITY, Graham Dodge  Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory (MAGIC), Anne Balduzzi  TEDCO, and Kathie Callahan Brady  FITCI.

This accelerator program is made special by not only the instructors but also by the connections and talent of the many Mentors who volunteer their time. The Edges first wave of Mentors currently include: Chris Pondoc, Amy Winchester, Kim Mozingo, Griffin St Louis, Jose Bueso, Amanda Haddaway, Jack Trammell, Teresa Mena, Barry Datloaf, Sue Carr, Daemon Price, Jim Pannucci, Tony Checchia, and Michelle Hoffman. (Note: not all are listed as the invites and confirmations are still in the process)

The Edge is considered a Community Growth Accelerator because of our incredible founding partners who have come together to connect our future entrepreneurs to needed resources. The Edge Founding partners, besides FITCI, are: Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, Leaders on Loan of Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, Hood College, Frederick County, Frederick County Office of Economic Development, The City of Frederick, and Frederick City Department of Economic Development. We are especially grateful to our Funding Sponsor, Rural Maryland Council (RMC), and are looking forward to announcing our Demo Day sponsors soon.

For more information, and our weekly The Edge blog updates, please follow the link - https://www.fitci.org/the-edge.html
Bright subscribers have access to 3,000+ live classes per month at less than the cost of a single lunch.

Halifax-based startup, Cribcut, has announced a July 2020 rebrand. Established in 2017, the company began as a hair service provider. Now called Bright, the company has launched a workplace well-being program with solutions for both in-office and work-from-home employees. Brights expanded offering includes beauty amenities as well as an array of well-being services that can be accessed both on-site and virtually.

With US$1.2 million raised to date, Bright will be focused on the growth of their well-being programming, and continuing to grow their business and technology team in Halifax, as well as their service provider roster across the US and Canada. The rebrand and service expansion began in April, just before hair and beauty services were suspended due to COVID-19.

We surveyed and interviewed thousands of clients and hundreds of companies  what we learned was that the clients yearned for more than hair services, and our partners wanted to be able to offer more amenities to their team, but didnt want to deal with individual vendors for each, said Bright co-founder and CEO, David Howe.

The challenges that are solved by Brights new programs include keeping remote teams well and engaged, boosting productivity of employees everywhere, and offering companies a suite of amenities they can use in retention and attraction of employees.

Teams using Bright amenities include co-working spaces such as WeWork and Industrious, large established companies such as Thomson Reuters and Target, as well as a number of hospitals and commercial real estate companies across their eleven markets.

Some of our customers are using the full suite of services and amenities we offer. Others, like Mattel for instance, dont need our cooking classes or our fitness sessions because they have chefs and trainers on staff. We are still able to create a program that works for them, and what we love is that we can help any company offer the perks that a renowned company such as Mattel can, said Howe.

The new branding represents change. Bright is evolving because the world around is changing  COVID-19 has given Bright the determination to explore opportunities focused on solutions that recognize self-care as a priority, not a luxury.

In our current disrupted climate, we found that our own team was struggling with the new realities of working remotely. We set out to find virtual solutions to keep people engaged. It wasnt easy, and found that most existing solutions consisted of pre-recorded programming or prohibitively-expensive live sessions. It became obvious that the vast majority of our partners were experiencing the same challenges. Our conclusion was that we could fill a gap if we offered a range of live solutions at a price-point that was accessible for any size team. And so we did just that; Bright subscribers have access to 3,000+ live classes per month at less than the cost of a single lunch, said Howe.

The official launch of the new brand and services is taking place between July 7th and 10th with what the company is calling Bright Week; a celebration of well-being with unlimited free access to all of Brights virtual fitness, yoga, and nutrition classes. These sessions will include learn how to run classes with Olympic runner, Geoff Harris, as well as learn how to cook classes with elite personal chef and former chef for Chicago Cubs, Rick Paniagua, and several keynotes by celebrated speakers on topics such as avoiding burnout, organizing ones office, injecting gratitude into the workplace, and (re)learning telephone and video call etiquette.

About Bright:

Bright is a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based startup that offers a combination of on-site and virtual services that help engage all types of employees and team members of the workplace. On-site offerings include hair, nails, dry cleaning, and massage. Virtual services include mindfulness, nutrition, yoga, and various fitness classes. Bright meets you where you are, delivering bold ambition and relentless dedication to getting more life done at work. For more information, visit choosebright.com.

About Bright Week:

A week-long celebration July 7-10, with 40+ free, live virtual sessions open to all. To register, visit choosebright.com/bright.
e-Spirit, maker of the industry-leading FirstSpirit Digital Experience Platform (DXP) powered by a hybrid headless CMS, has secured a number of partnerships with industry-leading technology solution vendors, highlighting the growing demand to reduce the deployment time for engaging enterprise-class customer experiences. Deploying hybrid headless technology helps companies quickly and easily generate rapid ROI by creating content-driven customer experiences across multiple touchpoints. For e-commerce companies, this helps increase revenue and improves customer loyalty by turning customers into lifelong fans.

In addition to deep integrations with leading commerce platforms such as Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Spryker and SAP Commerce Cloud, e-Spirit has expanded its e-commerce platform partnerships with commercetools and BigCommerce, making delivery of hyper-personalized content-driven experiences fast and easy for e-commerce companies. e-Spirit has also expanded its IT services partnerships to continue offering companies the fastest path to delivering web and omnichannel experiences to their customers, including new and expanded partnerships with Nvizion Solutions, Kodella, Smart OSC, Dunn Solutions Group, PixelMEDIA, Trellist, Geekhive, Valtech Singapore and ASAR America.

Enabling rapid delivery of content-driven commerce experiences with minimal IT support is a critical requirement for e-commerce companies that want to separate themselves from competitors and to quickly react to changing market needs. In addition to these technology and service provider partnerships, e-Spirit recently launched FirstSpirit Experience Accelerator, which shortens implementation time even further. Unlike rival CMS solutions, e-Spirits FirstSpirit hybrid headless CMS with the Experience Accelerator provides the flexibility that marketing teams need to create immersive and omnichannel experiences for customers, requiring minimal IT support.

Companies that want to deliver inspiring digital experiences in record time that engage their customers look to e-Spirit, said Udo Straer, chief revenue officer, e-Spirit. Working closely with our partners means fast and easy deployment of our award-winning hybrid headless CMS, which helps companies generate revenue faster. Leveraging the power of FirstSpirit Experience Accelerator allows companies to deploy an enterprise class CMS even quicker, including an out of the box progressive web application and more to achieve rapid ROI from their content management investment.

The SaaS-based FirstSpirit hybrid headless CMS is the next generation of a headless CMS and includes headless and decoupled capabilities. It offers significant opportunities for companies to rapidly deliver more inspiring, content-driven experiences to their B2B and B2C customers on any touchpoint. Developers, marketers, and other digital experience professionals no longer need to be tied to traditional CMS or pure-play headless CMSs, which lack scalability and ease of use for business teams. The result is the ability to rapidly create and deliver the ideal connected digital experience for each individual customer in the right context, and at the right time and place, to drive engagement and revenue.

e-Spirit was named as a Visionary in the 2019 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Web Content Management, included in a new Forrester Research report, Now Tech: Agile Content Management Systems, Q1 2020, and named a Market Leader in Research in Actions Vendor Selection Matrix for Web Experience Management.

About e-Spirit

e-Spirits SaaS-based FirstSpirit Digital Experience Platform helps businesses engage customers and increase revenue with rapid execution of personalized, content-rich digital experiences anytime, anywhere. Savvy digital marketers across all industry sectors rely on the FirstSpirit platform  which includes a hybrid headless CMS, AI-driven personalization and omnichannel marketing capabilities  for individualized and synchronized content delivery across all channels to differentiate their companies and turn customers into lifelong fans in record time.

e-Spirit, founded in 1999, is part of the adesso Group and has offices in 16 locations in the US, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Asia Pacific. Customers include international brands and corporations such as Commerzbank, BASF, Bosch, ASICS, Belk, Carters, Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, GNC, Grohe, Reitmans, Olympus, Santander Bank, Walbusch and many others. For more information, go to http://www.e-Spirit.com or call us at 781.862.5511.
The future does not seek our permission to show up and make demands,

As schools struggle to adapt to digital learning in the midst of a growing need for effective virtual teachers in the United States, the National Virtual Teacher Association (NVTA), a new association with a first-of-their-kind rigorous certification process created by education experts, is launching today to train educators for success in a virtual environment. To effectively provide students with quality instruction in a virtual environment, the NVTA Certification sets standards for educating students virtually and provides clear training on how to achieve them so teachers feel prepared to positively affect a students educational journey online.

Fostering deep relationships is essential in quality teaching and learning, said Dr. Tony Smith, NVTA board member, and former IL State Superintendent. The NVTA is expanding the capacity of teachers to do the unique work of teaching on-line. Helping each teacher grow in this new environment is a key ingredient for student success.

More than three-quarters of public school districts in the U.S. are now using online learning to deliver instruction to students, according to the 12th annual Keeping Pace report. As this medium of instruction continues to grow, virtual teachers need a skillset that is completely different from what is required to teach in-person. The NVTA Certification program trains teachers to master technology, improve their practice, and become a 21st-century educator. To measure performance, experts developed a comprehensive rubric with outlined expectations for distinguished virtual teachers that goes beyond just the lessons they teach in the classroom.

Knowing each student well and supporting their deep learning is at the heart of educational equity, Dr. Smith said. Doing this complex work online requires new skills and awareness. Online teaching is a competency that can be learned and taught. From now on, students and families are counting on our teachers knowing how to create meaningful learning both in-person and online.

The NVTA was built by seasoned superintendents, expert educators, and education technology entrepreneurs with a combined 150 years in education that pioneered the delivery of virtual education in the K-12 and post K-12 space. The NVTA Education Advisory Board consists of five education leaders from around the country, including former IL State Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith, former New Jersey Commissioner of Education Kimberley Harrington Markus, Arizona School Board Association Executive Director Dr. Sheila Harrison-Williams, President and Founder of Proximity Learning Inc. Evan Erdberg, and Pulitzer nominated author Clifton Taulbert.

The future does not seek our permission to show up and make demands, Taulbert said.

The certification is an opportunity for teachers to set themselves apart from the status quo and advance their careers faster. When a virtual teacher is trained properly, they can create a world-class learning environment that engages and motivates students on the digital medium they live in every day.

Do not be held captive by your present reality, Taulbert said. Accelerate your imagination.

About National Virtual Teacher Association Inc.: NVTA Inc. is an organization created specifically to help advance and define the standards of quality virtual teaching and learning. Established as the professions medium for defining and validating excellence in a virtual teaching environment, the National Virtual Teacher Certification is a voluntary process to certify teachers to meet those virtual teaching standards. Written by Christina Peebles. Learn more: https://virtualteacherassociation.org/.
The courts decision affirms that, simply put  if you want to charge for it, you need to put it in the contract.

The class action was filed in June 2016, in the Western District of Missouri by Michael Vogt and other individuals who owned universal life insurance policy form 94030 issued by State Farm. The lawsuit alleged that State Farm breached the terms of the policies by overcharging policyholders through cost of insurance provisions causing policies to lose value and in many cases lapse, leaving many without life insurance.

Trial commenced June 1, 2018 and the jury awarded $34.3 million to approximately 24,000 Missouri policyholders. State Farm appealed to the Eighth Circuit asserting various errors and Vogt cross appealed. Vogt prevailed on all issues.

Were very happy with the courts decision to affirm the trial court, said John Schirger, co-lead counsel and founding partner of Miller Schirger LLC. We hope that these policyholders, who for decades were unknowingly overcharged, will soon finally receive payments.

Many insurers define the cost of their insurance fees by delineating factors outside typically considered mortality elements and in this case the costs of charges werent outlined with specificity, said Norman Siegel, co-lead counsel and founding partner of Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP. The courts decision affirms that, simply put  if you want to charge for it, you need to put it in the contract.

Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP and Miller Schirger LLC are currently representing clients in similar cases in California, Texas and the State of Washington, and are investigating matters involving life insurance policies nationwide. The firms have a successful record prosecuting class action cases alleging policy overcharges against the life insurance industry, having collected over $2.25 billion in client value over the last five years against some of the nations largest life insurance companies.

Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP is a Kansas City, Missouri based firm representing businesses and individuals in high-stakes litigation nationwide on a contingency basis. The firm is one of the preeminent plaintiff's trial law firms in the nation, known for its high-stakes, landmark verdicts and settlements in significant individual and class action litigation. Since its establishment in 2001, the firm has led some of the most complex and high-profile cases in state and federal courts, recovering billions in verdicts and settlements. For more information visit http://www.stuevesiegel.com.

Miller Schirger LLC is a Kansas City, Missouri based law firm focused on resolving complex disputes on behalf of businesses and individuals nationwide. The firm has a proven track record of success representing plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal trial and appellate courts. For over ten years the firms class action practice has been focused on prosecuting claims against the life insurance industry, resulting in the recovery of over $2.25 billion in client value. For more information visit http://www.millerschirger.com.

Vogt v. State Farm Life Insurance Co., No. 18-3419 (8th Cir. 2020)
The woman, who also failed a sobriety test, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
eMazzantis highly professional monitoring and support gives me one less thing to worry about knowing that my people can always work, and my information is safe.

eMazzanti Technologies, a NYC area managed services provider and MSP has published a new case study relating how 10 years of reliable IT services and a recent server upgrade have generated peace of mind for agency owner, Jill Rowland.

The informative case study features A+ Personnel, a woman-owned, independent agency located in Bayonne, New Jersey. According to the study, the companys server upgrade, planned out and executed in a single day, also went very smoothly with little downtime.

eMazzantis highly professional monitoring and support gives me one less thing to worry about knowing that my people can always work, and my information is safe, related Jill Rowland, President and Owner, A+ Personnel.

Below are a few excerpts from the case study: eMazzanti Delivers Peace of Mind for A+ Personnel.

Smooth Server Upgrade

In 2018, eMazzanti upgraded the companys server. As part of the upgrade, eMazzanti added reliable, automatic backups to replace her manual procedure. A project lead engineer and associate came on-site for one day to perform the upgrade.

We wanted to remain productive with little or no downtime during the upgrade and then continue with on-going worry-free operations, Rowland stated. It all went very smoothly. eMazzantis staff is patient, willing to explain to non-technical employees, tell us why something will happen and generally educate us as needed.

Immediate Response

A+ staying with the same managed services provider for more than 10 years says something about eMazzantis professional and prompt eCare service and staff. As strategists, problem solvers, facilitators, and watchkeepers, they have Rowlands back.

eMazzanti does a great job! Most impressive, they keep in constant contact, concluded Rowland. I can get help immediately. That is number one for me.

Read the full case study >>

Consistently Excellent

Established in 1987, A+ Personnel provides temporary and direct hire staffing services to corporations located in New Jersey and New York. As a woman-owned, independent agency, the company thrives by providing consistently excellent customer service and steady management.

Proactive Service

eMazzantis engineers proactively monitor Rowlands network and PCs for operational problems. They also provide on-going cyber security, hourly support as needed, and backup for critical business data, which includes job candidates, clients, orders, and accounting.

Have you read?

How to Strengthen Convenience Store Security

How to get your office ready for the return post COVID-19

About eMazzanti Technologies

eMazzantis team of trained, certified IT experts rapidly deliver increased revenue growth, data security and productivity for clients ranging from law firms to high-end global retailers, providing advanced retail and payment technology, cloud and mobile solutions, multi-site implementations, 247 outsourced network management, remote monitoring and support.

eMazzanti has made the Inc. 5000 list eight consecutive years, is a 4X Microsoft Partner of the Year, the #1 ranked NYC area MSP and NJ Business of the Year! Contact: 1-866-362-9926, info@emazzanti.net or http://www.emazzanti.net Twitter: @emazzanti Facebook: Facebook.com/emazzantitechnologies.
ERS extends special offers for 18th birthday We have weathered recessions, retailer bankruptcies, new competitors, skyrocketing NYC costs and now a pandemic. We are pleased to continue to help retailers, their vendors and licensors  especially through these difficult times. - Jim Lewis, Founder & CEO, ERS

Enhanced Retail Solutions (ERS), a top provider of solutions to suppliers of the retail industry for use in analyzing product sales and trends announces its eighteenth-year anniversary.

As a buyer at JCPenney, Jim Lewis learned of his vendors' struggle sharing the responsibility of managing the business at their retail partners and on July 1, 2002 Jim started a consulting business to help such vendors.

Very quickly he realized he needed software to automate the study of hundreds of sku's across thousands of doors of the national chains. Originally commissioned as internally used software, Jim quickly learned of client interest in the software as well. This led to the commercialization of that software.

ERS has grown from a one-man shop to more than 20 people in New York City, Dallas, Ireland, and India with well over 100 clients around the globe.

ERS recently launched several new services and features including:



Virtual office hours Companies can pop in at the designated time each week and ask questions to its team of experts  This is open to the public.

A price elasticity function in Item Planner that helps companies understand the relationship between promotional pricing and sales.

An ecommerce performance report for drop ship suppliers that recommends when and how much to buy of strong performers and how deep to markdown poor performers.

A dashboard and other resources that help track and manage inventory as stores reopen due to the virus.

To celebrate its 18th Anniversary, ERS is offering more free trials and discounted subscriptions. Whats more, ERS is offering its $9.99 Retail Primer ebook for free the month of July! Contact ERS for more information.

We have weathered recessions, retailer bankruptcies, new competitors, skyrocketing NYC costs and now a pandemic., says Jim Lewis, Founder and CEO, Enhanced Retail Solutions. We are pleased to continue to help retailers, their vendors and licensors  especially through these difficult times.

About Enhanced Retail Solutions LLC

Enhanced Retail Solutions is a New York based software and consulting firm specializing in retail analysis for the manufacturer. ERS' state of the art software tools + consulting delivers critical data quickly, easily and cost effectively, adding over one hundred million dollars to their clients' bottom line. ERS' broad customer base includes industry leaders in the Apparel, Footwear, Home Textile, Toy, Home Decor, Home Improvement, Electronics, Consumer Products, Housewares and Food Industries.

For more information, visit http://www.enhancedretailsolutions.com
EOS Labs is the utility financial intelligence and technology company behind UFIQTM The platforms added value is providing intelligence powered decision center that host all data related to utilities and energy; such as, billing itemized data, weather, building and business operational data, and more.

As a typical facility can waste 30 percent of the energy it consumes or more due to lack of optimization, EOS Labs, a leading utility financial intelligence and technology company, launched today to help building managers ensure facilities are operating at optimum levels.

The demand for determining where buildings can cut energy costs has increased dramatically in recent months, due to the COVID-19 crisis and resulting financial downturn and a spotlight has been placed on this issue as buildings were left partially empty for months and were not energy optimized. EOS Labs is uniquely positioned to solve this challenge and assist facility managers in delivering both immediate and long-term cost savings strategies.

In addition to automating and centralizing utility data, EOS Labs Utility Financial Intelligence (UFIQ) platform uses AI and advanced analytics to further analyze smart meter and interval utility data, define anomalies wasting energy and deliver actionable insights to support decisive action for facility managers across vertical industries. These financial insights are adjusted for weather, occupancy and specific building consumption variables, helping organizations to eliminate energy waste without costly building upgrades, as well as increase savings.

The platforms added value is providing intelligence powered decision center that host all data related to utilities and energy; such as, billing itemized data, weather, building and business operational data, and more.

Today, building managers across vertical markets are inundated with data and many technology tools available actually hurt operational efficiencies by raising unnecessary alarms that slow cost-saving decisions, said Sal Alhelo, Founder and CEO. Currently, when building managers receive an alarm or alert from their BMS or utility management software, those alarms are treated at the same level of urgency, which doesnt allow for focusing on the alarms that have the most impact on an organizations bottom line. This is a continual challenge for facilities managers and one we are looking forward to helping them solve.

How It Works

With a focus on increasing efficiencies for facilities across Education, Healthcare, Banking, Hospitality, Retail, Fitness and other markets, EOS Labs takes the data points that directly impact a companys bottom line and prioritizes those data points to determine which alarms require immediate action.



Data collected by EOS Labs is presented to building facility managers via dashboards containing simplified and actionable financial insights and custom alerts.

EOS Labs automates the majority of the analysis as well as the review process, providing customers with easy to digest insights built on the customers priorities and goals.

EOS Labs presents any alarming data enabling immediate action, providing how long an issue has been in effect and the associated costs.

For buildings with existing IoT-enabled building management systems (BMS), UFIQ provides an added element of financial intelligence. To elevate the existing platform, UFIQ eliminates the critical and costly blind spot in energy management that typical fault detection algorithms might miss.

During emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to be able to quickly manage utilities effectively and oversee usage across facilities, added Alhelo. The extra layer of visibility ensures building managers can minimize energy consumption of assets.

UFIQ provides that visibility to the entire building's energy financial performance in alignment with the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) and equips managers with the financially sound guidance they need to operate and adjust BMS to achieve optimal energy savings.

Based in McKinney, Texas, EOS Labs Founder and CEO, Sal Alhelo, has nearly 15 years of experience in energy management, engineering, construction and building operations. He has significantly contributed to the design of multi-billion-dollar hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and several healthcare facilities in Texas, as well as managed facilities programs for a Fortune 500 company for more than six years.

For more detail, please visit https://energyeos.com.

About EOS Labs

EOS Labs is the utility financial intelligence and technology company behind UFIQ  a platform that provides the financial intelligence necessary to ensure your building is operating at an optimal efficiency level. The company leverages proprietary AI and advanced analytics to analyze smart meter and interval data, define the anomalies wasting energy and deliver actionable insights to support decisive action for facility managers across vertical industries. The platforms added value is providing an intelligence powered decision center that hosts all data related to utilities and energy; such as, billing itemized data, weather, building and business operational data, and more.
Jessi Nalepa, Communications Director, Hagerty Consulting Jessi is a pivotal communicator and government relations professional in Washington, D.C. The breadth and depth of her experience and knowledge will help make our firm even stronger, said Founder and CEO, Steve Hagerty.

Hagerty Consulting, a nationally recognized leader in emergency management and homeland security consulting, announced the addition of Jessica (Jessi) Nalepa as the companys first Communications Director. In this capacity, she will serve as a member of Hagertys leadership team providing strategic direction and oversight of the companys external communications and engagement. Prior to joining Hagerty, Nalepa spent nearly a decade in federal service. Most recently, she served as FEMAs Director of External Affairs.

Jessi is a pivotal communicator and government relations professional in Washington, D.C. The breadth and depth of her experience and knowledge will help make our firm even stronger, said Founder and CEO, Steve Hagerty. We are excited to have her join our team as we continue to grow and find innovative ways to serve our clients as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

As Hagerty Consultings Communications Director, Nalepa will be the companys chief spokesperson and responsible for driving the companys external communications strategy through effective media engagement, digital communication, as well as public relations and advocacy campaigns designed to both advance Hagertys mission and brand while drawing attention to the importance of community preparedness and resiliency.

I am honored to join Hagerty Consulting as the companys first Communications Director at such a dynamic time, said Nalepa. I am passionate about professional emergency management and look forward to continuing to highlight the importance of disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and community resiliency through Hagerty's client-centric, integrous brand.

As FEMAs Director of External Affairs, Nalepa managed the daily operations of the agencys public affairs, strategic communications, congressional and intergovernmental affairs, as well as the Ready.gov campaign. During her tenure, she coordinated and led the Agencys external communications and engagements for over 234 Presidentially declared disasters, including the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic as well as some of the Nations most devastating hurricanes and wildfires.

Before joining FEMA, Nalepa spent nearly seven years on Capitol Hill. She culminated her congressional career by serving as the Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman Michael T. McCaul (TX-10), then Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. A loyal George Mason University Patriot, Nalepa is a two-time graduate; holding a bachelors degree in government and international politics with a minor in political communication; and, masters degree in public policy with a focus in national security.

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Hagerty Consulting is an emergency management consulting firm that helps clients prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Established in 2001, Hagertys work includes supporting the nations largest programs addressing emergency management issues and challenges, including recovery from 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, the 2018 California wildfires, Hurricane Michael, and the response to and recovery from COVID-19. The firm is (and has been) consistently recognized throughout the industry for its innovative thinking, client-centric service, and the superior results it delivers to every project. Hagerty professionals reside in all 10 FEMA regions; the firms offices are in Evanston, Illinois (corporate headquarters); Austin, Texas; Washington, D.C; New York City, New York; Sacramento, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tallahassee, Florida; and Hickory, North Carolina.

Follow Hagerty on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook!
Francis said this about his book: My book is certainly timely considering the plight of many immigrants in the United States and other countries. The book is interesting and entertaining. It offers inspiration to new people in the USA; and it helps educate Americans and, by extension, the natives of other industrialized nations, about the plight of immigrants and their resistance. The book is full of humor and poignant moments, but there is also a clear opportunity to debate regarding differences in cultural traditions and parenting. It is an excellent job and a well-written life experience and a blueprint for every immigrant who comes to a foreign country. A valuable contribution to the understanding of the difficulties of immigrants and their resistance. Do you want a definition of racism, stigma, discrimination, prejudice, bigotry, and survival? You must read this book.

Published by Page Publishing, Francis Ashun, MPHs new book Cronica de la Vida de un Inmigrante en los Estados Unidos is a timely masterpiece that shares riveting experiences that contain insights on the countrys social stigma in the form of racism and bigotry as well as potent points that address how to survive for immigrants to ponder upon.

Consumers who wish to be filled with knowledge concerning the pros and cons of being an immigrant can purchase Cronica de la Vida de un Inmigrante en los Estados Unidos in any bookstore, or online at Apple iTunes, Amazon.com, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries, you can contact Page Publishing, through the following number: 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional full-service publishing house that handles all of 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 bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex, and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
The Germ-Fogger One or Two Head High Volume Disinfecting System We're up and shipping in the USA so its natural for us to expand our Germ-Fogger sales and manufacturing to Mexico and Latin America.

The Germ-Fogger disinfecting spray system with vortecular technology and a unique one or two head design to efficiently sanitize large surfaces is now available in Mexico and Latin America. A new Spanish-language website, https://www.germ-fogger.mx, is now available to support sales in that region.

In this era of worldwide pandemic, the ability to rapidly and efficiently disinfect a wide variety of buildings and outdoor venues has become a critical part of maintaining work spaces that are safe and secure for employees and the public. Even as economies re-open around the world, the need for large area disinfection remains huge. The Germ-Fogger makes this large area disinfection process a lot easier and more cost effective.

EXPANSION INTO ADJACENT MARKET

Germ-Fogger shipped in the United States on schedule. states Thad Fisco, President of Portland Kettle Works, a world leading manufacturer of high tech stainless craft brewing and beverage systems. Since 2014 our manufacturing facility in Queretaro, Mexico has supported sales of our beer and winery equipment in Mexico and Latin America so its natural for us to now expand our Germ-Fogger sales and manufacturing in that region.

Our initial plan was to launch Germ-Fogger in the U.S. That effort is going very well with schools, medical facilities, industrial sites, etc. The urgent world-wide need for decontamination, combined with the impressive performance of the Germ-Fogger has led us to move up our launch to Mexico and Latin America. We remain committed to re-purposing a significant portion of our business operations to help bring this crisis under control.

DESIGNED TO BE EASY-TO-USE, STRONG AND DURABLE

Our principal design goal for the Germ-Fogger was to make an easy-to-use industrial grade product designed for fast disinfecting agent delivery, easy maintenance and long useful life, continues Fisco. We did this by using the same high strength aircraft grade aluminum, stainless steel and brass components we use in our brewery equipment. Mounted on a rolling cart, except for hoses the Germ-Fogger has no plastic parts yet it is compact, lightweight, maneuverable and strong enough for years of heavy commercial use.

Germ-Fogger is ideal for precision bulk disinfection of all categories of commercial, industrial and government facilities including:

Floors

Countertops

Walls

Restrooms

Locker rooms

Aircraft cabins

School buses

Train cars

Hospitals

Daycare facilities

Schools

Offices

Restaurants

Bars

And all other high-touch areas

TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

The Germ-Fogger's patent pending design incorporates a number of features that make it the best disinfecting agent delivery system available today. One of its most innovative features is its ability to support one or two disinfecting agent spray wands off a single disinfecting agent tank. The Germ-Fogger comes standard with one disinfecting agent wand. The second wand can be ordered at the same time or added later. With two wands the Germ-Fogger can disinfect over 52,000 sq. ft. (4,830 m2) per hour!

OTHER GERM-FOGGER FEATURES

The Germ-Fogger's design also incorporates a number of additional features to make it the best disinfecting agent delivery system available today.



Full documentation in both English and Spanish available

High Quality Construction  The Germ-Fogger is built from machined aluminum, stainless steel and brass parts, all easily serviceable. In normal use it will provide you with years of trouble free service.

Ergonomic Atomizing Wand Design  the palm fitting grips of the Germ-Fogger atomizing wands are comfortable to hold and a gentle squeeze on the trigger unleashes the fogging spray.

High Capacity  the Germ-Foggers disinfecting agent tank holds five full gallons (18.9L) of disinfecting agent allowing it to cover up to 52,000 sq. ft. (4,830 m2) on a single filling. And with both heads in use this can be covered in less than an hour!

Quick Change Tank  the Germ-Foggers disinfecting agent tank uses stainless steel quick disconnecting fittings. This allows you to swap tanks in a matter of seconds and continue spraying with minimal down time. Extra tanks can be pre-filled and kept ready for rapid use.

Safely Extended Spray Tip  the Germ-Foggers precision brass spray tip is almost 10 from the operators hand to minimize operator exposure to disinfecting agents. And the spray tip is connected with a quick disconnect fitting for rapid exchange.

Easy to Use  once you've aimed the sprayer a gentle squeeze on the ergonomic pistol grip trigger is all it takes to start the spray.

Right- or Left-handed Operation  The Germ-Fogger spraying wand is completely ambidextrous.

Using a Germ-Fogger one or two operators can rapidly disinfect even the largest facilities or outdoor venues.

AVAILABILITY. MORE INFORMATION.

The Germ-Fogger is in production now. More information is available at:

English: https://www.germ-fogger.com, phone: +1-503-236-4500

Spanish: https://www.germ-fogger.mx, phone: +52-222-559-7313.

Germ-Fogger is a subsidiary of Portland Kettle Works. More information on Portland Kettle Works is available at:

English: https://www.portlandkettleworks.com

Spanish: https://www.portlandkettleworks.mx
This is an incredible value added at no cost for students, practicing physical therapists, and physical therapy programs looking to augment existing curricula.

In an effort to further prepare physical therapy students and clinicians about the proper management and treatment of patients with wounds, HMP Global, a leading healthcare events and education company, today announced the launch of a new web portal designed for physical therapy students as part of its Why Wound Care? (WWC) initiative.

The WWC initiative works to inform physical therapy, medical, and nursing students; recent graduates; faculty; and practicing clinicians about rewarding careers in wound care, and offers educational resources to supplement current academic curriculum, where wound care education may be limited.

With the development of the new portal, physical therapy students and faculty now have access to the following complimentary evidence-based wound care resources:



Over 25 video modules covering the fundamentals of wound care, with a number presented by physical therapists, including: Basic Wound Management, Biophysical Energies in Wound Healing  Part One: Electric and Sound & Part Two: Light and Pressure, Edema & Lymphedema, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, Basics of Burn Rehabilitation, and more

Downloadable PDFs of all 25 chapters of Chronic Wound Care: The Essentials e-Book, the gold standard of wound care textbooks

Information about other continuing education resources, including wound care conferences and medical journals

Virtual Wound Rounds (VWR) developed and hosted by Frank Aviles for physical therapy students who were unable to participate in wound rotations due to the COVID-19 pandemic this semester. VWR topic presentations include: Virtual Wound Clinic, Challenging Lower Extremity Wounds, Pressure Injuries, Wound Dressing Debate, and more

The addition of the new physical therapy student portal continues the growth of our Why Wound Care? initiative, said Peter Norris, Senior Vice President, HMP Global. First we introduced WWC to nursing students, then medical students, and next practicing clinicians, with the portal becoming a go-to source of free wound care content, with thousands of vistors accessing modules and other materials. With the newest addition of the physical therapy student portal, we now have provided practical wound care educational resources that can augment teaching curricula or be utilized for independent study.

The WWC physical therapy student advisory boardcomprised of 11 world-class wound care educators teaching at top physical therapy schoolscontributed to the development of the materials.

The Why Wound Care portal for physical therapy students provides a much-needed resource in physical therapy education, as many schools dont have the luxury of having a full-time faculty member with wound care expertise, said Joseph McCulloch, PT, PhD, CWS, FAPTA, and retired Dean of the School of Allied Health Professions at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, and co-chair, WWC physical therapy student advisory board. Now students have access to the numerous physical therapy wound care practitioners who share knowledge in their areas of expertise.

This is an incredible value added at no cost for students, practicing physical therapists, and physical therapy programs looking to augment existing curricula, added Heather Hettrick, PT, PhD, CWS, CLT-LANA, CLWT, and Professor in the Physical Therapy Program at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and co-chair, WWC physical therapy student advisory board. The WWC initiative provides bite-size learning opportunities on numerous topics from leading experts in the field, with an emphasis on the role and value of physical therapists in wound management.

To learn more about Why Wound Care?, or to take advantage of these free resources, please visit whywoundcare.com.

About HMP Global

HMP Global is the force behind Healthcare Made Practicaland is a multichannel leader in healthcare events and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global healthcare community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include Consultant360, the year-round, award-winning platform relied upon by primary care providers and other specialists; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; EMS World Expo, North America's largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com.
Xtalks Life Science Webinars Recent and proposed changes to the policy environment directly affect market access for advanced diagnostics.

The precision medicine landscape has experienced significant evolution in the past ten years, evolving from single gene assays to complex next-generation sequencing panels. During this period, the access landscape has evolved significantly, emerging from a traditional access environment with relatively few inputs to an exceedingly complex environment, with policy initiatives playing an increasingly pivotal role.

Recent and proposed changes to the policy environment directly affect market access for advanced diagnostics. These changes include but are not limited to:



Medicares date of service policy

Medicares national coverage determination for next-generation sequencing

Federal legislative initiatives, including the VALID Act and VITAL Act

FDA guidance, including class-based companion diagnostic labeling

The experts from Boston Healthcare Associates routinely leverage their expertise in precision medicine and policy to support diagnostic and biopharmaceutical clients as they navigate the policy environment. In this webinar, participants will learn about the need for diagnostics policy monitoring and engagement to support development and access for precision medicines.

Join Joseph Ferrara, President and CEO, Boston Healthcare and Adam Crowther, Senior Manager, Boston Healthcare in a live webinar on Monday, July 20, 2020 at 10am EDT (3pm BST/UK).

For more information or to register for this event, visit Implementing Precision Medicine: Diagnostics Policy Considerations for Biopharmaceutical Innovators.

ABOUT XTALKS

Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers.

To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com

For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/
At Novatech, we have long embraced the value of failover solutions for business continuity.

Novatech, Inc., the Managed Office experts, today announced the debut of a new Atlanta Call Center that will provide support for Managed IT and Managed Print customers. The center will both expand Novatechs support capabilities and serve as a redundant call center for the firms primary call center in Nashville, Tenn. Similarly, the Nashville support center will be a failover site for the Atlanta location.

At Novatech, we have long embraced the value of failover solutions for business continuity, said Novatech CEO Dan Cooper. When the March 2 tornado outbreak hit downtown Nashville and nearby Cookeville, we hastened our plans to achieve maximum redundancy with the build out of the parallel site in Atlanta.

The center is already up and running, with plans to expand the workforce by 20 or more Managed IT and Managed Print experts to meet the firms ever-accelerating support volume. This increase is propelled not only by Novatechs upward growth trajectory but also by the escalation of remote working among Novatech clients, who are becoming more reliant upon the firm for setting up new systems and supporting old ones.

The platform will be delivered by RingCentral, the Unified Communications as a Service leader that became one of Novatechs preferred partners earlier this year. Enjoying a user satisfaction rate of 99% and numerous Experts Choice awards, RingCentral is the industrys most comprehensive telecommunications platform. It has established a global reputation for supporting businesses with the breadth of functionality they need to stay connected to customers and partners anytime and anywhere. With many companies having remote workforces during the global pandemic crisis, RingCentral is also perfectly poised to support the worlds new normal.

The facilitys capabilities will be built on a state-of-the-art call center automation solution from industry innovator NICE inContact, running on the RingCentral platform to deliver a comprehensive call center service package. With a 15-year history of reliability and deployments in more than 100 countries, NICE inContact is noted for its interactive voice response, quality management and omnichannel routing, which enables agents to connect to the customer across any channel, providing personalized, proactive service.

This solution has already proven its value for Novatech internally, as it has allowed our support team to work remotely from wherever they were sheltering during the COVID19 lockdown, said Novatech President, Managed IT Dave Moorman. Moving forward, it will be a key piece of our business continuity strategy  and one from which our customers can derive great benefit, as well.

About Novatech, Inc.

The Managed Office Experts at Novatech empower businesses to increase productivity, lower costs, minimize risks and drive growth through Expert Guidance in consultation, design, implementation and support of cutting-edge business technology. The Novatech portfolio of Managed Office solutions liberates clients to focus on running their business  leaving the tech to an award-winning provider with over 25 years of industry-leading experience. For more information about business technology solutions from Novatech, visit Novatech.net and follow @novatechnet on social media for all the latest news.
Andres was a good boy, he was our son and he had so much life ahead of him. Our son did not deserve to die this way, Cristobal and Elisa Guardado, the mans parents, said in a statement. We understand that there is still a long way to go, but we are going to continue to keep fighting for justice for Andres. We want to ensure that other families do not have to suffer as we have.
Mint Dentistry Employees Volunteer at Grocery Giveaways We just want to do our part and try to help people out, Dr. Harrison said. Serving families by providing food is an honor--but providing them hope through that donation means even more.

MINT dentistrys goal of putting smiles on peoples faces doesnt stop during a pandemic: To help a community in need, the dentistry practice is providing groceries for people who are experiencing food insecurity. More than 2,000 families have already benefited from the food donation boxes that have created 84,000 meals, and another grocery giveaway is planned for July 11. Its all part of a commitment to serving the community from MINT dentistry founder Dr. Field Harrison and his wife, Sabrina, who feel compelled to do something to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and hope others are inspired to do the same.

We just want to do our part and try to help people out, Dr. Harrison said. Serving families by providing food is an honor--but providing them hope through that donation means even more.

The next grocery giveaway takes place Saturday, July 11, at the MINT dentistry in Bishop Arts at 2433 W Davis Street in Dallas from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

During a grocery giveaway, more than 500 boxes of groceries purchased by MINT from Minnies Food Pantry are given away, each containing a weeks worth of food. People can simply line up in their vehicles to receive a box (touch-free, from volunteers wearing masks), and a message of hope. Each box contains a weeks worth of meals and includes non-perishable items like spaghetti, rice, peanut butter, canned goods and more. The box also contains something important for a healthy smile: a full-sized tube of toothpaste from MINT dentistry.

If you or someone you know is in need of groceries, please join the MINT dentistry Grocery Giveaway on July 11. There is no need to sign up  just show up! Giving is first-come, first-served in a drive-thru style pick-up line with no contact (following CDC guidelines). Guests can check the @mintdentistry Instagram for updates on where the car line will start.

As a result of the effects of COVID-19 on the economy and nation, one out of every six families in America is struggling with food insecurity. The global pandemic has put many individuals and businesses out of work and many are in need of weekly groceries to feed their own families. Through several weeks of grocery giveaways, MINT dentistry has provided more than 2,000 boxes of food to North Texans in need.

Though the cause of hunger is serious, the grocery giveaway events have a celebratory vibe: MINT dentistry employs a local DJ to play music, volunteers dance while they assist, and volunteers hold signs with messages like We Love You in English and Spanish. There are smiles all around, waves from volunteers, and honks from appreciative recipients, who find something else in their box when they arrive home  a personal message from MINT dentistry that expresses best wishes and a prayer for the recipients of the box.

Our hearts broke when we saw news reports of the long lines of people who needed something as simple as a meal, Sabrina Harrison said. This is our opportunity to share a message of hope and love with everyone. We are grateful for our colleagues who have stepped in to help, too.

Through his community service and through his dental work, Dr. Harrison is passionate about healing painwhether thats dental pain, spiritual pain, mental pain, loss of dignity, or financial pain. Even before he graduated from dental school, Dr. Harrison was volunteering in a clinic offering free dental care in South Dallas, and traveling to Romania with other doctors and dentists to end a village's suffering with tooth and jaw pain. Dr. Harrison and Sabrina Harrison are devout Christians who welcome those of all faiths, and who believe strongly in giving back to their communities.

MINT dentistry has more than 50 locations in Dallas and Houston, with skilled support staff that have introduced discount and dental insurance to thousands without insurance or those whose insurance has let them down. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, visit MINTdentistry.com, call 214-821-MINT, or visit them @MINTdentistry on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Mod Op is continuing to add strategic acquisitions that expand our reach and add new and exciting clients  John Deere in the case of Sage, said Eric J. Bertrand, CEO, Mod Op.

Mod Op, a marketing communications agency with offices across the U.S. and an office in Latin America, has acquired Kansas City-based integrated marketing communications firm Sage Communications. This acquisition expands the agencys geographical presence in the Midwest while also adding a new Fortune 100 client.

Mod Op is continuing to add strategic acquisitions that expand our reach and add new and exciting clients  John Deere in the case of Sage, said Eric J. Bertrand, CEO, Mod Op. After our acquisition of MCC last year, which expanded our capabilities to a full-service offering, we continue to look for opportunities where we can bring that experience and success to other great clients.

With more than 18 years providing strategic communications counsel and services to a wide variety of leading agricultural, animal health and B2B clients, Sages offerings will continue to expand Mod Ops portfolio. Additionally, with its centralized location, Mod Ops new Kansas City presence better positions the agency to provide comprehensive services to more companies across the U.S.

This new relationship provides tremendous benefits for both Sages clients and the Mod Op team, said Leigh Ann Cleaver, former president, Sage. From enhanced service offerings for current and future clients, to tremendous growth opportunities for employees, we are excited about our future as part of the Mod Op team.

Mod Op Kansas City will operate out of Sages current Crossroads office location at 1525 Locust Street in Kansas City, Missouri. As part of the transition, former Sage president Leigh Ann Cleaver will join the Mod Op management team.

Based in Miami, and with offices in Dallas, Los Angeles, Portland, New York and Panama City, Panama, Mod Op delivers creative and strategic solutions for well-known brands like Texas Instruments, Microsoft, Marriott, ExxonMobil, Hudson Pacific Properties, Visit Florida, Baha Mar, LVMH, Warner Brothers, ViacomCBS, NBC Universal, Nike and many others.

During the process, Mod Op was advised by Reid and Riege, P.C., while Sage was advised by Vincent Law. Additionally, Generational Equity served as the investment bank for this acquisition.

For more information about Mod Op, visit: http://www.modop.com.

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About Mod Op

Mod Op is a full-service agency focused on using the right methods to help our clients capitalize on their opportunities. Mod Op services for both B2C and B2B markets include brand strategy, advertising, digital marketing and public relations. In addition, through the agencys technology group, Mod Op offers web and app UX/UI, development and maintenance. With offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Portland and Panama City, Panama, Mod Op pairs data and innovation with expertise to best serve clients across the U.S. and Latin America. For additional information, please visit Mod Ops website.

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Byrd

PR & Social Media Manager

elizabeth.byrd@modop.com
Patient-centered care is at the core of all we do and were excited for Dr. Coleman to utilize his skills to assist us in our continued commitment to expand our patient services in the Middle Tennessee area. - Dr. Ashish Soni, President of Nephrology Associates

Nashville-based Nephrology Associates, P.C. proudly welcomes Michael Coleman Jr., M.D. as its newest nephrologist, effective July 6, 2020. Dr. Coleman is glad to return to the Middle Tennessee area where he initially began practicing nephrology over two decades ago, having finalized both his fellowship and residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. He earned his medical degree from The University of Texas Southwestern.

Patient-centered care is at the core of all we do and were excited for Dr. Coleman to utilize his skills to assist us in our continued commitment to expand our patient services in the Middle Tennessee area, stated Dr. Ashish Soni, Nephrology Associates President.

Dr. Coleman will primarily provide chronic kidney disease management services and all dialysis treatment modalities for patients at St. Thomas Midtown, as well as Centennial Medical Center and surrounding dialysis clinics throughout the Nashville area. His office can be reached at (615) 329-5072 or visit http://www.tnkidney.com to schedule an appointment.

Nephrology Associates, PC is a leading provider of renal care for all aspects of kidney disease and related conditions. Founded in 1985, Nephrology Associates is the largest nephrology practice in the Nashville community and has established a tradition of excellence in helping patients achieve their highest level of independence, while managing their disease process. As the recipient of the 2019 RPA Exemplary Practice of the Year Award, Nephrology Associates dedication to excellence is evidenced by the credentials of its 30 physicians who serve in a variety of office-based and acute care settings as well as on an array of hospital committees including managed care, critical care, nutritional support and ethics. Nephrology Associates understands well that quality of care is key for every patient and is dedicated to providing comprehensive, holistic and personalized care for its patients. To learn more about Nephrology Associates, visit http://www.tnkidney.com.


So much of what we are buying comes from China  a country that many of us are troubled by its bad record on human rights, intellectual property theft, environmental disregard and the like.

Consumers now have a choice when shopping for country-of-origin products that reflect their ethical choices

http://www.NotMadeInChina.Directory

As China marches on with its agenda, consumers are increasingly despairing at the realization that so much of what they buy is made in China. China is a manufacturing powerhouse and effectively the worlds factory for much of what we buy and consume daily. Clothes, electronics, appliances, and home goods are the types of products we all purchase every day  often without realizing where they are made.

Increasingly, consumers are looking for an alternative to Chinese-made products as a way of showing their support for local businesses and the democratic values that underlie how we live and work in North America. The challenge has been how to find these companies amidst the hundreds of thousands of products available at Wal-Mart, Target, and other retailers nationwide.

http://www.NotMadeInChina.Directory is a Website directory listing products across a broad range of categories covering the items that consumers buy and use every day. Manufacturers provide detail around where their products are made and what, if any, percentage of the product contains Chinese content. By letting customers browse for products with the full knowledge of where they are made allows consumers to make more informed choices around the countries they want to support with their purchases. We are operating on trust knowing that the power of our community will ensure that manufacturers are highly motivated to ensure proper disclosure around product content, says Michael.

NotMadeInChina.Directory founder, Michael Paul, saw a need for an easier way to identify where products are made. I realized that so much of what we are buying comes from China  a country that many of us are troubled by in terms of its bad record on human rights, intellectual property theft, and the like. NotMadeInChina.Directory came to Michael as an idea for an easy and powerful solution for consumers looking to more thoroughly understand what they are buying and where it comes from.

Local businesses North America-wide are the backbone of our economy and employment. The NotMadeInChina.Directory allows consumers to support these local businesses while also sending a message to China that its practices are not acceptable. Chinas economic power comes from its exports. Reductions in exports hurt the Chinese Communist Party because they lose vital foreign exchange to finance their global activities to undermine democratic values.

Companies throughout North America and the globe are now able to register and post their product listings on the NotMadeInChina.Directory websites database. This is a world-wide service.

This is a free listing service and will always be free to businesses and consumers. The NotMadeInChina.Directory is live to manufacturers who are signing up and posting their products now.

This is a tangible way for consumers to vote with their wallets, says Michael. Its a small yet important effort that we can all get behind.

Michael Paul, Founder

Not Made In China Directory
The opportunity for technology to flourish in the Heartland is accelerating as tech companies, large and small, decide to invest in building their businesses outside of the typical tech zones.

A positive trend gaining traction in the pandemic is that tech talent and companies are discovering the expanding horizons outside of Silicon Valley and coastal cities. One America Works, an organization that bridges the divide between high-growth Silicon Valley companies and emerging tech hubs across the U.S., is creating new opportunities for tech talent and companies by launching in Columbus and Indianapolis. Following on the success of its virtual recruitment event in Pittsburgh, One America Works is celebrating the rich opportunity for innovation with kickoff virtual recruitment events in Columbus, OH on July 22 and in Indianapolis on August 20.

The recruitment events will connect high quality tech talent with top employers, including Aware, Include Health, Veeva, Upstart, JP Morgan Chase and Updox. With entry-level and mid-career positions available across engineering, product, sales and many other disciplines, this virtual recruitment event is a perfect opportunity for tech talent based in high cost cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Boston and New York City to make a move. One America Works first virtual recruitment event took place in May, with hundreds of people signing up for interviews with a dozen Pittsburgh-based companies including Astrobotic and Niche. These Pittsburgh-based employers held nearly 100 interviews with qualified tech talent, of which more than 50 percent had over five years experience and 25 percent were engineers.

What: Virtual Recruitment Event for Columbus-Based Tech Positions

When: July 22, 2pm-7pm ET

How: Attendees can register for the Columbus recruitment event between July 7 through July 19. Participants will be assigned a specific time slot to meet companies one-on-one.

Where: https://oneamericaworks.org/recruiting-fair/

Save the Date: Indianapolis Virtual Recruitment Event on August 20

In some ways, coronavirus is the great equalizer, helping us realize that in todays connected world, proximity and geography arent as important as talent and grit. The opportunity for technology to flourish in the Heartland is accelerating as tech companies, large and small, decide to invest in building their businesses outside of the typical tech zones, said Patrick McKenna, founder of One America Works. Columbus and Indianapolis are two incredible cities on the brink of becoming the next Denver, Austin or Salt Lake City, based on their reasonable cost of living, vibrant communities and emerging tech scenes.

One America Works selected Columbus because of the citys high concentration of residents with STEM degrees, quality of life, affordability and connection to major markets. Columbus has a diverse economy with companies including transportation tech, e-commerce, finance/insurance, retail brands, tech, bio-med/health services and advanced computing. More information about technology opportunities in Columbus here: https://oneamericaworks.org/cities/columbus/

Indianapolis strategic location and favorable cost of doing business make it a proven choice for growing companies as they seek new locations for expansion and investment. Industries thriving in Indianapolis include aerospace/aviation; agritech, logistics/transportation; advanced manufacturing, and life sciences. One America Works has compiled an overview of the growing technology scene in Indy here: https://oneamericaworks.org/cities/indianapolis/

Founded by Patrick McKenna - an entrepreneur and investor with experience co-founding, operating and investing in several highly successful technology companies - One America Works is bridging the divide in America by spearheading connections between high-growth companies looking to expand and emerging regions across the U.S. that provide high-quality talent and investment opportunities. And this concept is gaining momentum as it creates hundreds of jobs in emerging hubs around the country. The 501c3 non-profit is leveraging a million dollar grant from RK Mellon Foundation to expand into new emerging tech cities this year including Columbus and Indianapolis.

"The Columbus Region is a leading area in the attraction of millennial tech talent, thanks to proximity to top-ranked universities that offer STEM education, along with affordable housing and cost of living, said Kenny McDonald, CEO of One Columbus. During this challenging time, we look forward to collaborating closely with One America Works to foster new connections between our region, employers and tech talent.

About One America Works

One America Works is a non-profit organization that connects growth companies and talented people across the country, bringing the country together around common goals and values. Founded by entrepreneur and investor Patrick McKenna in 2018, One America Works addresses the geographic economic divide across America by introducing innovative technology companies to new sources of talent located in middle American cities, to bring more people in more places into the modern economy. For more about One America Works, visit oneamericaworks.org or follow the organization on LinkedIn or Twitter.
The COVID-19 Pulse of HR offered HR leaders real-time insights from peers around topical issues relating to the pandemic Crowdsourcing responses from HR leaders around the world allowed us to surface best practices in responding to the COVID-19 crisis, said Donald Sull, Co-founder, CultureX and Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management. Past News Releases RSS Waggl Commended for Putting People...

Josh Bersin Academy, CultureX and Waggl today released the first set of results from the COVID-19 Pulse of HR, a collaborative offering that enables HR leaders to share real-time insights with their peers about their organizational responses to the COVID-19 crisis.

Josh Bersin Academy, which addresses the business and talent issues organizations face today, joined forces with CultureX and Waggl to create the Pulse of HR as a dynamic resource, inviting HR professionals to add their voices to the important dialogue about topics that matter most to organizations right now. In a series of three pulses in May 2020, thousands of HR professionals from organizations of all sizes were asked about their organizations responses to the COVID-19 crisis. The pulses were built on Waggls transparent engagement platform in partnership with CultureX, which incorporates the latest technology from MIT to provide AI tailor-made for understanding employees language and feedback. Pulse of HR was featured on MIT Sloan Management Review.

Crowdsourcing responses from HR leaders around the world allowed us to surface best practices in responding to the COVID-19 crisis, said Donald Sull, Co-founder, CultureX and Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management. Our AI platform identified critical themes across hundreds of responses in real time. Effective responses promoted work-life balance during lockdown, promoted productivity and engagement during a crisis, and protected employees' physical and emotional wellbeing.

The COVID-19 Pulse of HR consisted of three pulses on topics relating to the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic:

1. Remote Work. In the first pulse of the series, 93% of the participants reported that a large percentage of their organizations employees had transitioned to remote work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Of those participants, 69% believed that their organizations were able to maintain the same level of productivity after transitioning to remote work. Participants were asked, What is the most impactful thing your organization has done to support employees transition to remote work? The most popular response was, Maintained support and patience as employees try and balance remote work, young kids at home and the challenges of homeschooling all rolled into one.

2. Agile Engagement. In the second pulse, 61% of respondents said that they felt the transition to remote work had increased employee engagement in their organization. When asked, What is the one thing your organization has done in response to COVID-19 that has positively impacted employee engagement?, the highest percentage of respondents agreed with the statement, Communicate our care and concern for our employees and their families and our community as a whole. We created a new COVID-19 mantra: Healthy Enough to help.

3. Re-entry. In the third and final pulse of this series, 80% of participants reported that their organizations were still evaluating when and how to bring people back into the physical workplace, and only 28% said that their organizations planned to bring everyone back within the next 30-60 days. When asked, What is the #1 thing you have done (or are planning to do) to make your physical workplace safe for returning employees?, the most popular response was Return to Workplace Protocol in place detailing: Self-declaration, Training, Incident Response Teams and their role, Available PPE, Workplace Hygiene, Physical Distancing, Traffic Patterns, Common Areas, Seating Reconfiguration, and the option to continue to work from home until further notice.

Our initial pulse showed a huge uptick in issues about remote work, including the desperate need for good technology, constant communications and listening, and requests for help with family issues, productivity, wellbeing and physical health, said Josh Bersin, global industry analyst and dean of the Josh Bersin Academy. In our second pulse, the biggest issue was regular two-way communication between leaders and teams, with a focus on flexibility and empathy as employees continued to focus on work, home, family and safety. And in the third pulse, it became clear that employees are very concerned about specific safety protocols as they come back to work. Employers and HR teams have to work hard to identify new practices that assure infection-safe workplaces.

The most common themes that emerged in all three pulses in the series included:



Frequent, high quality communication

Promoting physical wellbeing

Checking in on employees

Enhancing work-life balance

Providing or subsidizing IT hardware and collaboration platforms

Having honest discussions

Offering virtual social activities.

Remote work has already started to feel much more natural, thanks in part to technology tools and platforms that allow us to stay in touch with our co-workers better, said Michael Papay, Co-founder and CEO, Waggl. But as weve seen from this series of pulses, establishing a continuous two-way dialogue with employees is critical to maintaining engagement while working remotely. In a business context, respect has to happen both ways  with the organization respecting the needs of its people, and the people respecting the needs of the organization. As we move into the recovery phase, we need to hear from everyone, not just the voices of the people in the Boardroom and the Executive Suite. Lets invite all employees to share their ideas about how to make this next phase successful, and make sure that we continue being more inclusive and committed going forward, building upon Employee Voice.

The current Pulse of HR focuses on Racial Justice within the workplace. To participate in the Pulse of HR, please visit https://www.waggl.com/covid19-pulse-hr/.

About Josh Bersin Academy

The Josh Bersin Academy is the world's first global development academy for HR and talent professionals and a transformation agent for HR organizations. The Academy, which currently has approximately 10,000 members, offers content-rich online programs, a carefully curated library of tools and resources, and a global community that helps HR and talent professionals address todays unprecedented challenges. Memberships are available to individuals, HR teams, and entire HR organizations. For more details, visit http://www.bersinacademy.com.

About CultureX

Founded in 2019 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, CultureX delivers actionable insights organizations need to measurably improve their cultures. Harnessing cutting-edge artificial intelligence developed at MIT, CultureX measures culture with high accuracy and pinpoints concrete ways to improve. Based on decades of research and work with dozens of Fortune 500 companies, CultureX provides evidence-based interventions tailored to the clients unique needs. For more information, please visit https://www.culturex.com/.

About Waggl

For HR leaders who need to measure, and truly improve engagement, Waggl is an Employee Voice platform that crowdsources real-time insight to drive faster action and alignment around critical business topics. Inspired by the waggle dance honey bees do to communicate vital information, Waggl believes every voice matters. Unlike heavy surveys or basic pulse tools, Waggl is a dialogue-first approach to engagement that creates shared ownership through inclusive team-based action planning.

With a seasoned Executive Team and premiere customers including Freddie Mac, Paychex, Heineken, 3M, Mastercard, UCSF Medical Center, McGraw Hill, Taylor Morrison and Parsons, Waggl partners with leading enterprises to harness the collective intelligence of their people. For more information and an expanded customer list, please visit https://www.waggl.com.
Wray accused China of attempting to surpass America through a broad series of campaigns that include theft of American intellectual property, hacking of corporate and personal data, and using bribery or blackmail to influence foreign officials. However, despite the dramatic claims made in his speech, the FBI director did not recommend that the U.S. cut ties with China. Instead, he pointed to the arrests that his agency has made in the past, saying that criminal indictments can persuade the Chinese government to change its behavior while most aspects of U.S.-China relations continue as usual.
Utilis satellite-based leak detection delivery as viewed in Innovyze InfoAsset Planner We are pleased to work closely with Innovyze on solutions in the leakage and asset condition identification arena coupled with actionable asset prioritization planning tools in water markets served around the world. -James Perry, VP Business Development at Utilis

Utilis, the sole worldwide provider of underground soil moisture data detected from satellite, is pleased to announce that Innovyze has become the latest member of their USA Partner Program. The USA Partner Program is a symbiotic relationship between Utilis and the partner, whereas both companies promote and grow business as a team. Reciprocally Utilis has joined the Innovyze Partner network for integration into their InfoAsset product line. This partnership will leverage both companys places as leaders in their fields to jointly market a full solution to water utility customers worldwide.

Our partnership clearly demonstrates a virtuous cycle in sensor data analytics matched with utility system assessments. These drive world-class decisions in deploying asset strategies in the most cost-effective manner, exclaims James Perry, VP Business Development at Utilis. We are pleased to work closely with Innovyze on solutions in the leakage and asset condition identification arena coupled with actionable asset prioritization planning tools in water markets served around the world.

InfoAsset Planner is the industry leader in providing analytics for asset planning and allows utilities to develop a complete asset prioritization master plan. The two companies have integrated the Utilis satellite-based leak zoning dataset directly into InfoAsset Planner. Now customers can easily bring in their Utilis projects to be used as a key data source in risk-based modeling and decision making.

Utilis satellite data analysis to locate potable moisture combined with InfoAsset Planners deep toolset of LoF, CoF, Risk, remaining useful life calculations, decision tree and integration with industry standard CMMS systems provide an unbeatable combination for Utilities and consulting firms working on the development of optimized prioritized infrastructure renewal programs" stated Erick Heath, VP Global Strategic Partnerships.

Utilis and Innovyze plan to demonstrate their new combined capabilities in upcoming webinars and case studies. Currently please visit each companys product pages to learn more about the products and services offered by each partner at https://utiliscorp.com/product/leak-detection/ and https://www.innovyze.com/en-us/products/infoasset-overview/infoasset-planner/infoasset-planner-workflow.

ABOUT UTILIS

Utilis provides data driven solutions for water utilities, government agencies, and the greater infrastructure industry. They use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from satellites and turn it into large scale decision support tools. The proprietary algorithms and highly educated staff of scientists and engineers are the key to the companys mission, to advance planet Earths resource resilience through SAR analytics. Successfully commercializing its leak detection product in 2016, Utilis projects have resulted in saving more than 5000 million gallons of potable and 12,000 MWH of energy water per year. Headquartered in Israel, with a United States subsidiary in San Diego, CA, Utilis currently provides innovative data solutions in multiple verticals around the globe. For more information on Utilis and to learn more about their technology visit https://utiliscorp.com/

ABOUT INNOVYZE

With over 35 years of heritage, Innovyze is a global leader in building innovative, industry-leading software for the water industry. Innovyze serves a growing customer base in over 50 countries including the majority of the largest UK, North American and Asian-Pacific cities, the foremost utilities on all major continents, ENR top-rated design firms, environmental and engineering consultancies, and refining plants that require optimized water and wastewater system management.


Richard Lippard, the author of this first book in the series of John Burton novels, has completed his new book The Abductors Book 2 Justice Serve": an intriguing work that explores how while bent on revenge, John plans the assassination of each member of the pirate crew.

Lippard writes, "The going was slow, and he had to surface numerous times for air. Each time he came to the surface, he checked the two boats, the Dram Bouie, his boat, and the Maria Elena, the boat belonging to the killers of his wife and his friends. It didnt appear that he was making much progress distancing himself from them, but he kept on going. His body was weak and getting weaker, but he pushed on. When he was what he thought to be two hundred yards from the boats, he rolled onto his back and started kicking quietly as he put more distance between them."

Published by Page Publishing, Richard Lippard's riveting work has exciting twists and turns on every page.

After meeting Miranda in Miami, John has a change of heart. He contacts FBI Agent Sally Martin

with a plan so outrageous that it reaches the president of the United States. With the presidents

approval, the FBI, the DEA, and John can issue a crippling blow to the illicit drug traffic along the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. In the process, John can even earn his freedom.

Readers who wish to experience this thrilling work can purchase The Abductors Book 2 Justice Serve" 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 and focus on their passion: writing and creating.

Learn more at

http://www.pagepublishing.com.
S3 The goal of this program is to establish the principles for how we want all to behave in our offices as a model for the broader social dialogue.

Smile Brands Inc., one of the nations leading dental support organizations (DSO) providing business support services to approximately 450 affiliated offices across 18 states, today announced its Safe.Smile.Space. platform with the goal of making each location a model community for infection control, inclusivity, tolerance, and civil discourse.

In these turbulent times, many people are struggling with heightened levels of stress and apprehension. Smile Brands is launching Safe.Smile.Space. to create a framework for making each office a protective tent or model community in which all can experience the organizations vision for a safer world. In the best of times, dentistry is a demanding profession, explains Smile Brands CEO, Steven C. Bilt. Our current environment has added tremendous stress from the challenges of COVID-19 and broad social discord. While many patients are expressing greater appreciation for our work, we have also seen this climate negatively impact some patient behaviors. The goal of this program is to establish the principles for how we want all to behave in our offices as a model for the broader social dialogue.

Key principles of Safe.Smile.Space. include:

1. We adhere to the strictest safety protocols to protect ourselves and our patients from infection.

2. We do not adjust our protocols for patients unwilling to do their part to ensure their safety and ours.

3. We support each other and patients with kindness, understanding, and empathy.

4. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or racism. This includes violence and hateful or hurtful language, including micro-aggressions.

5. We are attuned to each others needs and seek to uplift each others spirits when needed.

As part of the program, all patients will be asked to do their part to help keep Smile Brands locations safe from infection and incivility. Team members will receive tools and training to help manage their own anxiety and support patients having difficulty coping due to the current environment.

About Smile Brands Inc.

Based in Irvine California, Smile Brands Inc. is one of the largest providers of support services to dental groups in the United States. The organizations award-winning culture has made it the only dental support organization on Glassdoors Best Places to Work for the past three years. Additionally, the Company was recognized by Comparably in 2019 as a top large employer for Diversity, Women, and Culture. Smile Brands affiliated dentists benefit from industry-leading business support services, so they can spend more time caring for patients and less time on the administrative, marketing, and financial aspects of operating a dental practice. The organization supports approximately 450 affiliated practices and 60 brands across 18 states, including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Smile Brands is a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm based in San Francisco, CA. For more information, visit http://www.smilebrands.com.
Achieving global certification to the ISO 45001 standard demonstrates Smiths dedication to protecting our employees from potential hazards in the workplace

Smith, a global distributor of electronic components and semiconductors, today announces its certification to the ISO 45001 standard at its distribution centers in Hong Kong and Amsterdam. ISO 45001 is a process management system that recognizes Smiths capability to identify, control, and decrease risks associated with occupational health and safety.

Smiths Houston headquarters has been certified to OHSAS 18001  the benchmark for workplace health and safety prior to the introduction of ISO 45001  since 2015 and recently transitioned to ISO 45001 as part of the global certification process. Achieving this certification demonstrates Smiths dedication to providing a safe work environment for both employees and visitors.

The ISO 45001 standard utilizes a plan-do-check-act model for organizations to outline action items to minimize the risk of illness or injury, and it also provides a framework for integrating health and safety initiatives into operational plans and processes.

The wellbeing of Smiths employees is of the utmost importance to us, said Kirk Wehby, Smiths Chief Operating Officer. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in our communities, our health and safety management system has been an essential tool to help us develop and implement new policies and procedures to reduce the risk of transmission.

Achieving global certification to the ISO 45001 standard demonstrates Smiths dedication to protecting our employees from potential hazards in the workplace, Wehby continued. We are proud to have our commitment to occupational health and safety recognized.

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Invest in the USA (IIUSA) is pleased to share that the Brazoria County, Texas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (BCHCC) joined IIUSA in advocating for reform and long-term reauthorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program.

The EB-5 Regional Center Program allows federally authorized Regional Centers to pool EB-5 visa applicants investments to exponentially fuel U.S. local and regional economies with projects that create and save thousands of American jobs.

IIUSA Executive Director Aaron Grau stated, Reforming and cementing a long-term reauthorization can generate more than $9B annually of non-U.S. taxpayer investment into our economy to create and save jobs, just when our economy needs it most. Grau continued, Thats why we are so pleased and grateful to Brazoria County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for joining our effort. BCHCC is the only minority business chamber in Brazoria County, Texas. BCHCC understands the importance of economic development for its members and its community and it represents many businesses and jobs this reauthorization will impact.

Unlike all other visas federal statute requires that each EB-5 visa applicant make a significant up-front investment into a U.S. economic development project (either $900,000 or $1.8 million depending on where the project is located) AND create or retain at least 10 U.S. jobs; no jobsno visa.

Gina Aguirre Adams, the Brazoria County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president, stated, We are eager to see new investments and create jobs for businesses in our area we represent. The Brazoria County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is proud to join IIUSA and USHCC in this advocacy. EB-5s non-taxpayer investments catalyze economic development and never before has it been more important than it is right now.

For more information about the EB-5 Regional Center Program and IIUSAs advocacy, please visit http://www.iiusa.org.

Founded in 2005, Invest in the USA (IIUSA) is the national membership-based 501(c)(6) not-for-profit industry trade association for the EB-5 Regional Center Program (the Program). Our members account for a vast majority of capital formation and job creation in the U.S. resulting from the Program.

The Brazoria County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce serves as an advocate for its member businesses and partners. The BCHCC provides a vital forum and network for its chamber members businesses and community leaders to share ideas, concerns, and successes, with the goal of creating a robust business environment in Brazoria County.
TopResume announces partnership with ExecThread

TopResume, the largest resume-writing service in the world, today announced a partnership with ExecThread, the largest global aggregator of unpublished executive-level job opportunities.

TopResume writes and analyzes millions of resumes and LinkedIn profiles through their network of professional resume writers. Combined with feedback from resume-scanning software that analyzes keywords and formatting  similar to employers applicant tracking systems (ATS)  TopResume will optimize ExecThread members resumes for maximum effectiveness.

ExecThread is excited to partner with TopResume to provide our members with access to the highest-quality, resume-review service, said Joe Meyer, CEO and founder of ExecThread. In addition to discovering the best executive-level job opportunities through ExecThreads unique crowdsourcing approach, our members can now better position themselves for the best senior roles in todays challenging labor market by tailoring their resume with expertise from TopResumes industry-leading resume-review service.

Making executive-level roles equally accessible to all qualified professionals, ExecThread offers a curated marketplace of crowdsourced career opportunities that are contributed by nearly 50,000 high-caliber professionals worldwide. ExecThreads members can discover new career opportunities more effectively than todays executive-level job search allows because they have access to job openings that arent publicly posted.

"Landing your dream job comes down to uncovering the right opportunity and having an unparalleled resume, said Todd Goldstein, Executive Vice President, Strategy & Business Development for Talent Inc., the parent company of TopResume. "We are excited to partner with ExecThread which helps level the playing field for senior-level job seekers, while we help their members get a leg up on the competition by helping them develop an attention-grabbing resume.

ExecThead is now among more than 350 international partners of TopResume, which will continue to announce additional collaborations with industry-leading companies in the coming months. To become a partner, visit talentinc.com/partnerships/.

About TopResume:

TopResume, a Talent Inc. company, is the worlds premier resume-writing service, analyzing millions of resumes and LinkedIn profiles each year. Job seekers work directly with professional writers and industry experts to redefine their personal brand and stand out from the crowd during the job-search process. Follow TopResume on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

About ExecThread, Inc.:

ExecThread, Inc. is a premium job-sharing network and crowdsourcing platform that enables professionals to access the hidden job market. ExecThread is the largest global aggregator of unpublished executive-level job opportunities. By crowdsourcing confidential executive-level jobs and board of director opportunities, ExecThread brings transparency to the executive search market, thereby creating more access for all qualified candidates. ExecThread believes that senior-level roles should be accessible to all qualified professionals, not just a chosen few. Our curated community of nearly 50,000 high-caliber members, 50% of whom are underrepresented, connects professionals from all backgrounds with the best executive-level career opportunities and top hiring companies. ExecThread is free to join.
Kuala Lumpur Center No.2 transcosmos Malaysia has reorganized the overall framework: the head office serves as a hub, a multilateral connection point and multilingual service operations globally; the new office provides contact center services besides digital marketing, EC one-stop services and payment solutions locally.

transcosmos inc. has opened a new business location in Kuala Lumpur, the second branch office of TRANSCOSMOS (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD (Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; transcosmos Malaysia), a company established in 2014, in order to accommodate the expansion of business. The company also opened the Kuala Lumpur Center No.2 inside the new office.

Making the most of the multiethnic nature of the country, with its population consists primarily of the Malays, Chinese and Indians, transcosmos Malaysia offers various services including contact centers, digital marketing and e-commerce one-stop services not only to the Malaysian local market, but also to the global market. Along with the opening of the new office equipped with Kuala Lumpur Center No.2, transcosmos Malaysia reorganized its overall service delivery framework. Under the new structure, the existing head office which includes Kuala Lumpur Center No.1 will serve as a hub, a multilateral connection point for the global market, and will offer multilingual service operations. The new office with Kuala Lumpur Center No.2 will offer contact center services in addition to digital marketing, e-commerce one-stop services and payment solutions to the local Malaysian market.

Kuala Lumpur branch office overview

Location: Sunway Velocity, Kuala Lumpur

Number of workstations: 300

Services: Contact center services centered around digital transformation and customer experience, Digital marketing services, E-Commerce One-Stop services (primarily for Singapore and Malaysia), Payment solutions, etc.

Since its foundation in 2014, transcosmos Malaysia has been propelling and expanding its businesses with a focus on digital transformation as shown in its history to date. In 2015, the company formed a capital and business alliance with INTERBASE RESOURCES SDN.BHD, a leading e-commerce mall operator in Malaysia, and launched contact center, digital marketing and e-commerce one-stop services in 2016. Then in 2017, the company formed a capital and business alliance with a fintech company Soft Space Sdn Bhd. In 2019, transcosmos Malaysia began cross-border e-commerce and in-flight duty-free shopping services that do not require approval from the Food and Drug Administration, and wholesale trade. In addition, in order to meet the level of information security expected of a global company, transcosmos Malaysia successfully obtained ISO27001, the leading international standard focused on information security within the context of an overall Information Security Management System (ISMS). With the opening of a new office equipped with an operations center, transcosmos Malaysia expects to increase the number of their employees to around 600 by the end of 2020.

With a total of 19 bases in ASEAN member countries, namely, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, transcosmos delivers customer support and digital marketing services that meet local business practices and culture, laws, and user needs based on a clear understanding of each market's characteristics. Building on its achievements and support experience on the global stage, transcosmos aims to further expand its business in the ASEAN region.

TRANSCOSMOS(MALAYSIA)SDN BHD overview

Name: TRANSCOSMOS(MALAYSIA) SDN BHD (transcosmos Malaysia)

Representative: Managing Director: Toshio Tozaki

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Founded: 2014

Number of workstations: 600

Business: Contact center services, digital marketing, e-commerce one-stop services, payment solutions, and retail/wholesale trade

Supported languages: Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, etc.) and other Asia Pacific languages

*transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. In Japan and other countries.

*Other company names and product or services names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 169 bases across 30 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services in 48 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment.

https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/
Foxcroft Lake on the Odd Fellows tract will be destroyed with the proposed new quarry. The lake has used by the Boy Scouts for generations. We have demonstrated clear evidence for denial according to the criteria in the NC Mining Act, said Dr. Jean Spooner, Chair of The Umstead Coalition. Adverse and unmitigatable impacts would occur to potable groundwater supplies; wildlife; water and air quality; public health and more.

Plans to build a new quarry adjacent to one of North Carolinas busiest state parks and US bike routes is facing significant opposition from community leaders. The new 400 foot deep rock mine would be the first private quarry on public land in the State of North Carolina and would set a new precedent for public land management in the state. The quarry is planned to be built on 105 acres known as the Odd Fellows Tract, adjacent to one of North Carolinas most visited state parks, US Bike Route 1 and the East Coast Greenways, which run from Maine to Florida.

A virtual Public Hearing was held over two days on June 23 and July 7, 2020 with speakers that included experts ranging from environmental scientists, wildlife experts, civil and environmental engineers, educators, advocacy groups, politicians and concerned Triangle residents.

We have demonstrated clear evidence for denial according to the criteria in the NC Mining Act, said Dr. Jean Spooner, Chair of The Umstead Coalition. Adverse and unmitigatable impacts would occur to potable groundwater supplies; wildlife; Crabtree Creek; water and air quality standards; direct hazard to public health, safety and property; our prized William B. Umstead State Park and the connected Old Reedy Creek Road Corridor.

Local elected officials share the publics concern for the new quarry. The Town of Morrisville unanimously passed a Resolution on June 23, 2020 requesting the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) deny the mining permit application. This joins two statements previously released by the City of Raleigh in 2019 and Wake County in 2017.

North Carolina State Senator Wiley Nickel and Wake County Open Space and Parks Advisory Committee have also issued statements opposing the quarry requesting denial of the permit. The Town of Cary has engaged a consultant to evaluate the potential impacts to Town facilities including the North Cary Water Reclamation Facility, Old Reedy Creek Road and Carys one-lane bridge.

The southern end of Umstead represents the best chance to make sure the state park remains ecologically connected to other natural areas, particularly Jordan Lake, which has. over 40,000 acres of public forest/gamelands, said Dr. Ron Sutherland, Chief Scientist, Wildlands Network. Jordan Lake's forests are also connected (via several large rivers) to the broader network of habitat across North Carolina, and it is essential to try to keep Umstead linked together with that network.

Opponents to the quarry are advocating for preserving the Odd Fellows Tract  publicly owned land and deeded to the four local governments: City of Raleigh, City of Durham, Wake County and Durham County. The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority (RDUAA) manages the land for the four local government owners.

The Odd Fellows Tract was purchased in 1976 for a runway never built due to public opposition over the harm to Umstead State Park. The Tract is located two miles from the nearest runway at Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU). The NC State Park system has identified the Odd Fellows Tract as Critical for land acquisition for new single-track bike trails and water quality protection for the adjacent Crabtree Creek that runs through the middle of Umstead State Park, as well as connecting to the Neuse River, a major river system in NC.

In 2017, The Conservation Fund offered to buy the Odd Fellows Tract from RDU to expand Umstead State Park. The RDUAA did not accept the offer from the Conservation Fund, and also rejected an offer from the private mining company.

After a long period of silence, with only two days' notice to the public, and no public discussion, in March 2019, RDUAA executed an Option and Lease Agreement with Wake Stone for the proposed RDU quarry. The RDUAA Board meeting lasted 4 minutes and 17 seconds. The agreement did not follow the normal contracting procedures of the RDUAA. This mineral lease is subject to approval of a NC Mining Permit.

The public can submit comments to DEQ and local elected officials until July 17, 2020.

About The Umstead Coalition:

The Umstead Coalition has been working since the 1960s to support and protect William B. Umstead State Park through fundraising, sponsorship of volunteer activities, and oversight of environmental and legal protections. William B. Umstead State Park was established in 1934 as a public works project during the Great Depression. For more information, visit https://umsteadcoalition.org.
Egypt reported 1,025 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total infection tally to 78,304 since the outbreak began in February.

The health ministry also reported 75 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 3,564.

The ministry said that 523 patients have been discharged after recovering from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 22,241.

During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Health Minister Hala Zayed said that 10,518 coronavirus cases were detected between 23 and 29 June, and that this figure has dropped to 8,404 cases detected between 30 June and 6 July.

Short link:


When I took office, I found out the name Jackson means God has shown favor.' So, we want to reclaim the name of our city for that meaning and divorce it from the legacy of a brutal owner of enslaved people who was instrumental in initiating the Trail of Tears against indigenous people. Black people have reclaimed and repurposed names given to our families by slave owners for centuries. This is no different.
Cloud Verified is the highest-level designation for a VMware cloud provider service. VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware vCloud Director provide Cloud Verified partners and their customers consistent infrastructure and operations through a complete set of software-defined services for compute, storage, networking, security, and cloud management. VMware Validated Designs provide Cloud Verified partners comprehensive and extensively-tested blueprints to build and operate their VMware Cloud Verified environments. The Cloud Verified badge means customers achieve unmatched levels of consistency, performance and interoperability for both traditional or containerized enterprise applications, and the confidence that the service is based on the most advanced VMware cloud technologies.

This is an important milestone for US Signal and underlines our commitment to providing the most flexible, industry-leading infrastructure technologies to our customers, commented Matt VanderZwaag, executive director of product and services, US Signal. It will enable us to work closely with VMware to leverage the benefits of their solutions and experience across a variety of use cases and industries.

Partners that are VMware Cloud Verified provide organizations with complete and advanced VMware Cloud technologies, along with interoperability across clouds for greater advantage for their customers businesses, said Jim Aluotto, senior director, Cloud Provider Business, Americas Region, VMware. Cloud Verified services delivered by VMware cloud providers can provide the efficiency, agility, and reliability inherent in cloud computing. We look forward to supporting US Signal as it empowers organizations with a simple and flexible path to the cloud.

VMwares global network of more than 4,300 VMware cloud providers leverages VMwares consistent cloud infrastructure to offer a wide array of services, provide geographic and industry specialization and help customers meet complex regulatory requirements. VMware providers deliver individually tailored cloud solutions and services in more than 120 countries.

For information on how to become a Cloud Verified partner, please visit: https://www.vmware.com/partners/service-provider/vmware-cloud-verified-logo.html.


It has been a pleasure to support these talented group of young musicians in their journey to bring the sound of music to our seniors  we truly couldnt be more appreciative of their generosity.

On Wednesday, June 24th at 2:00 p.m. EST, residents of Meridian Senior Living communities were delighted to enjoy a live Facebook Concert performed by various musicians across the country as part of the Virtually Yours Music Series. Hosted by Cat Ridgeway, Virtually Yours Music Series streamed its sixth and final concert for an hour while 2.4 k residents, resident families, staff members and friends watched and listened. There were over 250 engagements as viewers expressed their gratitude and enjoyment by posting comments. The selection of music tracks performed were based on specific requests of residents living in the more than 75 Meridian Senior Living communities in 21 states. Music genres in the playlist included classical, big band, 50s rock, 60s rock, easy listening and contemporary tunes.

This generous gift of music was brought to Meridian Senior Living by the Virtually Yours Music Series founded by Sabrina and Dominique Baeta. The Virtually Yours Music Series delivers virtual concerts on Facebook Live performed by a diverse talented group of musicians. The tracks on the playlist are requested by residents of senior living facilities prior to the concert. The Virtually Yours Music Series seeks to bring joy and connections to individuals in these isolating times brought about by COVID-19.

We cannot express our appreciation to The Virtually Yours Music Series for their generous gift during these challenging times, when visits can be limited for safety, says Kevin Carlin, Principal and Chief Sales Officer of Meridian Senior Living. The music brought joy and engagement opportunities to our communities which can be a key part in supporting positive emotional, mental, cognitive and physical health.

We have been working with Sabrina Baeta and her team since April, to bring the joys of familiar music to our residents virtually from musicians across the nation, says Jason Nieves, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing of Meridian Senior Living. When I was contacted by Sabrina, I did not hesitate to bring this amazing opportunity to our communities. I knew immediately this would be something that would bring a smile to our residents faces during an extremely challenging time. It has been a pleasure to support these talented group of young musicians in their journey to bring the sound of music to our seniors  we truly couldnt be more appreciative of their generosity.

A recording of The Virtually Yours concert can be viewed on Facebook here. For more information about Meridian Senior Living, visit meridiansenior.com.

About Meridian Senior Living:

Meridian Senior Living, a privately held company based in Bethesda, Maryland, owns and operates seniors housing communities across the country and provides operational consulting to 24 communities in China. With more than 75 communities in 21 states and more in development, Meridian is one of the largest seniors housing operators in the U.S. The company prides itself on providing the highest quality care, exceptional lifestyle programming and a distinctive dining experience for its residents. For more information on Meridian Senior Living, visit meridiansenior.com.
The Authors Guild, Amazon Publishing, and Penguin Random House this week filed suit in federal court in Washington State seeking to enjoin a Ukraine-based piracy site called KISS library. The site, which operates under a number of different domain names using a sophisticated legitimate-looking site designed to deceive consumers, is said to sell illegally pirated e-books to U.S. readers.

The complaint asks that KISS Library and its operators be enjoined from illegally copying, distributing and selling works written or published by the plaintiffs.

While the main culprits are the KISS Library websites and operators, it doesnt help that sites devoted to e-book piracy are readily available through U.S. search engines, Authors Guild president Douglas Preston said in a statement. American authors and publishing companies have no recourse against these rogue foreign sites, other than through expensive federal litigation.

Named plaintiff from the Authors Guild include its president Preston, and members Lee Child, Sylvia Day, John Grisham, C.J. Lyons, Jim Rasenberger, T.J. Stiles, R.L. Stine, Monique Truong, Scott Turow, Nicholas Weinstock, and Stuart Woods.

Over the last several years, we have worked through various channels to curtail the proliferation of e-book piracy sites, but KISS Library has been a challenge since it is a particularly egregious criminal enterprise, said Mary Rasenberger, executive director of the Authors Guild. It sells highly commercial books and passes itself off as a legitimate site. Unlike authorized sites that pay for the books they sell, KISS Library keeps all the proceeds that it illegally obtains from American readers. Not a single penny goes to the authors or publishers that produce the books.
Heartland Summer, the regional bookseller virtual conference co-hosted by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association and the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association held a one-hour presentation July 7 on Frontlist Buying in Uncertain Times. The teleconference, featuring two veteran booksellers, Jamie Thomas, manager of Women and Children First in Chicago (which just opened its doors to customers) and David Enyeart, manager of Next Chapter Booksellers in St. Paul, Minn. (which remains closed to customer traffic) drew about 70 booksellers and reps.

Thomas acknowledged that booksellers cannot afford to take the kinds of risks they might otherwise have taken when ordering frontlist for stores that have been closed to walk-in traffic, leaving booksellers to rely on phone and online orders. They also must get the word out about frontlist favorites on their websites and social media rather than face-to-face handselling. She suggested that booksellers discuss book promotions with reps, and also ask their reps what books are selling at other indies.In addition, Thomas urged her fellow book buyers to utilize their staff more in selecting frontlist for the store.

Enyeart said that he has met with four reps so far this summer to discuss the fall season, so its happening. Noting that sales patterns have changed since March, Enyeart said buyers should keep an eye on trends when ordering frontlist, and consider Edelweiss analytics where sales are broken down by region. Look at sales by publisher, look at sales by category, he said, adding that, in the absence of in-store traffic, booksellers will have to rely more on publishers marketing efforts, rather than bookseller enthusiasm, to draw consumer attention to frontlist releases. You cant put all 13,000 titles in your newsletter or on Instagram, he said, The demand is being created outside of my store. I am benefiting from it."

Regarding ordering frontlist this season, Enyeart recommended splitting orders on Edelweiss and demonstrated on a share-screen how to do so. Core orders are books Im dying for, and I want to make a big order, because I know were going to sell it through the fall. The other frontlist buys right now that he calls non-core are gifty books, counter books, childrens picture books, because theyve tanked since no one is browsing the store. Enyeart said two-thirds of his fall buying has been core, and one-third non-core.

The booksellers and reps participating on the teleconference also discussed production issues and whether there would be disruptions this fall. While there will be delays on childrens picture books printed in China, as there have been for the last couple of years, as well as art books printed overseas, the reps reported no downward shifts in print runs and no expected disruptions to shipping  although one unidentified rep cautioned booksellers that printers may experience unexpected staff shortages or other unforeseen issues this fall that may have an impact upon reprinting. Take that into account, he said.

It was advice that booksellers should heed, as Enyeart demonstrated, disclosing that 85% of his frontlist buying is re-ordering.

Kirsten Sandstrom, the manager of Apostle Islands Booksellers in Bayfield, Wisc., noted that Wisconsin re-opened sooner than expected. As a result, she said, Apostle Islands re-opened in late May with zero frontlist as tourists poured into town. If you put [backlist] on display intelligently, theyre going to buy it, she said, Know your backlist as well as your frontlist and youll be okay.

As the session concluded, University Press Sales Associates rep Lanora Haradon asked the booksellers to comment on what was selling in their stores  and what was being pulled from shelves. For the most part, booksellers are not pulling inventory, though all are rearranging their stores to allow for social distancing. Several are making sidelines that customers want to handle before buying less accessible -- or not carrying them at all. Ann Woodbeck, the owner of Excelsior Bay Books in a Minneapolis suburb, noted that she is hanging puppet sidelines on cords running above customers' heads, so they can point to them to purchase.

Unsurprisingly, books on social justice topics and about race/racism are selling well, with Sandstrom noting that, due to a large Indigenous population in northwestern Wisconsin, books by Indigenous authors are also selling well at Apostle Islands. Several booksellers noted that romance titles, in Thomas words, are huge right now.

Well-written escapist fiction, Sandstrom added, paraphrasing recent customer requests: Please take me somewhere other than where I am now.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Glioblastomas are the most common malignant brain tumors in adults. Treatment options are extremely limited and usually not effective, leading to death for most patients within 12-18 months of diagnosis.

This is the type of cancer that claimed the lives of former U.S. Sens. John McCain and Ted Kennedy.

Now, a Purdue University cancer innovator and his team have developed a promising new approach to treating these tumors using a type of immune cell called the natural killer (NK) cell. The team genetically modifies the NK cells to more specifically target and kill cancer cells.

Multifunctionally engineering these cells is a potentially transformative way to enable the improved treatment of this disease, said Sandro Matosevic, an assistant professor in Purdues College of Pharmacy. Our solution is the first multifunctional, responsive immunotherapy for GBM (glioblastoma multiforme) based on engineered natural killer cells. By targeting multiple mechanisms at the same time, we severely limit the ability of GBM to avoid treatment.

The challenge with developing therapies for GBM is that the disease is highly immunosuppressive. It uses multiple mechanisms to evade recognition by the immune system, and many therapies developed against it are unsuccessful because GBM is both resistant to treatment and highly heterogeneous.

GBM is the most aggressive brain tumor. Despite multiple intensive treatment options  surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy  very few patients with GBM survive beyond 15 months, and none are cured. This is because most drugs act on a single pathway, while GBM uses a highly complex network of immunosuppressive mechanisms to promote resistance to treatment and evade immune recognition.

Not only is cell-based immunotherapy a highly unique and promising treatment approach, but natural killer cells have been shown to be able to kill GBM with high efficiency. They are also considered safer than other cell-based therapies such as T cells. In addition, it has been shown that clinically, patients benefit from a higher presence of NK cells in the tumor microenvironment, Matosevic said.

The innovators are working with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization, which seeks to license this patent-pending technology. The office is now housed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus.

The researchers are looking for partners to continue developing their technology. For more information on licensing and other opportunities, contact Joseph Kasper of OTC at jrkasper@prf.org and mention track code 2020-MATO-68833.

This technology involving GBM is the latest innovation to come out of the Matosevic Lab and is among several recent innovations from Purdue scientists and the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Walther Cancer Foundation, in collaboration with Indiana University School of Medicine, funded part of this work.

About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. The office recently moved into the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus. In fiscal year 2019, the office reported 136 deals finalized with 231 technologies signed, 380 disclosures received and 141 issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information.

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: Chris Adam, cladam@prf.org



Source: Sandro Matosevic, smatosev@purdue.edu
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  People swallow hundreds of times a day  often without realizing theyre doing it. But for some people, being able to safely swallow means the difference between life and death.

Georgia Malandraki, associate professor of speech, language, and hearing sciences at Purdue University, is uncovering the relationship between the brain and swallowing to develop treatments for children and adults who have difficulty swallowing. This condition, also known as dysphagia, affects 10 million adults and more than a half million children in the United States every year.

What most people dont know is that the prevalence of swallowing disorders is very high. Swallowing disorders probably affected someone in your life at some point, said Malandraki, the research director of Purdues I-EaT Swallowing Research Laboratory and Clinic in Purdues College of Health and Human Sciences. What we often say is that these are not visible disorders. Someone with a swallowing disorder might be speaking and walking fine but could have a tube in their stomach just to help them nourish themselves and survive, and you would never know. 

Malandraki is a neurophysiologist, a certified speech-language pathologist and a board-certified specialist in swallowing and swallowing disorders.

Swallowing disorders can affect anyone and this video shows the difference between normal and abnormal. But children, including infants, especially those born prematurely, and older adults with age-related disorders such as Parkinsons disease, are the most susceptible, Malandraki said. Swallowing disorders also are common in patients affected by stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and head and neck cancer.

Malandrakis lab includes MRI/fMRI analysis equipment, electromyographic and respiratory recording and analysis equipment, and multiple swallowing diagnostic and intervention tools. These tools are used to answer questions about how swallowing is controlled by our muscles and brain. The lab works in conjunction with the Purdue I-EaT Swallowing Research Clinic, one of the first dedicated fully-equipped university-based dysphagia clinics in the country. Malandraki also is working on developing telehealth and wearable technologies to improve access of care for patients with swallowing disorders. Telehealth is the distribution of health care services and information through electronic and telecommunication technologies. It allows long-distance patient and clinician care, contact and education.

My interest in telehealth began during my doctoral studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where I worked on the first large-scale telemedicine program in the U.S. to remotely evaluate swallowing disorders, Malandraki said.

The positive results, coupled with her experience as a native of Greece where resources in the area of dysphagia are limited, fueled her interest in exploring ways to improve access to care for as many patients with dysphagia as possible.

Swallowing used to be seen as a pure reflex, with little involvement from higher centers in the brain. But current research including our work, Malandraki said, is showing just how big of a role all levels of the central and peripheral nervous systems in general play in swallowing  and ultimately how the brain affects swallowing.

This knowledge was really important because, with this knowledge, we started seeing that we can actually help the brain change and help rehabilitate swallowing function, Malandraki said. Being able to document and claim that swallowing was not just a reflex, but a much more complex neural function, was a big shift in swallowing research and clinical practice.

That shift started about 20 years ago, Malandraki said. Now, the focus is on how to get the brain and the nervous system in general to change in a way that will facilitate recovery and improvement of swallowing.

We are looking at how the brain controls swallowing in both healthy populations and populations with brain damage, such as patients who have suffered a stroke or who have cerebral palsy, Malandraki said. We are examining how the brain control is altered in these populations and what adaptations these patients have developed. From there, we can start designing treatments that can directly affect the brain and help these patients change that control if needed, or develop good adaptations.

Some of the typical symptoms of dysphagia include difficulties getting food or liquids down on the first try, pain during swallowing, gagging or choking during swallowing and losing weight because of lack of nutrition. Infants might experience problems with the coordination of sucking, swallowing and breathing while nursing or bottle feeding and, ultimately, failure to thrive.

When you cant swallow, typically the first thing we have to address is how were going to nourish and hydrate you, Malandraki said. At times we have to think about alternative types of nutrition, but also how were going to manage your particular situation and rehabilitate your swallow. These are both equally important.

If untreated, dysphagia can be deadly, she said. Patients can aspirate food and liquid into their lungs, which can lead to infections and pneumonia.

Because of the brains ability to change throughout an individuals lifetime  also known as neuroplasticity  Malandrakis lab is focused on developing neuroplasticity-driven rehabilitation protocols.

This really is the way to truly help these patients, Malandraki said. When we can get to the core of the issue and see how the brain and the muscles are behaving, we can truly design treatments that will help the muscles and brain adapt and improve.

Malandraki emphasizes that dysphagia extends beyond physical health. The psychological effects that often accompany it can be devastating.

Dysphagia is a very isolating condition, Malandraki said. All of our social events  weddings, parties, even funerals  are centered around food and drinks, and when you cant eat or drink, it really isolates you. Our patients frequently deal with depression and dont want to leave the house.

The ability to improve the health and quality of life of people experiencing dysphagia is a constant motivator for Malandraki.

I want to help patients be able to eat and grow, nourish themselves, Malandraki said. Being able to help someone survive or help make the difference between whether they live or die is something extraordinary. It is a heavy responsibility but also an enormous privilege I dont take for granted. Our mission is to find effective ways to rehabilitate swallowing so that we help people live long, healthy and happy lives.

Malandraki also is helping to support the universitys technology commercialization and licensing initiatives. Her work is supported by the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering), the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the Pedal-with-Pete Foundation, the Ralph W. and Grace M. Showalter Research Trust, the SMART Consortium, the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, and the Womens Global Health Initiative.

About Purdue University Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences

Purdue SLHS is a top-ranked department (No. 3 in Speech-Language Pathology and No. 9 in Audiology; US News and World Reports) with research and clinical efforts to mechanistically investigate and treat a variety of hearing, speaking, language, and swallowing disorders. Its 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, nickela@purdue.edu

Media contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Georgia Malandraki, malandraki@purdue.edu
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind - As the next step to protect the health and safety of everyone on campus and the community, Purdue University announced today (July 8) that it is formulating plans to require and pay for all West Lafayette-bound students to be tested for COVID-19 before moving into residence halls and attending classes this August.

The program will be led by Dr. Esteban Ramirez, chief medical officer at the Protect Purdue Health Center (PPHC), and was developed in consultation with the Protect Purdue Medical Advisory Team. Dr. Ramirez is an experienced internist and clinical assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine-West Lafayette. Under Dr. Ramirez direction, the PPHC is the Universitys virtual health center launched last week to coordinate the overall workflow of COVID-related case management on campus.

Through its Protect Purdue initiative, undergraduate, graduate and professional program students will soon be provided instructions and assistance on how and when to get tested for COVID-19, beginning in early August before traveling to campus.

Student test results will be sent to the Protect Purdue Health Center, and those testing positive should not travel to West Lafayette or come to campus for any reason until they isolate for 14 days and are medically-cleared to return by the PPHC.

Failure to complete a COVID-19 test and have those results filed with the Protect Purdue Health Center prior to arrival will affect a students ability to move into a residence hall or begin in-person classes when they resume on Aug. 24. Academic support will be available through virtual consultations with staff specializing in student success to help undergraduate students navigate their continued academic progress if they must isolate because of COVID-19.

For students already on campus or arriving for various early-start programs throughout July, the University and the Protect Purdue Health Center are developing plans to rapidly sample and test individuals through a combination of resources provided by on-campus, local and outside partners.

The University will cover costs of all student testing. Purdue is expecting a potentially record number of freshmen this fall, with a student body of more than 40,000 total.

Our comprehensive Protect Purdue Plan affords us the unique flexibility and adaptability to respond to rising COVID-19 cases across parts of the country and help protect our Purdue community in real time, Ramirez said.

We are committed to facilitating the testing of our students who span the nation and the globe before they return to the residence halls, classrooms and West Lafayette community this August by way of our Protect Purdue Health Center, Ramirez added. "Through these preventative and proactive measures, we take another important step to protect the student body, our faculty, staff, overall campus and members of the local community  particularly the most vulnerable  amid concerning national trends.

Undergraduate, graduate and professional program students: All students living on campus this fall will be required to be tested for COVID-19 and have a negative test result on file with the Protect Purdue Health Center prior to moving into their residence hall in August.

Those students living off campus also will be required to be tested for COVID-19 and have negative test results on file with the PPHC prior to participating in an on-campus program in August or attending their first in-person class.

Specific instructions will soon be provided on how and when to get tested for COVID-19 in August before traveling to campus, while allowing adequate time for processing and reporting test results before arrival.

For students participating in Early Start, Summer Start and other programs throughout July, as well as students already at Purdue for work, research or classes this summer, special arrangements have been made to test them on campus or in collaboration with local testing partners.

Faculty and staff: Faculty and staff are not required to be COVID-19 tested at this time provided they are not sick, experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, and have not been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

All faculty and staff, particularly those working on campus this summer and fall, are encouraged to adhere to the components of the Protect Purdue Pledge, particularly monitoring and reporting any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 to the Protect Purdue Health Center by calling 765-496-INFO (4636) or toll-free at 833-571-1043. The caller will be connected to a registered nurse case manager, who will help determine the appropriate course of care, which could include self-quarantine and a COVID-19 test.

Integrated Monitoring and Surveillance Plan: The Protect Purdue Health Center, the single-point health center for all things COVID-19-related for the Purdue community, is staffed with a dedicated team of physicians, registered nurses, case managers, contact tracers and support staff. Ramirez said the PPHC is working closely with the Protect Purdue Health Monitoring and Surveillance Team as well as the Medical Advisory Team to ensure the safety, health and well-being of individuals and the community.

As the semester progresses, the Protect Purdue Health Center will provide ongoing case management, which will include monitoring and testing of both symptomatic individuals and close contacts who might have been exposed to positive individuals. The protocols for testing and contact tracing have been developed in accordance with the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Indiana State Department of Health.

When the comprehensive Protect Purdue Plan was announced on June 12 for reopening the campus this fall, the University began the capabilities to rapidly assess, sample and test any student, faculty or staff member reporting COVID-19 symptoms and those identified through clinically relevant contact tracing.

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.

Media contact: Tim Doty, doty2@purdue.edu
I cannot speak on any of the internal affairs investigations until they are completed, however I have to condemn in the strongest terms the false narrative that has been put out regarding that there was not an outside investigation done, video evidence was withheld and that the Joliet Police Department was covering up evidence, Roechner said.
Rantoul, IL (61866)

Today

Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 73F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 59F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
A young woman waits for the start of the Juneteenth chime concert on the University of Illinois Quad. People used social distancing for safety. Altgeld Hall towers in the background.
Created and written by International Emmy Award-winning Gjermund S. Eriksen (Mammon, Aber Bergen) and co-written by Helena Nielsen (Lilyhammer, Aber Bergen, Black Widows), For Life is Norways first police procedural and promises a witty, sparkling script with warmth, humour and topical, suspenseful storylines. The 8 x 60 series follows the story of Victoria Woll (Tone Mostraum, Eyewitness, ZombieLars) a hardened Norwegian national crime service investigator, across two different timelines: in the present, where it is her job to solve cases and put criminals behind bars, and in the future, where she is in prison. Every episode will feature a present-day, exciting standalone case as its main story, along with new pieces to the continuing puzzle that is Victoria and why she is fighting for her freedom a few years down the line.For Life will receive its premiere on NRK on 6 September 2020. It is produced by NENT Studios company Monster for NRK. Along with NENT Studios UK, the Norwegian Film Institute has also invested in For Life. Producers of For Life are Hakon Briseid (Nobel, Borderline, Young and Promising) and Bard Fjulsrud (Young and Promising, Borderline, The Retail Estate Agents). Series consultant is triple International Emmy Award-winner Sven Clausen, a former producer on NYPD Blue and executive producer for the successful Nordic crime series Mobile Unit (aka Unit One).Commenting on the production, Elin Thomas, EVP sales for NENT Studios UK said: With its intriguing premise, lightness of touch and sharp, topical storylines, For Life is a distinctive, new style of police procedural, far removed from the dark crime series associated with the traditional Nordic Noir genre. We are delighted to bring something new to the international market and to have locked-in these initial pre-sales with SBS, Pro Plus and Canal Plus.
Letourneau served seven years in prison for second-degree rape of a child and was released in 2004. She grabbed more tabloid headlines after she and her victim married less than a year after she got out of prison, when Fualaau was 21.
I myself have been a victim of racism due to the color of my skin, explained McLarty on Monday. Ive also been a victim of police brutality. What I do know is there are a lot of bad people in this world, and no matter how many statues, flags or pancake boxes you take down, they will still exist.
As President Trump welcomes Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to the White House for their first face-to-face meeting, they will tout the landmark United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The updated North American trade pact, signed in January after months of deliberation, modernizes the longstanding trilateral agreement that was a central issue in the 2016 presidential campaign.

The political importance of the agreement aside, the USMCA is a win-win for American workers, businesses and energy consumers, paving the way for sustained US energy leadership and expanded economic growth. Cross-border trade with Mexico and Canada is key to strengthening the domestic energy industry, which has made the United State the worlds leading producer of oil and natural gas. Today, the US counts Mexico as its number one export market for natural gas and refined products, with Canada as its top destination for crude oil.

By solidifying these critical energy partnerships, the International Trade Commission projects the USMCA could support the creation of between 176,000 and 589,000 American jobs, in addition to the 12 million US jobs and nearly $1.3 trillion in trade already sustained by our partnership with Mexico and Canada. With this record of economic development and job creation among these trading partners, it is clear why Presidents Trump and Lopez Obrador would take a victory lap this week.

However, amidst the celebration of this historic agreement, it is important that the Trump administration also use the occasion to begin to focus on implementation and how to address troubling developments in Mexico that contradict the investment protections provided by USMCA and threaten the agreements economic benefits.

Several recent actions taken by the Mexican government are harmful to U.S. investors, violate commitments made by Mexico and undermine the framework of the USMCA. For example, US entities are facing discrimination as foreign investors in the permitting processes for a range of projects in Mexico, including new or rebranded gas stations, third party storage facilities, imported fuels, liquids terminals, and liquefied natural gas terminals.

American investors are now experiencing approval delays for routine permits that should be granted within 90 days under Mexican law. Mexican officials have begun shutting down pumps at U.S.-owned gas stations for minor or non-existent infractions, at times with the coercive presence of Mexicos National Guard. Additionally, a new requirement that took effect on July 1 forces American energy companies to keep five days worth of fuel storage. Such a mandate is problematic, as the Mexican state-owned petroleum company, PEMEX, owns and operates most of the available storage capacity and the Mexican government continues to block American companies from building new storage facilities.

As North American energy markets become more interdependent, and US energy firms compete successfully for market share in Mexico, it is critical that Presidents Trump and Lopez Obrador address these lingering issues. If the USMCA is to improve trilateral trade relations in North America, the Mexican government must apply regulations fairly and consistently to all companies in its market to establish free flowing energy, not discriminating against U.S. firms.

A hallmark of the USMCA is its insistence on fairness and reduced trade barriers. Businesses, agricultural groups, and organized labor supported the USMCA because it guarantees that workers will be treated fairly across North America. Unfortunately, given Mexicos actions toward US energy firms, those promises could unravel without further diplomatic engagement.

US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette recently explained that the USMCA will make Americans freer, safer, and more prosperous, a notion we should welcome, especially in these uncertain economic times. As President Trump and President Lopez Obrador celebrate the implementation of USMCA, it is important to remember that the full promise of this landmark agreement will only be realized if our North American leaders cooperate to protect free, fair, and open trade.

Frank J. Macchiarola is the senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs at the American Petroleum Institute.
On June 10th, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced a 30-day notice and comment period on a proposed change to the agencys Environmental and Social Policy and Procedures that would remove the DFCs prohibition on support of nuclear power projects. The DFC states that its effort to modernize its policies to offer financing for nuclear projects supports the agencys development mandate, bolsters US foreign policy, and recognizes advances in technology which could make nuclear energy particularly impactful in emerging markets.

US efforts to bolster access to safe, clean nuclear energy in developing economies is vital to maintaining national security interests abroad and preserving US dominance in nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation standards vis-a-vis Russia and China, whose leaders are actively using nuclear diplomacy to gain a foothold in emerging markets.

Congress passed the US Better Utilization of Investment leading to Development (BUILD) Actwhich created the DFClargely in response to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. The legislation signaled a recognition among policymakers of the national security implications of Chinas growing economic dominance. It also opened an opportunity to mitigate the dangers of predatory state investment and authoritarian regime loan practices in developing countries.

The legislation governing the DFC provides a much broader mandate than that of its predecessor, the Overseas Private Development Corporation (OPIC), to pursue development activities while supporting US foreign policy objectives. As countries such as Russia and China employ infrastructure development and long-term energy projects including civil nuclear program development to increase energy dependence among developing countries, the DFCs current prohibition on nuclear project finance only exacerbates Russia and Chinas growing influence in energy diplomacy.

A potential removal of the DFCs ban on nuclear project finance provides an opportunity for the US to push back on Russian and Chinese dominance in third-party countries while simultaneously supporting development objectives.

Even as nuclear power plants in Western Europe and North America face premature closures, developing countries and emerging economies are increasingly turning to nuclear energy to meet rising electricity demand, mitigate public health crises exacerbated by poor air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and deploy clean energy solutions in a manner conscious of capital and land resource constraints. This trend presents US leadership with a critical choice: remain at the forefront of nuclear technology and policy or cede leadership to Russia and China, whose leaders are eager to capitalize on demand from emerging markets for nuclear capacity.

The US was once a global leader in the export of nuclear energy exports. Since 1955, the US has signed twenty-three Section 123 agreements that cover 48 countries, the IAEA and Taiwan, to ensure the highest standards of safety and non-proliferation in the transfer of nuclear technology and research.

Despite significant Congressional and public support for civil nuclear projects throughout the Cold War and into the early 2000s, government policies slowly began to reflect public campaigns highlighting perceived financial and safety risks of nuclear energy. Evaporation of federal support occurred a decade ago when OPIC developed its social and environmental policy statement and included an explicit prohibition on nuclear energy projects.

Since then, this prohibition has disadvantaged US corporations that vie for projects against the competitive state-backed financing packages offered by Russia. Although most new-to-nuclear countries have expressed interest in acquiring nuclear energy technologies from the US, many of them (including those that have signed 123 agreements with the US in the past) are turning toward Russia, which is able to provide government-backed financing for civil nuclear projects. The tools and capitalization opportunities offered by the new DFC enable the competitive financing necessary for US companies to level the playing field and uphold global nuclear safety and nonproliferation standards.

Removing the DFCs ban on nuclear financing is critical to US national security and foreign policy interests. It both unlocks commercial relationships that can last a century, and it aligns US government policy with current initiatives at the Department of Energy that incentivize private companies to continue developing, demonstrating, and deploying cutting edge advanced nuclear technology. The domestic nuclear industry is a key component of US national security, contributing approximately $42 billion to the US national security apparatus annually. The DFCs promise of financing would play a crucial role in bolstering the domestic civil nuclear industry by supporting participation in a robust export market.

The decision would send a strong signal to the US nuclear industry that the development of advanced technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors (MNRs), as well as the pursuit of alternative uses for nuclear energy such as hydrogen, desalination, and district heating, would be met with deployment opportunities abroad.

These technological innovations would in turn provide a basis for lasting, meaningful diplomatic relationships with countries that might otherwise turn to Russia or China for their energy needs or economic development. Furthermore, these diplomatic relationships not only ensure a market for US nuclear technology, but also preserve the highest safety standards and strongest non-proliferation and security safeguards in the development of civil nuclear programs.

Russian and Chinese leaders recognize the important role nuclear diplomacy plays in gaining a foothold in countries they deem valuable to their foreign policy interests, which is why their governments provide strong, early financial and policy support for nuclear exports. Its time for the US to re-assert its authority over global nuclear safety and nonproliferation standards and to value its nuclear energy exports as a top national security priority. Removing the DFCs ban on nuclear project finance is a critical first step.

Ambassador Thomas Graham is Executive Chairman of Lightbridge Corporation, and Admiral Mies was former commander of US Strategic Command. Both are co-chairmen of the Atlantic Councils Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition (@NENSCoalition).
At the foot of Mount Rushmore on the Fourth of July, President Trump redrew the battle lines of the election, describing the contest not just as a referendum on his handling of the economy or his response to the coronavirus, but as a struggle against those who aim to overthrow the American Revolution.

He reiterated the message three days later, telling RealClearPolitics in an Oval Office interview that we are in a culture war.

Trump had warned at Rushmore that the country is under assault from a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children. He said in his speech that an angry mob is working to tear down statues of our Founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities.

And on Tuesday the president told RCP that his party needed to enlist in the culture war or risk ruin. If the Republicans don't toughen up and get smart and get strong and protect our heritage and protect our country, he explained, I think they're going to have a very tough election.

The Independence Day address is already serving as a sort of ideological inkblot test. To Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, it was a magnificent speech, and the conservative National Review heralded Trumps remarks as a triumph. But to Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, reportedly under consideration to be Joe Bidens running mate, the speech was an ode to dead traitors, and the New York Times labeled the address dark and divisive.

Either way, Trump has hit on the message he believes will carry him to a second term. He is not unaware of the spate of polling that shows Biden expanding his lead, numbers he takes seriously. But Trump spoke longingly on Tuesday of a kind of campaign that is no longer possible amid a pandemic.

This was going to be a blowout, and then China hit us with the China virus, and all of a sudden, it discombobulated this country and the entire world. Now, it's a much closer situation, he said.

We were sailing to an easy victory. Now, I have to fight for the victory, but I've been fighting all my life. That's what I do. I fight for victory.

Many on the right are still concerned. The conservative editorial board at the Wall Street Journal warned the president in a June 28 editorial that, unless Trump finds a consistent message, he is heading for a historic repudiation that would take the Republican Senate down with him. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa tweeted his concern, begging someone with access to the Oval Office to read it.

Trump has answered, but in many ways returned to form as some of the protests against police brutality have turned violent and statues of long-dead Founding Fathers have been toppled or defaced. And while he insists a second term would be dedicated to policy hallmarks such as immigration, increased military spending and a deregulated economy, he intends to re-emphasize policing.

He told RCP that Chicago, where nearly 80 people were shot and 15 killed over the holiday weekend, was a travesty. He promised to focus on law enforcement in the cities and complained that when the federal government offered to send in support, mayors and governors had turned him down.

Trump has less than four months to convince the country that Biden is the face of the left-wing cultural revolution, a difficult task considering that the former vice president campaigned as a moderate compared to the rest of the Democratic primary field. Any professed centrism, according to Trump, only serves to camouflage a regime change that would bring certain financial collapse and an encroaching state. Losing the election, Trump said, would lead to a system that nobodys going to want to be a part of, a system that will lead to another Venezuela. A Biden presidency, he argued further, would mean a massive and very deep depression in this country because he intends to raise taxes massively on everybody to pay for programs that dont work.

Conservatives were thrilled with the political regrouping at Mount Rushmore. But some shuddered at Trump's decision two days later to ask Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in NASCAR and who successfully pushed auto racings governing body to ban the Confederate flag, to apologize after federal law enforcement concluded that a noose-shaped pull-down rope in his garage stall last month was not evidence of a hate crime.

The FBI and Justice Department found that the rope had been there for months, and Trump tweeted to ask if Wallace would apologize to all those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX? That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER! To his critics, it was more confirmation of racism and an explicit defense of a treasonous symbol. Addressing the controversy for the first time on the record, the president insisted the opposite.

That tweet said nothing other than [that] NASCAR made a decision, and not everybody agrees with that decision. I didn't say that I did or didn't agree with that decisionI didn't say. As far as I'm concerned, it's freedom of speech, he told RCP.

But a lot of people were hurt by that decision. They were hurt. They didn't have bad intentions, they were hurt. And all I do is call it like I see it, he added.

Calling them like he sees them will not end between now and November. My instincts have been right. I follow my instinct, the president said of how he will continue to campaign and advance the front in the culture war. I follow the brain; the brain has gotten me far.

Seated behind the Resolute Desk and signing a thick stack of documents to formally nominate federal judges, the president rejected rumors and recent reports that he is privately uninterested in a second term and intends to self-sabotage his campaign.

I want it with all my breath, Trump told RCP, with every ounce of what I represent.
In the aftermath of Donald Trumps campaign rally in a half-empty Tulsa arena, Democrats openly cheered the revelation that activists had used Chinese social media platform TikTok to mislead the campaign into expecting a vastly larger crowd. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gleefully tweeted that the Trump campaign had been ROCKED by teens on TikTok who make me so proud and that we see and appreciate your contributions in the fight for justice. A closer consideration of the Chinese ownership of TikTok, however, raises serious concerns about the future of American democracy in a web that is increasingly controlled by our adversaries.

For a party that has spent the better part of the past four years -- and one special counsel investigation -- condemning foreign interference in the electoral process, the Democratic response to Trumps subverted rally was jarring. In the place of party calls to secure social platforms against influence operations and the need for government action to protect the campaign process from meddling was suddenly a chorus of approval over activists act of sabotage. One of the organizers of the disruption effort has even been recruited by a pro-Biden organization.

What happened with the Tulsa rally? By most accounts, teenagers and other young activists across the United States organized using TikTok to reserve large numbers of tickets to the event in order to mislead organizers into expecting a much larger crowd. Entry was first-come/first-serve, meaning the subversive mass ticket reservation effort didnt actually prevent legitimate supporters from attending, but it did cause the campaign to publicly boast about the likely size of the crowd, making the low actual turnout that much more striking -- and embarrassing.

One of the core findings of the Mueller Report was that a primary goal of Russian interference in the 2016 election was to sow chaos and division in the electoral process. While electing Donald Trump was a secondary goal of these efforts, the Russians aimed to undermine confidence in the fairness of the democratic process no matter who won. Sabotaging a campaign rally by inflating public expectations that are then undermined is a classic kind of influence operation designed to sow a softer sort of disruption.

To date there have been no indications that non-Americans led or participated in the Tulsa ticketing campaign, so at first glance this would appear to be simply a creative digital-era domestic ploy to demoralize Trump voters and make the president look bad. The element that makes this particular action of such concern from an influence standpoint is it was organized not on an American-owned platform like Twitter or Facebook, but on an explosively popular Chinese-owned one.

What makes a given post go viral? Todays social platforms use opaque algorithms that weigh myriad unknown factors to decide which calls to action become global phenomena and which fade into obscurity. What we see in our news feeds each day is determined not by what is most relevant to us but rather what social media companies believe will drive the most monetizable behavior. This is why, in 2014, Twitter users saw the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., play out in real-time, while, conversely, Facebook users saw video upon video of the ALS ice-bucket challenge. Facebooks algorithms prioritized the smiling-if-chilled images of celebrities and friends dumping ice over their heads to raise money for a deadly disease, while Twitter users saw a raw, unfiltered live-stream of protesters clashing with police amid a fog of tear gas.

The criteria used to devise these algorithms are closely held secrets, but the companies human moderation policies remind us how freely the platforms intervene in the electoral process around the world. In the 2018 Pakistani election, Facebook directed its moderators to apply additional scrutiny to posts by one party, while another was dismissed as benign. As the New York Times put it, Facebook is a center of news and discussion during voting and the companys policies most likely shaped those conversations  even if Pakistanis themselves had no way of knowing. Similarly, in India, any post containing the phrase Free Kashmir was subjected to additional scrutiny, while criticism of religion was to be removed. A number of far-right political parties in Europe, including some holding seats in the European Union parliament, were banned entirely.

With social media platforms favoring the campaign messages of some parties over others in their moderation guidelines, what is to stop them from making changes to their algorithms that subtly elevate posts supporting one candidate over another?

Why did a TikTok post by a grandmother in Iowa go viral among teenage fans of Korean pop music and translate to hundreds of thousands of false Trump rally registrations?

We will never know what factors TikToks algorithms considered when it promoted posts calling for undermining Trumps rally. At the same time, the company has in the past established rules banning or suppressing content viewed as objectionable to the Beijing regime.

There is no evidence today that the Tulsa rally posts went viral on TikTok for anything other than grassroots organic interest from a passionate community of anti-Trump activists. At the same time, as with its American brethren, we simply have no idea what kinds of content TikToks algorithms favor or disfavor and whether inadvertent design decisions might elevate or penalize specific kinds of content. As a Chinese company, there is little the U.S. can do to ensure the company does not intervene in our domestic political speech.

Looking back, it is remarkable that in the space of four years, Democrats have gone from condemning electoral influence to copying it themselves to openly embracing a Chinese social media platform as a means to upend campaign rally expectations. Who knows what will come next.

In 2016 the Russian government co-opted American social media platforms to meddle in the presidential election. What will happen this year when our adversaries actually own and operate the very means by which our society debates its future? The public square is no longer just privatized, it has been outsourced to China.
U.S. President Donald Trumps withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal has put Europe in a tight spot. The squeeze is made still tighter by his subsequent insistence that the deals five-year ban on conventional arms sales to Iran be extended before it expires in October.

Though hardly eager for Iran to be permitted to purchase weapons, the European nations that remain party to the Iran deal (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) want to keep the agreement intact, with or without Washington's desired embargo extension. But theyre beset on one side by demands for compliance -- demands backed by the threat of further U.S. sanctions on Iran that could cause the nuclear deal to unravel altogether. On the other side, Russia and China --both would-be arms exporters to Iran who, like the United States, hold permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council -- are insisting the extension cannot happen.

There is no easy path forward for French, German, and British diplomats, who are pushing for a middle-ground arrangement that can satisfy both sides without contentious Security Council votes. But there is a lesson here for U.S. foreign policy: It must recognize its limits.

This is a lesson Washington does not wish to learn, and certainly one it has steadily avoided over the past two decades. Indeed, the story of our post-9/11 foreign policy failures can be told in many ways as an account of reckless rejections of limits on what American power, and especially American military power, can do.

After beginning in Afghanistan with a quickly accomplished mission of retribution for the 9/11 attacks, our war on terror has metastasized into a global monstrosity.

At home, it has brought unconstitutional surveillance, security theater, and militarized policing. Abroad, it has played out as an absurd attempt to reshape an entire region. Mission creep has moved the effort from retaliation to occupation to regime change and nation-building. Callous and counterproductive disregard for civilian casualties has created as many or more new enemies for the United States as our airstrikes and invasions can kill. Congressional authorizations of use of military force either stretch beyond any reasonable reading of their initial scope and intent, or are ignored altogether in favor of unfettered executive war-making.

In its rejection of limits, our foreign policy has rejected any guidance of strategy, prudence, or humanity. This hubris has cost us dearly. It has added violence to the Middle East and North Africa without adding to our security. It has exacted a price in blood, health, and treasure we will feel for decades to come. It has not fostered security, stability, or peace.

This scuffle over the Iranian arms embargo is but one tiny piece of U.S. foreign affairs -- though, in a worst-case scenario, it could put us back on the path toward a devastating war with Iran. But even if European diplomats can swing some more temperate resolution, and this disagreement fades into obscurity, Washington should still learn this lesson of limits. The proper aim of U.S. foreign policy is not world domination. We cannot police the planet, and we cannot expect to force other nations to stop acting in their own perceived interests, as France, Germany, and the U.K. seek to do by preserving the Iran deal. We desperately need a foreign policy built not on invasion and coercion, but on diplomacy and restraint.

Bonnie Kristian is a fellow at Defense Priorities, contributing editor at The Week, and columnist at Christianity Today. Her writing has also appeared at CNN, Politico, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, Defense One, and The American Conservative, among other outlets. The views expressed are the author's own.
While attending the annual international security conference in Munich earlier this year, I heard Trump administration officials tell a skeptical audience that the United States was still leading the world. A European official turned to me and said: They should substitute v for d, because it feels more often like this administration is leaving the world.
Theres no easy way to say this, so I might as well just jump up and say it: Im gay, he said in a video posted in May, 2019, while soft guitar music played in the background.
Delserro then traded gunfire with St. Lucie police officers when they arrived at the scene, cops said. Officials say Delserro was later found dead inside his home. They have not announced his cause of death.
Customers in cars lined up on a sand and gravel road at the Athens Locally Grown farmers market July 23. They waited to pick up orders that ha
July 08, 2020 08:30 IST

'We are not able to manufacture even low-end products as cheaply as China.'

'We are not buying Chinese goods today out of any love for China.'

IMAGE: A mango vendor opposes Chinese products as Swadeshi Jagran Manch members protest against China outside the Laxmi Nagar metro station in New Delhi. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Rathin Roy, director of the National Institution of Public Finance and Policy, steps down in August after a seven-year stint.

"You have two options. Either you accept that you are going to become a more expensive country, or you put in place a plan to produce the things you take from China, more cheaply in India," Roy, a former advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi, tells Arup Roychoudhury.

Is it just a coincidence that your resignation comes at the same time as Urjit Patel's appointment as chairman of the National Institution of Public Finance and Policy?

The stepping down of Vijay Kelkar as chairman, the appointment of Urjit Patel and my decision to resign are completely separate events.

Dr Patel is a very worthy successor to Dr Kelkar, and I cannot think of anyone better to lead the institution and he has my full support.

He is a man of great international stature, a former RBI governor, and most importantly, he has been a known friend of NIPFP.

If anything, it is a negative that I am resigning at a time when I could have worked with Dr Patel.

I had taken the decision to resign in January.

I was expecting to resign in March, but then COVID came and I wanted to see the institution through the initial phases, which I have done now, therefore I thought this was an opportune moment.

Are there any particular reasons for this decision?

I have felt that I need to move on to new professional challenges and responsibilities, which would allow me to focus more on the policy work I do in advocacy, without the simultaneous need to manage a public institution and to be able to think and speak for myself.

I have had to temper my individual views as they are inevitably associated with the views of the institution.

I want to do more technical work that will not be tempered by institutional curbs.

I also felt that in the circumstances in which India finds itself now it is important for me to be freely and readily available to the wider economic and business community, to be able to put forth my ideas in the public domain and to have the satisfaction of knowing that if these ideas have pick up, that will not be because of my institution but because of my ability to argue a point effectively.

There is also a watershed moment now, with all public institutions, like NIPFP, which have been set up as research think-tanks.

There are competing demands, regarding financial self-sufficiency, and providing research support exclusively to central and governments.

That balance of emphasis is changing somewhat, and I feel a new leadership is required to negotiate this phase.

There is a need to explore the idea, for a new leadership, that should NIPFP remain a body dependent on central and state grants or should it branch out to work more with multilateral institutions and private sector.

Essentially, it is a question of whether NIPFP can survive as a public finance and research body whose principal clients are the central and state governments.

As a public figure in policymaking circles, you have been quite blunt and frank with your assessment and criticism. Are there things you want to say which being in your current position have prevented you from saying?

There are two rules to follow. You speak on issues and not on personalities.

And when you speak about problems, you offer solutions. I think I have met both these criteria.

I, however, have other things to say which go beyond the remit of NIPFP as a public finance and macro-economic institution.

I believe a number of problems which India is facing today are not problems of this or that government.

I believe there are deep-seated problems in our society which cause ineffective public spending.

I believe there are issues of political economy which are a constraint on our federal polity.

I am concerned about the weakness of our public finances and the political economy reasons for it.

And these are not things that I can or should speak of with full freedom when I head a public institution.

Coming now to macro-economic issues, they say with crisis comes opportunity. Are there any reforms you would liked to have seen in the COVID pandemic and the resultant economic crisis?

I don't believe that with crisis comes opportunity. When crisis comes, you deal with the crisis.

In the process of dealing with it, you may get some opportunities.

In 1991, dealing with the balance of payments crisis forced the then government's hands to undertake a process of liberalisation.

I don't think the situation is the same today.

We have to deal with a crisis of a negative GDP growth for certain in FY21, both nominal and real.

There are some things we can do.

We can prepare for the consequences of negative GDP growth, so as to minimize the negative impact of that in subsequent years and we have to do what we can to make that negative growth as little negative as possible.

And we have to make sure that the suffering from that does not fall upon the weakest and most vulnerable sections of society.

The prime minister has called for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', and the recent tensions have led to calls to boycott Chinese goods. Can we actually do that?

We are not buying Chinese goods today out of any love for China.

Why are even our sewing needles manufactured in China?

We are not able to manufacture even low-end products as cheaply as China.

And therefore it is a rational economic decision to buy something from somewhere when it is sold as cheaply as possible.

If you choose not to do that, then your economy becomes more expensive and then your growth falls, and you lose.

You have two options. Either you accept that you are going to become a more expensive country, or you put in place a plan to produce the things you take from China, more cheaply in India.

India has been in a situation where we can produce high-end products for our consumers, but when it comes to mass market items, we are uncompetitive, compared to other countries, not just China.

We have to grow up and do much more than just, in a fit of childish pique, say that we are boycotting Chinese products.

We will have to put the hard work in to make things here that people of India want to consume and reduce our dependence on the rest of the world.

We have to recognise that you cannot compete with China when so much of your GDP comes from low-end services.

You were a member of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management committee. Given the resource crunch we are facing now, how should the government approach the FRBM Act?

And secondly, do you think there is a case for monetizing the deficit by the RBI?

The FRBM Act we should put to one side for now.

With this crisis, the big question of public finance is that can public resources be used more effectively and efficiently to achieve better outcomes than they have been used for the past 40 years.

How you monetise or finance the deficit is not the problem.

The problem is what do you do with the money that you borrow.

If you can show that you can utilize it better than what you did last year, the greater becomes the case for unconventional methods, like monetising.

What are your plans for the future?

I would like to stay in India and am in conversation with people, largely in the private sector.

I also have concrete offers from overseas, which I am contemplating.

But I have asked for some time, because obviously my decision will be based on how best I can serve not just myself, but my talents as a professional economist, and my country.
July 08, 2020 09:00 IST

The thinking at the Centre is that since the RBI has ramped up purchases of government bonds, the interest earned on them will be transferred to the exchequer as dividend.

With tax revenue shrinking owing to the pandemic, the Centre is expecting the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to transfer a higher-than-budgeted surplus for the second year in a row.

While last fiscal year was about capital reserves and the recommendations of the Bimal Jalan panel, this year the thinking at the Centre is that since the RBI has ramped up purchases of government bonds, the interest earned on them will be transferred to the exchequer as dividend.

The RBIs website shows during April 1-June 21, the central bank purchased more than Rs 1.3 trillion in government bonds through open market operations (OMOs), and sold g-secs worth Rs 10,000 crore in the secondary market.

In the same period last year, the central bank had purchased Rs 52,550 crore worth of g-secs and sold those worth Rs 10 crore.

The RBI is buying more and more government bonds through OMOs and the Centre is paying interest on that.

"The interest the RBI earns will be transferred to us as dividend by the end of the year, a senior government official told Business Standard.

The surplus transferred could be more than what we had budgeted for, the official added.

The pandemic, the nationwide lockdown, and the accompanying economic slowdown have severely affected revenues from direct and indirect taxes, including goods and services tax.

Revenue from divestment is also expected to be hit.

In this scenario, the Centre is looking at various non-tax revenue sources, and any surplus from the RBI will help, officials say.

As reported earlier, the government is assessing the cash position of state-owned companies and will ask them to ramp up dividend payout and share buyback as much as possible.

The thinking at the Centre is that since economic activity is low, public-sector undertakings are not spending on capital expenditure as much as they had anticipated, and hence are sitting on reserves, which can be used to pay dividend and buy back shares.

For 2020-21, the budgeted dividend from state-owned banks, financial institutions, and the RBI has been pegged at Rs 89,648.5 crore.

For 2019-20, the Centre had expected Rs 1.06 trillion and got Rs 1.52 trillion.

Of this, a record Rs 1.23 trillion was from the RBI following the recommendations of the Bimal Jalan Committee on Economic Capital Framework.

In addition to that, the RBI had transferred Rs 52,637 crore of excess provisions.

That surplus transfer was almost double the previous record of Rs 65,896 crore in 2014-15. In 2018-19, the RBI transferred Rs 50,000 crore, while in 2016-17, the dividend was only Rs 30,659 crore because of demonetisation.
Source:

July 08, 2020 21:17 IST

The relaxation would be available only to those beneficiaries who have been credited with the advance for buying the cylinder but have not been able to purchase the refill.

The government on Wednesday allowed poor women beneficiaries of the Ujjwala scheme time till September-end to avail the unclaimed LPG cylinders out of the quota of three free cooking gas bottles that were given as pandemic relief.

The government had in March announced three 14.2-kg LPG cylinders free of cost to about 8 crore Ujjwala beneficiaries from April to June to help them cope with the economic pain of the coronavirus lockdown.

But since not all rural and poor households -- the principal beneficiaries of the Ujjwala scheme -- consume one cylinder every month, some could not avail their full quota of three cylinders, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters in New Delhi.

To help such people, the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the period for availing the free cooking gas by three months till September-end, he said.

An official statement said the relaxation would be available only to those beneficiaries who have been credited with the advance for buying the cylinder but have not been able to purchase the refill.

According to the procedure, the price of one cylinder is paid as advance into bank accounts of beneficiaries.

Once the beneficiary uses this amount to buy a cylinder from the market, the advance amount for the next refill will be credited to bank accounts.

Some of the beneficiaries could not use the money in their account to buy an LPG refill before June 30.

They have now been given an opportunity to do so by September 30.

"On review of the scheme, it has been observed that a section of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries are yet to utilise the advance credited into their account to purchase the cylinder refill within the scheme period.

"Hence, the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the ministry of petroleum & natural gas to extend the time-limit for availing the advance by three months.

This will benefit those PMUY beneficiaries who have been credited with the advance for buying the cylinder but have not been able to purchase the refill.

"Thus, the beneficiaries who already have the advance transferred to their account can now take the free refill delivery till September 30," the statement said.

Officials said no fresh transfer of money will be done into bank accounts and only unutilized credits for the purchase of LPG have been allowed till September.

In March, the government had announced a relief package 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana' aimed at providing a safety net to the poor and vulnerable who had been hit the hardest by the pandemic.

Besides free ration, the package included relief for poor families who had availed an LPG connection under PMUY.

Under the PMGKY-Ujjwala, it was decided to provide free of cost refills for PMUY consumers for a period of three months with effect from April 1, 2020.

"Under the scheme, Rs 9709.86 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of Ujjwala beneficiaries during April-June 2020 and 11.97 crore cylinders were delivered to the PMUY beneficiaries.

The scheme went a long way to ameliorate the suffering and disruption caused due to the coronavirus pandemic," it said.

Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters
July 08, 2020 17:15 IST

The payouts were 22 per cent lower than the previous years tally of Rs 7,938 crore.

Through direct plans, investors can bypass a distributor and save on total expense ratios, as distribution commissions are embedded into TERs.

The income of mutual fund (MF) distributors declined in 2019-20 (FY20) as gross amount paid by fund houses slipped to a three-year low of Rs 6,134 crore.

The payouts were 22 per cent lower than the previous years tally of Rs 7,938 crore.

Market participants attribute this to a combination of factors.

Fund houses are looking to control costs by rationalising commission-linked structures.

"As more fund houses get listed, the commissions may fall further because MFs will look at further optimising their overall cost, said Srikanth Matrubai, chief executive officer of SriKavi Wealth.

There has been a nudge towards direct channels. The value of assets has also been affected amid the market correction, said Dhirendra Kumar, founder and chief executive officer of MF tracker Value Research.

Assets under direct plans accounted for 47 per cent of the overall industry assets as of May.

The markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), had also tried to encourage growth of direct plans in the past.

Through direct plans, investors can bypass a distributor and save on total expense ratios (TERs), as distribution commissions are embedded into TERs.

Larger distributors have also seen a cut in receipts. For Axis Bank, the gross amount payout is down to Rs 415 crore, which is 25 per cent lower than the previous year.

State Bank of India (SBI) has seen the payout fall 23 per cent (Rs 374.9 crore).

HDFC Bank has seen an impact of 40 per cent (Rs 294 crore), while ICICI Bank has seen a dip of 47 per cent (Rs 185.64 crore).

NJ India Invest - the countrys largest distributor in commission terms - saw a 3 per cent dip in payouts in FY20.

Market participants say regulatory changes have also put constraints on MFs ability to incentivise distributors.

New regulations clearly state all scheme-related expenses need to be borne by the concerned scheme, said Matrubai.

Earlier, fund houses could bear scheme-related expenses, such as distribution costs onto their books, instead of booking it fully into the schemes.

Also, upfront payout of the commission has been barred in the MF industry since October 2018.

The slowdown in equity flows, which are higher-yielding products, has also contributed to the dip.

In FY20, equity schemes garnered Rs 83,787 crore worth of inflows, 25 per cent lower than the previous years tally of Rs 1.1 trillion.

The weakness in market sentiment has led to higher redemptions and value erosion, reducing the size of assets handled by distributors.

In FY20, the Sensex has corrected over 20 per cent, after seeing a strong rally in the previous financial year.
July 08, 2020 08:37 IST

Most Indian IT firms work as system integrators for Huawei and though the exposure is very less as of now, the potential is more due to 5G roll out.

As pressure to keep the Chinese firm out of the 5G network grows, other global firms, including Japans NEC, South Koreas Samsung, Finland's Nokia and Swedens Ericssion are increasing their investments to grab more market share in the telecom sector.

Any further escalation in the India-China conflict may jeopardise Indian IT services firms business relationship with Huawei as many of them count the Chinese telecom giant as a client as well as a go-to-market partner.

Among the Indian IT companies, top-tier firms such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro and Tech Mahindra are learnt to be service providers for Huawei.

Some of them have also forged strategic tie-ups, keeping in mind the larger business interest.

Infosys, for example, has a partnership with Huawei in cloud and data analytics space while Tech Mahindra has tied up with the company in the enterprise products space.

Even though these companies are said to be deriving less than one per cent of their overall revenues from the Shenzhen-headquartered firm, the pie was expected to go up as India prepares itself to roll out 5G telephony services in the coming months.

Most Indian IT firms work as system integrators for Huawei, which has a dominant market share in emerging economies, including Latin America, Africa and India.

"Though the exposure is very less as of now, the potential is more due to 5G roll out.

"For this, every IT firm is preparing themselves big, said Pareekh Jain, an IT outsourcing advisor and founder of Pareekh Consulting.

If tension escalates and Huawei is not allowed to participate, it will definitely impact this potential source of revenue, he added.

Mails sent to TCS and Tech Mahindra elicited no response while Infosys declined to comment on the matter.

Huawei also has its second largest research and development (R&D) centre in India, employing around 6,000 people.

It may come under scrutiny if India-China relations worsen, sources said.

Over the past years, the Chinese telecom giant has been facing a difficult business environment across Western economies, including the US, Canada and Europe.

Last year, the US had banned technology transfer to Huawei, following which many global technology giants, including Alphabet Inc (parent entity of Google) and Microsoft, scaled down their engagement with the Chinese firm.

In the latest US-China trade war, the Pentagon has published a list of 20 Chinese companies, including Huawei, which it says are backed by the military.

Meanwhile, as pressure to keep the Chinese firm out of the 5G network grows, other global firms, including Japans NEC, South Koreas Samsung, Finland's Nokia and Swedens Ericssion are increasing their investments to grab more market share in the telecom sector.

Some of the Indian IT players have also started relying on domestic players.

For instance, on Monday, Tech Mahindra entered into an agreement with public sector manufacturer of telecom and defence equipment ITI for developing 4G and 5G networks.

This collaboration aims at creating Make in India stack in the telecom space, which will eventually reduce Indias dependence on imports.

However, some experts feel that any escalation of border issues would adversely impact trade in goods than services.

Chinese firms and China traditionnally contribute very less to the Indian IT services sector.

"So, the impact will not be high, said V Balakrishnan, chairman of Exfinity Venture Partners.

Balakrishnan is also former CFO and board member at Infosys.

Photograph: Reuters
July 08, 2020 06:46 IST

'Manmohan Singh's fond hope of avoiding conflict over territory by 'making borders irrelevant' is increasingly difficult to realise in a world where institutional restraints on aggression are weakening and the new game in town is unalloyed power play,' notes T N Ninan.

Photograph: KBK Graphics

Borders have a habit of becoming sacrosanct.

Schoolchildren are made familiar with the shape of their country, with geography usually supported by history, language, religion, and (more broadly) culture.

This is so even in India, which has existed as a cultural entity, but not as a nation-State, from pre-historic times.

Adi Shankaracharya travelled to all corners of the 'country' to establish places of devotional learning in the ninth century.

At the time, the Pallavas ruled in much of south India and the Gurjara-Pratiharas (including the Chandelas) in the north, but of course there were no passports or visas.

Even with the nation-State, most people are not conversant with how and when it took shape.

What they are more cognisant of is its late 19th-century personification as Bharatmata.

Vedic India, for instance, was essentially in the north-western part of the country.

The post-Vedic empires stretched from further east, in Bihar.

And north-eastern India today is the product of wars fought by the British.

Assam came within the national boundary in 1826 after it was acquired by the East India Company from the king of Burma following a bloody war in 1824.

Darjeeling was leased from the Sikkim Chogyal in 1835 for setting up a sanatorium.

Much of Sikkim itself had been taken over by the Gorkhas of Nepal, and handed back to the Chogyal after the British took it from the Nepalese.

Kalimpong and the Dooars became part of Darjeeling district only after a battle with Bhutan, in 1865.

Yet, today, they are all inalienable parts of India, as is Sikkim itself after 1975.

In short, borders are more malleable than one usually imagines them to be.

Contemporary India's maps that showed all of Aksai Chin as Indian territory were first printed only in the mid-1950s, after Jawaharlal Nehru ordered that previous maps showing the border as un-demarcated (and marked therefore with a colour wash) be destroyed.

Such a border had indeed been proposed by a British official in the 19th century, but the British themselves had subsequently preferred a more modest claim to about half of Aksai Chin.

Nehru opted unilaterally for the more ambitious claim.

The Chinese have no better historical claim, since Xinjiang (of which Aksai Chin is now an administrative component) was traditionally believed to stop at the Kun Lun mountains to the north.

In the east, the crucial Tawang tract in Arunachal Pradesh fell south of the McMahon Line (to which India holds) only because of a convenient deviation from the watershed principle.

In fact, India did not take proper administrative control of Tawang till 1951, four years after Independence, and it did so because Chinese forces had marched into Tibet in 1950.

In Europe, Italy and Germany did not exist as geographical entities till the second half of the 19th century.

Europe's frontiers changed equally dramatically after each of the World Wars, and then again with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

And the United States would never have stretched 'from sea to shining sea' if Napoleon had not sold the territories east of the Mississippi to Thomas Jefferson in 1803, doubling the geographical size of the US in one stroke.

As for West Asia and Africa, it is well known that their borders were drawn up arbitrarily by imperialists -- often as straight lines on a map that recognised neither tribal identities and territories nor any other principle.

Naturally this set off long-term conflicts between neighbours, and left entire peoples straddling lines on maps (the Kurds and the Pakhtoons).

Borders have continued to change into the 21st century.

Russia has taken over the Crimean peninsula, States in the Caucasus fight over enclaves (each country has its own historical 'facts'), and China has converted atolls in the South China Sea into military bases.

If this history teaches us anything, it is that borders are derived realities and not autonomous facts.

Manmohan Singh's fond hope of avoiding conflict over territory by 'making borders irrelevant' is increasingly difficult to realise in a world where institutional restraints on aggression are weakening and the new game in town is unalloyed power play.

But, come to think of it, when was it really different?

Feature Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
July 08, 2020 18:55 IST

The US has all along interfered in India-China issues.

The objective is clear: Bring the Sino-Indian standoff to a flashpoint that would compel the Modi government to take shelter under an American umbrella, argues Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi with National Security Adviser Ajit Kumar Doval, who is also India's Special Representative on the border talks with China. Photograph: PTI Photo

The civilian-military relationship is a complex matrix.

In 'wartime', this is more so when civilian leaders who never held a killer's weapon in their palms are called upon to take decisions on the passage of arms.

Of course, there are strong-willed leaders who force their will. Bismarck was one such leader -- Stalin another -- who lacked real military service.

Stalin had the additional advantage that every Red Army unit also had a commissar, an official of the Communist party, attached to it who would be a prescriptive figure of authority to ensure that the political leadership got an independent feedback uncluttered by the military's corporate interests.

Insubordination was unheard of in the Prussian and Soviet armies.

The most famous civilian-military confrontation in modern history occurred, perhaps, when then US President Harry S Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of command of the US forces in Korea in April 1951.

A flamboyant and egotistical personality, General MacArthur had devised some brilliant strategies and military maneuvers that stopped the invading forces of North Korea in the early days of the war (which began in June 1950).

Resting on the laurels, MacArthur argued for a policy of pushing into North Korea to completely defeat the Communist forces.

Truman went along with this plan, despite his gut feeling as a politician that the Communist government in Peking might take such invasion against a fraternal neighbour as a hostile act.

But MacArthur assured Truman that the chances of a Chinese intervention were slim.

However, in the winter of 1950, hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops did cross into North Korea in waves after waves and flung themselves against the American lines, driving the US troops back into South Korea.

MacArthur then asked Truman for permission to bomb China and to use Nationalist Chinese forces from Taiwan against the People's Republic of China.

This time around, Truman flatly refused and a very public showdown ensued resulting in MacArthur's dismissal.

Truman, in an address to the nation justifying his action, said it 'would be wrong --tragically wrong -- for us to take the initiative in extending the war... Our aim is to avoid the spread of the conflict.'

The American president explained, 'To make sure that the precious lives of our fighting men are not wasted; to see that the security of our country... is not needlessly jeopardised; and to prevent a third world war,' he had fired MacArthur, 'so that there would be no doubt or confusion as to the real purpose and aim of our policy.'

American public opinion was strongly against the sacking of the charismatic general (who was also skilled in political skulduggery among Washington elites.)

But Truman stuck to his decision without regret or apology.

Eventually, MacArthur would 'just fade away', and the American people began to understand that the general's policies and recommendations might have led to a massively expanded war in Asia.

The prerogative to start a war and to end it must always lie with the civilian leadership.

That is why New Delhi's decision which was announced on June 19 that the Indian Army has been given the freedom to take necessary steps along the border -- and not to limit the ability of commanders of frontline troops to take whatever action they deem necessary on the Line of Actual Control on the Chinese border -- becomes debatable.

Detractors of the government flippantly interpreted this decision as an evasive action by PM Modi to 'pass the buck' to the military if something untoward happened.

But the point is, the military must be held firmly responsible and accountable for its actions.

A high degree of ambivalence has already appeared in the air and the Indian media is awash with unsubstantiated reports (largely attributed to military 'sources') and rumour mongering.

GCTN, an organ of Chinese State media, said in a commentary on July 5, 'Despite the 1962 truce, the Indian side has never ceased its efforts in pushing the LAC forward. This is the root cause for the border disputes between the two neighbors. The Galwan Valley conflict is a direct result of New Delhi's provocations.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi addresses Indian soldiers during his visit to Nimu in Ladakh, July 3, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo

Suffice to say, it was only appropriate that PM Modi visited Leh on June 3 to personally assess the situation, where he also met the GOC XIV Corps Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, before deciding to elevate the diplomatic contacts with Beijing to the political level and to bring in the Cabinet minister in charge of national security (defence and security establishment) and India's Special Representative on the border dispute, Ajit Kumar Doval, who reports to him directly, as India's point person to discuss the issues with the Chinese leadership.

To be sure, sniping has already begun.

The formidable US lobby in Delhi has begun to decry, discredit and degrade Doval's mission.

The objective is clear: Bring the Sino-Indian standoff to a flashpoint that would compel the Modi government to take shelter under an American umbrella.

The US has all along interfered in India-China issues.

More than ever before, a Sino-Indian confrontation fits in perfectly with the US' regional strategies today in Asia.

Day-to-day monitoring and interference in our news cycles is taking place.

Most important, on a day-to-day basis, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute is providing vital inputs purportedly based on satellite imageries from the Ladakh border.

Now, ASPI is known to be an anti-China lobbying group funded by the Australian defence department (reportedly, an Australian $4 million annual grant) and generously supported by the US, British, and some other governments and major weapons makers.

Doval's talks with Wang Yi on Sunday are already being nicely dissected and shown as a mere pantomime played by the Chinese side.

The US lobbyists merrily over-interpret the readouts from Beijing and New Delhi (here (external link) and here (external link)) to debunk the common understanding that emerged after Sunday's talks.

How can delicate negotiations pertaining to war and peace be possibly conducted under such circumstances? Doval is an ace negotiator and is immensely experienced in handling India's national security challenges, especially involving China and Pakistan.

His source of strength is also that he enjoys Modi's confidence.

Above all, Doval belongs to a vanishing breed of top officials who sees national security challenges entirely through the prism of Indian interests, and has no patrons abroad.

Quite obviously, this poses a particularly nightmarish situation to the Americans who are control freaks.

But no country will allow bazaar gossip by its own citizens over its national security concerns.

Surely, something can be done to put an end to such subversion? The MacArthur syndrome haunts India.

Rogue elements within our establishment are planting media leaks with ulterior intent.

Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar served the Indian Foreign Service for more than 29 years. He has served as India's ambassador to Turkey and Uzbekistan and has been a contributor to Rediff.com for well over a decade.

Feature Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
July 08, 2020 09:02 IST

'Given that the RGF is a family-controlled trust, why would the Congress defend it every time someone accuses it of wrong-doing?' asks Virendra Kapoor.

IMAGE: Congress President Sonia Gandhi, right, with her children Rahul Gandhi, the MP from Wayanad, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Bharatiya Janata Party may well have raked up the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation controversy to deflect Rahul Gandhi's unbridled criticism of the handling of the border stand-off with China.

But that cannot be reason for the Gandhis to stonewall all questions about the nature of the RGF's funding.

It takes two to fight.

Rahul showed utter lack of restraint in attacking the prime minister, calling him 'surrender' Modi, claiming India had ceded territory to the Chinese.

He had Congress leaders in Ladakh on video describing the loss of territory.

No senior Congressman nor any leader from the non-Congress Opposition has supported Rahul.

Sharad Pawar ticked him off in plain sight, recalling how under his 'great-grandfather' China had annexed tens of thousands of kilometres of territory.

Rahul did not take the hint.

At a virtual meeting of the Congress Working Committee, he chided senior leaders for failing to attack Modi out of fear.

He was not afraid, Rahul said.

The implication was that senior Congress leaders refused to criticise Modi because they lived in fear of the investigative agencies.

The former and future Congress President has clearly learnt nothing from his disastrous 'chowkidar chor hai' campaign ahead of the May 2019 Lok Sabha election.

It spectacularly boomeranged.

Of course, the situation at the border is tense, but there is no sign of the government readying to surrender.

On the contrary, without making a show of it, every conceivable effort is underway to ensure that the status quo ante at the Line of Actual Control was restored.

Simultaneously, on the military, diplomatic, economic fronts efforts are on to get the aggressor to pull back.

However, the Gandhis failed to cover their flanks on the RGF.

Probably they were unable to. The RGF has been a child of controversy right from the word go.

A plum piece of land, a stone's throw away from Parliament, was allotted almost free to the Congress to build its national headquarters.

All other parties were given land for their offices four to five kilometres away in central Delhi.

For decades the Congress occupied two adjoining Type-VIII bungalows on Akbar Road in the heart of Lutyen's Delhi.

It was repeatedly served notice by the central works and housing ministry to vacate the residential bungalows, especially after it had been allotted a big plot of land for its office.

But the party dilly-dallied, refusing to move out of Akbar Road.

In the meanwhile, an impressive structure fitted with the latest communications and other gadgetry was constructed by a major infrastructure conglomerate which at that time was controlled by a controversial business house.

Before the Congress could shift to its new address, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated.

Sonia Gandhi took over what was to be the Congress headquarters and ran the RGF from there.

The Congress allotted itself another three acre plot for its central office in central Delhi adjoining the offices of other political parties.

Then finance minister Manmohan Singh in his maiden Budget allocated Rs 100 crores for the RGF.

Following vociferous protests against the 'misuse of taxpayers' funds for a family-run trust, Singh was forced to withdraw the proposal.

But there was no dearth of funds for the RGF.

Various government and semi-government organisations when P V Narasimha Rao was prime minster donated liberally to the RGF.

So did some foreign missions and other charities.

The Chinese wrote a cheque for $300,000. This was followed up with more such donations.

Worse, such was the quest for funds of the Sonia Gandhi-led RGF that it opened branches in at least two foreign locations, London being one of them.

Now, given that the RGF is a family-controlled trust, with a couple of confidants of the Gandhis on its governing body, why would the Congress defend it every time someone accuses it of wrong-doing?

Unless the argument is that the family is the party and the party is the family, there is no justification for official party spokespersons to rise in the RGF's support, or, for that matter, Robert Vadra, Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, when the BJP and others criticise them.

Meanwhile, the eviction notice to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to vacate the Type-VI bungalow on Lodhi Road too has the party crying foul.

Upon ceasing to be a SPG protectee, Priyanka had lost her claim to government accommodation.

Unless the party believes that the Gandhis are heaven-born and entitled to a special dispensation, including free housing, free power, free travel, free security, et al.

Otherwise, one fails to see any controversy in the eviction notice lawfully served on her.

It was like a number of journalists accusing then Union housing minister Jagmohan of attacking the freedom of the press when asked to vacate government houses.

Elevating personal privilege to the level of national interest reveals an imperial mindset which militates against a democratic order.

Our Constitution recognises no holy cows.

Everyone has equal rights as per the founding document of the Republic.

Ironically, despite losing the trust of the voters, the Gandhis continue to behave as if they were royalty.

Meanwhile, the effort to equate the contributions by some Chinese companies operating in India to the PM Cares Fund with donations to the RGF falls flat because Modi heads the latter in his official capacity as prime minister.

A new prime minister will automatically manage the PM Cares Fund.

But the RGF is a closely-held family trust where its control will remain unchanged with the Gandhi family.

Virendra Kapoor is a veteran commentator on Indian politics.

Feature Production: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Source:

Edited By:

Last updated on: July 08, 2020 13:00 IST

The Mumbai police have registered an FIR following vandalism at Rajgruh, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's home in the city.

IMAGE: CCTV footage revealed a person smashing flower pots in the compound before fleeing. Photograph: ANI

Two persons threw stones at the glass windows and damaged CCTV cameras and potted plants at Rajgruh in Dadar, north central Mumbai, on Tuesday night.

CCTV footage showed a person smashing flower pots in the compound before fleeing, the police said.

Located in Hindu Colony, Dadar, the two-storeyed heritage bungalow houses the Ambedkar Museum where Babasaheb's books, portrait, ashes and vessels are among the artefacts.

The current residents of Rajgruh include Babasaheb's daughter-in-law and his grandsons, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar, Anandrao and Bhimrao.

Prakash Ambedkar, who was in Akola when the attack took place, has appealed for calm and asked his followers to not gather outside the house.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the state government has taken serious note of the vandalism at Dr Ambedkar's home and strict action will be taken against the guilty.

Condemning the incident, Pawar said it is an 'act of anti-social elements with wicked mindset'.

He urged people not to fall prey to the 'ulterior motives' of such elements, and ensure peace and unity.

'The vandalisation at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's residence in Mumbai is quite condemnable. It is the misadventure of anti-social elements with wicked mindset,' a statement from Ajit Pawar's office quoted him as saying.

'The state government has taken serious note of the incident and police initiated probe into the matter immediately. The accused will be traced at the earliest and strict action will be taken against them,' Pawar promised.
That day, Park Police, alongside the Secret Service, National Guard and Arlington County police, fired pepper spray and rubber bullets at peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square in front of the White House so that Trump could scroll across the square and have his photo taken holding a Bible in front of a local church.
Source:

Edited By:

July 09, 2020 01:15 IST

A Bharatiya Janata Party leader, his brother and father were shot dead by terrorists in the heart of Bandipore town of North Kashmir Wednesday night, prompting the Jammu and Kashmir authorities to arrest seven policemen for alleged negligence in protect him, officials said.

IMAGE: BJP leader Wasim Bari.

The incident took place at the shop-cum-residence of BJP leader Wasim Bari, earlier district president of the party, where some motorcycle-borne terrorists attacked the three from a close range with a silencer-fitted revolver, they said.

The place of incident is barely 10 metres away from the main police station, they said.

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said Bari and his family members at the shop when the terrorists fired at them.

The trio was shifted to the district hospital in a critical condition where they succumbed to their injuries.

Besides Bari, his brother Umar and father Bashir Ahmad were killed in the firing, police said.

Seven policemen have been arrested for alleged negligence in protecting Bari, police said.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed his condolences over the incident.

'I condemn the attack. My condolences to their families in this time of grief. Sadly the violent targeting of mainstream political workers continues unabated,' he tweeted.

Former Bandipore MLA Usman Majid condemned the incident and demanded a through probe into the alleged deteriorating law and order situation the Kashmir valley.

'How can terrorists comes so close and hit their target which is barely 10 metres away from the police station in the town,' an agitated Majid, who is a founder leader of J-K Apni Party, said.

He said he would take up the matter with Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir after consultations with his party leadership.

Former MLC and senior BJP leader of the union territory Surinder Ambardar said, 'It is very unfortunate that Pakistan's frustration is visible by destadlising the democratic institutions whereas the BJP has made its visible imprints in the Kashmir valley.'

The Congress and the People's Democratic Party also condemned the incident.

'Distraught at the recurring spate of killing of political workers in Kashmir. While we express our unconditional sympathies with the family, the administration has squarely failed in ensuring adequate security arrangements amid deteriorating security conditions,' the PDP tweeted.
Source:

Edited By:

July 08, 2020 23:07 IST

The annual Amarnath Yatra in the Himalayas will be conducted in a staggered manner and not more than 500 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the sacred cave shrine of Lord Shiva daily due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Wednesday.

The issue of pilgrimages to the Amarnath and Vaishnodevi shrines, both located in Jammu and Kashmir, was discussed at a high-level meeting attended by Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Jitendra Singh and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Jammu and Kashmir administration.

The Amarnath Yatra is likely to commence on July 21.

"This year's pilgrimage will be conducted in a staggered manner and not more than 500 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the shrine daily due to the COVID-19 situation," an official privy to the discussion said.

Around 9,000 people have been tested COVID-19 positive in the Union Territory and around 145 people succumbed to the virus so far.

The route through Pahalgam is yet to be cleared as it is full of snow and the pilgrimage may be allowed only through the Baltal route this year.

However, a final decision on the pilgrimage to the shrine in Himalayas will be taken later next week, the official said.

The authorities are particularly concerned over the COVID-19 pandemic as the symptoms for the virus and high- altitude sickness are almost same.

The doctors in the Union Territory and the armed forces are already stressed and hence, allowing a large number of pilgrims to go for the Amarnath pilgrimage will be an additional burden on medical staff and infrastructure, another official said.

In case of Vaishnodevi shrine, the visit to the temple has been suspended till July 31 and authorities are contemplating allowing it first for local people. Later, depending on the coronavirus situation, people from outside the state will be allowed, the official said.

The meeting also reviewed the ongoing development works in Jammu and Kashmir.

These include implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, progress in achieving targets under the Prime Minister's Development Package 2015, issues raised during the outreach carried out by the union ministers in January this year, and issues related to implementation of J&K Reorganisation Act.

The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated on August 5, 2019 into two UTs after abrogation of the special status given to it under Article 370.

The UTs -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh -- came into existence on October 31, 2019.

The meeting was also attended through video conference by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, and other senior officers.
Source:

Edited By:

July 08, 2020 20:11 IST

Indian and Chinese armies are expected to carry out a joint verification to assess the implementation of the disengagement process once the dismantling of temporary infrastructure and withdrawal of troops by China are completed in the friction points in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the development said on Wednesday.

They said the two militaries are set to hold extensive talks on finalising modalities for restoring normalcy and bringing back peace and tranquillity in the region after the verification of the disengagement exercise is completed.

The mutual disengagement of troops from the standoff points has been undertaken as a measure to ease the situation in the region and the larger focus would be to ensure the total restoration of status quo ante in all areas of the region, they said.

As per the mutual understanding, neither side will carry out any patrolling in the friction points till modalities for restoration of peace and tranquillity are thrashed out.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held 'a frank and in-depth exchange of views' on Sunday to de-escalate tension along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The Chinese military began pulling back of troops from a number of friction points from Monday morning.

The Chinese military has already withdrawn troops from Galwan Valley and Hot Springs, while the pull back is likely to be over in Gogra on Thursday.

Military sources said Indian Army will continue to maintain its aggressive posturing along the Line of Actual Control till the Chinese side cuts down on its significant build up in its rear bases along the LAC, the de facto border between India and China.

Both sides have brought in thousands of additional troops and weaponry including tanks and artillery guns to their rear bases as part of a mega build up following the face-off that began on May 5.

"There is a trust factor now. We will not lower our guard at all," said a senior military official on the condition of anonymity.

The Indian and Chinese armies are locked in the bitter standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for the last eight weeks.

The tension escalated manifold after the Galwan Valley clash.

Both sides have held several rounds of diplomatic and military talks in the last few weeks to ease tension in the region. However, there was no visible sign of any end to the standoff till Sunday evening.

Sources said the breakthrough was achieved at the Doval-Wang meeting.

On June 30, the Indian and Chinese armies held the third round of Lieutenant General-level talks during which both sides agreed on an 'expeditious, phased and step wise' de-escalation as a 'priority' to end the standoff.

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 first round of the Lt General talks was 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.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Ladakh during which he said the era of expansionism is over and that the history is proof that "expansionists" have either lost or perished, in comments which were seen as a clear message to China that India is not going to back off and would deal with the situation with a firm hand.

Tensions had escalated in eastern Ladakh around two months back 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.
Source:

Edited By:

July 08, 2020 10:49 IST

All 68 police personnel at Chaubeypur police station near Kanpur were shunted to the reserve police lines on Tuesday with the top brass saying they suspected their integrity after last week's ambush which killed eight policemen.

A spokesperson said an inquiry is already on and action will be taken against the guilty based on its findings.

The drastic move on Tuesday night followed soon after police announced the transfer of a DIG, who till recently was the senior superintendent of police in Kanpur.

He was transferred from the state's Special task Force to the Provincial Armed Police unit in Moradabad.

Police also arrested three more people in connection with the killing of the eight police personnel, ambushed early Friday when they were out on a raid to arrest gangster Vikas Dubey in his Bikru village near Kanpur.

Dubey's relative Shama, neighbour Suresh Verma and domestic help Rekha were arrested earlier in the day.

Rekha's husband Dayashankar Agnihotri, a key member of Dubey's gang, is already behind bars, arrested on Sunday after an encounter in which police shot him in the leg.

Two other alleged members of the gang were killed in an encounter last Friday.

Police believe that the gangster was tipped off by someone from Chaubeypur police station, giving him time to lay an ambush.

Station Officer Vinay Tiwari and three other policemen are already under suspension.

No reasons were given for shifting DIG Anant Deo, whose transfer was part of a shuffle which included three other officers.

But only hours earlier, Inspector General (Civil Defence) Amitabh Thakur made it known that he has written to state police chief H C Awasthy seeking an inquiry against Deo and his transfer while the probe is on.

Thakur alleged that as SSP, Deo was close to an associate of gangster Vikas Dubey.

Deo was the Kanpur SSP in March when Deputy Superintendent of Police Devendra Mishra purportedly wrote a damning letter, which surfaced on social media after he was killed in the Bikru ambush.

The unverified letter to the then Kanpur SSP alleged that Chaubeypur station officer Vinay Tiwari had watered down an FIR lodged against the gangster.

It suggested that Tiwari and Dubey were close.

Police said there is no record of the purported letter, which is undated and carries no serial number. Anant Deo also said that the signature on it does not match that of the slain officer.

But police said they will still investigate into the letter seen on social media.

Lucknow Range IG Lakshmi Singh on Tuesday began a probe into it, visiting the office of Circle Officer (Bilhaur), the post held by the killed DSP. The IG questioned the staff, checked records and computer data, said an official.

She also seized a computer hard disk, pen drives and some documents, the official said.

Police have named 21 people in the FIR registered after the attack.

The FIR also mentioned 50-60 unidentified people.

The Kanpur police released the photos of 15 criminals said to be close to Dubey. They are putting up posters carrying the pictures of these alleged criminals, most of them carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 for their arrest.

Vikas Dubey, with a reward of Rs 2.50 lakh on him, remained elusive.

His posters too have been plastered at road toll plazas, including those in Unnao, Kanpur Nagar, Auraiya, Fatehpur and areas near the India-Nepal border.

Police issued alerts in Lakhimpur Kheri, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Bahraich and Gorakhpur to stop Vikas Dubey from escaping across the border intro Nepal.

IG Amitabh Thakur had sought an inquiry into the alleged closeness between Deo and Jai Bajpai, a frontman of gangster Dubey.

A video clip from 2017, apparently shot while Dubey was being interrogated by the STF after his arrest in Lucknow, has also appeared on social media.

In the clip, the alleged gangster suggests he has links with two local BJP MLAs, Bhagwati Sagar and Abhijeet Sanga, and the district panchayat chief.

He is heard claiming that Sagar and Sanga had helped him in the past when he faced police action.

Both leaders denied this.

"My constituency is Bithoor in Kanpur and people from the adjoining village come to me for help, said Sanga. He added that on several occasions he had recommended action in support of people who were against Dubey.

Bilhaur MLA Sagar said the clip was being circulated to malign his image.

The two MLAs said Dubey usually associated himself with leaders belonging to the ruling party in the state. They demanded an inquiry into the matter.
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July 08, 2020 11:01 IST

Nationlaist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday that he was not surprised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ladakh, and reminded that Jawaharlal Nehru visited the region after the 1962 war and so did then defence minister Yashwantrao Chavan.

Speaking to reporters in Pune, Pawar recalled that when he was the defence minister in 1993, he had gone to China and a treaty was signed, under which soldiers from both the sides were to be pulled back.

"No-weapon treaty was also signed. During the all- party meeting with the PM, I had said the (present) issue needs to be solved through diplomatic channels and we need to create international pressure on China," he said.

"I read in newspapers that following dialogue through diplomatic channels, soldiers from both sides were pulled back. If it is so, then it is good," Pawar added.

To a question about Modi's visit to Ladakh after the clashes between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Galwan valley, Pawar said that in 1962, China defeated India in war.

"But (then prime minister) Nehru had gone there. Even Yashwantrao Chavan, who was defence minister, too had gone to the China border and boosted the morale of the forces.

"When there is a conflict situation between two nations and forces are involved, the country's leadership has to ensure that the morale of the forces is boosted. I am not surprised that he (Modi) went there," Pawar said.
Last updated on: July 09, 2020 04:07 IST

Pakistan said on Wednesday that Indian prisoner on death row Kulbhushan Jadhav has refused to file an appeal in the Islamabad high court against his conviction by a military court despite Pakistani authorities' offer to do so, a claim dismissed by India as 'farce'.

Jadhav, the 50-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of 'espionage and terrorism' in April 2017.

Weeks later, India approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav and challenging the death sentence.

The Hague-based ICJ ruled in July last year that Pakistan must undertake an 'effective review and reconsideration' of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav and also to grant consular access to India without further delay.

On Wednesday, Pakistan's Additional Attorney General Ahmed Irfan said that on June 17, 2020, Jadhav was offered to file an appeal in the Islamabad High Court for review and reconsideration of his sentence and conviction.

"Exercising his legal right, Commander Jadav refused to file a petition for the review and reconsideration of his sentence and conviction.

"He instead preferred to follow up on his pending mercy petition," said Irfan, who was addressing a press conference along with Director General (South Asia & SAARC) Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry.

He said the Pakistan government promulgated an ordinance on May 20 to let the Indian government, Jadhav or his legal representative to file a review petition in IHC within 60 days. The ordinance would expire on July 19.

Commenting on Irfan's remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi dismissed his claim as 'continuation of farce that has been in play for the last four years'.

Noting that Jadhav was sentenced to execution through a farcical trial, the ministry said that he 'was coerced to refuse to file review in his case'.

"Despite our repeated requests, Pakistan continues to deny India free and unimpeded access to Jadhav," the MEA said and sought unimpeded access to him to discuss his remedies.

Pakistan coerced Jadhav to forgo his rights to seek implementation of judgment of International Court of Justice, it said.

"Clearly, Pakistan is attempting to create a mirage of compliance with ICJ judgement in Jadhav case," the MEA said, adding that India will do its utmost to protect Jadhav and ensure his safe return.

In Islamabad, Irfan claimed that Pakistan has repeatedly written to the Indian High Commission, inviting it to file a petition at the Islamabad High Court to appeal the judgement against Jadhav before the deadline.

He said Indian authorities had requested to appoint an Indian lawyer to advocate for Jadhav but if an appeal is filed in the IHC, only a lawyer that holds a license of the respective court would be able to represent him.

Therefore, an Indian lawyer cannot advocate for Jadhav but they may be allowed to assist his counsel.

The MEA, however, said that Pakistan refused to hand over any relevant document, including first information report, evidence, court order, in Jadhav case to India.

Irfan said Pakistan allowed consular access to Jadhav twice in the past and has offered to do so again. Authorities have also offered to arrange Jadhav's meeting with his father and wife, he said.

Later, the Foreign Office spokesperson in a statement said that Pakistan has invited India to file review and reconsideration petition after refusal by Jadhav to do so.

"While Commander Jadhav's mercy petition is still pending, India is invited to file review and reconsideration petition to give effect to the Judgment of the International Court of Justice," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that the mercy petition in Jadhav case 'is a separate process that has nothing to do with the review and reconsideration'.

The review and reconsideration petition can be filed by Jadhav himself, legally authorized representative, or a consular officer of the Indian High Commission, the spokesperson said, adding that it has been conveyed to India through diplomatic channels.

Pakistan claims that its security forces arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran.

India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.

In its 42-page order, the ICJ, while rejecting Pakistan's objection to admissibility of the Indian application in the case, had held that 'a continued stay of execution constitutes an indispensable condition for the effective review' of the sentence of Jadhav.

The bench, however, rejected some remedies sought by India, including annulment of the military court's decision convicting Jadhav, his release and safe passage to India.

The ICJ upheld India's stand that Pakistan had 'breached' the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, which gives countries the right to consular access when their nationals are arrested abroad.
July 08, 2020 15:55 IST

'Harassment' is the objective, not detention.

IMAGE: Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, the Congress MP from Wayanad.

The inter-ministerial committee announced by the government on Wednesday morning to coordinate the probe into the alleged violation of various laws like money laundering and foreign contributions by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, will hold its first meeting on Thursday morning.

The meeting, to be held at the MTNL building on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg near New Delhi's Ram Lila grounds, is likely to adopt a plan of action on how to probe the alleged flow OF Chinese funds to these trusts.

The government has appointed Vivek R Wadekar, special director, Enforcement Directorate (central region), as chairman of this inter-ministerial committee that includes six government agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Excise, Income Tax, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, and the Union ministry of home affairs.

Although the news was broken by an innocuous tweet by the home ministry spokesman, it was by no means a routine decision.]

It was a major political decision taken at the highest level following internal discussions that were held so secretively over the past one month that even babudom could not get a whiff of what was being planned.

The provocation was the regular criticism of the government that flowed from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka and others over the coronavirus pandemic and the Chinese incursions in Ladakh.

The charge of the Rajiv Gandhi Trust receiving Chinese funds was first made by Bharatiya Janata Party President Jagat Prakash Nadda.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad then asked if the funds allegedly received were a 'bribe' for facilitating a free trade deal between India and China. India, by the way, does not have such a trade agreement with China.

With the inter-ministerial committee expected to hit the ground running, officials of the three Nehru-Gandhi family-linked trusts will be summoned for questioning and official records will be seized.

"It is going to be a tough time for the office-bearers and employees of these trusts," says a government source.

The probe will completed within three months -- in other words, in time for the Bihar assembly election.

Asked if Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi will be questioned, the source said the final decision will rest with Vivek Wadekar.

However, there is no scope for detention or arrest of any of the trustees, said the source, "only harassment".
Source:

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Last updated on: July 08, 2020 14:55 IST

Gangster Vikas Dubey, who is wanted in connection with the deadly Kanpur ambush, was spotted at a hotel in Haryana's Faridabad but gave police the slip, officials said on Wednesday.

Three people closed to Dubey were arrested from Faridabad in a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh STF and local crime branch team.

They were identified as Ankur, Shravan and Kartikey alias Prabhat, a senior official said.

Dubey had tried to book a room at a hotel in Faridabad on Tuesday night, whose CCTV footage went viral.

However, he managed to flee, officials said.

Police recovered four pistols from the three arrested people including the two taken away from slain policemen in Kanpur.

Dubey is the main accused in the ambush in Bikru village in Chaubeypur area of Kanpur in which eight policemen were killed on July 3.

Meanwhile, The Uttar Pradesh government has increased the reward for the arrest of gangster Vikas Dubey from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, officials said on Wednesday.

"Cash reward for the arrest of Vikas Dubey has been increased to Rs 5 lakh. It would be given to those providing information about him," Additional Chief Secretary, Awanish Kumar Awasthi said.
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Last updated on: July 08, 2020 22:22 IST

Police shot dead an aide of gangster Vikas Dubey, arrested six other alleged accomplices and sent two of their own men behind bars in connection with the ambush which killed eight police personnel last week, officials said Wednesday.

IMAGE: Gangster Vikas Dubey, right, with his aide Amar Dubey. Photograph: PTI Photo

But the gangster appeared to have given police the slip in Haryana's Faridabad, near Delhi.

A team raided a house around midnight Tuesday in Faridabad's Kheli Pul area, where the gangster had stayed for a while, Haryana police said.

They arrested three people there after a brief exchange of fire.

Also, CCTV footage showed a man who resembled the gangster at a Faridabad hotel. He did not check in when a staff member insisted on an identity card with a clear photograph.

Apart from the Faridabad encounter, police engaged Dubey's alleged accomplices in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur, where an one man was killed, and in Kanpur, where three were arrested.

An inspector and constable were injured in the Hamirpur encounter.

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) also detained Dubey's brother-in-law in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district on Wednesday.

On Monday, the relative's son was detained.

Those arrested on Wednesday included two suspended sub inspectors, Chaubeypur station officer Vinay Tiwari and Bikru beat in-charge K K Sharma.

Both are accused of tipping off Vikas Dubey, which allowed the alleged gangster to set an ambush for a police team which had gone to arrest him at his Bikru village near Kanpur.

Since the ambush early Friday, three alleged accomplices of the gangster have been killed and 10 arrested, in addition to the two policemen.

All 68 personnel at the Chaubeypur police station, where Tiwari was the station officer, were sent to the reserve police lines.

Police sources said Amar Dubey, the man killed in Hamirpur's Maudaha village, travelled with the gangster wherever he went, ensuring his security.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said there was a reward of Rs 50,000 for his arrest.

An unlicensed semi-automatic .32 bore pistol was seized.

"Acting on a tip-off, a team of the STF and local police surrounded Amar. He was injured in the firing and he died during treatment at a hospital," Hamirpur Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar said.

In the encounter in Kanpur's Chaubeypur area, under which Dubey's Bikru village falls, Shyamji Bajpai, also known as Shyamu, was shot in the leg, the ADG said.

Sanjiv Dubey and Jahan Yadav were also arrested with him.

Shyamu too carried a reward of Rs 50,000 for his arrest.

In Faridabad, the local crime branch arrested three men -- Ankur, his father Shravan and Kartikey alias Prabhat.

The encounter in Hamirpur followed information extracted from one of them, according to police.

Four weapons, including two 9 mm pistols belonging to police, and 44 live cartridges were seized in Faridabad, Kumar said.

The Uttar Pradesh government has increased the reward on Vikas Dubey from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

The FIR lodged by police after the Bikru ambush named 21 people and mentioned 50-60 others.

"The STF is tracking all those named in the FIR and wherever we get information, we are taking the help of the local police," STF Inspector General Amitabh Yash said.

"We are also trying to trace the weapons taken away from the policemen," he added.

An AK-47 and an INSAS rifle, snatched during the ambush, are yet to be recovered.

Asked about the 'delay' in arresting Dubey, the IG said he is hardened criminal and used to remaining in hiding.

"But we will surely nab him. We have started getting success."
July 08, 2020 09:04 IST

The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization, officials said, breaking off ties with the global health body amid the expanding coronavirus pandemic.

The US has accused the WHO of siding with China on the outbreak of the virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, alleging the health body misled the world resulting in deaths of over half a million people globally, including over 130,000 in America.

In April, the US stopped funding to WHO as the Trump administration reviewed the ties.

A month later, President Donald Trump announced the US was terminating the relationship.

The US is the largest funder to the world health, contributing more than USD450 million per annum, while China's contribution to the health body is about one-tenth of that of the US.

"I can say that on 6 July 2020, the United States of America notified the secretary-general, in his capacity as depositary of the 1946 Constitution of the World Health Organization, of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, effective on 6 July 2021, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, in a statement.

Dujarric said the secretary-general is in the process of verifying with the WHO whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met.

The United States has been a party to the WHO Constitution since June 21, 1948. Its participation was accepted by the World Health Assembly with certain conditions set out by the US for its eventual withdrawal from this world body.

The said conditions include giving a one-year notice, meaning the withdrawal won't go into effect until July 6 next year, raising the possibility the Trump administration's decision could be reversed by a new government after the presidential elections in November this year.

The decision was criticised by several Congressmen, who said it "would be a bad policy".

"To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic and incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interests -- it leaves Americans sick and America alone," tweeted Senator Robert Menendez, a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Congressman Eliot Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said, It would be bad policy to pull out of the world's leading body coordinating global health efforts under any circumstances, but to do so during a global pandemic is utterly baffling, especially against the backdrop of 130,000 American lives lost.

Remaining in the WHO and exerting American leadership would boost international efforts to develop a vaccine and strengthen other countries' health systems to better address future outbreaks, he said.

Deflecting blame onto the WHO won't reverse the administration's mistakes or undo the suffering our country has endured. The president needs to get serious about stopping this pandemic's lethal spread by restoring our membership in the WHO, ramping up testing, and encouraging everyone to practice social distancing and wear masks, Engel said.

To withdraw the US from the WHO at the height of a global pandemic is self-defeating and dangerous, said House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer.

Not only will this withdrawal hurt global efforts to develop and deploy critical vaccines, but it will also remove our ability to have a say in the operations and future of that organization, yielding much influence to China, he said.

Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera said America lost its best chance to defeat the virus once the president began to minimize the pandemic and shift blame onto others, instead of assuming responsibility and actually leading the country through this crisis.

Today's decision comes as no surprise, he said.

No response has been perfect, including the WHO's. But the WHO is playing a critical role by coordinating the global response and providing important guidance and information about the virus. It is this information and guidance that has helped countries in Europe and Asia tackle and contain the virus. They bent the curve. Our cases are increasing. If the WHO is to blame: why has the US been left behind while many countries from South Korea to New Zealand to Vietnam to Germany return to normal? Bera said.

Senator Patty Murray, a ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labour, and Pensions Committee, also slammed the Trump administration.

This is an abdication of America's role as a global leader and it is the opposite of putting America firstit will put America at risk. Refusing to work with our partners across the world to fight this pandemic will only prolong the crisis, further undermine our international standing, and leave us less prepared for future crises. President Trump needs to realize this crisis doesn't recognize borders and hiding from it or passing the blame won't make it go away or make him any less responsible, Murray said.

Senator Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that oversees multilateral institutions, said Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are delivering a huge win for China and a huge blow to the American people.

By pulling out of the WHO, President Trump is strengthening Chinese leadership and power, both within the WHO and more broadly within the international community. This is a huge mistake that damages American interests, Merkley said.
On Sunday July 5th, the King County Sheriffs Office was made aware of some concerning posts made by one of our deputies on Facebook. We took immediate action and forwarded the matter to our Internal Investigations Unit, the sheriffs office said.
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July 08, 2020 20:18 IST

A 65-year-old woman was killed and three other civilians were injured on Wednesday as Pakistan violated ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked mortar shelling on forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in different sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

While the elderly woman was killed in heavy shelling by Pakistan in Poonch district of the Jammu region, two civilians were injured in Tangdhar sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, they said.

A police official identified the deceased woman as Resham Bi, a resident of Sagra village.

She was staying at her relative's house in Balakote sector's Lanjot village. She died after a mortar shell exploded in the compound of the house, he said.

Another woman, who was identified as Hakam Bi, was critically injured in the incident and was taken to hospital, he added.

A defence spokesperson said Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and intense shelling with mortars in Balakote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch around 2 am.

The Indian Army retaliated in a befitting manner and the cross-border shelling between the two sides lasted for 45 minutes, the spokesperson said, adding that casualties suffered by Pakistan in the retaliatory action were not known immediately.

In another incident, two civilians were injured when Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Kupwara district.

"Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation along the LoC in Tangdhar sector in Kupwara district on 08 July, 2020 in the afternoon hours by firing mortars and other weapons," an Army official said.

Two civilians were injured in the firing and shelling by Pakistani troops, he said.

The Indian Army gave a befitting response to the unprovoked aggression, he added.

Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Rahul Yadav visited Mendhar sector and handed over an ex gratia relief of Rs 1 lakh and an amount of Rs 10,000 from the Red Cross fund to the next of kin of the deceased woman, an official spokesperson said.

He said Yadav also provided an amount of Rs 10,000 from the fund in favour of the injured woman.

Yadav was accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch, Ramesh Angral and Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mendhar, Sahil Jandial, the spokesperson said.
Last updated on: July 08, 2020 12:09 IST

'We started analysing young patients and realised that they had causes like undetected diabetes, which suddenly flares up during COVID-19.'

'Secondly, hypothyroidism was one of the factors.'

'And obesity.'

IMAGE: A funeral for a coronavirus patient on a rainy day in Mumbai, July 4, 2020. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Why are young people of 35 or less dying in Mumbai from COVID-19?

Are your elderly parents diabetic? Testing your own blood sugar could be a matter of life and death in COVID-19 times?

Since April, Dr Avinash Supe, executive director, Hinduja hospital, Khar, north west Mumbai, has been in charge of a committee appointed by the Maharashtra government to analyse COVID-19 deaths in the Mumbai urban area.

The committee of senior doctors issued reports based on their findings that are shared with city and state hospitals and the Maharashtra medical fraternity.

This retrospective analysis is invaluable because it helps reduce COVID-19 fatalities in the tough days ahead.

The committee's first report in early May discovered that most of the deaths in Mumbai in April were of males, above 50, and in patients with comorbidities like diabetes (40 per cent), hypertension or suffering from cardiac issues.

It also found that delays in diagnosing COVID-19 and reaching the hospital contributed to higher mortality.

Dr Supe, whose committee submitted a few weeks ago their second report looking at the 528 deaths that occurred in May, offers some key information on fighting COVID-19 on both a personal and societal/city level.

Work is slowly beginning on the third report, but there is a lot of data to process with the increased deaths in June.

Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com gives us insights into the report submitted.

Key points of a note from Dr Supe and Report II summarised here, while details are further below:

Deaths in young people in May -- below 40 and even as young as 35 -- could be attributed to:

1. The patient being overweight;

2. Undiagnosed diabetes ;

3. Hypothyroidism .

1. The patient being overweight; 2. ; 3. . The best chance of survival, for even those with the worst comorbidities -- which Mumbai doctors now know, after three months of treating COVID-19 -- was about, Dr Supe says, getting yourself to the hospital quickly/very early for doctors to monitor blood sugar and administer:

A. Oxygen to improve oxygen saturation levels in the blood that can stealthily drop in this disease;

B. Steroids (to prevent cytokine storms); C. Anti-viral drugs like remdesivir and tocilizumab; D. Drugs to prevent blood clotting.

A. Oxygen to improve oxygen saturation levels in the blood that can stealthily drop in this disease; B. Steroids (to prevent cytokine storms); The city administration has been advised to look at the number of cases per ten thousand. Area-wise lockdown is advised when the cases cross 35 per 10,000.

There has been an adjustment in state death rates, after wrongly categorised deaths were re-categorised and hence there has been a proportionate jump in deaths in Mumbai subsequently.

COVID-19 deaths below 40: IMAGE: People exercise in an open gym during heavy rains in Mumbai, June 18, 2020. Photograph: Santosh Hirlekar/ANI Photo The committee took a closer look at all patients below 40, while also spending more time analysing deaths between the ages of 41 and 50. In May, 55 COVID-19 deaths were of younger people and 49 of them were below 40 -- a worrisome 9 per cent. That was a matter of great distress for to Dr Supe and his team. He says: "We saw that those with non-comorbidities were also dying. That was a question of concern - that young patients were also dying. "We started analysing these young patients and realised that they had causes, like undetected diabetes, which suddenly flares up during COVID-19. They were not on treatment and had not been diagnosed and suddenly get diagnosed during the COVID-19 diagnosis when they get admitted. "Secondly, we also thought hypothyroidism was one of the factors. "And obesity. It was moderate obesity." An unexpected result of this analysis was young deaths due to hypothyroidism. Says Dr Supe: "Hypothyroidism deaths were unexplained." Hypothyroidism is a disorder in the human body whereby the thyroid gland, located in the neck, is unable to manufacture enough of the thyroid hormone. This deficiency may interfere with heart rate, body temperature and metabolism. The sudden young deaths lead Dr Supe and his colleagues to suggest a special regimen of care. "We thought so these are the patients who needed monitoring. We suggested that these are the patients who should be admitted and require six-hourly (checking) of their blood sugar and pulse oximeter monitoring and you try to detect even if there is a 5 per cent drop in the oxygenation. Even when it comes down to 90 or 92 we should really put them onto high-flow nasal oxygen. "Also give them steroids. Give them methylprednisolone. Give them dexamethasone. Give them thromboprophylaxis (drugs to prevent thrombosis or blood clotting). Give them antiviral drugs like remdesivir and also give them a tocilizumab. "Also, do basically various kinds of proning. Proning is to put patients in prone position (on their stomachs) and ask him to undergo physiotherapy so their flooded lungs are emptied out and they breathe better."

Measures for taking care of undiagnosed diabetes: *IMAGE: One should keep a watch on blood sugar levels. Photograph: Kind courtesy Pixabay.com The deaths of younger victims of COVID-19 suggests that everyone, sick or not, should keep a watch on their blood sugar levels. Especially those with family history or are at risk of getting diabetes for any other reason. Dr Supe advises: "Anyone above 40 they should definitely test. With their urine they can take the home urine test. "But I won't advise you that way unless they have some symptoms. Like say they have excessive drinking of water, excessive thirst, passing a lot of urine. They are losing a lot of weight." "If such kinds of symptoms are there and they are passing a lot of urine, which is badly smelling, they should definitely do testing for blood sugar."

Unaccounted deaths in Maharashtra: IMAGE: Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis addresses a press conference in Pune, June 23, 2020. Photograph: ANI Photo Two weeks ago, former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the state government of concealing 950 coronavirus deaths. Being a state committee, analysing COVID-19 deaths, details of non-COVID-19 deaths do not come to them for examination. But Dr Supe explains the basis of Fadnavis's statement: "There is something called as a 7.1 and 7.2 ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) code. "The ICMR and WHO developed a code in month (confirmed diagnosis for COVID-19) of March. "Any patient who is COVID-19 positive and died is 7.1 and any patient who is COVID-19 suspect and who died is 7.2." The grey area arises when, for example, a person dies of a fatal heart attack, brought on by COVID-19, but the cause of death in the death certificate is listed as cardiac arrest rather than COVID-19. WHO guidelines, which ICMR adopted for India, specify the circumstances in which a doctor, who is filling out a death certificate, should write down the cause of death as COVID-19. "This kind of discrepancy has occurred in many countries. Spain and US also. Same thing was seen in Mumbai also." Subsequently, Dr Supe and his committee, he says, guided various Maharashtra urban corporations on how COVID-19 deaths are to be classified as per the WHO code. "Corporations have responded very well and they have looked at it (the deaths) again. Last week they added some 900 deaths or something like that in Mumbai, and, overall, in India 2,000 deaths were added or something. That's the reason Mumbai death rate has gone up." Inconsistencies over death classification is long-standing issue in India and the arrival of COVID-19 has muddied the waters further, because there can be many more mistakes in a chaotic pandemic situation. The re-classification of death process is ongoing in Mumbai, according to Dr Supe. "They are still sending reports. We will wait for one or two weeks, once it stabilises we will analyse." Issues with classification of COVID-19 deaths have not happened just in Mumbai. "It happens everywhere. Not only in Mumbai. It happened in New York. It happened in Spain. It happened in France. It happened in India. It is the way people interpret and report." And errors in classification of COVID-19 fatalities usually emerge, as it did in Mumbai, when death audit committees swing into action. "We said we should follow ICMR and WHO guidelines and whatever numbers are there, we accept it."

Average profile of a Mumbai COVID-19 fatality: IMAGE: Hospital staff carry a body to a morgue in Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo The second report, issued by the committee run by Dr Supe, while sifting through the higher COVID-19 deaths of May in Mumbai -- which was a reflection of "the number of cases having increased in the month of May and there was an excessive burden" -- discovered that the mortality rate of 528 deaths out of 14,521 patients (cases in the Mumbai area) was 3.63, which was lower than what was in the first report. But the pattern of deaths were similar, says Dr Supe. "Sixty-two per cent males and there were more patients among the elderly and there were a lot of patients who had comorbidities. Something like 60 to 75 per cent."

Outcome of the second report: Though this committee looks at ways to reduce mortality in Mumbai, this time they took their learnings to the rest of the state as well. "Whatever we learned from private ICUs and government doctors -- all these doctors -- we created it into guidelines and we spread it across Maharashtra. "We took a meeting of all the civil surgeons of Maharashtra and tried to explain to them all these protocols and answered their patient-related queries. More important, what we have learned from all this, has been transmitted and disseminated (right down) to the semi-district level."

Comparison of COVID-19 caseloads in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region: Dr Supe, who has nearly four decades of experience dealing with the city's public health, as the former dean of both the KEM and Sion hospitals (King Edward Memorial, Parel, central Mumbai, and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, north Mumbai), states that, even as cases multiply, totally, in the Mumbai urban area, it is apparent that cases are down in certain localities, which bodes well. "According to me, the situation is coming in control in Mumbai in some areas. No doubt but in some areas cases are increasing -- especially in Malad*, Borivali*, Bhandup*, Dahisar*, Mulund* and Thane* it is increasing. But some areas like Dharavi*, some areas near Mankhurd*, some areas in Worli*, we are seeing less number of cases. "But I personally feel there's more of a rise out of Mumbai, than Mumbai. Mumbai is probably coming under control. Outside Mumbai you're seeing a little rise. But we have to watch it for next two weeks and see how it is going. We are seeing more number of cases outside Thane and in Aurangabad, Nagpur." Thane on the other hand, says Dr Supe, is showing a higher rate of increase than Mumbai. Caseloads are increasing in Raigad district and Panvel ( a township in Raigad) but "not drastically."

Mumbai's lockdown: IMAGE: A view of a sealed road during the total lockdown at Thane, July 2, 2020. Photograph: Anil Shinde/ANI Photo The need for further lockdowns, area by area, functions on caseloads, says Dr Supe. "All over, if you really see, the number of patients detected positive per ten thousand is the ratio (to go on) in a community. If the rate goes beyond 35 per 10,000 people, then you should have a very strict policy. "If the rate is less than five per 10,000 then you can relax the social distancing kind of norms. "Now in Mumbai we are somewhere around 8 to 10. In some areas maybe more, and in some areas maybe less. "In those areas, where the rate is going high -- more than 35 -- should be completely locked down. "It has now to be done locality-wise."

Time in getting to hospital and the Mumbai hospital situation: IMAGE: A view from inside a COVID-19 care centre for critical patients in Dahisar, north west Mumbai, July 2, 2020. Photograph: Murgesh/ANI Photo Dr Supe reports: "The median time in going to the hospital decreased in the second report from say, five days to three days. But it is still three days. But the biggest other problem was getting bed in a hospital, for serious patients, in the month of May." He feels the situation is, since, slightly better, through June, especially in BMC (BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation) facilities which are 90 to 95 per cent full, while it is still pretty tight in private hospitals. The opening of the various COVID-19 field hospitals has increased quarantine areas and capacity across the city. "If you really see now, most of our Mumbai hospitals have more beds than active patients. I was talking in the morning to many hospitals, like Rajawadi (in Ghatkopar, north east Mumbai) has 100 beds and they have 80 t0 90 COVID-19 patients. Ten to 12 patient beds are free." Dr Supe acknowledges the need for more supportive home care for symptomatic but not serious COVID-19 afflicted, which the presently available homecare packages don't really provide. "With our second report we had given a very classic chart and we had said use a new score - it's a British-US score and we modified it for India - and we say that any patient needs to be segregated as per this score." The disease tosses up a range of patients -- mild patients, severe patients and critical ICU patients. As per this score each type of patient, depending on his set of symptoms, should be headed to a different place. "Somebody should go to a quarantine centre (CCC or COVID care centre), somebody should go to DCHC (dedicated COVID health centre), somebody should go to DCH (dedicated COVID hospital) and somebody should go to an ICU." Before the segregation, he says, admission was being sought randomly and "there was so much of panic, people were going to whatever place which was next to them." He feels it is now more organised and in Mumbai, in all 24 wards, it being handled at the ward level at a control centre. Similarly, outside of Mumbai, every district has its own control centre. There are ward meetings where representatives from all hospitals meet. But bed capacity in any hospital is a function of staff too. Even if physical beds exist, bed capacity comes down if there are not enough employees to man them, be they nurses, doctors or ancillary staff. Fewer suburban trains connecting Mumbai with Virar, Palghar and Badlapur and other outlying areas, in May, caused a severe shortfall in hospital staff in Mumbai. In June and July the problem is slightly different: "There is a lot of staff getting affected by corona. So, they are going into quarantine. The number of operational beds are less than the actual beds. Say 10 nurses in your hospital get sick so automatically you will find that 20 or 30 nurses go into quarantine and automatically your capacity comes down by three shifts and by 20 to 30 beds. That is happening in many hospitals."

Learnings from other states on reducing fatalities: The Maharashtra committee of doctors working to reduce mortalities don't just confer among themselves but seek wider knowledge. "We talk to Kerala, we talk to other states, we talk to all those experts around India and see what they have learnt. We consult the analysts and all that." From Kerala they have received a bunch of tips on how to isolate people and "what are the various policies (Kerala) does and what are the various kind of rotation protocols they do." This knowledge is being applied in Maharashtra.

Chances of survival for those with long-standing issues of diabetes: How will severe diabetics, who have been suffering the disease for many years, be affected, if they catch COVID-19? Is surviving COVID-19 difficult if you have diabetes? "No you can, of course. People are coming out of this. The point is you should be in time. If you have symptoms and suspicion of this (disease) immediately go to the hospital. If you start remdesivir within 48 hours, start oxygen quickly, start steroids in time, then the results are good. "I have seen 90 and 80 year olds, having all comorbidities also returning home , "It's a question of timing, the right kind of medicines, oxygenation and proper monitoring. If you do that and glycemic controlling, most of the patients will come out of it."

*Malad, Dahisar and Borivali are in north west Mumbai. Bhandup and Mankhurd are in north east Mumbai. Dharavi is in north central Mumbai. Worli is in south central Mumbai. And Thane is a township north east of Mumbai.

Feature Production: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
I would like to deeply apologize to the Chan family, he wrote. I can only imagine the stress and pain they feel. I was taught to respect people of all races, and I will take the time to reflect on my actions and work to better understand the inequality that so many of those around me face every day.
LITCHFIELD  The Oliver Wolcott Library, 160 South St., Litchfield, is reopening to the public July 15.

On June 1, the Oliver Wolcott Library began offering contact-less, same-day Curbside Pickup. We will continue to offer this service. On Wednesday, July 15, we will begin our next phase (Stage 2) in the progression of our re-opening plans.

The procedures that the Oliver Wolcott Library has adopted follow guidelines and requirements set forth in the Governor's Re-Opening Connecticut, Sector Rules. As noted in the requirements, the most important consideration will be the health and safety of employees and patrons.

July 15s reopening will allow a maximum of 12 patrons inside the library at a time to browse and select materials. Patrons who visit the library are required to bring and wear their own mask or cloth face covering that completely covers the nose and mouth unless doing so would be contrary to his or her health or safety due to a medical condition.

A limited number of unrelated patrons can use the Children's Room at one time. Access to two public computers are by appointment only.

The library will continue to offer: curbside pick-up, Personal Book Browser, Virtual Book-a-Librarian, & a host of self-directed and Virtual Events

In order to follow social distancing and cleaning requirements, we must significantly limit the number of people inside the library at one time and the length of visits. There may be times when you have to wait to enter the Library or to access the Children's Room. If you want to avoid waiting, please continue to use our Curbside Pick-Up.

For complete details, and up-to-date information about OWL and Re-Opening Progression Plans go to owlibrary.org or Facebook.

Patrons may visit but cannot stay at the library to sit, read, study, work, or engage in any activity that prolongs visits or utilizes shared furniture/spaces.

Summer food program offered

WINSTED  The Winchester Board of Education is participating in the federally funded Summer Food Service Program. Meals are provided free of charge to children 18 years and under at the following sites:

Pearson School, , 2 Wetmore St, serving breakfast and lunch, 11:30 a.m-1 p.m through Aug. 21; and Litchfield Heights, 15 MountainView Terrace, Winsted, 11-11:20 a.m., through Aug. 21.

The service is sponsored by EdAdvance. For information, call 860-567-0863 1113

Northwest Community Bank awards Team Success Scholars

WINSTED Northwestern Connecticut Community College recently received an award of $30,000; $10,000 each year for the next three years from Northwest Community Bank to support students enrolled in Team Success Scholars, NCCCs college success program.

TSS is primarily supported through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, whose funds are administered through the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board. Eligibility requirements for the highly successful TSS program include students who are facing barriers such as poverty, homelessness, disabilities, or English language fluency, according to a statement.

"The support from Northwest Community Bank allows us to serve more students, beyond those eligible under WIOA guidelines, said TSS Director, Susan Dichter. This not only strengthens our TSS cohort and peer learning communities, but also demonstrates a strong partnership committed to student success. We are very grateful for Northwest Community Banks continuing support, she said.

According to the statement, TSS students hold higher grade point averages, stay in college, and graduate sooner than non-TSS students. In 2017, Northwest Community Bank agreed to fund five students for three years. These students successfully graduated in May 2020, and like most TSS graduates before them, ranked higher than average academically.

Northwest Community Bank is pleased to continue our support of the NCCC Team Success Scholars, a program which has been incredibly successful in providing an educational framework which is shaping the lives of numerous students within our community, said Stephen Reilly, bank president and CEO. We commend the entire staff at NCCC for their ingenuity and dedication in administering this program, and we are honored to partner with them in such an impactful community initiative.

Northwest Community Bank has also donated an additional $2,000 to the NCCC Student Emergency Fund, which provides short-term financial support for students who have an unexpected and immediate financial need.

We are truly grateful for the funding from Northwest Community Bank in support of our TSS candidate students who want to gain the education needed to overcome the barriers holding them back, said NCCC President, Dr. Michael Rooke in the statement. The continued support of both our TSS and Student Emergency Fund programs by Northwest Community Bank is a testament to their commitment to the students of Northwestern and the community as a whole. We greatly appreciate all that they have done for NCCC.

Visit www.nwcc.edu/success for more information and the application process.

Harwinton Lions selling pierogies

HARWINTON  The Harwinton Lions have served Holy Pierogies at the Harwinton Fair for four years, a popular choice for fair attendees. The club is holding a pierogi sale to raise funds in support of its community causes. Six flavors include: potato and cheese; potato, cheese, and onion; and garlic mashed potato for $10 per dozen; and farmer cheese; loaded baked potato; and buffalo chicken, all at $11 per dozen. All pierogies are packaged, fully frozen and ready to cook.

To order and pay by check or cash, contact any Harwinton Lion by July 6; or order online at https://lions-club-of-harwinton.square.site/ by July 13.

Pierogies can be picked up in the Harwinton Post Office parking lot, 122 Litchfield Road, Harwinton, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19.

Pierogi purchasers are also welcome to bring a food donation for the Harwinton Food Pantry, which the Lions Club will deliver to Town Hall. The pantrys list of items continually needed is located here: https://www.harwinton.us/first-selectman/pages/food-pantry-latest-updates
THOMASTON  Sixth-grader Chloe Simoes was honored recently for her ingenuity at the fifth annual Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, which was presented by Raytheon Technologies. The students were among nearly 500 award-winning K-12 inventors from across the nation who were celebrated at a virtual awards ceremony held on July 2, according to a statement.

Simoes won the Household Organization and Appliances Award for her invention, BaRs.

My invention solves the problem of music falling off the stand, she said, explaining why she developed her project. By using an elastic band called a Bunchie I can hold one to two sheets of music on the stand, but this only good for people who dont have a lot of music sheets to play with. But if you need a five page song you will need a Ringer. A Ringer holds the music in a three ring binder rings and a metal sheet you put the metal sheet on the back and the rings on the front and voila! You now have a way to hold three to 20 sheets of music on the stand.

Watch Simoes video at rb.gy/aznyjv.

Invention Convention Worldwide is a global K-12 invention education curricular program mapped to national and state educational standards that teaches students problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship and creativity skills and builds confidence in invention, innovation and entrepreneurship for life. More than 120,000 K-12 inventors from across the United States competed at local affiliate events (Connecticut Invention Convention) for a chance to participate in the Invention Convention 2020 U.S. Nationals.

While many things have been disrupted due to the pandemic, innovation and invention continue and are needed now more than ever, said Patricia Mooradian, president and CEO, The Henry Ford, in a statement. We need to move forward, to create, to problem-solve and with programs like Invention Convention, we are seeing our young people, our young innovators and inventors, lead the way.

Ingenuity and agility are being demonstrated by students around the world. Seeing this years convention  and its participants  shift their inventive spirit and excel in this virtual showcase is heartening, said Randy Bumps, executive director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Raytheon Technologies, in the statement. We hope that our support of programs like Invention Convention will continue to encourage student problem-solving, next-generation innovations and a passion for lifelong learning.

Prizes and opportunities this year include pro-bono patent awards from law firms including Wilmerhale, Cooley and Cantor Colburn, professional prototyping assistance from design firms like IDEAZ, and invention experiences with partners like Koch Industries, where students can visit with marketers, product designers, and engineers to help advance their inventions to the next stage.

The mission of Invention Convention Worldwide is to bring Invention Education to every student everywhere. Organizations interested in bringing the year-long program to their region can get more information at www.inventionconvention.org.

Located in Dearborn, Michigan, The Henry Ford, a globally-recognized destination, fosters inspiration and learning from hands-on encounters with artifacts that represent the most comprehensive collection anywhere focusing on innovation, ingenuity and resourcefulness in America. Its unique venues include Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, Benson Ford Research Center and Henry Ford Academy, a public charter high school. Together with its online presence at thehenryford.org, its national television series, The Henry Fords Innovation Nation and Invention Convention Worldwide, the growing affiliation of organizations fostering innovation, invention and entrepreneurship in K-12 students, The Henry Ford inspires individuals to unlock their potential and help shape a better future.

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With 195,000 employees and four industry-leading businesses  Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense  the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Bates, who died in 1999, was once the president of the states NAACP chapter and she played a significant role in desegregation efforts, during which she served as an advisor to the first nine Black students who were enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The students are also known as the Little Rock Nine.
Actor Anupam Kher shared a video of a girl singing on his official Instagram feed on Tuesday night. In the caption, Kher revealed that the same video was recently posted by legendary Lata Mangeshkar on her social media handle. Calling it 'sheer brilliance', Anupam Kher wrote that he would love to reach out to this brilliant talent.

Anupam Kher wrote, "Recently legendary Lata Mangeshkar Ji posted this video on her social media. Where this amazing Indian girl has sung Mozarts 40th symphony G minor with Indian Sargam. It sounds magical. If anybody knows who she is please write to herman@anupamkhercompany.com" (sic).

Anupam Kher also wrote that he will help her meet Lata Mangeshkar and take her blessings. A fan wrote, "Outstanding! I have seen it so many times now and still watching." Fans in huge numbers gushed to drop the girl's name and her social media id in the comments section.

Also Read | Lata Mangeshkar commemorates R D Burman's 79th birth anniversary, shares iconic duet song

Anupam Kher's Instagram post

Also Read | Lata Mangeshkar shares video of a girl singing, showers her blessings

Meanwhile, Anupam Kher's Instagram post on Sunday won the internet. He shared a priceless throwback picture with Amitabh Bachchan, from the sets of the 1991 film Hum. The film also features Rajinikanth, Govinda, Kader Khan and Kimi Katkar. As seen the pic, Big B and Anupam Kher are posing with the latter's make-up man Bahadur Singh.

Recalling his good old memories, Anupam Kher captioned his post as, "My make up man of earlier days #BahadurSingh sent me this gem of a pic with the tallest persona in our film industry @amitabhbachchan Ji. The still is from the shooting of the film #HUM in Mauritius. The pic revived so many memories of joy, happiness, fan moments and much more. Those were the innocent days of cinema. Without mobile phones and vanity vans. Loved the human connection. I miss Mukul Anand, our director. He was an amazing human being" (sic).

Also Read | Jasleen Royal and Radhika Madan recreate iconic song 'Lag Ja Gale' by Lata Mangeshkar

Anupam Kher was last seen in the action-drama, One Day: Justice Delivered and it received rave reviews from fans. The film also stars Zarina Wahab, Rajesh Sharma, Zakir Hussain, Kumud Mishra, Esha Gupta among others. The movie is helmed by Ashok K. Nanda. Anupam Kher's film, The Accidental Prime Minister also did well with the audience.

Also Read | National Doctor's Day: Preity Zinta, Lata Mangeshkar express gratitude to doctors

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.
In a bid to strengthen Centre's efforts to reduce coronavirus mortality, AIIMS-Delhi has begun teleconsultation guidance to state doctors on Covid-19 clinical management. The Union Health Ministry stated that the consultation will take place twice a week starting from July 8. Tele-consultation is a critical component of the clinical intervention protocol for Coronavirus.

According to the official notification, the sessions will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays. Ten hospitals with more than 1,000 beds will be participating in the first session,

The ministry informed a specialist team of doctors from AIIMS, New Delhi will handhold the States in the clinical management of COVID-19 patients to reduce the case fatality rate.A total of 17 such states shall be covered including Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and others. The first session will be led by Dr Anand Mohan, HOD, Pulmonary Medicine, AIIMS, Delhi. This teleconsultation exercise shall be extended to another 61 hospitals

READ: Centre tells states, UTs to amplify awareness on mental health amid rising COVID cases

Meanwhile, India reported a spike of 22,752 new COVID19 cases and 482 deaths in the last 24 hours. Positive cases stand at 7,42,417 including 2,64,944 active cases, 4,56,831 cured/ discharged/ migrated & 20,642 deaths.

READ: Coronavirus Live Updates: India's COVID-19 tally at 7.42 lakh; 4,56,830 people recover

Centre tells states, UTs to amplify awareness on mental health amid rising COVID cases

Taking a major step on Tuesday in view of the increasing psychosocial concerns among people during COVID-l9, Centre has told states and Union Territories to strengthen mechanisms to spread awareness. Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan has directed the states to conduct awareness campaigns as a part of the government's response to COVID-19.

Sudan in a letter addressed to the Chief Secretaries of the state, suggested setting up of helplines citing Ministry's already existing helpline (080-4611 0007), in collaboration with National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) to provide psychosocial support by mental health professionals.

READ: COVID-19: Convalescent plasma therapy in Goa from next week, says Health Minister Rane

READ: CM Kejriwal seeks report from health secy on COVID-19 deaths
The Indian Navy on Wednesday said it has completed Operation Samudra Setu, which began on May 5, by bringing nearly 4,000 Indians back home from three countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa (Landing Platform Dock), and Airavat, Shardul and Magar (Landing Ship Tanks) participated in this operation which lasted over 55 days and involved traversing more than 23,000 kilometers by sea," the Navy said in a statement.

While five repatriation trips were done by ships to Male in Maldives, two were done to Bandar Abbas in Iran and one was done to Colombo in Sri Lanka under this operation.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on ships and seafarers due to the compact environment and forced ventilation systems on board ships," the statement noted.

The greatest challenge for the Indian Navy was to avoid any incident of outbreak of the infection on board the ships during the evacuation operation, it noted.

Rigorous measures were planned and medical and safety protocols unique to the operating environment of ships were implemented, it mentioned.

"These were strictly followed on board the ships undertaking Op Samudra Setu resulting in the safe return of 3,992 of our citizens to their homeland," it stated.

Ships used for the operation were especially provisioned and the Sick Bay or the clinic on board was especially equipped with COVID-19 related equipment and facilities, the statement said.

This operation was undertaken by the Indian Navy in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Home Affairs, Health and various other agencies of the government of India and state governments.

Image Credits: PTI
IndiGo said on Wednesday it repatriated 39 Indian nationals who were stranded at Bogota in Colombia in coordination with Qatar Airways.

The airline, in a press statement, said 39 Indians -- 37 adults and two infants -- travelled on a July 6 flight of Qatar Airways from Bogota to Doha.

These passengers then connected onward to the Vande Bharat Mission flight of IndiGo from Doha to Mumbai on July 7. The Doha-Mumbai flight had a total of 213 Indians, including 39 aforementioned ones, it said IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Ronojoy Dutta said, We are pleased to fly back our fellow countrymen from Bogota, Colombia, in close coordination with the Indian Mission in Doha, the Indian Mission in Colombia and Qatar Airways. It is our endeavour to continue to support the nation in every manner possible in these times.

Image Credits: PTI
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday that Egypt will not allow militias to threaten its security.

We will not tolerate these dangers to our country, Shoukry said during the monthly meeting of the UN Security Council over the situation in Libya, which was held via video conference.

We call on the international community to face the danger of the terrorist organisations in Libya, he said, adding that the Islamic State terrorist organisation has resurfaced once again in some Western Libyan cities, especially in the city of Sabratah.

Without mentioning any country by name, Shoukry slammed regional powers that are intervening in Libya by sending Syrian fighters to the country on a daily basis, which threatens the stability of the Middle East and Mediterranean regions.

I take this opportunity to reassert that the member states [of the UN Security Council] are obliged to fight terrorism in Libya by condemning any sort of support for radical forces by regional powers, he said.

The Egyptian foreign minister also said that there are militias in Libya that want to implement their agendas at the expense of the Libyan people.

Egypts position is focused on supporting a political solution for a unified Libya as mentioned in the Cairo Declaration, which was issued on 6 June 2020 in accordance with the results of the Berlin Conference and related UN Security Council resolutions as well as the resolutions of the League of Arab States and the African Union, Shoukry said.

Shoukry said that stability in Libya depends on restructuring the presidential council, forming an independent government agreed upon by all Libyan parties and approved by the Libyan parliament, disarming the militias, fighting terrorism, unifying the military institution, and ensuring a fair distribution of wealth.

Egypt supports these basic principles for a political solution, and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi repeated Egypts demand for an unconditional ceasefire in Libya in his speech on 20 June 2020, [where he stressed] that all parties should refrain from military action in order to resume the political process, which includes all legitimate parties, in order to reach a Libyan/Libyan solution, he said.

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While our investigation remains ongoing, after 30 days of intense scrutiny, it is impossible to deny that many New Yorkers have lost faith in law enforcement, James said. We must bridge the undeniable divide between the police and the public, and this preliminary report, and the recommendations included, is an important step forward.
Taking a major step on Tuesday in view of the increasing psychosocial concerns among people during COVID-l9, Centre has told states and Union Territories to strengthen mechanisms to spread awareness. Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan has directed the states to conduct awareness campaigns as a part of the government's response to COVID-19.

READ | Centre to release SOPs to speed-up resumption of film production: Prakash Javadekar

Sudan in a letter addressed to the Chief Secretaries of the state, suggested setting up of helplines citing Ministry's already existing helpline (080-4611 0007), in collaboration with National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) to provide psychosocial support by mental health professionals. She then requested the states to amplify awareness about mental health through existing communication materials.

READ | Face masks, hand sanitisers no more essential items: Centre

Sudan said that since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, concerns relating to mental health, manifested in feelings of fear, anxiety, negative thoughts about consequences of disease and subsequent depression are being raised. She noted that declining social support in nuclear families and restricted social networking due to COVID-19 are among important reasons.

"Keeping above in view, I request you to put in place and strengthen mechanisms for amplifying awareness about mental health through existing communication materials... initiate screening and address mental health issues for those in need, improve help-seeking behaviour on mental health-related issues by sensitising people and health care workers," she said.

READ | SC issues notice to Centre on plea for refund of ticket for flights cancelled due to COVID

Mental Health and COVID-19

Last month, amid worsening condition of COVID in the national capital, Delhi High Court had directed the AAP-led administration to consider opening some counselling centres to deal with mental problems including depression on an emergent basis. The Delhi HC has passed these directions while hearing a PIL by Adv Sunil Kumar seeking counselling centres for dealing depression, mental health problems.

Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also urged governments, civil society and health authorities to urgently address mental health needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic, warning about the increase in psychological suffering. He said that grief at the loss of loved ones, shock at the loss of jobs, isolation and restrictions on movement, difficult family dynamics, and uncertainty and fear for the future is having an impact on mental health.

READ | Delhi HC issues notice to Centre on PIL seeking free ration for poor disabled people
Holding the previous Congress government responsible for the coronavirus spread in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday lashed out at his predecessor Kamal Nath and called him "Sankatnath".

Chouhan, who assumed office on March 23 after the fall of the Nath government, claimed the erstwhile Congress dispensation was not concerned about the coronavirus crisis.

Addressing a 'virtual' rally organised by the ruling BJP, he said, "BJP leaders and activists have been serving the common people since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in the state.

"But (then Chief Minister) Kamal Nath had become Sankatnath at that time, leaving the state in a crisis." He said, "Kamal Nath had no concern with the coronavirus crisis. He was busy attending meetings related to hosting IIFA awards ceremony in Indore during the crisis." Chouhan said after the announcement of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the party had promised to waive farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh if it came to power in Madhya Pradesh.

But, the Congress reneged on its promise as soon as it won elections and formed government in late 2018, the BJP chief minister claimed.

"The Kamal Nath government had deceived farmers and decided to waive only their short-term crop loans," he said.

The CM alleged rampant corruption in the state secretariat during the previous government.

"After all, why shouldn't this (Nath) government fall?" the CM sought to know.

"When senior politician Jyotiraditya Scindia saw such a sorry state of affairs under the Nath government, he asked the then ruling Congress to fulfil its election promise. On this, Nath got excited and asked him (Scindia) to hit the street," Chouhan said.

"He (Scindia) then reacted (and the Nath government eventually collapsed). What can we do now?" he asked.

Scindia quit the Congress in March and later joined the BJP along with his supporters.

Chouhan was addressing the virtual rally for the Sanver constituency of Indore district, which is among the 24 assembly seats where bypolls are due.

Tulsiram Silawat, Water Resources Minister in the Chouhan cabinet, is widely tipped to be the BJP candidate from Sanver.

Silawat, who was a minister in the Nath government also, quit the Congress and joined the BJP in March along with nearly two dozen rebel Congress MLAs.

Image Credits: PTI
Amid its own border row with China over the Sakteng wildlife sanctuary, Bhutan on Tuesday said that the boundary between both the countries is "under negotiation" and has not been demarcated. In a statement, Royal Bhutanese Embassy in India said the 25th round of ministerial-level boundary talks was delayed due to Coronavirus. It added that all disputed areas will be discussed in the next round.

'Boundary has not been demarcated'

"Boundary between Bhutan-China is under negotiation and hasn't been demarcated. 24 rounds of ministerial-level boundary talks have been held and the 25th round was delayed due to COVID. All disputed areas to be discussed in next round, to be held as soon as mutually convenient," the statement said.

The development comes days after Bhutan issued a demarche to China upset by its claims over the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary located in eastern Bhutan. The Royal Embassy of Bhutan lodged a formal protest with the Chinese embassy in New Delhi saying the sanctuary was "an integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan".

Both Bhutan and China don't have embassies in each other's countries and carry out their diplomatic communication through their missions in New Delhi.

China makes new border claims

The fresh claims by China were recently made at the 58th Global Environment Facility Council where the Chinese member raised objections to the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary project and argued that it was in a "disputed area" between Beijing and Thimphu. Sakteng lies in a zone of Bhutan that borders Arunachal Pradesh and not China.

READ | EAM Jaishankar calls India-Bhutan relationship 'unique', assures help in fighting COVID

READ | Agreement for Indo-Bhutan joint venture hydroelectric project signed

Bhutan has urged the GEF to purge all references to Chinas baseless claims from the councils documents. The GEF has also rejected the Chinese claim and approved the project for funding. Set up in 1992, GEF is a US-based global body to finance projects in the environment sector.

READ | Bhutan issues demarche to China over its bid to create border dispute

READ | 'No dispute, Bhutan helping with clearing water blockage': Assam Chief Secretary clarifies
After several new outbreaks, Italys Health Minister Roberto Speranza has suggested that people who refuse treatment for the coronavirus should be segregated from the rest of the population. According to reports, Italy has also suspended flights from Bangladesh as the country grapples with new coronavirus outbreaks. This move towards forced hospitalisations has been caused by the discovery of a new coronavirus cluster in the northern Veneto region of Italy.

Italy considers forced hospitalisations

As per reports, the origin of new cluster can be traced to a 64-year old who returned from Serbia and developed coronavirus symptoms. He is currently in serious but stable condition. Five other people have tested positive for COVID-19 and almost 90 people have been quarantined after the man attended a funeral and a birthday party which was attended by roughly 100 guests.

According to reports, Heath Minister Roberto Speranza has claimed that he is looking into the legal options towards forcing medical treatment even for those that do not want it. Despite this, he continues to believe that Italians behaved admirably during the coronavirus lockdown because if it was not for their support and cooperation, Italy could not have flattened the curve as much as it has.

Read: Italy: La Scala Theatre Reopens With Social Distancing

Read: Italy PM Says Govt Considering Measures To Support Hard-hit Auto, Tourism Sector

Speranza also added that some coronavirus restrictions were still in place and that those who break isolation protocol face jail time, he added that people arriving in Italy from outside the Schengen area must adhere to a 14-day quarantine period.

Until the recent outbreak, the northern Italian region of Veneto was considered a model for successfully containing the coronavirus. Another cluster was also found in the city of Padua, this time a person returning from Moldova managed to infect 10 people upon his return.

Read: Lunar Eclipse Time In Italy To Experience The Celestial Phenomenon; Read Here

Read: China Virus Cases Stabilise As Italy Sees Drop In Deaths

The deadly coronavirus pandemic began in the city of Wuhan in China late last year. According to the John Hopkins Coronavirus resource centre, 11,797,213 people worldwide have been infected by the coronavirus and the global death toll stand at 543,595. Italy has reported 241,956 positive coronavirus cases and has a death toll of 34,899.

(Representative Image)
The presidents of Austria, Slovenia and Croatia met in Vienna on Wednesday and encouraged travel between the three neighbouring countries.

It was the first time the heads of state met in person since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak.

Croatian president Zoran Milanovic repeatedly stressed that his country was safe for tourists amid the ongoing global pandemic.

The Austrian president Alexander Van der Bellen also called on people not to "panic or hide in their houses."

All three countries have strong economic links with Austrian companies operating in both Slovenia and Croatia.

At the same time many Slovenians and Croatians both live and work in Austria.
At least 180 dead bodies have been found in common graves in Djibo, a northern town in Burkina Faso, said Human Rights Watch in a report released on July 8, suggesting the involvement of government forces in the mass killings. The human rights organisation urged the government to seek assistance from the United Nations and other partners to conduct proper exhumations and hold those responsible to account.

Residents of Djibo told HRW that the dead bodies had been left in groups along major roadways under bridges, and in fields and vacant lots between November 2019 to June 2020. All dead bodies, with few exceptions, were found within a 5-kilometre radius of central Djibo with. They said that they buried most of them in common burials in March and April, while other remains are still unburied.

So many of the dead were blindfolded, had their hands tied up and were shot in the head, a community leader told HRW. The bodies I saw appeared in the morning  dumped at night on the outskirts of Djibo, a town under the control of the army and in the middle of a curfew imposed and patrolled by the arm.

Read: 'Global Consensus To Hold China Accountable Over Human Rights': Tibet's President-in-Exile

Extrajudicial killings suspected

According to HRW, residents believe that the majority of the victims were ethnic Fulani or Peuhl men and that many were found blindfolded and with bound hands, and had been shot. Corinne Dufka, Sahel director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement that the Burkina Faso authorities need to urgently uncover who turned Djibo into a killing field.

"Existing information points toward government security forces, so it's critical to have impartial investigations, evidence properly gathered, and families informed about what happened to their loved ones," she added.

On July 3, the Minister of Defense had to the HRW over the major findings, committing to investigate the allegations and to ensure the respect of human rights in security operations. The minister said that the killings occurred during an uptick in attacks by armed Islamists and suggested they could have been committed by these groups, using stolen army uniforms and logistics.

Read: CTA President Urges UNHRC To Hold Emergency Session Over China's Human Rights Violations

(Representational Image: AP)
Medical workers in Santiago de Chile on Tuesday paid tribute to Patricia Duran Moyano, a Barros Luco hospital nurse who died after having been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Outside the hospital her colleagues bid farewell to the nurse, who had been treated at the same hospital where she worked.

The hospital's health workers' union denounced her death as a case of negligence, because she had been discharged despite still feeling ill.

"For us, this is an important signal about what we don't want to see repeated, we do not want to regret more workers deaths", said Luisa Galvez, Union Leader of Barros Luco Hospital.

Galvez mentioned that there were many complaints from colleagues who had to return to work without having been tested for COVID-19, or discharged prematurely to free up beds.

Chile's Health Ministry has reported 6,840 health officials infected of Covid-19 and more than 10,000 into preventive quarantine.

Despite some of the strictest measures in the region, Chile has diagnosed 299,000 cases of coronavirus and counted 6,384 deaths.

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.

(Representative Image)
The President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) - the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, pledged the unwavering support of the Tibetans to India and affirmed that his countrymen around the world stood in solidarity with India and will continue to do so in the future. Speaking to Republic TV's Editor Niranjan Narayanaswamy live on Wednesday, Lobsang Sangay reiterated that Tibetans living in exile around the world will stand with India in its fight against China & its expansionist policies and said that the Chinese cannot get way by threatening the Tibetans any longer.

The President of the CTA strongly reiterated that India has been the most helpful for the Tibetan community and that its people will always support the country they were born and brought up in (India).

READ | Bhutan Eyes Negotiating End To Its Boundary Disputes With China; Delhi Embassies The Venue

'We are with India always'

Tibetans across the globe have been protesting against China following the latter's violent face-off with India which led to 20 Indian soldiers being martyred. CTA President Lobsang Sangay termed these protests as the natural reaction of the Tibetan people as they remain indebted to India for its generosity and its support. Further, he also pointed out that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's call to impose visa restrictions on those Chinese officials involved in the human rights violation of the Tibetans was the right decision.

"Anyone in Tibet, Chinese officials, who can think that they can get away with violating the human rights of the Tibetan people and can act with impunity are wrong now. US govt is taking action on all those Chinese officials and hopefully, their family members will also be under restrictions if they want to visit the US", Lobsang Sangay said.

READ | China's Trump Frustration Evident As Its Foreign Affairs Spox Starts Retweeting His Trolls

Further, Lobsang Sangay pointed that the US' outlook towards China and the expectations for democracy to exist had changed over the years and that they realized that China was never going to tread the path of democracy. The CTA President said that there has been a bipartisan consensus on China, particularly on Tibet and that the issue of human rights violation of the Tibetan people was raised in the recent European Union-China summit & in the UN and requested a delegation to visit China & Tibet to investigate the violations with the Tibetan people.

"China says Tibet is their core issue. India should say the same thing. The historical and cultural relationship with Tibet came from India. Tibet is the core issue. Whenever we speak about Tibet and China, it says Indo-China border. It should start being addressed as the Indo-Tibet border. Once you say that, you raise the validity or the legitimacy of the Chinese occupation in Tibet. Tibet is the core issue also for India and to have a permanent solution, the Tibet issue should be dealt with. That is why Dalai Llama has suggested that Tibet be declared a peace zone", he added.

READ | China's Sinovac Biotech Starts Phase III Trials Of Its Potential COVID-19 Vaccine

Terming the Chinese as backstabbers, Lobsang Sangay said that China violated all the provisions of the 17-point agreement and the genuine autonomy. Calling Tibet the palm, the CTA President pointed out that post the occupation, the Chinese would go after the five fingers namely -- Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Further, Lobsang Sangay said that China had been executing its expansionist policies for over 60 years.

"Many of us were born and brought up in India. We have always rooted for India. Our heart goes out to India. The generous and kind people in India have hosted us. So, it is very natural to see Tibetan people across the globe standing in solidarity with India", the CTA President said, referring to the Tibetan people protesting against China around the world in the aftermath of the face-off between India and China.

READ | Chinese Envoys Meeting With Nepals President Raises Suspicion Of Beijings Meddling
Candidates running on Friday's general election in Singapore are busy meeting with members of their constituencies Tuesday during the final day of the campaign period.

Among them is Heng Swee Keat, Secretary General of the People's Action Party and Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister. Heng, who is a candidate for the East Coast Group Representation Constituency, spent the morning talking to residents during a campaign walkabout at the Bedok South Market.

Singaporeans go to the polls on July 10 in Southeast Asia's first election since the coronavirus pandemic began, with the health crisis and an economic recession expected to bolster Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's party and extend its unbroken rule.

The PAP, which has ruled Singapore since 1959, has been praised for its economic management but also criticized for muzzling the media and dissenting voices.

It won a landslide victory in 2015 with 69.9% of total votes and swept 83 out of 89 parliamentary seats.

This year, it faces contests for all 93 parliamentary seats but the opposition is fragmented.

Analyst Eugene Tan from the Singapore Management University says that the main thing that the ruling People's Action Party will seek from this general election is a strong and clear mandate.

While victory is undoubted for the ruling party, the entry of Lee's estranged younger brother into the political fray has injected some excitement and hope that the opposition can expand their token presence in parliament.

Lee Hsien Yang is not running in Friday's general election but said last week when the campaign period started that he hopes to be a "catalyst for change".

He brought his family feud into politics by joining an opposition party, says the governing party has "lost its way" from when his father, Lee Kuan Yew, was prime minister.

Tan, the analyst, believes that the presence of Lee Hsien Yang can be a double edged sword for the opposition because it could signal that he's bringing what is regarded as a family dispute into the political setting, which may not appeal to voters.

However, Tan said that Lee Hsien Yang could bring some assistance to the opposition if he is campaigning on the basis that the ruling party has lost its way.

The Lee brothers, whose father Lee Kuan Yew was Singapore's first and longest-serving prime minister who turned it into an affluent city-state, have engaged in a public spat since 2017 over the late patriarch's family home.

Lee Hsien Yang and his sister Lee Wei Ling accused their eldest brother of abusing his power to stop them from demolishing the family home according to the wishes of their father, who died in 2015.

They accused him of seeking to preserve the house to maintain his own political popularity and legitimacy.

Lee Hsien Loong said the government should be allowed to decide whether to maintain the house as part of the national heritage and that he had no role in the decision.

Opposition parties have accused the government of putting politics above public safety by holding the polls during the coronavirus pandemic but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said they can be held safely.

Campaigning was muted, with strict safe distancing measures and rallies banned.

More polling centers have been set up, with the 2.65 million eligible voters given specific times to cast their ballots to reduce crowding and priority will be given to senior citizens.
Schools reopening is a state decision, period, he said. That is the law and that is the way were going to proceed. Its not up to the President of the United States. There is something called the Constitution that guides government power and theres a series of laws based on that Constitution and the President does not have that authority to open schools.
Indonesias agriculture minister has been condemned by the countrys health experts after he claimed that a necklace made out of eucalyptus could prevent transmission of coronavirus. Indonesia, where elaborate face masks is a new trend, has reported 66,226 positive cases and 3,309 deaths till now.

'Cures corona in 30 minutes'

Previously, Syahrul Yasin Limpo had asserted that the Eucalyptus necklace could help destroy the coronavirus if it is worn for 30 minutes. The necklace, which was to be mass-produced next month, had been built by the agricultural department along with other products like minis inhalers. However, after facing backlash, the ministry backtracked and said the products will not be advertised as having the ability to prevent or cure COVD-19; instead, they will be classified as herbal products.

Read: Indonesia Comes Up With 'artificial Rain' As Prevention Against Devastating Wildfires

Read: Trump Resorts To Tried And Tested Adjective To Wish US First Lady Melania On Birthday

This comes as protective face masks are emerging as fashion accessories for several Indonesians. From scary masks to Batik designs, people are adding some style and humour to their health wear essentials. While speaking to an international media outlet, a Jakarta print shop owner said that he started creating masks with peoples own faces printed on reusable neoprene material. Heni Kusmijati reportedly said that he added masks to his services after his business sales slumped due to coronavirus lockdown. Heni also added that his unique idea of turning the health wear essential into a fashion statement also helped his business stay afloat amid such challenging times.

Read: Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake Rocks Indonesia; Tsunami Unlikely

Read: At Least 2 Dead, 7 Missing In Boat Capsizing In Indonesia

Image credits: tempodotco/twitter
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently paid a visit to Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay tribute to his late grandfather and regime founder Kim Il Sung on the 26th anniversary of his death. According to reports, Kim Jong Uns visit to his grandfathers mausoleum coincides with the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun to South Korea.

Read: US Envoy Downplays Meeting Expectations With North Korea After Pyongyang Rejects Talks

Kim Jong Un skipped Sungs birthday celebrations

Earlier this year in April, North Korea celebrated Kim Il Sungs birthday. The public event was, however, missed by Kim Jong Un which raised many questions about his health in the international community. The North Korean leader's absence from such an important national event prompted international media to speculate on multiple theories, while some reports even claimed that the leader was seriously ill or even brain dead.

The rumours about the North Korean leaders health were proven unfounded when on May 1 Kim Jong Un reportedly attended a factory opening after three weeks of being away from the public eye. The North Korean leader looked healthy during his appearance.

Read: Kim Jong-un Lauds North Korea's COVID-19 Response, Appreciates 'spirit For The People'

Shining Success against COVID-19

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the countrys fight against COVID-19 pandemic as a shining success earlier this week. As per Korean state media reports, while speaking at the Workers Party of Korea meeting, Kim Jong Un said his government had prevented the inroad of the malignant virus and maintained a stable anti-epidemic situation even as the world continues to battle COVID-19.

North Korea has reported no cases of COVID-19 infection to date; however, the country had repeatedly been slammed by experts who accuse Jong Un of concealing information. Meanwhile, the Korean leader stressed that the success has been achieved by far-sighted leadership of Party Central Committee as well as a voluntary spirit for the people who followed all the governments directives.

Read: North Korea Says No Need Of Talks With US Ahead Of Envoy's Visit To South Korea

Read: North Korea's Kim Jong Un Urges 'maximum Alert' On Virus; Claims Not A Single Covid Case
A chocolate Labrador in the Colombian city of Medellin is staying busy during the pandemic by working as a delivery dog for his owner's convenience store.

Eight-year-old Eros trots through the streets of the hilly city several times a day with a straw basket in his jaws, taking vegetables, fruits and packaged foods to customers of the El Porvenir mini-market.

He is paid with treats and massages on his furry head.

"It's a very smart dog, very peaceful, he makes deliveries during this really bad times, he has been on top of everything, when by chance I go to the store you can see him very busy making more deliveries, he is a wonderful dog" said Nora Elena Hernandez one of Eros's clients.

Beloved as he is, Eros was not always the star of his neighbourhood.

He was accepted into the family begrudgingly by Maria Natividad Botero, after repeated requests by her son to adopt a dog.

But Botero and the rest of the family quickly fell in love with the pup.

And when they opened a mini-market four years ago in the hilltop neighbourhood of Tulipanes, he started to accompany Botero and her kids to make deliveries.

Eros doesn't know how to read addresses, and can't deliver to just anyone. But he does remember the names of customers who have previously rewarded him with treats, like a tomato, a cookie or a banana.

And with some practice, he has learnt to go to their houses on his own.

As COVID-19 cases in Colombia climb to more than 3,000 new infections each day, city governments are imposing social distancing measures and limiting the number of days per week that people can go shopping.

That's turned delivery workers into an increasingly important part of the economy.

Eros might not know that he's become an essential worker. But he is happy to help his owners and collect his daily pay.

(Representative Image)(Image Credit Pixabay)
New York state financial regulators revealed that Deutsche Bank has agreed to a $150 million penalty related to the banks alleged oversight in dealing with accused child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, as well as two client banks- Danske Bank Estonia and FBME Bank. The regulators said that the German bank failed to monitor account activity conducted on behalf of the registered sex offender.

This comes days after Epstein-ally Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested on federal charges that she recruited girls as young as 14 for him to abuse. Meanwhile, the financial regulator said that because of Deutsche banks oversight failure with Epstein, the bank processed hundreds of transactions totalling millions of dollars that, at the very least, should have prompted additional scrutiny in light of Mr Epsteins history.

Handled 40 Epstein related accounts

According to reports, the German company handled more than 40 accounts related to Epstein and related people and entities. The regulators noted that during the four years that Bank and Epstein were related, the latter's cash withdrawal totalled up over $800,000.

Read: US: Maxwell Moved To NY For Epstein-related Sex Abuse Charges

Read: US: Prosecutors Seek Friday Court Appearance For Epstein Pal

In addition, they revealed that payments were also made to people who were publicly alleged to have been Epsteins co-conspirators in sexually abusing young women, totalling more than $7 million. Other payments were made to Russian models, payments for womens school tuition, hotel and rent expenses, and (consistent with public allegations of prior wrongdoing) payments directly to numerous women with Eastern European surnames, according to the department.

They finally concluded the penalty consent by saying that Deutsche Bank had failed to monitor the activities of its clients, Danske Estonia and FBME, with respect to their correspondent and dollar clearing business.

Read: Epstein Associate Transferred To NYC Jail

Read: Epstein Accuser Elated Following Maxwells Arrest
He determined that the evidence in the record indicates that, even during the height of the lockdown, New Yorkers continued to enjoy access to numerous retailers where they could purchase firearms.
Police officers prevent monks and activists from commemorating the fourth anniversary of Kem Ley's murder in Phnom Penh, July 8, 2020.

Police in Cambodias capital Phnom Penh on Wednesday dispersed a group of supporters marking the anniversary of the murder of political commentator and social activist Kem Ley at the site where he was gunned down four years ago.

Kem Ley was shot to death in broad daylight on July 10, 2016 while having a morning coffee at a Caltex gas station mini market, days after publicly criticizing Prime Minister Hun Sen and his family for abuse of power and unexplained wealth. A trained physician who also held a doctorate, he was 45 and left behind four children and a pregnant widow.

On Wednesday, activists and monks gathered at the Caltex station to hold a Buddhist ceremony in his honor when police arrived and scuffled with those in attendance, briefly detaining at least one young man, a campaigner with environmental watchdog Mother Nature named Thun Rotha told RFAs Khmer Service.

Police were pushing us away from the minimart and threatening to arrest us, claiming that we hadnt requested permission to gather and were trespassing, he said. The police action violated our freedom as Cambodians.

Sar Mory, program director of the Cambodian Youth Network (CYN), who monitored the gathering, said police were wrong to disperse nonviolent supporters honoring the fallen commentator.

This was a restriction on a peaceful gatheringthe police didnt allow them to pay their respects to the late Kem Ley, he said.

After supporters were dispersed from the minimart, they gathered on a nearby street to hold the Buddhist ceremony and then walked to neighboring Takeo province, where Kem Leys body was laid to rest in an unfinished stupa. The activists plan to hold a separate ceremony at Kem Leys house on Friday.

A monk who walked from Phnom Penh to Takeo named Koeurt Saray said police continued to monitor supporters as they traveled to the stupa.

We commemorate Kem Ley because [his murder] is a historic event and doing so will strengthen the national spirit, he said.

During the fray at the Caltex station, police had arrested a young man named Khan Chanthorn who was wearing a T-shirt bearing Kem Leys portrait and a slogan which read: Wipe your tears and continue your journey.

Khan Chanthorn told RFA that he had been arrested for wearing the shirt but was released from the local station after being questioned and signing a document which said he would not take part in the memorial service for Kem Ley.

I told the authorities I volunteered to come [today] because I believed in Kem Ley, he said.

Khan Chanthorn said that despite signing the document, I will continue to participate in the commemoration ceremony going forward.

RFA was unable to reach Phnom Penh Municipal Governor Khuong Sreng for comment on Wednesday.

Its a coverup

Authorities charged a former soldier named Oeuth Ang with Kem Leys murder and sentenced him to life in prison in March 2017. In May last year, court authorities rejected his appeal and upheld his sentence, but many in Cambodia do not believe the governments story that Kem Ley was killed by the man over a debt.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of New York-based Human Rights Watch's Asia Division, called Oeuth Ang a scapegoat, and questioned why several aspects of the case had not been investigated further, including closed camera footage that appeared to show the convicted killer running along with the encouragement of the police who were chasing him.

The whole thing stinksits a coverup, he said. Its quite clearly a political killing because Dr. Kem Ley dared question the illicit wealth of Hun Sen and his family.

Robertson said that past statements by Hun Sen that he was committed to finding Kem Leys killer were only a reaction to an outpouring of anger in Cambodia over the commentators death.

I think if he was looking for the killers, he would find the masterminds in his own political circle, he said.

I think that it is quite clear that there is some high-level government involvement in this case and thats why Im saying that they dont want to investigate, because if they did, theyd be arresting themselves, he added.

This was a killing of a very popular man who was forming a grassroots movement based on human rights and community development. Someone who had a vision and had a growing following. He was going to be a political threat to [Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party] CPP and so they eliminated him.

Sam Rainsy, acting president of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), told RFA that Kem Leys murder demonstrates the need for a campaign to end impunity in the country.

We are working on getting an independent court at the national and international level to conduct an investigation into the murder and bring its perpetrators to justice, he said, speaking from self-imposed exile in Paris, where he has lived since 2015 to avoid a slew of what he says are politically motivated charges and convictions.

Seeking justice

In response to the comments, Ministry of Justice spokesman Chhin Malin told RFA that justice has already been served for Kem Ley, according to Cambodian law, and said the government cant reopen a case based on the emotions of the people.

He dismissed claims that the case was not resolved properly, suggesting that the CNRP and Human Rights Watch sought to exploit Kem Leys murder as a way to stoke public anger against the government.

National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun told RFA that authorities had ended their investigation into Kem Leys murder because of Oueth Angs conviction, although he said police would honor any court-ordered warrant to question new suspects.

We are judicial police, so if there is no warrant, we cant do anything, he said.

Meanwhile, Kem Leys mother Phok Se said that pursuing justice for her son had put her family members at risk and cost them nearly all of their savings.

[Kem Leys brothers] want justice but they have had to stay quiet, she said. We want security, and we barely have enough money to survive.

My sorrow has not fadednow I am getting older, but my son is not with me.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
China has been targeting its own nationals living in other countries, especially those involved in rights activism or who are critical of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, with threats, often made by agents of the state in person on U.S. soil, the head of the FBI has warned.



"Since 2014, Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping has spearheaded a program known as Fox Hunt," FBI director Christopher Wray said in a speech this week at the Hudson Institute.



While Beijing insists that Fox Hunt is an international extension of Xi Jinping's international anti-corruption campaign, Wray said it is in fact a campaign targeting political rivals and critics who sought refuge outside the country.



"Fox Hunt is a sweeping bid by General Secretary Xi to target Chinese nationals whom he sees as threats and who live outside China, across the world," Wray said. "Were talking about political rivals, dissidents, and critics seeking to expose Chinas extensive human rights violations."



He said hundreds of people living in the U.S., including American citizens or green card holders, had been targeted by agents of the Chinese state as part of the operation.



"The Chinese government wants to force them to return to China, and Chinas tactics to accomplish that are shocking," Wray said, citing one U.S. resident who had received an in-person visit from Chinese agents who had told them either to tell their relative wanted under Fox Hunt to return to China or to commit suicide.



And if targets of the operation refuse to go back to China, "their family members both here in the United States and in China have been threatened and coerced, and those back in China have even been arrested for leverage," Wray said.



He called on anyone who believes the Chinese government is targeting them to contact their local FBI office.



Wray said he had made the rare public speech because of the "significant" threat China's overseas activities represent such a large threat to U.S. national security and economic interests.



'Whole-of-state effort'

He said China had already hacked Equifax and taken sensitive personal information relating to 150 million people, around one-half of the U.S. population.



"Our data isnt the only thing at stake hereso are our health, our livelihoods, and our security," Wray warned, adding that the threat didn't come from the Chinese people, nor from Chinese Americans, but from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime.



"Weve now reached the point where the FBI is opening a new China-related counterintelligence case about every 10 hours," Wray said.



"At this very moment, China is working to compromise American health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions conducting essential COVID-19 research," he said.



"China is engaged in a whole-of-state effort to become the worlds only superpower by any means necessary," he said, citing cyberattacks, espionage and "outright physical theft" as among Beijing's tactics.



He said China is also engaged in a "highly sophisticated malign foreign influence campaign," using bribery, blackmail, and covert deals to advance its economic interests, adding that many in the U.S. are being had "over a barrel" by the CCP.



Wray cited reports of the imposition of CCP cells on U.S. companies as a prerequisite to doing business in China.



He said Huawei is a serial intellectual property thief with a pattern and practice of law-breaking and right violations.



"If Chinese companies like Huawei are given unfettered access to our telecommunications infrastructure, they could collect any of your information that traverses their devices or networks," Wray warned.



"Worse still: Theyd have no choice but to hand it over to the Chinese government if asked," he said.



"China, as led by the Chinese Communist Party, is going to continue to try to misappropriate our ideas, influence our policymakers, manipulate our public opinion, and steal our data," he said.



Reported by RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Authorities in Hong Kong commandeered a tourist hotel in the bustling shopping district of Causeway Bay, closing off nearby streets overnight, and installing an emblem of the ruling Chinese Communist Party on a building that will serve as temporary headquarters for Beijing's feared state security police.



The street outside the Metropark Hotel, Causeway Bay was cordoned off by regular police, while tall men in black gym clothes with buzz-cuts unloaded several trucks of two-meter high barriers around the front entrance and lining the street outside.



Following an all-night operation overseen by several high-ranking officers in the Hong Kong police force, the new headquarters is now gearing up to enforce a draconian security law that includes online content and peaceful forms of public expression within its dragnet.



Journalists were repeatedly told to back away from the site by men in unidentified green uniforms, while local police sealed off the area from traffic, according to social media posts and live video streams from the scene.



The headquarters is just a few streets away from Victoria Park, which has been a focal point for mass public rallies and anti-government protests ever since the People's Liberation Army (PLA) put down the 1989 student-led democracy movement in Beijing with machine guns and tanks.



Causeway Bay was also a major protest site during the 2014 Occupy Central pro-democracy movement, and has frequently served as the starting point for mass protests against exactly the kind of national security legislation that has now been imposed on the city by Beijing.



The Metropark Hotel is now the headquarters of Beijing's Office for Safeguarding National Security, and will be used by agents of China's feared state security police who have been allowed to operate in the city to enforce the new law.



The office's director, Zheng Yanxiong, who previously handled a mass popular uprising against official corruption in Guangdong's rebel village of Wukan, said his office would work together with Beijing's Central Liaison Office and the PLA's Hong Kong Garrison.



Luo Huining, Beijing's representative in Hong Kong, said it would function as the "gatekeeper for national security operations."



'Historical moment'

Chief executive Carrie Lam said the opening of the office was a 'historical moment,' and that her administration was committed to sharing information and carrying out joint operations with the new office, government broadcaster RTHK reported.



"A national flag has also been hoisted outside the building and a national emblem has been placed on the building," RTHK reported.



Officers enforcing the law were empowered on to search homes and businesses without a warrant, and to issue takedown notices to online service providers for any content deemed to be in breach of the new law, which bans anything that may "cause misgivings among the people of Hong Kong" about their leaders.



Journalists have warned that the media will become a direct target of police enforcing the national security law, which was imposed on Hong Kong on by decree from Beijing, with any reports or commentary that oppose the authorities likely to be subject to takedown orders.



News and commentary could soon become evidence in the prosecution of national security offenses, while journalists fear for the confidentiality of their sources, the Hong Kong Journalists' Association said in an annual report on .



Hong Kong Information Technology Federation honorary chairman Francis Fong said that while the authorities are currently focusing on removing critical content from the internet, this could be a stepping stone towards the imposition of a more direct form of censorship on the city's internet, which has been beyond the reach of Chinese censorship until now.



"That would be a very extreme way of handling it, but the situation is still developing," Fong told RFA on . "A lot of U.S. [technology] companies have said they won't be handing over user data to the police, so we will have to see how things pan out."



"Technologically speaking, it's totally possible [to bring Hong Kong within China's Great Firewall]," he said. "There are only a few dozen internet service providers in Hong Kong ... so all the government needs to do is to purchase a firewall and install it at their entrance and exit gateways."



"It won't be hard, if they decide that's really what they want to do."



Great Firewall in Hong Kong's future?

Charles Mok, a lawmaker who represents the information technology industry in Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo), said that even the current powers to issue takedown notices had effectively extended the Great Firewall to include Hong Kong, however.



"It's not just a question of asking service providers to remove certain messages; it also means that internet service providers that only deliver access to these services will be required to cooperate," Mok said.



"For example, if there is content that I can't remove, because it's outside the [.hk] domain, will these suppliers, the intermediary service providers and other internet companies be expected to intervene to prevent people from viewing it; that's to say, will they be expected to carry out filtering operations?"



Education minister Kevin Yeung on also signaled a crackdown on protest-related activities in the city's schools, banning students from singing, playing, or broadcasting the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong, or any other overtly political song.



"Schools must not allow their students to play, sing or broadcast any songs which will disrupt the normal operation of schools, affect students' emotions or contain political messages," Yeung said in a statement, citing Glory to Hong Kong in particular.



"The song Glory to Hong Kong originated from the social incidents since June last year, contains strong political messages and is closely related to the social and political incidents, violence and illegal incidents that have lasted for months. Therefore, schools must not allow students to play, sing or broadcast it in schools," he said in a written reply to a question from lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen.



"The Education Bureau (EDB) and schools are obliged to stop these acts," Yeung wrote, adding that human chains shouldn't be allowed in schools, either.



He said some 1,600 children have been arrested during the past year, after being "incited to participate in violent and unlawful activities."



"Students must understand that they are responsible for their behavior," he said.



Reported by Man Hoi-tsan, Gao Feng and Tseng Yat-yiu for RFA's Cantonese and Mandarin Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The daughter of an ethnic Rakhine woman attacked by Myanmar soldiers cradles her newborn in U Gar village, Rathedaung township, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, July 2, 2020.

Police in western Myanmars volatile Rakhine state investigating the rape of an ethnic Rakhine woman during military operations in her village last week have summoned witnesses to provide their accounts of the alleged assault, a township administrator said Tuesday.

The 36-year-old mother of four children told RFA on July 2 that she had been sexually assaulted by three uniformed Myanmar soldiers in rural Rathedaung township on June 30 when they found her and some relatives hiding in a bomb shelter in their home during an army sweep of U Gar village to clear the area of rebel Arakan Army (AA) troops.

Sheltering with the woman in the bomb shelter during a military campaign that displaced 20,000 people were her daughter, infant granddaughter, mother, aunt, and mother-in-law, said the woman, who declined to be named for safety reasons. Her husband, who has worked in neighboring Thailand for the past six years, was absent.

Soldiers who entered the house discovered the women when the baby cried out, she said.

They told me I had to give them either my life or my body, she told RFA. I refused them, and they threatened me by pointing their guns at me, saying they would kill me if I ran. I tried, but they stopped me.

If I hadnt let them do what they wanted, my life would have been in danger, and my family members could have been killed, too, she said. Then they raped me.

Afterwards, the soldiers instructed the women not to tell anyone what they had done and handed her 20,000 kyats (U.S. $14).

They soldiers intended to rape the victims daughter, but her mother-in-law begged them not to because the younger woman had given birth six days earlier, she added.

Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun denied that soldiers raped the woman and suggested that she made up the story

After the military received the report, we investigated the claims and released a statement saying that we found it not to be true, he told RFA.

Some cases are made up, he added. People may have filed complaints. Whether the crime really occurred or not, the victim side can file a report if they believe that they have been hurt.

Questioned in Sittwe

On Tuesday, Rathedaung township administrator Aung Myint Thein told RFA that Colonel Min Than, Rakhines security and border affairs minister, ordered him to bring the woman and the witnesses to the state capital Sittwe for questioning.

The Rakhine state border and security affairs minister asked me to summon them, he said, adding that state police took the U Gar village head, his clerk, and three women who were with the victim in the bomb shelter and questioned them in Sittwe for about 12 hours.

I was there with them, he said. I just got back home, but the three women are still there for questioning. I was not questioned.

The alleged victims sister-in-law told RFA that the police asked her about the rape and about the soldiers taking the victims daughter, intending to sexually assault her.

I told them everything I know, she said. I told them how they entered the house, how they found us because they heard the baby crying, how they took the victim to rape, and how they took the victims daughter from the bomb shelter.

The woman's aunt also said that she told the police all she had observed because she wants justice for her niece.

No woman would degrade herself by coming out as rape victim, she said. We are just worried that we wont get justice for her. We just want justice.

RFA has withheld the names of the witnesses, as well as the identity of the alleged victim, to protect their safety and privacy.

When contacted by RFA, Police Lieutenant Colonel Maung Maung Soe of the Rakhine State Police Force said he did not know about the questioning of the women.

They cant be questioned unless they filed a complaint about the rape case, but they didnt, he said. I havent heard that the plaintiff has filed a case either, so it is impossible that they have been questioned. The witnesses can testify only after the victim files the case.

Colonel Min Than, who requested the meeting with three women, told RFA that police had not questioned them, but rather asked for their observations.

We didnt question them, he said. We just asked them if they had something to say or to report and asked them how we could help. They were saying different things.

UN calls for investigation

United Nations officials in Myanmar have urged authorities to fully investigate the case and prosecute the perpetrators.

The U.N. is aware of the accusation that three soldiers raped a woman in Rakhine, a U.N. officer who declined to be named told RFA in an email.

Authorities should investigate the accusation as soon as possible, the person wrote. If the crime occurred, then the accused should be put on trial and action should be taken against them.

Aung Myo Min, director of human rights education group Equality Myanmar, called for a thorough independent probe of the case based on evidence and facts, and not just a military investigation.

An independent investigation should be carried out for this case that would ensure objectivity in the judicial process, he said.

Reports of Myanmar military clearance operations to ferret out AA soldiers in Rathedaung in June prompted about 20,000 civilians to flee the Mu-sae Kan area of southern Rathedaung township where U Gar village is located.

The villagers made their way to Sittwe and other safe places amid fighting between Myanmar and Arakan forces that has raged in northern Rakhine state for the past 18 months.

Locals said a military column entered U Gar Village on June 30 and opened fire, prompting most residents to flee to nearby communities out of fear of being detained and questioned on suspicion of possible connections to the AA.

But the woman who was attacked and her relatives stayed behind and hid because it would have been difficult for them to flee with the newborn, villagers told RFA.

Before the soldiers left U Gar village, they recorded videos of three elderly men, who out of fear said that the troops had not stolen any of the villagers jewelry or animals or raped any woman, they said.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A woman grieves over the dead bodies of miners recovered at a jade mining site following a deadly landslide in Hpakant township, northern Myanmar's Kachin state, July 2, 2020.

A team appointed by the Myanmar government to probe a massive landslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar has begun its investigation into the deadly accident that killed at least 172 people, a Kachin state official said Tuesday.

Heavy rains caused piles of loose dirt and rubble to collapse on July 2, burying more than 200 scavengers looking for discarded pieces of jade left behind by miners and creating lake of mud full of bodies in Kachin states Hpakant township. More than 50 others were injured, and about 20 are still missing.

A day after the landslide, President Win Myint appointed a six-member investigative body led by Ohn Win, minister for natural resources and environmental conservation, to look into the cause of the latest of many accidents to hit the gemstone industry.

The panel also must determine the managerial responsibility, arrange for compensation for the families of the dead and injured, and recommend a security plan to prevent future disasters.

The investigative team visited Lone Khin, the site of the landslide, on July 5 along with another team from the Kachin state government, said Nay Win, the states minister of municipal affairs.

The panel headed by Ohn Win has a daunting task ahead of it as it probes the latest disaster in an industry plagued by corruption and lack of government oversight and in a region wracked by instability and armed conflict.

Inadequate regulation and oversight enable jade scavengers to comb through dangerous slag heaps, with the number of fatalities climbing in recent years.

According to the records of the ruling National League for Democracys local office, at least 137 people were killed in seven landslides and rubble pile collapses in Hpakant township last year.

In November 2015, a similar collapse of jade mining waste piles killed 116 scavengers and left 100 missing and presumed dead. The victims are nearly all yemase  desperately poor scavengers from across Myanmar.

Reckless mining



Activists and local lawmakers say the cause of the disasters is well understood.

The top factor over the years has been that the government  this government and the previous government, and the military junta before  has effectively given free rein to these powerful military-linked crony companies and armed groups to mine recklessly and rapaciously for years without any effective social and environmental safeguards, said Hanna Hindstrom, senior campaigner for Myanmar at Global Witness, an NGO.

Because theres been no accountability, these companies have been able to continue these practices for many years, she told RFA in an interview.

Tint Soe, a lower house lawmaker from Hpakant township, said a failure to maintain government regulations combined with corruption and the improper dumping of mining waste have led to tragic accidents.

One of the reasons [for the disaster] was unregulated digging, he said.

Lawmakers frequently receive reports on the mining industry from the Myanma Gems Enterprise saying that officers and units have made inquiries into jade mining operations, when in fact they have not, he said.

The industry is very weak when it comes to controls and "very difficult" for lawmakers and others to probe it, Tint Soe added.

Win Myo Thu, director of the conservation group EcoDev Myanmar, said the lack of the rule of law makes it difficult for the government to control the situation.

The government has tried its best, but the region is in a state of instability with the presence of armed groups, he said. The army is mainly in charge of controlling the region because many issues are related to military affairs.

He added that the Myanmar military plays a major role in the area because many companies in Hpakant have links to Chinese businesses and to the relatives of former army officers and leaders of ethnic armed groups.

Dont blame the government

Thein Swe, chairman of the Governments Guarantees, Pledges and Undertakings Vetting Committee of the upper house of Myanmars parliament, said the government can only do so much.

You cant blame it all on the government, he told RFA. The government is facing a lot of difficulties, and the region is also a focal point for businesses involving a lot of self-interests. There are a lot of obstacles to maintain security and to control the region.

The government faces a huge loss of revenue from jade mining in the Hpakant mining area, comprising six wards and 15 village tracts, because the region is prone to corruption, Thein Swe said.

Global Witness estimates that more than 80 percent of the jade is smuggled to China to avoid taxes by both countries.

The Myanma Gems Enterprise, controlled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Conservation, on June 26 ordered all Hpakant and Lone Khin mines to close until the end of September on account of heavy rains during the annual monsoon season.

Myanmars military said it has taken action against Colonel Nay Lin Tun, Kachin states security and border affairs minister, and an officer in charge of a military unit over the latest landslide, demoting them to their former positions after deeming them responsible for the disaster.

[Mining] operations have been closed during monsoon season, said Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun.

The army is taking action against soldiers who were responsible for security and failed to maintain order, he added.

The latest disaster could be a wake-up call, but so far the government has been mostly shifting the blame onto the informal yemase and not taking sufficient responsibility for their own failures, Hindstrom said.

Reported by Aung Theinkha and Zarni Htun for RFAs Myanmar Service and by Jia Ao for RFAs Mandarin Service. Translated by Nandar Chann. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, U.S., July 8, 2020.

China said on Wednesday it plans to implement visa restrictions on U.S. citizens, a day after the U.S. issued travel bans on Chinese officials who restrict foreign access to Tibet.

The tit-for-tat moves by Beijing and Washington are the latest spat in deteriorating relations over trade, the coronavirus, the treatment of detained Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Beijings displays of military might in the South China Sea and what the U.S. and others see as Chinas overreach in Hong Kong.

Chinas visa measures would go into effect for U.S. individuals with egregious conduct related to Tibet issues, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, but he did not elaborate on the threat.

We urge the U.S. to stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs with Tibet-related issues ... so as to avoid further damage to China-U.S. relations, Zhao told reporters at a daily news briefing.

Beijings move followed Secretary of State Mike Pompeos announcement of U.S. restrictions on selected Chinese officials a day earlier in Washington.

Unfortunately, Beijing has continued systematically to obstruct travel to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan areas by U.S. diplomats and other officials, journalists, and tourists, while PRC officials and other citizens enjoy far greater access to the United States, Pompeo said in a statement Tuesday.

Therefore, today I am announcing visa restrictions on PRC government and Chinese Communist Party officials determined to be substantially involved in the formulation or execution of policies related to access for foreigners to Tibetan areas, he added.

The U.S. move is in accordance with the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, which was passed unanimously in both houses of Congress in 2018.

Washington has long complained that Chinese diplomats, scholars and journalists enjoy unrestricted travel in the United States, while China tightly restricts the access of U.S. counterparts to Tibet and other areas.

Foreigners wishing to travel to Tibet must apply for special permits from the Chinese government. Limiting travel makes getting information out of the remote western region more difficult, which human rights activists say enables a campaign by Beijings to eliminate Tibets indigenous culture and religion.

Access to Tibetan areas is increasingly vital to regional stability, given the PRCs human rights abuses there, as well as Beijings failure to prevent environmental degradation near the headwaters of Asias major rivers, Pompeo said.

A message to China

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Dharamsala, India-based Tibetan government in exile, suggested other governments could enact similar moves.

The US governments strong position on Tibet access could also influence many foreign countries to follow the same footsteps, and that could be a great victory for Tibetans if that takes place, CTA spokesman Tsewang Gyalpo Arya told RFA Wednesday.

China claims that the living conditions inside Tibet have drastically improved and Tibetans are living happily, but foreign diplomats, UN delegations, foreign journalists, visitors have been barred from visiting Tibet, he added.

With the Tibet visa policy, the U.S. is sending Beijing a clear message that it will face consequences for its human rights abuses and continued isolation of Tibet from the outside world, said Matteo Mecacci, president of the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet.

The Chinese government has for a long time taken advantage of the freedomsand access to marketsprovided by democracies, without reciprocating, while building an Orwellian system of control. It is now critically important for the U.S. and like-minded countries to demand China provide the same openness it receives from others, he added.

Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, said the visa sanctions are a way of sending a message to the Chinese government that other governments are frustrated by the impediments Beijing throws up to accessing Tibet.

Its an interesting experiment and it will be very interesting to see how Chinese authorities respond to it, and how it plays into the thinking on Capitol Hill about other legislative approaches to certain kinds of rights abuses in China.

Reported by Tashi Wangchuk for RFAs Tibetan Service.
A Vietnamese court sentenced pro-democracy activist Nguyen Duc Quoc Vuong to eight years in prison and three years probation Tuesday, a sentence his lawyer said is too harsh for criticizing the government on Facebook.

The sentence, issued as Vietnam continues to crack down on online dissent ahead a major Communist Party congress in January, appears to be Vietnams longest ever jail term for content posted on social media.

Nguyen was convicted of making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents, and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in violation of Article 117 of Vietnams penal code after a three-hour trial at the Lam Dong provincial Peoples Court. He was arrested on Sep. 23 2019.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), during one of his livestream videos Nguyen said: I am not certain that the entire state apparatus is corrupt, but I am 100 percent certain that those who have been involved in corruption are Communist Party members. Vietnam only allows one single party and does not allow any competing opposition.

The rights group said that on his account, which had more than 10,000 followers, he discussed a wide range of sensitive topics such as land confiscation cases and the cases of Vietnamese political prisoners. He also voiced his support for protests in Hong Kong over mainland Chinas imposition of an extradition law, and a change in government in Venezuela.





Defense lawyer Nguyen Van Mieng told RFAs Vietnamese Service after the trial that the evidence presented by the prosecution was inadequate.

As for their conclusion, they did not clarify how any of Nguyen Duc Quoc Vuongs 366 posts and 98 video clips seriously endangered the lives of the people. But they still used them as evidence, the lawyer said.

The Don Duong districts information and culture division took issue with the [content posted to Facebook] and the communications and information department assessed the violation, he said, arguing that an independent body should have conducted the investigation.

According to a report in Vietnam News, Nguyen at the trial admitted to all his violations, adding that he had not intended to oppose the state, and only intended to share his privately held views on the social network.

NGO: speech is not a crime

Human Rights Watch Tuesday condemned the courts decision, calling for Nguyens immediate release.

Nguyen Quoc Duc Vuong is headed to prison because he dared to express his opinions on Facebook. This is outrageous and unacceptable, said Phil Robertson, HRWs Deputy Asia Director in a statement.

Vietnam must recognize that expressing political views contrary to communist party line should not be a crime. He acted in line with his right to freedom of expression that Vietnam promises, but has fail to uphold for many decades, he said.

The government of Vietnam should cease its crackdown against bloggers and activists, and free all people they have locked away because they dared to say what they think, Robertson said.

The 88 Project, an Illinois-based NGO that tracks Vietnamese political prisoners, last month reported that in 2019 an increasing number of people had been arrested under Article 117.

Many of those charged with this crime had no history of activism and were solely targeted for their peaceful expression online. Forty percent of the people arrested in 2019 were online commentators, the NGO said.

RFA has reported on about a dozen recent cases in which activists or ordinary citizens ran afoul of the law for Facebook posts.

Vietnam, with a population of 92 million people, of which 55 million are estimated to be users of Facebook, has been consistently rated not free in the areas of internet and press freedom by Freedom House, a U.S.-based watchdog group.

Dissent is not tolerated in the communist nation, and authorities routinely use a set of vague provisions in the penal code to detain dozens of writers and bloggers.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Prominent former defense reporter Ivan Safronov has been arrested and jailed in Moscow on a charge of treason, accused of passing state secrets to a NATO country that his lawyer says is the Czech Republic. Safronov denies the allegation, and former colleagues say it's absurd. Here's a look at possible motives and meanings behind the latest prosecution to rock Russia.

After The Vote

Safronov was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on July 7, five days after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on amendments to the constitution, including one that allows him to seek two more six-year terms in office after his current term expires in 2024.

As Russians cast ballots in a weeklong vote on the amendments whose result was never in doubt due to Putin's dominance and the Kremlin's control over political levers nationwide, several analysts predicted the changes would strengthen the hand of Russia's already powerful security establishment -- the "siloviki" -- and leave everyone else under increased risk of arbitrary prosecution, persecution, and the use of force by the authorities.

Georgy Satarov, president of the Moscow think tank INDEM, told Current Time last week that contradictions in the amended constitution mean that it "no longer exists" in the normal sense, adding that "when the constitution ceases to exist, one thing remains: power."

Safronov's detention very quickly deepened those concerns.

"In light of Ivan Safronov's arrest on treason changes, v[ery] depressed to find how quickly my prediction at the end of my latest podcast -- that a hard rain's a-coming w[ith] a new campaign of repression -- seems to be coming true," Mark Galeotti, an author and expert on Russia's security services, wrote on Twitter.

A Cold Summer Climate

A longtime defense correspondent for prominent dailies Kommersant and Vedomosti, Safronov had changed careers less than two months ago, becoming an aide to the head of the state space agency, Roskosmos. But while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested that the allegations had nothing to do with his past journalistic work, the timing laid out by a defense lawyer cast that claim into doubt. In any case, observers said the arrest sent a very clear and chilling signal to journalists.

In a Facebook post, Andrei Soldatov, a Russian journalist who has written extensively about the security services, called Safronov's arrest "a new level of repression" against reporters. And in an article in The Moscow Times on July 8, Soldatov wrote, "The FSB is applying its paranoid definition of espionage to journalists -- and is going out of its way to make sure everyone knows."

Safronov's arrest came less than 24 hours after a Russian court convicted journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva of "justifying terrorism" over a commentary she wrote about a suspected teenage suicide bomber who died in a blast outside the FSB offices in the northern city of Arkhangelsk. The suspected bomber had posted statements on social media accusing the FSB of tampering with criminal cases, and in her article Prokopyeva linked his remarks to the political climate under Putin. Her conviction was widely denounced as an attack on the freedom of speech and a fresh sign that the Russian authorities are seeking to silence those who question the authorities or attempt try to reveal uncomfortable truths.

That does not only apply to journalists.

"The experience of the last few years shows that any citizen of Russia whose work is connected with public activities -- whether it is a human rights defender, scientist, journalist, or employee of a state corporation -- can face a serious charge at any time," Kommersant, where Safronov worked from 2010 to 2019, said in a statement on its website on July 7.

The Same, But Different

Safronov's arrest revived memories of what to many seems like the long-ago prosecution of Ivan Golunov, a journalist who was detained in June 2019 on a narcotics charge that was later dropped, with police acknowledging that drugs were planted on him.

That unusual about-face came after fellow journalists and others mounted heavy pressure on the authorities over what supporters said was a blatantly falsified charge, and the collapse of the case was a powerful display of the influence that public protest can have.

The jailing of Safronov potentially set up a similar showdown between the authorities and the people, essentially. But rights activists and Kremlin critics fear that the authorities' unusual climbdown in the Golunov case was more an isolated incident fueled by pragmatism than a sign of a sea change.

In any case, commentators point out that he faces a more severe charge and a more formidable opponent -- the FSB, rather than the police. And supporters of the jailed former defense reporter say that the state is playing by new rules, or lack thereof, in light of the constitutional changes and the prospect that Putin could remain president until 2036.

Chilly Czech-Russia Ties

The FSB claims Safronov provided classified information to the authorities of an unnamed NATO member-state. According to defense lawyer Ivan Pavlov, the specific accusation is that of passing information to the Czech Republic in 2017 about the Russian arms trade with "a Middle Eastern African country" -- wording that could refer to Egypt.

At least in part, the case could be a salvo in a persistent and bitter back-and-forth between Russia and the Czech Republic in recent months.

The spat has focused largely on monuments and memories -- particularly the legacy of World War II and Moscow's oppressive, decades-long domination of Czechoslovakia and other Soviet satellites. It has included an alleged Russian plot to poison Prague officials that the Czech prime minister later said was a hoax resulting from a bizarre dispute between two Russian diplomats.

With Putin and his government reluctant to accept criticism of the Soviet Union's actions before, during, or after World War II, the tension continues.

Wedge Issue?

According to Pavlov, investigators claim that the United States was the "final beneficiary" of the information that Safronov allegedly provided via the Internet to the NATO member -- that Washington at some point received the information from the Czech Republic.

That part of the allegation could be aimed at asserting -- as the Russian authorities often do -- that NATO's European members are mere pawns of the United States.

That suggests that the allegation against Safronov, or at least the way it is being presented, may be aimed in part at driving a wedge between NATO members or create tension between Washington and its European allies.
MINSK -- Paval Sevyarynets, a co-chairman of the nonregistered opposition Belarusian Christian Democratic Party, has received his fifth consecutive 15-day jail term for allegedly calling on people to participate in an unsanctioned rally.

The Soviet district court in Minsk on July 8 found Sevyarynets guilty of calling on the public to take part in the rally in the Belarusian capital on June 7.

Sevyarynets, who took part in the hearing via Skype from a detention center in Minsk, rejected the accusation, noting that he had already been sentenced to 15 days in jail for taking part in the rally in question, as well as receiving three other 15-day jail terms for taking part in other rallies.

Sevyarynets also stated that the rally near Minsk's Kamarouski market on June 7 was organized by initiative groups supporting eight potential presidential candidates, which is allowed by the constitution during an election campaign.

Sevyarynets is one of dozens of activists and politicians who were detained in Minsk and several other cities across Belarus during the June 8 rallies at which hundreds of demonstrators were collecting signatures necessary to register alternative presidential candidates for the election, scheduled for August 9.

The sight of thousands of people snaking along streets in towns and cities across Belarus to sign petitions for opposition would-be candidates has apparently spooked authoritarian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has ruled since 1994 and is seeking a sixth term.

Since the opposition rallies and gatherings started, Lukashenka has ordered arrests, including of two key opposition leaders, sacked his government, and vowed there will be no Maidan-style revolution in Belarus -- a reference to the protests that pushed a Russia-friendly president from power in neighboring Ukraine in 2014.

United Nations experts recently urged the Belarusian government to abandon its policy of arbitrary arrests, violence, and intimidation against political activists, rights defenders, journalists, and bloggers ahead of a presidential election.

The media-freedom group Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Minsk to release all the journalists currently being held and to allow the press to cover the countrys upcoming elections without fear of prosecution. At least six bloggers have been detained since June 15, the group says.

The latest rallies in Belarus followed the arrest on June 18 of Viktar Babaryka, a potential opponent of Lukashenka in the presidential election who is under investigation for alleged financial crimes he denies.

Babaryka had looked to be gaining as a major force in the election and is said to have compiled more than four times the number of signatures needed to be a candidate.

Critics of Lukashenka, who has been in power in Belarus for more than 25 years, say his government has shown little tolerance for dissent and independent media.

The country has been the target of U.S. and EU sanctions over its poor rights record and lack of fair elections, but Belarus and the West have recently sought to mend ties to reduce Russias influence in the country.

Sevyarynets also has 30 more days of jail time to serve for taking part in unsanctioned public protests against deeper integration with Russia. Those protests took place in Belarus in December.
Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebooks head of security policy, said Stone worked with members of the far-right Proud Boys group to create an army of fake accounts on both platforms that put out torrents of posts aimed at making their own content appear more popular than it is.
MOSCOW -- Lawyers for Ivan Safronov, a former reporter and adviser to the chief of Russian space agency Roskosmos, say they have appealed their client's pretrial arrest on a high-treason charge he rejects.

Yevgeny Smirnov and Ivan Pavlov said on July 8 that they asked the Moscow City Court to replace their client's pretrial detention with a milder restriction "not linked with incarceration."



Prosecutors accuse Safronov of passing information to the Czech Republic in 2017 about the sale of Russian arms to the Middle East and Africa. Safronov was working as a journalist at the time covering issues related to the activities of Russia's military-industrial sector.

Russia claims the United States was the final beneficiary of the information, according to Pavlov.

He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Pavlov told Ekho Moskvy on July 8 that he had refused to sign papers obliging him not to reveal data related to the investigation against his client, adding though that he had agreed to sign papers to not make classified information in the case public.

"But we have not seen any state-secret materials in the case, therefore there is nothing to reveal here," Pavlov said, adding that "there are no classified materials" in the case.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said later in the day that Safronov's case was labeled as top secret and reiterated that the case was not linked to Safronov's journalistic activities in the past.

"There is a certain regime of hearings in the court for certain categories of cases, due to sensitivity [of such cases]. Therefore, it would be wrong to change regulations following opinions of some journalists [regarding Safronov's case]," Peskov said, responding to demands from activists for transparency during the probe.

Those demands were reinforced on July 8 when leading news outlets, including Kommersant, Vedomosti, Meduza, RBK, Proyekt, Mediazona, The Bell, Bumaga, and the Russian version of Forbes magazine, issued editorials supporting Safronov, who since May has been working as an adviser to the chief of the state space agency, Roskosmos.

Kommersant wrote that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) had eavesdropped on Safronov's telephone conversations and had access to his electronic correspondence.

Police in Moscow on July 7 searched the apartment of his close associate, journalist Taisia Bekbulatova, and questioned her as witness in the case.

Bekbulatova told the website Mediazona after the questioning that she could not give any details on the case, as she had signed papers agreeing not to reveal information related to it.

Safronov's arrest -- the latest in a series of law enforcement actions against Russian journalists and researchers -- has sparked outrage among former colleagues and prompted dozens to protest outside the FSB headquarters in Moscow.

As a journalist, Safronov mainly covered issues related to the activities of Russia's military-industrial sector, including an accident last year on a nuclear submarine, and the country's military exercises.

His father also worked for Kommersant, also focusing mainly on the military-industrial complex, before dying at the age of 51 after he mysteriously fell out of a corridor window in his apartment block in Moscow in 2007. Police concluded the death was a suicide, though relatives and friends say they suspect foul play.

The younger Safronov was fired from Kommersant in May 2019 after writing an article about the possible resignation of Valentina Matviyenko, the chairwoman of the Russian parliament's upper chamber. Matviyenko continues to serve as its chairwoman.

Safronov's firing led to a crisis at the paper after all of the journalists in Kommersant's politics department resigned in protest. He soon joined Vedomosti, then Russia's leading business newspaper, before quitting following an ownership change that installed a Kremlin-friendly chief editor.

In June 2019, media reports surfaced saying that Kommersant might face administrative lawsuits for making state secrets public.

It was not clear which state secrets had been made public, but one of Safronov's articles about Russia's plans to deliver Su-35 military planes to Egypt was removed from the newspaper's website.

At the time, U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo warned of possible sanctions against Egypt if Cairo purchased the planes from Moscow.

Kommersant Director-General Vladimir Zhelonkin told the Open Media group on July 7 that there were no issues with the authorities related to Safronov's article last year in his newspaper, adding that the article in question did not contain any data that might be classified as a state secret.
There is growing support among outside security experts for the notion that an "incident" at Iran's main nuclear-enrichment facility last week was an act of sabotage in a shadow war aimed at setting back Tehran's nuclear activities.



Many analysts believe that a foreign state, possibly Israel, was behind the July 2 fire at the Natanz facility in Iran's central Isfahan Province.



The conflagration caused "considerable financial damage," according to Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, which had originally sought to downplay the incident.



An image released by Iran in the aftermath of the incident and satellite images released abroad showed significant damage -- including ripped-out doors, scorch marks, and a collapsed roof -- at a building where centrifuges were assembled.

Iranian authorities have said they know the cause of the incident but have withheld any public announcement due to "security" issues.



"Many countries have a clear interest to delay the Iranian nuclear military project; one of them is Israel," Yaakov Amidror, a retired major general and former national-security adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told RFE/RL.



Iran maintains that all of its nuclear activities are peaceful, and it has opened its known nuclear sites to UN inspectors since signing a deal in 2015 exchanging curbs on its nuclear program for sanctions relief with world powers including the United States, which has since walked away from the deal.



But the United States and Israel have for years accused Iran of a long-running effort to acquire a nuclear bomb-making capability.

Previous Attacks

They are thought to have targeted Iran's nuclear program in the past with cyberattacks and malicious software, or malware.



One of those suspected joint efforts was the Stuxnet computer worm, which damaged Iran's nuclear infrastructure according to reports that began to emerge in 2010.



At least four Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated between 2010 and 2012, engendering speculation that the killings were part of a suspected covert campaign waged by Israel against Iran's nuclear program.



After last week's fire at Natanz, The Washington Post on July 6 quoted a Middle Eastern security official as saying a "huge explosive device" had been planted by Israeli operatives to "send a signal" to Tehran.



"There was an opportunity, and someone in Israel calculated the risk and took the opportunity," the unnamed official told the paper.

On July 5, The New York Times quoted "a Middle Eastern intelligence official with knowledge of the episode" as saying Israel had targeted Natanz using what the paper called "a powerful bomb."



Israel has neither confirmed nor denied any role in the incident.



Speaking on July 5, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said his country wasn't "necessarily" behind every incident in Iran, adding that Israel's long-standing policy is not to allow Iran access to nuclear capabilities.



Ilan Goldenberg, director of the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said Israel has demonstrated the ability "to penetrate Iran's nuclear program," most recently in 2018 when Israeli agents are reported to have broken into a warehouse in the Iranian capital and extracted a trove of documents detailing the country's nuclear activities.



"It is the type of operation that Israel might conduct at any time when it sees the opportunity," Goldenberg, who previously headed an Iran team in the Office of the U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, told RFE/RL.

'Perception Of Chaos'



Speaking generally and not about this specific incident, he suggested the aim of such operations might be to delay Iran's nuclear program "as much as possible."



"For Israelis, there is also the additional benefit of trying to create the perception of chaos at a time when the Iranian government is struggling with an economic crisis and COVID-19," he added.



The Natanz incident comes amid a gradual backing away by Tehran from its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal.



It has said its moves are a response to the May 2018 withdrawal from the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA) by U.S. President Donald Trump and the reimposition of harsh U.S. sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.

Raz Zimmt, an Iran analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv, suggested that the incident at Natanz could reflect Israeli concern about Iran's expansion of its nuclear activities beyond the limit set in the nuclear deal, which Israel opposed.



"Not only that Iran still refuses to return to negotiations, but it has withdrawn from its commitments to the JCPOA shortening the breakout time considerably," he said in a reference to the period needed to amass enough weapons-grade uranium to arm a nuclear weapon.



"Under those circumstances, and especially considering the possibility that it would be difficult to go back to the JCPOA whether Trump wins the U.S. elections [in November] or [Democratic challenger] Joe Biden [does], Israel is back in the dilemma of either to allow Iran to continue advancing its nuclear program up to a short distance from a breakout capability or to use covert operations, or even a military option in the future, in order to delay Iran's nuclear program," Zimmt said.

Tehran's Dilemma



Any sabotage targeting Natanz, if conducted by Israel, could pose a dilemma for Tehran on how to respond. Admitting an Israeli role could be interpreted as showing that Tehran was unable to prevent such an attack and would also likely suggest a need for retaliation, which could in turn prompt Israeli action.



"The reason why authorities are not ready to point their fingers at Israel is that they would then be forced to react -- at least at the same level, which would be very difficult, and it would result in Israeli retaliation," said former Iranian diplomat Hossein Alizadeh, who thinks Tehran's "cautious" reaction appears to confirm the assessment that Natanz was targeted by a foreign power.

Speaking on July 7, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei suggested that reports claiming an Israeli role in the destruction at Natanz were part of a "psychological war" against his country.



"The Israeli regime should be aware that creating a norm-breaking narrative on any attack against our nuclear facilities, even if it is only propaganda, is considered as stepping in the path of violating red lines of global peace and security," Rabiei was quoted as saying by the semiofficial Mehr news agency.
Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has said that he will travel to The Hague next week to be interviewed by a special prosecutor whose office was set up to pursue allegations of war crimes committed during and after Kosovo's war of independence in the late '90s.

In a message to his country's roughly 2 million citizens, the former guerrilla commander said via Facebook that "many former co-combatants have been interviewed by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, inside and outside of Kosovo," in the past two years.

"I would like to share with you that on Monday [July 13] I will also travel to The Hague, invited by the Specialist Prosecutor's Office, to be interviewed," Thaci said.

Prosecutors from the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (SPO) established with authority under Kosovar law announced unexpectedly on June 24 that Thaci and other prominent Kosovars were the subject of an indictment on suspicion of serious crimes including roles in "nearly 100 murders," enforced disappearances, and torture.

Many Kosovars still bitterly recall years of armed opposition to policies imposed on them by Belgrade ahead of the 1998-99 war that ended in NATO's 78-day bombing campaign that drove Serbian forces out of Kosovo.

Pristina declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

More than 110 countries including the United States now recognize Kosovo, but those who don't accept its independence include, in addition to Belgrade, neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina, Russia, China, and several EU member states including Spain, Greece, Slovakia, and Romania.

In his statement, Thaci said that "even though a victim," his country had "cooperated with international justice in dealing with allegations of war crimes."

"While my compatriots as well as me will face international justice with dignity and integrity, I call upon you to stand united in dealing with the challenges that our country is facing," Thaci said.

The SPO said a "pretrial judge" was still reviewing whether there was enough evidence against Thaci and the others, who include former parliament speaker and Democratic Party of Kosovo leader Kadri Veseli, to go to trial.

But the June 24 indictment news shattered plans for Thaci to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the White House in Washington days later in hopes of a U.S.-mediated breakthrough to normalize Serbia-Kosovo relations.

The special prosecutors said in the statement that they "deemed it necessary" to issue the indictment "because of repeated efforts" by Thaci to obstruct and undermine the SPO's work.

The prosecutors alleged that there were "hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities" that included "political opponents."

Thaci, who had already pledged not to seek a second term when his presidential term runs out next year, is a towering figure in Kosovo's still relatively young political landscape.

Days after the indictment news, Thaci said he would "immediately resign" if a judge in The Hague confirmed the war crimes charges filed against him, including crimes against humanity.

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.

It is unclear what the longer-term consequences of his indictment will be for him and international efforts to establish normal relations between Pristina and Belgrade, a nagging source of instability in the heart of Europe.

Thaci's trip to The Hague is scheduled to take place the day after Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Vucic are to hold talks in Brussels in hopes of reviving the European Union-backed negotiations that ground to a halt in 2018.

The July 12 meeting will be hosted by EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell. It will follow a video summit on July 10 hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel aimed at easing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.
Lithuania has suspended Russia's RT television from broadcasting in its territory because of RT's links with the head of the Russian state TV network, Dmitry Kiselyov, who is under international sanctions.

Mantas Martisius, the chairman of Lithuanias Commission on Radio and Television, said on July 8 that five channels broadcast by RT in the Baltic country will be suspended as of July 9 after the decision is published online.

"These programs are being suspended not because of any violations but because a person associated with these programs has been included on the list of individuals under sanctions. And that is Mr. Kiselyov, who should not get benefits and therefore the transmission of the programs is being suspended," Martisius said.

The move follow a similar ban in another Baltic state, Latvia, which on June 30 halted the distribution of RT's seven channels in the country, citing the same reason.

Kiselyov, a TV commentator known for his anti-Western diatribes, is on the European Union's sanctions list for his role in promoting Kremlin propaganda in support of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Kiselyov is the head of the state Rossia Segodnya media group, which focuses mainly on Russian news and official propaganda abroad.

The group includes, RT, the channel that used to be known as Russia Today, as well as other channels, radio stations and websites, the Sputnik news service, the Prime news agency, and the Inosmi.ru media project.

Kiselyov's media group is among the top 10 state-subsidized groups in Russia. It received 20.4 billion rubles (more than $288 million) from the state from 2018 to 2020.

Based on reporting by LRT and Delfi
Russia has arrested a former journalist on a charge of high treason for allegedly passing military secrets to a NATO government in what some are calling a clear attack on press freedom.



Ivan Safronov, who since May has been working as an adviser to the chief of Russia's state space agency Roskosmos, was detained and searched by armed officers of the FSB outside his Moscow apartment on July 7 before being taken to court, where he entered a plea of not guilty.

The court ordered him held behind bars until September 6.



Prosecutors accuse him of passing information to the Czech Republic in 2017 about the sale of Russian arms to the Middle East and Africa, his lawyer, Ivan Pavlov, said.

Safronov was working as a journalist at the time covering issues related to the activities of Russia's military industrial sector. Russia claims the United States was the final beneficiary of the information, Pavlov said.



Safronov could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.



His arrest -- the latest in a series of law enforcement actions against Russian journalists and researchers -- sparked outrage among former colleagues and prompted dozens to protest outside the FSB headquarters in Moscow.



The experience of the last few years shows that any citizen of Russia whose work is connected with public activities -- whether it is a human rights defender, scientist, journalist, or employee of a state corporation -- can face a serious charge at any time, Kommersant, the newspaper where Safronov worked for a decade until last year, said in a statement on its website.



Kommersant called Safronov a true patriot of Russia and said the FSB allegations were absurd. It also called on prosecutors to make the case as open to the public as possible, saying it's hard for people accused of treason in Russia to get a fair trial.



Andrei Soldatov, a respected journalist who has written extensively about Russias security services, called Safronovs arrest a new level of repression against reporters.



I can only think of one reason why this is happening: We are being told what other topics of importance for society are now off-limits for all except for those who should know, he said in a Facebook post.



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Safronovs arrest was linked to his work as a reporter.



"He is accused of high treason, of passing secret data to foreign intelligence. As far as we are informed, the detainment has nothing to do with the journalistic activities Safronov was involved with in the past," Peskov said.



Pavel Chikov, a top human rights lawyer whose organization, Agora, provides legal support to Russians detained in politically motivated cases, wrote on Telegram that police also searched the apartment of journalist Taisia Bekbulatova, who is believed to be close to Safronov.



According to Chikov, after the search she was questioned as a witness in an unspecified case along with her lawyer, Nikolai Vasilyev.



TASS and Interfax both quoted unidentified sources as saying Bekbulatova is being questioned as a witness in the Safronov case.



As a journalist, Safronov mainly covered issues related to the activities of Russia's military industrial sector, including an accident last year on an atomic submarine and the nations military exercises.



His father, also named Ivan Safronov, worked for Kommersant, too, focusing mainly on the military industrial complex's operations.



He died at the age of 51 after he fell out of a corridor window in his apartment block in Moscow in 2007. Police concluded the death was a suicide, though relatives and friends say they suspect foul play.



Safronov was fired from Kommersant in May 2019 after writing an article about the possible resignation of Valentina Matviyenko, the chairwoman of the Russian parliament's upper chamber. Matviyenko continues to serve as its chairwoman.



Safronovs firing led to a crisis at the paper after all of the journalists in Kommersant's politics department resigned in protest. He soon joined Vedomosti, then the nations leading business newspaper, before quitting following an ownership change that installed a Kremlin-friendly chief editor.



In June 2019, media reports surfaced saying that Kommersant might face administrative lawsuits for making state secrets public.



It was not clear which state secrets had been made public, but one of Safronov's articles about Russia's plans to deliver Su-35 military planes to Egypt was removed from the newspaper's website.



At the time, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned of possible sanctions against Egypt if Cairo purchased the planes from Moscow, The Bell website said.



Kommersant Director-General Vladimir Zhelonkin told the Open Media group on July 7 that there were no issues with authorities related to Safronov's article published last year in his newspaper, adding that the article in question did not contain any data that might be classified as a state secret.



Following Safronov's detention on July 7, more than 20 journalists were held by police as they staged single-picket protests in front of the Federal Security Service's headquarters in Moscow. They were demanding "transparency, openness, and detailed information" on Safronov's case.



Other journalists continued the single-picket protests, which do not require preapproval from the authorities.



Safronovs arrest is at least the third of a current or former journalist in the past 13 months that has garnered national attention and raised fears of a further curtailment of media freedom.



Ivan Golunov, an investigative reporter for Meduza, was arrested in Moscow in June 2019 on drug charges that were later dropped following street protests.



Police later admitted to planting the drugs on the reporter, who worked on stories about corruption at the highest echelons of the government and security services.



Svetlana Prokopyeva, a freelance contributor to RFE/RL's Russian Service, was found guilty this month of justifying terrorism for a commentary she gave to a radio station.



Prosecutors sought a six-year prison term for Prokopyeva, who linked a suicide bombing with the country's political climate.
The last time a journalist in Russia was arrested on suspicion of treason -- before the detention of Ivan Safronov on July 7 -- was November 20, 1997. On that day, environmental journalist Grigory Pasko was returning from a reporting trip in Japan when agents of the Federal Security Service (FSB) met him in Vladivostok and accused him of spying.



Pasko, who was eventually convicted of treason on December 25, 2001, and sentenced to four years in prison, told Current Time that Safronov's arrest was played out according to a similar script.



"A very public arrest, detention, vague statements, interrogations -- it is somehow familiar," Pasko said. "Nothing specific. No real allegations. Apparently, nothing will be made public because it has already been leaked that the trial will be closed and everything will be sealed secret."



Safronov, who has worked since May as an adviser to Roskosmos space agency head Dmitry Rogozin, is a prominent journalist who covered the military-industrial complex for the newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti. His lawyers say he is accused of passing secret information to the Czech Republic in 2017 about Russian arms sales in the Middle East.



Although Safronov was working as a journalist at that time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quick to say the accusations are not connected with his journalism. Roskosmos issued a statement saying the charges are not connected with his work at the space agency.

A Moscow court on July 7 ordered Safronov, 30, held in custody until September 6. He has been accused of treason under Article 275 of the Criminal Code and could be sentenced to 20 years in prison if convicted.



Some in Russia are concerned that the case against Safronov is a troubling harbinger of things to come in the wake of controversial constitutional amendments that could enable authoritarian President Vladimir Putin to remain in office until 2036.

'A New Level Of Repression'



"The case against Ivan Safronov is an absolutely new level of repression against journalists in this country," wrote Andrei Soldatov, a prominent investigative journalist who writes about technology issues and the security services, in a post on Facebook.



He noted that before 2012, "the FSB really had to work hard to charge journalists" under the treason law because of the way it was written. In 2007, for example, journalist Natalia Morari was prevented from entering Russia for allegedly exposing state secrets -- but she was never arrested or tried.



"When the article [in the Criminal Code] was rewritten, at the FSB's instigation," Soldatov wrote, "it became clear that the rules had changed. But people at the time thought the new victims would be experts rather than journalists."



"Today it has become clear that this is not true," he concluded. "The FSB has made it this clear -- in as public a way as possible. They are telling us what socially important topics are now closed to everyone except those who 'need to know.'"

'Dozing Like A Snake'



Pasko agrees, saying that the revised text of Article 275 has been "dozing like a snake since the autumn of 2012."



"It is very broad and very vague," he told Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. "Very unspecific, and it is easy to imprison journalists under it, which was impossible before. Before, if someone gave a secret to you, it wasn't the journalist who was charged but the person who revealed the information. But now they can go for the journalist."



The law does not specify what information is classified, instead leaving that up to various government agencies. Ironically, the lists of secret information are often secret themselves.

Ivan Pavlov, a St. Petersburg lawyer who specializes in state-secrets cases and is part of Safronov's defense team, says the law could be used to target anyone with any international contacts, including scholars, journalists, researchers, and rights activists. He calls these the article's "at-risk group."



"I was surprised that no journalists were charged under Article 275 for so long," Pavlov told RFE/RL. "But now we have the example of Ivan Safronov, and that means that Pandora's box is now open. The authorities do not consider journalists a somehow untouchable caste and will prosecute those who, in one way or another, are in the at-risk group."

'A Dangerous Precedent'



"I think this is a dangerous precedent for us all," said journalist Ilya Barabanov, who works for the Russian Service of the BBC and earlier worked with Safronov at Kommersant.



Columnist Yulia Latynina, writing in Novaya Gazeta, noted that many commentators are comparing the Safronov case with other recent criminal cases against journalists, particularly those against Ivan Golunov and Svetlana Prokopyeva.



Golunov, an investigative journalist for Meduza, was arrested in Moscow in June 2019 on drugs charges that were later dropped after it became clear that evidence the police produced had been fabricated.

Prokopyeva, a freelance contributor to RFE/RL's Russian Service, was convicted in Pskov of "justifying terrorism" on July 6 and given a 500,000-ruble (about $7,000) fine.

Latynina wrote that in both cases the security forces failed to get the prison terms they apparently wanted because the flimsy evidence presented was publicly available. But the Safronov case is different, she argued.



"What are they counting on?" she wrote. "The terrifying word 'secret.' Safronov was a spy  how? That's a secret. He transmitted secret information in a secret way to a secret person in a secret place and we can't tell you about it because it is a secret."



"And if the public asks: 'Tell us what specifically he did,'" she added, "they will answer: 'We can't. It is a state secret. But trust us.'"

'Cannibalism' Has Arrived



Earlier this month, a court in St. Petersburg convicted a prominent expert on Russian mercenary groups to seven years in prison for treason. Analyst Vladimir Neyelov, 30, was arrested in 2018 and accused of providing classified information to a German consulting firm.



According to a 2018 report by Komanda 29, a legal assistance group headed by lawyer Pavlov, there were at least 101 cases involving treason or espionage in Russia. Forty-eight of the defendants were members of the security or defense forces, while 53 were civilians. Since 1997, only one -- ecologist Aleksandr Niktin -- was fully acquitted, although more than four years passed between his February 1996 arrest and the final dismissal of his case in September 2000.



Komanda 29 says there are currently -- including Safronov -- 23 open treason or espionage investigations ongoing in Russia.



Journalist Yevgenia Albats, editor of The New Times website, wrote that "it would appear the vegetarian days are over and cannibalism will appear more and more often."



"We live in a country where the KGB rules," she concluded, referring to the Soviet predecessor of the FSB.

Current Time correspondent Timur Olevsky and RFE/RL's Russian Service contributed to this report
BELGRADE -- Serbias coronavirus crisis team is due to meet on July 9 after a second night of clashes in Belgrade fueled by public anger over the government's coronavirus response.



Police used tear gas to disperse the protest, which lasted well after nightfall on July 8 outside the parliament building in the Serbian capital.



There was also a new flash point 90 kilometers away in Serbia's second-largest city, Novi Sad, where demonstrators tried to storm a building that houses the regional public broadcaster.



As the crowd marched in Novi Sad, some people hurled stones and other objects at the city hall building, where a fire broke out. Protesters also threw stones at the office of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).



The demonstrations in Belgrade erupted on July 7 after President Aleksandar Vucic announced new mandatory distancing steps and his intention to impose a curfew.



Vucic of the SNS said on July 8 that he and other officials were considering scrapping the weekend curfew, and said a final decision on the lockdown was expected on July 9.



Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic called the protests the "most violent so far" and vowed there would be no violent coup nor anarchy in Serbia.



"Tomorrow, the Crisis Team [for measures against coronavirus] will meet and we will continue to fight against the virus and save health workers, and people's health, and we will win," Brnabic said in a statement published on the SNS website.

WATCH: Belgrade Protesters Storm Serbian Parliament, Clash With Police

She spoke after hundreds of protesters gathered in Belgrade to signal frustration at the government's latest response to a resurgent coronavirus outbreak and the perceived politicization of the team leading efforts to stem the danger to public health in the Balkan state.



Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic called the protest illegal because it had not been registered and said it was only about violence, not state policy. He said 10 police officers had been injured on July 8, including one whose legs were broken when he was pushed down a flight of stairs.

Police Patrols

Stefanovic told a news conference late on July 8 that naked violence was taking place in the streets of Belgrade without the will of the people and participation in elections."



Stefanovic also announced that strong police patrols would be set up in Belgrade and elsewhere, adding "the state will always be stronger than the perpetrators.

The protest on July 7 turned violent when a group of protesters broke into the parliament building while others threw stones, bottles, and other projectiles at police, prompting officers to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd.



Police Director Vladimir Rebic said on July 8 that 43 police officers and 17 demonstrators were injured in the first night of unrest, and five police vehicles were set on fire.



Images showed police kicking individuals and beating them with batons.



Vucic said that police would be punished if they were found to have acted inappropriately.

Speaking to the country on July 8, Vucic called on Serbs to avoid protests because they threatened to worsen the COVID-19 epidemic, which has officially infected more than 17,000 people in Serbia, killing 341 of them.



The government has ramped up anti-pandemic measures amid a COVID-19 spike since rapidly reopening before June 21 elections won by Vucic and his ruling SNS allies.



The global coronavirus pandemic and the pathogen's arrival in Serbia in March prompted a strict lockdown that interrupted over a year of weekly anti-government demonstrations.



Those protests targeted Vucic's tightening grip on media and the levers of power amid a spate of attacks on journalists and other government critics in the Balkan country of around 7 million people.



As the demonstration got under way on July 8, opposition leader Janko Veselinovic said the crowd was demanding the release of those arrested during the protests in Belgrade on July 7 and the formation of a new government task force to cope with the public-health crisis, saying the current team had been "politicized."



Demonstrators have also said they want Serbian public broadcaster RTS to report objectively on the situation in the country.
Walking through the woods above his home near Kravica, Nukic has found remains and personal belongings that have helped identify about 300 of the 1,000 to 1,500 victims who are thought to have died there in July 1995. They compose just a fraction of the more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys who were killed by Bosnian Serb troops in the Srebrenica genocide.

"It has become my quest," the 59-year-old father of five told Reuters, explaining that he began the search 15 years ago hoping to find the remains of his father, uncle, and two brothers who went missing after the massacre. "When I find a bone, its for me as if I found the whole body. I know some mother will get peace," Nukic said, showing a human skull and a bone he found in the forest a couple of weeks ago.

He passes his discoveries on to investigators from the Institute for Missing Persons, who then match the human remains with DNA samples donated by the relatives of the missing in order to identify them. The massacre took place 25 years ago this month, during the Bosnian War of the 1990s. Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic attacked the eastern enclave of Srebrenica, where about 40,000 Bosnian Muslims had found shelter in a "safe zone" under United Nations protection.

After Srebrenica fell into Serb hands on July 11, 1995, most of the women and children were separated from men and bused to territory controlled by the Bosnian Army. The remaining men and boys were killed, while most of those who tried to escape through the woods were captured, detained, and executed. The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia established that the killings constituted genocide, and convicted Mladic and his political mentor Radovan Karadzic of genocide and other war crimes in Srebrenica. After the Serbs attacked Srebrenica, Nukic sent his family to the UN-protected camp in nearby Potocari while he joined 15,000 men on an escape march through the woods.
PETROZAVODSK, Russia -- More than a dozen people have demonstrated in Russia's northwestern region of Karelia to protest a prosecutor's request that a court sentence Russian historian and human rights activist Yury Dmitriyev to 15 years in prison on charges of sexually assaulting his adopted daughter.

One of the 15 protesters, Andrei Razumov, told RFE/RL that the single-person pickets by Dmitriyev's supporters on July 8 were held "to defend" the historian, who is also a renowned gulag researcher, saying the charges were brought against him because of his research into a side of history that complicates the Kremlin's glorification of the Soviet past.

One of the picketers, journalist Viktoria Ivleva, was detained by police.

The day before, the prosecution argued its case and asked the Petrozavodsk City Court to sentence the 64-year-old head of the Karelia branch of the Moscow-based human rights group Memorial to 15 years in prison as the high-profile trial entered its final stage.

Dmitriyev's lawyer, Viktor Anufriyev, said on July 8 that the verdict and sentence of his client were expected to be pronounced on July 22.

Dmitriyev was arrested in 2016 on child-pornography charges based on photographs of his adopted daughter that the authorities found on his computer.

He has maintained his innocence, contending that the images were not pornographic and were made at the request of social workers concerned about the child's development. He says the case is an attempt to thwart his research into extrajudicial executions in Karelia under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

A local court acquitted Dmitriyev in April 2018, but the Karelia Supreme Court subsequently upheld an appeal by prosecutors and ordered a new trial.

The historian was rearrested in June 2018 and is currently on trial on the more severe charge of "violent acts of a sexual nature committed against a person under 14 years of age."

Dmitriyev's decades-long efforts to expose the extent of Stalin's crimes have been viewed with hostility by President Vladimir Putin's administration.

In May, dozens of Russian scholars, historians, writers, poets, opposition politicians, artists, and actors signed an open letter asking the Karelia Supreme Court to release Dmitriyev, expressing concerns over the researcher's health after positive cases of the coronavirus were reported in the detention center where he is being held.

The European Union has called on the Russian authorities to release Dmitriyev and reconsider the charges against him.
The Prosecutor-Generals Office in Tajikistan has summoned for questioning close relatives of an independent journalist who has led critical coverage of the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic, in a sign of the increased efforts by authorities to stifle free speech.

Mirzo Salimpur, a founder of the independent Akhbor news agency and a former RFE/RL journalist, said on July 7 that four days earlier, the officials questioned his relatives and demanded his eldest daughter and two sisters-in-law speak against him in a video.

One of the women told RFE/RL that officials told them to halt all contact with Salimpur, who is based in Europe.

The Prosecutor-Generals Office declined to comment, but a source close to the agency confirmed to RFE/RL that the women were indeed questioned by officials.

The summons was aimed at clarifying some information and also warning the relatives that they shouldnt send any information, photos, or video material to Akhbor, the official said on condition of anonymity, as they werent authorized to speak to the media.

In an open letter to the office of the president, Salimpur described the incident as a cowardly attack on independent media. He urged the office of the president to prevent such illegal acts by Tajik officials as they tarnish the countrys image.

The Akhbor website was blocked on April 22 following its extensive reporting about a suspicious rise in pneumonia cases in Tajikistan as the government insisted the country was free of the coronavirus, while police harassed journalists who questioned the spike in pneumonia cases. Dushanbe finally admitted to having COVID-19 cases on April 30.

Tajikistan has long been criticized for clamping down on free speech and curbing independent media by arresting journalists, blocking access to websites, and denying accreditation to reporters.

Tajik authorities have also intensified pressure on the relatives of foreign-based journalists, activists, and opposition figures. Some relatives were forced to speak on state television channels, condemning the actions of their family member or calling them terrorists or extremists.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Tajikistan 161st among 180 countries in its 2019 World Press Freedom Index.

During a visit to Tajikistan in January, Alice Wells, principal deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. State Department, said that the issue of press freedom was among the topics she had discussed with top Tajik officials.

In April, two prominent U.S. congressmen addressed a bipartisan letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon about "continued threats" and other mistreatment of RFE/RL journalists and urged Tajik authorities to let RFE/RL's operations "continue unabated" after issues arose over the press accreditations for RFE/RL journalists.

RFE/RL is funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress and overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
Weve got a lot to do here, he said. The opening of childcare centers is going to be helpful for a lot of parents, but were going to have to figure out more in terms of childcare. This is something were going to be building as we go along.
At least six Afghan police officers have been killed in two separate Taliban bombings amid a surge in attacks across the war-torn country.

Three officers were reported killed and 20 other people wounded in a truck bomb explosion in the southern province of Kandahar on July 8.

The police chief of Shah Wali Kot district and civilians were among those wounded.

The predawn blast damaged the district police headquarters and the nearby administrative office, according to provincial governor spokesman Ahmad Bahir Ahmadi.

Ahmadi said there was prior intelligence information about a plot to attack the police headquarters.

The suicide bomber was shot by security forces before he could reach his target, but the explosives detonated, the spokesman said.

In southeastern Ghazni Province, officials said a roadside bomb killed three police officers, including the police chief of Dayak district.

The police chief was inspecting checkpoints early in the morning when the attack occurred, according to the provincial governor's spokesman, Wahidullah Jamazada.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

Hundreds of members of Afghanistans security forces and civilians have been killed in recent weeks as the Taliban continued to launch attack across the country.

President Ashraf Ghani on July 6 warned that the spike in violence poses a "serious" threat to the peace process with the Taliban.

A peace deal signed by the Taliban and the United States in February calls for direct negotiations between the militant group and the Western-backed government in Kabul aimed at putting an end to the nearly two-decade-old war in Afghanistan.

With reporting by dpa and AP
The head of U.S. Central Command says he is not convinced that any Russian bounties paid to Taliban militants resulted in the deaths of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Marine General Frank McKenzie spoke to reporters on July 7 about the alleged bounties, which were the subject of U.S. news reports last week.

"I'm very familiar with this material and I'm a theater commander and I've had an opportunity to look at it. I found it very worrisome. I just didn't find that there was a causative link there," McKenzie told reporters, according to a transcript of McKenzies comments released by Central Command.

The general said whether the Russians are paying the Taliban or not, the Taliban has "done their level best to carry out operations against us over the past several years, and that has meant there has been little change in terms of force protection.

U.S. officials quoted in the media reports said the United States acquired intelligence suggesting that Russia may have paid bounties to Taliban-affiliated militants to kill U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, but they stressed that the intelligence was not conclusive.

The Pentagon has said it had "no corroborating evidence" to validate the allegations.

The Washington Post reported that the bounties were believed to have led to the deaths of several service members in Afghanistan, and The New York Times said investigators were focused on two attacks, including an April 2019 bombing outside an air base that killed three Marines.

Though McKenzie said he was not convinced Russian payments led to U.S. deaths, he added that battlefield intelligence was often inconclusive.

"But in this case, there just wasn't enough there," McKenzie said during the session with reporters, which took place at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. "I sent the intelligence guys back to continue to dig on it. And I believe they're continuing to dig right now."

McKenzie noted that the Russians were "not our friends in Afghanistan and they do not wish us well."

He said its important to remember that Russia suffered a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan a few decades ago, and that weighs on the Russian psyche, and there are therefore a variety of competing sort of impulses that are active there when the Russians think about Afghanistan.

While Russia has a genuine concern about the spread of Islamic extremism from Afghanistan toward the north, the Russians generally want to have the opportunity to throw sand in our gears when they can and make life uncomfortable for us.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he was not told about the reported Russian effort to get the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers because many U.S. intelligence officials doubted it was true. Democrats in the U.S. Congress who were briefed on the matter said U.S. sanctions on Russia should be beefed up if the allegations, which Russia and the Taliban deny, are true.

With reporting by AP
School librarians and parents are seeking donations of books celebrating diversity to the elementary school libraries in South Kingstown and Central Falls. The group has created special hyperlinked wish lists for each school.
According to Rhode Island Department of Health, there are 41 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Ocean State. Unfortunately, there have also been two new fatalities.
The first case focuses on subpoenas issued by Democrats on the House Intelligence, Oversight and Financial Services Committees that ask Deutsche Bank and Mazars USA, Trumps longtime accountant, to hand over several years worth of his tax returns and other business records as part of inquiries into whether current conflict of interest laws are rigorous enough.
Dad, my sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol, talking to our elected officials, is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to United States of America in search of a better life for our family, he testified. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.
Beaches will remain shut to locals, open to tourists

Cancun, Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Local residents will just have to continue waiting to access the states beaches, which local authorities admit, is open for tourists.

Head of the Cancun Hotel Association, Roberto Cintron Gomez, says that the opening of beaches to tourists staying at hotels is necessary, adding that the situation for locals is temporary.

We have fought for visitors to have access to the beaches with certain restrictions such as avoiding groups of more than 10 people, which is working. They come to go to the beach and we must keep that in mind, he said.

After an inquiry request from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador into the opening of public beaches only for tourists, Carlos Orvananos Rea, the general coordinator of Comunicacion del Gobierno del Estado de Quintana Roo, announced that state beaches will continue to be closed as long as the orange light remains.

Carlos Orvananos Rea

He said only hotels have authorization under strict sanitary measures, to allow guests beach access. Orvananos Rea added that this measure will continue despite the national criticism it has generated and despite the pronouncement of the federal Tourism Secretariat for the exclusion it means for the rest of the population.

The governor himself has said it. He has talked with the hotels and today, the orange traffic light prohibits the use of public beaches and that is the rule until we give way to another traffic light color.

What has been established very clearly is that the hotels that have reopened are very responsible in the use of their public spaces. It is not only the beaches, but their common areas such as swimming pools and food areas where hotels have invested a good amount of time and resources to train their employees, said the official at a press conference.

If the unrestricted use of public beaches were allowed, control by the government, either municipal or state, would become very complicated. That is why the use of beaches is completely restricted and in the case of hotels that already have activity, tourists can use them with great caution and care, he added.

Orvananos Rea also said the governor does not intend to be putting a policeman at each hotel door that faces the beach. It would be very complicated, rather, the principle of co-responsibility that has already been established in our strategy is used, so that a tourist who comes from Canada two, three or four nights, can take a short walk on the beach, but with restrictions so that this does not lead to further problems.

He specified that this is not meant to privatize the coasts, but is only a temporary measure to contain the pandemic.
Dr. Ricardo Diaz of the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, who presented the findings in the conference, said that its very promising [that] this patient might be cured, but he noted that that further analysis is still needed.
History-sheeter Vikas Dubey has been spotted at a hotel in Haryana's Faridabad.

According to sources, police have conducted a raid at the hotel and have taken three people into custody, who are now being interrogated.

Vikas DubeyA source said that Dubey had reached Faridabad and was trying to get a hotel room but he could not get it because of lack of documents. He was captured on CCTV of the hotel.

However, he managed to escape from the location before police could reach him. Meanwhile, two close aides of Dubey have been arrested from Faridabad by UP STF for allegedly helping him.

Eight policemen, including a DSP, were killed when they were going to arrest Vikas Dubey.

File PhotoThe notorious criminal who carries a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh, is still absconding.

More than 25 teams have been formed by the UP Police to nab the history-sheeter Vikas Dubey who was yet to be apprehended.

Police officials also said the surveillance team was scanning over 500 mobile phones and efforts were on to retrieve information pertaining to Dubey, who has faced about 60 criminal cases. The Special Task Force of UP Police has also been roped in.

PhotoEarlier on Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) killed an aide of the gangster. He is the third member of Vikas Dubey's gang to be killed in an encounter with the police.

Amar Dubey, who carried a reward of Rs 25,000, was killed in an encounter.
New Delhi: The Delhi Police arrested the owner of a spa for allegedly releasing a dog to attack her employee who asked for pending salary in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar area.

The incident took place on June 11. The victim, Sapna (39), got injured and received at least 15 stiches on her face and neck, police said.

Dog She said she had worked in the spa for one-and-half month before the coronavirus lockdown and left the job on March 22.

In her complaint, the victim alleged that when she asked her employer about her dues on June 11, Rajni, the owner, called Sapna to her house.

The victim went to Rajni's house for her dues where Rajni asked her to do work, following which she would get money. However, when the victim refused to do so, Rajni threatened her and let her dog loose on Sapna, according to the First Information Report (FIR).

Delhi Police When she was screaming, Rajni asked her not to shout as the people would gather after hearing her cry.

The victim was rushed to Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital from where she was referred to Safdarjung Hospital, the FIR stated.

"I received 15 stiches on my face and neck. I have no idea why she refused to clear my dues," the victim said.
Srinagar: A 65-year-old woman was killed and another critically injured on Wednesday in heavy shelling by Pakistan Army on forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The shelling from across the border started around 2 am, drawing strong retaliation by the Indian army.

PhotoTwo women were critically injured in the Pakistani shelling and were evacuated to hospital.

A defence spokesperson said Pakistan initiated the unprovoked ceasefire violation at around 2 am.

The cross-border shelling from both sides continued for 45 minutes.
Passports will still require people to disclose their gender, due to aviation regulations around the world. However, some people in the Netherlands have already won legal battles for the right to choose an X as their gender market in their passport  instead of the binary options F or an M  according to The Brussels Times.
Its still unclear how he died, but Ouattara said that the prime minister, who had heart surgery in 2012, felt sick during a ministerial meeting at the presidential palace in Abidjan. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
South Africa: Motshekga condemns rape of KZN learner

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has welcomed the arrest of a 17-year-old minor for allegedly raping a Grade 7 learner in Bulwer, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) said police indicated that the 12-year-old learner was reportedly raped after having left school to go home to fetch her face mask, which she had forgotten.

We commend the swift action by Donnybrook SAPS [South African Police Service] in apprehending the 17-year-old suspect and the seriousness with which they are handling the case. The department will continue to ensure that the leaner, who is a minor, receives the necessary psycho-social support from the District Auxiliary Support Services and her identity is protected as she comes to terms with this painful ordeal.

Rape is a crime, whose perpetrators deserve the stiffest punishment. The rape of this learner once again shines the light on the scourge of gender-based violence ripping our communities apart. We reiterate our profound sadness and anguish over this painful and shameful event. GBV is a profound human rights violation, with major social and developmental impacts for survivors of violence, as well as their families, communities and society more broadly, said Motshekga.

On an individual level, said the department, GBV leads to psychological trauma, and can have psychological, behavioural and physical consequences for survivors.

Many survivors of GBV, and rape in this particular incident, are unable to access the help they need. Families and loved ones of survivors can also experience indirect trauma, and many do not know how to provide effective support, the department said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedu Andargachew said on Wednesday that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will not cause thirst for Egypt and Sudan.

In an interview with Saudi News Channel Al-Arabiya, Andargachew said that downstream countries Egypt and Sudan should not be worried about the flow of Nile water, and condemned what he described as exaggerations and incorrect demands from the Egyptian side.

The Ethiopian FM stressed that negotiating in good faith is the only solution to the GERD dispute.

Andargachews comments came one day after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that his country is set to start filling the dams reservoir to take advantage of the current heavy rain season, which is in July, regardless of whether an agreement is reached with Egypt and Sudan.

Both Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly called on Ethiopia not to take any unilateral action concerning the filling of the dam.

Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia are currently engaged in a new round of talks under the auspices of the African Union.

According to the Egyptian irrigation ministry, Egypt and Ethiopia have so far not reached an agreement regarding fundamental technical and legal issues.

Egypt, which relies on the Nile for 95 percent of its freshwater, fears the dam will significantly reduce the rivers flow, especially during the filling stages through periods of drought and dry years. Ethiopia, on the other hand, says the project is key to its development efforts.

The previous round of negotiations between the three countries, held from 9 to 17 June, failed to produce an accord due to Ethiopia's refusal to enter into a legally binding agreement and its announcement that it will begin filling the dam in July with or without the approval of the two downstream countries.

In response, Egypt appealed to the UN Security Council to intervene to resolve the stalemate to preserve international peace and stability.

The Security Council urged the three countries to avoid taking any unilateral actions and to conduct talks on the basis of mutual understanding.

Short link:


On Facebook, Mr. Cooper described chastising Ms. Cooper for letting her dog run off-leash. When she ignored him, he says he told her, Look, if youre going to do what you want, Im going to do what I want, but youre not going to like it. He then tried to lure the dog with treats.
The shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, the most important pilgrimage destination in medieval England -- visited for hundreds of years by pilgrims seeking miraculous healing -- has been digitally reconstructed for the public, according to how experts believe it appeared before its destruction.

In the 1530s, the Reformation in England saw the ornaments and riches of thousands of Catholic churches destroyed in a vast Protestant movement. In 1538, at Canterbury Cathedral, the revered shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, the hugely influential former Archbishop of Canterbury and martyr, succumbed to this fate.

Becket was one of the most important figures in medieval Europe. He was believed to have died valiantly as a martyr, murdered by the knights of his former friend, King Henry II, while defending the rights of the Church. After his death he was quickly honoured as a saint, and was adopted as the patron saint of London, the city of his birth.

A memorial of 'unparalleled splendour' was erected within the Trinity Chapel at Canterbury, but, following its destruction, its appearance has long been the subject of debate among historians.

Today on the 7th July 2020, 800 years since the very first jubilee of Saint Thomas' death -- a date still marked at Canterbury Cathedral -- new findings published in a special volume of the Journal of the British Archaeological Association describe how a recently made, freely viewable, stunning video digitalisation establishes the most accurate recreation of the shrine to-date (link below).

"Unfortunately," Dr John Jenkins, historical researcher on the reconstruction team, says, "there are no contemporary comparators for it; the closest are the shrine bases of St Edward the Confessor at Westminster and St Etheldreda at Ely, both of mid- to late-13th-century date.

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"So, therefore, our CGI reconstruction uses all currently available evidence including eye-witness accounts; theories from past historians for potential usage of the shrine; date of construction; materials used; specific features; accessibility and location with the church; similar examples elsewhere; as well as those who created it; to reconstruct how the shrine could have looked."

Crucially, the team's design is the first to be based upon surviving fragments of the shrine discovered in and around Canterbury Cathedral since the nineteenth century.

Historians have debated whether these fragments came from the shrine. However, "the trefoil and stiff-leaf decoration on some of the fragments stylistically indicates a common origin, and they are very close in type and quality to the carved capitals of the Trinity Chapel," explains Dr Jenkins, from the Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture, at the University of York, "within the cathedral this marble is only found in the Trinity Chapel, which surely indicates that these fragments come from St Thomas' shrine rather than any others."

The team's model is based upon how the shrine would have looked in 1408, a time when the cult at Canterbury was visited by up to 100,000 pilgrims a year. The reconstruction argues that the shrine was created much earlier, between 1180 and 1220, and would have likely taken more than thirty years to build and ornament.

"We propose the shrine was a collaborative effort, with the marble base initiated and largely finished by William the Englishman and the vast expensive golden feretory brought to completion only under Elias of Dereham and Walter of Colchester almost four decades later," states Dr Jenkins.

The team's model includes many other features, such as a "major finding" of iron grilles (not featured in previous reconstructions) that enclosed the shrine, and "would serve to enhance a sense of mystery" for visitors to the candle-lit shrine. Offerings in thanks for miraculous cures were attached to the grilles so that the shrine would be seen "through a curtain of proof of Thomas's power to respond to prayer."

The reconstruction is free to view via a video and forms part of a wider three-year AHRC-funded 'Pilgrimage and England's Cathedrals: Past and Present' project. It will be used as a heritage interpretation tool to help visitors to Canterbury and its cathedral go back in time to share the experience of medieval pilgrims, whilst additionally functioning as a research tool for researchers to complete further investigation to study the look, feel, and nature of the site.

Concluding, Dr Jenkins said: "The murder of Thomas Becket stunned the whole of Christendom. All across Europe he was acclaimed as a martyr. Within ten years of his death over 700 healing miracles had been recorded at his tomb and it rapidly became one of the most important three or four European pilgrimage centres, so it is therefore appropriate that on the 800th anniversary of his shrine we publish our latest findings to explain how new discoveries have helped us create this reconstruction."

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eYsnZGcKQs&feature=emb_logo
Scientists have filled a gaping hole in the world's climate records by reconstructing 600 years of soil-moisture swings across southern and central South America. Along with documenting the mechanisms behind natural changes, the new South American Drought Atlas reveals that unprecedented widespread, intense droughts and unusually wet periods have been on the rise since the mid-20th century. It suggests that the increased volatility could be due in part to global warming, along with earlier pollution of the atmosphere by ozone-depleting chemicals.

The atlas was published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Recent droughts have battered agriculture in wide areas of the continent, trends the study calls "alarming." Lead author Mariano Morales of the Argentine Institute of Snow, Glacier and Environmental Sciences at the National Research Council for Science and Technology, said, "Increasingly extreme hydroclimate events are consistent with the effects of human activities, but the atlas alone does not provide evidence of how much of the observed changes are due to natural climate variability versus human-induced warming." The new long-term record "highlights the acute vulnerability of South America to extreme climate events," he said.

Coauthor Edward Cook, head of the Tree Ring Lab at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, said, "We don't want to jump off the cliff and say this is all climate change. There is a lot of natural variability that could mimic human-induced climate change." However, he said, armed with the new 600-year record, scientists are better equipped to sort things out.

The South American Drought Atlas is the latest in a series of drought atlases assembled by Cook and colleagues, covering many centuries of year-by-year climate conditions in North America; Asia; Europe and the Mediterranean; and New Zealand and eastern Australia. Subsequent studies building on the atlases have yielded new insights into how droughts may have adversely affected past civilizations, and the increasingly apparent role of human-induced warming on modern climate. Most recently, followup analyses of North America have suggested that warming is driving what may be the worst-ever known drought in the U.S. West.

The new atlas covers Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, most of Bolivia, and southern Brazil and Peru. It is the result of years of field collections of thousands of tree-ring records, and subsequent analyses by South American researchers, along with colleagues in Europe, Canada, Russia and the United States. Ring widths generally reflect yearly changes in soil moisture, and the researchers showed that collected rings correlate well with droughts and floods recorded starting in the early Spanish colonial period, as well as with modern instrumental measurements. This gave them confidence to extend the soil-moisture reconstruction back before written records.

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The authors say that periodic natural shifts in precipitation are driven by complex, interlocking patterns of atmospheric circulation on land and at sea. One key factor: low-level westerly winds that blow moisture onto the continent from the Pacific. These are controlled in part by periodic cyclic changes in sea-surface temperatures over both the Pacific and the Atlantic, which can bring both droughts and wet periods. The authors say greenhouse-gas-driven shifts in these patterns appear linked to a still continuing 10-year drought over central Chile and western Argentina that has caused severe water shortages, along with heavier than normal rains in eastern regions.

Precipitation is also controlled in part by the Southern Annular Mode, a belt of westerly winds that circles Antarctica. This belt periodically contracts southward or expands northward, and when it contracts, it weakens the westerly winds that bring rain to South America. In recent decades, it has been stuck in the south -- largely a result of ozone-depleting chemicals used in 20th-century refrigerants that destroyed atmospheric ozone over Antarctica, scientists believe. The chemicals were banned in the 1980s, but their effects have persisted.

The third major factor is the so-called Hadley cell, a global phenomenon that lofts warm, moist air from near the equator and sends it further north and south, dropping precipitation as it goes. The air settles near the surface at predictable latitudes, by which time the moisture has been largely wrung out; this creates the permanently dry zones of the subtropics, including those in South America. During recent decades, the Hadley cell has expanded towards the poles, likely in response to human-induced climate changes; this has shifted rainfall patterns and broadened the subtropical dry zones, especially in the Southern Hemisphere.

The atlas indicates that there has been a steady increase in the frequency of widespread droughts since 1930, with the highest return times, about 10 years, occurring since the 1960s. Severe water shortages have affected central Chile and western Argentina from 1968-1969, 1976-1977, and 1996-1997. Currently, the drylands of central Chile and western Argentina are locked in one of the most severe decade-long droughts in the record. In some areas, up to two-thirds of some cereal and vegetable crops have been lost in some years. This threatens "the potential collapse of food systems," says Morales.

At the same time, southeastern parts of the continent are seeing heavier than normal rains. Walter Baethgen, who leads Latin American agricultural research for Columbia University's International Research Institute for Climate and Society, says his own studies show that the La Plata basin of Uruguay has seen more frequent extremely wet summers since 1970, with corresponding increases in crop and livestock production. But the frequency of very dry summers has remained the same, which translates to bigger losses of expected yields when they do come along, he said.

"Everything is consistent with the idea that you'll be intensifying both wet and dry events with global warming," said Jason Smerdon, a climate scientist at Lamont-Doherty and a coauthor of the study.

Using newly developed tree-ring records from Peru, Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia, the group is now working to expand the atlas to cover the entire continent, and extend the climate reconstruction back 1,000 years or more, said Morales.

The authors wish to dedicate the study to the memory of the late Maria del Rosario Prieto, their coauthor, and active promoter of environmental history studies in South America.
Few students will be in a position to pay out of pocket. Employers can and must help, but they too are likely to be strapped. And as a rule, neither state nor federal student aid can be used to pay for the kinds of programs most adult learners will be looking for  nondegree courses shorter than a semester.
We also achieved first passage of a bill to allow voters to vote by mail for any reason. Currently, in non-emergency circumstances, our state Constitution only allows voting by absentee ballot under specific circumstances, like illness or physical disability. Our proposal amends the Constitution to allow any New Yorker to vote by mail, but must be passed again by the next session of the Legislature and then approved by the voters in order to take effect.
I had only been to Walter Reed once before, after one of my former soldiers was wounded in Iraq. This time was different, however. We visited the physical therapy ward, where a dozen injured veterans were learning to walk with no legs and exercise without hands or eyes. Surrounded, it was the first time Id ever been among soldiers and felt I didnt belong. I was self-conscious about being whole. Tammy, on the other hand, spent the morning cracking jokes, doing her best to cheer them up as a fellow double amputee. Her ability to maintain levity and humor amid horror and stress is unlike anything Ive seen in another leader. And Ive heard some good jokes under fire.
The Black Lives Matter movement was started because it was about police brutality, said Lemon. If you want an All Black Lives Matter movement that talks about gun violence in black communities, then start that movement with that name. But thats not what Black Lives Matter is about.
Posted Wednesday, July 8, 2020 12:52 am

Two seriously injured in Johnson crash

Two individuals suffered serious injuries in a crash at 5:50 a.m. Monday in Johnson County.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Timothy L. Harris, 38, of Knob Noster, was driving north on state Route 13, three-tenths of a mile north of Southeast 650th Road, when his vehicle traveled off the right side of the road, struck a utility pole and overturned.

Harris and his passenger, Tracy N. Green, 28, of Deepwater, both suffered serious injuries. Green was taken to Research Medical Center in Kansas City and Harris was taken to Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence.

The report states that neither were wearing a safety device.

Two injured in Morgan crash

Two men were injured in a crash at 9:50 p.m. Monday in Morgan County.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Adam G. Guinn, 22, of Versailles, was driving north on state Route J, 37 feet south of Tierra Lane, when he attempted to pass another motorist. Guinn overcorrected and his vehicle traveled off the left side of the road, overturned and struck several trees.

Guinn suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach by Mid-Mo Ambulance District. His passenger, Cory A. Weicken, 22, of Versailles, suffered serious injuries and was taken to University Hospital in Columbia by MU Air Care.

Information is taken from preliminary Missouri State Highway Patrol reports, which do not necessarily contain statements from all parties involved.
Depp, 57, and Heard, 34, have been accusing each other of physical and emotional abuse since ending their two-year marriage in 2017. The Aquaman actress is not a target in the lawsuit, but shes also attending the trial, which will likely turn into an unprecedented public showdown between two bitterly divorced Hollywood stars.
Graying Pains

Graying Pains is a series of weekly stories and broadcasts exploring the challenges and opportunities as Montana grows collectively older in communities statewide. The series is produced by the Montana Fourth Estate Project, a collaboration among several Montana newsrooms and the University of Montana School of Journalism under the auspices of the Montana Newspaper Association and the Solutions Journalism Network.

Last week in Graying Pains, the Missoulian's David Erickson examined the introduction and implementation of Kaigo Hoken, or care insurance, in Japan, the world's demographically oldest country. This week's conclusion of that story explores how a similar policy might translate to Montana, the oldest state in the American West.

A full 13% of Montanans are in their 60s, and the "baby boomer" generation is nearing or entering retirement age. Care for the elderly will become an increasingly pressing issue in Montana as larger and larger numbers of voters enter the older brackets of the state's demographics.

In an interview with the Missoulian, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said he believes the state's voters prioritize allocating resources toward the elderly in many cases. He pointed to the fact that Montana is one of just a handful of states without publicly funded preschool, despite his administration's concerted efforts to win funding from the state Legislature.

"Not in my experience," Bullock said, when asked if Montana voters would generally rather spend money on policies that mainly benefit young people rather than those of advanced age. "Our legacy citizens have so much more voting power. It's an interesting dynamic."

Without any knowledge of Japan's policies, Bullock said he was doubtful that Montana voters would approve a statewide mandatory nursing care insurance law in any form.

"When you're talking about a whole new tax structure, I think it would be pretty doubtful," he said.

However, voters here are highly protective of health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid that overwhelmingly benefit older people, he acknowledged.

Dr. Yoshi Colclough is an associate professor of nursing at Montana State University. She grew up in Japan and remembers how her mother took care of her grandmother.

"There's a complete family responsibility to take care of elders," she explained. "When I was born, [my grandmother] was already living with us."

In Kobe, Japan, a city with a population of 1.5 million, Colclough said, there were only three nursing homes when she was living there. For many Japanese women, taking care of the elderly is a way of life and can get in the way of a career.

"My mother's generation didn't need to work outside the home," Colclough said. "That's more a man's responsibility. The woman takes care of the family. For people educated before World War II, there's a separate male and female role. It's pretty much old traditional."

She said some older people, like her father, didn't like outsiders coming into the home to cook and clean. However, when her mother lost her eyesight, Colclough, said the law paid for a helper to be there for an hour and a half every day. That also means good jobs for Japanese people, many of them women.

"I don't think we could have afforded it," Colclough said, when asked how her family would have taken care of her mother if the care insurance law wasn't in place. "Maybe we would have needed to move her to my brother's house."

Coclough said the health care system in the United States is very different from that in Japan.

"Health insurance here [in the United States] is tremendously high, much much higher than in Japan," she said. "If you need your appendix removed, for example, and need surgery, in Japan wherever you go, you pay only to the hospital, only one bill. Wherever you go it's the same price, basically. Here it's completely different. You pay for the physician, you pay the lab people, you have different bills. So the health system is different, so I don't know if it's going to work here."

There's no doubt that Montana is facing a crisis. According to Melissa Favreault of the Urban Institute and Judith Dey of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Americans who need long-term care can expect to incur costs of $138,000, on average. They say that about half of Americans turning 65 today will eventually need assistance with bathing, dressing and other personal activities. Yet people ages 55 to 64 with retirement savings accounts have a median balance of $104,000, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.

Brian Dowdle, an assistant professor of Japanese at the University of Montana, said Japan's demographics are similar in many ways to Montana's.

"If you look at the population pyramids of Montana counties, you'll see a big hole in the 18-to-25 age bracket," he said. "The young people are gone and they're not coming back. And that's what's happening in Japan. The young people in Japan move to three or four big cities, and they're the only places that have a large number of youth. Montana has two counties, Gallatin and Missoula, that have lots of young people. Everywhere else they're just gone."

If Montana were ever to consider a nursing care insurance program, Dowdle said, one concern would be making sure there are enough young people to pay into the program.

But John Campbell, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Michigan and one of America's foremost experts on Japanese health care and policy implementation, believes governments would be wise to consider similar options. In a paper for the World Bank in 2014, Campbell argued that a well-designed long-term care system delivers good benefits at a moderate cost.

"Good long-term care will lead to real savings in health care provision," he said. "Frail older people who get good day-to-day care are less likely to get sick, and particularly are less likely to relapse after being hospitalized. Long-term care is inherently less costly than medical care, as it uses staff with lower wages and does not lead to open-ended benefits."

Campbell said that in any society in which the population is aging, the issue is acutely felt by more and more ordinary citizens who are concerned about what will happen to their parents, and ultimately themselves, as their parents age.

"Virtually everyone would welcome any help that a new program would provide," Campbell said.

And the earlier a long-term care system is started, the lower the cost, according to Campbell.

"When the number of qualifying older people is relatively low, and traditional family supports are still working fairly well, the demand for public programs will not be very high," he explained.

Campbell said that means Montana would be well-served to look into the possibilities of an elderly care system now, before demand becomes overwhelming, and while there are enough young people to pay for it.
Its so many of our children that are being vaccinated and paralyzed So when they say the way were going to fix Covid is with a vaccine, Im extremely cautious, West said. Thats the mark of the beast. They want to put chips inside of us, they want to do all kinds of things, to make it where we cant cross the gates of heaven.
California recorded more than 9,000 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, a record-breaking daily count as the outbreak continues to surge across the state.

County public health departments recorded 9,018 new cases by Tuesday evening, with some still yet to report, bringing the total to 283,750 statewide. The previous record was set on Monday with 8,638 cases. Bay Area counties documented 470 new cases, for a total of 30,862.

California also recorded the third-highest daily count of deaths - 111 - on Tuesday. The Bay Area recorded eight deaths.

Hospitalizations have been rising across the state and the Bay Area in recent weeks, prompting some counties to pull back on reopening. The number of patients with COVID-19 being treated in hospitals in California rose to 5,989 on Tuesday, marking the 18th day in a row the number increased, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. Hospitalizations increased 15% in a week. There are 1,740 patients who have tested positive for the coronavirus being treated in intensive care units.

In the Bay Area, the number of COVID-19 hospital patients increased to 504 on Tuesday, the second time the number topped 500. Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties reported single-day hospitalization increases on Tuesday, while hospitalizations in Solano, San Francisco and Alameda counties dropped.

The outbreak at San Quentin State Prison, where more than 1,369 inmates have tested positive for the virus, contributes to those numbers and is putting a strain on some local hospitals. As of Monday, 62 inmates were being treated in hospitals in Marin, San Mateo, Alameda, and San Francisco counties.

In San Francisco, hospitalizations rose 25% over the past week. Of the citys current 68 patients, 13 are from San Quentin as well as from hospitals in Imperial and Fresno counties.

The troubling surge led to city officials pulling back indefinitely on the plan to reopen indoor dining next week.

Now Playing: An overview of the information available on The Chronicle's Reopening Tracker. Video: San Francisco Chronicle

We are seeing an increase, said San Francisco Mayor London Breed during a news briefing Tuesday. Our numbers, along with numbers all over the country, are going up. And we are not out of the woods yet.

Staff writers Anna Bauman, Aidin Vaziri, and Mike Massa contributed to this report.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench
San Franciscos most recognizable icon, the cable car, likely wont glide up Powell Street again until a coronavirus vaccine is widely available.

For now, the orange and burgundy beasts are gathering dust in a brick barn on Mason Street, where theyve been hibernating since shelter-in-place orders clamped down in mid-March.

The cable cars require the operator to have the most direct interaction with passengers, and we have no way to protect our operators on cable cars, transportation chief Jeffrey Tumlin said in an interview Friday. His Zoom background showed the interior of the California Street cable car, an homage that Tumlin described as masochistic.

As the virus rages on, officials at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency have opted to play it safe, running a skeletal system of buses with Plexiglas barriers to protect the operators. Officials also suspended the Art Deco streetcars because most of them lack partitions. Its unclear when they might return, said spokeswoman Erica Kato.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle

While cable cars are not the most severe transit casualty of COVID-19  which might permanently eliminate 40 Muni bus lines  their disappearance shows how deeply the pandemic has unsettled city life.

Conceived in 1873 as a more high-tech form of transit than the horse-drawn carriage, these vehicles carried workers over the citys hills and into a blossoming Financial District. They starred in a 1940s culture war that pitted tradition against progress, when neighborhood activists scuttled a City Hall-led effort to remove the ancient vehicles. In the ensuing years, San Francisco built a cheaper and more efficient bus network, yet the cable cars thrived as a tourist attraction. They drew 16,900 riders every weekday in fiscal year 2018.

In a city with a vast visual iconography, cable cars stand out, as much a fixture as the Painted Lady Victorians or the Transamerica Pyramid. The Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason and California lines trundled each day from one historic landmark to another, cresting Nob Hill and delivering tourists to crooked Lombard Street or Ghirardelli Square. Every year a handful of gripmen and women compete in the annual bell-ringing contest.

Cassandra Griffin fondly remembers the time she stepped up to compete in 2016  the first woman to ever jockey for the coveted bell-ringing title. She wore black heels with her uniform.

I was just so happy to leave my print there for my kids, Griffin said, recalling her soft, improvised melody that captivated onlookers, even though she didnt win. Griffin grew up in San Franciscos Ingleside neighborhood, and has worked as a cable car conductor for 19 years. By Muni standards, shes a seasoned veteran: it takes five or six years to build enough seniority to enter the cable car division.

The symbolism of cable cars is so potent that at times theyve become shorthand for San Francisco values. In 2017, the Powell-Hyde line appeared in a series of GOP-funded political ads in Georgia, which portrayed Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff as a tool of San Francisco liberals.

Theyre such a part of our culture, said John Konstin, co-owner of the old-timey Union Square restaurant Johns Grill, which sits a block and a half away from the Powell Street turntable. He has wistful memories of the cable cars despite their tragic history at the restaurant  legend has it that one of the original co-owners, John Monaco, died after a cable car ran him over.

Thats the way I want to go, quipped the restaurants longtime publicist, Lee Houskeeper, noting that only a true San Franciscan dies under the wheels of a rattling 9-mile-an-hour contraption.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle 2019

Cable cars do emerge occasionally, leaving the barn at 1201 Mason St. for maintenance runs.

Longtime gripman Rico Ellis said hes sitting at home in the Ingleside waiting for the Powell-Hyde line to start running again. He worked on cable cars for 20 years and even started an R&B band with fellow operators.

Ellis vividly remembers his last run in March, from Market Street to Union Square, up Nob Hill and down to Hyde and Beach streets.

Im ready to come back, he said.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
MCSN Kaylianna Genier / U.S. Navy

After almost six months at sea fighting a deadly coronavirus outbreak, a controversial change in command and international attention, the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier is scheduled to return to its home port in San Diego on Thursday, The Chronicle has learned.

The return comes a week after a second sailor, Aviation Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer Justin Calderone, died aboard the nuclear-powered warship. A Navy spokesman Wednesday said Calderones death does not appear to be COVID-related, but officials are waiting on an autopsy report. The sailor had repeatedly tested negative for the coronavirus, the Navy had said.
Santa Clara Sheriff's Office

An Antioch woman who worked as a correctional officer in Milpitas was arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs into jail on behalf of inmates, authorities said.

Mayra Rios, 35, was arrested following an investigation that started in April when authorities received information that a correctional deputy was smuggling methamphetamine into the Elmwood Correctional Facility, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office.
You can see it in the peaceful protests of the past several weeks  Americans of all races and classes coming together to fight against racism, wrote Redford. You can see it in the ways that communities are pulling together in the face of this pandemic, even if the White House has left them to fend for themselves.
The administration that cant seem to stop finding ways to make life difficult for immigrants and international relations  even if it comes at the expense of our nations interest  has just moved to disrupt the lives and education of foreign students studying in the United States.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced this week that international college students could not stay in the U.S. for the fall semester if their schedule consisted only of online courses  and could even face deportation proceedings if they defied the order to leave.

The new Trump administration policy came as a shock to many scholars in the ICE-run Student and Exchange Visitor Program who had been allowed to stay for spring and summer classes after many schools shifted to online instruction because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.

It was equally unsettling to colleges and universities that were just finishing plans for the fall semester. Most have at least curtailed in-person instruction; others, such as Harvard University and the 23-campus California State University system, are going online, with very limited exceptions, as a safety measure.

International students are valued in higher education not only for the cultural diversity and global perspective they bring to campus  which does not totally disappear in many online discussions  but also for their very tangible financial contribution. Most pay full tuition, which is especially critical to public schools that typically provide deep discounts for in-state and lower-income students.

One rationale for the new policy is that international students could just as easily participate in online classes from their home countries, Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of the Homeland Security Department, told CNN on Tuesday. He also said the move will encourage schools to reopen.

That reasoning is flawed on each count. Some of those international students come from countries where access to search engines and online material is severely restricted by authoritarian governments. Also, the notion of pressuring schools to reopen campuses in the thick of a pandemic is downright reckless. Those decisions should be guided by science and concern for the health of students, staff, faculty, the surrounding community and untold others who could be affected by an outbreak.

Both the students and the colleges that want to keep them enrolled are now forced to scramble to find a way to meet the in-person class requirement, even if in a limited way.

The ICE exchange and visitor programs statement said visas would be denied to students either enrolled in fully online classes or seeking to enter the U.S. to study at an all-online college.

Active students currently in the United States enrolled in such programs must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction, to remain in lawful status, the statement said. If not, they may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.

The policy appeared unduly punitive on foreigners with dubious practical value for this nations interest. It sends the unfortunate and potentially enduring message that international students are less than welcome here. Yet they contributed $45 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018. Some doctoral candidates are engaged in research for public health matters, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Others have internships that are contributing to economic innovation.

This new policy is the definition of a self-inflicted wound. It should be scrapped.

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.
Erick Madrid / Special to The Chronicle

Theres a long history of negociant-style winemaking in Santa Barbara County, in which winemakers do not own land, instead buying fruit from a variety of vineyards. Dragonette Cellars is a master of the form, meticulously selecting truly terroir-driven sites to produce exciting bottles of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.

The winery is the work of two brothers, John and Steve Dragonette, and their friend Brandon Sparks-Gillis. After catching the wine bug during a college program in Italy, Sparks-Gillis, who is originally from Washington state, dabbled in production for a few years. Then he met John, an attorney in his first career, while they worked retail together at Wallys Fine Wine in Los Angeles. With the help of Steve, they made their first vintage in a Hermosa Beach garage back in 2005. A couple years later, they were fully operational and based in Santa Barbara County, working simultaneously for legendary brands like Sine Qua Non and Fiddlehead.
Erick Madrid/Special to The Chronicle

Full of jubilant sunshine yet with an intellectual, pensive backbone: These qualities describe both the wines of Melville Winery and the demeanor of winemaker Chad Melville. The winery was started in 1996 by Chads father, Ron Melville, who had entered the wine business a decade earlier, first growing Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the warmer weather of Sonoma Countys Knights Valley. Wanting to explore Burgundian varieties, Ron Melville planted 82 acres of mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay  with a little Syrah  in the rolling hills north of Highway 246 between Buellton and Lompoc, a few years before anyone started talking about creating a Sta. Rita Hills appellation.

In the years since, the property has become synonymous with the regions full-flavored and zesty wines, and the quality has only improved. The brand matured under the care of renowned winemaker Greg Brewer, who ran the cellar from 1997 to 2015, and is thriving today under Chad Melville, who sold his own wine brand, Samsara, to focus on the family label when Brewer left. Every lot of red grapes is foot-stomped, stem inclusion is prominent, and the resulting wines are brilliant showcases of herbally enhanced red fruits, lithe in texture yet bursting with deliciousness.
Together with HBO and executive producer Joel Gallen, we will still create an exciting program honoring our 2020 inductees, by telling the stories of their incredible contributions to music and impact on a generation of artists that followed them.
A Muslim woman in St. Paul, Minn., has filed a discrimination complaint against Target after she said a barista at an in-store coffee shop allegedly wrote "ISIS" on her drink order instead of her name.

The 19-year-old woman - who asked to be identified by only her first name, Aishah, out of fear for her safety - said she was wearing a hijab and face mask when she ordered a beverage July 1 at the Starbucks inside the St. Paul-Midway Target. She repeated her name slowly and multiple times to the barista, according to Jaylani Hussein, executive director of Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who provided The Washington Post with a copy of the complaint filed Monday with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

But when her drink was ready, the acronym for the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria had been written on the cup. Aishah raised the issue with a supervisor, but Hussein said her grievance was dismissed. The cafe's supervisor told her, "Mistakes sometimes happen with customers' names," according to the complaint.

"There is absolutely no way she [the barista] could have heard it as 'ISIS'," Aishah told CNN. "Aishah is not an unknown name and I repeated it multiple times."

She said she was given a new drink and a $25 gift card before being escorted out by store security.

Target in a statement said it was "very sorry for this guest's experience at our store" and said representatives "immediately apologized to her when she made our store leaders aware of the situation."

"We have investigated the matter and believe that it was not a deliberate act but an unfortunate mistake that could have been avoided with more clarification," the statement continued. "We're taking appropriate actions with the team member, including additional training, to ensure this does not occur again."

A Starbucks representative declined to comment but confirmed the employees involved worked for Target and not Starbucks.

Hussein said Target's apology doesn't go far enough.

"This is a visibly identifiable Muslim woman. She speaks fluent English without an accent. She has a name that's commonly known and known how to spell," Hussein said in a phone interview. CAIR has asked Target to fire the 16-year-old barista who took the order and the cafe's supervisor.

The term ISIS, he said, is sometimes used by middle- and high-school age children as a racial slur around the Twin Cities, which has a large East African and Somali Muslim population. Six Minnesotans ages 19 to 21 were arrested in 2015 trying to join the terrorist group.

Since then, a mosque in Bloomington, Minn., was bombed and others have been defaced by vandals. In 2016, a gunman shot two Muslim men on their way to their mosque for Ramadan prayers.

"Target should know better," he said. "They have their headquarters here in Minnesota. They have interacted with this community for almost 20-plus years. They have a large percentage of Muslims who work for them. And Islamophobia has impacted Minnesota disproportionately for a number of years. We've had bombings. We have issues in the schools.

"It doesn't make any sense to me that Target sees this incident and tries to brush it off in light of all the things that have happened in Minnesota. I thought they'd have a stronger response," Hussein said.
Since the onset of COVID-19 earlier this year, we have maintained as many staff as possible, with the hope of business returning to usual in June of this year. Regrettably, this did not come to pass,' Harris Rosens statement reads. And in fact, as we have monitored this situation on an hourly basis, we have come to realize that there are elements beyond our control causing more time and efforts required than initially envisioned to experience the return of business as usual in Orlando.
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Chez Panisse filed a lawsuit Tuesday against its insurance company for not covering losses incurred from the shelter-in-place order, which has caused the business to remain closed since March 19.

The suit claims that AMCO acted in bad faith by categorically denying the insurance claim and seeks to recoup unspecified financial losses of more than $75,000.
(Photo from (l) to (r)): duncan c on Flickr via CC/ Sylvia L. on Yelp

For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

Following months of temporary closure, PRIMA restaurant has closed its doors for good after a 43-year run in Walnut Creek.

In a letter written to customers, co-owner John Rittmaster announced the permanent closure on Monday in which he indicated that COVID-19 was to blame.

As you well know, the COVID pandemic has wreaked havoc throughout the entire restaurant community, and since our mandatory closure in early March, Chef Peter and I  have looked high and low for a path forward  a way to get PRIMA Ristorante back, Rittmaster wrote.

Alas, though, it appears that events have conspired against us. The longer the restaurant has been closed, the harder it has been to find a way to successfully reopen. Weve finally come to the realization that we wont.

ALSO: Beachside Coffee Bar & Kitchen permanently closes in the Outer Sunset

Rittmaster added that PRIMA Vini, the wine shop next door, would remain open and that Brandon Mueller would join the team to be in charge of a direct-import program.

Co-owner and chef Peter Chastain said he would seek another opportunity following the closure. In a letter to customers, Chastain expressed his gratitude as PRIMAs chef for the 21 years and thanked both staff and Rittmaster.

This pandemic has exposed many things about our rapidly changing country as well about us individually, Chastain wrote. While that may be hard now, I believe that when we look back on all of this someday, we will see it as having happened FOR us rather than TO us.

Chastain didnt say where he would head next.

PRIMA closed its doors on March 17 after mandatory shelter-in-place orders. Initially, the owners planned for an April 7 reopening, but on April 6, an Instagram post confirmed that PRIMA would stay closed. In that same post, Rittmaster and Chastain asked for donations to keep our employees afloat for the next coming month or longer if need be.

ALSO: Bay Area Lithuanian restaurant permanently closing

Often a setting for special occasions, PRIMA was known as a fine-dining Italian restaurant with rotating dishes and a prix fixe menu for $78. It joins a list of other longstanding Bay Area restaurants that have closed in the past few months. Some include It's Tops Coffee Shop, Angkor Borei, and Ristorante Franchino.

Before PRIMA, previous owners Michael and Janet Verlander first operated the business as Walnut Creek Wine & Cheese, a deli located at the same address, in 1977. According to the restaurant website history, a trip to Italy inspired the couple to convert the deli into a sit-down restaurant.

Rittmaster arrived at PRIMA in 1994 as the wine director and by 2005 he purchased the restaurant alongside chef Chastain, who was hired in 1999. Under their tenure, PRIMA increased its wine offerings to more than 1,300 selections.

PRIMA is located at 1522 N Main St. in Walnut Creek

Susana Guerrero is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com | Twitter: @SusyGuerrero3

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By the time Thomas Bennett arrives at his old-fashioned ice cream shop on Fillmore Street, a group of customers have already flocked to the entrance, waiting.

"He's here!" one of them announces, causing the others to perk up and direct their attention toward the longtime owner of the shop.

Bennett steps out of his car and waves hello to the Sunday morning regulars. Holding a plastic sack filled with cartons of cigarettes in one hand and a stack of newspapers in the other, he makes his way to the neapolitan-colored entryway, unhurried. Above him, hand-painted signs advertise ice cream sodas, banana splits and award-winning milkshakes. "Any way you wish, any flavor you wish" beckons to the eager clientele in swirling script.

Behind the counter, the 81-year-old proprietor of Miyako Ice Cream hoists gallon bins of ice cream into the frosty cooler, stopping occasionally to adjust his suspenders as he methodically prepares each of their orders. Two heaping scoops of avocado and ube ice cream. An $8.99 pack of Marlboro cigarettes. A hot deli sandwich with potato salad and nachos for $3.95 - arguably the cheapest lunch deal in San Francisco.
Man's cruelty towards one of the most magnificent beasts that walked the American continent can be summed up in the fate of Monarch, the California grizzly bear who started his life running free, snacking on salmon around the rugged Southern Californian coast, and ended it in a dismal cage in San Francisco.

The state's last captive grizzly was captured in 1889 in a publicity stunt ginned up by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, and imprisoned for 22 years in a cage. Monarch would spend his final years in Golden Gate Park, where his stuffed likeness still remains and is memorialized on the official state flag.

While simultaneously celebrating the symbolism of the grizzly bear in statues and on state flags and even naming a doomed breakaway state in their honor, European settlers slaughtered the animal in their thousands and wiped the California subspecies off the face of the earth.

The contempt was clear right from the off  when formally classifying the grizzly bear in 1815, naturalist George Ord decided to characterize the animal as "horrible" or "terrifying" in naming it Ursus horribilis.

The Californian grizzly, a subspecies of U. horribilis, had the run of the state before the Spanish settled in the region in the 18th century. Around 10,000 grizzly bears inhabited modern-day California back then, feeding on deer, salmon, berries and even beached whale carcasses.

Early settlers described actual herds of grizzlies grazing in clover fields, with cubs in trees shaking branches for acorns, according to Susan Snyder, author of "Bear in Mind: The California Grizzly"

"In most other places where [grizzlies] live, it is a much harder life. They hibernate and it's a desperate struggle to gain the weight they need to survive. They don't have that abundance of food that grizzlies had here. It was really paradise," Snyder wrote.

But the settlers' livestock on their new rancheros became easy prey for the bears and the horse-mounted Spanish herders soon started to hunt the grizzlies wherever they could find them. And because simply slaughtering innocent wild animals sometimes isn't enough fun, the vaqueros would often capture them and pit them against bulls in public battles to be gambled on. These bear baiting events became a popular past-time in the 19th century.

The ultimate demise of the subspecies was precipitated by the Gold Rush, as tens of thousands of people poured into California to find their fortune. The new settlers gunned down and poisoned the bears, and bounty hunters killed them en masse.

By the 1920s, almost every grizzly bear in California had been tracked down and killed. The last hunted California grizzly bear was shot in Tulare County in August 1922. A grizzly was spotted in 1924 in Sequoia National Park for the last time and thereafter, grizzlies were never seen again in the Golden State.

Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

Before the grizzly adorned the California state flag, the bear was used in a publicity stunt to sell newspapers.

That's where Monarch comes in.

Never one to eschew a headline-grabbing stunt at the detriment of others, William Hearst summoned San Francisco Examiner reporter Allen Kelly into his office in 1889 with a simple request: Go capture me a live California grizzly bear. Hearst wanted to present the living trophy to the city and could see the headlines already. Kelly spent months attempting to complete the unusual but apparently urgent ask and finally caught wind that a group of Mexicans had caught a handsome specimen on the coast in Ventura County.

Kelly journeyed south and eventually found the captured bear. It was lured into a train cart with mutton and honey and brought to San Francisco as Hearst had requested. The grizzly was named "Monarch" and inspired the Examiner's tagline, "the Monarch of the Dailies."

The paper ran several embellished stories on the struggle to capture the bear: "Sixteen Forty-Four Caliber Bullets Were Pumped Into Him And He Never Fazed" one headline read, describing the moment that a cattleman named Jeff encountered him, stating that Monarch, "looked at Jeff reproachably for the inhospitable reception, turned about and went away more in sorrow than anger."

But this would just be the start of Monarch's sorrows.

After the bear's successful capture and journey to San Francisco, Hearst's Examiner reported that 20,000 people came to see Monarch in November 1889, as the caged bear was presented at Townsend Street Station, at Eighth and Brannan in SoMa.

But public interest in the captured two-ton curiosity soon waned.

In 1894's Forty Niner Mining Camp exhibit at San Francisco's midwinter exposition, an ostrich exhibit drew more spectators than Monarch's cage.

Far from the salmon-rich Southern California coastline where Monarch grew up, the incarcerated bear spent the final two decades of his tortured existence in a cage near what is now the AIDS Memorial Garden in Golden Gate Park. He was unfathomably presented as a symbol of wildlife conservation.

"There are some really, really sad pictures of him in our collection," Snyder wrote, "He's just sitting there. He looks really depressed and lonely. It's all concrete and bars, like in an old-style zoo."

OpenSFHistory

Monarch was skinned and stuffed after his death and acquired by the California Academy of Sciences. The taxidermied likeness of Monarch was used as the model for the California flag when it was standardized in 1953.

Monarch now rests in storage at the museum, after last being seen on public display in 2012 as part of Altered State: Climate and Change  an exhibit that explored the role humans have played in the current mass extinction.

It's a little hard to look at the bear on the California state flag as a representation of strength and courage as desired, and not a symbol of suffering, and a tragic reminder of how humans repeatedly, callously extinguish wonders of the natural world.

Andrew Chamings is an editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings
Egypts cabinet approved on Wednesday a bill proposed by the justice ministry to keep the identity of victims of sexual assault and harassment confidential.

According to the draft law, the identities of the victims of sexual crimes are not to be publicly disclosed, and can only be revealed to the court and to defendants upon request.

Any party that discloses confidential information about the victims shall be punished under Article 310 of the penal code, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement.

The ministry pointed out that some sexual harassment victims have recently refrained from reporting such crimes in fear of doing harm to their reputation.

Victims of sexual assault are often stigmatised in the conservative society.

The bill comes amid an ongoing investigation by the prosecutor-general into allegations of rape, sexual harassment and blackmail made by dozen of women and girls against a young man by the name of Ahmed Bassam Zaki.

Zaki, who was arrested on Saturday, is in detention pending investigation.

Short link:


A glimpse of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, as seen from World Drive on Monday, June 22, 2020, shows a new pink-hued coat of paint during the parks hiatus from the coronavirus pandemic. The new colors also include deeper blue turret roofs and bright gold trim accents. Walt Disney World has announced its four parks will open in July with the Magic Kingdom and Disneys Animal Kingdom slated for July 11; Epcot and Disneys Hollywood Studios for July 15. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The demonstrations after the killing of George Floyd have seen millions of Americans take to the streets on bicycles, horses, surfboards and boats, skateboards, in cars or on foot. It is the largest sustained mobilization in the United States in our lifetimes.

Data from the Crowd Counting Consortium gives a sense of the scale of these protests. So far, we've counted 5,000 individual anti-racism/anti-police-brutality protests nationwide since the end of May, involving millions of participants. In fact, data from Pennsylvania (which we have studied most intensively) suggest that our national count still underestimates the number of protests in small cities and towns. The real national total may be as high as 8,000. Here are some key findings so far.

- Anti-racism protests are wider than the tea party and anti-Trump 'Resistance' protests

From the end of May through June, more than 400 anti-racism protests were held in Pennsylvania alone, across at least 230 different communities in 62 of the state's 67 counties. By comparison, Tax Day 2009 saw foundational tea party protests in 29 communities in Pennsylvania, while January 2017 saw Women's Marches in 24 communities. In this wave, Black Lives Matter protests were held in 40 communities in Pennsylvania in just a single day (June 6). Moreover, the protests are not just concentrated in metropolitan suburbs. That's different from the grass-roots groups founded in response to Donald Trump's election, largely by college-educated women.

Very different kinds of places within Pennsylvania have seen similar levels of protests. As the figures below show, counties with big cities, former industrial centers, less-prosperous suburbs and rural regions have generated protests in nearly exact proportion to their share of the state's population. There is no simple rural-urban-suburban divide.

- Black and allied youths have played a central role everywhere

Contrary to myth, young people don't always dominate street protests. Polls in 2018 found that less than a quarter of people who reported attending a rally in the previous two years were under 30. However, this time the standard view is correct - more than half of self-reported participants are under 30.

Teenagers and 20-somethings are not just participating. They are leading protests, in places as different as 4S Ranch, Calif.; Aledo, Tex.; Canton, Mo.; Morgantown, W.Va.; Potsdam, N.Y.; Springfield, Ill.; and Woburn, Mass. A typical small town was Pen Argyl, Pa. (pop. 3,600), where three friends in their late teens organized the protest, while younger siblings helped promote it on Instagram. One hundred and 50 people showed up in support.

The fact that they used Instagram isn't happenstance. In rural and small-town areas, young people are seeing the world - and their own role in it - through an Instagram-anchored media ecosystem that connects them to young people in cities and differentiates them from older people around them.

What teens and 20-somethings have seen in recent years is people of their own age taking the lead nationally and internationally, in the Movement for Black Lives, gun control and climate action. Some have firsthand experience, too. On March 14, 2018, survivors of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting helped galvanize student walkouts at more than 4,400 schools nationwide - from kindergarten to high school classrooms. A majority of the school districts in Pennsylvania that had a walkout in 2018 have now seen an anti-racism protest, as have an additional 140 districts statewide.

- Broad protests are building specific local coalitions

These protests involve a wider range of places and a different mix of people than the 2017 Women's March/anti-Trump wave. Still, there are important parallels. First-time activists have rapidly built connections with one another and others nearby. New micro-regional alliances were born within days, like Small Town Peaceful Protests in eastern Pennsylvania's Slate Belt and If Not Us Who along the Susquehanna. New organizers have connected with established partners, too, from NAACP chapters and churches to labor-linked independent expenditure groups to state legislators.

In suburbs, cities and small towns alike, such coalitions are articulating local demands that range from changing high school curriculums and reconsidering the presence of police officers in schools, to advancing stalled county legislation for police accountability, changing use-of-force rules and challenging police budget allocations. Politicians are responding, presumably because they can see the groundswell.

- New people are coming into politics

A sign at a Black Lives Matter protest in Montoursville, Pa., population 4,600, read: "It's not about Politics: it's all about ETHICS." The largely white, largely young protesters in this Trump+44 county carried signs with slogans like "Black LGBTQ Lives Matter," "Racism is a System not an Event," "The System isn't Broken it was BUILT this way," "White Silence=VIOLENCE." None of these are partisan statements, but embracing them publicly and collectively may have broad political consequences.

Nearly half of the 10% of American adults who report attending a protest in support of Black Lives Matter last month identify as independents. That's important because, in general, independents are less likely to be politically engaged or optimistic about politics or to vote. Yet the message that voting is necessary - if not sufficient - has rung out at protests. From Kansas City to Sacramento, protesters registered voters.

Everything we know about political engagement suggests that protest involvement builds new personal networks that make people more knowledgeable and engaged with politics - and more likely to vote. All this suggests that the current wave of anti-racism protests may reshape local political engagement, and through it regional and state politics, even more than the tea party or the suburban-led anti-Trump "Resistance."

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Putnam is a professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh and a contributor to "Upending American Politics: Polarizing Parties, Ideological Elites, and Citizen Activists from the Tea Party to the Anti-Trump Resistance." Pressman is an associate professor of political science at the University of Connecticut and author of the forthcoming book "The Sword Is Not Enough: Arabs, Israelis, and the Limits of Military Force."

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For other analysis and commentary from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage.
This is going to have real financial impacts, and by investing in Splash Mountain, that means something else is not going to get built. Something else is not going to get fixed, said Jim Korkis, a former Disney employee who has written multiple books on the companys history, including Whos Afraid of the Song of the South?
When Carsyns condition didnt improve, her mom and dad, a physicians assistant, gave her oxygen from her grandfathers tank, but eventually took her to Gulf Coast Medical Center in south Fort Myers, according to NBC 2. Carsyn was transferred to another hospital, where she was diagnosed with coronavirus, but her parents refused to have her intubated.
Facebook took down a network of more than 100 pages and accounts on Wednesday it said was affiliated with felon and former Republican operative Roger Stone for "coordinated inauthentic behavior," taking the company's campaign against disinformation closer to the heart of the nation's political establishment.

The offending activity on Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram dated as far back as 2015 but was particularly active during the 2016 presidential election season, when Stone was advising Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and in 2017, as federal investigators were scrutinizing his activities.

Facebook officials said Stone, a longtime friend of President Trump, used fake accounts and other deceptive measures to manipulate public debate. He also, in at least a small number of occasions, drew attention to posts made by anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, which at the time was publishing damaging Democratic Party emails originally stolen by Russian hackers, the company said.

The action comes at a time when several Silicon Valley companies have gotten more aggressive in enforcing their policies against disinformation, hate speech and other problematic content - even when that involves action against President Trump or people close to him.

The moves have revived allegations by conservatives that technology companies and their mostly liberal leadership are squelching conservative voices and ideas ahead of the November election, though these critics have never provided systematic evidence for their claims. Democrats, civil rights leaders and independent researchers have argued that Facebook has not done nearly enough to protect democracy from disinformation and hate speech on its platform.

Nathaniel Gleicher, head of security policy for Facebook, said that Stone's personal accounts were among 54 Facebook accounts, 50 Facebook pages and four Instagram accounts closed Wednesday for policy violations. Of Stone's personal accounts, Gleicher said, "We saw them deeply enmeshed in the activity here."

Gleicher added that the action was driven by numerous violations against Facebook's policy against "coordinated inauthentic behavior," not the political views expressed through the accounts affiliated with Stone.

Efforts to reach Stone or his attorneys were not immediately successful.

Facebook's report on its takedown of the Stone network said, "The Page admins and account owners posted about local politics in Florida, Roger Stone and his Pages, websites, books, and media appearances, a Florida land and water resources bill, the hacked materials released by WikiLeaks ahead of the US 2016 election, candidates in the 2016 primaries and general election, and the Roger Stone trial."

Among the posts flagged by Facebook as misleading was one that said, "What ? Hillary Clinton gets a pass from the FBI but the Democrats want the FBI to investigate Roger Stone?" An account used the misleading name "President Bernie Sanders," the company said.

The network affiliated with Stone had about 260,000 followers on Facebook and 61,500 on Instagram, and it spent up to $308,000 for advertisements. The network had extensive connections with one affiliated with the Proud Boys, an extremist group banned by Facebook for previous violations that had sought to reestablish its presence on the platform, according to Gleicher.

The network came to light after several news organizations, including The Washington Post, petitioned for public release of search warrants used by special counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation into allegations of improper contact between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. Information in the warrants led to the accounts affiliated with Stone and his associates, Gleicher said.

Network analysis firm Graphika also investigated the Stone network, finding in a report released Wednesday that it engaged in coordinated harassment of political opponents and critics and sought to give the impression of significant online public support for Stone, including during his trial.

Also Wednesday, Facebook announced the takedown of three other networks that were primarily active in Ukraine and Latin America. Some were affiliated with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, though Facebook said it was not clear if he had any direct role in the accounts.

"At a high level, this entire takedown marks a reckoning that politicians around the world also use information operations to influence domestic and local issues," said Camille Francois, chief innovation officer for Graphika.

Though most of the deceptive activity unfolded in 2016 and 2017, a small number of assets were still active this year. Few of the posts ever received much engagement, with the exception of those that came from Stone's own accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

Many of the accounts active in the network bore hallmarks of falsity, including the use of stock photos or other images borrowed from the web, according to a report by Graphika. For instance, an account claiming to be based in Santa Monica, Calif., made its profile picture a shot of a YouTube beauty influencer. Another account used a photo of Tamar Khomasuridze, the United Nations Population Fund's Assessor for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Istanbul.

Stone, a Trump confidant who was convicted in November of witness tampering and lying to Congress, is due to begin a 40-month prison term next week.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, in a ruling last month, delayed the deadline for him to report to federal prison by two weeks. He had asked to put off serving the sentence until September, citing concerns about the coronavirus.

Stone, 67, again on Monday asked to postpone the date on which he must surrender, filing an emergency appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The appeals court gave the government until Thursday to respond to the request. Stone, who has long described himself as a "dirty trickster," contends that his age and underlying health problems make him acutely vulnerable to the virus

Seven inmates and two members of staff have tested positive at FCI Jesup, the medium-security prison in Georgia where he is required to report, according to according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website. Trump has strongly suggested he will pardon the longtime GOP operative, recently retweeting a post that said, "IT'S TIME TO #PardonRogerStone."
There will always be individuals who choose not to wear face coverings and there will be those who wear them all the time, Mayor Cathy Hoechst said in a message to residents on Wednesday. My hope is that this resolution helps those who are unsure to voluntarily wear a face covering and that we all use common sense, good judgement and err on the side of caution.
The attorneys who spoke to the Sentinel said they were told by LaBar and other managers to answer no to the questions if they or someone they knew got tested only for peace of mind, as opposed to because they had coronavirus symptoms. Managers could also override their employees answers to allow them in the building, they said.
OUCs spokesman Tim Trudell said of the utilitys 250,000 customers, about 25,000 are behind by an average of about $350 in payments. About 15,000 of those are far enough behind they would have been eligible for disconnection prior to the pandemic, he said.
Republican operative Roger Stone made a naked appeal to President Donald Trump to grant him a pardon or commute his sentence before he starts a 40-month prison term on July 14.

"I want the president to know that I have exhausted all my legal remedies and that only an act of clemency will provide justice in my case and save my life!" Stone, 67, said in a statement sent by text Tuesday.

Stone's statement came after the U.S. government was ordered by a federal appeals court to respond to his request to delay the start of his 40-month prison term as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington on Tuesday ordered the government to file its response by July 9. Stone, who is due to report to prison on July 14, filed an emergency appeal on Monday after U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson denied his motion to set a Sept. 3 surrender date.

The Justice Department didn't oppose Stone's request to Jackson.

Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress during the Russia investigation, claims in his appeals court filing that his age and an underlying health condition made him particularly vulnerable to Covid-19.

Current conditions inside federal prisons would "render Stone at grave risk of serious complications if infected with Covid-19," his lawyer, Seth Ginsberg, said in his filing with the appeals court on Monday

Jackson denied Stone's request but extended his surrender date by two weeks, ordering him to remain confined to his home during that time. She noted in her ruling that in similar cases the U.S. had opposed so-called compassionate release from jails where there isn't yet an outbreak, even when an inmate older than Stone had the same condition.

Stone said Tuesday he didn't think the Justice Department would support his bid for further delay and a presidential act was the only thing that could keep from prison.

"I want to live long enough for my appeal to be heard because my appeal will expose the misconduct of the judge, the misconduct of the jury forewoman, the misconduct of at least one other juror and the criminal misconduct of the prosecutors; therefore I am highly confident of exoneration on appeal," Stone said.
W/ so many failures to effectively confront this crisis at every level of government, I really do believe individual Americans & the private sector are left to pick up the slack to get us through this pandemic...But I dont want to neglect to mention the heroes that have been there for us since the beginning: the doctors, nurses, support staff and all the front-line medical personnel who are protecting the public health the best they can. They have not failed us.
WASHINGTON - Four Republican senators said Tuesday that they will not attend next month's Republican National Convention, where the party will renominate President Donald Trump, citing the demands of their own campaigns or simply deciding to skip the gathering in Jacksonville, Fla.

Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who spoke out last month against Trump's handling of the racial injustice protests and against his moral leadership, and Mitt Romney of Utah, the party's 2012 presidential nominee, joined Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee in making other plans in late August.

An aide for a fourth GOP lawmaker, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said she does not plan to travel to Jacksonville either. But the aide noted that this is not a change in plans: Collins has never attended national conventions in years when she is up for election.

On Monday, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said he would not attend, citing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic as Florida is seeing a surge in cases.

In a statement, an Alexander spokesman said that despite being the honorary chairman of the Tennessee delegation to the convention, the senator, who is retiring early next year, will not attend "because he believes the delegate spots should be reserved for those who have not had that privilege before as he has had."

Alexander's office did not immediately respond to a question about whether the coronavirus was a factor in his decision.

Both Grassley, 86, and Alexander, 80, are among the oldest GOP senators. The virus has taken a disproportionate toll on elderly Americans.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., whose title makes him an honorary co-chair of the convention, does plan to attend the gathering, a spokesman said Tuesday.

"The Leader has every intention of attending," David Popp, McConnell's spokesman, said in a statement.

Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., also plans to attend, tweeting Tuesday: "I campaigned with President Trump in 2018 - where he helped expand our Senate majority - and touted his policies to Make America Great Again. I'll be at the @GOPconvention in Jacksonville with @realDonaldTrump where we will kick off the 2020 campaign to #KeepAmericaGreat!"

Karina Petersen, a spokeswoman for Murkowski, said the senator, who often spends August in Alaska, "does not plan to attend the convention at this time."

Romney skipped the 2016 convention in Cleveland, and his spokeswoman, Liz Johnson, said Tuesday that he does not plan to attend this year's gathering.

Alexander announced in late 2018 that he would not seek reelection this year. At the time, the senator said he had concluded that his three Senate terms and two as Tennessee governor were enough.

Alexander has cultivated a reputation as a traditional Republican senator, voting with Trump much of the time but also willing to work with Democrats. As chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, he has been an active player in shaping the federal response to the coronavirus.

The Republican convention was originally slated for Charlotte. But after failing to receive assurances from North Carolina's Democratic governor about being allowed to proceed with its plans for the large event, the Republican National Committee announced that it was moving many of the major convention events, including Trump's acceptance speech, to Jacksonville.

Grassley told reporters Monday that he has attended every Republican National Convention since 1980 and that while he supports GOP officials holding the event, they should strive to "make it as safe as possible, so that would mean with face masks and with social distancing," the Des Moines Register reported.

- - -

The Washington Post's Paul Kane, Seung Min Kim and Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump intensified his pressure campaign to reopen schools, attacking the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over guidelines he said were too onerous, costly and impractical.

Trump, in tweets Wednesday, said he'd be meeting with the CDC about the guidance, and threatened to withhold federal funding to schools that didn't fully reopen, as he urged schools to begin again this fall with in-person classes despite a resurgence of coronavirus cases.

Opening schools would enable parents to return to work -- a key piece of Trump's push to accelerate the reopening of the U.S. economy even as the nation sees record numbers of new daily coronavirus cases, including 58,000 on Tuesday.

In a separate tweet on Wednesday, Trump threatened federal funding for schools that didn't reopen, saying: "The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but it is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!"

The remark prompted a quick backlash on Capitol Hill. House Appropriations Committee spokesman Evan Hollander said in a statement Wednesday that Congress funds federal education programs.

"President Trump is repeating the same mistakes that have made America's coronavirus pandemic the worst in the world, attempting to override science in search of political advantage," Hollander said. "The president has no authority to cut off funding for these students, and threatening to do so to prop up his flailing campaign is offensive."

Trump's threat also ran contrary to the traditional Republican stance of giving more control over schools to localities, rather than the federal government. On Tuesday, administration officials said in a briefing with reporters that the decision on reopening would ultimately be up to local leaders. But later that day at a White House event, Trump said his administration is "very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools, to get them open."

States are grappling with how to proceed. New York City schools will likely reopen with in-person learning two or three days a week. Florida is requiring schools to reopen next month, despite rising cases totals there.

Trump has routinely been at odds with health officials during the pandemic, including in May when he criticized Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for saying schools may not be able to reopen. Fauci was once a mainstay of the U.S. coronavirus response but has said he now speaks with Trump far less frequently. Fauci hasn't spoken publicly at the White House since April.

The CDC isn't the only health agency to find itself at odds with the president over the pandemic. Trump has also resumed touting hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for the coronavirus, despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning that it could cause "serious heart rhythm problems and other safety issues, including blood and lymph system disorders, kidney injuries, and liver problems and failure."
The women are in a single room whose only sunlight comes from a small window that was recently taped shut. They share a toilet, wash clothes in the sink and cook one meal per day when the agency drops off food. The pregnant woman hasnt seen a doctor in months, Apisaki said, and the woman who tore off her clothes spent weeks lying naked on the tile, her arm chained to the wall.
By Gina Gotsill

Bay City News Foundation

All Are One, a fund created by two Hollywood couples that gives cash gifts to families struggling through the COVID-19 financial crisis, made its first distribution last month at an Antioch church, with 23 families receiving ribbon-tied boxes containing $1,200 in cash at the drive-up event.

Actress Annie Potts, her husband, director/producer Jim Hayman and writer/producers Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider started All Are One (www.allr.one) to allow people who may not need their stimulus check, or who have money to spare, to give to people in need via a network of charitable organizations.

People can go online to make their contributions or mail a check to All Are One. Future distributions will depend on the amount of donations, according to Pascal Kaplan, a friend of the All Are One creators who assisted with web development.

All Are One partners with White Pony Express, a Pleasant Hill-based food and necessity-distribution program, and Following Francis, an educational organization for underserved communities.

White Pony Express and Following Francis then connect with community leaders such as teachers, principals and pastors to identify families in need in California, South Carolina and Washington, D.C., according to Kaplan.

In a video statement on the All Are One website, the creators said people who receive gifts are low-paid workers who are unemployed and unable to make ends meet, and the fund distributes cash gifts because many of the recipients do not have bank accounts.

"We are two-thirds of the way to having the funds needed for the next distribution, which will be in Washington, D.C.," Kaplan said in a statement. "If enough funds come in after that, then the next distribution will be in South Carolina."

After South Carolina, the cycle will repeat, starting in California, he said.

When All Are One has money to distribute, it asks community leaders to invite recipient families to come to a location -- generally a nearby church or school -- to receive a "special gift," Kaplan said. The recipients are not aware what is in the gift box when they pick it up.

All Are One is a form of direct giving, Hayman said. The fund is not a charity, and there is no tax deduction.

Potts said that like many people, she was looking for ways to help when the COVID-19 crisis hit. An avid sewer, she started making masks and sent some of these masks to White Pony Express for auction to benefit the organization. She heard of other people sharing their stimulus checks and thought it sounded like a good idea, she said.

"What an opportunity we have to exercise this inclination to give a gift from the heart," Potts said.

The gifts are anonymous -- recipients do not know who the individual donor is. Likewise, All Are One representatives do not know who the recipients are. They attend the distribution events and hand the box to the recipients, but they leave it up to White Pony Express and Following Francis to connect with pastors and other community leaders to find the families most in need, White Pony Express spokesman Steve Spraitzar said.

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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A 35-year-old man was injured in a shooting in San Francisco's Glen Park neighborhood on Tuesday evening, according to police.

Officers initially responded at 7:12 p.m. to a ShotSpotter gunshot detection system activation in the 200 block of Addison Street and learned that the victim had taken himself to a hospital to be treated for his injuries, which were not life-threatening.

MORE NEWS: Bay Area pair who painted over BLM mural charged with hate crime

No arrest has been made in connection with the shooting and no suspect information was immediately available Wednesday morning.

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By Eduardo Cuevas

San Jose Spotlight

After an initial denial over the Independence Day weekend, state officials approved Santa Clara County's request to reopen more businesses under a new health order set to take effect next Monday.

As of Tuesday morning, the county's 35-page application to verify it met certain criteria was added onto the California Department of Public Health's list of counties with approval. The decision means outdoor dining in Santa Clara County can continue, and personal care services, such as hair and nail salons and gyms can reopen next Monday. The order also allows larger gatherings.

By attesting to state criteria related to case rates, testing, contact tracing and hospital capacity, among other requirements, Santa Clara County can move further into the state's phased reopening plan.

In an impromptu news conference Tuesday, Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said state approval allows the county to have flexibility by reducing risk for businesses that can open. But COVID-19 cases are still increasing, Cody warned, citing a two-day span of 450 new cases over the Independence Day weekend -- the highest reporting period to date.

"What this order means is we need to do our lives differently," Cody told reporters. "We have to conduct ourselves differently. We know that we can't be one hundred percent in our homes, sheltered all the time. But when we go out to engage in business or to engage in activity, we must do it differently."

On Saturday, the state had initially rejected Santa Clara County's application, despite the county days later being removed from a watchlist for a high rate of hospitalizations. Local officials said they were in communication with the state to understand how to overturn the rejection.

County Deputy Executive David Campos told San Jose Spotlight the county was denied for increases in hospitalizations, which remained relatively low overall.

Santa Clara, Alameda and Imperial counties were previously the only regions that had not received approval for further reopening.

The county's denial came as armed state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control agents told restaurants in South County they couldn't operate outdoors on Friday, which has been allowed under the county's current June 5 order, according to Morgan Hill police.

State officials said Santa Clara County did not have approval to reopen restaurants and were violating California's stay-home order. But Campos disputed that Monday, saying outdoor dining could continue.

The Ladera Grill was one of the Morgan Hill businesses targeted by state agents, though it remained open. As they prepared for outdoor dining Tuesday, manager Katrina Parsen said ABC's action hurt business.

"It makes us happy that we don't have to shut down because we weren't doing anything wrong," she told San Jos Spotlight. "We were (doing) what we were allowed to by Santa Clara County."

Under the new health order announced last Thursday, the county is set to begin its path to reopening more businesses and activities, including gatherings of 20 people indoors and 60 outside. In the coming days, the county plans to post sector-specific directives related to the new order. Businesses must also follow physical distancing protocols.

"It's definitely moving in the right direction," said Matt Mahood, chief executive of the Silicon Valley Organization, the area's largest chamber of commerce. "It's unfortunate that, over the weekend, there was confusion and lack of clarity between the state and county, but I think we feel much better about the direction the county is moving with the state's support and we need to keep moving in that direction of getting more small businesses open."

Much of the onus to enforce the new order falls on businesses and residents. While hoping people are peer-pressured to do the right thing, Supervisor Dave Cortese last Thursday described enforcing the rules somewhat of an "honor" system.

Meanwhile, activities that require the removal of a mask, like dine-in eating or indoor swimming pools, will remain closed.

Luckily, San Jose barber Braulio Gonzalez saved money before the stay-at-home order shuttered his business. He turned to helping his dad's landscaping company instead.

Gonzalez has followed state guidance on reopening personal care businesses, such as not accepting walk-in clients, but he feels shaky about disposable capes.

"We'll see what happens. But the plan is to make myself available to clients," Gonzalez said.

Amid the closure, Gonzalez got a course certificate on barber disinfectants and protocols, with a certificate he plans to post on social media. Barbers often serve a much larger purpose than cutting hair - they help people talk through their problems, build community and check on others' well-being, Gonzalez adds.

"In times that we're so disconnected and we're so isolated, the connection between a client and barber, it's not real unless we have a contact and ability to work with them," he said. "Yeah, it's about the economy, it's about making money. But it's also about serving people."

Meanwhile, Kathy diTullio has kept her Gilroy in-home gym business, KD Fitness, open inside her two-car garage.

She's been cautious by only training one person at a time. Some clients prefer virtual workouts, she added, but it's based on how clients feel.

"My biggest concern is how they plan to control just the flow," diTullio said, citing physical distancing requirements and face masks, which can be cumbersome while working out. "I think it's going to be really tedious in gyms to really regulate all that. Something's gotta give."

As the county begins further reopening next Monday, County Executive Jeff Smith said residents must protect themselves by physically distancing, wearing face coverings and isolating if they show symptoms. Officials noted the largest source of transmission comes from larger gatherings, such as Memorial Day weekend, often with family.

"That's the problem that we're trying to resolve with personal responsibility," Smith said. "Obviously closing a restaurant doesn't stop somebody from having a large gathering at their home, and the virus is passed through those large gatherings.

"No one should get the idea that we're moving in a positive direction with the disease," he added. "We're going in a negative direction."

Contact Eduardo Cuevas at cuevasesjs@gmail.com or follow @eduardomcuevas on Twitter.

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Regents of the University of California on Tuesday chose Dr. Michael Drake as the new president of the university, making him the first person of color to lead the UC system.

Drake, the president of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, was chosen unanimously by the UC regents.

Drake, 69, was a student and a faculty member of the University of California before leaving in 2014. He succeeds President Janet Napolitano who has been at the helm since September 2013 and was the first woman to lead the university.

"Dr. Drake possesses the demonstrated insight, experience and commitment it takes to help us continue to grow the next generation of extraordinary California leaders," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis said of Drake, "By all accounts, an incredible choice."

Drake said that being away from the University of California and coming back is a "homecoming."

After the vote, Drake spoke and thanked many people, including his wife and sons, who "have really created a world in which we could together make a day like this possible."

Drake then addressed the work ahead.

"We face very, very significant challenges," he said. "We have a global pandemic that is still spreading. We have the yawning wounds of social injustice that we see in so many ways that really tears at the fabric of our lives."

He said, "We have the long-term threats of environmental degradation and climate change that must be addressed if we are going to continue as a species.

"The UC is among the few institutions worldwide best equipped really to meet these challenges," he said. "Perhaps not to solve them and certainly not to solve them single-handedly, but to be fully engaged in finding solutions," he said.

Drake became president of Ohio State University in June 2014. Before that he was chancellor of the University of California at Irvine for nine years.

He was a faculty member of the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine for more than two decades. Drake earned his medical degree at UCSF and an undergraduate degree at Stanford University.

Napolitano will step down Aug. 1 and take some time off before teaching at the University of California at Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy.

"He has my full confidence," Napolitano said of Drake.

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Every Wednesday, SFGATE will report on the most recent seven-day averages for coronavirus hospitalizations and the percentage of positive tests in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Because raw case counts are often a function of testing, hospitalizations and test positivity are the two best metrics for measuring the spread of the virus in the region.

The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 is increasing in every Bay Area county, although some of the increase can be attributed to transfers from other parts of the state.

In San Francisco, 15 of the 73 patients currently hospitalized are designated as transfers from overwhelmed areas. The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) told SFGATE earlier this week it had three patients from Imperial County and five from San Quentin State Prison.

San Francisco is the only Bay Area county that reports how many patients are transfers, but it is fair to assume there are transfers in other Bay Area hospitals. Santa Clara County briefly landed on the state's county watch list due to a rise in hospitalizations, but state officials said that many of the new hospitalizations were transfers.

However, transfers are likely only partially responsible for the recent hospitalization increases. For San Francisco, the number of San Francisco patients currently hospitalized stands at 58, but that figure was in the mid-to-low 30s in early June. The percentage of positive tests is also creeping up in most Bay Area counties, but none have seen an increase over the past week larger than 0.6%. All counties are still under the 8% benchmark California Gov. Gavin Newsom stated counties should strive to stay below.

It will take another week to see the impacts of Fourth of July weekend on tests positivity rates, and likely another two weeks to see the impact on hospitalizations.

Here's a county-by-county look at hospitalization and percent positivity figures. All data comes from individual county websites and the state's database for county-by-county hospitalizations.

San Francisco (4,020 confirmed cases)

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on June 29: 56.3 patients

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on July 6: 70.3 patients

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on June 29: 3.3 percent

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on July 4: 3.6 percent

*San Francisco's complete testing data only goes up to July 4

San Mateo (3,743 confirmed cases)

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on June 29: 29.1 patients

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on July 6: 53.7 patients

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on June 29: 5.3 percent

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on July 6: 5.9 percent

Alameda (6,887 confirmed cases)

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on June 29: 91 patients

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on July 4*: 128 patients

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on June 29: 3.5 percent

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on July 5: 3.8 percent

*Alameda's hospitalization data only goes up to July 4

*Alameda's testing data only goes up to July 5

Contra Costa (4,092 confirmed cases)

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on June 29: 37 patients

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on July 6: 49 patients

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on June 29: 6.8 percent

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on July 6: 6.9 percent

Santa Clara (5,478 confirmed cases)

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on June 29: 70.6 patients

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on July 6: 84.4 patients

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on June 29: 1.7 percent

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on July 6: 2.8 percent

Marin (1,512 confirmed cases)

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on June 29: 13 patients

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on July 5*: 26.6 patients

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on June 29: 7.4 percent

Seven-day average for percent positive test rate on July 3*: 7 percent

*Marin County's hospitalization data only goes up to July 5.

*Marin County's testing data only goes up to July 3.

Solano (1,826 confirmed cases)

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on June 29: 26.9 patients

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on July 6: 37.1 patients

NOTE: Solano does not report the daily percent positive test rate, only cumulative testing data.

Napa (448 confirmed cases)

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on June 29: 6.4 patients

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on July 6: 6.6 patients

NOTE: Napa does not report the daily percent positive test rate, only cumulative testing data.

Sonoma (1,487 confirmed cases)

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on June 29: 13 patients

Seven-day average for hospitalizations on July 6: 22 patients

NOTE: Sonoma does not report the daily percent positive test rate.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

 San Francisco pushes back reopening timeline for indoor dining, outdoor bars

 Beachside Coffee Bar & Kitchen permanently closes in the Outer Sunset

 First brewery in Jack London Square closes permanently

 Tom Hanks delivers a blunt message about COVID-19 on 'Today'

Levi's to cut 700 office jobs due to virus-related slump

Eric Ting is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting
The Suns defense relies on Heards allegations of 14 incidents of violence by Depp between 2013 and 2016, in locations including Los Angeles, Australia, Japan, the Bahamas and a chartered jet. He denies them all and says Heard, an actress and model, attacked him with items including a drink can and a cigarette, and severed his finger by throwing a vodka bottle at him.
Whether its Groundhog Day or Edge of Tomorrow, the question that follows any Infinite Time Loop movie is always exactly the same.

You turn to whoever youre watching it with and say, So what would you do?

I turn to my wife after we finish Hulus new Infinite Time Loop movie Palm Springs and ask her exactly this. She says shed go to Disneyland, I tell her Id go to Yosemite, both of us equally confident in our infinitesimal life-loop decisions.

HAHAHA, youd never make it to Yosemite in time, youd spend your whole day driving. Dumb answer, she says.

Its like six hours from Palm Springs, Id get there and have a full five hours of sunlight to hike all the trails, plus get to sleep under the stars in the most beautiful place in the world. HOW IS THAT NOT YOUR ANSWER? But also, if you did go to Disneyland, you should stand near the Club 33 door until you hear someone give their name, then come back the next day before they arrive, use their name, and drink hella martinis in Disneylands secret club.

Totally, she says, never responding to my perfectly defended Yosemite answer.

In Palm Springs  which debuts Friday, July 10  Andy Samberg (Brooklyn 99, SNL, and most importantly Hot Rod) plays the role of Guy Permanently Trapped in the Same Day, but with the added wrinkle of having Cristin Milioti (the mom in How I Met Your Mother, the first wife in Wolf Of Wall Street) join him after she mistakenly walks into the same glowing cave that trapped Samberg in time. Together they tackle well-worn territory for this kind of movie (Do all the drugs! Kill yourself a bunch! Have sex with everyone!) but also add a few new layers (Go camping! Chill in someones pool whos out of town! Have a 1,000,000th birthday party at a dank roadside bar!).

Courtesy of Hulu

The movie is great. Its a coming out party for Milioti, and Samberg is awesomely reunited with J.K. Simmons, which made me really want to re-watch I Love You, Man. But I didnt re-watch I Love You, Man (even though, again, I really wanted to). Instead I did something Ive never done before: I booked a campsite at Big Basin, Californias oldest state park.

Because, even though this movie is 100% not a pandemic movie, it also 100% is a pandemic movie since were all essentially trapped in place. And its one that made me change my entire approach to our infinite time loop of masks (seriously guys, wear a mask), hand-washing and people who dont know how to mute on Zoom. Ive been waiting for our loop to end, but it hasnt, and maybe itll be a long time before it does (FIGURE IT OUT, ZOOM MUTE GUY).

Milioti goes through this, too. She tries to find the cave that trapped her permanently (Waste of tiiiiime, Samberg yells), drives across the country and even tries the whole Groundhog Day Bill Murray Be A Good Person Thing, but all of them lead her back to the same day.

So once shes done with all of the requisite Infinite Time Loop movie tropes, shes forced to ask herself so what would you do? And then along with Samberg, they do those things (drink Tecates, eat burritos, swim in strangers pools). She stops trying to figure out how to move on to the next day and focuses on what will bring her joy, provided that thing fits in a very tight rubric: 1) it only lasts a single day, and 2) it originates in the desert (side note: Im actually from the desert and this movie is very much not set in Palm Springs at all and should really have been titled Joshua Tree or Pioneertown, BUT I DIGRESS).

Courtesy of Hulu

The difference between Palm Springs and No End In Sight Pandemic World, though, is consequences. There are none in the former, there are infinite in the latter. If you dont follow the tight pandemic rubric, you die, or kill someone else, or potentially have health issues for the rest of your life. But, like Milioti, we too still need to find sources of joy.

And thats where Big Basin Redwoods State Park fit in for me. It was super close to where I live, it didnt require me to be within six feet of anyone and it was easy to visit safely (TIGHT RUBRIC, NO DYING). Also, it was a chance to do something Id never done before  real-life camping without the help of one of the three Eagle Scouts in my wifes family  which resulted in a marshmallow-filled bonding moment with my oldest daughter (JOY).

Other than a firewood cutting accident that resulted in nearly cutting off the tip of one finger and severing an artery in a second, and a two-hour ER stay, and 12 stitches... the camping trip went great. We got back to the tent at 10 p.m. after the hospital detour, ate marshmallows under the stars, went on a five-mile hike the next morning and had ice cream for lunch. I honestly wouldnt have changed a thing* (*lie, its really hard to type this story with only eight fingers).

Because as Sambergs character says in the film, We kind of have no choice but to live.

Grant Marek is the Editorial Director of SFGATE. Email: grant.marek@sfgate.com | Twitter: @grant_marek
Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Ivory Coast's prime minister and the ruling party's candidate for an October presidential election, died on Wednesday, President Alassane Ouattara said.

The 61-year-old Gon Coulibaly, who had heart surgery in 2012, became unwell during a weekly cabinet meeting and was evacuated to a hospital where he passed away, Ouattara said in a statement read on national television.

Gon Coulibaly had returned to Ivory Coast last Thursday after two months in France to undergo a heart exam and rest.

"Fellow compatriots, Ivory Coast is mourning. It is with deep pain that I announce to you that Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly has left us," Ouattara said in a statement read by the presidency's secretary general.

Gon Coulibaly's death is likely to set off a scramble within the ruling RHDP party to replace him as its candidate in an election that is considered a key test of stability for the world's top cocoa producer.

Ouattara's first win in 2010 over incumbent Laurent Gbagbo sparked a brief civil war in which about 3,000 people died, and political tensions have been rising ahead of October's poll.

Ouattara designated Gon Coulibaly as the RHDP candidate in March after announcing that he would not seek a third term.

Short link:


Weve all been asked to sit with ourselves, and that can be really difficult. Thats what happens in the film for Sarah for the first time, and its a nightmare, says Milioti. The silver lining of that is that we, white people, had to sit in the discomfort of Oh my God. We had to watch things. We had to sit in the horror of it all and there was no distraction.
Merchant rates hovered around Rs 49,122 to Rs 49,500 per ten grams exclusive of GST and making charges. A 3 percent GST would work out to Rs 1,473.66. That makes buying ten grams of 24 Karat Gold expensive than Rs 50,000. Merchant and Jeweler rates varies across Indian cities and states, click here for Sify.com 's latest and near-accurate rates.

Gold futures for August were up by Rs 706 or 1.12 percent on the Multi-Commodity Exchange, racing off to a high of Rs 49,348 per ten grams.

Mumbai/New-Delhi: Gold rates on Wednesday rallied off in yet another bullish session.

In International commodity markets, gold rates rallied off to a nine year high of $1,815 per troy ounce, way higher than the London Bullion Merchants Association's Tuesday-closing-price of $1,789.55.

A similar bullish sentiment was spotted last week with the MCX August Gold futures hitting 48,982 while spot rates soared to a high of $1,807.70 per troy ounce.

The Yellow-metal's sugar-rush also had a rub-on impact on Silver which moved upwards of Rs 52,270 per kilogram, up by nearly 1.58 percent within one session. Silver is trading at a multi-year high on exchanges. On the MCX, Silver futures raced off to a high of 51,440 per kilo (up by 1.65%).

Gold's meteoric rise has had several contributing factors such as volatile equity markets, souring US-China relations (visa restrictions), forex volatility, covid impact and bullish investor sentiment. Here are three key factors:

Covid-Sentiment: Federal Reserve officials have hinted of a downward trend in consumer spending and jobs. That, despite US President Donald Trump rooting for schools and the economy to reopen. There is also the fear of ever-rising cases and fatalities in US, Brazil and India.

Rising Gold ETFs: The general trend is an up-tick in ETFs and Gold holdings. SPDR July holdings as on Tuesday were reportedly up by 0.66 percent to 1,199.36 tonnes.

Geopolitics: Sour trade relations between US-China and the recent visa-war is adding pressure to equity investments, favoring gold.

For Indian investors, the higher rates quoted by merchants post-noon was also attributed to a sudden spurt in Indian Rupee that was range-bound between 74.55 to 74.78.

Expert Opinions:

Analysts expect Gold to hold momentum at $1,800 per troy ounce even as bullish investors expect Gold to touch levels of $2,000 - US Comex raced off to $,1911.60 on September 6 2011.

An IBJA representative's forecast of Gold is Rs 52,000 per ten grams exclusive of GST. Another industry representative felt Rs 55,000 was probable thanks to the nearing festive season of Dhanteras and Diwali. Here's what other market observers believe:

Ravindra Rao, VP-head commodity research at Kotak Securities:

"After days of consolidation near the $1,780/ounce, gold regained momentum to break above $1,800/ounce opening way for further gains. Supporting the gold price is safe-haven buying amid rising virus concerns and uncertainty about global economic recovery..."

He adds, "Gold has rescaled $1,800/oz level opening way for more upside provided it sustains above $1,800 for few sessions."

Rahul Gupta, Head of Research- Currency, Emkay Global Financial Services:

"The USD/INR spot has been respecting the 75.05 resistance as traders are hopeful about additional government and central bank stimulus from major economies. However, until then in the absence of major economic data, the coronavirus and geopolitical fears will keep risk sentiments under check. The US-China trade tiff is escalating with Trump considering to ban TikTok app as a retribution against China for coronavirus pandemic. If the immediate resistance of 75.05/75.10 breaks then we can see a rally towards 75.50, with crucial support being 74.50."

Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Director, Morningstar:

"Being one of the better performing asset class since 2019 and this year so far, Gold, expectedly has emerged as a preferred investment destination among investors. Since August 2019 till June 2020, Gold ETF category has received net inflows to the tune of INR 3,723 crores, signifying increased investor interest."

"Net inflows continue to pour into the Gold ETF category. Through June month, the category received a net inflow of INR 494 crores. Prior to that, it received a net inflow of INR 731 crores and INR 815 crores in April and May respectively. As the surge in coronavirus cases have cast a doubt on the swift recovery hopes, investors continue to hedge their exposure to riskier assets by investing a portion of their assets in gold, as it is seen as a safe haven in times of uncertainty."

"Gold functions as a strategic asset in an investors portfolio, given its ability to act as an effective diversifier, and alleviate losses during tough market conditions and economic downturns. This is where it draws its a safe-haven appeal, which has been on full display since 2019."

Average investors keen on investing in Gold can the Sovereign Gold Bond window open until Friday. The Sovereign Gold bond is priced at Rs 48,502 (online payment for subscription of 10 units), lower than Wednesday's Delhi bullion rate of 49,055 per 10 grams.

Also Read: Gold rates could nearly double in 12-18 months

Disclaimer: Latest revised rates for Thursday as of 10:30 AM were reportedly higher. The LBMA's benchmark PM rates for Wednesday stood at $1,811.10 per troy ounce. MCX Futures for August deliveries raced off to Rs 49,216. 22 Karat Gold rates too have soared across several cities.
The official, Peter Navarro, cited on Tuesday a study of 2,451 patients by doctors in Detroit that showed that early use of HCQ reduced the death rates of hospitalised patients by half and said, "This has become a highly politicised (matter), but India uses this widely (as) prophylaxis. There's a number of studies which point to this actually working."

Mentioning the study, Trump tweeted on Monday, "The Dems disparaged it for political reasons (me!). Disgraceful."

India sent over 50 million doses of HCQ to the US at the request of Trump, who has advocated its use and even took it for some time as a preventive against the disease.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) National Task Force on COVID-19 has recommended that healthcare workers and others caring for coronavirus patients use HCQ as a preventive.

There was opposition to its use in the US by some doctors, many in the media and Democratic Party leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who have called it an unproven remedy. They also cited adverse effects HCQ has on people with heart problems.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has vacillated on HCQ use, stopping trials using it, then reinstating it and again dropping it.

The patients in the study published last week in the International Journal of Infectious disease were, however, screened for heart disease and the medicine worked when it was started early in the disease cycle.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew the emergency use authorisation for treating COVID-19 patients mainly because of the heart issue and two studies that said HCQ was not effective.

Navarro, who is the White House director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, told reporters in Washington that the two studies that influenced the FDA decision were flawed because one of them was "poorly designed" and the other was about late-term use when it would not work, unlike the Michigan study of early use.

Navarro is also the policy coordinator for the National Defence Production Act that was invoked by Trump to gear up manufacture of devices like ventilators required for treating COVID-19 patients and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, which were in short supply because of years of de-industrialisation of the US that gave China a firm grip on supplies.

The Michigan study showed that only 13 per cent of patients who received HCQ early on died, while 26 per cent of those who were not treated with it died.

Like the Michigan doctors, another in Kiryas Joel in New York State had reported that it works if patients are treated in the early stages, according to CBS New York. But he used HCQA in combination with zinc and an anti-biotic.

Vladimir Zelenko told the station that only two of the 400 patients he treated with the combination had died.

Navarro said, "If, in fact, early treatment use can lead to a 50 per cent reduction in mortality that's tens of thousands of American lives that are at stake, by a phenomenon which I call the hydroxy hysteria."

"It's, it's the politicisation of this medicine, by mainstream media and portions of the medical community that have somehow made this a battle between President Trump and them and created this undue fear and hysteria over a drug that's been used for over 60 years relatively safety and is regularly prescribed to pregnant women if they go into a malaria zone," he added.

Explaining how HCQ works, Navarro said that "out of a 14-day arc of the virus from the beginning of symptoms to the time you might be in an ICU (intensive care unit) setting on a ventilator, the first seven days are critical."

During the first days when there are symptoms like fever, dry cough or fatigue the lungs are still intact HCQ works in a therapeutic way by raising the alkalinity of the cells slowing the replication of the virus, and even killing it, he said.

"It also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is why it's used for rheumatoid arthritis and and drug can also therefore help manage what's called a cytokine storm," he added.

Navarro said that the Detroit doctors in Michigan's Henry Ford Health System applied to the FDA on Monday for a new emergency use authorisation to continue treating patients with HCQ.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)

--IANS

al/in
"My friend President @jairbolsonaro, my prayers and best wishes for your speedy recovery," the Prime Minister said in a tweet, which he also reposted in Portuguese.

New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday sent best wishes to his friend, President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, on social media and prayed for his speedy recovery from the coronavirus infection.

My friend President @jairbolsonaro, my prayers and best wishes for your speedy recovery.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2020

Following months of downplaying the severity of the virus and calling it to be a "little flu", Bolsonaro himself announced he has contracted the infection on Brazilian TV channels on Tuesday.

"Everyone knew that it would reach a considerable part of the population sooner or later. It was positive for me," he said, referring to the COVID-19 test he took on Monday.

"On Sunday, I wasn't feeling very well. On Monday, it got worse when I started feeling tired and some muscle pain. I also had a 38-degree [Celsius] fever. Given those symptoms, the presidential doctor said there was suspicion of COVID-19," Bolsonaro said, adding that he then went to the hospital to receive a lung scan.

He said that his wife, First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro was also tested.

In an interview with CNN Brasil following the diagnosis, Bolsonaro said he would steer clear of in-person meetings in the near future.

"I'm not going to see anyone for meetings. Everything will be done via video conference and I will rarely meet people if I need to deal with the more reserved matter," he said.

Bolsonaro previously reassured supporters on Monday that his lungs were "clean," after being tested. Wearing a mask, he warned them to not get near him.

Bolsonaro has previously tested negative for coronavirus in at least three separate examinations. Those tests were administered between March 12 and March 17, after Bolsonaro returned from a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida, and many in his entourage tested positive.

This week's positive result comes just days after he attended a July 4th commemoration event with the US Ambassador to Brazil, Todd Chapman. According to a photo posted to the President's official Facebook page, Bolsonaro was at the Ambassador's residence with Chapman for the event. Images from the gathering show Bolsonaro not wearing a mask or observing social distancing.

Brazil is second only to the United States in numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths. But Bolsonaro has often appeared in public and at rallies without a face mask, even hugging supporters.

The right-wing populist has long maintained that lockdowns will hurt the country more than the virus itself.

More than 65,000 people have now died of the virus in Brazil, according to figures released by the country's health ministry on Monday. So far, 1,623,284 cases have been confirmed. With coronavirus tests hard to come by in the country, some local experts say the real number of people infected could be 12 to 16 times higher.

However, despite his diagnosis, Bolsonaro on Tuesday emphasised that his priority is still to restart Brazil's lagging economy.

"The fact that I am infected shows that I am a human being like any other," he was quoted as saying.
New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) Amid ongoing tension at the borders with China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a review meeting with Border Roads Origination (BRO) officials on Tuesday to discuss the improvement of infrastructure near Line of Actual Control with China and Line of Control with Pakistan, sources said.

"Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the ongoing projects with DG BRO (Border Road Organisation) and other senior officials at a meeting in South Block today," the Ministry of Defence said.

During the meeting, Singh has directed that all border infrastructures to be fast tracked so that movement of forces should not be affected.

DG, Border Roads Organisation, Lieutenant General Harpal Singh briefed the minister that since inception the organisation have been a leading road construction agency involved in construction of roads, bridges, tunnels and airfields in remote border areas and have also undertaken construction in friendly foreign countries like Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan in line with our overall strategic objectives.

The officer also briefed the minister that there has been a major surge in outcomes in BRO work in the last few years.

The BRO has executed about 30 per cent more work in 2019-20 as compared to 2018-19. The officer said that the BRO has executed 1,273 kilometres formation cutting, 2,214 kilometres of surfacing, Rs 1,715 crore of permanent work, 2,979 kilometres of major bridges, Rs 689 crore of tunnel work and 2,498 kilometres of re-surfacing in 2019-20.

In the last two years since 2017-18 there has been a surge of 44 per cent in formation cutting, 15 per cent in surfacing, 55 per cent in permanent work, 17 per cent in major bridges and 49 per cent in resurfacing works.

The overall expenditure for 2019-20 was Rs 7,867 crore as compared to Rs 5,458 crore in 2017-18 and Rs 6,859 crore in 2018-19, the officer explained.

Last month, the government approved an additional Rs 1,691 crore for highway projects by the Border Roads Organisation in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

Further, amid escalated tension between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Lt Gen Harpal Singh had made a visit to the under-construction 8.8 km-long Atal Rohtang Tunnel that is set for a September opening.

--IANS

sk/skp/
Export and import activities through Benapole-Petrapole land port resumed on Sunday evening, after a three-day disruption in the wake of a strike enforced by Bangladeshi traders. The local exporters made the retaliatory move after India's decision to send goods to Bangladesh while halting imports.

The trading organisations at the Benapole land port on July 1 stopped the import of Indian goods protesting against the refusal of entry to Bangladeshi export items on the Indian side.

Later, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Indian High Commission of Dhaka, customs officials of Benapole, Benapole land port authority and trading organisations of both countries came to a reconciliation on Sunday. As a result, five trucks carrying Indian goods entered the country while five Bangladeshi trucks with export items entered India in the evening.

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh A.K. Abdul Momen said , after a long conversation with the State Government of West Bengal, Indo-Bangla trade through Benapole-Petrapole land port resumed again.

In a video briefing Bangladesh Foreign Minister said: "We, the governments of India and Bangladesh, decided together that we would continue our trade. But suddenly our trade was stopped due to the ban imposed by the West Bengal government."

He mentioned, "since last March 23, no truck carrying goods from our country has been allowed to enter through Petrapole-Benapole land port. Whereas the Bangladeshi products are going to Tripura and other places of India as usual".

"Only the West Bengal government said, due to the lockdown, they will not let any truck go to Bangladesh," he mentioned.

Momen said, the Mamta Banerjee government had said if any Indian truck entered Bangladesh, the driver would not be allowed only products were allowed. So, the drivers did not come to Bangladesh with the goods.

"Then it was decided that the drivers will not enter Bangladesh, they will just unload their goods which will then be uploaded into Bangladeshi trucks, thus Indian goods will be imported. This system was also followed," the foreign minister of B'desh said.

But it proved to be "quite expensive". Secondly, not more than 4/5 trucks can be unloaded in a day. For this reason, this program was dropped, Momen said.

After long discussion, it was decided to take the goods by rail. And goods are coming by rail.

"Meanwhile, Indian goods were coming to the border of Petropole land port, we had no objection. It was continued.

"But the West Bengal government did not let our truck to enter Petrapole land port; due to the lockdown. Exports of Bangladesh were stopped. Which made the C&F Agents upset," Momen said.

Because, the traders of Bangladesh were losing a lot. So they stopped the import of Indian goods in Bangladesh protesting against the refusal of Bangladeshi export items on the Indian side.

"We had long discussions with the policy makers of West Bengal. Eventually an agreement was reached and now the freight truck movement of the two countries has started in Benapole-Petrapole land port," Momen said.

"We couldn't send many goods due to time constraints. Normal trade will resume on Monday," said the export agency leaders of Bangladesh on Sunday.

Import trade worth BDT 30,000 crore was annually taking place via the land port when the export trade worth only BDT 2,000 crore was taking place, said the importer and exporters of Bangladesh.

At the very beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh, the authorities completely shut export-import activities at the port in late March as a precaution that lasted for around three months. On June 7, Bangladeshi traders started importing commodities from India but the Indian traders refused exports from the opposite side.

--IANS

sumi/in
Near the end of our talk back in March, Reichardt already seemed to be pre-mourning the temporary loss of the international film festival circuit in COVID times. Festivals are where filmmakers get to meet each other, she said, and its people showing their work for the first time. Then she said: I mean, this is the time for more art, not less. I cant tell if it started during Obama or if its a reaction to Trump, but the galleries and museums Ive been in lately have never been more inclusive. Ive never seeen so much work by people of color and women. Thats really exciting.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Islands colleges are releasing plans for what school will look like in the fall semester  such as a mix of in-person and remote learning model, coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnostic testing, face coverings and social distancing.

Wagner College, St. Johns University, and the College of Staten Island (CSI) closed their campuses in mid-March and moved to remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic. Higher education institutions are able to reopen in Phase 4 of Gov. Andrew Cuomos New York Forward reopening plan.

Wagner College and St. Johns University announced on their school websites a plan to offer a hybrid of in-person and remote courses. CSI, which follows the City University of New York (CUNY), is working on plans for the return to campus, and no decision has been announced yet for the fall.

Heres a look at some of the current reopening plans.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

WAGNER COLLEGE

Wagner College in Grymes Hill is looking forward to resuming on-campus operations in the fall with a shorter semester, according to an announcement on the schools website. The college will offer both in-person courses and remote learning during the semester.

All students and employees will be asked to complete an initial COVID-19 test. Domestic students will be asked to complete a COVID-19 test within two weeks prior to their scheduled return to campus.

The college partnered with Vault Health to administer quick, painless, and confidential COVID-19 saliva tests by mail to all domestic students and employees. International students will be tested and quarantined upon arrival. A quarantine requirement will also apply to domestic students traveling from states with high infection rates if New York State continues to require it.

All students and staff will complete a brief online training on community health norms and expectations, and students will also complete an emergency preparedness questionnaire.

Campus spaces, including classrooms, common rooms, library spaces, residence halls and more, will be closed to the general public and altered to accommodate physical distance. Common areas will be cleaned frequently and disinfected twice daily. Traffic flow through buildings will be one-way with clearly marked entrances and exits. There will be clear signage of norms and expectations posted throughout campus.

Residence halls

Residential students at Wagner will be able to attend classes in-person in reduced-density classrooms or virtually from their residence halls.

Students will sign up for a move-in day experience, which will be a five-hour move-in window, expected to begin in early August. Students can return home or to other locations before the first day of classes. Students may have roommates or suite-mates per New York State guidelines.

Students can opt for a single-occupancy room at the double-occupancy rate, however, they may not be able to choose where they will be housed.

The college worked with Chartwells, Wagners food service partner, to develop a dining and food safety program. There will be options for takeout and delivery using a mobile app, as well as touchless convenience store pickup areas.

There will also be a decrease in capacity in dining halls, plexiglass shields, and adjusted furniture to manage occupancy and flow of traffic. There will be new sterilization protocols and training for food service employees.

Community health policies

There will be a set of community health policies and expectations for all community members including:

Self-screening: a brief, confidential self-screening questionnaire will be completed each day to verify community members are free from COVID-19 symptoms.

Physical distancing: maintain at least 6 feet of distance from one another throughout campus, and meet virtually instead of in-person whenever possible.

Face coverings: community members must wear a face covering when in public, including in classrooms, and in private if they cant maintain 6 feet of distance. Wagner will provide face coverings.

Enhanced cleaning: cleaning and sanitization has been increased, and community members should take responsibility to clean their own spaces or work areas.

Ample supplies: the college is making available supplies like tissues, hand soap, waste receptacles, and hand sanitizer to community members.

Visitor limitation: campus access will be restricted. Students cant host non-Wagner visitors within residence halls. All campus visitors must have a business purpose and complete the same self-screening questionnaire before accessing any college buildings.

Calendar revised

Fall classes at Wagner will begin in-person on Aug. 24 and end on Nov. 24, with a fully-virtual week for final exams ending Dec. 4.

From mid-December and early February, the college will offer a fully-virtual instructional module allowing students to take one or two classes to better distribute their course load. Wagner anticipates the rest of the spring semester in 2021 to begin in mid-February and conclude mid-May.

Students and families will receive additional information later this summer.

ST. JOHNS UNIVERSITY

St. Johns University -- which has a campus in Grymes Hill -- plans to offer a hybrid program, with a combination of on-campus face-to-face courses and online classes, according to an announcement on the schools website. All classrooms will be reconfigured to accommodate social distancing during in-person instruction.

Hybrid classes will give students the option to attend some classes on campus and other times remotely, which may be synchronous or asynchronous. Students registered for hybrid classes who prefer to take the class remotely only will be accommodated.

Everyone on campus will be provided with a reusable cloth face covering and will be required to adhere to social distancing. In-person gatherings are expected to be limited, and the college is working on alternatives for large meetings and events virtually.

There will be increased cleaning and sanitization protocols, and staff will be provided with personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and disinfectants. Hand sanitizer stations will be made available throughout the campus, and there will be signage posted prominently across campus on proper hygiene practices.

Residence halls

To reduce density in residence halls, there will be no triple-occupancy rooms. The university also designated a residential building for quarantine and isolation purposes only, and no other students will reside in the building. The Office of Residence Life will be providing resident students with more detailed information.

Calendar revised

Classes at St. Johns University will begin Aug. 24 instead of Sept. 2 this fall to eliminate the need for students to return to campus after the Thanksgiving holiday.

In order to accommodate for the earlier start date, the university will remain open on Labor Day on Sept. 7, Veterans Day on Nov. 11, and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8.

The university will close and no classes will be held on Election Day (Nov. 3). The final exam week will be conducted remotely during the week following Thanksgiving from Nov. 30 to Dec. 8. You can go to https://www.stjohns.edu/academics/academic-resources/academic-calendar for the revised online calendar.

COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND

The City University of New York, which oversees CSI is preparing for the physical reopening of campuses. However, there is no set plan announced as of Tuesday.

In May, Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez established two task forces to provide a road map for the physical reopening of campuses and on-site teaching and support services -- the Academic and Student Support Task Force and the Coronavirus Planning Task Force.

The task forces have been working to develop CUNY-wide guidelines that -- along with feedback from various campus-specific groups -- will help inform decision-makers as they prepare for reopening. It will require formal approval by the CUNYs central administration before they can take effect.

The safety of students, faculty and staff continues to be the primary consideration that guides all University decision-making involving the continuity of our operations, said the coronavirus update on CUNYs website. This includes decisions involving the fall semester. Because of the fluid and variable nature of the recovery and reopening efforts, no decision has been made yet about the possibility for resumption of on-campus instruction.

CSI created a re-entry committee to consider challenges and opportunities, as well as make recommendations when it comes to reopening the campus. That includes: campus preparedness and safety; student safety, health, and wellness; student support services; maintaining instructional continuity; overseeing communications; and maintaining staff and faculty wellness and safety.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York Attorney General Letitia James unveiled a preliminary report Wednesday of her offices ongoing investigation into the NYPDs conduct during the protests that followed the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

While our investigation remains ongoing, after 30 days of intense scrutiny, it is impossible to deny that many New Yorkers have lost faith in law enforcement, said James.

Jamess office received more than 1,300 complaints and pieces of evidence since May 30  the onset of the investigation  and held a three-day public hearing that heard testimony from more than 100 protesters, community-based organizations, elected officials and NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on the Office of the Attorney General to conduct a civil investigation into police misconduct after multiple nights of violent interactions between the NYPD and protestors in various parts of New York City. No protests on Staten Island resulted in violence.

The investigation continues to dig into the NYPDs use of force during the protests, the report said, including seemingly indiscriminate use of batons and pepper spray, brandishing firearms at protesters, and pushing vehicles or bikes into protesters.

Other tactics, including kettling, in which officers surround and block protestors from leaving an area, along with treatment of press, legal observers, elected officials and essential workers are also being extensively reviewed, James said.

Additionally, James said her office received evidence that indicated officers covered identification information found on their badges and numerous complaints regarding several officers allegedly using racist hand gestures towards protestors.

With this report, Attorney General James and her team have begun the important work of chronicling the events surrounding the recent protests and ensuring that all voices  protesters, police, and elected officials  are heard, said former United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch. As this investigation continues, so must the vital conversations around transparency and accountability. These are the most important conversations of our time.

We must begin the hard work of reevaluating the role of police in society and ensuring that there are mechanisms for public oversight, accountability & input.



Progress is possible, but, first, change and accountability are needed.



Read the full report:https://t.co/EV71Rgw5YC  NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) July 8, 2020

Jamess preliminary report also came with a series of proposed recommendations her office believes the NYPD should consider implementing to address the concerns of the public and to start building community trust.

Her preliminary suggestions include creating a commission to oversee the NYPD, its policies and leadership, the report said, and recommended, The NYPD must also be required to seek public input on any rule it changes or implements that impacts the public.

In the vein of calls for sweeping changes to police departments throughout the country, James said the role of policy in New York City must be examined and redesigned by altering the departments role in areas such as homelessness, mental illness and school safety.

This effort should be led by a transparent commission with full-time staff and resources to determine how to remove armed officers from these scenarios and replace them with dedicated professionals with specialized training, the report said. This process will take time, but bureaucracy cannot stand in the way of progress.

Freddi Goldstein, Mayor Bill de Blasios press secretary, said: While we thank the Attorney General for her investigation and look forward to reviewing the report in full and working together to further reform policing in this city, we do not believe creating a commission to oversee the NYPD does that.

Over the last seven years, stop and frisk became a thing of the past, all officers were trained in implicit bias and de-escalation and outfitted with body cameras, and neighborhood policing improved trust in communities. Change comes from accountability, something a commission lacks, Goldstein said. If we want to continue moving forward, more bureaucracy is not the answer.

On the heels of de Blasios announcement that the disciplinary records of about 1,100 pending cases against NYPD officers for alleged misconduct will be released online in July in an easy to access way, among other reform measures made in recent weeks, James made additional suggestions to hold individual officers accountable.

James said the authority of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) must be expanded and strengthened to have final disciplinary authority  something the agency does not have currently  and suggested all police officers in New York should be certified through a process that allows for decertifying officers engaged in misconduct, preventing them from remaining a police officer or being rehired by another department in the state.

In a written response to Jamess report, Richard Esposito, the NYPDs deputy commissioner of public information, said: This is, of course, a political and not an investigative document.

Rather than rehash rhetoric, we should come together  state and local law enforcement and electeds  and confront and solve the crisis at hand, Esposito said. Meanwhile, we at the NYPD will continue to protect and serve the public as we have for 175 years.

PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said, Based on this preliminary report, the inquiry has reached a foregone conclusion.

Instead of an impartial review of the protests and their aftermath, the report tells only one side of the story and delivers reheated proposals that have been part of the anti-police agenda for decades, Lynch said. If the goal is to heal the rift between police officers and the public, that wont be achieved without giving meaningful consideration to the perspective of police officers on the street.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A smaller version of the New York Wheel -- formerly declared dead in October 2018 after estimated costs for the privately-funded project ballooned to more than $1 billion -- is being planned by its investors for the St. George waterfront, the Advance/SILive.com has learned.

While the Advance/SILive.com reported last year that sources had said that a group of NY Wheel investors was working on a smaller version of the project, no official proposal was ever unveiled for a new scaled-down version of the originally planned 630-foot observation wheel.

However, Borough President James Oddo said this week that a small group of dedicated investors of the NY Wheel project -- which was seven years in the making -- is currently seeking additional financing and a contractor to build a wheel similar in size to the London Eye, which is 443 feet tall.

A group of Wheel investors is trying to make a bona fide effort to build their own version of the Wheel. It would be a wheel closer in size and scope to the London Eye, said Oddo. They have been working to find a contractor and a funding scheme to make this work.

Oddo said for the last several months this group of Wheel investors has been absorbing the cost of maintaining the site -- where parts of the project, including four large pedestals and a partially-completed terminal building -- have been erected.

Theyve been cutting a check to the city, which is in the six figures, he said.

The NY Wheel reached its demise on Oct. 23, 2018, when its principals announced it would not follow through with the construction of the tourist attraction, whose cost had snowballed from an original estimate of $250 million to close to $1 billion.

While the project was being built on city-owned land, it had been fully funded by private investors and through CanAm Enterprises Eb-5 program, which allows foreign investors to fund a project in exchange for help facilitating their green cards.

CanAm Enterprises is among the investors pushing the smaller wheel project forward.

CanAm has great confidence in New York Citys resiliency and sees a bright future for tourism, said Tom Rosenfeld, CanAms president and CEO.

The Wheel makes good economic sense, and it will play an essential role in successfully revitalizing the Staten Island waterfront. Together, with the $200 million of extensive infrastructure investment that has already been completed at the 8-acre site, the London Eye-sized Wheel will promote economic development, create hundreds of construction and permanent union jobs for Staten Islanders, and ultimately take its place as an iconic New York City landmark. We are grateful to be working closely with borough, city and state officials, and look forward to sharing future project updates, he added.

Oddo told the Advance/SILive.com he has been dealing with the investors and advocating for them with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), which oversees the site.

We want to give this group a legitimate opportunity to make this work. I want it to work because there are literally hundreds of millions of dollars already in the ground [for the project]. Despite everything that has been said about the Wheel, my belief continues -- and lets suspend COVID-19 for a moment -- that tourists would come to Staten Island. ...The concept is one that I believe would attract tourists, said Oddo.

We need to give them [the investors] the chance to exhaust all opportunities to get the project built, said the borough president.

He added that the project would have a great economic benefit for Staten Island once tourism can resume following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Said the NYCEDC in a statement to the Advance: Were encouraged that there continues to be interest in advancing the development of site, and EDC is committed to delivering a positive outcome that will benefit the community.

The agency confirmed that the NY Wheel lease agreement with NYCEDC is still in effect, and there is security at the site for maintenance of the pedestals.

However, the NYCEDC has not provided correspondence about the smaller project, which was requested by the Advance/SILive.com in spring 2019 through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). The NYCEDC has continued to delay the FOIL request, and last said it would deliver correspondence on Aug. 14, 2020.

NY WHEEL DEMISE

Before the major investors declared the Wheel project dead in October 2018, they pleaded with the city to issue tax-exempt bonds to pay the cost overrun. Mayor Bill de Blasio refused, because he said he didnt see the project as being viable.

PARTS AUCTION

An auction of the Wheel parts was held in January 2019 in the Wilmington, Dela.-based law offices of Richards, Layton & Finger, where there were multiple bidders vying for the pieces, according to court documents filed in Delaware Bankruptcy Court.

Among the parts said to be auctioned off in court documents were Wheel legs, maintenance elevator parts, A-Frame braces, capsule parts and spoke cable assemblies.

Oddo said these parts were not among those needed for the new smaller project.

The pieces they need are all still there to my understanding. ...The Wheel will be different in scope, so they will have to fabricate new stuff, said Oddo.

MORE STORIES ABOUT THE NY WHEEL:

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Courts on Staten Island and throughout the city on Wednesday will start Phase 3 of the gradual return toward increased in-person functions to include expanding criminal proceedings.

Phase 3 will also entail the resumption of grand juries in the five boroughs; however, those particular proceedings will not start until Aug. 10.

All state courts outside of the city are currently in Phase 3 or 4 of in-person operations.

Courts have largely operated remotely for nearly four months since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in New York.

Under Phase 3, a number of matters will start being conducted in person.

They include conferences in felony cases where the defendant is at liberty, selected pleas and sentencings for non-incarcerated criminal defendants; preliminary hearings for criminal defendants being held on felony charges and arraignments of defendants issued desk-appearance tickets.

Incarcerated defendants would appear remotely at in-person proceedings unless otherwise ordered by the judge.

A limited number of bench trials in civil cases would be conducted and essential Family Court matters would continue to be heard in person.

Meanwhile, non-essential matters; criminal proceedings, excepted as previously noted; juvenile-delinquency proceedings and mental hygiene proceedings pertaining to a hospitalized adult will continue to be held virtually and heard by the assigned judge.

Mediations and alternative dispute resolution proceedings will also be conducted virtually.

To limit foot traffic, court calendars, court appearances and courtroom usage will be staggered.

In anticipation of Phase 3, plexiglass barriers, hand-sanitizer dispensers and other safety measures are being installed in Staten Island courts and courts throughout the city.

Courthouse areas are also being marked to insure proper physical distancing.

Plexiglass barriers are being installed in the Staten Island Courthouse and areas are being marked to insure proper physical distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus

Basic requirements will remain in effect in all courts under Phase 3 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Those entering courthouses, including attorneys, litigants and members of the public, will be required to wear masks, maintain physical distancing and adhere to other safety measures in effect.

Since Monday, visitors to courts on Staten Island and throughout the city are subject to temperature screening and coronavirus-related questioning on entering courthouses.

Individuals will be allowed or denied further access inside depending on their temperature readings and response to the questions.

Lawyers, litigants, witnesses, law enforcement personnel, spectators, prisoners and vendors will all be subject to the screening, according to information on the state court web site.

Hand sanitizers have been installed near elevators and other areas of the Staten Island Courthouse to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

With respect to grand juries, those proceedings have been suspended since mid-March.

Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks said grand-jury summonses will be sent to prospective jurors in the five boroughs in the coming days.

Panels, however, would not convene until next month.
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Characters will parade through the restaurant in Ravello-unique outfits, posing at different intervals which will allow guests to snap photos. Each dining party will also have their photos taken upon arrival; Disney Magic allows the characters to be added in; photos will be provided later via complimentary digital download.
Today, Jackson is more cult figure than household name, but lately shes been having a moment. A year or two back Netflix brought us a plush 10-episode adaptation of her novel The Haunting of Hill House (previously filmed twice as The Haunting). In Josephine Deckers ambitious but disappointing Shirley shes played by Elisabeth Moss, currently the go-to star for portraits of suffering women in furtive revolt against social expectations.

In the 1950s and '60s, American writer Shirley Jackson was known for short stories like the Kafka-esque The Lottery and novels such as the unforgettably titled We Have Always Lived in the Castle  ranging in tone from whimsically macabre to outright horrific, but always infused with a spiky, non-conformist spirit.

Adapted by screenwriter Sarah Gubbins from a novel by Susan Scarf Merrill, Shirley is not a straight biopic, but a fictionalised portrait set over a few months around 1950. Jackson is seen through the eyes of an invented character, Rose Nemser (Australian Odessa Young), whose husband Fred (Logan Lerman) is a young, ambitious teaching assistant at Bennington College, Vermont.

When these newlyweds unwisely agree to live with Shirley and her professor husband Stanley Hyman (Michael Stuhlbarg) in their old dark house, the psychological tensions soon grow thick enough to suggest an off-brand production of Edward Albees Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf (first staged in 1962, and set, like Shirley, in a New England college town).

Shirley, the resident genius of the household, is instantly recognisable as something more than a handful  a depressive alcoholic who dabbles in the occult, delivers malevolent non-sequiturs in a knowing half-whisper, and rarely rises from bed except to pound away at her typewriter. Stanley, her self-appointed caretaker, has a milder manner but proves to be a master in his own right of the dark arts of passive aggression.

Where the posturing Stanley is threatened by his younger rival, the two women quickly arrive at an intimacy thats both intellectual and physical  at least to the degree of playing footsie under the table. Young does not make much effort to sound as if she were born around 1930, but in other respects shes well-cast: there are shots where she and Moss could be taken for sisters, with matching toothy smiles and calculating eyes.

A film of mood rather than plot, Shirley gains what narrative impetus it has from our anticipation of two births: Roses pregnancy is paralleled with Shirleys work on her 1951 novel Hangsaman, about the disappearance of a college student who in fantasy sequences is played by Young. (The films parallel universe erases Jackson and Hymans biological children  the inspiration, in reality, for the lighter side of Jacksons work.)
This generation is ready for honesty.

Shane Howard, lead singer of '80s band Goanna and author of their 1982 anthem Solid Rock, smuggled the harsh truth about Australias colonial past into the mainstream at a time when many media organisations denied access to Indigenous voices.

Shane Howard wants to help build a story that hears all voices. Credit:Darren Donlen

Nearly four decades later, the Black Lives Matter movement has struck a chord in Australia. Howard says he still feels he has a role to play, but no longer as a white voice speaking (and singing) on behalf of those silenced.

He believes Indigenous voices can, and should, speak for themselves. But he still hopes he has some part in, he says, creating a dream that we can share.
"All these things are milling around in people's brains, mostly on a subconscious level because they have to get on with life," Byrne continued. "Who are the real aliens? Who are the real threats to civilisation? I doubt they are from another planet, because we have enough cranks at the moment on this planet." Byrne felt at home with Bill Ward, the neuroscientist he plays in War of the Worlds. Elizabeth McGovern and Gabriel Byrne in War of the Worlds. Credit: SBS "He's curious," the actor said. "He wants to find out the real reason the aliens have come to Earth. I suppose we are alike in that I don't believe in accepting what I'm told. I believe, like a scientist, that we should all be wondering why." Now 69, Byrne was a teacher before becoming an actor 40 years ago, and he has never lost his professorial bent. That's one reason he was attracted to War of the Worlds.

"I try to do the best of what I'm offered," he said. "I do have to make a living, but a lot of the stuff I don't agree with, so I won't do it. I believe life is more important than being on a movie set. As you get older you come to realise certain truths." Loading One of those truths came to him through Richard Burton, with whom Byrne became friends while making the European mini-series Wagner (1981-1983). "Richard was a man who, when he finished one project, wanted to know what his next one would be," Byrne said. "He found it very difficult to be not working. But he also said to me, I don't want to die in a hotel room.' "I didn't understand at the time, but then I realised he was missing his home life. That's more and more what he wanted to be doing as he got older."

Wagner broadened Byrne's world because legendary British actors John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson also were on the set. "These were people I'd seen on a screen growing up as a teenager in Dublin," he said. "I thought they lived on a different planet. To be sitting at a table in Vienna with them, having dinner and listening to them talk, was fascinating. Richard asked me to pass the salt  that was my contribution. Richard Burton, here with Elizabeth Taylor, was "an amazing man, the most intelligent, most well-read actor Ive ever worked with'', says Byrne. Credit:Syndication International "He was an amazing man, the most intelligent, most well-read actor I've ever worked with," Byrne added. "He told me, Forget about acting. Read, read, read! Read poetry. Read non-fiction. Be involved in the world of imagination through books.' I wanted to emulate that kind of a life." The oldest of six children of a barrelmaker and a hospital worker, Byrne almost became a priest, spending five years at an English seminary before quitting.

"I suppose I just lost faith and wanted to explore the world," he said. Loading After returning to Dublin, he worked part-time, holding down such diverse summer jobs as a teddy-bear-eye installer and a short-order cook while he studied archaeology and linguistics at University College Dublin. "I've always been attracted to the world of academia," he said. "I'd have loved to have taught a particular subject, having learnt as much as I possibly could, and conveyed that to my students." Instead his students led him onto the stage.

"Acting never came into my head," Byrne said. "It was only when I was teaching that I began to get a glimpse of it. I used to take my class to see theatre and films, because I thought it was a great way of connecting with them. Then they asked me if they could have a drama class after school. I said yes. I thought maybe, instead of going to the pub at nighttime, I could join an amateur drama group." Byrne's earliest professional efforts came on stage at Dublin's Focus and Abbey theatres. He quickly moved into television, appearing in the Irish series The Riordans (1978-1979) and then its spin-off, Bracken (1980-1982). He made his movie debut in Excalibur (1981), playing Uther Pendragon, father of King Arthur. Byrne says In Treatment ''had an effect on a lot of people. There was an upsurge in therapy after that''. Credit:HBO After meeting American actor Ellen Barkin on their film Siesta (1987), Byrne married her in 1988 and moved to New York. They have two adult children, Jack and Romy, but divorced in 1999. In 2014 Byrne married producer/director Hannah Beth King, with whom he has a 2-year-old daughter. The Irish actor has appeared in more than 100 films and television shows. The one that made the most difference to his career was the Coen brothers' Miller's Crossing (1990).

"It opened the door for me," Byrne said. "I didn't have to audition any more." Another project with a huge impact was the HBO series In Treatment (2008-2010), in which he played a therapist. "It was a difficult project to do," he said, "but it had an effect on a lot of people. There was an upsurge in therapy after that. "Yesterday I was talking to a class of students at Columbia University," he continued. "Professors use that series as part of the curriculum. Students watch an episode, and the teacher asks them, What would you do in that situation?'"
Thank you, ABC, for the terrific Back Roads episode on Biloela, the Queensland town that is so welcoming, inclusive and caring of newcomers, wherever they are from. What a wonderful community. No wonder they embraced the Tamil family now incarcerated on Christmas Island and want them back.

Mary Gearin, look and learn, no more, we're driven to complete distraction. Your waving arms and hands at the start of every news service are estimating just what ... the size of a watermelon, new baby? It's distracting, you are a newsreader, not an actor.

Lynne Oliver, Brunswick

A mixed bag

Sometimes the holiday reshuffling and replacement of hosts on 774 Radio can be a mixed bag. Evening's David Astle has slipped into Sammy J's breakfast shoes very comfortably with a relaxed, engaging and informed style but the experienced food writer and media personality Matt Preston hasn't done so well replacing Jacinta Parsons. His delivery comes across as forced - with restricted "flow" in his conversations and occasionally a misplaced intellectual pride.

Bruce Watson, Belgrave

Return to Midsomer?

When the ABC runs out of Midsomer Murders repeats, will we see the test pattern return to our screens? Season one in black and white and season two in colour?

Trish Shanahan, Bendigo
A few months ago she was in lockdown with her family in Adelaide but South Sudanese-Australian model Adut Akech returned to high fashion this week by starring in Chanel's first digital couture presentation.

Adut Akech in a tweed suit as part of Chanel's digital haute couture presentation. Credit:Chanel

Paris Couture Week, which normally sees the world's top editors, celebrities and fashion's biggest spenders vying for a front-row seat, was, like most events, cancelled this season in light of COVID-19. Instead, its organisers, the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, invited 33 of the world's top brands to participate in a digital schedule, which has also been open to public viewing.

Chanel's creative director, Virginie Viard, who succeeded Karl Lagerfeld following his death in 2019, used just two models, Akech and Rianne Van Rompaey, to showcase the 30 looks, less than half the size of a normal couture collection.

The presentation featured a 90-second video of Akech and Van Rompaey dancing around in the collection, which had a strong '80s, punk-princess vibe but still carried many of the Chanel hallmarks, including tweed and braided trims.
The explosion of new community transmissions in Victoria is a harsh reminder of the power and speed of COVID-19.

The lockdown of Melbourne is the right response, and lays bare the uncertainty that comes with the nation's suppression strategy, which involves lifting restrictions while there are still active infections in the community. National cabinet should abandon the suppression strategy and instead explicitly aim for elimination.

The nature of the virus has not changed. Given the chance, it will spread rapidly around Australia, as it has around the world. If our behaviour returns to pre-COVID normal while there are active cases in the community, outbreaks are inevitable.

Firefighters in protective clothing prepare to distribute food to residents in Melbourne's locked-down towers. Credit:Jason South

Victoria now has more community transmission than at any point in the crisis. In the initial peak, in late March, there were 46 daily local cases identified. In the past fortnight, Victoria has had more than 60 local cases every single day. It only took a month for new local daily COVID-19 cases in Victoria to go from about one to more than 100.
Victoria recorded 165 cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, taking the states total to 3098.

The total increased by 156, after nine cases were reclassified.

There are 18 cases in the North Melbourne and Flemington public housing towers, with the total now standing at 111.

Testing concluded at the estates on Wednesday night, and further lab results are expected later today and are not included in this number.

Six new cases are linked to the Al Taqwa school outbreak, taking the total to 113.

Two healthcare workers at Sunshine Hospital and two at the Royal Melbourne Hospital tested positive, with contact tracing under way.

Another staff member at Northern Hospital in Epping contracted the virus, taking the total to 11.

Seven new cases are staff members at retirement facilities.
Said Mr Stan Roach, 57 a member of the Bunjalong tribe and the oldest of the marchers: "It makes you feel real good."

It was a demonstration with a difference. As they marched through the City streets, accompanied by a loud hailer van explaining their purpose, people dashed out of shops, offices and public houses to pat them on the back and offer good wishes.

Five Aborigines left Sydney Town Hall at midday yesterday on the first stage of a 630-mile walk to Brisbane.

The walk was the highlight of National Aboriginal Day and is intended to draw attention to Aboriginal land rights.

The march through the City started from the Town Hall steps where Aborigines carried banners reading: "What have you done to our land," "Pardon me for being born into a country of racists," "Racism is the world's most dangerous pollution," and the more simple: "Black is beautiful."

Several Aboriginal leaders made speeches on the Town Hall steps. Among them ' was Mr Chicka Dixon, secretary of the Gurindji Committee, who said he hoped National Aboriginal Day would not be regarded as a "circus" - with Aboriginal rights forgotten once the day was over.

Referring to the High Court's decision over the Yirrkala land claim, he said: "If I take land by force I am committing a felony, yet the white man has done just this.

"By residing here for 30,000 years you would think we were entitled to something."
Asked for additional explanation as to why one officer drew a lethal weapon when the other did not, agency spokesman Lt. Frankie De La Rosa provided SCPDs use-of-force policy, which does not define the phrase lethal cover or explain when it is appropriate. It says lethal force can be used in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is cracking down on businesses that flout COVID-19 rules despite the risk of being fined up to $55,000.

Fewer than 10 NSW businesses have been fined for breaching COVID-19 restrictions since the pandemic began, but Ms Berejiklian said she was concerned about the lack of compliance at some restaurants, pubs and cafes which had failed to recognise basic health risks "like sharing a salt and pepper shaker".

Exotik Latin Restaurant on King St in Newtown is observing safety measures such as social distancing for diners. Credit:Steven Siewert

And while 117,500 COVID safety plans have been downloaded by businesses, she said just 10 per cent had followed through with the necessary registration.

"When businesses choose not to adhere to the checklist it is a risk to everybody," Ms Berejiklian said. "That's why we will be stepping up compliance."
"Altruism, friendship and relative naivety" have landed 72-year-old Luiz Diez in prison for his role in a failed attempt to import $1.4 million worth of cocaine to Sydney.

The Green Valley pensioner, then aged 70, was one of four men picked up by NSW Police in January last year after 163 round tablets of pressed cocaine powder were found in a parcel sent from Peru in late 2018.

Cocaine valued at $1.4 million was found in the shipment. Credit:NSW Police

Marked as "4 Cajas de artesania caramicea" or "Four ceramic craft boxes", the parcel contained 4.3 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside ornaments, according to agreed facts tendered in the District Court.

After Australian Border Force officials notified police of the discovery, detectives from the Drug and Firearms squad and Blacktown Local Area Command undertook a "controlled delivery" of the package - with the drugs removed - on New Year's Eve 2018-19.
An experienced COVID-19 doctor who helped remove crew from the ill-fated Ruby Princess says Melbournes outbreak shows the "genie is out of the bottle" in Australia.

During the past seven months, Dr John Parker helped coronavirus-affected crews and passengers leave the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Tokyo and the Grand Princess in San Francisco Bay before returning to Australia to repatriate the crew of the Ruby Princess in Sydney.

Dr John Parker with the docked Ruby Princess cruise ship.

He said it was "highly probable" that NSW and Queensland would see new COVID-19 cases.

"It will undoubtedly go further," Dr Parker said on Wednesday.
Lengthy delays are expected at the Queensland interstate crossings this weekend as the border reopens to all states except Victoria, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warns.

"We have put in place very strong measures ... to protect Queenslanders' health. There will be delays at our borders because we have to get this right and we have to take these precautions," she said.

The Queensland-New South Wales border crossing in Coolangatta. Credit:Paul Harris

"I've asked people to think about the way they plan their holidays and trips and consider not going at the peak times and spreading it over a number of days.

"But we do expect over the weekend that there will be lengthy delays."
Fourteen Water Police and volunteer vessels have searched through the night for a young Brisbane man who disappeared in Moreton Bay during a kayak trip with six friends.

The group paddled from North Stradbroke Island to Peel Island on Wednesday and were making the return trip on Wednesday afternoon.

With the weather keeping search aircraft grounded. police vessels took the lead. Credit:Queensland Police Service

However, worsening wind, currents, rain and fading light resulted in the group becoming separated about 5pm and the search began about 5.20pm when one of he group contacted authorities.

Two kayaks with four people were found near Rainbow Passage about 6.30pm and a third kayak with two people was found at 9pm near Amity Banks.
Defence Force soldiers will join police officers at rolling checkpoints around metropolitan Melbourne from midnight as the city goes back into stage three lockdown.

Hours before the restrictions kick in at 11.59pm on Wednesday, Victoria Police are still to work out exactly how they will adequately man some of Melbournes more ambiguous borders, with small towns set to be split in half.

Seymour Motel manager Rishi Kandel is dreading the impact of harsher restrictions on his business, which falls within Mitchell Shire. Credit:Justin McManus

Business owners in affected towns and suburbs, which include council areas across greater Melbourne as well as the more rural Mitchell Shire north of the city, are bracing for a serious downturn as the harsher restrictions kick in.

Seymour Motel manager Rishi Kandel, whose business sits within Mitchell Shire, said he was dreading the lockdown but supported the decision to re-introduce it as the number of coronavirus cases in Melbourne soar.
Accused paedophile Malka Leifer's legal team has launched an appeal against a decision by an Israeli court that she is mentally fit to stand trial in an extradition hearing.

The Jerusalem Post reported details of the former Melbourne schoolteacher's defence, which claimed the 52-year-old had been receiving antipsychotic drugs for a medical condition.

Malka Leifer.

Ms Leifer faces 74 charges of sexually assaulting female students during her time at the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel school in Elsternwick in Melbourne's south-east.

In May, the Jerusalem District Court found she was fit to stand trial, ending a years-long legal battle to return her to Australia to face charges.
Schools are currently grappling with how to reopen campuses  shuttered in March to stop the spread of the coronavirus  in the face of rising cases in Florida. The states total number of cases grew by 7,347 on Tuesday, down from the record 11,458 new cases on Saturday. The change came as fewer people were tested over the holiday weekend, due to the closing of state-supported testing sites. Still, the percentage of people infected reached 20.8% statewide, the highest yet for a single day.
A new report has declared it could be feasible to make essential elements needed for lithium batteries in Western Australia, potentially adding billions in value to the materials dug up from the states mines.

The report, titled Li-ion battery cathode manufacture in Australia, also called for the repurposing of BHPs nickel sulphate pilot plant at CSIROs Waterford facility south of Perth into a small-scale battery precursor material production facility.

The Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia is the world's biggest and highest grade hard rock lithium mine.

The BHP mini-plant led to the current construction of a $62 million industrial scale nickel sulphate plant at the Kwinana nickel refinery.

One of the hottest topics of the lithium debate is whether WA can extract more value from the minerals it mines by processing them further, rather than sending them overseas as it does in the iron ore sector.
One of Australia's top health officials has encouraged members of the public to wear masks in coronavirus outbreak zones where physical distancing is difficult.

Deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth said in situations where there is community transmission, such as in greater Melbourne, the most important thing is "to decrease movement, decrease mixing and increase distance between people ... but if you are in those areas and you find that you are unable to do that, then mask-wearing should be encouraged".

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Residents of states without community transmission did not need to wear masks, he said.

Doctors and epidemiologists are pushing for the widespread use of masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Australia after Victoria recorded 134 new cases and infections were detected among people who travelled from Melbourne to NSW and the ACT.
The president of the Victorian Principals Association says teachers should be allowed to return to work on school campuses in term three, as the state government considers a return to remote learning.

Anne-Maree Kliman said staff would do a better job of teaching students remotely if they were not also confined to their homes.

There are calls for all teachers to return to schools next term.

"At the end of the term what I was hearing from teachers was that they were all so happy to be back on site and back to some sort of normality because working remotely was extremely challenging," Ms Kliman said.

"I would like to think that if they're going to work remotely again that at least teachers can be on site, along with school staff, because that way theyre best supported to do the job they need to do."
Racing NSW stewards have banned Victoria-based racehorses from entering NSW racecourses, licensed premises and stables indefinitely following Tuesday's border lockdown.

Chief steward Marc Van Gestel said Racing NSW only controls racecourses and licensed premise and was not banning total horse movement between the two states. It means brood mares would be able to move from Victoria to NSW for the breeding season, which starts in September.

No Victorian horses will be allowed on NSW tracks after the border between the two states was closed on Tuesday. Credit:Getty

"The order is horses can't attend a racecourse, licensed premises or licensed stable," Van Gestel said. "When you looked at the amount of horses that race in NSW from Victoria, a risk assessment found the benefits were far outweighed by the risks.

"It not just the horses but the truck drivers who might stop in several places on their way here. We have to protect the NSW industry.
The Chinese embassy has accused the Australian government of disinformation and rebuked upgraded travel advice that warned foreigners in China that they may be arrested without evidence.

Labelling the claim ridiculous, a spokesman for the embassy in Canberra said as long as Australians abide by Chinese laws they have no need to worry.

The Chinese embassy in Canberra. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"However, those who engage in illegal activities, such as drug smuggling or espionage, will be dealt with according to the laws in China, as is the case in all other countries," the spokesman said.

"We have noted Australias updated travel advice regarding China, which asserts that Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention. This is completely ridiculous and disinformation."
Delhi: A Hindu temple planned for Islamabad, the city's first, was supposed to be a symbol of tolerance. Instead, violence and controversy have turned it into an emblem of Pakistan's troubled relationship with its religious minorities.

When Pakistan's former government allotted land for the Shri Krishna Mandir, or Krishna temple, in 2018, Muslim demonstrators quickly camped out on the plot, refusing to allow a Hindu structure to be built in their nation's capital. But the temple's Hindu advocates seemed to prevail, and when the temple's first foundation stones were laid last month, government officials proclaimed it marked the start of a new, tolerant chapter for Pakistan. Days later, Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered the government to provide about $US1.3 million ($1.9 million) for the temple's construction, roughly a fifth of what is needed.

Children from the Pakistani Hindu community hold fireworks during a special ceremony to celebrate Diwali festival. Credit:AP

"When we broke ground, the Prime Minister told us in a meeting that he was quite happy that the temple would give a good image of Pakistan to the outside world," said Lal Chand Mahli, a Hindu parliamentarian and member of the governing party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

"A Hindu temple in the capital," he added, "was going to show the world that Pakistan is a place for all religions."
A Florida man angry at having to pay a fine because his dog bit someone killed an 11-year-old girl and her father by shooting into their home, Port St. Lucie said, according to news reports.
Bangkok: Thailand's cabinet has approved a draft civil partnership bill to recognise same-sex unions with almost the same legal rights as married couples, in one of the most liberal moves yet for a largely conservative nation known for its tolerance.

If passed by parliament, the legislation would make Thailand only the second place in Asia to allow registration of same-sex unions after Taiwan, with couples able to adopt a child and afforded rights to inheritance and joint property ownership. Partners would not be entitled to all the same financial benefits from the state, however.

"The Civil Partnership Bill is an important step for Thai society in promoting equal rights and supporting the rights of same-sex couples to build families and live as partners," Ratchada Thanadirek, a deputy government spokeswoman, wrote on Facebook.

The bill, however, stipulates that one party in a same-sex union must be Thai.
Washington: Former White House aide Alexander Vindman, a key figure in the impeachment of US President Donald Trump, says he is retiring from the Army after suffering what his attorney described as campaign of "bullying, intimidation, and retaliation" by Trump.

Vindman, an Army lieutenant colonel who had been due for a promotion, provided some of the most damaging testimony during an investigation by the US House of Representatives into Trump's dealings with Ukraine.

Vindman confirmed his decision to retire instead of becoming a colonel and wrote on Twitter that he and his family "look forward to the next chapter of our lives".

"After more than 21 years of military service, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman is retiring today after it has been made clear that his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited," according to a statement from his attorney.
And second, Biden should insist that a real-time fact-checking team approved by both candidates be hired by the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates  and that 10 minutes before the scheduled conclusion of the debate this team report on any misleading statements, phoney numbers or outright lies either candidate had uttered. That way no one in that massive television audience can go away easily misled.

First, Biden should declare that he will take part in a debate only if Trump releases his tax returns for 2016 through 2018. Biden has already done so, and they are on his website . Trump must, too. No more gifting Trump something he can attack while hiding his own questionable finances.

Yes, the fact that we have to make truth-telling an explicit condition is an incredibly sad statement about our time; normally such things are unspoken and understood. But if the past teaches us anything, Trump might very well lie and mislead for the entire debate, forcing Biden to have to spend a majority of his time correcting Trump before making his own points.

That is not a good way for Biden to reintroduce himself to the American people. And, let's not kid ourselves, these debates will be his reintroduction to most Americans, who have neither seen nor heard from him for months, if not years.

Because of COVID-19, Biden has been sticking close to home, wearing a mask and social distancing. And with the coronavirus now spreading further, and Biden being a responsible individual and role model, it's likely that he won't be able to engage with any large groups of voters before election day. Therefore, the three scheduled televised debates, which will garner huge audiences, will carry more weight for him than ever.

He should not go into such a high-stakes moment ceding any advantages to Trump. Trump is badly trailing in the polls, and he needs these debates much more than Biden does to win over undecided voters. So Biden needs to make Trump pay for them in the currency of transparency and fact-checking  universal principles that will level the playing field for him and illuminate and enrich the debates for all citizens.

Of course, Trump will stomp and protest and say, "No way." Fine. Let Trump cancel. Let Trump look American voters in the eye and say: "There will be no debate, because I should be able to continue hiding my tax returns from you all, even though I promised that I wouldn't and even though Biden has shown you his. And there will be no debate, because I should be able to make any statement I want without any independent fact-checking."
Brasilia: Now infected with the virus he has shrugged off as a "little flu", President Jair Bolsonaro is insisting that his approach to the coronavirus, a pandemic that has killed tens of thousands of fellow Brazilians, was correct all along.

After months of clashing with doctors, governors and mayors who clamoured for strict quarantine measures, Bolsonaro has announced on live television he had tested positive for COVID-19. He told reporters through a mask that he felt "perfectly well," after taking two doses of hydroxychloroquine, an unproven anti-malarial he has touted as a successful remedy.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro caught the virus he said would sicken "70 per cent" of the population. Credit:AP

"We know there are other remedies that can help fight the coronavirus," he said hours later in a video he posted to Facebook after swallowing a third dose of the drug. "None are scientifically proven, but there's one that's working."

Medical experts say otherwise, but Bolsonaro's supporters are coalescing around the stricken President as proof that Brazilians should get back to work and not hide from the illness tearing through Latin American's largest economy.
WILLEMSTAD:---The Director and Secretary-General of the Social Economic Council (SER) of Curacao have been invited by the Parliament to a central committee meeting on Thursday, July 9, 2020, to discuss the Future of Work. The Central Committee meeting has been requested by the MAN fraction in Parliament that wants to hear the views of the SER on the fundamental changes in the world of work that is taking place worldwide and that also has consequences for Curacao.

In 2018 and 2019, in the run-up to the celebration of the centenary of the International Labor Organization (ILO), which had 'Future of Work' as its central theme, the SER entered into a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, Labour and Welfare (SOAW) at the technical level and in various debate sessions, thematic meetings and conferences focused on the impact of, among other things, artificial intelligence, robotization, big data, climate changes and demographic factors on labor markets; in particular on the labor market of Curacao.

The measures in the approach to the coronavirus (COVID-19) also have a major impact on the world of work. These and related themes will be further discussed with parliament next Thursday. Minister Hensely Koeiman of SOAW will also attend the debate of the central committee of Parliament.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, Interactors, and Volunteers distributed close to 200 Food Relief Boxes to those registered as in need. Purchasing of the food items was made possible by a very generous donation from the Windward Island Bank which has committed to at least 6 months of helping the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten assist those in the community receive much needed and nourishing food. It is easy to think that since businesses are opening back up and many are back to work that things are back to normal. That is so far from reality. So many have lost their jobs with little prospect of finding a new one, and so many more are underemployed and cant meet their obligations such as rent and lights, which leaves little left to provide food for their family, said Dimple Sagre, the recently installed Rotary Club President. We see the desperation out there and as Rotarians, we will continue to do our part to help ensure that as many as possible receive this assistance, President Dimple continued to say.

The Middle Region and Mount Willem Hill Area were the focus of this food distribution and the database of those having registered for assistance that is cooperatively used by K-1, Freegan Food, Red Cross, and Dominos for food relief was used to compile the list of names. There were also several families that were referred via other sources such as the Rotary Club of Sint Maartens Messenger account, other foundations supported by Rotary, and word of mouth as to desperate situations. Each box was packed full of various food items such as rice, potatoes, bananas, beans, pasta, flour, oil, tuna, crackers, peanut butter, cereal, milk, sauces, vegetables, and more and had an approximate food value of fls 100. The amount of food was maximized as the suppliers offered cost price on many of the items which helped Rotarians prepare even more boxes.

Project Coordinator Rotarian John Caputo said No Child, No Person, Nobody should go to bed hungry. The state of the economy, not just here but around the world, needs the help of those that can be there to do so and assist those that cant help themselves right now. Seeing the look desperation being replaced by a look of warm thanks when we show up with food is what makes the time and effort worth it. It is going to get worse before it gets better and that is why our club has committed to assisting and focusing on food relief and distribution for the next several months. We cant thank WIB enough for entrusting Rotary to facilitate the distribution to so many. Preparations and purchasing are already underway for the next round of food relief packages. A different area that hadnt recently been serviced by one of the organizations providing food relief will be chosen and another 200 food packages will be distributed to them soon.



For more information about the Rotary Club of St. Maarten, please contact the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Press Officer at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website www.rotarysxm.org.

# # #

About the Rotary Club of St. Maarten:

The Rotary Club of St. Maarten was chartered on March 17, 1972 as result of a September 1970 meeting to form a club on the island. Since its formation, the Rotary Club of St. Maarten has grown in membership and has assisted in the formation of new clubs in the District, including Anguilla (1978), St. Martin Nord (1988), St. Martin Mid-Isle (1997) St. Martin Sunrise (2004), and St. Maarten Sunset (2018). For more information, visit the club website at www.rotarysxm.org.
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Service (CPS), a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), hereby acknowledges Caribbean Public Health Day (CPHD) which was observed on July 2nd, which marks the legal establishment of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).



CPS would like to take this opportunity to commend CARPHA for its important role that it plays in combating infectious and non-infectious diseases in collaboration with regional island public health agencies.



CARPHA is a regional agency which focuses on sensitizing Caribbean people about the importance of public health and the contribution it makes to the socio-economic development in the Region.



According to a statement from CARPHA to mark the occasion, it said that the regional agency works to advance the public health of the Region in several ways, including monitoring health and disease spread and responding to emergencies, laboratory services, nutrition and food security, health research, environmental health and pharmaceutical quality.



The statement adds that CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory (CMML) has been actively involved in the regional response to COVID-19.



As the regional reference laboratory, the CMML conducts tests for suspected COVID-19 cases for Member States using the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended testing protocol.



CARPHAs specialised laboratories provide support for the surveillance, prevention, promotion and control of important public health problems in the Region.



CARPHA engages in ongoing skills-building, collaboration and professional supervision that enhance national capacities to deliver public health goods and services.



CARPHA also coordinates responses to public health crisis in the Caribbean by: Providing staff for prompt help and advice on disease prevention and control strategies in outbreak and epidemic situations; Coordinating health input for emergency situations in countries after natural disasters e.g. post flood provision of medical staff and supplies, environmental health issues  training, water quality monitoring and management etc.

The agency also provides laboratory support to outbreak investigations to confirm aetiology and monitor trends; and provides support for specific planning for food security esp. important given food price crisis, climate change and move towards biological fuels.



The agency continues to work closely with its Member States (CMS) and Caribbean coordinating partners and mechanisms to respond to the threat.



The pandemic has increased the burden on health care systems in countries. In response to further improve public health capacities in the Region, CARPHA in collaboration with other Caribbean coordinating partners and international public health partners, have been working to further strengthen and enhance the public health systems and institutional capacity in CARPHA Member States, the statement said in pointing out the agencys regional role.



The Region continues to be plagued with noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, as well as the second leading cause of death, which is cancer.
~ Kingdom Council will handle proposed law on Friday, Postponement denied.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Twenty-four hours after receiving the long-awaited documentation concerning the New Entity proposed by the Dutch Government, the Council of Ministers, in its meeting of today, unanimously agreed that the proposed Consensus Kingdom Law and other relevant documents related to the entity are unacceptable as presented. This comes, a mere four days before Aruba, Curacao, and St. Maarten are required to make a political commitment to accept the conditions for the 3rd Tranche of COVID-19 liquidity support in the extra Kingdom Council of Ministers meeting to be held on July 10. The confidential manner in which this documentation for the entity has been shared with the countries is also unacceptable as it circumvents the Parliament and binds the hands of the Government from having an open and transparent dialogue on this topic.

The entity goes against the constitution and the will of the people to govern their own affairs. The Dutch Government, in an indirect way, is pushing a longstanding agenda while St. Maarten is currently under duress. Once again, we see a repeat of 2017, whereby, unreasonable conditions are being attached to a much-needed loan as a result of a disaster, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said.



The entity proposed by the Dutch, to be established based on a Consensus Kingdom Law requires all countries in the Dutch Kingdom to agree after much dialogue and coming to agreements together. This has most definitely not occurred during the process of creating this law over the past 8 weeks. Considering the far-reaching power to be allotted to this entity, such grave decision needs to be properly weighed and therefore, the time given to accept this proposal is very unrealistic. Consultations must be held with different entities such as Parliament, Council of Advice, the Ombudsman, social and economic stakeholders among others before a final decision is made. The Council of Ministers has decided to request a postponement in order to receive proper internal advice and dialogue with key internal stakeholders, as well as seek alternative options.

The Government of St. Maarten has serious reservations regarding the link of non-financial conditions, for COVID-19 liquidity support which is a loan. The government also largely believes that by including the stipulated conditions, the Netherlands is underhandedly imposing policy and political measures on the government of St. Maarten, outside its powers, at a time when the country and its people are in need due to the economic downturn experienced around the world. In addition, attaching such financial support to the approval and recording of laws and regulations, the Parliament of St. Maarten is forced to adopt legislation within a short period of time and prevents the Parliament from exercising its full mandate.

St. Maarten remains in constant dialogue with our colleagues in Aruba and Curacao regarding our response to this oppressive enforcement of a Consensus Kingdom Law by the Dutch without having followed the proper constitutional procedures. This renders the proposal devoid of good governance, decency and further violates our democratic and autonomous rights within the Kingdom, especially in return for a disaster loan, concluded Prime Minister Jacobs.

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs who is currently reporting to Parliament said that the Kingdom Council of Ministers has denied St. Maarten's request for a postponement. Jacobs said the proposed law to establish the entity that will be established to govern St. Maarten, Curacao and Aruba will be handled on Friday. However, Jacobs maintained that the government of St. Maarten will maintain its position of being against the establishment of the Caribbean Reform Entity.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in an urgent Plenary Public Session today, Wednesday.

The public meeting will take place today, Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at 14.00 hrs. and will be held in a virtual setting. The Council of Ministers will be present.



The agenda point is:

Discussion regarding the decision to be taken in the Kingdom Council of Ministers (RMR) on July 10, 2020 (IS/1019/2019-2020 dated July 6, 2020)

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
Besides Irma and the pandemic, Cole pointed to several aspects of his tenure working for the county and the commission as points of pride. These include continued economic growth in Lake, such as the Kroger-Ocado grocery warehouse in South Lake, as well as construction of a new animal shelter in Tavares.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of St. Maarten has decided that they will further push back to the arrival of US flights to St. Maarten. St. Maarten Government may allow US flights back as of August 1st, 2020, that will depend on the amount of COVID-19 cases in the US territory.

Minister of TEATT Ludmilla de Weever made the announcement on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. De Weever said that the decision was taken due to the high amount of COVID-19 in North America. She said while August 1st is the target date, this cannot be definite since there is no way of knowing how high the risk would be in allowing North American flights to St. Maarten.

St. Maarten had planned to reopen its airport to US flights on July 1st but pushed back last week for a period of 15 days due to the high amount of positive COVID-19 cases in North America.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of St. Maarten namely the Ministry of General Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Minister of TEATT are busy working on a repatriation flight for students and residents that are stuck overseas. Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel said that there are some 60 students that are ready to board the flight back home. Minister Samuel said that the department had direct contact with some 58 of the students that are ready to return but no definite date and airline has been determined as the intention is to get as many persons on the flight back. The Minister said that those students are residents that return home must have been quarantined for at least 14 days. He called on everyone to continue to follow the social distancing guidelines and taking all necessary precautions to keep St. Maarten COVID-19 free.
~ Government working on diversification and phased reopening.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Government of St. Maarten has decided that they will not accept the draft law to establish a Caribbean Reform Entity on the overseas countries namely St. Maarten, Curacao, and Aruba.

Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said on Wednesday that prior to accepting the conditions set forth by the Dutch Government the Government of St. Maarten had informed the Dutch that St. Maarten will accept conditions that would trample on the constitution and any laws both locally, Kingdom related or Internationally. Jacobs said the over 200 pages of the draft law is indeed a violation of the Kingdom charter and does trample on the rights of the country since they are not even allowed to discuss or share the contents of the document with the parliament of St. Maarten. Jacobs further explained that she already asked that the discussion on the draft law be postponed since St. Maarten and the other two Caribbean countries need more time to seek legal and other advice on the law.

Asked by SMN News what other plans St. Maarten has in place to secure the much-needed loan to assist employers, the unemployed, and employees through the SSRP. Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion said there is no other plan B other than to get the Dutch Government to postponed and probably re-work the draft law which he said will take time for financial reform.

Irion said that St. Maarten will have to work on reopening its tourism market to the outer world without putting its people at risk. Special emphasis will have to be placed on the marine industry and agriculture for food security.

The country finance Minister said no country in the world was prepared financially for the COVID 19 pandemic and its effects on their economy. However, he agreed that St. Maarten will have to work on its financial reform and planning for hard times like creating a calamity fund. However, Irion said but this will take time. While not divulging the contents of the draft law Irion said that the Dutch Government knows that financial reform will take time because they want 7 severs with the Caribbean Reform Entity. Based on the draft document it is rumored that the members of this entity will be appointed by the Dutch Government and they will have to answer to the Minister of BZK. Irion also said that the document does not even clearly state what the countries are asked to accept while the draft law was not even vetted as yet.
Russia Decreases Social Security Contributions for SMEs. Companies with Foreign Shareholders May be Affected

Posted by Publisher Internet

Russia took a number of measures to limit economic consequences of the corona pandemic. One of them is a reduction of the level of social security contributions for small and medium-sized enterprises from 1 April 2020. Russian subsidiaries of foreign companies may also benefit from the reduced contributions rate.

Focus

The social contributions rate in the Russian SME sector is reduced from 30% to 15% on the portion of wages that is above the minimum wage (~EUR 150).

The benefit is available for companies that are included in SME register kept by the Federal Tax Service.

The change came into force on 1 April 2020.

Companies affected

Criteria for SME status in Russia:?

Up to 250 employees

Revenue up to RUB 2 billion (~EUR 28 million)

The total share held by legal entities that do not meet criteria 1-2 above may not be more than 49%

Companies with foreign shareholders

If a foreign shareholder of a Russian SME falls under criteria 1-2 above, its Russian subsidiary company may also benefit from the reduced social charges rate. Notably, the compliance of a foreign participant with the SME criteria should be confirmed by an auditor certified in Russia.

Confirmation procedure

The Russian entity should analyse whether the entity itself and its parent company comply with the SME criteria (see above).

The parent company should provide its financial statements to a certified Russian auditor.

The auditor should provide information on compliance with the SME criteria to the Federal Tax Service between 1-5 July 2020.

The Federal Tax Service will include the company in the SME Register by 10 August 2020.

The SME Register can be found on the Federal Tax Service website: https://rmsp.nalog.ru/search.html

Determining whether a company is recognised as a SME in Russia and can thus reduce social security contributions involves a number of deadlines and possibly language barriers. Ecovis Russia is at your disposal if you need our support.

For further information please contact:

Irina Makarova, Certified auditor, ACCA, Head of Audit, ECOVIS Audit-Avangard, Moscow, Russia

Sergey Vyssotsky, Partner, Advisory services, Tax, Accounting & HR, ECOVIS CONSECO Press, Moscow, Russia

Ecovis is a leading global consulting firm with its origins in Continental Europe. It has almost 8,500 people operating in nearly 80 countries. Its consulting focus and core competencies lie in the areas of tax consultation, accounting, auditing and legal advice.

The particular strength of Ecovis is the combination of personal advice at a local level with the general expertise of an international and interdisciplinary network of professionals. Every Ecovis office can rely on qualified specialists in the back offices as well as on the specific industrial or national know-how of all the Ecovis experts worldwide. This diversified expertise provides clients with effective support, especially in the fields of international transactions and investments  from preparation in the client\-\-s home country to support in the target country.

In its consulting work Ecovis concentrates mainly on mid-sized firms. Both nationally and internationally, its one-stop-shop concept ensures all-round support in legal, fiscal, managerial and administrative issues.

The name Ecovis, a combination of the terms economy and vision, expresses both its international character and its focus on the future and growth.
Happy, engaged employees are the key to a profitable business

It is a truism that in the physical security industry your workforce and your reputation are the businesss largest and most important assets. Managing your workforce with empathy to ensure happy, engaged employees can be a balancing act. However, providing flexible working practices that are still profitable for your business is achievable, and something that every security business should be aiming for. SmartTask CEO, Paul Ridden discusses the hidden benefits of an engaged workforce and the role that good workforce management has to play. The importance of an engaged workforce cant be stressed enough because motivated employees are what makes a business successful. Highly engaged staff According to Gallup, disengaged employees are a drain on any business. On average, they have 37% higher absenteeism, 18% lower productivity and 15% lower profitability. When the impact to the bottom line is calculated, you're looking at the cost of 34% of a disengaged employee's annual salary. Conversely, highly engaged staff show a 40% reduction in absenteeism, and almost 60% less turnover. Engaged employees show up every day with enthusiasm and purpose Engaged employees show up every day with enthusiasm and purpose. They tend to work harder, treat customers well (leading to more business), and, are more likely to remain with the company. Employee engagement is determined by factors such as feeling clear about your role at work, and having the right tools to enable you to do your job to the best of your ability. Being recognised for your hard work and diligence is also a key factor. Enabling security businesses Workforce management, when done well, can make a significant difference to all of these factors, and therefore help to foster an engaged workforce, which is good for business. Traditionally, workforce management and time & attendance (clocking on and off) systems may have seemed a bit big brother, however, this is no longer the case. In a world where almost everyone carries a smartphone, people are quite used to the idea of constant connectivity. This can be harnessed to enable security businesses to run more smoothly and efficiently, benefitting everyone. Indeed, being able to prove that a contracted service has been delivered is not only good for customer service, and invoicing, it is also provides recognition for hardworking staff. Workforce management solution Staff that feel empowered in such a way are more likely to feel happy and engaged Providing Flexibility and Work/life Balance - While we all know that contracts are contracts, and security businesses must deliver, ditching paper based systems in favour of an electronic workforce management solution, can provide additional flexibility to workers, supporting work/life balance. For example, shifts and rosters, which can be designed in a fraction of the time with a purpose-built solution, can be published further in advance, giving employees enough notice of work patterns to plan their lives around their shifts. People are more easily able to swap shifts or sign up for additional work, and the control room still has oversight to see exactly who is working where and when. In addition, staff can see their accrued holiday entitlement more easily, and request leave from their smartphones. Staff feel more in control of their lives when they can discuss their work patterns and holidays with family while at home simply by referring to an app on their device. Staff that feel empowered in such a way are more likely to feel happy and engaged with the business. Delivering work schedules Task lists for completion while onsite sent directly to their mobile device is convenient for all Convenience and Duty of Care - Using an app to deliver work schedules and assignment instructions provides your employees with the tools and information they need to do their job while removing the stress of dealing with paper-based forms. Task lists for completion while onsite sent directly to their mobile device is convenient for all, and helps to prove compliance with any regulatory requirements, including Duty of Care. Check calls are part of daily life for security workers. Remembering to make them can be cumbersome, but with an app, they can be built into the employees Actions for the day/shift, with an automated prompt to make the call. Managing finances better Payroll Visibility and additional Services for Staff - With an online time & attendance solution where people clock in and out electronically, they are able to check their hours accrued and see what their salary will be. If a shift is missed, for example, they are able to query with the payroll department much sooner, leading to more accurate and timely pay. Additional services can be provided, such as pay in advance schemes, where workers are able to draw down a percentage of their earned salary before payday. This enables staff to manage their finances better and avoid taking payday loans. Keeping electronic records The benefits to the business of a workforce management solution are many The benefits to the business of a workforce management solution are many. Saving time on back office processes such as designing rosters, managing shifts/attendance/service delivery, holidays and absence. Reducing reliance on manual systems, keeping electronic records provides audit trails, proves compliance and streamlines invoices for all work completed. Having detailed records also means better analysis of the business. Managing rosters and schedules is one thing, ensuring that every shift is profitable is much more complex. However, with electronic workforce management all the variables, fixed costs, recurring costs, salaried people, hourly people and the cost of equipment required, that go into costing a shift can be analysed to ensure every shift is profitable. Providing better safeguards In a post-COVID world, people have embraced technology at a pace not previously imagined. Technology has enabled us to keep in contact with loved ones, enabled those that can to work remotely, and provides better safeguards to key workers that cannot work remotely. In a post-COVID world, people have embraced technology at a pace not previously imagined Providing people with the right tools to do their job is a major step forward in empowering your workforce to do well. Electronic systems that reduce paperwork, also reduce the drudgery of form filling. At head office that frees people up for more proactive, strategic and customer facing work, that really makes a difference to your business. Affordable software solutions Out in the field, electronic systems keep people safer, more informed and helps them to manage their work/life balance. A winning combination for everyone. Paul has spent most of his working life in the computer industry, with the last ten years spent focusing on software solutions for the security, cleaning, FM and logistics sectors. Part of Pauls role is to use his passion and entrepreneurial approach to build a technology team that can develop and deliver affordable software solutions that take advantage of the latest technologies and help deliver value to all SmartTask users, large and small.
Nothing in state government, however, performed more abysmally than the system that was supposed to provide a financial lifeline for the unemployed during hard times. Instead, it became an anchor, dragging hundreds of thousands of Floridians underwater during what probably will be the worst financial crisis most of them will ever face.
In terms of stopping greenhouse pollution from various sources, and for the sake of growing a clean-energy economy, the report authors suggest that a well-designed carbon pricing mechanism should be one aspect of a comprehensive plan to get to net-zero emissions. Florida and many other states are moving toward a future reliant completely on renewable energy  recently, two more large solar farms were announced that will provide power to six Florida cities. This transformation would happen more quickly, with more immediate economic and ecological benefits, if Congress put a price on carbon.
Madrid, July 02, 2020 (SPS) - A European university study revealed how France prevented the expansion of the mandate of the UN Mission (MINURSO) to monitor human rights in occupied Western Sahara, in the Council of security of the United Nations.

In this study, the professor of public international law at the Spanish university of Cadiz, Juan Domingo Torrejon Rodriguez, underlined the role of France within the Security Council "to hinder the international efforts aiming at endowing MINURSO with the mission for monitoring human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara ".

In order that MINURSO does not carry out its task of monitoring Moroccan human rights violations in Western Sahara, he said, Morocco, with the support of France," tried to persuade the member states of the Security Council not to vote in favor of the extension of the mandate of MINURSO and its enlargement to monitor human rights ".

The study, prepared by the Journal of International Studies for the Mediterranean, concluded that "the United Nations Mission for the Referendum Organization in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is the only United Nations mission in Africa and worldwide that has no explicit mandate for monitoring human rights. "SPS

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Brussels, 05 Jul 2020 (SPS) - The three largest Swiss retailers, Coop, Migros and Denner have banned agricultural products originating in Western Sahara from their shelves, refusing to be complicit in the Moroccan occupation.



Swiss trade statistics consulted by the Western Sahara Resources Watch observatory, reveal that Switzerland ended its controversial agricultural imports from Western Sahara in 2019.



According to WSRW, 2019 was the first year that shows no imports of products from this territory.



Retailers Migros and Denner have both confirmed to the Swiss NGO "Terre des hommes Schweiz" that they did not purchase any product from Western Sahara in 2019 and that they will continue to ban these imports.



Migros and Denner followed the example of distributor Coop, which has already stopped reselling products from the occupied territory in 2017.



Retailer Migros specifies that after "extensive clarification and legal advice" in 2017, it has decided to "refrain from purchasing products from occupied areas in accordance with international law," a description that applies to the territory of Western Sahara.



For its part, Denner says the decision to stop these imports was made in 2017. (SPS)



062/SPS/T
Russia and Turkey are working on an immediate ceasefire agreement for the conflict in Libya, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Wednesday by the Interfax news agency.

Lavrov said the Libyan National Army (LNA), which Russia backs, is ready to sign a ceasefire document and hopes that Turkey will manage to convince the country's internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) to do the same.

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Our school board under the leadership of Superintendent Debra Pace has done a phenomenal job managing the complex challenges facing our public schools and has provided three options for parents, all of them with the safety of staff and students at the center. Now comes President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to launch a political assault (Trump steps up pressure to reopen schools in fall, July 8). The Trump administration is accusing others of politicizing education amidst the pandemic when they are doing just that, yet again taking advantage of a national crisis to further a partisan aim.
HARTFORD  The State Capitol, completed in 1878 as a tribute to the Civil War, features dozens of statues, mostly of men, some of whom in the early years of Connecticut killed Native Americans and owned slaves.

None of those immortalized in marble is more controversial than John Mason, an English-born soldier who came to the state in 1632 and by 1635 led the states combat against pirates  and according to a guide book was a valiant commander.

In 1637, however, as the head of the state militia during the Pequot War, he defeated the Eastern Pequots, with help from the Mohegan Tribe, at the battle of Mystic.

Most recently, his statue in Windsor, which he founded and where he lived, has been the target of criticism. The Windsor statue, owned by the state, not the town, was moved from Groton in 1996 amid a similar controversy, according to a Windsor town history.

While state officials havent discussed what might be done with the statues during this Black Lives Matter era and the growing campaign against institutionalized racism, Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said Wednesday that theres still room to acknowledge historic figures who represent the states diversity.

In fact, there are at least six vacant platforms  called niches  around the third floor of the exterior of the Capitol building, including two spaces flanking the statue of Gov. Ella Grasso on the south facade of the building overlooking the governors parking space.

Grasso, the first woman in the nation elected governor in her own right and not following the death of a spouse, died in 1981. Her marble likeness was placed in the niche in 1987 at the cost of $65,000, the equivalent today of about $150,000.

Eric Connery, facilities administrator for the Office of Legislative Management, which runs the State Capitol complex, said Wednesday that Grassos statue was the first erected in nearly 100 years.

Connery, interviewed outside the Capitol while inspecting the building for an upcoming exterior cleaning, said that during a recent evaluation of the nearly two dozen statues and carved plaques commemorating early founders of the state, as well as Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I and governmental service honorees, at least a couple of the men apparently owned slaves.

Were entering uncharted territory, Connery said when asked what the governmental process would be to either remove statues or commission and place new ones up in the niches.

Masons likeness, holding a sword, looms over the North Entrance of the Capitol, above the steps where Black Lives Matter rallies have gathered in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, members of the General Assemblys Black and Puerto Rican Caucus held a news conference there in advance of the upcoming special session and members admitted they did not know Mason was above them, standing between Roger Ludlow, who set up laws for the English colony, and Theophilus Eaton, who helped found New Haven in 1638 and was the colonys first governor.

Also on the Capitols exterior is a decorative marble sculpture commemorating Mason with allies from the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes attack on a Pequot fort in Mystic.

Other sculptures honor David Humphreys of Derby, who recruited the first Black regiment in the country, in 1781, then later founded the first planned factory village in the country, Humphreysville, located along the Naugatuck River where Seymour is located today.

Another, David Wooster, whose marble sculpture was put into its niche in 1917, led a division of Americans during the American Revolution, was wounded by British troops during the battle of Danbury in April 1977 and died about a week later.

Another statue, of Alfred Howe Terry, involves the story how he rose in rank to major general during the Civil War, stayed in the Army during the post-war westward expansion and ordered a brash general named George Armstrong Custer to avoid engaging with Native Americans in June 1876, just before Custer led to 7th Cavalry to a complete defeat in the Little Bighorn River valley of Montana.

Ive got to confess I dont know much about the John Mason situation, Lamont told reporters Wednesday during a Census-related news conference outside The Travelers headquarters. Its tricky. When it comes to a Confederate statue, these are people who took up arms against their country, and thats not tricky for me. Those should go down. They should not be celebrated in the public space. At best they should go to museums where we can learn from their example.

Lamont said that white men are over-represented in commemorative Capitol art.

As I look at a lot of these other statues I see whether they are out of context and the times, Lamont said. I like a little more diversity I see in the statues around the Capitol.

I will always say to young people when they come to visit the Capitol that Ella Grasso is the only female, Bysiewicz said. There are no statutes of people of color or other women. I know weve got seven other spots just waiting for heroes or she-roes.

Inside the Capitol is a plaque commemorating the women who fought for the right to vote 100 years ago. And one of the newest pieces of art is a life-size, 2008 statue of State Heroine Prudence Crandall, who in 1833 opened a school for African American girls that operated for a year and a half before neighbors burned it down. With Crandall, in the sculpture, located in the South Lobby, is one of her Black students.

But the sculptures on the Capitols exterior and on the grounds are all white men, except for Grasso.

The largest statue in the entire Capitol complex, however, is an 18-foot-tall allegorical woman, in flowing robes, called The Genius of Connecticut. The bronze replica is a 2009 copy of the original that stood atop the Capitol dome before becoming unfastened during the great Hurricane of 1938, and was later melted down for ammunition during World War II.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
Listen, I dont pretend to have all the answers on this complicated issue. In fact, I sometimes envy the people who are so unflinchingly confident that schools or businesses must remain open  or shut  that they scream about it without reservations. It must be liberating to enjoy a level of certainty that even most medical experts dont claim to possess.
T he City Pub Groups executive chairman Clive Watson spoke to the Evening Standard about how Covid-19 disruption has impacted the business, and being encouraged by recent booking levels since the lockdown eased. The interview took place at the Cock & Bottle in Notting Hill, and Watson had a Birra Moretti beer.

What has the hardest part of the Covid-19 lockdown been?

I think it was the unknown. I think it was going into totally unknown territory.

Ive traded through recessions, you sort of know that eventually in a recession you are going to come out of it- you dont know how long it is going to last but you do know that you are going to come out of it eventually because thats the trade cycle. But this is a complete unknown situation where you just didnt know how long its going to last and what was going to happen as you came out. Was it going to be complete devastation or partial devastation? Or just something that well talk about in a few years time and say do you remember Covid-19 in 2020? It was the fear of the unknown.

What are some of the changes you have implemented across the estate?

We have an app so people can order from their tables, and people can order takeaways, drink or food. That was probably something that was ultimately always going to happen but Covid has speeded up that process.

We are making sure the pubs are super clean, we are using wooden cutlery and having food in recyclable boxes (they can be recycled and used instead of tableware that although washed, has been used by others previously). Its not just the safety of customers, but also for staff.

What are booking trends looking like?

We have been encouraged by bookings and takeaways [as at last weekend]. Pubs never really did takeaways before, and I think pubs can go into that market more now. So people are still coming to the pub but have the choice if they want to come in or get takeaway.

How confident are you feeling about the future of British pubs and why?

One third of the customers think social distancing is too restrictive, one third think its about right but are confused and the other third think social distancing is too relaxed and wont rush back so this is a really challenging time [for the industry].

I think if the life support (assistance from the government including the business rates suspension) is withdrawn that will accelerate a lot of pub closures [across the sector], and restaurants and coffee shops as well.
T he financial advice company which authorised collapsed West Ham United sponsor Basset & Gold to sell its bonds to the public has had a going concern warning put on its accounts and is facing compensation claims over the British Steel pensions scandal.

Basset & Gold collapsed in April, leaving thousands of mostly elderly investors fearing the loss of all their money.

Kent-based Gallium Fund Solutions was the FCA-regulated "principal" for Basset & Gold and many investors have been advised to go to it for compensation.

Gallium is also at the centre of claims from around 20 steelworkers that it bears responsibility for them losing their money. Their claims are currently going through the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Accounts for the company have a going concern warning on it from its auditors due to issues about the activities of its authorised representatives.

While not detailing what those issues were, the accounts state: There is uncertainty regarding the length of time to be taken and costs to be incurred in resolving the issues with the appointed representatives. These matters give rise to a material uncertainty relating to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt about the companys ability to continue as a going concern.

The accounts also warned Gallium was being sued for 3.75 million by an ex-director and 50% shareholder, Peter Dooley.

Dooley, a Kent dentist, did not respond to emailed requests for comment

Gallium boss Tony Norris said of the British Steel situation: The matter has been investigated and Gallium is not responsible for any wrongdoing.

He declined to comment on Basset & Gold pending its investigations into the situation but said Gallium denied any wrongdoing.

From February 2017 to June 2018, Basset & Gold marketed its bonds under the supervisory licence of Gallium, acting as its tied agent.

Bondholders have been urged by B&Gs administrators to submit compensation claims directly to Gallium.
S mall businesses today expressed their dismay that Chancellor Rishi Sunak offered them no life-lines.

Many small business owners have fallen through the cracks during lockdown, unable to access the governments coronavirus rescue packages and furlough scheme.

Some are wary of putting themselves in debt by signing up for government-backed loans while there was no certainty over the future. Others are simply too small to qualify for the loans.

One small business owner in London tweeted: "We were promised a New Deal but got a Meal Deal" in reference to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spending plans unveiled earlier this week.

Freelancers were also hoping for more from the Chancellor.

Many in the creative industries, in particular, have not been eligible for furlough or the self-employed grant.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that about 650,000 self-employed people are not getting support.

Campaign group ExcludedUK said it was disappointed there were no measures put forward.

A spokeswoman said: Whilst we appreciate the importance of the discussions about opening up the economy and the future economic recovery, those excluded have had no meaningful support for well over 100 days.

With little to no income during this time and loaded with debt, amid so much uncertainty in the coming weeks and months to come, those excluded cannot look forward to the future with any hope.
T wo controversial London cafes famed for selling bowls of supermarket cereal to their punters will not reopen following the lockdown, citing the prolonged closure and industry uncertainty for the decision.

Twin brothers Alan and Gary Keery, the co-owners of the Cereal Killer Cafes in Shoreditch and Camden, confirmed the news on Facebook today.

After 5.5 years we will be saying Cheerio to our Cafes, for now, they said in a post.

After a long period of closure due to Coronavirus, and with the future of the hospitality industry looking very uncertain, we have made a decision that our Cafes on Brick Lane and Camden will not reopen their doors.

Cheerio, for now: The duo said they would continue to sell cereal online, alongside 'creating their own line of products' / Rebecca Reid

The pair are hoping to return, however, adding: This is not Cheerio forever, we have goals of seeing our Cafe open again, but due to the current climate it wont be financially viable for us.

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The Cereal Killer Cafes gained infamy when their first branch opened on Shoreditchs Brick Lane in 2014, and faced backlash for charging upwards of 2.50 for a bowl of cereal and milk in one of Londons poorest boroughs.

Despite this, the brand opened a second branch in Camden the following year, and have also launched locations in Birmingham, Dubai, Doha and Kuwait.
C hancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the new Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which will see households given vouchers to use when dining out.

Running through August, the vouchers will give households a 50 per cent reduction, up to 10 per head, on sit down meals and non-alcoholic drinks. The vouchers will be able to be used on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The scheme will apply to everyone across the country, including children.

Those dining out will be able to enjoy a maximum discount of 10-per-head off a meal; for instance, if a couple went out and spent 30 on food and soft drinks, they would each be able to use the voucher to take 7.50 per head off the meal, totalling a 15 discount  equal to 50 per cent. Were that couple to spend 80, only a discount of 10 per head would apply  20 total  despite this representing a discount of 25 per cent.

Further details of the scheme are expected to be announced in the coming days.

The voucher is the first of its kind in the UK, with Mr Sunak telling the Commons: "This moment is unique. We need to be creative."

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He added: "To get customers back into restaurants, cafes and pubs, and protect the 1.8 million people who work in them, I can announce today that, for the month of August, we will give everyone in the country an Eat Out to Help Out discount."

The scheme, which Mr Sunak described as "support[ing] restaurants and the people who work in them", is expected to bolster the UK's 130bn hospitality industry, which is the country's third largest employer and represents nine per cent of all the country's jobs.

Mr Sunak also announced that VAT for all hospitality and tourism businesses would be slashed from 20 per cent to 5 per cent until 12 January.

The news has been met warmly by many in the industry, with Myrtle chef Anna Haugh telling the Standard: "What astonishingly great news this is for our industry. With the limited covers and extra costs, not having an income for the past few months, this allows us to breathe again. It's a lifeline for us."

Paradise owner Dom Fernando added: "The cut to VAT across the hospitality sector and the Eat Out to Help Out scheme is welcome news and will hopefully boost confidence and incentivise guests to visit restaurants and spend money.

"This is particularly important for independent restaurants like ours, especially in Soho and other areas that have been hit the hardest. However we still need the government and other stakeholders including insurers, landlords and banks to play their part in our survival which would include a nine month rent free period for the industry as a whole to avoid undermining our recovery."

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Rapper and potential presidential candidate Kanye West has revealed he views vaccines as the mark of the beast, saying that he was extremely cautious of a future COVID-19 vaccine.

In a four-hour interview with Forbes, West touched on everything from his political party (the 'Birthday Party') through to his belief that sexual healthcare providers Planned Parenthood do the Devils work.

West revealed he is against vaccines in the interview, saying they mean we cant cross the gates of heaven.

He said: Its so many of our children that are being vaccinated and paralysed So when they say the way were going to fix Covid is with a vaccine, Im extremely cautious. Thats the mark of the beast.

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Clarifying that they were the humans that have the Devil inside them, West continued, They want to put chips inside of us, they want to do all kinds of things, to make it where we cant cross the gates of heaven.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West / Getty Images

And the sad thing is... the saddest thing is that we all wont make it to heaven, that therell be some of us that do not make it, he said.

West also implied he believed that coronavirus is divine punishment, as when he was asked about a coronavirus cure he responded: We need to stop doing things that make God mad.

West, who has supported President Donald Trump in the past, also added that he believed Planned Parenthood clinics have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to do the Devils work.

Planned Parenthood clinics provide sexual healthcare to people across America, though they have become a battleground for anti-abortion protestors.

Kanye West hugging President Donald Trump / Getty Images

The topic of a coronavirus vaccine has become mired in false conspiracy theories, including the microchip theory that West pushed - which claims that Microsoft founder Bill Gates is implanting people with microchips under the guise of vaccines to track them.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation told the BBC it is a false claim and there is no evidence to support the theory.

Speaking to MPs, Oxford Universitys regius professor of medicine Sir John Bell said the UK should be prepared for the worst this winter - should there be a significant flu season in conjunction with another wave of coronavirus cases.

He said that it could be pandemonium in the A&E departments if many opted out of a flu vaccine and added: This could be really serious if people dont get their vaccines.

A COVID-19 vaccine is currently undergoing human trials, but Imperial College London Professor Robin Shattrock revealed it could be available in the first two quarters of next year if things go extraordinarily well.

A recent YouGov poll conducted by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate revealed that nearly one in six Brits would either outright refuse or were considering rejecting a coronavirus vaccine when it became available, with just 38% saying they would definitely get vaccinated and 31% saying they probably would.
Dame Cressida Dick told MPs that the Met had said sorry for the "distress" caused to Miss Williams after she and her partner were stopped, before appearing to be dragged from their car and handcuffed while their three-month-old son was on board.

She also said the force is reviewing its handcuffing practices after the incident.

However, Dame Cressida rejected claims that the force was "racist" and said officers "hate" the accusation. Miss Williams has said she believes officers racially profiled her and Ricardo dos Santos  a Portuguese 400-metre runner  when they were pulled over and separated from their three-month-old son.

Dame Cressida said two separate teams had reviewed the material from the incident and concluded no misconduct was apparent. But she said they had voluntarily referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to the level of public concern.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick / PA

She told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee: Yesterday, two of my officers spoke on our behalf to Ms Williams and I think all of us watching could empathise with somebody who is stopped in a vehicle who has a young child in the backand is subsequently found together with her partner not to be carrying any illicit goods or weapons.

My senior officer has said Im sorry to Ms Williams for the distress it has clearly caused her and I say that too. So, if there are lessons to be learnt from it, we will learn them. And Im looking at handcuffing as a specific issue.

We apologised yesterday to Ms Williams and I apologise again for the distress this stop clearly caused her.

Bianca Williams and Ricardo dos Santos have accused the police of racial profiling

Dame Cressida added: I actually  having seen a number of issues raised over the last several weeks  have said to one of my senior officers: can you please review our handcuffing practices to make sure that it hasnt become in any way a default in certain situations because it shouldnt do.

Miss Williams, a European and Commonwealth sprinting gold medallist, and her partner allege they were targeted by police because they are black and drive a Mercedes.

In footage of the incident, shared by Ms Williams on social media, the athlete can be heard shouting "my son is in the car" as she and Mr dos Santos are detained.

Bianca Williams says they are planning to sue the Met police

Nothing was found in the search, which the Met said was carried out by officers patrolling the area in response to an increase in violence involving weapons.

The force also said the vehicle was seen driving suspiciously, including on the wrong side of the road, and that the driver sped off when asked to stop.

But this account was rejected by Miss Williams, who has said she is considering legal action against the Met.

I feel very hurt by their actions, and to witness my partner being taken away and for me to be taken away from my son, my heart hurts, she said.

The GB sprinter vowed to sue the police over the incident / Getty Images

Dame Cressida also rejected claims that her force remains institutionally racist and said her officers were dismayed by some of the unjustified allegations of bias directed towards police.

"Ive been out and about with my teams over the last few weeks and people are desperately sad at some of the accusations, they are desperately upset to be labelled the way the police are being labelled, she told MPs.

Come out with my frontline teams, you will see the most diverse bunch of people you could imagine. East European language speakers, gay people, goodness knows, just such a different demographic. They say to me they find it odious to be accused, as they feel it personally, of being racist. They hate that. They want to save lives and they really want to save black lives and they care about that.

The Commissioner added that it was outrageous and wrong to claim, as one campaign group has done, that police were more lenient towards Far-Right protesters than Black Lives Matters supporters during disorder at demonstrations in London last month.

She added that she felt particularly for my black officers who were just subjected to constant abuse all days long, as were many others during the first large Black Lives Matter demonstration, which ended in violent clashes on Whitehall, and repeated her previous condemnation of the completely unacceptable attacks directed towards officers.

IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said the watchdog will be looking at whether the use of stop and search during the incident with Miss Williams and Mr dos Santos was appropriate and proportionate.
T eam GB athlete Bianca Williams has demanded a "rigorous", investigation into an incident where she and her partner were stopped and handcuffed by police.

A video of the incident, which saw the Great Britain sprinter and her partner Ricardo dos Santos pulled from their car in a London street, was posted online.

Williams has said she believes officers racially profiled her and dos Santos  a Portuguese 400-metre runner  when they were handcuffed and separated from their three-month-old son.

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening the Met said that following a vehicle stop on Lanhill Road in west London on Saturday it had made a voluntary referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

A police officer at the scene

The Met previously said on Monday that its Directorate of Professional Standards had revisited body-worn camera footage and social media videos of Saturdays incident and found no misconduct issues.

Williams wrote: "We welcome the referral of Saturday's traumatic incident to the IOPC as a complaint and that the IOPC has said that their investigation will also look at what part racial profiling or discrimination played in the incident.

"An independent investigation is now necessary, as the Metropolitan Police have proved that they cannot be trusted to investigate a complaint themselves, having already publicly stated that there has been "no misconduct".

"They published these findings on Twitter before taking a single step to formally record or investigate why their actions caused our family so much distress.

"We have now received an apology for the distress the incident caused us, but significantly, not foe the wholly unjustified actions that officers took against our family.

"We are now contacting the IOPC through our lawyers and will assist fully with their investigation, which we hope will be rigorous."

"We apologised yesterday to Ms Williams and I apologise again for the distress this stop clearly caused her," she told the Home Affairs Select Committee.

"I think all of us watching could empathise with somebody who is stopped in a vehicle, who has a young child in the back, who does not probably know what exactly is going on, and is subsequently found, together with her partner, not to be carrying anything illicit."

Dame Cressida said the force had launched a review of its handcuffing practises.

Nothing was found by police during the search, which the Met said was carried out by officers patrolling the area in response to an increase in violence involving weapons.

The force also said the vehicle was seen driving suspiciously, including on the wrong side of the road, and that the driver sped off when asked to stop.
S ix puppies drenched in oil have been rescued from the back of a van after being illegally imported into the UK from Romania.

The Dogs Trust said demand for puppies has spiked during the coronavirus lockdown and people should be aware of the risks of buying dogs via online adverts.

The charity said it has rescued dozens of smuggled pups worth tens of thousands of pounds which were destined to be sold on to unsuspecting UK buyers.

In the latest pup-smuggling bust, six young dogs were found covered in sticky oil in the back of a van at Dover port.

The puppies had been smuggled in from Romania / PA

The puppies had been illegally imported from Romania, despite the coronavirus lockdown restrictions in the UK preventing non-essential travel, the charity said.

The three Maltese, two Havanese and one bichon frise pups, aged around 11 weeks old, were found in an appalling condition and suffering from diarrhoea.

The puppies had to be shaved to remove the oil / PA

All had to be shaved to get rid of the oil and are now in the Dogs Trusts care and will be rehomed responsibly when they are fit and able.

Paula Boyden, the Dogs Trusts veterinary director, said: It is absolutely heartbreaking that we continue to see dogs being illegally imported into the country, often in terrible conditions to make huge profits for cruel puppy smugglers.

The demand for puppies has increased during lockdown, charities say / PA

We might be in the midst of a pandemic, but these devious sellers will still use every trick in the book to scam unsuspecting dog lovers.

Sadly, its all too easy to be dogfished and it can be very difficult to know if you are buying a puppy that has been smuggled.

The puppies will now be responsibly rehomed / PA

The charity has also saved 12 heavily pregnant mothers, who have given birth to 53 puppies worth around an additional 100,000 to cruel smugglers.

"We would advise you to always see a puppy with and interacting with their mum and go and see it more than once," Ms Boyden said.

The Dogs Trust has warned about the perils of being "dogfished" when buying a puppy / PA

"Ask lots of questions, and ask to see vital paperwork, such as a puppy contract. If you have any doubts or it feels too good to be true, as hard as it may be, walk away and report the seller."
FILE- In this Nov. 7, 1978, file photo, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bob Graham, left, poses with his running mate Wayne Mixson, right, of Marianna, in Miami, while looking at election returns. In the center next to their husbands are Adele Graham and Margie Mixson. Mixson, a former Florida governor whose three-day term was shortest in state history, died Wednesday, July 8, 2020. He was 98. Mixson took over the top spot on Jan. 3, 1987, when Gov. Bob Graham resigned early to be sworn into the U.S. Senate. Mixson was a two-term lieutenant governor. (AP Photo/Jim Bourdier, File) (Jim Bourdier/AP)
A man has been charged with murdering a talented musician who was stabbed to death and dismembered in south west London in January.

William Algar, 53, known as to friends and family as Blaise, was discovered dead at his flat in Barnes on January 3.

A post-mortem examination found he had suffered multiple stab wounds and died from a stab wound to the chest.

Police later found human remains, thought to be part of Mr Algars body, seven miles away near Edgar Road, close to Hounslow Heath.

On Monday, Emeka Dawuda-Wodu, 19, was charged with murdering Mr Algar by postal requisition.

Dawuda-Wodu, of no fixed address, had previously been charged with perverting the course of justice. He remains in custody.

Janayo Lucima, 18, had a charge of murder discontinued at court and is charged with perverting the course of justice.

Lucima, of Longridge Road, Earls Court, remains in custody.

Mark Harding, 44, of The Drive, Isleworth, and Simon Emmons, 40, of no fixed address, both face a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Harding and Emmons also remain in custody.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on June 3 on suspicion of murder and has been released under investigation.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on January 31 on suspicion of murder and preventing the lawful burial of a body.

He was released under investigation pending further enquiries.

Detectives continue to appeal for information and are especially keen to hear from anyone who had contact with Mr Algar in December last year.

Mr Algar was described as "an incredibly talented musician and a gentle man".

"He was a brilliant jazz trumpeter and his playing brought joy to so many people," his family said in a statement.
A gunman who opened fire on his brother and a woman outside a north London restaurant was starting a 12-year prison term today.

Kenloy Clarke, 34, was jailed at the Old Bailey on Wednesday after pleading guilty to carrying out the shooting in Lordship Lane in Wood Green, on September 17 last year.

Police had been called to North Middlesex University Hospital at around 9.50pm, where Clarkes brother, Fitzroy Banton, 31, and Janice Watson, 46, had arrived suffering from gunshot wounds.

Ms Watson was said to be in a potentially life-threatening condition after she was shot in the chest, but survived.

The atermath of the shooting / Barney Davis

Mr Banton suffered injuries to his right arm, requiring an operation.

During the previous hearing, Clarke entered guilty pleas to two charges of grievous bodily harm with intent.

He also admitted possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm when prohibited, and possession of a .22 cartridge.

London shooting: A bullet hole can be seen at the scene where the woman was shot / Barney Davis

Attempted murder charges, which the defendant had denied, were left to lie on file.

Det Const Damon Carr said: I hope that the victims in this can benefit from some closure in knowing that Clarke is behind bars.
C hildren need to be given space to come to terms with what they have been through during the Covid crisis, experts said today. The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) also stressed that some would need long-term support.

Children may even need help choosing words to express their feelings and thoughts given the complexities of what they have experienced.

The Evening Standard has launched a special investigation into the impact of coronavirus on children and vulnerable families.

Anne Longfield, the Childrens Commissioner for England, and the Barnardos charity warned on Monday of the risk of a left-behind generation whose education, mental health and social skills may have been negatively impacted by the crisis.

Childrens services chiefs yesterday revealed how hundreds of London families, who would ordinarily have managed to cope, sought or were referred for help during lockdown.

Today the investigation starts to focus on how children can recover from the ordeal of being cooped up in their homes for weeks, struggling to see friends and unable to go to school in many cases.

There does need to be some space for children to talk, for children to acknowledge what has happened, what is happening, explained Nimal Jude, practice development manager at the SCIE.

We need to create space for children to be able to express, and sometimes even to give them the vocabulary to express, their emotions about this... is it fear, loss, anxiety or anger?

This space could be found in families, among friends, schools, in stronger community networks built up during lockdown including through Whatsapp groups, in libraries or other venues. Anywhere where there are familiar people and a familiar space for children is going to be positive, she added.

Longer term, young people may look back and wonder whether the crisis had impacted their life many years on, such as not getting into university if they do not get the required grades.

Grades are being awarded this year, based significantly on school recommendations, as GCSEs and A-levels were scrapped. Ms Jude emphasised: It needs to be longer-term commitment to this generation. Its not a flash-in-the-pan.

She also stressed that there had been a shadow pandemic of domestic violence and abuse globally, including in the UK, during lockdowns.

As that starts to ease, there is a danger and risk that perpetrators feel that they are losing control, she added. That is quite a dangerous time for victims, survivors and children. She believes work to deter perpetrators needs to be accelerated, as well as providing support to victims.

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The Government stressed it was focusing on safeguarding children and young people, and supporting their mental health and wellbeing. A 1 billion catch-up programme had been launched including 350 million of tutoring support for the most disadvantaged, 7 million has been allocated to Barnardos See, Hear, Respond service for young people at risk, and there is bespoke help for vulnerable teenagers, no longer in school, on getting into further education or training next year.

A spokeswoman added: We are also supporting schools to focus on mental health and wellbeing, providing advice for parents and carers, and training for teachers. Mental health support continues to be available for those that need it and NHS mental services remain open with new 24/7 mental health hotlines across the country.
S erious and potentially fatal brain conditions linked to coronavirus may be going unnoticed by doctors, leading scientists have warned.

Experts at University College Londons Institute of Neurology studied 43 patients who developed disorders ranging from psychosis to stroke after contracting Covid-19.

The major study, published in the journal Brain, found a worrying rise in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (Adem), a life-threatening condition, during the first wave of coronavirus in Britain.

Of these, 12, had inflammation of the central nervous system, 10 were treated with delirium or psychosis, eight had strokes and a further eight had peripheral nerve problems, mostly Guillain-Barre which can cause paralysis. Some 1 in 20 cases are fatal, NHS England says.

Were seeing things in the way Covid-19 affects the brain that we havent seen before with other viruses, said Michael Zandi, a senior author on the study and a consultant at the institute and University College London Hospitals NHS foundation trust.

Experts say more research is needed on how coronavirus affects the brain (Northwestern Medicine/AFP) / Northwestern Medicine/AFP via Ge

What weve seen with some of these Adem patients, and in other patients, is you can have severe neurology, you can be quite sick, but actually have trivial lung disease, he added.

Biologically, Adem has some similarities with multiple sclerosis, but it is more severe and usually happens as a one-off. Some patients are left with long-term disability, others can make a good recovery.

One coronavirus patient included in the paper, a 55-year-old woman with no history of psychiatric illness, began to hallucinate the day after she was discharged from hospital, reporting that she saw monkeys and lions in her house.

She was readmitted and gradually recovered on anti-psychotic medication.

Another woman, aged 47, was admitted to hospital with a headache and numbness in her right hand a week after developing a cough and fever.

She later became unresponsive and needed an emergency operation to remove part of her skull to ease pressure on her swollen brain.

It comes amid fears some patients are experiencing breathlessness and fatigue months after their discharge.

File picture of a coronavirus patient (University College London) / JAMES TYE/University College London (UCL)/AFP via Getty Images)

Dr Zandi urged GPs, physicians and healthcare workers to refer Covid-19 patients with cognitive symptoms, memory loss, fatigue, numbness or weakness to refer cases to neurologists.

But he said better research is needed into how coronavirus may be linked to the brain.
B oris Johnsons constituency hospital has been forced to close to emergencies after an outbreak of coronavirus among staff, the Standard can reveal.

Ambulances began being diverted away from Hillingdon hospital from last night and it was closed to emergency admissions today, though walk in casualty patients were still being seen.

Trust chief executive Sarah Tedford said she was treating the outbreak with the utmost seriousness and had ordered staff to stay at home and isolate if they had symptoms.

The outbreak is believed to be concentrated on one eight-bed ward. NHS England today said that 70 hospital staff were now in self-isolation fearing they had contracted coronavirus.

In a message to staff this morning, Ms Tedford said: A number of our staff in one area of Hillingdon hospital have either tested positive for Covid-19 or are self-isolating as a precaution.

A number of immediate actions are being taken to limit the spread of the infection, including enhanced cleaning, reviewing infection control procedures, reinforcing hand hygiene and reinforcing social distancing.

I am treating this situation with the utmost seriousness. As a result, the trust has taken the decision to close Hillingdon hospital to emergency ambulances and emergency admissions. This will be reviewed on a daily basis.

The ward at the centre of the outbreak is believed to be Bevan ward, which is thought to have been used for covid-positive patients.

The Standard understands that the infection may have been spread between staff  from departments throughout the hospital - attending a training meeting at the end of last week in the trusts training centre.

The hospital is in Boris Johnson's constituency

It is thought that tracing of staff potentially at risk of having been infected has been ongoing since the weekend.

Hillingdon is the main hospital serving the Prime Ministers Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. Public Health England has been informed.

Other departments in the hospital, including maternity, remained open today.

It also emerged today that the trust posted a picture on its Instagram page five days ago of Ms Tedford and director of operations Anjala Joshi sitting together with neither wearing a face covering. A sign behind them states: You must wear a face covering during your time in hospital. The picture has since been removed.

A NHS-wide requirement for staff and patients to wear masks at all times was introduced on June 15.

Sources said Ms Tedford had also decided to keep the staff canteen open, despite concerns among some staff that this could increase the risk of coronavirus being spread.

Trust chief executive Sarah Tedford and director of operations Anjala Joshi sitting together with neither wearing a face covering / @hillingdonnhsft

Patients who dialled 999 were today being diverted by ambulance to hospitals such as Northwick Park, in Harrow, and St Marys, in Paddington.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: We are working with emergency departments in the north west of London to manage the flow of patients and ensure they can continue to provide the best possible care for them.

Any priority call patients where Hillingdon hospital would have been the nearest hospital are currently being taken to the next closest appropriate hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman said: A number of our staff have either tested positive for Covid-19 or are self-isolating, and arrangements are in place to maintain safe and high quality care. Any impact on patients has been kept to an absolute minimum.

Professor Kevin Fenton, London regional director for Public Health England, said: We are supporting Hillingdon hospital after a number of staff who are now self-isolating tested positive for Covid-19.

Together with the trusts management, the local authority public health team and the Joint Biosecurity Centre, PHEs role is to provide advice on actions that can limit the spread of infection including enhanced cleaning, reviewing infection control practices and reinforcing hand hygiene and social distancing.
N HS staff advocacy groups are calling on the Government to reverse its decision to scrap universal free hospital parking for health service staff after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Department of Health has said that the scheme to fund fees incurred by NHS staff in privately run hospital car parks  first introduced as the UK lockdown began on March 25  cannot continue indefinitely, and that workers will have to begin to pay for parking again in all but certain circumstances.

No certain timeline for the changes has been given.

The move has prompted an angry backlash, with the British Medical Association (BMA) calling it a rebuff to the immense efforts of staff across the country and the sacrifices they have made to keep others safe.

Matt Hancock's department has confirmed free parking for all staff will go / PA

A spokesperson said: The Government asked the NHS trusts to lift the parking charges because our health workers and care workers have done such an amazing job in looking after those of us who have been sick and ill. Nothing has changed in relation to that.

Commentators have also condemned the decision, with Piers Morgan calling it "utterly disgusting". The Good Morning Britain host questioned why doctors, nurses and surgeons have to pay for the privilege of going to hospitals to save our lives.

Now NHS staff advocacy groups are calling for Health Secretary Matt Hancock to reverse the decision and ensure free parking for all NHS staff remains post-pandemic.

NHS Million, a grassroots campaign group run by health workers with a large presence online, told the Standard: It is quite incredible how quickly the Government appears to have forgotten the extraordinary sacrifices made by NHS staff in recent months.

We believe ongoing free parking is the very least that is deserved as staff continue to put themselves in harms way.

Piers Morgan slammed the move on Wednesday morning / ITV/Good Morning Britain

Figures obtained by the Press Association showed hospital trusts made 65 million by charging staff to park in England  with some charging up to 3.50 an hour.

Those who do not pay risk being fined.

Dr Dolin Bhagawati ,from grassroots medic campaign group Doctors Association UK (DAUK), told the Standard: The Doctors Association UK are appalled by the decision to charge NHS staff for parking at their place of work. Such actions demonstrate a casual amnesia by the Government to the commitment and sacrifice of NHS staff.

The combination of this decision, refusal to countenance pay rises for NHS staff, and the Prime Ministers comments blaming care homes for Covid-19 deaths shows breathtaking disregard and derision for our NHS and care staff.

We would strongly urge the reconsideration of this decision.

Grassroots NHS groups are calling for a U-turn / PA

Boris Johnson caused a furore this week after appearing to blame care homes for Covid-19 deaths on their premises. He suggested that many "didn't follow procedures" to protect residents at the height of the epidemic.

The Prime Ministers spokesperson has rejected claims that Mr Johnson meant to blame care homes for deaths, saying on Wednesday: "The PM was pointing out that nobody knew what the correct procedures were because the extent of asymptomatic transmission was not known at the time."

Health minister Edward Argar said last week in response to a written parliamentary question that the waiver cannot continue indefinitely.

The provision of free parking for National Health Service staff by NHS Trusts has not ended and nothing has changed since the announcement on 25 March, he said.

However, free parking for staff has only been made possible by support from local authorities and independent providers and this support cannot continue indefinitely.

In response to another question from Labours Zarah Sultana, also answered on Friday, Mr Argar said the Government was considering how long free parking for National Health Service staff will need to continue, recognising that this has only been made possible by external support from local authorities and independent sector providers.

The Department of Health and Social Care would not give a date for the reintroduction of parking charges but said "thousands of NHS patients and visitors", including disabled people and staff working night shifts, will no longer have to pay.
C abinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill is to be paid 248,000 in "compensation" after announcing last month that he would step down from his role as head of the civil service.

The advice was made by the Cabinet Office permanent secretary Alex Chisholm and has been accepted by the Prime Minister after Sir Mark agreed to step down "early" from his senior position.

In a note dated June 28, the day Sir Mark announced he was quitting, Boris Johnson wrote to Mr Chisholm saying: "I accept this advice, and agree that I should hereby direct you formally to make this payment."

The payment is likely to come "in the form of a pension contribution".

It comes as the civil service started advertising for a replacement cabinet secretary, with an advertised salary of 200,000.

Mark Sedwill will step down from his role as top civil servant at Britain's Home Office / REUTERS

Sir Mark, the most powerful official in Government, is set to step down as Cabinet Secretary and national security adviser in September amid reports of clashes with the Prime Ministers chief adviser Dominic Cummings.

He has warned that civil servants have become fair game in modern politics.

Sir Mark told MPs and peers on the National Security Strategy Committee that it was never pleasant to read off-the-record reports against civil servants in the media but said it had become a regrettable feature of modern politics.

Before Sir Mark stood down, criticisms of his performance, particularly his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, appeared in the press.

It is never pleasant to find oneself, particularly as an official, in the midst of stories of that kind, he told the committee on Wednesday.

We appear to be in an era where some of us are fair game in the media and Im afraid it goes with the territory now.

I dont think it is ever pleasant in government, whether it is against ministers, between them and particularly against officials, when you have briefings to which you cannot really reply, particularly those that are off the record and sniping away.

But it is a regrettable feature of modern politics, Im afraid.When asked why he resigned from his dual post, Sir Mark replied: I havent resigned.

The Prime Minister and I agreed I should step down  it was by agreement.

That was essentially because we had concluded it was time to split the jobs again and have a separate security adviser and separate cabinet secretary.

Sir Mark Sedwill said 'personalities were not an issue' / AFP/Getty Images

The former Home Office permanent secretary said I dont think personalities were an issue at all during his time working in Downing Street and said he had a really good relationship with Boris Johnson.

Sir Mark said the timing of his departure was at his initiative but that it was entirely amicable.

It was never my intention to do that (cabinet secretary job) long term, the former ambassador added.

David Frost, currently Mr Johnsons Europe adviser, will take over as NSA in the autumn.

Committee chair Dame Margaret Beckett MP put it to the top civil servant that his successor did not have the degree of security experience possessed by the outgoing incumbent.

Sir Mark sits between the PM and Health Secretary Matt Hancock during the first Cabinet meeting at No 10 under Mr Johnson's post-election reshuffle / PA

But Sir Mark, who noted that past appointments had lacked his own domestic security background, heralded Mr Frost as a very experienced diplomat and pointed to the Brexit sherpas previous role in setting Foreign Office strategy.

His job is not to be the expert but to draw on the expertise and represent the Prime Minister and the Government, said the 55-year-old.

The mandarin also said it was quite common in other countries for the security adviser to be a political appointee who is closely aligned with the head of government.

Sir Mark, in what are likely to be some of his final public comments as NSA, called on China to be transparent during any investigation into the Covid-19 outbreak.

Youre absolutely right, we do need transparency from China  the Prime Minister himself has spoken about this, he told Commons defence committee chair Tobias Ellwood MP.
A mber Heard called co-star James Franco rapey and said she had been forced to run away from his sexual advances, Johnny Depp told the High Court.

Depp said he was shocked when Heard had agreed to make the 2015 film The Adderall Diaries with Franco, claiming she had made negative comments about her experience in the creation of the film Pineapple Express with the actor.

He said the news made him jealous, telling the court: It shocked me she was suddenly so friendly and happy with him.

She told me many things that were very very negative about Mr Franco, that he had tried to kiss her and made sexual advances towards her on the previous film they had made together. She said he was a creep and a rapist. She said he was quite aggressive in his advances towards her.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 1 /79 Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on the first day .Jeremy Selwyn Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on the first day PA Johnny Depp on the first day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN) AFP via Getty Images Amber Heard with her sister Whitney Heard on the first day Johnny Depp's libel case PA Johnny Depp wearing a face covering AFP via Getty Images) Johnny Depp (right) being cross-examined by Sasha Wass QC (left) before the judge, Mr Justice Nicol, at the High Court on 7 July PA Amber Heard waves as she arrives at the High Court on the second day PA Johnny Depp arrives on the second day of the hearing his libel case Reuters AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images Johnny Depp (L) arrives on the third day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July Reuters Photo showing Amber Heard injury alleged to have been caused by Johnny Depp An image Heard said was taken after this incident, showing a bruise on her arm. Lines of cocaine on a table that were allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp PA An image of Johnny Depp apparently passed out on the floor Amber Heard and Bianca Butti leave the Royal Courts of Justice on 9 July Getty Images Amber Heard (R) arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July AP Amber Heard arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp photo spilt ice cream photo referred to in court Amber Heard American actor Johnny Depp gestures to the media as he arrives at the High Court on 13 July AP Amber Heard's pet teacup Yorkshire Terriers Pistol and Boo which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA One of the pictures shown in court Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 14 July PA Johnny Depp with injuries allegedly sustained from Amber Heard during an incident in Los Angeles PA Amber Heard being questioned by Sasha Wass QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London on 20 July Elizabeth Cook/PA Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 20 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Monday where she is due to give evidence against former husband Johnny Depp on 20 July PA Amber Heard image which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court on 20 July PA Johnny Depp arrives at Royal Courts of Justice on 21 July Getty Images Amber Heard with a bruising on her face, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA Amber Heard being cross examined by Eleanor Laws QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London during a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Amber Heard with a friend, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Johnny Depp leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in his libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Video deposition of Amber Heard in US proceedings, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court PA Johnny Depp with a cast on his hand PA Amber Heard leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July PA Actress Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 22 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July Reuters Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July REUTERS Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July Getty Images Amber Heard with her girlfriend Bianca Butti arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS PA AFP via Getty Images REUTERS Getty Images AFP via Getty Images SplashNews.com PA REUTERS AFP via Getty Images REUTERS SplashNews.com REUTERS

Sasha Wass QC asked if he meant to say rapist, telling him: You have made an extremely important statement just now.

Depp replied: Its just a word that came out for the actions of Mr Franco, as described to me by Ms Heard, which were sexual advances, him leaning over and saying Im going to kiss you.

She had to sort of run from the advances at one point, that he was kind of non-stop, she felt he was creepy and rapey so I said a rapist.

Depp said he was uncomfortable with them working together, and added that it did not fit with her stated desire to not be a sex object in films.

An image of Johnny Depp apparently passed out on the floor

She was hoping to do better films with more meat in the part, she didnt want to be objectified and didnt have to do nude scenes any more, he said.

I was of course uncomfortable with the idea of her doing nudity.

Ms Wass read a message from Heard to her assistant asking for the details of her filming schedule with Franco to be kept from Depp and his team, including sex scenes, saying that she fears it could prompt Depp to lose it.

Depp denied an allegation that he had been violent towards his partner on a private jet flight in 2014 while in a blind rage about her work with Franco. He is accused of striking her across the face, kicking her in the back, pelting her with ice cubes, and hurling a tirade of foul-mouthed insults.

You were in a blind rage demanding to know how much she like getting off with James Franco and she refused to answer, suggested Ms Wass, accusing Depp of calling her a go-getter slut and a whore.

You were so angry you slapped her across the face in front of everybody.

Depp replied: There is a possibility Ms Heard and I had a fight where those words came out of my mouth, but I didnt go into a rage and start screaming at her in front of all those people.

The star denies violence on the plane and said he went to go and sleep in the aircrafts bathroom to avoid a row, disputing that he had passed out on the toilet.

Amber Heard arriving at court / Getty Images

However, he later admitted he may have blacked out the 2014 flight from Boston to LA, but insisted his security team would not have allowed any violence.

Depp changed his account when shown a text he sent to Mordecai co-star Paul Bettany after the incident.

Im gonna properly stop the booze thing, darling, he wrote in the text. Drank all night before I picked Amber up to fly to LA, this past Sunday... Ugly, mate... No food for days... powders... half a bottle of whiskey, a thousand red bull and vodkas, pills, 2 bottles of Champers on plane and what do you get???

An angry, aggro Injun in a f**kin blackout, screaming obscenities and insulting any f**k who got near.

Depp added: Im done... I am admittedly too f**ked in the head to spray my rage at the one I love... For little reason, as well Im too old to be that guy. But, pills are fine!!!

The star apologised for giving an inaccurate account to the court earlier, accepting he had taken cocaine and been drinking heavily.

It sounds like I overdid it, it sounds like a very self-destructive moment, he said. I was incorrect that I hadnt taken cocaine and things of that nature, I can only say my apologies to the court.

I didnt remember the entire flight being such a nightmare.

Depp added: I cant say I have had a full blackout because I have some memory of the flight.

Mr Depp outside the High Court / Getty Images

Part of the flight are blacked out?, asked Sasha Wass QC. Depp replied: Apparently thats what Im saying to Mr Bettany.

The court also heard a recording, said to be of Depp groaning on the flight. However he said it was impossible to identify his own voice.

He denies being violent to Heard on the plane and says he went to sleep on the toilet floor in the plane to end an argument.

Sasha Wass QC, for News Group Newspapers, said of the clip: You are that animal, in pain because of the consumption of drugs and alcohol that happened on the flight.

A recording reportedly of Johnny Depp groaning after a drugs and alcohol binge

Earlier the court heard how Depp and his Mortdecai co-star Paul Bettany joked in text messages about burning and drowning Heard to see if she was a witch.

The exchange began with a joke from Bettany, who Depp said did not get on with Heard, saying they should set up a money-making website together.

First of all buy Amber a pet beaver then you take a picture of you shaving said beaver, he wrote. All that is left to do is create a domain name Johnny Depp shaves Amber Heards beaver, sell advertising space like f***ing crazy. Clearly there are many spin-offs, you could poke, strike, punch.

Depp admitted in court it was not the most respectful way to speak about Ms Heard, adding that Bettany and his then-partner didnt like each other very much.

Bettany followed it up by texting lets burn Amber and then suggested she should be drowned instead.

Depp then wrote: Lets drown her before we burn her. I will f*** her burned corpse afterwards to make sure she was dead.

AFP via Getty Images

Bettany replied: My thoughts entirely, lets be certain before we pronounce her a witch.

Depp told the court he had shared with Bettany details of his arguments with Heard, and Depp said he himself was resentful of her stance she took against his drinking and drug-taking.

Im afraid she didnt like me all that much, he added. She was constantly harping on about things that dont exist.

She didnt like me using alcohol or drugs because she had some delusional ideas that they turned me into this said monster.
Public health guidance should provide as much information as possible to people so they can make good choices for themselves, Sarwark said. What were doing is [the] best practices based on the best data that we have and working with the hotel and the convention center to try and abide by whatever regulations or guidance their insurers are recommending.
J ohnny Depp allegedly held one of Amber Heards pet Teacup Yorkshire terriers out of the window of a moving car and started howling like a dog while drunk and high on drugs, the High Court heard.

The actress claims the incident happened on the way to filming a documentary with Rolling Stone Keith Richards, while Mr Depp was in the midst of an episode of very bad behaviour.

He is also accused of slapping Ms Heard three times in the face when she laughed at his Wino Forever tattoo.

But the actor, who is accused of first attacking Ms Heard in March 2013 at her California home, described the claims as patently untrue.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 1 /80 Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on the first day .Jeremy Selwyn Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on the first day PA Johnny Depp on the first day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN) AFP via Getty Images Amber Heard with her sister Whitney Heard on the first day Johnny Depp's libel case PA Johnny Depp wearing a face covering AFP via Getty Images) Johnny Depp (right) being cross-examined by Sasha Wass QC (left) before the judge, Mr Justice Nicol, at the High Court on 7 July PA Johnny Depp arrives on the second day of the hearing his libel case Reuters Amber Heard waves as she arrives at the High Court on the second day PA AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images Johnny Depp (L) arrives on the third day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July Reuters Photo showing Amber Heard injury alleged to have been caused by Johnny Depp An image Heard said was taken after this incident, showing a bruise on her arm. An image of Johnny Depp apparently passed out on the floor Lines of cocaine on a table that were allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp PA Amber Heard and Bianca Butti leave the Royal Courts of Justice on 9 July Getty Images Amber Heard (R) arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July AP Amber Heard arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp photo spilt ice cream photo referred to in court Amber Heard American actor Johnny Depp gestures to the media as he arrives at the High Court on 13 July AP Amber Heard's pet teacup Yorkshire Terriers Pistol and Boo which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA One of the pictures shown in court Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 14 July PA Johnny Depp with injuries allegedly sustained from Amber Heard during an incident in Los Angeles PA Amber Heard being questioned by Sasha Wass QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London on 20 July Elizabeth Cook/PA Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 20 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Monday where she is due to give evidence against former husband Johnny Depp on 20 July PA Amber Heard image which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court on 20 July PA Johnny Depp arrives at Royal Courts of Justice on 21 July Getty Images Amber Heard with a bruising on her face, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA Amber Heard being cross examined by Eleanor Laws QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London during a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Amber Heard with a friend, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Johnny Depp leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in his libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Video deposition of Amber Heard in US proceedings, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court PA Johnny Depp with a cast on his hand PA Amber Heard leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July PA Actress Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 22 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July Reuters Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July REUTERS Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July Getty Images Amber Heard with her girlfriend Bianca Butti arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS PA AFP via Getty Images REUTERS Getty Images AFP via Getty Images SplashNews.com PA REUTERS AFP via Getty Images REUTERS SplashNews.com REUTERS

He claims his ex-wife never supported him in his battles to give up drink and drugs and encouraged him to fall off the wagon during their volatile relationship.

The High Court also heard Mr Depp believes his ex-partner plotted to falsely brand him as a domestic abuser during most of their relationship in a #MeToo hoax.

Amber Heard arriving in court / PA

The three-time Oscar nominee is suing The Sun and its executive editor Dan Wootton for libel after being dubbed a wife beater in a 2018 article.

The newspaper has insisted it will prove the accusation was true and Mr Depp was violent to Ms Heard during their volatile marriage.

However the Pirates of the Caribbean star says denies any violence and says he tried to avoid conflict, saying Ms Heard was the abuser and a sociopath who married him to further her own career.

PA

Setting out the allegation over the dog, Sasha Wass QC, representing The Sun, said: At one stage you took hold of Ms Heards dog  Pistol  holding her out of the window and you started making howling noises. You thought it was a huge joke.

Ms Wass said the alleged incident happened the night after a violent bust-up between the couple in March 2013, when Mr Depp had refused to go to the filming session unless Ms Heard and her sister Whitney came with him.

But Mr Depp told the court: I can say it is a very enduring image but its an utter falsity, its fraudulent, its not true.

I dont think hanging a defenceless dog weighing three pounds out of a window is not my idea of fun, although my sense of humour is rather skewed.

The previous day, Mr Depp is accused of striking his partner with the back of his hand in a row over a painting by MS Heards ex-wife which was still hanging on the wall of her home.

The actor denies violence, but Ms Wass said Ms Heards sister says she arrived at the home the next morning to find the actress crying, with whisky and four lines of cocaine out in the kitchen.

Court sketch of Johnny Depp in court / PA

Depp told the court: Ms Heard is, in a lot of way, a creature of routine. Certain things she needed to do for me that I wasnt allowed to do for myself.

When I returned home she would take my boots off, that was a regular routine. It wouldnt be anything out of the ordinary for her to have chopped these lines up.

A photo of Heard, shown in court, allegedly showing injuries caused by Depp

Ms Wass suggested Ms Heard was extremely disapproving of Mr Depps cocaine use, but he said: I have experienced many times with Ms Heard that she would in fact chop the cocaine up for me so I could do the line then she would press her finger into it and ingest it orally.

He added that he had seen her taking cocaine, a substance she denies trying since she was a teenager.

During the second day of the hearing, Ms Wass QC also laid out allegations of a bout of violence when Mr Depp was drunk and Ms Heard laughed at his tattoo which read Wino Forever.

I suggest that provoked disappointment firstly in you, and then anger in you, she said.

Mr Depp replied: I dont recall any argument about my tattoo.

He said the tattoo had originally read Winona Forever for ex-girlfriend Winona Ryder, but was altered after their break-up and he said the new words seemed fitting.

Ms Wass suggested the actor slapped her more than once because Ms Heard didnt react after the first blow, but Mr Depp replied: Thats patently untrue.

Video appears to show Johnny Depp 'throwing bottle to floor' in row

This happened in the same way a third time, countered Ms Wass, but Mr Depp replied: Im sorry but thats not true, you are mistaken.

Ms Heard claims Mr Depp then started crying and started apologising, and promised never to hit her again, blaming the incident on a sickness within him.

You told her for the first time about the person you have been calling the monster  your alter ego - the person who took over when you were under the influence of drink and drugs, added Ms Wass.

The court was also shown an unsent email from Heard from 2013 in which she dubbed him like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and claimed he surrounded himself friends and staff who enabled his excessive drinking and drug-taking.

Half of you I love madly, the other half scares me, she wrote. "I cant take him  I wish I could but I cant.

Johnny Depp trial: Actor tells court of drug use 'at a very young age'

The problem is I never really know which one I am dealing with until its too late.

Ms Heard wrote that when Mr Depp is drinking or taking drugs she knows she is dealing with the monster, outlining how she has watched as the star vomits, urinates and soils himself, and passes out following binges.

If someone filmed you while you were in this state, you would be mortified, she said. Its embarrassing to watch it happen.

She added: You conveniently have the benefit of never having to remember it.

Ms Wass QC said Mr Depp had called the allegation of violence against him a hoax in his witness statement to the court.

PA

Hoax is probably the best word one could use because the allegations  all the allegations  are patently untrue, said the star.

When it was pointed out the unsent email was written in 2013, towards the start of their relationship, Mr Depp replied: I would suggest, maam, it appears to me Ms Heard was building a dossier very early on that appears to be an insurance policy for later.

Asked to clarify if he was suggesting Heard had been plotting for three years, Mr Depp nodded and replied: By everything Ive seen and experienced, yes.

In his first day in the witness box yesterday, Mr Depp said he followed a Southern Gentleman code of behaviour and denied having a Jekyll and Hyde character.

PA

He credits Sir Elton John with helping to quit alcohol for more than 100 days, telling the singer he feared being swallowed up by the monster.

Mr Depp also described trashing a luxury New York hotel room, causing almost $10,000 of damage, but said it was after being screwed over by a friend rather than in a domestic row with his then-girlfriend, supermodel Kate Moss.

The star also revealed how he gave his 13-year-old daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, cannabis and created a comfortable home environment for her when she wanted to try the drug for the first time.

The blockbuster civil trial, which is due to stretch over three weeks, will look at 14 alleged incidents when Mr Depp is said to have been violent towards Mr Heard.

He denies any abuse and suggests the Aquaman actress was the violent one. He also claims he decided to end their marriage after discovering she had defecated in his bed.

Ms Heard is at court again today to watch his evidence, and is due to tell her own story from the witness box from Friday next week.
M ark Francois has been both condemned and ridiculed after he told the UK's most senior army general that Dominic Cummings was going to "sort him out."

The Tory MP and prominent Brexiteer made the apparent threat to Sir Nick Carter as he lambasted the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Cummings, Boris Johnson's most senior aide, is understood to be planning a major reform of defence spending as he moves ahead with his bid to shake up Whitehall.

Speaking at the Defence Select Committee in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr Francois told Sir Nick, who is chief of the Defence Staff: "Can we just make a plea to you. You are the professional head of the armed forces.

"Please nip back to the department and ask them to sort their bloody selves out, because if not, Cummings is going to come down there and sort you out his own way  and you won't like it."

Mark Francois suggested Dominic Cummings would sort the army general out (Getty Images) / Getty Images,

The General, who is a veteran of conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, did not seem shaken by the thought.

He responded simply with a wry smile.

Committee chair and fellow Tory MP Tobias Ellwood then noted: "I think that message is passed on."

Social media users responded to Mr Francoiss comments with outrage and delight in equal measure.

British actor Adil Ray OBE wrote scathingly on Twitter: Threatening the General, Sir Nick Carter The Chief of Defence that he and his men will get a good telling off by an unelected adviser. British Politics.

While another user wrote: Imagine being head of the armed forces, and having Mark Francois trying to intimidate you.

Its like a chinuaua trying to scare a bull mastiff.

A parody account for the European Research Group chairman, tweeted: I can confirm that myself and Dominic Cummings will be meeting General Nick Carter for a straightener behind the bike sheds after work.
P iers Morgan has hit out at ministers for the utterly disgusting move to scrap free hospital car parking for NHS workers in all but "certain circumstances".

The waiver also encouraged NHS staff to avoid public transport, where Covid-19 can spread more easily.

But now the DHSC has said the free parking will continue only for key patient groups and NHS staff in certain circumstances as the pandemic eases, although no further timeline has been given.

Ministers have confirmed the fees by private companies, which can be as much as 3.50 an hour, or 77 a day at Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London cannot continue indefinitely, the i newspaper reports.

Hard working: nurses show their thanks for praise heaped on them during the peak of the pandemic / Jeremy Selwyn

For years weve said this should never be happening anyway, it seems to be utterly ridiculous that doctors, nurses and surgeons and everybody else in the healthcare system have to pay for the privilege of going to hospitals to save our lives, Mr Morgan fumed.

He said it was particularly obscene during a global pandemic that has claimed the lives of hundreds of NHS workers.

Are we in all good conscience, as a country, knowing there might be another wave of [coronavirus] and knowing what weve put healthcare workers through - knowing how many have died on the front line - are we going to go back and charge them for the right to park at a hospital?

The fees were waived for NHS workers in March / PA

If we think that is the way our country should treat our NHS heroes, then it is not a country I want to be part of. I dont believe it is what most British people want, and once again the Government is completely tone deaf.

Health minister Edward Argar said in Parliament last week: The provision of free parking for National Health Service staff by NHS trusts has not ended and nothing has changed since the announcement on 25 March.

However, free parking for staff has only been made possible by support from local authorities and independent providers and this support cannot continue indefinitely.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has said reintroducing charges during the pandemic would be a rebuff to the immense efforts of staff across the country and the sacrifices they have made to keep others safe

Hundreds of NHS workers have died during the crisis / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Mr Morgan compared the row - which since emerging last night has sparked an angry backlash - to the surcharge that ministers sought to keep for overseas NHS employees to use the health service, which was scrapped in a major Government U-turn.

The DHSC would not give a date for the reintroduction of parking charges but said "thousands of NHS patients and visitors", including disabled people and staff working night shifts, will no longer have to pay.
W ork placements will be subsidised as part of a 2 billion scheme to alleviate youth unemployment which is set to be unveiled by Chancellor Rishi Sunak today.

A three-point plan to boost the ailing economy by helping job creation will include a plan to help pay for six-month placements for some young people facing long-term unemployment.

Mr Sunak will set out the measures in his summer economic update in the House of Commons on Wednesday, as he faces pressure to assist those who are most at risk from a financial crisis.

The Treasury acknowledged that young people are more likely to be furloughed under the job retention scheme which is being wound up and is due to end in October.

So a kickstart scheme hoped by the Treasury to create hundreds of thousands of jobs will be unveiled for 16 to 24-year-olds claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term employment.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said young people bear the brunt of most economic crises (Reuters) / REUTERS

Government funding would cover 100% of the minimum wage for 25 hours a week across Great Britain, with bosses able to top up wages.

Ahead of the announcement, Mr Sunak said: Young people bear the brunt of most economic crises, but they are at particular risk this time because they work in the sectors disproportionately hit by the pandemic.

We also know that youth unemployment has a long-term impact on jobs and wages and we dont want to see that happen to this generation.

So weve got a bold plan to protect, support and create jobs  a plan for jobs.

Rishi Sunak's summer statement: what to expect

But Lib Dem leadership candidate Layla Moran said the package will sadly be too little too late for many of the corona class of 2020.

Eighteen-year-olds could be left being paid just 161 a week under this scheme, which in some parts of the country would barely cover rent and transport costs, she added.

However, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Frances OGrady, welcomed the measure as a good first step to prevent mass youth unemployment.

But well be checking the small print to ensure every job provides proper training and a bridge to steady employment, she added.

Layla Moran said it was 'too little too late' / PA

Among the job measures already announced are a 111 million scheme for firms in England to get a 1,000 bonus if they offer unpaid traineeships.

Mr Sunak will also detail a 3 billion green package with grants for homeowners and public buildings to improve energy efficiency.

It will include 2 billion for households to insulate their homes and make them more energy-efficient, but campaigners said the funding pales in comparison to the economic and environmental crises.

There has also been speculation that Mr Sunak will raise the threshold for stamp duty payment for property sales where it applies in England and Northern Ireland from 125,000 to 500,000.

But housing market experts have argued home-buyers in southern England will stand to benefit the most from the move.
A World Health Organisation boss today accused Donald Trump of being out of step with most Americans by pulling out of the global health body just as the coronavirus pandemic is feared to be worsening.

Dr David Nabarro, WHO special Covid-19 envoy for Europe, also admitted that the virus may be an airborne disease , being transmitted in tiny droplets hanging in the air.

After the US president started the formal process of leaving the WHO , Dr Nabarro told of his sadness at the move.

The world is facing a massive health crisis, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

Its been extremely bad for the last six months, I fear it is going to get much worse in the next six months.

All world leaders and all world nations must work together to deal with this virus.

Scientists and medical experts still needed to discover a lot about the virus, he added, and how to combat it.

It just seems really unfortunate that the most important country, in terms of size of the WHO budget, has decided to pull out, he stressed.

Im really sad also for the American people who Im sure by in large want to be part of the global response and will be a bit confused about why this has happened.

South Beach, Miami reopens during Coronavirus lockdown ease 1 /13 South Beach, Miami reopens during Coronavirus lockdown ease Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images AP AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Reuters Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Reuters Getty Images

He admitted that there was some push and pull in the international health system but stressed that the WHO does not have favourite countries.

More than 200 scientists have joined forces to argue that Covid is an airborne disease.

Dr Nabarro, a director at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, emphasised that the major way the disease is spread is still believed to be through droplets that come out when you cough, sneeze or even shout.

However, he added: There does seem to be the possibility that very small particles containing virus could move further and that is what we call airborne spread.

Its certainly is part of the puzzle, the key question is just how important is it and right now we think its not the major means of transmission.

Donald Trump: We're doing very well in dealing with Covid-19 crisis

Mr Trump has seen his popularity fall amid growing criticism of his handling of the Covid-19 crisis.

He has now started the formal process of withdrawing the US from the WHO, accusing it of being under Chinas control over Covid, a claim it rejects. The president has notified the UN and Congress of his intentions to withdraw, although the process could take at least a year.

With the number of cases spiralling in many states, Senator Robert Menendez, the leading Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, criticised Mr Trumps action, tweeting: It leaves Americans sick and America alone.

America passed a grim milestone of more than three million confirmed cases yesterday as more states reported record numbers of new infections, and Floridas hospitals were seeing a shortage of intensive care unit beds.

However, Mr Trump claimed the US was in a good place in dealing with the pandemic, despite being one of the worst hit countries.

Dr Anthony Fauci, one of the top infectious disease experts in the US, has said the country is 'knee-deep' in Covid-19 / POOL/AFP via Getty Images

His comment was in stark contrast with the view of Dr Anthony Fauci, one of Americas top infectious disease experts, who said it was knee-deep in a first wave of Covid-19.

Authorities have reported alarming upswings of daily caseloads in roughly two dozen states over the past two weeks, a sign that efforts to control transmission of the novel coronavirus have failed in large swathes of the country.

California, Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas on Tuesday shattered their previous daily record highs for new cases.

The biggest jumps occurred in Texas and California, the two largest U.S. states, with more than 10,000 each.

About 24 states have reported disturbingly high infection rates as a percentage of diagnostic tests conducted over the past week In Florida, more than four dozen hospitals across 25 of 67 counties reported their intensive care units had reached full capacity.
S hocking footage has been released of the moment a man was killed in a drive-by shooting as he crossed the road with his six-year-old daughter.

The victim, named as 29-year-old Anthony Robinson in local reports, was crossing the street in the Bronx while holding hands with his little girl when he was attacked.

In footage released by New York police, a car is seen pulling up to the pair around 6pm on Sunday.

The man appears to pause and say something to his daughter before a passenger can be seen pointing a gun from the window and firing it at him. His daughter then flees from the scene.

The father was seen holding his daughter's hand as they crossed the road / NYPD

A $10,000 reward has been offered for help in catching the killer

New York Police Department Chief Rodney Harrison said the victim was shot multiple times and later died from his injuries.

He wrote on Twitter: "On Sunday, July 5th, police officers from the 44th Precinct responded to a 911 call for a male shot at Sheridan Avenue and East 170th Street.

A gun was fired out of the car as the pair walked across the road / NYPD

"CCTV footage obtained during the investigation shows the victim was with his 6-year-old daughter when a vehicle pulled up next to him opening fire, striking the victim multiple times. The male later died from his injuries."

He asked anyone with information to direct message @NYPDTips.

After the man is hit, his daughter runs away and the car pulls off / NYPD

It comes as 64 people were injured and 11 were killing in 45 shootings during Independence Day weekend - a threefold increase compared with the same three-day period last year.

One New York police official blamed the rise in deadly shooting over the weekend on the combination of the Covid-19 pandemic, animosity towards law enforcement and bail reform.

NYPD Chief Terence Monahan said the violence was linked to a multitude of factors, including a sharp decrease in jail population because of coronavirus and a measure that requires judges to release defendants awaiting trial on "misdemeanours and nonviolent felonies".

We can fix this, Chief Monahan said at a briefing.

We need cooperation with the people who are afraid to come out of their buildings right now.

He also said animosity towards law enforcement after the May 25 death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police has emboldened some people who believe that cops cant do anything anymore.
A Muslim woman in the US was left "in shock" after a Starbucks barista wrote "Isis" on her coffee cup.

Aishah, who has only disclosed her first name for safety reasons, ordered a drink at the Starbucks store inside a Target in St Paul, Minnessota last week.

The 19-year-old, who was wearing a hijab, said she had not finished saying her name when she saw the barista writing on her cup. It is standard procedure at the coffee house chain to write customers' names on their order.

But when she got it back it read "Isis", the commonly used acronym for the Islamic State terrorist group.

Aishah, who has only disclosed her first name for safety reasons, ordered a drink at the Starbucks store inside a Target in St Paul, Minnessota last week. / CBS MInnesota

Aishah spoke about the incident during a press conference held at the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) on Monday.

She said: "When I first received the drink I was in shock that in this day and age something like this could be written.

Aishah spoke about the incident during a press conference held at the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Monday / CAIR-MN

"I felt humiliated, I felt enraged, I felt belittled."

When Aishah challenged the barista, they claimed that to have not heard her name correctly.

A supervisor then allegedly told her that mistakes sometimes happen, adding: "What's the issue? People get their names wrong all the time.

Aishah was given a new drink and a $25 (20) gift card before she left the store.

She is now calling for the barista and the manager to be fired, as well as see employees going through a rigid vetting process and training in future.

Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of CAIR-MN, added that the group would likely hold protests outside the store if Target did not take action.

Target told Twin Cities that the company was taking appropriate actions with the team member, including additional training, to ensure this does not occur again.

The Minneapolis-based retailer added: At Target, we want everyone who shops with us to feel welcomed, valued and respected and we strictly prohibit discrimination and harassment in any form.

"We are very sorry for this guests experience at our store and immediately apologised to her when she made our store leaders aware of the situation.

"We have investigated the matter and believe that it was not a deliberate act but an unfortunate mistake that could have been avoided with a simple clarification.
D onald Trumps campaign rally in Tulsa "likely contributed" to a surge in new coronavirus cases in the city, a health official said.

The rally in late June in Oklahoma drew thousands of people, while largely peaceful protests also took place outside the 19,000-seat capacity arena.

County Health Department Director Dr Bruce Dart said the large gatherings more than likely contributed to the spike in cases in the area.

In the past few days, weve seen almost 500 new cases, and we had several large events just over two weeks ago, so I guess we just connect the dots, Dr Dart told the Associated Press.

A reporter who attended the rally is among those who have tested positive for the virus, along with six of the president's campaign staffers.

Thousands attended the rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June / AFP via Getty Images

Statewide, Oklahoma health officials reported 673 new cases on Wednesday - the states second-highest daily total since the start of the pandemic.

A surge in cases in the United States over the last week has put Mr Trump's handling of the crisis under the microscope and led several governors to halt plans to reopen their states after strict lockdowns.

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The number of infections nationwide hit three million, while the death toll reached 130,000.

Trump's handling of the virus has come under scrutiny as cases surged / REUTERS

Three of the top US medical organisations issued an open letter urging Americans to wear masks, social distance and wash hands often to help stop "the worst public health crisis in generations".

But White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany claimed the country had been a "leader" in the fight against the virus.
T he US coronavirus outbreak has crossed the grim milestone of three million confirmed cases.

The staggering number means nearly one of every 100 Americans - and a population roughly equal to Nevada's - has been affected by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Texas and California, the two largest US states, confirmed a rise of more than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases in a single day on Tuesday.

Four other states, Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, also shattered their previous daily record highs for new cases.

And authorities in 24 states have reported alarming upswings of daily caseloads over the past two weeks.

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

In Texas alone, the number of hospitalised patients more than doubled in just two weeks while Florida is facing an impending shortage of intensive care unit hospital beds.

The upward trend has driven many more Americans to seek out Covid-19 screenings.

The US Department of Health and Human Services said on Tuesday it was adding short-term "surge" testing sites in three metropolitan areas in Florida, Louisiana and Texas.

California during Coronavirus lockdown 1 /22 California during Coronavirus lockdown A cyclist wearing his facemask rides past closed shopfront at the Grand Central Market in Los Angeles AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Reuters AP AP AFP via Getty Images AP AP AFP via Getty Images AP AP REUTERS AP Getty Images Getty Images AP AFP via Getty Images People gather on Santa Monica beach Getty Images A shopper walks past a Pier 1 Imports store as going out of business signs are posted amid the coronavirus pandemic in Santa Clarita, California AP A pedestrian wearing a facemask walks past a sign for food pick-up outside a restaurant in Los Angeles, California AFP via Getty Images A shopper walks past a Pier 1 Imports store as going out of business signs are posted amid the coronavirus pandemic AP

In Houston, a line of more than 200 cars snaked around the United Memorial Medical Center as people waited hours in sweltering heat to get tested.

Some had arrived the night before to secure a place in line at the drive-through site.

"I got tested because my younger brother got positive," said Fred Robles, 32, who spent the night in his car.

A crowded beach in LA / Getty Images

"There's so many people that need to get tested, there's nothing you can do about it."

Dean Davis, 32, who lost his job due to the pandemic, said he arrived at the testing site at 3am on Tuesday after he waited for hours on Monday but failed to make the cutoff.

"I was like, let me get here at 3, maybe nobody will be here," Mr Davis said. "I got here, there was a line already."

In Florida, more than four dozen hospitals across 25 of 67 counties reported their intensive care units had reached full capacity, according to the state's Agency for Health Care Administration.

A shopper walks past a Pier 1 Imports store as going out of business signs are posted amid the coronavirus pandemic in Santa Clarita, California / AP

Only 17 per cent of the total 6,010 adult ICU beds statewide were available on Tuesday, down from 20 per cent three days earlier.

Additional hospitalizations could strain healthcare systems in many areas, leading to an uptick in lives lost from the respiratory illness that has killed more than 131,000 Americans to date.

At least 923 of those deaths were reported on Tuesday - the biggest single-day toll since June 10 but still far fewer than the record 2,806 tallied back in April.

A widely cited mortality model from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) projected on Tuesday that US deaths would reach 208,000 by November 1, with the outbreak expected to gain new momentum heading into the fall.

In Texas, US, nail bars started slowly reopening in May / AFP via Getty Images

A hoped-for summertime decline in transmission of the virus never materialised, the IHME said.

President Donald Trump, who has pushed for restarting the US economy and urged Americans to return to their normal routines, said on Tuesday that he would lean on state governors to open schools in the fall.

Speaking at the White House, Mr Trump said some people wanted to keep schools closed for political reasons.

"No way, so we're very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools," he said.

In Arizona, another hot spot, the rate of coronavirus tests coming back positive rose to 26 per cent for the week ended July 5, leading two dozen states with positivity rates exceeding 5 per cent.

The World Heath Organisation considers a rate over 5 per cent to be troubling.

The surge has forced authorities to backpedal on moves to reopen businesses, such as restaurants and bars, after mandatory lockdowns in March and April reduced economic activity to a virtual standstill and put millions of Americans out of work.

The Texas state fair, which had been scheduled to open on September 25, has been cancelled for the first time since World War Two, organisers announced on Tuesday.
Before the failure, Rocket Lab said it was planning monthly launches for the remainder of the year and into 2021. Those missions include launches for the U.S. Space Force and NASA.
W ith lockdown beginning to ease, you might be spending less time watching Netflix - but news that Dead To Me is returning for a third season is always welcome.

The dark comedy starring Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini is about two women who grow close after meeting at a grief counselling session, and the second series dropped online in early May.

Netflix has now announced that a third and final series is on the way soon, and it could be the juiciest ever.

Here's everything you need to know - and, naturally, there are season one and two spoilers ahead.

Netflix

When is Dead to Me season 3 released on Netflix?

Netflix has not yet confirmed a release date for the third season of Dead To Me, but the past two series were released in May 2019 and May 2020.

However, the annual pattern may be interrupted for this season, due to delays in filming because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Applegate, who also serves as executive producer on the show, tweeted alongside an image of herself, Cardellini and creator Liz Feldman: "I will miss these ladies. But we felt this was the best way to tie up the story of these women. Thank you to all the fans. We will be getting back to work when it is safe to do so. Much love."

What is Dead To Me about?

In season 1, we find out that Jen Harding's (Applegate) husband was killed in a hit-and-run, while Judy Hale (Cardellini) is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her baby.

But all is not as it seems, as it turns out that Judy is harbouring a dark secret that she was the hit-and-run driver.

Meanwhile, Judys ex-fiance Steve is apparently killed by Jen.

Season 2 picks up where we left off with Judy and Jen trying to cover up the murder, meanwhile Jen begins dating Steves twin brother, Ben.

The show was left on a cliffhanger as Judy and Jen were in a car crash after a collision with Ben, leaving viewers with no idea of whether it was deliberate or accidental.

Jen looks particularly badly injured by the incident, left murmuring in the wreckage in the final scene.

Who's in the cast?

Applegate and Cardellini look set to be returning to the lead roles, while James Marsden is likely to return as Ben.
S tateless is a new six-part drama series which takes an unsparing look at the harsh conditions within Australian immigration detention centres.

Produced by Netflix, the show closely tracks the lives of four strangers as events play out at a centre located in a remote, outback location.

It stars The Handmaid's Tale actress Yvonne Strahovski as Sofie Werner, a flight attendant.

Sofie's character is based on Cornelia Rau, a German-born Australian resident who made headlines after being unlawfully detained at an immigration detention centre.

Here, we take a look at the true story and real figure who inspired the Netflix show...

Stateless is a limited series starring The Handmaid's Tale actress Yvonne Strahovski as Sofie Werner / AP

Who is Cornelia Rau?

Rau was born in Germany, but moved to Australia in 1967 aged eighteen months and grew up in Sydney.

She later completed a diploma in leisure and recreation before beginning work as a flight attendant in 1993.

Five years on, in 1998, Rau, who was by now battling mental illness, joined the controversial sect Kenja - a company co-founded in 1982 by Ken Dyers and his partner, Jan Hamilton.

She was hospitalised several times over the next few years and diagnosed with bipolar disorder and later schizophrenia before eventually disappearing for a period in early 2004, only to be apprehended by police officers days later.

Netflix's Stateless - In pictures 1 /10 Netflix's Stateless - In pictures Yvonne Strahovski stars as Sofie Werner Netflix Stateless follow four strangers who are held at a detention centre in Australia Netflix Stateless is based on a harrowing true story Netflix Cornelia Rau was a German-born Australian who was unlawfully detained Netflix Stateless is available to stream on Netflix now Netflix Yvonne Strahovski is best known for her role in The Handmaid's Tale Netflix Stateless is a six-part drama on Netflix Netflix Fayssal Bazzi as Ameer and Clarence Ryan as Sully Netflix Sofia quits her job as an air hostess Netflix Cate Blanchett features in the series, which she co-created Netflix

Rau - who was frightened of being tracked down by Kenja - told officers her name was Anna Brotmeyer, and later Anna Schmidt, insisting that she had flown into the country from Germany.

Officials failed to recognise her schizophrenia, however, and Rau was incarcerated at the Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre.

She was suspected of being in Australia unlawfully and eventually sent to Baxter Immigration Detention Centre, near the town of Port Augusta, in South Australia, in October 2004.

She was then held in the compound alongside an array of asylum seekers, many of whom who had spent many years at the site after their refugee claims failed.

Her real identity was finally exposed in January 2005, when Australian newspaper The Age published a story about her, calling her a mystery woman who may be ill.

Rau's family immediately recognised her and called for her release. Her case made headlines throughout Australia upon her release and, years down the line, she received $2.6 million Australian dollars in compensation for wrongful detainment.

Rau's family has now called for people to respect her and her relatives' privacy and "private grief" amid the attention whipped up by Netflix's show.
The next time you go to a Disney theme park, it will look and feel different as it emerges from a four-month shutdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Thats just life in 2020. Magic Kingdom and Disneys Animal Kingdom are opening to the general public on July 11, with Epcot and Disneys Hollywood Studios following suit on July 15. (See factoid No. 1 below for the hitch in all this.) Disney World employees and annual passholders were eligible for previews on the days before the official reopening.
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Photo: (Photo : Photo by bill emrich from Pexels)

The coronavirus pandemic has not only challenged everyone but also made people think of ways to help. Stories of how children and teens step out of their comfort zone continue to spread around, inspiring others.

The two ten-year-old boys from Milton, Massachusetts, are no different. They wanted to help the food pantry near their homes during the coronavirus pandemic, so they decided to think of a way to raise money.

They thought of making homemade dog treats and sell them to raise the money.

Daniel Grant and Max Caponigro are best friends and neighbors.

READ ALSO: 9-Year-Old Girl Sells Friendship Bracelets, Raises $50K to Help Residents of Minneapolis

Why did the two best friends want to help?

Grant and Caponigro live in the same neighborhood, and they always see the food pantry, Milton Food Pantry, near them.

In an article by The Patriot Ledger, Daniel said, "We know people don't have enough food, and we wanted to help."

The two best friends always see that the food pantry was busy helping feed the hungry in their community, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Max said, "We also wanted to pick a charity that would help with COVID."

Baking the dog treats

The two best friends have been doing this for the last few months, since the coronavirus pandemic. They were the ones who personally bake the dog treats, pack them, and deliver these to the dog parents in their area.

The treats that they bake have three types: chicken, almond butter, and bacon.

They sell each bag of dog biscuits for four dollars.

How did the ten-year-olds raise money?

The money that they make from all the baked goodies that they sell is split in four ways. Daniel, Max, and the Milton Food Pantry, each gets thirty percent. The remaining ten percent goes to buying the ingredients again.

Since the two best friends started their small business, they have been able to donate 400 dollars to the Milton Food Pantry. They wanted to help during the coronavirus pandemic by help feeding the hungry.

Something that their parents are very proud of, "I think it's made a real impact for them to walk next door, see the lines of people and hand them a check," says Sue Caponigro, Max's mom.

Almost everyone in the two best friend's neighborhood has a dog and has bought the dog treats. Even those who do not have any dogs have decided to buy from Daniel and Max. That is to help their good cause.

READ ALSO: High School Students Help Seniors Through Free Online Grocery Shopping and Delivery During the Pandemic

Learning from the business

At a young age, the best friends are up to making the treats, listing orders, and delivering the products.

The two boys say they have learned so much from the business that they have put up.

Max says, "If you're going to do something, like put up order forms, you have to be ready to follow through."

Daniel, on the other hand, learned how to be responsible because of their business. He added, "Your parents won't always pay for everything or do stuff for you."

Dog Treats by Daniel and Max dedicated an email (dogtreatsbydanielandmax@gmail.com.) for all those who want to reach them out and order. They say they are ready to make many treats as they do not get tired from doing so.

READ ALSO: Mom Makes Giant Cinnamon Rolls, Feeds Frontliners and Helps Food Banks
Photo: (Photo : pexels.com)

If some families have spent more time together because of the coronavirus pandemic, other families are longing to reunite.

When governments worldwide decided to implement lockdowns, some individuals are on business trips or are on vacation. When they got stranded, all they ever wished for was to return home and stay with their families during the coronavirus pandemic.

A father from Scotland, Kerem Koseoglu, was one of those stranded in a different country due to the lockdowns. He was in Turkey when the travel restrictions were implemented.

He was only able to reunite with his family after three months.

He and his family shared their story with BBC News.

READ ALSO: 50 Years After: Brother and Sister Finally Reunited

The reunion

It was an emotional reunion for the father, his daughter, and his wife. Koseoglu was only able to return two weeks ago. However, because of the quarantine rules, Koseoglu had to stay away from his wife and daughter for fourteen days.

Since Kerem's return two weeks ago, he stayed distant to his daughter because of the quarantine.

On Saturday, the family reunited after the quarantine, and was able to share a hug after more than three months. Kerem said, "It was a great feeling, so nice to have her after such a long time."

The 14-day quarantine

Even if he was home, at last, Kerem had to stay in a separate room in their house. He only had a bed, a makeshift desk, and some coffee and tea.

His wife, Caroline, shared how they went through the entire quarantine for Kerem. Since she also had to look after their daughter, Ayla, sometimes she forgets that Kerem has not eaten yet.

Aside from that, they always had to keep everything sanitized so that they will not risk contracting the coronavirus. Caroline said, "We were basically sanitizing everything because you don't know. You can't see the virus."

READ ALSO: Mother Cannot See Her Sons Who Are in Death Row

The family in Scotland

While Kerem was in Turkey, it was Caroline, that took care of Ayla.

Their eight-year-old daughter has Edward's syndrome. This health issue weakens Ayla's immune system, making her more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Aside from this, she also experiences breathing and gastrointestinal problems.

It was Ayla who became extremely happy when their family reunited. Kerem said, "But she is so happy, and I am so happy to see her now and to give her a cuddle."

As the world still battles with the coronavirus pandemic, Kerem's family is hoping that everyone is taking the health protocols seriously. Caroline said, "As a society, I think we have got a responsibility to make sure we follow the rules."

For the couple who has a child that has conditions that the coronavirus could bring higher risks on her health, they understand that the health protocols should be strictly followed.

Right now, the family is enjoying the company of each other. Kerem now only plans to return to Turkey when he is sure that he can return to Scotland without a glitch.

READ ALSO: Single Mom Who Recovered From the Coronavirus, Reunites With Kids
Iran plans to strengthen Syria's air defence systems as part of a military agreement between the two countries, state television said on Wednesday.

The deal was signed by Iran's armed forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri and Syria's Defence Minister Ali Ayoub in Damascus, the broadcaster said.

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PARLAMENTUL REPUBLICII MOLDOVA

 2010

The Moldovan Parliaments website design was supported by the Democracy Support Programme in Moldova"  an initiative financed by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
This electron microscope image made available and color-enhanced by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Md., shows Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, orange, isolated from a patient. THE CANADIAN PRESS/APNIAID/National Institutes of Health via AP
Matthew McKnight walks out of court during a break in Edmonton on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. McKnight, 33, was accused of sexually assaulting 13 women ranging in age from 17 to 22 between 2010 and 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
The huge Tonnies processing plant, in Germany, that was recently forced to close to a COVID-19 outbreak still has more work to do to convince the authorities it is safe to re-open.

The plant in north-western Germany reportedly accounts for 12 to 14% of German pork production and its closure after more than 1,500 workers tested positive for COVID-19 has had a knock-on effect on UK cull sow sales, as well as the German and wider EU market.

The chief executive of the Guetersloh district, where the plant is located,, has said it cannot reopen until the authorities are satisfied with its hygiene procedures, according to Reuters.

Sven-Georg Adenauer said in a news conference on Tuesday that the plant could only be reopened if there is no threat to the people who work in this company and also not to the people in the Guetersloh region. Around 600,000 people in Guetersloh were forced back into lockdown on June 23 after the scale of the Tonnies outbreak emerged.

The plant has provisionally been ordered to close up to July 17, Mr Adenauer said. The company had reportedly presented a hygiene plan to authorities that, while in the right direction, still needs work, he said, adding that he believed the company will undertake this, he said. He said it was still not possible to say when the plant would reopen.

Health and safety officials continue to inspect it and negotiate with the company over the new hygiene plan. Another round of assessments will be made on Thursday.

Tonnies has previously apologised and said it is working closely with authorities on a hygiene plan to achieve a reopening.

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council on Wednesday that the conflict in Libya has entered a new phase "with foreign interference reaching unprecedented levels."

The oil-producing country descended into chaos after overthrow of leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Since 2014, Libya has been split, with an UN-recognized government controlling the capital, Tripoli, and the northwest, while the Libyan National Army leader Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi rules the east.

Haftar is supported by the France, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, while the government is backed by Turkey.

"The conflict has entered a new phase with foreign interference reaching unprecedented levels, including in the delivery of sophisticated equipment and the number of mercenaries involved in the fighting," Guterres said.

Russian private military contractor Wagner Group has up to 1,200 people deployed in Libya, strengthening Haftar's forces, according to a confidential May report by independent sanctions monitors to the U.N. Security Council Libya sanctions committee.

"We continue to oppose all foreign military intervention in Libya," said U.S. Ambassador to the UNKelly Craft. "There is no place for foreign mercenaries or proxy forces in Libya, including ... Russian government proxies."

Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia rejected the accusations of Russian involvement in Libya.



"But we know about other countries' military personnel, including from those countries that accuse us, to be present on Libyan soil, East and West," he told the council, calling on all states with influence on the Libyan parties to push for a truce.

United Arab Emirates minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, told the council there were "roughly 10,000 Syrian mercenaries operating in Libya, approximately twice as many as there were six months ago."

The warring parties are currently mobilizing forces at the new frontlines between the cities of Misrata and Sirte. Egypt has warned that any Turkish-backed effort to take Sirte could lead its army to directly intervene.

"We are very concerned about the alarming military build-up around the city, and the high-level of direct foreign interference in the conflict in violation of the UN arms embargo, UN Security Council resolutions, and commitments made by Member States in Berlin," Guterres said.

Guterres said that between April and June this year the UN mission has documented at least 102 civilians deaths and 254 civilians injuries - a 172 per cent increase compared to the first quarter of 2020. He said there had also been at least 21 attacks on medical facilities, ambulances and medical personnel.

Guterres also called on the Security Council to take action over the obstruction by several key national officials of an international audit of the Central Bank of Libya.

He said the United Nations was working to mediate an end to a blockade imposed in January by eastern-based forces that has resulted in more than $6 billion in lost revenue for OPEC member Libya, aiming "to alleviate economic hardship compounded by the conflict and COVID-19."

The confirmed number of coronavirus cases in Libya increased seven-fold in June to more than 1,000, but Guterres said "the true scale of the pandemic in Libya is likely to be much higher."

* This story was edited by Ahram Online

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Kinney, the 65-year-old mother of a grown son, has been fascinated by the paranormal since her childhood in California. She recalls her mother having dreams that came true, such as one in which she received a letter about her grandmothers death. On a high school field trip, Kinney is certain she saw the ghost of a 19th-century woman walking inside a historic home.
The investigation into Lenkovs behavior is said to have just concluded recently. Multiple sources who spoke with Variety said that Lenkov was known to be misogynistic and to make crude jokes on set. He is also said to have a boys club with whom he would regularly gather to smoke cigars and judge womens appearances. Sources also allege his abusive behavior pre-dated his work on the CBS revivals and was also prevalent during his time on CSI: NY. In one incident described to Variety, Lenkov had gathered several writers in his office and circulated a New York Magazine story from 2007 about women being a depreciating asset and expected the women present to laugh. During his time at CSI: NY, when Lenkov once got a note he didnt like from a CBS executive, he joked that the writer who was dating the executive wasnt doing her job in bed because the executive was cranky, according to one source.
"It's a discipline that's very conducive to all ages primarily because it's low impact," Dunn said. "It's not a discipline to see how much we can make you sweat or how high we can get your heart rate. Pilates is very complementary to other fitness formats. Many people will do something like running or spin classes for the cardio benefits and do Pilates for flexibility and core strength."
The Lovings plead guilty to violating the states Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which prohibited the marriage of whites and nonwhites. Given the choice of serving a year in jail each or leaving the state for at least 25 years, the couple chose exile and moved to Washington, D.C. Eventually, the longing to return to their home state became too much to bear.
Last Monday, June 29, the Pine Island COVID-19 Task Force opened its meeting with discussion on the new order to keep people from congregating in bars and Floridas plan for the holiday weekend.

Epidemiologist Jim Koopman said the CDC has reported the antibody assay result.

You know the history of that, said Koopman, the FDA just approved every single antibody assay and most of them were junk. But these assays were validated. It showed overall about 10 times as many infections as reported cases. That still isnt going to touch herd immunity.

Its Koopmans contention that even if a proven vaccine is 75 percent effective, and 75 percent of the population agrees to take it, that still will not be enough to provide herd immunity. According to his own observation, he said when there were fewer mandates on testing, making it easier for people to get tested, the number of confirmed positive cases seemed to have dropped. He said the sharp drop in numbers was nothing but delusion, although it was used to relax safety measures, which has now resulted in the number of confirmed cases rising once again.

Task Force member Martha Huard voiced her concern that people seem to feel infringed upon if they are told to take the precaution of wearing a mask in public.

Task Force founder Isabel Francis pointed out that directives from Vice President Mike Pence as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci, an immunologist, seem to indicate that it will be nearly impossible to regain control of the U.S. economy without taking these measures, as well as strict adherence to social distancing.

The island group decided to draft a list of questions to send into the political arena regarding the safety of Pine Island and what precautions likely need to be taken. Fearful that the number of confirmed cases may grow by the time the list of questions makes it into the hands of anyone who may answer, the group wonders what recommendations for taking precautions may look like, or what the chances are of Covid-19 becoming widespread on an island such as this.

The timeliness of the letter is important because a lot will change in the two to three week lag in the death toll, said Jim McLaughlin, a Task Force member whos a longtime islander and former TV news anchor. Whatever the person answering the questions thinks will be based on the count for that day, but by the time we get everything in and get ready to post it, the count may be two to three times higher than it was.

Koopman pointed out that there are two types of delays involved. One, he said, is simply a delay in reporting deaths, which can be up to two weeks. The other, even larger delay, said Koopman, is between the rise of the epidemic and the rise in deaths, which he explains is roughly four weeks after diagnosis.

Huard noted that keeping an eye on the number of people being hospitalized is just as critical.

Its important in telling you how many cases there are but also how severe the cases are and also for bed availability, said Huard. There are many cases that are asymptomatic, and you can shrug it off, but you cant shrug it off once theyre in the hospital. Its not the number of testing changing that.
When Peter and Heather Ennis took over the Ragged Ass Saloon, with business partners John and Kim Shields and Nick and Mary Ruland, they knew keeping the name was an absolute. Built in 1954 in St. James City, Ennis says he believes the building is one of the most historic on Pine Island.

Now facing their fourth year as owners, Ennis said theyll have to wait until things are a little more normal to have a traditional celebration. Although there is still music three nights a week  Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday  they are keeping the tables as far as 10 feet apart in an effort to keep people safe and feeling protected during the pandemic.

People do enjoy being outside, said Ennis. I notice if people are outside they seem to feel more comfortable. Its a good environment.

Customers often tell Ennis that being at the Ragged Ass is like being in the Keys, without actually being in the Keys. He admits its a place for everybody.

Two guys in T-shirts can be sitting down having lunch and one guy might be an hourly worker from the island and the other guy might be a retired doctor, said Ennis. It doesnt really matter whos who.

As far as the restaurant, Ennis said they still have some of the same staffers who were there before they took over. Although he admits the food has always been good, he said they are becoming known for certain dishes, such as their pizza, fish n chips or homemade stuffed banana peppers. They are currently serving breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well as nightly dinner specials, rather than having the same menu items each night.

If someone hasnt been here before, its a place to come and buy a shirt that says you were at the Ragged Ass Saloon, said Ennis. The number of people who take pictures outside the restaurant in front of one of our signs is just phenomenal. Ive never seen anything like it.

The Ragged Ass Saloon has become a magnetic destination for many who ride motorcycles or drive boats, according to Ennis, crediting the restaurant with the allure of a tourist attraction. He admits northern residents often send pictures of themselves to the staff, wearing their Ragged Ass Saloon T-shirt while riding a motorcycle after theyve gone back home.

Ennis said everyone should be on the lookout for their upcoming anniversary celebration, which will likely be a fundraiser, incorporating one or more island organizations.

The Ragged Ass Saloon is at 3421 Stringfellow Road, St James City, FL 33956. For additional information about the island restaurant, call 239-282-1131. You can also visit the restaurant website at www.raggedasssaloon. com
The city of Cape Coral will not require face coverings in public places.

Cape Coral City Council on Monday rejected an ordinance that would have required the wearing of masks in most public interactions, with the majority weighing in on the side of education and urging voluntary compliance with the measure the medical community says will slow the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

Also noted was an opposing view shared during public comment, voiced by State Rep. and U.S. House candidate Byron Donalds, who said the city has no authority to issue a mandate.

You have no authority to mandate what people can put on their body. The fear people are having doesnt justify it, Donalds said. As a council, you have the solemn duty to vote this down and get back to common sense.

Donalds two-minute comment was significant to council members Marilyn Stout and John Gunter, who used what he said to help determine their decision to not support the ordinance.

Those voting voting against the ordinance brought forward by Mayor Joe Coviello also included Councilmember Jessica Cosden, who, with Stout, said she will continue to wear a mask in public situations.

Im convinced masks do prevent the spread and it makes me sad that some people arent wearing them, Cosden said. I wear my mask to protect you and I dont want to go back to a lockdown situation and Im concerned were heading in that direction.

Most thought the education route, as recommended by city staff, was the way to go.

Coviello, though, was having none of that argument, saying education has been happening for months.

Weve been told these things for three months and this keeps continuing. If Im going to err, its on the side of caution, Coviello said. Im looking to protect the well-being of our residents. I dont want to say three weeks from now that I wish we had done something.

Council members John Carioscia and Jennifer Nelson agreed, but with this being an emergency ordinance, six votes were needed for passage, and the measure was defeated 5-3, a vote tipped decidedly toward views also shared by those who turned out for public comment.

The dozens of people who came to speak at Mondays special meeting, continued from a contentious session last Thursday, came to beg Council to shoot down the emergency ordinance that would have mandated masks at certain businesses.

Lisa Cohen, who spoke against the ordinance, said the vote was a tremendous victory, but added she was disappointed in the city council, since the elected board did agree the city will continue to monitor the spread of the virus on a state and county level and would revisit the issue, if deemed necessary.

The mayor is going to force us to bring high numbers to the meeting and these people are furious, Cohen said. I really think we need to focus on education and maybe have a community conversation.

The vast majority of those speaking during public comment asked council to reject the ordinance for a myriad of reasons, from their belief that masks dont prevent the virus, to individual liberty, to oxygen deprivation, to saying government is trying to stoke fear.

Some claimed that the case numbers werent telling the full story, stating that while all 24 intensive care beds at Cape Coral Hospital were filled, only 10 patients had the COVID-19 virus, according to numbers provided by Lee Health.

Cohen said the numbers had to be coaxed because she believed Lee Health wanted to hide the truth.

Cohen also claimed that all the measures taken to fight the infection have done more harm than good, as it has shut down our ability to fight off the infection by weakening our immune system.

I feel like Ive done more damage than good to my kids by keeping them home by resetting the clock on their immune system, Cohen said. I think were headed for herd immunity, which is good based on the infection rates being so high and death rates being so low.

The city will continue to monitor the spread of the virus on a state and county level.
Welcome back pirates! As you make your return to campus The East Carolinian has created a forum that centers around topics within the community where readers can express their experiences and concerns. With the new guidelines set in place by East Carolina University do you feel as these precautions will keep you safe?

Survey
A US general voiced Washington's backing for Lebanese stability on Wednesday on a visit that triggered a protest by demonstrators including supporters of the Iran-backed Hezbollah against US policies in the country.

General Kenneth McKenzie's visit to Beirut, a big recipient of US military aid, comes after Hezbollah stepped up criticism of US ambassador Dorothy Shea on Tuesday, accusing her of blatant interference in Lebanese affairs.

Lebanon is in throes of an acute financial crisis seen as the biggest threat to its stability since the 1975-90 civil war.

The heavily armed Hezbollah, founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, is classified as a terrorist group by the United States. It is also a major player in Lebanese politics and backs the government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab.

A US embassy statement said McKenzie "reaffirmed the importance of preserving Lebanons security, stability, and sovereignty..."

Several dozen protesters, some waving Hezbollah flags, gathered at Beirut airport in a protest which the group's al-Manar TV said carried several messages against Washington.

These included a rejection of a US embassy plan to hold a memorial for 241 US service personnel killed in 1983 by a bomb attack in Beirut during McKenzie's visit, an al-Manar broadcaster said.

The US embassy statement said McKenzie's one-day visit included "a brief stop at memorials honouring the memory of those who have perished in service to their country".

The United States says Hezbollah carried out the 1983 attack, which was preceded by the bombing of the US embassy in Beirut.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in a speech on Tuesday night, said Shea had intervened in official appointments at the central bank, calling this "colonial" behaviour.

Shea has said the appointments were a matter for Lebanon to decide and she tried her best to convey the importance of credible and internationally respected experts being appointed.

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The LIFE ventilator, designed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is demonstrated by a CSIR staff member at its campus in Pretoria East. (Photo: CSIR)

By Karin Schimke

Production has begun on three local non-invasive respiratory ventilator designs. This is not just good news for hospitals and patients, but also for manufacturing in South Africa.

Its happening about a month later than hoped, but the promise of 10,000 extra ventilators to provide breathing support to Covid-19 patients who end up in hospital is weeks away now.

Production has begun on three locally made models of non-invasive ventilators. In two weeks, the first 1,000 will have been made and after that 1,000 per week will be manufactured until the goal of 10,000 has been reached. If more funding is found, these numbers will double.

This is no small achievement since South Africa does not have a rich history of producing medical equipment.

In April this year, when South Africa had around 1,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases  almost 200,o00 in early July  the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition mandated the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) to manage the national effort required for the local design, development and manufacture of respiratory ventilators.

I have been blown away by the capacity we have in South Africa, says Justin Jonas, a professor of physics and electronics at Rhodes University. If I hadnt been a part of this project, I think I might have been panicking as we got into the peak of this thing.

Jonas is neither a doctor nor a medical technician. He is the chief technologist at the SARAO, which was mandated to manage the National Ventilator Programme (VNP) in March 2020. He was part of the team that organised the construction, testing, commissioning and operation of the MeerKAT radio telescope and the development of the Karoo radio observatory site.

There is a public narrative that if you go into hospital with Covid-19, you will end up with a pipe down your throat and a machine pumping air into your lungs through it, but that your chances of survival would be minimal anyway. This idea does not reflect reality, Jonas says.

Initially, with the MeerKAT project, there were a lot of scientists with great ideas about what they wanted, but if wed tried to follow all those ideas, wed never have been able to get the project off the ground.

So we selected a small number of very knowledgeable people who helped us come up with the requirements for MeerKAT. Same thing happened with the NVP.

In the beginning of this pandemic there was a lot of noise, from all over the world, about was meant by ventilator. A large part of our role was to take the noise out of the system as quickly as possible because of the urgency. We had to find people who were knowledgeable and were able to share their knowledge so we could come up with a list of specifications, and then go back to them to validate that the specifications wed come up with would meet their needs, said Jonas.

There is a public narrative that if you go into hospital with Covid-19, you will end up with a pipe down your throat and a machine pumping air into your lungs through it, but that your chances of survival would be minimal anyway. This idea does not reflect reality, Jonas says.

I am not a doctor, I have to emphasise that, but as we now know, there is an ongoing number of asymptomatic cases. Then you have symptomatic cases, around 80% of which can stay home, and those people will get better. Twenty percent will have to go to hospital for a while. Three quarters of people going to hospital will merely require a little bit of oxygen. That means, they lie on a bed, have a nasal cannula feeding them oxygen, and in a day or two they will be better. Only a quarter of people who get sick enough to go to hospital, so five percent, will require anything more serious than that.

Until now, people have assumed that if you go into hospital, you go on to an invasive ventilator. But that is not the case. The vast majority of people who will need more respiratory support than just a low-flow nasal cannula require non-invasive ventilation.

Non-invasive ventilation usually involves a well-sealed mask, or sometimes a hood, over the patients head. It provides a mix of pure oxygen and air and helps to get that mixture into the patients lungs by delivering it at higher than ambient pressure. It doesnt require a complicated intubation system. Exhaled air is filtered for viruses to prevent further spread.

When the NVP began in March, it was announced that there were a total of 3,216 ventilators in South Africa. Of those, 2,105 were in private hospitals. This was estimated to be around half of what would be required at the peak of the pandemic.

The three designs about to go into production can do either of the therapies. The first units coming out of production are destined for public hospitals, but more models are being made, tested and submitted for licencing according to the SARAO specifications. Devices that dont meet SARAOs specifications will not be accredited.

However, most of the ventilators in South Africa were invasive ventilators.

Non-invasive ventilators are not something hospitals have a large inventory of, Jonas explains. Twenty years ago, it might have been different, but whats happened in the interim is that basically you buy an invasive ventilator, a fancy machine that can do everything, including non-invasive ventilation. In normal circumstances it would be fine to have just a few of those because the caseloads would be low.

With the pandemic, there would suddenly be a huge need and there was no way we could get enough invasive ventilators to cover that need. To be clear: the dominant need is for non-invasive ventilators, and there are not enough invasive ventilators to be used for non-invasive therapy.

Just getting more invasive ventilators, even for invasive therapy, has its limitations because these devices need the associated infrastructure and specialist staff. Both are in short supply.

For the NVP to work, non-invasive respiratory ventilator models were designed, prototypes were made, adjusted and refined, licencing sought and granted, and Solidarity Fund support allocated. SARAOs job was co-ordination, guidance, quality assurance and due diligence in a process with lots of moving parts.

All three of the ventilators now being manufactured are CPAP/HFNO blenders.

CPAP is the acronym for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, which describes the therapeutic action that the technique provides to alleviate respiratory distress. Patients are not sedated and are usually conscious and cooperative during this therapy, and are capable of breathing on their own. The patients blood oxygen levels are usually monitored independently using a pulse oximeter.

HFNO is the acronym for high-flow nasal oxygen therapy.

The three designs about to go into production can do either of the therapies. The first units coming out of production are destined for public hospitals, but more models are being made, tested and submitted for licencing according to the SARAO specifications. Devices that dont meet SARAOs specifications will not be accredited.

The non-invasive ventilators are estimated to cost around R10,000 each to produce. Invasive ventilators cost around R1-million each.

SARAO engineers made models of the ventilators themselves in order to see what would be required in the production, even though SARAO itself will not be producing any machines.

We wanted to get a sense of what we were in for. We wanted to see what the industry would have to deal with and get some idea of what the challenges might be supply chain and material problems, tolerances and so on.

Devices funded by the Solidarity Fund will go to public hospitals, but private hospitals are already sourcing devices from companies that were involved with the NVP. Some of these designs are awaiting registration with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

And what were the results? Does South Africas manufacturing industry have what it takes to make these specialised machines?

I was blown away by the capacity we have in South Africa. There are a whole lot of small companies that you dont even know existed, none of them producing medical equipment, but all of which are entirely capable of making what is needed. Ive been to all of the manufacturers and I was happily surprised by two things: their competence and their willingness to take shared risks in this enterprise. Theres a huge amount of goodwill and excellent capability out there.

Jonas says that producing the necessary 10,000 ventilators for the health crisis has been stream one of the NVP.

Stream two is a longer-term process looking into establishing an invasive ventilator capability in South Africa and maybe a broader medical design and manufacturing capability locally. Thats not a current priority, because stream one is about saving lives. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition feels strongly about developing a sustainable industry in South Africa.

One of the non-invasive ventilators now in production was designed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and is called LIFE (which stands for Lung Inspiratory Flow Enabler). Another company has been subcontracted to make a CPAP blender according to an open-source Mercedes design.

The third non-invasive ventilator is called SAVE-P CPAP (SAVE stands for South African Ventilator Emergency Project), which is being produced by a consortium of car component manufacturers, including MCR Manufacturing in Rosslyn in Pretoria, who is responsible for assembly and testing of the device.

The production of the ventilators is not an end in itself. The ventilators need to be distributed to where they are most needed and can be best used. Staff will need to be trained to use the equipment, and beds with wall oxygen supply are required.

Devices funded by the Solidarity Fund will go to public hospitals, but private hospitals are already sourcing devices from companies that were involved with the NVP. Some of these designs are awaiting registration with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

SARAO will continue facilitating, guiding and matchmaking for a while yet.

Were a very small sub-component of a complex system and co-ordinating all the bodies has been tricky under so much pressure, says Jonas. There have been a lot of parallel processes, and things are on track now. DM/MC

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated fugitive diamantaire Nirava Modi's Rs 329.66 crore properties in Mumbai, Rajasthan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the UK.

The movable and immovable assets were seized under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA) 2018, the ED said on Wednesday.

The assets included four flats at Samudra Mahal, the iconic building in South Mumbai's Worli, one seaside farm house and land in Alibaug, one wind mill in Jaisalmer, one flat in London and some flats in the UAE, shares and bank deposits.

The ED had filed an application before the FEOA special court in Mumbai on July 10, 2018 seeking declaration of Nirav Modi a fugitive economic offender and seizure of his properties valued at Rs 1,396 crore. They belonged to him and entities directly or indirectly owned by him.

On December 5, 2019, the court declared him a fugitive economic offender. On June 8, it asked the ED to attach his assets (other than properties mortgaged or hypothecated and secured to Punjab National Bank-led consortium) and those belonging to his companies.

It also asked the consortium of banks to move the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) special court to claim the mortgaged, hypothecated and secured properties, which were attached by the ED.

Of the properties attached, Rs 1,000 crore assets prima facie were found to be covered under mortgage. The Bombay High Court had ordered that sale proceeds of paintings (Rs 45 crore) be kept as fixed deposit till further order.

In this case, the ED has attached Rs 2,348 crore properties of Nirav Modi under the PMLA.

Nirav Modi, along with his uncle Mehul Choksi, is among the prime accused in the Rs 14,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, unearthed over two years ago.

Currently, Nirav Modi is in a London jail after his arrest by the local police in March 2019. Choksi has taken citizenship of the Caribbean island nation of Antigua & Barbuda.
The Yogi Adityanath government has increased the reward on gangster Vikas Dubey to Rs 5 lakh.

The state government has been increasing the reward on the gangster who is responsible for the killing of eight policemen in Kanpur on July 3, from the initial Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh which was then increased to Rs 2.5 lakhs and now Rs 5 lakh.

Vikas Dubey has not been arrested even though it is now five days since the incident took place.

More than 60 police teams are searching for the gangster and several of his hideouts have been raided.

One of his accomplices Amar Dubey was shot dead in an encounter on Wednesday morning in Hamirpur district while another accomplice, Shyamu Bajpai, was arrested in Kanpur after a brief encounter.

His aides have also been arrested from Faridabad in Haryana where the gangster was reportedly present on Tuesday.
The Delhi University on Wednesday informed the High Court that it has postponed the online Open Book Examination (OBE) till August 15. The exams were slated to commence from July 10.

The Delhi University during the hearing informed the court that the decision to postpone the exam was taken after a meeting of the High Powered Committee.

Following which a single judge bench of the High Court presided by Justice Prathibha M. Singh transferred the batch of petitions to two judge bench after observing that the issue concerning the postponement of exams is already pending before a division bench of the court.

"The court deems it appropriate to place all these writs before the division bench which is ceased of the matter," said the court.

The said division bench headed by Justice Hima Kohli, to which the matters have been transferred, had last week held that contempt proceedings should be initiated against the Delhi University and its officials for "misleading" the court by "withholding material information" over the issue of postponement of the said examination.

The court while hearing the matter through video conferencing, told the counsel for the University Grants Commission that the latest guidelines of the body has created "too much uncertainty across nation."

Responding to the same, Apurv Kurup, appearing for the UGC, said that the body has to look pan India and not just the Delhi University. "If they (DU) were not ready with it, they shouldn't have gone ahead with it," he submitted.

The arguments took place while the court was hearing a batch of petitions led by one Anup challenging the cancellation of the examinations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plea sought quashing and withdrawal of the notifications of May 14, May 30 and June 27, in respect of undergraduate and postgraduate students, including students of the School of Open Learning and Non-Collegiate Women Education Board.

Earlier in the day, the High Court had postponed the matter for the second half as some new petitions including one filed by NSUI Delhi chief Akshay Lakra, had come in but the said documents could not reach the court.

During the first half of the hearing, Advocate Sachin Dutta informed the court that after the revised guidelines of the UGC and MHRD, the varsity has planned to postpone the said online examinations.

We were willing to hold it, but the UGC guidelines came at the last moment," Dutta submitted before a single judge bench of Justice Pratibha M. Singh.

Responding to the submissions, the bench said, "There was no binding on you to postpone these exams under these new guidelines."

The petitioner submitted that many students are mailing them and telling them that they have admission procedures of foreign universities and the same would get cancelled if they don't submit their results by the end of July.

The court then said, "Do you (DU) see how you are playing with the future of the children?"

In his petition, Lakra sought quashing of the notifications regarding the OBE as well as the Examination Schedule issued by the Respondent No 1 (DU).

"The Delhi University without following the procedure established by law, unilaterally and arbitrarily decided to hold Online Open Book Exams for the students of Delhi University," the plea filed by the NSUI Delhi President read.

He also alleged in his plea that DU has flouted the laws as laid down under the applicable statutes and deliberately overlooked the Academic Council and Executive Council and grievances/representation raised by the esteemed members of the Academic Council and Executive Council while issuing the said notifications.

"The Respondent No 1 has unlawfully interfered in the sphere reserved exclusively for the expert bodies which derive their powers from the statutory provisions of the applicable laws," Lakra said in his petition.
A Taliban suicide bomber detonated an explosive-packed military vehicle on the approach to the provincial governor's residence and police headquarters in the Afghan province of Kandahar on Wednesday, killing at least three people, authorities said.

Bloodshed is escalating anew in Afghanistan even as the United States tries to broker a peace deal between the Taliban and Afghan government after almost two decades of war.

"At around 4 a.m., a suicide bomber driving a large (Afghan security force) truck came under fire from security forces before reaching his goal, but detonated explosives near police headquarters and the governor's residential complex," the governor's spokesman, Bahir Ahmad Ahamdi, said.

Three members of the security forces were killed and 14 people wounded, including civilians, in the attack in the Sha Wali Kot district of Kandahar, he said, and the police headquarters and governor's compound suffered severe damage.

The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying in a statement that the police headquarters had been used as a military hub for security force operations against the Islamist insurgents.

Diplomats say the resurgence of attacks is heightening mistrust just as the Afghan government and Taliban are set to enter peace negotiations and as the United States withdraws forces under a deal with the Taliban struck in February.

On Tuesday, a car bomb blast in the eastern province of Nangarhar killed a local police commander and three other people, and wounded 11, according to the provincial governor's spokesman. There was no claim of responsibility for the attack.

An explosion in Kabul on Tuesday injured two civilians and security forces said they had thwarted large attacks in and around the capital.

Disagreement over a release of prisoners - with Kabul refusing to free 600 of the 5,000 Taliban it holds - is proving to be one of the last major hurdles to the start of full peace negotiations in the Qatari capital Doha.

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Uttar Pradesh's most wanted gangster Vikas Dubey, the main accused in the killing of eight policemen last week in Kanpur district, was reportedly seen in a hotel in Haryana's Faridabad adjoining the national capital on Tuesday, sources said.

However, he managed to give the slip to the police, who only managed to arrest three of his associates. The police in the NCR region have been put on alert.

On Tuesday afternoon, police conducted a raid at the Faridabad hotel. Dubey had left the hotel by then. Later, three men were arrested from different locations in the city. They have been identified as Shrawan, Ankur and Prabhat.

A CCTV footage recovered by the police shows the wanted gangster in a mask wearing a blue T-shirt. The police have seized the register and DVR from the hotel. According to sources, the hotel turned back the man as his identity card did not have a clear photograph.

The Uttar Pradesh STF was also conducting raids at various locations in its search for the absconding criminal, including in Greater Noida.

Faridabad, Gurugram and Delhi are also on a high alert and the Delhi Police's Special Cell has also been alerted amid speculation that Dubey may surrender in the National Capital Region. All hotels in the NCR have also been alerted.

K.K. Rao, the newly appointed Police Commissioner of Gurugram, has directed the Gurugram Police to keep strict vigil in the border areas as Dubey may try to sneak into the city.

"Dubey was caught on CCTV camera in one of the hotels in Faridabad on Tuesday. He seems injured and was limping," Rao said.

"The Faridabad police have analysed the CCTV footage and confirmed that the person caught on camera in the hotel was Vikas Dubey," Rao said.

"The most wanted gangster is alone and using private taxis or three-wheelers to travel from one place to another. There is a possibility of him entering the territory of Gurugram. I have directed the police to check each and every vehicle on the borders, especially connected with Faridabad," Rao said.

The Haryana crime branch is conducting searches in Faridabad. Adjoining districts such as Gurugram, Palwal, Nuh are on high alert. Residents have also been asked to remain vigilant about any unusual activity and unknown person in their locality.

Rao pointed out that because of the coronavirus, Dubey may hide his face behind a mask.

Dubey is an accused in the murder of eight police personnel and injuring five others critically during an ambush in Kanpur.
After the Union Home Ministry set up an inter-ministerial committee to probe alleged violations of law by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Trust and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit back saying truth cannot be "intimidated".

Rahul Gandhi in a tweet said, "Mr Modi believes the world is like him. He thinks every one has a price or can be intimidated."

"He will never understand that those who fight for the truth have no price and cannot be intimidated," added Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress party has also issued a statement saying that the Indian National Congress and its leadership will not be intimidated by the cowardly acts and blind witch-hunt by a panicked Modi Government.

Randeep Surjewala said, "Will the Modi government hold an enquiry into the donations and the amounts received by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from all sources including foreign sources, individuals, entities, organisations and governments?"

The Congress asked six questions from the government in which they sought enquiry into Vivekananda Foundation, India Foundation, Overseas Friends of BJP and the issue of electoral bonds in which the BJP has a lion's share.

"Will the Modi Government order an enquiry into the source of funding, amounts received, name of donors (including of Chinese origin) for 'Overseas Friends of BJP' (OF-BJP)? Will the investigation include an enquiry into the connection of Shri Rajkumar Naraindas Sabnani alias Raju Sabnani to 'OF-BJP'?" asked Surjewala.

The wild and insidious hatred of the BJP of Congress leadership unfolds every day in an embarrassing and uglier fashion, said a statement from Randeep Surjewala.

The Congress statement said that humanitarian work and distinguished service provided by these charitable organisations has always stood out and will withstand any vengeful and roving enquiry.

BJP leadership is also scared of questions being asked on its deep-rooted Chinese connections, unexplained donations to the PM's fund by Chinese entities and continued promotion of Chinese-owned businesses, said Surjewala.
Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday expressed reservations over the content of the syllabus reduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and emphasised on the need for children to learn them from authentic sources rather than from "WhatsApp University".

The Central Board of Secondary Education has reduced up to 30 per cent of the syllabus for the 2020-21 academic session for classes 9 to 12 in a bid to decrease the course load for students during the pandemic.

The education board, however, faced criticism for its decision to drop key chapters like Democratic Rights, Federalism, Citizenship and Secularism from school courses.

Sisodia said that the education board did not give any reason as to why particular topics or chapters were removed, nor did it explain the process by which the course committee, curriculum committee or its governing body arrived at the decision to remove or include them.

The Education Minister sought to know why chapters on understanding the Partition, democratic rights, food security, gender, religion and caste, popular struggles and movement, federalism, citizenship, nationalism and secularism, social movements and regional aspirations, mass media and communication were removed from the social science syllabus.

"Social Science is one discipline where there is maximum scope of controversy and agree that no matter which topics are chosen or left out, the questions are bound to be raised. Hence the board should have been careful and explained its rationale for dropping certain topics," he added.

The topics of social science which are dropped are so relevant in contemporary context that it is important that children learn about it through authentic sources rather than through "Whatsapp University", he scoffed.

Alluding to other subjects, Sisodia asked why a topic on the human eye and the colourful world, sources of energy were removed. In English, a letter on a situation and descriptive paragraph on a place and event was removed.

"Similarly, in classes 11 and 12 different genres of writing like Article and report writing, letter to the editor, application for job, note making and summarising which are so critical for developing expression have been removed from English Core subject," the Education Minister added.

In Mathematics, Sisodia asked why the principle of mathematical induction and mathematical reasoning was deleted. "I am hopeful that CBSE must have very good reasons for dropping those topics other than saying that "reduction in classroom teaching due to closure of schools" requires reduction and hence randomly some topics have been dropped."
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray has said that acts of espionage and theft by China's government pose the "greatest long-term threat" to the future of the USA.

Speaking to the Hudson Institute in Washington, Wray described a multi-pronged disruption campaign. the BBC reported on Wednesday.

He said China had begun targeting Chinese nationals living abroad, coercing their return, and was working to compromise US coronavirus research.

"The stakes could not be higher," Wray said, adding: "China is engaged in a whole-of-state effort to become the world's only superpower by any means necessary," he added.

In a nearly hour-long speech on Tuesday, the FBI Director outlined a stark picture of Chinese interference, a far-reaching campaign of economic espionage, data and monetary theft and illegal political activities, using bribery and blackmail to influence US policy.

"We've now reached a point where the FBI is now opening a new China-related counterintelligence case every 10 hours," Wray said. "Of the nearly 5,000 active counterintelligence cases currently underway across the country, almost half are related to China."

He said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had spearheaded a programme called "Fox Hunt", geared at Chinese nationals living abroad seen as threats to the Chinese government.

"We're talking about political rivals, dissidents, and critics seeking to expose China's extensive human rights violations," he said. "The Chinese government wants to force them to return to China, and China's tactics to accomplish that are shocking."

He continued: "When it couldn't locate one Fox Hunt target, the Chinese government sent an emissary to visit the target's family here in the United States. The message they said to pass on? The target had two options: return to China promptly, or commit suicide."

This is not the first time FBI Director Christopher Wray categorised China as a "top intelligence threat" for the US, but on Tuesday he ramped up the criticism by focussing on Beijing's "whole-of-state effort" to become the world's only superpower.

It clearly signals that Washington now sees Beijing not only as an aggressive adversary, but also an ambitious contender for global leadership.

Since the Covid-19 outbreak in the US, the Donald Trump administration has unleashed anger over China from its initial response to coronavirus, economic espionage to Hong Kong's new national security law.

Wray's remarks are among a series of hard-hitting speeches by senior US officials on the topic.

The Trump administration says it's now time to wake up from the 40 years of policy failures with regard to China, while critics see this as an attempt to deflect attention from the president own failures in office and to increase his chances of winning re-election.
Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/08/2020 -- According to the new market research report "ADAS Market by System (ACC, DMS, IPA, PDS, TJA, FCW, CTA, RSR, LDW, AEB, & BSD), Component (Radar, LiDAR, Ultrasonic, & Camera Unit), Vehicle (PC, LCV, Bus, & Truck), Level of Autonomy (L1, L2&3, L4, L5), Offering, EV, and Region - Global Forecast to 2030", advanced driver assistance system market size is projected to grow from USD 27.0 billion in 2020 to USD 83.0 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 11.9%.



The increasing adoption of ADAS & safety features, the focus of governments to enhance vehicle and pedestrian safety, initiatives by OEMs to provide advanced safety features, and the advent of autonomous vehicles will surge the demand for ADAS.



Browse in-depth TOC on "ADAS Market"



251  Tables

83  Figures

275  Pages



Vehicle production was low in April 2020 in major European countries and the US due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, the ADAS Market was expected to witness rapid growth from 2022 onward as major safety regulations are outlined to be imposed, and deployment of autonomous driving systems was planned during the same timeline. As vehicle production is suspended, any new investment for advanced technology is unlikely. OEMs and tier 1 players are either using cash reserves or acquiring funds to continue operations during the crisis. OEMs are still skeptical about the recovery of vehicle sales to 2019 levels in 2020.



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TPMS is expected to be the largest segment in the ADAS Market



A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) uses sensors to detect tire pressure levels and alert the driver when the tire pressure is low. Two TPMS implementations are available: direct and indirect. Indirect TPMS uses ABS sensors to detect low tire pressure. If the pressure in a tire is dangerously low, its wheel speed will be different than the others. The ECU analyzes the rotation information and informs the driver about the low tire pressure. Direct TPMS uses different pressure monitoring sensors for individual tires. These sensors transmit the data to the ECU for analysis, and every sensor has a unique serial number. Post analysis, the system can easily identify the tire with low pressure using the serial number and display a visual warning on the dashboard.



The inclusion of TPMS is standard in all leading automobile markets such as the US, European countries, and some Asia Pacific countries. While TPMS was earlier mandated only for passenger cars in Europe, it is now to be mandatorily installed in vans, trucks, and buses by 2022. China announced that all new vehicles from 2019 would have standard TPMS, while Japan, Russia, South Korea, and Turkey have already mandated TPMS as a standard in new vehicles. Such large-scale regulation of TPMS has spiked its penetration in major automotive markets. Further growth of the TPMS segment will depend on increasing vehicle production and its implementation across all vehicle types, post-2022.



LCV segment will be a key market for ADAS



Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) are most often used for last-mile distribution and personal travel. OEMs such as Ford Motors and Nissan are offering LCVs fitted with ADAS systems. Pick-up trucks are significantly popular and a major revenue source for OEMs such as GMC and Ford in the US. These OEMs offer a wide range of these trucks to attract more consumers. They are one of the most versatile vehicles under any driving conditions, which makes them a preferred choice compared to SUVs and sedans, especially for families. OEMs are also increasing investments in this segment to include more comfort features such as those in passenger cars in the LCV segment.



An increase in safety awareness and demand for driving comfort among consumers will be prominent factors for the growth of the LCV segment in the advanced driver assistance system market. OEMs are quick to respond to trends in the LCV segment and are investing significantly to offer more features in this segment. For instance, GM announced an investment of USD 2.2 billion in its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to produce all-electric trucks and SUVs. An additional USD 800 million will be invested for supplier tooling and other activities related to the launch of the new electric trucks. According to the OEM, these pick-up trucks will be in production by late 2021. More such investments in the LCV segment would create opportunities for ADAS solution providers in the LCV segment.



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Europe is expected to be the largest ADAS Market in 2020



Stringent safety regulations are expected to drive the demand for ADAS in Europe. France is one of the fastest-growing markets for ADAS in Europe. In 2018, France contributed approximately 12% to the total vehicle production in the region as per the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. Several safety mandates have been implemented by the French government. For instance, in 2015, the government made it compulsory to install automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane departure warning (LDW) in all new heavy trucks.



The increasing production and sales of luxury vehicles due to strong economic growth play a major role in Germany. Major German OEMs such as Volkswagen and Daimler AG have incorporated advanced features to enhance the driving experience. These OEMs offer most ADAS features as standard in their premium segment vehicles. In mid-segment SUVs and sedans, essential ADAS features are offered under additional packages.



The ADAS Market is dominated by global players such as Robert Bosch (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), ZF Friedrichshafen (Germany), Denso (Japan), Aptiv (UK), Valeo (France), Magna International (Canada). These companies have adopted strategies of new product development, expansions, collaborations, partnerships, and mergers & acquisitions to gain traction in the market.



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Semi-Autonomous & Autonomous Truck Market By Level of Automation (Level 1, Level 2 & 3, Level 4, and Level 5), Propulsion (Diesel, Electric, and Hybrid), Application, Truck Class, ADAS Features, Sensor, and Region - Global Forecast to 2030



HD Map for Autonomous Vehicles Market by Solution (Cloud-Based & Embedded), Level of Automation, Usage (Passenger & Commercial), Vehicle Type, Services (Advertisement, Mapping, Localization, Update & Maintenance), & Region - Global Forecast to 2030



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MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.



Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for a deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.



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Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/driver-assistance-systems-market.asp
Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/08/2020 -- Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology for the management and analysis of biological data. It includes collection, storage, retrieval, manipulation, and modelling of data for analysis, visualization, or prediction through algorithms and software.



The Global Bioinformatics Market is expected reach USD 13,901.5 billion, at a CAGR of 14.5% during the forecast period.



Market Dynamics:



Driver: Growing demand for nucleic acid and protein sequencing due to reductions in sequencing costs and technological advancements;



Bioinformatics is increasingly being used to identify genes in DNA sequences. The information collected is used to understand the molecular mechanisms of diseases. This assists in developing better treatments and diagnostic tests. Recently, due to significant reductions in costs of sequencing, many scientific research institutes and biotech companies have undertaken initiatives to perform sequencing studies at their own facilities. Similarly, sequencing and data analysis and interpretation can now be completed within days after the development of faster and sophisticated bioinformatics tools. With advancements in technology, there has been an increase in the speed of decoding genetic sequences, which has decreased the overall cost of sequencing and analysis per sample. The reasons behind this decrease in cost include the development of innovative DNA sequencing platforms and various bioinformatics tools.



Browse 189 market data Tables and 27 Figures spread through 195 Pages and in-depth TOC: Request Research Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=39



Market Segmentation in Detailed:



On the basis of product & service, the market is broadly segmented into knowledge management tools, bioinformatics platforms, and services. The bioinformatics platform segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This high growth can be attributed to the increasing usage of different bioinformatics platforms in various genomic and proteomics applications. Additionally, there is an increase in the use of bioinformatics platforms in drug discovery and development, which also contributes to the growth of the market.



On the basis of applications, the global market is divided into genomics, chemoinformatics and drug design, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. The genomics segment is expected to account for the largest share of the overall market. The rising application of genomics in personalized and preventive medicine is positively affecting market growth.



Geographical Regions Mapped in Report:



North America is expected to dominate the bioinformatics market.



Among the four geographic regions, North America is expected to account for the largest share of the global market, followed by Europe, APAC, and the RoW. The large share of North America is attributed to the steady funding from the government and private sector for life sciences research and bioinformatics.



Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=39



Major Key Players Mapped in Research Report:



The bioinformatics market is highly competitive due to the presence of a large number of players. Few of the major companies in bioinformatics market are Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Illumina Inc (US), Agilent Technologies (US), QIAGEN (Netherlands), BGI (China), Wuxi NextCODE (China), Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), Waters Corporation (US), Sophia Genetics (Switzerland), Partek (US), and DNASTAR (US).
Mountain View, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/08/2020 -- NewsBreak.com, the #1 News App in the nation is pleased to present their exclusive page and breaking news in Phoenix for the local readers. From featured local news to the ongoing pandemic news, readers can now find the hottest news from the city, the nation and from around the world. Users can simply download the app on their mobile phones and stay abreast with the happenings around them. Bringing the most recent news about the pandemic and how it has hit Arizona, the app also has a live chart on the US Coronavirus updates with the confirmed cases, recovered and number of deaths. It is indeed a devastating pandemic which has hit the world economies as well as the lives of millions of people across the world.



In continuation with the news on COVID-19, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego points out the crisis the city is undergoing with regards to coronavirus testing. There is reportedly a shortage in the resources for testing due to the surging cases in Arizona. These and many more live updates can be found on this news platform. For those who are interested in business news and how the pandemic has affected the financial markets, download the app right away. The site gathers news from all the major news channels and websites and posts it here.



Readers can now benefit from getting the most recent news not just from one or two sources but different news sources put together. They can also save time hopping from one channel to another or one news portal to another. It is not just a news portal but a community as well where readers can share their voices, opinions and comments. The editors here bring to surface the most impactful, relevant and genuine news from across the country and the world; so that the readers can benefit from the news updates right at their fingertips. Click on the link below to get breaking news in Phoenix at this instant.



To know more visit https://www.newsbreak.com/arizona/phoenix



About https://www.newsbreak.com/

News Break is the Nation's #1 Intelligent Local New App which is available on both App Store and Google Play. With national and international news across categories, the app helps readers stay on top with latest updates each and every day.



Media Contact

Jeff Zhang

Address: 2350 Mission College Blvd, Mountain View, California 95054

Email: Pr@Newsbreak.com

Website: https://www.newsbreak.com/arizona/phoenix
Phoenix, AZ -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/08/2020 -- VoiceAmerica, the leader in online media broadcasting and the largest producer and distributor of live internet talk radio, announced the newest podcast episode by Landmark Recovery "Opioid Youth", with host, Zach Crouch, and guests Matthew Glowiak, as they discuss the danger of opioid use in children. The episode played live on July 7th and can be found at Landmark Recovery Radio.



In this episode we are joined by Matthew Glowiak. Matthew is a member of the faculty at SNHU and Walden as well as host of "Mental Health Matters with Dr. Matt", and the Co-Founder of Counseling Speaks. Matt starts off the conversation about the dangers of opioid use in children. He then continues to talk about how common it is for children to get ahold of opioids. Lastly, he explains how to help a child you have reason to believe is currently being held in a compromising situation.



About Matthew Glowiak

Matthew serves as a core clinical faculty at SNHU which also contributes to the faculty at Walden. He is also known as a writer with Choosing Therapy, a mental health start-up taking place in Brooklyn, NY, along with host of his own television show "Mental Health Matters with Dr. Matt." He has also written multiple chapters within textbooks and is published online in the likes of Counseling Today, CONTACT, and The Advocate Magazine.



About Landmark Recovery

Landmark Recovery offers individualized treatment, including detox, inpatient drug and alcohol rehab, intensive outpatient, and alumni programming to address addiction. Landmark has drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in Carmel, Louisville, Oklahoma City and Lexington. They also have a sister company, Praxis by Landmark Recovery, that is based in Louisville, Kentucky and serves the Medicaid population. If you or a loved one need help with recovery, call 866-504- 8545 or visit Landmark Recovery .



About VoiceAmerica

VoiceAmerica is the original digital broadcast company for the production and delivery of Live Internet Talk Radio programming and continues to be the industry leader in digital media, marketing, and distribution. We are the pioneers of digital radio programming and have been since 1999. We create and distribute over 500 unique and innovative radio programs for our millions of engaged listeners worldwide. Our network channels distribute live programs daily that reach a growing domestic and international audience who connect through all devices via our mobile, desktop, and tablet VoiceAmerica destinations. Learn more at http://www.voiceamerica.com. Download the VoiceAmerica App now to listen live on Apple and Android. follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Call us any time to find out how VoiceAmerica can help you reach your audience, 1-855-877-4666.
Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/08/2020 -- According to the new market research report "Tactical Optics Market by Product (Weapon Scopes & Sights, Handheld Sighting Devices, Cameras & Displays), Platform, Application (ISR, Target Acquisition & Identification, Border & Coastal Patrol), End Use, Range, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Tactical Optics Market is projected to grow from USD 9.7 billion in 2020 to USD 13.0 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2020 to 2025. The market growth can be mainly attributed to the increasing procurement of armored vehicles, rotorcraft, machine guns, and aircraft by militaries globally and the ongoing modernization of naval platforms by various countries.



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https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=80246778



The airborne platform segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period



By platform, the airborne segment is projected to register the highest CAGR from 2020 to 2025, due to the increasing use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and assault and rising orders for fighter aircraft and attack helicopters by various countries, such as India, China, the US, and Saudi Arabia.



The manned platform end use segment is projected to lead the tactical optics market from 2020 to 2025.



By end use, the manned platform segment is projected to lead the tactical optics market during the forecast period. This segment is driven by the high demand for tactical optics, such as riflescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes, night vision goggles, and thermal weapon sights. Significant investments for infantry soldiers by countries such as the US, Saudi Arabia, India, China, and South Korea are driving the overall market.



Browse in-depth TOC on "Tactical Optics Market"

186  Tables

77  Figures

251  Pages



Request more details on:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=80246778



North America is projected to be a high growth market for tactical optics during the forecast period.



The tactical optics market in North America is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Multiple modernization programs by the US Army, Navy, and Air Force are contributing to the growth of the tactical optics market in this region.



The tactical optics industry includes major Tier 1 players, such as Kongsberg Gruppen AS (Norway), Raytheon Company (US), Elbit Systems Ltd. (Israel), Saab AB (Sweden), Leonardo S.p.A (Italy), and BAE Systems plc (UK). These companies offer advanced electro-optic cameras and thermal cameras, which make up the majority of the tactical optics market. The tactical optics industry also constitutes Tier 2 and Tier 3 players who offer tactical optics for dismounted soldiers, which cost comparatively lesser. These players include Sig Sauer, Inc. (US), Vortex Optics (US), Bushnell Corporation (US), and Leupold & Stevens, Inc. (US).



In January 2019, Sig Sauer, Inc. was awarded a contract worth USD 12 million by the US SOCOM for the supply of its Electro-Optics TANGO6T 1-624 Second Focal Plane (SFP) Riflescope and ALPHA4 Ultralight Mount, allowing the company to increase its share in the riflescopes market.



In September 2018, Leonardo S.p.A. received a contract worth USD 18 million from the Naval Surface Warfare Center for the supply of Improved Night Observation Device (INOD) Block III thermal weapon sight for marine snipers.



In March 2018, BAE Systems plc secured a contract worth USD 97 million from the US Army for the supply of new night vision goggles and thermal weapon sights.



Related Reports:



Remote Weapon Station Market by Application (Military, Homeland Security), Platform (Land, Airborne, Naval), Component (Sensors, HMI, Weapons & Armaments), Weapon Type (Lethal, Non-lethal), Mobility, Technology, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023



Riflescopes Market by Sight Type (Telescopic, Reflex), Technology (Electro-Optic/IR, Thermal Imaging, Laser), Application (Hunting, Armed Forces, Shooting Sports), Range (Short, Medium, Long), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.



Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.



Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441
Former White House aide Alexander Vindman, a key figure in the impeachment of President Donald Trump, said on Wednesday he was retiring from the Army after what his attorney described as a "campaign of bullying, intimidation and retaliation" by the president.

Vindman, an Army lieutenant colonel who had been due for a promotion to colonel, provided some of the most damaging testimony during an investigation by the US House of Representatives into Trump's dealings with Ukraine.

Vindman confirmed to Reuters his decision to retire and wrote on Twitter that he and his family "look forward to the next chapter of our lives."

"After more than 21 years of military service, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman is retiring today after it has been made clear that his future within the institution he has dutifully served will forever be limited," according to a statement from his attorney.

Vindman, then the White House National Security Council's top Ukraine expert, testified in November that Trump's request for an investigation into Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter during a July 2019 phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was improper.

Vindman and his twin brother, Yevgeny, were escorted from the White House in February. Vindman, a decorated combat veteran, was wounded in Iraq in 2004 by an improvised explosive device and was held in high regard by defense officials who knew him.

Trump has repeatedly complained about Vindman's testimony and called him insubordinate.

"Through a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation, the President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President," the statement from Vindman's attorney said.

By retiring, Vindman, 45, defuses what could have become a contentious political battle between Senate Democrats -- who were eager to shield his promotion from political interference -- and Trump's Republicans that could have dragged the military into a battle with the White House.

Last week, Democratic US Senator Tammy Duckworth, herself a veteran, said she would put a hold on the confirmation of over 1,000 military promotions until Defense Secretary Mark Esper provided assurances that Vindman's promotion would not be blocked.

On Wednesday, Duckworth said she would keep her hold in place "until the Secretary of Defense provides a transparent accounting of this disgraceful situation."

"Secretary Esper's failure to protect his troops sets a new, dark precedent that any Commander in Chief can interfere with routine merit-based military promotions to carry out personal vendettas and retaliation," Duckworth, a former Army National Guard helicopter pilot who lost both legs when she was shot down in Iraq in 2004, said in a statement.

In the letter, Vindman's attorney also alleged that Trump was forcing him to choose between "protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers."

"These are choices that no one in the United States should confront, especially one who has dedicated his life to serving it," the letter said.

Esper said in November that Vindman should not fear retaliation over his testimony. At the time, Esper said he had reinforced the "no retaliation" message in a conversation with the secretary of the Army.

A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Esper had approved Vindman for promotion to colonel on Monday as part of a list of promotions due to be sent to the White House.

Vindman Takes Himself 'Out Of The Equation'

Risa Brooks, a professor at Marquette University with a focus on civil-military relations, said Vindman's departure forestalled a potential clash between the White House and Pentagon.

"Clearly he's just taking this sort of proactive position of trying to avoid a confrontation," Brooks said.

"He did what he did before, a patriotic thing, which is to say, 'OK, I'll just take myself out of the equation,'" she added.

John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser, who did not testify before the House but later published a scathing book about Trump, told MSNBC television that Vindman's decision to retire was a "loss for the country."

Vindman, in his testimony before the House impeachment inquiry, at one point addressed his father, an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, telling him not to fear for him and commending his decision to come to the United States in search of a better life.

"Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth," he said in his testimony.

The Democratic-led House of Representatives impeached Trump last year. The Republican-led Senate acquitted Trump in early February.

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Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/08/2020 -- A new market study is released on Global Work Instructions Software Market with data Tables for historical and forecast years represented with Chats & Graphs spread through 116 Pages with easy to understand detailed analysis. The study highlights detailed assessment of the Market and display market sizing trend by revenue & volume (if applicable), current growth factors, expert opinions, facts, and industry validated market development data. The research study provides estimates for Global Work Instructions Software Forecast till 2025*. Some are the players that are considered in the coverage of this study are Livepro Australia, Blue Mango Learning Systems, StepShot, Dozuki, Ease, VIAR, Visual Knowledge Share, LCT Software, ABB, Augmentir, Dokit, Optel Software, EFlex Systems, Hexagon, MasterControl & BisZinc.



Industries and markets are ever-evolving; navigate these changes with ongoing research conducted by HTF MI; Address the latest insights released on Global Work Instructions Software Market. Browse now for Full Report Index or a Sample Copy @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2696084-global-work-instructions-software-market-1



Relevant features of the study that are being offered with major highlights from the report :



1) How Study Have Considered the Impact of COVID-19 / Economic Slowdown of 2020 ?

Analyst at HTF MI have conducted special survey and have connected with opinion leaders and Industry experts from various region to minutely understand impact on growth as well as local reforms to fight the situation. A special chapter in the study presents Impact Analysis of COVID-19 on Global Work Instructions Software Market along with tables and graphs related to various country and segments showcasing impact on growth trends.



2) Which companies are profiled in current version of the report? Can list of players be customize based on regional geographies we are targeting

Considering heat map analysis and based on market buzz or voice the profiled list of companies in the the report are "Livepro Australia, Blue Mango Learning Systems, StepShot, Dozuki, Ease, VIAR, Visual Knowledge Share, LCT Software, ABB, Augmentir, Dokit, Optel Software, EFlex Systems, Hexagon, MasterControl & BisZinc". Yes, further list of players can also be customized as per your requirement keeping in mind your areas of interest and adding local emerging players and leaders from targeted geography.



** List of companies covered may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger & Acquisition Activity etc. based on the difficulty of survey since data availability needs to be confirmed by research team specially in case of privately held company. Up to 2 players can be added at no additional cost.



3) Can Market be broken down by different set of application and types?

Additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability, feasibility and depending upon timeline and toughness of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be prepared before making any final confirmation.



** An additional country of your interest can be included at no added cost feasibility test would be conducted by Analyst team of HTF based on the requirement shared and accordingly deliverable time will also be disclosed.



Enquire for making customized Report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/2696084-global-work-instructions-software-market-1



To comprehend Global Work Instructions Software market dynamics in the global market, the worldwide Work Instructions Software market is analyzed across major geographical regions. HTF Market Intelligence also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports, see below break-ups.



- North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico.

- South & Central America: Argentina, ,Chile, LATAM, and Brazil.

- Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa.

- Europe: UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, BeNeLux, and Russia.

- Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia.



2-Page company profiles for 10+ leading players is included with 3 years financial history to illustrate the recent performance of the market. Latest and updated discussion for 2019 major macro and micro elements influencing market and impacting the sector are also provided with a thought-provoking qualitative remarks on future opportunities and likely threats. The study is a mix of both statistically relevant quantitative data from the industry, coupled with insightful qualitative comment and analysis from Industry experts and consultants.



Global Work Instructions Software Product Types In-Depth: ,On-premise, Cloud-based



Global Work Instructions Software Major Applications/End users: Large Enterprises, SMEs



Market Sizing by Geographical Break-down: North America Country (United States, Canada), South America, Asia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea), Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy), Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC) & Section (5 6 7): 500 USD??



To ascertain a deeper view of Market Size, competitive landscape is provided i.e. Comparative Market Share Revenue Analysis (Million USD) by Players (2018-2019) & Segment Market Share (%) by Players (2018-2019) and further a qualitative analysis of all players is made to understand market concentration rate.



Competitive Landscape & Analysis:

Major players of Work Instructions Software Market are focusing highly on innovation in new technologies to improve production efficiency and re-arrange product lifecycle. Long-term growth opportunities for this sector are captured by ensuring ongoing process improvements of related players following NAICS standard by understanding their financial flexibility to invest in the optimal strategies. Company profile section of players such as Livepro Australia, Blue Mango Learning Systems, StepShot, Dozuki, Ease, VIAR, Visual Knowledge Share, LCT Software, ABB, Augmentir, Dokit, Optel Software, EFlex Systems, Hexagon, MasterControl & BisZinc includes vital information like legal name, website, headquarter, its market position, distribution and marketing channels, historical background and top 4 closest competitors by Market capitalization / turnover along with sales contact information. Each company / manufacturers revenue figures, growth rate, net profit and gross profit margin is provided in easy to understand tabular format for past 3 years and a separate section on market entropy covering recent development activities like mergers &acquisition, new product/service launch, funding activity etc.



Get Latest Edition with COVID Impact Analysis of Global Work Instructions Software Market Study at Revised offered Price@: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2696084



In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Global Work Instructions Software are as follows:

History Year: 2014-2019, Base Year: 2019, Forecast Year 2020 to 2025



Key Stakeholders / Target Audience Covered:

In order to better analyze value chain/ supply chain of the Industry, a lot of attention given to backward & forward Integration

- Work Instructions Software Manufacturers

- Work Instructions Software Distributors/Traders/Wholesalers

- Work Instructions Software Sub-component Manufacturers

- Industry Association

- Downstream Vendors



Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis of Work Instructions Software Market Size Estimation, Business opportunities, Available in Full Report.



Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, LATAM, West Europe, MENA Countries, Southeast Asia or Asia Pacific.
Press Release

July 7, 2020 An Anatomy of Malice: The Clarifications Raissa Robles Deliberately Ignored

More at: https://pinglacson.net/2020/07/07/an-anatomy-of-malice-the-clarifications-raissa-robles-deliberately-ignored/

(This is a statement from the Office of Senator Lacson: As Senator Lacson's staff, we are calling out Ms. Raissa Robles' malicious claims in her blog - and giving the real score. Ito ang totoo) Never let the facts get in the way of a malicious story. This is the story behind the "exclusive" of self-styled "investigative journalist" Raissa Robles, insinuating Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson stealthily inserted Section 25 into what is now Republic Act 11479, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Before posting her "exclusive," Robles managed to contact Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who informed her that Section 25 was part of a substitute bill that was approved during the period of amendments. In her text message to the Senate President, she said she was "trying to trace" who inserted some paragraphs in Section 25 of the enrolled bill, as they "were not present in the Second Reading version of the bill which is the Senate defense committee report." She added that the paragraphs "only appeared in the Third Reading version that was approved in final reading," and asked, "Is it correct for me then to assume that Senate (sic) Lacson had inserted them himself?" "Hindi insertion yung Section 25 because it's part of the substitute bill," the Senate President told Robles in his reply to her query. By her own narration, Robles said the Senate President told her that "The provision you are concerned with was a suggestion of the AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) for the Philippines to be compliant with FATF (Financial Action Task Force) requirements for us to be removed from their gray list." Contrary to Robles' claims that it is dangerous, Section 25 provides for a mechanism that will trigger the freezing of assets of terrorists and terrorist groups by the Anti-Money Laundering Council. It is based on a proposal by AMLC that the existing law against terrorist financing lacks the required designation mechanism. Yet, despite the clarification from the Senate President that Section 25 is part of a substitute bill approved during the period of amendments, Robles went ahead with her post - not even bothering to mention the Senate President's reply to her. Obviously, Robles mistook the second reading of a bill for the Senate committee report, then just assumed that Senator Lacson inserted the paragraphs "at the last minute" - which makes it all the more foul and malicious: Senator Lacson already made clear he abhors violations of the legislative process, and has called out members of Congress for such acts - such as when they inserted their pork barrel in the National Budget bill after its approval on third and final reading or ratification of the bicameral conference committee report, and before the bill was enrolled. It's one thing to be STUPID - by mistaking the second reading of a bill for the Senate committee report, and making wild assumptions out of it. It's much worse to be MALICIOUS - having been given the needed corrections but ignoring them to pursue her agenda. Now, being BOTH stupid and malicious, that's something else. In case she does not realize it yet, Robles has maligned not only Senator Lacson, but also his staff as well as the entire Senate, with her malevolent fairy tale: * Sen. Lacson's legislative staff, who burned the proverbial midnight oil to craft the measure and make sure it adheres to the Constitution; and * the entire Senate, which went through the bill with a fine-toothed comb but who, as insinuated by Robles' article, were sleeping on the job to let the supposed insertions get past them.
Press Release

July 8, 2020 73rd Malasakit Center launched in Romblon; Bong Go urged government to continue to provide easier access to medical and financial assistance amid COVID-19 crisis Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Tuesday, July 7, attended the virtual launch of the 73rd Malasakit Center at Romblon Provincial Hospital in Odiongan, Romblon. Expressing his concern for Filipinos who had to spend long hours in several queues just to seek government assistance, Go explained that the purpose of these one-stop shops is to ensure that Filipinos gain easier access to medical and financial assistance from the government. The newly opened Malasakit Center in Romblon is the 2nd in MIMAROPA Region and the 35th in Luzon. "Ang Malasakit Center ay one-stop shop, at tumutulong 'yung apat na ahensya ng gobyerno. Pera ninyo po ito, binabalik lang po sa inyo," the Senator explained. "Ibalik po natin sa tao ang tulong na dapat nilang makuha mula sa gobyerno sa paraan na mabilis, maayos at maaasahan. Diyan po nag-umpisa ang konsepto ng Malasakit Centers," he added. In Malasakit Centers, patients or their representatives will only need to fill up a unified form to request assistance, instead of having to visit government offices scattered in various locations. In addition, an express lane for persons with disability and senior citizens is also available. Concerned agencies extending medical and financial assistance that will be housed in these centers are the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. With the enactment of the Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, all hospitals run by the DOH all over the country and in the Philippine General Hospital in Manila are now mandated to establish their own Malasakit Centers. On the other hand, hospitals run by local government units and other public hospitals may also establish their own Malasakit Centers provided that they meet a standard set of criteria and guarantee the availability of funds for the operation of their centers, including its maintenance, personnel and staff training, among others. Patients who would be admitted to LGU-run and other public hospitals but are eligible for medical and financial assistance could also seek assistance from the Malasakit Centers. Another function of these centers is to provide patient navigation and referral to the health care provider networks. Malasakit Centers can also provide patients information with regards to membership, coverage and benefit packages in the National Health Insurance Program. The center will also document, process and utilize data from patient experience through a standardized form in order to shape institutional changes in the hospital and provide capacity building and performance evaluation that may ensure good client interaction. During his live video message, Go also explained why he pushed for the postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. "Naipangako ko po noong kampanya 'yung postponement ng barangay elections dahil kulang ang dalawang taon ng termino nila. This will give them more time to implement 'yung mga programa nila sa barangay," Go said. Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in December last year, RA 11462 sets the next barangay and SK elections from the second Monday of May 2020 to December 5, 2022, and then on the first Monday of December 2025 and every three years thereafter. The law extends the term of the current barangay and SK officials from two years to four years and a half. "Mga barangays natin ang pinaka-frontline ng ating gobyerno sa paghahatid ng serbisyo at sa kampanya natin laban sa iligal na droga at kriminalidad. Kaya dapat lang na mabigyan natin sila ng oportunidad at sapat na oras upang makapagpatupad ng kani-kanilang mga programa at proyekto," Go explained in a previous statement. Go also shared that the Salary Standardization Law 5 has been signed into law. "For the information po ng ating mga nurses at health workers, isa sa mga ipinangako namin ni Pangulo, 'yung SSL 5. Ito po 'yung unti-unting pag-increase ng salaries ng ating government workers." "Holistic po ang approach nito, not only nurses but doctors, health workers and other civilian personnel na nasa gobyerno ay kasama po rito," he added. Go, then, emphasized the importance of adequate public health response to the current pandemic. "Napakahalaga po sa akin ng health lalo na sa panahong ito. Hindi natin akalain tatamaan tayo ng pandemyang ito. Mabuti na 'yung maging handa tayo." Go took the opportunity to commend the efforts of medical frontliners in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. The Senator emphasized that the best way to recognize the sacrifices of health workers is for the public to cooperate with authorities and comply with the guidelines set by health officials. Very recently, Go urged the government to declare year 2020 as the "Year of the Filipino Health Workers". Last July 6, Malacanang Palace issued Proclamation 976, recognizing their vast contributions in the current fight against the pandemic. "Higit sa lahat, sumunod tayo sa mga health and safety protocols in place. Huwag po tayo magkumpyansa. Gawin po natin ang parte natin sa laban na ito. Ang kooperasyon natin ay makakapagligtas ng buhay ng kapwa nating Pilipino, lalo na ng mga health workers na itinataya ang kanilang buhay upang mailigtas ang buhay ng iba," Go urged the public. Go said that he will continue to serve as the bridge between the people and the government. "Patuloy po akong magsisilbing tulay ninyo sa gobyerno. I will not limit myself to being just a legislator. Hindi ko matiis na nakaupo lang sa Senado. Gusto ko ng aksyon at patuloy na trabaho po." "Pangako ko po babalikan ko po kayo diyan kapag naging normal na ang ating pamumuhay. Tulung-tulong muna tayo. Unahin niyo muna 'yung lugar niyo diyan. Sumunod po tayo sa patakaran ng gobyerno. Para po ito sa kabutihan ng bawat Pilipino, " he said addressing the people of Romblon during the virtual event.
Press Release

July 8, 2020 PH Red Cross, EU diplomats reinforce partnership through blood donation The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and diplomats of the European Union (EU) member states in the Philippines strengthened their cooperation as the latter donated blood to PRC as a response to the Red Cross' call for blood donations. PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Senator Richard Gordon expressed gratitude to the EU envoys and ambassadors, and recognized the EU's various assistance to the PRC throughout the years. "We are very happy to have them all here to give blood. That's the best gift you can give to humanity especially during challenging times. We thank all the ambassadors and all the representatives of EU; it is something that I am really very happy about. Ang mga binigay ng European Union sa Philippine Red Cross through their Red Cross societies ay napakarami. We built about 151,000 homes; most of them came from Europe," he said. Gordon also stressed that the EU has provided numerous aids to the Philippines to help the country's most vulnerable people, and its contributions to disaster risk reduction and resilience building initiatives of the country. "The European Union is a great ally of the Philippines. There are a lot of things to be thankful for the EU at natutuwa ako na nagbigay sila ng dugo. Napakalaking simbolo iyan ng ating pagsasama. The European Union has always been on our side, helping us not only in terms of commerce but also other things including education and security. During other disasters, they've been here to help us that's why I urge us to have closer relationships with our European brothers and sisters," Gordon said. According to the donors, donating their own blood is their personal support to the Filipinos as they understand that blood banks are currently suffering from the absence of donations due to the quarantine restrictions. "Thank you very much for receiving us here at the Red Cross. It's a great opportunity for us to showcase the so called 'solidarity to the Philippines'. The Philippines and Europe have a long-standing relationship as the European Union very often has provided assistance to the Philippines. I thank you very much for the kind words you said about EU-Philippines cooperation and today, we came here to provide in a way what is most precious from us and a demonstration of our solidarity, our own blood," said Charge d' Affaires Thomas Wiersing of the EU delegation to the Philippines. Other members of the EU delegation who donated blood are Greek Ambassador Antonis Alexandris, Netherlands Ambassador Saskia De Lang, Consul General Fernando Heredia from the Spanish Embassy, Sweden Ambassador Harald Fries, and Romanian Ambassador Mihail Bujor.
On New Opportunities for Terrorists to Exploit

More at: https://pinglacson.net/2020/07/08/on-new-opportunities-for-terrorists-to-exploit/



No less than the Secretary General of the United Nations has warned that extremist and terrorist groups can exploit the COVID-19 pandemic and other new opportunities to strike.

The only timing that the terrorists know is their own. This is what I have been telling the critics of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Likewise, terrorism knows no borders. Surely, we do not want to be the haven of terrorists in Asia. The Marawi Siege is such a painful and costly experience which we as policy makers cannot allow to happen again

As long as the terrorists can achieve their intent and purpose of inflicting maximum damage to life and property in order to sow fear and intimidate the general public, they will strike at any opportunity.
Emerging countries, including Egypt, are expected to be favourable destinations for tourists as lockdown measures, which were imposed to contain the COVID-19 crisis, are eased, Oxford Business Group (OBG) said in a report on Wednesday.

Tourists are seeking affordable and accessible options; thus, they are expected to opt for destinations in those emerging countries where labour laws are more flexible, and where tourisms importance to GDP has prompted comprehensive efforts to make destinations safe and welcoming to foreign visitors, according to the report.

The OBG report said that the Radisson hotel chain, for instance, recently announced it had no plans to slow down expansion in Africa, and is targeting Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa in particular.

At present the chain has just under 100 hotels in the region, a figure it aims to boost to 150 within five years.

Moreover, some emerging markets are well placed to leverage an anticipated shift in consumer preferences, according to the report.

Open-air cultural sites are also set to become more popular, according to the report.

Egypt is again seeking to take advantage of this; the country has been promoting travel to archaeological sites in Upper Egypt, offering discounts on tickets and a reduction in visa fees for travellers who fly into the region directly, the report said.

On the other hand, the report expected business travel to take longer to rebound, and may struggle to return to pre-pandemic levels, as many businesses will look to formalise operational shifts prompted by the pandemic, and turn temporary measures into permanent strategies.

Companies that have found they can conduct operations efficiently on a remote basis may come to see the cost of travel as an unnecessary expense, according to the report.

Conferences and other business-oriented events will likewise be difficult to organise for the foreseeable future, given the ongoing necessity of social distancing. Indeed, as early as late March, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry estimated that some 500 trade shows had been cancelled as a result of Covid-19 crisis, resulting in an estimated 23 billion in lost orders, the report read.

The ourism sector has been one of the sectors hit severely by pandemic owing to travel restrictions and lockdown measures.

International travel fell by 80 percent in April, according to the International Air Transport Association, while the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development projected international tourist arrivals to contract by 60 to 80 percent in 2020.
System error

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context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff7356ca0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfa7a080d0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff7356ca0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfa7a080d0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff7a496d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfa7a080d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfa7a080d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbfa7a09118)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff77e79d8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff77e79d8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff79dca68)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff7952930)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff79dca68)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff7952930)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff79051e8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff7952930)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff7952930)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff6e9aaf0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff79bcc58)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff79bcc58)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Regrowth  Native species of trees will often re-sprout even if the fire damage to the parent tree is severe. Photo provided
Enterprise, AL (36331)

Today

Thunderstorms. High 79F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.
In an editorial printed in The Southeast Sun Sept. 20, 2017 entitled Change is not always progress, former Enterprise City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Reese addressed the issue of why the Enterprise Early Education Center was initially created.
South Africa: Minister Mthembu welcomes new DPME DG

The Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu has welcomed the new Director-General for the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), Robert Nkuna.

The new DG joins the DPME after serving in the same position in the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) for four years.

Nkuna commenced his responsibilities as the DPME Director-General on Wednesday, 1 July 2020.

He takes over from Nompumelelo Mpofu who left the DPME in January 2020 for another government entity.

The transfer of DG Nkuna to the DPME comes at an opportune time when government is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic. His vast experience in the telecommunications environment will assist the department to maximise on new technologies in carrying out its monitoring and evaluation function for the whole of government.

We wish the DG well in his new role and welcome him to the DPME family, said the Minister.

Nkuna brings a wealth of experience in public administration, communication and policy development. His vast leadership experience dates back to his days as a student activist, advisory roles in government as well as becoming the accounting officer of a national government department.

He served as an advisor to the Ministries of Telecommunications, Transport & Energy in the Republic of South Africa.

Between 2006 and 2010, Nkuna was a councillor at the communications regulator - the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). He also served on various boards including South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Media Development & Diversity Agency (MDDA).

He holds a Masters degree and is currently pursuing his PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Witwatersrand, focusing on the regulation of administered prices in infrastructure and utility industries.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has unveiled a plan to step up its work to support a green, low-carbon future.

Already at the forefront of climate and environmental action, the bank is now considering a goal of devoting over 50 percent of its annual investments to the green economy by 2025, the EBRD said in a statement on Wednesday.

The plan also targets specific emission reductions over the next five years and sets a date for a decision on when all the EBRDs projects are aligned to the Paris Climate Agreement, according to the statement.

The plan forms part of the banks overall strategy for the next five years, and is due for approval by shareholders at the banks annual meeting, scheduled for 7-8 October, the EBRD said.

The plan to become a majority green bank by 2025 builds on success in the past five years, during which the average green finance ratio rose to 40 percent, up from 25 percent, according to the statement.

The EBRD launched its Green Economy Transition (GET) approach in 2015 in the run-up to the Paris climate talks at the end of that year.

The scaled-up approach (GET 2.1) defines clear action areas to support a green economic recovery in its regions of operation, taking into account the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

It would scale up investment by innovating across a set of specific environmental and climate mitigation and adaptation thematic areas such as greening the financial sector and energy systems, industrial decarbonisation, sustainable cities, food systems and connectivity, and natural capital preservation.

The EBRD is one of the biggest banks that invest in the Egyptian market, especially in renewable energy, with 115 projects to date, with a current portfolio of 4.248 million.

Short link:


Australian special callsign

Members of the Wireless Institute of Australia are QRV with the special call VI 110 WIA until the end of 2020 to celebrate our 110th anniversary, in fact the world's oldest Amateur Radio Society.

Activity is on the HF bands and QSL is via LoTW.
RAC will host virtual presentation on Canada C3 WSPR Project at 2020 IEEE International Antenna and Propagation Symposium

On Thursday, July 9, Radio Amateurs of Canada will participate in the 2020 IEEE AP-S Symposium on Antennas and Propagation by hosting a virtual presentation on the Canada C3 WSPR Project.

The Symposium on Antennas and Propagation is the premier international forum for the exchange of ideas on state-of-the-art research in antennas and propagation and radio science.

Through a range of technical and social activities, it provides an opportunity to interact with the world's leading experts in antennas and propagation, and radio science from academia, industry and government.

Originally scheduled as an in-person conference in Montreal from July 5-10, it is being presented as an online symposium as a result of the global pandemic.

Amateur Radio at IEEE AP-S/URSI 2020

Antennas and propagation are very important to Radio Amateurs so it is not a surprise that many participants are Amateurs  in fact call signs for 105 symposium registrants have been entered into this years registration system.

Amateur Radio activities and events have been associated with Symposia over the last six years and are usually organized by Amateur Radio clubs in the locations where they take place. They have provided opportunities for Amateurs to meet in person and to showcase the Amateur Radio Service to the Symposium participants.

This year Radio Amateurs and Canada (RAC) and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) are both very pleased to have an opportunity to make virtual presentations about different aspects of Amateur Radio.

The ARRL will provide a virtual tour of the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station W1AW on Wednesday, July 8 at 1 pm.

RAC will present an overview of the Canada C3 WSPR Project  An Epic Journey to Celebrate Canada and Connect Canadians  on Thursday, July 9 at 3 pm.

Links to these events are available on the conference website to those registered. Others interested in the RAC presentation can watch it online at 3 pm on Thursday, July 9 by clicking the following link:

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/916691509

More information on the Symposium can be found online at:

https://2020apsursi.org/AmateurRadio.asp

Registration is free for the online symposium this year at:

https://2020apsursi.org/Registration.asp

Alan Griffin

RAC MarCom Director
Radio hams assist sailing vessel

ARRL reports the Maritime Mobile Service Net (MMSN) on 14.300 MHz came to the assistance of a sailing vessel on June 25

The ARRL say:

MMSN control operator Steven Carpenter, K9UA, took a call on 20 meters from Ian Cummings, KB4SG, the skipper of the Mystic Lady, then some 40 miles east of Florida. Cummings reported that his engine had failed as he was attempting to return to his home port of Stuart, Florida. He not only had insufficient wind, but a strong current was carrying the vessel out to sea.



Cummings had been unable to reach any station via his VHF marine radio, since he was too far from the coast. Assisting in the call was Robert Wynhoff, K5HUT, also an MMSN net control operator. Cummings said his vessel, with one passenger on board, was drifting northwest toward the South Carolina coast.



A major concern was that the vessel was heading directly towards a lee shore, the MMSN reported. Lee shores are shallow, dangerous areas which are a hazard to watercraft. Vessels could be pushed into the shallow area by the wind, possibly running aground and breaking up.



Carpenter contacted Cummings family, who had already called the Sea Tow marine towing service. Sea Tow advised Carpenter to tell the captain to head closer to shore by sailing west, if possible. Carpenter told Cummings that if he was unable to get nearer to shore, he would notify the US Coast Guard, which was already monitoring the situation.



As the MMSN reported, The Mystic Lady was able to make some headway, but it was very slow. Members of the MMSN made additional calls via landline to the captains family as to the ongoing status of those on board. The family was concerned but relieved that communication was established and that all were well.



Several hours later, the captain advised that the wind had picked up, allowing him to head close enough to shore for Sea Tow to reach the vessel and take it back to port.



The Pacific Seafarers Net, which monitors 14.300 MHz from the West Coast after the MMSN secures at 0200 UTC, kept in touch with the Mystic Lady into the night while it was under tow.



The tired, grateful captain later messaged the net, A million thanks to everyone last night who helped rescue us on 14.300. Everyone chipped in as we drifted north in the Gulf Stream 60 miles headed to a lee shore.

The MMSN net control and several others stayed with us for hours, phoned people, and were immensely helpful. The situation on board was dangerous. We are now safely under tow home. You folks are amazing!



In operation since 1968, the MMSN monitors 14.300 MHz 70 hours a week to assist vessels and others in need of assistance.



Thanks to MMSN Net Manager Jeff Savasta, KB4JKL



Source ARRL

http://www.arrl.org/news/maritime-mobile-service-network-comes-to-the-aid-of-vessel-in-distress
Brussels, 08 July 2020 (SPS)- EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said Tuesday the European Union does not recognize Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara territory.

The new statement by the chief of EU's foreign policy, which leaves no room for "sneaky" interpretation of the occupying force, came in a written response to a question from German MEP Guido Reil, on the labelling of products from Western Sahara.

EUs position of non-recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara comes a few hours only after the publication, by Moroccan media, of misleading information about EUs position on Western Sahara conflict, according to the statement reported by the media.

Borrell said "EUs position on Western Sahara is guided by UN Security Council resolutions and considers that Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory, whose final status will be determined by the results of the ongoing UN-led process."

"The EU recalls its support to the UN secretary-general's efforts to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will ensure self-determination to Western Sahara people through arrangements in line with the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter."SPS

125/090/700
The deconstruction of air transport from the range of obstacles presented by the Covid -19 spread to the depth of value that air transport presents to the global economy, will ultimately hinge on equitable and universally acceptable regulations promulgated by the States through global institutions such as ICAO, IATA and the Airports Council International (ACI)  the global association of airlines.





by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne

writing from Montreal





The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created themAlbert Einstein





The World Bank, in its World Development Report of 2020 defines a Global Value Chain (GVC) as the series of stages in the production of a product or service for sale to consumers. Each stage adds value, and at least two stages are in different countries. For example, a bike assembled in Finland with parts from Italy, Japan, and Malaysia and exported to the Arab Republic of Egypt is a GVC. By this definition, a country, sector, or firm participates in a GVC if it engages in (at least) one stage in a GVC.









At its most fundamental level of transportation of persons and goods by air is the air transport product and as a GVC it has its various stages attenuated across countries before the product matures for delivery. Unlike a bike, the air transport product can be disaggregated into two areas: the stages where the transportation vehicle i.e. aircraft is assembled with its various components such as the engines (which may come from the United Kingdom, the United States or any other country) and the avionics come from somewhere else and the fuselage is assembled in another country, the air transport product itself in its delivery to the client (the passenger or shipper) undergoes various stages that can be deconstructed. It is the latter that this article addresses, for the reason that, unlike the former, the latter continues to be subject to a rapid change in its metamorphosis due to the acute restrictions imposed on air transport by the Covid-19 pandemic.





The perceived trepidation that air transport is viewed by many today may not be unjustified as it was the main culprit in connecting the virus with the four corners of the world. Naturally, the 4.5 billion passengers who travelled annually by air transport receded to find solace within the safety of their homes instead of exposure to the claustrophobic virus laden confines of a conduit of premature mortality presented by the aircraft, however exciting, and governments added lockdowns and 14 day quarantine periods on arriving passengers.





The figures tumbled: on 20 June 2020 at the height of the pandemic The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimated that the possible COVID-19 impact on world scheduled passenger traffic for the full year 2020, compared to Baseline (business as usual, originally-planned), would be: overall reduction ranging from 42% to 52% of seats offered by airlines overall reduction of 2,344 to 2,978 million passengers  Approx. USD 308 to 391 billion potential loss of gross operating revenues of airlines . International passenger traffic for 2020, compared to Baseline  overall reduction ranging from 55% to 67% of seats offered by airlines  Overall reduction of 1,196 to 1,456 million passengers  Approx. USD 208 to 256 billion potential loss of gross operating revenues of airlines.





If this was not the ideal scenario for deconstructing the air transport product, nothing was. We had to throw out the window all the rule books that made sense in maximising revenues and connecting the world and start all over again. The three most fundamental stages of starting again were: where to fly now; what equipment to use; and what would be the pricing of the product. If the intricacies presented by the first and the second could somehow be circumvented, the third consideration of pricing proved problematic. If social distancing was necessary to coax the passenger to return, the usually healthy load factor (the number of seats occupied in the aircraft) of 72% would have to go down to 62%. To break even at this reduced load, airlines would have to increase fares generally by 40%. Even if this were to be viable, airlines would have to increase their frequencies of operations to lucrative destinations, at increased costs. This has not proved a feasible option as is reflected by the significant retrenchment of airline staff that have happened across the board.





Several airlines went bankrupt, while others looked for cash infusions by their States. Against this backdrop, The two stages of GVT left as a last resort were somewhat paradoxical in that the first was to reinvent the wheel and go back to basics where several decades ago States infused incipient national carriers with cash and other subsidies and the other was to seek solace in Artificial Intelligence (AI) which would readily give airlines the most profitable permutations and combinations of routes to operate air services with appropriate equipment provided the States - the ultimate arbiters of where airlines could carry traffic  gave them permission. AI would also alert airlines to avoid hotspots if a possible outbreak of communicable disease broke out in any spot in the world. This would indeed be a battle between Covid law (which has its own formula for multiplication of the virus) and Moores Law (where the computational power of a micro chip doubles every 24 months) where hopefully Moores Law would win.





Deconstruction necessitates going back to the origin of air transport which was a blend of competition and equality of opportunity for airlines to compete with each other. Here is where the States would come in to determine the most equitable formula for the revival of air transport in a post Covid-19 era. Understandably, this will be gradual, as the International Air Transport Association (IATA)  the global trade association of airlines  has opined that for air transport to reach 2019 levels of productivity and carriage would take another 3 years at least.





The final stage of deconstruction of air transport in the Covid-19 context would be to climb out the window where the rule books were s thrown and retrieve the ultimate Constitution of international civil aviation  The Chicago Convention of 1944  which recognizes in its Preamble, that certain principles and arrangements should be in place so that international civil aviation may be developed in a safe and orderly manner and that international air transport services may be established based on equality of opportunity and operated soundly and economically.





The deconstruction of air transport from the range of obstacles presented by the Covid -19 spread to the depth of value that air transport presents to the global economy, will ultimately hinge on equitable and universally acceptable regulations promulgated by the States through global institutions such as ICAO, IATA and the Airports Council International (ACI)  the global association of airlines.





These three institutions have already been robust and active in addressing the effects of Covid-19 on air transport. One can only be sanguine that this process will continue.





Dr. Abeyratne is an aviation consultant in Montreal and a former senior official at ICAO. He teaches aviation law and policy at McGill University.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Cloudy. Periods of rain this morning. Cooler. High 67F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Hollywood star Johnny Depp accused his ex-wife Amber Heard of lying about him beating her up, and told London's High Court on Tuesday that she had actually struck him.

Depp, the 57-year-old star of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, is suing The Sun's publisher, News Group Newspapers, and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, for libel over an article Wootton wrote in April 2018 calling him a "wife beater".

The paper's lawyers said they would show the claim was true and that he had beaten actress Heard, causing her to fear for her life, during violent rages brought on by alcohol or drugs, sometimes when he had falsely accused her of infidelity.

"For the avoidance of any doubt, I have never abused Ms Heard, or, indeed, any other woman, in my life," Depp said in a witness statement in which he characterised his ex-wife as a calculating, emotionally dishonest narcissist.

Wearing a dark suit and glasses and speaking in a deep clear tone, Depp gave evidence at the beginning of the case at London's High Court. Heard, who arrived wearing a red scarf tied around her face, is also due to give evidence.

In a written statement outlining Depp's case, his lawyer David Sherborne said Heard had first aired the abuse allegations in May 2016, saying it was hard to think of "more extreme or violent" claims of abuse than she would make during the trial.

"The Claimant's position is clear; Ms Heard's allegations are complete lies," Sherborne said. "The Claimant was not violent towards Ms Heard, it was she who was violent to him."

In papers submitted to the court, Depp's team also said Heard had begun an affair with Tesla chief executive Elon Musk in early 2015 shortly after they had got married and had engaged in at least one extra-marital relationship with her co-stars, with actor James Franco named.

Appearing in the witness box, American Depp said he was the victim of attacks from his ex-wife and had himself sought to avoid confrontation.

"I would try to go to my own corner as it were," he said. Asked about one argument, Depp said: "It escalated and it got physical ... Miss Heard struck me."

THREE-WEEK CASE

The couple met on the set of the 2011 film "The Rum Diary" and married in February 2015. Heard filed for divorce after 15 months, and days later obtained a restraining order against Depp. Their divorce was finalised in 2017 when the restraining order was dismissed.

Cross-examined by lawyer Sasha Wass, Depp agreed he had taken "every drug known to man" by the age of 14 and said he had a difficult childhood and struggled to come to terms with his fame and success.

"Even when I speak my own name it sounds foreign to me," he said.

The court was shown mobile phone footage taken by Heard which showed an angry Depp slamming kitchen cupboard doors and pouring himself a "mega" glass of wine.

"I can only say I was upset, very upset," he said, adding it was not a pleasant video to watch.

Wass said he would turn into an alternate persona which he himself described as "the monster", which was brought on by anger, jealousy or drugs.

He said "the monster" Heard referred to was when he yelled back at her in arguments.

"It would become a screaming match and that was the monster," he said. "It's not Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde."

Depp denied Wass's suggestion that he had a "nasty, angry side".

Depp is also being sued by a crew member from one of his films in 2018 who accused him of punching him twice in the ribs, the court heard.

Wass recounted a statement from actress Ellen Barkin, who said Depp had thrown a bottle of wine across a hotel room on one occasion and had got jealous and angry.

"Untrue," Depp replied, saying Barkin held a grudge. "I do not have an anger management problem."

In his witness statement, Depp said Heard had thrown a vodka bottle at him, severing his finger off, and that his ex-wife or one of her friends had defecated in their bed.

The case is set to last for three weeks, the judge, Andrew Nicol, said. Also due to give evidence via videolink are Vanessa Paradis, Depp's former partner, and actress Winona Ryder.

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By Friday, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia must decide whether or not there is any reason to continue the current round of negotiations sponsored by the African Union in the hope of reaching an agreement over the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).According to the assessment of an Egyptian government source who spoke on Tuesday afternoon, the possibility of a deal emerging is unlikely.The source spoke after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told his countrys parliament on Tuesday morning that his government will start filling the GERD reservoir this month with or without an agreement with Egypt and Sudan.Ahmed said that the filling, involving five billion m3, will be conducted in a way that does not inflict serious harm on Sudan and Egypt, and that parallel to the first-filling process negotiations would continue in the hope of reaching an agreement.The recent round of talks was initiated by South Africa, the current chair of the African Union (AU), on 3 July, a week later than expected. There were no great expectations they would succeed after close to a decade worth of negotiations had failed to reach a deal.According to most concerned diplomatic sources, Addis Ababa seems determined to make good on its official statements that it will begin filling the dam this rainy season regardless of a deal being reached or not.Egypt had hoped that growing international pressure on Addis Ababa would result in a legally binding agreement, including mitigation measures during periods of drought and a dispute settlement mechanism, being reached before the first filling but up until Monday this week the official word in Cairo was anything but optimistic.Only one of five sources who spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly believed international pressure would lead Addis Ababa to possibly continue the negotiations for another week or two to reach an agreement and then embark on the filling.An extension of the AU talks was not ruled out by most of the sources who spoke during the week, though they argued such an extension was more likely to be a continuation of the open-ended talks strategy that Ethiopia has engaged in since the signing of the Declaration of Principles in 2015 rather than the prelude to a deal.According to Cairo-based foreign diplomats who have followed the talks closely, Egypt may have been willing to acquiesce to 40 billion m3 being released annually from GERD, for both Sudan and Egypt, during the filling process, but any flexibility by Cairo could not have embraced a figure approaching 30 billion m3.Nor was Egypt willing to forgo a legally binding agreement and replace it with Ethiopias proposal of rules and guidelines.For Egypt, according to one negotiator, a compromise is not without a limit and has to be reciprocated. After all, he said, as far as we are concerned, no deal is better than a bad deal  we cannot sign to a deal that would compromise a strategic interest like water security.In the opinion of Cairo officials it is now likely that Abiy Ahmed will give the go ahead to start filling in the next two weeks. He might start without taking the full five billion m3 but this is not going to force us into signing a bad deal just to secure a piece of paper, said one.There is an almost unanimous assessment among sources that Egypt remains unwilling to actively undermine GERD. But they qualified the upgrade of Egyptian contacts with some of Ethiopias neighbours, including Eritrea, whose President Isaias Afwerki was in Cairo for talks with President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, as sending a message to Addis Ababa that despite Egypts commitment to a diplomatic process that secures the interests of all sides, Cairo could push back if and when it has to.The same sources agree that it is also unlikely that Egypt will recall its ambassador to Ethiopia. The scenario they most expect involves an uphill diplomatic battle. Egypt, they say, will continue to put pressure on Ethiopia and insist on taking the file back to the UN Security Council (UNSC) if the AU fails to secure a deal.Last month Egypt presented the UNSC with a draft resolution calling on the three countries  Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia  involved in the dispute to refrain from taking unilateral measures.As Al-Ahram Weekly went to press there was no significant advance in Cairos attempts to get the UNSC to adopt the draft resolution. The problem, according to New York-based sources, is that some UNSC member states were loath to help Egypt with the GERD problem, while others were opposed in principle to the UNSC becoming involved in matters relating to the construction and operation of dams by upstream countries.The same sources say that even so Egypt managed to get the UNSC to hold a meeting on GERD late last month despite an aggressive diplomatic attempt by Ethiopia to block it, and Cairo will be willing to keep ramping up the diplomatic pressure, possibly by presenting the UNSC with another draft resolution condemning any unilateral move by Ethiopia and demanding the filling be suspended pending an agreement.The GERD dispute is unfolding simultaneously with fast moving developments in Libya, a crucial and explosive national security front for Egypt.It is a very complex situation in Libya now, said a concerned government source.He spoke 24 hours after the Turkish Minister of Defence acknowledged that Al-Watiya air base in Libya had been hit by air strikes from unidentified foreign planes.While many speculate that France was behind the strikes neither Paris nor Ankara, who are at loggerheads over the situation in Libya, have acknowledged this.France, along with Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Russia, has been supporting the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar against Fayez Al-Sarrajs Government of National Unity (GNA). And despite the dismay of Haftars backers over his performance, they remain determined to stop the advance of pro-GNA militias that include many Islamist fighters.The big question now is how, where and when Turkey will respond to the strike.Cairo-based Western diplomats say the strike places Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a difficult position. According to concerned Cairo officials, it is one thing if the Turkish-French stand-off is fought out within NATO, and quite another if the squabble continues on the ground in Libya.If the Turkish reaction takes place in Libya it will be in one of two directions: either Erdogan will send Libya-based Islamist militias south to the borders of Libyas southern neighbours, the Sahel and Sahara states that are crucial to the strategic interests of France in Africa, or get them to move east, possibly towards Sirte and Al-Jufra.On Tuesday, the Turkish chief of staff was quoted as saying that the strikes on Al-Watiya would prompt his country to act to move against Sirte and Al-Jufra to end the military stalemate.According to Cairo officials, any move south means Egypt will have to worry about the impact of Sahel and Saharan security on its own. But if the direction of Erdogans possible show of force is to the east Cairo will have to consider all its options.Late last month President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi was explicit about the red line Cairo had drawn around Sirte and Al-Jufra since when there has been intense political intervention to get the Turkish-supported GNA to refrain from advancing further east.This week, there was no certainty over the fate of Ankaras understandings with concerned international capitals, including Washington, to suspend any military advance to the east to allow for a political window to open.Egypt, say official sources, supports giving a political settlement in Libya a chance as long as it excludes Jihadists. However, the same sources add, a political deal in Libya cannot be based on a fait accompli whereby Turkey is left in control of Egypts western neighbour.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 9 July, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Some folks would want to see more. Some would want to see less. But take the step, and we watch to see the results. And if we dont see a reduction in the spread, then we will take more action, he said.
After a steady period of under 1,000 cases a day in May, they began to break 1,000 new cases a day regularly in early June. Then they began to multiply, going from 2,581 new cases on June 13 to 5,511 new cases on June 24. By July Fourth, they reached a pandemic-high of 11,458 cases in one day.
No one really knew how big this pandemic was gonna be and we had other political things that have divided us, Stetson said. Some people need to step up and let their actions speak louder than words.
Stone and Swann develop a rapport, but Swann has a drinking problem, and in turn a promptness problem. Stones more seasoned colleagues on the writing staff want Swann fired, but the youngster stands up for the down-on-his-luck thespian who had provided so many magical moments with his swashbuckling roles. In turn, Swann helps Stone to romance a young assistant on the shows staff. (Stone at one point offers his wannabe girlfriend lessons on how to tell a joke, Borscht Belt style. It doesnt go well.)
According to al-awda.org, the organization says it aims to raise awareness in communities concerning the human and legal rights of Palestinian refugees, among other objectives. It calls for an end to all U.S. political, military and economic aid to Israel, the boycott of all Israeli products, the right to return for all Palestinian refugees to their original towns, villages and lands with compensation for damages inflicted on their property and lives and the formation of an independent, democratic state for all its citizens in all of Palestine, among other points of unity.
The woman told police she went to Garcia for issues including smoking cessation and pain in her right hip. She said Garcia had been recommended by relatives who were also his clients.
The rule of law in times of natural disasters cannot sustain itself without loyalty to its requirements, including indispensable due process, attorneys for the nursing home wrote in the lawsuit filed Tuesday. Here, however, the rule of law was abandoned to emergency orders in an effort for politicians to save face for their failings and to use Hollywood Hills as a scapegoat. This [district court] should not allow this deprivation to continue any longer.
Information about which vehicle Power and his family were in during the crash, what may have led up to it and the familys condition was not immediately available.
Griffin was yelling and acting belligerent and irrational when he lunged at Klestinec, the report stated. He tried to fight back but Griffin got him on the ground and started slashing and stabbing Klestinec in the left side of the chest.
It wasnt clear how long the head had been there or how it got there. According to the Times, the jogger told police the head wasnt there when she jogged past the same spot on Sunday, but that she didnt jog by that spot on Monday.
Egypts popular Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh have received 4,208 tourists in the first week of the resumption of international flights, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Anany said on Tuesday.

The tourist hubs have received visitors from different countries including Ukraine, Russia, Belgium, Germany, Belarus, and Switzerland, a cabinet statement quoted the minister as saying during a Tuesday meeting.

Egypt resumed regular international flights on 1 July after more than three months of closure over the coronavirus pandemic.

The government hopes to revive the country's vital tourism industry, a major source of foreign currency that has been hard hit by the pandemic shutdown.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hurghada International Airport received 180 tourists from Belarus, Ahram Arabic news website reported.

Airport staff handed out souvenirs to the tourists, and ensured that arrivals undergo safety procedures before leaving the airport, including having their temperatures measured by thermal cameras.

Hurghada was set to receive two other flights from Ukraine and Belarus on Tuesday.

Foreign tourists are now allowed to visit three coastal tourist hotspots: 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. More destinations are planned to open for visitors in later stages of the reopening, officials said.

In an attempt to lure foreign tourists, the country has exempted tourists visiting these areas from visa fees until the end of October.

Egypt has allowed over 400 hotels nationwide to reopen at a reduced occupancy rate of 50 percent after they met hygiene and safety protocols, according to the tourism ministry.

During Tuesdays cabinet meeting, officials discussed plans to upgrade several squares in Khedivial Cairo along the lines of the recent renovation of downtowns iconic Tahrir Square. These include Talaat Harb, Opera, Attaba and other major squares in central Cairo.

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Letourneau, then 34, initially told officers the boy was 18, raising suspicions that something sexual was going on. But back at the police station, Fualaau and Letourneau denied there had been any touching. Instead, they said, Letourneau had been babysitting the boy and took him from her home after she and her husband had a fight.
Her criticism of schools distance education efforts extended across the country. DeVos said she was disappointed in schools that didnt figure out how to serve students or who just gave up and didnt try. She said more than one state education chief told her that they also were disappointed in districts that did next to nothing to serve their students.
Well do what other parts of the country have done. Well flatten the curve, well slow the spread, well save lives along the way and well make it possible for great events to happen here in Florida, not just the RNC, but make it possible for Florida to once again be that great destination for so many Americans who love to come and enjoy the Sunshine State, Pence said.
Voters should vote for someone they believe can do the job and benefit the community. I have a proven track record of leadership and experience, having been in local office for 17 years, serving the community and fighting for the rights of my residents while balancing the needs of the organization. I have been fighting in Tallahassee since I started on the commission in 2003 so I will not need time to learn where the bathrooms are, and can hit the ground running. I have goals and ideas that I would like to pass during my first year up there and am not looking for someone to tell me what to do. Also, as a practicing attorney, I believe our criminal justice system needs reform and working as an attorney, reading and interpreting how the laws are written and applied, puts me in a better position to go to Tallahassee to change how the laws are written so that when applied they dont negatively impact our community.
Johnson and Mohammed have longer political resumes, and Johnson has an impressive list of community supporters. But Woodson, the only non-politician of the three, rises above the rest. Her life story mirrors that of many of her neighbors. She wont use the job as a stepping-stone to higher office. And her age and expertise in human services will be assets in a Broward delegation that will be younger and less experienced in November.
Our President told the American people that the COVID-19 pandemic is something we need to live with and 99% of the cases are totally harmless. Would you live with a diagnosis of cancer? No. You would seek treatment. Would you drive without wearing a seat belt? No. Its proven you can die or be badly injured in an accident. Would you text and drive? No. You can cause an accident, or die yourself. Would you leave a child or animal in a hot car? No. Death is almost immediate. The list goes on. Why would our leadership tell the American people to live with the virus? Living with it is unacceptable.
The Spanish government has launched a new process for UK citizens who have still to register their residency in Spain to protect their rights under Britain's Withdrawal Agreement with the EU.

From 6 July, instead of the green certificate or card that Britons living in Spain used to receive to prove residency, a new photo ID biometric card, known as a TIE (tarjeta de identidad de extranjero), will be handed out to those who meet the requirements.

The British Embassy in Madrid welcomed the introduction of the new system, but also stressed that the some 360,000 Britons already registered in Spain do not need to change from the green certificate or credit-card sized card they already have.

The Embassy said this week, "We want to confirm again that there is no obligation for those people who already hold the green residency certificate (small card or A4 version) to exchange it for the TIE. Both documents will be valid in demonstrating your residency status and rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, even after the end of the transition period [31 December 2020]."

In a video message, UK Ambassador Hugh Elliott explained, "There is one group of people who must take action. If you live here, but don't already have a green residency certificate [or green card], you must apply for the new TIE as soon as possible."

Compulsory for new applicants

For new residency applicants, without the green documentation, a new step has been introduced.

Those applicants must now submit the paperwork proving their rights to residency to the provincial Immigration office (Oficina de Extranjeria) in Malaga city for it to be checked and approved before then arranging a separate appointment at the nearest approved National Police station to get their TIE. Documentation can be submitted to the Immigration office in person, via a representative or via an online platform.

The process was still being rolled out this week by the Spanish authorities and British nationals trying to make appointments or find the online platform commented that it was still unclear where to look on the Spanish government's websites.

The British Embassy held a video Question & Answer Session on Wednesday which is available to view on its Brits in Spain Facebook page.

The Embassy added that updates on the new process will be published on the UK Government's Living in Spain information page, and users can sign up to receive email alerts as it is updated.

In a further reassurance to existing residents, Hugh Elliott concluded, "Whilst you may choose to exchange your current [green] certificate for a TIE at some point in the future, there is no requirement to do so. The green residency document gives you the same rights as the new TIE card. So please be assured on that point."

The Embassy team also stressed that each individual qualifying family member needs to have the green documentation (or the new TIE if still applying) and that children are not covered by their parents' paperwork.
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After nine years of Ethiopian intransigence and evasiveness Egypt was forced to turn to the UN Security Council (UNSC) in an attempt to check Addis Ababas bid to begin filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam reservoir unilaterally, without a prior agreement with Sudan and Egypt.

Ethiopia, which recently thumbed its nose at a US-World Bank brokered draft agreement based on the input of the three principles, rushed to the arms of Pretoria, in its capacity as chair of the African Union, crying that African problems require African solutions.

Evidently, Africa was born yesterday: clearly Ethiopia did not think it existed last year when Egypt chaired the AU, or during the eight years of negotiations before that.

Ethiopia believes that by confining the management of this dispute to AU headquarters in Addis Ababa it can keep its behaviour hidden from the world as it continues to procrastinate and evade accountability. Meanwhile, lets not forget that Ethiopia, which now touts its African affiliation and wants to keep the negotiations African, is the same Ethiopia that contracted an Italian firm to build the dam, a Chinese firm to build its electricity grid and zero African firms for any construction or engineering works related to the dam. To Ethiopia, Africa is only good as a negotiating shield, which is why Egypt was right to give the AU talks two weeks and to ensure that the UNSC was abreast of this process, especially since it is still the UNSCs role to resolve disputes that threaten international peace and security.

While the Egyptian presidents statements following the meeting of the AU Bureau attended by the heads of state of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia were balanced and consistent with Egypts diplomatic heritage, those of the Ethiopian prime minister were tendentious and intransigent. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed clung tenaciously to his African solutions only routine, despite how dependant his country is on the World Food Programme, World Bank assistance and loans, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisations food security and irrigation development programme, and other UN organisations.

As for the Ethiopian water resources minister, his tack was to unleash a vicious attack on Egypt based entirely on falsehoods and misinformation. Describing the 1959 Nile Waters agreement as a colonialist document despite the fact that both Egypt and Sudan were fully independent sovereign states at the time, the minister claimed that Egypt obtained 87 per cent of Nile water, Sudan only 13 per cent and Ethiopia, the source of 85 per cent of Nile water, zero per cent. If he is going to try to drive a wedge between Sudan and Egypt, which appears to be one aim here, he should be less fanciful with the facts. The truth is that Ethiopia obtains the largest share of Nile water, mostly from Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. The 55 billion m3 of water from this it uses to generate electricity at the Chara Dam. Around the lake it has constructed numerous freshwater stations, factories and farms, including fish farms which yield more than 100,000 tons of fish a year.

In addition, Ethiopia has nine billion m3 from the Takezi Reservoir which it uses to generate electricity and produce drinking water. Ethiopia thus has 64 billion m3 from Lake Tana and the Takezi Reservoir, while Egypt and Sudan obtain 60 billion m3 from the Blue Nile and Atbara. This, alone, betrays the fiction being marketed by the Water Tower of Africa, as Ethiopia has been dubbed. It claims that it does not get a drop of water from the Nile whereas, in fact, it gets the lions share.

By contrast, the countries at the headwaters of the White Nile  the other tributary to the River Nile  have no problem with acknowledging that they receive most of the waters of this branch of the Nile, whether from Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world, or Lakes Kayoga, George, Edward and Albert, through which the Nile proceeds to South Sudan. Similarly, South Sudan acknowledges that it sits atop some 40 billion m3 of water in the Sudd, the largest freshwater marsh in the world.

Ethiopia wants to throw dust in everyones eyes with its fiction about the Blue Nile and by ignoring the nine other river basins it possesses. Ethiopia has 10 river systems, complete with lakes and tributaries, all fed by abundant rainfall. Egypt has only a single river, the Nile, that cleaves its way through the desert which covers 93 per cent of the country. Ethiopia receives 937 billion m3 of rainfall. Egypt receives about 18 billion m3. Compared to Ethiopias 1650 m3 of water per capita, Egyptians obtain only 500 m3 of water per person per year, which is below international water scarcity levels.

The Ethiopian minister deliberately overlooks such facts and continues to weave his fictions. He claims that GERD will help Sudan access more than seven billion m3 of the Blue Nile which goes to Egypt but is actually a part of Sudans quota. He does not bother to explain how this will work. He also overlooked the fact that the Roseires, Sennar and Khashm Al-Girba dams ensure that Sudan does receive its full quota of Blue Nile waters. In fact, the latter dam was constructed after the 1959 Nile Water agreement precisely for this purpose. Sudan also has the Jebal Aulia dam on the White Nile and the Merowe Dam north of the confluence of the White and Blue Nile.

Nor does the Ethiopian minister mention the fact his government will deduct 15 billion m3 from Sudan and Egypts quotas during the seven years it will take for the first filling of the GERD reservoir or that it intends to deduct 17 billion m3 more on a permanent basis. If GERD is supposed to be for electricity production, as Ethiopia claims, why does it need to retain such a large amount of water. And by what mathematic feat will Sudans quota increase?

The Ethiopian water minister is unconcerned by such inconsistencies as he proceeds to toss in red herrings. Ethiopia does not recognise Egypts historic rights to the Nile. If anything, we should be talking about accepted rights, a principle recognised under international law and that refers to the amount of water that Egypt received from the Nile as the result of its natural flow for thousands of years. But even this is beside the point, because Egypt did not bring up the 1959 Nile Water agreement in the negotiations. That agreement grants Egypt a quota of 55.5 billion m3 of the waters of the entire Nile system to which the Blue Nile contributes only 49 billion. There is no connection between Egypts quota and negotiations over the dam.

The Ethiopian minister has indulged in familiar appeals to pity. The majority of Ethiopians have to carry wood on their backs for fuel and lighting because they have no electricity, whereas all Egyptians have electricity, he said. What about the Sudanese? Moreover, what about the Nile River Basin Initiative (NRBI) report last year that found that 100 per cent of Ethiopias urban inhabitants and 60 per cent of rural inhabitants have electricity. Apart from this, is it fair to equate the right to electricity with the right to life, which is at stake for the Egyptian people.

It is hard to make up for lost lives, whereas electricity can be produced from a number of alternative sources which Ethiopia also possesses in abundance: wind on the Ethiopian plateau and sunshine. Meanwhile, while millions of Ethiopians are carrying wood on their backs, according to their ministers narrative, their government is selling the power generated from the three dams on the Omo River to Kenya and Djibouti. They will probably have to go on carrying wood on their backs in order to sustain their ministers ad misericordiam appeals for future dams.

Turning back to Egypt, the minister argues that Egypt loses 10 billion m3 of water due to evaporation from Lake Nasser. Before the High Dam, Egypt lost 22 billion m3 of water to the Mediterranean which means that dam has made at least 12 billion m3 available to the people if we factor in that 10 billion m3 ostensibly lost through evaporation. Evidently, he would rather Egyptians not have that extra water at all, because he makes no mention of the 45 billion m3 lost through evaporation and transpiration in the Sudanese marshlands in the Sudd and Sobat. He also overlooks the approximately five billion m3 that will be lost to evaporation from the GERD reservoir, not to mention the equal quantity of water lost due seepage.

On its official webpage, Addis Ababa claims that Egypt exports water in the form of $5 billion worth of agricultural products, yet claims water poverty. Ethiopia exports five times that amount, but it felt no need to add this on its website, or the fact that Egypt imports 65 per cent of its basic foodstuffs at a cost of $15 billion a year, precisely because of its water scarcity. Instead, the Ethiopian misinformation campaign bills GERD as a Sudanese dam because it will enable Sudan to cultivate the area around Roseires and other areas three times a year instead of twice. It does not mention that GERD will withhold the fertile silt from the water that reaches the Roseires and Sannar dams, which may never refill after Ethiopia completes its dam from which Addis Ababa will dispense judicious amounts like a parent giving his children a daily allowance for a school lunch. If, indeed, Sudan plans to keep that land under cultivation after Ethiopia closes the taps to a trickle it will have to construct an enormous irrigation network to the tune of billions of dollars. It will also have to use tons of chemical fertilisers to compensate for the loss of Nile silt, and incalculable quantities of insecticides and other products to fight the insects and diseases that will infest Sudanese soil as it succumbs to salinisation due to the lack of annual replenishment from Nile floods.

Is Ethiopia going to fork out some money to help the Sudanese make the necessary readjustments to their agricultural economy? Not very likely. More in keeping with the current Ethiopian governments thinking is the conclusion, drawn by the German Strategic Studies Institute, that Addis Ababa plans to aggravate Egypts water poverty in order to force Egypt to purchase water from Ethiopia. Such realities should help the international community to appreciate the true nature of Ethiopias intentions.

The writer is a professor of soil and water sciences at Cairo Universitys Faculty of Agriculture.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 9 July, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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(Photo : pixabay)

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as much as half of the world's population was under lockdown. Social distancing measures kept people confined to their homes, unable to go to work, see their loved ones, or meet their friends.

Businesses were scrambling to manage an abrupt transition to distributed workforces. Team members found themselves facing the challenge of setting up a home office and maintaining productivity.

In all of this, virtual meetings have been a saving grace.

Whether it was a quarterly sales meeting, a high school reunion, university classes, an industry conference, or a birthday check-in with your grandmother, video calls provided an opportunity to connect in the midst of mayhem.

But what will the post-pandemic future hold for virtual meetings?

Many countries are slowly reopening, and things are inching back towards normal in the foreseeable future. So, will video calls be gladly abandoned in favor of personal interactions? Or have the advantages of online meetings tipped the scales in favor of sticking to the digital hello?

Remote Work - An Unavoidable Trend

Remote work is here to stay.

Before the pandemic, 38% of businesses had team members working from home on a part-time or full-time basis. During COVID-19, this number surged.

The initial transition to distributed workforces posed a challenge to businesses and employees alike. Now, however, the necessary infrastructures, including remote work tools and tech, are in place, and many employees have developed strategies for working effectively in their home offices.

To abandon these investments and developments would not make sense economically.

A recent survey among executives showed that 77% of them were looking to maintain the levels of remote work implemented during the pandemic and even expanding them.

And other surveys found that while many employees were looking forward to returning to their offices, craving interaction with colleagues after months of social isolation, a majority have found themselves to be effective and productive working from home.

That means virtual meetings will remain entrenched in the working lives of millions of employees and managers.

Cutting Costs, and Estimating Economic Impact

Holding virtual meetings saves money.

Rather than spending time and resources on traveling to meetings - especially long-distance affairs, such as business trips and conferences abroad - participants can assemble online, without leaving their living rooms. A face-to-face meeting with overseas partners that would have swallowed at least three days' worth of time, airfares, and hotel bills, takes up barely an afternoon when held online.

However, the corona-induced total shift to virtual events has had a severe economic impact. According to a recent analysis, business conferences generate an annual $1 trillion in direct spending, from transport to accommodation. For many businesses, tech expos and conventions are major sources of income and new clients. A lasting transition to virtual events entails a fundamental shift in these sectors.

Even with that economic impact to consider, the trend seems to be firmly in favor of virtual conferences. During the pandemic, experience showed that 86% of participants showed equal or higher engagement during virtual events compared with live ones.

And conference organizers can save upwards of 60% of their budget by cutting costs on venues, equipment, and catering, while expanding their audience to those who want to attend, but don't have the time or budget to travel.

Even now, many organizers are working to shift events online by default. Google is currently working on converting its Cloud Next conference to an entirely virtual event. Other tech giants are set to follow suit.

Future Directions - Hybrid Meetings, Holographic Conferences

The future of virtual meetings is not limited to Zoom calls.

One currently emerging trend is for hybrid conferences and meetings. Such events would take place face-to-face in one location, with key speakers being present, as well as those participants who are able and willing to come. At the same time, the event would be transmitted to satellite locations virtually, allowing for broader participation.

As tech catches up with science fiction, holographic events are on the horizon. While the technology is still relatively expensive, it exists and has been used for purposes varied as widely as business conferences and the French presidential elections.

Final Thoughts

From the current perspective, it seems that virtual meetings will remain firmly cemented in business life: Remote work is set to expand. Many conferences are being shifted online permanently. And businesses and employees alike appreciate the benefits of connecting online rather than in person.

In private interactions, however, it is more likely that face to face meetings will prevail once we've vanquished the virus. On grandma's birthday, at least, she'll prefer a personal visit - even if she has learned to Zoom out of necessity.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Samsung switches to digital product launch as the coronavirus pandemic continues to limit social movements.

According to CNET, Samsung announced on Tuesday, July 7, it will unveil its newest mobile devices during an online event on Aug. 5 starting at 10 a.m. (Eastern Time). An invitation for the "Galaxy Unpacked" event was posted on its website.

The tech company is the latest firm to shift to holding online events, which include Apple during the pandemic.

What to expect during the Unpacked?

Among the products that are rumored to be included in the launch are Note 20, Galaxy Z Fold 2, and even the Galaxy Z Flip 5G version.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 expands from a phone into a tablet. The second-generation Fold could feature a glass display instead of plastic and a bigger internal screen while some say it will come with an S Pen stylus. As Galaxy Fold 2 may be pricy, it is rumored that Samsung will also introduce cheaper versions of Fold E or Fold Lite. The first generation of Galaxy Fold was launched last year with prices started at $1,980.

Aside from Fold 2, Samsung is likely to unveil a 5G version of its Z Flip foldable, a few months after the first 4G version was launched in the market.

Perhaps the much-awaited product launch is for Samsung's next Galaxy Note, which is aptly called the Note 20. Unlike the Galaxy Note 10 which came also in Note 10 Plus variant, Note 20 could be in three models, all of which have 5G connectivity.

Aside from Note 20 and Note 20 Plus, Samsung could add the Note 20 Ultra that could have two curved screens, whisper-thin bezels to maximize screen space, and a slightly thinner overall body than the Galaxy Note 10 Plus.

Samsung swims through the pandemic

While this may be a difficult time to introduce phones, 2020 was initially foreseen as a strong year for the phone industry with people lured to shop with technological advancements like 5G and foldable screens.

However, the coronavirus pandemic has limited the number of devices companies can make as the economies across the globe continue to struggle.

South Korea was one of the first markets to get hit by the coronavirus pandemic. This led Samsung to temporarily close its factories and some of its US stores.

Nevertheless, this did not halt Samsung to unveil its Galaxy S20 phone. It is noted as Samsung's most important device of the year as consumers can easily get hold of it for only $999. Also, Samsung launched a new lineup of A Series phones in the U.S. in April. This is the company's attempt to reach more budget-conscious buyers with prices starting at $110.

Meanwhile, after the Unpacked, Samsung said last week that instead of participating in the IFA electronics show in Berlin, it will host another virtual event in September. Typically, the company uses IFA to discuss in more detail the new devices it launched at Unpacked while it sometimes hints about new devices at the show.

Read also: Samsung Has a New Device That May Protect you from Coronavirus

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
There is nothing that's stopping the advertisers now from continuously boycotting Facebook as their way of holding the social network company accountably for failures to put a fang with its policy, a rare moment of discomfort for a company that is widely recognized in the world, Tech Crunch reports.

The campaign from advertisers, hashtagged #StopHateForProfit, continues to spread even in other corporations to give up their ads on Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and the returning chief product officer, Chris Cox met with the campaign leaders on Tuesday.

What is there to worry about if there are meetings of this kind being held? The meeting reportedly lasted for over an hour.

Facebook revenue

However, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his team seem to be shrugging on these reactions from the meeting, and one of the reasons probably is the revenue that it actually gets from the advertisers.

In the chart published on Zero Hedge, it revealed that the ad boycotts are just a fraction of the total revenue that the social networking company obtains. Most of its profits come from global sources in 2019.

"While large companies boycotting Facebook attract news headlines, these numbers show that they have very little impact on the company's overall advertising revenue," the Zero Hedge story pointed out.

Showing disappointment

"Today, we saw little and heard just about nothing."

This was from Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.

He also expressed dismay over Facebook's failure to implement "urgency and agency" upon issues which include misinformation and hate upon its Internet-based platform. It could be remembered that it went mum over the Trump posts connecting to the racial injustice campaigns.

Meanwhile, Rashad Robinson from Color of Change even criticized Facebook for "expecting an A for attendance" when it participated in the meet. Jessica J. Gonzalez, co-chief executive officer at Free Press also was dismayed over the meeting's outcomes. Derrick Johnson of NAACP was not happy about it as well.

The CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People added that Zuckerberg seems to be more interested in these dialogues than taking action.

Also Read: The North Face Is Biggest Brand Yet to Join Facebook Ad Boycott

Zuckerberg answers

The CEO has not officially commented on these reactions regarding the recent meeting. Even his official account does not have a statement posted, except for the July 4 greeting.

The #StopHateForProfit drive is a campaign that calls for various corporations to, in the meantime, stop advertising on the platform and their acquisition, Instagram, for this month, due to policy decisions and the recent what seemed to be a support for U.S. President Donald Trump with regards to his posts on racial justice.

"Facebook is a company of incredible resources," the organizers of the boycott initiative exclaimed. "We hope that they finally understand that society wants them to put more of those resources into doing the hard work of transforming the potential of the largest communication platform in human history into a force for good."

This is led by companies and organizations including ADL, Sleeping Giants, the NAACP, Color of Change, and even tech giant Mozilla. Among the brands that have followed suit are Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Verizon, and Ford. Outdoor brand North Face also participated in the campaign.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Author Maziar Rajabi on His Latest Book Entrepreneurship in Bitumen Business)

The internet is filled with information and inspirational business ideas that can turn any aspirant into an entrepreneur. However, though it sounds cliched, sometimes all that's needed is discovering the hidden passion and love towards things that bring satisfaction. More and more people in recent times are merging work and hobbies together, and turning their dream projects into highly scalable and successful businesses. And similar is the story of the 33-year-old Kurdistan native, Maziar Rajabi, an entrepreneur who took the leap of faith to become an author, especially to share his top business lessons attained through experience and to give insights on the lesser-known Bitumen industry, in which he operates.

Today, besides being a proud partner of Iraq's best oil service company, Verse Oil Service, and the leading exporter of Bitumen, Rajabi has also become an author of his recently launched book, "Entrepreneurship in Bitumen Business", that rightly lays focus on the significance of Bitumen in the world and its interconnection with the infrastructure industry. His book hit shelves on June 16th, 2020, and details Rajabi's vast experience and know-how of the Bitumen product industry and its future global growth potential.

Speaking on this, he said, "Being an avid reader since early childhood, I always had the zeal to pen down the lessons I would come across. Over the years, as I started to read more about the entrepreneurial world, whilst pursuing Disciplined Entrepreneurship from MIT and also working simultaneously in the Bitumen industry, the idea to translate my thoughts, experiences, vision, and knowledge in the form of a book took birth. At present, looking at the vast industry that Bitumen is, and yet a limited exposure or lack of information about it, launching a book that would throw light on how its obtained and made use of, was critical more than ever. I am certain that the depth and reach of the book will evoke a sense of interest, perhaps curiosity to learn more, amongst people and aspirants alike."

Prior to becoming an author, Rajabi has had juggled multiple roles on the professional front. Over the time, the experience amassed through Canadian Green Solutions as a senior partner, Mattioli S.A.S as a shareholder, and now Verse Oil Service as a partner as well as an independent Bitumen exporter has only contributed to his business success at such a young age. With his broad approach, relationship-management skills, and undeterred focus to break conventional rules and run his own show have earned him several accolades and recognitions in not just Iraq's community of entrepreneurs but globally. In fact, the reach and growth of his business, owing to his leadership style, has even had his stakeholders, partners, competitors, and clients name him as the "undisputed Bitumen king."

Rajabi, in the times to come, plans to take forth his passion by working on many more books on different core areas that not only prove to be of help to the new-age entrepreneurs but also students from across the world who are keen on diving into unconventional professional fields. It'll be interesting to see this young entrepreneur's take on various subjects beyond Bitumen through his books he envisions to release.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted many industries, but unfortunately, business is booming for one industry.

Death Services Amid the Pandemic

Death services such as creating last wills and testaments online, funerals, and order cremations are busy nowadays, especially in the middle of a pandemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

In particular, one company, Farewill, a startup company in the United Kingdom, has gained around $25 million in funding as it has recently announced.

According to TechCrunch, the company will use the funding to build a suite of death services, such as online wills and probate services, including sorting out taxes of a deceased person's property and death duties.

Based on the report, the company will be using the fund to grow its business and hopefully help people cope with their death or the death of their loved ones.

"We want to help by destigmatizing death," said Dan Garret, the CEO of Farewill, during an interview. "We all have to face death. It lives inside everyone. But for most of us, we are psychologically hardwired not to think about it, and as a process, people have been largely at the behest of an industry that doesn't think about its customers."

In a report by EU-Startups, Garret was inspired by his experiences at the Royal College of Art, so alongside co-founder Tom Rogers, he set out to change the way people view death and activities surrounding it, such as writing wills and probate services.

Read Also: 4 Ways to Improve Customer Service Through Technology

Plans of Expansion

As of the time being, the company is only providing its services in the U.K., but Garret is hoping to expand it.

Farewill has only been around for five years, but in that short amount of time, it has become the top will writer in the U.K., and that one out of every 10 will have been written with their help, bringing a whopping 10% in the market share.

Besides writing wills through the internet, Garret also said that the company's other death services have also seen quite some activity these days.

For one, cremation funerals are, sadly, popular in the midst of the pandemic despite being introduced by the company last December 2019.

Everything Is Done Online

According to the CEO, their cremation service is all done online. The costs are so much cheaper than the typical funeral, which people will need, given the state of employment during the pandemic.

Additionally, it has become a more popular option for families as they can choose how to memorialize their loved ones after the process, which bypasses the traditional funeral option.

Now, Farewill is the third to fourth biggest cremation in the country.

And it's no surprise that they got big, especially amid a pandemic, wherein our mortality has come in focus, and the outdated death services wherein a huge percentage of people were unable to do the traditional funeral tasks due to lockdown restrictions and social distancing.

Since they focus on providing their services online through technology, people are able to do what they need to easily.

Business is booming for Farewill, but in the industry involving death, it could be unfortunate.

Read Also: Tesla Website Crashed After Elon Musk Sold Hot Red Shorts; Plans to Open New Factory in Asia

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A doctor who has been doing extensive lung disease research has warned about a health crisis that could surpass the impacts of COVID-19.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, Dr. Sassan Rafi who studies pulmonary fibrosis for 15 years claimed thousands of hospitalized Americans for coronavirus may endure health risks even after recovery.

Pulmonary fibrosis is now being linked to acute COVID-19 patients who spent weeks on a ventilator. The disease happens when lung tissue is impaired due to aggressive viruses like COVID-19.

Rafi said those patients face higher risks than cancer patients as the stiff tissue makes it more difficult for the lungs to function properly, which can lead to respiratory failure.

The doctor said some patients may become highly dependent on a ventilator throughout their lives while others may require a lung transplant.

Currently, the United States has a surging number of coronavirus cases after having a declining trend for more than six weeks. The U.S. already has over 2.9 million coronavirus cases with more than 130,000 deaths. Recently, new spikes are seen in Arizona, Texas, California, and Florida.

No one addresses pulmonary fibrosis

After studying pulmonary fibrosis for 15 years, Dr. Rafi has founded Upright Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and is developing a compound to tackle the illness. He said his company is working with the University of California in Davis, the University of Michigan, and other institutions to creating a drug stop pulmonary fibrosis and even reverse the damage it brought.

The drug is called the Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitor. Inhibiting the enzyme in the cell called the Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase can prevent fibrosis and inflammation of the lungs.

While the drug is not yet FDA approved, Dr. Rafi said his company has already acquired a lot of solid preclinical data and data from animal models. It is also raising funds to further enhance the drug and bring it to clinical trials as soon as possible.

Dr. Rafi said that many hospitalized patients could still die due to fibrosis, even after beating hospitalization, having fluid in their lungs, or even coronavirus.

"It's not just about who is dying acutely from the virus, it's about what's going to come years and years from now, once the virus has gone," said Rafi who is now Upright Pharmaceuticals' chief medical officer.

'Pulmonary fibrosis has a prognosis of three years, which is worse than many cancers, and currently, there is no optimal treatment,' Rafi explained.

He also said that pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease that "no one is addressing." "You may be feeling okay, but the fibrosis keeps getting worse and worse," he added.

Rafi's company addresses the disease by scanning the lungs. When they see fibrosis in the lungs, it means their lives may not return to normal. "That's the point of no return," Rafi said.

Upright Pharmaceuticals CEO Andrew Young agreed with Rafi and said the potential enormity of the disease is a huge concern.

According to Young, 40% of acute coronavirus patients will experience an extreme immune response or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which leads to pulmonary fibrosis. Based on the recent data, there are 20% severe ARDS cases.

Similarly, a high number of survivors of the 2003 SARS-CoV outbreak also sustained pulmonary fibrosis and weakened lungs.

'It's almost the body's immune system is going nuclear and working to kill everything, which causes scarring and a variety of other problems," Young said.

Young also pointed out that while there were already more than 130,000 COVID-19 patients who have died in the U.S., hundreds of thousands more acute patients are at high risks.

'I think that the public is beginning to be more and more informed about exactly why COVID is so horrible and damaging and potentially fatal," said Young adding that fibrosis is both a short and long term concern "that will cause further death and disability."

Meanwhile, Young said Dr. Rafi's research is focused on a compound that may interrupt the fibrotic process and can even reverse the lung scarring.

'I don't want to scare people, but I think that we need to get the government to pay attention to drug development and the drugs that can potentially treat a respiratory virus like COVID-19 and its complications," Rafi added.

Read also: 239 Scientists Made the Same Claim About COVID-19 That WHO Previously Denied; Here's an Experiment to Prove it

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
With many roads blocked, thousands have a tough time reaching the examination venues As if the stress of preparing for the national college entrance exam, or gaokao, was not enough, flooded roads in parts of eastern China on Tuesday made it impossible for thousands of students to get to their testing sites. The government of Shexian county in Anhui province said on Tuesday that the downpour, which began before dawn, was the heaviest in 50 years. A female student in the county told China Youth Daily that a bus had been sent to collect some students, but "half of the vehicle's body was underwater and it couldn't move". Videos from local residents showed many roads in the county blocked by floodwaters. Some students tried to press ahead in boats offered by rescuers. The county has 2,769 students aiming to take this year's gaokao, but only around 500 had arrived at the examination sites by 10 am, according to Wang Tianping, head of the county's education bureau. Because a gaokao score can determine what college a student may attend, examinees carry their family's hopes for the future. The county was forced to cancel the first day's examsChinese language and mathematicsas most local students failed to reach the two examination sites on time because of flooding, the local government said. Large parts of seven provinces and two municipalities along the Yangtze River have had heavy rainfall since July 4, according to the National Meteorological Center. Rain was heaviest in Hubei province, with more than 600 millimeters. Some areas in neighboring Anhui, Hunan and Guizhou provinces saw between 250 and 480 millimeters of precipitation. The student interviewed by China Youth Daily, who was not named, said the rain had come unexpectedly, and she and her parents had received no warning. "It has been quite rainy this season, so we and the school didn't regard it as a big deal. I can't blame the school," she said. She said that it had rained all night and she woke up early in the morning only to find her community was badly flooded. She and some other students were trapped in a bus on a flooded road until after 10 am, when she received a WeChat message that the Chinese language exam, scheduled to begin at 9 am, had been canceled and would be rescheduled. Meanwhile, the attempt to move the students by bus failed. An announcement from the local government, at around 10 am, conveyed the message that the first exam had been canceled, but the other three would go ahead as scheduled. Then, shortly before 2 pm, an announcement from the provincial education authorities said the mathematics exam had also been canceled because the waters had not receded. At that point, the two exams scheduled for Wednesday were still expected to go ahead. Wang said the students had been provided with psychological counseling to alleviate their stress at the most important moment of their education to date. To guarantee that the second day's exams would go forward, the authorities said they had prepared a backup site and would decide whether to switch to that location early on Wednesday. The National Meteorological Center issued an orange alertsecond-highest of the four-tier alert systemfor rainstorms along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, with heavy downpours expected to hit the region from 8 pm on Tuesday to 8 pm on Wednesday. Meanwhile, exams went ahead smoothly in Wuhan, Hubei province, which was also affected by torrential rains. Teams of more than 2,000 rescuers and some 500 disaster relief vehicles were sent to gather students. At an afternoon news conference it was announced that no students were late for their exams. Previously, the annual gaokao has taken place on June 7 and 8, but the Ministry of Education decided to delay the exam by one month this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


Taxi operators who say business has plummeted due to the pandemic are lobbying the city to temporarily eliminate two trip fees.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/7/2020 (349 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Taxi operators who say business has plummeted due to the pandemic are lobbying the city to temporarily eliminate two trip fees.

Unicity Taxi lost about 85 per cent of its normal business during the first week of April, said industry spokesman Ram Vallaru, general manager of Duffys Taxi.

The companies are asking the city  which regulates vehicles for hire  to waive a 10-cent general fee and a seven-cent accessibility surcharge on each trip they complete.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS (From left) Ram Valluru, GM for Duffys Taxi and Harjit Chahal, GM for Unicity Taxi, spoke today at the City Hall requesting financial support for the the taxi industry because of the the ramifications from the coronavirus pandemic. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

He noted the seven-cent fee isnt charged when accessible vehicles make up at least 10 per cent of a company's fleet.

Drivers continued to work during the spring as social-distancing requirements shut down many businesses and drastically reduced calls for service.

Mayor is Uber's first passenger in Winnipeg Click to Expand Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman arrives at City Hall in an Uber driven by Michael van Hemmen, head of city operations for Uber in Canada. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) Posted: 2:08 PM Jul. 7, 2020 A black Toyota Sienna minivan pulled up to city hall Tuesday morning, with an Uber logo on its front window and the mayor of Winnipeg in the backseat. Michael van Hemmen, head of city operations for Uber Canada, was behind the wheel. He and Mayor Brian Bowman emerged from the vehicle with face masks on, flashing thumbs-up in celebration of the ride-hailing giants long-awaited arrival in Winnipeg. Read Full Story

"Our ridership went down at the same time, so many businesses (were) closed. It was kind of a stand-still situation," said Vallaru. "We lost lots of business the left-over business was very little."

He said cabs operated as essential businesses but are now facing serious financial challenges as a result.

Vallaru estimated about 1,500 Winnipeg families depend on the industry for their incomes.

"All of them are small businesses who are paying taxes in the city," he said. "Their livelihood is affected."

Vallaru said the city fees cost each major cab company about $15,000 per month during the pandemic.

The industry members hope the fees can be waived entirely, with the change backdated to March 20. Theyd like that to continue until the provincial government lifts its remaining pandemic business restrictions, after which they hope business will return to more normal levels.

On Tuesday, councils public works committee considered a motion to cut the fees by 50 per cent, going back to April 1.

Grant Heather, the citys vehicles-for-hire manager, said cutting the fees in half would cost the city about $30,000 over April and May alone.

All of them are small businesses who are paying taxes in the city. Their livelihood is affected.  Ram Vallaru, general manager of Duffys Taxi

Heather said that would create a financial shortfall for the city, since regulation of the industry is mandated to operate on a revenue-neutral basis.

"It would be a cost of approximately $15,000 to $20,000 of revenues per month. This would be unsustainable and we would need to begin to make significant cuts to our organization," he said.

Heather said monthly data showed the number of cab rides dropped about 60 per cent in April compared to the same month last year.

Some councillors expressed concern for taxi drivers and companies, urging city staff to enter further discussions on the topic.

"There has been a hardship to the industry," said Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan).

The committee voted to lay over any decision on adjusting the fees until its September meeting.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
MEXICO CITY - For his first foreign trip as president, Mexicos Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador travels to Washington Tuesday to meet with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly taken shots at Mexico and Mexican migrants to rally his base.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/7/2020 (349 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Shoppers and commuters walk along a sidewalk in central Mexico City, Monday, July 6, 2020. After three months of shutdown, officials allowed a partial reopening of the downtown commercial area last week, although COVID-19 cases continue to climb.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

MEXICO CITY - For his first foreign trip as president, Mexicos Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador travels to Washington Tuesday to meet with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly taken shots at Mexico and Mexican migrants to rally his base.

The visit, coming just four months before U.S. elections, has many Mexicans cringing. Trump has insulted them, threatened crippling tariffs to strongarm Mexico into playing an uncomfortable role in U.S. immigration policy and insisted they will pay for a border wall meant to keep migrants out of the U.S.

But Lopez Obrador has had a surprisingly warm relationship with Trump. He likes to point out that more recently Trump helped Mexico reach a deal with other oil-producing nations to cut production and aided Mexico in obtaining more ventilators to face the coronavirus pandemic. Both presidents talk about a blossoming friendship that seems to stem from their pursuit of unapologetically nationalist agendas.

Lopez Obrador hints at the real reason for the trip when he reels off U.S. economic statistics  the size of the U.S. pandemic stimulus package, the number of jobs the U.S. got back in June. Mexicos economy was in recession before the pandemic, has shed about 1 million jobs since and is forecast to contract this year by as much as 10%.

This helps us by being neighbours, Lopez Obrador said Tuesday, before departing. This is about the economy, its about jobs, its about well-being.

By late Tuesday his flight had arrived in Dulles International Airport after a layover in Atlanta.

There is no doubt Trump will try to use the visit to his advantage. The encounter will draw attention to a trade accord replacing one Trump said was a bad deal and will allow the president to bash former Vice-President Joe Biden for voting in favour of the old North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump could stir his base with sharp words for Mexico or simply play up Lopez Obradors desire to express his gratitude.

In 2016, Trump, then a candidate for the presidency, visited Lopez Obradors predecessor, an invitation for which President Enrique Pena Nieto was harshly criticized, inlcuding by Lopez Obrador. Trump left that visit and flew to Arizona where he railed against immigrants.

Workers in a small appliance repair shop work behind plastic sheeting to reduce the spread of coronavirus, in central Mexico City, Monday, July 6, 2020. After three months of shutdown, officials allowed a partial reopening of downtown last week, although COVID-19 cases continue to climb. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Lopez Obrador, a pragmatist and nationalist above all, knows there is no more important ally than the behemoth to the north, especially as Mexicos economy plunges deeper into recession. If Trump wins a second term, Lopez Obrador could be calculating hell have a friend for the remaining four years of his administration. If the Democrats take office, he trusts they will respect the importance of the bilateral relationship and not hold a grudge.

Maybe hes making the right bet and we dont know it, said Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, associate professor at George Mason Universitys Schar School of Policy and Government. She expects Trump to use the visit to rally his base, perhaps even reviving the claim that Mexico will pay for the border wall, a topic Lopez Obrador repeatedly dodged Tuesday.

Hes conscious of what can happen, she said. It happened to Pena Nieto. It can easily happen to him.

Lopez Obrador insists that he has no desire to be drawn into U.S. domestic politics. He says hes going to mark the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which took effect July 1.

There is no way (Lopez Obrador) can spin this visit in his favour, said Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Payan said the trade accord doesnt merit wading into U.S. political waters. The (trade) agreement is done, finished and in force, he said. There is no need to thank anyone. There is no need to express any kind of gratitude. There is no need for a pilgrimage.

That's a decision Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apparently reached in deciding not to attend the meeting.

On Monday, Lopez Obrador added another reason.

If we have a good relationship with the United States government, we are going to avoid mistreatment of Mexicans living in the U.S., Lopez Obrador said. Lopez Obrador has repeatedly raised the importance of the remittances sent home by migrants and praised them as heroes.

Payan said immigration is always on the bilateral agenda, but he sees little chance for Mexico winning any concessions from Trump, whose administration continues to curtail legal and illegal immigration.

I think Trump is more interested in restricting access to the American labour market today more than ever, Payan said.

Mexicos worrisome level of violence  2019 saw the highest number of murders on record  could be an opening. Lopez Obrador could ask for more U.S. assistance in intelligence or tracking drug traffickers' financial transactions. He says he won't undermine Mexicos sovereignty and has been a harsh critic of the Merida Initiative that brought U.S. financial and material support to Mexico as his predecessors battled the cartels.

For Trump, the visit is an opportunity to criticize his opponent for supporting NAFTA more than two decades ago, possibling helping garner votes in the Midwest states where workers blamed the old trade deal for prompting U.S. companies to shift manufacturing to Mexico, where labour costs were lower.

Trump said replacing the disastrous NAFTA trade deal was one of the biggest promises he made to his supporters in 2016. Trade was perhaps the single biggest reason he ran for president in the first place, Trump says.

He is fond of saying that after NAFTA was created, the U.S. lost one in four manufacturing jobs while asserting that the new deal will create nearly 100,000 new, high-paying American auto jobs, boost exports for U.S. farmers and ranchers and increase trade with Mexico and Canada.

Trump is correct that the United States has lost nearly 4 million factory jobs since that pact took effect in January 1994. But most economists attribute the losses more to the recessions of 2001 and 2007-2009, automation and low-cost competition from China.

Biden has said he didnt regret voting for NAFTA during his time in the Senate. Fair trade is important, Biden has said. Not free trade. Fair trade. And I think that back in the time during the Clinton administration, it made sense at the moment.

From Lopez Obradors perspective, a good relationship with whoever occupies the White House is Mexicos best policy.

Were going to offer our opinion, but were not planning for confrontation, Lopez Obrador said Tuesday. Were going to look to convince, were going to seek understanding.

__ AP writer Deb Riechmann in Washington contributed to this report.
INDIANAPOLIS - The FBI said Tuesday its investigating the reported assault of a Black man by a group of white men at a southern Indiana lake.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 7/7/2020 (349 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Demonstrators listen to Amrita Chakrabarti Myers speak at the Monroe County courthouse, Monday, July 6, 2020, in Bloomington, Ind., in response to the attack on Vauhxx Booker. Booker, a local civil rights activist and member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission, says a group of white men assaulted him and threatened to get a noose after claiming that he and his friends had trespassed on private property as they gathered at an Indiana lake over the Fourth of July weekend. (Rich Janzaruk/The Herald-Times via AP)

INDIANAPOLIS - The FBI said Tuesday its investigating the reported assault of a Black man by a group of white men at a southern Indiana lake.

Vauhxx Booker, a civil rights activist and member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission, said the men pinned him against a tree, shouted racial slurs and one of them threatened to get a noose at Monroe Lake near Bloomington over the Fourth of July weekend.

Much of the assault was captured on cellphone video by Bookers acquaintances.

The FBI is investigating. We have no further comment, spokeswoman Chris Bavender said.

Bookers attorney, Katherine Liell, said the FBI was questioning witnesses and that charging decisions could be made soon.

Daja Palmer reacts as she recounts her story of her personal journey to the hundreds of demonstrators at the Monroe County courthouse, Monday, July 6, 2020, in Bloomington, Ind., in response to the attack on Vauhxx Booker over the weekend. Booker, a local civil rights activist and member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission, says a group of white men assaulted him and threatened to get a noose after claiming that he and his friends had trespassed on private property as they gathered at an Indiana lake over the Fourth of July weekend. (Rich Janzaruk/The Herald-Times via AP)

We want this investigated as a hate crime. It was clearly racially motivated, Liell said. We will continue our quest every day until some justice is served.

Booker said hes pleased the FBI got involved.

Im sad that this happened, honestly, Booker said. I just wanted to have a good time with some friends.

Liell also complained that law enforcement officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources did not move rapidly enough in response to reports of the attack. She said their failure to make arrests at the scene warrants further investigation from other law enforcement agencies.

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton said at the news conference that police continue to search for two people accused of knocking a woman unconscious and dragging a man with their car at a protest over the assault on Booker.

Police Capt. Ryan Pedigo told The Associated Press that the confrontation happened near the Monroe County courthouse in Bloomington on Monday evening.

A male passenger got out of a red Toyota car and went to move an electric scooter that had been left in the road near the protest site, Pedigo said. A 29-year-old woman approached the car and placed her hands on the hood, he said.

The driver accelerated into the woman, launching her onto the hood. A 35-year-old man then grabbed the drivers side of the car and held on as the vehicle continued to accelerate. Both were eventually flung to the ground and the car fled the scene, Pedigo said.

The woman was knocked unconscious and suffered a cut to her head, while the man scraped his arm. She was transported by ambulance to a hospital but her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, Pedigo said. Authorities have not released the identities of the injured nor said if they were participating in the protest.

The red Toyota has not been located and investigators are still trying to determine the identities and location of the male passenger and female driver, police said in a news release.

Several protesters provided police with cellphone footage, Pedigo said.

The event last evening is being actively and aggressively investigated right now, Hamilton said. We are taking whatever steps it takes to bring justice to that event.

The protesters had gathered in Bloomington, about 50 miles (80 kilometres) southwest of Indianapolis, to demand arrests in the assault on Booker.

This story has been corrected to show that Chris Bavender is an FBI spokeswoman

Casey Smith 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.
The Supreme Court today settled  at least for now  a decades worth of litigation over the womens health provisions of the Affordable Care Act, ruling 7-2 that employers with a religious or moral objection to providing contraceptive coverage to their employees may opt out without penalty.

The ACA itself did not require that contraceptives be covered. Rather, it called for preventive health services for women to be included in most insurance plans and left it to the Department of Health and Human Services to figure out which ones. In the Obama administration, HHS asked the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) to recommend which services had enough scientific evidence backing them to be added, and FDA-approved methods of contraception were named by the institute.

The ruling said that the Trump administration was within its rights to exempt such religious nonprofit agencies as the Catholic order Little Sisters of the Poor, which was the lead plaintiff in the case, from having to facilitate contraceptive coverage for their employees. We hold today that the departments had the statutory authority to craft that exemption, as well as the contemporaneously issued moral exemption, wrote Justice Clarence Thomas in the majority opinion.

Womens health groups were quick to decry the ruling, even though liberal Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan agreed with the outcome.

The Supreme Court just ruled that your boss or your university can, based on their own objections, take away your birth control coverage, tweeted Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political arm of Planned Parenthood. The fact that the Court allowed this attack birth control coverage under the ACA in 2020  and which has benefitted over 62 million people  shows the war on our reproductive health care isnt just about access to abortion. Its everything.

Pull Quote In a 7-2 ruling for the Little Sisters of the Poor, the Supreme Court said employers with religious or moral objection to contraceptives should not be forced to provide insurance coverage for them.

Since the enactment of the ACA, some religious groups and business owners had objected bitterly to certain types of contraceptives, arguing that they should not be forced to provide the services to workers.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that closely held corporations like the craft chain Hobby Lobby did not have to abide by the contraceptive coverage requirement. But that did not settle the issue completely.

From the start, the Obama administration exempted churches and other religious entities from the coverage requirement. Still, there was an outcry for relief from religious nonprofit groups, such as hospitals and universities. And that battle has raged while Obama officials offered compromise after compromise, to no avail.

The last Obama rule allowed religious nonprofits to opt out of providing coverage directly by signing a form that would transfer the financial and administrative responsibility for coverage to their health insurer. But the organizations  including the Little Sisters of the Poor, which operates long-term care homes for low-income seniors  insist that the act of signing the form facilitates the coverage and makes them complicit in sin.

The Supreme Court took up the case  actually seven cases bundled together  in 2016. But with only eight justices on the bench following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia earlier that year, the court deadlocked 4-4 and sent the cases back to the lower courts, with orders to try to find a compromise that would allow employees to receive coverage without compromising the religious beliefs of the employers.

Pull Quote The fact that the court allowed this attack on birth control coverage under the ACA in 2020 shows the war on our reproductive health care isnt just about access to abortion. Its everything. Planned Parenthood Action Fund

After Donald Trumps election, the controversy continued  but in reverse. The Trump administration issued rules to give organizations with not just religious but also moral objections to birth control the ability to opt out. That rule prompted a lawsuit by advocates of reproductive rights, who argued that women should have the right to no-cost contraception. That position was joined by state governments, whose leaders feared that if employers were to opt out, then states would end up paying more for contraceptive programs and costs associated with unwanted pregnancies.

The addition of moral objection is a dramatic expansion, said Michael Fisher, who argued the case on behalf of Pennsylvania during the courts oral arguments in May. Fisher said the provision was so broad that employers could deny contraceptive coverage because they morally object to women being in the workplace.

The decision is likely to have a political impact larger than the loss of no-cost birth control for hundreds of thousands of women. While the court will not decide a broader case challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act before Novembers election, it could boost the laws fate back onto the electoral front burner.

Contact Julie Rovner at , @jrovner.
Amid ongoing border restrictions, travel-related health fears, and the global economic downturn caused by COVID-19, Canada can expect immigration levels to be down sharply in 2020, a new report from RBC said.

The disruption will reverberate across the economy, given our reliance on immigration for labour-force growth and to offset Canadas aging demographic, the banks analysts predicted.

Canada has been one of the worlds top destinations for immigrants, and this year was supposed to be no exception. As late as March 12th, Ottawa was still committed to a plan calling for up to 370,000 new permanent residents in 2020, a tally that would have exceeded 2019s record-setting 341,000 newcomers.

Four days later, concerns about the spread of COVID-19 led Canada to implement travel restrictions that for all intents and purposes shut down immigration.

Among the potential casualties: industries with labour shortages, urban rental and housing markets, and university budgets.

Canada will need a younger and growing population to maintain growth and support the unprecedented expansion of the fiscal deficit that came in response to the crisis.

Key points highlighted in the report include;

 Permanent resident additions were down 30% in March versus a year earlier

 Temporary foreign worker entries in the agricultural sector fell 45% in March from a year earlier

 The number of students entering on study visas fell 45% in March from a year earlier

 The net loss of new permanent residents this year could total up to 170,000

The bank said travel restrictions and border closures cut off the flow of newcomers into Canada in mid-March. Only those whose permanent residency or study permits had been approved before March 18 are allowed to enter Canada, and in March permanent-resident additions were 30% below last years level.

If these restrictions last all summer, we expect to see 170,000 fewer permanent residents entering the country in 2020 than plannedall in a year in which Canada was supposed to welcome a record number of newcomers.

While temporary foreign workers are exempt from entry restrictions, fewer are coming. The overall number of TFWs entering Canada in March was down 35% versus the same month last year. In the agriculture sectorwhere they represent a key source of labourthe drop was an even sharper 45%, mainly to due big declines from the key source countries of Mexico, Guatemala and Jamaica. One possible explanation: TFWs are required to isolate in Canada for 14 days before starting to workmaking the economic calculus for these workers that much more difficult. While Canada is offering $1,500 per worker to help buffer these costs, similar quarantines may exist in their home countries, limiting their ability to work once they get home. Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia are especially at risk of TFW shortages in agriculture.

Refugee resettlementwhich delivered around 150,000 newcomers to Canada in the last five years and has been a key source of pride for the federal Liberalshas stopped entirely.

There were also 45% fewer students entering on study visas in March, and fall enrolments are likely to be down sharply amid travel restrictions and a broad, possibly permanent shift to remote learning.

A lengthy slowdown in arrivals threatens growth, and an aging Canada has relied almost entirely on immigrants to grow

In 2019, Canadas population grew by about 580,000 people (or 1.6%), with immigrants accounting for more than 80% of the increase. While more than 30% of the overall population is at least 55, only 8% of immigrants are. Indeed, almost two-thirds of immigrants are in the prime working ages between 25 and 54. Without immigration over the past 15 years, Canada would have aged on a similar trajectory as 1990s Japan. Instead, Canada is one of the younger

Nearly all of Canadas largest cities have seen GDP grow faster than the national average, reflecting their large immigrant populations. In fact, with closed borders, Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal would all have seen declines in population in 2019, as Canadian-born millennials fled for more affordable outlying areas. A slowdown in immigrant-related demand for homes could squeeze the rental and housing markets.

Even before the pandemic, Canada relied on immigration to offset the fiscal challenge posed by an aging population. With the tab of fighting COVID-19 already nearing $160 billion, Canada needs a growing labour force more than ever. Canada entered this crisis with a federal debt-to-GDP ratio (31%) that was lower than many other major economies, but limited fiscal wiggle room to maintain it, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office. Its projections, however, assumed Ottawa would maintain healthy immigration numbers, and didnt take into account the added costs of supporting a COVID-stricken economy.

Canadas colleges and universities have come to rely on international students to bolster enrolment as growth in domestic students plateaued over the past 10 years. While those international students who are already in Canada to study are allowed to remain, closed bordersand schools move to online learningcould weigh on enrolments this fall. That reduction could also hurt the small businesses and landlords who depend on these students for revenue. International students contribute over $6 billion in tuition alone each year. (Consider the University of Toronto, which has seen international enrolments double since 2010 to 25% of the student body. If just one-fifth of its foreign students decide not to study in Canada this year, it could see a shortfall of around $200 million on a $3 billion budget.) A decline in foreign students could also affect whats been an important source of new permanent residents. Last year, some 11,000 new permanent residents had previously studied in Canada.
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Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2020 9:14 am

Three presidential electors in Washington who refused to vote for Hillary Clinton after she carried the state in the 2016 election can be fined $1,000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.

In a unanimous decision, the nation's highest court upheld Washington's "faithless elector" law in effect at the time, which penalizes people sent to the Electoral College by the state's political parties if they cast their vote for someone other than the state's winner.

The decision, which explores the history of the Electoral College with a few asides to modern culture, was the last appeal for Peter Chiafalo, Levi Guerra and Esther John, whose failed effort to keep Donald Trump from becoming president fizzled nearly four years ago.

"The Constitution's text and the nation's history both support allowing a State to enforce an elector's pledge to support his party's nominee -- and the state voters' choice -- for president," Justice Elena Kagan wrote in the majority opinion signed by seven others. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a concurring opinion.

The Constitution gives the states the power to appoint electors, and nothing in it says a state can't enforce an elector's pledge with a penalty or taking it away as a condition of that appointment, she wrote.

The three electors had claimed the Founding Fathers meant for people sent to the Electoral College to exercise their discretion in picking a president.

"The Constitution is barebones about electors," Kagan wrote. "The electors' claim has neither text nor history on its side."

An executive with the Campaign Legal Center said in a news release that the decision should give voters confidence that the political system would be free from corruption.

"However far from perfect the current system may be, the chaos of an unbounded Electoral College would have been even worse," said Paul Smith, the center's vice president for litigation and strategy.

Lawrence Lessig, one of the attorneys who argued the electors should not have been bound to vote for Clinton, said the ruling removed "one uncertainty about the Electoral College." A group he represents, Equal Citizen, will begin discussions to identify fixes to the system that a majority of Americans can support, he said.

After the 2016 election, the three electors said they had a plan to persuade enough Trump electors in other states to switch their votes to another candidate so that neither Clinton nor Trump would have a majority in the Electoral College. The outcome of the election would then be up to the House of Representatives.

The plan failed, with only seven electors nationwide agreeing to change their votes. Chiafalo, Guerra and John voted for former Gen. Colin Powell, and a fourth elector in Washington voted for Faith Spotted Eagle, the leader of the protest against a pipeline in South Dakota.

At the time, Washington had a law that allowed the secretary of state to fine any elector who didn't vote for the winner of the state's presidential election $1,000. It was passed in the late 1970s, after a Republican faithless elector, Mike Padden, voted for Ronald Reagan in 1976 even though Gerald Ford won the state in the balloting for president.

There was no penalty then. Padden later served as a Spokane County District Court judge and was elected to the state House of Representatives. He is currently the state senator for the 4th Legislative District representing Spokane Valley.

Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman fined the four faithless electors in the 2016 election $1,000, and Chiafalo, Guerra and John appealed, first through an administrative process and later through state courts. They lost at every step, including at the state Supreme Court, before taking the constitutional question to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kagan's opinion examines the history behind the Electoral College, first described in Article 2, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution.

"Begin at the beginning," she writes, noting electors originally cast two votes for president; the winner got the top spot and the runner up was vice president. In 1796, that meant President John Adams was from one party and Vice President Thomas Jefferson was from a different party.

"One might think of this as fodder for a new season of 'Veep,' " Kagan wrote.

Four years later, the electors cast an equal number of ballots for Jefferson and Aaron Burr, throwing the race into the House of Representatives, which needed 36 ballots to elect Jefferson.

"Alexander Hamilton secured his place on the Broadway stage -- but possibly in the cemetery too -- by lobbying Federalists in the House to tip the election to Jefferson, whom he loathed but viewed as less of an existential threat to the Republic," she wrote, a reference to the hit musical "Hamilton" and the fact that Burr later killed Hamilton in a duel over something else.

That led to the 12th Amendment, that requires electors to cast separate votes for president and vice president, which was in line with the nation's party system.

By the 20th century, most voters in most states voted for the candidates themselves on ballots that didn't even list electors, she wrote. States expected electors chosen by the political parties to vote for that party's winning candidate. About 60 years ago, some states started imposing sanctions for electors who didn't, including fines like Washington had.

"The state instructs its electors that they have no ground for reversing the vote of millions of its citizens," Kagan wrote. "That direction accords with the constitution -- as well as with the trust of the nation that here, We the People, rule."

Justice Thomas agreed that a state's ability to fine electors was constitutional, but on different grounds. The majority was reading too much into the original and amended language about the Electoral College as giving states the right to pass such laws, he wrote. Instead, that power is granted through the 10th Amendment, which reserves all powers to the states that aren't specifically enumerated for the federal government, he wrote.

The result is the same. But for Washington, the constitutionality of fines for faithless electors later this year and in future presidential elections may be moot.

After the 2016 election, the Legislature changed the state's faithless elector law, removing the fine but requiring any elector who does not cast a vote for the winner of the state's presidential election to be removed and replaced with an alternate who would vote for the winner.
By Ingrid Meulemans

meuleman@grinnell.edu

Two weeks after the first detected case of the novel coronavirus in a staff member, the Mayflower Community has issued a press release stating that a second case of COVID-19 has been diagnosed on their campus  this time in a resident.

The resident, according to Mayflower Executive Director Steve Langerud, is being cared for an in isolated area of the Mayflowers Health Center. In the July 7 press release, Langerud assured friends and family of Mayflower staff and residents that all precautions are being taken, and that staff will continue their vigilant efforts to prevent the spread of the virus throughout the Mayflower Community.

The Mayflower Community, which is currently adhering to the strict reopening requirements that are outlined in the state of Iowas Phase I plan, will also continue to implement the extensive measures that they have personally taken to keep COVID-19 away from their residents thus far.

The new case was discovered during one of the routine three-times-a-day screenings for residents. Moving forward, staff will continue to wear full personal protective equipment (PPE), according to Kellie McGriff, BSN, NHA, associate director and administrator of the Mayflower Community.

We have followed this prevention regimen since the COVID-19 was first identified in the U.S., said McGriff in the press release.

For the 280 people who continue to live on the Mayflower Campus, Langerud said that there will be an increase in overall communication to ensure safety and efficiency. There also will be frequent updates posted to the Mayflowers website and social media channels for concerned friends and family members.

The Mayflower staff, who has, for the most part, helped keep COVID-19 from their residents, wants to reassure community members of the precautions they will continue to be taking and implementing.

We are taking every step as recommended by authorities to contain the spread, said Langerud in the release. We want to make residents, their families, our dedicated staff and our community aware of this development and reassure everyone that we are on top of the situation.
HEFEI -- A bridge dating back over 480 years to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) collapsed in floodwaters Tuesday in East China's Anhui province.

Zhenhai Bridge, a state-level cultural relics protection site located in Tunxi district in the city of Huangshan, was destroyed by the roaring Xin'an River at 9:50 am during a heavy rainstorm starting Monday evening.

No casualties were reported as local people had been evacuated and traffic on the bridge had been blocked.

The bridge, 133 meters long and 15 meters wide, was initially constructed in 1536 and rebuilt several times in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).




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MBABANE  SARFED has reacted to reports suggesting that there might be a restriction on South Africas exports.



This is because Eswatini imports about 70 per cent of goods, mainly food stuffs, from South Africa. The Southern Africa Research Foundation for Economic Development Regional Coordinator, George Choongwa, said if there would be an introduction of any export limit by South Africa, it would create serious food shortage and insecurity in the country.



So far, according to United Nations report, the COVID-19 pandemic cut global trade values by not less than three per cent in the first quarter of this year.

This might be worse as the pandemic advances and import-based economies like Eswatini might have serious negative implications.

The country imports about 70 per cent of its commodities from South Africa and any decision taken by that country to restrict export might create serious negative ripple effects on the Eswatini economy if no contingency measure is taken on time.



It is expected that in meeting their local demands of goods, especially basic ones, most of the exporting countries, including South Africa, might introduce either a total ban or restrictions (quotas) on exporting/ importing both to and from other countries, including Eswatini.



economic



This might lead and plunge the economy into a socioeconomic recession where the reduction of economic activities will disadvantage the entire economy of the country, both at micro and macro level.



Unlike the financial-based recession where mostly the affected were the huge, formal institutions like banks and companies, the expected recession will have a huge negative impact on both micro and macro-economic, affecting and ravaging both rich and poor. It might hit even the poor of the poorest in the society since it will be a socioeconomic-driven recession, said Choongwa.



As a way forward, SARFED is recommending that government can subsidise local production of basic goods, especially in the agriculture sector, so as to maintain consumers buying power.



Regulation of prices commodity may not be ideal as producers would need to meet the demands of high cost of production due to unfavourable trading landscape. However, governments revision of production policies would save the economy from having a market failure, said Choongwa.








MBABANE  The Ministry of Health has invested over E6 million to guard against the theft of medication stock.



This is because the medication stock will now be monitored electronically and intelligently at the Central Medical Stores (CMS).



The ministry, through its stakeholder, the National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA), has provisionally awarded a tender worth E6 039 548 (USD$ 353.848) to Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) for electronic logistics management information systems for CMS. CHAI is a global organisation that was founded in 2002 with a transformational goal to help save the lives of millions of people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world by dramatically scaling up antiretroviral treatment.



NERCHA Chief Financial Officer Dumisani Kunene said the electronic logistics management information system was an inventory management system, which basically tracked commodities from a health facility and linked up to CMS. He said it was a stock management system that rested at a facility, for instance, at hospitals.



It would interface with CMS so that the hospitals could place orders electronically and CMS could have visibility of all stock levels at facility level to ensure that there were no expired or minimum wreckages or no wreckages at all.



What is happening currently is that they are pushing papers from a facility to CMS and the latter does not have online visibility of the stock levels at health facilities. The information that CMS has to manage the stock is following behind so this initiative is trying to ensure that CMS has visibility of the stock and they can instruct facilities to exchange stock with others to avoid being in possession of some of the expiring medication, he said.



Kunene further explained that the system was also meant to avoid stock-outs. He said in the event the storeman at CMS forgot to requisition medication, they could simply just push the medication to that facility through the system.



Record



If a truck leaves CMS to deliver at a health facility, they would record what is expected to be delivered in those facilities and as the truck delivers, the people in those facilities would log into the system to capture the arriving stock and CMS, on a quick basis, would be able to reconcile, he said.

Kunene said to guard against the disappearance of medication, government needed the system but he stated that it would of course be enhanced by the availability of security cameras at CMS.



If the medication stock has been delivered at the heath facility and while being utilised, CMS will have access of the records of the usage of the medication through the same system. No medication will be utilised without CMS knowing about it and it would be easy for CMS to hold people accountable in cases of theft of the medication when the organisation does its stock count, said Kunene.

Incidents of drugs being stolen at CMS have been reported in the past.

In March 2016, this publication reported that expired drugs, worth about E10 million, were stolen from the CMS.



This was according to the Auditor Generals report for the year ended March 2015, which stated that the drugs were stolen and probably sold, which was hazardous to the health of the nation.



Meanwhile, CHAI beat two local and two South Africa-based companies to the multi-million tender. Coming second after CHAI process was West Chase Consultants, a local company that scored 71 per cent on the evaluation process. Another local company in CYB/SAB came third and scored 53 per cent in evaluation.



Score



The others are Mint Group and ACCTECH Solutions both from South Africa and they scored 39.8 and 47.5 per cent hence failing to meet the minimum qualifying technical score of 70 per cent.



It must be noted that, in terms of Section 45(2) of the Act, the above contract award decision does not constitute a contract. Further, in terms of section 45(4), 46, and 47 of the Act, all tenderers who submitted bids are hereby notified that a period of 10 working days is hereby allowed for submission of any application for review from the above stated date of first publication of this notice, reads the notice of the tender.
MBABANE  Some elderly people will no longer be eligible to benefit from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) food aid programme.



Mainly to be affected are those who receive an elderly grant from government yet have a lot of responsibilities such as taking care of grandchildren, among other things. A health motivators (bagcugcuteli) sensitising programme yesterday revealed that some elderly, who received elderly grants, will no longer be registered for the food relief.



The relief is meant to assist households that were affected by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.Affected families are given food parcels and in some instances, they get E700 as a cash-based transfer.



This money is meant to purchase food items. Bagcugcuteli from the Mbabane West Constituency were told not to register elderly people who were receiving elderly grants through the Deputy Prime Ministers Office. This was yesterday when they were being trained and sensitised at the Mbabane Inkhundla Centre, next to the Mbabane Police Station. They were being sensitised on the second phase of the registration process.



A source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the health motivators were sternly told not to register elderly who were also beneficiaries of the elderly grants. They were told not to register them, even if they did so the first time. The elderly will continue receiving their money from the DPMs Office, said the source. Elderly registered for grants receive E500 monthly. Some receive it through the various banks while others get it after three months as a lump sum of E1 500 through the Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) or MTN Mobile Money.



Registration



The source said during the training session, they were sternly told to be vigilant when carrying out the registration process so as not to include the elderly registered for grants.

Lobamba Indvuna Yenkhundla Bheki Bhembe said some elderly in Ezulwini were not registered for the second phase of the food aid. The second registration was different from the first one. This time around, a few elderly were registered. Only 10 elderly were registered from each chiefdom, said Bhembe.



According to Bhembe, the registered elderly were those that were destitute and looked after orphans. He said the elderly with less responsibilities were not registered. NDMA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Russell Dlamini confirmed that some elderly were not eligible for the food aid programme.

We have to be very thoughtful with the funds that we have so many people who need the relief. We are eliminating duplication by not registering elderly who are already receiving grants from the DPMs Office, he said.

Worth noting is that the NDMA food aid programme was solely established for COVID-19 relief.
MBABANE  Yesterday, the country recorded its 14th death of a COVID-19 positive patient.

The deceased is a 45-year-old female from the Region.



Her death was confirmed by the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, in a statement issued yesterday.

She said the woman had a recent history of travel to South Africa. The minister further stated that the woman passed on within 24 hours of admission to one of the health facilities in the country.



Her death follows that of three other COVID-19 patients last week. Among those who passed on last week was Swaziland Building Society (SBS) Managing Director Timothy Nhleko.The minister said they noted with concern the increase in the number of deaths of confirmed COVID-19 cases as a result of co-existing medical conditions.



We therefore urge the public to ensure that they do medical check-ups regularly, she said.

Meanwhile, there were 45 new cases that were reported yesterday and the total number of confirmed cases in the country now stands at 1 056. Of the confirmed cases, 21 were from Hhohho Region while Manzini had 20, three from Lubombo and one from Shiselweni.

There were five cases in the age bracket of zero to nine years while the 70 to 79 age-group had one. One case presented with a severe disease while 12 were mild and 32 were asymptomatic. There are six more recoveries, putting the total at 570. This means that there are 472 active cases in the country.
MBABANE  You cannot rest on your laurels and approach the court when the horse has already bolted.

This submission was made by Assistant Attorney General Mbuso Simelane when pleading with the court to dismiss the urgent application filed by the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT).



SNAT is challenging the opening of schools in the country amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. Respondents in the matter are the minister of Education and Training, prime minister and the attorney general.



Simelane told the court that by the time SNAT filed the urgent application on Monday afternoon, pupils were already home from school.

The application by SNAT has been overtaken; as we speak now My Lord, children and teachers are already at school, argued Simelane.



Resolution



During the arguments of the matter yesterday, government raised four points of law, which included lack of urgency, resolution, locus standi and academic prayer.



Simelane told Industrial Court Judge Dumisani Mazibuko that the case of the applicant (SNAT) should not be enrolled as an urgent application.

According to the governments lawyer, the association, in its papers, did not plead why the matter should overtake other matters that were on the roll relating to labour disputes dating back to 10 years.



The applicant has deviously not mentioned as to when it became aware that the schools would be opened in order to ambush the respondents by the urgent application, which was brought on strict time- lines, contended Simelane.



He told the court that this was in direct conflict with Rule 15(4) of the Industrial Court rules of 2007. The assistant attorney general further informed the court that government was given only two hours to argue the application as the papers were served at the office of the attorney general after hours, at 4:45pm on July 6, 2020 yet the matter had been set down for hearing of July 7, 2020 at 10am.



SNAT was aware as of June 5, 2020 about the initial proposal to open Form V classes on July 1, 2020, which opening was later postponed to July 6, 2020 on June 11, 2020.



There is no explanation in the papers why the application could not be moved soon thereafter, averred the assistant attorney general.

He also told the court that SNAT fully participated in ensuring that schools opened on July 6, 2020, thus this was allegedly a knee-jerk reaction without any attempt to meet the requirements of Rule 15(2) of the Industrial Court.



Rule 15(1) reads as follows: A party that applies for urgent relief shall file an application that so far as possible complies with the requirement of Rule 14. The affidavit in support of the application shall set forth explicitly; the circumstances and reasons which render the matter urgent and the reason why the applicant cannot be afforded substantial interest in due course.



Urgent



Meanwhile, SNAT lawyer Lucky Howe contended that the application was urgent in that the teachers had been directed by government to proceed to open high schools in Eswatini.



The matter is urgent and I am of the considered view that it is because of the danger to the applicant and the students which is imminent. From the information and daily report by the prime minister, the rate of infection is climbing at an alarming rate thus exposing the teachers and the students, argued the senior lawyer.



Howe also highlighted that some of SNAT members had underlying conditions and could not return to schools as they were and without safety measures in place.

SNAT is among other prayers seeking an order interdicting the minister of Education and Training and the prime minister from directing that all high schools teaching Form V in the Kingdom of Eswatini should be required to open.



The association is further praying for an order directing the minister of Education and Training and the prime minister to provide all teachers with all the personal protective equipment (PPE) prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to avoid the contracting and transmission of COVID-19.

The teachers averred that this would enable them to perform their obligations without limiting the generality hereof to provide adequate ablution facilities, water, hand sanitisers, face masks, disposable gloves, cleaning and sanitising material for all classrooms as well as appropriate safety.



The applicant (SNAT) also wants the court to direct government to comply with the provisions of Sections 9 and 18 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, together with the directive issued by the prime minister to the effect that all persons including teachers, staff and learners should wear face masks in public spaces such as schools.



SNAT is pleading with the court to direct government to provide its members with a safe and healthy workplace, with appropriate safety conditions as per the dictates of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, by ensuring that all work places at every school were sanitised.



The association also wants the State to be interdicted from subjecting its members to any changes of the terms and conditions of employment as per the directive of the principal secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training.



The respondents should be interdicted from declaring that the non-attendance by members of the applicant to their respective workplace is a violation of the terms and conditions of employment, reads one of the prayers.



Compliance



It further prayed that the court should declare that, until there has been compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, all the present schools in the Kingdom of Eswatini were not safe places to work due to unsafe conditions of each workplace and the members being at serious risk. In the event government fails to comply, SNAT wants the court to order it to suspend the opening of all schools until it has complied.



Alternatively, the association is praying for an order that, pending compliance, government should be ordered to provide training to its members on long distance teaching, via available technology, for the purpose of teaching the learners remotely and to provide the learners with adequate equipment and devices to learn remotely.



The matter is still pending in court. Simelane was appearing along Mbuso Dlamini and Siboniso Hlawe, both from the chamber of the attorney general.
MANZINI  There was panic at Salesian High School as a pupil was suspected to be infected with the coronavirus.



This happened on the second day of the reopening of schools following their spontaneous closure on March 18, 2020.

At the school, which is located within the perimeters of the central business district (CBD) of Manzini, one of the pupils recorded a body temperature of 37C.

According to the Head teacher, Petros Horton, the security guard then informed the schools authorities about the high temperature reading.



Personnel from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were contacted. However, Horton said getting hold of the EMS personnel proved futile.

At this instance, he said they decided to contact the Eswatini National Fire and Emergency Services (ENFES) to report the incident. He said the ENFES personnel were quick to respond to the distress call and upon arrival, they advised the school authorities to seek the presence of the EMS.

Horton said the reasoning behind the need for the EMS personnel was because they were trained on issues related to COVID-19.



Clinic



The fire personnel said EMS was essential and when we contacted them, they asked if there was a nearby clinic or hospital. We responded to the affirmative; however, it was decided that it was best they see the pupil, Horton said.

Thereafter, Horton said the officers were able to convince the EMS personnel to attend to their call and they took the pupil to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital.



He said the school suspected that the pupil could have the common cold; however, they were not ready to take any chances as it was possible that some pupils could be asymptomatic.



The school has pupils residing in some of the hot spots that were identified by the Ministry of Health. These places include Fairview, Logoba, KaShali, Zakhele, Ngwane Park Police Camp and Mathangeni, among many. It was established that the pupil resided in one of the hot spots identified by the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, one of the people present when the learner was screened said: The (boy) pupil was crying and said he was not feeling well, but the head teacher informed him that this was not a death sentence it could be just the common cold.



On the other hand, the head teacher said he had followed up on the well-being of the pupil and had discovered that he was tested at the hospital and informed to self-isolate for two days.

Impeccable sources said the learner, when quizzed on his interactions and some of the symptoms he had, compelled personnel at RFM Hospital to suspect that he could have been exposed to COVID-19, hence he was tested.



Horton said after being tested, the learner was told that he would be contacted in two days for his results. When quizzed on what the school was doing differently, as it had pupils who were from hot spots, he said: Weve nothing special other than to screen them with the infrared thermometers.

Horton said despite the panic that was caused by the reading of the learner, the pupils adapted and proceeded with their lessons for the day.
Construction of three new high-speed railways connecting Anhui with Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang will start this year.

A feasibility research report on the high-speed railway linking Hefei in Anhui province and Xinyi in Jiangsu province has been approved.

China State Railway Group Co.is conducting a feasibility research on a high-speed rail line from Hefei to Nanjing of Jiangsu province and Shanghai, a major section of the high-speed railway along the Yangtze River.

In addition, the Jiangsu section of the intercity railway linking Nanjing with Huaian in Jiangsu province via Anhuis Tianchang is under construction, while preparatory work for the Anhui-section project is underway. (By Li Renjian)
MBABANE  The second day of the reopening of schools was much better in comparison to day one, as operations were smoother in most of the learning institutions.



However, there were some schools which still needed to be assisted with regard to adhering to all the guidelines put forth by government. Following the disorder experienced on Monday which included failure to observe social distancing by pupils, lack of water tanks and dysfunctional thermal scanners, yesterday saw an improvement in most schools.



During a visit by this reporter to some of the local schools, it was established that most learners were observing social distancing. The screening process at the gates also proved to be more efficient as the pupils and teachers arrived on time to undertake this exercise.



Lessons



This led to a majority of the schools beginning their lessons on time whereas on Monday, the teachers spent a better part of the day screening the pupils and sensitising them on the coronavirus.

Learning at St Francis High, which was among the institutions that experienced disorder on Monday, continued smoothly yesterday after the school put its house in order.



The school also had challenges with social distancing as crowding at the gate was observed and teachers had a difficulty controlling the pupils. However, this was not the case yesterday. According to a senior teacher at the school, Mfanimpela Mkhonta, they were able to correct their mistakes, including fixing the faulty thermal scanners that read wrong temperatures the previous day. Mkhonta said they started screening the pupils from as early as 7am to avoid any queues and possible crowding by pupils. He said they were happy that order was restored.



SOS Hermann Gmenier High School Head teacher Welcome Mhlanga, said generally everything went very well compared to the first day (Monday).

Mhlanga said the school was emphasising more on the guidelines to be adhered to by teachers and pupils.

He added that a COVID-19 session was allocated in the timetable, where pupils were guided on what they were expected to do. Mhlanga said they were receiving reports that some pupils were removing their masks. This, he said, did not only affect his school but others across the country, as most of them were not used to the masks and felt uncomfortable when wearing them.



We encourage them to put on the masks and wash their hands with soap and water constantly, he said.



Screening



Mhlanga noted that there was a habit of using illegal entry points by the pupils when they were late, something they discouraged as they had to go through the screening process.

KaSchiele High School Head teacher Nokuthula Mbatha said the progress at the school was impressive, adding that pupils had started their lessons. However, she said they were worried about the behavioural change among the pupils than the syllabus.

Mbatha said it was a bit hectic on Monday as it was the first day, but they were able to adjust. She stated that pupils were consistently wearing their masks properly. On the other hand, Woodlands High School Head teacher Lizzy Manyatsi said they were still adjusting to the new normal.



Manyatsi said there was a delay in the screening of pupils, caused by the fact that there was still panic among both teachers and learners who were worried about contracting COVID-19. The situation was worse on the first day of school, but it is getting better with each day, she said. She said the school dedicated the entire first day to sensitise pupils on COVID-19 and allocated half an hour in their timetable everyday to COVID-19 education. The head teacher said they had also encouraged the pupils to avoid sharing books.



Manyatsi said they were experiencing challenges on issues of social distancing during break and lunchtime as the pupils were not used to it. On another note, she stated that marking was tiresome for teachers who had to sanitise after marking each exercise book.



Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza said they were impressed with the progress made by the schools. Mabuza said they realised the teething problems on the first day of opening, which she said was expected after closing for a very long time and under the conditions of the COVID-19 situation.

She said the improvement in ensuring safety for both teachers and pupils by most of the schools was commendable.



The minister said they were becoming worried about the behaviour displayed by the pupils who were loitering in town.

Pupils are all over town and not wearing masks, yet they were given these by government and they are not social distancing, she said.



Mabuza said they had engaged the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) to assist them in making sure that there was no pupil found loitering in town. She said pupils would contract the virus while hanging around town and pass it on to their families and schoolmates. The minister said this would seem as though they had contracted the virus in their various schools.
China criticized the United States planned withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), saying on Wednesday that the move will have grave implications for developing countries.

Beijing was urging the international community to step up support for the WHO, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters during a daily briefing.

The United Nations said on Tuesday the United States will leave the WHO on July 6, 2021 after receiving notification of the decision by President Donald Trump, who has accused the agency of becoming a puppet for China during the coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. withdrawal from WHO over claims of China influence to take effect July 2021  U.N.

The United States will leave the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 6, 2021, the United Nations said on Tuesday, after receiving notification of the decision by President Donald Trump, who has accused the agency of becoming a puppet for China during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump, who announced the decision over a month ago, has to give one-year notice of the U.S. withdrawal from the Geneva-based body and pay all Washingtons dues under a 1948 joint resolution of the U.S. Congress. The United States currently owes the WHO more than $200 million in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website.

After more than 70 years of membership, the United States moved to quit the WHO amid escalating tensions with China over the coronavirus pandemic. The virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

The WHO has denied assertions by Trump that it promoted Chinese disinformation about the virus.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi described Trumps official withdrawal as an act of true senselessness as WHO coordinates the global fight against COVID-19.

With millions of lives at risk, the President is crippling the international effort to defeat the virus, the Democratic leader posted on Twitter.

So far there have been nearly 12 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 540,000 known deaths worldwide, according to a Reuters tally, with about 25% of both cases and deaths in the United States.

Trumps decision could be overturned before it takes effect if he is defeated by his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, in a November election.

Trump had halted funding for the 194-member organization in April, then in a May 18 letter gave the WHO 30 days to commit to reforms. He announced the United States would quit less than two weeks later.

Vice President Mike Pence, asked in a Fox News Channel interview whether it was the right time to break with the WHO, said: Its absolutely the right time.

The World Health Organization let the world down  There have to be consequences to this, Pence said.

The WHO is an independent international body that works with the United Nations. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that the WHO is absolutely critical to the worlds efforts to win the war against COVID-19.

The Secretary-General  is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Tuesday.

Since taking office, Trump has also quit the U.N. Human Rights Council, the U.N. cultural agency, a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal. He has also cut funding for the U.N. population fund and the U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees.

SOURCE> REUTERS
Multinational auditing firm R.Tulsian is expanding its Bahrain presence in anticipation of future growth, opening its regional headquarters at the Bahrain Financial Harbour to be closer to key clients.

The company is also in the advanced stages of establishing offices in Saudi Arabia and Oman, enabling it to support a growing number of clients across the region with essential auditing functions.

The decision to base its regional headquarters in Bahrain demonstrates the firms continued confidence in the kingdoms accounting industry, which has been witnessing a boom following the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) legislation, despite the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

R.Tulsian Chartered Accountants Middle East Group Partner, Shashwat Tulsian said: The current crisis has left many businesses facing a cash crunch and trying desperately to cut costs wherever possible. However, auditing remains a vital task, with companies still needing experienced professionals to help with essential functions. During June, which was the last month for completion and submission of audited financial statements for most companies, we saw a surge in demand for auditing services as businesses tried to catch up with the timeline. With support from our UAE, Saudi, and Oman teams, our expanded Bahrain office helps clients with these support functions so that they can focus on what matters most, getting their businesses back on track.

Tulsian added: We strongly believe that the accounting industry has a vital role to play in supporting the kingdom, especially during these challenging times. The introduction of VAT in Bahrain has encouraged a positive change in the way companies manage their businesses, including a heightened focus on properly maintaining accounting records. This greater transparency and precision will help to increase investor confidence in the kingdom, inviting more foreign direct investment.

R.Tulsian is one of only a few multinational auditing firms to receive a Bahrain Audit License from the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, authorising it to offer internal and external auditing services in the kingdom. The Bahrain licence follows the successful acquisition of a 21-year-old accounting practice in the UAE, and audit licenses for Saudi and Oman are expected to follow soon.

Leveraging more than five decades of experience in accounting and finance within diverse industries, R.Tulsian serves clients across the world in the US, UK, UAE, India, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. The company provides a range of services to SMEs and corporate customers, including auditing, taxation, accounting, financial structuring, mergers and amalgamations, and business consultancy, among others. -- Tradearabia News Service
TechnipFMC has signed a major engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with Assiut National Oil Processing Company (ANOPC) for the construction of a new hydrocracking complex for the Assiut refinery in Egypt.

This EPC contract covers new process units such as a Vacuum Distillation Unit, a Diesel Hydrocracking Unit, a Delayed Coker Unit, a Distillate Hydrotreating Unit as well as a Hydrogen Production Facility Unit using TechnipFMCs steam reforming proprietary technology. The project also includes other process units, interconnecting, offsites and utilities.

The complex will transform lower-value petroleum products from Assiut Oil Refining Companys (ASORC) nearby refinery into approximately 2.8 million tonnes per year of cleaner products, such as Euro 5 diesel.

Catherine MacGregor, President of Technip Energies, stated: This award demonstrates TechnipFMCs long-standing relationship with the Egyptian petroleum sector and strengthens our expertise in the delivery of complex projects in the country. It comes after successful execution of the FEED(2), reflecting our selective approach and the importance of being involved at a very early stage of any development. Assiut is considered one of the major strategic projects needed to meet growing local demand for cleaner products, and we are extremely honoured to have been selected by ANOPC to contribute to the largest refining project to be implemented in Upper Egypt.

The company is working with ANOPC to complete the remaining conditions precedent to enable project work to commence. The company will include the contract award in its inbound when all the requirements are fulfilled.-- Tradearabia News Service
Mazoon Electricity Company, a leading electricity services provider in Oman, has launched chat services through its website as part of its efforts to enhance support experience for customers.

The easy and convenient service provides a perfect platform for the company to communicate with customers in real-time.

With no wait time, customer queries and requirements are promptly addressed through the chat service. Through this platform, customers can reach out for assistance by chatting, rather than placing a traditional call to the contact centre, said the statement from Mazoon.

To avail the chat service, customers have to login to the Mazoon Electricity website and fill in a form that requests for contact and nature of chat details like request, inquiry and complaints. Once the specifics are filled, the user can start chatting with the contact centre personnel, it stated.

"Understanding that building long-term relationships with customers is an absolute necessity, Mazoon Electricity is keen on offering its customers the advantage of the easy and convenient chat service," said a company spokesman.

While the company urges customers to use the chat service and experience the benefits of the service, it is confident they will appreciate the new channel of communication to reach out, he stated.

According to him, the direct contact chat service can answer common questions instantly and inform customers about Mazoon Electricitys services.

"The easily accessible and convenient electronic service can educate and guide customers about any clarifications they may have," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Two of Khalifa University of Science and Technology student teams have achieved the distinction of being among the Top 10 globally in the prestigious 2020 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Supermileage Competition.

They are pitting against teams from top international universities and becoming the only teams from the Arab world to showcase such a stellar performance.

The first Khalifa University team achieved 6th rank in the Overall category and was among the Top 3 in the Verbal Design Report; category, while the other team won the 10th place in the Overall category. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Collegiate Design Series had shifted the 2020 SAE Supermileage event onto a virtual platform.

The engineering design goal for SAE Supermileage is to conceive, design, and fabricate a single-person, three-wheel, extremely high fuel-economy vehicle with a single cylinder engine that complies with the Supermileage specifications. On a specified route, the vehicle obtaining the highest combined kilometers-per-gallon rating, in addition to design segment points, wins the competition.

Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: It is truly an honour for Khalifa University to take part in the SAE Supermileage international competition, a tough international challenge in which most of the highly-ranked international universities participate with their teams every year. It is also a privilege for our university that the two teams have remained ahead of any other academic institution from the Arab world in engineering excellence. Such top performance in an international competition was possible only because of our faculty experts who steered the students, continuously honing their innovation skills, and encouraging them. Congratulations to members of both the teams and all who supported them for this proud moment.

The first team included Abdulla A. Alameri, Abdulla F. Alrahma, Fares H. Alawwa, Karim Ahmad Younes, Khadeeja K. Aljaberi, Maryam A. Naqi, Mohammed A. Albastaki, Nawar F. Allabban, Shama Almazrouei, Suhail A. Alamri, and Sultan Al Hassanieh.

The second team members were Abdulla Alhammadi, Adonay Iker, Dhabia Alhammadi, Fatema Alzaabi, Kenan Al-Aqeel, Maryam Anuaimi, Natnael Haile, Saif El-Khasawneh, and Sumaya Alhebsi.

Both teams were assisted by Dr Bashar El-Khasawneh, Associate Professor, and Dr Andreas Schiffer, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering. Dr Reyad El-Khazali, Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Dr Ramzy Obaid, Adjunct Professor from King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.

Halcon System, a defence technology company owned by Abu Dhabi-based Yas Holding Group, has been the sole sponsor of Khalifa University SAE Supermileage team for the last three years.

Team members admitted that the most challenging part of the virtual event was the fact that they had to convince the judges with their work and the functionality of the vehicle, without exhibiting an actual prototype.

Yet, the team did a good job in presenting the validity of their models through demonstrating their deep understanding of all the aspects of the project and showing different kinds of analyses and simulations, starting from the fundamental ones right up to the more advanced.

Alameri said: The team was ecstatic when we realised that Khalifa University is the only Arab university among the Top 10. We worked very long and very hard for this, and in the end, our hard work paid off. Knowing that our efforts placed Khalifa University's and the UAE's name amongst some of the best, highest ranked universities in the world is a huge honor to every single team member, and we couldn't be prouder of our achievement.

Saif said: As a team making it into the top 10, communication was key, and most importantly, we valued each opinion and idea from all team members equally. This allowed us to progress as a team with fluidity.

Last year, the Khalifa University student team had won 8th place in the SAE Supermileage Competition. The SAE Competition rules stipulate that the vehicle must be fabricated by the team members without direct involvement from professional engineers, faculty and technical staff in the college/school or professionals in the automotive/motorsports community. -- Tradearabia News Service
M/V Safeen Tiger has made its maiden call to Abu Dhabi at Khalifa Port on inaugural voyage from India, a media report said.



The UIG service covering two loops from the UAE to Indian Sub-Continent and the Arabian Gulf is jointly operated by Abu Dhabi Ports Safeen Feeders and Bengal Tiger Line, reported Emirates news agency Wam.



The vessel will leave Khalifa Port on Wednesday, heading to DPWs Jebel Ali Terminal before proceeding to other Gulf and Indian Sub-Continent ports.



The service will allow for a timely and efficient exchange of container cargo between mainliner vessels and the vessels within the rotation calling at nine regional ports located across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Pakistan, and Western India.






Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference. [Photo/Xinhua]

A mainland spokeswoman on Tuesday voiced strong dissatisfaction with remarks made by the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan, or DPP, on the newly-announced enforcement rules of the national security law for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or HKSAR.

The implementation rules for Article 43 of the new national security law imposed on Hong Kong were announced on Monday and came into force the next day.

The rules clearly state in detail the procedural requirements and circumstances that must be met and conditions for approval when police officers implement the law.

The DPP authorities said the rules will destroy normal exchanges between Taiwan and Hong Kong and urged the HKSAR government to protect Taiwan residents' rights in Hong Kong.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the DPP authorities had a guilty conscience and made irresponsible and slandering remarks on the law and the rules.

The national security law for Hong Kong is an important measure to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, maintain Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, and ensure the steady and sustainable development of "one country, two systems", Zhu said.

It will effectively hit the separatist forces in Hong Kong and prevent and control national security risks. It is necessary and timely for the HKSAR to introduce and enforce the rules, she said.

"The DPP authorities' remarks once again expose its intention of interfering in Hong Kong affairs, destabilizing Hong Kong and seeking 'Taiwan independence'," she added.

Any attempt to interfere in Hong Kong's affairs, attack the "one country, two systems" principle and split the country is doomed to failure, the spokeswoman said.
Senior representatives from Dell Technologies and Pirelli have agreed that the acceleration of digital transformation is necessary to prepare for future disruptions.

While companies that embarked on digital transformation programmes years ago are now reaping the rewards and successfully navigating the disruption caused by the pandemic, those that didnt will fall further behind unless they invest in technology, they said at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2020) Digital Series.

The panelists agreed that while the Covid-19 pandemic has been harsh on many, businesses will learn valuable lessons from the crisis that should encourage them to future-proof their organisations by investing in advanced technologies, particularly those driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). It was also agreed that stronger collaboration between governments and multinationals is essential in order to prevent the digital divide from widening and leaving behind developing countries in light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Dr John O'Shea, Proactive Business Intelligence and Transformation, Dell Technologies, said the disruption caused by the pandemic has highlighted the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and its ability to optimise business processes.

"You have to gather more insights using AI, machine learning, and deep learning, so you can better prepare yourself for the future," he said.

Pier Paolo Tamma, Senior Vice President & Chief Digital Officer of Pirelli, said the companys digital transformation programme had provided it with the data and insights to adapt the capacity of its manufacturing plants and adjust its supply chains to future demand trends.

"We are working with artificial intelligence in order to optimise production, planning, and ultimately the efficiency and effectiveness of our sales force in order to address where demand will be generated," he said.

Though Dell Technologies and Pirelli are major global corporations, Dr OShea and Tamma agreed that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) could also learn valuable lessons from the pandemic that would help them to adapt to the new reality.

Pier Paolo Tamma said AI has proved incredibly successful at delivering insights and that smaller companies should look to invest in the technology.

"Thanks to our industrial IoT solution we are progressively connecting all the machinery that we have in the plants and applying real time data analysis with machine learning technology. The impact on the quality and the effectiveness of the production is very high. So there is a good business case to invest in this area."

Dr. OShea highlighted the role that connectivity has played in allowing businesses to maintain operations during the pandemic and that the continued roll out of 5G would be crucial in supporting businesses with digital transformation programmes.

He added that investment in critical infrastructure would be essential in the wake of the pandemic, especially for developing countries. However, he warned against the dangers of a widening digital divide if the spread of technology is uneven and that governments and multilateral organisations must co-ordinate with entrepreneurs and innovators to create best practices that would help move society forward.

"Having the balance level infrastructure of the networks is very important so 5G is going to be crucial moving forward. But you have approximately 46% of the global population that has no internet connection," he said.

"I think the pandemic has opened our eyes more and given us more empathy in relation to how we come together as humanity. I would say we need more collaboration in relation to governments coming together and discussing the economics."

Tamma said Pirelli could leverage valuable lessons from the pandemic to deal with another crisis in the future or even to help manage the risks of a potential second wave of COVID-19.

"What weve learned this year from applying digital technology in the industrial and manufacturing process is that we can leverage the power of data more and more to make better decisions," he said.

"Having the possibility to understand what is happening in each part of your company in real time and take the right decisions, this is a very big game changer and I think this is the way to enhance your business and adapt to what is happening in the market."

Hosted by journalist and news anchor Laura Buckwell, the virtual panel discussion on Industry Innovations titled Back to the Future: Digital Restoration is the second session of the #GMIS2020 Digital Series that will lead up to the Virtual Summit on September 4-5, 2020. The session is available to watch on-demand at https://bit.ly/2YHVHyY.

Through its Virtual Editions, the third edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2020), a joint initiative by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is bringing together high-profile thought-leaders and business pioneers from around the world to shape the future of manufacturing, discuss the impact of pandemics on global value chains, and highlight the role of fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies in restoring economic and social activities. TradeArabia News Service
Batelco, a leading digital solutions provider in Bahrain, has partnered top telecom provider Ooredoo, to set up Global Zone Kuwait, which will offer an ecosystem platform to further support digital transformation in the region.



The strategic partnership will enable the rollout of Global Zones regional expansion and support the growing regional ICT and connectivity needs.



As a result of further growing Global Zone and expanding into new markets, a seamless data centre interconnection is created and entirely powered by FASTtelco, the leading internet service provider (ISP) in Kuwait; acquired by Ooredoo in 2016.



Featuring state-of-the-art high density designed systems, Global Zone Kuwaitis being developed rapidly and supported by a superhighway network infrastructure. This entails Batelcos wholly owned terrestrial cable system, Batelco Gulf Network (BGN), ensuring both cost effective solutions to the end customers and superior performance.



Global Zone, a carrier-neutral data centre, which was launched in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2019, has a rich digital business solutions portfolio including Manama-IX, a carrier-neutral internet exchange, Cloud Connect solutions, and IPT solutions, which will also be available in Global Zone Kuwait, where Ooredoo Kuwait/FASTtelco and Batelcos partners can avail of these solutions for their business needs.



Adel Al-Daylami, Chief Global Business Officer at Batelco said: Batelco has always sought to broaden its reach, with the aim of meeting the needs of customers and partners across the region. Batelco also has a continued focus on developing the ecosystem required to meet the needs of its global customers and partners. We are very pleased to have Ooredoo Kuwait as a strategic partner to support our regional rollout plans for Global Zone to deliver enhanced services to our customers and to support business innovation that will ultimately benefit the entire region from carriers through to end users.

Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, Chief Business Officer at Ooredoo Kuwait and one of the pioneer executives at FASTtelco since its early years said: The expanded partnership with Batelco will give FASTtelco  Ooredoos owned ISP- access to a new set of products to further grow its portfolio by offering AWS DX, Global Zone, MPLS and MN-IX.



The establishment of Global Zone Kuwait - this extensive regional footprint - will provide our clients with access to additional global fiber routes for minimized latency and ultra-high performance and I am certain that it will significantly boost FASTtelcos capacity to support local and regional businesses and organizations to meet demanding cloud applications, he added.



Batelcos expansion of Global Zone into the Kuwaiti market is essentially a stepping-stone into the ultimate rollout plan for the region that will eventually extend globally through Batelcos strategic partnerships, robust global network, and digital ecosystem.  TradeArabia News Service
Injaz Bahrain has successfully concluded this years version of its annual Young Entrepreneurs competition, which was held online for the first time ever.

The virtual competition witnessed 21 student companies from 13 high schools and 8 universities in Bahrain as they presented their projects virtually to the competitions judging panel.

The two-day event ran a busy agenda starting off with an Assessment Day on July 6, where students in the High School and University tracks commenced with panel interviews with the judges. The final day of the competition featured the virtual award ceremony where the winning teams were announced and livestreamed on Injaz Bahrains YouTube channel.

The competition witnessed great enterprising and entrepreneurial spirit which was brought forward by the participating students from around the kingdom in their competition to obtain the coveted University Company of the Year and High School Company of the Year titles in addition to University Product of the Year 2020, High School Product of the Year 2020, University Company for Best Social Impact 2020 and High School Company for Best Social Impact 2020 awards. Special awards this year include two signature awards  Excellence in Technology Award sponsored by Amazon Web Services Bahrain, and Excellence in Marketing Award sponsored by the National Bank of Bahrain.

Judges for this year featured Adnan Al Mahmood from GPIC, Nadera Abuali from Citi Bahrain, Yasser Al Qashar from Banagas, Khalid Al Sada from STC, Stefano Pettinato from the UNDP, Eman Janahi from Tamkeen, Nidal Al Basha from Amazon Web Services Bahrain, and Hisham Abu Alfateh from National Bank of Bahrain.

Injaz Bahrains National Company Competition sponsors are Tamkeen, Banagas, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and National Bank of Bahrain (NBB).

The 2020 Young Entrepreneurs Competition showcased current achievements and reflected on the growth and success of Injaz students throughout the year. This years edition included teams from Abdulrahman Kanoo International School, Al Iman Private Schools  Boys, Al Noor International School, Al Taawon Secondary School for Boys, Al Tadhamon Secondary Girls School, Al-Hidaya Al-Khalifia Secondary Boys Schools, Hamad Town Secondary Boys School, Ibn Khuldoon National School, Jidhafs Secondary Girls School, Jidhafs Secondary Technical Boys School, Khawla Secondary Girls School, Naseem International School, Sitra Secondary Girls School. While the participating universities include: British University of Bahrain, Kingdom University, Royal University for Women and University of Bahrain.

All participating teams impressed the judging panel with their creative ideas and ambition and the best six companies were named the winners of 2020 included: Sahim from Ibn Khuldoon National School won the High School Company of the Year 2020, and Al Malga from Kingdom University won University Company of the Year 2020.

Wain Adriss from Al Iman Private School  Boys Section won the High School Product of the Year 2020, and Shield from British University of Bahrain was presented with University Product of the Year 2020 award. Fe Al Darb from Sitra Secondary Girls School won the High School Best Social Impact Award, and Khosh Solutions from Royal University for Women was presented with University Best Social Impact Award.

Truck Me! from Hamad Town Secondary Boys School won the Excellence in Technology Award sponsored by AWS.

Shield from British University of Bahrain won the Excellence in Marketing Award sponsored by NBB.

Shaikha Hessa Bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Injaz Bahrain Chairperson, praised Injaz Bahrain as one of the leading initiatives to support our youth to start their entrepreneurial journeys: Our vision at Injaz Bahrain is to create a platform where young people are supported and motivated to channel their innovation and creativity into building a knowledge-based economy through our programmemes and partnerships. We believe in the potential of our youth and aim to inspire and prepare them to succeed in the global economy. We are very proud of this years student for their commitment and dedication to keep learning.

Commenting on the successful virtual competition, Hana Sarwani, Executive Director of Injaz Bahrain stated: The success of the company programme this year is a true testament to the outstanding dedication of everyone involved from students to board members and the exceptional leadership and guidance of Shaikha Hessa. The competition proves the readiness and agility of our youth and their ability to utilise their skills and creativity to adapt to the global challenges that the world faces.

The successful online competition brought together teams from across the kingdom to present entrepreneurial ideas and solutions and have display their outstanding ability to add value to different sectors and overcome present and future challenges. More than 240,000 students from across the kingdom have benefitted from Injaz programmes over the past 15 years.-- Tradearabia News Service
An EU tax on carbon emissions tied to imports would cut profits for foreign suppliers of oil, steel and other goods with high greenhouse gas footprints but could pose an opportunity for cleaner companies in the GCC to gain a competitive edge, a report said.



A plan being considered by the European Commission to tax the carbon emissions attributed to imported goods could create competitive advantages for foreign companies with low greenhouse gas footprints--and serious near-term challenges for other exporters, adding to financial strain caused by the Covid-19 crisis.



The tax could slash the profits generated by imported materials such as oil, flat-rolled steel, and wood pulp by a range of 10% to 65%, and impact both EU and non-EU producers of goods such as chemicals and machinery, according to new research released by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).



The study, whose findings were described in an article titled How an EU Carbon Border Tax Could Jolt World Trade, found that an EU carbon border tax, as the measure is commonly known, could also rewrite the terms of competitive advantage in one of the worlds biggest markets.



Higher prices for Russian crude oil, for example, could cause European chemical producers to import more from Saudi Arabia, where extraction methods leave a lower carbon footprint, which therefore could be taxed at a lower rate than, in this instance, Russian producers. And steel produced in Chinese or Ukrainian mills using blast-furnace technology would become less competitive in the EU against steel from other countries made in more carbon-efficient mills.



The details and timing of the policy are still to be determined and must be approved by legislators. But the study contends that some sort of carbon-pricing mechanism is likely to imposed on importsand companies should prepare.



GCC oil producers have an opportunity to gain market share in the EU market as their fuels will be less taxed compared to many other fuel importers which could ultimately influence EU players sourcing decisions and trading relationships, said Michael McAdoo, Partner and Associate Director, BCG Middle East. It is prudent however, for GCC companies to manage their carbon footprints with greater urgency, considering more decarbonization policies.



A carbon border tax is one of several measures the European Commission is considering as part of the European Green Deal, a bold initiative to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by 50% over the next decadecompared with the current target of 40%and make Europe the worlds first climate-neutral continent. A carbon tax on imports has strong support among the European Commission, environmentalists, and many European manufacturers, which have been paying for carbon emissions since 2005 under the EUs Emission Trading System (ETS) and demand a more level playing field against imports, especially from nations with more lax environmental standards.



As per BCGs findings, a carbon border tax would alter the competitive dynamics of crude oil alone, with efficient oil producers such as Saudi Arabia potentially paying between 30-50 percent less in carbon tax than countries such as Russia and Iraq.



Despite an EU carbon tax affecting all imports, 25% of the EU's carbon footprint comes from imported goods not covered by existing emissions pricing mechanisms. The tax implication is less severe to importers with relatively lower greenhouse gas emissions, such as Saudi Arabias crude production relative to Russia.



To capitalize on such scenarios, the onus is on regional CEOs to formulate and implement new strategies that will drive emission reduction across their operations and ensure they are well-positioned to reap the rewards of having competitive advantages, said Cristiano Rizzi, Managing Director and Partner, BCG.



Middle Eastern oil producers could consider a more structural advantage through new low emission alternatives. Furthermore, CEOs should first examine all sectors that stand to be impacted by an EU carbon tax, such as crude-derived exports and flat-rolled steel. Immediately afterward, they should act accordingly and proactively to ensure they are fully capable of benefitting. Given the uncertainty and unpredictability with the ongoing pandemic, every opportunity must be taken advantage of to ensure survival.



BCG has identified how CEOs can prepare for an EU carbon border tax:



 Measure exposure: Determine the companys emissions footprint and assess its position relative to its competitors.

 Adopt internal carbon pricing: Use parallel accounting to track the cost of carbon emissions and incorporate carbon costs into decision making.

 Build a playbook: Co-develop plans with key suppliers that have downstream exposure and established options and trigger points for actions as the EUs policy nears implementation.

 Navigate and shape policy: Stay abreast of policy developments and shape a fair low-carbon economy.  TradeArabia News Service
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released public opinion research showing the willingness to travel being tempered by concerns over the risks of catching Covid-19 during air travel. The industrys re-start plans address passengers main concerns.

Concerns for Travel During Covid-19..

Travellers are taking precautions to protect themselves from Covid-19 with 77 per cent saying that they are washing their hands more frequently, 71 per cent avoiding large meetings and 67 per cent having worn a facemask in public. Some 58 per cent of those surveyed said that they have avoided air travel, with 33 per cent suggesting that they will avoid travel in future as a continued measure to reduce the risk of catching Covid-19.

Travellers identified their top three concerns as follows:

At the Airport

1. Being in a crowded bus/train on the way to the aircraft (59 per cent)

2. Queuing at check-in/security/border control or boarding (42 per cent)

3.Using airport restrooms/toilet facilities (38 per cent)

On Board Aircraft

1. Sitting next to someone who might be infected (65 per cent)

2. Using restrooms/toilet facilities (42 per cent)

3. Breathing the air on the plane (37 per cent)

When asked to rank the top three measures that would make them feel safer, 37 per cent cited Covid-19 screening at departure airports, 34 per cent agreed with mandatory wearing of facemasks and 33 per cent noted social distancing measures on aircraft.

Passengers themselves displayed a willingness to play a role in keeping flying safe by:

 Undergoing temperature checks (43 per cent)

 Wearing a mask during travel (42 per cent)

 Checking-in online to minimise interactions at the airport (40 per cent)

 Taking a Covid-19 test prior to travel (39 per cent)

 Sanitising their seating area (38 per cent)

People are clearly concerned about Covid-19 when travelling. But they are also reassured by the practical measures being introduced by governments and the industry under the Take-off guidance developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These include mask-wearing, the introduction of contactless technology in travel processes and screening measures. This tells us that we are on the right track to restoring confidence in travel. But it will take time. To have maximum effect, it is critical that governments deploy these measures globally, said Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs Director General and CEO.

The survey also pointed to some key issues in restoring confidence where the industry will need to communicate the facts more effectively. Travelers top on board concerns include:

Cabin air quality: Travellers have not made up their minds about cabin air quality. While 57 per cent of travellers believed that air quality is dangerous, 55 per cent also responded that they understood that it was as clean as the air in a hospital operating theatre. The quality of air in modern aircraft is, in fact, far better than most other enclosed environments. It is exchanged with fresh air every 2-3 minutes, whereas the air in most office buildings is exchanged 2-3 times per hour. Moreover, High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters capture well over 99.999% of germs, including the Coronavirus.

Social distancing: Governments advise to wear a mask (or face covering) when social distancing is not possible, as is the case with public transport. This aligns with the expert ICAO Take-off guidance. Additionally, while passengers are sitting in close proximity on board, the cabin air flow is from ceiling to floor. This limits the potential spread of viruses or germs backwards or forwards in the cabin. There are several other natural barriers to the transmission of the virus on board, including the forward orientation of passengers (limiting face-to-face interaction), seatbacks that limit transmission from row-to-row, and the limited movement of passengers in the cabin.

There is no requirement for social distancing measures on board the aircraft from highly respected aviation authorities such as the US Federal Aviation Administration, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency or ICAO.

It is no secret that passengers have concerns about the risk of transmission onboard. They should be reassured by the many built-in anti-virus features of the air flow system and forward-facing seating arrangements. On top of this, screening before flight and facial coverings are among the extra layers of protection that are being implemented by industry and governments on the advice of ICAO and the World Health Organization. No environment is risk free, but few environments are as controlled as the aircraft cabin. And we need to make sure that travelers understand that, said de Juniac.

No Quick Solution

While nearly half of those surveyed (45 per cent) indicated the they would return to travel within a few months of the pandemic subsiding, this is a significant drop from the 61 per cent recorded in the April survey. Overall, the survey results demonstrate that people have not lost their taste for travel, but there are blockers to returning to pre-crisis levels of travel:

A majority of travellers surveyed plan to return to travel to see family and friends (57 per cent), to vacation (56 per cent) or to do business (55 per cent) as soon as possible after the pandemic subsides.

But, 66 per cent said that they would travel less for leisure and business in the post-pandemic world.

And 64 per cent indicated that they would postpone travel until economic factors improved (personal and broader).

This crisis could have a very long shadow. Passengers are telling us that it will take time before they return to their old travel habits. Many airlines are not planning for demand to return to 2019 levels until 2023 or 2024. Numerous governments have responded with financial lifelines and other relief measures at the height of the crisis. As some parts of the world are starting the long road to recovery, it is critical that governments stay engaged. Continued relief measures like alleviation from use-it-or-lose it slot rules, reduced taxes or cost reduction measures will be critical for some time to come, said de Juniac.

One of the biggest blockers to industry recovery is quarantine. Some 85 per cent of travellers reported concern for being quarantined while travelling, a similar level of concern to those reporting general concern for catching the virus when traveling (84 per cent). And, among the measures that travellers were willing to take in adapting to travel during or after the pandemic, only 17 per cent reported that they were will willing to undergo quarantine.

Quarantine is a demand killer. Keeping borders closed prolongs the pain by causing economic hardship well beyond airlines. If governments want to re-start their tourism sectors, alternative risk-based measures are needed. Many are built into the ICAO Take-off guidelines, like health screening before departure to discourage symptomatic people from travelling. Airlines are helping this effort with flexible rebooking policies. In these last days we have seen the UK and the EU announce risk-based calculations for opening their borders. And other countries have chosen testing options. Where there is a will to open up, there are ways to do it responsibly, said de Juniac.

The Survey

The 11-country survey, which was conducted during the first week of June 2020, assessed traveller concerns during the pandemic and the potential timelines for their return to travel. This is the third wave of the survey, with previous waves conducted at the end of February and the beginning of April. All those surveyed had taken at least one flight since July 2019. - TradeArabia News Service
Oregon, WI (53575)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 72F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 59F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
New Delhi, Jul 8 (UNI) The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved development of affordable rental housing complexes for urban migrants and poor as a sub-scheme under Pradhan MantriAwasYojana.

Briefing mediapersons here about the Cabinet decision, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for developing Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (AHRCs) for urban migrants and poor as a sub-scheme under Pradhan MantriAwasYojana  Urban (PMAY  U).

He said under the scheme, existing vacant government funded housing complexes will be converted in ARHCs through Concession Agreements for 25 years.

Concessionaire will make the complexes livable by repairing, retrofitting, maintenance of rooms

and filling up infrastructure gaps like water, sewer, septage, sanitation, road etc.

States and UTs will select concessionaire through transparent bidding.

Complexes will revert to ULB after 25 years to restart next cycle like earlier or run on their own.

MORE UNI NY SB 1647
New Delhi, Jul 8 (UNI) Indian National Congress here on Wednesday asked the Union government to take up the matter of Indian students and professionals in United States and Kuwait who might be sent owing economic crisis arising from COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi while addressing a press conference here, claimed that ruling government under the prime ministership of Narendra Modi has been 'unsuccessful' in dealing external affairs matters.

The US administration has suspended popular work visas H-1B and H-2B till the end of this year while Kuwait government is in process of drafting a law to restrict the non-locals working in the oil-rich country. Both the countries are facing economic fallout and high level of unemployment.

Mr Singhvi said on one hand NDA government makes big claims regarding its diplomacy while on the other the US and Kuwait are taking decisions without thinking of Indian workers.

He claimed that in US, three out of four people getting H-1B visa are Indians, yet the western country was taking decisions without considering India.

Talking about Kuwait, he claimed that preparations were going on to evacuate Indian workers.

The grand-old-party alleged that the government kept sleeping rather it should have raised the issues loudly and dealt with it diplomatically.

Mr Singhvi said that what's happening in Kuwait would majorly affect Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

UNI APS-PS 1849
UNITED NATIONS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday urged the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria.

"As long as the unilateral coercive measures are not lifted, there will be no fundamental improvement in the humanitarian situation in Syria. Some country, while claiming to be concerned about the suffering of Syrian civilians, has imposed additional unilateral coercive measures on Syria, ruthlessly stifling the livelihoods of Syrian people," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said in his remarks in explanation of China's vote for the Security Council draft resolution on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria.

"China once again calls on the Security Council to address this critical issue, and urge the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria," he said.

"We also request a comprehensive assessment by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the overall humanitarian situation in Syria, to be presented by the secretary-general in a focused report to the Security Council," said the envoy.

Members of the Security Council on Tuesday voted on the draft resolution submitted by Germany and Belgium on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria. China and Russia voted against it. The draft resolution was not adopted.

Speaking of the effects of unilateral coercive measures, Zhang said that these measures "have further aggravated the economic and humanitarian crisis in Syria."

"Years of illegal sanctions have had immeasurable impact on the economic and social development of Syria, devastated livelihoods, and brought untold sufferings to innocent civilians. The unilateral coercive measures have also severely undermined Syria's capacity to respond to COVID-19," said the envoy.

The ambassador noted that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Special Envoy Geir Pedersen have repeatedly called on the relevant countries to lift unilateral coercive measures.

"To this end, China proposed amendments to the draft resolution. It is disappointing that the draft resolution submitted by copenholders completely ignores China's amendments and does not contain a single word about unilateral coercive measures. China is compelled to vote against such an unobjective and unbalanced draft resolution," Zhang said.

As to the cross-border mechanism, Zhang noted that it is "merely an urgent and temporary arrangement."

"It is the primary responsibility of the Syrian Government to improve the humanitarian situation in the country. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria must be respected," he added.

"China encourages the relevant parties to step up their efforts to promote cross-line operations and make corresponding adjustments to the cross-border mechanism. Considering the humanitarian needs in Syria, China does not object to retaining the cross-border mechanism at this stage. Meanwhile, cross-border operations should strictly follow the guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance set out in the General Assembly resolution 46/182, ensure impartiality, neutrality and credibility, and enhance coordination with the Syrian Government," the envoy said.

"China notes that there are still fundamental differences among Security Council members on the number of crossing points and extension period. China hopes that members will reach consensus through consultations," said Zhang.

The ambassador emphasized that China has consistently advocated a holistic and comprehensive approach for the Syrian issue.

"The political, counter-terrorism, security and humanitarian aspects must be considered altogether. Ultimately, the differences among parties concerned on the humanitarian issues in Syria must be resolved by advancing the Syrian political process. We urge all parties to strengthen dialogue, increase mutual trust, respond positively to the Secretary-General's global ceasefire appeal, and move towards a political solution to the Syrian issue," he said.

Talking about China's assistance to the war-scarred country, the envoy said that China attaches great importance to the humanitarian situation in Syria and supports the international community and UN agencies in stepping up humanitarian relief for the Syrian people.

"China has been providing a wide range of assistance to Syria through bilateral and multilateral channels, including in the areas of food, medicine, education and public services, and played a positive role in improving the humanitarian situation on the ground," Zhang said.

"Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has provided to Syria two batches of medical supplies and held video conferences with Syrian health experts in an effort to help the Syrian Government and people fight the virus," said the ambassador.
New Delhi, Jul 8(UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday interact with representatives of residents of Varanasi and members of social organizations who have, through their own efforts as well as by providing assistance to the District Administration, ensured that food was available timely for everyone in need during the lockdown.

During the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the residents of Varanasi and members of social organizations, through their own efforts as well as by providing assistance to the District Administration, ensured that food was available timely for everyone in need.

The PM will interact with representatives of such organisations on Thursday via video conferencing to discuss their experience and showcase their efforts.

During lockdown, more than hundred organizations in Varanasi distributed almost 20 lakh food packets and 2 lakh dry ration kits through the food cell of the District Administration as well as through individual efforts.



Apart from food distribution, these organizations were instrumental in distribution of masks, sanitizers etc. They have been honoured as corona warriors by the District Administration.

These organizations serve in diverse fields including education, social, religious, health, hotels/social clubs and other professional sectors.

UNI AR SB 1634
Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network of West and Central Asia renews resolve to deprive criminals of illicit possessions

 UNODC



8 July 2020 - Despite the hurdles created by COVID-19, the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network West and Central Asia (ARIN-WCA) continues its activities and operations in the new environment. The first meeting of the Networks Steering Group (SG) in 2020 was convened on 25 June by the Networks Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Office of the General Prosecutors Office of Kyrgyzstan which holds the ARIN-WCA Presidency, and with technical support provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) under its Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries.

All SG focal points from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan met virtually and discussed solutions to respond to challenges posed by the pandemic, adapt to the new abnormality and ensure business continuity. All participants confirmed their strong commitment to fight ill-gotten assets and to strengthen the role of the Network.

New and innovative initiatives were discussed and agreed upon. A mix of desk resources, offline material and online interaction will gradually be implemented ensuring ARIN-WCA functionality and support to its members will continue as well as other ARINs around the world.

Abror Akbutaev, from the Networks Secretariat, stressed the importance of the role of ARIN-WCA within the ARINs family and informed the group that some additional countries outside the region have expressed interest to join the Network as full members.

The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss how to streamline and make more efficient and cost effective the Networks activities. A mix of e-learning, desk material and online interaction could complement traditional activities in the future even when the situation will be back to normal, said Uygun Nigmadjanov, Deputy Director of the Uzbek Academy of the General Prosecutor's Office.

In this regard, Danilo Campisi, Criminal Justice Advisor to the Regional Programme for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries, welcomed the idea to complement traditional activities with newer, fresher and hopefully more cost effective approaches, I would like to confirm that ARIN-WCA is our priority and that we will continue to provide support to the Secretariat and its members as we have done since its establishment he added.

A set of decisions on both administrative and substantive matters were taken by the group unanimously and the session adjourned to the next Steering Group meeting which will take place in September.

This meeting, which was financially supported by the government of Finland and the European Union showed the UNODC capacity to adapt to the new reality and to provide support in challenging conditions, linking up experts from seven countries to deliberate on critical issues in two languages.
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West Hartford (06107)

Today

Showers this morning becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. Thunder possible. High near 75F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 51F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Fiscal Court Approves Sale of Genova Building

By West Kentucky Star Staff





At a called meeting Wednesday morning, Commissioners voted on and approved the sale of the building, located at 5400 Commerce Drive, for $3.6 million. The building is being sold to KSR Legacy Investment Corporation.







The building is jointly owned by the City and McCracken County. The Paducah Board of Commissioners voted on and approved its sale at a called meeting Tuesday.







During the meeting, Commissioner Bill Bartleman shared his thoughts on the decision.







"Their willingness to come in and immediately buy this facility shows they're going to be a part of the community and they're here for the long term, not the short term." Bartleman continued, "This is a good deal for the taxpayers to sell the building and it's good for the community to have this long-term economic investment in the community, creating 80 jobs now and 125 later."







The closing date is set for Friday, July 10.







You can see the full meeting below.





MCCRACKEN COUNTY - The McCracken County Fiscal Court has approved the sale of the former Genova Products building.On the Net:
Eddyville Founders Day Canceled

By West Kentucky Star Staff





During their city council meeting, Eddyville Mayor John Choat voiced his concerns about holding the event.







"I don't see how we can have Founder's Day without being in a liability situation due to the lack of social distancing," Choat said. "It really bothers me and hurts me to have to make this kind of decision, but I don't see that we have any other choice."







Choat said with cases increasing in surrounding states, it wouldn't surprise him if there was another spike in Lyon County. He cited eight new cases in Lyon County within the last two-weeks.







He said he understands that canceling the event will be disappointing to some, but says he would rather "err on the side of caution" than to put anyone at risk.











EDDYVILLE - The Eddyville city council voted unanimously Monday to cancel this year's Founder's Day due to the pandemic.
Marshall Schools Release Back to School Guidelines

By West Kentucky Star Staff





MARSHALL COUNTY - Marshall County Schools have released its guidelines for returning to school.In a Tuesday press release, Marshall County Schools Superintendent Trent Lovett, announced some of their plans for the upcoming school year. According to Lovett, they will be using the state's guidance on Safety Expectations and Best Practices, as well as information from the CDC in their plans for returning to school. The state's guidance can be found at the link below.Lovett says the first day of school will be August 26, to take advantage of Senate Bill 50. The bill allows schools that begin on "the Monday nearest August 26 or later" to be responsible for 1062 instructional hours, but doens't require 170 instructional days.To meet the 1062 hour requirement, the school will be adding twenty-five minutes to each school day. Lovett says they will accomplish this by adding ten minutes before the regular school start time, and fifteen minutes at the end of each day.In their effort to create a "Healthy at School" environment, they will be implementing the following guidelines:Social Distancing: School space will be utilized to create social distancing when possible; There will be alternatives to large group gatherings such as the cafeteria.Face Masks: Face masks will be worn by staff and students when social distancing isn't possible, such as when changing classes or riding the bus; Face masks should be cleaned regularly.Temperature Checks and Health Screenings: Parents are asked to check their children for COVID symptoms before leaving for school each day. If the child shows any symptoms, do not send the child to school; When staff and students arrive at school, a temperature check will be completed. Any staff or students with a temperature above 100.4 will be sent home or not allowed to participate in face-to-face instruction.Sanitizing and Hygiene: Facilities will be cleaned and disinfected daily. High traffic areas will be cleaned throughout the day; Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the building.Contact Tracing: When possible, students will remain in a self-contained setting to limit the number of contacts made throughout the day. There will be assigned seating on buses and in the classroom; Volunteers and visitors will not be allowed to enter the schools beyond the office; Schools will cooperate with the Marshall County Health Department to identify anyone with prolonged exposure to possible cases of COVID.Lovett asks parents to help them prepare for the upcoming school year by filling out the survey linked below.On the Net:
Reward Offered in CFI Tractor Theft

By West Kentucky Star Staff

POSSUM TROT - A local business is asking for the public's help in finding a tractor thief.JP Lovett, owner of CFI Equipment on Highway 62 in Possum Trot, says someone stole a new Kubota L4701 tractor Tuesday around 6:00 am. The suspect loaded the tractor on a trailer and drove away in his SUV.Surveillance photos captured the suspect, along with the vehicle and trailer.Lovett says he's offering a reward to anyone with information leading to the suspect's arrest.The Marshall County Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office.
South Africa: Mpumalanga Health officials found in possession of body parts

Two health officials have been suspended after they were allegedly found in possession of human body parts.

Mpumalanga Health MEC Sasekani Manzini condemned the act by the government employees who work at Ermelo Hospital and Lothair Clinic.

We are very shocked and dismayed at the criminal activities that the two officials have allegedly been involved with. Such dehumanising acts are indeed barbaric and as the department, we do not condone such illegal activities, said Manzini.

Jabulani Sam Mnguni (45) and Pascal Mandla Gininda (49) were arrested on Sunday and have since appeared in the Eerstehoek Magistrate's Court.

The MEC said the department will allow the law to take its course, while an internal investigation is being conducted.

Meanwhile Mpumalangas police spokesperson, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said their arrest follows an intelligence operation carried out.

Their arrest spirals from an Intelligence-Driven Operation which prompted police to follow up on information regarding a red sedan which was on its way to Elukwatini with two occupants conveying human body parts, said Hlathi.

The suspects vehicle was intercepted at the Lochiel-Nhlazatshe intersection where police thoroughly searched the vehicle and discovered a leg, placenta and a knee which was separately collected from a certain house.

Both suspects were remanded in custody pending a bail application on 15 July 2020.

Meanwhile, a 41-year-old man was taken in for questioning on Monday as part of probing in a similar case.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-07-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
On July 6, "Focus Today" program of China's CCTV-4 broadcast multiple evidence of India's border provocation against China, proving that India's claim that "China tried to unilaterally change the status of border control" is completely contrary to the facts.

The video and pictures accessed by CCTV-4 show Indian troops crossing into the Chinese side to begin constructing a bridge, a helipad. The Indian men in uniform can be seen setting up tents and carrying steel structures across the border for construction purposes.

The pictures also revealed how India is trying to set up border posts and deploy military personnel in Chinese areas.

Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies at the Chinese Academy of International Studies, told China's CCTV-4 that the conflict's cause was very clear. India first provoked China, then illegally crossed into the Chinese side and launched an attack. The purpose is very clear: India wants to change the current status quo with China and challenge China's sovereignty.

Since April, Indian troops have made repeated attempts to unilaterally cross the border and enter the Chinese side to trigger trouble. On May 6, the Indian side started building barriers and fortifications.

A few weeks after the confrontation between the two sides' frontier forces, the first round of military-level talks between China and India was held on June 6. The two sides reached a consensus at the meeting with the Indian side promising to not patrol and build facilities across the mouth of the Galwan Valley

Indian troops carrying steel structures illegally crossed the Chinese-India borderline to China's territory. /CGTN Screenshot

However, on June 15, the Indian side went back on its word, violating the consensus reached in the first round of talks, and its first-line troops illegally crossed the LAC. "India's June 15 operation was very rash and caused extremely bad consequences," Su said.

Ruan Zongze, executive vice president of the China Institute of International Studies, also stated that the illegal crossing of the Indian army into Chinese territory violated international law and violated the consensus of the two-commander-level military talks between China and India. Both China and India have always agreed on the current status of China's control in the Galwan Valley.

India's "great power mentality" is the reason behind the renewed cross-border dispute. Since taking office for a second term in 2018, India's prime minister, Modi, has propagated India's idea of becoming a superpower, playing a vital role in world politics. This mentality has led to varying degrees of deterioration in relations between India and its neighboring countries.

The second reason is India's misjudgment of the current international situation. It believes that China may now encounter difficulties internationally since it has had troubled ties with the United States since Trump came into power in 2016.

Since the U.S. has also been luring India into the Indo-Pacific strategy, India believes that the current situation is beneficial for it.

Indian troops carrying steel structures illegally crossed the Chinese-India borderline to China's territory. /CGTN Screenshot

Ruan said that these two reasons had led India to adopt a risky policy. In fact, even in the 1960s, India was also obsessed with following the so-called "advance policy," which led to the Sino-Indian border conflict. And now, India is imitating the same "advance policy" by attempting to encroach upon the Chinese territory.

On June 30, Chinese and Indian armed forces held the third round of military-level talks. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that China and India had made positive progress in taking effective measures to disengage frontline troops and ease the situation on the border.

But then on July 3 came a surprise visit by Indian Prime Minister Modi and his senior defense officials to the so-called "Ladakh region" on the frontline of the Sino-Indian border conflict.

Ruan said that Modi's trip was contrary to the consensus reached on June 30. The Indian side should work with China to implement the contents of consensus and work together to resolve the border conflict peacefully.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on July 5, Chinese Special Representative, State Councilor, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Indian Special Representative and Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on the Sino-Indian boundary issue.

The two sides exchanged frank and in-depth views on easing the current state of affairs between the two countries' borders and reached a positive consensus.
In a time when many restaurants are cutting back hours and closing their doors, one local business showed their appreciation to the community by remembering residents of the local area who have suffered from cancer in one form or another.

Ray and Kim Blackburn, owners of Wendpark, which includes 11 Wendys locations throughout West Virginia and the Mid-Ohio Valley Region, today announced they are donating $110,000 to support local charities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three of the selected charities are from New Martinsville. They include:

Wetzel County Commission on Aging ($5,000), Community Resources, Inc. ($2,500), Relay for Life of Wetzel County ($2,500)

Wendys Restaurant in New Martinsville on Monday, June 29, 2020 made a generous donation of $2500 to the Wetzel County Relay for Life. Manager, Chad Maury and Assistant Manager Amanda Wilkerson of the New Martinsville Restaurant presented the check to Betty Klug from Relay for Life.

Also present for the presentation from Relay for Life was Carol Ann Archer, Sharon Efaw, and Lori McCoy.

Klug along with other ladies thanked Maury and Wilkerson for their wonderful donation and added it would help a lot of people.

Anyone can donate for this great cause by contacting any of the ladies representing the Relay for Life.

The past few months have been trying times for us here at the restaurant, with our dining area closed, and other restrictions imposed on us because of the corona-virus.

However, we are fortunate to have loyal customers who used our drive thru to keep us going. Many of them are associated with Relay-For-Life, so we felt we needed to help them as they struggle through this time as well, said Manager Chad Maury.

Even when times are tough and income is tight we still want to stand beside those who have helped make our business what it is today. We feel we have a moral responsibility to our community to help with these worthy causes, said Assistant Manager Amanda Wilkerson.

Recently the restaurant re-opened their inside dining area with social distancing, and are constantly cleaning and following guidelinesto make it a safe place for all to enjoy.

A big thank you goes out to New Martinsvilles Wendys Restaurant.
Its been several months in the making, but on Thursday July 1, local officials and dignitaries gathered at Wetzel County Hospital in New Martinsville to officially celebrate the Hospital joining the West Virginia University Health System.

On January 15, 2020, the deal was struck, and Wetzel County Hospital under the ownership of the Wetzel County Commission, signed a letter of intent to join the WVU Health System. That was the official start to making the deal a reality, and providing an overal more reliable and improved healthcare service for Wetzel County and surrounding areas.

Albert L. Wright, Jr., President and CEO of the WVU Health System said,We are excited to officially welcome Wetzel County Hospital into the WVU Medicine family and to continue our work serving the people of New Martinsville and the surrounding region.

During this unprecedented time, it is critically important to ensure that people have access to high quality healthcare in their communities, and we are honored to provide that service in Wetzel County. Wright added.

In January, when,Wetzel County Hospital signed the letter of intent to join the WVU Health System, a Certificate of Need (CON) application was filed with the West Virginia Health Care Authority.

The CON was approved in April. At that time, the WVU Health System signed a long-term lease to assume operation of the hospital.

On Thursday, it was announced that David Hess, M.D., CEO of Wetzel County Hospital will continue to serve in that capacity as he has since October 2018, pursuant to WVU Hospitals management agreement with Wetzel County Hospital. Dr. Hess will also continue to serve as president and CEO of WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale.

Wetzel County Commissioners said they thank WVU for the investment, and are happy to welcome the WVU Health System into our area. The commission said they are looking forward to a new era of healthcare that will benefit our area for generations to come.

Established in 1920, Wetzel County Hospital was established in 1920 and is a 58-bed facility that employs 235 people. It offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient services, including cardiopulmonary, emergency, general surgery, radiology, and cardiac rehabilitation, physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

While speaking with the Wetzel Chronicle, CEO Wright, stated the hospital will be adding some additional specialists including a full time cardiologist, which he said is a much needed service for this hospital. He indicated they will also be working towards better Mental Health Services and employing a full time Psychiatrist.

The West Virginia University Health System, the states largest health system and largest private employer, is comprised of 12 hospitals its flagship hospital, J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown; Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg; Braxton County Memorial Hospital in Gassaway; Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg; Jackson General Hospital in Ripley; Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson; Potomac Valley Hospital in Keyser; Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale; St. Josephs Hospital in Buckhannon; Summersville Regional Medical Center in Summersville; United Hospital Center in Bridgeport; and Wetzel County Hospital. It also provides management services to Barnesville Hospital in Barnesville, Ohio; Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland, Maryland; Harrison Community Hospital in Cadiz, Ohio; Highland-Clarksburg Hospital in Clarksburg; Uniontown Hospital in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and Wheeling Hospital in Wheeling. The WVU Health System also includes five institutes the WVU Cancer Institute, the WVU Critical Care and Trauma Institute, the WVU Eye Institute, the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, and the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.
BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The 9th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, held via video link on Monday, adopted the Amman Declaration and an action plan for the forum to deepen cooperation and ties between China and Arab states.

The Amman Declaration expresses the desire of China and Arab states to deepen relations, elaborates common and basic principles on international relations, and reiterates mutual support on the issues of core interests and major concerns.

The declaration also shows the positions of both sides on major regional and international issues, and stresses jointly building a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

Both sides spoke highly of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and its broad prospect for mutually-beneficial cooperation, and agreed that the two sides should advance mutual consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits within the framework of the Belt and Road.

They stressed in the declartaion that China and Arab countries should achieve common development, mutual benefit and win-win results, strive to jointly build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era, and make contributions to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

A China-Arab Summit, to be hosted by Saudi Arabia, is welcomed by both sides.

They agreed to foster a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and mutually-beneficial cooperation. Both sides support multilateralism rather than hegemonism in order to achieve peace and stability in the world, read the declaration.

All countries should abide by the principle of good-neighborliness, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression and non-interference in each others' internal affairs, respecting and supporting each other in choosing their own development path and socia system, it said.

China will endorse reforms of the UN Security Council to increase the representativeness of developing countries including the Arab nations in the council, the declaration said.

The Arab countries stressed their support for China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, noting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. They firmly uphold the one-China principle, and oppose the so-called "Taiwan Independence" in any form.

The Arab countries support China's position on the Hong Kong issue and its efforts to defend the national security within the framework of "one country, two systems", and oppose interference in internal affairs, it added.

Both sides have made crucial efforts to take care of their ethnic minorities, said the declaration, adding that China welcomes representatives of Arab League and its member states to visit Chinese provinces, including Xinjiang.

The two sides denounce terrorist activities in all forms, actively combat extremist ideology, acts of terrorism and incitement to terrorism, eradicate the root causes of terrorism, and cut off its sources of funding.

Both sides oppose linking terrorism to any ethnic group, religion, country or civilization and call on all countries to refrain from providing any form of public or private support to entities or individuals involved in terrorist activities, the declaration said.

In a joint declaration on fighting COVID-19 with solidarity, also released at the ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, the two sides agreed to carry out cooperation against the pandemic within the health cooperation mechanism under the framework of the forum.

They encouraged continuous cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road while preventing and controlling the pandemic.
Daytime aardvark sightings are a sign of troubled times

Wits researchers find that aardvarks feeding in the daytime during droughts might be starving.

Aardvarks occur across most of sub-Saharan Africa, but very few people have seen one, because they are solitary, mostly active at night, and live in burrows. They use their spade-like claws to build these burrows and to dig up ants and termites on which they feed. However, seeing aardvarks feeding in the day is becoming more common in the drier parts of southern Africa. While catching sight of an aardvark is a delight for many a wildlife enthusiast, researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Physiology laboratory at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) warn that seeing aardvarks in the daytime does not bode well for this secretive animal.

New research by the team from Wits, with collaborators from the University of Cape Town and University of Pretoria, reveals what a shift from night-time to daytime activity means for the well-being of aardvarks in a warming and drying world. The researchers studied aardvarks living at Tswalu, a reserve in the Kalahari that lies at the edge of the aardvarks distribution and provides support and infrastructure for researchers through the Tswalu Foundation. The results are published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology.

Using biologgers, the researchers recorded body temperature and activity of aardvarks for three years, during which Dr Nora Weyer followed the aardvarks as part of her PhD research.

Assisted by satellite imaging that showed her how droughts affected the vegetation, Weyer was able to connect changes in aardvark behaviour and body temperature to what was happening in the aardvarks' environment.

Weyers research confirmed earlier findings by the team that there are times when the aardvarks switched their feeding to the day, and showed, for the first time, that drought caused that switch. We suspected that it was drought, says co-worker Dr Robyn Hetem, but we needed a long-term, comprehensive data set to confirm that it really was drought causing this unusual behaviour.

The Kalahari is arid at the best of times, but drought killed the vegetation that fed the ants and termites. Most of the ants and termites disappeared, leaving the aardvarks starving. It was heart-breaking to watch our aardvarks waste away as they starved, says Weyer.

By shifting their activity from the cold nights to the warm days during dry winter months, aardvarks can save some of the energy needed to keep their body temperatures up. But those energy savings were not enough to see the aardvarks through a particularly bad drought in which many aardvarks died.

Aardvarks have coped with the Kalaharis harsh environment in the past, but it is getting hotter and drier, and the current and future changes to our climate might be too much for the aardvarks to bear, says Weyer. Because the Kalahari is such a unique and potentially vulnerable ecosystem, we need to better understand whether its animals can cope with the increasingly dry conditions, says Professor Andrea Fuller, co-worker and project leader of the Kalahari Endangered Ecosystem Project (KEEP).

Disappearance of aardvarks from the Kalahari would be devastating for many other animals in this ecosystem. The large burrows which aardvarks build provide important shelters for many other species that cannot dig their own burrows, earning the aardvark the title of ecosystem engineer.

Unfortunately, the future looks grim for Kalahari aardvarks and the animals that use their burrows. Tackling climate change is key, but there is no quick fix, says Weyer. What conservationists do know is that any solution will require a much better understanding of what capacities animals have to cope with drought. And that means many more long-term comprehensive studies of physiology and behaviour, like the study that Dr Weyer and her colleagues carried out at Tswalu.




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Rescuers firm a dike in Wuxing District, Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 7, 2020. China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded the emergency response for flood control from level IV to level III on Tuesday, as incessant downpours continued to wreak havoc across vast stretches of the country. The headquarters said it would guide local authorities to strengthen their forecast capabilities, improve the patrolling of rivers and reservoirs, and ensure the livelihoods of people affected by the floods. [Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi]

BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua)  China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded the emergency response for flood control from level IV to level III on Tuesday, as incessant downpours continued to wreak havoc across vast stretches of the country.

Due to severe flooding, the headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management on Monday dispatched nine more work teams to various regions, including Sichuan, Chongqing, Hunan and Jiangxi. Previously, teams had been sent to assist in flood relief in Hubei and Anhui.

The headquarters said it would guide local authorities to strengthen their forecast capabilities, improve the patrolling of rivers and reservoirs, and ensure the livelihoods of people affected by the floods.

Since June, continuous downpours have lashed large parts of southern China, and the waters of many rivers in the affected regions have exceeded warning levels.

China has a four-tier flood control emergency response system, with level I representing the most severe.

Meanwhile, the country's national observatory on Tuesday afternoon issued an orange alert, the second highest in its four-tier, color-coded alert system, for rainstorms from Tuesday night to Wednesday night.

Aerial photo taken on July 7, 2020 shows fishing boats mooring at a safe harbour in Huanlou Village of Wuxing District, Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded the emergency response for flood control from level IV to level III on Tuesday, as incessant downpours continued to wreak havoc across vast stretches of the country. The headquarters said it would guide local authorities to strengthen their forecast capabilities, improve the patrolling of rivers and reservoirs, and ensure the livelihoods of people affected by the floods. [Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi]

Aerial photo taken on July 7, 2020 shows a water gate connecting Taihu Lake with Huanlou Village of Wuxing District, Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded the emergency response for flood control from level IV to level III on Tuesday, as incessant downpours continued to wreak havoc across vast stretches of the country. The headquarters said it would guide local authorities to strengthen their forecast capabilities, improve the patrolling of rivers and reservoirs, and ensure the livelihoods of people affected by the floods. [Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi]

Rescuers conduct a water rescue drill in Wuxing District, Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 7, 2020. China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded the emergency response for flood control from level IV to level III on Tuesday, as incessant downpours continued to wreak havoc across vast stretches of the country. The headquarters said it would guide local authorities to strengthen their forecast capabilities, improve the patrolling of rivers and reservoirs, and ensure the livelihoods of people affected by the floods. [Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi]

Emergency staff members patrol at a hillside under construction in Wuxing District, Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 7, 2020. China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded the emergency response for flood control from level IV to level III on Tuesday, as incessant downpours continued to wreak havoc across vast stretches of the country. The headquarters said it would guide local authorities to strengthen their forecast capabilities, improve the patrolling of rivers and reservoirs, and ensure the livelihoods of people affected by the floods. [Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi]

(Source: Xinhua)
Hu Xuejun uses her mobile phone to take a video of a COVID-19 patient recovering in an isolation ward at Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province. [For China Daily]

Footage Shot on Mobile Phone Revives Memories of Emotional Efforts to Save Patients

Hu Xuejun's life gradually returned to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic was largely brought under control in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province.

But the young nurse from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital still watches videos she shot earlier this year to relive the touching moments she and her colleagues experienced when the city was hard hit by the novel coronavirus.

The most impressive video is of the recovery of a critically ill patient at her hospital. The patient was sent to the intensive care unit at the end of February. He was kept alive by an ECMO machine that oxygenates and pumps the patient's blood, and thanks to medical workers' efforts he recovered after 40 days.

"It is hard to express the joy of witnessing the recovery of a patient with my own eyes," said Hu, who works in the hospital's respiratory and critical disease department.

Another video shows four patients singing a song they wrote to express their heartfelt thanks to medical workers when they were discharged from the hospital.

"Some of the footage can only be shot by medical workers," she said. "I wanted to record and show what we did to save lives during the period as well as our spirit during this difficult fight."

The 27-year-old used her mobile phone to record more than 50 hours of video in the wards, treatment rooms and ICUs of her hospital.

Hu Xuejun [For China Daily]

Hu has recently become a well-known figure among Wuhan residents after her videos were broadcast by Central China Television.

"I like shooting videos in my spare time. When some media friends and volunteers asked me to help shoot some videos to record the work of medical workers in isolation wards and ICUs of the hospital, I quickly said 'yes'," she said.

Her mother, Zhao Qiong, who is also a nurse, didn't like the idea at first. She warned her daughter that frequently taking out her phone to shoot video footage increased the risk of the device becoming a source for transferring the novel coronavirus.

However, Hu went ahead with her project anyway.

"If the events cannot be recorded at the time, people will soon forget them," she said.

"Videos can record actions, sounds and other small details of the whole event."

None of the 25 medical staff members in Hu's department was infected with the novel coronavirus. But her boyfriend, Xia Hao, who works in a funeral home responsible for transporting bodies during the pandemic, became a COVID-19 patient.

During the day, Hu and her colleagues battled the virus at work, and at night she went to visit Xia, who was a patient in her hospital, to offer him support.

"My boyfriend's illness helped me better understand the feelings of the patients and their family members and made my videos more emotional," she said.

Hu cared for Xia for more than 40 days in an isolation ward.

Now the couple are preparing for their wedding later this year.

After being on the front line of the fight against COVID-19, Hu said she now cherishes life more. "I hope to have a good life together with my boyfriend in the future," she said.

(Source: China Daily)
Mao Xin (R) learns about a disabled villager's situation during a door-to-door visit in Longkai Village, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 28. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

Mao Xin became first secretary of a village in Santang Town, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in October 2015. Given her efforts, the whole village shook off poverty two years later.

Mao took the initiative again to join poverty relief work, and she became first secretary of Longkai Village, Jiafang Township, in Nanning, in November 2017.

Longkai is one of 56 villages in deep poverty in Nanning. Mao and local village officials have made great efforts to lift the villagers out of poverty. To date, a total of 504 people from 142 households have escaped poverty and 15 villagers from four households still live in poverty.

After Spring Festival this year, Mao brought her 68-year-old mother, 10-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son from the urban areas to live with her, trying to concentrate more on the battle of poverty alleviation.

"This is a last resort. My husband is very busy with work and does not have much time to take care of our children, while I seldom have a chance to return to Nanning to see them. So, I have to take them with me," said Mao.

Mao's daughter, a pupil in the fourth grade, was transferred to study at a primary school in Jiafang.

These days, Mao sends her daughter to school every morning, and then visits from door to door for poverty alleviation work. In the evening, she has to pick up her daughter. She enjoys the time with her family despite the tight schedule.

Mao's great efforts have been recognized in local areas. She won the county-level honorary title of the Advanced Individual in Poverty Alleviation for two consecutive years.

She keeps in mind both her small family and the big family of the nation, and never gets bored with what she does. "All of this is to live up to my mission and responsibility as a Party member," said Mao.

Mao Xin (L) helps a villager prepare forage for his cattle in Longkai Village, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 28. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

Mao Xin (L) cares for her daughter and son in their temporary home in Longkai Village, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 28. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

Mao Xin tutors her daughter in homework while her mother plays with her son in their temporary home in Longkai Village, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 28. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

Mao Xin takes a rest on the way home after work in Longkai Village, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 28. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

Mao Xin (R) checks out the products sold on line with a colleague in Longkai Village, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 28. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

Mao Xin (1st, L) encourages local residents to increase income through learning vocational skills at a training session in Longkai Village, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 28. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

Mao Xin (woman in red tee) discusses how to improve the village's

infrastructure with village officials and villagers in Longkai Village, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 29. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

Mao Xin (R) visits a rabbit breeding base in Longkai Village, Nanning City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 28. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

Mao Xin accompanies her daughter to school on June 29. [Xinhua/Lu Boan]

(Source: Xinhua/Translated and edited by Women of China)
West Point, NE (68788)

Today

Cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 88F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then becoming clear after midnight. Low 64F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
North East Wales food and drink showcase set to take place virtually this year due pandemic

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jul 8th, 2020

A regional celebration of food and drink will take place virtually this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The second annual Blasu/Taste North East Wales event was to be held in October after a successful debut in 2019 saw more than 30 businesses and 400 visitors take part in a series of activities over 40 days.

Organised by Clwydian Range Food and Drink and Llangollen and Dee Valley Food and Drink (formerly the Good Grub Club), with the support of rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and the local authorities of Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire, the decision has been taken to host the festival online to ensure the health and safety of participants.

Over the past three months, many companies across the region have adapted operations to continue supplying customers, in a bid to survive the impact Coronavirus has had on the economy.





And with many people relying on independent stores and producers during the lockdown period, the buy local message is more important than ever.

Donna Hughes, Business Partnerships Officer at Cadwyn Clwyd, believes it is important Taste North East Wales still goes ahead, to mark the amazing resilience of the industry.

The event was always about shining a light on our amazing food and drink producers and hospitality businesses, said Donna.

Since the onset of the pandemic they have faced huge challenges and these difficulties will continue over the coming months as we emerge from lockdown.

Businesses have shown how crucial they are to their communities, stepping up to meet demand, increasing deliveries to help people shielding, and providing the people of North East Wales with incredible customer service and locally-sourced food and drink.

She added: We want to pay tribute and provide a platform for them to showcase their products.

We had planned for this year to be bigger and better, so thats on hold until 2021, but we can still celebrate what North East Wales has to offer and champion our brilliant food and drink producers in style.

Final details are to be confirmed, though virtual events will include a production tour and Q&A session, a viewing of restaurants using social-distancing measures, cookery demonstrations and an interactive tasting, with samples distributed in advance.

Funded by the Welsh Government Rural Communities  Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government, organisers want to hear from firms in the area about how they are planning for the new normal and welcoming customers back as safely and securely as possible.

Coordinator Jane Clough said: The online events we hold later this year will give businesses the opportunity to display and share their products, but we also want their stories.

We are close to these communities and as an organisation have been on hand throughout to help signpost businesses to funding and support, but ultimately they have stood up and met the challenges of this Coronavirus lockdown head-on.

Some have even seen a rise in sales and will change the way they operate in the future; others have increased production, modified machinery and technology or even started to grow and develop new ideas.

She added: We know many of the businesses with ideas for virtual events and stories about lockdown and how they are emerging from it, but there are many others out there; we would love to hear from any food and drink business in the area who would like to be a part of this virtual Taste North East Wales.

We want to share with customers the lengths people have gone to in the face of adversity, how communities have come together, and how, when we needed them most, our local shops and suppliers went above and beyond for the people of North East Wales.

For more on Taste North East Wales or if you have a story for the team, email taste.blas@gmail.com or visit the website: www. tastenortheastwales.org

For more information on Cadwyn Clwyd, email admin@cadwynclwyd.co.uk, call 01490 340500 or visit the website: www.cadwynclwyd.co.uk
Revised testing strategy set to be unveiled as 10,000+ test capacity a day in Wales remains unused

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jul 8th, 2020

The Welsh Government is set to release a revised testing strategy by the end of next week amid calls for a relaxing of tight criteria for testing.

In answer to one of our questions on testing on Monday, First Minister Mark Drakeford revealed the new testing capacity for Wales was around 15,000 tests a day.

At the time of writing Public Health Wales (PHW)have said there were 3,174 tests in the last 24 hour period, a figure has not vastly changed over recent days.

Yesterday we asked Health Minister Vaughan Gething about that unused testing quota, and after speaking with the Chief Executive of Wrexham Council Ian Bancroft who indicated it would be lovely to dip in to more testing capacity as an authority if the criteria loosened, if such a criteria review or change was being looked at.





Mr Gething replied: Its the reality that any member of the public can secure a test if theyre symptomatic.

So we already have wide public availability. At this point in time, the evidence still isnt there to suggest we should have a widespread program of testing groups of people who dont have symptoms.

Weve run specific programs in care homes, for example, with staff and residents. Weve also run specific programs in other workplaces where we know theres an incident or an outbreak.

Im of course continuing with our scientists and chief medical officer to review whether there is a real benefit in changing the criteria to have more asymptomatic testing.

But the challenge is that if you have a test that is as specific and accurate as a one we have with 98% accuracy, that does mean that if you had whole population testing, youd still find 2% of people with false positives, a positive result, but actually they dont actually have coronavirus.

Theres a risk that we could drive more people into isolating unnecessarily. Thats a significant factor for us to consider.

I can though say that Im expected to have a revised testing strategy with updated advice, information and evidence to underpin it and I expect to be able to publish our revised strategy before the end of this Senedd term so by the end of next week the latest.

Carers World followed up on the answers, and asked the minister about evidence that suggests only one in three with positive tests reported any evidence of symptoms at the time of their swab test, and asked if actions should be prioritised to protect the public at large, against the majority showing no symptoms?

He replied: Well, the asymptomatic reality that some people will have COVID-19 potentially infectious is part of what were looking to review in our testing strategy. Its a real cause of not just interest, but concerned why scientists are giving advice to the government here.

We are still in a position where the current evidence suggests that with low transmission rates, were not currently in a position where we need to take large scale testing of people without symptoms, but that may change.

Ive had to say on a number of occasions during the course of this pandemic to date, that were in a very uncomfortable position to the public and decision makers where were living with an element of uncertainty.

If the evidence changes again, then Ill be happy to reconsider my position and to make a different choice to help keep Wales safe. At this point in time, were still in a position where we dont need to change that for now, but as I get the new testing strategy with the evidence that underpins it, its possible that in the future well make a different choice.

The starting point is the best thing to keep yourself safe, is to remember the social distancing rules, and of course, remember to wash your hands frequently as well.
On July 1, France announced to suspend its involvement in NATO Sea Guardian maritime security operation in the eastern Mediterranean following tensions with Turkey. The picture shows French Navy (Marine Nationale) La Fayette-class Frigate Courbet.

By Yang Zhongjie

While France and Turkey are still at odds, the US and Germany recently had a falling-out too. The intense strain among several NATO member states regarding regional hotspot issues and forefront military presence have captured extensive attention. The widening internal cleft is going to pose a severe test to the blocs alliance system.

NATOs value is questioned.

France and Turkey have had a long history of conflicts, and the two countries have traded barbs lately on the Libyan issue as Turkey teamed with countries like Italy and Qatar to support the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) while France is considered in support of the Libyan National Army. French President Emmanuel Macron accused Turkey, a country that claims to be a NATO member, of holding primary responsibility for the Libyan conflict, to which Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu responded that Paris is a destructive force in Libya and is trying to let Moscow expand its influence there.

As to the US-German relation in which the two countries have turned from allies to partners then to strangers, foreign media generally holds Donald Trump and his America first strategy accountable for the constant discords and historical cold wave in the cross-Atlantic partnership. The relation between Washington and Berlin has been backpedaling in many ways, and the formers troops withdrawal from the latter has added fuel to the flame. After the Trump administration announced to reduce the American troops stationed in Germany, German media such as Der Spiegel and Berliner Zeitung all described the decision as provocative. They took it as a symbol of the bilateral relationship turning from alliance to profound divergence. The Russian newspaper Kommersant pointed out that Americas withdrawal of troops from Germany epitomizes its worsening relation with Berlin, which has turned from Washingtons loyal ally to its main rival in Europe, as bilateral ties have fallen to a new low since the end of WWII.

The widening divide among NATO member states is generally attributed to the fact that the value of the military bloc has been questioned after the Cold War and it is losing internal cohesion. In recent years, the relationship between NATO members and Turkey has become increasingly subtle, and their constant arguments over Middle East hotspots have taken a heavy toll on NATOs credibility. Besides, the US and Germany have entirely different stances on the Iranian nuclear agreement, the Open Skies Treaty, and other international treaties, and their conflicting statements have exerted adverse effects on NATOs solidarity and stability.

NATOs prospect is grim.

Generally speaking, NATO members escalating conflicts and divergences in recent years are largely because of their inconsistent outlooks.

First, NATO member states have a different outlook on threats, especially on main threats from the Middle East and the strategic threat from Russia. Take the Russian threat for instance. The US has successively published the new National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy, and stressed curbing the strategic threat from Russia with forefront nations in Europe. Germany, on the other hand, pays more attention to Europes independent defense and is much less hostile toward Russia, even eager to mend ties with it.

Second, NATO member states have different outlook on interests. The France-Turkey conflict over Libya is driven by the struggle for energy interests, while Washington and Berlin have vast divergences both in bilateral trade and in multilateral trade involving the two sides. Former US national security adviser John Bolton revealed in his new book, The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, that Trump believed Germany and other European countries had done very badly in economy and trade.

Third, NATO member states have a different outlook on morality and justice. The strategic thinking of the US and Turkey has always been prone to expansionism. In contrast, European countries like France and Germany uphold the Culture of Restraint and the philosophy of a civilized state, which makes it hard for them to reach a consensus on international affairs.

Time, an American weekly, said NATOs prospects are more uncertain than ever before.

On the one hand, as a product of the Cold War, the value of NATOs existence has been declining. Although its too early to talk about its collapse as the foundation for the alliance is still in place, the deterioration of member states relationship has exposed the bloc to many challenges in the future. How can it align the member states on the same page regarding their main strategic rivals and the direction of military development, while further integrating their combat systems to make sure NATO can function well in a crisis state?

On the other hand, as a US vassal, NATO has been constantly intimidated by the US in the past few years. In a recent interview with a mainstream European media, German chancellor Angela Merkel, when asked about Americas reduction of troops in Germany, said Europe would reevaluate its relationship with the US if the latter is unwilling to undertake its global responsibilities as a major country. In the future, NATO members in Europe may develop an independent and combined combat system to accelerate their defense integration in order to cope with various traditional and non-traditional threats effectively.
Wales Health Minister keen to avoid repeat of crowded pub scenes in England when they reopen

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jul 8th, 2020

The Health Minister says he is keen to avoid pubs becoming overcrowded in Wales when they reopen.

It follows scenes of packed pubs in England over the weekend after the UK Government eased restrictions designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The Welsh Government previously announced bars, cafes and restaurants in Wales would be able to reopen outdoors from 13 July.

However, unlike other nations, it has yet to set a restart date for indoor hospitality, despite no new deaths being recorded in the country for the first time yesterday.





Speaking at Tuesdays daily press conference, Vaughan Gething said it was important for people to not become complacent about the dangers posed by the virus.

He said: I am not someone who is demanding that other people behave in a way because I dont like drinking.

I enjoy a drink from time to time, I enjoy going out with my family and Id like to be able to go to a pub myself.

But just as Im having to consider whats right for my family, Im also having to consider whats right for the country as well.

That does reinforce why were not in a position to signal to hospitality that they can operate indoors.

Its partly driven by the scenes that we have seen in England, but also the evidence on the control measures that would need to be taken to make those more safe environments for staff and the public.

Questions were also raised about when restaurants would be able to reopen.

Mr Gething said the government was eager to open up the Welsh economy as soon as possible, whilst taking safety considerations into account.

He said: Im genuinely concerned about peoples livelihoods and the reality that your economic circumstances help to drive your health outcomes too, so its in the interest of the health service to see people able to earn a living.

Thats why weve urged UK government not to withdraw support in the way the furlough scheme operates but also to consider more support for different sectors of the economy.

The second point I think to make is that we are having conversations with a range of different economic sectors to try to work through what might be possible.

Im not in a position to indicate when there might be a further reopening in the restaurant sector or otherwise, but the First Minister will have more to say, as we consider the review period to date.
Wrexham company donates 100 face shield visors to front line NHS workers

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jul 8th, 2020

A Wrexham-based company has shown its support to front line NHS workers by donating vital face shields to the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

AE Sewing Machines, based on the Vauxhall Industrial Estate in Ruabon, recently gave 100 face shield visors to Awyr Las  The North Wales NHS Charity, to help protect key workers through the pandemic.

A member of the Betsi Cadwaladr team collected them and they were distributed to the Intensive Care Ward and Critical Care Unit at Ysbyty Wrecsam Maelor.

AE Sewing Machines are a family business based in Wrexham, and are one of the UKs leading suppliers of industrial fabric cutting, sewing, and finishing equipment.





As well as supplying a wide range of high-quality equipment to cover every aspect of textile manufacturing, they develop bespoke sewing solutions to fit the specific needs of customers and pride themselves on providing top-quality customer care and support. Proud members of Make it British, they are prominent advocates for British Manufacturing and do everything they can to support it.

Rhys Gerrard, Commercial Director at AE Sewing Machines said: We have been working closely with British businesses producing PPE throughout the lockdown period, providing specialist machines and technical support, and we will continue to do so for as long as needed.

Our most heartfelt thanks go out to all the key workers who are working so hard on the front-line, we are glad that we can be a part of producing the equipment required to keep them safe.

Local Ward Councillor David Bithell added: Its great to see a local business, doing their bit to help keep NHS workers protected during these difficult times and to provide a small token of gratitude for the amazing work which they are doing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-07 00:16:04|Editor: huaxia

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A man wearing a face mask leaves a supermarket in Berlin, capital of Germany, July 7, 2020. German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejects the idea of backing away from the face mask requirement in the country's shops, government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said here Monday. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

BERLIN, July 6 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejects the idea of backing away from the face mask requirement in the country's shops, government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said here Monday.

"Wherever the minimum distance cannot be guaranteed in public life, masks are an important and, from today's perspective, still indispensable means," stressed Seibert. The wearing of masks is still necessary in order to "keep the number of infections low and to protect other people and ourselves."

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Minister for Economic Affairs Harry Glawe has triggered a debate about abolishing the requirement to cover the mouth and nose in shops. "If the incidence of infection remains so low, I see no reason to continue to make masks mandatory for retail," Glawe told the German newspaper Welt on Sunday.

Other federal states in Germany are also considering the abolition of the face mask obligation in shops. "We are currently looking into whether we can do without compulsory masks when shopping," Saxony's Social Affairs Minister Petra Koepping told the paper.

Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn called for caution on Sunday and warned that the coronavirus was still there. However, he also said he understood "the impatience and the desire for normality."

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of new COVID-19 infections in Germany increased by 219 within one day to 196,554, with 9,012 confirmed deaths on Monday. Except for a few local outbreaks, such as at a German meat processing plant where more than 1,500 employees tested positive, the number of new cases has been on a steady decline.

With 48,744 cases, Bavaria is one of the most affected states in Germany, according to the RKI. Last week, Bavaria was the first German state to approve free COVID-19 tests for all its 13 million inhabitants.

Bavaria's Minister President Markus Soeder stressed on Monday that his state would "by no means relax or abolish the obligation to wear masks." Wearing a face mask is "one of the very few protective equipment" against the coronavirus, he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-07 07:54:53|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The Cameroonian government said in a statement Monday evening that reports about ceasefire talks between detained separatist leaders and government representatives are "not consistent with reality."

The statement came after separatist leaders who are serving life sentences said on Friday they had begun ceasefire talks with the Cameroonian government, but did not reveal details of their discussions.

Emmanuel Rene Sadi, minister of communication and government spokesman, said the government is still open to dialogue to end the over three years of armed separatist conflict in the two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest.

"The government reaffirms its readiness to seek peaceful solutions to the crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions particularly through dialogue. It is therefore open to various contacts, initiatives and proposals to that end while preserving Cameroon's national unity and territorial integrity," Sadi said in the statement, while appealing to armed separatists to put an end to atrocities and embrace peace.

Soldiers will continue to protect citizens and their property in a "professional manner" in the regions, Sadi said.

Cameroon government forces and armed separatists have been clashing since 2017 after the separatists declared "independence" of the two Anglophone regions. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-07 21:34:07|Editor: huaxia

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A freight train has arrived in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine from Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. The train, carrying 43 containers of cargo weighing 800 tonnes, took around 15 days to reach its destination, covering around 9,000 km in the process. It is the first direct China-Europe freight train between central China and Ukraine. The goods on the train include chemical raw materials, agricultural machinery and equipment, aluminum frames, syringes, and backpacks that are manufactured in Wuhan and nearby areas. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Wuhan and Kiev, and the new route is expected to optimize transportation and further deepen the pragmatic cooperation between the two cities, said Yuan Qiong, general manager of train operator Wuhan Asia Europe Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. The China-Europe rail-freight service was resumed in Wuhan on March 28, as the novel coronavirus epidemic ebbed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-07 22:13:07|Editor: huaxia

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DAKAR, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action reported this Tuesday 69 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 7,547 in the West African country.

Out of 693 tests carried out in the past 24 hours, 69 came back positive, the ministry's director of Prevention Dr. Mamadou Ndiaye said during the daily briefing.

According to Ndiaye, the new cases included 43 follow-up contact cases, 23 community transmission cases and three imported ones detected at the airport.

Some 114 patients tested negative after treatments and were discharged from hospitals and treatment centers, bringing the recovery number to 5,023 since the outbreak of the pandemic on March 2.

A total of 137 patients had lost their lives to COVID-19 in Senegal.

Senegalese president Macky Sall will end his 14-days self-quarantine Tuesday evening. But his minister of Tourism and Air Transport Alioune Sarr was put under isolation Monday after being in contact with a coronavirus carrier.

The later was supposed to meet the European Union ambassador to Senegal Tuesday to discuss the reopening of EU airspace for Senegalese. His deputy will continue the negotiations with EU representatives.

According to local media, with EU banning Senegalese entering Schengen zone, Senegalese national carrier Air Senegal would lose 40 percent of its revenue on Dakar-Paris route alone.

Senegalese government expects to resume flights to EU after July 15 in order to boost its tourism, a main source of income for Senegal.

Senegalese president Macky Sall already announced that his country's economic growth would be no higher than 1.1 percent in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state of emergency and the related curfew were lifted across the country on June 30.

The decision to lift the state of emergency was seen as part of the government's effort to relaunch the economy that has been dramatically affected by the pandemic. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-07 22:33:44|Editor: huaxia

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Track laying on a new railway has been completed in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Workers laid tracks on a bridge in the county of Fuyun last week, as they put final touches on the Altay-Fuyun section of the Afuzhun (Altay-Fuyun-Zhundong) railway. The railway spans 420 kilometers. It is connected with another railway in the north, and together they will form part of a circular railway network in the northern part of Xinjiang. The Afuzhun Railway shortens the rail distance between Altay and the regional capital Urumqi to 640 km from 760 km, and slashes traveling time by two hours, according to Qiao Jianmin, with the China Railway First Group Co., Ltd. The railway will help boost transportation and local tourism, Qiao said. The Afuzhun Railway is expected to begin operations on August 30.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 00:08:20|Editor: huaxia

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DHAKA, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh export earnings in the past financial year 2019-20 sank about 17 percent to 33.67 billion U.S. dollars, the lowest since the 2014-15 fiscal year, the country's Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data posted on its website showed Tuesday.

The EPB data showed export performance for June, the final month of the last fiscal, was 2.71 billion U.S. dollars, 2.5 percent lower than the same month of the previous financial year.

Key ready-made garment exports from Bangladesh fell by 18.12 percent to 27.95 billion U.S. dollars in the 2019-20 fiscal year.

Export earnings declined by 16.93 percent, or about 7 billion U.S. dollars, from 40.54 billion U.S. dollars in the previous fiscal.

Bangladesh set its export target in 2019-20 fiscal year at 45.54 billion U.S. dollars, including 38.20 billion U.S. dollars from ready-made garment products, the EPB data showed.

An EPB official said export income plunged as earnings from garment items have been experiencing severe slowdown for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our exports suffered major blow as a section of global buyers from the United States and European Union which are by far the largest destinations for Bangladesh's garment exports, have cancelled their orders due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the last months," said the EPB official who did not like to be named.

"We're now exploring opportunities to bolster market in China for Bangladeshi garment products," he said with reference to the China's recent decision to provide tariff exemption for 97 percent of exports from Bangladesh.

"We're already exporting garment items to China availing duty holiday facility," Faisal Samad, senior vice president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told Xinhua on Tuesday.

He said in future China looks set to emerge as a big market for Bangladesh products.

"To reap optimum benefits from China's tariff exemption we have to understand well Chinese market and Chinese business patterns," said the leader of the BGMEA.

Samad has recently expressed grave concern as the international brands have cancelled orders worth 3.18 billion U.S. dollars.

The garment sector accounts for around 80 percent of Bangladesh's annual exports and generates employment for some 4 million workers while women make up around 80 percent of the garment workforce. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 00:38:51|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's affordable housing program will adopt the World Bank's private sector arm, International Finance Corporation's (IFC) green housing standards, a government official said on Tuesday.

Charles Hinga, Principal Secretary Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works, told a virtual meeting that Kenya is keen to embrace low carbon housing developments in order to combat climate change.

"The minimum standard for the design of affordable, climate-friendly homes shall be IFC's excellence in design for greater efficiencies (EDGE) green building certification program. The standard entails a 20 percent less energy, less water and less embodied energy in materials compared to a base case building as estimated within the EDGE software," Hinga said.

Under the affordable housing program, the east African nation seeks to build 500,000 low-income housing units by the end of 2022.

Hinga said that the program was necessitated because private developers have concentrated on constructing houses for the middle and high-income segments of the population.

He observed that last week, the government signed an agreement with seven private investors to construct 130,000 affordable houses.

"The investors have committed to building houses that are environmentally friendly in order to assist Kenya to mitigate and adapt the negative effects of climate change," he added.

According to the ministry of housing, the real estate sector has been reluctant to enter into the affordable housing space due to a myriad of challenges.

"High cost of land, as well as complex land tenure system, does not make it conducive for investors to build houses targeted at the low-income segment of the population," Hinga said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 00:49:23|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's quest to resume formal learning suffered new headwinds on Tuesday when the government pushed it to next year amid worry over rising COVID-19 cases.

George Magoha, cabinet secretary for education, said in a televised address to the nation that it was impractical to resume learning in primary and secondary schools given the risk presented by the pandemic to the young population.

"The 2020 school calendar year will be considered lost due to COVID-19 restrictions," said Magoha, adding that secondary school and university entrance examinations for more than 2 million youths slated for the end of this year had been suspended.

He said that phased reopening of universities, colleges and vocational training institutions will commence in September subject to adherence to ministry of health guidelines on curbing spread of coronavirus.

"The universities should continue holding virtual learning and graduations for students who have successfully completed their programs and met graduation requirements set by their respective Senates," said Magoha.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 15 ordered closure of basic and tertiary learning institutions to avert spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Kenyatta directed the ministry of education to hasten roll-out of virtual learning for children and youth during the prolonged closure while encouraging parents to promote home-based teaching.

Magoha said that online learning had been progressing without hitches but clarified that students from remote parts of the country were yet to be adequately serviced due to lack of internet connection.

He said the decision to suspend the reopening of schools in September was based on advice given by a taskforce comprising public health specialists that pointed at inadequate capacity of learning institutions to handle rapid spread of COVID-19.

Magoha said that the learning institutions were currently ill-equipped to promote social distancing, testing and hand hygiene as a prerequisite to safe reopening.

"Reducing physical contact in learning institutions by having fewer learners will have a greater impact on reducing COVID-19 cases and fatalities," said Magoha.

Handwashing with soap, use of sanitizers, wearing of masks and monitoring body temperature will be the minimum requirements for the health and safety of learners," he added.

Statistics from Kenya's ministry of education indicate that nearly 16 million children and youth are enrolled in public schools that are deemed vulnerable to mass transmission of coronavirus in the absence of solid mitigation measures. Enditem
Twelve daily newspapers and websites of Funke Mediengruppe, one of Germanys three largest daily newspapers and magazine publishers, published an exclusive interview with the Chinese ambassador to Germany H.E. Wu Ken by Jorg Quoos, the groups Editor-in-Chief central editorial office, on July 2, 2020.

Jorg Quoos asked sharp questions about some of the current hot issues, including whether the recently promulgated Law of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) may cause critics to be banned, whether China should be punished for the COVID-19 pandemic and whether the situation in the South China Sea would deteriorate. Ambassador Wu Ken gave direct and frank answers correspondingly.

Question: Mr. Ambassador, Chinas newly enacted Hong Kong National Security Law will sanction the so-called subversion activities. Every critic may be silenced. Is this the understanding of democracy in China, as a to-be world power?

Answer: The root cause of the Hong Kong issue lies in colonialism and imperialism. The British Empire seized Hong Kong Island and began to colonize the territory in 1842. This is also the beginning of a century of humiliation in modern China. Anyone talking about the Hong Kong issue today must not forget this history.



For more than a year, so-called Hong Kong independence forces and radical thugs have become increasingly rampant under the intervention of external forces, which has shrouded Hong Kong society in the shadow of dark violence.



This not only distressed millions of Hong Kong citizens but also distressed 1.4 billion Chinese people. Their actions have posed a major and urgent real danger to Chinas national security. No sovereign state will sit idly by on such serious acts that endanger national security.

Question: But many Hong Kong residents just want to peacefully protest that Beijing has exerted too much influence on Hong Kong. Do you want to shut them all up?

Answer: Hong Kongs national security law only targets four types of clearly defined crimes, including acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security. These behaviors also constitute crimes in Western countries.



The vast majority of Hong Kong residents and foreigners who are law-abiding and law-abiding absolutely have no need to worry about being affected by the national security law. In addition, the law clearly stipulates that the state protects the rights and freedoms of the residents of the HKSAR, including freedom of speech, press, assembly, etc.

Question: If the German foundations based in Hong Kong criticize Chinas freedom rights, how will the new national security law deal with it? Is it possible that foundation representatives might go to prison?

Answer: This is not a matter of expressing criticism, but of adhering to the rule of law. Every foreigner in Hong Kong, whether working for a foundation or an enterprise, must abide by local laws, just as every foreigner in Germany must abide by laws of Germany.

Question: Is China worried about international sanctions because of Hong Kongs security law?

Answer: The so-called US sanctions will not scare us. On the contrary, this makes us even more convinced that the enactment of the national security law in Hong Kong is completely correct, very important and very necessary.



The US announced that it would cancel the special treatment for Hong Kong in terms of trade, and in fact, they lifted a rock only to have their own toes squashed. You know, the US receives a trade surplus of $30 billion from Hong Kong every year.

Question: US President Donald Trump has filed a compensation claim with China on the grounds of the global pandemic. Will China pay for it?

Answer: Such requests are thoroughly populist and lack any basis of international law. Who should pay for bird flu, swine flu, and HIV?



The purpose of President Trump is to use this to divert his attention and shift the blame. What's more, the origin of the virus has not been scientifically determined.

Question: China is testing a COVID-19 vaccine in the military. What is the progress of vaccine research and development in China?

Answer: At present, six vaccine preparations have entered clinical research in China, and three of them are about to enter clinical phase 3 trials. Chinese side believes that vaccine research and development is not a game of competition between countries, but a fight between humans and viruses. President Xi Jinping has announced that Chinas COVID-19 vaccine will be provided as a global public product after it has been developed and put into use.

Question: Will China donate or sell vaccines to other countries?

Answer: We support WHOs core role in this area and agree that priorities should be given to developing countries, especially African countries.

Question: Controversy over the boundary of the South China Sea has caused concerns. China has brought some islands and reefs into its administrative jurisdiction recently. Many people in the West are asking, why does China adopt such a radical foreign policy?

Answer: China is the first to have discovered and explored and exploited South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, and effectively exercised jurisdiction over them. Chinas territorial sovereignty was never questioned before the discovery of abundant oil and gas resources in the South China Sea in the 1970s.

China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. We oppose the illegal occupation of Chinese territory by some countries. At the same time, we are committed to settling disputes through direct dialogue with the countries concerned based on the basic principles of international law. Chinese side is deeply concerned about the frequent military activities of certain countries outside the region in the South China Sea because they are the major destabilizing factor.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 03:03:01|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The White House expects the next COVID-19 relief bill to cost about 1 trillion U.S. dollars and wants Congress to pass the legislation by the first week in August, a top aide to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday.

"There's obviously been a lot of stimulus put in the system over the last couple bills, and so the price tag for us would be that," Marc Short, chief of staff to Pence, said in an interview with Bloomberg Radio.

"I think we want to make sure that people that are still unemployed or hurting are protected but at the same time, we want to take into consideration the fact the economy is bouncing back and want to try to contain the amount of spending," he said.

U.S. Congress has provided roughly 2.9 trillion dollars in fiscal support for households, businesses, healthcare providers, and state and local governments, to blunt the economic impact resulted from the pandemic.

But the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the country is threatening to derail the nascent economic recovery as many states have either paused or partially reversed their staged reopenings.

U.S. lawmakers are expected to begin formally negotiating a fifth COVID-19 relief bill once they return to Washington from a two-week break on July 20, according to local media.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on Monday that he believed a fifth bill would be necessary and that he would introduce legislation in a few weeks.

"If you're looking for what I think the theme of what a next package that I'm likely to roll out here in a few weeks would focus on: liability reform, kids in school, jobs and health care, that's where the focus, it seems to me, ought to be," McConnell said.

The House of Representatives in May had passed a new 3-trillion-dollar coronavirus relief package, but it was proposed by Democrats and was not likely to gain approval from the Republican-held Senate.

More than 100 economists last month urged U.S. Congress to immediately pass a "multifaceted relief bill of a magnitude commensurate with the challenges our economy faces" as the COVID-19 fallout continues to ripple through the country.

"If Congress fails to act, state and local governments face potentially disastrous budget shortfalls, and the Congressional Budget Office estimates the unemployment rate will likely be more than 11 percent at the end of the year," they warned, adding "insufficiently bold congressional policy responses to the Great Recession" after the 2008 financial crisis unnecessarily prolonged suffering and stunted economic growth. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 03:45:33|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Tuesday announced easing of lockdown and gradual return for work and movement as of July 8.

The resumption would be effective from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time starting from Wednesday, with full commitment to necessary health precautionary measures to deal with COVID-19.

"The easing of lockdown will be assessed according to the health indicators," Al-Tayeb Al-Sheikh, head of Khartoum State's joint central committee for coronavirus emergencies, said in a statement.

He appealed to the citizens to abide by health guidelines so that the authorities would not be forced to re-impose full lockdown.

"The required health guidelines include social distancing, wearing face masks and continuous sterilization," Al-Sheikh said.

The Sudanese government imposed a three-week full curfew on Khartoum State on April 18, which has since been extended for several times.

Sudan has so far reported a total of 9,997 COVID-19 cases, including 622 deaths and 5,034 recoveries. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 04:09:27|Editor: huaxia

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Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (C) attends a press conference in Rome, Italy, on July 7, 2020. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte unveiled a simplification plan on Tuesday aimed at bringing the country quickly out of the coronavirus emergency through massive infrastructure spending, among other measures. (Alberto Lingria/Pool via Xinhua)

ROME, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte unveiled a simplification plan on Tuesday aimed at bringing the country quickly out of the coronavirus emergency through massive infrastructure spending, among other measures.

In a televised press conference, Conte promised the new Simplification and Digital Innovation Decree will streamline Italy's notoriously bloated, slow and inefficient bureaucratic apparatus in order to jumpstart his Recovery Plan, which include 120 billion euros (136 billion U.S. dollars) worth of public works, a high-speed train network in the country's chronically impoverished south, and a national fiber-optics network.

"Cabinet has approved a decree which finally simplifies, speeds up, and digitalizes administrative procedures, unblocks all public works and public contracts procedures, once and for all," Conte said.

"This measure represents the basis for our Recovery Plan, which contains reforms and measures for which we will request financing in Europe," the prime minister explained.

He also announced that he will depart later in the day for "a tour of various European capitals" to explain Italy's strategy ahead of the next European Council meeting to be held in Brussels on July 17-18, when EU leaders will discuss the recovery plan to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and a new long-term EU budget.

"This reform is the springboard Italy needs right now," Conte said. "We are in an emergency, and this decree will make our country more agile, modern and competitive."

The prime minister went on to assure the public that cutting red tape and speeding up administrative procedures do not mean the government is letting its guard down against organized crime, which operates by bribing its way into lucrative public contracts through networks of complicit public officials.

"We absolutely do not want to offer space to criminal appetites, which distort (market) competition and accumulate illicit earnings," Conte said.

A key part of the decree is streamlining procedures for awarding public works contracts to companies, Conte explained.

The measures include eliminating competitive open tenders for projects worth up to 150,000 euros (up from the previous threshold of 40,000 euros).

For public works contracts worth 150,000 euros to 5 million euros, there will be negotiated procedures without competitive open tenders, while for projects worth 5 million euros and up, there will be a shortened competitive bidding process, Conte said.

Conte also said that his government's decree will "revolutionize" the current situation by rewarding public officials who take responsibility and sign off on public works, instead of rewarding those who keep them tied up.

"Currently we are in a perverse situation," said Conte. "The official whose career advances is the one who remains inert. The one who takes on responsibilities, paradoxically, risks (legal) exposure."

"Public officials must be put in the condition to greenlight public works," he said. "From now on, whoever authorizes a public work will only be liable for financial damages to the Treasury in cases where there is ... intentional malicious behavior."

"However, omissions and therefore delays and inertia will become punishable," Conte explained. "We will strike at the public official who slows down or impedes procedures, and no longer at the one who takes on the responsibility of signing off on a project."

Another "revolutionary" reform, Conte said, is that "from now on, any red tape that imposes additional financial burdens on citizens must be compensated for by an equal cut in bureaucratic costs."

The new decree also cuts red tape for renewable energy projects, including the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles, contains incentives for towns of under 20,000 residents to use electricity from renewable sources, and fields an extraordinary maintenance plan for forests and mountains. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 07:24:16|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday urged the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria.

"As long as the unilateral coercive measures are not lifted, there will be no fundamental improvement in the humanitarian situation in Syria. Some country, while claiming to be concerned about the suffering of Syrian civilians, has imposed additional unilateral coercive measures on Syria, ruthlessly stifling the livelihoods of Syrian people," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said in his remarks in explanation of China's vote for the Security Council draft resolution on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria.

"China once again calls on the Security Council to address this critical issue, and urge the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria," he said.

"We also request a comprehensive assessment by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the overall humanitarian situation in Syria, to be presented by the secretary-general in a focused report to the Security Council," said the envoy.

Members of the Security Council on Tuesday voted on the draft resolution submitted by Germany and Belgium on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria. China and Russia voted against it. The draft resolution was not adopted.

Speaking of the effects of unilateral coercive measures, Zhang said that these measures "have further aggravated the economic and humanitarian crisis in Syria."

"Years of illegal sanctions have had immeasurable impact on the economic and social development of Syria, devastated livelihoods, and brought untold sufferings to innocent civilians. The unilateral coercive measures have also severely undermined Syria's capacity to respond to COVID-19," said the envoy.

The ambassador noted that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Special Envoy Geir Pedersen have repeatedly called on the relevant countries to lift unilateral coercive measures.

"To this end, China proposed amendments to the draft resolution. It is disappointing that the draft resolution submitted by copenholders completely ignores China's amendments and does not contain a single word about unilateral coercive measures. China is compelled to vote against such an unobjective and unbalanced draft resolution," Zhang said.

As to the cross-border mechanism, Zhang noted that it is "merely an urgent and temporary arrangement."

"It is the primary responsibility of the Syrian Government to improve the humanitarian situation in the country. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria must be respected," he added.

"China encourages the relevant parties to step up their efforts to promote cross-line operations and make corresponding adjustments to the cross-border mechanism. Considering the humanitarian needs in Syria, China does not object to retaining the cross-border mechanism at this stage. Meanwhile, cross-border operations should strictly follow the guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance set out in the General Assembly resolution 46/182, ensure impartiality, neutrality and credibility, and enhance coordination with the Syrian Government," the envoy said.

"China notes that there are still fundamental differences among Security Council members on the number of crossing points and extension period. China hopes that members will reach consensus through consultations," said Zhang.

The ambassador emphasized that China has consistently advocated a holistic and comprehensive approach for the Syrian issue.

"The political, counter-terrorism, security and humanitarian aspects must be considered altogether. Ultimately, the differences among parties concerned on the humanitarian issues in Syria must be resolved by advancing the Syrian political process. We urge all parties to strengthen dialogue, increase mutual trust, respond positively to the Secretary-General's global ceasefire appeal, and move towards a political solution to the Syrian issue," he said.

Talking about China's assistance to the war-scarred country, the envoy said that China attaches great importance to the humanitarian situation in Syria and supports the international community and UN agencies in stepping up humanitarian relief for the Syrian people.

"China has been providing a wide range of assistance to Syria through bilateral and multilateral channels, including in the areas of food, medicine, education and public services, and played a positive role in improving the humanitarian situation on the ground," Zhang said.

"Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has provided to Syria two batches of medical supplies and held video conferences with Syrian health experts in an effort to help the Syrian Government and people fight the virus," said the ambassador. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 07:34:17|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Some 3,000 childcare centers in New York City are allowed to reopen starting July 13, local health authorities said on Tuesday.

The city's Board of Health approved the plan with strict safety requirements, including mandating social distancing and face-covering. The capacity per room is limited to 15 children.

There will also be daily health screenings, regular cleanings, and careful regulation of any items that kids might use in common, said Mayor Bill de Blasio at his briefing.

De Blasio said key data on COVID-19 "consistently shows a low infection rate among children," which prompted the city to reopen childcare centers to relieve parents' burden during the crisis.

"We're in phase three. A lot of people are looking forward to going back to work ... And the only way they can do it is with childcare," said the mayor.

"It's been really, really tough for parents. So, bringing back childcare is crucial," he added.

Nearly all childcare centers in the city were closed in March and April due to COVID-19. Only 125 childcare programs are still running for children of essential workers.

New York City stepped into phase three of reopening on Monday with the reopening of personal care services, while indoor dining is still prohibited.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the city has recorded over 214,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 23,000 related deaths. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 07:54:13|Editor: huaxia

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Syrians shop at a store in Damascus, capital of Syria, on June 7, 2020. Syrians have been complaining about the skyrocketing prices amid a tough economic situation. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

"As long as the unilateral coercive measures are not lifted, there will be no fundamental improvement in the humanitarian situation in Syria," a Chinese envoy said.

UNITED NATIONS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday urged the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria.

"As long as the unilateral coercive measures are not lifted, there will be no fundamental improvement in the humanitarian situation in Syria. Some country, while claiming to be concerned about the suffering of Syrian civilians, has imposed additional unilateral coercive measures on Syria, ruthlessly stifling the livelihoods of Syrian people," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said in his remarks in explanation of China's vote for the Security Council draft resolution on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria.

"China once again calls on the Security Council to address this critical issue, and urge the relevant countries to immediately lift the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria," he said.

"We also request a comprehensive assessment by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the impact of unilateral coercive measures on the overall humanitarian situation in Syria, to be presented by the secretary-general in a focused report to the Security Council," said the envoy.

Members of the Security Council on Tuesday voted on the draft resolution submitted by Germany and Belgium on the mandate renewal of cross-border mechanism in Syria. China and Russia voted against it. The draft resolution was not adopted.

Syrians shop at a store in Damascus, capital of Syria, on June 7, 2020. Syrians have been complaining about the skyrocketing prices amid a tough economic situation. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

Speaking of the effects of unilateral coercive measures, Zhang said that these measures "have further aggravated the economic and humanitarian crisis in Syria."

"Years of illegal sanctions have had immeasurable impact on the economic and social development of Syria, devastated livelihoods, and brought untold sufferings to innocent civilians. The unilateral coercive measures have also severely undermined Syria's capacity to respond to COVID-19," said the envoy.

The ambassador noted that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Special Envoy Geir Pedersen have repeatedly called on the relevant countries to lift unilateral coercive measures.

"To this end, China proposed amendments to the draft resolution. It is disappointing that the draft resolution submitted by copenholders completely ignores China's amendments and does not contain a single word about unilateral coercive measures. China is compelled to vote against such an unobjective and unbalanced draft resolution," Zhang said.

As to the cross-border mechanism, Zhang noted that it is "merely an urgent and temporary arrangement."

A Syrian shops at a store in Damascus, capital of Syria, on June 7, 2020. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)

"It is the primary responsibility of the Syrian Government to improve the humanitarian situation in the country. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria must be respected," he added.

"China encourages the relevant parties to step up their efforts to promote cross-line operations and make corresponding adjustments to the cross-border mechanism. Considering the humanitarian needs in Syria, China does not object to retaining the cross-border mechanism at this stage. Meanwhile, cross-border operations should strictly follow the guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance set out in the General Assembly resolution 46/182, ensure impartiality, neutrality and credibility, and enhance coordination with the Syrian Government," the envoy said.

"China notes that there are still fundamental differences among Security Council members on the number of crossing points and extension period. China hopes that members will reach consensus through consultations," said Zhang.

The ambassador emphasized that China has consistently advocated a holistic and comprehensive approach for the Syrian issue.

"The political, counter-terrorism, security and humanitarian aspects must be considered altogether. Ultimately, the differences among parties concerned on the humanitarian issues in Syria must be resolved by advancing the Syrian political process. We urge all parties to strengthen dialogue, increase mutual trust, respond positively to the Secretary-General's global ceasefire appeal, and move towards a political solution to the Syrian issue," he said. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 08:03:55|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, July 7 (Xinhua) -- At least five U.S. Republican senators have announced that they will not attend the Republican National Convention in late August, local media reported Tuesday.

Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski will not attend the GOP convention next month in Florida, aides for each of the senators confirmed to The Hill.

An aide for Collins said that the senator was never planning to attend this year's convention because she does not go when she herself is up for reelection, according to a report by The Hill. It's not clear whether the other two senators' decisions were related to the coronavirus.

Senator Lamar Alexander, who is retiring at the end of this year, also announced on Tuesday that he would not attend, with his office saying he was saving delegate spots for people who had not previously gone to a party convention.

Chuck Grassley, the oldest Republican senator, on Monday became the first to formally say he would skip the gathering because of the coronavirus.

Anthony Fauci, the U.S. top infectious diseases expert, warned on Monday that the country is "still knee-deep in the first wave" of the pandemic and the U.S. handling of the outbreak is "really not good."

Almost 3 million people have contracted the virus, with more than 131,000 deaths, in the country as of Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 09:21:52|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Several gunmen were killed and their camps destroyed following an air operation in the northwestern Nigerian state of Sokoto, the nation's airforce chief Sadique Abubakar said Tuesday.

The operation was launched on Monday as part of efforts to rid the Nigerian northwest region of gunmen or bandits, cattle rustlers, kidnappers, and other criminal elements, Abubakar said in a statement.

The operation held in the Kagara Forest area of Sokoto is aimed at smoking out the gunmen, believed by the military authorities to be bandits, from their camps.

As the Kagara Forest extends into the Republic of Niger, there was also a synergy with the Nigerien authorities to ensure that the bandits did not escape through the international borders during the operation, Abubakar said.

The military official declined to give the exact number of the gunmen killed during the airstrike but said that there was a massive deployment of air assets to Sokoto to aid other operations in the state and its surrounding areas so as to bring criminal activities to a decisive end.

Banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities have recently become rampant in northwestern Nigeria. The military high command said they are in control of the situation with multiple ongoing operations against the gunmen. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 10:23:56|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, July 8 (Xinhua) -- All travellers exiting Laos will be required to produce medical certificates for their destination country to contain the spread of COVID-19, a Lao official said.

The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control has said that all travellers, including locals, must have a medical certificate before they visit another country. The committee said people who did not have a valid medical certificate would be denied entry at their destinations.

According to local daily Vientiane Times on Wednesday, Deputy Director of the government-run Mittaphab Hospital (Friendship Hospital), Vangnakhone Dittaphong, underlined the significance of medical certificates for travellers. There will be multiple health check points and travellers will be required to produce medical documents from their country of origin.

People in Laos can request for a medical certificate at specific hospitals in the country. However, people with flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat, or respiratory problems or have had a history of contact with a high-risk group will not be able to procure medical certificates, said the Lao official.

Mittaphab Hospital, Mahosot Hospital and Pasteur Institute in Vientiane are facilities in the capital city that have been designated to conduct a health check for COVID-19.

He said the medical certificate should certify that the traveller does not display any COVID-like symptoms and is COVID-negative. This preventive measure will be in place for a long time in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 10:45:58|Editor: huaxia

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Primary school students keep social distancing and wait in line before entering school in Windhoek, Namibia on July 7, 2020. Primary schools in Namibia reopened under strict health guidelines on Tuesday after COVID-19 shutdowns with students wearing masks and conducting social distancing. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Primary schools in Namibia reopened under strict health guidelines on Tuesday after COVID-19 shutdowns with students wearing masks and conducting social distancing.

More than 300,000 learners from pre-primary schools to grade three returned to school on Tuesday, said Absalom Absalom, public relations officer in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture.

Absalom said that schools reopened for formal teaching for the lower primary phase across the country except for the Erongo region.

The ministry has provided strict health guidelines for schools, including reducing the number of students in class, observing social distancing and offering protective equipment, Absalom said.

"The ministry allocated 29.8 million Namibian dollars (1.7 million U.S. dollars) towards the purchasing of protective equipment," he added.

In the capital Windhoek, teachers have disinfected Havana Primary School ahead of class resumption, school principal Andreas Katangolo said Tuesday.

"The school has also set up tippy taps to promote handwashing and general hygiene. Teachers and staff also check the temperature of learners." Katangolo added.

At Van Ryn Primary School, informative and graphic posters written in a child-friendly language were placed at various spots on the school premises. All staff members and students at the Windhoek-based school also wore masks in adherence to safety and health measures.

So far, Namibia has recorded 539 coronavirus cases with 25 recoveries.

The Namibian government closed schools in March after it declared a state of emergency and carried out subsequent restrictions.

Namibian President Hage Geingob announced restrictions on travel and suspended the resumption of schools in the Erongo region amid rising cases of COVID-19.

Face-to-face classes for students of grades 11 and 12 resumed on June 3.

The government has eased lockdown restrictions in stage four, greenlighted the reopening of the country, including the education and economic sectors.
BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, held a phone conversation on Wednesday, vowing that the two countries will firmly support each other in safeguarding sovereignty.

Xi noted that in late June Russia successfully held a military parade at the Red Square to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War, demonstrating to the world its firm resolve to remember history and safeguard peace.

Recently, Russia smoothly carried out a referendum and passed a set of constitutional amendments with a large majority vote, Xi said, adding that it has fully reflected the Russian people's support for the Russian government and approval of its governance philosophy.

China will, as always, firmly support Russia's development path that fits its own national conditions and staunchly support Russia in accelerating its development and revitalization, he said.

Noting that the international situation is changing rapidly, Xi stressed that it is very necessary for China and Russia, as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation.

The Chinese side, he added, is willing to continue working with the Russian side in firmly supporting each other, rejecting external sabotage and intervention, well preserving their respective sovereignty, security and development rights, and well safeguarding their shared interests.

Xi pointed out that at the most difficult time in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Russia supported and helped each other, which has further enriched the strategic significance of their relations in the new era.

While dealing with the coronavirus epidemic for a relatively long period of time, the two sides should explore flexible and diverse means to speed up the resumption of work and production in all fields of bilateral cooperation, suggested the Chinese president.

He added that they should also seize the opportunity of the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation to fast-track collaboration in such fields as advanced technology, research and development of vaccine and drugs, as well as biosecurity, so as to continuously lift China-Russia ties to higher levels and boost their respective development for the benefit of both peoples.

China, Xi said, stands ready to work with Russia to continuously intensify coordination within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, safeguard multilateralism, oppose hegemonism and unilateralism, defend international fairness and justice, and make greater contributions to improving global governance and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 11:21:41|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A British serial rape suspect, who has evaded justice for more than a decade, is charged with murdering one of his victims in 2009, local media reported Tuesday.

Aman Vyas, 35, is accused of rape and murder of Michelle Samaraweera in Walthamstow, east London, in May 2009, and raping three other women aged 35-59.

Vyas turned a small area near his home in Walthamstow into his "hunting ground" for a "series of violent rapes" between March and May 2009, the Daily Mail reported, citing prosecutor Tom Little.

"The prosecution say the defendant would go out prowling in the early hours of the morning, looking for lone women on whom he could prey," the barrister told Croydon Crown Court in south London.

The defendant has been fugitive from justice for over a decade as he fled Britain just weeks after his last attack. He was extradited from India in October 2019.

He is charged with murder, and six counts of rape, of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and of having an article with a blade or point in a public place.

Vyas has admitted one of the rapes but denies the other attacks, even "in the teeth of compelling evidence of his guilt," according to the court. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 11:47:58|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks were mixed Wednesday morning as investor sentiment was bolstered by robust Chinese shares, although concerns remained about the impact on the global economy amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the United States and Australia among other countries.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 43.14 points, or 0.19 percent, from Tuesday to 22,571.55.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, edged up 1.02 points, or 0.06 percent, at 1,572.73.

Mining and marine transportation issues led notable decliners, while electric power and gas, and land transportation issues comprised those that gained the most by the morning break. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 11:51:23|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on May 29, 2020 shows the live broadcast of U.S. President Donald Trump speaking at a press conference at the White House in Washington D.C.. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The United States will leave the WHO on July 6, 2021, and currently it owes the organization more than 200 million U.S. dollars in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website.

WASHINGTON, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday officially submitted its notification of withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) to the United Nations secretary-general, setting in motion the country's exit from the global body in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration repeatedly assailed the WHO for months and threatened to cut ties with the organization. Trump also announced in mid-April that his administration would halt U.S. funding to the WHO.

Experts and Democrats criticized that the Trump administration was trying to shift the blame of its mishandling of COVID-19 response and would be counterproductive to addressing the public health crisis.

"To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interests - it leaves Americans sick & America alone," Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, tweeted on Tuesday.

The United States will leave the WHO on July 6, 2021, and currently it owes the organization more than 200 million U.S. dollars in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website.

Photo taken in Brussels of Belgium on June 29, 2020 shows World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaking at an online press conference held in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

The country has reported more than 2.99 million COVID-19 cases with over 131,000 deaths, according to the latest Johns Hopkins University tally. Both figures are far higher than those in any other country or region.

After lockdown measures were eased in some states, the United States is struggling to respond to the devastation inflicted by COVID-19 even harder.

"We had been in a situation (where) we were averaging about 20,000 new cases a day," Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a livestream with Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health on Monday.

A series of circumstances associated with various states and cities trying to open up in a bid to get back to some form of normality, has led to a situation where the country now has "record-breaking cases," Fauci said.

California, Hawaii, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas on Tuesday shattered their previous daily record highs for new cases, according to the latest tally.

Texas reported over 10,000 new confirmed cases, the biggest one-day increase in the state, said the Texas Health and Human Services.

During a daily news conference on Monday, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said hospitals are seeing a continuous increase of coronavirus-related hospitalizations.

He also warned that Houston hospitals could be overwhelmed if the rapid spread of the virus is not under control.

"If we don't get our hands around this virus quickly, in about two weeks, our hospital system could be in serious, serious trouble," Turner said.

Florida has seen its caseload soar past 10,000 per day and 200,000 overall. More than four dozen hospitals in Florida reported that their intensive care units (ICUs) have reached full capacity on Tuesday as COVID-19 cases surge in the state and throughout the country, said the state health department.

A medical worker transfers the body of a victim who died of COVID-19 at a hospital in New York, the United States, April 6, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

The ICUs were full at 54 hospitals across 25 of Florida's 67 counties, according to data published on Tuesday morning by the state's Agency for Health Care Administration. More than 300 hospitals were included in the report, but not all had adult ICUs.

Local authorities reversed course on a reopening plan, issuing an emergency order to shut down gyms, party venues and restaurants, with exceptions for takeout and delivery, which will go into effect on Wednesday.

A widely cited mortality model from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) projected on Tuesday that U.S. deaths would reach 208,000 by Nov. 1, with the outbreak expected to gain new momentum heading into the fall.

"The U.S. didn't experience a true end of the first wave of the pandemic," IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray said in a statement. "This will not spare us from a second surge in the fall, which will hit particularly hard in states currently seeing high levels of infections." 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 12:46:05|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The United States has officially moved to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) as its national count of COVID-19 cases is approaching 3 million with over 130,000 deaths.

On Tuesday, Congress received formal notification of the decision from President Donald Trump, tweeted Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

"To call Trump's response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn't do it justice. This won't protect American lives or interests -- it leaves Americans sick & America alone," Menendez said.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, confirmed on Tuesday that the United States had submitted its withdrawal notification to Guterres on Monday.

According to the spokesman, the United States is a party to the WHO Constitution since June 1948, and its participation in the organization was accepted by the World Health Assembly "with certain conditions set out by the U.S. for its eventual withdrawal from the WHO."

"The said conditions include giving a one-year notice and fully meeting the payment of assessed financial obligations," said Dujarric.

MOUNTING CRITICISMS

Trump and his administration have repeatedly assailed the WHO for months and threatened to cut ties with the organization. In mid-April, he announced that his administration would halt U.S. funding to the international health agency.

The administration's move "has few supporters, even from Republicans in Congress," noted Lauren Clason in a story posted on Roll Call, a newspaper and website published in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

"I disagree with the president's decision," said Chair of Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Lamar Alexander -- a top Republican -- in a statement.

"Withdrawing U.S. membership could, among other things, interfere with clinical trials that are essential to the development of vaccines, which citizens of the United States, as well as others in the world, need," said Alexander, the senior Senator from Tennessee.

According to a piece published by the Hill, public health experts and Democrats have also raised alarms that the decision may be "short-sighted and could undercut the global response to the pandemic."

"The timing of the administration's decision has drawn intense scrutiny and is likely to spur questions about U.S. involvement in global efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine," said the Hill report.

"Abandoning our seat at the table leaves the United States out of global decision-making to combat the virus and global efforts to develop and access vaccines and therapeutics, leaving us more vulnerable to COVID-19 while diminishing our position as the leader in global health," said Thomas File, Jr., president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, in a statement.

"This decision is irresponsible, reckless, and utterly incomprehensible. Withdrawing from the @WHO in the midst of the greatest public health crisis of our lifetime is a self-destructive move. More Americans will be hurt by this careless choice," tweeted Eric Swalwell, representative for California's 15th congressional district in the House.

BEHIND THE DECISION

In the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, different groups in Washington have taken different stances on the WHO membership, against the backdrop of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for November.

As Trump pushed the withdrawal from the WHO, Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, however, said he would rejoin the WHO immediately if he wins.

"Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage," the former vice president tweeted.

Meanwhile, critics said behind Trump's WHO attacks are "an attempt to deflect blame from his own mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak -- and one that will end up hurting the U.S.," said a report by USA Today on Tuesday.

"Deflecting blame onto the WHO won't reverse the administration's mistakes or undo the suffering our country has endured," said Representative Eliot Engel for New York's 16th congressional district.

"The president needs to get serious about stopping this pandemic's lethal spread by restoring our membership in the WHO, ramping up testing, and encouraging everyone to practice social distancing and wear masks," said Engel, also chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Amanda Glassman, a public health expert and executive vice president of the Center for Global Development think tank, warned the world is facing not only the current threat of COVID-19 but also the treat of future pandemics.

"Withdrawal is counterintuitive at best and dangerous to human life at worst. The U.S. Congress should immediately explore what power it has to prevent this from happening," Glassman said.

"The U.S. should use its influence to strengthen and reform the WHO, not abandon it at a time when the world needs it most," said Gayle Smith, who served on the National Security Council and other top positions in the Obama administration. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 13:48:46|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia reported two new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking its national count to 227, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Wednesday.

"A total of 370 tests for COVID-19 were conducted at three laboratories across the country yesterday and two of them were positive," NCCD head Dulmaa Nyamkhuu told a daily press conference.

The new patients are Mongolian nationals who have recently returned home from Russia via Altanbulag border point, said Nyamkhuu.

Meanwhile, one more patient has recovered, bringing the national tally to 195, he added.

All the cases in the country were imported, mostly from Russia, according to the NCCD.

No local transmissions or deaths have been reported in Mongolia so far. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 13:49:48|Editor: huaxia

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LIMA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A Peruvian Air Force (FAP) carrying aid to local residents went missing on Tuesday near the country's border with Ecuador, local media reported.

The Mi-17 chopper departing from Urakuza in northern Peru's Amazonas region at around 12:50 a.m. (1750 GMT) was to send food to the nearby community of Chija, but failed to reach its destination, the FAP said in a statement.

"Four FAP personnel were on board the aircraft, but it has not yet been possible to determine if there are human losses because there is no information about it," daily El Comercio quoted FAP spokesman Wolfgang Grozo as saying.

Defensoria Peru, official account of the Ombudsman's Office on Twitter, expressed condolences to families affected by the tragedy and said it requested prompt relief action.

A Peruvian Army aircraft was immediately deployed to locate the missing chopper, said Grozo, adding that due to weather conditions, search operations in the area were suspended, but they will resume on Wednesday at dawn. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:15:14|Editor: huaxia

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BISHKEK, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday reported 345 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total cases in the country to 8,486, a public health official said.

Out of the 3,286 lab tests conducted in the country over the last 24 hours, 345 presented positive results for COVID-19, said Ainura Akmatova, head of the public health care department of the country's Health Ministry, adding all the new cases are contacts of confirmed patients.

Among the newly infected, 62 are medical workers, bringing the caseload of contracted medics to 1,287, including 522 recoveries, she said.

Akmatova said that 67 more patients have completely recovered from the virus, taking the total recoveries to 2,983.

She also confirmed 13 new deaths in the last day, raising the country's death toll to 112.

Currently, 592 people remain hospitalized, with 17 in intensive care units. In addition, 4,799 asymptomatic patients are in home quarantine. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:16:05|Editor: huaxia

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WELLINGTON, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Stronger demand for natural foods during the COVID-19 pandemic has created a boom of honey industry in New Zealand, the national apiculture industry organisation Apiculture New Zealand told Xinhua on Wednesday.

"China is one of our top three export markets, especially during the past three years when there is a growing awareness among consumers of New Zealand honey products, particularly Manuka honey," said Karin Kos, Chief Executive of Apiculture New Zealand, when mentioning Chinese consumer demand.

The country exported 413 million New Zealand dollars' worth of honey in the year by the end of May, more than four times what they were worth 10 years ago. In May 2020, honey exports were worth 49 million NZ dollars, which was an increase of 17 million NZ dollars, or 53 percent, compared to the same month last year, according Statistics New Zealand.

"We are surprised by the significant increase, but if you think about consumers having access to natural food sources like honey, it makes sense in the COVID-19 environment," said Kos, chief executive of Apiculture New Zealand.

Even before the global health crisis, New Zealand honey export increased quickly during the past ten years thanks to stronger oversea demand from countries such as China, U.S., Britain and Australia.

2019 Apiculture monitoring program report released by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries last month also indicated an increasingly important China market, which was taking almost 40 percent of the non-Manuka honey exported from New Zealand between July and December 2019.

While Kos is unsure whether the surge in demand for New Zealand honey during the pandemic is a long term trend or short term impetus, business entrepreneurs are taking the opportunity to explore markets.

John Qin is a Chinese New Zealander who owns a honey factory in Auckland for more than 20 years. Every year, he exports high-quality New Zealand honey products to the U.S., Europe, China and Japan. He has witnessed and benefited from the growth of Chinese market over the years.

Although his business was affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, he is now investing in digital marketing to expand his honey business.

"During the post COVID-19 recovery, when consumers pay more attention on how to keep fit and to enhance immunity, our products will see a surge in the market need," Qin said confidently.

"Honey is a seasonal output. We were in lockdown just when was usually the busiest season. Therefore the production this year is impacted. But Production and demand has just picked up recently," said Qin.

"There are big Chinese companies coming to us for high quality honey. I reckon the pandemic has raised people's awareness for health and nutrition. The consumers' demand will grow post COVID-19, so will our business."

Qin is now preparing to work with Chinese big brands to explore online market opportunities for his products. He said: "I feel positive to the future business forecast. That's why I am investing in the online marketing."

At the same time, Kos is also looking forward to working with Chinese apiculture counterparts for future cooperation between the two countries.

"I was at the 2019 China International Beekeepers Conference and International Apiculture Expo. It is important that we strengthen communications and share knowledge in relation to apiculture products, production techniques, processing technology and standards between New Zealand and China," she said.

Kos also believed that Chinese consumers' confidence in New Zealand honey products is important.

"It is critical that our products meet all the export tests and ensure the highest quality," she said. (1 New Zealand dollar equals 0.65 U.S. dollar) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:17:07|Editor: huaxia

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A civilian was killed and another wounded Wednesday after troops of India and Pakistan exchanged heavy fire and targeted each other's positions on Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir, Indian army officials said.

The two sides exchanged fire early Wednesday on LoC in Balakote and Mendhar sectors of frontier Poonch district, about 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"The exchange of fire went on for sometime after which guns fell silent," an Indian army official said.

On Monday Pakistan military's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said five civilians including two boys and two elderly women were wounded due to Indian army's firing on their side in Nikial sector along LOC. The ISPR said Pakistan army responded effectively to Indian firing.

There has been a surge in cease-fire violations on LoC over a past one month.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on LoC and International Border (IB) in Kashmir, despite an agreement in 2003 to observe a cease-fire. However, the cease-fire remains in effect. New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating cease-fire agreements. And both sides maintain their troops gave a befitting reply to the other.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.

India and Pakistan are at loggerheads with each other. There has been no considerable improvement in relations of the two countries or resumption of bilateral relations ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India in 2014 for the first time. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:20:52|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, July 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said Wednesday that his country strongly supports cooperation between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) amid the Seoul's efforts to resume inter-Korean cooperation.

"The United States strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation, and we believe this plays an important component in creating a more stable environment on the Korean Peninsula," Biegun told reporters in Seoul after talks with Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, according to Yonhap news agency.

"We look forward to fully supporting the government of (South) Korea as it advances its goals with North Korea (DPRK) in inter-Korean cooperation," the U.S. nuclear envoy said.

His comment came as South Korea is seeking a U.S. support for the resumption of inter-Korean cooperation projects that have been suspended under international sanctions toward Pyongyang.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in offered in late April to the DPRK resuming inter-Korean cooperation by jointly tackling the COVID-19 outbreak, before expanding the cooperation.

Moon vowed in his New Year address to seek realistic ways for a broader inter-Korean cooperation while continuing efforts for the success of the DPRK-U.S. denuclearization negotiations.

Citing the vision U.S. President Donald Trump and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un had through summits for the past two years, Biegun said his team will focus on "creating a more durable peace on the Korean Peninsula, transforming relations on the Korean Peninsula, elimination of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and a brighter future for the Korean People."

Kim and Trump met three times in 2018 and 2019, but the talks between Pyongyang and Washington to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula have been stalled since the Hanoi Summit between the leaders in February 2019 ended with no agreement.

Biegun arrived here Tuesday for a three-day visit. Before the talks, he paid a courtesy call to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and held a strategic dialogue with Cho Sei-young, South Korea's first vice foreign minister of South Korea. Enditem
Under WHO rules, any country leaving the organization must give one year's notice. If Trump loses the November election, the next president could decide to remain. The United States leads the world with the most COVID-19 cases -- nearly 3 million -- and close to 131,000 deaths.

"We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly, but they have refused to act. Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating the relationship," Trump said in May.

President Donald Trump froze U.S. funding for WHO in April, and a month later announced his intentions to drop out. He accused the organization of having a pro-China bias in its handling of the coronavirus outbreak and demands reforms.

The White House has formally notified the United Nations that it is pulling the United States out of the World Health Organization, despite the surging number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

 Criticism of Move

U.S. health experts call the president's action shortsighted, saying it destroys decades of cooperation in fighting all diseases.

"Abandoning our seat at the table leaves the United States out of global decision-making to combat the virus and global efforts to develop and access vaccines and therapeutics, leaving us more vulnerable to COVID-19 while diminishing our position as the leader in global health," said Thomas File Jr., president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "Without the WHO, the nation is at higher risk of being inadequately prepared for many health risks of pandemic proportions."

United Nations Foundation President Elizabeth Cousens said WHO is the only body capable of coordinating a global response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"A U.S. withdrawal from WHO would also jeopardize decades of hard-won progress on other critical global health priorities that matter to Americans -- from expanding access to vaccines to fighting diseases like polio, malaria, and HIV/AIDS, and working to strengthen health systems everywhere. Those priorities are not only shared the world over but have decades of bipartisan support in the United States," she said.

Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez said abandoning WHO will leave "Americans sick and Americans alone," while Congressman Eric Swalwell called the decision "irresponsible, reckless, and utterly incomprehensible."

 Accusations Against WHO

But Trump and other conservative critics of WHO accuse the organization of spreading what they say was Chinese misinformation about the coronavirus early in the pandemic, including allegations that China deliberately tried to downplay the dangers of COVID-19 and how it can spread through human-to-human contact.

The United States is a charter member of WHO, which was founded in 1948, and has been its biggest donor.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:38:28|Editor: huaxia

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GHAZNI, Afghanistan, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Three policemen including a district police chief were killed as a roadside bomb struck a police van in Dehyak district of Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province on Wednesday, provincial government spokesman Wahidullah Jumazada said.

According to Jumazada, the bomb planted by militants on a road in Dehyak district struck the police van in the morning rush hour, killing three including the district police chief Habibullah Khan.

The official blamed the attack on the "enemies of peace", a reference to the Taliban militants, for launching the bombing, but the armed outfit has not made any comment yet.

Taliban militants have intensified activities on security checkpoints across the restive Ghazni province. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:47:42|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Three Gorges Dam on China's Yangtze River has not hit its maximum flood-intercepting capacity as the river's first flood of the year passed through the dam last Saturday, its operator said.

The dam still has leeway to deal with even greater flooding in the country's largest river, the Three Gorges Cascade Dispatch and Communication Center said.

"The current flood situation in the Yangtze River's main course is not particularly severe, so the reservoir's flood storage capacity has yet to be fully utilized," said Bao Zhengfeng, director assistant of the center.

The river's first flood this year arrived at the Three Gorges dam on July 2 with a peak flow rate of 53,000 cubic meters per second, raising the reservoir's water level to 149 meters after the passage of the flood. Bao said, however, the reservoir can handle a water level as high as 175 meters.

The China Three Gorges Corporation said the dam was expected to absorb up to 18,000 cubic meters of water per second during this round of flooding, to take the edge off the deluge.

The massive dam is in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. Before every flood season, its reservoir releases water to ensure enough storage capacity. When the deluge comes, the dam will impound water to whittle down the flood, thus protecting downstream cities and villages.

Bao refuted claims that the dam's discharge of floodwater caused flooding in downstream cities, saying some cities experienced waterlogging after intense downpours overpowered their drainage systems, not as a result of the flood in the Yangtze.

Since June, continuous downpours have lashed large parts of southern China, raising the water levels in many rivers to exceed warning levels.

The Three Gorges project is a multi-functional water control system, consisting of a 2,309-meter-long and 185-meter-high dam, a five-tier ship lock, and 34 hydropower turbo-generators.

"The Three Gorges Dam has played a big role in flood control since it began operation. In 2010 and 2012, we weathered the deluge of over 70,000 cubic meters per second, and ensured the safety of the downstream basin," Bao said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:49:14|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged college graduates throughout the country to make more contributions for the Party, the country and the people.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter Tuesday to graduates studying at the Karamay campus of China University of Petroleum-Beijing. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:53:20|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed in a home fire in southwestern Mongolia, the country's emergency authorities said Tuesday.

The fire occurred in a traditional round-shaped dwelling, also called "ger," in Bayan-Ovoo soum of Bayankhongor province on Tuesday, killing a 47-year-old mother and her 15-year-old son, according to the authorities.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, said the emergency agency, urging citizens to prevent possible fires in their own homes. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:54:42|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, July 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said Wednesday that his country strongly supports cooperation between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) amid Seoul's efforts to resume inter-Korean cooperation.

"The United States strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation, and we believe this plays an important component in creating a more stable environment on the Korean Peninsula," Biegun told reporters in Seoul after talks with Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, according to Yonhap news agency.

"We look forward to fully supporting the government of (South) Korea as it advances its goals with North Korea (DPRK) in inter-Korean cooperation," the U.S. nuclear envoy said.

His comment came as South Korea is seeking a U.S. support for the resumption of inter-Korean cooperation projects that have been suspended under international sanctions toward Pyongyang.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in offered in late April to the DPRK resuming inter-Korean cooperation by jointly tackling the COVID-19 outbreak, before expanding the cooperation.

Moon vowed in his New Year address to seek realistic ways for a broader inter-Korean cooperation while continuing efforts for the success of the DPRK-U.S. denuclearization negotiations.

Citing the vision U.S. President Donald Trump and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un had through summits for the past two years, Biegun said his team will focus on "creating a more durable peace on the Korean Peninsula, transforming relations on the Korean Peninsula, elimination of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and a brighter future for the Korean People."

Kim and Trump met three times in 2018 and 2019, but the talks between Pyongyang and Washington to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula have been stalled since the Hanoi summit between the leaders in February 2019 ended with no agreement.

"When Chairman Kim appoints a counterpart to me who is prepared and empowered to negotiate on these issues, they will find us ready at that very moment," said Biegun.

"I believe this is very much possible. President Trump has given us his full support to continue this effort," he noted.

Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the Department of U.S. Affairs of the DPRK's Foreign Ministry, said Tuesday that the DPRK was unwilling to talk face to face with the United States, urging South Korea to stay away from meddling in Pyongyang's affairs.

Kwon's remarks reaffirmed the statement issued earlier by Choe Son Hui, first vice minister of foreign affairs of the DPRK, who said last weekend that the DPRK had no interest in holding another DPRK-U.S. summit, which was proposed last week by South Korean President Moon, before the U.S. presidential election in November.

Tensions escalated on the peninsula as the DPRK demolished the inter-Korean liaison office building in the DPRK's border city of Kaesong last month in protest against anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by South Korean civic group activists, mostly defectors from the DPRK. Pyongyang has cut off all communication lines with Seoul.

Biegun arrived here Tuesday for a three-day visit. He paid a courtesy call earlier in the day to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and held a strategic dialogue with Cho Sei-young, South Korea's first vice foreign minister. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 14:58:27|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam imported more than 3.1 million tons of plastic worth roughly 3.9 billion U.S. dollars in the first six months of this year, posting a year-on-year rise of 5.3 percent in volume and decrease of 11.1 percent in value, according to its Ministry of Industry and Trade on Wednesday.

Between January and June, the country spent over 3.2 billion U.S. dollars importing plastic products, up 5.4 percent from the same period last year, according to the ministry.

Its largest suppliers of plastic and plastics products included China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and the United States, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

In 2019, Vietnam imported nearly 6.4 million tons of plastic totaling more than 9 billion U.S. dollars, up 14 percent and down 0.8 percent respectively from the previous year. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 15:28:13|Editor: huaxia

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An injured man receives medical treatment at a local hospital in Kandahar city, Afghanistan, July 8, 2020. Two policemen have been confirmed dead and four others wounded as militants detonated a car bomb next to police station of Shah Walikot district, Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, late on Tuesday, district governor Fazal Mohammad Gharib Shah told Xinhua. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen have been confirmed dead and four others wounded as militants detonated a car bomb next to police station of Shah Walikot district, Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, late on Tuesday, district governor Fazal Mohammad Gharib Shah told Xinhua.

The official said investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, an official on condition of anonymity said the blast claimed the lives of three policemen and wounded 20 others including district police chief Badshah Khan.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 15:46:09|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Coast Guard has called off the search for the missing 12 fishermen and two passengers of the Philippine fishing boat that sank off Occidental Mindoro province on June 27 after colliding with a bulk carrier, PCG Commandant Vice Admiral George Ursabia said on Wednesday.

Ursabia met with the families of the missing Filipinos on Wednesday. At the meeting he informed the families that the PCG will continue to "actively monitor" the waters off Mamburao town where the collision occurred and nearby coastal areas.

"Mobile patrol operations along the shoreline of Mamburao town will be sustained to locate (the missing) victims," he told the families.

Ursabia also informed the relatives of the victims that the PCG has filed a motion to prevent the crew of the cargo vessel MV Vienna Wood from leaving the Philippines while the investigation is ongoing.

According to a PCG statement, Ursabia "guaranteed the families that a hold departure order against MV Vienna Wood will be issued this week to ensure that the bulk carrier will remain under the custody of the Philippines."

Not one of the missing 12 fishermen and two passengers aboard the sunken fishing boat which was headed to a fishing port in Manila have been found. The boat collided with the Australia-bound MV Vienna Wood close to midnight on June 27.

The PCG speculated that the 14 missing people may have been trapped inside the sunken boat approximately 2,000 meters deep.

The PCG blamed the collision on poor visibility and poor sea condition due to heavy downpour. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 16:13:12|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on July 5, 2020 shows a saved slender-billed vulture in Pu'er, southwest China's Yunnan Province. A slender-billed vulture, a critically endangered species, was for the first time sighted in southwest China's Yunnan Province, local public security bureau said Wednesday. The rare bird was spotted in early July by a villager near a reservoir in Jinggu Township, Pu'er City. Finding that the bird had no visible injury but looked weak, police at the site took it away for treatment. The bird is in good condition and will be released with a satellite tracker for further protection and scientific research when it fully recovers. (Xinhua)

KUNMING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A slender-billed vulture, a critically endangered species, was for the first time sighted in southwest China's Yunnan Province, local public security bureau said Wednesday.

The rare bird was spotted in early July by a villager near a reservoir in Jinggu Township, Pu'er City. Finding that the bird had no visible injury but looked weak, police at the site took it away for treatment.

Bird experts at the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed that it is a slender-billed vulture, a critically endangered species with a global population of about 1,000 to 2,499.

The vultures are mainly found in Bangladesh, Cambodia and India. The only place in China it had previously been seen was in southeastern Tibet. Experts believe its discovery is of great significance for better understanding of its habitat and distribution.

The bird is in good condition and will be released with a satellite tracker for further protection and scientific research when it fully recovers. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 16:17:29|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Northwest Cambodia's Siem Reap provincial authorities on Wednesday banned trading dogs for meat, saying that violators would be punished in accordance with the law.

Siem Reap is a cultural province that houses the famed Angkor Archeological Park, the most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian nation. The park attracted 2.2 million foreign tourists last year.

Tea Kimsoth, chief of the Siem Reap Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said since ancient times, people have treated dogs as loyal pets and that dogs are very useful to protect houses, farms and herds and to assist military work.

"In recent years, trading and slaughtering dogs for meat have been anarchic and have alarmingly increased," he said in a statement. "This is a sign showing the decline in humanitarian value and virtue."

He said dog meat trade is also the cause of the transmission of rabies and other diseases from an area to another that can harm public health.

"Trapping, trading and slaughtering dogs anarchically are against the Law on Health Animal and Production, and perpetrators will be seriously punished under the Articles 112, 113 or 115 of the Law," Kimsoth said.

"Therefore, the Siem Reap Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries bans trading all kinds of dogs for meat without permission from now on," he said.

Under the Articles 112 and 113, violators will face a fine of 2,500 U.S. dollars, while under the Article 115, perpetrators can be jailed from two to five years, with a fine of 12,500 dollars. Enditem
In the first sign that India and China are deescalating tensions along their disputed border, both sides have agreed to a "disengagement process" and pulled back troops from the site of a clash that killed 20 Indian soldiers in mid June.

However analysts warn that resolving differences that have flared at different contested zones in the Himalayan ranges still pose a massive challenge and even though the eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation between their troops may end, the massive military deployment by the Asian rivals could continue.

"It is going to be a live border for a long time because the Indian army cannot any longer afford to lower its guard," said Bharat Karnad, a strategic affairs analyst at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi.

The decision by the Asian giants to reduce tensions in Ladakh followed a call between Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday. This is the second time the two countries have announced a disengagement -- a similar step initiated in June collapsed days later when a deadly clash erupted between Indian and Chinese soldiers resulting in the worst border violence in five decades.

Troops from both countries have moved back nearly two kilometers from the Galwan Valley to create a "buffer zone" and the Chinese have dismantled structures and tents erected in the area, Indian officials, who did not want to be quoted, have said.

The pullback was reported after an Indian foreign ministry statement on Monday said both sides had agreed to "complete the disengagement process expeditiously" and work together to "avoid any incident in the future that could disturb peace and tranquility in border areas."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 16:22:56|Editor: huaxia

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SOFIA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria topped 6,102 after a record high of 188 new infections was reported in the last 24 hours, official figures showed Wednesday.

The health ministry said 68 of the new cases were registered in the country's capital Sofia, bringing the total in the city to 1,953.

The number of recoveries from COVID-19 rose by 37 to 3,037, and the number of deaths went up from 250 to 254, the ministry said.

It added that 483 patients are currently hospitalized, with 32 in intensive care units. The number of infected medical workers has reached 465.

Bulgaria reported its first COVID-19 case on March 8. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 16:38:59|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government has allocated 1.16 billion U.S. dollars to address the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Economy and Finance Ministry Secretary of State Vongsey Vissoth said here on Wednesday.

"The amount of 564 million dollars has been allocated for health and social assistance and 600 million dollars for economic support through lending to small and medium enterprises," he said during a press conference.

Since the virus outbreak, the government has released 364 million dollars for economic and social supports, he said.

Vissoth said the stimulus package did not include tax breaks granted to affected companies, especially to those in garment and tourism industries.

Labor Ministry secretary of state Heng Sour said due to the pandemic, the Southeast Asian nation has experienced a decline in the exports of garment, footwear and travel goods in the first half of 2020.

He said the kingdom exported those products worth 3.78 billion dollars during the January-June period this year, down 5.4 percent over the same period last year.

"Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for garments has dropped globally, affecting not only Cambodia but also other producing countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam," Sour said.

To date, 450 garment, footwear and travel goods factories in Cambodia have suspended operations, he said, adding that unemployed workers receive a stipend of 30 U.S. dollars from the factory and 40 dollars from the government per month.

The garment, footwear and travel goods industry is Cambodia's biggest export sector, employing about 750,000 people in approximately 1,100 factories and branches.

For the impact of the pandemic on tourism, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said early last month that nearly 3,000 tourism-related establishments such as hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, massage parlors, karaoke clubs, nightclubs and tour and travel companies had been either suspended or closed, affecting 45,405 workers.

Cambodia has recorded a total of 141 confirmed COVID-19 cases to date, with 131 patients cured and 10 remained hospitalized, according to the Ministry of Health. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 16:39:40|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writers Li Linhai, Shi Yu, Zhao Jiasong

XINING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- When early summer greets the Tibetan communities in northwest China's Qinghai Province, local herdsmen and farmers start heading for alpine soil over 4,000 meters above sea level. Here they spend weeks digging an expensive ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine - the caterpillar fungus.

As the high-altitude winds make for a brisk morning, these diggers, who climb up mountains early, can feel the thinness of the air in their lungs, but still exert themselves to find the tiny fungus.

Found only at high altitudes, the fungus, known in China as "winter-worm summer-grass," reputedly has cancer-fighting properties and boosts the immune system.

The caterpillar fungus gold rush, which takes place annually in many parts of China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has brought wealth to many local herdsmen but also created ecological woes. In Qinghai's Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a major production area of caterpillar fungus, the fungus gold rush is undergoing quiet changes.

GOLD RUSH

For more than a month from late May, the gold rush is in full swing in Yushu's Sanjiangyuan region, known as the source of the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers.

For local herdsmen, it is the busiest and most exciting time of year to hunt down such fungus, an important source of income for many of them. It offers seasonal jobs for local herdsmen. Even schools are closed so that students and teachers can join in the harvesting.

The fungus forms when a parasitic fungus hijacks and then feeds off the bodies of ghost moth larvae that have burrowed into the alpine soil, 3,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level. The fungus then pushes the remains of their bodies to the surface so it can spread its spores.

It is so sought after in China for its medicinal qualities that it sometimes fetches its weight in gold.

"Digging the fungus is hard work. It needs good eyesight, physical strength and luck," said Tsewen, a herdsman from the Bagan township.

SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS

Lying on the alpine ground, trying to spot the tiny caterpillar fungus as small as an apple stalk, fungus diggers like Pema Khandro have to brave harsh climates from sunup till sundown.

Pema, 35, is no stranger to harvesting the fungus, with years of practice. After locating her target, Pema uses an ice pick to prod the earth and dig a hole about 10 centimeters deep. To keep the fungus intact, she then lifts a clump of earth and sifts out the fungus.

Back in the day, holes were all over the place after the fungus season, causing severe damage to the fertility of the land on which local herdsmen have been depending for their livelihoods for centuries.

Experts have warned that the cash cow may die out in two decades, if no measures were taken to reverse the overexploitation.

Like other fungus diggers, after carefully wrapping her trophy, Pema quickly fills in the pit and replenishes the turf before she moves on to her next target, to reduce the damage to the soil.

ALTERNATIVES FOR PROSPERITY

Herding is a mainstay industry in Yushu. However, local herdsmen had to deal with constant risks due to the region's harsh natural conditions, which accounts for their long-time dependence on the fungus gold rush.

In recent years, thanks to booming ecological animal husbandry, 206 cooperatives have been established in Yushu. Many herdsmen gathered their yaks together and the cooperatives are in charge of herding. Collectively they are stronger before natural disasters. With support from government in technology and funds, the cooperatives are more productive and efficient than individual herdsmen.

Nyima Dargye, who leads a cooperative in the Maxiu Village, said the cooperative has 60 herdsmen from 11 households. Besides the basic income from herding, each household of the cooperatives received nearly 10,000 yuan (about 1,425 U.S. dollars) as dividends last year, he said.

In recent years, with improved social security and more poverty-alleviation projects, the importance of the fungus economy has declined. "Digging caterpillar fungus always depends on the weather. It is hard and requires luck as well," Pema said. "With better policies, the herdsmen also have more income and we'll feel more at ease during the fungus season."

Beginning in 2005, China launched the country's biggest ecological project to protect and restore the environment in Sanjiangyuan. In 2016, China started piloting the Sanjiangyuan National Park.

"After the park went into trial operation, many herdsmen have been employed as ecological protectors, with each earning more than 20,000 yuan per year," said Kata with the park's administration department.

According to official figures, the park now employs 17,211 local ecological protectors.

As local herdsmen's revenues diversify, digging caterpillar fungus gold has lost its former glitter, and become a mere seasonal job to earn extra cash. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 16:42:56|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Former Mongolian Minister of Labor and Social Protection Nyamtaishir Nomtoibayar was sentenced to five years and five months in prison for abuse of power on Tuesday, local media reported Wednesday.

Nomtoibayar was found guilty of giving privileges to others by abusing power, including ordering implementation 29 projects and programs in his capacity as labor and social protection minister.

The 42-year-old served as labor and social protection minister from 2016 to 2017.

The former member of the ruling Mongolian People's Party recently ran for parliamentary elections as an independent candidate but failed to win a seat in the country's 76-seat unicameral parliament. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 16:45:30|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Super League (CSL) side Wuhan Zall has begun offering refund options to season-ticket holders, according to the club's statement revealed on Wednesday afternoon.

The postponed Chinese Super League (CSL) 2020 season will be contested behind closed doors on July 25 in Suzhou and Dalian.

"In order to protect our season-ticket holders' interests, we decided to offer refund options to season-ticket holders from now on," the club said on its Chinese twitter-like Weibo account.

"For those season-ticket holders, they have the choice to take the 2020 season off, with the payments applied to their 2021 tickets, or receive a full refund," the club added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 17:40:02|Editor: huaxia

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Social distancing markers are seen at a government department in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, July 8, 2020. Kuwait on Wednesday reported 762 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 52,007 and the death toll to 379, the Health Ministry said in a statement. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait on Wednesday reported 762 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 52,007 and the death toll to 379, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Currently, 9,520 patients are receiving treatment, including 161 in ICU, the statement added.

The ministry also announced the recovery of 593 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 42,108.

Kuwait started on June 30 the second phase of restoring normal life, which will last for three weeks.

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.

On April 27, a team of Chinese medical experts visited Kuwait to assist the Gulf country's anti-coronavirus fight, through sharing their experience and expertise in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 17:55:46|Editor: huaxia

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CHANGCHUN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Despite the novel coronavirus outbreak, China's leading automaker FAW Group sold over 1.63 million vehicles in the first half (H1) of 2020, up 2.3 percent year on year, according to the automaker.

FAW's iconic sedan brand Hongqi sold 70,000 vehicles in H1, representing a 110.7 percent year-on-year growth. Jiefang, another major brand, sold 278,200 vehicles in H1, up 35.6 percent year-on-year.

FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd., a passenger car joint venture between FAW and Volkswagen AG, said a total of 844,400 vehicles were sold, while FAW Toyota sold 348,000 vehicles.

Hongqi fulfilled its 2019 sales target of 100,000 cars and has doubled the target for 2020.

Hongqi, meaning "red flag," is China's iconic sedan brand. The brand was established in 1958 and has been used as a vehicle for parades at national celebrations.

Founded in 1953 in the northeastern city of Changchun, FAW owns brands including Hongqi, Jiefang and Bestune. It also has joint ventures with carmakers such as Volkswagen, Mazda and Toyota. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 17:57:19|Editor: huaxia

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DHAKA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh reached 172,134 on Wednesday, as nearly 3,500 new patients were confirmed in the last 24 hours.

Senior Health Ministry official Nasima Sultana told a briefing Wednesday afternoon that "3,489 new COVID-19 positive patients and 46 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours across Bangladesh."

"The number of confirmed infections in the country totaled 172,134 while fatalities stood at 2,197," she said.

According to the official, 15,672 samples were tested in the last 24 hours in labs across the country.

She said the total number of recovered patients in the country stands at 80,838 including 2,736. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 17:57:29|Editor: huaxia

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Rescuers conduct a water rescue drill in Wuxing District, Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Heavy downpours continued to wreak havoc across vast stretches of China on Wednesday as the country renewed its alert for rainstorms and multiple provincial-regions enhanced flood responses.

China's national observatory on Wednesday renewed its orange alert, the second-highest, for rainstorms, while the downpour is forecast to continue from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, in large parts of southern China, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters upgraded the emergency response for flood control from level IV to level III on Tuesday afternoon.

Statistics from China Meteorological Administration Tuesday showed that the accumulated precipitation since June 1 in east China's Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, central China's Hubei Province, and southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, is the highest compared with that of the same period since 1961, with the average precipitation in Anhui and Hubei exceeding 500 mm.

The NMC also warned Wednesday that some areas of east China's Jiangxi Province will experience downpours with up to 260 mm of daily rainfall.

Aerial photo taken on June 5, 2020 shows the flooded Changping Village of Pingxiang City, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Photo by Qiu Hailang/Xinhua)

Jiangxi Province upgraded its emergency response for flood control from the fourth to the third level as of 10:00 a.m. Wednesday. Downpours that started Monday in the province have impacted nearly 399,000 people, according to the provincial emergency management bureau.

On Tuesday, east China's Zhejiang Province raised its flooding emergency response level to the top level along the Qiantang River.

The Xin'an River Reservoir, the largest flood control project in eastern China, unprecedentedly opened all the nine spillways on Wednesday morning to release floodwaters.

It is the first time that the reservoir has opened all the spillways to discharge flood waters since it finished construction in 1959.

In central China's Hubei Province, a landslide caused by heavy rainfall swept away nine people in Huangmei County on Wednesday. Torrential downpours hit the county on Wednesday morning, with precipitation exceeding 200 mm.

The province activated a Grade IV emergency response for natural disaster relief starting from Tuesday noon. The provincial finance department has allocated 50 million yuan (7 million U.S. dollars) in relief funds to aid local disaster relief efforts.

In Anhui Province, local authorities raised its emergency response for flood prevention from level III to level II starting Tuesday noon as the waters of multiple rivers exceeded warning levels.

A warning sign is seen above the river in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, July 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Severe flooding caused by torrential rain disrupted the college entrance examination in Shexian County on Tuesday, as most of the 2,000-plus examinees were unable to reach their exam sites on time.

The students took the examinations on Wednesday as normal and provincial education authority said the exams on Chinese language and math originally scheduled on Tuesday will be rescheduled for the students on Thursday. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 18:00:24|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. business leaders in China have called on both countries to overcome their political differences and strengthen cooperation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and back a global economic recovery, according to a recent report by the South China Morning Post.

Collaboration between U.S. and Chinese subnational governments has been "excellent," but "we're disappointed at the national level," the SCMP's report on Monday quoted Ker Gibbs, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, as saying.

Gibbs made the remarks at a webinar on Monday, during which Chinese and U.S. representatives of business, medicine, non-governmental organizations and other areas discussed a new report titled "China-U.S. non-government cooperation in response to COVID-19: Current conditions, challenges and prospects."

The report, released by Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization, said efforts to combat the pandemic by China and the United States, the two largest economies in the world, will have a crucial impact on pandemic containment and post-pandemic economic recovery.

"Facing the grave threats to humanity, China and the U.S. should form a peaceful and harmonious bilateral relationship to forge better leadership on global governance and trade and economic development that will make both winners, instead of falling into zero-sum thinking and unbridled competition," it said.

President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China Alan Beebe, who also attended the webinar, noted that national interests and politics continued to intervene in the public health crisis.

"Covid-19 does not recognize politics or borders. This is a matter of science," Beebe was quoted by the SCMP as saying.

The chamber has been working closely with U.S. and Chinese local governments to resume production over the past few months, Beebe said, adding, "we should continue to work, especially on non-government cooperation, to really focus on human lives and human health and economy" to minimize the impact of the pandemic. Enditem
As the age of marriage climbs and climbs for various reasons, a growing number of women in Korea are considering alternatives to giving birth themselves. One option that has grown in popularity has been to freeze their eggs.

In a straw poll of 389 single women in their 30s by pollster Tillion Pro, 34.2 percent said they want to get married and have kids, but 10.3 percent said they wanted to have children but definitely not marry. Another 7.5 percent of the respondents said they wanted kids whether they are married or not.

A growing number of women in traditionally conservative Korea are willing to have children out of wedlock, suggesting that old taboos are fast eroding.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of women who froze their eggs almost tripled from 6,851 in 2014 to 22,614 in 2018. At CHA Medical Center, which offers such services, the number of cases rose from just one in 2000 to 493 last year.

Han Se-yeol at the clinic said most of the women are single, while married couples can opt to have embryos frozen, which is safer. "An egg can be frozen for an indefinite period of time, but many women never come for their eggs, so we charge a storage fee every few years," Han said. Experts say a healthy egg can be stored from a woman up to the age of 37.

But simply freezing eggs does not solve the problem. Sperm is required to fertilize it, and it is difficult for unmarried women to obtain it without sexual relations. Under the ministry's guidelines, no laws prohibit single women from receiving sperm donations, but it requires the submission of a copy of the family register and the consent of a spouse.

The CHA Medical Center said it offers its fertility treatments only to legally married couples, while common-law marriages require extra proof. "Some single women tell us they plan to obtain sperm from overseas, but we refuse to administer our services to them."

This is why instances of women trying to buy sperm from strangers or friends are growing. Because of the difficulties of in-vitro fertilization, some end up having sex with the putative father instead.

Do single men want to have children too? In another straw poll of 157 single men by Tillion Pro, 14.6 percent of male respondents in their 30s wished to have kids whether they were married or not, twice as many as among women. Also, 8.9 percent of the male respondents said they wanted to have children but not get married.

But for single men this can be even more difficult since someone needs to give birth to the child. "Men's sperm also deteriorates in quality and number as they age, but not as sharply as what happens to female eggs," Han said. "That's why hardly any single males want to have their sperm frozen."

But it is nearly impossible to find egg donors or surrogate mothers for single men even if they freeze their sperm. The number of sperm donors is increasing steadily, but the number of egg donors is much smaller.

According to Statistics Korea, 9,066 children are being raised by unwed fathers and 24,969 by single mothers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 18:09:40|Editor: huaxia

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A demonstrator participates in a Black Lives Matter protest in Brussels, Belgium, June 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Halfway through 2020, it feels like the longest six months as the COVID-19 pandemic has gotten life in many parts of the world out of order.

The pandemic has been bombarding our life on news headlines everyday, making it easy for us to forget that it wasn't the only thing that rattled 2020. Besides COVID-19, what else has happened so far?

A Hezbollah supporter holds pictures of the slain Qassem Soleimani during a ceremony organized by Hezbollah in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on Feb. 16, 2020. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)

Iraqi paramilitary leader, senior Iranian commander killed in Baghdad airport attack

TEHRAN/BAGHDAD -- Tensions soared in the Middle East after a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 3 killed an Iranian top commander, with Iran vowing to take "tough revenge," and the Pentagon saying it planned to send thousands more troops to the region.

The drone strike killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Quds Force, along with an Iraqi militia commander, triggering a harsh revenge threat from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Supporters of a pro-Brexit group celebrate at Parliament Square in London, Britain, on Jan. 31, 2020. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua)

"Dawn of new era" marked as Britain leaves EU

LONDON -- Memories, celebrations and commiserations marked a historic day that will be narrated differently by the Brexiteers and Europhiles in the future.

Britain officially left the European Union (EU) at 11 p.m. (2300 GMT) on Jan. 31, putting an end to its 47-year-long membership of the world's largest trading bloc.

Demonstrators march in a police brutality protest sparked by the death of George Floyd in New York, the United States, June 9, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Outrage over racism combined with COVID-19 woes lead to riots in U.S.



WASHINGTON -- The United States is in pain, anger and the "widest unrest for decades" over racial injustice after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, pleaded "I can't breathe" before dying in Minneapolis police custody.



Floyd, aged 46, died on May 25 after a white police officer held him down with a knee on his neck for at least eight minutes though he repeatedly pleaded, "I can't breathe," and "please, I can't breathe." A video recording the moment went viral on social media the next day, sparking a national outcry for justice.

Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump leave after signing a joint statement in Singapore on June 12, 2018. (Xinhua/Ministry of Communication and Information of Singapore)

DPRK feels no need for another Kim-Trump summit: official

PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) feels no need to sit face to face with the United States as the latter only considers the dialogue as a tool for grappling its political crisis, a senior DPRK official said on July 4.

In a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, Choe Son Hui, first vice-minister of foreign affairs, said a proposal of DPRK-U.S. summit has become a topic for conversation from some days ago, drawing the attention of the international community.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 18:16:09|Editor: huaxia

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-- Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam said the inauguration of the office was a historic moment and marked another milestone in establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.

-- Luo Huining, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, described the national security office as "the envoy of Hong Kong's security" and "the gatekeeper of national security."

-- Zheng Yanxiong, director of the newly established national security office, pledged that the office will undertake its mandate and be subject to supervision in accordance with the law, and will not infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of any individual or organization.

-- The new office will handle national security cases when the HKSAR has difficulties in exercising jurisdiction due to the involvement of foreign or external forces or is unable to effectively enforce law due to the severity of a situation occurring, or when there is a major and imminent threat to national security.

HONG KONG, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was inaugurated here on Wednesday, marking a major step forward to restoring law and order in the global financial hub.

A plaque bearing the name of the new office was unveiled at a ceremony early on Wednesday, drawing rousing applause of the around 80 attendees representing various sectors of Hong Kong.

Addressing the ceremony, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam said the inauguration of the office was a historic moment and marked another milestone in establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.

Echoing Lam, Luo Huining, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, described the national security office as "the envoy of Hong Kong's security" and "the gatekeeper of national security" in his speech.

Safeguarding national security is essentially within the purview of the central authorities, which have both the power and the responsibility to take all measures necessary, said Luo, who also serves as director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR.

The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is inaugurated in Hong Kong, south China, July 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the newly established national security office, made his debut in Hong Kong at the ceremony and pledged that the office will undertake its mandate in strict compliance with the law and be subject to supervision in accordance with the law.

The office will not infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of any individual or organization, Zheng said.

Welcoming support from all sectors in Hong Kong for the office, Zheng called for joint efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, promote the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems," and ensure the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong was gripped by prolonged social disturbances last year as intensified violent incidents and riots trampled on order and the rule of law, threatened people's safety, and endangered national security. Ill-intentioned instigators behind the chaos colluded with external forces to mess up Hong Kong, and the homegrown terrorism also emerged.

Given the dangerous situation, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR was adopted by China's top legislature and promulgated in the HKSAR on June 30. The law stipulates the establishment of the national security office.

Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, both vice chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Luo Huining, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and Zheng Yanxiong, director of the newly established national security office, attend an opening ceremony of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR in Hong Kong, south China, July 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

The office will analyze and assess developments related to safeguarding national security in the HKSAR, provide opinions and make proposals on major strategies and important policies, and oversee, guide, coordinate with and support the HKSAR in assuming the duties for safeguarding national security, according to the national security law.

It will also collect and analyze intelligence and information about national security and handle cases on offenses endangering national security.

The law stipulates that the new office will handle national security cases when the HKSAR has difficulties in exercising jurisdiction due to the involvement of foreign or external forces or is unable to effectively enforce law due to the severity of a situation occurring, as well as when there is a major and imminent threat to national security.

A Chinese national flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Hong Kong, south China, July 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Former Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR government Elsie Leung said the provision in the national security law is reasonable and she believes that the office will only exercise jurisdiction under specific circumstances.

Most of the cases concerning national security will still be handled by the HKSAR government and related authorities and there will only be a few cases that need to be addressed by the national security office, Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, said, adding that the legitimate rights and interests of Hong Kong residents will not be impaired.

Following the enactment of the national security law, the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, chaired by Carrie Lam, has been established. The HKSAR government has also announced the establishment of a specialized prosecution division responsible for the prosecution of national security offenses under the Department of Justice and the appointment of the head of the department for safeguarding national security of the Hong Kong Police Force.

As required by the national security law, the chief executive, after consulting the committee and the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, has also designated six serving magistrates from the judiciary to handle cases concerning offenses endangering national security.

Lam said the national security committee of the HKSAR will set up a mechanism of coordination with the national security office as soon as possible and other relevant authorities of the HKSAR government will also build coordination mechanisms with the office to enhance information sharing and operations cooperation.

With the concerted efforts of the national security office and related national security authorities in the HKSAR, acts and activities endangering national security will be effectively prevented, curbed and punished so that the practice of "one country, two systems" policy in Hong Kong will not be distorted and will continue to brim with dynamism, Luo said. 
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 18:40:07|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese police have cracked down three big drug trafficking rings in late June, seizing a large number of illicit drugs, Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The first ring was busted on June 20 in southern Ho Chi Minh City. The authorities arrested five suspects aged 27 to 42, seizing 53.3 kg of and 18,200 pills of synthetic drugs.

On June 29, the police of capital Hanoi city caught red-handed three people trafficking illicit drug in Dong Anh District, confiscating 54 cakes of heroin, arresting three other smugglers, including the ring leader. All the suspects are from northern Cao Bang and Dien Bien province, said the report.

On June 30, the police of southern Ho Chi Minh City cracked down another drug trafficking ring, detaining six people and seizing a total of 6 kg of methamphetamine. Further investigation into the cases is underway.

According to the Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes of the country's Ministry of Public Security, trafficking rings would likely increase their activities in the coming time after COVID-19 has been well controlled in Vietnam and social distancing orders have been eased.

As stipulated in Vietnamese laws, those convicted of smuggling over 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kg of methamphetamine are punishable by death. Making or trading 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal drugs also faces death penalty. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 18:47:38|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- An elephant has given birth to twin calves in Sri Lanka's Minneriya national park in the island's north-central province, local media reported Wednesday.

Director of Wildlife Health at Department of Wildlife Conservation Dr. Tharaka Prasad told local journalists that the calves were three to four weeks old when they were spotted on Wednesday.

"This is a rare and special occasion. Hence, we are taking all the measures to protect these twin babies and their mother," Dr. Prasad said.

"This observation has been made by one of Sri Lanka's acclaimed researchers on elephants and a former Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, along with officers of the Minneriya National Park," he added.

The Wildlife Department requested tourists not to make a special effort to capture or film these elephant calves in a way that would disturb their habitat.

Sri Lanka has a large elephant population protected by law. Killing wild elephants is an offense punishable by death, but there have been regular reports of villagers poisoning or shooting them. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 18:58:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged college graduates throughout the country to make more contributions for the Party, the country and the people.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a reply letter Tuesday to 118 graduates studying at China University of Petroleum-Beijing at Karamay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

In his letter, Xi expressed support for the choice of the 118 graduates from the university after learning that they would take grassroots jobs in Xinjiang and aspire to work with people from different ethnic groups for the development of the country's western region.

He pointed out that college graduates this year have learned a lot from the arduous fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

"There will be ups and downs along the road ahead, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation can only be achieved through the hard work of generations of youth," Xi said.

Xi encouraged college graduates to aim high, be down-to-earth, brave difficulties and obstacles, shoulder the mission of the times, integrate their pursuit of ideals into the cause of the Party and the country, and make more contributions.

He asked Party committees and governments at all levels and all sectors of the society to make every effort to help college graduates find jobs, and take effective measures to overcome the impact of COVID-19.

Xi has always paid close attention to the employment of college graduates and issued important instructions about it on different occasions.

Located in Xinjiang, the university's Karamay campus began enrollment in 2016. About 85 percent of its first 435 graduates hailing from 16 provincial-level regions across the country have secured jobs this year, and 118 of them chose primary-level positions in Xinjiang. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:02:50|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday the Chinese side is willing to continue working with the Russian side in firmly supporting each other, and rejecting external sabotage and intervention.

During his telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi said his country is ready to keep working with Russia to well preserve their respective sovereignty, security and development rights, and well safeguard their shared interests. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:05:34|Editor: huaxia

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KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia will fully reopen university campuses in October, Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad said on Wednesday as the country reported 3 new imported COVID-19 cases.

Noraini added that international university students will be allowed to enter the country subject to several conditions, including being tested for COVID-19 three days before entering the country.

She said students will be gradually allowed back in campuses starting this month.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said at a press briefing that another three new imported COVID-19 cases were reported on Wednesday, bringing the national total to 8,677.

Another five cases had been released, bringing the total cured and discharged to 8,486 or 97.8 percent of all cases. No new deaths had been reported, leaving the total deaths at 121. Of the remaining 70 cases, two are being held in intensive care and one of those is in need of assisted breathing.

Abdullah also said the country's largest cluster, traced to a large scale religious event held in the capital of Kuala Lumpur from late February to early March, had ended after 28 days since the last reported case.

The cluster was responsible for 3,375 or 38.9 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, resulting in 34 deaths or 28.1 percent of all deaths. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:10:10|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Pakistan police said that they have arrested three active members of the militant group Islamic State (IS) in the country's eastern Punjab province, local reports said on Wednesday.

The CTD conducted an intelligence-based operation at terrorists' hideout Tuesday night in Ranjhai village of Daska, a city in Punjab province, said CTD officials, adding that weapons, explosive devices and other sensitive materials were also recovered from the militants' hideout.

The arrested terrorists were active members of the banned militant organization and collecting funds for it, according to the CTD. Police also seized all the evidence of facilitation and funds collection for the IS.

They were planning to target sensitive installations in several areas of Punjab, and law enforcers foiled a major terror bid by arresting them, said the officials.

A case has been registered against the suspects over terrorism and other charges, and the CTD shifted them to an unknown place for further investigation, said local reports. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:13:25|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed lower Wednesday as a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the United States and elsewhere raised fears about the prospect of lockdowns and business closures being issued further hampering the global economic recovery from the pandemic.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 176.04 points, or 0.78 percent, from Tuesday to close the day at 22,438.65.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, lost 14.48 points, or 0.92 percent, to finish at 1,557.23.

Trading got off to a circumspect start, brokers here said, after inheriting a weak lead from Wall Street overnight as a resurgence in COVID-19 cases around the world sparked fears about the economic recovery from the pandemic being derailed.

They said, specifically, concerns about rising cases in the United States and Australia had dampened investor sentiment, with fears rife about the impact on these economies a second round of lockdown measures may have, as well as the broader global economy.

Cases in the U.S. have topped the 3 million-mark, market analysts here highlighted, while rising cases in Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, saw lockdown measures reimposed on Tuesday.

"The continued increase in infections triggered concerns about another round of economic lockdowns," Toshikazu Horiuchi, equity strategist at IwaiCosmo Securities Co., was quoted as saying.

In terms of Japan's domestic COVID-19 situation, new infections in the capital dropped below the 100-mark for the first time in seven days, but still remained comparatively high at 75 new infections, local analysts said, as the city continues to grapple with a prolonged spike in cases.

Mining, insurance and bank-oriented issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play, and continued concerns about the global economic impact of the coronavirus sent oil exploration giant Inpex down 3.3 percent and ANA dropping by 1.4 percent by the close.

Shopping mall developer and operator Aeon Mall Co Ltd. tumbled 6.3 percent, after saying Tuesday it expected a group net loss for the year through next February, owing to heavy losses during the closures of its facilities during the coronavirus outbreak here.

Hodogaya Chemical Co Ltd., a manufacturer of material used in organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), marked a bright spot, however, surging 15.6 percent, after reports Apple Inc. will use OLED screens for its fifth-generation iPhones set to be rolled out this year.

Issues that fell outpaced those that rose by 1,686 to 420 on the First Section, while 65 ended the day unchanged and on the main section Wednesday, 1.155 billion shares changed hands, rising from Tuesday's volume of 1.093 billion shares.

The turnover on the third trading day of the week came to 2.159 trillion U.S. dollars (20.078 billion U.S. dollars). Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:25:11|Editor: huaxia

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MAPUTO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Schools in Mozambique are scheduled to start reopening by July 27, first for grade-12 students and those who attend teacher-training courses, Radio Mozambique (RM) reported on Wednesday.

"We are talking about 171 schools teaching grade-12 students and 19 teachers-training institutes with conditions, and without water and sanitation problems, which will resume (classes) in this first phase," the national radio station quoted government spokesman Filimao Suazi as speaking.

Schools were closed in Mozambique on March 23 as part of the country's initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the RM, the Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided that classes will resume face-to-face teaching activities in the institutions that can guarantee the protection of students and staff. Enditem
Two South Koreans who were prisoners of war during the Korean War have won a landmark compensation suit against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The Seoul Central District Court ordered North Korea and its leader to pay W21 million each to the two former POWs, Roh Sa-hong and Han Jae-bok (US$1=W1,197). The ruling is expected to lead to similar lawsuits by other South Korean POWs as well as people abducted by North Korea.

Roh (91) and Han (86) fought for South Korea during the Korean War. When they were captured they were forced to work at a coal mine in North Korea's South Pyongan Province for 33 months starting in 1953. They only escaped from the North and returned to South Korea in 2001.

They filed the lawsuit in the Seoul Central District Court in October 2016.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:30:49|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- An elderly woman has been rescued in central China's Hubei Province, hours after she and another eight people were buried by a landslide on Wednesday morning.

Rescuers have detected life signs of two people still buried under the debris of the landslide in Yuanshan Village of Dahe Township, Huangmei County.

The landslide occurred on early Wednesday morning, shattering several houses and burying nine people, according to Yuan Jiangwang, the village's Party secretary.

The rescued woman has been taken to a nearby hospital, rescue workers said.

Rescue operations are still underway, and more than 40 villagers have been relocated.

Torrential downpours hit the county on Wednesday morning, with precipitation exceeding 200 mm. Dahe recorded maximum precipitation of 353 mm. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:33:22|Editor: huaxia

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By Tichaona Chifamba

HARARE, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Some Zimbabweans have become less cautious towards the COVID-19 and have abandoned measures they had adopted at the beginning of the pandemic in the country in March.

While many people had embraced social distancing and avoided crowded places as much as possible, this is no longer the case as some market places and shopping centers are now teeming with both shoppers and non-shoppers, risking the danger of local infections.

Zimbabwe went into lockdown end of March and has seen the levels being relaxed, but the relaxation appears to also have spurred people to break some rules.

A resident of Mabelreign in northwest Harare said the lockdown had taken its toll on him and he could no longer stay at home all the time.

"It's difficult to be stuck at home day in day out. Sometimes I need the fresh air, that's why I am here drinking with others.

"Of course we remain wary of the police and are always ready to run away as soon as we see them," he said.

Funerals also remain a potential risk as mourners fail to observe social distancing and continue to shake hands as per the African tradition of paying condolences, while some share traditional brews from the same cup or bottle.

Zimbabwe on Tuesday recorded its first huge jump in local infections, accounting for 34 of the 53 positive cases recorded on the day. The other cases were for returnees from South Africa (16) and Botswana (3).

Of the 787 confirmed cases, about 145 are local infections.

While the majority of local cases are contacts of known patients, there is worry over those whose sources of infection are not known and the government has not been giving updates on whether the sources have been established or not.

There are fears that local infections could be higher than has been recorded, especially with people mingling in overcrowded places and sometimes not wearing face masks, while others are exposed at the workplace.

The latest COVID-19 related death in the country which put the toll to nine was of a senior revenue authority officer who died on Sunday - the same day he tested positive - in Bulawayo.

Police said Wednesday that they had arrested 91,250 people countrywide since March 30 for violating lockdown regulations.

The offences include failure to wear masks, liquor-related offences, violation of the Road Traffic Act, unnecessary movements, illegal gatherings, opening businesses without proper documentation.

Most of the people were arrested for not wearing masks and for unnecessary movements.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi told The Herald newspaper that Harare had the highest number of arrests with 18,562 followed by Manicaland (17,632) and Bulawayo (14,048).

Although the police are arresting people for not wearing face masks, they may also want to start in-house since many officers are seen walking around without them.

Schools are set to re-open at the end of July amid safety concerns by parents, teachers and health personnel.

Bulawayo-based doctor Solwayo Ngwenya also cautioned recently against their re-opening saying that the rate of infection would rise.

"Honestly, I do not foresee schools re-opening this month; if they do they will quickly close due to the worsening crisis. COVID-19 will be causing deaths in bigger numbers soon, very soon," he said on Twitter. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:33:22|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Wednesday reported 2,691 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the total confirmed infections in the country to 248,379, official IRNA news agency reported.

Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said during her daily update that 153 people died overnight, raising the death toll over the virus to 12,084.

So far, 209,463 people have recovered and 3,309 are still in intense condition, said Lari.

According to the health spokeswoman, 1,872,391 lab tests for COVID-19 have been carried out in Iran as of Wednesday.

Iran announced its first cases of COVID-19 on Feb. 19.

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 delivered several shipments of medical supplies to Iran. On Feb. 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:55:56|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on Wednesday called on his newly-appointed ministers to operate within the law.

"I strongly warn you all not to do anything illegal. Our government must only act within the law," Khurelsukh said after appointing his cabinet's ministers.

Khurelsukh made the remarks after members of previous governments were recently jailed for abuse of power.

Mongolia's new government with 14 ministries took the oath of office Wednesday, two weeks after the ruling Mongolian People's Party won a landslide victory in the regular parliamentary elections on June 24, taking 62 seats out of 76 in the unicameral parliament.

The new government is expected to face challenges such as mitigating the impact of COVID-19, making health and education reforms, improving living standards and reducing air pollution in its capital Ulan Bator. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:56:48|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Lufthansa German Airlines has resumed scheduled flights between east China's Nanjing and Germany's Frankfurt, according to Lufthansa China on Wednesday.

The Nanjing-Frankfurt air route is the second resumed scheduled Lufthansa flight between China and Europe, following the resumed Shanghai-Frankfurt air route on June 24, said Lufthansa China.

The round-trip passenger flights between Nanjing and Frankfurt are carried by the B747-8 aircraft once a week, with the Nanjing-Frankfurt flight service scheduled for every Wednesday, and the Frankfurt-Nanjing flight every Monday.

The resumed Nanjing-Frankfurt and Shanghai-Frankfurt flights will strengthen the airline's air service network in the Chinese market, said Lufthansa China. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:57:50|Editor: huaxia

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The Turkish coast guards on Tuesday caught 276 illegal migrants and 8 human traffickers off Turkey's Aegean shore in the western province of Izmir. The migrants, who intended to sneak into Europe on a merchant ship, were from Bangladesh, Iran, Syria and other countries. The human traffickers were detained in a joint operation conducted by coast guards, police, anti-smuggling and organized crime units.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 19:58:51|Editor: huaxia

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KABUL, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces stormed militants' hideouts in Khogiani district of Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province on Tuesday killing 20 militants including Taliban local commander Sangarmal on the spot, Defense Ministry said in a statement released here Wednesday.

About a dozen more militants were injured during the crackdown launched against the armed insurgents' hideouts in Zawa area of the restive district on Tuesday morning, the statement added.

An amount of arms and ammunition as well as some cars and motorbikes of the insurgents were destroyed during the raids, it said.

The security forces have also arrested seven Taliban militants from across the northern Takhar province over the past 24 hours, provincial government spokesman Mohammad Jawad Hajari said Wednesday.

Taliban militants have not commented. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 20:00:14|Editor: huaxia

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COPENHAGEN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The right to assembly was raised to 100 people in Denmark Wednesday, according to a parliament agreement reached on June 8.

The decision, which was made as the COVID-19 pandemic began to subside in the country, would allow 200 people to assembly on Aug. 8 if there were no second wave of infections, said Lars Ostergaard, a professor at Aarhus University to Danish news agency Ritzau.

Originally, the government introduced a 10-person limit in mid-March to curb the spread of COVID-19 as large sections of the society began to close down.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Denmark stands at 12,888 and the death count has increased by three since last Wednesday to 609, according to the daily update from the Statens Serum Institut Wednesday. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 20:05:01|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Downpours continued to inundate wide swathes of southwest and central Japan on Wednesday leading to the weather agency here issuing its highest alert level for heavy rain in areas in Gifu and Nagano prefectures before downgrading it later in the day.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the turbulent weather front moved from the southwest island of Kyushu where it has already wreaked havoc on numerous prefectures there, to the central Japan region of Tokai.

In Gifu Prefecture, around 220,000 people were advised to evacuate, with 5,000 people left temporarily stranded by roads being cut off by rain-triggered landlines, local authorities said Wednesday.

In Kyushu, hard-hit since the deluge began last Saturday, torrential rain-related fatalities increased to 59 people, according to public broadcaster NHK as of Wednesday evening, with five people showing no vital signs and 17 still unaccounted for.

The land ministry said that as of Wednesday morning, 22 rivers in Kyushu and Ehime prefectures had flooded, including the major Chikugo and Oita rivers in Oita Prefecture, with landslides occurring at more than 100 locations.

The Japanese government is planning to designate the heavy rain that pummeled Kyushu as a "severe natural disaster" in order to increase state subsidies for reconstruction work, its top government spokesperson said Wednesday.

According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the government is currently assessing the extent of the damage to decide which areas should be covered by the emergency measure.

Suga on Wednesday also called on people to remain vigilant for further downpours across wide swathes of the nation, including both western to northeastern parts of the country.

He said that the rain front is expected to remain through Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 20:15:37|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A health expert from Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Wednesday told the media that the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand has come to an end, after Thailand has not seen any new local COVID-19 case for 44 consecutive days.

Dr. Anupong Sujariyakul, an expert from the ministry's Preventive Medicine, Department of Disease Control, warned the Thais to be prepared for a second wave of infections, as the contagion is still spreading in many parts of the world, with several countries already experiencing a second wave.

"Therefore what the Thai government has done so far has been correct all the way," Anupong said, "despite reporting zero case for over a month, the government has been very cautious in reopening the country to inbound travelers."

Anupong said that ensuring the health and well-being must be set priority before rebooting the Thai economy, with the health expert admitting that the tourism sector which Thailand mostly rely on, has been hard hit by the pandemic.

"We must stay vigilant at all times by wearing masks, adhering to social distancing and do regular hand cleaning," the health expert said.

In response to warnings from scientists worldwide regarding COVID-19 that is transmittable through airborne droplets smaller than 5 microns, Anupong said that the ministry had already explained that the contagion can be transmitted through airborne droplets in an enclosed environment, such as in intensive care units, but not in open spaces with good ventilation and sunshine.

Thailand has on Wednesday reported two new COVID-19 cases, both Thais returning from abroad and in state quarantine, but no new fatalities.

The two new infections have driven total COVID-19 cases in Thailand to 3,197, with 3,074 recoveries and 58 deaths. And 65 others are still being treated in hospital. Enditem
In a statement Tuesday morning, Kwon Jong-gun, the chief of American affairs at the North Korean Foreign Ministry, said, "Explicitly speaking once again, we have no intention to sit face to face with U.S."

It was Biegun's first visit in the seven months since he went home empty-handed after proposing talks to Pyongyang late last year.

North Korea furiously rejected any talks with the U.S. again on Tuesday as Washingtons North Korea point man Stephen Biegun arrived in Seoul.

He also laughed out of court President Moon Jae-in's recent vows to broker a fresh U.S.-North Korea summit before the U.S. presidential election in November, dismissing them as an "attempt to blow another person's nose while failing to blow his own," "really ridiculous," and "meddlesome."

Kwon's statement came after North Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said last Saturday, "We don't feel any need to sit face-to-face with the U.S."

Biegun arrived by military aircraft at Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday afternoon. He and accompanying officials were tested for coronavirus at the air base, according to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. All tested negative.

On Wednesday morning, Biegun then met with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young, and Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's chief nuclear negotiator. They talked about denuclearization of the North and a Seoul-Washington tug-of-war over the costs for the upkeep of American troops here.

Biegun is expected to issue a message to Pyongyang at a press conference after meeting new national security adviser Suh Hoon. He leaves for Tokyo on Thursday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 20:46:41|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran will consolidate military relations with Syria, including enforcing and developing the Syrian air defenses in the face of Israeli strikes, as part of a "comprehensive" military agreement signed Wednesday between Iran and Syria in Syrian capital Damascus.

The visiting Iranian Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri made the remarks to reporters during the signing ceremony of the military agreement with Syrian Defense Minister Ali Abdullah Ayyoub.

The military agreement aims to enhance military and security cooperation between Syria and Iran on all levels.

Regarding the Israeli airstrikes on military targets in Syria, Bagheri said the Syrian army forces have strongly reacted against the Israeli violations, particularly the Israeli airstrikes.

Meanwhile, he declared a new development, which is enhancing and enforcing the Syrian air defenses. "I declare that Iran, from now on, will enhance the military relations between both countries including enforcing the Syrian air defenses," he said.

In terms of the recent leaks about possible Iranian withdrawal from Syria, the Iranian official said the presence of Iranian forces in Syria is based on the request of the "legitimate Syrian government to defend the sovereignty of Syria."

He added that the Iranian presence in Syria helped in fighting terrorist groups as well as serving the people and the Syrian army and government.

He noted that such a presence is irrelevant to the presence of foreign forces who came to Syria without the consent of the Syrian government.

For his part, Ayyoub hailed the Iranian-Syrian relations as strategic linked to the present and future of the region as Iran has been a crucial ally to the Syrian government since the beginning of the Syrian war.

He said those who are betting on sabotaging such relations must be "delusional" and should "wake up from their dreams."

However, both sides stressed that signing the new agreement crowns years of military and security cooperation and coordination between the two sides on all levels.

In a statement read at the signing ceremony, both sides agreed that the signing of the new agreement will help in developing the defensive capabilities of both armies to face any foreign attacks.

They said coordination will continue between both countries to face the "growing" risks and challenges on top of which is to face terrorism that is "supported by regional and international powers." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 20:56:04|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China will donate equipment worth 27 million yuan (about 4 million U.S. dollars) to vocational schools in Pakistan to support the socio-economic development of the country, according to the letter of exchange for the equipment donation project signed by the governments of the two countries here on Wednesday.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Noor Ahmed, secretary of the Economic Affairs Division of Pakistan, thanked the Chinese government for providing the equipment which is critical for the upgradation of the vocational schools and the improvement of vocational training capabilities of Pakistan.

The project is consistent with the vision of the Pakistani government to promote vocational training and enhance productivity within the economy, said Ahmed, adding that Pakistan and China enjoy a very close relationship and China is a true friend of Pakistan that always extends a helping hand to Pakistan in the most challenging times, no matter it is COVID-19, locust attacks or earthquakes.

On the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing said the equipment donation project is a part of the cooperation between the two countries under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and CPEC will put more attention on vocational training, agriculture, poverty alleviation and health sectors.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, and China will continue to support Pakistan in the fight against COVID-19 and contribute to the implementation of the people-oriented cooperative projects between the two countries with CPEC as a major platform, Yao added.

According to the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, China will donate equipment including diesel generators, computers, printers, projectors and classroom furniture to 50 vocational schools in Pakistan, which will directly benefit over 10,000 people. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 21:03:24|Editor: huaxia

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SHEXIAN, Anhui, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The national college entrance exam started in Shexian County, east China's Anhui Province, Wednesday, one day behind schedule due to floods.

More than 2,000 students sat the exam, which started at 9 a.m. in the county.

Wearing a one-piece dress called qipao, Lu Meiqin watched her daughter walk into the No.2 high school of Shexian County, one of the exam venues.

Qipao is a traditional Chinese dress believed to bring good luck since it sounds like the Chinese phrase "qikaidesheng," meaning victory.

"We trekked in floodwater to arrive here yesterday, only to find the exam was delayed. When we returned, I tried my best to cheer up my daughter," said Lu, holding her second child, a five-year-old boy, in her arms, smiling. "Stable emotions in parents are helpful for their children to take the exam."

At the roadside near the school gate stood more than 10 parked buses used to transport the examinees.

"I hope everything will proceed smoothly," said Wang Jianguo, another parent who waited outside the school. His daughter took one of the buses to the site for the exam.

The national unified college entrance exam this year is scheduled from Tuesday to Wednesday, one month later than usual, because of the COVID-19 epidemic. More than 10 million candidates registered for this year's exam, deemed the most important event for them, as it provides an opportunity to set the direction for their future careers.

Shexian is the only county where Tuesday's tests did not proceed as scheduled in the country, as torrential rain caused severe floods there. On the day, local river water overflowed into downtown streets of the county seat, and most of the examinees were unable to reach their exam venues on time.

The Ministry of Education said Wednesday it greenlighted the request from the Anhui provincial education examinations authority to postpone to Thursday the Chinese language and math tests of the exam in Shexian, with alternate test papers.

"It's only that the exams scheduled for yesterday are rearranged to tomorrow, so there is nothing to be nervous about," said an examinee, who did not give his name.

Wang Tianping, head of the education bureau of Shexian county, said efforts will be made to ensure the makeup exams will go smoothly.

"Teachers of every class have been in contact with students so that they can take the exam with ease," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 21:28:47|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Over 3,000 refugees fleeing ethnic clashes in neighboring eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have crossed into Uganda after a three-day temporary reopening of the country's border entry point.

Duniya Aslam Khan, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Uganda, told Xinhua in an interview that 3,056 refuges and asylum-seekers who have been stuck between Uganda and eastern DRC since May have crossed into Zombo district in the northwestern part of Uganda.

Khan said the refugees are now under quarantine for 14 days.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and working with the Government of Uganda to further improve protective and preventive measures in the refugee settlements," she said.

Uganda last week on Wednesday temporarily opened its border for a three-day exercise to receive and provide asylum to thousands of Congolese refugees.

"UNHCR appreciates the Government of Uganda's bold decision of reopening its border crossing points, temporarily, to admit thousands of stranded asylum seekers in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic," said Khan.

"Uganda demonstrates that even within the COVID context, cross border movements can be managed to prevent risks of the virus spread while saving lives of those fleeing conflict through putting in place better screening quarantine measures," she said.

Uganda in March closed all its border entry points to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

According to the UN refugee agency, Uganda hosts some 1.4 million refugees, mostly from neighboring South Sudan, the DRC and Burundi. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 21:33:24|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The passion of Ghanaian students for learning Chinese continues amid COVID-19 through online teaching, said Chu Beijuan, chief of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana.

Speaking with Xinhua on Wednesday, Chu said the teaching staff at the institute have been trying to diversify online Chinese courses during the school suspension, which was warmly welcomed by Ghanaian students.

"We introduced a variety of online courses, ranging from Chinese grammar to Chinese cuisine, to arouse the students' interests while enabling them to have a deeper knowledge of Chinese culture," said Chu.

"We even held this year's Chinese proficiency contest online, namely the popular 'Chinese Bridge' Competition for foreign students. Cheers and chants were heard from the beginning to the end," Chu added.

William Arhin, a prize winner of the competition, told Xinhua he is touched by the teachers' help with his preparation for this competition during the trying time, saying the distance between teachers and students didn't stop their passion for learning.

"The Chinese teachers are always available there to solve your puzzles and encourage you to make greater progress, which greatly bolstered my confidence in learning Chinese," he said.

William, also a student of the University of Ghana, now has an even bigger plan for his Chinese study.

"I am planning to further my studies in China, which, I believe, will be a unique experience, "he said.

"Despite the fact that the pandemic is prevailing, and the internet connection here is not always satisfying especially in remote areas, we will always do our best to ensure all students have access to quality teaching," Chu said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 21:34:46|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Compensation is underway for local villagers and businesses impacted by the 2018 collapse of an auxiliary dam of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower project in southern Laos' Attapeu province, local daily Vientiane Times quoted a deputy prime minister as saying on Thursday edition.

Addressing the recent ordinary session of the National Assembly (NA), Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said authorities of the southern province on April 10 signed a deal with the project developers on the compensation and rehabilitation. The total compensation and rehabilitation costs would amount to more than 828 billion kip (about 91.7 million U.S. dollars).

The dam collapse in July 2018 caused flash floods that inundated villages in the province's Sanamxay district, some 560 km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane, killing dozens of villagers and leaving thousands of people homeless.

Several villages in the district were wiped out by the flash floods. The government said thousands of villagers have encountered hardship as all their belongings were swept away by the flooding, one of the worst deluges in the Lao history.

More than 475 billion kip (52.6 million U.S. dollars) would be paid for compensation for deceased people, orphans and impacted assets of the affected villagers and businesses. More than 353 billion kip (some 39.1 million U.S. dollars) would be paid for rehabilitation work, including restoration of public infrastructure such as transport facilities, according to the report.

Companies developing the project have spent more than 8 billion kip (some 0.89 million U.S. dollars) compensating families of the deceased victims and orphans whose parents were killed by the disaster, according to Sonexay.

Household businesses impacted by the disaster, other enterprises and damaged infrastructure are also compensated. "However, the assessment for the lost and damaged buildings, cash and other valuable items has not been completed; therefore, the compensation for these assets has not been achieved," the report quoted Sonexay as saying.

"Companies (developers of the project) will compensate later," Sonexay, who is also the minister of planning and investment, responded to a question raised at the NA session.

He added that progress had been made in building new permanent housing for displaced villagers. Construction work has begun on 700 houses with compensation money from Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company Limited and SK Engineering and Construction of South Korea, one of the four stakeholders of the hydropower project. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 21:36:18|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia will take retaliatory measures if there are attempts to limit its rights under the Treaty on Open Skies, after the United States decided to withdraw from the deal, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

"No scenarios are excluded," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the treaty pullout would damage the image of the United States as a reliable partner.

On Monday, an online conference of the treaty member states was held to consider the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal.

According to the Russian statement, most participants noted the importance of the treaty for European security and the need to maintain it, and expressed regret over the U.S. pullout and hope that this decision will be reviewed.

Many participants emphasized the need to resolve the problem of compliance with the treaty at the negotiating table, and expressed their support for the ongoing work in this direction alongside their readiness to actively participate in it, the ministry said.

It is obvious that the partners are aware of the negative consequences of Washington's withdrawal from the treaty, it said.

At the same time, they have not yet shown willingness to take responsibility for the fate of the treaty and engage in truly serious dialogue with Russia in order to address mutual concerns, it said.

Russia will continuously assess the partners' readiness to fully comply with their obligations under the treaty and seek mutually acceptable solutions to emerging problems, the ministry added.

In May, U.S. President Donald Trump said his country was withdrawing from the treaty, the latest move to abandon a major international arms control agreement.

Trump accused Russia of not adhering to the treaty, which Moscow has repeatedly denied.

The treaty, which became effective in 2002, allows members to conduct unarmed reconnaissance flights over each other's territories to collect data on military activities.

It is aimed at building confidence and familiarity among states-parties through their participation in the overflights.

Currently, 35 nations, including Russia, the United States, and some other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have signed it. But Kyrgyzstan, which signed the treaty, has not yet ratified it. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 21:40:03|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday voiced firm support for the office for safeguarding national security of the central people's government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The central government's office for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR was inaugurated in Hong Kong Wednesday morning.

"We extend warm congratulations on the inauguration of the national security office in Hong Kong and will fully support and cooperate with it to fulfill its duties and responsibilities," the Hong Kong and Macao affairs office said in a statement.

As an institution accredited by the central people's government to safeguard national security in the HKSAR, the office shoulders a lofty mission and important responsibilities to perform the mandate of overseeing, guiding, coordinating with, and providing support to the HKSAR in the performance of its duties for safeguarding national security and handling cases concerning offence endangering national security in accordance with the law under specific circumstances, the statement said.

The statement called on people from all walks of life in Hong Kong to fully support the work of the national security office, the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR and other national security bodies to jointly safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, maintain Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, and ensure the steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 21:43:18|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- It is unrealistic to expect China to join U.S.-Russia negotiations on nuclear arms reduction, given the huge gap between Chinese and U.S. nuclear arsenals in terms of quantity and sophistication, a Chinese arms control official said Wednesday.

Fu Cong, director-general of the arms control department of the Chinese foreign ministry, made the remarks here at a press briefing on international arms control and disarmament.

Fu said the United States has been making a lot of noises about China joining the so-called trilateral negotiations.

"Hyping up the China factor is nothing but a ploy to divert world attention, and to create a pretext under which the United States could walk away from the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)," he said.

China's refusal to join the so-called trilateral negotiations doesn't mean that China is shying away from international nuclear disarmament efforts, Fu said, adding China is a strong advocate for nuclear disarmament in the United Nations and at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

"China initiated the dialogue on nuclear doctrines among the P5, and proposed that the P5 reiterate jointly the formula of 'nuclear war cannot be won, and must never be fought'," Fu said, adding that unfortunately, the United States has refused to recommit itself to this basic truism.

China stands ready to discuss all issues related to strategic stability and nuclear risk reduction in the framework of P5, i.e. among China, Russia, the U.S., the UK and France, he said.

"We urge the United States to respond positively to Russia's call to extend the New START, and on that basis, to further reduce its huge nuclear arsenal," Fu said, quoting figures from renowned international think tanks showing that the number of U.S. nuclear warheads is almost 20 times that of China.

Concerning China's accession to the Arms Trade Treaty, Fu said the move is further testimony to China's determination to combat illicit arms trafficking and its commitment to multilateralism and the international arms control regime, representing another concrete step toward implementing the grand vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

When referring to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), the official said the United States has single-handedly blocked the restarting of negotiations on a verification protocol, and more and more questions are being asked about the true nature of the activities conducted in some of the U.S. biological laboratories.

"We urge the United States to demonstrate more transparency and heed the appeals of the international community in not continuing to block the restarting of the protocol negotiations," Fu added. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-07-08 21:53:43|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, July 8 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi official said Wednesday that Iraq is facing a long battle against the coronavirus pandemic, as the Health Ministry recorded 2,741 new COVID-19 cases, the highest in single day since the outbreak of the disease.

"The battle against the virus is long, as Iraq has entered the stage of the outbreak of the disease despite that all necessary measures have been taken, but this stage requires new preparations," Hassan Khalatti, member of the parliamentary health committee, said in a statement.

The Health Ministry pursued a good plan when it increased the number of beds in hospitals and established more quarantine centers, he said, adding that the ministry still needs to take into consideration providing more medical supplies.

He said that the ministries of Industry, Interior, Defense, Electricity, and Oil can also provide logistic support to the plan of the Health Ministry in the coming stage.

Khalatti's comments came as the Health Ministry recorded 2,741 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 67,442.

The ministry also confirmed 94 more deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 2,779 in the country.

It also said that 1,627 people recovered during the day, bringing the total recoveries from the disease to 37,879.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Iraq has been taking measures to contain the pandemic.

China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad.

Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem